Francis’ legacy
By ROSE ANDROWICH News Writer
Following Pope Francis' passing Monday at the age of 88, Notre Dame has hosted a series of events to honor him and his legacy in the Catholic Church, including a rosary and a memorial mass.
The rosary was held Tuesday at the Grotto. Fr. Brian Ching began the rosary by reflecting on Francis’ 12 year tenure as pope. Francis was elected Pope in 2013, following Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation.
Ching noted that Pope Francis called people to go to the peripheries and serve those in the greatest
need. John Cavadini, a professor of theology at Notre Dame and the director of the McGrath Institute for Church Life, echoed Ching’s sentiments in a written statement to The Observer, which was also published by Notre Dame News. Cavadini reflected upon wellknown images of Francis, noting his interactions with prisoners and people considered outcasts by society.
“He left us so many memorable images to help us understand what he meant: images of him breaking protocol at a general audience to
see FRANCIS PAGE 3
Vielhauer delivers first State of the Union address
By DAVID MURPHY Staff Writer
Student body president Jerry Vielhauer gave his first-ever State of the Union address to the student senate Wednesday in a meeting marked by reforms to and a suspension of the senate’s constitution. As usual, the meeting opened with a prayer led by senator Jack Rankin.
This week’s prayer included a special reference to the late Pope Francis, who died on Monday.
“God, help us today to respond effectively to the needs of our fellow students in outreach as well
Annual ‘Smick Walk’ draws student particpants
By ISABELLA GONZALES News Writer
Starting at Holy Cross Hall on April 16 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the annual Smick Walk was hosted by the Feminists United (FEMU) club and the Student Diversity Board (SDB). According to a previous email made by
gender and women’s studies professor Jamie Wagman, this walk was meant to be “a meaningful way for us to unite against SMICK hate and show our support for one another.”
Originally, attendees would be walking from the residence hall to the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. Afterwards, the group
would walk back to campus together with various chants, signs and music.
Senior Maggie Dunn, president of FEMU club, mentioned that the event was cut short, however, due to a low turnout rate and the late occurrence of Easter break.
The Smick Walk was a continuation of the SMICK Rally that occurred on April 15. Junior Giselle Martinez, president of SDB, stated that both events tied together through a sense of solidarity within the Saint Mary’s community. Students who participated in the previous rally were able to use their posters for this event as they walked around the campus.
“The idea was that you wouldn’t have to go out and find materials to make your own signs. They would be provided for you and then it would be easier for students to participate,” Dunn explained. “We wanted to eliminate that financial barrier.”
Grace Maher ‘21, associate director of alumnae relations, discussed the events that lead to the first Smick Walk in spring 2021. She stated how Saint Mary’s students were often
see WALK PAGE 3
as upkeep,” Rankin said. “Help us live up to the mission and memory of Pope Francis by selflessly serving the wider community in South Bend and the nation. Amen.”
Following prayer and roll call, Vielhauer addressed the senate. He touched on a smooth transition from the previous administration, spotlighting his chief of staff, Ethan Chiang, and the newly approved directors of the student senate.
“After our election, Sonia and I have selected the best chief of staff around, Ethan Chiang,” Viehauler said. “Then, the three of
us selected directors for our 19 departments, along with the executive controller and student union secretary. We are beyond excited about what every one of our directors is going to accomplish this year with their departments.” Vielhauer then transitioned into explaining some of his administration’s early work, noting the continuation and success of several initiatives, such as the push to extend Street Fare’s hours of operation until midnight. He also discussed his administration’s
Dowd and Conboy sign AACU letter
Observer Staff Report
Notre Dame President Fr. Robert Dowd and Saint Mary’s College President Katie Conboy have signed a public statement released by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) that protests “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” by the Trump administration regarding institutions of higher education.
“Our colleges and universities share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation,” the letter states.
The letter, released Tuesday and now signed by over 400 leaders of colleges, universities and scholarly societies, comes amid the Trump administrations escalating actions to limit government funding to universities and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that the Trump administration has called discriminatory.
Notre Dame is a member of the AAC&U, while Saint Mary’s is not.
The signatories of the letter say that they “are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight.” However, they argue that the federal government’s actions amount to intrusion and coercion.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has frozen and threatened to freeze funding for colleges it alleges have failed to protect students from antisemitism or have engaged in racial discrimination through their DEI programs. Those affected include Harvard, Cornell, Northwestern, Brown, Columbia, Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania.
Notre Dame is also being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education for alleged race-based discrimination in its graduate programs, but the Trump administration has not paused funding for the University.
“The price of abridging the defining freedoms of American higher education will be paid by our students and our society. On behalf of our current and future students, and all who work at and benefit from our institutions, we call for constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic,” the letter concludes.
ISABELLA GONZALES | The Observer
Saint Mary’s students stand in front of the campus’ entrance holding signs with messages of reclamtion for the term “smick.” see
P.O.
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Edan Czarobski freshman Duncan Hall “Five
Joseph Sugalski freshman Knott Hall “17
Sophia Cousins sophomore Holy Cross Hall “14 pages.”
Stephania Sanchez freshman Flaherty Hall “15 pages.”
Jazmin Rodriguez freshman McGlinn Hall “14 pages.”
Angie Regalado freshman Lyons Hall “Seven pages.”
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Notre Dame men’s baseball plays Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday, resulting in an 8-6 win for the Irish, who took the lead in the fifth inning and kept their advantage throughout the game. The Irish rose to 21-7 and will play a three-game series this weekend.
Today’s Staff
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Soledad Castellanos
Maria Clara Corona
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Meg Hammond
Photo
Julian Orozco
Corrections
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Hesburgh Library, 246
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The Observer regards itself as a professional publication and strives for the highest standards of journalism at all times. We do, however, recognize that we will make mistakes. If we have made a mistake, please contact us at editor@ndsmcobserver.com so we can correct our error.
Workshop on federal funding policies.
Labor Cafe Geddes Hall Coffee House
5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Casual conversation on work, and workers.
Saturday
5K Run and Market South Quad
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Support the coalition to stop violence against nature women.
Irish vs. Northwestern Alumni Stafium
4 p.m.
ND’s women’s soccer takes Northwestern.
Sunday
Book Club Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Conversation on work by Clarissa Tossin.
“Alice in Wonderland” DPAC
1 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Watch one of Disney’s animated classics.
Monday
Mass at the Basilica Basilica of the Sacred Heart
5:15 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Hear the ND Children’s Liturgical Choir.
Tragedies of War Hesburgh Library, 102 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Exhibit honoring the 80th anniversary of World War II.
Tuesday
Israel-Palestine
Joint Memorial Day Jenkins-Nanovick, 1050
1:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Memorial service.
Jazz Band Concert Leighton Concert Hall
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Three jazz ensembles presents an assorted program.
GABRIELLA MARTIN
The Observer
Peace Studies experts reflect on Ukraine War
By Maria Clara Lopes Corona Staff Writer
Since 2022, the United States and European Union have presented a largely united front in support of Ukraine. But a series of developments this year, including a divisive UN vote and a contentious Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has revealed widening cracks in the transatlantic alliance. Interviews with peace scholars at Notre Dame provided insight into why Europe is reassessing its trust in U.S. leadership and why the outcome of the war may depend as much on Washington as it does on Moscow.
A reframing of war: the Feb. 24 UN resolution
On Feb. 24, the U.S. voted with China and Russia on a UN Security Council resolution that referred to the Ukraine war as a conflict “between Russia and
Francis
reach out to the severely disabled, who could never have even thought of approaching him; images of him hugging a Down's Syndrome child; images of him consoling the disaster-stricken on site, the refugee and the homeless,” he wrote.
Ukraine,” omitting any reference to Russian aggression or demands for troop withdrawal. European allies abstained from the vote, a move that highlighted a rare transatlantic rift.
“The real break in U.S. foreign policy became public before the meeting in the Oval Office,”
Peter Wallensteen, Richard G. Starmann Sr. research professor emeritus of peace studies wrote. “The new resolution only ‘implores a swift end to the conflict’ without any specification of measures, notably by Russia.”
