Print Edition for The Observer for Friday, January 14, 2022

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Volume 56, Issue 36 | Friday, january 14, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

Pandemic looms over start of semester Amid Omicron surge and return to campus, students detail new experiences, concerns with COVID-19

By ISA SHEIKH News Writer

As students left campus in December, COVID-19 cases surged across the country.

That trend has continued as the United States is averaging more than 700,000 new cases a day, far more than at any previous point in the pandemic. Though the Omicron variant has proven less fatal and less likely to lead to serious symptoms, especially for the vaccinated, the variant has recently led to a surge in hospitalizations nonetheless.

With a return to masks on campus, the University’s requirement to receive a booster vaccination, professors

putting renewed emphasis on recording lectures and new restrictions on gatherings and events, the future of the pandemic on campus remains uncertain to many.

Josh Vo, a first-year in Stanford Hall, arrived on campus Sunday, having taken an at-home test before traveling from Wichita, Kansas. A friend he spent time with had tested positive and he wanted to stay safe, so his family tried to find a test despite shortages across the region and few opportunities to visit a testing site. The at-home test came back negative.

Vo’s plan was to spend the weekend in Chicago with a friend’s family before driving

Sanchez wins Orr Fellowship

to Notre Dame on Sunday, when residence halls reopened to students. At the airport in Kansas, however, he started to experience mild symptoms, including an itch in his nose and some sneezing. Given the changing weather, the spread of colds and his recent negative test, Vo did not jump to the conclusion he had COVID-19.

“I started having some anxiety,” Vo recalled, “but there was nothing I could do at this point.”

Throughout the weekend, he felt his “stuffy nose get stuffier” and stayed masked while attempting to social distance. On Sunday, Vo said he rushed to his room with

News Writer

Next week, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion will host the University’s seventh annual Walk the Walk Week to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The week-long observation will feature a student government panel discussion, a candlelight prayer service and numerous lectures and performances addressing

Eliana Sanchez was recently awarded the Governor Bob Orr Entrepreneurial Fellowship, which is dedicated to developing business leaders.

By VERONICA NAVARRO Social Media Editor

Saint Mary’s senior Eliana Sanchez was recently awarded the Governor Bob Orr Entrepreneurial Fellowship in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was the only student from the College to earn the award this year.

According to its website, the Orr Fellowship is an opportunity for recent college graduates to spend two years working a

News PAGE 5

full-time paid position at a company in Indianapolis. Its mission is to develop the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs. Only the top seniors in the country are selected for the fellowship, which has an acceptance rate of 6%.

Sanchez is a first-generation college student who is very involved in campus life at Saint Mary’s. In addition to completing see SANCHEZ PAGE 5

Viewpoint PAGE 7

she asked me about my symptoms,” Vo said. Describing his stuffy nose, Vo was told that his symptoms were not enough to confirm the positive result his at-home test had indicated. She said that he should mask and wash his hands regularly, but there was not enough for him to isolate in his room away from his roommate. Vo and his roommate decided that he should not enter the room regardless.

The next morning, Vo went to the Joyce Center for a testing appointment and tested positive again. He was transported to a quarantine suite in the Hampton Inn north see COVID-19 PAGE 4

Walk the Walk Week celebrates community

By CLAIRE REID

Courtesy of Eliana Sanchez

another at-home test when he arrived on campus.

“Fifteen minutes in, there were two little lines, and I started freaking out,” Vo said.

“It’s a lot better to have some kind of answer, but I could’ve been spreading this to my friend’s family or people on the plane, and that’s quite something to have weighing on you.”

Vo called University Health Services (UHS), which was closed that day, but he was directed to the 24-hour line which told him he would get a call back from a nurse in four hours.

“After five hours of analyzing the texture of my ceiling, I got a call from a nurse, and

issues of racism and inequality and the experiences of Black students on campus.

Additionally, this year marks Notre Dame’s first full observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an official University holiday for students, faculty and staff after a resolution passed unanimously in the student senate in August.

Cassidy Ferrell, a current senior and the director of

the Department of Student Empowerment, played a significant role in promoting and advocating for the resolution. Along with student government, her department aided the Office of the President in planning many of the upcoming week’s events.

“This year Walk the Walk Week is themed around promoting community building and see WALK PAGE 4

Colleagues remember legacy of John Stamper

By RYAN PETERS

Associate News Editor

W hen news of associate dean and professor of architecture John Stamper’s death broke last week, dean of the Notre Dame School of Architecture Stefanos Polyzoides’s son-in-law, who graduated in 1992, w rote to Polyzoides about how he still remembers his

Scene PAGE 9

fifth year w ith Stamper and the praise and criticism he received during it. “[Stamper’s] reputation was about a person that was on their side, that was serious and critical of their work because architecture is a discipline that is taught by criticism, but he was fair and open and helpful,” Polyzoides said.

Stamper passed away Jan.

M Basketball PAGE 16

5, but continued to work up until the final days of his life. Hav ing taught at the Notre Dame School of Architecture since 1984 and ser ved as associate dean for 18 years, Stamper had a massive work load but never failed to keep up w ith it, Polyzoides said.

As an associate dean and see STAMPER PAGE 5

W Basketball PAGE 16

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Especially when it’s cold out, finding ways to pass time and relax indoors is a must. Last semester, Dillon Hall placed a pingpong table in a student common area. The table received a lot of use in the fall, but is sure to be used even more as the temperature drops.

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Friday

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Tuesday

Discernment Coffee Coleman-Morse Center 10 a.m.

All are welcome to join in discussion.

Daily Rosary Grotto of Our Lady 10 a.m.

Join in prayer with the Notre Dame community.

Basilica Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 10 a.m. & noon All are welcome to attend.

Alumni Hall Mass Alumni Hall 9 p.m.

Mass with Alumni Hall community. All are welcome to attend.

MLK Candlelight Prayer Service Main Building Rotunda 10 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. King.

Salsa Night Legends 8 p.m. - midnight All students are welcome to put on their dancing shoes!

Laser Tag Dahnke Ballroom 8 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Come and join other students for a night of Ultimate Laser Tag.

Becoming Catholic Coleman-Morse Center 2:30 p.m.

All are welcome to the information session.

Stanford Hall Mass Stanford Hall 10 p.m.

Mass with Stanford Hall community. All are welcome to attend.

Sino-Indian Lecture 1030 Jenkins Nanovic Halls 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Sumit Gangly speaks on Sino-Indian rivalry.

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ndsmcobserver.com | Friday, january 14, 2022 | The Observer

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Students react to spring COVID-19 protocols

By LIAM PRICE Staff Writer

Interim vice president for student affairs Gloria Roldan Jenkins and COVID-19 response team chair Mona Bowe outlined Saint Mary’s COVID-19 protocols for the spring semester in an email to students on Jan. 5.

The email stated that masking will be required in all indoor facilities on campus until Jan. 30 and in classrooms until Feb. 11.

Vaccination requirements from the Fall were extended to include the booster shot, which students are to show proof of by Jan. 21, according to the email.

The masking requirements are similar enough to that of the Fall — in which students had to wear masks only in the classrooms — that many said they do not feel much of a difference after arriving on campus.

“The updates really haven’t changed my experience at all,” first-year Briana Houpt said. “It was more or less the same as when we left for break.”

First-year Bridget Donovan said she appreciates the new updates for helping keep the campus healthy.

“I think most students understand that you have to follow the

policies to be safe. Even though it’s a little tiring, it’s important,” Donovan said.

Some students also said they approve of the booster requirement, which they find important for their safety and way of life.

“I support the booster requirement,” senior Isabella ThompsonDavoli said. “I think that the lives we live at school are possible because we’re all vaccinated.”

In an email sent to The Observer on Wednesday, Bowe explained that “as of late last week, approximately one-third of our students have uploaded their record.” Bowe said the number of uploads will increase quickly in the days ahead.

“We know from experience that many others have already received the booster, and just haven’t uploaded their record,” Bowe said.

Some Saint Mary’s students are still home after contracting COVID over winter break. Firstyear Cecelia Hockenberry from Ashtabula, Ohio tested positive for COVID on Jan. 4 and would have been able to return to school Jan. 10 had her symptoms not worsened.

Hockenberry appreciates her teachers who have worked with her to keep her caught up while still at home.

“Teachers have been really nice.

I emailed them before academic affairs emailed them and they were super understanding,” she said on a phone call Wednesday.

Hockenberry received her booster shot in November and supports the College’s decision to increase mask requirements.

She was surprised, however, that Saint Mary’s did not go virtual like many other schools.

“It seems like the kind of school that’s on top of the COVID regulations,” she said.

Senior Akpedze Balo similarly appreciates the protocols but worries about on-campus schooling as the pandemic rages.

“At one point I feel safer because they’re putting all these protocols in, but also if you’re doing all of this just to keep us on campus, then why are we on campus?” she said.

Especially frustrating for Balo and the most controversial rule from the Jan. 5 email are the new quarantine and isolation protocols.

Quarantined students will stay in the Mother Angela Care Center located in Regina Hall South, the email said, but those whose primary residence is within 300 miles of campus must plan to travel home and complete their isolation period.

This includes students from Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus, and in Balo’s case, Indianapolis. And travel plans, the email said, must be made within 24 hours of a positive test.

Balo does not have a car at school and with both parents working full time she said they cannot call out of work easily to come pick her up. And even if someone can come pick her up, Balo worries she would put the driver at risk.

“Not only am I going to live with them for a prolonged amount of time,” Balo said, “it’s already two and a half hours in an enclosed space with them.”

First-year Piper Ogden is from Reynoldsburg, Ohio, outside of Columbus. The drive home for her is nearly five hours, but just under 300 miles away. Because Ogden does not have a car at school, her parents will need to pick her up if she contracts COVID. “It’s a lot to ask from my parents to do a 10-hour round trip just to do that,” she said.

Frustrated with the protocol, Ogden still trusts the College’s decision making.

“The whole situation is about trying to keep yourself safe but also trying to keep others safe, too,” she said.

Even students who have cars on

campus are still in a bad situation, Thompson-Davoli, who lives in Florida, said. She called the protocol “a little crazy”.

“I got COVID on Christmas,” she said. “I couldn’t stay awake for more than a few hours.”

Driving hours away to get home while sick, she said, is dangerous.

“I don’t think I would’ve been able to drive at all,” she said.

Director of public relations Lisa Knox said in an email to The Observer on Thursday that the College’s COVID Response Team made the policy in anticipation of a high number of quarantining students this semester. ”We feel this approach will keep space open for those who are not able to return home. Those who live within an easy drive can do so, giving families advanced notice to prepare.” she said in the email.

Knox also said the protocol is case dependent.

“The Health and Counseling Center team triages every student who tests positive. Within that process is the opportunity to discern whether students should enter quarantine and isolation on campus,” she said. “Hardship cases are absolutely considered.”

Contact Liam Price at lprice3@nd.edu

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NEWS

The observer | Friday, january 14, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

COVID-19 Continued from page 1

of campus, provided with a $30 Grubhub gift card for his first meal.

In quarantine, Vo describes grappling with missing the first week of classes, along with boredom (he has had the time to watch all of “Only Murders In The Building“) and anxiety over his situation.

“I’m trying to stay caught up while knowing I’m going to be behind,” he said.

Far from the regular surveillance testing of last academic year, and unlike other universities that are requiring on-arrival tests from students, the University will continue to test only those who received exemptions from the vaccine and those experiencing symptoms limited to high fever, difficulty breathing or loss of taste or smell.

“Any member of the campus community who is symptomatic can be tested at the Testing Center.

Faculty and staff should contact the Notre Dame Wellness Center and students should contact UHS,” University spokesperson Dennis Brown said in an email.

