Print Edition for The Observer for Monday, January 27, 2025
St. Liam’s Hall tackles increased demand
UHS & UCC witness a rise in student visits as health services work to support campus well-being
By SOPHIA TRAN Staff Writer
As viruses spread across campus and students find themselves bedridden, St. Liam Hall has seen an influx in students seeking out care. St. Liam Hall houses both the University Health Services (UHS) and the University Counseling Center (UCC), providing a variety of services to the students.
Karen Hasler, a case manager for UHS, supports students dealing with acute and chronic illnesses including diabetes and Crohn’s disease. In addition to the case manager position, the UHS has two behavioral health case managers to aid with mental health issues such as suicide screenings, anxiety and depression. Hasler discussed how the UHS is currently working to
address the illness cases occurring on campus.
“We’ve seen a lot of norovirus, and it’s transferred pretty easily without good hand washing. So [we tell] the students, ‘wash your hands, please,’” Hasler said. “I would tell students to wash their hands and try to get to sleep. It helps your body recover and get better.”
The UHS clinic has six providers — five doctors and one nurse practitioner specializing in women’s health. Of the five doctors, three simultaneously work with the athletic teams and provide at sports events. As for services, the clinic has a lab to complete blood work and an on-site Walgreens pharmacy to provide necessary prescriptions. The second floor offers physical therapy services.
In terms of medication for students, Hasler also highlighted
Study abroad decisions released
By GRACE TADAJWESKI Associate News Editor
After semester study abroad application decisions were released on Saturday, Jan. 18, the deadline for students to commit to semester programs occurred just a week later on Saturday, Jan. 25.
According to the 2024 Open Doors report, approximately 87.5% of Notre Dame students study abroad. With this, Notre Dame ranks third in undergraduate participation among doctoral universities. Pepperdine and Elon University claimed the first and second spots.
“We haven’t seen our numbers decline last year or this year with this year’s app, which is exciting, because that really is Notre Dame students saying ‘this is not extra, this is part of the college experience,’ study abroad director Robert Leis said. “This is very integral and important to us, and it’s much higher than the national average for students at a university.”
Because semester program commitments were just recently due, and some program
applications with capacity were reopened for those who did not get accepted, the exact number of students who will be studying abroad in the coming summer and 2025-26 school year is not yet available. However, Leis reported that 500 students each is typically the target for the fall semester, spring semester and summer session.
While Notre Dame offered waitlists for summer study abroad programs, waitlists were not presented to applicants for the 2025-26 semester programs. Leis noted waitlists tend to move very minimally, especially for larger programs, so their elimination allowed students to move toward looking at other options and meeting with study abroad staff this past week.
“If you’re on a waitlist, you’re hopeful that you’re gonna get off the waitlist, even if we would talk to the students and we would encourage the students, saying you know, ‘this is a big waitlist, and there’s very little room on this program,’” Leis said. “So realistically,
important University policies that determine when the UHS can administer medication to students.
“The university itself has some guidelines of when certain medications, say stimulants or things like that, [are given] closer to finals and the end of the semester,” Hasler said. “We want to be able to follow up, make sure the medicines are working appropriately and that [students] are getting the right doses that they need to help them feel better. So it’s really difficult to start a medication the week of finals.”
As more students on campus look to receive care amidst the norovirus outbreak, Hasler highlighted a number of ways to address health-related issues after hours. One method for after hour help is to call TimelyCare, which provides 24/7 telehealth
assistance. In addition, Hasler discussed reaching out to the UHS triage nurse.
“It’s a little hard to make every appointment available because it’s just a timing thing for the doctors,” Hasler said. “We also have a triage nurse, so we have a system where you can call in and tell what your symptoms are to a nurse and they can offer different suggestions for treatment or care. Then, if [the students] feel like after speaking with the nurse that they still need to be seen, or the nurse triages them and feels like they need to be seen, we have [one provider], who has specific open slots on their schedule for that day, see students that call in for the triage.”
With the triage nurse service, Hasler discussed how the clinic is working hard to implement measures to help students manage
their health and learn about self-care.
“I know that the triage system has helped students learn some of the things they can do before they might need to be seen or even work with over the phone,” Hasler shared. “Yesterday, a student had his ears plugged, so we were able to get him in with the nurse and get him flushed. He didn’t necessarily have to see a provider, so [the triage system] has helped with the visit.”
While the UHS focuses on the physical needs of students, the UCC at St. Liam’s concentrates on students mental needs. They provide a variety of services including workshops, a 24/7 hotline, drop-in appointments, group counseling, psychiatric services
The Observer names Liam Kelly new editor-in-chief
Observer Staff Report
The Observer General Board elected Notre Dame News Editor Liam Kelly as editor-in-chief for the 2025-2026 term on Sunday.
“It’s the honor of a lifetime to be Liam’s predecessor,” current editor-in-chief Isa Sheikh said. “From the beginning of his time at The Observer, he’s demonstrated an immense capacity for doggedness and leadership. He has taken on stories big and small and led his department with distinction. I can’t wait to see where he takes this paper.”
Kelly is a junior from Westport, Connecticut majoring in political science and history, with a minor in philosophy, politics and economics. He is a resident of Sorin College.
“I am honored to have been selected as editorin-chief and am excited to get to work to help lead
the paper to new levels of achievement and excellence,” Kelly said. “With the help of an incredible team I know that we will put in the work to give Notre Dame and the tri-campus the quality newspaper it deserves.”
Kelly began writing for
the news department of The Observer at the beginning of his freshman year before serving as associate news editor and Notre Dame news editor his sophomore year. Kelly will begin his term as editor-in-chief on March 2.
see
Courtesy of Liam Kelly
Liam Kelly poses on God Quad in front of the Main Building. Kelly was chosen to lead the newspaper by The Observer’s Editorial Board.
Notre Dame fencing hosted their first and only tournament at home this past weekend, the DeCicco Duals, going undefeated on both days to finish 29-0. Pictured is a member of the Notre Dame women’s sabre team (right), which beat the Purdue Boilermakers 7-2.
