More than 300 clubs distribute information, recruit members at annual event
By MARGARET HYNDS news writer
at tuesday night’s annual student activities night hosted by the student activities office (sao) and the club coordination council (ccc), upperclassmen represented more than 300 groups in the Joyce athletic and convocation center, where thousands of students pushed their way through aisles of tables to sign up for extracurricular activities.
“we printed 4,000 handouts and we normally go through nearly all of them,” sao program director paul manrique said.
first-year students in particular had a chance to learn more about opportunities on campus and speak to students who share
similar interests.
“it’s a little overwhelming, but it’s great that there’s something for everyone,” freshman sarah christie said.
in conjunction with the activities fair, sao also launched its new iphone app tuesday. the app, available for free on itunes, “basically allows students to find and contact clubs from their phones,” ccc special interest division chair and junior betel ali said.
the app offers an “opportunity to browse clubs and organizations on the go at activities night or around campus,” according to the its official itunes description. it invites users to “create your profile, add your favorite clubs and
Students hand out information about the Asian American Association at Activities Night on
Student Activities Office released a new iPhone app in conjunction with the club fair.
University to build $36 million research facility
By JACK ROONEY associate news editor
in June, the university announced a project to build the nation’s premier turbine engine component research and testing facility, which will give researchers and students the opportunity to study and improve upon the technology used in aircraft and power production, according to a
notre dame press release. the $36 million project, in which other partners include general electric (ge), the city of sound bend, the state of indiana, great lakes capital and indiana michigan power, will be completed by march 2015 and fully operational by July 2016, the press release said. notre dame will contribute $7.5 million to the project, which will occupy 25,000
square feet of south bend’s ignition park and directly generate 60 new jobs.
notre dame vice president for research robert bernhard said the project will also allow unparalleled academic opportunities for students.
“the facility is able to support experiments at the extreme
nd welcomes grammywinning singer
By MADISON JAROS news writer
the notre dame department of music will welcome grammy award-winning baritone nathan gunn as artist-in-residence next week as the beginning of a fouryear stint during which the acclaimed musician will perform for the notre dame community, instruct students and collaborate with faculty, department chair peter smith said.
gunn, who grew up in south bend, felt drawn to notre dame
not only because of his ties to the city, but because of his past interactions with the university as
well, smith said.
“the idea of … this artist-in-residence position was an outgrowth of those two components — that [gunn] had gotten to know some of our faculty members, he had worked with some of our students, he had performed here and his family was here too,” he said.
smith said gunn would participate in the standard responsibilities of an artist-in-residence
saint mary’s panel discusses ferguson
faculty explore the social context and role of media and government in Ferguson in a panel discussion Tuesday.
By EMILIE KEFALAS news writer
a panel discussion tuesday at saint mary’s titled “understanding ferguson and its a ftermath” explored the aug. 9 shooting of michael brown by police officer darren wilson in ferguson, mo., and used the incident as a starting point for interdisciplinary dialogue among faculty and students, panelist and professor of communication
studies helen ho said.
“the ferguson story has become such an enormous and ongoing contentious narrative in the last few months, and it’s something that sets the backdrop for our return to campus, a place for critical discussion and thoughtful deliberation,” ho said. “panels like this help can help to provide a space for conversation, as well as a
“Justin bieber - i don’t trust canadians, they’re too friendly.”
Colleen Tigani senior welsh family hall
“Jimmy fallon - i would cry
Nikki Charter senior opus hall
“Kim Kardashian.”
Kelley Wright senior opus hall
“c harlie sheen.”
Sophomores Jacob Matsuka and Cole Luke and junior Romeo Okwara, center, celebrate Notre Dame’s 48- 17 win over Rice on Saturday evening by singing the Alma Mater alongside their team and student body.
Today’s Staff
Corrections
i n the september 2nd edition of t he observer, the article “smc professors embrace theater” referred to bill svelmoe with an incorrect title. svelmoe is a professor of history. t he observer regrets this error.
MICHAEL YU | The Observer
SMC welcomes int’l students
By KIERA JOHNSON news writer
t he international buddy program at saint mary’s college, designed to connect incoming international students with saint mary’s students from the united states, kicked off the year tuesday with its first major event, the international ice cream social in dalloway’s clubhouse.
t he event, sponsored by international student services, the global studies department and the saint mary’s student government a ssociation (sga), is the first of many to be done by the newly-launched program, which aims to help international students integrate themselves into the saint mary’s community, according to catherine sullivan, a senior and international co-chair of sga
“t he program connects returning saint mary’s students with first-year international students, new english language school students and new exchange students on a personal level,” sullivan said. “t he students spend time together, study together, help each other get involved on campus and more. t he ultimate goal is much more
than just having a returning belle help a new belle manage campus life; it is to connect two people from two different cultures on a personal level.”
t he program, which had an application process for returning students, received an overwhelming response. sullivan said the wide support was both heartwarming and unsurprising.
“one of the most unique and beautiful facts about saint mary’s is the powerful sense of community that envelopes our entire campus, faculty, staff and students included,” she said. “… a ll of the young women chosen as international buddies spoke of the outstanding qualities of saint mary’s that they are still learning to appreciate.”
sullivan said the international buddy program can offer lifechanging experiences to both the international and domestic students.
“not only does it give our domestic students the opportunity to learn about a new culture, to nurture a new friendship and to introduce ladies to the home they love so much, but it gives them the opportunity to appreciate and take advantage of the community around them,” she
said. “a ll of the students in this program will be looking for interesting, fun and new opportunities to share with one another.”
grace Kumor, a sophomore in the program, said she wanted the opportunity to learn about fellow students from around the world.
“i am really interested in cultures from all around the world, and being able to be firsthand with someone who is from a different country is really interesting to me,” Kumor said.
ruby truong, a sophomore from v ietnam and international co-chair of sga, said she hopes international students find a second home at saint mary’s.
“w hen we international students decided to come to a different country, we wanted to know more about this country,” truong said. “i feel like i would be very happy if i would have an a merican mentor like that so that i could know about their cultures that we don’t have in our countries. it’s very good for both international and domestic students because the a merican students can know about different countries as well.”
Contact Kiera Johnsion at kjohns02@saintmarys.edu
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— giving performances as well as conducting master classes, which allow one student to receive voice instruction while others look on. however, gunn will approach the position far more personally than past artists-in-residence, beginning next week when he will provide one-on-one voice lessons to five students, smith said. gunn will also visit classes and work on scholarly pursuits with faculty.
fifth-year senior elizabeth curtin, one of the students who will work one-on-one with gunn, said she is looking forward to the opportunities a grammy awardwinning artist can provide to students, many of whom have heard gunn perform before.
“i couldn’t be more excited about nathan spending some time with us at notre dame,” curtin said. “i have had the privilege of watching him perform several times, and actually having the opportunity to interact with and learn from him will just be fantastic for the music students here, especially those studying voice.”
curtin said gunn will be effective in helping music majors develop their talents.
“nathan gunn, besides being an expert in his field, is also extremely approachable and downto-earth,” curtin said. “i anticipate that the students will find it easy to
work with him and that he will be able to offer insight in his coaching sessions that is accessible and relevant to the aspiring musicians of today.”
gunn’s activities will impact not only music students, but also the campus community as well, smith said. gunn will perform felix mendelssohn’s ‘elijah’ for the university and south bend communities march 1 of next year.
“for the campus community, having someone like [gunn] doing public events and performing is of course an enrichment,” he said. “if [students] went to hear nathan sing at the lyric opera in chicago and they wanted a reasonably good ticket, it would cost several hundred dollars. whereas here, the student price is probably $20.”
overall, adding gunn to the department of music’s programs and plans is an incredible opportunity, smith said.
“any school of music — Julliard or indiana university bloomington, the curtis institute of [music], or the new england conservatory of music — any top conservatory or school of music in the country, even the world, would consider themselves fortunate to have this kind of opportunity,” smith said. “and we’re getting it here at notre dame.”
Contact Madison Jaros at mjaros@nd.edu
instantly send out emails to organizations to request more info.”
designed by a student, the sao app gives students the ability to enter information for their own profiles, including full name, class year and intended major. users can then search the sao club database by name or by category to look up specific clubs, which can be added to the student’s “favorites.”
additionally, the app has a feature that uses mail, apple’s email program, to send a pre-written message to clubs. using the information from the student’s profile, the app drafts an email requesting more information about the club; the student can choose to edit the email or to send it as is.
“hopefully it’s going to make activities night easier,” senior ccc member Joe mcnally said. “if you can’t get to a table you’re looking for because it’s too crowded, you can just double tap on the club’s name in the app and find their information.”
students who used the app said it helped them navigate the hustle and bustle of the fair.
