Print Edition for The Observer for April 22, 2024

The Shirt committee unveils 35th edition

The Shirt 2024 launched after a campus-wide celebration featuring student group performances

By PETER McKENNA Associate News

After a culminating celebration featuring student group performances, food and Notre Dame community, The Shirt committee unveiled the design for the 2024 Shirt on library lawn on Friday afternoon.

The Shirt’s unveiling took place from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Until members of The Shirt committee took over, Father Pete McCormick emceed the event, as he introduced groups ranging from the Glee Club to Pom Squad to the Echoes.

“Ever since this tradition began in 1990, The Shirt has become the single

Students host panel on ‘free expression and belonging’

By ELIZABETH BURT News Writer ’

On Wednesday evening, five Saint Mary’s College students discussed how to institute healthy dialogue in community conversations and presented their findings from a conference they recently attended at DePaul University.

The five panelists, Katie Theriault, Ivory Munoz, Angelina Wright, Anaís Juliano and Kayli ZelinskeMader were chosen to go to the conference because of their previous experiences with student leadership at Saint Mary’s and their experiences with The Dialogue Project, an organization which strives to create “intimate conversations” within communities.

Moderated by philosophy professor Megan Zwart, the panelists discussed their experiences at the conference, their takeaways and how they want to implement the lessons they learned at Saint Mary’s and

the tri-campus. Zwart argued for the need to balance free expression and inclusivity.

“When you’re talking about free expression, you’re also making sure that you’re creating inclusive climates at the same time,” she said.

Each of the five panelists shared why they chose to take part in the conference, referencing their leadership roles with student government, residence life and SMC college democrats, among organizations.

Wright described her generation as “reactive not proactive.”

“They aren’t able to hear out other people’s voices,” she said.

Theriault stressed the need to understand where differing opinions come from.

“Starting off [a] conversation with where you’re coming from, really help[s] it be productive,“ she said.

“It was easier to understand as someone got more heated

about something or if they were like ‘I really disagree with this.’”

All of the panelists stressed the importance of relationship building, both as a college community and within interpersonal relationships.

Referencing Saint Mary’s since reversed policy of allowing transgender students to enroll at the college, Juliano said the issue is not settled for some people on campus.

“Sometimes we think that the conversation is over because we had a conversation, but sometimes people aren’t ready for it to be over,“ she said.

Munoz explained building relationships can make moments of crisis easier to manage.

“We build relationships before a crisis, so when crisis occurs, we can address it effectively,” Munoz said.

Although the panelists agreed Saint Mary’s, as a

best-selling collegiate apparel in the country,” vice president of The Shirt committee Molly Sullivan said. “Over the past 35 years, we have sold over 3 million shirts and raised over 14 and a half million dollars.”

This year marks the 35th edition of The Shirt, an initiative that began in 1990 to raise funds for student activities.

“Every year, we donate all our profits back to Notre Dame students,” president of The Shirt committee Ryan Bland said. “Today, the project’s revenue supports the operations of student groups and organizations

ILI cohort prepares to finish program

By ASHLEIGH LOBO News Writer

“Most of the people who are drawn to this type of program are looking to go back to their communities and be a force for good,” Emily Turner, the associate director for prospect development and alumni relations for the Inspired Leadership Initiative, said.

In 2018, Notre Dame created the Inspired Leadership Initiative (ILI). The ILI provides “accomplished

individuals“ with the opportunity to pursue further education and gain access to resources and guidance to be a force for good in their futures.

Ashley Baranowski, the ILI Program Director, described the program as a cohort of 15 to 25 fellows per year “who have completed their chosen careers and are looking to discern the next chapter of their lives.”

“[The ILI is] a

GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer

The Shirt committee poses for a photo in The Shirt 2024 after revealing it onstage with head football coach Marcus Freeman and several football players. The Shirt 2024 is only the third to be made in gold. Courtesy of the Inspired Leadership Initiative

The 2023-2024 ILI cohort includes 15 fellows who are looking to further develop and discern the next chapter for their professional lives. see PANEL

The Observer regards itself as a professional publication and strives for the highest standards of journalism at all times. We do, however, recognize that we will make mistakes. If we have made a mistake, please contact us at editor@ndsmcobserver.com so we can correct our error.

First Gen x BSA Cookout Belle’s Corner 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Enjoy some food and community!

Friday

Ten Years Hence Lecture Jordan Auditorium 10:40 a.m. - noon Lecture hosted by the Mendoza College.

ND vs Wake Forest Frank Eck Stadium 6:30 p.m.

Panel

whole, engages in productive conversations, they also pointed to areas of improvement.

“The thing … that could be improved upon though is having those difficult conversations in classrooms where you aren’t always agreeing,” Zelinske-Mader said. “Whether it’s from students, even just those that are here [at the panel], you can take an extra step to ask the hard, difficult questions without having the fear of being canceled.”

The panelists mentioned that having low stakes conversations in the dining hall, the classrooms and dorm buildings all build up the necessary skills to have these conversations.

The Observer spoke to Saint Mary’s College President Katie Conboy after the event, who emphasized the importance of hearing differing perspectives.

“If students could all be exposed to these ways of thinking, then Saint Mary’s would be this kind of unstoppable model for how these kinds of conversations can happen,” she said.

Referencing the discussion about the College’s reversed admissions policy, Conboy stressed the need for the administration to be “especially attuned to what our community needs in terms of dialogue.“

“Sometimes we may accidentally cut things off not even thinking [we’re doing so], but thinking that people are satisfied with where we are, and they aren’t necessarily,” she said.

Contact Elizabeth Burt at eburt01@saintmaryscollege.edu

The Shirt

and helps provide coverage with students’ extreme medical expenses via The Shirt Charity Fund.”

According to Bland, The Shirt also assists students with resources through the Office of Student Enrichment. When Bland and Sullivan took to the stage, they were also joined by head football coach Marcus Freeman and members of the football team.

“I promise you will love it,” Freeman said prior to The Shirt’s unveiling. “I think it is the best one yet.”

The Shirt is available to buy online or at the Notre Dame bookstore. Traditionally, attendees of the first football home game sport The Shirt for the occasion.

“We are super excited to see 80,000 people with The Shirt on at game one,” incoming quarterback Riley Leonard said. “It’s obviously a shirt of many

ILI cohort

program for people who are ready to embark on a transformational journey to clarify and deepen their sense of purpose and to identify new interests or explore and develop already existing passions,“ Baranowski said.

The third of its kind in the country, the ILI program aims to help individuals find purpose in the next stage of their lives, as exemplified by its slogan, “Discover, Discern and Design Your Next Act.”

“[The ILI program at Notre Dame] attracts

traditions, so we are excited to see you guys out there wearing it. It’s also for a great cause too.”

This past fall, The Shirt was green and featured a shamrock on the back.

“I’m excited to see you all representing The Shirt,” cornerback Benjamin Morrison said. “It’s an awesome cause, and it’s awesome to be part of this tradition.”

The Shirt 2024 is varsity gold, with the front depicting the four horsemen of Notre Dame. The four horsemen depict the backfield of Knute Rockne’s 1924 football team, which won a national championship.

“We really wanted to honor the anniversary of a hundred years of the first national championship and the four horsemen,” Sullivan said.

“We wanted to have the four horsemen really big on the front of the shirt and sketch them out in a way that would pay homage to their legacy and

accomplished individuals from a broad range of backgrounds and focuses on building a dynamic and diverse cohort each year,“ Baranowski said.

ILI fellows come from diverse professional backgrounds, having served as leaders in varying industries including business, non-profit, religious, education, health care and law. The 2023-2024 cohort includes 15 fellows, some of which are international.

Turner emphasized that the ILI program seeks individuals who have “an openness to being in community with people from different backgrounds and

excellence.”

The back of The Shirt features the phrase, “The tradition continues,” along with a sketch of a golden Notre Dame football helmet.

“Since the front of The Shirt looks back at the past, we wanted the back of The Shirt to look forward to having another 100 years of excellence and traditions in Notre Dame football,” Sullivan said.

The Shirt 2024 is the third

edition to feature a gold color, although it is distinct in shade from the previous two gold versions.

“We wanted to encapsulate the energy of Notre Dame Stadium,” Sullivan said.

“We thought that was the defining factor of Notre Dame football, seeing the gold helmets rush out onto the field.”

Contact Peter McKenna at pmckenn2@nd.edu

opinions” and “desire for intergenerational engagement here on campus.“

She expanded on this, stating the intergenerational engagement provides opportunities for ILI fellows to engage with the broader campus community in meaningful ways.

Fellows take classes with regular University students and are still expected to engage in class, work with partners and participate in projects.

“[The ILI fellows have the opportunity to] challenge themselves intellectually and to engage in the rich, deep and

thoughtful conversations that regularly occur at universities,“ Baranowski said.

Philip White, a successful lawyer with a 30-year career, was drawn to the ILI program to discern a meaningful life after his legal career. White was a part of the 2019-2020 cohort.

