Print Edition for The Observer for Friday, April 14, 2023

Dorms compete in Flaherty Food Fights

Students cook in the dining halls to take raise money for Beacon Children’s Hospital

By PETER BREEN

a ssociate news editor

n ine n otre d ame dorms competed in n orth and s outh d ining h alls during dinnertime w ednesday night in the semifinals of f laherty h all’s spring signature event, f laherty f ood f ights. The annual cooking tournament, modeled off the f ood n etwork show, “ c hopped,” raises money for b eacon c hildren’s h ospital in s outh b end.

w hile many dorm events might involve food in some shape or form, f laherty h all spring vice president Jane s tallman said the market for live cooking competitions remains untapped on campus.

“There’s like 8 million

5Ks, 8 million music festivals, 8 million singing competitions or talent shows,” s tallman said. “ i t’s a great event because it’s something niche.”

g race m arkovich, f laherty h all’s fall vice president, said doing the event in the dining halls in front of the student body is what makes it meaningful.

“

i think it’s so cool because so many [dorm] events are at night like in w ashington hall or 5Ks are in the morning, so you don’t see them as much,” m arkovich said. “ b ut a lot of people are getting dinner at 5 o’clock so everybody gets to see it happening, and so many people were asking us

see food fighT PAGE 4

students welcome south bend’s first cat cafe Senate explains new procedures

By LIAM PRICE news writer

The n otre d ame student senate met w ednesday afternoon in the m endoza c ollege of b usiness building for their second meeting this term. Though no orders or resolutions were voted on, vice president a idan r ezner and senate parliamentarian g riffin m c a ndrew used the meeting to explain proper parliamentary procedures and resolution-writing practices to the new senators.

vote and moved on to executive announcements. h e first explained to the senators the difference between senate resolutions and orders.

“a resolution is, for lack of a better term, like a wish. i t’s a call upon the university to do something. n ow the u niversity is, we’d like to think, is [sic] very welcoming to these things and they will read them, and then they can make a decision as to whether they want to do that or not,” r ezner said.

by

aidan o’malley

news writer

senior

i t might be called The c at l ady c afe, but Kim s ult — owner, founder and “purrresident” of s outh b end’s first cat cafe — is anything but crazy. s he wasn’t sure of that, though, until

she announced her intention to open the cafe on f acebook in January 2022.

“ i wanted to kind of gauge the interest because, ‘a m i crazy for doing this?

i s anybody going to want to come?’” she said.

b ut to her delight, people’s interest was piqued.

“ i t was one of those moments where it’s like, ‘ o K, i guess this really is going to happen,’” s ult said with a laugh.

l ocated on e ast c olfax

a ve., The c at l ady c afe opened its doors to the

f ollowing the senate’s standard meeting format, r ezner, who as vice president is also chairman of the senate, began the meeting with an opening prayer, and m c a ndrew took roll call afterward.

“ w hereas an order… would be something that you would write up and send through, and if it passes, that order is changed. n ow, the only thing that we have full order rights over is really our student constitution and our senate bylaws.”

m c a ndrew followed

see cafe PAGE 5 see senaTe PAGE 4

r ezner next approved the senate’s a pril 5 meeting minutes with a unanimous

AIDAN O’MALLEY | The Observer

The new Cat Lady Cafe, located on East Colfax Avenue in downtown South Bend, opened on March 28. Patrons can schedule one-hour slots to relax, eat and drink while visiting with their new feline friends.

Courtesy of Celeste Hirschi

The students of Fisher Hall come together during the semifinals of the annual Flaherty Food Fights to offer a taste of their “Greek-American Souvlaki Sandwich” while they competed in South Dining Hall.

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with two presentations for the senators: one on parliamentary procedures in the senate, and the other on writing resolutions to be discussed and voted on the senate floor.

“Parliamentary procedure is the way in which, basically, the s enate is going to run. i t’s a method of running meetings and conducting business for the sake of efficiency while preserving the rights of its members,” m c a ndrew said.

The first, sixteen-slide presentation outlined how senators should expect meetings to run, including all parts of a typical senate meeting from opening prayer to meeting adjournment practices.

“ i know this is really dry stuff, so i ’m not going to go through all the nuts and bolts,” he said after concluding the presentation. “This was just like a summary of what you would expect to happen in a normal senate meeting.”

m c a ndrew’s next presentation discussed the three steps of resolution writing for senators, from choosing an issue to drafting the resolution and then submitting it to himself, r ezner and the s tudent a ctivities o ffice advisor.

r ezner told the senators that they can look to him and m c a ndrew for help in drafting the resolutions.

“We’re here to help you. i ’m more than willing to be with you about a resolution that you’re working on, anything of that sort. m e and [ m c a ndrew] are resources to you,” r ezner said.

“ i f you have an issue, we want you to go after it and solve it, so don’t be afraid about writing the resolution perfectly. We can help you with that.”

The last part of the executive announcements segment of the meeting included a reminder from r ezner of senate meeting attendance policy and expectations, explaining that senators are allowed six absences in a term before facing a review by the student government’s ethics committee. Though attendance policies are rarely enforced strictly, m c a ndrew advised the senators to do what they could to avoid dealing with attendance

issues.

“The ethics committee has been known to be very lenient on attendance policies, which isn’t a good reason for you guys not to show up because an ethics committee hearing is a total nightmare for everyone involved, including both of us and you,” m c a ndrew said.

The general orders part of the meeting included only a reminder from r ezner for senators to sign up for student government executive departments.

i n announcements, d illon h all senator s am g odinez stood up to inform his fellow senators that he is working on a resolution for the senate to call upon the u niversity to fix “Lake d illon,” which is the colloquial term for the area between the entrance of d illon h all and the exit of s outh d ining h all that floods during heavy rains.

“ i f you don’t mind, i have to give a passionate speech,” he said. “a t this point, d illon h all is an ocean and all our members, including myself, are just a bunch of whales trying to navigate the waters. s o i will be introducing a resolution, emailing all of you probably within the next week or so.”

Editor’s Note: Sam Godinez is a former news writer and photographer for The Observer.

Contact Liam Price at lprice3@nd.edu

Food fights

about it.”

The teams of two to five chefs were allotted the complete resources of their respective dining hall to whip something up in 15 minutes, f laherty h all president c eleste h irschi said. c ampus d ining could also accommodate specific requests like ones for eggs, dill or extra knives.

“ o ne of our teams asked to plug in the waffle maker,” h irschi said. “[ c ampus d ining] was like, ‘Yeah, we’ll get on that,’ and they did.”

f isher h all’s Josh s equeira, Jack Waddick and g raham r agsdale showed up to s outh d ining h all’s semifinal wearing matching s tarbucks aprons and headbands. m arkovich said the f isher h all team refused to refer to each other by anything other than “chef” throughout the duration of the contest.

“We did [the food fights] last year, and we came in second place behind a guy who went to culinary school, so that showed us that we had what it took to really make it to the big leagues,” Waddick said. “ s o this year, we decided we would round up the troops — the best cooks we know.”

f isher h all’s g reeka merican s ouvlaki sandwich — made from a toasted sandwich roll, shredded chicken, lettuce, shaved carrots, homemade tzatziki, feta and f rench fries — won first place in s outh d ining h all’s semifinal, accumulating points for presentation, “balance,” taste and integration of the special ingredient: g reek yogurt.

Presentation to the judges — experts from c ampus d ining, student body president d aniel Jung in n orth d ining h all and assistant vice president for c ampus m inistry f r. Pete m c c ormick in s outh d ining h all — was a big factor how a team scored, s tallman suspected.

a fter learning of the special ingredient, s tallman said one guy on the f isher h all team went off on some “tzatziki rant” and claimed to have studied abroad in g reece.

“ i honestly don’t even know if he studied abroad in g reece,” s tallman said. “ h e could have made that up, but it was convincing. i would go out on a limb and say no one in food fights has any cooking experience.”

m arkovich, who presided over the semifinals in s outh d ining h all with s tallman, said the event drew so much more recognition than she thought it was going to.

“a ll the teams were so excited and running around,”

m arkovich said. “There were people watching the judging. There was this whole little group. s outh definitely exceeded my expectations.”

u nlike many dorm events or fundraisers, s tallman said food fights has quite a low overhead cost.

“[ c ampus d ining] donates all the food,” s tallman said. “ s o the event is free. The only money we spent on the event was making the advertising materials. s o other than that, all the money goes to charity.”

The first-prize winning team from f isher h all will take on o ’ n eill f amily h all, two teams from f laherty h all and two wildcard teams in the finals, which take place at 4:30 p.m. in n orth d ining h all on f riday.

d onations can be made to b eacon c hildren’s h ospital by clicking the link on f laherty h all’s i nstagram bio until f riday at midnight.

Contact Peter Breen at pbreen2@nd.edu

Paid a dverT isemen T

Courtesy of Celeste Hirschi

Knott Hall residents compete in North Dining Hall, taking part in Flaherty’s signature event to raise money Beacon Children’s Hospital.

s outh b end community on m arch 28. d ecked out in purple furniture and serving coffee and baked goods, the cafe offers visitors the chance to mingle with local shelter cats in partnership with the h umane s ociety of s t. Joseph c ounty. e very cat is available for adoption.

While cat cafes gained popularity in Japan a decade ago, s ult got the idea for hers when she visited one in London in 2017.

“ i had not really heard a whole lot about them,” she said. “ b ut i was thinking when i was there, ‘Wow, we really need one of these in the area.’”

a longtime resident of m ichiana, it took a few years (and the covid pandemic) for s ult to pull the trigger and bring a cat cafe home.

“When the pandemic came, i was downsized from a nonprofit event job,” she said. “ i came back from London and put it on the vision board and it kind of sat there for a while … n ow things [had] slowed down, i [could] take the time to focus on it.”

s ult is no stranger to animal welfare and rescue; she has served on the h umane s ociety’s board of directors since 2009 and has volunteered there for 15 years, forging connections that would become essential in bringing a cat cafe to life.

a doption, s ult said, is the “overhead” goal of the partnership.

