Print Edition of The Observer for Wednesday, October 16, 2019

The independent

To uncover

newspaper serving

the truth

Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s

and report

and holy cross

it accurately

Volume 54, Issue 35 | wednesday, october 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

LGBT Law Forum hosts panel on Title VII Experts discuss 1964 Civil Rights Act, protections for transgender individuals in the workplace

By JACKSON OXLER News Writer

On Tuesday afternoon, the Notre Dame LGBT Law Forum hosted a panel in the McCartan Courtroom of the Law School to discuss the current case in front of the Supreme Court of the United States. Three panelists discussed whether or not Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides protection for transgender individuals and the greater LGBT community from workplace discrimination.

The three members of Tuesday’s panel included Kim Hively, the named plaintiff in the Hively v. Iv y Tech case, Steve Sanders, a professor at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law who has been involved in many

ND grows student aid fund Observer Staff Report

Notre Dame’s endowment amounted to $426 million for the 2019 fiscal year, with nearly one-third of the total going to student financial aid, according to an Oct. 15 press release from the University.

For the 2019-2020 academic year, Notre Dame will distribute more than $154 million in need-based aid for undergraduate students.

This amount of grant aid has more than doubled since 2009, according to the press release.

According to the release, almost half of undergraduate Notre Dame students receive financial aid from see AID PAGE 4

NEWS PAGE 3

key cases relating to LGBT rights, and Eduardo Juarez, a trial attorney for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Title VII states that one cannot discriminate in employment based on “race, color, religion, sex or national origin.”

The Supreme Court is currently hearing case R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v.

EEOC & Aimee Stephens and must decide if the discrimination on sex covers gender identity.

Juarez began the discussion by providing an in-depth overview of past legal cases related to Title VII and how these cases relate to today.

Among these was the case Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, see TITLE VII PAGE 4

JACKSON OXLER | The Observer

Steve Sanders, Eduardo Juarez and Kim Hively speak on a panel on Title VII and workplace discrimination of transgender individuals in the McCartan Courtroom of the Notre Dame Law School on Tuesday.

Fall break ‘Staycation’ invites Belles to explore South Bend

By SARA SCHLECHT Associate News Editor

Saint Mary’s students who are planning to remain oncampus for fall break have the opportunity to participate in the College’s thirdannual “Staycation.”

Rebekah Go, director of the Office for Civic and Social Engagement (OCSE),

said the idea for “Staycation” came to her thinking about students staying on campus for fall break, when the dining hall is closed.

“They were isolated and hungry,” Go said. “That made me really sad.”

Go said she wanted to use her role in OCSE to engage students in the community during fall break.

“[In the past] I think it’s been a meaningful group of students, in that they’ve all appreciated the opportunity that’s been provided because there hadn’t been anything else,” Go said.

She said there have been students who participated in “Staycation” during both of its previous years.

The cost of participating

in “Staycation” activities is covered by the OCSE, but Go said there is a suggested donation of $5 per day.

Kris Choinacky, assistant director of OCSE, said “Staycation” will begin Sunday and conclude Thursday evening.

Participants do not have see STAYCATION PAGE 3

Journalist speaks on violence, displacement in Middle East

By JOHN SALEM News Writer

The Hesburgh Center of International Studies hosted Stephanie Saldaña for a guest lecture titled “The Heart is a Country: Lessons on Hope, Compassion, and Our Common Humanity

scene PAGE 5

from Syrian and Iraqi Refugees” on Monday afternoon.

Saldaña is a journalist and teacher who specializes in the topic of religious diversity in the Middle East.

Through sharing stories of people she met on her travels throughout the turbulent

Viewpoint PAGE 6

region, she spoke of the human element of the great migration crisis and how her work as personally impacted her.

“Some of the greatest lessons I have learned from the displaced and I want to share some of those today,” Saldaña said.

Due to the violence of the region, many culturally significant monuments were destroyed from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths alike, she said. Still, she said, these traditions are resilient in

ND M HOCKEY PAGE 12

ND W Volleyball PAGE 12

see VIOLENCE PAGE 4

2

TODAY

The observer | wednesday, october 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com

Have a question you want answered?

Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com

What is the first thing you are going to eat when you go home for break?

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

Asst. Managing Editor: Maria Leontaras Asst. Managing Editor: Mary Steurer Asst. Managing Editor: Natalie Weber

Notre Dame News Editor: Tom Naatz Saint Mary’s News Editor: Maeve Filbin

Viewpoint Editor: Evelyn Stein

Sports Editor: Connor Mulvena

Scene Editor: Mike Donovan

Photo Editor: Anna Mason

Graphics Editor: Diane Park

Social Media Editor: Mary Bernard

Advertising Manager: Landry Kempf

Ad Design Manager: Ruby Le

Systems Administrator: Mike Dugan Office Manager & General Info

Daniela Cantos

Emma Wieczorek

sophomore Holy Cross Hall

junior Le Mans Hall

“Ceviche.”

“Beef stew.”

Hannah Toepp

Lillyanne King

sophomore Holy Cross Hall

junior Le Mans Hall

“Chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup.”

“Pumpkin pie.”

Nadia Hartman

Shaylee Smith

sophomore Le Mans Hall

junior Le Mans Hall

“My mom’s ice cream.”

“Chili.”

Ph: (574) 631-7471 Fax: (574) 631-6927 Advertising

(574) 631-6900 ads@ndsmcobserver.com Editor-in-Chief

(574) 631-4542 ksmith67@nd.edu Managing Editor

(574) 631-4542 cedmond3@nd.edu Assistant Managing Editors

(574) 631-4541 mleontaras01@saintmarys.edu, msteure1@nd.edu, nweber@nd.edu Business Office

(574) 631-5313 Notre Dame News Desk

(574) 631-5323 news@ndsmcobserver.com Saint Mary’s News Desk

(574) 631-5323 smc@ndsmcobserver.com Viewpoint Desk

(574) 631-5303 viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.om Sports Desk

(574) 631-4543 sports@ndsmcobserver.com Scene Desk

(574) 631-4540 scene@ndsmcobserver.com Photo Desk

(574) 631-8767 photo@ndsmcobserver.com Systems & Web Administrators

webmaster@ndsmcobserver.com Policies The Observer is the independent, daily newspaper published in print and online by the students of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross College. Editorial content, including advertisements, is not governed by policies of the administration of either institution. The Observer reserves the right to refuse advertisements based on content.

The news is reported as accurately and objectively as possible. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Assistant Managing Editors and department editors.

Commentaries, letters and columns present the views of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Viewpoint space is available to all readers. The free expression of all opinions through letters is encouraged.

Letters to the Editor must be signed and must include contact information.

Questions regarding Observer policies should be directed to Editor-in-Chief Kelli Smith.

Post Office Information The Observer (USPS 599 2-4000) is published Monday through Friday except during exam and vacation periods.

A subscription to The Observer is $130 for one academic year; $75 for one semester.

The Observer is published at: 024 South Dining Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-0779 Periodical postage paid at Notre Dame and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER Send address corrections to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 024 South Dining hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-077

Today’s Staff News

Sports

Sara Schlecht McKenzie Lookebill

Connor Mulvena Luke Sisung

Graphics

Scene

Diane Park

Nia Sylva

Photo

Viewpoint

Allison Thornton

Olivia Luchetti

Corrections The Observer regards itself as a professional publication and strives for the highest standards of journalism at all times. We do, however, recognize that we will make mistakes. If we have made a mistake, please contact us at (574) 631-4541 so we can correct our error.

MARIA LUISA PAUL | The Observer

University President Fr. John Jenkins attends a news conference about a new development in sustainability on campus. Notre Dame stopped burning coal a year ahead of schedule when the last of the University’s coal load was burned Monday.

The next Five days:

Want your event included here?