Today’s Staff
News
Annelise Demers
Zack Pohlman
Graphics
Meg Hammond
Photo
Declan Huggins
Corrections
Sports Tyler Reidy
Scene
Peter Mikulski Viewpoint Liam Price
The Observer regards itself as a professional publication and strives for the highest standards of journalism at all times. We do, however, recognize that we will make mistakes. If we have made a mistake, please contact us at editor@ ndsmcobserver.com so we can correct
Monday
Prayer Service Basilica of the Sacred Heart
7:00 p.m.
Fr. Dowd celebrates Walk the Walk Week.
A Conversation with Helen Epstein Jenkins Nanovic 1030
12:30 - 1:45 p.m.
Celebrates Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Tuesday
Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech Purcell Pavilion
9:00 p.m.
Irish men’s basketball takes on Georgia Tech.
Lunar New Year
Stayer Commons
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Celebrate the first new moon of the lunar year with Asian food.
Wednesday
SBMF Blood Drive
Rice Commons
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Donate blood to the South Bend Medical Foundation.
Heal the Land Panel Carey Auditorium 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. Administrators from various schools discuss DEI initiatives.
Thursday
Miss Notre Dame
Washington Hall 7:00- 9:00 p.m.
Notre Dame women compete in a campus wide talent show.
Knit and Stitch McDonald Center 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Students crochet, knit, and embroider. All are welcome.
Friday
McGlinn Hall Casino
Night
Dahnke Ballroom
9:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Donate to charity while gambling fake money.
Meyo Invite
Loftus Sports Center
3:00 - 9:00 p.m. Fighting Irish track & field competes in day one of the Meyo Invite
and more. Chris Conway, the director for the UCC, discussed the center’s current plans to recruit an additional psychiatrist for the students.
“Nationally, there’s just a shortage of psychiatrists and we were very blessed to have a psychiatrist that worked with the counseling center for 37 years. When he retired, it was very hard to find someone to fill that position,” Conway said. “We worked to try to recruit someone last semester … we’re trying to work with Memorial Beacon hospital to do some recruiting together.”
As the UCC continues to search for a new psychiatrist, Conway shared a variety of options that students can take to seek out care. There is only one psychiatrist at the moment.
“The options that students have for getting psychiatric evaluations and medication are still the Counseling Center,” Conway stated. “We sometimes refer students to primary care to the UHS, because if you’re at home, a lot of the time, primary care physicians are very willing to prescribe medication for depression and anxiety. Those are the issues that we’re seeing most in our students.”
Students also have the option to see a psychiatrist virtually through TimelyCare. They can be evaluated virtual through and receive a prescription following the appointment.
In addition to maximizing care for students, Conway shared about the UCC’s current plants to write a suicide prevention grant through the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Agency
(SAMHSA).
“That’s a three year grant and we’re working with the Center for Student Support and Care, Health Services and the Counseling Center to try to identify students who are struggling with suicidal thoughts earlier, so we can intervene and help them get better before it becomes a crisis situation.
I think that’s a big emphasis that we started this fall and that we will continue over the next three years while we have this grant,” Conway said.
Despite working in different service centers, both Conway and Hasler expressed a similar desire to provide the best possible care to students. Through their continual work with the student body, they hope to promote community amongst the general Notre Dame population.
“There’s a lot of ways that students can be supported that don’t involve needing to see a counselor,” Conway said. “The more that we create a community where we’re all supporting each other and recognize when a person’s concerns rise to a level where they need a mental health professional, that student can get connected to the Counseling Center.”
Hasler expressed a similar sentiment in regards to developing a sense of community.
“We have a very dedicated staff, and I think we all work really hard to make sure the students try to feel their best and are doing their best. I personally would just love to see us be able to empower students more, to take care of themselves, and to be able to understand what’s happening,” Hasler said.
Contact Sophia Tran at stran2@nd.edu
of students take part in them.
Mike Braun inaugurated as Indiana’s 52nd governor
By DAVID MURPHY Staff Writer
On Monday, Jan. 13, Gov. Mike Braun took the oath of office, replacing Eric Holcomb as Indiana’s 52nd governor. In response to the news, The Observer contacted faculty and students across Notre Dame to hear their perspectives on this historic event.
Prior to assuming the governorship, Braun served as a senator from the state. In 2022, he filed papers to run in the 2024 Indiana governor’s race, decisively winning a crowded six-way Republican primary. Following this, he moved on to the general election, defeating Democratic challenger Jennifer McCormick to become governor.
In an email response to The Observer, Jeff Harden, professor of political science specializing in American politics and political methodology with a particular emphasis on state politics, noted the strategy that likely went into Braun’s decision to vacate the Senate in favor of a gubernatorial position.
“The Senate offers prestige and power as the upper chamber of the premier legislature in the country, but each member is just one of many at the same level, and only a few ever move up beyond it,” Harden said. “The governor’s office is, of course, more localized. But it offers the unique opportunity to serve as an executive rather than one of many. I suspect that Braun saw this latter path as
a better option for continuing his political career.”
During his time on the campaign trail, Braun embraced many typical Republican policies, including tax cuts, energy independence, parental rights, securing the southern border and an anti-abortion agenda.
“The discussion of issues on Braun’s campaign website is essentially a reflection of Republican priorities at the national level,” Harden said. “It mentions a few state-specific points but also several that reflect larger conversations across the country. This pattern is not surprising; political scientists have demonstrated that state-level elections have become increasingly nationalized over the last decade.”
While Braun’s predecessor, Eric Holcomb, is a fellow Republican, questions still circulate on how significantly Braun will differ in governance from the former governor. Based on his research, Harden predicted a slightly rightward shift in governance compared to Holcomb.
“I have a histogram graphing the distribution of all Indiana Republicans,” Harden said. “The graph shows that Holcomb is essentially in the middle of the party from an ideological perspective, while Braun is somewhat right of the party center. That finding suggests to me that, as governor, Braun will move policy to the right compared to Holcomb.”