Caroline Burton, an offcampus senior from St. Louis, Missouri, said her father tested positive for the virus three days prior to arriving on campus. This came during a week when much of her family had contracted or been recovering from the virus. When she called UHS on Monday, she was told that since it had been more than 48 hours since contact and she hadn’t developed symptoms, she did not need a test.

“I told [them] that I would really prefer if they would give me a test, and because I pushed back on them, they let me get tested,” Burton said. “It seemed like they only gave it to me because I would feel comfortable, not because they thought I needed it.”

Brown also said the University will not track variants of the virus on the COVID-19 dashboard. The dashboard will return for the semester on Jan. 18 following Martin Luther King Jr. day and will update each Monday thereafter.

Megan Howley, a sophomore in Breen-Phillips Hall, went back home in December to Evergreen Park, Illinois and worked at a restaurant over break with few restrictions related to COVID-19. On Christmas, Howley began feeling a headache and stuffy nose.

Her friends were planning to get dinner the following week but they decided to take precautions.

“I don’t remember any stage in the pandemic with so many people exposed at once, so we all decided to take an at-home test or get a rapid test,” Howley said.

Howley, along with the rest of her family and much of the extended family they saw at Christmas, tested positive despite mild symptoms.

“None of us were very sick at all,” she said. “I was honestly expecting more [because] it was so little.”

Howley said she is grateful for the fall semester and described it as a “180 from last year,” from getting to “see people’s faces” and “going to friends’ dorms freely” to “such large crowds” at events such as football games. With the reintroduction of the mask mandate and limitations on events, as well as a limited number of guests in a dorm room, Howley said it feels different.

“We’re not fully in this protective vaccinated bubble anymore,” she said.

“Coming back from break, where everyone went home across the country, there’s that thought that people could have brought it back.”

From his quarantine at the Hampton Inn, Vo paraphrased Sirius Black in the Harry Potter films.

“It’s starting to feel like it was before, and that’s very scary,” he said.

Asked whether students should be prepared for the return of policies such as dual learning or an extension of the mask mandate, Brown said the University continues to monitor the state of the pandemic.

“As we’ve said over the past two years, the health of our campus and broader community is our top priority,” Brown said. “We are constantly monitoring the ebb and f low of the [virus] and have in the past and will continue to adjust as needed.”

In an email to the campus community Thursday evening, University President Fr. John Jenkins struck a hopeful note.

“If we do the things we need to do — getting a booster, wearing our masks indoors, and showing up for testing if we have symptoms or are asked to do so as part of surveillance testing — public health experts are hopeful that we will see cases of the omicron variant peak and then decrease over the next few weeks,” Jenkins wrote.

Howley concurred, recounting the number of people she saw receiving her booster earlier in the week.

“It seems like everyone’s committed to getting where we need to be,” she said.

Contact Isa Sheikh at isheikh@nd.edu

Walk Continued from page 1

allyship,” Ferrell said. “We sought to create opportunities for the ND campus community to engage with topics of race, social justice and [diversity, equity and inclusion] by creating programming that engages the local community, amplifies diverse communities on campus and provides opportunities for allyship.”

The week’s events kick off Sunday at the women’s basketball game against North Carolina when faculty and staff members working to promote diversity and inclusion will be recognized at halftime.

In full observance of the holiday, Monday will feature no formal events, but students are encouraged to use it as a day of reflection.

“We hope that a full recognition of MLK Day prompts the Notre Dame community to reflect on the impact civil and human rights initiatives have had on our country and on their lives particularly,” Ferrell said. “We hope this week will bring a sense of urgency for continued activism in racial and social justice on campus and around the country.”

Programming will continue Tuesday with a live recording of the Black@ND podcast at 7 p.m. in the Patricia George Decio Theatre at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

Emorja Roberson, a doctoral student pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting, is the founder and host of the weekly podcast which discusses

the experiences and challenges of Black Notre Dame students and alumni.

He explained that the podcast episode will discuss what it means to be Black in America and will feature leaders from Black student groups including Wabruda, Shades of Ebony, the African Student Association and the Black Graduate Student Association.

He hopes the live event will allow for an authentic conversation about the diversity of Black experiences.

“Live is best,” Robinson said.

“It is unedited and it’s raw. The panelists are unaware of what questions we will ask and … it gives the students the opportunity to be honest and off-script …

I hope that this will impact and enlighten the community of the many ways in which we experience Blackness. It comes in many forms, and it is not monolithic.”

Roberson added that he is excited to also lead the Voices of Faith Gospel Choir later Tuesday night at the candlelight prayer service in the Main Building. The prayer service will commemorate the life and legacy of King and encourage participants to reflect on how the campus community can address issues of racism and inequality.

Walk the Walk Week will also feature two events planned by members of student government in partnership with other campus organizations.

The first event, co-sponsored by the University Counseling Center and the McDonald Center for Student Well-Being (McWell), will feature a video presentation about mental

health in the Black community with a discussion to follow.

“There is still some stigma around conversations regarding mental health, especially within the Black community,” said senior Amaya Medeiros, student government’s director for the Department of Diversity and Inclusion. “It’s important that we provide space to discuss these impacts and how we can best move forward as a community.”

Additionally, student government will host a panel discussion Tuesday in collaboration with the Office of the President called “Building a ‘Beloved Community’ at Notre Dame.” The panel, which will take place at 8:15 p.m. in Washington Hall, will focus on King’s vision of a “beloved community” and how the campus can implement that vision.

“This event will be a great opportunity for students to listen and learn about diverse communities, as well as encourage our student body to reflect on ways in which they can engage in these important conversations and best support their peers moving forward,” Medeiros said.

Other events featured in the week will include a screening of the original 2012 student production “Show Some Skin: The Race Monologues” on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Geddes Hall Coffee House and involvement fairs hosted by the Center for Social Concerns and Multicultural Student Programs and Services on Friday at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m, respectively.

Contact Claire Reid at creid6@nd.edu

Sophomores utilize UCC services at higher rate

By BELLA LAUFENBERG Staff Writer

Editor’s Note: Mental health resources can be found on the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross websites.

COVID-19 has upended normalcy across the globe, and at the University of Notre Dame, the class of 2024 has felt the brunt of the pandemic’s impact.

With a vaccination requirement and the disappearance of masks in certain places on campus for the fall of 2021, things seemed to be returning to normal; however, the sophomore class has seemingly had a tougher transition out of the pandemic than other groups on campus.

Christine Conway, the director of the University Counseling Center (UCC), said the data the center collects confirms that sophomores have had a difficult time adjusting during the fall semester. The UCC offers a variety of ways to receive mental health support, but the main way to access counselors is through drop-in hours. After meeting with a drop-in counselor, Conway said, the staff will assess

the student’s needs for more formal counseling.

Sophomores have utilized the UCC’s offerings significantly more than the other three undergraduate classes, making up 21.2% of the total patients in the fall of 2021 compared to around 16% for each of the remaining undergraduate classes.

This is especially true for sophomore Emily Meneses, who said she used Care and Wellness consultants at the beginning of the fall 2021 semester to help her through a difficult transition. But, she said she felt they didn’t provide much support.

Meneses explained that she reached out to Sara Bea Accessibility Services in order to receive an accommodation, but said it took the center weeks to get back to her and they bounced her around to different campus offices before she was offered an accommodation. Meneses said that afterwards, a counselor was supposed to check in with her but never did.

Meneses said her friends have had similar experiences when they needed assistance from the University and said Notre Dame needs to devote more resources to helping students.

“I just feel like if the University put more time into figuring out how they can get a bigger and more established cohort of people who can help us mental-wise, that’d be great,” she said.

Brown said she thinks the best way to move forward and provide more help to students in need would be to focus more brainpower and energy on this crisis and thus come together as a campus community.

“I think we have to come together as a community and talk and listen and understand,” Brown said. “We really need to see how this [pandemic] is impacting people — students — and what is going on for students, so that we can make the right interventions.”

Students should know that their response to the pandemic is normal, Brown said, but that they don’t have to struggle in silence.

“It’s a tough thing to do if you haven’t had to do it before, but college is a great time to learn how to make your well-being a priority,” she said. “This University has a lot of resources that can help with that.”

Contact Bella Laufenberg at ilaufenb@nd.edu

News

ndsmcobserver.com | Friday, january 14, 2022 | The Observer

Stamper

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professor, Stamper managed full administrative, publication and teaching loads. He served on a host of University committees, wrote a number of books including some close to publication at the time of his death and taught history courses to architecture students at the undergraduate and graduate level in addition to teaching one studio per semester.

“He was one of those unstoppable people,” Polyzoides said.

Adjunct associate professor of the practice at the School of Architecture Marianne Cusato first met Stamper as a student in the graduating class of 1997 and later joined the faculty, becoming his colleague.

“He was a giant in the school,” Cusato said. “He was somebody that every student that has passed through this building over the course of the last 40 years had him. It’s really extraordinary to have somebody that inf luenced so many people.”

W hile Cusato was an architecture student, Stamper was the director of the Rome Studies Program — in which architecture students spend the third year in school in Rome — a role Stamper held from 1990 to 1999.

Cusato said Stamper easily garnered the respect of students because they knew he respected them.

“He was somebody that knew his stuff, but he was also very, very kind in how he communicated, which is an amazing combination,” she said.

As a colleague, Stamper was an experienced and knowledgeable professor that was always willing to offer help, Cusato said.

“He was fantastic because he was also mentoring to those of us that were younger on the faculty and coming up and someone who you could run your syllabus by him and he would take a look at it and offer really, really good concrete suggestions on how you’d make it better,” she said.

With his extensive teaching experience and research, Stamper possessed a wide breadth of knowledge that allowed him to offer a seemingly unlimited supply of engaging conversations, Cusato said.

“We’d be at dinner and I kind of felt like I needed to have a notebook,” she said.

“It was so fun to talk to him about these things.”

Although Stamper appeared to be a very quiet and unassuming professor, Cusato said he possessed a sharp sense of humor.

“He was always on point,”

Sanchez Continued from page 1

majors in both psychology and environmental studies, Sanchez is a student trustee and a student leader in the Office for Common Good. In the past, she has served as president of Latinx club La Fuerza, vice president of the Student Diversity Board, a Belles Connect mentor, as well as an Embody summer theological institute mentor and ambassador.

“My last two years as a leader have really impacted me,” Sanchez said. “Trying to create plans and strategies to engage with students and different audiences was something that I wanted to take into my future.”

For Sanchez, participating in the Orr Fellowship was a no-brainer.

“I’ve always had a passion for staying connected and improving the place I came from,” Sanchez said. “The mission of the Orr Fellowship is really what got me on board.”

Sanchez was born and raised in Hammond, Indiana, and said she was certain she wanted to remain in her home state after graduation.

Before discovering the Orr Fellowship, however, Sanchez said she was planning to attend graduate school to continue her education in psychology.

“At first, I didn’t think that my psychology major would fit into many different businessrelated careers, so business and organizational leadership

she said. “He just had an amazing sense of humor and always, always caught the nuance of whatever the conversation was.”

Polyzoides said Stamper’s dedication to his students, his experience in the field, his tremendous work ethic and willingness to help

is definitely a different career path than I saw myself pursuing,” Sanchez said. “The Orr Fellowship and their strong mission helped to change my mind and show me other possibilities. I still want to go to graduate school at some point but the fellowship really appealed to me.”

After her graduation in May, Sanchez will be moving to Indianapolis to work for Boardable, a board management software.

“I’m ready and excited to be working for a company that’s so mission-driven,” Sanchez said. “I’m ready to be open to new ideas and learn from new people.”

The Orr Fellowship provides recent graduates with their first experiences as young professionals. Sanchez said she is also eager to learn to balance work and life.

“I haven’t had many work experiences outside of college life and I’m actually eager to work a real nine-to-five job,” Sanchez said. “I think it’ll be a great experience.”

Sanchez said she would encourage other Saint Mary’s students to consider applying for the Orr Fellowship.

