Print Edition of The Observer for Tuesday, September 27, 2016
presidential debate watch draws crowds
Office of the President, NDVotes hosts screening of first of three debates between Clinton, Trump
By COURTNEY BECKER news writer
approximately 1,500 students of multiple political affiliations came together monday on south Quad for a campus-wide presidential debate watch sponsored by ndvotes.
ndvotes co-chair junior sarah Tomas morgan said the idea for the event first came about when the office of the president asked ndvotes to brainstorm activities highlighting the presidential debates.
“late last spring, the president’s office contacted ndvotes and said … they wanted to do a presidential forum this year that was focused on the debates themselves,” Tomas morgan said. “i thought it was a fantastic idea because it’s pretty unique that a university president like Fr. [John]
Jenkins is on this [debate] commission, so it made a lot of sense to highlight it, in my opinion.”
once ndvotes was charged with highlighting the debates, they came up with the debate watch as a way to start a wider discussion surrounding the debates on campus.
christina wolbrecht, associate professor of political science, said this was a natural continuation of the mission ndvotes embarked on more than a year ago.
“The ndvotes piece really came from the students,” wolbrecht said. “They really, a year and a half ago, were like, ‘we want to mobilize this campus and get our students involved and educated and mobilized about this really important election that’s going to shape, frankly, the
author discusses feminism, race at saint mary’s
By KATHRYN MARSHALL news writer
award-winning
author
and documentary filmmaker
Karsonya w ise w hitehead spoke about intersectional feminism in the modern era at the s aint m ary’s p lamondon l ecture on m onday, “ s isterhood, s ocial Justice and s cholarship: a 21st c entury c onversation.”
s he began the evening with a poem, and a challenge to think honestly.
“ i always believed every mountain wants to be climbed, every ocean wants to be crossed, every dream once spoken out loud wants to be realized,” she said.
w hitehead said the idea of sisterhood has made appearances across history — such as the 1966 founding of the n ational o rganization for women ( now ). Through the
past, one can see history become her-story, she said. w hitehead said feminism is a commitment to the struggle for equality and justice for women — and for everyone.
“ b lack feminism is powerful,” she said. “a nd it is growing. i f you look at the pictures today from the b lack l ives m atter movement, you see it’s dominated by black women. i t was three black women who launched b lack l ives m atter.”
s he said women must push forward together towards change even though feminism in many ways has become the other “f-word.”
“ m y sons once asked me ‘ w hat does a feminist look like?’” w hitehead said. “a nd i looked at them, and i truly believed when i told them
Couple endows ND Institute for Church Life
Observer Staff Report
notre dame alumnus robert mcgrath and his wife, Joan, made a $15 million gift to endow the university’s institute for church life, according to a university press release Friday.
The institute organizes and supports a number of the resources, projects and programs offered by the university to advance its mission to provide direct service to the catholic church, according to the release.
“For more than 25 years, our institute for church life has served as the cornerstone for notre dame’s service to the church and society through outreach in theological education, research, faith formation and leadership development, and the mcgraths have been integrally involved in its development and direction,” university president Fr. John Jenkins said in the release. “Their transformative gift gives the institute the resources to teach, train and serve in even more powerful ways.”
according to the release, the
institute reaches out to all types of church leaders — from bishops to lay members — to provide opportunities for training, service and personal growth.
“The institute is poised to become the pre-eminent source of creative catholic content and programming for the new evangelization,” John cavadini, mcgrath-cavadini director of the institute, said in the release.
“building on our legacy of connecting the catholic intellectual life at notre dame to the life of the church, the mcgrath institute for church life will continue to be a collaborative partner with church leaders at all levels by providing the theological tools they need to address pressing pastoral problems.”
programs affiliated with the institute include sTep and camino, which provide online theology courses to adults throughout the country in english and spanish; notre dame vision, a summer program for high school students and young adults; echo, a two-year graduate program that allows participants to serve as
theology teachers in schools and parishes across the country; notre dame center for liturgy; the office of human dignity and life initiatives, which incorporates catholic teachings into different areas and departments within the university, and the science and religion initiative, which addresses the “often-perceived myth of conflict between science and religion” in high schools.
The institute works with the different academic department and colleges to integrate discussion about the church into the university’s curriculum and promote the development of the church’s “intellectual and pastoral life,” according to the release. robert mcgrath graduated from notre dame in 1955 and founded mcgrath rentcorp, a company which manages a portfolio of business-to-business rental companies, in 1979. Joan mcgrath graduated from marymount college with a degree in english literature and earned a master’s degree in theology at
see endow paGe 4
CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer
Students gather on South Quad on Monday night to watch the first of three debates between presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Food trucks provided free concessions for attendees.
The observer is the independent, daily newspaper published in print and online by the students of the university of notre dame du lac and saint mary’s college. editorial content, including advertisements, is not governed by policies of the administration of either institution. The observer reserves the right to refuse advertisements based on content.
The
Question of the Day:
Daniel Tawil
junior Knott hall
“i don’t drink coffee.”
Sophie Buono junior lyons hall
“The lime refresher.”
Luke Brahier junior Zahm house
“i don’t usually go to starbucks.”
Tuesday
Open Campaign Organizing Meetings Geddes Hall
1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
For those interested in racial justice.
Lecture: “Plasma: From Lightning to Medical Applications
Jordan Hall of Science
7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Open to the public.
Wednesday
Architecture & Urbanism Lecture: “The Spirit of Cities”
Bond Hall
4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Open to the public.
Screening: “Thank You for Playing” Eck Visitors Center
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Screening to be followed by discussion.
‘it’s
Thursday
Graduate Student Social Brownson Hall
4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Open to all Notre Dame graduate students.
ND Theatre NOW DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
See “In Paradisum” and “The Pink Pope.”
general public.
