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Volume 56, Issue 15 | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Tri-campus discusses Yik Yak posts Leaders reflect on culture, possible solutions after derogatory social media posts against SMC students By GENEVIEVE COLEMAN Saint Mary’s News Editor
Editor’s note: This story includes strong language, as well as mentions of sexual assault and suicide. A list of sexual assault reporting options and oncampus resources can be found on the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross websites. Following the release of Shamrock Series ticket lottery results on Sunday, Saint Mary’s students were targeted through anonymous online posts on the social media platform Yik Yak.
These posts belittled Saint Mary’s students’ intelligence, compared them to terrorist organizations and joked about survivors of sexual assault and victims of suicide like Lizzy Seeberg, a first-year student at Saint Mary’s who took her own life in 2010 after she reported that she had been sexually assaulted by former Notre Dame linebacker Prince Shembo on August of that year. College president Katie Conboy sent an email to students on Tuesday, noting that the College was “here to support” students in the aftermath of the posts.
University spokesperson Dennis Brown told The Observer these Yik Yak comments did not align with Notre Dame’s values. “Notre Dame finds abhorrent the anonymous postings that recently appeared on the social media application Yik Yak,” Brown said. “They are antithetical to the spirit of Notre Dame and to the close relationship between it and Saint Mary’s College, dating back to their respective founders.” The Observer also reached out to Yik Yak for comment about the process for
Women’s Network comes to Notre Dame campus By EMMA DUFFY News Writer
The Women’s Network, an organization dedicated to connecting young ambitious women nationally, recently joined the Notre Dame campus. The network is a slightly new organization that started at Syracuse University and is making its way across colleges in the United States. In 2017, Founder and President Jamie Vinick attended a lecture at her own university which inspired her but left her wondering
why the subject of gender had never been addressed. “There was a tremendous void in conversation, and we should be having conversations about topics like gender in the workplace, especially at this stage in our lives,” Vinick said. Women’s Network aims to remedy gender bias issues by offering young women the opportunity to network in an environment that is non-competitive and inclusive to all backgrounds and majors. But networking “is not collecting LinkedIn
connections, or seeking someone once and then ending that relationship,” said Vinick. The idea is that women on the Notre Dame campus will be able to advance their careers while cultivating true connections with other motivated women. For the average Notre Dame student, who is constantly in search of different ways to network, getting involved in the network would offer an opportunity to make meaningful connections in their
By ISA SHEIKH News Writer
America’s first universit y band, the Band of the Fighting Irish, is back in full force after a challenging year. This season, students and fans from across the countr y have been able
NEWS PAGE 3
VIEWPOINT PAGE 8
Community Guardrails.” The Observer spoke with student leaders across the schools in order to delve into tri-campus culture and into possible solutions to issues like the one evidenced by the Yik Yak controversy. Notre Dame Student Government leaders encourage unity, change in the tri-campus Notre Dame student body vice president Matthew Bisner offered some descriptions of the messages on Yik Yak and explained their disparaging see POSTS PAGE 3
Medieval Institute marks 75th anniversary
see NETWORK PAGE 5
Band of the Fighting Irish returns in full force to fully experience the music and ornate marching routines performed by the approx imately 380 members of the band. “We have a say ing in the band that ever y time you play the fight song, it’s gonna be someone’s first time hearing it, and it’s gonna be
removing posts that go against the application’s “Community Guardrails”, which according to their website are meant to protect users. “Any post that violates the Community Guardrails should be taken down and the user potentially banned,” Yik Yak’s statement said. “It is important for anyone who sees anything that violates the Community Guardrails to report any post in the app by tapping the three dots icon on the yak itself. We will immediately take it down once our moderators see it. We will not stand for people posting content that violates the
someone’s last time hearing it. So ever y performance matters,” said Ian Baker, a senior, who’s an assistant drum major in the band. In his role, Baker dons the drum major’s white uniform to help conduct the band see BAND PAGE 5
SCENE PAGE 10
Courtesy of Megan J. Hall
Medieval studies librarian Julia Schneider shows facsimiles to students at the Medieval Institute, which is celebrating 75 years. By MARCELLE COUTO News Writer
This year, the Notre Dame Medieval Institute is celebrating its 75th anniversary since its inception in 1946. The Notre Dame Medieval Institute is the nation’s “largest and most prestigious” center for the study of the Middle Ages. It contains fifty faculty members from thirteen different departments and an incomparable
Football PAGE 16
library with a growing collection of manuscripts. Students within the Institute become future academics, medievalists and leaders in all spheres of life. Anyone can enjoy conferences and lectures which invite world-renowned scholars to campus. Professor of history and Medieval Institute director Thomas E. Burman see MEDIEVAL PAGE 4
nd m soccer PAGE 16
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TODAY
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A rainbow arcs over South Quad on the Notre Dame campus, stretching over the Coleman-Morse Center as a few students walk across the quad. A mix of rainy and sunny days this week featured weather ranging from 80-degree to 50-degree temperatures.
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Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
An Evening with Matthew Morrison DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Tickets required.
ND Away Football Game Soldier Field noon Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin.
Film Screening and Talkback DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. “The Green Knight.”
Nuclear Physics Seminar 123 Nieuwland Science Hall 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m With Rene Reifarth.
Lecture on Nepal Economics C103 Hesburgh Center 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. Featuring Cheryl Doss. Hosted by Kellogg.
Ultimate Laser Tag Stepan Center 8 p.m. - midnight Run around and hide from the other team to protect your base.
Minute to Win It Game Night Legends 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. Must present student ID at the door.
Organ Recital with Gregory Crowell DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Ticketed Event.
Europe in Exile Lecture 128 Decio 5 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. Featuring Friedhelm Marx.
Best of Indian Cities Presentation Bond Hall 334 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Featuring food and travel.
News
Posts Continued from page 1
nature. “The ones I saw were heavily down-voted Yik Yaks attacking the character and intelligence and the worth of Saint Mary’s students — that was just troubling and heartbreaking to see,” Bisner said. Speaking on the connections formed between Saint Mary’s Student Government Association (SGA) and Notre Dame student government, student body president Allan Njomo said they were disappointed because the Yik Yak posts do not reflect their experiences with the Saint Mary’s community. “We’ve had the opportunity to grab dinner with [Saint Mary’s SGA president] Elly and [SGA vice president] Adriana over at Saint Mary’s and we’ve fostered that relationship since they were elected and look to work together, so it’s definitely disheartening to see all this good work going and foster this good relationship with both Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross and then run into something like this,” Njomo said. Speaking to first-years at Saint Mary’s, Bisner said the opinions shared on Yik Yak are far different from the opinions of those who support Saint Mary’s students. “To our first-years over at Saint Mary’s: You’re welcome here and even though this had the ability to blow up and be shared so many times and in so many different ways, this is a very vocal minority of things on Notre Dame’s campus,” Bisner said. “So many more of us are so happy you’re here, so happy to get to know you, work with you and to be your friends.” Njomo added that student government is following the work Notre Dame vice president of student affairs Fr. Gerry Olinger has been doing with Saint Mary’s to address the issue. Bisner expressed hope that Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s can create solutions to adequately resolve the problems these Yik Yak posts reflect. “Going forward, we really hope that Fr. Gerry and his counterparts over at Saint Mary’s do all they can to create a culture of accountability, and specifically accountability in this specific circumstance,” Bisner said. Saint Mary’s student government demands accountability for derogatory posts Saint Mary’s SGA vice president Adriana Salgado described her experience with seeing posts on Yik Yak escalate throughout the end of the weekend. “I got on Instagram, and I saw that Smick Memes had posted several screenshots of like things that had been said,” Salgado said. “By the end of the day, they would have been considered the more tame ones.”
ndsmcobserver.com | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 | The Observer
SGA president Elly Hanson, who posted a statement on Instagram condemning the Yik Yak content, noted her resolve to continue to reach out to Notre Dame. “I wanted to react out of frustration, and I had a lot of things that I wanted to say that would have been mean, but at the end of the day, you can’t fight fire with fire,” Hanson said. “And the only thing that we can do is keep extending a hand towards Notre Dame and show that we want to have a better relationship and it’s up to Notre Dame to decide if they want to have a great relationship with us.” Hanson also expressed concerns regarding the serious topics that users were making light of on the platform. “It’s easy for them to say things like that because they’re hiding behind a screen,” Hanson said. “But it was disgusting — I could not believe that people actually thought that was a joke. It was heartbreaking.” Salgado said she hopes the College administration will have impactful conversations about stereotypes about Saint Mary’s students. “I think our administration has made a very good attempt at saying and addressing the problem, but I do think that we need to have more difficult and personal conversations on how we can prevent this from happening,” Salgado said. She also noted a desire for accountability. “I love Notre Dame [and] I think Notre Dame should be held accountable,” Salgado said. “I don’t know why they had to say the things that they had to say, and why they had to bring Lizzy [Seeberg] into it. It was just not mindful of survivors, it wasn’t mindful of women, [and] it wasn’t mindful of the mothers, sisters, cousins, aunts who have attended Saint Mary’s. It was just negative and hateful.” Salgado concluded by questioning the reciprocity in Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s relationship. “Obviously, we love Notre Dame,” Salgado said. “We cheer for their football team. That’s why we signed up for these tickets. Why can’t they love us in the same way?” Notre Dame students stand in solidarity with Saint Mary’s Notre Dame sophomore Kasey Nye discussed both Yik Yak as a platform and the mindset of the users who have posted disparaging comments. “What’s so toxic about Yik Yak is that people can say these things anonymously, but what this is really highlighting is the underlying issue — people are having these thoughts in the first place at a place that claims to be so good for their community,” Nye said. Nye also mentioned some Saint Mary’s students don’t want to wear College apparel on the Notre Dame campus. “I know a lot of Saint Mary’s girls who don’t want to wear
Saint Mary’s stuff on campus,” Nye said. “It’s true and very legitimate. Like, if you wear Saint Mary’s stuff to parties, you’re going to be treated differently and that’s just misogyny and classism and elitism all mixed up in one, which is very unfortunate.” Nye expressed gratitude for the people she knows at Saint Mary’s and disappointment that people don’t feel the same way. “Some of the greatest girls I’ve ever met are from Saint Mary’s and that’s sad that a lot of people can’t see that,” Nye said. Notre Dame junior Connie Chen also discussed stereotypes about Saint Mary’s students and how they differ from her persoal experience. “The stereotypes that are promoted by Notre Dame about SMC [are] disgusting to hear,” Chen said. “I’ve spent my fair share of time at Saint Mary’s, I know a lot of people from Saint Mary’s, I’m friends with a lot of people from Saint Mary’s and they’re all fantastic people. It really breaks my heart to hear s— like this but know a completely different narrative.” She also addressed how the culture on the tri-campus can change. “I think that it falls both on the University and the College to go out there and change that narrative,” she said. “I think if we’re being idealistic, we should say that the University should intervene and go and try to make more programs, so we meet SMC girls and things like that. But I think that’s idealistic. If we want to be realistic, it has to be an individual push to change and that falls on you to try to reach out and make new friends.” Student organizations, academic programs address harm created by comments Notre Dame Band piccolo section leader Alena Coleman said she was upset by the posts made against Saint Mary’s students. “For me, these comments were ugly, but not surprising,” Coleman said. “The piccolo section is proud to have Saint Mary’s students as a part of our section, so I’ve heard stories about the kinds of things Notre Dame students will say to Saint Mary’s students.” Coleman also referenced the inclusive nature of the band. “These comments are really disheartening because they just show willful ignorance and, in my personal opinion, the deeply-rooted sexism and elitism in the Notre Dame psyche,” Coleman said. “The band became co-ed before the University thanks to pioneers from Saint Mary’s, and Saint Mary’s students are a really vital part of the piccolos, especially.” Coleman was one of the leaders who encouraged band members to dress in support for Saint Mary’s during one of this week’s practices. “Specifically, because of the
Yik Yak comments, a few of the piccolo seniors — including head drum major and former piccolo Ella Wisniewski — coordinated an effort to buy shirts from the Saint Mary’s bookstore,” Coleman said. “Saint Mary’s students also lent out t-shirts, so we were all able to wear Saint Mary’s merch to [Tuesday] night’s practice.” Coleman said she hopes to uplift Saint Mary’s students and make them feel that they belong in band. “The other drum majors even got involved,” Coleman said. “It was a really small gesture, but we got a lot of positive feedback from SMC piccolos. It’s really important to us to reaffirm the place of SMC students in the band, so we’re hoping to continue doing more events like that to support them.” Notre Dame junior Tilly Keeven is a member of the Notre Dame/Saint Mary’s CoExchange program to complete a College major in secondary education. As a student on both campuses, she shared her perceptive on tri-campus relations. “Although we call it ‘the tricampus community,’ there really isn’t one,” Keeven said. “We expect the Saint Mary’s students to come over to [Notre Dame] for everything. It really does seem in a gross way that Saint Mary’s girls are treated like ... soon-to-be wives of Notre Dame guys and that’s all they are.” In regards to the jokes the Yik Yak commenters made about suicide, Keeven noted the importance of conversations about mental health and misogyny. “I think that it’s important that we talk about mental health, and I’m really disappointed that a specific individual’s name was brought into it, especially without the consent of her family,” she said. “I understand why it’s important to talk about these things and I think Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s alike need to have that conversation, but at the same time, the comments that were made were so linked to misogyny. It’s difficult to unblur those conversations.” Keeven said she is not hopeful tri-campus relations can be mended. “It’s really upsetting to think about,” she said. “I love so much about going to school at Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s, but that’s one bridge that I don’t think is ever going to change. It’s still going to be a completely different world.” Saint Mary’s Belles Against Violence Office (BAVO) coordinator Liz Coulston said she believes in the value of the tricampus working together to resolve issues of sexual violence and mental health. “I believe the more collaboration we can do as a tri-campus community, the better,” Coulston said. “We have an opportunity to unite on the important issues of sexual violence and mental health and
