THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS ESTABLISHED 1966
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026 | VOL. LXI, NO. 13
Hesburgh Library begins art series initiative By Mara Hall and Gracie Shea
Reporter
Mara Hall | The Observer
On the 12th and 13th floors of Hesburgh Library, large portraits, displaying philosophers, from artist Maxim Kantor are newly exhibited.
portraits and/or portrait busts in other areas of the tower in the coming months,” Meserve said. Maxim Kantor, former director’s fellow of Notre Dame’s Institute for Advanced Study, created eight portraits during his time at Notre Dame, which are currently displayed in Hesburgh Library.
Aristotle, Chesterton, Plato, Hegel and Kant are among those featured in the collections. Kantor chose those he views to be his “favorite he roes,” he said. “I chose only those whom I adore, whom I See “Hesburgh” on page 4
Schnell withdraws from speaking at conference By Observer Staff Dartmouth provost Santiago Schnell will no longer give the Friday keynote address at the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture’s annual fall conference. The cancellation comes amid Schnell’s admission of AI use in some of his published writing — a revelation first publicized by Dartmouth’s
Eddy Street enacts mandatory curfew By Madeline Ferguson
Associate News Editor and Reporter
Hesburgh Library has expanded art initiatives by placing works from experienced members of the University of Notre Dame community into student study spaces. In a statement to The Observer, Margaret Meserve, dean of Hesburgh Libraries, wrote, “On the 12th and the 13th floors, we’re piloting a new program to place art in the stacks that’s related to the collections housed nearby.” In the philosophy section of the 13th floor, it was decided to exhibit portraits by Russian artist Maxim Kantor depicting four philosophers along the back wall. Additionally, Kantor is displayed on the 12th floor of the Department of Theology, with three more paintings depicting theologians. “We’ll be putting up more
NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
student newspaper. Schnell served as dean of the College of Science at Notre Dame from 2021-2025. In an email to conference attendees sent Thursday, the de Nicola Center stated Schnell “has indicated he is regrettably unable to join us for the conference.” Michael Hurley, a professor of literature and theology at Cambridge University,
will speak in Schnell’s place. Hurley will deliver a keynote address on “What Only Poetry Knows.” The Observer reported Tuesday that Schnell was still giving the keynote address, based on email confirmation from Ken Hallenius, the center’s communications specialist. See “Schnell” on page 4
Saint Mary’s releases 2026 Campus Safety Report
Eddy Street Commons establishments, such as Five Guys, Brothers Bar & Grill, O’Rourke’s Public House and Dave’s Hot Chicken, now operate under a mandatory midnight closing policy. The directive follows a Sept. 19 shooting that resulted in the injury of two people and a campus-wide shelter in place. With the curfew implementation, property management Kite Realty and local officials plan to curb latenight crowds and enhance public safety for all Eddy Street Commons businesses. While the policy aims to bolster community safety, the change shifts weekend routines for Notre Dame
students, reduces late-night options off-campus and forces local businesses to alter operational procedures. For many businesses, the transition means prioritizing community well-being over late-night foot traffic. Amber Goddard, general manager of O’Rourke’s Public House, emphasized that safety comes before any concerns about lost sales. “We’re not really thinking about that [profits],” Goddard said. “We understand why Kite has made this decision, and we think it’s unfortunate that it had to happen. Public safety is our number one priority.” The curfew was not a See “Eddy Street” on page 3
Select campus eateries tax
By Mara Hall Associate News Editor
At least four on-campus restaurants are charging a sales tax for their orders this semester, including in transactions using flex points — FujiSan, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh and Barberitos. “The Indiana tax code (IC 6-2.55.22) exempts meals sold directly by non-profit colleges and universities to their students from sales tax. Because third-party dining vendors operate independently, they don’t fall under that exemption and must collect state sales tax as required by law,” Notre Dame
Dining wrote in a statement to The Observer. “This mixture between University-owned retail dining establishments and independently owned establishments gives us the flexibility and leverage to offer a greater variety of retail outlets and to adapt more quickly to the changes in student preferences. While Freddy’s and Barberitos are new to campus, FujiSan and Garbanzo are not. The latter two restaurants listed $0 in the tax portion of their receipts last semester. All four of the restaurants charging sales tax are chain restaurants. Other chains on campus include See “Tax” on page 5
In an email to students on Oct. 1, director of Campus Safety Phil Bambenek shared the 2026 Annual Campus Safety Report. The report only shares data on crimes that were committed on Saint Mary’s campus. Required under federal law via the Clery Act, the report contains
crime statistics from the 2023, 2024 and 2025 academic years. The act requires the annual reporting of the last three calendar years. The report notes one rape has been reported in each of the three previous years. The most recent assault the campus was notified about was in August. Data from the report indicates there were 11 reported referrals for
liquor/alcohol violations in both 2023 and 2024. In 2025, this number jumped to 18. All liquor/alcohol violations resulted in referral. None resulted in arrest. The report does not feature any non-zero statistics aside from those regarding rape and liquor/alcohol
NEWS | PAGE 3
OPINION | PAGE 8
SCENE | PAGE 10
SPORTS | PAGE 12
SPORTS | PAGE 15
Holy Cross launches an alumni and family weekend event to build networks and community.
AI has nothing on Wikipedia’s human-maintained archives which are deeply human.
FTT’s annual talent show had some great performances and was fun but repetitive.
What Notre Dame football has to do to secure an Irish victory in Chapel Hill.
The sports staff makes its predictions for this week’s tilt with UNC.
By Observer Staff
HCC alumni weekend A love letter
Gray Nocjar | The Observer
See “Report” on page 4
Philbin & Phriendz
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is one of at least four campus locations charging sales tax. The tax applies to flex-point orders.
Keys to earning 5-0
Football beat picks
DAILY
2 | THE OBSERVER
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
What’s one item worth splurging on?
Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com
Canon Chiu
Ethan Ang
Nate Fabriga
Jackson Yang
Michael Cerimele
“Steak.”
“Eggs.”
“Bacon.”
“Pancakes.”
“Waffles.”
sophomore Dillon Hall
freshman Duncan Hall
freshman St. Edwards Hall
freshman Sorin Hall
freshman Graham Family Hall
SOCIAL MEDIA POLL
PHOTO OF THE DAY | NATALIA ONATE
Have an idea for a poll? Email lmartin01@saintmarys.edu
How do you feel about the new mandatory curfew on Eddy Street? Strongly support it Somewhat support it 23.0%
Somewhat against it
20.0%
Strongly against it
28.0% 29.0%
THE NEXT FIVE DAYS
CROSSWORD | WILL SHORTZ
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Friday Notre Dame men’s hockey vs. USNTDP ND face the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. 7 p.m. Compton Family Ice Arena
Saturday Film: “The Flowers St. Francis” (1950) An exploration of the life of St. Frances and Church teaching. 6:30 - 8 p.m. Browning Cinema
Sunday Notre Dame women’s lacrosse vs. Florida The Irish take on the Gators in a home match. 9 a.m. Arlotta Family Lacrosse Stadium
Monday Photographic exhibit: “Mantelpieces and the Mundane” Ian Kuijt presents research on Irish homemaking and history. All day Hesburgh Library
Tuesday Raise Your Voice: “What Were You Wearing” Exhibit An art installation sharing the stories and outfits of survivors. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Stapleton Lounge
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Policies The Observer is the independent, daily newspaper published in print and online by the students of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross College. Editorial content, including advertisements, is not governed by policies of the administration of any institution. The Observer reserves the right to refuse advertisements based on content.
The news is reported as accurately and objectively as possible. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Assistant Managing Editors and department editors. Commentaries, letters and columns present the views of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer. Opinion space is available to all readers. The free expression of all opinions through letters is encouraged. Letters to the Editor must be signed and must include contact information. Questions regarding Observer policies should be directed to Editor-in-Chief Gray Nocjar.
Today’s Staff News
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NEWS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 3
Holy Cross establishes alumni, family weekend By Adiel Flores and Andrew Moniz Reporters
This weekend, Holy Cross College will host alumni and families of current students in the College’s inaugural Alumni and Family Homecoming Weekend. Holy Cross marketed the weekend as an opportunity for alumni to return to campus to reconnect with classmates, as well as network with current students and families and celebrate the College’s 60th anniversary. Adam DeBeck, associate vice president for college relations, planned the event. DeBeck explained although this year’s event represents a revamped platform, it is not new. “This event started as an alumni reunion weekend for athletics, a time for them to come back and a time to celebrate achievements in sports,” DeBeck said. “And suddenly, they started to go, ‘Well, why aren’t more of my
friends here?’” After feedback from athlete alumni, DeBeck and assistant director of alumni and parent relations Marijka LynchPastoor came together to plan an event for all alumni. “One of the most important things is just getting our alumni and our families to be able to connect with students on campus,” Lynch-Pastoor said. Lynch-Pastoor explained a major goal of the event is not only to bring alumni back for camaraderie but also to “develop a more robust alumni program.” “I think this is all about building our own identity, our own place here,” DeBeck said. Lynch-Pastoor echoed DeBeck’s point. “It’s really just building up that complete affinity of Holy Cross really is its own special place, it’s its own identity within a larger community,” Lynch-Pastoor said. DeBeck and Lynch-Pastoor also noted although the event is geared toward alumni, it is
also a great time for families to visit, not only to see students but also to aid students in networking and fostering a general sense of community. “This weekend is programmed mostly for alumni, but there are wonderful opportunities for families to come back and take a part of it,” DeBeck said. Wendy Chapman, director of student success and career development, explained she hopes the career panel portion of the weekend event will be a helpful opportunity for students. The panel will take place on Friday and feature three recent Holy Cross alumni, who students can directly engage with. “It is this give and take between current students and alumni where you have this immediate connection, even though you’ve never met them, but you have this common experience, so there’s like that idea of family,” Chapman said. Senior business major Austin Diodene said the
panel is a “great opportunity” but wished it had been more broadly advertised, so he would be able to make time for it in advance. Notably, the weekend will also feature the rollout of connect.hcc-nd.edu, the College’s newest digital tool specifically designed to allow students and alumni to connect beyond scheduled events. According to DeBeck, the platform will feature a job posting board that alumni and parents can load internships and job opportunities onto, as well as a dedicated chat room for further connections and conversation. DeBeck noted it will allow for students and alumni to exchange in dialogue even if nothing material comes from it. DeBeck explained alumni can share, “‘I don’t have a job [to offer], but I’ll do a Zoom call with you to talk about what it’s like to work in the finance industry, or what it’s like to be, you know, in insurance, or what it’s like to be in commercial real estate.’”
