PDF for Thursday, April 11, 2013

n o T re d ame and s ain T m ary’s

Pass-In-Review honors ROTC members

University president addresses participants, emphasizes commitment to service

By CHARLIE DUCEY

ews w riter

n

Fourteen exemplary members of n otre d ame’s r eserve o fficer Training c orps ( ro T c ) program received awards for integrity, leadership and community involvement at the 2013 p residential p ass- i n- r eview ceremony yesterday.

The formal military ceremony, held in the s tepan c enter, gathered all cadets and midshipmen on campus. m idshipman

Jason Koncsol spoke about the importance of n otre d ame’s ro T c program.

u niversity p resident Fr. John Jenkins opened the p ass- i n- r eview with an

address.

“The military has a long and historic involvement at n otre d ame, with members of the military attending the u niversity as far back as 1858,” he said. “ n otre d ame is one of only 56 universities with a ro T c program representing all four branches of the u nited s tates military.”

Jenkins said he respects the dedication of the ro T c students and the work they do.

“ p eople will look to you for leadership. They will look to you for purpose,” he said. “ i know that what you do as a ro T c participant is not easy. o n top of

Senior awarded scholarship

By MEL FLANAGAN

n

ews

riter

w

s enior c atherine r eidy will take the n otre d ame tradition across the pond next year to study for her master’s degree in a frican s tudies on a c larendon s cholarship at o xford u niversity.

r eidy, a psychology major and member of the i nternational s cholars p rogram at the Kellogg i nstitute for i nternational s tudies, was offered a scholarship by the s ocial s ciences d ivision of o xford to further develop her interest in international affairs and related

University hires digital officer

By LESLEY STEVENSON

n ews w riter

a mong several technology-based initiatives in the works for next year, the university created a new position called chief academic digital officer to promote digital learning and appointed e lliott v isconsi to fill the position, according to a university press release.

v isconsi, associate professor of e nglish and concurrent associate professor of law, said he will work to guide and support students

and faculty in technology research, investment and application.

“ w hat we are trying to do is figure out [is] how do we integrate digital tools into our overall educational mission?” v isconsi said.

a nnual banquet honors student leadership

By AUBREY BUTTS news writer

The division of student affairs honored six notre dame seniors and one post-baccalaureate student for their academic, journalistic and service contributions to the university at the april 3 student leadership

awards Banquet. The awards recognize students whose efforts benefit not only the university community but also disadvantaged populations across the globe, according to a university press release.

senior emily conron received the John w gardner student leadership

award for her work with the notre dame Fighting neglected Tropical diseases club. conron said the trajectory of her service work was unexpected yet purposeful.

“my involvement with the club has shaped everything else that i’ve undertaken in college, even though i got into it by accident,” conron

“you need to be open to finding new passions and when things creep up on you that seem interesting, even if you think it will be a diversion from

said. “i’m not a hard science major, but i’ve learned a lot. over this past winter break, i was able to unite my psychology major with my theology major with my interest in nTds by traveling to haiti and interviewing patients there about their mental health and religious beliefs.” conron said students should not necessarily limit their extracurricular activities to groups related to preexisting interests.

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Policies

The

Question of the Day:

What is your favorite facial feature?

Emily Voorde sophomore ryan hall “eyes.”

Tatum Snyder sophomore ryan hall

“eyelashes, they are so cool!”

Shea Smith freshman ryan hall “eyes.”

Have a question you want answered? Email

Anne Seul sophomore ryan hall “smile.”

Sunoh Choe senior off campus “l ips.”

Pat Bishop senior off campus “eyes.”

Assistant director of club sports Dave Brown speaks during the dedication ceremony of the Rich O’Leary boat for the men’s club rowing team last Saturday. The team will compete in a dual meet against the University of Minnesota on Saturday.

Staff

The observer regards itself as a professional publication and strives for the highest standards of journalism at all times.

at (574) 631-4541

5:15 p.m.-6:15 p.m. Practice meditation.

Admitted Student Open House Jordan Hall of Science

7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Prospective students and parents meet faculty and students.

Friday

Relay for Life

Compton Family Ice Arena

6 p.m.-9 a.m. Fund cancer research.

Women’s Lacrosse Arlotta Stadium

7 p.m. Game vs. Loyola.

p.m. Game vs. Gerogetown.

Sunday Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart

10 a.m.-11 a.m.

Music by the Notre Dame Liturgical Choir.

Monday

ACMS Colloquium

Hayes-Healy Center

4 p.m.-5 p.m.

Speaker James Collins.

Lecture: Young Latinidad and the Future of America

McKenna Hall

7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Speaker David HayesBautista.

SMC presents Four-Year Promise

By KAITLYN RABACH

s aint m ary’s e ditor

o n a pril 2, s aint mary’s announced the Four-year p romise, which guarantees students will either graduate in four years or the c ollege will pay for their extra courses.

students must follow certain guidelines to be eligible for the promise, which will start with the incoming class of 2017, c ollege p resident c arol a nn mooney said.

“This isn’t a recruitment strategy for us or a new initiative on campus,” mooney said. “o ur students have always worked closely with their advisers and professors to stay on track and achieve their goals. we offer the courses they need, when they

need them, led by exceptional faculty who are dedicated to teaching.”

mona Bowe, vice president for enrollment engagement, said 93 percent of all students graduate within the four years already.

“This promise is really just putting our money where our mouth is.”

Mona Bowe Vice president for enrollment engagement

“This promise is really just putting our money where our mouth is,” Bowe said.

Bowe said the major guidelines for this promise include

maintaining good academic standing, registering for courses at the assigned times, completing an average of 32 semester hours each year and being accepted into a major by the end of spring semester of sophomore year.

“These are things that our students are already doing,” Bowe said.

i n this time of economic hardship, Bowe said the c ollege would like future students and their families to know the c ollege cares about their investment.

“ we want people to know that we know how huge of an investment a college education is,” Bowe said.

p rofessor of communications c olleen Fitzpatrick said more and more research has been done on the expense of a

paid a dverT isemen T

college education.

“i f you look at the research, more and more quality degrees are taking more than four years to finish,” Fitzpatrick said. “Those extra years are lost money.”

Bowe said the c ollege has already received positive feedback on the new promise.

“o ther colleges referred to this new program as a contract,” Bowe said. “ we wanted to call it a promise and we have received very positive feedback about this new promise. i gave a presentation in grand r apids a couple of weeks ago and the parents of incoming freshman were more than excited to hear about this guarantee.”

Contact Kaitlyn Rabach at krabac01@saintmarys.edu

the same responsibilities that every student faces, you have ro T c duties and activities.”

Jenkins’ invocation emphasized the service aspect within the ro T c program. “ i know you do this out of a great sense of commitment that resonates to your service in various branches of the military,” he said. c adets a bigail n ichols and e dward s pinelli were awarded the prestigious a rmy o fficer’s s aber. s pinelli was also honored with the h endry m emorial

“I know you do this out of a great sense of commitment that resonates to your service in various branches of the military.”

Fr. John Jenkins University President

a ward and the p atrick d ixon a ward, an honor he shared with a rmy c adet m ichael d ompierre.

o ther leadership awards given to ro T c members included the d r. m ichael m cKee a ward, earned by c adet s abina Fischer and the e dward e asbys mith a ward, awarded to m idshipman Katherine g riffin. c adet Benjamin c offey received the c aptain p aul r oberge m emorial a ward, which acknowledges the specific accomplishments of a pilot candidate. n aval ro T c m idshipmen m ichael m c c ormick, Blake w eller, Kevin h ickey, m adeleine a nderson, d evon g raham and e lizabeth s chroff and c adets e ric w ilde and p atrick Bowlds were honored with decorations recognizing their integrity, diligence and service.

i n memory of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of g ettysburg, Jenkins commended the actions of Fr. c orby, a h oly c ross priest who accompanied the u nion a rmy and whose statue stands outside of n otre d ame’s c orby h all.

“Fr. c orby stood on a rock and gave absolution to the troops, not simply for the u nion soldiers, nor only for the c atholic soldiers, but for all soldiers,” he said. “[ h e] embodied this message of serving a just peace. i challenge all of you as participants of the ro T c program to pursue this cause of a just peace as well.”

Contact Charlie Ducey at cducey@nd.edu

Arabic Club celebrates Middle Eastern culture

By CAROLINA WILSON n ews w riter

The a rabic c lub hosted its sixth annual a rabic c ulture n ight last Friday, celebrating the culture with the theme “ e ast meets west.”

c lub president m aria r odriguez said the event was multi-leveled.

“[The a rabic c ulture n ight] involved collaboration between the c enter for the s tudy of l anguages and c ultures, the a rabic [program in the c lassics department] and the a rabic c lub,” r odriguez said. “a lot of hard work was put into it, seen in the hours of rehearsals of over 40 students and teachers as they wrote, choreographed and directed the various acts in the program.”

Awards

your plans. i think those diversions are sometimes the most fruitful things you encounter,” conron said. “They force you to take something and run with it, and you never know where you are going to end up.”

michael mercurio is the recipient of this year’s rev. leonard a collins award, which honors a graduating senior who has made substantial efforts to advance the interest of students. he said students should work to join passion with purpose.

“a lot of the club work i’ve done while at notre dame has stemmed from seeing a need. often, i didn’t even plan on becoming involved, but i felt very at home in the communities these clubs created,” mercurio said. “if you want to start a club or a new initiative, be passionate about it and don’t worry about the hoops you might have to jump through, because people want to see you succeed.”

mercurio is involved with the classics club and is a resident assistant in morrissey manor. he said he considers leadership the natural outcome of personal passion and communal support.

“i’ve been so lucky to be surrounded by good people. my rector has always been a great model of leadership and all those involved in the other organizations have made it easy to serve,” mercurio said. “i have a hard time calling myself a leader. i just want to be there for people.”

in addition to conron and mercurio, the office of student affairs recognized student leaders writing for campus publications, working to create a more inclusive campus, demonstrating a passion for athletics and advancing the catholic character of the university.

seniors megan doyle [Editor’s note: Doyle is a senior news writer for The Observer.], clara ritger, adam Zebrowski and James white and law student michael gillman were all honored for their leadership at notre dame.

Contact Aubrey Butts at abutts@nd.edu

r odriguez, a senior, said this year’s celebration was unique in its installment of a theme intended to demonstrate the dynamics of e astern and western relationships.

“ w ith all the commotion occurring in the m iddle e ast, our show tried to showcase the similarities between a merican and m iddle e astern culture and emphasized how we all enjoy similar things,” r odriguez said.

a rabic professor g hada Bualuan, the club’s adviser, said the unifying goal of the celebration is echoed in the mission of the club as a whole.

“o ne of the club’s goals is to celebrate a rabic culture, and cultural expressions are among the most wonderful

and precious treasures of mankind,” Bualuan said. “The more we celebrate other cultures, the more dimension and depth we add to our own and the more we appreciate beauty and love and we understand pain and suffering. a lso, the club strives to bring n otre d ame students closer to the s outh Bend a rab community.”

