Print Edition for The Observer for Friday, Feb. 16, 2024

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VOLUME 58, ISSUE 52 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

Former president of Ireland visits ND Mary McAleese spoke about the Catholic Church’s ‘resistence’ to democracy

By PETER McKENNA News Writer

On Wednesday night, former president of Ireland Mary McAleese spoke alongside provost John McGreevy and Scott Appleby, dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs, about Catholicism and democracy in a changing era.

McAleese, who was president of Ireland from 1997 to 2011, holds a doctorate in canon law from Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University and has been critical of the Church’s stances, specifically related to women being excluded from priesthood.

McGreevy began with an overview of the tortured

historical relationship between Catholicism and democracy from the late 18th century until Pope Francis’ term, highlighting periods of both rejection and endorsement of democratic ideals.

McAleese then discussed Ireland’s history of political and religious oppression, from British imperialism to sectarian division in the 1960s.

She also discussed the weakening of the Catholic Church’s grip on Irish society. McAleese said the percentage of Catholics in Ireland signing off on the census as Catholic has declined from 90% to around 60 to 70%.

PETER McKENNA | The Observer

see DEMOCRACY PAGE 4

Former president of Ireland Mary McAleese spoke on the relationship between the Catholic Church and human rights in the Hesburgh Center for International Studies auditorium on Wednesday night.

Museum displays new taxidermy

SMC podcast tells stories of Holy Cross Sisters

By SALLY BRADSHAW News Writer

Junior communicat ions major Tess Hayes w i l l be releasing her podcast “The Stories of our Sisters : A Liv ing Histor y” on Ma rch 1, ava i lable on Apple Podcasts a nd Spot if y.

Hayes sa id her

GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer

A 15-foot tall taxidermied Masai giraffe now stands in the Jordan Hall of Science after the Greensboro Science Center donated it to ND.

By GRAY NOCJAR News Writer

If you have stopped by the Jordan Hall of Science recently, you may have found it hard not to notice the newest exhibit on display at the Notre Dame Museum of Biodiversity.

A taxidermy of an adult giraffe has been placed in the main galleria opposite the museum, and plans are for it to become

NEWS PAGE 3

a permanent addition to that space, as well as others to join soon.

The Masai giraffe was donated to the Museum of Biodiversity by the Greensboro Science Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, who had received the taxidermy animal themselves from a private donor in the early 2000s. see TAXIDERMY PAGE 3

VIEWPOINT PAGE 9

podcast is “a n under ta k ing in ora l histor y,” to record sisters in t he convent a nd t he stories of t heir lives.

Throughout t he process, Hayes sa id she has become f riends w it h ma ny of t hem.

“It’s hea ring t heir stories as who t hey a re liv ing. So of ten we read books, biographies, but t his is k ind of

a live autobiog raphy where you actua l ly get to hea r t he persona l account,” Hayes sa id.

She bega n work ing on t his project t he fa l l of her sophomore yea r. The f irst steps involved ta l k ing w it h facu lt y a nd professors. Hayes see PODCAST PAGE 4

Sexual battery reported at men’s residence hall Observer Staff Report

A sexual batter y allegedly occurring at a men’s residence hall on Jan. 16 was reported to the Office of Institutional Equit y (OIE) this week, according to Keri Kei Shibata, chief of the Notre Dame Police Department.

Part of the responsibilit y of OIE is promoting an equitable educational and

SCENE PAGE 10

work env ironment at the Universit y that is in accordance w ith Title IX. Earlier this month, a sexual assault allegedly occurring on the campus of Saint Mar y’s on Feb. 4 was reported to authorities w ith the College. At the end of last semester, a sexual batter y allegedly occurring at a men’s residence hall in mid-November was reported to Universit y authorities,

according to Notre Dame’s crime log.

About 5% of male and 19% of female students, who responded to a question about experience w ith non-consensual sexual contact as part of the Universit y’s most recent campus climate sur vey, indicated they personally experienced a form of such contact while a student at Notre Dame.

HOCKEY PAGE 12

BENGAL BOUTS PAGE 14

2

TODAY

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freshman Lyons Hall “Backgammon.”

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webmaster@ndsmcobserver.com Policies The Observer is the independent, daily newspaper published in print and online by the students of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross College. Editorial content, including advertisements, is not governed by policies of the administration of any institution. The Observer reserves the right to refuse advertisements based on content.

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Katelyn Waldschmidt Aynslee Dellacca Annelise Demers

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SOFIA CRIMIVAROLI | The Observer

Sunlight pours into the stoa of the Walsh Hall of Architecture on a sunny day in South Bend. The building was deisgned by John Simpson. Construction began in 2016 and the College of Architecture relocated in 2019 from its former home in Bond Hall.

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Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Saint Mary’s Tennis South Shore Raquet Club 1 p.m.

SMC take on Spring Arbor and Goshen.

HCC Basketball McKenna Arena 3 p.m.

Saints men’s team hosts last home game of the seaon.

JPW Breakfast Dahnke Ballroom 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Wrap up JPW with a light breakfast and limited seating.

Law Lecture Eck Hall of Law, 1130 12 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Judge Sullivan will talk on jury trials and legal professions.

“20 Days in Mariupol” (2023) Hesburgh Auditorium 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Showing of the Oscar nominated film.

Dance Africa O’Neill Hall of Music 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

A display of dances from around Africa.

Notre Dame Hockey Compton Ice Arena 6 p.m.

The Irish take on Minnesota.

“John Lewis: Good Trouble” (2020) DPAC 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

A film about civil rights .

Children’s Choir Church of Our Lady at Loretto 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

The ND choir performs.

Mass Alumni Hall 9 p.m.

Join Alumni Hall to celebrate mass.

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3

An unconventional Notre Dame Valentine’s

By CLAIRE LYONS Viewpoint Editor

The sun is shining. The cardinals are chirping. There is an above-average amount of public displays of affection on the quads. Either love is in the air or these are signs of an early spring.

Wednesday was Valentine’s Day. Yet, the celebration of love was tempered with the repentance of Ash Wednesday.

People donned pink sweaters and wore ashes on their foreheads. This was not your average holiday.

Many celebrating Valentine’s Day were enjoying the holiday in an unconventional manner. Students expanded the celebration of love to include friends and family members, not just romantic partners.

One such student considers Valentine’s Day her favorite holiday. ”I treat Valentine’s Day as Galentine’s Day,” freshman Genevieve Cicchiello said. ”I just give all my Valentine’s love to my other relationships.”

Irish Gardens flowers On the morning of Valentine’s Day, music filled the basement of LaFortune Student Center.

Irish Gardens employees were blasting pop music to keep up some positive vibes amid the stress of their busiest day of the year. The Notre Dame student-run f lower store was in a state of controlled chaos between the music, the sound of printing receipts, ringing telephones and customers coming to pick up orders.

It was 10:45 a.m. — and they weren’t even open for walk-in orders yet. ”We anticipate a huge walkin rush today,” general manager and senior Julia Kim said. Irish Gardens already had over 520 online and walk-in orders from the Valentine’s Day rush, which started Feb. 3 and lasted up until Feb. 12.

Irish Gardens’ self-proclaimed market on campus is members of the tri-campus who want to order a nice

Taxidermy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Joanna Larson, the Biodiversity Museum & Herbarium assistant curator, oversaw the transportation of the giraffe, including its packaging in Greensboro and its arrival in South Bend the next day.

Larson characterized the trip as “quite an adventure,” involving inclement weather, an all-nighter and the acquisition of a vehicle large enough to transport the 15-foot giraffe.

CLAIRE LYONS | The Observer

Irish Garden’s most popular bouqet “You’re My Valentine” is priced at $100. On their busiest day of the year, there were over 520 orders for all sorts of flower arrangements from the student-run florist alone.

bouquet and not break the bank in the process. Flowers range from $3.00 to $5.00 a stem, but pre-arranged vases can sometimes get as expensive as $100. The f lorists’ most popular bouquet, the titular ”You’re My Valentine,” is on the higher end of the price range.

Another popular option, the ”Designer’s Choice” bouquet, is arranged by the Irish Gardens’ in-house f lorist.

They implemented this option this year because it allows the f lorists to have some creativity and address client needs, manager and senior Chloe Behringer said. ”We know Valentine’s Day is our busiest time of year, so we planned for this months in advance,” Kim said. ”We ordered our f lowers back in October 2023.”

Across campus, you could see the results of Kim’s work. Flowers and balloons were everywhere — especially in South Dining Hall.

Sophomore Megan Klein had a bouquet of purple f lowers beside her during lunch. ”These are for my roommate,” she said as she lifted them with a smile.

Sonnetfest poetry

“Due to the winter weather there, here and in between, the move had to be rescheduled several times,” Larson explained. “We had professional movers transport all of the taxidermied items in a 26-foot truck. The weather thankfully cooperated for their drive, but not for my return flight that got canceled.”

The giraffe was wheeled in and erected in Jordan Hall on Jan. 25. Shortly afterward, a sign with a QR code was installed next to the exhibit, prompting students to come up with an official name for

the creature.

“Anyone from the Notre Dame community can submit a name suggestion for the giraffe online through February 23”, said Larson. “After that, everyone will have a chance to vote on the name they think is best. The person who submitted the winning name will win a $75 gift card to Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore, a Notre Dame Science prize pack and endless bragging rights. The giraffe’s name will be included on the permanent plaque in Jordan Hall.”

The giraffe is one of twelve

From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., the Shakespeare at Notre Dame program brought back a Notre Dame Valentine’s Day tradition. Anybody from the South Bend community could come to read one of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets to celebrate love.

In 2010, former Notre Dame English doctoral student Maryam Zomorodian suggested the Shakespeare program celebrate Valentine’s Day with a community-wide reading of sonnets. The event reoccurred annually on Valentine’s Day for six years in O’Shaughnessy Hall’s Great Hall.

After a brief hiatus, the event was brought back for its seventh year — this time, on stage in Duncan Student Center’s Hagerty Family Cafe.

“We’re using this new venue to see what happens with student engagement,” Scott Jackson, executive artistic director of the Shakespeare at Notre Dame program said.

“The whole idea behind this event is to change how students encounter Shakespeare.

Perhaps they’ll even sign up to read a sonnet.”

Jennifer Birkett, a postdoctoral fellow with Shakespeare at Notre Dame, read the first two sonnets. South Bend mayor James Mueller and provost John McGreevy also read at the event.

Later in the day, Sonnetfest returned to the stage with Devon Glover — who goes by ”The Sonnet Man” onstage.

Glover has a repertoire of about 50 sonnets that he puts into conversation with hiphop. Glover’s ”Shakespeare Sonnets through Hip-Hop” has landed him on many news broadcasts and led him to perform at Shakespeare festivals worldwide. ”We’re really looking forward to Devon,” Jackson said. ”We hope that we’ll have a good turnout for sure.”

Mariachi ND serenades Notre Dame’s very own mariachi band was open for business this Valentine’s Day. According to the band’s Facebook page, Mariachi ND has been ”supplying the campus with traditional Mexican music since 1995.”

With packages ranging from $12 to $32, the mariachi band was available to ”spread love

taxidermy mammals in the collection at the Museum of Biodiversity. It is currently the only such piece on display in the galleria, partially because its tall stature exceeds the height of the museum’s ceiling. However, Larson highlighted that the exhibit will not be singular for long.

In a recent acquisition from the Greensboro Science Center and the Kaleideum Museum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the museum collected an additional 19 taxidermy mammals and 88 birds.

“The new material includes

through serenades” from Feb. 10-11 and Feb. 14. The band has several songs to choose from including ”Cielito Lindo,” ”Cariño,” ”Hermosa Cariño,” ”Si Nos Dejan” and ”El Milagro de Tus Ojos.”

Even though they are typically booked as a surprise for a special someone, the band does have its limits. On its booking form, Mariachi ND says they will not play at ”religious services, sporting events, quiet study spaces or the Grotto” and needs permission to play in private areas like dorms and during classes.

This Valentine’s Day, Mariachi ND was hired to play for a love of a different kind — the love of a professor.

Troy Vogel, professor and director of undergraduate studies for chemical engineering, was serenaded after teaching his senior chemical process design class. Chemical engineering seniors John Sacris and Mary Browne decided to surprise Vogel for Valentine’s Day. “I love Dr. Vogel. He’s great,” Sacris said. “It’s a fun class because all the senior chemical engineers are really close.

We thought it’d be a nice experience for everyone.”

News of the surprise had been spread through word-of-mouth, contributing to a large amount of students sticking around after class, quietly giggling in anticipation for the mariachi band’s arrival. The serenade was not only for Vogel, but a show of love for Sacris’s senior class.