“i wish i’d had the app last year,” sophomore elle scott said. “… it would definitely have made activities night less overwhelming.”
david mattingly, assistant director of sao, said the app has been a work in progress for the last two years.
“it wasn’t quite ready yet for last
Facility
conditions [such as temperature, pressure and velocity] of real gas turbine engines,” bernhard said. “students will have better access to observe these conditions than any other facility in the world with the opportunity to learn about the physics of gas flow in gas turbine engines.
“in addition, the experimental measurements made in this facility are unique. undergraduate and graduate students will learn about very unique measurement methods that are state-of-the-art.” the research students and notre dame faculty perform could also directly translate into new techniques or products for turbine producers, bernhard said.
“the research our faculty and students will conduct at the facility could be implemented by gas turbine engine manufacturers within several years,” he said. “the various studies might result in higher engine efficiency, better performance, lower emissions or lower costs or some combination of these factors.”
university president fr. John Jenkins said the project will stimulate the local economy as well as produce unique educational opportunities.
“this venture will be a cuttingedge research and testing facility for the turbine engine industry as well as a tremendous economic driver for our region,” Jenkins said in a statement. “notre dame is
year’s activities night, and i wanted to make it usable for more than one night — two hours, really — per year,” he said.
the finished product is a tool mattingly wants students to use year-round.
“the hope is that if Joe or sally student decided in november that they wanted to get involved, they could reach out to the clubs without having to leave their dorm room,” he said. “it empowers student to send notes directly to the club without having to reach out personally.”
sophomore mallory dreyer said the app eliminated the need to fight her way through the perennial crowds in the Jacc
“it was nice to have the app because i didn’t feel that well and didn’t want to walk all the way across campus,” dreyer said. “… i emailed all the clubs i was interested in before activities fair even started.”
some students, however, preferred the experience of activities night to the app.
“it’s better to get to know the members and see them than to just read about, it’s a more real experience,” freshman tianyi tan said.
other students were disappointed that the app is currently only available for iphone users.
“i really appreciate the idea of the app,” freshman anna levesque said. “i just can’t use it.”
Contact Margaret Hynds at mhynds@nd.edu
grateful to our partners for their support of this project and excited about all that it will mean to our university, the city and state, the industry as a whole and our nation.”
the facility is expected to create more than $15 million in expenditures annually, and indiana governor mike pence said it highlights indiana’s growing presence in the aerospace industry.
“the aerospace industry is reaching new heights in indiana,” pence said, according to the press release. “universities like notre dame and others across the state are providing avenues for discovery, proving that the sky is the limit in indiana when it comes to bringing a big vision to life. the next great technological innovation could come from the mind of a hoosier, highlighting for the world the full range of possibilities when investing in a state that works.”
south bend deputy mayor mark neal said the project illustrates the city’s commitment to business innovation and economic development.
“attracting such major investment speaks to south bend’s economic future and its capacity to attract high-tech businesses,” neal said in the press release. “this project continues our city’s history of innovation and is more evidence of the benefits that south bend’s economic and geographic advantages offer.”
Contact Jack Rooney at jrooney1@nd.edu
contextualization and synthesis of ideas for those who have been following, or trying to follow, the events.”
the panel also included Jamie wagman, assistant professor of history and gender and women’s studies, and stacy davis, associate professor of religious studies and chair of the department of gender and women’s studies. senior humanistic studies major clare maher also participated, panel coordinator and assistant professor of english a nn marie a lfonso-forero said.
“during the weeks that followed [the shooting of michael brown], there was a lot of news coverage of the event and the community grieved … while the police in ferguson responded to it with tanks and tear gas,” a lfonso-forero said. “we were talking about how we might address this issue with our students, and we’d feel remiss if we didn’t address this in some way.”
the purpose of the panel was to discuss the historical and social contexts of the shooting, the militarization of police in ferguson and the ongoing protests demanding justice, wagman said.
“we know there was a confrontation between an armed police officer and an unarmed teenager,” she said. “… the community responded with protests. the protest pride became ‘hands up, don’t shoot.’ other towns, cities and college campuses held rallies for peace and
justice. at times, the media has questioned brown’s character.”
maher said the increased role of social media in telling and spreading stories like those from ferguson highlight her generation’s reluctance to use social media as a truly reliable informing medium. she encouraged the audience to use social media for more substantive discussions using credible sources.
“in the age of social media, we don’t research why, and context is not something we value,” she said. “headlines are often the only way we read a newspaper. social media is not meant to be comprehensive, it’s meant to be social.
“our society is increasingly underinformed. the picture we get from the news media is uninformed. declaring our personal stance in social media seems significant, [but] you should be moved to look at more than just a buzzfeed article. change the narrative, find context. publish articles in your status.”
davis addressed the subject of militarization, particularly armed police militarization and the perceptions of police in a frican-a merican communities.
“one of the things that folks have been protesting about in ferguson is what they have called the militarization of the police force, the use of armored cars,” davis said. “the police have acted like the military.”
“my hope is that what is happening in ferguson will once again start a conversation about
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the relationship between law enforcement and civilians,” she said. “at least in black communities, this is just one more unarmed black kid. the hope for us and for anybody is, can we reach a point where these things do not happen? most of the folks in ferguson just want to know what happened to one of their own.”
beyond media treatment of the story, ho said a mericans should realize the role of government officials in the incident and inform themselves about the deep-seeded issues behind the incident.
“we should, as citizens in a democracy, have a right to hold our elected officials accountable and have a say in how we are protected, and by whom,” ho said. “… it’s easy for outsiders, professional reporters, politicians and others to say things should be fine in a place like ferguson. but, those who have talked to the residents of ferguson find a different story, a story about a community whose lived experience is very different.
“the fact that this story has resonated for so many around the country illustrates that these feelings and experiences resonate beyond ferguson. this shared sense of, ‘here we go again,’ is something people should be using to come together to discuss larger contexts of race, representation, media narratives and social justice.”
Contact Emilie Kefalas at ekefal01@saintmarys.edu
Recipes to come
open your door
Zach Klonsinski sports writer
when the time comes to go to school in the fall, it seems everyone has a piece of advice, some wisdom to impart about how to make my time in college the best it can be. they say, “do everything you possibly can,” but also, “make sure you get enough sleep!” after a while, i always end up just smiling and shrugging it off, while trying to pretend that their singular piece of generic advice will be what forever alters my college experience. however, there is one tidbit that i have found extremely important in my short time here on campus. i think it was my dad who told me this. at the time, it sounded just like the rest of the voices, but it has come to be a very important part of my experience in our wonderful dorms here at notre dame.
he simply told me: open your door. although it seems trivial, this one habit will make your entire dorm experience better. Keeping your door open does the same for all the chances that the spontaneity of hall life brings you. Joining the guys walking by to go play pickup basketball, visit the grotto, the dining halls and events around campus or just hang out and talk for a bit are seemingly random occurrences that will define your college experience more than the specific classes you take.
maybe even get a little speaker or two and play music when you are in your room. make your room as inviting an atmosphere as possible. not only will this signal to everyone else that they are free to come in and chat, it will greatly help you see your room as some place to be desired, especially when you come to realize you voluntarily decided to live through a south bend winter. having an inviting room will also help reduce your stress levels as the year gets into full swing.
now, i am not saying this should be a 24/7 policy. this is college after all — there are going to be days where you are so jammed with work you might barely be able to get to sleep before 2 a.m. you are going to have an extremely important paper to write or exam to study for. go ahead and shut your door for those moments when you really need to focus, but if you are working on some homework that is not due in the next 15 minutes, why not open your door? saying “hi” to the people who walk by, taking a few minutes to chat with a new friend or getting to know someone a little better is not going to kill you or send your grades down the drain. there are so many incredible people here at notre dame, and it would be a shame to miss out on an opportunity to meet any of them. everyone here claims that their residence hall is the best dorm on campus and, honestly, they are all correct (unless we include Knott, of course. then they are all the second-best dorms on campus). the community found in the residence halls here is hard to find anywhere else, so take advantage of it. open your door, and open yourself to the experiences that are what college is all about.
Contact Zach Klonsinski at zklonsin@nd.edu.
