Print Edition for The Observer for Friday, October 31, 2025

THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2025 | VOL. LX, NO. 25

Female victim reports rape in Jordan Hall bathroom

Observer Staff Report

Around 4 p.m. Wednesday, the Notre Dame Police Department notified the Notre Dame community of a rape reported on campus via email. The alert specified a female victim reported she had been raped by an unknown male perpetrator in a Jordan Hall of Science restroom early Tuesday afternoon.

“At this time, the suspect is described as male, but no further description is available. It was reported that the offender was unknown to the victim,” the email read.

According to the email, the victim initially reported the incident to Notre Dame’s Office of Institutional Equity, and NDPD is working

on the incident in collaboration with the Office.

University spokesperson Erin Blasko shared that NDPD will conduct increased safety patrols while the University reviews the incident. Notre Dame is encouraging community members with knowledge of the reported sexual assault to contact the Office of Institutional Equity at 574-631-0444 or equity@nd.edu.

“The safety and security of all students, staff, faculty, and visitors is the University of Notre Dame’s utmost concern,” Blasko wrote in a statement to The Observer.

The email concluded with details on the University’s sex-based misconduct policy and reminders that “On college campuses, perpetrators

are more likely to assault an acquaintance than a stranger,” and, “The perpetrator, not the survivor, is responsible for any instance of sexual assault. Nothing a survivor does or does not do is an excuse for sexual assault.”

The email also pointed students to the ND Safe App’s “Mobile Blue Light” safety feature as well as additional resources available from NDPD and the Office of Institutional Equity.

The University has not issued a crime alert since 2023, when the campus community was made aware of drink spiking in a male residence hall. In 2021, students were alerted that the Office of Institutional Equity had

Professors contextualize President Trump’s Asia visit

By Grace Sullivan News Writer

On Sunday, President Donald Trump embarked upon his sixday tour throughout east Asia, meeting with key partners in the region, seeking to secure economic investments and trade policies with Japan, South Korea and China. His trip began in Malaysia with the signing of a peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand and continued with meetings with new Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Global affairs professor Kyle Jaros wrote in a statement to The Observer that the stakes are high in Trump’s first East Asia trip of his second term.

“The headline here is certainly the effort to strike more durable trade deals with China, South Korea, and Japan, all of which are key trade partners but also, to varying degrees, economic competitors of the U.S.,” he wrote.

During Trump’s meeting with Takaichi, both leaders made commitments to various

NEWS | PAGE 3

Notre Dame in D.C. Alumni of Notre Dame’s Washington Program reflect on their internships and courses.

projects in areas of energy, artificial intelligence and critical minerals. Additionally, Japan promised a $550 billion investment in the U.S. as part of a deal to relieve tariff pressures from the Trump administration.

Similarly, Lee agreed to invest $350 billion into the U.S. in return for lower tariff rates on South Korea.

International economist and economics professor Robert Johnson characterized the Trump administration’s approach to deals with Japan and South Korea as focusing on lowering tariffs in exchange for investment commitments.

“The U.S. is a large financially integrated country with the rest of the world,” he said. “So when we’re getting promises from Japan and Korea to invest in the U.S., I don’t really understand exactly how that’s changing the overall investment dynamics in the U.S. in any way that is meaningful.”

Trump met with Xi in South Korea Thursday. Both sides agreed to extend a truce designed to limit tariffs and Trump suspended port fees on Chinese ships. Xi agreed to

OPINION | PAGE 5

Columnist Abby Hernan writes on losing her possessions and Europe’s lax pickpocketing laws.

Irish Ambassador to US speaks at ND

By Will Prisco News Writer

Members of the Notre Dame community gathered in a packed McKenna

pause China’s export controls on rare earth minerals.

“The current economic and security relationship between the U.S. and China is volatile, making any in-person meeting between President Trump and President Xi Jinping very sensitive,” Jaros wrote.

Professor of politics Joshua Eisenman contextualized China and the United States’ relationship as lacking trust and reliability.

“The U.S.-China relationship is never and has never been built on trust, but the question is can they figure out a way to put aside certain grievances in order to make progress on issues of importance in the relationship,” he said.

According to Trump, during Trump and Xi’s meeting, China also agreed to buy U.S. soybeans and crack down on fentanyl in exchange for the U.S. cutting down on tariffs. Additional information about discussions that occurred in the meeting have yet to be announced.

“They’re creating pressure points: soybeans, rare earths,

see “Asia” on page 2

SCENE | PAGE 7

The notorious movie has the most traditional Halloween vibes in the entire franchise.

Auditorium Wednesday afternoon to hear a lecture delivered by Geraldine Byrne Nason, the Ambassador of

Belles shop at free thrift pop-up

By Sophie Lewandowski News Writer

On Wednesday, the Saint Mary’s Office for Student Empowerment and Center for Faith, Action and Ministry hosted their bi-annual popup thrift shop. The OSE and CFAM transformed the second floor of the Saint Mary’s student center into a store full of student donations.

The idea for the thrift shop began in the summer of 2023, when María GonzálezDiaz, sustainability coordinator for CFAM and Christin Kloski, director of the OSE, sought to create something fun and inclusive for the Saint Mary’s community.

“We really wanted to find an event [where] all students could get access to free clothing,” Kloski said. “We really just wanted students to have fun, to shop like they were shopping at a thrift shop [and] make sure that it was free of cost for any students who were attending.”

OSE’s mission is to ensure every student at Saint Mary’s has “the voice, agency, and

SPORTS | PAGE 8

Women’s soccer

resources to fully engage in the college experience,” while CFAM seeks to provide a community of belonging in which students can “build a more just world.” The event’s organizers emphasized that the thrift shop encompasses these missions through its encouragement of equability and sustainability.

González-Diaz found that the thrift shop allows for an intersection between sustainability and community. “Community is also a part of sustainability. It’s in Laudato Sí. It’s in the sustainable development goals from the UN ... Community is just a pillar of living life,” she said.

González-Diaz saw good in the broadness of events, bridging members of different cultures. “[It’s] a common space for everyone,” she said.

Describing the nature of the event, Kloski said, “It’s something that’s different and unique, but people like to shop together with their

see “Thrift” on page 2

| PAGE 10

The No. 1 Notre Dame women’s soccer team wrapped up its regular season verus Pitt.

SPORTS

Freeman vs. Kelly

After Brian Kelly was fired at LSU, Freeman’s preformance at ND has never looked better.

WILL PRISCO | The Observer

Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, speaks with Claire Cronin, former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.

see “Ambassador” on page 2

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Ambassador

Continued from page 1

Ireland to the United States. Byrne Nason discussed Ireland’s foreign policy, the country’s relationship with the United States and plans to mark the Irish dimensions of America’s 250th anniversary.

This lecture was the first of the Ambassador Jim Kelly Speaker Series, through which the KeoughNaughton Institute for Irish Studies will bring diplomats from Ireland to speak at Notre Dame. Kelly, who died suddenly in 2022, was Ireland’s deputy permanent representative to the UN and ambassador to Canada.

Joined by Claire Cronin, the former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Byrne Nason opened up about her personal experiences and her takeaways from her diplomatic career. Referring to herself as “an accidental diplomat,” the former

Asia

Continued from page 1

etc. The goal of gaining some leverage over the US and therefore forcing Trump to cut a deal,” Eisenman said.

China’s bargaining advantage has raised concerns about the potential compromises Trump will make in order to secure a trade deal, particularly surrounding Taiwan.

“One concern about the planned Trump-Xi meeting is that Xi will seek geopolitical concessions from the Trump administration (whether over Taiwan or another sensitive issue) in exchange for a more comprehensive trade deal of the sort Trump wants,” Jaros wrote. The Observer interviewed Jaros before Thursday’s meeting.

Thrift

Continued from page 1

friends, so why not make it an opportunity here on campus.”

OSE and CFAM began collecting donations a month before the event, inviting students to bring clothing or items from their dorms. These donations included winter jackets, jeans and a toaster. After the event, OSE and CFAM spoke with students about what leftover items they would like to see in the campus’ Free Store, located in the basement of Holy Cross Hall. Then, the rest of the leftover items were taken to Goodwill to

Ambassador reflected on how she first joined the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs in 1981 and eventually became director for governance at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris in the 1990s.

That journey, she shared, revealed to her that representing Ireland on the global stage was “a gift of an extraordinary nature.” Byrne Nason said she believes that despite Ireland’s size and relative isolation from continental Europe, the nation has been able to amplify its voice through international cooperation with major countries such as the United States.

“Through the multilateral system, you can have your voice echoed and multiplied several fold by playing a role that’s outsized for a country of our size,” Byrne Nason said.

Byrne Nason then explained that her career has spanned from important talks in Europe to leadership roles in Paris, Brussels and New York. She added that throughout her time in the

“Trump has also not been willing to do what Joe Biden did, which was to say outwardly that he would defend Taiwan. And that kind of deterrence, I think, is really important,” Eisenman said.

Additionally, both Eisenman and Jaros highlighted the importance of reliability between China and U.S. relations, and how the lack thereof could undermine the potential for a mutually beneficial, productive and sustainable economic trading relationship.

“While Trump is genuinely interested in reaching a more lasting trade deal with China, the administration’s frequent shifts in rhetoric and policy and brinksmanship tactics don’t go over well with Chinese leaders, who highly value stability and predictability in trade relations with the US,” Jaros wrote.

Eisenman said, “This idea of

be shared with the greater South Bend community.

“There’s so much abundance, especially on college campuses, and I know people are always trying to get rid of items that are gathering dust in their houses. Instead of going to the dumpster, it’s going to the community,” GonzalezDiaz said.

Madeline EscamillaMurillo, a freshman at Saint Mary’s, had never been to an event like the thrift shop before. She shared she appreciated the effort to give every student a chance to access resources.

“It’s a great way, especially during these cold days, [to find items] where you can bundle up and have some clothes that maybe not everyone [has

civil service, she witnessed significant international events, including the end of the Cold War and Ireland’s recovery from the 2008 financial crisis. Even though she emphasized that she was not an economist, Byrne Nason also played a critical role in guiding Ireland out of the EU-IMF bailout program. She also discussed the role of women in diplomacy, reflecting on what she labeled as the significant progress that has been made since the start of her career in 1981. “Until 1974, women in the Irish civil service had to resign when they married,” she said. “So when I joined, there were very few women in senior positions.” Today, however, nearly half of Ireland’s ambassadors are women. “We haven’t had any quota system or incentive,” she said. “We have just grown to represent the country, to represent the people we represent.”

