Print Edition for Tuesday, February 22, 2026

THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026 | VOL. LX, NO. 46

Students brave lines for Keenan Revue tickets

By Mara Hall News Writer

With the 50th Keenan Revue approaching, students lined up outside Dahnke Ballroom on Monday for ticket distribution. The show runs Feb. 26 to 28, and approximately 1,500 tickets are distributed for each night.

Doug Tackney, a senior studying mechanical engineering, is one of the producers for this year’s Revue. With tickets in high demand, distribution gets busy.

“We rent out Dahnke Ballroom from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. We open the doors at 8 a.m. Anyone can come in and wait in line. We hand out tickets at 4. Two tickets per ID, and anyone can have two IDs,” Tackney said.

He added that they do not enforce a hard line, allowing friends to come take turns or trade in and out for classes and meals.

Elle Brouillette, a junior in Ryan Hall, said she arrived around 11

a.m. to get tickets for her and her friends. She was switching out with friends for class, but was unsure if she would make it to class on time.

“I arrived at 10:30 to join my friend Ryan who has been here since 8,” John Jabbour, a senior, said. “Funnily enough, my classes got canceled today, so I got volunteered to be one of the ticket guys.”

Andi Bell, a freshman in Badin, said her friend grabbed a spot in line at 8 a.m.

“It is a much more comfortable setup than I thought. I had been told that the line does not get too long until 2 or 3, but my friends and I, we wanted the experience of waiting, so here we are,” she said.

The line was guided by crowd control barrier posts and tables, with students scattered across tables and the floor. Some students complained about a lack of organization.

see “Keenan” on page 4

Grojean

Students gather in Dahnke Ballroom on the 7th floor of Duncan Student Center after lining up for hours to secure tickets for the Keenan Revue. While doors opened at 8 a.m., tickets were not handed out until 4pm.

and Coyle Halls approach completion for fall

MORIN | The Observer

MATTHEW

Coyle Hall and Grojean Hall stand on South Quad last week amid the snow. Construction on the halls began in the summer of 2024 and will conclude this summer. The dorms replace Fisher and Pangborn Halls.

By Matthew Morin News Writer

In the fall, Therese Mary Grojean Hall and Coyle Hall will be opened and dedicated as Notre Dame’s newest residence halls, replacing Pangborn Hall and Fisher Hall, respectively. The new residents of Grojean Hall will be students who currently live in Howard Hall, while those in Coyle are presently in Zahm Hall. Both

NEWS | PAGE 4

Eddy Street turnover

CAVA, BIBIBOP are among incoming restaurants as Blaze Pizza, Urban Outfitters close.

projects began in the summer of 2024 and, after two years of work, are nearing completion.

Coyle Hall is 82,428 square feet with 258 beds and four apartments to be used for rectors, priests in residence, faculty or staff who live in the dormitory.

The male residence hall is named after John and Jill Coyle, who served as co-chairs of the University’s Gift Planning Advancement

OPINION | PAGE 5 In favor of exemption

Columnist Carlos Basurto recounts his experience with the ND housing process.

Committee and are members of the Cavanaugh Council and Badin Guild. John Coyle ‘94 is a member of the Board of Trustees, and Jill Coyle ‘89 is a member of the Advisory Council for Undergraduate Experience and the Notre Dame Hesburgh Women of Impact. They are both parents of three Notre Dame alumni.

Grojean Hall is 83,670 square

see “Grojean” on page 3

SCENE | PAGE 6

‘Wuthering Heights’ Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of the classic Victorian novel is a pointless and boring disaster.

Record OCIA cohort seeks sacraments

By Chloe Hanford News Writer

Notre Dame’s Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) class of 2026 has so many participants that they relocated their upcoming Rite of Election to ensure adequate space. With 76 participants in the year-long OCIA course, 60 participants in the spring short course and

27 participants in the fall short course, Notre Dame’s OCIA class of 2026 is the largest in the school’s recorded history.

This year’s numbers surpass last year’s record-breaking 55 participants who received baptism, first Holy Communion and/ or confirmation through Notre Dame’s OCIA process.

see “OCIA” on page 4

SMC RHA announces formal theme

By Soledad Castellanos News Writer

The Residence Hall Association of Saint Mary’s College revealed the theme for the 2026 Saint Mary’s formal on Thursday. The reveal event debuted the “Once Upon a Belle” theme alongside matching novelty sweaters for students to purchase on the student center’s second floor. At the reveal, students enjoyed sweet treats, a themed scavenger hunt and a zip-up sweater giveaway.

SPORTS | PAGE 12 Leonard on patience

Riley Leonard explains his draft process and first season in the NFL in an exclusive interview.

The formal will take place on Saturday, April 10 at the Gillespie Conference Center.

Leading the project was senior Bella Perry, now in her second term as RHA president, who utilized her years of experience working alongside RHA vice president Destiny Magaña-Stokes.

“This will be my third Saint Mary’s formal that I get to attend, and we really start

see “Formal” on page 3

SPORTS | PAGE 12

wins

Lacrosse

Notre Dame lacrosse took down Marquette in the opening game of the season in a 16-11 win.

MARA HALL | The Observer

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

Tuesday

Bengal Bouts Quarterfinals

Round one of the 96th annual Bengal Bouts for charity. 7 p.m. Dahnke Ballroom

Wednesday

Ash Wednesday Mass Observe Ash Wednesday at the following Mass times. 8 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 5:15 p.m., 7 p.m. (Spanish) and 9 p.m. Basilica of the Sacred Heart

Thursday

Drum Performance Pokagon Band of Potawatomi artist David Martin performs. 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Raclin Murphy Museam of Art

Friday

Notre Dame men’s tennis

The Fighting Irish take on the Wildcats at home. 7:30 p.m. Eck Tennis Pavillion

Saturday

Urban Bush Women

An evening-long dance theater program with live music. 7:30 p.m. Debartolo Performing Arts Center

PHOTO OF THE DAY | TAYLOR O’BRIEN

Formal

Continued from page 1

planning pretty much almost as soon as the one from the previous year concludes. You know, last year we started doing zip-ups, and so we’re going to do those again this year with this year’s formal theme, which we are excited to continue,” Perry said.

RHA hosts the campus’s only formal, and so it has high standards for the event. This year features slight changes in operations, including regarding one of the most important parts of the event, the party buses.

“We’ll also be having party buses this year that will pick up residents from their halls, but we’re changing

Grojean

Continued from page 1 feet with 276 beds and five apartments. It is named after Therese Mary Grojean, the wife of Thomas Grojean Sr. ‘60.

The Grojeans are parents of four Notre Dame alumni and grandparents of two alumni. They are also known donors to several scholarships at the University, as well as the Grojean Family Fellowship in the Mendoza College of Business and the Thomas and Therese Grojean Family Professorship in Accountancy. Thomas Grojean is also a member of the Mendoza College of Business Advisory Council.

Dan Cook, vice president for facilities design and operations and University architect, spoke about recent updates and the status of the residence halls project, mentioning, “The construction of the halls is going

the route of the party buses. One [is] actually designated only to go from Le Mans to the Gillespie because there’s so many girls in there, and even people who maybe don’t live there go there to take pictures. We’re hoping to have a direct route from Le Mans to the Gillespie that will have a quicker turnaround and won’t have people waiting,” Perry said.

The ticket distribution system has also been modified.

“Last year was our first year putting the ticket sales online. So yes, we were experiencing a bit of a learning curve, but we felt it was a necessary transition. And the difference this year also is that the start of ticket sales won’t be at formal reveal. They will actually be on March 1, at Battle of the Belles,”

really well. They’re very much on time, on budget.”

The budget per dormitory was $49.15 million, which includes design costs, furniture, construction, landscaping, utilities and the demolition of the old dorms.

“There were two dorms. We’re replacing two dorms. We made a very conscious effort to, rather than doing one at a time, do both at the same time,” Cook shared.

He explained the process for contractors and why they chose to hire from a single company.

“We hired one contractor, Bulley & Andrews, to be responsible for both sites. They don’t have the same teams of contractors working on every building, but one of the advantages we saw to having one person in charge is they hired one masonry contractor for each building,” he stated. Bulley & Andrews is also the contracting company that is working on

Perry said.

“We do just want to know that if there are any issues that arise from ticket sales ... please contact the Residence Hall Association email and the Residence Hall Association email only,” Magaña-Stokes added. Tickets, merchandise and party buses aren’t the only logistical challenges facing the organizers. Board members Lorelei Ludwig, a freshman, and juniors Kayla Pleiness and Daniela Rivera provided insights on how everything comes together.

“So the venue is always the same. It’s always with Gillespie … the theme process is a whole thing. This year we did it totally differently. We — Daniela and I — came in with a couple ideas that we really liked, and then our president

the renovation of South Dining Hall.

Cook continued to share that the projects have progressed on time and will be ready for use for this fall semester. He explained that the sites are technically near completion from the inside.

