Print Edition for The Observer for Monday, October 10, 2022

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Volume 57, Issue 21 | MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

University leaders discuss campus survey results

By BELLA LAUFENBERG Associate News Editor

The Campus Inclusive Survey, which has been done previously in 2018 and 2020, asked the Notre Dame student population to reflect on their sense of belonging and what factors have influenced how at home they feel under the golden dome.

Data was collected from February to March 2022 and yielded a 42 percent response rate, according to vice president of student affairs Gerry Olinger.

“We had 5,380 respondents [to the] survey, which we were

actually very pleased with,” he said. “On average, the national response rate for these types of surveys is about 20 to 24 percent.

So, we had a significantly higher response rate than many other institutions.”

The results of the recent survey, Olinger explained, are entirely accessible to anyone within the campus community, except in cases where anonymity could not be preserved.

Students, faculty and staff can log into the survey results using their Notre Dame NetID and password.

Viewers can find the survey

results in their aggregate form by clicking through data in each of the nine survey topics: respondent characteristics, student experiences at Notre Dame, comfort sharing aspects of identity, recommending Notre Dame, how Notre Dame has changed, insensitive remarks, adverse treatment, resources for reporting and open-ended comments.

Out of many result statistics, Olinger highlighted a few that he said stood out to him, both good and bad, including that see SURVEY PAGE 4

Notre Dame, city enters flu season

By PETER BREEN News Writer

Over 6,000 free vaccinations were administered exclusively for students during the first flu blitz, University Health Services (UHS) director Edward Junkins told The Observer. Faculty, staff and dependents are eligible to make appointments for the second blitz.

The UHS orchestrated its annual flu vaccine blitz in the Stepan Center on Sept. 20 and Sept. 21. The secondary blitz takes place this week on Oct. 11 and Oct. 12.

Junkins supplied the rationale: influenza is a highly communicable infectious disease that consistently causes morbidity.

Influenza, Junkins said, is an illness that can quickly overwhelm the resources the University has in place in the event of a widespread outbreak. “[Morbidity] means loss of time from work, significant symptoms, so body aches, high fever, dehydration and putting people at risk who have chronic illness,” he said. see FLU PAGE 3

‘Studebaker Talks’ feature Feminists United South Bend community holds voting rally

By KATELYN WALDSCHMIDT News Writer

Courtesy of Jacob Titus

Speakers Zachary T. Nelson, Jeff Walker, Lety Stanton-Verduzco, Leslie Pinson, Caitlin Hubbard and Benjamin Futa stand on stage at Studebaker Talks. The event took place in South Bend City Church.

By ISA SHEIKH Associate News Editor

Freight trains rattled overhead and a double rainbow stretched across the gray sky as hundreds of South Bend residents gathered for the second annual “Studebaker Talks” in a room that once served as a factory floor for the Studebaker company. The once-abandoned venue, which now serves as the South Bend City Church, reflected the history of the wagon and automobile manufacturer based in the city for more than a century, employing thousands in South Bend until the plant’s closure in 1963.

The history of the space where

news PAGE 4

audiences heard and engaged six TED-esque talks was something that organizers leaned into, according to organizing committee member Jacob Titus.

“That space has been reimagined in a way that you can definitely tell this was part of the factory,” Titus, a photographer and designer at the helm of a creative studio called Tutt Street Studio said. Titus is also behind the blog West.SB, which centers around South Bend history and culture. “[It adds] a lot of weight to the conversations having this shadow of Studebaker,” he said.

Friday night’s event donated all net proceeds to the Boys & Girls Club of St. Joseph County,

scene PAGE 5

raising more than $2,500 in ticket sales.

Jonathan Jones, director of recreation for the city’s department of venues, parks and arts, served as the night’s MC, introducing each speaker and facilitating discussion throughout the room in between each talk.

“Tonight we’re going to have an opportunity to celebrate ingenuity and progress that is happening in our city and for some of us, myself included, tonight might be the very night that serves as a catalyst for you to really be inspired to make that first step … that’s going to help make it a place where everyone can see STUDEBAKER PAGE 3

viewpoint PAGE 6

Saint Mary’s Feminists United club held a rally Saturday afternoon in front of Le Mans Hall to mark one month until election day. Echoing other women’s marches around the country also held Saturday, the rally centered around speakers who addressed the importance of women getting out to vote in elections.

“We are trying to highlight voting right now with the midterm election coming up,” Feminists United treasurer and senior Libbey Detcher said. “Traditionally, college students have a really low voter turnout.”

Feminists United’s mission is to empower and give community to women. Each year, they hold events like feminist trivia, work the women’s health fair, help with Take Back the Night and sponsor voting events such as the one on Saturday to encourage women to get out and vote.

Feminists United president and junior Madison Mata said events like the rally are especially important to learn about and provide resources to assist

football PAGE 12

the voting process.

“I am from Texas and whenever I have to request my absentee ballot, I get really confused,” Mata said about her own experiences.

Detcher said women’s voices are too often quieted in society.

“I think some voices tend to be underrepresented or even stifled sometimes,” she said.

The speakers at the event were all women in government offices who shared their stories and discussed the importance of women voting.

The first to speak was Saint Mary’s alum Rachel Tomas Morgan, an at-large member of the common council in South Bend. Tomas Morgan talked about how she tried to encourage many people to run for city council seats before someone turned the question back on her and asked why she didn’t run herself.

Tomas Morgan said she originally thought she didn’t have the knowledge, qualifications or experience to run. She had asked 60 people their opinions on her running before she felt validated enough to try.

In her speech, Tomas see VOTING PAGE 3

W Soccer PAGE 12

2

TODAY

The observer | MOnday, OCTOBER 10, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com

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What was your favorite class you’ve taken in college?

P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556

Liana Bigaud

Allison Fleming

senior Pasquerilla West Hall

sophomore Pasquerilla East Hall

“Cell biology.”

“Engineering Computing.”

Tara Henry

Nathaniel Clay

junior Pasquerilla East Hall

junior Fisher Hall

“Gen chem II.”

“Foundations of Theology.”

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Bianca Contreras Lopez

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senior Howard Hall

senior Lyons Hall

“Intro to Education, Schooling and Society.”

“Introduction to International Relations.”

Editor-in-Chief Alysa Guffey Managing Editor Aidan O’Malley Asst. Managing Editor: Mannion McGinley Asst. Managing Editor: Genevieve Coleman Asst. Managing Editor: Maggie Eastland Notre Dame News Editor: Ryan Peters Saint Mary’s News Editor: Meghan Lange Viewpoint Editor: Hannah Hebda Sports Editor: Aidan Thomas Scene Editor: Willoughby Thom Photo Editor: Ryan Vigilante Graphics Editor: Maggie Klaers Social Media Editor: Anna Hurt Advertising Manager: Emili Garcia Casas Ad Design Manager: Christina Sayut Systems Administrator: Rachel Johnson Talent & Inclusion Manager: Angela Mathew Office Manager & General Info

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Today’s Staff News

Sports

Liam Price Kathryn Munchnick Matthew Broder

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Photo

Scene

RYAN VIGILANTE | The Observer

The Leprechaun stirs up spirit at Notre Dame’s football game on Saturday. The Irish defeated the No. 16 BYU Cougars 28-20 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Notre Dame will play next at home this Saturday Oct. 15 against the Stanford Cardinal.

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Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Virtues and Vocations online 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Presented by Brandon Vaidyanathan.

Catholic Mass in Swahili Badin Hall Chapel 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Refreshments will follow the service.

On-Campus Flu Vaccine Blitz Stepan Center 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Appointments must be made in advance.

Noah Bongiovanni, Senior Piano Recital LaBar Recital Hall 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Works by Bach, Debussy and more.

SAS Donuts & Donations Tent on east side of Jenkins Nanovic 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Annual fundraiser.

Cold War Flash Panel online 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Livestream available on Nanovic Institute’s YouTube channel.

Film: “Watchers of the Sky” 1050 Jenkins Nanovic Halls 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Register online.

Festival of Lights Bond Hall 334 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Hear the many stories that surround the Indian holiday Diwali.

Festa dos Santos Populares Bond Hall 106 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Learn the traditional quadrilha dance.

Football Fridays at the Eck Eck Visitors Center 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Enjoy live music and tailgate food.

News

Studebaker Continued from page 1

thrive,” Jones said.

The first speaker of the evening was Lety Stanton-Verduzco of the Boys & Girls Club, who discussed the needs of children in the South Bend community.