Speaking on connect.hcc, Chapman said, “There will be a specific career development page, and Michael McHugh, who is our new internship coordinator, is working on that side of it so that alum can reach out and tell us about job openings. Then there’s going to be an opportunity for students and alum to partner, or pair up.” Diodene described the job search as difficult. “I would go as far as saying I’ve not done any networking with Holy Cross alumni. I honestly think the alumni network here is kind of transferred over to Notre Dame because of their master’s program opportunities,” Diodene said, noting the issue is not Holy Cross specific but correlates with the size of the school and the expansive alumni networks that come with bigger universities. Contact Adiel Flores at aflores2@hcc-nd.edu and Andrew Moniz at amoniz@hcc-nd.edu
Cavanaugh Hall unexpectedly wins interhall cup By Jackson Musto Reporter
Despite winning the f lag football, basketball and soccer interhall sports championships during the 2025-26 academic year, Pasquerilla East Hall ultimately came up short in the race for the Kelly Cup. Instead, the cup was awarded to Cavanaugh Hall, though some residents of both dorms were unaware until this academic year. The Kelly Cup is the title awarded by RecSports to the women’s hall with the most overall success in interhall athletics. In an interview with The Observer, Cavanaugh Hall president Brigid McKinley said
Eddy Street Continued from page 1
complete surprise to Eddy Street tenants. Business owners and local residents had previously met with safety officials following a similar incident near Dave’s Hot Chicken in August. “There was a meeting on Aug. 12 about safety,” Goddard explained. “[Kite Realty] invited all of the businesses to come and just discuss safety, and it was nice because the chief of police was there, and he let us know why certain ideas that were being brought up couldn’t be put into place.” Goddard noted that community leadership has
that after the dorm was eliminated from interhall soccer, many residents were upset and believed they had ruined their chances of winning the Kelly Cup. “I think people were surprised, and people definitely do care because we have a streak going,” McKinley said about the news of Cavanaugh’s win. Cavanaugh Hall won three consecutive Kelly Cups from 2021-24; however, Pasquerilla East won the 2024-25 competition. “That’s just part of our culture, to get invested in our athletics,” McKinley added. “I would say we’re a very competitive, spirited dorm.” Although Cavanaugh didn’t
log many championship wins, the hall won the Kelly Cup because of its high participation across multiple sports. “This approach encourages everyone to feel valued for their involvement, fostering a sense of community and appreciation for all contributions,” the RecSports program staff wrote. The formula awards 100 points per team entered in the “A league” and 25 more points for each additional team entered in the “B league,” while championships are worth 200 points. Thus, a hall that has five “A league” teams in a given sport is awarded the same number of points as the hall that wins the championship.
While Pasquerilla East sophomore Clara Lawrence, who was a part of last year’s f lag football team, was disappointed to lose the Kelly Cup title, she said that most teams cared about their individual sport title rather than the cup as a whole. “There’s a lot of girls that are just part of women’s soccer. It’s part of their identity, but they don’t really keep in touch with the other inner hall sports,” Lawrence said. “I’m disappointed we didn’t win, but still very proud of the dorm for what we accomplished.” Overall, Lawrence thought that the dorm community built by interhall sports is most important.
“I did a lot of sports in high school, and I missed that team bonding ability. I think it’s a good way to build up a little bit of that again,” Lawrence said. “It’s more about spending time with the girls in the dorm. That’s, I think, the most important part of it all.” In order to keep students engaged and updated on the standings and maintain transparency with hall rankings, RecSports added the current standings in the races to win the Kelly and O’Leary Cups to their website where community members can track the points each hall has earned.
taken a unified approach to addressing safety concerns across the district. “We know that the South Bend Police Department, Kite, Notre Dame, everyone is just working together to try and figure out how to make Eddy Street Commons safe for the staff, for the patrons and just overall a safe environment.” The earlier cutoff has already altered nightly operations; events like trivia and karaoke at O’Rourke’s must now wrap up significantly earlier to ensure doors are locked strictly by midnight. “It’s [going to] just be a little bit of an adjustment, but it’s something that we’re willing to do to make sure we can make Eddy Street Commons the safest it can be,” Goddard
said. Representatives from Brothers Bar & Grill and Five Guys offered “no comment,” while management at Dave’s Hot Chicken did not respond to requests to comment. For Notre Dame students, the loss of late-night Eddy Street hours, combined with previous off-campus closures like the Taco Bell, creates a noticeable gap in the latenight food and social options, though reactions to the curfew remain mixed. Catherine Kerrigan, a senior living directly on Eddy Street, witnessed the aftermath of the Sept. 19 incident from her window. Despite the early closing time, she noted that the increased safety focus provides some
reassurance for residents. When speaking on the new curfew, Kerrigan said, “I literally feel safer; I think Eddy is safer.” However, Kerrigan acknowledged that the policy creates operational friction for nearby venues and local staff, noting that the cutoff “really hurts Brothers Bar and O’Rourke’s” while impacting late-night workers across the commercial strip. For other seniors, the earlier schedule represents a balance between safety and convenience. Senior Lily Church shared that while the curfew does not drastically alter her personal routine, she recognizes the adjustment it demands from the broader student body.
Although not personally noticing the change, Church noted “If it is, in fact, making things safer, making people feel safer, then I think it’s good.” Despite the adjustment period for both patrons and staff, Goddard remains optimistic about the atmosphere on Eddy Street as campus enters peak fall event weekends. “Hopefully all the students realize that we’re trying and it is [going to be] a safer place,” Goddard said. “And hopefully, the next home game just goes off without a hitch, and we can all have a great time again.”
Contact Jackson Musto at jmusto@nd.edu
Contact Madeline Ferguson at mfergus8@nd.edu
NEWS
4 | THE OBSERVER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
Notre Dame announces new political guidelines By Observer News Staff
“Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office,” accordingto the Internal Revenue Service. Violation of the prohibition can result in the revocation of a nonprofit’s tax-exempt status and the imposition of excise taxes. OPAC directed faculty and staff to its website for guidelines related to hosting elected officials and political candidates, which stipulate that OPAC or the University’s Office of the President must approve any elected official, political candidate or their
surrogate who is invited to speak. According to the guidelines, elected officials and political candidates may be invited to campus only when sponsored by an “officially recognized University organization or unit.” The engagement must be educational in nature and may not resemble a traditional political rally. If a candidate is invited to speak, “the University must provide equal opportunity to all candidates for that particular office to speak,” the email stated. These guidelines are “longstanding, going back many presidential elections cycles,” University spokesperson Erin Blasko wrote in a statement to the Observer. Roach and Ribeiro
highlighted five provisions of the policy in the email. The aforementioned guidelines also apply to the use of campus facilities to host political candidates. Communications issued on behalf of the University cannot expressly endorse or oppose any candidate for office. University letterhead, email and websites cannot be used “in furtherance of a political candidate, campaign, or political organization.” On-campus political fundraising is “absolutely prohibited,” and University funds may not be used on behalf of political efforts. Faculty and staff are prohibited from “engaging in activities” in support of or in opposition to a political campaign during working hours.
To conclude their email, Roach and Ribeiro thanked faculty and staff for their “support in upholding these important standards.” OPAC’s FAQ page notes that University employees may engage in activities to support or oppose political campaigns and candidates outside of work hours. Employees may not use University resources as part of such activities. Additional guidelines exist for University leaders. “University leaders, while engaging in any political activity on a personal basis, must communicate and otherwise make clear that such activity is being conducted in their personal capacity and not on behalf of the University,” the OPAC website states.
love, whom I like to see as my teachers.” Kantor referenced different photos, paintings, and daguerreotypes or photographs made on polished silver-coated copper plates to create the paintings. The entire process took him four months, and it was eventually decided that the works would remain in the library. “We have just created an art gallery/exhibition space in the area outside the second f loor of the Holtz Family Reading Room,” Meserve wrote.
The first exhibit titled ‘Mantlepieces and the Mundane’ features photographs by anthropology professor Ian Kuijt. “In the spring, we’ll be hosting the Graduate School’s annual art show, ‘Solarium,’ in the same space,” Meserve wrote. Ian Kuijt, a faculty fellow for the KeoughNaughton Institute for Irish Studies, photographed Irish homes for his series “Mantlepieces and the Mundane: Homemaking in Ireland’s Disappearing History.” The series contains photographs of 15 different homes
on Inishbofin, a small Irish island to the west of the Irish mainland. Kuijt started this project around a decade and a half ago and finished this past summer. Of the 15 homes, 12 are now destroyed or gutted. “It speaks to a way of life that’s now largely gone, and these are some of the few examples that exist,” Kuijt said. Kuijt hopes that the art will introduce students to a new version of Ireland, “that they’re not aware of,” he said. In a written statement to The Observer, Belinda Thompson, The Graduate School director of operations and administration, explained that Solarium is
The Graduate School’s annual art show featuring works from the Master of Fine Arts students. Now in its 11th year, she noted that the show originated in The Graduate School’s office on the fifth f loor of the main building and followed its later move to Bond Hall. This past May saw its return to the Main Building, this time on the first f loor. She noted that there is not enough space for the exhibition to be hosted in their office. Considering the changes accompanying the additions to Hesburgh Library, Thompson wrote, “We’ve adjusted the
date of this year since the library will be busy with students studying for midterms during the typical timeframe of our opening reception.” She added, “Within each venue that has held this event previously, we’ve had to adapt the selection of pieces to the space and will do so again for this new venue. We’re excited that the students’ work will get more exposure in a venue with heavier foot traffic—both student and general public traffic.
Schnell
Report
Bambenek also included the Annual Campus Fire Safety Report, documenting the same three-year period, in his email. Zero fires
occurred or were reported over the last three years. Additionally, Bambenek attached Notre Dame’s Clery Report and
Holy Cross Campus Safety resources, along with reporting resources and policy information for Saint Mary’s College.
Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Notre Dame’s Office of Public Affairs and Communications sent an email to faculty and staff reminding them that the University “cannot participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.” The statement was issued by University general counsel Brandon Roach and vice president for public affairs and communications Pedro Ribeiro. As a nonprofit, Notre Dame is barred by federal and state law from intervening in political campaigns for or against a candidate at any level of politics, including in local elections.
Hesburgh
Continued from page 1
Continued from page 1 Schnell’s use of AI was first noted in a Semafor investigation that scanned the opinion columns of four major newspapers. An Aug. 9 article by Schnell titled “Universities are fighting AI cheating. But there’s a deeper problem” was f lagged as 100% AI-written. The Dartmouth published that an investigation of academic articles and opinion pieces published by Schnell found a median 96% A.I.-written text percentage using Pangram, an artificial intelligence detector. In a Sept. 25 op-ed in The Dartmouth, Schnell addressed the controversy. “In retrospect, I now realize I should always explicitly disclose use of AI in my public writing and be attentive to the expectations of AI use set by publications. I am sorry that this was not my standard practice and, moving forward, it will be,” Schnell wrote in The Dartmouth.
Continued from page 1 referrals.
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Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu and Gracie Shea at gshea@nd.edu
NEWS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 5
Common Data Set shows applicant, tuition rise By Matthew Morin Associate News Editor
Since 1997, Common Data Set has been utilized by universities as a disclosure method for the standard information by institutions across the country. Common Data Set was founded by the College Board, Peterson’s and U.S. News and World Report. The University has a public archive of all Common Data Sets since 2007, which, as of July, includes the most recent report from the 2025-26 school year. “The University of Notre Dame publishes the Common Data Set, as many institutions do, in an effort to be transparent about student enrollment, admissions, financial aid, and academic and extracurricular offerings. Our process for compiling the data includes capturing official University record data when it is available throughout the year, as well as collaborating with partners across campus to provide responses to policy/practice questions,” University spokesperson Erin Blasko wrote. The 2025-26 CDS report available in the University of Notre Dame’s CDS Google Drive folder was created and modified on July 8. “The CDS form is made available in the fall of each year, and in more recent years, the University has decided to
post it in the spring, once all of the data has been compiled for the form, rather than publishing it with partial data throughout the year.” The University recorded an increase of 70 undergraduate students in the 202526 report, which includes 95 more male students and 25 fewer female students. The CDS also notes the University is home to 4,254 graduate students, breaking down to 56% male and 44% female. The University’s total student body increased by 162 students from 13,042 to 13,204. The 2024-25 CDS reported a 44% decrease in the Black student population. The 2025-26 CDS reports a 1.2% decrease. Application to the University saw an increase from 29,942 applicants during the 2024-25 admissions cycle to 35,401 during the 2025-26 cycle. The number of students admitted decreased from 3,374 to 3,320. While the number of applicants increased by over 18%, the admission rate declined by 1.6%. The number of students who enrolled, however, increased from 2,082 to 2,118. The University’s waitlist also decreased in size from 2,206 to 2,186 while the number of students accepted from the waitlist increased by 28.5%
from 42 to 54 students. Published before the recent reinstitution of the standardized testing requirement, the report states that SAT or ACT examination scores are “not required for admission, but considered if submitted.” For the 2025-26 year, the report indicates an over 15% increase in the number of students who submitted test scores. Additionally, the scores for the SAT in both the 25th and 50th percentiles decreased by 10 points while the 75th percentile remained the same. Score range distributions remained relatively the same in the past year. The University noted 100% of students were in the top quarter of their high school class, with 92% being in the top 10th. A 44% increase in the number of transfer applicants from 1,064 to 1,541 individuals was recorded. 262 of these students were admitted, which amounts to five fewer students compared to last year’s figure. Since last year, the University has added “military/veteran credit transfer policies” as published material on its website. The 202526 CDS does not ref lect this change. The percentage of students who choose to live on campus has also remained relatively stable. Tuition prices have
increased by $2,180, with additional increases of $561 for food, housing and required fees. Overall, this amounts to a total increase of 3.2%. The per-credit cost also increased by $91. In terms of scholarships and financial aid, the report states need-based scholarships and grants increased from $251,140,014 to $276,632,632 while nonneed-based scholarships and grants increased from $35,519,496 to $37,176,375, amounting to a nearly 10% increase. Athletic awards in both need-based and non-needbased categories increased as well. The number of students awarded aid increased by 56. The number of students receiving non-need-based aid decreased dramatically from 640 students to 354 students. “Alumni Affiliation” is listed as a category for awarding institutional need-based aid, which was not noted the previous year. In a note on the financial section, the report reads, “Starting with the fall 2025 incoming class, financial aid offers for full-time first-year, transfer undergraduates and continuing undergraduates no longer included loans to meet demonstrated need. Need-blind admissions was expanded to include both domestic and international students.”
