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Volume 55, Issue 41 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Senate confirms ND professor Keough School’s Denis McDonough to serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs Observer Staff Report Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Feb. 9. The U.S. Senate confirmed Denis McDonough as President Joe Biden’s Secretar y of Veterans A ffairs. McDonough is a professor of the practice of public policy in the Keough School of Globa l A ffairs. McDonough ser ved the Obama administration as
the W hite House chief of staff from Februar y 2013 to Januar y 2017. He joined Notre Dame as a facult y member in 2017 and w ill remain on the facult y on academic leave. McDonough has taught courses in public policy ana lysis, formulating and w riting policy, government and nongovernmenta l organization management and leadership. He has a lso recently worked on the Keough School’s
Black@ND starts campaign By EMILY DEFAZIO News Writer
Wit h Februar y mark ing t he start of Black Histor y Mont h, Black@ND launched a new campaign ca lled #Black Facts to prov ide followers w it h information on a dif ferent f ig ure, event or concept relating to Black histor y each day of t he mont h. Black@ND is a ta lk show created by doctorate student Emorja Roberson and cohosted by senior Ly nnette Wuk ie t hat aims to amplif y
Black voices aff iliated w it h Notre Dame and discuss t he experiences of Black communit y members on and off campus. W hen discussing his inspiration for starting t he platform, which can be accessed from severa l socia l media out lets, Roberson said he wanted to explore t he experiences of students at Notre Dame. Eventua lly, he rea lized he wanted to expand t he show to reach a w ider audience, see #BLACKFACTS PAGE 3
Globa l Policy Initiative and the Presidentia l Transition index, which studies wea knesses in the current presidentia l transition process. President Biden nominated McDonough in December. Universit y President Fr. John Jenk ins congratulated McDonough in a press release. “A long w ith his fellow facult y members in the Keough School of Globa l A ffairs and many other friends
and colleagues on campus, I congratulate Denis McDonough on his confirmation this evening by the U.S. Senate as Veterans A ffairs secretar y,“ Jenk ins said in the release. “The militar y men and women who have ser ved our nation deser ve nothing but excellence in representation. Thanks to his vast experience in government and public affairs, Denis w ill prov ide just that.”
As RecSports has seen an increase in demand for gym reser vations, Hoffmann Harding said they w ill open up additiona l appointments for students, facult y and staff by Feb. 22. She urged communit y members to attend appointments they signed up for or notif y RecSports if they are unable to keep their reser vation. Once the weather gets warmer, she a lso said the Universit y w ill work toward
w ill begin at the end of the 2020-2021 men’s basketball season. Nolan said he always knew he wanted to be a play-by-play announcer. Grow ing up in Boston, he would purchase tickets to Fenway Park and Boston Garden and announce the games into a tape recorder. Combining his broadcasting passion w ith his admiration of Notre Dame sports, Nolan found himself in South Bend in 1982. see NOLAN PAGE 4
see ADMISSIONS PAGE 3
finding ways to create opportunities for students to enjoy the outdoors. W hen asked why students cannot inv ite friends from other dorms into their rooms when indoor dining and large lectures are still permissible, Hoffmann Harding cited state capacit y regulations. “We can have large classroom interactions because we have those larger spaces, and the residence ha ll rooms just don’t a llow for see VIRUS PAGE 3
Longtime ND announcer to retire By ALYSA GUFFEY Associate News Editor
Courtesy of Jack Nolan
Jack Nolan, left, with the late ND All-American Mirko Jurkovic before a Shamrock Series football game at Yankee Stadium in 2010.
NEWS PAGE 4
VIEWPOINT PAGE 7
“Don’t be so serious.” This is what Jack Nolan, longtime Notre Dame playby-play announcer, would have said to himself at the beginning of his career. “If I made a mistake or t wo, or misidentified somebody, I would lose faith and I’d remember it for weeks,” Nolan said. After 39 years of devoting most of his time to Notre Dame sports, Nolan announced his retirement
Scene PAGE 10
Observer Staff Report Notre Dame w ill continue its test-optiona l admissions policy for the 2022 and 2023 appl ic at ion yea r s. T he move i s a cont i nuat ion of t he pol ic y a n nou nc ed i n Ju ne, w h ich had been i n t he work s for yea r s, but w a s c at a ly z ed by conc er n s of t he COVID-19 pa ndem ic a nd t he ac c essibi l it y of st a nda rdi z e d te st i ng. T he c u r rent pol ic y a llow s appl ic a nt s to choose w het her or not to subm it a st a nda rd i z ed test score to be ev a luated w it h t hei r appl ic at ion, w it h t he goa l of let t i ng st udent s de c ide w hat t he y t h i n k i s t hei r st rongest appl ic at ion. T he pol ic y a l so ex tend s to t r a n sfer appl ic a nt s a nd a l l de c i sion pla n s, i ncludi ng rest r ic t ive ea rly act ion, reg u la r dec i sion a nd con sider at ion for a l l mer it schola r sh ips. “Not re Da me ha s a lw ay s been com m it ted to a hol i st ic ev a luat ion proc ess,” a ssoc iate v ic e president of u nder g r aduate en rol l ment Don Bi shop sa id. “O ver t he pa st 10 yea r s, we have been less rel ia nt on a st udent ’s test score i n ou r f i na l a ssessment . T h i s yea r, u nder t he leader sh ip of Di rec tor of Ad m i s sion s C hrist y Pratt, we feel confident that our eva luation process remains strong and we are selecting students who w ill find success at Notre Dame.” Bishop a lso said the most competitive applicants are people w ith multiple interests and passions, in addition to being involved in their schools and communities. “They have a driv ing ambition for and track record in using their energies to improve the world around them,” he said. A nnouncing the policy now a llows prospective students
Virus protocols to continue Observer Staff Report
Tests to remain optional
ND M BASKETBALL PAGE 16
ND M X-COUNTRY PAGE 16
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TODAY
The observer | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
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EMILY DEFAZIO | The Observer
Due to an Artic air mass that has settled in the northern part of the country, frigid temperatures and snow storms have persisted in the midwest. Students should expect more snowfall and low temperatures in South Bend in the next week.
The next Five days:
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Conversations on Poverty & Inequality virtual 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Discussion on social entrepreneurship.
Panel Discussion virtual 11 a.m. - noon On interfaith approaches to peacebuilding.
Dante’s Antipurgatorio II virtual 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Workshop with George Corbett on Dante.
Celtic Gra Washington Hall 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s Irish Dance Club’s performance.
Basilica Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 10 a.m. and noon All are welcome to attend.
“Fact, Fiction and the Future” virtual 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Part one of a series on nuclear technology.
Gallery Tour: Three on a Theme virtual 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m. Explore love in three pieces from the Snite.
“Racism and the Catholic Church” virtual 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. With speaker Fr. Bryan Massingale, S.J.
Winterfest: Love at Frost Sight across campus 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. Valentine’s-themed dinner and events.
Messe en française Malloy Hall Chapel 4 p.m. Mass rooted in the French cultural tradition.
News
ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | The Observer
#BlackFacts Continued from page 1
so Roberson began highlighting t he stories and experiences of a lumni. “Not re Da me was a m icrocosm, a nd it’s d if ferent f rom Sout h Bend,” Roberson sa id. “I wa nted to i nclude t he exper iences of t hose who a re outside of t he Not re Da me wa l l.” T h is season, t he show is goi ng a step f u r t her w it h t he creat ion of t he # Black Facts ca mpa ig n. Roberson sa id he hopes t he ca mpa ig n w i l l help educate people on prom i nent Black f ig u res a nd events t hey may not ot her w ise be fa m i l ia r w it h. “Ty pica l ly Black Histor y Mont h is 28 or 29 days, a nd g row ing up I t houg ht t hat was somet h i ng t hat a wh ite ma n establ ished for it,” Roberson sa id. “But I just fou nd out recent ly t hat it was act ua l ly somet h ing Ca r ter Woodson establ ished, on ly because t he Ema ncipat ion Procla mat ion took place i n Febr ua r y a nd Freder ick Doug lass’s bi r t hday is i n Febr ua r y. So if I have t hese concepts t hat a re i ncorrect, I ca n on ly i mag i ne how ma ny ot hers have a n
i ncor rect idea about Black Histor y Mont h, a nd how ma ny don’t k now about t he less popu la r events or Black people.” T he ca mpa ig n w i l l feat u re t hese f ig u res, events a nd ideas over a 31-day per iod. Roberson sa id he work s w it h people f rom severa l depa r t ments on ca mpus, includ i ng t he Fi lm, Telev ision a nd T heat re depa r t ment a nd t he Mendoza Col lege of Busi ness to ma ke t he ta l k show happen. “It took a lot of t ime a nd a lot of work, but it’s so wor t h it,” he sa id. “I wou ld n’t pass up t h is oppor t u n it y for a ny ot her opt ion because a lot of t hese t h ings t hat I’m lea r ni ng a nd t hat we’re record ing about, I d id n’t lea r n about it u nt i l I sta r ted read ing it myself a couple of mont hs ago. We’re never too old to lea r n somet h i ng new.” In l ig ht of t he protests over t he su m mer, Roberson sa id t hat t here is now a “heig htened awa reness” where people a re look ing to lea r n more about t he Black com mu n it y. “T h is ca mpa ig n w i l l help to brea k some ideas of what people t houg ht about Black h istor y,” Roberson sa id. “T hey ca n a lso en la rge
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t heir awa reness a nd enlig hten t hem on t he t h ings t hat we have cont r ibuted to A mer ica n h istor y.” It is t hese cont r ibut ions, Roberson sa id, t hat he most wa nts people to remember about t he ca mpa ig n. “W hat I wa nt people to ta ke away is how g reat Black people a re,” he sa id. “Somet imes we pa int t h is pict u re t hat we’re ver y limited. But we a re not lim ited at a l l.” Roberson sa id he a lso hopes t he show spa rk s d ia log ue for deeper conversat ions. “Ever y show w i l l not a lways end w it h t he a nswers for ever y t h ing,” Roberson sa id. “Somet imes t he show’s d iscussions a re just t hat. They’re d iscussions for us to ex plore toget her, for us to t r y to deconst r uct t hose biases a nd for us to have t hose d if f icu lt conversat ions t hat ma ke people u ncom for table. In being u ncom for table we f ind ways in wh ich we ca n establish some bu i ld ing block s to st reng t hen ou r u ndersta nd ing of how we ca n work toget her.” He encou rages people to cont inue to do resea rch a nd to cont inue to lea r n more about Black h istor y on t heir ow n. “We ca n not teach you ever y t h ing. That is not ou r job,” Roberson sa id. “You r job is to do t he resea rch a nd do t he work on you r ow n. We’re just here to maybe faci litate t he conversat ions.
The biggest persona l ta keaway is k now ing a nd being OK t hat I don’t have to have a l l of t he a nswers. Because just as ot her people a re lea r n ing, so a m I. I’m just here to l ig ht t he f ire.” Wu k ie, who co-hosts Black@ND w it h Roberson, sa id t he show a l lows her to be t ra nspa rent about issues su r rou nd ing race on ca mpuses, especia l ly at Not re Da me, t hat somet imes a re swept u nder t he r ug. “It’s not just say ing a l l t he good, happy t h ings about Not re Da me, but a lso where Not re Da me fa l ls shor t, especia l ly in d iversit y,” Wu k ie sa id. In rega rds to t he #Black Facts ca mpa ig n, Wu k ie sa id she hopes it mot ivates people to do t heir ow n resea rch a nd lea r n more about issues su rrou nd i ng race. “It’s rea l ly easy to just li ke t h ings t hat a re r ig ht in f ront of you, a nd it’s not a lways t he easiest to go out a nd seek k nowledge,” Wu k ie sa id. “I wou ld hope t hat’s k ind of what Black@ ND br ings out on people, is wa nt ing to seek k nowledge about t h ings t hat a ren’t a lways r ig ht in f ront of t hem. Racism isn’t going away a ny t ime soon. T he on ly way t hat we get towa rds a more equ itable societ y is if people choose to educate t hemselves, so I hope t hat t he podcast k ind of does t hat.” Wu k ie sa id she has
appreciated t he nu mber of people w ho have reached out to get i nvolved, a nd she sa id she’s been pa r t ic u la rly i n spi red t a l k i ng to Black a lu m n i. “Somet i mes it ’s f r u st r ati ng a s a st udent of color to go here a nd k i nd of see ot her st udent s of color st r ug g le, but t hen you hea r stor ies about people w ho u sed to go here a nd how much t he y t h i n k t he Un iver sit y ha s g row n a nd w hat t he y went t h roug h a nd how d i f ferent it i s,” Wu k ie sa id. “A lt houg h t he y shou ld have never had to go t h roug h t hose t h i ngs, it k i nd of g ives me hope t hat t h i ngs have got ten bet ter.” W h i le t he show prov ides c r it iques of Not re Da me, Wu k ie sa id she feel s t he y have good i ntent ion s — she si mply hopes to i mprove t he c u lt u re of t he Un iver sit y i n a ny w ay she c a n. “I n lov i ng t h i s place so much, a pa r t of t hat love shou ld be w a nt i ng bet ter for it a nd not ju st bei ng complacent w it h how you fou nd it,” she sa id. “I t h i n k Dael i n Hayes t he ot her day reposted ‘L eave t he place bet ter t ha n you fou nd it .’ A nd I t h i n k t hat ’s a l l I wou ld say : Even t houg h we love Not re Da me, it ’s i n f i nd i ng t he f law s a nd t r yi ng to f i x t hem is how we ca n love it back.”