“How many of you can honestly say that in your childhood, your youth, an adult made a positive impact on your life and because of them you are the person you are today?” Stanton-Verduzco asked the room.

She discussed her upbringing in Gary, Indiana as the daughter of a steel mill worker who had to feed his six children, often doubling up on shifts.

“It was not uncommon for me to go days without seeing my dad. At some point he had to sleep. So that meant that school became an extended part of my family and therefore my teachers and my coaches also became an extended part of my family and made an impact on me,” StantonVerduzco said.

Stanton-Verduzco, who came to South Bend to study writing at Saint Mary’s, recalled working with local youth the summer before her senior year.

She discussed current local crises of violence and mental health and a lack of support in public schools.

“Kids need support, they need to feel valued. And only a person can make somebody else feel valued. So how do we do that? How do we fill the gaps? Everyone’s heard the saying ‘it takes a village’ but it’s more than just a saying, it’s a call to action,” Stanton-Verduzco said. “Every day, I see the collective ability of individuals to make an impact. I see the two dozen of my former club kids who are now current club staff. I see it in the faces of kids and volunteers who show up every week, consistently to read to kids, to engage with them, to talk with them, to listen with them.”

Flu Continued from page 1

Though Notre Dame has a primary care clinic located on campus in Saint Liam Hall that takes care of urgent needs, Junkins said that the University does not have the resources to take care of hundreds of students.

“Even though we have a high vaccination rate, we still get breakthrough infections and that very quickly overwhelms our clinic, our pharmacy,” he said.

In agreement with Junkins, St. Joseph County Deputy Health Officer Mark Fox said he thinks Notre Dame’s flu blitzes are advantageous to the community because of the congregate living on campus.

“It is obviously important for the campus community because there is a lot of congregate living,” Fox said. “So, the risk of spreading any respiratory illness is significant. So, any opportunity to reduce that is beneficial.”

ndsmcobserver.com | MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022 | The ObserveR

Stanton-Verduzco closed with a call to action.

“Every kid is one positive adult away from being a success story.

And all of you already have everything it takes to be that one person,” she said.

The second speaker was Leslie Pinson, a podcaster and founder of the startup Local Spirit. Pinson, originally from Texas, recalled coming to her stepmother’s native South Bend as a child.

“This little Leslie loved Indiana, loved South Bend and Indiana sweet corn,” she said. “So she loved Indiana sweet corn, Rudy and the outdoor ice skating rink at Howard Park.”

Pinson, through a tale of grief and trauma and self-healing ultimately told the story of how moving to South Bend was the way in which she faced her fears.

“I moved to the place that represented my deepest fear, and that was boredom. I thought it was boring, and yet I moved here and, y’all, what happened? What happened is by embracing my deepest fear, I found my greatest joy. I found who I am. I reconnected to the magic that is within me,” she said.

Pinson recalled seeing South Bend on a list of dying cities and being upset at the “overplayed” narrative.

“Y’all, what if there was pieces of this city that needed to die so that the treasure could be revealed? What if the way we help South Bend find healing and become that full potential, what if it’s like we individually do that for ourselves? And we don’t do it alone. We do it together, in community,” she said.

Third, Zachary T. Nelson spoke.

Nelson, an artist and “amateur archivist” discussed the phenomenon of going viral on TikTok because of the 100,000 photos and videos he had collected of his life, ranging from the mundane to the comical.

Over the course of a rapid fire slide show that included fart

noises and failed stunt attempts

by Nelson throughout his adolescence, Nelson told the story of his life growing up in the South Bend area.

Ultimately, Nelson made a more emotional point, stemming from a TikTok comment he had received. The commenter was requesting Nelson show his archive from a certain date, a frequent appearance on his page. The date she asked for, however, was not random, or an anniversary or birthday.

“I want to see you lived the worst day of my life,” she wrote.

Nelson said that this opened his eyes.

“What I realized in this talk is that this is not the story of a guy who has 100,000 photos and videos of his life. This is the story of a guy who has lived 100,000 moments and you don’t need to photograph them and you don’t need to remember them for that to be important. I often wonder if by measuring our lives by the highest highs, we invite lower lows,” Nelson said.

He closed with an argument about the significance of those forgetful moments.

“If you’re doing nothing, or you don’t have a Studebaker talk to give … I just want you to know if it feels like nothing, nothing matters,” Nelson said.

Fourth on the stage was South Bend native Benjamin Futa of Botany, a plant store in northwest South Bend. Futa discussed the importance of access to plants, his years directing the garden at the University of MadisonWisconsin as well as Botany’s work to build a public garden next to their store.

Plant shop owner Benjamin Futa highlighted a potential usage of South Bend’s “in-between” spaces. | Courtesy of Jacob Titus “I was born and grew up in South Bend. I went to grade school downtown and on my way to school every single morning, we would pass these vacant

Aside from the congregate living, Fox said he regards Notre Dame to be a well-protected, heavily vaccinated community.

Fox underscored the blitz’s effect on South Bend.

“And while much of the campus lives in congregate living settings, you know, it’s not a closed campus,” he added. “There’s a lot of interaction with Notre Dame students, faculty and staff out in the community, or volunteering or going to Martin’s or going to Finnies or wherever.”

The COVID pandemic’s third flu season beginning this fall, Fox pointed out the growing importance of flu vaccinations in 2022 than in direct years past.

“Over the last couple of years in general, the flu rates have been lower because there were a lot of COVID mitigation strategies in place and people who were sick were likely staying home or staying in their dorm,” he said.

Fox predicts that flu cases will increase now that pandemic era practices have gone away.

“Now that most of the

community is following virtually no mitigation strategies, I expect that this will be probably a more normal flu season,” Fox said.

With these risks, last year saw over 90% student compliance with the flu vaccine mandate, Junkins said. The 6600 studentdedicated appointments at the first blitz were all taken.

“Shots in arms,” he said. “We still have about another 5000 or so students who still need to meet the requirement. I would predict about 3000 of those students will come back through during this next Blitz.”

Some students will get the vaccination over fall break but the University said they plan to set it up so that students can receive their vaccine for free before they travel home and back, Junkins said.

“Of course,” Junkins said, “[the flu vaccine] is required in order to be able to register for the spring semester.”

Contact Peter Breen at pbreen2@nd.edu

decaying buildings and a downtown that has really struggled to rediscover and redefine what it wanted to be,” he recalled.

Those vacant lots and abandoned buildings are an opportunity for hope, according to Futa.

“So if you think about going to a normal public garden, you drive, you park, you pay the admission. You walk through a series of rooms — the rose garden, the herb garden — that tell stories.

South Bend, though, has a series of rooms which are spread all across the city. Our front yards, our vacant lots, our alleyways, the nooks and crannies, the crevices, all of the in-between spaces that we haven’t quite figured out what to do with,” he said.

Futa said that plants and public gardens are the way to utilize that space.

“I believe great cities need and deserve public gardens because they reconnect us to one another and because they reconnect us to the natural world,” he said.

Fifth, Jeff Walker of Life Outside Reentry Assistance, a nonprofit to help formerly incarcerated men and women resume life in South Bend, spoke. Walking onto stage, Walker peeled off his gray suit jacket to reveal a black t-shirt with the words “From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration.”

Walker spoke about the barriers to community for people returning from time in jail, including difficulty finding employment, bureaucratic hurdles to jump through and social stigma.

“Returning citizens are the most marginalized and vulnerable people in our community.

So what can we do? We can bring them in from the margins, to the center of our community. We can give them a helping hand. We can all walk alongside them throughout this journey. And we can open doors for them,” Walker said.

He made a plea to employers and landlords to look beyond background checks and get to know former convicts as

Voting Continued from page 1

Morgan said a man would never question himself so much before running. She encouraged women to take more active roles in reaching for positions of authority and decision making.

“Women need to ask ‘Why not me?’” Tomas Morgan said.

The next speaker was state representative Maureen Bauer.

“We do not have a truly representative government,” she said.

Bauer noted that St. Joseph County has a general assembly made up of 77% men and that women in St. Joseph County make around 72 cents to every dollar a man makes, a typical trend across the country.

In her argument, Bauer used statistics to encourage women to fight for their rights

3

individuals “beyond this piece of paper.”

“We can help just by smiling, just by a conversation. Your presence in a returning citizen’s life can go a long way because returning citizens coming back to the South Bend community.

They are different than us. They are just like us. They are us,” Walker said.

Finally, Caitlin Hubbard of the yoga studio Bend Yoga, spoke.