Junior n ancy Joyce, vice president of the a rabic c lub and student body vice president, said her involvement in the club has enhanced her experience as an a rabic major.

“ it has made my classroom experience so much more enriching because i have been able to take new cultural knowledge from the club’s activities back to the classroom,” Joyce said.

“c ombining language and cultural learning both inside and outside of the classroom has made my experience as an a rabic major at n otre d ame a very positive one.”

i n addition to impacting the students on campus, Bualuan said club members are involved in several civic engagement opportunities in the surrounding s outh Bend a rab community.

“[ c lub volunteers] try to help … these a rabicspeaking refugees, who are less fortunate and underrepresented and very often struggle to lead a dignified life here,” Bualuan said. “The war refugees in s outh Bend are facing now a battle of a different form ⎯ assimilating into mainstream a merica.

“The challenges range

from unemployment to language barriers to prejudice and to serious psychological wounds resulting from war and diaspora.”

r odriguez said the a rabic c lub aims to impact the campus and community arenas by advocating a true understanding of a rabic culture.

“There are many stereotypes in regards to the m iddle e ast, and the a rabic c lub hopes to help people eliminate those,” she said. “The club is not only a place where students can help improve their a rabic and understand the culture, but a chance for the larger [ n otre d ame] community to work towards understanding and peace.”

Contact Carolina Wilson at cwilso16@nd.edu

council presents lgBQ week

By MADDIE DALY news writer

membersofthecorecouncilforgay, lesbian,BisexualandQuestioningstudents encouraged the student senate on wednesday to participate in next week’sstandagainsthateweek.

sophomores monica daegele and maggie waickman, core council members, said the senate can help call attention to the week’s activities, which include a movie watch with free food fromchipotle.

“wehavetraditionallydoneastand against hate week for lgBQ students as a week to speak out against discrimination,” waickman said. “we wantedtocomeinviteyoutoourevents

because student government has been suchanintegralpartinestablishingour group.”

waickman said Friday will be designated a day of solidarity in which some students will choose not to speak, standing in solidarity with those who are oppressed because of discrimination.

“if we have a strong showing at events next week it will put us in a good position to start next year off strong,” waickmansaid.

mcglinn hall senator Toni schreier presented a resolution from the department of academic affairs regarding the current collegiate readershipprogram.

“The mission of the program is to

provide national newspapers to studentsonadailybasissotheyarewellinformed, both in college and once they graduate,” schreier said. “if this resolution is passed, we will provide the new yorkTimes,usaTodayand[the]south Bend Tribune, as well as online access tothenewyorkTimes.”

schreier said notre dame implemented a pilot program in 2005 in which these newspapers were provided for free, and students expressed overwhelminginterest.

“eighty-two percent of students agreed that they were willing to pay an extra $10 to the student government in order to have access to these papers,” schreiersaid.“Thisresolutionproposes the creation of a collegiate readership Fund,ratherthanaprogram,inorder to ensure there will always be funds fornewspapersoncampus.

“The fund would protect the interests of student academics, making sure we always have the money to providequalityjournalism.”

after extensive back-and-forth discussion regarding the specific quantity of money and the fixed percentageoffundsinquestion,theresolutionfailedwithan18-13-1vote.

The senate nominated and approved freshman ricardo suarez and junior danny colston for roles as First undergraduate experience in leadership (Fuel) director and director of internal affairs, respectively.

Contact Maddie Daly at mdaly6@nd.edu

“ h ow do we integrate these things in a meaningful way that doesn’t demote the quality of the student experience, that enhances the bond between students and faculty?”

The need for this position comes as the u niversity explores the role of digital tools in higher education, university provost Thomas Burish said in the press release.

“o nline learning and the digital academic environment in higher education have been growing and developing rapidly over the past decade, and the potential advantages and pitfalls for the higher education industry and institutions like n otre d ame are both enormous and complex,” Burish said.

v isconsi said he envisions a digital strategy that “will expand the campus a little bit and give people newer options that are non-competitive with the options on campus,” he said.

v isconsi said his goals for the coming academic year include promoting and facilitating student engagement with digital media and technology, assisting with the increased use of digital tools by faculty and expanding n otre d ame’s involvement with digital solutions, particularly through expanded online course offerings.

“a t the end of the day, what we’re trying to do with this job is really build an integrated university-wide strategy that is always going to put quality at the very forefront,” he said. “ we must protect the quality of the student experience, we must protect the quality of the faculty experience and use these tools as enhancements to get people further into the curriculum.”

s tudents who create digital solutions to existing problems might benefit from the new digital initiatives through increased u niversity support, v isconsi said. i ncentives for innovation may include grants, prizes or general recognition, he said.

“There’s so much we can do to harness the creativity and energies of students,” he said.

v isconsi said he also hopes to see cutting-edge technologies find a physical home at n otre d ame.

“ i would like to put student creativity and energy to work potentially in the form of something you’d call an innovation lab, meaning a hub or a space where students can come at all hours,

where there are certain kinds of hardware [like] 3- d printers and fancy technology that would be a gathering space,” he said.

The space could also support visitors from corporations like m icrosoft and sponsor events discussing digital solutions, v isconsi said. i n addition, he said hopes to foster connections among students in a variety of fields sharing a common interest in digital strategies.

v isconsi’s resume and academic research focus primarily on literature and law during the 17th and 18th centuries. h e developed an i p ad

“Online learning and the digital academic environment in higher education have been growing and developing rapidly over the past decade, and the potential advantages and pitfalls for the higher education industry and institutions like Notre Dame are both enormous and complex.”

Thomas Burish University provost

app called “The Tempest for i p ad” to give users an immersive experience into the s hakespeare play, an experience he said offered him more insight into digital media.

“ w hat is literary studies but a subset of the analysis of mediation? we can think in really historical, philosophical or ethical ways about the relationship between form and content,” he said.

u ltimately, v isconsi said he hopes new digital strategies will complement n otre d ame’s pre-existing academic ideals.

“The most importantly social network that we will ever build is the network between faculty and students, the personal connection,” he said. “That is the core of what we’re trying to offer as a university. These digital tools are not meant to replace that effort but to enhance it.”

Contact Lesley Stevenson at lsteven1@nd.edu

fields.

“ i see myself heading along an academic, scholarly path, but one that informs policy and engagement in international affairs,” she said. “ i have a lot of strong interdisciplinary interests i haven’t been able to engage in a classroom format at n otre d ame … and i think o xford will help with that.”

o xford awards c larendon s cholarships to 100 students each year, with 25 awardees coming from each of the

“I have a lot of strong interdisciplinary interests I haven’t been able to engage in a classroom format

at

Notre Dame ... and I think Oxford will help with that.”

Catherine Reidy senior

u niversity’s four academic divisions — humanities, medical sciences, mathematical, physical and life sciences and social sciences. The scholarship, which pulls candidates from the general pool of accepted students, covers full u niversity tuition, additional college costs and a living expense stipend.

r eidy’s interest in policy prompted her to apply to o xford’s m asters program in comparative social policy as well. s he was accepted to both programs but offered a scholarship for a frican s tudies.

r eidy, who was also a r hodes s cholar finalist, said she hopes to defer the comparative social policy program for one year and then pursue that m asters degree after she completes her first.

“ u ltimately, i ’m seeking to apply what i learn in the classroom to some form of active engagement or policy concerns,” she said. “ s o i see these two departments as very complementary.”

r eidy’s involvement with the Kellogg i nstitute sparked her interest in international affairs and policy, she said. a s a research assistant for c atherine Bolten, assistant professor of anthropology, r eidy traveled to s ierra l eone to conduct independent research during the summers of 2011 and 2012.

r eidy said in the west a frican nation, she worked with university students to explore their hopes and fears for the future as a potential peace-building mechanism.

Their hope was their desire to engage in development might lead to a more stable society, r eidy said. u nfortunately, their dreams for a peaceful future are not always enough, she said.

“ w hile this is nice in theory, … how are they actually going to make that happen?”

r eidy said. “They need policy. h ow can we develop the mechanisms or outlets by which students can actually realize their dreams?”

i n addition to her ground work in s ierra l eone, r eidy works as a student coordinator for Kellogg’s a frica working g roup, a forum for scholars to discuss research on a frica. Through this, she has worked with professors from all disciplines with ties to a frica — including sociology, political science and anthropology.

“ i t is very interdisciplinary, i mean, i ’m a psychology major,” r eidy said. “ h ow do you apply all these things to debates about a frica? i ’ve never been able to incorporate those into the classroom setting, and i ’m hoping o xford will allow me to do that.”

a lthough r eidy said she always planned to pursue a p h. d., she is now entertaining the idea of spending time in the field prior to that.

“That could take the form of consulting for international organizations or doing more engaging in think tanks and doing research in that capacity,” she said. “a s i continue to develop my particular interests, it could lead into a future doctoral discipline. i t’s a little unclear right now, but that’s kind of exciting.”

Contact Mel Flanagan at mflanag3@nd.edu

obama, gop senators meet

Associated Press

washing T on — p resident Barack o bama hosted r epublican senators at the w hite house wednesday evening, with dinner conversation including the deficit, gun control and immigration.

a w hite house official characterized their discussion over steak and sautéed vegetables as constructive and wide ranging, including all three of the pressing issues at the top of the president’s agenda. Their dinner came on the same day that o bama unveiled a $3.8 trillion budget proposal and on the eve of a debate over gun legislation on the s enate floor.

g eorgia s en. Johnny i sakson compiled the invitations to the w hite house’s o ld Family d ining r oom, at o bama’s request. a mong those on the list were s ens. l amar a lexander of Tennessee, a rkansas’ John Boozman, m aine’s s usan c ollins, idaho’s m ike c rapo, w yoming’s m ichael e nzi, n ebraska’s d eb Fischer, utah’s o rrin h atch, Kansas’ p at r oberts, Florida’s m arco r ubio, s outh d akota’s John Thune and m ississippi’s r oger w icker.

h atch spokeswoman

a ntonia Ferrier said the discussion included tax reform and entitlements. s ome lawmakers from the president’s party are angered that o bama has proposed cuts to m edicare and s ocial s ecurity in an attempt to compromise with r epublicans. Ferrier said h atch wanted to leave the details of their discussion

private.

o bama had a similar dinner last month with other r epublican senators at a hotel near the w hite h ouse. The w hite h ouse official, who spoke on a condition of anonymity about the private discussion, said the president hoped to have more bipartisan conversations in the coming weeks.

Postal Service commits to six-day delivery

Despite financial problems, United States Postal Service rescinds proposal to end Saturday mail delivery

Associated Press

washing T on — The financially beleaguered postal s ervice backpedaled on its plan to end s aturday mail delivery, conceding wednesday that its gamble to compel congressional approval had failed.

w ith limited options for saving money, the governing board said the agency should reopen negotiations with unions to lower labor costs and consider raising mail prices.

yet the board also said it’s not possible for the postal s ervice to meet its goals for reduced spending without altering the delivery schedule. d elaying “responsible

changes,” the board said, only makes it more likely that the postal s ervice “may become a burden” to taxpayers.

c ongressional reaction was mixed, mirroring differences that have stalled a needed postal overhaul for some time. s ome lawmakers had urged the agency to forge ahead with its plan, while others had said it lacked the legal authority to do so.

