Print Edition of The Observer for Wednesday, October 10, 2018

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Volume 53, Issue 38 | wednesday, october 10, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

College holds discourse on changes Interim president answers questions at assembly

SDB hosts Q&A after all-student town hall

Brooks to open mic check

By JORDAN COCKRUM

By GINA TWARDOSZ

Saint Mary’s Editor

News Writer

Since the news broke Friday of former College President Jan Cervelli’s resignation, students have been left with many unanswered questions. Interim President Nancy Nekvasil and the chair of the Board of Trustees Mary Burke addressed the student body in a town-hall style “All Student Assembly” on Tuesday evening in an attempt to provide some answers.

While some concerns were resolved, many questions remain unanswered.

“I do want you to understand

On Tuesday night, Saint Mary’s Student Diversity Board hosted a discussion and Q&A during which students were invited to ask Interim Saint Mary’s President Nancy Nekvasil questions on issues surrounding diversity and inclusion on campus.

Chair of the Board of Trustees Mary Burke, vice president of student affairs Karen Johnson, director of multicultural services Gloria Jenkins and vice president for mission Judy Fean also attended the event.

In Monday night’s “Inside Studio G: A Monday Night Conversation,” Garth Brooks announced that Notre Dame students can attend his soundcheck for free on Oct. 19, the night before his concert at Notre Dame Stadium.

“We’re going to [do a] question and answer during sound check and you can actually see behind the curtain on

see DIVERSITY PAGE 4

see BROOKS PAGE 3

see ASSEMBLY PAGE 4

ANN CURTIS | The Observer

Saint Mary’s Interim President Nancy Nekvasil answers questions at the All-Student Assembly on Tuesday night in Carroll Auditorium.

Observer Staff Report

NDSP holds Summit, Snite elects answers student questions Joseph Antenucci as new director

By KELLI SMITH

Associate News Editor

A Campus Safety Summit featuring a panel of local law enforcement representatives was held Tuesday to address issues such as sexual assault, the blue light phone system, racial profiling, excise police and general student safety.

Hosted by Notre Dame Student Government and Notre Dame Security Police (NDSP), the event consisted of panelists Mike Seamon, vice president of campus safety, Keri Kei Shibata, NDSP police chief, Nicholas Canal of the Indiana State Excise Police, William Thompson of the St. Joseph County Police Department and Eric Crittendon of the South Bend Police Department.

The panelists answered over 15 public, anonymous or presubmitted questions by students related to crime on and off campus. One of such questions regarded which police department would handle sexual assault investigations for students living off campus.

“NDSP does not take and would

NEWS PAGE 3

not take reports of sexual assaults that were off campus,” Shibata said. “Our jurisdiction is the Notre Dame campus so if a sexual assault happens on campus that’s our jurisdiction and if someone wants to report to us, then we would investigate that case.”

The special victims unit, which investigates sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse crimes, offers an additional avenue students can take to report sexual assault for an investigation regardless of where the instance occurred, Shibata said.

“All our investigators go to extensive training specifically around sexual assault because it’s such an important and it’s the most common, violent crime that happens on college campuses,” she said. “ ... Whether it’s Notre Dame police or the special victims unit, you’re getting high-quality investigations from people who are trained specifically in sexual assault investigations [and] who really care a lot about that.”

When asked about the “limited amount” of blue light phone systems on Notre Dame’s campus as compared to other colleges,

SCENE PAGE 5

Shibata said blue light phones are going away on a lot of college campuses because “everyone having a cell phone” has resulted in the blue light system not being used as much.

“We at Notre Dame have decided not to get rid of blue light phones, but we are selective about where we place them,” Shibata said. “ ... I can think of maybe once or twice in the 14 years that I’ve been here that those blue light phones have been used to summon help or to report a crime. So that’s one of the reasons we’re not making major investments in a lot more blue light phones.”

When asked about combating racial profiling in policing and protecting people of color, the panelists emphasized the oversight and mutual “fair and impartial” training each of the agencies in the area undergoes to ensure strong relationships with the community.

“Everyone has a bias with something and [we make] sure our biases don’t get in the way we see SAFETY PAGE 4

VIEWPOINT PAGE 6

Observer Staff Report

Snite Museum appoints Joseph Antenucci Becherer as new director Observer Staff Report | Tuesday, October 9, 2018 The Snite Museum has appointed Joseph Antenucci Becherer as its next director, the University announced in a press release Tuesday.

Becherer previously served as head curator at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has worked at Meijer Gardens since 1999, according to the release, and in 2009 took on the roles of “chief curator and vice president of sculpture and horticulture, collections and exhibitions.”

Becherer is also a professor at Aquinas College, where he teaches classes about art from the Renaissance, Baroque and Contemporary periods.

In addition to his responsibilities at the Snite Museum,

FOOTBALL PAGE 12

Becherer will “play a major role” in developing the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at Notre Dame upon its opening in 2021, the release said.

“This directorship is a great honor and opportunity beyond measure as the museum and entire academic community fully embrace the essential role of the arts at the heart of Notre Dame,” Becherer said in the release. “Following in the great tradition that is the Snite Museum of Art, I look forward to working with donors, staff, faculty, students and artists to create in the new Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, one of the nation’s preeminent and most innovative university art museums.”

Maura Ryan, vice president and associate provost for faculty affairs, led the University’s efforts to appoint the next Snite Museum Director. Ryan said she looks see DIRECTOR PAGE 3

ND WOMEN’S SOCCER PAGE 12

2

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The observer | wednesday, october 10, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

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Shan Huang, deputy managing editor of Caixin Media, delivers a lecture titled “Where is China’s Tech Sector Heading? An Overview of Its Current State and Future” on Tuesday afternoon in Hesburgh Center. The event was sponsored by the Kellogg Institute.

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News

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, october 10, 2018 | The Observer

Professor analyzes causes of Iraq war

By LUCY LYNCH News Writer

George Mason University professor Ahsan Butt presented “Why did the U.S. invade Iraq in 2003?” to students and faculty Tuesday afternoon in Jenkins and Nanovic Halls. The presentation, named after Butt’s research paper of the same title, was presented by the Notre Dame International Security Center.

Butt focused on one of the most commonly acknowledged reasons for the Iraq war: Saddam Hussein’s possession or mobilization of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). In addition to noting that the Bush administration was “sincerely wrong about this intelligence,” he went on to further squash this WMD

argument.

“Many believe that uncertainty of intelligence led to the decision for war, but I would argue that the decision for war led to uncertainty of intelligence,” Butt said.

He continued by saying WMDs certainly can wlead to war, but there was no evidence for that in this example.

Instead, Butt said the U.S. invasion of Iraq can be attributed to performative war thesis, an argument dependent on status and hierarchy.

He said anxiety regarding the United States’ status led to a need to demonstrate hegemony and establish order.

The United States’ motivations fell into three factors: the need for a “new beginning,” repairing reputation and avoiding peaceful bargain.

“The ’90s were a time of great peace and prosperity for the U.S., and all of that ended on 9/11 and America became vulnerable for the first time,” Butt said. “It led to a desire to show that we are in fact the hegemon and are not vulnerable.”

Thus, this new beginning was about fixing the United States’ global status, Butt said.

“The Bush administration wanted to remake the world’s political map,” he said.

“These aren’t small goals and they didn’t have to do with WMDs.” Another important point made by Butt was that Afghanistan, a vulnerable country itself, wasn’t enough, so why invade Iraq? The fact that Hussein was still reigning and powerful following

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the Gulf War presented a threat to which the U.S. could prove its hegemony, Butt said.

