THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS
Prayer service concludes week of protest planning
By Mara Hall and Henry Jagodzinski
News Writer and Assistant Managing Editor
Around 150 students, alumni and community members gathered on South Quad Friday evening for a prayer service in support of Notre Dame’s Catholic mission.
The event was initially billed a “March on the Dome” demonstration, protesting professor Susan Ostermann’s appointment to director of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, but was altered after Ostermann declined the appointment. The promotion had drawn backlash as a result of Ostermann’s abortion-rights advocacy.
The prayer service began with remarks from organizer and sophomore Luke Woodyard.
“We gather here no longer in protest, but rather to give gratitude to God. What started as an event addressing the appointment of Susan Ostermann as head of the Liu
Students go to prison for “Inside-Out” class
By Jessica Mayor and Andrew Poulton News Writers
Once every week, Notre Dame students go to prison. They haven’t committed any crime; rather, they are there to learn alongside men incarcerated in the Westville Correctional Facility.
Professor Connie Mick teaches a class called “Poverty & Justice: Inside-Out.” The three-credithour class meets once a week, but Notre Dame students — the “outside students” — attend class at the prison 12 times throughout the semester. There they learn alongside incarcerated men — the “inside students” — and a few corrections officers, new additions to the class this year.
The class was first offered in 2012 by the Center for Social Concerns, now known as the Institute for Social Concerns. Mick, teaching the inside-out class for her third consecutive spring, reported that demand is high for seats both inside and out. Every semester, students apply to be one of 12 participants, with 12 corresponding classmates coming from Westville.
Holding class in prison comes
NEWS | PAGE 4
Iran reactions
Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s students reacted to the death of Iran’s supreme leader.
with its fair share of logistical difficulties. Outside students go through standard security protocol before each class, adhering to a long list of rules about permitted clothing and items. No technology is allowed inside of the prison, meaning all papers are handwritten. With Westville a 50-minute drive from campus, students dedicate several hours each Friday to attend class.
Mick wants her students to leave with a clearer understanding of the production of poverty and the perpetuation of poverty in the United States. She also hopes that her students will gain a greater understanding of the connection between poverty and justice. Lastly, she wishes to provide her students with a sense of hope and confidence that they have the ability to effect change.
Each class starts with a meditation to “transition into the experience together,” Mick wrote in a statement to The Observer. Given the security constraints, the class covers fewer texts, meaning students delve deeper into the materials provided. Mick also describes the writing process as “more deliberate,” given everything is written by hand.
OPINION | PAGE 6
Finding my faith
Columnist Oliver Ortega reflects on building his faith as a graduate student at Notre Dame.
While the secure environment can initially make the classroom environment tense, Mick wrote that the level of conversation in class is often “deeper and higher than what happens on campus.”
“Every student in that room is grateful to be there and they show up fully prepared to participate every week,” she wrote. “It’s a privilege for all of us and it shows in the quality of thinking we achieve together.”
Inside and outside students sit in alternate seats to promote shared dialogue, with classes almost entirely discussion-based. Mick wrote that this experience had “an impact on my ability to see the full humanity of people and to appreciate the gifts people develop and share even in difficult places.”
Junior Alayna Lawley chose to apply to the course because of her interest in poverty, inequality and the justice system.
“I think it’s important because it breaks down distance. It’s easy to talk about ‘the prison system’ or ‘incarcerated people’ in broad terms. It’s much harder, and much more meaningful,
see “Inside-out” on page 4
SCENE | PAGE 8 Keenan Revue
In its 50th year, Keenan Hall’s annual comedy and music show still deliver the goods.
Institute has become a gathering of thanksgiving and hope for the future in light of Ostermann’s recent withdrawal,” he said in a speech.
The event started at the South Quad flagpole before processing to the Grotto, where the Militia of the Immaculata led a rosary. The standard 6:45 p.m. Grotto rosary group joined those attending the prayer service.
Staff from the Student Activities Office and the Office of Public Affairs and Communications were present to monitor the event.
Organizer and junior Gabriel Ortner said in an interview with The Observer he was satisfied with the turnout and said it showed how much students care about the University’s Catholic identity. Woodyard, in an interview, said the turnout met his expectations and he assumed attendance would be lower after
see “Grotto” on page 3
Snite to reopen after art exodus
By Chloe Hanford News Writer
Students at the University of Notre Dame entering O’Shaughnessy Hall might wonder what is occurring in the building next door — formerly the Snite Museum of Art. The building has been closed to the public since spring 2023, when it transitioned to a new role and name as the Snite Research Center in the Visual Arts.
However, the building remains a bustling space for some behindthe-scenes work for the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art. Now, the majority of students who have not yet explored the research center will have the opportunity to see the building next fall, when it will open for public hours and classroom use.
The former Snite Museum of Art opened in November 1980 after four years of construction thanks to a $2 million gift from Fredrick Snite Sr. During the museum’s time, it held the University’s growing art collections and was home to the former Meštrović Sculpture Studio, where renowned Croatian artist-in-residence Ivan Meštrović worked from 1955 to 1962, as well as the existing O’Shaughnessy Art Gallery.
SPORTS | PAGE 12
Irish men’s lacrosse
Notre Dame took down the Maryland Terrapins 11-8 on the road in a ranked showdown.
The museum closed to the public in spring 2023 to prepare for the opening of the Raclin Murphy Museum that same fall, transitioning to a new name — the Snite Research Center in the Visual Arts.
Joseph Becherer, director and curator of the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, said the building was “designed to be very forward-facing.”
“It puts us right at the entrance to campus, so that we can be here for everybody on campus but also everybody who wants to visit campus,” he said.
The Snite Research Center in the Visual Arts supports this forward-facing element behind the scenes as well.
“Right now, more than half of the staff still works there,” Becherer said. “There is about 85% of the permanent collection which is in some level of research or storage, which is there. And our photography studios are there and almost all of our files.”
He explained that though it might seem a bit deserted to students in the meanwhile, there is a lot of work happening on the backend.
see “Snite” on page 3
SPORTS | PAGE 12
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Notre Dame earns its fourth ACC at victory in a stunning comeback against NC State.
JONATHAN KARR| The Observer
About 150 people gathered at the Grotto to pray in thanksgiving for the Catholic mission of the University of Notre Dame prevailing in the wake of Susan Ostermann declining the directorship of the Liu Institute.
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March for Unity Belles Unite Borders march in solidarity with immigrants. 5 - 6 p.m. Spes Unica Hall
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Flash Panel “Bangladesh Post-Election Challenges” Panelist speak on new administration and its implications. 4:15 - 5:30 p.m. Virtual Zoom available on Events ND
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Snite
Continued from page 1
Even if it doesn’t look like there’s a lot of activity, trust me, there’s a lot of activity happening within,” he said.
According to Becherer, around 1000 works of art are on display at Raclin Murphy at any given time. Curators rotate out these artworks for classes as well as the needs of faculty, scholars and curators.
Grotto
Continued from page 1
Ostermann declined the position.
“It’s sad, because sometimes the wins, they don’t draw as much as the controversies,” he said.
Ortner said he believed University President Fr. Robert Dowd had “taken a lot of very good leadership behind the scenes” to ensure Ostermann’s appointment did not go through.
“I’m very supportive of Fr. Dowd, and I have a lot of hope for the future of our university. At the same time, I think that there may be particular people within the administration who have a slightly different vision of Notre Dame that is not entirely in harmony with the Catholic identity of
“There’s a lot of things going back-and-forth between the two facilities and even though it’s only 40 some yards between the Snite and the Raclin Murphy, we have to take really good care anytime we transport things from point A to point B,” he said.
Snite’s new name emphasizes its new role and purpose as a research center. Research at Snite is done by semester-based teams of student
Notre Dame,” Ortner said. Anna Kelley, senior and president of Notre Dame Right to Life, also suggested in an interview that she believed administration may have intervened in Ostermann’s appointment.
“We don’t really know what happened in the background regarding Ostermann’s withdrawal, and I think there must have been some administrative action happening behind the scenes,” she said.