A student from the class, senior Madison Schmidt, ref lected on the meaning of the holiday. It’s a great way to celebrate any form of love in your life, she said. ”It’s only as big of a deal as you make it,” Schmidt said. ”It can be a small thing...or you can hire a mariachi band.”

“Whoever did this,” Vogel waved his finger. “I will try to find a way to give you extra credit.”

Contact Claire Lyons at clyons3@nd.edu

a tiger, lion, leopards, cheetah, bongo, hyena, wild dog, black bear, mountain goat, dikdik, nyala and more”, Larson revealed.

The museum plans on creating additional display space in the Jordan galleria in order to house all the new material. Full tours of thwe current collection, which includes specimens gathered by the university as early as 1844, are viewable during open houses or by appointment.

Contact Gray Nocjar at gnocjar@nd.edu

4

NEWS

THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

Podcast CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

specif ica lly t ha n ked Jessica Coblent z, an associate professor of relig ious studies a nd t heolog y as well as gender a nd women’s studies.

“I’ve been rea lly g ratef u l for her a nd her mentorship a nd for ever y conversat ion t hat we have. She’s t he one t hat’s been my shepherd,” Hayes sa id.

This project was inspired by Hayes’ ex perience g row ing up in Da llas where her fa mily attended Ursu line Academy. She sa id her fa mily was close w it h a few of t he Ursu line sisters t hat worked at t he school, in pa r t icu la r Sr. Pegg y Hill.

“She wou ld sit us a round t he table a nd wou ld just tell us stories a ll day long. She wou ld rea lly inst ill in us t he impor ta nce of a stor y a nd wou ld sha re t he histor y of t he school itself in addit ion to what it wou ld mea n for us to be students t here,” Hayes sa id. “That’s exact ly what I’ve found w it h t hese sisters is t hey’ve told t he

stor y of Sa int Ma r y’s as well as t heir ow n so it’s in ta ndem, a nd it shows us what it mea ns to be Sa int Ma r y’s students.”

The na me for t he podcast spr ung f rom f rom Hayes’ mot her, who made a comment about t he Sisters of t he Holy Cross, which Hayes sa id inspired her to consider t he sisters as t he liv ing histor y of Sa int Ma r y’s College.

Due to t he COV ID-19 pa ndemic, students at t he college lost much of t heir contact w it h t he sisters as t hey t ried to keep t he convent sa fe.

Through t he podcast, Hayes is hoping to bring t heir stories back to t he communit y.

“We deser ve to connect w it h t hem just on a huma n connect ion basis, a nd t hey a lso deser ve t hat f rom us.

Connect ing is t he most impor ta nt t hing,” Hayes sa id.

In addit ion to bringing t he stories of t he Sisters of t he Holy Cross out to t he students a nd Sa int Ma r y’s communit y, Hayes sa id she w ill be using her f indings f rom

t he podcast in her senior comprehensive project.

For her listeners, Hayes sa id “t here’s so much w isdom t hat t he sisters have to g ive, t hat I just hope t hat people w ill have open minds a nd open hea r ts to receive what t hey have to say.”

Look ing to t he f uture, Hayes sa id she is interested in cont inuing her project a nd possibly expa nding it to include sisters of Holy Cross cong regat ions abroad.

She sa id she is a lso considering doing a podcast or ent ire season dedicated to telling t he stories of t he prev ious generat ions of sisters at Sa int Ma r y’s College, such as Mot her Pau line, Mot her A ngela a nd Sr. Madeleva Wolf f.

“W het her it be a 70-yea r-old sister or t he f reshma n dow n t he ha ll, I t hin k t hat rea lly lea ning in to ot her people’s stories helps us lea rn a nd we get to lea rn f rom each ot her,” Hayes sa id.

Contact Sally Bradshaw at sbradshaw01@saintmarys. edu PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Democracy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

She ref lected on a personal stor y of her upbringing in Belfast that expressed the control of the Church in Ireland.

The local parish priest reprimanded her mother, who almost died after her 11th pregnancy, for undergoing a hysterectomy without his permission. “That was the Catholic Church then in Ireland,” she said.

McAleese criticized the Church’s “default language on same-sex marriage, as one defecting bishop put it, ‘not the language for loving God.’” She expressed frustration that the Church is not “allowing the grace of God to f lood us with love and forgiveness and tolerance.”

She also expressed concerns about the resistance she has witnessed in Rome to reforms on issues like equality, LGBTQ rights and greater democratization with the Church structure and teachings itself. This resistance could undermine the Church’s effectiveness and relationship with many Catholics, she said. ”I have found in two levels, resistance to the democratization and the impulse of the human person and acceptance of human rights in particular. The

equality agenda which impacts women and LGBTIQ [people] find strong resistance to that,” she said.

McGreev y recognized that the Church faces challenges balancing diverse views among its 1.3 billion members globally on these issues. McAleese followed up by voicing her concerns about the next generation of Catholics and how these views may affect them.

“I’m ver y conscious that a new generation is growing up, which is why I feel a real sense of responsibility to continue to hold on to the fight and to fight internally in the Church and to say to the Church, ‘please take the issue of our human rights seriously, particularly to the idea of equality.’” she said. “Seriously, stop dismissing the democratic agenda and understand that they have the potential to turn the church into something wonderful, much more wonderful than it is.”

The event was sponsored by the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement and was part of Notre Dame’s forum of “The Future of Democracy.”

McAleese is the board chair for the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion.

Contact Peter McKenna at pmckenn2@nd.edu

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NDSMCOBSERVER.COM | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | THE OBSERVER

Students launch Sisters 45 merch

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South Bend’s Fiddler’s Hearth Public House was chosen among other local restaurants as the ESPN Game Day chef, feeding the Game Day panelists for the ND/Ohio State game in South Bend. Chosen too for ND v Michigan in 2018. Food was paraded by two pipers and a drummer from the local Caledonia Kilty Pipe Band.

Terrance Patrick Meehan, Publican and owner of Fiddler’s Hearth.

Photos courtesy of South Bend Tribune’s Austin Hough.

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5

Pat McAfee, pro wrestler and sports analyst.

By SARAH CATE WHITE News Writer

Sisters 45 is a small business that creates original tailgate merchandise for Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame students. The business is run by the Paradiso sisters, Vincenza, a current Saint Mary’s junior, and Giavanna, a Saint Mary’s ‘21 alumna.

Both sisters are co-owners of the enterprise. Vincenza, who studies design, is in charge of the more creative aspects of the company, including design, while Giavanna handles operational management.

Before Sisters 45, the pair had a smaller clothing company and a necklace-making business. Neither prior pursuit was specifically related to tailgate merchandise like Sisters 45 is, however. Vincenza said the idea for the tailgate merchandise arose in the fall after the sisters talked about how they thought tailgate gear was lacking.

“When Giavanna came to Saint Marys we started painting on denim stuff for game days. We thought the tailgate gear wasn’t as cool as it could be. We saw an opportunity to create some fun merch for girls to wear to tailgates,” Vincenza said.

The company has carved out a customer base among Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame students. Some of the most popular designs read “I Heart Sam Hartman” and “Saturdays are for the Irish.” Giavanna and Vincenza agree that creating the designs came easily.

“The football roster this year at Notre Dame just made coming up with designs easy. Sam Hartman is hot, so there you

go,” Giavanna said.

The Paradiso sisters’ love for the tri-campus community is apparent in their business. The duo said they were happy to be able to represent Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame through their merchandise. Giavanna explained the unifying effect of clothes on students of both schools.

“Saturdays, gamedays, were my favorite days to be a part of the tri-campus community. We were like, ‘We love this, we love Notre Dame football, we love cute tailgate clothes, we love T-shirts.’ This is how I thought about it — We’re all in this same student section together so let’s all look cute,” Giavanna said.

Vincenza expressed a similar joy for the business.

“It makes me proud to be a Saint Mary’s student. I am able to say ‘Yes, I’m a Saint Mary’s student and I love that I’m a Saint Mary’s student and I wouldn’t have it any other way.’ It is super fun. Being able to incorporate my love for Saint Mary’s into my artwork is something that I really enjoy,” Vincenza said.

There are five sisters in the Paradiso family. Giavanna is the fifth and Vincenza is the fourth-born. The sisters got the name Sisters 45 from their birth order. The duo believe that working together as sisters contributes to the enthusiasm they have for the business.

“Vinni has skills I don’t have,” Giavanna said. “I have skills Vinni doesn’t have. Sisters 45 is another thing we can connect on and talk about. It is another way that Saint Mary’s has brought us together.”

Contact Sarah Cate White at swhite01@saintmarys.edu

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6

THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

INSIDE COLUMN

Why you shouldn’t settle for being overscheduled

The problem with being honest Anna Falk Scene Editor

Emma Duffy Social Media Editor

If I had to describe Notre Dame students in one word, I think it’s safe to say “busy” would suffice.

Sometimes it seems as though every student is juggling more than any human should actually be forced to endure, but they are doing it voluntarily. I would be lying if I said I am not guilty of this.

It has basically become a hobby of mine to take on more than I should. At the end of each break, I would sit there with a slight pit in my stomach, knowing there was a semester of endless work on its way.

However, I have begun to learn being busy does not need to be something to fear.

This semester I am trading the Golden Dome for the Capitol Rotunda. As a member of Notre Dame’s Washington Program I’m doing an internship, classes, homework and exploring our nation’s capital. My entire semester has to be a balancing act. I have to make sure I prioritize both my internship and my schoolwork. I must ensure I relax to avoid burnout, while also making sure I get out to see all of the monuments and historical sites that the city has to offer. I would like to save the money that I make at my internship, but I would also like to go out and try the food around the city.

Honestly, this program has given me the most realistic view of what life will be like once I leave Notre Dame’s bubble. I will not always be able to quickly run to South Dining Hall to get an easy meal between classes and

homework. I will not always be able to get to my destination in a three minute walk. And I may have to learn to let things go.

Being busy has always been bittersweet. Nothing good comes from sitting idle. However, it is very easy to burn out when balancing multiple clubs, jobs and classes.

Obviously, one way to handle this is by getting a high tech planner, getting basically no sleep and skipping meals. Or students like me can turn to a healthier lifestyle. Yes, keep the overpriced planner. However, maybe cut back on some things that are not necessary. If it is bringing you more anguish than joy, it has to go.

For those students who are overscheduled, learn to delegate to others so you will be able to go out and enjoy what the community around you has to offer. It may be worth it to ask someone else to do a small task so you can go see a site.

Nobody is saying that you need to drop all of your responsibilities.

These sorts of positions and activities help you grow in your personal and professional life. But you must remember to actually allow yourself to have a life and see the world outside of the library walls.

You will most likely not be benefiting yourself by overloading your schedule until you are falling asleep in class. Take a moment to reflect and see what you can really handle throughout the rest of the semester. Go out and find a style of “busy” that works for you.

You can contact Emma at eduffy5@nd.edu.

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

Honesty is a difficult virtue to develop.

It takes lots of time, effort and practice to master. Having to open your soul to someone, even for a brief and ephemeral glance, can be frightening. We don’t want to be rejected. We don’t want to be truly known for who we are — mistakes and all.

But here’s the real problem with honesty: we don’t use it enough.

When I think about honesty, my mind is called to moments from my childhood. As a little kid, I often did things my mother would disapprove of. I cut my hair. I snuck candy from the counter. Instead of helping my sister, I watched “Scooby-Doo” on a tiny box TV while my sister cleaned our basement. I sat on the steps where I could see our living room TV after being put to bed because I didn’t want to wait until the morning to watch the newest episode of “American Idol.” We’ve all been there.

When faced with the reality of what I had done, I resorted to evading the truth.

“My sister cut my hair.” “There were three pieces of candy on the counter, not four.”

I scrambled to look busy when I heard my mom’s footsteps on the stairs going down to the basement. I pretended to be surprised when I saw Lady Gaga playing a bubble piano during her performance of “Poker Face.” Some evasion tactics worked.

Others did not. It was easier to try and cover my laziness, my impatience and my desires for a sweet treat than it was to push through difficulties. However, telling the truth was a matter of right and wrong only, and the consequences of doing wrong were clear, immediate and heavily enforced.

Growing up brought new challenges and complications with the issue of honesty.

Avoiding it is no longer a matter of breaking a rule about sweets before dinner — it becomes a matter of greater severity. You can still lie to your sister about taking her skirt or tell your professor you were late to class because of a dentist appointment, but now there are a number of situations which require a truth that has moved beyond the

egocentricity of our youth. They matter in the real world, they matter to real people and they are frustrating to navigate.

Sometimes we mask the truth to save the feelings of another. It can be necessary in some situations. Surely others like myself have had to spin the truth to save another’s feelings. Perhaps you’ve told someone you like their outfit to prevent them from having to try on a seventh option and spiral into insanity. Maybe you’ve lied about liking a friend’s new boyfriend or girlfriend because they seem to have found happiness and you don’t want to ruin it for them.