“[The h umane s ociety]

handles the adoption process,” she said. “We’re kind of in the middle, bringing the cats and the people together.”

v isitors can register for one-hour time slots on the cafe’s website, during which they can eat, drink and play with a rotating cast of friendly felines. i t all depends on who’s been adopted. i n less than three weeks since its official opening, five cats have already found “furever” homes.

s ult said if adoptions continue, there may be a need to partner with other local rescue organizations.

“We get booked quickly,” she added. “The weeks have been busy.”

i n particular, s ult welcomes students of the tri-campus community to stop by for a snack or study break. a fter all, the cafe was born, in part, by her enrollment in s aint m ary’s s Par K b usiness a ccelerator, a component of the c ollege’s Women’s e ntrepreneurship i nitiative.

“ i t was an intense, 10week program,” s ult said. “ i t really helped lay the groundwork for this business.”

s he especially expressed her gratitude for the other women who developed small businesses alongside her as part of the program.

“ i t was a group of 25 cheerleaders, really,” s ult said, “cheering you on.”

c heering on The c at Lady c afe, in turn, are its patrons — including many students.

n otre d ame senior d ina Paul said a teaching assistant for professor

d ana m oss’ “ h ealth and d isability Justice” class put the cafe on her radar, so she went with her friends on Wednesday afternoon.

“We have something like this at home but as more of a coffee shop, so i really like that it’s totally catoriented,” senior Patrick Gerard said.

“You can tell they care about the animals,” senior o livia b aumberger added.

For her part, s ult says the cafe is designed to benefit the cats beyond just adoptions.

“a lot of people say, ‘ d o they stay here overnight? d o they go in a cage at night?’ i say, ‘ n o, they stay here at night and they are free roaming,’” she said. “They’re interacting with people most of the day, getting their naps in the sunshine when we’ve got sunny weather. i t’s a great environment for the cats.”

s ult also hopes it’s a great environment for people, too.

“The comment has all been the same: ‘This is so therapeutic for me,’” she said. “For students during stressful times, or missing their pets at home or just needing a break from everything that’s going on, coming to hang with cats for an hour, people leave a little refreshed.”

s till, s ult denies the “crazy cat lady” allegations.

“People will ask me how many cats i have at home. i just have one!” she said. “ b ut they’re easy and they’re fun. c at people, we’re a little quirky, and we own that. We like it. We own that title.”

Contact Aidan O’Malley at aomalle2@nd.edu

Panel analyzes fast fashion

By EMMA VALES news Writer

o n Thursday, the Klau i nstitute for c ivil and h uman r ights hosted a panel titled “Labor, e xploitation and the e nvironment: FastFashion and Global s upply c hains,” featuring Professor Justine n olan from the u niversity of n ew s outh Wales s ydney. n olan is also the director of the a ustralian h uman r ights i nstitute.

n olan’s research focuses on the intersection of business and human rights, particularly the supply chain responsibility for human rights and modern slavery.

Panelists included second-year n otre d ame Law s chool student a lyssa d e s ouza, n otre d ame sophomore r aleigh Kuipers and n otre d ame junior b riana c happell.

The panel hosted guests in-person in Jenkinsn anovic h all, as well as on Zoom, allowing Professor n olan to present from a ustralia.

n olan began her presentation by sharing several shocking facts about the fast fashion industry. The world uses an estimated 80 billion pieces of clothing every year, which is a 400% increase from two decades ago, she said.

n olan also noted the fast fashion industry is the third-largest industry that contributes to greenhouse

gas emissions.

The biggest concern within the fast fashion industry is that there are severe labor abuses within fashion supply chains, she said. The clothes are often produced cheaply, leading to poor working conditions for garment workers. n olan said this includes lack of living wage, forced overtime, forced labor, child labor, sexual harassment, health and safety concerns and a lack of union access.

n olan presented a question on regulating supply chains, asking the audience if there is a difference between responsibility and legal accountability. The answer, she said is yes.

n olan then presented a case study that she did on the v eja sneaker company. The materials come from b razil, and the shoes are assembled there as well, so n olan went down to the a mazon rainforest to investigate. s he discovers that v eja makes a deliberate effort to pay workers in advance to ensure that they have a steady income.

When asked about what people can do about having fast fashion in their wardrobes, n olan said that “we all have fast fashion in our wardrobes, so what we can do is try to wear it out.”

s he said our consumption of clothing ultimately impacts how workers are paid and fuels wages.

“ i nstead of buying 10 new things, you might buy two things that are going to last longer,” she said.

n olan said we all likely have at least a few things in our wardrobe that were made with some exploitation, so it’s a matter of trying to keep wearing them.

To close her presentation, n olan noted that while there is a lot of bad news surrounding the labor and environmental effects with the fast fashion industry, some companies are trying to do things differently.

“There’s a lot of interest from consumers and people like [the panelists] that are making a difference and pressuring companies to create change,” she said.

Contact Emma Vales at evales@nd.edu

Paid a dverT isemen T

Rejecting ring by spring

Claire Lyons v iewpoint Editor

If you don’t already know, “ring by spring” is the Christian college phenomenon whereby seniors feel pressured to get engaged to their college sweetheart before graduation, and our Catholic campus is apparently no exception to the rule.

According to a study by the Institute for Family Studies (IFS), Notre Dame has an above-average percentage of married graduates (67.5%), topping the national average by approximately 15%. Amongst the top 50 colleges in the United States, Notre Dame has the highest marriage potential. What can I say? I guess Notre Dame students like “putting a ring on it.”

Romantics consider “ring by spring” as one of Notre Dame’s most important cultural traditions. Legend has it, if you kiss your partner underneath the scenic Lyons Arch or walk around the lakes holding hands, you’ll end up married. I imagine the perfect campus courtship: a meet-cute with a classmate, a ring by spring, a big Basilica wedding and a couple of (inevitable) legacy babies.

Cynics may instead chalk up our campus’s marriage obsession as a demographic consequence. After all, Our Lady’s admissions committee hand-picks a huge group of like-minded Catholic students every year. What do you expect to happen when you gather a bunch of young, single, highachieving people whose shared religion places an emphasis on marriage? Anybody can tell you there’s bound to be a wedding in the future. In fact, I can already hear the church bells.

But regardless of whether you’re a romantic or a cynic, I think everybody on campus feels the same “ring by spring” pressure — especially women.

Maybe, for you, the pressure manifests in the unusual amount of engagement announcements on your Instagram feed. Maybe the pressure manifests in the looming knowledge that you will never be in the same pool of (probably very compatible) potential partners ever again. Maybe, like me, the pressure manifests itself in awkward questions from well-meaning family members.

“No pressure,” the well-meaning family member says.

But seriously, if you’re single, that’s OK. Only 17% of married couples met in college. In fact, your chances might actually be better online (at least, according to research, not personal experience).

And if you’re dating, maybe you don’t want to pop the question while worrying about final projects or job applications. Waiting might actually be a better option. A study by the IFS suggests couples who get married in their late 20s stay together longer.

Maybe it’s a maturity thing. While a partner should be supportive of your growth, people in their early 20s are just starting to form their identities outside of school and it might be dangerous to define yourself on your partner’s terms.

Personally, I cannot imagine committing to a future with somebody at only 22 years old. Over the past three years, I’ve changed my major and my mind a thousand times, and I have no doubt that I will change again in the future. How could I expect anybody to be certain in me, if I’m not yet certain in myself?

In my opinion, “ring by spring” isn’t romantic. It’s an accumulation of familial pressure, religious obligation, campus tradition and a desire to moor yourself in the vast, uncertain ocean of post-graduate life. And by this, I don’t mean to dunk on your engagement or your happy relationship. If you’re deeply in love, more power to you.

Instead, I mean we should abolish the notion that you have to get engaged before you graduate college. The women who attend Notre Dame are whip-smart, and they didn’t come here with the intention of getting their M.R.S. degree, even if they stumbled upon love along the way. Either way, you shouldn’t have to live your life according to anybody else’s timeline.

So, if you catch sight of something shiny glimmering on my left hand next spring, it won’t be as outwardly exciting as an engagement ring. Instead, I’ll be wearing my class ring, and there’s absolutely no shame in that.

You can contact Claire at clyons3@nd.edu

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

4 tips for incoming neurodivergent students

Jack Griffiths NeuroDivergence

There are now several starry-eyed high school seniors who have received their acceptance letters to Notre Dame. You might be one of these seniors, excited to see the campus landmarks, find out your dorm and plan out your first-semester schedule. However, you might still have questions about how to navigate Notre Dame’s academic and social spheres. If you’re neurodivergent, you might have even more questions. Fortunately, as a symbolic gift from this veteran Notre Dame student, I’d like to share some wisdom from my four years of living on this campus.

1. Pace yourself during Welcome Weekend

For many people (including neurotypical students), Welcome Weekend is a frantic, loud and even confusing blur, a rancorous initiation into the Notre Dame experience. Not only are you dealing with the anxieties of living in a college setting for the first time, but you’re participating in activity after activity, shouting dorm chant after dorm chant and reciting Notre Dame Intro after Notre Dame Intro. You’re sweaty, disoriented and exhausted. If you’re neurodivergent, you might be wondering if there’s any positive to this storm before the storm.

Personally, although Welcome Weekend was occasionally stressful, I enjoyed it, particularly because I adopted the strategy of pacing myself. I chose which dorm bonding activities to participate in and declined others when I felt like I needed alone time or rest. I recognized that even though I was giving my name and major to dozens of people, I didn’t have to feel pressured into becoming best friends with all of them. The events during Welcome Weekend can genuinely provide opportunities to form lasting friendships, so I would encourage you to take advantage of them, but not to the point of becoming overwhelmed. In any case, brace yourself for an unusual (but still fun) beginning to your college career.