The number of faculty has remained roughly the same, with a continued approximately 2-to-1 ratio of male to female faculty. The 8-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio remains unchanged. Regarding class sizes, the number of classes with over 100 students decreased from 62 to 51 while the number of classes with between 50 and 99 students increased from 110 to 127. The number of degrees conferred per major was retained, with the largest change occurring with a 2.7% increase in business/marketing degrees. This year’s report includes a total of “degrees conferred,” amounting to 100.1%. Blasko noted this figure is due to rounding. “The CDS template is formatted for 2 decimal places. However, Institutional Research, Innovation & Strategy commonly opts for 1 decimal place to better ref lect degrees awarded for smaller programs, and to avoid having to round to zero for such programs. As a result, the total in this table will sometimes read 99.9 percent or 100.1 percent,” Blasko wrote. IRIS did not directly respond to a request for comment by The Observer regarding the data collection process. Contact Matthew Morin at mmorin2@nd.edu
Saints for Life receives national service award
By Nick Kowal and Julian Orozco
Associate News Editor and Reporter
This summer, Holy Cross College’s Right to Life club, Saints for Life, was named the 2025-2026 Best Standing With You Group of the Year by the Students for Life of America. The award acknowledges student groups who “have gone above and beyond in the Supportive Services pillar of pro-life activism,” according to the Students for Life of America website. According to senior former president of Saints for Life Mataya Watson, the group focused on adding parking for expectant mothers on the College’s campus last
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Continued from page 1 Starbucks in LaFortune Student Center, Chick-fil-A in Duncan Student Center and Au Bon Pain in Hesburgh Library. All FujiSan, Barberitos and Freddy’s locations operate as independent franchises, while Garbanzo and Au Bon Pain stores are a mix
year. Watson described this initiative as “a visible witness for life.” Watson noted she initially thought receiving a national award was not possible for a smaller school. Turning Point at Mott Community College and UCLA Live Action were also nominated for the award. “It didn’t seem quite attainable for Saints for Life, just because national recognition is crazy for anyone to expect,” Watson said. When Saints for Life was announced as the winner of the award, Watson received messages of congratulations. “I was receiving so many
emails and texts of congratulations from people that I didn’t realize had access to my contact information, and it was crazy that so many people were now watching the club and watching the school,” Watson said. Br. Robert McFadden, an assistant professor of theology and literature at Holy Cross and one of two faculty advisors for Saints for Life, had a similar reaction to Watson when he found out Holy Cross’ Right to Life group received the award. He described his emotion at the time as simply “overjoyed.” McFadden, unlike Watson, was not surprised Saints for Life was named
2025-2026 Best Standing With You Group of the Year. “I was also not surprised, given how much effort and work I know they put into what they do here on campus,” McFadden said. Junior Saints for Life president Mary Appleton described receiving the award as “unreal.” When Appleton heard the group’s name called, she noted, “It was just disbelief and so much excitement.” Despite the excitement, Watson recognized not only is there more work to do, but expectations for the club have changed following the national recognition.
“There are now big shoes to fill, which is kind of exciting,” Watson said. According to Watson, the club now aims to advocate and provide resources and support to fathers. She noted it is difficult to implement pregnant parenting resources to fathers but believes it is a crucial step for the club’s mission. “I think it really would be good to affirm life for moms and dads so that we can show students that the whole family is cared for,” Watson said.
of company-owned and independent franchises depending on the location. Starbucks and Chick-fil-A do not run on traditional franchise models. Starbucks, located across the United States and Canada, has companyowned stores and licensed sites. Chick-fil-A uses an operator model, while retaining the property equity. Students shared mixed reactions
toward the sales tax charges. Freshman John Savage said he was “totally okay” with some locations charging sales tax but not others. “Not happy about it. I’d rather not pay,” sophomore Brendan Capshaw said. Nevertheless, Capshaw said he thought 500 flex points per semester was enough. Notre Dame last
changed its quantity of flex points nine years ago. Other students were unaware of the change in charges. “I didn’t know they were charging sales tax,” junior Jack Freking said. “I don’t really have a big opinion on whether or not they’re charging sales tax.” Junior Ella Smoker said, “I didn’t actually know that some do and
some don’t.” Notre Dame Dining did not respond to follow up requests for comment about why FujiSan and Garbonzo had changed their sales tax status, the purchase power of flex points or the differences across chain restaurants.
Contact Nick Kowal at nkowal@hcc-nd.edu and Julian Orozco jorozco1@hcc-nd.edu
Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu
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THE NORTH 10.15.1988 11.7.2026 REMEMBERS. BEAT THE RUSH. RESPECTFULLY, THE CLASS OF 10.15.1988 † † The Class of 10.15.1988 is a state of being outside the space-time continuum, like Fat Shirley’s Diner or the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. The Class of 10.15.1988 is not affiliated with the University of Notre Dame or Saint Mary’s College.
OPINION
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 7
Who is deserving of your community? By Thea Bendaly
Columnist, “Off Notre Dame Ave.”
You can’t go a day during the first few weeks of freshman year without seeing them: 12-person mega friend groups walking shoulder to shoulder to LaFun or the dining hall. It is the physical manifestation of the college dream, the “breakfast club” we were all promised by early 2000s movies. Before we come to college, we hope the group of friends we meet freshman year will last forever. But ask almost anyone what happens to those massive groups by spring semester, and they will tell you the same story: They fade. I know because I was in one. Last spring, when I felt the group breaking apart, I didn’t want to face the music. Entering my sophomore year, facing the group chats that had gone silent, I knew I had to grapple with this uncomfortable reality. I found myself with a few good friends but no friend group. As much as I tried not to dwell on this, I still felt isolated and lonely, asking the question none of us say out loud: Am I just unlikable? A month into sophomore year, I realized the answer was no. The truth is simple. My friend group did not actually treat me that well. We weren’t hanging out because we actually cared about each other, but because of our proximity to one another. We latched onto each other because we were the first friends we made. However, it was essential to recognize that those relationships were not worth all I was investing in them. This wasn’t a personal failure but
THEA BENDALY | The Observer
a necessary turning point to make real friends. To every freshman reading this column who is navigating that complicated transition to college, I want you to know this is not a diss on friendship. The girl I hung out with all of Domerfest is now my best friend and roommate (shoutout Jocelyn). Friendship is one of the best parts about college. But community is about quality over quantity. You have to be intentional about who earns a seat at your table. A couple of weeks ago, I was watching Fr. Pete McCormick’s post on friendship. Something he said really stuck with me, and it’s something I’m taking with me into sophomore year as I continue to make long-lasting friendships. He reminded us that in order to find genuine friendship, you have to be
yourself, and more importantly, you have to be the spark that ignites a friendship. College is overwhelming for everyone. Ask any upperclassman, and they will admit to feeling lonely or overwhelmed at least once during their college experience. Deep down, almost no one is willing to reject a genuine offer of friendship because we are all fighting the same internal battle against loneliness. If it’s as simple as reaching out, why don’t we do it more? Our generation is paralyzed by the fear of messing up or being “cringe.” Our culture has become so hyper-focused on nonchalance and never seeming too desperate that we’ve ended up nuking our chances of real friendship. We wait patiently for someone else to initiate, feigning indifference so we don’t risk looking
like we care. This reminded me of a conversation I had with my mom when I was complaining about feeling disconnected. In her typical no-B.S. way, she told me, “Thea, you’re a social butterfly. Just put yourself out there and meet people instead of complaining to me about ‘having no friends.’” I shut her down instantly. “Mama. I’m not going out alone. That is so embarrassing. No one does that here.” To which she replied, “Well, you’re not going to meet anyone sitting in your dorm, so pick your battles.” This anecdote makes me seem like a shy introvert, but if you ask anyone who knows me, they will tell you that I’m the complete opposite. I could talk to a wall if I needed to. However, my extroverted nature still has not saved me from the fear of
rejection. My mom was dead on. You can’t expect to create meaningful friendships if you refuse to put yourself out there. Finding your people requires risk-taking. It means suggesting going to lunch with your USEM after class. It means going up to someone after class and complimenting a point they made. It means reaching out to that really cool girl you wished you talked to more and grabbing coffee together. It means auditioning for an a cappella group or even signing up for Crosspaths. Whatever way you choose to do it, making friends means putting yourself out there. You don’t need a massive friend group to have an entertaining college life. Having a few close, authentic friends who show up for you, invest in you and celebrate who you really are is infinitely better than being in a friend group feeling completely invisible. Don’t spend college settling for a performative company to avoid eating alone. Be brave enough to cut ties with the “friends” who made a group chat without you. Be even braver to trust in your charisma and meet new people. Remember that the people who deserve your community are the ones who will never tell you you’re “too much” or get intimidated by your light, but the ones who hold you up and show you off. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Write to Thea Bendaly at tbendaly@nd.edu
The voicemail we’re too busy to play By Matias Aguilar Columnist, “La Comunidad”
“Estas son las mañanitas …” My 18th birthday was on my very first Friday of college. It was a jarring, overwhelming experience. The terrifying factor came when I realized that I wasn’t just anxious about being in a new place, but for the first time in my life, I was going to spend my birthday hundreds of miles away from my parents. And even worse, my grandmother. During that frantic first week at Notre Dame, calling home felt pretty much impossible. Rushing between syllabus reviews, navigating crowded dining halls, trying to remember a couple of hundred new names and attempting to adjust to life in a (very) tiny dorm room, my calendar felt completely consumed. Naively, I kept telling myself that I was just temporarily overwhelmed. I thought that once classes settled and the excitement of Welcome Weekend
faded, things were guaranteed to slow down. I was wrong. I was very wrong. In fact, things sped up. The quiet lull of late summer quickly gives way to midterms, club meetings, dorm section events and the relentless pulse of campus life. In the daily hustle, building a new community becomes a necessary lifeline. But in our rush to belong here, it becomes dangerously easy to put off calling home under the guise of productivity or social survival. Part of it, if I’m being honest, was fear. Calling home meant pausing the flurry of activity and admitting to myself that I missed the familiarity of my life back home. It meant confronting the sting of homesickness in a place where everyone else seemed to be transitioning effortlessly. So, we tell ourselves we will call tomorrow. Or over the weekend. Or after this essay. Or after the next exam. Or after this. Or after that. After this, and then after that. Always after
this, never right now. We, for some strange reason, treat connections to home like a luxury we don’t have the time to afford. But productivity stops providing comfort the moment loneliness begins to set in. Being at Notre Dame means being surrounded by thousands of incredible people, but investing in campus life shouldn’t mean cutting off the roots that brought us here. Whether you are a fellow freshman navigating your first month or an upperclassman caught in the mid-semester grind, the chaos will eventually feel, at some point, overbearing. Luckily, our families and hometown friends understand this chaos, I’d argue, better than we think. They don’t send text messages or make phone calls to add another item to our endless to-do lists; they send them to offer us an anchor in the storm. My tita, my grandmother, left me a voicemail on my birthday. “Las Mañanitas” is not just a traditional song to my tita, but
a song that emphasizes the love she has for me in a new year of life. It was a message I knew deep down would have grounded me on the day itself. But I convinced myself I was simply too “busy” to press play. It sat unread in my inbox. Sadly, for about a week and a half. When I finally listened to it, standing in the quiet shadow between the rush of DeBartolo Hall and the trek back to the Manor, the contrast was shocking. Students were bustling past me with backpacks slung over their shoulders, playing Spikeball across the quad, talking about their chem labs and game-day plans. But through my tiny phone speaker came my grandmother’s gentle, familiar voice singing “Las Mañanitas.” In an instant, the campus noise faded into the background. For 2 minutes, 21 seconds, I wasn’t just a stressed freshman trying to figure out where I fit in at a top university. I was a beloved grandchild, held by
the warm traditions of home across hundreds and hundreds of miles. That was the moment I realized something truly special. Taking time for home does not take away from my Notre Dame experience, but instead, it gives me the strength to conquer it. So, open the birthday message. Take the 2 minutes. Play the voicemail on your walk across South Quad, even if it feels easier to push it aside. Let the people who love you into this new world you’re building because they are the very reason you are strong enough to build it in the first place. “… ya los pajaritos cantan. La luna ya se metió.” quantity. You have to be intentional about who earns a seat at your table. A couple of weeks ago, I was watching Fr. Pete McCormick’s post on friendship. Something he said really stuck with me, and it’s something I’m taking see “Voicemail” on page 8
OPINION
8 | THE OBSERVER
Voicemail Continued from page 7
with me into sophomore year as I continue to make long-lasting friendships. He reminded us that in order to find genuine friendship, you have to be yourself, and more importantly, you have to be the spark that ignites a friendship. College is overwhelming for everyone. Ask any upperclassman, and they will admit to feeling lonely or overwhelmed at least once during their college experience. Deep down, almost no one is willing to reject a genuine offer of friendship because we are all fighting the same internal battle against loneliness.