By ANDREW CAMERON news writer
w hen junior c onnor d evine began selling T-shirts with the slogan
“ i t’s Fine, i ’m Fine” in the wake of the i rish’s disappointing loss to m ichigan s tate, he said he expected his “really good friends and maybe some other people that [he] hung out with occasionally” to buy them.
h e said he was expecting to sell “maybe 40 shirts,” but has since received 326 orders for his design.
d evine said the inspiration for the shirt came when he and some friends were walking back from their dorm photo the day after the m ichigan s tate game.
“ i would say [it’s fine, i ’m fine] all the time with my friends and it became a thing with my really close friends,” he said. “ w e were taking our dorm picture outside of b ond h all and were walking back, and one of us was like ‘ o h, we should get this on shirts.’”
a ccording to d evine, his only form of advertising was a Facebook event, which he created after deciding to open up shirt sales to the
Hannah Bruening junior cavanaugh hall
“black coffee.”
Mark Dahl junior Zahm house
“grande psl [pumpkin spice latte].”
Utkarsh Sonkiya junior Zahm house
“i don’t like starbucks.”
Friday
ND Volleyball vs. Duke Joyce Center
7 p.m.
The Irish take on the Blue Devils.
ND Theatre NOW DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
See “In Paradisum” and “The Pink Pope.”
“There was a huge surge in general after making the Facebook event,” d evine said. “ i think the first day after posting it, we were up to 120 shirts, which was three to four times what we had estimated. Then, it continued to trickle in, and we were closing it on Friday. b y the time Friday rolled around, we had broken 200, and we were freaking out. a nd then, after this most recent game against d uke, someone posted on the Facebook event asking if we could open the order again, so i was like ‘ o kay, sure. w hy not?’
“ w e reopened the order and we’ve gotten an additional almost 100 orders at this point.”
d evine said he is excited and overwhelmed by the unexpected demand for his shirt design.
“ i t’s really exciting, but at the same time, i don’t know how i ’m going to deal with 326 T-shirts,” he said. “ i don’t know what i ’m going to do about people who don’t show up to [pick up the] order. That’s really stressful, because i ’m sure some people will not pick up and not pay.”
Saturday
Fall 2016 Freebie Classes: Yoga Snite Museum of Art 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Open to Notre Dame community.
Family & Children’s Center’s Festival
Irish Green
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Ticketed and open to the public.
h e said he hopes people show up to the s tanford game wearing his design. h e and his his friends have thrown around the idea of getting the slogan trademarked, though he said that’s been “mainly joking at this point.”
d espite the slogan on the shirts, d evine said he believes n otre d ame football fans should not hide their emotions in light of the team’s 1-3 record this season.
“ w e should definitely be honest with ourselves that the football team needs to improve,” he said. “ i n general, i think hiding one’s emotions isn’t a good strategy in life. w e’ve talked about how, if this becomes a big thing, we probably intend on donating a certain amount of our profits to depression or counseling centers. b ecause while ‘ i t’s Fine, i ’m Fine’ is funny in context, the idea that people should hide their emotions is obviously not a good long-term policy. i t’s supposed to be more of a joke.”
Contact Andrew Cameron at acamero2@nd.edu
if i ’ve done by job right, then they’ll see a black feminist every time they look in the mirror, because we must raise our sons as feminists, we must
raise them to understand and recognize what equality looks like.”
i n order to achieve these goals of equality and change, w hitehead said there are three tools which must be used.
The first tool is commitment laced with passion, and this
must be commitment toward moving forwards, she said.
s he said one example of this is a willingness to bow to the history of the moment when a woman is running for president, even if you don’t agree with her politics, because this is change from the 1920s, and
it is movement forward.
s he said you must also must have strength of character and the ability to decide who you are inside, which is something that often happens in times of controversy and confusion with hurdles in the way.
“That’s how i look at
mountains,” w hitehead said. “s ome mountains you have to figure out ways to get around them. s ometimes you go up, sometimes you go down, sometimes you go under, sometimes you go over. we do what we have to do in order to survive.”
The final tool is fighting for something bigger than yourself instead of making yourself the center of your own world, w hitehead said.
“[ we are] taking pictures of our food, of our shoes, talking about what we’re doing every minute of every day and we are not living,” she said. “i have to remind myself i cannot live online, i live on land.”
s he said that, with these tools, women can move forward together and leave behind a history full of disempowerment and underrepresentation.
“i challenge you today, in the spirit of all who have come before us … i challenge you today to lean into this new space as we press forward,” she said. “a nd we do so as holding hands with the sister beside because we have to be committed to getting to a better place but we have to be committed to getting there together.”
Contact Kathryn Marshall at kmarsh02@saintmarys.edu
paid a dverT isemen T
paid a dverT isemen T
rest of our live,’ and they’re exactly right.”
Tomas morgan said she hoped the non-partisan nature of the debate watch allowed students of every political affiliation to enjoy the event.
“The president’s office wanted to get ndvotes involved and other groups like student government, because those are groups that typically draw together people from both sides of the aisle, and make a point to,” she said. “ndvotes is non-partisan and, obviously, student government is not politically affiliated, so my hope is that by advertising through those routes to students everyone [felt] comfortable and welcome coming.”
wolbrecht said this event is an unusual yet highly effective method of educating students.
“i’ve been here 20 years [and] i’ve never seen an event quite like this as a way to get attention and interest in paying attention to the debates, etc.,” she said. “it’s a perfect fit for notre dame, for ndvotes. … it’s perfectly consistent with our mission of wanting to educate and mobilize students.”
Tomas morgan said the mild weather this early in the year gave ndvotes the opportunity to get creative when planning the debate watch.
“we were looking for the best way to draw students to the debate watch, so obviously we needed food [and] we needed a great venue,” she said. “we knew that this one was going to be early on so that gave us more options — we were looking at outside as well as inside venues, and we wanted to make it a lot of fun to kind of draw people’s attention to the debates, make something that can sometimes be seen as a little contentious seem a little more friendly.”
in addition to the community foundation for the debate watch, the seven food trucks present attracted many students to the event.