Admissions
committed to providing access and equity in our application process during these uncertain times,” Bishop sa id. T he appl icat ion a nd eva luat ion process w i l l cont i nue to i nclude st udent s’ academ ic per for ma nces i n h ig h school a nd rev iew t he r igor of t he
cu r r icu lu m pu rsued. T he eva luat ion w i l l a lso cont i nue to rev iew w r it ten essays, letters of recom mendat ion a nd the students’ resumes. The University will also continue to adhere to the rules as stated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the recruitment of and application review process for student-athletes. Notre Dame recently released its restrictive early action decisions ( REA) i n December, ad m it t i ng 1,673 st udent s to t he cla ss of 2025 i n t he la rgest REA pool ever.
Continued from page 1
and their counselors time to make informed decisions, Bishop said. “We want students to know that we continue to be Paid Advertisement
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Virus Continued from page 1
t hat sa me t y pe of f lex ibi lit y i n ter m s of d i st a nc i ng f rom each ot her,” Hof f ma n n Ha rd i ng sa id. B y a l low i ng st udent s f rom ot her dor m s to v i sit 24-hou r spac es w it h i n residenc e ha l l s la st week, ad m i n i st r at ion leader s hope st udent s a re bet ter able to con nec t w it h ot her s. “I’m rea l ly g r atef u l to st udent s w ho cont i nue to wea r t hei r ma sk s i n t hose spac es but we hope t hat prov ides more opt ion s to get toget her,” Hof f ma n n Ha rd i ng sa id.
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NEWS
The observer | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
ND team creates new way to test for lead By TRINITY REILLY News Writer
Four years ago, Heidi Beidinger, director of the Masters of Science in Global Health program, was told South Bend had the highest rate of elevated blood lead levels in children in the state of Indiana. Know ing that the St. Joseph Count y Board of Health was unprepared to deal w ith the newly discovered lead crisis, Beidinger said she felt like she had to take action. Shortly after, she founded the Notre Dame Lead Innovation Team (NDLIT) to help people living in lead-infected homes. So, her team started developing a way to test for lead that would take less time and money than the current method, which is an expensive, four-hour, in-person exam from a lead risk assessor, she said. “This is how our government, finds in people’s homes,” Beidinger said. “Children are required at 12 and 24 months to get a lead test. They get a blood draw, it gets tested for lead. W hen it gets to a certain threshold, according to the CDC, social ser v ices kicks in. The health department calls and says, your child has an elevated blood level, let me come to your home and do a home v isit. The lead risk assessor goes out to the person’s home, and does this in depth testing of their home env ironment. And, as you
Nolan Continued from page 1
“I grew up watching Lindsey Nelson and Paul Hornung announce Notre Dame games on Notre Dame football replay,” Nolan said. “It was on Channel 56 Boston, I think, at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings, so I was certainly ver y familiar w ith Notre Dame and it has always been one of the greatest teams in college sports.” Nolan first landed a job at W NDU, the local NBC affiliate, to do play-by-play for Notre Dame football. His first game was a 28-14 Notre Dame w in over Purdue. A 39-year career in Indiana wasn’t what Nolan env isioned for himself when he first landed the gig. Three years into his job, Nolan said he was in New York searching for an agent. However, he met his future w ife around the same time and decided to stay in South Bend. “I met a young lady named Rhonda Brow n, who was a producer and broadcaster for WSBT, and six months
might imagine, that sounds unethical. We’re using little children’s bodies as div ining rods to find lead in our env ironments.” Chris Knaub, a global health research associate in the Eck Institute of Global Health, said the motivation behind creating a lead testing kit came from wanting to f lip the way people currently test for lead. Rather than finding it in children and then fix ing their homes, he said they want to test homes instead so people can prevent themselves from getting lead poisoning completely. “That’s what really hooked me – parents who have no idea they’re poisoning their children or their children’s being poisoned by their home env ironment, which is negatively impacting their entire life going for ward,” Knaub said. “I really got inspired by the abilit y for our kit to hopefully interrupt that cycle of povert y, and give people and children more potential in life.” In houses, lead is most commonly found in soil, paint, dust, and water. The original kit the team came up w ith was just a series of bags, Knaub said. But they wanted to create something more attractive and official to encourage people to use the product, he said. Even now, he said, they are working on a new version of the kit, which will be shippable. A Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant has made more innovation possible, he said.
later we were married,” Nolan said. “Then, we kind of focused more on how do we make this work, as opposed to where are we going to go.” Among several Associated Press play-by-play awards and an honorary monogram from Notre Dame in 2013, Nolan made his presence in Notre Dame basketball known through his signature phrase, “Got it,” which Nolan began saying after Irish players would hit a three-pointer. He said he only began using the catchphrase after he was comfortable enough to not fear the risk of being subjective during the games. “I let those emotions come out and they got louder and louder,” Nolan said. Nolan said he did not realize how much his broadcast st yle meant to the Irish team until the day a player off the bench ran over to his desk after making a shot to confirm Jack had followed up w ith his famous catchphrase. Nolan said he missed saying it but promised the player he would say it next time.
Courtesy of Meghanne Tighe
The Notre Dame Lead Innovation Team (NDLIT) developed an inexpensive lead sample collection kit that includes three methods to test for this element, including soil samples, paint chips and dust swabs.
Anyone can request the current iteration of the kit for free on NDLIT’s website. Meghanne Tighe, fourthyear graduate student, said she has been involved w ith NDLIT since its creation and has played a major role in discovering ways to make the kit easily testable. “We send out hundreds of these kits a year. It’s a ton of samples to be analyzed by one person,” Tighe said. “So I built an automated system that can analyze the samples kind of on their ow n – now an analyst just has to go and set it up.” Tighe said she has also worked on improv ing the current kit. Using techniques she found in a Brita filter, Tighe said, she was able to create a simple and accurate way to test for
lead in water samples. She said she is quite excited for the next iteration of the kit, which w ill include the water test in an effort to get a more complete picture of potential lead hotspots. “I’ve always been a little hesitant to do research that I can’t see a direct, tangible reason why you’re doing it,” Tighe said. “So NDLIT has kept me really motivated to do my research, which I know is sometimes hard for other graduate students to keep motivated, especially when your work isn’t working. It’s been nice to have a project where I know exactly why I’m doing it, and I feel like I really am helping the communit y.” Beidinger urged students to get involved w ith NDLIT. They offer a paid internship
through the Center for Civ ic Innovation (CCI), have held various events throughout the school year and use student workers and researchers on the team. “We love taking this multidisciplinar y team and really apply ing it to our communit y,” Knaub said. “I think that the biggest thing that students can get out of this is our focus on the community. A lot of times research is focused on the results, and we tr y to change that – we’re meeting the needs of the community first, and then we get our research done. It’s not just doing what you think they need, it’s listening, and then applying what they say and creating interventions.”
“There won’t be a next time,” the player responded. That was when Nolan said he fully realized how important his call st yle was to the fans and players. Over the years, Nolan said he has been able to create numerous special relationships that he w ill miss as he moves on from his career. “I don’t think there’s a coach that I didn’t like or get along w ith over my career,” Nolan said. In a Feb. 4 press conference, men’s basketball head coach Mike Brey described Nolan as “a brother and a great friend.” “It’s hard for me to picture hav ing chemistr y w ith another announcer,” Brey said. Brey also said he was amazed at the amount of preparation Nolan did before each game, say ing that it seemed like Nolan “watched more film than the assistants.” “He was a great voice and a respected voice for our program, and we’ll miss that,” Brey said. Acknowledging his ow n tendencies, Nolan said he
“probably still overprepares for each game“ in his final year. Nolan’s relationships and bonds were not limited to the Notre Dame sports bubble. He fondly recalled a half-hour conversation w ith the late John Wooden, Hall of Famer and former UCL A men’s basketball head coach, as one of his favorite inter v iews. As well as hearing about Wooden’s py ramid of success, Nolan said that at one point in the inter v iew Wooden turned to him and jokingly placed blame on Nolan for the state of “terrible college basketball.” “He said, ‘You and all the other sportscasters, when’s the last time you put a free throw on the highlights? W hen’s the last time you put a good screen? ’” Nolan said. Fellow colleagues of Nolan in the sports journalism world have praised Nolan’s hard work and class. “Jack has always been the epitome of professionalism. Not only has he always been ver y smooth as a play-by-play man, but ver y
fair in his commentar y — never a homer,” Bill Moor, former sports editor of the South Bend Tribune, said in an email. After a year unlike any other, Nolan w ill end his career in a pandemic stricken sports world. He said he misses traveling with the team and sitting courtside, but has felt the call to retire over the past couple of years. Nolan said he plans to travel and enjoy holidays with his wife and family in his retirement. He will continue to keep up with college sports, if at a bit of a distance. “It’s going to be hard, but I also have been buoyed by the fact that not one person has said that I w ill regret it,” Nolan said. Follow ing an act like Nolan w ill be challenging, but he feels confident in whoever his successor w ill be. “I feel ver y good about whoever is doing my job next year w ill get to work w ith the best people I’ve ever worked w ith,” Nolan said.
Contact Trinity Reilly at treilly5@nd.edu
Contact Alysa Guffery at aguffey@nd.edu
News
ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | The Observer
ND history department provides new minor By ISABELLA VOLMERT Associate News Editor
The Notre Dame history department is offering a new economic and business history minor with the goal of providing an in-depth study of the history of capitalism, markets, economies, business and more for students interested in this side of history. Department Chair Dr. Elisabeth Köll said the creation of the minor was inspired by faculty members within the history department who focus their research and teaching on the history of economics and business, spanning subfields, subjects, time periods and geographical locations. Additionally, Dr. Jake Lundberg, director of undergraduate studies for the history department, said within the field of study, there has been a turn toward the history of capitalism — especially in the U.S. — in recent years. Lundberg also said the student population has expressed increased interest in the subject of economic and business history, including many economic majors and Mendoza College of Business students who do not have the time to complete a whole history major on the traditional fouryear track. “They are interested in the history of their profession and discipline, and the intellectual history of how to think about economic structures, institutions and markets,” Köll said. The economic and business history minor’s requirements are four elective courses and the completion of a capstone class. The available classes focus on a variety of subjects such as the history of commerce, financial markets, gender in the workforce, labor and more. The capstone class is designed to partly be a research seminar in which students can focus on and produce a project of their own specific interest while working with a faculty member. Köll emphasized students can cater the minor to their specific
interests and said the history department has a variety of educators and resources to support their goals. In regards to why the minor is valuable, Köll said economics and Mendoza students often learn very valuable content in their majorspecific classes, but not the rich historical context history classes can provide, especially outside of the context of the U.S. Such context includes a variety of temporal and geographical histories, such as the historyoftheroleofwomenintheU.S. economy or different economic approaches to modern India, Köll said. She herself teaches a course on the history of the stock market. “We are not pretending to be economists; we are historians,” she said. “But we bring something to the table in terms of being able to look more deeply into the political, social and economic conditions that lead to certain developments.” Finance major and Notre Dame senior Jason Kidwell also praised the importance of historical contextual knowledge for students interested in economics and business. “Mendoza is great in terms of teaching kids the technical stuff and about market theory and in the job market field, but they don’t necessarily contextualize a lot of things,” he explained. “If you don’t have an understanding of market history or investor behavior and stuff like that, you are basically running around without a flashlight.” Kidwell officially confirmed his enrollment in the economic and business history minor on Tuesday. He has taken a number of classes with Köll concerning the field. He is currently taking a class on the development of the economy in China, capitalism, and how China fits into the globalized world economy with Köll. “That’s a rockstar class to be in,” he said.