According to Wallensteen, this rhetorical shift not only dilutes international condemnation of Russia, but also undermines past resolutions passed by the UN General Assembly that framed the war as one of unprovoked aggression. In practical terms, this change signaled to U.S. allies that Washington may be recalibrating its priorities away from fullthroated support of Ukrainian sovereignty.
Cavadini, who was appointed by Benedict in 2009 to serve a five year term on the International Theological Commission, also edited a book about Francis, “Pope Francis and the event of Encounter.”
Ching said the Grotto was chosen as the site for the prayer because of Francis’ devotion to Mary and his frequent visits to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome. The
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The Oval Office meeting and European fallout
Four days later, President Trump met with President Zelensky, dismissing Ukraine’s negotiating leverage, telling Zelensky, “You don’t have any cards.”
George Lopez, Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., professor emeritus of peace studies, described the meeting as a “travesty” and said, “What really matters is the way the White House reinforced afterwards that we and the Russians are going to determine the peace.”
Lopez explained that the supposed ceasefire discussed by Trump and Putin unraveled almost immediately.
“The very first night the ceasefire was supposed to take effect, Putin made a mockery of the agreement. This isn’t a ceasefire; it’s a political smokescreen,” he said.
He shared that for European allies, the failure of the ceasefire and
Basilica of Saint Mary Major is also where Francis will be buried. Francis has said that throughout his life, he has always entrusted himself to the Virgin Mary.
Editor’s note: this is an abridged version of this story. The full version can be found at ndsmcobserver.com
Contact Rose Androwich at randorowich01@saintmarys.edu
the exclusion of EU voices from peace discussions were red flags. “There’s no confidence. There’s no agreement with Trump’s position. They’re not going to wait for the U.S. anymore,” Lopez added.
A shift toward strategic autonomy
Laurie Nathan, professor of the practice of mediation and director of the mediation program, described the fallout as a catalyst for change within the EU. “Europe won’t ask Trump to join anymore. They’ll find their own way,” he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron has long advocated for “strategic autonomy” within European security policy, and recent developments appear to have accelerated that vision. With U.S. reliability in question, the EU is advancing internal defense frameworks through initiatives such as the European Peace Facility and coordinated defense procurement programs.
Senate
CONTINUED
coordination with Notre Dame administrators, highlighting their positive feedback on these reforms. Viehauler concluded his remarks with optimism for the future.
“I, along with Sonia and Ethan, have been meeting with numerous administrators, including Father Pete, on Monday … receiving very promising feedback regarding a number of our highest priorities,” Vielhauer told the Senate. “We’re really excited about the possibility of a lot of our initiatives. We’re thrilled to serve the student body over the coming year.”
The senate then moved on, passing SO252605, which approved and updated the Senate’s bylaws to suspend elections for races which only have one candidate. The body then voted on SO252606, which modernized election rules,
“It’s already shifted the way Europe is going to go about its business,” Lopez said. “Trump foreign policy is punished first, then see where it goes. It’s coercive and reactionary.”
The cost of peace: a political and moral dilemma
When asked about potential peace terms, Nathan argued that Western observers often fail to understand Ukraine’s perspective. To illustrate, he drew a sharp analogy: “Would the U.S., if it were attacked by Mexico and they seized Texas, just give up Texas to stop bloodshed? No one in Texas would agree. No one in America would agree,” he said.
Editor’s note: this is an abridged version of this story. The full version can be found at ndsmcobserver. com
Contact Maria Clara Lopes Corona at mcorona@nd.edu
particularly addressing concerns surrounding the use of official email lists for campaigning, which was previously banned. The policy has been updated so that emails may be used, but automated emails and the use of Listservs remain prohibited. This, too, was passed after brief questioning.
The Senate next moved to SO252607, which focuses on the constitutional obligations of Irish Gardens, the on-campus flower shop located in the basement of LaFortune Student Center. The organization is referenced in the Student Body Constitution, and per its articles, it has been inadvertently violating several regulations.
Editor’s note: this is an abridged version of this story. The full version can be found at ndsmcobserver.com
Contact David Murphy at dmurph23@nd.edu
mistreated and dehumanized by students and alumni predominantly from Notre Dame during her undergraduate years, along with being called “smick” in a derogatory manner.
Maher spoke about her frustration of the situation when she was a student and how she reached out to people for reassurance and support.
“I talked to a professor of mine, who was a mentor and a friend, and we put together the first Smick Walk,” Maher said. “It was just meant to be a show of support and strength and reclamation of what a smick could be.”
She explained how she grew up with women who attended Saint Mary’s and the importance of seeing that identity represented.
“I grew up with this understanding that being a smick was a really beautiful and unique thing,” she said. “It was you being able to stand in your power and be your truest self and have your own definition of what you wanted to do and who you wanted to be … It’s nice to see that there are other people that care about that identity and want to claim that for themselves.”
Martinez explained how SDB and FEMU got involved with continuing this tradition. SDB’s main role within the event was to promote it throughout the campus.
Editor’s note: this is an abridged version of this story. The full version can be found at ndsmcobserver.com
Contact Isabella Gonzales at igonzales01@saintmarys.edu
Annaliese Anderson
James Baird
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Quinn Barbaza
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James Bennett
Isaac Bernsten
Evelyn Berry
Caroline Bishop
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Natalie Bock
Audrey Boennighausen
Kathryn Bowers
Chloe Boyea
Caitlin Brannigan
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Casey Brenan
Ryan Broussard
Leah Bruner
Andrés Buckley
Sophia Buonavolonta
Emily Burgess
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Martha Byrne
Charlotte Cardarella
Elaine Carroll
Heaven Carter
Ryan Casey
Madison Chambers
Joshua Chen
Elizabeth Cherf
Abby Chittle
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Solbi Chung
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Samuel Coffman
Marcelle Couto
Elsa Cox
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Sofia D’Agostino
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Ananya Dalmia
Luke Dardis
Andrew De la Garza
Stephen DeCarlo
Taylor Dellelce
Alexander DelVecchio
Jack Dill
Thomas Dobbs
Abigail Donahue
Lauren Douglas
Ryan Downey
Emma Duffy
Chizoma Duru
Hannah Edwards
Caroline Egan
Libby Eggemeier
David Ek
Shawn Ellwood Jr.