“I would definitely say, if you’re not sure what to do after graduation, you should consider applying,” Sanchez said. “Put yourself out there. You might even change your mind about what you had planned.”

Contact Veronica Navarro at vnavarr3@nd.edu

other made him a true leader in the school who will be dearly missed.

“John was the perspective with a capital ‘P’ of the school,” he said. “He was our perspective.”

Contact Ryan Peters at rpeters5@nd.edu

Jam ND connects musicians

By SHANNON LIPSCOMB News Writer

Jam ND, a new club at Notre Dame, seeks to connect musicians over a mutual love for music and live performance. The club is looking for all types of musical artists, including singers, rappers and composers, to join the group and jam out.

Sophomore Evan Peters, president of Jam ND, said he found inspiration to establish the club after he attended the Student Activities Office’s Activities Fair in the fall semester. As he stood gazing around at the row of tables presenting the various music groups, he said, he could not help but feel as though something was missing. He said he was unable to find a music group that allowed musicians to simply come together and play music in a laid-back environment.

Peters said he believes other musicians would enjoy showcasing their talent, but perhaps could not devote themselves to a more time-intensive commitment such as the marching band.

“Our club is a lot more chill than other clubs,” Peters said. “It ties into performance and expression, and it’s a great way to meet other musicians on campus.”

Before coming to Notre Dame, Peters played the keyboard in his high school jazz ensemble. He has said he enjoyed playing with the other members of the group both during and outside of class.

For Peters, the carefree music environment of a jam session is very important, because it allows the body and mind to synchronize and simply play music.

“When we weren’t playing during class, we would go into the practice room and jam and improvise,” Peters said. “I would like to see that experience here at

Notre Dame.”

Besides his playing abilities, Peters is also a passionate composer. He has been writing for many years and said he hopes that other composers will join the group he leads.

“Jam ND would give other composers an outlet to share their music,” Peters said. “Other musicians can hop onto their piece and make it complete.”

Sophomore Hayden Strong serves as secretary of Jam ND. Strong bonded with Peters over their love of music and individual experiences in School of Rock, a music program that introduces kids to music through lessons and playing together in bands.

Strong plays the guitar, bass and drums, and he also sings, but said he has had a hard time finding other musicians to play with.

For him, Jam ND falls in between starting a band and an organized music club.

“We want to target somewhere in the middle where we can make it easier for people to meet other musicians but remove the stakes and expectations associated with other groups,” Strong said. “We want to create a space that is casual and collaborative where musical ideas can flow.”

Although there are over 10 music performance clubs at Notre Dame, Peters expressed certainty that Jam ND will stand out and claim its own space. Peters and Strong said they were excited to bring musicians together and set up events like on-campus performances, Battle of the Bands and visits to local coffee shops.

Jam ND’s first meeting will be held Sunday in the LaFortune Student Center.

Contact Shannon Lipscomb at slipsco3@nd.edu

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The observer | Friday, January 14, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

Play for the win, all the time Colin Capece Assistant Managing Editor

If you follow the NFL at all, you’ve probably heard something about the controversy involved with the Los Angeles Chargers-Las Vegas Raiders matchup Sunday night. What transpired in the final regular season game of the season will serve as the foundation for this inside column. I apologize to Viewpoint editor Abby Patrick for invading her department with this sportsball hullabaloo, but for anyone who’s read my stuff in the past, you probably recognize that it’s damn near impossible for me to turn my sports brain off. What I’m about to describe is a complicated situation as far as football games are concerned, but I promise it will all make sense in the end if you keep readingHeading into Sunday night’s game, the Chargers and Raiders held the final two playoff spots in the AFC. If the contest ended with only one team victorious as per usual, only the winner would go to the playoffs. But in a unique final-standings twist, if the game ended in a tie, both the Raiders and the Chargers would go to the playoffs. Before kickoff on Sunday night, Twitter was ablaze with pundits imploring the two teams to do the rational thing: agree to kneel the ball on every single play so the game would end in a tie, sending both teams to the playoffs. That, however, did not happen. Instead, the Chargers and Raiders both played for the win, and it was one of the best games of the NFL regular season. The contest was a thriller, with Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert throwing a tying touchdown pass as time expired in regulation to keep Los Angeles’ season alive, only to have his heart shattered by a game-winning field goal as time expired in overtime by Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson.

So why did the two teams play to win if they easily could have agreed to tie and guarantee themselves playoff spots? Because deep down both teams recognized that playing for a tie just didn’t feel good. Despite the unusual circumstances handing both teams a playoff spot on a silver platter, the players on both sidelines couldn’t live with themselves if they trotted out to the field and kneeled the ball for four quarters. The players on the Chargers and Raiders are so competitive and believe in themselves so much that they were willing to sacrifice a playoff spot if the alternative was not giving it their all. Every “expert” under the sun running algorithms and waxing poetic about the prisoner’s dilemma told them otherwise, but the two teams didn’t listen and defied all logic, doing instead what they believed was right. Instead of using their heads to decide to play for the tie, the Chargers and Raiders used their hearts to decide to play for the win. I believe everyone reading this can learn from what the Chargers and Raiders did on Sunday night, but their actions apply especially to any tri-campus students who decided to pick up today’s paper or visit our website. In many ways, we have reached this point in our lives by making decisions with our heads, by playing for the tie. We rationally decided to take the path beaten by so many others before us to get here, studying hard in the classroom, beefing up our resumes with awesome awards and activities, and most of all, listening to the advice of the people that care about us the most. We’ve done the smart things, made good choices and eaten the carrots on the end of the sticks provided to us as a result.But I’ve come to find that those carrots stopped fulfilling me long ago, and that taking the path my head is telling me to travel has never truly made me happy. Something always makes me hesitate when I continue to do what everyone is telling me to do.

It doesn’t feel like me, like somehow, I don’t have agency over the decisions I’m making. It’s hard to really explain the feeling, but there’s just always

something tugging at my heartstrings to tell me what I’m doing is wrong, guiding me to do what I know deep down is right. There’s a poster above my desk provided by my new employers, the Alliance for Catholic Education (thank you ACE!) that says in bold, capital letters: “YOU WERE MADE FOR GREATNESS.” As my time at Notre Dame rapidly and ominously nears its end, I have learned that greatness can only come from deciding with our hearts, from playing for the win all the time.

Let me give you a pair of examples from my Notre Dame career so far that illuminate what I’m trying to say. Way back in my sophomore year of college, I was accepted for an ISSLP in Bangladesh with three of my friends from the Notre Dame Men’s Boxing Club. I had known for a long time since joining the club in my freshman year that I wanted to serve the country if I could, to put meaning behind the training, the camaraderie and the fundraising that makes Bengal Bouts so special. My family of course had a lot of questions, and many of the people I love didn’t want me traveling halfway across the world to serve. Why would I want to spend eight weeks in a third world country when I could look for a paid internship? Why would I want to inject myself with a laundry list of vaccines to be able to withstand the country’s environment? Why would I choose the completely uncertain when I could just come back to New York and spend the summer with my family? My grandmother told me she lit a candle for me every single day to make sure God prevented me from going. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic shut down the ISSLP, but the feeling of intense disappointment I felt showed me my heart was putting me in the right place, and that I had made the right decision.In my junior year, I made the unthinkable decision to switch my major from finance to political science, transferring out of the Mendoza College of Business to the College of Arts and Letters. It was also something I had been thinking about for a long time, as I was completely unhappy and unfulfilled. I’m not knocking Mendoza at all, as it really just wasn’t for me. My family of course had their concerns. Why would I throw away the prestige of Mendoza, the biggest “feather in my cap” I had at Notre Dame? Why would I give up better job prospects for the sake of a more holistic education? What the heck was I even going to do with a political science degree?

But I put all those questions aside and followed my heart, and everything worked out in the end. I loved my classes my last two years of school and learned more than I ever have at any other point in my life. I grew as an intellectual and as a person in the way I wanted to, meeting new professors and classmates that have helped shape who I am today. And I even found a post-grad opportunity through ACE (thank you ACE!). I always knew I was making the right decision switching majors and transferring colleges because at the end of the day, it was where my heart was leading me.

I hope my stories will inspire you if you’re looking for a spark to do what you know your heart is telling you to do. Quit playing it safe if you don’t want to play it safe anymore. Quit listening to other people if you don’t want to listen to other people anymore. Quit making yourself sad wondering what could have been. If you follow your heart and you fail like the Chargers, you can dust yourself off knowing you have no regrets. Justin Herbert will never wonder how things could have turned out and will come back stronger next season, motivated more than ever. For the love of God, do what sets your heart of fire. Play for the win all the time, and I guarantee you will be fulfilled.

You can contact Colin at ccapece@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Being back is good. The booster is better.

Alexa Schlaerth Soapbox Symposium

As spring semester 2022 has dawned upon us all, now more than ever is the time to reflect on the policies and behaviors that have allowed us to come back to campus in (what is seemingly) one piece. Many of our collegeaged peers in other universities across the country have fallen into a “soft-start” approach to the new semester, going back to the zoom or hybrid formats of yesteryear.

Colleges have announced a two-week soft-start period of online classes with only vague promises to “return to campus” or “return to normal” after this two-week period.

Color me a bit wary, though, as we have seen the language of a “two week pause” before returning to normal in the past.

When Father Jenkins wrote his bold May 2020 New York Times opinion piece, “We’re re-opening Notre Dame. It’s worth the risk,” he discussed the motivating forces and principles behind his decision in the wake of much opposition nationally. He writes, “First, we strive to protect the health of our students, faculty, staff and their loved ones. Second, we endeavor to offer an education of the whole person — body, mind and spirit — and we believe that residential life and personal interactions with faculty members and among students are critical to such an education. Finally, we seek to advance human understanding through research, scholarship and creative expression.”

It was with these guiding forces that Notre Dame as an institution guided itself amidst the somewhat treacherous waters of uncertainty just months after the beginning of lockdown. It was a bold move then, and it’s a bold move now to continue to be a bulwark against questionable and ostensibly data-driven policies in other parts of the country.

Being back is good; requiring the booster is even better. So, this approach to a new normal with students masking until campus is mostly boosted is a way to carve a line down the middle and to still take the pandemic seriously.

While Notre Dame is not alone in this approach, anecdotal evidence of my peers on winter break showed many dreading starting classes on their computer screens, hunched over laptops at home or in dorms. No Christmas-gifted blue light glasses could prepare them for what may be another (surprise!) semester of Zoom Uni. With that, I am increasingly grateful for and in support of the choice to continue in-person instruction. As Jenkins writes in his same New York Times piece, “We may need to reconcile ourselves to the fact that we are facing not simply a passing crisis, but a new normal. For that and similar challenges, we need moral insight.”

Recognizing that this is not a “passing crisis” has been key to remaining committed to in-person instruction, and I would urge other universities to consider the guiding principles that have led to the new normal being achieved. As much as the grind of new classes and readings and work may cause stress after a restful winter break, I’m glad to not only be back but to feel safe while being back.

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, January 14, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Ted Lasso > Brian Kelly “Have you seen Ted Lasso yet?! Did you hear it was nominated for 20 Emmys (and won 7!) this year?! It’s sooo good! You have to watch it!” I’ve heard this conversation countless times over the last several months, and I couldn’t agree more with the sentiment. Ted Lasso is a brilliant TV show, and its eponymous figurehead — a fictional amateur American football coach turned British Premier League manager (co-developed and played by Jason Sudeikis) — is one of the most loveable and uniting characters to grace television screens in years. Lasso’s character hooks you immediately, and I’ve yet to encounter someone who isn’t wildly fond of him.