The postal s ervice said in February that it planned to switch to five-day-a-week deliveries beginning in a ugust for everything except packages as a way to hold down losses.

That announcement was risky. The agency was asking c ongress to drop from

spending legislation the longtime ban on five-day-only delivery.

c ongress did not do that when it passed a spending measure last month.

“By including restrictive language ... c ongress has prohibited implementation of a new national delivery schedule for mail and package,” according to the board.

d isappointed but not wanting to disregard the law, the board directed the postal s ervice to delay putting in place the new delivery schedule until c ongress passes legislation that gives the agency “the authority to implement a financially appropriate and responsible delivery schedule.”

paid a dverT isemen T

The board made the decision in a closed meeting Tuesday.

“This is good news for rural communities, businesses, seniors, veterans and others who depend on consistent and timely delivery of the mail,” said s en. Bernie s anders, i-vt.

But gop rep. d arrell i ssa of c alifornia, chairman of the house o versight and g overnment reform c ommittee, bemoaned the decision to back away from a “delivery schedule that polling indicates the a merican people understand and support.”

postal officials said that to restore the service to longterm financial stability, the agency must have the flexibility to reduce costs and come up with new revenues.

“it is not possible for the postal s ervice to meet significant cost reduction goals without changing its delivery schedule — any rational analysis of our current financial condition and business options leads to this conclusion,” the board statement said. a n independent agency, the service gets no tax dollars for its day-to-day operations but is subject to congressional control. it lost nearly $16 billion last year — $11.1 billion of that due to a 2006 law c ongress passed forcing it to pay into future retiree health benefits, something no other agency does.

“g iven these extreme circumstances and the worsening financial condition of the postal s ervice, the board has directed management to seek a reopening of negotiations with the postal unions and consultations with management associations to lower total workforce costs, and to take administrative actions necessary to reduce costs,” according to the statement. it offered no giving further details.

it said the board also asked management to look at further options to raise revenues, including a rate increase.

Fredric rolando, president of the national a ssociation of l etter carriers, called the idea of renegotiating labor contracts “insulting and unnecessary,” saying that suggestion “is yet another sign that the postal service needs new executive leadership.” he said saturday delivery is critical to the postal service’s future.

“l osing this competitive advantage would not only reduce mail volume and revenue - sending the usps on a death spiral - but also would disproportionately affect small businesses, the elderly, rural communities, the one-half of the public that pays bills by mail and the many millions who lack access to reliable internet service. a nd it would cost tens of thousands of jobs,” rolando said in a statement.

The postal service already is executing a major restructuring throughout its retail, delivery and mail processing operations. since 2006, it has reduced annual costs by approximately $15 billion, cut its workforce by 193,000 or 28 percent, and consolidated more than 200 mail processing locations.

The idea to cut s aturday mail but keep six-day package delivery — a plan postmaster g eneral patrick d onahoe estimated could save $2 billion — played up the agency’s strong point.

its package service is growing as more people buy things online, while the volume of letters sent has slumped with increased use of email and other internet services.

iNsidE COlUmN

sampling ‘skyFruits’

Steph Wulz graphics e ditor

i’m going to be frank with you. i’m really not much of a blog person. i occasionally dabble in the weekly instagram and pinterest surfing, but rarely have i found a blog that can truly hold my interest. however, over one weekend back at home, i was told about a fellow domer’s blog that soon became one of the most surprisingly entertaining blogs i now participate in frequently. This blog is “skyFruits.”

The blog’s mission statement explains, “‘skyFruits’ points out the mass commercialization of fruit in our society by photographing store bought fruits against the background of nature. w hile the beauty and contrast of colors initially shocks the viewer, he or she is gradually awakened to the fact there is really nothing special about the photograph. rather, since we are so used to seeing fruit sorted out on a fruit stand or in our supermarkets, we forget in its most natural form, fruit lives among the sky and the trees. The project does not merely elucidate where the fruit came from, but rather bites taken out of the fruit — or the banana being peeled — emphasize our own human mark on the fruit itself and our harmony to learn and grow with it. Kat wilson began the project in the summer of 2012, and since then has been joined by friends, family and fellow fruit enthusiasts in the skyFruits mission.”

Being a design student here at notre dame, i can truly value those who show an appreciation for detail. “skyFruits” contributors understand how to arrange a visually stimulating photograph that adds to the overall success of the blog. w hether it is the profound use of the rule of thirds or an excellent selection of the ever-sopopular X-pro ii filter, it becomes evident that with every photo comes a great deal of thought. i asked Kat to share some insight into her increasingly popular blog and this is what she had to say about it:

“For some, ‘skyFruits’ combats the propaganda of the seedless bourgeoisie. For others, it’s a glimmer of truth in our vegetable-focused society. For me, it’s a way to give mealy apples and bruised bananas a second chance at life beyond their fruit salad fates. w hatever reason you’re in it for, ‘skyFruits’ brings people from across the world together and will be a crucial step in creating a collective and sustainable society for all. with fruit and iphones in hand, we will forge onward into the sky and beyond.”

so the next time you get away with smuggling multiple pieces of fruit out of the dining hall, find some good lighting, take a bite of your fruit and snap a photo. don’t forget to get it trending with #skyfruits. if your “skyFruits” picture is artsy enough, “instaskyfruits” may even repost your photo. either way, check out the blog at skyfruits.tumblr.com

Contact Steph Wulz at swulz@nd.edu

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

Lessons learned on the social scene

Bianca Almada The i n-Between Time

one cannot provide an accurate, allencompassing depiction of college life without discussing its unique and exciting social scene. in contrast to normal, real world neighborhoods comprised of people of drastically different ages and interests that more or less keep to themselves, college students are surrounded by thousands of people of similar age, living situations and life stages. They live in dorms in which their best friends and worst enemies are constantly down the hall or only a short walk away. They are regularly bombarded with news of so many different social events — dances, dinners, parties, mixers and activity nights — that it is often difficult to keep them all organized.

The college social experience is surreal, and it is one that cannot be found or experienced in any other place at any other time. it is the in-between — a floating, fun and exciting place between the restrictions of living under the rule of parents and the restrictions of responsibility in the real world. college is the only place where it is socially acceptable to dress up in wild, ridiculously themed outfits to hop between parties on Friday and saturday nights. it is normal to be around the same set of people constantly, bonding and laughing over spontaneous adventures and

interesting weekend escapades. college is also the only place where it is socially acceptable to stay in pajamas all day and night on a saturday, studying and maybe curling up with a good book to relax after the pressures of a long week. it is normal to join friends at midnight to grab a bite to eat and discuss classes or to watch movies and exchange gossip.

a great percentage of student knowledge is, and should be, acquired outside of the college classroom. Though the importance of socializing is definitely less than the importance of academic and professional endeavors, the college social scene can arguably provide equally important lessons and preparedness for the real world. it is a great stage for networking among people of similar interests and goals as well as an ideal location for developing friendships and relationships. it is important for becoming familiarized with different types of people and for learning from them and their opinions. it is also a place for letting loose, relaxing and participating in fun, “that’s so college” experiences that will forever remain fond memories. it is the place to make a few mistakes, partake in some shenanigans and then to learn from those mistakes and become more sure of self and personal values.

college is the place to create lifelong friendships based on cherished bonds and shared experiences. To miss out on

the social scene is to miss out on one of the greatest and most rewarding parts of the college experience. it could mean missing out on making the friends that will someday be in your wedding or missing out on pursuing a truly satisfying relationship.

Though it may not be the most important part of college, social interaction is arguably the most memorable aspect of one’s college years. it is the time to create lively experiences that can one day be shared with children and grandchildren. it is the epic storming of a football field in the rain, the funny story of a dorm party occurrence and the all-nighter with the group of equally stressed friends that will serve as the fondest memories and the best stories of the in-between time. it will never again be possible to live within a five-mile radius of everyone and everything. There will never again be an as accepting, forgiving place to make mistakes and learn from them. There will never again be a fun-filled, dynamic environment of people in the prime of life. This is the in-between, and it is fantastic. do not let it pass you by.

Bianca Almada is a freshman residing in Cavanaugh Hall. She is studying English, Spanish and journalism. She can be contacted at balmada@nd.edu

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

clarifying the gay marriage debate

Shane O’Connor guest c olumnist

s everal recent columns on the issue of gay marriage and traditional marriage have caused me to wonder if the two camps are even entering in the same debate.

m ark g ianfalla aruges in his column (“True matrimonial equality,” a pr. 10) that if gay marriage is recognized, there will be a fundamental shift in the understanding of the procreative aspect of sexuality within a marriage. h e then asks the question: “ i f this aspect of sexual intercourse is removed … why is [sic] prostitution and bestiality both illegal and immoral?”

l et’s break this question down. i s prostitution immoral? yes. s hould it be illegal, in the sense prostitutes face jail time or financial penalities for their actions? m y guess is there are more compassionate ways to deal with people driven to such desperation. e quating bestiality and homosexuality, however, is foolish. c onsensual homosexual relationships do not create a victim. m oreover, the right to homosexual sex is not up for a legal debate.

m r. g ianfalla’s errors continue with his question, “ w hy should a merica change to accommodate the minority with dissenting opinions?” First, democracy exists to

protect the rights of the minority. s econdly, supporters of samesex marriage are no longer the minority.

c arter Boyd’s column (“ s omewhere over the rainbow,” a pr. 10) shows similar fallacies. h e says people cannot argue “ g od made this person that way” to justify non-heterosexual orientation because we do not do the same for “alcoholics, murderers, rapists, adulterers, robbers, swindlers, lairs, cheaters or terrorists.” e ven if you believe homosexual orientation is something a person struggles with, something that deserves your prayers and support, the distinction between homosexuality and m r. Boyd’s list is obvious. a lcoholism is a sickness we must treat before it kills the alcoholic or someone else. The rest of the list consists of people who have violated someone else’s rights.

s o what, if anything, did these columnists get right? They are both within their rights to believe, as m r. g ianfalla concludes, “marriage is marriage.” you can believe marriage is a religious institution, that it is a sacrament and a promise not only to a spouse but to g od. The gay marriage debate, however, does not presume to change this any more than the government already has. c ivic marriage has adopted the term and changed the meaning, so that now, sinners and

atheists may have a union commonly referred to as “marriage.” The religious aspect of marriage has become an optional add-on to the legal proceedings. This may be a cultural change worth decrying, but extending what has become merely a legal contract to some, a legal contract and institution of loving commitment to many others, has what ramifications for the rights of anyone else?

p eople pray for others to end many different sinful habits. m r. Boyd is right to want to show compassion to all people in this world, regardless of their sins. i f he thinks homosexuality is a sin, he is obligated to pray for those who practice it as he is to pray for adulterers and polygamists. yet, gay marriage still does not pose a threat to any of his rights. h owever, for people who embrace homosexuality, prohibition of gay marriage may pose a threat to theirs. The traditional marriage advocates are correct to want to preserve their tradition of marriage as a sacrament. But is there some way in which civically recognized gay marriage takes that away?

