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Volume 53, Issue 30 | friday, september 28, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com
Mr. Keenan crowned Mr. ND Walsh Hall puts on 18th annual talent show to raise money for signature charity By NICOLE SIMON News Writer
Freshman Logan Schott of Keenan Hall was crowned Mr. ND at the 18th annual pageant Thursday night in Washington Hall. The event, hosted by Walsh Hall, invites one candidate from each male’s dorm to showcase “their talent, intellect and humor” in the hopes of winning the crowning title “Mr. ND,” according to Walsh Hall’s Facebook page for the event. All proceeds support Walsh’s signature charity, Joseph’s Academy in Chicago. Sophomores Mackenzie Sheil and Victoria Ruesch, Walsh’s signature event
commissioners, emceed the event in addition to planning it. They had help from other Walsh residents, including sophomore Sarah Galbenski, who sold tickets. Galbenski said she loves the evening because it brings people together from all different dorms. “We really love this event because every male’s dorm has someone to support,” she said. “It really fosters community not only among Walsh, but also among each of the men’s dorms.” During the event, the contestants have a question-andanswer segment, followed by their own original act. Some notable performances see MR. ND PAGE 7
Football friday feature
Alumni host weekend events for gameday By MARIAH RUSH News Writer
Each home football game weekend, Notre Dame attracts many spectators, many of whom are alumni. Of course, these alumni come to see the football games themselves, but the Alumni Association also offers events for those in town looking for other activities. Michael Sullivan, an alumnus of Notre Dame and the senior director of alumni programs, said the Alumni Association aims to connect alumni to each other no matter where they are in their life. “Our mission is to connect people to each other and to the University to support them throughout their life, wherever they are geographically, whatever their affinity to the University and whatever stage of life they’re in,” Sullivan said. Events sponsored by the Alumni Association during game
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weekends help to foster these connections between alumni, current students and fans. According to Sullivan, the signature event for home game weekends is the “Football Fridays at the Eck” series, which sees about 1,500 people. “It’s essentially a fan-fest, so between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it features live music,” Sullivan said. “ … The area between the bookstore and the Eck Visitors Center kind of becomes a plaza for a fanfest, and then we also have seating inside our building as well. We do interviews and we have food and drink available, so it’s a nice event.” During this “fan-fest,” the NBC commercial that typically runs during games, titled “What Would You Fight For?” is previewed, and the student profiled in the commercial is often interviewed to discuss his or her work on campus see ALUMNI PAGE 7
VIEWPOINT PAGE 8
NDSP arrests youths Observer Staff Report
NICOLE SIMON | The Observer
Freshman Logan Schott, center, accepts his crown as Mr. ND. The annual show raises money for St. Joseph’s Academy in Chicago.
Three people were arrested on multiple charges while hiding on WNDU’s property Thursday morning, University spokesman Dennis Brown said. A Notre Dame police officer confronted four men hiding behind cars on Dorr Road early Thursday, Brown said. The men then f led towards WNDU, where three of them were apprehended at about 2:30 a.m. while the fourth see POLICE PAGE 5
College adds master of autism studies programs By CALLIE PATRICK News Writer
As of next fall, Saint Mary’s is officially ready to make available to students new programs in the master of autism studies program. For right now, there are two basic dual degree programs planned for the future curriculums, professor Michael Waddell, director of the master of autism
studies program and a professor of philosophy at Saint Mary’s, said. “The first one is our dual master’s degree program where you earn the master’s of autism studies and the master’s of science and speech language pathology,” he said. Waddell said this program allows students to get handson experience in their field.
“It creates extra opportunities for working in clinical settings with people on the spectrum,” he said. “So you get the course work you need to become a licensed and certified speech therapist, you get expertise in autism and you get more opportunities to work with people of the spectrum than you would if you see AUTISM PAGE 3
AcaFest hosts Notre Dame a cappella group concert By CHRISTOPHER PARKER News Writer
Friday night, as the Irish prepare for a battle against the Stanford Cardinal, the singing Irish will gather for a different reason. AcaFest 2018, a group benefit concert featuring Notre Dame’s a capella singing groups, will take place at Washington Hall at 7:30 p.m.
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This is the first time in four years that AcaFest has been put on, junior Sarah Duehren, president and alto singer of coed a capella group Halftime, said. She said AcaFest will be a chance for students to celebrate a common passion. “In the past we’ve been to competitions, but it’s a showcase this year instead of a battle for who’s the best,” she said. “We’re pretty
separate right now. I’m excited to integrate our fanbases and selfishly hear the other groups.” For each of the groups performing, AcaFest is an opportunity to share music with each other and an audience. Senior Brian Raab, music director and bass in the all-male a capella group The Undertones, said the gathering
FOOTBALL PAGE 20
ND MEN’S SOCCER PAGE 20
see ACAFEST PAGE 6