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Panel discusses influence of Congregation on Notre Dame community

In celebration of Holy Cross Week, four prominent members of the Notre Dame community reflected on the unique spirit of the Congregation of Holy Cross and its impact on their personal experiences at the University in a panel discussion Monday.

“Partners in Mission: Working Side-by-Side with the Congregation,” moderated by University President Emeritus Fr. Edward Malloy and hosted in Geddes Hall, demonstrated the wide-ranging influence of Holy Cross on the Notre Dame community through the personal reflections of the three diverse panelists.

Week celebrates Holy Cross Campus Ministry to welcome new director

“In reflecting on what they’ve seen as partners in mission with Holy Cross, our colleagues tell us who we are and remind us who we are called to be,” Vice President of Student Affairs Fr. Tom Doyle said in his introduction of the panel. Malloy said individual mem

Committee raises funds to support Relay for Life

Students will see purple this week as the campus fundraises for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, scheduled for April 27 and 28 at Notre Dame Stadium.

As part of Purple Week, purple hair extensions will be sold for $10 at the Coleman-Morse Center on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students are encouraged to wear purple Thursday to show support for those battling cancer, survivors, their families and those who have been lost to the disease.

Senior Ali Vos, student chair for the Relay for Life committee, said the dining halls will serve purple food Thursday in honor of Purple Week.

“[The dining hall staff] have so much fun making the food purple for us,” she said. “There will be a lot of purple, like purple mashed potatoes and purple icing on desserts.”

Vos said faculty members will take part in the color overhaul by decorating their offices with purple crepe paper and participating in the relay itself.

“[Participation is] well split be-

tween students, staff and faculty, pretty much whoever is on campus,” she said.

Teams of students, faculty and staff will occupy the stadium overnight as they walk to support the fight against cancer, Vos said. This will be the eighth year Relay for Life occurs at Notre Dame and the third year it takes place in the Stadium.

Vos said more than 1,200 people registered for the event in 2011. She said each team typically has at least one member walking around the Stadium through the night.

“It’s really fun,” Vos said. “You gather in the stadium for the gathering ceremony and walk around the Stadium all night.”

Vos said Fr. Paul Doyle, C.S.C., assistant rector of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, will speak and the Notre Dame Marching Band will perform at this year’s opening ceremony.

“There’s also a Luminaria Ceremony to remember those who have been lost and honor those who are still fighting,” she said.

Lectures honor archbishop

Fr. James King, C.S.C., religious superior of Holy Cross priests and brothers at Notre Dame, will begin his term as director of the Office of Campus Ministry on April 2. Appointed by Fr. Tom Doyle, C.S.C., vice president of student affairs, King will replace Interim Director Fr. Joseph Carey, C.S.C., who has served in the position since July 2010.

King said he is a three-time Notre Dame graduate, having earned an undergraduate degree, a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Nonprofit Administration from the University. After graduation, he said he chose to stay and serve the Notre Dame community.

“I’ve spent 21 years living in residence halls after graduat-

ing since entering [the Congregation of] Holy Cross,” King said. “I was the rector at Sorin College from 2003 to 2010 and vocation director for Holy Cross from 1997 to 2005. I’ve taught business ethics, first year seminars, and pastoral practice and ethics for the [Masters of Divinity] program.”

Doyle said King’s “strong vision and broad worldview” will serve him well as director of Campus Ministry.

“The University community is lucky to have the pastoral leadership of Fr. Jim King,” he said. “As an administrator, Fr. Jim has served and earned the respect of his fellow priests and brothers on campus.”

Carey said the director’s duties include organizing campuswide events and supervising Campus Ministry and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

“It’s the director’s responsibility to respond to the needs of the Notre Dame community, sacramental preparation, retreats, faith sharing, and overseeing all that goes on in the

Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s will mark the 32nd anniversary of the assassination of Oscar Romero this week with Romero Days, a series of lectures and events honoring the Salvadorian archbishop’s advocacy for the poor.

Fr. Bob Pelton of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies said he hopes Romero Days will inspire students to carry on Romero’s legacy.

“I would hope that [Romero’s] example would help others to follow the example with their own attitudes, through the types of service they do and through relating their studies to a larger, stronger social commitment,” Pelton said.

As Archbishop of San Salvador, Romero stood up for the poor and marginalized in his home country of El Salvador and was assassinated while saying Mass in 1980, Pelton said. He was also nominated for sainthood.

“Archbishop Romero was extraordinarily devoted to the peasants of his country,” Pelton said. “He gave his life out of love for them and for our

Lord.”

Pelton said Romero Days begins today at 4:15 p.m. in the Hesburgh Center for International Studies with a workshop on teaching students about Romero’s social justice. The event will feature professor of theology Margaret Pfeil and educational specialist Michael Amodei.

The workshop will precede a 7 p.m. screening of the film “Monseñor: The Last Journey of Óscar Romero,” a documentary which Pelton said follows the last three years of Romero’s life.

Pelton said the Kellogg Institute chose to sponsor the workshop because it is important for educators to pass on Romero’s legacy to the next generation.

“We want to understand better the social teaching that was embodied both in the instructions and in the life of the example of Romero himself,” he said.

Kevin Dowling, bishop of Rustenburg, South Africa, will preside over a commemorative Mass on Wednesday in the

GRANT TOBIN/The Observer
From left, Heather Ricossi, Joe Russo, John Affleck-Graves and Fr. Edward “Monk” Malloy reflect at the panel “Partners in Mission: Working Side by Side with the Congregation” in Geddes Hall on Monday.
LAUREN KALINOSKI | Observer Graphic
Fr. King

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Stuttgart spared disruption over suspected bomb

BERLIN — German authorities have scrapped plans to cordon off part of the city of Stuttgart and shut its main station after discovering a suspected World War II bomb was actually an old water pipe.

Officials had announced that the station, a major railway hub, would be shut for several hours Sunday while experts defused the bomb, found in a nearby park.

But city police said experts — on closer examination early Sunday — had determined the object was actually a cast-iron pipe that wasn’t marked on any map.

That meant authorities no longer needed to evacuate a

355-yard (325-meter) radius around the site or ask local residents to leave.

Unexploded World War II bombs are still found frequently in Germany, sometimes leading to large-scale evacuations as a precaution.

Ohio troopers, boss at odds over short sleeves

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio state troopers are hot under the collar in a dispute over who determines when they can switch from longsleeved to short-sleeved uniforms.

The Columbus Dispatch newspaper reports recordhigh spring temperatures prompted the troopers’ union to request the change earlier than specified in their contract.

Patrol superintendent Col. John Born told the union on Thursday the troopers could switch early only if management gets to make the call in future years. Troopers opted to stick with long sleeves and ties.

The contract says shortsleeved, open-collared uniforms can be worn from April 15 to Nov. 1.

Union president Larry Phillips says when the longsleeved Ohio State Highway Patrol uniform is worn with a tie and a protective vest, a trooper’s body temperature rises “significantly,” especially in 80-degree weather.

Information compiled from the Associated Press.

J. Christopher Love, the Latham Family Career Development Professor of Chemical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will present a seminar discussing singlecell bioanalytic processes and complex cellular systems today from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in 155 DeBartolo Hall

Fr. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA , will meet with interesed students to learn about the mission of Catholic Charities, getting involved in Catholic Charities and professional and entry-level positions today at Giovanini Commons inside Mendoza College of Business. Pizza will be provided.

A panel of educational leaders in the South Bend area will stimulate discussions about issues that have emerged during the Notre Dame Forum and how to view them from a local perspective today at McKenna Hall from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The event is free and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be provided.

Fr. Pete McCormick will preside at a senior class Mass today at 5:15 p.m. at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart

Four panelists will discuss the question, “Can We Do Well and Do Good?” today at 7 p.m. in the Andrews Auditorium of Geddes Hall

To submit information to be included in this section of The Observer, e-mail detailed information about an event to obsnews.nd@gmail.com

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Freshman Mike Davis and senior Phillip Bauman warm-up before the Black Student Association’s March Madness Basketball Arcade finals on Monday evening at LaFortune Student Center. The winner received $100.

Local doctor discusses pediatrics

As part of Saint Mary’s Cross Currents Collegiate Speaker series, Dr. Colleen Morrison spoke Monday about her decision to develop a health care program for underserved children in South Bend.

“Many people may think of third world countries as needing better health care programs for children,” Morrison, a 1996 graduate of Saint Mary’s, said. “There are a lot of areas in the United States that are in great need for pediatric programs, as well.”

Morrison, a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at Memorial Children’s Hospital in South Bend, attended medical school at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Illinois after graduating from Saint Mary’s.