If it’s as simple as reaching out, why don’t we do it more? Our generation is paralyzed by the fear of messing up or being “cringe.” Our culture has become so hyper-focused on nonchalance and never seeming too desperate that we’ve ended up nuking our chances of real friendship. We wait patiently for someone else to initiate, feigning indifference so we don’t risk looking like we care. This reminded me of a conversation I had with my mom when I was complaining about feeling disconnected. In her typical no-B.S. way, she told me, “Thea, you’re a social butterfly. Just put yourself out there and meet people instead of complaining to me about ‘having no friends.’”
I shut her down instantly. “Mama. I’m not going out alone. That is so embarrassing. No one does that here.” To which she replied, “Well, you’re not going to meet anyone sitting in your dorm, so pick your battles.” This anecdote makes me seem like a shy introvert, but if you ask anyone who knows me, they will tell you that I’m the complete opposite. I could talk to a wall if I needed to. However, my extroverted nature still has not saved me from the fear of rejection. My mom was dead on. You can’t expect to create meaningful friendships if you refuse to put yourself out there. Finding your people requires risk-taking. It means suggesting
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
going to lunch with your USEM after class. It means going up to someone after class and complimenting a point they made. It means reaching out to that really cool girl you wished you talked to more and grabbing coffee together. It means auditioning for an a cappella group or even signing up for Crosspaths. Whatever way you choose to do it, making friends means putting yourself out there. You don’t need a massive friend group to have an entertaining college life. Having a few close, authentic friends who show up for you, invest in you and celebrate who you really are is infinitely better than being in a friend group feeling completely invisible. Don’t
spend college settling for a performative company to avoid eating alone. Be brave enough to cut ties with the “friends” who made a group chat without you. Be even braver to trust in your charisma and meet new people. Remember that the people who deserve your community are the ones who will never tell you you’re “too much” or get intimidated by your light, but the ones who hold you up and show you off. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Write to Matias Aguilar at tjaguila7@nd.edu
A love letter to Wikipedia By Grayson Beckham Columnist, “Citizen Gray”
Denis Diderot’s Encyclopédie ranks among the most ambitious projects of the Enlightenment. Published over 21 years and consisting of 28 volumes, it marked the most complete compendium of general knowledge to that point in human history. What a beautiful thing! Systematized knowledge for all. Diderot and his fellow philosophe contributors were so successful, in fact, that “encyclopedias” are today a literary genre. To have “encyclopedic knowledge” is to have expertise. We must always credit the Encycolopédie for its advancement of intellectual sophistication. And somehow, Wikipedia blows it out of the water. I’ve always fashioned myself a Wikipedia fan. I’m among the 2% of readers that donate to the site. I read it every day. I share Wikipedia pages. I occasionally edit them. For most, their first serious exposure to Wikipedia comes with an air of suspicion. Almost every primary school student hears the libel that “Wikipedia isn’t a reliable source.” Of course, it is inappropriate to cite Wikipedia as a source in itself. Wikipedia’s conventions for citations, though, makes for encyclopedic entries just as — if not more — well-informed as any other collection of facts. Many pages contain vast and invaluable repositories of primary and secondary sources alike. If one is to merely follow the trail of citations from a wellsourced article, he or she can easily turn a good Wikipedia article into the beginning of a rigorous academic adventure. Grade school teachers unfortunately overcorrect in their admonitions against Wikipedia, though. Sure, anyone can edit it. Edits, however, are strictly scrutinized by a remarkably motivated group of volunteer editors and moderators who understand and value the magnitude of the wealth of knowledge
gathered on their site. And we should not discount just how valuable that knowledge is. Wikipedia, with its trove of well-informed, often entertaining pieces, does so at no cost to the user. Even Diderot’s Encyclopédie and its subsequent imitators were largely cost-prohibitive. Despite the commendable democratization of knowledge achieved by the encyclopedias, very few individuals or families (even today) would be able to afford the hundreds of dollars required to purchase them. On the other hand, the English Wikipedia features over 7.2 million articles and over 250,000 active editors. This is all with a $0 subscription fee. And zero advertisements to be found. In a culture and age that prioritizes profits and efficiency, there is a meditative beauty to Wikipedia’s insistence on knowledge for its own sake. There’s a gospel there. This article would not be a 2026 Observer column if not for a digression on artificial
intelligence (or, as our presi- I have a habit of Wikipedia rabdent calls it now, “super intel- bit-holing, by which I initially ligence”). Wikipedia policy search for some information generally prohibits the use of and click on a Wikipedia arAI in its writing, providing for ticle. Some tagged article will a safe haven in an internet in- relate to my original search, creasingly making “dead in- and then I click. I read most of ternet theory” more plausible the article and skim intriguing (note that I cited its Wikipedia details. But look! There’s something page). In some ways, future his- completely new that catches my torians may see Wikipedia as eye! Maybe it’s a name I recogthe achievement of a genera- nize. Maybe it’s some obscure tion, soon to be overshadowed congressman from Nevada by the increasingly capable in the 1970s. Better look into large language models. Perhaps his predecessor! Ooh! He was Wikipedia will one day be seen later a state attorney general. as a quaint relic of its age, not Better look into that. The curdissimilar to the anecdote by rent attorney general was once which I opened this column. a presidentially appointed unOne can foresee an AI model dersecretary of commerce? that mimics Wikipedia’s proj- Wonder when the Department ect, but instead is updated of Commerce was established? faster and more accurately than Oh look, Teddy Roosevelt! This process goes on for any human-ran operation ever hours. I learn so much. The could. Maybe. But I’ll stick to symphony of history begins to Wikipedia. Call me a luddite, play and I hear the music in a but reading through Wikipedia way I have never heard it bearticle after article provides for fore. There are connections a deeply human experience that made that were previously unis fulfilling even beyond its ca- heard. Wikipedia is a deeply pability for factual acquisition. human achievement, filled with PAID ADVERTISEMENT
deeply human stories. In a way, its hyperlinking convention is spiritual. The inviolable connection between every human story — triumph and tragedy alike — exists in a web more complex and beautiful than any machine could ever conceive. Much like Our Town, who knew the free online encyclopedia could tap into that deep down part of the soul, eternal to every human being? If this column attempts to be anything — it’s a love letter to the genre. I love Wikipedia. It shaped who I am. As it takes the completion of a liberal arts education to understand the value of a liberal arts education, it takes knowledge to understand the value of knowledge. I credit Wikipedia for fostering the love of knowledge in my soul. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Write to Grayson Beckham at gbeckham@nd.edu
A Sexual Violence Prevention Symposium October 6, 2026
Raise Your Voice Keynote Luncheon 12 - 2 p.m.
Stapleton Lounge
Join us as Saint Mary’s College alumna, Liz Hanlon Sands ’04, shares her story of strength and advocacy as this year’s Raise Your Voice keynote speaker.
Prayer Service 11 - 11:30 a.m.
Student Session: Smick Sisterhood 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Safety Tailgate 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Lizzy Seeberg Memorial Garden
Rice Commons
Library Green
LEARN MORE AT SAINTMARYS.EDU/ RAISE-YOUR-VOICE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
PHOTO
THE OBSERVER | 9
SMC volleyball Saint Mary’s volleyball team faced Elmhurst on Sept. 29, 2026. The Belles lost 0-3. Photography by Valencia Espinoza-Sanchez
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10 | THE OBSERVER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
Philbin & Phriendz is a talent, not variety show By Peter Mikulski Scene Editor
The second and final night of Philbin & Phriendz, the Department of Film, Television and Theatre’s second annual talent show, is Friday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m. The Philbin Studio Theater is done up as a cabaret, with bistro tables and chairs set up on the f loor. There’s not quite a bar — it’s the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center after all — but the two MCs, Wakabul Gomwalk and Josy Pitaro, encourage the audience to head to and from the concession counter in the lobby at will. Onstage, there’s an electric piano disguised as a real one, and a well-dressed pianist: accompanist and music director Solomon Duane. The first act is “Tommy Scully from Boston,” introduced as such in case his Red Sox hat wasn’t clue enough. The guitar-wielding singer-songwriter opens with the first of many love songs on the program, a touching original called “Sleepless.” Next, Grace Jacob sings “With You” from the musical version of “Ghost.” Her voice is soft and nimble, delicate yet confident. The MCs bring each performer on with a fun fact. For the third vocalist, the audience discovers that she is an architecture student — being an architecture student and having a twin were several people’s fun facts. For her act, she offers a stirring rendition of Reneé Rapp’s “Snow Angel.” Then, as a break from love songs, we get Jenkin Benson, a doctoral student in the Department of English whose bio lists serious talks like “Demystifying Defective Representation: A Stylometric Review of Zukofsky’s Disjunctive Poetics.” Tonight, he seems to be letting his hair down as he reads three funny poems; of course, they turn out to be serious in the end. One’s about salt, one’s about banking and one’s about South Bend. An underlying — actually, a fairly overt — sexuality animates each. When he personifies an object, it tends to “fondle” or “throb.” Lauren Burke returns us to our regularly scheduled programming, performing “One Perfect Moment” from the musical version of “Bring It On.” It’s more narrative than the other numbers we’ve heard so far, but she does a good job delivering it so that the audience can follow its contours sans plot. Opemiposi Ogunrinde sings Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing.” She executes the riffs on the word “you” especially well.
LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
Bridget Wolfram does “Danny Boy,” a cappella. It’s fabulous. Her gestures, not to mention her voice, are incredibly expressive. She’s reminiscent of Michelle from “Derry Girls” if Michelle were American and could sing. The performance transports me to an Irish American funeral in Beverly. It’s truly chilling. Now Pitaro, one of the MCs, gets up onstage and sings “What Baking Can Do” from the musical version of “Waitress.” The acting, especially in the eyes, is as great as the singing — which is also great. Mae Mathis Knuth gives a performance of “With One Look” from the musical version of “Sunset Boulevard,” dedicating it to her grandpa. She has a good, classy voice. It brightens and darkens exactly as the lyrics demand. Charlotte Schaub sings “Why Don’t You Do Right,” and it’s totally Jessica Rabbit, dress and all — except no Betty Boop offering me a cigarette. She’s the first performer to step — no, to slink — off the stage into the audience, and to great effect. Mark Hieatt, armed with a banjo, does Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle.” He’s able to nail the tonal shifts back and forth between the “um pa pa” chorus and the arpeggiated verses. In another break from the music, Julielynne Shiner leads the audience in what I can only think to describe as a f latulogical meditation. It touches on faith, farting and love. It enters into clown territory. Chris Fleming once said, “Not everyone needs to find their clown.” I, for one, don’t need to find my clown. I think it’s great, however, that Shiner has found her clown.
Juliet Potts delivers a heart-rending guitar original about a victim of suicide, her brother’s best friend and a Notre Dame student. Titled “Joey,” it’s chockfull of great lines: e.g., “When I talk to God, I have to greet you too.” Rob Fuller tells a story — really several vignettes — with warm, nostalgic settings like a Midwestern man cave and a Wisconsin Dells cabin. Ultimately, it’s a piece about what it means to be the son of a father. By the way, at the rehearsal I attended, the show’s storytelling director was sitting in front of me with a tiny cone-wearing dog in a stroller. It was precious. Accompanying herself on ukulele, Sasha Gilders sings an original song about heartbreak. She tells us the idea for the ditty occurred to her in the dining hall at 7:45 a.m. Isabella Kwasnik does “Heart of Stone” from “SIX.” In the show, it’s Jane Seymour’s big number, but with some convincing acting, Kwasnik makes it her own. Now Gomwalk, one of the MCs, sings Laufey’s “Bored.” Almost as soon as she takes the stage, she leaves it, working the crowd. Olivia Bast accompanies herself on piano. The song is Noah Kahan’s “Willing and Able.” It’s a hit with the room. Ben Warren Flynn is next. I’ll have you know I reviewed his performance at Boogaloo when he was a freshman in 2024 — his first live performance of his original works, I think. Two years later, he’s still great. He sings a song about remaining friends with an ex. He’s Irish (singing’s ability to mask an accent is never not uncanny), and when he sings about the girl,
“up past your bedtime because I’m halfway across the world,” you realize the lyrics must be autobiographical. It’s very moving. Caroline Morrissey does “She Used to Be Mine,” another number from “Waitress.” She’s very emotive, believably weepy eyed by the end of it. Isabel Seymour and Patrick Cavanagh act out “Ten Minutes Ago” from “Cinderella.” After a long night of forlorn-lover ballads, it’s profoundly refreshing to see two characters uncomplicatedly in love. Isabel sticks around for another, as she performs “Love Will Come and Find Me” from “Bandstand.” It’s big, it’s Broadway and it’s a good appetizer for the finale. Last are Caleb DeLorenzo and Daniel Loughlin, who sing a medley of tunes from “Hamilton” and “Dear Evan Hansen.” Naturally, it’s a crowd-pleaser. My one complaint about this variety show is that it lacked some variety. Am I shocked that an FTT-sponsored program consisted in large part of musical theater songs and
not, say, of punk acts and standups? Of course not. Nevertheless, those musical theater songs were musical theater songs of a certain type, and other types were neglected. No song, for instance, was funny; only a few could even be called happy. They skewed heavily twentyfirst-century too. Who has the guts to get up and do an Ethel Merman classic? I mean one of the fun ones, not “Rose’s Turn.” Still, the show’s worth your time and money. And it’s filling a felt need on campus: a need for a venue more polished than an open mic but less frigid than a recital; a venue unlike a bar show where you can sing an oldie like “Why Don’t You Do Right” or a quiet original of your own. It fills that space with the full support of FTT and DPAC behind it. So here’s to the second annual Philbin & Phriendz and to many more … and to its horrifying mascot, an anthropomorphic black box theater. Contact Peter Mikulski at pmikulsk@nd.edu
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 11
‘Hollywood, Ending’ the era of celebrity scrutiny By Liberty Scanlin Scene Writer
Remember a few months ago when everybody’s favorite actor Timothée Chalamet nearly got executed for an ill-timed jab at the ballet community? The online progression from Hollywood darling to social pariah was certainly an interesting one to witness. I should preface this by saying I am in no way Timothée Chalamet’s top defender, but even I thought the negative attention seemed extreme for what appeared to be a dumb, offhand comment. People have certainly said worse and walked away unscathed, so why was this the straw to break the camel’s back? Was this an innocuous comment or really a premeditated way of devaluing an entire art form? Funnily enough, all of this drama happened right around the time John Green announced his newest release (and debut adult fiction novel), “Hollywood, Ending.” And what was “Hollywood, Ending” to be about, you might ask? The intense media scrutiny faced by public figures. (Hmm, remind you of anything?) Now, I know you’re probably thinking something along
the lines of Really? Complaining about status? Isn’t that literally what you sign up for? I assure you, Green’s reflection on the darker side of fame is much more grounded than you’d assume. Green is known predominantly for his work online as a content creator, co-founding Crash Course with his brother Hank, his tuberculosis advocacy and his popular body of work, including “The Fault in Our Stars.” Throughout his time on the internet, Green has become well acquainted with the everchanging opinions of the online masses, and within his latest work he explores that immense pressure that comes with status. The result is not preachy or overly vain; it’s honest and reflective. “Hollywood, Ending” follows two 20-something up-and-coming actors, Juniper and Kai, who are just on the cusp of their big break. They have been cast in the fictitious blockbuster “Andy Warhol Never Gets Old,” which is slated to receive massive acclaim. The story is broken up into four sections, spanning from the beginning of filming to shortly after its awards run, and shifts between the two characters’
points of view regarding their overnight rise to fame. Along the way, they deal with their budding romance, their pasts, questions of authenticity and, you guessed it, intense media scrutiny. It’s all very timely stuff. There were many enjoyable parts of this book. Its integration of Warhol’s story into the narrative, its depiction of the ethical minefield that is Hollywood and its portrayal of mental health all immediately come to mind. Green’s true strength definitely lies in his creative nonfiction, and the best parts of this book were the ones that felt almost autobiographical. Warhol was also, surprisingly, very well integrated into the storyline. I’m sure some art history majors were already ahead of me here, but I was surprised to discover how closely Warhol’s own struggles with fame mirrored those of the novel’s characters. Another element I felt was well done was the portrayal of ethical ambiguities involved in the largely overlooked public relations (PR) industry. Without spoiling too much, “Hollywood, Ending” takes a moment to highlight some
of the ethical implications of commodifying attention and resorting to exploitative practices as a way of capturing, or diverting, people’s attention. This type of deception goes on to play a larger role in the characters’ mental health progression as they realize how little they know about the reality of the industry. Green’s subsequent focus on the mental toll fame takes on burgeoning actors definitely stood out. His characters’ internal narration perfectly conveys their spiral as pressure continues to build up. As much as I enjoyed the book, I can concede there are areas that could be improved. I grew to love Juniper and Kai, but initially some of their banter struck me as odd for 20-year-olds. Their conversations felt stilted and awkward in places. Gradually, as the story progressed, their speech became more natural, and near the end it wasn’t as noticeable but still felt stiff. In a similar vein, even though I appreciated the Warhol references, there were a few instances where I felt the allusions overwhelm the reader. There were segments of text that could have been shortened or cut for better immersion. For example,
some connections were established verbally between characters, and those moments felt a bit too rehearsed and monologue-y for my taste. The only other area I noted for growth would be with more evenly developed character exploration. As I said, I really grew to love Juniper and Kai but felt as though Kai’s emotions were explored more deeply than Juniper’s. This could be due to their different temperaments and outlooks, but I still would’ve liked to see more of Juniper. Her character is established as having more industry experience and emotional stability, so it doesn’t shock me, but it still would’ve been nice to get more insight on her emotions. I recommend this book to those interested in the unseen pressures of the spotlight. John Green’s magnetic storytelling has a way of getting you to care about the overlooked. As an ode to Green and in keeping up with his rating system, I rate “Hollywood, Ending” four out of five stars. Contact Liberty Scanlin at lscanlin@saintmarys.edu
October is here: What should be on your mixtape? By Harry Penne
and more like a single you would expect to hear on the radio. In addition to singing the opening song, artist Tuesday Knight acts in the film as Kristen Parker, replacing Patricia Arquette in the role. Musically, Knight’s style is late 80s pop-rock/ AOR. “Nightmare” showcases these qualities and is an all-around fun, high-energy song.
Scene Writer
Crisp breezes fill the air. Pumpkin spice lattes rule every café. Motionactivated animatronics line hardware store floors. Autumn has returned to the Midwest. So, why not let the Halloween spirit fill your ears? These are my picks for the ultimate October mixtape.
“Bela Lugosi’s Dead” by Bauhaus
“Dead Man’s Party” by Oingo Boingo
Party. As a sucker for 1980s new wave, it‘s no surprise that Boingo makes this list. Composer Danny Elfman (singing voice of Jack Skellington) takes the concept of “memento mori” but makes it lively and fun. This tune is macabre and just spooky enough for the season. Combining loud brassy sounds with synthesizer and guitar, it’s highly danceable and is perfect for Halloween parties.
“Nosferatu” by Blue Öyster Cult
Rock. BÖC is best known for “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” but I want to highlight another one of their songs, this one about a vampire. The title and lyrics pay homage to the German 1922 silent film “Nosferatu,” an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” The song is 1970s hard rock with heavy guitar and keyboard texturing. Its lyrics, spectral harmonies and minor-key atmosphere make it a good fit for any October mixtape. Funnily, bassist Joe Bouchard hadn’t seen much of “Nosferatu” when composing the song, resulting in a mash-up of both film themes and traditional vampire lore.
LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
“Season of the Witch” by Donovan
Folk. This song by Scottish folk singer Donovan has scored lots of “witchy” media, including Marvel’s “Agatha All Along.” It doesn’t tell a straightforward witchcraft story, instead using occult imagery to comment on the paranoia of everyday life. It became associated with the 1960s countercultural movement’s rejection of traditional values and accompanied a shift from “peace and love” to something a little darker, showing the decade’s unease. It has been covered by many artists, including Pat Benatar and Lana Del Rey, but the original remains my favorite.
“The Great Pumpkin Waltz” by Vince Guaraldi Nostalgic. The “-ber” months are well scored by the sounds of Vince Guaraldi and his iconic Charlie Brown soundtracks. As an instrumental work, the “Great Pumpkin” score makes great study music while burning the midnight oil for those
late October exams. It’s jazzy, nostalgic and sets a good atmosphere.