Lastly, Butt argued that there was never an opportunity for a peaceful bargain, for example, working through the United Nations following 9/11. The invasion of Iraq, Butt said, was not a question of if, but when.

“If there even was a decision, when was it taken?”

Butt said. “Most likely on 9/11 and no later than October or November of that fall.”

Butt concluded his work on the performative war thesis by saying a bargaining model isn’t everything, and the case of the U.S. in Iraq was “rooted in assertive nationalism and American exceptionalism.”

Contact Lucy Lynch at llynch1@nd.edu

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Director Continued from page 1

forward to watching Becherer develop the University’s fine arts projects.

“We are thrilled to have someone of [Becherer’s] artistic vision, talents and operational experience joining our team at Notre Dame,” she said in the release. “We are confident he will continue and enhance the museum’s role in the University’s vibrant arts district that is taking shape on the southern edge of our campus and includes the Charles B. Hayes Family Sculpture Park, which opened in 2017.”

Becherer attended Ohio University, where he pursued undergraduate and master’s degrees in fine arts, the release said. He earned his doctoral degree at Indiana University.

Recently, Becherer “oversaw legacy gifts” from sculptor artists George Segal and Beverly Pepper and curated a “monumental exhibition” featuring artwork by Ai WeiWei, the release said. He has also served as chair of a national committee that commissioned a statue of President Gerald R. Ford in the U.S. Capitol rotunda.

Brooks Continued from page 1

what’s happening,” he said in the Facebook Live conversation. “So this should all be pretty cool. This is all weather permitting.”

Students can present their ID cards at 7 p.m. at Notre Dame Stadium’s Rockne Gate to get into the sound check for free.

Brooks did not say whether the sound check would also be free to Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross students.

Brooks said the soundcheck serves as an opportunity to rehearse for the concert. Brooks’ wife, Trisha Yearwood, will also be present at the sound check to answer questions.

“You run through the spots of where you’re going to be, you’re kind of rehearsing but you’re also feeling what the stadium feels like,” Brooks said. “You’re out on the very points, as far as you can get away from each other out there and see how you hear. A lot of it’s tech, a lot of it’s the guys running through. It’s one last shot before they drop the flag and here we go.”

Brooks described the Notre Dame concert as “a chapter in the next book of our lives” and said he looked forward to the sound check before his concert.

“I’m hoping it’s beautiful, I’m hoping it’s perfect weather and I’m hoping there’s interested people showing up and coming out here and seeing us,” he said. “You can ask any questions about the business, about whatever.”

4

NEWS

The observer | wednesday, october 10, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Assembly Continued from page 1

that there is a lot that we cannot say — either because we don’t know, or out of respect for President Cervelli’s privacy,” Nekvasil said. “You know, I’ve been thinking about this a lot.

And I know this is hard, really, really hard, because we want answers and it hurts in some ways to have something like this happen. …

We’re here because we care about how you feel and we want you to get through this change well and grow stronger as we all will as we go through this together. Because we are. We’re in this together.”

Burke discussed the timeline of events in more depth. She said four or five days before the announcement was made, Cervelli called her and signaled her intention to resign. While the Board was determining next steps, Nekvasil came to mind as the immediate choice as interim president. “[Nekvasil is] passionate about students, that was No. 1; she’s

Diversity Continued from page 1

Junior Jazmin Herrera, vice president of Student Diversity Board (SDB), said the Q&A was held in order to address concerns regarding the resignation of Jan Cervelli and the continuation of the College’s diversity and inclusion efforts.

“We are all supporters of creating an inclusive community here at Saint Mary’s,” she said. “SDB along with other students are concerned as to where the College is now heading, with the goal of achieving a welcoming environment for all students. We ask this because [former] President [Jan] Cervelli was not only committed to achieving this goal but was also open to working with SDB to make this happen.”

Nekvasil said that, going forward, the College will continue to focus on diversity, inclusion and equity.

“I think that [diversity and inclusion] start with at least discussing things openly,” she said. “I will tell you that faculty, at least for several years even before President

Safety Continued from page 1

police,” Crittendon said. “We’re going to set aside our biases and treat people the way you would want to be treated. And it’s nice having a department where we’ve implemented a lot more training than they maybe have in the past ... [we make] sure that people believe in us and believe in the work that we do out there.”

One of the ways the local police agencies ensure there isn’t antipolice sentiment and the community believes in them is having officers out-and-about in their respective jurisdictions building relationships, the panelists asserted. “[Us versus them] is a big problem in a lot of departments and a lot of communities,” Thompson

passionate about education, which is No. 2; and No. 3 she’s been here for 33 years, so she knows Saint Mary’s,” Burke said. “She knows the heart and soul of us, she knows what it is to be a Belle. I think she is really a Belle even though she didn’t go here.”

When asked about the path moving forward, Burke said change is ”hard“ but inevitable.

“At the end of the day ladies — and I hate to say this — but change is the only thing that’s constant in all of our lives,” Burke said. “You may not have experienced a lot of it so far, but this growing up thing has some challenges to it and change is one of them. So, what you experience day-to-day does not change and we move forward.”

Burke said that Cervelli could have made a statement about her resignation but has decided to refrain from doing so for the time being.

“To date, [Cervelli] has chosen not to make a statement,” Burke said. “She has been offered the opportunity and has not done it to

date.

In response to a question regarding more information being shared in the future, Burke said that there is not one singular reason for Cervelli’s departure.

“I think you’re looking for the reason, and I’m not sure there is a reason,” Burke said. “I think lots of things come into the decision that she made.”

Burke also said that Cervelli was not under contract for a certain period of time, and she feels that an individual should not be forced to stay in a job they do not want.

“If someone gets to the point where they want to resign, you probably should let them resign,” Burke said. “Because talking people into staying in jobs that they don’t want to be in usually does not make for a great employee.”

The Board of Trustees was not aware of Cervelli’s decision to cancel her office hours on Oct. 2.

However, Burke said that Cervelli was recovering from a case of the flu, which may have contributed to the cancellation.

“The Board of Trustees, like any boss, doesn’t keep exact tabs on exactly what their employee does every day, hour to hour,” Burke said.

“So the Board of Trustees did not know she canceled office hours.”

Junior Katherine Wankelman asked about the reputation of the College, saying that it was concerning to see the amount of turnover recently. Burke said that Saint Mary’s has “gone up or stayed flat” in Wall Street Journal and U.S. News and World Report rankings of schools.

“I don’t think that these changes will decrease [the rankings], if anything it opens up new opportunities for us and moves us forward,” Burke said.

Wankelman said after the assembly that she is frustrated due to the lack of clarity surrounding the recent events.

“They’ve been fairly nontransparent to students, and I think that we are the primary stakeholders in this institution and that without students the College doesn’t exist,” Katherine Wankelman said. “And

we have a right to know. And I understand respecting her privacy, but I also think when you take on a leadership role you give up a little bit of that privacy and she needs to understand that by taking the role as president of this College we deserve answers.”

Nekvasil emphasized the importance of transparency as the campus community sorts through Cervelli’s resignation.

“I do want to assure you that my intent is to be as transparent as possible,” Nekvasil said. “That’s one of the things that’s just so important, not only as you grow and learn to have your voice and contribute to the work of wherever you are, even before you get out of here.”

Burke expressed the importance of communicating with students directly about the transition.

“We came here tonight, and we’re talking about it,” Burke said.