Hubbard opened her studio at the end of February 2020, seeking a community around yoga that had not previously existed in the city, while adjusting to moving to South Bend and learning her mother was dying of cancer.

“Every restaurant I tried, every volunteer project I pursued, every gray and cloudy day left me feeling dissatisfied and stewing in my own unhappiness. I didn’t have anywhere to go to do some yoga to help me deal with all this,” she said.

Though the pandemic changed her business’s trajectory and offered a new challenge to Hubbard’s fledgling studio, she said there was something different about the grief she now experienced.

“But this time I wasn’t alone in those feelings. There was a communal sense of loss, and of loneliness and fear,” she recalled. “As we slowly started to emerge from our houses, some people came back to yoga and they looked sad and they looked scared. But after yoga, they looked a little bit better.”

To Hubbard’s eyes, the absence of a yoga studio in South Bend on her arrival was initially a challenge. But it did not remain that way. “​​I now try to see absence as an opportunity,” she said. “I invite you to consider: what does the city need that you can offer?” she asked the audience.

Contact Isa Sheikh at isheikh@nd.edu

and encouraged involvement in politics, whether it be voting or running for office themselves.

State senate candidate Melinda Fountain spoke last.

Fountain detailed having faced harassment while in ROTC and more subtle snubbing as a diplomat for the U.S. Foreign Service.

Fountain voiced frustrations at the continuous discrimination she has endured because of her gender. She said she decided to make a difference in political representation, starting small by running for her township board and now running for state senate. She advised the audience at Saint Mary’s to believe in themselves regardless of what statistics may show or what others may say.

Contact Katelyn Waldschmidt at kwaldschmidt01@saintmarys.edu

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Charity course serves Michiana

By Kendelle Hung-Ino News Writer

Twenty four students in Notre Dame’s Philanthropy and the Common Good course are picking several Michiana non-profit organizations to award grants.

The course receives $50,000 to $70,000 each fall, and students act as a board of directors to research organizations to receive the funds.

Philanthropy and the Common Good is offered in the fall semester by the political science department, the Hesburgh program in public service and the constitutional studies minor. The course is designed to teach the history and importance of philanthropy in the U.S. through an experiential learning style.

Sophomore Liam Redmond said the class was a good opportunity for him to expand his boundaries as a student.

“It’s a great avenue to get out of the Notre Dame bubble and really serve people. It’s been my favorite class and so rewarding,” he said.

The non-profits chosen by the class address a range of causes.

St. Margaret’s House and United Religious Community in South Bend are two organizations they have been in communications

with this semester.

Grants will be given to three to five charities at an award ceremony scheduled for Dec. The minimum grant amount the course awards is $5,000 and the maximum is $20,000. Last year’s recipients included the Youth Service Bureau, Motels4Now, Cultivate Food Rescue, Center for Community Justice and A Rosie Place for Children.

The 2022 sponsors for the course include The Philanthropy Lab (a Texas based program that sponsors similar programs nationally), Notre Dame public affairs, the de Nicola Center, Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government and Brian Hegarty, class of 1976.

Jonathan Hannah, who has taught the course since it was first offered in 2019, said he expects the “fall class will award just over $50,000.”

Supporting the Michiana area, Redmond said, is important and necessary work.

“There are people really struggling only miles away from campus, and they really need our help,” he said. “They need our funding, and they need our support.”

Contact Kendelle Hung-Ino at khungino@nd.edu

Survey Continued from page 1

89% of students reported feeling a sense of belonging on campus. This number correlated with the 50% of students who responded to experiencing adverse treatment ranging from verbal comments or jokes to threats of violence and personal property damage.

Additionally, only 7% of reported instances of adverse treatment were reported, either to a staff member, SpeakUp or another reporting mechanism.

Although he did express concern about the low number of reported cases of adverse treatment, Olinger noted that most of the respondents did respond that they knew how to recognize and report instances of discrimination.

“We can celebrate a strong sense of belonging, we can celebrate some of the more positive, but we also need to acknowledge that there is work, important work, to do ahead. And that’s where myself and others are so committed,” he said.

In response to a low familiarity rate with the reporting database SpeakUP.nd.edu, Olinger said the steering committee is entering into an advertising campaign with Notre Dame student government and added a new racial discrimination and sexual assault awareness module to Welcome Weekend.

While the Office of Strategic Planning and Institutional Research (OSPIR) collected the

data and worked to format the results to assure anonymity, Olinger said the steering committee oversaw how the results were organized, interpreted and merged into both existing and future programs, including the creation of more listening sessions. He also noted his weekly office hours and fireside chats as being open to anyone wishing to talk about campus issues.

Alongside Olinger at many of those student-led sessions will be the inaugural vice president for institutional transformation and advisor to the president, Hugh Page. A part of Notre Dame faculty since 1992 in theology and Africana studies, Page transitioned from his former position as vice president and associate provost for undergraduate studies in July.

In his current role directly under University President John Jenkins, Page said he works on campus wide diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

“My responsibility now is to help coordinate and catalyze progress on DEI initiatives on campus and to collaborate with the President and key leaders on campus, for example, members of the President’s Leadership Council and the deans in ensuring the success of those efforts,” he said.

Although Page acknowledged his importance to the University, he explained that he is not necessarily the face of DEI on campus.

“We have so many people

working on DEI related projects and a collective sense that even though I’m in this role, if you were going to ask the question, ‘who is the face of DEI at Notre Dame,’ the most reasonable answer would be all of us,” he said. “I am, in some ways, the first among equals in this sort of work.”

Page noted his eagerness for student guidance to inform their actions.

“In this day and time, there can never be too much conversation about issues that enable us to feel a sense of belonging and focus on the kind of community that we want to be and the steps that we need to take,” he said. “More intensive conversations, opportunities to get to know one another and the infusion of the efforts everywhere … I think that’s something that we need to see going forward.”

Page and Olinger emphasized their joint intent to not only have conversations surrounding DEI but also to put more informed ideas into action. “[The changes will] not be done in a vacuum but it’s done in very much of an iterative way,” Olinger said. “Sometimes the fear is that the University is just listening, and I think it’s important to show that there are important action items and steps taken, but we also need to make sure that that action is being informed by student voices.”

Contact Bella Laufenberg at ilaufenberg@nd.edu

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The observer | MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

By CAITLIN BRANNIGAN Scene Writer

“E x t raord i na r y At tor ney Woo” is a Korea n lega l d ra ma focusi ng on Woo You ng-woo, a n aut ist ic law school g rad beg i n n i ng her ca reer a s a n at tor ney at Ha nbada, one of t he most respected law f irms in Seou l. A lmost ever y episode focuses on invest igat ing a dif ferent cour t case.

In addit ion to t he cour t dra ma, t he show has a st rong focus on emot iona l relat ionships bet ween fa mi ly a nd f riends. The show’s g reatest feat is t he awa reness it has ra ised for Aut ism Spect r um Disorder (ASD) in Sout h Korea.

According to Son Da-Eun, t he director of Aut ism Pa r t nership Korea, t he st ig ma surrounding disabi lit ies li ke aut ism has created a negat ive env ironment for t he disabled in Sout h Korea. There is a n associat ion bet ween disabilit y a nd sha me.

“You ra rely have interact ions w it h persons w it h aut ism on a da ily basis. Historica lly, people w it h aut ism a re kept home, hidden away f rom t he world,” sa id Ms. Son. Yoo In-si k, t he d i rector of “E x t raord i na r y At tor ney Woo,” sa id he hoped t he show wou ld foster d iscussion of d iversit y a nd help create a more equa l societ y.

T he show ’s por t raya l of ableism cha l lenges v iewers to cou nteract it i n t hei r da i ly l ives. Woo faces d iscr i m i nat ion f rom societ y — t houg h she ach ieves a nea r per fect score f rom t he ba r ex a m a nd g raduates su m ma cu m laude f rom Seou l

By ROSE ANDROWICH Scene Writer

L a st Wed nesday, Sa i nt Ma r y ’s Col lege hosted a show i ng of t he docu menta r y “Ut ica : T he L a st Ref uge.” T he f i l m showca sed t he ma ny a spect s of what it mea ns to come to A mer ica, i nclud i ng t he st r ug g les a nd t he ha rdsh ips m ig ra nts face.

T he docu menta r y look s back on t he ex per iences of what it wa s l i ke to be a n i m m ig ra nt t h ree generat ions pr ior to now.

