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FRIDAY,
Professors cut ties with Liu Institute amid controversy Jones-Evers win StuGov election
By Observer News Staff
Elijah Jones and Riley Evers have been elected the next Notre Dame student body president and vice president.
In an email to The Observer, Notre Dame’s Judicial Council confirmed that Jones and Evers won the election with 54.29% of valid votes.
Meanwhile, McCart and Parikh received 45.71% of the vote. 159 voters out of 2,988 total abstained. Judicial Council vice president of elections Madeline Hutson verified the results at 10:38 p.m. Wednesday night.
34% of Notre Dame students voted in the election.
In a comment to The Observer, Jones wrote, “Riley and I are extremely grateful that over 700 ND students signed our petition, and that over 1500 ND students voted
for us! We’re also extremely grateful for all the grassroots campaigning people did for us! We didn’t have an official campaign team (I made our platform, campaign materials, talked to people in the dining hall, and sent out a bunch of emails), but our friends, and people in our clubs and residence halls, helped get people to vote!”
Jones and Evers were endorsed by The Observer and College Democrats, while College Republicans endorsed McCart and Parikh. The Observer was not immediately able to verify whether other campus groups had issued election endorsements.
“We appreciate all the support we received, and we look forward to fighting for every student’s voice to be heard,” Jones wrote.
Siegfried holds ‘Day of Man’ event
By Mara Hall and Andrew Poulton News Writers
Every Notre Dame residence hall hosts an annual signature event. For Siegfried Hall, that tradition is Day of Man, held each year on the first Wednesday of February.
Throughout the day,
NEWS | PAGE 3
‘ND’s Got Talent’
12 competitors vied for votes from ND quarterbacks at Graham Family Hall’s event.
residents attended classes wearing only shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops despite winter weather to raise awareness and funds for people experiencing homelessness in South Bend.
Organizers said the goal is to help students better understand the conditions
see “Siegfried” on page 3
OPINION | PAGE 5
ND Right to Life
The club’s Executive Board urges the University to rescind Ostermann’s appointment.
Criticism of Ostermann’s appointment mounts as Trustees meet
By Liam Kelly Editor-in-Chief
This week, professor of law and global affairs Diane Desierto and research professor emeritus of theology Robert Gimello cut ties with the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, furthering pressure on the University to rescind the appointment of professor Susan Ostermann to head the Institute.
This pressure comes as the University continues to defend Ostermann’s appointment.
Desierto, who had previously served as a faculty fellow in the Liu Institute, cited Pope Leo XIV’s statements on abortion in a post on LinkedIn as a driving force of her actions.
“All I will say on this is that
it should not surprise anyone that in my work of teaching, scholarship and service at our preeminent Catholic university, I take and reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s words seriously,” Desierto wrote. Desierto quoted a Jan. 31
speech by the pontiff, in which he stated, “No policy can genuinely serve the people if it denies the unborn the gift of life, or if it neglects to support those in
see “Liu Institute” on page 4
HCC names Hallow founder as commencement speaker
By Observer News Staff
Holy Cross College announced Alex Jones, chief executive officer and founder of Hallow, a Catholic prayer and mediation app, will deliver their 2026 commencement ceremony address on May 16. This will be the
College’s 59th commencement ceremony.
“Alex Jones represents the kind of thoughtful, faithfilled leadership we hope to cultivate in every Holy Cross graduate,” Holy Cross College
President Marco Clark said in a press release. “Alex has taken his own journey of
faith and transformed it into a global ministry that brings hope, prayer and peace to millions. We are honored to welcome him to Holy Cross as we celebrate the Class of 2026.”
Jones, a Columbus, Ohio
see “Speaker” on page 4
Scam emails at SMC raise cybersecurity concerns
By Soledad Castellanos News Writer
Over the past two weeks, students and faculty have faced concerns about phishing scams circulating via email across the Saint Mary’s College campus. Although few have been affected, the threat was significant enough to raise awareness from ResNet IT Security,
SCENE | PAGE 8
The Muppets return
Disney revives the beloved characters with a timely reboot staring numerous special guests.
the student IT services department. Students were put on high alert starting Jan. 26 via an email from ResNet.
“Over the last week, Saint Mary’s accounts have received numerous phishing scams with subject lines such as: ‘Reminder: Complete with DocuSign: Saint Mary’s College Proposal e-Signature Required and Unread Vehicle Document
SPORTS | PAGE 19
Ivey needs to adjust
Lack of roster depth raises questions for the sixth-year women’s basketball coach.
Available,’” the email wrote. “The messages are not coming from legitimate docusign.com addresses, and often the scammers are using legitimate Saint Mary’s email accounts.”
Due to the subtle nature of the scam emails, some recipients paid no mind to the seemingly normal
see “Hack” on page 3
SPORTS | PAGE 10
Hockey
Irish travel to Wisconsin looking for redemption against Badgers after 7-4 and 9-2 losses.
MARA HALL | The Observer
Members of Siegfried Hall’s section 2A stand outside North Dining Hall collecting donations for South Bend Center for the Homeless
ISABELLE RUTLAND | The Observer
Professor Diane Desierto and professor emeritus Robert Gimello resigned from the Liu Institute after Susan Ostermann’s apointment.
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Faith Dean
Sophomore Holy Cross Hall “Patriots.” Who do you think will
Mary Therese Lawler Sophomore Holy Cross Hall “Seahawks.”
Kayla Pier Sophomore Cavanaugh Hall “Seahawks.”
win the Super Bowl?
Ryan O’Connor Sophomore Cavanaugh Hall “Seahawks.”
Anna Walker
Sophomore Breen Phillips Hall “Seahawks.”
MEDIA POLL
Friday
Notre Dame women’s lacrosse vs. Michigan The Irish face the Wolverines in their first home game. Loftus Sports Center 7 p.m.
Saturday
Notre Dame men’s basketball vs. Florida State Notre Dame takes on Florida State. Purcell Pavilion 7 p.m.
Sunday
Film: “Hedda” (2025) A reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play, “Hedda”. Browning Cinema 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Monday
2026 Ethics Week: “Tariffs: An Economic and Ethical Analysis” Speakers look at tariffs from historical and global viewpoints. 134 Mendoza College of Business 12:05 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday
Love Data Week 2026 Author Talk A discussion on a late medieval cosmological treatise. 246 Hesburg Library 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
PHOTO OF THE DAY | DECLAN LEE
‘Mariachi Loco’ wins ‘ND’s got Talent’ competition
By Matthew Morin News Writerr
Graham Family Hall presented their annual signature event, “ND’s Got Talent,” Wednesday evening. This year, for the first time, it took place in the Dahnke Ballroom, where 12 competitors performed a variety of events. All proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to the Women’s Care Center in South Bend.
The competition was judged by Notre Dame quarterbacks CJ Carr, Noah Grubbs and Blake Hebert, as well as football team hydration specialist Juan Lawas. The evening began with introductions by Graham Family Hall president and emcee, Olivier Bruno.
The first act was Jacob Baum from Dunne Hall, who performed various illusions and magic tricks, including what he referred to as, “the magician’s dinner.” In this act, he swallowed several fish hooks before placing the fishing line in his mouth and drawing up all the fish hooks tied to the line.
Following Baum was
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many unhoused individuals endure during the winter.
“I mean, the weather is absolutely brutal,” junior AJ Golden, Siegfried Day of Man co-commissioner, said. “It’s really to raise awareness of what they’re going through in their day-today lives.”
Residents described the cold as challenging but manageable with support from one another.
“It is a little chilly. Definitely colder than last year, but we are hanging in there,” Siegfried Hall vice president Luke Roy said. “We are supporting each other and we are getting through it.”
“Walking to class isn’t too bad. Your ears and toes get a little cold,” sophomore Bryan Greive said. “The real challenging part
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day-to-day messages. One account affected was that of professor Andrew Pierce, whose account was compromised while working with students in class.
“I received a message from a student that I work closely with, referencing a ‘proposal.’ It seemed not unexpected that I would receive a proposal from her, given our work together, and so I opened it,“ Pierce stated. “The rest, as they say, is history. Luckily, our help desk noticed the
Harmonia, Notre Dame’s all girls acapella group, who have participated in the show for three years and were the first winners of ND’s Got Talent in 2024. Their performance was a rendition of Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors.”