In addition to finance and economics students, Köll and Lundberg stressed any major is welcome to pick up the minor, as it would be beneficial to all Notre Dame students. “No matter what your major is — engineering, English, accounting — to see the economy in any country, in any chronological context, and in a broader perspective and to analyze it in that context is a very valuable skill and intellectual challenge that is interesting and useful to learn no matter what you do after in your job,” Köll said. Additionally, the minor teaches students how to think critically, to analyze and interpret challenging situations and to identify arguments — all based on limited information. For example, Köll often encourages her students to think about arguments and situations as if they were an analyst working for a firm or a consultant who suddenly has to deal with something they are not at all familiar with. “We teach exactly the skills you need in any professional environment,” Köll said. Kidwell said he is very grateful for the role the history department, and especially Köll, has played in his education, and hopes that more Mendoza students will join the minor in years to come. The life skills the minor provides, Lundberg said, will give students an edge after they graduate. “I think that for Notre Dame students planning on entering careers in the business world, this kind of historical grounding and historical way of thinking about what they’re doing will be really useful for them within their jobs, but also as citizens going out into the world,” Lundberg said. Contact Isabella Volmertat ivolmert@nd.edu
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Mustard Club offers community By MEGAN FAHRNEY News Writer
It all started with a packet of mustard on a table in South Dining Hall. Club legend has it that before becoming Notre Dame’s official creative writing club, Mustard was an informal gathering of students interested in creative writing. A packet of mustard would be placed on a table in South Dining Hall before each meeting to discreetly show where participants should meet. Since its creation, Mustard’s goal has been to provide an opportunity for students to share their writing and receive feedback in a laid-back setting. Mustard uses a unique style of workshopping and critique, junior Ella Wisniewski, Mustard club president, said. “One of the best things about Mustard is you get feedback immediately after you read your piece out loud,” she said. “Other times, when you’re trying to get feedback on your writing, it can take days or weeks for someone to email you back and be like, ‘Oh, this is good.’ But in Mustard, you get it right away.” Meetings take place on Wednesdays from 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., in the McNeill room in LaFortune Student Center. Meetings are held in-person, but due to the pandemic, members participate via Zoom if the number of attendees exceeds the room’s maximum occupancy. Senior club member William DiSimone said Mustard is open to anyone, regardless of major or level of writing experience. DiSimone himself joined as a first-year studying finance and felt welcomed. “You can even come not intending to submit anything, just to see what other people write, to get a feel for how everything works,” DiSimone said. “It’s a pretty casual experience.” Participants are welcome to
submit any type of writing, junior Alena Coleman, another member of Mustard, said. “We’ve had raps, screenplays, poems, prose, short stories, bits of novels, songs,” Coleman said. “Really anything that you can write, we can talk about.” In a typical meeting, members submit a piece beforehand, read their work aloud and then receive feedback, Wisniewski said. Coleman said during national novel writing month, the club holds “write-ins.” In these meetings, members participate in various writing activities. “We’ll do some writing sprints, where you write for a short amount of time and try to get as many words out as possible. We’ll do fun writing prompts, or we’ll just talk and play other games,” Coleman said. “So those are a little less like a workshop and a little more like a writing camp for an hour or two.” DiSimone said during one meeting in his sophomore year, the group didn’t feel like discussing writing, so everyone went around and told stories of the most horrific injuries they had had. “It’s just fun hanging out,” DiSimone said. “It’s a good time.” Wisniewski said the first time she submitted a piece for a meeting as a sophomore, she was terrified. “Everyone was so nice and they genuinely made my poems better, and now I feel a lot more comfortable submitting,” Wisniewski said. “And I just hope that someone who comes into Mustard and submits for the first time can have that same experience. If you just want to come and not say anything, just listen to writing, that’s awesome, that’s totally fine. We’re just happy you’re there.” Contact Megan Fahrney at mfahrney@nd.edu
College’s Campus Ministry changes location By CARMEN FEUCHT News Writer
For the first time in over 40 years, Saint Mary’s Campus Ministry has moved its location from Regina Hall to a suite on the second floor of the Student Center. Director of Campus Ministry Regina Wilson said the Regina Center is currently undergoing major renovations to provide space for the health science departments. In order for these renovations to happen, Campus Ministry was offered the opportunity to move its location for the foreseeable future. “The second floor of the Student Center was identified as a very good location for Campus Ministry
since it is a place where most students come for meals and for other student services,” Wilson said. “It made a lot of good sense for Campus Ministry to join those other student service offices in the Student Center and to be in a location where students frequently gather.” Wilson and the Campus Ministry staff are very pleased with the move and believe it has benefitted the Campus Ministry community. “Overall, some of the benefits we gain are an office space where we can work together better as colleagues, a location that is more central to campus, more meeting space for gathering with students, more
possibility for networking with other student service colleagues, and shiny new offices,” Wilson said. The Campus Ministry staff are still working together on how to invite students into their new space. In Regina Hall, there was a fair amount of student traffic passing by so it was common to meet a student interested in Campus Ministry. “That kind of engagement with students will be a little more difficult now, but we are actively thinking about how to facilitate more opportunities for those kinds of engagements,” Wilson said. Wilson and her staff view the change as a new opportunity and are hopeful for the future. “We believe that all the changes
aren’tworseorbetter,it’sjustchange, and we’re embracing the challenge with an eye to all the new possibilities that we can imagine and that present themselves,” Wilson said. Campus Ministry also plans on adding new renovations to their new home in the near future. “Eventually, we will also have a lounge when further renovation of the second floor of the Student Center occurs, and this will allow us to have those more informal encounters with students that are a big part of our ministry and outreach,” Wilson said. Wilson also added that another
bonus of the move is that students can now get to the Holy Spirit Chapel of Le Mans through the tunnel and not have to walk outside. Wilson and the Campus Ministry staff are looking forward to the future of the program in the Student Center and will be hosting an open house Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “We hope a lot of people will come for that, appropriately distanced, of course,” Wilson said. “We’ll be giving away a prize for a little contest we are having and showing people around the new space.” Contact Carmen Feucht at cfeucht01@saintmarys.edu
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The observer | wednesday, february 10, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Inside Column
Gwyneth Paltrow has a point Maeve Filbin Assistant Managing Editor
To be frank, the Venn diagram of those who ask for oat or almond milk in their iced coffee from Starbucks and those who will eat an entire wheel of baked brie off of a charcuterie board looks like a circle. To be fair, I live in this intersection, alongside all of my roommates and most of the people I’ve met who have self-diagnosed as lactose intolerant. Our fridge holds an impressive selection of dairy alternatives, derived from almonds, coconuts, oats, soybeans and vegan pea protein. Open the crisper, however, and you’ll find a fromagerie of 100% real cheese. To be clear, this inside column is not pro- or anti-dairy. Environmental, ethical and economic arguments aside, I’m just exploring my options and recognizing a common trend. Who among us hasn’t sipped a cup of coffee with almond milk for breakfast and then asked for extra cheese on our burrito bowl for lunch? Almost everyone I know who have broken up with dairy comes down very hard on their stance regarding milk and coffee creamers — they’re easily substituted with a variety of nut and plant-based alternatives that actually taste good. As an impressionable person who once read online that cutting out dairy would solve all my problems (prom was coming up, and I had a zit that the internet convinced me was from eating milk with my cereal), I ran the experiment. I dumped milk and started dating different dairy alternatives, and I’ve been in a committed relationship with Ripple products for a couple years now. And all this time, I’ve harbored tender feelings for the varying cheeses that have wandered into my life. I’ve never been able to settle for vegan cheeses, mostly made from plant-based materials that have no business trying to impersonate the original. If real cheese is bad, then I don’t want to be good. Here’s an important point we’ve landed on: Maybe the biggest reason that the alt dairy community still hasn’t let go of real cheese is that the alternative tastes nothing like cheese, or even a decent imitation. Simply, vegan cheese is bad. “Friends don’t let friends eat vegan cheese.” If we can’t turn to plant-based cheese the same way we fell in love with alternative milk and creamer, maybe it’s all about finding balance. “I use organic products, but I get [laser treatments],” Gw yneth Paltrow once said. “It’s what makes life interesting, finding the balance between cigarettes and tofu.” The best thing Gw yneth Paltrow has done for me personally is perform the iconic role of Holly Holiday. However, this super strange soundbite that she shared with a women’s magazine is a very close second, and might just be the conclusion I land on in this personal dilemma. Gw yneth strokes her organically lasered brow and eats her tofu with a Marlboro Light dangling between manicured fingers; I take oat milk in my coffee and eat sliced American cheese straight out of the bag. We exist. You can contact Maeve at mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Taylor Swift and the power of teenage tears Elllie Konfrst Butterfly Effects
If you know nothing else about me, you may know that I am a pretty big Taylor Swift fan. After I first heard “Red” when I was 13, I quickly devoured the rest of her discography and began anxiously anticipating her next releases. In a sense, I grew up with her, letting her stories of heartbreak and love and growing up echo off the walls of my childhood bedroom while I, too, suffered through the pain of being a teenage girl. My love for Swift’s music went beyond just obsessively listening to her records, though. In my early teen years, I regret to admit that I spent a lot of time on Tumblr, and when I found the community of Taylor Swift fans on that website, I was hooked. Eventually, Swift herself found her way onto the website, and to this day, I am still proud to announce that she followed my blog and liked about a dozen of my posts (my fifteen-year-old self would be furious with me for not knowing the exact number). My blog has been inactive for a few years now, but I can’t bring myself to delete it and lose that follow. To a large extent, Swift — and the online community I found thanks to her — were like saviors to me. Not only did they provide a distraction when my thoughts were betraying me (I was diagnosed with OCD around the same time), it provided me a place where my complicated, melodramatic feelings were completely valid. The reason Swift’s music is special to me is not because of her delicate storytelling, catchy hooks or artistic songwriting (though I could spend another thousand words talking about that). Taylor Swift lodged herself in a permanent place in my soul because her music was so full of feeling — the complicated kind, the oceans of tears shed over a two-month relationship, the messy, unfair anger directed at other women, the unexplainable and irrational and overdramatic feelings of being a teenage girl. Even though I don’t run a Taylor Swift blog anymore, and I have (hopefully) moved beyond the tidal waves of feeling that comes with being a teenage girl, Swift is still my favorite artist of all time, and listening to her music feels like coming home. This past year has been a big year for her and all Swift fans, too — in July, she released her eighth studio album, “folklore,” after a surprise announcement, and did the same with another fulllength album “evermore” in December. Both were received with broad critical acclaim, with many reviews noting a newfound maturity in her songwriting. For me, though, “folklore” and “evermore” didn’t feel like a departure at all — they felt entirely honest to the person Swift has always been. Yet there was an entirely new cohort of people drawn to her music, discovering how great of an artist she has always been, and even recognizing that previous hatred for her may have been rooted