Byrne Nason highlighted Ireland’s strong belief in the United Nations, which she described as “the only universal parliament of men and women that we have.”

consistency of long term friends, developing relationships, maintaining and adhering to agreements, generally speaking, is part of the Chinese approach.”

Eisenman explained how it would be beneficial for the U.S. if Trump could maintain and build these relationships with state leaders throughout Asia.

“I do think it serves the interest of the United States for him to be meeting with these folks, reminding everybody that the US isn’t absent from the region, that America first doesn’t mean America is absent,” Eisenman said.

Jaros explained how any East Asia trip is about geopolitics.

“Trump himself and several economic advisors around him are far more concerned about righting what they see as decades of unbalanced trade between the US and China, Japan, and South Korea by extracting major

access] to,” Escamia-Murillo said. “I think it’s a very cool thing that students and Saint Mary’s promote.”

Kyaris Hasan, a Saint Mary’s senior, shared her belief that the shop “is beneficial for those who need things, especially at the time of year that they host these events.” She added that as the seasons transition into winter, many students who are not from a cold area like the Midwest may not have coats.

Amirah Pitter, a junior at Saint Mary’s, echoed Hasan’s appreciation for the shop’s winter clothing.

Hasan pointed out that the shop also provides general items too, like professional wear, a resource she said helps continue the College’s

However, she warned that without substantial reform, particularly regarding the Security Council, “there’s a risk the United Nations may matter less over time.”

When discussing Ireland’s relationship with Europe, Byrne Nason explained that the establishment of Ireland as a European Union member state marked the end of Ireland’s isolation and described it as “a jump start” for the nation’s economic growth. Reflecting on Brexit and Britain’s resulting withdrawal from the European Union, Ambassador Byrne Nason said, “We were never going to see an upside for Ireland in Brexit.”

However, she also recognized Ireland’s newfound position in the EU as the only English-speaking country among member states, saying that this opens up fresh opportunities for connections, trade and diplomacy with countries all around the world.

Contact Will Prisco at wprisco@nd.edu

economic concessions from each of these countries,” he wrote. Johnson expressed doubt that these meetings will result in productive, progressing trade agreements. “The deals that they’re announcing seem to be very heavily focused on basic economic questions that concern the administration about tariffs versus investment,” he said.

“I think what’s going to happen is we’re going to strike a deal, and we’re basically going to go back to where we were eight months ago or close to that on some level,” Johnson continued, “I don’t think the problems in the U.S.-China relationship are principally about trade and trade policy and economic policy. They are really about foreign policy.”

Contact Grace Sullivan at gsulli22@nd.edu

mission of building up women.

“There’s a lot of things that I guess you just wouldn’t expect to be here and you’ll be like, ‘Oh! I didn’t know I needed this, but now I have it,’” Hassan said. “I just love this event. I always find cool things and it’s kind of cool to know that my fellow Belles had some of these cool things as well.”

Gonzalez-Diaz expressed gratitude for those who played a role in bringing the Thrift Shop to life, adding, “This is something that every type of student at Saint Mary’s really appreciates.”

Contact Sophie Lewandowski at slewandowski01@saintmarys.edu

Students build ofrenda for deceased loved ones

By Berhan Hagezom

Saint Mary’s News Editor

Creating an ofrenda is one of many traditions associated with Día de Los Muertos. Students at Saint Mary’s College are remembering their deceased loved ones with an ofrenda that will be displayed on the second floor of the Student Center until Nov. 4. Students made decorations to be featured on the ofrenda at the Student Diversity Board event on Monday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Haggar Parlor.

“Ofrenda” is Spanish for “offering.” The ofrenda is placed on an altar, which together traditionally celebrate the lives of family members who have passed away.

The ofrenda is sponsored by the board along with the Center for Faith, Action and Ministry and La Fuerza. Senior Johanna Gonzalez, the Student Diversity Board secretary, said that support from these groups provides further inclusivity across the campus community.

“Both of these organizations are helping us with also decorating the ofrenda that we have as well as promoting it and spreading the word to the campus community,” she said. “It ties in with CFAM as not only is it a traditional Indigenous Mexican practice, but it also has correlations with Catholicism and Christianity

Report

Continued from page 1

community was made aware of drink spiking in a male residence hall. In 2021,

and La Fuerza is our Hispanic/Latina club on campus, so having their support is very important for their board members and their general members as well.”

Students were able to embellish foam skulls and decorate various picture frames with gems and markers. They were also able to submit photos ahead of time for the pictures to fit the sizing of the frame, with envelopes laid out and designated for each student.

Gonzalez said the event tied to Día de Los Muertos as “we are using the decorations that the students are making and the images that they submitted to display our own ofrenda on the Saint Mary’s community.”

Members said they wanted to spread further educational awareness about the cultural tradition for the campus community to help understand its significance.

The ofrenda display helps achieve that by “presenting a little bit of background for different holidays like this and what they mean to the culture of the people that participate in it,” senior Sophia Andalon, the organization’s event committee chair, said. She has participated in similar events since her sophomore year.

Some students said they would like to see further involvement in making the

students were alerted that the Office of Institutional Equity had found that a rape occurred on campus.

In April, a university spokesman stated in an email to The Observer that NDPD

The SMC Student Diversity Board hosted an event for students on Monday evening to decorate foam skulls and picture frames for an upcoming ofrenda display to remember loved ones who have passed away.

ofrenda display, but still found the event helpful and fun.

“Just off the top of my head, maybe helping decorate or arrange the bouquets or flowers or physically help make the ofrenda would be fun. But I think this event is perfect,” sophomore Makiah Ramsey said.

Students also said cultural traditions like these provide further inclusivity to the College’s campus community by opening

only sends out crime alerts when “there is an ongoing threat to the University community, and the report is sufficiently timely such that a warning will aid in the prevention of similar crimes.”

it to people from various cultural backgrounds, providing a space to ask questions about the holiday.

“I feel like it’s very important to incorporate these traditions because we have a good number of Latina students and it’s not a tradition that’s only exclusively for Mexican culture,” Ramsey said. “Although it originated in Mexico, a lot of Latin American countries celebrate it. A lot of people who come

On Aug. 15, Sept. 17 and 26, sexual batteries were reported in NDPD’s daily crime log. On Sept. 24, an incident of rape was reported in the crime log.

from different backgrounds as well like to celebrate it.”

Gonzales encouraged students to check out the ofrenda display to see the work put in by the students to celebrate this tradition.

“Even if you didn’t submit a picture, check out the ofrenda. Look at all the decorations. Visit the community that’s passed away and is back for the holiday,” she said.

Contact Berhan Hagezom at bhagezom01@saintmarys.edu

During the 2024-25 academic year, NDPD filed five reports of rape and five reports of sexual assault in the crime log.

NDPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Washington Program places students in politics

By Emily Barlett News Writer

Notre Dame’s Washington Program funds sophomores and juniors to experience a semester in Washington, D.C., taking political science and global affairs courses in the nation’s capital. During the program, students also complete an internship at their chosen organization.

“The Washington Program is a great way to explore your interests. I met so many great people, and it’s an incredible opportunity I would recommend to anyone,” program alumna junior Margo Schellinger said.

The hallmark of the Washington Program is the internship, where students work at least 24 hours a week in a field they take an interest in. Students apply to and then intern at a variety of organizations — from government offices and

Congress to media positions and non-governmental organizations.

Additionally, they visit institutions within the Capital District for weekly policy visits.

The program also incorporates opportunities for networking and career discernment.

Schellinger said she interned at the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. “I absolutely loved working on Capitol Hill,” she said. “It’s an incredible learning opportunity for anybody with an interest in public service or gaining a deeper understanding of how our government works.”

Students in the program are housed in apartments in the Penn Quarter neighborhood, close to public transportation systems which provide access to the Smithsonian museums, Kennedy Center performances and numerous other historical

sites across the city.

“Walking the halls of Capitol Hill, attending committee meetings and doing policy research were some of my favorite parts of the experience,” program alumni junior Cameron Drumm said.

Drumm was a Congressional Intern for representative Rudy Yakym of Indiana’s second congressional district. “I also learned a lot by taking phone calls and interacting with constituents,” he said. “It acted as a springboard for my future internships.”

Housed in apartments in the Penn Quarter neighborhood, students are located close to public transportation systems, providing access to the Smithsonian museums, Kennedy Center performances and numerous other sites across the city.

Program alum senior Wedeb Ghebrehiwet worked as an education and workforce intern at FWD.us, a non-profit advocacy organization. “I really enjoyed the mix of professional, academic and social life,” Ghebrehiwet said. “That mix really helped me grow and prepare for new experiences.”

When they’re not working as interns, students take courses on either the political science track or the new global affairs track, which is only offered in the spring. In addition to electives, students in political science must take Foundations of Public Policy, while students on the global affairs track take Reimagining the U.S. in the World: the Evolution of American Soft Power and the Future of Foreign Assistance.

Students in the program are also able to participate in the Notre Dame Human Rights Clinic. Working with the

Clinic, students engage in realworld applications of human rights policy and advocacy through partnerships with nongovernmental organizations and international law firms.

“Advice I would give to people interested in the program is to cast a wide net,” Schellinger said, “Keep an open mind because no matter the field you focus on in the Washington Program, you will learn something valuable.”

According to the program’s website, 22% of program participants return to DC for their first position after graduation, working in law, consulting, the nonprofit sector and politics.

Applications for the program’s fall 2026 and spring 2027 cohorts will close Nov. 30.

Contact Emily Barlett at ebarlett@nd.edu

BERHAN HAGEZOM | The Observer

NYT writer lectures on equality in South Africa

By Mara Hall News Writer

On Thursday afternoon, the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights hosted New York Times Johannesburg bureau chief John Eligon to speak on the racial situation of South Africa postapartheid. Coincidentally, the preplanned lecture was given on the same day that President Donald Trump announced a 7,500-person refugee admissions quota, emphasizing that Afrikaners and white Dutch descendants living in South Africa, will receive priority.

In his work at the New York Times, Eligon has covered race and political upheaval in postapartheid South Africa.

Accepting Afrikaner refugees has long been of interest to the Trump administration. “A group of 59 white Afrikaners who have been given refugee status by the Trump administration arrived at Dulles airport outside Washington, D.C., on Monday on a charter flight paid for by the U.S. government,” NPR reported on May 12. “The South Africans will now have a pathway to U.S. citizenship and be eligible for government benefits.”

Eligon said, “This executive order said again that Afrikaners were the victims of racial persecution

and that Trump was creating a special pathway for them to get refugee status in the US. This sort of blew me away, because we had seen from the first day of this administration, Trump had put on pause all sorts of refugee admissions of the country.”