Graham Family Hall resident Mark Chambers elicited laughs from the crowd as he performed Sia’s “Chandelier” in what he described as a “fake” British accent. Throughout the performance, he removed various articles of clothing, including his scarf, jacket and flannel, which had the audience, including Carr, laughing. Ending his act, members of the audience held up their flashlights as he concluded his song.
Describing the song, Chambers said, “it speaks deeply to internal turmoil. The euphoria of being able to let go. I seek to imitate this nearly hedonistic attitude in my performance on stage.” He also noted that his outfit choice was based on a deal that if someone in Graham Family Hall posted the event on Fizz and it received 1,000 upvotes, he would wear a tank
is standing outside for a full hour during the dining hall shift.”
Junior Anthony Fedoruk said the experience fosters solidarity.
“Obviously it’s very cold outside, but you really get to see what the unhoused are going through,” he said. “It’s a good form of solidarity.”
During their shifts outside the dining halls, residents hold signs and collect donations for the South Bend Center for the Homeless. Many write their personal Venmo usernames on signs so passersby can donate directly, with all proceeds turned over at the end of the day.
“It has been cold, but it is for a good cause. Even though we are cold, it kind of warms us up knowing that we are helping out the homeless,” freshman John Donohoe said during his dining hall shift.
“It is definitely cold, but spirits are high for sure. We are
abnormal behavior from my account and shut it down pretty quickly.”
He continued: “I reached out to our IT help desk, and they were able to get me logged back in and get the account back under my control. That process was pretty straightforward and efficient for me.”
For hacked accounts, any email addresses that they had had contact with at any time were then forwarded the messages that the IT department later warned against. This resulted in dozens of emails and URLs being sent out
top, which was the beginning of his outfit selection.
Freshman Jonathan Pérez Gómez performed as “Johnny Boy,” with a piano medley. Beginning with the classical tune, “Fur Elise,” he quickly switched to playing “Another Love,” “Let It Be,” and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” all while singing along. He ended by playing and singing “We are Charlie Kirk,” drawing some laughs from the audience.
Before his performance, Pérez Gómez said, “It’s a great event. I think it’s a great opportunity for people to present and give their talents while also giving to charity.”
Later, ten members of Mariachi ND took the stage, playing and dancing to the song “Mariachi Loco,” which had members of the audience clapping from the start. Two dancers kept the audience wowed as the rest of the band played and sang along. Many members of the audience (including Carr) took out their phones to record this act.
“We just try to show who we are. This is our thirtieth year as a club, so the fact that we
definitely excited to be here, and we appreciate all the love we have been getting,” freshman Packy Flannery said.
“Our biggest hope is to break $40,000 this year,” junior Jude Hubner, co-commissioner, said. “Since the event’s only 20 years old, it started off very small. We first broke $20,000 in donations 8 years ago, so we are still seeing a very good amount of growth.”
As of 11:22 a.m. Thursday, Hubner said they had raised $34,597.75. Their donation link will remain open for the next few weeks.
Hubner said dinner hours typically generate the most donations, as each of the dorm’s six sections takes an hour-long shift outside the dining halls. An online fundraiser also allows alumni and parents to contribute.
Golden said the event helps
from compromised accounts. Freshman Lauren Matthews experienced this firsthand, receiving an email from a professor with a message asking to participate in a survey.
“I wanted to be supportive, so I’m going to do the survey. I go on there, I try to verify my email, and it doesn’t go through. So I was like, hold on, let me do it again, just to make sure it wasn’t something on my end. I did it again, got a message and it said I was hacked ... But then a couple of days went by, so I think I’m all good ... Now I’m
are able to have the stage for the whole Notre Dame community is something that means a lot to us - to share with everyone else,” John Castro, president of Mariachi ND, said.
Further into the night, “a mix of magic, singing and comedy sets,” came next, as was described by Ean Tom, one half (along with Chris Dailey) of “Ean and Chris’ Magic Moment,” as they were introduced.
“We’re a jack of all trades. We won the Holy Cross talent show last year. Now, we’re going for the Notre Dame one,” Tom said.
Editor’s note: Chris Dailey is an associate sports editor for The Observer.
The penultimate act of the evening was Mardi’s Musical Madness, a music group playing “Closer to Fine” by the Indigo Girls. To close out the evening, the freshmen of Graham Family Hall, calling themselves “The Sendy Sound Group,” sang Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.” Dressed in Graham Family jerseys with blazers, on top, they left the audience in laughter, dancing through the song.
Carr announced the event’s winner. “I just want to thank Graham Family Hall for having us again. This is our third year that we’ve done this. It’s great to come out here every year and see some great talents. It’s really hard every year to pick,” he said before announcing Mariachi ND as this year’s winner.
“It just shows how much pride we have in what we’ve arranged. First time on stage, first time here. This is the greatest thing ever for us,” Castro said.
Starting with comedy by Dailey, Tom then played an original song by him, written for his girlfriend. Midperformance, however, Tom ran off the stage toward the bathroom (all a part of their act) and Dailey, still on the stage, brought up hydration specialist Juan Lawas for a card trick, saying, “Pick a card, any ‘Juan,’” where the card he chose was ultimately written on Tom’s shirt when he returned.
students look beyond campus life.
“It’s really easy to get trapped in our little bubble here at Notre Dame,” he said.
Day of Man takes place during Siegfried’s annual “Siggy Week,” a series of dorm events leading up to the dorm formal. Activities include tournaments and other community-building traditions.
“We kicked off [Monday] night with a mini golf tournament in the dorm,” Tommy Fawcett, Siegfried Day of Man co-commissioner, said.
“It’s a great week of tradition, camaraderie and just overall fun for the dorm,” Golden said.
“I can really tell that people are excited about Day of Man and it seems like we’re going to get a lot of support.”
Organizers also worked to expand outreach this year, appearing on local television to promote the fundraiser.
a little more cautious on the things that I open up.”
As they work to combat the scam, ResNet chief information officer Katie Rose provided a statement to The Observer via email, describing phishing as one of the most common security risks for colleges and universities.
“Our Saint Mary’s IT team frequently adjusts the email security settings to prevent phishing attempts from making it to our community while also ensuring that legitimate email messages get delivered,” she said. “The scammers evolve their tactics
Contact Matthew Morin at mmorin2@nd.edu
“[Monday] morning, we went to ABC57’s studio, did a TV interview with them explaining the event and why the South Bend Center for the Homeless is in particular demand this year,” Hubner said.
This year marks the 20th Day of Man. According to organizers, the tradition began in 2006 after a student forgot his coat on a cold day and reflected on how many people face those conditions daily. What started as a small gesture has since grown into one of Siegfried’s largest philanthropic efforts.
Editor’s note: The story has been updated to reflect how much money this event has raised so far.
Contact Mara Hall and Andrew Poulton at mhall27@nd.edu apoulton@ nd.edu
continually to try to make it past those protections. With the latest phishing attempts, we have been updating our settings multiple times a day. The best steps you can take to protect your account are to remain suspicious of links and requests that you weren’t expecting — even if the sender appears to be someone you know. Whenever you aren’t sure, contact the sender through another known reliable channel before ever clicking a link.”
Contact Soledad Castellanos at scastellanos01@saintmarys.edu
SMC introduces new parenting space in library
By Sophie Lewandowski News Writerr
When students arrive to Cushwa-Leighton Library at Saint Mary’s College, many are burdened with homework or an upcoming exam. But others carry an additional burden: children.
To accommodate this, the library has changed the layout of an old room, removing old printers and adding a changing table. It is one of many recent initiatives at Saint Mary’s aimed at garnering support for pregnant and parenting students on campus.
Liz Baumann, director for harassment, education and response at Saint Mary’s College and a Title IX Officer, is working to improve resources for pregnant and parenting students on campus. Her mission, along with other student and campus groups working to build better infrastructure for these students, is to combat the prejudice surrounding student pregnancy and ensure the welcoming atmosphere of the College.
“I think it’s important to note that pregnant and
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need, whether in their material circumstances or in their spiritual distress.”
She confirmed her resignation from her position in the Liu Institute to The Observer but declined to comment further on the matter.
Gimello also confirmed to The Observer that he had cut ties with the Liu Institute, where he had served as a fellow and later emeritus fellow. Gimello wrote in his resignation letter that he resigned the position “in dismay, and with regret.”