T he f i l m opens w it h a n i nt roduct ion of t he A zei n fa m i ly who hope to reset t le i n Ut ica, New York a f ter leav i ng Suda n. From t he beg i n n i ng, t he v iewers lea r n of t he st r ug g les of what it is l i ke to “become A mer ica n” a s t he fa m i ly a r r ives to Sy racuse Inter nat iona l A i r por t.

T he docu menta r y not on ly shows t he k i ndness a nd compa ssion of t hose who a re w i l l i ng to prov ide for ref ugees, but a lso demonst rates

Nat iona l Un iversit y, one of t he top schools i n Sout h Korea, she is rejected f rom a l most ever y law f i r m. Even wh i le she work s at Ha nbada, she faces repeated ha ra ssment a nd bu l ly i ng f rom cer ta i n law yers who cont i nuously t r y to get her eit her severely repr i ma nded or f i red. T he show ack nowledges t hat, t houg h she is a n i ncred ible law yer a nd proves t i me a nd t i me aga i n she is excel lent at her job, she is bei ng d iscr i m i nated aga i nst solely because she is aut ist ic. At tor neys who i n it ia l ly pat ron i ze her a nd bel ieve she needs their help end up recognizing that she is the “stronger” law yer — she is excellent at what she does w ithout needing their help.

The show does a good job of prov iding general information on ASD and dismantling part of the stigma that surrounds it. For example, it drives home the point that autism is a spectrum disorder and presents differently in different people, combating the misconception that all autistic people have a common set of traits.

However, critics are concerned that its portrayal of Woo, who has savant sy ndrome, does not represent most autistic people. Sava nt sy nd rome is a ra re cond it ion present i n about one i n ten people w it h aut ism t hat leads to ex t raord i na r y abi l it ies a nd ta lent s. Woo ca n memor i ze a nd scr ut i n i ze enor mous a mou nt s of i n for mat ion a s a resu lt. T here is concer n t hat t h is w i l l lead some v iewers to place u n rea l ist ic ex pectat ions upon a l l aut ist ic people.

A s ser ious a s t he show ’s cr it icisms of ableist

societ y a re, it a lso ha s ma ny l ig ht hea r ted moments. T he lega l d ra ma is enter ta i n i ng a nd tends to pu l l at v iewers’ hea r tst r i ngs. In ma ny ca ses, t he v iewer is led to sy mpat h i ze w it h Woo’s client. Yet t here a re a lso cases t hat cha llenge Woo’s concept of what it mea ns to be a lawyer, mora l ly a nd et hica l ly, a nd of fer insight into some aspects of her persona l life. The development of her relat ionships w it h her coworkers is a st rong point for t he show.

However, in some episodes, the drama of the court cases pales in comparison to other aspects of the show, like her relationships. This leads to pacing issues, as some episodes drag on for quite a bit before addressing the more pressing drama.

This show excels at keeping v iewers emotionally invested in its legal and interpersonal drama. It also prov ides insight into ASD and challenges v iewers to examine instances of ableism they’ve w itnessed through its portrayal of ableist characters.

t he fa m i ly ’s st r ug g le w it h t he over whel m i ng decision of whet her t hey shou ld d ista nce t hemselves f rom t hei r cu lt u re or a ssi m i late to t hei r new societ y.

The f ilm clea rly v isua li zes t he sociolog ica l cycle of immig ra nts a nd how it va ries each generat ion. It was ev ident t hat t he f ive A zein children wou ld be ra ised as A merica ns.

It is not solely t he children who beg in t he process of integ rat ion. Moha mmed A zein bega n school in 2019 while a lso work ing to suppor t his fa mily. His journey of f inding work a nd enrolling in school was done w it h t he help of t he Mohawk Va lley Resource Center for Ref ugees (MVRCR).

T he docu menta r y h ig h l ig ht s t he st r ug g les t hat t he MVRCR faced a s pol ic y cha nges occu r red at t he state a nd nat iona l level i n t he Un ited States. Despite, t he rest r icted nu mber of ref ugees a l lowed i nto t he cou nt r y, ‘Ut ica : T he L a st Ref uge’ pushes back a nd a rg ues for t he

r ig hts of i m m ig ra nts.

In t he f i na l scenes of “Ut ica : T he L a st Ref uge” t he aud ience w it nesses t he emot iona l presentat ion of cit i zensh ip cer t i f icates. T h is docu menta r y ca l ls v iewers to act ion. T he tow n of Ut ica is a lso a major player i n t h is f i l m. T hei r econom ic st r uct u re somewhat rel ies on ref ugees. Scenes of protests shor t ly a f ter t he 2016 elect ion demonst rate t he power of advocac y a s wel l a s t he role pol it ics plays w it h i n topics of i m m ig rat ion i n sma l l tow ns a nd cit ies across t he cou nt r y.

Contact Caitlin Brannigan at cbrannig@nd.edu

“Extraordinary Attorney Woo” Director: Yoo In-sik Starring: Park Eun-bin, Kang Tae-oh Streaming: Netflix

Contact Rose Androwich at randrowich01@saintmarys.edu

“Utica: The Last Refuge” Director: Loch Phillipps

MARIA GORECKI | The Observer

6 Inside Column

A love letter to my family Christina Sayut Graphic Designer

Something I always hear from my friends is that their parents want them to call home more — that could never be me. I call my parents before I even know what I want to talk about. In October, I called my mom and dad a total of 24 times, but if I had it my way it would be more like 48. My mom genuinely is my best friend — she just gets me in a way that nobody else does. I’d classify my July as a “Hannah Montana Summer”, because all I did was relax and hang out with my family. If you snapchatted me in July, I probably responded while watching The Price is Right with my mom, doing random work with my dad, bird-watching and gardening with my grandparents, or chasing around my baby cousins with their awesome mom, Maddie.

Some people may ask me, “Christina, why are you homesick in your junior year?” and the answer is simple — I love and miss my family more and more each year. Being the young baby of a family has its perks, specifically going to school with your older brother. John graduated from ND last year, and I had no idea that his presence had such a deep impact on my college experience.

Whenever I felt vaguely homesick, I could just pop over to Dillon Hall for a hug and a quick snack. Now that he moved away for graduate school, it’s a lot easier for me to feel homesick, because now I miss him too. To my icon of a brother, thank you for being a great influence while I grew up, getting me interested in Notre Dame and involved with PEMCo, and for managing my fantasy football team.

To my angel of a mom, thank you for always answering my calls, sending me memes on Instagram, sending me “Good morning bestie xoxo” texts without fail and for keeping a 1,470 day streak with me on snapchat. To my genius of a dad, thank you for being the smartest man that I know, sending videos of animals in our family group chat and helping me apply for an Apple credit card even though I was denied. To my dear Nana and Pap, I want to thank you for always showing me what it is like to love someone and to be a Mosier — look at birds, watch for deer, be 15 minutes early, and always show up with a cookie tray. To the Snyders, Egglestons, and Lorings, thank you for letting me crash every holiday, hosting the best barn parties, and throwing the best family vacations.

To everyone else in my crazy and loving family, thank you for the constant dedication to sending birthday cards, baking thousands of cookies for every family wedding, and always reminding me that no matter where I am, I can always come home.

You can contact Christina at csayut@nd.edu.

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

The observer | Monday, October 10, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

One more time, with feeling: In response to the current campus climate Editor’s note : This letter includes mentions of sexual assault. A list of sexual assault reporting options and on-campus resources can be found on the Notre Dame, Saint Mar y’s and Holy Cross websites.

I g raduated in Ja nua r y, but I st i l l live in Sout h Bend a nd come to ca mpus f requent ly. I a m st i l l con nected to t h is com mu n it y, a nd I st i l l check Yi kYa k, a n a nony mous app wherein on ly people nea r you ca n see you r posts. If you have t he app dow n loaded, you have li kely seen ma ny recent posts about specif ic cases of inter persona l v iolence a nd whose side is in t he r ig ht. I don’t wa nt to d iscuss specif ic cases. I wa nt to d iscuss how ou r t reat ment of each ot her in t hese d ia log ues about power a nd gender spea k to severa l system ic issues in t he t r i-ca mpus com mu n it y. For exa mple, Yi kYa k was a lso recent ly f looded w it h deg rad ing posts about SMC st udents being overweig ht – com ments t hat even went so fa r as to demea n people w it h eat ing d isorders. The na rrat ives about SMC st udents a re rat her per vasive at Not re Da me a nd do not bea r repeat ing. They were li kely taug ht to you ea rly on in you r t ime here a nd for ma ny of you, t hey st uck. For hopef u l ly fewer of you, t hey beca me a n excuse to put women dow n — to asser t you r super ior it y over ot her people because you see t hem as beneat h you or you a re a woma n a nd do not w ish to be put into t he sa me box.

