Print Edition for The Observer for Wednesday, November 29, 2023

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VOLUME 58, ISSUE 36 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

Bishop seeks change in admissions policy Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades urged Saint Mary’s to ‘correct’ their recent transgender admissions policy Observer Staff Report

Bishop Kev in C. Rhoades, who presides over t he diocese of Fort Way ne-Sout h Bend, denounced Saint Mar y’s new admissions policy to consider applicants “who consistent ly live and identif y as women” beginning in fa ll 2024.

In a Monday statement, Rhoades urged t he Board of Trustees to correct its admissions policy t hat “departs from f undamenta l Cat holic teaching on t he nature of woman.”

He a lso said he was not aware of t he decision to consider transgender applicants until last week’s email

MEGHAN LANGE | The Observer

The Saint Mary’s Board of Trustees recently revised their admissions policy to permit consideration for transgender applicants starting fall 2024. The decision has since generated a great degree of controversy.

SMC welcomes new history professor

Assistant Managing Editor

ADRIAN ZHENG | The Observer

By ADRIAN ZHENG News Writer

UniversityPresidentFr.JohnJenkins and students from the Philanthropy and the Common Good course, led by professor Jonathan Hannah, gathered at McKenna Hall on Tuesday evening to present a total of $59,000 in grants to various South Bend and Michiana nonprofit organizations. The course, sponsored by The Philanthropy Lab,

teaches students about the impact of philanthropy in society.

The course, set for its sixth offering in the fall of 2024, allows students to be directly involved in local nonprofit activities. Each student must conduct one site visit to a local nonprofit and volunteer once during the semester, Hannah said. Afterwards, the students receive funding proposals and see PHILANTHROPY PAGE 4

see BISHOP PAGE 3

Kay v. Irish Rover nears as Rover argues free speech

By GABRIELLE BEECHERT

Members of Notre Dame’s Philanthropy and Common Good course pose with Fr. Jenkins and checks depicting grants to local non-profits.

announcement from College President Katie Conboy.

“It is disappointing t hat I, as bishop of t he diocese in which Saint Mar y’s College is located, was not included or consulted on a matter of important Cat holic teaching,” Rhoades w rote.

In Conboy’s email last Tuesday, t he College president said she consulted w it h t he Executive Team and ot hers at t he College when updating t he policy to “ensure t hat our message is not only in line w it h best practices for today’s college students, but t hat it a lso encompasses

New legal documents filed by sociology and global affairs professor Tamara Kay purport that Irish Rover reporting was part of a “concerted effort” to get her fired. The Rover’s response says the argument is not relevant to its motion to dismiss the defamation lawsuit.

In a filing submitted to St. Joseph Superior Court 4 on Nov. 3, Kay made part of her argument against the Irish Rover, a Catholic and conservative student publication.

Kay and her legal team argued the evidence demonstrates the two allegedly defamatory Rover articles published in October 2022 and March 2023 were aimed directly at Kay and designed to advance personal agendas rather than further the right to free speech.

The presented legal evidence — including text messages between the newspaper’s writers, faculty advisors and other students — attempts to demonstrate that the Rover was misleading in its reporting. The filing also argues that the “J” on

Kay’s office door was intended to stand for “Jane Doe,” a reference to sexual assault victims. The document also stated that Kay’s husband was fired from Notre Dame in May 2023.

“The October 12, 2022, article was the result of a concerted effort of Notre Dame faculty, staff, students and even an alumni group, all with one agenda in mind — to get rid of Professor Kay,” the document said.

Kay’s response filing reveals details of Rover reporting tactics, Rover legal defense points to First Amendment Rover reporters received tips from University faculty, encouraged a Holy Cross student to request Plan C pills from Kay and discussed “undercover” methods when reporting about Kay. The Irish Rover legal counsel says reporting practices detailed in the new documents are not relevant to its motion to dismiss the defamation lawsuit.

The right to free speech is not conditioned on motives, said Jim Bopp, one of the Irish Rover attorneys.

Bopp said the issues are

whether the Rover and its writers were engaged in First Amendment protected speech — which, he argues, they were — and if they had a reasonable basis for the statements made in the articles. Anything other than that, Bopp said, is irrelevant. The Rover’s legal counsel makes this argument in its reply to support its motion to dismiss, which was filed Nov. 20.

“She put a vast amount of irrelevant, immaterial things in her response that has nothing to do with the issues before the court,” Bopp said.

Kay first sued the Irish Rover in May 2023. The Rover’s legal counsel filed a motion to dismiss the suit in July under Indiana’s anti-SLAPP Law, which is designed to protect First Amendment rights.

Kay’s filing sought to refute the grounds on which the Rover filed its motion to dismiss.

Both Kay and the Rover filed their responses ahead of the hearing on the motion to dismiss the case, which is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Dec. 20.

In September 2022, Kay see KAY V. ROVER PAGE 4

BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES NEWS PAGE 4

SCENE PAGE 5

VIEWPOINT PAGE 6

M SOCCER PAGE 12

FOOTBALL PAGE 12

2

TODAY

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

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Editor-in-Chief Maggie Eastland Managing Editor Ryan Peters Asst. Managing Editor: Gabrielle Beechert Asst. Managing Editor: Hannah Hebda Asst. Managing Editor: José Sánchez Córdova Notre Dame News Editor: Saint Mary’s News Editor: Viewpoint Editor: Sports Editor: Scene Editor: Photo Editor: Graphics Editor: Social Media Editor: Advertising Manager: Ad Design Manager: Systems Administrator:

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Photo

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MEGHAN LANGE | The Observer

Graduate student quarterback Sam Hartman throws a pass to senior wide reciever Chris Tyree during Notre Dame’s win against Stanford. The Stanford-Notre Dame game has been a traditional matchup since the two schools first met in the 1925 Rose Bowl.

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Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

“The Best Years of Our Lives” (1946) Browning Cinema 6:30 p.m. - 9:20 p.m.

Film and book discussion.

Cocoa & Cram Holy Cross Hall at Saint Mary’s 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Enjoy hot cocoa to fuel your studying.

The 2023 Christmas Lecture with Kate the Chemist Jordan Hall of Science 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Annual lecture.

Service Saturday SMC Student Center 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Paint signs to mark the garden beds on the sustainable farm.

Raclin Murphy Museum of Art Opening Weekend Raclin Murphy Museum of Art 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Cookies & Cootie Catchers Regina North Lobby 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Enjoy cookies and make cootie catchers.

Film: “Rambo: First Blood” (1982) Browning Cinema 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Watch an action and thriller film.

ND Chorale Presents Handel’s “Messiah” Leighton Concert Hall 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Concert choir performance.

Presenting Series’ Cultural Collective: Orange Moon Decio Theatre 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Support local artists.

Jazz Band Concert Leighton Concert Hall 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Notre Dame Jazz Band performs a wide variety of jazz music.

NEWS

Bishop CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

our commitment to operate as a Cat holic women’s college.”

The Board approved t he change June 23, but t he College has only been under t he nationa l spot light for t he past week. Online publications including Fox News, Breitbart, Newsweek and The Daily Signa l reported on t he new admissions policy after a report in The Obser ver. The Turning Point USA club at Saint Mar y’s, which is not of f icia lly recognized by t he College, ca lled attention to t he policy change in an Instagram post Nov. 17.

Rhoades’ statement arrives after a week of socia l media back lash from a lumnae who oppose t he admissions change.

“Absolute pandering,” Saint Mar y’s a lumna Emily McNa lly ‘15 w rote in an Instagram comment. “If SMC rea lly believed t hat a man who says he is a woman is a woman, t hey would force incoming freshman to room w it h such a person.”

Conboy said t he College is still determining t he housing practices t hat w ill follow from t he policy.

A not her a lumna, Priscilla Pilon ‘86, w rote on Facebook, “W hat is happening now is at t he expense of women.

We have compassion and empat hy for men who believe t hey are women,” she commented. “W hile doing so, we do not have to compromise va lues, principa ls [sic] and basic human rights t hat women have to commune, pray, and be educated in single-sex env ironment.”

Pilon added t hat she is in t he process of changing her w ill to remove Saint Mar y’s

NDSMCOBSERVER.COM | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 | THE OBSERVER

as a benef iciar y.

“Not one more dime, nor my advocacy for t he college w ill continue unless t hey reverse t his course,” she w rote.

Despite opposition, a lumnae and students have a lso publicly backed t he decision.

“So proud of my a lma mater! ” Renee Powers ’08 w rote in an Instagram comment. “This is t he right side of histor y.”

Current senior Katie Hunter w rote, “smc was founded to educate A LL women not just cis women ! ” Junior Caroline Dutton echoed t he sentiment, commenting on Instagram, “smc was founded to educate women who were overlooked or excluded in traditiona l education env ironments and trans women can surely relate to t hat.”