In a statement to The Observer, Gimello explained that his decision to resign stemmed from the Institute’s decision to appoint Ostermann to her new role, describing her as “a scholar who has repeatedly, publicly and adamantly proclaimed her opposition to (verging at times, it seems to me, on contempt for) the Catholic Church’s firm teaching that protection and nourishment of human life, from the moment of conception until natural death, is a sacred duty incumbent upon the whole human community.”
“Continued formal association with a unit of the University led by such a person is, for me, simply unconscionable — this regardless of whatever considerable talents and accomplishments the appointee might otherwise bring
parenting students are, of course, welcome at Saint Mary’s,” Baumann said. “We’ve been working really hard, especially in the past year, to expand a lot of those resources for not only our students, but also our employees and then anyone who visits campus.”
Baumann works with a faculty committee across various departments to implement support systems for pregnant and parenting students on campus. One of these committee members, Nicole Labadie, director of the Center for Faith, Action and Ministry, shared that the space in the library is far from finished, but she hopes it will support those who need it by providing a location where young children can play while they study.
“The new spaces in the library were designed with the dream of students being able to study or work an d also have a space for a baby or a small child to play, as well as have adequate spaces for pumping or nursing if
to the job,” Gimello continued.
Gimello questioned whether Ostermann would be able to separate her personal convictions from her position and do justice to the University’s Catholic views through the work of the Institute.
“I doubt that anyone so hostile to, or dismissive of, those views — as this newly appointed person seems clearly to be — even if she were to try to muffle her hostility, could do justice to Notre Dame’s properly Catholic endeavors in and about Asia,” he wrote.
Before being appointed, Ostermann vocally voiced support for abortion rights on numerous occasions. Between 2022 and 2024, Ostermann co-authored 11 op-eds on abortion in numerous outlets, including the L.A. Times and Chicago Tribune. Ostermann compared anti-abortion advocacy to white supremacy and racism and described abortion as “freedom-enhancing, in the truest sense of the word” and “consistent with integral human development” in the former article. She described those who supported antiabortion laws as “complicit” in “violence, sexual abuse and trauma.” Ostermann has also served as a consultant for the Population Council, a group which supports abortion and contraceptive access.
In response to Ostermann’s co-authored Dec. 5 op-ed in the Chicago Tribune titled “Lies About Abortion Have Dictated Health Policy,” then
mothers and babies need those spaces on campus,” Labadie said.
Baumann said future plans for the parenting space include a door for privacy and eventually a full lactation space.
“That being said, even parents who are not feeding their baby, and anyone who’s feeding their baby in any way, is well implemented in a lactation space,” she said.
The committee hopes to provide Saint Mary’s pregnant and parenting students with the resources they need to successfully care for children. While the Mother Pauline pantry keeps diapers and formula for students, there aren’t enough. The Baby Belles drive is one way the committee hopes will supplement what the college lacks.
The drive is accessible to students and faculty, so everyone can contribute to providing students with what they need.
“Even a dollar or two can fund a number of diapers for a baby. And there’s some other sort of higher-priced items on those, but they’re aimed
University President Fr. John Jenkins penned a response letter to the editor stating “their essay does not reflect the views and values of the University of Notre Dame in its tone, arguments or assertions.”
The University declined to give an additional comment in response to Desierto’s and Gimello’s resignations and referred to their Jan. 31 comment which defended both Ostermann’s appointment to head the Liu Institute while referencing the University’s position on abortion.
“She is well prepared to expand the Institute’s global partnerships and create impactful research opportunities that advance our dedication to serving as the preeminent global Catholic research institution,” the statement reads. “Those who serve in leadership positions at Notre Dame do so with the clear understanding that their decision-making as leaders must be guided by and consistent with the University’s Catholic mission. Notre Dame’s commitment to upholding the inherent dignity of the human person and the sanctity of life at every stage is unwavering.”
Notre Dame’s Institutional Statement Supporting the Choice for Life states that “consistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church on such issues as abortion, research involving human embryos, euthanasia, the death penalty,
at being able to support our students who are mothers on campus,” she said.
Students also play a role in developing resources for pregnant and parenting students. Senior Lydia Poe serves as the pregnancy and parenting students outreach commissioner for Belles for Life. The group has worked over the last few years to create more equitable circumstances for pregnant and parenting students.
Another initiative created a list of resources for the students on the Saint Mary’s website and the Avenues programming. The freshman resources provided during Welcome Weekend. Additionally, Belles for Life co-organized an annual Mother Mary baby shower that raises money and collects items to help students and worked with Baumann to install highchairs in the dining hall and changing tables in bathrooms.
“It’s been really rewarding to see the amount of committee support. I think it’s been something that’s been needed for a long time and
and other related life issues, the University of Notre Dame recognizes and upholds the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death.”
Following Ostermann’s appointment, professor emeritus of history Fr. William Miscamble confirmed in an op-ed in First Things that “A number of distinguished senior faculty have made representations to the administration to have Ostermann’s appointment rescinded. These requests have been denied.”
The matter had then been brought to the Notre Dame’s Board of Fellows, composed of six clergy members of the Congregation of the Holy Cross and six laypeople, for their consideration, Miscamble said. Per the University’s website, the Fellows have the power to “ensure that the University maintains its essential character as a Catholic institution of higher learning.”
According to a report by the National Review, the Notre Dame Trustees and Fellows met on Wednesday and Thursday of this week in Naples, Florida for their annual winter meeting.
Notre Dame Right to Life also penned a letter to the editor published Tuesday in The Observer condemning Ostermann’s appointment.
Contact Liam Kelly at lkelly8@nd.edu
the overwhelming impact has been just very overwhelmingly positive,” Poe said.
Poe shared her desire to support parenting students and make it easier for them to balance an education with parenting.
“I think that’s such a cool opportunity that we have to be in an all-women’s college and be able to support pregnant parenting students.” Poe said. “Add a baby, and it’s even harder, but it is still possible if you have the right support.”
Additional lactation spaces are planned around campus. A partnership with Eli Williams in the LGBTQ+ center will also add map accessibility features in bathrooms across campus, including bathrooms that align with gender or have changing tables and period products.
“We know that it’s difficult to be a parent and a student, and so we want to be able to help people with that journey as much as we can.” Baumann said.
Contact Sophie Lewandowski at slewandowski01@saintmarys.edu
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native, earned his undergraduate degree in engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2015 and later his master’s of business administration from Stanford Graduate School of Business. He co-founded Hallow with Alessandro DiSanto and Erich Kerekes, both also 2015 Notre Dame graduates.
Hallow was launched in 2018 and has since become the largest prayer app of any faith tradition in the world with over 30 million downloads in over 150 countries. During the 2025 Lenten season, Hallow reached No. 1 in all apps in the App Store, surpassing other dominantly popular apps such as Amazon, Netflix, TikTok, Spotify and Instagram, according to the College’s press release.
Jones has been highlighted for his app in national and international media, including NPR, BBC, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Free Press. He also also received a range of honors and awards such as the the University of Notre Dame’s Domer Dozen, the Catholic International University Founder’s Award, Forbes 30 Under 30, the Christifideles Laici Award and the Legatus Bowie Kuhn Award for Evangelization.
OPINION
Banning AI sacrifices accessibility
By Hannah Alice Simon Columnist, “Eyedentity”
When the majority speaks only of its own needs and perspectives, accepting these as the norm, it also states to the world that the minority is invisible, that they do not belong, that their concerns are not as relevant.
In journalism class last year, our professor asked us to read an editorial written by The Observer Editorial Board in 2024 titled “Boycott the Grubhub Robots.” The writers were very successful in laying out rational arguments on why they believed that the food delivery robots would adversely affect the strong sense of community we have created over the years on this campus. But as I listened to my screen reader read the article to me, I only experienced a sense of loneliness and alienation. “This article was written to the student body, for the Notre Dame community, but the writers’ words were not meant for me.”
As a blind person, I face unique barriers when thinking about getting food from oncampus restaurants. I am still unfamiliar with the routes to many buildings, and Google Maps, of course, is very inaccessible to use. And I hate relying on my friends to meet my necessities. Taking a trip to Au Bon Pain once a week to grab a meal with a friend is very different from being forced to reach out to the same friend one afternoon and ask her to walk with you because you are craving a brownie and you don’t know your way to the restaurant.
