Print Edition of The Observer for Friday, February 10, 2017
blais, Shewit elected president, VP
Sanctions against Fonseca-Narimatsu inconsequential as
By MEGAN VALLEY
a ssociate news editor
Judicial c ouncil announced the results of the campaign for student government at 1:50 a.m. Friday in an email sent to the student body. Juniors Becca Blais and s ibonay s hewit will take office as student body president and vice president a pril 1. Blais and s hewit were up against one other ticket, juniors r ohit Fonseca and d aniela narimatsu.
“ we’re incredibly honored to have this opportunity to serve the student body,” Blais said. “ we’re here to listen to every voice and amplify those voices. we would like to commend r ohit, d aniela and [campaign manager m adi p urrenhage] on an incredible campaign. it was an honor to run with friends.”
The e lection c ommittee of the Judicial c ouncil announced at 1 a.m. Friday in a press release that the Fonseca-narimatsu ticket for the student government election was required to forfeit 5 percent of the votes cast for the candidates’ ticket, a reduction from the original 7 percent forfeiture that was announced in a press release wednesday.
a ccording to Friday’s release, Fonseca and narimatsu were found to be “in violation of s ubsection 17.2(e) of the s tudent union c onstitution” during their campaign.
“r eceipts for all election materials purchased or donated must be presented to the e lection c ommittee prior to any use of the materials,” the section reads. “a ll receipts
Students protest refugee ban
By MARIE FAZIO news writer
students, faculty and south Bend community members braved the 20-degree weather and gathered at Fieldhouse mall in a peaceful protest against p resident Trump’s executive order that is attempting to temporarily ban the entry into the
u s. of nationals of i raq, iran, syria, sudan, somalia, yemen and l ibya for 90 days. carrying signs that read “no human being is illegal” and chanting, “no hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here,” a group of around 20 students, faculty and staff marched
smc c hinese night to explore culture, traditions
By GINA TWARDOSZ news writer
s aint m ary’s eighth annual c hina n ight will take place in m oreau c enter’s l ittle Theatre on s aturday.
a lice s iqin yang, associate director of international education, said c hina n ight will feature
a variety of performances centered around c hinese culture, presented by both s aint m ary’s international exchange students and local c hinese community members.
“ i n addition to our c hinese international students, we have some community [dance groups]
— children from six to 20 [years old] will come to perform from the local c hinese community,” yang said. a lthough this is c hina n ight’s eighth consecutive year, yang said c hina n ight has a long history at s aint m ary’s.
Squad to raise funds for breast cancer research
By COURTNEY BECKER news writer
The notre dame women’s basketball team is partnering with recsports to raise money and awareness for breast cancer by hosting the pink Zone Fitness party at rolfs sports center on Friday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The Fitness party format is an adjustment from the pink Zone spin-a-Thon that recsports has hosted in the past. Fitness and instructional program coordinator for recsports Tabbitha ashford said this change came about in response to a desire to make the event more accessible for everyone.
“This year, it’ll be five hours
on Friday evening, with each hour being a different fitness class ranging from Zumba to yoga to boot camp — something for everybody, hopefully,” she said. “i think it was just kind of going back to the basics of what we offer through our regular programming, and seeing
Photo courtesy of Daniela Cabada Students hold signs at Fieldhouse Mall on Thursday afternoon in protest of President Trump’s recent executive order on immigration.
see china
EDDIE GRIESEDIECK | The Observer
Juniors Becca Blais, left, and Sibonay Shewit speak at the student body president debate Monday at Carey Auditorium. Students voted Wednesday, electing Blais the next president and Shewit the next vice president.
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Hynds.
Question of the Day:
What’s a surprisingly good combination?
Nick Very senior o’neill hall
“breadsticks, marinara sauce, meatballs and Trix yogurt.”
Julia Tombari
senior Welsh Family hall
“strawberry refresher with coconut milk.”
Alex Roerty freshman o’neill hall
“cracklin’ oat bran and Life cereal.”
t he next f ive D ays:
Friday
Lecture: “Innovative Energy Generation” Mendoza College of Business
10:40 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Open to the public.
Performance: Bach’s Lunch DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m. Free but ticketed.
Saturday
Total Body Conditioning Rolfs Sports Recreation Center
11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Space is limited.
Men’s Basketball vs. Florida State Purcell Pavilion
6 p.m.
The Irish take on the Seminoles.
Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com
Michael Sinanian junior Fisher hall
“Guacamole and tea.”
Tommy Emmet junior siegfried hall
“honey on goat cheese in a salad.”
Jimmy Henke grad student moreau seminary
“seminarians and climbing.”
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Sunday
Women’s Basketball vs. Georgia Tech Purcell Pavilion
1 p.m. The Irish take on the Yellow Jackets.
Vespers Basilica of the Sacred Heart
7:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
All are welcome to join for evening prayer.
Monday
Strategic Litigation on Behalf of Trafficking Victims: The New Reality Eck Hall of Law 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Presentation by Dr. James Gingerich, M.D.
Geddes Hall
5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Discussion will follow.
Tuesday
Lecture: “Evolution and Life in a Synthetic Universe”
Jordan Hall of Science
7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Admission is free.
Bengal Bouts
Preliminaries
Joyce Center
7 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for all four rounds.
Badin hosts Polar Bear Plunge
By ALEXANDRA MUCK news Writer
Staff
The
at all times.
(574) 631-
b adin h all’s annual Polar b ear Plunge, in which students jump into s t. Joseph’s Lake for charity, will be held s aturday from 2 – 4 p.m. The cost of participating is $5, and the proceeds from the event benefit the h ope Initiative, which seeks to serve women and orphans in n epal.
Last year, the event drew 300 people, but junior Kelly h einiger and sophomore Kathleen r yan, the organizers for the event, said they are hoping to draw at least as many this year. Given the warmer weather earlier in the week, h einiger and r yan said the water should be warmer than normal, which they hope will draw more participants.
r yan said her favorite part of organizing the event is seeing how much fun everyone has while participating.
“I just love seeing people run in and see how cold it is,” she said.
s tudents can stop in anytime
during the event to complete their plunge, as it will run in shifts. Those who did not preregister at s outh d ining h all on Wednesday or Thursday can still preregister online at n otre d ame s tudent s hop under b adin h all. s tudents who prefer to register at the event should bring $5 in cash. Preregistering allows students to avoid the line before completing their plunge.