According to Rhoades, t he ideolog y t hat separates sex from gender and claims t hat sexua l identit y is based on subjective indiv idua l experiences “is at odds w it h Cat holic teaching” and “compromises [Saint Mar y’s] ver y identit y as a Cat holic woman’s college.”

Rhoades said Saint Mar y’s desire to “stand in lov ing solidarit y” w it h transgender people is acceptable, but t hese students should not be admitted to a women’s college, nor t heir identit y af f irmed.

“The desire of Saint Mar y’s College to show hospita lit y to people who identif y as transgender is not t he problem. The problem is a Cat holic woman’s college embracing a def inition of woman t hat is not Cat holic,” he w rote.

PAID

3

Congregation of Holy Cross removes invasive trees

By ROSE ANDROWICH News Writer

The Congregation of Holy Cross cut down invasive Bradford pear trees north of campus according to Fr. Bill Beauchamp, a Holy Cross priest.

“We’re actually getting rid of trees that are called [Bradford] pears,” Beauchamp said. “[Bradford] pears are an invasive species of trees that have become a problem in this country. They just spread on their own.”

Beauchamp said all the land south of St. Joseph’s Lake is owned by the University, while the Congregation owns everything north of the lake.

“Basically, all the land south of the lake is owned by the University and all the land north of the lake — it used to be the old Douglas Road — is owned by the Congregation,” Beauchamp said. “The Congregation owns Corby Hall and the ground but the rest of it is basically all owned by the University” Cassie Majetic, a biolog y professor at Saint Mary’s said invasive species often expand in their new environments.

“Invasive species in general are species that are not native to a particular region,” Majetic said. “They are brought into a region.

And when they arrive they often face different environmental conditions that allow our populations to grow and expand in unchecked base.”

ADVER-

Majetic said the Bradford pear tree was introduced from Asia in the 1900s to fight a disease happening in the common pear tree.

The seeds of a Callery pear are easily dispersed into open spaces by birds, allowing fast growth, she explained.

“The seeds of the Callery pear are easily dispersed by birds, allowing it to invade open spaces such as pastures, ground, grasslands and open woodlands,” Majetic said.

“Then it grows really fast and has really rapid growth.”

Thomas Anderson, a professor of Latin American literature at Notre Dame and a bird photographer, said taking out invasive species is crucial.

“Taking out these invasive trees is important too, because they spread and if they don’t take them down then 10 years from now those trees are going to just be every where,” Anderson said.

“Open spaces are also very important.”

The spread of invasive species will choke out the growth of natural tree species, Beauchamp said. In addition to protecting the native vegetation and wildlife, Majetic added that pulling out the invasive species can lead to beautiful replacements.

“There’s more of an interest of pulling those invasive species out and replacing them with some really beautiful native species to this region that actually better support the wildlife,” Majetic said. “And so if you can remove those invasives you remove that competition, you can bring in some equally

gorgeous things.”

Beauchamp said they will cut down the invasive trees and dig up the roots. He added that they have to treat the land to prevent the trees from coming back.

Beauchamp said the Congregation wants to keep the land as natural as possible.

“That’s one of the reasons we got rid of the [Bradford] pears to get it back to its natural state,” Beauchamp said.

“There’s some other trees growing in there that were being choked out by these pears.”

Majetic said the city of South Bend is supportive of efforts to increase tree canopy.

“The city of South Bend is very engaged in tree canopy support in the city,” she said.

“They planted a lot of Callery pears back in the 60s, 70s and even into the 80s and 90s.

Now all of the projects that they are doing involve replacing or removing trees are using native species.”

Anderson said the area by St. Joseph’s Lake where the trees were removed is important to him.

“One of the many reasons I care so much about the campus is because I’m a bird photographer and I’ve been doing this several years,” Anderson said. “I’ve spent hundreds of hours back in that area taking pictures of birds especially in the spring and the fall. And I was just really shocked to see all these trees coming down.”

Anderson hoped all these projects are taking into account the environmental impact.

“I think my biggest message is that I hope that all of these projects that are being done are taking into account the impact that they are going to have on the animals and the birds on campus because Notre Dame campus is a nature sanctuary,” Anderson said.

The number one concern for Anderson is making sure whatever trees come done are chosen for good reason.

“Around the lakes is a great variety of trees and sometimes when they get old …

They have to come down but my number one concern is that they make sure that whatever trees come down are coming down for good reasons,” he said.

Beauchamp said it will take a few years to treat the land before wildf lowers will be planted and left to grow in the area.

Contact Rose Androwich at randrowich01@saintmarys.edu

4

NEWS

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

Raclin Murphy Museum of Art to open Philantropy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Opening weekend at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art is right around the corner.

On Thursday at 6 p.m., the museum will open its doors to students at University Student Preview Night. According to the museum’s website, any University student will be able to explore the new art

museum while enjoying music, activities and live screen painting.

The rest of the tri-campus and Michiana community can make their first visit to the museum 24 hours later. Opening night for the general public Friday features a DJ, free food and a cash bar for those of age.

Festivities continue on

Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Performances from local singers, actors and indigenous groups are scheduled. Artists will demonstrate ceramics, basket weaving and wood panel painting.

Sunday, also from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., activities and food will be available to the public. A violin and cello performance as well as an indigenous

dancing, drumming and singing presentation will take place in the afternoon.

The University announced plans for the museum in 2007 and began construction in 2020.

The Raclin Murphy Museum of Art replaces the Snite Museum of Art, which will now become the Snite Research Center in the Visual Arts.

Kay v. Rover

not respond to requests for interviews.

door was in reference to sexual assault. They also argue that in the sign posted on Kay’s door, the word “healthcare” referenced the lack of access to healthcare that Notre Dame was providing to students who are sexually assaulted. The report says Kay initially considered putting the sign on her door in late August — prior to when the abortion ban in Indiana went into effect — after she reported one of her students was sexually assaulted to the University’s Title IX office.

Filings from the Irish Rover purport that Kay was concerned about abortion access just before Roe v. Wade was overturned. In an email sent to history and global affairs professor Ted Beatty on May 26, 2022, Kay writes about the potential impact on faculty if Roe “goes away.” She writes that women faculty are “talking about the need to potentially provide housing and transportation for women from Indiana who will need to seek abortions in Illinois, or help them get Mifepristone and Misoprostol.” Kay also wrote about trying to “get some clarity” about what actions would be seen as violating the academic articles “if Roe (and other freedoms/civil rights) goes away and we have to engage in civil disobedience on this issue.”

In another email sent June 24, 2022, Kay addresses sociology graduate students after an article written by a Notre Dame graduate student was published in Ms. Magazine. The article mentions the Jane Collective, an underground network that provided secret abortion services. In her email, Kay wrote, ”the data and research on reproductive health access (including abortion access) and educational outcomes is incontrovertible. So if you ever need help to access healthcare, you can ALWAYS come to me for financial, logistical, emotional support, etc. etc. and I will give it to you confidentially and without questions, judgements, stigma or shame.”

Based on this personal communication, the Rover legal team argues the “J” on Kay’s door stands for the Jane Collective, not Jane Doe. Bopp said Kay’s argument that the “J” referenced sexual assault was a “fantasy.”

for a statement about either the tweets or the sign on her door.

Bopp said that in the context of a defamation case, DeReuil can make conclusions based on what he observed without asking for Kay’s comment as long as the statement is not false or recklessly disregarding the truth. There is no obligation to investigate, Bopp said.

Kay has been vocal about the rape and death threats she had received since the publishing of the Rover’s articles, and the document included some of these email threats, as well as a photo of a physical letter received in the mail. Bopp claims there is no evidence these threats are linked to the articles.

Kay’s legal team noted that Notre Dame terminated her husband in May 2023. He was employed by Notre Dame since 2016, and he was not tenured.

The Rover’s legal team said mentioning this in the filing was Kay’s attempt to play the victim.

The Rover’s legal team believes the new filed information is not relevant to refute its position, maintaining its belief that Kay filed this lawsuit to punish student journalists.

“She’s come up with all this irrelevant stuff as a smokescreen, and so I think she’s failed to refute any of the basic issues in the case and is just trying to create a smokescreen and make herself the victim while she was the oppressor,” Bopp said.

Kay did not respond to The Observer’s questions but provided a written statement.

“As a Catholic, I believe it is very important, given that the names of individuals have been included in recent court filings, that they be treated with respect and kindness, and not subjected to the threats, harassment and abuse that I have endured,” she wrote in an email.

“I also want to emphasize that, as the legal process continues, this is not about me. It is about ensuring a campus that is safe and allows women, LGBTQIA+, Native American, and Students of Color to thrive. To that end, the parietal rules undermine the human dignity of women at Notre Dame, make them vulnerable to assault and abuse, and contribute to a rape culture on campus. We should end them immediately.”

act as a board of directors to award the grants.

Hannah said education is crucial in shaping future philanthropists andteachingthemthatthereismore to philanthropy than just money.

