Print Edition of The Observer for Wednesday, September 11, 2019

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Volume 54, Issue 12 | wednesday, september 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Tax resolution fails in public hearing St. Joseph County community comes together to oppose plan that would cut public library funding

By MARIA LUISA PAUL News Writer

In bold black letters, a neon pink sign read “What in the world would we do without libraries?” outside of the City Council building. Another one, splashed with bright yellow and white symbols, said “I’m kind of a big deal, I’m the library.” The sentiment plastered in these posters was carried into the South Bend Common Council, where more than 200 residents of St. Joseph County awaited the results of their opposition to a proposed tax plan.

A public hearing held on Tuesday would decide the fate of the county’s public libraries’ funding. The proposed redistribution

of local income tax (LIT) — known as Resolution 7-19 — implied that SJCPL would lose half a million dollars from its budget in order to fund a county 911 call center.

As such, students, mothers, librarians, professors, religious leaders and business-owners all took it upon themselves to demonstrate their support for St. Joseph County Public Libraries (SJCPL), filling the room up to its maximum capacity. Within seven minutes, the meeting was concluded, and the advocates walked away victorious.

Once council president Rafael Morton asked for a motion to table the resolution, a thunderous see LIBRARY PAGE 4

ND presents decarbonization, energy efforts

NATALIE WEBER | The Observer

Paul Kempf, assistant vice president for utilities and maintenance, speaks on the University’s energy efforts Tuesday in Bond Hall.

By NATALIE WEBER Assisstant Managing Editor

Notre Dame’s coal pile is dwindling as it focuses on taking advantage of other fuel sources and works towards its goal of stopping coal combustion by the end of 2020.

Assistant vice president for utilities and maintenance Paul Kempf gave updates on the University’s progress towards this goal during a presentation Tuesday afternoon.

During the talk, he focused on

NEWS PAGE 3

Notre Dame’s hydroelectric plant, purchased power, geothermal fields and a number of other strategies the University is employing to work on carbon reduction.

Kempf said efforts trace back to 2010 when the University decided to make energy a main focus of its sustainability initiatives. Working towards carbon reduction, Notre Dame has depended on a number of strategies, Kempf said. see ENERGY PAGE 4

SCENE PAGE 5

MARIA LUISA PAUL | The Observer

Over 200 St. Joseph County residents attend a public hearing regarding the funding of public libraries on Tuesday. At the hearing, a tax plan failed that would defund public libraries, causing a branch to close.

Saint Mary’s launches mental health initiative

By JULIANNA McKENNA News Writer

After Saint Mary’s received results from a World Health Organization study about depression and anxiety in college-age students, the College decided to make significant changes to how mental illness is addressed on campus.

The College created two new administrative positions to address these mental health concerns. With the help of new faculty members Becky Lindstrom and Shay Jolly Schneider, the College launched a new wholeness framework designed to address the physical, mental and emotional needs of its students, particularly through restructuring the first-year experience.

Lindstrom, a registered life coach, joined the faculty on a two-year contract to help address increasing concerns about wellness and health on campus.

“I was brought in by Saint Mary’s late last year to help the school address the rise in stress and anxiety among

VIEWPOINT PAGE 7

students,” Lindstrom said.

“The initial conversation was about creating a peer coaching cohort, so bringing in a life coach was the logical first step. Since the start, it has gotten so much bigger. There are so many other pieces involved.”

Schneider, the new director of retention and first-year experience, said she knew she needed to reach out to new students to address anxieties and improve overall well-being.

“I work closely with our first-year programming, whether that be through orientation programs, Belles Beginnings, preview days or the first-year experience course [otherwise known as Sophia Program in Liberal Learning] and the peer mentor program,” she said. “We saw that mental health was one of the main reasons that students were choosing to leave. We realized that the retention piece was not missing anything, but there was something we could do better.”

This led Lindstrom and Schneider to combine forces

to initiate campus-wide changes, starting with improving some aspects of the freshman experience and educating upperclassmen on how to provide appropriate support and resources.

“When [Lindstrom] was brought in, we talked about launching this peer coaching program which we are working on,” Schneider said.

“We are looking to recruit members during the fall semester with a formal launch in the spring.”

Lindstrom and Schneider also looked at the first-year program and decided to make some new changes.

“In the past, we’ve gotten feedback from first-year students and peer mentors that they felt there was a lack of connection between the two groups,” Schneider said.

“Peer mentors didn’t feel like they were having the best opportunities to build relationships with their first years and vice versa. We saw this as an opportunity to reboot our peer mentor program and bring some fresh energy

Football PAGE 12

ND M GOLF PAGE 12

see HEALTH PAGE 3

2

TODAY

The observer | Wednesday, september 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com

Have a question you want answered?

Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com

What’s something you think everyone should do at least one time in their life ?

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 Social Media Editor: Mary Bernard

Photo Editor: Anna Mason

Graphics Editor: Diane Park

Advertising Manager: Landry Kempf

Ad Design Manager: Ruby Le

Systems Administrator: Mike Dugan

Alex Guevara-Stevens

Rachel Walsdorf

junior Le Mans Hall

sophomore McGlinn Hall

“Explore a different country.”

“Have a pet dog.”

Adam Wiechman

Maya Elliott

senior off campus

junior Pasquerilla East

“Eat tacos.”

“Visit a national park.”

Tyler Hull

Caroline Freeman

junior Keogh Hall

junior Breen-Phillips Hall

“Go to an ND football away game.”

“Cross-country road trip with friends.”

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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.

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Today’s Staff News

Sports

Sara Schlecht Andrew Cameron Marirose Osborne

Stephen Hannon Luke Sisung

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Joseph Han

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KENDRA OSINSKI | The Observer

Professors Laura Williamson Ambrose and Cibele Webb pose in Stapelton Lounge, Le Mans Hall. The two presented the discussion “Living the Mission: From Le Mans, France, to Le Mans Hall” focused on the mission of spreading women’s leadership in the world.

The next Five days:

Want your event included here?

Email news@ndsmcobserver.com

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

“Hong Kong in Crisis” Hesburgh Auditorium 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Panel will discuss causes and potential effects of HK protests.

Brown Bag Lunch Discussion: “Open Wide our Hearts” Geddes Coffee House noon - 1 p.m.

Bring your own lunch.

Discussion and Q&A with former Speaker Paul Ryan Leighton Concert Hall 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Free, ticketed event.

2019 Game Day Chase Eddy St. Commons 8 a.m. - 9:35 a.m.

5K run and 5K family walk.

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

Come celebrate Sunday Mass.

Theater: “Twelfth Night” Washington Hall 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Featuring actors from The London Stage.

Lecture: “Bringing Power to Native Americans” 136 DeBartolo Hall 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Open to the public.

Better Together ND Launch Dinner Geddes Coffee House 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Open to all students.

RSVP online.

Saturday Scholar Series: “Listening to Puerto Rico” Snite Museum of Art 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Faculty discussion.

Public Skate Compton Family Ice Arena 12:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.

Discounted price for students with valid ID.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, september 11, 2019 | The Observer

3

Saint Mary’s alumna joins Campus Ministry

By HANNAH THOMAS News Writer

Campus Ministr y at Saint Mar y’s welcomed a new addition to the department at the beginning of this year when Liz Palmer was named assistant director.

Palmer is a Saint Mar y’s alumna from the class of 2013. She was a biolog y and psycholog y double major and landed her dream job in Campus Ministr y, she said.

“I get to give back to the place that inv ited me to know my faith more deeply,” Palmer said.

Some of the components of Palmer’s work w ith Campus Ministr y are organizing retreats, leading pilgrimages both locally and internationally and organizing

Health Continued from page 1

into that.”

As new ideas began to develop, Lindstrom created a new wholeness framework to integrate into the SPLL course.