Student opinion on Braun and his policies were relatively mixed.
In an interview with The Observer, a Siegfried Hall freshman, Jude Hubner, from Indianapolis revealed his decision to vote for Braun as governor.
“I would say immigration is a big issue, and he’s been good on immigration, from what I’ve seen of his voting pattern,” Hubner said. “He’s pro-life, which is another issue I would say that he’s pretty good on.”
Other students, however, did not display a clear preference. Brett Driscoll, a graduate student in Siegfried Hall originating from Cedar Lake, Ind., disclosed he did not vote in the governor election. Driscoll selfidentified his political stance as slightly right of center, but was cautious about limiting abortion access, a stance that Braun has supported.
“As a Catholic, I personally am pro-life. However, that’s a personal choice,” Driscoll said. “I do think I’m actually more prochoice when it comes to political positions because I don’t think that a government should be able to tell us what we can and can’t do.”
When asked what he would tell Braun if given the opportunity, Driscoll had just one request.
“Fix the potholes in the state,” Driscoll said. “Please, please fix the potholes because my drive from Northwest Indiana to South Bend is a little rough sometimes.”
Contact David Murphy at dmurph23@nd.edu
this is not a good idea. I think by removing the waitlist, we’re able to help students still have the opportunity to go abroad.”
The summer study abroad team is also offering waitlisted students the opportunity to apply to other summer programs with capacity.
Leis noticed positive shifts this application cycle. According to Leis, Notre Dame study abroad pushed the message that “there are only so many spaces on any program for any term” to students, faculty and advisers. With this, study abroad advised students that popular programs tended to be filled by first choice applicants, so popular programs listed as second choices would most likely already be filled.
“We really pushed that message, and when I was looking at the overall numbers, students really heard it,” Leis said. “We had less students applying for one of those sort of big three, big four programs as a second option, which has allowed us to give out more offers.”
Notre Dame offers almost 40 semester study abroad programs. Many of these programs are direct exchange, meaning only a couple
“There are quite a few like that where they’ll just take one or two students and those tend to be, like, really specialized in each program,” Leis said. “Those are not hard to fill just because, not only are they so limited, but they are for a very particular student doing a very particular field.”
Leis termed the “big four” programs London, Ireland, Rome and Athens, and he also stated Sydney and Toledo have become increasingly popular. The London program has the highest capacity, coming in at about 190 students, although this number includes smaller groups such as Notre Dame graduate students as well.
Sophomore College of Science neuroscience major Reagan Ludwig participated in the Rome summer program last summer. This summer, she will participate in the Germany summer program, and she will study abroad in London next fall.
“After the summer one, it was just a few weeks long, so I kind of dipped my toes in the water,” Ludwig said. “Then, I was like, ‘wait, this is so fun.’ I’m excited to do more of this, keep traveling, and getting to know a place was super cool, like getting to know Rome. I’m excited to get to know London more, travel around on the
weekends, but during the week, just explore London.”
Originally, Ludwig did not plan on studying abroad during the school year as she thought she would just study abroad during the 2024 and 2025 summers.
“I really was having a hard time deciding what to apply to. I was thinking I was all set with both summer things, like that would be plenty. I could be here on campus, enjoy both the fall football vibes, working my athletic training job and then spring, study hard for the MCAT,” Ludwig said. “But then I was like, ‘okay, why not just apply and see, keep my options open.’ It was the week of and I decided to apply, worked on my applications quick and I was thinking, ‘I’ll let the university study abroad admissions gods choose for me what semester because I was having a hard time with those trade offs.’ They decided London fall, so I decided to take it.”
According to Ludwig, a South Bend native, “I’m leaving my life as a townie to go explore the world.” Ludwig was first called to the London program on account of their pre-med class offerings, but she then became interested in how unique London is compared to the South Bend Ludwig is used to.
Sophomore political science major Sofia de Lira applied to the
Toledo and Santiago fall programs and she will be studying abroad in Santiago in the coming fall.
“Well, I was hoping that it’d be easier to get into the program that I wanted, but it did not work out that way. And then also, my birthday is the very first … week in the spring. [I] didn’t really want to spend it in a foreign country with people I don’t know and I decided football season just wasn’t the end all be all for me,” de Lira said.
De Lira prioritized going to a Spanish-speaking country when choosing which programs to apply to.
“The most important thing for me was going to a Spanishspeaking country and then between the options, Europe would have been exciting because I could have traveled around more conveniently,” sophomore Sofia de Lira said. “And Mexico didn’t appeal to me because I’ve traveled to a lot of different places in Mexico already and then Chile appealed to me because I took a class where we learned a lot about it and it seemed really great.”
“I think Western Europe is always popular, but I think more and more we’re starting to see students look to round out their portfolios, you know, build up their resumes after graduation. “Go to the global south. Go to the Far East. Go to the
Middle East,” Leis said.
Fellow political science major sophomore Smith McGruder applied to the University College Dublin (UCD) Dublin and Toledo fall programs. He will be studying abroad at UCD Dublin in the fall.
“I also wanted it to be easier to get into Dublin and then … the Bengal Bouts Tournament is in the spring, and that’s like a big thing I really want to participate in,” McGruder said. “So there’s that. And then also there’s just a lot of important things, you know, in the spring, like, for me, so I didn’t want to miss those.”
McGruder selected the UCD Dublin program, for he could best picture himself there.
“Dublin was the most appealing for me because I think I could really see myself in Dublin,” McGruder said. “And for me when I was picking a trip to go on, someplace I could see myself having a good time and sort of fitting in was really important to me. And Dublin kind of seemed like the best place for me for that.”
This is an abbreviated version of the story. You can read the complete version online at ndsmcobserver.com
Contact Grace Tadajweski at gtadajwe@nd.edu
Faculty comment on Israel-Hamas ceasefire
By MARIA CLARA CORONA News Writer
The recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has garnered widespread attention, offering a brief respite in a conflict rooted on decades of complex history. While the accord brings immediate relief, questions linger about its long-term implications and the broader challenges.