Eligon went on to explain that this support for Afrikaners is potentially misplaced, as he says race is not a determining factor in who is struggling in South Africa.

“After 1994 when democracy began, it really fashioned itself as being this rainbow nation, this nation where people of all races live alongside each other. There is a very big emphasis when you are here among people to say that we are non racial,” Eligon said. ”We do not think about each other in those terms, because during apartheid, race was something that was put on your identity documents. It was used to define who you are.”

Eligon also spoke on how apartheid affected the nation after its dissolution 30 years prior.

“People say the rhetoric is that we want to move past that, but the reality is that the legacy of apartheid and the racial classification system is still very much baked into the reality of life in South Africa.”

Journalist John Eligon lectures on the racial climate of South Africa post-apartheid and how the reaction from the U.S. government of prioritizing granting Afrikaners refugee status might be the wrong approach.

Instead of race, Eligon suggests that economics is the encompassing factor of who is worst off, describing harrowing conditions of townships with violence in rural and urban communities.

“Trauma does not discriminate based on wealth. I think that is something South Africans in these rural communities actually understand,” Eligon said.

Eligon went on to add that the stories that are being shared are coming from those in power,

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potentially sharing a warped view of the struggle.

He agreed with Trump that land disputes are a major factor, but that it really boils down to wealth.

This is because the efforts the government is presently designed to redistribute land have provided impoverished people with property, but without resources needed to cultivate such land rendering it practically useless.

When asked in the Q&A section about how to

resolve the land disputes, Eligon posed the questions that must be answered to move forward productively.

“How can you do it in a way that does not kill South Africa’ s chance of benefiting off of this land now and you do not kill the agricultural industry?” Eligon asked.

Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu

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By Abby Hernan Columnist, “Letters from London”

On my way to the Madrid airport, I had my bag stolen, losing my MacBook, AirPods and passport. When I was trapped in Madrid, waiting for the U.S. embassy to open, I began to think about how, in three months, I had witnessed more theft in Europe than in my 20 years in the United States.

From phone snatchers to pickpockets, Europe is filled with strong crime networks for petty theft. However, these crime networks did not spring up out of nowhere; European customs and history have enabled them to prosper. The treasured qualities of Europe, historically, culturally and economically, that make the continent so desirable are the same ones that permit crime.

In many major European cities, petty theft has long been a cultural norm. For example, as Britain industrialized in the 19th century, people moved from rural areas into large urban centers. As a result, crime began to increase, with petty theft becoming the most common crime. However, the media focused on more sensationalized crimes, such as Jack the Ripper, even though violent crimes were never statistically significant. With little media focus on the petty theft epidemic, it became something

The price of European charm

regular. Getting your purse swiped away on the street would not lead to a big investigation; rather, it was simply an inconvenience the victim had to deal with. This indifference has not changed over time. The most charming parts of European cities, such as walkability, density and openness, make them the perfect spot for pickpockets. For example, the European Pickpocketing Index collects data from traveler review websites for mentions of

“pickpocketing” or “stolen.” They found the most prevalent location was Italy, with 478 mentions per million visitors. The second most prevalent was France, with 251 mentions. Little has been done to combat this problem, as pickpocketing rates have only increased over time. This indicates that Europe is not concerned about its petty theft epidemic and would rather ignore it than address it.

The problem of petty theft is not just in cities; it is also

promoted by EU law. Many European laws are lenient on theft, with crimes below a few hundred euros not heavily prosecuted. In France, for theft under €300, proceedings can be terminated if the thief pays a fine of €300 or replaces the stolen goods. In Spain, theft of goods worth less than €400 can result in community service or a fine. These lenient laws make petty theft a low-risk, highreward crime. Stealing a purse will not ruin your life, and getting away with it could be your next couple of meals.

It is not only policy that permits theft, but also culture, making it the norm. Europeans are content living within disorder. In cities built for pedestrians, not police cars, theft is a small sacrifice. Minor transgressions are tolerated because it is better to live with inconveniences than to militarize daily life.

In contrast, the United States has far less pickpocketing than Europe does. Most petty theft in the United States involves shoplifting from major retail stores. Tourists and individuals are far less targeted. This stems from differences between European and American cultures. American cities are car-dependent and far less walkable, creating less densely packed areas for people to steal slyly. Further, private property rights are something

Want to be rich? Buy carrots.

fundamental to America. Stealing is viewed as a threat to American ideals, not as an inconvenience. American laws reflect this difference, often being more punitive than European laws. Petty theft is a misdemeanor, which can result in fines up to $2000 or up to 12 months of jail time. In addition, the legal threshold for a felony theft is very low in some states. For example, in New Jersey, a theft of $500 could result in three to five years in prison and a fine of $10,000 or double the victim’s losses.

In the United States, individualism is praised and prioritized. However, Europe focuses on the quality of life and living together. Despite the thefts, cafes are unguarded and public transport is open. To Europeans, the freedom from control is more valuable than freedom from risk. Losing my bag in Madrid was a lesson in Europe’s contradictions. The same openness that lets a thief reach into your purse is what allows the rhythm of city life to continue unguarded.

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

Contact Abby Hernan at ahernan@nd.edu

By Redmond Bernhold Opinion Editor

Goodbye cars! So long houses! Goodnight Rolexes!

No longer are these purchases an indicator of making it big. In fact, 20-somethings aren’t noticing assets. That’s a thing for your 30s. Rather, it’s all about what you eat, or at least appear to eat.

We have officially entered the golden age of using food to flaunt social status. Your olive oil can say everything about you. Flashing a $10 matcha makes you fit in with the performative males who wear wired headphones and read feminist literature. A picture of a bagel perfectly staged can do wonders for your Instagram story.

There are countless other examples taking us by storm, because, let’s face it, our phones are the ultimate allyou-can-eat buffet.

Of course, social media is the ultimate poster board for food reviews and recommendations. It is now more accessible to find a restaurant than it’s harder to find a place not on a TikTok list. But so long are the days of only eating at

dimly lit Manhattan restaurants or bright vegan cafes in Los Angeles. Restaurants will always indicate status and class. In recent months, however, we have assigned influence and success on ingredients.

One TikTok user with the handle @kfesteryga earlier this year predicted that food, and more specifically luxe fruit and vegetables, would become the ultimate status

symbol in 2025. All of her content since her viral post earlier this year has included food parading on the runways, at the Met Gala and as extravagant home decor.

In February, Hailey Bieber, model and founder of Rhode, partnered with FILA in an advertising campaign. In a shoot, she carried a bag of produce slipping out of her hands as an ode to her famous farmer’s market nails that she

wore just a few months earlier. Many people saw the flawless produce as a sign of wealth and class that has moved beyond the traditional displays of money. Such simple, perfectly manicured food became affluent beyond what many can currently afford. At a time when the economy was uneasy, and largely fair for the affluent, many took the campaign as an indicator in the rivalry for simple, whole

ingredients. Reclaiming necessities — and doing so with poise and precision — thrusted her more into the public’s spectacle and turned more people towards her other business endeavors.

Her Rhode lip products, starting at $20, are a holy grail for many girls, and began selling in Sephora in September. Her $20 strawberry glaze smoothie at health food grocer Erewhon has long been a staple social media post for most people visiting Los Angeles. Rhode was also acquired by a $1 billion dollar deal with e.l.f. Cosmetics in May earlier this year.

The FILA campaign is one example of produce symbolizing a wealth divide in the sustenance we eat. Erewhon has for years been the epicenter for affluent shoppers glorifying the most basic household staples (anyone want eight ice balls for $32?).

The irony comes full circle when — amid a long government shutdown — SNAP federal food benefits and preschool aid are poised to exhaust this weekend. Next week, WIC, a

ABBY HERNAN | The Observer

LIAM FLYNN | The Observer

Produce

Continued from page 5

program supporting low-income mothers and their children, could run dry, according to the Associated Press.

Striking a deal before Nov. 1 would reinstate these

federal programs. Nearly 12% of American households would feel slashes in these funds.

Other grocery stores are tackling coupons to increase accessibility. This summer, Kroger made their digital coupons more accessible for shoppers by only

needing to scan a single barcode for all weekly deals. Grocery stores in San Diego are banned from using digital only coupons, which are difficult for senior citizens and low-income shoppers to clip. We will always be susceptible to celebrity

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The first time I picked up a fencing sword, I was 10 years old. It felt awkward; as a soccer player, I didn’t have much coordination with my arms. But the moment the bout began, I was hooked. Every movement demanded focus, precision and heart. It provided the deep thinking of a chess match in a physical environment. Fencing quickly became more than a sport for me — it became a lifeline. It kept me active, grounded and connected to a community that understood me in a way few others did.

So when I came to Notre Dame, I assumed I’d keep fencing. After all, it’s home to the best varsity fencing team in the nation. But when I arrived, I learned something that didn’t make sense: There was no fencing club for regular students. None.

It felt like a punch to the gut. How could a school that celebrated fencing greatness not have space for those of us who simply loved the sport? I remember sitting on my dorm bed, wondering if this was really it — if I’d have to let go of the sport that had shaped me for the past decade. Then came the spark. If the club didn’t exist, why

By Ivy Clark

Fr. Gustavo Gutiérrez, a renowned theologian and former Cardinal O’Hara professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, said that he hoped to live as a testimony to the message that God loves the insignificant above all. In his life, he not only emphasized the importance of caring for the poor but left an immense legacy as the father of liberation theology. At its core, liberation theology focuses on the dignity of the impoverished, on action rather than theory and the liberation of those who suffer from the systems that cause their oppression. It is the integration of faithfulness, a command to live as Jesus did and action against injustice. It represents a true call to movement within the Catholic Church, for accompaniment and to walk alongside those in their suffering. For, as Jesus preached good news to the poor and not the wealthy and as Mary called on God to feed the hungry and send the rich away, we, as God’s servants, should also accompany and walk alongside the

endorsements, media advertisements and recommendations for the hottest new wellness remedy. And with inflation climbing, though not as rapid as economists thought earlier this year, lavish produce may continue to bifurcate the bottom 50% of households from the top 1%

A fencing club is born

couldn’t I create it?

Starting something from nothing sounds romantic until you try it. I was a pre-med and studio art double major already running on no sleep and adrenaline. But I couldn’t shake the idea.

A few months later, my friend Katie Nguyen reached out to me. She had fenced in high school and wanted to know what she could do to help with the fencing club. Suddenly, I wasn’t doing this alone. The summer between freshman and sophomore year, we became obsessed. We mapped out logistics, studied how to form a club and drafted a plan so detailed it could have doubled as a thesis.