“The framework is essentially the idea that if you’re going to educate the whole student, you have to help them help themselves by taking care of physical health, mental wellness and faith and spirituality,” Lindstrom said. “You also need to have the emotional resilience to be able to be aware of what you need to feel fulfilled. So we are trying to build that idea of inherent self-worth in addition to self-awareness and fulfillment.”

She said the framework stresses the values of identity

work w ith Catholic Relief Ser v ices (CRS). “[CRS is] making global issues more local, and being advocates on campus for topics like immigration, climate change [and] global hunger,” she said.

Palmer is also focused on the social media side of Campus Ministr y to advertise for different events through their various platforms.

“We do want to inv ite people into conversation into worship spaces and just empower women on campus,” she said.

She is using the presence of social media to promote her “I Found” campaign. Palmer reached out to a number of students and asked them to answer the question, “I have found [blank]” w ith the

hashtag #throughfaithoncampus, she said.

“It has been a way to share w ith others … if they have found faith on campus through extracurriculars, relationships w ith mentors or through the aesthetic beaut y of the College,” Palmer said.

One of Palmer’s goals as she kicks off the year is to cultivate relationships w ith students.

“I want my office to be a welcoming env ironment for students to come in,” she said.

She wants to also be able to expand outside of her office and interact w ith students all around campus. Palmer said students can get involved w ith Campus Ministr y through the club Friends w ith

Sisters. Students w ill be paired up w ith Sisters of the Holy Cross to connect w ith each other and their ow n faith.

As the year progresses, Palmer said she is ver y excited for her fall break pilgrimage to Bra zil to v isit Sisters of the Holy Cross.

She is also organizing a pilgrimage to Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood on Sept. 20 to focus on Our Lady of Guadalupe. “[Participating students w ill] go beyond the walls of Saint Mar y’s to a Pilsen neighborhood and see different murals, talk about the histor y and talk about liv ing faith,” Palmer said.

Palmer said there w ill be an opportunit y for the tri-campus communit y to connect

through Catholic Relief Ser v ices Ambassador Training on Sunday. This w ill offer net working bet ween campuses and an opportunit y to be an ambassador since it is a national program.

“We’re going to be learning about advocacy training and how to tangibly bring ideas to campus,” she said.

Palmer said she has many ideas she looks for ward to sharing w ith the campus communit y. She wants to keep her door open, she said, to anyone interested in Campus Ministr y to participate in the work she fell in love w ith while attending Saint Mar y’s as a student.

and community in the hopes that it will give students resources to succeed.

“The framework is truly about developing the person and what it means to be a Saint Mary’s woman,” Schneider said. “We don’t want anyone to feel like they’re just checking off boxes through a program. It’s something that will ultimately help you to help yourself.”

While the programs are specifically geared towards freshmen, many upperclassmen have also been provided with the framework.

Lindstrom and Schneider said they hope upperclassmen involvement will help the program spread to the populations they can’t reach.

“The focus was to start with the incoming freshmen hoping that this year, these students will become sophomores — who will

then eventually become juniors — and within four years, this will be something that’s known around campus,” Lindstrom said.

“W hile we won’t be doing anything for the sophomores, juniors and seniors directly, we’re hoping that within that leadership community of upperclassmen, this program will spread organically.”

Peer mentors working with freshmen have noticed a positive change in the restructuring of the first-year program.

“I think the wellness program is so helpful, I wish I had it when I was a freshman,” senior peer mentor Liz Ferry said. “It helps us to frame the conversation, not only how to be a good student, but also how to be a good person and how to focus on your mental health, academics and spiritual well-being. That is all

part of your experience at Saint Mary’s.”

Junior, peer mentor Carin Kaminski thinks the new framework provides practical activities to help overall well-being.

“This year we have some new ways to help freshman deal with stress,” Kaminski said. “We introduced this self-planning goal program called Whoop. Also, we have different weeks dedicated to self-awareness, community, how to handle stress and how to get involved on campus.”

Kaminski also thinks it puts the freshmen in a better position to utilize the resources the College has to offer.

“I think these freshmen know a lot more than what we did,” she said. “I am telling them everything from the bus schedule to all that our academic offices, counseling

and health and wellness center have to offer. I just think we’re giving them all the resources that we possibly know, and because of this, they are a lot more prepared than we were.”

While many of the program activities are just being introduced, first years are taking the program seriously.

“Right now in my SPLL class we’re discussing the basics of college — time management, stress and how to manage it all,” first year Abby Brown said. “When we’re discussing all of this, I take it seriously.”

The College hopes the new wellness initiative will have significant short and longterm impacts for the school.

Lindstrom said she hopes her presence at the College will ultimately allow this project to grow.

“Short term goals have to be simple and effective,” she said. “We hope to show results for the students so that it gives them the momentum to keep doing it. In the long term, I hope the students will take ownership so that when they graduate, it won’t just be about how to be Saint Mary’s students. It will help them live their lives.”

For Schenider, creating a better future for Saint Mary’s students is a personal goal.

“As an alum, I think about the things I w ish that I had as a first year student,” she said.

“It’s not that Saint Mar y’s is missing any thing, it’s that we’ve seen a concern and given this initiative structure. I’m just really grateful for the opportunit y to be part of setting the groundwork and hopefully leav ing this legacy of what could truly be a student experience unlike any other.”

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Contact Hannah Thomas at hthomas01@saintmarys.edu

Contact Julianna McKenna at jmckenna01@saintmarys.edu

4

NEWS

The observer | wednesday, september 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Energy Continued from page 1

“I think our perspective was that we wanted to take advantage of the assets the University already owned, and that we had invested in, and get our value out of those, but at the same time reduce in carbon,” he said. “And like a good investment portfolio, diversification is always a good practice.”

One such way the University plans to reduce its carbon output is through the construction of a new hydroelectric plant in South Bend, for which the University broke ground on Aug. 19.

“Hydro will actually produce, based on today’s usage, 7% of electricity we use on campus, and it will reduce our carbon foot by 9,700 tons,” Kempf said. “Our carbon footprint today is probably about 190,000 pounds. So it will reduce our carbon footprint by 5 or 6%. Not a huge number. But there isn’t a home run here, folks, there are a lot of little projects that go together to reduce their carbon footprint.”

Kempf also explained how the University’s East Plant — which houses the geothermal fields’ mechanical equipment, water chillers and a thermal energy storage tank — functions. He said the water chillers work at night — a time when power is cheaper, or the University has excess power because of a lower energy demand. Using this load shifting, Notre

Dame has been able to increase its energy efficiency, Kempf said.

The University also uses energy from a solar array it owns near the local airport. According to the South Bend Tribune, Notre Dame estimated the array would reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 2,000 tons over the course of about 20 years.

“Our plan was, we weren’t going to try to produce more solar energy than we needed for [the] facility,” Kempf said. “We really wanted to be able to have some amount of power we bought all the time and have the full benefit of the solar array to the facility.”

Notre Dame also purchases about half of its electricity from Indiana Michigan Power, Kempf said.

“What they do on their side of the ledger matters to us as well,” he said. “They have a partner on that side that’s doing things to try to reduce their carbon footprint.”

As a whole, the University is continuing to look for more costeffective and carbon-reductive strategies, Kempf said.

“There’s a whole series of different projects, some of those ones that I just mentioned,” he said. “So we have a roadmap [but] we’re always looking to see if we can make a better roadmap.”

Contact Natalie Weber at nweber@nd.edu

Library Continued from page 1

applause was heard across the room. Attendees beamed with happiness and embraced each other, signaling the importance that SJCPL holds in the county for them, and then filed out of the room.

The impact the plan would have on the community caused uproar and sparked protests. Council members did not present any arguments in favor of the resolution during the hearing, but said public opposition was one of the main reasons behind their decision to drop the proposal.

