Print Edition for Wednesday, December 11, 2019

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Volume 54, Issue 62 | wednesday, december 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

SMC partners with Shandong University College signs Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese institution, looks to pursue collaboration

By MAEVE FILBIN Saint Mary’s News Editor

Guo Cuifen, president of Shandong Women’s University, joined by a delegation of visiting deans and faculty members from the university, joined Saint Mary’s College Interim President Nancy Nekvasil Monday in signing a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue research collaborations and exchange programs.

“The cooperation between our two universities will provide a broader vision of our world and women’s development, and enhance women’s welfare,” Cuifen said.

Basilica to close Observer Staff Report

Notre Dame’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart will undergo maintenance from Dec. 26 to Jan. 10, according to a University press release published Tuesday. There will be “no services” in the space while the Basilica is closed, owing to “potentially unsafe conditions.”

From Jan. 2 to Jan. 10 all “Weekday Confessions and Mass” will be held in the Sacred Heart Parish, located in the Basilica’s crypt, the release said. The Basilica will be reopened ahead of Vigil Mass on the afternoon of Jan. 11.

The Shandong Women’s University, located in Jinan, Shandong Province in China, is one of the three women’s universities in China offering undergraduate education for women. With more than 15,000 students currently enrolled, it is the largest women’s university in China.

Founded in 1952 as a women’s leadership training school, the university now maintains 20 schools and offers 30 majors, including education, law, management, economics, art, literature, culture and communications, tourism, accounting and information see SHANDONG PAGE 4

Photo courtesy of Alice Yang

College Interim President Nancy Nekvasil, right, and President of Shandong Women’s University Guo Cuifen sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday. The colleges hope to enhance women’s welfare.

College recognizes those living mission through new initiative

By COLLEEN FISCHER News Writer

Saint Mary’s vice president for mission Judith Fean emailed the College community to announce a new initiative Nov. 22.

“The mission council would like to celebrate those who live out the mission of the College in everyday and extraordinary ways,” Fean said in the email. “Mission Moment Appreciation is designed to celebrate the daily instances of living out the mission.”

The Mission Moment Appreciation is a new

program based around recognizing small and regular instances of the College’s mission within the Saint Mary’s community.

Recognition will occur based on nominations.

According to the email, the criteria for nominations are that the student ref lect either the Saint Mary’s mission statement or the core values of “learning,” “community,” “faith/spirituality” and “justice.” The full mission statement can be found on the College website.

Through the statement, the College expresses its

hopes to focus on themes of intellectual vigor for women and fostering an “inclusive, academic community where students discover and develop their talents as they prepare to make a difference in the world,” according to the website.

Saint Mary’s is dedicated to e mbodying the mission and practicing it contemporary life, the website says.

“We wanted an opportunity where each member of the community could recognize and appreciate their peers, those they work with and those who mentor them

as we continue to build a learning community where faith and justice leads to building a more inclusive and equitable community,” Fean said in an email to The Observer. “Mission Moment Appreciation is one way [of ] personally showing your appreciation and gratitude.”

There has already been some interest and buzz in the community around the initiative, and several nominations from the community, Fean said.

“After the announcement was made, many members see MISSION PAGE 4

Students work with community, teach literacy Last year, sophomores Matthew Nguyen and Lucy Suo saw a need in the South Bend community to provide assistance with adult education. They responded

by offering their time to tutor literacy students in the program one-on-one.

Now, Nguyen said, the pair is working to establish a sanctioned club by next semester for students in the tri-campus community to volunteer within the adult

education sphere.

“We recognized that there was so much help needed, and the teachers just didn’t have enough hands,” Nguyen said. “There’s like, one teacher for every 20 students. And if you can imagine in a classroom of

adults, they’re all at different levels. It was literally a mess, but it was a good mess.”

Nguyen and Suo volunteer through the Adult Education department within the South Bend Community School Corporation. Suo said the department’s lack

of student tutors ultimately drove her and Nguyen to recruit more volunteers.

“We realized this would be a good opportunity for not just Notre Dame students to help out, but also to build a

NEWS PAGE 3

SCENE PAGE 5

VIEWPOINT PAGE 7

ND M BASKETBALL PAGE 12

TRACK & FIELD PAGE 12

By ALYSA GUFFEY News Writer

see ALLIANCE PAGE 3

2

TODAY

The observer | wednesday, december 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

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P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 Editor-in-Chief Kelli Smith Managing Editor Charlotte Edmonds

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junior Le Mans Hall

junior Zahm House

“Miraculous Medal.”

“A bowl of chocolate ice cream.”

Isabella Thompson-Davoli

Alex Guevara-Stevens

sophomore Holy Cross Hall

junior Le Mans Hall

“Mismatched socks.”

“Guadalupe Medal.”

Claudia Stiglitz

Jake Fuehrmeyer

sophomore Holy Cross Hall

freshman Duncan Hall

“French Braids.”

“Lucky headband.”

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KENDRA OSINSKI | The Observer

Handbell players help get students in the holiday spirit by performing during Christmas Dinner inside South Dining Hall. The Notre Dame Handbell Choir performs at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and at campus events throughout the year.

The next Five days:

Want your event included here?

Email news@ndsmcobserver.com

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Pottery Sale Ceramics Studio, 122 Riley Hall 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Only cash and checks will be accepted.

Artful Yoga Snite Museum of Art 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Capacity is limited.

All skill levels are welcome.

Study at the Snite Snite Museum of Art 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Galleries open to students as a quiet study space.

Glee Club Christmas Concerts Leighton Concert Hall 2:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Tickets available online.

Basilica Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 10 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.

All are welcome to attend.

“Leveraging LinkedIn” Room 158, Mendoza College of Business 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Training workshop.

Last Class Day campus-wide all day Last day of classes for the fall semester before final exams.