When we got back to campus, we met with SAO’s Cody Ballinger, who told us the process usually took an entire semester. The deadline? One week away.

That week was chaos — the kind that runs on caffeine, hope and sheer stubbornness. We wrote a constitution, created a budget, designed an events plan, found an advisor and gathered signatures. When we finally hit “submit,” we had 219 signatures — 219 people who wanted to see fencing come alive at Notre Dame again.

Finding an advisor was its own small miracle. Katie reached out to professor Molly Walsh, who said yes without hesitation. Only later did we discover that her two sons had fenced growing up. She understood what the sport meant. She believed in us.

Everything seemed to be falling into place — until we hit RecSports.

Despite the varsity team practicing on campus, RecSports told us fencing swords were considered “weapons” under university policy. I stared at the email in disbelief. Fencing — one of the safest Olympic sports — was banned for safety reasons? In over 10 years, the worst injury I’d ever seen was a bruise. And to top things off, the varsity team practiced on campus. They told us to find an offcampus facility if we wanted club approval. We found a local fencing club, but the 30-minute drive and $100 individual monthly membership fees didn’t seem plausible for college students. Not that the coach gave it a single thought anyway, saying it “just wasn’t possible, given the gym being used 24/7.” It was crushing. Our vision was slipping away, one policy at a time.

Then came a message that changed everything.

A student named Isabela Oseguera emailed me out of the blue. She told me she had walked into the SAO office to ask about joining the Fencing Club and was just handed my email. Over dinner, she shared her story: After a serious ankle injury, her coach had trained her to become an armorer — someone who repairs and inspects fencing gear. That single detail could have been our golden ticket, since we had discovered RecSports allowed the varsity team to practice on campus because they had a certified armorer.

We updated our constitution, added new safety measures and submitted everything again, noting the addition of an armorer to match the varsity team’s guidelines. RecSports still said, “No.” That’s when Isa turned to me and said, “What if we start it through Holy Cross College instead?”

The room went silent. Then everything started to click.

Holy Cross welcomed us like family. They were more than happy to help us, and honestly, it made me wish we had originally

A case against voluntourism

marginalized.

After reading some works by Paul Farmer that explored the ideals of liberation theology in health care, I couldn’t escape this idea of accompaniment. I spent my summer working with the Missionaries of Charity at the Kalighat Home for the Dying and Destitute, also known as “Nirmal Hriday,” or “Mother’s First Love.” The home was founded to treat and serve those who were left in the streets in dire need of medical service, but whom hospitals and doctors alike turned away. The service is in the name itself: for the dying and destitute. It seems to live and breathe the ideals of accompaniment — it was the first home Mother Teresa founded for MC service, and remains today one of the most active homes in Kolkata. It has an approximate capacity of 50 men and 50 women, separated into two wards, and further houses around 15 residential sisters on the second floor of the home.

The residential sisters provide a majority of the labor, supplemented by around five paid workers, or “masis,” per ward, and one parttime nurse. A doctor visits once a

week, usually spending a few minutes with the more severe cases in the home. And then, of course, volunteers like me flood in and out of Kalighat, most rarely staying for more than one week. Through working roughly 40 hours a week for two months at Kalighat, I consider myself more familiar with the home than most of the volunteers. I was able to witness a call to accompaniment firsthand, but also witness just how this call may have been led astray.

“Voluntourism” is where people combine a vacation with volunteer work, most often in another country. Although most voluntourists are well-meaning, their increased popularity has a growing shadow of ethical concern. While I had the privilege of working within the home for the majority of my summer, most of my peer volunteers arrived in waves, with church groups or “mission trips” for spans of several days before continuing their travels, often to elaborate spas and resorts. It is almost always admirable to dedicate time and manpower to a meaningful cause, but how much can one really help after being picked up and

and their $88 neptune blue sea moss gel.

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

Contact Redmond Bernhold at rbernho2@nd.edu

placed in a brand new context and setting? How can one ensure that a volunteer’s skillset aligns with the work being done? Further, when I continue to explore the core tenets of liberation theology, I keep returning back to this idea of accompaniment. This is something that Notre Dame, specifically the Institute of Social Concerns (ISC), with whom I completed my summer fellowship, emphasizes heavily through all of their pre-departure training and meetings. By ensuring that their fellows spend eight weeks living with and working at their sites, the ISC pushes for accompaniment in the very structure of their programs. Accompaniment is the act of walking along someone in their suffering and moment of crises; it represents a shared journey of solidarity rather than a surface level approach. Voluntourism somewhat works against that shared journey; as I saw in my summer, most voluntourists are somewhat transient and do not work within a location long enough to grow connection and a fruitful relationship that allows for mutual benefit. Ultimately, the call to service or

gone to Holy Cross. And finally, on October 3, 2025, after more than a year of fighting, the Fencing Club of Holy Cross College officially came to life.

That moment — seeing our club name in the official email — was surreal. All the frustration, all the late nights and all the “no’s” had led to this.

Our biggest challenge now is funding. Fencing isn’t cheap. Masks, foils, jackets — they add up fast. But thanks to the incredible generosity of fencing coaches and donors Alan Blakeborough and Kevin Byrd, who provided some used equipment and “weapons,” we’re hopeful we’ll soon be able to open practices to even beginner fencers. Because that’s the dream: making fencing accessible to anyone who wants to try.

We also plan to reapply for dual recognition through Notre Dame to expand our resources and reach more students. But RecSports recently announced a hiring freeze. No new clubs — for now.

Still, that doesn’t stop us.

Carolina Dille Class of 2027 Fencing Club President Oct. 29

to do something greater isn’t something that should be ignored. The issue lies in a true vocation and motivation for volunteer work — do you feel called to spend a week or two working with a marginalized community because it would look good on a resume or would grant you some sort of do-gooder satisfaction? Or do you feel compelled to enrich your life and the lives of others by dedicating yourself to the work for a substantial period of time? Seeking personal growth or a transformative experience is admirable, but one shouldn’t do it at the expense of the community you feel so called to help. This is the importance of accompaniment; with not only time, but an intimate dedication to walk alongside suffering, to actually grapple with the context and constraints of a situation … that’s where the true good in service work can be found.

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

Contact Ivy Clark at iclark@nd.edu

Columnist, “The Education of an Idealist”

‘Halloween III’ is Halloween par excellence

By Harry Penne Scene Copy Editor

It’s a question asked many times: What movie should I watch on Halloween night? Personally, I like something that matches the vibe of the holiday, a film exuding classic Halloween energy. One may be drawn to the original “Halloween” from 1978. Yes, the film is a great choice for spooky season, but if you want a story about the holiday and not merely set on it, jump ahead a few installments to 1982’s “Halloween III: Season of the Witch.” It’s weird, genuinely scary and severely underrated.

Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace, “Season of the Witch” is remembered as the “Halloween” movie without Michael Myers. John Carpenter, director of the first film, wanted the franchise to become an anthology series, where each year’s installment was a standalone story centered around the holiday. Myers’ storyline seemed to end with his death in “Halloween II,” and the filmmakers wanted to preserve it and pilot the anthology approach; however, fans weren’t happy, and the Shape returned in “Halloween 4.”

Now, to be clear, I am not demeaning the original 1978 “Halloween.” I love the film and find it to be frightening and revolutionary. The image of Myers’ mask and the iconic theme are both inseparable

By Sydney Nelson Scene Writer

Over the past few years, true crime has held a firm grip on the American entertainment industry. Recent documentaries like “American Murder,” Netflix series such as “Monster” and other pieces of true crime media have left the public desperate for more. And now Derek Cianfrance’s “Roofman” has become this genre’s newest addition.

This biopic, starring Channing Tatum, tells the story of “nice guy” robber Jeffrey Manchester. The film details Manchester’s rooftop McDonald’s robberies, which land him a 45-year prison sentence. Manchester, an army veteran who was regarded by other characters as a tactical genius, quickly escapes prison and hides out in a Toys R Us where he falls for Leigh, a recently divorced Toys R Us employee.

Shortly after, Manchester begins integrating himself into her life, attending her church and getting close to her family. The depiction of Manchester’s crimes combined with his romance with Leigh creates a true crime-romcom hybrid.

As a film, “Roofman” is perfectly adequate. Its mixture of comedic scenes and heartbreaking

aspects of October. However, if you step back and look at the movie critically, it doesn’t scream Halloween, and this is not only because Haddonfield, Illinois, in October looks suspiciously like Southern California in summer. You could take the story and place it on any other calendar day. Swap pumpkins for sparklers, call the film “July Fourth,” and it would still work. The formula for vintage slasher flicks lends itself to replicability for any season. In contrast, “Season of the Witch” can only happen on Halloween.

The film follows Dr. Challis (Tom Atkins), who, after being cryptically warned about Halloween masks by a patient who mysteriously dies, investigates Silver Shamrock Novelties, makers of the season’s most popular children’s masks. Challis uncovers the evil truth behind the company and its founder,

spell. Challis races against the clock to stop the broadcast, battling killer androids and electronic sorcery along the way. If this plot sounds crazy, it is, but that’s part of the film’s uniqueness. Slasher movies are a staple of the horror genre, but they can get predictable and dull. “Halloween III” is not dull by any means. As fantasy horror, the film explores some of the Celtic origins of Halloween and attempts to modernize witchcraft with 1980s technology, a strange combination that oddly works, leading to some grisly kills. Cochran wants to honor the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain

which celebrates the beginning of the darker half of the year. Allegedly, this is the night when the veil between the land of the living and dead is thinnest. According to Celtic tradition, this is why costumes were worn — to

The movie’s most infamous scene has to be when the mask’s deadly powers are revealed, targeting an unknowing family. The spell causes the masks’ chips, when the “magic pumpkin” advert is broadcast, to produce bugs and snakes that kill the wearer and anyone nearby. It’s a disturbing sequence and quite uncomfortable to watch but truly illustrates Cochran’s evil. Worse, the scene is scored by a goofy jingle, and the juxtaposition is unnerving. Shortly after, there’s a montage of children trick-ortreating all across the country in the masks scored by an iteration of the jingle that encourages them

‘Roofman’: Celebrating crime

ones keeps the audience engaged throughout the entire movie. The dialogue sounded natural, and I greatly enjoyed the soundtrack. Additionally, the portrayal of relationships in this film was noteworthy. I was impressed by the believability of Manchester’s relationship with Leigh and his relationship with Leigh’s daughters. While watching this movie in theaters, I must admit that I enjoyed it.