“If you were to go onto the fourth floor of both buildings now, they’re basically complete on the inside because they’re all weathered in. The only section that doesn’t have its roof all the way on it is the chapel at Grojean Hall, and so there’s a little bit of waiting for some of the interior work to happen,” he explained. The chapel in Coyle is already at the point of finishing touches. Each dorm is also three stories and will have additional attic space.

Cook noted that while the bed count for each dorm is a fixed number, the University is not yet aware of the actual number of students who will

and vice president asked the board to come up with ideas as well,” Pleiness said.

Rivera added that the formal is the result of collaboration not only between members of the RHA board, but with the rest of the Saint Mary’s community as well. She said RHA is hoping to appeal to the desires of students by adapting based on the feedback from past formals.

“Considering voices, students and ideas, I took kind of a different spin on the committee this year. I feel like we had a lot more participation this year than we have in the past. And honestly, that makes me really, really happy to see how people want to be involved,” Rivera said.

When it came to merchandise

be living there in the fall as of now. The two dormitories, he said, were extremely similar in features, with the same amenities, number of common spaces, square footage allocations for kitchens, community rooms and chapels, describing it as, “the same puzzle pieces that get put together.”

In regard to the chapels, Cook shared that, there may be some notable differences between the chapels of the new dorms.

“The chapels are probably the one place where there might be a little bit more of a distinction between the men’s and women’s hall.”

The patron saint of Coyle will be St. Paul, who was previously the patron of Fisher Hall. Grojean Hall’s chapel is dedicated to Mother Théodore Guérin, who was a French nun who arrived in Indiana at the same time as University founder Fr. Edward Sorin.

and design, Ludwig took creative control. She said the process of creating new merch was inspired heavily by previous years, but with a new spin to match the theme, “Once Upon a Belle.”

“Everyone had looked at it probably 2,000 times, and then we had a few hiccups with, like the color of the merchandise and what we could get supplied to us. So that was kind of crazy, but we’re really excited. We’re really happy with the final product, and we’re excited for everyone to see it perfect,” Ludwig said.

Tickets go on sale Sunday, March 1 at The Battle of the Belles pep rally event, hosted by the RHA.

Contact Soledad Castellanos at scastellanos01@saintmarys.edu

Over the summer, the dorms will have finishing touches and will be available for hall staff and rectors to make final arrangements. The landscaping, final site work and building connections will also be completed over the summer.

“It’s not going to be a rush. They’ll be finished in a very graceful turnover to allow the University to get everything set up,” Cook stated.

Following this project, there will be a renovation in Lyons Hall, which was announced earlier this year. Howard Hall and Zahm Hall will function as “swing dorms” where they will be housing students during renovations for the foreseeable future.

A final note that Cook shared includes the distinctiveness of these two dorms and how they represent the quads they are located in. For Coyle Hall’s chapel, it follows the features of the South Dining Hall and aligns with the main quad’s design.

“Bottom line on these is they’re going really well. I’d say that both of the dorms are unique in different ways, as they’re trying to respond to South Quad. The chapel for Coyle Hall, for example, is right on the main quad, and the windows and the scale of it follow the pattern of the windows and scale of South Dining Hall, so there was a very intentional way to make that chapel to be a prominent religious site on the quad and also be a good neighbor to South Dining Hall,” he explained.

The tower that serves as a notable feature of South Quad was also taken into consideration when locating and building Grojean Hall.

“On Grojean Hall, it’s going to have the tower, which is the main element on that, which is going to serve as a landmark at the end of South Quad by the rock to give some scale, direction and presence,” he mentioned. “It speaks across the Quad to the tower at Morrissey and Howard.”

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

New restaurants fill Eddy Street vacancies

By Mayte D. Mendez News Writer

Students returning to Eddy StreetCommonsthissemesterhave encountered noticeable changes to the popular commercial corridor just south of campus, where two prominent storefronts have closed and new restaurants are slated to take their place.

Blaze Pizza previously occupied the unit between Jimmy John’s and Bru Burger Bar, near the heart of the development. The corner unit filled by Urban Outfitters, one of the district’s few clothing retailers, will see Osteria Amici move in. Construction signage and leasing information posted at the site indicate empty spaces are being redeveloped for new restaurant tenants, including BIBIBOP Asian Grill in Blaze Pizza’s old location and CAVA near O’Rourke’s Public House.

Eddy Street Commons, located across from the University’s

OCIA

Continued from page 1

Brett Perkins, Campus Ministry’s assistant director for evangelization and religious education, said, “It kind of throws people off … The narrative was always that the Church is dying. What’s all this about? Like, all these young people joining the Church?”

Sunday’s Rite of Election, the ceremony wherein unbaptized participants affirm their intent to be initiated in the Church, was moved from South Bend’s St. Matthew Cathedral to St. Pius X Church in Granger for more space. The need for change reflects a growing number of people joining the Catholic Church this year, both at Notre Dame and in the Fort WayneSouth Bend diocese as a whole.

“The message of Jesus is everancient, ever-new, right? It’s the message that the world always needs, that always points to: you are here for a purpose,” Perkins said. “That is a message that is compelling for every person, for all people, for all places, all times.”

southern boundary, has served as a mixed-use development with restaurants, retail shops and housing. The district sees heavy foot traffic from students, faculty and visitors, particularly on weekends and during athletic events. According to publicly available leasing updates on Kite Realty’s website, the property management group is working to fill the former retail spaces with dining concepts that align with current demand.

Construction and interior renovation work have been visible at both former storefronts since late fall. Junior Chiara Bilant, who said she visits Eddy Street regularly, said she first noticed the changes earlier this academic year when signage appeared at the former pizza location.

“I saw the windows covered and realized Blaze was gone,” Bilant said. “That space used to be busy because it was quick and close to campus. Now there’s construction,

Notre Dame’s OCIA participants come from a variety of religious backgrounds. Some come from Catholic families but have yet to receive all the sacraments, some come from other Christian denominations or faiths and some had no exposure to Catholicism or other religious traditions prior to arriving at Notre Dame.

“At some point they were introduced to Catholicism. I would say, more often than not, it came through a friendship or relationship,” Perkins said. Perkins said his introduction to the Catholic Church came when a friend from high school invited him to Mass.

“Here at Notre Dame, a lot of times it’s the residence hall system, right?” Perkins said.

He pointed to roommates, section culture, and “having the dorm chapel there to have an opportunity to experience mass in a non-threatening environment,” as typical entry points for participants.

Mathias Mazzocco, a junior biochemistry major from Los Angeles, joined OCIA this school year to

so it’s clear something new is coming in.”

Bilant said she has observed an increase in restaurantfocused activity in the area over the past two years, noting that students often use Eddy Street primarily for dining rather than shopping.

“When people go there, it’s usually to eat Chipotle or meet friends,” Bilant said. “There aren’t many clothing stores nearby anymore, so it already feels more like a food destination.”

Junior Anaïs Keller said she became aware of the retail changes when she noticed the closure of Urban Outfitters and noted the addition of Tous Les Jours, a new bakery that is opening near Dave’s Hot Chicken.

“That store was one of the only places within walking distance where students could buy clothes,” Keller said. “Now that it’s closed, it changes the balance of what’s available there. Most people go

receive his first Holy Communion and confirmation.

“I just felt like it was the right time to do it. And I guess I got a little bit of a push from some of my friends,” he said.

Mazzocco’s friend, who he has lived with since freshman year, is now his sponsor in the OCIA process. OCIA participants are paired with other students with experience practicing Catholicism, who mentor them and sponsor them for the sacrament of Confirmation. They attend Mass together at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart each Sunday, followed by lessons about what Catholics believe and what the sacraments are.

“The overall feeling of deepening my faith has been really nice. And also, just like, getting close to my roommate … is really nice and rewarding,” Mazzocco said.

Darius Colangelo was an OCIA sponsor last year and is now part of a team leading the small groups for catechetical instruction during OCIA. In this role, he leads lessons on topics such as discipleship, the moral life and the Church.

Keenan

Continued from page 1

After receiving tickets, senior Patricia Diaz explained that she waited in line for four hours without trading places with friends. She expressed frustration with some freshmen over their disorganization.

“No one can make a line, and it is really annoying,” she said.

Walker Laitala, a freshman in Baumer Hall, explained that his friends arrived at 11 a.m. and he joined at 3 p.m.

“I did hear some people get here all the way at 7:30 a.m., even though it did not open until 8, so those are the really committed people. I cannot complain. I got my tickets,” he said. “I did not have the foresight to bring my computer, which was

there to eat, especially in groups. So it makes sense from a business standpoint that restaurants would be prioritized.”

Senior Electra Vaitsas said she learned about the planned CAVA location through posted construction notices and conversations with friends. She said new dining options could affect how students choose where to spend time off campus.

“Having more food choices within walking distance means students may go there more often,” Vaitsas said. “It’s convenient because it doesn’t require transportation.”

CAVA, the Washington, D.C.based Mediterranean fast-casual chain, has expanded rapidly in recent years, particularly in college communities. The brand focuses on customizable grain bowls, salads and pita wraps, with an emphasis on quick service.