in misogyny. Sure, it’s possible that her shift to a more folksy, alternative sound drew an audience that she’d never reached before. It’s also possible that “folklore” and “evermore” are just better albums than she’d released before. To me, though, it seems as though people feel comfortable admitting that they liked Swift’s music because she’s a real artist now, not just one making music for teenage girls. This phenomenon, of discarding the quality of media due to a fanbase made up of primarily teenage girls, seems to happen all the time — our culture considers the opinions of teenage girls to be the inverse of whatever refined taste looks like. However, teenage girls have historically been instrumental in catapulting some of our greatest musical prodigies to fame. Yes, I’m talking about The Beatles, a group that made music in obscurity until teenage girls began fainting at their concerts and brought about “Beatlemania.” Today, The Beatles are considered by many to be one of the greatest rock bands of all time, not despite, but because of teenage girls. The fandom of teenage girls is often disregarded as unrefined precisely because of the intensity with which teenage girls feel. The Beatles can’t actually be good, right? They only have a following because of the hormones of teenage girls! Taylor Swift can’t possibly make good music — the feelings of teenage girls are obnoxious and unimportant, so her music must be too. Now, this isn’t to say teenage girls are the ultimate predictor of future critical success, but our culture acts as if something is not good simply because it’s popular among teenage girls. It’s patronizing, it’s unnecessarily vitriolic and it’s often just incorrect. I connected with Taylor Swift because she made music for teenage girls, and she has made an incredibly successful career by validating and expressing their emotions. Listening to her and being a fan of hers has completely changed my life, and I think that experience is valid whether or not she had eventually made music that appealed to other demographics. Teenage girls deserve the ability to love artists that they feel connected to — whether they make objectively “good” music or not — without constant harassment from the general population. It’s time to treat the opinions of teenage girls with respect — when you don’t, you may be missing out on the next great rock band, or even just bangers like “Enchanted.” Ellie Konfrst is a junior majoring in political science, with minors in the Hesburgh Program for Public Service and civil & human rights. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, she’s excited that people will finally be forced to listen to all of her extremely good takes. She can be reached at egloverk@nd.edu or @elliekonfrst13 on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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Ask me about George Washington’s teeth Sydni Brooks Everything is Fine
Editor’s Note: This story includes descriptions of sexual abuse and violence. A list of sexual assault reporting options and on-campus resources can be found on the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross websites. Ever y couple of weeks, my roommates and I find ourselves in deep conversation regarding our current world experience and how we can change it for the better. We recently had one of these conversations, and the discussion began to focus itself on race. As a Black woman living w ith three white women, conversations about race aren’t rare, and my roommates are always extremely receptive and interested in my Black experience and its differences from their lives. We spoke about the f laws in the American education system and how American histor y, specifically Black American histor y, is inadequately taught. W hile there are several chunks of Black histor y that were simply removed from the American histor y curriculum requirement, many of the facts we do learn were either half-truths or blatant lies. Most of us are aware that early slaves were stolen from their homelands and brought to America through the transatlantic slave trade to work the lands of white plantation ow ners. We were taught slaves were beaten and whipped as punishment by white slave masters and overseers, and slave women were raped to produce more slaves after the transatlantic slave trade was abolished. We learned that President Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves w ith the 13th Amendment in 1863. After the Emancipation, we learned Jim Crow was a thing, the civil rights movement happened, Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream and magically, after Black Americans received the right to vote, institutionalized racism simply “vanished.” This watered dow n, spark-noted, sugar-coated version of Black American histor y perpetuates the extremely false narrative of the institution of
slaver y. Slaver y was not simply a f law of Man that can be dismissed under the “just the way things were” categor y in the stor y of American Histor y. Slaver y and the treatment of Black people in the Americas was a sadistic, ungodly, abominable practice based in racism, torture and a blood thirst for control. We know that white slave masters and overseers had intercourse with slave women, but we were not taught about breeding farms, where slave women were repeatedly raped to produce more slaves, or how Black slave boys and men were beaten unconscious and raped by their owners in front of their families. We did not learn that the genitalia of Black boys and men were mutilated or gouged completely from their bodies as a form of punishment. We know Black Americans were lynched, but we did not learn that their limbs were ripped from their bodies as they sw ung from their necks. We were not taught that metal hooks were pierced into slave’s lungs before they were hung, or that some victims were burned alive. We learned that slaves were whipped for not meeting their labor expectations or other punishments, but we were not taught they were whipped daily to ensure submission and obedience. We did not learn slaves were boiled in sugar water, or that Black slave skin was used as leather for shoes and instrument cases, or that slave teeth were used as dentures for white Americans. No, George Washington’s teeth were not made from wood. W hile I can’t speak for the rest of the Notre Dame student body, my roommates and I didn’t learn about any of these horrific fates for Black slaves in any histor y class we have taken in high school or college. It wasn’t until the international outburst highlighting systemic racial inequality erupted the nation in the summer of 2020 that I began hearing about the sadistic tortures of the institution of slaver y. I stumbled upon trinkets of information from histor y buffs who specifically study this section of American histor y, and I realized I’d have to do my own research on the topic. Considering
the few details I explained previously are not an ex haustive list, what other barbaric horror stories are hidden in Black histor y? How much of the PG version of our past protects the doors of our horrifically unimaginable, but factually accurate stories of American ancestr y that clearly correlates to the traumas of the Black experience today? Black Americans are asked why they can’t leave the sins of slaver y their ancestors endured in the past, and some white Americans believe that Black citizens are demanding them to take responsibility for the sins of their ancestors. However, neither side of this argument truly knows the extent of torture, brutality, humiliation and generational mental and emotional damage Black Americans have suffered because it isn’t extensively or honestly provided for any of us. We can’t forgive the sins of slaver y because we are only beginning to understand how deep the depths of horror were during slaver y. The slivers of truth we received in high school dilute the real experience, and the little we can find through personal research only add to the list of horrific possibilities of what else happened. W hile our warped sense of histor y distorts our reality in the present, how will it dictate our future? We are told to look to our past to navigate through our future, but if we are unaware of the truths of our past, how can we be sure that we are capable of providing a better future? W hat other details in other subsections of American histor y are we oblivious to? Do we have to endure yet another national outrage to birth the truth from the depths of the Land of the Free? Sydni Brooks is a junior at Notre Dame studying English and gender studies. She is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, and calls Flaherty Hall home on campus. With equal passions in writing and helping others, she hopes to serve her community well in her future. She can be reached at sbrooks2@nd.edu or @sydnimaree22 on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
A response to ‘The power of Notre Dame’s Christian left’ W hile Clark Bowden is certainly entitled to his opinion, he is not entitled to alternative facts. Mr. Bowden claimed that Notre Dame did not respond to former football coach Lou Holtz’s remarks at the Republican National Convention when, in fact, a statement was issued the day after the speech. He implies that, while facult y and students protested former President Trump’s orders threatening DACA students, the Universit y stood by silently. In fact, at a prayer ser v ice the Monday after the 2016 election, Fr. Jenkins
specifically addressed DACA students, say ing the Universit y would “support them in ever y way possible.” Before and since then, he has issued numerous statements in opposition to various efforts to discontinue DACA. Here is one of many. He w rites that only students organized rallies in support of racial justice last spring and summer when, again in fact, Fr. Jenkins held a “Prayer for Unit y, Walk for Justice” rally on Librar y Quad on June 2, then spoke at a communit y rally in dow ntow n South Bend on June 7. He also joined w ith members of the football
program at the Juneteenth rally. Finally, Mr. Bowden criticizes the Universit y for “putting for ward a conser vative Supreme Court justice.” It simply isn’t possible — much less true — that Notre Dame or any universit y could or would “put for ward” a court nominee. Facts matter, even in opinion columns. Dennis K. Brown assistant vice president Notre Dame news and media relations Feb. 5
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The observer | wednesday, february 10, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
The GOP’s existential crisis Blake Ziegler News with Zig
It’s interesting to see history on the cusp of repeating itself. We saw the rise of our nation’s first two major political parties in the election of 1796, which featured candidates from the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party, factions that vehemently opposed each other’s platforms. Over time, the Democratic-Republicans became the modern Democratic Party. The Federalists, on the other hand, experienced a dismal decline in the early 1800s until the party was effectively lifeless. Among other factors, a key feature of the Federalists’ demise was their opposition to the War of 1812 and threats of secession in New England. After the war, many Federalists were considered traitors by the country, which contributed greatly to the party’s death. Considering that many of the insurrectionists from the Jan. 6 Capitol riots were Republicans or Trump supporters, one has to wonder if the GOP has a similar fate. The GOP is currently deliberating on the party’s direction in a post-Trump era. Now, the Republican Party suffered heavy losses in the November election, just as I predicted last semester. Despite gaining a net 11 seats, the party still lost the Senate and the White House. Ordinarily, the losing party spends the time after the election figuring out what went wrong. For the Republican Party, this means defining the party’s identity. Since President Trump has left office, Republicans from all corners have been vying for either a GOP devoid of Trumpism or a GOP fueled by Trumpism. For instance, consider some efforts to purge the Republican Party of the former president. Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY), the House Republican Conference Chair, voted to impeach President Trump, joining nine other House Republicans. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was pleased about the impeachment, seeing conviction as an opportunity for the Republican Party to move past Trumpism. Other acts of anti-Trumpism among Republicans come from
Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE). At the same time, the pro-Trump sentiment is alive and well among Republicans. President Trump still holds 81% approval in the party. Of the House Republicans, 197 voted against impeachment, and the possibility of conviction in the Senate remains narrow. Representatives like Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) showcase how extremist positions still appeal to parts of the Republican base. The GOP cannot move in both directions. The Republican tent is not large enough to hold Republicans willing to work with President Biden and individuals calling for violence against Democrats and spreading conspiracy theories, as Rep. Greene has done. Republicans have to attract new voters. The coalition of traditional Republicans and white voters without college degrees that won Republicans the 2016 election was not enough last November, despite those numbers growing due to higher turnout. After the Republican Party lost the 2012 presidential election, the growing consensus was that Republicans needed to increase their vote share among minority communities. That strategy was abandoned in 2016 and 2020, but Biden’s victory, in large part due to African-American voters, demonstrates that the current Republican trajectory spells death in the GOP’s future. Sen. McConnell was right when he said conspiracy theories are a “cancer” on the GOP. Conspiracy theories and misinformation alleging the election was stolen (it was not) are not how you grow your voter base. This behavior only invites more bigotry and division. Republicans should rid their party of these characters and bigots by focusing on a broad coalition of communities across America. Appealing to QAnon and fringe groups was a losing strategy in 2020. Rather than doubling down on that front, the GOP should become more inviting and inclusive. Whether that involves revising the party platform, reforming voter outreach efforts or other moves is a future debate. What matters now is the Republican Party rids itself of the conspiracy theorists and hatred within its own ranks.