Another conversation entered the Notre Dame public sphere last month. “Did you hear Brian Kelly is leaving Notre Dame for LSU? Did you hear he spent just four minutes with his former players the morning after the news broke explaining why he’s ditching them right before bowl season? Did you know he also blindsided his Cincinnati team when he came to Notre Dame? Did you hear he didn’t even mention the Irish by name at his introductory LSU press conference, right after telling his Notre Dame players that his love for them was “limitless”? The whole thing is quintessential Brian Kelly.”

These two men — Ted Lasso and Brian Kelly — are a perfect case study in servant versus transactional leadership. Like all leadership styles, the desired outcome is the same: accomplish the goal or beat the competition. But the primary motive of many leaders that utilize these different styles — which affects not just how they go about trying to achieve their organizations’ goals, but also all involved in the process (both directly and indirectly) — could not be more different. And the results are notable. It is both beautifully and painfully obvious: Lasso, a servant leader, is in the business of leading for the greater good. Kelly, a transactional leader, is in the business of leading for himself. Lasso serves to lift those around him; Kelly for his own self-advancement. Lasso prioritizes the humanity and long-term growth of his colleagues; Kelly will leave his team at a moment’s notice if a shinier opportunity comes along.

These contrasting leadership styles have significant effects on organizations, those that comprise them, and those who are inf luenced by them.

Since Ted Lasso has only 2 seasons to ref lect on, let’s mostly consider Brian Kelly’s 12 years of transactional leadership at Notre Dame.

In Kelly’s first year as head coach of the Irish in 2010 — my junior year at Notre Dame — the greater Notre Dame community lost one of its own to a heartbreaking accident. This occurred when my classmate, Declan Sullivan — who was employed by the football team to film practices — fell forty feet from a scissor lift while shooting drills during a windstorm. It was unbelievably tragic and a situation that could and should have been prevented. (Notre Dame had an indoor practice facility at the time; the decision to practice outside was Kelly’s). How Kelly failed to keep my classmate safe is not the point. The point is to ref lect on how Kelly — as the leader in charge that

day — handled the horrific situation, and why.

How did Kelly handle it? He let the president of the University of Notre Dame, Rev. John Jenkins, shoulder the blame.

W hy did Kelly side-step responsibility for the fatality of a member of his own program? W hy did he not resign, as many felt he should? From my vantage point, there was simply too much at stake for Kelly personally in his first season at the most storied college football program in the country.

Admitting mismanagement of such magnitude could have cost him a significant sum and the chance to continue moving up the proverbial career ladder. Kelly’s actions typify that of a transactional leader because this style of managing — most prevalent in corporate America and professional sports — is primarily oriented toward two things: short-term, narrow thinking and the preservation of those near the top of the pyramid.

We all know a variation of the saying: “Character shines brightest during moments of crisis.” A transactional leader is almost never capable of doing so for their organization during times of hardship because it is contrary to their motive for leading in the first place. Most transactional leaders’ end goals are simple: look out for yourself first at all costs. Information that could potentially challenge your position: ignore it, bury it or have someone else take the blame. Avoid responsibility as needed, and not dare risk your own skin.

Let’s consider how Kelly’s transactional leadership affected members of the wider Notre Dame community. Early in Kelly’s tenure, we devastatingly lost another student, Saint Mary’s Lizzy Seeberg, to suicide a few days after she had the courage to report sexual assault by a Notre Dame football player. How did Kelly handle this awful situation? He advised the accused player to avoid it, let him continue to take the field as if nothing happened and again, passed the buck to keep the focus on football. I wonder what message that could have sent to other women around campus.

Paling in significance, Notre Dame was also forced to vacate 21 wins over its 2012-2013 football seasons due to academic dishonesty under Kelly.

In sum, Kelly’s transactional leadership reinforced certain aspects of Notre Dame’s culture that favor winning above all else: human dignity and academic integrity; the very Catholic values the University of Notre Dame supposedly exists to perpetuate.

Ted Lasso shows us another way. A master of human psychology and soul-craft, Lasso leads via authentic self lessness and empathy for everyone around him — from his star player all the way down to his club’s equipment manager. His leadership style is to act as a figurative mirror for his team and organization, forcing his players and colleagues to see not just their own narrow selfinterest, but the big picture and others involved.

He recognizes the f lawed human nature of himself and those around him but knows and trusts that at the end of the day, if he shows them how, even the rottenest among them will become decent human beings — and perform better and live better as a result. The outcome is infectious. The players benefit. The entire organization and wider

community benefits. Even another country benefits when rising star Sam Obisanya mobilizes his team to protest the parent company of the team’s biggest sponsor, Cerithium Oil, for its crimes in his homeland of Nigeria.

Leaders’ actions always affect people across and beyond organizational pyramids, both directly and indirectly. It is the nature of the office, the nature of human psychology and the nature of human culture: we learn from and model our behavior after those above us more than we might admit. For this reason, organizations — especially those who claim to stand for something beyond their bottom line — should vet leaders for motive and moral alignment more than anything else.

Obviously, talent and skillset must be thoroughly considered. But the short and long-term ramifications of having a talented, selfish leader at the top can be significant and affect organizations and their wider communities for years.

As I’ve contemplated Kelly’s legacy in the context of our beloved University’s unofficial but widely accepted motto, “God, Country, Notre Dame,” I keep coming back to the following questions: did we prioritize the preservation and status of the latter at the expense of the former during Kelly’s tenure? How deeply ingrained is Kelly’s transactional nature in our wider Notre Dame community, given what we tolerated for the sake of a winning football team (but still no national championship)? How did the decision to keep Kelly around amidst the controversies inf luence the character development of the future leaders Notre Dame aimed to educate for our country (and world at large) over the last 12 years — both inside and outside the football program?

Father Hesburgh once said, “If our lives in education have any meaning or significance, it will be in our reading of the times and in educating the young of our times in the visions and values that will civilize and make for reasonable human progress and lasting peace on earth.” Servant leaders — like Ted Lasso (and Marcus Freeman, from initial looks!) — understand the reality and necessity of this long-term vision, and practice their alternative way of being because they know how powerful it can be for both them and everyone around them. They have studied the human condition and know that lasting happiness and joy — the things we are all after in our short time on this struggling planet — do not come from serving the self, but from serving others. To lead and live this way — especially in the face of our win-at-all-cost culture — takes a notable amount of courage, humility, internal investigation and recognition of the bigger picture: what it means to be one in eight billion; what it means to exist in the context of generations to come; what it means to be part of something greater than our lonely little selves.

I think we will all be better off watching more Ted Lasso and less Brian Kelly. I am grateful for your character, Ted. We all need more of it.

Brian Powers 2022 M.N.A. candidate; 2012 B.A. sociology Jan. 4

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Teach your children Mary Ellen Woods MEWsings

Late last year, the Washington Post ran columns on the decline of local journalism — news deserts, as they called it — and the likely consequences. In fact, the entire Dec. 5, 2021, issue of their weekly magazine was devoted to the topic. Margaret Sullivan, media columnist for the Post, sounded the alarm: “The demise of local news poses the kind of danger to our democracy that should have alarm sirens screeching across the land.” The issue published 12 pieces that might very well have previously been covered locally.

They addressed environmental issues, racial strife and comity, the arts, election dynamics, housing and even love.Those of us “of a certain age” are aware of the many ways in which journalism, especially print, has changed. The city of my birth, New York, boasts a thriving New York Times with solid subscription numbers; though many, as I have, have shifted to digital coverage — something the NYT does especially well.

In other cities, we see the numbers of outlets declining and ownership seeming to emphasize profit over objective reporting. Technology, my field prior to enrolling in the Inspired Leadership Initiative (ILI), has introduced dramatic changes: Type-setting and layout have gone the way of ink that smudged one’s fingers.

Citizen journalism has changed the pace of coverage and largely eliminated paid photo journalists. Long time careers that offer progressions for baby journalists are all too often replaced by unpaid internships and stringers who piece together a living one story at a time. What is lost? The long-form story, in-depth reporting and comprehensive international coverage.

And this doesn’t begin to address how these changes have influenced readership.

So, as I have often done in these pages, I will spend some time on the virtues and challenges of publishing a student newspaper, our student newspaper, The Observer. The Observer runs daily and is funded by ad sales and subscription revenues. So, in many ways, the editor-in-chief (EIC) is managing both news and operations. Her portfolio includes reporting, editorials and the financial health of the paper. And, if you are counting, there are nine departments involved in The Observer. They are: graphics, multimedia, News, photo, Scene, social, Sports, video and Viewpoint (where I write bi-weekly). Our Viewpoint team is comprised of some 10 regular contributors. News, for example, includes reporters from all three campuses. Sports is as diverse as Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick’s scope and social media covers all the mainstream (did I really say that?) platforms: Facebook, Instagram, a newsletter, Snapchat and Twitter. And, fortunately for me and you, my dear readers, we even have copy editors. And they are paid.

In preparing for this column, I emailed the EIC from my era, Rosemary Mills Russell ’80. She notes that she managed a team of about 50 — with a core of 30. The editorial board was comprised of a dozen with an additional five for business ops. The Observer of the late 1970s “more than broke even.” Ad revenue was strong and they received a portion of the “student activities fee” levied on all students. Only the business staffers were paid.So, what have we learned? Now as ever, a leader should surround herself with the most talented team possible. Technology, the great force for democratization, has changed journalism forever. That said, the fifth estate remains critically important to a strong democracy. With the demise of local papers, the campus

student newspaper can be that all-important training ground for aspiring journalists. And, curiously, a place where business leaders earn their stripes. The student newspaper provides paid and unpaid opportunities for aspiring journalists to learn their craft. They cover news, society, sports and opinion. The paper experiences all the normal challenges and tensions that the big papers face — readership, profitability and objectivity.

And then there are the “comments.” Many national outlets have forgone comments due to the challenges of moderating them. Gone are the days when one had to write and post a letter to the editor. Now just about anyone can submit a comment. And a reporter or columnist’s email is often widely available. It would appear that one constant for the student newspaper is balancing campus and the outside world.

Even back during my student days, a most frequent criticism was that The Observer was insufficiently critical of the Notre Dame administration. As ever, however, a scoop is worth celebrating. One can only imagine the mixed feelings the night editor had when they had to completely rewrite the paper to report on the death of the Pope in the middle of the night local time. It was worth it to beat the national media to the story.

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 Breen-Phillips 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 authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Why has education become so political?

Renee Yaseen Didn’t Know That

I’ve attended Indiana schools for just shy of 17 years.

This week, Indiana Senate Education Bill 167, and the surrounding debate, made national headlines. I read the bill thoroughly.

Concurrently, I read an op-ed by Tucker Carlson on “the extremely left-wing to the outright totalitarian” curricula taught in “so many” American schools. Carlson informed his readers and me that some schools have “eliminated biology” and are “teaching children that biology isn’t real.” If these statements about the crisis of biology education were true, I would be highly concerned. Especially given the public health crisis our nation has endured throughout the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, parents should take heart that in Indiana, as well as the vast majority of states in the U.S., students are still required to take biology in order to earn their diplomas.

Senate Bill 167 isn’t about biology, though. It’s mostly about setting limits on how topics such as race, ethnicity, class, sex and gender can be broached in the classroom.

Mostly.

But one element of this bill may hurt students by instituting an access barrier to mental, emotional or psychological care. The bill “provides that before a school corporation or qualified school may provide or administer certain mental, social-emotional, or psychological services to a student, the school must provide the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, with a written request for consent to provide or administer certain mental, social-emotional, or psychological services.”

I fully appreciate the intent for greater parental involvement in decisions regarding their children’s health, but we cannot ignore cases where children may be put at higher risk as a consequence. Schools are a major reporter of child abuse. According to Education Week, during the virtual schooling phase of the pandemic — between 2019 and 2020 — reports of child abuse decreased significantly,

while “confirmed evidence of abuse” and suspected incidents “considered severe enough to need medical evaluations and intervention” increased by 30% and 7% respectively. If school counselors and teachers must obtain parental consent before administering mental, social-emotional or psychological help to a student living in an abusive household, the results could be disastrous, possibly intensifying the degree of abuse or psychological distress the child faces.