White declared that there had “been some very specific points in my life where mentors made a huge difference in the outcome of my path,” and mentoring had been “a very important part of my success.” He continues to talk to his mentors, who are now in their eighties, and wants to pass on the wisdom and guidance he has received over the years to the next generation.

“It occurred to me that maybe I had been involved in the top of the food chain as an executive in causing forced labor or unpleasant working conditions,“ White said.

That was the seed that planted White’s interest in human trafficking.

White, along with several ILI fellows, created Imago Dei, which translates to the image of God, to fight human trafficking.

Currently, White works as an EMT, caring for patients and their families. White stated, as an EMT, he enjoys building “interpersonal relationships and connections” while also doing something “quite separate from [his] lawyer work.”

A closer look at Notre Dame’s South Africa debates

By CADE CZARNECKI, THOMAS DOBBS and LILYANN GARDNER From the Archives Researchers

The fervor for divestment at universities such as Notre Dame has historically sparked pivotal debates about the role of academic institutions in global ethical issues.

This fervor is once again at the forefront as contemporary student movements call for the divestment from fossil fuels, echoing one of the largest and most coordinated divestment campaigns in history — against apartheid South Africa.

Just as past students rallied against the moral contradictions of investing in apartheid, today’s advocates argue against supporting industries contributing to environmental degradation.

In this two-week series, we first explore the South Africa divestment movement at Notre Dame, drawing clear parallels between past and present. We underscore the ongoing quest to align institutional investments with ethical convictions.

Divestment and Dissent

Nov. 2, 1978 | Kevin P. Ceary | Dec. 7, 1978 | Terri Walsh | Feb. 11, 1988 | Matthew

Cleary and Patrick Kusek | Feb. 21, 1990 | Michael Allen

| Researched by Thomas Dobbs

In the first student opinion piece in the Observer on divestment in South Africa, Kevin P. Ceary ‘81 sharply criticized Notre Dame’s reluctance to divest from apartheid South Africa. He expressed strong disapproval of the University’s stance, writing, “Because Notre Dame is an institution nurtured with a Christian tradition, one would expect Notre Dame to pioneer the withdrawal of investments from a corrupt society,” highlighting his profound disappointment in the University’s ethical inconsistency.

Terri Walsh ‘91 sharpened her criticism by focusing on the economic exploitation at the core of South Africa’s success, which heavily relied on an oppressed black labor force. She advocated for a

reevaluation of Notre Dame’s investment policies to consider more than just financial gains, stating, “The economy of the Republic of South Africa is undeniably a very successful one. It is also undeniable that its success rate is directly attributable to the black labor force in South Africa.”

In contrast, a 1988 opinion challenged the effectiveness of divestment, suggesting that it would not significantly impact the South African government and could even worsen conditions for the black population.

Matthew Cleary ‘91 and Patrick Kusek ‘91 argued for strategic engagement rather than withdrawal. They proposed, “Instead of divestment, America should invest in South Africa. If America’s trade grew to the point at which South Africa depended upon our goods, then we could pressure them in much the same way that OPEC ran an oil embargo against the United States,” advocating for maintaining economic ties to encourage change.

In 1990, Michael Allen offered a pragmatic perspective on the U.S. presence in South Africa. He suggested that U.S. companies should not divest because doing so “would lose any direct chance of making life better for blacks in South Africa because it would lack the foundation from which to launch any kind of initiative.”

Allen maintained that retaining investments could provide leverage for improving conditions and influencing policy within the country.

Students protest in favor of divestment

Oct. 14, 1985 | Mark Pankowski | Nov. 12, 1985 | Theresa A. Guarino | April 17, 1989 | John Zaller | Researched by Lilyann Gardner

Throughout the 1980s, Notre Dame students, in conjunction with the AntiApartheid Network, set out to challenge the University’s administration by calling for an immediate divestment from U.S. companies doing business in South Africa during the previously ongoing apartheid.

On October 14, 1985, as part of National AntiApartheid Protest Day, over 400 students organized the largest rally at the Administration Building.

They wore black armbands, held signs and chanted “Divest Now” to protest against the inaction of University President Father Theodore Hesburgh and the financial decisions of the Board of Trustees.

Although the chants did not interrupt Fr. Hesburgh’s speech at the rally, he declared that total divestment would not be possible. He announced that the Ad Hoc Committee on South African Investments would prepare a statement to present to the Board in the coming weeks.

Fr. Hesburgh and thenstudent body president Bill Healy ‘87, who also spoke at the rally, faced outrage for their lack of urgency. Students and professors alike continued to disavow the University’s decision to invest, arguing that merely upholding the Sullivan Principles by these companies was insufficient.

After John Dettling ’86 was dismissed from his position as the chairman of the student government’s committee for responsible University business practices for allegedly insinuating that an administrator had lied to him, he became a powerful voice among the student protesters.

Dettling asserted that the University had a responsibility to send an explicit anti-apartheid message to corporations.

“Notre Dame should be the most radical university because to be an authentic Christian is the most radical commitment,” Dettling stated in an Observer article by Mark Pankowski ’88.

Fr. Hesburgh, while not necessarily disagreeing with this sentiment, maintained that outright divestment was too simplistic an approach.

He argued that other nations would simply take over the roles that divested companies left in the South African government and economy.

Nevertheless, Fr. Hesburgh’s words did not deter students, who continued to protest in the

subsequent months and years.

In November 1985, a group of students in Section 30 of Notre Dame Stadium displayed banners during a football game to protest the University’s involvement in apartheid.

Four years later, in April 1989, another 200 students attended a divestment rally that ended in a stalemate between supporters and opponents of divestment.

Notre Dame Apartheid Divestment Policy

Oct. 10, 1978 | Tom Jackman | Oct. 18, 1978 | Sue Wuetcher | Feb. 21, 1985 | Mark Dillon | Oct. 29, 1985| Sarah Hamilton | Researched by Cade Czarnecki

In response to several student demonstrations on campus, Fr. Hesburgh addressed Notre Dame’s potential divestiture from companies with holdings in South Africa during his annual address to the faculty senate.

He declared that the University would not adopt a blanket divest policy. Instead, he stated that decisions regarding individual divestitures would be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Notre Dame planned to maintain its corporate investments and leverage its financial influence to affect policy changes in South Africa. Fr. Hesburgh argued that a complete divestiture would be ineffective, as other investors would simply take Notre Dame’s place. Over time, the official policy evolved to provide further clarity.

Notre Dame decided not to

divest indiscriminately but to compel the corporations it was invested in to adhere to the Sullivan Principles, which articulated specific anti-apartheid sentiments. Failure to comply would result in divestment. The Sullivan Principles were revised to compel signatories to proactively engage in efforts to end apartheid in South Africa, extending their commitment from internal company policies to broader societal change.

Ultimately, there were 11 instances where Notre Dame divested from companies that did not comply with the Sullivan Principles. Despite these divestments, about 10% of Notre Dame’s endowment fund remained invested in companies with operations in South Africa, such as General Electric and General Motors.

Notre Dame continued its policy of reviewing divestments on a case-by-case basis.

The University maintained that retaining investments in companies could facilitate gradual, peaceful change in South Africa and that it could use its financial assets to promote such change.

Moreover, Notre Dame highlighted that its investments in American companies, which upheld the Sullivan Principles and employed non-whites in South Africa, were providing crucial support to those affected by discrimination.

Contact at Cade Czarnecki at cczarne3@nd.edu, Thomas Dobbs at dobbs@nd.edu and Lilyann Gardner at lgardne2@nd.edu

PETER LACHES | The Observer

Members of the Anti-Apartheid Network, beside University President Fr. Hesburgh, represent Bishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.

Marissa Panethiere Graphics Editor

Getting over your senior friends

When I walked up to check-in underneath the wind tunnel of the Lyons Hall arch, I was greeted by people I had never seen before, immediately intimidating my introverted personality that I’ve since shirked entirely. When I ventured up to my shoebox sized first year dorm room, I was more than ready to get to know my roommates and create memories that any moment of “Friends” could not top. What I wasn’t prepared for was the sophomore that knocked on my door and introduced herself as the former resident of my teeny-tiny room.

What I was even more unprepared for was this sophomore quickly becoming my best friend, closer to a sister than I could have imagined. At the time, I had no worries in the world for what my college life would be; after all, we were so far from the real world. With our home cemented in the decrepit, deeply flammable and asbestos ridden walls of our lovely dorm, nothing could stop college from being the best thing ever.

With graduation a few short weeks away, a part of me resents my former zeal for socialization: how idiotic of me it was to befriend someone in the class of 2024. In two weeks time, I’ll be the senior, and she’ll be off living life at her big, adult job. I’ll be … in South Bend. Fortunately, I know I’m not the only junior deeply troubled by their amazing accomplishment of graduating, prematurely mourning

the loss of late-night dorm conversations that definitely wake your neighbors or our weekly pilgrimages to CJ’s and Olf’s. That’s why I’ve prepared a list of all the reasons you should be happy your friends are leaving and all there is to anticipate in the year to come.