Towels will be available throughout the two hours for those who complete the plunge, and hot chocolate and music will be around the lake, as well. Pictures from the event will be available on the event’s Facebook page for those who are unable to attend or want to find pictures of themselves at the event.
h einiger said people participate in the event primarily for bragging rights and to support charity.
“I think the concept of doing a plunge is a pretty well-known idea. … It’s neat to have one that benefits a local charity, and it’s
also a pretty established event,” h einiger said.
b efore r yan participated in the Polar b ear Plunge last year, she had always wanted to try a plunge.
“I had heard about people doing plunges and I had never been able to do a plunge before — there just wasn’t one in the area,” she said. “It was so cool, not only knowing there was a plunge I could do, but that it’s only students. It’s a very n otre d ame community feel.”
A committee of eight to 10 b adin residents who serve on the dorm’s h ope c ommission helped h einiger and r yan plan the event. The commission is also responsible for planning c onscious c hristmas in the fall semester, which benefits the h ope Initiative as well. The dorm became involved with the Initiative through Ann- m arie c onrado is a teaching professor and b adin h all fellow, as well as a co-founder of the Initiative.
Contact Alexandra Muck at amuck@nd.edu
Filmmaker examines nature of poverty
By LUCY LYNCH news Writer
Filmmaker m ichael m atheson m iller hosted a discussion with s ara s ievers, Keough s chool of Global Affairs associate dean for policy and practice, following a showing of his critically acclaimed 2014 documentary “Poverty, Inc.” on Thursday night.
In the film, m iller argues that the current system of development, which originated during the reconstruction of e urope following World War II, is broken. The film cites examples to show how donor governments have
China
“The first one was in 1967 and then 1969; they did two years of c hina n ight on this campus in the ... o ’Laughlin Auditorium,” she said.
“This should be our 50-year anniversary.”
Yang said this year’s focus for c hina n ight is the Year of the r ooster, one of the twelve c hinese zodiac signs that cycle through the years.
“Those born under the sign of the r ooster are hardworking, confident, proud and ready to meet challenges,” she said. “This will be a lucky year for those born under this sign.”
Junior c hinese c ulture c lub president Jinglun Zhang said she likes sharing c hinese culture with American students because
profited off of foreign aid and hindered the prosperity of underdeveloped nations.
“We take this neocolonialist approach, we take money from them and then we congratulate ourselves,” m iller said. “We knew we were giving money to bad guys and we knew they were abusing it and then we were making people pay them back.”
m iller said aid programs cannot help people prosper because the lack of rights is the more pressing problem.
“They are not poor primarily because they lack stuff, they are poor because they are excluded by the institutions of justice,” m iller said.
it helps to form a bond between all s aint m ary’s students.
“It helps c hinese students not be so anxious, as we are in a completely new environment,” she said. “We feel a lot of pressure from both the academic areas and the social ones too, so this event can help us not feel so nervous, as we are all a big family here.”
Zhang said many of the events to be performed are of traditional c hinese culture — namely dance, song and poetry — along with a costume show that spotlights traditional c hinese dress. There will also be several performances with traditional c hinese instruments, as well as a lottery game with red envelopes for the winners and a craft sale with products from c hina, she said.
“The legal system is simply unfair to poor people. Aid creates incentives for the government to not build institutions of justice and access to private property. The main point is that foreign aid politicizes development.”
Westerners tend to view those living in areas of extreme poverty as objects rather than subjects, m iller said.
“Poor people in poor countries are not somehow radically different from us — we’d be poor too if we didn’t have access to land and institutional justice,” m iller said.
“I think what we need to do is realize that we are dealing with human beings who have
“The money we will raise will be donated to [young c hinese] girls in the rural areas who are not able to study because they are poor and their families cannot afford the fees for them to study,” Zhang said.
“This is especially important because ... [in c hinese culture] the family tends to ignore the girls and afford the boys the study opportunities.”
The event is aimed at displaying the importance of having a diverse campus, Yang said.
“This event is a part of our campus internationalization,” she said. “We promote diversity [and] inclusion, which is very important right now, so many people can have the opportunity to learn about c hinese language and culture.”
The event is also a great
hopes and dreams and fears.”
s ievers said she has seen and participated in beneficial aspects of foreign aid, specifically in n igeria.
“These countries get to decide what happened with that money,” s ievers said.
“All the power was largely in the hands of the African governments themselves. The power really does all reside with them.”
s ievers said that despite what is shown in “Poverty, Inc.,” there has been major development in the past decade in positively changing the power balance of foreign aid and helping these thirdworld nations.
opportunity for the c ollege’s c hinese exchange students to showcase their talents, Yang said.
“ m any international students are very talented and this offers them a platform to showcase their talents and share their expertise with s aint m ary’s and the local community,” she said.
“ ... I think it is a great collaboration between s aint m ary’s and the local community,” she said. “We open s aint m ary’s doors and welcome community members to come to our campus and create a very good interaction. They come to celebrate the c hinese n ew Year with us and it’s a good outreach to the community. m ore people will know about and appreciate s aint m ary’s because of c hina n ight.”
The international students should be viewed as c hinese
“It does mean a profoundly different relationship between who you think is the donor and who you think is the recipient,” she said. h owever, s ievers and m iller said they weren’t in disagreement on every aspect of foreign aid. They agreed that regardless of the outcome, organizations and personal efforts to help these nations come from good intentions.
“This film is not about intentions — when aid it is well intended, there are still negative externalities,” m iller said.
Contact Lucy Lynch at llynch1@nd.edu
cultural conduits on campus, Yang said.
“I send students to study abroad in 18 countries and we always say our students are cultural ambassadors in those countries,” she said. “The same thing is true here. We have about 30 - 40 international students, and half of them are c hinese international students. They are also playing the role of cultural ambassador and bringing c hinese culture to campus.
“It’s a great opportunity for our students to learn about the culture because today, it’s as important as ever to have a global mind, to be open minded and have strong intercultural confidence. This event offers everyone the opportunity to access diverse culture.”
Contact Gina Twardosz at gtwardosz01@saintmarys.edu
the numbers and realizing that you can’t have a party without Zumba — that’s the essence of any fitness party.”
s harla Lewis, special events coordinator for women’s basketball, said the idea was partially inspired by an offer from b eyond Zen Yoga s tudio to contribute to the Pink Zone’s cause — something it will do by hosting a “Zenathon” on s aturday.
“They’re going from 8 a.m. and their last class stops at about 5 p.m.,” she said. “They have two classes going on at the same time and [ university president Fr. John Jenkins] is going to end it with a prayer service at 6 p.m.”