Email news@ndsmcobserver.com

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Workshop: “Interdisciplinary Approaches to Corruption” Hesburgh Center 5:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.

“The Big Draw: Monster Drawing Rally” Snite Museum of Art 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Live drawing event.

ASA Sociology of Development Conference Hesburgh Center all day Register online.

Fall break campus-wide all day No classes next week.

Classes resume Oct. 28.

Fall Break campus-wide all day No classes next week.

Classes will resume on Oct. 28.

Viola and Piano Performance LaBar Recital Hall 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Concert is free and open to the public.

Film: “At War/En Guerre” (2018) Browning Cinema 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Free event, tickets required.

Exhibit: “Looking at the Stars.”

Snite Museum of Art All day.

Exhibition of Irish art.

Open to the public.

EMBA-South Bend Preview Day Stayer Center for Executive Education 9:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Class space is limited.

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

All are welcome to attend.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, october 16, 2019 | The Observer

3

Mercy Works helps students serve community

By TRINITY REILLY News Writer

W hile students are often involved with the Notre Dame community, fewer are immersed in the greater community surrounding the University: South Bend.

Mercy Works, a collaboration between Campus Ministry and the Center for Social Concerns (CSC), is one opportunity for students to escape the Notre Dame bubble.

Christian Santa Maria, assistant director for retreats and pilgrimages in Campus Ministry, said that Mercy Works offers students the ability to do faith-minded service that has a tangible effect on people near campus.

One of the special things about the program, he said, is that it functions as a kind of window into problems that students may never

have experienced firsthand before.

“Maybe you don’t know much about, you know, people experiencing homelessness, or you don’t know much about juvenile detention centers or prisons,” Santa Maria said. “This could be a really great way to get your feet wet, and kind of explore what it is like to be part of this community.”

Mercy Works is a monthlong commitment, and new groups begin service at the start of each month during the academic year. Groups consist of two to five students and spend two to four hours volunteering each week at their assigned organization. Because the program is founded in community, each small group also meets once a week to ref lect on service, and everyone involved in the program has a ref lection

dinner at the conclusion of the month.

“Students will get a taste for the complexity of the issues that face us as Christians or Catholics today, and hopefully, they start asking deeper questions about their own spiritual life or about … a particular community or population that we’re working with,” he said. “And, in particular, how does faith invite them to ask these questions — not just about what they do, but who they are and who this is shaping them to be.”

Mercy Works focuses on integration with the South Bend community and works primarily with local agencies, including Chiara Home, DePaul Academy, Dismas House, Healthwin, Logan Center and Our Lady of the Road/St. Peter Claver Catholic Worker. Any student

interested in volunteering is invited to fill out the Google form on the Mercy Works webpage.

W hile volunteering is an important part of the program, its initiative is not solely service, Santa Maria said.

“W hat Mercy Works hopes to invite the students to do is to understand that it’s not just about being a service provider and a service recipient,” he said. “It asks the question, how do we belong to one another? And how does our faith, through service, allow us to understand the meaning of solidarity and what it means to be brothers and sisters with one another? ” He said one student had been mentoring students for about three months when she came to him with a question. He said she was unsure,

almost stuck in her service; she felt useless and did not know how to continue serving, because she believed it was not effective enough.

Santa Maria said he encouraged her to just listen and not try so hard to solve problems, because listening fosters the community that Mercy Works tries to attain.

“I think in a school that often promotes solving issues, one of the first steps we are to do is actually listen,” he said.

“Mercy Works is not about solving. It’s about walking with. It’s about solidarity. It’s about kinship. It’s about recognizing our relationships with people in our community. The purpose of Mercy Works is to create a culture of encounter where solidarity can happen.”

Contact Trinity Reilly at treilly5@nd.edu

Renowned academic to lecture on education Observer Staff Report

Former Universit y of Chicago President Hanna Holborn Gray and professor emerita of early modern and European histor y w ill v isit Notre Dame on Oct. 30 to deliver the 2019 Kathleen Cannon, O.P., Distinguished Lecture, announced in a Monday press release.

Gray’s lecture, titled “Measuring the Height of Higher Education,” w ill take place at 4 p.m. in 104 Bond Hall. The event w ill be followed by a reception.

A native of Germany, Gray moved to the United States as a child. In 1950, she earned her undergraduate degree from Br y n Maw r College and attended Ox ford

Staycation CONtinued from page 1

to attend every activity and may choose any and all they want to do, she said.

The Staycation will open Sunday with a cookout at Choinacky’s house.

“We planned to make it casual and have a bonfire and pumpkin carving,” she said.

On Monday, participants will travel to nearby Potato Creek State Park.

“We have a naturalist who’s going to speak to us about the history of Potato Creek,” Choinacky said. “There’s also a prairie maze there that they have for the fall. We’re also going to have a picnic there and just get to know the state

Universit y as a Fulbright Scholar from 1950 to 1951.

Gray received a Ph.D. in histor y from Har vard in 1957.

Gray joined the Universit y of Chicago after ser v ing on the Har vard facult y as an instructor and assistant professor. In 1972, she transitioned to Northwestern Universit y, where she became dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and a professor of histor y. In 1974, she left to join Yale Universit y, taking on the position of provost and histor y professor. She was also interim president at Yale from 1977 to 1978.

Gray holds more than 60 honorar y degrees, including an honorar y doctorate from Notre Dame which

the Universit y awarded in 1980. Gray has held seats on several boards, chairing the boards of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and ser v ing on governing boards at Har vard and Yale. Gray is also a member of academic organizations including the American Philosophical Societ y, the National Academy of Education and Renaissance Societ y of America and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

“As a highly regarded scholar and administrator, Professor Gray’s impact on universit y governance, academic freedom and the role of higher education in societ y has been significant and

lasting,” Universit y provost Thomas G. Burish said in the release. “We look for ward to gaining valuable insights about these and other topics from one of the most inf luential leaders of higher education in the past 50 years.”

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Universit y Committee on Women Facult y and Students, the annual Kathleen Cannon, O.P., Distinguished Lecture has brought women of distinction to the Notre Dame communit y since 2003.

Recent guests include Valerie Ashby, dean of Trinit y College of Arts and Sciences at Duke Universit y; Helen King, professor of classical studies at The

Open Universit y; and Argentine arts and culture w riter and designer Samanta Schweblin.

A Dominican sister, Cannon currently ser ves as associate dean of the College of Science. Cannon was also associate provost from 1990 to 1997.

During her time at Notre Dame, Cannon helped found the Universit y’s Early Childhood Development Center and the Universit y Committee on Women Facult y and Students, which according to its homepage helps to evaluate the “policies, practices and the general env ironment of the Universit y as they relate to women facult y and students.”

park.”

After that, participants will visit the west side of South Bend, where a speaker will give a talk about the revitalization occurring in the area, she said The Monday evening activities include making cards for the Sisters of the Holy Cross and having pizza delivered to campus, Choinacky said.

“We have scheduled a heritage tour at [the Church of Our Lady of Loretto] with the Sisters,” she said.

Tuesday evening, participants will have dinner at Go’s house and then attend a Second City benefit for Howard Park, Choinacky said.

“The Morris Performing Arts Center is bringing the Second City here for a

benefit, and so I thought that really fit well with our mission here of helping out our parks department,” she said.

Students will also have the opportunity to participate in service projects in the community, Choinacky said.

“Anyone who wants to [can] come with me to Christ Child Society, where they offer free clothing to families,” she said. “A group of us would go and do that in the morning and then meet up afterwards for a light brunch at a downtown local restaurant.”

She said students will also get to take a percussion class at the Potawatomi Conservatory. “[The conservatory has] Afro drumming with an instructor in the greenhouse,”

she said.