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truly make an impact for our students, faculty and staff. I believe we accomplish more together than alone.” Coulston encouraged a large shift in culture that holds everyone accountable. “Mandatory education for students and staff can be valuable, but overall, these programs have not been found to change the culture as a whole,” she said. “As a tri-campus community, we need to set the norms that violence of any kind is not tolerated and everyone is expected to do their part. A change this big will take everyone.” For Saint Mary’s students, especially first-years, Coulston had a simple message. “These posts are hurtful, cruel, disgusting and confusing — whatever you are feeling is normal. Also remember, you do not need to handle any of this alone. There are people on our campus who want to support you. Reach out. If you’re not sure who to reach out to, you can start with BAVO.” Contact Genevieve Coleman at gcoleman01@saintmarys.edu
Flu shots needed Observer Staff Report
University Health Services (UHS) announced in an email Wednesday students are required to receive a f lu vaccine this fall. Director of UHS Edward Junkins said in the email the decision comes as part of an effort to reduce the spread of respiratory-based illnesses and minimize f lu symptoms on campus. Junkins said minimizing f lu symptoms, which can match COVID-19 symptoms, will preserve local and campus health resources used for diagnosing COVID-19. The University will hold two free f lu blitzes from Oct. 4 through Oct. 6 and Oct. 25 through Oct. 27. Junkins said all students — undergraduate, graduate and professional — are required to receive the vaccine. Students who receive the vaccine off campus must upload documentation to their UHS portal, Junkins wrote. Registration is required for the f lu blitz. Students must complete the f lu vaccine requirement by Nov. 1 or face a hold on their class registration for next semester. Students may request a religious or medical exemption, the email said.
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NEWS
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Medieval Continued from page 1
summarized the work of the Institute by reflecting on its history. “It was founded in 1946, one of the oldest in North America,” he said. “It began as an institute to study the thoughts of the forebears of Thomas Aquinas in the 12th century. And over the years, its remit has expanded very broadly; we still have people studying 12th-century thought, but we are now very strong in areas like Old and Middle English and Old Norse, the language of Iceland and Norway. We study the history of Islamic theology, the history of Islam in the East, medieval Jewish thought and we have scholars studying almost the whole range of medieval topics that one can imagine, running from the North Sea through the far eastern end of the Mediterranean,” Burman said. And after all these years, Burman said, the program is still going strong. “From the beginning, we’ve had a graduate program, which has produced about 100 PhD students over the 75 years that we’ve been doing this,” he said. “Probably the majority of those students are from about 1980 onward. They have gone off to leading institutions as scholars of the Middle Ages in English departments, history departments, philosophy departments and theology departments. About 20 years ago we began an undergraduate program. At any time, we have about 40 undergraduate majors or minors. So, that is a thriving aspect of our institution as well.” Assistant director of the Medieval Institute Dr. Megan J. Hall has worked for six years in her current position, although she was involved with the Institute for longer. When asked to share more about the Institute’s role at the University, she, like Burman, pointed to its long-standing national prominence. “We have the privilege of being an international hub for medievalist scholars, receiving many requests for people from other universities to come in and spend a few days or a week, or even a semester or year here as well,” Hall said. “We get to host a great group of people both on campus and off campus,” Hall said. One of the many goals of the Institute’s 75th anniversary events was to incite curiosity and to allow people to explore their interests in the Middle Ages, no matter their background. The Institute specializes in a broad range of academic topics, Hall said. “For anybody who is not sure what the ‘Middle Ages’ refers to, we basically define it as the period roughly spanning 500-1500 A.D.,” she said. “The Institute began with the
study of the Catholic Middle Ages, which of course is fully entwined with the Middle Ages in Europe. Now, however, we have expanded our geographical reach, including faculty members and students who are working on the Mediterranean, Asia, [the] early Americas,and even down to parts of Africa. It’s really a tremendous privilege to be here and to have this Institute, as there are only a handful of places like this.” Burman also spoke on the reason for the Institute’s continued existence: a long history of support from the University. “The significance of the 75th anniversary in some ways is a testament to Notre Dame’s continued support for medieval studies, which is not necessarily characteristic of state universities,” he said. “But even among Catholic universities, Notre Dame is a little bit unique for its huge emphasis on the study of the Middle Ages. Part of the reason for this is that Fr. Hesburgh was a big supporter of this goal. He’s the one who, when the library was being designed, dedicated the seventh floor to medieval studies. So this celebration is a testament to Notre Dame’s amazing commitment.” And proof of this commitment lies in the library’s large collection of manuscripts, Hall said. “We have terrific collections of manuscripts that date back to the Middle Ages in the library, which the Institute is closely related to,” she said. “Students and faculty members can consult such historical works at their leisure. In addition, we have a number of facsimiles — exact copies of medieval manuscripts even down to the look and feel of the pages. So there is a tremendous set of assets in the Rare Books & Special Collections section on the first floor of Hesburgh Library. Sometimes we will have manuscript exhibits here at the Medieval Institute, and it is a pretty impressive show.” Preparations for the Institution’s 75th anniversary have involved an enormous amount of work and dedication, Hall added. “We have been planning this anniversary for at least five years now, looking toward this great milestone. It has been such a joy to celebrate this long history,” Hall said. “When I was preparing for the 75th and putting together different events, writing up history pieces, I discovered that we actually prepared a big celebration for the 50th anniversary too; that event included a special Mass honoring the department. Now with the 75th, it is wonderful to reflect on how my predecessors have done such a great job of preserving different parts of our history. Between our files and the archives, we have a lot of good material which we can use to open up a window to the
Courtesy of Megan J. Hall
The Medieval Institute holds a graduation ceremony in this photo from 2016. This 2021, the Institute is celebrating 75 years. It is the nation’s “largest and most prestigious” center for the study of the Middle Ages.
past 75 years.” And the anniversary’s events are catered toward a variety of different populations, Hall said — not just current faculty and students. “We’ve looked at it from a couple of different angles,” she said. “One is to help celebrate within our community, so people who are graduate students, faculty members and staff members. In addition, we were also searching for ways to welcome the broader community to join us. So we have a special alumni lecture series that we put together. We had the first of those earlier this month, and we have more upcoming lectures you can check out on our website.” Hall also elaborated on other initiatives being planned. “We have also been putting together a number of more community-related events that we hope will draw people in from campus, and more broadly the South Bend area,” she said. “These include a number of tailgates that we’ve done. We did falconry just this past weekend, fencing the weekend before and we’ve got a blacksmithing exhibition coming up. We also have some more, perhaps a bit more scholarly and focused tailgates that will host roundtable talks about the Middle Ages.” But the celebration of the Institute’s 75th anniversary is not limited to in-person events, Hall said — there are a number of online resources available as well, including livestreams of all upcoming lectures. “We’ve had such a great turnout at our tailgates and our lectures, and I think people are really happy for the opportunity to come back together again in person,” she said. “But we also have tried to put together things that are accessible for those who aren’t comfortable in person yet. And so we’re simulcasting our lectures or putting them on YouTube or Zoom. We’re trying to really make this a celebration that everybody can attend.” The Institute’s website and social medias have also
undergone overhauls in celebration of its anniversary, Hall said. “We have tried to create written pieces that people can enjoy that tell the story of the Institute,” she said. “A short video was released on our YouTube channel that talked about our founder, Fr. Philip Moore. And I really enjoyed watching it and learning more, even being an insider. It was terrific to know more about our origins. We do alumni spotlights regularly, but now we’re focusing on some of our oldest living alumni. So we’ve got one of our 1950s graduates, and he wrote an interview for us that we’ll be putting out this month. The best place I can send you to read these publications is our website. You can also click on our website to get to our Twitter feed, YouTube channel and Facebook page as well. We have a newsfeed that we’ve published at least once a week. We also have a 75th-anniversary landing page.” In the time she has been producing and programming for the Institute, Hall said she has learned some interesting facts about the history of the organization. “As I’ve been working to produce some of these write-ups, I’m uncovering really cool things: old commencement programs and old annual reports that talk about the great programs that we’ve had in the past and uncover the lives of incredibly famous scholars.” Burman spoke on the success of the anniversary celebrations thus far, as well as his hopes for the future of the Institute at Notre Dame. “We’re very pleased with the results,” he said. “So far our lectures have had great turnouts. We’re accomplishing exactly what we want, and we hope that the community gains much more awareness of what the Institute is doing and that they gain more awareness of the Middle Ages. My hope is that the Notre Dame community sees medieval studies as a crucial part of the core humanities approach of the
University, since we led the way in turning Notre Dame into a research university.” The purpose of such extensive celebrations is, according to Burman, a matter of raising awareness. “One goal is to make the Medieval Institute better known on campus itself,” he said. “We’re very well-known around the world. All medievalists have heard of the Medieval Institute, and it’s considered to be a very prestigious place to study the Middle Ages. But a lot of people within our community hardly know it exists, which is not an unusual thing for an academic entity.” Hall responded similarly, also expressing the Institute’s future hopes for community-building. “We’ve got all these great tailgates. We’ve got lectures about a lot of programming that we’ve been putting together all of our digital exhibits. So we really would love to just let people know that we’re here, and that anyone can come and be a part of the Institute, they don’t have a formal affiliation,” Hall said. “They don’t have to be a major or minor, although they certainly could be welcome too. But we have such wonderful resources, both the collections and the people. And we would love to involve the Notre Dame campus community more in what we do here. We’re always excited to work with folks. It’s something you can’t miss if you study here.” Further encouraging students to explore the academic opportunities of the medieval studies department, Hall spoke of the program’s versatility in conjunction with other majors. “I really have been excited to see the creative ways in which students use a medieval studies major or minor and how they intertwine it with a modern pursuit,” Hall said. “For example, I know of a business major who was able to create a nonprofit business that helps serve historically underrepresented see MEDIEVAL PAGE 5
News
ndsmcobserver.com | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 | The Observer
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Snite displays sculpture By GRACIE EPPLER News Writer
Yinka Shonibare’s sculpture “Earth Kid (Boy)” depicts a young boy dealing with climate change. The piece is currently on display at the Snite Museum of Art and goes hand in hand with the 2021 Notre Dame Forum on sustainability. Shonibare’s sculpture stands at about 5 feet tall and illustrates a boy carrying a net on his hunched back. The net is filled with plastic waste, rubber gloves, crushed bottles and other non-recyclable trash. Yonibare’s colorful mannequin is made of fiberglass and cotton textiles, with a globe where the boy’s head should be. The child’s pants are decorated with a peacock pattern, and his blazer is a mix of purple, orange and white hues. But the bright kaleidoscope of colors and patterns starkly contrast the message of Shonibare’s sculpture: The youth of today face an environmental crisis. This is not the first time Shonibare has mixed politics with art. He constantly speaks out on prominent issues, and
does it all through a creative lens. “Yinka Shonibare is one of the most important voices in the current discourse on climate change,” Gina Costa, the Snite Museum’s marketing and public relations manager, said. The globe that sits atop Earth Kid’s head is meant to symbolize the universality of the issue of climate change. It is not just an issue that one country can deal with alone — it calls all nations to band together. “The work Shonibare does is just totally different from what anyone else is doing,” Costa said. “I mean, he’s just inventing his own visual vocabulary while addressing issues that are very, very important for today.” Shonibare is a British-Nigerian artist who currently resides in London. His pieces often comment on his African heritage, colonization and politics. He often manages to express messages by incorporating brightly colored mannequins such as the one on display at the Snite. Costa said they are thrilled to be able to display Shonibare’s work at Notre Dame. “To have a work like this in the
University is remarkable,” Costa said. The theme for the 2021 Notre Dame Forum was “Care for our Common Home,” with a focus on climate change and sustainability. Besides bringing pieces like “Earth Kid (Boy)” and hosting speakers on campus, Notre Dame is also committing to a plan to reduce carbon emissions. Daniel Miller, associate professor of environmental policy in the Keough School of Global Affairs, said he believes the Forum is an important step for the University. “The campus is currently abuzz with events, conversations and actions related to the ND Forum’s theme,” Miller said in an email. “I am optimistic that this process will lead to meaningful change — in education and research on campus, but more broadly in the world through our actions.” Shonibare’s piece will be on display at the Snite until Dec. 11 and is open for anyone to come see. Contact Gracie Eppler at geppler@nd.edu
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groups. They can tie their purpose into this larger, historical narrative. Our students are so talented, and they have just really amazed me with their ability to take what we have here and run with it. They continue to keep the Institute relevant to both scholarly pursuits and to real-world application. In that way, we can make history come alive and be very practical and useful for the present.” Looking back on the long journey towards this anniversary celebration, Hall briefly reflected on the past, present and future of the Institute. “We can know where we come from, how we progressed in that time and also what we are looking forward to: championing another 75 years of medieval studies.