Shane O’Connor is a sophomore residing in Dillon Hall. He can be contacted at soconno7@nd.edu

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

The beauty of multiculturalism

i would like to begin by revealing myself as the actress who performed the role of “ethnic goddess,” an anonymous submission from a fellow notre dame peer, in this year’s “show some skin: it’s complicated.” The past few months were dedicated to discussing the content matter of each monologue, engaging in various exercises to extort fresh perspectives on the pieces and committing four-to-five hours to daily practices. in short, we treated these anonymous stories with the utmost respect.

“show some skin” brought together students from all corners of the university. diverse opinions on race, sexuality, body image and mental disorders were shared, and by pouring over each punctuation mark and line, the actors discussed their own personal stories and resignations along with the anonymous ones we were to perform. The amount of time spent in these discussions and the vulnerability of revealing personal information to each other united us into a family, a family that respected each other’s opinions and feelings on issues that are normally suppressed in the notre dame community.

“show some skin” accomplished its goal of fostering dialogue and encouraging students to evaluate their own stances on these issues. it called on the notre dame family to be sensitive, understanding, caring and loving to all of its members, because we all experience complicated issues that, in turn, make us complex individuals. here at notre dame, diversity and multiculturalism officially belong to multicultural student programs and services. granted, this office is necessary for locating resources and support, but race and culture are intrinsic

lETTERs TO THE EdiTOR

to the human identity and should be embodied in every institution on campus. we have people from all walks of life in the notre dame community. we need to stimulate dialogue in order to fully appreciate each person’s uniqueness.

a ll of notre dame can be segmented into a variety of communities — ethnic, religious, homosexual, international, athletic, dormitory, quad etc. we might not all be star athletes, but you’ll catch a number of students at a football or basketball game. maybe you live in stanford hall but you’re participating in howard hall’s Totter for water. maybe you’re a heterosexual catholic but you signed a petition to the university for a gay-straight alliance. maybe you’re an a frican a merican and performing in asian a llure, or learning foreign languages and studying abroad. if more members of the notre dame community attended functions like asian a llure, the Black cultural a rts council Fashion show and latin expressions, maybe there would be greater appreciation for that cultural part of our peers’ identities. our identities converge with one another’s, and so it is important to not only be exposed to, but to discuss and reflect on, multicultural experiences.

race-based groups allow ethnic minorities to bond with peers who may be struggling with some of the same cultural issues as them. it provides a closer community with which you can be as involved or removed as you want to be. each group hosts a series of events — often reflective of their respective cultures — to create awareness, celebrate their uniqueness and invite others to appreciate and share in part of their identity. part of their identity. it is not all that they are, and it provides a space to break from stereotypes, since there are many at notre dame.

my monologue, “ethnic goddess,” attempted to express a puerto rican student’s struggle with feeling unique and appreciated as an ethnic minority. her allusion to the white girl stereotype in terms of working out and eating only lettuce was only one example of not fitting into a superficial mold created by the notre dame culture. she also shared her frustration with being referred to as mexican or an illegal immigrant when people discover she is hispanic. These weren’t crude comments to ridicule the caucasian majority — they were simply her opinions on how undervalued she felt as a puerto rican woman at notre dame. The point is many students — white or not — are experiencing confidence issues, identity crises and discouragement from standing out. The “show some skin” monologue “average nd” also articulated this idea very well.

if you view multiculturalism as a caste system, then perhaps you have not engaged in enough respectful and reflective dialogue on diversity. diversity isn’t an issue because we make it one. it is an issue because there are still many who struggle to accept interruptions to “normative” constructs. By assimilating to the norm, we distance ourselves from the very essence of our identities. race sculpts part of you from the day you are born because it is a characteristic that makes you a shade different from the rest. if you aren’t afraid to show some skin, then maybe you’ll be able to see how beautiful that is to your identity too.

Amanda Peña is a sophomore sustainable development studies major with a poverty studies minor. She can be contacted at apena4@nd.edu

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

staring down homophobia

please gather around, everyone. Today’s lesson concerns carter Boyd’s article “somewhere over the rainbow” published in wednesday’s observer.

let me provide several quotes from mr. Boyd’s article: “as a society, we don’t use the ‘god made this person that way’ argument to justify the behaviors of alcoholics, murderers, rapists, adulterers, robbers, swindlers, liars, cheaters or terrorists. w hy do people use this argument for homosexuals.” “These crazes and fetishes of homosexuality have only developed in lavish, wasteful societies … ” “Jesus loved some of the wickedest people in his time … we must find a way to enter the hearts of those in our communities who struggle with homosexuality … heal them and change their hearts and lives.”

This is homophobia. right here. can

everyone see clearly? step forward and take a good look. notice the false equivalencies at work (between homosexuals and terrorists, no less), stemming from an outdated and scientifically-refuted understanding of human sexual orientation and compounded by an inexcusable misreading of one of the most thoroughly studied books in existence today. notice the pseudoscientific, pseudo-historical analyses of the nature and extent of homosexuality in society, as well as the en passant dismissal of homosexuality as a “craze” and a “mania.” notice especially the total lack of empathy (not compassion, mr. Boyd, empathy) with any member of this community who identifies himself or herself as a homosexual, as well as the almost-willful disregard for the social and cultural stigmas which might perhaps have led to the rise of this “latest

social justice fad” — or as it’s sometimes known, the lgBT rights movement. and above all, notice the laughably inaccurate and thoroughly discredited idea that a person can somehow determine his or her own sexual orientation is not just an unintended byproduct, as is often the case with this type of argument, but rather the foundation upon which rests the entire article.

i also draw your attention to the fact that although some of the points made by mr. Boyd might possibly be worthy of inclusion in a mature and well-informed debate, their salience, and indeed their validity, are thrown into jeopardy by the prejudiced and generally uninformed nature of the article as a whole. For check of proof, i refer you to the article directly across from mr. Boyd’s, “True matrimonial equality” by mark gianfalla, that manages to address the

timely issue of gay marriage, and in fact argue against it, without finding it necessary to include a quote about the gay movement as a “destructive attack on god’s plan.” This is homophobia. don’t shy away. don’t be afraid to look it in the eye, and, most importantly, don’t be afraid to call it what it is. do note that it is not the person himself who is the problem (i am not accusing mr. Boyd himself of being homophobic. i am sure he is not) but rather the arguments such as these, which create an unhealthy and at times actively-hostile environment for the lgBT community on this campus. any questions?

Raymond Herrly senior Fisher hall

Spread the love. Spread the equality.

we cannot all write v iewpoints about why we support marriage equality, and we take this opportunity for argument in numbers. The importance of these signatures lies in their collective power to perpetuate love and create solidarity for those on our campus who need our love and who have felt marginalized by yesterday’s v iewpoints. we should not have to defend and fight for equality of love, and we are proud to stand on what we feel is the right side of history. spread the love. spread the equality.

Editor’s note: The list of 415 names included with this letter can be found in its entirety at http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/viewpoint/spread-the-love-spread-the-equality-1.3025210#.UWYqgoWBSis

here ye, here ye. i come to proclaim the gospel according to fun.

oh, ye folk doth not know of what i am speaking? hath your ears not bled from the overplaying of the little ditty “we are young?”

doth that freshen your memory?

a h, i knew ye hath heard such a tune as you rode your chevy impala across the wilderness that is downtown south Bend.

yet, have no fear, for i bring the good news — the minstrels of the band fun. are more than they appear. They possess substance and spark, a talent to be lauded. They exist within a new age of hip hop and pop, in which i no longer need speak as if i am of ages long past.

w hy then, you ask, is my syntax so shakespearean? Because, damsels and knights, we have on our hands a switcheroo not too unlike the unexpected plot twist at the climax of a shakespearean tragedy!

The Case at Hand

The band fun. probably came onto your radar screen with their sensation, “we are young,” and later with “carry on” and “some nights.” The hit singles all came off of their new album, “some nights.” as a true and blue fan of fun. i am here to alert you that indeed, before these songs, the band was already fairly successful and had already produced a gem with their first album.

a lthough both albums are phenomenal in their own right, there is a large discrepancy: these two albums are absolutely nothing alike. perhaps they’re a little similar, but the difference is nonetheless startling. it’s like listening to Taylor swift’s “love story” and thinking, “oh what a nice little country singer.” Then the next moment you’re having your mind blown with “i Knew you were Trouble” and exclaiming in your perplexed state, “Taylor swift? dub-step?”

That, my dear friends, is how i felt when comparing “The gambler” from fun.’s first album and “it gets Better” from their second album — the difference was that unsettling. let me try to explain to you how listening to these two albums left me feeling confused and yet, somehow, content.

“Aim and ignite”

Fun.’s first album, released in 2009, definitely gets high marks for heart and wit, demanding acknowledgement from critics. w hat made this album stand out was fun.’s willingness to take risks with many different genres, instruments, and styles.

For example, “Be calm” manages to be both whimsical and dark, much like the movie “The nightmare Before christmas.” The song starts off with a whining

accordion before the breathy vocals break through and steal the spotlight. violins and flutes seamlessly mix with guitar and symbols. lead singer nate russ appears unafraid to use his voice like a synthesizer, allowing both his strengths and weaknesses to convey varying emotion.

“a ll The pretty girls” inspires a very different feeling, forcing me to stop writing for a moment and dance around the basement of Farley hall. a lthough i sometimes receive weird looks during these dance breaks, if you listen to this song you will understand why such an action is warranted. “a ll the pretty girls” is very reminiscent of the Beach Boys’ in that you cannot listen to it without imagining the warm summer sun, rolling waves, and sand between your toes.

“Benson hedges” begins with a triumphant chorus singing the holy ghost, not too unlike a showy gospel choir. somehow, the choral ode flows naturally into upbeat rock anthem with lyrics depicting a spiritual struggle.

however, the entire album isn’t perfect. For example, “i wanna Be the one” is a little too much like running through a field of daises, but for no apparent reason. Joyful trumpets and the like gleam throughout, but the lyrics are uninspiring. i always hit next when it comes on.

overall, the sound of their first album is risky and riveting. however, at the times, their sound can feel somewhat muted. The strength of this album is truly the stand out pieces that defy genre. Though i enjoy them, i can understand why some may find the other songs on the album lacking, since they don’t include the typical catchy hook expected of number one hits.

“some Nights”

part of what makes “some nights” so different from the first album is the prevalent hip-hop elements. w here “a im and ignite” dabbled in piano and accordion solos, “some nights,” released last year, utilizes electronic beats and synthesizers.