Other planned events include walking to the Indiana University-South Bend campus and traveling to the west side of downtown, including the Washington District, Choinacky said.

“We would do a scavenger hunt in the different areas and go to the Studebaker Museum,” she said.

Throughout the week, Choinacky said students will visit local restaurants in different parts of South Bend.

“This is an opportunity to get our students out there to really embrace all the great things we have to offer in the South Bend region,” Choinacky said. “I want everyone to fall in love with South Bend the way I have,

and if … the Staycation is the only time that [students] are able to really get outside of the Saint Mary’s campus, I’m glad they were able to do it with us.”

Having grown up locally, Choinacky said she loves South Bend and wishes to share this love with students.

Choinacky said registration for “Staycation” is currently under the attendance level necessary for the event to take place. She said students can contact her to register.

“I think it gets a little lonely if you’re here all week, so why not have all these fun things to do? ” she said.

Fol low u s on T w it ter. @O bser v erN DS M C

Contact Sara Schlecht at sschlecht01@saintmarys.edu

4

NEWS

The observer | wednesday, october 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Title VII Continued from page 1

in which a female employee was denied partnership and was then told she did not dress, act or talk femininely. She won her discrimination case in a landmark decision.

“Taking gender into account v iolates Title VII, and the court held that this ev idence was gender stereot y ping and that, in general, the definition of gender stereot y ping misconduct, is founded on this insistence that men and women comply to certain norms,” Juarez said.

Related to the Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins case was Smith v. Cit y of Salem, in which the U.S. Court of Appeals determined discrimination against transgender employees is a v iolation of Title VII. Juarez connected this to the current case in front of the Supreme Court in that they must now determine how transgender identit y and Title VII relate.

In their opening arguments for R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC & Aimee Stephens, plaintiff

Violence Continued From Page 1

the face of this violence.

“I know the most important heritage is not contained in stone, but in human beings,” Saldaña said.

Saldaña then brought attention to the statistics of the w idespread displacement crisis in the Middle East. She said over 70.8 million people were forced out of their homes, w ith 25.9 million people forced out of their countries.

Moreover, this displacement affects children more than any other age group — half of those who were forced out of their countr y were under the age of 18, she said.

Saldaña said she traveled and lived in the Middle East to a gain firsthand understanding of the crisis and to experience displacement on a more personal, human level.

“I was interested in these

attorneys argued Title VII does cover transgender indiv iduals.

“The court said there should be no difference w ith the protected categor y of sex,” Sanders said. “If you fire someone because of a change in sex, it is the same thing. It is discrimination against sex.”

Sanders said past cases related to R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC & Aimee Stephens are also related to arguments at the Supreme Court.

“Is this about taking into account sex and what it means to discriminate on sex, … or is this just a ver y, sort of hy per-formalistic argument? No, it is because of sex,” Sanders said. “If a female employee wants to date a male, that’s fine. But if a male wants to date a male, that’s not fine and they get punished for it. That just seems like straight for ward discrimination because of sex.”

Hively recounted her stor y in the case Hively v. Iv y Tech. Hively had worked at the communit y college for several years but was denied job opportunities several times due to her sexualit y.

communities, so I went to Jordan to find them,” she said.

Saldaña spoke of a w ide variet y of people she met during her time ranging from a professional musician to a talented political cartoonist.

“We often forget that refugees are ever yone, they are mothers and fathers and chefs and artists and doctors and scientists,” Saldaña said.

She said a woman named Hannah had a particularly profound impact on her understanding of the migrants’ strife. This woman, after losing her home and her countr y, decided she would not lose her culture as well, and took action to preser ve her sense of self and personal identit y, Saldaña said.

“It took meeting Hannah to understand that when we are talking about 70.8 million people, we are talking about 70.8 million people that count,” Saldaña said.

“She taught me the depth

Courtesy of Katelyn Ringrose

Jim Obergefell, plaintiff in Obergefell v. Hodges, speaks at the McCartan Courtroom in an event sponsored by the LGBT Law Forum. The group also sponsored Thursday’s panel on Title VII and the LGBT community.

As an openly lesbian woman, she said she felt w ronged that the school had discriminated against her. She filed the case, and after several years she won.

To conclude the discussion, the panelists answered audience questions.

One question addressed

and fullness of each person and what’s at stake in human life.”

Despite being put through incredibly horrible circumstances, many of the people she inter v iewed maintained hope and kept their culture alive, Saldaña said.

“A ll of us have something inside of us that can’t be taken away and our job as stor y tellers is to bring that out, to notice it,” Saldaña said.

Saldaña said not all of the people she focused on had their moments of triumph, however. This was certainly not the case of a grandfather and his grandson who were forced apart due to the grandfather lacking required paper work, she said.

“How can we not bond our hearts to theirs. … A ll of us are displaced, all of us are just looking to belong,” she said.

Contact John Salem at jsalem2@nd.edu

concerns that confirming that Title VII protects transgender indiv iduals from discrimination, “mass chaos” would ensue.

At the end, the panelists offered their thoughts on how the case might turn out. Sanders stated he finds it probable Justice Gorsuch

w ill be conv inced by the plaintiff’s arguments, as was indicated in the preliminar y stages of the case. His vote could mean the Supreme Court would tip in favor of the plaintiffs.

Aid

managed investment program, headed by Scott Malpass, created value-added compared to the 60/40 index blend of $ 8.3 billion for the 20 years.

Over the same time, spending distributions in support of the Universit y’s mission grew at an annualized rate of 9.5% , amounting to $4.6 billion, the press release said.

Malpass, v ice president and chief investment officer, said in the release Notre Dame works carefully to distribute the money in the endow ment in a manner that effectively utilizes Universit y benefactor gifts.

“We are committed to outstanding stewardship of our donors’ generosit y w ith prudent investment and spending policies,” Malpass said in the release. “The grow th of the endow ment prov ides ever-increasing resources for financial aid, and also for the great work being done by our students and facult y around the world.”

CONtinued from page 1

the University endowment pool, with the median grant amount for first-year students with demonstrated financial need currently at $42,600. This grant aid does not require repay ment, the release said.

W hile the pool began w ith a value of $13.1 billion, the endow ment pool returned 7.2% for the 2019 fiscal year, so the year w ill close w ith a value of approx imately $13.8 billion.

Over the past 20 years, Notre Dame has ranked among the highest institutional investors, according to the release, w ith the Universit y earning an annualized endow ment pool return of 10% .

In addition to the high annualized return, a 60/40 index blend of stocks and bonds returned 5.5% , also over the same 20-year period.

Notre Dame’s actively

Suppor t st udent journa lism .

Don ate to T he Obser ver. n d s m c o b s e r v e r. c o m /d o n a t e

Contact Jackson Oxler at joxler@nd.edu

The observer | wednesday, october 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

5

DIANE PARK | The Observer

6

The observer | Wednesday, October 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Questions not asked

Inside Column

Solo senior

Laura McKernan Show Some Skin

Kendra Osinski Photographer

I am a senior on the lacrosse team at Saint Mary’s. Like many others, I have felt these past four years slip away all too quickly. I feel so accomplished to have put forth so much time and effort to a team that has become like my family. The lacrosse team has made me grow, has shaped me into the person I am today and has shaped my identity. I will carry the lessons I’ve learned for the rest of my life and will keep the friends I’ve made close to my heart forever.

While this team has become some of my closest friends, it has been lonely at the same time.

As I said before, I am a senior on the lacrosse team, but what I failed to mention is that I am the only senior. Since my sophomore year, I have been a class of one. At first the team and I thought of it as a joke. On team media days when we would take group pictures by class I would raise my hand really high and shout “Sophomores over here!” Everyone would laugh because I was the only one. This went on for my junior year season and will probably happen again during my senior year.