According to SJCPL, the unanticipated cut would incur a 24% loss of its LIT revenue, which is used to pay for maintenance, salaries, utilities and materials. Moreover, it would cause one of its 11 branches to close, leaving about 7,500 people without a library.

Jennifer Henecke, the communications manager at SJCPL, said a great group of people had mobilized in order to express their disagreement with Resolution 7-19.

“We’re overwhelmed that the community showed,” Henecke said. “Throughout this whole issue, we’ve just seen an outpour and 350 people joined us for a march on Thursday from the library to the City Building. We know that they sent thousands of emails and phone calls, and shared our social Paid Advertisement

media posts. We are just so grateful to the community for coming out and showing what the library means to them.”

Henecke said even members of the Notre Dame community have shown their support. The SJCPL Communications Manager said she was happy that Notre Dame felt included in the community and conversation, as well.

For Debra Futa, SJCPL executive director, the libraries play an important role in the residents’ life, as it offers “more than leather-bound books,” as a sign placed in front of the City Council building stated in thick white letters.

“Libraries do so much more than just have books and materials,” Futa said. “We are community centers, we work with literacy, and we are work-force development. Kids come after school, so we are a safe place for them to go between school and home.

There’s access to technology and the Internet.”

While celebrating the victory outside of the Common Council room, attendees, such as Ina Kahil, expressed the significance that SJCPL has for them.

“I can’t imagine not having access to public libraries because its one of the only places where I see people from all walks of life and just the idea of it being curtailed would be heartbreaking to me,” Kahil said.

Rabbi Karen Companez, also in

attendance, also expressed support for library funding.

“Libraries are essential to society,” Companez said. “It’s one of the most basic ways that we learn, by reading books.”

Of about 20 different people The Observer asked about the resolution, all were in opposition to the resolution.

Though the next steps regarding the 911 center’s funding are still unclear, Futa said she looked forward to having a dialogue with elected officials about alternatives.

“It’s not that we think that 911 isn’t important in the community,” Futa said. “It’s that we don’t think the funds should be redistributed and have libraries and other entities be punished for that.”

County council members said they are still considering different alternatives to find funding for the 911 call center, but have still not decided on an option.

Even though this was “the first battle,” as Futa described the public hearing, the day served to demonstrate the value of a community coming together in order to solve the issues that afflict them.

“When we started this whole thing we were saying that neighborhoods need libraries, but libraries also need their communities, and both came perfectly together tonight,” Henecke said.

Contact Maria Luisa Paul at mpaulran@nd.edu

5

The observer | wednesday, september 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

By WILLOUGHBY THOM Scene Writer

This is a public service announcement. Support your local music scene.

Unpredictable weather, frazzled freshmen and endless weekend chaos are common signs of the start of the school year, but that’s just what you see on the surface.

Saturday night at a home near campus, the most important Notre Dame student movement kicked off the year: the student music scene.

In the backyard of a small South Bend home was a concert. Drums, guitars, bass, keyboard, guitar pedals, amps and mics were haphazardly, yet delicately, positioned on the small stage, also known as the porch. The energy and anticipation grew as the crowd gathered, and it became closer to showtime. The throng of people consisted of friends and acquaintances who came in support of the bands as well as a promise of a good time.

The atmosphere was transformed as senior Michael Donovan — Scene Editor extraordinaire, legendary WVFI station manager, expert at real-life Guitar Hero and aux cord wizard — fueled the musical congregation with tunes. When the yard hit capacity — though there is

By CHARLIE KENNEY Associate Scene Editor

As HBO’s record and heart-breaking series “Game of Thrones” came to its regrettable conclusion this past May, I found myself looking for a show both to fill the hole its finale left in my heart and to make my HBO subscription worth it.

So, as any good capitalist would, I decided to jump on the first advertisement HBO threw at me after the “Game of Thrones” finale and began watching that. I saw a lot of good looking, middle-aged men in expensive suits; an old man emptying his bladder onto a beige-colored shag carpet; presumably two brothers exchanging volleys of curse words at one another; and a boardroom with quite a bit of tension and no discernible smiles. The show I began is called “Succession.” It is currently airing episodes of its second season every Sunday night at 9 p.m. and, in my incredibly humble opinion, it is one of the best and, without a doubt, most underrated shows on television.

The Emmy-nominated series, which is now five episodes deep into its second season, is not too dissimilar from “Game of Thrones.” It tells the story of the fictitious, international media conglomerate of Waystar Royco, focusing on the patriarch and founder of the company Logan Roy and his family, who are all, in one way or another, involved in the company or, at the very least, invested in its fortunes. No dragons, no medieval battles and no army of the

always room on the roof — it was time for the music. The headliners of the evening were The Shifties, Basement Boxers and The Almighty Loaf.

The Shifties — comprised of Donovan, senior Felix Rabito, junior Claire King, junior Ashley Finster and senior Thom Weiss (who was unfortunately out of town) — opened up the evening with fresh originals and unstoppable energy. It was spontaneous and intimate, exactly how a house show should be. As the band sat on the wooden platform with instruments in hand, they produced an unforgettable sound filled with passion and truth, things this world craves. Don’t forget the name: The Shifties.

Up next, Basement Boxers. The well-known student band — made up of junior Daniel Griffin, Finster, junior Brendan Raimann, King, junior Tom Garvey and junior Sophia Henn — hit the stage after The Shifties. They are going to be big, believe me. Their pure blend of modern and classic rock with present-day indie-pop creates a fresh sound the music industry is currently lacking; they are going to fill that void. Griffin’s contagious stage presence, along with each member’s unique mannerisms, radiated throughout the crowd as people danced and sang along. Their set contained a mixture of sparkling

originals and picture-perfect covers. They may be full of the DIY spirit, but you’ll see them open up for Rainbow Kitten Surprise one day, you just wait.

To close out the show, the undeniably rowdy punk band The Almighty Loaf graced the stage. The Loafs are senior David Pedler, junior Griffin Yates, senior Connor Bach and senior Matt Musetich. The first note radiated through the yard; crowd surfing and moshing commenced. The smell and sweat of teenage angst hung heavy over part, but there was undeniable unity between individuals as the boys played on stage. The Loaf is a pure fusion of Black Flag’s “Rise Above,” “No I Don’t Wanna”

by Sham 69 and Fugazi’s “Waiting Room” — who knew that was possible? Milo literally went to college.

The underground music scene at Notre Dame is a small one but quickly growing. It’s something that could be considered underground, but if you look hard enough you will find it. Through word of mouth, the power of social media and homemade flyers, the next show will soon be on the horizon.

Support your local music scene.

Support the Notre Dame music scene.

undead slowly gaining numbers. So, no, not a direct comparison to “Game of Thrones,” but cue the conflict and the similarities become a bit clearer.

Logan Roy (Brian Cox) is getting older and considering stepping down from his throne at the helm of Waystar Royco. His cleaned-up drug addict son Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) has been groomed to succeed him; his dimwitted, money-numb son Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) wants in on the action or, at least, a paycheck; his brilliant, desperateto-distance-herself-from-the-family-business daughter Siobhan Roy (Sarah Snook) is working for a politician that publicly wants to dismantle her family business; and his somewhat estranged son Connor Roy (Alan Ruck) is tending his ranch in New Mexico hoping that money keeps flowing in. Everyone wants in on a piece of the action and are all eager to force their — they might say senile — father out of the company, perhaps before he is ready to. A young tech hotshot, venture capital firms and members of the board only make the dynamic all the more interesting.

The show gives the audience a peculiar look into the world of the ultra-elite. Every character on the show has more money than they know what to do with, yet they all want something more: power, a job title, reputation. The throne is atop a skyscraper in New York City, and the fight for it is just as vicious and conniving as that which takes place on “Game of Thrones.”