Eddy Street Commons opened

“It really is a unique opportunity, both to guide another or to accompany another person through their growth, and also to grow in your spiritual life and your development,” Colangelo said.

The OCIA process is designed to prepare participants to join the Church by receiving the sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation and encourages students to discern the Catholic faith generally. Participants discuss fundamental arguments for belief in God as well as questions or struggles that participants may have with Catholic teachings.

“People generally have a better understanding [of Catholicism] by the end of the process and can even step out in faith and say, you know what, I might still wrestle, but I would rather wrestle within the Church and guided by the grace of the sacraments and a life of prayer,” Perkins said. As a convert to Catholicism he typically starts the first information session by saying “I was once in your shoes not that long ago.”

definitely not the best, but they made it really interesting by blasting some good tunes and they had a lot of fun games and competitions going on.”

Throughout the day, Keenan residents gave away tickets and passes to skip the line once ticket time arrived as prizes for various challenges.

Mariana Delgado, a senior, won tickets for finding, memorizing and saying the names of 10 former Revue themes. She described the challenge as somewhat difficult.

“I did not have a couple of them memorized, but towards the end it was a little easier considering that I had the first five and then I just went for the more obscure ones first,” she said.

By 4:12 p.m., tickets for Thursday night, the most popular show, had run out. Several Keenan residents helping to organize the event

in phases beginning in 2009 and has continued to evolve in response to tenant turnover and shifting consumer demand. Over time, several retail stores have closed or relocated, while restaurant tenants have remained among the most consistent occupants. University officials do not manage Eddy Street Commons directly, but the development plays a significant role in student life due to its proximity to campus and concentration of dining options.

Construction activity at the former Blaze Pizza and Urban Outfitters locations is ongoing, and no official opening dates have been publicly announced for the incoming tenants. However, signage indicates that renovations are underway and new restaurants are expected to open in the coming months.

Contact Mayte D. Mendez at mmendez4@nd.edu

Perkins said fellowship is a major focus of the curriculum, and that no one discerning the faith has to do it alone.

“What does it mean to be part of a community of believers, to know that you’re not just doing this on your own ever, that you are doing it with a body of others who are meant to encourage you in the life of faith? And what a beautiful example we have of that within Notre Dame,” he said.

A pivotal moment of the OCIA process is the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday, where participants receive the sacraments. Perkins recalled the moment last year when Fr. Brian Ching, rector of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, invited the congregation to welcome the new Catholics and the Basilica burst into applause.

“The veil between heaven and earth is very thin,” Perkins said. “I feel like that’s what heaven is going to be like.”

Contact Chloe Hanford at chanford@nd.edu

reminded people that it is the same show all three nights.

“I wanted to get Thursday tickets, but I could not so I got Saturday tickets instead,” freshman Dean Mason said.

Freshman Connor Beerbower said he also got Saturday tickets, despite arriving four hours before ticket distribution with the goal of getting Thursday tickets.

As soon as the line started moving, Keenan residents were taking down tables and line dividers and putting them away. By 4:30 p.m., the line was finished. At the end of ticket distribution, Saturday tickets were almost sold out, but there were still Friday tickets available.

Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu

MARA HALL | The Observer Keenan will host three showings of the Revue, themed “Deja Revue,” in the Stepan Center from Thursday, Feb. 26 to Saturday, Feb. 28.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Feel the sadness: An open letter to Fr. Dowd

Dear Father Dowd:

We are writing as recipients of Notre Dame’s Evangelium Vitae award, given by the university in recognition of our and the University’s shared commitment to the defense of human life from conception to natural death. Numerous justified reactions to the tragic appointment of Professor Susan Ostermann have already reached your desk: shock, scandal, disbelief and outrage among them. We would like to add one more: profound sadness.

Every recipient of this award

has, at some point in their work on behalf of life, suffered the “slings and arrows” of the powers that be due to our countercultural insistence upon the value of every human life at every stage. But we suffered them gladly (or sometimes even hardly noticed them!) because our Catholic community, our Catholic faith, accompanied us, shielded us and wielded with intellectual vigor and even joy its 2,000 years of faith and reason in defense of life.

Nothing stings more than betrayal by one’s community — especially by an institution with

such an admirable and urgently needed mission. Please ally with us as, together, we make a brave stand for the defense of these defenseless human beings, against the “wisdom of the world” (1 Cor 1:27).

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Helen M. Alvaré

Robert A. Levy Professor of Law, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University Member, Holy See Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life

Mary Louise Solomon

Representing David Solomon, post-mortem recipient (2026) and founder of de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture

Richard M. Doerflinger

Adjunct fellow, National Catholic Bioethics Center Fellow, de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture

Corresponding member, Pontifical Academy for Life

Mother Agnes Donovan, S.V.

Founding Superior General, Sisters of Life

Lauinger Vice President, National Right to Life Father of eight Notre Dame alumni

William J. Thorn Professor emeritus of journalism, Marquette University Feb. 15

The cruelty of being denied a housing exemption

By Carlos Basurto

As a graduating senior, I have made an effort to reflect on some of my most impactful moments throughout my time in this university, joyous and horrific alike. One that will forever leave the most bitter of tastes in my mouth is that of when I sought an exemption from the University’s edict that all undergraduate students ought to live in a dorm.

Nearing the end of my freshman year, something had become apparent to me: Dorm life was not and will never be for me. I hold no negative attitude toward those who love the chaotic environment, I understand that it is a unique aspect the University prides itself on and is grounds for the most fond memories for a handful. It merely — and there could be no simpler way to phrase this — was not a personally-fitting existence. On a daily basis, I would experience unprecedented discomforts and a perpetual state of apprehension; despite my best efforts across months, my misery coaxed its way into every situation, and a primordial dread had settled itself on the depths of my soul. Yet I was also cognizant this misery was not necessary. There was no need for me to live this way. Beloved friends of mine recommended that I apply to live offcampus, citing many instances where it had proven effective. Thus, I did.

Though I am ultimately glad I pursued this opportunity, what I would discover in the process is beyond repugnant.

I played my sad tunes, vulnerably exposing my restlessness through forms and meetings and documentation as the bureaucracy trailed along. I swallowed the calls from within informing me this was a humiliating procedure — I told myself it was normal. Why should they not get to pry and tear at

the confines of my heart? To lie my naked self down and have them examine and measure and test and retest and inspect and taste. Certainly they held some proprietary reason for this, their dulcet whispers reinforced their good-meaning, so Godgiven, intentions. I had to meet their criteria, to portray myself as just sick enough to need this but not too sick such as to require further intervention: shape myself in their desired, pitiful image. Most assuredly, in their promises I ought to mind away the distinct flavor of poison engulfed in honey.

Everything changed in the final step of the process, yet another interview, where I was informed my exemption request was rejected.

Following imparting his unilateral judgement, the University representative smiled at me. How sweetly he thought he did, but his smile never reached his eyes. It was an appeasing smile, a smile of repressed annoyance, of knowing better than the idiot before you. It was the smile of someone who rejoiced in grasping they would get their way no matter what, but had apathetically calculated that a little showmanship goes a long way to avoid further inconvenience.

He sang and praised with crazed eyes the University’s mission, in chants he regurgitated mottos and enveloped negations betwixt faux argumentation for diversity and inclusion. Before my stunned silence, he recited indemonstrable statistics and offered unacceptable crumbs supposedly standing in for negotiation. Of a million abstractions he spoke, not once did he speak of me. He had, without half a thought, determined my agonies — in their demanded ridicule and exposure — were not sufficient. He had decided I was not sad enough, not bad enough. Not worth the effort. The person forced to prostrate

in submission for this man’s benevolence was, after following every stipulated command, receiving a lecture on what they actually meant to be doing all along, misguided that they were.

It was upon his closing declaration I realized this man was irredeemably insane. We simply lived in different worlds: irreconcilable perspectival variation. To him, I was a petulant child. To me, he was not describing salvation, but with cultish fervor attempted to drown me in rehearsed zealotry. Whatever his twisted objective was behind deceiving my faculties, all he inspired in me was nothing but profound disgust.

Is this what one’s university experience should be? A fully grown adult, having made a decision by his own accord, has his will overwritten and his premeditated solution so callously and systematically discarded by an institution because of what? Tradition? Habit? How did this entity ever possibly earn the authority — the

gall — to claim it knows me better than myself? Whatever qualification was bestowed on that man to say my discomfort was not enough? Did he want me to dramatize it, ought I generate threats and ultimatums?

Would that have checked off his criteria? And then he gets to wash his hands clean, closing off with kind formalities and false pretenses regarding my wellbeing?

I was awestruck by the shamelessness of it all.

I am entirely ignorant in many aspects, and my youth betrays my imperfections. I could never be so prideful as to assert I am certain of the future, let alone in the matters of others. This pride was not absent in that man. The machinery of enforced living circumstances was constructed under the presumption that they understood something you did not. The process of acquiring an exemption is not merely outdated and tribalistic, it is violently insulting of your intellect and constrictive of your adult autonomy: It must be abolished.