2. Know what s ara Bea can do

Like many other major universities, Notre Dame has a specific department that provides resources and accommodations for disabled students, including neurodivergent ones. For instance, students can request specific living spaces, like single rooms, if they feel like a roommate situation may impose on their need for an individual sacred space for escapism. If you’re someone who dreads dealing with countdown clocks during your monthly exams, Sara Bea can also help you secure extended time, as long as you communicate this with your professors.

3. Prepare for stimulus overload during the night

Oftentimes, there will be loud parties or gatherings nearby your dorm room

when you’re trying to complete your essay or get some sleep. This can be especially stressful for neurodivergent folks, for whom each unexpected sound can become exponentially distracting. To prepare for these moments, there are some practical measures you can take, whether it’s investing in earplugs or a noise machine. More fundamentally, however, it’s crucial to recognize that the people making noise are not doing it to personally frustrate you. The students partying in the building next door are likely as stressed about school as you are, and they’re looking for ways to release it and unwind after a long week. Thus, as hard as it is, I would recommend just being patient, and not allowing your frustration to turn into a judgmental attitude. Eventually, they’ll quiet down, so this shouldn’t be a longlasting obstacle to your personal quiet time.

4. Find organization and planning strategies that work for you

Between your numerous courses and extracurricular involvements, you’ll have a lot on your plate. It’ll therefore be necessary to find a personal method of keeping detailed schedules to help you keep track of assignments and obligations. For many neurodivergent folks, especially those with ADHD, this can be a tall order. There are several “life hacks” I enjoy using to plan out my strategies for completing everything. There are simple but still helpful actions like adding important paper deadlines and test dates to a virtual calendar. (You can even set up alerts to go off a day or so before a due date). There are also more detailed strategies like “backwards planning,” in which I select a date for finishing an essay, then map out what steps I would like to have finished in the days leading up to that target date. For example, I might aim to do a final revision a day before the target date, write the conclusion two days before, the last body section three days before, etc.

Sometimes, you might not feel confident creating planning methods yourself, and that’s okay! There are people you can approach to work with you. For instance, Writing Center tutors can help you plan out a strategy for working on essays, and as a bonus, they can help you brainstorm or polish any finished writing you have. And of course, your professors will be happy to organize your homework-completing schedule during office hour meetings.

Jack Griffiths is a senior at Notre Dame majoring in English with a supplementary major in global affairs. His areas of interest include neurodivergence, migration and the intersections between faith and public policy. When he’s not writing, you can find him singing with the Liturgical Choir, walking around the lakes or playing Super Smash Bros with folks in his dorm. He can be reached at jgriff22@nd.edu.

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

Saint Mary’s can and must do better

This is a synopsis of a letter written to saint mary’s President Katie conboy and her administration in response to a march 28 presidential panel held that focused on campus life in the wake of last summer’s dobbs v. Jackson Women’s health organization supreme court decision, which turned the legislative power over the legality of abortion to state governments. sadly, this event served to highlight the lack of catholic identity at saint mary’s and the unwillingness of the panelists to clearly defend the church’s staunch commitment to the sanctity of life.

To begin, President conboy spoke at length on the topic of abortion as an intellectual issue rather than a moral injustice to be combated by faithful catholics. Thus, she subtly gave weight to the arguments of those on campus defending abortion under the moniker of “reproductive justice.”

Although she claimed her academic treatment of abortion was in line with Father hesburgh’s reasoning (i.e. ”the catholic university is where the catholic church does its thinking”), she ignored the fact that he took brave action to combat one of the main moral issues of his day (i.e. the civil r ights movement).

When asked why she did not give a statement on the dobbs court decision, she said she felt conflicted between responding as a women’s college or as a catholic college.

The fact remains she leads a catholic women’s college, and so, she is called to defend the c hurch’s teaching that abortion ends the life of an innocent child and gravely harms the mother — often physically, mentally and emotionally, but most importantly, morally. The women of saint mary’s deserve to know the truth about the evil of abortion. The women of saint mary’s have a unique and beautiful life-giving power that must be wielded with love and respect for both ourselves as mothers and for our unborn and defenseless children. As saint Pope John Paul II emphasized, we must desire to see the fullness of the feminine genius in our world which means advocating for and protecting women — both born and unborn.

v ice president for mission Julianne Wallace and vice president for inclusion and equity redgina h ill stated abortion was a complex issue. True, every mother who is pregnant will have different situations, unique needs and difficult challenges, but this is a simple issue at its core. Life begins at conception. no matter

how challenging the situation may be, it will always be morally wrong to kill the person in the womb.

church teaching on this is irrefutable (catechism of the catholic church, 2270-2272).

Wallace said that “acts of terminating life even in the most extreme circumstances,” and paused. I was hoping she would say a tragedy… but instead, she said, “are difficult when doing so saves another one’s life.”

The Usccb clearly states that killing her child is never the solution for addressing the mother’s health. Also, in the vast majority of cases, mothers are not getting abortions because their health is at risk. Abortion is not a treatment for cancer nor does it not eradicate a life-threatening disease. It is the intentional ending of the life of a human being with completely separate and unique dnA from his or her mother.

As a catholic women’s college, we need to help mothers experiencing a crisis pregnancy and those who are post-abortive and suffering. This is an area we are clearly lacking, as there was silence for over 10 seconds from every panel member when asked about resources for post-abortive students.

When belles for Life attempted to fill this gaping hole, it took us months to get resource posters approved for pregnant students and post-abortive students. even then, they were torn down by students who would rather stifle honest debate on campus than attempt to defend the truth about abortion. Where is a statement by the smc administration condemning the actions of these students who tear down resources while claiming they are “abortion-rights activists?”

When it was time for audience questions, it was abundantly clear the chairs of the post-dobbs student and academic committees were filtering, re-wording and omitting questions submitted to them. most of the students at the event were from belles for Life and the editing of questions actively shut down anti-abortion students’ voices. many of the panelists celebrated having “tough conversations” about abortion on campus but then had no intention of answering the tough questions of pro-life students.

director of the center for spirituality Fr. horan addressed numerous questions seeking an explanation about how saint mary’s can dissemble on the topic of abortion when the catholic church is clear in its teaching about the sanctity of life from conception to

natural death.

“how do we maintain catholic identity and at the same time uphold some of the space needed in higher education to have difficult conversations, especially when it seems to some folks that there is more of a black-and-white worldview than what v ice President Wallace explained in her remarks?” he queried.

so, why are anti-abortion students who embrace church’s stance on this issue dismissed because they see abortion as either morally wrong or morally right? If this is truly a place for thinking and tough conversations, students’ concerns and beliefs should be valued. but as a catholic institution of higher learning, saint mary’s has a responsibility to provide correction and moral guidance to its students when there is confusion, just as they would with intellectual errors.

While I applaud President conboy and smc leadership for creating opportunities for those on both sides of the abortion issue to discuss the topic in a civil matter, I feel these events also showed a bias towards the abortion advocates.

The first event hosted by associate professor megan Zwart (“dialogue not debate”) was even-handed, but the previous talks were less so. It was ostensibly a history of “reproductive justice in northern Indiana,” but it offered students no counterpoint to explain the church’s stance on contraception and abortion.

I, along with many other current students and alumni, feel like a marginalized minority on campus because we believe what our mother, the church holds true. We often hesitate to defend our faith or espouse conservative ideas in the classroom because we fear being labeled intolerant. supposedly, a diversity of ideas are welcome, but why does this catholic institution actively promote ideas and campus events that attack the very teachings of catholicism?

As a catholic school, we must follow Jesus in all that we do and pursue the truth with great love. The panelists and all leaders of smc must discern whether or not they are living up to this call.

o ver 190 students and alumnae have signed the letter I sent to President conboy and other leaders of the college because we believe saint mary’s can and must do better.

Ashley Kraker senior April 13

White guilt and performative activism

Oluwatoni Akintola meditations

In 2020, our country experienced a racial reckoning, the likes of which hadn’t been seen since the killings of Trayvon m artin and m ichael b rown in the early 2010s. b ut interestingly, what set the racial climate of 2020 apart from any other in recent history was the seemingly historical level of support that movements like b L m were receiving from white people, specifically young white people. All of us were trapped at home because of the coronavirus. o ur social media feeds were inundated with reposted quotes from the c ivil r ights e ra and all the trendy forms of social media protest that people were engaging in. o f course, people quickly began to realize that, while it was a neat idea, b lackout Tuesday wasn’t going to change the fact that more than 55% of deaths from police violence in the U s over the last 40 years have either been misclassified or unreported. If we’re honest, we’ll admit that, to a degree, we were all just virtue signaling, trying to cash in on an easy opportunity to show the world that we too were people of morality and conscience — that we, too, “got it.”

b ut in the wake of everyone’s virtue signaling, something very curious began to happen. s ome people discovered that they could improve their standing as social media activists by calling out these acts of performative activism. r eally it was just (you guessed it) more virtue signaling. Instagram pages were dedicated to outing these “fakes,” and it was so bad that a girl at a school nearby me was posted on one of them, with a caption asking that she be “held accountable.”

b ut strangely, the only people being called out for being “performative activists” were white. I remember b lackout Tuesday. I posted a black square. m y black friends posted black squares. e verybody posted a black square. s o why was it that my white friends were the ones at the mercy of the angry mob?

d on’t get me wrong, sometimes it’s obvious that some people really are just performing and that can be annoying. h owever, most of the time we can’t really tell and who is anybody to judge who’s sincere in their desire for justice and who’s an opportunist? As for my earlier question about why white advocates of social justice are often accused of putting on shows of “white guilt,” I think the answer

has a lot to do with pent-up anger. m any people are frustrated because they feel like when it comes to advocacy and calls for social change, white people get to have their cake and eat it too. They get to experience the catharsis of protesting and being outraged at injustice without the fear of being shot the next time they get pulled over by a police officer. I disagree with this view. If we say that white people must go about activism differently than people of color because their experiences of America are different, then we must acknowledge that even among black Americans, there are different experiences of America. In the America of today (where 54% of b lack Americans live in suburbs), disparities in class and socioeconomic status have made it such that a wealthy b lack family probably has more in common with a wealthy white family than a poor b lack family. s o, if we say that people can only fight oppression if they live the same experience as the oppressed, then we’ll have a lot fewer people fighting oppression.

r ecent focuses on outing “performative” white activists force many well-meaning white people to feel like they’re walking a fraying tightrope when it comes to issues of race. s ay nothing in the face of injustice, and your silence will be regarded as complicity. b ut if you speak up, you’ll be chided for giving into your “white savior” complex and trying to make the moment about yourself. b ut the ironic thing is, that’s exactly what those people are doing when they deem themselves worthy enough to question how genuine a white person is when they protest in solidarity with people of color. They’re just using an easy opportunity to create some kind of false moral high ground.