John Falger
Katire Figueras
Evan Figueroa
Aidan Finn
Caroline Flannery
Glenn Foley
Megan Gallagher
Lilyann Gardner
Megan Gehl
Zachary Geiger
Ainsley Gibbs
Liam Gibson
Vicki Gillespie
Sofia Gomez
Katherine Gottemoller
John Graney
Ella Maria Griffith
Pranav Guntupalli
Marko Gural
Jane Hahn
Elizabeth Hale
Joshua Hamill
Sydney Hank
Ethan Harned
Jacob Harris
John Austin Hatch
Camila Holden
Liam Holland
Brendan Holt
Macy Hopkinson
Alexa Huller
Julia Jacobson
Dirichi James-Osondu
Paige Jenkins
Arden Jennings
Madeline Jepko
Erik Johansen
Alexx Johnson
Kimberly Jonas
Rylee Jones
Maria Kangapadan
Grace Karmazin-Schneider
Halle Keane
Ryan Kennedy
Hayden Kirwan
Ellie Knapp
Madeleine Kohl
Noah Korth
Joey Kositzke
Aidan Kriskey
Kade Kruer
Grace Kurzweil
Jingyi Lai
Thomas Larson
Kayle Lauck
Isabella Leak
Jack Lennon
Tyler Leonard
Ellie Leverett
Liam Linnen
Josie Lloyd
Joseph London
Julianna Lopez
Chiara Lorico-Rappa
Joey Lutfi
Gráinne Malone
Kendall Manning
Xavier Marlowe-Rogers
Peyton Marrone
Connor Marrott
Benjamin Martin
Daniel Martin
Margaret Mathis
Dana Mays
Matthew McCollum
Carlos McJunkins-Macias
Peter McKenna
Aidan Meath
Serena Melonio
Colin Menz
Chloe Miller
Mary Mitchell
Alyssa Miulli
Alex Mohs
Andrea Moreno
Catherine Morvillo
Marin Mowat
Kathryn Muchnick
Amanda Muhr
Julie Munoz-Segura
Rosario Murillo
Thomas Musgrave
Peter Nagy
Kieu Anh Nguyen Le
Kyle Northrup
Sophie Novak
Emma Nunez
Cashel O’Connor
Aidan O’Scannlain
Claudia O’Sullivan
Xoghitl Obispo
Sophia Ochoa
Brian Olemo
Pablo Oropeza
Joseph Osborn
Melody Padilla
Trey Paine
Ryan Palmer
Eamon Passey
Bella Pawloski
Jasmine Pena Ramirez
Avery Pitstick
Liam Price
Morgan Pulliam
Mary Quirk
Zeina Rady
Estela Ralston
Brian Ram
Jeremiah Raymond
Kat Regala
James Reintjes
Aidan Rezner
Kathryn Ritschel
Lauren Rivera
Jake Rohr
Alexa Rojas
Paulina Rosiles
Caroline Rossini
Matthew Ruff
Lily Ryan
Sarah Ryan
Anacatalina Sacher
Alex Santoni
Annabelle Sauer
Sammi Scheiderman
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Isa Sheikh
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Ellie Spielmann
Jane Stallman
Christopher Staszak
Sarah Sterba
Alex Stevinson
Sadie Stinson
Kayla Stone
Daniel Stracensky
Elle Strogilos
Ellie Sullivan
Ryan Sullivan
Anna Teerlinck
Mckenzie Thomas
Madeline Thompson
Jack Thornton
Megan Toner
Perry Tripido
Katelyn Turner
Sarah Van Hollebeke
Paula Velazquez
Mary Walsh
Harrison Waterbury
Sierra Weaver
Eliza Wells
Nyla White
Kyra Whitlark
Victor Williams
Hugo Winter
Margaret Winter
Steven Wu
Xiyun Wu
Christian Yerelekian
Claire Yin
Caroline York
Valeria Zambrano
Jichu Zhu
Sophia Anderson Transfer Tales
On dorm culture from the inside
Every night around 11 p.m., my roommate and I sit and debrief about our day, complain about our classes and check our emails for dorm updates. Since being accepted into our fall study abroad programs, we have been excitedly planning to move back in together next spring.
When I first got here, I wanted nothing more than to live in a Notre Dame dorm. In the first column I ever wrote, only a couple of weeks after arriving on campus, I described how desperately I wanted to move onto campus. I was optimistic about meeting people in other ways, but I knew it would be hard, and I was right.
Moving on campus is the best thing that’s happened to me since I’ve been here. I feel so much more connected to the community and my friends and feel more like a normal student. I no longer have to identify myself as a transfer every time I meet someone new, and my phone notified me last week that my average steps have decreased by thousands a day since December.
Despite my relief at living in a dorm, however, I am grateful for my time off-campus and the lessons it
taught me. I was forced to come out of my shell in a way I never had been before; I had to go far out of my way to make friends, go to events alone that I never would’ve otherwise considered attending and talk to people in my classes that freshman year I might have been content to sit next to in silence.
I’ve noticed that one of the most repeated compliments I’ve heard alumni give about this school is how friendly and close-knit it is. When I first arrived here, I wondered if I would stand out; although I try to be friendly, I have chronic RBF, and I can be awkward when first meeting people. Since I’ve been here, however, I’ve begun to wonder if students here don’t necessarily come in with outgoing personalities but develop them because of the culture we cultivate.
For example, I have grown in a lot of ways since I became a Domer. I’ve improved at in-class small talk (I marveled at how friendly people were when I first got here), I’ve become more open to different kinds of friendships than I’ve stuck to in the past, and in general, I have expanded my circle of friends in a way that I was never able to when I could lean on people in my small high school or dorms in the past.
I think that we tend to attribute too much of what makes us Notre Dame to the dorm system. Yes, it is a great replacement for Greek life; it’s a lot of fun, it’s an amazing way to meet people and it is a close-knit
and welcoming way to live. But I also know that I met most of my best friends outside of my dorm, and I have found that same sense of closeness and friendship in clubs, classes, service opportunities and more.
The year is coming to an end; with it, for a lot of students (whether you’re going abroad, moving offcampus, graduating or otherwise), is the dorm experience. I hope that everyone leaving the dorm they’ve come to know, love and forever associate with our school can challenge themselves to find community in new ways (even if it’s as alumni!), just like 60 nervous transfer students had to last August.
When someone asks me what dorm I’m in, I take a lot of joy in being able to answer. My response of “PDub” has become so automatic that I sometimes forget how much relief and belonging I finally felt the first time I got to say it. As someone who has lived both a nontraditional and now the traditional ND experience, I can say one thing for sure: our culture, dorm or otherwise, is something special.
Sophia Anderson is a sophomore transfer at Notre Dame studying political science and planning to go to law school. You can contact her at sander38@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
What golf means to me
Just like ten years ago, I’ll be watching The Masters this weekend. I still remember the first time — my dad sat me down in front of the TV and made me watch it. I was seven years old and completely uninterested. Golf seemed slow, quiet and foreign. My dad didn’t give me much of a choice — he told me to sit, watch and be patient. At the time, I didn’t know it, but that moment would quietly shape the way I saw the world.
We didn’t speak English at home, and none of us understood the commentary. The announcers’ voices were just background sounds to us — soft, technical and almost hypnotic. But despite the language gap, I found myself drawn in. There was something mesmerizing about the rhythm of the game: the precise movement of the players, the hushed crowd, the way the camera followed the arc of a ball through the sky with reverence.
I didn’t know what a birdie was. I couldn’t pronounce half the names on the leaderboard. But somehow, I began to care.
That’s how it starts sometimes. Not with understanding, but with feeling. And that feeling — the sense of being part of something bigger — was something I recognized even then.
Growing up in China, golf wasn’t something I saw often. It wasn’t taught in schools or played in the parks. It wasn’t broadcast like soccer or basketball. To most people around me, it felt like a distant sport reserved for a different world. And yet, there I was, every April, watching The Masters in my living room with my parents, slowly becoming part of that world without even realizing it.
At first, I watched because my dad told me to. But later, I watched because I wanted to. I wanted to see who could handle the pressure on the 12th at Augusta. I wanted to feel the suspense of a final putt on the 18th. I wanted to see grace under pressure, perseverance in silence and the kind of resilience that exists without boasting.
I couldn’t explain this love to most of my classmates. To them, golf seemed strange: too slow, too quiet. But for me, it was something else entirely. It was a sanctuary. A space where the noise of the world faded and only one thing mattered: the game.
Looking back, I realize that sports are their own kind of language. You don’t need subtitles to understand the joy on a player’s face after a birdie. You don’t need translation to feel the heartbreak of a missed putt. Sports speak to something primal in all of us — something that
transcends accent, passport and time zone.
That’s what I mean when I say sports are an intangible language — one that people around the world understand without ever needing to be taught. A kind of emotional fluency that lets strangers become allies, competitors become brothers and fans become family. Watching The Masters taught me that long before I ever learned to speak English fluently.
I think about that a lot — how I fell in love with something I couldn’t understand; not in words, but in meaning. How I learned to feel first, and later, to analyze. How that experience shaped the way I now approach all kinds of barriers: linguistic, cultural, emotional. With patience. With curiosity. With trust that understanding can come, even if it doesn’t arrive right away.
When I came to the U.S. for high school, that belief was tested. Everything felt unfamiliar: new language, new routines, new faces. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to connect with anyone. That I would always feel like an outsider looking in.
But then I picked up a golf club.
Joining my school’s varsity golf team gave me more than a sport — it gave me a sense of place. It gave me something to share when every other possible connection was made difficult. On the course, I didn’t have to explain who I was or where I was from. All I had to do was play. The game spoke for me.