But in these situations, is it not our duty to use the power of honesty? To confront reality while offering support and guidance?

This is where most people fail — myself included. Complex situations involving this crucial choice often lead people to fall back on the easiest option, the most comfortable one. We don’t truly want to expose ourselves to others or reveal the reality of a painful situation. We defend ourselves from culpability and defend others from a more gruesome reality. At the same time, however, anyone with a hint of a moral compass and a sense of empathy understands what it’s like to be on the other side of a situation and one’s own obligation to uphold the truth even if it hurts.

In the end, what matters most is using honesty as a tool for good and putting that skill into practice. Social media and technology have made it so easy for us to hide behind the truth, to alter it in a way which makes us look better without having to reveal an undesirable side of ourselves.

However, the truth is what enhances our authenticity, and cultivating one’s authentic self is challenging but ultimately the most worthwhile thing a person can do.

Authenticity is how we form connections and how we recognize joy and fulfillment in our lives. It is what makes us human. It is what sets us free.

You can contact Anna at afalk@nd.edu.

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

THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

7

Consider a summer of service Kat Regala The Absurd-ver

Even as the permacloud crowds out the sun and temperatures hover just above freezing in South Bend, summer lingers around the corner. And right now, many students are scrambling to make summer plans, while some have already planned a year in advance.

Summer break presents a range of opportunities, including going home to work, staying at Notre Dame to take classes, getting a grant to conduct research or work on language skills or doing an internship with a company. Alongside these opportunities are concerns, from navigating the dynamics of returning home, earning enough money for the coming semester, setting yourself up for graduate school or securing a job. Summer transforms from a vacation away from school to an opportunity that must be optimally leveraged.

In reality, there are no bad options for what to do.

With just three summers spanning from freshman to senior year, they are well spent as long as you enjoy them, because it is unlikely we will get that amount of unrestricted time in our future.

As you look to plan your summer, I propose this: spend at least one of your college summers in service.

My freshman year, like many ambitious Notre Dame students, I was searching for something “productive” to do during the summer. I sent applications off into the void on Handshake. I applied to study abroad (only to come to terms with how expensive it would actually be). I contemplated going home to

babysit and work.

As a backup option, I applied for the Center for Social Concerns’ summer service learning program (SSLP).

A few upperclassmen in my dorm had done SSLPs and spoke highly of their experience. I read through the Center’s website and resonated with its mission, but I was not sure that volunteering in the summer would be the best option for me professionally.

At the end of the semester, when none of my top choices fell into place as I had hoped, I decided to accept a position in the SSLP for fear I would be left with nothing to do. I would be going to Los Angeles to volunteer at Homeboy Industries with formerly gangaffiliated and incarcerated people.

My first few days at Homeboy, I was terrified. I was scared that the people would reject me and find my presence insulting.

Instead, I was met with endless respect and kindness.

At the Homeboy art studio, I aided and participated in the classes. While there was not much that I actually did besides accompaniment that summer, the act of service introduced me to completely different life experiences and frameworks of thinking from what I was exposed to at Notre Dame.

I learned more about heartbreaking realities such as gun violence, incarceration and gangs. I also learned about the kindness of humanity, the dignity of each person and the possibilities that are possible when we believe in the best of people.

The next summer, I applied for the Center for Social Concern’s Summer Fellowship to spend the summer working at a shelter for migrants in Monterrey, Mexico. This experience was far more challenging

than my time in LA. I lived, ate and slept in the shelter. I encountered the realities of what it means to leave your country in the hopes for something better.

Daily, I met people who were fleeing persecution, violence, and oppression. While that summer was not as outwardly enjoyable, it was life changing.

Seeing how I am not seeking to go into non-profit or government work, I am not sure what role, if any, my summers of volunteering will play professionally. But I do know how they have benefited me in ways that cannot be quantified. I have become more empathetic, gained a wider world knowledge, navigated challenging and frustrating situations and learned a little bit more about what it means to be human.

As you start to make plans for this summer, I encourage you to consider using at least one of your three summers, when you have the time and institutional support of Notre Dame, to do some sort of service. Whether it is volunteering, participating in a religious organization, teaching or conducting research for communities of need, there is something for you to do. While I cannot guarantee your participating in the act will affect others, I guarantee that it will affect you.

Kat Regala is a junior studying the Program of Liberal Studies with minors in Computing and Digital Technology and Science, Technology and Values. She originally hails from Naples, Florida, but loves traveling. When not reading or writing, you can find her drinking coffee, practicing yoga or binge-watching reality television.

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

Re-evaluate the way Notre Dame does service Rose Quinlan A Contrarian’s Contribution

Right on Notre Dame Avenue, just six blocks south of campus, sits the Northeast Neighborhood Food Pantry. The pantry is frequented by residents of the surrounding neighborhood, to whom it offers food and other essentials. One kind of visitor it rarely sees is Notre Dame students, despite being so close to us that you can see the dome from the driveway. This is the reality of Notre Dame’s relationship with poverty in South Bend: we keep it at arm’s length, close enough to study it but not so close that we have to touch it.

This is not, of course, to say that Notre Dame is not involved in service — quite the opposite. Notre Dame has put hundreds of millions of dollars into conferences, research centers, field trips, service events and other initiatives aimed at pro-social causes. We offer above-market wages to staff in an effort to support the working poor in South Bend. The question is, for all those millions of dollars, how come most Notre Dame students don’t know that there is a food pantry down the street? How come so many students graduate without having ever interacted with the community sitting a half mile away?

The answer lies in Notre Dame’s approach to service, which often seems more directed at marketability than results. Notre Dame students’ favorite kind of service is the type that looks good on a resumé: research, internships and fellowships. Our second favorite kind of service is the type that includes a cool trip to

Appalachia or a different country. Our least favorite is the kind that requires sustained, unpaid interaction with the people of South Bend. I know this because I am a student, and I have felt the pressure to do something that is ethical-but-also-impressive-and-pays-well.

Notre Dame institutions have fed into these preferences. Google “Notre Dame” and “poverty” and you will find that Notre Dame’s new anti-poverty initiative will make us a leading institution in research on poverty. Students can intern at the Lab for Economic Opportunity, or attend hundreds of talks and courses on social issues or join a boxing league supporting a school eight thousand miles away. For Back the Bend, we gather in masses to do service in South Bend, but the work is mostly mulching, garbage clean-up or a task that doesn’t involve meeting any of the people we call “townies”. Again, these are all fantastic initiatives, but where are the opportunities to actually get to know our neighbors beyond the dome? At a school where 75% of students come from the top 20 percent, exposure to the real world is essential for keeping our campus community grounded, service-oriented, and attentive to social issues.

Look hard enough, and you will find that opportunities for community-engaged service do exist at Notre Dame, but they are typically underfunded and undermanned. These organizations include, but are not limited to the Shaw Center, La Casa de Amistad, TutorND and the Boys and Girls Club.

They offer services through which students and faculty directly partner with community members to build relationships and attack social issues. I believe that if students and administrators prioritize these

organizations, Notre Dame can overcome our reputation as a school of rich kids who are out of touch with the needs of the larger community.

Last semester, after some pleading from our ethics professor, some of my classmates and I began visiting Coquillard Elementary in South Bend every Friday. Coquillard is underfunded and understaffed, and just 3% of its students meet their expected reading level. My classmates and I help out with recess, bringing the supervision, structure and equipment that Coquillard cannot provide. It’s not a huge commitment — just two hours a week of playing outside, and there is so much more that the school needs — but already, I feel more like I am a part of South Bend, not just my university. I know the names of people who do not work or study at Notre Dame. I take more time to appreciate the gift that is my education, and as I apply for jobs, I think more about what would benefit my community, not just my career. It is my hope that other students could have similar experiences, and I urge my peers at Notre Dame to rally around a future where we actively love our neighbors.

Rose is a senior from Buffalo, NY with majors in economics and the Program of Liberal Studies. Her writing interests include ethics, campus culture and the intersection of economics, politics and philosophy.

When she’s not writing, you can find her reading on the 10th floor of the library, losing intramural basketball games or working at the Law School. You can contact Rose by email at rquinla2@nd.edu.

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

Read your favorite columnist online at ndsmcobserver.com

8

THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

LETTER

EDITOR

In solidarity with professor Tamara Kay We write in response to The Irish Rover’s recent efforts to gather and publish the names of Notre Dame faculty, staff and graduate students who have contributed to Notre Dame professor Tamara Kay’s legal defense fund. In an unsigned email, donors were asked whether they wished to deny that they were contributors and were given ten hours to respond before The Irish Rover made their names public.

This letter is our reply to The Irish Rover. In it, we explain, those who donated and those who did not, why we support professor Kay and why we signed this letter in solidarity with her.

We signed because we believe professor Kay’s academic freedom was being undermined. The vilification of professor Kay began after she published a series of carefully researched opinion pieces in major newspapers addressing the ramifications of the Dobbs v.

Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. The personal attacks by people who disagreed with professor Kay’s views represented an assault on every academic who chooses to research and write about controversial issues.

We signed because we suspected there was an orchestrated campaign to malign professor Kay and drive her away from the University, in violation of the du Lac Community Standards, Standards of

Conduct and the Well-Being and Culture Policy. The discovery phase of professor Kay’s lawsuit showed justification for our concerns. We encourage all members of the Notre Dame community to review coverage that appeared in The Observer, The Chronicle of Higher Education and elsewhere to draw their own conclusions.

We signed because we were repulsed by the threats made against professor Kay for speaking for her beliefs.

While The Irish Rover may focus on the technicalities of the lawsuit — and it is clear that technicalities often rule the day — we are collectively horrified by the threats of an utterly un-Christian nature that have been directed at professor Kay by self-professed defenders of the faith. We are deeply troubled by the revelations that Notre Dame students would be urged to depart from the positive sociality afforded by University life and promote a campaign of targeted harassment. We wonder whose values are being promoted and what, precisely, those values are.

We surmise that The Irish Rover intends to “expose” those willing to publicly support professor Kay; that, of course, is their right. Yet we wonder if the editors have reflected on the repercussions that may follow. Professor Kay was subjected to ongoing harassment, as well as rape and death threats because

of the campaign against her — a campaign in which The Irish Rover played a central part. Does The Irish Rover wish to see such all too predictable threats made against other members of the Notre Dame community? Is this what passes for courageous journalism? Is it, as Father Sorin would have asked, the way to act as a force for good in the world?

Yet perhaps the Irish Rover’s efforts can result in constructive outcomes. Those of us who support professor Kay have done so transparently. We have made our names public. We invite The Irish Rover to do likewise and share publicly the names of all those who support their activism. We also ask The Irish Rover to condemn the hateful threats made against professor Kay and join a campus-wide conversation about how to address such charged topics.

We are living through an extraordinarily dangerous moment of anger and polarization in this country. To survive it will require responsible people to act with wisdom, humility and grace. We believe that the entire Notre Dame community should be, must be and will be part of the solution. We hope we are not mistaken.

Sincerely, 100 members of Notre Dame’s faculty and administration Feb. 14

OBSERVER EDITORIAL

Is ChatGPT an academic weapon of mass destruction?

In September 2022, Penn State student Brad Kraut went viral on TikTok for taking his studies seriously.

“It’s time to be an academic weapon,” Kraut said, strolling into a 700-person lecture hall. “You walk with confidence all the way down the aisle … and then you sit all the way down at the front.” The simple video, along with other similarly branded content on his page, collectively received 29.7 million likes, making “academic weapon” — a term that Urban Dictionary defines as “someone who has the determination and discipline to succeed in school” — both a staple in the Gen-Z lexicon and a viral trend.

In late fall of 2022, an “academic weapon” of a different kind hit the market — the generative AI program ChatGPT. The writing software has developed to the point where its output can be indistinguishable from students’ work.

More than a year after the emergence of ChatGPT, high school teachers complain student apathy is at an all-time high. Despite Kraut’s attempt to make studiousness cool again, it seems ChatGPT is the winning “academic weapon.” Generative AI and large language learning models are here to stay, and they’re fundamentally changing the nature of education.

Even in our very own tri-campus, at institutions that arguably attract some of the most driven students, there has been a large increase in generative AI-related Honor Code violations. In the fall of 2023, 30% of Honor Code violations were attributed to generative AI — and these are just the students who were caught.

As students, we can attest to the pervasive nature of ChatGPT. The majority of our editorial board has used generative AI before, either as a tool to check

work and summarize papers or to help generate content such as paper outlines. We see our classmates use ChatGPT in class. We are sometimes even assigned projects to research ChatGPT itself.