Kelley added that she thought there was work to be done in reviewing Notre Dame’s hiring process. “This is not the end of trying to continue the Catholic mission and Catholic identity,” she said.
In an interview with The Observer, Theo Austin, vice president of Students for Child-Oriented Policy, said, “Right now, I think the most important thing to express
workers, post-docs, curators and visiting scholars. Some of its projects include digitizing the University’s entire collection at its photography studio and broad conservation work.
Junior Juan Becdach frequently attends classes in the adjacent O’Shaughnessy Hall for his philosophy major and is curious to see the Snite’s interior.
“Pretty much since my freshman year, I’ve been wondering about what they
is unity among the student body and our unity with the Catholic mission of the University.” He added that in light of Ostermann stepping down, a protest was not the appropriate response.
Woodyard also commented on the shift in the approach of the event.
“We’re here in thanksgiving. This event is not an angry protest calling for the university to do certain actions,” he stated.
Woodyard described the news that Ostermann had decided to decline her appointment as “amazing.”
“I applaud her for this. That is such a bold decision, and I thank her for listening to the students,” he said.
“We don’t hate her. We just think that Notre Dame needs to put its Catholic faith forward. That’s what this has always been about,” he added.
Attendees at the prayer
Notre Dame Swab Week
March 2 – 6, 2026 from
house in there, so I’d definitely be inclined to tour it if given the chance,” he said.
Now, students can look forward to using parts of the Snite during its new public hours which will begin on weekdays starting fall 2026. The area will connect the south-facing front doors of Snite to the courtyard of O’Shaughnessy Hall.
In collaboration with the Office of the Registrar, the auditorium located on the
service expressed a mix of disappointment in the University and gratitude that Ostermann would not become director of the Liu Institute.
“I think it is very shameful that a Catholic school would appoint someone with such manifest support for legal abortion to a leadership position,” Max McNiff, a sophomore and an officer of the Knights of Columbus, said.
“It is not unprecedented for leaders of Notre Dame to take stands on controversial social issues, such as Hesburgh with the civil rights movement. I think for Notre Dame to continue in that legacy, its leaders should not be afraid to speak out on issues such as abortion.”
Daniel Costello, a retired faculty member, said, “I think this is important to uphold the Catholic character of the University.” He added, “I hope the University does not make the same mistake twice.”
Bob Tull, a Notre Dame class of 1978 alumnus, said, “I am here to support what I consider to be the anti-abortion decision that has been made. We are very happy to see that the student body and many others are helping to try to influence this. I think it is a strong Catholic issue, and I think it ends up speaking well to the Catholic identity of Notre Dame.”
Organizers said the event was not the end of the conversation.
“It is not the end of the discourse between the student body and the University. This is something that has always existed and is obviously going to continue — particularly around our Catholic identity. Today is a step toward that goal of a strong Notre Dame that is not afraid to defend its Catholic identity, which hopefully begins with the administration but is upheld by students, by faculty, by all involved. Today we hope to pray for unity in that and grow from there,” Austin said.
In an interview with The Observer, Fr. Wilson Miscamble said he was grateful for the event’s organizers and the co-sponsoring organizations. “There’s still a lot of work to do,” he added. Following the rosary, Miscamble told attendees they could leave their candles at the Grotto, “or perhaps you could
lower level of Snite will also be used for academic purposes next fall, acting as a lecture hall with roughly 248 seats.
The upper levels of Snite will remain what Becherer calls “the worker-bee part of the art museum,” housing files, collections and offices, including Becherer’s own office.
Contact Chloe Hanford at chanford@nd.edu
take them, in case we need them at some future service.”
In a statement to The Observer, Bill Dempsey, chairman of the Sycamore Trust, wrote he was grateful Ostermann chose to decline her appointment and appreciated the “crucial role played by the courageous actions of students who stood up—publicly and prayerfully—for the integrity of Notre Dame’s Catholic mission.”
The Sycamore Trust, an organization focused on “fighting for the university’s Catholic identity,” supported and promoted the event.
However, Dempsey said he had broader concerns about Notre Dame’s administration, and that it would be “shortsighted” to describe Ostermann’s decision to decline the role as a victory.
“The appointment is far more important than the resignation, welcome as that is. With no indication of regret from Father Dowd, the appointment remains a scandal. It evidences the low value the administration places on the Church’s teaching on abortion. It is a telling symptom of the school’s weakening Catholic identity. And it is distressing that a protest of nuclear dimension was required to effect any change,” Dempsey wrote.
Woodyard made it clear that his concerns about Notre Dame’s Catholic identity were much broader than just the appointment of Ostermann.
“People think the protest was about Ostermann. Ostermann was the last straw, but it was a long line of university action that has implied that they don’t value Notre Dame’s Catholic identity,” he said.
He added that representatives of Catholic and conservative student organizations on campus would be voicing their concerns publicly at a later time in lieu of speeches previously planned for the march.
“The leaders of the clubs will be making their voices known through newspapers, through the media, over the coming weeks, so just be prepared for that, because the bill has to come due,” Woodyard said.
Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu and Henry Jagodzinski at hjagodzi@nd.edu
Professors react to death of Iran supreme leader
By Soledad Castellanos and Mara Hall
Saint Mary’s News Writer and News Writer
Beginning Feb. 28, the U.S. military operation known as “Epic Fury” brought a series of large-scale military strikes across Iran, killing the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, among others. The fighting was initially spearheaded by Israel and the United States, but Iran has been quick to retaliate on military bases across the gulf. With a tumultuous history of assisted coups, hostage crises, regime revolutions and nuclear deals, the relationship between the United States and Iran has spanned over 70 years.
Inside-out
Continued from page 1
to sit in a classroom together and wrestle with the same readings,” Lawley wrote in a statement.
She went on to write that getting to know her incarcerated classmates while taking this class changed her views of the prison system.
“Through our conversations, they have opened up about the struggles they face in prison, struggles I had never even considered before. They’ve shared how difficult it is to maintain relationships with family, how limited access to resources affects their mental health, and how small daily restrictions can slowly wear on a person’s sense of identity and dignity,” Lawley wrote.
She said Notre Dame students and faculty should know that this class is not about charity or “saving anyone” but rather mutual learning.
Senior William Pater wrote that the class taught him to treat people as experts in their own lives.
“One moment that has stayed with me: our professor asked whether, if they could go back in time, people would undo the choices that led them here. Many said no — not because they minimized harm, but because they believed they wouldn’t be who they are now without that history,” Pater wrote.
“It was a startling answer, and it made me think about how we talk about ‘mistakes,’ growth, and redemption. It reminded me that people are more than the worst thing they’ve ever done — and that a system claiming to be about justice should make room for transformation, not just punishment,” he wrote.
Contact Jessica Mayor at jmayor2@nd.edu and Andrew Poulton at apoulton@nd.edu
Dan Lindley, a professor of political science at Notre Dame, noted that the “air defense system in Iran, which should have been half decent” has failed for the second time in only months.
Ebrahim Moosa, a professor of Islamic thought and Muslim studies at Notre Dame, described the overall situation in a statement to The Observer.
“The United States has issued ultimatums to Iran, assembled an armada on its doorstep, and attempted to negotiate with a gun to its head. It is naive to believe that coercive diplomacy of this kind will produce durable or meaningful outcomes. Many of Washington’s demands — which Iran abandon its
missile program and sever ties with regional allies — are politically unrealistic,” Moosa wrote.
Rashied Omar, a professor of Islamic studies and peacebuilding at Notre Dame, wrote, “Regime change imposed through military force violates international law. It serves imperialist agendas, strengthens authoritarian narratives, entrenches cycles of violence, and deepens human suffering, undermining Indigenous, justice-centered movements for emancipation.”
Describing Ali Khamenei as “a deeply polarizing figure,” Moosa noted that the protests in January already “revealed significant public dissatisfaction with the government.”
The global implications of prolonged conflict with Iran are far-reaching. If the Strait of Hormuz were closed, even temporarily, the shock to global oil supply would be severe, affecting fuel prices worldwide. Moosa wrote. Lindley also noted the danger Iran posed to its neighbors.