The Fitness Party will also feature classes suited to various experience levels,
including high-intensity training and a boot camp class, in addition to Zumba, r ec s ports assistant director of fitness and fitness facilities Jennifer Phillips said.
“The whole point of this … is for people to come and have fun,” she said. “You don’t have to be a great Zumba dancer, but if I see people out there having fun with their friends and doing something different on a Friday night, then it’s totally worth everything that we’re doing to bring them out there.”
In addition to the fun the event offers, however, Phillips said she hopes those who attend keep the underlying cause in mind.
“ o ne of the messages we’ve tried to get across in the events in the past is that while you’re out there and you are having fun — you’re out there because your body is working, and
it’s working right,” she said. “While you’re out there and you’re doing that, remember that part of why you’re doing that is for people’s bodies that aren’t working right, right now. b y you being out there — if you can donate five bucks, great, if you can donate more, great — that’s helping somebody whose body is struggling.”
In addition to paying the $5 per class at the Fitness Party, people can contribute to the cause by bidding in a silent auction at the women’s basketball pink game against Georgia Tech on s unday, by pledging money for each three-point shot made by the team or simply by volunteering at the event, Lewis said.
“People have their own way that they want to help and support — we just want to have an avenue where there’s different ways that
you can do that,” she said. “ e ven if you don’t have the money, maybe you can volunteer. [We’re] just trying to find ways for people to give back.”
s ophomore guard Arike o gunbowale said she appreciates the opportunity the pink game offers for her to contribute to “a big cause.”
“I’m glad we do this and a lot of people participate,” she said. “We have great fans who really want to give back, so I’m just really excited that a game of sports can bring awareness and bring money to a cause like this.”
In particular, o gunbowale said she loves knowing she has not only contributed to her team’s success, but also to this cause when she makes a 3-point shot.
“It’s great that something as easy as shooting a 3-pointer can help this cause,” she said. “We’re a
pretty good shooting team, so we’re raising a lot of money, and I’m just really happy that by easily just playing the game I love, I am able to bring money and awareness to this cause.”
Lewis said she encourages community members to attend the pink game on s unday in addition to the Fitness Party to experience the game’s traditional halftime tribute to breast cancer survivors.
“This year we have members of the football team that will take part in just giving out a little treat to those survivors or those that are affected by cancer,” she said. “They’re going to partner with us this year and help us out. h alftime is always exciting for me. I love it.”
Contact Courtney Becker at cbecker3@nd.edu
from mcKenna hall to join a larger group huddled outside of LaFortune student center.
The event was organized by the stand with Us, a club dedicated to seeking social justice following the recent presidential election. The group was responsible for the silent sit-in sanctuary campus movement last semester, which asked University President Fr. John Jenkins to recognize a petition circulating the student body to protect deferred action for childhood a rrival students and make notre dame a sanctuary campus.
Junior matthew donohue, a core member of We stand For and an organizer of the rally, hoped to use notre dame’s position as a premier, catholic institution to gain awareness for social justice issues and made it clear that We stand For does not oppose the administration.
“We applaud the administration in coming out in strong condemnation against it … it’s been great to see Fr. Jenkins’ support especially with the mass last Wednesday,” donohue said. “it’s very easy to see some of these protest movements as either
against the administration but this is a solidarity rally. it is nonviolent, very peaceful. This event is to complement the support that we’ve seen from the administration, from the office of the President and the student body president very strong statements in support of the students here.”
This demonstration was part of a larger grassroots movement, academics United, that was started by two muslim Ph.d students from virginia Tech who were personally affected by the executive order — which remains on hold after a 9th U.s circuit court of appeals ruling Thursday — and asked fellow students, post-docs and employees of universities to stand with them.
as a student of notre dame, a university that boasts a diverse background of professors from all over the world, donohue said he believes that the ban — or anything that would decrease the diversity of the University — would only serve to weaken it.
“so much of our academic richness and strength comes from diversity, comes from abroad,” donohue said. “People come to a merica for freedom for opportunity and freedom of expression and thought that might not be in the countries that they’re coming
from. People coming from all over truly do cherish and engage in and strengthen a merican life, especially a merican academic life. This is in solidarity with students, faculty, staff.”
The rally opened with a prayer led by imam muhammad sirajuddin, of the islamic society of michiana.
Following an a cappella rendition of John Lennon’s “imagine” sung by sophomore selwin Lemont and interspersed chanting, three members of the notre dame academic community took the floor to share their personal perspective on the ban. a rashied omar, a scholar of islamic studies and faculty member of the Kroc institute for international studies, used the word “kairos” to describe today’s political atmosphere.
“We are living through challenging times,” he said. “Kairos is a biblical term, a Greek word, which means a moment of truth. it is both a moment of crisis as well as a moment of opportunity.”
Perin Gurel, an assistant professor of a merican studies and concurrent assistant professor of gender studies, said she spoke from the perspective of a female muslim immigrant with the privilege of citizenship.
“our criticism of the ban must
e lection
must be accompanied by a list of materials purchased.”
a ccording to Wednesday’s press release, Fonseca and n arimatsu purchased Facebook advertising prior to receiving the e lection c ommittee’s approval.
s ection 17.2(f) of the s tudent Union c onstitution calls for a “forfeiture of candidacy,” rather than a forfeiture of votes.
“The e lection c ommittee voted to remove s ubsection 17.2(f) from the allegation result ‘in light of the senate’s decision’ per s ubsection 13.5(j),” Friday’s release read.
The 5 percent sanction was
inconsequential, as b lais and s hewit’s 2,435 votes accounted for 52.89 percent of valid (non-abstention) votes prior to the sanction and 54.17 percent of counted votes following the sanction.
Fonseca and n arimatsu’s initial 2,169 votes accounted for 47.11 percent of valid votes; following the sanctions, the ticket received 2,060 eligible votes, or 45.83 percent of the post-sanction total counted.
There were 4,846 votes cast, with 242 abstentions — meaning the b lais- s hewit won a narrow majority of all votes cast — for a turnout rate of 58 percent.
“We’re just very thankful to our team for standing by us — every student that shared their ideas with us,” s hewit
take into account both gender and race, as well as other structural factors, like citizenship status, national origin, sexuality, ethnicity and disability,” she said. “We must love and strengthen our communities, but we also must push against old-fashioned identity politics and towards a politics of solidarity that recognizes our differences and is informed by each other’s intersectional, historically-constituted identities and experiences.”