As administration and faculty struggle to figure out ways to address how generative AI changes education and the nature of academic dishonesty, the ethical use of ChatGPT will predominantly lie on students.

With great power comes great responsibility, and we need to figure out how to use this tool appropriately without forfeiting the value of our education.

To address the threat of generative AI, we must ask: What factors compel students to cheat in the first place? If students are paying nearly $30,000 on Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s classes after aid, why would a student settle to not get their money’s worth?

So much of the appeal of attending Notre Dame is the University’s academic rigor. Notre Dame invests strongly in original undergraduate research. Our school has a wide, well-rounded liberal arts education that makes students well-versed in interdisciplinary topics. But what’s the point of our liberal arts emphasis if students scrape by in their general requirement classes with the help of ChatGPT? Another major draw to Notre Dame is the closeknit community of students, alumni and faculty.

Tailgates, while a blast, can be a major networking opportunity between students and alumni. Some students have the prerogative to attend every social event on the calendar, but performance in school is often the major trade-off.

Students simply don’t have enough time in the day to take course overloads, rub elbows with important connections and take part in meaningful

extracurricular activities without majorly sacrificing their health and mental well-being — it’s why highperforming students cheat. They think they can have it all. They think that leaning into extracurriculars and networking will give them a leg up in their career after graduation, even without a perfect GPA. In fact, learning how to use ChatGPT and other such generative AI models might be valuable depending on what field a student is going into.

As a tri-campus, we emphasize our spiritual side: discernment, finding meaning and giving back to our communities. This is our community’s anchor as the world of higher education changes around the massive shockwave of generative AI. Students must consider their uses of ChatGPT and figure out what it is doing and when it is detracting from their education. We should lead the push for creative assignments. The more we are effectively and enthusiastically engaged with what we are learning, the more we will ultimately get out of our college education.

Teachers and administrators should respond by creating assignments that actually generate meaning and facilitate learning rather than busy work that requires us to regurgitate what we’ve listened to and jotted down during lectures. Research is something AI cannot fake. Administrators should lean into this strength.

Our administrators and faculty are already trying their best to keep up with how AI is rapidly — and fundamentally — changing the nature of higher education. Only time will tell how they will respond. But until that day, keep asking yourself: Are you the academic weapon or is it the robot?

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THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

By JAYDEN ESPINOZA Scene Writer

Editor’s Note: This review contains spoilers for “Abbott Elementary” season three.

School is back in session for “Abbott Elementary.”

The show, whose third season premiered earlier this month, follows in the footsteps of other network sitcoms like “Parks and Recreation” and ”The Office.”

However, the show creates its own distinct energy, highlighting how each educator continues to change in and out of the classroom.

This is best highlighted with none other than Principal Ava Coleman. A force to be reckoned with (who may or may not have blackmailed a deaconess and a superintendent to get her job), Coleman seems to lack any care toward her job: “working” on Instagram Live during school hours, putting 26-inch rims on the school’s bus and renaming Abbott’s wifi network to “Bad B*tches Only.”

Antics like these are the core of Coleman, along with her boyfriend who she’s dated for two years (he thinks it’s five) and her doomsday prepping which landed her on the cover of the fictional Inner City Doomsday Preppers Digest. Still, as the series progresses, Ava, like “Abbott,” continues to surprise her audience and

By PETER MIKULSKI Scene Writer

There’s a certain sort of classical music fan: He’s young.

He identifies as some flavor of conservative or right-wing or trad. He idolizes the “the West” and its “Canon.” When he attends a classical concert, he makes a big deal of dressing well — and his idea of “dressing well” is dressing like it’s 1945.

Last Friday, I went to see the South Bend Symphony Orchestra play Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 at the Morris Performing Arts Center.

As always with classical concerts, the lion’s share of the audience was middle aged or elderly.

This demographic is, for the most part, non-ideological.

There are boomer liberals present to seem cultured, and there are boomer conservatives present simply because it’s old, but mostly, this demographic comes because they were raised on it. They genuinely love classical music.

While this cohort is essentially centrist, I’ll concede that it skews well-off.

But for the young conservative — the type I described above — listening to classical music is an explicitly ideological act. To him, it’s even a form of political praxis.

He considers classical music “transcendental” and “pure” and everything else “crass” and “degenerate.” He

herself. In past seasons, she sat in on classes about Black history and challenged her own ideas on race.

She created her own brand of khakis so she could give them out to her students for free and emphasized the importance of creating autonomy for her students, many of whom are disadvantaged.

This season has seen many changes: the mockumentary cameras are all new because the crew‘s equipment was stolen and the five month gap between seasons is because “that’s how long it takes for three people with art degrees to save up for new cameras.” In reality, the delay was a result of the writers’ and actors’ strikes.

Our main character Janine has transitioned out of the classroom and into a year long fellowship in the district while Ava went to Harvard.

Well, according to her anyway. She completed the requirements for her degree through Education Connection on Harvard’s campus, using their Wi-Fi, so she’s basically a Harvard grad. Or at least enough of a graduate to wear wide frame glasses and a Harvard sweatshirt with “A-V-A” bedazzled. In addition to completing her degree, “new” Ava has a strict emphasis on productivity: any break periods, off-campus lunches and non-productive work gatherings are strictly forbidden.

As the new semester continues on, teachers are

desperate to get back to work, and Ava needs to stop doing hers. As they attempt “Operation Reset Ava” and their first mission without Janine, Abbott’s favorite educators find themselves tempting her with everything Old Ava would’ve liked, enticing her to trick Jacob and offering her Usher tickets. After these attempts fail, it’s everyone’s favorite church-going teacher, Barbara (Mrs. Howard, played by the amazing Sheryl Lee Ralph), who politely asks for the Lord to close His ears while she plays the one song that will get Ava back. And before Juvenile’s voice finishes saying “Cash Money Records taking over for the ’99 and the 2000” over the loudspeaker in his song “Back That Azz Up,” Ava is back.

In the final minutes of the episode, not only does our beloved principal show off her moves in the school gym, but “Abbott” continues to do what it does best: produce genuine laughter. This, alongside creator and lead actress Quinta Brunson’s desire to highlight how “all people have the ability to be both powerful and fragile” is what makes us invested in characters like Principal Coleman (even when she‘s hiding in a doomsday bunker created in the school’s basement) and keeps us tuning in to “Abbott” every week.

imagines classical music as a knight in shining armor facing off against the two great boogeymen of his worldview: “wokeism” and “rap.”

A fan of classical music myself, I find this genre of enthusiast repulsive. He can’t actually listen to the music; instead, he can only listen to himself listening to the music.

He pretends his motive is the praise of composers and conductors and virtuosi — great, heroic, romantic men; really, his aim is the praise of his own good taste. And in making classical music into politics, he demolishes it as art. This mindset begets perversion and misunderstanding.

I’m reminded, for instance, of a time I attended a Notre Dame Chorale concert. As I settled into my seat, a herd of men roved in. They were all in uniform (the most Mendoza College of Business suits you could possibly imagine) and there wasn’t a single woman among their ranks. They were members of some conservative student organization, no doubt — maybe the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture, maybe the Right to Life club, maybe the College Republicans, maybe The Irish Rover.

Their performative formality peeved me. Up to a point, I understand the desire to demonstrate respect for the music — you make an effort to be quiet as can be, to clap even when it’s just okay, to be polite. But at a classical concert, the performance is what’s on stage, not the clothes in the audience. Richard Wagner, who they surely idolize

on account of his cult of genius and vilification by liberals, agrees with me on this point: he designed his opera theater to keep eyes on the action and to prevent aristocrats from ogling at each other’s evening dress.

I’m reminded, too, of last Friday and of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. Conservatives make classical music a “high” and “spiritual” art because they suppose it comes from a higher and more spiritual time. They turn men like Mahler into half-tortured geniuses and half-theosophists.

But please, that’s a joke! Sure, he was a tortured genius, but Mahler was pop through and through. The man started his career conducting cheesy operettas with provincial orchestras at spa-resorts, and you can tell. The over-thetop instrumentation he became notorious for (e.g. the literal whip in Symphony No. 5) is straight out of those Italian melodramas. He pulls tunes from everywhere, from high and low, from parade marches and peasant dances and klezmer numbers and folk songs.

Conservatives think Mahler — and classical music as a whole — represents the conquest of the crass by the pure, the profane by the sublime, when really, Mahler’s genius is his ability to transform profanity into sublimity. “A symphony must be like the world,” Mahler once said, “it must embrace everything.”

Contact Jayden Espinoza at jespino4@nd.edu

Contact Peter Mikluski at pmikulsk@nd.edu ETHAN CHIANG, MARIA TOBIAS | The Observer

10

THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

By LUKE FOLEY Scene Writer

Kanye West’s past two years have been tumultuous and abominable. It started with a bitter divorce, an obsessive hate campaign against Pete Davidson and an abandoned album (“Donda 2”) — and somehow, things got worse from there. In late 2022, he became a vile antisemite who began platforming conspiracy theories straight from the “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.” It was truly shocking to watch such an accomplished, influential artist devolve into a paranoid bigot who espoused views that made even Alex Jones uncomfortable. In hindsight, it seemed like the inevitable and awful conclusion of Kanye’s provocateur tendencies that had increasingly defined his career: Becoming a neo-Nazi was the final frontier of controversy for a man addicted to upsetting people. Most of his 2023 was spent off the grid, reeling from losing all his business deals and music industry connections.

However, it’s hard to completely ignore Kanye. His musical and fashion genius is undeniable, his self-confidence is inspiring and his audacity can be as enthralling as it is upsetting. “VULTURES 1,” a collab album between him and Ty Dolla $ign, is a reminder that past his outbursts, mental breakdowns and brashness, Kanye is still a supremely talented artist who knows how to craft a great album.

In stark contrast to the pious “Donda,” “VULTURES 1” is largely a debauched affair. Kanye has shed his born-again Christian persona and entered his middle-aged playboy era. The lyrics are jovial and frequently talk about partying and sex. Yet, the production is dark and menacing, creating a captivating contrast throughout the album. “PAID” is

By CAMILA SALINAS Scene Writer

Richard Linklater created the famous “Before” trilogy: 1995’s “Before Sunrise,” 2004’s “Before Sunset” and 2013’s “Before Midnight.” The success of the “Before” franchise is rooted in the concept that love will always sell — just in time for Valentine’s Day! In “Before Sunrise,” a man named Jesse (Ethan Hawke) meets a French girl named Celine (Julie Delpy) on a train heading toward Vienna. They immediately hit it off and Jesse asks Celine for her to s pend the night with him roaming the city because he has no money for lodging and his flight back to the States is the next morning. The movie ends with the couple choosing a date in six months to reunite at the train station in Vienna, leaving audiences wondering if they will ever see each other again. If you are a romantic you would like to think they stuck to their promise and saw each other to rekindle their love, and if you are cynical, then you will claim they never reunite, leaving that night to be one of lust.

an energetic song with a groovy bass line and a simple but catchy chorus sung by Ty. It also features an utterly bizarre interpolation of “Roxanne” by The Police that somehow works. “BACK TO ME” has a super slick drum pattern and an incredibly funny Kanye performance where he repeatedly sings, “Beautiful, big titty, butt-naked women just don’t fall out the sky, you know?” at a breakneck speed. It shouldn’t work, but it’s just too catchy and passionately sung to hate.

Then Freddie Gibbs comes in and delivers an incredible verse — you can always count on guest artists on Kanye albums performing like their lives depend on it.

“FUK SUMN” has a vicious beat that adds palpable aggression to its sexual lyrics. Playboi Carti and Travis Scott also appear on the track and give strong performances. “HOODRAT” has a droning vocal sample that’s present throughout the entire song, creating a delirious mood as Kanye and Ty alternate singing the surprisingly sweet melody. And then there’s “CARNIVAL” — the best song on the album. Starting with a chant that sounds like it’s coming straight from an English football stadium, the song eventually evolves into an anthemic banger with maximalist production. The beat frantically twitches as Kanye, Ty and company spit vulgar bars that match the energy. It will likely become Kanye’s most popular song since “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1.”

Nevertheless, the album has some brief moments of seriousness and introspection. “BEG FORGIVENESS” is a harrowing track that sheds the player persona that defines the rest of the album. It begins with Chris Brown’s desolate, distorted vocals soaring over a minimal 808, followed by a moving verse by Kanye where he sings, “And if I go tonight, know

that I lived a lovely life / Just make sure my kids are right and it is alright.” The following outro is staggering in its emotional intensity, as chopped-up choir vocals build up into an oppressive wall of sound. Ty gives an outstanding performance here, opting to use a more raw, raspier tone than his usual smooth vocals to express the pain he has from a past toxic relationship. It’s a vulnerability we don’t see anywhere else on the album and makes for a powerful, evocative moment.