“The Christmas Star” DVT in Jordan Hall of Science 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Free, ticketed lecture on astrophysics.

“New Faces” 214 Riley Hall all day Exhibit featuring work by first-year MFA students.

Reading Day campus-wide all day 23-hour quiet hours in anticipation of final exams.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, december 11, 2019 | The Observer

3

Tri-campus club partners with Make-A-Wish

By EMILY HUNT News Writer

The Make-A-Wish Club is the tri-campus communit y’s liaison to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a national nonprofit organization that gives grants to children between the ages of 2-and-a-half to 18 w ith life-threatening illnesses. The club also raises money and spreads awareness for the foundation and the children it ser ves. Each year, the club helps grant the w ish of at least one child from the South Bend and Mishawaka area.

Seniors Julia Forte and Brooke Williams are copresidents of the club, and have both been involved since their freshman year.

Last year, the club helped grant the w ish of a 17-yearold boy. His w ish was to go on a shopping spree at Best Buy. The thousands of dollars that funded the trip were entirely raised by members in the club, Williams said.

“We all got to walk around the store w ith him. We had balloons and helped him pick out what he wanted,” Williams said. ”His smile was so precious. He was having such a great time. A ll of us then went out to lunch w ith him and his parents. It was such a great day.”

This year, the club was able to fulfill the w ishes of t wo additional Make-A-Wish kids, since their w ishes were affiliated w ith Notre Dame.

“This was one of my favorite events,” Forte said. “This was the first time during my time here that we’ve been able to be involved in a Notre Dame w ish.”

The two teenage boys the club helped w ished to spend the day w ith the Notre Dame football team.

Alliance Continued from page 1

bridge with South Bend directly, because these are people within South Bend who need our help,” Suo said.

Nguyen said many students enrolled in the adult education program also deal with poverty, and view the program as a support system, amplifying the importance of volunteers.

Nguyen and Suo are currently reaching out to students who would like to be involved in the club, which they are naming Adult Education Alliance.

Suo spoke to the pair’s goals to have a buddy system once they have an ample amount of student volunteers.

“We hope to have one student paired with a student at ‘Ad Ed,’ and hopefully they

“They participated in the Bowling Green player walk, met Brian Kelly and the team, toured campus and got to go on the field,” Forte said. “We made posters and cheered for them. It was really great to see them doing something they loved and dreamed about.”

In addition to helping make the dreams of MakeA-Wish kids come true, the club hosts a signature fundraiser talent show. Forte said the Make-A-Wish club hopes to expand the show mov ing for ward.

“The show involves many campus groups including the band, dance and a cappella groups, magicians, jump roping — and really ever y thing,” Forte said.

Other notable events include an annual card-w riting campaign during the w inter season to “Wish” children at Beacon’s Children’s Hospital happy holidays; Macy’s “Letters to Santa” fundraiser; hosting picnics w ith Make-A-Wish families and “Wish Kid” send-offs if the kids’ w ish involves travel.

In the spring, the club plans to expand some of its recurring events as well as broaden its outreach to the South Bend communit y, Forte said.

“We want to do a ‘Taste of South Bend’ event in the spring and get local restaurants involved,” she said.

Kathleen Soller, a sophomore, is the “Wish Kid” coordinator for the club. Soller prev iously had ly mphoma and was granted her w ish to go on a Mediterranean cruise through the Make-AWish foundation.

As the “Wish Kid” coordinator, she helps pick out Make-A-Wish kid v ideos for the club to v iew at their

can form a relationship, not just educational but more personal,” Suo said.

In addition to adult literacy classes, the program hosts classes on high school equivalency, family literacy and English language learning. The English language learning courses result in immigrants from a variety of ethnic backgrounds enrolling in the program, Nguyen said.

To acknowledge the cultural diversity of the enrolled students, Nguyen expressed his hopes for the club to put on a cultural event where students in the program can share an aspect of their culture. “[The students] have so much to offer from their hometown, because they’re always visiting back to Japan or Africa or wherever they’re from … this would

Photo courtesy of Julia Forte

Members of the Make-A-Wish Club surround one of the “Wish Kids” the group sponsors. Each “Wish Kid” gets their wish granted by funds raised by the club affiliated with the national nonprofit organization.

Photo courtesy of Julia Forte

A 17-year-old boy chose to go on a shopping spree at Best Buy for his wish from the tri-campus community Make-A-Wish Club. Members of the club accompanied him and his family on the shopping excursion.

week ly Wednesday meetings. She also aids in event planning and working w ith employees at the foundation’s regional office.

“It’s great to be able to give back to other kids,” Soller

give them the opportunity to tell about their home,” Nguyen said.

Suo also said she supports the possibility of a cultural event, as it would allow adult students to share their talents.

“A lot of [the students] have talents that we don’t know about at first,” she said. “One Japanese student we met makes origami while another woman presents her ceramics at art fairs. We just want a showcase where people can show their skills.”

Adult Education Alliance as an educational experience for both parties, Suo said.

“It’s a really special opportunity to form relationships one-on-one, and they just don’t learn from you — you learn from them, too,” Suo said.

Contact Alysa Guffey at aguffey@nd.edu

said. “People don’t realize how expensive the w ishes can be.”

The club currently has about 20 active members and welcomes new ones to join.

“I feel so luck y to have been a part of the club all four years,” Williams said.

“It has been so rewarding.”

Contact Emily Hunt at ehunt6@nd.edu

Follow us on social media: Facebook fb.com/ndsmcobserver Twitter @NDSMCObserver

4

NEWS

The observer | wednesday, december 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Shandong Continued from page 1

and technolog y.

A lice Siqin Yang, director of the Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership (CW IL) at Saint Mar y’s, said the memorandum is a formal agreement establishing a partnership between the College and Shandong Women’s Universit y.