In the wake of these developments, several Notre Dame professors offered their perspectives on the agreement, its potential limitations and the historical context surrounding it.
A. Rashied Omar, an associate professor of Islamic studies and peacebuilding in the Keough School’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies approaches the agreement with cautious optimism. While he acknowledged the deal “as a vital first step toward easing the suffering of civilians,” Omar underscored the importance of sustained efforts to ensure it serves as more than just a temporary deal to halt hostilities.
“However, fragile truces demand sincere follow-through and unwavering dedication to just peace or they risk merely postponing deeper hostility,” Omar said. He further characterized the deal
as a “narrow opening for meaningful diplomacy,” emphasizing that a “lasting resolution hinges on addressing the fundamental injustices endured by Palestinians.” He then adds that the “ceasefire briefly curbs the immediate violence,” yet it remains unclear whether it substantially addresses the longstanding injustices.”
Atalia Omer, a Jewish professor of religion, conflict and peace studies at the Keough School of Global Affairs, offers a different perspective, highlighting the historical baggage that molds the conflict. She draws from her recent visits to the region, where she witnessed the devastating impact of the violence firsthand.
“You saw that systematic destruction of not only people, but of infrastructure, of life: the hospitals, the schools, the universities. There are no universities, no schools, no hospitals. The level of destruction is beyond belief,” Omer said. She then furthered her account by reflecting on the human toll of the conflict.
“The deepest feeling that I got is just utter despair,” Omer said.
Yet, she called for a focus on humanity as the center of the crisis.
“We’re talking about humans. Yes, no, it’s not a deal. It’s an agreement,” Omer said.
Omer also addresses the broader political and historical dimensions, pointing to the fragmentation of the Palestinian population that has characterized the geographical area for centuries, framing it as central for the perpetuating issues.
“At the very, very heart of Palestinian grievance, or conceptions of justice, is the right of return,” Omer said. “[The] horrific attack of October 7 did not happen in a vacuum.”
Omer argued that its origins date back to the partition of 1948, which created layers of displacement and feelings of disconnection.
“Those 100 years are the fragmentation of Palestinian geographies, and especially after 1948 and after 1967 and then 1993 you have at least five different categories of geographies of Palestinians as part of its fragmentation, Gaza is one. And then if you look at the map of the West Bank, you see many, many, many small Gazas,” he said.
Omer also highlighted the political groups that govern the conflict, noting the ineffectiveness of the Palestinian authority and the push for normalization that bypasses the Palestinians.
“The experience of incarceration is so central to the Palestinian experience,” she said.
She then acknowledges the
Israeli sentiment in which the lack of an immediate military during the attack of Oct. 7 instilled a profound sense of fear among the population.
“You always think that you know, somehow the country will defend you, the military will defend you. And then most of the people on October 7 were totally alone,” Omer said.
When asked about the agreement itself, she expresses dismay, describing it as “really devastating because, you know, the same agreement was on the table a long, long time ago, in May and July. It could have been from the very start.”
She furthers her grievances by reflecting on the violence that preceded it.
“The level of violence was so high in the West Bank, it really brings to the surface how fragile this agreement is, and that it’s not really like it doesn’t feel like a beginning of a real, you know, solution,” she said.
Adding another dimension to the discussion, Asher Kaufman, a historian and professor at the Keough School of Global Affairs with expertise in Middle East history and politics, nationalism, colonialism, border studies and memory studies, reflects upon the political climate and motivations
driving stakeholders’ behavior.
“Inside Israel, this government and the Prime Minister were forced into this ceasefire agreement. They did not want it,” Kaufman said.
He explains the occurrence through Trump’s election and consolidates his argument by referring to the fact that the same agreement was on the table in May.
“The only reason it happened is because Trump entered into the equation,” he said. “He [Trump] made the point about how great he is as a deal breaker, but now you know there are other issues that are more important for him.”
Kaufman fears Trump’s attention will diverge from the issue, causing the Israeli government to break with the next stages of the agreement. He expresses skepticism about the Israeli commitment to the deal, asserting that the only way to ensure Israel’s adherence to the cease-fire agreement is through “continued pressure on the [Israeli] government, especially from the American side.”
This is an abbreviated version of the story. You can read the complete version online at ndsmcobserver.com
Contact Maria Clara Corona at mcorona@nd.edu
assemble supply kits for our neighbors facing hardship and housing insecurity.
and breakfast provided while supplies last.
Saturday, February
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
For those who
can’t
I barely worked out in 2024.
Despite dedicating the majority of my time to focusing on class, extracurriculars and all that comes with being a senior such as navigating living off campus for the first time, soaking in my last fall semester and planning for post grad, I still found myself lying around and doing a whole lot of nothing. Rather than occupying that free time with something beneficial, I usually opted to sleep doomscroll on my phone instead.
I used to be a much more ambitious person when it came to spending my free time wisely, but over the years, that habit has dwindled more than I’d like to admit. And the fact of the matter is I don’t even have a good excuse — I’m just another 21-year-old with a phone addiction.
Now it’s not like I don’t ever get up and move my body, because I most certainly do. Last summer, I worked at a local garden in South Bend, a job that ended up being
a lot more physically demanding than I had initially realized. I also really enjoy taking walks with my friends and attending yoga when I am able to (even though the prices for workout classes right now are actually insane), but have never made daily movement a high priority. Because of this, I recently found myself for the very first time in my life beginning to feel and see the effects of neglecting your health … and it doesn’t feel too good.
Now whenever I look in the mirror, I notice the subtle yet prevalent changes in my face and body that prove the fact that I am getting older. And while this reality is at times mind boggling and hard to accept, I thank God that I’m getting to experience it. I thank him for the reminder that all of this is way too precious and rare not to take advantage of because it very much so is. I am lucky to have an able body that allows me so much, something I didn’t really take the time to appreciate or understand until my roommate recently presented a speech about her time playing lacrosse at Saint Mary’s.