“Unlike courses focused on making and investing money, our course at Notre Dame, sponsored by The Philanthropy Lab, helps students see that philanthropy isn’t just about large sums of money. It’s about volunteering, strategic giving, and serving on boards,” he said.

The curriculum touches on politics and tax benefits that may or may not result from charitable acts, Hannah said.

“The course blurs the lines between philanthropy and politics.

Students learn to distinguish between philanthropy aimed at policy influence and that meant for direct aid.

“However, the tax benefits for donors remain a point of discussion, especially considering that most Americans don’t receive tax incentives for their charitable acts,” he said.

Hannah said he does not influence who receives the grants.

“I don’t guide my students in grant-making. They serve as a board of directors, and I’m there as an advisor. It’s their decision on which nonprofits to visit and fund. My role is to ensure they have the freedom to make these critical decisions,” he said.

Students independently guide their own decision-making when theyvisitandevaluatenonprofitsbefore allocating the grants.

Thissemester,notablegrantswere awarded to Cultivate Food Rescue, Corvilla, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), 100 Women Strong and Neighbor to Neighbor.

Jenkins addressed the assembly at McKenna Hall on Tuesday and praised the course for bridging the gap between academia and community engagement.

“This class provides resources to worthy organizations and connects the University with the community.

It’s crucial for Notre Dame to be a part of the community and actively engage with it,” he said.

Jenkins highlighted the impact of such courses on students.

“Engaging with the community in this way makes for better citizens and more fulfilled lives. I hope the students carry this experience with them, not just in this semester but throughout their lives,” he added.

Senior student Gigi Eckholdt said the course offered her a unique realworld experience.

“Visiting Cultivate Food Rescue was an eye-opening experience.

Learning about philanthropy in a classroom is one thing, but seeing its impact firsthand truly brings the lessons home,” she said.

Notre Dame junior Ryan Bland also reflected on the course’s unique curriculum.

“This class has been unlike any other at Notre Dame,” Bland said.

“Getting out into the community and talking to these nonprofits has been incredibly insightful.”

Contact Gabrielle Beechert at gbeecher@nd.edu

Contact Adrian Zheng at azheng3@nd.edu

Observer Staff Report

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

posted a sign on her office door which read, “This is a SAFE SPACE to get help and information on ALL healthcare issues and access — confidentially and with care [and] compassion.” The note also included the capital letter “J” with a circle around it and Kay’s personal email address, which mentioned reproductive health.

University faculty inform, advise Irish Rover reporters Vincent Phillip Muñoz, a faculty advisor for the Rover, sent a photo of the sign to W. Joseph DeReuil, who was editor-in-chief of the Rover at the time. A fews days earlier, he suggested the Rover cover the post-Roe v. Wade panel Kay spoke on, according to the filing.

“It is true that the Irish Rover received information from various sources about Dr. Kay’s public speech and actions. But receiving information does not a conspiracy make,” the Rover’s Nov. 20 filing said. Muñoz did not respond to an interview request.

DeReuil authored the October article, reporting that the letter “J” on Kay’s door and in one of Kay’s now-deleted tweets denoted “Notre Dame professors who are willing to help students access abortion.”

Prior to the release of this article, Kay’s document showed that a University business professor, Craig Iffland, texted DeReuil about Kay and the October article.

“There needs to be a coordinated assault on the Tamara Kay issue. Just flood Jenkins,” he said in the text. “Basic output: Keough has to hire someone based to placate the mob.”

In his deposition pertaining to the lawsuit, DeReuil said he believed Iffland was referring to two open positions within the Keough School of Global Affairs.

DeReuil said he believed Iffland’s hope was that if people were upset with Kay, Notre Dame would be more likely to hire people who he viewed as in-line with the University’s mission.

Bopp said this text is irrelevant to the case because the statements in the articles about the signage on her door and what Kay said on the panels have nothing to do with alleged evidence that someone wants to fire her. Bopp said the text was not reflective of what the Irish Rover did, and Iffland “can have advice.”

Iffland and DeReuil did

Rover reporters attempt ‘abortion pill acquisition project,’ other strategies The document also stated there were multiple instances in which Rover writers either considered or engaged in misleading reporting tactics.

On Oct. 3, a Holy Cross student, Abbi Lemons, reached out to Kay asking for Plan C pills, but Kay never responded. The filing revealed screenshots of a text conversation about the email sent between Lemons and Elizabeth Hale, a Notre Dame student and a current managing editor of the Irish Rover.

“You can just play the part of scared, lost, heard she was a friendly [sic],” Hale wrote to Lemons when they were considering approaching Kay at her office. “She’s super narcissistic so if you were to butter her up think it would be good [sic].”

DeReuil texted Hale about this interaction, referring to it as the “abortion pill acquisition project.”

Kay alleged this was an “apparent attempt to entrap” her. Bopp said it was “silly to talk about entrapping” because this was an attempt to “verify” Kay’s actions, referencing her now-deleted tweets that linked websites that offered Plan C pills.

The filing also revealed text conversations between Luke Thompson, the author of the March article, and Notre Dame student Merlot Fogarty that referenced sending people “undercover” to the College Democrats talk which Kay spoke at. The panel was the subject of the March 2023 article. Later messages reveal Thompson did not attend the lecture undercover.

“A standard type of investigative technique that reporters use is they just show up at something, don’t announce who they are, pretend they’re just one of the crowd and they report on it.

That’s what good reporters do,” Bopp said.

Lemons, Hale and Thompson did not respond to interview requests. Fogarty declined to comment.

Rover’s response points to Kay’s emails about abortion rights, argues the ‘J’ stands for the Jane Collective In the filing and in a statement posted to Kay’s website in July, Kay and her legal team have argued that the “J” on her office

Rover legal defense calls new evidence a ‘smokescreen’ to ‘make herself the victim,’ but Kay says ‘this is not about me’ DeReuil said in his deposition that he never directly asked Kay

5

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

By COZETTE BROWN Scene Writer

It’s a simple tale about one of the most infamous military minds of the world — telling the story of how Napoleon Bonaparte’s ambition brought him up only to lay him low in the end. I expected “Napoleon” to be a fine-tuned period piece of the same caliber as “Gladiator” (another film with Ridley Scott directing and Joaquin Phoenix delivering a career-defining performance), but met only disappointment. “Napoleon” felt pieced together like a history textbook, with paragraph after paragraph telling a chronological story, at least, but not a compelling one.

Sony marketed “Napoleon” as a fresh take on history that would tell Bonaparte’s story through the “prism” of his tumultuous relationship with his wife, Joséphine. Going into the theater, I believed wholeheartedly in Vanessa Kirby’s ability to f lesh out a character who had, until now, gone mostly unnoticed in the shadow of a bigger player. I had seen Kirby do it before as Princess Margaret in “The Crown” (a role which earned her an Emmy nomination), and I figured she would do well as Empress.

Again, I was disappointed. I can understand making Joséphine a mere extension of Napoleon for plot purposes (which the film did), but I have a harder time understanding how the movie could make such an intense, volatile character fall so f lat, which the film somehow managed to do with Joséphine, too. I never once felt the passionately toxic emotional connection that the film tried to convince me existed between Joséphine and Napoleon; thus, I never felt the full effects of the relationship’s dissolution which the film tried to make the climax of the movie.

With this unconvincing relationship as its premise, the movie — much like Napoleon’s rise to power — was doomed from the beginning. Neither Kirby nor Phoenix could have saved a film with such robotic romance, awkward eroticism or that Pride and Prejudice song.

“Napoleon” was, at times, both brilliant and brutal, but it had only a tiny fraction of the source material’s original genius. Many scenes inclined me to feel some admiration for Bonaparte as a master tactician, others comedically indulged in the “small man, big temper” stereotype around him (see Napoleon complex), and still other scenes did,

as promised, unveil a few details about a historic relationship I’d never considered before.

Unfortunately, those scenes came together in a disjointed mess that made no sense, neither as a historically accurate docudrama, nor as the complete work of “faction” I’ve come to expect from most historical biopics. I had hoped that the 157-minute runtime might lend itself to a more cohesive story arc for a historical “epic,” but unlike films such as, dare I say, Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,“ the length was wasted on scenes that could do nothing to enhance the story. I’m not confident that Ridley Scott’s upcoming four-and-a-half hour director’s cut will help.

I left the theater disappointed at what I had wanted to be Scott’s best since “Gladiator,“ but unlike his other most recent period piece, “The Last Duel,” “Napoleon” couldn’t even get me to turn inward and ref lect on what I had just seen. All it managed to do was turn one of France’s most prominent historical figures into a f lat farce. We might never forget the brief reign of Bonaparte, but we’ll probably forget “Napoleon” soon enough.

Contact Cozette Brown at cbrown64@nd.edu ANNA FALK | The Observer

By EMMA DUFFY Social Media Editor

Snow has easily become one of the best characters in the entire Hunger Games series.