“The purpose is to develop academic and educational cooperation and to promote mutual understanding,” Yang said in an email. “It is more formal than a verbal agreement, but it does not establish a formal legal relationship between the parties.”

In signing this memorandum, Cuifen and Nekvasil agreed to work together in creating facult y and student exchange programs, joint research projects, teacher training, study abroad opportunities and dual-degree programs.

“The delegation’s v isit was ver y successful,” Yang said in the email. “They met w ith more than 20 facult y members and administrators on Monday and discussed a w ide range of potential projects and programs. The partnership offers an opportunit y for Saint Mar y’s students and facult y to study, teach or do research at Shandong Women’s Universit y.”

Photo courtesy of Alice Yang

After signing the memorandum, President of Shandong Women’s University Guo Cuifen, left, gave Saint Mary’s an institutional gift on behalf of the University to commemorate the unification of the colleges.

Each semester, both institutions can send t wo students to the opposite host universit y, free of tuition, Cuifen said. Facult y w ill participate in a similar program, lasting up to one year, she said.

Shandong Women’s Universit y hopes to collaborate w ith Saint Mar y’s in creating a dual degree program in early childhood education, as they currently have more than 1,700 students enrolled in this major, Yang said.

“They are also interested in our courses/programs in business and administration, data science, art, gender/women’s studies,

English, [and] social work, as well as the work completed by the Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership,” she said in the email.

This new relationship resulted from the College’s long-term partnership w ith China Women’s Universit y in Beijing, on whose campus Saint Mar y’s students and alumnae participated in cultural exchange activ ities, Yang said. Both China Women’s Universit y and Shandong Women’s Universit y are members of the Chinese Women’s Universit y League.

According to its website, Shandong Women’s Universit y promotes the

development of specialized women’s and gender research, and has won the A llChina Women’s Federation “China Women’s Research Excellent Organization Reward.”

The Shandong Women’s Universit y Journal has also been noted as an “Excellent Social Science Journal of National Universities.”

Cuifen and others at the universit y have conducted practical and theoretical research on women’s rights and gender equalit y. Additionally, she participated in the drafting and rev ising of local laws and regulations on women’s rights, filling a leadership Paid Advertisement

Mission Continued from page 1

of the community sent emails to me thanking the [mission] council for offering this opportunity to recognize those who they see living the mission of the College,” Fean said in the email.

Each year, the College selects one of the four values and highlights it around campus through banners, photos and actions. Though the Mission Moment program honors people serving all of the core values, according to Fean, the College is highlighting the core value of “community” this year.

According to an attachment included in Fean’s email, the program seeks to continue the vision of the founding Sisters of the Holy Cross, as well as honor their legacy. It is one way to connect the history of the mission statement to its modern-day applications, Fean said.

“We hope the Mission Moment Appreciation Initiative will be one way to celebrate the many members of the Saint Mary’s Community [as] you continue to share their gifts, talents and knowledge to create an inclusive and welcoming community as we continue to

honor the legacy of the Sisters of the Holy Cross and shape our future,” Fean said in the email.

Fean said the initiative serves its purpose by recognizing those she considers to be continuing God’s gift of stewardship.

“I see this initiative continuing to recognize the commitment to foster an environment of academic excellence, learning [and] sustain a community where each member is valued … [to] support [our] spiritual needs as we spiritually grow and lead lives of faith and respect all persons because of their Godgiven dignity … [and] act as responsible stewards of resources and advocate social action with compassion,” she said in the email.

Every semester, the Office of Mission will recognize all the nominees through an email to the entire community.

Nominations are accepted at the Office of Mission in 131 Le Mans Hall. A brief written statement describing how the person is living the mission in the Mission Moment Appreciation book is required. The office then will give the nominator a pin and card to give to the nominee.

Contact Colleen Fischer at cfischer01@saintmarys.edu

role in the “12th Five-Year Plan” for the development of women and children in Shandong Prov ince.

“As a women’s higher education institution, both institutions share the mission of educating high-qualit y women students and future women leaders,” Yang said in the email. “Women should not only have access to higher education, but also have opportunities to develop their potential, talents and leadership to make a difference in the world. We would like to work w ith more women’s colleges around the world to promote women’s education.”

At the reception dinner follow ing the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, Saint Mar y’s facult y members presented the delegation w ith the College’s study abroad shirt, which read, “Women Going Global – Building Bridges for Global Peace,” Yang said.

“We hope to maintain our institutional sisterhood to make a better and more peaceful world together,” she said.

Editor’s Note: Cui Xiaohong, a professor of English language and literature at Shandong Women’s University, acted as Guo Cuifen’s English translator during her interview with The Observer.

Contact Maeve Filbin at mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu

The observer | wednesday, december 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

5

Contact: Ryan Israel at risrael1@nd.edu Patrick Witteman at pwittema@nd.edu Mike Donovan at mdonov10@nd.edu Charlie Kenney at ckenney4@nd.edu Dessi Gomez at dgomez5@nd.edu

JOSEPH HAN | The Observer

6

The observer | Wednesday, December 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

It is OK to be tired

Inside Column

Home sweet home?

Mia Marroquin News Writer

I’m a proud native of Holland, Michigan.

Ask anyone, and they w ill tell you that no introduction of myself is complete w ithout pointing to the left side of my right hand to identif y my home of sandy beaches and snow-melted streets.

So let me tell you a little bit about this tow n I call home.

There’s nothing quite like spending summer days on Lake Michigan or getting days off school for a tulip festival. It wasn’t until college that I realized how peculiar it is for students to dress up in authentic Dutch garb complete w ith clogs just to scrub the main street while being cheered on by members of the communit y.