Now, in my senior season there are stories and experiences that my coaches and I share, but stories that not one of my other teammates know about. I will go up to other teammates and say “Remember when this happened or that happened,” and they will look at me like I’m crazy. I have to remember that I was the only one there that knows the story and the feelings that came with it. I have no other teammate my age that knows what it has been like to be in my class for these past four years.

Even though lacrosse is a spring sport and we haven’t started our traditional season yet, I feel mixed emotions about Senior Day that is to come. It will be fantastic and a day to remember. The team has renamed “Senior Day” to “Kendra Day” because it will be a day devoted to the single member of the senior class — me. While it will be a fun-filled day just for me, I will be sad to not be able to share the day with other people. I will have no other classmates to walk the field with me, no other people to be announced, and no other people to take a class picture with.

If you have been on a sports team, you know that you lean on your teammates and that they lean on you in return. While I have many people who support me and want me to do well, it is sad to not have a class to share these memories with. However, I wouldn’t change my experience with the lacrosse team in any way, shape or form. This has been some of the greatest four years of my life and while I would want to share this time with additional teammates in the class of 2020, it would have drastically changed the dynamic of the last four years.

I want to thank the Saint Mary’s athletic department, my coaches and my teammates, both past and present. I hope that my teammates read this and take the time they have left to cherish the moments with their teammates, both in their class and outside. I hope they use great poses for their class pictures, and I hope they walk together hand-in-hand on their senior night, finishing their last home game together. Thank you Saint Mary’s lacrosse and Go Belles!

Contact Kendra Osinski at kosinski01@saintmarys.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

I was recently hospitalized and missed about a week of school.

Now, missing that much class alone is enough to invoke insane levels of anxiety and worry in most Notre Dame students, not even beginning to address the added stress of the reason for the hospitalization in the first place.

So yeah, I’ve had a pretty stressful semester — and it isn’t even fall break yet.

You know one of the things I have noticed through this experience though? Many people don’t know how to handle situations where you don’t give them all the information.

I have had many of my acquaintances — friends from class, fellow club members, coworkers, etc. — ask me how I was doing and if I was alright when I returned following my hospitalization, but none have outright asked me what happened. The conversation typically goes something like the following. Them: “How have you been? Are you alright? You were out a while!”

Me: “Yeah, I’m doing better now, thanks!” Them: “Oh. Okay.”

And then the subject gets changed.

But there is always this awkward pause in which we stew in the stalemate of them not wanting to ask why I was there and my not wanting to volunteer the information to someone I am not sure cares or if I trust. It makes sense and follows social protocols, but I don’t like that this is what we default to.

After one of the hardest experiences of my life, I should not have to periodically sit in silence as someone I kind of know tries to surreptitiously assess my body as if to diagnose what was wrong with me without my volunteering anything.

I wonder what they see. Do they think I favor one side over the other? Do they swear they can hear a rasp in my voice or a pained undertone to my words? Do they guess that the lack of

an obvious physical pain means it was a mental one?

Stop guessing. Just ASK. Now, not everyone may want to be asked. I can only speak for myself, but if someone does not want you to know the truth they can choose to deflect or ask for privacy. Sometimes, though, people are really willing to talk if you take the time and the care to ask. We as a culture need to stop letting shame and fear control what we do and do not talk about and be more open and willing to converse about tough topics.

My therapist recently recommended that I listen to the researcher and storyteller Brené Brown for this reason. Her research is on shame and the role of vulnerability in making us happier and more confident people. So, what better way to put this into practice then to put your vulnerability in print, right?

So, as you may or may not have been able to guess, the truth is I spent the week in a mental hospital after trying to kill myself.

And I still struggle with my mental health every day. This is not something that we should be scared of talking about and the fact that we are, in many cases, just adds to the problem.

So ask. Start a dialogue. Even if they don’t want to answer you, just showing you care and are interested in their well-being may go a long way.

Laura McKernan is a senior. Contact her at lmckerna@nd.edu Show Some Skin is a student-run initiative committed to giving voice to unspoken narratives about identity and difference. Using the art of storytelling as a catalyst for positive social change across campus, we seek to make Notre Dame a more open and welcoming place for all. If you are interested in breaking the silence and getting involved with Show Some Skin, email pdavis6@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Letter to the editor

How cities show me who matters I’m not much of a city girl. Any of my friends can tell you you’ll sooner see me in a National Park than joining streams of nameless crowds in downtown Manhattan or the heart of Chicago. Yet I’ve spent a decent amount of time in cities during my time at Notre Dame, and not just in the thriving South Bend metropolis. I have participated in two Urban Plunge servicelearning immersions through the Center for Social Concerns, and each one has led me to a paradoxical and poignant realization about what — or, better, who — matters. It’s not about reconnecting myself with nature: it’s about people, because it’s people who matter and form a Church of action, justice and hope.

My first Urban Plunge experience brought my team to Minneapolis during the two coldest days of that winter season — so cold, in fact, there was a health emergency in the city as public officials struggled to find enough shelter spaces for people experiencing homelessness to stay. When I heard about one Minnesotan organization’s housing-first model to approach poverty, the weather outside made me think about how important it is to get people into their own homes, not just for the sake of empowering them to change their lives, but also for their safety and well-being. I was startled with my own privilege: even on an immersion learning about the realities of poverty, I had a rich and comfortable place to sleep in a local church.

Public health crises and emergency winter shelters won’t put people under roofs forever, but giving them ownership to live in their space and to change their lives may. People matter enough to have the right to stable and warm housing.

On our second night in Minneapolis we headed to dinner with a non-profit which provides free meals to anybody who arrives. I didn’t realize that this meant us, too. Though I had served meals in food kitchens and shelters before, I had never been on the receiving side of the counter, nor had I ever learned the names of any of the people I’d served. Things changed during this dinner. Following the guests, we walked through the food line and chose seats at tables scattered through the dining space. It wasn’t long after I sat down when my table neighbor asked me a question, and not long after that before I was floored listening to her life story. I marveled that I had never once thought a true act of hospitality could be sitting among people and receiving their stories and truths. People matter enough to

not just be given a meal, but to be given a space to initiate and enjoy a conversation.

I met Roger (I’ve changed his name to protect his privacy) the next day on a tour of the city, an experience distinct from the typical historical or cultural urban tour. Roger had experienced houselessness in the Twin Cities for almost a decade, intermittently trading his tents for beds in shelters; he based his Minneapolis tour on his haunts during those years without a house. Walking through public buildings that blasted heat in the cold winter days, he told us how he used to linger in these spaces, not long enough to get booted out for loitering, but just long enough to warm his feet. We visited a street corner where, on a friendly day, he would stand with a sign and make close to $100. He pointed out the tent camp where he used to find community with other folks experiencing houselessness. When I was introduced to him, Roger had a different reality. He was a seven-year homeowner and worked full time, thanks to the advocacy of a local non-profit. His past encounters with poverty, alcohol abuse and arrest didn’t hold him back from a different encounter with an organization who saw him as dignified and deserving of work and a home of his own. People matter enough to earn a second chance (and a third, and a fourth).

Dorothy Day wrote in her autobiography, “The only answer in this life, to the loneliness we are all bound to feel, is community. The living together, working together, sharing together, loving God and loving our brother, and living close to him in community so we can show our love to Him.” Yes, I love the outdoors, the more rural, uninhabited, wilder spaces in our world. But I also love people, especially people dwelling in our urban environments. I love working with them, walking with them, sharing meals and moments of life with them in community. I love challenging myself to dig deeper into these communities to find ways to make change — even if change is as quiet as learning someone’s name and listening to their story.

People have helped me see mercy and goodness in cities. It is people who matter, and it is people who carry the power and hope of Christ to the world.