“My parents always knew I would come to Saint Mary’s, even if I did not,” Morrison said. “I really fell in love with biology after taking my required science course. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I graduated, but I knew that I liked science.”

Board-certified in general pediatrics and pediatric hematology/oncology, Morrison completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology stem cell transplantation at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

“After working in a lab for two years collecting bone marrow, I realized that I wanted to

learn more about the people who were giving the bone marrow,” Morrison said. “I began assisting with bone marrow procedures for a couple of years.”

While researching, Morrison said she believed she would eventually work in adult oncology but liked pediatric hematology/oncology more as a medical student.

“I loved pediatrics,” she said. “It just felt right.”

When Morrison moved back to South Bend a year-and-ahalf ago after completing her fellowship, she said she was eager to start a pediatric program at Memorial.

“My recruiter ended up leaving Memorial right as I was deciding to join the team,” she said. “This was an interesting experience to go through, especially right after finishing my fellowship.”

Morrison said it is important

to develop a children’s health care program at Memorial because there are few other opportunities for children to receive health care in the South Bend area.

“Memorial Children’s Hospital in South Bend has 72 beds for children, 15 specialists and 9 specialties,” she said. “The next closest children’s hospital is in Fort Wayne.” It is important to develop these health care programs because the number of children who need high quality health care has increased in the South Bend area, Morrison said.

“The recruitment of young people who are dedicated to changing the culture is greatly needed,” Morrison said. “Recruiting experts as well as having people investing in the programs are also needed.”

Contact Jillian Barwick at jbarwi01@saintmarys.edu

Campus LIfe CounCIL

Group reviews bike shop

Members of Campus Life Council (CLC) reviewed a resolution Monday proposing the revival of the Campus Bike Shop.

The resolution specifies the bike shop would aim to provide a sustainable model for students to access free repair services using salvaged parts from abandoned and damaged bikes.

John Sanders, residence life director for student government, said the resolution was a response to the Dec. 31 closure of the bike shop. He said the Design department moved into the space where the shop was previously housed.

“In some way, shape or form, the idea is to keep [the bike shop] a free service, as well as sustainable,” he said. “The University loses something by losing the bike shop.”

The shop, which used unclaimed bike parts collected by Notre Dame Security Police (NDSP), requires approximately $7,000 a year from its budget, Sanders said. The costs cover the price of tools, special-order bike parts and standard wages for student technicians.

“It’s mostly a matter of space on campus,” Sanders said. “[But] it’s becoming a matter of budget as well now because NDSP has revised their budgeting for the year since [the bike shop closed].”

Sister Carrine Etheridge, rec-

tor of Farley Hall, said a bike auction could generate money for the shop.

“They used to just auction [bikes] off,” she said. “You would pay a certain amount and then you’d have a tier of bikes you could choose from. That’s one answer to any funding problems.”

Student body president Pat McCormick said CLC will vote on the resolution next Monday.

Members of CLC also discussed possible spaces in which to reopen the shop. Sanders said advocates are considering a space behind Stepan Center.

“There’s the option of using the back restroom of Stepan,” he said. “It’s a disaster, but they’re cleaning it out right now. The problem is how long are we going to have Stepan?”

McCormick said the resolution could represent student advocacy and make it easier for students to access a bike repair shop.

“Our concern is many students, particularly freshmen and sophomores, have no means of going off campus except a taxi,” he said. “The resolution could serve as a way to indicate how we could continue a bike shop that has been a service to students and staff over the past few years.”

Sanders said comments and questions can be sent to savethebikeshop@gmail.com.

Contact Nicole toczauer at ntoczaue@nd.edu

LAUREN KALINOSKI Observer Graphic

Director

continued from page 1

Basilica,” Carey said. “Also, he takes care of things like the memorial Masses we’ve had for students who have died and the September 11 anniversary Mass this fall. Things just happen, and then he responds to them.” Carey said his experience as interim director was “a joy of his life.”

“I’ve been at Notre Dame for a long time, and working in Campus Ministry confirmed what I believe — that the students, faculty, and staff at Notre Dame are among the finest people any of us will ever meet,” Carey said.

Carey said he is confident King will positively affect Campus Ministry.

“I hope that through his leadership, he will continue to inspire the wonderful staff of Campus Ministry and continue to make God known, loved and served,” Carey said.

Doyle expressed similar confidence in King.

“His gifted mind and generous heart will bless students, faculty and staff at the University of Notre Dame,” he said.

King expressed his excitement to begin working as director.

“Campus Ministry fulfills a vital role in the spiritual and liturgical life of Notre Dame that helps to define it as a place where the Holy Cross charisma of living and working among students is at the core of its mission,” King said. “I am excited and blessed to have the chance to work with such great people dedicated to furthering that mission and growing together in faith.”

Contact Ann Marie Jakubowksi at ajubow@nd.edu

Panel

continued from page 1

bers of the Holy Cross and Notre Dame communities uniquely embody the mission and spirit of the University.

“The room I live in in Sorin Hall was previously inhabited by Fr. Paul Fenlon for more than 60 years. He befriended three generations of students and represented the best of what Notre Dame is about,” Malloy said. “My years have been full of individuals like him … who have their blood in the bricks.”

Malloy said Fenlon and the rest of the Holy Cross community have instilled in the University an “intergenerational sense of responsibility.”

“Even in its earliest days, Notre Dame was a place where Holy Cross religious and lay collaborators have shared a common sense of responsibility for the institution to our benefit and to the service of Church and society,” Malloy said.

John Affleck-Graves, University executive vice president, said he has developed a “deep respect” for the Congregation, as well as meaningful friendships, during his 26 years of service as a professor and an administrator.

“It was intimidating at first, but after you get past the ‘men in black’ thing, you realize what special people [Holy Cross religious] are,” he said. “The four people who served in my position ahead of me, [University President Emeritus] Fr. Ted [Hesburgh], Fr. Ned [Joyce], Fr. Bill Beauchamp and Fr. Tim Scully, were wonderful priests and truly exceptional people.”

Affleck-Graves used his expertise as a finance professor to compare his relationship with University President Fr. John Jenkins with that of a CEO and his employees.

“The relationship between me and my boss is different, because he is a priest and a president,” Affleck-Graves said. “Most CEOs think about next quarter’s earnings, but Fr. John has an insatiable quest for knowledge and truth and how students can gain an understanding of that. He’s a reflective person, and it gives him an enormous sense of inner peace.”

Affleck-Graves said Jenkins’s “commitment to the core person” gives him a unique perspective on leading Notre Dame, especially in relation to its core values of accountability, teamwork, integrity, and leadership in mission and excellence.

“I don’t think you get leadership in mission without having a priest as a university president,” Affleck-Graves said. “If you have a priest as president, it gives the institution a much longerterm focus than if you had a layperson president, because a priest brings a real sense of eternity to the job.”

and in handling everything that followed. We were responsible, but he did it in a way no other organization could have done.”

Joe Russo, director for student financial strategies, said his personal philosophy on financial aid was a “good match” with the University’s core values.

“We had to [manage student financial aid] in a way of being accountable, disciplined and structured and develop policies and procedures that reflect the responsibility we have with consistency,” he said.

Russo said the principle of leadership in mission provides him with a unique angle on doing the “right thing” in his work.

“Leadership in mission means doing what we do in a structured, disciplined way, but with compassion when appropriate,” he said. “Those things seem contradictory, but they don’t have to be.”

“When I think of the Notre Dame family, [the Congregation] is the sinew that holds it together.”
John Affleck-Graves University executive vice president

AffleckGraves said the administration’s first meeting following the death of student Declan Sullivan last year demonstrated the real importance of having a “priest first and a president second.”

“Everyone was shocked, and it was a very painful moment,” he said. “Someone started talking about legal liability, which is something any CEO would have brought up first, and Fr. John responded by saying, ‘We can deal with that tomorrow. Tonight, we pray for Declan and his family.’ How fortunate we were to have a priest as president at that time

counselors, supervisors, mentors and friends in Holy Cross.”

As she studied as a philosophy and theology double major at Notre Dame, a master’s in divinity at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and her various positions at the University, Russell said she realized the charism of Holy Cross drives the formation of “communities of the coming kingdom,” especially in terms of the formation of Notre Dame students.

“With rectors as role models … that charism becomes contagious and starts the transformation of communities at Notre Dame,” she said. “When that happens, we who are formed in Holy Cross are let loose on the world to transform it … which is what the Church and God call us to do.”