“i was going to watch the debate regardless,” senior michael hutchinson said. “The reason i’m here with everyone else is for one thing, it’s interesting to see the consensus on campus, and also the food is a big draw.”
other students took advantage of the event to watch the debate, though they might not have otherwise.
“i recently turned 18, and so i have the ability to vote and i feel like it’s something that us college students should take seriously,” freshman holly mcgrath said. “i really don’t think i would’ve watched it if they didn’t have an event like this. i probably would’ve said ‘oh, i’ll watch it later,’ and then never.”
Tomas morgan said she was pleasantly surprised by student turnout.
“i think it is a great testament to our campus about how engaged students are and how interested they are,” she said. “w hen it really comes down to it, students are showing up and informing themselves, and i think that shows
great promise for young people on this campus. … people were really paying attention, they were engaged, they were hearing what students thought, [and] i’d say that’s where the real success was.”
senior elizabeth Tafesse said she was impressed by ndvotes’ efforts to keep students involved in the election.
“This is my first presidential election that i’m voting in and i think that — at least from what i see on Facebook and social media — notre dame is doing a pretty good job of trying to get people registered ... but also informed.” Tafesse said.
ndvotes additionally held a post-debate panel in recker’s hospitality room featuring representatives from the college democrats, the college republicans and bridgend, which Tomas morgan said kept the event focused on the student body.
“we wanted it to be a studentoriented, student-led [and]
student-run discussion,” she said.
The three panelists — sophomore sage guynn from the college democrats, senior dylan stevenson of the college republicans and sophomore christian mcgrew representing bridgend — spoke separately about their respective party’s
candidate and the common ground between the two, but all three agreed clinton defeated Trump in the debate.
ndvotes is planning another debate watch for the vice presidential debate oct. 4.
Contact Courtney Becker at cbecker3@nd.edu
the university of san Francisco, according to the release. she also completed doctoral coursework in theology at Fordham university. The couple resides in san Francisco.
The institute will serve as a bridge between the university and the church, linking campus theological leaders with others throughout the world, according to the release.
“professor cavadini and his team have built up an outstanding relationship with the thought leaders of the catholic church, which is the basis for our firm belief that the mcgrath institute for church life will become the pre-eminent, ‘go-to’ place for creative catholic content and for what is known as the ‘new evangelization,’” robert mcgrath said. “This belief is buttressed by the dedication of the institute’s hand-selected team. They are all poised and ready to go.”
CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer
A screen on South Quad shows presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton facing off in the first of three debates.
By ADAM RAMOS
s cene writer
a s d uke relentlessly shredded our defense with each drive on s aturday, i couldn’t help but long for the football games of years past. Feet tired and morale exhausted, my mind drifted to happier times, like our 31-0 blow-out against m ichigan my freshman year or Kizer’s game winning toss against uva last season. yet, when reality finally decided to rear its ugly head, sometime around d uke’s fourth touchdown, i found myself smiling. b e it resignation, or maybe just the escape, after my trip down memory lane i wasn’t so upset anymore — i’m even better now that van g order is gone.
l onging for the past is one of life’s simplest diversions, and in rostam b atmanglij (former multiinstrumentalist of vampire weekend) and h amilton l eithauser’s (former lead singer of The walkmen) new joint album, “i h ad a d ream That you were m ine,” this diversion has never felt sweeter. a fter respective careers in two of indie rock’s most treasured groups, both b atmanglij and l eithauser have a lot to look back on.
Fresh off 14 years of ambitiously helping to shape the new millennium’s indie rock landscape, The walkmen called it quits in 2013, leaving behind six fantastic records. The group’s aggressive but beautifully refined aesthetic — thanks in great part
to l eithauser’s tender vocals — remains a fixture in the modern indie rock canon.
b atmanglij boasts an equally impressive repertoire. a leading member of new york’s preeminent indie pop darling vampire weekend, b atmanglij used his expertise of musical production to create the experimental and innovative soundscapes behind the group’s uniquely exotic sound. a long the way, b atmanglij also earned a number of production credits on an impressive list of albums, including work from c harli Xc X, s antigold, c arly r ae Jepsen and Frank o cean.
The two met in early 2008, but didn’t actually collaborate until 2012 when b atmanglij reached out with some ideas for l eithauser’s first solo record, “b lack hours.” The relationship grew from there, as the two friends continued to collaborate during the holidays when both returned to their respective homes in washington, d c . This camaraderie between b atmanglij and l eithauser is an essential component of “i h ad a d ream That you were m ine.”
“Throw a kiss goodbye to all of that,” l eithauser croons in “i n a b lack o ut,” closing out the fourth track. This moment of fleeting refuge in the face of yearning is at the very center of “i h ad a d ream That you were m ine,” both literally and figuratively. The album is dripping in cathartic nostalgia, and l eithauser is our narrator through it all. p ast romances quickly become the source of longing and
l eithauser’s vocal range daringly swings from frustrated to harrowed, revealing a wide array of emotions in response. This vocal diversity as well as the theme of longing are both also deeply intertwined into b atmanglij’s production and arrangements.
The album opens with “a 1000 Times,” an energetic track with a bouncy bassline and a traditional rockabilly sheen. music’s past also becomes a pastiche on “ w hen the Truth is…,” a standout track that artfully recalls ‘50s doo-wop without bringing along any of the cliché typically associated with the genre. b atmanglij’s uncanny ability to capture the essence of a genre serves the album well, providing an eclectic listening experience strung together in a cohesive narrative. The man is even able to land a country song, banjo opening and all, on “peaceful morning” — testament to his unmatched production skills. i have to be honest, hearing b atmanglij’s unique production did trigger some longing in me — probably attributable to my extensive history with vampire weekend. b atmanglij and l eithauser’s partnership is certainly a successful one, but alas, i miss vampy weeks. That’s just how longing works. b ehind the smiles of nostalgia, always lurks the question, “ w hat if?” There may be no more hope for our football season, but a new full-fledged vampire weekend record? There could still be a chance.