Terese Schomogyi senior CSC Seminars Task Force

The observer | Wednesday, October 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

77

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The USC band My junior year in high school I returned from a v isit to Notre dame. My parents asked, “W hat do you think? ” I said that Notre Dame is the only place I want to go.

I love Notre Dame.

Now I’m 58, class of 1983. I just attended the ND vs. USC game this past weekend.

My daughter is a USC freshmen coming to ND as a member of the USC band. She got into the USC School Of Cinematic Arts all by herself.

Was I excited for the game ! And, thank you God, ND won.

W hen I left the game, two obser vations bothered me. First, the USC band came from Los Angeles for three nights. (They returned to school Sunday to, for some, midterms). They practiced on Friday in Chicago, Saturday out on Ricci Field and marched into the stadium to

Section 117 to support the Trojans. They spent the entire game buried under the speaker volume from the stadium’s south screen. The sound clash was ridiculous.

Second, at halftime the USC band marched dow n to perform. This five-minute performance was the highlight of the four-day trip. The Notre Dame hometow n crowd welcomed them and sent them off w ith boos. This treatment was not nice.

This was not the ND that I love — the universit y that takes the high road and w ill tell you so, and that puts out grads that really do treat others as they w ish to be treated.

I would never be w riting this letter or even have noticed this treatment of the USC band if my daughter wasn’t performing — a new participant in another great ND vs. USC rivalr y game.

Yup,

Shake dow n the thunder!

Fight on!

Do it on the field, in football in uniforms bet ween the whistles.

As a host and home-game crowd, put the opponent’s band where they can enjoy supporting their team w ithout being drow ned out by stadium speakers. And PLE ASE, show some class and dignified behav ior. Cheer the v isiting band at halftime. They are there to have fun and root for a w in, like we are.

We’re better than we were Saturday toward the USC team band.

I hope passing on these obser vations is well taken.

Paul Derba class of ’83 Oct. 14

American companies need to stand up to China Patrick McKelvey With the Current

For many months now, hundreds of thousands of protestors have lined the streets of Hong Kong to denounce the erosion of their personal liberties at the hands of China. The cit y and China have a complex relationship, operating under a “one countr y, two systems” structure that allows (or is supposed to allow) Hong Kong to remain semi-autonomous and self-governing.

This arrangement, it seems, is in jeopardy.

Transparently, I don’t know all the details of the complicated situation. But I also don’t know how relevant they are.

W hat I do know is that President X i’s China is a totalitarian regime. The Communist Part y of China (CPC), the only part y in the state, rules w ith near-zero room for dissention; they amended their constitution to allow X i to remain in power for life. I know that it is a state of mass sur veillance, that any news or media that could be even slightly damaging to the CPC is censored. I know the government gravely restricts religious freedom, that over a million of the countr y’s Uighur Muslim population is interned in “re-education camps” that seek to destroy their heritage. I know that the largely peaceful protestors of Hong Kong have been met w ith tear gas, rubber bullets and beatings for their actions.

I also know that, in their quest to remain free, the protestors have made an appeal to the United States. Signs and graffitied walls have been embla zoned w ith the immortal words of Patrick Henr y: “Give me libert y or give me death.” It ser ves a stark and heartwarming reminder that though the centuries and an ocean div ide Hong Kong from the American Revolution, its ideals are timeless. It embodies a belief central to the human condition — that t y ranny prohibits any of us from truly liv ing, that a person can only truly

live in freedom. These are the ideas on which the United States was founded, the ideas the nation still stands for across the world today.

It seems some American-headquarted companies, however, don’t care as much as they should.

They are fully content to bend the knee to China and protect their business interests there. Last week, Houston Rockets general manager Dar yl Morey t weeted (and deleted) “Fight for freedom, stand w ith Hong Kong.” Later that evening, Rockets ow ner Tilman Fertitta took to Tw itter to assert that Morey in no way speaks for the organization. The damage, however, had already been done — the Chinese Basketball Association announced that it has cut all ties w ith the Rockets organization.

The next day, ESPN’s senior news editor Chuck Salituro issued a memo demanding that any discussion of Morey’s t weet avoid any direct mention of the China-Hong Kong situation. This resulted in commentators awk wardly dancing around the issue and completely misinforming v iewers as to the nature of Morey’s t weet and to why those in Hong Kong are protesting.

ESPN and the Rockets are not the only companies acquiescing to China. Apple recently censored the Taiwan f lag emoji. Nike removed all Houston Rockets apparel from their Chinese online store. Vans censored a pro-Hong Kong design in their sneaker contest. Audi issued an apolog y for using an “incorrect” map of China that did not include Taiwan.

As per usual, the worst offender is probably Holly wood. As film has become an increasingly popular medium in the countr y, and Chinese box-office returns have surpassed those in America, studios have become more and more likely to cater to Chinese audiences. In the new “Star Wars” trilog y, John Boyega plays Finn, one of the stor y’s main protagonists. Yet Disney chose barely feature him on the 2015 international “The Force Awakens” poster and

instead highlighted only white characters. 2012’s “Red Daw n” had to change its antagonist from Chinese to North Korean for fear of back lash.

“Pixels” removed a scene featuring the destruction of the Great Wall because “it w ill not benefit the Chinese release at all.”

Film studios and other American companies are happy to speak out on domestic issues. In 2017, the NBA moved its A ll-Star Game out of North Carolina in protest of anti-LGBTQ laws.

Issues affecting the U.S. are of course easier to comment on, and in most cases, more relevant to the company. But it’s not as if their business crosses no borders. These are multinational corporations that earn a great deal of revenue from Chinese consumers, and they often rely on Chinese employees and manufacturing. They should not watch idly as a totalitarian regime attempts to dissolve the freedoms of Hong Kong.

It’s naive of me to think for-profit companies would act against their bottom lines and in the interest of the greater good. I don’t expect them to. But I also didn’t expect to see “Give me libert y or give me death” on the streets of Hong Kong. I did not expect these protestors to draw inspiration from the American Revolution. I think if any thing could get a powerful corporation to take a stand against one of its largest markets, it would be that. Henr y’s words remind us that libert y is more important than life. It’s certainly more important than profit.

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

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

Submit a Letter to the Editor:

viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com

8

Classifieds

The observer | wednesday, october 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Look back before you move forward. Rely on experience to help you avoid attracting individuals who will not treat you properly. Building a home base that is conducive to achieving the goals you set will be the most important factor moving forward. Discipline and having trust in your ability will be required. Believe in yourself, and you’ll thrive. Your numbers are 8, 15, 21, 24, 30, 38, 46.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Something that looks good will tempt you, but before you make a move, be observant and consider the consequence of your actions. Don’t let someone’s bragging make you feel you are missing out or have less.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take charge and bring about the changes necessary to advance. Look at your relationships, and consider the changes that will enhance the connections you have with others. Letting go of whatever holds you back is long overdue.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Keep your secrets to yourself. If you reveal personal thoughts to someone in confidence, you will end up being disappointed. Put your energy into physical fitness, tidying up unfinished chores or an exciting challenge. Don’t buy into someone else’s scheme.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You can make a difference if you use your intelligence to help someone in need. Your perspective will shine a new light on a stagnating problem. Don’t let anger take over when fixing what’s broken is all that’s required.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take care of business. If you spend your time pontificating instead of physically getting things done, you will face criticism as well as disappointment. Don’t let someone outmaneuver you by taking over and getting all the credit. Take pride in what you do.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Consider your options, and start the ball rolling. How you handle situations, people and partnerships will make a difference in the outcome. Show kindness and consideration, but don’t lose sight of your goal. A change will be useful for you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Sign up for whatever sparks your interest. Live, learn and associate with those who push you forward instead of holding you back. Be a doer and a leader, not a follower. Make positive changes that will encourage saving and nurturing.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Learn by observing others, talking to experts or engaging in events that challenge you to use your mental and physical skills.