It’s pretty easy to call out your white friends on social media. What’s hard is putting energy towards pursuing solutions to problems like education inequity or the historic rate of gun violence going on in America’s inner cities. It’s impossible to verify the sincerity of every person who advocates for racial justice, and every time someone tries, they could have spent that time working on the real social justice issues affecting marginalized people.

Oluwatoni (Toni) is a freshman majoring in Business Analytics at the University of Notre Dame. He can be reached at oakintol@nd.edu.

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

Lord

Pursuing truth together

To steal a chorus from b ob h urd, “ubi caritas est vera, d eus ibi est” — where charity is true, God is there. m ore succinctly from the late Pope b enedict X v I, “ d eus caritas est” — God is charity. b ut those twin aims of action, truth and charity, at times can seem at odds with each other. Indeed, much of my time at n otre d ame Law, and really in the n otre d ame community more broadly, has been defined by the relentless pursuit of just the right balance between truth and charity. After all, anyone can see the hurt feelings caused by candor that is too blunt. Likewise, if that sort of bluntness is exactly what we unhealthily fear, then our charity could end up suppressing truth. This dialectic even infects our politics. h ow many times have we seen those on the right making points along the lines of “facts don’t care about your feelings”? The point is true enough: if one has authentically arrived at the truth, no contrary notion, regardless of how grounded in one’s own personal experience, can substitute for it. b ut such a relentless pursuit of truth without charity ends up leading people away from both. And then there’s the practically instinctive tendency of those on the left to align themselves with the marginalized, whether actual or perceived. s olidarity is a principle of c atholic social teaching and a noble pursuit, and those on the right side of the aisle admittedly tend not to abide by it anywhere close to sufficiently, but the readiness of those on the left to stand with the marginalized often seems to be grounded in things other than a pursuit of truth as to the nature and scope of alleged ongoing oppression. In exercising the principle of solidarity, many a left-leaning thinker thereby invest their time and effort in the pursuit of virtue signaling rather than actual virtue. The result is similar: charity without truth ends up leading people away from both.

The tribalism of modern politics creates another problem which intensifies both of these infections.

In 2008, b ill b ishop wrote a book titled The b ig s ort that describes a sociological phenomenon over the past 40 years in which there has been a tendency for individuals to geographically conglomerate based on political preference. This sort of retreat into what Alexis de Tocqueville would call a “little society” consisting of only those who think and act most like ourselves is exceptionally problematic.

c ountless curricular materials on an “author’s purpose” in writing state the proposition that those purposes number three: to inform, persuade, or entertain. The more society “sorts” itself by political affiliation,

the less that people engage in discourse to persuade others and the more they engage in discourse instead to inform their own as to where they stand. The temptation to prove one’s bona fides to one’s preferred political tribe is particularly difficult to resist. m ight some of the lack of empathy amongst those on the right be attributable to a desire not to get labeled a snowflake? Likewise, might some of the virtue signaling amongst those on the left similarly amount to a desire not to get canceled? A plague o’ both these houses. There must be another way.

In middle and high school, I had a theology teacher who made a point of etymologizing key Greek words of the n ew Testament. o ne of the first words to which he gave this treatment was “metanoia”. Whenever Jesus says “repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand” in s cripture, the word “repent” is a loose e nglish translation of the Greek “metanoia,” which comes from two roots: “meta,” which refers to change, and “-noia,” referring concurrently to the heart and to the mind. r ather than simply turning away from wrong things, c hrist thus calls us through a multitude of parables to open our hearts and minds to deeply rooted change.

And so it is here, dear and faithful reader, that this column concludes with an exhortation: whenever we find ourselves engaging in discourse, we should ask ourselves two simple questions: first, what am I trying to show here, and second, to whom?

The answer to that first question should be “truth with charity”, while the answer to the second should be “everybody.” If instead we find ourselves proclaiming untruths with an uncharitable disposition and tribalism in our hearts, the very metanoias that enable the Kingdom of God to flourish will take root neither in our hearts and minds nor anyone else’s.

As I have previously noted in this space, s t. m aximillian Kolbe’s formula for holiness notes that God’s will, united with ours, is the very definition of sanctity — “W + w = s ” for short. As we pursue the marriage of truth and charity, let us strive to unite our small-w wills to God’s bigW will and so pursue that capital- s sanctity which is the foundation of every meaningful metanoia.

Devin Humphreys is a 3L at Notre Dame Law School. When he isn’t serving as the sacristan at the Law School Chapel, singing with the Liturgical Choir or Chorale or competing at a quiz bowl tournament, he’s sharing his thoughts on the legal developments of the day with anyone who will listen. For advice on law school, hot takes on Mass music and free scholarly publication ideas, reach out to Devin at dhumphr2@nd.edu or @ DevinJHumphreys on Twitter.

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

Devin Humphreys Law, Life and the

By MARCELLE COUTO

senior scene Writer

on the evening of Good Friday, the notre dame Folk choir presented their much-anticipated work, “The Passion,” under a clear, starry sky on south Quad. I attended last year’s debut of “The Passion” and was markedly impressed, so naturally, I was excited to experience it again. This production managed to exceed any and all expectations. Although I witnessed the wonderful birth of “The Passion” last easter, I must confess, this year’s performance was personally transformative.

The performance on April 7 marked the conclusion of the tour through the east coast in support of the album. The staging was directed by matt hawkins, director of musical theater at notre dame, and the tour featured an all-student cast. In addition to this series of performances, the Folk choir recorded an album that was released on major music platforms on Ash Wednesday. The album was produced by Joe henry, a three-time Grammy winner, and was recorded in Jerusalem at the end of the choir’s pilgrimage to the holy Land.

I had the privilege of reviewing last year’s “Passion,” and must preface my thoughts by stating, with all certainty, that my first encounter with “The Passion” remains profound. What this year’s “Passion” did was merely increase the original merits of that production and emphasize its pointed effectual impacts, while also adding creative twists and incorporating a more active dialogue with the audience. In short, “The Passion” of Good Friday hit home for me due to the influence of a perfectly-suited environment,

well-directed stylistic details and in particular, because of an innovative approach to staging.

This year’s open stage allowed the choir to truly shine, with the natural surroundings adding to the beauty and power of the music. The style of music of “The Passion” was a perfect match for the open-air setting on south Quad. As the sun set and the stars emerged, the music took on a luminous quality that was mirrored by the glow of the fires in the heaters placed around the perimeter of the stage. The stars above, the cool, clear evening and the warmth of the fires below created a magical atmosphere that perfectly complemented the choir’s performance. The setting was perfectly suited to the genre of music, which was both spiritual and earthy, blending soaring melodies with modern styles.

The staging, which was centered around a large table, was also a perfect fit for the open-air setting. The table served as the focal point for all the actions on stage. This approach was highly effective in bringing the audience closer to the story and making them feel like they were a part of the drama unfolding before them. As the characters recalled the events of the Passion narrative beginning with the Last supper, I noted the theme of a communal experience of emotion as well as a collective immersion in the mysteries of faith. The union of peoples was, of course, especially represented by the Folk choir coming together to create a harmonious work of praise. It was all made more evident and properly symbolized through the central table.

As the story progressed, Jesus suffered, carried his cross and eventually died on top of the table, creating a clear allegory of the holy sacrifice of the mass. This moment was especially poignant and left a weighty impact on the audience,

as evidenced by the silence of awe and wonder I perceived at that moment. It seemed like a certain pressure of gravity had infected the air.

The choir’s style of music blended traditional hymn-like melodies and contemporary folk music, which created a unique musical combination. The hymn-like tunes were used to create a sense of reverence and awe, while the contemporary folk music provided a more personal and emotional connection to the story. The combination of these different styles of music helped to create a powerful and moving performance that transcended traditional musical boundaries.

moreover, the choir’s use of various musical styles throughout the performance was also reflective of the story’s emotional arc. The music started with a somber and reflective tone, mirroring the solemnity of holy saturday. As the story progressed, the music became more lively and hopeful, representing the eventual triumph over death and the resurrection of christ. It not only showcased the versatility and talent of the notre dame Folk choir but also contributed to the powerful emotional impact of the production.

overall, the performance of “The Passion” by the notre dame Folk choir was an unforgettable experience that left a lasting impression. The combination of beautiful music, powerful staging and impressive acting created a deeply spiritual and emotional experience that left the audience feeling uplifted and inspired.

A complete version of this article can be found online. Contact Marcelle Couto at mcouto@nd.edu

By CHRISTINE HILARIO scene Writer

This review contains spoilers for all of “Succession.” “hello! F****-sucky brigade. how can I help you?” is the last thing roman roy says on a phone call before learning his dad is dying — a scene that encapsulates how “succession” perfectly balances both biting humor and gutting emotional moments.