professional realm. The Women’s Network also seeks to ensure the women on the Notre Dame campus can also grow in their own individual character and ensure that they are holistically set for their future. The national network will host speaker events that Notre Dame students will be able to attend. In the past, speakers have been involved in a diverse array of industries, from medicine to business to journalism to show production. They are highly accredited in their respective fields. Women across the Notre Dame campus interested in networking can get involved with the Women’s Network through the organization’s website. Students can also stay up to date by following the program’s Instagram pages at @thewomensnetwork_notredame or @thewomens.network.
Contact Marcelle Couto at mcouto@nd.edu
Contact Emma Duffy at eduffy5@nd.edu
during games — emblematic of how the band relies on student leadership. “A big thing is how much the [band is] student-led. That’s ver y, ver y unique,” assistant band director Matt Merten emphasized. Erin Swope, a leader w ithin the sa xophones section, was elected by her peers to ser ve as band president this year. “This is such a crucial year for us, rebuilding and coming back from the pandemic,” Swope said. Merten noted that last year, the entire band was able to play at all the games, unlike other universities across the countr y. “Last year, we took a quarter of the Stadium and spread out,” Merten said. “And we did it in a safe way. But we weren’t on the field. And we have a lot of traditions that we didn’t really get to do last year.” The band’s motto is “Tradition, Excellence and Family,” and after a year when the group was only able to practice w ith half the group at a time, they’re excited to return to full capacit y. “This year is a celebration of returning to our traditions fully,” Swope said. “Band has really been my family for the last four years.” The band has returned to many of its pre-pandemic
traditions, including the parade to the Stadium, the Midnight Drummers’ Circle and the concert on the steps. Each section of the band has different traditions, including the sa xophones and the mellophones — know n colloquially by the band as “faltos” — who w rite parody songs throughout the week, and then compete by singing the songs at South Dining Hall. The Band of the Fighting Irish is a tri-campus organization, draw ing members from the Universit y, Saint Mar y’s College and Holy Cross College. “We have a lot of pivotal members from Saint Mar y’s and Holy Cross,” Swope said. On Tuesday, many of the members of the band wore Saint Mar y’s College apparel in solidarit y w ith Saint Mar y’s students who had been the target of social media attacks on Yik Yak due to the controversy over the Shamrock Series lotter y. Baker, wearing a light blue Saint Mar y’s T-shirt, said, “We incorporate kids from Holy Cross and Saint Mar y’s and Notre Dame into our communit y and establish something that’s unprecedented. We develop this communit y across all three campuses; we bring kids from all over the countr y, all different majors.” Each week, they come together in order to learn a new show. “We never really repeat shows,” said Baker.
The band understands the relationship they have w ith the students and fans in the stands, so they choose a variet y of music. “We understand that our crowd is students, alums and subway alums that are all here. So we tr y to pick music that is fun,” Merten said. From the Weeknd to incorporating the essentials like the Celtic Chant, the band plays to cater towards the different populations that are in the Stadium. Merten emphasized that the band itself is a crosssection of the Universit y. “The t y pical student in the band is the t y pical student at Notre Dame,” Merten said. Their largest major is actually engineering, which composes 35% of the band. “We have only a handful of music majors,” he added. “We have a lot of students who are really good at teaching an instrument and getting people up to speed so they can play in the band. So we’re a prett y inclusive organization, in the sense that we w ill take anybody as long as they’re w illing to work hard,” Merten concluded. The Band of the Fighting Irish, in its 165th year, w ill play next at the Shamrock Series game in Chicago against the Wisconsin Badgers this Saturday. Contact Isa Sheikh at isheikh@nd.edu
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The observer | Friday, September 24, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
We’re back
Inside Column
The sprinkles situation Aidan O’Malley Scene Editor
Over the past two years and — *checks watch* — one month, I have w ritten quite literally thousands of words in the pages of The Obser ver. As if that wasn’t unhinged enough, I w rote most of them w ith no expectation that anyone I know or love would read them. Yes, journalism is a public ser v ice, but the act of w riting is actually quite selfish. Of course, if you happen to have dipped your toe into my Obser ver oeuv re, I thank you for it. But I don’t w rite to be read — I w rite because I have to. A ll of that is to say that this article, right here, published on the 24th of September in the Year of Our Lord 2021, is different. This is — w ithout a hint of hy perbole, w ithout an ink ling of irony, w ithout a DROP of dramatization — the single most important 600 words I have ever worded 600 times. It is my most critical contribution to The Obser ver yet, w ritten not for me, but for you. I don’t consider myself a hero, though what I do is certainly brave. I think of myself more like a philosopher — like Aristotle, or Socrates — pondering life’s great mysteries … W hat is truth? W hat is justice? And where the f *ck are the rainbow sprink les in North Dining Hall? For those uninitiated, both North and South Dining Hall come equipped w ith state-of-the-art soft-ser ve machines. One lever prov ides rich, creamy vanilla, another sweet, satisf y ing chocolate and the one in the middle mixes the two, sw irling them together so finely you would think you had broken into a Dair y Queen. One time, I saw a guy take a plate and pour a py ramid. It was glorious. Of course, for the 2020-2021 school year, these genius contraptions lay dormant, cr y ing out to be used as masked students shuff led past. But this fall is a new daw n, and as the soft-ser ve machines whirred to life, I was there, bowl and spoon in hand. But I didn’t receive a warm welcome. To my horror, there were no rainbow sprink les. Historically, there has been not too far from the soft ser ve a variet y of condiments. Students could choose from a collection of nuts and berries, chocolate chips, caramel and cocoa glaze — and of course, my sprink les. But my sprink les were nowhere to be seen! My fight-or-f light response was instantly triggered. I started to panic. W hat should I do? Should I get my ice cream, w ithout rainbow sprink les? God no, I’m not a caveman! Should I ask to speak w ith the manager? Should I call my representative? It simply never occurred to me that there wouldn’t be rainbow sprink les. “They must have just forgotten,” I assured myself. “Surely tomorrow the sprink les w ill return.” But 24 hours later, they were still missing — and 48 hours later, too. Four weeks into the semester, and there are still no rainbow sprink les. So, I blinked. A good friend of mine — a fellow ice cream connoisseur and sprink le enthusiast — agreed to foot half the bill for oh, shall we say, an investment. To put it bluntly, we bought sprink les online; more specifically, these ones. They are quite good and gluten-free. Oh, but the SH AME I feel when I bring them to the dining hall ! The LOOKS I receive when I pull out of my backpack 14 whole ounces of candy-colored deliciousness ! ! I cannot continue liv ing like this. Thus, I call on Campus Dining — nay, Fr. Jenkins — to correct this affront immediately. Bring back rainbow sprink les to North Dining Hall! The person has spoken. And you want to know the worst part? The other day, I met up w ith some friends at South Dining Hall. Guess what was there. You can contact Aidan at aomalle2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Mary Ellen Woods MEWsings
As I have noted in prior columns, my Inspired Leadership Initiative (ILI) experience is a time of ref lection, discernment and design. I am beyond grateful for this experience. It is also a time of returning and renewal. This is the longest time I have spent on campus since my undergraduate years which ended on May 18, 1980 — a million years ago, for those who are counting. We spend a great deal of time contemplating our leave-taking, yet this year, both for me and all of those on campus, it is also a time when we can declare “We’re back!” As did Dan Stowe, director of the Notre Dame Glee Club as he began the triennial alumni concert. “There’s a Meeting Here Tonight” is the African American spiritual that opened the evening. As the inspiring male voices greeted us, the well-seasoned words were especially resonant: Come along There’s a meeting here tonight I know you by your daily walk There’s a meeting here tonight “Come along” w ith us on this journey. “There’s a meeting here tonight.” We return to Notre Dame — Our Lady’s Universit y — w ith wonder and anticipation; w ith exuberance and a bit of caution. The year ahead w ill be so familiar, yet new again. Our daily walk of learning, grow ing and being in communit y together inspires and challenges. Gone are dear friends and travails and welcomed are the new and promising. And, this early in the semester, we are full of hope. The alumni concert draws friends old and new. Some 225 voices rose in song. Dan Stowe reminded the audience that the Glee Club suspended their season w ith their last performance on March 12, 2020. It had been 18 months since they had sung together, so graduates of the classes of 2020 and 2021 joined current students and alumni in an evening of joy and welcome homecoming. We were back. How have we changed? W hat have we learned? And what have we lost? For these men, they dedicated “Venite Ad Me Omnes” to the memor y of Stev ie Biddle ’12. I am ages older, yet feel refreshed and inspired to be back, in the classroom and w ith ILI fellows and students. This seems to be the perfect year to return. We were graced w ith the voices of Notre Dame men, both young and older. Dan Stowe acknowledged the current students
interspersed among the crowd whom were graduates of the classes of 2020 and 2021 whose leave-taking was imperfect. Rounding out the group were alums from 1959 and for ward. Each was “back on campus” fresh w ith song and joy. How have their lives changed? W hat is good about the new post-COV ID world? W hen w ill we hold our last Zoom call? Give a friend a hug w ithout asking permission? Enter a building w ithout groping for a mask? Burn the last of our cloth masks? W hat was good about our COV ID times? The birthday celebration that included a friend from Ireland, because, Zoom? The online anti-racism seminar, because Zoom? Actually asking if my cousin’s celebration would be streamed live? I pause to remind myself and you, dear readers, that I set about to contemplate homecoming and returning, renewal and rebirth. I note, w ith joy, the sight of the father and his tow-haired son who just left Duncan. I celebrate my acceptance to ILI as my quarantine accomplishment. I appreciate mastering the readings in my sociolog y class or the philosophy masters in my ILI fellows class. Since last Friday night, the refrain from the most poignant of the Glee Club’s songs, “Loch Lomond,” has echoed through my brain. You’ll take the high road and I’ll take the low road, And I’ll be in Scotland afore you. W here me and my true love w ill never meet again, On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. Though our Scotsman may not meet his lass, we do walk together. We have either the low road or the high road, and our year, our lives are ahead. I have chosen to return; you may be anticipating leav ing, but let us commit to Our Lady and her Universit y that we w ill relish and cherish each day ahead until our roads take us from her and her watchful grace. Love thee. Mary Ellen Woods is a graduate of the Notre Dame class of 1980. She has returned to campus as a fellow in the Inspired Leadership Initiative (ILI). As an undergraduate, she lived in BreenPhillips Hall and now lives off campus. Her columns appear every other Thursday. A longtime resident of Chicago, she can be reached at mewoods80@nd.edu or @MEWsmuses on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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The observer | Friday, September 24, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