“Iran’s tentacles are all around the Middle East, and that is one of the reasons they have been a threat, and a lethal threat, to the region,” Lindley said.
He noted that Britain and Spain have distanced themselves from the United States’ actions, recognizing that retaliation could befall anyone who gets involved.
Mark Mikhail, a freshman
in O’Neill Family Hall, who used to live in Abu Dhabi, explained that the UAE is “very safe,” having intercepted hundreds of missiles and drones already. Nevertheless, people in the United Arab Emirates are instructed people to stay home and avoid large gatherings with schools shifted to virtual conference platforms and churches closed.
This is an abbreviated version of this story. The full version can be read online at ndsmcobserver.com.
Contact Soledad Castellanos at scastellanos01@saintmarys.edu and Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu
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Notre Dame buildings I love, and those I don’t
By Hannah Alice Simon Columnist, “Eyedentity”
Before Maria, Jack, Ben and Rob, even before Angela, before all my Notre Dame people, whose voices I now carry in my heart, first I met the many buildings that make up Notre Dame’s beautiful, intricate, confusing campus.
These structures of concrete and steel made themselves known to me; for me, they unveiled their quirks and their darkest selves. I cannot leave The Observer without a nod to these buildings, all characters in their own right, the most enduring pieces of this campus.
So this is for you, all of you who were my first, if not my greatest loves, and for you, my greatest oncampus opps.
Sacred Heart Basilica
I know that God’s love has a fragrance because it permeates your vast wideness, the listening darkness of your confessionals.
But to me, you are also the nostalgia of four years. You are the smooth curves of the crosses etched into the sides of every wooden pew; you are the twisting spiral to the choir loft that I run up every Sunday morning; you are the thundering reverberation of the organ that rushes in through my feet to fill all the space in my chest; you are Andy’s loud inhale before glorious music bursts through our bodies; you are the sunlight streaming in through the stained glass windows, turning the world into reds, purples and blues for one magical moment.
You are my constantly changing self. You are the chaos of the Easter vigil night, you are the arms I held crossed over my chest for months of Sunday masses, you are my tears, my joy and my starved body finally brought to fullness by the eucharist resting on my tongue. You are my becoming, my renewing.
By Carlos Basurto
In every heartfelt interaction of yours, in every human relationship you establish that reaches the depths of your active care, you play the role of either the giver or the taker.
In social media and pseudoscientific circles, there has been widespread misinterpretation of these two roles. Repeatedly, their complex dimensionality and interactions are compressed into unrealistic caricatures, dramatic idiosyncrasies that seek only to highlight particular instantiations of power imbalance — typically exemplified in abusive dynamics in romantic relationships. This robs the opportunity to analyze the necessary nuance of this bilateral contact present in all human relationships, which indeed include healthy relationships beyond
LaFortune Student Center
I think we were nemeses in a past life. Perhaps this is why you hate me so much now, to make up for all the times I vanquished you in the past. Or perhaps, you are just a terribly and inaccessibly designed building.
I have so many unanswered questions about you. Why would you have a flight of steps, right in the middle of a wide corridor, yawning its mouth like a gaping hole into the abyss? Every time I walk through you, I remember the first semester of my freshman year, when I almost fell down your stupid stairs. Every time I trail my hand along your railing and think of all the bones that could have broken that day, all the debt I could have accumulated as an international student navigating the U.S. healthcare system. Also, why does the route back from you to my dorm always feel like an impossible maze? Do you know how stupid and annoyed I feel when I get confused and turn away from that one sidewalk (you know what I’m talking about), and then shuffle my feet through campus at night for what feels like hours because I hate asking for help?
And what is it with the 11 steps on the staircase near the entrance that faces the Basilica? Who in their right mind would choose a weird number like 11, when they could easily go with a solid even number like 10! I can feel your steel railings vibrate as you cackle in glee, staring at me as my body jerks forward, and my brain realizes too late that, once again, I forgot to count the 11th step. But remember, I haven’t fallen yet.
Duncan Student Center and Hesburgh Library
I don’t like you at all. Even in the absence of any valid reason, the rebellious part of me would
have still hated you because of your extreme popularity with most of the student body. But with your loudness, your seats packed with people, your lack of simple symmetry, your show-offy vastness, you are just too much for my cane and my introverted self.
O’Shaughnessy Hall
You feel like a long, damp, dark tunnel with walls pressing in on me from each side. But I will give you points for your dry simplicity.
Decio Family Hall
I am trying my best to get to know you, even to love you, for the English department’s sake. But you are making it so hard. Although I have known you only for a month, I am losing count of the number of times I have gotten lost trying to find you or leave you? Why do you sprawl and curve like a giant that doesn’t know what it wants to do with
its huge body and many limbs? And why did you go and attach yourself to Malloy, as if my brain didn’t have too many campus map complications to deal with already! Why can’t you be normal, a simple square of brick with one entrance and a straight path leading to you?
Bond Hall
Your lower levels feel like a claustrophobic dungeon, but the upper floors feel like the marble-tiled corridors of a beautiful mansion. Whenever I think of you, I will remember what Gabby told me, that your classrooms look out toward the shining blue of the lake.
Coleman Morse Center
Of all Notre Dame’s buildings, I love you the most.
I loved you first because of your beautifully simple rectangle-ness, the perfection of your corridors, not too narrow, not
The giver and the taker
romance. For is the loving mother not possibly a joyous giver to her defenseless taker child? Does the child not then, in reciprocated turn and grace, opt to reverse the roles when the mother is in her aged time of need? Thus, let us consider our own interpretation of the roles, within the scope of this column alone. Take this interpretable phenomenon not to be rigorous psychology or some orthodox philosophical stance, but rather a possible social framing with which to comprehend yourself and the interplay with those you adore and despise alike. Everyone, in their presumed wise normality, is in dire need of further consciousness of the implications in the acts they commit or the beliefs they hold. The last things most of us consider learning about are the things that invisibly sustain our comfort: our view of ourselves and of
those closest to us.
So, the giver is then comprehended to be the person who is more likely to be flexible with their individual desires in times of hesitation or confrontation. They explore maturity in muffling selfishness and may derive pleasure from witnessing the other shine. This behavior does not translate to meekness or an apprehension to stand on their own; on the contrary, they can hold steadfast upon willful sacrifice for the other. The giver is primarily characterized by adaptability in compromise: to cede to a reasonable degree may be what brings them the most gratification by maximizing total happiness.
The taker is, vice versa, discerned as the person who is more likely to honestly pursue their desires when indecision takes hold. More often than not, they possess the capacity
to understand what they want or expect and may act on it. The taker is not immediately prideful nor narcissistic; instead, they tend to exhibit resolute assertiveness and resourcefulness.
The canonical case of a healthy manifestation the giver’s and the taker’s tendencies is when deciding on where to eat. The taker may have strong inclinations that are immediately expressed to the giver, who could be disposed to agree even if the proposal is not of their personal utmost preference. It is not that the giver is foregoing their beliefs and desires, making some grand sacrifice, nor is the taker enforcing their will onto the giver unilaterally. It is an agreement that appeals to each: the giver gets the gratification of the taker’s joy. In the end, both parties attain precisely what they sought.
The giver and the taker as roles are born out of the fact that
too wide, the directness of all your sharp right angles. Then I loved you because of the music that pervades all of you, the unfathomable wonder of an eight-part harmony, the sudden beauty of a rising soprano line stealing out through a crack in the door. But I love you most because, over these four years, you have become mine. Your three flights of stairs with the chunky and slender railings became mine; all your windows became mine, but especially that window on the third floor with the bust of someone who wears what my fingers think is a shirt with buttons became mine and only mine.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Contact Hannah Alice Simon at hsimon2@nd.edu
between two people there will always be imbalance. Human relationships cannot be equal, be it due to level of commitment, demonstrations of affection, social or economical standing, availability, culture and ideals or any other marker. Two humans are different, distinct entities. Differences always sow contrasts that will reap imbalance. Therefore, imbalance is not evil or dangerous, but inevitable, and its acknowledgment will benefit everyone. It is in ignorance or presumption where threats actually lie.