The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Ingredients:
One copy of the Observer
Preheat mind for the beginning of a new school year. Read thoroughly for 2-3 minutes.
a s this is my first column in a series i will be writing for t he o bserver, and it will be popping up every two weeks, i thought i would take this first submission to introduce myself, what i will be writing about and why.
i call this “ r ecipes for g etting b y.” p retty catchy, right? i found out yesterday that there’s a movie called “ t he a rt of g etting b y.” i didn’t do much research further than studying its release poster, which features an edgy e mma r oberts and a gangly adolescent artist on the streets of n ew york c ity. b oth characters appear to be floundering in their own teen angst. w hile this column may include the occasional minimal amount of teen angst, the similarities between my column and the movie end there. i nstead, i will aim to provide “recipes” of precise, easy methods that any college student can try while muddling through the stressful maze of the undergraduate world. to be completely honest, however, a large part of the reasoning behind the naming of my column stems from my desire to keep a food theme, as i really enjoy eating.
m y past two years at n otre d ame have fully exposed me to the serious and driven nature of our student body. t he nd culture is infused with competition, hard work and a perpetual desire to achieve. a s students of a toptier university, many of us are programed to over-schedule, overload and overthink. it’s not necessarily a bad
thing; these traits go along with being at a university composed of some of the greatest minds of today and tomorrow. o n the other hand, however, working hard and playing hard all time can be tedious, stressful and just exhausting. t his column is my attempt at sharing some tips and tricks on how not to sweat the small stuff. t his is my “gourmet” advice, with a sense of humor, if you will.
i won’t be writing about the most serious of issues, but i will be addressing the things in a n otre d ame student’s life that cause unnecessary worry. we all need a relief sometimes, and i hope to help provide it. h ere’s a preview: ways to confront your roommate about any awkward tension or problems, how creating a n eopets account can help boost self-confidence before a big exam, a fast and efficient way to pay for $3 cab rides without the whole “who-still-hasn’t-paid” confusion and diy office hours.
i hope to convey a light-hearted message and humorous tone throughout this column. t hese “recipes for getting by” may or may not always work, as many of these things are little tricks i ’ve personally found helpful when it comes to shedding unnecessary stress and dealing with the overall chaos of college life. p eople deal with their issues in all kinds of different ways. n evertheless, it is my sincerest intention that the sheer comic relief of this column will help ease your unwarranted stress and worry.
n ever underestimate the power of a good laugh and a smile. m ore advice to come.
Paige Affinito is a junior residing in Breen-Phillips Hall. She can be reached at Paige.N.Affinito.2@nd.edu
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Helen Keller i nspirational speaker, activist “c haracter cannot be developed in ease and quiet. only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
EdItOrIAl CArtOOn
Paige Affinito recipes for g etting b y
QuOtE OF thE dAy
t hinking about the argument
Charlie Ducey
e nglish c hanneled
i just finished reading some blog posts by a selfdescribed c atholic apologist named m att f radd. t he posts dealt with the conflict concerning atheism and science and g od. i n the comments section were a number of posts from both the theist and atheist sides of the fence. r eading the comments, i felt sad.
“ w hy can’t we all just stop fighting about g od and just live our lives peacefully?” i wanted to ask. “ i nstead of arguing about cerebral theological concepts, why don’t you go take out the garbage or call your mother or address any other number of immediate concerns?” was another question that i wished to enter into the fray of mud-slinging and high sophistry. p romoting human well-being — isn’t that what we should focus on? o r, i don’t know, seeking good in the world? i sn’t that more important than arguing about beliefs that are just way out there?
n ow that i think about it more, i guess the definitions of “good” and “human well-being” and how you go about promoting those gravely important notions rest upon the existence of g od. i f there is no g od, can we still trust the b ible’s rendition of how to live a good life? i f g od does exist, should we even worry about enjoying earthly life if salvation or perdition waits around the bend, and the distance to these is infinitely small if those fates last for all eternity? t his is some heavy
stuff, and like many people, i often just don’t want to deal with it.
b ut at some point, we do have to deal with it. d eath, the prevalence of suffering, the absence of apparent purpose and a myriad of other dilemmas force us to dip into the theological well-spring or toward science or secular philosophy as our guide to addressing these tough issues. w hen it comes down to it, we all have to live our lives. we all probably die. i don’t know for sure, since i have never felt the terrifying clutch of death. f or that matter, how do i even know that my foot won’t fall through the floor when i take my next step? n ow here i go jumping onto the loony train of epistemological thought.
i suppose if i want to live life practically, i have to assume some things. f or example, i assume gravity will continue to operate as it has for the last 19 years of my experience, or that the people with whom i interact aren’t just robots, and maybe too that there is a loving being who is directing everything in line with some kind of aim. i s it really that outrageous to make that jump? a m i an imbecile for assuming, just as i assume that my parents really love me, that g od is out there, that g od made everything and that g od grants us a little peace of mind by ensuring the continuity of our souls? d oes that make me a lunatic? a nd conversely, are people off their rockers if they think otherwise? i f someone thinks that g od didn’t make the universe and that spirituality exists as a figment of our imaginations, is that person bonkers?
n ot necessarily. b ut to return to the comments section of m att f radd’s posts, there were a score of people who had gone bananas. Just completely bananas. t here was all of this bantering and scoffing at others’ beliefs. were these people posting without hardly thinking? yeah, i think that some of them were. a nd this is really the point for me. i f you’re going to believe something, think it out. i don’t mean lengthen your arguments in favor of it in a way to justify it. i mean take it to task. take it back to the drawing board and scribble all over it with the pen of the opposition.
c onsider the fullness of what you are saying, the critiques and rebuttals. a nd then, no matter what you believe, i can respect that. i would hope that it would benefit some greater, transcendent, objective good, but if it doesn’t, at least i know that you have thought it through. i will still disagree with you and argue my side, but i will be open to your input and criticism, and you ought to be open to mine if you really are receptive to the critical process that hopefully formed your beliefs. i f you aren’t, i ’ll call your views lazy. w ho knows? you might just change my mind. b ut you have to think, really think, before you even try.
Charlie Ducey is a junior studying the languages of Shakespeare (English) and Wittgenstein (German). For the next academic year, he is residing on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean in Oxford, U.K. He welcomes your words. He can be contacted at cducey@nd.edu
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Behind the Irish Non-Athlete t-shirt
you may have seen them around campus: the i rish non-a thlete t-shirts. w hile the wording on the shirt is simple, the message is unclear for some. a s the president of t he wabruda, the club behind the production of the i rish non-a thlete t-shirts, i want to address the notre d ame community on their history and meaning.
t he i rish non-a thlete t-shirts provide t he wabruda and the greater student body a means to address a historical social issue on our campus. f irst created to address the misconception that every minority student on campus plays a varsity sport, the shirt has evolved in meaning as time has progressed. t his shirt has become a means by which all students on campus can display that, while they do not play a varsity sport on campus, they still play a major role in representing and bringing honor to o ur l ady’s university.
t he shirt is in no way meant to ostracize our university’s athletes. we appreciate and acknowledge the hard work and dedication that our athletes put into not only their studies, but also their athletic crafts. we encourage athletes to wear the shirt and invite them to partake in the intellectual elevation that t he wabruda aims to achieve. t his problem is not one that is only faced by our “non-athletes,” but also by our athletes, as they are stereotyped as having less work ethic in the classroom because of their athletic pursuits. t he shirt, coupled with athletes’ various assortment of team-issued shirts, could be used to show the multiple facets of the notre d ame student-athlete.
t he wabruda does not aim to offend, but looks to address this social problem and create a stimulating campus-wide dialogue. o nce obtained, it is strongly encouraged that the message on the shirt
is shared in a way that helps to spread awareness and cause for a more unified and inviting campus for all.
s ome believe that the harsh wording “non-athlete” can be taken as a hostile attack against a specific group on notre d ame’s campus. however, the wording is as it is in order to create no ambiguity in the primary social misconception that it aims to combat. w ith the progressive resolution and eradication of social problems such as these, we will all truly be able to proclaim that we are nd
Dre Smith president t he wabruda sept. 1
lEttEr tO thE EdItOr
By MATTHEW MUNHALL
s cene writer
the showtime period drama “masters of sex” is based on the real life dr. william masters (michael sheen) and virginia Johnson (lizzy caplan), who conducted groundbreaking research on human sexuality at washington university in st. louis beginning in the late 1950s. the scope of their relationship soon moves far beyond simply being research partners, and the couple’s chemistry becomes the show’s emotional centerpiece. equally interesting is how the show, which is two-thirds through its fantastic second season, is exploring issues of gender, sexuality and race in a manner unlike anything else currently on television. show developer michelle ashford and the show’s writers use the context of repressed, post-war a merica — before “the feminine mystique,” before the march on washington, before the stonewall riots — as the backdrop for its progressive ideology.