However, Republicans should not completely ignore the Trump faction. President Trump appealed to 74 million voters because he championed a politics of grievance, connecting with a group of Americans who felt left behind by their society and government. Despite questions on the legitimacy of their feelings of abandonment, moving past the Trumpian episode of the GOP requires understanding why they feel this way. You cannot resolve a problem without diagnosing the issue. Figuring out ways to promote common understanding between Americans in any way is beneficial during times of division. Without that evaluation and necessary precautions, we may not be able to prevent the next insurrection. Now, this issue goes beyond simple partisan concerns and the self-interest of the Republican Party. The conspiracy theorists within the Republican Party have broad implications for our democracy. A major political party in our country championing a platform of conspiracy theories, demonizing the other side and encouraging violence only serves to weaken the sense of civic duty and unity that our nation so desperately needs. In many ways, the coming months detail the future of the GOP and the U.S. Such resolution requires cooperation among all Americans, whether they are Republican, Democrat, or neither. The Republican Party has entered an existential crisis. Will they retire the Trumpian banner or hold it higher than before? The outcome of this decision may spell the end of the GOP, just as the Federalists dug their own grave so long ago. The GOP must resolve this conflict quickly, because at the moment, the Grand Old Party isn’t all that grand. Blake Ziegler is a sophomore at Notre Dame from New Orleans, Louisiana, with double majors in political science and philosophy. He loves anything politics, especially things he doesn’t agree with. For inquiries, he can be reached at bziegler@nd.edu or @NewsWithZig on Twitter if you want to see more of his opinions. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Why pandemic literature provides comfort in times of crisis Elizabeth Prater SparkND
When COVID-19 began, I was in the final semester of my senior year of high school. After my exams were canceled, I found myself, like many others, with more time on my hands. I turned to literature and the arts, as they gave me a refuge from the outside world. However, I noticed something interesting about the kinds of media being consumed. For one, the sources of entertainment that seemed to be gaining popularity were those that contained infectious diseases themselves. “Outbreak” became one of the most streamed films on Netflix at the end of March 2020, and publishers reported booming sales in novels that featured epidemics. In Italy, Camus’ “The Plague” tripled in sales, and Penguin had to reprint different translations in order to meet the rising demand across the globe. At first, I didn’t quite understand this peculiar phenomenon. For me, literature is a form of escapism, in which I can explore other cultures, backgrounds and lives that are distinct from my own. I am a traveler without a passport, unrestrained by limitations, but rather, boundless in the worlds I may enter. To read literature that features pandemics themselves seemed counter-productive. We already are surrounded by doomsday themes in our everyday lives. Why would I want to add to the chaos, to the turmoil that is already ensuing? The influx of readership in dystopian and pandemic literature led me to question why we, as humans, gravitate towards books that depict such harrowing experiences, especially when these stories begin to resemble our own. To answer this question, I began to read
literature that featured plagues, including Boccaccio’s “The Decameron.” Although the work takes place in medieval Italy, I began to realize that despite the time gap between the setting and the current 21st century, the tendencies of the human behavior are eerily analogous to those of today. In “The Decameron,” some of rich enjoy the arts in the comfort of their homes, experimenting with music and other forms of fine arts. The wealthiest of the lot flee to their countryside estates, leaving the middle and lower class to stay in the urban city and work, many of which succumb to the plague. These class disparities existed long before the presence of the Black Death, but these inequities become amplified as resources become scarcer and more unattainable for many groups of people. Sound familiar? Pandemics demonstrate the vulnerabilities in human nature, our fears of not being able to provide for our families, achieve our goals, or even survive. Humanity can become amplified by the heroic efforts of essential workers and altruistic neighbors who shop for their immunocompromised friends. At the same time, goodwill can seem bleak, with fights breaking out in stores when inventory runs low. Although news outlets throw the word “unprecedented” in every other sentence, I am reminded through reading such literature that we are not alone — these same issues have occurred throughout history, both in real life and in the 0fiction. In a strange way, I am comforted by these characters, in that they face similar fears and worries as my own. Literature and the arts as a form of comfort during times of uncertainty is not an unfamiliar concept. “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel features a flu pandemic which devastates the world. In the aftermath of the disease, the main character joins a group that performs Shakespeare
plays across the remaining settlements. Instead of surrendering to despair and futility in the obstruction of society as they knew it, groups of survivors form solidarity in performing plays for those who still live. While the fine arts are not seen as something being essential to physical existence, after experiencing a year full of quarantine and isolation, it is becoming increasingly prevalent that implementing creativity and intellectual curiosity is necessary for one’s mental health and well-being. Art is an expression of what it means to be human. Consuming or producing art, whether it be literary, visual or any other kind, can help people process difficult events and form conclusions about the world and themselves. It has the ability to heal and provide hope, a form of rehabilitation during a year of much trauma and suffering. While dystopian and pandemic novels do evoke dark themes such as anguish, I believe that this kind of literature also has the ability to portray hope in its rawest form. Hope is not produced in contentment but, rather, when desolation is near. It is during these times of trouble that we hope for a world that is full of literature, books and the arts. In an age where many are silenced, confused and scared, when we find ourselves rooting for the protagonist who is attempting to overcome obstacles, we are truly rooting for ourselves. Elizabeth Prater is a first-year student with double majors in marketing and Program of Liberal Studies. In her free time, she manages her goldendoodle’s Instagram account (@genevieve_the_cute_dog) which has over 23K followers. She can be reached at eprater@nd.edu or @elizabethlianap on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
By JAKE WINNINGHAM Associate Scene Editor
Last week, I covered the Golden Globes’ Best Motion Picture categories. Here, I’ll run through some of the other nominations from what is shaping up to be 2021’s most entertaining, most baff ling awards show.
Best Motion Picture — Foreign Language For the second straight year, casual awards show v iewers are reminded of the Globes’ headscratching ruling that foreign language films cannot compete for Best Picture and are instead shunted off to their ow n section of the show. Once again, this practice may just be delay ing the inevitable — A 24’s “Minari” seems potentially primed to mirror “Parasite”’s dominant run in 2020, one which started in earnest when Bong Joon-ho’s film earned a standing ovation for its single Globe. Prediction: “Minari” Spoiler: “Another Round”
Best Screenplay — Motion Picture This may come dow n to a duel between Netf lix’s t wo awards darlings, as the built-in narrative of “Mank” — w ritten by Dav id Fincher’s late father, Jack — battles the self-congratulator y,
By NICK BRIGATI Scene Writer
Orange. A color, a rhymeless word (although Eminem would disagree) and a fruit that can be found at your local supermarket. To most people, the orange is just citrus from the produce section, but to authors and artists, it is a symbol of wealth. From literature to Renaissance paintings, artists have made use of oranges to symbolize ambition and luxury. Following the advent of America, the orange would go on to represent the “American dream” and everything the nation had to offer — the most overt example of this being in “The Great Gatsby,” its titular figure having “five crates of oranges and lemons [shipped every Friday] from a fruiterer in New York.” But when did oranges become emblematic of wealth and success? Oranges were first cultivated in Southeast Asia thousands of years ago in modernday India and China. When European colonists travelled to the East, they were captivated by this foreign, unfamiliar fruit and brought it back with them. The colonization of America brought oranges to the southern shores of Florida in the 1500s; from there, the fruit would come to symbolize the ethos of ambition that has dominated the U.S. ever since
hand-w ringing Sorkinisms of “Chicago W hatever. “Soul” got screwed. Prediction: “The Trial of the Chicago 7” Spoiler: “Promising Young Woman” Snub: “Soul”
7.”
Best Picture conversation. Prediction: Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman” Spoiler: Frances McDormand, “Nomadland” Snub: Julia Garner, “The Assistant”
Best Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama
Best Actor/Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy
More than any other acting category, Lead Actor is all but locked up, with virtually every awards prognosticator treating Chadwick Boseman as a shoo-in for his final role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” This category, then, could serve as a bellwether for the remaining four noms come Oscar night. Will surprise nods for Riz Ahmed and Tahar Rahim carry them through the rest of awards season, or will more established actors take their place? Prediction: Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Snub: John Magaro, “First Cow”
These categories are usually the least predictive for future awards; bet ween separating comedy from drama and the idiosy ncrasies of the HFPA, plent y of outright w inners in these slots haven’t even been nominated at the Oscars or SAGs. That being said, one of this award season’s most fascinating contenders was nominated in each of these categories, w ith Sacha Baron Cohen and Maria Bakalova pulling dow n nods for their work in “Borat Subsequent Mov iefilm.” Bakalova, in particular, has been riding a groundswell of support for her performance; a w in here may portend future trophies. Predictions : Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Hamilton;” Maria Bakalova, “Borat Subsequent Mov iefilm” Spoilers : Sacha Baron Cohen, “Borat Subsequent Mov iefilm;” Kate Hudson, “Music” Snubs : Pete Dav idson, “The King of Staten Island;” Cristin Milioti, “Palm Springs”
Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama This is perhaps the most fascinating categor y in terms of predicting the SAG, BAFTA and Academy Awards. Barring a surprising upset, one of the trio of Frances McDormand, Carey Mulligan and Viola Dav is could bolster their cases for Oscar glor y w ith a w in — and if that happens, their respective mov ies may jump to the front of a crowded
its inception. This can be seen in “The Adventures of Kavalier & Clay,” the Michael Chabon novel which tells the story of Jewish cousins whose Nazi buttkicking heroes make them moguls in the comics industry. The comic writers’ boss, Anapol, offers them an orange he brought back from his vacation in Miami Beach. Later, while on the subway, Joe Kavalier takes “the orange that Anapol had given him [out of his pocket]. It was big and smooth and perfectly spherical, and oranger than anything Joe had ever seen. No doubt it would have seemed a prodigy in Prague, monstrous and illicit.” In the 1940s, when the book is set, the bright and rich tone of the fruit elicits the warmth of the sunshine state and embodies the American Dream that immigrants such as Joe Kavalier hope to achieve. Furthermore, the image of the orange stands in stark contrast with the suffering and famine that have plagued Joe’s Jewish relatives in Europe during World War II — its foreign nature sy mbolizes all that America has to offer. W hile oranges have become easily available in all developed countries in the 21st centur y — including in Kavalier’s home countr y of Prague — the fruit has nonetheless maintained its identit y as a sy mbol of wealth, primarily due to its
Contact Jake Winningham at jwinning@nd.edu
abundance (and the abundance of fruits in general) in aff luent nations like America. In HBO’s critically acclaimed drama, “Succession” — a show centered around the greed and avarice that has corrupted American societ y — oranges sit on the front of Kendall Roy’s desk, serving as mere office decor. In my home, fruit fills the fridge and decorates our kitchen countertop. These are not just the apples of rural Pennsylvania, but fruits from all corners of the globe: mangoes, raspberries, papayas and, of course, oranges. The majorit y of these fruits w ill eventually perish and grow rotten. Even still, my mother w ill go to the supermarket and buy more pieces of fruit, hoping that someone w ill eat them but inev itably throw ing most of it away. This fruit, once a sign of wealth and cherished for its rarit y and exotic allure, now often rots in thousands of homes in America and Europe while still being sought after in countries less fortunate. Even in the 21st centur y, an orange (fruit in general, really) is still considered a symbol of wealth, drawing a line in the sand between those who have and those who have not. Contact Nick Brigati at nbrigati@nd.edu MARY O’REILLY | The Observer
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
By AIDAN O’MALLEY Scene Writer
I’m going to start this review by talking about film critics, not so much because I’d like to but because writer/director Sam Levinson, with “Malcolm & Marie,” has created a situation in which I must. In the new Netflix film, John David Washington (“BlacKkKlansman,” “Tenet”) portrays a director, and today was the premiere of his latest. He waits all night and into the morning for the first reviews to roll in, and when one of them finally does (from “the white lady at the L.A. Times”), the titular Malcolm goes ballistic. It’s not even a negative review! In a film that more closely resembles a parade of bitter monologues than a narrative feature, Malcolm’s multi-minute rant about film critics isn’t even his first Levinson, I’ll give you this: You’re clever. Now, when a critic pans “Malcolm & Marie,” it’s only because they’re salty you exposed them. Checkmate! Truly a galaxy-brain move. In defense of these sequences, Levinson makes a good point: Film critics (overwhelmingly white) are far too quick to politicize, perhaps to compensate for a lack of basic knowledge of the technical aspects of film form. But let’s not brush aside what this is really about. If “Malcolm & Marie” is, as Levinson has said, a kind of conversation with himself, then Malcolm’s rant against some random freelance film critic is simply the son of an Oscarwinning filmmaker whining that someone was mean to him. I direct you now to Robert Daniels’ illuminative piece,
By SOPHIA MICHETTI Scene Writer
Dearest reader, never did the world think it would care so much about an 1813 British society until “Bridgerton” graced everyone’s screens at the end of 2020. Based off of Julia Quinn’s popular romance novel series, “Bridgerton” masterfully combines luxurious sets, beautiful music, burning romances and complex familial relationships into one eight-episode season that has taken pop culture by storm. Produced by “Grey’s Anatomy”’s Shonda Rhimes, “Bridgerton” tells the story of Daphne Bridgerton — the “diamond of the season” — as she searches for a husband alongside many other young women hoping to fulfill their duties to find a suitable match in England’s 1813 social season. With family, friendship, proposals, scandal, fights and Julie Andrews as the show’s Gossip Girl–esque narrator, Lady Whistledown, “Bridgerton” has something any audience member would enjoy. Though one would think it unrealistic to have a ball every night, it most definitely is true in “Bridgerton.” Each episode of the show features gorgeous set designs with flower and feathers galore. The vivid, pastel colors are like a painting next to the gold and silver decor of the wealthy nobility, which captures the audience’s attention even more. However, “Bridgerton” blends the past with the present by pairing classic symphony soundtracks with instrumental covers of modern songs performed by an orchestra. Heard an orchestral version of Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” on social media recently? That’s from “Bridgerton.”