Another element of the bill legally limits the freedoms of schools and educators, as it “Removes schools and certain public libraries from the list of entities eligible for a specified defense to criminal prosecutions alleging: (1) the dissemination of material harmful to minors; or (2) a performance harmful to minors.”

The bill simultaneously makes colleges and universities eligible for defenses against the same two criminal prosecutions.

The combination of these actions implies a stronger exertion of control over the information that young children are allowed to consume, while giving greater freedom to colleges and universities against similar charges of disseminating material deemed obscene or harmful to minors (the latter of which lacks bite, since most college students aren’t minors).

The argument for limiting child exposure to specifically explicit, violent or otherwise mature material in the classroom is clear and well-taken. Other material? Not so much. Not in a free society. I can’t help but think of the irony. This bill, which in the words of Republican senator Scott Baldwin is “trying to say that we should not tell kids what to think about politics,” removes any defenses schools can have against the same charge which killed Socrates: corrupting the youth. Socrates, who said famously that the unexamined life was not worth living; Socrates, who exercised freedom of thought and taught his students to do so; Socrates, who paid the ultimate price for it.

What is a Good Education? “[A]sk in general what great benefit the state derives from the training by which it educates its citizens, and the reply will be perfectly straightforward. The good education they

have received will make them good men…” (Plato, Laws, 641b7–10, retrieved from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).

In response to those who ask why education become has so political, my answer is that it always has been. The task of those selecting which facts, which curricula, which courses of study our children will be taught, out of all possible courses of study and facts and curricula our children could be taught, is herculean. A world in which every student learns every fact from every perspective is unfathomable. So, the sliver of facts about the world that our children learn in American K-12 schools is curated by adults who have their own share of biases, political values and ideas that affect what gets included and what gets left out.

In a statistical sense, truly unbiased education would either warrant that: a) Students should learn every possible thing, every possible recorded fact (impossible) or, b) that facts about the world be selected at random and taught to our children. Of course, these are not the outcomes lawmakers, school administrators and parents have in mind when they call for “less biased education” or “unbiased facts.”

But the reality is, even in some hypothetical scenario where 50% of what is chosen to be taught accords with “conservative” viewpoints, and 50% of what is taught accords with “liberal” viewpoints on contentious social issues, such an education would be strongly biased. Our country’s obsession with left vs. right curriculum wars instills a binary partisan animosity into our children, in effect turning them into young soldiers for the political commitments of their parents, who fear that their teachers will do it first.

Renee Yaseen is a senior economics major with minors in theology and PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics). In her free time, she writes poems, hangs out with loved ones and ponders the view from her undisclosed study spot in [redacted] Hall. Please send all comments, diatribes and warm fuzzies to ryaseen@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, january 14, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

By MARCELLE COUTO Scene Writer

When Disney first advertised the production of “Encanto,” scarce information about the plot appeared to indicate the film would accord with the studio’s traditional and effective animation formula, ridden with color, unique characters and, above all, overflowing with magic. However, the new film by directors Byron Howard (“Tangled” and “Bolt”) and Jared Bush (“Zootopia” and “Moana”) sifts through much more complex territory and delivers perhaps the most innovative message seen in any of the company’s recent films.

Family dynamics are complicated, both in fiction and reality. Children’s movies often feature themes regarding the importance of family and caring for our own, regardless of their flaws. “Encanto” reiterates this concept, but unlike other animations, it draws near toward the reality — and the imperfection — of familial relationships, and fleshes out its characters by developing particularly human attributes.

The Madrigals are a seemingly united, fulfilled and quite literally a picture-perfect family. The protagonist Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz) is the first to inform us that this is not so, in a song in which she praises her relatives and ignores the fact that among all the members of the same house, she is the only one not blessed with a magical gift.

Rather, her position is such that she almost does not exist within the household, a fact that is disturbingly portrayed through a family photo in which she stands behind the camera.

Among other themes, “Encanto” also highlights false ideals. The Madrigal family is far from perfect, living under taboos and rules strictly managed by Abuela (Maria Cecilia Botelho). The pressure is such that even Luisa (Jessica Darrow), the strongest member of the family, bursts out in

By RACHEL HARTMANN Scene Writer

Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Tick, Tick... Boom!” is a new movie musical ode to Broadway musicals and a love letter to all the songwriters and playwright in Broadway. The production is an homage to the late Johnathan Larson — the writer who created the original “Tick, Tick… Boom!” stageplay and Tony Award-winning “Rent.” In “Tick, Tick… Boom!,” Larson (Andrew Garfield) is struggling to write a sci-fi musical he has been working on for eight years. As he struggles to finish and showcase the piece at a workshop, he also tackles his relationships with his girlfriend Susan (Alexandra Shipp) and his best friend Michael (Robin De Jesús). Larson fights for his dreams during the time of the AIDs epidemic and the lack of action of those in power.

With beautiful feats of songwriting like “Come to Your Senses,” “30/90” and “Why,” the musical becomes heartwrenching, meaningful and relatable. Ultimately, “Tick, Tick... Boom!” grapples with mortality. As Larson counts

song relating the anxiety that comes from rising to the expectations of her elders (“Surface Pressure”).

This pattern of sweeping problems under the rug occurs yet again with the case of Uncle Bruno (John Leguizamo), whose existence is so ignored that his relatives avoid even uttering his name; that is, except the song dedicated to his memory, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” perhaps the most uncannily addictive number in the film. The burden of erasing and repressing a member of the same bloodline is evident. “Encanto,” however, does not hesitate to place its finger in the wound and emphasize the suffering of both parties affected by this choice.

A lesson in imperfections and belonging, “Encanto” illustrates there is no pedestal high enough to prevent human beings from erring and failing, regardless of any miracle or magical gift. Those who approached the film expecting a heroine’s adventure quest are surprised to find the setting confines itself within the Madrigal household; the journey within “Encanto” is strictly an emotional one.

It does so while inviting spectators to an artistic marvel, with gorgeous animation. The vibrancy of Colombian culture, diversity among characters and flowing choreographies render this film a singular visual delight.

The ever-great music by Lin-Manuel Miranda is what gives “Encanto” its enchantment; each lyric is crafted to convey a glimpse within the characters’ minds, resolving the script’s emotional tugs among colorful spectacles. In addition to fully exploring the powers of each character, every song is imbued with their personality, navigating through diverse rhythms that carry the identity of each family member. The couple Pepa and Felix, for example, bring the ardor of a tango, while Dolores presents her part with whispers akin to rap Partly inspired by the Colombian classic “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, which also

includes a large family and the apparent normalcy of magic within ordinary life, “Encanto” pays homage to this literary giant. The film’s recurrent display of yellow butterflies — which swarm in earnest during the climactic and tearwrenching song “Dos Oruguitas” — echo Marquez’s use of the butterfly to envelop his magical characters with mystery and wonder.

This attempt to construct a profound yet accessible drama is one of the biggest challenges for screenwriters and, while the music resolves this tension splendidly, the more sober parts suffer to remain interesting. Outside of the musical numbers, the cast’s personality is more restrained. And when you remove the magic of the songs, the plot is not exactly the most original.

For a story that relies on the ability of children to understand the nuances of human emotions, it is strange that the need to prioritize the playful side of the film affects the ending, undermining the most important transformations for its characters. It is unfortunate that this, which could be one of Disney’s most impactful dramas, is reduced to a cute story for reasons beyond the plot. for reasons beyond the plot.

down to his 30th birthday, he panics about growing old without leaving his footprint on history. Garfield skillfully conveys Larson’s brilliance and urgency to make an impact despite his inability to find an audience. He impressively portrays Larson as the genius he was, but also as a regular, slightly flawed, guy who disappointed those he cares about, struggled with deadlines and sought desperately for inspiration.

The musical also implements elements from “Rent” in certain scenes such as Larson’s electricity being turned off and using candles to light up each character. It shows how Larson took the rough and unpolished gem of “Tick, Tick…

Boom!” and polished it into the legend that is “Rent.” The movie musical mirrors the original stageplay as well as “Rent” — Larson in the musical, and in real life, did not yet understand how to use his own setting for a musical.

As I watched the musical, I was struck by how much I related to Larson as I continue to grow up. It is as if time is flying by and I have less time to leave my mark on the world. It also asks us fundamental questions that are especially relevant as a kid currently in college: Do we follow

our dreams to the point of personal ruin? Where do we go when the world around us seems to be falling apart?

I found the musical to be touching and inspirational.

Sometimes we do things because we love them and should not let them go even if it gets difficult. We all should pursue our happiness regardless of monetary gain or success because life is too short to live unhappily. I recommend this film for anyone who loves musicals, stories about real life, or good music.

Contact Marcelle Couto at mcouto@nd.edu

“Encanto” Directors: Byron Howard, Jared Bush Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, John Leguizamo, Maria Cecilia Botero If you liked: “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “100 Years of Solitude,” “Kubo and the Two Strings”

Contact Rachel Hartmann at rhartma4@nd.edu

“Tick, Tick... Boom!”

Director: Lin Manuel-Miranda Starring: Andrew Garfield, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús If you liked: “Rent” “Hamilton,” “Come From Away”

CLAIRE KIRNER | The Observer

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The observer | Friday, january 14, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

By JUSTIN GEORGE Scene Writer

Horror cinema has an inexplicable connection to carnivals. “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” established the trope and classics such as “Freaks,” “The Man Who Laughs” and “Carnival of Souls” cemented its status as a horror staple that spans across decades of horror cinema. Guillermo Del Toro’s “Nightmare Alley” is a spectacular new addition to the long lineage of carnival horror films.

“Nightmare Alley” follows Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) who joins a carnival to escape from his past. He befriends a number of the performers and discovers the darkness that lingers just beneath the surface of the performances. Stanton eventually joins a mentalist act and learns how to fool people into thinking he is a psychic. He falls in love with another performer named Molly (Rooney Mara) and the two leave the carnival to start their own show. Stanton and Molly start a successful act in New York City which earns them the attention of New York’s elite.

With the help of the popular psychiatrist Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett), the trio begins to swindle the rich by having Stanton pose as a medium.

While this is not Del Toro’s best film, it is still an incredible piece of filmmaking. If it were made by any other filmmaker, would certainly go down as their masterpiece. Del

By CAITLIN BRANNIGAN Scene Writer

Jeff Probst, host and executive producer of “Survivor,” definitely went through something over quarantine. After being on hiatus for nearly two years, this new season isn’t the show that I loved, for better and for worse.

At its core, it’s still a bizarre social experiment exploring how relationships develop between complete strangers as they work together to survive in the wilderness on a remote island — and are put to the test as they vote each other off the island, one by one, to inch closer to winning the milliondollar prize. The game has evolved over the years from a focus on loyalty to a more fast-paced, strategic game, with contestants often being voted out when they least expect it.

Season 41 is incredibly different from any past season as a result of multiple production changes. The switch in length from 39 to 26 days eliminated a lot of time contestants spent bored on the island, while still allowing for challenges, strategizing and completing necessary survival tasks. The diverse and entertaining cast included quite a few memorable people who are certain to return in future seasons.

However, some of these production changes were agonizingly painful. For the first time ever, the cast was expected to survive without being provided any food to start with. While very little food was given in years past, having

Toro is a master filmmaker and his skills as both an artist and a storyteller are on full display here. “Nightmare Alley” features an engrossing plot, Oscar-worthy performances and brilliant cinematography. Of course, all of these things are what I have come to expect from any film with Del Toro in the director’s chair. His unique eye for visuals gives “Nightmare Alley” a unique Art Deco visual flair that is rarely seen today.