In the grand majority of cases, there is indeed no problem with some inoffensive dorm living. But why should those that do not fit the mold bend and contort to its form? Why prohibit, why cruelly inhibit one’s capacities, under such baseless authority? The problem does not emerge from an official recommendation nor a default judgment, but in the violation of everyone’s self-determination under delusional grounding. Further, to humiliate and denigrate those who attempt to exert their will to escape, engaging with a savior complex? How laughable. When you do not let anyone flee from the subjective comforts of your home, you pass from savior to jailor. An institution, by definition, can never stake a claim on a man’s heart.

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Contact Carlos Basurto at cbasurto@nd.edu

Mary Ann Glendon Professor emerita of law, Harvard University

Phyllis W. Lauinger, M.D. Mother of eight Notre Dame alumni

Anthony J.

Columnist, “Eudaemonic Banter”

BEN SMITH| The Observer

NSR’s ‘Unrehearsed’ was entertaining chaos

By Harry Penne Scene Copy Editor

On Feb. 13, the Not-So-Royal Shakespeare Company (NSR) gave a one-night-only performance of “The Taming of the Shrew” live on the Haggerty Family Stage in the Duncan Student Center. But this wasn’t a typical performance of the Bard’s work, for it featured a major twist: none of the actors had ever encountered the material nor knew the story going into it. The show was performed “Unrehearsed.”

What does this mean, “Unrehearsed”? Directors — or more aptly “undirectors” — Allie McNulty and Nate Baker provided some background information ahead of the show. “Unrehearsed” is an NSR tradition that happens every semester, where club members gather to test their ability to interpret Shakespeare on the fly. The turnaround for the performers is incredibly quick, as they were given their roles the day before the show and lines the morning of. Even then, nobody on stage had a full script; instead, they had cue scripts. The result: reliance on context, improv and pure shenanigans to get through the story. In Baker’s words, “The actors experience the show with the audience.” An argument could be made that this is NSR’s most historically accurate show each semester, for this is how the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, Shakespeare’s own acting

troupe, operated. Shakespeare wrote cue scripts for his actors, which included the actor’s full line and the last few words of the preceding one.

I think the best way to sum up the performance was organized, facilitated chaos. The drama felt unpolished, raw and alive. So often when we see a play or watch a film, we are witnessing a heavily curated display. This was not the case with “Unrehearsed”; we watched a play be born. I think an apt description of the experience was a staged, blind read-through. Actors had to make decisions on the fly for line delivery, tone and action. It was also interesting to see how

noted, there were no rehearsals, so all choreography and blocking were organic, on the spot. One of my favorite aspects of NSR’s mainstage shows is their utilization of the whole performance space, often having actors interspersed amongst audience members seated in the Washington Hall Lab. “Unrehearsed” was no different, occasionally placing the actors right into the crowd in Duncan. Chase scenes and dramatic entrances were plentiful, making audiences change their visual orientation to catch everything. The actors really leaned into the goofier aspects of the night.

Doing a show like “Unrehearsed” comes with an understanding that things will inevitably go wrong. A few times, the actors got sidetracked or thrown off by cues, but some clever improv and minor line repetition revived the energy. Again, this was expected, and the audience played into it, laughing and cheering for the technical mishaps. A cast list was never formally released, so the actors also had to decipher who played who, leading to many funny moments of incorrect address. Even better, actors would play several roles, so, like “Actors from the London Stage,” audiences had to keep track of who was who at any

given time. The production was lovingly low-tech, with no set and sound effects being provided by actors off-stage or from a single Bluetooth speaker. By far, though, the best audience reaction was when the title “The Taming of the Shrew” was dropped, and several viewers applauded and cheered.

The prop work was my favorite element of “Unrehearsed.” In lieu of weapons, during all fight sequences, a plush fish was used, and this random inclusion truly added to the zany nature of the evening. The costumes were also hilariously out-there, having an “I found this in the dorm” vibe, involving a mix of street clothes, lots of hats, sunglasses and even a mouse onesie.

The show was a riot to watch and provided the right kind of laugh for a Friday night. In the spirit of the show, I didn’t research the plot ahead of time. From what I gathered, it involved misconstrued identity, love triangles, marital chaos and lots of drama, all themes perfect for Valentine’s weekend. What impressed me was how naturally the actors delivered the material; some scenes didn’t feel unrehearsed, which truly is a testament to NSR’s talent. I recommend gathering your friends and going to see “Unrehearsed” should it return in the fall semester of 2026.

Contact Harry Penne at hpenne@nd.edu

‘Wuthering Heights’ is pointless and horrible

By Marguerite Marley Scene Copy Editor

Ever since I heard that Emerald Fennell, director of “Promising Young Woman” and “Saltburn,” was adapting “Wuthering Heights,” I was intrigued; as an English major, it’s practically a requirement for me to love the Brontë sisters. And though all the press releases over the past six to eight months made it clear that it would be a very loose adaptation, many people have been criticizing how far it strays from Emily Brontë’s novel. But even without the surface-level references to its source material, ”Wuthering Heights” stands on its own as a horrible movie, directionless and themeless, that meanders on until the very last moments.

I was one of exactly four people in the theater, which should have been my first indication that it was not going to be a fun time. I was also required to show my ID before heading to the theater, though I genuinely don’t know how this earned an R rating, as most of the film could have been aired on network television after 8 p.m. Fennell earned a reputation for filming incredibly shocking scenes, but despite everything,

“Wuthering Heights” feels ex tremely restrained. There is some gross imagery in this film, particularly regarding the food, but compared to Fennell’s other outings, it’s incredibly chaste. This would not necessarily be a problem if the majority of the marketing around the movie referred to it as a “scandalous” adaptation.

Fennell’s writing also doesn’t really lend itself to the historical writing style. She seems to have originally written the

then ran her dialogue through a thesaurus in a crude attempt to make it sound more ‘old timey.’ But credit where credit is due, it’s a very pretty movie. The sets of both Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights look beautiful. Along with the West Yorkshire moors, which look incredible, Fennell clearly knows how to shoot in a way that shows the dark majesty of the English countryside.

The costume design is not bad,

but it’s trying to get as far away as possible from the Victorian era it’s supposed to represent. Margot Robbie is also put in a very ill-fitting push-up bra that would make Sydney Sweeney blush. The only truly interesting performance is that of Isabella Linton (Alison Oliver), and only because she is the only one who doesn’t seem completely detached from the project. Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie don’t seem interested in half of what they’re saying, most of which is

whispered. Oliver feels like the only one giving any energy to this project, and after nearly a full hour of listening to Robbie and Elordi whisper sweet nothings into each other’s ears, hearing her put some intention into the way she said things was a breath of fresh air. But other than that, there really isn’t one interesting performance among the other three leads. Robbie tends to spend most of her time over-acting with her face, and Elordi can’t seem to open his mouth enough to get any lines out.

“Wuthering Heights” is a wannabe “Romeo and Juliet” that is simply not an adaptation of its source material, aside from the names Cathy Earnshaw and Heathcliff slapped onto its leads. Not only that, but it also fails to be a compelling romance, whose actors tend to putter around beautiful sets with very little to do. When they are doing things, it’s not even that interesting. It’s a failure on all levels of cinema, and the only enjoyment I could find out of going to the cinema to see it was the popcorn and snacks I had while watching it.

Contact Marguerite Marley at mmarley2@nd.edu

MEG HAMMOND | The Observer

By Matt Norton Scene Writer

Dining out in 2026: A grim reality

The act of preparing a meal for another human being is one of the most loving actions a person can do. It’s ingrained in our genetic memory: when we share a meal together, we feel connected, whether it be sitting by the cave fire in 10,000 BCE enjoying some mammoth kebab or heating Trader Joe’s pasta in 2026 AD in a cramped dorm kitchen.

The food service industry takes this intimate connection a step further: come in, sit down, let yourself be taken care of. Eat, drink and enjoy yourself after a long day – you deserve to let professionals who’ve dedicated their careers to serving good food take you away from life’s worries for a few hours. Dining out is one of the greatest pleasures of the

modern world – until it’s not. 2020. Social distancing and quarantines force the restaurant industry into a state teetering on collapse. Thousands of restaurants across the United States died with a whimper during the pandemic, and today, that unique spark of enjoying a nice, affordable night out just doesn’t seem to scratch the itch of connection through food that we all once enjoyed. Why hasn’t the restaurant industry rebounded? It’s been over half a decade. Let’s examine.

According to the USDA’s food pricing database, the average mid-range meal for two at a restaurant costs between $50 and $100 in 2025. Food prices in general rose 4.1% for the year, and consequently, foot traffic for many restaurants is at an all-time low. Who can blame the average consumer? Who really wants

to spend what could be upward of a day’s wages on a meal? The problem is circular – fewer customers means restaurants aren’t meeting many of their fixed costs, and the short-term solution for small business owners lies in cost-cutting by any means necessary. Paper menus? Too expensive, here’s a QR code. NY strip with compound butter? The best we can do is flank steak and gravy. This serves to further harm the business in the long run, as customers realize that their dining dollar isn’t getting them as quality a meal or overall dining experience as they’ve come to expect and treasure from their favorite local restaurants for years, even decades.