“We’re answering questions. We’re not hiding behind a piece of paper.”

Cervelli came, were required to go to community events that dealt with diversity, inclusion and equity. We now have an interim director of diversity and inclusion, Leslie Wang, whose job this year is to help us define what this looks like so that we can actually begin to make a few more strides.”

The College will continue to develop as a community that fosters diversity and inclusion as well as a community that focuses on retention as much as recruitment, Nekvasil said.

“We can’t just do the recruiting part, both for students, faculty and staff, we have to form a community that welcomes people and that accepts people for who they are, where they are,” she said.

“Unfortunately, you can’t change human behavior, but what we can do is try and get more and more people who believe in treating other people with respect and dignity.”

Regarding diversity and inclusion, vice president of student affairs Karen Johnson said the administration has created the position of director of First Year experience and retention. The

director, Shay Jolly, will report to both Academic Affairs and Student Affairs and track student experience from their first consideration of the College to the first semester of their sophomore year.

Johnson said the Office of Student Affairs investigates every complaint of bias and harassment brought to it, although there are many cases not reported to Johnson and her team.

“Every complaint that comes through our office is investigated and handled through our code of student conduct process, which is a confidential process,” she said.

“The big problem for me, though, is that very few complaints make it to my office. Students tell faculty, staff or each other about something that’s happened on campus and they never go online and file out a bias report. We can’t investigate things we don’t know about.”

As the campus grows more diverse, the issues surrounding diversity and inclusion become more complex. Gender identity and transgender identities are at the forefront of this conversation, and Johnson said the College has

a practice set in place for accepting transgender students.

“Saint Mary’s doesn’t have a policy we have a practice,” she said. “To admit students, they must legally be women, either born as a woman or transgendered into a woman legally, but we do graduate students.

So, if a student is here, comes in as a woman, starts the transition process, lives as a man, starts becoming a man, they are going to be able to finish their classes and graduate from here. The only time we would say no to a student is if they identified, legally, as a male.”

Nekvasil said, especially with issues of diversity and inclusion, she will try to make things as transparent as possible for students, faculty and staff.

“The vice president and I have met three or four times since this has happened, so we are really serious about making some headway, making things work, making decisions and moving ahead,” she said.

“We hope that very soon there will be real action that you will see. I also want to be really transparent, so I want to meet with groups periodically, so that you know what we’re doing.”

At the Q&A, several students brought issues of socioeconomic and racial disparity at the College to Nekvasil’s attention, including the disparity present in the room, as the number of those in attendance at the SDB diversity and inclusion Q&A were significantly less than those at the student assembly beforehand.

Nekvasil said she will always give the same message no matter the crowd.

“The message that I would give to you, I would give to that full crowd that was here before, and that’s not going to change,” she said. ”It’s not going to be a different message.”

said. “We have not seen that here to any great degree and that’s not an accident. … Nothing we do is a secret. … We’ll tell you why it is we’re doing what we’re doing and why it’s important. That’s part of us trying to be transparent and part of us trying to be not an us vs. them part of the community.”

Other than NDSP disclosing records of arrest and incarceration, Seamon said the public can hold NDSP accountable and help prevent crime on campus by abiding by “when you see something, say something.”

“You can go to any university official — if you see something that you don’t think is appropriate or you’re uncomfortable with NDSP or any of our partners, just tell somebody and we’ll get to it,” Seamon said. “ ... We would rather 100 times look into something and have it be nothing than miss the

one time that it really becomes an issue.”

The panelists also offered a number of safety tips regarding traffic, staying safe and being aware. Students should be aware of student resources such as the student escort service when walking alone, Shibata said, and shouldn’t bike with headphones on.

“Campus is a very open environment and that’s intentional that the University of Notre Dame wants to be a welcoming place,” Shibata said. “ ... That does come with certain risks in that we don’t always know everyone who’s on campus ... so we do have our officers out and around campus all the time and they are looking for any kind of suspicious activity.”

Contact Kelli Smith at ksmith67@nd.edu

Contact Jordan Cockrum at jcockrum01@saintmarys.edu

Contact Gina Twardosz at gtwardosz01@saintmarys.edu

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The observer | wednesday, october 10, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

By RYAN ISRAEL Scene Writer

One day, a Harlem teenager had to make a pivotal decision. Option one was to attend his high school basketball team’s playoff round matchup. Option two was to be a model in the biggest hip-hop/high fashion crossover event to date, Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 3 fashion line release. Sheck Wes, that teenager, chose the latter, and things have worked out pretty well for him since.

Wes dabbled in the world of modeling street style before he found he had a knack for making music. His first track, “Mo Bamba,” garnered the attention of two of hip-hop’s key players, Travis Scott and Kanye West, who signed Wes to a joint record deal through Scott’s Cactus Jack Records and West’s G.O.O.D. Music.

And then, “Mo Bamba” really took off. The track has simple beginnings, recorded in one take, according to Wes’ interview with the New York Times, and named after University of Texas basketball star Mo Bamba. Yet now, over a year after it was released, the song has reached a new peak on the Billboard chart, thanks to a variety of converging factors: constant play at clubs and house parties, the song’s namesake being drafted in the first round by the Orlando Magic and public co-signs from Drake and Travis Scott. Not to mention the undeniable catchiness of the track, with its droning hook, cryptic piano and pounding bass.

With “Mo Bamba” still climbing to new heights, the

By NICHOLAS OTTONE Scene Writer

As a Marxist philosopher who fled Nazi Germany, Theodor Adorno was understandably a rather dour guy. He declared films as “neither guides for a blissful life, nor a new art of moral responsibility, but rather exhortations to toe the line, behind which stand the most powerful interests,” and he reserved specific disregard for contemporary comedian Charlie Chaplin. “The idea that a reactionary individual can be transformed into a member of the avant-garde through an intimate acquaintance with the films of Chaplin, strikes me as simple romanticization,” he wrote. “I cannot believe that the valuable elements in [Chaplin’s film “Modern Times”] will attract the slightest attention anyway. You need only have heard the laughter of the audience at the screening of this film to realize what is going on.”

If anything proves Adorno wrong, it is Boots Riley’s bonkers, explicitly revolutionary firecracker of a film, “Sorry to Bother You.” Here are the basics: Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield) lives day to day, scraping by with an underpaid telemarketing gig. His girlfriend Detroit (Tessa Thompson) contributes to her outrageous experimental art, and his landlord/uncle (Terry Crews) demands some rent. Then, a kind co-worker (Danny Glover) explains how Cassius can access his “white voice.” Cassius rockets up the corporate ladder, through the glitz and extravagance to the office

increasingly popular Wes released his debut album, “Mudboy.” The album is a prominent statement regarding the young rapper’s style, which immediately sets Wes apart from many of his peers in the game.

“Mudboy” makes it clear that Wes isn’t a trap rapper or a SoundCloud rapper; he’s something different. At times, this different style can be truly gripping, and at others it can be a bit much.

The beats across “Mudboy” are far from what you’d hear Lil Yachty rapping over; instead they’re eerie, dark and captivating. Wes pulls together a team of lesser-known producers to handle production, with new names 16yrold and YungLunchBox sourcing a majority of the trippy beats. The rattling bass of “Mo Bamba” and the resonating guitar plucks of “Vetements Socks” are two highlights, each adding a refreshing element to their respective tracks. Yet on other tracks the production becomes distracting, like with the strobing synths that dominate the track “Chippi Chippi.”