Th is att it ude of ma inta in ing super ior it y is persistent here. On socia l med ia a nd in person, I have seen people use t heir u neasiness w it h one accuser’s stor y to d iscred it a l l women. I have seen people use accusat ions of assau lt towa rd people of color as a n excuse to be racist. I have seen people use accusat ions of assau lt by people of color as a n excuse to be racist. I have seen people belitt le protestors of Tit le I X procedu ra l issues a nd t he da nger in ou r ca mpus cu lt u re.

W hen Not re Da me st udents deg rade women for t heir weig ht it shows me t hat women a re on ly wor t h k ind ness to some men if t hey f ind t hem att ract ive, by wh ich I mea n usef u l. Mindsets li ke t hese towa rd h istor ica l ly-oppressed g roups a re fostered on t h is ca mpus, even if t hey a re not verba li zed. If you a re t h in k ing to you rself t hat t hese a re isolated ind iv idua ls ma k ing ignora nt com ments t hat a re not ind icat ive of t he ca mpus m i lieu at la rge, I ask you to cha l lenge t hat t houg ht. People upvote t hese Yi kYa k posts.

People say t hese t h ings to t heir f r iends outside of t he a nony m it y of t he app. Most people who a re not ma k ing t hese k inds of com ments do not do a ny t h ing to ca l l out t hese att it udes when t hey encou nter t hem. Ou r ca mpus com mu n it y has been hu r t ing for a long t ime.

W hat I hoped wou ld be add ressed by t he upt ick in conversat ions about sex ua l assau lt at Not re Da me (instead of t he ex pected devolut ion into pick ing sides a nd t reat ing assau lt a l legat ions li ke ju ic y d ra ma, fol lowed by t he in f lu x of deg rad ing com ments about SMC st udents) a re t he ser ious issues in t he Tit le I X process as it sta nds. These a re exacerbated t he way most of

us have been taug ht about consent a nd who t he bu rden of prevent ing v iolence is on — v ict ims a nd bysta nders. Even ou r bysta nder inter vent ion t ra in ing is not ta ken ser iously by ma ny st udents.

T h is stems f rom t he simpl ist ic a nd da mag ing na r rat ives present w it h in t h is u n iversit y a nd elsewhere about gender a nd power. T hese na rrat ives have torched my ow n l ife a nd t he lives of ot hers, a nd yet most of t he t r i-ca mpus commu n it y was qu ick to move past t he ex pressions of pa in sha red on Instag ra m a nd in protests by mu lt iple st udents recent ly in order to focus on attack ing eit her side of a specif ic sit uat ion or ret u r n to complacenc y.

I have watched t he l ives of people I love t u r n to da rk ness a f ter assau lt. I have watched mu lt iple men watch me protest to being g roped a nd laug h. I have let t he teacher emba r rass me in f ront of t he class for losing focus even t houg h t he boy sitt ing nex t to me is t he one w it h h is ha nd bet ween my t h ig hs, even t houg h I have t r ied to push h im of f. I have watched people ig nore t he v iolence t hat t heir f r iends have perpet rated out of conven ience. I have watched brave st udents in Show Some Sk in tel l t he stor ies of ot her brave st udents who have ex per ienced d iscr im inat ion. I a m sick of it. I a m t ired. I a m g r iev ing consta nt ly for myself a nd t he people a rou nd me, k now ing t hat I ca n not persona l ly conv ince ot her people to feel for t hose a rou nd t hem a nd for ou r sha red hu ma n ex per ience.

T h is Un iversit y needs t ra nsfor mat ion a nd better demonst rat ion of compassion f rom its commu n it y members. Rev iew ing a nd refor m ing Tit le I X procedu res, resou rces for su r v ivors, sta f f t ra in ing, cu r r icu la a nd residence ha l l cu lt u re wou ld go a long way, but what rea l ly needs to cha nge is ou r apat hy towa rd t he people a rou nd us. It does not matter if t he facade is beaut if u l if it is cr u mbled beneat h. T he eng ineer ing is not sou nd. Ever y Relat ionsh ip-Violence awa reness mont h, Black Histor y mont h a nd LGBTQ Histor y mont h, members of t h is ca mpus com mu n it y spea k out in hopes t hat f ina l ly, enoug h people w i l l l isten a nd ta ke up exa m inat ion of t heir act ions to ef fect cha nge inst it ut iona l ly, but ever y t ime we let t he st r uct u ra l da mage qu ick ly fa l l to t he wayside when it is no longer conven ient or t rendy to ta l k about it.

I love so ma ny pa r ts of t h is school, but so ma ny of t he load-bea r ing bea ms a re cracked. I a m begg ing you, one more t ime, w it h feel ing, to keep t he conversat ion ongoing a nd product ive.

I a m begg ing st udents to f ig ht for t hose a rou nd t hem. I a m begg ing Not re Da me to consider exa m inat ion a nd refor ms of t he cu lt u re it fosters.

If you wa nt to d iscuss specif ics of t he refor ms t hat need to be implemented or sha re you r ex per ience w it h ca mpus cu lt u re a nd Tit le I X related issues, you ca n ema i l me at blewa nd 2 @nd.edu.

I’m a l l ea rs.

Submit a Letter to the Editor: viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com

Brenna Lewandowski Class of 2022 Oct. 3

The observer | Monday, October 10, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

7

Our dependence on God Andrew Sveda Church and State

Man is wholly dependent on God. This is not merely pious rhetoric but thoroughly biblical. We have been created (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13) and are sustained by God (Hebrews 1:3). We cannot live one hour (Luke 12:25-26) or even take a single step (Acts 17:28) apart from His power and foreordination.

Even more, it is not only in the biological realm that we find our utter reliance on God but also in spiritual matters.

It “is impossible” (Matthew 19:26) for man to save himself.

Man’s heart is so depraved that he cannot even desire God but hates Him (Romans 8:7; John 3:20) and, therefore, God must sovereignly and supernaturally change man’s heart and save him (John 3:3, 6:44). Indeed, even faith (Matthew 11:27) and repentance (Acts 5:31, 11:18) are gifts of God, eliminating any remaining reason to boast in ourselves.

Yet it would be quite wrong to conclude that our dependence on God stops at the point of conversion. Rather, seeing our tremendous weakness and desiring to know and serve Him, Christians are increasingly driven to the Rock of Ages from which “[e]very good and perfect gift” (James 1:17) flows.

The Christian cannot understand God’s Word apart from the Spirit’s power (John 3:27, 6:13; 1 Corinthians 2:1013) and cannot do any good work on their own strength (John 15:4). Unless God intervenes, we are helpless against the attacks of Satan (Luke 22:31-32; Ephesians 6:12-13).

The temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13; Matthew 18:10-14) and evils of the world (Psalm 3), too, or even the pains and struggles of life (2 Corinthians 1:8-10) would prove too much for us if God did not hold us and sustain us every step of the way (Psalm 94:17-19; 1 Corinthians 1:8; Romans 8:38-39).

Thus, a Christian would affirm such a great and allencompassing dependence. Despite this, there is often an

apprehension toward going to God and seeking Him and His help.“I can’t go to Him now, can I?”, the thought goes.

Our minds come up with all sorts of reasons to dissuade us from fleeing to God, and we — myself certainly included — are quick to believe them. After all, we think, we do not want to presume on God’s grace, nor would we want to come to God in an unfitting or wrong manner. Such objections sound reasonable and reverent, yet they are so often neither.

Indeed, in such times, far from honoring God, we diminish God’s grace and power, forget our dependence on Him and, as articulated in Ichabod Spencer’s “A Pastor’s Sketches”, desire to establish our own righteousness by which we are then “worthy” to come to Him. Let us now examine a few common scenarios, showing how our fears are ungrounded and that there is never a situation in which it is wrong to go to God in prayer and to read His Word.