“Halloween Theme – Main Title” by John Carpenter
Scary. As one of the most iconic horror movie theme tunes of all time, is it really a spooky season without hearing this haunting melody? The original iteration from 1978, with its synth tones and peculiar meter, has become an anthem for the holiday. Worried it’s too scary for your day-to-day music? Remember: It’s Halloween; everyone’s entitled to at least one good scare.
“Strange Days” by The Doors
Psychedelic. This atmospheric track hearkens to a cloudy October day with its use of psychedelic synth and guitar. In fact, the song was one of the earliest rock tracks to use a Moog synthesizer. If I had to sum up the sound in one word, it would be “eerie.” While it doesn’t have overtly scary sounds or lyrics, its haunting tone warrants a place on this list. Further, Morrison’s lyrics
are about disorientation, surrealism and the unknown. It’s darker, moody and sounds like walking on a cold October night, when the day is strange and something feels … off.
“October Country” October Country
by
Feel-good. Want some autumnal sunshine pop? Look no further than “October Country” by the band of the same name on their self-titled album. It’s lots of fun and should receive more attention. If you’ve never heard of them, that’s not surprising; they were only active from 1967 until 1968. If you enjoy bands like The Association or The Beach Boys, then this is a win.
“Nightmare” by Tuesday Knight
Pop. “A Nightmare on Elm Street IV: The Dream Master” has been nicknamed by some fans “The MTV Nightmare” thanks to its rock and synth-pop inspired soundtrack. This is the opening credits song, which sounds less like a horror opening
Goth. This 1979 British track is considered to be one of the first goth rock songs, helping define the genre’s sound. It’s haunting, hypnotic, repetitive and atmospherically eerie. The bass guitar is the defining instrument, playing low and driving phrases. The electric guitar provides texture, not riffs. Yet another vampire song to make this list, the lyrics concern actor Bela Lugosi, who famously portrayed Dracula in the Universal Pictures monster flick. Overall, this song creates a great gothic atmosphere and keeps it undead for nearly 10 minutes.
“Midnight Creedence Revival
Special” by Clearwater
Unconventional. Admittedly, this might be a stretch for an autumnal mixtape. Aside from being featured in “Twilight Zone: The Movie,” it doesn’t have anything to do with autumn or Halloween; however, its general vibe and film connection warrant its place here. The song has folk rock and bluesy elements that fit well on an October midnight, offering a change of pace from the supernatural songs above. Contact Harry Penne at hpenne@nd.edu
SPORTS
12 | THE OBSERVER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
FOOTBALL
Two iconic coaches, two different careers By Payton Dymek Senior Sports Reporter
Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, despite being 34 years his opponents’ junior, has risen to heights enjoyed by North Carolina’s Bill Belichick in the football coaching fraternity. While Freeman’s one College Football Playoff appearance pales in comparison to Belichick’s six Super Bowl rings with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, the 40-year-old Irish boss possesses an aura few coaches outside of Belichick have ever owned. Freeman starred at Wayne High
School outside of Dayton, Ohio, before competing as a linebacker with the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2004 to 2008. Before his first coaching stint back at his alma mater, Freeman was picked in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears. He was let go before the season started, and after short stints on NFL practice squads, Freeman found his way back to Columbus, Ohio, to join the Buckeyes as a graduate assistant in 2010. He was hired by Kent State as linebackers coach before the Purdue Boilermakers called his
name. It was in West Lafayette, Indiana, where Freeman’s stardom began to blossom, as he was quickly elevated to co-defensive coordinator despite still being in his 20s. At Purdue, Freeman was an integral mentor for talented linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, who caught Belichick’s eye and was selected by new England in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Bentley enjoyed a successful seven-year career professional career which included a Super Bowl championship, but it wouldn’t have been possible without Freeman’s tutelage. Turning to Belichick, that Super
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Head coach Marcus Freeman takes part in the classic Notre Dame “Victory March” ahead of the Irish’s 27-10 win over Michigan State on Sept. 19 at Notre Dame Stadium. The victory advanced Freeman’s squad to 3-0.
Bowl LIII title would be his final as a head coach, but six rings in nearly 30 years as a professional head coach isn’t too shabby. After graduating from Annapolis High School in 1970 and Wesleyan University in 1975, Belichick took his first gig with the Baltimore Colts as an assistant to then-head coach Ted Marchibroda. Belichick’s rise to the top of the sport would be much slower and segmented than his counterpart this coming weekend. The year after he got his start in the NFL, Belichick joined the Detroit Lions as assistant special teams coach. He would spend 1978 with the Denver Broncos as their assistant special teams coach and defensive assistant, and spent 1979-1990 in various roles with the New York Giants, before becoming the head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1991-1995. He boasted a 3644 record in Cleveland, including a playoff win in 1994 that ironically came against the Patriots. The Belichick era of the Patriots began at the turn of the century with his first three Super Bowl wins in 2001, 2003 and 2004. The mid-2000s in New England is best known for a perfect regular season in 2007, Tom Brady’s ACL tear and “Spygate,” which saw the NFL catch a Patriots video assistant taping New York Jets’ defensive signals on the sidelines. That controversy (not his last in New England) not only ended in fines for Belichick and the team, but also cost them the firstround draft pick in 2008.
From 2010 to 2019, Belichick’s squad would make five Super Bowls — winning three — but shortly after, during the postBrady era of 2020-2023, Belichick struggled. A mutual parting was made official on Jan. 11, 2024. By this point, Freeman was in his Irish era, joining the program in 2021 as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. After Brian Kelly left at the end of the 2021 regular season, Freeman was elevated as the 32nd head coach in program history, taking over the sidelines for Notre Dame’s Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State. Since then, Notre Dame has continued to improve under Freeman, who is now 47-12 as a head coach. Belichick has coined Carolina the “33rd NFL team,” but the program is just 6-9 under his leadership, and internal investigations about the culture and conduct that led Michael Lombardi and Steve Belichick to resign rage on. While their respective programs sit in very different spots right now, Saturday on the gridiron is all that matters to the two coaching giants. The first meeting between the two iconic coaches kicks off at noon on Saturday in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Write to Payton Dymek at pdymek@nd.edu
FOOTBALL
Notre Dame’s keys to success at North Carolina By Henry Lytle Notre Dame enters Saturday’s contest in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at a cool 4-0, following a dominant 49-10 road win over Purdue. The Tar Heels, however, present a different test, boasting a capable defensive front, a strong rushing tandem and an experienced sixth-year college quarterback. Here’s what the Irish need to do to move to 5-0.
North Carolina has averaged 155 rushing yards per game across its first three games, while throwing for 211. The balanced offensive attack has yielded just over 23 points per contest, which will not be enough to get the job done against the Irish. Whoever takes an early lead will dictate the pace of the game, especially considering the styles of both offenses. That said, don’t be surprised if the Irish are aggressive early on at Kenan Memorial Stadium.
Establish an offensive rhythm early Against Michigan State, Notre Dame opened the game with a 61yard completion to Micah Gilbert that ended in an early field goal. Although the first half was sloppy in the rain, the Irish utilized early scoring momentum to avoid a Spartan upset bid. North Carolina last played Clemson before its Week 4 bye week. In that game, the Tar Heels got out to a scorching 17-3 lead in the second quarter, despite collapsing in the second half. If Notre Dame can do what Clemson failed to do and take the scoring reins early, it won’t need a second-half comeback to handle UNC.
Blitz Notre Dame’s defense has some of the best numbers in the country, allowing 8.3 points and fewer than 200 yards through four games, albeit against mediocre competition. The Irish have also earned 13 sacks so far this season, a massive step up from their slow start up front in 2025. Defensive coordinator Chris Ash hasn’t needed to call blitzes when the four guys up front have been able to get pressure. Only two players outside of the defensive line have recorded a sack: senior safety Luke Talich and freshman safety Joey O’Brien. Junior Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is one of the most dangerous linebackers on the field, yet has still
Associate Sports Editor
not recorded a tackle for loss or a sack. Just how dangerous can Notre Dame’s defense be if Ash schemes more all-out blitzes? Blitzing forces opposing quarterbacks to make premature decisions. Notre Dame’s run defense allowed zero yards in the second half on 13 carries against Michigan State and only surrendered 40 on 31 attempt against Purdue a week ago. North Carolina will have to pass to win this game, and while sixth-year transfer Billy Edwards Jr. can push the ball downfield to premier targets, he has also been sacked seven times in three games, revealing holes in the Tar Heel offensive line. If the Irish want to force Edwards Jr.’s second interception of the season, it will come from pressure up front. Win the middle eight minutes Marcus Freeman teams find ways to dominate games by playing great situational football in the final four minutes of the first half and the first four of the second. Against Purdue, the Irish led a touchdown drive during the first half two-minute warning that only lasted 1:19. This built the margin to 35-0 entering the break,
a nearly insurmountable lead. Against Wisconsin, Notre Dame scored a critical touchdown on the first drive of the second half, bringing the lead to a much more comfortable 20-10. However, against Michigan State, the Irish went scoreless on both sides of the middle eight, while Michigan State scored a touchdown. Those missed offensive opportunities led to a much tighter 27-10 final score in the Spartan game. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s offense can either shut the door completely on opponents or leave room for error, depending on its play in the middle eight. While North Carolina’s offense does not pose the same threats through the air or on the ground as other competition has, a comfortable winning recipe will certainly include points on one or both sides of the halves. Take care of the football Junior CJ Carr threw his first interception of the season on the first drive of the third quarter against Purdue. He was visibly upset on the sideline after his first true mistake of the season. Carr has thrown for 963 yards, nine touchdowns and only one
interception on the season, placing him firmly in the conversation for the Heisman as long as the Irish continue to win. Moreover, he has only taken two sacks for nine yards lost. If the line can protect Carr and afford him time to make good decisions, Notre Dame will be in the driver’s seat. Through three games, North Carolina has forced over 1.5 turnovers per game, the defense finding success by generating pressure and forcing opposing quarterbacks into rushed decisions. The Tar Heels have also totaled 10 sacks through those three games and impressively earned six tackles for a loss against Clemson alone. The Irish must not give the shaky North Carolina offense any breaks with turnovers. The game may come down to Carr’s decisionmaking in the pocket, which could be made difficult by Notre Dame’s inconsistent rushing attack. The game kicks off at noon on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN as Notre Dame hopes to improve to 5-0. Contact Henry Lytle at hlytle@nd.edu
SPORTS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 13
EDITOR’S COLUMN
Hicks: Disputing celebrations, politics in sports By Ben Hicks Sports Editor
Thanks to everyone who read last week’s column and provided valuable feedback. I wanted to provide an update to the Arizona State case, where head coach Greg Powers has been placed on paid administrative leave after multiple players requested that the university remove the coach. I find that to be a good sign that at least some within the Sun Devil hockey program share the sentiments expressed in last week’s column. Due to the depressing nature of that column, I’ll focus on some lighter topics this week. Foremost, we’ll look at Saturday’s college football slate, which saw numerous celebrations that can only be described as needlessly crude and obscene. Then, I’ll dive into whatever unfolded on the Senate floor this week, as I think it perfectly exemplifies why politicians should stop pretending they care about sports. Celebrations Sportsmanship and showmanship have long been debated in sport. Despite the traditional values of many fans believing that one cannot occur in the presence
of another, I believe the two are not mutually exclusive. For example, NBA superstar Stephen Curry is one of sport’s greatest showmen, with his “night night” celebration becoming emblematic of his brand following his domination of France in the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the same time, Curry is recognized as a tremendous sport, as his on-court humility earned him the 2011 NBA Sportsmanship Award. Athletes should be allowed to revel in their exceptional accomplishments. At its core, sports are entertainment, and celebrations are a part of the show. That is in no way an endorsement of the vulgarity displayed this weekend, particularly by the Texas football team. Just weeks after quarterback Arch Manning carelessly trivialized an AI video of his coach assaulting a reporter, the Longhorns are back in the news for another public display of indecency. During Saturday’s game at Tennessee, star defensive end Colin Simmons celebrated a sack by pretending to remove his genitals from his pants and urinate on the field. While the official’s announcement of “unsportsmanlike conduct for simulating using the restroom” was quite humorous, Simmons should know that any
grab at the crotch to celebrate is illegal (he evidently did not, as he reacted in shock when the flag was thrown in his face). Then, after a fourth-quarter touchdown sealed the Longhorns’ victory, running back Raleek Brown celebrated by sniffing his genitalia before pretending to faint from the stench. It was yet another example of embarrassing and reckless behavior from a Texas football player. While the players and Austin-area fraternities may find the gestures amusing, athletic director Chris Del Conte did not. “I’m not happy about that; I know none of us are, and it was embarrassing to our proud and widely respected football team, athletics program and university,” Del Conte wrote in a statement to fans. As a whole, sports can do a better job of tolerating free expression and enjoyment. It is ridiculous that college football still does not allow choreographed team celebrations (as Irish running back Aneyas Williams found out against Michigan State). At the same time, athletes need to understand that many of their fans are children, and that vulgar celebrations involving their crotch as a prop are simply unnecessary and, not to mention, detrimental to their team.