Wes’s delivery is a key element of the style that emerges on “Mudboy.” He shines when he’s shouting, catching the listener’s ear with every word.

There’s a rage and aggression in his voice that could only be delivered by a young teenager with boundless energy. On “Live Sheck Wes,” he repeats the line “Live Sheck Wes, b----, I’m dying Sheck Wes” with compelling force. “Wanted” finds the Harlem native shouting off the New York streets he figuratively runs down as cops chase him on every block. His ad-libs are entertainingly aggressive as well, as he

emphatically shouts out vulgarities on nearly every track. However, when Wes switches out of this flow, his songs are notably lacking, as is the case on “Burn Slow (Interlude).”

The lyrics on “Mudboy” are especially interesting, as they’re closely tied to Wes’s home and his own life.

On “WESPN,” Wes provides a tribute to his days spent skipping school to watch ESPN, an activity any sports fan would enjoy during the glory days of the channel.

But Wes does poignantly add that skipping sports to attend a fashion show was “one of my best decisions (Facts).” On a more somber note, Wes repeatedly references the struggles he and his friends have faced in his hometown, with lines like “It gets tragic where I live, everything is negative” painting a bleak picture of the world that created Sheck Wes.

of Steve Lift (Armie Hammer), leaving his friends, including a labor organizer (Steven Yeun), behind.

This premise might make “Sorry to Bother You” sound formulaic, a rote rags-to-riches story tossed with tragedy and spiced by some clever code-switching. But Riley has far grander goals. His is unapologetic filmmaking, functioning on operatic levels of craft and skill. The whole film thrums with unexpected arcs of energy. His camera whip-pans, dolly-zooms and glides. No smooth edges, only rough sketches. His world is heightened, his characters archetypes, his plot ludicrous. And his target is capitalism, industrialization and complacency.

This is the real revolutionary art of “Sorry to Bother You.” Capitalism is so ingrained in American culture that few question its efficacy. Riley cobbles together only a slightly exaggerated version of late-stage capitalism: “WorryFree,” a service guaranteeing exhausted laborers food and housing in exchange for lifelong work contracts. “Sorry to Bother You” beats you to your own realization; “This is basically slavery,” I thought about three seconds after a character said it. And WorryFree’s agenda is more sinister than even that, as an absurdly ambitious twist demonstrates. I am not sure the shift works on a pure plot level. As allegory, it is perfect.

Yet perhaps that is what holds “Sorry to Bother You” back: plot and character. Stanfield delivers an aweinspiring performance that pivots from glee to frustration to horror, but everyone else is stuck in simple characterizations. Hammer nevertheless manages

to entertain, but Thompson, so good in “Creed” and “Dear White People,” flounders. A few narrative detours feel superfluous or gratuitous. Tonally, the film remains consistently loopy and surrealistic until the finale, when it shifts decisively into tragedy and action. The final scene makes neither thematic nor dramatic sense, seemingly included for its own slight pleasures.

Ultimately, however, “Sorry to Bother You” overcomes these flaws. Riley creates a surrealistic, heightened world to critique our own and the systems that govern our lives. It is a ruthlessly unsparing portrait of corporate greed run amuck, of citizens complacent enough to accept it and of the tremendous courage required to stand up for human dignity. Only an absurdist film like this could aim so clearly and correctly at the invisible structural inequalities of American society. A documentary would be too much to take.

And the laughter in “Sorry to Bother You” is directed squarely at these institutions, at the utter unfairness of these systems. We laugh when these characters strive and fail, not because we pity them but because we recognize them. The laughter foregrounds the humor and sickness yet makes the film just palatable enough to continue watching. In “Sorry to Bother You,” laughter is a revolutionary act because it means you see the systems for what they are. More importantly, it means you’re still alive.

Contact Ryan Israel at risrael1@nd.edu

“Mudboy” Sheck Wes Label: Cactus Jack Records/G.O.O.D. Music/Interscope Record Tracks: “Live Sheck Wes,” “Wanted,” “Vetements Socks” If you like: Travis Scott, Pusha T, Juice WRLD

Contact Nicholas Ottone at nottone@nd.edu RUBY LE | The Observer

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The observer | wednesday, october 10, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

Seeing both sides of the same coin Emma Farnan Photographer

The past year of my life has been incredibly exciting and eye-opening. In addition to expanding my academic horizon with every other student at Notre Dame, I have also taken medically prescribed hormones each day to physically transition into a woman. I am transgender and have finally been living as myself, a woman, for the first time in my life, and that has made it by far the happiest year of my life.

The past year has also been incredibly eyeopening and more stressful than I can describe.

For the past few months, I have certainly passed as a woman (meaning that strangers immediately and only see me as a genetic female), which has simplified my life. Nowadays, there is no hesitation from myself or others when I introduce myself as Emma. There may even be some students who read this column and find out for the first time that I am transgender, a situation that I never even conceived to be possible until very recently.

On the other hand, I am finally dealing with both the welcome and unwelcome advances that women deal with their entire lives. This past weekend, it was especially noticeable as I photographed the Virginia Tech (VT) football game for The Observer. At the heart of my recent experience is the fact that guys are just way more willing to talk to female strangers than male strangers. This is something most people understand quite intuitively and is not inherently negative, but being transgender allows for a unique view by participating on both sides. I have been photographing football games for The Observer for five years now, but this is the first season that I am presenting as female while doing so. There are a handful of photographers that I have seen at every game, home or away. For all four years presenting as male, our conversations were limited to a passing “Hello” at best. This year was different. The VT game was my third game this year, yet many of these same photographers were suddenly beginning conversations by noting that I looked familiar. With ND photographers, the conversation was consistently well-mannered and professional, perhaps partially driven by just seeing another familiar face in the hostile VT fan-filled stadium. In this sense, I really appreciated the newfound opportunity to meet other photographers with whom I frequently share the sideline.

As for non-ND photographers, the increased attention was not always as welcome. Perhaps driven by the aggravation of VT’s performance, perhaps not, some of the conversations were so blatantly uncomfortable that a new ND photographer friend even offered to move to be a buffer between me and the opposing photographer.

This mild story is nothing of significance, but I still find it quite interesting. Many experiences that we have daily are products of our place in society; some can be rather impactful while others are incredibly negligible. Regardless, I have to say that it is quite intriguing to experience both sides of the coin.

Contact Emma Farnan at efarnan@nd.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Male fear of false persecution proves why we need activism Jackie O’Brien Domer Debates

Explain to me how men are the victims of their own misconduct.

Donald Trump is more concerned for his sons than his daughters.

“I say that it’s a very scary time for young men in America, when you can be guilty of something that you may not be guilty of.”

In a desperate effort to shift victimhood to fit a narrative more beneficial to his cause for the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh, our President declared that women are doing great, and it is the men in our society that we should be concerned about. He mocked the courageous Dr. Blasey Ford just a couple hours later at yet another campaign rally; caricaturing her testimony. He proceeded to reenact an imaginary conversation between a mother and her son, falsely accused of sexual misconduct.

But, according to Donald Trump, women are doing great.

I am not surprised. It is only when power structures, and those who control them, are threatened, that we witness the depravity that grows out of misplaced ambition.

What does surprise me, however, is how many good, decent people buy into this narrative of a male victimhood. I do not believe that every Republican male who participated in the judiciary committee hearings has committed acts like those described in the hearing. And yet, every single male Republican senator (and they were all males) went on the defensive, emphasizing Kavanaugh’s ruined reputation above all else in their questioning. Their questioning, or lack thereof, failed to acknowledge Dr. Blasey Ford’s testimony in the most basic ways.