If tulip festivals aren’t your cup of tea, there’s always the opportunit y to spend time at the beach. W hether it be a hot summer day or admiring the waves on a bluster y w inter day, it w ill inev itably be a good time w ith beautiful v iews. A personal favorite pastime of mine is to gawk at the immensit y of Secretar y of Education Betsy DeVos’ summer house and ponder just how easy it would be for one of her yachts to be set free.

As you can imagine in a small, charming tow n, word travels fast. Especially about something as volatile as second-degree murder and mutilation.

Let me back up a second to the bleak December day, not much different than this one, where I got a picture in my family group chat of our street being lined w ith police cars and medical examiners. For a neighborhood active in the communit y watch Facebook page, this was exceptionally alarming. Thanks to my sav v y internet search skills, I quick ly learned that my next-door neighbor had been arrested in connection to a recently discovered mutilated body.

W hile our conversations never exceeded much more than a “hey,” it’s still unsettling to know the guy you spent the past six years headnodding w ill be spending the rest of his life in prison.

The follow ing week, I was home for Christmas break, and instead of sitting at my favorite coffee shop or watching the waves crash onto the beach, I sat in my family room watching the media frenzy unraveling before my ow n two eyes.

W hether it be reporters tr y ing to get comments from his parents (who had also been arrested as accessories at this point) or from neighbors or catching footage of the deceased’s loved ones standing on the street begging the family to release the details of where her head, hands and feet were. It was far more compelling than anything HBO had to offer me.

Over the course of the next year, I watched the investigation and his inev itable trial unravel. The situation quick ly became my anecdote for quiet pauses in conversation, stunning my friends w ith my extensive knowledge of the subject.

W hile my father wasn’t too pleased that our propert y value had decreased as a result, life in the neighborhood seemed to return to normal quick ly after.

Oh Holland, never a dull moment.

Contact Mia Marroquin at mmarroquin@saintmarys.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Paige Curley Show Some Skin

Duncan, Ok lahoma Nov. 18, 2019 Three dead Fresno, California Nov. 17, 2019 Six injured Four dead San Diego, California Nov. 16, 2019 One injured Five dead Santa Clarita, California Nov.14, 2019 Three injured Two dead In the past four days, 16 people have been shot and killed. In the past 11 months, that number grows to 34,519.

One tragedy follows another until they blur together into a constant stream of headlines that punctuate our news feeds. The effect is dizzy ing. One cannot mourn, process or speak out about one loss before the next one comes along.

You sign a petition, you send a t weet, you text a loved one. But it never feels like enough when all your efforts are bulldozed by the next onslaught of devastations.

It is OK to admit that you are tired.

It is over whelming and ex hausting to keep up w ith the daily disasters that dominate the news cycle.

Our planet is on fire. Our president is corrupt.

Our students are being gunned dow n.

I w ill admit there are times when I scroll

past articles about the newest tragedy, because sometimes I just cannot.

It makes me feel guilt y. It is, admittedly, a priv ilege to be able to sw ipe away from a headline. It is a priv ilege to be able to pay attention only to the memes on Tw itter rather than participate in critical discourse. It is a priv ilege to be able to put the phone dow n when it all becomes too much.

However, compassion fatigue is a real thing.

One can legitimately develop an x iet y, or apathy, when they are overloaded w ith the immensit y of the world’s social issues.

We must continue to care, to fight, to protest, to love, to demand, to act. But we fail to do any of those things when our emotional bandw idth is completely drained.

It is good to set boundaries. It is healthy, not selfish.

It is good to be gentle towards oneself. It is productive, not la zy.

Please, don’t feel guilt y for respecting and acknowledging what you can handle and when you need a break. Turn your phone off. Breathe.

Cr y. Nap. Go to therapy. Do whatever it is you need to recharge.

The cause w ill still be there when you come back, and you’ll be able to fight even better than before.

Paige Curley is a senior. Contact her and Show Some Skin at s.someskin@gmail.com.

Show Some Skin is a student-run initiative committed to giving voice to unspoken narratives about identity and difference. Using the art of storytelling as a catalyst for positive social change across campus, we seek to make Notre Dame a more open and welcoming place for all. If you are interested in breaking the silence and getting involved with Show Some Skin, email pdavis6@nd.edu.

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Follow us on Twitter. @ObserverViewpnt

The observer | Wednesday, December 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

77

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A letter from Paul Browne The Universit y is aware of the incidents described in a letter to The Obser ver last week.

In fact, an investigation regarding the appearance of racially derogator y graffiti has been completed. The Notre Dame Police Department (NDPD) quick ly identified four out-of-state high school students as the responsible parties. It also charged them w ith trespassing, barring them permanently from campus. We have also f lagged the incident w ith enrollment officials in the event any of the four seek admission to Notre

Dame. The investigation into the use of a racial epithet and another biased slur being directed at a student remains open. The Universit y urges anyone w ith information to come for ward to NDPD or the Office of Communit y Standards.

In addressing principles that guide Notre Dame as a Catholic Universit y, Father Jenkins has reminded us that Notre Dame is “committed to respecting the dignit y and worth of ever y human person, from conception to natural death, regardless of national or ethnic group, religious

tradition, gender, race, socio-economic class, immigration status, sexual orientation or anything else.”

Racial epithets and other biased slurs are an anathema, especially at Notre Dame, where ever y indiv idual is valued and where we strive to make all feel welcome.

Paul J. Browne vice president, public affairs and communications Dec. 9

What makes a Christmas movie?

Patrick McKelvey With the Current

Ever y year around this time, mov ie fans around the world resume one of the most contentious and longest-lasting debates in film: is “Die Hard” a Christmas mov ie? The 1988 action (and maybe holiday) film directed by John McTierian and starring Bruce Willis, A lan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia tells the stor y of John McClane (Willis), an N Y PD officer who must defend his w ife and her company from a terrorist takeover on Christmas Eve. Sometimes, you’ll see a similar argument made about “Harr y Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which is a little ridiculous. The only reason there’s any Christmas scenes in that mov ie is because it takes place over the course of an academic year. You’ll also see some argue (unsuccessfully) that w riter-director Shane Black’s filmography, films like “Lethal Weapon,” “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and “Iron Man 3” are holiday mov ies. I think Shane Black just likes hav ing Christmas lights in his shots.