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9/11 and the media David Henry Corrupting the Youth
9/11 was a tragedy. Many lost their lives and many more suffered indirectly through the loss of loved ones and the psychological stress caused by the event. Surely it is an event worth discussing, being the first attack on U.S. soil since Pearl Harbor, but 20 years later, why does it still hold so much attention? Consider all the other American lives that have been lost since 2001. Hurricane Maria killed almost the exact same amount of people as the events of 9/11, in Puerto Rico alone and four years later, the territory is still waiting on federal aid. For having caused the same amount of death, the reaction — both by the government and the media — has hardly been the same. None of this is to downplay the tragic events of 9/11, but rather to ask why 9/11 in particular is given so much attention. I would argue that the reason 9/11 is given so much attention, even 20 years later, is the reason that anything is given attention by the media and government — it serves someone’s interests. This statement is probably a lot less controversial in a day where accusations of “fake news” are frequent, but I want to differentiate my argument from this discourse. The fundamental assumption of “fake news” accusations today is that news would be reliable if it could just impartially report the facts, without sensationalizing, misleading or taking partisan positions. What I argue is that this is not enough — even if news outlets simply report the facts as they are, they still will express bias by what stories they do and don’t highlight. And what they do and don’t decide to highlight has everything to do with financial incentives. An in-depth analysis of the structure of media organizations and their financial incentives could fill multiple books, and I will not pretend to have fully examined it here. For those interested in reading more, I would recommend “Manufacturing Consent” by Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky. Instead, I will only examine a few aspects of the media and a few examples to illustrate my point. First, the
media is a business, meaning they’re trying to sell something. In general, we are the product being sold, so stories that can keep our interest and that appeal to advertisers will be featured the most heavily. Media organizations also have the issue of sourcing. It is expensive to have reporters present in every location, so relying on official government sources, which are free, makes financial sense. Of course, this logically leads to narratives that are in line with the official government positions — this is especially important in the context of war, where investigative journalism becomes increasingly difficult. In fact, this has led to issues in the past with the government lying — and the media repeating those lies — about the war in Afghanistan. After all, it’s a lot easier to print stories of American heroism than the facts of our disastrous foreign wars. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, news outlets have owners. Today, 90% of the media is controlled by only 6 corporations. Combine that with the recent acquisition of the Washington Post by Jeff Bezos, and there is a clear incentive for news organizations to present narratives beneficial to their wealthy owners. Our obsession with 9/11 makes more sense in the light of these facts — the nationalistic fervor and support for foreign wars that repeated portrayals and discussions of 9/11 creates is to the clear benefit of a certain group of people. The military-industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned of in his farewell address had clear incentives to encourage the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. The media had no problem seizing on what was probably the easier reporting they’ve ever done when covering 9/11, uncritically generating support for the subsequent invasions of the Middle East. To further illustrate the point, consider the other 9/11 — Chile’s 9/11. On September 11, 1973, Chile’s democratically elected socialist government under Salvador Allende was overthrown by a U.S.-backed military coup. The major event of the coup was the bombing of the presidential palace and eventual death of Allende. Why does the media not discuss the Chilean 9/11? Surely the American public deserves to know what their government is doing, especially when it is undermining democracy.
One could imagine what might happen if the media — which is responsible for much of what we believe is true about the world — were to direct their focus to issues more relevant to the average citizen. If more stories like the story of Chile’s 9/11 were talked about, then we might be more skeptical about our government. If more attention was given to the recovery in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, we might be more likely to demand an effective government response. If economic reporting wasn’t biased towards the concerns of richer citizens, we might demand better economic policy. Although events like 9/11 are worthy of our attention, we ought to consider what else it is that we aren’t talking about — and who stands to benefit.
KERRY SCHNEEMAN | The Observer
David Henry is a sophomore majoring in the Program of Liberal Studies with a supplementary major in ACMS and a minor in philosophy, politics and economics. Originally from Minnesota, David lives in Baumer Hall on campus. He can be reached at dhenry3@nd.edu over email. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The case for Yik Yak Alexa Schlaerth Soapbox Symposium
Last year, I was a loyal follower of Notre Dame-related Instagram meme and/or pop culture accounts: @coronavirusnd, @ndchicks and @ndbarstool, to name a few. Given I was away from campus on a gap year, I didn’t “get” many of the jokes, or at least, I didn’t have the same appreciation and understanding as I would if I had been on campus, in tune with the quotidian qualms, the topics du jour. I personally had never encountered a HERE™ sign, but I somewhat understood the ensuing hilarity after they “went missing.” I also didn’t necessarily agree with the nature of all of the content. In the case of @ndchicks, one notable post was on July 26: “Buzzed,” a game whose instructions included “Drink if you’ve gone to class hungover” and “Drink if you’ve snuck in through a first floor window past parietals.” To put it into a few words, I would not have had a drink in response to either prompt. Despite these personal differences between some of the content on these accounts and myself, I continued to follow said accounts and interact with their posts. I wanted to stay in the loop, to keep my finger on the pulse of the student body. Encountering these social commentaries in my feed made me feel connected to Notre Dame even while I was almost 2,000 miles away. Flash forward to this semester back on campus. I’ve found myself interacting with a new social medium enjoyed by many a Notre Dame student: Yik Yak. The reemerging platform has a bit of a dark past, as it’s been associated with cyberbullying and threats of on-campus crime in years past. Already, Notre Dame has seen a microcosm of contention with some derogatory comments posted about members of our tri-campus community following the Shamrock Series ticket lottery. My take? This is a petri dish of tensions that have already been festering in the hearts and minds of some in our community. Only now do we get to take a look inside.
Yik Yak’s “anonymous” posting feature allows users to submit content while only giving the app a phone number for verification. This feature, while equipped with the potential to embolden “haters” also carries a more positive, or at least informative, opportunity. In this Information Age, I tend to think that more data is generally good. Well, with Yik Yak, my cup runneth over. Is it still useful information if the posts on Yik Yak are not all factual accounts? What about satire? To this argument, I’d point you to another Instagram account I follow: @overheardla. OverheardLA posts quotes from a pool of submissions with the option of anonymity. A recent favorite post of mine was overheard on West 3rd, posted on August 25: Q: “How do you know if he’s a wannabe actor or an actual actor?” A: “Easy. Does he work out at LA fitness or Equinox?” Did this take place? Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t. We have no way of knowing for sure. Macroscopically, did all the anecdotes on OverheardLA happen exactly as they were quoted on the account? Highly doubtful. But that’s beside the point. The questions we should be asking about these posts are: What insight into the community does this offer? What perspective is illustrated in this example? How does it inform us of what that environment is really like? Yik Yak, much like OverheardLA or the Notre Dame meme accounts, or even the Course Instructor Feedback forms students submit toward the end of each semester, provide what is essentially a much needed “vibe check.” It helps us keep a finger on the pulse of our community members’ opinions. And sometimes anonymity makes the difference between sharing an opinion and keeping this (sometimes problematic) “vibe check” to oneself. Yik Yak’s reemergence after a history of scandal means a keen eye will be watching over the app. The people at Yik Yak HQ have some treacherous legal waters to navigate. Where is the line when the First Amendment meets internet anonymity? What constitutes “yelling fire in a crowded theater” when the yelling is an upvoted message and the
theater is all users within a five-mile radius? As Yik Yak faces these new questions for their company internally, we as the Notre Dame community should ask ourselves a few of our own. We need to take a good, long look at ourselves, at the type of environment we occupy. We need to examine our attitudes, what’s inside the metaphorical petri dish that Yik Yak is putting up to a microscope. The opinions predate Yik Yak. The tensions, the hostilities — all are part of a larger ideology that exists outside of and is bigger than the anonymous app. Yik Yak merely started the conversation. Its cloak of anonymity made people feel comfortable enough to share things that many would not have shared publicly. Let’s take a deeper dive into these opinions. We need to have deeper conversations with our peers and friends. We need to have conversations in which the cloak of anonymity is removed and instead replaced with trust. Only through trust and conversation can we confront the issues that have come to light from Yik Yak’s reemergence. And it’s ultimately good that we have this data and that we can use it to create positive change in our community.