I don’t think they are worried about Kavanaugh’s reputation, I think they’re worried about their own.

But if they didn’t do anything wrong, then they don’t need to be.

The narrative of a male victimhood resulting from #MeToo is incorrect. False reporting rates of sexual assault are lower than nearly any other crime. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, false reporting rates for sexual assault is in the range of 2-8 percent.

We don’t immediately assume that someone reporting a robbery is lying, even though the rates of insurance fraud are greater than false reports of sexual assault.

Attempts by Donald Trump and others to hijack the rhetoric of the #MeToo movement to focus on men as the victims is just another in a long string of injustices against survivors within the past week.

I am not worried that more men will be victims of false accusations as a result of the empowerment of women. No, I am worried that young males will develop an even deeper sense of entitlement created by the rhetoric of male victimhood.

Language like the kind used by the senators who questioned Judge Kavanaugh, Donald Trump and the Trump sons is dangerous and irresponsible.

It only serves to undermine the experiences of survivors of sexual assault, and protect those people who commit acts of violence in enabling structures.

Please, men of America, don’t be so naive as to believe that you are the true victims here. You can’t be a victim of your own misconduct. The true victims are those who have experienced years of prejudice, disrespect and violence at the hands of men.

And to all men, I promise you this: If you have been a respectful, good person, you have nothing to fear. Criminals are individuals, not groups. As such, all men should be willing and ready to root out those males who have committed egregious acts of sexual abuse. Instead of rallying behind a shared sense of victimhood with criminals, rally around a shared sense of solidarity and justice for survivors.

Join us in decrying and undermining those among you who have committed evil acts, and feel assured that you “are doing great.”

But, if you are one of those people who committed evil acts, get ready, because we are lined up and ready to take your positions once you lose them.

Jackie is a junior at Notre Dame majoring in political science and peace studies. Originally from the Chicago suburbs, in her free time she can be found discussing politics or the personal merits of Harrison Ford. All questions can be directed to jobrie21@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

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The observer | wednesday, october 10, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

LETTERs TO THE EDITOR

The value of an ISSLP I think the International Summer Service Learning Program (ISSLP) has probably been one of the best experiences I have ever had. Initially, I participated in the ISSLP because I had never left the country before, and I thought it was a great way to do service — after all, I really enjoyed my Summer Service Learning Program from the summer before. But in the eight weeks that f lew by, my ISSLP became so much more than just a way to get out of the country and do some international service work. While it is true that I am not a completely new and radically changed person, I do believe that anyone who participates in the ISSLP does change, and for the better. In fact, it could very well be possible that I got more out of the experience than my students did, but the purpose of the ISSLP isn’t to revolutionize the world and the way we do service. After all, early on in the program we discuss how it is only a short period of time that we will be serving for, and two months is not enough time to make a huge impact. But the purpose of the ISSLP isn’t to make a big splash in the communities we serve, it is to get the ball rolling for each of us in what it means to do service and be a global citizen and help us develop a deeper perspective on the complexities of poverty.

There is a lot of criticism that comes with doing short-term missions, but if my ISSLP has taught me anything, it is that the component that comes

after our service is just as important as the service itself.

Personally, I was given the opportunity to teach English, which was great because teaching was a career that I was considering for after graduation.

At the end of the program, I reaffirmed the fact that I know social work is what I want to do in my future. I have conquered the fear of being on my own and being away from my family in the U.S. and have become so much more independent. I have created so many intercultural relationships and have enormous respect for the cultures I was able to be a part of. I learned so much about what development really is and how to construct sustainable methods for working with people experiencing poverty.

And as far as limitations come, two months just isn’t enough to learn extensively about a culture, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t continue to try to learn about Perú and its people now that I have left. I now have so many Peruvian friends and a Peruvian family, and I know that I will treasure the memories that I made for years to come.

My experience thus far has showed me that being interested in how to help those experiencing poverty is not the same as pitying them. When we are in solidarity with others we are more than just interested — we empathize. I have grown and learned to think more critically about issues that

do not have clear-cut answers and have been challenged in my beliefs to the point that I understand that poverty is such a complex issue that cannot ever “fully” be resolved — at least not in the way that most people think. It is not an issue where there is an imaginary threshold to reach and suddenly the world will not be poor anymore. That’s not how poverty works. In fact, it is probably true that relative poverty will always exist, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t strive to improve our communities and reduce inequality in the world. It just means that there is a lot of work to be done, many improvements to be made and that there are multiple methods to target the issue. We have to realize that not all of them will work in every situation, but they are still worth investigating and attempting.

Ultimately, what society needs from us is hope, the motivation to improve our communities and a greater importance given to the skills that help us work and interact with others. I have been impacted in positive ways, and I believe that anyone who participates in the ISSLP will be, too. I trust that the Lord will guide each of us that are called to participate. So I say, Lord, send us to do your will.

María Isabel Mendoza junior Oct. 9

Finding your passion I have no idea what I want to do with my life.

Sometimes, I’m able to think up a possible postgraduate plan and career, but most times I just get lost in my thoughts and end up scrapping every plan. And living in Bangladesh for two months didn’t lay out the rest of my life for me, but it certainly helped in a way that is tough to explain; but I will try my best to explain how. To begin, I was comforted by the idea of being surrounded by strangers. In a way, I could reinvent myself: No preconceived notions, just greetings that led to conversations, which lead to relationships. One of my favorite parts of the trip was forming relationships from scratch. And there was something rejuvenating in forming these friendships outside of the suffocating walls of school work, lectures and exams. My friends in Bangladesh never once asked me, “W hat did you get on the exam? ” or “W hat are your plans after college? ” or even “Do you have a lot of work to do today? ” W hat is ironic about all of this is that I learned more about myself, about my academic and professional interests, in these eight weeks from my friends in Southeast Asia, than I have from my school-setting relationships over many years.

Brother Chandan and I discussed a different nationwide social issue every morning before I went to teach a class of fifth graders. The Chittagong village of Diang f loods nearly every day during the rainy season, and often mud slides down the cliffs to block any walking path to the school, of which nearly half of the students of Miriam Ashram take to get to class every morning. This is a very clear example of an infrastructure problem

within this rural village, but it does not stop there. The Holy Cross Brothers, who are the administrators of the private school, have requested over and over again to get the mud removed and concrete roads built by the government, but excuses are made every time for why they are unable to, despite hundreds of children not being able to access their own school. Instead of helping these kids get to school, the local government sets up daytime programs in the city for political candidates, and they remove boys and girls from Miriam Ashram, without the Brothers even knowing that they were coming, and force them to attend the daylong event, where they are given neither food nor water. This is corruption at its finest, ladies and gentlemen. The Bangladeshi government wants a hold on the private school curriculum because they need to make sure children learn what they want them to learn; and because of that, the Holy Cross Brothers and Fathers, as well as many other social workers for education, face innumerable burdens to achieve nationwide justice.

I saw firsthand the problems about which Brother Chandan taught me. Every night I would try to be as existential as possible, thinking up wild solutions to poverty and whatnot, just to realize that maybe my life can be simpler than I always thought it had to be. Simpler in the way that I can decide now that I want to always work for the marginalized. W hether it be through medicine or education — that can be a choice for later — but for once in two years, I felt as if a single part of my life was coming together. I have my

faith grounded in God, and I know He will lead me in the right direction if I simply direct myself toward helping my brothers and sisters. Going back to the fast-paced college lifestyle seemed a little less daunting.