The show makes the often complex world of business, media and aristocracy digestible and engaging in a way

I have yet to see any other show do. Yet, it also seems to find a balance between drama and humor that series of its genre typically lack. With “The Big Short” director Adam McKay and comedian Will Ferrell working as executive producers, the show is ripe with witty one-liners and comic relief lining the tense, cutting plot.

Quality writing, however, only translates onto the screen when brilliant actors perform it. Both the main and recurring cast give stellar performances week after week while developing their characters in specific, meticulous ways. Adults who spent their childhood with access to a no-limits credit card act a bit differently than the rest of us. Culkin plays that elusive brat to perfection, Strong’s character screams, “I used to do very expensive cocaine,” Snook always carries herself with an air of almost unfulfilled pride, and it is fairly easy to tell that Cox’s character built a company whereas the characters of his children inherited it.

So, “Succession” may not be that “Game of Thrones” season nine that we all so desperately want. But if you’re okay with turning in your armor for tailored suits, your alliances for business acquisitions and your undead army for a pack of hostile venture capitalists, then it might just be the show for you. The characters may happen to have the moral compasses of White Walkers, but they can’t turn into them.

Contact Willoughby Thom at wthom@nd.edu

Contact Charlie Kenney at ckenney4@nd.edu JOSEPH HAN | The Observer

6

The observer | wednesday, September 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Inside Column

Student elections are frightening Jimmy Ward Associate Sports Editor

Being a student at Holy Cross, there are some things that happen across the street that I am actually glad I am not involved in — the biggest thing being student elections. I have yet to hear anything positive about student elections at Notre Dame. They are notoriously competitive, and, although the winning candidates can produce some good incentives, the path they take to get to the office is often thrown into question.

Student elections at Holy Cross are not as hotly contested, but there are still some issues that the candidates present to their constituents.

As I was walking into the dining hall yesterday, a nice young man handed me a bag of cookies and kindly asked for my vote. I watch way too many crime shows to obliviously accept food from a stranger, but not wanting to be rude, I accepted the cookies. Today, as I moseyed over to my 9 a.m. class, I passed an unmanned table of cupcakes and brownies amongst other sweets with a poster of a candidate. Did I dare take the food? No! I almost felt like a pig being fattened up to be slaughtered. I think it is important to note that I did not cast a vote in the student elections.

I simply had no or very little knowledge of what for or why the candidates were running. As I opened my email before typing this out, I was surprised to see that the winners of the election were not those who listed their qualifications on their campaign posters but instead those who had won votes by handing out arrays of sweets.

Don’t get me wrong, these candidates may be just as qualified for the role as the others, but it appears to me that the student election process, like most of the elections in this country, has sadly become a popularity contest. Just by looking at the posters of the candidates, I noticed something that made me feel uneasy. The soon-to-be class senators who had won the election put minimal effort into their posters, besides all the trees they killed with their self promotion. The winners’ posters were boring and slightly cringe-inducing, with most of them simply containing memes with their names posted over them or cheesy quotes like “I will fight for you” next to a picture of them with boxing gloves on — one even listed “cookies” as a reason to vote for them. Meanwhile, the candidates who put a little more effort into their posters, listing their qualifications for the job and incentives they would like to enact once elected, lost to their sugar-bribing opponents. I can only hope that those who won are competent enough to handle their new roles. However, if their tenure as class senators is reflective of their lame posters or the scandalous routes they took to obtain votes, my hope is fleeting.

Contact Jimmy at wward@hcc-nd.edu.

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

Chicago and gun violence: what is true and what is not Mary Szromba Banter from the Bend

Imagine all 50 states and some major cities are on a boat, and the boat is sinking. In fact, it’s riddled w ith holes. Someone has the bright idea to div v y up the holes and assign them, and ever yone quick ly gets to work. Some states do what they can to fix their ruptures, others do nothing and some stand over their holes thinking deeply and occasionally pray ing. Illinois and Chicago fix their hole the best they can, step back to admire their handiwork and are shocked to discover they are still up to their ank les in water. They look east to Indiana and see that not only has Indiana not fixed its hole, but it has actually taken a sledgehammer to it, w idening the gap more and more. The west is not much better, as Wisconsin has decided to v iolently stomp on its hole, making it bigger and bigger. As the states come back together to figure out a new plan, they point to Chicago and Illinois as the perfect example of why patching your hole won’t stop the boat from sinking.

Using Illinois, specifically Chicago, as a counterexample to gun control has been popular for years. After 58 people died in the Las Vegas shooting, Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, “I think if you look to Chicago, where you had over 4,000 v ictims of gun-related crimes last year, they have the strictest gun laws in the countr y. That certainly hasn’t helped there.”

In 2015 Chris Christie noted, “... in many of the places around this countr y where they have the toughest gun laws, they have the highest v iolent crime rates. Violence in America that’s happened on our streets in our cities, like Chicago, up 19% , the murder rate.” Chicago is also one of President Donald Trump’s favorite punching bags, and he claimed in the 2016 presidential debate, “In Chicago, which has the toughest gun laws in the United States, probably you could say by far, they have more gun v iolence than any other cit y.”

To brief ly clear up some misconceptions: Chicago does not have the strictest gun laws in the countr y — that honor goes to California — and the cit y is nowhere near the most gun-v iolent in America. In fact, according to a five-year study from 2010 to 2015, Chicago is ranked 18th in terms of gun-related homicides, w ith 16.4 homicides per 100,000 residents, while New Orleans sits at number one, w ith 46.9. Chicago is ranked 12th out of 68 in terms of nonfatal shootings w ith 88.9 per 100,000 residents, and St. Louis is first w ith 659.7.

None of this is to say that Chicago does not have a gun v iolence problem. W hile it is far from the most v iolent cit y in America, it is still ranked too high on that list given its gun control measures, and this is why politicians have pointed to it as the prime example of why gun control does not work. Is this the right

takeaway? Illinois is bordered by t wo states w ith weak gun laws. The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence gave Illinois a B+ rating for its gun laws and gave Wisconsin and Indiana a Cand D- respectively.

W hen someone w ith a gun crosses from a state w ith weak gun laws to one w ith strong gun control, the state line doesn’t make the gun they carr y magically disappear. It is therefore no surprise that Illinois has a lot of guns despite hav ing strict gun laws since its neighbors don’t even require their citizens to acquire licenses or permits before purchasing a gun.

Most of Chicago’s guns can be traced out of state. In 2015, it was found that more than 60% of guns used in gang-related crimes in Chicago and 31.6% used in non-gang-related crimes were bought in other states.

Two years ago, the Bureau of A lcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found that more than half of all traceable firearms recovered in Illinois came from out of state, compared to the more than 80% of guns recovered in Indiana that came from w ithin Indiana.

Quite the sledgehammer.

Compare this data to states w ith strict gun laws that neighbor states w ith equally as strict gun control. New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey all have gun control ratings of A- or higher, and they are all clustered in the same geographical area. In terms of gun deaths per 100,000 people, out of all 50 states they are ranked 48th, 49th, 46th and 45th respectively. It appears that when states are not surrounded by weak gun laws, their gun control measures are allowed to work.

Many Notre Dame students claim Chicago as their hometow n (often falsely, but I’m picking my battles today), yet they often fall v ictim to this cult of misinformation that surrounds the cit y. The fact that Chicago suffers from gun v iolence does not mean its gun control laws are failing, but it has certainly been precluded from reaping the benefits of its safet y measures by its neighbors (of course, the cit y’s entrenched structural issues of segregation and povert y do not help — a column for another time).

It’s time to stop pretending that Chicago exists in its ow n bubble completely unaffected by its surroundings. W hen we do that, we miss important context, and it makes it seem as though action against gun v iolence is fruitless when it’s not. We can’t keep getting tricked into believ ing nothing can be done. After all, we’re all on the same boat, and that boat is sinking.