1. You become the senior.

With the swish of a tassel, us juniors will be the top dogs under the golden dome. New officer positions in your favorite clubs have opened up (like me receiving the coveted role of Graphics Editor for The Observer from my best friend Christina), and now you get to make your ideal senior year your reality! Lean into spring senioritis, go out with friends and get ready to don the cap and gown in a year’s time. It’ll be here before you know it. All the fun dances, class events and the true “college experience” will culminate in this final year — you watched your class of 2024 friends do it, so embrace the fact that it’s your turn!

2. Your friends will be rich (not really, but it’s nice to dream).

With job prospects come salaries! While your friends might not be shacking up in the great city of South Bend (or they might be, which is even better!), I can guarantee that if they’re anything like my ambitious friends across all the colleges, they’ll be making a pretty penny more than they were with their on-campus jobs at Au Bon Pain or RecSports. Maybe they will feel indebted to your

amazing friendship and spoil you with the fruits of their labor. Anticipate their charity by making an Amazon wishlist or something — it never hurts to be prepared.

3. You get to reminisce on what beautiful things came from your time with them.

The difficulty of college lives in its temporality. We all come in knowing that in a few years, it will all be over. Whether or not we are fans of carrying on, the reality of the situation is unavoidable. The taste may be bittersweet, but you can look back at all the good that came from knowing your older friends and look forward to all the good that is to come. I know I’ll get to watch “Dance Moms,” fail miserably at O’Rourke’s Trivia and sing karaoke with Christina and our beloved friends again. It’s not a matter of if, but when. For now I’ll hold onto all the times we did just that — it will surely get me through senior year.

Sometimes it can be far too easy to lean into the melancholy, to cry at times that are happy because they are the last, to curse yourself for never saying something to that cute senior you’ll likely never hang out with again. In an effort to avoid the cliche, “don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened,” I want to emphasize that you should be sad. But you should be proud. They did it, and so can you.

You can contact Marissa at mpanethi@nd.edu.

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

Are You Smarter Than an AI?

Gracie Eppler

The Soapbox

Let us be honest with ourselves. It’s late April. Assignments are piling up. Our group project members are slacking off. In the gloom of impending exams shines a glimmer of hope: our good friend, ChatGPT.

In many of my Business Analytics classes, the use of AI is encouraged to provide insights and check our code. But ChatGPT is the enemy of the creative. Artificial Intelligence makes a mockery of art. Because ChatGPT is a language model, it cannot speak to the distinctly human experiences that shape literature. It will never know how it feels to laugh when someone passes gas. It will never feel embarrassed after talking to an acquaintance with a piece of spinach stuck in between its teeth. It shouldn’t be able to write an article as well as me — a 21-year-old college girl with plenty of human experience in my back pocket.

Right?

Who’s ready to play: Are You Smarter Than an AI?

The rules are simple. I’ll provide you, dear reader, with a sample paragraph from an article I almost wrote (but never fully flushed out). ChatGPT will give its own attempt. Then, it’s up to you to decide who the better writer is. Play at your own risk — the fate of mankind may rest in your hands. If AI can be better creatives than humans, then what good are we anyways?

Let’s start off on a lighthearted note.

Round One: Pop music.

Me: “Taylor Swift’s most recent album, ‘The Tortured Poet’s Department,’ is also her most important for Notre Dame students. Like many of us, Swift is an extremely talented, attention-seeking overachiever. She knows what it feels like to be on top of the world. Since lockdown, the queen of pop has produced four new albums and four re-recordings. But let her latest feat serve as a warning: make sure you take a second to slow down. Soak up your

success and revel in your fame before diving back to the drawing board. Lyrics like ‘You smokеd, then ate seven bars of chocolate/ We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist’ pale in comparison to the sparkling prose she once dreamt up in albums past (‘Please don’t ever become a stranger whose laugh I can recognize anywhere’). Swift’s talent as a lyricist is inarguable, but within her newest release lies a cautionary tale: Let’s just all take a second to breathe.”

Now, let’s let the robot give it a whirl: ChatGPT: “Taylor Swift’s recent musical output has been nothing short of prolific. However, amidst the whirlwind of releases and re-recordings, one can’t help but wonder if there’s a cautionary tale hidden within her lyrical landscape. In ‘The Tortured Poet’s Department,’ Swift navigates the complexities of fame and ambition with her signature candor. Yet, beneath the catchy hooks and poetic musings lies a subtle reminder to pause and reflect. Lines like ‘I scratch your head, you fall asleep/ Like a tattooed golden retriever’ serve as a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the fleeting nature of success. Swift, much like her audience, is susceptible to the allure of constant productivity. However, amidst the chaos of creativity, there’s a plea for balance. After all, in the tumult of life, it’s the moments of stillness that truly define us.”

…So ChatGPT can write a decent review. Big whoop. Any dummy with a pencil can scrap up an opinion on a piece of art. But writing about a distinctly human experience, such as female friendships, is something an AI shouldn’t be able to accomplish. Right?

Round Two: Relationships.

Me: “In lieu of dining hall meetups, this semester, my friend Anita and I have been sending each other 3-minute-long voice memos via iMessage. She’s abroad in Hong Kong and I’m eleven hours behind back in the Midwest. Summarizing the past nine months in the span of a three-minute-long voice memo is an impossible ask. What I end up telling Anita is that these days I feel as though ‘the world is my oyster.’ I have an internship lined up in my

favorite city, a regular schedule filled with interesting classes and an abundance of trips planned for the upcoming school year. But what does that even mean, that the world is my ‘oyster?’ Oysters are slimy and fishy and expensive. If I wanted the world to be anything seafood related, I would’ve chosen butterfly shrimp. And if I wanted the world to be anything at all, I would probably want it to be made of chocolate. Anita laughed when I said that phrase. She said hearing me speak that way made her happy. I guess that’s the whole point of a good phrase: to make people you love happy, even if it doesn’t make any sense and even if they are very far away.”

Let’s let the bot try to write something as poignant about a uniquely human encounter.

ChatGPT: “Ah, the modern marvel of digital communication and the bonds it fosters across continents. Attempting to encapsulate the essence of nine months past and prognosticate the forthcoming six, all within the confines of a brief voice memo, feels akin to capturing lightning in a bottle — an endeavor both daunting and exhilarating. Yet, amidst the constraints of time and space, a simple phrase emerges: ‘the world is my oyster.’ Now, one might ponder the peculiar choice of metaphor. After all, oysters, with their slippery shells and briny depths, hardly seem emblematic of worldly ambition. If I had my druthers, perhaps I’d opt for a more palatable symbol, like chocolate — decadent, delightful and devoid of any aquatic connotations. Yet, as Anita’s laughter resonates through the digital ether, I realize the power of language lies not solely in its logic, but in its ability to evoke emotion.”

I’ll let you ultimately resolve who’s the better writer. But I’m pretty sure for now, we’re safe from the threat of robot journalists.

Gracie Eppler is a junior business analytics and English major from St. Louis, MO. Her three top three things ever to exist are ‘70’s music, Nutella and Smith Studio 3, where she can be found dancing. You can reach her at geppler@nd.edu.

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

Lessons in life, service and leadership

Recently, the George and Barbara Bush Foundation unveiled “41@100,” a series of events to mark the centenary of the birth of the nation’s 41st President, George H.W. Bush. In a similar strain, I also tasked myself with reading Jon Meacham’s enthralling biography of President Bush, “Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush.” Now 31 years since he left office, I have found myself pondering the lessons that the life and career of George H.W. Bush can teach us in the 21st century. When ultimately weighed from the vantage point of history, President Bush stands out as a model of decency, service and duty. He was a steadfast patriot, and an example we should strive to follow.

From an early age, George Bush proved his patriotism through service to his country. Although barely eighteen, he enlisted in the United States Navy as an aviator following the unprovoked Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Serving aboard the U.S.S. San Jacinto, the future President was shot down by the Japanese over Chichi Jima. Bush survived parachuting from his stricken aircraft, and the U.S.S. Finback later rescued him from a life raft in the Pacific. Bush’s two crewmates died, leaving him wracked with doubts for the rest of his life. After his term in the White House, Bush returned to Chichi Jima and remarked, “I wake up at night and think about it sometime ... Could I have done something different?”

After the Second World War, George Bush graduated from Yale and moved to Texas with his wife, Barbara. There, after he built a successful oil business, Bush followed his father, Prescott, into the political arena. In 1966, Bush won the House of Representatives seat for Texas’ 7th District. Within four years, the young congressman made his mark. President Nixon appointed Bush as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. At the U.N., Ambassador Bush spearheaded American efforts to prevent the expulsion of the Republic of China (RoC), otherwise known as Taiwan. When the General Assembly ratified Resolution 2758, removing the RoC, Bush demonstrated the decency which marked his character among politicians. He escorted his RoC counterpart from the Assembly Chamber despite being spat on while “anti-American delegates literally danced in the aisles.”