Associate Vice President for Residence Life Heather Rakoczy Russell said the “irresistible” charism of Holy Cross played a crucial role in her religious and vocational formation over the past 23 years, beginning with her first year as a transfer student at Notre Dame, and culminating with her return to campus as a rector, director of the Gender Relations Center and her current position.

“When I think about the Holy Cross constitution and its call ‘to form communities of the coming kingdom,’ I think about the priests, brothers and sisters I’ve met and the roles they’ve played in my life and faith formation,” she said. “I have met professors,

Romero

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Church of Loretto at Saint Mary’s at 4 p.m. Dowling will lecture on Romero’s life in Carroll Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

Pelton said Bishop Dowling is a strong supporter of Romero’s teachings on social justice and Church teaching, proving Romero’s influence is ubiquitous.

“The example of Archbishop Romero has spread throughout the world,” Pelton said. “Here we have all the way in South Africa a bishop who follows that example in his service to the very poor.”

Dowling’s lecture commemorates not only the 32nd anniversary of Romero’s death, but also a longstanding tradition of social justice, Pelton said.

“The annual Romero Address [will honor] 40 years of justice education on the part of the Catholic Church and also the 30 years of the Justice Education Center at St. Mary’s College,” he said.

Pelton said students should emulate Romero’s drive and fortitude to advance causes of social justice.

“It’s important for us to be willing to see the real needs of our sisters and brothers and to take the effective steps to bring about an improvement of that situation,” he said.

Contact tori Roeck at vroeck@nd.edu

Russell said rectors and residence hall staff also play a crucial role in extending the sense of the “Notre Dame family” to all its members, especially those who may be marginalized by factors like race, gender, class or religious affiliation.

“The ‘Notre Dame family’ can be off-putting if someone doesn’t feel they’re a part of it,” she said. “Communities form within the community … but these communities are sustained because [Holy Cross religious] living among students can see who is marginalized and call everyone back home.”

The vital link between generations of the Notre Dame family is the continual presence of Holy Cross at the University, AffleckGraves said.

“When I think of the Notre Dame family, [the Congregation] is the sinew that holds it together,” he said. “It’s a permanent thread that’s always there. It’s why other universities are different and why Notre Dame would lose everything without it.”

Contact Kristen Durbin at kdurbin@nd.edu

continued from page 1

Relay for Life has been successful in the past, Vos said. She said the event raised $160,000 last year and was among the top five fundraising sectors in the nation.

“Every year we have more students come and raise more money than before, and they have a lot of fun,” Vos said.

This will be Vos’s second year as the student chair for Relay. She said she started planning Relay for Life with a committee, comprised mostly of faculty and staff, at the beginning of the semester.

“I love the event,” she said. “I think it’s a cool way for the campus to come together as a group and fight for this cause … Unfortunately, a lot of people know someone who has been affected or who had cancer.”

Vos said besides contributing to a good cause, students have an extra incentive to raise money, as the top fundraiser will receive a free semester of books, compliments of the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore.

“The fee [to participate] is only $10, and you get a T-shirt and admission into the event,” Vos said.

Relay was originally held in Stepan Center but was moved to the Stadium during Vos’s sophomore year, she said.

“It’s a lot more exciting,” she said. “When else do you get to sleep in the Stadium and watch the sunset on the concourse?”

Students can register until the day of the event at relay.org/ndin.

Contact Meghan t homassen at mthomass@nd.edu

InsIde CoLumn

What do 1912, ‘97 and 2012 have in common?

My heart will go on and on.

Near, far — wherever you are, I believe you’ve all watched “Titanic” at least once, or so I hope. But are you as excited and ready as I am for Jack and Rose’s love story to come back to the big screen next week in 3D? This is debatable.

I remember perfectly the first time I saw “Titanic.” My cousins and I had a sleepover, watched it together and automatically fell in love with the movie’s characters and epic plot. A boy and a girl from completely different social backgrounds falling in love and fighting to survive a tragic shipwreck — what else could a girl ask for?

After that first watch and finding out the movie was based on true events, I became a bit obsessed with “Titanic” — just a little. I wanted to find out more about the ship, its remains and survivors and how the movie was made. I also became a huge fan of Kate Winslet and wanted to marry Leonardo DiCaprio.

So after many years of gathering interesting and random facts about “Titanic,” I will share some here with you in an attempt to remind everyone how amazing this movie is and how everyone should not miss this classic film in theaters next Thursday.

First released in 1997, “Titanic” tied the record for most Oscar wins. With 14 nominations it took home 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The movie shares this record with “BenHur” (1959) and “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003). Also, remember the portrait Jack drew of Rose in the film? James Cameron, the film’s director, was the artist behind this sketch. The drawing symbolized the beginning of their romantic relationship.

Shifting to the historical event of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, its last survivor, Millvina Dean, died in 2009 at 97 years of age. Dean was a baby when she boarded the Titanic with her parents. She and her mother were among the 706 survivors of the accident.

Finally, the 3D remake of “Titanic” was set to be presented in theaters on April 4 to commemorate the centenary of the ship’s tragic sinking in the North Atlantic Ocean waters April 15, 1912.

I hope these facts will intensify your love and appreciation for “Titanic” or lack thereof. I just know that no matter how many times I watch it, my heart will forever go on.

Contact Maria Fernandez at mfernan5@nd.edu

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

Standing on Irish Green on Saturday, I watched graduate students who had been training for months, fathers completing their first half-marathons with their daughters and alumni running next to fellow classmates they hadn’t seen in years, all cross the finish line of the Holy Half Marathon. Seeing their shared expressions of relief, joy and accomplishment, I could hardly believe that just a few months ago, the Holy Half almost didn’t happen.

When we first spoke to the administration about our plans for Holy Half 2012, we were met with some resistance, and understandably so. Running a half-marathon is a huge physical endeavor and the risks are high. I mean, when Phidippides ran from the Battle of Marathon to Athens, he died of exhaustion shortly after finishing the 26 miles. Who was the first person to say, “Running 26 miles was a great idea, let’s do that again!”

In last year’s Holy Half, due to the freak heat wave, poor preparation or whatever else, far too many people were dropping like flies. In fact, my dad was one of the injured runners, so I can personally attest that the emergency room of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center was practically a Notre Dame reunion.

However, there was no way the

Thank you

Holy Half tradition was not going to continue. Since its creation in 2004, the Holy Half has become an inherent part of the Notre Dame experience. Just ask Ian Montijo, the junior who placed first among male undergraduate runners, about the emails he exchanged with his fellow Stanford Hall mates about their training plans. Or talk with Eliza Nagle, whose parents and sister traveled to Notre Dame from Nashville, Tenn., to watch their daughter run her first half-marathon. Fr. John Patrick Riley, priest of St. Joseph’s Parish, said after the race, “Although my body is pretty well battered from the effort at my age, happy memories will help in the recovery.”

We could not have asked for better weather, a more dedicated group of volunteers and support staff or greater enthusiasm from runners and spectators alike. This was somewhat of a transition year for the Holy Half, but for being a transition year, it was one heck of an event. 1,144 runners completed either the halfmarathon or 10K on Saturday, and we raised approximately $30,000 to be split among our three charities: Hope Ministries, the St. Joseph County Public Library and the Literacy Council of St. Joseph County.

In the past, the Holy Half has been linked with the class of 2011, but after their graduation from the University, the Holy Half moved on to new leadership under the class of 2014.

Though it has not yet been approved for club status, we hope to eventually be recognized as an “organization” similar to Bookstore Basketball. With the encouragement of the student body, the great Holy Half tradition can carry on and we can continue to make a lasting impact on campus and in the South Bend community.

Of course, there is much upon which to improve. A few runners in the 10K somehow missed the lakes entirely and we were not able to provide the Gatorade that we had promised. We rely on the support of Notre Dame students, staff, alumni and all other patrons of the Holy Half to let us know what we can do to make ourselves better and how we can make the Holy Half the best it can be for years to come.

Even if you didn’t run Saturday, you probably know someone who did, or maybe you just saw someone limping down the stairs due to the sweet burn of post-race lactic acid buildup. Make sure you tell that person congratulations, because he or she has accomplished something great. Thank you to everyone who was a part of the Holy Half Marathon 2012. We could not have done it without you.

Carolyn Green is the student director of the Holy Half Marathon. She can be reached at cgreen9@nd.edu

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

Quote of the day

“Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.”

Maria Fernandez Scene Writer
edItorIaL Cartoon

Although we appreciate the fact that the Kony 2012 video has alerted about 80 million people to a conflict to which they had previously been oblivious, we find the campaign itself to be slightly flawed. As such, we would like to offer an appendix to the video.