Mary Szromba is a senior majoring in philosophy and political science, and she’s never been wrong about anything in her entire life. Questions, comments and anonymous love letters can be directed to mszromba@nd.edu or @_murrrrrr on Twitter.

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

Submit a Letter to the Editor: viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com

The observer | wednesday, September 11th, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

7

18 years later, are we united?

Blake Ziegler News with Zig

“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.” — Former President George W. Bush Eighteen years later, we remember. Although the clock may tick, the events of 9/11 remain engrained in America’s mind. The anguish and peril of the victims, the anxiety of their loved ones and the utter shock of the American populace showcase the tremendous sorrow in mourning this tragedy. While the world continues to spin today, America is frozen in remembrance.

But our freezing is not petrifying or unwanted. In my last column, I discussed the necessity for a moment of reflection and prayer following a national tragedy. To heal, our nation must come together to provide hope for a better future. But 9/11 is more than a national tragedy. The attacks were an unpredictable assault on the American way of life. It took innocent lives for a despicable, abhorrent and unachievable cause. Such an event requires a moment of reflection to mourn the lives lost.

I have no sympathy for the perpetrators of sympathizers of the attacks. Rather, my soul is filled with an utter despise and hatred for these terrorists. Those who commit violence upon the innocent solely to strike fear only deserve punishment. My heart grieves for the victims.

It mourns for their families. It laments for the first responders. But my heart also weeps for America and her citizens. After the events of 9/11, it was as if all walls were

broken and replaced with bridges. Every American realized that despite their differences and disagreements, an assault on America affects everyone in the nation.

Leonard Pitts Jr., columnist at the Miami Herald, embodied this message in his piece after the horrific events. He writes, “When roused, we are righteous in our outrage, terrible in our force. When provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any suffering, pay any cost, go to any length, in the pursuit of justice.”

That sense of unity, camaraderie and cohesion between Americans after 9/11 recognizes not only the severity of the attacks, but the determination of America to fight back. It is the nation’s commitment to protect its freedom and crush those who threaten it. It is a unique feeling, and although it is trapped within vicious events, provides warmth in the cold, bitter night.

But have we remained united? Are we still committed to our values? One look at the news or social media would say no. It would suggest there is no hope in an America where anyone who disagrees is a bigot, those who question American traditions are anti-American and speech is silenced either through violence or fear of public shaming simply for disagreeing. Violent protests, vicious social media posts and blocking those who disagree with you is not productive. A culture of namecalling only encourages greater division. Rather, we must embrace civility and respect in our nation’s discourse.

Fight the ideas, not individuals. Expose hatred through logic and reasoning, burning it in the light. Do not allow it to fester as you push it into darkness. Civility must come first.

I refuse to believe in an America where discourse is dead and the marketplace of ideas is closed. Instead, I believe in an America that endorses freedom and is

committed to justice for all. It is an America where despite disagreement, individuals maintain healthy relations with their neighbors. When sensitive situations arise, there is empathy. I envision a nation where, despite its problems, members are committed to respecting each other and using discourse to reach the best solution.

That America is only achievable through unity. It is only possible by going beyond labels and treating people as people. It is attainable through a commitment to civil dialogue and a recognition that while one may disagree with you, we share a common goal: improving the wellbeing of all people. While there are extremists, they are few compared to the average, sensible American.

I call on every American to be that citizen, the one who promotes civility. That is how we honor the memories of those we lost on September 11th, 2001 — by showing our enemies that despite their efforts, America’s character remains intact. Through this, America remains the beacon of freedom and hope across the world.

Tonight, I pray for the victims, their families, first responders and soldiers who defend our freedom. But I also pray for America, that as we traverse through the darkness, we reach the bright hope at the end of the tunnel.

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no harm, for You are with me.” (Psalm 23:4) Blake Ziegler is a freshman at Notre Dame from New Orleans, Louisiana, with double majors in political science and philosophy. He hopes his writing encourages others to take an interest in politics and government.

For inquiries, he can be reached at bziegler@nd.edu or @NewsWithZig on Twitter.

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

Letter to the editor

University of cynicism: a response to ‘Time for transparency’ I’d like to push back a bit against The Observer editorial last week criticizing the University’s transparency during recent years. This isn’t historically a new thing — The Observer is a common platform for open criticism against the administration. And for good reason, too, because it’s a valuable space for promoting public discourse.

Nevertheless, I’d like to offer a new opinion by stressing the importance of patience with respect to changes in administrative policy.

Perhaps transparency is less noticeable nowadays because the modern political climate scrutinizes all action (as well as non-action) as clear-cut representatives of greater, possibly sinister motivations held by those in positions of power. Why isn’t Notre Dame speaking more publicly about the mandatory on-campus rules or the ID card changes? Well, obviously, it’s because they just hate their students.

But then again, there is no way to make administrative changes in such a way that absolutely no one feels unjustifiably cheated. All change is associated with friction. It’s not possible for everyone to simultaneously get exactly what they want. Especially nowadays, where everything related to politics gets scrutinized viciously into the dust, those on the losing end of a trade-off are more than ever suitably equipped and well-motivated to bang on the drums of revolution and demand their way. But that constant banging sows seeds of unrest and resentment within us. That is counterproductive, and it damages our community.

It is not that “our leaders ignore [us]” or that there is “little indication our leaders truly listen.” Hardly so. Moreover, that perspective assumes apathy or even malice towards the student body on their behalf, a claim that I think is

supremely cynical and unhelpful. Of course they care — to argue otherwise is absurd.

Perhaps it goes without saying, but keep in mind that the administration is not made up of faceless robots like you may think. They are hardworking, good natured people — just like you — whose primary goal is the success of this great University and the fulfillment of its mission.

That truth is self-evident in the University’s product, and it’s why we all came here in the first place.

How does Notre Dame balance providing affordable and quality living arrangements for students while also cultivating the idea of community that is so prominent in a Holy Cross education? Sounds to me like a difficult trade-off to wrestle with. Dorm culture is a powerful part of the Notre Dame experience and is an excellent reflection of the values held by Holy Cross. But off-campus housing is cheaper and gives the student more individual freedom. Then again, when developing a holistic Notre Dame education, doesn’t the University want to steer away from modern, off-campus culture? That’s something worth thinking about.

Similarly, why would Notre Dame change the number of dorms an individual has access to with their ID card?

Clearly, as the University itself has said, it’s a question of security, and a change in a security policy is an indication that something had to have changed. This likely wasn’t a decision made in isolation.

Perhaps the administration made that decision with information that either the student body doesn’t know (which, as I would agree with the original author, if reasonably possible, the public ought to know) or information that the student body has simply overlooked. I don’t think it’s

unreasonable to assume the administration had very good reasons for implementing these changes and was likely aware of the inevitable backlash.

Imagine an alternate universe: The University does nothing, and a public and tragic incident unfolds involving an uninvited guest in one of the dorms. Think of the wealth of criticism and the widespread rattling of sabers that would emerge demanding for change. Either way the wind blew, sabers would rattle.

The point I am getting to is that perhaps we ought not to be so resentful and mistrusting of one another or of the administration. My problem isn’t with scrutiny in general but instead with frivolous scrutiny. Don’t take up arms over the wrong things. Choose your battles wisely. In the short term, it comes across as superficial or even ungrateful. In the long term, it makes the banging of your drums deafening to those who might one day really need to hear them. Let’s put down our pitchforks over midnight bus routes, housing rules and student ID access and exercise more patience.

I have great reason to believe that those who take care of this University have seriously wrestled with some difficult decisions as of late. I may not agree with everything, and I know that there is certainly more work to be done. Nevertheless, I trust and thank the University for their diligent work and for bearing the thankless cross of responsibility.