Every frame is stunning, the colors are rich and vibrant and the always engrossing yet never intrusive camera movements showcase both Del Toro and cinematographer Dan Laustsen’s unique visual sensibilities. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the film’s visuals is the Film Noir inspired cinematography and lighting design. While Film Noir is usually associated with black and white films, “Nightmare Alley” manages to balance striking colors and Film Noir stylistic sensibilities to an amazing effect.

The characters are truly what makes “Nightmare Alley” special. Del Toro is allowed to deeply explore Stanton Carlisle’s slow rise and fall over the course of the film’s two-and-a-half-hour runtime. We watch as the seemingly well-intentioned, bright-eyed drifter we met in the film’s first few minutes is slowly revealed to be a heartless conman whose hubris is ultimately his downfall. There is no other way Stanton’s story could end other than in tragedy, we are not meant to like this character. We know from the

start that he cannot escape his fate.

Bradley Cooper shines as Stanton Carlisle, bringing a kind of humanity to the role, an every-man suaveness that makes the audience fall under Stanton’s spell. I think this may be Cooper’s best performance to date. Even though we are meant to hate Stanton by the end of the film, we still feel pity for him. It hurts us to see what happens to Stanton.

There are some fates worse than death; Stanton — unfortunately — is destined for one of them from the start.

Guillermo Del Toro has once again crafted a film that stands above everything else at the time of its release.

“Nightmare Alley” is unlike anything out right now and I doubt we’ll see anything like it anytime soon. “Nightmare Alley” is the best slow-burn thriller I’ve seen in a long time.

Do yourself and favor and see it as soon as possible.

to scavenge for food on the island from day one clearly affected their physical, mental and emotional well-being over time much more than ever before. I have no idea why anyone thought this would make good television. The camerawork was jarring at times, with the camera crew and other production members blatantly visible in a scene where Jeff discusses a new advantage (an item that assists the contestant who finds it, often useful for a challenge). This kind of camerawork that breaks the fourth wall was almost never used in previous seasons except during medical evacuations, when capturing production members on camera was unavoidable. It takes the viewer out of the action in a way that isn’t necessary or impactful. Additionally, Jeff tweaked his approach as a host and took a much more compassionate stance towards contestants during challenges — but many challenges were uninteresting, and the lack of his witty commentary made them unbearable.

The edit paid too much attention to the strategies of specific players and neglected several others, including the show’s winner. It’s understandably difficult to highlight everyone’s game plan in an entertaining way, and the contestants who enjoyed the most screen time were incredibly entertaining. It’s frustrating to neither see nor understand the tactics the winner employed throughout the game until they must explain it themselves in the very last episode.

The overwhelming amount of advantages and twists

interfered with the strategies contestants would normally construct to stay in the game. Several of these advantages required contestants to announce to everyone else that they possessed them during challenges, removing most of the entertaining ways in which these advantages could be used in the past. At one point, a twist caused a contestant to have a two-in-three chance of automatically leaving the game, which completely defeats the purpose of contestants working together to vote each other off the island.

While this season made many improvements in casting entertaining, diverse players and explaining their backgrounds, pretty much every other classic element of the show was amiss. I can only recommend it if you like a surplus of advantages and twists, because that was by far the worst part of the season for me.

Contact Justin George at jgeorge3@nd.edu

“Nightmare Alley” Director: Guillermo del Toro Starring: Bradley Cooper, Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett If you liked: “Nightmare Alley” (1947), “Freaks”

Contact Caitlin Brannigan at cbrannig@nd.edu

“Survivor 41” Directors: Jeff Probst, Mark Burnett, Charlie Parsons If you liked: “The Amazing Race,” “Big Brother”

CLAIRE REID | The Observer

Classifieds

ndsmcobserver.com | Friday, january 14, 2022 | The Observer

Crossword | Will Shortz

11

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Stay on track, keep your life simple and put a solid plan in place before you initiate a change. A thoughtful approach to life and how you live, coupled with being mindful of others, will help you achieve the success you are searching for and encourage better relationships with others. Wise decisions are your path to victory and a stress-free future.

Your numbers are 3, 10, 18, 23, 34, 36, 42.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Stay focused on what you are trying to achieve. Connect with people who can help you reach your goal. A conversation, meeting or interview will give you the platform you need to flaunt what you have to offer. Speak your mind TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Look at the possibilities before making a decision that can change the way you live. Taking a step into unknown territory can be daunting if you haven’t done your research. Leave nothing to chance, and you’ll have less stress and regret.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Stick to what works for you. Don’t exaggerate, overreact or take anything for granted. Use your intelligence and mark out your journey in detail. Don’t deviate off course or let anyone lead you astray. Be smart, and good results will follow.

CANCER ( June 21-July 22): You’ll gravitate toward odd individuals and hobbies that give you something to consider. Reflect on the past, and you will recognize what to do to reach your goal. Love is featured, and personal improvements are favored.

LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22): Partner with someone who shares your beliefs, and together you will be a driving force that makes a difference. A passionate approach to life, coupled with a positive attitude and the ability to recognize who and what’s legitimate, will pay off.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Wait for the perfect time to make a move.

Don’t let emotions drag you in a direction you aren’t ready to go. Focus on personal growth, physical changes and deciding what you want to do next.

Nurture a partnership with someone special.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Network, set up meetings, socialize and start conversations that can help you learn more about the possibilities that exist, and you’ll find a way to fine-tune your skills to suit trends and accommodate a niche that can lead to less stress.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Worry less about what you cannot change, and put more effort into what’s possible. Broaden your awareness by tuning in to what loved ones are going through. Understanding and compassion will help you help others. Romance is encouraged.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t be fooled by appearances.

Someone will offer false information or exaggerate about who they are or what they can do for you. Follow the dots, and check off every box before committing to something that requires time, effort or cash.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Keep working toward your goal until you feel confident that you have mastered what you set out to do. Embark on a journey that incorporates diversity and originality into how you use your skills, and challenge yourself to do better.

AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Concentrate on your home, family and maintaining a stable environment. Refuse to let anyone sway your opinion or talk you into something you don’t want to do. Put your energy where it will bring the best return and satisfy your need.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Make smart decisions. Say no to over-the-top behavior, regardless of temptation. Don’t take a risk or let an emotional situation lead to regret. Gravitate toward people you can trust to look out for you. Personal growth and romance are favored.

Birthday Baby: You are unique, intelligent and caring. You are outgoing and helpful.

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

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The observer | Friday, January 14, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

W Soccer Feature

Notre Dame alum Mónica Flores makes an impact on and off the field

By GREG McKENNA Sports Writer

As Mónica Flores explains, “En la vida y en la cancha” (“In life and on the field”) is not just a motto for C.F. Monterrey, one of Mexico’s most iconic soccer clubs — but rather a way of life.

Flores, a former Notre Dame women’s soccer captain who graduated with a science preprofessional degree in 2017, embraced that philosophy long before she joined the club’s women’s side, commonly known as “Rayadas,” just over a year and a half ago.

“I bring the same principles and the same passion and hard work on the field and off the field,” she said in an interview with The Observer. “And I think that’s what everyone should work by as well.”

The 25-year-old left back from Livingston, New Jersey, has found a home in Monterrey, a city of over 1.1 million inhabitants nestled in the picturesque mountains of northeastern Mexico. Since her move from Spain after a two-year stint with Valencia, Spain, Flores has flourished as both a professional athlete and entrepreneur in one of Latin America’s most important industrial and commercial hubs.

Flores and the Rayadas earned the attention of the soccer world Dec. 20 by dramatically clinching the “Apertura,” the first of the two tournaments in the Mexican soccer season that begins in July, in front of a sold-out crowd against crosstown rivals Tigres.

The Tigres and Rayadas finished first and second in the regular season table, respectively.

Then, both sides won their quarterfinal and semifinal ties in the playoffs, or “Liguilla,” to set up a “Clásico Regiomontano” in the final — the fifth time the two traditional powerhouses have faced off for the title on the women’s side.

“They were the hardest games I’ve ever been in, and the stakes were high,” Flores said. “And everyone was just on overdrive and robotic because we all had one goal in mind.”

After Flores’ team managed a 2-2 draw at home in the first leg, they had to get a result at the Tigres’ raucous Estadio Universitario, famously known as “El Volcán” (“the Volcano”), in the second leg three days later to secure the club’s second-ever title.

After 120 scoreless minutes, Rayadas prevailed 3-1 on penalty kicks. Flores played in every minute of open play over the two legs.

“To play with so many fans and then to win that trophy at the end was insane,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy and just lightened. I felt like

God was there with me.”

Flores has also recently been highlighted for her work with her business, Mi Healthy Vida, which aims to help people live better lives by focusing on nutrition and other aspects of integrative health. Shortly after Rayadas’ title win, she was featured in “Vidas Paralelas,” a series sponsored by BBVA that promotes professional-athlete entrepreneurs and the importance of good financial habits.

Flores said many female professional soccer players are constantly searching for other opportunities to make ends meet, so she jumped at the chance to potentially inspire her colleagues. She said the series even allowed her teammates to view her from a different perspective.

“And that gives other people, like, ‘OK, look, she’s doing all this, I can do it too,’” Flores said.

“I think there’s so much that we can do as female athletes, and being an entrepreneur is pretty cool because you get to be in charge of your own business.”

Flores originally planned on entering medical school after her college career and even took the MCAT after graduation.

“But first, I wanted to play soccer for as long as I could,” she said.

And during her two years at Valencia in the Spanish top flight, Flores realized her passions lay outside the realm of conventional medicine.

“Whatever interests me, I just go for it,” she said. “So, I started getting really interested in functional medicine and integrative health — treating disease and illness by the root cause, looking into environmental factors, nutrition, toxins, stress, sleep, supplements and everything in between.”

In Spain, Flores became a certified integrative health practitioner and began meeting virtually with clients. Three years later, she continues to help her clients — many of whom are athletes — make improvements regarding their nutrition and other aspects of their lifestyle.

“It’s been such a rewarding experience, and because it’s my own business, I can work on my own time with my professional soccer career,” Flores said.

Flores’ ambition does not end there. She is also currently working virtually on a master’s degree in human nutrition with a clinical specialty through the University of Alabama and plans on becoming a registered dietician.

While others would be daunted by balancing the demands of simultaneously being a professional athlete, a business owner and a graduate student, managing various commitments

is nothing new for Flores.

“I’ve been working my butt off since I can remember,” she said.

Flores credits her time management skills to her experience as a student athlete at Notre Dame. Not only did she manage to complete her degree a semester early; she did so while missing “half a semester” to compete for Mexico in the U-20 World Cup during her junior season.

“I really learned to efficiently work and balance out my soccer and my school,” Flores said.

In the quarterfinal of that tournament, Flores faced off against her twin sister Sabrina who played for the United States.

The two were much more accustomed to playing together, especially given that both chose to play for the Irish.

Mónica played four seasons at Notre Dame, captaining the team her senior season. Not only a consistent starter for a stingy Irish defense, she was also an important creative force from the outside-back positions.

Flores was second and tied for third in assists for the Irish her junior and senior years, respectively.

“Notre Dame is all about family sticking together,” she said.

“So, the identity, I think, has stuck with me.”

Flores signed for Valencia in 2018. She enjoyed the professionalism and competition in Spain, but admitted her first professional contract was a “pretty hard experience.”

“The Spanish culture is a little colder,” she said. “But my escape was whenever I got called up to the Mexican national team, and I would go see my team or go back to Mexico to join them in camp. It was a breath of fresh air.”

Flores, who qualifies to play for Mexico through her father, transitioned from representing the United States to Mexico at the youth level.

“I absolutely loved the feeling inside of me when I was playing with the U-20s,” she said. “And being at camps with the girls and being in Mexico was something special.”

So, when the end of her contract with Valencia approached, Flores considered a move at the club level to Mexico.