We walked together in silence during practice rounds. We gave each other quiet nods after a good shot. We grumbled together when our drives sliced into the trees. In those moments, it didn’t matter what country we came from, what language we spoke at home or what grade we were in. What mattered was the shared pursuit of improvement. Of challenge. Of excellence.
Through golf, I formed friendships that ran deeper than I expected. I wasn’t just “the international kid” — I was a teammate, a competitor, a fellow golfer. I learned about American culture not through lectures or textbooks but through casual conversations on the driving range and post-tournament team dinners. And my friends learned about me the same way.
The course became a classroom — not just for sports, but for empathy.
Golf is a game of patience. It rewards humility. It demands quiet focus, and it teaches you that sometimes, the biggest challenges are the ones happening inside your own head. I found that the values I had grown up with — discipline, respect and calm under pressure — translated perfectly into the game. And in learning how to navigate the course, I also learned how to navigate life in a new country.
I came to understand that cultural diversity isn’t something you study — it’s something you live. And sports, especially golf, give you a chance to live it fully. To stand beside someone very different from you and still find something in common. To compete fiercely and still respect deeply. To learn without judgment.
Golf showed me that connection doesn’t always start with words. Sometimes, it starts with a handshake on the first tee.
That’s why, every April, The Masters still feels like a homecoming. Not just to the tournament but to a version of myself I sometimes forget — the quiet kid sitting on the couch, watching a game she didn’t yet understand but already loved. The one who learned that passion doesn’t need translation. The one who learned that sports could be both personal and universal.
As I watch The Masters this year, I’ll be cheering for the players, of course. But more than that, I’ll be reflecting on the path that brought me here. From a child watching through a language barrier to a teenager finding connection through sport to someone who now sees golf not just as a hobby, but as a bridge between worlds.
In a time when so much can feel divided, golf reminds me of what can bring us together: shared silence, mutual respect, a deep love for something greater than ourselves. Because, in the end, golf isn’t about the green jacket or the leaderboard. It’s about grace, discipline and the pursuit of excellence. It’s about the quiet thrill of trying to get better, even when no one is watching. And it’s about the way that pursuit unites people, regardless of where they come from or what language they speak.
That’s what keeps me coming back to The Masters. Not just the beauty of Augusta but the beauty of shared passion.
Golf taught me that you don’t need to speak the same language to understand each other. You just need to care about the same things. You just need to show up, take the swing and play the game. And that, I’ve come to believe, is enough to build a world.
Molly Wu is a sophomore studying political science and economics. While she was originally from Beijing, she went to a boarding school in New Jersey since high school. Growing in an environment that stresses the importance of diversity, she enjoys absorbing and sharing different perspectives. You can contact Molly at lwu5@ nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Molly Wu Bro Meets World
Hannah Alice Simon Views without Vision
On going home after a year
Perhaps you are like me. Perhaps, like me, you have forgotten the warmth of your mom’s hug. Perhaps, like me, your tongue no longer remembers the once familiar taste of your favorite home-cooked meal. Perhaps you find yourself wondering about the ways in which the people that you hold in your heart might have changed, the ways in which you might have changed. Perhaps, like me, you haven’t gone home in a year. And perhaps, like me, you have finally started to dream about going home to the people who love you the most.
If you are like me, then this is for you. Here are a few tips to make the most of your long-awaited, muchdreamed-of journey back home.
1. When you meet your family after ages: Your mom might kiss your forehead with wet cheeks and brimming eyes. Your dad might wrap you in a bone-crushing hug. Who knows, even your brothers might admit half-heartedly that they are glad you are home. When this giant tide of emotions sweeps towards you, brace yourself. And when it hits you, soak in it. Actually, let all of this attention go to your head. It is good to remind yourself that you are so loved.
2. Before you left college, if you were that kid who shut themselves in their room 24/7, change your ways slightly.
Your mom needs to share her favorite songs and her favorite stories with you, and wishes you would perch on the kitchen counter and listen to her yap as she cooks your favorite meals. Your dad wants to go on long walks with you, talk about politics and the world and the future. And whether you realize it or not, even you need memories of conversations and laughter to carry you through another year away from your family.
3. One day, when you are at home, your nine-yearold brother wraps his tiny arms around you, buries his head against your chest and tells you that he accidentally said the F-word in class. He doesn’t know what
it means, only that it is not good. Perhaps you will remember that when you were nine, you did not know of the existence of this word. You will remember that at nine, you were shielded from so much. Perhaps you will feel guilty, and then angry, because you have become the sister who sees her brother once a year, a sister who cannot shield her brother from the bad things of the world. Perhaps you will be tempted in that moment to gather your brother up into your arms, scrape his tongue and his mind clean of the word and tuck him away in a safe corner of your heart, until you think he is ready to know.
But I hope you will have the strength to tilt his chin up, until his head is level with your shoulders. I hope you will tell him that he doesn’t have to feel shame for a word that accidentally fell out of his mouth. I hope you will tell him that words hold power, and that he should use them not to hurt, but to heal. I hope you can let him go and know him as he wants to be known, not as the baby, eternally preserved in your heart, but as a boy learning to walk alone, a boy who will encounter the world in unique ways, make mistakes and even get hurt, a boy who will one day become a strong, good man.
4. At Notre Dame, we are inspired, or forced, to be productive by factors outside of ourselves.
It is easier not to doom-scroll, easier not to bingewatch, easier not to sleep through the day, when you have classes you must get to, assignments due at noon and dinner dates at SDH.
But then you go back home, and your day begins to fall apart. You are too tired from working hard all year, and you just don’t have the energy to motivate yourself to do the things you want to do, to resist the temptation to engage in habits that you promised you would stay away from.
If you are someone who fears that your lack of structure at home will lead you down an unhealthy spiral, reach out to the people that you trust. Ask them if they could be your accountability partners. Ask your friends if they can check in with you, make sure that
you are doing okay.
Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable, to lean on those who love you.
We can’t do this ourselves.
5. Don’t waste time and energy attempting to create a perfect month with your family, filled to the brim with carefully curated memories. As much as you try, this simply will not happen.
There will be days when every annoying word and action of your sibling will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. There will be days when you will throw your good resolutions to the winds, pick the first fight, sulk in a corner and refuse to admit that you are in the wrong. There will be days when your parents will wound you with questions about the future that you don’t have answers to, days when slivers of your shared past that you are trying to heal from rise to the surface.
Prepare yourself for all of this, and realize that you are an imperfect person going home to your imperfect family. But go home knowing that your family is so much more than its imperfections. Go home to experience those unexpected moments of beauty you simply cannot create, your mother’s listening silence as you tell her about that hard week of nightmares, your dad’s gentle hand on your shoulder after you tell him about the ways you messed up. Go home to the place where you will always be seen, to the place where you can be fully yourself.
Go home to the love that is always waiting for you.
Hannah Alice Simon was born and raised in Kerala, India, and moved to the U.S. for college with the dream of thriving in an intellectual environment that celebrates people with disabilities. On campus, you will mostly see her taking the longest routes to classrooms with her loyal cane, Riptide, by her side. She studies psychology and English with minors in musical theatre and theology. You can contact Hannah at hsimon2@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
A Notre Dame Democrat
As my time draws near to leave Notre Dame and my walks around campus grow more frequent, I am forever grateful for what this University has imparted to me. My worldview has been shaped by this school and what it calls us to be. I am a Democrat because of my time at Notre Dame and the ideal of being a “force for good.”
At Notre Dame, these are more than words. Rather, this challenge to be a force for good is one that was enshrined into our University’s very fiber at the beginning. In his letter announcing the foundation of the University of Notre Dame, Father Sorin wrote, “This college cannot fail to succeed ... It will be one of the most powerful means for good in this country.”
Between Bond Hall and St. Mary’s Lake, there is a monument dedicated to this ideal and the school that came from this letter. This plaque serves as a reminder to all those who walk these quads and pass through these hallowed halls of what Notre Dame calls us to.