These thoughtful moments are rare on the album, and I can’t help but wish the album was a little more contemplative and tactful in its subject matter considering Kanye’s past two years. The album’s hedonistic lyrics, while sometimes fun and charming, can eventually feel exhausting and immature; Kanye’s lyricism often lacks the precision and wit his past songs had, even when they too veered off into frivolity.

It seems like he’s just throwing one-liners at a wall and hoping they stick. Furthermore, while most of the songs here are good, most never quite reach the musical highs of other Kanye albums. It can sometimes feel safe and unadventurous. The mixing doesn’t do the album any favors either, as it’s often very sloppy and muddled (Kanye’s team is fixing the mix as I write this, so this issue could be rectified.)

“VULTURES 1,” while lacking the inventiveness and focus that define Kanye’s better albums, is still an excellent, highly enjoyable album. You can’t help but be engrossed by the catchy melodies, fun performances and brooding production. It’s a successful reassertion of Kanye’s musical prowess and his ability to craft fantastic songs. Whether that’s enough to rehabilitate him back into society is less certain.

In the second movie, Jesse and Celine reunite after nine years and a lot of change. Jesse is traveling in Paris to promote his new book about a summer fling with a French girl that ends ambiguously. We learn that six months after the first film Jesse tried to see Celine in Vienna, where she was nowhere to be found because she was at her grandmother’s funeral. Celine sought him out at his book signing where they spent the whole day together waiting for his flight back home to the United States. SPOILER: he did not get on his flight back home.

The chemistry between these two is painfully obvious, but so is the wedding ring on Jesse’s left hand. Yes, Jesse is married and has a son, although he so clearly wants to be with Celine. The film answers how this can be, asserting that love’s biggest enemy is time.

Another tragedy is that Vienna wasn’t the only time Jesse and Celine missed each other. Jesse opens up about the problems in his marriage and shares that on the day of the wedding all he could think about was Celine. At this point, the real victim is Jesse’s unnamed wife. Furthermore, he swears that he saw her entering a deli when he was driving to his

wedding, and she shares that she lived on the same street in New York City, implying that it truly could’ve been her. The “Before” trilogy presents two people who share an undying connection and cannot leave each other but are doomed to keep missing each other.

The third film of the franchise starts off with Jesse saying goodbye to his son at the airport as he flies back to the United States to be with his mother. His son is torn between his mother and father, because his dad has remarried with Celine, having two daughters with her who live in Europe.

Jesse and Celine finally get together, facing new challenges of raising a son between the United States and France. One of those obstacles is their fear that their relationship was a mistake. What makes the “Before” movies so successful is that these characters feel like real people who journey through the genuine unpredictability and fickleness of life.

Was it destiny that brought them together or was their timing just convenient? That depends on whether you’re a romantic or a cynic.

Contact Luke Foley at lfoley2@nd.edu

Contact Camila Salinas at csalinas2@nd.edu ANNA FALK, TREY PAINE | The Observer

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11

HOROSCOPE | EUGENIA LAST Happy Birthday: Focus on what you can accomplish and leave impossible tasks until you have the skills, information, or money to deal with such matters. Timing is everything, and knowing when to make a move will help you turn this eventful year into a platform to launch lifelong pursuits. Trust your instincts, follow your heart, and be confident you can stop outside interference. Make personal growth a priority. Your numbers are 6, 13, 19, 28, 32, 37, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Make health and well-being a priority. Don’t be tempted to follow someone who lacks common sense or hypes you up about something that can end in financial loss. Think for yourself and only take on what you can afford or physically handle. Be good to yourself..

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Watch your step. Don’t feel pressured to speed up when you need time to contemplate what’s best for you. Be resourceful and secretive about your intentions until you are ready to act. The element of surprise will give you the advantage. Make romance a priority.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be resourceful, learn all you can, and use what you discover to get ahead. You have plenty to gain if you put your head down and beeline it to the finish line. Don’t let temptation take over. Play to win, and success will be yours.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Handle money matters with care. A partnership that encourages shared expenses will cause difficulties. Use your insight and ingenuity to come up with a plan that allows you the freedom to fend for yourself and negates that you aren’t responsible for someone else’s shortcomings.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Put your time and cash into making a difference. Invest more time and money in yourself and what you want to pursue. Set a budget and map out a doable plan, and you’ll discover peace of mind and the road to gratitude and happiness.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’ll find it hard to decipher what you want and need.

Don’t let temptation set in and lead you astray. Take a step back and look at the longterm effects of what you decide, and you’ll find a path that encourages you to do what’s right.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Do your best to make your home a place of comfort and convenience. A move or investment that helps access a better lifestyle is apparent if you take the initiative to bring about change. Stop procrastinating and do what’s necessary to fulfill your dream.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Be careful when dealing with friends, relatives, and colleagues. Listen carefully and keep your thoughts private until you feel comfortable sharing your comments. A sudden change or disapproval will catch you off guard if you are too accommodating. Protect your reputation and position.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Handle money matters carefully for best results. Don’t put anyone in charge who can affect how you earn your living, handle your money, or care for your personal needs. Fight for your rights and promote what works best for you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take the initiative; reorganize your space to accommodate what you are trying to achieve. Setting the stage for success will make life easier for you and harder for those who try to get in your way. Forward-thinking and taking control are in your best interest.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Think and do for yourself. Refuse help from those trying to point you in a direction that’s better for them than you. Take an interest in where your money goes. Investigate pursuits that help you grow personally and professionally. It’s time to put yourself first.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Keep your secrets to yourself. Don’t give anyone a chance to make you look bad or to put you in harm’s way. Look for opportunities, and don’t hesitate to implement the changes to help you get ahead. A unique gesture will encourage romance.

Birthday Baby: You are powerful, resourceful, and humanitarian. You are insightful and complex.

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Hockey CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

Lions 3-0 on bot h nights.

“Maybe t he hottest tea m in t he Big Ten is Minnesota,” Irish head coach Jef f Jackson sa id t his week.

The impressive dua l shutout aga inst Penn State is a pa r t of a broader defensive crackdow n for t he Golden Gophers, who have a l lowed at most a single goa l in each of t heir last f ive ga mes. A defense cor ps featuring si x underclassmen has come toget her in recent weeks to post consistent st ing y performa nces. Wit h 24 points, f reshma n Sa m Rin zel leads Gopher defensemen in points.

A mong a sta r-studded for wa rd crop, t he Gophers have eight NHL dra f t picks, including f irst rounders Jimmy Snugger ud (St. Louis Blues) a nd Oliver Moore (Chicago Black hawks).

Snugger ud, a sophomore w it h a let ha l shot, leads t he tea m w it h 18 goa ls. Junior R hett Pit lick, a f if t h-round pick of Mont rea l, spor ts a tea m-best 32 points.

The last t ime Minnesota a l lowed a goa l was Feb. 3 aga inst Wisconsin, when Jack Horbach scored at 5: 54 of t he f irst period. That g ives Minnesota g raduate student net minder Justen Close a n act ive shutout st rea k of 179 : 06.

W hen t he puck drops Friday at Compton, sta r t your watches.

Notre Dame dinged up, dealing w it h healt h issues Not re Da me enters t he weekend w it h a few hea lt h a nd discipline concerns.

“We’re dinged up right now,” Jackson sa id. “We a re scraping right to t he bottom of our dept h cha r t.”

Not re Da me went w it hout senior for wa rd Gra nt

Si lia nof f last weekend, whi le senior defensema n Zach Plucinsk i was forced to leave t he ga me ea rlier, according to Jackson.

Perhaps of more concern for Irish fa ns is Not re Da me’s recent discipline issue.

Averag ing 13 pena lt y minutes per ga me, Not re Da me is t he nint h-most pena li zed tea m in t he count r y. In t he t wo ga mes at Wisconsin last weekend, Not re Da me took a combined 61 minutes in pena lt ies, including t hree ga me misconducts.

“I t hought we took too ma ny pena lt ies, too ma ny unnecessa r y pena lt ies,” Jackson sa id. “Even t hough our pena lt y k i l l was g reat, t hat’s minutes played t hat cou ld be 5-on-5.”

Not re Da me w i l l a im to stay out of t he box a nd stay sha r p on t he k i l l in order to succeed aga inst Minnesota.

The Gophers click at 23.9% on t he power-play, good for 15t h-best in t he count r y a nd 3rd-best in t he Big Ten.

Bischel, Close named Richter semifinalists On Wednesday, t he Hockey Commissioner’s Associat ion a nnounced t hat bot h sta r t ing goa ltenders t his weekend had been na med semif ina lists for t he Mi ke Richter Awa rd, g iven to col lege hockey’s top goa lie.

Bot h Minnesota’s Justen Close a nd Not re Da me’s Rya n Bischel a re g raduate students, a nd bot h a re t wot ime semif ina lists.

This season, Close is spor t ing a .926 save percentage a nd a 2.25 goa ls aga inst average. Wit h 920 saves to his na me, Bischel has made t he most stops of a ny goa lie in t he count r y, a nd has a .927 save percentage. Close a nd Bischel have played t he second a nd t hird-most minutes, respect ively, in t he nat ion.

Bischel edged Close for

GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer

On Feb. 2, graduate student defenseman Ryan Siedem chases Spartan puckholder. The Irish split games with Michigan State in this series.

ND MEN’S LACROSSE

With eye to defending title, Irish defeat Vikings

By ANDREW McGUINNESS Sports Editor

Notre Dame’s quest for backto-back national championships in men’s lacrosse couldn’t have gotten off to a better start.

The Irish improved to 4-0 alltime against Cleveland State and won their 22nd straight season opener by dispatching the Vikings 25-3.

The Irish didn’t waste any time to get going, and once the goals started coming, they never really stopped. Freshman forward Jordan Faison scored the season’s first goal less than a minute in. After having an incredible season as a walk-on wide receiver for Notre Dame football in the fall, Faison showed why he was a four-star recruit in lacrosse with blazing speed and a hat trick in his first collegiate game.

Notre Dame led 4-0 after 15 minutes of action with goals from four different players. The team really exploded in the second quarter, with two different spans where they scored three times in less than three minutes. Graduate student attacker Jake Taylor delivered a natural hat trick during the frame and wound up tying his season high from last year with 5 goals on the night.

Graduate student goaltender Liam Entenmann was fantastic, stopping all 8 shots he faced in the first half.

However, Cleveland State got on the board late in the second quarter when sophomore long stick midfielder Will Donovan appeared to get turned around on a face-off battle and fired the ball into his own, vacant net with 1:32 to go in the half.

The Irish weren’t phased, though, as they scored 2 more goals before the break and tacked on 13 more goals in the last 30 minutes.

The Irish used over 40 players in the win, with numerous players getting a chance to make their case for a bigger role in the second half.

Thirteen different players scored a goal for Notre Dame, with Taylor and the Kavanagh brothers (Chris and Pat) each scoring 5 points.

The next game for the Irish is Sunday, Feb. 18, as they travel to face Marquette. The Irish defeated the Golden Eagles 21-10 in their 2023 season opener. The contest begins at 2 p.m.

Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu

ND MEN’S BASKETBALL

Irish lock down Yellow Jackets

By ANDREW McGUINNESS and J.J. POST Sports Editor and Associate Sports Editor

For the first time this season, Notre Dame men’s basketball has a conference winning streak.

The Irish notched their second consecutive win on Wednesday night, battling past Georgia Tech 58-55 at Purcell Pavillion. The contest didn’t lack for drama, with a pair of gritty defenses clashing to create a competitive low-scoring affair.

Notre Dame was bolstered by 18 points from freshman point guard Markus Burton, whose game seems to develop with every passing week.

His two free throws with one second left on the clock helped the Irish all but seal the victory.

Perhaps more notable than his point total, though, was Burton’s impact elsewhere on the statsheet. He finished with 5 steals, one game after his 6-steal effort helped lead Notre Dame past Virginia Tech. Burton’s defensive development has been less flashy than his impact on the offensive side of the ball, but it has been vital to an Irish squad that needs to earn every possession it

can get.

Sophomore forward Tae Davis also had a huge game for the home side, posting 17 points along with 6 rebounds. Davis’ layup with seconds left on the shot clock restored Notre Dame’s 3-point lead with just over a minute remaining in the game.

Notre Dame’s shooting woes, which have plagued the team all season, didn’t disappear on Valentine’s Day. The Irish shot 31.6% from the floor and 19.2% from beyond the arc. In a number of other games this winter, such numbers have been a death knell for an offense that ranks among the worst in the ACC. But on Wednesday, Notre Dame fought its way to a victory in spite of poor shooting, namely through defense and making the most of second chances. The Irish guarded the perimeter well, holding Georgia Tech to just 5 threepointers on the night. They also posted 16 offensive rebounds to the Yellow Jackets’ 5, several of which turned into crucial points.