Now, I don’t know whether a prospective International Summer Service Learning Program (ISSLP) student will read this or maybe a faculty member, but just maybe you took interest in one of the issues I presented above, then I have succeeded in my mission for writing this. I am so unbelievably passionate about the people of Bangladesh that any knowledge I can spread to the larger population is a success for me. I want to ignite a fire in another student to desire to form their own relationships with a new group of people, who have their own daily struggles. I want someone to raise their eyebrows at the bold statement that Bangladesh is corrupt and want to research and learn more about this developing country.

The only way I can fail is by not sharing my personal stories, which are extensions of the people I met in villages and rural schools, with everyone I meet. To end with a most existential thought, we are all people on this earth, so why not fight for one another? W hy not stand up for each other if that person is being bullied? The solution is so simple it can be compared to playground talk, but really, everyone be nice to each other.

Follow us on Twitter. @ObserverViewpnt

Chris Lembo senior Oct. 9

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daily

The observer | wednesday, october 10, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Some of the people around you will undergo changes that leave you wondering what you should do next. Instability is a sign that change needs to take place, but what and how you alter your life will be crucial this year. Take your time, even if someone tries to pressure you to decide prematurely. Do what’s best for yourself. Your numbers are 4, 9, 14, 25, 32, 38, 49.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Just do it. Don’t hesitate or let your responsibilities hang over your head. Take the initiative and clear the air of any baggage you carry. Once you are free and clear of excess dead weight, you’ll feel less stressed and increasingly motivated.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Time is on your side. Consider all your options and plan your actions carefully. You have plenty to gain if you follow your heart and do what you know is best for yourself. Don’t let anyone goad you into an argument.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Touch base with people you find inspiring. Working alongside people who get things done will give you the boost you need to take care of some of your own unfinished business. The relief you feel will be worth the effort.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Plan something special. Get involved in events you care about. Mingle with people who can make a difference in your life. Partnerships look promising, and love and romance are encouraged. Family planning will lead to a feeling of belonging and greater togetherness.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Overreacting will only hold you back and end up costing you. Accepting what you cannot change will help you work with, not against, the powers that be. Use your ingenuity, and you’ll come up with a way to overcome adversity.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A business trip or hanging out with someone you haven’t seen for a long time will help you figure out what you should do next.

It’s OK to dream and strive to acquire what will make you happy. Share your intentions.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Put more creativity into whatever you do. How you handle situations and people will make a difference in the outcome of a situation you face at work or at home. Listen, and respond with suggestions and the willingness to compromise.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take a deep breath and prepare to implement change. Don’t get frazzled if others don’t pitch in and help. If you believe in what you are doing, follow through with passion and precision. Eventually you’ll gain support and respect.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Listen to advice, but when it comes time to decide, be cognizant of what’s truly to your benefit and what someone else may have suggested for his or her personal benefit. Act on your own behalf.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take pride in what you do. It’s OK to be unique and to show off what you have to offer. Do your own thing, and be proud of your accomplishments. An important relationship will undergo a positive transformation.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t be swayed by what someone else is saying or doing. Walk away from excessive or indulgent people. Sit tight until you feel you are in a better position to make positive change. Focus on personal growth.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Look for a different route if you feel you are being blocked. Use your ingenuity to turn something you want to pursue into a going concern. Love, money, lucrative contracts and better health can be yours if you make the right choices.

Birthday Baby: You are intense, possessive and forceful. You are creative and competitive.

WINGin’ it | OLIVIA WANG & BAILEE EGAN

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

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SPORTS

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, october 10, 2018 | The Observer

Swimming

Sports Authority

Lakers need more around LeBron Mia Berry Sports Writer

The infamous J.R. Smith game-1 debacle and the Warriors’ eventual sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals all but assured that there would be The Decision: Part II within the coming weeks. The Lakers won the sweepstakes the second time around, but unlike the promises of championships that came when he teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, LeBron James’ journey to the West Coast doesn’t have any guarantee of immediate success. Fans should adjust their expectations accordingly.

Prophecies of King James coming to the City of Angels have far exceeded the controversial comments and expectations LaVar Ball has made since his oldest son, Lonzo, entered the league. The hype is unrealistic and unnecessary. Before James even suited up for his first game with the Lakers, many were calling him the greatest to play for the franchise. What about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Magic Johnson?

Kobe Bryant?

Did fans get serious amnesia overnight?

The comment itself was very insulting to both Bryant and Johnson, who spent their entire careers with the franchise and each won the purple and gold five titles.

James is arguably the greatest player in the league right now, but the Lakers aren’t exactly on the same level as Pat Riley’s Showtime Lakers or Phil Jackson’s 2001-2003 Lakers that dominated the West Coast, or even Jackson’s ’09 and ’10 Lakers that snuck away with two back-to-back titles. James does have experience dominating a conference given his reign over the East, but the West Coast is and has been a stronger conference for years.

The Lakers squad that finished 11th in the West last year are young and inexperienced both talent and coaching-wise, and they need more than an offseason of acquisitions to make themselves a threat in the West Coast against Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors or James Harden’s Houston Rockets. LeBron’s attempt for

nine-consecutive finals appearances is in great danger.

But the team isn’t completely hopeless.

Solely examining the small sample size of three preseason games where the Lakers have gone 1-3, they still have the potential to be a threat. The young core of Ball, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma has managed to show overall improvement in moving the franchise in the right direction since the Lakers posted a franchise-worst record of 17-65 in 2015-2016. Collectively, the trio totaled over 40 percent of the Lakers’ points last season, giving James a lot of offensive production to work with. The young trio does have some veteran leadership in JaVale McGee, Lance Stephenson and Rajon Rondo to add depth to the roster, but the veteran signings outside of James are subpar. Javale McGee isn’t going to emulate anything close to Shaquille O’Neal or Pau Gasol in production. Lance Stephenson is a poor man’s Ron Artest — or Metta World Peace, whichever you prefer to call him. If Rondo can manage to play like the triple-double playoff Rondo that helped lead the Celtics to an NBA title 10 years ago, then he could be a suitable backup to Ball, who is still recovering from post-season knee surgery. As history has told us time and time again, LeBron can’t anchor a team to a title without adequate help.

The Lakers hype needs to calm down because it doesn’t appear this Lakers team is ready to win an NBA Championship this season or even the next season. But contrary to previous years, the Lakers do have a strong chance of making the playoffs, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2013. A playoff appearance is a step in the right direction for one of the best franchises in league history. As seasons pass, the Lakers could find themselves in the finals again, but as of now, LeBron simply just isn’t enough to turn the franchise around overnight.

Continued from page 12

Games and the European Junior Championships. He leads a group of 10 freshmen for the men’s side.

“We do have some very talented freshmen,” Litzinger said. “It’s going to be interesting to see how they react in their first college dual meet.”

The five seniors on the men’s side have been with Litzinger since his first season at Notre Dame in 2015, and the Irish head coach said they have been pivotal to bringing the program to its current level of success.

“I think what they’ve done is they’ve seen a great transition of our team since I took

M Tennis Continued from page 12

were equally successful in singles, with wins coming from Broadus, Gamble and senior Nathan Griffin on day two of action, while the final day saw Broadus and Gamble complete an undefeated weekend with another win in doubles.

Griffin also picked up another victory in singles.

While the team is certainly pleased with their performance this past week and largely over the course of the past two weeks, there is still much to be seen over the next

9

over three years ago,” he said.