So when Grubhub robots emerged on campus, they changed my life, a tiny bit. I no longer had to depend on the kindness of friends or strangers to get the food I wanted; I no longer had to walk around like a fool looking for the food counter at the restaurant that I couldn’t see; I no longer had to wait at the counter
and anxiously wonder if there was a person on the other side ready to take my order. Now I could easily order my food on the app that works well with VoiceOver on my phone, and collect my food from a robot that texted me its arrival.
The writers of the article put forward many arguments and considered many perspectives, all of which are valid and good. But they did not consider the impact that Grubhub robots have on the lives of blind students, other mobility-aid users and the disabled minority at Notre Dame.
This article reflects the larger trend within critical discourse to marginalize the experiences and perspectives of persons with disabilities. This tendency is exemplified by the recent scholarly and cultural discourse on the role of AI in today’s world. Almost always, I step away from these arenas of discourse feeling unsatisfied and isolated. Where do I, and my needs as a blind person, belong in these heated discussions? Does the nondisabled world truly believe that all of this is only about them, that AI has no role to play in the lives of people with disabilities?
One of the strongest
arguments against artificial intelligence is that it erodes the dignity of human beings. In my limited interactions with AI as a disabled person, I have found the opposite to be true. When I stayed alone in Indianapolis in the summer of 2025, I relied on an app called Be My Eyes. This application allows me to take pictures of objects or documents, which it then analyzes using its AI function to provide me with a detailed description of the image. In a world of printed sheets and labels that are never in braille, Be My Eyes allows me to live a life of independence and self-reliance.
I had a similar positive experience using ChatGPT. I have always struggled with science and math classes, chiefly because these subjects are taught in an extremely visual manner. Professors often solve equations on the board and upload formulas and practice problem sets in formats that are not screen-reader accessible. It was while I was preparing for a science final at Notre Dame, and struggling to understand the contents of the study guide that had been provided as an inaccessible PDF, that I decided to turn to ChatGPT as a last resort.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
I prompted the algorithm to provide me with practice problem sets and their solutions in a screen-reader accessible format. It gave me exactly what I asked for, within seconds! And the impenetrable world of numbers finally opened its doors to me. That day, combining my human abilities of logical and rational thinking with ChatGPT’s ability to present information to me in an accessible format, I was finally able to figure out for myself an inclusive learning strategy that respected my unique needs as a student.
This experience has made me wonder about all artificial intelligence could do for blind students like me. I began dreaming of a world in which AI could be used to create inclusive lesson plans and accessible course materials by professors, enabling every kind of learner to thrive in the classroom environment.
Yet, as I returned to the chaos of conversation around AI, I listened vainly for voices that articulate my thoughts and perspectives as a disabled person. It saddens me that even Notre Dame’s faculty and leadership, who have approached the question of artificial intelligence with
great thoughtfulness, have not sought to address the relationship between disability and AI or sought to invite disabled voices into these conversations.
This marginalization of people with disabilities and their perspectives, even if it comes from a place of ignorance or forgetfulness, is still an act of exclusion. When the majority speaks only of its own needs and perspectives, accepting these as the norm, it also states to the world that the minority is invisible, that they do not belong, that their concerns are not as relevant.
Last year, Notre Dame presented a Catholic response to the question of AI through the DELTA Network. This new initiative seeks to provide a faithbased framework to navigate the questions and challenges that are posed by the growth of artificial intelligence, by relying on the principles of dignity, embodiment, love, transcendence and agency. As this initiative grows, bears fruit and becomes a force for good within Notre Dame and the world at large, I hope that it will also serve as a space that invites all perspectives, and a framework that takes into thoughtful consideration the ways in which AI influences, both positively and negatively, the lives of people with disabilities, and other minorities. I hope that the DELTA Network and the larger Notre Dame community will strive to create inclusive arenas of discourse in which all voices and experiences are remembered, welcomed and thoughtfully attended to.
I too desire, not to stand silent and unheard on the sidelines, but to belong to the heart of the Notre Dame community.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Contact Hannah Alice Simon at hsimon2@nd.edu
ND Right to Life: A call to action on Ostermann
The Notre Dame Right to Life Executive Board calls on the University to rescind the appointment of professor Susan Ostermann as the head of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. Ostermann publicly advocates for policies that are directly opposed to the magisterial teachings of the Catholic Church, which state that abortion is an intrinsic evil. In Ostermann’s statement to The Observer, she says, “I respect Notre Dame’s institutional position on the sanctity of life
at every stage.” However, she has spent her career advocating for and supporting organizations that directly contradict this statement. She has done so, moreover, in an inflammatory way; within the context of 11 op-ed pieces, she has referred to laws respecting the sanctity of life as based in “white supremacy” and “racism.” Her work as a member of the Population Council, an organization that collaborated with the Chinese government to promote abortion, contraception and the
enforcement of the one-child policy, violates the dignity of human life. These and other actions render Ostermann unfit to serve as head of the Liu Institute. In 2022, Ostermann coauthored an opinion article with Tamara Kay in the Chicago Tribune titled, “Lies about abortion have dictated our health policy.” In response to this article and its rhetoric, then-President Fr. John Jenkins, C.S.C., commented, “I write to state unequivocally that their essay
does not reflect the views and values of the University of Notre Dame in its tone, arguments or assertions.” Prior to Ostermann’s appointment, Fr. Jenkins felt it necessary to clarify that her stance does not reflect that of Our Lady’s University; the situation is far graver now that it has appointed her to a leadership position. Notre Dame cannot claim to maintain its Catholic identity while simultaneously promoting someone whose public advocacy is in such direct contradiction to the
faith.
The claim that Ostermann’s personal beliefs will have no influence on her work as head of the Liu Institute is erroneous and naive. The work done by the Keough School of Global Affairs must be informed by the preeminent right to life and the dignity of the human person. This right must be at the crux of all University action, both from its leadership and its
see “Life” on page 6
LIAM FLYNN| The Observer
Continued from page 5
professors; Ostermann’s public works are contrary to this vital right and have inherently injurious consequences. This issue is neither abstract nor
ideological. Notre Dame Right to Life president Anna Kelley offers a unique perspective on this matter: “As a Catholic adoptee from China, I take personal offense at this appointment. I am so blessed to have escaped the fate that Professor Ostermann’s work has inflicted
on so many innocent Chinese lives. Because I have been given the gift of life, I am choosing to speak out with my own testimony to bring attention to the real-life consequences that her ideology promotes.”
Therefore, the Executive Board of Notre Dame Right
to Life urgently calls upon the University to rescind the appointment of professor Susan Ostermann, effective immediately.
Notre Dame Right to Life Executive Board
Anna Kelley
Teresa Pingel
Alejandra Ricardo
Luke Woodyard
Faustina Barcena
Maria Madigan
Ava Hall
Noah Schoenfelder
Jake Struby
Feb. 6
Students across the nation mobilize against ICE
By Thea Bendaly Columnist, “Off Notre Dame Ave.”
It would be difficult to miss the nationwide demonstrations protesting the actions of the current administration. People of all ages are exercising their First Amendment rights to peacefully protest immigration enforcement policies that many feel have torn apart their communities.
Last semester, I wrote an article detailing Indiana’s cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. While there have yet to be major ICE operations in Indiana, many wonder if their city could be next. During the second Trump administration, international students, visa-holders, naturalized immigrants and undocumented immigrants have watched with concern as enforcement actions have disrupted cities nationwide.
While there are rumors that Indianapolis is next, they have yet to be confirmed. Even so, Indiana’s government has begun to prepare policies that would require local governments and public schools to comply with ICE operations if they occur. A new Indiana State Senate bill (SB 76) has passed to the house. SB 76 would require public schools to provide the records of students upon ICE’s requests, permit the governor to withhold grant funding from institutions who do not comply and require local law enforcement to act as an extension of ICE.
This could look like local police temporarily holding alleged undocumented immigrants until ICE assumes responsibility. Many have questioned the legality of SB 76’s resolutions.
Despite the pushback, this bill is expected to pass the Republican-controlled house. This may feel like another discouraging headline in an already polluted new cycle, but that is not my intention for this article.
Hoosiers across Indiana came together on Jan. 20 to participate in the nationwide walkout. One of the participating institutions was my alma mater, Carmel High School. Carmel’s Young Progressives Club, led by junior Maaike Mora and sophomore Jack McNally, mobilized hundreds of students to walk to Carmel City Hall in protest of violent and inhuman immigration enforcement.