When I first came to campus, I remember telling those in my political science classes that I was a moderate and did not like to debate politics (If only my younger self could see me now). Back then, I didn’t want to stand out; now, I know we are called to stand up.
Notre Dame taught me how to stand up for the things that I believe in. More specifically, this place taught me how to be a Democrat.
Whether you grew up at Notre Dame through faith, fellowship or a combination of both, the values of our shared home are a blueprint for a better world.
To be a force for good is to follow and champion
the lessons of our creator. Here, at Notre Dame, we are reminded of the instructions to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and heal the sick. In our daily lives under the dome, we have been shown how to be peacemakers, loving our neighbors as we would ourselves. This sacred place has taught me how to humbly serve God, Country and Notre Dame, in that order.
Experiencing Notre Dame with so many bright young individuals has demonstrated to me the strength of a community sharing so many of the same values. The Notre Dame I know is one where our differences are something to be celebrated, and our disagreements foster compromises. Here, we fight for a better world, in service of those around us.
To answer the call to be a force for good, it can require all of these things and so much more. This is a worldview that demands more of us than just sitting in the same pew every Sunday. While none of us can walk on water, it is our job to do these things, because if it is not us, then who will?
To be clear, there has never been a time more in need of people committed to serving the common good. In the U.S. today, home ownership seems like a fantasy of the past, healthcare is uncertain for millions and 73% of workers are unable to afford anything beyond basic living expenses. Our generation enters the real world at a time when the American Dream seems darker than ever before.
In Washington, our nation’s leaders have never been more corrupt. Members of Congress use their access to net thousands as Americans struggle to put food on the table. In addition, the president’s personal profits grow daily from his meme coin that allows the wealthy to pay him directly for influence in a market that he is currently deregulating. The Trump
administration has also gutted numerous agencies dedicated to protecting everyday people from fraud, exploitation and discrimination.
These mounting challenges will require an equally determined force of people dedicated to the common good. The good news is, the call to be a force for good is second nature to Notre Dame students. I know who we are. Over the last four years, I have watched my peers welcome the stranger at the dining hall table, dedicate their weekends to service and hold the DeBart door for the next person in line. Notre Dame grads are poised to take on the challenges of our times, and the Democratic Party can be the vessel for this.
Being a force for good is not only what we are called to do because of our shared belief in a higher power. More precisely, it is the call of our shared belief in being a part of something bigger than ourselves. I am a Democrat because of the duty, which Notre Dame instilled in me, to be a force for good.
When our time at Notre Dame draws to a close and we venture out from Notre Dame Avenue, this is what we will take with us. Some of the memories and friendships may fade, but the values and truths we hold dear will unite us forever. This place and the ideals it has shown me have made me a Notre Dame Democrat.
Jack is a proud Michigander, a small-towner, a man of Fisher, a senior and a licensed boat captain in that order. He enjoys gritty Midwestern football, planespotting and speechwriting. If you are in urgent need of his consultation or would like to berate him, he can be found frolicking about campus or via email at jsirian2@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Jack Sirianni Political Paraphernalia
By JAYDEN ESPINOZA Scene Writer
Bad Bunny’s “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” is an achievement on every level, and even saying that feels like an understatement.
On a technical level, the Puerto Rican singer and rapper’s sixth studio album highlights exactly what Bad Bunny does best: create complex music with just as complex subject matter. “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” the album’s love letter to salsa music, and the first salsa song in history to reach No. 1 on US Apple Music, is a prime example of this.
As traditional backing sounds of trumpets and piano keys find themselves intertwined with reggaeton throughout the song’s six-minute runtime, Bad Bunny himself describes feeling lost in the ‘in-between’ of romance, asking himself if it’s possible to mourn a past relationship while also being grateful for it. Utilizing dance as a metaphor, listeners are invited to get lost in the beat as Bad Bunny speaks to the nostalgia of learning to be in rhythm with another person, “Si me ven solo y triste, no me hablen / Si me ven solo y triste, soy culpable / La vida es una fiesta que un día termina / Y fuiste tú mi baile inolvidable / Y fuiste tú mi baile inolvidable.”
As the song’s journey continues, and Bad Bunny gets further into his own head about longing for
past love, he is joined by a chorus of male voices, seemingly affirming the reality of never forgetting your first love.
As he processes the feelings of past love, describing the discomfort of attempting to find rhythm with another and comparing it to past partners, he acknowledges that denying himself the ability to love, or dance, despite aching feelings at times, altogether is a punishment too cruel.
Much of the album exists in this in-between space, where living life as it happens and holding onto nostalgia battle for space in one’s mind and heart, begging the question, what am I allowed to hold onto, and who will allow me to nurture these memories?
The album’s title track and penultimate song, “DtMF” rings the truest of this theme. The song itself directly translates to “I Should’ve Taken More Photos.” The line “Debí tirar más fotos de cuando te tuve, debí darte más besos y abrazos las veces que pude” felt like a bucket of ice over my own body the first time I heard it.
The fear of losing what home means is one that exists universally, but it takes root in the Latin American experience and brings forth the emotions of losing home that are all too familiar to people like my own grandparents, who left their home in search of a place and life they had yet to know existed. As the world around them continued to change, and they were expected to be
pioneers for their children and their children’s children, who gave them the opportunity to live in the now? Who will hold onto their memories before they eventually fade, and once they leave the Earth, who will tend to the artifacts of their histories?
I also want to acknowledge that the fear of losing home (the feeling) is all too familiar to my peers in the class of 2025.
The silent passing of time makes moments like the final weeks of school feel even harder, almost as if the past seven semesters have been a dream state, and now in our final weeks of undergraduate education, someone has come to sound the bell of adulthood.
Now, with my final words at The Observer, I urge you all to listen to the lesson of “DtMF”: Love and loss are languages that must be translated between one another to form the human experience.
To be alive and found in the point of transition is to fully intake the love you’ve received, hold onto it and bring it with you to wherever your next chapter is. It’s the act of honoring yourself and those around you, and protecting it divinely, while ensuring you create space for the future to love you just as much as you’ve given love to the past.
Contact Jayden Espinoza at jespino4@nd.edu
By CLAIRE WATSON Scene Writer
I have always been a fan of fast-moving television shows like medical dramas, romances and, in this case, police dramas. Around spring break, I came across the ABC show “The Rookie.” Currently in its seventh season, this police drama’s action, bonds between friends and broken stereotypes contribute to the show’s appeal.
“The Rookie” follows three new recruits to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD): John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) and Jackson West (Titus Makin Jr.). As the show progresses, the three “rookies” each gain ranks within the department while facing multiple challenges and, of course, drama along the way.
Alongside these new recruits, ranking officer Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) and detectives Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) and Angela Lopez (Alyssa Diaz) help the rookies during their first few years
in the department. Throughout the show, viewers witness the team face off against dangerous criminals, solve mysteries, adjust to new situations and grow together.
Adding to viewer appeal, “The Rookie” also features bent societal expectations and stereotypes. One of the first things that I noticed when watching was the bend in gender stereotypes. In many places, jobs seem seemingly male dominant, so the three strong female characters of Chen, Harper and Lopez appeal to the female audience, or at least to me.
Seeing these powerful figures appealed to me as I watched them face current-day problems in strategic and smart ways. I love how the show defies gender roles and points out the fact that women can easily do hard work and show passion when doing it.
In addition, the show challenges society’s ideas regarding career moves late in life. Take John Nolan for example, outside of being one of LAPD’s newest rookies, he stands out as the oldest.
This causes a lot of disruption when, in reality, his character’s role appeals to the idea that “age is just a number.” Nolan continues to shine throughout the series and proves everyone wrong in the department that he is no less of a cop than his fellow rookies. I really adore this because it shows that anyone can do anything, no matter their age.
The catchy theme song of “The Rookie” is one of the next things that I admire about the show. It is one of my favorite theme songs, and not only is it catchy, but it catches the attention of the audience as it changes with the show’s scenes. Sometimes, the show’s title is flipped, and sometimes, it is black and white, demonstrating the fun character the show has.