In 1972, President Nixon named Bush the Chairman of the Republican National Committee. He faced the herculean task of holding the GOP together while it cracked under the Watergate Scandal. Bush confided to his diary, “this job is no fun at all.” After the release of the White House tapes, Bush encouraged Nixon to resign. During the Ford Administration, Bush first became the U.S. Liaison to the People’s Republic of China, and later

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Ever a committed public servant, Bush accepted both positions although the former required moving his wife to distant Beijing, and the latter seemed like a political dead end. To George H.W. Bush, it was more important to answer the President’s call to serve than to promote his own career.

The 1980 election propelled Bush to national prominence and ultimately the Oval Office. After an unsuccessful bid at the Republican nomination for president, George Bush became running mate to Ronald Reagan. The Reagan-Bush ticket trounced the incumbent Jimmy Carter. For eight years, Bush served as a capable and loyal Vice President. He walked in lockstep with the “Reagan Revolution” at home, and advanced freedom against the Communist menace in the Cold War abroad. The vice president cultivated relationships with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and many others. Bush, however, demonstrated his true skill and leadership as vice president following the attempted assassination of President Reagan in 1981. Bush’s composure during the emergency stabilized the White House after Secretary of State Al Haig’s “I am in control here” gaffe. Vice President Bush fulfilled the role of head of government as the president underwent surgery and recuperated from his injuries. In the height of crisis, George Bush proved the resilience of our Constitution.

Eight years as vice president launched Bush into the top job at the 1988 election, easily defeating his Democratic rival, Michael Dukakis. With the benefit of hindsight, it is easy to see now why President Bush’s former chief of staff, John H. Sununu, labelled Bush’s tenure “the indispensable presidency.” On the world stage, Bush delivered a tour de force in foreign affairs. The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, and President Bush declined to rub salt in the Soviets’ wound by dancing on the rubble. As a result, the President ensured a peaceful end to the Cold War, the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany. The Bush Administration ended the brutal Noriega dictatorship in Panama, and brought Noriega to justice in the U.S. for his numerous drug crimes. Most significantly, President Bush defended the rule of law and the right to self-determination by beating back Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait during the 1990-1991 Gulf War. As the president had vowed, “this will not stand, this aggression against Kuwait!” Afterwards, President Bush notched an approval rating of 89% in the Gallup poll, a record only his son would pass in the aftermath of 9/11.

Domestically, too, the Bush Administration had its

triumphs. President Bush signed into law major pieces of legislation including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Clean Air Act Amendments. Bush also committed himself to good husbandry of federal resources and was determined to pay down the $2.8 trillion deficit he inherited. As such, he put country above both party and his own political future by striking a bipartisan budget deal in 1990, which included tax increases. It broke his campaign promise: “read my lips: no new taxes,” but it was the economic medicine the country needed. By the end of the 1990s, the budget was in surplus again. Nevertheless, the breach of “read my lips,” the 1991 recession, the advent of Ross Perot and the sea change in politics ushered in by Bill Clinton, ensured that President Bush served only one term in the Oval Office. At the 1992 election, Bush conceded to Clinton, saying, “the people have spoken and we respect the majesty of the democratic system.”

President Bush died in 2018 at the age of ninety-four after an eventful post-presidency which included skydiving and serving as the U.N. secretary-general’s special envoy for the South Asia Earthquake Disaster in 2005. What, then, can we learn from his life, career and presidency during the centenary year of his birth?

George H.W. Bush was a committed patriot and a devoted public servant. His tenure in office offers numerous analogues to today’s America and today’s world. From the Bush years, one may draw inspiration to tackle the national debt crisis, or the need to muster American strength on the global stage. There is however, a more important lesson to take from President Bush: character. We live in an age of shallow politicians, who are often more concerned with partisan hackery than genuine good governance. President Bush offers a different model. His was a life of decency, civility and service.

Bush answered when the nation called him, whether to the Navy, to the U.N. or ultimately to the White House. His leadership was principled, quiet and bipartisan — this country and her welfare mattered more than anything else, including his political survival. Above all, George Bush believed unfailingly in America.

Perhaps his example can encourage us to do the same. As President Bush said in his inaugural address: “America is never wholly herself unless she is engaged in high moral principle. We as a people have such a purpose today. It is to make kinder the face of the nation and gentler the face of the world.”

Eoghan Fey

University of Notre Dame Class of 2023

Notre Dame Law School Class of 2026

THE TORTURED FANS DEPARTMENT

By LUCIA AGUZZI Scene Writer

Taylor Swift got on stage at the Grammys earlier this year to accept her first award of the night (her 13th Grammy ever) and announced the release of her 11th album, titled “The Tortured Poets Department.” With the rate at which Swift is pumping out music nowadays, everybody was waiting for the newest breakup album, this time from her longest relationship to date. Fans in a frenzy anxiously awaited what this album, whose title teased possibly some of the most interesting lyrics to come from Swift’s pen, would sound like. What many expected to sound much more like “folklore” because of the title actually took everyone by surprise after seeing Post Malone and Florence & The Machine featured on two of the tracks.

The song titles were already a deviation from Swift’s usual shorter titles without punctuation, another nod to the poetic nature of the album. Taking this into account, I sat down at 12:01 a.m. on April 19 and pressed play on the 16 track album, only to find a “Midnights”-esque vibe with a bit of Lana Del Rey and The 1975 sprinkled throughout. I will admit I was confused after my first listen. I clocked the incredible lyricism in “So Long, London” (track 5!) and

the bopability of “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” immediately, but I was a bit bothered by a lot of the production because it sounded replicated from other music, both Taylor’s and other projects Jack Antonoff has worked on.

While I have zero qualifications regarding production, and therefore have no authority to tell 10-time Grammy winner Jack Antonoff how to produce music, I do fall into the group of fans that believe Antonoff and Swift are exhausting their originality. Many of the tracks on TTPD, while objectively good tracks, sounded too similar to each other to be on an album back to back. I finished my second listen of TTPD and texted my friends I gave it a generous 6/10, knowing that some of the songs would grow on me (namely “Down Bad” and “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?”).

By that point, the countdowns had all hit 0:00 on Taylor Swift’s website, and what I assumed would be a few extra tracks ended up being a second album (!!!!). I was ecstatic seeing that most of THESE tracks were Aaron Dessner productions. I may be biased, but on her last few albums, his production has always been my preferred method of execution for her lyrics. “TTPD: The Anthology” was the album I was waiting for, and after my first listen I gave it a 10/10. It is an older sister to “folklore” and “evermore” and

has more of that storytelling and worldbuilding specificity that Taylor Swift has always been known for. Tracks like “I Hate It Here” and “The Manuscript” brought me to tears, and others like “Peter” and “Cassandra” had me giddy as a PLS major thanks to their literary references.

For me, “The Anthology” saved TTPD as a project. Whereas I was not very impressed with the first 16 tracks, I was in awe of the last 15. But one thing the entire project showed me was Taylor Swift’s versatility. As one of my favorite music reviewers Nathan Hubbard said in a series of posts on X, the albums displayed the safety Swift was looking for in creating this vulnerable of a project, being in such a delicate mental place after such a hard break up. If there is one thing certain, it is Swift feels safe with Antonoff and Dessner as a musician, and whether one or the other is more the listener’s taste is subjective I guess. Overall, I would give the project an 8/10, but perhaps some numbers will change after a few more days of streaming. If I know one thing as a Swiftie, it’s that the theories and backstories always make the tracks more interesting to listen to, so maybe the Matty Healy references won’t be as cringy once I fully understand what they mean.

Contact Lucia Aguzzi at laguzzi@nd.edu

By AYDEN KOWALSKI Scene Writer

Rap’s cold war has finally exploded. Under the siren synthesizer of Metro Boomin’s beat on “Like That,” Kendrick Lamar delivered the shots heard ‘round the internet’ at fellow hip-hop titans Drake and J. Cole. There will be time later for J. Cole’s response, which is the most defiant, controversial and important of the three rappers’ entries into this conflict. First, let us look at Kendrick and Drake’s offerings, as well as “beef” as a whole — a topic that far predates rap.

Artistic “beef” or “dissing” is a staple of hip-hop but has been an important part of the artistic process in general. Dante’s “Inferno” shares similar aims and contradictions to rap in a multitude of ways, but his depictions of his Florentine rivals, depicting them humiliated in damnation, are certainly medieval disses. Michelangelo’s placement of a priest he disliked in hell in his “Last Judgment” is another second-millennium “shot.” A Bernini sculpture in Rome eternally points its posterior toward the room of a monk who was once his artistic rival. The motivation for these artists likely differs little from that of rappers now: if one is talented at expressing and conveying emotion, then why should anger be off limits, especially if the work can realize the fury?