I have known Mora since high school through show choir and she has always been a focused and motivated student. Needless to say, I was not surprised to see her at the forefront of this effort. Earlier this week, I spoke with Mora about the walkout and what it meant
to her. When asked why she co-organized the event, Mora responded, “It only takes 3% of the population to start a fight toward a better, more just future for all people … It’s important for those marginalized to know that we hear them and will not rest.”
Mora is a descendent of formerly undocumented immigrants, which made the issue especially personal for her.
Given recent reports of protests escalating in parts of the country, I asked Mora whether she felt nervous about participating in a public protest.
“While I felt a sense of pride for the diverse group of students that participated … I felt a smidge of fear for everyone’s physical safety, myself included,” she said. “Being part of the Hispanic community, recent events occurring with ICE in Minneapolis were worrying to see, but safety was our first priority as well.” Fear and uncertainty appear to be shared
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
by many Americans at this moment. Public protest has always carried risks, but tensions have reached a fever pitch across the nation.
When I first heard about Carmel’s walkout, I remembered how universities were unsupportive of students who protested the war in Gaza. As an alumna, I know Carmel’s administration aims to support their students, but would that support end when it came to skipping school and protesting? Mora spoke candidly about Carmel High School’s support.
“Surprisingly, the school was very supportive and did not prevent this event from taking place. In fact, they helped us in finding a way to avoid negative [attendance] consequences for our absence. However, this did not diminish the opposition in our student body. An attempt to create a counter walkout, verbal abuse and other issues arose.”
Speaking with Mora reminded me that students have been
at the center of political movements in America for years. In the Birmingham Children’s Crusade in 1963, over 1,000 students skipped school and marched to downtown Birmingham to protest racial segregation. Their protests were met with intense police brutality, but they persisted. In the late 1960s, thousands of students protested the Vietnam War by wearing black arm bands to school. This protest ended up warranting a Supreme Court decision, Tinker v. Des Moines, which ruled students have the right to freely express themselves in school.
This history reflects a broader American tradition. The Constitution protects the right to protest especially when citizens believe their government is falling short. Many immigrants, documented and undocumented, are unable to speak openly out of fear of detention. This is why it is so important to voice your concerns. You have the privilege others do not.
If you feel comfortable, attend a protest. If not, call your senators and representatives to vote against the upcoming DHS funding bill that would expand ICE’s budget. If you are from Indiana, call your local representatives and tell them to vote NO to SB 76. The second we allow ourselves to be hopeless is the second we give up the greatness this country can achieve.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Contact Thea Bendaly at tbendaly@nd.edu
Ostermann’s appointment is an insult to ND women
The recent appointment of abortion advocate Susan Ostermann to director of the Liu Institute is astonishing coming from a university dedicated to the mother of an unplanned pregnancy. And the decision should be viewed as none other than a slap in the face to every woman here. As is widely reported, Ostermann has dedicated a significant portion of her professional talent and influence to the dissemination of articles vilifying the pro-life
movement.
She has called the carrying of an unplanned child an instance of “violence,” “sexual abuse” and “trauma.” She has called crisis pregnancy centers, which care for any woman who enters their doors, places of “propaganda” existing to “provide false information to women who are lured to them believing they will receive legitimate medical care.”
Four years ago, Ostermann’s views were so abhorrent to
the values of this University that former President Jenkins publicly rejected an article she wrote alongside two other Notre Dame faculty that was titled “Lies about abortion have dictated our health policy.” Now, Ostermann has been selected to lead one of our University’s institutes.
Our provost, John McGreevy, announced last year that the hiring of women and minorities would become a priority equal to that of hiring Catholics.
Ostermann’s appointment, presumably an implementation of McGreevy’s plan, is doing nothing to aid women at Notre Dame. It is doing the opposite, promoting the saddest lie ever told to them: that their children are disposable.
Women are tired of being told that their strength lies in the rejection of love. No, unplanned pregnancies do not “destroy lives.” No, a child born of rape is not a “form of violence.” In its appointment
and promotion of Ostermann, Notre Dame has become complicit in feeding that great lie to its female students. Until it begins to defend the sanctity of all life — mother and baby alike — in all of its actions, Notre Dame can never hope to fulfill the singular duty it bears to its female students as Our Lady’s University.
Lucy Spence Editor in Chief, Irish Rover Class of 2027 Feb. 6.
ALYSSA SIRICHOKTANASUP| The Observer
ND’s Got Talent
Photos by Declan Lee
Graham Family Hall presented their 2026 Notre Dame’s Got Talent as their annual charity event Wednesday evening in the Dahnke Ballroom.
The Muppets are back with new special
By Luke Foley Scene Editor
Everyone loves The Muppets — except Disney. Their management of the beloved puppets since purchasing them from the Jim Henson Company in 2004 has left much to be desired. There have been some highlights: 2011’s “The Muppets” is a masterpiece that changed my life when I saw it in theaters at age six. The songs were both incredibly delightful (“Life’s a Happy Song”) and devastating (“Man or Muppet”), and it confidently updated The Muppets without losing their original charm. However, Disney sadly didn’t know what to do with the momentum of that film. The sequel, “Muppets: Most Wanted,” was decent enough, and the 2015 mockumentary sitcom “The Muppets” was an admirable albeit misguided experiment that didn’t find its footing fast enough to avoid cancellation after season one. Since then, The Muppets have been banished to Disney+ limbo. And to add insult to injury, The Muppets area in Disney’s Hollywood Studios was razed last year. So, all in all, it isn’t easy being green under Disney.
However, a new hope has emerged. Disney recently locked in and decided to reboot “The Muppet Show” for an ostensible one-time television special on
Disney+; however, it’s clearly a backdoor pilot for a full-fledged series. Behind the reboot are producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who are fresh off the success of “The Studio.” They seemed as good stewards as anybody to step in and try to reignite these characters. The duo and the rest of The Muppet Studio team smartly decided not to reinvent the wheel with this reboot and instead embraced what The Muppets are exceptionally good at: slapstick humor, kooky hijinks and charmingly weird characters. For those unfamiliar with the
essentially a show within a show: The Muppets are putting on a live theater performance, and wacky hijinks ensue. Malfunctions and backstage drama always abound, but the show still goes on with a mix of musical performances and sketches. A celebrity guest also joins them, and for this special, that honor was given to Sabrina Carpenter, a perfect choice to kick off this reboot. Her burlesque aesthetic and cheeky humor fit right at home with The Muppets. And don’t worry, she still somehow manages to slip in
a sexual innuendo in this TV-PGrated special. Carpenter kicked off the special with a playful rendition of “Manchild” where she beats up a bunch of drunk Muppets and dances with chickens — perfect, no notes. The next sketch is an amusing, if flimsy, sketch in which Miss Piggy unexpectedly ends up at a ballroom dance with Pepe. After that, we get a fun “Blinding Lights” rendition from Rizzo, my favorite Italian-American caricature. Carpenter then returns for some fun backstage banter with Miss Piggy, who accuses
Carpenter of stealing her style. A Bunsen and Beaker sketch that lightheartedly touches on our attention crisis is next, followed by some shockingly good harmonies between Kermit and Carpenter for an “Islands in the Stream” performance. And to end things off, the entire Muppets crew performs “Don’t Stop Me Know”, a tongue-in-cheek plea for Disney to give this reboot a shot. Interspersed throughout the sketch are charming discursions, classic heckles from Statler and Waldorf and surreal quips. It’s hard not to have a smile on your face throughout the entire thing. There’s a remarkable humility and reverence behind this special. Rather than trying to uproot The Muppets or distort Henson’s original vision, the team approached the property with real love, faithfully capturing the charm of these characters. The energy is zippy, the cinematography is vibrant and The Muppets are still endearing weirdos. The special has been greeted with praise from critics and audiences alike, so I’m pretty confident that Disney will go ahead and give this team a full-series order. Let’s hope they can keep the magic going.
Contact Luke Foley at lfoley2@nd.edu
What to do when you’re living ‘Groundhog Day’
By Harry Penne Scene Copy Editor
“Then put your little hand in mine … ” The alarm goes off. Again. Didn’t I do this yesterday, you think to yourself? Out the window hangs the omnipresent gray permacloud. The class rotation has become a habit by this point in the semester. Time passes slowly. Every day is the same. Sure feels like “Groundhog Day,” doesn’t it?