Be bold, try new things and make personal changes that excite you. Romance is featured and will enhance your life.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Refuse to let someone manipulate you. If something seems far-fetched, go directly to the source and ask for details. Take care of responsibilities first, or someone will point out your shortcomings. Don’t reveal secret information.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Stay focused on what you want to achieve. You’ve got the right combination to balance both home and work responsibilities, so don’t let a petty incident interfere with what’s important. A strong suggestion will encourage more significant support. Make romance a priority.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take a closer look at your assets, and see if your budget will withstand an expense you’ve been considering. Refuse to let anyone talk you into something you cannot handle financially, emotionally or physically. Practicality and a minimalist attitude are warranted.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take a different approach to the way you handle your money, a legal matter or health issues. Ask an expert for advice, but make a decision based on what you feel you can handle. Romance is encouraged, and a commitment looks promising.

Birthday Baby: You are protective, diligent and secretive. You are sensitive and insightful.

sorin elementary | ian salzman

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

Work Area

Make checks payable to and mail to: The Observer

P.O. Box 779 Notre Dame, IN 46556

Published Monday through Friday, The Observer is a vital source of information on people and events in the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross communities.

Join the more than 13,000 readers who have found The Observer an indispensable link to the two campuses. Please complete the accompanying form and mail it today to receive The Observer in your home.

Enclosed is $130 for one academic year Enclosed is $75 for one semester Name Address City State Zip

DAILY

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, october 16, 2019 | The Observer

Volleyball

Sports Authority

Westbrook won’t be booed in OKC Charlotte Edmonds Managing Editor

I’ve thought long and hard about this Sports Authority.

The timing had to be perfect. I needed to allow myself enough time to process what happened, but knew that I was facing an inevitable deadline. And now, with the NBA regular season a mere week away, I’m forced to face the facts — things are going to be different in Oklahoma City.

Just over a year ago, I wrote a column defending Russell Westbrook. I talked about how a city that’s often been defined by natural disasters, limited economic diversity and a tragic bombing 25 years ago felt a sense of pride and relevance when Westbrook took the court.

Having been spurned three years ago by another superstar for the glamor of the West Coast, Westbrook’s — and later Paul George’s — decision to stay with a small market that had built itself on the NBA Draft spoke volumes to our community.

And then July 6 hit. In the wee hours of that Saturday morning, Twitter lit up as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski dropped arguably one of the biggest “Woj bombs” in NBA offseason history when he announced the Thunder were trading George to the Clippers in exchange for a record-setting seven picks — four unprotected first-round, one protected first-round and two pick swaps — in addition for two starters, Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

However, it quickly became evident that George was a betting chip to a much more publicized offseason move: Kawhi Leonard. Having made it clear to Clippers executives that in order to get the two-time Finals MVP they needed to get George, the Thunder stripped the Clippers of all future trade assets in the process. This sparked an avalanche of moves in the following weeks as the Thunder went in full-blown rebuild mode, trading rising star Jerami Grant to Denver and eventually Westbrook to the Rockets, reuniting him with former Oklahoma City star James Harden in exchange for Chris Paul.

While this series of trades was devastating, there was something so tragically perfect about it. Built out of the ashes of the Seattle Supersonics, this team had inspired a generation of basketball fans with its high-energy, unapologetic style of play. It had been to the peaks at 23 and 24 and tasted the anguish of loss. Much of it was bad luck. Double shoulder surgery to George, a dirty play

on Westbrook’s knee in the postseason, limited cap space in a small market. Yet that painful memory of Damien Lillard’s shot soaring over George’s arm while Westbrook looked on symbolized so much more than the end of a season.

There’s something strangely comforting about the fact that each of these traded players is now situated to compete for an NBA title. General manager Sam Presti made sure not to repeat the same mistakes of countless teams before that had kept disgruntled superstars around only to watch their team crumble under the weight of locker-room drama.

However, to talk about this team, it’s impossible to not talk about Westbrook specifically.

As the longest-tenured player with the same team at the time prior to the trade this past summer, the Thunder came to embody all that Westbrook is.

Beloved by his own fans, and despised by everyone else, he is fiercely loyal, even up until his final days with the Thunder.

In the weeks that followed this trade, multiple pundits on ESPN speculated Westbrook will be greeted with boos come Jan. 9 when he makes his return to Chesapeake Arena. I’ve got news for you: That couldn’t be further from the truth. Borrowing a line from my dad in the weeks following the trades, grown men will cry (my dad will be one of those grown men). While there’s no denying the bittersweet ending this past July marked, there’s an overwhelming sense of gratitude among the Thunder fanbase. For the past 11 years, we’ve experienced consistent success and watched our city grow exponentially in response. It’s hard to imagine that one person is responsible for this, and it was by all means a communal effort, but it’s impossible to deny the centrality of Westbrook through it all. He — and his family — represented the resilience and loyalty that flow throughout Oklahoma City, a city where everyone seems to know everyone and one that’s constantly seeking to be bigger than it actually is.

Things are going to be different in Oklahoma City this season. In fact, they might be different for a few seasons. But not all hope is lost. While other teams have gone down the path of bitter contract disputes and player frustrations, this franchise recognized the end of a road and chose to part ways.

Contact Charlotte Edmonds at cedmond3@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Continued from page 12

hitter Sydney Bent led the Irish in kills with 13 each.

Wake Forest was able to dominate the second set winning 20-25, but the Irish bounced back and were able to take the next two sets 2520 and 25-22.

On Oct. 13 in Durham, North Carolina, the Irish bested the Blue Devils 3-1 to improve to 6-0 in conference play, matching the best start for an Irish squad in ACC play since the 2016 team.

The Irish were able to take the first set against Duke 26-24 with kills coming from Meuth and Bent sealing the set. Niego led the squad in kills against the Blue

Devils tallying 16, with Bent and Meuth following close behind with 14 and 13, respectively. Sophomore setter Zoe Nuenz played a crucial part in these points tallying 47 assists on the day.

The Cardinals (13-3, 6-0 ACC) are coming off of a seven-game win streak and are currently in second place in the ACC. The Cardinals are one of three teams that are undefeated in conference play, the others being the Irish and No. 3 Pitt. Although all three teams are 6-0 in the ACC, the Panthers have a better overall record than both the Irish and the Cardinals. The Cardinals recruiting class was ranked 16th in the NCA A, and

9

while offseason concerns were focused on the loss of libero Molly Sauer, the ACC defensive player of the year last season, Louisville has seemed to find a groove with its new and possibly improved squad. The Cardinals have one of the toughest schedules in the ACC as they are set to face off against Pitt (17-1, 6-0 ACC) twice this year, but with both the Irish and the Cardinals being undefeated in conference play, neither team should be coming into this matchup expecting an easy win.

The Cardinals will come into town on Wednesday and the match is set to start at 7 p.m. in Purcell Pavilion.

It will be broadcast on the ACC Network.

Charlie Ortega Guitarro | The Observer

Irish sophomores Lauren Wenzel and Sydney Bent attempt to block a spike during a 3-0 victory against Valparaiso at Purcell Pavilion on Sept. 4. Notre Dame currently has a 13-3 record this season.

Anna Mason | The Observer

Irish senior outside hitter Jemma Yeadon spikes the ball during a 3-1 victory over Wake Forest at the Purcell Pavilion on Oct. 6, 2018. Yeadon was an All-ACC Second Team honoree last season.

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

10

Sports

The observer | wednesday, october 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Hockey Continued from page 12

that lifted Notre Dame to a Big Ten Championship victory.

But now, Burke will have to lead in more than one capacity, and although all signs point to him as the guy, even he admits that this is the most intense leadership position he has ever taken on in his hockey career.