In truth, as with all things, excess can be the root of detriment. The unhealthiness some associate with the giver and the taker archetypes emerges from pushing their tendencies to the extreme, coming at the cost of corrupt attachment for the former and the loss of empathy for the latter.
DIONE QUIAMBAO PAHILAN| The Observer
Columnist, “Eudaemonic Banter”
Giver
Continued from page 5
This occurs when either party loses their internal safety and eventually their individuality, requiring validation from or control over the other — a tragic result of misappropriated intimacy.
That being said, the giver and the taker are roles in a
relationship, not determinants of identity. Therefore, you can be the giver in one relationship and the taker in another. In the very same relationship, the roles can swap or blur throughout time. Additionally, it is perfectly plausible for a relationship to exist between two people who take an identical role, though the hazards in the relationship will heighten. Where there are two givers there will be
indecision and directionless elasticity; where there are two takers there will be conflict and multiplicity of directions. Yet if all parties agree to it and get what they want out of it, where is the harm?
There is a constant exercise of expectations and actions for each role: a social dance we subconsciously have practiced for our entire lives. We engage with it at every moment,
with our every word, glance or decision. We follow the rules and sway to the rhythm as seen fit; we recite our lines in accordance with what we have observed and what little we can replicate. Therefore, take a moment: consider — for each of your relationships — are you the giver or the taker? Do you believe that is how it ought to be? What does this state of affairs reveal about
yourself? Knowing the truth behind these questions offers insight into something much more genuine than one could ever put into words.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Write to Carlos Basurto at cbasurto@nd.edu
Finding my faith as a graduate student
By Oliver Ortega Columnist, “The
When I first got to Notre Dame, I was taken aback by the sight of crosses in every classroom. I had done all of my K-12 education in the public school systems of New York City and later Miami-Dade County in Florida. Then, for college, I went to Northwestern, a university founded by Methodists but resolutely secular in the present age. The four years I spent working as a teacher, tutor, journalist and legal assistant before starting my Ph.D. were equally divorced from any religious affiliation. So, needless to say, I experienced a bit of cultural shock upon arriving at Notre Dame, even though I was, nominally, a Roman Catholic.
Over the course of my sevenplus years here, however, something has changed. I’ve come under the spell of Our Lady’s University. Northwestern is my alma mater, but Notre Dame has wrung its roots deep inside me. If there’s such a thing as being “converted” into the religion you are already a part of, that’s me. I go to mass weekly, I pray daily and in my spare time, I read Scripture and other materials to help build my faith. No, I am not a theology student. And no, my research as an English Ph.D. student does not deal with matters of faith. My reasons for coming back to Christ are more personal and idiosyncratic.
Trust me when I tell you that this newfound religiosity is unusual among graduate students. Unlike undergraduates, we graduate students are not required to take courses in theology as part of a core curriculum or reside in dorms with live-in priests, chapels and patron saints. Roughly 80% of the undergraduate population identifies as Catholic, and many undergraduates have been going to Catholic school their whole life. Such a pedigree, by contrast, is much rarer among graduate students, unless we are talking about people in theology, sacred music and maybe the law school.
In fact, I’ve met few graduate students who seem to be Catholic, as far as I can tell, anyway. When it comes to student life and Notre Dame’s Catholic identity, undergraduates are
the ones who carry the faith. Dare I say it, many of us gradu ate students remain unaffect ed by the imagery, language and teachings of Catholicism as we go through the motions of earning our degrees. We are more so students of Notre Dame the neoliberal university than Notre Dame the Catholic institution.
So what gives? Why have I been Christianized like this? Well, for one, I’ve been living and working here in conserva tive, red-state Indiana longer than anywhere else outside of my hometown of Queens, New York. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the rhythms of campus life and the hustle of downtown South Bend, where I’ve lived during my whole time as a Ph.D. student. First, in the sketchy Marmain Apartments. And now, in the swankier Lasalle Apartments, in an eight-floor apartment over looking the St. Joseph River and the Morris Performing Arts Center.
On weekends, crowds gath er in Hunt Plaza as they wait to catch a show at the Morris. Recently, the theater expanded its footprint by opening the Raclin Murphy Encore Center next door. It’s worth a trip downtown, if only to gawk at the ornate spiral staircase inside and the sinewy black statues visible through the building’s floor-length windows. Every once in a while, people congregate in the plaza to protest President Trump, the war in Gaza or some other political issue du jour. During warmer weather, you might see teenage skaters grinding and kickflipping on the steps of the park, or couples decked out in matrimonial finery taking their vows by the fountain, flanked by a coterie of family and friends. In the summer, South Bend’s homeless residents lay claim to one bench or the other or lie out under the marquee sign of the Morris to sleep. Hunt Plaza is more or less South Bend’s town square, and it’s given me a unique vantage point from which to appreciate the city and its people.
the stone tablet with the 10 Commandments that the city inaugurated in the 1950s. From my living room window, which faces east, I can follow lines of cars streaming through Lasalle avenue and Michigan street during rush hour. If I crane my head and look north through that same window, I’ll spot Touchdown Jesus in the distance, waving at me.
From my bedroom window, which faces west, I can see the spires of several South Bend churches, their crosses gleaming in the sunlight. On Main Street, across from the parking lot below, I can see
During the summer of 2023, that window showed me a much more dramatic image, one that led me back to faith. On the bridge overlooking the St. Joseph River, I saw police shoot down an armed man running on the bank below. Joshua Ringle, 32, died, slain by gunfire. But not before leading law enforcement on a GTAtype car chase all the way from a marijuana shop in Niles, Mich., roughly 11 miles north of my building. That vision of death and violence drove me to seek God in the months that followed. Ringle became my personal Jesus, the “sacrificial lamb” I hear so much about during homilies. His death rekindled my faith. It made God real in a way nothing else had. I started going to church again in early 2024. At first, I went to the Basilica of the
Sacred Heart on campus. Yet, for all its trappings, it did not seem like the place for me. I needed a house of worship that was more intimate and accessible. Something that didn’t feel like I was going to work on the weekends. So I started attending services at St. Joseph Parish just east of downtown. Like Notre Dame, St. Joe was founded by Fr. Edward Sorin, roughly a decade after he opened the University. Usually, I go to the vigil mass on Saturdays. I like to get there 20 minutes early in order to pray on my own before they turn on the overhead lights. When I sit and look up, I feel like I am in the hull of a wooden ship — a type of Noah’s ark plop in the middle of the city.
For Lent, I gave up going to cafes and drinking espresso drinks. But for all the work I’ve done over the last two years, I sometimes struggle to accept God’s will. At times, I feel lonely as a single man in my early 30s. But I also shy away from friendships and romance.
I don’t chase girls anymore, not like I used to in my 20s. I feel torn between my American identity and my ethnic pride.
I am an English Ph.D. candidate from New York City who
studies assimilation because he is afraid of assimilation. I trust in God’s plan but keeping faith is a cross I often contemplate abandoning. But I guess that’s the point of Lent, right? To memorialize Jesus’ 40 days in the desert through our own struggles? Often, I’m reminded of a phrase etched on the wall next to the Scholars Lounge in Hesburgh Library’s concourse: “In all things, give thanks.” That’s the key, I think, to keeping everything in balance. So, if you were looking for advice in this column as you go about Lent, that would be it. Keep your faith strong. Even when you don’t want to. I used to scoff when I would hear others — particularly undergraduates — speak about Notre Dame in hushed tones. Somewhere along the line, I, too, started to feel the magic. Now I believe. Let Our Lady’s University — and South Bend — inspire you during this Lenten season. Peace.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Contact Oliver Ortega at oortega1@nd.edu
O.G. Grad Student”
DIONE QUIAMBAO PAHILAN| The Observer
NFL Combine
Notre Dame football’s senior stars showed up and showed out, seeking to boost NFL Draft stock.
Photography by photo editor Mariella Taddonio
By Luke Foley Scene Editor
“Tonight … we celebrate a legacy.”