“Groundhog Day,” a 1993 film starring Bill Murray and directed by Harold Ramis, follows news reporter Phil Connors who is stuck in a time loop, living Groundhog Day over and over again. A wonderful tragicomedy both parts a riot and emotionally serious, it is mandatory viewing this time of year. While never explicitly declared, it is believed that Phil re-lives February 2 anywhere between 10 and 40 years.
Now, back to Notre Dame. The spring semester in particular can feel like a time loop. First, the lack of sunlight makes it hard to detect the passage of time. In 2026 specifically, our persistent snow feels reminiscent of the winter storm that traps Phil in Punxsutawney. The day-to-day is predictable. Class, exam, study, bed, repeat. Additionally, not a lot happens before spring break or until the
weather gets a little bit warmer. I mean, how can you compete with the action of fall and football season? Well, it’s actually quite easy if you know where to look. On campus, there are lots of things you can do to break the monotony. Here are a few of my suggestions to add some excitement to the semester and to stop feeling like you’re living the same day over and over again. When was the last time you went to the Raclin Murphy or saw a show at DPAC? Lots of arts and cultural events happen on campus daily, and I always try to take full advantage
checking the upcoming sched ule weekly for something fun to see or hear. There are film showings, organ concerts, plays, choral events and dance recitals — a little bit of everything. Additionally, student groups like Not So Royal Shakespeare Co. and Pasquerilla East Musical Co. have performances each semester. There is so much talent at this university, so why not experience it? Go out of your comfort zone and take in the beauty of art! Are you missing going to football games? Good news! There’s
still Irish to root for. Basketball and hockey are in full swing, and better yet, tickets are free! I absolutely love going to basketball games with friends and being unapologetically loud. Vibing in an alive environment for a few hours and forgetting about classes really lightens my mood.
In “Groundhog Day,” Phil takes it upon himself to learn the piano. Why not follow his lead and learn an instrument? We have access to pianos in dorm chapels as well as in O’Neill Hall of Music. Sit down and pull up a YouTube tutorial for a song you
love. Who knows, maybe you’ll find you have a real knack for it! If you are a North Dining Hall goer, why not dine at South? Switch up what you eat. Seats are not assigned, so shake up where you go. Break the habits that feel the same day after day. There are over 40 chapels on this campus; try to go to as many as you can! I did this last year and it’s actually quite a fun challenge. It simultaneously forms good prayer habits while forcing you to branch out and explore campus. Lent is right around the corner, so consider adding this to your prayer life in the upcoming liturgical season.
Lastly, be a good person; it’s what broke Phil out of his loop in the film. Try to make a positive influence on one person’s life each day. Be a light to someone else and shine through the darkest months of the year.
The next time you can’t remember what day of the week it is or you are having serious deja vu, remember: Just because it all feels the same doesn’t mean it is. Switch things up and try to live in the moment. Don’t wish this part of the semester away — enjoy it! The warmth and sun will return soon enough and tomorrow will break our time loops.
Contact Harry Penne at hpenne@nd.edu
ALYSSA SIRICHOKTANASUP | The Observer
Irish finish tied for 11th in FAU tournament
By Jocelyn Fulcher Sports Writer
The Notre Dame women’s golf team flew to Florida Atlantic University this past weekend facing 17 teams, including Clemson, which is an ACC competitor. The team finished with a combined score of 891 (+27,) tying with the University of Cincinnati for 11th place. The tournament was hosted on the Osprey Point Golf Course in Boca Raton, Florida. Freshman Taryn Cagle
commented on the course, stating, “the greens were exceptionally big at Osprey Point, and I know lag putting was a point struggle amongst the team.” She also mentioned that the weather conditions were not optimal for the first couple of days; however, the team remained calm and collected.
Freshman Jordan Levitt was the top-placer for the team, ending tied at 16th with a score of 216 (E). Levitt placed in the top-20 with her best score coming in her third round with at 71
(-1). Junior Alexsandra Lapple shot a 225 (+9) and freshman Sawyer Brockstedt shot a 227 (+11) — the three were the top finishers for the Irish, all placing in the top-60 for the tournament. Cagle and sophomore Bridget Wilkie were the other two placers with scores of 231(+15) and 232(+16).
During the second round, the team shot just 3-over, which was a drastic improvement from their first round score of 12-over.
“We work well in playing off
ND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
the energy of one another despite being in different groups, with a wave and fist pump to the group behind us to signify pars and birdies, respectively,” Cagle said. This positive outlook helped the team make improvements from the first to second round.
Cagle commented that the team is “going to be diligent in practices to refine and tweak things,” and that she hopes “to be more aggressive with wedges, maximize our birdie opportunities out there, and shoot
some low scores.”
The team will be flying to Viera, Florida in a couple of weeks (Feb. 21-22) to play in the Space Coast Classic. They will face 12 teams, including the hosts, Columbia University.
“We are confident going into our next event in a couple weeks hosted by Columbia and are so excited to get back out there,” Cagle said.
Contact Jocelyn Fulcher at jfulche3@nd.edu
Ivey needs to answer for roster construction
By Payton Dymek Associate Sports Editor
After a very successful career as a player with Notre Dame women’s basketball, and a handful of years with the Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury and Detroit Shock, Niele Ivey stepped into the coaching ranks as administrative assistant at Xavier in 2005. Ivey returned to her alma mater two years later, when she began her tenure as an assistant coach, before climbing her way to the head coaching position prior to the 2020-2021 season. Her ascendancy made her the first Black woman to lead a varsity program at Notre Dame.
Facing COVID-19 repercussions in the inaugural year of her tenure allowed for that 2021 season to be full of developmental priorities and helped lay a foundation. Despite not reaching the postseason, the Irish utilized that year of rebuilding and rebranding. The following two campaigns was when Notre Dame began to find their footing and found postseason success after being omitted from the Big Dance in 2021. Years two and three for Ivey both ended in the Sweet 16, where the Irish fell to North Carolina State and Maryland, respectively, but not before winning an ACC regular-season title in 2023.
The 2023-2024 season was the beginning of a new reign for the Irish, spearheaded by then-freshman guard Hannah Hidalgo. Hidalgo led the team to their sixth ACC title, which helped the program earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Although they once again bowed out in the Sweet 16, Hidalgo was named ACC Tournament MVP and Rookie of the Year. The season after was a similar story, with Hidalgo tacking on two new honors: ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. She ranked amongst collegiate basketball’s best in scoring and steals, but Notre Dame
experienced a late-season slide after reaching the pinnacle of the polls, ending their season in the Sweet 16 for a fourth straight year.
After many of the program’s key contributors exited to the WNBA or transfer portal last offseason, the Irish have struggled to compete with the upper echelon of the ACC in 2026. While the future of the program remains strong, it is fair to question if the final year of Hidalgo’s tenure is being wasted in a “rebuild.” Hidalgo is objectively one of the most talented athletes to wear the Irish jersey, having already eclipsed the 2,000 career-point ceiling and Skylar Diggins’ all-time steals record.
Despite these accomplishments, the team is only 14-8. The lack of depth has caused the offensive strategy to revolve around Hidalgo controlling the court and creating plays. There are many examples of sequences like this throughout the season; however, one that stands out is from the Michigan matchup from November. Notre Dame was down by 20 points with two minutes left in the second quarter and 20 seconds left on the shot clock. Despite Hidalgo having other teammates open from multiple positions on the court, she decided to isolate on multiple defenders, ultimately missing the shot. Hidalgo ended that evening 4-21 from the field and 0-8 on three-pointers, which only displays how her style of play sometimes struggles against solidified defensive teams. To worsen matters, when Hidalgo doesn’t have a great game, the team goes down with her. Strong point guards have to make their teammates better; they cannot beat teams on their own.
Since the Irish are a oneplayer oriented team, it makes it easy for the opponents to scout and come up with gameplanning strategies. In prior seasons, Notre Dame boasted talent that could recover from these matchup problems;
however, Olivia Miles, Kate Koval, Emma Risch and Kylee Watson all entered the transfer portal before this season. Whether it was turnover, admissions regulations, or just the general NCAA landscape, Ivey failed to compensate for the exits, leaving Hidalgo all alone.