The season three finale found three of the roy siblings, Kendall, shiv and roman, finally united through their anger at their father for selling Waystar royco, the family company, and barring them from succession. The beginning of the fourth and final season seemed to be building toward some huge, dramatic confrontation between the kids and their father, Logan. In the first episode, Kendall, shiv and roman completely abandon their plans to start a new company separate from their family legacy in order to buy the news network their dad wants. In the second, Kendall and shiv plan to stall Waystar’s sale at a board meeting. essentially, the kids’ business strategy is to do whatever makes their dad the angriest. For the entirety of the series, the kids’ motivations have centered around their father, whether it be winning his approval or trying to “kill” him, in a business sense. Then, by

the third episode, Logan is dead.

Logan’s death was inevitable. The very title of the show reminds you of the fact that someone must take over the company from the aging patriarch. however, characters as pivotal as Logan roy don’t die fifteen minutes into the third episode of a ten-episode season. The timing of his death isn’t just for shock value. Logan’s death will have devastating ramifications for the rest of the season, according to show creator Jesse Armstrong.

“We don’t just want to see people crying and then have a funeral and be done with the show,” Armstrong said. “We want to see how a death of someone significant rebounds around a family.”

The third episode is innocuously titled “connor’s Wedding,” and it’s perfectly constructed to convey the devastating impact of Logan’s death. In this episode, Logan has decided to skip the wedding of his eldest son connor in order to attend a business meeting. Kendall, shiv and roman, who are all attending connor’s wedding, have to be informed via phone call that their father has collapsed on the plane to his meeting and is in critical condition. There’s no dramatic death scene, and the audience finds out about Logan’s condition at the same time as the kids. There’s a sense of disbelief that a powerhouse like Logan would die so suddenly.

The performances in this episode are absolutely heartbreaking. despite their anger at their father, each of the kids desperately try to say their final words to him. sarah snook’s performance as shiv is particularly heartwrenching as we witness the usually collected shiv revert to a tearful, almost childlike state as she tells her father, “It’s ok, daddy. It’s ok, I love you.” The separation between Logan and his family is painful, and it all stems from Logan’s decision to always prioritize business over everything else. he dies surrounded by underlings who don’t care about him while his family can only communicate with him through the phone.

Logan was horrifyingly abusive to his children, and it’s obvious that it would be better if they could leave him and the company behind. however, there is no catharsis with Logan’s death, only pain and unresolved trauma. his death so early in the season will have ramifications that will push the series to new dramatic lengths, that I, for one, am excited to witness.

In honor of Logan roy’s death, I can only end this article with a tribute that has a certain “flava.” so, do yourself a favor and give “L to the oG” a watch in remembrance of the true oG.

Contact Christine Hilario at chilario@nd.edu

CLAIRE KIRNER | The Observer

EMMA KIRNER | The Observer

By FRANK PAQUETTE scene Writer

o n s aint Patrick’s d ay this year, the Irish rock band U2 released their new album, “ s ongs of s urrender,” on a limited edition n otre d ameinspired vinyl. While the tracks on the record themselves are an exciting showcase of the band’s range and timeless quality, the “ n otre d ame-ness” of the graphics on the product itself leaves something to be desired.

First, I want to discuss the physical record, which drew me to purchasing the album in the first place. I must admit, seeing a U2 product with any connection to n otre d ame is a thrill. It’s a strong choice for anyone collecting vinyls or n otre d ame paraphernalia, but the n otre d ame-inspired vinyl is only that—inspired. The large nd logo and “ n otre d ame edition v inyl” that was advertised to be on the front of the cover came off with the plastic packaging, which left me feeling a bit deceived. I often use the album cover as a wall-piece, and outside of its packaging, it barely connects to the Fighting Irish. The only two explicit references to n otre d ame are tiny nd logos on the vinyls and a poster that says “U2 s ongs of s urrender: n otre d ame edition” and has an nd logo the size of a quarter. The blue and gold vinyls and nd -colored art make the product well worth the purchase, but

it definitely pulls its punches and is not the perfect balance of n otre d ame and U2 spirit you might be hoping for.

The music itself from “ s ongs of s urrender” can best be described in one word: surprising. The n otre d ame edition of the album consists of 16 re-recorded timeless U2 songs, and presents them with an acoustic, new feel that strays radically from the band’s original work. “If God Will s end h is Angels,” the song that benefited most from the makeover, is far more cleaned-up than the original 1997 version. It’s rid of foreign electric noise and replaced with a piano that transforms the song from a sneaky experiment to a truly unforgettable prayer, demanding a place in the band’s pantheon of songs. Those great songs themselves also beat to a new proverbial drum in this album as “I s till h aven’t Found What I’m Looking For” turns from an epic ballad to a gentle lullaby, and “Where the s treets h ave n o n ame” demonstrates the band’s capability to create something new and exciting out of a tried-and-true legend.

o n the n otre d ame edition vinyl, the album’s content and style truly matches its medium. With its new acoustic, authentic feel, “ s ongs of s urrender” shines in the raw sound of a vinyl record. What once belonged on a car stereo or screamed by millions of fans now finds its rightful home on a crackling rotating disk, alluding more to a fairy tale past

of stardom than to the glimmering future that U2 so often prophesied. I thought stripping U2’s rock grandeur would remove its appeal, when in reality it left me with a far more fundamental element of U2’s greatness: its poetic spirituality. The simpler instrumentals highlight the integrity of the crisp vocals and immortal songwriting that have driven the band since their beginning. r ather than giving fans another album with the unique style that defined them for decades, U2 invites them with “ s ongs of s urrender” into a deeply intimate look behind the curtain. It’s raw and original, and a gift to a listener itching to hear in one album the legacy of U2. It’s a surprise and it’s a joy.

Contact Frank Paquette at fpaquett@nd.edu

“Songs of Surrender”

Artist: U2

Label: Island Records, Interscope Records

Favorite tracks: “If God Will Send His Angels,” “One,” “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “Pride (In the Name of Love)”

If you like: “The Joshua Tree,” “A Rush of Blood to the Head,” “Babel”

By GABRIEL ZARAZUA senior scene Writer

What if I told you that sports are more than what happens on the field? sorry, I always wanted to make my own “30 For 30” slogan. Anyway, people seem to forget that what happens on the field in sports is only half the story. While we see the scoreboard and the athletes putting their all into the games they love, have you ever wondered why they are doing so? Why was a particular game so important? You may know a player, but do you really know their story? Well, “30 for 30” are the documentaries for you! They are a series of documentaries highlighting interesting people and events in sports history, and I’m here to recommend some of my personal favorites that are beginner friendly if you are getting into sports, or want to know more about stories you already know!

“Survive and Advance”

now that we’re fresh off march madness, this story follows the 1983 nc state basketball team and their miraculous tournament run. With multiple comebacks and upsets against Unc with michael Jordan, U vA with ralph sampson, and the “Phi slama Jama” houston cougars featuring future nbA hall of Famers hakeem olajuwon and clyde drexler, nc state was one of the biggest underdogs ever. Led by head coach Jim valvano, this story also focuses on his life before and after the 1983 season, along with the experience of multiple players, who learn how

far their trust in each other can take them.

“The Four Falls of Buffalo” how would you feel if you were only remembered for your greatest failures? This is the story of the 1990’s buffalo bills football team, who managed to make it to four straight super bowls and lose them all. This documentary focuses on our obsession with winning, how losing can overshadow one’s accomplishments, as well as how time can eventually heal all wounds.

“Four Days in October”

While it hurts to write about this as a Yankees fan, it is hard not to recommend the story of one of the biggest comebacks in sports history. It’s hard to win four games in a row and even harder to win four in a row against your arch rival… and a curse. Those were the odds against the boston red sox baseball team. over four consecutive days and nights, they miraculously won four straight games down 3-0 in the 2004 ALcs (American League championship series) to overcome the odds and reach their first World series in 86 years. behind the scenes footage lets you accompany the players and coaches through those four days and witness baseball history as they make it.

“Of Miracles and Men” one of the biggest upsets in sports history at the height of the cold War, a group of college athletes

represented Team UsA in hockey and took down the heavily favored soviet national team in the 1980 Winter olympics. We think we know the whole story, when in reality we know only one side of it. This documentary follows the story through the eyes of the soviet national team, made up of good men who truly loved the game thanks to their passionate coach, Anatoly Tarasov. The actions of their country overshadowed these men, forcing them to live with a certain guilt following their loss to the U.s

“Catholics vs. Convicts”

In the fall of 1988, #4 notre dame would play #1 miami in what would be remembered as one of the greatest games in college football history, all thanks to the story behind it … including a shirt. Tradition versus swagger, Lou holtz versus Jimmy Johnson and Tony r ice versus steve Walsh. This game had it all, and it all came together due to one shirt made by notre dame students with the saying, “catholics vs. convicts.” director and notre dame alumni Patrick creadon looks back on the game, the story behind the two programs and how the shirt not only stained both schools’ reputations, but also crushed the dreams of the student who made it.