The songs for which the album is titled, “some nights” and “some nights intro,” exemplify the album as a whole. “some nights intro” has a lot of similarities to Queen, with ghoulish whoops and eerie sounds — more akin to a musical theater tune than a typical pop song. “some nights,” on the other hand, takes on a tribal feel — with a hint of folk rock. Quite adventurous, indeed. “a ll a lone” perfectly displays the band’s shift from the first album. screeching records and heavy beats, as well as assistance from drum machine, create a decidedly different experience. yet, this song in particularly is pretty successful.

not all of their ventures into hip-hop inspired songs are effective, though. i find myself wondering exactly what is going on in “it gets Better.” w here fun. once had been the epitome of exciting melodies and impressive vocals in their “a im and ignite” album, “it gets Better” is

anything but better. “it gets Better” meshes odd distorted whiney vocals with a cheesy synthesizer. a lso, “stars” is a little all over the place. i honestly have never made it more than a minute or so into the song without becoming annoyed and hastily switching to something else. however, the album has high points with hidden gems like the marching tempo and soulful lyrics of “out on the Town,” the tasteful lamenting in “w hy a m i the one?” and a subtle return to piano throughout the thoughtful tune “a ll a lright.”

Fun.ny, i Hardly Knew you

Just as i was beginning to fall in love with the calm quirky sound of fun. as displayed in “a im and ignite,” suddenly, my beloved band underwent a metamorphosis with the effervescent, high energy beats in “some nights.” Though at first i felt overwhelmed by the pangs of lost love, i was eventually was wooed by the new vigor in their second album.

perhaps the change isn’t so tragic after all. a lthough i still enjoy their first album, i’ve grown to love their second one as well. i recommend you make a playlist of both albums and listen to them on repeat for at least a day.

okay, yes, i admit at first i was skeptical about their second album and their new sound.

“ye of little faith,” right?

But with more time spent with both of fun.’s albums, i do have faith that they will continue to impress and surprise me in the years to come. Contact Gabriela Leskur at

“Aim and Ignite” fun.

Label: Nettwerk

Tracks: “The Gambler,” “Be Calm”

If you like: Of Monsters and Men, Death Cab for Cutie

“Some Nights” fun.

Label: Fueled by Ramen

Tracks: “Out on the Town,” “Some Nights” If you like: Queen, Vampire Weekend

WeekenD e venTS CALenDAR

THURSDAY

What: The Joy Formidable When: 10 p.m.

Where: legends

How much: Free

The welsh indie rock band will be gracing the legends stage this Thursday. The group released its second album, “wolf’s law,” this January and have been around the world touring since. meanwhile, their latest single, “This ladder is ours,” made it to 24 on the a lternative charts. look out for the band’s front woman, ritzy Bryan, a talented guitarist and surprisingly powerful singer, and the rest of the group this Thursday.

FRIDAY

What: The PEmCo. Revue When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: laFortune Ballroom

How much: $3

The pasquerilla east musical company is back. a fter impressive performances like “how To succeed in Business without really Trying,” the players are back to bring you favorite performances from “Footloose,” “godspell,” “west side story” and more. This show is a must-see, so if you can’t make it to Friday’s show, you can catch pemco. on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. or saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at the laFortune Box office.

SATURDAY SUNDAY

What: “On The Road”

When: 5 p.m.

Where: Browning Cinema, dPAC

How much: $4

This 2012 adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s famous novel “on The road” stars sam riley, Kristen stewart and a my adams. The film is directed by acclaimed filmmaker walter salles, known for directing “The motorcycle diaries.” The film, like the 1957 novel, follows sal paradise, a young writer, and his new, troubled travel companion, dean moriarty. as the two embark on a journey together, they meet a variety of odd, entertaining characters.

What: Nd National Robotics Week 2013

When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: stepan Center

How much: Free

To celebrate the upcoming national robotics week, the college of engineering is hosting its second annual nd national robotics week event. stop by stepan center to learn more about robotics, interact with robots and talk to students and faculty members developing robots on campus. There will be exhibitions ranging from football-playing robots to robots developed to aid children with autism at this free and unique event.

By CHRISTINE ANSPACH scene writer

let’s be honest, the free “single of the week” downloads on iTunes are not always good tracks. on the up side, the artists are usually not well known, which is cool both because they get some publicity and music aficionados can discover new artists. however, the tracks are not always something i want to have in my iTunes library, even if they are free. every once in a while, though, iTunes posts a good song that i deem worthy of my ipod. one such time was back in 2007, when i downloaded the song “madly” by Tristan prettyman.

i instantly became a fan and i downloaded her 2005 debut album, “twentythree,” and all of her subsequent albums thereafter. in fact, “madly” still makes regular appearances on my most recent playlists. so, being the fan girl that i am, i freaked out a little when i heard Tristan is coming to legends this weekend.

a former amateur surfer from san diego, california, Tristan began playing guitar as a teenager, touring local clubs and bars. she gained national attention when she toured with Jason mraz on his 2004 tour and recorded her first album in 2005. her sophomore album, “hello,”

released in 2008, reached the no. 2 position on iTunes digital albums chart, and she embarked on a two-year worldwide tour.

however, she felt burned out following her quick rise to success and took a break from making music. after a few years of traveling and questioning whether she wanted to continue her musical career, she returned to the studio reinvigorated. she released her third studio album, “cedar + gold,” in october last year.

her songs have a folk rock, singer-songwriter vibe, which place Tristan’s guitar and vocals front and center. she has cited ani diFranco as one of her main influences, which absolutely comes across in her own music. she has a classically expressive folk voice that will make her successful for years to come. her laid-back and playful yet soulful sound is similar to that of missy higgins, rachael yamagata and priscilla ahn.

her most recent album has an earthy, smoldering sound that includes more bass and drums than in previous albums. her lyrics are profound and well written and conjure emotions ranging from spirited and whimsical to poignant and heartbroken.

For lighthearted, upbeat tracks, look to “my oh my,” “Quit you,” “echo” and “madly.” Two of her most popular songs,

“say anything” and “i was gonna marry you,” have a tender yet robust sound with very personal lyrics. many of her songs, especially from her first two albums, are light guitar ballads that sound like they should be played on a warm california summer night, including “simple as it should Be,” “hello,” “Blindfold” and “never say never.”

Tristan also occasionally collaborates with other artists who have a similarly guitar-based, soulful and playful sound. her collaborations sound easy and natural, complimenting her sound rather than grating against it. in 2005, she recorded “shy That way” with Jason mraz, one of the more popular tracks from her first album. her most popular song on iTunes is a collaboration with g love on the song “Beautiful,” an upbeat and catchy song that has the tendency to get stuck in your head — in a good way.

if you haven’t heard Tristan before, you should make listening to her newest album the first thing on your to-do list today. she has a timeless voice, her songs are relatable and easy to listen to. plus, after watching youTube videos of her live performances, i expect her to give a fantastic show at legends this saturday at 10 p.m. of course, the best part is it’s free. i’ll see you there.

Contact Christine Anspach at canspach@nd.edu

Interleague play advances game

if you’ve been too focused on basketball and hockey to notice the start of the major l eague Baseball ( ml B) season, i certainly can’t blame you.

But you might want to take a look at today’s schedule. There’s an interesting afternoon tilt between the new-look Blue Jays and the defending a merican l eague (a .l .) champion Tigers. There’s also a matchup between the orioles, last year’s cinderella, and the surging red sox, as well as an al west showdown between the a’s and a ngels.

one matchup, however, may catch your eye just a little bit more: nationals vs. w hite sox. relax. it’s not a misprint or a make-up of a spring training game.

it’s the new reality of interleague play.

w hile the college sports landscape was changing in waves of realignment, ml B commissioner Bud selig dipped his toe in the waters and sent the houston a stros over to the a merican l eague. This marked the first time since 1998 that a team had switched leagues. given the a stros’ woeful record, that wasn’t much of a big story in and of itself but it did have an important consequence: for the first time, both professional baseball leagues would have an equal number of teams. Thus, the switch meant that interleague play would not be only a three-week gimmick at the start of summer, but a year-round fixture on the baseball landscape.

it was certainly an interesting move by selig. a fter all, the ml B seems to have no imminent expansion plans and divisions had been well established.

But it was also a smart move, in an era where baseball is always trying to keep with the times, to potentially really help the game reach out to its fans. i’ll probably offend some baseball purists here, but i’m not afraid to admit that i’ve always really liked interleague play.

interleague helps foster natural rivalries, as it often pits teams against each other that are geographically close . a s a yankees fan, i’ve always found the “subway series” matchups with the cross-town mets to be some of the most entertaining games on the schedule. i also get a kick out of such rivalries as the “Bay Bridge series” between the a’s and giants, the “crosstown classic” between the cubs and w hite sox and the “Freeway series” between

the dodgers and a ngels. interleague play also gives fans a chance to see teams and players they would otherwise never get to watch. sure, it may create some unappealing matchups like the marlins-Twins series at the end of this month, but it also features some intriguing showdowns like the a ngels-reds series played last week or next month’s Tigers-nationals series. a nd, either way, i’m sure the average Twins fan would be more interested to see marlins slugger giancarlo stanton play at Target Field than watch another inter-divisional game against the royals (who the Twins still play 19 times this season).

a fter looking at the other three professional sports leagues, it’s just natural to wonder why ml B didn’t institute any form of interleague play until 1997. The n Fl , n Ba and nhl have had interleague matchups since their very beginnings, making baseball’s resistance to such matchups seem downright draconian. l ast time i checked, both the a merican l eague and national l eague play nine innings, and players are traded between the leagues every day — why then are the two leagues kept apart from each other?

u ltimately, it comes down to the elephant in the room — the designated hitter. until the two leagues come to an agreement on which nine players should be in the lineup, there will always be an awkwardness surrounding interleague games (though it’s hilarious to see a l pitchers attempt to swing the bat).

at the same time, though, it’s silly for a merica’s two oldest professional sports leagues to simply avoid each other because of a disagreement over one position. That’s why m r. selig — who i still begrudgingly refer to as the guy who settled for a tie in the a ll-star game — deserves applause for helping to ensure the two leagues play on a season-long basis. in essence, that’s why today’s w hite sox-nationals game is being played. a nd it’s why many other untraditional matchups will soon be part of the baseball landscape. w hile these games may require you to pore over some foreign rosters, you can rest assured knowing they’re just another step in the evolution of a sport that’s been developing since 1839.

Contact Brian Hartnett at bhartnet@nd.edu

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

Errors doom Pirates in loss to Diamondbacks

Associated Press

a first-inning throwing error by Jonathan s anchez set the tone for what was going to be a long afternoon for the p ittsburgh p irates.

The left-hander threw wildly to third base, allowing the a rizona d iamondbacks to score the first run in a 10-2 romp wednesday.

still, the p irates took two of three from the d iamondbacks in the series, a nice turnaround after p ittsburgh’s 1-5 start to the season.

“ we win the series, and we move on,” manager c lint hurdle said.

s anchez (0-2) had pitched well in a 3-0 loss to the l os a ngeles d odgers, but after wednesday’s throwing miscue, he had all kinds of problems.