With these words, Keenan Rector Cory Hodson kicked off this past weekend’s Keenan Revue, and one cannot fault him for such a lofty statement. Now in its 50th year, the Keenan Revue is the shining achievement of Notre Dame’s dorm culture. Very few events on this campus can attract hour-long ticket lines, three packed performances in the dreaded Stepan Center and a heap of alumni to make the trek back to South Bend. So what has made the Keenan Revue such a lasting and beloved tradition?
The format isn’t groundbreaking; it’s a sketch-comedy show interspersed with musical performances. It wears its SNL influence on its sleeve, even having its own Weekend Update clone titled “The News.” What makes the Keenan Revue so special is that it’s for us and by us; it’s a comedy show so tailored to the whims and quirks of Notre Dame that going feels like an affirmation of our unique community. To laugh about Menbrozas and SYRs in a dome packed with your fellow students is a reminder that what we have on this campus is singular and a connection that will tie all of us together for the rest of our lives.
You can’t blame me for mythologizing the show so much; the night started with a prerecorded video of Keenan alumni emotionally
The Keenan Revue at 50
discussing what makes Keenan Revue so special to them. Following that, the show transitioned to one of its iconic stripteases set to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Tears.” What really sells this bit every year is the performers’ commitment to the ludicrous dance moves. They also dramatically recreated Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam” set to “... Baby One More Time” — who knew the rebirth of the Renaissance would be in South Bend.
After that fun burlesque opening, we got our first comedy sketches of the night. “Confessional Chat” featured a bumbling priest using ChatGPT during a confession; wacky misunderstandings
ensued, but its satire of our evergrowing dependence on AI kind of scared me too. After that, we got a “Stranger Things” sketch lampooning its final season. Even though it borrowed heavily from the well-worn jokes you’ve certainly encountered online, the fun impersonations of the characters made it an enjoyable time.
“ROTC Study Abroad” featured a witless ROTC student celebrating his military draft that had been rebranded as a study-abroad opportunity. This clever sketch skillfully escalated the bit over the runtime, eventually culminating in NIL deals sponsored by Israel.
“MCOB Takeover” trod very familiar ground with its derision of
Mendoza students, but did it with enough zaniness that it still felt fresh; the ending montage of the Instagram story takeover had me cackling. A Trump sketch followed suit, channeling the looniness of the current administration towards the Notre Dame community; Trump called Father Bob “Dirty Dowd” and vowed to bomb “The Hamas Bookstore,” while a hilariously accurate RFK Jr. impersonation wheezed about boom boom chicken.
The following “Exit Music for a Sketch” was the most ambitious sketch of the night. It was a silent tragedy set to Radiohead’s “Exit Music (for a film),” displaying a montage of all the lighthearted
moments of the underclassmen experience at ND before study abroad junior year brings them to a bitter end. The abroad grim reaper spares nobody as friends dramatically betray each other for desire. And finally, the act ended with an energetic performance of “Sex on Fire;” a commanding vocal performance and impressive instrumental solos made this the standout musical moment of the show.
The shorter second act was noticeably shakier. Bright spots cropped up here and there — “Fantasy Roulette” delivered bone-chilling fantasy punishments such as “Poop at Olfs” — but too many of these later sketches drifted into scattershot and banal territory. But even at their loosest, the sketches always remained amusing to watch. And that’s the real beauty of the Keenan Revue. It’s a marvel enough watching the fruit of months of writing, coordination, rehearsal and marketing come together from an incredibly tight-knit community. The joy and creativity on display is undeniable, acting as a living testament to everything that makes this school special. Even though I don’t live in Keenan Hall, nor a dorm even relevant enough to get mentioned in the show, I feel immense pride whenever I see the show. I hope the Keenan Revue lives not only for another 50 years, but forever.
Contact Luke Foley at lfoley2@nd.edu
Bruno Mars is all about love on ‘The Romantic’
By Rosie Maese Scene Writer
Bruno Mars made his big musical comeback last Friday with his album “The Romantic.” Being a big Bruno fan myself, I was eager to listen to this album, hoping it would remind me of the music I grew up on. In the 2010s, Mars played at every Communion, birthday and major celebration. Throughout his career, Bruno Mars has never been shy about love. But on “The Romantic,” he doesn’t just flirt with it: He stages it, scores it and wraps it in velvet. He has songs exploring all angles of love: the arguing, the lightheartedness and everything in between.
Mars has always been culturally impressive. His retro influences, from Prince and Michael Jackson, are not merely aesthetic, but sophisticated and technical. Similar to Jackson, he incorporates sharp, synchronized choreography and uses dance as an extension of rhythm rather than an accessory to it. From Prince, he borrows a commitment to live instrumentation and sensual funk grooves that prioritize musicianship. His vocal performance and layered harmonies reflect classic R&B traditions. By utilizing falsetto, stacked
background vocals and dynamic control, he creates richness without overwhelming clarity. Rather than copying his predecessor, Mars modernizes their techniques, blending nostalgic structure with contemporary production polish. Such modernization is most evident in the album’s standout tracks.
My favorite songs on this album would certainly be “I Just Might” and “Risk It All”. “I Just Might” encapsulates a calm, yet romantic vibe with generally upbeat instrumentals that are missing from pop today.
Mainstream music has leaned toward minimalist, subdued production. In an era when mainstream pop often leans toward minimalism and melancholy, its energetic warmth feels refreshing. The track is undeniably danceable, tapping into the kind of rhythmic joy that defined much of early 2000s pop.
“Risk It All,” on the other hand, captures traditional Bruno Mars: gentle, yearning and emotionally direct. The soulful production supports lyrics like “I want to be your man until the end of time,”
allowing the sentiment to feel earnest rather than exaggerated. His vocal restraint, contrasted with moments of lift, reinforces the vulnerability embedded in the song’s message. Along with these pieces, I appreciate the album’s overall social consistency. While different tones are evident, the overall roller coaster of romantic love is clearly and creatively conveyed. The songs are thematically unified, making “The Romantic” feel like a solid album, rather than a scattered compilation of singles.
Romantic music matters, especially now with Valentine’s Day just behind us, and listening to it now forces listeners to reflect on their love lives and romantic desires. The music can make someone feel happy, jealous, melancholy or excited — or all of these at the same time. It is safe to say most of us yearn for healthy, stable relationships where we feel cared for and understood, but finding that right person is truly difficult. The album absolutely allows for romantic escapism and immerses listeners into music that lets them fantasize about their ideal romantic situation. While I love this concept, especially as someone who uses music as an escape from reality, I do feel that some of the songs on the album are slightly formulaic. The album is excellent, but I believe peak Bruno Mars was during his original hits because they were complete cultural resets.
I would recommend this album to anyone who wants a casual listening experience while exercising, cleaning or working. It is fun, light and danceable: a great traditional Bruno Mars ‘pick-me-up’ for any occasion.
Contact Rosie Maese at rmaese@nd.edu
LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
ND HOCKEY
Kumlin’s goal lifts Irish to senior night win
By Ryan Murphy Sports Writer
Axel Kumlin just didn’t want to look stupid.
The senior defenseman had the puck on his stick in overtime with an open net to shoot at.
“I tried to not miss, instead of trying to score,” the Stockholm, Sweden native said postgame. “It would have been embarrassing if I missed it, I think.”
Spoiler alert: Kumlin did not miss. He took the cross-crease pass from graduate student forward Sutter Muzzatti and shot it over the top of sliding Nittany Lion sophomore netminder Kevin Reidler — a storybook ending for a pair of graduating players on senior night. Final score: Notre Dame 4, No. 5 Penn State 3 in overtime.
To understand the catharsis of emotion that followed at a sold-out Compton Family Ice Arena on Saturday night — when the green-clad Irish poured off the bench to mob Kumlin and Muzzatti — you have to go back at least three hours, if not three months.
You have to go back, at least, to warmups.
Just after the stadium DJ cued the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” and the ushers opened the gates, Irish first-year head coach Brock Sheahan sat down on the bench next to his young daughter Evelyn. Clad in her full youth hockey gear and a replica Irish jersey, the two watched intently as Notre Dame twirled around the ice. With music blaring, arena public address man JP Joubert announced Evelyn as the night’s Irish youth captain. With the camera and the jumbotron focused on her, her Dad gave her a hug.