Many Christians believe they cannot come to Christ because they do not have the right feelings to do so. When they feel down, apathetic, tired, or anxious, they ask themselves if it is even right to pray or read the Bible in such a state because they feel they should be joyful instead (or because they think they are not “sad enough” about their sin to ask God for forgiveness). While it is a good thing to be joyful and we do need to be repentant for our sins, it is vital to remember that we should not judge our standing with God on our emotions. Doing so will lead to innumerable troubles. It is not the amount of joy or the depth of our sorrow that renders us right before God; if it were, we would all be hopelessly lost, for our emotions are imperfect and polluted by sin. But our standing rests on the work of Christ and His righteousness, and, therefore, our emotions, which come and go like the wind, have no reason to hinder us from going to Christ. Resting on our emotions suggests that we need to bring something to God rather than understanding we rest on His grace alone, which frees us to go to Him despite our frailty and weakness.

Some, too, wonder if they can truly go to Christ amidst temptation. “The temptation is so strong, and I feel a desire to give in. How can I go to God with such a heart?” But how do you expect to prevail in temptation if you do not flee to Christ? Further, the Bible tells you to come to Him in times of trouble (Matthew 6:13, 26:41; Hebrews 4:16). To not cry out to Him when facing temptation is to say either that you don’t need God to overcome it or that you need to prove to God that you are “good enough” for Him to love you.

Lastly, some Christians are weighed down by their own sin and believe they are not good enough to pray or read the Bible. But such hiding will do you no good. The only thing that can is going to God, confessing your sins and resting on Christ’s work, not your performance, for your salvation. Remember this: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9). Yes, we still sin, but that does not undo our salvation as it never rested on our works but on Christ’s finished work. By turning our eyes towards Jesus and confessing our sins, we understand both our unworthiness and the overflowing abundance of grace by which “we have peace with God” (Romans 5:1).

Let us, then, remember that no matter our situation or state, it is never wrong to go to God, but it is quite wrong to refuse to His invitation. So let us go to our Savior with everything and in everything, for we are in great need of Him and His grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Andrew Sveda is a senior at Notre Dame from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, majoring in political science and theology. In his free time, he enjoys writing (obviously), reading and playing the piano. He can be reached at asveda@nd.edu or @SvedaAndrew on Twitter.

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

Journey to Notre Dame Isabelle Kause Simple Beauty

My journey to Notre Dame was not that of the average Notre Dame student.

During my senior year of high school when applying to colleges, I knew wholeheartedly that I wanted to be at a college that had a warm and welcoming, yet academically rigorous environment, much like the college prep, Jesuit high school I was attending in Chicago. It didn’t take long for me to realize that Notre Dame checked all of those boxes and then some.

W hen it came time to submit college applications, Notre Dame was at the top of my list. Like many other students, I spent countless hours tr ying to perfect my essays. W hen it came time to write the “W hy Notre Dame? ” essay, I vividly remember wondering whether or not I’d be able to say ever ything I wanted to say without exceeding the word limit. There were so many reasons why Notre Dame was the perfect school for me and why I wanted to cheer on the Irish as part of the Class of 2025.

W hen I felt my application said ever ything I could possibly articulate about my love for Notre Dame, I clicked submit and was filled with hope (and ner vousness) for the future. I began praying that my dream would come true, and that I would find myself home under the dome that fall.

A few months later during the spring of my senior year, my parents were getting ready to go watch my brother play hockey when I got the email. Ever y Notre Dame student knows the email I’m talking about. It was the email that stated that application decisions would be released that evening.

My mom decided to stay home with me because she knew I would anxiously be awaiting the decision. I could barely focus that evening, as Notre Dame was all I could think about. Ever y minute that passed felt like an hour, and ever y hour that passed felt like an eternity, as I anxiously paced the f loors of my living room.

W hen it was finally time to open the decision letter, I remember my heart pounding and my hands feeling numb. No other college decision evoked this much emotion from me. This was the moment I had been waiting for for such a long time. It felt like all four years of high school — the sleepless nights spent studying, the stress of AP classes and the hours spent participating in extracurricular activities — had all been leading up to this moment. Within one click, I knew I would find out my fate for the next chapter of my life. And unfortunately, within one click, I received the news I had not been hoping for. The news that said, “we regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you admission to Notre Dame.” I was instantly crushed and experienced the heartache that I know many others can relate to.

I knew life was moving quickly and that I had to make a decision. A few months later, I decided to accept admission into the honors program at the University of Michigan. As much as I tried to envision myself there, my heart kept leading me back to South Bend.

A few days later, it was as though God had heard my prayers. A mentor had told me about the wonderful community at Holy Cross College.

God was laying out His plan for me; I just had to decide whether or not to follow it.

Even though it was not in the way I had expected, I still found myself in South Bend that fall.

From the first day I stepped foot on Holy Cross’s campus, I immersed myself in my classes and the tri-campus community. A lthough I wasn’t in the Gateway program, I was not giving up on my dream of attending Notre Dame just yet.

At the beginning of the school year, I received an email that Notre Dame would be playing the movie, Rudy, on their football field — an experience that was sure to be unforgettable. As much as I wanted to go, I couldn’t bring myself to watch something that hit so close to home. A lthough our stories are a little different, I related to the longing desire of making your dream a reality.

During second semester, I submitted my transfer application, filled with the same hope and ner vousness that had consumed me months earlier, maybe even more so because I was able to experience the magic of Notre Dame’s community firsthand.

Flash for ward to today, and I am grateful to be writing this in my dorm room at Notre Dame.

I am also grateful to my high school (Saint Ignatius), Holy Cross, my parents for believing in me and the many mentors that stood in my corner along the way.

We all have our own journeys in life to follow. If there’s one thing this experience has taught me, it’s that sometimes we have to be open to following a slightly different path in order to reach our final destination.

Isabelle Kause is a sophomore at Notre Dame studying sociology and minoring in journalism. When she’s not busy, you can find her listening to country music or Taylor Swift or trying out new makeup/skincare products. She can be reached at ikause@nd.edu.

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

8

Sports

The observer | MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

W Soccer

ND VOLLEYBALL

Irish pick up first ACC wins

By JOSE SANCHEZ CORDOVA Sports Writer

Notre Dame went back on the road snagging their first two ACC wins, sweeping Syracuse 3-0 on Friday and beating Boston College 3-1 on Sunday.

It was a much-needed bounce-back weekend for Notre Dame and first-year head coach Salima Rockwell after a disappointing homestand where they lost against Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Syracuse Notre Dame swept the Orange in three sets to pick up their first conference win on Friday night. The sweep is a bit misleading though as it was a tight match throughout. In the opening set, the Irish won 25-21 with sophomore outside hitter Paris Thompson making the difference with 10 kills.

Overall, Thompson finished with 20 kills, a career-high total for the Florida native.

The second set saw the two teams closely matched early until a 7-0 Notre Dame run gave the Irish some breathing room at 13-7. After a timeout, the Orange responded

with a run of their own to close the deficit to just one point at 14-13. From there, the teams traded blows, but Notre Dame was eventually able to close it out. A Thompson kill gave the Irish a tight 25-23 set victory.

The final set was close throughout with six ties and three lead changes, but eventually, the Irish were able to separate with a 4-0 run led by the service of junior libero Hattie Monson. On match point, it was Thompson who stepped up once again with the winning kill to give Notre Dame the final set 25-20.

Boston College It was a tight first set that went down to the wire.

Boston College had the late lead at 24-21, but Notre Dame fought off three set points to tie it at 24 and extend the set. The teams traded points until a kill from freshman outside hitter Avery Ross made it 28-27 before an attack error from BC gave the Irish the twopoint win in the first set.

The second set saw the Irish get off to a slow start, going down 1-6 early but

a timeout from Rockwell seemed to turn the tide. They fought back to tie it at 11-11 and eventually take the lead.

It was a close set throughout but four straight points at the end gave Notre Dame another set victory at 25-21.

The third set was never close as BC got off to a quick start and pulled away with an 8-0 run to win it 25-13 to avoid the sweep.

From there, the momentum shift was evident as the Eagles got out to a 16-8 lead. But with Monson serving, Notre Dame went on a 7-0 run to make it 16-15 and force the BC timeout. The teams traded points and with the set tied at 23, Notre Dame brought in freshman serve specialist Maisie Alexander who closed it out to give the Irish the 25-23 set and match win.

Notre Dame volleyball return to Purcell Pavilion this weekend for two ACC games.

They open with Wake Forest on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and then face Virginia Tech on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Contact Jose Sanchez Cordova at jsanch24@nd.edu

Continued from page 12

her tally to cap off the rout ten minutes before the final whistle, racing behind the defense and confidently slotting home a close range finish.

The win was a crucial triumph in both a short and long view for the program.

For one, the victory represented a historic level of dominance for Notre Dame.

The Irish hadn’t beaten a top-three opponent by a margin of four or more goals since 2000.