“We’ve changed the culture, the attitude and certainly the competitiveness, and that’s been a lot of fun. They’ve been at the forefront of that change.”

On the women’s side, a veteran core and a balanced team will challenge top-flight competition Wednesday. The Irish retained eight seniors on the women’s team from last year, and Litzinger expects that experience to be of benefit in their first meet.

“We did beat Indiana last year in the dual meet, so I expect them to be ready for us and give us a great opportunity to race,” Litzinger said.

Litzinger pointed to senior Alice Treuth as a swimmer to watch for in the first meet of

the year.

Treuth, a native of Salisbury, Maryland, has competed in the ACC Championships in each of the last two seasons. She took sixth in the 200 backstroke at the 2018 ACC Championships and competed in the NCAA Division I Women’s championships a season ago. She was recently named one of three team captains on the women’s side, in addition to classmates Meaghan O’Donnell and Kyra Sarazen.

The 16-event meet will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The solid lineup of competitors will quickly show the Irish where they fit in the national swimming and diving picture.

few tournaments, starting with the aforementioned ITF Futures event this weekend.

Team members McCormick, Nefve and Lebedev will all be taking part in the tournament, which will allow them to all face pro-style competition.

This is especially important for these three, as they all have aspirations of playing professional tennis after their careers at Notre Dame. As such, while the event will not count toward collegiate rankings, it does offer excellent experience to see and play tennis at the professional level.

Looking beyond the Futures event, Notre Dame will next be

in action Oct. 18, when it hosts the ITA Midwest Regional Championship. The team receives a bit of a reprieve the next weekend before heading to three separate tournaments in the first weekend of November, as players will be heading to the Dick Vitale Clay Court Invitational in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, the Red Bird Invitational hosted

by Indiana University and the Gopher Invitational hosted

by University of Minnesota.

The Irish will look to keep the momentum of the past two weekends going as they move forward into a busy fall schedule.

Contact Ryan Kolakowski at rkolakow@nd.edu

Contact Mia Berry at mberry1@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Write Sports.

Email Joe Everett at jeveret4@nd.edu

emma farnan | The Observer

Irish sophomore Tristan McCormick winds up for a hit during the Bobby Bayliss Invitational on Oct. 7, 2017, at Courtney Tennis Center. McCormick finished last season with a 20-15 record.

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Sports

The observer | wednesday, october 10, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

Football Continued from page 12

with more passion, and that is going to be the emphasis this week in terms of how we need to play against Pittsburgh.

“You know, this is really about going back to the practice field, having much more of a focus on how we prepare. We have a great deal of respect for Pittsburgh and how they’ll come out to play us.

We know that this is a big game for them. But for us, it’s important that we play at a higher level this weekend.”

Kelly said despite the fact that Notre Dame was able to come away with a resounding 45-23 win over the Hokies (3-2, 2-0 ACC), he was not all that pleased with his team’s performance, given the fact that most of Notre Dame’s best play came in the second half.

“Certainly what we learned is that we need to play four quarters. We played well in the second half. Probably didn’t play our best in the first half,” he said.

“Certainly we have some room to grow, and we’ve got to be better there.”

Freshmen As the season has progressed, an increasing number of freshmen have begun to see playing time. Kelly noted, in particular, linebacker Shayne Simon and safety Paul Moala. He attributed increased participation to the fact that the freshmen have had time to adjust to the pace of college life and the NCAA game.

“We had 14 out of the 27 signees that took that trip to Virginia Tech,” he said. “We’re getting into the year now, where it’s starting to maybe slow down a little bit for them. Some of the guys are starting to see the game a little bit clearer, maybe a little too fast early on, and we’re starting to see that. Shayne Simon would be one of those guys. A little too fast early on. Maybe he was overthinking the game a little bit. It’s starting to slow down.

Paul Moala is another guy who you saw on kickoff, who we’re starting to see the game come to him a little bit, and I think you’re going to see some guys continue to show some of that growth as we move forward.”

receiver; Dexter, who wasn’t around for the first four weeks; Tony Jones, who was banged up,” Kelly said. “I think what it says a lot about Autry is just his ability to stay calm under not an easy circumstance. It’s not the same group of guys every week. He’s had to go in there and reshuffle the deck each and every week.

I think it takes an extraordinary coach and teacher to stay on task each and every week when it’s somebody new, and we know that about him. He’s been through it himself as a player here. He knows what it’s like, and he’s been able to do a great job with that room of getting the players ready that are available to him.”

Running backs

Ian Book

The running back position has been anything but consistent this season for the Irish. Sophomore Jafar Armstrong went down to a left knee infection right as senior Dexter Williams was making his season debut, while junior Tony Jones Jr.’s ankle has not been at full strength for the last few weeks, limiting him as well. And yet, the rushing game as been one of the squad’s strengths.

Kelly credited running backs coach Autry Denson, a former Irish back himself and the holder of the school’s all-time rushing yards record, with the unit’s success this season.

“Autry has had to adjust to a number of different factors in there with a quarterback in [sophomore] Avery Davis who has moved there; Jafar Armstrong, who was a wide

Kelly was quick to dispel any rumors that junior quarterback Ian Book would not be starting against the Panthers this weekend.

“No, Ian Book will be the starting quarterback on Saturday,” he said.

He went on to discuss the traits that led him to recruit Book and what Kelly thinks makes him a good fit on the Notre Dame roster.

“At the end of the day, I’m going to have the final say on quarterbacks because they go to culture. I really liked Ian,” Kelly said. “I got a chance to spend some time with the family in the recruiting process. I liked his efficiency. We were looking for somebody that could come in without all of the fanfare that was — maybe that’s not the right

term, but was almost a fly-underthe-radar kind of player but had all the tools and was extremely efficient and was a good fit, and that’s kind of — didn’t take much convincing, he was the kind of guy for Notre Dame.”

He added that Book has handled the immense pressure of being the starting quarterback at a program like Notre Dame very well, despite his “under-theradar” personality.

“It’s incredible scrutiny on the quarterback position at Notre Dame, incredible scrutiny on the quarterback position for Notre Dame. Silly scrutiny on the quarterback position at Notre Dame,” Kelly said. “So yeah, I think if you could ever find yourself flying under the radar a little bit, that would be a great thing. Whether it’s real or not, it’s hard to say.

“His happened to pan out that way, you know, but he’s not under the radar anymore, Ian Book.”

Injury update Kelly said junior defensive lineman Daelin Hayes, who missed the start against the Hokies with a stinger, should be able to practice in a non-contact contact capacity this week. He is day-to-day and Kelly is hoping to see him return to practice Wednesday and potentially play this weekend.

“He is getting better. He’s got good strength, which is a great sign,” Kelly said. “Generally if there’s weakness associated with that, that could be a longer-term kind of injury. He’s got great strength. Now it’s just a matter of getting that full feeling back in Paid Advertisement

W Soccer Continued from page 12

they will close play in Alumni Stadium against Duke (10-2-2, 4-1-1 ACC).

Before moving ahead to these games, the Irish will have to overcome the Orange at home. The Syracuse team is currently on a nine-game losing streak, a streak which the Irish will look to extend to 10.

The two teams have three common opponents this season — North Carolina State, North Carolina and Louisville — all of which trend favorably for the Irish. Although Notre Dame’s sole win against this trio came against the Wolfpack (9-4-2, 2-3-1 ACC), who the Irish beat 2-1 while the Orange fell 3-6, their total point differential between these three opponents was 3-5, compared to NC State’s 4-14. The Irish hope these games foreshadow the outcome of Saturday’s match.