But w ith “Die Hard,” an impressive debate rages from both sides. There doesn’t seem to be any consensus on its status in the Christmas canon: not in my friend group, not in Holly wood, not even for the former set members: 20th Centur y Fox (who distributed the film) called it “the greatest Christmas stor y ever told.” But Bruce Willis stated that “Die Hard is not a Christmas mov ie. It’s a g--d--- Bruce Willis mov ie.”

I don’t know why it can’t be both. To me, “Die Hard” has all the markers of a great holiday movie — not the greatest, as Fox suggests, but certainly great. It takes place entirely on Christmas Eve, and almost entirely at a Christmas part y.

Hans Gruber’s (the film’s antagonist) plot centers around it being Christmas Eve and the majorit y of Nakatomi Pla za being empt y. It features three Christmas songs (Let it Snow, Winter Wonderland and Christmas in Hollis), and its score contains a medley of other traditional carols.

Most importantly, of course, the film is about family. At the opening, John and Holly ( Yes, Holly — another point for me) McClane have been separated for several months — both refusing to compromise when Holly has to move to Los Angeles for work. Over the course of the mov ie, the t wo come to realize they truly love each other, and their squabbles matter little in comparison to this fact.

Some might say their five or six near-death experiences over the course of the mov ie led them to this realization, but I think it had a lot more to do w ith holiday magic.

The case against the mov ie is f limsy at best. You could say it’s gratuitously v iolent. Maybe a little, at times. But Richard Donner’s “Scrooged” is prett y v iolent, and at least t w ice as dark KERRY SCHNEEMAN | The Observer as “Die Hard” — and I don’t see anyone clambering to re-classif y that film.

You could say it was released in July. I’ll tell you “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947) was released in May. You could also say the plot isn’t really about Christmas — that my “family” characterization is w rong and this is, at its heart, an action mov ie.

It only really ex ists so we can see Bruce Willis do some cool stunts. That’s when I’ll bring up Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the quintessential Christmas mov ie — that in some ways has ver y little to do w ith Christmas. It is chief ly the stor y of George Bailey. It follows him over decades of his life, his struggles w ith guilt and depression. Christmas isn’t even mentioned until the third act of the film, and even then the inciting incident of the stor y is a banking error that just happens to take place on Dec. 24. Yet no one would ever argue “It’s a Wonderful Life” isn’t a

Christmas mov ie. Its enduring message of faith in family and faith in friends has become perhaps the most famous, heart warming component of Christmas specials.

The only — only — real objection to “Die Hard” being a Christmas mov ie I can come up w ith has to do w ith the t y pe of people who usually make the argument. A lmost ever y time, it’s an attempt to be funny, or edg y, to mock classics like “Christmas Vacation” and “Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer” in favor of an admittedly less traditional choice.

It’s a sort of pseudo-masculinit y that can’t find a suitable role model in George Bailey. Last year, I summed up my thoughts on the debate by t weeting “Die Hard is absolutely a Christmas mov ie and if it wasn’t for people tr y ing to be edg y say ing ‘Die Hard is my favorite Christmas mov ie,’ there wouldn’t even be a debate about whether or not it was a Christmas mov ie.”

Indeed, these people actually do the mov ie a disser v ice. These hollow arguments are the ver y reason the debate still rages.

For me, “Die Hard” checks off all the boxes necessar y for being a Christmas mov ie. It’s set on the holiday, it has the right music, the right set pieces, the right themes, the right message.

My argument for “Die Hard” is because of these themes and this message — not because I need something blow n up to say I like a Christmas mov ie. Regardless of the arguments against it, and regardless of who usually holds it up as the pinnacle of holiday entertainment, I watch it w ith my family and friends ever y December.

Besides, it’s Christmas. If a mov ie brings people together, I think we can count it.

Patrick McKelvey splits his time between being a college senior and pretending to be a screenwriter. He majors in American Studies and classics, and will be working in market research in New York after graduating. If you can’t find him at the movies, he can be reached for comment at pmckelve@nd.edu or @PatKelves17 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 | wednesday, december 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Karen young brown

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Your emotions will be difficult to dismiss. You’ll feel more inclined to say what’s on your mind and question anyone who is vague or appears to be playing games with you. Gather your thoughts methodically, and venture down a path that feels right and shows promise. This year is about stabilization, not upset and disruption. Your numbers are 7, 12, 18, 22, 27, 35, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take care of matters personally. The only way to get things done the way you want is to do them yourself. Someone will disappoint you or leave you in a vulnerable position. Take charge, and leave nothing to chance.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Make changes that will bring you closer to someone you love. A day trip, educational pursuit or opportunity to get involved in something unique looks inviting. Make a change, and it will boost your confidence and your enthusiasm.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Emotions will be raised, and what you say will matter. Choose your words wisely, be precise and follow through with any promises you make. Ask questions if someone evades issues or tries to confuse you. Reveal only what’s necessary.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Pick up the pace, and work in tandem with people who bring out the best in you. Let your creative mind lead the way.

You will be praised for your insight into future trends. Romance is on the rise.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be less concerned about what everyone else is doing, and put in more time and effort on what you want to accomplish. Don’t labor over something you cannot change. Sport a positive and amicable attitude.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Easy does it when dealing with emotional matters.

Listen, be understanding and find reasonable solutions. By doing your best to make things better, you will gain the respect and confidence of others.