Contact Adam Ramos at aramos6@nd.edu
By ADRIAN MARK LORE
s cene writer
Whoever seeks to pigeonhole patten would have a hard time going about it. The London-based production duo made up of a man and a woman cryptically self-identifying as D and A, respectively, has been responsible for some of the most mwysterious left-field electronic music of the decade so far. It is only appropriate, indeed, that patten has lately been paired on tours with fellow Warp Records luminaries Autechre, LFO and Battles; a tour in which the duo has wowed fans — and blissfully unsuspecting festival passersby – with stunning audiovisual displays reminiscent of label-mate Oneohtrix Point Never or remixeé Björk.
The duo’s output is rarely easy on the ears, and purposefully so. Listening to patten’s 2014 LP “ESTOILE NAIANT” it is clear that the duo innovates not merely for innovation’s sake, but as a way of challenging what electronic music fans understand electronic music to be. There are dance-like beats and swelling pads, yet uncanny sounds overlap so abrasively that tracks take on the semblance of a kaleidoscopic collage.
The duo’s latest release – “ Ψ ” (Psi) – follows a slightly different playbook. While “ESTOILE NAIANT” blended several genres under the electronic umbrella, “Psi” keys in on bass music and develops its futuristic aesthetic with the duo’s own esoteric flair. Tracks evolve around a disorienting drum-machine beat, sustained while cyberpunk synths and occult orchestration spin around it, developing these pieces
into chilling creatures that seem to inhabit a space between full moon nights and the great beyond.
Notable on “Psi” is the addition of vocals to almost all tracks, a human element that felt conspicuously absent on “ESTOILE NAIANT.” Yet it would be misguided to expect that this new presence would add a dimension of warmth or accessibility to the music. In most cases, the peculiarly accented speech, veiled behind layers of surreal effects and monotone delivery, is less affecting than it is mesmerizing, even slightly unsettling, like the awakened spirit of malicious software.
In many ways, “Psi” feels like a revival of the witch house genre popularized in the early 2010s by artists like Crystal Castles and Clams Casino; there are common features among these tracks that evoke the paranormal in subtle yet audible ways. But if patten seems to capitalize on the success of the genre on this latest record, rest assured that the duo is refreshingly original in its approach. Structurally, tracks on “Psi” evoke less the trap sensibilities of witch house as much as they emulate the deconstructionist bass music of English producers Logos and Jam City.
The duo draws from their influences to great effect. On the opening track, “Locq,” the record introduces listeners immediately to the arcane aesthetic with a messy arpeggio that devolves into something between a responsorial psalm and a ritual summoning. Later on, “Used 2 B” couples high-energy, acidic beats with the sound of a whispered spell. The diverse elements in these tracks would seem not to match on paper, but
in practice the duo is skilled enough to craft a terrifying sense of urgency.
That said, patten encounters familiar challenges on “Psi.” Some of the maximalist clutter of “ESTOILE NAIANT” is retained on this record, muddling what could otherwise have been airtight tracks. Additionally, at forty minutes the record feels overlong; standout tracks stand out, but everything else feels a bit redundant, if admittedly well-crafted. The duo would do well to focus its energy on fewer tracks that could better flesh out the patten aesthetic, rather than leaving more underdeveloped tracks on the album. It is also interesting to note that, for artists so fixated on exploring new creative ground, they have done little to experiment with release format and presentation; perhaps the album form is an outdated venue for their art to begin with.
Contact Adrian Mark Lore at asanch11@nd.edu
Stephen Raab l et’s Talk smart
u p until this summer, anyone who spent a lot of time on n otre d ame campus became well acquainted with the west entrance to the l aFortune s tudent c enter. d ue to a quirk of architecture, the west entrance door was placed a few inches above the top of the stairs leading down from it. The small drop-off that this design created was the cause of many an awkward, i ndiana Jones-like step into nothingness for those unacquainted with it.
o ver the course of the summer, construction crews refurbished the steps, lifting them to the same height as the door’s exit. d escending the steps is now objectively much easier, yet i find myself dissatisfied. i ’ve spent my entire career at n otre d ame negotiating that awkward step, and i ’ve become so used to it that i ’m tripping on the level ground. i ’d much rather revert to the way things were; however, my rational side can admit when it’s time for a change.
w ith that in mind, let’s talk about Tim m c c arthy. a much-beloved figure of the n otre d ame community, the former i ndiana s tate p olice s ergeant is famous for his third-quarter safety tips, expressed in the form of puns which
leTTer To The edITor
The next step
always draw a good natured groan from the student section. From 1960 to 1979, m c c arthy delivered the tips as the official safety education officer. a fter his retirement in 1979, athletic director m oose Krause requested that he continue, which he did until 2015. From the 2015 season onward, the safety tip has been brought to us “from the vaults” via recording. i t’s still as popular and anticipated as ever — for the moment. w hat happens ten years from now? Twenty? d on’t get me wrong; i am now and have always been a huge fan of Tim m c c arthy. o n multiple occasions, i ’ve even bought “ m ay i h ave your a ttention p lease” — a compilation of his best zingers — on cd from the bookstore as a gift for my various n otre d ame friends. The safety tip and associated pun is one of my favorite parts of an i rish football game. i t’s extremely important to me that this tradition continue into the future.
i worry that n otre d ame’s reliance on recordings of Tim m c c arthy will hurt his legacy. For starters, “the vaults” are only so deep. o ur finite supply of these clips means we’ll eventually have to start reusing jokes. n othing kills humor faster than “ i ’ve heard that one before.” m oreover, “from the vaults” puts the safety tip in danger of evolving from something we do into something we used to do and are now acknowledging
briefly. i ’d hate to see Tim m c c arthy’s legacy fall by the wayside. There’s no more important way of honoring it than by keeping it current and fresh. n otre d ame should immediately begin screening for a young i ndiana s tate p olice officer with a strong broadcast voice and a sharp sense of humor. i ’d even suggest the u niversity make an event out of it — allow Tim m c c arthy to hand over the honor to the next generation with all the pomp and circumstance the occasion deserves. a n adjustment period is inevitable, but soon the new safety communication officer will have taken up the torch that Tim m c c arthy has lit. a fter a season or two, the safety tip will be firmly planted in the n otre d ame consciousness as a living tradition that deserves preservation independent of the presenter’s identity. i look forward to coming back as a double alumnus, and hearing a hush fall over the crowd at the close of the 1812 o verture, and listen for a single authoritative voice to call out — “ m ay i have your attention please?”