Contact Gabriel Zarazua at gzarazua@nd.edu

Happy Birthday: Don’t knock yourself out trying to please someone who doesn’t appreciate you. Take a step back and focus on yourself for a change. Make changes at home that address issues of concern so you can get on with your life and take advantage of whatever comes your way. It’s your turn to express your thoughts and fulfill your dreams. follow your heart and collect the rewards. your numbers are 6, 13, 22, 24, 30, 39, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t labor over what’s impossible. Consider what you can achieve by adjusting how you live and how you earn your living. Beef up your ideas and explore how to make your life less stressful. Protect your heart. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Consistency matters. Make decisions and follow through. A change will help raise your awareness of the existing problems and how you can make a difference. It’s not enough to complain or criticize; make suggestions, offer solutions and take the helm if necessary.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Pay attention, or someone will take advantage of you. Ask questions and research anything that interests you. knowledge is power and will protect you from those looking for a free ride. Don’t labor over something that offers you nothing in return.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): life will throw you a curveball; it’s up to you to recognize where it’s coming from if you want to accept the challenge. Patience will help, but intelligence and presentation will lead you to the winner’s circle. Enjoy the ride.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): lend a helping hand. your insight and experience will be valuable when faced with multiple choices or joint expenses. Build alliances with colleagues; it will help you initiate a plan that benefits the underdog. your input will promote a leadership position.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): What you discover will alter how or where you live. Act quickly to take advantage of a time-sensitive offer. A change of location will increase your awareness and bring about change. Avoid emotional spending or paying for other people’s mistakes.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Stretch your mind. update how you present yourself and your attributes to ensure you attract favorable attention and improve your life. A routine will encourage continuity. Don’t get angry over what you can’t change.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Bypass anyone messing with your emotions. Stick close to home and do your best. Be sure to finish what you start. Counting on someone to do things for you will lead to disappointment and a change of heart. Think outside the box and something good will transpire.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Make plans to socialize and expand your interests. A hobby or investment you make will give you the push you need to get more involved in making your money grow. Do your due diligence, and everything will fall into place.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Stick to your budget. Bad behavior will weigh you down. refuse to let anyone play emotional games with you. fend for yourself and make decisions based on your needs. Don’t fold under pressure or threats. Avoid stressful situations.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take whatever you do seriously. your effort will be graded by those you are trying to impress. It will help if you focus on what you want to achieve instead of comparing yourself to others. Take advantage of an opportunity while you can.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): finish what you start. getting matters out of the way will ease your mind and give you a reason to celebrate. Consider how you can make changes that improve your lifestyle and your relationship with others. Protect against insult, injury and illness.

Birthday Baby: you are playful, entertaining and proactive. you are idealistic and confident.

Belles lead MIAA Tournament

By TOM ZWILLER sports Writer

o n Tuesday, the s aint m ary’s c ollege golf team competed in the first round of the m ichigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association nc AA Automatic Qualifier tournament, and the race is very much too close to call.

The b elles hosted the tournament’s first round at the e lbel Park Golf c ourse, a local s outh b end golf course with gorgeous wetlands and fairways. The idyllic setting was the site of incredibly fierce competition as four of the best m IAA teams battled for the conference’s lone automatic bid to the nc AA d ivision III national tournament.

The four teams to make the qualifier were the b elles of s aint m ary’s c ollege, the Adrian c ollege b ulldogs (who won the fall season), the Alma c ollege s cots and the h ope c ollege Flying d utchmen.

The b elles made the most of their home course advantage. s ophomore Katelyn Tokarz shot a 74 (+2), earning the best score for her team and in the overall field. h ope c ollege had the second and third-best individual outings at 75 and 76, while Adrian had two players in a tie for fourth at 77 each.

The next-best b elle was freshman Julia Lizak, who shot a 78. s enior Katherine h opkins was just one stroke behind at 79.

Two strokes back and in a five-way tie for ninth was senior Isa Patacsil. s enior e rin b ennett rounded out the team score with an 86, which put her in a tie for 17th. b ennett wound up

Tennis

con TIn U ed From PAGe 13

notched a 6-3 win to seal the doubles victory against the s eminoles after sophomore c arrie b eckman and junior Julia Andreach secured their match. b eckman and freshman b ojana Pozder started the Irish out strong in doubles against m iami. And a 7-5 win by freshman r ylie h anford and junior Yashna Yellayi secured another doubles decision. h owever, Pozder’s singles victory against m iami was n otre d ame’s lone individual win of the two matches.

The men’s team returns

tying with fellow senior n ani Patacsil, who played as an individual.

In total, the b elles finished with a 312, giving them a one-stroke lead over Adrian c ollege. b oth s aint m ary’s and Adrian have a slight cushion over third-place h ope c ollege, which finished with a 318. The s cots of Alma c ollege finished in a distant fourth with a team score of 346.

The s cots struggled mightily in the first round and were the only team not to have a player finish with a score of 80 or lower. Their top scorers both finished with an 81, tying for ninth. The s cots also had the worst finish, with their lowest player finishing just three strokes shy of 100 at 97.

With the first leg of the qualifier in the books, s aint m ary’s will get a brief rest before taking a two-and-ahalf-hour bus ride north to m ichigan on Friday. There, they will play two 18-hole rounds in two days at the Tecumseh Golf c lub.

Unlike the first round, the final two rounds will be hosted by Adrian c ollege. The b ulldogs also hosted the second round of the m IAA Jamboree in s eptember of 2022.

Then, in a field of nine total teams, the b elles placed second, scoring 330. The only team to outperform them? Adrian c ollege, which totaled 316 and had four top-10 best performers.

The second round of the qualifier begins at 1 p.m. on Friday. The third round starts at 11 a.m. the following day.

Contact Tom Zwiller at tzwiller@hcc-nd.edu

to action on Thursday night for its regular season finale against Louisville. The game is on the road at 3 p.m. and will be available on the A cc n etwork. Women’s tennis has two more matches before its regular season schedule concludes. The team is home against s yracuse on Friday and b oston c ollege on s unday. The s yracuse match begins at 3:30 p.m. and the b oston c ollege match starts at 11 a.m. b oth matches will be streamed on the n otre d ame athletics website.

Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu

Muhari, Linder secure historic three-peat

By JOSE SANCHEZ CORDOVA sports Writer

For years, notre dame fencing has been making history. This year, they made a little more.

o n the road at the iconic c ameron Indoor stadium in d urham, north c arolina, they fought off the competition to win their third consecutive nc AA c hampionship. The success keeps the no. 1 on Grace hall lit and makes them the first team on campus to three-peat.

Their success was buoyed by the exceptional contributions of more than 60 fencers across countless practice bouts, lifts and everything in between. but on that championship weekend in d urham, it was just twelve fencers who secured the hardware for notre dame. Two of them –freshman epee e szter muhari and junior sabre Luke Linder – rose above the rest to claim individual championships in their respective weapons.

d espite their similar success, their stories could not be more different. For muhari, it is the typical freshman tale of adjusting to an entirely new environment and building a support group in a new place.

“[ c oming to notre dame] was a really big adjustment and I was scared at first,” she said. “but thanks to my professors, the coaches and all the advisors and everyone we have, I have been able manage it well.”

That support system followed her all the way to nc AA competition, where she leaned on her coaches and teammates for support

in the most crucial bouts of the weekend.

“At first, I was anxious about it, but as the bouts were going by, I got more confident, and that’s because of the crowd that was there from notre dame. most of the team was there, plus the coaches and all the support we had,” muhari said. “They just made me feel so relaxed and so hype that I was like, ‘we’re here, there’s nothing to worry about.’”

For Linder, this year was all about proving himself. A national champion in 2021, Linder had been there before, but in a cov I d -altered year. The 2021 season saw the juggernaut Ivy League teams that often challenge notre dame cancel their entire sports season and not compete in fencing at all. In 2022, Linder was limited during the regular season and fought through injury to finish seventh in his effort to defend his title at the nc AAs. All of that led him to a 2023 where, for the first time in his college career, he fenced a complete season while fully healthy.

“To be back this year, fully healthy the entire season and to win it again when everybody is there, it just means a lot more,” Linder said. “e specially against a tougher field of opponents, it just proves that I’m still one of the best.”

It was a long road for the now two-time national champion who, despite the challenges, always put in the work to get back to the top.

“r ecovery took a while, but to have a whole season where I felt comfortable…

it’s just incredible because it shows how committed I am to the sport and how much work I put in to get where I am now,” he said. “It all paid off.”

The Irish’s two individual champions also represent the blend of youth and experience that was present on this year’s championship team. muhari won the title as a freshman, but foilist c hase e mmer (tied-third place) and epee m aruan o smanTouson (eighth place) joined her as freshman podium finishers. Linder won his as a junior and was joined by four other upperclassmen on the podium. e ven so, muhari stressed how they all came together as a team.

“[Going to college], I wanted to be part of a team and that’s the most perfect thing that I found here: a team,” she said.

While they enjoyed the victory for a bit, the notre d ame fencing team is already back at practice and looking forward to next season. e ven Linder, with three team titles and two individual crowns to his name, said he is ready for the next season to come along. he has his eyes on a greater goal.

“Four for four would be a huge, huge feat,” he said. “To set it up for the people who come after, when I’m gone, and to give them the opportunity to continue this and build on the success we’ve had, it’s an honor. It’s definitely something that I’m looking forward to for next year.”

Contact Jose Sanchez Cordova at jsanch24@nd.edu

SOFIA CRIMIVAROLI | The Observer

An Irish fencer competes at the Decicco Duals. Dominant across their 2022-23 season, the fencing team performed well at the tournament, during which both the men and women had undefeated records.

Hot streaks end over break

By ANDREW McGUINNESS sports editor

b oth the n otre d ame men’s and women’s tennis teams entered e aster break on a high note. The men’s team had snapped a five-game losing streak with consecutive victories over b oston c ollege and b utler. a nd the n o. 23 women’s team had won three of its last four, also coming into the break with two straight wins, soundly defeating n o. 25 Wake Forest and Louisville by a combined margin of 12-2.

h owever, things took a downward turn for both squads over the last week. e ach team played twice over the weekend and though men’s tennis started its slate with a victory, the teams lost each of the other three matches.

m en’s tennis defeated c lemson 4-3 on Friday before falling 4-0 on e aster s unday to Georgia Tech. The i rish doubles teams set the tone, as n otre

d ame took the first two matches to finish. s enior

c onnor Fu and junior

Irish to face Gamecocks in Paris in 2023-24 season

Jean- m arc m alkowski dominated, winning 6-1. Freshman e van Lee and sophomore Yu Zhang also brought home a 6-4 win. s ingles came down to the wire, with the victor still in the balance until the final match concluded. m arc-

m alkowski came through in the clutch, beating m att Pitts despite losing the first set. Fu and sophomore Jameson c orsillo also notched singles wins. h owever, the i rish were thoroughly defeated by Georgia Tech, dropping all of their matches.

m eanwhile, the women’s team lost consecutive matches for the first time in almost a month. The state of Florida did not treat the i rish kindly, as they lost 4-1 to Florida s tate on Thursday and 5-2 to n o. 14 m iami on s aturday. The i rish were fantastic in doubles in both matches, however. s enior Page Freeman and sophomore m aria o livia c astedo

see Tennis PAGe 12

By Observer Sports Staff

While many college basketball teams begin their seasons with a slate of home games against midmajor, unformidable opponents, n otre d ame women’s basketball will change things up to begin its 2023-24 campaign.