Kendrick’s diss is strong: it asserts rap has not a big three but a “big me,” twists Drake’s recent album title into

WHAT’S BEEF? REFLECTING ON RAP’S ROYAL RUMBLE

a creative threat and, somehow, makes yelling “Bum!” at Drake iconic. Perhaps unexpectedly for some, it is Drake’s diss track, which currently only exists via bootlegs online, that is the more impactful work of the two. Drake strikes at Kendrick most effectively at an unexpected angle: he claims the record executive to whom Kendrick was formerly signed, Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, took 50% of his earnings, and may have compelled Kendrick to do features for pop artists as well. It is an effective diss because it undermines Kendrick’s admiration for Top Dawg in his music, and thereby questions Kendrick’s credibility, which is key to his persona and appeal. Drake also demonstrates his lyrical skill by flipping one of Kendrick’s disses against him. Kendrick says on “Like That” that “Prince outlived Mike Jack.” This line plays on Drake’s prior comparison of himself to Michael Jackson. Kendrick assigns himself the role of Prince, who is considered by some to be the more impactful musician than Jackson. The rap community has interpreted the line as implying that Kendrick will musically outlive Drake, as some believe Prince musically outlasted Michael Jackson. This is a good diss from Kendrick. Drake responds, “What’s a prince to a king? He a son,” thereby “sonning” Kendrick using his own metaphor. At its best, beef reveals the brilliance of the artist by demonstrating their creative ability through destruction.

The most interesting contribution to the feud, both philosophically and artistically, is that of J. Cole, who

released a diss track only to dismiss it during a live performance. He said that the diss rang untrue in his “spirit,” praised Kendrick Lamar’s work after denigrating it, and welcomed Kendrick to diss him again, saying he would not reply. In an article for NPR, Sheldon Pearce highlights “[Cole’s] characterization of beef as a vicious spectacle: ‘The world wanna see blood [italics removed].’” While many called his apology cowardly, to this author, Cole’s response is the bravest and most boundary-pushing entry in the dispute. The greatest art isn’t about an artist’s distaste for a specific person, but rather the tormenting questions that come along with the human condition. As Bēkon sings on Kendrick Lamar’s “DUCKWORTH.,” “It was always me vs. the world / Until I found it’s me vs. me.” A response from Kendrick Lamar could and likely will be riveting and historic. But Cole’s wrestling with public expectation, the tradition of the genre he adores, and, according to his apology speech, his relationship with God that beef strains is subject matter far more worth a verse than sparring for the rap throne. In his apology, Cole is searching for personal peace and stumbling along the way. A beef is about the combatants and the parts of ourselves we’ve invested into them; Cole’s confession is about the deep pressures and questions of the human condition, which compose the greatest art.

Contact Ayden Kowalski at akowals2@nd.edu

MARISSA PANETHIERE | The Observer

Mitchell satiates Notre Dame’s need for speed

By JOHN BAILEY Associate Sports Editor

Sports often serve as a metaphor for life, their many parallels inspiring resilience and grace under pressure. Just as humans must grow and adapt to thrive in an ever-changing society, so must athletes evolve to fit the demands of innovative game plans and schemes. Less than a decade ago, every college and professional football team looked to find the next Calvin Johnson or Julio Jones, a towering physical specimen with a strong frame and explosive leaping ability to make contested catches over defenders. Now, teams prioritize speed over size, identifying outside receivers with great acceleration and elusiveness to generate separation.

Though rising sophomores Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison make big plays from the slot, the Irish lack a deep threat that plays outside the numbers. The addition of speedster Kris Mitchell, a graduate student transfer from Florida International University, provides the wide receiver room with much-needed explosiveness the offense lacked last season.

Mitchell claims to run a 4.3-second 40-yard dash, a time that would rank third at the 2024 NFL Combine. He also asserted that GPS-tracking equipment recorded his top speed at 22 miles per hour during practice last season.

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Though self-reported speed claims from athletes have proven to be as reliable as height claims on dating profiles, Mitchell’s elite production at FIU proves he can take the top off any defense. At the very least, he’s faster than any defender who tried (and failed) to contain him last season.

Hauling in 64 catches for 1,118 yards and six touchdowns, Mitchell led Conference USA in receiving yards in 2023. His improved route-running and increased strength bolstered his ability to make plays after the catch. He possesses an elite ability to stretch the field, having received 31 targets last season on throws over 20 yards, good for fifth in the FBS. Mitchell brought in 14 of those targets for 578 yards and four touchdowns. Only five players caught more deep targets than Mitchell last season, four of whom project as first-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Some of his best performances came against the toughest defenses on the Panthers’ schedule, tallying six receptions for 157 yards in a loss to Arkansas and catching eight passes for 116 yards against Western Kentucky. Such performances inspire confidence that Mitchell’s playmaking ability will translate against Power 5 opponents. He credits his new teammates as instrumental in his continued development as he leaps to the next level of college football.

“I believe in myself, and I know I can play on any stage that I set my mind to,” Mitchell said following Saturday’s Blue-Gold Game.

“Coming here to Notre Dame and being around guys like myself with the same work ethic as me and same talent as me pushed me to be even better and create more opportunities for myself to excel in my game. Going against them every day in practice has made me so much better, so I thank them boys and give credit to them boys.”

With no Irish player catching more than 29 passes last season, Mitchell looks to establish himself as the top target in Mike Denbrock’s new offense, a system known for utilizing dynamic deep threats. Denbrock’s gameplan relies on the run-pass option to set up deep passes to the sideline, the same system that allowed strongarmed Jayden Daniels and burner Malik Nabers to thrive at LSU.

“[His speed is] big, and it’s why we got him from the portal,” head coach Marcus Freeman said.

“We knew he could help this team and we’ve seen it all on film, and he’s had a really good spring. When we go live and throw the ball deep to him and let him make some big plays, he’s going to help us. That’s why he’s here, to really boost this wide receiver room, and it was good to see him score a touchdown today.”

Mitchell projects to start as the Z receiver for the Irish, his combination of vertical speed and ball skills

helping to mitigate the loss of Chris Tyree and Tobias Merriweather to the transfer portal. Beyond his obvious talent, Mitchell’s experience and leadership prove irreplaceable in a receiver room with just two upperclassmen.

“This spring, my whole goal is to get to know the guys, to grow closer to them and build a bond and connection on and off the field. I feel like I did that,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell’s 62-yard, game-winning touchdown reception for the Blue team during the BlueGold Game provided the wide receiver room the perfect opportunity to display this camaraderie. Immediately celebrating his first touchdown in Notre Dame Stadium with rising senior wide receiver Deion Colzie, Mitchell and the Blue team receiving corps kept the festivities going with an impromptu dance party on the field after securing a 28-21 victory over the Gold team.

Mitchell’s quick-twitch burst and afterburner deep speed were on full display Saturday, giving the Irish coaching staff plenty of reasons to celebrate, too.

Having developed a strong bond with Blue team quarterback Steve Angeli throughout the spring, a slight nod from the upcoming junior signal-caller at the line of scrimmage told Mitchell he’d be getting the ball on what proved to be the game-winning play.

“With Steve, we have a connection on and off the field. We

[have] got class together, we hang out together — he’s cool,” Mitchell said.

“I got the signal, and it was like a double move, so I was like, ‘Yeah, this is coming to me.’ Me and Steve have talked before and were like, ‘We’re going to make a play today.’ I saw that was the opportunity that the [defensive back] had his eyes on me, and I knew if I made a good enough break that he was going to jump on it and the ball was going to be right there after my break.”

For Mitchell to develop into a true number-one receiver, he must improve his ability to make contested catches. Last season, he held on to just 12 of 25 contested catches, ranking 10th among the 17 receivers with at least 25 contested catch opportunities. Mitchell acknowledges this weakness in his game and vows to improve in 2024.

“My speed is one of my weapons, but [I need to work on] getting in and out of my breaks and when a defender’s on me, being able to be strong and get them off so I can make a play at the catch point and make contested catches.”

From Golden Tate to Chase Claypool to Kris Mitchell: when Mitchell takes the field for the Irish this fall, it’ll mark the next step in the evolution of the Irish wide receiver.

Contact John Bailey at jbailey9@nd.edu

Irish make history in sweep of Boston College

By ANDREW McGUINNESS Senior Sports Writer

To say Notre Dame baseball needed a pick-me-up entering this weekend would be an understatement. The Irish have taken care of business in their midweek competition, but that didn’t stop them from being swept against North Carolina last weekend, extending their losing streak in ACC games to 10.

The only bigger understatement, though, would be to say that’s exactly what they got against Boston College over the last three days. No, this was so much more than that.

“We pitched all week. We pitched. I know the offensive numbers are are kind of glaring this weekend … We pitched all week, really,” said head coach Shawn Stiffler. Stiffler is right about both things. The Irish certainly pitched, but at least through the first two games against Boston College, the offense stole the show. When the dust settled on Sunday, the Irish clobbered 11 home runs throughout the weekend, including one on the very first pitch Notre Dame saw in the series by senior outfielder T.J. Williams. Notre Dame never gave the Eagles a chance to breathe, scoring 13

runs within the first four innings of the werkend. Never once did Boston College seriously threaten a comeback.