Notice I did not say he is a good person. Despite Lucy Gray’s song, he is not as “pure as the driven snow” by any means. Snow is manipulative, murderous and malicious. But even with all of these negative qualities at the forefront of his personality, his character was improved by it. ”The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” allows the audience a glimpse of the way Snow’s character evolves, or rather, devolves into madness.

When I first picked up the book, I did not see how this prequel would be necessary to The Hunger Games saga. But after reading the book and watching the film, it is clear that it adds a lot to the series.

That being said, I cannot promise that everyone will enjoy this film. It is better suited for people like me — people who have had Mockingjay pins hidden in their sock drawer since the fourth grade. Part of the film’s genius is the parallels between this prequel and the original series, and if you’re not already a fan, you miss out on it.

A film adaptation can never be better than the

original book, but this film was able to draw in connections that are impossible to make while reading. While the book gave us insight into Snow’s internal monologue of Snow, the film was clearly better at adding dimension to the important musical elements of the novel. The film used the same background music as the original trilogy, making it impossible not to gasp and cause a scene in the middle of a crowded movie theater. Those small details show the string that connects this story of the 10th Hunger Games to the one with Katniss Everdeen about 60 years later.

There were also ties that stayed consistent between the books and the film. Whether it was the mention of a swamp potato Lucy Gray nicknamed “Katniss” or the return of ”The Hanging Tree” and other songs, there was a strong emphasis on District 12 identities. The audience watches Lucy Gray create the very songs that Katniss ends up singing in the rebellion. (Dear Snow, “you will never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you.”) If you’re like me, you may cringe at times when Lucy Gray would randomly burst into song as if the Hunger Games enters its musical era; however, it is undoubtedly necessary to the plot. It is haunting and beautiful to see how Snow’s career started and

ended in this lowly district. He gained his respect by mentoring a charismatic girl from District 12, but he was taken down by one in the end.

A large topic of discussion is also centered around the mirroring of characters between the prequel and the original series. Does Lucy Gray mirror Katniss or Peeta? Is Snow more like Peeta or Haymitch with his ability to manipulate an audience? Is Katniss mirroring Sejanus Plinth or Reaper? The truth is that they all represent each other. There are similarities between all of these people. They are all products of the fascist regime, whether or not they are willing to admit it.

Beyond the minutia, the film was well done. The acting was impeccable and consistent for all of the characters. The costumes were gorgeous and representative of the characters — specifically, the vibrant nature of Lucy Gray’s dress in the colorless district. The scenes on screen were beautiful and graphic, keeping the audience stuck on a seesaw of emotions.

All of you Hunger Games fans should head out to the closest movie theater to watch, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Contact Emma Duffy at eduffy5@nd.edu ETHAN CHIANG | The Observer

6

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

Is Chandler Bing the greatest friend?

Erin Drumm Drummer’s Circle

Season 6, episode 6 of “Friends” could prove Chandler Bing to be the best friend of all of the Friends.

In the episode, Chandler moves out of his long-time apartment w ith his best friend, Joey Tribbiani, to move in w ith his girlfriend, Monica.

Chandler watches out for Joey, who is know n to be more immature but possibly more lovable than Chandler. Chandler has a dependable job in data science. Joey is an actor, best know n for his role on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” as Dr. Drake Ramoray, who gets w ritten off the show when he falls into an elevator shaft.

On the night Chandler moves out, he makes up an elaborate fake game to give Joey money w ithout him know ing he is giv ing him money. Chandler offered to pay for Joey’s electricity and phone bill since he was leav ing the apartment w ithout advance notice, but Joey said, “Joey Tribbiani does not take charity” and then proceeded to turn off the apartment lights after seeing the number on the bill.

Chandler is not a good friend for giv ing Joey money, but rather for being worried about him enough to create an entire game skewed in his favor. This game of “cups” occurs after Chandler tries to let Joey w in a game of foosball to no avail.

“Cups” consists of impossible-to-follow rules that make absolutely no sense and may not ex ist at all. Ever y card Joey turns over, Chandler deems a w inner.

Many of Chandler’s best friendship moments come from his relationship w ith Joey.

Despite the fact that Chandler might laugh at Joey, he also genuinely supports his career by going to plays, reading scripts and possibly spending the most time w ith him of all the characters on the show.

After all, when Joey eventually figures out that Chandler is tr ying to give him money when he’s mov ing out, Joey says, “I’m not gonna miss you helping me out w ith money. The only thing I’m gonna miss...is you.”

Chandler is not w ithout faults, however. He once told ever ybody in the college alumni chat he shared w ith Ross that Ross had died in a petty prank to get revenge. That might not make him the best friend, but it does make him hilariously entertaining. If he is not the greatest friend of the group, he may be the funniest, although some of his humor is now outdated.

Joey and Chandler’s relationship is one of the strongest of the entire 10-season series, which is also the reason why Chandler’s betrayals or shortcomings are the worst in that relationship.

In season 2, episode 14 when Joey finds success, he pays Chandler back for helping him out in his career and apartment life. He also gives Chandler a gift for being a good friend. The gift is a f lashy gold bracelet that Chandler despises. Chandler wears the bracelet, even though he hates it, but continuously insults the bracelet and makes fun of Joey behind his back, rather than being honest w ith him.

In one of the worst moments of betrayal, Chandler kisses Joey’s girlfriend Kathy, but in one of the most irrational acts of penance — and moments of friendship between Joey and Chandler — Chandler says he w ill sit in a box for six hours to prove his friendship to Joey.

In season 4, episode 8, Chandler says, “The meaning of the box is threefold. 1: It gives me the time to think about what I did. 2: It proves how much I care about my friendship w ith Joey, and 3: It hurts.”

Despite his shortcomings, Chandler brings laughter and sincerity to the “Friends’” relationships and Chandler’s relationship w ith Joey is certainly where his care and compassion shine through his humor.

One could argue that each of the main characters of “Friends” is the greatest friend, even Ross, but as Janice Hosenstein says, “Buy me a vowel because Oh, My, God,” the case for Chandler Bing is a strong one.

Erin Drumm is a senior at Notre Dame studying American Studies, journalism and history. She is from Philadelphia and spends her summers (and every weekend possible) at the shore in Cape May County, New Jersey.

Outside of The Observer, Erin can be found cheering on the Fighting Irish and the Phillies, reading and talking about pop culture and history. She can be reached at edrumm@nd.edu.

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

And yet we dance Carlos Basurto Eudaemonic Banter

With the first great snow of the year comes the first chilly wave of realization that yet another year is approaching its end. It is no surprise to anyone that one encounters this inevitable conclusion with accelerating frequency as one ages. Again and again, another year f lies by, the unstoppable clock ticking away in full view, making its spectator harrowingly aware of their temporary nature. Such experience, that of coming to terms with finality, can be (and perhaps should be) thoroughly defining for some. W hether that feeling of slipping time, of escalating eschatology, of impending endtime, is mere trickery of perception or neurobiologically explainable, it matters not to the deeper human dread it can permeate. A dread that tends to neither be some irrational fear or entirely consume one’s soul — rather, it trails underneath the skin, creeping in the backstage one’s mind theater.

Softly, subtly, it reminds its host from time to time about the Absolute Truth.

One so great and mighty and ominous that it may smother all other truths, bringing into question the necessity of having any others to begin with.

W hat is the point of starting a fire when it is only a matter of time until the snow swallows it whole?

And yet, I love snow. Oh, how it beckons wonder. Messy, cold and disparate it is as it dances away on the whims of the breezes. Its brush blesses all it touches, kissing the edges of the world with holy porcelain, discriminating not between the natural and the artificial. Snow claims it all into its domain, shaping and molding to the rhythm of a grand symphony, swaying to the hum of the universe’s melody and the beating harmony of the Earth. Within this orchestrated storm, every f lake twirls in a unique path interwoven in synchrony with its brethren, becoming part of something greater — creating something beautiful.

Once the sun comes out in the morning, it washes this small, white dream away. Monuments of ice melt and turn to shadows of what they once were: twisted, scattered, watery remnants of their once statistically impossible existence — exhaustively erased. Perhaps, if no one was fortunate enough to bear witness to them, not even their memory remains.

Wordlessly, they returned from whence they came. As brief ly as this song arrived, it took its leave. Its rampage that once appeared omnipotent and neverending has long ceased to be, the blaring silence clearly audible due only to juxtaposition. How cruel, but also how pretty, that it too must come to an end.

Notwithstanding, its ending could never rescind the beauty it once held, and holds now whilst gone. In the end, unbeknownst to any, it remains victorious — for it once was. W hy, it was allowed to be; if that is not the purest beauty there could be, regardless of

path, regardless of birth, regardless of death, what else is there?

It was, therefore, beautiful.