But in the context of this season, the Irish now own a pair of victories over top three opponents at home.

As a result, Norman and co. find themselves in the thick of an ACC title race despite a pair of tough losses to Pitt and Clemson.

Junior centerback Eva Gaetino, who leads a defense that hasn’t conceded a goal since Sept. 25th, noted that the team has undergone a mentality shift since the 2021 season where Notre Dame was defeated three times in overtime by opponents ranked in the top ten.

“There is 100% a mentality difference,” Gaetino said.

“Going into some of those games, it felt like everything would have to go perfectly and then we’d need a little

bit of luck to win. But going into these games, if we do what we do and we do it right, we will win these games. And that’s what I think we showed today.”

Gaetino also noted that going forward the team would need to continue to hold firm mentally with their big win emboldening Notre Dame’s opponents as much as the team: “[We have] more confidence. But I also think there’s a beaming red target on our backs now that we have beat these top three teams. I think [for some teams], we’re going to be their biggest game of the year, when previously we might not have been. I think we just need to have the humility to know that every game from here on out is going to be a battle, and we’re going to have to bring it every single game.”

Notre Dame women’s soccer will now enter a three game road gauntlet over the next two weeks, traveling to Louisville, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

If the Irish can make it through those next three games unscathed, they could play for an ACC title in their final game of the season against No. 7 Duke.

Contact J.J. Post at jpost2@nd.edu

THOMAS FEATURE

Jayden Thomas steps up for Irish when it matters

By NATE MOLLER Senior Sports Writer

After some key departures at wide receiver last season and a couple of injuries, there were a lot of question marks surrounding Notre Dame’s wide receivers this season. In Saturday night’s win over No. 16 BYU, it was sophomore wide receiver Jayden Thomas that stepped up for the Irish. Thomas finished the night with 74 yards, which included a highlight reel touchdown catch at the end of the first half.

On a crucial third and three with the Irish already up 12-6, junior quarterback Drew Pyne heaved the ball up to Thomas at the goal line.

Thomas had to work his way back to the football, and he made a stellar catch with a defender in his face to complete the 30-yard reception.

Thomas had to pin the ball against the defender to complete the catch, which was his first touchdown reception of his career. That play capped a 10-play, 79yard drive for the Irish that took just over five minutes.

Pyne acknowledged that

he under threw the ball on that play, and he was ecstatic when Thomas still made a play on the ball.

“Jayden went up there and made a play. I under threw it, and he went up there and made an unbelievable play,” Pyne said.

Thomas had another key catch early in the fourth quarter. BYU had a lot of momentum after scoring two touchdowns to move within five of the Irish, and the Irish offense desperately needed momentum.

On the first play of the Irish drive, Thomas answered the call with a 32-yard reception over the middle to get the Irish back on track.

Pyne credited Thomas’ success on Saturday to his work ethic.

“He has worked really hard,” Pyne said. “He worked really hard, and he deserves that.”

Pyne said he knows that Thomas will be a huge part of the Irish offense the rest of the season.

“I’m so proud of him, and we are going to need him to keep doing what he’s doing. He’s going to play a big role for us in the future,” Pyne said. “All

of our receivers I really trust and I am so happy for him.”

Head coach Marcus Freeman discussed how Thomas’ emergence as a reliable wide receiver has benefited the team.

“To see Jayden make some of those catches that he made today was huge for the confidence of our wideouts room and for the confidence of our quarterback to be able to spread the ball around. It was really good to see that,” Freeman said.

The Irish receivers made some outstanding catches on Saturday night, and Freeman understands the importance of these catches going forward.

“Credit to those wideouts they made some big catches.

Those are catches that we need. We need guys that make the quarterback look good. It’s too often that the quarterback gets too much blame and too much praise,” Freeman said.

Freeman praised offensive coordinator Tommy Rees’ preparation and game plan on Saturday, which allowed Thomas to be successful.

“To get the results, you have to prepare the right way,”

Ryan vigilante | The Observer

Irish sophomore wide receiver Jayden Thomas carries the football against BYU during Saturday’s game at Allegiant Stadium.

Freeman said. “That’s what I love most about what Coach Rees and that offensive staff has done. They have really challenged themselves to

practice at a higher level and perform at a higher level.”

Contact Nate Moller at nmoller@nd.edu

DAILY

ndsmcobserver.com | MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022 | The Observer

Crossword | Will Shortz

9

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: A passionate approach will help you draw attention, resulting in hands-on help. Use your attributes to charm others into seeing and doing things your way, and you’ll outmaneuver any competition you encounter. You may want to make a domestic change, but be smart and do so only if it will result in improving your assets and lowering your liabilities. Your numbers are 7, 13, 23, 25, 32, 39, 42, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Stop fretting and face uncertainties directly. Don’t hold back or let anyone back you into a corner or take you for granted. Speak up and follow through with action, and you’ll gain respect and ease stress. Personal growth will be enlightening.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Skip anything that sounds costly or infringes on your downtime with someone you love. Keep the peace, be patient and plan to sort through any documents about to need renewing. Ask pointed questions, and you’ll find out where you stand.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Pick up the pace to get things done. Reach out and help someone who has something to offer in return. Keep an open mind, but when it comes to taking care of yourself and your future, do what’s best for you.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t share secrets. Pay attention to emotional matters, and put an end to misunderstandings quickly. You’ll experience physical setbacks if you don’t maintain a normal fitness level. Enjoy what life has to offer. No risk, no problem.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You’ll develop ingenious ideas. Reach out to a friend, and you’ll receive sound advice regarding all you need to know to get what you want running smoothly. Make changes for the right reason. Be a groundbreaker, not a follower.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Look for opportunities, but use discretion to avoid being taken advantage of by a scammer. Know what you want, be specific in your discussions and spend only what’s necessary. Keep your life simple and safe.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Emotions will be the driving force today. Proceed with caution when faced with opposition. Arguing will not help you resolve matters, but action will send a message that you don’t plan to back down. Step into the spotlight and present your thoughts.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Getting along with others will be half the battle.

Patience will be required when dealing with some people. Be reasonable, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you. Think of entertaining ways to keep everyone happy, including yourself.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Fine-tune your surroundings. If you are comfortable and happy in your environment, you’ll find it easier to excel. Don’t waste time or energy on people or projects that annoy or complicate your life.

Personal gain is apparent if you make good decisions.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Steer clear of anyone asking you for too much. Take better care of your health and learn all you can to prevent emotional, physical or financial problems from sprouting. Make positive changes that lower stress and give you a chance to relax.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Avoid anyone trying to coerce you into doing things differently. Follow your heart and do what works best for you. Put your energy where it counts, and set your sights on your goals. Personal, financial and physical progress can be yours.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Looking around and observing what others do will give you some clues as to how you can help or get involved in something that concerns you. The people you connect with through protests, conferences or volunteer work will impact your life.

Birthday Baby: You are outgoing, playful and entertaining. You are intuitive and persistent.

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Sports

The observer | MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

BYU Continued from page 12

Jayden Thomas’ stellar 30 yd touchdown catch grants Irish steady lead Cheers erupted at the end of the second quarter as sophomore wide receiver Jayden Thomas received a 30-yard pass from Pyne and ran for an Irish touchdown. This was the first touchdown of the Georgia native’s career and helped the Irish gain a steady lead against the Cougars. The spiral by Pyne and stellar catch

by Thomas in the final minute of the quarter certainly made this one of the top plays of the game. With the score at 18-6, the Irish were sitting in a comfortable spot heading into the second half. That is, until the Cougars had something to say about it.

Cougars in an otherwise solid performance. An interception

by Bracy had things looking bright, but this quickly shifted around in the second half.

Notre Dame’s poor tackling performance and lack of communication by the secondary allowed BYU to get back into the game after trailing by double digits. Giving up chunk plays in the second half, a trend

that has consistently repeated itself this season, allowed BYU to rally.  What should have been a 3-and-out for the Notre Dame defense turned into an 87-yard, 10-play scoring drive for BYU. As the momentum shifted, BYU fans got louder, and the Irish defense sank lower. Luckily, the Notre Dame defense had a huge 4thdown stop to save the day and

secure the Irish victory.

Pynes’s play continues to develop consistency and effectiveness Tommy Rees will surely be more content this week after quarterback Drew Pyne continued to build upon the consistency he began showing during his first start against Cal and expanded upon in the

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A sheer struggle from the Notre Dame defense in the second half allows BYU back in the game Though Notre Dame’s offense has typically been characterized as the weaker link this season, the defense almost cost the Irish their lead. The Cougars came out of the gate hot in the second half, and the Irish defense lacked the momentum to deal with this.

