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VOLUME 58, ISSUE 57 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
Yoram Hazony delivers lecture on free speech The Israeli philosopher and political theorist lectured as students held a vigil for Palestinians By LIAM KELLY New Writer Editor
Israeli phi losopher, biblica l schola r a nd polit ica l t heorist Yora m Ha zony delivered a lecture in t he Hesburgh Libra r y auditorium Monday on f ree speech on universit y ca mpuses in t he wa ke of t he October 7 attack on Israel by Ha mas. Outside t he libra r y, students held a v ig i l for Pa lest inia ns who have died in t he subsequent wa r.
Hazony Lecture Ha zony, who ser ves as president of t he Herzl Inst itute in Jer usa lem a nd cha irma n of t he Edmund Burke Foundat ion, urged
universit ies to be more act ive in prohibit ing speech advocat ing for v iolence aga inst Jews. In his rema rks, Ha zony offered a scat hing crit ique of elite universit ies, cla iming t hey have been “captured by Neo-Ma r x ist ideolog ues” a nd have been “t he driving force behind t he return of open a nt isemit ism in A merica” since October 7t h. Ha zony described t he react ion to t he October 7t h attack as a “r ude awa kening” for Jews who did not t hin k a nt isemit ism was a prevalent problem in t he United States. In t he wa ke of t he attack, protests aga inst Israel see GAZA PAGE 3
LIAM KELLY | The Observer
Israeli philosopher Yoram Hazony addressed his audience in Carey Auditorium on the importance of prohibiting speech advocating antisemitism in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
SMC hires new Podcast addresses studentathlete mental health BAVO coordinator By SARAH CATE WHITE News Writer
Sa int Ma r y’s has a nnounced t he hiring of t heir new Belles Aga inst Violence Of f ice (BAVO) coordinator, A lexa Zapata. Zapata, a Sa int Ma r y’s a lumnae, has been work ing at t he College for severa l yea rs. She has ser ved as a counselor for Sa int Ma r y’s Hea lt h a nd Counseling depa r t ment, a n adjunct professor a nd has ex perience at t he loca l Young Women’s Christ ia n Associat ion ( Y WC A). Liz Bauma nn, Sa int Ma r y’s Tit le I X of f icer, sa id she chose Zapata for t he job in la rge pa r t due to her ex perience. “She a lready has t hat built-in t r ust which is rea lly impor ta nt in a role like t he Belles Aga inst Violence Of f ice Coordinator. She a lso has ex perience working w it h sur v ivors a nd a lso educat ing on interpersona l v iolence a nd t hat is a huge pa r t of t he BAVO role. So it is just a per fect
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f it for someone like A lexa., Bauma nn sa id. Zapata sa id her t ime as a student at t he College helps her connect w it h t he students. “It prov ides a specia l connect ion to t he students I work w it h because I was once in t heir shoes in one way or a not her. I used to a nd cont inue to use a lumnae as a huge resource, so I a m ecstat ic to prov ide a ny help I ca n to current a nd f uture students,” Zapata sa id. The posit ion of BAVO coordinator relies heav ily on work ing direct ly w it h students. Zapata feels conf ident t hat she w ill enjoy a nd excel in t his aspect of t he job. “Student interact ions a re a lways my favorite. I ca me into higher educat ion because I love work ing w it h t his popu lat ion, so I a m excited to cont inue w it h t he student interact ion a nd to prov ide suppor t a nd see BAVO PAGE 3
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In the fall of last year, Notre Dame sophomore Jon-David Regis started “Regis Reflections,” a podcast that provides a space for student-athletes to discuss mental health on and off the field. “At first, athletes are looking to keep it all on the court, keep it all on the field. A lot of them, I found, are not comfortable enough speaking out about mental health. So it’s about making it open, that sort of safe space for people to talk it out. And once you see one person do it that leads the rest of people to start taking that leap of faith and trust,” Regis said. The podcast was inspired by Regis’ background growing up around sports — one of his parents was a professional athlete — and his own experience with mental health at Notre Dame. As a Film, Television, and Theatre student, Regis credits his motivation to the discussions he has with athletes and students
alike in his classes. “We’re in a new year and new generation. We’re starting to realize that mental health is very crucial. And then a lot of people look at athletes and see them sometimes on a pedestal. A lot of people don’t realize they go through the same things,” Regis said. While the podcast is still fairly new, Regis has already interviewed several Notre Dame student-athletes to share their perspectives. “People see the good about it, they see the praise, they see the accolades. They think that we have it all, in reality it can be really hard. It’s hard to be a student-athlete in general. On your body. On your mind. You’re being constantly exhausted,” Charity Mcdowell, a senior on the volleyball team, said. Athletes come on the podcast and talk about the challenges of balancing academics and athletics. “The competition is next level. The expectations at Notre Dame are like no other. The schooling here is difficult, you
have to focus on every little detail. It’s a lot more challenging to focus on soccer when you have to focus on school as much as you do at Notre Dame. But it prepares you for the next level of life and prepares you to do well in the future,” said junior Cleveland Sellers, a junior on the men’s soccer team. Regis said he hopes to demonstrate to his listeners the importance of showing and discussing emotions as opposed to hiding them, encouraging his guests to do the same. “You walk into a top institution and it feels like you’re not as good anymore. It was really anxiety-inducing. I was terrified. It came down to me not believing I belonged here. I felt like I was in this glass box where I could see everything I ever wanted but I couldn’t feel any of it. I could see it all but I couldn’t enjoy any of it,” Mcdowell said. Through the discussions, the interviewees share advice on their mindsets and
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By MARIA COWDEN News Writer
see PODCAST PAGE 3