Lastly, majd a lshoufi, a master’s student in international peacebuilding and a non-muslim syrian human rights activist and community-based trauma therapy expert, said he realized the kindness and the power of good muslims after an islamic community took him in after being arrested for participating in nonviolent protests for syrian refugees.
“Jihadist terrorism that claims the name of islam is real and dangerous,” he said. “second, most radical islamic terrorists have been dying — literally — to send one very important message to the [billions of] muslims around the world, namely that they are the real islam and that they are the only good muslims.
... Kind muslims, like the ones
who protected me in Turkey, are the single most important actors in the fight against terrorism.”
Following the official speakers, a diverse group of people utilized the space to share their own stories and personal statements about the executive order.
“it is critical to give a platform to the student and the faculty voice to make this issue known, to increase awareness and kind of a catharsis for people more affected by this issue to make it known to them that people stand with them,” donohue said.
Proceeds from the event went to the islamic society of michiana, a nonprofit religious organization that provides michiana muslims with spiritual, educational and social activities, as there is no refugee resettlement organization in south bend. We stand For is collecting donations via a GoFundme page until the end of February, with the end goal of $2,000.
donohue said he had a message for President donald Trump.
“show me what democracy looks like — this is what democracy looks like,” he said.
Contact Marie Fazio at mfazio@nd.edu
said. “[ b lais] and i are very, very excited to carry on the idea of revamping student government and making it student first.”
The results were originally scheduled to be released to the campaigns at midnight Wednesday, however the appeal process delayed the release.
When b lais and s hewit take office in a pril, they will become just the second female president-vice president pairing.
The o bserver reached out to Purrenhage for comment on behalf of the Fonsecan arimatsu campaign, but had not received a response by the time of publication.
Paid a dverT isemen T
Photo Courtesy of Daniela Cabada
The protest against President Trump’s policies took place at Fieldhouse Mall on Thursday afternoon. The demonstration was part of the grassroots Academics United movement.
Photo Courtesy of Daniela Cabada Students protested against President Trump’s recent executive order that attempted to ban entry to the U.S. by nationals of seven countries.
Intelligent debate in our generation
There have been numerous debates on a wide number of societal debates over the past year. I hesitate to call them debates, though. Instead, it seems more like a shouting match in which opposing views try to “win the argument” by drowning out the opposing view. by definition, a debate is a “discussion involving both parties of opposing viewpoints.” note the word discussion in that definition, which means to “talk about a topic, especially to explore solutions.”
The problem is many debates these days are devoid of the exploration of possible solutions. Two reasons I believe that strongly contribute to this issue are the ability to easily surround yourself with like-minded people via social media and the success that a number of social movements have had despite not having “full legitimacy.”
surrounding oneself with like-minded people on social media is certainly something that most students are familiar with. Algorithms on sites like Facebook continue to show content that is determined to interest you. This can result in the only posts being shown on your timeline are from people whose posts you have previously liked because you agree with their views. The narrowness of your social media feed narrows even further when you actively “defriend” or “unfollow” people with opposing views as your own. When paired with confirmation bias — the tendency to give more weight to information that you agree with than information that you disagree with — this selective information can be disastrous to progress. If you as an individual believe that the world is flat, your browser could open up the Flat earth society website each time that you start it. You could defriend anyone who even hints at believing in the heretic thoughts of a round earth. Within a few weeks, it would appear that everyone around you is crazy because your online persona makes it seem as if it is fact that the earth is flat.
As far as social movements go, take one look at the anti-vaccination movement. In the past century, diseases such as smallpox and the measles have been declared as eradicated through aggressive vaccination movements; in the past, these diseases used to claim thousands to millions of lives a year. despite this, 668 cases of the measles were reported in the U.s. — most of whom were people that never received the vaccination. The resurgence of this eradicated disease is proof that the anti-vaccination movement has had detrimental effects on the health of people in this country. how can it be defended? because many still make claims that vaccines cause autism or other side effects that scientists have proven time and again are false. Unfortunately the issue has been less of a discussion, and more of a, “You’re wrong and I am right!” response from the anti-vaccine supporters.
c learly these two examples are extreme and many of the current issues are notably more complex, but why should that discourage people from making a discussion out of disagreements? how can this be done? surround yourself with opposing ideas. Understand your opposition’s point of view. Keep emotions out of it and stick to cold, hard facts, if possible. And at the end of the day, respect others, even if you disagree with them.
Contact Emmet Farnan at efarnan@nd.edu
The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
leTTers To THe ediTor
Being anti-abortion does not make you ‘pro-life’
on the day following donald Trump’s inauguration, women around the world organized in protest. It has been reported that the Women’s march was the largest demonstration in U.s. history, with nearly three million people participating in cities across the country. Though the march was a success in the eyes of many, there was still some controversy surrounding the event. In the days leading up to the march, the anti-legal abortion group, new Wave Feminists, was removed from the list of official sponsors. This sparked a debate about where the “pro-life” movement belongs in feminism. While this is an important issue to discuss, there is another question that should be answered; what is “pro-life” and who should really belong to the “pro-life” movement? When you think about it, that term is rather silly. If you are not “pro-life,” then does that make you anti-life? Pro-death? With few exceptions, I doubt that anyone knows someone who would genuinely fall into either of those categories.
“Pro-life” is most commonly associated with those groups that oppose the decision that was made in roe v. Wade and feel that abortion should not be legal. These antilegal abortion groups have claimed the mantle of “pro-life,” but is opposition to legal abortion the thing that qualifies someone as “pro-life?” What about those that are anti-legal abortion, but want to see the Affordable care Act repealed? experts have said that repealing this without a proper replacement could leave millions uninsured and put thousands of lives at risk. Is that “pro-life?” What about those that are anti-legal abortion, but still support the death penalty? or those that oppose the government programs that support poor Americans or oppose the implementation of a living wage so those same poor Americans can support themselves? Are these sets of beliefs to be considered
“pro-life?”
I consider myself pro-life, but I am also pro-choice. I strongly believe that a woman has a right to make decisions about her own body, especially in cases involving rape, incest or in which the life of the mother is at risk. At the same time, I believe that as a society, we should strive to reduce the number of abortions that are performed in our country. Instead of outlawing abortions or restricting access to them to the point that they become essentially illegal, I believe that our goal should be to make the alternative choices more appealing. This can come in the form of better sexual education and easier access to contraception in order to prevent unwanted pregnancy, or in providing affordable health care, child care, paid maternity leave and easier access to adoption to help mothers that may otherwise feel like they would be unable to support a child. Increased awareness of sexual assault and steps taken to prevent it can help reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies from rape. There are countless ways in which we can work to reduce the number of abortions without violating a woman’s right to choose what to do with her body. so if it is possible to be both “pro-life” and pro-choice, what makes someone truly “pro-life?” Anti-legal abortion groups often state that “life begins at conception” but they sometimes forget that life does not end at birth. “Pro-life” is not defined by a single belief — that abortion should be outlawed — but is instead an upholding of human dignity. While ending abortion may be a part of this, it is not the same thing as being “pro-life.” To be “pro-life” is to remember that life has value at all stages.