It’s reasonable to say that these small businesses are doing what they have to do to survive, and I still don’t mind giving them my business

HUMOR

to a certain extent, but the problem has grown into a tumor on the side of the industry – a complete lack of variety. Why does every menu have cheesesteak eggrolls (which, by the way, should definitely include more than three pieces in one order for the price), mozzarella sticks and fried pickles nowadays? It’s simple: business owners order partially, or even fully, pre-made dishes to supplement their margins. Every burger joint nowadays can be reduced to this samsara-like cycle of suffering where “handhelds” are $22 and don’t come with fries. There’s just no damn variety that offers any value.

Distributors like Sysco run this racket. Some dishes arrive completely frozen, others heavily processed still, and all the restaurant has to do is reheat the components

and serve. A discussion could be had on some other day regarding the ethics of some of these distributors’ perhaps unsavory business practices, but the average consumer and culinary connoisseur alike just want to return to one simple thing: the spark of dining out, eating food prepared with love, alongside sharing a meal with loved ones. I’d rather not end this on a pessimistic note, so I’ll applaud the few, but still present, young restaurants that have challenged this dire trend by enduring the brunt of ruthless service industry margins in pursuit of change. We can make a return to the era of the great American restaurant, but a long and arduous journey lies ahead for both consumers and chefs.

Contact Matt Norton at mnorton3@nd.edu

Best breakup locations on campus

By Allison Abplanalp Scene Writer

Love was undeniably in the air this weekend. But with Valentine’s Day in the rearview and the sun starting to emerge, after seeing your formervalentine in the light, you’ve realized they’re actually chopped. A breakup is in order. Nevertheless, you should let them down easy. But what makes or breaks a break-up conversation isn’t being open and honest, showing respect or choosing the right clichés. It’s the location you break the news. Choosing the wrong spot could leave your soon-to-be ex emotionally scarred and unable to love again. So, assuming the role of reverse cupid, I present the best breakup spots on campus.

Purcell Pavilion

We must not only protect Purcell, but our hearts as well. Early last December, you thought this relationship could go all the way. But now it’s mid-February, you’re unranked, struggling to find that chemistry and anticipating an early exit from the tournament of love. It’s time to cut your losses and focus your energy on

recruiting a high school senior who will be eligible next season.

Stanford-Keenan middle room

The Stanford-Keenan middle room is the ideal liminal space that can help your ex navigate the transition from what was to what will be. The couches are functional but encourage efficient conversation, as sitting on them too long is known to cause rashes.

Muerello Career Development Center reservable rooms

When it comes to conversations about where you see yourself in five years, there’s no place like the CCD. They have plenty of rooms available to book and have that one-on-one.

Like always, come prepared to discuss their strengths and (mostly) weaknesses, why they are (not) a good fit and be sure to leave time at the end for.

To maintain journalistic integrity, I must disclose that I am a two-time winner of the CCD weekly drawing.

The $20 in Domer Dollar award had no impact on the views expressed in

this article.

Jenkins Nanovic mediation room

A great option for a civil conversation. Before arriving at this plenary, hold a breakup committee meeting with your friends to prepare a list of talking points. At the official proceeding, stick to the agenda, only allow one person to speak at a time and uphold respectful decorum. The risk here is that your ex attempts to block the breakup via filibuster, so bring some caffeine just in case. Best-case scenario, the two of you can maintain diplomatic relations. Worst-case scenario, nuclear war.

The NDH salad bar

Life is like a salad bar. There are lots of options. And while the tomatoes initially looked appetizing, recently the carrots seem pretty nutritious. Don’t be afraid to spell it out. They are tomatoes. That Baumer guy from The Backer is carrots. Then walk away before they’ve even finished assembling their salad. As T. Swift once sang, “I’m in a getaway car, I left you at the salad bar, put the lettuce in the bowl and I stole the

cheese, that was the last time you ever saw me.”

NDH food waste bins

Yes, another NDH location. What can I say? The DH is good for more than nourishing our bodies. The food waste bins provide ammo for your ex to throw in your face without creating any additional food waste, in line with the University’s sustainability goals. I would avoid doing this on the days they serve the curry bar. The DH workers also have the purest hearts, perfect to console your heartbroken ex. Additionally, I’ve noticed that NDH plays an disproportionately high amount of Panic! At the Disco compared to the reasonable person’s listening habits.

St. Olaf’s Ice Chapel Love, like the ice chapel, is fleeting. Wherever you break up with this person, that place will be permanently tainted, so it’s best to do it somewhere that won’t be around much longer. Cutting ties in an ice chapel is cold-hearted, but some people just aren’t worth melting for.

On air at WVFI

Scene’s guide to LinkedIn posting

“We’re coming to you live from Duncan student center, where I am about to break up with my significant other.” Now that’s content, far surpassing any of the frivolous articles I’ve ever written. The proliferation of social media means that anything in our lives can and should be exploited for content. WVFI is the best medium at ND to do so. Threatening a breakup in The Observer is a little too reminiscent of the Zodiac Killer. Performing a breakup song at Acoustic Cafe could also get lots of views.

A DeBartelo Performing Arts Center stage

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances;” ... and now it is time for your chopped ex to take their problems and exit stage left. Deliver your Oscar-worthy breakup monologue and conclude with a bow out of that relationship. Don’t shy away from submitting this performance as an event to TheWeek@ND.

Contact Allison Abplanalp at aabplana@nd.edu

By Matthew Rah Scene Writer

Everyone knows LinkedIn stands alongside the computer, the printing press and fire as one of the most important inventions in history. Unfortunately, though, many Notre Dame students woefully underutilize it. These poor souls have no idea what they’re missing out on, but The Observer is here to help. Here is your guide to posting on LinkedIn for every situation you might encounter.

Got a job

After a laborious job search,

you’ve managed to land a 14-week summer internship. This is what LinkedIn was built for. Few things in life are more fulfilling than the opportunity to celebrate whichever corporate fiend you’ve signed your soul away to. Whether you’re working for Raytheon, Goldman Sachs, Baal, Moloch or a more local malevolent entity, it’s important to let the world know which circle you’ll be spending the afterlife suffering in. Keep it simple: you’re thrilled to announce you’ll be joining Palantir’s team for the summer as an Evil Surveillance Intern, and you can’t wait to see what morally compromised opportunities this will bring!

Didn’t get a job

Computer science students, take notes: though not quite as glamorous as getting a job, not getting a job is equally important and should also be commemorated with its own LinkedIn announcement. After every rejection, it’s important to make it clear you didn’t want that job anyway. Let your followers know that the offending company is probably run by Geno Smith or Benjamin Netanyahu, and it’s most likely implicated in the Epstein files. It’s a good thing you dodged that bullet.

Made the dean’s list

Everyone knows making the

Dean’s List as a first-semester freshman is the greatest thing one can ever hope to achieve. World leaders, Olympians and Nobel laureates pale in comparison to the rare few in the top 30% of the GPA pecking order. A verbose, self-aggrandizing three paragraphs is the minimum one should post to celebrate such a monumental accomplishment. Bonus points if you used ChatGPT to write it. If you feel singled out by this section, you can post about that too.

Got a job people probably shouldn’t know about Once you’ve made it past the

second round of interviews for “Cartel – Drug Mule Intern (Summer 2026)”, an important deliberation awaits. Do you post about it on LinkedIn, potentially tipping off the FBI, or remain silent and let an important milestone go unnoticed? In this case, subtlety is the name of the game. You’ve started a new position in the “chemical transportation” industry, and you’re excited to “ingest” new experience and work with a “syndicate” of experienced professionals.

Contact Matthew Rah at mrah@nd.edu

HUMOR

Irish earn series victory over Minnesota

By Ryan Murphy Sports Writer

Danny Nelson finished skating through the fist-bump line and pumped his arm in the air one more time for good measure.

The junior forward captain had just given his team the high point of their 2025-26 season, scoring to put the Irish ahead of the Minnesota Golden Gophers 3-2 with just 51.9 seconds remaining. When the final minute ran out and the siren sounded in front of an elated sellout crowd of 5,120 at Compton Family Ice Arena on Saturday night, Nelson’s goal stood up as the game-winner.

The big moment had been a long time coming. Nelson’s goal propelled the Irish to only their second Big Ten conference win in 18 tries. With a 2-2 tie and a shootout loss to the Gophers in Friday’s game, Notre Dame also took the majority of the points in a conference series for the first time in over two years, since Jan. 19-20, 2024, against Penn State.

As one might expect in a series between two of the Big 10’s worst teams, the road to victory for Notre Dame (6-20-4, 2-15-1 Big Ten) against Minnesota (1019-2, 6-13-1 Big Ten) was not particularly pretty. It revealed much about how Notre Dame can make the most of what remains in their regular season.