As both teams struggled down the stretch — combining for just 20 points over the game’s final eight minutes — Notre Dame stayed afloat

through a combination of hustle and winning on the margins.

The Irish would go on to take the lead for good with 3:12 remaining when junior guard J.R. Konieczny connected on a jumper. The Irish held the Yellow Jackets to just 2 points over the final 4:30 of regulation, though a layup by Baye Ndongo cut Notre Dame’s lead to a single point with 38 seconds left.

Notre Dame’s offense would misfire once more on the ensuing possession, but in a play reflective of their overall performance, the Irish scrapped out a crucial second chance thanks to a team-effort offensive rebound. A tip from sophomore forward Kebba Njie was eventually secured by freshman guard Logan Imes and Burton’s subsequent free throws secured the victory.

The Irish will enjoy a week off before they go for a season-best third straight win. That opportunity will come on the road against conference bottom-feeder Louisville (8-17, 3-11 ACC).

The Feb. 21 first contest tips off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPNU. Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu and J.J. Post at jpost2@nd.edu

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SPORTS

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13

HOCKEY

Notre Dame seniors reflect ahead of critical Senior Weekend series

By RYA N MURPH Y Spor t s Wr iter

Saturday night, pomp a nd circumsta nce w i l l return to Compton Fa mi ly Ice A rena.

Such is t he st yle of Not re Da me hockey’s Senior Night. A f ter opening t heir crit ica l Big Ten conference series aga inst No. 8 Minnesota (18-7-5, 11-5-4) Friday night, t he Irish (1414-2, 8-10-2) w i l l don t heir st ri k ing g reen sweaters a nd honor postga me t he 12 members of t he tea m t hat w i l l be g raduat ing.

Play ing t he Golden Gophers w i l l doubt lessly be ex t ra specia l for t he four Minnesota nat ives a mong t he seniors a nd g raduate students : goa ltender Rya n Bischel, defensema n Ja ke Bolt ma nn, a nd for wa rds Trevor Ja nicke a nd Gra nt Si lia nof f.

As t he Irish attempt to rema in in t he NC A A tourna ment hunt during t heir f ina l seasons, t he weekend w i l l be no less impor ta nt for t he rema ining eight: goa ltenders Joshua Gra zia no a nd Brayden Napoli, defensemen Rya n Siedem, Drew Bava ro a nd Zach Plucinsk i a nd for wa rds Pat rick Moy niha n, La ndon Slagger t a nd Brady Bjork.

For a l l t hose at t he rin k on Saturday night, t hough, t he ga me w i l l of fer a n oppor tunit y to recog ni ze a notably t ight-k nit g raduat ing class.

“A big component of what we ta ke pride in is t he

relat ionships t hat we’ve bui lt t his yea r,” Bolt ma nn sa id. “I feel li ke we’ve k ind of developed a cu lture t hat ever yone has a voice here.”

A lternate capta in Ja nicke, in his f if t h yea r w it h t he Irish, ag rees.

“This was fa r a nd away t he most inclusive g roup — t he most inclusive senior class — t hat I’ve seen [a nd] been a pa r t of,” he added.

Each g raduat ing player has t heir ow n sig nif ica nt stor y, but bot h Ja nicke a nd Bolt ma nn in pa r t icu la r have legacies t hat have led t hem to Not re Da me.

Bolt ma nn, for one, has followed in t he skates of a long line of Edina, Minnesota, nat ives who have laced up for t he Irish.

“Being f rom Edina, t here’s a bunch of g uys t hat have played at Not re Da me — A nders Lee, Dyla n Ma lmquist — g uys t hat I looked up to,” Bolt ma nn sa id. “W hen I was g row ing up, my drea m was to play Edina High School hockey, a nd t hen you wa nt to do what t hose g uys went on to do, so you wa nt to play college hockey.”

In 2019, Bolt ma nn won a Minnesota State High School Cha mpionship w it h t he Hornets. In spring of 2021, he cont inued t he Edina legacy at Not re Da me when he enrol led w it h t he Irish.

“There’s a big a lumni g roup of Not re Da me a nd Edina,” he sa id. “Grow ing

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up, watching t hem play in high school, a nd t hen seeing t hem play at Not re Da me, a nd now I’m doing what my role models were doing, it’s prett y sweet.”

Ja nicke, on t he ot her ha nd, has essent ia l ly had his sights set on t he Golden Dome since bir t h. Ja nicke’s dad, Cur t is, played hockey himself at Not re Da me f rom 1989-1993, a nd he ra ised Trevor a nd younger brot her Just in as a rdent Not re Da me fa ns.

The t wo have now sha red t hree yea rs toget her suit ing up for t he Irish, somet imes even play ing on t he sa me line.

“I k new t he Not re Da me f ight song when I was li ke 3 yea rs old,” Trevor reca l led.

“For my brot her as wel l, it’s been our drea m to come here.”

The Ja nicke fa mi ly has been for tunate, too, to have a litt le ex t ra brot her t ime.

Wit h Just in enrol ling a yea r ea rly in 2021 a nd Trevor stay ing to play a g raduate student season t his yea r, t he brot hers have played toget her for t hree t imes as long as t hey t hought t hey wou ld.

“It’s been super cool, just for my whole fa mi ly … I have t wo younger sisters t hat a re doing t heir ow n t hing w it h da nce a nd g y mnast ics, a nd when JJ a nd I were on different tea ms t hey had li ke four dif ferent tea ms ever y weekend. Now we’re bot h toget her at Not re Da me, we

see t hem so much more.”

Somet imes it’s histor y, ot her t imes it is fa mi ly t hat ca n ma ke a n ex perience signif ica nt. Above a l l t hough, t hese seniors say Not re Da me has had its impact, too. In t heir four (or more) yea rs, Ja nicke a nd Bolt ma nn have seen Not re Da me g row into a home, just li ke ma ny ot her Universit y seniors — rega rd less of va rsit y spor ts tea m status.

“I was wa l k ing to Eddy St reet yesterday w it h Bischel a nd we were just k ind of ta l k ing,” Ja nicke sa id. “We’re [bot h in our] f if t h yea r, we’re bot h li ke, ‘This is home.’ The biggest consta nt in our lives for t he last f ive yea rs is being at Not re Da me. I even say when I go to Minnesota, I say, ‘A lright, I’m excited to go back home,’ back to Not re Da me. This is my home, you k now? ” Wit h a home comes ma ny posit ive memories. Ja nicke counts t he 2022 Senior Night w in over Michiga n, as wel l as t hat yea r’s NC A A tourna ment r un, a mong his favorites. For Bolt ma nn, moments li ke t he one to come t his weekend — Senior Nights — st ick out.

“A f ter t he ga me, when t he whole tea m’s on t he ice, a nd a l l t he seniors t hat have been here a nd put t heir blood sweat a nd tea rs into t he prog ra m get recog ni zed — as a younger g uy, t hose a re t he g uys I looked up to,” he sa id. “A nd to see t hem

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a nd t heir fa mi lies, a nd a l l t he sacrif ices t hey’ve made for t hem to get to t his spot at t his prog ra m, it’s prett y cool.”

For t his yea r’s edit ion of t he Irish, t hose emot ions w i l l be inter t w ined w it h t he impor ta nce of t he t wo ga mes being played. A f ter being swept last weekend on t he road at No. 4 Wisconsin, Not re Da me f inds itself cling ing to t he four t h a nd f ina l home ice spot in t he Big Ten Sta ndings.

Perhaps more dire, t he Irish sit at No. 21 in t he NC A A pa ir w ise ra n k ings, which mimic t he formu la used to decide bids for t he nat iona l tourna ment. That number is fa r f rom t he desirable 12 or 13 ra n k ing Not re Da me wou ld need to feel comfor table w it h its playof f cha nces. Needing to ma ke up g round, t hey face a dif f icu lt task w it h just four ga mes rema ining aga inst t he No. 8 Golden Gophers a nd No. 14 Michiga n Wolverines.

“We’ve done a litt le tea m discussion, some sou lsea rching t he last couple days,” Ja nicke sa id.

“Obv iously w it h t he way t hings went last weekend, a nd k ind of beat ing ourselves bot h nights, it’s somet hing t hat we have addressed a nd we’re hopef u l ly going to lea rn f rom.

A nd t hat’s t he t hing: we’ve lea rned so ma ny lessons t his yea r, we’ve lea rned a ton ow f lessons. A nd you k now, now’s t he t ime of yea r to show t hat we have lea rned t hose lessons.”

“We’re not leav ing a nyt hing on t he table t his yea r.

A nd t hat’s somet hing t hat I t hin k we might’ve done last yea r, is k ind of wa l ked away a nd felt li ke t here’s st i l l somet hing lef t, a nd t hat’s not going to happen t his yea r.”

This cr ucia l weekend for Not re Da me’s reg u la r season home slate beg ins w it h a 7:30 p.m. puck drop on Friday. Fol low ing Saturday’s 6 p.m. ga me, t he Irish w i l l honor t heir 12 seniors a nd g raduate students, as wel l as senior hockey ma nager Renee Masla k.

Golden Gophers are red hot Minnesota w i l l a rrive in Sout h Bend hav ing won nine of t heir last 11 ga mes. The Golden Gophers swept Penn State at home last weekend, shutt ing out t he Nitta ny see HOCKEY PAGE 12

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SPORTS

THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

Ring B CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

By the end of the first, the match looked to be about even. As the second round commenced, Johnson fired the first punch and maintained his intensity, but Keane did just the same. However, as the second round came to a close, Johnson seemed to find a second gear, backing Keane into a corner and taking control. The third round proved to be a thriller, with Keane determined to come back. The intensity remained for the duration of the round from both sides, with a slew of punches thrown from each party. The exciting match was reflected in the outcome, with a split decision ultimately called by the judges. In the end, it was the fierce Johnson who managed to defeat the older Keane. Johnson would win by split decision.

Emilio “Smooth Operator” Fernandez def. Alex “The Great” Aragon Fernandez of Keough Hall came out of the gate firing punches, but Aragon managed to return them with fury and force as the match began. Fernandez remained lightfooted in the first round, continuously swinging high and aiming for Aragon’s head and jaw area.

The referee had to separate the two at one point, but it only made Fernandez hungrier to punch away. The second round began in a headlock, with Fernandez asserting dominance by continuing to employ a relentless, offensive strategy throughout this round and the last. The match had to be paused at one point to account for a spontaneous bloody nose from Aragon, yet he proved himself hard-headed and persistent to combat Fernandez’s sharp shots.

Nonetheless, the attempt was a fruitless one. Fernandez would win by unanimous decision.

Sean “Milk” Mullen def.

“Petty” Rich Graf Mullen, the Morrissey Manor senior, certainly came out swinging, knocking Graf down within the first 20 seconds of the match.

However, the Sorin senior shot up quickly and put the fall behind him, consequently enacting a series of hits that Mullen then returned with force and vengeance.

The second round saw a hungry Graf leap forward immediately to fire against Mullen, but Mullen returned the same level of intensity.

Two headlocks paused the round momentarily, with Mullen asserting offensive control as the round concluded. Kicking off the third and final round, Graf attempted to work the outside and leverage on his opponent, but the attempt came much too late. Mullen would win by unanimous decision.

Rob “The Voodoo Ranger” Rucki def. Jake “Long John Silvers” Loughran The senior Rucki remained calm and steady in his attack as the match began, but the freshman Loughran returned the intensity, even managing to supersede.

Backing Rucki into the blue corner as the first round wrapped up, Loughran gained control of

the match. Rucki remained determined to fight back as the second round began, but Loughran was calm and unphased. Both parties sought the offensive strategy, and Rucki ultimately made up significant ground as the second round closed out, making consecutive, key punches. When the third round arrived, it was anyone’s match to take. Loughran seemed determined to regain his dominant position from the beginning stages of the match, firing high hits over Rucki throughout the final round.

Ultimately, though, the veteran was able to retain enough control to finalize the decision. Rucki would win by split decision.

Justin “Slim Reaper” Darwin def. Steven “El Chucho” Vanden Noven Sophomore Vanden Noven came out swinging high and quick, and senior Darwin took the underhand as the match began. The intensity simmered down midway through the first round before firing right back up late into the first.

Blue backed gold into a corner and made crucial hits as the first round closed out. As the second round started up, Darwin capitalized on previous momentum to decidedly knock Vanden Noven back a notch. The round ended similarly to its start, with Darwin employing the offensive on Vanden Noven and hooking the sophomore. The final round, while exciting in nature, proved a repeat of round two, as Darwin remained steadfast in his efforts. Darwin would win by unanimous decision.