Overall, the show contains many real-world elements. The show’s appeal centers on broken gender and age stereotypes, music and creative motives and dramatic suspense.
Contact Jayden Espinoza at jespino4@nd.edu
ND MEN’S LACROSSE
Irish play regular season finale against Penn
By NOAH CAHILL Sports Editor
The Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team made a statement on Saturday, closing out their ACC schedule with a 12-6 win over North Carolina behind an 11-2 second half, which included a 5-0 fourth quarter. Senior forward Chris Kavanagh’s four-goal performance was the catalyst, with the captain’s goals sparking an Irish attack that was dormant for the first 30 minutes. Junior longstick midfielder Will Donovan was all over the field, forcing three turnovers and scooping a careerhigh six groundballs.
Behind him, the sophomore defensive duo of Shawn Lyght and Nate Schwitzenberg locked down the Tar Heel attack, and junior goalie Thomas Ricciardelli put in another stellar, 11-save performance in the cage. Notre Dame’s leaders led the way on both ends, and the talented underclassmen followed suit in the pivotal victory. Now sitting atop the ACC standings, the Irish are locked into a top-2 seed for the ACC Tournament and would take the top spot with a Syracuse loss on Saturday.
Looking toward Penn
When head coach Kevin Corrigan scheduled Penn for the regular season finale, it appeared to fit right into Notre Dame’s elite non-conference schedule at the start of the year. After finishing 2024 with a 9-6 overall record and being the first team left out of the NCAA Tournament, the Quakers looked set to be among the nation’s best with their core of returning players. However, the season has been anything but for head coach Mike Murphy’s group,
as they have sputtered to a 4-9 mark with only one win in Ivy League play. They come into Saturday on a sixgame losing skid, including a 10-goal walloping at the hands of No. 1 Cornell back on March 29.
Ranking 49th in the country in scoring last season, the questions for this Penn team were about where the offense would come from. They have not had answers this
season, even taking a step back in 2025. The Quaker attack averages only 8.62 goals per game, which ranks 65th in the nation. They are not without talent on that end, however. Griffin Scane and Davis Provost have taken steps forward, posting 26 and 23 points, respectively. Senior Ben Smith is tied for the team lead with 26 points as well. Allowing 10.38 goals per game despite
a challenging regular season slate, the Quaker defense has been solid this season. They lean on veteran returning netminder Emmet Caroll in the cage with senior defenseman Brendan Lavelle leading the longstick unit in front of him. They have not been as sound as last season, however, giving up double-digit goals on seven separate occasions, including five of their last six contests.
Notre Dame and Penn have only faced off five times, with their last matchup coming in 2011. The Irish are 3-2 in the all-time series and will look to make it three straight wins over the Quakers on Saturday. Face-off at Arlotta Stadium is set for 2 p.m., with ESPNU providing the broadcast.
Contact Noah Cahill at ncahill2@nd.edu
Irish compete in ACC Championships
By TYLER REIDY Associate Sports Editor
On Thursday morning, the Notre Dame men’s golf team teed off at the 2025 ACC Championships, held at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Irish are competing among the conference tournament’s first 15-team field and will battle for an ACC crown through Monday, April 28. According to the updated Scoreboard rankings, this year’s ACC Championships field features six teams ranked inside the national top 25. Florida State leads
the way at No. 9, with No. 10 North Carolina and No. 11 Virginia following not far behind. Duke checks in at No. 19, while Louisville ranks 23rd, and Georgia Tech occupies the No. 24 spot. Also within the national top 75 are Wake Forest (No. 44), California (No. 54), Clemson (No. 55) and NC State (No. 61).
Notre Dame comes in at 39th in the country and has finished top five in each of its last three competitions. The Irish tied for fourth at the Schenkel Invitational and the Haskins Award Invitational in Georgia before tying for fifth last
weekend at the Boilermaker Spring Invitational in nearby West Lafayette, Indiana. As a team, Notre Dame has scored better with each passing event since the spring season began in February, rising from seven over par at the Watersound Invitational to nine under par in this past week’s opportunity. Expect star sophomore Jacob Modleski to lead the Irish this week in Bowling Green. The Nashville native has swung it well in the spring, delivering top-five finishes in three of his last four outings. Though Modleski placed outside the top 20 at 23rd
in the Boilermaker Spring Invitational, another young Irish golfer stepped up and could turn some heads at the ACC Championships. Chinese freshman Mike Qiu, after shooting a top-10 score at the Haskins Award Invitational, was Notre Dame’s best finisher at 18th in West Lafayette. He delivered a season-low score of five under par to pace the Irish. Sophomore Rocco Salvitti could make some noise as well after tying Modleski for 23rd at Purdue. Last season, Notre Dame finished seventh with a score of nine over par at the ACC Championships,
as North Carolina took the team victory. Modleski paced the Irish in 11th place, while Salvitti ended up in a tie for 37th. As a team, Notre Dame hasn’t finished inside an ACC Championships top five since 2022.
The Club at Olde Stone, designed by Arthur Hills, opened in 2006 and spans 7,324 yards as a par 72. It sprawls across the southeastern outskirts of Bowling Green, featuring a 160-foot elevation change provided by the rolling hills of southern Kentucky.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
KEIRA JONES | The Observer
Junior longstick midfielder Will Donovan leads the rope unit in Notre Dame’s 12-7 win over Virginia at Arlotta Stadium on April 12, 2025. Donovan has been a key contributor to an Irish defense ranked eighth nationally, allowing only 8.60 goals per game against elite competition.
ND MEN’S GOLF
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Keep your plans to yourself until you have flushed out any wrinkles that might get in your way. Work hard until you are satisfied with your results and feel confident sharing your vision. Don’t expect a unanimous response, or let those who oppose you stand in your way. Trust your instincts.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Reluctance to join the crowd is wise; doing things your way and maintaining balance and integrity has more benefits than becoming part of a following. Consider everything you see and hear, and make choices that protect your rights and freedom. Let your insight and intelligence lead the way.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Pool your resources and direct your energy into perfecting your skills, using your imagination, making suggestions, and standing out amongst your peers. Deal with contracts, legalities, medical and financial issues, and you’ll make headway. Simplify and minimize how you run your life, and you’ll gain respect and peace of mind.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Listen, discuss, and rethink how you want to proceed. Consider what and who brings you joy or disrupts your life, and manage your time accordingly. Take responsibility for your happiness, and align yourself with doers, not complainers, and it will speak volumes about who you are and what you can achieve.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It’s okay to change your mind and head in a direction that suits you better. Take care of matters that hold you back or make you feel indebted. Reverse your destain for those trying to railroad you in a direction that doesn’t suit your needs, and head down a healthy path. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Your words of wisdom will impact those you encounter today. Stick to facts and speak passionately without exaggeration. Become the conduit of healthy living, and your circle of friends and followers will grow. An unusual partnership will help you raise awareness about something purposeful. Do your best, and something good will emerge.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A change will do you good. Join forces with those who enjoy the same activities as you and channel your energy into competitive challenges that help alleviate stress and anger. Strive to implement positive changes that encourage a lifestyle that meets your expectations. Romance and self-improvement are in the stars.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Look for alternatives when someone disrupts your plans. Refrain from taking on someone else’s drama. Being a positive influence will give you the advantage of sidestepping negativity and poor choices. It’s up to you to make your opportunities and follow through. Don’t mistake someone’s intentions. What you see is what you get.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Refuse to let your emotions lead to overreacting to situations at work or involving money. Take a moment to gather facts, consider your options, and talk with those affected by your choices. A collective decision will help you avoid negative feedback and blame. Choose a healthy lifestyle and avoid excessive behavior.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sit tight and watch for signs indicating that positive action will have the effectiveness you require to improve your position, finances, and reputation. Say no to unnecessary changes and yes to putting your energy toward what you need most. Focus and fortitude will help you excel.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Weed out fiction from fact before you decide what’s best for you. Overspending, taking on too much, and an indulgent diet will lead to trouble, criticism, and a need for positive change. Revise how you manage your day and to-do list and focus on your health and well-being. Romance is favored.