Follow us on Twitter: @ObserverViewpnt

Peter Brown junior Sep. 10

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DAILY

The observer | wednesday, september 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: A change to your surroundings will motivate you to reach your goals. Stop procrastinating; put your long-term plans in motion. Refuse to let anyone stand between you and what you want to happen. You are the master of your destiny, and your happiness depends on the decisions you make to satisfy your needs. Your numbers are 6, 14, 24, 27, 32, 35, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): An open-minded attitude when dealing with financial, medical or legal matters will help you sort through problematic situations. Finding a good source of information will encourage you to express your opinions and forge ahead. Don’t make a change without good reason.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Look for the best way to move forward. If you make a decision based on what someone else does or says, you will end up having second thoughts and possible regret. Self-help, a healthy lifestyle and romance are encouraged.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Do what works best for you. You’ll meet with opposition, but if you follow the path that makes sense in your life, you’ll have no regrets. Opportunity begins with organizing, rearranging and executing your plans to suit your needs.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Make a change before someone else does. Control whatever situation you face, and you’ll find the best way to make the most of what’s happening. How you speak to and treat others will determine how much help and support you will receive.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Look at every possible angle before you make a decision that will influence a meaningful relationship, your reputation or your position.

An emotional incident will lead to trust issues. Stick to the truth, and verify what others tell you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Refuse to get into a squabble with someone you live or work alongside. Keep the peace; take care of business and responsibilities.

Taking part in a challenge will lead to a positive change and a feeling of accomplishment.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Slow down; mull over what’s happened and what hasn’t. Consider the outcome before you initiate a change. Refuse to let emotions be a deciding factor when it comes to handling personal, domestic and financial affairs. Know your limitations and your boundaries.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Someone will question your motives if you let emotions flare up. Consider who is best suited to help you sort through information that is conflicting or inconsistent. Choose to be practical, and you’ll avoid regret and potential loss.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Someone who offers an exaggerated overview of a proposal that captures your attention will manipulate you. Don’t make a move without getting the lowdown regarding the financial, physical and emotional contribution that you will have to endure.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Stick to your original plan, even if someone tries to convince you that stretching your budget will be worth your while. It’s best to play it safe and stick to practical and moderate applications as you move forward.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Be direct if you want to protect your position, reputation or status. Don’t be afraid to expose what someone has done if it will save you from being accused of something you didn’t do. Don’t take the fall for someone’s mistake.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Dream big, but don’t go over budget. Make suggestions that are within your means and comfortable for the people you are dealing with to understand. Don’t keep secrets that can jeopardize your relationship with someone you love.

Birthday Baby: You are energetic, determined and helpful. You are flexible and proactive.

sorin elementary | ian salzman

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

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Sports Authority

Playoff predictions for all three Texas NBA teams Jack Jerit Sports Writer

Anyone who has been following the NBA during this off-season knows the Western Conference is seriously stacked this upcoming season, with at least 10 teams — if not more — slated to have a good shot at playoff contention this season.

Almost all of these top teams are sporting All-Star or All-NBA duos to contrast years of superteams.

Apart from the Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies, every other team has at least a small shot of making the playoffs — even the Minnesota Timberwolves or New Orleans Pelicans could theoretically make the playoffs. However, only eight teams in the West can make the playoffs per year, meaning at least one or two well-deserving teams will be cut.

I am here to tell you the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets are all guaranteed to make the playoffs based on previous trends with the state of Texas and the postseason. First, a brief background on each of the teams entering this season.

For the last 22 seasons, Gregg Popovich led the Spurs to a playoff berth, a streak which many members of the NBA media fear could end this season.

On the other hand, the Dallas Mavericks have not always been the bastion of success. They missed the playoffs 10 times straight from 1991 to 2000, then made the playoffs 15 out of 16 times from 2001 to 2016 before missing it the last three seasons.

The Mavericks’ two stars Luka Doncic and Kristap Porzingis are young — about 10 years younger than the Spurs’ Demar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge, respectively. Though Porzingis remains a question mark from his ACL injury, his return this season, along with improvement from the Rookie of the Year Doncic could lift the Mavericks to a playoff berth.

Rounding out the trio of Texas teams, we have the Houston Rockets. Unlike the Spurs and Mavericks, the Rockets are not facing nearly as many questions about making the playoffs thanks to former MVP James Harden.

Now, what does the state of Texas’ playoff success historically have to do with its success this particular season? The answer is simple. There have been three teams in Texas since the expansion of the Mavericks in the 1980-81 season. In each of the decades that follow, all three

teams from Texas made the playoffs 12 times — the Texas Triple Crown, or TTC for short.

Here are the results by decade: 1980s (3) : 1985, 1986 and 1988 1990s (1) : 1990 2000s (5) : 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009 2010s (3) : 2014, 2015 and 2016 Even though the sample size is particularly small, a couple patterns can be identified. First, most of these seasons tend to come in pairs or triples with the only single seasons being 1988 and 1990 — Dallas and San Antonio missed the playoffs in 1989. The next pattern would be the number for each decade. It starts with three, drops to one due to Dallas’s streak of losses, increases to five thanks to Dirk Nowitzki, then returned to three.

Based on this pattern, the 2020s should only see the TTC happen one time.

To the joy of all Texans, I propose that the TTC of the 2020s will happen this season. For starters, the first year of the 1990s was that decade’s only TTC, and while the individual years do not have to match up for the decade, I want to explore the possibility of 2020 being the TTC year for now before explaining further why 2020 is one of the likeliest years for the TTC. Assuming the TTC does occur this season, that leaves five playoff spots left for Western teams to nab. The most obvious of these teams to make the cut are the LeBron- and AD-led Lakers, and the Kawhi- and PG-led Clippers. The remaining three spots to slot are tricky. Pick three from the Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings and, oh yeah, the Golden State Warriors, not to mention potential outbreaks from the young Pelicans or Minnesota Timberwolves.

I personally see the Jazz and the Nuggets as most likely to make the playoffs once more, with the final slot going to Portland or the Warriors depending on injuries. The Jazz acquired my hometown’s point guard Mike Conley in the offseason, an acquisition which fits the defense-oriented team perfectly. Denver and Portland made less flashy moves but both finished near the top of the West without significant overhauls to their rosters.

The Warriors, on the other hand, have an uneasy season ahead of them. Will D’Angelo Russell mesh well with the Warriors? Will we see 2016 Steph Curry make a return? Will Klay Thompson be able to play in his previous form?

So a potential seeding of the West next year could be: 1-5: Lakers, Clippers, Jazz, Denver, Rockets (no particular order) 6-8: Spurs, Mavericks, Trail Blazers (no particular order) 9-13: Warriors, Kings, Pelicans, Timberwolves, Thunder (no particular order) 14: Suns 15: Grizzlies Though this seeding may be a hot take to many of you, I would now like to return to why I believe 2020 will be the decade’s TTC. The main issue is the Spurs’ recent slump.

In all 22 consecutive playoff appearances, 2018 and 2019 is the only consecutive instance of the Spurs being ranked five or worse.

Whereas Dallas is an up-andcoming team and the Rockets have their stars right in their prime, the Spurs are slightly older, and their eternal dynasty seems to be coming to a close after all these years.

The identity of the team has been a bit scattered with the departure of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard the last four years. The Spurs also don’t play to analytics.

In an era with Curry and Harden’s constant three-point barrages, the Spurs shot more mid range jumpers than most other teams in conjunction with the least number of three pointers last season.

Despite this, they still made the playoffs, though as a tied seventh seed. The only younger player who has shown much development so far is Derrick White, who showed a lot of potential in the playoffs, but he has a long way to go before he could replace Aldridge or Derozan.

In conclusion, NBA fans should get ready to cheer for the Spurs to fulfill the Texas Triple Crown and make the playoffs one last time, as we likely will never see one team nearly as dominant as the Spurs have been these last two decades. For Texas, the Rockets hope to continue their streak to eight seasons, the Mavericks hope to start once again and the Spurs hope to extend their streak to a record twenty-three.