Sarah McGough Katie Rose Africa Working Group

First, Northern Uganda has been peaceful for over five years; the IDP camps are almost entirely dispersed and people no longer live in constant fear. The video shows one map of the LRA spreading into the neighboring central African countries, but portrays the situation of 2003 (the one which they first filmed) as the current situation. When spreading advocacy about Joseph Kony, make sure you are advocating on behalf of his victims in that area of the continent and not Northern Uganda.

The war itself is never explained in the video, so while the background of

Letter to the edItor

Backstory behind Kony

the war is incredibly confusing, we’ll give you a few simple notes. The LRA movement started in 1986 with Alice Lakwena, but there have been tensions between what is now North/ South Uganda since the fourth century. Furthermore, although it may be less well known know, the LRA did start as a movement with a purpose. One of the key factors in the war is that Kony is a medium for spirits (a prophet in the movement) and if he is killed the spirit can be transmitted, just as it was from its original host, Alice Lakwena. So the solution is a little more complicated than killing Kony. If you want more info on the background, Google it — it’s definitely worth your time.

Next, there are tons of complexities involved in the ICC arrest warrant. One of the reasons Kony left the peace talks a few years ago was because of the indictment; much of Uganda frowned upon the ICC intervention, believing Uganda could handle its own problems. This warrant in fact makes it much

Reactions to “Race”

After attending “Show Some Skin: The Race Monologues” this weekend in the Hesburgh Library auditorium, we shared two reactions. First, we agreed that the talent and effort of the writers and speakers/actors made for a compelling and unique performance that captivated an overflowing crowd. Second, while heartened by the response of those present, we wished that the entire Notre Dame community — students, faculty, administrators and staff — had been able to attend, for the real-life stories of a diverse array of Notre Dame students were always revealing, often disheartening and sometimes heartbreaking. The Notre Dame family, it became evident, can learn to be more welcoming to all.

“Show Some Skin” was wonderful; it addressed a difficult topic of race on campus with spirit, humor, and honesty. We hope that more and more members of the Notre Dame community will take advantage of opportunities like the one offered to us this past weekend.

Kevin Barry faculty Kaneb Center

Denise M. Della Rossa faculty German and Russian

Joan Fallon faculty Kroc Institute

Stephen Fallon faculty PLS and English

Dan Graff faculty History and Higgins Labor Studies Program

Stuart Greene faculty English

Cecilia Lucero faculty Show Some Skin advisor

Nicole Maclaughlin Lucero faculty University Writing Program

Maria McKenna faculty Africana Studies

Jessica McManus Warnell faculty Management and Business Ethics

Richard Pierce faculty History and Africana Studies

Ann Marie Power faculty Sociology

Clark Power faculty PLS

Jason Ruiz faculty American Studies

Elizabeth Van Jacob faculty Hesburgh Libraries

Dave Williams faculty Hesburgh Libraries March 26

less likely that Kony will ever willingly leave the bush and ensures a military intervention which will kill even more of Kony’s soldiers.

Another omitted part of the video is the role of the Ugandan government. It has been very aware of the conflict in Northern Uganda since it began shortly after Museveni took over. Museveni basically left the North alone to fend for themselves for about two decades. All the while, the U.S. government continued to supply ODA and military aid to Uganda, perpetuating the belief that Uganda would have international support without responding to the conflict. Any military that went to the North was not supervised to the extent needed and therefore committed incredible human rights abuses of their own. There is more than one person at fault in the conflict, so while you’re asking your congressman/woman to take action to stop Kony, ask them to reevaluate their support of the Museveni regime while they are at it.

Also, not all Africans are helpless, impoverished, child soldiers and victims of rape, as is perpetuated in the video. In fact, most people in the North, although scarred by the war, are living pretty normal lives — delivering pizza and all.

If this video has pulled at your heart strings and inspired you to make a difference, absolutely go for it. But first, get a bit more background (like by joining the Africa Working Group). That way we are sure to make the policy we encourage one that will help more people than it hurts.

The Africa Working Group, as part of the International Development Research Council, meets weekly to discuss issues related to international development in Africa. Katie Rose can be reached at krose1@nd.edu and Sarah McGough can be reached at smcgough@nd.edu

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

Ruling shows will to reform

The U.S. Supreme Court came to a smart decision on Wednesday by ruling that “criminal defendants have a constitutional right to effective lawyers during plea negotiations,” according to The New York Times.

Criminal defendants deserve to face a more formal and regulated process of plea bargaining. Whether or not the defendant is guilty, he or she still needs to be able to see all of his or her options as clearly as possible.

Megan Hurley

The Arizona Daily Wildcat

In that same article, effective lawyers boil down to the fact “that what used to be informal and unregulated deal making is now subject to new constraints when bad legal advice leads defendants to reject favorable plea offers.”

The importance of guilty pleas is obvious when looking at the numbers. According to The New York Times, about 97 percent of federal convictions resulted from guilty pleas, with 94 percent in state convictions for 2006.

These plea deals decide whether people spend a year or a decade in prison. Whether the general public agrees with what the defendant did or not, there is a reason that these policies exist.

The Sixth Amendment guarantees a fair trial, but the word “fair” can be incredibly subjective. Many court cases from centuries ago are still analyzed, but that is what is supposed to happen. The U.S. Supreme Court does not deal with open-and-shut cases.

This decision confronts the idea of fixing the system. The court system and its many operators do great work for the nation. This decision to expand the protections of criminal defendants just shows how much more attorneys can do. No one is getting thrown under the bus — instead, the highest court in the United States is admitting that there still needs to be finetuning.

Decisions by the Supreme Court don’t just affect the people directly impacted by the outcome of what they implement. Every case sets precedent and brings up new questions. The judiciary branch of the federal government is independent of Congress, separated from political squabbles.

Furthermore, these judges are not dealing with just the imminent present, but also centuries to come. Pointing out what needs fixing seems like a smart move from a judiciary body that deals with so many controversial cases. If all of the states can listen and try to alter the judicial system in a positive direction, this ruling will not just help who pleads guilty. It will also help everyday people see transparency in a government that needs it.

This article first ran in the March 26 edition of the Arizona Daily Wildcat, the daily publication serving the University of Arizona.

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

uWIre

Your Queue

The Best of Watch Instantly

Wading through the excessive amount of horrible films on Netflix Watch Instantly can be daunting for any subscriber. To ease the process, Scene has graciously provided a list of the best Netflix has to offer.

1. “Psych” season 5

Season 5 of this USA comedy didnʼt hold back any punches. Shawn (James Roday) faced his fear of commitment, only to stumble in chasing his dreams. Gus (Dulé Hill) explored his love of tap dancing. Despereaux (Cary Elwes) returned. And in the case of Yin (Peter Weller) and Yang (Ally Sheedy) was finally resolved, though not without drama. Despite the action-packed season with lots of guest stars, the show retained its typical, offbeat humor, and even surpassed expectations from previous seasons.

2. “Wet Hot American Summer”

This 2001 summer camp parody wasnʼt a big hit with the critics, but like so many critically panned comedies before it, that doesnʼt mean it isnʼt hilarious from start to finish. Itʼs the last day of camp and the end of summer, which means the last chance for a summer romance for a cast brimming with comedic stars in the making. The whole movie is worth it just to see Christopher Meloni (seen in a more serious role on “Law and Order: SVU”) as a deranged Vietnam veteran cook.

3. “Primal Fear”

Edward Norton is known for the colorful range of characters heʼs played over the course of his career, but this film introduced him to the world, and his portrayal as a young altar boy in the midst of a murder scandal instantly established him as a serious star. Richard Gere stars as a cynical defense attorney trying to unravel the controversy, and the movie thrills throughout, all the way up to the stunning finale.

4. “Saved By the Bell”

Bayside High was the how-to guide for the ʻ90s. Premiering in 1989, the gang led by cool troublemaker Zach Morris and the object of his affections, Kelly Kapowski, showed us how to live the decade right. Think of the fashion advice Lisa Turtle can give, about Slaterʼs pecs, Screechʼs nerdiness and Jessie Spanoʼs smarts. Hanging out at the Max and getting called into Mr. Beldingʼs office are essential ʻ90s experiences that need to be relived. The original show is streaming, but unfortunately weʼll just have to wait for the new class and college years spinoffs and “Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style/Wedding in Vegas.”

5. “Art & Copy”

Even as modern media and technology are changing, the power of good advertising remains true. From the Budweiser frogs to Nikeʼs “Just Do It,” there are certain ad campaigns that stick in our memory as stubbornly as a first kiss or the best slice of pizza youʼve ever eaten. This documentary goes behind-the-scenes of some of the worldʼs most successful advertising campaigns, interviewing the creative minds behind famous taglines and characters and giving an insiderʼs look at the world of advertising. Pair it with “Mad Men” and some Super Bowl commercials on YouTube for a complete view of the importance of advertising.