However, the enjoyable cinematic elements of this film are overshadowed by its overall message. “Roofman” makes light of the heinous crimes committed by Jeffrey Manchester and even glamorizes them.

In case you’re unaware of the nature of Manchester’s crimes,

while he robbed their place of work. Manchester ran from the police when they attempted to arrest him and then escaped from prison after being incarcerated, demonstrating his flagrant lack of remorse for the crimes he committed. Evidently, Jeffrey Manchester is not a person to be celebrated. However, “Roofman” does just this: celebrates a criminal. Complimented by Channing Tatum’s naturally warm and likable persona, the

to go and watch their TVs. This is arguably one of the most chilling scenes in the “Halloween” series, especially given that children don’t have plot armor in this flick.

The ending to “Season of the Witch” is infuriating and highly debated in horror cinema. Challis frantically calls the TV networks to cancel the Silver Shamrock broadcast, and he successfully convinces all but one. He watches the magic pumpkin in fear and begs the station to “Stop it!” Suddenly, the credits roll without a resolution. The original credits featured screaming voices, but Wallace felt this was too dark and wanted to leave some hope that Challis was victorious.

It’s easy to see how Halloween imagery haunts the entire film, especially compared to its predecessors. From the opening credits showing the magic pumpkin, to the countless trick-ortreaters, to infusion of folklore and Samhain, to the three masks — a jack-o-lantern, witch and skeleton — it’s quintessentially Halloween. But don’t be fooled! “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” is not for the faint-hearted or squeamish. It’s legitimately scary and gross with dark content matter. If you think you can stomach it and dare to view it on Halloween night, go ahead. Put on your mask and watch.

Contact Harry Penne at hpenne@nd.edu

accountability.

ences not to like. He’s presented as some sort of loveable genius, and his cinematic escape from prison is portrayed as a great feat. Furthermore, the way that Manchester is characterized causes the audience to feel sympathetic for this man, despite the undeniable harm that he has caused to multiple people.

This film not only turns a criminal into a hero, but it also neglects Manchester’s victims. Although he was labeled a “nice guy” by some, that doesn’t erase the fact that he committed multiple armed robberies that negatively impacted the well-being of many. This movie liberates Manchester from any

Coupled with the recent influx of true crime media, there’s been a growing trend to glamorize and even praise criminals. This is especially prevalent on social media platforms like TikTok, where popular true crime documentaries and series inspire creators to make content romanticizing serial killers and other dangerous criminals. However, unlike other recent true crime media, “Roofman’s” adulation of crime is deliberate. It is apparent that this film was intended to be lighthearted and unserious from its conception — it was even marketed as a comedy film. The creators of this film have a blatant disregard for the very real impact of Manchester’s crimes. As a film, “Roofman” was entertaining, and if it had been based on a fictitious crime, the film’s comedic tone would be justifiable. However, Cianfrance’s humorous portrayal of these crimes exonerates Manchester of all accountability and dehumanizes his victims. Instead of condemning the unpardonable acts of Jeffrey Manchester, “Roofman” celebrates a criminal.

Contact Sydney Nelson at snelson01@saintmarys.edu

character of Jeffrey Manchester

Irish women’s basketball gears up for new season

By Payton Dymek Sports Writer

The Notre Dame women’s basketball team is entering their sixth season with head coach Niele Ivey. As one of the most experienced coaches in the game, with five years of experience playing for the Irish from 1996-2001 and four years with the Indiana Fever, Ivey is the fourth coach in Notre Dame women’s basketball history, and has found a relative amount of success with the Irish.

For the past five years, Notre Dame has earned a 117-38 record, going 28-6 (16-2) last season, when they lost against Texas Christian University, Utah, North Carolina State, Florida State, Duke and TCU later in the season in the Sweet Sixteen. The Irish will face NC State, Florida State and Duke during regular season play, but could potentially play the rest in the NCAA tournament or post-season. Last year, the Irish had a large win streak of 19 games between Dec. 5, 2024 and Feb. 20, 2025 and

they are looking to find similar success this season. In the last four years, Notre Dame has successfully made it to the Sweet Sixteen, losing to No. 1 NC State, No. 2 Maryland, No. 3 Oregon State and No. 2 TCU. In the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) preseason poll, the Irish were picked to finish fifth out of 18 teams. Out of 70 votes, Duke had 40, NC State had 25, North Carolina had one, Louisville had two and Notre Dame had two. The ACC sent eight teams last year to the NCAA tournament, making competition this year more competitive than we’ve seen in prior years. Last year’s preseason poll predicted Notre Dame to finish sixth in ACC, showing how Irish’ skill last year will carry over into their season this year.

The coaches also released the All-ACC Preseason Team, which only had seven of the 18 teams in the ACC represented; however, Notre Dame’s very own junior guard Hannah Hidalgo was named Preseason Player of the Year. Hidalgo, a

two-time AP First Team AllAmerican, Wooden Finalist and last year’s ACC Player of the Year, is looking to put up big numbers on the season. She became the only player to average at least 20.0 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game and 3.0 steals per game while shooting at least .400 from three-point range and .850 from the free throw line since 2000. More specifically, during her sophomore season, Hidalgo averaged 23.8 points per game, breaking the Notre Dame record that she set the year prior at 22.6. Hidalgo has also been named to the Naismith Watchlist, Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watchlist and collected an AP Preseason All-American honor. Notre Dame also had freshman forward Leah Macy named to the Preseason AllFreshman Team. Macy, fivestar forward who was ranked number 19 overall in the class of 2025, averaged 27 points, 13.4 rebounds, eight assists and a field gain percent of

FOOTBALL

64.6 during her senior year. Notre Dame’s roster has seen significant losses after last season, as several seniors graduated to play professionally and multiple players transferred out. Olivia Miles, who was a senior guard, shocked the basketball world when she announced that she’d be continuing collegiate basketball instead of being drafted as the number two pick. Miles announced that she’d be entering the transfer portal, disappointing Irish fans even more, as she had put up big numbers in her senior year, having a free-throw percentage of 79% and averaging 15.4 points per game. Miles is now committed to play for TCU in her potential final year of collegiate play. Aside from Miles, Notre Dame lost Kate Koval who led the team in blocks with 1.7 per game and averaged 5.3 points per game. Koval is now playing for the Louisiana State Tigers. Emma Risch, who spent two years at Notre Dame averaging 5.7 points

per game while suffering injuries to her hip, decided to enter the transfer portal and now plays for Florida State. Although Notre Dame is not the only program who dealt with loss like this, it seems like not all the talents they possessed last year have been adequately replaced, leaving fans questioning who will step in and fill the void. Ivey brought in transfers from Loyola Marymount in Maryland, Holy Cross, Vanderbilt, Kansas State and even Duke, but it’s unsure if these players will rise to the same level.

The Irish have their exhibition game on Oct. 30 where they will play Purdue Northwest in Purcell Pavilion, before welcoming Fairleigh Dickinson on Nov. 5 and playing their “The Bend” game against Chicago State on Nov. 9. ACC play will open for the Irish on Dec. 7, when they travel to Tallahassee to play Florida State.

Contact Payton D ymek at pdymeck@nd.edu

Toughness: The life and legacy of Frank Leahy

By Ben Hicks Associate Sports Editor

When Boston College and Notre Dame take the field Saturday afternoon in Chestnut Hill, they will continue the Holy War rivalry as the only two Catholic institutions still competing at the highest level of intercollegiate football. But the Eagles and Irish will also be battling for the Frank Leahy Memorial Bowl, a cut-crystal trophy honoring the only man to ever lead both historic programs. Born in 1908, Leahy was raised in O’Neill, Nebraska, a small town on the South Dakota border that had a population hovering around 1,000 during the early 20th-century. He became a star football player at Winner High School, a fitting name for the accolades and accomplishments his career would bring, before taking his talents to South Bend to play for the legendary Knute Rockne.

A 1931 graduate of Notre Dame, Leahy was a standout tackle on both the 1929 and 1930 national championship Irish teams. Leahy departed South Bend shortly following Rockne’s tragic plane crash death, and the Irish struggled to replicate their success of the ‘20s in the pair’s absence.

During Notre Dame football’s ‘30s-era depression, Leahy established himself as one of the nation’s premier line coaches. After a year each at Georgetown and Michigan State, Leahy spent

most of the decade at powerhouse Fordham, where he helped harden the Rams’ famed Seven Blocks of Granite offensive line.

Leahy then shipped up to Boston for the 1939 season, taking the helm of a mediocre Boston College program in search of football excellence similar to their Catholic counterparts in northern Indiana.

Leahy quickly flipped the fortunes of BC football, finishing 9-2 in his first season, leading the Eagles to their first appearance in the final AP Poll. They shut out rivals Boston University and Holy Cross before narrowly falling to Clemson in the Cotton Bowl.

The 1940 Eagles, known around Boston as the “Team of Destiny,” scored the most points of any team in America en route to an undefeated national championship season. Their Nov. 16 rivalry with fellow Jesuit school and top-10 foe Georgetown was declared one of the greatest games ever by sportswriter Grantland Rice, the same man who bestowed the Four Horsemen nickname upon the 1924 Irish. The Hoyas hadn’t lost in three seasons, yet Leahy’s Eagles escaped Fenway Park with a 19-18 victory. They would garner six shutouts to run the table before clinching the perfect season with a win over Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl.

A contract dispute following a long-term extension at BC nearly prevented Leahy from returning to his alma mater in 1941, but he

used the media to tell what the South Bend Tribune would call “the greatest lie of his life” to get out of his agreement. Once home, he led the Irish to an 8-01 record in his inaugural campaign using Rockne’s scheme before installing his preferred “T formation” the following season. A 9-1 1943 season that included five top-10 victories gave the Irish their first national title since 1930, but Leahy soon departed his post to serve as a lieutenant in the Second World War.

After returning to South Bend in 1946, Leahy’s Irish rattled off four consecutive unbeaten seasons, including three national championship crowns in 1946, 1947 and 1949. He had set a goal of ten straight seasons without a loss, but that 1949 crown would mark the beginning of the end for Leahy’s success and health, at Notre Dame.

Tired of Irish dominance, many of Notre Dame’s usual rivals threatened to drop their annual meetings unless the Irish diminished their scholarship count from 33 to 18. Leahy’s team struggled mightily in 1950 while adjusting to the changes, but they quickly rebounded to finish 7-2-1 in both 1951 and 1952.