Stephen Raab, an MSM Candidate at the Mendoza College of Business, graduated Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s in chemical engineering in 2016. He enjoys matching wits with all comers at sraab@nd.edu
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The ultimate paradox: power of being powerless
a couple of months ago i returned home from cochabamba, bolivia, where i worked with manos con l ibertad, an organization dedicated to the empowerment of imprisoned and formerly imprisoned women through the i nternational summer service l earning p rogram ( isslp) at the c enter for social concerns. a lthough my time at manos was spent mostly outside of prison, i did get a first hand view of what life in prison can be like.
it is important to note that my experience took place in only one facility, a prison for women in cochabamba, whose name i will leave unmentioned for privacy purposes. i might portray bolivia’s penitentiary system in a rather negative light. however, my aim is not to criticize bolivia’s efforts, given that the same situations occur in many prisons around the world, including in united states, and in my home country, panama.
d uring my time spent with the women, i had the opportunity to learn about bolivia’s penitentiary system and the experience of living inside its prisons. i got to hear about and witness different issues such as incarceration without trial, overpopulation, lack of proper living conditions and a very negative social environment among the prisoners. however of all the issues i learned about, a very important one stood out to me the most. many of the women at the prison were convicted, and had been convicted before because of drug trafficking. a s they told me, once their sentence is completed they will go back to trafficking drugs because that is the only way they know to get a living and provide for their families. The reality is that many convicts in bolivia’s (and many other countries’) penitentiary system tend
to get stuck in the cycle of prison. The prisoners, who are objects of the system, do not have the means to overcome the misery that they are forced to live in, because they are not taught an alternative way of life, and so the cycle continues. i nstead of encouraging correction and improvement, incarceration time only leads to the continuation of the crimes that the prisons supposedly aim to eradicate. how can former prisoners reintegrate into society instead of returning behind the cells? i n my opinion, this is one of the biggest issues in prison reform that need to be solved. a long with the problem of the cycle comes another very important one, which came up in the conversations with the prisoners more often than any other issue: feeling and being powerless. not only are the women powerless to get out of the cycle of imprisoned life, but they also feel powerless to provide for their family, help their children, or simply effect any change in their family’s and their own lives. i n spite of the fact that being and feeling powerless brings many negative issues into the equation, and despite the fact that i do not support some of the current penitentiary systems all over the world that violate human rights and are not focused on the inmates’ well-being, i believe that there are positive aspects of being powerless. i call this “the ultimate paradox.” being powerless makes us rely on others. i remember feeling very powerless when i arrived to cochabamba. i did not have any sense of direction, i did not know where to go to solve certain issues, and i could not avoid getting taken advantage of for noticeably being a foreigner. This, sometimes against my will, forced me to rely on others. This was especially the case when taking public transportation. w hen i
would ask the driver to let me know when we reached avenida heroínas or avenida oquendo, because streets often were not labeled and i did not have sufficient knowledge of my surroundings yet. relying on others gave me a better picture of what “real life” is like, and humbled me. a nd i believe there is great power in that.
being powerless gives us a reason to connect with others, because all of us are powerless. i nevitably, we will not have complete control over our lives at all times. i know my site partner Kathleen and i bonded often over our similar experiences struggling with lack of control or lack of power. Through connecting with others, we get the opportunity, not only to learn about our neighbor, but also to really see and appreciate their value.
being powerless also makes us equal. powerlessness allowed me to connect with the prisoners, but more importantly, it let me connect with them at an equal level. we were not above or below each other, but we were all powerless and equal. Finding something in common with the prisoners made it much easier for me to understand them, and, still with some limitations, to try to be in their shoes.
l astly, being powerless helps us become aware of the enormous power that we have within us. a nd this is exactly why at the end of the day i felt powerful: because i managed to overcome every obstacle even when i was the most powerless. it takes power to do that.
Melissa Escoffery junior s ept. 20
Happy Birthday: show compassion and kindness to others. your desire to step up and make a difference will help you persuade others to do things your way. use similar tactics at home when faced with controversy. honesty and sensitivity will result in added respect and the confidence you need to advance in life. move forward with pride. your numbers are 3, 10, 16, 24, 32, 39, 47.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): learn from past experience and turn that knowledge into something that will help you excel. show passion in what you do and offer help to those in need. brighten someone’s day and it will revitalize your spirit.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): voice your opinions, but don’t bring your emotions into the mix. if you rely on facts, you will sway more people to see things your way. a pick-me-up will improve your attitude. a trendy new look will be well received.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Focus on making improvements at home. listen to complaints and do your best to meet the needs of the people you love. a social event will lead to greater personal stability. use your talents in an unusual way.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): learn from watching others. your peers have more to offer than you realize. don’t be afraid to do things in your own unique way. make a positive change to the way you present what you do and how you look.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): explore new possibilities and network with people who share your interest in bringing about positive change. don’t take an emotional risk. Finishing what you start and keeping promises will help you avoid insult, injury or having your ego deflated.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): work toward building a better relationship with the people who influence your life the most. having a practical and helpful attitude will encourage you to find common ground. a personal situation will improve if you are patient.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): get together with people from your past, but don’t be too quick to share your current status, position or plans. gather information and you’ll discover whether your associates are a good fit for helping you attain your goals.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): planning and preparation will make a difference to the way things unfold today. don’t let an emotional matter stop you from giving your very best. stress is best dealt with by keeping busy and striving to meet your expectations.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): offering to help others is thoughtful, but can also be dissatisfying if you don’t receive the appreciation that you deserve. it’s oK to take a moment to take care of your needs.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): an emotional matter can turn into a costly affair if you don’t know how to say “no.” it’s best to be blunt and voice your opinion when dealing with joint ventures. good fortune will come from showing restraint.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): look at the big picture and revise your personal papers and financial statements to fit your lifestyle and future direction. an unorthodox medical practice is best researched before you take a risk with your health.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): someone will help you make personal adjustments that will help free up your time. a new look based on a healthier lifestyle will attract attention and build your confidence. a progressive approach to personal finances will pay off. Birthday Baby: you are helpful, courteous and serious. you are dependable and sensitive.