Prompted with the question “Why do I play?” she responded with, “Well, why not?” Ever since that came out of her
mouth it has stuck with me. She made me realize how much of a privilege it is to get up and move. It is something I’ve always known, as it is pretty self explanatory, but it really went over my head until it was told to me in that way. I have been gifted this vessel that can successfully take me through this life and has done so with such ease, so why am I not loving it back? Why am I not fueling it the way it deserves or moving it the way it wants? Why am I actively choosing not to use it and instead indulge in doomscrolling or sleeping?
I am not saying this as motivation to take up ultramarathons or go on some insane physically demanding challenge. I am just saying that if you are able, move.
Use what God has given you, and use it for good.
Moira Quinn is a senior at Saint Mary’s College studying communication. When she isn’t writing for The Observer, she can be found with friends, watching a good romantic comedy or missing her basset hound. You can contact Moira at mquinn02@saintmarys.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Mikulski: On so-called blasphemy
Peter Mikulski Scene Editor
In December, Megyn Kelly called “Conclave” the “most disgusting, anti-Catholic film [she had] seen in a long time,” and in January — as the movie was gaining awards-season momentum — she doubled down. “It was an attempt to embarrass and humiliate Catholics,” she said.
I quite liked “Conclave,” and really loathe this sort of Catholic criticism. Here’s why:
First, consider the poetry of Thomas Aquinas. He was both a watertight systematic theologian and a great wordsmith. Megyn Kelly would have no objection to “Tantum ergo.”
Then, consider Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales.” While also an unimpeachable poet, Chaucer — unlike Aquinas — was no scholastic. He didn’t hesitate to write about priests behaving badly. Are the “Canterbury Tales” disgusting and anti-Catholic, then? Do they represent an attempt to embarrass and humiliate Catholics? Obviously not. Chaucer was just as much interested in tender piety and religious contemplation as he was in satirizing corrupt friars and licentious clerics.
“Conclave” is no “Canterbury Tales,” of course. Still,
it’s like the “Canterbury Tales” in that it too depicts both good priests and bad priests, both the church living virtuously and the church acting wickedly. There’s no denying that the Church, despite being more splendid than not, indeed falters on occasion. An honest account of Catholicism will leave room for this fact.
If Megyn Kelly wants to watch a morality play about the good Church triumphing unconditionally over worldly evil, then let her. (There’s a new “God’s Not Dead” movie, I hear.) It’s the censure of any depiction of Catholicism with more depth than propaganda to which I object.
What annoys me about the film criticism of the Christian right is much the same thing that annoyed me about the peak of liberal criticism in the late 2010s and early 2020s: the complete lack of interpretive charity. This mode of engaging with art willfully misinterprets its subject, always opting for the least charitable reading imaginable.
In the case of “Conclave,” that means ignoring the reverence director Edward Berger pays Catholic ritual and dismissing the care screenwriter Peter Straughan takes wrestling with faith, hope, love and duty. It means laser-focusing on the hot-button themes and assuming the basest possible motives for their inclusion in the picture.
In a way, Megyn Kelly and other Catholic critics with Mother Angelica–type sensibilities are the last bastion of Brechtian thought in America. With them, art is never considered as art but always as dialectic. They can’t let a movie be a movie — it’s never a matter of plot and character and atmosphere and only ever a matter of agenda.
That’s a puritan way of thinking, and aren’t we Catholics? Ours is the faith of risqué mystery plays and polyphonic music so intricate it provoked theological scandal and sumptuous Italian frescoes — not of Cotton Mather!
While I find this approach to art unbecoming, I can’t say it’s entirely unwarranted. There are movies that are disgusting and anti-Catholic; sometimes our culture does attempt to embarrass and humiliate Catholics. I only wish Catholic critics were better at figuring out which movies those were and inflicted less collateral damage in the course of their crusade.
There’s a culture war on, I’m told. I reckon the knights fighting on its front lines will lose unless they do something about their tin ears for art.
You can contact Peter at pmikulsk@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Spring cleaning, January thoughts
I am always waiting for myself to go through a radical reinvention. Willing myself to, actually. January and the new year adds a sense of urgency to that. I have visions of peace and serenity – I am to feel complete without my vices, no longer be anxious about anything, commit to a ten-step skincare routine and have balanced hormones. Maybe this year, I’ll even start enjoying green smoothies. Maybe this year, I’ll even stop criticizing myself.
In movies, change comes fast to people. In two hours, they hit rock bottom, weather their life-changing storms and come back as someone entirely new to solve all their problems. Most such plots seem taxing and distraught, but wouldn’t it be nice to just zip through it all? Wouldn’t it be easier?
Last Friday, we were gifted Mac Miller’s second posthumous album. The genius of art derived from devastation is nothing short of heartbreaking. When I remembered it was the release date, I was drinking iced coffee at 10 a.m and
crying over something that was out of my control, in classic pre-radical-reinvention form. I first listened to his music when I was sixteen. His music always kept me company. He’s pulled me out and through and helped me feel like things will be okay, to “put some money on forever”. A forever of growth. A forever of showing up as is. I finished my coffee, finished the album and did my laundry. How beloved and missed you are.
Speaking of Fridays, weekends at school always seem to last about two seconds. I haven’t had Friday classes since freshman year, yet years of three-day weekends never felt like they left me much free time. Sometimes you spend the whole day doing nothing, yet you blink and the sun is setting. Then you’re debating whether you want to go drink vodka crans at Olfs or stay home and read tarot cards with your roommate. Half the time I opt for the former, I wish I’d done the latter. It all probably boils down to needing to be more present in the moment, or some time management gimmick, but time has never been a quantifiable concept for me. Maybe we’re zipping through things a lot more than we realize.
Last summer, I sat on a park bench with a friend, complaining
about how I wanted an extra week of summer break while he scrolled through my bucket list. He told me I should go parachuting instead of paragliding. The jump makes it more meaningful, he said. I don’t know about meaningful, but I’m not a big jumper. I prefer a subtle glide. Free-falling is terrifying. That’s why drop towers are the only rides I could never go on at amusement parks.