John Gadient senior Jan. 25
New secretary of education must uphold IDEA
As a sophomore in high school, I became a member of best buddies International, an organization that works to promote inclusion for people with disabilities. I was matched in a one-to-one friendship with my best buddy, a student with an intellectual disability, who to this day is one of my best friends. she is a dancer and a music lover, and, while words can sometimes confuse her, music is a language in which she is fluent. At her high school, she had the opportunity to take dance classes with her peers and eventually choreograph routines for the rest of the class. despite the challenges she faced with verbal and written communication, she worked tirelessly to improve with the help of her teachers. every time I would see her, she would always remind me that she would be in the class of 2016 with me, and that we would graduate within weeks of each other. Watching her walk down the aisle of the auditorium in her blue cap and gown was one of the proudest moments of both her and my life.
her educational success story is a result of the backbreaking work of the disability rights movement. Prior to 1975, only one in five children with disabilities received appropriate and quality education. In 1975, the Individuals with disabilities education Act (Ide A) set a legal precedent for making space for students with disabilities in the public school system. It required that all students with disabilities be provided with a free, appropriate education in the least restrictive environment possible. As a result of Ide A, according to data collected by the national center for education statistics in 2013, 62 percent of students with disabilities spend 80 percent or more of their school day in a general education classroom with their peers. Ide A allows students around the nation, like my best buddy, to participate in
and contribute to the global community of learners. It upholds the human dignity of students with disabilities and allows the world to benefit from their insights and talents.
earlier this week, betsy devos was confirmed as our nation’s next secretary of education in a historically close vote. At her confirmation hearing, secretary devos not only declined to assure the hearing committee that she would enforce Ide A, but also expressed confusion on whether Ide A was a federal law. As the soon-to-be point person on educational issues for our nation, the fact that secretary devos was not aware of one of the most foundational pieces of disability legislation to date is more than concerning. having witnessed the positive effects of special education first hand, I cannot support a secretary of education who will not embrace her role as protecter of all students, including students like my best buddy, and who is so deeply uninformed on the history of special education.
being a notre dame student is a privilege, a challenge and a call to action. It is now more important than ever to listen attentively to the needs of all students, specifically students with disabilities. It is important to recognize that we have a responsibility as members of the global community of learners to uphold every student’s inherent dignity, and right to learn and to be included. We have the obligation to join our peers with disabilities on campus and around the country in urging our new secretary of education to uphold Ide A, educate herself on the history of special education and support the inherent worth of every student.
Alice Felker freshman
Emmet Farnan Photo editor
Happy Birthday: using the element of surprise will serve you well. keep whatever you are trying to accomplish a secret until you are ready to wow everyone. your original way of going about personal and professional matters will hold people’s interest. This is a year of change, so don’t neglect to follow through and shoot for the stars. your numbers are 4, 15, 22, 28, 32, 39, 41.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): g et involved in physical activities that will give you an outlet for pent-up energy. Turn your angst into something constructive and you’ll avoid putting yourself in a vulnerable position. Personal improvements and romance will alleviate trouble.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): e motions will surface along with unpredictable situations at home and at work. Take a moment to recap what’s happened and consider your position before you respond. At times like this, it’s best to let things play out naturally.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Take a trip or do some research online. you will discover valuable information that will help you achieve your dreams, hopes and wishes. focus on looking and offering your best as well as engaging in a romantic adventure.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Too much of anything will lead to trouble. you’ll find peace and enlightenment if you explore different cultures or lifestyles that can offer you the type of tranquility that helps to stabilize and keep you calm and stress-free.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): you’ve got everything going for you, so don’t sit back when you should be moving forward. Put your plans into motion and make your ideas and solutions heard. Take a position of leadership and show everyone what you have to offer.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): d on’t take a risk. before engaging in a financial scheme, research the possibilities and make the necessary adjustments. your high expectations will be reached if you rely on past experiences to make the right choice.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): l ive in the present, not the past. o nce you start moving forward, you will find it much easier to achieve your goals. Thoughts and ideas combined with diligent action will lead to the results you’ve been dreaming about.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Travel or educational plans will give you the push you need to take on a creative venture. The mental and physical stimulation you get from being a participant will inspire you to trust your own instincts instead of following others.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): someone will use emotional tactics to try to get you to take on too much or to change the way you do things. l isten to your instincts and do what you believe is in your best interests. use charm to get your way.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): stick close to home and don’t get into situations that require you to deal with institutions, government agencies or educational facilities. Problems with friends or relatives will surface. keep a close eye on your health.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): your passionate and exciting way of handling whatever comes your way will intrigue onlookers. Polish whatever you are working on and you will bring about positive changes. Personal improvements are encouraged.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): you’ll be tempted to cut corners. There will be no way to bypass the details required in order to be successful. slow down and do your best to aim for perfection. d on’t get confused when choosing between quantity and quality.
Birthday Baby: you are dynamic, outgoing and popular. you are unique and bold.
Jumble | dAvId hoyT
Jeff knurek
Updates due for NFL overtime
Elizabeth Greason Sports Writer
Super Bowl LI was decided by a coin toss. And that should never be the case in a championship.
Maybe I’m just saying this because I am one of the many Americans who do not like the Patriots and I’m bitter that they will go down in history as having played one of the best second halves in history.
But I genuinely feel that if the Falcons had been in the same position — winning the coin toss, marching down the field for a touchdown and lifting the Lombardi trophy — I would feel the same way.
Yes, the Patriots were able to win the Super Bowl because they played a fantastic second half. Tom Brady put on an MVP-worthy performance for 30 minutes. A 31-0 run to win in overtime and overcoming a 25-point deficit deserves a trophy. But the Falcons never had the chance to put points on the board in that overtime period simply because their one-in-two chance of winning the coin toss did not go their way.
Sure, the Falcons defense could have stopped Bill Belichick’s and handed the ball back into the capable hands of Matt Ryan. And there’s a perfectly good chance that, despite the scoring drought in the second half, Atlanta also could have marched down the field and scored, had they stopped New England or won the coin toss.