The i rish traveled to s t. Louis to take on c al in the first-ever c iti s hamrock c lassic. Playing in head coach n iele i vey’s hometown, the i rish dug themselves deep into foul trouble but gutted out a 90-79 win over the Golden b ears.

s o, the i rish will play another early-season neutral site game in 2023. This one, however, may have a little more intrigue.

First, it’s against s outh c arolina, which ended the regular season as the topranked team in the sport and has reached the s weet 16 in every full season since 2014, winning the national championship in 2017 and 2022.

Pitting two elite programs against each other early in the season is always going to garner excitement. d oing it in Paris,

France, takes the hype to an entirely different level.

s ure enough, that’s exactly what the i rish and Gamecocks are doing. For the first time ever, the i rish women’s basketball team is leaving n orth a merica. i n fact, it’s the first time Paris will host an ncaa regular-season basketball game and comes right before the city will host plenty of highlevel basketball in 2024 as part of the s ummer o lympics.

“ n otre d ame is playing under the shadow of n otre d ame,” said i vey, according to a team press release sent out on Wednesday. “We are absolutely thrilled to be heading to Paris to participate in this historic matchup between two storied women’s basketball programs. i t’s always been my mission to break barriers and provide opportunities for my players to have life-changing experiences. Women’s basketball is on the rise right now and having this exposure continues to grow the game on an international platform.”

b oth programs will

look to start their 2023-24 campaigns strong after excellent seasons that failed to meet their championship aspirations. h andicapped by a slew of injuries, most notably a seasonending setback to sophomore guard o livia m iles that sidelined her for the entire acc and ncaa Tournaments, the i rish bowed out in the s weet 16 to m aryland in convincing fashion. s outh c arolina reached its third straight Final Four. b ut the Gamecocks were upset by i owa and its dominant guard c aitlin c lark, falling 77-73.

a s of now, important details such as venue, broadcast network and tickets are not yet available.

This will be the sixth meeting in program history between the two teams. n otre d ame beat the Gamecocks 9285 the last time they met back in n ovember 2017. The i rish are 3-2 alltime against s outh c arolina, including a perfect 3-0 on neutral sites.

induced by brilliant pitching.

Irish seek elusive sweep behind killer P’s overall, this will be notre

dame’s ninth three-game series of the season. To this point, all eight have ended in a 2-1 count, as the irish have not swept nor been swept. but if there’s a time for notre dame to take three on the road, this might be it. The irish have beaten clemson five consecutive times for their longest

Paid a dverT isemen T

active winning streak against an acc opponent.

Last year, n otre d ame swept c lemson in s outh b end, outscoring the Tigers 21-5. i n that series, first baseman c arter Putz and junior catcher d anny n eri enjoyed massive performances. Putz went 6-for-13 with a double, home run and 8 rbi n eri also raked, going 6-for-8 with a long ball and four runs scored in two games.

e xpect Putz - along with graduate shortstop Zack Prajzner and sophomore third baseman Jack Penney - to bother c lemson this weekend. Penney has grown into a solid leadoff hitter, holding a .791 o P s and a perfect 8-for-8 base-stealing mark. o ver his last six games, Penney is 9-for-27 at the plate with three home runs and seven runs scored. b ehind him, Prajzner enters on a five-game hit streak in which he’s gone 8-for-24 with a pair of homers and seven runs driven in.

Putz has also been tremendously steady in the middle of the lineup, maintaining a batting average just below .300. The veteran has reached base safely in 13 of his last 15 games, collecting six doubles in the

last nine.

Developing the ‘pen notre dame feels that it can win any series behind its three-headed pitching monster. Graduate student a idan Tyrell, junior Jackson dennies and sophomore Jack Findlay have pitched to a combined era of 2.34. dennies has stolen the show recently with a shutout streak now approaching 15 innings. The trio has been phenomenal, but a question still remains: what do the irish have behind them?

That concern has reared its ugly head in back-to-back weekends, as the i rish bullpen allowed six-run innings late to miss out on key wins against n orth c arolina and Pittsburgh. b ehind the big three, n otre d ame has only two regularly used pitchers with a sub-five era . They are freshman c aden s pivey (2.19) and graduate student Will m ercer (4.24).

Tracking the Tigers o ffensively, the Tigers don’t hit for much power (30 home runs) but handle the basepaths extremely well. They are 59-for-73 on stolen base attempts, while their opponents are just 13-for20. With two players - c am

c annarella and b enjamin b lackwell - combining for

31 steals, c lemson will put the pressure on n otre d ame defensively. c annarella is a bona fide leadoff hitter, carrying a .411 batting average to go with 10 doubles and 40 runs scored. s ophomore infielder b illy a mick was a major force in Tuesday’s win, homering, doubling twice and driving in four runs.

statistically, c lemson’s pitching staff stacks up similarly to that of notre dame. however, the Tigers boast a much deeper inventory, with nine pitchers having thrown to an era between 1.90 and 4.50 in at least 10 innings. d uring its three-game win streak, c lemson’s staff has yielded a 1.33 era , which included a bullpen-heavy game on Tuesday.

Last weekend’s rotation consisted of a ustin Gordon, ethan darden and c aden Grice, all of whom have started at least five games this year. i n addition to his 34 strikeouts, Grice also leads the team with eight home runs.

The Friday-s aturdaysunday series will have start times of 8:00, 4:00 and 1:00 p.m. acc network e xtra will carry all three contests.

Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu

ND womeN’s BAskeTBALL

By TYLER REIDY a ssociate sports editor

notre dame baseball (1713, 7-8 acc ) currently occupies fourth place in the acc’s atlantic division. o ver the next four weekends, the i rish will face the three teams sitting below them - plus national no. 7 v irginia. sitting just a game and a half out of second

Lacrosse

con T inued from Page 15

To the credit of the i rish, they responded with force in their midweek showdown on the road against b utler. n otre d ame dominated the b ulldogs, at one point amassing a 24-0 lead. Though b utler eventually got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter, the 26-3 final scoreline was reflective of a motivated i rish squad.

The win also gave n otre d ame its second win away

Irish baseball begins key stretch with visit to Clemson

place, notre dame will have a major opportunity to further prove itself as a major national competitor, but also to solidify a favorable position in the standings. This weekend’s matchup with c lemson (20-14, 4-8 acc ) represents the first checkpoint.

Midterm assessments both teams are right around

from home on the year. The i rish had previously been 0-3 in true road games. a neutral site triumph against d uke kept them from being winless away from the confines of a rlotta s tadium until m onday.

o n f riday, the i rish will have a chance to further boost their road record against a struggling Panther squad. Pitt is 0-7 on the season in acc play and just 4-10 overall. s ince the start of m arch, the Panthers have lost eight of their nine games. The lone win came

the halfway mark of their 27-game acc schedules. notre dame has responded well after a flat start in non-conference play, holding an acc record near .500 despite facing three of the conference’s top four teams. Last weekend, the i rish offense clicked in a series win at Pittsburgh. h owever, the bats dried up late in Tuesday’s 11-inning home loss to m ichigan

against 4-9 Youngstown s tate of the mac

b oasting the conference’s worst offense by goals scored and second-worst defense by goals conceded, Pitt is among n otre d ame’s easiest conference matchups this spring. b ut if the Panthers do pull the upset, look for the attacking partnership of s ydney n aylor and c amdyn o ’ d onnell to pull the strings. The sophomore and senior have combined for 47 total points this spring. The pairing holds the only two players with more

s tate. Traditionally, n otre d ame has played quality baseball beyond this point in the season. i n each of the last four full seasons, the i rish rattled off multiple four-game win streaks after mid- a pril.

m eanwhile, c lemson has played 12 conference games and has been largely inconsistent. The Tigers started

than 20 points individually on the roster.

n aylor and o ’ d onnell will have a tough task ahead of them in facing a stout i rish defense. n otre d ame has allowed just 114 total goals this season, the second-best defensive mark in the conference. Pitt’s offense, conversely, ranks last in goals, assists, points, shots and shots on goal per game.

The i rish defense has come close to pitching a shutout on multiple occasions this season. Junior goalie Lilly c allahan allowed

4-0, then lost four straight but eventually jumped back to 11-6. a fter transitioning to a pril with a sweep at the hands of n o. 2 Wake f orest, c lemson has won four of its last five games. That included a series defeat of f lorida s tate and 8-1 Tuesday takedown of g eorgia, both

see basebaLL PAGE 13

just two goals against s an d iego s tate and one against v irginia Tech. f riday could be her best chance yet to finally go a full game without conceding a goal. i f n otre d ame does pitch a shutout, it would be the first by an acc team this season. n otre d ame women’s lacrosse will be back in action f riday against Pitt. The game is slated for a 5 p.m. start and will be broadcast on acc n etwork e xtra.

Contact J.J. Post at jpost2@nd.edu

Notre Dame women’s lacrosse set to finish season on the road

Pennsylvania.

By J.J. POST

a ssociate sports editor

notre dame women’s lacrosse will head on the road for the final time this weekend, facing off against Pitt and robert morris in Pittsburgh,

The i rish will likely have a point to prove in their two matchups for multiple reasons.