“I was in a leadership role last year; I was an alternate captain,” he said. “And I’ve been captain of teams in my past. But I think this is probably the most intense version of leadership that I’ve ever had.

And my goal is just to keep building off the success and the culture and principles that we’ve had in place over the last three years, because we’ve been really successful. Our team culture has been really good.

I’m just trying to build on that and then add my personal strengths to that list and help try to just add a couple of things of my own.”

But in any case, Burke is immensely proud to be named the captain of the Notre Dame hockey team. The senior went on to say that this pride is in large part a product of the great captains that he got to play under during his time in South Bend.

“I think it’s one of the proudest I’ve ever been since I’ve been here.

We’ve had so many great captains.

I think about my freshman year, when I came in and Cal Petersen was captain. He was definitely a guy I looked up to a lot. I don’t know if I ever realized that I’d be in the same position as him when I was a freshman, so it’s a really big honor and I’m really happy about it.”

Of course, every leader, in any capacity, serves with a particular style, along with a set of principles which underlie their leadership.

Burke said that although he may not be the most noticeably vocal guy on the ice, he looks to lead by example and hold guys accountable to each other.

“One of the things I thought about — knowing that I was going to be captain going into the year — is just to try and be myself as much as I possibly can,” he said.

“Because, obviously something about myself is what put me in this situation. I think I’m more of a leadby-example kind of guy. I try to work really hard in all the aspects — school, hockey. I wouldn’t say I’m like the most flamboyantly vocal guy or anything. I’m just kind of stern, and I just try to hold guys accountable. I guess that’s my style.”

But even prior to the start of the regular season, and now, after the Irish swept Air Force in their season opener, a lot of the things Burke wants to emphasize among his teammates seem to be in a good place. The offense is deep, and a lot of those seniors who have developed a confidence in their game — which will foster greater scoring among the top line — are already playing into the culture that Notre Dame has built. And Burke expressed an immense amount of confidence in that Notre Dame hockey culture and in the guys who will lead the offense this year.

“Our offense is super deep. We’re super deep throughout the lineup. I

think there’s only one or two freshmen that aren’t going to be playing right off the bat. So, right away we’ve got a ton of confidence in the lineup. Our top two lines have all pretty much been top-two-line guys for the most part last year. So, I think just from watching offseason training and just preseason, guys have stepped up their game offensively and taken that next step with their confidence. So, I think we’ll be even better than last year,” he said.

That training was on display on a national stage earlier this month when the Irish bested the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) 4-2.

“I think it was really encouraging [against the U.S. National Team Development Program]. I think our top lines were really good, given that we haven’t had that much time to play with each other or anything.

I am confident, because I think … we have more guys that have just stepped up their game this year, that can have more confidence in those top-line roles to score. I think we’ll figure out our power play. It’s super, super early on. We’re just trying to figure out what combos fit and what’s the best way to go about it. But, once we get some practice in our belt, I think we’ll be good.”

And this year, interestingly enough, Cal Burke’s younger brother, sophomore forward Cam Burke, will be an integral part of this offense. Both Cal and head coach Jeff Jackson have expressed confidence in the younger Burke but have also emphasized the need for improvement. Ironically, Cam Burke had a freshman season similar to that of his older brother.

The younger Burke showed promise, scoring four goals and an assist in 32 games. He even showed a glimpse of the clutch gene that his brother has shown throughout his career, as Cam netted the game winner for the Irish against Michigan State last year. Cal Burke said that he looks forward to what his younger brother will contribute to the offense this year after training with him during the offseason.

“I think last year he was just trying to earn his keep a little bit,” he said. “He was just trying to do everything, all the little things, do things the right way, show that he’s really a team player. And I think, this year, I trained with him all summer, and he trained wicked hard. He really put a lot of time into the offensive aspect of his game, and I think he’s just being himself more on the ice. He’s playing with that much more confidence, and trusting in his ability as opposed to just trying to satisfy the coaches.”

Burke went on to talk about some other key guys in the offense, especially guys among the top line that he believes have improved their game over the offseason and have developed a newfound confidence which will allow their game to reach its full potential. Among some of these key pieces are senior forward Mike O’Leary, sophomore forward Michael Graham, sophomore forward Alex Steeves and junior forward Colin Theisen. “[O’Leary] is one of my closest friends on the team, and I’ve always seen how much potential he has. He just has that offensive

ann curtis | The Observer

Irish sophomore Alex Steeves looks down ice during Notre Dame’s 5-1 victory against RPI at Compton Family Ice Arena on Dec. 1, 2018. Steeves played 39 games and had seven assists and two goals last season.

instinct that you can’t really teach.

He’s a really smart player, and you saw that at the end of last year, when he picked up his game a lot.

I think I and everyone expect a lot from him. I think his confidence is in a really good place right now, which is key. So, I think we and everyone can expect a lot from him,” Burke said. “Michael Graham … came on at the end of last year too.

Just another guy who, once he finds his confidence in his game, it’s hard to compete with him because he’s just got so much offensive skill, just so much talent that, when he’s really on, he can be good. And he’s progressing a lot. Everyone really in the top-six I think is going to come on well. I think Colin Theisen has been playing super well. He was really good in preseason, really a lot more poised and calm with the puck than he was in the past.

I think Alex Steeves, he’s going to come on. He’s another one of those guys who is going to get his offensive chance as opposed to being a shut-down role from last year. He’s got a lot of offensive upside.”

Burke even commented on the play of freshman goaltender Ryan Bischel, who got his chance to see the ice in Notre Dame’s preseason game while senior goaltender Cale Morris is recovering from an injury.

Burke said he was impressed by the freshman’s ability to keep his head in the game despite giving up two goals early on.

“I thought he was great. I mean, he let in two in the first [period] but then nothing in the second and third. And to be able to let in a couple early and then stay steady and strong and not let it get to your head for the rest of the game — that’s really encouraging,” he said. “You need a goalie that can stay calm and has that confidence in himself. So, we were really encouraged.

And he’s another guy who has been good in training camp. So, you know, I felt good for him that he had that kind of game.”

But you can’t talk about Notre Dame’s offense without addressing

its propensity for late-game wins, especially in the past few years.

During Notre Dame’s National Championship run in the 20172018 season, the Irish won countless games in the third period.

Even in the Frozen Four against Michigan, then-captain Jake Evans scored with only seconds left in the third period to send the Irish to the championship against Minnesota Duluth. In Notre Dame’s preseason game against the USNTDP, the Irish went down 2-0 early on but came back for a 4-2 win. And even though that propensity for runs later in the game isn’t ideal, Burke said this early comeback win, in a way, serves as a promising sign of this team’s future.

“I think now, looking back, being down 2-0 but then being able to come back — that was really encouraging,” he said. “We were able to handle that adversity so early on in a preseason game. You know, this team hasn’t had to come from behind yet, but we already have one under our belt now. It was really encouraging to see how calm guys were after the first period and going into the third. Guys were really calm. And even though it was the first game, I’m sure there were jitters but just that sense of confidence that you can kind of feel — that was really encouraging.”

And Burke said that this propensity for comeback wins and this steadfastness late in games is not just a coincidence or a result of a specific game plan; instead, it is reflective of the team’s mindset and its emphasis on certain principles which it sees as key to success. This is a team which has confidence in one another and believes that hard work truly does pay off.

“It has a lot to do with guys committing to their roles. What we’ve really been trying to preach, and what we’ve seen in the offseason, is just that hard work does pay off. I think this is probably one of the hardest-working teams that I’ve been on since I’ve been here,” he said. “And guys are really

committing to their role and knowing that all of the work they put in in the offseason and in practice — as long as they commit to doing those things and what they’ve been taught to do within their personal role — that everything is going to work out. Guys have trust in each other, where not one person feels like they need to be the hero all the time. I think it’s just a collective, ‘You know what, it’s going to happen. We don’t know from who, we don’t necessarily care from who. Everyone is just going to do exactly what they need to do.’”