Birthday Baby: You are hardworking, accommodating, and generous. You are quick-witted and spontaneous.
Irish compete in stacked Big Ten Invitational
By CHRIS DAILEY Sports Writer
The Notre Dame rowing team competed at the Big Ten Invitational last weekend in Sarasota, Florida. The event featured some of the top teams in the nation, including Big Ten programs and others from beyond the conference. In total, nine top 25 programs competed: No. 3 Washington, No. 6 Tennessee, No. 9 Rutgers, No. 11 Penn, No. 12 Michigan, No. 17 Oregon State, No. 18 Harvard, No. 21 Indiana and No. 24 Southern Cal.
Following a very competitive meet in San Diego to conclude
SMC LACROSSE
the month of March, the Big Ten Invitational was yet another uphill battle that the Irish did well to navigate.
Notre Dame’s Third Varsity Four of freshman Marie Golden, freshman Riley Clavi, sophomore Rory Klocke, sophomore Lilly Keegan and sophomore coxswain Joyce Kang performed very well on Friday. The crew finished second in flight one with a time of 7:50.530, placing one spot shy of Michigan and one ahead of Southern Cal.
Notre Dame’s Third Varsity Eight also posted impressive times. On early Friday afternoon, the team took second in a six-team heat,
beating out UCLA, Duke, Indiana and SMU. In Saturday’s final, they finished second, only 1.51 seconds behind Southern Cal in one of the closest heats of the invitational.
Graduate Christina Spira, sophomore Christina Henning, junior Maeve McMahon, freshman Caroline Logan, sophomore Reyna Lewis, freshman Elle Kilgannon and senior coxswain Grace Collins competed on both days for the Third Varsity Eight squad. Meanwhile, junior Grace Taylor competed solely on Friday while freshman Lauren O’Grady and sophomore Madison Naman filled in on Saturday.
Notre Dame’s Second Varsity Eight found similar success. The crew finished in second place in Saturday’s final race with a time of 6:50.635, just enough to edge out nearby UCLA, Miami and Minnesota. Their best time of the weekend, however, came on Friday afternoon. The crew powered their way to the finish line in 6:43.144.
Despite the swift time, they finished fourth in a heat where the first and sixth placed teams were separated by less than four seconds.
The Second Varsity Eight team consisted of freshman Caroline Johnson, sophomore Lily Smith, sophomore Scarlett Quinn,
freshman Nora Barth, freshman Reece McNutt, junior Julia Clavi, sophomore Courtney French, sophomore Maya Fister and sophomore coxswain Margaret Abbott. In total, the Irish fielded seven boats. Led by longtime head coach Martin Stone, the team will look to build upon its success on April 26 as they head south to Bloomington for a meet against Indiana and Michigan State. They will conclude their season from May 16-17 at the ACC Championship in Clemson, South Carolina.
Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey2@nd.edu
Belles end season on four-game losing skid
By CLAIRE WATSON
Associate Sports Editor
The final three games did not go in favor of the Belles as they rounded out their regular season with a 16-4 loss against Kalamazoo, an 18-2 loss against Calvin and a 22-4 loss against Hope.
Kalamazoo
In the first game played shortly before Easter break, the Belles were downed on the road by the Hornets. Starting off the first quarter, sophomore attacker Rachel Speckhard put in the first goal of the game in under 30 seconds. The lead was quickly erased by three consecutive Kalamazoo goals, giving them the 3-1 lead. Senior midfielder Valentina Rubio added on an unassisted goal to close the gap to one, but Kalamazoo kept their offensive drive going, adding on three more goals to extend their 6-2 lead. Nearing the end of the quarter, freshman midfielder Piper Downey added on a goal on a setup from sophomore attacker Lana Skibins, but in the final 15 seconds, Kalamazoo managed a pair of goals, including a free position shot with five seconds remaining, to hold the 8-3 lead.
In a low scoring second quarter, Kalamazoo scored the only two goals, one nearing the halfway point, and the other at the end of the quarter to build their 10-3 lead.
Kalamazoo added on the first goal of the third quarter before a quick response from the Belles through Speckhard, who tallied her second goal of the day, brought the score to 11-4. Kalamazoo, unaffected, notched the final goal of the quarter to stay ahead 12-4.
Kalamazoo continued to display their dominance with a 4-0 final frame to take the final 16-4 win.
Calvin
The first quarter was a high-scoring affair that saw nine goals. Unfortunately for the Belles, Calvin managed all nine of them en route to a commanding 9-0 lead after the first fifteen.
Heading into the second quarter, sophomore attacker Cate Krema put in the first goal for the Belles to make the score 9-1 before Calvin responded with four more of their own to stay ahead 13-1. In an extremely low scoring third quarter, Calvin scored the sole goal to stay ahead 141. Going into the final quarter, Calvin put in three goals
before Downey’s unassisted goal provided a shred of consolation for the Belles, bringing the score to 17-2. In the final minutes of the quarter, Calvin scored the final goal of the game to take the lopsided 18-2 win.
Hope
In their final game of the regular season, Saint Mary’s faced off against Hope at home but took the devastating 22-4 loss.
Once again on the receiving end of a first quarter
onslaught, the Belles surrendered eight goals without managing one, putting them behind 8-0 after the first frame. Going into the second quarter, Hope continued their offensive drive as they put four more goals in. Nearing the end of the second quarter, senior midfielder Paige Lyons finally got the Belles on the board to end the half 12-1 in favor of Hope. Following halftime, Hope continued to dominate in the third as they put in the first four goals yet again. The
Belles looked to battle back as Lyons put in another unassisted goal to bring the score 18-2. In the fourth quarter, Krema and Rubio each added unassisted goals to make the score 18-4, but Hope came right back with another fourgoal run en route to the final 22-4 victory.
With the three losses, the Belles finish their regular season going 5-10 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson7@nd.edu
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
The Saint Mary’s lacrosse team huddles before taking the field in their 13-9 loss to North Central (Ill.) at Purcell Fields on March 26, 2025.
Notre Dame softball downs Valpo, hosts UNC
By CLAIRE WATSON Associate Sports Editor
In an intense matchup, Notre Dame softball faced Valparaiso at home on Wednesday evening, taking a hard-fought 1-0 win. With this win, the Irish are now 23-26-1 overall on the season and 7-14 in conference play.
As the home team, the Irish took the field in Melissa Cook Stadium first with senior right-hander Shannon Becker on the mound.
Becker allowed a leadoff single but came back with a strikeout and pair of forced groundouts to leave the inning unscathed. In the bottom of the first, freshman utility player Caroline O’Brien singled to the right side of the field before senior outfielder Emily Tran was hit by a pitch. But despite having players in scoring positions, the Irish offense was unable to capitalize, as O’Brien was forced out at third, senior catcher Rachel Allen popped out to center and senior infielder Anna Holloway grounded out to short to end the inning.
Becker stayed strong on the mound for the Irish in the top of the second, with the Irish defense stranding a Crusader in scoring position on second. In the bottom
SMC GOLF
half, Valpo also continued to show their defensive efforts, holding Notre Dame’s offense scoreless to keep the score tied at zero. The Irish once again stranded a runner in scoring position, with O’Brien lining out to end the inning after a triple from freshman infielder Kaia Cortes. In the third inning, Valpo managed to get a runner on base after a defensive error, but the Irish managed three outs, leaving the runner on third after she stole second and advanced on a groundout. In the bottom half of the third, Tran kicked off the offense with a line drive up the middle followed by sophomore infielder Addison Amaral’s single to the left side. Despite having runners in scoring position once again, Allen popped out, Holloway flied out to right field and senior utility player Jane Kronenberger flied out to left, ending another scoreless inning. In the top of the fourth inning, Valpo threatened to get on the board after a pair of hits put runners on second and third. However, they were unsuccessful, leaving them stranded on the base paths after a groundout and lineout got the Irish out of trouble. In the bottom half of the frame, freshman catcher Rebecca Eckart walked,
followed by a HBP for freshman infielder Avery Houlihan. Cortes’ sacrifice bunt to third advanced both Notre Dame runners, putting them in scoring position yet again. Valpo’s defense kept the Irish at bay, however, as Tran’s grounder got Eckart thrown out at home before Amaral flied out for out number three.