“masters of sex” does not approach the era from a broad historical sweep; rather, its history is rooted in the everyday. the show’s writing depicts the discrimination of the era through characters who experience it firsthand. w hat makes the show especially resonant and often disquieting is how it highlights forms of oppression that persist even today.
w hile masters is a fairly standard prestige drama antihero — flawed, moody and sexually frustrated — caplan’s
portrayal of Johnson is revelatory. Johnson begins as masters’s secretary but soon becomes essential to the study’s operation and success. despite this, her scientific contributions are repeatedly taken for granted. further, she is constantly accused of being a “bad mother” due to her focus on work and open attitude toward sexuality. television critic a lyssa rosenberg argues that “the choices [Johnson] makes are a reminder that as easy as it is for men to waltz past laws and standards of decent behavior and still keep an audience’s respect, real and fictional women alike face much higher standards.”
w hile gay people were often invisible in the 1950s, “masters of sex” makes these characters’ lives present on screen. barton scully (beau bridges), the provost of washington university in st. louis, is a closeted gay man who avoids intimacy with his wife of nearly 30 years, margaret (a llison Janney). margaret eventually realizes her husband’s sexual orientation and confronts him. barton is deeply conflicted — he loves his wife deeply, but he is attracted to men in an era where homosexuality was still considered a mental illness. in this season’s premiere, he undergoes electroshock therapy and attempts suicide — some of the most heartbreaking moments i have ever watched on tv likewise, betty dimello (annaleigh ashford), a former prostitute who married a pretzel magnate, is caught offguard when her former lover helen (sarah silverman) returns to st. louis and wants to resume their relationship.
dimello insists she needs to stay in her marriage because it offers her a stable and conventional life. “it’s pathetic, helen, we both like dresses, so we’re just going to have to buck up and do the right thing,” dimello tells helen. both of these storylines are beautifully written and deftly explore the intricacies of being gay in a society where it is not accepted. the show has also proved masterful in its depiction of race relations. after masters and Johnson are kicked out of two different hospitals, they take their study to buell green, a “negro” hospital. w hen an african-american newspaper reporter writes an unflattering profile of masters, he threatens to publish fake findings that confirm stereotypes about black sexuality. to masters, his reputation is worth falsifying and disseminating racist stereotypes. his boss, dr. hendricks, fires masters from buell, saying, “there’s nothing more dangerous than a desperate man.” in this and many other storylines, the show probes the abuse of power enabled by white privilege.
“masters of sex” is a brilliant show, with a stellar cast and superb writing. but what sets it apart from the onslaught of prestige dramas is how it uniquely grounds its modern approach to gender, sexuality and race in the setting of a past era. the show suggests a different approach to the period piece and one that elevates and elucidates the experiences of people of all backgrounds.
Contact Matthew Munhall at Matthew.E.Munhall.2@nd.edu
By KEVIN SALAT
s cene writer
because of interpol’s creativity and talent, it is fitting that the title of their new album, “el pintor,” which means “the painter” in spanish, is an anagram of the band’s name. from the very beginning, coming into the new york music scene with their 2002 debut “turn on the bright lights,” interpol’s sleek, post-punk sound is polished and refined. in their most recent and fifth album, we get more of that stylish consistency we have come to expect of them, with a handful of solid tracks showing that interpol is still the same band — which is not necessarily a bad thing. looking back on their career thus far, the fact that interpol didn’t quickly fade out of the limelight after “turn on the bright lights” is nothing short of a miracle. that intense and risk-taking album is one of the greatest rock debuts in recent memory (and probably one of my personal top ten favorite records of all time). the perfect soundtrack for getting lost in the city late at night, it is an assured and thrill-seeking record filled with sharp musicianship that the band just hasn’t lived up to since. however, interpol’s continued success has always come from them knowing exactly who they want to be, despite their growing maturity. lead singer paul banks was an anxious, overwhelmed 24-year-old when “bright lights”
came out. as time has gone on, the passion from that debut has waned but somehow has developed into a more adult post-punk sound. the “bright lights” urgency was present on a solid number of tracks on their 2004 followup album “a ntics,” but the tone has now aged gracefully into an established sophistication with the same unmistakable interpol aesthetic.
“el pintor” is no exception to this trend. the band members are now in their mid-to-late 30s; they clearly recognize their age while still knowing how to enjoy themselves. with its up-tempo building of intensity, album opener “a ll the rage back home” kicks things off in the most fun way possible, making it the easiest-to-love interpol track in a decade. additionally, “my desire” and “a nywhere” display some strong guitar riffs that evolve into lively rock songs. banks’ lyrical themes revolve around a heavy weight on his shoulders. “feels like the whole world’s coming down on me,” he sings in “same town, new story.” on the hardhitting “a ncient ways,” he reiterates worrying about “[being] beaten by the weight of it.” this all comes to a climax with the aptly titled “tidal wave,” an immediate track that shows interpol at full force. looking at the songs individually, there really isn’t a dud in the batch. taking the album as a whole though, “el pintor” is confident, but not nearly as inspiring as interpol was back in its prime. i mean, “breaker 1” is certainly no “obstacle 1”
(one of the most engaging triumphs of their debut), and overall the music just bleeds into the rest of their goodnot-great discography from the past decade. this is just another interpol album, and we should all simply accept that fact. the band seems to be comfortable with it and is instead just focusing on having fun.
that makes it difficult to recommend the album to anyone besides die-hard interpol fans desperately waiting for new material. but if you like this type of post-punk sound, you can’t go wrong grabbing a few of these tracks for your music library. on the other hand, if you’re looking for a gateway into interpol, start at the top with “bright lights” and work your way down to “el pintor.”
Contact Kevin Salat at ksalat@nd.edu
“El Pintor” Interpol
Label: Matador
Tracks: “All the Rage Back Home,” “Always”
If you like: The Strokes, Pixies, Joy Division
By MATT MCMAHON
s cene writer
a little over a week ago, netflix became the latest television distributor to try its hand at the late night, adultthemed animation market, releasing the twelve-episode first season of “bojack horseman” on aug. 22. a fter fox failed so heartily with its ingeniously named “a nimation domination” spin-off programming block, “a nimation domination hi-def” (the initials shorten to adhd, get it?), and comedy central seemingly lost interest in the medium (has anyone heard from “triptank,” maybe it drowned in its contributors’ own self-worth?), the streaming and, more recently, original content provider is aiming to work its way into contention against cartoon network’s day-part channel adult swim with a stronghold on clever and crude.
the show’s premise certainly seems up to the absurdist standards of now-competitor adult swim. in a world in which humans and anthropomorphic animal-human hybrids coexist and intermingle, titular character bojack
horseman is a part-horse, part-human, washed-out 90s sitcom star living off his former fame. the show promises a look into the vapidity of celebrity, as bojack’s dormant lifestyle has transformed him into a soured curmudgeon fixated on his past successes.
the 40-something anti-hero is voiced by will a rnett (“a rrested development,” “hot rod”), just the voice actor to turn in the gravelly, self-loathing yet aloof performance necessary for a half-horse, half-human of bojack horseman’s size and stature — both physically and culturally. a lternative comedians a my sedaris (“strangers with candy”) and paul f tompkins (“mr. show,” “best week ever”), and actors a lison brie (“community,” “mad men”) and aaron paul (“breaking bad”) round out an allstar main cast. a rnett and paul are also two of the show’s executive producers.
in a shocking and very rare move in the industry, “bojack horseman” was renewed for a second season just four days after netflix released the first episodes for streaming. therefore, no matter the outcome of the first season, the show is expected to produce at least another twelve
episodes. this quick turnaround may indicate a new area for netflix to grow: original animated programming. a nimated television shows do not require as much of a joint commitment in scheduling and also leave more flexibility to their stars — which, in the case of “bojack,” is significant, due to its large cast of busy regular and recurring players. one of the main obstacles the netflix-produced fourth season of “a rrested development” faced was undoubtedly the actors’ conflicting schedules and inability to shoot at the same time. in animated series, the voice actors can, if necessary, record their lines separately with little trouble.
however, despite the positive response and promise, we still must ask, is the show worth watching? to find out, check back in to our follow-up piece monday that will look at the series’ first episode and discuss the entire season. or, participate along with us here in the “weekly watch” and catch “bojack horseman” on netflix between now and then.
Contact Matt McMahon at mmcmaho7@nd.edu
W EE k END AT A GLAN c E
THURSDAY
w hat: humor Artists
w hen: 10 p.m.
w here: legends
how much: Free
come to legends to relax after a long week of class with some laughter and fun. start by watching the funniest students on campus perform their own stand-up routines. a fterwards, stay to see this year’s humor a rtists, a student improvisation group notorious for being hilarious and welcoming to on-stage guests.
FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
w hat: IrIshenanigans
w hen: 10 p.m.
w here: Campuswide
how much: Free
the students activies office presents its annual welcome-back event, irishenanigans. this year, the evening festivities feature food truck festivities. in addition, there will be a silent dance party, fire dancers and promised non-stop fun. this event is co-sponsored with a ir force rotc detachment 225.
w hat: FOOtbA ll
w hen: 7:30 p.m.
w here: notre dame stadium how much: Free (with a ticket)
t he football season continues with the season’s first night game versus m ichigan. t his is the last time in a while the i rish will be playing the wolverines, so don’t miss this opportunity to cheer on our so-far undefeated football team in an epic, long-lasting rivalry game. g o i rish, b eat wolverines!
w hat: “the Great Gatsby”
w hen: 3 p.m.
w here: dPAC
how much: $4 for students the debartolo performing a rts center presents the 2013 baz luhrman version of a classic. come out to see some sparkling flapper dresses, lots of champagne and leonardo dicaprio playing Jay gatsby. the film coincides with the snite museum of a rt’s exhibit, roaring twenties e xuberance and depression era extravagence.
Rookie QB trend is dangerous
Just when i thought coaches across the nfl had finally gotten something collectively correct, the r aiders went and ruined it, as always.
f inally, there was not going to be a rookie starting quarterback on opening day, but the r aiders elected to go with d erek c arr as their starter.
n ot because they should have, but they really had no other option.
i am a firm believer that a quarterback should spend some time as a backup in the nfl , get used to a system and then take over, but teams do not seem to think that way anymore. r ather than investing in a player’s growth, teams look for instant impact and payoff, and if it doesn’t work out in the first few years, move onto the next one.
o ften, players are put into losing situations with no offensive support and no line to block in front of them and are still expected to be the reincarnation of famous rookie starters like p eyton m anning or d an m arino. b ut more often than not, a player who gets time to develop will be just as good. l ook at tom b rady, s teve young and a aron r odgers. t he players who are thrown into the fire without a proper team around them either burn out quickly or shatter under the intense heat.
t he recent trend is to start rookie quarterbacks right away, usually because a team has no better option than taking a chance on someone who needs to fulfill his full potential now. h owever, the b rowns got it right by choosing b rian h oyer over Johnny m anziel, the Jaguars were correct in starting c had h enne over b lake b ortles and the v ikings were wise to start m att c assel over teddy b ridgewater. b ut the r aiders, well, they didn’t really have anyone else.
g ranted, c arr, the secondround draft pick out of f resno s tate, earned his spot over former texans’ starter m att s chaub during the preseason, finishing 30-for-45 passing for 326 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. i n only
16 minutes of the fourth and final preseason matchup against the defending s uper b owl champion s eahawks, c arr went 11-for-13 passing, throwing for 143 yards and three touchdowns, including two one-play scores.
s chaub played decently in his start for the r aiders’ third preseason game, a 31-21 loss to the p ackers, finishing 13for-27 passing for 110 yards. o verall, he completed 24 of 47 passes for 218 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception. s chaub is an nfl veteran with seven years of starting and playoff experience, yet we all saw how bad he can be in his final days in h ouston. a nd on top of that, he had elbow issues on his throwing arm and missed practice. r egardless of how much weight one puts on the preseason, c arr is a better choice than an aging quarterback with a nagging and worrisome elbow injury.
a lthough not ideal, the r aiders’ best choice is c arr as their opening-day starter and hoping to whatever cult god r aiders fans worship that he won’t be a flop or get injured, as is tradition with recent r aider quarterbacks. d espite c arr not being a running quarterback like c am n ewton or r ussell w ilson, the r aiders still should be concerned about him being able to handle the intensity of the nfl c arr has already suffered a concussion and rib injury, and he hasn’t even played in a regular season game yet.
to put these concerns into perspective, o akland has had seven different starting quarterbacks since 2011, including two courtships with c arson p almer. w hether due to ineptitude, injury or both, the r aiders cannot keep a starting quarterback.
f inally, when i thought all of my hopes and dreams had come true and all was right with the football hierarchy, of course it was the o akland r aiders who ruined it for me.
Contact Isaac Lorton at ilorton@nd.edu
The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
NFL suspends Colts owner
Associated Press
the nfl suspended Jim irsay for the first six games of the season and fined him $500,000 for violating its personal conduct policy, coming down hard on the indianapolis colts owner tuesday just hours after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor stemming from an embarrassing march traffic stop.
commissioner roger goodell said irsay is barred from team facilities, practices and games and cannot represent the colts at nfl meetings or events. the fine is the maximum allowed under league rules.
“i have stated on numerous occasions that owners, management personnel and coaches must be held to a higher standard than players,” goodell told irsay in a letter released by the nfl. “we discussed this during our meeting and you expressed your support for that view, volunteering that owners should be held to the highest standard.”
the 55-year-old irsay pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving while intoxicated and acknowledged during his appearance before a hamilton county judge that he was under the influence of the painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone when he was arrested march 16 near his home in the indianapolis suburb of carmel.
irsay did not comment outside the courtroom, but he apologized to colts fans in a prepared statement.
“i am committed to do everything in my power to turn this whole experience into a positive event for myself, my family and the community,” he said. “in
retrospect, i now know that the incident opened my eyes to issues in my life that needed addressing and helped put me on the path to regain my health. i truly hope and pray that my episode will help in some small measure to diminish the stigma surrounding our country’s terrible and deadly problem of addiction. it is a disease.”
irsay’s case was closely watched around the nfl — not least among players — because there are few examples of the league punishing an owner like irsay. detroit lions president tom lewand was suspended for 30 days and fined $100,000 in 2010 for violating the nfl’s personal conduct policy following his guilty plea to driving while impaired. a player with a first-offense misdemeanor dui would not be suspended and would be fined no more than $50,000 under terms of the collective bargaining agreement with the nfl players association.
police said an officer spotted irsay driving slowly, stopping in the roadway and failing to use a turn signal. officers said he had trouble reciting the alphabet and failed field sobriety tests. various prescription drugs were found in his vehicle, along with more than $29,000 in cash.
irsay acknowledged in 2002 that he had become dependent on painkillers after several years of orthopedic operations but said he had overcome the problem.
irsay will be on probation for a year and is prohibited from drinking or possessing alcohol during that time. he must submit to drug testing during his probation and successfully complete a substance abuse rehabilitation program. less than 48 hours after his arrest, the colts said irsay had
entered a treatment facility. irsay’s driver’s license also was suspended for one year by Judge J. richard campbell, who asked irsay about his history of prescription drug troubles.
“yes, i’ve had it in the past ... when i was dealing with the effects after having surgery,” irsay answered.
andre miksha, the hamilton county chief deputy prosecutor, said irsay’s case wasn’t handled differently than the roughly 1,100 other intoxicated driving cases the office handles each year. he said the “vast majority” of such cases end in plea agreements. he also said the terms of irsay’s plea agreement are typical for a person who faced first-time driving while intoxicated charges in the county just north of indianapolis.
irsay had resumed his duties with the colts at the nfl draft in may and even made an unsuccessful personal pitch to his fellow owners on behalf of indianapolis’ bid to host the 2018 super bowl. irsay became the colts owner in 1997 after the death of his father, robert irsay, and a lengthy legal battle with his father’s second wife. forbes magazine has estimated irsay’s net worth at $1.6 billion.
he has helped build the colts into a top nfl team over the past decade behind quarterback peyton manning, now with denver, and was a key player in the drive to bring the super bowl to indianapolis two years ago. he is working with some success to rebuild the team behind young quarterback andrew luck while coping with a divorce that follows a decade-long separation from his wife of 33 years.
u.s. defeats new Zealand
a merican players paused from their warmups to stand and face their new Zealand opponents as they performed the haka, their traditional war dance challenge.
t he u s. response wasn’t nearly as interesting. Just pound the ball inside and outmuscle an overmatched opponent.
a nthony davis had 21 points and nine rebounds, Kenneth faried added 15 and 11 boards
and the u s. remained unbeaten at the basketball world cup by beating winless new Zealand 98-71 on tuesday.
James harden scored 13 points for the a mericans, who will play two more games in bilbao before moving on to barcelona for the round of 16. t hey face the dominican republic on wednesday before wrapping up group c play on t hursday against u kraine.