“The overall stuff wasn’t as sharp,” hurdle said. “There wasn’t one pitch that was as sharp here today as it was in l a .”

a .J. pollock homered twice for the d iamondbacks and wade m iley (2-0) gave up two runs on five hits in 6 2-3 innings.

pollock doubled in the first, then tried to steal third, taking off a tad too soon. s anchez saw him and should have easily thrown him out, but the throw sailed past third baseman Josh harrison. That left hurdle to wonder what might have been if the throw had been better.

pollock, who began the day in an 0-for-14 rut, also made a diving catch in center field to rob a ndrew mc c utchen of a hit in the first.

s anchez was charged with nine runs and eight hits in 3 1-3 innings. The last two of those runs came after s anchez left and reliever c hris l eroux walked two batters, on four pitches each, with the bases loaded in the d iamondbacks’ four-run fourth.

pollock, a long shot to make the opening day roster before spring training injuries to

a dam e aton and c ody ross, hit a three-run homer in the second and a leadoff shot in the fourth. he had two home runs in 81 big league at-bats last season and only 14 in three seasons in the minors.

But, manager Kirk gibson said, pollock has some power, especially against left-handers.

“ you get the ball up like that on him and he has the ability to hit it out of the ballpark,” gibson said.

pollock said he has more pop in his bat than people think.

“For me, hitting home runs is not about power,” he said.

“it’s about hitting the ball correctly and your approach at the plate. it’s 340 feet down the line. it’s not like you need to hit it 600 feet to hit it out. it’s more about getting the right pitch and taking the right swing in the right count.”

s anchez tried to shrug off the performance.

“ we have 30 starts out of the year,” he said. “ we’re going to have bad outings and we’re going to have good outings. you’ve just got to focus on the next one.”

martin p rado followed s anchez’s error with a walk, advanced to third on p aul g oldschmidt’s single and scored when m iguel montero

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grounded out. a lfredo marte brought home the inning’s third run with a two-out double.

i n the second, there was more trouble for s anchez. Josh w ilson reached on a walk and g erardo p arra singled before pollock homered into the left-field seats to make it 6-0.

m iley, runner-up in nl rookie of the year voting last season, had his second strong outing in as many tries.

“i was getting ahead of guys early,” he said. “i went to the slider a couple of times. mainly it’s about getting ahead and controlling atbats. They were putting the ball in play, and the defense was making plays.”

m iley retired 10 in a row after starling marte opened the game with a double. The string ended when mc c utchen walked with one out in the fourth. g aby s anchez singled and harrison had an r Bi single.

pollock’s second homer made it 7-1. s anchez walked g oldschmidt and gave up a one-out single to montero before getting pulled by hurdle. l eroux came on and promptly walked three straight. a nother run scored on m iley’s groundout and a rizona led 10-1.

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“Aunt calling to aunt is like mastodons bellowing across primeval swamps.”

Contact ghadley@nd.edu to name these quotes. Free smoothie at Recker’s for the first person to name both.

Ishikawa hopes to close gap on McIlroy

Associated Press

augusTa, ga. — ryo

ishikawa and rory mcilroy made their masters debut together, two teenagers in the same group, both filled with potential.

Four years later, they are nowhere near each other.

mcilroy is a two-time major champion who was no. 1 in the world until two weeks ago, and there are signs he has patched his game back together in time for the first major of the year.

a mong betting favorites at augusta national, he is second only to Tiger woods.

ishikawa didn’t even think

he would be at the masters this year.

The 21-year-old from Japan had to rely on a special invitation for international players to return to augusta for the fifth straight year. There was even some criticism at home that it was time for the prodigy to prove himself.

paid a dverT isemen T paid a dverT isemen T

“i was surprised,” ishikawa said in a recent interview. “my world ranking is not so high, so i thought i was not coming.”

a s for the criticism?

“i didn’t look at any internet news for a while so i wouldn’t know what they were thinking and what they were saying,” he said.

ishikawa has plunged to no. 115 in the world. he won the Taiheiyo masters late last year on the Japan golf Tour for his 10th career victory, ending two years without a win on his home circuit. his first full year on the pga Tour has not gone the way he had planned.

ishikawa had made only three cuts in nine starts, his best finish a tie for 39th in the p uerto r ico open, the same week the world’s best players were at a world golf championship in Florida. This is the third time he has received an invitation to the masters, and likely the last. augusta national tends to look differently at players who join the pga Tour because they have

more avenues to qualify.

it’s time for him to deliver.

“someday i’d like to win the masters,” ishikawa said. “i want to be a big player like rory and r ickie (Fowler) and Tiger.”

woods once raved about ishikawa when he was winning with regularity as a teenager. he won his first Japan golf Tour event as an amateur when he was 15, and he won The crowns in 2010 by closing with a 58, the lowest score on a major tour.

mcilroy thought it was tough when he faced scrutiny for signing a major equipment deal, and walking off the course at the honda classic. ishikawa has dealt with that his entire career, perhaps more than any other player except for woods.

he speaks to a dozen or more Japanese reporters after every round, no matter the score or whether he makes the cut. ishikawa sits in a folding chair as he endures questions from two Japanese networks, and then the print reporters. how was your driving? w hat happened with your putt?

if the attention is wearing on him, he doesn’t show it. he once played 19 consecutive tournaments to appease sponsors in Japan, where golf fans still yearn for the star they’ve lacked since the days of Jumbo ozaki.

a ndy yamanaka, an official with the Japan golf Tour, once said ishikawa was singularly responsible for driving interest in Japan for his play and his model behavior.

“ryo is the complete package,” yamanaka said in a 2010 interview. “i’m not sure if it was the same situation with Tiger woods in the u s. when he was younger, but i’ve never seen anyone like ryo is terms of his potential as an international athlete.”

ishikawa, who has houses in l as vegas and san diego, will return to Japan for the first time this year after the masters, but not for long. his emphasis this year is on keeping his pga Tour card.

“Japanese people are watching me all the time,” ishikawa said. “i’m pretty comfortable now to play here all the time. of course, i’ll go home to play Japanese golf tournaments. The biggest thing this year is to keep my tour card. They want me to be a (pga) tour player next year.”

he has shown flashes of what he can be when playing with ernie els in the presidents cup two years ago in australia. They lost two straight matches, and els insisted on keeping him as a partner. They won their third match, and then ishikawa beat Bubba watson in singles.

“he’s a special kid, man,” e ls said. “he’s got integrity. he’s got the right bits in a youngster that you need. he’s trying hard.” still, the south a frican noticed a big burden on the shoulders of such a young player. ishikawa is rarely without an entourage that includes his agent, girlfriend yuri, his father, an equipment rep, a chef and his trainer.

“it’s such a long road,” e ls said. “w hat am i, 43? a nd i got my (behind) kicked by the game. i’m a grown man. imagine a kid who goes through that turmoil all the time. To get into this business, you have to get your priorities straight. i spoke to ryo when he left the presidents cup. i said, ‘please stay who you are. stay the ryo we know.’ it’s going to be tough.”

For ishikawa, it seems like a career ago when he first played the pga Tour at r iviera in 2009. officials had to increase the size of the media center by 50 percent to accommodate all the reporters and photographers. his hair was long and wild, adding to the rock star treatment he received. ishikawa watches himself on youTube trying to speak english in that press conference and laughs at how “very slow” he was talking. That much as improved. he conducted a 20-minute interview in english, none of his handlers nearby.

Cardinals dominate in 10-0 victory over Reds

Associated Press

s T. louis — i t’s no mystery to h omer Bailey why the c incinnati r eds have so much trouble winning in s t. l ouis. a fter all, look what happened to him.

Bailey was cuffed for three home runs and seven runs, abruptly ending his string of 23 consecutive scoreless innings, in a 10-0 loss wednesday. The r eds are the defending nl c entral champions and finished nine games ahead of the wildcard c ardinals last season, but since 2003 have won just three of 28 series in s t. l ouis with two splits.

“ p robably because they have a really good team,” Bailey said. “That has a lot to do with it. i don’t think it’s necessarily over here so much.”

m anager d usty Baker had his hopes up after the r eds’ nine-run ninth stunned the c ardinals in the home opener. But the r eds were outscored 15-1 the last two games.

“The thing about it is their pitching really shut us down,” Baker said. “( l ance) l ynn was tough last night and (Jake) westbrook was tough today.”

westbrook pitched a fivehit shutout and the c ardinals totaled four homers. Jon Jay, c arlos Beltran and m att a dams homered in a span of seven at-bats off Bailey in a game that was scoreless into the bottom of the fifth.

“ d ay games always feel a little bit off, but i ’m not using that as an excuse,” Bailey said. “ i rolled them pretty quick in the first couple of innings, then they started seeing the ball pretty well.”

m att c arpenter added a two-run homer on a four-hit day. a dams homered for the second straight game and added an r B i double and walk.

westbrook (1-1) threw his fourth career shutout, walking four and striking out three.

westbrook pitched his first shutout since a ug. 9, 2006, against the a ngels when he was with c leveland, and this was his 15th career complete game. h e held the r eds hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position, and contributed his 11th career r B i with a single in the seventh for s t. l ouis’ final run.

Bailey’s innings-streak included his no-hitter against p ittsburgh last season. a fter getting the first two outs in the fifth against the bottom of the order, the right-hander gave up hits to seven of the last eight batters.

Bailey dropped to 3-8 with a 5.52 era against the c ardinals, including 0-4 with a 6.93 era at Busch s tadium.

Baker pulled Bailey after p ete Kozma’s liner struck the pitcher just above his right ankle, with the ball caroming into left field. But Bailey walked off without a limp.

“ h e was throwing well and then he lost it,” Baker said.

“ h e put the ball over the plate and they’ve got some guys who know what to do with it when you do that.”

The c ardinals advanced only two runners into scoring position in the first four innings and Bailey got two quick outs to start the fifth before running into trouble

against the top of the lineup. s t. l ouis scored 10 runs on 11 hits in the fifth, sixth and seventh off Bailey, l ogan o ndrusek and a lfredo s imon.

Jay’s second homer just cleared center fielder s hins oo c hoo’s leaping attempt at the wall. c arpenter followed with a single and m att h olliday hit an r B i double, prompting a visit from pitching coach Bryan p rice.

Beltran then hit his first homer of the season on to make it 4-0.

a dams hit a two-run homer in the sixth off Bailey. c arpenter’s two-run shot homer three batters later made it 8-0.

R AiNOUTs

weather cancels games

Observer Staff Report

Baseball

n otre d ame postponed wednesday’s game against e astern m ichigan due to poor weather conditions. The game will now be played at Frank e ck s tadium on m ay 1. The first pitch is scheduled for 5:35 p.m.

The n o. 22 i rish (19-11, 4-5 Big e ast), have now dropped two games in a row after winning four straight. n otre d ame’s next home game will be a pril 17 when Bowling g reen visits for a midweek matchup.

The i rish return to the field this weekend when they travel to p ittsburgh to take on the p anthers. The games at c harles l c ost Field will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. s aturday and noon s unday.

s oftball

n otre d ame’s game against Toledo that was scheduled for wednesday was canceled due to inclement weather. The game was rescheduled and will be played this afternoon instead.