“She was a little nervous, said she wanted to do it, and then she didn’t want to do it,” Sheahan said. “She loves hockey, she loves our team.”
There’s no hiding that it’s been a long season for Sheahan in his first year. The Irish took a long time to adjust to the coaching transition, at one point losing 16 of 17 games between the end of October and the middle of January. Since, they’ve been playing some of their best hockey, but results have remained elusive. Just the night before, the Irish held a 3-0 lead in the first period against the very same Nittany Lions, only to see that lead evaporate into a 4-3 shootout loss.
“She doesn’t like when we lose. It’s been a tough year for her,” Sheahan said. “She said we had to win.”
Warmups finished, the lights came down, and the band introduced itself as usual with the playing of “Do You Love Me?” by the Contours. Compton Family Ice Arena went from empty to full in the blink of an eye.
When the lights came back on again, the Irish honored their six graduating players — defensemen Michael Mastrodomenico and Kumlin, forwards Niko Jovanovic and Muzzatti and goaltenders Jack Williams and Luke Pearson — in a pregame ceremony. The players met their parents on the ice with flowers. The team also recognized its three senior managers: Avery White, Taylor Girard and Katherine Devine, as well as team radio voice Tyler Reidy, himself a graduating senior.
Editor’s Note: Tyler Reidy, radio play-by-play voice of Notre Dame hockey, is a sports writer for The Observer.
Undergraduate
Even after a 6-22-25 season, smiles abounded. Before the game had even started, Notre Dame showed it had much left to play for in this strange and difficult season.
When the Irish took the ice in their green alternate jerseys, which they only wear once a year for senior night, they started slowly anyway. Nittany Lion junior defenseman Casey Aman took a pass from freshman star Gavin McKenna behind the net and beat Irish sophomore goaltender Nicholas Kempf five-hole to put Penn State ahead just 2:58 into the game.
But with so much to play for, Notre Dame did not go quietly. Appropriately, it was Jovanovic who dragged the Irish back into the game. A chemical engineering major who has spent most of his time at Notre Dame out of the lineup, Jovanovic has made an impact for the Irish since January second, creating an identity on Notre Dame’s fourth line and forcing Sheahan to play him.
“Some guys weren’t ready to go, [but] he was ready to go,” Sheahan said of Muzzatti. “That got us going as a group.”
Jovanovic was on the ice for Notre Dame’s tying goal late in the first period, when his puck pressure forced Nittany Lion junior forward Aiden Fink to flip the puck high and out into the neutral zone. Mastrodomenico knocked it down there for junior forward Maddox Fleming to skate onto, and he beat Reidler with a shot to the blocker side.
Mastrodomenico, also a fouryear senior and captain, collected the primary assist on the play. Fleming had been scratched in Friday’s loss, but his goal continued Notre Dame’s trend of depth scoring. Seven of Notre Dame’s 11
goals in the last two weeks have been scored by players outside of their top-six forwards.
Notre Dame’s top-six came through to give the Irish the lead just moments later, though, when junior captain Danny Nelson cleaned up a rebound on the power-play to put the Irish ahead just 1:44 after Fleming had tied it.
Then, after Nittany Lion sophomore defenseman Cade Christenson squared the score in the second period, Nelson came through again, ripping a wrister past Reidler to make the score 3-2 in the third. The Irish led by a goal with just 10:43 to go.
“We came to play,” Nelson said. “That was something coming into today we really wanted to do, was string together two consistent games, and I feel like we really did that.”
But even when they’ve come to play, wins have not come easy for Notre Dame all year. Even in the green jerseys on senior night, nothing could be expected to the contrary. On Friday night, Fink tied the score at three with 14:37 to play, and on Saturday night, he assisted on freshman forward Luke Misa’s high slot tip that eluded Kempf to tie the score at three again. This time, with just 2:15 remaining, overtime seemed inevitable.
And so for the sixth time in 10 games, Notre Dame went to overtime with no expectations. The Irish had not won a game in overtime all season in seven tries. They won possession of the puck to start the extra frame, but lost it just 30 seconds later.
Then, it happened.
With Kumlin’s family at Compton to see him play for only the third time in his two years with Notre Dame, the Swede jumped over the boards.
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McKenna made an errant pass. Irish junior forward Cole Knuble, a factor all night, tracked it down in the Nittany Lion zone. He passed to Kumlin at the faceoff circle, but his shot was easily stopped by Reidler. Kumlin jarred the rebound free. Muzzatti picked it up on the near post, just as Kumlin got his stick free on the far post. One pass. One shot. Kumlin did not miss.
“We’ve played well enough to win more than we have, but that moment was the result of us doing it maybe the most that we have,” Sheahan said. “We stuck with it.”
When Kumlin and Danny Nelson walked into the postgame interview room 20 minutes after scoring the overtime winner, Kumlin was still wearing his full uniform. While Nelson had changed into his street clothes, Kumlin had stayed out on the ice, taking pictures with friends and family and soaking in the moment he and his team had been working toward all year. It was Notre Dame’s first win of the season over a top-20 opponent. Maybe there was just a little magic in those green jerseys after all.
“You wear it once a year, and guys have been talking about it for weeks, months. You see other sports wear their green and we’re like, we can’t wait to put it on,” Kumlin said.
“It just means a little bit more,” added Nelson “You walk in there and you get a little smile on your face [when] you get to see them for the first time, you kind of look back to last years when you get to wear them and it’s only once a year, so it just makes it definitely a very very cool moment.”
In a year, the Irish will walk into the locker room, see those green jerseys, and look back on this moment. It’s a long way away, but if they find themselves in a better position in the standings — not, say, 53rd of 63 teams nationally and dead last in the Big 10 — Notre Dame will be served a reminder of how they got there when they see these green jerseys again.
Due to the commitment of their coaching staff and the steady hand of their graduating players, the Irish are trending up over the last month. They found what they have to play for. That culminated Saturday.
The Irish will now play one more regular season series March 5-6, at Ohio State, and then face the second seed in the singleelimination Big Ten tournament the following Wednesday. Though they won’t wear them for another year, the Irish have to hope that the magic they found Saturday in their green jerseys lasts.
Said Kumlin: “I don’t ever want to take these off.”
Contact Ryan Murphy at rmurph22@nd.edu
Irish dominate in Tennessee tune-up games
By Zach Jones Sports Writer
Notre Dame baseball dominated on the road this weekend, winning three games against Alabama A&M, UIC and Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tennessee. The Irish outscored their three opponents 44-5 in a final tune-up before ACC conference play begins next weekend.
Friday
Notre Dame opened the weekend with a noon game against Alabama A&M. The Irish dominated the contest, vanquishing the Bulldogs 19-2 in a seven-inning rout. Reigning ACC Pitcher of the Week Jack Radel started on the mound for the Irish. The junior dealt over six innings, striking out 10 hitters while allowing two hits and two unearned runs. The workhorse righty hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last 14 innings, and his season ERA sits at a minuscule 1.69.
At the plate, Notre Dame scored three runs in the first inning, five in the second, two in the third and nine in the fifth. The Bulldog’s pitching staff struggled to find the strike zone, walking 11 Irish batters and plunking three. In total, the Irish scored 19 runs on 14 hits and 11 walks. Alabama A&M managed just two runs on two hits, striking out 10 times while walking just once. It was a balanced offensive attack from the Notre Dame lineup as nine
Irish hitters collected a hit. Graduate outfielder Drew Berkland, junior catcher Mark Quatrani, sophomore DH Bino Watters and sophomore third baseman Parker Brzustewicz each paced the team with three RBI, while Brzustewicz led the team with three hits.
Saturday
Notre Dame matched up against Illinois-Chicago on Saturday for another noon contest. After a quiet start, the Irish bats came alive in a big way, and Notre Dame cruised to a 14-3 victory in eight innings. Freshman lefty Caden Crowell got the starting nod for the Irish. The Flames opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the top of the third, but the Irish responded in the bottom of the frame with RBI singles from Coy and Watters to knot the score at two runs apiece. Notre Dame took the lead in the fourth with an RBI single from Berkland, and they’d hold the lead for the rest of the contest.