In my mind, the idea of sudden-death overtime is unfair. It leaves the results of the game up to the luck of the draw, instead of skill.
The Super Bowl should be won by whichever team plays the better game. In Super Bowl LI, the Falcons took the cake in the first half, whereas the second half was all about New England. The fact that the game came down to
overtime is great. It added suspense to a game of runs. It was unprecedented. But it would have been better if the two teams had had an equal opportunity to wind up in the endzone.
The NFL needs to change its overtime rules. Whether it moves to a modified version of the NCAA overtime procedure or starts fresh, it needs to ensure that the result of the game is governed by the skill of both teams’ offensive and defensive prowess or the clock, as opposed to a 50-50 shot at winning a coin toss and a prayer that the losing team’s defense will be able to come up with a stop.
It is worth pointing out that the NFL postseason overtime rules do allow for both to have the same number of possessions during overtime, unless the first team with the ball scored a touchdown. This is what happened Sunday in Houston. The Patriots won the coin toss and scored a touchdown, ended the game and handing them their fifth championship. But, this does not change the fact that the Falcons could have done the same thing, given the opportunity.
While the coin flip matters in college overtime, as it can give one team a slight strategic advantage, it certainly does not decide the outcome of the game. The way the NFL postseason overtime rules stand at the moment, the winner of the coin toss has a significantly greater chance of winning the game.
The NFL needs to rethink its postseason overtime procedure to assure the best team wins. I’m not saying the Patriots were not the better team this year. But the Falcons deserved the chance to prove themselves as well.
Contact Elizabeth Greason at egreason@nd.edu
The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Raiders push governing board for relocation
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — The Oakland Raiders and the board overseeing the proposed NFL stadium in Las Vegas have high hopes for the project despite losing an instrumental supporter, but their plan is still missing hundreds of millions of dollars in financing.
Team leaders and the stadium authority board met publicly Thursday for the first time since casino magnate Sheldon Adelson withdrew a $650 million pledge for the project. Both sides plan to continue to work on a lease agreement, but the team didn’t give a definitive answer for the major financial gap.
“The organization remains fully committed to this project,” Raiders president Marc Badain told the stadium authority board members. “We are not deterred. Financing will not be an issue.”
Badain told the board the team is in discussions with “multiple financial institutions,” but declined to elaborate beyond that when asked by The Associated Press. The cost of the 65,000-seat
domed stadium is pegged at $1.9 billion.
The meeting in Las Vegas came at a crucial time for the Raiders’ proposed relocation: less than two weeks after Adelson pulled out of the project and six weeks before an NFL owners’ meeting where they are expected to vote on whether to approve the move.
Badain and stadium authority board members on Thursday expressed confidence in their ability to make significant progress in a proposed lease and use agreement ahead of the owners gathering. A draft of the agreement that the Raiders presented to the stadium authority board last month includes a proposed $1 annual rent for the team.
“We’ll work to make it better,” board chairman Steve Hill said. “We may make six weeks’ worth of progress in the next three or four weeks.”
The Raiders paid $3.5 million in rent to play at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in 2016, up from $925,000 for the 2015 season. The team has options to remain at the stadium for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
nCAA men’S BASketBAll | PURDUE 69, INDIANA 64
Adelson and his family had pledged $650 million and the Raiders promised $500 million, with the stadium authority putting up $750 million in Las Vegas tax revenues.
Adelson, the chief executive of Las Vegas Sands Corp. whose holdings include the Venetian and Palazzo resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, played an instrumental role in winning state approval to help fund the stadium with public money.
In withdrawing, he declared that he had been shut out of talks that led to the lease document being presented to the stadium authority.
Another lingering question is location. A site hasn’t been picked for the stadium, although a parcel of land near the Las Vegas Strip has emerged as a preferred location.
The stadium authority is a public board whose operations will be funded by the newly approved Las Vegasarea hotel tax increase that’s expected to yield $13 million a year. Casinos won’t start collecting that until March 1, and money won’t flow to the authority until April.
Boilermakers defeat Hoosiers at Indiana
Associated Press
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Vince Edwards matched his career-high with 26 points and Caleb Swanigan added 16 points and 14 rebounds Thursday night as No. 16 Purdue used a late charge to beat rival Indiana 69-64.
The Boilermakers (20-5, 9-3 Big Ten) have won three straight and six of seven to move into second place in the conference.
Thomas Bryant scored 23 points and James Blackmon Jr. added 11 in his return from a lower left leg injury. It still wasn’t enough for Indiana (15-10, 5-7), which has lost two in a row and four of five.
Indiana led 57-55 after Josh Newkirk’s 3-pointer with 4:56 to go, but the Boilermakers scored seven straight and then made it
64-59 when Swanigan completed a three-point play with 1:02 left.
Purdue sealed it from the free throw line. It has won four of the last five in this series — though this one came with a bizarre sequence that began with a blocking call on Swanigan with 44.5 seconds left. After conferring, the refs called a double foul, causing Bryant and Swanigan to foul out on the same play.
It was that kind of night in the state’s biggest rivalry.
Edwards scored 15 points in the first half that was every bit as back-and-forth as the second.
Purdue jumped to a 21-15 lead about 10 minutes into the game, but the Hoosiers charged back with a 9-0 run to take a 30-26 lead and closed the half on a 6-2 flurry to make it 36-32. Indiana
stayed in front most of the second half — until the Boilermakers’ late charge.
Big picture
Purdue: The Boilermakers are rolling. They are 9-3 in conference play for the first time since 2010-11 and have won at Indiana, Michigan State and Ohio State in the same season for the first time since 2009-10. And with a well-deserved weekend off, the Boilermakers should make their 34th consecutive appearance in the AP Top 25.
Indiana: Even Blackmon’s return wasn’t enough Thursday. The defending Big Ten champs are two games under .500 in conference play and have to do a lot of work over the next month if they’re going to make the NCAA Tournament.
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for the n ancy Lieberman a ward. s he and junior forward b rianna Turner were also named as candidates for both the Wooden a ward and n aismith Trophy. s ophomore guard a rike o gunbowale was also listed in the n aismith Top 30. When asked about being in the running for the honor, o gunbowale noted that basketball is a team sport and she would not have made the list without the help of her teammates.
“ i t’s just really exciting,” o gunbowale said. “ i mean, thanks to my teammates for helping me get open, helping me score and making plays when i pass it to them, but it’s just a team effort, really.”