Jumble | david hoyT and JeFF KnureK
sudoku | The mepham group
JusT add waTer | eric carlson and John roddy
An era retires with Garnett
R.J. Stempak sports writer
This weekend saw the farewell of yet another great who started his career in the ’90s — Kevin g arnett.
g arnett joins Kobe b ryant and Tim d uncan in retirement, finally leaving the game he made such a strong impression on.
g arnett was only one of three players with career totals of 25,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 5,000 assists. h e might’ve also been one of the greatest defenders the game has ever seen, one of the original superstars who could lock down anyone, regardless of position. i t is easy to throw out statistics to prove how the game will miss these unbelievable players, but what will really be missed is their personalities.
a long with Kobe and K g goes the ultra-fierce competitiveness that made the league great throughout the 90’s and early 2000’s. s ure there are many great things about the league now: the efficiency of teams, the health of players and the pace of play are all great developments of the past ten years. The buddy-buddy culture is not one of them.
a t the cost of the aau culture, the cost of having every player in the league being extremely skilled, the nba lost rivalries and just mean players. Kobe and K g were two of the best, and two of the meanest, that ever came through the league. Fueled by an irrational and fiery passion for the game, these two men polarized the league for nearly two decades, and now they are gone.
Kobe’s competitive style followed in the footsteps of Jordan, a cold-blooded, “ i ’m so much better than you” attitude. Kobe would take and hit shots that you think
are bad, and he would beat you and not care about your feelings.
K g was different. n obody will ever be like him again. K g is madman. h e is chaos, the devil and his opponent’s worst nightmare. o h, and he was also 7-feet-11. h e knew more about the game than anyone he faced and he was better than them at whatever they did best. a nd he would tell you that to your face. o nly he would tell you by talking to himself about you, while you were standing right there.
s teven a dams, the a ustralian center for the o klahoma c ity Thunder, said it best last year, “ you’re like, ‘ w hy am i doing this?’ i t’s really weird, you get depressed.” s oon after K g ’s retirement a dams admitted that he played the “ i don’t speak e nglish” card when he played against K g . This maniac made people depressed about playing basketball with his trash talk.
g arnett was not the norm, but a beacon. h e stood out, but still belonged in the nba culture of his time. That culture is gone. p layers on rival teams are friends in the offseason.
i t may be the curmudgeon in me, but this is not good for the league. K g would never have joined the l akers like Kevin d urant joined the w arriors. a nd it might just be that action that is so against what K g what have done that breeds his successor — r ussell w estbrook. i f anyone is crazy and talented and has a legitimate reason to be as angry as g arnett was, it is w estbrook. The future is unknown, but this offseason the nba lost its edge, and i will miss it.
Contact R.J. Stempak at rstempak@nd.edu
The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Email Marek at mmazurek@nd.edu
Interhall
sides of the ball and executed defensively.
“we were able to limit their big plays and get two stops inside the 10 and anytime you do that, you have a good chance to win,” vallera said.
despite the loss, sorin junior captain shane a nderson was pleased with his team’s performance on the first drive, while also noting areas where they need improvement.
“our first drive, we walked away with a touchdown and since i have been here, that is the first fluid, cohesive drive we have ever had,” a nderson said. “we knew coming into this game it was going to be a trial and error work in progress, but we have to be better at stopping the run.”
a huge run into the end zone by pribylpierdinock broke the 8-8 tie, sealing the victory for the vermin.
sorin will face off against dunne next sunday, and carroll will take on st. edward’s, both set to kick off at 2:15 p.m. at la bar practice complex.
Contact Patrick Skrine at pskrine@hcc-nd.edu
keenan def. keough 3-0
By DARCY DEHAIS sports writer
Keenan and Keough opened their seasons on sunday with a closely-matched, low-scoring game that resulted in a 3-0 win for the Knights. both teams played tight defense, but struggled to convert in the red zone.
The only points of the afternoon came from a Keenan field goal in the second quarter by sophomore kicker a ndrew deye. Junior Keenan captain greg brainard said the Knights will work to improve their offensive production.
“The bottom line is we wouldn’t have won the game if he hadn’t made that field goal, so we’ll try to pick up the offense this week and turn our drives into touchdowns,” brainard said.
despite the loss, junior Kangaroos captain danny childers said that the roos played solid defense and was confident they will learn from
the game.
“i think we played well, and we can definitely build on this,” childers said. “our defense played very well. we stopped them on the goal line to force a field goal, so they didn’t get anything close after that.”
both teams found most of their success in the run game, but Keenan gained a slight edge with several long completions from sophomore quarterback daniel lindstrom. however, Keough failed to complete any passes in the red zone and missed both its field goal attempts.
“we’re going to work on offensive efficiency,” childers said. “we played well on offense, and we got a lot of yards, but we didn’t punch anything in. we need to make sure we get in the end zone next week.”
The Keenan defense recovered a fumble, notched one interception and two sacks over the course of the game. brainard was pleased with the Knights’ performance and said they met their defensive goals for the week.
“a big thing for us going into the game was staying strong on defense, and we were able to hold them to zero points,” brainard said.
Keenan takes the field next against a lumni on sunday at 3:30 p.m. at the la bar practice complex. a fter a bye week, Keough will face dillon at 3:30 on october 9 also at the la bar practice complex.