MAIJA GUSTIN Scene Writer

Comedian Aziz Ansari released his latest comedy special, “Dangerously Delicious,” directly on his website for $5 on March 20.

This model of comedians releasing their stand up specials directly to the public through their websites — and bypassing middlemen like Comedy Central or HBO — is still in its infancy. Louis C.K. set what seems to be a burgeoning trend by releasing his special, “Live at the Beacon Theatre”, on his website last December. That special was very successful, as it grossed over $1 million.

Jim Gaffigan announced he would release his next special the same way April 11.

Comedians like this method of distribution because it allows them complete creative control and gives them a larger share of the profits. The success of Louis C.K. also supports the arguments of many people who download media illegally when they say they would pay for content if it were available in a convenient format at a reasonable price.

Time will tell whether this distribution model will become the new standard or if only the biggest name comedians can find success without the marketing arm of a major corporation.

Ansari is perhaps best known for his role as Tom Haverford on “Parks and Recreation,” but he has also appeared in a number of films like “30 Minutes or Less” and “Funny People.”

“Dangerously Delicious” is an exciting effort that revisits many of the same themes from Ansari’s first special, “Intimate Moments for a

Sensual Evening.” There are stories about his cousin Harris, R. Kelly and food. Though he doesn’t break new ground as far as material is con-

cerned, this special is a solid comedic performance that will be enjoyed by fans of Ansari’s comedy. Though he jokes that comedy tours are nothing like tours of rock stars like Mötley Crüe, he still has stories of hanging out with Jay-Z, so comedy tours are apparently still a lot crazier than regular people’s lives. In one hilarious bit, Ansari discusses overhearing 50 Cent at a restaurant, and apparently the rapper did not know what a grapefruit is. Ansari receives a lot of laughs from such a simple premise. His delivery is marked by both a sort of sophisticated cool and a manic excitement. The interplay of these drives makes Ansari’s analysis of situations, both mundane and extraordinary, way funnier than they probably should be.

Also included for those who buy the special is a digital bonus pack including photos from the tour and a list of restaurants he ate at on the tour. If you want to give the special as a gift or just have it look cool on your shelf, it also includes materials for fans to make their own DVD covers.

If you are undecided about whether Mr. Ansari’s stand up fits your comedic sensibilities, a preview of the special is available on his website.

This is an exciting time for stand up comedy, with a lot of auteurs putting out quality material in innovative ways.

Contact Patrick McManus at pmcmanu1@nd.edu

What is the Port of Morrow?

According to The Shins’ lead singer and frontman James Mercer, the Oregon-based band named its fourth and latest album after a port authority that neither he nor any of the band members have visited in Boardman, a city on the Columbia River.

Mercer explained the LP title in the United Kingdom-based music webzine “Drowned in Sound.” “There’s a sign by the side of the road that says ‘Port of Morrow’ and I always just wondered about it, I guess ... I was thinking of it as death, like what’s beyond the exit point, the ‘port of morrow,’ the port into tomorrow? ... Like the ace of spades, port of morrow, life is death, death is life,” he said.

In line with its dark premise and Mercer’s venture into digital music with his side project Broken Bells, “Port of Morrow” certainly has a more digitally layered sound overall than the band’s previous releases. In the album’s opener “The Rifle’s Spiral,” Mercer’s signature falsetto echoes over an impressive sonic bass line with the subtle yet biting lyrics: “You’re not invisible now/You just don’t exist/Your mother must be so proud/You sublimate yourself, drowning us of rich.”

“Simple Song” sounds more upbeat and in tune with The Shins’ usual sum-

mery indie pop sound. Booming with both enthusiasm and nostalgia, the song is exactly as Mercer defines it in the chorus: “Well, this is just a simple song/To say what you’ve done./I told you ‘bout all those fears/And away they did run.” The

Too Narrow” or 2007’s “Wincing The Night Away,” Mercer attempts to make the new LP somewhat diverse in its reach of sound and genre. Mercer succeeds with a new vocal sound in the soul ballad and title track “Port of Morrow”

piece is the album’s signature simple pop song, both melodically and lyrically.

Although “Port of Morrow” sounds more digital than the 2003 song “Chutes

and Switch,” a ‘90s layered Upper Northwest guitar nod in “For a Fool” and an all-American pop rock feel in “No Way Down,” which includes a guitar hook comparable to that of “Jack & Diane.” “Fall of ’82” clearly gives a nod to ‘80s soft rock with a muted trumpet solo and completes the album’s overall nostalgic feel.

Overall, The Shins meet expectations for “Port of Morrow” after a five-year hiatus. Mercer proves that although he made the decision to go digital with Danger Mouse in his musical side project Broken Bells, he hasn’t lost his raw talent or gone mainstream since “Wincing the Night Away.” Rather, he’s expanded his horizons and welcomed even more genres and decades of influence into his musical repertoire.

Contact Alex Kilpatrick at akilpatr@nd.edu

“Port of Morrow”

The Shins

Label: Columbia Records

Best Tracks: “Simple Song,” “For a Fool,” “The Rifle’s Spiral” AP

and tries on psychedelic folk for size in “September.”

The album transcends its decade further with a ‘70s new-wave sound in “Bait

Photo Courtesy of azizansari.com

Jets take huge risk with acquisition of Tebow

Luck to work out with Colts

Associated Press

Tebowmania has come and gone. Once the nation’s permanent SportsCenter top story and Twitter trend, Tim Tebow’s star has come back to Earth. After proving he could win in the playoffs, Tebow was unceremoniously thrown out of Denver, scrapped to make room for an almost 40-yearold back patient named Peyton Manning. This allowed the New York Jets to pick up one of the NFL’s marquee players out of the bargain bin, giving up only two low-round draft picks in return.

Of course, anytime you can turn a fourth-round flier into a proven NFL quarterback, it’s a no-brainer, right?

Unfortunately for the Jets, wrong.

While Tebow certainly has more value than the assets they gave up, the Jets could not have added more of a mismatched piece to their jagged edge, barbed wire jigsaw puzzle.

Tebow, in addition to his play at quarterback, is the most famous spokesperson for Christianity in pop culture, and he brings his ‘Oh, jeez’ innocence and squeakyclean persona along with his arm. Tebow’s faith and charity were a juxtaposition inside a take-noprisoners, bounties-on-injuries NFL locker room, but it was able to work out oddly (and, as Saturday Night Live proved, comically) in Denver.

he recently tweeted welcoming messages like “Y bring Tebow in” and “We don’t need Tebow.”

The Jets fell apart last season due to locker room issues, and the last thing they need is another polarizing figure in the mix.

But even in strictly football terms, the trade doesn’t make sense.

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez led the team to two AFC Championship games in his first two seasons, but his inconsistent play last year drew the ire of the ruthless New York press and fans. To boost their star’s confidence, the Jets went all in on Sanchez last month, signing him to a three-year extension. But the move to get Tebow only undermines that confidence, and the clamor to see Tebow in the starting job will now begin with Sanchez’s first incompletion.

The Jets claim Tebow will be used only as a backup and in special packages, but they had just signed backup Drew Stanton to a new deal as well. And while the Jets and Tony Sparano, their new offensive coordinator, have both had success with ‘Wildcat’ packages in the past, the team and the league may have moved on.

The Jets fell apart last season due to locker room issues and the last thing they need is another polarizing figure in the mix.

“The Wildcat? Nobody runs that anymore,” an anonymous Jet told ESPN after Tebow’s acquisition. “We’re taking three steps back and the rest of the league is taking four steps forward.”

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts will soon get a more thorough look at Andrew Luck.

They won’t have the same opportunity with Robert Griffin III.

General manager Ryan Grigson said Monday the Colts plan to bring Luck to Indianapolis for an individual workout during the next couple of weeks. Luck is widely expected to be the No. 1 pick in next month’s draft. Griffin is expected to go second, but Grigson said the Colts wouldn’t see the Heisman Trophy winner work out at the team complex.

“Circumstances didn’t allow us to do anything private with him (Griffin) so we did the usual Pro Day,” Grigson said during a conference call. “We did the best we could with that situation. We do have a private workout that we’re scheduling with Andrew in the future.”

Grigson was ill last week and could not attend Griffin’s workout in Waco, Texas, or Luck’s workout in Palo Alto, Calif., though there were Colts representatives in both places.

Team owner Jim Irsay has already said he plans to take Peyton Manning’s successor with the No. 1 pick, but nobody within the organization is saying whether they’ll take the consensus favorite, Luck, or the fast riser, Griffin.