Kamsi “K.O.” Ejike def.

Frank “Libero” Paquette Senior Frank Paquette and freshman Kasmi Ejike came out swinging, but both were unsuccessful in landing early punches.

From there, Ejike came on the attack, but both tired out by the end of round one. The second round featured much of the same. Blue started to land some jabs, but his punches were unsuccessful.

Towards the end of the round, the referee had to break up the two so the fighting did not extend after the time. In the third round, blue came out swinging and found some new strength. After a barrage of punches, Paquette skillfully dodged a hook from Ejike, closing out three well-fought rounds. Ejike would win by split decision.

Will “Sleepy Time” Robbnis def. Graham “Bam” Doman Junior Will Robbins and freshman Graham Doman started the fight with a lot of energy. Robbins put Doman on the ropes early, but after a series of jabs, Doman moved out of the corner. The second round opened with a great punch from Robbins, but Doman slowly pushed him back. Both fighters moved swiftly around the ring throughout the remainder of the round, showing some signs of exhaustion. In the third round, Doman opened up with some newfound strength before a series of swings back and forth closed it out. Robbins would win by unanimous decision.

Erick “Wutang Warrior” def. Gavin “The Beard” Carr Junior Erick Valdez came out strong and successfully landed multiple strong right hooks.

However, junior Gavin Carr was not deterred and responded with a strong left punch. In the second round, both fighters showed great stamina as they moved around the ring. Both sides landed punches throughout the round. In the third round, Valdez put Carr in a corner early, but Carr responded with a punch that caused the referee to check on Valdez. Valdez would win by unanimous decision.

Damien “Sauce of the Month” Sylva def. Andrew “No Shoes, No Swartz, No Service” Swartz In the first round, senior Damien Sylva possessed the upper hand and started out on the attack.

While Swartz had a longer reach, Sylva continued to push through and eventually landed a punch that made the referee check on Swartz. The first round ended with a barrage of punches from Sylva.

The second round featured mostly the same. Sylva continued on the attack, and the referees once again had to check on Swartz. In the final round, Swartz successfully maneuvered around the ring but was unable to land any punches. Sylva would win by unanimous decision.

Logan “Grizzly” def. Andres Mejia

Bayer

Both boxers came out with lots of energy, with Bayer slightly controlling the opening seconds. The first round would remain close throughout with neither boxer getting much separation. A big head shot from Mejia landed early in round two, although Bayer quickly worked him against the ropes twice in response. Neither boxer was tired at the start of the final round, with Bayer once again pushing Mejia into the corner.

Mejia did briefly get Bayer off balance, but the two ended the bout tangled together. Bayer would win by split decision.

big attempts as well. SanchezHernandez landed an uppercut early in the third round. It was a bout with a lot of clinches, and, in the end, a bout that favored Hersey.

Hersey would win by unanimous decision.

Henry Phillips def. Scott Weitman Neither boxer landed much for the first 20 seconds or so. Weitman delivered the first few body blows, doing a good job of getting Phillips in a defensive spot. But Phillips connected with several big swings near the end of the round to gain momentum. Phillips carried that into round two, although Weitman did a nice job keeping his hands up to limit the damage. Weitman was a bit off-balance in the back half of the round, although he prevented Phillips from taking over.

Weitman came out swinging in the final round, but he stumbled again, leading to a count. A late attack by Phillips led to a second count and helped him secure the victory. Phillips would win by split decision.

Jackson “Amo” Amorosa def. Lukas “Tree Hugger” Villalba Villalba had the early edge in this showdown, working Amorosa against the ropes quite a bit.

However, Amorosa quickly turned up the heat, leading to a count for Villalba. Amorosa landed several head shots immediately after, forcing a second count seconds later.

Amorosa used his reach to keep Villalba at bay. Another count was needed in the second round. The contest was stopped after that by the referee, with the victory awarded to Amorosa.

Matthew “Two Cup” Turzai def. Eamon “For Your Face” Nussbaum Turzai pummeled Nussbaum with several body shots seconds into the match. Another quick hit

sent Nussbaum into a count. Turzai had the upper hand throughout the first round and largely controlled the second, albeit in less dominant fashion. Turzai never let Nussbaum get going offensively, securing the victory. Turzai would win by unanimous decision.

Andrew “Cowboy” Foote def. Jacob “Rock ‘em Sock ‘em” Cruz Foote had the first big flurry on the bout, working Cruz against the ropes several times in the opening seconds. He continued to do so throughout the first round while also blocking most of Cruz’s attempts. Foote came out flying in round two, once again backing Cruz down before he knew what hit him. Cruz did land some jabs with his back against the ropes, but Foote dictated the tempo. The third round offered more of the same, as Foote bulldozed his way to a victory. Foote would win by unanimous decision.

Isaac “Ice” Culp def. Chris “Caveman” Ayres Culp looked strong out of the gates, landing blows to the chest and head. Ayres quickly turned the tables, backing Culp into a defensive position and connecting on several jabs. Culp once again started strong in round two, this time doing a better job of sustaining his efforts. Both boxers left their all in the ring during an even third round. Ultimately, Culp would win by unanimous decision.

Contact Noah Cahill at ncahill2@nd.edu, Peter Breen at pbreen2@ nd.edu, Maggie Eastland at meastlan@nd.edu, Jack Horton at jhorton6@ nd.edu, Annika Herko at aherko@nd.edu, Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu, and Alice O’Brien at aobrien8@nd.edu

John Christoforetti def.

Ethan Hoying Both boxers came out with energy, but there was definitely an early feeling-out period. Christoforetti landed the first series of blows, but Hoying responded with some body shots and well-timed dodges. Christoforetti came out on the offensive in the second round, but Hoying quickly countered, backing him against the ropes.

Christoforetti landed a thunderous attack in the third round that forced a count. Christoforetti then continued to land punches up high. Christoforetti would win by unanimous decision.

Ryan Hersey def. Kevin Sanchez-Hernandez Hersey came out on the attack, but Sanchez-Hernandez immediately matched his fervor. Hersey was able to land several head shots even when Sanchez-Hernandez had him against the ropes.

Hersey connected on some closerange jabs quickly in the second round but also missed on some

MEGHAN LANGE| The Observer

Niko Tarasenko and Will O’Neill fight with equal intensity in the first rounds. Tarasenko ultimately trumped O’Neill in a unanimous win.

SPORTS

Bouts CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

approach to his opponent, Dante “The Inferno” Gardini, a senior of Alumni Hall from Austin, Texas.

Schilling’s combination of lateral movement paired with thunderous jabs was effective in round one.

On the other end, Gardini used an extremely methodical approach, sometimes walking or standing still before unleashing attacks. He was forced to play defense for most of the round and appeared to wear down as the round progressed.

He responded with some massive connections to start round two but again slowed as the blows added up. Round three, however, belonged to Gardini, who capped off the fight with an impressive number of jabs, unloading what little he had left in the tank. Gardini would win by unanimous decision.

Jack “Grock-ness Monster” Zagrocki def.

Varun “Singapore Slinger” Taneja The junior-senior matchup was level inside the ring through round one, although there was, by far, a larger and more vocal crowd supporting Zagrocki, the senior and former resident of Knott Hall wearing gold shorts. Taneja sustained some heavy blows during the middle round, but he wasn’t afraid to retaliate in the form of right uppercuts. The junior’s mighty right arm found many different parts of Zagrocki’s body during the final round. Taneja was able to hold his ground in the end despite the complicated footwork of Zagrocki and the roars of his fans. But the senior’s early work would carry the day. Zagrocki would win by unanimous decision.

Michael “CrispyChicken” Rauch def.

William “Blanco” White White, the shorter contestant, bent toward the lean and lengthy body of Rauch, delivering many quick jabs as the opening round got underway. In the second frame, Rauch focused on setting up right hooks for himself. A junior from Baumer Hall, White was able to deflect some, but not all, of these attacks. During round three, White kept trying to punch Rauch directly up the middle, while Rauch strove to land his loopier hooks on the edges of the Buccaneer’s stocky frame. Rauch would win by unanimous decision.

Kyle “Outlaw” Mackey def. Colby “Goldilocks” Whitehouse Both boxers had power in their punches and weren’t afraid to use it. The sounds of white glove hitting blue mask and black glove hitting red mask defined round one.

As red marks appeared on each boxer’s body during the second round, the freshman Mackey and the sophomore Whitehouse maintained composure. But then, all of a sudden, the action overwhelmed Whitehouse, and the referee had to pause round two. Mackey was relentless in the final round, and the sophomore took it like a champ until he stumbled once more and the referee stopped the bout once

NDSMCOBSERVER.COM | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | THE OBSERVER

again. This time it was for good. By referee stoppage, Mackey won the 169-pound match.

Christian “K” Miller def.

Caleb “Motown” Eisenbacher Miller put the full potency of his legs and arms into the effort of brushing back Eisenbacher during the opening round. Then Miller came out furiously in round two. About 15 seconds passed before Eisenbacher, a senior from Keough Hall, found stable footing during the bout’s middle frame.

Eisenbacher needed to make something spectacular happen during the final round, but the senior from Knott Hall wasn’t having it. To the great pleasure of his fans, Miller was named champion of the 167-pound match. Miller would win by unanimous decision.

Jack “Cinderella Man” Taylor def. Patrick “Buford” Galligan The cleanness of Tayor’s fighting technique was evident within the match’s opening seconds.

Less than a minute in, the referee paused the match to make sure Galligan, a senior from Dunne Hall, was alright. Both boxers settled into a steady rhythm during round two. Perhaps Taylor, a senior from Dillon Hall, was a bit more comfortable and landed more punches. The referee had to pause the match for Galligan’s safety again in round two and for a final time during round three.

Taylor, a native of Phoenix, would win by unanimous decision.

Jack “Da Cake” Kelly def.

Joseph “El Chino Chulo” Kim Before the match got underway, Kim, a graduate student, ran around the ring and then said a little prayer. Both boxers bent very deep in athletic stances and shuffled in every direction during the first round, in which not a whole lot of punches found their targets.

Kelly, a senior from O’Neill Family Hall, initiated contact during the bout’s middle round. In round three, the senior again bursted out as if he actually wanted to make it to the semifinals. The referee very briefly paused the match before the final bell rang to allow Kim to catch his breath. When it was announced that Kelly defeated Kim, the victor clenched his fist in joy.

Kelly would win by unanimous decision.

finished checking out Trossen a second time, the bout was essentially over. Lyon would win by unanimous decision.

Aldo “The RAM” Plascencia def. PJ “Northside” Summers Plascencia, a senior from Sorin College, found himself backpedaling through most of the opening round. The sophomore competitor, Summers, kept forcing his elder backward during the middle round while sustaining more than a few Plascencia punches on his red mask. Fighting slowed down marginally in the final round, and the boxers breathed heavily. Plascencia kept moving in the wrong direction, and Summer’s white gloves started to connect more and more with the blue face guard of the Sorin Hall resident.

Plascencia would win by split decision.

Andrew “The Red Scare” Cassidy def. Robbie “The Lobster” Donahue The fan base for the freshman from Baumer Hall, Donahue, made the floor of the Dahnke Ballroom shake before the boxers started at it. After a jittery dozen seconds, the boxers relaxed and threw sharp punches throughout most of the first round. Cassidy, a senior from Keenan Hall, had a really solid second round, and his stellar performance stretched over into round three. Donahue, the taller boxer, tip-toed away from the senior to no avail during the remaining minutes of this 179-pound match. Cassidy would win by unanimous decision.

closing bell rang out. Nwaezeapu would win by split decision.

Phil “Il Capo” Pollice def.

Connor “Hometown Hero” McKenna Pollice sprinted across the ring to meet his opponent as soon as the bell rang to signal the match’s start. At one point during the first round, McKenna fell flat on his backside. Pollice, a sophomore of Baumer Hall, took a few hard hits during the middle round from McKenna, another sophomore, who resides in Dillon Hall.

All in all, both boxers were evenly matched during the middle part of the bout. The sophomore from Baumer Hall wanted to pick up some insurance points in the final round, which he did. Pollice would win the 153-pound bout by split decision.

Kevin “Duncan Donuts” Prata def. Zachari “The Kid” Taylor In the final match in Ring A Thursday night, the senior and the freshman got wrapped up in each other’s arms again and again during the first round. Prata, the senior, buried Taylor in the ring’s southwest corner toward the end of round one, causing the referee to pause the match briefly. Taylor, a resident of Fisher Hall, tried his hardest to keep up with Prata in the middle round, but the senior’s onslaught was unyielding. In round three, Prata struck Taylor’s mask religiously and then pinned the freshman up against the ring’s northwest corner. Prata would win by unanimous decision.