The Irish sitting at 14-8 is not “progress,” especially when
four consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearances since 2021-22.
in years past, the team has held the No. 1 seed and made Final Four berths. Aside from records and rankings, the program has not made it past the Sweet 16 round under Ivey, which demonstrates the pattern of struggle against the sport’s most premier teams. In order for Ivey to bring the program back to the standard she set as a player, her coaching must not only prioritize raising one superstar, but creating a cohesive, multi-faceted team with stars left and right. It is not a miracle on the court that Notre Dame needs, it’s a coach that can prove her tenure is worth more than the stars she can recruit. Contact Payton Dymek at pdymek@nd.edu
DECLAN LEE | The Observer
Irish head coach Niele Ivey looks on from the sideline during Notre Dame’s 79-66 defeat against Louisville at Purcell Pavilion on Jan. 15. Ivey has led the Irish to
SPORTS
Hockey readies for No. 13 Wisconsin rematch
By Nikki Stachurski Associate Sports Editor
Notre Dame hockey travels to Madison, Wisconsin this weekend to face the No. 13 Badgers for their second home-and-home series this season. The Irish take the ice Friday, Feb. 6 and Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Kohl Center.
In their most recent series, the Irish recorded two ties against non-conference opponent Bowling Green. The Irish lost in a shootout at home Friday night and won in a shootout at Bowling Green the following game. Because the Falcons were not in the Big Ten, the shootout win and loss were recorded as ties, bringing Notre Dame’s record to 5-18-3 overall with 1-13 in the Big Ten.
The Badgers traveled to Minnesota the same weekend, where they lost their first game on Friday 4-1 and their second game on Saturday 8-4. In Friday’s loss, Wisconsin played freshman goaltender Daniel Hauser, who allowed three goals. The Golden Gophers also scored one empty-netter. For Saturday’s game, the Badgers started Hauser but pulled him after he allowed three goals in the first period. Sophomore goaltender Eli Pulver relieved him but allowed five goals in the remaining two periods. The unpredictable decision-making in net for Wisconsin will be one of the most interesting things to look out for as they prepare for their rematch against the Irish.
The last time the two teams battled, the Badgers beat the Irish 7-4 on Dec. 5 and 9-2 the following night in a pair of brutal losses for Notre Dame. In the first game, tensions emerged immediately during warmups after Wisconsin broke a pane of glass on Notre Dame’s boards and continuously threw pucks to make the cracks in the glass spread. The lack of respect for Notre Dame’s home arena laid the groundwork for conflict. When paired with the harsh penalties and ruthless offense of the Badgers, the Irish let their frustrations take over as they recorded two of their worst losses of the season so far.
In the final game of the series, junior forward Brennan Ali got a five-minute major for hitting from behind and was later disqualified. Then, Wisconsin senior defenseman Ben Dexheimer got a five-minute major for fighting and was disqualified, and Wisconsin freshman forward Finn Brink earned a 10-minute misconduct and disqualification. In the third period,
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer Irish graduate forward Sutter Muzzatti battles Badger sophomore Gavin Morrissey for the puck to start Notre Dame’s Dec.5 matchup against Wisconsin in Compton Family Ice Arena. The Irish fell to the Badgers 7-4, and lost the second of the home-and-home series 9-2 the following night.
freshman forward Cole Brown and senior defenseman Axel Kumlin for the Irish were later disqualified as well with two 10-minute misconducts. The teams will likely be feeling remnants of the tension this weekend.
While Notre Dame has played some of their best hockey of the season and has not recorded a loss in the last
three games, Wisconsin is on a six-game losing streak. The Badgers will undoubtedly be hungry for a win at home as they attempt to replicate the high-scoring success they found the last time they faced Notre Dame.
When comparing the two teams, Wisconsin is stronger at winning on the faceoff, beating the heavy-hitting
Golden Gophers 37-27 and 37-33 despite losing last weekend. However, the Irish have been able to recover quickly on the backcheck and will be ready for the intense style of play the Badgers employ on offense. What the Irish have that the Badgers are lacking is a steady goaltender in sophomore Nicholas Kempf, who recorded 76 saves in Notre
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Dame’s last series.
The Irish are prepared for their Big Ten rematch and will need to continue with their recent momentum and offensive drives to give the Badgers difficulty on their home ice. The puck drops at 8 p.m. ET in both tilts.
Contact Nikki Stachurski at mstachu2@nd.edu
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SPORTS
It’s time for Notre Dame to leave the kids’ table
By Ellie Collins Associate Sports Editor
In a 2026 college football predictions article published in The Athletic, Irish beat writer Pete Sampson forecast the following:
“Notre Dame formally notifies the ACC of its intention to withdraw from the league and enters into a scheduling partnership with the Big Ten/SEC to fill out its missing football scheduling inventory. The rest of the Irish sports shift to the Big East.”
This intriguing speculation came on the heels of athletic director Pete Bevacqua expressing displeasure with the ACC and its media attacks against the Irish in the lead-up to the selection show.
““What we were really surprised by and disappointed was how the ACC conference really went on a social media campaign, in my opinion, attacking our football program,” Bevacqua said on Dec. 9. Such public criticism raises the question of how stable the relationship currently is, given that Notre Dame generally prefers to handle things behind closed doors.
At the very least, Notre Dame should consider the possibility floated by Sampson and utilize it to extract certain conditions on continuing the ACC partnership. If either the Big Ten or SEC expresses legitimate interest to Bevacqua about the formation of a scheduling agreement to buttress its
television contracts, the ACC will need to prove it remains a good faith partner. Even then, especially if the Big Ten and SEC are interested, the scenario outlined by Sampson may well be a better opportunity from both a football and non-football perspective. The two leagues undoubtedly contain more high-profile programs and possess more influence in the sport; a partnership would ensure the Irish are further aligned with football’s “big boys.” The ACC sits at a glorified kids’ table.
Additionally, the Big East is considered one of the nation’s better basketball conferences with a solid performance track record in most other sports. High-profile men’s basketball schools include St. John’s, Marquette, Villanova and UConn — the latter two of which have combined for six national championships in the last 22 years compared to four from ACC blue-bloods Duke and North Carolina. While women’s Big East hoops does not boast the depth of the ACC, it includes the powerful, longtime rival and current reigning champion Huskies.
On and off the fields of play, the Big East is a natural fit. The arrangement worked before as a non-football conference from 1995 to 2012 and counts nine highly respected Catholic institutions among its members. Most are also in large metropolitan areas
with prominent Irish fanbases, including Chicago, New York, Washington and Philadelphia. Additionally, the travel burdens and lost classroom time for the smaller sports would be less onerous without the routine need for teams to travel to California and Florida.
Of course, when all is said and done, football drives all in today’s college sports world and the ACC perhaps irrevocably tarnished its 12-year relationship with its negative playoff campaign. Miami had every right to advocate for itself, but the ACC’s push of a direct comparison between Notre Dame and Miami with no mention of SEC bubble teams in Alabama and Oklahoma shows that it does not view the Irish as an important enough football partner. Yet, as Bevacqua pointed out when expressing his disappointment, the ACC normally sells out about 23% of its games as compared to 90% when Notre Dame comes to town.
As far as the all-important television ratings, the Irish-Hurricanes tilt drew 4.3 million more eyeballs than the highest-rated ACC game of Miami-Florida State last season. The Irish’s prestige and credibility bring even more worth on the field; Miami would not have sniffed the College Football Playoffs if it did not have a quality win against Notre Dame. The Hurricanes’
otherwise pedestrian resume would have been barren without their early-season victory against the Irish.
A potential alignment with the Big Ten also presents numerous opportunities to benefit both parties. The league has television contracts with Fox, CBS and NBC. Additionally, the Irish have natural historical rivals in the conference including USC, Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue. In fact, the Irish match up against three conference teams in 2026, with a fourth lost only due to a loss of courage from USC. In addition, a three-game annual arrangement presents a golden chance to play exciting teams such as Oregon and Indiana and visit historic venues such as the Rose Bowl against UCLA. It is hard to fathom that the league’s TV partners would not be intrigued by the possibility of more big-name matchups.