The defense performed decently in the first half, only letting in one touchdown for the Paid Advertisement

Irish’s matchup against UNC. Pyne threw for 262 yards with three touchdowns and was an efficient 22-28 with only one interception, which was tipped at the line. He spread the ball around to seven different Irish receivers and remained cool and confident under pressure.

Contact Madeline Ladd at mladd2@nd.edu

Sports

ndsmcobserver.com | MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022 | The Observer

11

MAYER FEATURE

‘He’s a special football player’: Mayer shines in Vegas, sets reception record for tight ends

By NATE MOLLER Senior Sports Writer

Junior tight end Michael Mayer stole the show Saturday night in Las Vegas by setting the alltime Notre Dame record for receptions by a tight end. Mayer finished the game with an outstanding 11 receptions, 118 yards and two touchdowns, leading his team to a statement win over No. 16

BY U by a score of 28-20.

Mayer made his presence known early in the game, as he finished the first half with eight receptions for 83

yards. That first half performance was highlighted by his record-breaking catch on a 24-yard pass from junior quarterback Drew Pyne. The catch by Mayer was by no means easy, as Mayer had to leap in the air and catch the ball over his head to secure the record.

Mayer’s touchdown reception, which capped a ten play, 75-yard Irish drive, was his 141st of his career and put him in front of Tyler Eifert for most receptions by a tight end. By the end of the night, Mayer had recorded 146 total receptions in his career putting

him eighth in all-time receptions at Notre Dame, regardless of position.

Mayer was unaware about the record after making the catch, but he found out about it when he saw himself on the big screen after the play.

“I wasn’t aware. I went back and sat on the bench and saw me up on the screen and heard they kind of announced it,” Mayer said.

Mayer is extremely grateful for all his coaches and teammates that have gotten him to the point he is today.

“I am very grateful.

I’ve been around a ton

of good football coaches and a ton of great football players that have gotten me to this point, starting in fifth grade,” Mayer said. “There are tremendous people here at the University of Notre Dame that have gotten me to this point, and I am grateful.”

Head coach Marcus Freeman praised Mayer after the game for his leadership and hard work.

“He’s a special football player,” Freeman said. “But the thing you love about Michael Mayer is he is the hardest worker. W hen your best player is your hardest

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worker, that’s the greatest example you can have for young guys and your entire team. I am just going to continue to push him to continue to be the hardest worker we have.”

Although Mayer is arguably the top tight end in college football, Freeman acknowledged that Mayer strives to get better each day.

“He’s not a finished product, and that’s tough to say for a guy who holds probably every single record there is at Notre Dame for tight ends,” Freeman said. “He doesn’t want to be told what he does well.

He wants to know how he can improve. That’s what makes him special.”

Mayer continued to make an impact in the second half Saturday night as well, scoring another touchdown in the third quarter.

This time Mayer made a fantastic over the shoulder catch, fully extending his arms out to haul in the 19-yard pass from Pyne.

Freeman also praised Mayer for his ability to have a set game plan going into every game.

“The ones that are the great players like Michael Mayer know what the defense is going to do, and they know how to still find a way to win. You see he does that more than not,” Freeman said.

Pyne applauded Mayer’s ability to get open after the game.

“He’s kind of uncoverable,” Pyne said. “Mike absolutely dominates whoever is in front of him.”

The chemistry between Pyne and Mayer has continued to grow this season, and Mayer credits that to lots of repetition and playing catch after practice.

“It’s a lot of practice and a lot of repetition,” Mayer said. “It really works, and it worked today.”

After Friday’s game, Mayer has a team-leading 33 receptions this season and 146 total receptions in his career. With seven regular season games to play, Mayer will have plenty of chances to move further up on the all-time Notre Dame receptions list.

Although Michael Floyd’s 271 receptions is likely unattainable for Mayer, Mayer only needs 181 receptions to match T.J. Jones for second on the list.

Contact Nate Moller at nmoller@nd.edu

12

The observer | MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022 | ndsmcobserver.com

ND FOOTBALL

Notre Dame topples BYU in Bible Brawl: Five key moments Associate Sports Editor

inconsistent but created the 4th down stop when needed.

Allegiant Stadium was electric and energy-filled tonight from both BYU and Notre Dame as 62,742 fans witnessed a close match of college football in the 2022 Shamrock Series. Ultimately, the Irish saw victory over the Cougars, 28-20. They never lost the lead, but the win was not always certain. It would not be a Notre Dame game without a borderline heart attack in the second half, and this game certainly fit the bill. The Irish offense did their job consistently well, except in the red zone where Tommy Rees’ questionable play-calling left points off the board. The defense fell short in the second half and cost the team a substantial lead, but the Irish were able to pull it together and perform when it mattered most. Notre Dame showed what they could do on offense — something Irish fans have been waiting to see.

The defense was frustratingly

A TaRiq Bracy interception starts things off right for the Irish Notre Dame won the toss and deferred to the second half, but BYU certainly did not have the ball long.

Right out of the gate on firstand-10, Irish graduate student cornerback TaRiq Bracy picked off a massively underthrown ball by Cougar’s quarterback Jaren Hall. BYU has seemingly owned the turnover battle this season, but Bracy humbled them early in the game.

Bracy’s turnover marks the Irish’s first interception of the season and a big moment for the Irish defense.

This allowed the Irish to gain possession and make it 3-0 with a field goal. Bracy apparently injured his hamstring at the end of the game and his status for next week is unknown at this point, but he significantly contributed tonight.

By MADELINE LADD

RYAN VIGILANTE | The Observer

The Irish defensive line tries to block a BYU field goal attempt. The win over the Cougars moved the Irish to 11-0 in the Shamrock Series.

Michael Mayer leads Irish offense in record-breaking performance “Drew Pyne’s pass complete to Michael Mayer” echoed repeatedly this Saturday night in Allegiant Stadium.

Consistently present to receive junior quarterback Pyne’s passes, Mayer helped the Irish rack up big yardage throughout the entire game and stole the show in Vegas.

In the second quarter, Mayer’s sixth catch of the game — a touchdown and the 141st reception of his career — allowed him to surpass former Irish All-American Tyler Eifert atop Notre Dame’s career reception list for tight ends.

This momentous moment for Mayer was certainly well deserved Saturday night as he racked up 118 yards and amassed two touchdowns.

Mayer was a key component of the Irish’s successful performance tonight. see BYU PAGE 10

ND WOMEN’S SOCCER

Irish roll No. 3 Seminoles 4-0 in statement win

By J.J. POST Sports Writer

On Sunday afternoon, Notre Dame women’s soccer notched a massive victory in their quest for an ACC title, taking down No. 3 Florida State 4-0 at Alumni Stadium.

The Irish started off hot thanks to sophomore midfielder Korbin Albert, who picked the pocket of a Florida State defender before charging in on net for a clinical oneon-one finish. And then less than five minutes later, Olivia Wingate ripped a shot from just outside the 18 yard box that found the back of the net.

Down 2-0 within the opening ten minutes, Florida State struggled to regroup over the remainder of the first half. The Seminoles earned a penalty three minutes after Wingate’s goal, but Jenna Nighswonger fired wide. Seemingly shaken by the deficit and the missed chance, Florida State struggled to connect in the midfield for large stretches of the first half. Notre Dame entered the break with a two goal advantage that matched their

largest halftime lead of the season so far.

Head coach Nate Norman noted the hot start helped the team set the tempo for the rest of the match: “I think every game we talk about the need to come out with a tremendous amount of energy and get after teams,” said Norman. “We thought that if we can just win the ball then we can go at them as quickly as possible. Obviously getting those two goals was great. It put us on the right foot, and we carried that on the rest of the game. I’m very proud of them.”

The Irish kept the momentum rolling in the second half. Racking up eight shots to Florida State’s five coming out of the break, Notre Dame finally cashed in after 25 minutes thanks to Maddie Mercado. Though she was kept out of the starting lineup by injury, the senior made her mark on the game off the bench, firing home a Wingate cutback. Wingate would go on to add a second goal to see W SOCCER PAGE 8

MAX PETROSKY | The Observer

Senior forward Kiki Van Zanten makes a tackle during Notre Dame’s 3-0 home win over the NC State Wolfpack. The Irish continued their strong form with a 4-0 win over No. 3 Florida State on Sunday.