The i rish will face off against g eorgia Tech (14-9, 3-7) for the second time this season. The two teams met in January, a matchup that ended in a 55-38 victory for n otre d ame. m c g raw said she expects her squad to be stronger offensively this time around.
“ i t was a really low scoring game [in January],” m c g raw said. “ i thought they were very physical with us. They played well defensively. We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well. We weren’t really in our rhythm at that point, just coming off the loss to n orth c arolina s tate, so i think we were not as confident. i think we’re playing a lot better right now.”
m c g raw noted that the Yellow Jackets might play aggressive defense, but the i rish are prepared for whatever comes their way s unday.
“ i think they’re gonna probably play a little bit slower than we want to,” m c g raw said. “They have been pressing a lot of other people so
sWiMMing & diving
Irish qualifiers head to ACC championships
By BRENNA MOXLEY sports Writer
This weekend notre dame is splitting its team as the i rish send a group of athletes to the ohio state Winter i nvitational, while the members of the team who qualified for the acc championships will head to atlanta.
Those who did not qualify for the acc championships will head to columbus, ohio, for a two-day meet comprised of approximately 15 teams.
i rish head coach m ike Litzinger said the meet provides the team with an opportunity to end the season on a strong note.
they might come out and press us, but we’ve gotta be ready for whatever happens. This is a turning point in the season and every game is really key for us right now.
“ … i don’t [mind seeing a press], as long as Lindsay’s in the game,” m c g raw added, jokingly.
d espite being ready to tackle the Yellow Jackets on the offensive side of the ball, m c g raw feels the i rish still have work to do in order to combat g eorgia Tech’s strong inside presence.
“They’re a really good team, especially inside,” m c g raw said. “[ g eorgia Tech junior foraward] Zaire o ’ n eil, she had 13 rebounds last game. s he’s a force inside. We really have to work on how we’re gonna guard her. They’ve got enough people around her that they can kind of stretch us a little bit, so we’ve got to do a couple of different things and things we didn’t do in the last game.”
s unday’s game is also
n otre d ame’s annual p ink Zone game, so the i rish will be wearing special warmup clothing to raise money and awareness for breast cancer.
o gunbowale said the cause, on top of playing at home, will help the i rish be productive offensively against the Yellow Jackets.
“ i think we should just play for the cancer cause and just try to get 88 for all the people that are coming to support, so i think it’ll be a good game,” o gunbowale said. “ i mean, we’re in front of our home fans, so we always double the points, really.”
n otre d ame and g eorgia Tech will play s unday at p urcell p avilion. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Contact Elizabeth Greason at egreason@nd.edu
it’s a non-scoring meet in the championship format, so you swim a preliminary and then the top 24 swimmers get to compete again in the evening in the finals. it is a great opportunity for our kids to finish off the year.”
The women who qualified for the acc women’s championships will leave for atlanta on friday for all-day meets that begin monday and finish Thursday. There will be 17 swimmers and two divers making the trip to g eorgia, and each can compete in up to seven events during the weeklong meet.
Traditionally, each competitor has done three individual events and four relay events.
“it is a great opportunity for our non-conference team members to finish out their year,” Litzinger said.
“The expectation is for them to go and put up lifetime best times, perform well and do a good job competing.
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kind of journey for this team has been figuring out who we are this year without not just them … but a number of guys — guys who played for a number of years for us. … each year, it’s about figuring out what does this group have — what are the strengths and weaknesses — and you don’t want to start with the idea of ‘We’re replacing this’ or ‘We lost that.’
“We didn’t lose anything — this year’s team only has what it has — and so we haven’t lost anything to date. so that’s what this has been about this year. it’s why we’ve had four scrimmages; we’ve never had more than two scrimmages in a year, but we had four this year plus a fall where we played two others, so that’s six chances against outside competition for us to really help define in our minds who we are and who we need to be to be effective … and have a shared vision as we go into the year.”
for corrigan, that shared vision starts with strong leadership. a nd this year’s team has already made great strides in that area, as it even
Litzinger said he is confident in his team’s ability to perform.
“i feel really good about the women’s championships — we had a great year, and now it is time to step up and put what we practiced all year
delayed voting on captains until last week — an atypical practice for the program — because of the team-wide leadership that was on display throughout this offseason. a nd although the team eventually settled on four seniors — midfielders sergio perkovic and nick Koshansky, attack a nthony marini and goalie shane doss — to lead the way, corrigan is expecting the i rish to continue displaying team-wide leadership.
“We really have had great leadership this year,” corrigan said. “ … i’ve been really really delighted by the number of guys that have stepped up and really conducted themselves as leaders in both our senior and junior classes. … i think that’s really important. We haven’t had any issues with leadership to date, but now we go into the cauldron of the season, and we’ll see … what happens then. but i think we have very good leadership and will continue to.”
but one area the irish will have to continue to improve, particularly with an 11-game schedule featuring seven top20 opponents, is focusing less on the ball and more on their individual assignments in order to open up more
long into the championship format,” Litzinger said.
“This is our vehicle to qualify for the ncaa championships and that’s the goal: ... to see how many kids we can get to the ncaa championships.” part of his confidence lies in the team’s performance in last saturday’s downstate d ual in muncie, i ndiana. The i rish cruised past ball state, with the men posting 148.5 points to the cardinals’ 82.5, and the women scoring 129 points to ball state’s 108.
The men who qualified for the acc meet will be competing feb. 27 through march 2 in atlanta.
“it is that time of the year where we put all of our great training and competition experience to work. This is it,” Litzinger said. “We are ready to head to the ncaa s in march.”
Contact Brenna Moxley at bmoxley@nd.edu
opportunities on offense and limit those same chances on defense.
“our team tends to fixate too much on what’s going on with the guy with the ball in his stick and less with what’s going on with the other five guys on the offensive end or the six guys at the defensive end when the ball is not in their stick or not with their man,” corrigan said. “so i think that’s been a good focus for us that guys have been working really hard at and starting to develop a sense of how effective we need to be doing that so that the guy with the ball in his stick has the room and the time and the ability to make plays.”
a nd when the i rish begin that daunting schedule feb. 18 in dallas against g eorgetown, corrigan expects to find out then just exactly what his team is really made of.
“We’ll find out,” corrigan said. “ … We’re going to have to show up every week with the teams that are on our schedule this year, and that’ll be a challenge for us — but certainly one that we like to think we’re up to.”