Freshman second baseman Mason Barth’s three-run homer put the Irish up 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth, and Quatrani returned the favor with another three-piece in the sixth, making the score 9-2 after six. UIC hit a solo shot in the seventh, but the Irish matched the Flames with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame. In the eighth, Notre Dame loaded the bases with two walks and a single. With the Irish
up 10-3, freshman center fielder Brandon Logan slugged a walk-off grand slam, pushing the Irish over the 10-run threshold and ending the game at 14-3.
Crowell turned in the longest start of his young Irish career, going 5.1 solid innings and giving up two runs on six hits and a walk, striking out four. Grad reliever Noah Rooney finished out the game and turned in a quality performance, giving up one run on one hit, walking none and recording a strikeout. In total, the Irish recorded 14 runs on 17 hits, collecting four walks.
All nine Irish hitters recorded a hit, with Coy and Logan leading the team with three hits each. Both Quatrani and Barth recorded three RBI to pace the lineup. UIC managed three runs on seven hits, collecting one free pass.
Sunday
Notre Dame’s final game of the weekend was a 3 p.m. clash against host Tennessee Tech. In a game where both starters were dominant, the Irish offense put up a five-spot in the sixth and seventh innings, and Notre Dame cruised to an 11-0 runrule victory. On the mound, Notre Dame starter graduate RHP Ty Uber was stellar, silencing the Golden Eagles’ bats to the tune of five scoreless innings, scattering two hits (both singles) and two walks, striking out two. He was equally matched by Tennessee Tech’s freshman
ND WOMEN’S LACROSSE
pitcher Logan Moller, who turned in four scoreless innings while striking out five, before exiting with an arm injury. Notre Dame’s hitters would find more success against the Golden Eagles’ bullpen, swatting three singles to plate sophomore right fielder Jayce Lee in the top of the fifth.
After a quiet sixth inning in which the Irish stranded two runners, Notre Dame put up five runs in the top of the seventh to take a 6-0 lead.
The Irish loaded the bases with two singles and a walk. With one out, Coy hit a deep fly off the right field wall to score Barth. The next at-bat, Logan came around on a Quatrani sacrifice fly. Watters then cleared the bases with an opposite field bomb, parking an 0-1 offering beyond the left field fence for his second home run of the season.
The Irish kept up the pressure in the top of the eighth, setting the table with a single and two walks. With two outs and the bases loaded, Quatrani hit a grand slam to deep left field to make the lead 10-0. Watters, the next hitter up, replied in kind with a solo shot to right center for his second home run of the day. Irish freshman reliever Dylan Singleton retired the Golden Eagles in order in the bottom of the eighth, ending the game at 11-0 Irish.
Notre Dame dominated the Golden Eagles at the plate, outhitting them 16-2. The Irish bullpen trio of sophomore RHP Kellan
Klosterman, graduate RHP Eli Thurmond and Singleton combined for three scoreless no-hit innings, while the Tennessee Tech bullpen gave up 11 runs after a near-flawless start from Moller. The Irish lineup ground down the Golden Eagle’s bullpen with a disciplined approach and timely hitting.
Thirteen of Notre Dame’s 16 hits went for singles, with Irish hitters content to move station-to-station and set the table for big knocks from Quatrani and Watters. Lee paced the Irish lineup with four hits, while Quatrani led the Irish with five runs batted in. Watters showcased his power on both fields, slugging a homer to each. He totaled four runs batted in for an uber-productive day at the plate.
Looking
ahead
This weekend’s series was Notre Dame’s last nonconference series before May. Notre Dame is scheduled to play its home opener this Tuesday against Eastern Michigan, with first pitch scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Next weekend, the Irish travel to Durham, North Carolina, to open ACC conference play with three games against the Duke Blue Devils.
The Irish outscored their three opponents 44-5 in a final tune-up before ACC conference play begins next weekend.
Contact Zach Jones at zjones3@nd.edu
Standout freshmen propel Notre Dame to victory
By Lauren Ryan Sports Writer
On a breezy Saturday here in South Bend, Ind., the No. 8 Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team took on the Pittsburgh Panthers. The Irish, who earned the lacrosse world’s attention after defeating perennial powerhouse Boston College, were seeking to bounce back from their loss against Virginia Sunday. Pitt came into town with a 3-1 record and a marquee win over Duke.
The opening few minutes of play highlighted what has become a theme for Notre Dame this year: the remarkable success of its freshman class. Freshman midfielder/draw specialist Uma Kowalski won the opening draw for the Irish, and after one empty possession by each team, fellow freshman midfielder Maura Irish found the back of the net.
On the Panthers’ next possession, it was truly time for Notre Dame’s defense to start shining. The Irish frequently pressure or even doubleteams ball carriers well outside of the 12-meter arc. The pressure paid off as Maura
Irish caused a turnover, and Notre Dame completed a beautiful transition that ended in a goal from sophomore midfielder Madison Rassas,
her 14th of the season, assisted by junior attacker Kate Timarky. Moments later, after Pitt won the next draw, senior midfielder Franny
O’Brien caused another turnover to the Irish stat line, and yet again, Notre Dame capitalized on the transition opportunity. This time, the goal
came from senior attacker Emma Murphy, off a free-position attempt.
see “Standout” on page 11
SPORTS
Standout
Continued from page 10
After a little bit of scoreless back-and-forth, a testament to the defense of both teams, Timarky earned a free-position opportunity of her own and scored to make it 4-0 Irish after just over 10 minutes of play.
However, Pittsburgh was not to be counted out. The Panthers redefend relentlessly against opposing clear attempts, and eventually their sophomore midfielder Lainey McGonagle caused Notre Dame’s graduate defender Julia Carr to lose possession, and Pitt drew a green card to go man-up for a minute. Freshman attacker Emily Clemens of Pitt
notched her team’s first goal of the afternoon on the manup opportunity.
Notre Dame’s Grace Maroney, another standout freshman, and Pitt’s Kaitlyn Giandonato each scored to make it 5-1 Irish at the conclusion of the first quarter.
As the second quarter began, Pitt looked as though it might take the momentum it started to gain at the end of the first and run with it.
Notre Dame started with possession, but Pittsburgh quickly caused a turnover and cleared to the other end.
To the relief of the Irish, Pitt’s shot went wide on that possession, and Notre Dame was able to stop what might have been a key turn in Pitt’s favor.
Within just a minute and
a half, freshman midfielders Charley Bacigalupo and Maura Irish racked up two more goals, showing once again how dominant this freshman class has been. Both Bacigalupo and Irish fall within the team’s top five scorers thus far in the season.
The second-quarter goal Pitt had been waiting for came at the 10:50 mark from Clemens. After that, though, a yellow card on Pitt’s Megan Sheridan gave Notre Dame another man-up opportunity. Rassas took advantage to make it 8-3 Irish.
In the stretch that followed, though, Pittsburgh went on the run it had been awaiting all quarter. The Panthers notched the next three goals, which certainly
put some pressure on the Irish. After the third of those goals, Pitt grabbed the next draw control as well, giving itself a chance to make this a one-goal game. Maura Irish had other plans. She dispossessed Pitt’s Avery Moon, secured the ground ball and helped clear it successfully to Notre Dame’s offensive end. There, the talent of the Irish’s top offensive duo was on display as Madison Rassas connected with Kate Timarky, who finished a goal with 36 seconds remaining. That goal was critical in ensuring that Pitt could not take the momentum of its 3-0 run into halftime.
The beginning of the second half saw more of Maura Irish shining bright: The freshman phenom racked
up another two goals in the first three minutes after the break. Avery Moon of Pitt and Emma Murphy of Notre Dame joined the second-half scoresheet. But in the second half of the third quarter, both offenses were silent. Pitt fired seven shots in the remainder of the third quarter, but many were from a low angle or heavily contested thanks to the impressive Notre Dame defensive unit. A team defense that collapses well on drivers and forces errant shots is the kind of thing that does not show up anywhere in a lacrosse statbook except for the Irish’s remarkably low opponent scoring rate. Heading into Saturday, they averaged just 7.00 goals against per game, tied for ninth best nationally. Ceci Patterson, the goalkeeper who is a true headliner of the outstanding freshman class, saved the few shots that Pitt did manage to get on goal. Overall, despite a huge timeof-possession disparity in Pitt’s favor, Notre Dame held the Panthers scoreless for the final 11:23 of the quarter.