The i rish (26-10, 7-1 Big e ast) enter the contest on the heels of a disappointing 11-3 loss to n orthwestern on Tuesday. The team is looking to rebound from being mercy-ruled before they enter this weekend’s series against conference opponent r utgers.

The r ockets (9-23, 2-6 m id- a merican c onference) most recently split a nonconference doubleheader against o akland. This will be n otre d ame’s final game before this weekend’s s trike o ut c ancer campaign.

This initiative began in 2011 to support i rish coach d eanna g umpf and her daughter Tatum, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010.

The weekend’s events include a silent auction, trivia night at The Brick in s outh Bend, a home run derby, and various promotions. l ast year, the team raised more than $25,000. a lso notable for the i rish has been the play of sophomore outfielder e milee Koerner. Koerner has been named one of the 25 finalists for the 2013 usa s oftball c ollegiate p layer of the year award, given by the a mateur s oftball a ssociation of a merica and usa s oftball. Koerner began this week leading the nation in batting average at a .513 clip and leads the team with 58 hits,

31 r B i , 104 total bases and 33 runs scored in 36 games this season.

The action begins tonight at m elissa c ook s tadium at 5:00 p.m.

s aint m ary’s s oftball

s aint m ary’s game against h ope c ollege was postponed due to poor weather.

The Belles (10-10, 2-0 miaa ) are hoping to stay undefeated in conference play with wins against the Flying d utch.

s aint m ary’s won two slugfests against a lbion on s aturday to get off to a perfect conference start but followed that performance up with two losses at n orth p ark c ollege on s unday.

The doubleheader was pushed back until Thursday at 3:30 at s aint m ary’s c ollege.

smC TENNis | alBion 8, smc 1

Belles drop fourgame win streak

By SAMANTHA ZUBA s ports w riter

The Belles came into wednesday’s contest riding a four-match winning streak but lost a bit of their momentum with an 8-1 defeat at the hands of a lbion in a conference showdown wednesday.

d ue to bleak weather conditions, officials moved the meet indoors to the e ck Tennis p avilion, and action finally got under way approximately two hours later around 6 p.m.

Belles coach d ale c ampbell said the poor weather conditions could not be used as an excuse for the loss.

“ n ot really a factor, i guess i would say,” c ampbell said. “ we knew early in the day we were going to play indoors. Both teams [were] doing the same thing.”

The only win for s aint m ary’s came at the sixth singles spot. s ophomore Jackie Kjolhede delivered the victory 6-1, 6-2 as the meet came to a close.

s ophomore a udrey Kiefer nearly snagged a second victory at n o. 4 singles but lost the tiebreaker. c ampbell praised his team for its aggressive play but recognized areas where the Belles could still improve.

“ i thought we played with a little bit more urgency because we knew we were playing a strong opponent,” c ampbell said. “ i still think we have a lot of mistakes we can correct in doubles in terms of movement, in terms of going for first shots.”

n ow s aint m ary’s must recover and move on to its next match, when it takes on Bethel this afternoon. Though the contest is technically on the road, the Belles will be playing at home against the p ilots from neighboring m ishawaka. c ampbell said this set-up could give the Belles a slight boost.

“ i t could be a small advantage because we know the surface,” c ampbell said. “ we practice here, so it probably is a bit of an advantage.”

Bethel (12-4, 6-2 c rossroads) has put together a strong season so far and has performed well in conference play. c ampbell said the Belles will just have to stick to what they do well.

“ i t’s mainly about playing your own game and just doing your game better, but Bethel is a team that has played us a bit closer last year,” he said. “ we have beaten them the last four or five years, but they did play us closer, and i know they’re a more formidable opponent.”

Bethel had a six-game winning streak stopped by m arian in the c rossroads tournament back in o ctober. Bethel rallied to end the fall season with a 7-2 victory against m anchester c ollege on o ctober 11.

The match against s aint m ary’s will be only the second of the spring for the p ilots. They triumphed a pril 6 against the i ndiana i nstitute of Technology. s aint m ary’s, on the other hand, has competed throughout m arch. c ampbell said the layoff could help s aint m ary’s, but he would avoid being overconfident. “ w hen you do play matches frequently, i think they do help you mentally, so it could be an advantage,” c ampbell said. “ i ’m certainly not going to expect it to be an advantage, but it could.”

s t. m ary’s will take on crosstown rival Bethel on Thursday at 4 p.m.

Contact Samantha Zuba at szuba@nd.edu

Irish focus on Georgetown matchup

By MATTHEW ROBISON s ports w riter

Two weeks ago, after a narrow 7-6 win over r utgers on m arch 24 and a 12-10 loss to s t. John’s on m arch 30, i rish coach Kevin c orrigan recognized his team had lost focus. But after a 17-5 beatdown over m arquette on a pril 2 and a 13-8 victory over p rovidence five days later, that focus is back.

“ i feel good about where our focus is right now,” c orrigan said. “ i know our guys are working at that. we’ve tried to do a better job of giving them clarity in exactly what we want from them. i think they’re doing a good job at working at it and being accountable for the things that we think are important.”

That focus will be challenged again this weekend when g eorgetown visits for a s unday matinee. The h oyas (5-6, 2-1 Big e ast) have struggled this season and have been dealt losses on the wrong end of some lopsided games. But their struggles do not indicate weakness, but rather some unforeseen circumstances.

“ i think they’re very good,” c orrigan said. “ i think they’ve had some injuries throughout the year that kept their lineup in flux a little bit. They had some injuries to some key guys. But they’re coming off a huge win over s t. John’s who was n o. 10 in the country last week. That shows what they’re capable of doing.”

i n terms of style, c orrigan described g eorgetown as a “mixed bag” of some of the teams n otre d ame (8-2, 2-1) has faced this season.

“ d efensively, they get out and come after you a little bit in the style of the way p rovidence played against us,” c orrigan said. “a t the same time, offensively, they probably more resemble v illanova and d enver and some of the teams we’ve played that have a mix of c anadian and a merican influence in what they do.”

The h oyas fell 19-7 to d uke

on m arch 23 and 14-6 to m ount s t. m ary’s on m arch 12. But a 14-13 overtime win over n o. 14 s t. John’s reminded the Big e ast that g eorgetown is consistently one of the conference’s best teams.

a ll season, one of n otre d ame’s most valuable assets has been its balance offensively. The i rish have a number of scorers who have the potential to light up the scoreboard. a gainst m arquette, the offensive firepower came from junior attackman John s cioscia, who had six goals and an assist. a gainst p rovidence, senior attackman s ean r ogers led the way with four goals and an assist.

“ o n any given possession, we have a number of guys that can make a play,” c orrigan said. “That makes us difficult to play against.”

That balance comes from two sources, c orrigan said. First, the i rish have a wealth of talent on the field. e very player has the potential to make great plays. s econd, n otre d ame has to play a system in which each player’s potential can be maximized and turned into goals.

“That’s a collective commitment that i think our guys have started to zero in on and will make us better as the year goes on,” c orrigan said.

o n m onday the ncaa released its first rpi rankings of the season, and n otre d ame was ranked n o. 1.

The rpi looks at strength of schedule, the rankings of the teams each team has beaten and to whom each team has lost.

a t the end of the season, the ncaa will use the rpi as an organizational tool when compiling the bracket for the ncaa tournament.

i n order to rank highly in the rpi , teams must schedule games against as many strong programs as possible, in order to set themselves up for a good seed come tournament time.

“ i n scheduling, absolutely it’s something you concern yourself with,” c orrigan said.

But during the year, it doesn’t have much relevance.

“a t this time of year, your focus has got to stay and be solely on the team that you’re playing this week,” c orrigan said. “[The n o. 1 ranking is] not something that surprised me, but it’s not something that i ’m going to concern myself with right now. That’s something you worry about when you’re scheduling, and it’s something that you worry about at the end of the

year when you’re tallying these things up. i n between, i think our guys know, and certainly our guys know that the focus needs to stay pretty squarely on the team and the challenge that’s right in front of you.”

r ight now, that challenge is g eorgetown. The h oyas and i rish will face off s unday at 11 a.m. in a rlotta s tadium.

Contact Matt Robison at mrobison@nd.edu

the season in right field after former teammate d ani m iller got hurt. a s a sophomore, she filled in as an outfielder, a designated hitter and a catcher.

Finally, in her junior season Buntin earned her big break, taking her spot as a starting catcher. s he was named to the a ll-a merica team at the end of the season and led the i rish at the plate with a .360 batting average.

“o ver the past four years, i’ve developed a lot as a player and a person,” Buntin said. “i have established my confidence in the batter’s box and behind the plate.”

a s a senior, Buntin has continued to dominate behind the plate and builds up the confidence of her pitchers.

“it’s awesome to be able to throw to someone who knows me so well as a pitcher,” o’ d onnell said. “ we are always on the same page when it comes to attacking hitters.”

Buntin said she focuses on getting to know each pitcher’s style so she can better assist them in improving their game.

“e ach pitcher is different,” Buntin said. “a s a catcher it has been my job to work with and understand these

differences.”

d espite all her accomplishments on the field, Buntin said the most important thing she has done as a member of the i rish community is play in the strike o ut c ancer weekend in support of Tatum g umpf, the daughter of i rish head coach d eanna g umpf. Tatum was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010 at the age of four and the i rish began the event in her name the following spring.

“For our team to take part in something greater than ourselves and give back to a cause greater than our sport is truly special,” Buntin said. “r eceiving the first pitch of the game from a smiling, healthy Tatum is one of my proudest moments as a player at notre d ame.”

The fourth annual strike o ut c ancer weekend will take place s aturday when the i rish take on r utgers in a doubleheader.

Though Buntin has prepared to pursue a career in medicine after graduation, she said she will never fully leave notre d ame behind.

“notre d ame will always have a special place in my heart,” Buntin said. “i am proud to say it’s my home.”

Contact Katie Heit at kheit@nd.edu

now, so i definitely learned a lot from him in terms of my hard work. w hen i see him do something, it makes me feel that i can do it.”

The younger Johnson says he began to feel things “click” in his sophomore season, as he began to see dramatic improvements in his skills and his identity as a player.

But he was still second in line behind Joe hudson, a junior who would be drafted by the cincinnati reds in the sixth round of the mlB draft in June.

“That destroyed me, it really did,” Johnson said. “a ll the guys on the bench just want to get on the field, that’s really all you think about. it really does crush you when you’re seeing your best friends out there, you’re working just as hard if not harder than anyone out there, and you’re not getting to play, not getting your opportunity.”

But Johnson finally got his opportunity after hudson left to join the reds organization. he won the job at the beginning of the season and has started all 30 games so far this spring.

“it really is the greatest feeling in the world, being out there, especially being on the bench the last two years and not really seeing even a single pitch,” Johnson

paid a dverT isemen T

said. “more than even for me, it’s great for the guys still on the bench who look up to me as kind of the guy who made it through, because there are a lot of times where there’s not really a light at the end of the tunnel. To guy who hasn’t had that opportunity right out freshman year, to work up the system, i think it’s good to see for everybody.”