The 1953 Irish once again finished unbeaten, but the season

was marred by controversy in a 14-14 tie at Iowa and a health scare that left Leahy unconscious during the halftime of a win over Georgia Tech due to nervous tension and pancreatitis. Despite their unblemished record, the Irish didn’t win the national championship, and Leahy resigned just two months after the conclusion of the season.

Although he returned following the fainting against Georgia Tech, Leahy’s health had long been a concern to those closest to him. A tragic figure, he felt the only way to honor his former boss Rockne’s legacy was to achieve perfection every single season. He prescribed an intense workload to his players, but he embodied that desired determination and grit more than anyone in the history of Notre Dame’s program. The stress of coaching Notre Dame became a burden to his health and wellbeing, despite the unrivaled success that the program enjoyed under his leadership.

In many ways, Frank Leahy became the first representative of the stressful and successful duality of coaching major college football during his time at both Boston College and Notre Dame.

Like many fans, donors, administrators and coaches today, Leahy drove himself towards

perfection every day and every season during his 13 years as a head coach. He won 107 of 129 games, captured four national titles, had six perfect seasons and even mentored Notre Dame’s first four Heisman Trophy winners. However, he alienated many in Boston with the way he left BC, and burned himself out at Notre Dame due to the intensity with which he coached and lived.

Leahy was a relentless manager who preached a tough brand of football both in practice and games. His players would train until they bled, were consistently among the best conditioned teams in the country and even refused to settle for three points at the end of drives. Leahy demanded nothing short of flawless effort en route to team glory during his 11 seasons leading Notre Dame. Although a Leahy-esque undefeated season is out of the picture for this year’s Irish squad, if Notre Dame can emulate the legend’s toughness, they can capture his trophy on Saturday and take one more step towards returning to the gold standard of Notre Dame football, set long ago by Frank Leahy.

Contact Ben Hicks at bhicks2@nd.edu

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

What is your favorite Halloween costume that you have done in the past

Linh Nguyen grad student Off Campus

“A professor.”

McKenzie Reitmayer sophmore Howard “Bumble bee.”

Bridget Sutter sophomore Pasquerilla East

“Founding Father.”

Lindsay Wurth sophomore Pasquerilla East

“Barden Bellas.”

Makenzie Eggert sophomore Pasquerilla East

“Mac and Cheese.”

SOCIAL MEDIA POLL

Have an idea for a poll? Email dstangel@nd.edu

How aware were you of these opportunities?

CROSSWORD

A recent survey conducted by The Observer via Instagram asked students how aware they were about the opportunities the University of Notre Dame gave students to take part in service trips, career treks and other organized opportunities. 54.5% had no idea about thee opportunities. 24.8% of students reported being aware of these opportunities and knowing how to apply. 14.9% of students were also aware of these opportunities but unsure how to apply. Lastly, 6.6% of students had no idea that these opportunities were going on and were not aware on how to apply.

THE NEXT FIVE DAYS

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Friday

Halloween Festival: Paranormal Playground

Experience a haunted house, dance to a DJ and have treats. 9 p.m. - midnight Library Lawn

Saturday

Notre Dame men’s hockey vs. Michigan

The Irish face the Wolverines for a white-out night. 7 p.m. Compton Family Ice Arena

Sunday

Organist Ilona Kubiaczyk-Adler performance

Hear a Polish-born organist play international songs. 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. Basilica of the Sacred Heart

Monday

Notre Dame men’s basketball vs. Long Island University

The Fighting Irish play the Sharks at home. 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. Purcell Pavillion

Tuesday

Sacred Art “Visio Divina”

Practice an ancient, image-based form of Christian prayer 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Sophomore right handed pitcher Kellan Klosterman throws a pitch during the Notre Dame’s Irish Fall Classic game on Thursday afternoon. The inter-squad preseason game was the second in two days for the team.

Romina llanos | The Observer

Keys to victory: Notre Dame vs. Boston College

By Chris Dailey Sports Writer

The Boston College Eagles are 1-7 on the season. The team sits at the bottom of the ACC standings. Their non-conference loss to perennial basketball school UConn two weeks ago just added insult to injury. Regardless of how the Eagles have fared this season, if there is one thing Marcus Freeman learned through his first three seasons on the job in South Bend is that underestimating any opponent is a recipe for disaster. Here are the Irish’ keys to victory this Saturday.

First-half dominance

Freeman has repeatedly used the phrase “play violent” during his press conferences this season. That fierce edge that Notre Dame embodies should be no less prevalent against Boston College, just as it was against USC right before fall break. The Irish need to establish dominance in the trenches early. Junior

defensive lineman Boubacar Traore leads the Irish with 6.5 sacks. By the end of the first 30 minutes of play against Boston College, that statistic should increase.

On the flip side of the ball, junior running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price showed the entire country why they are the best one-two punch around. Freeman’s point of emphasis must be getting his workhorses in the backfield going early. The last thing Notre Dame needs is Love and Price taking hits in the second half. The Irish must be intent about getting the most they can out of their stars early at every position, taking a comfortable lead and then letting the backups get their chance to show off. This will only happen if they are dominant in every area of the field from the get-go.

Aerial attack

Of 136 eligible teams, Boston College ranks 111th in passing defense. While the Irish are not too far

in front at the 107th rank, the Eagles’ case is different as the only ranked opponent they have played is No. 16 Louisville.

Through the entirety of the season, redshirt freshman CJ Carr has flourished as an excellent passer. His ability to thread the needle and remain poised in the pocket has been extraordinary to watch, especially since it’s a stark contrast from former quarterback Riley Leonard’s running-tendency a season ago. Carr has tallied 1,758 yards through the air. However, his least impressive performance came two weeks ago against USC. Carr didn’t appear to be himself, missing several typically automatic throws and making an errant decision to scramble far behind the line before tossing an interception.

Getting Carr back on track must be a priority for Notre Dame. The young gunslinger is among the best underclassmen quarterbacks in the country. With weapons galore in the likes of senior wide receiver

Malachi Fields, junior wide receiver

Jordan Faison and senior tight end Eli Raridon, Carr has all the help he needs in the guys running routes for him. Against a weak Boston College defense, the Irish have the chance to really instill the sense of confidence Carr was playing with prior to the USC game.

Clean brand of football

Over their last three games, the Irish are averaging 8.3 penalties per game. That mark ranks them tied for 16th in the country over that span. Against USC, Notre Dame was penalized eight times for 96 cumulative yards compared to the Trojans’ one penalty for five yards.

Whether or not the refs are “against” Notre Dame, as many fans in and around Notre Dame Stadium shouted throughout recent games, remains uncertain. What is certain is that Notre Dame needs to clean up their play. Although they were able to get away with the sloppiness in the last three games, that kind of play will come back to bite them when they face stronger opponents. With the College Football Playoff rapidly approaching, the Irish must fix their act now.

Against Boston College, Notre Dame must prove it can play a complete, disciplined game. The habits they develop now will play a major role in how far this team can go.

The Irish clearly had not learned their lesson from lackluster showings in the penalty department against Boise State and NC State. Against the Broncos, the Irish were penalized 11 times for 112 yards. After the game, Freeman stated in his press conference, “it’s just the lack of discipline that we got to clean up.” While Freeman’s militia didn’t reach double-digit penalties against the Wolfpack, they were still flagged six times for 55 yards against NC State.

Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey@nd.edu

A Notre Dame coach review: Freeman vs. Kelly

By Claire Watson

Associate Sports Editor

The football season has descended into chaos, with coaches fired left and right, including UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster, Brent Pry from Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, Sam Pittman at Arkansas following the loss to Notre Dame, James Franklin from Penn State, UAB head coach Trent Dilfer, Oregon State’s Trent Bray, Florida’s Billy Napier and Colorado State’s Jay Norvell.

Head coach Marcus Freeman commented on the state of college football, saying, ”You can like it or not like it. It is what it is, and you can’t worry about that. You have to worry about giving your all to this team and putting this program in a position to have success.”

But the most recent addition to the list is now-former LSU and Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, who made headlines around the country after the team’s 49-25 loss to Texas A&M. Kelly finished his time at LSU with an overall record of 34-14.

This firing has exploded the internet, especially surrounding the South Bend area. Kelly got a lot of reflections following his dismissal.

”You never want to see anybody lose a job,” Freeman said. ”That

person, the coaches, the families, the people affected, the players [and] especially somebody you know. Coach Kelly gave me an opportunity to come here, and I’m always rooting for him.”

Freeman also commented on being a head coach and what comes with the job.

“It’s also the profession we have chosen. We’ve chosen this profession and we know that it can be a result of choosing this profession,” he said.

Both coaches improved the Notre Dame football team, but their legacies are distinct from each other.

Marcus Freeman

Freeman is in his fourth year as head coach at Notre Dame, and like Kelly, he has dealt with low moments and high expectations. That said, he has consistently improved since he took over the team in 2021.

In the 2021-2022 season, Kelly and Freeman overlapped as coaches, with Freeman serving as the defensive coordinator for the team for the entire regular season. That would change, however, come December, as he took the reins following Kelly’s abrupt departure from the team to take on the LSU job. Freeman took the team to the Fiesta Bowl that season, but fell

37-35 against Oklahoma State.

In a bumpy first full year as head coach, Freeman led the team to an overall record of 8-4, including two upset losses against Marshall and Stanford. The Irish made the Gator Bowl, where they pulled off a 45-38 victory over South Carolina.

Going into his second season, which looked more appealing to fans’ eyes, Freeman led the team to an overall record of 10-3 and rounded out the season with a 40-8 beatdown of Oregon State in the Sun Bowl.

His third season in charge would come to be his most respected season thus far. It came with a massive bump in the road that Freeman had to overcome: a shocking 16-14 loss to Northern Illinois in the team’s home opener. This raised many questions regarding Freeman’s leadership. But he proved them wrong as he took the team to the national championship for the first time in his career at Notre Dame. While they eventually fell short in a 34-23 loss against Ohio State, the 2024 season was a success story.

Now in the current season, Freeman and the Irish stand at 5-2. Their season kicked off with a heart-wrenching 27-24 loss against Miami and a 41-40 loss against Texas A&M at home a

game later. Quickly turning things around, Freeman’s squad won the next five games against Purdue (5630), Arkansas (56-13), Boise State (28-7), NC State (36-7) and USC (34-24).

Overall: 38-12

Win average: 9.5

Loss average: 3

Brian Kelly Kelly coached at Notre Dame for nearly 11 years. He began his journey with the Irish in 2010, finishing the season 8-5. In addition to this, the team competed in the Sun Bowl against Miami, taking a 33-17 win. In his second season, Kelly finished 8-5 once again and took them to the 2011 Champs Bowl, but lost 18-14 against Florida State.