KERRY SCHNEEMAN | The Observer
Alexa Schlaerth is a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame pursuing degrees in Chinese and philosophy. As an Angeleno, Alexa enjoys shopping at Erewhon Market, drinking kombucha and complaining about traffic because it’s “like, totally lame.” Alexa can be reached at aschlaer@nd.edu over email. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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The observer | Friday, September 24, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Stronger with Saint Mary’s Following the results of a football ticket lottery for the Shamrock Series football game on Saturday, harmful, hateful messages surged on the anonymous social media platform Yik Yak. These comments were mainly aimed at Saint Mary’s students who had won tickets to attend the game. Yik Yak is a social media platform that allows users to share anonymous messages with others within a 5-mile radius. Due to the signature anonymity of the platform, users are able to avoid accountability for posting offensive messages on social media. Issues with Yik Yak are not new to our community. Before the app was banned in 2017, instances of racism and bullying on the platform were common in our vicinity. Four years later, we face another controversy as a result of
the anonymity Yik Yak allows. Comments posted to the platform over the weekend insulted the intelligence of Saint Mary’s students and vilified them by comparing them to terrorist organizations. Some of them even trivialized sexual assault and suicide. These comments are horrif ying and have no place in our tri-campus community. However, Yik Yak did not create this pattern of disrespect toward Saint Mary’s students — it has just reignited one that has existed for decades now. This weekend’s events are another stark reminder of the misog yny and dissension that some at Notre Dame direct toward Saint Mary’s students, whether they’re protected by a screen or not. This culture is also evidenced by the objectification of Saint Mary’s students, whether it be on online platforms such as email chains or in conversation. To Notre Dame students: You share classes, clubs, dining halls and more with Saint Mary’s
students. They cheer on the Irish, study in Hesburgh Library and welcome Notre Dame students to their campus to do the same. Saint Mary’s students are an indelible part of our tricampus community and constitute a crucial part of our culture — and they should be treated and celebrated as such. As one of the few student organizations with a tri-campus membership, we at The Observer especially recognize the meaningful contributions of our Saint Mary’s peers to the life of our community. In our newsroom, they serve as writers, copy editors, photographers, graphic designers and as leaders within the Editorial Board. Not only would our tri-campus coverage not be possible without the unique perspectives and talents Saint Mary’s students bring, but The Observer itself would not be what it is today without them. To Saint Mary’s students: We will always stand by you. You are a valued part of this community. This place wouldn’t be the same without you.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
An invitation to celebrate Sukkot The Jewish Club is pleased to invite members of the Notre Dame community to celebrate Sukkot with us this weekend! Sukkot is a seven-day harvest festival in Judaism and marks the end of the agricultural year in the Land of Israel, the ancestral and religious home of the Jewish people. The holiday is a time of celebration and praise of G-d for a good harvest. An important way families and Jewish communities celebrate Sukkot is to build a sukkah in their home or synagogue. The sukkah is a booth or hut, just like ones farmers would sleep under in the fields during the harvest. The actual sukkah is a f limsy structure with three sides and a roof made out of thatch or branches. The purpose of this sturdy, yet see-through roof is to allow for shade from the sun while also being able to observe the stars at night. The sukkah is also decorated with different ornaments and trinkets to create a special, comforting atmosphere. The goal is to spend as much time as possible under the sukkah, so meals will often be eaten under it. Keeping with the theme of the harvest, Jews will hold and shake
plants from the Holy Land, including palm, myrtle, lulav (willow) and etrog (citron). Theologically, the rabbis have compared the sukkah to the huts the Israelites lived in during the 40 years of wandering the desert after escaping slavery in Egypt. Sukkot is also considered one of the three great pilgrimage festivals on the Jewish calendar. The holiday occurs during the High Holy Days, a series of significant holidays in Judaism. In fact, Sukkot follows Yom Kippur, the “Day of Atonement” and most important Jewish holiday. Synagogues may also mark the occasion of Sukkot with special prayers and activities. Festival readings are read, such as Psalms of Praise. During the Hoshana prayers, in which we ask G-d to save us, Jews will march around the synagogue holding the lulav and etrog. To celebrate Sukkot, the Jewish Club is happy to announce that a sukkah will be built on Bond Quad! The Jewish Club will be hosting two events this weekend to mark the occasion. On Friday, Sept. 24, from 6:30-7 p.m., the Jewish Club will host a special Shabbat celebration under the
sukkah. The next day, on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 3-5 p.m., we’ll join with members of the Jewish faculty and their families to enjoy snacks and beverages in celebration of Sukkot. Both events will be on Bond Quad, but in case of rain, we’ll gather on Saturday in the Coleman-Morse first f loor lounge. All members of the Notre Dame community are invited to participate in this celebration, whether you’re Jewish or not Jewish. We hope this holiday allows for a time of ref lection, peace and community-building between the variety of diverse groups who are all proud to call Notre Dame their home. If you’d like to learn more about Sukkot, check out the websites My Jewish Learning or Chabad.org. Sincerely, Bella Niforatos senior co-president, Jewish Club of Notre Dame Sept. 23
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The observer | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
By CLAIRE LYONS Scene Writer
The Met Gala, typically held the first Monday of May, was held on Monday, Sept. 13 due to delays in COVID-19 restrictions. Famous for its displays of opulence and luxury, the Gala is dedicated to raising funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Since its foundation in 1948 by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, the event has had an elite guest list ranging from New York’s high society, members of the fashion industry and celebrities. The theme of 2021’s event was “American Independence” to honor the new “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” exhibition. Many attendees boasted traditional American gowns and suits, while others decided to make a statement. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney wore a vibrant green, purple and yellow gown inscribed with “equal rights for women” sashes to pay homage to the women’s rights movement and women’s suffrage. On Twitter, Maloney stated, “I have long used fashion as a force 4 change.” Supermodel Cara Delevingne sported a white Dior vest and trousers with “Peg the Patriarchy” written in red across her chest. Both of these women made bold feminist statements, but the talk of the night was congressperson Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Tax the Rich” dress. Designed by Aurora James, founder of the luxury fashion label Brother Vellies, the dress is a white mermaid
By GENEVIEVE COLEMAN Saint Mary’s News Editor
With Jacqueline Woodson’s visit to Saint Mary’s next week, I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce myself to her writing. Because of Woodson’s extensive collection of published work, I had a hard time choosing what I wanted to read. Interesting in its plot, I ended up reading her 2019 adult novel, “Red at the Bone.” Even though the novel clocks in at about 200 pages, each chapter continues to build on a moving story about Blackness in America, which spans from the early 20th to the 21st centuries. The story opens with obvious familial tensions between the narrator Melody, her parents and her grandparents as they are getting ready to celebrate Melody’s 16th birthday. The reader soon learns that Melody’s mother, Iris, became pregnant with her when she was a teenager and there are still many unresolved feelings about Iris’ choices. Melody’s frustration is clearly directed toward her mother because she calls her Iris repeatedly and respects the decisions of her father over her mother. As the party starts, Melody’s family members continue the narration, in awe of the fact that Melody is growing up. Each character in the novel — Melody’s father Aubrey, her grandparents Po’Boy and Sabe, Iris — reveals more information about what their lives were like before Melody was born, which serves to highlight
gown with a red scrawl of “Tax the Rich” on the back. It’s safe to say that this dress sent the internet into a frenzy. People from a broad range of political backgrounds were criticizing her actions, including conservatives like Donald Trump Jr., who tweeted AOC was a “fraud” for “hanging out with a bunch of wealthy leftwing elites,” and liberal friends like Ana Navarro-Cardenas who tweeted, “going to an event for super-rich with ‘tax the rich’ written on your ass, won’t change a thing.” She said, “It’s a stunt to justify her presence at a fancy shin-dig that doesn’t match her political persona.” So, why is Ocasio-Cortez getting all of this media attention (which I’m aware of contributing to) when other attendants made political statements as well? Women’s rights are a widely uncontroversial issue. Most people agree that women should be allowed to vote and have equal rights. Ocasio’s “Tax the Rich” statement is also widely popular. According to a 2020 Reuters poll, nearly two-thirds of respondents agree that the rich should pay more taxes. Since the message of this dress isn’t very controversial, the anger from the public must be caused by something else. Many people are accusing Ocasio-Cortez of being a hypocrite. The Met Gala is known for its excessive opulence. Tickets for this year’s event reportedly cost $30,000, which is roughly enough to put a family of 5 over the federal poverty line. In 2019, Jennifer Lopez wore a necklace with a value within the range of $200,000-$300,000. Billy Porter, who also attended that year, sported a bejeweled
headdress with gold 10-foot-wings. A “Tax the Rich” dress at an event for the wealthy seems to ring hollow to the general public. It doesn’t directly do anything to improve the plight of working-class people except for spike searches for “Tax the Rich” on Google. Some celebrities can attend the Met Gala for free if they’re at a table that has been paid for or if their dress has been lent to them. On Instagram, Ocasio claims “NYC elected officials are regularly invited to and attend the Met due to our responsibilities in overseeing our city’s cultural institutions that serve the public,” sidestepping the issue of who bought her ticket. At least she claimed her “dress is borrowed via @brothervellies.” Despite the criticisms of Ocasio’s stunt, she isn’t just saying an empty message. She is actively working on trying to pass the bipartisan infrastructure and reconciliation bill and working on the Build Back Better Agenda. On Instagram, she claims her goal was to “[have] a conversation about Taxing the Rich in front of the very people who lobby against it, and [puncture] the fourth wall of excess and spectacle.” She did exactly that — people just haven’t responded to it well. She states, “The medium is the message,” but I’m not so sure. I think critiquing opulence and consumerism while also engaging in it ends up diluting the message. Is there a place for activism in fashion? Is there a place for it at the Met Gala?
what a milestone Melody’s birthday is. The reader becomes more familiar with both Iris and Aubrey’s families who come from very different backgrounds. Iris’ parents considered Iris a miracle after they lost her older brother Benjamin as an infant. They work tirelessly to provide her stability and support she needs to be become successful and are incredibly disappointed when Iris becomes pregnant as a high school sophomore. Sabe is still dealing with the trauma of her parents surviving the Tulsa Race Massacre and wants to ensure that her daughter’s future is not tarnished by white supremacy and racism that is woven into the fabric of the country. While Iris was from a very aff luent family, Aubrey grew up with a single mother CathyMarie who was dependent on aid from the government to care for herself and her son. Throughout Aubrey’s life, he struggles with the fact that he has an absent father. When Aubrey searches for him as an adult, he learns that his father overdosed before he could connect with him, which seems to weigh on him when he becomes a father himself. Despite Sabe’s objections, her classmates’ racial microaggressions and her subsequent expulsion from her Catholic school, Iris chooses to keep the baby. Iris’ pregnancy is not an easy one because of her age and her doctors not believing her pain levels during labor. An especially poignant moment in the novel is when Iris names her baby Melody after her great aunt who
almost died in Tulsa, signaling her wish for Melody’s resilience in a harsh world. This almost seems to be undermined when Iris chooses to move away to attend college and leaves Melody to be cared for by Aubrey and her parents. While it is admirable that Iris is wanting to pursue a higher education, Aubrey and Melody are deeply hurt by her sudden departure and later return. Overall, “Red at the Bone” beautifully explores Melody’s family as they experience racial discrimination. The reader grieves alongside the family as they go through loss on significant scales, especially near the end of the novel. However, there are many moments that both bolster the tone of the story and strength of the characters. In this gripping story about the power of history, Woodson reminds the reader of the hope that comes with each new generation and bonds that tie us all together.