Lastly, considering Notre Dame’s recent rise in the NCA A hockey scene, building a premier program in a matter of years, Burke said that the expectations are naturally raised every year. And that’s good for this team, according to him. But at the same time, this squad will try to focus on what it can accomplish and not the bar that other teams have set in the past.

“Expectations are definitely higher. I don’t think anyone underestimates us anymore. … But, I think that’s good, honestly. I think it’s good from a confidence perspective, on our team, on our players,” he said. “[Our opponents] know this is a premier program, and they have to bring it every day. And so, I think it really helps out our program. Guys know they’re part of the best team, so it plays to their own personal confidence. … We don’t try to think about trying to deal with teams in years past, but we try and think more about what we’re capable of. And I think the past success has shown us a little bit of guidance for what we’re capable of, and how to get there.”

Contact Connor Mulvena at cmulvena@nd.edu

Sports

Interhall Continued from page 12

Sponem said. “You can’t do it any other place, and the physicality of the game is a great way to play and watch football.”

So far that preparation has paid off, as the Highlanders have been dominant this season. That success is in large part due to the leadership of Tomshack, a threetime captain who plays on both sides of the ball. He’s earned himself the reputation of one of the premier linemen in the league and a key voice on the field.

“I think the captains Kyle Tomshack and Chris Wittig have elevated our play from last year to this year,” Sponem said. “In the past, we had some seriously talented guys who weren’t ver y serious about the game, but Kyle and Chris have totally come into their role as captains and [have] helped develop our team into a highly functioning one.”

True to his leadership st yle, Tomshack credited several key underclassmen as essential to the team’s success, in addition to fellow senior James Warren. “[Freshman] Peter Kavanaugh play ing running back for their first time at Notre Dame, [sophomore] Brady Fly nn, our quarterback, has also stepped up as his first year at Notre Dame play ing quarterback,” Tomshack said.

“Defensively, [freshman] Rockne Hurley has been hitting kids hard and filling in on a role that we needed.”

Sponem echoed this, citing Kavanaugh’s “great instincts for the game” as his

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, october 16, 2019 | The Observer

greatest skillset at running back.

That commitment to excellence that’s resulted from the loss two seasons ago is perhaps the Highlanders’ greatest strength.

“Commitment has been great this year,” Tomshack said. “We have a lot of new and experienced guys but ever yone has been w illing to come to practice and focus, which has created success.”

The Highlanders w ill take on A lumni Hall on Nov. 3 on the Ricci Family Fields. The Dawgs are led by seniors Christopher Garbasz, Adam Hellinghausen and junior Pete Hennessey. Posting a 1-1-1 record throughout the regular season, they bested Zahm/Keenan 14-0 this past Sunday, earning themselves a ticket to the next round of the playoffs.

Tomshack said the greatest challenge he anticipates from this second-round matchup is simply the lag time his team w ill experience from a bye weekend and fall break, going nearly a full month w ithout play ing.

“Coming off the bye and fall break w ill be challenging because we need to be ready mentally,” he said.

W hile the Highlanders are taking it one step at a time, the prospect of play ing in the stadium is certainly exciting to them.

“We are just excited about the opportunit y to play and w in in the stadium. We lost two times as freshmen and sophomores, so for myself and other seniors, I hope third time is a charm,” Tomshack said.

Contact Charlotte Edmonds at cedmond3@nd.edu

11

Write Sports. Email Connor Mulvena: cmulvena@nd.edu Paid Advertisement

Paid Advertisement

12

The observer | wednesday, october 16, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

ND Hockey

Irish captain Cal Burke looks ahead to season, pleased with squad’s newfound confidence

By CONNOR MULVENA Sports Editor

Prior to the start of the regular season, newly appointed Notre Dame hockey captain and senior forward Cal Burke addressed the media last week to preview the team’s season. He talked about his leadership style, the potential of the offensive unit which he heads, the mindset of his squad and much more prior to Notre Dame’s sweep of Air Force at home to open the season.

Burke has had a prolific career in his time at Notre Dame, and the decision to appoint him as captain is hardly a surprise in light of his achievements. Even in his freshman year, despite limited time and involvement, Burke showed signs of promise, tallying three goals and eight assists for a total of 11 points.

But Burke really became an integral piece for this Irish

hockey program, which has mounted a sort of dynasty as of late, in his following years.

He went on to pick things up in his sophomore year, showing his clutch side when he scored two goals in Notre Dame’s 5-2 victory over thenNo. 6 Minnesota. He also scored the game-winners against Michigan State and RPI. He was a key piece to an Irish offense that proved to be among the best in the nation, as they achieved a Big Ten Championship and a National Championship appearance.

In his junior year, Burke tallied a hat trick to give the Irish a 6-6 tie in the season opener against Mercyhurst.

In doing so, Burke became the first Irish player with multiple career hat tricks since Anders Lee, current player for the New York Islanders, in the 2010-2011 season. From there, Burke went on to serve as an integral piece to an offense

ann curtis | The Observer

see HOCKEY PAGE 10

Sophomore forward Jake Pivonka attempts to block an opponent’s shot during Notre Dame’s 5-1 victory over RPI at Compton Family Ice Arena on Dec. 1, 2018. Pivonka had two goals and eight assists last season.

Men’s Interhall FOOTBALL

ND Volleyball

Irish set to take on No. 23 Louisville on Wednesday Observer Sports Staff

Notre Dame will be taking on No. 23 Louisville at home Wednesday night. The Irish (13-3, 6-0 ACC) are coming off of a six-game win streak.

They shut out North Carolina and NC State at home to kick off their streak in late September and went on to win 3-1 to Clemson, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Duke.

The Irish travelled to North Carolina last weekend to take on Wake Forest (116, 1-5 ACC) on Oct. 11 and Duke (8-11, 1-5) on Oct. 13.

In Winston-Salem the Irish were able to top the Demon Deacons. The first set of the match was tightly contested throughout, and included 17 ties and six lead changes.

Freshman outside hitter Caroline Meuth sealed the set with a kill which resulted in a final first set score of 29-27. Meuth and sophomore teammates outside hitter Charley Niego and right side see VOLLEYBALL PAGE 9

Duncan motivated as playoffs near

By CHARLOTTE EDMONDS Managing Editor

anna mason | The Observer

Irish sophomore setter Zoe Nunez assists sophomore blocker Lauren Wenzel in a 3-1 victory over Wake Forest on Oct. 6, 2018.

With playoff action kicking off this past weekend, the Duncan Highlanders remain focused on the task at hand, despite having the weekend off with a bye following their first-place conference finish.

After beating St. Edward’s Hall and the combined Zahm/Keenan team by comfortable margins, the Highlanders tied Siegfried/ Knott in their final regular season match 7-7. However, their 22-point win over the Knights and Moose gave them an eight-point advantage in point differential and earned them the top seed from their side of the bracket.

For many of the veteran members of the Highlanders squad, this postseason is a chance for redemption, having lost to Dillon in the championship two seasons ago. After the Big Red went up 2-0 in the first quarter

on a safety, the Highlanders were unable to mount a comeback and connect on the offense, falling short of the title.

Senior linebacker Kyle Tomshack said that loss has motivated the team this season.

“I remember how close we came to winning the championship. Losing 2-0 hits hard and makes you want to come back stronger,” he said in an email. “It has made us practice more and get guys more involved in the team.

We don’t want to come up short again.”

W hile players like Tomshack recall the sting of that loss, other players were inspired to join the team and experience the excitement of playing in Notre Dame Stadium.

“That game … convinced me that I wanted to play the next year, because it is just such a cool interhall sport,” junior defensive back Mason see INTERHALL PAGE 11