Even at its grittiest and darkest, even when the snow seizes life and swallows the light, it does so with an undeniable grace. This need not demerit the tragedy it may entail, but one must recognize that the cold that threatens to overtake is, too, part of the beauty: beauty that may not always be comprehensible, yet it persists as a constant in all matters and scales.

After all, how is a blizzard to be understood by any one individual snowf lake? Pirouetting away in the indomitable gusts, it intimately constructs something it could never begin to perceive the full picture of.

W hy, that is precisely what we are: f lakes. You and I are naught but snowf lakes coursing through this storm.

Holding the hand of fate, we carve our own path in this angelic painting. And we shall melt someday: Our palaces of ice we so intricately erected are to be dissolved into nothingness and not even memories shall withstand the sunlight.

And yet we snow.

Is that not simply beautiful?

We know it all will turn to dust.

Keenly aware, reminded day to day, year to year, with every storm and every nightmare and every memory devoured by entropy. Every welcome looms an inevitable farewell — every good morning implies its well-deserved good night. And yet we do, and yet we care, and yet we push onward.

And yet we love.

And yet we dance.

Such is not an act of delusion, but the greatest service to the human symphony, to the miracle of being.

To permit the human spirit to emerge supreme against the absurdity of temporality, embracing not an avoidance but a full recognition of the Absolute Truth — a truth that is neither sad nor makes it all meaningless, but all the contrary.

Disregarded and taken for granted, the maelstrom of existence is repeatedly misinterpreted as a simple fact or, at worst, a curse. It fades into the background until threatened by a dread that warns of the eventual end, but this dread is misguided as well.

You need not fear that which always has been and always will be.

All one needs to do is to stop and breathe, watch the freezing, quantum waltz unfold above our heads, and take in the beauty of it all.

Carlos A. Basurto is a sophomore at Notre Dame ready to delve into his philosophy major with the hopes of adding the burden of a Computer Science major on top of that. When not busy you can find him consuming yet another 3+ hourlong analysis video of a show he has yet to watch or masochistically completing every achievement from a variety of video games. Now, with the power to channel his least insane ideas, feel free to talk about them via email at cbasurto@nd.edu.

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

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

7

Roman holiday (minus Audrey Hepburn, plus a little something sweet and cold) Kate Casper Love Letters from Rome

For breakfast, I order a pastry and “un cappuccino” from Cafe Settimiamo across the street from Guarini, and I chug it on the way to my favorite class (which I rarely prepare for).

And in my favorite class which I rarely prepare for, we’ll read a William Carlos Williams poem called “This is just to say.” And I’ll think about every word: “The plums…Which / You were probably / Saving / For breakfast / Forgive me / They were delicious / So sweet / And so cold.”

And I’ll think about those plums. I’ll think about everything that is so sweet and so cold.

I’ll think about Besnik, the man I sat beside on the nine-hour red-eye flight from Dulles to Rome. I’ll think about how he gave me the window seat and told the flight attendants I was his daughter who “just turned 22” when they came through the cabin for drink service.

I’ll think about how that one white lie turned into two cups of white wine, how during my second cup, Besnik told me I was going to love Italy, and I believed him.

I’ll think about Shane and Denise, the couple I met at the baggage claim of Fiumicino Airport, who treated my friends and me to dinner at the Rooftop Spritzeria Monti a few days after meeting them. Maybe it should’ve been awkward telling my parents that I wined and dined with two strangers from the airport, but I told them Shane and Denise were Notre Dame fans, and there was no further questioning.

I’ll think about having to Google Translate how to order a pizza in Italian because, after a year of studying the language, I simply could not figure it out.

I’ll think about that first bottle of Turà Vino Frizzante, the bottle that was so impossible to uncork that it took Nandita, Mirian and me 15 minutes to open (I swear, it was worth all 2 euros).

I’ll think about the “shawl of shame,” which I was handed at the Duomo di Orvieto (because my shoulders were bare, and apparently that’s a sin).

I’ll think about crying my eyes out (unrelated to the “shawl of shame”).

I’ll think about the last-minute trip to the beach at Anzio, how we returned to Rome later that day looking just a little tanner than everyone else.

I’ll think about syringe shots with arkies at La Follia (please don’t ask me what those are).

I’ll think about celebrity shots at On The Rox during beer pong.

I’ll think about my Italian professor from last fall buying me my first maritozzo at the bakery by the Spanish Steps.

I’ll think about the 16-hour Flixbus to Munich and the four-hour layover in Bologna. The pictures I took of my friends’ pupils and the veggie burger I got, which was called the Morrissey Burger (which I made far too many jokes about).

I’ll think about Oktoberfest and getting into a fight with one of my best friends, then making up by the port-a-potties after being manhandled by some massive balding security guards.

I’ll think about trying out for the John Cabot University tennis team.

I’ll think about not making the John Cabot University tennis team.

I’ll think about the little girl from the refugee center who braided my hair.

I’ll think about Camden Town and the picture of my friend, which is taped up to the back bar. I’ll think about reconnecting with my roommate from freshman year in a booth there on a Thursday night and Obi, the bartender, making Fife and me custom drinks. I’ll also think about the way those drinks made me feel the morning after.

I’ll think about the best nap of my life.

I’ll think about Sicily. I’ll think about wandering to the beach with Will that first night and sitting and talking for a while, and the moon was so blood orange.

I’ll think about the boat trip, how I kept saying, “This is the richest we’ll ever be,” and also “What if we die?”

I’ll think about buying cool jewelry from street vendors in downtown Palermo.

I’ll think about the little bug bites that were covering my entire body after Sicily and worrying that (maybe, possibly) I had bed bugs. I’ll think about staking out in the laundry room for seven hours when I got back to Rome to wash and dry everything I own on high heat in case it (maybe, possibly) was bed bugs.

I’ll think about the doctor telling me that it probably was bed bugs.

I’ll think about the opera with Monay.

I’ll think about going out four days in one week because all the London kids were visiting.

I’ll think about my grades in one of my classes taking a serious hit due to all of that going out (whoops).

I’ll think about Jane’s phone getting stolen, and Will and me helping her find it (we didn’t find it).

I’ll think about Fife’s phone getting stolen, and Becca and me helping him find it (we also didn’t find it).

I’ll think about meal plan dinners with Amelia, Sarah, Ethan and Christina.

I’ll think about the first time I hung out with Ines.

I’ll think about Lili finding me the perfect burgundy leather jacket at a booth at Porta Portese.

I’ll think about cramming for that poetry exam with Genna.

I’ll think about Caravaggio paintings.

I’ll think about thrifting funky sweaters with Matthew.

I’ll think about unlimited sushi and late-night talks.

I’ll think about Halloween costumes and that dinner at Benso.

I’ll think about discreetly stashing hotel breakfast pastries into to-go containers because “we didn’t bring Tupperware on this trip for nothing.”

I’ll think about the gourmet cocktails at Il Mercante in Venice.

I’ll think about going for a run, then falling, then bleeding, then feeling my heart beat out of my leg, then seeking medical attention from our beloved assistant rector Isaias.

I’ll think about Tuesday/Thursday walks to Italian class with Hayden and spilling my guts to him.

I’ll think about Park Güell in Barcelona with Fife and Colleen.

I’ll think about crappy tights from Calzedonia and waiters correcting my pronunciation of Italian words and, of course, I’ll also think of home.

I’ll think of home.

I’ll think of my dog and my parents who I love more than anything. My nana whose dream was to come to Italy. My friends back at Notre Dame who I miss terribly.

I’ll think that nothing will ever be the same. And I’ll think, this life can be so sweet and so cold, can’t it?

Kate Casper (aka, Casper, Underdog or Jasmine) is from Northern Virginia, currently residing in Rome. She strives to be the best waste of your time. You can contact her at kcasper@nd.edu.

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

INSIDE COLUMN

What does it mean to serve?

Ethan Chiang Graphic Designer

More than 80% of Notre Dame students participate in service before graduation — a testament to the University’s mission of cultivating a concern for the common good. Although I am only 10% into my journey at Notre Dame, I feel that I have been thrust into a greater conversation about what it means to serve and act in solidarity.

When asked about personal motivations behind service, the commonplace answer is probably “to give back to the community.” However, the more complicated — and perhaps more challenging — question is why do we choose to give back?

Is it animated by the Catholic character and values of the University, which calls us to extend our hearts to the most vulnerable? Or, is it because of personal connections to particular issues of justice, allowing us to act on the moral preferences most proximate to us? Or, perhaps more cynically, is it to assuage a sense of guilt — the

responsibility we feel to use our privilege for something greater than ourselves? It could also very well just be for academic and professional goals. All explanations are plausible, but the point is that it is ultimately something worth reflecting on.