Luck is considered the most polished quarterback to come out of college since Manning was taken No. 1 overall by the Colts in 1998.

said. “I think we’ll do it like teams always have and keep it simple.”

Clearly, this is a team in transition.

But the New York Jets are an entirely different animal. You couldn’t get Tebow to say ‘damn’ unless he was referring to the final judgment, while coach Rex Ryan is famous for his profanityfueled speeches, tirades and even snacking plans.

Tebow has been celebrated for his ministry to prison inmates, while the Jets were more likely to spend time on the other side of the bars.

Outspoken cornerback Antonio Cromartie has had legal trouble in the past, as last season he requested a $500,000 salary advance to pay his child support. However, Cromartie has gotten in hot water with the team as well, as

CL assIfIeds

When you factor in the $2.5 million the Jets are paying Tebow after they misread a clause in his contract, the Tebow trade could ultimately be destructive on the field, in the press, in the locker room and on the payroll.

Ryan and the Jets love to gamble, and they’re pushing all their chips in here, hoping their new backup can terrorize defenses without upsetting their starter. If they’re right, Tebow could be the X-factor that brings the franchise their second Lombardi Trophy.

But if they’re wrong, it’ll Teblow up in their faces.

Contact Jack Hefferon at wheffero@nd.edu

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

“Obviously you want to go No. 1, who wouldn’t want to go No. 1?” Luck said after last week’s Pro Day workout. “I’m just trying to prepare myself for the NFL, whichever team that is. Whether it’s watching certain defenses or going out there and working on throws I’ve never done before. That’s been my focus and it hasn’t been hard to stay on that path.”

Without the 35-year-old Manning, the Colts collapsed last season. They went a leagueworst 2-14, and have embarked on an ambitious rebuilding project—one that no longer includes Manning.

Indy released its franchise quarterback March 7, and last week the four-time league MVP signed a new five-year deal with the Denver Broncos.

But Grigson insisted Monday that the team has not decided who to take and would likely wait until after the first round is completed April 26 before negotiating a deal with the top pick.

“We’re going to do it the oldfashioned way, and that’s not something that’s been discussed at this point about how we would go about that,” Grigson

In addition to releasing Manning, the Colts made a series of cost-cutting moves by releasing defensive captains Gary Brackett and Melvin Bullitt and former Pro Bowlers Dallas Clark and Joseph Addai earlier this month. They also have lost longtime center Jeff Saturday to Green Bay, emerging receiver Pierre Garcon to Washington and backup tight end Jacob Tamme to Denver in free agency.

There was even speculation that the Colts may try to save more money by trading perennial Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney, who will count $19 million against the salary cap this season. Grigson denied those rumors.

“There’s never been any substance that would suggest we’re doing anything like that. He’s a Colt, period,” Grigson said.

“Everything with Dwight is great. He’s going to be here this year,” Grigson added. “We expect him to be a major contributor and a guy who strikes fear in our opponents and those offensive linemen every week.”

The Colts haven’t completely gutted the roster.

They did re-sign receiver Reggie Wayne to a three-year deal, and Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Mathis to a four-year deal. Mathis and Freeney have been one of the league’s most feared pass-rushing tandems since 2004.

New coach Chuck Pagano has called them “game-wreckers” and is still contemplating how best to use the two as he tries to switch from the Colts’ trademark Tampa 2 scheme to Pagano’s favored 3-4 system.

Grigson’s biggest concern has been putting together an offensive unit in which the new quarterback—Luck or Grigson—can thrive.

The Colts have stockpiled talent along the offensive line by trading for Winston Justice and signing free agents Mike McGlynn and Samson Satele. They also signed free agent receiver Donnie Avery, a speedster who could give them a major deep threat if he’s healthy.

“He’s always been a fast guy,” Grigson said of Avery. “He’s had considerable production early on in his career and, of course, he as well as we, hope he gets back to that level. We sure hope he does and I know he does. It’s a nice get for us based on what he brings to the table and what he can help in this offense with much needed wrinkle of speed.”

Quarterback Andrew Luck works out for NFL team representatives
Stanford’s Pro Day in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday.

Irish begin homestand with Western Michigan

After three consecutive rain postponements, the Irish are eager for some nice weather and tough competition as they prepare for a long stretch of home games, beginning with a matchup against Western Michigan on Tuesday. The Irish (11-10) have not competed in more than a week after playing eight games in seven days over spring break. The contest against Western Michigan (11-9) will begin a series of six home games in the next six days, including doubleheaders against Toledo (7-17) and Connecticut (1011).

“We’ve been able to rest, which has been great ... A lot of girls today were saying that their bodies felt fresh. We’ve been practicing and working on what we needed to learn from and we’re just moving forward from here.”

In 2011, Western Michigan ended Notre Dame’s 21-game home winning streak, the fifth-longest in the country at the time. Senior infielder Dani Miller said the Irish are taking this game seriously, as they learned last year that Western Michigan is a threat.

Alexa Moldonado Irish senior outfielder

“I don’t think we can ever take a team lightly,” Miller said. “We just plan to play our game and we know we can do well against any team.”

Maldonado said the loss last year was a result of the Irish being overconfident in the matchup with the Broncos.

Senior outfielder Alexa Maldonado said the break the postponements caused has given the players a chance to recover from their spring break competitions.

“We’ve been able to rest, which has been great,” Maldonado said. “A lot of girls today were saying that their bodies felt fresh. We’ve been practicing and working on what we needed to learn from and we’re just moving forward from here.”

“We want to come out hard, come out playing our top game and come out with a big win... We want to roll into conference play on a win and ultimately go undefeated in conference.”

“We played down to their level and we let them inch up behind us and beat us,” Maldonado said. “It’s one of those losses where you just think, ‘I can’t believe that just happened.’” Maldonado said a win against Western Michigan will give Notre Dame the momentum it needs as it heads into conference play this weekend.

Alexa Moldonado Irish senior outfielder

Maldonado said that the stretch of home games looks more daunting than it actually is.

“I actually don’t think it’s as hard as it sounds,” Maldonado said. “Once we start winning, we get on a roll and it keeps us fresh in the game mentally. When we’re practicing nonstop, it gets monotonous. It’s good to just play and see what we’ve been working on this whole season.”

“We want to come out hard, come out playing our top game and come out with a big win,” Maldonado said. “We want to roll into conference play on a win and ultimately go undefeated in conference.”

Both Maldonado and Miller said the Irish will attempt to cut down on small errors and encourage one another to stay positive.

Notre Dame will take on Western Michigan Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Melissa Cook Stadium.

Contact Katie Heit at kheit@nd.edu

SARAH O’CONNOR/The Observer
Irish senior infielder Dani Miller eyes a pitch in an April 30, 2011 game against St. John’s. Notre Dame’s home opener is today.

Irish rowers post wins in Indianapolis regatta

The Irish finished strong with six wins in the four-team regatta Sunday after a rough start in a one-on-one matchup at Ohio State the day before.

The team faced a tough challenge in its Saturday matchup against Ohio State, one of the top teams in the central region. The first race of the day between each team’s novice number eight set the tone, with the Irish losing by only seven seconds. Notre Dame had difficulties keeping up with Ohio State and did not win any races.

Despite not notching any victories, the Irish were competitive throughout the day. Both the varsity eight boat and the second varsity eight boat finished seven seconds behind the Buckeyes in their respective head-to-head matchups.

“I definitely think we could have done better against Ohio State and beat them,” junior Abby Meyers said. “They are highly ranked. We were a little intimidated and it hurt us.”

After a successful previous weekend and a solid week of practice, the Irish were set to challenge the Buckeyes. However, the mental aspect of the races was the difference in the matchup.

“After Ohio State, we learned how much the mental side of it affects as we race,” Meyers said.

smC tennIs

“We had a good week of practice and we were doing really well physically. Then, at Ohio State, we rowed with our emotions and we couldn’t pull out the victory.”

The next day, the Irish traveled to Indianapolis for their fourteam regatta against Indiana, Louisville and Purdue. The Irish put aside what happened against Ohio State and displayed a strong showing with six victories over the course of the day.

Although Notre Dame finished two seconds behind Indiana in the first varsity eight race, the Irish finished with wins in the three varsity four races and the second and third varsity eight races.

“On Sunday, we more worried about our boat and not how fast the other boats were,” Meyers said. “We can only control what’s going on in our boat so when we focused on the internal parts of racing, we were successful.”

The Irish now have 16 wins over the past two weekends. However, they will have to wait another three weeks before their next chance to prove themselves in the Virginia Invitational.