Contact Claire Lyons at clyons3@nd.edu
Contact Genevieve Coleman at gcoleman01@saintmarys.edu
“Red at the Bone” Author: Jacqueline Woodson Publisher: Riverhead Books Genre: Historical fiction, coming-of-age story If you like: “Brown Girl Dreaming,” “Such a Fun Age”
CLAIRE KIRNER | The Observer
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The observer | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
By SOPHIA MICHETTI Scene Writer
Taylor Sw ift is the queen of many things, and she reminds us of how masterful she is at surprising her fans when she released “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” on Sept. 17. Even though Sw ifties knew that her next album in her journey of rereleasing her older albums will be “Red (Taylor’s Version),” Swift threw everyone for a loop when she dropped her rerecorded single from her “1989” album. Just four hours after its release, the new single passed the two-million play mark on Spotify, which according to Variety, “easily surpassed the previous records for the most listens to the original version of the song on Spotify in a single day.” So here’s the question all Swifties are asking: Why now? The answer, my friends, is TikTok. In recent weeks, the popularity of the original “Wildest Dreams” surged when the song was used in a TikTok trend. Now, I’m not well-versed in “the TikTok,” as my mom would say, but my understanding of the trend is that the song was used when TikTokers would use the slow zoom function to zoom in on themselves during the bridge of the song. Because of this, the daily Spotif y plays of “Wildest Dreams” jumped from around
By ROSE ANDROWICH Scene Writer
A li on t he Bou leva rd is a store located in Dow ntow n Sout h Bend, a nd while t here a re ma ny pa r ts about it t hat a re a ma zing, t r ut hf u lly, some of t he items a re not in a t y pica l college student’s budget. However, t here a re st ill ma ny g reat t hings in t he store t hat won’t brea k t he ba n k, despite t he jewelr y table on t he f irst f loor, t he $15 ca nd les a nd t he clot hing outside of t he sa le rack. The items on t he racks a re ma rked at va r y ing prices, but I a m st ill in shock about t he $ 50 f luf f y white sweater found in a college-tow n shop. Never t heless, don’t lose a ll hope — t here a re severa l g reat t hings you ca n st ill buy! For a stea l of $ 3 you ca n have t he sig nature scent of Sweet Grace a nd beaut if u l silver a nd gold bracelets, a nd t hey t r u ly do not look like $ 3 bracelets. They a re except iona l ly beaut if u l for t he price a nd
400,000 plays a day to about 700,000 plays a day. Yes, TikTok has that kind of power. So, let me bring up that original question: W hy now? Well, w ith the resurgence of the original song, Big Machine Records w ill also be getting a resurgence of profits from the song, which completely defeats the purpose of all of Sw ift’s album rereleases. Since Big Machine has sold her catalog off t w ice w ithout her input, Sw ift has been rereleasing all of her music so she has ow nership of it and can receive a larger share of the royalties as well. W hile “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” may not have been meant to come out so early, the cultural moment called for it, and Taylor Sw ift answered. Listening to the t wo versions of the song, “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” doesn’t differ much from the original. Both songs have a runtime of three minutes and fort y seconds, and there were no noticeable changes in the instrumentation. The real development found in the new release is how Sw ift’s voice has grow n over the years. Since the original version’s release in 2014, Sw ift sounds more confident and stronger. The high notes of “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” sounded less breathy than they did in the original, and overall, she just sounds older.
That’s another interesting result of Sw ift rereleasing her albums — you can really hear her development as an artist over time. Fans of Sw ift immediately began wondering what this meant. Would “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” be coming sooner than we thought? Unfortunately, the answer is likely no. “Red (Taylor’s Version)” is still set for its release on Nov. 19, and we probably won’t be getting a surprise album before that. However, the fact that “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” came out so quick ly may indicate that the rerecording of “1989” might already be in the works or finished. Still, there’s no ev idence suggesting that this new single came out for any reason besides its popularit y on TikTok. The fact that TikTok was powerful enough to successfully get an early release out of Taylor Sw ift is prett y mind-blow ing to think about. Seeing a trend on a social media platform commanding the music industr y just goes to show how much power the internet has over the world around us, so choose the songs you use for your TikToks w isely. A lso, I’m a huge fan of “Shake It Off,” so if anyone wants to start a TikTok trend w ith that, I’d really appreciate it.
blend per fect ly w it h ot her bracelets ; my on ly w ish is t hat I wou ld’ve gotten t he gold one too. In addit ion to t he cute bracelets, I a lso found a n adorable ra inbow bracelet for $4 a nd cute silver ea rrings for $ 6 ! Throughout t he store t here were a lso cute Not re Da me mag nets scattered about a nd a f un sock sect ion w it h a ra nge of eccent ric catchphrases. My persona l favorite was “Go away; I’m int rover ted,” even t hough I’m a n a mbiver t. The socks pa ired w it h a cute ca rd, found right by t he reg ister, wou ld ma ke a g reat present. By t he checkout you f ind yourself draw n to t he items on t he counter: miracle bracelets a nd t he cute w ire pony ta ils. Overa ll, I don’t believe t his store is mea nt for college students due to its prices. As college students, we ca n on ly w ish to a f ford t hese items, a nd lef t to feel bad ly t hat we ca nnot a f ford t he $ 30 neck lace. One might quest ion if stores wa nt us to feel a cer ta in way, to get to t he point where we w ish
t hat we cou ld a f ford t he price point. They might t hin k, “W hat’s t he big dea l? I ca n just put it on a credit ca rd.” No, we ca n’t. 36% of col lege students w it h credit ca rds have more t ha n $1,000 or more in debt. 50 % of mi l lennia ls have ma xed out t heir credit limit at least once. W het her or not we admit it, we a re more suscept ible to spending too much money a ny where. A li on t he Bou leva rd is not t he place for col lege students — but maybe for midd le-aged indiv idua ls who a re f ina ncia l ly secure enough to a f ford t he products. Despite li k ing t he ex perience of shopping at t his bout ique a nd li k ing t he overa l l env ironment, I ca n’t see myself going back. For now, I w i l l st ick w it h t he $1 rack at Ma rsha l ls, a nd t he accessories I a lready ow n f rom A li on t he Bou leva rd. As a lways, I encourage ever yone to suppor t sma l l businesses — but don’t sacrif ice your ow n f ina ncia l securit y.
Contact Sophia Michetti at smichett@nd.edu
Contact Rose Androwich at randrowich@saintmarys.edu CLAIRE REID | The Observer
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ndsmcobserver.com | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 | The Observer
Crossword | Will Shortz
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Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Clear the air, say what’s on your mind and make your position clear. It’s time to make a move or to fix what isn’t working for you anymore. Hesitation will be what holds you back, and a should have/would have/could have regret will take over if you keep spinning your wheels and neglect to accomplish your dreams, hopes and wishes. Your numbers are 5, 12, 24, 28, 33, 37, 41. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Consider how best to deal with partnerships. Be blunt about what you expect and what you are willing to contribute. A problem regarding responsibilities will surface if you or someone else feels shortchanged. Aim for equality in all joint ventures. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When doubt sets in, stand still and rethink your prerogative. Too much or too little of anything will stifle your plans. Aim for balance, integrity and innovative solutions that will set you apart from anyone who competes with you. Avoid romantic advances at all cost. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Concentrate on what you are trying to accomplish, not what others are doing. Your strength comes from your ability to stay focused and deliver what you promise. Learn from the experience you gain, and everything will fall into place. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Keep your life simple, practice moderation and focus on self-improvement. Look inward and revisit issues under your control instead of wasting time trying to convince others to see things your way. Choose love over discord. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t labor over something you cannot change. Dive into territory that requires your experience, intelligence and strengths. Maximize your time to stay ahead of any competition you encounter. Protect against injury and illness. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Keep busy; being idle will lead to anxiety. Dedicate your time to something that makes you feel passionate; you will make headway. A change may be necessary if you want to make a difference. Revise your schedule to fit your needs. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Just do it. Stop pondering over what passed you by and start heading in an exciting direction. Test your skills and update how you approach life and love. Establish the happiness you desire. Let go of the past and move forward. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You may crave change, but be realistic. Don’t let your emotions talk you into something that will limit you down the road. Settling for less than what you want or cutting corners to save time or money will only set you back. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Put everything in its place. Organize your surroundings, and be clear regarding what you want and intend to pursue. Leave nothing to chance. Embrace the future with a clear conscience and a spirited attitude. Truth and loyalty matter. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You are in a better position than you realize. Think outside the box, and you’ll outmaneuver anyone who gets in your way. A change of environment will spark your imagination and help you make a lifestyle change that suits your needs. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Be open about what you want and are trying to accomplish, and you will get the assistance you require to reach your destination. Don’t let a change someone makes alter your plans. Think big, but make moderate decisions to ensure success. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You have more going for you than you realize, and with a bit of push, you will outdo any competition you encounter. Step out of your comfort zone and experience what it’s like to try something new and exciting. Romance is favored. Birthday Baby: You are charismatic, entertaining and intellectual. You are sensitive and generous.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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The observer | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Sports Authority
Sports Authority
College football tiers after week 3 Nate Moller Sports Writer
Three weeks into t he college footba l l season, t he Col lege Footba l l Playof f is a lready sta r t ing to ta ke shape. Here I w i l l list out t he dif ferent t iers of tea ms.
The Top Contenders A labama : The Crimson Tide a re no st ra ngers to being t he top contender for t he playof fs, a nd t hey a re looking t he pa r t of a contender t his season behind f reshma n qua r terback Br yce Young. A lt hough t hey had a close ca l l in a t wo-point v ictor y on t he road aga inst Florida t his past weekend, t his tea m looks like t hey have a l l t he tools necessa r y to succeed going for wa rd. A laba ma has to be t he favorite at t his point. Georgia : A v ictor y over Clemson in Week 1 is easily t he high light of Georg ia’s season so fa r. Wit h t he way t hat Clemson has been looking as of late, t hough, I have sta r ted to quest ion how good of a w in t hat rea lly was. Despite t his, no one ca n a rg ue t hat t he Bu lldogs have a rg uably t he best defense in t he count r y. The Bu l ldogs w i l l need to f ig ure t heir of fense out going forwa rd, but t hey a re t he clea r favorite to w in t he SEC East at t his point. Oregon : A stunning v ictor y on t he road at Ohio State has t he Ducks f irm ly listed under t he top contenders sect ion. This tea m looked t he pa r t of a playof f tea m, as t hey were able to cont rol t he ga me f rom sta r t to f inish aga inst t he Buckeyes. The Ducks have made t he playof fs before, but t hey have never been able to ta ke t hat nex t step a nd w in a t it le. Wit h t his tea m’s combinat ion of defense, r unning abilit y a nd passing abi lit y, t he sk y seems to be t he limit. Ok la homa : The Sooners have been less t ha n impressive so fa r t his season, but I have conf idence in Spencer Ratt ler a nd compa ny to f ind t heir g roove soon. The Sooners have sta r ted t he yea r slowly on prev ious occasions, a nd if t hey ca n avoid losing in t hese opening weeks, t hey shou ld have a ver y good cha nce of going undefeated in t heir Big 12 schedu le. Iowa : Facing t his Hawkeyes defense has to be a ny col lege qua r terback’s night ma re. The Hawkeyes have a lready recorded si x
intercept ions on t he yea r a nd have made life tough on ever y opponent t hey have faced. There def initely is plent y of room for improvement on t he offensive side of t he footba ll, but r unning back Tyler Goodson is a g reat r unning back t hat ca n help t he Hawkeyes score just enough to w in a ny ga me. Penn State : The Nitta ny Lions a rg uably have t he best t wo w ins of t he season w it h t heir road w in aga inst Wisconsin a nd last week’s home v ictor y aga inst Auburn. Qua r terback Sea n Clif ford has looked a million t imes better t ha n last season, a nd t he Nitta ny Lions look to be a leg it imate contender at t his point. A showdow n in Iowa Cit y awa its t hem in t wo weeks t hat cou ld decide t heir College Footba ll Playof f fate. Fringe Contenders Cincinnati : Wit h a w in over Not re Da me in a week, t he Bea rcats w ill be considered one of t he top contenders. Texas A&M : The Agg ies have to f ig ure out t heir of fense, but a w in over A rka nsas t his week cou ld elevate t hem up a t ier. Ohio State : The Buckeyes have a lot to f ig ure out, but t hey have t he ta lent on t heir roster to do just t hat a nd turn t heir season a round. Clemson : The Tigers w ill not face a ra n ked tea m t he rest of t he yea r, a nd t hey better sta r t beat ing t hese unra n ked tea ms more conv incingly if t hey wa nt to be considered a t r ue contender aga in. Florida : They cha llenged A laba ma to t he end, but a loss is a loss. The Gators must now r un t he table to be in playof f content ion. Ole Miss : Qua r terback Matt Corra l has put up Heisma n numbers so fa r, a nd if t he Rebels ca n play tough w it h A laba ma in a couple of weeks, t his tea m w ill prove t hemselves as contenders.
The outside looking in: Notre Dame, Arkansas, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, BY U, North Carolina, Kansas State, Auburn, UCL A Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
NLO AFC power rankings Thomas Zwiller
cost the Ravens the game against the Chiefs.