which explains how Levinson’s use of a Black character as a shield to rail against his detractors is really rather cruel. If Malcolm, like Levinson, were white, would his screaming matches with himself about the lady from the L.A. Times — very likely a real lady — leave a bad taste in your mouth? At the risk of politicizing, yes. To be clear, that is not the only reason why I’m mixed on “Malcolm & Marie,” although I think as an anecdote it serves to illustrate some of its flaws. I chose the word “mixed” quite purposely, in fact, because despite some harsh words, there is plenty in this movie to admire. Chief among them is the second half of that title. Reteaming with Levinson after smash hit “Euphoria” — which made her the youngest woman in Emmy history to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, age 24 — former Disney Channel star Zendaya is absolutely electric as Marie. Admittedly, the role has a lot in common with her work on that aforementioned show, but hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. As her first truly “adult” character — Marie is not a high schooler, nor anyone’s daughter — Zendaya brings the heat, nailing both moments of fierceness and quiet vulnerability in a performance from which you cannot look away. Washington also kills it as her partner, in a role that demands both a sharp kind of cruelty and movie star charm. The quality of their acting is especially commendable when a lot of their material is, how you say, bad. While Levinson’s direction is solid, his dialogue is terribly overwritten, with diction so precise and phrases so complex that it betrays the emotions of the characters. Have you
Although, be cautious about who is in the room while the show is on. “Bridgerton” is adapted from romance novels, and those steamy scenes are present throughout the season. Still, the main romance in this season is founded on friendship. The love wasn’t an “insta-love” that makes no sense in the real world. “Bridgerton” reinforces the idea that the best relationships are the ones based off of camaraderie, which is important to remember in the fast-paced world we live in. In this Regency era world where marriage is expected, love is a choice among the characters, thus breaking the societal norms of the period and reminding the audience of what’s important today. “Bridgerton” proves that period pieces about high society can have a diverse cast. Having a racially diverse cast enriches the show by making the point that the themes of history are often more important than providing a perfect visual representation of the past. Every member of the cast masterfully portrays their characters as they each navigate a world that only allows a strict path toward the future. In Regency England, women were expected to marry and be perfect wives, and men were only expected to continue their family lines. Each character handles these expectations in different ways, but all break some unspoken rule in order to find happiness. Although, the most heartwarming aspect of “Bridgerton” is the tight-knit family the show centers around. The eight children of the Bridgerton family love each other dearly. Although some are more willing to follow society’s plan for them than others, they acknowledge each other’s differences
ever fought with someone in your head, imagining all the perfect words to use against them? Every fight in this movie sounds like that, and because the story is simply a series of fights, the film becomes repetitive and tedious. The longer this couple fights into the night, the more you wish they would just go to bed. Speaking to “the technical aspects of film form,” however, “Malcolm & Marie” is impressive. Conceived of, written and shot during quarantine — while the second season of “Euphoria” was delayed — the movie was produced by much the same crew. The blackand-white cinematography by Marcell Rév is gorgeous, calling to mind the work of John Cassavetes when coupled with Julio C. Perez’s impressionistic editing. Meanwhile, the production design by Michael Grasley makes great use of California’s Caterpillar House, and Levinson’s needle drops with Labrinth’s score are sure to sweep you away. If only “Malcolm & Marie” was as beautiful on the inside. Contact Aidan O’Malley at aomalle2@nd.edu
“Malcolm & Marie” Director: Sam Levinson Staring: Zendaya, John David Washington If you like: “Euphoria,” “A Woman Under the Influence”
and support each other in their endeavors to find happiness. Not to mention, the familial relationships in the show give viewers moments of comic relief that produce a fun tone amidst all of the drama and scandal. Family can be stressful, but it can also be one of the greatest sources of joy. At the end of the day, love is the core of “Bridgerton.” Love for family and friends empowers the characters to act past what is expected of them to find true happiness, and that sentiment is timeless enough to ring true today. Each episode is an illustrative masterpiece, but they also tell the story of characters finding their places in a rigid society. “Bridgerton” reforms history and translates it to make basic statements about what values are most important to hold in life. As for the future of the Bridgerton family, the social scene is already buzzing at the news of a second season coming soon, and one can only imagine where the show will go next. Contact Sophia Michetti at smichett@nd.edu
“Bridgerton” - Season 1 Starring: Phoebe Dynevor, Regé-Jean Page, Nicola Coughlan Favorite Episodes: Episode 4, Episode 8 If you like: “Downton Abbey,” “Gossip Girl” Where to watch: Netflix
JACKIE JUNCO | The Observer
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Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Look for the positive in every situation this year, and you will find it easier to make headway. How you approach people and situations will determine how much help and support you receive. Personal growth and a plan will help you achieve the success you desire. Refuse to let outside influences slow you down. Strive for perfection and stability. Your numbers are 6, 9, 17, 22, 27, 32, 36. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep things moving forward. A positive attitude will help ward off emotional interference. Stay focused on what you are trying to achieve, and the difference you make will encourage others to follow suit. Choose to proceed with kindness. Romance is favored. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put your differences aside; focus your energy on getting things done on time. A push to bring about personal change that promotes a relaxing atmosphere will ease stress. It’s up to you to make decisions that support your happiness. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Take on something that interests you. A new position, project or partnership will challenge you intellectually and push you to learn more and take better care of yourself and your financial future. Romance is featured, and personal gain looks promising. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Offer suggestions, do your part and put unfinished business to rest. Handle money matters, contracts or joint endeavors with enthusiasm, and you will make a difference to the recipients of your hard work and dedication. Your efforts will result in rewards. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t let what others do upset you. Take the initiative, look out for your interests and get things done on time. Opportunity is apparent, but it’s up to you to take advantage of whatever situation you face. Leadership is a necessity VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Monitor what everyone around you is doing, and you’ll avoid ending up in a compromise. Live and learn. Take your time, listen carefully and make changes that improve your social standing, attitude and relationships with others. Don’t take a risk with your health or jeopardize your position because of someone’s indiscretion. Do what’s best for you. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Control your emotions, and concentrate on your responsibilities. How you conduct business, handle investments and deal with health issues will make differences to the way you live. Personal changes may be beneficial for you, but they’ll likely make someone close to you rebel. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Proceed with caution. A problem with a partner, friend or relative will surface if you are outspoken or indulgent. Relax, be introspective and let situations unfold naturally. Now is not the time to start a war with someone you love. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take hold of whatever situation you face. Be positive, offer insight and come to conclusions based on facts, not hearsay. The way you present your ideas will determine the rewards you reap. Proceed with patience, enthusiasm and thoughtfulness. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Formulate your plan, then put it in motion. Don’t let what others do or say deter you from reaching your destination. A unique approach will lead to an exciting offer. Put your effort into pursuing something that makes you happy. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Someone will outsmart you if you don’t prepare appropriately. Leave nothing to chance, and you will outmaneuver anyone who tries to upstage you. Confidence, dedication and discipline will be your tickets to success. Romance is favored. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Look for an opportunity, and don’t hesitate to take advantage of an offer. How you conduct yourself will make an impression on someone who can help you advance. Make suggestions and offer solutions, but don’t share personal information. Birthday Baby: You are restless, ambitious and confident. You are perceptive and imaginative.
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Sports
The observer | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Sports Authority
Setting the record straight on my ND takes Hayden Adams Sports Editor
Here we go again. Alright, I’ve put out two columns now that have elicited negative responses for my takes on not trusting Brian Kelly in 2021, an admittedly rash piece, and the debate over developing young talent or trying to make the CFP next season — a more thought-out piece that somehow managed to earn even more visceral reactions than the previous one. Now, let’s hope the third time is the charm, because I feel the need to be explicit and convince everyone that I am not an idiot when it comes to my opinions on Notre Dame football. 1. Firstly, and I want to be 100% clear about this: It is always better to make the College Football Playoff than to miss out on it! Happy? Even if it may have come off this way from my previous columns, rest assured that I am not one of the fools out there saying it is in Notre Dame’s best interest to miss the Playoff in 2021 and go for a New Year’s Six bowl that they can actually win. To be in the Playoff means you have a chance (even if it’s a reallllly small chance) at winning the national championship. If Jack Coan gets Notre Dame to the Playoff, good on him. I believe he can do it, and I have said that point blank. I am simply worried about what would occur afterwards, because I do not anticipate Brian Kelly and his staff making the necessary adjustments to their offensive philosophy, which is what that second column was really about… 2. Because, in that second column, I did not actually take a position on the argument of developing young talent or earning a CFP berth. That wasn’t the point, because there’s more options than just those two things. In fact, you could do both of them, which is the most ideal scenario. The point of that piece was to lament the most likely scenario that will occur in 2021: Notre Dame drops a game or two and misses out on the Playoff — which isn’t inherently the end of the world. However, in doing so, they will fail to get the rest of their quarterback room (and other offensive skill positions) meaningful reps because they will continue to play with the same offensive philosophy that they have been using under Brian Kelly (but more on that later). 3. I have never coached the game of football. Furthermore, I have only played peewee flag football, two-hand touch football with guys in my dorm and a few snaps for the Zahm-Keenan interhall tackle football team. If you think I know nothing
about the game of football based on the fact the only legitimate experience I have with the game is watching Kentucky, Notre Dame and the occasional NFL team play it, then you don’t have to put any stock in a single word I say. I don’t think my lack of experience automatically disqualifies my writing from having validity, but you are entitled to your opinion. 4. For me, I feel like this boils down to expectations, and we need to figure out where we all stand with our expectations for Notre Dame football. Here’s mine: Notre Dame should be competing for the national championship every single season. And, for what it’s worth, I firmly believe that Notre Dame can win a national championship next season; it would take a perfect storm to a certain degree, but IF Notre Dame were to make the requisite philosophical changes offensively, they could do it. Is that an unreasonable expectation? As I see it, Brian Kelly dug the program out of a hole in 2016 and has made the College Football Playoff in two of the last three seasons. They shouldn’t be taking any steps back, and, more than perpetually being in the hunt for the College Football Playoff, they should actually be making noise once they get there. To date, they have made zero noise, aside from when they start trending because their cornerbacks have gotten embarrassed by Clemson and Alabama (sorry, Donte Vaughn and Nick McCloud). Now, what are your expectations? If it’s for Notre Dame to simply be a double-digit-winning machine, then you can stop reading because, as Dave Mason said, “We Just Disagree.” And if you think Notre Dame’s recruiting limitations prevent them from ever reaching national championship heights, you can also stop reading because, as Dave Mason said, “We Just Disagree.” Notre Dame should be about more than just winning a bunch of regular season football games. Yes, I obviously recognize that you have to do that to make the College Football Playoff. But what the Irish have been doing is just barely good enough to get them to the CFP, and when they get there, they stick to the approach they’ve been taking, and then they get dominated. That comes down to offense — because the Irish defense has not been what has held them back from a national championship. We’ve seen the results the past four seasons. Notre Dame loses to teams that they can’t simply out-talent because they can’t put up points against them, and eventually the defense folds because they are left out to dry for too long. It’s formulaic. To people who point to the Notre Dame win over Clemson on Nov. 7 as evidence they can