Contact Ben Padanilam at bpadanil@nd.edu
KATHLEEN DONAHUE | The Observer
Irish senior guard Lindsay Allen leaps toward the hoop during Notre Dame’s 85-66 win over Louisville on Monday at Purcell Pavilion.
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strategy, b rey said, as their length and aggressive defensive style means offenses are forced to react more to the defense’s actions.
“They kind of take your spirit defensively, trapping it right there,” b rey said. “ it’s almost as if you’re not running much of your offensive principles sometimes — you’re reading and reacting to ball pressure, traps and you’ve gotta continually do that. s o that’s where you’re really, really tested.”
Junior guard m att farrell struggled most with the s eminoles’ pressure in the first meeting, turning the ball over six times, a season high. b rey said that he doesn’t want to take f arrell’s attacking mindset away from him, but notes that his point guard has made strides over the last couple games in playing a little smarter.
“You don’t want to take his ‘go-for-it’ mentality,” b rey said. “ i do think he’s been better; we talked about calling off some transition stuff and not forcing stuff in transition. i think he’s been better in that area — more conservative in that area. h e’s also been better on that initial drive in the lane as you see — sometimes he just goes all the way through, instead of maybe trying to make a play over all this length. s ince the g eorgia Tech game — that game i
thought he was trying to take everybody on — i think since then, that’s helped him.”
a nother thing that could help f arrell — and the i rish as a whole — avoid turnovers is the increased minutes freshman guard T.J. g ibbs and sophomore guard r ex p flueger have played over the last couple games.
p flueger played 26 minutes against Wake f orest on Tuesday and 23 at n orth c arolina on s unday, while g ibbs played 22 minutes against Wake f orest and 18 against the Tar h eels. i t means b rey’s opted to go to a smaller lineup more often, which means more players comfortable with the ball on the floor.
“The one thing that helps is playing smaller; you have more ball-handlers on the floor, you have more guards on the floor,” b rey said. “ i thought T.J. g ibbs gave us great stuff down there and took some pressure and [it] could be a game where maybe he ends up playing maybe more than he usually plays.
“ b ut playing with our spread motion and with the smaller lineup, it gives you more decision-makers with the ball against their pressure. i think that can help us.”
p erhaps more uncharacteristic than the turnover mark was how the i rish lost despite their best 3-point shooting day of the year, hitting 15-of21 attempts.
“ it’s like, ‘g od, we wasted
Hockey
is really beneficial to the success of our team, guys like [freshman c am] m orrison and [freshman] c al b urke and [freshman] f elix h olmberg,” Jackson said. “That really helps our depth, so when we lose guys, especially a guy like a nders [ b jork] and Joe Wegwerth and even on the back end with b obby n ardella, guys have elevated, and it’s primarily been the younger guys, so when the young guys step up, there’s a lot of guys that took over quality minutes, especially on special teams, penalty kill, things like that. it’s a matter of guys elevating and helping fill those voids. i don’t need to bring it up — i think they know that for us to do well, we’re going to have to have guys step up when those types of things happen.”
we have to have that aggressiveness with the guys that on the flanks; they have to get inside the defensemen and try to get body position for those rebounds.”
a great shooting night because we couldn’t handle the ball like we usually handle the ball,’” b rey said. “ b ut it’s encouraging to look and say, ‘When we did move the ball, and were good with it, we got looks.’ … s o hopefully we can get some really clean looks again.”
f lorida s tate freshman forward Jonathan i saac had his way with the i rish in the first meeting, going off for 23 points, while junior guard Xavier r athan- m ayes hit a couple of late buckets to help seal the result, one that set n otre d ame off on a six-game stretch where it went just 1-5.
b ut a four-game losing streak was snapped Tuesday, when the i rish down Wake f orest 88-81 in a comefrom-behind win. b rey said the p urcell p avilion crowd helped his team get the stops it needed down the stretch against the d emon d eacons.
“ o ur crowds have really been good and our student crowds have been great — they really have,” b rey said. “ n ow it’ll be crazy, this one’s been sold out for a while, but the other night … i thought we had a great crowd. What’s helped us in the second half, our crowd has been great when we’ve been on defense.”
Tipoff between the i rish and s eminoles is scheduled for s aturday at 6 p.m., a change from the originally scheduled tip time of 2 p.m.
Contact Alex Carson at acarson1@nd.edu
o ne gap the i rish have struggled to plug, however, is the power play. i n the two games against vermont, the i rish only went 1-for-9, and are 1-for-18 in their last five games. While the absence of n ardella has obviously hurt, Jackson still thinks the i rish need to improve beyond that.
“We’re not getting a good enough net-front presence, and we’ve gotta get pucks to the net when we do,” he said. “ i don’t think we recognize the difference sometimes. s ometimes we shoot it and we don’t have a good net-front presence; other times we don’t shoot it when we do, so it’s just a matter of the pointmen trying to get shots through to the net, with the shot blocking that goes on nowadays, and then it’s about getting retrievals. s ometimes there are rebounds and it’s a matter of competing for that body position — it’s like a rebound in basketball. s o
With the injuries and struggles piling up, Jackson hopes that the young players can maintain their presence from last weekend into an important road series. “ i think opportunity is a large part of it,” he said. “[ f reshman] m ike o ’Leary is a guy who i thought had a coming out party this weekend, and it all happened because of Joe Wegwerth’s injury, unfortunately, but it gave m ichael an opportunity to play more minutes. h e was not playing center — he was moved to left wing in between periods — but he grabbed a hold of it, and i thought he gave us something, so it’s about opportunity. it’s no different than c al b urke or [sophomore] Jack Jenkins, guys like that getting a little bit more opportunity to kill penalties, get some power play time, and sometime that gives them confidence, and they run with it, and that’s what you hope happens. There’s always those instances when they get frustrated because they can’t accomplish what they want to, but our underclassmen are starting to come around a bit, and we’ve had pretty consistent production out of some of the upperclassmen, and some of the younger guys now are starting to think they can accomplish more.”
The i rish will face off against m aine at two different arenas this weekend, with the first game on f riday night at 7:05 p.m. at the c ross i nsurance a rena in p ortland, m aine, and the second game on s aturday night at 7:05 p.m. at the a lfond a rena on m aine’s campus in o rono, m aine.
Contact Tobias Hoonhout at thoonhou@nd.edu
MICHELLE MEHELAS | The Observer
Irish sophomore guard Rex Pflueger tries to maintain control of the ball during Notre Dame’s 88-81 win over Wake Forest on Tuesday at Purcell Pavilion. Pflueger had three blocks and two steals in the game.