Freshman southpaw Brianne Weiss took over for Becker in the fifth, and would finish out the remainder of the game. Valpo managed two hits off the freshman in the fifth frame, but the Irish defense continued to hold the Crusaders at bay, keeping the score tied at zero. Rounding out the inning, the Irish offense only produced one walk from Kronenberger and were still unable to score.
Going into the sixth inning, Valpo managed runners on second and third base but a clutch punchout from Weiss, an out at home and a foulout to the left fielder gave Notre Dame the avenue to escape. In the bottom of the sixth, Houlihan finally broke the deadlock with a home run over the left field fence. With Valpo unable to come back, Notre Dame closed out the tight 1-0 win.
North Carolina
The North Carolina Tar Heels softball team currently sits 36-14 on the season while going 12-9 in ACC conference play. The team’s most recent game was a 12-1 victory over Norfolk State on Wednesday.
At the plate, Kat Rodriguez leads the team with a batting average of .468, followed by Lexie Roberts, who boasts a .417 mark at the plate. In addition, Rodriguez and Roberts have impressive onbase percentages of .525 and .452, respectively.
On the mound, Britton Rogers leads the team with an earned run average of 4.41 to go with 56 strikeouts. Kenna Raye Dark has posted a team-high 112 strikeouts alongside her ERA of 4.71.
The Irish prepare to host North Carolina in a three-game series starting on April 25 at 6 p.m. They will celebrate Senior Day during Saturday’s 1 p.m. matchup before finishing the series on Sunday at noon.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson7@nd.edu
Belles take first in the MIAA Championship
By CLAIRE WATSON Associate Sports Editor
This past Tuesday, the Saint Mary’s golf team took home the MIAA championship. The Belles finished with an overall score of 1,907 with an average of 318 across the six conference rounds as Trine took second place with an overall score
of 1,936 with a team average of 323, which included four jamborees in the fall and two rounds in the Spring Finale. This will mark the sixth first place standing that the team has brought home as they round up the regular season.
Freshman Melanie Maier and junior Julia Lizak led the way for the Belles as they
both finished in the T3 position. The duo each earned a final score of 160 (+16), as Maier carded an 83-77 and Lizak posted a 79-81.
Following the top five finishers would be senior Katelyn Tokarz and junior Amanda Melling, who both placed in the top 20 at a tie for 18th place with an overall score of 174 (+30). Tokarz
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managed scores of 85-89 while Melling bounced back from a 93 in round one to post an 81 her second time out.
Junior Breana Harrington took 21st place after shooting a 175 (+31) and carding a 93-82. Following Harrington was sophomore Colleen Hand, who finished in 37th place after shooting 186
(+42) and carding a 99-87. Maier was the top scorer for the Belle’s throughout the season, being named Most Valuable Golfer after posting a season low scoring average of 76.17. It marked the 13th time a Saint Mary’s golfer had been given the award, and the second Belle in a row to win it. In addition to this, Maier was named to the All-MIAA First Team, and was joined by her teammate Lizak, who finished with an 80.33 scoring average. Tokarz and Hand were named to the All-MIAA Second Team, with averages of 81.67 and 83.33, respectively. It was Tokarz’s third time being named to an MIAA team in her college career and Hand’s first. With this win, the Belles earned the MIAA Automatic Qualifier for the NCAA Division III Championship that is set to begin on May 13 and extend through May 16 at the Kingsmill Resort and Spa in Williamsburg, Virginia. In addition to this, the Belle’s hold fifth position in the Division III Great Lakes conference. The teams in front of them include Carnegie Mellon (No. 1), Illinois Wesleyan (No. 2), Denison (No.3) and DePauw who takes the No. 4 spot.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson7@nd.edu
KALLIE BELCHER | The Observer Senior outfielder Emily Tran prepares for the pitch in Notre Dame’s 13-7 loss to Stanford at Melissa Cook Stadium on March 23, 2025.
BASEBALL
Irish defeat Purdue Fort Wayne, turn to Cal
By HENRY LYTLE Associate Sports Editor
Entering the midweek at 7-14 in conference play and 20-17 overall, the Irish hoped to build momentum at home stepping into the box against Purdue Fort Wayne. Notre Dame sits at 12th in the ACC, ahead of Stanford, California and Pitt. They will take on the Golden Bears this weekend in a critical home series. Despite trailing midway through the contest, the Irish stormed back with six runs in the final two innings to emerge victorious against the Mastodons by a final score of 8-6.
The Irish started right-hander Dylan Heine at the stripe, the graduate managing one strikeout through 2.1 innings of work. Junior righty Xavier Hirsch came in for the relief effort and threw a career-best,
three strikeouts through 2.2 innings.
Sophomore catcher Carson Tinney helped knock in the first Irish run in the bottom of the first with a ground-rule double that brought graduate outfielder Jared Zimbardo home. This first double was part of a 3-of-5 showing from Tinney in the batter’s box, which also included two runs batted in and a run scored.
Purdue Fort Wayne responded to the early Irish run with a lead-off moonshot in the top of the third inning followed by three more hits that helped put the Mastodons ahead 3-1.
After trailing for two innings, the Irish fought back from the two-run deficit in the fifth frame. Zimbardo led off the attack with a two-bagger into left. Tinney followed with a single that drove him in. Then, prolific freshman
infielder Bino Watters added on with a single and was advanced with Tinney by a magnificent sacrifice bunt from sophomore Davis Johnson. Finally, freshman Parker Brzustewicz evened the game for the Irish with a groundout that brought Tinney home. Graduate infielder Connor Hincks added on a two-out, ground-rule double beyond the right field fence to drive in another run. To cap off the four-run onslaught, junior infielder Estevan Moreno hit the third double of the inning to bring Hincks home and regain the lead at 5-3.
In the next half inning, Purdue Fort Wayne cut the Irish lead to 5-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth. Despite the close game, the Irish maintained their scoring in the bottom half of the frame with another two runs.
Freshman outfielder Jayce Lee got things started with a single before Zimbardo’s walk put two on the bags. Tinney then singled again to load the bases from Watters, who was able to draw a walk that brought Lee in to score. Johnson drove in Zimbardo with a sacrifice fly, helping to extend his team’s lead to 7-4.
In the top of the seventh, the Mastodons were able to tally a pair of runs to once again cut the lead to only one at 7-6. Freshman righty Chase Van Ameyde shut the door on any more scoring, however, as he struck out back-to-back batters to withhold the comeback attempt.
In the next inning, Watters provided some insurance with a no-doubter over the fence to extend the lead at 8-6. This proved to be simply too much for Purdue Fort Wayne. Senior
right-handed Ricky Reeth had no trouble in his two-inning closing effort, logging three strikeouts en route to the save. Staying in South Bend over the weekend, Notre Dame will take on Cal in a critical threegame series. They sit one spot above the Golden Bears in the standings, leading by only a single game. The other teams beneath competing for the final ACC Tournament spot include Stanford, who also sit a game behind, and Pitt, who is behind by two. This series provides the Irish with an opportunity to lengthen the distance between themselves and the rest of the pack. The first game starts on Friday at 6:30 p.m. followed by Saturday and Sunday games at 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
Contact Henry Lytle at hlytle@nd.edu
KEIRA JONES | The Observer
Graduate infielder Connor Hincks awaits the pitch in Notre Dame’s 8-6 comeback win against Purdue Fort Wayne at Frank Eck Stadium on April 23, 2025. In three at-bats, the veteran Hincks managed a walk and a run batted in, in addition to scoring a run that helped Notre Dame take a 5-3 lead after trailing 3-1 for multiple innings to the Mastodons.