The fourth quarter, likewise, was not an offensive masterclass by each side. The Irish, finally having the ball in their own offensive end, quickly had three shots saved by Pittsburgh’s goalie Molly Cain. Notre Dame limited Pitt’s chances, though, thanks to a caused turnover by Rassas, a ground ball by Bacigalupo, and a caused turnover by Maura Irish, keeping the ball largely with the Irish offense. With 10 minutes remaining, Pitt’s sophomore attacker Gigi Leonzi snapped a nearly 14-minute overall scoring drought to make the score 128, with Notre Dame in front. Two minutes later, after another Notre Dame shot landed in the stick of Cain, Pitt’s Giandonato added another goal for Pitt and triggered an Irish timeout.
The final eight minutes of play would be completely scoreless. Julia Carr secured a couple of critical ground balls in Notre Dame’s defensive end to help prevent Pitt from completing their comeback. Indeed, Pitt only got one more shot off in the game thanks to the allaround defensive effort from the Irish.
Despite going nearly 26 minutes without a goal to end the game, the Irish hung on to win 12-9, and this ranked Atlantic Coast Conference win should help the Irish rediscover their rhythm heading into a stretch of road games against Clemson, Elon and Stanford. freshman Jessica Kovalcik 6-4.
Contact Lauren Ryan at lryan5@nd.edu
Notre Dame beats NC State in an OT thriller
By Jocelyn Fulcher Sports Writer
The Notre Dame men’s basketball team faced the NC State Wolfpack this Saturday for an ACC matchup and the team’s Senior Day. After a 56-100 loss against Duke University earlier in the week, the Irish hoped to come back after being on a two-game losing streak.
In the post-game press conference, head coach Micah Shrewberry said “the season of hell continues.” However, the team is optimistic that they still have the opportunity
to make the ACC playoffs. In the same interview, freshman forward Brady Koehler states that “the season is not over — we got three games left.”
Going into the game, Notre Dame was 12-16 overall and 3-12 in the ACC conference, while NC State was 19-9 and 10-5 for conference play, ranking fourth. Hoping for the bye in the conference tournament, the Wolfpack needed to secure the win against the Irish and win the rest of their games.
Going into halftime, Notre Dame was down 38-44. The Irish succeed in being able to pass in and out of the points,
spreading points around from player to player. Sophomore guard Sir Mohammed led the team with 10 points at half, sophomore guard Cole Certa came in next with nine — all three pointers — and junior guard Logan Imes recorded eight. Graduate forward Carson Towt dominated in the paint with six rebounds. However, the Irish still struggled on offense with nine turnovers, while NC State only had two.
In the second half, Notre Dame turned up the heat, making the deficit within reach of turning the game around. In
the last two minutes, junior guard Braeden Shrewsberry drained a three-pointer, making the game 79-81. With 19 seconds left, freshman guard Jalan Haralson made two free throws, tying the game and sending it into overtime.
In overtime, the Irish’s consistency led the Wolfpack to a loss. The final score of 96-90 is credited to Certa, who led Notre Dame with 32 points, including six three-pointers. Certa shot three from beyond the three-line in overtime, helping the Irish pull ahead. Haralson also put up 25 points off the bench along
with nine rebounds. Coach Shrewsberry’s lineup rotation helped the Irish secure a huge win. While there is still a lot of work to be done, this win helps boost the confidence in Shrewberry’s team.
Notre Dame is now 13-16 and 4-12 in conference play. The Irish will finish out the season with two upcoming ACC competitors, Stanford and Boston College. The team needs both wins to keep their ACC tournament dreams alive.
Contact Jocelyn Fulcher at jfulche3@nd.edu
Irish defeat ranked Maryland, make case for No. 1
By Jack Muething Sports Writer
The Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team traveled to College Park to take on the Maryland Terrapins in a top-10 ranked matchup and came away with an 11-8 victory. The Irish were ranked No. 2 by Inside Lacrosse heading into the matchup, and the Terrapins were ranked No. 9. With the result, the Irish could have a chance to be No. 1 across all rankings.
The Irish got started right away after the Terrapins’ senior star defenseman Will Schaller was called for a penalty, giving Notre Dame a man-up situation. They took advantage of the opportunity, graduate midfielder Will Angrick capitalizing on a shot from about 15 yards out to give the Irish a 1-0 lead. However, that was their lone goal of the quarter, and with the exception of the game against Bellarmine, Notre Dame has struggled in first quarters this season. They were able to achieve some solid looks, but Maryland’s senior goalkeeper Brian Ruppel picked up five saves and was a brick wall that quarter. The Terrapins scored two goals within a minute of each other to give them a 2-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
Much like the Georgetown game, the Irish came alive once the second quarter started. After hitting the crossbar on the previous possession, sophomore attacker Luke Miller ended Notre Dame’s 16-minute scoring drought with a nice goal off a fastbreak. The teams then traded blows. Graduate midfielder Jalen Seymour scored for the Irish, with graduate attacker Chris Lyons and junior midfielder Elijah Stobaugh scoring for the Terrapins, and the score was 4-3 Maryland with about seven minutes left in the quarter. Then, Notre Dame went on a
3-0 run, largely led by junior attacker Brock Behrman, who scored two goals in that run for the Irish. Sophomore midfielder Matt Jeffrey also put together a good dodge to score one unassisted to give the Irish a 6-4 lead heading into the halftime locker room.
The run of goals continued into the second half as Notre Dame went on a 4-0 run to start the third quarter, giving the Irish seven unanswered.
Sophomore attacker Luke Miller was everywhere for the Irish, picking up the first two goals of the quarter and then assisting Behrman on the next, both notching hat tricks on the day. Freshman attacker Teddy Lally also contributed a goal in the third quarter.
Maryland long stick
midfielder senior AJ Larkin got one to end the quarter, but by then it was 10-5 Notre Dame, and the damage had already been done. An impressive aspect of the third quarter for the Irish was that they only went 2-6 on face-offs, they only forced two turnovers and they only recorded two saves. The Irish defense was incredibly effective at making the Terrapins hold the ball for a long time and bleed out the shot clock, and the offense was very efficient with the possessions they got.
Graduate attacker Josh Yago, the star of the Georgetown game, made his first appearance on the stat sheet at the beginning of the fourth quarter, getting an assist from Behrman — the last goal for Notre Dame.
The Terrapins went on a 3-0 run to end the game, but the Irish lead proved to be too much, and Notre Dame came away with the victory. Behrman and Miller starred for the Irish offense, Behrman picking up 3 goals and 3 assists, and Miller picking up 3 goals and 2 assists. 5-star freshman defender Christopher Iuliano was the star defenseman for Notre Dame, causing one turnover and picking up four ground balls. The team only forced seven turnovers in the game, and senior goalkeeper Thomas Riciardelli only made seven saves.
Maryland was forced to hold the ball for long periods of time, and that lack of aggression led to their demise. The star of the game for the
Terrapins was senior FOGO Henry Dodge, as he went 12-14 on face-offs, and the Terrapins as a whole went 15-23, giving them many opportunities. They just struggled to get good shots off against a strong Notre Dame defense.
Alongside North Carolina, the team is currently ranked as the best in the country by Inside Lacrosse, giving the Irish a strong chance to leap into the No. 1 spot. Notre Dame will be on the road again for their next game, traveling to Columbus for a 2025 playoff rematch against the No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes, who are coming off a 10-9 win against the Georgetown Hoyas.
Contact Jack Muething at jmuethin@nd.edu
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DECLAN LEE| The Observer
Senior midfielder Ryan Sforzo attacks the Bellamire defense on Feb. 17 in Arlotta Stadium. The Irish won 29-10 in part due to Sforzo’s two goals on three shots to help the Irish remain undefeated. Notre Dame recently beat No. 9 Maryland 11-8 away to move to No. 1 in the country.