There was no shortage of heroes at Frank Eck Stadium — some familiar, others not. Nine different players left the yard, including a resurgent Jack Penney, with the junior infielder now 17 for his last 48 with hits in 11 of 12 games. In the blink of an eye, Penney has gone from the fringes of the Mendoza line to the top-tier hitter he was expected to become.

“He’s our guy, and [it] doesn’t shock me that we had a lot of hits because Jack [Penney] was good,” Stiffler said.

Other regular power threats like sophomore infielder Estevan Moreno (two homers on Sunday) and David Glancy (homer on Saturday) also went deep. But offensively, the two most memorable swings of the series came from freshman Carson Tinney. The catcher homered twice in four at-bats in the series, but they were no ordinary trips around the bases. The first was a dead sprint on Friday, the first inside-the-parker for the Irish in two years. The second cleared the bases on Sunday, a line drive grand slam that snuck over the right-field wall to truly blow the

game open.

“Carson is a very, very talented [and] gifted player. He’s going to be a cornerstone of the [catcher] position ... He really put a swing on that ball — that grand slam. I mean, the wind’s blowing that way, but that was a purely hit double in the gap, and he’s gonna be a big part of what we’re doing,” Stiffler said.

But if Notre Dame’s pitching went under the radar to start the week, it rose to the occasion on Sunday. Not only did it record its first shutout of the season, Boston College failed to notch a single hit before the game was called for the run rule after the top of the seventh. It was the first no-hitter in program history since Brian Piotrowicz tossed one against Ball State on May 11, 1988. An already difficult feat is only more impressive when you consider the circumstances. After hitting the leadoff batter, sophomore Rory Fox’s day abruptly ended when he was struck by a comebacker in the forearm of his right pitching arm. Stiffler expressed optimism after the game that

the injury won’t sideline Fox for a significant portion of time. But in the moment, it presented quite a challenge, as graduate student Tobey McDonough was pressed into emergency duty.

Early in the year, that challenge would’ve appeared too great for McDonough, who had an 11.00 ERA through his first six outings. Now, though, he is as confident and sharp as ever, and it showed in a shutdown, season-high 3 1/3 innings.

“[Pitching] coach [Seth] Voltz made some adjustments. We went from a two-seam [fastball] to a four-seam about three weeks ago and since then, his strike percentages have really come up. He did exactly what you needed that guy to do in that situation. He was calm [and] threw strikes, and that was awesome,” said Stiffler. The Irish also pulled out Sunday’s rout without the services of Williams, who was hit by a pitch up high on Saturday. Williams did finish that game and Stiffler said he was well enough to play the field on Sunday, but the team decided to play it safe with their star

center fielder as he had swelling around his eye as a result. His status will be critical, though, in determining the success of the rest of the team’s season. Suddenly, the Irish are within striking distance of the ACC Tournament again. Only two games separate the Irish from Boston College and Miami, who are currently tied for the last spot in the field, with Notre Dame having won the season series against both. In the eyes of Stiffler, though, the postseason has already begun — and so far, the Irish certainly are living up to the pressure.

“We feel like we’re in playoff baseball right now. That’s that’s the way we’re looking at. So I said [to the team] regardless if we get a chance to play in the real ones. We’ve talked about the NBA and the NHL right now. There’s a couple of these teams playing for these wildcards that, like, they’re in the playoffs right now. This is their playoff season,” said Stiffler. “This is our playoff season.”

Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu

(March

Energize,

and make a difference. Your input can improve your community if you throw your energy behind a cause that concerns you. Stay active; idle time will set you back. Pitch in, do your part, and you’ll feel satisfied and relieved.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Jump in, take charge, accomplish what you set out to do, and make your world rock. Take the initiative, rely on your instincts and drive, and you won’t be disappointed. Put your skills to the test, and you’ll impress yourself as well as onlookers.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Listen carefully and fact-check before passing information along. Get involved in activities that require physical attributes or encourage you to learn something new and exciting. Keeping a secret will be difficult, but the outcome regarding your love life will be worth the effort.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Revisit your dreams and consider your options. Put your skills to the test, add to your qualifications, or consider how to modify your lifestyle to accommodate what’s important to you. A change will do you good; follow your heart and make transitions as you move forward.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Stop, take a breath, and consider the fallout if you make a wrong move. Don’t act in haste when time is on your side; intelligence and understanding are necessary to achieve your desired outcome. Be innovative and considerate, and you’ll find your way.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A Day trip, reuniting with old friends, or exploring a pastime that interests you will encourage positive change. What you experience, and those you encounter, will be a learning experience that offers insight into new possibilities. It’s time to venture out and see what’s available.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Emotions will skyrocket and require guidance to avoid trouble. Channel your energy into love, romance, personal or home improvements, and you’ll be happy with how things transpire. A financial gain, gift, or good news is apparent. Be receptive to suggestions and hands-on help.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You need an outlet for pent-up energy and a challenge that requires mental stimulation and physical endurance. The result will be a wide-eyed and enthusiastic outlook that will motivate you to resurrect your dreams, hopes, and wishes. Stop procrastinating and follow your heart.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t cloud your vision with other people’s problems when you should focus on how to use your skills to get ahead. Put more time and energy into your surroundings and build a base that puts you at ease and gives you the space to fulfill your aspirations.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Step outside your comfort zone, and you’ll discover you have more talent and resolve than you thought. Let your mind wander, and trust your instincts to lead you in the right direction. It’s time to believe in yourself, not in someone trying to lead you astray.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t worry about those who choose a different path or labor over competitive challenges. Apply pressure where pressure is due, and you’ll get what you want. Use your intelligence and offer incentives to get the right people to buy into your plans.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Implement a lifestyle change that helps you balance your budget and ease stress. Consider using your skills differently or turning a pastime project into extra income. Taking a different approach to life or changing your routine will help lower your overhead.

Birthday Baby: You are steadfast, loyal, and resourceful. You are intuitive and empathetic.

Irish dominate UNC in final home game, 14-6

By ANNIKA HERKO Associate Sports Editor

In its last home game of the regular season, the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team beat North Carolina 14-6 in front of a crowd of nearly 3,300 people. This is the fifth loss in a row for the Tar Heels, who are 6-7 on the season and still have to play Duke in their regular season finale. North Carolina has

ND TENNIS

not scored more than nine goals against the Irish in their last four meetings.

The two teams were pretty even through the first half of play, with the Irish only going into the locker room up by one at halftime. For the second time this season, the Irish were actually losing during the first quarter, but that did not last very long.

In the second half, however, Notre Dame came out

swinging, outscoring their opponents 9-2.

It was a team win for Notre Dame, with junior attacker

Chris Kavanagh getting three goals and two assists, graduate attacker Pat Kavanagh getting two goals and four assists and graduate midfielder Devon McLane getting three goals. Pat Kavanagh is now only three points away from tying the all-time Notre Dame scoring record. Liam

Entenmann had 12 saves, bringing him to 658 saves for his career, and the defense was very disruptive in the field, securing 10 turnovers.

With the win, the Irish improved to 3-0 in the ACC before traveling to Charlottesville to take on Virginia this Saturday. They can also claim at least some part of the ACC title for the fourth time in program history. Then, of course, is the

ACC and NCAA Tournaments, where the team will look to defend its national title.

The team should be in a good position to do that, too. Having put up strong performances all year, the Irish are definitely one of the teams to beat heading into the regular season’s final game and the postseason this year.

Contact Annika Herko at aherko@nd.edu

Notre Dame men’s and women’s tennis teams combine to finish 1-2 at ACC Championships

By TYLER REIDY Sports Editor

The Notre Dame men’s and women’s tennis teams finished up their conference seasons in Cary, North Carolina, at the ACC Championships. The eighthseeded Irish men fell 4-1 to ninth-seeded Clemson in the opening round, while the seventh-seeded women’s team defeated Syracuse (4-1) before taking a quarterfinal loss to No. 2 Virginia (4-0). As a result, the men’s team ended its year at 13-14 overall, and the women’s team moved to 17-9.

Irish men come out on wrong end of competitive match

Clemson and Notre Dame didn’t just appear as close competitors in the conference seeding. The two teams entered the weekend ranking within seven spots of one another in the ITA’s national team rankings.

To no surprise, they produced a match that could have swung either way on Thursday. But 54th-ranked Clemson got the better of 47th-ranked Notre Dame, winning 4-1 to reach the quarterfinals.

Doubles play opened the day with a handful of tight contests — all decided by three games or less. Clemson

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pulled off an upset to take the upper hand in No. 1 doubles, as the 55th-ranked duo of Noa Vukadin and Max Smith handed a 6-3 loss to the eighth-ranked Irish combination of sophomore Sebastian Dominko and senior Jean-Marc Malkowski.

Notre Dame then pulled back even with a 6-4 win in No. 2 doubles from graduate student Nil Girladez and freshman Chase Thompson. But the Tigers, in a No. 3 match that went long, ripped away the doubles point with a 7-5 victory from Marko Mesarovic and Matt Pitts.