“we actually were going to shake hands with them afterwards because we knew that
that was a really neat thing to do and it’s part of their tradition, and we admire that,” Krzyzewski said.
fans enjoyed it, then were largely quiet throughout the first half as the bigger u s. team imposed its will, not needing the kind of highlight plays fans expect of the nba stars.
but there was no shortage of energy from faried, the denver nuggets forward who seems intent on raising his profile as a largely overlooked player in the league.
mEn’s bAskEtbAll | usa 98, new Zealand 71
Associated Press
Isaac Lorton a ssistant managing e ditor
Sparks joins Turner as assistant coach
By GREG HADLEY
a ssociate sports e ditor
“it’s been a busy two weeks.” t hat just about sums up matt sparks’s experience as the new associate head coach of cross country and track and field at notre dame so far. a nd that’s before the i rish have even stepped on the race course.
sparks was hired by new head coach a lan turner in mid-august to coach the men’s and women’s cross country programs in the fall and work with the distance runners year-round. since then, sparks has had to adjust to his new position on the fly, as preseason workouts began soon after he joined the team.
“l earning the team and what helps the team be successful are really what these two weeks have been about,” sparks said. “a nd it will continue that way for a while. … we’re getting more comfortable with each other as the days go by, but there’s still a lot of learning to be done. we know each other’s names.”
h is quick move to notre dame was aided by his long friendship with turner, who took over in July after the retirement of longtime coach Joe p iane. sparks and turner both competed in track and field for i ndiana, with turner earning
a ll-a merican accolades in the long jump until 1992 and sparks serving as cross country team captain from 19951996 before graduating in 1997. w hile the two rarely crossed paths at i ndiana, sparks said, they became good friends when turner came to s outhern i llinois in 2006. sparks had already spent two seasons with the s alukis as the coach of the women’s cross country team and distance runners but had recently been promoted to head coach of both the men’s and women’s team. turner, meanwhile, served as the sprint, hurdles and relays coach.
together, the two combined to coach 68 m issouri valley c onference champions, as well as 205 all-conference performers. w hile there, sparks said the two assistant coaches also made plans for the future.
“it was one of those things [where] we had always talked about if we could get together and work together again, we both [would like that],” sparks said. “t here was a mutual respect there, and that’s where things got started.”
sparks leaves s outhern i llinois after 12 seasons there, coaching four a ll-a merican athletes. he was named mvc coach of the year in cross country four times but said he
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jumped at the offer to come to notre dame.
“i was content and happy at s outhern i llinois, but there are a few places in the country that when they come ask, ‘do you want to work for us,’ you don’t say no,” sparks said. “notre dame is one of those places.”
a lthough sparks has coached eight teams that placed in the top 25 at the ncaa championship, he said the expectations are even higher at notre dame.
“ we can be nationally competitive on both sides,” sparks said. “ we have to train to be on par with the nationally competitive teams. s o the intensity of some of the workouts is going to go up from what i’m accustomed to, and the volume that the athletes are running is going to be more. but the nice thing is that the kids on the team prepared that way all summer, so it’s not a shock to them to be asked to do more than they’ve ever done.”
sparks takes over a team that has advanced to the ncaa championship on both the men’s and women’s side for three straight seasons. t he women return five of seven varsity runners last season, while the men bring back three. both teams placed in the bottom third of the 31 teams at the ncaa championship after earning at-large
berths into the meet. t he i rish have no intention of backing off from last year’s standard, sparks said.
“ t he goal is always going to be to make it to the national [championship],” he said.
“ t hat’s the first and foremost thing. a fter we get to know each other better and get into
continued from page 16
make the commitment i would need to make with the swimming and diving program.”
barnes’s wife, alyssa, passed away in april 2012 after a multiyear battle with cancer. their children, Jack and caroline, are both younger than 10. director of athletics Jack swarbrick issued a statement supporting barnes’s decision.
“i completely support brian’s decision at this time to step away from his coaching duties at notre dame to focus on his family,” swarbrick said in the press release. “i would like to thank him for his dedication to the women’s swimming and diving program over the last six years. he did a remarkable job taking the program to new heights the last few seasons, including the program’s first ever individual national champion. i think we all know the last few years have been very challenging for brian on a personal basis, following his wife alyssa’s death after her long fight with cancer. ultimately, this move is in the best interests of brian, Jack and caroline.”
barnes leaves notre dame on
the heat of competition in o ctober, we can set specifics on what spot we want to be.” sparks and the i rish begin their season f riday at the c rusader i nvitational in valparaiso, i nd.
Contact Greg Hadley at ghadley@nd.edu
the heels of one of the most successful seasons in program history. senior emma reaney led the irish to a sixth-place finish at the acc championships and a 16thplace showing at the ncaa championships, tied for the program’s best finish in 15 years. along the way, she won an ncaa title in the 200-yard breaststroke and set a new american record in the event. barnes also led the irish to three acc individual titles, 42 combined big east individual and relay titles and two big east team titles. he was also recognized as the big east swimming coach of the year three times, and 18 school records were broken in his time as coach.
in 2011, after his wife was diagnosed, barnes also established the coaches vs. cancer fighting irish swim clinic, which has raised more than 45,000 dollars for local families battling cancer. the fourth edition of the clinic is scheduled to take place sept. 20. swarbrick did not name an interim coach in the press release. former assistant coach Kate Kovenock resigned from her position to become the head coach at brown on aug. 27. the irish begin their season oct. 3 with a dual meet against michigan state at home.
ZACHARY LLORENS | The Observer
Irish junior Molly Seidal competes in the 3000 M race at the Notre Dame Invitational on Jan. 25. Seidal finished in fourth place.
By ZACH KLONSINSKI sports writer
w hen notre dame opens the season in the final week of s eptember, it will field a relatively young but battletested, team. a lthough the i rish will be looking to replace three seniors from a year ago, plenty of experience returns with the remaining youth — including sophomores m onica
r obinson and m ary c loss.
b oth saw plenty of time in the lineup in their first collegiate year and became regulars in the singles lineups. r obinson, who played fourth position most of the year, finished 2410 (9-4 acc ), while c loss, who played right behind her at fifth position, accumulated a similar mark of 20-13 (9-5 acc ). c loss was also a fixture in the doubles rotation for the i rish, pairing with then-senior Julie s abacinski for the first half of the year and current senior m olly o ’Koniewski for the second half. t he c losso ’Koniewski tandem was successful in that time, going 4-1 in the final five regular-season matches.
“ i think the beginning of [last] season was a transition period,” c loss said. “ b ut by the end of the season, it all came together, and i think we ended strong.”
“ w e all believed in each other,” r obinson added.
“ i t paid off when we played [ ncaa regional host] n orthwestern. … u psetting them was really cool.”
w ith the i rish graduating three top players, both
Sophomores step up for Irish
c loss and r obinson know there are large shoes to fill going into this season.
“ o ur seniors last year were big leaders, and they helped come through with the team in big matches,” c loss said. “a ll of us younger players learned from them. … w e have a somewhat young team, but there is a lot of positive energy and hard work.”
“ i ’ve never seen such enthusiastic work,” r obinson said. “ w anting to stay on the court all the time, which is really neat because hard work, it just rubs off — it’s contagious. i t’s awesome.”
t he two sophomores even knew each other before they arrived at n otre d ame. c loss hails from m enlo p ark, c alif., in the s an f rancisco area, while r obinson calls v alley c enter, c alif., home, situated between s an d iego and l os a ngeles. t he two never directly faced off as singles players and only met each other once in a double match but were familiar with each other and talked more as the recruiting process picked up, they said.
“ w e saw each other a lot in tournaments,” r obinson said. “ t he tennis world is a small world, so you go onto [ t he tennis r ecruiting n etwork], and i remember seeing her name a lot.”
“ w e knew both of us were looking here,” c loss said. “ i was glad when she committed, when we both knew we were coming.”
“ s he did!” r obinson said when asked who committed first as the pair shared
a laugh. “ s he was the brave one.”
t he two found themselves together again over the summer, when they were roommates for summer classes.
“ w e’ve become close,” r obinson said. “ l earned a lot about each other.”
“ w e’re even better friends now because we know each other better,” c loss added. “ i t’s fun being on a team, getting all that time
together.”
“ w e trained a lot, did a lot of conditioning which was nice,” r obinson continued. “ i ’d say we got fit and stronger in the summer, so coming back now isn’t too different.”
a s n otre d ame works towards its season-opening tournament at the end of s eptember, both players said they are eager to start the season.
“ i ’m excited for this
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season, for the whole team, for the freshmen,” c loss said. “ i just think it will be a fun year overall. s econd year in the acc , u nder a rmour. … h opefully, it all just works out.”
t he i rish begin their fall season by hosting the n otre d ame i nvitational at the c ourtney tennis c enter on s ept. 26-28.