Moreover, I believe that we often enter service with an asymmetry of privilege that can manifest itself in unspoken ways. While we are able to return to our “regular” lives after volunteering, the people we are serving may, for instance, return to a struggle for survival. We can choose to wear clothes that we’re comfortable with getting dirty during a service project, while those we seek to help may be unable to exercise that agency. During my Center for Social Concerns immersion to Appalachia, the facilitator of the nonprofit we assisted expressed that many of their unhoused citizens were simply excited at the fact that students from Notre Dame were coming to their town.

Notably, I believe this implicit power dynamic should be avoided in approaching service. I’ve learned that it’s not just about dedicating time to help others — wherein we provide a service from a position of fortune — but also

about learning from them and forming relationships. It is this element of genuine reciprocity that I believe service opportunities at Notre Dame seek to instill. It can be difficult to put ourselves fully in the shoes of others, but I think service is being intentional about practicing empathy to the best of our abilities — to listen with an open mind. It is acknowledging that the relationships we form are like any other and that they ought to be sustained in equal, compassionate and healthy ways.

The last observation I will make is on the issue of temporality. Students may seek to pursue more traditional careers, rather than committing their lives to explicitly service-adjacent vocations. Does that nullify our “good works?” Probably not. However, in navigating this cognitive dissonance, our education at Notre Dame seeks to “nourish our hearts” so that no matter what we choose to do post-graduation, we are encouraged to work in ways that advance the common good.

You can contact Ethan at echiang@nd.edu.

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

8

SPORTS

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

FOOTBALL RECAP

FOOTBALL COLUMN

Herko: Hartmania Key moments from Notre Dame’s win over Stanford wasn’t worth it Annika Herko Sports Writer

Last week, Wa ke Forest head coach Dave Clawson criticized Notre Dame for play ing W hitney Houston’s “I Will A lways Love You” to Sam Hartman on Senior Day. Clawson claimed t hat t he gesture was over t he top and not believable, given t hat Hartman had (at t he time) only played 11 games for t he Irish after spending f ive seasons at Wa ke.

Believable or not, Hartman stole our hearts t he minute he t hrew his f irst pass at t he Blue-Gold Game and Irish fait hf ul never looked back.

Students made shirts honoring him and College Gameday signs featuring him were common.

But was he wort h it?

Obv iously, he is signif icant ly better t han Tyler Buchner. Coming into his si xt h year as a studentat hlete, no one had any delusions of a long-term relationship.

This was a lways going to be a one-and-done.

But k now ing how diff icult t his season was going to be, w it h so many games against ranked opponents, did Notre Dame have t he right priorities? The only reason to grab a mercenar y quarterback like Hartman is if you t hink you have a shot at a nationa l championship.

W hile outpacing Drew P y ne and Buchner’s combined efforts last year, Hartman has averaged 224 passing yards per game and w ill f inish t he year w it h fewer passing yards and more interceptions t han former Notre Dame quarterback Jack Coan in 2021.

W hile t hat one g uy who dressed in a traff ic cone to a ll t he games was prett y f unny, t here was nowhere near t he amount of hy pe for Coan as t here has been for Hartman.

A nd Coan’s team was not close to w inning a nationa l championship eit her (per Brian Kelly).

Hindsight is 20/20, but I would arg ue t hat developing sophomore Steve A ngeli or freshman Kenny Minchey may have been a better use of t he season. Unless of course, t he plan is to get anot her transfer quarterback

for next year, potentia lly ruining Notre Dame’s quarterback recruiting reputation w it h t hree transfer starters in four years.

Next season, Notre Dame’s big games are against Florida State and a probably Ca leb Williams-less USC. The rest of t he schedule features teams like Purdue, Miami (OH) and Virginia, A K A, w innable games.

Wit h t he College Footba ll Playoff expanding to 12 teams next year, qua lif y ing is a ver y, ver y achievable goa l for Notre Dame, but t hey probably can’t lose more t han t wo games. Finishing in t he top 12 turned out not to be achievable t his year. Wit h a brand new starting quarterback, it’ll be even harder.

If Notre Dame had gotten A ngeli or Minchey more meaning f ul time on t he f ield, t hey would have built chemistr y w it h t he ot her starters and had t heir grow ing pains t his season rat her t han next year, when Notre Dame w ill be in a better place to achieve its longterm goa ls.

I would have much rat her watched one of t hem struggle t his season and have had t he coaching staff eit her get t hem ready or decide t hey weren’t t he g uy and move on to someone else.

Sophomores t hrow ing obv ious picks is one t hing, but watching ol’ Hartman have t wo ugly turnovers in a f irst ha lf against Stanford t hat was a lot closer t han it should have been was not f un.

A nd let’s be honest, Audric Estimé, not Hartman, was t he rea l reason we got out of t hat hole on Saturday.

Ca ll me self ish, but I want to see Notre Dame in a playoff game during my senior year.

Wit h t he trajectory t his team is on, I’m not sure t hat’s likely.

Contact Annika Herko at aherko @ nd.edu.

T he views expressed in this Sports Authorit y are those of the author and not necessarily those of T he Observer.

By JOSE SANCHEZ CORDOVA Assista nt Ma nag ing Editor

Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online on Nov. 26.

Notre Dame struggled through a sloppy first half, but the Irish ultimately had enough to overcome a Stanford team that has struggled mightily in 2023.

The win brings the Legends Trophy back to South Bend, and moves the Irish to 9-3 for the regular season, a slight improvement on last year’s 8-4 mark. Here are the key moments from tonight’s action in the Bay Area.

Early turnovers Stanford hope

give

After winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half, it was a messy opening 20 minutes for Notre Dame. Three turnovers highlighted a slow start for the Irish.

First, graduate student quarterback Sam Hartman scrambled 25 yards for a first down.

All seemed good, but instead of sliding, Hartman tried to get a few extra yards and got hit by Jshawn Frausto-Ramos who forced the ball loose.

Frausto-Ramos recovered it himself to hand Stanford an opportunity.

The defense got a stop, and Notre Dame scored quickly to go up 7-3. But after a Stanford field goal, Jadarian Price’s kickoff return fumble gave the Cardinal great field position once again. This time Stanford made it count, scoring just two plays later to earn a 13-7 lead near the end of the first quarter.

Notre Dame retook the lead with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a play action pass to Jaden Greathouse

in the end zone. They got the ball back quickly after a Stanford 3-and-out, but Hartman threw an ill-advised pass under duress that the Cardinal intercepted.

Stanford made Notre Dame pay with a 56-field goal to retake the lead at 16-14.

Estimé takes over The drive after Stanford retook the lead saw Notre Dame lean on its greatest offensive weapon: Audric Estimé. The junior running back got five carries on the following drive including the 6-yard touchdown that gave Notre Dame a lead they would never relinquish.

Estimé went on to have a historic night for Notre Dame football.

He set career highs in carries (26), yards (238) and touchdowns (4). His four touchdowns took him to 18 for the season, setting the program record for single-season rushing touchdowns. This all comes just days after Estimé was notably absent from the Doak Walker Award’s ten-man semifinalists’ shortlist.

It was part of a dominant rushing performance across the board for the Irish. Six different players combined for 381 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

It’s a remarkable effort considering Notre Dame played without two of its starting offensive lineman (Rocco Spindler and Zeke Correll) for the second consecutive game.

Defense and special teams adjust after early struggles It was a tricky start for Al Golden and Marty Biagi’s

units. It started with a big play on the opening possession.

Stanford put in backup quarterback Justin Lamson, who took off for 49 yards to set up the Cardinal in the red zone. The defense held them to a field goal, but the early big play wasn’t the only one Notre Dame would give up in the opening half. Later on, a busted coverage saw Stanford running back EJ Smith slip out of the backfield and take off for a 53-yard catch-andrun. After Stanford kicked a field goal on that series, Jadarian Price fumbled the kickoff return.

It wasn’t looking pretty for the Irish defense and special teams. Quickly, they both adjusted.

Despite Stanford’s best efforts to hang around, once Notre Dame took the lead 21-16, the Irish defense never let them back in it. They held Stanford scoreless for more than 30 minutes of game action while the Irish offense put some distance between the two teams.

The defensive effort included two big fourth-down stops early in the third quarter to truly kill any Stanford hopes of a comeback.

With the Irish leading 49-16, special teams got a chance to redeem themselves too. Junior defensive lineman Jason Onye got a hand to a long Joshua Karty field goal try. Graduate student defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste scooped it up and ran it back 60 yards for an emphatic touchdown to stretch the Irish lead to 40 points.

Contact José Sánchez Córdova at jsanch24@nd.edu

MEGHAN LANGE | The Observer

Graduate student Javontae Jean-Baptiste runs back a blocked field goal in Notre Dame’s 56-23 win over Stanford. The defensive end returned the block for 60 yards to put the game away in the fourth quarter.

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DAILY

NDSMCOBSERVER.COM | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 | THE OBSERVER

CROSSWORD | WILL SHORTZ

9

HOROSCOPE | EUGENIA LAST Happy Birthday: Formulate your thoughts and execute your intentions. Sending clear messages will determine how well you do this year. When in doubt, ask; time is precious, and mixed messages will slow you down. Surround yourself with like-minded people and those you know you can rely on to give you good advice.