Politicians in sports Vulgarity wasn’t the only elephant in the room at Neyland Stadium Saturday, as President Donald Trump was also in attendance. While Trump’s status in the golfing world cannot be overstated, his increasingly frequent appearances at other sporting events certainly raise an eyebrow. As comedian Shane Gillis hilariously pointed out in his 2025 ESPYs speech, the president doesn’t actually appear all that knowledgeable about sports. Instead, these frequent trips are merely campaign stops, but they come at the cost of regular fans. Tennessee fans were encouraged to arrive hours early due to the Secret Service’s presence, and while they were rewarded with half-price beer, the president’s presence did reportedly affect team communication. Generally, I think the president should be able to go where he wants, but he is far from the only culprit in this fake political sporting engagement. Case in point, Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri tried to corner a Senate witness into perjury, but his “damning evidence” confused the Iowa Hawkeyes with the Atlanta
Hawks. As Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota retorted, you should probably get your teams straight before you call someone a “dirtbag.” To be clear, it isn’t exclusively Republicans who are guilty of this. I would wager that there are very few politicians who would be described as “ball knowers,” but in today’s age of social media trashtalk, nearly all of them put on the facade of die-hard fanatics. When athletes make their way into politics, politicians typically respond with the belittling and disparaging directive to “shut up and dribble.” Instead, maybe the politicians should “shut up and politick.” The best part of this job is interacting with readers, so, as always, feel free to email me at sports@ ndsmcobserver.com with any feedback. We are approaching one of the best months on the sports calendar, so I should have plenty to grumble about over the next few weeks. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Write to Ben Hicks at bhicks2@nd.edu
FOOTBALL
Gerwe: The missing piece for the Irish offense By Jack Gerwe Sports Reporter
In recent years, most fans would agree that Notre Dame has lacked a consistent vertical threat at the wide receiver position. Luckily, it has been able to rely on a run of elite running backs, from Audric Estime to Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love. But at times, not having someone who can stretch the field has proved to be the Achilles’ heel for this offense. Looking back to Week 1 of 2025, one of the main reasons the Irish did not leave Miami with a win is that the Hurricanes were able to successfully neutralize the run game without being punished for stacking the box. The Irish did connect on a few explosive plays but were not able to rely on a consistent threat downfield that could reliably get behind the defense. This is not to say that the Irish haven’t had any semblance of a deep threat in recent years. Virginia transfer receiver Malachi Fields stepped into that role last season, but he primarily thrived in situations where he could use his size to win contested catches downfield. The Irish still lacked a receiver who could consistently use his speed and burst to beat safeties deep. This season, an unexpected solution to this problem has emerged: Micah Gilbert. Fields’ departure meant that the junior wide receiver was expected
to take on a larger role this season, competing with Ohio State transfer Quincy Porter as the primary boundary receiver. But Porter brought a nagging knee injury from the Buckeyes and will now undergo season-ending surgery to repair it. This left the position to Gilbert, who has made the most of it so far. Gilbert added to his impressive opening campaign on Saturday against Purdue with two receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. He leads the Irish in receiving yards this season and is currently 13th in the FBS with 22.3 yards per catch. He has already surpassed his yardage total from last season, when he had 9 catches for 93 yards and a touchdown in 10 games. However, Gilbert’s value as a receiver goes beyond his stat line. His presence as a deep threat forces defenses to adjust schematically, which can benefit the Irish both on the ground and through the air. While the run game has improved week to week, it has been difficult to fill the shoes of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. If Gilbert continues to emerge as a vertical threat for opposing defenses, teams may shift into a lighter box to account for his presence over the top. If teams are focused on shutting down Gilbert and the possibility of the deep ball, more running lanes will open up for sophomore back Nolan James Jr. and junior back Aneyas Williams. The same logic can be applied through the air. Safeties committed
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Junior wide receiver Micah Gilbert dashes with the ball during Notre Dame’s 49-10 victory against Purdue on Sept. 26 at Ross-Ade Stadium. Gilbert tallied two catches for 83 yards and earned the first score of the day.
to Gilbert downfield can help to open up the middle of the field underneath. This can create more room for receivers in the slot, such as Jordan Faison, who proved to be a reliable security blanket for junior quarterback CJ Carr last season. It can also create more opportunities for the tight end room, led by sophomore James Flanigan and senior Cooper Flanagan. This unit has proved it can block but has struggled to find a consistent role in the passing game. From a coaching standpoint, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has had experience
with successfully utilizing deep, explosive threats in an offense. Denbrock served as Notre Dame’s wide receivers coach in 2015, when the Irish had what many would consider their best deep threat in the last 15 years: Will Fuller. More recently, Denbrock served as the offensive coordinator for LSU in 2023, where he coached an explosive receiving corps led by future first-round picks Brian Thomas Jr. and Malik Nabers. With a true deep threat emerging, Denbrock has the chance to open the offense up in ways that the Irish haven’t seen in recent years.
It is still early in the season, and the Irish will face their first major test in October against current No. 10 BYU in Provo, Utah. If Gilbert can keep stringing together impressive performances, defenses may be forced to respect his presence downfield and will need to adjust accordingly. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Write to Jack Gerwe at jgerwe@nd.edu
SPORTS
14 | THE OBSERVER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
FOOTBALL
Williams will prove more than ‘good enough’ By Ellie Collins Associate Sports Editor
In the second quarter of Notre Dame’s Sept. 26 matchup against Purdue, junior running back Aneyas Williams broke free for a 22-yard touchdown run that finally put to bed noise regarding the Irish’s inability to generate an explosive run this season. Despite the feat, when Williams reached the end zone, his celebration was understated as he merely flipped the ball to the referee. By contrast, the week earlier, following his 1-yard plunge to paydirt that placed the Irish up 17-3 against Michigan State, Williams’ choreographed celebration with the offensive line drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and the ire of head coach Marcus Freeman. While the Missouri product endured the slings and arrows for the careless penalty, he showed leadership by
not shifting or sharing responsibility, despite the scripted routine being the offensive line’s idea. “We approached Aneyas,” senior right guard Sullivan Absher said of the planned display during a press conference on Sept. 29. “And Aneyas might not have even been the first guy to say yes.” Williams, however, continued to take much of the blow in front of the media. “I knew I messed up,” he said. “I was completely prepared for everything that came with it. That’s a mistake that I made … and it won‘t happen again.” While Williams’ stat line through four games (224 yards on 52 carries and 4 touchdowns) is not exactly gaudy, it is solid given he is part of a runningback-by-committee approach with sophomore Nolan James Jr. and ascending freshman Jonaz Walton. Much is still unwritten for the young corps — particularly
Williams, as he moves from a spot to a feature role. The offense is still discovering how he and his mates can mesh their respective strengths in concert with an O-line full of talent but returning only fifth-year center Ashton Craig at his starting spot from last season. “The only way through it is forward,” Williams said of the improving ground game. “We’re working on helping [the O-line], how we run it and just getting on the same path to where we’re clicking. We just gotta get on the same page and make sure that we’re all doing our 1/11th every play.” Of course, every competitive athlete wants to be “the man” — in Williams’ case, that is “RB1” — but he puts Freeman’s credo of team glory before his own success. In the second half of the Sparty tilt (and following the infamous celebration), James Jr. toted the ball and carried the Irish home to a
27-10 victory; the sophomore finished the day with 121 yards on 26 attempts and 1 touchdown. Williams, meanwhile, logged only 2 second-half carries and watched most action from the sidelines. Instead of lamenting the lack of opportunities, he expressed pride in the young back. “We don’t want anything other than to see everybody in the room succeed,” he said of both James Jr.’s shining performance and Walton’s emerging role. “There’s nothing better than to see the guys that you work every day with have success because they deserve it just like I do.” All said, true leaders show themselves amid turmoil. It is easy to take charge in times of success. Though fans may ask for James Jr. and Walton to get the ball more, it is clear the coaching staff wants Williams on the field. He seems comfortable facing adversity and has produced in the
biggest of moments; as a freshman, he put his superb receiving skills to critical use and caught 5 passes for 66 yards in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Penn State. Although Williams has not yet reached the status of a long line of Irish greats, Freeman expresses little doubt in his junior tailback. “He came to work every day. All of our guys do it, but it’s always great to see him [have success],” he said of Williams after the Purdue game, during which he rushed for 80 yards on 14 carries. “I’m proud of him … I love him because he [can’t be fazed]. You can’t shake him.” Williams, who displays the qualities of a true “Notre Dame man,” still has a lot to prove. But it may be foolish to think he is not up for the challenge. Contact Ellie Collins at ecollin9@nd.edu
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Junior running back Aneyas Williams rushes into the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown during Notre Dame’s 49-10 triumph over Purdue on Sept. 26 at Ross-Ade Stadium. Williams, who moved from a spot to a feature role this season after two campaigns behind fellow backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, ended the day with 14 carries for 80 yards and a score. FOOTBALL
Bowen spearheads dominant Notre Dame defense By Jack Muething Sports Reporter
Notre Dame is now one-third of the way through its regular season, and its defense has been the clear strong point. One of the backbones of that unit is captain and senior linebacker Drayk Bowen, who is now in his third year as a starter for the Irish. Bowen has had a solid career on the gridiron, but he’s also been a key part of this team off the field. The St. John, Indiana, product is one of two repeat captains on this year’s squad, the other being senior safety Adon Shuler. They are only the 28th and 29th twotime captains in the program’s long history, showing that this defense has a rare level of leadership. Bowen has been a vital leader on this team, displaying
the resilience necessary for the Irish to maintain a strong mentality throughout each contest. “For us, it’s just a one-play, onelife mentality,” Bowen said in a post-practice press conference on Sept. 29. “If you have a couple of bad plays in a row, alright, now it’s time to go make the play that’s gonna turn the series around.” It’s all been a team effort on the defensive side of the ball. Notre Dame boasts talented players across the defense, from junior cornerback Leonard Moore to senior defensive end Boubacar Traore to Bowen himself. But that doesn’t mean much if they don’t play together. Every good defense involves communication and cohesion between all position groups. Bowen had high praise for how the linebackers have worked with the front four
this season, making it tough for opposing offenses to break through. “It allows us to play fast downhill in the run game because people can’t get up to us as well,” he said. “In the pass game, when you have a four-man rush that can do that, and you can drop seven, it just makes it that much harder for a quarterback to find windows.” Bowen has had a strong start to the season, leading the team in tackles with 22 and recovering a fumble for his first career touchdown against Purdue on Saturday. While each part of the Irish defense has performed through four games, it’s the team-wide adjustment to different-style offenses week to week that has impressed Bowen the most.