Johnson now finds himself in an odd role for someone so intensely competitive — he’s responsible for calming a struggling pitcher.

“it’s hard, i think, for Forrest,” aoki said. “his family tends to be a group of irish hotheads. i think he’s done a really good job of gaining the trust and respect of his pitchers. They can feel confident in throwing their breaking stuff because they understand that Forrest is willing to put any body part in front of the ball to keep it from going past him with a runner on third.”

But don’t think Johnson has completely changed his ways.

“i have that football mentality,” Johnson said. “There’s kind of that inner part of me that just wants to hit something when i get mad, but as i’ve gotten older i’ve seen how you have to conduct yourself as the catcher. you have eight guys looking at you, so you have to maintain solid and positive body language all

the time.

“it’s easy when things are going well, but when things start to get tough, when pitchers start to throw balls or guys are making errors, it really takes a lot to take a deep breath and talk to the pitcher.”

his footwork and hitting have improved, but Johnson’s throwing arm remains his greatest asset, and he maintains there is no better feeling than throwing out a runner on the base paths.

“we almost dare runners to run, because we have that kind of faith in Forrest’s ability to catch and throw,” ristano said. “That’s why i think to this point there haven’t been a really high number of base runners who have attempted steals. we just tell our pitchers, be quick to the plate, dare them to ru, and Forrest will throw them out.”

a nd if Johnson is more like a linebacker than a dr. phil behind the plate, his coaches wouldn’t change that about him, either.

“he’s got that fire about him that we sometimes have to reel in,” ristano said. “But i would rather as a coach have to reel him in than ask him to be competitive. he wouldn’t have been able to be the player he is now if didn’t have that fire.”

Contact Vicky Jacobsen at vjacobse@nd.edu

showing former i rish basketball guard Joey Brooks the same ropes he learned last season.

“Joey’s doing well. h e’s kind of been thrown into a storm,” n iklas said. “ i t’s not easy to switch sports like this in your senior year. … h e’s doing really well. h e’s staying positive, he’s learning a lot and getting better every day, and that’s the most important thing for him, to keep learning the offense and getting better.”

yet Brooks is not the only i rish tight end enduring the learning process. e arly enrollee m ike h euerman joined the team in January to get a head start on learning the offense, and senior

“ i feel like regardless of how well-rounded, there’s always stuff to work on, whether it’s breaking out of a route, getting out faster in blocking or a different technique,” Koyack said. “ i think i ’m definitely improving but there’s always going to be work to do.”

e ifert was a one-stop-shop in terms of tight ends, posing as a blocker, goal line threat and wide-out for the i rish. That versatility could very well result in a first round selection in this month’s n F l d raft. But the 2013 collective is fine with doing things by committee, Koyack said.

“ we may not be put in the same exact situation as Tyler was put into, but as long as we do well in the situations we are put into, that’s pretty much the expectation of the

“You feel good about yourself to be part of the tight ends at the University of Notre Dame. But at the same time we’re not trying to be any of those tight ends. We’re trying to be ourselves.”

Alex Welch senior tight end

a lex welch missed the entire 2012 season after tearing his acl during summer training camp.

welch didn’t see action during his freshman year in 2010 after coming in as a four-star recruit and only had one reception for eight yards in 2011.

welch said he sought the advice of former i rish and current m innesota v ikings tight end Kyle r udolph, who missed much of 2010 with a torn hamstring.

“ i think this spring is really important for me just to get back into football shape and remember how you play the game and then come fall camp i ’ll be ready,” welch said. “ i felt like i was playing at a pretty high level last fall and then after what happened, you kind of forget things.”

o ut of the five, junior Ben Koyack has seen the most playing time in his career, appearing in all 24 games. i n 2012, the 6-foot-5 tight end caught three passes for 39 yards but struggled to hold onto the ball throughout the season. a nd of the four, Koyack seems to be the go-to receiving threat, as opposed to run-blocking standouts welch and n iklas.

group at this point,” he said. w ith e ifert arguably leaving the biggest imprint of all n otre d ame tight ends following r udolph, a nthony Fasano and John c arlson, the pressure is on for the next starter to carry on the tradition at “Tight e nd u.”

“ i wouldn’t say it’s a pressure. i t’s kind of like a prestige,” welch said. “ you feel good about yourself to be part of the tight ends at the u niversity of n otre d ame. But at the same time we’re not trying to be any of those tight ends. we’re going to be ourselves.”

Contact Andrew Gastelum at agastel1@nd.edu

lOWER yOUR ExPECTATiONs | lenny rago & paTricK cross

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: ryan Kwanten, 36; Jon stewart, 50; ed harris, 62; paul shaffer, 63. Happy Birthday: Keep an open mind and listen to what others have to say before you jump to conclusions. Timing must be acute if you wish to succeed. you will have added energy, but it’s how you use it that will count. engage in the causes, concerns, pastimes and talents you enjoy doing most and you will excel. your numbers are 9, 12, 17, 21, 29, 32, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): you’ll find it difficult to sidestep emotional issues. speak up and settle whatever is bothering you. a change may be necessary if you don’t want to lose confidence or self-respect. once you start down a certain path, you must complete your mission.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): put a little force behind your words and you will get what you want. you don’t have to upset authority figures, but making diplomatic suggestions in a tactful manner will show who is in control.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): you can make a difference. suggest reforms you feel will help create a better environment at work, home or in your community. you don’t have to donate financially; putting in time or offering services will help raise your profile and your reputation.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): sharing your thoughts will lead to interference and opposition. make sure you are fully prepared to address any issues that arise. Keep your statements simple, to the point and within reason. Treat your responsibilities seriously.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take initiative. size up your situation, target your goal and proceed to the finish line. don’t let personal demands stand in the way of your professional responsibilities. love is on the rise and romance should be scheduled.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): listen carefully to what’s being discussed. you shouldn’t overreact, but you also must make sure that you fight for what you want. don’t back down, and don’t allow a change to a settlement or contract leave you at a loss.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): partnerships will be under scrutiny. diplomacy is encouraged if you want to get your way. Know what you are up against and be willing to compromise in order to close a deal or secure your position. expansion is apparent but must be reasonable.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): ask questions and you will get answers. once you are able to put all the pieces together you will have a very good chance of getting what you want. use your skills, talents and power of persuasion and you will capture attention.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): size up your personal situation and make the alterations to your home and domestic life that you desire. socializing and networking will do wonders for your confidence and your overall appeal. share creative ideas. love is highlighted.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): caution will be necessary physically, financially and verbally. don’t stir things up or meddle in other people’s affairs. now is not the time to confront, but instead the time to protect your assets, reputation and your health.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): self-improvement projects will lead to compliments. you will make a good impression on people from your past if you make it a point to reconnect. love and romance are in the stars and should be used to stabilize an important relationship.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): don’t let anxiety lead to impulsiveness or promising more than you can deliver. patient and well-thought-out plans will be your ticket to success. Take on a job that will keep you busy and satisfy you. let your imagination lead the way.

Birthday Baby: you are versatile, resourceful and innovative. you are persistent and courageous.

Out of the shadow

Irish tight ends battle to replace former All-American Tyler Eifert

By ANDREW GASTELUM

e ditor-in- c hief

l ast season, Tyler e ifert racked up 624 yards, 44 receptions, four touchdowns, broke two receiving records and picked up an a lla merican honor along the way.

The five men trying to replace him in 2013 have a combined nine receptions, 122 yards, one touchdown and shoot 32 percent from 3-point range.

But for the i rish, it’s all a matter of perspective.

“ we’re all different. i don’t think we feel pressured as a unit to replace [ e ifert],” junior tight end Troy n iklas said. “The offense is going to morph into doing what we’re good at, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

n iklas is entering his second season at the tightend spot after spending his

Nd WOmEN’s sOFTBAll

freshman year as a defensive end.

i n 2012, the 6-foot-7, 250-pound Fullerton, c alif., native said it took time to pick up the offense. h e eventually caught his first touchdown against Boston c ollege, one of his five total receptions.

But according to the man nicknamed ‘ h ercules,’ one year really does make a difference.

“ n ow it’s like second nature,” n iklas said. “ i always thought it was pretty natural, but it was a little tougher to learn the offense and pick up all that stuff. But now that i know the offense, all those little technique things are coming pretty easily.”

i n just one year, n iklas has gone from defensive lineman to veteran tight end, especially when it comes to

see niKlas PAGE 18

Buntin acts as quiet example Johnson follows in brother’s footsteps

By KATIE HEIT s ports w riter

Though not as vocal as many of her teammates, senior catcher a my Buntin leads by example from behind the plate.

“i am not overly vocal,” Buntin said. “i don’t resort to emotional pregame pump-up speeches, but i’m always striving to do the right thing and always looking for ways to better myself.”

s enior pitcher Brittany o’ d onnell said Buntin doesn’t need to be heard to lead the younger teammates, because the experience she’s gained from four years in an i rish uniform speaks for itself.

“her level of play and work ethic speaks for itself,” o’ d onnell said. “For a catcher to endure the days and never complain is a special person. i ’m proud to call her my teammate.”

Buntin has supported the team in a variety of ways during her time with the i rish. a s a freshman, she filled in wherever she was needed, playing part of

By VICKY JACOBSEN sports writer

Two seasons ago, the notre dame coaching staff wasn’t really sure what to do with junior catcher Forrest Johnson. irish coach mik aoki, who was then in his first year at notre dame, took the unpolished freshman aside to let him know he might not get a chance to play with the team.

pitching coach chuck ristano saw potential in Johnson’s monster arm and tried to convert him into a pitcher.

But Johnson didn’t show much more promise on the mound.

“coach ristano took me out and we threw a bullpen. Fastball looked pretty good, slider was okay,” Johnson said. “The deal breaker was the changeup. i’ve never been a pitcher my entire life, i’ve always been a catcher, so naturally i wouldn’t have a changeup lined up. But i threw a changeup 90 feet over the backstop, so that was the end of my pitching career here.”

But even as Johnson spent his first two seasons at notre dame relegated to the bench and the bullpen, he was impossible to

ignore, in part because of his relationship with his fiery older brother, cole, who graduated in 2011.

“Forrest is a pretty intense kid. we got to know his personality by getting to know his older brother, who pitched for us,” ristano said. “we play a game in the bullpen when pitchers try to match each other’s pitches, and Forrest was catching cole. a nd cole didn’t think Forrest was doing a good enough job, so in the middle of the bullpen cole would yell at his brother. a nd even though i’m the coach, i can’t do anything to stop a brotherhood rivalry, so i tried to make sure they didn’t kill each other.”

Threats of bodily harm aside, the younger Johnson said his older brother motivated him even when he knew there was no guarantee of playing time in his future.

“he’s definitely one of my heroes, because he had a similar experience to what i did. he was a recruited walk-on here and then worked his way up the system,” Johnson said. “he ended up getting drafted and is doing great