Personal gain is within reach.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You can address issues that are bothering you as long as you listen and compromise. Getting along with others will be half the battle if you want to move forward. Be careful not to jeopardize your health or your finances.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Round up the people and the accessories you’ll require to reach your goal. Set your sights on how you intend to improve your life, the way you live or whatever it will take to get ahead professionally.

Romance is featured.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Refuse to let your emotions stifle your productivity. Live up to your promises, and follow through with your plans.

Don’t fall short because someone meddles in your business. Make decisions based on truth and practicality. Don’t share personal information.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take action, put your plans in motion and enjoy whatever benefits come with the work you have completed. A change at home will encourage family fun or enjoying a space you have cleared to host a project you want to start.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Refuse to let anger set in or your patience run thin. Make decisions that will encourage getting ahead. Put your time and effort into doing the best job possible. Refuse to let personal matters slow you down. Make emotional well-being a priority.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Emotions will surface, pushing you to sort through an uncomfortable situation and direct your attention to a sound plan that will rectify the problem. Have a project in mind before you address matters that concern a close friend, family member or your lover.

Birthday Baby: You are trusting, sensitive and insightful. You are bold and ambitious.

sorin elementary | IAN SALZMAN

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Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

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ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, december 11, 2019 | The Observer

Track&Field

Sports Authority

End the NFL slave trade David Kramer Sports Writer

Atop the highest snow bank on my elementar y school playground, my legs sw ung aimlessly beneath me as I peered over the frozen tundra.

A lbeit a small contribution to my vantage point, I considered the pile uplifting, mountainous, illuminative of the sea of white that enveloped the playground w ith a bone-chilling f lood.

The ledge gave me a feeling of omniscience, obser ving all of the school drama, conf lict and energ y from a comfortable distance.

Here, I unknow ingly digested my first inherently racist comment of memor y.

The Minnesota w inter invaded the early days of December w ith full force that year, and fittingly so: Jack Frost loves to make an unforgettable (and often unbearable) entrance.

Despite the miserable w inds and sw irling blizzards, kids in my hometow n saw the first sign of massive snowfall as a blessing.

At the start of each w inter, my school’s beloved teacher and former college football player crafted an all-inclusive snow football bracket for any w illing — and I’ll say bold — participants.

Spirited students would strap on their tightest pair of boots for the daily six-onsix contest, one that became know n as the Ice Bowl.

A mediocre athlete at heart, I gladly joined the ranks. Perhaps I enjoyed watching the matchups even more, free from the sogg y socks and soaked pants that inev itably came w ith a grueling w in.

On one of my cherished off days, I scaled my prized pile and joined a scraw ny white kid from a nearby neighborhood.

The game at hand decided my next opponent, so I scouted the receivers during the brief lapses between countless falls into the knee-high snow.

Pointing out one of the black kids on the field, the scraw ny boy turned to me and sighed. “I just love to watch those quick, sweat y black guys,” he said. At this, he erupted into a cack le, slid dow n to ground zero from his seat, and walked away.

W hile this comment dumbfounded me, I neglected to make much of it.

W hy mention sweat during maybe the coldest day of the year? The answer surfaced alongside my maturit y: clearly he projected a long-standing idea of race in his household w ithout know ing any better. He adopted a crooked ref lection of “how I was raised” w ith a dismissive laugh.

Stories like this rew rite themselves to the point of dr y monotony, yet they go largely unnoticed throughout our childhood.

W hether inadvertent or conscious, Americans express a strange obsession w ith sweating, bulging, tested and ultimately ex hausted black bodies beneath NFL pads.

Helmets obscure the identities of incredible athletes when this on-field objectification takes place. This addictive issue primarily takes root in the NFL Combine, an event lacking any substantial economic benefit for the league, but nevertheless showcasing black bodies w ith an unmatched level of per version.

Black prospects w illingly submit to the demands of predominantly white ow ners, scouts and doctors: stripping to tight, minimalist clothing, performing ta x ing physical tasks and presenting their physique during the weigh-in. The physical examination delights the white onlookers as they gladly gather insight for their next acquisition through the NFL Draft.

The auction block of the chattel slave era undoubtedly comes to mind here.

The parallel is in no way an original one, but the fact that Combine protocol w ithstands racial back lash year after year makes the subjection of black athletes to this t y pe of treatment a pressing matter for the league.

With the first wave of w inter storms upon us, I find myself regretting my encounter w ith the scraw ny white kid.

Not once did I ask him to explain himself. Not once did I seek understanding on how someone so young could say something so outlandish.

Maybe I didn’t know any better, but the NFL certainly does.

Contact David Kramer at dkramer2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Continued from page 12

Sparks was impressed with his performance, and he hopes Schweizer can continue to improve during the course of the season.

“Not only did he compete, but he competed at a pretty high level,” Sparks said.

“Now he has that monkey off his back, and he can worry about getting back to that elite level he was at.”

Schweizer will be able to train alongside some of the best milers in the country, including junior Yared Nuguse who was the 1500m champion in 2019.

“He has a lot of guys to fall in line with,” Sparks said.

“He can get in line behind Yared and the other guys, and doesn’t have to reinvent himself.”

Sparks said he was equally impressed by the performance of sophomore Elena Denner, who was the runner up in the 3000m in her first race in over a year. Sparks discussed the impact of Denner’s twin sister, sophomore Maddy Denner, on her motivation to compete at a high level.

“When you have a sibling that competes at a very high level, you feel like you have to do something extra special,” Sparks said. “In the case of Elena, she is learning

how to be herself. She doesn’t have to compare herself to a sibling or another person on the team. She just needs to be the best version of herself on that day, and then she can continue to improve.”

Sophomore Colton Crum took first in the pole vault.

Crum was All-Conference in last year’s season, but redshirted during the outdoor season.