In season three, one of the best of his tenure, Kelly finished with a record of 12-1, his only loss being in the BCS National Championship against No. 2-ranked Alabama. But getting to the national championship was not the only interesting thing happening. Shortly following the season, the team found out about a catfishing scheme involving former player Manti Te’o, who was the victim of the well-known scandal.

His next two seasons were not as successful. Kelly finished his fourth

season with the Irish 9-4 and his fifth season 8-5. Kelly managed a comeback in his sixth season, going 10-3, but his luck didn’t last long, as in his seventh season, the team went 4-8 and did not compete in a bowl that year. This was the low water mark of his time in South Bend.

Headed into his eighth, ninth and 10th seasons, Kelly more than righted the ship, going 10-3 in 2017, 12-1 with a College Football Playoff Semifinal appearance and 11-2 in 2019. Kelly would continue to succeed in season 11, as he took the group back to the CFP Semifinal once more in 2020, finishing the season with an overall record of 10-2. Kelly finished his final season with the Irish in 2021, going 11-2 and stepping down before the Fiesta Bowl.

Overall: 113-40

Win Average: 9.41

Loss Average: 3.3

While Kelly made history at Notre Dame as the “winningest coach of all time“ with 113 wins over his 12 seasons, Freeman has shown the same talent in his more limited time. He has kept the floor high and shows the team’s growth every season.

Contact Claire Watson at cwatson7@nd.edu

Irish men’s basketball season preview

By John Keyes Sports Writer

The Notre Dame men’s basketball team comes into the 2025-26 season with the biggest expectations they’ve had since the start of the Micah

Shrewsberry era. Coming off of a season where the team went 15-18 overall and 8-12 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play, Irish fans were left wanting more. There were glimpses of hope for the young

team last year, and with a strong recruiting class this year, Irish fans are certainly hoping for the team to make their first appearance in the big dance since 2022.

With the return of junior

guard Markus Burton who averaged 21.3 points per game 21.3 last year, Notre Dame knows where a lot of their scoring will be coming from. Burton has already been receiving honors, being named to the preseason

All-ACC First Team and being named to the Cousy Award watchlist, which goes to the top point guard in the country at the end of the year. Every see “Basketball” on page 11

Basketball

Continued from page 10

strong team needs a go-to player and a leader, and Notre Dame has theirs with Burton this year. Defenses will know their focal point before playing the Irish, so the surrounding pieces around Burton will need to step up if the Irish want a stronger record than last year.

That first surrounding piece around Burton is junior guard Braeden Shrewsberry, most well known for his work beyond the arc. Shrewsberry comes off a strong season averaging 14.0 ppg and shooting 36.9% from three as a high volume shooter. In Shrewsberry’s sophomore season, he added more facets to his game with a stronger floater and better ball handling. It will be interesting to see what Shrewsberry added to his game this offseason

and how he will complement Burton in the backcourt.

With the loss of forward Tae Davis to the transfer portal, Notre Dame’s highest-ranked recruit in modern history, freshman guard Jalen Haralson from La Lumiere High School in Indiana, will likely be joining Burton and Shrewsberry in the starting lineup. Haralson will look to fill Davis’ shoes as a strong piece as both a scorer and a defensive stopper. Haralson is expected to be Notre Dame’s third leading scorer by many, and if he could do that, he will propel the Irish to a more promising season and be seen as one of the top freshmen in the ACC.

The biggest question in the starting lineup heading into the season is the frontcourt. The Irish seemingly haven’t had a strong paint presence since Paul Atkinson in 2022, which is conveniently the last time Notre Dame

SPORTS

made the NCAA tournament. Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry will be looking for senior forward Kebba Njie and transfer senior forward Carson Towt to be a strong tandem in the frontcourt to support the proven backcourt.

The Notre Dame bench will likely revolve around sophomore guard Sir Mohammed, sophomore forward Garrett Sundra and sophomore guard Cole Certa. Micah Shrewsberry will hope to get more bench production from some of the other freshmen like forward Ryder Frost and forward Brady Koehler. Another interesting piece off the bench will be junior guard Logan Imes who had an impact off the bench throughout his first two seasons with Notre Dame. If guys like Sir Mohammed and Garret Sundra can step into bigger roles to give the Irish some depth, Notre Dame will be circled on more teams’ calendars.

Notre Dame starts the season off with three home games in which they should be able to test out different lineups and get comfortable without much stress before their first real test at Ohio State on Nov. 16. If the Irish can secure that win before heading into the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, they will play with confidence against a strong team in Kansas where they could possibly notch a ranked win. In many preseason rankings of the ACC, Notre Dame was picked to finish middle of the pack. Teams like Duke, North Carolina and Louisville were picked to end around the top of the ACC. Notre Dame will have the opportunity to match up against all three of these teams offering them a chance to make noise in the ACC and around the country. The Irish will have firepower behind Burton and Shrewsberry, but the fate of the season will likely depend on

the supporting players to truly round out the roster and win conference games consistently.

Irish fans are expecting to finally see some results in Shrewsberry’s third year as head coach with respectable leaders and the strongest recruiting class we’ve seen in recent years. The team is hoping to pack Purcell Pavilion once again by starting off strong early in the season and using that momentum to carry them the whole year. Notre Dame’s basketball seasons have been hard to predict in the past few years, but this year’s team is poised to have their best season since Micah Shrewsberry took over as head coach.

The Notre Dame men’s basketball team prepares to host LIU for their home opener on Monday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.

Contact Henry Lytle at hlytle@nd.edu

Irish hockey collides with rival No. 2 Michigan

By Nikki Statchurski Sports Writer

On Friday, the Fighting Irish will host the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines at 7 p.m. and will also play Saturday at 6 p.m in Compton Family Ice Arena. The series marks the start of Big 10 conference play for both teams, and tensions are high for the biggest rivalry in Irish hockey.

The Irish hosted Robert Morris this past wee, recording a 6-3 win Friday night and a 2-2 tie on Saturday. Graduate student forward Sutter Muzzatti provided a great offensive effort for the Irish, recording two goals and two assists in Friday’s win and a goal in Saturday’s tie. Muzzatti is the leading scorer for the Irish, with six goals, three assists and nine points so far this season.

The Wolverines also played Robert Morris this year, beating the Colonials 4-2 and 10-2. Robert Morris is the only opponent both teams have played this season. Michigan won its first seven games, including a 4-0 defeat of No. 3 Western Michigan, the defending national champions. The Broncos got revenge on the Wolverines with a 5-2 victory last Friday.

Michigan is one of three ranked teams that hold a 7-1-0 record. Playing in the Big 10, arguably the toughest conference for collegiate hockey, both schools consistently produce exceptional players who make it to the NHL. This season is no different. The Wolverines currently have 13 players who have been selected in the NHL Draft, compared to Notre Dame’s six.

The Wolverines’ season is off

to a powerful start, and their success is due in part to a notable defense. Before its most recent loss to Western Michigan, Michigan held all opponents to two or less goals. Freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic has been a strong presence in the net, only allowing 12 goals, one on an empty net. In the 2025 NHL Draft, Ivankovic was selected in the second round with the 58th pick by the Nashville Predators. With a .937 save percentage, he is a lethal force to beat.

Although its defense is Michigan’s greatest strength, the Wolverine offense is certainly up to par. They have recorded more than 10 goals in a game twice this season: 10 against Robert Morris and 11 against Mercyhurst. Their offensive style is brutal, especially in picking off defensemen and closing in on the net.

HCC WOMEN’S SOCCER

Notre Dame is having one of their better seasons in recent history under the helm of Coach Brock Sheahan, who specializes in a detail-oriented style of play.

Apart from an 8-2 win against St. Lawrence, the Irish are very lowscoring. When they do score, they make tactical shots, often from a distance that is difficult for defensemen and goaltenders to stop. The Irish have proven they are unafraid to shoot, but they must make smart shots if they are to be successful against Michigan.

Apart from Muzzatti, the Wolverine defense will be sure to try and limit senior defenseman Axel Kumlin in the offensive zone. Kumlin has vital playmaking skills, with one goal so far this season and six assists.

Notre Dame has embraced their home-ice advantage, with

a current record of 3-0-1 when playing at home. The Irish will be sure to utilize every opportunity they have to maximize their play against the Wolverines, and the team’s success will be dependent on limiting penalties and scoring as much as possible on power plays. The Irish must minimize penalties, especially against a Michigan defense that is not afraid to poke around and frustrate their opponents.

Notre Dame and Michigan are longtime rivals across multiple sports. Both schools have a big hockey culture, and tickets for Friday and Saturday’s games are almost sold out as both schools prepare to battle in South Bend this weekend.

Contact Nikki Stachurski at mstachu2@nd.edu

Saints women’s soccer marches into NAIA Playoffs

By Chris Dailey Sports Writer

The Holy Cross women’s soccer team wrapped up their regular season on Wednesday night, finishing on level terms in a goalless draw against Trinity Christian. The result bumped the Saints to 9-53 on the season and 8-1-3 in conference play, marching the team into the NAIA National Playoffs for the first time in program history.

The qualification stems from the Saints’ automatic qualification spot after topping the Chicagoland Athletic Conference regular season rankings. The monumental moment has evoked a great sense of pride within the Holy Cross community.

“I am incredibly proud of coach Duma Magagula and

the Holy Cross women’s soccer team for achieving such an incredible accomplishment. These coaches and women have earned the first ever regular season CCAC championship and, thereby, have earned an automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament. This historic moment speaks volumes to their dedication and commitment to making this year so incredibly successful. All that is left to is say is ’Go Saints,’” Holy Cross’ director of athletics Robert Pastoor said.

The Saints finished the season 8-1-3 in conference play. They now receive home-field advantage throughout the entirety of the CCAC playoffs. Against the Trolls, Holy Cross showed off why they have been the team to beat all season long. The Saints

outshot Trinity Christian 10-8 and notched a total of 11 corner kicks. In the 69th minute of play, junior forward Miriam Iturriaga-Sanchez’s powerful effort was denied by the woodwork.

Iturriaga-Sanchez is a critical piece in coach Magagula’s team for three years now, and her efforts have played a large role in Holy Cross’ rise to the top of the CCAC. During her sophomore year, she tallied a team-high 12 goals and five assists. This season, she’s scored three goals and dished out five assists. Although she hasn’t found the back of the net as much as she may have hoped after a goal-frenzy season last year, her relentless work-rate and physical presence in the attacking third has created havoc for opposing defenses. Defensively, junior defender

Abigail Fouts has been a stalwart. One of the Saints’ three captains, Fouts has guided the Saints to allowing only four goals through their last eight games of the season. In that span, Holy Cross has recorded six wins and two draws. It’s been this stretch of form that has inspired Holy Cross to a near-perfect record in conference play.