Drew “The Flinch” Braaten def. Patrick “War Eagle” Doyle

Here is an overview of the quarterfinal results from Ring B.

Braaten, a senior of Keough Hall, took dozens of hits from the freshman, Doyle, throughout the first round. But he returned a greater number. Doyle did not think about relenting in round two, and the two kept trading blows.

Just before the bell marked the close of the middle frame, Doyle threw Braaten into the ropes. In a final burst of effort, Braaten made several quick and clear connections with the freshman’s red face guard before it was time to call it a day. In a close call, the senior won after judges decided he landed more punches. Braaten would win by split decision.

Kevin “For The Brand” Stein def. Matt “Amore” Kavanaugh

Nolan “Toothless” Lyon def. Mitchell “VP” Trossen

Ijeh “The Golden Child” Nwaezeapu def. Jackson “The Stallion” Graham

Lyon, a senior from Carroll Hall, directed Trossen where he pleased during round one, landing dozens of hits along the way.

Lyon’s rhythmic attack against Trossen, a senior of Siegfried Hall, persisted during the bout’s middle moments. Trossen was unable to leverage his height and longer arms. Fewer than 20 seconds into the final round, Lyon’s punches became too much for Trossen, so the senior, who was wearing blue shorts, fell backward into the west ropes for some relief. This caused the referee to take a look at Trossen for the first time during round three. By the time the referee

This 192-pound matchup was composed of two chiseled fighters who landed many tough blows through round one. Graham, a junior of Stanford Hall, and Nwaezeapu, a sophomore of Keough Hall, both drew formidable fan bases. Graham seemed to go on the offense a bit more as round two got underway, but at one point during the middle frame Nwaezeapu was able to pin his foe against the ropes. The laurels were up for grabs during round three, and the crowds on each side of the ring knew it. Most spectators were probably unsure about who would be the bout’s winner when the

In the first fight of the night in Ring B, Kavanaugh got in the first few punches, but the fight remained evenly matched until Stein pushed Kavanaugh into the corner. They danced around the ring for a while with neither taking full control until Stein began to wear Kavanaugh out. Stein landed more punches, but Kavanaugh stuck through it. Kavanaugh came out swinging, pushing Stein around the ring. Stein’s height advantage played a factor later in the match, but Kavanaugh kept landing punches, and the two finally had to be separated for the first time in the third round.

Stein would win by unanimous decision.

Nicholas “Nick” Buhay def.

Br. John Baptist “The Monk” SantaAna To start off the fight, Buhay landed a few punches, but Santa Ana kept his hands up, delivering some good hits until his helmet was checked by the referee.

Buhay pushed Santa Ana into the corner to end the first round. With Buhay continuing to land hits to the head, Santa Ana’s helmet was checked three times in the second round. Santa Ana guided the movement around the ring, while Buhay continued to land hit after

15

hit. Santa Ana landed a few hits, but in the end, Buhay continued to control the fight. Buhay would win by unanimous decision.

Brooks “BMC” McConnell def. Nicholas “Free Bird” Dodig Dodig kept McConnell on his toes throughout the fight with a strategy of circling his opponent.

However, McConnell landed most of the big hits in the first round. At the start of the second round, McConnell continued to deliver body blows, while Dodig made contact with McConnell’s head. Both competitors seemed to stick with their respective strategies, their heights likely leading to their decision-making.

Dodig’s reach helped him mostly keep McConnell away. However, McConnell was undeterred and worked hard to land blows on his opponent until the last bell.

McConnell would win by split by decision.

Niko “KO” Tarasenko def.

Will “Ogre Hours” O’Neill Tarasenko came out swinging, but O’Neill wrapped him up quickly three times, causing the referee to intercede. It was a fastpaced fight early, but it slowed down as the first round came to a close. The intensity continued for the second round as the fighters got wrapped up a few more times. Tarasenko started to show a bit of an edge, landing a few head shots, while O’Neill focused on landing body blows. Tarasenko eventually earned a few strong, loud hits on O’Neill, driving him into the corner to end the third round with a standing eight count.

Tarasenko would win by unanimous decision.

Felix “Mardi Graze” Smolen def. David “DLM” LaMaster As the match began, LaMaster fired the first punch, but Smolen followed shortly after. Both parties proceeded to engage in a circling strategy at the beginning of the first round, with Smolen making some key, steadfast hits as the round came to a close.

Smolen used this momentum to begin the second round, while LaMaster attempted to capitalize on a defensive strategy. While Smolen remained hungry and energetic, LaMaster would not go down without a fight. In the final round of the match, LaMaster, fueled with late-game adrenaline, pounced on Smolen. But Smolen remained capable of outlasting LaMaster as time dwindled.

Smolen would win by unanimous decision.

William “A.I.” Johnson def. Christian “Italian” Keane Both parties came out swinging tenaciously, with freshman Johnson capitalizing on the momentum from sidelined friends to challenge Keane, a senior. However, Keane remained unphased, returning almost every punch that Johnson threw in the first round. see Ring B PAGE 14

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THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

BENGAL BOUTS

Bengal Bouts: Ring A and Ring B quarterfinal results

By NOAH CAHILL, PETER BREEN, MAGGIE EASTLAND, JACK HORTON, ANNIKA HERKO, ANDREW McGUINNESS , ALICE O’BRIEN Sports Writer, Associate News Editor, Editor-in-Chief, Sports Writer, Associate Sports Editor, Sports Editor, Sports Writer

The 94th Annual Bengal Bouts Tournament commenced Thursday at Notre Dame’s Dahnke Ballroom. Here is an overview of the quarterfinal results from Ring A.

Jack “Topgun” Lannon def. Richie “The Mechanic” Mistichelli Jack “Topgun” Lannon started the round by stalking his opponent and controlling the center of the ring, but Richie “The Mechanic” Mistichelli quickly proved it would be no easy victory. Mistichelli, a sophomore living in Keenan Hall, began round two with some strong body shots, but Lannon, a senior representing Knott Hall, continued to fire back punches to his headgear. “The Mechanic” even pushed “Topgun” into the ropes, but he didn’t stay there long. Shortly after, Lannon went on the offensive and forced an eight count. The starting bell for round three was met with a burst of energy from both boxers. Near the end of the bout, Mistichelli started to show signs of fatigue, dropping his guard just enough to let “Topgun” fire away and force another eight count.

Lannon’s well-aimed punches and composure in the ring earned him the victory. Lannon would win by split decision.

CJ “Chug Jug” Kelly def.

Will “Vlad” Covington The senior-versus-senior bout began with effective defense from both boxers. CJ “Chug Jug” Kelly of Baumer Hall and Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, showed off well-timed catches and blocks while Will “Vlad” Covington of Fisher Hall and Buffalo, New York, maintained a tight guard. Kelly eventually broke through Covington’s high-security gloves to land a few clean punches and push him into the ropes a few times.

Covington landed a few hooks of his own in round two while Kelly continued with a simple but effective 1-2, searching for the gaps. “Chug Jug” continued to neutralize his opponent’s jabs with a reactionary catch. In round three, Kelly worked high and low with simple, technical punches. Both boxers gritted through a tiring final round, but Kelly powered through to land more punches. Kelly would win

by split decision.

Mike “The REAL Big” Guyette def. Jake “Dodo” Dording Mike “The REAL Big” Guyette started round one with high speed and high frequency. Guyette’s barrage of punches didn’t stop in the following two rounds. The senior of Keough Hall and Albany, New York, seemed to be trying to tally as many points and punches as possible without dropping his guard.

Guyette’s mobile long jab served as his defense and offense. Jake “Dodo” Dording of Pangborn Hall and Simsbury, Connecticut, managed to get a few punches in, but Guyette’s suffocating pace made it difficult to play anything but defense. The referee paused the second round for a bloody nose.

“Dodo” refused to give up in round three, but Guyette made it difficult for him to land any points. Closing out the round with a near-robotic deluge of jabs, Guyette would win by unanimous decision.

Greg “All Love” Vogt def.

Matthew “World Peace” Egan “World Peace” and “All Love” — both from Morrissey Manor — met in the ring with energy that didn’t quite match their nicknames.

Vogt, a senior from Fairfield, Connecticut, set the tone with lots of movement and technical 1-2 combinations. Heeding calls from his corner to keep throwing, Vogt continued to set the pace in round two and forced a pause from the referee to check on Egan, a junior from South Bend, Indiana.

In round three, Egan and Vogt closed the distance and landed a number of punches on each other.

Egan slid in a few body shots and a few dead-center chin shots. Vogt notched several hard hits with the right hand. Both boxers fought hard through the last few seconds, trying to land more punches in the tight race for victory. Vogt would win by split decision.

“Average” Joe Rozgonyi def. Edward “Sweatsuit” Couri Edward “Sweatsuit” Couri, a freshman of Dillon Hall, tried to manage the distance and stay out of striking range in round one.

“Average” Joe Rozgonyi of Baumer Hall – and formerly Zahm Hall – overcame Couri’s defensive movement with several powerful punches. “Average” eventually broke through with a few hooks that led to an eight count for Couri.

In round two, Couri threw and landed a couple of punches, but power and speed from Rozgonyi seemed to stop Couri in his tracks.

MEGHAN LANGE| The Observer

Freshman Jake Loughran takes on senior Rob Rucki, exchanging punches with and matching the energy of the veteran. A deserving Rucki triumphed in the end, defeating Loughran with a victory by split decision.

Both boxers kept composure into round three, during which “Sweatsuit” tried to rip a few hooks to the body. With each attempt from Couri, Rozgonyi came back with more punches and power, forcing another eight count. The third round took its toll on both boxers and saw a few wrap-ups and slipping guards. Couri, of Peoria, Illinois, refused to give up against the senior boxer from Mount Cisco, New York, but Rozgonyi made the score clear to the judges. Rozgonyi would win by unanimous decision.

David “Gimme the” Liu def. Dominick “Dingo” Munoz David “Gimme the” Liu, a senior of Sorin College hailing from South Bend, Indiana, made quick work in round one. The gap in experience between him and Dominick “Dingo” Munoz, a freshman from Carroll Hall and Brackettville, Texas, was evident early on. Both sides threw sporadic punches to the head and body in a blistering start. After easily outlasting a flurry of hooks from Munoz, Liu unloaded on his weakened adversary, eventually finishing him with a massive right hook. The senior was victorious after the referee stopped the contest.

Owyn “Rum Punch” Ferguson def. Anthony “Little Italy” Garatoni Anthony “Little Italy” Garatoni, a Siegfried Hall senior hailing

from Mishawaka, Indiana, came out fast, attacking aggressively to the body. On the other end, Owyn “Rum Punch” Freguson, a graduate student from Morrissey Manor and Nassau, Bahamas, responded with a more methodical approach.

Utilizing several jab-hook combos, Ferguson grew into the fight and paced himself well. Both showed patience in round two, as well as some signs of fatigue later in the round as the body blows added up.

Ferguson took over in round three, as both drained fighters crawled to the finish line. In the end, Ferguson outlasted Garatoni. Ferguson would win by split decision.

Connor “Hound” Hinkes def. Evan Liu Connor Hinkes, a senior of Dunne Hall and formerly Zahm Hall, hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, faced Evan Liu, a freshman of Dunne Hall from Taipei, Taiwan. Both kept a healthy distance in round one, with Liu using his height and reach to attack the head with jabs. In a relatively even round, both sides dodged well without connecting on any big shots. Hinkes upped the intensity in round two, forcing an eight count in the corner after a barrage of shots to the head. He finished the round strong, connecting on a few more shots as Liu was forced out of his shell. Hinkes went on the offensive in round three and wore Liu down, finishing the fight strong.

This fight was a true contest, and

despite a valiant effort from the freshman Liu, Hinkes prevailed.

Hinkes would win by unanimous decision.

Marcello “Tomato Can” Nanni def. Charlie Tubs” Gussen Marcello “Tomato Can” Nanni def. Charlie “Tubs” Gussen Charlie “Tubs” Gussen, a sophomore from Fisher Hall and Fairfield, Connecticut, faced off against Marcello “Tomato Can” Nanni, a senior of Morrissey Manor from Birmingham, Alabama. After an even start, Nanni took over with several crushing left-hand jabs, each taking a greater toll on Gussen’s defense as the round went on. Gussen came out firing in round two, but Nanni retook control after facing an initial avalanche of blows. On his last limbs entering round three, Gussen resorted to massive swings, making contact on only a few. Nanni stayed patient and continued accumulating blows to close out the fight. Nanni would win by unanimous decision.

Dante “The Inferno” Gardini def. Jamey “The Milwaukee Mountain” Schilling Jamey “The Milwaukee Mountain” Schilling, a graduate student formerly of Fisher Hall and from, where else, but Milwaukee, took a drastically different see BOUTS PAGE 15