Make kindness and compassion mandatory, address sensitive issues and pay more attention to loved ones. Your numbers are 8, 19, 23, 35, 36, 39, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t sit idle when taking the initiative and participating in what’s happening is the path to new beginnings. Everyone will not welcome an aggressive plan, but you must do what’s best for you. Meetings, updates and taking on new responsibilities will pay off.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Keep track of your money. Don’t give anyone access to personal information. Play by the rules; be responsible financially and emotionally, take control and make your intentions clear. A change or move needs careful consideration. Don’t fold under pressure..

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Emotions will escalate if you or someone close withholds information or true feelings. If you can’t decide what to do, revert to taking care of your responsibilities to avoid complaints while you figure out what’s next. Personal growth is favored.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Trust and honesty matter. You may have to step outside your comfort zone and be blunt about what you can and cannot tolerate. Look for opportunities that offer greater freedom to pursue what you enjoy doing most. Get offers or promises in writing.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Speak up and join in the conversation, and you’ll build confidence and make beneficial connections. Simplify how you handle your responsibilities. Let go of what’s no longer worthwhile and replace it with new skills that allow you to get more done and lower your overhead.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Push to make a move. Refuse to let your emotions or someone else’s mislead you. Look for opportunities based on what you already have going for you to use in a diverse and marketable manner. Choose progressive change over anger and chaos.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Experience is the key to getting ahead. Attend a seminar, networking event or reunion that offers exciting conversations that will spark your imagination and point you in the right direction. Share your thoughts and build a good rapport with individuals who have something to offer.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Stick to your plan, regardless of temptation or pressure.

Joint ventures aren’t likely to turn out as expected. Trust your intuition, and avoid getting caught in someone else’s plans. Take responsibility and do what’s best for you. A positive change is overdue.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Listen, verify information and act. Taking care of matters swiftly will help build a solid reputation. Don’t give in to emotional manipulation; be clear about your priorities and keep moving forward. Avoid being pressured into signing up for something you can’t afford or fulfill.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Someone will test your patience if you let them.

Stay balanced and choose your words wisely. You’ll accomplish more if you work alone, follow your intuition and look for innovative ways to make your surroundings conducive to achieving your dreams. Personal growth is favored.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Make your surroundings feel like home. Put your personal touch on whatever you do, and it will give you the confidence and peace of mind you need to push forward. Take on projects that benefit you, and use your skills to further your interests.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Emotional manipulation is apparent. Be a good listener, know when to say no, and don’t ask for too much or embellish the truth. You’ll achieve the most if you avoid arguments, pay attention to detail and finish what you start. Personal change is encouraged.

Birthday Baby: You are impressive, proactive and entertaining. You are demonstrative and benevolent.

SUDOKU | THE MEPHAM GROUP

JUMBLE | DAVID HOYT AND JEFF KNUREK

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SPORTS

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

FOOTBALL WRAP

Estimé dominates, Notre Dame overcomes early turnovers in Stanford rout

By ANNIK A HERKO Spor ts Writer

If any Stanford fans were feeling sentimental about their last game in the PAC-12, they didn’t show it.

Granted, it was the end of Thanksgiv ing weekend, but the stadium was empty and there was no obv ious student section. The band was sparse and even the in-game music seemed diluted, as if they were tr ying not to disturb anyone who may have been working in the librar y.

Despite the lacking atmosphere, Stanford got off to a relatively strong start. Sophomore quarterback Ashton Daniels completed a few short passes before the Cardinal’s other sophomore quarterback, Justin Lamson, ran up the middle for 49 yards. Over the next three plays, the Cardinal lost a yard and had to settle for a field goal in their first possession.

The Irish looked poised at the beginning of their first drive, w ith Audric Estimé taking the ball on the first play.

The junior running back had a nine-yard rush on first dow n, while freshman Rico Flores Jr. picked up the first dow n on the next play v ia a five-yard pass from quarterback Sam Hartman.

However, Hartman decided to show off his running abilities on first dow n — and picked

up 25 yards — but fumbled, and the ball was recovered by the Cardinals.

Luckily for the Irish, Stanford was only able to get one first dow n before being forced to punt. Hartman handed the ball off to Estimé tw ice after getting the ball back, and then connected w ith Tyree for a 26-yard completion along the Stanford bench. On the next play, Estimé ran right up the middle for 39 yards, and the first Notre Dame touchdow n of the game.

The Cardinals received the ball back follow ing the touchdow n. On second dow n after a short gain, w ith three Irish defenders a step away, Daniels found senior running back E.J. Smith, who dodged safeties for a 53-yard gain.

They advanced to the 5-yard line, but the defense kept them out of the end zone again and kicker Joshua Karty made a 23-yard field goal.

Sophomore running back Jadarian Price then received the kick-off, and returned it to the thirtyyard line, but fumbled and Stanford’s Terian Williams recovered.

Two plays later, freshman w ide receiver Tiger Bachmeier rushed for 14 yards and the touchdow n.

Suddenly, Stanford had a six point lead on the Irish and the fans that were in the building came alive.

The Irish stuck w ith their run-heav y offense on their next possesson, w ith Estimé quick ly picking up another 27 yards. On a critical third and long, Hartman connected w ith Tyree for a 12 yard gain. Three plays later, Hartman found freshman receiver Jaden Greathouse for the touchdow n.

The Irish defense shut dow n Daniels on their next drive, and Notre Dame got the ball back. Unfortunately for the Irish, Hartman threw a pick two plays later and Stanford took over at the Notre Dame 38yard line. Three incomplete passes later, Karty hit a 56-yard field goal, allow ing Stanford to regain the lead.

As the game got more competitive, the crowd grew more into the game. Estimé’s 10-yard gain on fourth and one, prompted a huge sigh of relief from Irish fans and a sigh of frustration from Cardinal fans. The stadium soon crescendoed as Estimé scored his second touchdow n of the game, a six-yard run.

The Cardinals drove dow n the field, and after missing Elic Ayomanor deep dow n the left side, they’d run the exact same play again, this time getting a pass interference call.

On the ver y next play Jack Kiser intercepted Daniels and the Irish offense took over at their

ow n 44-yard line.

Driv ing dow n to the three-yard line, sophomore Gi’Bran Payne stretched out to the goal line and scored his first touchdow n since the Irish hosted Ohio State, despite originally being called a fumble.

Stanford took a knee to end one of Notre Dame’s sloppiest halves of play in recent memor y. Throughout the first half, it was obv ious that Notre Dame’s biggest opponents were themselves. They could do whatever they wanted on offense and despite a few good, unrepeatable plays from Stanford, the defense kept Stanford under control.

A more normal Notre Dame team returned to the field for the second half. Estimé ran seven of the team’s first ten plays for 58 yards and a touchdow n, w ith the drive taking nearly five minutes off the clock.

A subsequent Stanford turnover on dow ns gave Notre Dame the ball back at their ow n 41-yard line. On drive’s first play Hartman hit freshman receiver Jordan Faison for a 45-yard catch and score, right dow n the middle. The play took all of nine seconds off the clock and the Stanford offense came right back out.

Turning it over on dow ns again, the Stanford offense soon returned to their bench,

fueling the cheers of an Irish-dominated crowd.

Two and a half minutes and 45 yards later, Estimé scored his fourth touchdow n of the night.

Stanford showed signs of life (if not enough to compete for v ictor y) at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

They drove dow n to the Notre Dame 38 and Karty set up for another 56-yarder, but this one was blocked by junior defensive lineman Jason Onye and recovered by graduate student defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste.

JeanBaptiste carried it all the way to the end zone for another Irish touchdow n.

Stanford put in their third-string quarterback, Ari Patu, in the game and he fumbled after three plays. Notre Dame countered by bringing their ow n backup, sophomore Steve Angeli, into the game.

And then he went back out of the game after throw ing a pick.

Patu drove dow n to the endzone, but it was Stanford’s second-string quarterback, Lamson, who ran it in to give the Cardinals their third touchdow n.

Each team punted once more before Angeli kneeled to end the game 56-23, ending Stanford’s season and PAC-12 tenure.

Contact Annika Herko at aherko@nd.edu

MEGHAN LANGE | The Observer

Irish junior running back Audric Estimé races downfield as he escapes the fray of Stanford defenders in Notre Dame’s 56-23 road win in Palo Alto on Saturday. Estime posted a career-high 238 yards on the night, averaging 9.5 yards per carry. He would go on to put the ball in the end zone four separate times to score half of Notre Dame’s touchdowns.