“I think the next three weeks are going to be important for improving our technique and getting better,” Meyers said.

Notre Dame will next be in action April 14-15 at the Virginia Invitational in Charlottesville, Va.

Contact Ernst Cleofe at ecleofe@nd.edu

Coming off split, Belles travel to take on Albion

Coming off a split-decision in its doubleheader against No. 9 regionally-ranked Wheaton and Judson in Hanover Park, Ill., Saint Mary’s looks to beat Albion tonight in an MIAA match.

The Belles (7-4, 1-0 MIAA) lost their first match 8-1 to undefeated Wheaton (7-0), with sophomore Margaret Boden gaining the sole victory at the No. 6 spot. They bounced back and were victorious in their second match against Judson (0-7) by a score of 7-2.

“I thought overall we did okay,” Belles coach Dale Campbell said. “Wheaton was a strong team and we recognize that but they were a non-conference team which makes it less painful. We played well against Judson but [Judson] was not at the same level as Wheaton. I’m glad we did not play down to Judson’s level and got work done when we needed to.”

The Belles mixed up their lineup Sunday, making a small change in the doubles teams. Freshman Audrey Kiefer swapped with freshman Kayle Sexton, moving from the No. 1 to No. 2 doubles team. Kiefer joined freshman Shannon Elliott, while Sexton was paired with sophomore Mary Catherine Faller.

“We tried something different in doubles this weekend before conference games got underway,” Campbell said. “We felt that this

Thomas

continued from page 16

“We look to use our length to get on the glass,” Thomas said Monday. “We know that gives a lot of teams a lot of trouble. We’re able to use our length on defense and create havoc out there.

“We know we have a height advantage on [Notre Dame], especially inside, so I know our inside game is going to be a huge thing for us tomorrow.”

Maryland starts a 6-foot4 center in sophomore Alicia DeVaughn, a 6-foot-3 forward in junior Tianna Hawkins and a 6-foot-2 forward in sophomore Thomas. On the other hand, Notre Dame starts four guards and 6-foot-2 graduate student forward Devereaux Peters, who averages 9.4 rebounds per game.

“When you talk about an Alyssa Thomas who’s playing your three-spot at 6-foot-2 and now your three, four and five [positions] are rebounding the way they are … Those are the intangibles,” Frese said. “For us, it gives us second-chance opportunities, it gives us more looks at the basket and it’s been an emphasis and kind of a trademark as we continue to recruit players into this program.”

McGraw acknowledged the inability to replicate Thomas in practice due to her versatility and skill set as a forward-guard hybrid.

“It’s impossible to simulate [Thomas]. We’ll have to talk about what we’re going to do and just use their imagination because she’s a great player,” McGraw said. “She’s really hard to guard because she’s so strong and

she’s got a lot of guard skills in a post body. She can do a lot of things around the basket.”

Despite Notre Dame’s greater postseason experience, Thomas said a difficult conference schedule, including two matchups apiece against top10 teams in Duke and Miami, has prepared the Terrapins for the physical and mental challenge of unseating the Raleigh region’s No. 1 seed. Thomas led the ACC in scoring as the conference’s most dynamic offensive threat.

“We know it’s going to be a very physical game,” she said. “We know Notre Dame is a

very physical team in general. We just have to come out there and take the hits and give it back to them, and just plan on it for 40 minutes.”

Ultimately, each team’s greatest strength may be the one intangible Diggins and Thomas share — the ability to take over a close game in the final minutes.

“When we are down and we need a quick hitter, my team has confidence in me to come down the stretch and hit a big shot,” Thomas said.

Contact Chris Masoud at cmasoud@nd.edu

change will take advantage of the different styles and the players will complement each other better at these spots. It was tough to judge how well this move worked since we faced such different calibers of competition this weekend, but we will be keeping the switch for the match against Albion.”

In the conference matchup against the 2011 MIAA champion Britons (5-2, 1-0), there will be no switch in the Belles’ singles lineup or in the No. 3 doubles team, consisting of Boden and freshman Jackie Kjolhede.

“We are going to leave alone the third team of doubles,” Campbell said. “They have good chemistry and have done well so far this year. We have a better record in doubles than singles this year so hopefully the changes in doubles do not affect our play. Even though we have a worse singles record, everyone will stay in their spots.”

According to Campbell, Saint Mary’s is ready to play against the defending MIAA champions.

“Being a conference match, there is definitely an importance placed on this match,” Campbell said. “They have more experience in their lineup, but we are excited to match up against them and I believe we will match up well.”

The Belles look to defeat the reigning MIAA champion Albion today at 4 p.m. in Albion, Mich.

Contact isaac lorton at ilorton@nd.edu

MATT SAAD/The Observer
Maryland sophomore forward Alyssa Thomas releases a shot during the Terrapins’ 81-74 victory over Texas A&M on March 25.

Pitching leads to Belles sweep of Yellow Jackets

Back-to-back complete games by sophomore Callie Selner and senior Monica Palicki led Saint Mary’s to a doubleheader sweep over Defiance on Monday.

The Belles (13-5) took advantage of a struggling Yellow Jackets squad (4-13), winning both road games by scores of 4-0 and 6-2, respectively.

With Selner on the mound in the first game, the Belles capitalized on an error-ridden second inning by the Yellow Jackets to grab a 2-0 lead.

Senior Kristen Nelson’s RBI single with two outs plated the first run of the game and the second scored on Defiance’s third error of the inning.

In the sixth inning, the Belles blew the game open with a two-run home run by freshman Jordie Wasserman.

“Our bats fell asleep Saturday and Sunday, but today we were much more relaxed and weren’t pressing at the plate,” Belles coach Erin Sullivan said.

Meanwhile, Selner (6-3) went the distance in pitching seven shutout innings as she yielded only five hits, walked two and struck out four.

“[Selner] threw really well today and pitched ahead in the count on hitters,” Sullivan said. “She had a great outing and continued what she’s been doing all year.”

This marked the second-consec-

utive shutout for the Belles after defeating North Park 4-0 on Sunday.

In the second game, the Belles again seized an early lead, scoring on an RBI single by junior Morgan Bedan in the first inning. After the Yellow Jackets briefly took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second, the Belles quickly responded with two runs in the third.

After freshman Victoria Connelly stole second base, Nelson singled her home to tie the game and then scored on senior Kate Mitchell’s sacrifice fly to take give the Belles the lead for good.

Senior Lauren Enayati, who batted 3-for-4 in the second game, added an RBI single in the fifth, as Saint Mary’s padded its lead with three more runs.

Meanwhile, Palicki (6-0) struck out three during her complete game performance, while allowing just one earned run, along with three hits.

“Monica threw awesome Sunday and carried that into today,” Sullivan said. “The early run support helped both our pitchers and gave them a nice cushion.”

The Belles return home to host Carthage in a doubleheader Thursday beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Contact Matt Unger at munger3@nd.edu

McGraw

continued from page 16

Notre Dame suppressed its three previous tournament opponents to a 33.1 percent shooting percentage from the field for an average of 46.7 points per game. After knocking Liberty and California out of the tournament at home, the Irish earned a spot in the Elite Eight with a 79-35 win over St. Bonaventure on Sunday. The Bonnies’ 35 points were the fewest scored in a regional game in the history of the NCAA tournament.

“I think we’ve held our composure and I think that’s what sets us apart from the rest because we hold our composure,” graduate student forward Devereaux Peters said. “We’ve been there before, we’ve done this last year and we have players that are seasoned and have done this before. We know what it’s like, we know what we have to do to execute. I think we’ve done a great job of coming out from the start and being ready. That’s something we’ve done well all year and something that we’ll keep doing.”

In the first round of the tournament, Maryland rallied to top Navy 59-44 despite the Midshipmen’s four-point lead at halftime. Maryland then snuck by seventhseeded Louisville 72-68 in the second round after trailing by five points with six minutes left.

After Louisville, the Terrapins met up with the Aggies, who had an 18-point lead in the first half. Maryland caught up in the second half and used a 21-4 run in the final minutes of the game to dispose of Texas A&M and advance to a showdown with the Irish.

The Irish celebrate their 79-35 victory over St.

on Sunday. Notre Dame will take on Maryland tonight.

Notre Dame’s last loss, a 63-54 defeat at the hands of Connecticut in the Big East championship game March 6, is similar to one suffered by the 2001 national championship team, McGraw said.

“After a loss, it takes a couple games to figure out if you learned anything from it or not,” she said. “When you have a winning streak as we did going into that West Virginia game during the year, you don’t realize it kind of weighs on you a little bit. Sometimes when you lose, you almost get a fresh start. So I think coming out of the [Big East] tournament, we likened it to our championship year — we lost in the final of the Big East tournament, we came back and won the national championship.”