Contact Zach Klonsinski at zklonsin@nd.edu
EMMET FARNAN | The Observer
Irish sophomore Monica Robinson celebrates after winning a point in Notre Dame’s match against Indiana on Feb. 2 at Courtney Tennis Center. Notre Dame defeated Indiana 4-3.
quarterback d evin g ardner, who the head coach said “has played great against us,” and junior receiver d evin f unchess.
“[ t hat’s] a one-two combination that is very dynamic,” Kelly said. “ f unchess now being on the perimeter is a matchup problem, and he’ll be a matchup problem for everybody that he plays this year.”
a s for the rivalry talk surrounding a series that doesn’t have another meeting currently scheduled, Kelly steered clear of anything controversial, even asking, “ h ow did i do?” after one rivalry-themed question.
n otre d ame (.7332) ranks first in all-time winning percentage, while m ichigan (.7326) checks in fractionally behind. t he winner of s aturday’s tilt will claim first place.
“ i t’s something, certainly, that we talk about in recruiting, in terms of the elite programs and the tradition
mEn’s GOlF
of our program,” Kelly said of the elite winning percentage. “ i t doesn’t help us right now, but certainly it’s something that when you’re talking about the great programs of all time it’s something that we’re very proud of.”
o f the last 29 games between the two programs, the contest has been decided by seven points or fewer 18 times. t he w olverines have outscored the i rish, 110-98, combined in Kelly’s four seasons in s outh b end.
w hy so many close games?
“ i think two programs that have such great pride that they’re going to battle and fight to the very end,”
Kelly said. “ t here is an immense amount of pride, both teams want to win this football game and that’s why regardless of what the teams’ records are and what the personnel looks like, there is just great pride in both programs.”
s ophomore receiver torii h unter Jr. (groin) has made good progress, according to Kelly, and was scheduled to partake in individual
drills tuesday as he remains ahead of schedule.
“ i f things go well, we will continue to progress him through the week, and if he has a great week he could be in a situation where potentially he could play next week,” Kelly said.
s enior linebacker Jarrett g race (leg) continues to make significant progress in his movement and other body mechanics, Kelly said, but he’s still “a few weeks away” from being 100 percent.
“ h e’s not at 100 percent, but he’s getting better each and every day,” Kelly said.
s ophomore receiver c orey r obinson (thumb) is a little bit sore after playing s aturday against r ice, according to Kelly, but “everything looked great after the game.”
“ h e’s one of those kids that thought that was a great challenge in his life that he wanted to undertake,” Kelly said. “ h e was going to play and find a way to succeed.”
Contact Mike Monaco at jmonaco@nd.edu
Underclassmen take on bigger role
By MIKE GINOCCHIO
sports writer
a s n otre d ame tees off the 2014 season, it will rely on a strong group of underclassmen to build upon its successes last season and establish a tradition of tradition of consistent performance.
s ophomore b lake b arens said he’s ready for the challenge.
“ i think the underclassmen should do a [fair amount] of the work this year for the team,” b arens said. “ i t looks like there will be at least three starting in every event. we’ve got three really good
sophomores and one really good freshman, so if we get three of us playing well, we should be good to go.”
t he i rish got off to the right start for that to happen. n otre d ame opened up its fall season s unday with a victory at the n otre d ame Kickoff c hallenge. t he i rish beat iupui by 19 strokes and b all s tate by 25 strokes.
“ i t feels like kind of the first step is done,” b arens said. “ we wanted to win and expected to do well, and we are moving forward in the right direction. i t was really about starting off the season in the right direction. w e were more concerned
where we shot than about the other teams, and we played really well which was really good for us to start out on because it gave us a lot of confidence.”
b arens said that confidence boost not only applied to himself but more importantly to the core of underclassmen developing in the wings.
“ we are young, but it’s nice to see we are contributing a lot to the team,” b arens said. “ to be successful as a team, we, as sophomores and freshmen, need to step up a lot, even though there is a lot riding on us, and we are up for the challenge.”
l uckily for the i rish underclassmen, they still have older mentors to learn from. b arens said the team will rely on the play and leadership of senior p atrick g rahek, who was named to the a ll- acc a cademic team last season.
“ p at is definitely a good role model,” b arens said.
“ h e’s shown us that he does well in the classroom and on course. l ast year as freshmen, he made us feel wel
come and really added to the team aspect. h e’s also playing really well on the course right now, which motivates us too.”
h owever, while it is important to develop a good team camaraderie, b arens said he recognizes that, at the end of the day, only one person is responsible for the
success of a golfer: himself.
“ f or this fall, i think the focus is more on the individual,” b arens said. “ w e need to not get too caught up on team because the individual golf game is important [as well.]”
t he i rish resume play at the g opher i nvitational on s unday at w indsong f arm g olf c lub in i ndependence, m inn.
Contact Mike Ginocchio at mginocch@nd.edu
Observer
Irish senior wide receiver DaVaris Daniels catches a pass during Notre Dame’s 41-30 loss against Michigan on Sept. 7 .
Irish freshman Thomas Steve tees off at the Notre Dame Kickoff Challenge at the Warren Golf Course on Aug 31.
continued from page 16
classroom. t hey are very accountable and take care of business quietly but confidently. they’re really a terrific group.”
l ike their coach, the boys themselves acknowledge their hard-work mentality as a unifying factor, especially on the field.
“i think us six take pride in being the hardest workers, so it’s something we strive to do, to be the hardest working out of the whole group because we all really want to get better,” Klekota said. “i’d definitely say on the field, our base is all six of us are really, really competitive.”
competitively, the juniors’ careers began to develop last season as sophomores. hodan, who earned a ll-acc and academic a ll-a merican honors, posted 11 goals, second only to former irish forward harrison shipp’s 12, while acc a ll-academic team member panken and Klekota tallied five and one scores, respectively. t hese three players and l ojek have stepped up this season to compose the deep and experienced sector of the irish midfield.
“i think the midfield really has grown, and i think our class has definitely been a big part of that,” hodan said. “we’ve really grown to learn the system, and we’ve all adapted well to playing everyone’s strengths and tendencies.”
t he group has played to
Carson
continued from page 16
— it’s all in the nature of the sport. d ue to the relatively low number of scoring plays in soccer when compared to sports like football and basketball, a result that’s a little on the
those strengths already this season. Klekota scored his second career goal in the team’s season-opening 2-1 victory against marquette on friday. he and hodan accounted for the two goals in notre dame’s 2-2 exhibition draw with bradley on aug. 19, and hodan and panken contributed one goal each for the irish in their 5-1 exhibition victory against wisconsin on aug. 25.
with their increased presence on the field, the juniors have taken on a greater responsibility as upperclassmen. no longer the freshmen members of the squad, these six now provide the support and motivation they hope their peers emulate, Klekota said.
“i think being team leaders [as juniors] is just the role of taking the younger guys and showing them the things that we were shown when we were in their spots,” Klekota said. “it doesn’t have to come through yelling or screaming, just through short, little conversations and always keeping them involved to make sure they keep growing as players.”
t he juniors’ own growth as individual players over the past two seasons contributed to notre dame’s success on the field, helping earn the program its first national title last year. t he juniors agreed they are determined to repeat again this season, but they said it’s not all about their performance on the field — they must take their superstitions into account.
fluky side might be a little more likely to happen. i n a basketball game, it should be expected that more often than not, a guard will convert a 12-foot, wideopen jump shot or that if a football team gets inside the red zone, it should at least come away with three points.
“we go to boss’s [coach clark’s] house before the game for dinner, and as the year goes on, we get more and more superstitious about where each of us sits in the car,” hodan said.
“we all drive together as a class and on the way, we listen to the same exact songs,” lojek said. “on the way there, connor sits shotgun, patrick sits in the back and on the way back, connor sits in the back.”
lojek clarified that the back is actually the trunk of the car, and despite the ridiculousness, hodan simply said it’s necessary for good luck.
between the multiple crammed car rides, hours of practice, team dinners and even rooming together, one might think these six would grow sick of each other.
however, it is these bonding opportunities that have brought about many of the group’s favorite traditions and memories, they said.
“every year, we take a picture of all six of us lined up promstyle, including one with the national championship trophy,” Klekota said. “we also dressed up as the backstreet boys — [from] the “m illennium” album — for halloween.”
a nd, when it comes down to it, whether it’s sending a cross downfield or dressing up as a 90s boy band, Klekota spoke for the six: “it’s all about being family.”
