Notre Dame readies for Saturday’s Zach Bryan concert
By Sophie Hanawalt, Zack Pohlman and Megan Cornell Notre Dame News Editor and Associate News Editors
With 80,000 people packing its seats each football Saturday, Notre Dame Stadium is no stranger to big events. Saturday, however, the stadium will host a different kind of event, as country music artist Zach Bryan and comedian Shane Gillis perform at the stadium’s first concert since Billy Joel in 2022. In addition to the bowl, 7,500 floor seats will be filled. Experience Notre Dame and its campus partners are preparing for a busy event.
“It’s basically a sold-out show. We had incredible attention at the point of sale, basically selling out at that point,” Lee Sicinski, executive director of University events said at a Thursday press conference regarding the event. “So tickets can be found online, but for all intents and purposes, it’s a sold out show.”
New washing machines installed in residence halls
Notre Dame students shared their satisfaction with the new washing machines, an improvement from last year’s frequently broken ones.
By Sophie Hanawalt Notre Dame News Editor
Students living in the 33 residential communities on Notre Dame’s campus now have new laundry appliances. Over 500 washers and dryers were installed in residence halls over the summer.
The upgrade, carried out by Residential Life, fulfills a promise made by student body president emeritus Dawson Kiser, who announced in an April
NEWS | PAGE 2
Senate preps for fall
Student senate met to discuss upcoming campus events and activites for the fall semester.
email to students that he had worked with Residential Life to guarantee that new washing machines would be brought to each dorm come fall.
The new machines are managed by vendor Caldwell & Gregory. The company replaces the previous vendor, WASH Laundry, who had been contracted to manage residence hall laundry at Notre Dame since 2020. WASH Laundry’s contract expired in June 2025.
Director of Residential Life:
OPINION | PAGE 6
Yes to cancel culture
Columnist Sophia Anderson writes on the importance of holding ourseselves accountable.
Housing Operations, Dan Rohmiller, said in a statement to The Observer that the a committee of dorm rectors, Residential Life administrators, and University Procurement staff reviewed requests for proposal (RFP) from a number of companies, and evaluated proposals based on reliability, speed of service, and overall student satisfaction.
“For students, we anticipate there will be fewer service issues than in previous years, more proactive maintenance on the machines, and easier ways to submit a work order when there is an issue,” Rohmiller wrote.
In an email to students sent on August 15, Residential Life praised their nced this too, Students living in the 33 residential communities on Notre Dame’s campus now have new laundry appliances. Over 500 washers and dryers were installed in residence halls over the summer.
The upgrade, carried out by Residential Life, fulfills a promise made by student body president emeritus Dawson Kiser, who announced in an April email to
see “Washers” on page 2
SCENE | PAGE 7
On ‘House on Eden’
Film debut of Kris Collins in 78 minutes nightmare, a surrealist ‘The Blair Witch Project.’
The concert is the latest example of the University using the stadium for events beyond football. Sicinski said these events, such as the NHL’s Winter Classic and the soccer match between Celtic FC and Chelsea last year, help to broaden the University’s reach by bringing in new visitors.
“I’m really excited for so many people who probably don’t know what Touchdown Jesus is to experience Notre Dame,” Sicinski said. In anticipation of the concert, various stakeholders both on and off campus have prepared for a busy weekend.
Stadium preparations
Sicinski and the University worked closely with promoter AEG Presents to plan the event. Set-up crews have been working in the stadium for the last week to ready for the concert.
“All throughout this week, they’re loading in floor covering,” Sicinski said. “First they load the roof, they
see “Concert” on page 4
ND raises Red Zone awareness
By Jessica Mayor News Writer
From the moment students arrive on campus to Thanksgiving is the time when most sexual assault cases happen on campus, according to University a report, giving the time period the name the Red Zone.
Lauren Mulhern, program director for education, outreach and prevention, wrote about the statistics released from their confidential survey conducted last year.
“Recently released results from the 2024–2025 Sexual Conduct and Campus Climate survey, which supports the troubling statistics associated with the Red Zone … Survey results show that of those students who indicated they experienced sexual assault in the twelve months prior to taking the survey, 47% of incidents occurred between the start of the fall semester and Thanksgiving break,” Mulhern wrote.
Defined by Active* Consent, a research program
SPORTS | PAGE 8
ND men’s soccer
The Fighting Irish will face the No.4 Hoosiers in their 50th all time matchup.
created by the University of Galway, active consent is the “practice of actively giving consent and communicating with a partner about consent, boundaries, likes, and dislikes during intimacy, and for all sexual activity.” It mentions that pressure may indicate a lack of consent and that the lack of opposition does not imply consent.
Prior to Thanksgiving break, the discussion-based workshops through Active* Consent will be scheduled and hosted within residence halls for students to have the option to attend to.
“Active* Consent fosters open dialogue about consent in various contexts, the role of alcohol, and understanding personal boundaries in both intimate and everyday interactions and relationships. Students will receive notifications through NDCentral when workshops are scheduled in their hall,” Mulhern wrote.
As a preventive measure,
see “Awareness” on page 4
SPORTS | PAGE 11
ND volleyball
Notre Dame volleyball will host Illinois after splitting the first two games of the season.
MEGAN CORNELL | The Observer
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Zach Bryan will headline the first concert held in Notre Dame Stadium since 2022 on Saturday. The University’s events team must navigate a quick turnaround before Notre Dame Football’s home opener next week.
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Senate meets to review schedule of fall activities
By David Murphy Assciate News Editor
Student senate convened in their second meeting of the semester to discuss upcoming campus events. Before these announcements, judicial council president Elijah Jones led the group in opening prayer.
The senate began in earnest by recapping “Flick on the Field,” which took place on Aug. 29 in Notre Dame Stadium. Student government shows the 1993 movie “Rudy” every year, and the screening is free and open to the public. Senators applauded vice president Sonia Lumley for her work on the event.
Lumley then went on to highlight the upcoming “Wellness Expo,” planned for Thursday, Sept. 4. The expo, coordinated by the student
government’s department of health and wellness, will be hosted by the McDonald Center at Fieldhouse Mall. Various campus vendors will have stands, including University Health Services, University Counseling Services, Campus Ministry, and RecSports.
Lumley also discussed “Red Zone Awareness Week,” an ongoing initiative aimed at combating sexual assault. “This week is ‘Red Zone Awareness Week,’” she said. “It brings awareness to the first six weeks of the semester, where college students are most vulnerable to sexual violence and sexual assault. So wear red on Friday to be in solidarity with survivors.”
With no general orders on the table for the week, the senate continued with other announcements, which, like last week’s meeting, included Vielhauer’s planned appearance
at Thursday’s South Bend Cubs game.
“The South Bend Cubs game is Sept. 4, so tomorrow,” Lumley told the senate. “As said, Jerry will be throwing the first pitch.”
After Lumley’s updates, Elena Rossen, a senator from Ryan Hall, raised concerns from students about the status of opening of the new sushi restaurant FujiSan, which is replacing Flip Kitchen in LaFortune Student Center. Student senate advisor Maureen Doyle responded to Rossen’s concerns.
“I don’t have a definitive answer on when the sushi [place] will open in LaFortune, but it’s supposed to be mid-September,” Doyle told Rossen. “So in the next week or two, we expect it to open.”
Following Rossen’s inquiry, senator Z Zavala of Welsh Family Hall spoke to the senate, recognizing Audrey DeShelter, a Notre Dame student who passed
away due to cancer in June at 19 years old. Having battled the disease since the age of five, she fought for 14 years in the face of overwhelming odds and helped raise funds for pediatric cancer research.
In honor of DeShelter, Zavala announced that Welsh Family Hall will be hosting a memorial Mass in the Basilica on Monday. As one of the last announcements of the session, she urged members of the Notre Dame community to attend the Mass and pay their respects.
“She would’ve been a sophomore this year. She was really sweet,” Zavala said. “She unfortunately passed away due to cancer this summer. [The Mass] is going to be on Monday at 8:30 p.m. in the Basilica, so please come and honor her memory.”
Contact David Murphy at dmurphy23@nd.edu
Belles Love Through Loss offers grief support
By Samantha Gebert Saff Writer
Belles Love Though Loss, a grief support group, offers students at Saint Mary’s College a safe space to share and support each other through a loss of a loved one.
Carrie Badertscher, who serves at a pastor at the Mennonite Keller Park Church in South Bend and facilitates the support group, shared that Belles Love Through Loss was started in the early months of 2022 by herself and the Saint Mary’s vice president for mission, Molly Gower, alongside a group of students.