The Irish endured a difficult regular-season schedule, an experience Peters said prepares Notre Dame for some of the nation’s most talented squads in the tournament.

“The Big East is like the tournament where any team can

come out and beat you any day,” Peters said. “You have to treat every team like they’re Connecticut or Tennessee or one of the big-name teams. The Big East has definitely prepared us for where we are now, and they all have athletic players and work hard and I think that’s why we excelled.

“Our [preparedness] is a mix of that and how far we went last year, and having that experience definitely prepares you for games like this and being in these types of situations.”

The Irish tip off against the Terrapins with a coveted Final Four spot on the line Tuesday at 9 p.m. at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Contact Molly Sammon at msammon@nd.edu

Aoki

continued from page 16

“In the event that we don’t win the Big East tournament, we’ve got to make sure we’re taking care of business.”

Though the non-conference schedule is important, it offers the Irish a chance to fine-tune their lineup and give some new faces a chance to become regulars.

One position battle Aoki has not yet set is shortstop, where freshmen Phil Mosey and Jason McMurray have received the majority of playing time this season. McMurray started most of the games early in the season, but Mosey got the nod to start all three games last

weekend. Mosey has flashed some leather at the position and has been a strong double-play pivot in the Irish infield, he now finds his batting average under .100 after a hitless weekend against Pittsburgh.

“We’ll have to search a little bit [at shortstop],” Aoki said. “Phil did play good defense for us, and I thought his at bats later in the weekend were a little better than they were in the early part of the weekend. But that is certainly a place where we still have some question marks about what we’re looking for there.”

While UIC’s record may be under .500, the Flames will certainly pose a challenge for the Irish. UIC comes into its date with Notre Dame riding a four-game winning streak and has beaten the Irish in each

of their last three yearly meetings. But after opening conference play in such strong fashion, the Irish self-belief is running high.

“We have a lot of confidence going into it,” Aoki said. “We’ll have to play well. We’re not at the point where we can just out-talent everybody. We have to work, and we have to come ready to play. UIC is always a good club in that Horizon League and they’re well coached. We’re going to be on the road, so we’re going to have to go in there and do a really good job of competing.”

The Irish and Flames will square off Tuesday night at Les Miller Field in Chicago, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.

Contact Jack Hefferon at wheffero@nd.edu

MATT SAAD/The Observer
Bonaventure
DILLON wEISNER/The Observer
Irish freshman infielder Conor Biggio legs out a ground ball during Notre Dame’s 3-2 victory over Pittsburgh on March 24 at Frank Eck Stadium.

continued from page 16

gled with winning draws early in the season, Halfpenny moved Powell up to the circle in Sunday’s 13-11 win over Louisville. In a game where she led all scorers with four goals, Powell won five of the team’s nine

draw controls as well, including several late in the game to help seal the victory.

“They’ve just recently started putting me up there, but I like it,” Powell said. “Draws are definitely a big part of the game, so we just need someone in there who can get the ball.”

The best gifts are often surprises and part of what made Powell’s performance so special

for her coach is she wasn’t prepared for it before she joined Notre Dame this summer. On a team with several marquee upperclassmen, Halfpenny didn’t realize just how much of a weapon Powell was until she was able to watch her in practice.

“Once she came in this fall, I saw how she could get down to the cage, and how coachable

she was and how quickly she could make adjustments, and I knew she was going to be a big player for us,” Halfpenny said. Powell will no longer be able to surprise teams as she slices through defenders and puts up huge numbers, but that doesn’t seem to bother her. With Notre Dame’s versatile offense, she’s said the team should be able to compete for the only two goals

that matter: a Big East title and a national championship.

“I’m definitely a one-on-one driver, but I feel really comfortable playing in our offense,” Powell said. “We have a great attacking unit and we work really well together. We have a ton of threats.”

Contact Jack Hefferon at wheffero@nd.edu

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Irish to face Maryland for trip to Final Four

Only Maryland stands in the way of Notre Dame’s second consecutive trip to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. To win the Raleigh, N.C., regional final, the top-seeded Irish need to beat the second-seeded Terrapins, the same team that ousted defending national champion Texas A&M 81-74 in the Sweet 16.

“We’ve got to really be able to run our offense and execute against a team that’s very physical and very fast,” Irish coach Muffet McGraw said. “They’ve got some good matchups on their side. I think the mismatches are all us trying to guard them. We’ve just got to go into it, play our game and defensively you don’t have anybody you can leave on their team.”

see McGRAW/page 13

Women’s LaCrosse

Healthy Powell leads prolific Irish attack

Coming into this season, Notre Dame was expected to have an explosive, recordbreaking offense that could light up the scoreboard and carve through opposing defenses. What no one expected, however, was sophomore attack Lindsay Powell would be the one doing most of the scoring.

Powell currently leads all Irish players with 23 goals and has registered a hat trick or better in six of the team’s seven games. That consistent scoring has come as a result of her exceptional dodging and shooting abilities and has helped lead Notre Dame to an undefeated start and national top-10 ranking.

For Irish coach Christine Halfpenny, Powell’s athleticism has been a revelation this year.

“I think Lindsay brings an incredible ability, athletically, to attack dynamically in a oneon-one situation,” Halfpenny said. “Her zero-to-sixty is incredible. Her first step is awe-

some, her acceleration is awesome and she has the ability to change the momentum of a game with one shot, because it’s just so pretty to watch.”

Powell’s explosive first step and prolific offense are made even more impressive by the fact she missed her entire freshman season with a knee injury and her recent scoring tear has come in the first action of her college career. While her injury may have taken away the first year of her collegiate career, Powell said it also gave her the drive that has allowed her to finally excel.

“[Recovering from the injury] was really hard, obviously, and it took a lot of hard work, but it feels great to be back,” Powell said. “It taught me that hard work pays off, and that I have to work hard on every play, because you never know how many chances you’re going to get.”

Powell has taken that determination and applied it wherever Halfpenny and the Irish ask. After the team had strug-

see POWELL/page 14

Similarities with Notre Dame abound

The similarities are staggering. Notre Dame and Maryland will be playing for each program’s fourth trip to the Final Four in NCAA tournament history. Irish coach Muffet McGraw and Terrapins coach Brenda Frese are responsible for each program’s only national title. Big East Player of the Year Skylar Diggins leads Notre Dame; ACC Player of the Year Alyssa Thomas leads Maryland.

But the source of each team’s success couldn’t be more different: Maryland uses its size to overpower opponents while Notre Dame uses its quickness.

Averaging 17.2 points and eight rebounds per game, Thomas highlights a Terrapin frontcourt that ranked first in the ACC in rebounding margin at plus-13.8.

see THOMAS/page 12

Squad to take on UIC on Tuesday

Notre Dame jumped out to a perfect start in Big East play with its dramatic three-game sweep of Pittsburgh at home over the weekend. After a day off, the team will hit the road for a non-conference battle at Illinois-Chicago on Tuesday night, hoping to keep its momentum rolling.

The fans at Eck Stadium were treated to three exciting wins over Pittsburgh (10-11, 0-3 Big East), as the Irish (15-7, 3-0) won with a walk-off home run Friday, a leaping, game-saving catch Saturday and a clutch save to stop a ninthinning Panther rally Sunday. The series sweep gave Notre Dame its best conference start since 2008, and Irish coach Mik Aoki said it supplied positive energy to build on, as well.

“I think this is a situation where we can build on it and hopefully move forward,” Aoki said after Sunday’s victory. “We get the chance to enjoy it for a couple of days before we’ve got to tee it up against UIC, and then that becomes the most important game of our lives.”

Tuesday’s matchup against UIC (9-12) will be the first of eight midweek, out-of-conference games for Notre Dame this season, which are scheduled to get the teamwork between each weekend Big East series. And while these matchups may have no immediate relevance in the race for a conference championship, they are critical for Notre Dame’s postseason hopes on a national level.

“I think we have to get our program in a mindset where every one of these opportunities to play — conference or non-conference — is a chance to add to our résumé to put in front of a committee at the end of the year, to see whether or not we’re deserving of going to the NCAA tournament,” Aoki said.

see AOKI/page 13

MATT SAAD/The Observer
Irish graduate student forward Devereaux Peters blocks St. Bonaventure redshirt senior forward Armelia Horton as she attempts a shot during Notre Dame’s 79-35 win over the Bonnies on Sunday.
DILLON wEISNER/The Observer Irish freshman outfielder Ryan Bull connects with a pitch during Notre Dame’s 3-2 victory over Pitt on March 24.

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