After this season, we will say goodnight to an era of basketball.

Thank you, Gregg Popovich for your leadership and for the machine of Spurs Ball.

placement Notre Dame has ever had at that meet. Despite having coached talented Irish cross country runners such as Molly Seidel and Anna Rohrer, Sparks most fondly remembers the strong performances from runners who are not in the national spotlight.

“The first thing that everybody thinks about when they think of the recent history of Notre Dame track and cross country are the national championship performances by Molly Seidel and Margaret Bamgbose,” he said. “Those are all big things, but the events that stand out are the performances from kids who are not on most people’s radars. Everybody always notices the number one person, … and that’s neat.

“They get all of the attention, but it’s the kid that does the dirty work … that you feel the most excited for and most proud of.

Internally, the team knows what they have gone through to get where they are. Sydney Foreman was our fifth runner on our national team last year. She had a big race that helped us out as a team. On the men’s side, [senior] Kevin Salvano had a big finish for us at the conference meet. He was our fifth guy, and he pushed us to win the conference title.”

Sparks commented on the difficulty of competing in the ACC and described how creating a tough schedule can prepare the team for postseason meets.

“It’s a tough conference on both sides,” he said. “The ACC has four or five teams ranked in

the top 30 in both the men’s and women’s competitions, respectively. To prepare for that conference championship, you have to give yourself some confidence while testing yourself along the way. Putting a schedule together that reflects the quality of the teams that you are facing at the conference level will prepare you.”

With the running season underway, Sparks outlined his team’s goals for the year and explained his relationship with others on his coaching staff.

“Both teams are always aspiring to be top ten in the country,” he said. “The women were able to do that last year, and the men were just on the edge of that with their 14th-place finish. We also want to win the conference titles. The men did that, and the women came up just a little bit short. As a head coach, you’re always trying to help your assistants develop, learn and grow as coaches.”

Sparks praised the efforts of the coaches who help him oversee the teams.

“We took a little step this summer by giving Coach [Sean] Carlson a new title for the job that he had already been doing, as he had great success directing our men’s team over the past couple of years,” he said.

“Kendra Foley has done a great job assisting with the women, and she’s in her second year of coaching ever. She was a national champion when she was at Grand Valley State and has really connected with the girls on the team.”

Contact Patrick Gallagher at pgallag4@nd.edu

Contact Jack Jerit at jjerit@ nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

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Continued from page 12

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ANNA masoN | The Observer

Irish senior Kelly Hart races quickly past a large group of athletes during the Mayo Invitational on Feb. 2.

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The observer | wednesday, september 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

Football Continued from page 12

1990s, Davie established himself as a rising star when he contributed to Texas A&M’s success as their defensive coordinator, helping the team to a No. 1 ranking in total defense during the 1991 season. His work at A&M impressed Notre Dame legend Lou Holtz, who selected Davie to be the new Irish defensive coordinator.

Davie’s tenure under Holtz is generally viewed as a success, and, under his leadership during 1996, the team broke the singleseason school record for most sacks with 41, which is one of the best defensive performances in Notre Dame history.

Davie’s time in charge of Notre Dame football is more controversial. He continued his meteoric rise to prominence after the 1996 season when he became the head coach after Holtz retired. In his first year, Davie posted a relatively average 7-5 season before losing to LSU 27-9 in the Independence Bowl. The Irish rebounded quite nicely in the next year with a 9-2 season and a berth in the Gator Bowl. In an exciting game, Georgia Tech slipped past Notre Dame 35-28 in Jacksonville.

The 1999 season proved to be a major step back for Davie’s Irish, as they only managed to win five games; however, Notre Dame would come roaring back the following year with a solid nine-win campaign. Despite having to open the 2000 season

against four straight ranked opponents, the Irish were able to fiercely compete in every matchup while only turning the ball over eight times throughout the year. Expectations for Davie and Notre Dame remained high as they prepared to face Oregon State in the Fiesta Bowl. The Beavers clobbered the Irish 41-9 in a thoroughly disappointing contest while future NFL legend Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson caught two key touchdowns for Oregon State before being drafted by Cincinnati later that year.

After such a discouraging bowl game performance, Davie needed to perform well in 2001 to keep his job secure. For the first time in its history, Notre Dame lost its opening three games, and they finished the season with a lackluster 5-6 record. To make matters worse for Davie, the Irish decided to move on from him as head coach at the end of the campaign, and his overall record as Notre Dame head coach capped out at 35-25.

Davie took over the struggling Lobos program in 2011 after a decade-long break from coaching. During his seven full seasons in Albuquerque, the Lobos have only had a winning record twice. However, in 2016, Davie won his first postseason game as the he defeated the UTSA Roadrunners 23-20 in the New Mexico Bowl. New Mexico also finished first in the Mountain West Conference that year with nine total wins.

The quality of Davie’s time in South Bend is often debated by the national media and Irish

fans alike. Davie’s supporters point to his success as Holtz’s defensive coordinator and to the fact that he led Notre Dame to three high-profile bowl games during his five-year tenure as head coach. His detractors argue Davie could not handle the pressure of postseason play — as he did lose all three of his bowl games.

Regardless of his inconsistent results at Notre Dame, it is clear Davie was a major part of Irish football around the turn of the

century, and it is a shame that he will not be able to participate in what would have been his homecoming.

Saturday’s matchup has a few implications for both universities. For Notre Dame, this game is an opportunity for exposure in the southwestern media market, an area of the country where the Irish are lesser-known. It also allows Brian Kelly to test out any modifications to the Irish game plan after being challenged at Louisville.

Continued from page 12

tournament play is huge for our confidence,” she said.

“However, this victory was even more important because seven out of our nine MIAA conference schools were in the field. Knowing that we have the ability to come out on top in a field like that is great for our attitude going into the heart of our season. However, we know that we still have to play our game, to achieve the goals we set forth for our team this fall.”

Despite the victory, however, Moore said there is room for improvement. She said there are some things the team can take away from the weekend regardless of how the invitational ended.

“I would like us to eliminate some of the penalties we had from this past weekend,” she said. “The Medalist … has some tricky holes, and if you are not careful, penalties can happen, which lead to higher scores. We doubled the amount of penalties as a team from our first tournament to this past weekend, so I would like to see that statistic change. I would also like to see more putts fall this weekend. I just think we need to develop our feel for the green speeds a

little quicker. We need to use the first couple holes to really focus on our stroke and feel, which will in turn help us out later in the rounds.”

In any case, such a victory serves as a good omen for a Belles team looking to capture a conference title in the upcoming year, but Moore said it can be difficult to maintain a high level of play on a daily basis.

“Golf is an extremely fickle game — you can have your A game sometimes and then it can change in an instant,” she said. “I feel the biggest way to maintain our high level of play is to develop unconditional confidence within each player.

“Regardless of a bad shot, bad hole or bad round, we can’t let that affect our mentality towards the next shot, hole or round. We have to trust that our preparation in practice is getting us ready to perform our best in competition. We have to continue challenging ourselves during practice, working on our weaknesses and reinforcing our strengths.”

The Belles will kick off MIAA play Saturday at the MIAA Jamboree #1 at the Pine River Country Club.

Contact Connor Mulvena at cmulvena@nd.edu

Contact Patrick Gallagher at pgallag4@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

emma farnan| The Observer

Irish senior quarterback Ian Book successfully fiends off a defender during on of his multiple runs en route to a 35-17 victory over the Louisville Cardinals on Sept. 2 at Cardinal Stadium.

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SMC Golf

For New Mexico, a nationallytelevised game against such a prestigious program will garner more countrywide attention for the university while putting the Lobos’ talent to the test against an opponent stronger than any team in the Mountain West.