Sports Writer
#5: New England Patriots If you read my column predicting the entire NFL season and Super Bowl champion (the LA Rams), you will remember the ZLO Model algorithm, my NFL model I use to make predictions about the NFL season. A new flood of information has come with the season, and I have been updating the Model accordingly, and I have been somewhat surprised by the results. As you read on, keep in mind we are only two weeks into a long, expanded season, and Week 1 was incredibly chaotic. So without further ado, I proudly present the ZLO 2.0 Power Rankings.
Five feels slightly high for the Patriots. Both their offense and defense are inflated due to their matchup against the Jets when they won 25-6. I think New England is good, and at this rate, there is no reason they can not win the AFC East. But I do expect their rating to fall slightly.
#6: Cleveland Browns Sixth feels sort of low for the Cleveland Browns. They are a good team, and they are so down because they underperformed against expectations when they played the Texans. As some of the teams above them fall off, I expect the Browns to become a top-five or four team.
#1: Kansas City Chiefs This one does not surprise me. The Chiefs have been the favorites to win the AFC and make the Super Bowl. Kansas City has the best offense according to the Model, which, again, is no surprise. The thing that worries me is their defensive rating which makes sense. I don’t think the Chiefs are built to stop the run, and both the Browns and Ravens took advantage of that.
#2: Las Vegas Raiders This one did surprise me, but I don’t know if it should have. The Raiders put on a solid second-half performance against the Ravens, and despite some overtime mishaps, they found a way to win. Then, they beat the Steelers (arguably one of the best defenses in the conference) on the road. I am not sold on the Raiders yet, but they look like they can be dangerous.
#3: Denver Broncos The Broncos are a worst-tofirst-team if I ever saw one. So far, Teddy Bridgewater has proven himself to be much better than Drew Lock was last season. And on the other side of the ball, the Denver defense appears to be built to win right now. The AFC West is going to be crowded this year.
#4: Baltimore Ravens After their performance on Sunday Night Football, I expected the Ravens to be a little higher than fourth in the AFC. I do get what the Model is saying; the Ravens’ passing game is not all the way there yet. I have seen flashes from Lamar, but he needs to work on turnovers; it almost
#7: Houston Texans The Texans at seventh are likely the highest overrated team the Model has so far. It is solely due to the Jaguars vs. Texans game in which the Texans simply dominated Jacksonville. They will drop off in the next few weeks when they play some higher-caliber opponents.
#8: Los Angeles Chargers In the Cowboys vs. Chargers game, the Chargers played worse than I thought they would. Herbert went 31/41 for 338 yards but also threw two interceptions. In defense of the Chargers, they did have a crucial touchdown taken off the board that changed the game. But their defense has only been okay, and their offense underperformed, so the eighth ranking makes sense to me.
#9: Buffalo Bills While Buffalo at nine is likely low, I think it indicates a significant issue for the Bills: Josh Allen. While I felt good about Allen going into the season and felt like I could explain away Week 1, Week 2 left me worried. Allen is passing at a 56% completion rate, and his net yards per attempt are at a career low of 4.83. The last season his NY/A was at 7.33. It’s early, and he played against two good defenses back to back, but Buffalo may have trouble.
AFC, and that makes sense. The only question around Pittsburgh is “Can they fix it?” Only time will tell.
#11: Indianapolis Colts In all fairness to the Colts, they played Seattle at home and the Rams, two outstanding opponents, likely depressing their rating. Unfortunately for the Colts, the schedule does not get any easier; they go on the road for Tennessee, Miami, and Baltimore in the next three weeks.
#12: Cincinnati Bengals Considering that the Bengals are in year two of a rebuild around Joe Burrow, twelve at this part of the season makes sense. The Bengals played well against the Vikings and then played poorly against the Bears. I think they might go up a little bit, but I expect them to flirt on and off with double digits.
#13: Jacksonville Jaguars I would expect Jacksonville to drop to 15 or even 16 as the season progresses. Despite having Trevor Lawrence, the team is going to do a lot of losing this season. The only reason they are so high is that Tennessee and Miami are underperforming.
#14: Tennessee Titans The Titans are a good team, and they are my pick to win the AFC South. They are anywhere near the double digits because of their opening week game against the Cardinals, in which they lost 13-38. They did have a great rebound win against the Seahawks, but they needed overtime to do it, which will not help their stats recover enough. Tennessee will rise, but it might take some time.
#15: New York Jets The only thing that surprised me about the Jets was that they weren’t No. 16. They are bad, and they will be bad for the remainder of the season.
#16: Miami Dolphins
#10: Pittsburgh Steelers
I think Miami is so low on the Model’s Power Rankings because of the Buffalo game. They lost 0-35, so they certainly did not help themselves statistically. I expect the Dolphins to rebound in the coming weeks.
The Steelers are indeed low, but not unexpectedly so. They may boast an elite defense, but as many experts said, the offense has been pretty horrible coming into the season. According to the Model, it is one of the worst in the
Contact Thomas Zwiller at tzwiller@hcc-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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Welcome to Gacha Life theres so much to see if people can make characters than so can we we have puppies, shrimps beware of the heats that’s the part where the good and evil meet.
Welcome to Gacha Life theres so much to see if people can make characters than so can we we have puppies, shrimps beware of the heats that the part where the good and evil meet.
sports
ndsmcobserver.com | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 | The Observer
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ND Women’s soccer
ND grabs dominating win over Miami, 5-0 Observer Sports Staff
Thursday night Not re Da me women’s soccer went on t he road a nd g rabbed a dominat ing v ictor y, ta k ing dow n conference foe Mia mi 5-0 in Cora l Gables. The Irish cont rolled t he match a l l t he way t hrough, ta k ing a n ea rly lead by way of junior midf ielder Maddie Mercado, who added a goa l in a n assist w it hin 5 minutes of coming on midway t hrough t he f irst ha lf. Mercado’s 28t h minute goa l a nd junior for wa rd K ik i Va n Za nten’s 32nd minute st ri ke set t he tone for Not re Da me, who wou ld add t hree more to t heir tota l in t he second ha lf. Senior for wa rd Oliv ia Wingate prov ided a brace, k nock ing home feeds f rom junior for wa rd Kat i Dr u zina a nd Korbin A lber t in t he 50t h a nd 59t h minute respect ively, before squadleading scorer a nd g raduate student Sa mmi Fisher notched a goa l of her ow n to ma ke it f ive for t he Irish in t he 65t h minute. The w in, which moves Not re Da me to 8-1-1 on t he season a nd 2-0-0 in conference play, comes as a solid tune up before t he Irish enter t heir more dif f icu lt
por t ion of t he schedu le in October. W hile a ny v ictor y over a conference foe is a good v ictor y, t he t wo comprehensive ta kedow ns of Sy racuse a nd Mia mi t hat Not re Da me has opened ACC play w it h were probably to be ex pected. The Ora nge a nd Hurrica nes a re second to last a nd last in conference play respect ively, a nd t he pa ir a lso clock in at a n uninspiring 127t h a nd 170t h in adjusted RPI. A nd while no w in ca n be ta ken for g ra nted in t he ACC, genera lly rega rded as t he nat ion’s top soccer conference, Not re Da me’s f irst t r ue test might come when Boston College comes to Sout h Bend on Sunday. W hile t he Eagles have cooled of f somewhat in recent weeks, t hey’ve show n f lashes of a red-hot of fense t hat w ill a lmost cer ta in ly be look ing to cha llenge f irst-yea r sta r ter Ash ley Naylor in net. Though Boston College sits close to t he bottom of t he current conference table, don’t be fooled: Their t wo losses in ACC play have come aga inst a Florida State squad t hat is one of t he best in t he nat ion a nd a Wa ke Forest tea m t hat has slowly been
ma k ing a case for a top 25 ra n k ing. Given t heir propensit y for scoring (t he Eagles have scored t hree or more goa ls in seven of t heir f irst 10 matches) a nd t he mot ivat iona l implicat ions of a riva lr y ga me, Boston College w ill be fa r f rom a n easy task for Irish head coach Nate Norma n, look ing to cont inue his best ever sta r t as Not re Da me coach. Look ing f ur t her dow n t he line, Not re Da me wou ld a lso be w ise to pick up as ma ny clea n, decisive conference w ins as t hey ca n ea rly on in t heir schedu le, as a n absolutely br uta l mid-to-late October st retch looms. Sta r t ing on Oct. 10, Not re Da me w ill face a Clemson tea m t hat made t he nat iona l qua r terf ina ls, before going on t he road for t hree st ra ight potent ia lly top 10 ga mes aga inst Virg inia (current ly sevent h nat iona lly in t he coaches poll a nd 11t h in adjusted RPI), Du ke (second in t he coaches poll a nd second in adjusted RPI) a nd UNC (four t h in t he coaches poll a nd t hird in adjusted RPI). You’d be ha rd-pressed to f ind a more dif f icu lt t hreega me road gaunt let t ha n
RYAN VIGILANTE | The Observer
Irish senior defender Brianna Martinez dribbles the ball during Notre Dame’s 2-3 home loss to Iowa on Sept. 15, 2019 at Alumni Stadium.
t hat, a nd t he Irish w i l l need a ny a nd a l l momentum t hey ca n get heading into t hat st retch. You ca n catch Not re Da me look ing to cont inue t heir impressive sta r t to t he
season at A lumni Stadium on Sunday, as t he Boston Col lege Eagles come to tow n for a 1 p.m. k ickof f. The match w i l l a lso be broadcasted on t he ACC Net work.
M Soccer
been a solid combination for Notre Dame at the center back position, but they w ill need to turn in another qualit y performance on Friday. Ly nn and the Irish w ill look to continue to stay hot on the offensive end as they have scored three goals in t wo of their last three matches. The game w ill kickoff at 7 p.m. EST and can be v iewed on ACC Net work Extra.
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Continued from page 16
paced the Hokies in terms of scoring w ith four goals on just seven shots. Senior midfielder Kyle McDowell leads the team w ith three assists. Notre Dame w ill have to play a sound defensive game if they hope to leave Blacksburg w ith a w in, as Virginia Tech has scored at least t wo goals in all but one of their games. Senior captain Philip Quinton and freshman Josh Ramsey have
Contact Jamison Cook at jcook22@nd.edu
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Sports
The observer | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Football
Chryst, Badgers ready for clash with Irish By NATE MOLLER Spor ts Writer
W hen No. 12 Notre Dame and No. 18 Wisconsin play at Soldier Field on Saturday, ever yone w ill be draw n to the quarterback matchup between Jack Coan and Graham Mertz. Before transferring to Notre Dame this year, Coan led the Badgers to a Rose Bowl berth in 2019. He was likely slated for the starting role for the Badgers last season before an injur y gave Mertz the starting the job. A lthough the stor ylines between the quarterbacks w ill fill the news ahead of the game, Wisconsin head coach Paul Chr yst understands the importance of focusing on the team matchup instead of the individual headlines. “Obviously there is a stor yline, but it is important that at the end of the day, it is Wisconsin versus Notre Dame,” Chr yst said. “Obviously, we respect Jack as a person, player, teammate and appreciate what he did here, but it is Wisconsin versus Notre Dame.” W hen asked about how Coan has looked in the Notre Dame system so far, Chr yst didn’t say much, but applauded him for his work ethic. “As you watch and you see it, [Coan] is w ith a different team, and yet he is going to always work and continue to work to improve,” Chr yst said. W hen asked whether Coan
playing for Notre Dame was an advantage or disadvantage for his team, Chr yst once again stressed the importance of the team as a whole and said he viewed the situation as neither advantageous or disadvantageous. “It’s not just a one- or twoperson show. It’s two teams going to play, but I think that’s probably what overrides it more than anything,” Chr yst said. Chr yst said he hopes Mertz will be able to focus on the matchup against Notre Dame and not get caught up in the quarterback showdown with Coan. “I think we all understand the stor yline that’s out there,” Chr yst said. “I think it is up to Graham and our whole team to know that what’s awesome about football is, it’s a team sport. It’s going to take our team going up against a ver y good Notre Dame team, and that is where the game is going to be played.” Chr yst discussed how Mertz has worked to become more poised in the pocket as the year has progressed. “I think he is working through it. I think there are times where he has done that, and I think there are times early on where he wasn’t as poised in the pocket. He does a good job at practice when those situations occur in tr ying to address it,” Chr yst said. “I think it’s a work in progress, but I think he is progressing.” Junior safety Kyle Hamilton
GABRIELLE PENNA | The Observer
Irish junior running back Kyren Williams distances himself from a defender during Notre Dame’s 27-13 win over Purdue on Sept. 18 at Notre Dame Stadium. Williams ran for 91 yards on 12 carries in the game.