Contact Kit Loughran at kloughr1@nd.edu
b ut soccer isn’t necessarily as straightforward. w hen you have the ball at the edge of the penalty area, you might still have to beat a defender and the goalkeeper in order to score. take last year’s match between c helsea and w est h am u nited in the u nited Kingdom’s
b arclays p remier l eague for example. t he two teams played to a 0-0 draw, reflective often of a game in which both teams were equal. b ut that was far from the case. c helsea outshot its opponent 39-1. i t controlled 72 percent of the possession time — yet still failed to win.
i t’s why this early in the year that shots — and especially those put on target — mean more than goals. t he i rish outshot then- n o. 12 m arquette and g eorgetown by a combined 40-20 over the weekend’s 200 minutes of action and held a 14-6 edge in shots on goal. a nd against two teams that entered the weekend in the top 12 of the rankings, those statistics mark something to be upbeat about as the i rish head down the path of their season.
a nd while you don’t want to read too much into goals scored in such a small sample space, it can only be a good thing for the i rish that graduate student forward l eon b rown got on the scoresheet in the season opener. b rown — who scored five times in 24 appearances last year — only made three starts and took the starting position vacated by h arrison s hipp. s hipp, of course, led the i rish last year in both
goals (12) and assists (10) and now plies his trade with the c hicago f ire, with which he’s already scored six goals and recorded five assists.
a nd for n otre d ame to defend its national championship this year, it is probably going to need someone to step up and perform in the position left by s hipp. b rown fits that role as a veteran with eight collegiate goals to his name. g ranted, he won’t be s hipp — as c lark said last week, “ l eon just needs to be l eon” — but getting off on the right foot is certainly promising for forwards, as so much of their performance is dependent on the confidence they have to put the ball in the back of the net.
s o rather than taking a look at the scoreline and the latest nscaa coaches poll that dropped n otre d ame from n o. 1 to n o. 5, take a look at how the game went. t here’s nothing so far to indicate that the i rish aren’t candidates for a second consecutive national title.
Contact Alex Carson at acarson@nd.edu
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Photo courtesy of Danny Lojek
The Irish juniors pose for a prom-style photo. Midfielder Connor Klekota said the group takes the same photo annually as a tradition.
ZACHARY LlORENS | The Observer Irish graduate student forward Leon Brown anticipates a Maryland player’s next move towards the ball in Notre Dame’s 1-1 draw against ACC-rival Maryland on Oct. 8 at Alumni Stadium.
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Happy Birthday: focus on learning, improving your friendships and association with others and exploring new interests that will take your mind off trivial setbacks. make home improvements and stabilize your position by reorganizing your personal documents. choose caution over impulse and consider self-deception a possibility regarding personal situations you face. understanding and patience will be required and maintaining your health will be important. your numbers are 9, 12, 23, 30, 32, 39, 41.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): enjoy life and all it has to offer. indulge in events, activities and doing things that interest you, and you will gain knowledge and improve your prospects. travel will lead to a new adventure. romance is highlighted.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): financial ventures and opportunities will come from an unusual source. plan carefully or whatever you gain will slip through your fingers. stringent policy when it comes to expenditures should be put in place before someone convinces you to spend inappropriately.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): focus on personal gains and improvements, not on those putting demands on you. you aren’t likely to get valid information and should make a point of doing your own research. make changes at home or to your current living arrangement.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): don’t be alarmed by the changes taking place. a strong, stable, responsible approach to work and personal duties will put you in a good position that will bring promising results. your personal secrets will be revealed if you are too trusting.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): strut your stuff and put on a show. not everyone will be entertained by your bravado, but it will grab the attention of someone who likes your style and knows how to put your talents to good use.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): invest in education, travel and your community. don’t let emotional issues stop you from following through with your plans. make a couple of changes to your living quarters to accommodate something you want to pursue. emotional deception is apparent.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): speak up and ask questions if you are uncertain. attend an event or activity designed to improve your community. personal connections made at functions will turn out to be opportune. romance is in the stars.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): observe how others react to what you say. what you learn will help you avoid making a mistake. protect against physical illness or injury. do something to make your domestic surroundings more conducive to the things you enjoy doing
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): check out what everyone is doing or saying. stick to the truth and focus on getting ahead professionally, financially and personally. positive changes at home will raise your standard of living and lead to a better relationship with someone special.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): ulterior motives are apparent and taking precautions to keep your intentions a secret will be in your best interest. be ready to counter an unexpected change someone makes at the last minute. don’t let it disrupt your plans.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): say what’s on your mind and get what you want in writing. a professional change looks inviting. your negotiating skills will help you win a position that can lead to greater income. romance will help bring you closer to someone you love
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): avoid emotional confrontations. concentrate on contracts, settlements and other legal or financial matters that can influence your standard of living, your reputation or your position. honesty will be a factor regarding an old friend. lay your cards on the table.
Birthday Baby: you are engaging, creative and fun-loving. you are adventuresome and emotional.
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk
JumblE | david hoyt and Jeff KnureK
FOOtbAll
Kelly gives no update
By MIKE MONACO
s enior sports writer
i rish head coach brian Kelly said he did not have any updates on the five players being held out of practice and competition following notre d ame’s investigation into “suspected academic dishonesty” at his weekly press conference tuesday.
Kelly said the players have not been made a part of meetings and said everything is status quo.
“ we haven’t made that change [with their involvement in meetings] because i haven’t got any updates relative to where we are in the process and the timing of that,” Kelly said.
Kelly said t hursday he has been informed that notre d ame’s investigation has been closed. t he university announced a ug. 15 that junior cornerback Kei varae r ussell, senior receiver d avaris d aniels, senior
mEn’s sOCCEr
defensive end i shaq w illiams and graduate student linebacker Kendall moore were being kept out of practice and competition. notre d ame announced t hursday a fifth player is also being held out, and a university official later confirmed the player is senior safety e ilar h ardy.
w hen notre d ame and m ichigan kick off under the lights at notre d ame s tadium on s aturday night, the two historic programs will be meeting for the 42nd time. s ince the teams squared off in 1978, the i rish and the wolverines have played every year except 1983, 1984, 1995, 1996, 2000 and 2001.
“i think we all know the kind of game we’re gonna play here with this opponent,” Kelly said. “e ach team knows each other very well. c ertainly they’ve been great games.”
Kelly highlighted w olverines graduate student
nd wOmEn’s swImmInG
Barnes resigns as coach, effective immediately
Observer Staff Report
brian barnes, head coach of the women’s swimming and diving team, resigned suddenly tuesday afternoon after six years at the helm of the program.
barnes, who coached eight a ll-a mericans and one ncaa champion for notre dame, said in a press release he was leaving in order to spend more time with his family and would spend at least one year away from collegiate swimming.
“i’ve loved every minute that i’ve been involved with women’s swimming and diving at notre dame,” barnes said in the press release. “i’ve simply come to a point where my family needs to become the top priority for me. i need to focus more of my time and attention on my two children and realistically i cannot do that and
see w swim PAGE 11
Juniors prepare for round three
By KIT LOUGHRAN sports writer
two years ago, six freshman walked into a lumni stadium to begin their collegiate soccer careers at notre dame. now juniors, those same six return confident, spirited and more than ready for round three.
m idfielders patrick hodan, connor Klekota, danny l ojek and evan panken, defender m ichael shipp and goalkeeper brian talcott represent notre dame’s junior class. from the field to the classroom to the dorm room, these six players are more than just teammates.
“we’re all very close — we’re like brothers and definitely family,” l ojek said.
t his sense of family carries into their identity as a class. i rish coach bobby c lark recognized the close group as one distinguished by its work ethic and commitment.
“t he junior class is a group of very good young men,” c lark said. “t hey are tremendous students with very high gpa s, [and] they are very competitive on the field and in the
w hen the now- n o. 5 i rish played out a scoreless draw with n o. 9 g eorgetown on s unday, a natural reaction might have been to look at n otre d ame’s shot advantage in the game and determine that the result was a bit unfair to the defending national champions. t he i rish outshot the h oyas 23-9 (8-3 shots on goal) and for the most part, controlled play on the pitch but failed to come away as the winners after 110 minutes.
s ome might instinctively think it’s a cause for concern — how can you dominate the shots department by such a wide margin and fail to win? a nd what does a draw in the opening weekend say about n otre d ame’s chances for a repeat?
t he answer to the second question is easy — just breathe. t he answer to the first explains why the second need not be asked
Observer File Photo
Former Irish coach Brian Barnes, right, watches his team compete against Iowa at the Shamrock Invitational on Jan. 31.
COLBY HOYER | The Observer
Irish junior midfielder Evan Panken charges past a Wisconsin defender for a look at the goal, while fellow junior midfielder Connor Klekota backs him up in Notre Dame’s 5-1 victory over Wisconsin on Aug. 25.