I imagine my reinvention will be subtle, somehow, too, all the while being radical. An anxiety free and green tea drinking life will surely fall into my lap. Right? All that to say, maybe I’m just trying to put off doing the work. Maybe I just need to buy a blender and make the damn smoothie.
“I spent the whole day in my head, Do a little spring cleaning” - Mac Miller
Reyna Lim is a senior studying business analytics. Occasionally coherent and sometimes insightful, she enjoys sharing her unsolicited opinions. You can contact her at slim6@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Moira Quinn
Working Title
Reyna Lim The Overshare
A back-to-school reflection on change
I have been patiently waiting for the day that I would live in a Notre Dame dorm, and as of this week, I can officially call myself an on-campus resident. For what feels like the millionth time, I’m hanging up my Target fairy lights, meeting a new roommate and knocking on my RA’s door. Starting over, like I did my freshman year and again when I transferred this Fall, has made my 2025 a year of reflection on change.
Notre Dame students experience even more change than most. We live on campus for at least three years; that means students will move in and out at least once a year. For students who study abroad, there is yet another semester of a new living situation. Many of my friends from home, who moved into houses or apartments by their sophomore year and will stay there until they graduate, told me they can’t imagine how we do it. It’s hard to explain to them that students here love living in the dorms; many even choose to stay on-campus for their fourth year. They choose to study abroad, sometimes even during the summer, and to move all over the country to work after graduation. At Notre Dame, students embrace change.
Young people today, more specifically Generation Z,
are associated with a lot of stereotypes. We’re lazy, we’re antisocial because of COVID, we’re chronically online, we’re naive about how the world “really works.” It’s easy to see Notre Dame students, a group of hard-working, intelligent and social people, as exceptions to the broader “Gen Z culture.” I think, however, that we are the perfect embodiment of what a Gen Zer really is.
Gen Z is the most adaptable and accustomed-tochange generation of all. We’ve proved it time and again — is TikTok banned? We’re already on Instagram Reels and RedNote, among even more alternatives. High school out for COVID? We’re having FaceTime movie nights, suffering through breakout rooms and inventing TikTok trends to virtually bond. AI on the rise? Gen Z learned it flawlessly; there isn’t much the average 20-year-old can’t do with ChatGPT.
Most of us have lived lives defined by change, long before 2025. The nature of the world we live in, complete with devastating climate-related disasters, constant global tragedies and a divisive (to say the least) political climate make the little things like moving all of our possessions every semester seem minor. We have evolved based on our circumstances, and rather than a weakness, our open-mindedness and readiness for change have been our greatest strengths.
As a transfer, I hesitated to apply for a semester away from campus because I worried about losing the
little time I already have at Notre Dame. I didn’t want to move to another city and then back to South Bend over Christmas break, or to lose out on the connections I could be fostering at the campus I worked so hard to live on. However, I recently realized that my lifetime of experiencing new things has helped me build a skill so unique to our generation; a readiness for anything. I will be spending the fall in Washington DC, trying something new because I have proved to myself that I can do it. I will spend the rest of this semester getting to know my new dorm, getting settled and then (all too soon) getting ready to leave again. I see Notre Dame students every day challenge themselves to grow, even when it feels hard; I hope to embody that value now and after I graduate.
I recognize all my fellow students’ strength in facing change on campus and in the world, especially right now. No matter what happens with TikTok, our government or even the championship (I am writing this before the game, Go Irish!), I will be admiring and taking comfort in the resilience of our generation and our students.
Sophia Anderson is a sophomore transfer at Notre Dame studying political science and planning to go to law school. You can contact her at sander38@nd.edu. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
When a man expects you to buy his drinks
“Happy birthday, Zora! I was your age when I met your grandfather,” my grandmother writes in a heartfelt text. I chuckle as my eyes gloss over the message. If only she knew that men these days just aren’t like they used to be. American men, that is. I recently came across two instances that made me lose hope in modern-day dating.
First, let me set the scene: a sweaty DC bar, and my (ofage) friend. Afrobeats are playing, it’s winter break, the vibes are good. Human beings are enjoying the pleasures of each other’s company. My friend, who shall remain anonymous, meets a man. They instantly hit it off. She flirtatiously asks a question that should be a no-brainer. She shouts over the upbeat music, a simple request: “Will you buy me a drink?”
This is where the night quickly descends into a nightmare. The man dodges the question. My friend asks again.
“Do you not have money?” my friend replies, innocently, hoping to be wrong and that she misjudged the situation. Astonished, my friend turns to his friends for reassurance. Surely there’s a man with a developed prefrontal cortex among them. But his friend instead gives an answer so ludicrous that my teeth are gritted as I write this.
“He’s rich,” the friend explains. “Like, he got money.”
“So then why can’t he buy me a drink?”
“That don’t matter, that don’t matter. If you a good woman, you will buy him a drink.”
Then, the “men” proceeded to walk away. Defeated, my friend begrudgingly swipes her card on another $17 beverage. When the man returned, he took sips out of hers. Read that again.
Now I get it. This is Washington, DC. Drinks are expensive. Life is expensive in any city. But even I know better than to step into spaces that I cannot afford. If you as a man cannot afford to buy a woman a drink at a bar, do not bother approaching her. I feel like that’s not a ridiculous thing to say. But then again, his friend said he had money. It was the principle of being a gentleman that was too much for him to stomach. I don’t know which is worse.
Secondly, I saw a viral video online of someone interviewing American and Russian men. The question was, “Will you 100% financially support your woman?” Every American man said no, that it should be 50/50, and every Russian man said absolutely, with no hesitation.
Not only was the video embarrassing to watch, but my jaw stayed locked in place while the American men spoke. How do these men not feel effeminate?
Now I’m not saying that men have to pay all the time. Especially with younger couples who tend to have more unstable finances, it makes sense in a relationship to split the bill every once in a while. However, I think that there are two problems here.