beat a team that was better than them, that was a very good, borderline great team, but I think the 2020 Notre Dame team was more complete than that iteration of Clemson. Let’s be real, that version of the Tigers was not the No. 1 team in the country. It was a great win. It was an outstanding win. I ran around the Notre Dame Stadium field shirtless after that win. It was a better win than Texas A&M beating Florida, in my mind. D.J. Uiagalelei is probably going to be an elite quarterback, and he put up great numbers that night. However, don’t forget that the Irish focused on stopping Travis Etienne, not Uiagalelei. Also, the Tigers were missing three defensive starters; we saw the difference they made on Dec. 19 in the ACC Championship. That Nov. 7 win was a great win, but those were two very different Clemson teams. But I digress… I have to admit that I don’t know the intricacies of the game of football very well, but I have to believe there are buttons that can be pushed that will lead to the Notre Dame offense being more of a threat against premier competition. 5. I want to make a distinction between offensive philosophy and offensive scheme. There was nothing inherently wrong with Notre Dame’s offensive scheme in 2020. Running the damn ball was a strength, and they should have done it like they did, but they needed an injection of explosiveness to their passing attack. Obviously, Notre Dame’s scheme is going to change in 2021. I think Kelly and co. are smart enough to shift their emphasis away from running the ball. That’s because they lose four of five starters along the offensive line and the strength of the offense, presumably, is going to come from the pass-catching personnel. I’m not worried about that. I’m worried that there will be no change in offensive philosophy next season. Here are the key elements of Brian Kelly’s offensive philosophy that I take exception to: He favors veterans over younger — and probably more talented — players. That’s not inherently bad, but the way he does it has negative effects. He doesn’t give Xavier Watts or Jordan Johnson a single target as freshmen (and that’s a whole other column that I am working on) and he underutilizes Chris Tyree (see: one carry in the ACC Championship, a carry that went for Notre Dame’s only touchdown of the game). Sure, Ben Skowronek, Avery Davis, Javon McKinley and Kyren
Williams are more well-rounded than their backups, but the backups present different dynamics that can supplement the starters’ shortcomings. And secondly: He plays the “nice guy” too much. Remember when Kelly said he was tired of being the “nice guy” at halftime of this past season’s USF game? Well, apparently, he didn’t mean it in the way that every single person watching the broadcast thought he meant it. See, at least to me, saying you no longer want to be the nice guy means you are about to run up the score on someone. I thought it was kinda like that scene from “Remember the Titans’ where Coach Yoast tells Coach Boone: “Run it up Herman! Leave no doubt!” Alas, it was really just about the Irish defense making sure they shut out USF. That’s all well and good, but could Drew Pyne really only get two pass attempts in that game? If you don’t wanna be the nice guy, then don’t just run the clock out. Instead, actually let Pyne (and Johnson and Watts) get meaningful reps. And then do that against the rest of the teams you are head and shoulders above. That way, when Ian Book goes out for a couple of snaps in the Rose Bowl, maybe Pyne has enough experience and confidence that you actually try putting pressure on Alabama with him rather than playing for the punt and hoping Book catches his breath. 6. And to the point I made in that second column about Notre Dame’s backups combining for six passes last season and how I described it as a “direct result of an archaic offensive philosophy,” I’ll admit that it’s not really a result. In my mind, the number of non-injury-replacement reps that your backup quarterbacks get is more of a measuring stick — a barometer, if you will — of how dominant your offense is. I believe that a step in the right direction for Notre Dame would be to keep their foot on the gas and destroy opponents like Clemson and Alabama do — although of course I don’t anticipate them obliterating teams on the level of a Clemson or Alabama — then let their backup skill position players get reps with the starting quarterback and/or let their backup quarterback get reps with the starters at every other position. That’s not just to prepare your backups in case they do need to come in for injury. It’s to give them confidence and experience so they can eventually be worked into the rotation and then, eventually, not miss a beat when they become starters
themselves. In my mind, the kinds of dominating performances that would allow Notre Dame to give their bench some run (against teams other than New Mexico, Bowling Green, USF and the like) will come when the staff prioritizes making the offense championship caliber. The scheme can change from year to year, but it’s about consistent attitude and mindset. 7. A very obvious life lesson that should have been apparent to me before my experience with that second column: People on Twitter are unreasonable, and trying to convince them of my logic is an exercise in futility. To that end, I hope others can learn from my current situation — it’s better not to engage. 8. It is very difficult to be clear and concise in my opinions on Notre Dame football, even through two (going on three) 2000-word columns. 9. “One Love” to all the critics of me out there, both the regular fans and the other Notre Dame media pundits. Sorry, not sorry, for my hot takes. I’m just a senior physics and FTT double major with a JED minor trying to balance my objectivity with my internal homer. I’m also hoping that we can all, in the very near future, celebrate an Irish national championship together, and I’m simply offering my opinion on how Notre Dame most rapidly gets to that promised land for the first time since 1988. 10. The Notre Dame men’s basketball team just put up 90 points at Cameron Indoor and beat Duke for the first time in years. In BASKETBALL. I know Duke is having a down year, but damn does that feel good. 11. I really just want to have 11 points for each of Notre Dame’s national championships. I can be cutesy like that. Well, I hope that sets the record straight on everything. If not, I’ve done all I can. If you have any further qualms, allow me to borrow from my high school drama teacher/school play director, who told me he loved suggestions so much and that I could direct them to his suggestion box … before promptly pointing to the garbage can in the room. Feel free to deposit your criticisms there as well. Happy Valentine’s Day! “One Love.” Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@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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ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | The Observer
M Bball
Sports Authority
Brady can’t have the credit for the Super Bowl victory Mannion McGinley Sports Writer
Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Feb. 9. Hello, it’s me again, your resident Tom Brady overanalyst and still-brokenhearted Pats fan. For the first time in my life, I was content w ith a Super Bowl champion from the NFC. And, while they wore Buccaneers jerseys last night, “Tommy and Gronk y” (as they refer to themselves in their new short — seriously go look, that thing needs its ow n column, but I digress) still pulled it off. The pair now have the most ever postseason touchdow n connections w ith 14. Rob Gronkowski now has the second-most touchdow n receptions in the postseason all-time. Brady became the seventh quarterback to throw three first-half touch-dow n passes in a Super Bowl. And to top it all off, Brady earned Super Bowl MV P for a fifth time. Despite these accomplishments and deser ved recognition, there’s a few things left unsaid. And no, not that the refs were paid off. Until that’s proven true, one way or another, I see no point in making that claim.
The Bucs defense stepped up. There’s nothing else to say there. They did what ever y other team the Chiefs faced could not do. Firstly, their pressure got to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Usually if you get him out of the pocket, it doesn’t matter because always he’s ready to scramble. He’ll still get the ball dow nfield w ith your hands in his face. Or, Andy Reid has a protective dump pass at the ready that he knows to throw w ithout even looking. I mean, Mahomes has proven that abilit y time and again: throw ing on target balls as he’s being taken to the ground, scrambling to recover a potential fumble and running back wards 20 yards while still not taking a sack or a penalt y. None of this mattered for Jason Pierre Paul and the rest of the Bucs defensive line. With three-and-a-half sacks, and a few knocked dow n passes, they gave Mahomes a run for his money. This cut into the space of Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire had to work w ith, as well. With only nine carries for 64 yards, he was stif led. Secondly, Tampa Bay shut dow n Ty reek Hill. As Tony Romo said during the game, the safeties started farther back than normal, and from there, the
secondar y followed Hill. They wouldn’t let him out of their sight. He had nowhere to go. Hill just did not play the game at full capacit y. With these t wo pieces combined, Mahomes had to play a sloppier game than he usually does, and the Bucs defense noticed. With hands at the ready, W hite and Winfield snagged t wo key interceptions. Ever yone went into this game expecting a high-scoring race to the end zone. In that race, many believed Brady didn’t stand as good of a chance. A major part of why we didn’t see that has to do w ith the Chiefs players that didn’t show up. By the end of the night, poor Mahomes looked like he was on an island by himself. His offense had half given up and half been shut dow n. Brady worked hard and, as a 43-year-old man, earned the recognition for the feats he continues to accomplish. Had t he Chiefs of fense show n up instead of t he Bucs defense, t his cou ld have been a ver y dif ferent outcome. Contact Mannion McGinley at mmcginl3@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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t he f irst ha lf a lone. “He was due,” Irish head coach Mi ke Brey sa id. “It’s just a matter of t ime w it h him, as he gets more a nd more comfor table play ing for us... I just t ried to wa ke t hem up a litt le bit. Our g roup, when I’ve cha l lenged t hem, t hey’ve a lways responded li ke men.” Cour tesy of Not re Da me At h let ics Du ke Men’s Basketba l l ta kes on t he Universit y of Not re Da me Fight ing Irish in t he f irst ha lf at t he Ca meron Indoor Stadium on Feb. 9, 2021 at Durha m, Nor t h Ca rolina. Rya n was quieter in t he second ha lf, but st i l l f inished w it h a ga me-high 28 points. “The tea m is in a g reat f low right now,” Rya n sa id. “Ever yone, myself included, is gett ing used to play ing w it h each ot her, a nd we’re click ing.” Bot h of fenses were prolif ic t hroughout t he ga me. Not re Da me shot 55 percent f rom t he f ield, whi le Du ke shot 52 percent. “We did a g reat job of fensively,” Brey sa id. “We’ve got to get up to 85 a nd 90 [points per ga me]. We have t he abi lit y to score li ke t hat.” The Irish t ra i led by 15 seven minutes into t he ga me, a nd were behind by double dig its for much of t he opening sta n za. “I’m rea l ly proud of our g roup, we took a big punch ea rly,” Brey sa id. A t hree pointer right before t he ha lf t ime bu zzer gave Du ke a 50-45 lead, a nd t hey scored t he f irst four points out of t he brea k, but t he Irish batt led back, t ha n ks to t wo t hree
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pointers f rom Rya n a nd a dun k f rom junior for wa rd Nate Laszewsk i. A t hree pointer f rom junior g ua rd Da ne Goodw in gave t he Irish t heir f irst lead of t he night, 63-62. Bot h tea ms cont inued to shoot at a high percentage a nd t rade baskets dow n t he st retch, a lt hough t he Irish defense stepped up a nd made some key plays. Brey credited t he zone defense w it h prov iding a defensive boost. “They a re a drive at your t hroat g roup w it h t heir at h let ic abi lit y,” Brey sa id. “It made t hem a litt le more apprehensive to drive it.” “Our defense f uels our of fense,” junior g ua rd Prent iss Hubb sa id. “W hen we play ha rd on defense, it just ma kes ever y t hing easier on of fense.” A t hree pointer f rom Laszewsk i a nd a putback dun k f rom g raduate student for wa rd Juwa n Durha m gave Not re Da me a t hree point lead w it h just over f ive minutes to play, forcing Du ke to ta ke a t imeout. The ga me cont inued to go back a nd for t h in t he f ina l minutes. A f ter Brey elected to ta ke a t imeout w it h t wo a nd ha lf minutes lef t in t he contest, a Hubb to Durha m a l ley-oop dun k ex tended t he Irish lead to four. Rya n took a cha rge w it h just over a minute lef t, a nd a f ter using most of t he shot clock, Hubb dri l led a deep t hree pointer to put t he Irish up by f ive points a nd ef fect ively sea l t he ga me. Brey described Hubb as a n “assassin.” “Nobody ca n close out [ga mes] li ke him,” Brey sa id. “He’s a fea rless g uy, he’s a big t ime w inner. ... He’s una f ra id of t he bright lights.” “Seeing ever ybody happy, a nd ever ybody play ing to t heir best abi lit y, I t hin k t hat ca n keep us rol ling a nd help us t hrough t he rest of t he season,” Hubb sa id. The Irish have now won f ive of t heir last seven ga mes dat ing back to midJa nua r y. They w i l l t r y to bui ld on t heir momentum when t hey return home to ta ke on t he Mia mi Hurrica nes on Sunday. That ga me t ips of f at 6 : 00 p.m. a nd w i l l be broadcast on t he ACC Net work. Contact Liam Coolican at lcoolica@nd.edu
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
XC
senior Yared Nuguse, who placed 8th overall in the 8K race in a time of 23:16.0. Junior teammate Danny Kilrea was right behind, finishing in 9th. The other scorers for the Irish were sophomore Jake Renfree, junior Dylan Jacobs and senior Andrew A lexander. Head men’s cross countr y coach Sean Carlson shared his thoughts on his team’s performance. “We weren’t exactly thrilled about the result,” Carlson said. ”I thought it was a ver y necessa r y race for us to have a nd k ind of k now what we need to adjust mov ing for ward over the next six weeks before nationals.” Carlson discussed how he believes his team is still in ver y good shape leading up to the national meet in six weeks. “I think we are in a really good place,” he explained. “I’m not overly concerned that the result wasn’t what we wanted, but it is a good reminder that there is a sense of urgency to start that process of getting to where we need to be going into the national meet.”