In Friday’s game, a pair of first-period gaffes set the Irish back 2-0 after one. Brutal Notre Dame turnovers led to goals by Minnesota senior forward John Mittelstadt and sophomore

forward Brodie Ziemer just 26 seconds apart, drawing frustration from first-year Irish head coach Brock Sheahan.

“By now, with the way we practice and how clear and concise and consistent I know we are as a [coaching] staff, there is no excuse for us to just completely go off page and play random hockey,” Sheahan said postgame. “We know what we’re supposed to do; every guy on our team knows. But for some reason, we don’t want to do it.”

The Irish recovered from their turnover spasms in the third. They first showed signs of coming back when junior forward Brennan Ali finished off a tic-tac-toe feed from classmates forward Cole Knuble and Nelson. The stars got the Irish back to within one, and their fourth line tied it when senior forward Niko Jovanovic capitalized on a hard-working assist by sophomore forward Michael Schermerhorn.

Notre Dame buzzed in the offensive zone after tying the game with 6:09, but could not ultimately spring ahead. Then, their momentum faded. Irish sophomore netminder Nicholas Kempf kept them in it, making a number of difficult saves in the game’s final three minutes to push the game to overtime. A chance to win in regulation had again slipped through Notre Dame’s fingers.

“Credit to the guys, I thought they got on page, but we’ve had to do that how many times, especially in Big Ten play?”

Sheahan asked. “I thought we got really complacent in the last

three minutes. We’re not in that situation a lot, and that’s the problem for us.”

No, Notre Dame has not found itself in many close games late this year. But after a scoreless overtime period and Gopher freshman forward Javon Moore’s shootout winner Friday, the Irish found themselves again in a close game late on Saturday.

Again, Notre Dame got off on the wrong foot, conceding the first goal to Gopher senior defenseman Cal Thomas 6:21 into the contest. The game proceeded to the second period with limited chances for both teams, but the Irish still responded quicker than they did Friday night. They used strong penalty-killing to do so, shutting out Minnesota’s top-rated power-play four times between Friday and Saturday before Knuble scored shorthanded to tie the game at one.

“I thought our response to being down was ok, like it took us a little longer than I’d like. And that’s part of a fragile hockey team, a team that’s lost a lot of games,” Sheahan said.

Notre Dame showed their fragility not long after tying the game. With 51 seconds to go in the middle frame, the Irish allowed Moore to walk to the front of the net and tuck the puck around Kempf, giving Minnesota a 2-1 lead.

Down a goal in the third, Notre Dame found Saturday that they’d been there before. And unlike Friday night’s contest, where they eventually broke down after tying the

game, the Irish didn’t get complacent after freshman forward Cole Brown tied Saturday’s game at two again on the power-play. The Irish kept going.

And they kept going into the final minute of the game, when sophomore defenseman Jimmy Jurcev sprung Knuble on a three-on-two defensive-zone draw. Crossing the blue line into the slot, Knuble dropped the puck to Nelson, whose low shot beat Minnesota junior goaltender Luca Di Pasquo.

“It was kind of an ice burner,” Nelson said. “Brennan [Ali] had an unbelievable screen, he kind of did all the work there, got in front of the goalie’s eyes and made sure he wasn’t able to see anything, and I think that was ultimately why it went in.”

In a season where Notre Dame has had struggles finishing off chances even when they’ve gotten plenty, the Irish won Saturday without generating much offense. According to College Hockey News, their expected goals value Saturday was just 1.9, their lowest since getting shut out at Minnesota on Nov. 7.

So too, where the Irish let a regulation win slip through their fingers just the night before, Notre Dame did not repeat their mistake Saturday. In their limited experience playing close games late, the Irish so often have failed to win them. That made Nelson’s goal a breakthrough of sorts.

Both of those things should give Notre Dame a boost going forward. With just three weeks left in the regular season, the

Irish can now look ahead to the single-elimination Big Ten tournament. Their only remaining path to the NCAA tournament rests on winning the Big Ten.

“No one on this team is giving up,” Knuble said. “Obviously, [it’s] not the season we wanted, but no one is giving up. And every team makes the playoffs, so it’s three wins to win the Big Ten. Our mindset is to get better until then.”

“There’s obviously been a lot of times where that didn’t go our way,” he continued. “For it to go our way, it’s big for the group. I think we always believe, but like when it actually goes your way it kind of clarifies, and like I said, no one is giving up.”

Nelson and Sheahan echoed Knuble’s sentiment. The Irish still have something to play for this season, and something to improve for. Their improvement in finishing off scoring chances and finishing off games this weekend should bolster Notre Dame as they head to Michigan State next week before returning home for senior weekend against Penn State on Feb. 27-28.

“It’s good we’re playing close hockey,” Sheahan said. “We are in the playoffs no matter what our record is, right? We know that. So, what team can we be in seven games from now, a month from now? We’ve made progress, so that’s a positive. I still think there’s just so much more for us.”

Contact Ryan Murphy at rmurph22@nd.edu

ND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Irish get back on track and silence the Wolfpack

By Chris Dailey Sports Writer

If you had any doubts about the Notre Dame women’s basketball team, think again.

The Irish throttled the gas pedal against NC State, taking down the Wolfpack 79-67. The win moves Notre Dame to 16-9 on the season and 8-6 in the ACC.

After jumping out to an early 17-14 lead by the end of the first quarter, the Irish completely outclassed the Wolfpack in the second quarter, in which they outscored NC State 30-13.

Aside from a simply dominant second frame of basketball, the Irish’s biggest difference maker in the first proved to be its efficiency beyond the arc. Notre Dame finished the first half 7-12 from deep, including a flurry off the bench from graduate student forward Gisela Sanchez.

“We did a great job shooting from the perimeter. We did a great job preparing all week, so we were really happy that we had that opportunity to get better this week,” said head coach Niele Ivey in her postgame press conference.

As alluded to by Ivey, Notre Dame’s one week rest following its game on Feb. 8 against Virginia played a critical role in the Irish’s stellar showing. In a season that’s been marred by injuries and overall lack of depth, every player on Notre Dame contributed mightily against NC State.

“Thought that they came in with the right attitude every day. Thought that we had a really great practice yesterday; we had a ton of energy yesterday. So, when you have multiple days when you can rest, get some recovery, but also get

work done, it was really beneficial for us today,” said Ivey.

The second half was much of the same as the first. Notre Dame was lethal in transition, especially in the third quarter. At the midway point of the third, graduate student guard Iyana Moore stripped an NC State player before feeding to junior guard Hannah Hidalgo for a fast-break. One-on-one to the basket, Hidalgo did what she does best: razzledazzle her way to a score.

Just a few moments later, Moore found senior guard Cassandre Prosper on a nice backdoor cut to the paint. Prosper finished it off, and Moore’s back-to-back clever feeds were met with the applause of a rowdy crowd at Purcell Pavilion.

Early in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame reached a 27-point lead. To NC State’s credit, the Wolfpack hung tough and did not give up. With three legitimate potential All-ACC selections on its squad, its talent found a way to shine through. The Wolfpack ultimately cut the deficit to 12 by the final buzzer, but it was too little too late.

NC State likely could’ve stayed closer in the game had they not met a Notre Dame team that was hungry like the wolf for a turnover. The Irish forced 22 total turnovers, the most the Wolfpack have given up this season. Hidalgo paced the charge with six steals.

Hidalgo was also a pest underneath the glass. Despite standing just at 5-foot-6, the junior superstar guard swiped eight rebounds, a feat made even more impressive considering she came into the game leading the ACC in rebounds.

“It gives our team energy

when you see somebody that’s the smallest person on the floor flying around,” said Ivey on Hidalgo’s relentless effort. “It changes the mentality of the team.”

Offensively, Hidalgo paved the way with 19 points and six assists. Her superb play was complemented by graduate student forward Malaya Cowles, Prosper and Moore. All three upperclassmen finished with at least 13 points.

Cowles’ play was especially fantastic. The Wake Forest transfer shot six-for-nine from the field, and her physical presence inside helped open up space for Notre Dame’s shooters on the perimeter.

But most importantly, in Notre Dame’s annual pink game for breast cancer research and awareness, Cowles

played for a reason bigger than herself.

“It definitely means a lot playing for my team and all of the fighters that are out there today,” said Cowles. “My mom is a fighter.”

Ivey also elaborated on the game’s extra significance, saying, “This is the type of game you want to play for because you know it’s bigger than basketball. There were a lot of survivors here. We had five who joined us in the tunnel. These are the moments we get the chance to honor the supporters, our fans and know that this game is a small thing in this game of life.”

Ivey, Cowles and company certainly did their part to honor those fighters in attendance with their most well-rounded performance of the season

thus far.

Looking ahead, Notre Dame travels to Winston-Salem, NC and Dallas for games against Wake Forest and SMU on Thursday and Sunday. The Irish then host Syracuse on Feb. 26 before concluding their regular season with a tough road test against No. 9 Louisville on March 1. With the Demon Deacons and Mustangs sitting close to last in the conference standings, the first two games of this final stretch are winnable. While the latter two pose more of a challenge, the Irish’s performance against the Wolfpack was vindication that they can hang with the best of them.

Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey2@nd.edu

Irish kick off ACC season with style

By Jacek Kawczynski Sports Writer

Notre Dame women’s tennis has been in impressive form so far this season, and came into a busy week with high expectations to continue their good form. An Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opener at Louisville before hosting Bellarmine would prove a tough test for the formidable Irish.

To kick things off was a Friday trip to Louisville to open the Irish’s ACC campaign. The Cardinals were 5-0 to begin the season, only dropping one point through their first five games. However, the Irish came hungry for their seventh straight victory. The day didn’t get off to the best start as the Irish dropped the doubles point, with

disappointing 6-2 losses for the No. 25-ranked pair of senior Bojana Pozder and sophomore partner Bianca Molnar, as well as senior Akari Matsuno and freshman Sophia Holod. The other senior and freshman pairing of Rylie Hanford and Gabriella Rawles picked up a 6-4 win, which ultimately proved fruitless as the Cardinals took the early lead. Clearly, the Irish took this personally, as they came out firing in the singles. Molnar proved why she is deserving of her ITA No. 50 ranking as she battled past the Cardinals’ senior Alice Otis in a tough 6-4, 6-4 victory, continuing her perfect record whilst playing No. 1 singles for the season. Seniors Matsuno and Hanford both fought hard in tough tiebreaks

to take their respective matches, with a 7-6(5), 6-3 win for Matsuno over Louisville junior Germany Davis and a 6-3, 7-6(4) win for Hanford against junior Berta Miret. Finally, Rawles eased past Louisville senior Rebekkah Gaines 6-1, 6-2 to ensure it was happy travels for the Irish, who kick off their ACC campaign with a point in the win column. Next up for the Irish was a return to Eck Tennis Pavilion for a doubleheader against the Bellarmine Knights, who have had a mixed season with a strong 5-1 home record but have seen struggles away from home, sitting at 1-6. With the Irish in good form, they were surely brimming with confidence going into Sunday.

There was no slow start like

Friday, as Holod and Molnar had no mercy in a 6-0 victory over senior Vendula Kryslova and sophomore Reese Parker, whilst Hanford and Rawles sealed the doubles point as they eased past freshman Gracie Hurley and junior Lillie Willis 6-1. This form was carried right into the singles, as the Irish went 4-2 in singles to seal the 5-2 victory, with dominant victories all around. Holod won 6-1, 6-1 over Krysolva in her first game at one singles this season, whilst at two, Hanford defeated junior Marika Caruk 6-2, 6-3.

The other two Irish wins came courtesy of two of the Irish’s excellent freshman class, as Jessica Kovalcik only dropped one game in a 6-0, 6-1 victory over fellow freshman Hurley,

whilst Mari-Louise Van Zyl got past Willis in a 6-2, 6-3 win. The two Knights wins were in thrillers, as Parker beat Rawles 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 and junior Nikola Kollaritsch fought back against sophomore Esther Vrylan to win 2-6, 7-5, 1-0.

In the evening session, it was Irish dominance once again as they swept a 4-0 victory to end the day on a high. Holod, Kovalcik, Vrylan and Rawles all shone in this Irish victory, with none of them dropping a set as they eased past the Knights. The Irish will host Miami next Friday in another ACC matchup, before they take on the Florida State Seminoles next Sunday.

Contact Jacek Kawczynski at jkawczyn@nd.edu

KEVIN SANCHEZ | The Observer

Senior guard Vanessa de Jesus sinks a three pointer against NC State as part of the 79-67 Irish victory. She finished the game with five points and three rebounds to help win the conference battle against the Wolfpack.

ND WOMEN’S TENNIS

Saint StuntMary’s Team

Photography by Mariella Taddonio

The Saint Mary’s stunt team hosted a competition this weekend against Maryville College.

By Dan Kilcoyne Sports Writer

The Notre Dame men’s tennis team continues its dominant season against Illinois and Creighton.

Only a week after a triple-header headlined by a gut-wrenching 3-4 loss to Wisconsin, Notre Dame men’s tennis returned to the court for a home double-header against No. 25 Illinois and Creighton. The Irish dominated a strong Illini team which earned a big 4-1 win against No. 15 Duke a few weeks ago, turning the scoreboard into their own 4-1 victory. Notre Dame followed up with a 5-0 sweep of Creighton, putting their record at an impressive 8-1.

Seniors Noah Becker and Sebastian Dominko put the Irish doubles teams on the board with a 6-2 win over senior William Mroz and his partner Jeremy Zhang. No. 16-ranked sophomore duo Peter Nad and Luis Llorens Saracho secured the doubles point, beating junior Tyler Bowers and freshman Gabriel Debru 6-4.

Graduate student Perry Gregg led the singles charge for the Irish, upsetting No. 12-ranked senior Kenta Miyoshi 6-5, 7-5 in a rollercoaster of a match. Gregg has been a fantastic singles stalwart for the Irish this year. Last week, he defeated Wisconsin’s No. 75-ranked Michael Minasyan, showcasing his dynamic groundstrokes, including a breathtaking down-the-line backhand winner to set up match point. The California native proved the Wisconsin win was not just a one-off and that he has the weapons to take on the best players in the

ND MEN’S TENNIS

Notre Dame rolls at home

Mommessin to help the Irish take the

nation.

Notre Dame junior Kyran Magimay coasted through his match, defeating Illinois freshman Hayden Jones 6-1, 6-3. Mroz put Illinois on the board with a 7-5, 6-3 win over sophomore Giuseppe Cerasuolo, but Nad clinched the match for the Irish with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over freshman Adam Jilly. No. 16-ranked Dominko locked horns with Debru, with the match tied at 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 4-4 before it was abandoned.

Saint Mary’s

By Claire Watson Associate Sports Editor

Over this past week, Saint Mary’s basketball faced off against two teams, No. 22 Trine and Alma. After falling to both teams, Saint Mary’s moved to 7-16 overall on the season and 2-12 in the MIAA.

Saint Mary’s vs. Trine

In a conference game against the No. 22 ranked Trine Thunder, Saint Mary’s fell in a devastating 88-40 loss. Both teams struggled in the first quarter, but Trine found its bearings and took advantage of a 10-3 run to finish the first quarter with a 16-10 lead. The Thunder continued the scoring trend leading 39-18 at the half,

5-0.

The Irish had little time to celebrate the big win before their afternoon matchup with Creighton. Nad and Llorens Saracho picked up right where they left off, blowing past freshman Lucas Mommessin and senior Kirtan Patel 6-1. Becker and freshman Nicholas Patrick followed up with a 6-2 victory over freshman Jack McMahon and sophomore Rocky McKenzie.

Notre Dame was equally dominant in the singles department. Dominko flew past

Patel 6-2, 6-1, and freshman Nolan Balthazor doubled the lead with a 6-2, 6-2 win against Mommessin. Notre Dame junior Evan Lee beat McMahon 6-1, 6-3, and Nad closed out a successful weekend with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over freshman Mathis Dahler.

It has been a strong start to the season for the Irish, and the team only seems to be getting better. The doubles lineup is settling in, and players are finding their groove in singles. This upcoming weekend

will prove a significant test. Notre Dame is home against Northwestern on Feb. 20, before an away showdown on Feb. 22 against an undefeated Ohio State that looks to be the best team in the nation. Despite the odds, the players have shown that they can compete with anyone, and a dual against the nation’s best team is the perfect preparation for a brutal ACC schedule in March.

Contact Dan Kilcoyne at dkilcoyn@nd.edu

drops two against conference foes

taking advantage of the struggling Saint Mary’s offense.

The third quarter looked similar as the Belles found it difficult to score on the Trine defense. Trine continued the offensive barrage, zipping by Saint Mary’s as the Thunder offense appeared nearly unstoppable. Trine got out to an even larger 61-26 lead after three quarters. Offensively, the fourth quarter would be the best quarter for the Belles as they went 5 for 16 from the field and knocked down four threepointers. However, it would not be enough to comeback against Trine who won 88-40.

Overall, it was both the Belles’ offense and defense that struggled mightily in the loss. Saint Mary’s was only able to grab 24

rebounds while Trine brought down 47, many of which were critical offensive rebounds for second chance points. Defensively, junior guard Kate Restovich led on the court with four rebounds. On offense, the Belles struggled with the protection of the ball, as Trine forced 13 steals and 19 turnovers. Saint Mary’s only went only 12 for 49 from the field, 6 for 32 from the arc and 10 for 14 from the free throw line. Overall, sophomore guard Kate Passinault led the Belles with 13 points followed by sophomore guard Ella Notaro, who finished with nine points. The belligerent pressure was an essential part of the Thunder attack to win comfortably.