The first being that men expect women to “pull their weight” early on in the relationship, often before a relationship has even begun. Traditionally, the man is responsible for sweeping a woman off of her feet, courting her and providing for her. For the right man, all that a woman should have to do is exist. For example, at a bar when buying drinks. Using the case of my friend, in which a man abandoned this idea altogether, and worsened it by turning it into an argument. There was zero attempt at making her feel secure or comfortable. Shouldn’t men take pride in being able to provide?
Secondly, even the men who do have the means to financially back their women don’t. Why is this? The man at the bar had money, according to his friend. Lots of it, allegedly. Yet he still refused to do the bare minimum for
a woman he was interested in by showing that he is courteous and chivalrous. Shouldn’t men take delight in making sure their partner is comfortable and spoiled?
It seems as though a great sociological shift occurred during the time my parents and grandparents were dating versus now. I was astonished to find that there is very little research, if any, to address this. My theory is that this “50/50 rule” is an unfortunate consequence of thirdwave feminism. Men are retaliating to women’s cries to be treated as equals. They are punishing women for daring to dream of a just society. Rather than heeding women’s long standing pursuits for fairness, they ask, “What’s in it for me? How can I benefit from this? How can I dismiss women’s plights and twist it into a men’s issue?” And thus, a malformed 50/50 rule was born.
My parents and grandparents retell their love stories fondly. My grandfather went to war and made sure that my grandmother and her four children were accounted for. My father brought home flowers and chocolates and spent his savings on a promise necklace for my mother. Nowadays, it is as if men expect more while constantly giving less. Ladies, take this as a cautionary tale. Men used to go to war. Now they expect you to buy their drinks. Know your worth. If a man cannot buy you a drink, what makes you think he can afford the price tag of your company?
Zora Rodgers is a junior studying film, television, and theatre. She’s from Falls Church, Virginia and has the pajama pants to prove it. When not watching the TODAY Show or writing, she can be found wearing too much perfume and spending her NBC paychecks on SKIMS. You can reach out to her at zrodgers@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Zora Rodgers The Quiet Part Out Loud
Sophia Anderson Transfer Tales
By ANDY OTTONE Scene Writer
Art can be a very therapeutic thing, most of all for the artist creating it. Sondheim struggles with his identity and artistry in “Merrily We Roll Along.” “Pippin” was a way for Stephen Schwartz to articulate the all-consuming nature of theatre. “A Chorus Line” similarly tackles the topic of the treatment of performers and the fickle nature of the industry. Making art can help a creative work through their own lives and find their path forward.
Sometimes, art can even make everyone think you’re a horrible husband and partner — enter stage right, “The Last Five Years.”
Originally produced in 2001, “The Last Five Years” was Jason Robert Brown’s follow-up to his criticallyacclaimed musical “Parade,” and just as that piece dealt with issues he felt very invested in (the treatment of Jewish men during the early 20th century), “The Last Five Years” dealt with something even closer to the heart: his divorce. The rawness of these emotions come out in the writing, and the play features a fascinating premise reminiscent of the aforementioned “Merrily”: “The Last Five Years” is the story of a relationship told in two parallel timelines, with one going from the relationship’s start to its conclusion (told by
the character Jamie) and the other being told in reverse by his wife, Cathy.
The halfway point of the show and the relationship is the only time these timelines intersect, and the focus is Jamie’s marriage proposal. Even this is done creatively — the song is bookended between Jamie responding to unasked statements before he asks Cathy to marry him and Cathy asking the questions Jamie was responding to at the song’s end. The play uses its premise for its most devastating effect at the show’s end, when Cathy sings about when she first fell for Jamie as Jamie delivers a soft song about how he failed not just her, but himself by being an absent partner.
This is a premise that works well on the stage, where experimental narratives can get the room they need to thrive. The show saw many off-Broadway and regional performances until it hit big in 2015 with a film adaptation, starring Broadway powerhouse Jeremy Jordan as Jamie and Anna Kendrick of “Pitch Perfect” fame as Cathy. It released just in time for Valentine’s Day, 2015 (I pity anyone who took their partner to see this as a date movie). The film’s popularity has been slowly building up to a payoff, with the songs finding popularity years after the film’s release.
Personally, I love the film and the original off-Broadway run, and when I heard it was going to be coming to Broadway this year, I thought, “Well, that’s perfect!”
It’s been a decade since the film and nearly 25 since its debut on stage — it’s time this great piece of art got put on stage.
Then, they cast Nick Jonas as Jamie.
Now, this isn’t a piece that’s going to rail against celebrity casting, although I have my thoughts. It’s more a matter of representation. Jamie, like Jason Robert Brown, is a Jewish man. So was Jeremy Jordan, and the original stage Jamie (Norbert Leo Butz). His Jewish identity is central to the play and to the character. It is such a central part of the show that casting anyone but a Jewish performer feels wrong. While the musical itself is not about this struggle of identity, it plays into Jamie’s story-arc and offers insight into his early feelings towards Cathy. Jonas’s understudy is a Jewish performer, which is a step in the right direction. Nevertheless, I’m disappointed that such a major aspect of the show is being tossed aside.
That, and Jonas’s vocals (released early) don’t quite feel right. Maybe that’s just me being too attached to the performers I’ve known before. Perhaps this version and take on the show will grow on me if I give it time.
Ask me about it five years from now, and I’ll let you know how I feel.
Contact Andy Ottone at aottone@nd.edu
By MACKENZIE HORTON Scene Writer
Tate McRae is my favorite musical artist — yes, even over Taylor Swift! She has a song for every occasion, so she is constantly playing in the background as I walk to class, driving around with friends and even while studying on floor 10 of Hesburgh Library.
At just 21, she proves to be a genius when it comes to songwriting, performing and singing. She has an incredible range and a unique voice which stands out among “typical” singers. She pairs captivating beats with meaningful lyrics, making you cry or smile based on your current feelings. Tate McRae ensures young women can relate to her as she covers topics ranging from self-discovery and identity to bad boyfriends and to even worse friends. Although I believe much of her music to be valuable, I believe one specific song is especially worth highlighting.