For one, notre dame fell in dramatic fashion last weekend in a top 10 matchup at home.

The i rish led boston c ollege

by as many as four goals in the fourth quarter but conceded five unanswered e agles goals over the final 10 minutes of the contest. The final dagger by midfielder c assidy Weeks came with just 12 seconds remaining in regulation.

The loss to boston c ollege ended a two-game winning streak in which it looked like notre dame was building serious momentum. The week prior the i rish dispatched current no. 5 north c arolina in convincing fashion at a rlotta

stadium. a win over the e agles would have given notre dame back-to-back wins over top ten teams and an outside chance at the second seed in the acc tournament.

see Lacrosse PAGe

Irish prepare to close out regular season against Syracuse, Boston College

By MATTHEW CROW a ssociate sports editor

The notre dame women’s tennis season has been full of ups and downs. a fter picking up two big home wins against Wake Forest and Louisville at the end of march, the i rish traveled to Florida last weekend and fell to Florida state and m iami. They’ll have the chance to get back on the upswing before postseason play begins as they return home to face s yracuse and b oston c ollege in their final regular season matches this weekend. The matches come in advance of next week’s acc c hampionship, and notre dame’s performance this weekend could significantly impact their seeding at the tournament. The no. 27 i rish (13-9, 4-7 acc ) currently sit eighth in a tightly bunched acc no. 36 s yracuse (11-7, 4-7 acc ) is even with notre dame, while no. 41 b oston c ollege (10-9, 3-8 acc ) is just a single game back. Losing

both matches could drop the i rish as low as 12th, while a pair of wins could vault them into the top half of the standings. notre dame hopes that a strong conference tournament showing will earn them their first ncaa Tournament bid since 2017. similar to the i rish, s yracuse enters the weekend looking to get back into the winning column. a fter an 11-1 start to the year, the o range have slumped in recent weeks. road defeats at the hands of nc state and Wake Forest last week extended their losing streak to six, five of which were decided by a 6-1 score. s yracuse’s schedule has done them no favors, as they have faced three top-10 opponents during that stretch, and five teams in the top 30. a s they look to break through with a long-awaited win against the i rish, they will be led by senior Zeynep e rman, ranked no. 102 nationally in singles.

b oston c ollege arrives refreshed after a bye week

preceded by a similar gauntlet to that faced by s yracuse. Playing all four acc schools from the state of north c arolina in a two-week span, they managed just one point combined in three lopsided losses against north c arolina, d uke and nc state. They also earned an impressive 5-2 road win against Wake Forest just days after the i rish shut the d eacons out by a 7-0 margin. The e agles feature junior marice a guiar in the no. 1 singles spot. a guiar, ranked no. 65, is coming off of a strong weekend of play and will provide a tough test for notre dame senior Page Freeman, who slotted in at no. 61 this week.

not much went to plan for notre dame in Florida, but their masterful doubles performance was a silver lining. The i rish claimed the doubles point in both of their matches. a gainst Florida state, sophomore c arrie b eckman and junior Julia a ndreach began doubles play with a 6-1 victory

Softball

con T inued From PaGe 16

combined to shut out michigan state in another run-rule win.

Gumpf spoke after the indiana victory about the importance of her entire rotation getting positive game action in midweek contests heading into a weekend series.

“i wish i would have put one in earlier [today],” Gumpf said. “but they all got action. They all got a good workout. all of them got some good innings, and now it’s like ‘lets go.’”

at the plate for the irish, expect a combination of power from junior first baseman Karina Gaskins and small ball from the rest of the lineup to be Gumpf’s recipe for success at the plate. Gaskins, the reigning acc player of the year, has been exceptional so far this month. The junior infielder has had six home runs across eight april games for the irish.

in the win over indiana, however, contact hitting did the job for

on court no. 2. Freeman and sophomore maria olivia c astedo followed with a 6-3 win on court no. 1 to seal the point.

a gainst the hurricanes, it was a similar story. beckman and freshman bojana Pozder were victorious on court no.

3. Junior Yashna Yellayi and freshman r ylie hanford doubled down with a win of their own on court no. 2 to extend notre dame’s doubles winning streak to four matches. a s the i rish prepare to match up with some of the nation’s most talented and deepest teams at the acc Tournament, being able to count on their doubles pairings rising to the occasion could provide a crucial boost.

a fter their impressive performance in Florida, the pairing of beckman and a ndreach sits at no. 41 nationally. meanwhile, the Yellayihanford duo entered the rankings at no. 76. The i rish will look to continue building up confidence as well as their doubles winning streak.

the notre dame offense. The irish notched only one extra-base hit against the hoosiers, a third-inning double by senior outfielder macie eck. however, notre dame also racked up 11 singles, and pushed across over half of their runs on five of those singles.

if the irish bats stay hot, the series against the hokies’ strong offense should be a high-scoring one. and if the pitching from notre dame’s midweek contests is backing up a potent attack at the plate, the irish could steal a statement series against one of the acc’s best squads.

notre dame softball will return to action on Friday against virginia Tech at melissa cook stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on acc network extra. saturday and sunday’s games begin at 5 p.m. and noon, respectively. saturday’s is available on acc network, and sunday’s is back on acc network extra.

Contact J.J. Post at jpost2@nd.edu

14

notre dame will conclude its regular season slate at home this weekend. The irish host syracuse at 3:30 p.m. on Friday and boston college at 11 a.m. on sunday. both matches are at the eck Tennis Pavilion and will be live streamed on the notre dame athletics website.

Contact Matthew Crow at mcrow@nd.edu

Golf

con T inued From PaGe 16

competition is no exception. The hosting sun devils rank in the top-five nationally. other ranked teams making the trip are no. 2 north carolina, no. 4 Texas Tech, no. 12 Texas, no. 21 a rizona and no. 19 oklahoma state. The irish also competed against oklahoma state and Texas at the stephens cup.

notre dame has not played in the Thunderbird in recent years, which could make things even more challenging. The irish are also one of the lower-ranked teams in this year’s field, so they will have something to prove when the tournament tees off on Friday.

Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu

ND womeN’S teNNIS

ND womeN’S LAcRoSSe

Irish prepare to wrap up regular season at Thunderbird Invitational

By ANDREW McGUINNESS sports editor

While the women’s golf team has already finished regular season play and is currently underway at the Acc championships, notre dame men’s golf still has one more competition before they can shift their focus to the postseason. The Irish will leave the warm weather of south bend for somewhere even hotter, heading to the Thunderbird Invitational at Papago Golf club in Phoenix, Arizona. The twoday event begins Friday and ends saturday.

notre dame is looking to bounce back from its worst finish of the season in its last competition, as they placed 12th out of 15 schools at the Augusta haskins Award Invitational. It was the first time all season the Irish failed to place in the top 10. In fact, the Irish enter this competition in a bit of a funk. notre dame placed inside the top seven in

five of its first six tournaments of the season. however, they have finished eighth or worst in each of their last three meets.

That being said, there were some positives for the Irish to take away from that event. As a team, notre dame registered 170 pars, third most of any of team. Freshman nate stevens finished one under par to crack the top 25 thanks to strong play on par threes and fours. his 41 pars tied for most of any individual golfer as well. senior Palmer Jackson came it at par (72) in each of his first two rounds, finishing in the top 40 overall. And sophomore o wen mullen was one of just 20 out of 78 golfers to record an eagle during the invitational.

Things will not get any easier for the Irish in Phoenix. The Thunderbird Invitational is hosted annually by Arizona state and it often features some of the nation’s best teams. This year’s

Notre Dame softball readies for pivotal weekend series with Virginia Tech

By J.J. POST

Associate sports editor

This weekend, notre dame softball will face an important Top 25 test when they welcome virginia Tech to melissa cook stadium.

The hokies vary in their specific ranking among the various softball polling services, but they rank high in all. UsAsoftball slots them in at 17th nationally. softball America ranks them 22nd, d1softball puts them at 20th and the national Fastpitch coaches Association has them at 14th. mathematically, they rank 21st in rPI rankings.

The Irish will enter, however, with positive recent experience against nationally regarded opposition. notre dame put forth one of their best games of the season in their last outing on Wednesday, run-ruling Indiana 9-1. The hoosiers are widely regarded across polling services as a top 30 team as well.

The win over Indiana showcased everything the Irish will look to put on display against virginia Tech (and possibly national pollsters as well.) Graduate student Payton Tidd was a force in the circle, pitching a complete game and allowing just three hits. Tidd’s seven strikeouts tied a personal best for a single

game this spring.

A strong outing mid-week from Tidd will be a major boost for notre dame heading into their clash with the hokies. A five-year veteran starter, Tidd all but certainly will be entrusted with the start in Friday’s game one. Tidd’s experience and consistency is a major reason why the Irish have won the first game in three of their five Acc series so far in 2023.

Tidd won’t be the only notre dame pitcher called upon to be at their best on the weekend. virginia Tech possesses one of the Acc’s most potent offenses, as their 263 total runs scored on the year rank second in the conference. outfielder emma ritter leads the way, ranking among the Acc’s best in most hitting statistics. ritter currently resides in the top ten in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, doubles and home runs.

Thankfully for head coach deanna Gumpf, the midweek was a strong week for all of her usual pitchers. Tidd excelled in a duel with one of the big Ten’s best in brianna copeland on Wednesday. on Tuesday, freshman micaela Kastor and sophomore shannon becker

MAX PETROSKY | The Observer

Freshman outfielder Mickey Wichell looks to the infield during the Irish’s contest against Indiana on April 12. Wichell had a dominant day at the plate, getting 3 hits, two of which were RBIs, and a run for the Irish.

SOFIA CRIMIVAROLI | The Observer

Sophomore Owen Mullen takes a swing at the Fighting Irish Classic. After having shot well over par in their last three outings, the team looks to shift momentum at the upcoming Thunderbird Invitational.