Saint Mary’s vs. Alma

In the second conference game of the week, Saint Mary’s faced off against the Alma Scots and fell in another loss, 80-50. The Belles found trouble early on as they continued to struggle shooting in the first quarter. On the other hand, Alma’s offense was a major strength as it aided an early 22-11 lead at the first break. The Scots continued in a scoring groove, using an 11-0 run to stay ahead. Despite the Belles managing a 9-2 run nearing the end of the quarter, Alma maintained a 43-28 lead at the half. The Scots proved they had no intention of stopping there.

Alma capitalized on a 12-0 run to open the second half, making easy work of the Belles defense. This attack was a

catalyst for the 64-39 score at the end of the third quarter. The scoring slowed down in the fourth, but the Scots hung on to the large lead to triumph over Saint Mary’s.

Overall, senior forward Hannah Outlaw led the team on the court with a total of 16 points going 5 for 8 from field. She put in six from the charity stripe, added three assists and finished with three additional steals. Passinault also contributed defensively as she snagged four rebounds for the Belles. After these two losses, the Belles’ next matchup is set to be against Kalamazoo at home on Feb. 18 starting at 7 p.m.

Contact Claire Watson at cwatson01@saitnmarys.edu

KEVIN SANCHEZ| The Observer Freshman, Nolan Balthazor returns a shot against Marquette on Feb. 8, 2026. Balthazor won sets 6-2, 6-2 against Creighton freshman Lucas

victory

Notre Dame also defeated No. 25 Illinois 4-1 earlier on Saturday to move to 8-1 on the season.

SPORTS

Exclusive: Riley Leonard turns patience into success

By Chris Dailey Sports Writer

Former Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard was golfing with his brothers when his phone rang. It was the call he had dreamed about since he first picked up a football.

“This is the Jacksonville Jaguars,” said the caller.

Riley and his brothers erupted. They hurried into the clubhouse, filled with friends and family. As soon as Riley entered, all eyes were fixated on the television. The entire room waited for the moment of truth. The Jaguars had back-toback picks, and as he just heard, Leonard was going to Duval.

Unbeknownst to Leonard and company, that moment never came.

“First pick: crickets, not me. Second pick: crickets, not me. It was so embarrassing because I had this party,” said Leonard.

The call had been a prank. Leonard would hear his name for real the next day, with the Indianapolis Colts swooping him up in the sixth round. Little did he know, that test of patience was just a preview for what was to come in the NFL.

Slated to be the Colts’ thirdstring quarterback out of preseason, Leonard received the bump to second-string midway through October when backup Anthony Richardson was placed on injured reserve from a warmup injury.

Then, on Dec. 7 against the Jaguars, Leonard was thrust under center at the end of the first quarter after starter Daniel Jones went down with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Leonard went 18 for 29, throwing for 145 yards and an

interception in his NFL debut. It wasn’t perfect, but it appeared to be enough to earn Leonard the starting role in the final four games of the season.

Enter Phillip Rivers. The 44-year-old future Hall of Famer came out of retirement to start for the Colts, once again relegating Leonard to a backup role.

Despite the disappointment, Leonard never grew resentful. Instead, he used these abundant resources as a lesson.

“[Jones and Rivers] are very close in my life. They have taught me so much off the field stuff and how to handle myself. But to get in a room with them and watch film with them for eight hours in a row on an off day, what a blessing. People would pay big money to do that,” said Leonard.

Leonard’s relationship with both Jones and Rivers dates back several years. He credits Jones as being a reason he committed to Duke out of high school. Rivers, meanwhile, lives “a mile down the road in Fairhope, Alabama.” Prior to officially arriving in South Bend, Rivers hosted Leonard, then highschool quarterback CJ Carr and a host of Notre Dame wide receivers to train with him in Fairhope.

The extra four weeks he spent learning under the tutelage of Rivers proved worthwhile. With the veteran out of action in week 17, Leonard earned his first career start. He threw for 270 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 38-30 loss to the Texans.

Leonard’s best play of the game came early in the first quarter, connecting on a deep ball to Alec Pierce for a touchdown. After the play, Leonard knew exactly where to go.

“When it happened, I was able to throw the ball to my dad. It’s

still sitting in our living room now in a case. That’s why you play the game. That’s what you remember when you look back at a career,” Leonard said.

The clip of Leonard tossing the ball to his dad went viral on social media, generating millions of views. What the masses didn’t see was his family’s support leading up to that moment.

“The thing that goes unnoticed is that [my family] were at every game,” said Leonard. “For a long stretch of that later half of the season, we really anticipated that I would be able to play more than I did. That’s a lot of money they spent.”

Leonard’s strong play against the Texans solidified him as a

ND MEN’S LACROSSE

legitimate backup quarterback in the NFL. While his dual-threat capabilities were on full display and long touted from his success with the Irish, Leonard’s football IQ was noticeably improved upon from his college days.

“The biggest thing is the presnap checks,” said Leonard. “If you’re not in the exact right play against the exact right coverage, the playing field is so similar that anybody can beat anybody.”

Leonard has undoubtedly grown as a football player since leaving his post in South Bend. Yet off the field, he’s just as focused on personal growth.

“I’m trying to take this time during the offseason to grow myself in my faith so I can be as prepared

as possible when the time comes as a husband and then as a future father. I want to implement Christ in everybody’s life that I come into contact with, especially those in my own house,” said Leonard. Following marrying his high school sweetheart, Molly Walding, next month, Leonard will return to the Colts as an experienced second-year backup quarterback. After a turbulent rookie season and countless hours spent learning in a quarterback room stacked with experience, it’s safe to say that Leonard will be ready for any challenge that comes his way.

Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey2@nd.edu

Notre Dame kicks off season with a win

By Jack Muething Sports Writer

The Notre Dame lacrosse team took on the Marquette Golden Eagles in a road battle and came away with a 16-11 victory. It was the opening game of the year for the Irish, meaning they are 1-0 heading into their next contest. For Marquette, they fall to 0-2 after having played two ranked opponents, Michigan and Notre Dame, to start the year.

The Irish jumped out to an incredibly fast start, getting goals on each of their first two possessions, getting goals from sophomore midfielder Matt Jeffery and Aidan-Diaz Matos, a freshman, capitalizing after he won the faceoff. Graduate student midfielder Jalen Seymour then capitalized on a couple of possessions later to make it a 3-0 lead for the Irish, but then the goals really quieted down for

Notre Dame. The Irish got good looks, but Marquette’s goalkeeper Lucas Lawas made some excellent saves, finishing the half with seven saves.

Offensively, Marquette took great care of the ball and executed on their face-offs. As a result, they tied the game up at three, with goals from Ethan Salvia and then two from Tucker Mullen. The Irish went on a 16-minute drought without a goal, but they got one from junior attack Brock Behrman and then went on a 5-1 run, getting three goals in two minutes. Marquette responded to that 5-goal run by getting two goals to end the half and then two goals early in the second half as well to tie the game up at eight. Just like they did when the game was tied at three, though, the Irish locked in and went on yet another 5-1 run, getting three goals in that run from the incoming transfer from

Air Force graduate student attack Josh Yago, playing in his first career Notre Dame game. From that point, the Irish never looked back, finishing the game winning 16-11.

Notable players offensively for the Irish include Yago, who led the team in scoring with four goals in his Notre Dame debut, sophomore attack Luke Miller, who picked up two goals and two assists and Jeffery, who picked up two goals and an assist. For the Irish, most of their goals were scored because of players creating their own opportunities off good dodges. For Marquette offensively, Carsen Brandt and Beau Westphal each picked up hat tricks, which accounted for a little more than half of Marquette’s goals. Mullen also contributed two goals and two assists for the Golden Eagles, and they were efficient with their shots as 23 of their 34 shots were on goal,

which made it tough for the Notre Dame defense.

Defensively for the Irish, senior goalkeeper Thomas Ricciardelli picked up 12 saves in the contest. The star pole for the Irish was senior LSM Will Donovan, the three-time All-American, as he caused three turnovers and picked up three ground balls. The reigning Schmeiser award winner, junior defensive player Shawn Lyght, also had a solid game, causing one turnover and picking up three ground balls. It was a relatively sound defensive game for the Irish, and their two defensive stars led the way in this contest. For Marquette, they had struggles causing turnovers as they only forced four compared to the Irish, who forced 10. Lawas picked up 10 saves for the Golden Eagles, most of which came in the first half.

For Notre Dame, while they

did take the win in this one, they may have been looking for a better offensive performance. There were real slumps that occurred in that game, particularly at the end of the first quarter and the start of the second quarter. A lot of that came down to the faceoff battle as the Irish went a combined 15-29 on faceoffs. That ultimately led to more offensive opportunities for Marquette than Notre Dame would have liked to have given them. It was the least amount of goals Notre Dame had scored in a game against Marquette since 2021, and even though the Irish did win, they have been looking for a better performance against a team that they normally dominate. The Irish will take on Bellarmine for their home opener on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Contact Jack Muething at jmuethin@nd.edu

MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer

Quarterback Riley Leonard celebrates a rushing touchdown against Penn State in the 2025 College Football Playoff. Leonard was drafted in the sixth round after leading Notre Dame to the National Championship.