Sports

ndsmcobserver.com | wednesday, september 11, 2019 | The Observer

M Golf Continued from page 12

michelle mehelas | The Observer

Irish junior Davis Chatfield deliberately analyzes his next move during the Fighting Irish Classic on Oct. 8 at Warren Golf Course. The team walked away with a strong 5th place finish in this tournament.

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a pretty impressive statement to start the year,” he said. “The entire team played well. Hunter Ostrom coming in second place and one shot back, he played great golf and had an excellent summer and rolled it over into this first tournament of the fall. It was impressive what he was able to do.”

Notre Dame junior Davis Chatfield also finished in the top 10 with a tie for sixth at seven under par. Chatfield matched Ostrom’s 66 in the final round, carding no bogeys for a career-low day.

Handrigan had high praise for Chatfield’s performance.

“Davis played well all week and just did not make a ton of putts the first two days. His ball striking stats this week were excellent,” Handrigan said. “He came through in

11

the clutch today with a big round that jump-started our team. It was a big part of our victory. Sixty-sixes bogeyfree are hard to come by. He’s a special player and played great.”

Irish seniors Davis Lamb and John Felitto joined Ostrom in providing veteran leadership. Davis finished tied for 17th at one under par, posting 71s in rounds one and two and a 73 in round three.

Felitto finished at four over par, and he saved the best for last with a third-round, twounder-par 70.

Handrigan said he believes his seniors are key to what the team is going to accomplish in the future this season.

“They’ve been a part of the team for years. To have the leadership that we have from the seniors and the culture that they have established is a reason why we have had such improvements over the last few years,” he said. “It’s key to why we started off great this year.”

Handrigan pointed to his team’s experience as a reason they were able to close the tournament out after being tied through t wo rounds.

“The last three years we have had a lot of opportunities where we have been in contention,” Handrigan said. “It is always tough to w in because there are a lot of things that have to go your way. I think the experience that we have had over the last few years of being in contention helps.

“This summer we had a lot of guys that played great golf and won a lot of golf tournaments, … so that experience goes a long way. Ever yone was in a position where they could excel, and it showed.

Obv iously, ever yone’s nervous in that situation, but we were more prepared to embrace our ner ves and come out on top.”

After returning to South Bend w ith trophy in hand, the team w ill focus on the Windon Memorial Classic at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Illinois, beginning Monday.

The Northwestern-hosted tournament features opponents like Army, Michigan, Michigan State and UCL A. Handrigan said that while he was pleased w ith his team’s performance at the Badger Inv itational this weekend, he and his players are ready for more.

“These guys are hungr y.

They’re not content w ith one w in,” he said. “We talked a bit after the round and our players — Hunter in particular — said that there is a lot more where that came from, so to speak. We’re all on the same page that we want more and we’re not content w ith one v ictor y.”

Contact Jack Concannon jconcan2@nd.edu

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The observer | wednesday, september 11, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com

SMC GOLF | KYLE CAmPBELL INVITATIONAL

Football

New Mexico Lobos: SMC golf sees big win in invitational history of upcoming game

By CONNOR MULVENA Sports Editor

The Saint Mary’s golf team won the Kyle Campbell Invitational Friday and Saturday, shooting a total score of 639, handing the Belles the victory by 16 strokes.

The invitational, hosted by Olivet College at The Medalist Golf Club in Marshall, Michigan, featured a field of 12 teams including No. 6 DePauw, who finished in second behind the College.

Junior Hunter Kehoe shot a 77 Saturday, which gave her a two-day score of 151, as she led the field in par-five scoring and pars made over 36 holes of play with 27 pars.

Sophomore Sydney Hruskoci matched Kehoe’s Saturday 77, which left her with a total score of 161. Hruskoci would finish tied for sixth overall in the contest.

Head coach Kim Moore said she was impressed she by Kehoe’s performance,

along with the performances of three freshmen the team brought to the tournament.

“I was really happy for our junior, Hunter Kehoe,” Moore said. “She was the tournament medalist in a very strong field.

It’s something I expect from her and I know she expects from herself. I was also very impressed by the individuals we brought to the tournament.

These three were all incoming freshmen who [had] never played this course and had a strong showing overall.

Freshmen Erin Bennett and MacKenzie Weaver both finished in the top 25 playing as individuals, which makes me excited for their potential going forward.”

The Belles will begin MIAA play next week, so such a victory serves as a significant confidence boost for the team at this time of the season, according to Moore.

“Any victory going into see SMC GOLF PAGE 10

Patrick Gallagher Sports Writer

Emma farnan | The Observer

Irish sophomore tight end Tommy Tremble runs up field in a convincing 35-17 over the Louisville Cardinals on Sept. 2.

see FOOTBALL PAGE 10

nd cross country

ND Men’s golf | BADGER INVITATIONAL

Irish seize season opener at Badger Invitational

Sparks talks ND cross country

By JACK CONCANNON

By PATRICK GALLAGHER

Sports Writer

Sports Writer

The Irish started the season with a win out of a 12-team field at the Badger Invitational hosted by Wisconsin. They entered round three of play tied with Kansas, but secured a 14-stroke win with a 22-under-par third round.

The match was headlined by the performance of Irish senior Hunter Ostrom.

Ostrom finished 11 under par, including a six under par in the third round. That score put him just one stroke off of Nevada’s Sam Harned, who took home individual champion honors.

Irish head coach John Handrigan said he was thrilled with Ostrom’s performance but emphasized that his primary takeaway was the team’s spectacular play as a unit.

“We played outstandingly.

It was a strong field and a commanding victory. It was

Entering into his second year as the Irish director of track and field and cross country, Matt Sparks has had a long and storied career in college athletics. Sparks’ leadership was apparent even in his time as a collegiate athlete at Indiana. He was a key contributor running in the 3,000 meter, 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter events while being named team captain for both cross country and track and field. He was also named Indiana’s cross country MVP in 1996. When asked about how he decided to become a coach, Sparks explained that the example of his father inspired him to follow in his footsteps.

“I grew up as the son of a high school basketball coach, and, in Indiana, basketball kind of reigns supreme,” he said. “I watched the dedication that it takes to be successful, such as having day in and day out commitment, 365 days a year. From an early age, I knew that I wanted to be a coach, but I didn’t know if it was going to be in basketball, track or cross country.

see M GOLF PAGE 11

In the first meeting between these two universities, the Irish will compete against New Mexico during their home opener on Saturday. Both teams are coming off of bye weeks, so the players should be wellrested for the game. The Lobos’ head coach, Bob Davie, is a familiar face for most Notre Dame fans, as he was a member of the Irish coaching staff from 1994 to 2001.

Davie’s first time coaching against his former team would have been this weekend, but, due to a grave medical issue, he will not be traveling to South Bend; offensive line coach Sage Tuitele will assume the head coaching role while Davie is recovering.

Though this matchup is a first, Bob Davie brings plenty of history to the game. In the early

Michelle Mehelas | The Observer

Irish senior golfer Hunter Ostrom slices an accurate shot during the Fighting Irish Classic at Warren Golf Course on Oct. 8.

“I had more success as a high school athlete in track and cross country than I did in basketball, which led me to compete in those two sports at Indiana. Upon graduation, I had the opportunity to stay and be a graduate assistant coach there, and the rest is history.”

After serving as an assistant on the Hoosiers track and field team for three years, Sparks spent two years at Ohio State as an assistant coach. He then coached at Southern Illinois for twelve years and became one of the school’s most successful cross country coaches, helping the men and women win six Missouri Valley Conference championships in total. Sparks became Notre Dame’s associate head coach in 2014 before earning his current position last year.

Sparks’ accomplished career with the Irish includes six individual women’s ACC championships and a 13th overall finish at the women’s 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship, which, at the time, was the best see XC PAGE 9