“You go from Wisconsin, that’s a heavy run team, to triple option [against Rice], to Michigan State, which was back to a normal offense, then you go to Purdue, which is a very air raid offense not really similar to any of those,” he said. “The way we’ve adapted to all of those … and how well we’re able to communicate … and how clearheaded we’re all playing has been what’s best to see from this group.” The Irish now have their second straight road game of the season, heading south to take on Bill Belichick and North Carolina. The Tar Heel offense struggled in the second half against Clemson, but Bowen had high praise for how it can operate when playing well. “They have really good players,” he said. “Their O-line is
really good; they move well ... they talk well. Their quarterback’s done a very good job — doesn’t turn the ball over, keeps it on schedule, they score points. Big running backs, they love their tight ends, good receivers. So, for us, it’s just more seeing what they’re giving us, the looks they’re giving us and how we can attack those looks.” Bowen won’t take Notre Dame’s next opponent lightly and will have this defense ready for their next test. The Irish are currently ranked No. 3 in the country, with hopes of a national championship growing. But this defense will need to keep up its elite level for that to become a reality, and Bowen will be at the center of it. Contact Jack Muething at jmuethin@nd.edu
SPORTS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 15
FOOTBALL
Football beat picks: Notre Dame vs. UNC By Observer Sports Staff Football Beat
The Irish are making a trip down to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to test the waters of Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels squad. The Observer’s football beat writers weigh in on the contest — each projecting an Irish victory by double digits. Noah Cahill North Carolina appears to be taking a step forward in its second year under Belichick. Defensively, the Tar Heels are among the most disciplined teams in the nation, leading with fewest penalties per game, and employing a defensive line that has held teams to a mere 3.4 yards per carry through three games — even including the 145 yards conceded in a second-half collapse against Clemson. It’s the other side of the ball where they’ll face more issues. While North Carolina has found more success under Bobby Petrino’s new offensive scheme, the Irish secondary should be able to bottle up journeyman quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. And for as much success as the Tar Heel defense has had in moments, their vulnerability against deeper passing concepts was exposed in last week’s loss to the Tigers, setting the stage for Carr and company to attack through the air. Expect the Irish to start slow on the road, but settle in behind continued defensive dominance. Prediction: Notre Dame 35, North Carolina 13 Ellie Collins North Carolina is not gifted offensively, but the Irish O-line will be tested by the Tar Heels’ talented front, spearheaded by defensive tackle Xavier Lewis. If Notre Dame can win the interior battle, it will portend well. While the Irish may find only modest success in the first half, Aneyas Williams and Nolan James Jr. should see open space against a worn-down Heels defense after the break. CJ Carr will need to put his pre-snap skills to work against defensive mastermind Belichick, who likely formulated some surprise wrinkles during the UNC bye week. Given the Carolina offense has been pretty good at following its pre-game script in the first quarter, the Notre Dame defense will need time to adjust. However, defensive ends Boubacar Traore and Bryce Young will likely have many meet-and-greets with Tar Heels signal caller Edwards Jr. in the backfield as they dominate a questionable line. The Irish defense will score as many touchdowns as the Tar Heels offense, and DJ McKinney will have his second pick-six of the season. It will not be an offensive showcase, but Carr and company will be very efficient and
break away with the win in the second half. Prediction: Notre Dame 31, North Carolina 10 Chris Dailey Bill Belichick is noted to have a deep admiration for Knute Rockne and the history of Notre Dame football. A nerd for the game, Belichick has collected a plethora of football artifacts over his illustrious career, which includes an early, rare edition of Knute Rockne’s 1930 autobiography. Needless to say, Belichick will have his team well aware of the honor it is to play against a program like Notre Dame. However, appreciation only takes you so far. Unfortunately for arguably the greatest professional coach of all time, the Tar Heels aren’t very good. This fact was made known when his squad lost to the uninspiring Clemson Tigers 28-20 two weekends ago. On the other side of the equation is a Notre Dame team that appears to be the most complete in college football. The defensive line has shone, while Micah Gilbert has become a machine on offense. His connection with CJ Carr is proving to be one of the best in the nation. Notre Dame should have no problem taking care of business in Chapel Hill. Give me the Irish to roll past the Tar Heels and win comfortably. Prediction: Notre Dame 42, North Carolina 14 Payton Dymek With Notre Dame feeling strong and North Carolina seeking to make improvements in its second year under Belichick, this weekend’s matchup could come down to who plays the hardest for the longest. Right now, the Irish defense is the only team that has allowed fewer than 200 yards on the year, and the only second-half touchdown they allowed came in the last six seconds of their contest against Purdue. However, the biggest test moving into their October and early November schedule will be holding off the Tar Heels offense, which has produced 366 yards. Luckily, Carolina’s yardage comes mainly from its run game, meaning that the Irish’s strong defensive line just needs to stay focused and not get complacent on the push. The offense has since cleaned up after fans saw slightly sloppy and predictable play calls at home against Michigan State; the only interception of the year so far came on an uncharacteristic mistake by Carr, but it isn’t something to focus on. I think North Carolina will come out strong, as Belichick wants to solidify the Tar Heels as the “33rd NFL team,” and if Notre Dame gets tired or can’t show up as soon as the play clock starts, then Carolina is
sure to rack up points and make the Irish work hard to walk away with a dominant win. Prediction: Notre Dame 31, North Carolina 20 Ben Hicks Early on in Marcus Freeman’s tenure, Notre Dame was challenged on the road against rising ACC programs with polished head coaches. In 2023 alone, the Irish were beaten at Louisville in Jeff Brohm’s first year there and narrowly avoided defeat at Mike Elko’s budding Duke squad. While the Irish have pulverized all ACC competition (besides Miami) since, Belichick and his young Tar Heels are positioned to give Notre Dame its toughest test to date in 2026. Although Carolina’s offense is a far cry from the attack Belichick and Tom Brady authored for so many years in New England, the Tar Heels defense is allowing just over 13 points per game. The second-half collapse at Clemson its last time out was a step back, but North Carolina dominated a strong TCU front in the trenches to open the year. I could see another slow start away from home for Freeman and company, but ultimately, the Heels’ 99th-ranked passing offense will doom their efforts at a signature win. I like Williams to put together another positive performance on the ground, but once again, it will be Leonard Moore and the Irish defense keeping the undefeated train on the tracks. Prediction: Notre Dame 31, North Carolina 14 Ethan Laslo Finally, a real road trip! Notre Dame travels to Chapel Hill to take on arguably the greatest NFL head coach of all time in Belichick. The former New England Patriots head man hasn’t found nearly the success with the Tar Heels, but this is the game to change that. Unfortunately, it likely won’t be. As I’ve repeatedly said, Notre Dame’s defense is downright ridiculous. They’ve now held opposing rushing attacks under 2.0 yards per carry for three straight weeks and have the most defensive touchdowns in college football since 2021. They’ve also thoroughly beaten three Big Ten teams now, which is no small feat compared to many other schools that have beaten up on FCS and Group of Six opponents. I think this could finally be the game where Notre Dame’s rushing attack finally rears its full two-headed monster and propels the Irish to victory, especially considering how efficient junior quarterback CJ Carr and the passing attack have been. Bill Belichick may have six Super Bowl rings, but college football is an entirely different story. Irish roll.
Prediction: Notre Dame 38, North Carolina 7
Prediction: Notre Dame 28, North Carolina 3
Henry Lytle Notre Dame is coming off a certified demolition of Purdue in which the Irish led 35-0 at the half against one of the most statistically prolific scoring offenses in the Big Ten. While momentum carries for the Irish entering this road contest at North Carolina, it certainly does not favor the Tar Heels, who looked in firm control until a bizarre rain delay saw them surrender a double-digit secondhalf lead over Clemson. North Carolina has the personnel to compete with any team in the ACC, but Belichick has yet to find the recipe to string wins together in his first two years. This matchup does not fare well on paper for North Carolina, which has struggled to move the ball consistently in the passing game. It relies heavily on a rushing attack that has averaged over 140 yards per contest through its first three games, but the tandem of Benjamin Hall and Demon June in the backfield will run into a brick wall of an Irish front, only giving up 53 yards per game. The defensive pedigree, coupled with the Irish passing attack with the capabilities to explode for a big play, gives Notre Dame too many opportunities to blow the game open and win comfortably on the road. Prediction: Notre Dame 42, North Carolina 6
Nikki Stachurski Honestly, my expectations are mediocre for the Irish performance. North Carolina, under the controversial guidance of Belichick, has been unremarkable the past two seasons. Notre Dame’s offense will be battling for every yard against one of the cleanest defenses in the nation, but the Irish unit is far superior to the Tar Heels’. It is not the matchup that worries me — for I have no doubt the Irish will emerge victorious — but rather the lull the game will put Notre Dame in. The Irish are approaching the halfway point of the season, and if they take their foot off the gas against opponents who may not meet playoff caliber, they will get too comfortable and make mistakes. In this season, with the precariousness of the CFP Committee, Notre Dame must not only win every game; it must dominate. I say it almost every week, and I will say it again: the Irish need to come out strong, and under no circumstances should they underestimate their opponent. Freeman needs to ensure his players treat the game as the serious matter it is, without allowing laziness or comfort, in order to maintain Notre Dame’s momentum throughout the season. Prediction: Notre Dame 35, North Carolina 10
Jack Muething After the first half of North Carolina’s game against Clemson, it seemed like Notre Dame would be heading into a matchup with an undefeated team, but then the Tar Heels’ luck quickly ran out, and they fell to 2-1. That game showed the weaknesses of this Carolina team, mainly that they cannot throw the ball at all. They are 15th in the ACC in passing yards per game, and quarterback Edwards Jr. has only thrown three passing touchdowns on the year. In a season where they’ll have to lean on the run game, the Tar Heels now face one of the best rushing defenses in college football. Meanwhile, Notre Dame is coming into this one having won its last 14 games by double digits. As the team heads into its second straight road game for a noon kickoff, I just don’t know what kind of team we’re going to get I don’t think it’ll look as bad as the first half against Wisconsin, but I also don’t think it’ll be the team that looked pretty much perfect in the first half against Purdue. However, I don’t think the double-digit streak will end this week, and I expect the Notre Dame defense to be the side of the ball that shines in this one.
Claire Watson The Irish certainly have been following Freeman’s phrase of the year — “leave no doubt” — as they head into Week 5 with a 4-0 record. Led by Carr, who has been putting on an amazing show in the quarterback slot, the Irish have played steadily and consistently, not to mention the running back game. North Carolina comes into this game at a disadvantage. Its last game against Clemson was two weeks ago, when it took a devastating 28-20 loss, and with a bye week, they could be cold coming into this weekend’s contest against Notre Dame, especially given the Irish haven’t had any time off. While the Irish are strong on both ends of the ball, they need to keep up their defense. Even with the loss to Clemson, North Carolina showed fight and power in its first two season games, winning 15-10 against TCU and 35-3 over East Tennessee State. That is not something to be ignored. I think the Tar Heels definitely pose a bigger challenge for the Irish, unlike the past few games. In order to win this game, the Irish have to stay composed on both sides of the ball and keep the North Carolina offense at bay. Prediction: Notre Dame 37, North Carolina 14
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