Singles play proved even tighter, with only one of the six matches going final in two sets. That match, a 7-5, 6-2 win for Clemson’s 102-ranked Wissam Abderrahman in No. 2 doubles, extended the Tiger lead to 2-0.

After that, every match the rest of the way — even those that went unfinished — required a full three sets. In No. 1 singles, Dominko bounced back from his doubles loss by topping Ryuhei Azuma (6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (8-6)) in a match between top-100ranked singles players.

However, with the score at 2-1 Clemson, that was the last Notre Dame would see of victory. Stewart Aronson came from behind (2-6, 6-4, 6-4) against freshman Kyran Magimay in No. 5 singles,

setting up Vudakin to clinch against Thompson (6-4, 3-6, 6-3) in the No. 3 match.

With its team season over, Notre Dame men’s tennis now looks ahead to the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships, scheduled for May 20-26.

Irish depth delivers in women’s win over Syracuse

While the Irish men’s team couldn’t snap its five-year drought without an ACC Tournament win, the women’s squad got the job done on Thursday. Notre Dame, ranked 28th in the nation as a team, handled 56thranked Syracuse by a 4-1 count to reach the quarterfinal round.

Once again, Notre Dame’s opposition started the day by claiming a ranked doubles match. The 40th-ranked Orange pair of Miyuka Kimoto and Viktoriya Kanapatskaya knocked off the 42-ranked Irish group of senior Julia Andreach and graduate student Page Freeman by a 6-2 score.

But Notre Dame, with its back against the wall right away, battled back. Junior Carrie Beckman and sophomore Akari Matsuno won 6-4 in No. 2 doubles, setting up a decisive No. 3 match that also went the Irish way. Senior Yashna Yellayi and

junior Nibi Ghosh earned a close victory of 7-6 (6-4), handing Notre Dame the opening doubles point.

The Irish took that point and ran with it in singles play, giving Syracuse no chance to mount a comeback. Sophomore Bojana Pozder made quick work of her No. 3 singles match (6-1, 6-2), while Matsuno did the same in No. 6 singles (6-4, 6-3). Andreach then stormed back from a heartbreaker in set one to drop Kimoto by a score of 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-0 in No. 1 singles.

While that match went final, Syracuse picked up its lone point with a win from Polina Kozyreva in No. 5 singles. But it made no difference. Notre Dame was on its way to the next round with a 4-1 victory.

In that next round, the ACC quarterfinals, the Irish ran into much stiffer competition in the form of a Virginia team ranked fourth nationally. The Cavaliers had their way with Notre Dame in doubles play, handing Andreach and Freeman a 6-2 loss with their eight-ranked pairing of Melodie Collard and Elaine Chervinsky. The same score decided a No. 3 doubles match in which Sara Ziodata and Meggie Navarro of Virginia downed Yellayi and Ghosh.

Similarly, Virginia purely

outmatched Notre Dame in singles play. The Cavaliers brought four ranked singles players to the fold, vastly overshadowing Notre Dame’s lone ranked player, Andreach. Though she held her own in an unfinished matchup against 61stranked Annabelle Xu, three other matches quickly went final in Virginia’s favor.

The Cavaliers earned twoset victories in both No. 5 and No. 3 singles, building their lead to 3-0. In the former match, the 99th-ranked Chervinsky dominated Yellayi (6-2, 6-1). In the latter contest, Natasha Subhash triumphed over Pozder (6-0, 6-2).

Virginia couldn’t claim its fourth and final point as easily, though. Ghosh claimed her first game against the 86th-ranked Ziodato in No. 4 singles, giving the Irish a chance to stay alive. But Ziodato rapidly dismissed that possibility, sending Ghosh and Notre Dame packing with set wins of 6-0 and 6-1.

The Irish women now look ahead to the NCAA Regionals on May 3, followed by the NCAA Team Championships on May 11 and the NCAA Individual Championships on May 20.

Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu

Irish avoid sweep with walk-off against Tigers

By CLAIRE WATSON Sports Writer

The Irish softball team took one win and two losses this past weekend against the Clemson Tigers, now making them 24-20 on the season so far and 8-13 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Game One

After a total of 10 innings, the Irish took the 8-5 loss against Clemson in the opening game. Neither team scored in the first or second inning, but Clemson put its first run up on the board in the top of the third inning. Notre Dame came back and added two runs of its own in the bottom of the third inning, making the score 2-1.

respond, adding four runs onto the board after neither team put runs on in the fourth inning, making the score 5-2 in favor of the Tigers.

The Tigers were quick to

With neither team scoring in the sixth inning, the Irish managed three more runs in the seventh inning, tying the score at 5-5. The game then went into extra innings. Neither of the teams scored in the eight or the ninth inning but, in the 10th inning, the Tigers managed to put

Blue-Gold

CONTINUED

groups they have been in there with and the production they have provided this offense.”

The continued development of Carr and Minchey in an experienced quarterback room with Angeli and Leonard will be one of the stories of the offseason.

Following the game-tying touchdown, Angeli and the Blue team offense retook the field searching for a quick answer. Facing a third-and-long early in the drive, freshman running back Jeremiyah Love showed his explosiveness on a 32-yard first-down reception that got the drive in motion. The Blue team later converted a fourth-and-6 on a completion to freshman wide receiver Jaden Greathouse, the star of last year’s Blue-Gold Game.

On the next play, Angeli would toss a short pass to freshman tight end Jack Larsen for another first down before hurrying to the line and handing it off to Love, who waltzed into the end zone and regained a touchdown advantage for the Blue team. Love, who was one of four running backs to touch the ball at least seven times in the game, should play a prominent role in what is shaping up to be a stacked running back committee this season.

The Gold team quickly responded at the start of the fourth quarter. After switching teams, Carr strung together several masterful throws, including a 29-yard completion

to Gilbert for his second touchdown of the day. Gilbert, who starred for the Gold team’s offense all game, secured five catches for 79 yards to go with his pair of touchdown catches. The freshman was also trusted with a team-high nine targets and more than met the responsibility. When asked about Gilbert’s growth, head coach Marcus Freeman lauded his playmaking ability and incredible work ethic.

“From summer camp, he’s been a guy that has made plays,” Freeman said. “Micah Gilbert is a really good football player. He’s added a great skillset to that room at a young age. He’s a hard worker, doesn’t talk a lot [and] just goes out to work.”

Continuing this back-andforth run, the Blue team scored what would prove to be the decisive touchdown on the ensuing drive. This time, it didn’t take very long. Angeli locked eyes with graduate wide receiver and FIU transfer Kris Mitchell running a double move down the sideline and uncorked a deep ball. Mitchell hauled it in and made a man miss on his way to the end zone for a 62-yard touchdown.

Following a crucial pass breakup by freshman cornerback Micah Bell and a fourthdown catch by Greathouse, Mitchell’s touchdown sealed the victory as the game-winner.

When asked about the transition from Florida International to Notre Dame and getting acclimated in the spring, Mitchell spoke about his personal improvement

in the new environment.

“I know I can play on any stage I set my mind to,” Mitchell said. “Coming here to Notre Dame and being around guys like myself with the same work ethic as me and the same talent as me, having them push me to be even better and create more opportunities for myself to excel my game and going against them every day in practice has made me so much better.”

Mitchell’s speed adds an important layer to an Irish passing offense under Mike Denbrock that will look to stretch the field. Freeman discussed the addition of someone with his skillset and the value it brings.

“It’s big. That’s why we got him from the portal,” Freeman said. “We knew he could help this team and we’ve seen it on film … That’s why he’s here, to really boost this wide receiver room.”

While the units showcased in the Blue-Gold Game may not accurately reflect the team’s look heading into the 2024 season, they give valuable insight into the development of key players on both sides of the ball.

The game brought together Notre Dame fans and returned Notre Dame alumni to offer a sneak peek of what is to come. Freeman and the Irish will hope for that to be a successful step closer to the program’s ultimate goal of winning a national championship.

Contact Noah Cahill at ncahill2@nd.edu

up three runs, making the final score 8-5.

Offensively, senior catcher Carlli Kloss, sophomore outfielder Mickey Winchell and freshman infielder Addison Amaral each added on two hits.

Kloss added two doubles, drove in a run and scored once herself, Winchell scored twice herself and senior infielder Cassidy Grimm added on two runs for the Notre Dame offense.

Graduate student Alexis Laudenslager started in the circle for the Irish, throwing 4 1/3 innings.

Laudenslager allowed seven hits and four runs (three of which were earned) and struck out four. Sophomore Micaela Kastor came on in relief, throwing into the 10th inning.

Kastor gave up six hits, four earned runs and struck out five batters but ultimately suffered the loss. Junior Shannon Becker finished out the game for the Irish, recording one out.

Game Two

The second game also went Clemson’s way, as the Tigers took an 11-6 win on Saturday.

With two scoreless innings to start again, Clemson jumped ahead in the top of the third, adding the first run of the contest and then adding two more in the top of the fourth, making the score 3-0. But the Irish did not let that stop them as they put up four runs of their own in the bottom of the third to pull ahead, making the score 4-3.