In order to capture a win, however, Notre Dame will need to bounce back from the 3-0 loss it sustained at home this weekend against Virginia (11-2, 4-2 ACC). Although Notre Dame started this game with aggression and intensity, a goal by the Cavaliers midway through the first half left a deflated Irish offense on the field.

In what seemed to be a lapse

of mental toughness, Notre Dame was unable to bounce back from the early goal, and was the subject of a relentless Virginia offense for the remainder of the game.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s matchup, the Irish could struggle for several reasons.

First, it is always difficult to play on the road. So far this season, Notre Dame is 1-4 in away games, with their only win coming at Wake Forest two weeks ago. A win over the Orange, who are 1-5 at home, could be just the confidence boost the Irish need to finish the season strong.

Another source of trouble for the Irish could be Syracuse sophomore Kate Hostage, who leads the Orange with four goals and nine points on the season.

For the Irish to capture a victory, they will need to come out with competitive intensity and sustain this intensity for the full 90 minutes. Notre Dame could also use a solid performance from its leaders, graduate-student forward Karin Muya, junior forward Jennifer Westendorf and senior defenders Rachel Heard and Sabrina Flores.

If they can work as a cohesive unit this Saturday, the Irish should be able to bring home a win. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

his arm and hand, and he was reporting progress in that regard.

We’ll be aggressive in his conditioning with an eye towards thinking that this could resolve any day.”

Kelly also noted Jones Jr. has made major improvements in terms of the health of his ankle, and should not be limited anymore.

“I think this week he should be in a position where he’s not limited by carries or time of the game,” Kelly said of the junior running back.

Kelly also provided an update on the status of Armstrong, who underwent surgery to clean out a left knee infection. Armstrong spent six days in the hospital to help drain the knee.

“He’s up and moving. He’s getting range of motion,” he said.

“The draining of that knee now has completed itself in the sense that he now can get into the full rehabilitation of getting that quad strength back. He’ll get the sutures out at the end of the week. Obviously, we’ll get him back into range of motion next week and then see where we go from there.”

Kelly’s final injury update revolved around junior cornerback Troy Pride Jr., who left the field a number of times against the Hokies with a mild ankle sprain.

“Any time you have an ankle sprain with a corner, you know you’re going to be careful with him,” he said. “But we think he’ll be fine for Saturday.”

Contact Elizabeth Greason at egreason@nd.edu

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The observer | wednesday, october 10, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

nd women’s soccer

swimming & Diving

Irish to open year Notre Dame looks to stop at Bloomington road skid against Syracuse

By RYAN KOLAKOWSKI Sports Writer

Notre Dame will know right away where they fit on the national landscape when they travel to Bloomington, Indiana, on Wednesday morning.

The Irish will meet Indiana University, the University of Missouri and the University of Kentucky for their first dual meet of the year. The men’s and women’s teams for all three opponents finished ranked in the top 25 or received votes in the final CSCAA Coaches Rankings a season ago.

The meet in Bloomington consists of three different meets in which the Irish will take on Kentucky, Missouri and Indiana.

Irish head coach Mike Litzinger said his team is prepared for such tough competition out of the gates this season.

“This is our first meet, and we have a very young team on the men’s side, and a pretty seasoned team on the women’s

side,” Litzinger said. “I’m looking for us to step up and compete.”

The men’s and women’s teams both finished last season with a No. 19 ranking. The men’s team, led by a senior class of only five student-athletes, features talented young swimmers Marton Barta and Zach Yeadon.

Yeadon, a sophomore from San Antonio, Texas, is coming off a breakout season that saw him claim Notre Dame men’s swimming’s Most Valuable Swimmer. Yeadon set program records in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650-yard freestyle events a season ago.

“He’ll be one of the favorites to win [the 1,650] this year,” Litzinger said of Yeadon. “Zach always will have the ability to dominate.”

Barta, a freshman from Szombathely, Hungary, has had international success at the European Youth Olympic see SWIMMING PAGE 9

Observer Sports Staff

ANNIE smierciak | The Observer

Graduate student forward Karin Muya dribbles away from her defender during Notre Dame’s 4-0 loss to Florida State on Sept. 27.

Kelly discusses Book, running backs before Pitt

By ELIZABETH GREASON

Three to play at Futures tourney Observer Sports Staff

Assistant Managing Editor

see FOOTBALL PAGE 10

see W SOCCER PAGE 10

nd men’s tennis

football

Irish head coach Brian Kelly addressed the media Tuesday after No. 5 Notre Dame’s win over then-No. 24 Virginia Tech, its first win over a ranked opponent on the road since 2012, discussing the victory and the squad’s next matchup against Pittsburgh this weekend.

Given Pitt’s proclivity for taking down top-10 teams, as it defeated then-No. 2 Miami last season in their final game of the regular season and eventual national champion Clemson in the 2016 season, one might consider the Panthers (3-3, 2-1 ACC) a perfect trap game for the Irish (60), but Kelly does not expect his team to come out flat.

“I think we didn’t play with enough passion at times [against Virginia Tech],” Kelly said. “I think one of the things that we talked about is that that wasn’t our best performance in a lot of ways, and we have to play with more energy. We have to play

Notre Dame (6-8, 2-4 ACC) will look to get its season back on track this Saturday as they travel to New York for a conference matchup against Syracuse. The Irish will need to win at least three of their remaining four games if they wish to record a winning season.

The program has struggled on the road this year, particularly in a mid-season slump during which they lost four matches in a row. The Irish first lost to Ohio State at home, then went on a winless California road trip to Stanford and Santa Clara, followed by a two-goal loss at Louisville.

Notre Dame will close the regular season with four ACC matches. Three will be on the road, at Syracuse (3-11, 0-6 ACC), at Virginia Tech (7-4-3, 3-3 ACC) and at Pittsburgh (48-1, 0-6 ACC), after which point

emma farnan | The Observer

Irish senior running back Dexter Williams cuts right during Notre Dame’s 45-23 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday at Lane Stadium.

This weekend, most of the Notre Dame men’s tennis team will be taking the weekend off after back-to-back weeks of competition, but three of its members will be heading to Harlingen, Texas, where they will participate in the ITF Futures event.

This past weekend, the Irish took part in a pair of competitions, those being the AllAmerican Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the Bobby Bayliss Invitational hosted at Notre Dame. Overall, the team saw great success, starting with seven members of the team taking part in pre-qualifying at All-Americans. Among them were senior Grayson Broadus; juniors Guillermo Cabrera, Matt Gamble and Jonathan Small; sophomores William Howells and Tristan McCormick; and freshman Axel Nefve. Having particularly strong tournaments were Howells and McCormick, who won all of their matches in this stage of the tournament to join

the qualifying round along with sophomore Richard Ciamarra and senior Alex Lebedev.

For Lebedev, it proved to be a very successful weekend — the senior was able to get as far as the quarterfinals while facing the top competition in the country and qualified for the ITA Fall National Championships, which are played in early November in Surprise, Arizona. Howells had a strong showing as well, winning a total of six matches throughout the tournament before finally falling to an opponent who, along with Lebedev, made it into the final eight.

In the Bobby Bayliss Invitational, participating members of the team put together solid performances, starting with doubles on day one of the tournament, where the team finished 6-1 with a pair of wins each from the pairings of senior Daniel Rayl and sophomore Paul Gota; Broadus and Gamble; and junior Conor Somers and Small. The Irish see M TENNIS PAGE 9