“I’ve always felt like my blood is Mexican,” she said. “And I’m attached to the culture. Even

though I never lived there, I was on vacation there every year with my family.”

Adding to the move’s appeal was the Mexican women’s league’s growth and success since its founding in 2016. The good reviews of the league she received from fellow Mexican Americans added another layer of clarity.

“Mexico has always been calling me,” Flores said.

Flores said she received several “amazing” offers before signing for Monterrey. And in Mexico, she has not been disappointed.

“I have never been in a country with this much passion for football and this much support and fan base,” Flores said. “In all the Clásicos, which are Tigres vs. Rayadas here, the stadium is completely full.”

The two city rivals previously set an attendance record for a women’s club football match when Rayadas’ Estadio BBVA hosted over 51,000 people in 2018. A match in Spain narrowly broke that record a year later, but Flores said that the support is much more consistent in Mexico.

“I think the fan base is definitely stronger here in Mexico, a hundred percent,” she said.

“What’s really cool about Mexico is that almost all games we get to play in the men’s stadium, whereas in Spain, maybe once every two years you got to use the men’s stadium to play a game.”

The atmosphere created by Tigres fans during the second leg of the final gained plenty of traction on social media, and Flores said fans of both clubs not only “live and breathe football” on the men’s side, but also show just as much passion, if not more, for the women’s teams.

“This town just bubbles with people wanting to support you,” she said. “That’s one of the greatest things about being here. In Monterrey, people on the streets [who are] walking around ask for pictures.”

For Flores, this recognition is not a burden, but an inspiration.

“It’s so cool to be given the respect that we deserve as female athletes,” she said. “We put in as much, if not even more, as the men, and we get paid an eighth of what they get paid, maybe.”

Though compensation continues to lag behind the men’s, Flores said the league’s success should mean good things for the

Mexican national team, who are looking to qualify for the 2023 World Cup after missing the 2019 edition.

Flores continues to be periodically called up to the national side and said she is optimistic about the direction of the team under manager Mónica Vergara, who was appointed January 2021.

“We have a new coach for the national team who is the most passionate, genius person ever,” she said. “So, she’s bringing the leadership end. And I think the league is only helping the talent and people being prepared to be called up and then to perform as a national team.”

Flores, who has a year and a half left on her current contract with Rayadas, said she plans to stay in Mexico long-term and is excited to have recently bought a house in Monterrey. However, she remains connected to the Irish program as a grateful and proud alum. She periodically calls Irish head coach Nate Norman, who joined the Irish staff as an assistant during her junior year, as well as longtime assistant Dawn Siergiej.

“That was my home too,” Flores said of Notre Dame. “Although I do not miss the cold weather.”

Flores followed Norman’s side from abroad this season as the Irish returned to the NCAA Tournament after a year’s hiatus, winning more than 60% of their games en route to a Sweet 16 appearance before being eliminated in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss at Arkansas.

In each of Flores’ four seasons with the Irish, Notre Dame made the NCAA Tournament but never advanced past the Sweet 16. Having just clinched her first major title, however, Flores said she would advise the Irish to avoid being overly fixated on just winning championships.

“I know the girls at Notre Dame are very competitive in nature,” she said. “But in the end, it’s in God’s hands. All you can do is just control every single bit of the path you can control and the effort, the impact you make on other people’s lives and being a family.”

For Mónica Flores, impact is everything. In life, and on the field.

Contact Greg McKenna at gmckenn2@nd.edu

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ndsmcobserver.com | Friday, January 14, 2022 | The Observer

M Bball

SPORTS AUTHORITY

NFL regular season awards

By TOM ZWILLER Sports Writer

With the 2021 NFL regular season coming to a close, I thought it time to hand out awards.

Most Valuable Player A few weeks back, I w rote that Jonathon Taylor should be the MV P, and I stand by that from a value perspective. A second-year running back at that production level is just incredibly valuable and hard to beat. However, w ith the Colts missing the playoffs and Taylor’s production falling off in the last few weeks, the award w ill go to Aaron Rodgers, the defending MV P. According to Ben Baldw in of the Athletic, Aaron Rodgers leads the NFL in Predictive EPA (Extra Points Added) plus CPOE (Completion Probabilit y over Expectation) index.

Rodgers also leads the NFL in both total quarterback rating (QBR) and Passer Rating. Not to mention that he led the Green Bay Packers to the #1 Seed in the NFC, after an offseason where ESPN personalities debated if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could go 17-0.

Offensive Player of the Year I honestly want to make a case for Deebo Samuel of the 49ers. His usage in the 49ers run game is a lot of fun to watch as a football fan, and I honestly think we w ill see more receivers used like him (Curtis Samuel of the W FT comes to mind). However, because Cooper Kupp leads the NFL in receptions, yards, and receiv ing touchdow ns, OPOY has to go to him.

The last person to earn the “Receiv ing Triple Crow n” was Steve Smith Sr. back in 2005. He had 103 receptions, 1,563 reception yards and 12 touchdow ns.

Kupp has improved upon that w ith 145 receptions, 1,947 yards and 16 touchdow ns. And in 16 games, not 17, making an impressive campaign that much more so.

Defensive Player of the Year I know what the Cowboys fans among you are thinking: “how can it not be Micah Parsons? ” Parsons is incredibly deser v ing of the award and joining Lawerence Taylor as the only rookie to w in DPOY. However, T.J. Watt t y ing the single-season sack record w ith 22.5 sacks H AS to be rewarded.

W hat I find particularly impressive about Watt t y ing the record is that he did it

not in 17 games, nor 16, but 14 (he missed three games to injur y). The prev ious sole record holder, Michael Strahan, set the record while play ing 16 games. I guarantee if Watt had been able to remain healthy for the whole season (or at least 16 games), he would have broken the record.

Rookie of the Year Rookie of the Year has felt like it was a lock to go to Ja’Marr Chase since about Week Four of the season, and he has continued to improve since then. NFL Research reported “w ith t wo receiv ing touchdow ns (in week three), Chase became the youngest player in NFL histor y to have 4+ receiv ing TD in his team’s first three games of a season.

The prev ious record-holder?

Randy Moss.

Chase also set the singlegame receiv ing yards record for a rookie against the Chiefs w ith 266 yards. And those 266 yards added to a season total of 1,429 yards, which set the rookie record.

By ZLO, Chase is the fourthbest receiver in the NFL and by far the best rookie.

Offensive Rookie of the Year Way back before the NFL Draft, I said that Mac Jones would not perform well w ith teams other than the 49ers and the Patriots. Their systems would lend themselves to Mac’s football IQ and skill set. So, when Mac was available for the Patriots to draft, I knew it was already a done deal. The pick seems to have worked out well enough for the Patriots. During the Patriots’ 2-4 start, Mac dropped back 211 times, completing 71% of his passes for seven touchdow ns and six interceptions. Add on 1,472 yards, and you get a Qb Rating of 90.

After the Patriots went 2-4, they went on a seven-game w in streak. Mac played prett y well during that streak, seeing his accuracy fall to 69% , but only throw ing two interceptions and nine touchdow ns. In addition, Mac only put up 1397 yards but posted an RTG of 106.

I honestly think Mac was easily the best rookie QB of the draft. I do think there is something to be said about Dav is Mills given his draft position, but Mac had the better overall season.

Defensive Rookie of the Year Since Micah Parsons can’t w in DPOY, he is a slam dunk for DROY. As a rookie, he played 84% of his snaps, had 47 pressures, 13 sacks, and 17 Qb

knockdow ns (PFR). On top of that, on 36 targets in coverage, Parsons has only allowed a QB RTG of 71.5

Comeback Player of the Year I thought that Dak Prescott would w in this award, and it would be a slam dunk.

However, I did not account for Joe Burrow hav ing just as impressive a campaign.

I decided on Burrow as opposed to Dak because of their respective adjusted passing numbers, which you can find on Pro Football Reference. The stats I looked at were Yards per Attempt, Net Yards per Attempt, Adjusted Yards per Attempt, Completion% , TD% , Sack% , and Rate+. With all of those stats accounted for, Burrow has an average of 114.67, while Dak sits at 112.67 (100 is average, the higher, the better). Burrow leads the league in Y/A+, AY/A+, and Completion%+ but is well below average on Sack%+.

Coach of the Year The current betting favorite to win COTY (+175) is Packers head, Coach Matt LaFleur.

His 39-10 record in his first three years is incredible and a historical first.However, as I am quick to remind Packers fans, Coach of the Year goes to the best coach this year.

Part of what makes Laf leur’s case so compelling is that he went 39-10 in his first three years. I only care about his 13-4 record this season.

How I tend to measure COTY is actual results vs. expectations. 538 projected that the Packers would go 116. They also gave them a 57% chance of winning the NFC North and a 14% chance of winning the NFC. So yes, the Packers record (slightly) exceeded expectations.

However, Zac Taylor, the Cincinnati Bengals head coach, had a much more impressive season regarding exceeding expectations. The Bengals were projected by 538 to finish the season 7-10 with a -60 point differential.

In addition, the Bengals were given a mere 20% chance of making the playoffs (compared to the Packers’ 73%).

And not only did the Bengals make the playoffs, but they also won the AFC North.

They were the only division winner given less than a 10% chance of winning their division. The next lowest division winner was the Rams at 31% .

Contact Tom 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.

Continued from page 16

when shooting better than their opponents.

The threes started to pour in early for the Irish. Senior guard Dane Goodwin nailed Notre Dame’s first shot from behind the arc before senior forward Nate Laszewski followed up a layup with a three of his own to extend an 8-0 run. That forced Clemson head coach Brad Brownell to use his first timeout just over three minutes in with the Irish up 12-4.

Another Goodwin three made it six consecutive buckets before Wesley finally turned the ball over in transition to give Clemson its first defensive stop of the game. The Tigers, meanwhile, started 0-5 from beyond the arc until threes from redshirt sophomore Chase Hunter and senior Hunter Tyson cut the Notre Dame lead to five.

Freshman guard Blake Wesley, the reigning ACC Freshman of the week, got off to an uncharacteristically cold start offensively. The second leading freshman scorer in the ACC turned the ball over twice in the first 10 minutes, as well as starting 0-3 from three and 1-4 from the field. However, Notre Dame still embarked on a 13-2 run that included threepointers from senior guards Trey Wertz, Cormac Ryan and Goodwin and some stifling team defense to make it 32-16. The Tigers had a nearly five-minute scoring drought midway through the half and shot just 26% from the field and under 13% from three before halftime. A layup from sophomore forward PJ Hall that cut the Irish lead to 14 with just under four-anda-half minutes to go was the first Clemson field goal in over seven minutes.

Goodwin, Notre Dame’s leading scorer this season, matched his season average in the first half with an incredibly efficient 15 points on 5-6 shooting from the field. A three-point play with two seconds left from Laszewski, who finished the first half with seven points on perfect shooting from field and charity stripe, gave the Irish a 39-22 lead heading into halftime.

Goodwin picked up his third personal foul on a charge call on Notre Dame’s first possession of the second half. He would later pick up his fourth with over ten minutes to play, but Brey largely kept the Ohio native in the game.

Goodwin repaid his coach’s trust by avoiding a fifth foul and continuing to score key buckets, including an impressive fadeaway to make it 46-26 at the under-16 timeout. Brey said he is wary of overcoaching when it comes

13

to foul trouble.

“I’m confident with our older guys playing with fouls now,” he said.

The Irish were also bolstered by a second-half resurgence from Wesley. After his slow start, the South Bend native responded with 16 points in the second half while going 5-10 from the field.

Brey said he has a lot of respect for the freshman’s mentality.

“A young player like that, a lot of times when they start like that — caught traveling and can’t make a shot — they can’t find their way back,” he said. “He always has, every game.”

The offensive struggles largely continued for Clemson after the break.