has been the anchor of the Irish defense all season, and he has already recorded three interceptions this year. Chr yst said he understands Hamilton will be a major factor Saturday, but emphasized he doesn’t want to focus on one player too much. “W hen you play a really good team, you are going to be against really good players, and I think that is what
we are facing this week,” Chr yst said. “They have a number of really good players and a well-coached team at that. I think you got to certainly know where the good players are at, but you have to be careful not to overcompensate because then you can hurt yourself in other ways.” The Wisconsin defensive line has been phenomenal
so far this season, recording four sacks and 13 tackles for loss. They will face a Notre Dame offensive line that has struggled to protect Coan and establish a run game all year, and the Badgers’ front seven could ver y well be the difference in the game. Chr yst discussed the success of his team’s defensive line so far this season. “We have done a nice job of scheming appropriately and [the] guys know what they are doing, and they can cut it lose and play,” Chr yst said. “Each week there is going to be a different challenge and, certainly, we will be challenged this week.” Chr yst said he views Saturday’s game as a great opportunity for his players. “I’m excited for our kids to be involved in games that are meaningful. I believe personally that ever y game is meaningful and ever y game has great opportunity,” Chr yst sad. “But I also know that there is more around this game both for our fans and nationally. And I think that’s why kids come here to be part of that. I am just grateful for the opportunity to be playing and play in big games. It’s our job to take advantage of that opportunity. And the best thing that we can do is put our work in and have a great week, so we can go out and play our best.” Kickoff will be Saturday at noon and can be viewed on Fox.
ARI DENNING | The Observer
Irish senior wide reciever Braden Lenzy turns to make a play on an underthrown Jack Coan pass during Notre Dame’s 32-29 nail-biter win against Toledo on Sept. 11 at Notre Dame Stadium. The Rockets dominated the Irish reciever corp, Lenzy recorded only 33 yards on 2 catches.
Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu
sports
Coan Continued from page 16
anyone. W hoever gives us the best chance to w in, I’m all in favor of them.” That is not to say that Coan does not care whether he is on the field; on the contrar y, capitalizing on and appreciating his time are of the utmost importance. Coan recalled what it was like for him to play in Notre Dame Stadium for the first time and the significance of the day for him. “It was amazing. I mean, it was definitely a dream come true,” Coan said. “It didn’t even feel real at moments, just w ith the player walk and hitting the sign for the first time, hearing in the band play ing, the crowd. It was an unbelievable moment that I’ll always remember and cherish.” Especially given how close the contests have been early on in the season, liv ing in the moment and taking it day by day is the only way to move for ward. Looking too far dow n the line can make one lose sight of the tasks at hand. “I mean, you look at the first few games, ever y thing’s been coming dow n to the w ire, so obv iously you can’t look too far out about anything,” Coan said. “A ll you have is the game in front of you, and you never know what can happen, whether it’s injuries or things like that. So you just tr y to cherish ever y moment and stay in the moment.” Looking ahead now, however, the elephant in the stadium w ill be the team in red that Coan and the Irish face on Saturday. The quarterback has been asked about this game against his alma mater from before the season even began, and w ith
ndsmcobserver.com | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 | The Observer
the moment at hand, his mentalit y has not changed. Many people have asked Coan whether or not he has an added incentive to w in this weekend, w ith personal reasons coming into play. He was steadfast in say ing he has no reason to take one game more personally than others, and that he simply wants to w in this battle as equally as the rest of them. “Yeah, I mean, it’s definitely gonna be weird,” Coan said on the topic of play ing against his friends. “But I think at the end of the day it’s just another football game, and I like to think I don’t get too excited, or more excited, for one game than the next. But it’ll certainly be a prett y cool atmosphere, and we’re play ing against a great team, so it’ll be fun.” Despite play ing against his friends and former teammates, Coan says he w ishes them nothing but the best and is looking to have fun competing against them this weekend. However, there is still a job to get done, a job that Coan fully acknowledges. He noted that the Badgers have one of the best defenses in the countr y, which w ill make them a challenge for him and the Irish offense. As someone who went up against this unit at practice ever y day for four years, Coan is familiar w ith their st yle of play, but by no means knows all of the stops they are going to pull. “I had a general sense of what they like to do, but I never really paid attention to what they do in games, really, how they gameplan and why they sw itch things up,” Coan said. “I’m definitely going to have to continue to study them, but also, tr y to help out as much as I can in the game plan.” For himself and his
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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MAGGIE KLAERS. PHOTO BY MAX PEtrosky
offense, their leg up w ill be that “fight to w in” mindset. Coan noted that improvements have to be made to sure up their system, and that ever yone’s hard work is show ing in their performances. Though they took a step for ward against Purdue, he said, they need to focus on getting more consistent. Should they get secure in both the running and passing game, Coan asserts that they are “gonna be a prett y difficult offense to stop.” Coan himself threw a few passes just out of reach of his receivers in the game against Purdue, and he is focusing on fix ing his timing
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and accuracy heading into Saturday. “I think I could do a lot better job helping out as well, just getting the ball out of my hands and communicating better,” Coan said. “I might have been a little impatient in the beginning, just tr y ing not to take sacks and getting the ball out of my hands, but I definitely could have been a little more patient.” Despite some off throws, Coan utilized w ide receiver Aver y Dav is consistently against Purdue, an avenue that he may have missed in prev ious games. He said that the talent among the
receivers is w idespread, and that he does not have to rely on one person to move the ball for ward. Instead, he should be focusing on making the right reads and getting through progressions, and he is excited to continue to expand their arsenal in terms of play makers. “I think the game plan changes ever y week,” Coan said. “Different stuff happens in the game as well and you can’t always feed the same guys over and over again. I think we have a lot of weapons on offense that we could utilize.” The offensive line, on the other hand, has been a talking point of the season. Many have commented on their inexperience and struggles, but Coan stands behind his teammates. “I think they’re doing an unbelievable job,” Coan said. “They’re truly working as hard as any unit in the countr y right now, and I know they want to get better, just like I want to get better too. So I think they’re right where they should be right now and I have total confidence in them w ith ever y thing.” Again, it goes back to that same mentalit y of putting in the work — the grit — to get the w in. Though sometimes it falls short, the effort itself is not diminished. “I think that’s the cool part about football is it doesn’t always have to be perfect,” Coan said. “It’s just got to be a complete game you just gotta fight till the end.” Contact Emily DeFazio at edefazio@nd.edu
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The observer | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Football
Coan to face alma mater in top-25 matchup By EMILY DeFA ZIO Associate Spor ts Editor
GABRIELLE PENNA | The Observer
Irish graduate student quarterback and Wisconsin transfer Jack Coan drops back for a pass during Notre Dame’s 27-13 win over Purdue on Sept. 18 at Notre Dame Stadium. Coan threw for 223 yards and two TDs.
Graduate student quarterback Jack Coan has certainly not had the traditional experience of a Notre Dame quarterback. Bet ween transferring in for his final year of eligibilit y, battling it out among t wo other contenders for the top spot and ultimately sharing field time w ith a true freshman, Coan’s journey has been one of uncertaint y and, in many respects, excitement. The quarterback has continuously mentioned how much of a dream it is to be playing in the house that Rockne built, both for him and his family, and he is not taking a single day for granted. In many respects, it is that reverence of his position that has been fueling the mentalit y he maintains: Fight to w in. Despite missed opportunities on the field, Coan has focused on his effort and the ultimate objective: w inning. Kelly has mentioned that he is one of the hardest working members of the team, and
that translates into the QB1’s gameplay. This is especially true in the match against Toledo, when Coan’s finger popped out of place midgame. After rushing to the sideline to have it pushed back in, he immediately threw the w inning touchdow n pass, exemplif y ing his grit in leav ing ever y thing on the field. “I mean, it was an unbelievable moment,” Coan said of the play. “The line did a great job protecting, and you know obv iously Mike [Mayer] made a great move to get open and an unbelievable catch and finish. It was prett y cra zy.” That idea of only focusing on what he himself can do has helped Coan manage the season and its stressors. Especially w ith the introduction of Tyler Buchner into the fray, Coan has had to laser in on what really matters. “The only thing I care about is w inning,” Coan said. “Now whether that’s me, Tyler, Drew [Py ne], see COAN PAGE 15
ND Men’s Soccer
Irish improve record to .500 in win over Michigan, look ahead to Virginia Tech match By JAMISON COOK Spor ts Writer
The Notre Dame men’s soccer team brought their record back to .500 w ith a 3-1 w in over rival Michigan on Tuesday, Sept. 21. Senior for ward Jack Ly nn led the way for the Irish (3-3-1) w ith t wo first-half goals. The match started fast, w ith both Notre Dame and Michigan scoring in the first four minutes of game time. Sophomore for ward Daniel Russo set up Ly nn to open the scoring before a Michigan header off a free kick tied the score just moments later. The teams were quiet until just before halftime, when Ly nn’s second goal found the back of the net off a beautiful ball from junior midfielder Ethan O’Brien. It is the first multigoal game of the season for Ly nn and the third of his career. The two goals bring his career total up to 24, the
most of any active player on the Notre Dame roster. Head coach Chad Riley had nothing but good things to say about Ly nn’s performance. “He’s been play ing really well,” Riley told UND. “Against NC State he had a really good game and now getting the goals is something we knew was coming and it’s good to see them. I think he w ill build on this performance.” The Irish protected their 2-1 halftime lead throughout the second half and added an insurance goal in the 71st minute. Russo was able to beat his defender on the sideline and play a ball across the box to waiting senior midfielder Mohamed Omar, who tapped it in. The assist was Russo’s second of the night, the first multipleassist game of his young career. Coach Riley also told UND that he was happy w ith his
team’s performance as a whole, say ing that it was a “great w in in the tough conditions against a ver y good team. The game had a fast start w ith us scoring a goal and then giv ing up a goal, which can be a real challenge. The guys responded to ever y challenge of the match really well. We got a well-deser ved v ictor y.” Notre Dame now leads the all-time series against Michigan 14-3-4. The Irish w ill now turn their attention to No. 12 Virginia Tech, who they w ill v isit in Blacksburg, Virginia on Friday, Sept. 24. The Hokies have won t wo in a row and are 4-1-2 on the season, hav ing most recently beat William & Mar y by a score of 3-2 on Sept. 21. Virginia Tech is led by a strong senior class that includes nine players. Senior for ward Jacob Labov itz has
RYAN VIGILANTE | The Observer
see M SOCCER PAGE 13
Irish senior midfielder Mohamed Omar dribbles the ball during Notre Dame’s 3-4 loss to Michigan State on Sept. 14 at Alumni Stadium.