The Irish kept going, adding on two more runs in the fifth inning to make the score 6-3 in favor of the Irish. But the Tigers managed to make a comeback, scoring two runs in the sixth and six in the seventh to make the final score 11-6 in favor of Clemson.

Amaral led in the box for the Irish, finishing with a 2-for-4 effort.

Amaral had a total of three runs batted in, scored twice herself and hit her eighth home run of the season.

Grimm, Kloss, Winchell, senior infielder Karina Gaskins, junior outfielder Jane Kronenberger and junior outfielder Emily Tran all added a hit for the Irish.

Becker started in the circle for the Irish in game two, throwing five innings. Becker allowed seven hits, four runs (three earned) and struck out four. Laudenslager was the first pitcher to come into relief, throwing an inning and a third.

Laudenslager allowed four hits, four earned runs and delivered one strikeout in suffering her seventh loss of the season on the mound. Kastor closed out the game for the Irish, giving up three earned runs and allowing five hits with one strikeout.

Game Three

After two losses, the Irish battled back to win a close, 6-5 game over the Tigers.

Notre Dame jumped ahead early in the third game, putting up four runs in the first inning. Clemson managed to add three runs on the board in the top of the sixth inning after no runs scored in the second through the fifth inning, making the score 4-3 in favor of the Irish.

Clemson then added on two more runs in the seventh inning, making the score 5-4 in favor of the Tigers.

Notre Dame did not let that stop its push, though. The Irish added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to make the final score 6-5 in favor of the Irish.

In the first inning, Winchell and Kloss made it on base. Then, as Amaral reached on an error, Winchell advanced to second and Kloss scored the first run for the Irish. Junior designated player Rachel Allen then hit a home run to drive in Winchell and Kloss, bringing the score to 4-0 in favor of the Irish.

In the seventh inning, the Irish battled back, and, with a single to left field from Gaskins, Tran and junior pinch-runner Mikayla LaPlaca scored to take the lead over the Tigers and win the game.

Laudenslager started in the circle, throwing 4 2/3 shutout innings for the Irish. Laudenslager allowed four hits but had five strikeouts. Becker came on in relief for the Irish, pitching 2 1/3 innings. Becker allowed six hits, five runs (three earned) and had one strikeout.

The Irish now look ahead to hosting Central Michigan at home this Tuesday, April 23, at 5 p.m.

GAME

62-yard touchdown caps Blue team victory

By NOAH CAHILL Associate Sports Editor

The 2024 Blue-Gold Game marked the culmination of the spring season for Notre Dame football. The game finished 28-21 in favor of the Blue team after a back-andforth second half shootout. Sophomore quarterback

Steve Angeli got the Blue team underway on the first drive of the game. After converting a fourth down, Angeli and the offense were forced to settle for a 50-yard field goal that graduate kicker Mitch Jeter missed just short.

The Gold team started with freshman quarterback Kenny Minchey at the helm and

went three-and-out on its first drive. Starting on their own 25, Angeli and the Blue team opened up the scoring, putting together a methodical, 13play drive that included three third-down conversions, the last of them a connection with Eli Raridon for the touchdown. The sophomore tight end made an impressive adjustment,

securing a bobbled ball and powering into the end zone.

Taking the place of junior Mitchell Evans, who continues to nurse last season’s torn ACL, Raridon took on a significant workload in the Blue team’s passing game, logging seven targets in the game. Junior wide receiver Deion Colzie also featured heavily, earning eight targets of his own. His matchup with sophomore corner Christian Gray was one to watch all game. While Gray got the better of him on multiple occasions, Colzie grabbed four catches for 58 yards. The second drive didn’t go much better for the Gold team. After a false start led to third-and-13, Minchey took an ill-advised risk forcing a ball downfield with pressure bearing down.

Freshman safety Luke Talich intercepted it and set up the Blue team near midfield.

Getting his first reps of the day, freshman quarterback CJ Carr capitalized on the favorable starting field position and led an eight-play, 55-yard touchdown drive that extended the Blue team’s lead to 14-0. The highly-touted freshman completed three of his four passes during the drive before

handing off to fellow freshman Aneyas Williams for the 7-yard score. In his snaps for both the Blue and Gold teams, Carr looked poised in the pocket, his mobility and smart decision-making on display in the face of pressure.

After a shaky start with the interception, Minchey also flashed his talent for the Gold team. He threw for 123 yards and rushed for 40, including multiple first-down scrambles on broken plays.

Before the half, he scored on a designed quarterback keeper to cut the lead to a score. After the half, he tied the game at 14 for the Gold team on a deep ball connection with freshman receiver Micah Gilbert that he delivered through a big hit. When asked about his young, up-andcoming quarterbacks, Freeman praised their performance in the game and all throughout the last few months of practice.

“I love the decision-making just from being back there and watching them,” Freeman said. “They’ve been progressing all spring … I was really pleased overall, and the entire spring, with what all three of those guys have done with the see BLUE-GOLD PAGE 11

Notre Dame breaks ground on Jack and Kathy Shields Hall, new football operations facility

By TYLER REIDY Sports

On Saturday morning, campus leaders at the University of Notre Dame broke ground on a new, state-of-the art athletics facility.

The Jack and Kathy Shields Family Hall, set to open in fall 2026, will support up to 150 construction jobs and span approximately 150,000 square feet. Though it will serve as a centerpiece of activity for Notre Dame football on Courtney Lane on the east side of campus, director of athletics Pete Bevacqua made clear that the facility will enhance the student-athlete experience in full.

“It shows our commitment to our football program. But it’s not only going to benefit our football players — it’s going to benefit all our student-athletes on campus. That’s important,” Bevacqua said. Support for the facility traces back to a group of former Notre Dame football student-athletes, with linebacker Jack Shields at the forefront. Shields, a member

of Notre Dame’s class of 1983, joins Pat and Jana Eilers along with Dave and Clare Butler as top contributors to the project. Like Shields, Pat Eilers and Dave Butler also played Notre Dame football. The upcoming facility will be the latest in a series of enhancements over the past decade for Notre Dame football. It started with the $400 million Campus Crossroads project, which since its completion in 2018 has integrated Notre Dame Stadium with student life. It expanded in 2020 with the Irish Athletics Center, the 111,400-square-foot indoor facility that houses team practices. Now, it continues into the future with the announcement of Shields Family Hall.

“In a short nine years, from the time Campus Crossroads opened to the time this opens, we will have built the best triumvirate of football facilities in America,” athletic director emeritus Jack Swarbrick said. “But, more importantly, we will have done it the Notre Dame way.”

For Bevacqua, developing the

new facility in Notre Dame’s likeness requires an understanding of why student-athletes choose the University. He referenced the “forever decision” that comes with a commitment to Notre Dame, connecting the facility’s amenities with the longevity of the student-athlete experience. The building will include a player nutrition area, academic support and media innovation spaces, studios, a meeting room with an auditorium and augmented reality walkthrough room, an expanded locker room, a technologically-driven equipment facility, a sports medicine facility and an enhanced training room.

The new facility projects to benefit the near and long-term future of the Notre Dame football program itself in many ways. Not only will it keep the University on par with the nation’s top college facilities, but it will also allow head coach Marcus Freeman space to put his program-building goals in practice.

“When we talk to our players and student-athletes, we talk

about choosing hard,” Freeman said. “With this new football facility, we will be able to not only embrace it but thrive — and do it with a holistic approach.”

Of course, to build that type of culture, players must buy in. Having top facilities can only help in that regard. Just ask sophomore cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who spoke during Saturday morning’s groundbreaking ceremony.

Morrison recalled that, while on a visit to Notre Dame before his commitment, he almost missed out on seeing the aforementioned indoor practice facility. However, just before he left South Bend, he got the chance to check it out. When Morrison looked up and saw the gold monogram shining bright above him on the lofty wall, he knew that he had found the right place.

“Facilities do matter. As one of the best academic and athletic institutions in the country, Notre Dame must be on the cutting edge of everything we do,” Morrison said. “Our facility

matters because we, Notre Dame, set the standard.”

Three years later, Morrison operates as one of the premier corners in college football with some of the highest professional prospects Notre Dame has seen in recent years. Freeman understands how the everyday impact of facilities can add up and change the outlook of a recruit or young student-athlete.

“We tell these recruits in our meetings that we are going to give them every possibility to reach their full potential, and this building reflects that,” Freeman stated.

According to Bevacqua, the new facility will open the Guglielmino Athletics Complex up to renovations that will provide added resources to all 26 athletic programs on Notre Dame’s campus. Perhaps most importantly, it lays down an anchor of stability for Bevacqua and the University’s commitment to Freeman and his ability to strengthen the football program.

Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu

ROMINA LLANOS | The Observer

Freshman quarterback CJ Carr slides after a 4-yard rush to avoid sophomore safety Luke Talich. Carr, who played for both Blue and Gold teams, finished the game 15-for-23 with 165 yards and a touchdown.