Contact Darcy Dehais at ddehais@nd.edu
stanford def. duncan 15-12
By MIA BERRY sports writer
stanford scored a late touchdown with just 30 seconds remaining in the game, avoiding an upset to duncan and winning the game, 15-12.
stanford started the game by displaying its running capabilities with freshman brandon garcia, who had lengthy runs to set up a 28-yard field goal. a n impressive touchdown reception by sophomore a lex barone spurred the griffins to a 9-0 lead at halftime.
in the second half, duncan came out strong with sophomore ryan Fitzgerald rushing in a touchdown to cut the lead
to three. later on, Fitzgerald caught a 40-yard pass to give duncan its first lead of the game, 12-9, with 1:33 remaining in the fourth. stanford’s comeback drive was aided by a holding call on the defense that gave it an additional 10-yards. That penalty was followed by a 19yard reception by sophomore peter ryan, which set up first and goal with less than a minute remaining.
The griffins decided to return to their run game that aided them in the first half and once again garcia broke free to give stanford a touchdown and the lead with 30 seconds remaining. The griffins’ defense came through when they needed it the most and ended the game with a sack.
a fter pulling out a close victory, senior stanford captain Kevin Kohler was pleased with his team’s grit.
“i like that people stepped up and buckled down when we really needed them to,” Kohler said.
Kohler wasn’t the only one impressed with his team’s performance. duncan junior captain Thomas staffieri was also very impressed with his team’s play.
“i thought we were able to move the ball on offense pretty well,” staffieri said. “we didn’t have much of a running game last year and today we were able to move the ball up and down the field. i am very proud every player played their responsibility, in the end it just didn’t come out the way we wanted.”
a nd while duncan fell short in its opening game, stanford junior captain Kevin Kohler applauded the highlanders’ effort.
“That second touchdown was just an unbelievable catch and throw,” Kohler said. “hats off to them. They played great for a team that was 0-4 last year. They gave us everything that they had, and it was a great game. i think [duncan] is going to have a successful season.” next week, stanford hopes to continue its momentum when it faces Knott at 1 p.m. at la bar practice Field. duncan will still be in search of its first win when it plays two-time defending champion morrissey next week at 1 p.m. also at la bar practice Field.
Contact Mia Berry at mberry1@nd.edu
to the second half, taking a 10-7 lead, but the Flying dutch slowly clawed the score back and built a lead of their own, winning 25-22. The belles had a chance to take the tight second set, with a set point at 25-24. but hope took the last three points to seal the game.
Junior leftside hitter mcKenzie
Todd had 19 digs and 10 kills, while senior leftside hitter meaghan gibbons also had 10 kills. The belles had it much easier against olivet, taking a 23-9 lead in the opening set and winning 25-13 on a kill from senior rightside hitter alexis grady. saint mary’s looked similarly comfortable in the second set, with an early 5-0 run to take a 7-2 lead, setting the belles up to win the
set on a gibbons kill. The belles won seven consecutive points early in the third set, and six of the last eight, winning on an ace from freshman setter nicole borah.
gibbons led the belles with 12 kills, while junior rightside hitter rachel bonek had 11 kills and 11 digs.
The belles will play albion on wednesday evening. The match begins at albion at 7 p.m.
Carson
con T inued F rom page 12
the team’s “current situation,” he made the decision to can vangorder.
yet when asked about his quarterback saturday, Kelly wasn’t afraid to criticize him, calling Kizer’s play “below standard” and “not acceptable.” what, exactly, makes it more appropriate to get into debates about your 18-to 22-year-old players in a press conference and not your fully-grown, well-compensated coordinators?
no, Kizer maybe hasn’t had his best games in an irish uniform over the last couple games, but when you see him forcing the issue on things — like he clearly was against the blue devils — who could blame him? Just look at the defensive track record late in games recently: against stanford, the irish defense couldn’t get the stop to win the game. against Texas, the irish defense couldn’t get the stop to win the game. against michigan state, the irish defense couldn’t get the stop to give Kizer one more shot to tie the game. against duke, the irish defense couldn’t get the stop to preserve the tie game in the final minutes.
Four chances for a big, key lategame stop, and four chances gone awry.
it has become evidently clear that, at least when playing respectable opponents (sorry, nevada), that if notre dame is going to win games, it’s going to be because Kizer carries them there, not because other position groups or players step up to win games. The run game, once promising, has sputtered as of late — irish backs have just 144 rushing yards over the last two games. The defense’s “missed tackles” reel is probably longer than its highlight reel over the first four games of the season. The special teams crew remains inconsistent, so much that i’d argue Kizer’s interception, which resulted in a 42-yard field position swing on third down, was a better outcome for notre dame than trusting the often-brilliant punt game backed up in its own end zone. perhaps, against syracuse and north carolina state, things can get clicking for those other irish units. when that happens, sure, you can start hounding Kizer to be playing better and, perhaps, ponder the unthinkable: that sophomore brandon wimbush could get snaps. in the interim though, you have a potential first-round pick who’s playing some solid football. not great, no, but he also shouldn’t have to play heisman-caliber football to have this team sitting with a winning record through four games.
Though that’s where notre dame is. and until things change, worrying about the quarterback play should be the least of everyone’s concerns.
Contact Alex Carson at acarson1@nd.edu
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
m Golf
an 1-under-par 212.
ostrom said despite the low placing at the invitational, there wasn’t anything in particular that made the mirabel golf club more difficult than any of the other courses the team has played.
“This past weekend in arizona was no different than any other tournament that we played this year, but we just had a very weak showing,” ostrom said. “This may have been onset because a whole bunch of different reasons, but the fact was we just didn’t play well.”
ostrom said that before the team began competition, the irish were hoping to compete among the best teams in the field. lsu won the invitational with a score of 41-under-par 811 as three of its players finished in the top 10 of all competitors. baylor finished
Please recycle
second with a 36-under-par 816, and Kent state placed third with a score of 24-under-par 828.