SPORTS

NDSMCOBSERVER.COM | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 | THE OBSERVER

Williams

FOOTBALL UPDATES

Notre Dame fires wide receiver coach Stuckey, loses Keanaaina to portal Observer Sports Staff

After losing three members of their roster to the transfer portal on Monday, Notre Dame football shook up its coaching staff Tuesday.

The team parted ways with wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey.

John Brice of Football Scoops was the first to report the news.

Stuckey joined the Irish in 2022 as one of many new assistants after Freeman took over as head coach. He previously served as the wide receivers coach at Baylor. Prior to that, Stuckey spent two years on Clemson’s staff, where he also played in college. Stuckey played in the NFL

for three teams from 2008-2011.

“Over the past few days, we had continued discussions on the overall performance of our wide receiver group and my expectations for the development of that position.

I decided it was in the program’s best interest to part ways,” Freeman said in a release Tuesday.

On one hand, Notre Dame’s recruiting efforts improved during Stuckey’s two-year tenure. The Irish brought in a trio of four-star wide receivers in their 2023 class. Rico Flores Jr. and Jaden Greathouse made an impact in their first year in South Bend. Tobias Merriweather, another

Follow us on Twitter. @ObserverSports

four-star wideout, also committed to the program the year before. Notre Dame has three more four-star commitments lined up for this year, headlined by Cam Williams, the No. 8 receiver in the class of 2024 and the second-highest-rated Irish commit, according to 247 Sports.

On the other hand, however, the production from Irish receivers over the last few years has underwhelmed. Over the last two seasons, the Irish have had exactly one 100-yard receiving game by a wideout (Flores Jr. against Wake Forest). In 2022, Irish receivers combined for just 10 touchdowns, one fewer than tight end Michael Mayer.

This season, junior tight end Mitchell Evans led Notre Dame in catches and was second in receiving yards despite missing the final four games with a torn ACL. Merriweather, junior Deion Colzie (who was injured for most of this season) and others have struggled to develop into consistent playmakers.

Meanwhile, senior defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina became the latest Irish player to enter the portal (including Notre Dame’s receiv ing yardage leader Chris Ty ree). Keanaaina played in six games this year, making 11 tack les, including 1.5 for a loss and 0.5 sacks.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

His steady demeanor never wavered, even as Western Michigan racked up 20 shots, the secondmost the Irish have faced all season.

W hether a towering clearance or a calm pass out of the back was needed, Williams answered the call.

It’s hardly a shock that Williams was ready to go when the Irish most needed players to show veteran sav v y and grit. Part of why he chose Notre Dame out of the transfer portal was the allure of potentially lifting silver ware in his final collegiate years. After a turbulent 2022 season for the Irish, Williams is thriv ing in the sort of postseason games at A lumni Stadium that drew him to South Bend.

“This is the opportunit y that I came for,” Williams said. “I think this is the best case scenario, you know, coming in and being one of the older guys on the team.

We have a lot of adversit y, being a high seed in the tournament we have a lot of pressure on us.

But [experience] has taught me just take care of the guys and cherish ever y moment I get...you never know when our last game is going to be played.”

Williams’ role as a keystone piece for the Irish come postseason was far from a guarantee back in September, though.

The graduate student’s minutes were in f lu x all season.

He didn’t play in the team’s first four games altogether and didn’t

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11

make his first start until Notre Dame’s ninth contest against Virginia.

He then returned to the bench as an unused substitute against NC State and received just nine minutes of action against Duke.

A start against Div ision III Oberlin was followed up by t wo more substitute cameos against Virginia Tech and Michigan.

Eventually, though, Williams’ time arrived.

Sophomore defender Mitch Ferguson picked up an injur y ahead of the team’s critical matchup against Wake Forest, leav ing an 1000 + minute hole in the center of the Irish back line. Coach Chad Riley turned to Williams to fill in.

That faith was quickly repaid. Notre Dame earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw on the road against the Demon Deacons, clinching the ACC Coastal Div ision title.

Williams hasn’t left the field since he got the starting nod in North Carolina, and Notre Dame’s defense has pitched three shutouts in six matches — including each of their first t wo NCA A Tournament games.

For Williams, though, it was never about the amount of minutes he played in a game. It’s always been about filling whatever part is needed to put the team in a position to w in.

“It’s just being bought in,” Williams said.

“W hatever role I have, just doing it to the best of my abilit y.

Coming off the bench is not easy, but [I was] just waiting my turn, ever y opportunit y I get, making the most of it, and doing what Coach [Riley] needs me to do so that we can be in the best position to w in.”

Williams prioritizing w inning is far from a surprise. Ever y other member of Notre Dame’s Round of 16 starting lineup can return for another year in South Bend, should they w ish. The same is not true for Williams.

One more loss would be his final game at the collegiate level.

Depending on how far the Irish can progress in the tournament, Williams has a ma x imum of 330 minutes remaining in his college career. With his eyes on helping Notre Dame capture a second national championship, it’s a safe bet he’ll make each one he gets count.

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

12

THE OBSERVER | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

ND MEN’S SOCCER FEATURE

‘The opportunity I came for’: Williams looking for storybook ending to collegiate career

By J.J. POST Associate Sports Editor

SOFIA CRIMIVAROLI | The Observer

Irish senior goaltender Bryan Dowd leaps to deflect a shot in Notre Dame’s Aug. 19 1-1 tie against Indiana.

Senior defender Paddy Burns notched the sole point for Notre Dame during season-opening draw at home.

Mo Williams’ road to Notre Dame was not a simple one.

The graduate student centerback’s college career has seen all sorts of ups and dow ns. He was part of a Cincinnati Bearcats program that disbanded amidst the COV ID-19 pandemic.

At his next stop, Seton Hall, he helped lead the Pirates to a second-ever NCA A Quarterfinals appearance. And now he’s in South Bend, w ith a chance to make his ow n College Cup debut.

Three teams, six seasons.

Williams’ wealth of experience stands out, even on an Irish team that frequently starts 10 upperclassmen.

He’s composed in the biggest moments, a trait that proved v ital last Saturday when Notre

Dame battled Western Michigan in the NCA A Tournament Round of 16.

W hen sophomore midfielder KK Baffour was show n a red card in just the 27th minute of the match, the Irish immediately faced an uphill climb.

The Broncos had already earned most of the matches’ best chances and would now play w ith an additional man the rest of the way. Notre Dame leaned on the experience of Williams — as well as fellow back line members Kyle Genenbacher, Josh Ramsey and Paddy Burns — to make up the difference.

Williams was one of six Irish players to play all 110 minutes of a 0-0 draw that would eventually end in a penalt y shootout v ictor y for Notre Dame. see WILLIAMS PAGE 11

FOOTBALL TRANSFER PORTAL

Tyree, Osafo-Mensah, Correll enter portal Observer Sports Staff

Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online on Nov. 27.

Chris Tyree, Nana Osafo-Mensah and Zeke Correll announced their intention to leave Notre Dame and enter the transfer portal.

Tyree entered Notre Dame as a running back before converting to wide receiver this year. He has one year of eligibility left. Tyree entered Notre Dame as a five-star recruit (per 247Sports). He saw success on special teams, particularly as a kick returner, including his 97-yard kick return touchdown in the 2021 Shamrock Series game against Wisconsin.

This year, Tyree has 484 yards and 3 touchdowns, including an 82-yard punt return touchdown against Pitt. His switch to wide receiver was not as smooth as some fans had hoped for. Tyree rarely saw action in the short game, although he made several breakaway catches for over 40 yards.

Defensive end Osafo-Mensah has spent five seasons with Notre Dame, including a redshirt year.

He also has one year of eligibility left. Osafo-Mensah had key plays in big games, including sacks in games against Louisville and USC.

However, he failed to cement himself as a starter. Though he played in all games in the last two seasons, his snaps were limited.

Later on in the day, offensive lineman Zeke Correll unexpectedly announced his intention to transfer. Correll was the Irish’s secondbest pass blocker this year, with a rating of 78.0, per Pro Football Focus. Correll did not play in the Irish’s last two contests after entering concussion protocol following Notre Dame’s trip to Clemson.

Sophomore Ashton Craig saw more reps in Correll’s absence.

Correll is an Ohio native and came to Notre Dame as a top prospect, rated as highly as No. 95 by Rivals.com. His absence will be missed, especially as star junior offensive lineman Joe Alt will likely head to the draft. Alt is projected to be drafted within the first 10 picks. Junior offensive tackle Blake Fisher could also leave Notre Dame for the draft.

FantasyPros expects Fisher to be a second-day pick.

Next year, the Irish will see significant change on the defensive line.

Graduate student defensive tackle Howard Cross is not expected to return to Notre Dame, instead entering the NFL Draft, according to sources familiar with the matter.

ARIANNA DENNING | The Observer

Irish senior wide receiver Chris Tyree falls to the turf after being taken down by a Pitt defender in Notre Dame’s 58-7 win on Oct. 28. Tyree, who led the team in receiving yards, caught three passes for 62 yards.