“Students played a vital role in shaping the group and nurturing it into what it is today,” Badertscher said.
The group is facilitated by Badertscher. However, she said, “it is truly led by the
Washers
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students that he had worked with Residential Life to guarantee that new washing machines would be brought to each dorm come fall.
students themselves. Each person is invited to share their story and feelings in their own way and time.”
Josie Baggs, a junior, shared that she helped to start the group when she got to campus as a freshman. She noted that the group helps her feel connected with other students and seen on campus.
Baggs discussed how the group aims to create an environment that welcomes dialogue about what can sometimes be a taboo topic. She also noted that the group is open to anyone, regardless of how grief is impacting them.
“It doesn’t matter your loss, if it affects you, you’re welcome into the group,” Baggs said, noting that group members might not necessarily have had a loved one die, but rather might have anticipatory grief or have someone in their life who’s not there anymore.
administrators and University procurement staff reviewed requests for proposal (RFP) from a number of companies, and evaluated proposals based on reliability, speed of service, and overall student satisfaction.
Badertscher elaborated on the group’s role in the Saint Mary’s community, sharing that Belles Love Through Loss is “a place where no one has to explain their pain or sadness. While the world may rush forward for others, time feels different for those who carry deep loss. This group offers a sacred pause, a space where sorrow is named, honored and shared among those who understand it firsthand.”
“Here, each person is invited to recognize their loss, speak it aloud and gently learn what it means to carry it as part of their journey. This is profound, meaningful work,” she added, noting the “deeply tender and supportive” nature of the students in the group.
She described the group’s nature as sharing an “unspoken language of understanding, a quiet bond that needs no explanation,” adding, “It is moving to see students speak life into one
The email also stated that a mobile app would be available to students to monitor their laundry loads and receive updates when their cycles were complete. The app has yet to be released.
another, walking side by side with care and compassion.”
Badertscher elaborated on the impact the group has had in her own life, saying, “I am forever changed by being part of [Belles Love Through Loss] these past three years. The students are so dear to me, and it is truly an honor to walk alongside them and learn from them.”
She continued, “I will never take for granted the way they have welcomed me into the most vulnerable and fragile parts of their journeys.”
The group acknowledges that grief changes over time. “We recognize that grief is not something to be fixed, so our time together is not about solutions. Instead, we listen deeply, hold space for one another and offer gentle care and encouragement along the way,” Badertscher said.
Contact Samantha Gebert at sgebert01@saintmarys.edu
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.
The new machines are managed by vendor Caldwell & Gregory. The company replaces the previous vendor, WASH Laundry, who had been contracted to manage residence hall laundry at Notre Dame since 2020. WASH Laundry’s contract expired in June 2025. Director of Residential Life: housing operations, Dan Rohmiller, wrote in a statement to The Observer that a committee of dorm rectors, Residential Life
“For students, we anticipate there will be fewer service issues than in previous years, more proactive maintenance on the machines and easier ways to submit a work order when there is an issue,” Rohmiller wrote.
In an email to students sent on Aug. 15, Residential Life praised their new vendor. “We were impressed by Caldwell & Gregory’s commitment to proactive maintenance and overall student satisfaction during the proposal process and we look forward to working with them to provide this free service to students.”
Daniel Burke, a sophomore in Coyle Community in Zahm Hall, said the old machines were often frustrating.
“The machines are definitely an improvement over last year’s. There were multiple times with the old machines where the washer either didn’t drain or spin, leaving my clothes completely drenched,“ Burke said. “I know many of my friends experienced this too, so it’s nice to have washers that are functioning the right way.”
Burke added that last year multiple washers and dryers were frequently out of order at the same time and noted that last year there
was a day where only one washing machine in Zahm Hall was working. He also expressed his anticipation for the new laundry app that has been advertised and shared that he hopes the app is working soon.
“Overall, it’s definitely an improvement and I’m very glad to see it,” Burke said.
Jackie O’Karma, a sophomore resident of Flaherty Hall, also noted the contrast between the old and new machines. She described the new machines as “really nice” and said they work better than the machines that were in her dorm last year.
“They don’t leak water all over the floor and my clothes come out clean in one wash,” she said.
Contact Sophie Hanawalt at shanawal@nd.edu
Awareness
Continued from page 1
Notre Dame has put together initiatives to inform students the risks associated with this time period and provide strategies to help them be safer. On both Monday and Wednesday, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Duncan Student Center, the Notre Dame student government hosted tables designated to informing students about the Red Zone, asking them “to sign solidarity cards, sharing OIE/CSAP resources with them and encouraging them to engage with our programming to raise awareness about the Red Zone,” Gianna Switalski, the director of the Department of Title IX and Women’s Initiatives in student government wrote via email.
The main table contained flyers, food and red self care bags, along with pamphlets regarding how to
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raise the roof and they load the stage underneath it.”
The work would be a lot easier, Sicinski said, with protection from the Midwest elements.
“I wish we had a roof over the stadium. It would definitely help with weather,” he said.
Responsibility for the production of a concert such as this one doesn’t just fall on one person, though. There are many crew members and workers who have contributed to the making of the event.
“There’s about 50 to 55 trucks that go along with the production,” Sicinski said. “It’s a big operation with a lot of both local crews and crews from throughout the United States, quite frankly, but they’re getting ready, and they’re doing everything here at Notre Dame.”
Seven days after the concert, the stadium needs to be ready to host Notre Dame’s first home game of the season against Texas A&M. The quick turnaround presents its own challenges, but Sicinski said the events team will be equipped to handle them. He cited the partnership they’ve established with the athletics and football operations team, who have helped them set up for the concert and will also help prep the venue for the game next week.
Tourist rush
Much like the University’s events team, businesses, especially those directly south of campus, are accustomed to busy weekends. O’Rourke’s and Brother’s Bar and Grill, two cornerstones of the Eddy Street social scene, welcome the increase in traffic.
“When we have a concert, we kind of treat it like a home game,” Amber Goddard, the
report sexual assault and other supportive resources. Sophomore Samantha Sanchez, who ran the table, explained the purpose is “to bring comfort to students and give resources out to all of the student body because you never know what someone is going through or will need.”
general manager of O’Rourke’s, said. “Obviously, it’s not like a whole four-day event, like when people come into town for the home game, but we still treat the day itself like we’re going to be just as busy.”
The increase in patrons necessitates a large increase in inventory, large enough that the business, located on the corner of Eddy Street and Angela Boulevard, can’t hold it all.
“So we even park a big semi out back that has a freezer, cooler and has a whole bunch of extra food in it, because we think we’re just going to be that busy, and we stock up on all of our beer and liquor and our staff,” Goddard said.
Goddard added that O’Rourkes will be having a country-themed karaoke night after the concert.
Victoria Gamez, a bartender at Brother’s, echoed Goddard’s anticipation.
“We’re expecting [the concert] to be just like a home game weekend, with that kind of crowd. We’re making sure we’re stocked on everything, and we’re just really excited about the atmosphere and the Zach Bryan fans. We’re trying to cater to them and also manage the crowds,” Gamez said.
Transportation and safety
The Notre Dame Police Department (NDPD) has wellestablished procedures for gamedays, when the south side of campus is flooded with tailgaters, visitors and fans. Deputy chief of police services Bill Thompson said at the press conference that while NDPD anticipates the event will go smoothly, it will be slightly different from a football weekend.
“Our neighbors get kind of used to the cadence of football traffic, so they know when the best times are to come and go,” Thompson said. “One of the challenges with a concert, it’s a
Sanchez explained that the title of the cards handed out, “#Why I Wear Red,” was to “get everyone to wear red on Friday, Sept. 7 in order to bring awareness to the cause.” Switalski wrote that these initiatives are displayed both in-person and through social media, as they plan to post videos this week on
different kind of crowd, different kind of arriving crowd, and we also know that a lot of folks who are coming to this concert probably have never been to Notre Dame or Notre Dame Stadium before.”
At the press conference, spokespeople from NDPD, South Bend Police and St. Joseph County Police, including Thompson, emphasized patience when navigating the areas around campus. All three departments will have a presence at the event, with SBPD supplying 50-60 officers and a tactical team from the county on the scene.
“If your GPS is saying, ‘hey, go this way,’ just know that that might not be an option, and there is a reason for that,”
Brad Rohrscheib, lieutenant at SBPD, said. “We close roads and direct traffic for everyone’s safety, and we will have officers at all the major intersections assisting pedestrians with crossing as well.”
Roads into and out of campus, especially those with access to parking lots, will be converted to one-ways, inbound before the concert and outbound after, much like on gamedays. All of the usual parking lots will be open for tailgating starting at noon.
“We want to make sure that things are safe, so there’s no open flames or those kinds of things,” Thompson said. “But the general kind of tailgating, picnic, sorts of things that folks do at events like this, we welcome that.”
Students received an email on Thursday instructing them to move their cars to Lake, Bulla, Rugby or Wilson lots before Saturday morning.
Student ticket experience
When tickets were released for a Notre Dame community presale in March, seniors graduating in May had the opportunity to purchase tickets as students,
events in Duncan Student Center and wearing red on Friday. Through the presence of these programs, “students will be better informed about the Red Zone, how to be active bystanders, how to stay safe themselves, and what resources are available to them,” Switalski wrote.
Switalski hopes that students know more about the Red Zone and how they can better support themselves and others while using the resources around them.
what it looks like to be an active bystander, along with red and green flags in social situations.
Dorms are also having pledges passed to “Shatter the Red Zone” which not only serves to inform students but also be put towards a dorm competition, including through table
despite the concert occurring after graduation. Some recent graduates, such as Caroline Darrow ‘25, were able to make it work, planning a trip back to Notre Dame just four months after finishing school.
“Luckily, the stars kind of aligned for me to be able to come back for the concert,” Darrow wrote in a statement to The Observer. “I am attending grad school this coming school year, and my orientation actually starts the Monday following the concert in Chicago.”
For those who are living in Chicago or elsewhere in the Midwest, the trip back is relatively easy. But many graduated seniors who live farther away were not able to return for the concert.
“With the fluidity of employment plans and unknown start dates when tickets came out, a good amount of people had to sell their tickets or not buy them from the beginning,” Darrow wrote. “It’s definitely sad to know some of my good friends aren’t able to join us back in [South Bend] but I know they are off doing great things.”
Darrow said that it would be weird to be back on campus again so soon, but she is looking forward to seeing old friends.
“I think it’s a perfect mini reunion to touch base before work
“Ultimately, our goal is to empower every student to be part of the solution. By raising awareness about the Red Zone, we hope to foster a campus culture where everyone understands their role in preventing sexual violence and supporting their peers,” Switalski said.
Contact Jessica Mayor at Jmayor2@nd.edu
or other post-grad plans get busier or more chaotic,” she wrote. “I know it’s a thing that a lot of us have been looking forward to.” Freshmen, on the other hand, had the opposite problem: They are now living on campus, but at the time of the presale, they did not have access to the community presale. They were forced to get creative, finding tickets on third-party apps like SeatGeek and StubHub, purchasing them from upperclassmen in dorm group chats or utilizing their connections to the University.
Maria Marlowe-Rogers, a freshman attending the concert, said that her brother who graduated last year was able to get her tickets.
“I had missed the Zach Bryan concert that was held near my hometown, so when my brother asked me if I wanted tickets because he was coming to Notre Dame, I immediately said yes. I’m excited to go to the concert because I’ve never been to a country music concert and because I get to go with my new friends,” Marlowe-Rogers said.
Contact Zack Pohlman, Megan Cornell and Sophie Hanawalt at zpohlma2@nd.edu, mcornell@nd.edu and shanawal@nd.ed
JESSICA MAYOR | The Observer
Notre Dame’s student government tabled in Duncan Student Center Monday and Wednesday to spread awareness about the Red Zone. Student government also brought programming to residence halls this week.
On Dec. 12, 2024, the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I received the following notification from the University of Notre Dame:
“Dear Diego: It is our great pleasure to offer you admission to the seventh cohort of the Notre Dame Inspired Leadership Initiative for the 2025-26 academic year.”
When I read that first statement, I could see my friend Mary Ellen Woods smiling. Mary Ellen and I both graduated from Notre Dame in 1980. We both majored in government and shared several classes together. I was from Texas, she was from New York. We disagreed on many political, economic and social issues, but we respected and admired each other. We were good friends. Our mutual respect continued long after we left Notre Dame.
After Notre Dame, I returned home, graduated from the University of Texas Law School, and started
Mary Ellen, I’m home ...
trying cases. I got married in 1993; God blessed me and my bride with one son and two daughters. One of my clients hired me away from my firm. I stayed in that job for 30 years. I retired from that position in 2019 to become a labor arbitrator.
Mary Ellen went on to get a public policy graduate degree and lived in Chicago. Few loved Notre Dame like Mary Ellen did. She dedicated herself to serving the University on various advisory boards including a stint as president of the Notre Dame Club of Chicago. She worked tirelessly with the club’s scholarship foundation, helping and advising many students in the Chicago area. She even advised my daughter who attended and graduated from Notre Dame in 2015. Mary Ellen was a passionate advocate for education and Notre Dame. We stayed close. We served as class officers. She would
often call just to talk, debate a point of the day or talk about family. In 2021, she called to tell me she had been accepted as an ILI Fellow at Notre Dame. I was not familiar with the program, and when I asked about it, I remember her telling me, “Diego, you would love it.” She wrote a biweekly column for the Notre Dame student newspaper, The Observer, and that’s how I learned about the program and tracked her progress. Her descriptions of ILI enticed me. I thought to myself: I could do this; I could enjoy this; maybe I should do this. But whenever the possibility popped into my head, reality overshadowed it. My wife needed me, and she also wanted to travel more; my daughter wanted me to help with our grandsons. Other family obligations demanded my attention. Balancing my family’s needs with my arbitration practice became a challenge. Tossing ILI into the mix would
only complicate matters.
Between 2022 and 2024, Mary Ellen continued to encourage me. She spoke on my behalf to the Notre Dame ILI staff. While attending a conference in Chicago in September 2023, Mary Ellen and I met for dinner and spoke about the program. Over a meal of fine Italian food, ILI solidified as a real possibility. In early 2024, Mary Ellen called again. I told her I was seriously thinking about it. That was our last conversation. She passed away a few weeks later.
Mary Ellen’s passing hurt and forced me to reassess. I prayed for guidance.
While meditating on the fifth joyous mystery of the rosary, finding Jesus in the temple, I found the answer. When his parents asked why he was in the temple, Jesus told them he needed to be in his Father’s house. Only in his Father’s house could Jesus
discern his Father’s will. That’s when it hit me: I needed to come home. Notre Dame’s former president, Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, once said Our Lady’s home is Notre Dame. For those of us who love Notre Dame, Our Lady’s home is our home.
Upon starting the ILI program in 2021, Mary Ellen wrote she was excited to be returning to a place that she loved, where she could study, reflect, learn and grow. That was her way of saying she was glad to be home. So am I. I look forward to learning from my professors, colleagues and students. My goal is not to live this academic year as Mary Ellen would; she already did that. My goal is to recharge, learn and enjoy home.
Thanks Mary Ellen.
The costs of student visa backlogs
This summer, Harvard University became the center of a visa crisis when the U.S. government briefly revoked its ability to enroll new international students. Thousands of students suddenly faced the possibility of being denied entry into the country, their academic futures thrown into limbo. Although a federal judge quickly blocked the order, the incident exposed just how fragile the system is for international students. Even at one of the world’s most prestigious universities, bureaucratic and political barriers can interrupt education overnight. This episode is not an isolated case — it reflects the broader challenges posed by visa delays, which force students to miss classes, lose money and question whether they will be able to pursue the opportunities they have worked so hard to earn.
Visa delays are not new, but they have become more common in recent years. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, many embassies reduced staff and shifted resources, leading to longer processing times. These shortages coincided with a surge in visa applications once travel restrictions were lifted. In countries such as India, South Korea and China — where demand for U.S. and European student visas is
particularly high — students frequently face appointment wait times that stretch into months. The result is a cruel paradox: Students who have earned admission to prestigious universities, paid deposits and prepared to relocate are forced to watch their peers begin classes while they wait in limbo.
For students, the consequences of visa delays are severe. Missing orientation and the first weeks of class makes it harder to adapt academically and socially. Professors often cover foundational material in the opening sessions, and late arrivals can
mean starting at a disadvantage. In more serious cases, strict arrival deadlines are enforced, which indirectly force students to defer an entire academic year through no fault of their own.
The United States has taken several positive steps to make the student visa process more manageable in recent years. One major improvement has been the expansion of visa processing capacity. In 2023, the State Department issued over 10.4 million nonimmigrant visas worldwide, the highest since 2015, showing a strong recovery after the pandemic. To ease
bottlenecks, the government also broadened its interview waiver program, often called the “drop-box” option, which allows eligible students and other applicants to renew visas without attending inperson interviews. On the support side, the U.S. has strengthened EducationUSA, a State Department network with advising centers in more than 170 countries that guide international students through admissions, visa applications and pre-departure preparations. Programs like EducationUSA’s Opportunity Funds also help talented students cover application and
Aug. 24
testing costs. Taken together, these initiatives demonstrate a concerted effort by the U.S. to streamline the visa process, reduce uncertainty and show international students that they are valued. As an international student who has the privilege of studying at Notre Dame, I believe it is essential to advocate for peers who also aspire to study in the United States. The diverse perspectives that international students bring to campus are not just enriching but transformative. They broaden classroom discussions, introduce new cultural insights and prepare all students to think more globally in an interconnected world. Diversity is not simply about representation; it fosters innovation, empathy and collaboration. Ensuring that visa systems are efficient and fair is therefore not only a matter of access but also a commitment to strengthening the academic and cultural fabric of universities. By supporting international students, the U.S. upholds its tradition of being a place where talent from around the world can come together to learn, contribute and build lasting connections.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Contact Molly Wu at lwu5@nd.edu
Diego J. Peña ILI Fellow
By Molly Wu Columnist, “Bro Meets World”
SOFIA CRIMIVAROLI | The Observer
The Main Building is home to International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA), an office providing support to foreign students. ISSA helps first-years navigate immigration processes
By Sophia Anderson Columnist, “Transfer Tales”
“Love Island USA“ contestant Cierra Ortega, actor Sydney Sweeney and comedian Matt Rife have one thing in common: They were canceled, or re-canceled, this summer.
Cancel culture has been praised and demonized in equal measure since the 2010s, when it emerged in its modern form. While experts argue that very few people have actually been canceled in a way that affected their real professional or personal lives, widespread fear (especially around 2020, during the peak of cancel culture) that “wokeness” has taken over our culture has had legitimate political and global impacts.
While the height of cancel culture has quieted since the early 2020s, the discourse over its use has remained relevant on social media. People still disagree: Is cancel culture a helpful tool in enforcing accountability or a dangerous form of censorship?
The truth, of course, is somewhere in the middle. It is certainly overdramatic to compare censorship to public outcry against the use of slurs and discriminatory stereotypes or sexual assault/harassment allegations, for example. However, there is also validity to criticisms of cancel culture. Many critics question the true purpose of a cancelation; do we mean to make public examples of people?
On cancel culture
To force offenders to take accountability? Or do we hope to genuinely change the public consciousness and conversation surrounding cancel-worthy issues?
For most of the canceled, a heartfelt and earnest apology is the first step when making public amends after committing their offense. However, in any successful post-cancelation comeback, the apology must be followed by a longterm pattern of action proving that education, reflection and growth occurred after being confronted with a mistake. While certainly not absolving these individuals
of the harms they committed, it is clear that the public is on some level willing to forgive many formerly canceled influencers (think Trisha Paytas or Tana Mongeau). Some cancelations are for wrongdoings so heinous that they will likely (and rightfully) never be forgiven. However, society may learn more effectively from the mistakes of influencers they can watch change and mature than from those who don’t make a public effort to correct their behavior. Audiences, especially young people, are truly influenced by the actions of the
| The Observer
content creators they look up to. If our public figures can evolve, their fans may just evolve with them. Beyond the benefits of emphasizing call-out culture over cancel culture, we should also question the people that we have historically chosen to cancel. As the cancel culture movement grew alongside the “Me Too” movement, many important people were appropriately canceled and removed from public life. However, as cancelations have shifted to affect primarily internet and media personalities, many figures in other parts of public life have
skirted the consequences of even more severe transgressions.
Politicians and government officials (in both parties) use offensive language, openly support harmful policies that do not prioritize human wellbeing and face criminal allegations of all forms while experiencing minimal consequences. It feels almost dystopian to open the news to excessive coverage of the latest celebrity misstep, while major political decisions are made silently in the background by politicians who have no greater loyalty than to their donors and fundraisers.
The truth is that there are some young people, including Notre Dame students, who will find that they have used language and possessed biases in the past that they have yet to recognize and address. In order to use cancel culture effectively, we have to find ways to not only hold the famous accountable — but also ourselves and our lawmakers. We have to choose the growth of our societal and campus culture as a whole over celebrity drama, and we have to force the leaders of our government to act as examples rather than villains if we want to progress together.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Contact Sophia Anderson at sander38@nd.edu
Blue books are hitting classrooms. Embrace it.
By Redmond Bernhold Opinion Editor
At Notre Dame, few things are as bleak as a gray November day after you have finished studying physics or organic chemistry at “Heschella” (Hesburgh Library x Coachella, per my friend group). My fellow upperclassmen, you know the feeling. And it will be here before we know it. Here’s a reminder of what the next few months have in store: Long nights in the library until your eyes physically cannot stay open. You collect your belongings and march to your dorm. You then maybe sleep for five hours, if you’re lucky, in a nervous NREM2 state. Beep! Beep! Beep! Your half-shut eyes may hit the snooze button once or twice, if you’re daring. If you’re like me, the insanely early alarm erupts your heart with adrenaline and anxiety. When walking into Nieuwland, you feel a humid cloud of heat hitting your body. Entering the classroom, you smell that familiar sulfur-chalk stench and see the robin egg-colored booklets lining each seat
of the sterile classroom. Blue books used to just be a staple of certain classes and exams, but this semester promises more. According to The Wall Street Journal, sales of blue books are increasing at public colleges. At the University of Florida, sales were up 50% last school year and 80% at UC Berkeley over the past two academic years.
The reason? AI.
Although sales are up at these public university bookstores, the demand reaches into all major academic institutions, including Notre Dame.
This semester, many of my classes’ syllabuses similarly note the return of a blue book, even in writing and philosophy courses, which typically have multiple take-home essays.
One of the syllabuses reads, “At least two of these papers will be written by hand in class in an old-fashioned Blue Book. Thanks AI!”
Another says, “On dates specified in the syllabus, classes will commence with a 20-minute written exercise consisting of either a short essay or 2-4 brief questions.”
Reading these syllabuses initially rattled memories of long nights preparing
whiteboards full of reactions, equations and definitions. Didn’t I leave physics — and blue books — in junior year?
But then my professors elaborated that because it seems like all students use AI, blue books and oral exams will ensure authentic work.
This is fair and accurate to say, but I know that some of my peers and friends, some of whom use AI for many of their classes, dread blue book exams. I am concerned for what could come next if blue books were eradicated.
Professors are saying that two main reasons are making them choose blue books: They want students to learn content, and they care about which topics students are taking away. To accomplish this without the stain of AI, they see blue books and exams as part of this process.
In short, the blue book is one part to make sure that students are taking away more than memorizing that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell or that F=ma.
Inevitably, AI will further shake universities that are just learning to cope with more and more students turning to AI for completing, planning and organizing assignments. And because not every course can have exams in the format of a blue book, an alternative will likely meet AI’s growing threat.
A study from Campbell University found 86% of college students use AI in their coursework and 54% consult chatbots weekly. In a survey conducted and written by OpenAI, student participants indicated that they use ChatGPT most often for “starting papers/projects.”
At Notre Dame, there’s a
sense of educational whiplash, notably a bifurcation across disciplines: Science and business classes typically have more lax rules, often permitting its use as a tool that should facilitate understanding. Humanities, on the other hand, usually prohibit or severely restrict AI. And for the right reasons. After all, aren’t you at Notre Dame to read a book? Notre Dame’s official policy states that “work generated or materially modified” by AI “constitutes academic dishonesty.” It also allows instructors and professors to make their own rules and permissions. Blue books seem to be the most robust answer to academia’s AI uncertainty. After all, we only have a pencil and scattered thoughts within the walls of DeBartolo Hall. What comes after? Probably more unappealing alternatives.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Contact Redmond Bernhold at rbernho2@nd.edu
ISABELLE RUTLAND
REDMOND BERNHOLD | The Observer Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore sells blue exam books.
Sabrina Carpenter delivers more of the same
By Marguerite C. J. Marley Scene Writer
Sabrina Carpenter sparked a fervent debate this summer with the release of the cover for her seventh studio album, “Man’s Best Friend.” It featured Carpenter in a thought-provoking pose, igniting a heated discussion. Some accused it of “pandering to the male gaze” and being “regressive.” In a time when the world seems to be regressing, people were quick to point to Carpenter, one of the biggest pop stars at the moment, as being part of this. This controversy, while intense, adds an intriguing layer to the album’s narrative.
Amidst the heated debate over the cover, the real question emerges: Can the album itself rise above this controversy? Let’s embark on a detailed exploration of “Man’s Best Friend,” track by track, with the hope and anticipation that it might just do that.
“Manchild”
The only single off this album is a testament to Carpenter’s evolution. It showcases her journey from the country influence in “Short n’ Sweet” to a more pronounced Dolly Parton style. This song not only sets the tone for the rest of the album but also stands out as a great song in its own right, leaving us excited for what’s to come.
“Tears”
This song is much more 70s pop-inspired, featuring heavy piano, syncopated rhythms, and sexual references; it fits right in with her output of the last two years. Though very catchy, it fails to distinguish itself from the likes of “Espresso” and “Juno” in her discography. It feels a lot like more of the same thing — a good thing — but the same nonetheless.
“My Man on Willpower”
This song ingeniously combines the best parts of the last two. The synth beat, in a clever twist, complements the stomp clap country elements, resulting in a compelling dance track. Carpenter’s decision to weave a more intricate narrative into the song is a refreshing change that I particularly enjoyed. The inclusion of a calland-response element further enhances the song’s appeal, and I’m sure it will be a hit on her upcoming tour.
“Sugar Talking”
This is another song that seems like a typical Sabrina Carpenter song, with little difference between it and anything on “Short n’ Sweet.” She revisits themes of heartbreak, relationship drama, and complicated relationships with men (though I will admit that “put your loving where your mouth is” is a very clever line). This is slightly slower than her usual fare, which makes it sound almost R&B, making me
enjoy it somewhat more than “Tears.”
“We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night”
Unexpectedly, a ballad emerges in this song, crafting emotion in a way that feels undeniably real. Her voice, raw with emotion, hits home. We’ve all been in a toxic relationship or friendship, where we give more than we get, and this song captures that feeling perfectly. I can’t wait to sing these lyrics on an empty highway with my friends, a shared experience we can all relate to.
“Nobody’s Son”
Not upbeat enough to be a dance number, but not slow enough to be a ballad, this song has a simple melody that lacks interest. It sounds like something that would appear on a children’s television show if they dealt with adult relationships. It commits the worst crime in pop: being incredibly dull.
“Never Getting Laid”
This R&B track is a fresh take on a breakup song, as Carpenter is still very possessive of the subject. She belts out that she hopes her ex never gets laid, which is a very Sabrina Carpenter take on moving on from a crappy guy, but a funny one for sure.
“When Did You Get Hot?”
A pretty good song about someone who you hadn’t seen in a while becoming hot. It’s also kind of funny and has enough elements that I like. Yet, the sum is less than the parts, so while it will go into my rotation, it doesn’t really stand out to me.
“Go Go Juice”
Finally, a song that’s not entirely about men! Sometimes alcohol is a girl’s best friend. Frankly, a wedding classic in the making, another country-style song is much appreciated after four songs worth of synth. I know it’s going on my 21st birthday playlist, and probably many bachelorette playlists
On ‘House on Eden’
By Harry Penne Scene Copy Editor
2025 has seen several internet creators cross over from short-form content to feature-length projects. “House on Eden” is the film debut of Kris Collins, better known by her YouTube moniker Kallmekris, with Collins acting, writing and directing. She is joined on screen by fellow influencers Celina Myers (CelinaSpookyBoo) and Jason-Christopher Mayer. At VidCon 2023, Collins first announced the development of the project, which was then filmed in 2024 and released in cinemas on July 25, 2025. An indie film made with a reported budget of $10,000, it has been acquired by Shudder and transferred to streaming following the theatrical run.
I went into “House on Eden” completely blind and was surprised by how many times it genuinely scared
me. Typically, I have a high tolerance for jump scares and do not startle easily, but “House on Eden” unexpectedly got me several times. The frights start early, with the first jump scare happening prior to the one-minute mark. Seeing the film in a theater truly added to the atmosphere and tension as audience members audibly screamed in response to the scares. While only having a 78-minute run time, the jump scares are abundant, so consider this a warning should you choose to watch it. The frights are not built solely on jump scares, but also nightmarish and, at times, surrealist imagery. In one scene, Kris, all alone in the titular house on Eden, comes across an imitation of a possessed Celina who sports a nasty wound on her arm with surprise gore and blank, milky-white eyes. This was an uncomfortable scene that added to the tension and unease that characterizes the final act of the
film.
“House on Eden” pays homage to many classic found footage horror films including “The Blair Witch Project” and “Paranormal Activity.” What I think sets this film apart from others in the subgenre is the fact that its stars are already celebrities in their own right. I am familiar with both YouTubers’ platforms. Watching faces I recognize play themselves makes the scares feel believable because the premise is plausible: The footage being presented is cut material from a YouTube video. Aspects of the movie feel like watching the behind-thescenes of one of their ghost hunting videos (for which they are well known). Before the investigation of the house on Eden begins, they reenact what feels like an intro to one of their YouTube videos, but, without the music and graphics that appear in a polished and edited video, it took on an uncanny and uneasy aesthetic,
after mine.
“Don’t Worry, I’ll Make You Worry”
A bit more introspective than usual, Sabrina pulls aside the bombshell facade to reveal a more complicated personality. The music is softer, much more pianolike, than most pop songs, which lends itself to this kind of song. It’s a nice change of pace and much more interesting than most of it. Something you can kind of sink your teeth into.
“House Tour”
Right back to the disco vibes she’s known for. This song feels like it could be another single in the same vein as “Espresso.” It’s very much a get up and dance and not listen to the lyrics. Like a bag of potato chips, it’s nice and light, but it does not have much nutritional value.
“Goodbye”
A fittingly ABBA-style end to this album. It feels right at home being belted along to in a club with your friend. Carpenter clearly takes inspiration from ABBA but is able to make this song all her own. It ends the album on a high note, with clever lyrics and a fun backing track including synths, violin and stomp claps that dominated this album, mixing them perfectly together.
Overall, Carpenter has played this album incredibly safe; she wrote more of what made “Short n’ Sweet” popular. Though imitating a good album isn’t a bad idea, it gets kinda boring after a while. Maybe with artists like Taylor Swift clearly demarcating eras, we’re not used to others sticking to recognizable brands. Still, I frankly expected more from this.
Contact Marguerite C. J. Marley at mmarley2@nd.edu
almost as if the audience was not supposed to see these outtakes. This instance isn’t the only time something like that happens, either. What I liked about “House on Eden” is that, unlike “The Blair Witch Project” where we never actually see the titular witch, the film is not afraid to place the ghosts in the spotlight. As noted, this allows the film to explore more surreal moments and visuals. The main spectral entity explored in the film is Lilith, who, according to folklore, is a demonic entity banished from the Garden of Eden. One moment sees the entity actually pick up one of the cameras, and a chase scene involving Kris and the ghost, from its point of view, ensues. I had never seen a chase presented this way in found footage, and I thought it to be quite clever.
Myers and Collins, who are close friends off camera, play fictionalized and exaggerated versions of their
YouTube personalities. The result is chemistry that feels genuine. The first act of the film features some truly funny banter between them. Behind the scenes, much of the dialogue was improvised, which allows the personalities to shine. In my opinion, these were some of the best parts of the movie and genuinely made me laugh. I would recommend “House on Eden” to fans of Collins’ and Myers’ channels and to found footage enthusiasts. While it is not a revolutionary, genre-influencing installment to the horror canon, it is a fun summertime horror flick. And that is what I think is most important; the entertainment value is certainly there. I acknowledge that it is not a movie for everyone, but I think that in time it will find its audience and achieve cult status.
Contact Harry Penne at hpenne@nd.edu
ISABELLE RUTLAND | The Observer
Irish men’s soccer ready to face No. 4 Hoosiers
By Ben Hicks Associate Sports Editor
Following a lengthy nine days of rest and recovery, Notre Dame men’s soccer will return to the pitch this Sunday evening to host the No. 4 Indiana Hoosiers. It will mark the 50th meeting between the two schools, dating back to the rivalry’s inception in 1973. Indiana and Notre Dame are not only the two best collegiate soccer programs in the Hoosier state, but two of the preeminent national powers, combining for 38 conference titles and nine national championships. After last August’s 2-2 draw in Bloomington, the Hoosiers held a 33-11-5 edge in the series.
Eighth-year head coach Chad Riley has his new-look Irish unbeaten early this season, entering play at 1-0-2. Notre Dame opened the campaign with a 1-1 draw in Ann Arbor against the Michigan Wolverines in another Big Ten rivalry match. The Irish followed that result with a second draw, this time 0-0 at home against IU Indy. Notre Dame finally broke through last time out, besting No. 14 Oregon State 1-0, utilizing a 38th-minute header from senior defender Mitch Ferguson to top the Beavers despite being outshot 16-3.
The Hoosiers are 4-0-1 on the young season, having claimed four straight matches following a seasonopening 2-2 tie with No. 9 Clemson. Indiana has won consecutive matches over ranked opponents beginning with a 2-0 victory over No. 14 Oregon State. In a battle between the sport’s two most historically successful programs, the Hoosiers got the better of No. 15 Saint Louis 1-0.
Indiana is spearheaded by the dynamic duo of senior forward Palmer Ault and junior midfielder Jacopo Fedrizzi, who together have tallied 16 points in the first five matches of the year. Ault, a Noblesville, Indiana, native, leads the Hoosiers with four goals, while Fedrizzi, an Italian international, is not far behind with three. Both have added one assist.
For the Irish, it has been a bit of a struggle to find the back of the net.
Ferguson, who was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, scored his first of the campaign in the win over the Beavers, with the only other goal coming from Notre Dame debutant Diego Ochoa.
Notre Dame’s backline has held
strong throughout the first 270 minutes of action, however. Sophomore goalkeeper Blake Kelly has directed the unit powerfully, despite his youth. The Michigan native made 12 starts a season ago as a true freshman, and has made 14 saves on
HCC SOCCER
15 shots faced in 2025. Kelly had a career night, against Oregon State, turning away all seven attempts at goal. His performance included stopping a three-shot flurry midway through the second half, as well as a kick save off the line at the death.
Sunday’s contest at Alumni Stadium is set for a 7:30 p.m first touch. The match will be nationally televised on ACC Network.
Contact Ben Hicks at bhicks2@nd.edu
Saint’s men’s soccer prepares for Oakland City
By Chris Dailey Sports Writer
Riding a 1-1 record following two eventful games to kick off their 2025 campaign, the Holy Cross men’s soccer team aims to leap past .500 as they host out-of-conference foes Oakland City at noon on Saturday.
The Saints opened their season on Aug. 27 against Madonna, falling 3-2 in what was an instant classic. Sophomore center back Cesar Vela scored to open up the Saints’ account in the 38th minute off of a feed from forward Eric Johnson. Less than a minute later, sophomore
fullback Nathan Sanchez found the sharp-shooting Vela who slotted it away once again. However, Madonna wasted no time responding. The Crusaders’ Daniel Watkins scored another quick brace to close out the first half.
Madonna eventually found the back of the net once more in the second half to seal the deal.
Holy Cross responded with a dominant 2-0 victory on the road against Huntington.
Freshman Daniel Alfaro made a triumphant introduction to the college game, registering a first-half brace in only his second career match. A strong 6-foot-2 forward from
Arlington Heights, Ill., Alfaro is exactly what the Saints were looking for after losing several star-studded goal scorers to graduation.
Alfaro wasn’t the only player to star against Huntington.
Senior goalkeeper Isaias Rubio made five saves en route and was named the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s (CCAC) Defensive Player of the Week.
Alfaro will be the man the Saints rely on once more as they face Oakland City. After starting the season 0-3, the Mighty Oaks picked up their first win of the year against Hannibal-LaGrange University
on Tuesday. Although their start to the season has not been glamorous, Oakland City only lost 1-0 against Judson – a typical powerhouse in the CCAC.
The Saints and Mighty Oaks don’t have an extensive history, having played each other only once. That match came last season as Holy Cross cruised to a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Juan Perez and Vela.
Led by head coach Omar Gallo, Holy Cross has a great opportunity to register an important non-conference win before their season begins to ramp up. The Saints play a total of eight games through September, including against
nearby Bethel University and Grace College.
Even with the unforgiving schedule ahead, Holy Cross is in a good position to compete for the CCAC championship, especially with the rise of Alfaro. If the Saints are able to find more contributors, especially on the offensive side of the ball, big things are on the horizon for Gallo’s team. But for now, all eyes are fixated on the job at hand.
Admission for the game on Saturday is free. Streaming can be found on hcsaints.com.
Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey2@nd.edu
ELLA MARTIN | The Observer
Sophomore midfielder Will Schroeder steps to the ball in Notre Dame’s 1-0 victory against Oregon State in Alumni Stadium on Aug. 28, 2025. Schroeder has played more than 45 minutes in all three contests so far for the Irish, and should be a key piece of their young core moving forward.
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
How many hours do you spend per week on social media?
Alex Keaty junior Keough Hall
“10.”
Ben Isleib junior Keenan Hall “14.”
Billy Bonnist senior off-campus
Liesl Erhardt sophomore Walsh Hall “Seven.”
CROSSWORD | WILL SHORTZ
Alexandria Jacob junior Walsh Hall “15.”
SOCIAL MEDIA POLL
Have an idea for a poll? Email dstangel@nd.edu
How many Zach Bryan songs do you know?
A recent poll conducted by The Observer was done via Instagram and received a total of 283 respondents. The majority of students, 50.2% with 142 votes, noted that they know between zero to two Zach Bryan songs. An additional 18.4% with 52 respondents voted that they know 15 or more songs of Zach Bryan’s. Alongside this, 17.7% of people with 50 total respondents, mentioned knowing between three to seven Zach Bryan songs. The smallest portion of respondents, 13.8% with 39 votes, noted that they know between eight to 14 Zach Bryan songs.
THE NEXT FIVE DAYS
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Friday
Meet Your Museum Tour
Raclin Murphy Museum of Art 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday
Zach Bryan concert
Notre Dame Stadium 7 p.m.
Sunday
“Every Brillant Thing” play Philbin Studio Theater 7:30 p.m.
Monday
I CAN Help training
Duncan Student Center
6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Tuesday
Belles volleyball vs. Benedictine Eagles
Angela Athletic and Wellness Complex 7 p.m.
PHOTO
MARIELLA TADDONIO │ The Observer
University of Notre Dame student body president, junior Jerry Vielhauer, throws the first pitch at the South Bend Cubs game on Thursday. The Cubs played against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, adding another two wins to their record.
Notre Dame volleyball prepares to host Illinois
By Chris Dailey Sports Writer
Notre Dame volleyball hosts Illinois at 6:30 p.m on Friday. Led by sophomore sensation Morgan Gaerte, the Irish are aiming to pick up a big nonconference win against a high caliber Illini team.
Still settling into the season, Notre Dame sits at .500 after splitting their first two games of the year. The Irish kicked things off with a gusty 3-2 win against Santa Clara. Down 14-10 and facing match point in the fifth set, Notre Dame clawed their way back into the game to pick up their first win of the year. Gaerte posted a career-high 21 kills on the night, but her final two proved most memorable. With the score knotted at 15 apiece, Gaerte delivered the final two kills to seal the Irish comeback.
Gaerte followed Aug. 29 up with another terrific performance against Villanova on Aug. 31, firing away 20 kills. Senior Lucy Trump also put together a strong performance, recording 12 kills and clipping a .550 hitting percentage. However, these brilliant individual displays were not enough for a Notre Dame victory. The Irish lost in five sets with the Wildcats outscoring Notre Dame 7-3 to close the game out.
The Irish now turn their attention to Illinois. The Illini are coming off of a successful 18-13 season, reaching their fifth NCAA tournament since head coach Chris Tamas took charge in 2017. A consistent force in the loaded Big Ten, Illinois is not too far removed from their Final Four run in 2018.
Illinois is now looking for new difference makers to pave the way for continued success, especially with the loss of program legend Raina Terry. Named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association AllAmerica Third Team at the conclusion of last season, Terry left Illinois as the program’s all-time leader in kills and service aces with 2,138 and 220, respectively. Terry’s 975 digs rank her in the top 10 in school history as well. The absence of Terry as the epitome of versatility leaves Illinois with a major void.
While Terry leaves big shoes to fill, Illinois will likely find some relief with redshirt sophomore Taylor de Boer stepping into a bigger role.
Notching a team-high 15 kills in Illinois’ season-opener against South Dakota State followed by a 17kill performance against Vanderbilt, de Boer has performed well navigating more responsibility thus far.
Similar to their opposition, Notre Dame will also rely on newer faces to step up to the plate. Freshmen Chichi Nnaji and Maya Evens have taken on pivotal roles in their first year with the Irish. Nnaji has worked herself into the outside hitter rotation, while Evens has gotten the nod by head coach Salima Rockwell at the libero position.
It’s not just the freshmen who have rose to the occasion in the first two games of the season. Junior Sydney Helmers, a transfer from Texas, is already seen as a lockerroom leader. Having won the 2023 National Championship, Helmers brings perspective, leadership and wisdom to the young Irish team. With both veterans of the game
and newcomers in the mix, Rockwell will likely utilize her typical 6-2 rotation to maximize the production of Notre Dame’s swingers. Admission for the game is free. Streaming can be found on ACCNX and ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m.
Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey2@nd.edu
Belles volleyball keeps their win streak alive
By Claire Watson Associate Sports Editor
Saint Mary’s entered Wednesday’s match at Benedictine with a 4-0 record, looking to keep their undefeated streak alive. The Belles did not disappoint in the back-and-forth game and will return to Saint Mary’s at 5-0 to play Benedictine again on Sept. 9. Benedictine started off strong and jumped out to an early lead over the Belles in the first set. The Saint Mary’s defense held Benedictine to a 0.23 hitting percentage. Nearing the middle of the set, after multiple
forced errors on Benedictine and a kill from junior middle hitter
Caroline Carens, the Belles found themselves leading 18-14. The Belles maintained their lead and took the first set 25-19. Carens led the team on the court with a total of six kills, followed by freshman setter Maddie Taitano with three.
Benedictine made it clear that they would not back away from a fight and quickly earned a 4-0 lead. With a kill, Carens put Saint Mary’s on the board 4-1, but Benedictine stormed ahead. Three more kills from Carens brought the score to 16-9 and helped Carens earn double-digit kills for
the fifth straight match. Benedictine took the second set 25-15 to even the match at 1-1.
Saint Mary’s stepped back on the gas in the third set with a strong collective effort. Benedictine tied the score early, but the Belles responded with eight straight points to leap out to a 15-8 lead. Five players finished the third set with three or more kills, including Carens, freshman outside hitter and defensive specialist Shannon Rude, senior outside and middle hitter Delaney Martin and sophomore setter Giuliana Graczyk. Junior setter Abby Reese and Graczyk also had double digit assists
to help the Belles win the third set 25-18 and lead 2-1 moving into the fourth.
The fourth set opened in a backand-forth manner with multiple lead changes that found the Belles trailing 16-11. Saint Mary’s bounced right back from the deficit and went on a huge 10-4 run to finish the set.
Kills from Rudge, Martin, Carens and others allowed the Belles to catch fire and retake the lead. Finally, two kills from Carens, a kill from Martin and a kill from Graczyk helped the Belles pull through with the fourth-set win 25-23, and match win 3-1.
Carens led the Belles with a season-high 18 kills. Rudge finished right behind with nine kills while Martin and Graczyk both contributed with five apiece. Graczyk also led the team with 24 assists while Reese added 14.
Now 5-0 on the season, the Belles will return to South Bend for their home opener and begin a three-game homestand by rounding out the two-part series against Benedictine. The game will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson7@nd.edu
SMC VOLLEYBALL
DECLAN LEE | The Observer
Sophomore outside hitter Morgan Gaerte leaps up for the kill in Notre Dame’s 3-2 loss to Villanova in the second match of the Catholic Challenge inside Purcell Pavilion on Aug. 31, 2025. Gaerte has starred so far for the Irish, powering her team with 21 and 20 kills in her first two games.
Murphy: The Notre Dame spirit needs you
By Ryan Murphy Sports Writer
I’ve been a student here long enough to know how this one goes.
Four years is not a long enough time to truly understand anything. But just trust me on this one, and listen closely if you’re a senior like me and you’ve seen this before.
Let me paint the picture. In the cool nights of August, the excitement for the Notre Dame football season builds. And it continues to build as students move back on campus. There’s a buzz.
Then the Irish suffer an early-season loss.
The excitement deflates. There’s never less energy on this campus than a day after the football team loses. Then
By Noah Cahill Sports Editor
Our journey began before the sun rose on Saturday morning. Uber was our means of transportation en route to the South Bend Airport, where we took off just after 6 a.m. The connecting flight from Charlotte required a brisk walk across the terminal upon landing, and got us to the Miami Airport before the clock struck noon. However, we would not settle into our hotel, the Comfort Suites Kendall, until 3:30 p.m.
As both of us were 20 years old, our fears about renting a car were confirmed. A stern Enterprise manager repeatedly shunned our requests, even despite the support from our wonderful travel coordinator, Debra. Resigning ourselves to a weekend of Uber trips, we arranged one to the nearest Chipotle for lunch. Conveniently, a neighboring Starbucks offered us a source of much-needed caffeine after the early wake-up and failed attempts at sleeping on the plane. Before we could order the next Uber, however, we received some good news – a rental car was available. After returning to the terminal, we filled out the necessary paperwork and left in a midsized Nissan Sentra.
The freedom of driving our own car was liberating. It allowed us to make an 18-minute trip to CAVA after recharging in the hotel. Both of us had only eaten at the popular new Mediterranean chain once back home, and it made for an exciting and delicious dinner option. A pit stop at Publix for travel-sized toothpaste was the final stop of the night before we called it a day. Tired
classes get going. Life moves on. Excitement on campus stays low and takes a long time to pick up again, if it does at all.
Does it sound familiar? It should.
In 2022, Notre Dame was ranked No. 5 and the hype of Marcus Freeman’s first year at the helm brought a week 1 loss at Ohio State. What followed? A week 2 loss to Marshall. Season over. In 2023, two throwaway wins gave way to a week 3 loss to … you guessed it, Ohio State. We should have won and we knew it. What followed? Barely scraping by Duke, and a loss at Louisville the following week. Season over.
Then, of course, there was last year. We all know what happened last year: NIU. What I think is sometimes lost about the aftermath of the
NIU loss amid the subsequent run to the national championship game is the cynicism that followed that shocking defeat. It took a long time for there to be any excitement around football again. Game day mornings on this campus were as quiet as I’ve ever experienced them. The experience in the stands could be downright dreadful, from the perpetual booing of Riley Leonard to downright indifference. The atmosphere brought no harbinger of a national championship appearance in January.
Now, here we are again. The situation feels all too familiar. An early season loss brings the feeling that yet again there is no margin for error for this Irish team.
2025, though, can be different. For starters, this team is better than the team in 2022 and 2023, even if they didn’t
FOOTBALL
show it at times at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. They also have the benefit of the 12team playoff, which keeps the door to postseason play alive despite early-season debilitating losses, as we saw last year. These are all positives.
There’s also a key difference from last year, though, that lends an increased sense of urgency to now.
Last year, despite the cynical energy on campus, the team had tuneups against Purdue and Miami (OH) to learn how to effectively insulate themselves from the noise. They had time to get themselves together and reach their full potential.
This year, no such relief exists. In two weeks’ time, the Irish will welcome Texas A&M for their home opener. And if they lose, the season is ostensibly over.
Observer on the ground: Miami
from a long day of travel with an even busier gameday awaiting, we passed on the vibrant Miami club scene for an early bedtime.
We began Sunday with our second Starbucks stop of the weekend, which required only a 500-foot walk from the hotel parking lot. Fueled by coffee and breakfast sandwiches, we tried to finish some school work before heading to Hard Rock, later realizing that it was a futile attempt. Our minds were preoccupied by the highly anticipated game that awaited that evening.
The half-hour drive to the stadium stalled behind a massive line extending out of the parking lot. Several traffic workers martialed the line a few cars at a time, providing what little direction they could to the restless drivers. Our digital parking pass read “pink lot,” but without much knowledge of the stadium’s layout, we found ourselves en route to the “blue lot” with little hope of re-routing. The wrong turn turned out to be a blessing in disguise, though. After compromising with a reluctant stadium official, we found a spot in the media lot. It was only a few strides away from the southwest gate, where credentials would be handed out at 4:30 p.m.
With time to kill, however, we turned in the opposite direction on a walk towards the yellow lot, otherwise known as the hub for a vast majority of Miami fan tailgates. We passed through a sea of green and orange with the occasional blue and gold from groups of traveling Irish faithful. Those who did not represent their school donned “Catholics vs Convicts” shirts, commemorating the renewal of one of college football’s greatest rivalries.
Some social media connections got us an invite to the Miami baseball team’s tailgate. They were not very welcoming to their guests, at least at first. Likely due to our unrecognized faces and prominently displayed Irish gear, we were viewed as the enemy and yelled at to leave. After some further clarification, our return trip was more cordial. Many of the same players vehemently defending their team quietly admitted to their closeted Notre Dame fandom and doubts about their team’s chances. After an hour of conversation about everything from thoughts on the game to life as a D1 baseball player, we returned to our parked car, and did so at the perfect time. Within seconds of getting inside, a raging storm broke out in a violent downpour. With our credentials now available, and the prospects of the storm settling looking poor, we made a beeline for the gate. Finding refuge just outside the ticketing window where media passes were being handed out, we spoke to a group of journalists and photographers who waited in line beside us, equally soaked from head to toe. Behind us was a pair of Miami student writers discussing the keys to a Hurricane victory. In front of us, a retired lawyer of 50 years now turned freelance photographer named Pat Ford handed us a business card with his contact information and a link to his online portfolio. Between rueing the terrible weather, he shared his life story, which began with taking pictures as an undergraduate at, coincidentally, the University of Notre Dame. He described a passion for photography that never left
So what does that mean for us, the student-fans? We have a better team, but a bitterly familiar situation. How can we do our part?
We have to get behind them tomorrow.
This year, there is no room for cynicism. Yes, there is plenty to criticize from Sunday’s game. There is plenty to be upset about. That’s natural, and the point is not to ignore that.
But let go of your frustration now. Do not let it linger, because in two weeks this campus will need to bring a high energy to Notre Dame Stadium.
Rest your heart, and rest your lungs, my fellow students.
The Notre Dame spirit is going to need you.
Contact Ryan Murphy at rmurph22@nd.edu
him throughout a half-century professional career and led him back to the camera after retirement. A ‘65 graduate, Ford represented an incredible 60-year gap between eras of Irish student media. His continued pursuit of the craft in his later years was inspiring.
Upon receiving our passes, we navigated the stadium concourse to an elevator that brought us to the press box. We went our separate ways from there, using two hours leading up to kickoff to grab dinner and get situated, one in front of a computer thousands of feet above the field, the other within arm’s length of the action. Like last season’s week one matchup against Texas A&M, the game was a back-and-forth thriller. Looking to be out of the game down two scores in the middle of the third quarter, the Irish rallied to tie it late in the fourth. A Miami field goal on the
following drive, however, would be the difference in the game. Notre Dame would start 2025 0-1.
After all the pictures were taken and game wraps written, we left for the hotel. Taking a detour through the McDonald’s drive-thru, we returned with food a bit before 2 a.m. for our final sleep in the Sunshine State. The next morning’s flight thankfully left us much more time than on Saturday. The connector in Charlotte required hours of waiting in the airport, which we spent eating lunch and catching up on piles of missed homework. By 7 p.m. on Monday, we were back in South Bend, marking the end of an outstanding trip. While the game did not produce our desired outcome, it will nonetheless remain a weekend to remember.
Contact Noah Cahill at ncahill2@nd.edu
KEIRA JONES | The Observer
Sophomore safety Adon Shuler leaves the field with the defense in Notre Dame’s 27-24 loss to Miami in Hard Rock Stadium on Aug. 31, 2025.
Chukwu’s hat trick lifts Irish over No. 17 Spartans
By Henry Lytle Associate Sports Editor
The Irish had a No. 5 ranking to defend on Thursday evening in East Lansing against Michigan State.
Losing 2-1 in last year’s season opener at home to snap a 13-game winning streak against the Spartans, this game was more than simply another non-conference test for the Irish. Behind a career day from sophomore forward Annabelle Chukwu, the Irish took home the victory to improve to 5-0-1 on the season.
The No. 17 Spartans had a 17-game active unbeaten streak on their home field dating back to the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Despite a sloppy start in 2025, the Spartans were 3-0-1 on home turf and 0-1-1 away from it. The Irish certainly had their work cut out slowing down the highest octane offense in the Big Ten, boasting 17 total goals and a goal differential of +10.
Entering the match, Chukwu had scored in two consecutive matches. Many could have expected her to continue the multi-game goal streak, but she went a step further in this contest with her first career hat trick. It marked her third consecutive game with a goal and lifted the Irish ahead of a regional
rival and top-20 program in the country.
The historic night began at the 26-minute mark as senior defender Leah Klenke broke past a defender from the left corner and centered an ontarget cross to Chukwu. She attacked the cross and directed a header goalbound for her first tally of the match. Notre Dame maintained their 1-0 lead into the second half when Chukwu struck again.
This time, in the 48th minute, sophomore forward Izzy Engle rifled a shot that was deflected to sophomore midfielder Grace Restovich. Turning toward her left, Restovich passed to Chuwku, who created enough separation for a clean look on goal. With no hesitation, she sank her second goal of the night into the upper 90 and gave the Irish a much more comfortable 2-0 lead with plenty of game left to play.
Just two minutes after her second goal, Chukwu found herself in the right place once again, this time on the receiving end of a corner kick from junior midfielder Morgan Roy. On the near-side post, Chukwu vaulted above the defenders and scored to extend the lead to 3-0. With her second header of the night, Chukwu capped off an unforgettable performance on the
road for her first career hat trick.
Chukwu’s feat also accompanied her first multigoal game in blue and gold. It marked the first Irish hat trick since Oct. 17, 2024, when then-freshman Ellie Hodsden scored three goals en route to a 5-2 Irish victory against California.
The Irish defense boasted another impressive shutout behind sophomore netminder Sonoma Kasica’s three-save effort for her tenth career clean sheet. This is the fourth consecutive shutout for the Irish and builds momentum for the next challenge on the road Sunday.
Marquette
The Irish will look ahead to 4-3 Marquette on Sep. 7. The team has encountered early struggles with losses to Kansas City, Minnesota and No. 21-ranked Wisconsin, but has only been shutout in one game so far. In their 2-1 loss to the Badgers and 3-4 loss to the Golden Gophers, the Golden Eagles have not backed down against strong competition this season.
The Irish will have to contain an offense averaging 1.86 goals per game on 13.6 shots per game. Leading scorer Leigh Jocelyn has added three goals for the Golden Eagles,
followed by Molly Keiper and Abby Ruhland with two apiece. On the defensive side, Hailey Wade has posted 17 saves with a .680 shot-stopping rate in front of the net. Only allowing 1.14 goals per game, Marquette will have to be virtually flawless to prevent Notre Dame from taking an early lead. The Irish will be a new test for a Marquette defense that has not posted a shutout yet this season.
Notre Dame, on the other hand, enters this game with four consecutive shutouts and an undefeated season, with their only blemish coming in a 2-2 draw on the road against No. 8 Arkansas. Behind the efforts of Engle and the captain Klenke, both of whom were named to Preseason All-ACC teams, the Irish will look to maintain the scoring barrage. Between Engle’s six goals and Chukwu’s five, the Irish forwards have been terrorizing opposing defenses, averaging 3.67 goals per game, which is among the best in the country.
Senior midfielder Laney Matriano and Restovich share the team lead for assists, with four each on the season. The duo has helped push the tempo for the Irish offense and feed the relentless forward play of Chukwu, Engle and sophomore forward Ellie Hodsden.
Kasica has also been fantastic at the goalkeeper position with an impressive .883 save rate. The Irish defense, led by Klenke, has held opponents to 0.5 goals per game on only eight shots.
In the last match before conference play, the Irish will look to make it out of Milwaukee with another win to build considerable momentum for conference competition. Beginning conference play in Raleigh against NC State, the No. 5 Irish will look to continue their strong start to the season and make another run at an ACC title.
Notre Dame has faced what has been a challenging early slate of games about as well as any Irish fan could have hoped for. Their talent from back to front makes them as dangerous as any team in the nation. The excitement heading into the season was palpable around South Bend after last season’s outstanding results. Despite facing these early tests, including multiple road games against ranked non-conference opponents, the Irish have more than lived up to the preseason hype. Their match with Marquette will kick off at 1 p.m. on Sept. 7.
Contact Henry Lytle at hlytle@nd.edu
ND WOMEN’S SOCCER
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Sophomore forward Izzy Engle strides away from the Bearcat defenders in Notre Dame’s dominant 4-0 victory against Cincinnati in Alumni Stadium on Aug. 21, 2025. The Irish are off to a 5-0-1 start to the 2025 season with multiple ranked wins, largely because of Engle’s team-high six goals, which along with her one assist, also give her the team lead in total points.