“He took the outdoor season off to perfect some skills and rid himself of some bad habits in the vault, and he really took that to heart in the spring, summer, and fall to pick up right where he finished the indoor season last year,” Sparks said. “When you are able to do that, you can grow during the next three months as you prepare for the championship season in March.”

There were a lot of freshmen competing in the meet, and Sparks noted the performances of freshmen Catherine Coffey and Connor Shields, who both won the 800m race.

“Both of them winning the 800 was a step in the right direction for them. They were both walk ons with not a lot of expectations, but it’s nice to see both of them step in during their first race and be competitive,” Sparks said.

“That’s an event where we are a little thin on at the conference level, and if they can

9

continue to progress, they might be able to find their way to the conference meet and give us some depth in an event we haven’t had much depth in recently.”

Despite these strong performances, there are still areas that the team needs to improve upon going forward, Sparks said. One of these areas is the short sprint events.

“We are still looking for people in the 60m, 200m and 400m to step up,” Sparks said. “We had a couple of injuries on the men’s side in the 400m, but [graduate student] Edward Cheatham ran the 400 pretty well. Other than that, we are looking for someone in the sprint events to assert themselves.”

The next meet for the team will be five days after class resumes in January, and Sparks knows the importance of continuing to train hard over Christmas break.

“You can’t spoil a good fall of conditioning by getting lazy over the winter,” Sparks said. “They’ll be on their own for three to five weeks of training, and they need to keep that momentum from the fall.”

Next up for the team is the Bill Clinger Invitational, which will take place at Grand Valley State University on January 17.

Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu

anna MAson | The Observer

Irish junior distance runner Parker Jones races down the track during the Meyo Invitational at Meyo Field on Feb. 2. Jones notched a personal record in the 800m run (1:52.96) at the meet.

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

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The observer | wednesday, december 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

W Bball Continued from page 12

Notre Dame will be returning home with a twogame losing streak held above their head as they play host to DePaul, a team that should not be taken lightly.

The Blue Demons (7-1) have put up dominating performances against top-ranked teams this year. Their only loss of the year came to nowNo. 4 Oregon State. And they will be riding a hot streak coming into South Bend on Wednesday night: After their defeat to Oregon State, they went on to defeat Arkansas State in humiliating fashion by a final score of 109-64, and then-No.16 Miami — who has subsequently fallen to No. 25 — 89-83.

The Irish will be coming in hungry for a win after dropping their last two games since their return from Mexico, where they won just one of the three they played. But DePaul, who is scheduled to tipoff against UConn next Tuesday,

M Bball Continued from page 12

“I brought Nate and Dane into my office on Monday and said ‘How can I help you guys?’ And Dane told me I needed to be harder on him.

I guess I gotta push him more and he loves it,” Brey said. “He just needs to be aggressive.

He’s a gifted guy for sure.”

The Irish started fast, scoring on their first three possessions. Senior guard TJ Gibbs nailed a deep triple on Notre Dame’s first trip down the court, followed by a lob from half court by Gibbs to senior Juwan Durham to set up an easy dunk for the senior forward. Gibbs, who finished with 18 points, then hit another three from nearly the same spot on the court.

The Irish continued to find the bottom of the net throughout the first half, shooting 59% from the field as a team in the first half. Goodwin and sophomore guard Prentiss Hubb were able to utilize off ball screens to find a number of wide open looks under the basket. Senior forward John Mooney, who recorded his fourth straight double-double, contributed eight points in the half on four of five shooting. Detroit Mercy sophomore guard Antoine Davis was able to keep the game somewhat close with 14 first half points on 7-11 from the field, but the Irish led 49-33 at the break.

In the second half, the Irish quickly began to pull away.

Gibbs again began the half with a deep three, followed by another Durham dunk, this time off a lob from graduate student guard Rex Pflueger.

Gibbs would drill three more shots from downtown in the

will be looking to prove their worth on the national stage, too. The Blue Demons are led by senior forward Chante Stonewall, who leads the team with 139 points this season. In addition to being the team’s most important scorer on offense, she is also a powerful force on the other side of the ball. Stonewall leads the team in both steals and blocks with 30 and six, respectively. At 6’1,” the do-it-all forward can also pull down boards at ease, and she is second on the team in rebounds with 48. When Stonewall needs a feed, she can look to senior point guard Kelly Campbell, who isn’t as vertically gifted as Stonewall, but has proven herself a gritty player on the court. Campbell leads the Blue Demons in rebounds with 59, and the point guard can easily get the ball to her teammates who have been at the back end of her 51 assists this season.

The Irish have played three more games than the Blue Demons, yet the Blue Demons have already passed the Irish assist total with 179

half, and the Irish as a team were 11-18 from beyond the arc after the break. Davis continued his strong performance with 13 points in the second half, but the Titans couldn’t keep up with Notre Dame’s offensive barrage.

“I think as a leader, it’s my job to tell them that we’ve found our offense a little bit in this game, and I think for our three sophomores, who are such a key for us, it was a great night for them to get out of a little bit of a tough week,” Brey said.

Looking ahead, Goodwin explained that despite the opponent, a big win like this one gives the Irish a confidence boost heading into Saturday’s matchup with 7-3 UCLA. “I think this definitely changes the mood in the locker room a little bit,” he said.

“Looking up at the scoreboard and seeing us put up 110, that’s definitely a game changer, and we need our confidence to be high with some tough opponents coming up.”

Brey joked that his team didn’t want to hear about the storied history of Notre Dame’s rivalry with UCLA and is instead focused on avenging last year’s narrow 65-62 loss to the Bruins.

“TJ Gibbs didn’t want to hear about it, he said ‘Coach, we owe them one.’ The way we lost out there, it was a long flight back,” Brey said. “I do agree with him saying we should just focus on the game because that was a hard one to swallow.”