As for the SEC, the conference’s mantra is “It Just Means More.” While its playoff performances lately have not lived up to that hubristic branding, the league no doubt means more because it is intimately aligned with ESPN, which currently holds all television rights to the CFP. Bevacqua volunteered that he spoke to the powerful SEC commissioner Greg Sankey in the aftermath of the playoff selections before talking to the ACC commissioner Jim Phillips. Further,
Notre Dame has already worked to schedule games with SEC teams in the future including Auburn, Florida, Texas and Alabama. A scenario where they add one or two more opponents would be good for the program. As they say, keep your friends close, but enemies closer.
By potentially engaging in dual three-game annual series with the sport’s two elite leagues, the Irish completely blunt the specious and overdone argument that they do not schedule competitively. It is not Notre Dame’s fault, after all, that opponents like Florida State, Arkansas and Wisconsin lacked a pulse years after the games got scheduled.
If Notre Dame elects to stay with the ACC, the partnership needs new conditions, such as the following: Non-ACC referees should work all games, Notre Dame should be able to select three of the five opponents in order to ensure a greater likelihood of stronger opponents by admittedly rather pedestrian ACC standards and hold veto power on game dates.
Keep in mind that the “hot take” prediction is in an article intended to generate conversation and stir the pot. But the point is clear: Like Sampson, Notre Dame needs to be bold.
Contact Ellie Collins at ecollin9@nd.edu
Irish NFL legacy continues in the Super Bowl
By Ethan Laslo Sports Writer
Notre Dame is no stranger to the Super Bowl. Over the years, the Irish have had 75 players appear on Super Bowl rosters, going all the way back to Red Mack in Super Bowl I for the Green Bay Packers. Several other legends stand out as well: Joe Montana, Joe Theismann, Alan Page, Ricky Watters and Jerome Bettis just to name a few. The Irish have had Super Bowl champions the last two years as well: quarterback Ian Book was a member of the Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles while linebacker Drue Tranquill was a member of the Super Bowl LVIII champion Kansas City Chiefs. The tradition continues this year, as the Irish have two players in the Super Bowl, both members of the Seattle Seahawks: safety Julian Love and defensive lineman Rylie Mills.
Julian Love
One of the veterans of the Seahawks defense, dubbed “The Dark Side,” Julian Love started his career in South Bend, where he spent three years as a cornerback at Notre Dame. From 2016-2018, Love saw significant playing time for the Irish, becoming a key part of the 2018 College
Football Playoff team. By the time he was finished at Notre Dame, Love was, and still is, the Irish’s all-time leader in pass breakups.
Following the 2018 season, he would forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft. In the 2019 NFL draft, he was selected in the fourth round as the 108th overall pick by the New York Giants.
Love spent four seasons with the Giants, transitioning to the safety position during his first there. Although he still saw time at corner, his first start and the majority of his early seasons would be spent at safety. By his second season, he was starting full-time for the Giants at safety. His first two playoff starts would come during the 2022 season, when the Giants won a wild-card game in Minnesota before falling to the Eagles in the divisional round. Following the season, Love entered free agency, where he would be picked up by the Seattle Seahawks.
Since then, Love has emerged as a star and a leader for the Seahawks defense. He was named to his first career Pro Bowl in 2023 in his first season as a Seahawk and has been a starter since. This season, Love has struggled to stay on the field in the wake of a lingering hamstring injury. He returned against the Colts on Dec.
14, and has not missed a game since. Coach Mike Macdonald has praised Love for his versatility, a trait that goes back to his days playing cornerback in South Bend. He enters Super Bowl week with no injury designation for the first time since sustaining his hamstring injury and looks to lead the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl since 2013 as the most senior member of their loaded secondary.
Rylie Mills
It’s been a far more turbulent start to Mills’ NFL career compared to his fellow Notre Dame alum. Mills had an illustrious career with the Irish, playing on the defensive line for five seasons from 2020-24. He was a captain of the 2024 team and was named a second team All-American by ESPN for his role as a cornerstone of the defense. After powering the Irish front to a CFP berth, Mills unfortunately tore his ACL in the first round game against Indiana. Nevertheless, he would be drafted in the fifth round by the Seahawks as the 142nd overall pick. Mills spent most of his rookie season in rehab, with many questioning whether or not he would even play because of the ACL injury. Amazingly, Mills recovered and made his NFL
debut against the Colts on Dec. 14, the same game Julian Love returned from his hamstring injury. Including that game, Mills has now appeared in five games for the Seahawks, including their NFC Championship victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Although he may not have had a significant impact in his rookie season, Mills has been able to learn
from an incredibly experienced and talented Seahawks front that includes veterans such as Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence and has set himself to be a crucial depth piece for Seattle in the Super Bowl and beyond.
Contact Ethan Laslo at elaslo@nd.edu
senior forward Gisela Sanchez,
A balanced attack is key for Irish in comeback
By Henry Lytle Associate Sports Editor
Notre Dame returned from a California road trip to take on the red-hot Virginia Tech Hokies on a seven-game win streak. In Irish alum and Virginia head coach Megan Duffy’s return to South Bend, the Irish put together one of their most complete performances, gaining a critical conference win to bring them to 15-8. All six players finished with double figure point totals to win 80-70 in a comeback victory.
After the game, head coach Niele Ivey said, “I am really proud of this group again, just being resilient and knowing that in this stretch of February, we got to play defense to win games.”
Junior guard Hannah Hidalgo led the Irish with 16 points, but the numbers did not follow a great shooting
performance. She also led the team in rebounds and steals.
Hidalgo scored 8 of her 16 from the free-throw line, causing other players to be the catalyst in a come-frombehind victory.
Notre Dame quickly found itself trailing 8-2 in the first quarter with 7:26 left after a Carleigh Wenzel three-pointer. The Hokies shot 42% from three-point range, a big part of the first-half control. Notre Dame clawed back to even the game at 8 with a jumper from graduate senior Vanessa de Jesus, who finished with 11 points and six assists. Virginia Tech closed the first quarter on a 13-6 run to lead 21-14.
The largest lead of the game came with nine minutes to go in the second for the Hokies at 23-14. Notre Dame kept its head in the game despite not sinking a three-pointer in the first half, utilizing the free throw line and adding
points off turnovers. Junior guard KK Bransford cut the lead to just three points at 2522 after a pair of driving layups with 6:33 in the second.
Sophomore Mackenzie Nelson sank a three to follow, which brought the lead back to 8, but Notre Dame did not quit.
Ivey added, “KK is my xfactor. She is one of our leaders [on the floor], one of our captains.”
Hannah Hidalgo found herself at the free-throw line to cut the lead to only two points with 3:15 left in the half. The Hokies led the Irish 36-30 after shutting down the offense for the last three minutes. It was time for a Notre Dame comeback.
Senior forward Gisela Sanchez sank the first threepointer of the game for Notre Dame in the third quarter to keep the margin at 5 points with 8:43 to go. Senior guard Cassandre Prosper added
8 points in the third quarter, none bigger than taking the lead for the Irish 42-41 win just over six minutes. However, she picked up her fourth foul and was forced to sub out with 5:45 remaining in the third. It was back and forth to close the quarter, but Notre Dame snuck out leading 55-51.
“We came out in this third quarter and went 7-7 [shooting]. So that belief and confidence we have in each other and in ourselves, I think, carries us through the second [half],” Bransford said.
The fourth quarter began with traded three-pointers as the Irish finally found a shooting rhythm. With the score even at 66-66, the Hokies regained the lead after a pair of Wenzel free throws. Prosper scored a pair of timely buckets to kick off a 12-2 run to finish the game. Notre Dame closed the game with relentless
defense, forcing 21 turnovers while committing only seven. Hidalgo, the leader in the country in steals, led the Irish with 6 at the point of attack on defense.
“I thought the team did a great job of adjusting to the change that they [Virginia Tech’s offense] made. Credit to the team again working and having awareness with each other because they had to figure it out in the moment,” Ivey said.
This win finished with three players scoring 14, two with 11, and Hidalgo with 16. Notre Dame will look to continue the balanced effort as it heads to Virginia to take on the Cavaliers on Sunday, Feb. 8. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Extra as the Irish hope to continue their winning ways.
Contact Henry Lytle at hlytle@nd.edu
ND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Irish
a Kansas State transfer, throws up a three-pointer amidst Hosier defenders during Notre Dame’s 80-70 win against Virginia Tech on Feb. 5 in Purcell Pavilion. Sanchez, averaging 7.3 points per game this season, tallied 14 in the comeback victory, while junior guard Hannah Hidalgo paced the squad with 16 points and 6 steals.