Fouts is assisted by fellow defenders Frances Parks, Erika Perez and Emma Vono. The back-four create for the most formidable unit in the CCAC.

The Saints have also accomplished this great success through a predominantly local squad. Parks and Perez are from Mishawaka and Elkhart, respectively. Meanwhile, goalkeepers Janiah Juarez and Payton Ladson are South Bend

and Penn High School alumni. In total, 13 players on the Saints’ roster are from Indiana. Magagula’s local recruiting efforts have paid dividends. Those homegrown talents now have legitimate national championship aspirations. If the CCAC rankings hold as is, the Saints will square off against Indiana Northwest in the first round. They tied the RedHawks 3-3 on Oct. 19 in a back and forth game. IturriagaSanchez scored the game-tying goal for the Saints in the final five minutes of the match. The time for the game will be finalized in the coming days. Updated information can be found on Holy Cross’ athletic website and social media platforms.

Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey2@nd.edu

HOCKEY

Football beat picks: Notre Dame vs. Boston College

By Observer Sports Staff Football Beat

Noah Cahill

1-7

Boston College should pose no threat to a Notre Dame team coming off a bye week, riding a five-game win streak. While a rivalry matchup on the road may have been circled on schedules in the past, the 2025 iteration of the Eagles doesn’t bring much to the table on either side of the ball.

The Irish, on the other hand, have found their stride offensively while tightening up on defense. They overcame freshman quarterback CJ Carr’s worst performance of the season against the Trojans, while making just enough plays on the other end to hold on. That represented one of the toughest remaining tests on the road back to the College Football Playoff. However, with injuries piling up, taking care of business quickly on Saturday may be just as important. I believe head coach Marcus Freeman’s group will have no trouble doing it.

Prediction: Notre Dame: 48, Boston College: 10

Chris Dailey Freeman learned his lesson. Notre Dame’s head coach will no longer take these seemingly “smaller” games with an approach that is anything less than that of a

championship-winning team. Everyone around the country knows that Boston College is a 1-7 team. The Eagles lost to the Cardinal of Stanford, 30-20. How is Stanford doing? Well, they were just thrashed by No. 10 Miami, 42-7 last week. Let’s not forget this Irish team lost to the Hurricanes on the road by three in the first start of Carr’s career.

Needless to say, Notre Dame will be bringing that elite mentality with them to Chestnut Hill. Expect them to do their best to dominate on both sides of the ball early and often so starters can earn even more rest before the final few games of the season. Whether it’s through the air, on the ground or defensively, this Irish team should out-class Boston College in all areas of the game. Don’t expect this to be a close one.

Prediction: Notre Dame: 52, Boston College: 17

Ben Hicks

Yes, this is a rivalry game. And yes, Notre Dame is on the road. But this is a bad Boston College team whose worst units make this an even tougher matchup against the Irish. With much of the top-10 holding serve across the country, head coach Marcus Freeman’s bunch isn’t assured a spot in the College Football Playoff just by winning out. The Irish

will need to win all five games in November, and do so pretty convincingly if they want to extend their season. That has to start this weekend in Chestnut Hill.

The Eagles haven’t captured the Holy War since pitching a shutout in 2008, and this version of BC’s defense isn’t likely to replicate that showing. Excluding their week one win over FCS Fordham, the Eagles have allowed at least 28 points in every game, and have conceded at least 38 in each of their last four outings. That doesn’t bode well against an Irish attack featuring freshman quarterback Carr and junior running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Led by the offense, Notre Dame will win big, and that should go a long way as the Irish continue their postseason push.

Prediction: Notre Dame: 56, Boston College: 10

Henry Lytle

Coming off the bye, the Irish will be well rested against a 1-7 Boston College team that has struggled with just about every opponent. They are allowing nearly 38 points per game on defense and only scoring 21 on the offensive side – not a recipe for success against a scorching hot offense with one of the most vicious run games in the country. Notre Dame is too explosive on both the

ground and the air for me to give Boston College much of a chance at stopping them.

The only chance I will give the Eagles at keeping this close is if they can unlock the big play and keep up the scoring. That said, the Irish have been steadily improving on defense, especially in the turnover margin, where they are back to 11th in the country. I think this game serves as a springboard to set up the Irish for the rest of the season, where they will be favored in every game. This week, Notre Dame rolls.

Prediction: Notre Dame: 42, Boston College: 13

Tyler Reidy

I’m with Henry as far as this week’s prediction goes. Sure, Boston College was close for a while with a top-20 Louisville team last weekend. But how often do you see that type of performance two weeks in a row?

Though the 28.5-point spread for Saturday’s game may be a touch on the high side, I don’t see Boston College being in the game for very long.

Prediction: Notre Dame: 42, Boston College: 14

Claire Watson

As the Irish have rounded out their three-game homestand, they now look ahead to Boston College. The junior running back duo of Love and Price leads the offense with the help of Carr, who has shown the Notre Dame fanbase why he can be just as much of an anchor as the backfield. Combined, Love and Price have a total of 23 touchdowns, while Carr has 16 of his own, throwing 14 and rushing for two.

Boston College comes into this game 1-7, with its sole win against Fordham in its season opener. That being said, they should not be taken lightly, as several other games were close losses. Should Notre Dame utilize Carr’s ability to throw downfield, they will take the game comfortably. They should not neglect the strong team that is Boston College, though.

Prediction: Notre Dame: 27, Boston College: 18

Since last September’s loss to Northern Illinois, the Irish have made a habit of comfortably beating inferior teams –Arkansas and NC State being two of the top examples this year. Notre Dame also tends to dominate games against ACC competition, which it will see plenty of down the stretch in November. Look for this week’s result to be a signal that the Irish are still locked in as ever and that they remain a tough Playoff selection out with two losses, even with the concerns about multiple bids in the ACC and Big 12.

Could Jeremiyah Love win the Heisman?

By Tyler Reidy Associate Sports Editor

Since etching his name into the history books of both Notre Dame Stadium and the Notre DameUSC rivalry with a 228-yard performance two weeks ago, Irish junior running back Jeremiyah Love has much more clearly entered the Heisman Trophy picture. Most sportsbooks afford Love the seventh-best Heisman odds in the nation, giving him far and away the best shot among Notre Dame running backs.

The Irish haven’t started November with a player this entrenched in the Heisman conversation since 2017, when running back Josh Adams posted his 1,430-yard rushing season. Adams and his team faded in the final month of that year, a development that Love and the 2025 Irish must avoid to keep all opportunities for individual and team hardware on the table. That said, what can Love do to best position himself for a trip to New York come Dec. 13?

Let’s start by looking at running back Heisman finalists of recent years – there have been more than you might think. Last season,

Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty finished as the runner-up to Travis Hunter with more than 2,500 scrimmage yards and 27 total touchdowns entering the College Football Playoff (CFP). The smallschool factor and its accompanying weaker schedule worked against Jeanty, though, forcing him to post one of the greatest statistical seasons possible just to have a chance.

Three more running backs earned runner-up results in the mid-2010s, two of them coming from Stanford. Christian McCaffrey didn’t score many touchdowns in 2015, but he racked up more than 2,300 scrimmage yards through conference championship weekend, including a legendary showing in the Pac12 Championship Game. Bryce Love never had a real “Heisman moment” with Stanford starting 1-2, but he still sniffed the trophy with nearly 2,000 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns heading into bowl season. Wisconsin runnerup Melvin Gordon put together a Jeanty-like season in 2014, galloping for 408 yards in a single game against Nebraska but missing out on the Playoff opportunity awarded to trophy winner Marcus

Mariota.

In the CFP era, there has been one Heisman winner at running back: Alabama’s Derrick Henry in 2015. Henry had punched in 23 rushing touchdowns and accounted for almost 2,000 ground yards by the time his Heisman weekend rolled around, sealing his case by combining for 90 carries in the regular-season finale and the SEC Championship game. He also benefited from succeeding at the highest level for an Alabama team that went on to win the 2015 national championship. Mark Ingram also won in 2009, going for more than 1,800 scrimmage yards on an undefeated Alabama team.

Looking at past finalists, the statistical benchmark for Love seems fairly obvious: 1,500 scrimmage yards. With five games to go before presentation weekend, he’s sitting at 955 – 758 on the ground, 197 as a receiver – to go with 12 total touchdowns. To reach that 1,500yard plateau, Love would need to average a little more than 100 scrimmage yards a game. Despite his timeshare with junior Jadarian Price, that seems doable, given he’s already averaged 136 against a schedule harder than what he has remaining.

That remaining schedule doesn’t do Love’s ceiling any favors, though. He’s played in three games of sufficient magnitude to be considered “Heisman moment” games, taking advantage of two with a one-handed touchdown grab against Texas A&M and a oneman demolition of USC’s rushing defense. Any big days from Love down the stretch will be mostly expected, which adds to the importance of his and Notre Dame’s natural attraction of attention.

Evidenced by the national champion Heisman runners of Alabama, team success and storyline appeal always helps a candidate. No team that started 0-2 has made the CFP in its 11-season history, a seal Notre Dame could break with a 10-2 finish. And of course, no player was more integral to Notre Dame’s defining victory against USC than Love.

Love also sticks out as a highlight machine among a Heisman candidate class that has been, dare I say, a bit boring. Each of the top five preseason favorites at quarterback (Arch Manning, Cade Klubnik, Garrett Nussmeier, LaNorris Sellers and Drew Allar) have effectively fallen off the map. Left in their wake is a group of

quarterbacks who are outstanding football players but don’t yet qualify as household names. Signalcallers like Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed have collected signature wins on the road, but neither they nor the rest of the candidates ahead of Love have his aptitude for jaw-dropping plays.

On several fronts, Love’s the ideal Heisman candidate from a marketability standpoint. He’s got the punnable last name with a custom-made touchdown celebration to boot. He has hurdles that, regardless of their necessity, the media will always eat up. And he carries major brand recognition as the face of the 12-team CFP’s arrival thanks to his 98-yard run against Indiana last December. Statistically, Love has a steep mountain to climb in his Heisman candidacy, but the nature of the candidates around him and his own appeal will help to keep him firmly in the conversation. If Love keeps rolling and the quarterbacks ahead of him don’t separate, who knows how the odds may ready come Dec. 1.

Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu