THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2026 | VOL. LX, NO. 42
Editorial: Jones-Evers is the right choice for ND
The Observer Editorial Board
With this endorsement, The Observer returns to its decades-long history of endorsing a ticket. Each year, we interview candidates and carefully deliberate who would best serve the interests of the University and its students. Two years ago, this paper made a carefully weighed decision not to issue an endorsement, citing the gross inefficacy of student government. Last year, we made an even bolder announcement when a sole ticket ran unopposed: Abstain, then abolish student government.
We stand by many of the sentiments we expressed in those editorials. Candidates promise much, and inevitably accomplish little. Students are disillusioned with student government, as demonstrated by the fact that a pitiful 899 students voted for the unopposed ticket last year, barely more than 10% of the student body.
However, the weight of The
The Observer’s Editorial Board endorses Elijah Jones and Riley Evers for student body president and vice president. This decision comes after two years of The Observer not making a formal endorsement.
Observer’s civic responsibility is one the Editorial Board takes seriously. Students this year do face a choice in the upcoming
election, and they would be wise to elect Elijah Jones and Riley Evers over Mason McCart and Luke Parikh.
Jones-Evers campaign focuses on policy
By David Murphy Associate News Editor
Elijah Jones, Judicial Council president, and Riley Evers, a student senator, are running for student body president and vice president respectively on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Last week, The Observer interviewed both
candidates on their views and goals for their positions.
Jones is a computer science major and a junior living in Alumni Hall. He has been recused from his duties as Judicial Council president so he can run for student body president. His running mate and vice presidential candidate, Evers, a sophomore
living in Pasquerilla West Hall, is a program of liberal studies (PLS) and classics major. She also serves as her dorm’s representative in the student senate.
While the two were unable to interview together due to scheduling issues, both sat down with
see “Jones” on page 3
McCart, Parikh outline plan for student government
By David Murphy Associate News Editor
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, Notre Dame students will elect new student government leaders. Per a Judicial Council email, two campaigns – the JonesEvers and McCart-Parikh tickets
NEWS | PAGE 4
New Grojean mascot
Future residents of Grojean Hall selected Penguins as the new mascot after student pitches.
– qualified for the ballot. In an interview with The Observer, Mason McCart, who is running for president, and Luke Parikh, who is running for vice president, discussed their platform ahead of the election.
McCart is a Dillon Hall junior double-majoring in marketing
OPINION | PAGE 5
Liu controversy Fr. Miscamble writes that Susan Ostermann’s recent appointment is “untenable.”
and film. His running mate, Parikh, is a sophomore finance and accounting major, also living in Dillon. The pair expressed gratitude for the vibrant community and welcoming culture of Notre Dame’s student
see “McCart” on page 3
SCENE | PAGE 6
In our interview with Jones, we were struck by his candor about the ineffectiveness of student
government, which he brought up unprompted.
“A lot of people feel like student government doesn’t do anything, and I’m going to agree with that sentiment, having been inside Student Government,” he said. What impressed us about Jones was his clear commitment to changing this.
Jones, in his interview, demonstrated insight into the inner-workings of student government and should be able to draw on his considerable experience as Judicial Council president to accomplish his goals.
In our interviews, we asked candidates to identify their top priorities. We thought the ones Jones named have a reasonable chance of being successful.
The first he listed was to reinvigorate the Campus Life Council, a relatively obscure body consisting of see “Endorsement” on page 5
Thousands attend North Quad Mass
By Chloe Hanford News Writer
Thousands of members of the tri-campus and South Bend community braved 19-degree weather gathered for Candlemas Mass at an unexpected location: an ice chapel. At 10 p.m. Monday, the newlyconsecrated St. Olaf’s Ice Chapel glowed with candlelight on the University’s North Quad. Altar servers processed an icicle cross and processional candles with stems of ice through a sea of people standing and kneeling in the snow. A conjoined choir, conducted by Kaleb Reil, sang “Lift High the Cross.”
The sacrament of Communion took over 30 minutes, and co-celebrants Fr. Greg Haake and Fr. Pete McCormick ran out of Consecrated Hosts even after dividing wafers into shards. McCormick later announced 1,600 Consecrated Hosts had been distributed, though the actual number was at least 2,000 — 1,500 consecrated at St.
| PAGE 9
Olaf’s and an additional 500 previously Consecrated Hosts from the Saint Albert the Great Chapel in Zahm Hall.
Sophomore James Burke received the very last Consecrated Host, followed by hundreds of students who missed out. Total attendance was unclear but likely numbered around 2,500. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the largest chapel at Notre Dame, seats 800.
“I’m super glad I went,” Burke said. “I was inspired both by the work that had been done building it and the University’s decision to embrace that creativity by holding Mass there tonight.”
Junior John Geitner arrived 40 minutes early, calling it a “once in a lifetime experience.” Before the Mass, some students could even be seen climbing trees for a better view, reminiscent of the biblical Zacchaeus. The idea originated with seniors Wesley Buonerba and Martin Soros, both residential assistants
see “Mass” on page 4
SPORTS | PAGE 12
O’Neill’s Miss ND Miss Holy Cross was crowned the winner of O’Neill’s signature charity event.
SPORTS
Irish top Stanford Hannah Hidalgo scores 37 points en route to an Irish victory at Stanford.
Irish 9/11 tribute
Irish fan Pat McGarry cycles across the U.S. to raise money for victims of 9/11.
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Monica Sayler Sophomore Ryan Hall “Poli Sci.”
Sarah Jones Sophomore Welsh Family Hall “Math.”
What major would you not date?
Charlotte Townsend Sophomore Ryan Hall “English.”
Esme Wickes Sophomore Welsh Family Hall “Philosophy.”
Joshua Johnson Junior Dillon Hall “Marketing.”
SOCIAL MEDIA POLL
Have
Email dstangel@nd.edu
Who are your voting for?
THE NEXT FIVE DAYS
Want
Tuesday
Baumer x Walsh Family Hall blood drive Donate blood at the bloodmobile provided by SBMF.
1 p.m.- 4 p.m. Library Circle
Wednesday
Book launch “Irish Dressers and Delph” Author Meredith Chesson discusses her new book. 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. 1050 Jenkins Nanovic Hall
Thursday
Notre Dame women’s basketball vs. Virgina Tech The Irish face off with the Hokies at home.
7 p.m. Purcell Pavillion
Friday
Notre Dame women’s lacrosse The Irish take on with the Wolverines on home turf. 7 p.m. Loftus Stadium
Saturday
“Marty Supreme” Watch Timothee Chalamet battle it out in this ping-pong epic. 6:30 p.m. Debartolo Performing Arts Center
PHOTO OF THE DAY | KEIRA JONES
Jones
Continued from page 1
The Observer to discuss their run. Jones began by explaining that he had launched his campaign with the hope of making the most of his senior year at Notre Dame.
“I know some people, when they first come in, they’re like, ‘Yes, I want to run for student body president!’” Jones said. “Mine was more that my friends encouraged me to run, and said that they thought that I was the most qualified to be able to help as many Notre Dame students as possible in a one-year term.”
In her interview, Evers said Jones’s decision to select her as his running mate came as a surprise, but she described it as an exciting honor, feeling that their unique backgrounds made for an especially strong ticket.
“We have similar goals and policy ideas, but we’re different people … so that makes our partnership important,” she said. “We live on opposite sides of campus, major in pretty
McCart
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body, which they considered key motivations for their presidential run.
“Coming to Notre Dame, [student government] was something that I really wanted to get involved with, but I wasn’t quite sure, because it was a very big and important role,” Parikh said. “But before 2025, I made up my mind … and I agreed to be [McCart’s] running mate. The people make a place, and the people at Notre Dame are the best there are, and I want to just be able to serve them to the best of my ability and with whatever capacity I can.”
Although the two have not served in any elected positions, both McCart and Parikh have experience in the executive cabinet of student government. McCart has served as co-director of university policy and director of student life, while Parikh has worked as a committee member for the departments of communication and student life. McCart, who leads the ticket, considers this an essential criterion for student body president.
“I would say being the department director, you’re able to see a lot and figure out what areas really need to be improved,” he said.
Parikh added that the relationships the pair built up during their time in the executive cabinet were also crucial qualifiers, claiming these connections would allow them to communicate effectively with administrators.
“In terms of feasibility, we’ve already built relationships with higher-up administrators. We even met with Fr. Jerry [Ollinger, vice president for student affairs] and the director of student affairs,” Parikh said. “So in terms of feasibility, I feel like what gives us a strength with our executive cabinet background is we know what can get passed.”
After announcing their run on
opposite fields and are involved in different organizations. It’s a chance for us to represent the overarching best interests of the campus.”
Jones emphasized that while he and Evers did not advocate for any structural changes to student government and its various departments, they planned to break from prior administrations by taking a “policy-driven” approach if elected.
“One of the things that I am actually running on is the fact that a lot of people feel like student government doesn’t do anything,” Jones said. “I’m going to agree with that sentiment, having been inside student government. So the way to change that, I guess, is to actually start passing policy.”
The Jones-Evers campaign released an extensive policy platform document, available on their Instagram bio. While much of the document reaffirms existing policies, it also includes new policy proposals, such as working with campus dining to improve the cleanliness of dining hall utensils and making it easier for students to
Instagram, the McCart-Parikh campaign revealed a list of their policies and initiatives, running on a platform of “Quality and Accessibility,” describing themselves as largely in continuity with the Vielhauer administration.
“I don’t think that there’s a specific agenda that we’re building off of, or that we’re establishing ourselves. I think that our goal is to help the student body. I think that can be interpreted however you want,” McCart said. “But we’re here to represent every single student, and we’re here to provide equitable resources for everyone.”
Among other policies, the McCart-Parikh policy platform included proposals to improve residential hall living conditions, implement a healthy snack subscription and establish free coffee in academic buildings. A new initiative the pair hope to establish during their time in office is a weekly office hour system. These would take place for three weeks each month and would be followed by a monthly town hall. McCart said this would help address what he considers a misperception – that the student government doesn’t get anything done.
“What would happen is all three of us would come together with the directors of the executive cabinet … We’d invite The Observer, as well as other media outlets,” Parikh said. “It’s going to be open to the public so that people can hear and understand what we’re going through and what we’re doing.”
Beyond designating office hours, the McCart-Parikh ticket also intends to implement a mobile thrift store and provide free off-campus transportation to South Bend for Notre Dame students.
While McCart did not dive into specifics, he said that the mobile thrift store would be based on apps like Depop, which allow users to buy and sell fashion items, and that the logistics for a free
run for positions like student body president.
“We want to lower [the petition requirements] to 500 because we are of the opinion that it is way too hard to run for student body president. Last year … there was only one ticket that could even get on the ballot,” Jones said. “We believe that 500 is a fair enough number to show that you care enough to get those signatures, but it’s also not impossible.”
Another component of the JonesEvers policy platform is club promotion. Jones expressed disagreement with the Student Activities Office’s approach to clubs, considering it too strict. The pair hope to change this by lowering club signature requirements and by redirecting a larger share of student government allocations toward club funding.
“We want clubs and organizations to be more accessible to all students. Finances shouldn’t be a barrier against students exploring their interests and passions,” Evers said. “We want to promote these clubs as best we can – after all, there are around 500 student clubs.
off-campus transportation plan would have to be worked out with the University.
“I don’t know if [student government] would be able to fund wholesale service … that’s a pretty heavy task. For feasibility purposes, going through the University would definitely be the most proper route – within our budget, it’s pretty limited,” Parikh said. “But the goal would be … to get money from endowments or other funds, from the University itself, rather than from the students or from student government.”
Regarding Notre Dame’s Catholic identity, the pair emphasized their intention to build on student government’s strong commitment to faith while also fostering an inclusive environment for non-Catholic members of the campus community.
“The department of faith has been doing a great job with the majority of the policies impacting and helping the campus Catholic identity,” McCart said. “We want to increase initiatives in that area, but it’s also a department of faith. There are other faiths out there … so our goal would be to try and foster inclusivity in the environment for those people and to hear them out as well. 80% of this campus is Catholic, and that’s the majority. We want to make sure everyone feels seen and heard within that 80% while helping the other 20%.”
Ultimately, the pair framed their passion and dedication to Notre Dame as the focal point of their campaign.
“I think that’s very important as student representatives that we are as involved as possible in every single thing,” McCart said. “I think that Luke and I are really dedicated to the school. We’re really happy to be here. It’s just an honor to even be considered for the role.”
Contact David Murphy at dmurph23@nd.edu
That’s something to be proud of and celebrated.”
When asked how he would get the Notre Dame administration and student senate on board with his policies, Jones said that he planned to leverage his “working relationship” with figures within the University departments. As for the senate, Evers hoped their administration could leverage the vice president’s agenda-setting powers and maintain a healthy relationship with the body’s representatives.
“I’ve been Pasquerilla West’s senator since last April, so I’m very familiar with the senate and its operations,” Evers said. “I think the most important thing I’ve realized is that encouraging senators to voice their opinions and do so excitedly and firmly is the best way to get results for everyone … I’d be more than happy to work with senators who have different views and ideas – then we’d get the chance to compromise and represent the student body as best we can.”
When it came to promoting faith on campus, Jones felt it was
essential to highlight Notre Dame’s Catholic identity, citing his role leading prayer in the senate. He also acknowledged, however, the importance of representing Notre Dame’s non-Catholic community.
“Our official stance is that we are going to uphold the Catholic mission of the university … so I want to encourage people to express their Christian faith,” Jones said. “But we also want to welcome people of different faith backgrounds … meaning that even if you’re not Catholic, you still have a voice in this administration.”
Overall, Jones framed their campaign as one that could appeal to all Notre Dame students.
“We’re the ticket that is going to fight to make sure that every student’s voice is heard,” Jones said. “I would say we have the policy platform that would help the most Notre Dame students … and so if you read over it again, you’ll find that there’s something for you in there too.”
Contact David Murphy at dmurph23@nd.edu
Transfers face housing shortage
By Sophie Hanawalt and Claire Trowbridge Notre Dame News Editor and News Writer
At the beginning of the 202425 school year, at least 55 transfer students were unable to receive a housing placement through the University. The opening of Graham Family Hall meant that male transfers could fill newlyopened slots, leaving female transfer students disproportionately affected by the shortage of housing for all transfers. This year, 15 new female transfer students were in the same position. The opening of Grojean Hall next fall means this will likely be the last class of transfers to lack adequate housing.
Dan Rohmiller, the director of Residential Life for Housing Operations, shared that midway through the semester, some of these 15 transfers on the waitlist were able to move into residence halls.
“Only a handful of students were unable to accept a space in the fall or otherwise declined to move on-campus,” he wrote in a statement to The Observer.
One student who accepted one of these mid-semester spots is sophomore Grace Vecchi, who transferred from Texas Christian University this fall. Vecchi originally moved into The Foundry before accepting a housing spot off the waitlist in late September and now lives in a double with a junior in Flaherty Hall.
She explained that upon her acceptance to Notre Dame, she and the other transfer students were told by Residential Life that unless they were close to the top of the waitlist, they should make arrangements for off-campus housing. She believes she held the
lowest spot on the waitlist. Housing is not guaranteed for transfer students, who instead apply for housing from a waitlist. They are then entered into a lottery for the available on-campus housing spots. Vecchi noted that herself and many of the other transfer students in similar situations had to sign year-long or half-year leases for offcampus housing before they heard back regarding the wait list.
After Vecchi was offered a spot, she continued to pay her lease even while accepting the spot and moving to Flaherty. She paid roughly double for housing last semester. She said she was ultimately able to “settle a deal” with The Foundry, and her roommate from the apartment moved into a single unit for this semester.
She believes that most of the other students who took the University’s housing offers were paying double for housing as well.
“I think it’s just such a big part of Notre Dame, everyone is meeting people in the housing. And I definitely think it was very isolating when most people who are off-campus are seniors, so they’re off-campus with their friends,“ Vecchi said. “A lot of times, it was really hard to meet people because you’re only on campus for class, it’s harder to integrate into the community, I felt like.”
“People stress how big of a deal like dorm life is here,” she continued. ”So it’s just one of those things that kind of, I felt [it] would complete the experience of transferring here.”
For the spring semester, housing was offered to all of the remaining transfer students living off-campus. Rohmiller did not clarify how many offers were extended, but three students accepted the opportunity to live on campus. see “Housing” on page 4
Grojean Hall tabs Penguins for mascot
By Gray Nocjar Managing Editor
The incoming residents of brandnew Therese Mary Grojean Hall will call themselves the Penguins next academic year after concluding with 20 ”Shark Tank“-inspired pitches for prospective mascots in a twohour hall government meeting last Tuesday.
Howard Hall’s executive board hosted the event in “The Pond,” a communal space alluding to the dorm’s own mascot, the Ducks. Howard Hall rector Anna Kenny presided over the meeting and presented two of her own options: Puffins and Foxes.
The name-picking process is the first of a few student-chosen elements of Grojean Hall’s identity. A new crest, hall colors and motto will add to that identity in coming weeks.
The new community will include most non-senior Howard Hall residents, who had their building retired as an undergraduate dormitory by Residential Life on Nov. 19 last year. The new hall also has room for upwards of 120 other women who request a transfer from their current residence.
The pitches operated on a two-minute time limit, and presenters were encouraged to explain how their name would impact
aspects of life and culture in the new dorm. Signature hall events, color schemes, mottos, merchandise and even hand signals accompanied the names.
Speakers prepared PowerPoints and staged dramatic walk-ins. For the Grojean Gold, the eventual runner-up, sophomore Taryn Wilson and five other Howard residents came in blasting “Gold Digger” by Kanye West.
Wilson and sophomore Megan Ebinger also pitched the Penguins in the winning presentation, which was the first pitch of the night.
“Resilience, affection, loyalty: all words commonly used to describe penguins; all qualities I think of when I picture the residents of Howard Hall, our soon to be Grojean community,” Wilson said in her opening statement.
The presenters argued the name embodied the strength to overcome finals and winters at Notre Dame.
They proposed a hall-wide field trip to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago to see real penguins, replacing Howard’s trip to watch ducks around Lake Michigan.
“We are not erasing the Ducks,” Wilson said. “We are simply turning the page. We owe it to the new members of the Grojean community, and to ourselves, to let Grojean have its own legacy; its own heartbeat. Let
us not be the dorm that used to be Howard. Let us be Grojean. Roll Guins.”
The two proposed a big-little mentoring event that involved giving rocks to incoming residents, a practice male penguins do for female penguins. Their slides included merchandise mock-ups and multiple examples of Penguins in popular culture, featuring the four penguins in the animated movie series “Madagascar.”
After learning her proposed name had been chosen to represent the new Grojean community, Wilson commented on the team’s level of preparation. “We took it very seriously, rehearsing pretty extensively beforehand,” she said.
Pitches for Glove Compartments by Ellie Kingston and Flat Earthers by Kaitlin Ryan were among monikers that drew cheers and applause from the audience, but did not succeed in voting.
“We need a mascot that obliterates the mold,” Kingston said in her presentation.
“Who’s to say, the world doesn’t end just after the construction site,” Ryan said in her own. “The flat earthers aren’t claiming to be right, they’re claiming to be Grojean.”
Later, the two seniors reflected on the seriousness of their proposals.
“We each assigned each others’
topics,” Kingston said. “We were competing to see who would get more votes, and she gave me more competition than I wanted.”
Students from other women’s dorms who filed to transfer into Grojean Hall next semester joined Howard residents in selecting the new mascot. Some transfer students offered up their own names, such as senior Bernice Antoine, who gave the final presentation of the evening, advocating for “Sharks.”
An initial round of voting immediately followed the meeting, culling the number of available names from 20 to four: Penguins, Ducks, The Grojean Gold (Lighting Bolts) and Jaguars.
A second round of voting eliminated the Jaguars and the Ducks, denying the Howard mascot a chance to follow its residents to the new dorm. On Sunday, a narrow 51.5% of the 130 voters chose Penguins over Gold.
“The new mascot is an opportunity for not only Howard residents, but transfer students and first-year students to leave their own legacy, and come into Grojean as one community,” Wilson said.
Contact Gray Nocjar at gnocjar@nd.edu
Holy Cross reports student accosted
Observer Staff Report
Over the weekend, Holy Cross College reported an incident in which one of their students was approached by two masked individuals, a situation necessitating investigation by the South Bend Police Department, according to an email sent to Saint Mary’s students by Campus Safety. As of Monday evening, no email regarding the incident had been sent to students at Notre Dame.
“Holy Cross College has reported
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in Coyle Hall, decided to try their hands at building with snow and ice after seeing the success of another Coyle resident, sophomore Liam Devine, who built an igloo.
Soros is a civil engineering major while Buonerba is an architecture student and a sacristan in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Both are students of theology.
Soros estimates they spent well over 50 hours building the chapel. They began by making bricks by layering snow and water in recycling bins. Then, they used a car hood from Coyle’s signature car smash fundraiser to form arches with the bricks.
“A lot of it has been very experimental,” Soros said, explaining they tried many methods to create the chapel’s colorful stained-glass windows and icicle cross adornments. Students across the tri-campus
that one of their students was accosted by two masked males on the public trail at Angela and Riverside Dr over the weekend. The student was able to escape and the event is under investigation by South Bend Police,” the email read.
Because the incident occurred on a public trail, the Campus Safety and Security Department at Holy Cross does not have jurisdiction over the investigation and therefore may not officially record the criminal offense within the U.S. Department of Education Campus
community joined them nightly to support the building process. They kept their hands warm by alternating latex gloves and waterproof gloves, though Buonerba reported reaching what he called “a state of equilibrium with nature” after a while.
Soros and Buonerba decided to organize a Mass in the chapel as an evangelization opportunity.
Buonerba was inspired after attending Mass in a field during World Youth Day Lisbon 2023, where he said, “It felt like it was you and Christ alone, even though you’re surrounded by one and a half million other young people from around the world.”
“The mission is just to bring people together,” Soros said. “I think a big idea for us too is to bring people to mass who don’t usually go, which for us is super important, you know, reaching out and spreading the love and mercy of Jesus.”
McCormick, director of Campus Ministry and Haake, a priest-inresidence for Coyle Hall, were both
Safety and Security (CSS) crime logs. Holy Cross recorded zero offenses, other than drug and liquor law violations and one burglary, in their crime logs from 2021 to 2024, according to CSS and their 2025 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.
In the email to Saint Mary’s students, director of campus safety Phil Bambenek described the location of the incident as “significantly away from campus and not heavily used by students in general.” Still, Bambenek encouraged
invited to celebrate the Mass.
“We checked with the diocesan regulations to make sure everything was appropriate and in keeping with Church guidelines, and there were no issues,” McCormick said. “The Church has a long history of celebrating the sacraments in a wide range of settings, as long as the essential elements are respected.”
Prior to the ice chapel, McCormick once celebrated Mass on the hood of a Jeep in East Africa, which he said was “unforgettable and warmer.”
During the Homily, McCormick said, “After I’ve given this homily espousing the greatness of the faithfulness of Mary, the only fitting conclusion is that we sing “Notre Dame, Our Mother.” The crowd locked arms to sway and sing Notre Dame’s alma mater. The Mass concluded with the song, “O God Beyond all Praising.”
When asked about his feelings about the ice chapel melting as temperatures warm, Buonerba did not think negatively about it.
Housing
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Housing spots often open in the spring as more students leave to study abroad.
Sophomore Allison Pessôa accepted one of these spots after living in The Foundry for all of first semester.
Two days after Pessôa, who transferred from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, signed her lease, she was offered on-campus housing. She elected to remain at the Foundry due to receiving the housing offer on such short notice.
Rohmiller confirmed that Residential Life anticipates the opening of Grojean Hall will address the bed shortage for future cohorts of transfer women. Their experiences will be similar to that of Lilly Post, a spring semester transfer who was able to move into Walsh Hall immediately. Post, a sophomore, characterized her experience as smoother than expected and attributed much of it to being placed into Walsh.
“I talked to other transfers who are placed on campus, and I think they have a little bit of a slower start than I’ve had. Walsh being such a small dorm and getting the random roommate experience has been really helpful. I think transferring in second semester is definitely unconventional, and I found it to be a little bit more challenging, assimilating so quickly, but I think the girls in Walsh have been hugely helpful,” Post said.
students to “maintain situational awareness.”
In the email, Bambenek urged students to have a safety plan in mind for running or walking on and off campus, including but not limited to going with a group, wearing brightly colored and reflective clothing, carrying their cell phone and running or walking in heavily traveled areas.
The Campus Safety and Security Department at Holy Cross did not reply to a request for comment.
“Memento mori. This too shall pass, and that's okay,” he said.
But those sad to see the chapel go need not worry. Sophomore Jonah Blay, who assisted Devine in building the igloo’s roof, shared that Coyle is considering adding an ice village commissioner to its hall leadership team.
“The world we’re in right now is becoming really cold, and we’ve experienced that a lot in a very intimate way this past week, on some of these mornings. But I think we should learn to change our focus,” Buonerba said. “You can focus on the biting wind, the piercing cold, the frostbite, the wet hands, or you can focus on what you can do with the snow, what you can do with the water, what you can have fun with in your community, and what you can build out of that coldness and what joy that can bring.”
Contact Chloe Hanford at chanford@nd.edu
Her transition wasn’t entirely without anxiety, though. Post was notified about her housing situation a week before she was set to move in. Due to this condensed timeline, she believes the transfer process can be intimidating and a hassle for transfer students.
It is unclear whether on-campus housing will officially become guaranteed for transfer students next year, or if Residential Life just anticipates the problem to ease with Grojean’s opening.
Transfer students who didn’t immediately receive a placement were offered to participate in Residential Life’s Hall Connections program, through which they were placed with a partner dorm and invited to attend events at that dorm.
“The Hall Connections program seems to have been well-received; students reported feeling more connected to campus and their assigned hall community as a result of the Connections program,” Rohmiller wrote.
While Vecchi hoped to participate in this program, she said she ultimately did not receive much communication from the hall she was paired with. She noted that since the off-campus transfers were split between dorms for the program, it was hard to integrate.
This is an abbreviated version of this story. The full version can be read online at ndsmcobserver.com.
Contact Sophie Hanawalt at shanawal@nd.edu and Claire Trowbridge at atrowbr2@nd.edu
LETTER
TO THE EDITOR
Ostermann’s appointment is untenable
The dissimulation evident in the comments of Prof. Susan Ostermann quoted in The Observer, Jan. 30, gives new meaning to the phrase “Paris is well worth a Mass.” Her clever efforts to avoid addressing her strident proabortion advocacy can only be described as outright evasion.
In an effort to create an atmosphere of “mutual respect,” which she promises, one might ask if Prof. Ostermann is prepared to retract her view that the prolife movement is associated with white supremacy. Does she still believe that crisis pregnancy centers — like our own Women’s Care Center — are propaganda fronts which mislead vulnerable women? Is she still of the view that easy access to abortion is an essential component of integral human development — supposedly the guiding principle of the Keough School? Is she willing to publicly disassociate herself from the disastrous human rights abuses and violations of the Population Council for which she served as a consultant?
The answer to these questions thus far is no, and that
Endorsement
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representatives from student government, faculty, the Office of Student Affairs and rectors. According to Jones, the body has not passed a single resolution in two years. If elected, Jones would automatically become chair of the council, and we have trust that he would utilize his role to push the body to act.
Jones’ second priority, similar to his first, was to ensure the student senate regularly had a substantive agenda.
“There are a lot of weeks where we do not do anything in senate. The agenda is very empty. The agenda could have stuff,” Jones said.
Notre Dame’s student senate approaches the ineptitude of the U.S. Congress in passing legislation. In some ways, it exceeds it, passing a paltry nine orders this academic year. Three were suspensions of events, elections or other legislation. Several others were minor revisions, updates or suspensions to internal student government rules. On its “Meetings and Minutes” webpage, the student senate has not posted any meeting minutes for this academic year. In several recent senate meetings, the body has had an empty agenda and dismissed mere minutes
is why Susan Ostermann’s appointment to head the Liu Institute is untenable at a Catholic university like Notre Dame. Further, the
after convening.
Notre Dame students deserve better. Evers, as vice president, will have the power to set the agenda for senate, and we have hope that she will use that power well.
The priorities Jones named were largely structural and will serve to enable the rest of his policy platform, which we found more realistic than the one offered by McCart and Parikh.
More tangible proposals by Jones and Evers include pushing the Student Activities Office to reduce regulations on clubs and make club formation more attainable and re-allocating $30,000 from the $100,000 annual internal student government budget to clubs through the established Club Coordination Council.
“[Clubs] already have to charge high dues and do session stands and stuff. So let’s spend less money for student government and give that money back to clubs,” Jones told us.
We think these priorities are reasonable. Importantly, we also believe that they are achievable. Convincing SAO to ease bureaucratic club requirements may not be easy, but it isn’t inconceivable. And reallocating student government funding is certainly within the power of student government.
The reallocation, we ought to say, wouldn’t be
lack of judgment as well as the failure to uphold Notre Dame’s Catholic mission demonstrated by those responsible for this disgraceful
transformative. Clubs already receive $300,000 a year from the CCC, so the funding increase would be a modest one. But we think a modest proposal that is achieved is more meaningful than an ambitious one that is doomed from the start.
It is primarily for this reason that we endorse Jones and Evers over the other ticket in this election.
In our interview with McCart and Parikh, we found the duo charismatic and energetic, but were disappointed when we asked more probing questions about their proposed policies.
McCart and Parikh have touted several ambitious proposals. One listed prominently on their platform is to establish free off-campus transportation to major South Bend destinations by “extend[ing] Transpo route to highest student demanded South Bend destinations (SBN, Downtown, Target, Strikes and Spares, Four Winds Field, etc.).”
However, there are already direct Transpo routes from Notre Dame to Target, downtown South Bend and Four Winds Field. With one transfer, you can also get to the other two destinations.
Asked whether either of them had ridden Transpo, McCart said he had not. Parikh said he had ridden from Holy Cross College to Notre Dame, but not
appointment must raise serious questions about their own suitability for the positions they presently occupy.
to any location in South Bend. Regular Transpo riders know that what they promise largely already exists.
More worrying than their lack of familiarity with Transpo routes, however, is their proposal to permit only students on Transpo buses, with identity verified by student ID. Transpo is the South Bend public transit system, funded by and for South Bend residents. Student government does not have the authority to exclude South Bend residents from city buses. Student government, moreover, should strive to improve the relationship between Notre Dame and South Bend. This proposal would worsen it.
Another ambitious proposal likely to catch the attention of voters is their pitch to “place high-quality coffee machines in every academic building for students to enjoy for free” with “single-use coffee pods to ensure easy clean up.” Such a program would be incredibly costly for student government to run and would strain its budget.
Convincing the University to pay for the program is unlikely, especially as Notre Dame is instituting budget cuts. Relatedly, their proposed snack delivery subscription service seemed to have major logistical challenges, and a number of their other ideas seemed infeasible or lacking in planning.
McCart and Parikh are both affable and charming speakers. McCart said they wanted to be “mayors of the University.” They would be well-suited for the ceremonial aspects of the office.
This Editorial Board, however, does not care for politicians promising more than they can deliver, which is what we believe McCart and Parikh are doing. Constituents who place their hope in such leaders are inevitably disappointed.
That is not to say the Jones-Evers platform is perfect. It consists of much letter writing, continuing of preexisting initiatives and events and increasing awareness of various programs and causes. But critically, it recognizes the limitations of student government, which does not have the power or the budget to radically transform life on campus. We appreciate Jones’ and Evers’ realism about what can be accomplished.
Students shouldn’t expect their lives to be dramatically better after a year of Jones-Evers leadership. But Jones and Evers aren’t promising that. A vote for them is a vote for a ticket that makes modest promises and has the capacity to deliver on them. It is a vote for competence and steady governance.
We encourage you to support Jones and Evers in the election on Wednesday.
Fr. Bill Miscamble Holy Cross Priest and Professor Emeritus of History Jan. 30, 2026
SOFIA CRIMIVAROLI | The Observer
‘Miss Holy Cross’ crowned ‘Miss ND’
By Ainslie McKenna and Matthew Morin Scene Writer and News Writer
On a cold Thursday night, in a sold-out Washington Hall, 17 girls fought for the chance to hold the coveted title of “Miss ND.”
“Miss Holy Cross,” freshman Naomi O’Connor, ultimately won the crown.
O’Connor is, however, not a student at Holy Cross College, but a resident of Badin Hall. She was chosen as Holy Cross’ entry into the competition since the College did not present a contestant, O’Connor told The Observer.
O’Neill Family Hall hosted the annual pageant, bringing the Notre Dame community together for a night of laughter, talent, beauty and charity.
Miss Notre Dame contributes to the Jubilee Initiative for Financial Inclusion, an organization created and run by students of the University and Saint Mary’s College to provide financial education programs and short-term loans to South Bend community members. The pageant also held a live auction for the Center for the Homeless, with a signed football from current members of the Notre Dame football team.
As the pageant began, O’Neill residents prepared a walkout video for the hosts, junior Ristian David and sophomore Timothy Katz. Sixteen contestants were present with representatives from nearly every women’s dorm as well
as Holy Cross College and the Undergraduate Community at Fischer. This year’s contest was judged by four members of the Notre Dame football team: sophomore CJ Carr, freshman Elijah Burress, freshman Nolan James Jr. and junior Aneyas Williams.
“I was definitely nervous,” Katz said of being asked to lead the show. “We had some impressive judges, but we had a great time.”
Each contestant then presented her unique talent. Before, during and after each performance, the crowd – especially contestants’ fellow residents – would whoop and holler, bringing unmatched energy to the theater. Miss Breen-Phillips was first to go, sharing her rankings of various football players as girls, which got more than a couple laughs from the judges. Miss Badin followed her up with an impressive display of strength, deadlifting and squatting members of the audience. The judges offered a cheeky response to her act, saying she was probably stronger than their kicking squad – a harsh dig at certain shortcomings during the previous football season. Miss Cavanaugh brought her trendy gloving skills to stage, followed by Miss Farley’s recitation of the presidents, offering a little shout-out to O’Neill’s president, Aidan “Bitsy” Flynn.
To break up the acts, each section within O’Neill Hall made skits to present to the crowd, to ultimately vote on
the best one. Section 4B offered those with rotted brains a much-needed Instagram Reels break, and 3B made a clever parody to the song, “God’s Plan,” entitled “Mob’s Plan.”
The acts then continued, with Miss Fischer performing a humorous singing routine, followed with Miss Flaherty’s rendition of “Never Enough” from “The Greatest Showman.” Miss Holy Cross performed an acrobatic comedy act featuring skilled harmonica playing, which had judges and the audience roaring with laughter. Miss Johnson Family presented a banana themed standup and pre-recorded dance act.
Sections 2A and 2B showed their skits, then Miss Lewis performed a song on the spoons, Miss Lyons brought the house down with “Before He Cheats,” Miss McGlinn fiddled a familiar ND favorite, “Rattlin’ Bog,” and Miss Pasquerilla West brought us Sabrina Carpenter with a spot on impression: towel, dress, boots and all.
Closing out the skits was 1A and reigning champ 4A. Miss Ryan gave riveting recorder renditions of the Notre Dame Fight Song and “FE!N,” and Miss Walsh brought back the 2016 vibes with a Just Dance performance. Miss Welsh Family showed off her moves with not one, but two costume quick-changes involving animal onesies. Miss Pasquerilla East helped two audience members find love on her personal dating show, and Miss
Howard closed out the acts with a “Chubby Bunny” challenge, shoving as many marshmallows as she could into her mouth.
Using location tagged QR codes, audience members voted for their favorite acts, and the top five would move on to round two. During voting, the hosts shared that all ticket proceeds would support the local charity, JIFFI, and they auctioned off a signed football, with proceeds going to the South Bend Center for the homeless.
Then, the top five acts were announced to move on: Miss Pasquerilla East, Miss Holy Cross, Miss Breen-Phillips, Miss Walsh and Miss Lyons. The judges then had their chance to ask the girls questions directly. Questions varied from “What’s one secret talent your parents don’t know about?” to “If Notre Dame was a person at a party, what would they be doing?” The girls took the opportunity to crack jokes, both about themselves and about Notre Dame party culture (many saying they think Notre Dame would be on Canvas at the party).
While the judges deliberated amongst themselves, 3B’s “Mob’s Plan” skit took home the title of best skit. At last, a decision was made. All seventeen contestants came back out on stage, and the hosts revealed the winner of 2026 Miss ND: Miss Holy Cross. However, it was soon revealed that she was not in fact from Holy Cross College, nor has
she ever stepped foot there, but rather she herself is a Badin Hall resident, proudly representing the Saints when they had no one registered to represent them.
“We have a lot of friends in O’Neill. They were like, ‘Can you do it?’ and … I like to stand up for people who don’t have anyone to stand up for them,” she joked.
She received her crown and sash, and gratefully accepted the title of Miss ND. Her joy was palpable, especially to the judges. In her acceptance speech, O’Connor, speaking to her fellow contestants, said, “You guys are all so funny and talented. I love you all.”
“I liked … Miss Holy Cross’ speech at the end when she won,” Carr said. “I thought she did a great job. We really liked her dances and her jokes and it was good to see her accept the award.”
O’Connor shared how she felt about the win and what she gained from the experience.
“It feels great. Really, if you told me last week, I’d be Miss Notre Dame, I probably wouldn’t have believed you since I wouldn’t have known I was participating, yet here I am. So, it’s really an honor, and I met a lot of nice girls,” O’Connor stated. She revealed she was thinking about her homework the whole time, but the win was worth the time commitment.
Contact Ainslie McKenna at amckenn6@nd.edu and Matthew Morin at mmorin2@nd.edu
Is it appropriate for a Notre Dame student to …
By Allison Abplanalp Scene Writer
… Give your Notre Dame intro?
No. Your dorm, major and hometown should be on a need-to-know basis. Knowledge of your name is a privilege, not a right. There is no reason someone should be so eager to collect so much information about you. Identity theft impacts 9% of the U.S. population and is one of the leading causes of loss of identity, behind midlife crises. Notre Dame students should keep their cards close to their chests.
… Go to another dorm’s SYR?
No, it is not appropriate. The second we have too much intermingling between dorms, the entire dorm system falls apart. Going to another dorm’s SYR wastes time you should be spending supporting your own dorm culture. I only want Flaherty diehards at my SYR. Seeing non-Flaherty residents at Flaherty SYR is like seeing Harvey Weinstein at a #MeToo march; you know their heart isn’t in it.
… Use Okta Verify?
It is never appropriate to use Okta Verify. How are you, an ND student, going to let an app determine if you are who you say you are? One time, I was signing into a desktop in Hesburgh Library, and it required two-factor authentication. I said, “Absolutely not.” There is only one factor that counts: Me. No multifactor authentication can verify if you’re living your truth; it must come from within.
… Live on Mod Quad?
Living on Mod Quad is not appropriate. Mod Quad is essentially two half-quads enclosed by the architectural ventures of Hesburgh Library and the Stepan Center. The sidewalk always smells like detergent, and it is perpetually getting mogged by East Quad. Given that it is possible to transfer halls, living on Mod Quad is not appropriate.
… Go to the LaFun Taco Bell sober when the sun is out?
No, it’s not appropriate. LaFun Taco Bell is hallowed ground, only
to be transcended upon in the depths of the night as the clock nears 2 a.m. Ordering from Taco Bell in the daylight is like going to Dunnegle as a senior; the appropriate time has passed. You must let go and move on.
… Have a minor?
It is not appropriate for a Notre Dame student to have a minor. Having a minor suggests you only half know the subject. It immediately makes you inferior to everyone majoring in it. I used to be a theology minor, but then I realized this was a waste of time. Why was I going to squander 15 credit hours to only get halfway through the Bible? So I dropped it, and I picked up a third major in history instead.
… Get Grab & Go?
Grab & Go is not appropriate. The Grab & Go system resembles food rations, which were supposed to have ended in the United States after World War II. Grab & Go is a disgrace to your meal swipes. I haven’t seen such a terrible return on investment since Notre Dame introduced the gender studies
major. It is embarrassing for a Notre Dame student to be so economically taken advantage of.
… Buy eggs at the Huddle?
No. The Huddle is not meant for buying eggs. It’s taboo to purchase anything that is cooked on a stove or oven from the Huddle. With SIBC tryouts occurring, no ND student should have the time to cook anyway. Huddle eggs are also a bad investment. Save that money by stealing eggs from the dining hall omelet station and invest in the stock market using the buy low, sell high method. Tuition is expensive; Notre Dame students need to be thrifty.
… Read The Observer?
Never. Reading a newspaper written by your peers lets them know that you think their ideas matter. You should never partake in such inflation of the writing staff’s egos. It’s also dangerous to let us Observer writers get in your head. The second you read our articles, we’ve infiltrated your mind. I know this to be true. As a
columnist, I am constantly subtly coercing my readers into doing my bidding.
… Have a boy-girl party?
It is not appropriate to have a boy-girl party. Many of our students hail from all-boys and allgirls high schools, and we continue to foster a homosocial community through the dorm system. Hosting such parties could allow men to learn how to talk to women, threatening the social foundations of this school.
… Get picked up at Main Circle?
No. To get picked up at Main Circle is to bow in submission to your driver. It shows you’re willing to accommodate someone else. As a Notre Dame student, your time is valuable. Drivers should arrive at your doorstep. Main Circle is also extremely public. It lets people know your next move. Notre Dame students should be stealthier than this. Perhaps opt for the tunnels.
Contact Allison Abplanalp at aabplana@nd.edu
HUMOR
Igloo Mass
Photo Credit: Declan Lee and Jonathan Karr
“Candlemas at St. Olaf’s Chapel” by Coyle Hall on North Quad. Over 1,600 attended the outdoor mass, with special altar permissions from the bishop.
The ND Ballet Club shines in inaugural showcase
By Ainslie McKenna Scene Writer
On January 31, the Notre Dame Ballet Club put on their first showcase in the club’s history. Founded in 2021, the Ballet Club practices twice a week and has occasionally performed with the Notre Dame Dance Company in larger performances. However, this past weekend marked the first time they organized and performed a show independently. The club is entirely student-run, meaning it was up to just a few undergraduate ballerinas to coordinate with Washington Hall to set up performance and practice dates as well as schedule with various rehearsal spaces around campus to accommodate their modest troupe.
The showcase, a brief 45-minute recital titled “A Fairy Garden,” presented excerpts from classical ballets featuring fairies. The large group opening number was “Les Sylphides,” followed by solos from ballets such as “Sleeping Beauty,” “Don Quixote,” and, of course, the classic “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy” from “The Nutcracker.”
The dancers captivated the audience with their impressive displays of control — all of them performing on pointe. Highlights of the evening included the larger group numbers, such as “Les Sylphides”, whose movements set the tone for the show: classical beauty, peace and elegance — a welcome sight in an era of the more commonly seen modern, lyrical
dances. The ballerinas moved in sync for the most part, and their matching white tutus elevated the grace with which they moved. The ballerinas, always with a smile on their faces, made the most complex steps look as easy as walking.
The audience was certainly engaged, holding their breath as the dancers leapt and ran across the stage, the patter of their pointe shoes the only sound aside from the music pulsing through the speakers. The audience, mainly friends and family
of the dancers, applauded greatly after every dance, much to the surprise of my classical/orchestral mind — it would be considered improper to clap in between movements of a symphony — but I found myself so entranced by the skill and excellence that I clapped along as well.
Throughout the first half of the show, I kept going back and forth on my opinion of their set and costumes. To go with the fairy garden theme, the steps leading up to the stage were mildly decorated with string lights
and flower baskets, and the stage itself was blank, save for the lights illuminating the back wall. The costumes were simple: white leotards and white tutus. While I appreciated the quiet modesty — letting the ballet speak for itself — I couldn’t help but want more. As a young club, I could likely chalk it up to a small budget, but just from an audience perspective, I found myself itching for a backdrop or set pieces. When I realized embarrassingly late that the first twenty or so minutes of the show
were all one piece, “Les Sylphides,” I quickly reevaluated my judgments, excitedly awaiting what the next act would bring. When the dancers cleared the stage at the final movement of the first piece, a new soloist emerged in a sharp red costume — a stark contrast to the calm opener. As the rest of the show progressed, I became much more engaged. Various soloists followed, performing more upbeat and bright excerpts. Through these solos, I got more of that contrast that I was looking for, though the only other change besides the dancers was the color of the lights on the back wall.
A few times during the showcase, the group numbers appeared disorganized, with ballerinas landing on different ends of the beat, most likely due to nerves about performing with a new group and having only a few opportunities to practice over the week. But overall, the talent exceeded my expectations tenfold, and as they practice more, I am quite sure the ballerinas will fall into equal steps with one another. I believe that for a first-ever showcase, the Ballet Club did an exceptional job. While there is room for improvement, this club shows a promising future. Many of the members are young, with a large number of first-year students, so the coming years are sure to smooth out the kinks and turn the club into a well-oiled machine of grace.
Contact Ainslie McKenna at amckenn6@nd.edu
A college kid’s first Sundance experience
By Jack Horton Scene Writer
“I’m 82 percent sure I just saw Ethan Hawke walk by me in the Salt Lake airport,” I muttered to my mom over the phone as I hopped on an airport moving walkway. It wouldn’t have been surprising since Hawke’s newest film, “The Weight”, was premiering at Sundance later that week. Needless to say, this encounter made me even more excited to be in Utah for the Sundance Film Festival. While others complained about Utah’s chilly temperature, it paled in comparison to the coldest South Bend winter I can remember. Additionally, this would be my first time attending any film festival, let alone Sundance! I hopped off the walkway and headed toward my mom’s gate, preparing to meet her for a weekend of films.
Founded in 1978, the Sundance Film Festival is the largest independent film festival in the United States. Every January, moviegoers from around the country flock to Park City, Utah, a popular skiing location, to watch independent films. Despite some individual titles’ star power, most films don’t have distribution partners upon arrival at the festival. Instead, they hope for a positive reception to drum up interest among buyers such as Netflix, Focus Features, Warner Bros., Neon or A24 and land a distribution deal for theaters or streaming.
This year’s festival was especially
interesting for two reasons. First, it was the first festival since Robert Redford, its founder and president, passed away last September. Redford was more than just the face of the festival. He served as an ambassador for independent film, organizing Sundance Labs to support emerging filmmakers and encourage them to take risks. Acclaimed filmmakers like Ryan Coogler and Chloé Zhao, both Best Director nominees this year, began their careers in the Sundance Lab. Additionally, this year would be the last time the festival was hosted in Park City.
In 2027, the festival is moving to Boulder, Colorado, for a myriad of reasons, including greater tax incentives, expanded infrastructure and lower costs. Interestingly, Redford, who attended the University of Colorado, blessed the move before he passed away. Many of the people whom I spoke to told me how this year felt different. Redford’s absence and the looming Boulder relocation made them nostalgic for past trips to Park City.
Although my mom and I were excited to see the exclusive Park City screenings, we had just one problem: we didn’t have any tickets! The Sundance Institute releases tickets in batches, allowing Sundance members and other individuals to pay extra (sometimes thousands of dollars) for early screening access.
My mom and I decided to take a different route: the waitlist. The waitlist was a maddening process that
dolled out tickets with little rhyme or reason. Participants would register for an individual screening’s waitlist EXACTLY two hours before its start time.
Thirty seconds was too late. Waitlists would already be full. However, even getting a waitlist spot was no guarantee. Waitlist members had to show up at least thirty minutes before the listed time, hoping regular ticket holders didn’t show. Some movies might let in 100 people off the waitlist. Some might let in ten. Some might let in zero. It was a complete crapshoot, but that was part of the fun.
In the waitlist lines, I spoke with film lovers from all walks of life –college students, Sundance volunteers and visitors who had attended the festival since the 1980s. The diversity of moviegoers is unmatched, and hearing their stories while standing in the waitlist lines – all of us praying to get tickets – added to my enjoyment.
For those on the waitlist, the best chance of getting into a film was the morning screenings, since many people had stayed out late on Main Street the night before or were hitting the slopes at Deer Valley Ski Resort that morning. Thanks to a Reddit thread my mom found the night before, we learned that the Sundance app sometimes releases extra tickets at 4:30 a.m. for morning showings. Through this hack, we secured tickets to “Josephine” and headed over to the Yarrow Theatre
for the 8:30 a.m. screening.
Although I saw five films during my time in Park City, “Josephine” was my favorite, and I am so grateful I saw it here because I would not have sought it out otherwise. The film follows Josephine (Mason Reeves), an eight-year-old girl who witnesses a brutal sexual assault in Golden Gate Park. After the incident, she acts out both in fear and rage, haunted by visions of the attacker. Her parents, Claire (Gemma Chan) and Damien (Channing Tatum), struggle with conflicting ideas of how to help. Damien, focused on toughness, enrolls her in self-defense classes and insists she should testify in court. Claire, on the other hand, attempts to shield Josephine from the real world’s harsh realities because of her young age. Josephine, caught in the middle of a lengthy court process, debates whether to face her traumatic experience head-on by testifying in a court case with an uncertain outcome.
Inspired by a similar childhood traumatic experience for the film’s director, Beth de Araújo, the film places the audience in the child’s perspective, feeling the trauma. It deals with an uncomfortable subject matter in a confrontational way and calls out how sexual assault affects younger generations. It also reveals the difficulties of parenting, especially when opinions differ.
Both Tatum and Chan give great performances as concerned parents who don’t know what to do in an
unthinkable situation. For Tatum, a top Hollywood star, this film stands in contrast to recent starring roles like “Roofman,” “Blink Twice” and “Fly Me to the Moon,” and showcases his range as an actor.
After the film, the stars came out for a quick Q&A with the audience. There, I learned Araújo met Reeves when handing out audition flyers in her childhood neighborhood. Tatum also explained his connection to the part, revealing that he saw much of his dad’s old-school parenting style that neglected childhood trauma and difficult topics in Damien’s character. I wasn’t the only one who connected with this film. It won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award and will likely secure a distribution deal in the coming days.
My Sundance experience was nothing short of spectacular. Not only did I see some great films, but I met other passionate film fans, many of whom were college students there on group trips. I plan to talk to Notre Dame’s FTT department to learn how we can create opportunities so Notre Dame students can participate in top film festivals like Sundance. With all the chaos in the entertainment industry, it was great to spend a weekend away from South Bend, enjoying some highquality independent films in Park City.
Contact Jack Horton at jhorton6@nd.edu
AIDEN REZNER | The Observer
Irish control second half to top Stanford
By Caloe Peretti Sports Writer
Notre Dame used a strong defensive effort and a dominant third quarter to pull away from Stanford, earning a 78–66 road win Sunday afternoon at Maples Pavilion. The victory marked an important step for the Irish as ACC play intensifies, highlighting their ability to execute in key moments on the road.
The first half was tightly contested, with both teams struggling to find rhythm from beyond the arc. Notre Dame went 0-for-6 from the 3-point range in the first quarter, while Stanford was 0-for-5, making the paint the primary source of offense.
Notre Dame managed to hold a narrow, 20-18 lead after the opening frame, as graduate forward Malaya Cowles battled inside and helped keep the Irish in front. By halftime, the Irish carried a slim, 32-30 advantage, with junior guard Hannah Hidalgo leading the charge. Hidalgo scored 16 points before the break, driving aggressively to the basket and drawing fouls as Stanford tried to slow her down.
The third quarter became the turning point of the contest. Notre Dame outscored Stanford 26-22, using a combination of defensive intensity and efficient scoring to create separation. Hidalgo continued her dominant performance, finishing the day with a game-high 37 points, along with nine rebounds,
three assists and four steals. Her ability to control tempo, attack the rim and hit timely jumpers allowed the Irish to maintain their momentum as Stanford struggled to respond.
Notre Dame’s balanced attack was on full display.
Senior guard Cassandre Prosper contributed 14 points and eight rebounds, while graduate guard Iyana Moore added eight points and five rebounds. Cowles finished with nine points and 11 rebounds, providing a steady presence in the paint on both ends. Graduate guard Vanessa de Jesus added eight points and anchored the perimeter defense, helping the Irish limit Stanford’s clean looks and secure crucial stops during Cardinal runs. Together, this combination of scoring and defense allowed Notre Dame to control the flow of the game through the second half.
Stanford stayed competitive, led by Courtney Ogden, who recorded 23 points and 10 rebounds. Alexandra Eschmeyer added 13 points and seven rebounds, while Chloe Clardy contributed 16 points, including two 3-pointers. Hailee Swain added 10 points. Despite these efforts, the Cardinal struggled to match Notre Dame’s efficiency in the paint, where the Irish outscored Stanford 5028, and on the boards, with 45 total rebounds compared to Stanford’s 35.
In the fourth quarter, Notre Dame maintained control,
out-scoring Stanford 20-14 to secure the 12-point victory. The Irish converted 10 of 15 free throws, limited turnovers and executed disciplined half-court sets to close out the win. Stanford’s defense forced some missed opportunities, but Notre Dame’s composure and late-game execution prevented any serious comeback.
The victory improves Notre Dame’s record to 14-8 overall and 6-5 in ACC play, while Stanford is 15-8 overall and 4-6 in league play. The win highlights the Irish’s ability to perform under pressure, particularly on the road, and reflects growing consistency on both offense and defense.
Sunday’s game showed that the Irish can control tempo,
dominate the paint and close out a game confidently. As the season progresses, this victory serves as a promising sign for Notre Dame’s prospects in ACC competition, as the Irish head back home to take on Virginia Tech this Thursday.
Contact Caloe Peretti at cperetti01@saintmarys.edu
Notre Dame faces Louisville in crucial ACC game
By Chris Dailey Sports Writer
Ups, downs and everything in between. That’s been the story for Notre Dame men’s basketball’s 2025-26 season thus far. On Thursday night, the road doesn’t get any easier for the Irish as head coach Micah Shrewsberry’s team travels to No. 24 Louisville for a 7 p.m. clash.
The Cardinals are 15-6 on the season, boasting an even more impressive 11-2 record at their home, the KFC Yum! Center. The Irish enter the game off two consecutive losses, falling to No. 18 Virginia 100-97 in an overtime classic before dropping to Syracuse on the road 86-72. Against Syracuse, Notre Dame allowed the Orange to go on an 11-0 run midway through the first half. From there, Syracuse cruised to victory.
For the Irish to turn the tide and compete against a potent Cardinals side, the offense will have to feed the ball to sophomore guard Cole Certa. Against the Cavaliers, Certa had a career day. The sharp-shooter found a new rhythm, wheeling and dealing his way to a careerhigh 34 points. If Certa is able to cross the 20-point mark, the Irish should at least be able to give Louisville a test.
Apart from Certa, graduate forward Carson Towt will need to have a big night.
After a national-leading rebounding season at Northern Arizona last season, this year Towt ranks 25th in the country and fourth in the ACC with 9.5 boards per game. His presence underneath the glass on both sides of the court will be instrumental in Notre Dame’s game plan.
Louisville is seeking to
continue its momentum following an 88-74 win over SMU. Star freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. paved the path for the Cardinals with 20 points. Brown Jr.’s 16.4 points per game is second on the team, just shy of senior guard Ryan Conwell’s 19.1.
For a team relying heavily on first-years and transfers, Conwell’s efficient play has added an extra flair to the Cardinals’ offense. His 26 point performance against Cal toward the end of 2025 remains his best performance yet, but with Louisville just on the cusp of breaking through in the ACC standings, he’ll be eager to break through that ceiling against Notre Dame.
There is no doubt Shrewsberry will be feeling a similar level of anticipation, but for different reasons.
Notre Dame is second to last in the ACC, just above
Wake Forest through a tiebreaker. With a 2-7 record in conference play and mere 1111 mark overall, Shrewsberry needs to start producing statement victories before it’s too late. Dating back to its 72-69 home loss to Purdue Fort Wayne, Notre Dame is 2-8. Aside from the overtime thriller against Virginia, the losses haven’t been particularly close either.
One bright spot in this poor run of form has been the flashes shown from talented freshmen Jalen Haralson and Brady Koehler. Both highlytouted recruits, Haralson has been Notre Dame’s primary source of offense since superstar junior guard Markus Burton’s season-ending injury.
Haralson is averaging 15.5 points per game and has scored at least 17 in the past three games. His 26 points last time against the Orange is
a career-high. While Koehler hasn’t been as consistent, he showed signs he can compete at a high level in 17and 16-point performances against Virginia Tech and Virginia, respectively.
After Thursday night’s match, the journey ahead for Notre Dame doesn’t get any easier. The Irish still have dates against SMU, Duke and NC State among a barrage of other ACC opponents.
For Notre Dame to compete in those games, a momentum-shift on the road against Louisville would be the perfect boost forward.
As March creeps closer, it’s officially do-or-die basketball for Shrewsberry and company.
Broadcast for the game can be found on ESPN2 and ESPNU.
Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey2@nd.edu
ND MEN’S BASKETBALL
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Junior guard Hannah Hidalgo rises up against Connecticut defenders for a mid-range basket. Hidalgo posted 16 points in the Irish 85-47 road loss. This weekend, Hidalgo scored 37 points and nine rebounds vs. Stanford.
HOCKEY
Notre Dame splits a pair of ties in Bowling Green
By Ryan Murphy Sports Writer
Notre Dame hockey has had many opportunities to lose this season, but in a weekend series against Bowling Green, the Irish went another way.
When you’ve lost 10 of your last 11 and 15 of your last 17 games, opportunities to lose tend to crop up. Over the last two months, it appeared like Notre Dame couldn’t get out of its own way — earning untimely penalties, penalties in large quantities, committing unbearable turnovers and allowing goals that shouldn’t have been.
They’ve shot themselves in the foot, as first year head coach Brock Sheahan has said often throughout the season.
Notre Dame (5-18-3, 1-13-0 Big Ten) notably did not lose either of its games against Bowling Green (14-6-6, 114-3 CCHA) this weekend. Of course, the Irish didn’t exactly win either. But Notre Dame’s 4-3 shootout loss Friday and 3-2 shootout win Saturday will both go down officially as ties, not losses, and the Irish have now gone three games unbeaten for the first time since October.
After snapping their 10-game losing streak last weekend against Ohio State, this weekend’s final non-conference series against the Falcons raised the question of whether or not Notre Dame could build off a win.
The Irish took to the ice Friday night wearing the same “skating leprechaun” uniforms they donned in their first win since November. They came out of the gate at an aggressive pace, out-chancing Bowling Green and building a 2-1 lead late in the second period.
Junior defenseman Henry Nelson got the Irish on the board less than five minutes into the game with a sliding shot from the point, and junior forward Cole Knuble responded to Falcon senior Quinn Emerson’s goal with one of his own midway through the second.
But the opportunity to lose lingered on. Late in the frame, the Bowling Green bench stood up in a roar, hollering for a toomany-men-on-the-ice penalty against the Irish. The blunder put Notre Dame on the penalty kill with less than two minutes remaining in the period. Then the officials whistled graduate forward Sutter Muzzatti for hooking, and the Irish quickly found themselves down two skaters.
The team thought it had escaped the issue when the siren went off to end the second period. But Falcon freshman defenseman Ty Higgins picked the blocker side corner on Irish sophomore netminder Nick Kempf on the ensuing third-period power play. Notre Dame’s
lapse in focus had landed itself in a tie game.
The Irish responded 50 seconds later with a goal by junior forward Evan Werner. With 18 minutes to play, Notre Dame regained its one-goal lead. They skated with the Falcons in a wide-open third period, until another lapse in focus allowed freshman forward Noah Morneau get loose on the backdoor and tuck an equalizer around Kempf with just over 14 minutes remaining. Yet again, mistakes were mounting.
“We generated a lot, especially in the first two periods, like a lot,” head coach Sheahan said after Friday’s game. “Our third period, I thought we were just kinda hoping to win. And they’re a good hockey team … we did have some pushback in the third, at moments, but I thought we waited until it was tied again to get going again. You just can’t leave anything to chance, especially with where we are at.”
This was the sort of game Notre Dame has consistently lost for the better part of the last month. The expected goals metric leaning 3.5-2.3 in favor of the Irish. The Irish encountered multiple opportunities to win, including a late-game power play and a shot off the post from junior forward Brennan Ali in the ensuing overtime.
Notre Dame had the opportunity to lose as well. And it didn’t do that, either. The Irish got the game to overtime, and then to a shootout, clinching a tie.
Saturday night’s game was a different beast. Friday was the kind of game that Notre Dame has lost this season, but Saturday was the kind that every team loses. The Irish outplay their opponents analytically,
winning the expected goals differential in nearly all their games over the last several weeks. On Saturday, they were caved by the Falcons 6.1-3.0, and still managed to squeak out a tie.
With the Irish managing a one-goal lead in the middle of the second period again, another ill-timed penalty allowed Bowling Green to tie the game. Once freshman forward Jeremie Minville scored to ignite a hostile Falcon crowd at Slater Arena, the Irish quieted
the building in the middle frame with goals from Werner and Ali.
Leading 2-1, Irish freshman forward Cole Brown received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for checking from behind, and Falcon freshman defenseman Brayden Crampton scored on the power play with just nine seconds remaining in the period.
That would conclude the scoring for the night. Kempf stole the tie for the Irish, stopping 48 of 50 shots, setting a career high in saves. Perhaps
for the first time in his career the sophomore has truly earned a result for his team. His resilience best summarizes Notre Dame’s own this weekend.
The Irish found a way to not lose, which in this season is a victory. Next weekend, against a Wisconsin team that’s taken every opportunity to lose in its last six games, maybe Notre Dame will even find a way to win.
Contact Ryan Murphy at rmurph22@nd.edu
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GABRIELLA MARTIN | The Observer Junior forward Carter Slaggert gets physical with Bowling Green defenders on Friday, Jan. 30. In the match, Slaggert recorded one block and one shot against the Falcons in Notre Dame’s 3-3 overtime home tie.
Irish deliver a clean weekend sweep
By Jacek Kawczynski Sports Writer
The Notre Dame women’s tennis program closed out a busy January by hosting Navy, Ball State and Xavier at the Eck Tennis Pavilion. After starting out the season 3-1, the Irish doubled its total in the wins column, defeating Navy and Ball State 7-0 on Saturday, before tying a bow on the weekend with a 6-1 performance against Xavier. The women’s team only lost three matches over all three duels, continuing their dominant form since the start of the year.
Saturday matches kicked off at 11:00 a.m. against 4-1 Navy. Notre Dame freshman Gabriella Rawles and senior Rylie Hanford started off strong in the doubles department with a 6-2 win over Navy sophomore Grace Li and junior Julia Lee. Senior Akari Matsuno and freshman partner Jessica Kovalcik followed
suit, defeating Navy sophomore Peyton AmspacherPhilemon and junior Anna Jordaan 6-3. Notre Dame duo of sophomore Bianca Molnar and freshman Sophia Holod closed things out with a 6-4 victory over freshman Nicole Fu and junior Olivia Fermo.
Kovalcik got things rolling in the singles department with a decisive 6-2, 6-1 win over Navy sophomore Molly Bellia. She was followed shortly by Rawles, who defeated Li 6-1, 6-1. Holod beat Fu 6-4, 6-1, while Molnar rolled past Fermo 6-2, 6-2. Notre Dame freshman Mari-Louise Van Zyl defeated Jordaan 6-2, 6-3, and Matsuno rounded out the singles matchplay with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Navy sophomore Emma Gu.
After a short break, the Irish faced Ball State in the Cardinals’ season opener. The doubles matches produced high level shot-making and stiff competition, headlined by a tense affair on court
one between duo Rawles and Hanford opposite Ball State juniors Sarah Shahbaz and Isabel Tanjuatco. The Ball State duo ultimately came out on top with a 6-3 victory. However, Notre Dame did not let the disappointment linger for very long. Van Zyl and Matsuno struck back, defeating sophomore Alana Bristow and freshman Gabriella Barrera 6-4. Sophomore Esther Vyrlan and Holod clinched the doubles point for the Irish with an intense 6-3 win over seniors Sydney Hrehor and Asia Ting Fontana.
Notre Dame dominated singles matches in a similar fashion. Molnar held the fort at one singles, defeating Bristow 6-3, 6-1. Holod powered through Ball State freshman Priyanka Rana, winning 6-3, 6-3. Rawles followed, defeating Fontana 6-3, 6-1. Van Zyl cruised in her match, beating Barrera 6-1, 6-2, and Kovalcik won in straight sets
against sophomore Jemima Williams-Phillips. In the final singles match of the duel, Hanford gutted out a three set win over Tanjuatco, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2.
On Sunday afternoon, the Irish returned to court for a duel against Xavier. In doubles, Vyrlan and Kovalcik gave Notre Dame the lead with a gritty 7-5 victory over junior Ellie Brotherton and sophomore Natalie Smitek. Van Zyl and Matsuno secured the doubles point for the Irish, defeating freshman Ella DeFord and sophomore Madeleine Rexroat 6-1.
In singles, Molnar completed her weekend sweep at one singles. She hit senior Abby Nugent off the court on her way to a 6-1, 6-2 win. Hanford cruised 6-1 in her first set against Smitek, before grinding out a competitive 6-4 second set to double the Irish lead. Kovalcik defeated Xavier senior Abigail Siminski 6-1, 6-1, followed
shortly after by Matsuno, who beat Rexroat 6-2, 6-2. It was smooth sailing all weekend for Holod, and she closed out her matches in a 6-2, 6-3 win over DeFord. Xavier sophomore Clara Owen ended things on a positive note for the Musketeers, beating Van Zyl in a grueling tenpoint breaker, 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (10-5).
The Notre Dame women’s team showed its class and professionalism in a hectic weekend, rattling off three potentially challenging matches with relative ease. Doubles play was fantastic across the board, and a couple of gutsy singles battles provided players with a chance to test their game ahead of Friday’s home clash against Purdue. Expect some captivating tennis in a Midwest battle. Matches begin Feb. 6, 7:00 p.m. EST.
Contact Jacek Kawczynski at jkawczyn@nd.edu
KIERA JONES | The Observer
Senior Rylie Hanford returns a shot on Jan. 31 against Ball State. Hanford gutted out a three set win over her opponent 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 en route to Notre Dame’s 7-0 team win over Ball State. Hanford was instrumental in the Irish tennis sweep over the weekend and also beat an Xavier opponent 6-1, 6-4. Notre Dame combined for a 20-1 win over all opponents.
Irish fan cycles across USA in remembrance of 9/11
By Chris Dailey Sports Writer
After the 1993 terror attack on the World Trade Center, lifelong Notre Dame fan Pat McGarry vowed he would never work there again. Eight years later during the Sept. 11th attacks, his biggest fear of another attack came to fruition. This time, there was no escaping the grief.
McGarry was working on the 95th floor of the South Tower in 1993 when terrorists conducted a van-bomb attack intended to collapse the North Tower onto the South Tower. Although the North Tower did not collapse, the damage was severe. Six people were killed and over 1,000 more were injured. Not accounted for was the harrowing psychological toll left on those working in the buildings.
“It had a profound impact on me. I did not even know it. I just took off and said ‘I’m out of here’. I didn’t know what PTSD was or anything of that crap, but I was gone,” McGarry said.
McGarry, who had been living with his sister Katie in Hoboken, New Jersey, fled for a fresh start.
“I kind of wandered for five years,” McGarry recalls. “I went to Chicago; I worked at the Board of Trade. I went down to Fort Lauderdale. I went back up to help my dad start his business. I then went to Tampa to get into the energy business and then to
Jacksonville.”
In the years he spent zipping from one place to the next, McGarry didn’t realize he was “carrying a piece of what happened” with him.
Then came Sept. 11, 2001, the day McGarry’s wound from 1993 was painfully reopened.
“On 9/11, I was getting ready to fly home that morning from Glacier National Park with two of my best friends – they’re my brothers,” McGarry said. One of those men was Brian Lamb, a 1986 Notre Dame graduate and McGarry’s long-time neighbor.
McGarry’s day started routinely. As always, he got up early and made a fresh cup of coffee at his small hotel. But things started to change when he walked outside.
“I saw the National Guard out there loading their rifles,” McGarry remembers. “I said ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ They said ‘The country is under attack.’”
McGarry ran to the television, where he and a group of other outdoorsmen were glued to the screen, all watching helplessly as live coverage showed the Twin Towers engulfed in flames.
McGarry called his mom to tell them he was okay. That’s when his life changed forever.
“She told me that my sister was there. And to this day I still do not believe it,” said McGarry.
“At the last second she was
asked to attend this conference. She had been married for five months, her husband worked for Lehman Brothers 40 floors below where this happened,” McGarry said. He later shared, “She was having fun but really looking to settle down and hoping life wasn’t going to pass her by.”
That day, the day when American history was changed forever, was only the start of the most confusing, heart-breaking period in McGarry’s life.
“Like a lot of people we never got her back – her physical remains. Even that is kind of weird. We’re Catholic, so we had to have a funeral. We had a casket, but there is nobody in there,” McGarry said. “The whole thing is just bizarre. It didn’t seem real.”
It was during this time in which McGarry was forced to confront the weight of his suffering. He could try to run from it. Or, he could face it head on.
His decision was an easy one.
“I just made a pledge that I would never forget her. She wouldn’t be forgotten,” said McGarry.
McGarry’s commitment to his promise will see him cycle across the country this spring, with a goal of fundraising $100,000 for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation along the way.
The idea started during COVID, when McGarry used cycling as a way to escape the
house. One pedal at a time, McGarry slowly but surely started to pile on more mileage to his daily rides.
Now with a dedicated training program, McGarry is full steam ahead for his goal. His ride will commence on March 6, just south of Jacksonville, Florida. The nationwide trek takes him across the southern border, passing by El Paso before eventually concluding in San Diego.
“I ride probably five to six days a week. I’m averaging 60-70 miles a day,” McGarry said. “It’s either on my bicycle outside or on my Tacx Trainer. I live in Florida, so what I did was I downloaded the route. I live in Florida, so I have all the GPS files. So, I can simulate my ride I’ll be on. Particularly the ascents, because that I can’t practice here.”
McGarry also works with a physical trainer and has found a group of fellow cyclists he trains with in preparation for the ride. By the time his training is done, McGarry will have ridden over 10,000 miles in total.
Although McGarry says he’s “scared to death,” the lifelong Irish fan, who is often cycling indoors with his Notre Dame hat handy, knows he is right where he needs to be.
“Everytime I hit the wall –I do hit the wall, I hit it yesterday – I think back to my sister. I think back to the last hour of her life. I’m going to get through it,” said McGarry.
McGarry also thinks of those who were there for his sister in those last moments. The people who risked their own lives to help.
“One of the things about 9/11 is when I was watching it on TV I was so frustrated. I was horrified. I literally wanted to run through the screen and I wanted to try to help her,” McGarry said.
“This trip is kind of like a thank you letter on behalf of my sister to the first responders and the military. Thank you for what you did,” he said. “And it’s a ride not to mention just the horrible things that happened but all the good and love – how unified the country was. All of the yelling and screaming today, we’re still capable of being together. I want to make sure that’s not forgotten.”
McGarry especially hopes to unite Notre Dame fans behind his mission. An Irishman through and through, McGarry is as devoted a Notre Dame fan as they come. Both McGarry’s father and nephew attended Notre Dame, and although he went to Fairfield University, his love for Notre Dame is no less.
McGarry’s ride can be tracked on his website, aridetoremember2026.com, where visitors can view a map of McGarry’s ride, pictures of his family and donate to the cause.
Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey2@nd.edu
PAT MCGARRY
Irish fan Pat McGarry bikes across the United States to recognize and remember those lost in the attacks of 9/11 and the first responders on the ground. McGarry began his ride in Jacksonville, Florida and is headed to San Diego, California to traverse the country. He aims to raise $100,000 for the Tunnels to Towers Foundation to support families affected.