Sophomore forward PJ Hall found some limited success inside, finishing with fourteen points. Despite being up by 19 with just over nine minutes to go, Brey continued to wave his arms to elicit noise from the student section.

The crowd of over 7,600 erupted shortly thereafter when senior guard Prentiss Hubb got his first points of the game with a three that restored Notre Dame’s lead back up to twenty with about 8:30 to go. After two more defensive stops, a Wesley three kept Purcell Pavilion on its feet and forced Brownell to again call for a timeout.

Clemson cut into the lead late with a small resurgence from behind the arc, but the Irish managed the clock and cruised to a fourth-straight conference win and their ninth straight conference victory dating back to last season.

Notre Dame will now hit the road to take on Virginia Tech Saturday. Then they head to the nation’s capital to take on Howard on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The Irish will look to pick up a seventh-straight win in Blacksburg against a team that is still winless in ACC play this season. The Hokies fell to 8-7 overall Wednesday night in a 54-52 loss at home to Virginia.

Tip-off at Cassell Coliseum is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and will air on the ACC Network.

After this weekend’s road trip and another conference road game against Louisville next Saturday, Notre Dame will begin a three-game homestand. When the Irish return, Brey said he may consider crowdsurfing if his team’s success, and the strong support from the student section, continue.

“I wonder how long it would take me to be ‘surfed’ from the baseline all the way to the top,” he said.

“We’re going to try it out before the year is out on a good win.”

Contact Greg McKenna at gmckenn2@nd.edu

14

Sports

The observer | Friday, january 14, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

Hockey Column

The puck stops here: Irish defense, goaltending are seeds to successful 2022

By ANDREW McGUINNESS Sports Writer

If you just looked at the Big 10 standings, you might not think there’s a big difference bet ween this year’s Notre Dame hockey team (15-6-0, 8-4-0 Big 10) and last year’s.

After all, the Irish finished third in the conference last year; w ith just under half of this year’s 36-game schedule left to play, Notre Dame sits in the same spot.

But there’s a level of consistency and dependabilit y in this year’s squad that last year’s club lacked. Maybe it’s as simple as the energ y reinv igorated in Compton Family Ice Arena thanks to the return of fans; after all, the Irish have nearly doubled their home w in total from last season in four fewer games. Maybe it’s the impact of the veteran poise of four graduate transfers, one of whom, Matthew Galadja, has made up half of one of the sport’s best goaltending tandems.

Or maybe it’s the leap taken by a couple of for wards that were complementar y pieces in last year’s offense that have now proven capable of driv ing the bus themselves.

Regardless, this year’s Irish team is much more dangerous than last year’s club, or perhaps any Notre Dame hockey team since the 20172018 team that reached the NCAA championship.

It doesn’t take an incredibly deep analysis to realize that. Last year, the Irish

W Bball Continued from page 16

Duke behind them and continue to forge forward as the team prepares for a potential run at the NCAA tournament.

With four players averaging over 10 points per game, and none averaging more than 15, Notre Dame has proven to be a deep team so far this season that can spread the ball across the court well.

Contrary to what their impressive national ranking might imply, the Irish are a young squad as well. Of those four top scorers, three are underclassmen. With two wins this week, this young Irish team could go a long way in continuing to assert themselves in both the ACC standings and the national conversation moving forward.

Contact J.J. Post at jpost2@nd.edu

had a .517 w inning percentage; this year’s team is playing at a .714 clip, tied for second in the B10 and just .003 behind Michigan. That is the same Michigan team the Irish beat on back-toback nights in Ann Arbor in mid-November to knock off the No. 1 team in the entire nation. The Irish have only lost consecutive games once in regulation this year; they did so three times last year in just four more games.

W hile last year’s team was just solid across the board, the 2021-2022 Irish have a clear identit y, one based on their abilit y to keep the puck out of the net. No team in the B10 has allowed fewer shots on goal at even strength than Notre Dame’s 479. And the Irish defense isn’t a one-trick pony either; Notre Dame’s 92.6% penalt y kill is easily the best in the conference, and they also lead the B10 w ith four short-handed tallies.

Credit a mostly experienced backend, led by senior defensemen Spencer Stastney and Nick Leivermann, for spearheading Notre Dame’s stif ling defense. Graduate transfers Adam Karashik and Chase Blackmun have also been key additions, w ith Karahsik one of three Irish captains and Blackmun play ing well alongside Stastney on the top pair. And Notre Dame’s blue-liners are far from one dimensional; the group has combined for 60 points, tied for second in the B10 behind

only Michigan.

Of course, for any hockey team to be successful, they must receive good goaltending. With last season’s starter Dylan St. Cy r transferring to Quinnipiac, it was reasonable to be worried about the Irish’s situation bet ween the pipes. Cornell graduate transfer Matthew Galajda missed all of 2020-21 w ith the Iv y League canceling all w inter sports, and junior Ryan Bischel had a pedestrian .900 save percentage in just 16 career games before this season.

These days, there’s a different problem for Notre Dame’s goaltending situation; figuring how to div ide the crease. That’s because both Galajda and Bischel have f lourished this season, sporting a combined .925 save percentage. Bischel’s .932 mark is on pace to be the second-best mark by an Irish netminder since the 2009-10 season, while Galajda was recently nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, given out to college hockey’s best player.

But he wasn’t the only Irish player to be nominated for the award. Perhaps the biggest surprise on this year’s team is junior right winger Max Ellis, who needed just 13 games to pass his point total from 2020-2021 (in 24 games) and is leading the Irish with 11 goals and 20 points, both of which are easily career highs. Ellis has thrived on a line with junior left winger Jesse Lansdell and senior

center Jake Pivonka. Notre Dame has received contributions from up and down its lineup, with players like sophomore right-winger Ryder Rolston, senior center Cam Burke, junior winger Solag Bakich and others chipping in offensively.

It’s a testament to Notre Dame’s depth and the gains made by several players that their team offensive numbers are largely the same as last year despite not receiving quite as much production as they probably expected last year from brothers sophomore left-winger Landon and senior center Graham Slaggert. The duo hasn’t been quite as dominant this year after losing linemate Alex Steeves, last year’s leading scorer who signed his entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs last spring. Landon and Graham combined for 47 points in just 52 games last season; they’re at 21 in 42 contests this year.

The two do more than just score, of course; they are leaders off the ice and strong players in all three zones. And the offense is due to come as long as they keep shooting the puck; after scoring on 17.4% of their shots in 202021, the Slaggerts are shooting at just a 10.8% clip this year. That number should eventually improve, and when it does, Irish eyes w ill certainly be smiling.

Jeff Jackson’s 17th team at Notre Dame has the potential to go dow n as one of his best. That’s a loft y

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assertion considering the success Jackson has had at Notre Dame. But this is one of Jackson’s most wellrounded teams. The defense has a good mix of talented veterans and budding underclassmen that limit opposing offenses. W hat few chances they do generate are usually snapped up by one of his red-hot goaltenders. A nd while the Irish don’t have a line as dominant as the L. Slaggert-G. Slaggert-Steves line from 2020-2021, they do have a well-rounded attack that can’t be contained by just one dedicated shutdow n line. And it’s not hard to env ision the Slaggert brothers reaching another level dow n the stretch, especially if they can finally start getting some well-deser ved bounces.

These are all key pieces not just to winning regular-season games, which no Big 10 team has done more of in conference play than the Irish so far, but going deep in the conference and national tournaments as well. Notre Dame has done seemingly everything but won a national title under Jackson. And while the Irish probably won’t be regarded as one of the true favorites, they have enough pieces to win over doubters and build on their strong start in 2022.

Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@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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The observer | Friday, january 14, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

MEN’s BASKETBALL | 72-56

Irish rout Clemson Tigers in loud Purcell Pavilion packed with students

By GREG McKENNA Sports Writer

ANYA RUFFINO | The Observer

Irish senior guard Dane Goodwin goes up for a shot during Notre Dame’s 72-56 win over the Clemson Tigers on Wednesday in Purcell Pavilion. Goodwin had 21 points in the game, going 3-3 behind the arc.

On Tuesday, Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey stood on campus dining hall tables to call on Notre Dame students to show up to the first home game since their return from the holiday break.

They did.

After multiple wins at home, including over blue-blood North Carolina, in front of eerily sleepy crowds, Purcell Pavilion finally got some juice back.

Of course, scoring on six straight possessions to open to the game didn’t hurt the atmosphere either.

Senior guard Dane Goodwin led the Irish with 21 points on 8-10 shooting from the field as the Irish (10-5, 4-1 ACC) grabbed their sixth straight win. They moved up to second in the ACC standings with a 72-56 victory over Clemson (10-6, 2-3 ACC) Wednesday night in a consistently loud Purcell Pavilion.

Brey praised Goodwin as a

player of the year candidate postgame. He said he feels Notre Dame students will keep showing up after storming the court following the upset of then-No. 10 Kentucky in December and enjoying Wednesday night’s emphatic win. “‘We need you.’” Brey said of his message to Notre Dame students. “‘Let’s have fun.’ And it helps our kids, no question.”

Clemson entered the contest ranked third nationally in three-point percentage at 41%. Brey’s team held the Tigers to 6-32 shooting from beyond the arc.

“I’m really impressed with them,” Brey said of Clemon’s offense this season. “So I felt we had to chase them off the arc continually, which we’ve done.”

Notre Dame shot 45.5% from the field and 38.5% from three on Wednesday, compared to 34.4% and 18.8% for the Tigers, respectively. The Irish have not lost this season see M BBALL PAGE 13

Women’s Basketball

Following COVID-19 layoff, Irish face tests against Demon Deacons

By J.J. POST Sports Writer

Notre Dame women’s basketball will resume their season on Thursday with a trip to Winston Salem, North Carolina, to face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons after their game against North Carolina State was postponed last week due to COVID-19 protocols.

The Irish will have to rebound from their last game once they hit the court in North Carolina, as Niele Ivey’s squad dropped a heartbreaker in their last outing against Duke, with the Blue Devils taking the lead in the final minute and closing out the victory.

However, the Fighting Irish should find an easier opponent in the Demon Deacons than in the Blue Devils. Wake is currently 2-3 in conference play, and is coming off a rough 41 point loss to Florida State.

They are led by sophomore

Jewel Spear, who is averaging an impressive 19.8 points per game, the highest on the team by far — no other players average double digits. Olivia Summiel is the central force on the glass for Wake, averaging nearly eight rebounds a game. The Demon Deacons have a relatively young front court, as both their starting guards are underclassmen — Spear and freshman Elise Williams.

Following their stint on the road, the Irish will return home to South Bend for a key weekend tilt with North Carolina. The Tar Heels have risen to No. 21 in the national polls, amassing a strong 14-1 record, with their only loss coming to No. 4 North Carolina State. With both Notre Dame and UNC currently hovering around the 20 mark in national rankings, Sunday’s matchup figures to be one pollsters around the country will be watching carefully.

Providing the scoring for the Tar Heels will be sophomore guard tandem Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby, who are averaging a team high 17.6 and 13.9 points per game, respectively.

Ustby is also a force on the glass — averaging a team leading nine rebounds a game. The Kelly-Ustby pairing also lead the team in minutes, though right behind them is graduate student Carlie Littlefield, who has posted 44 assists on the year, good for first on the team.

Two victories for the Irish this week could provide a huge boost for the squad both in ACC standings and national rankings. Notre Dame currently sits in the thick of a fiveteam logjam battling for third place in the conference, and four of those five teams are ranked in the top 25. If the Irish can pull out a win over North Carolina at Purcell Pavilion, the team can put their loss to see W BBALL PAGE 14

GRACIE LEE | The Observer

Irish junior guard Anaya Peoples goes for a layup in Notre Dame’s 105-69 win over the Ohio Bobcats on Nov. 9 in Purcell Pavilion.