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the near future for the Irish. “Indiv idually, Oliv ia Markezich continues to improve,” Sparks said. “She w ill be able to compete on a national level soon.” Markezich was followed by junior Maddy Denner (31st), junior Jocely n Long (51st), senior A nnasophia Keller (53rd), junior Meghan Scott (57th) and junior Jacqueline Gaughan (78th). Sparks discussed the impact of hav ing some of his top runners unavailable for the meet last week. “Today was rough,” Sparks said. “We were w ithout t hree of our top si x r unners f rom t he fall cross countr y season and those losses were too much for us to overcome today.” On the men’s side, the Irish placed fourth overall in a race that featured six ranked teams. The fourth-ranked Irish put up 80 points, finishing behind first-ranked Northern A rizona, secondranked BY U and eighteenthranked Washington. The Irish were led by
Carlson was ver y pleased w ith Renfree’s performance last week. “Jake ran really well, and he is becoming a ver y accountable guy in his performance,” Carlson said. “At conference last fall, he really showed up and got the job done.” Carlson was also pleased w ith how Kilrea performed, and he discussed his confidence in Nuguse and Jacobs going for ward. “I feel prett y confident that guys like Yared and Dylan can certainly run w it h or a head of Da nny, but t hey’re just at a litt le bit different points in their training right now,” Carlson said. “In another six weeks, they’ll be fine.” Carlson discussed how important it was for his team to race against the top t wo teams in the countr y, Northern A rizona and BY U. “Our goal is to really start to close that gap over the next six weeks bet ween those t wo teams,” Carlson said. “One of our primar y goals this year is to place in the top four and podium [at nationals]. How much we can close the Paid Advertisement
Sports gap on those t wo teams that are probably realistically going to be the t wo favorites w ill be interesting.” Carlson hopes that dow n the road his team can be competitive w ith the perennial cross countr y powers such as Northern A rizona and BY U. “I think us going out there and racing them was an important step for all of our guys to kind of see where we’re at,” he said. “We want to have more experiences where we’re competing against them because our hope over the next few years is that we can really start to be in the conversation w ith them.” There w ill be no more meets for the Irish before nationals in si x weeks, but Ca rlson is hoping t hat his tea m ca n use t his t ime to t ra in ha rd a nd focus on t he ma in goa l of per forming wel l at t he nat iona l meet. “We ca n get in good t ra ining over t he nex t si x weeks as a prog ra m. On one side, we’ve tended to st r uggle a litt le bit ea rly in t he yea r a nd t hen rea l ly k ind of r un well at t he end when
it matters,” Carlson said. “I think a lot of times, it’s ver y easy to get caught up and think we got to run well here and sometimes sacrifice that end goal to be able to do that. I have tried to not look at what’s immediately ahead of me all the time, but instead look a little bit more at the big picture.” In the fall, the Irish had six weeks off before the conference meet, and Carlson believes that his team learned a lot from that experience. “We saw ... the kind of adjustments we thought we needed to make,” Carlson said. “And we’re going to basically make those adjustments now over these next six weeks. One of the important parts of our sport is to have a lot of data and to be able to see t he t hings t hat work a nd don’t work. A nd t hat’s a l l so t hat we ca n have ... a better idea of what we’re gett ing into.” The nat iona l meet w i l l ta ke place on Ma rch 15 in St il lwater, Ok la homa. Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu
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W Tennis Continued from page 16
compete against a great team in Lex ington, against Kentuck y,” Silverio said. “We were right in there in ever y single match and just weren’t quite able to convert consistently on the pressure points, on the deuce points, and that was ultimately what made the difference in the match.” Silvero also mentioned how grateful the team is to
ndsmcobserver.com | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | The Observer
be back out and competing. After COVID-19 swept the nation last spring, the Irish played their last match of 2020 back in March and have thus made an eager return to the courts. “It was a great learning experience for us to be back out on the court competing,” Silvero said. “We’re so grateful just to have these opportunities to be out there doing what we love — competing for Notre Dame.” The Irish are set to host
Bowling Green in another split weekend at home on Friday at 3 p.m. Follow ing their match against the Falcons, the Irish w ill then face off against the Marquette Golden Eagles on Saturday at 11 a.m. Both matches w ill take place at home at the Eck Tennis Pav ilion and can be streamed live on und.com. com. Contact Madelyn Stout at mstout2@nd.edu
Allison Thornton | The Observer
Notre Dame junior Maeve Koscielski volleys the ball during a home match against Purdue. The Fighting Irish won that match in a clean sweep 4-0 in the Eck Center on Feb. 13, 2019.
W Golf Continued from page 16
a nd she topped it a ll of f w ith a total of four birdies in her final round. Jones was able to card a final round score of 75. W hile junior Claire
A lbrecht
trailed behind
close at
77. Sophomore Lauren Beaudreau was also able to score for the Fighting Irish in the final round as she rounded out the field for the team w ith a score
of 78. The Irish w ill be back in action again in the Sunshine State in a couple of weeks when they travel back for the 2021 Florida State Match-Up at the Seminole Legacy Golf Club in Tallahassee from Feb. 26-28.
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nd Fencing
Squads prepare for Northwestern By Emily DeFazio Sports Writer
The Notre Dame fencing team traveled to Columbus, Ohio over the weekend to compete in the Ohio State Invitational. This tournament was the first competition the team had had in nearly 11 months due to the pandemic. Both the men’s and women’s teams left with an undefeated record. “As a whole, the team has been doing an excellent job,” associate head coach and epee coach Cedric Loiseau said. “At the end of the day, almost all of them brought a better game than they used to. To be fair, this is really a whole team effort.” Though the team as a whole was strong, Loiseau also named some standouts from the competition, namely first-years Miriam Grady and Kaylin Sin Yan Hsieh. Due to the pandemic, the offseason looked a little different for the team, and could have affected their performance at the first showing of the season. Instead of fencing, their training consisted of strength and conditioning efforts that athletes conducted individually. “There wasn’t that much we could do, really,” Loiseau said in regards to that period of time. “But we know that our kids were very engaged to training and staying in shape because for most of them, fencing wasn’t an option.” According to Loiseau, when the team came back in August, they began intensive
training for the season. “We started a ver y intense program for developing cardio. We had more practice than ever, really,” he said. “We took the challenge and decided that because we couldn’t compete, we could train more and better, and we did just that.” It was that training, Loiseau said, that led to the weekend’s stellar results. “Physically, we could see that on the second day, we were head and shoulders over any other team,” he said. For the first match back in nearly a year, Loiseau said there was a tone of excitement among the athletes. “They’ve been talking for months about ‘W hen are we going to have tournaments? I w ish we could have a tournament,’” Loiseau said. “We arrived and they were all ver y excited.” This was also the first match back for several athletes who had left the team in order to train for the Oly mpics, such as junior Nick Itkin, among others. “It’s definitely a great feeling for us to get those that are among the best back on our team. It was equally great for them,” Loiseau said. “They were ver y happy to be back.” “The upcoming Junior Oly mpics w ill not have the same effect on the team,” Loiseau said. “For now we really should have our full roster for the entire season.” Loiseau continued to comment on the dy namic of the team now that these players have returned. “For us it’s always good to have those guys back, but to be ver y honest, the rest of the team is so talented that they made sure all year last year that w ithout those guys, they would do a great job, and they sure did,” he said. Though the other athletes are back, Loiseau said the rest of the team “weren’t going to hide behind those guys,” which made the team stronger overall. “Now we just have a great team w ith those kinds of fencers back,” he said. The team hopes to continue this momentum into the Northwestern Duals tournament, which w ill be held Feb. 21.the Northwestern Duals tournament, which w ill be held on Feb. 21. The match is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Contact Emily DeFazio at edefazio@nd.edu
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The observer | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
nd men’s basketball | ND 93, Duke 89
nd women’s Golf
Schiavone leads Career day from Cormac Irish to 12th place Ryan pushes ND past Duke Observer Staff Report
Eleven mont hs a f ter having t heir 2019-2020 season cut shor t during a pract ice round for t he Clover Cup, t he Not re Da me’s women’s golf tea m is f ina l ly back in act ion. T he Ir ish ra l l ied for a 12t h place f i n ish in t hei r f i rst act ion of t he 2021 season at t he Pu rdue’s Heroes Lad ies Intercol leg iate at t he Fou nders Club i n Sa rasota, Fla. T he Ir ish were f ig ht i ng a n uph i l l batt le head ing i nto Tuesday, t he last day of t he compet it ion, sitt i ng at 13t h of 14 tea ms, but were able to ca rd a f i na l-rou nd score of 298 a nd move up one spot to f i n ish 12t h i n t he compet it ion. T hey were led by f i rstyea r Ch loe Sch iavone a nd sen ior Abby Heck. Sch iavone f i n ished t ied 28t h-overa l l in her Ir ish
debut as she a nd Heck bot h notched f i na l rou nd scores of 73. However, t he Ir ish got of f to a poor sta r t in f i rst-rou nd act ion a nd were play i ng catch up for t he rest of t he tou r nament, but t hey were able to ma ke up some g rou nd in t he nex t t wo rou nds. T he Ir ish had t wo golfers ca rd rou nds over 80 i n t he f i rst rou nd, but d id not have a ny more scores t hat h ig h for t he rest of t he tou r na ment. Heck led t he Ir ish on t he f i rst day of act ion as she ca rded a rou nd score of 77. Sch iavone a nd sophomore Madely n Jones were just a st roke back at 78. Schiavone played t he pa r-3 holes at a t wo-underpa r clip which ra n ked f if t h a mong t he 75-player f ield
ANNIE SMIERCIAK | The Observer
see W GOLF PAGE 15
Irish junior Cormac Ryan goes up for a lay-up in Notre Dame’s 9389 win over Duke on Tuesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium .
By LIAM COOLICAN Sports Writer
Cormac Rya n had a career ga me, a nd four ot her Not re Da me sta r ters scored in double f ig ures, as t he Not re Da me men’s basketba l l tea m (8-10, 5-7 ACC) won a ha rd fought ga me on t he road aga inst Du ke (7-8, 5-6 ACC). The Irish batt led back a f ter t ra i ling by 15 points in t he f irst ha lf to secure a much needed 93-89 v ictor y. Rya n, who passed up a cha nce at t he ga me w inning shot in Saturday’s loss at Georg ia Tech, was inser ted back into t he sta r t ing lineup a nd made t he most of t he oppor tunit y. A f ter missing his f irst t hree attempts f rom t he f ield, t he junior g ua rd made his nex t eight shots, scoring a ca reer-high 21 points in see M BBALL PAGE 13
ND WOmen’s Tennis
Cross Country
Squad splits ND cross country preps for upcoming national meet DePaul, Kentucky By NATE MOLLER
By MADELYN STOUT
Sports Writer
Sports Writer
Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Feb. 9.
Despite a Thursday 7-0 w in against DePaul to start the weekend off at the Eck Tennis Pav ilion, the Notre Dame women’s tennis team fell 6-1 to the Universit y of Kentuck y in an away game. As a result, the Irish are now 5-3 overall in their current season. On Thursday, the Irish had a strong showing w ith decisive v ictories across the board in doubles and singles. The Irish won the doubles point to put themselves in a 1-0 lead w ith the w ins of sophomore Page Freeman and senior Cameron Corse (6-4) and of first-years Yashna Yellay i and Meghan Coleman (6-4). Moreover, the Irish also won on all single courts, including v ictories from Corse (6-3, 6-0), Freeman (6-4, 6-2) and senior captain A lly Bojczuk (6-4, 6-4). These matches led to DePaul falling against the Notre Dame women. The momentum from the
The men’s and women’s cross countr y programs both returned to action this past week w ith the men heading dow n to Las Vegas to compete in the Silver State Collegiate Challenge last Monday and the women competing in the Florida State Winter XC Classic in Tallahassee this past Friday. The women’s team came in 8th place out of 18 teams w ith 209 points. The Irish were led by sophomore Oliv ia Markezich who finished 22nd overall, completing the 6K race in a time of 20 :46.5. Head women’s cross countr y coach Matt Sparks expects Markezich to be a big contributor in see XC PAGE 16
stephen Hannon | The Observer
Irish graduate student Erin Archibeck competes in the Irish Classic at Burke Golf Course. Archibeck placed third in the race on Sept. 19.
w in over DePaul f looded the match against the Wildcats, as the Irish played aggressively; however, this playst yle was not enough to push Notre Dame over the edge. In fact, Bojczuk was the lone w inner of the match going 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in her singles match as the Irish failed to scoop up any points in the doubles div ision. Two other hard-fought matches by Corse (3-6, 6-1, 7-5) and first-year Julia Andreach [7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-2] also came dow n to tiebreaking sets; however, the Wildcats prevailed over the Irish. Head coach A lison Silverio chalked the loss up to a failure to remain consistent on pressure points and conversions at deuce. Moreover, Silverio expressed confidence in her squad and looks to use this latest matchup as a lesson as they prepare for their match of the season. “Last weekend, we got to see W TENNIS PAGE 15