“The mood after the round yesterday from both coach and my teammates was more of a disappointment feel,” ostrom said. “we were upset with the way we all played but we can hopefully use and build upon it heading into our next couple events. it’s going to be very nice to have our next event at home, allowing us to feel a little more comfortable on the course ...
”
The irish didn’t have a strong overall finish, but there were several notable highlights for notre dame. on Friday, barens took the 571-yard par-5 second hole and converted it into an eagle. on saturday, lamb birdied the final two holes of the day to finish with a score of 3-under-par 68 and pull into a tie for 27th place among all individuals.
ostrom, who is one of the
team’s three freshmen, finished 7-over-par on the weekend, but is confident his preparation for the Fighting irish golf classic will place him among the top individuals.
“i’ve placed way too much pressure on myself these last two events, and it has been really hurting my game,” ostrom said. “i’m
going to work on this the next couple of weeks ...” notre dame will follow up their recent 14th place finish with the Fighting irish golf classic on oct. 9. ally like to improve in between ting irish golf classic on oct. 9.
Contact Manny De Jesus at mdejesus@nd.edu
paid a dverT isemen T
MICHAEL YU | The Observer Irish senior Matthew Rushton follows through on his swing Sept. 3. Rushton placed fifth on the team at the Maui Jim Invitational.
still, sophomore captain charlie puntillo took many positives out of his team’s performance.
“we learned a lot,” puntillo said. “we didn’t get much practice, so we think of this like our first practice. we know what we need to fix offensively, and we’ll get a lot better.”
alumni hopes to continue to continue its momentum next week against Keenan, while o’neill searches for their first win of the season against dillon. both games are scheduled for october 2 at 3:30 p.m. at labar practice complex.
Contact Brennan Buhr at bbuhr@nd.edu
st. e dward’s def. Fisher 14-0
By KYLE BARRY sports writer
it was an energetic and defensive football game at labar practice complex as st. edward’s pulled out a 14-0 victory over Fisher on sunday afternoon.
on their second drive of the game, the gentlemen took advantage of a Fisher punt that left them with strong field position. The gentlemen quickly converted on an 11-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. both defenses came to play as
Fisher and st. edward’s each forced four turnovers throughout the course of the game.
late in the fourth quarter, Fisher once again had difficulty on special teams when the Fishermen punter mishandled the snap and turned the ball over on downs on Fisher’s 8-yard line. This resulted in a touchdown pass by st. edward’s in the corner of the end zone to take a commanding 14-0 lead with about a minute to go.
Trying to keep Fisher’s hopes alive, quarterback and senior captain shannon massey scrambled down the sideline to put his team in a position to score. however, massey committed a turnover, fumbling the ball on the 43-yard line. The gentlemen recovered the ball to secure the 14-0 victory.
st. edward’s’ senior captain phineas andrews was pleased with his team’s overall performance of the game.
“we did pretty well,” andrews said. “our defense looked great, our special teams were solid, and our offense had some big plays. we committed a few turnovers and could’ve done better there, but it was a good first game.”
although Fisher lost the game, massey credited st. edward’s with a solid game.
“They played well,” massey said. “They won because they were the better team today and they were more prepared than us.”
massey’s mission for Fisher is to
prepare more, get after it and get used to hitting and making tackles again in order to be successful in the next game. meanwhile, andrews expects his team to play just as well as it did for the upcoming game.
“we hope to play the same way as we did on defense and special teams, but we need to clean up our mistakes on offense and hopefully win another game,” andrews said.
st. edward’s will look to rack up another win in its next matchup against carroll at 2:15 p.m. sunday at labar practice complex, while Fisher looks to bounce back from this loss and clinch their first win of the season after a bye week next saturday.
Contact Kyle Barry at kbarry@hcc-nd.edu
siegfried def. morrissey 12-6
By MEAGAN BENS sports writer
with two hail-mary passes at the end of each half, siegfried defeated the back-to-back defending champion morrissey, 12-6.
although the scoreboard was a reflection of who won at the end of the game, ramblers senior captain dan verzuh admitted that luck contributed to his team’s win.
“There were very two lucky plays during the first half that made a difference,” verzuh said. “we had a
three on two for that deep pass that morrissey scored on, and somehow our guys ended up on the ground and their man ended up with the ball. The difference with this year’s team is that we managed to make the lucky breaks happen in our favor as well. we didn’t score any points with time remaining on the clock, both our throws were hail mary, lucky breaks to the end zone. in a very strong sense, you can say that morrissey won that game.”
morrissey senior captain nick sywyj said he was happy with his team’s performance and thought the manor controlled the game despite the score at halftime.
“i think they got their six point conversion in the last play of the half, kudos to them,” sywyj said. “we were in position, they got a lucky bounce, and that’s football. both teams were in position, there were three tips, and they made the play. we didn’t give up and we went in and blocked the field goal keeping it tied at half.”
as the end of the game came down to the final four seconds, siegfried’s sophomore quarterback michael bernard threw a long, floating pass caught by junior max Krohn, resulting in the ramblers’ victory. even though siegfried won, verzuh has respect for his opponent and said his team will need to improve its performance for future games.
“morrissey is a phenomenal team, they have a great line, big
guys and a big push,” verzuh said. “Their running game is unmatched. our running game was not there this weekend and our short passes weren’t either, but it was a couple of lucky breaks that made the difference. even though we technically beat morrissey, we still have a lot to work on. ... we need to fit our runs better and have better timing. we are either getting our handoffs down too early or too late and our blocks aren’t there when we need to have them. otherwise our quarterback has to work his jitters out a little bit. i think we will be in great shape for the next couple weeks.”
as siegfried moves on with a win, they have a bye next week, while morrissey will play duncan next sunday at 1 p.m. at labar practice complex.
Contact Meagan Bens at mbens@nd.edu
Carroll def. s orin 14-8
By PATRICK SKRINE sports writer
carroll edged sorin 14-8 sunday to open up the interhall season. carroll had a consistent and balanced attack, with touchdowns coming from senior captain anthony vallera and freshman david pribyl pierdinock. vallera felt his team was consistent on both