The Irish and Bruins will tip off Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at Purcell Pavilion. The game will be broadcasted on ABC.

on the year to Notre Dame’s 141. DePaul averages 22.4 assists per game while the Irish only 12.8. The Blue Demons also nearly have the Irish’s number in scoring: They have put up 694 through their eight games; Notre Dame has scored 716 through 11 games.

DePaul has the fourth-best scoring offense in the country at the moment, as well, behind only No. 3 Oregon — led by star senior guard Sabrina Ionescu — Abilene Christian and No. 15 Mississippi State.

Plus, the Blue Demons have held their opponents to 579 points. The Irish have allowed 725.

The Blue Demons will certainly be looking for a statement win over the Irish to bolster their confidence as they prepare to take on the Huskies, but the Irish are in need of a bounce-back victory after a lackluster month — a scary contrast to last year’s 35-4 team.

The Irish will tip off against the Blue Demons on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. in Purcell Pavilion.

Sports

kendra osinski | The Observer

Irish freshman forward Sam Brunelle backs into the post during a 75-67 defeat against Minnesota at Purcell Pavilion on Dec. 4.

nola wallace | The Observer

Irish senior guard TJ Gibbs attempts to pass a defender during a 110-71 victory over Detroit Mercy at Purcell Pavilion on Tuesday. Gibbs had 18 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal in the victory.

nola wallace | The Observer

Contact Colin Capece at ccapece@nd.edu

Irish senior forward John Mooney leads his team down the court during a 110-71 victory over Detroit Mercy at Purcell Pavilion on Tuesday. Mooney finished the game with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

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The observer | wednesday, december 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

ND Track & Field | Blue and Gold invitational

Irish begin season with stellar performance at Blue and Gold Invitational

By NATE MOLLER Sports Writer

The track and field squad kicked off its season at the Blue and Gold Invitational on Friday at the Loftus Sports Center. There were many solid performances in different event areas, but there were also some areas where the Irish will need to improve as the meets become more competitive.

The throwers were one of the most successful groups at the meet. The men put six in the top 10 of the weight throw and junior Rachel Tanczos shattered her previous personal record in the weight throw, as well. Matt Sparks, director of Track and Field, said he was very pleased with the performances of the throwers.

“It’s refreshing to see that they were all right at their PR, or in Rachel’s case, had a big PR from where she finished a year ago,” Sparks said. “That’s going to bode well for being

competitive, not just on the conference level, but on the national stage.”

Sparks attributed the successes to the training mentality of throws coach Adam Beltran.

“The great thing that they’ve done, and what coach Beltran has established in that group, is a culture of grinding day after day, year after year, to the point when you are a junior or senior, you can compete on a high level,” Sparks said.

“It takes a patient attitude to grow through those freshman and sophomore years, where you are not the best, but still have confidence that you are doing the right thing.”

Senior Ryan Schweizer also competed well, winning the mile with a time of 4:15.44.

Schweizer was one of the best freshman milers in the country a few years ago, but has been unable to race the past three years due to injury. see TRACK & FIELD PAGE 9

hannah huelskamp | The Observer

Irish freshmen pole vaulters Olivia Fabry and Alexandra Clumsky focus themselves before the Blue and Gold Invitational at the Loftus Sports Center on Saturday. The next meet for the team will be in January.

ND MEn’s Basketball | ND 110, Detroit mercy 71

nd Women’s Basketball

ND prepares to bounce back against DePaul Observer Sports Staff

The Notre Dame women’s basketball team will host one more game in Purcell Pavilion this week before Christmas break.

The squad is coming off of a defeat at the hands rival No. 2 UConn — the Huskies (8-0) beat the Irish (5-6) 8157 in Storrs, Connecticut this weekend in a rivalry that means much to both programs. Notre Dame has lost to UConn in the regular season for the past two years, but ended up beating UConn down the line in March in the Final Four. This loss was much different than those of the past two seasons, however. The Irish lost to the Huskies last year 89-71 and in the 2017-18 season 81-70.

The loss Sunday marked the sixth loss on the Irish season, and it is the first time they have been under the .500 mark this deep in the season since 1995. see W BBALL PAGE 10

Squad routs Detroit Mercy

By COLIN CAPECE Sports Writer

kendra osinski | The Observer

Irish freshman guard Anaya Peoples drives into the paint during a 75-67 defeat against Minnesota at Purcell Pavilion on Dec. 4.

After two difficult losses to Maryland and Boston College last week, Notre Dame was able to respond emphatically at home on Wednesday night in a non-conference game against Detroit Mercy, overpowering the Titans in every offensive category on the way to a dominant 110-71 victory.

The Irish (7-3, 0-2 ACC) were on fire from deep, shooting a season high 51% from beyond the arc. Notre Dame also showed off why it boasts the nation’s leading assist to turnover ratio, dishing out a program record 33 assists on the night.

“I like how we responded this week in practice, and when you get 33 assists, I don’t care who you play that’s pretty powerful,” a more upbeat Mike Brey said after the game. “ We also shot it pretty darn well. We’re not gonna make 20 [three pointers] every night, but if we make 10 or 12 a night, it’s a little different ball game for us.”

Four Irish starters scored in

double figures, but the Notre Dame bench also chipped in 45 points. Sophomore forward Nate Laszewski scored 14 points, while sophomore guard Dane Goodwin posted a career high 27 points in 28 minutes. After struggling to score in his last two games, the Ohio native was 10-13 from the field and 5-7 from three.

“It was definitely good to see a couple go down after struggling the last two games,” Goodwin said. “I think I definitely came out with a different mentality that I didn’t have the last two games, just trying to [do] what I can to help the team. We were just moving the ball really well tonight. We got open looks all night long, and I think guys were more aggressive taking their shots.”

Brey joked that he had some better coaching days following Saturday’s loss, including a positive conversation with his sophomores Monday that seemed to light a fire under Goodwin on Tuesday. see M BBALL PAGE 10