“Plastic Palm Trees” from the album “THINK LATER” is my absolute favorite Tate McRae song. Although it is a slower song and a little different from her upbeat pop music, it proves to be just as good and — in my opinion — better.
It starts with her singing about how her life has
changed immensely as she moves from a “deadbeat town” to “parties downtown.” Tate McRae uses these phrases to explain how she has adjusted from a background of insignificance to a new life filled with everything a teenage girl could imagine: elaborate parties, flashy new clothes and fame. She presents this image of a perfect life and worldly successes to the listener.
Later in the song, however, she slowly shifts to reveal to the listener that what appears to be perfect is not as perfect as it may seem to outsiders. Through the lyric “Thought that it was real, thought that it was worth it / Out the window everything was looking perfect” we see Tate McRae regret certain actions and sacrifices that had to be made in order to be viewed as “perfect” to others. Tate wonders if the dreams she achieved have actually resulted in happiness and satisfaction, or if they are now less significant given the struggle and loss along the way.
During these moments, Tate revisits her earlier point about the vapidness of her so-called “perfect” life and begins to compare it to waving palm trees, serving as an image of paradise. Instead of real trees, though, these palm trees are simply a facade — they are cheap, plastic and fake. They serve no other
purpose other than to present an image of paradise to anyone who will believe their realness. She connects this imagery to her life by singing, “Something in my head said, ‘I’m sorry you were just looking at plastic palm trees.’” Here, she confesses that things are not as they seem, that she is not perfect and neither is her fame-filled life. Instead, her “paradise” is filled with fakeness, flaws and weakness.
Woven in between catchy melodies, she reveals a valuable lesson by explaining that nothing is ever perfect — we all live with pieces of plastic in our lives. Some, like Tate McRae, are just better at disguising weakness, making it harder to tell the plastic trees from the real ones. She urges us to look past the fake and plastic facade that we put up to make ourselves seem “perfect,” because honestly, none of us are.
Tate McRae’s “Plastic Palm Trees” is a song packed with deep messages about self-searching, finding satisfaction and so much more. She is truly wise beyond her years. Not only do her songs captivate the listener with melodic beats, but her thoughtful lyrics keep us listening. No need for you to take my word for it, though — go listen to some Tate McRae!
Contact Mackenzie Horton at mhorton5@nd.edu
ND MEN’S BASKETBALL
Irish defeat Virginia on the road for first time
By CLAIRE WATSON Sports Writer
On Saturday night, the Notre Dame men’s basketball team faced off against the Virginia Cavaliers and took the 74-59 win. With the victory, the Irish improved to 9-10 overall and 3-5 in the ACC.
The Irish started the first half strong as sophomore guard Markus Burton made two free throws and a three-point shot, putting the Irish ahead 5-0. Even with a three-point shot from the Cavaliers, it was Burton again dropping in a threepoint shot and a free throw, graduate guard Matt Allocco providing a layup and senior guard Julian Roper II adding a three-point shot to keep the Irish ahead 14-3. After an 8-0 run from the Cavaliers, Notre Dame was able to find the basket as Allocco hit
a three-point shot before junior forward Tae Davis added on a layup and a free throw, bringing the score to 22-11.
The Cavaliers responded with a 7-0 run of their own, but Notre Dame was not fazed as junior forward Kebba Nije threw down a dunk, sophomore guard Braeden Shrewsberry put in a layup, Davis added a layup and Burton delivered a three-point shot, keeping the Irish ahead 34-20. Virginia managed three more points, but a quick response of two points from Shrewsberry brought the score to 36-23. Another layup from Virginia made the score 36-25, but Shrewsberry wasted no time draining a three-point shot to bring the score to 39-25. While Virginia scored the final two points of the half, the Irish stayed ahead 39-27. Coming out of halftime,
Shrewsberry scored the first three points, making the score 42-27, but a quick two points from the Cavaliers brought the score to 4229. Allocco added on three more points for the Irish, but Virginia added three points to bring the score to 45-31. A three-point shot from Nije, a free throw from Davis and a layup from freshman guard Sir Mohammed made the score 51-31. However, after a shooting foul, Virginia added another point to make the score 51-32. Two more points from graduate forward Nikita Konstantynovskyi made the score 53-32, but Virginia responded to bring the score to 53-34.
A jump shot from Davis and a jump shot from Burton
made the score 57-34, but a dunk from Virginia brought it back within 21. The Irish did not stop as Nije made two free throws, Davis added a jump shot and Burton dropped in a layup to make the score 63-36 before the Cavaliers managed a 10-0 run to make the score 6346. Konstantynovskyi then drilled a jump shot, but a quick response of three points from Virginia brought the score to 65-49. With under five minutes to go, Shrewsberry drained a three-pointer, and the Irish moved into a 68-51 lead. After a shooting foul was called on Virginia, Davis put in a free throw, but the Cavaliers quickly added on three more points to reduce the deficit
to 69-54. In the final seconds of the game, Davis put in a three-point shot followed by three points from Virginia, but Burton responded with a layup that brought the score to 74-57. While Virginia took the final two points of the game, the Irish finished with the 74-59 win.
Burton led the Irish on offense as he finished the night with a total of 21 points followed by Davis, who finished with 16. Nije led on the inside, finishing the night with seven rebounds for the Irish. The team now looks ahead to a late-night clash against Georgia Tech at home on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 9 p.m.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson01@saintmarys.edu
JONATHAN KARR | The Observer
Sophomore guard Braeden Shrewsberry (11) rises up to take a three-point shot as freshman guard Sir Mohammed (4) and graduate forward Nikita Konstantynovskyi (25) await a rebound during Notre Dame’s 78-60 defeat of Boston College at Purcell Pavilion on Jan. 13, 2025. Shrewsberry knocked down four triples during Saturday’s 74-59 win at Virginia.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Refuse to let anger take over when action is necessary. Dig in, get your house in order, and you’ll feel good about your accomplishments. The convenience and comfort you encounter will encourage you to be more productive. Refuse to let anyone put you in a compromising position. Don’t promise the impossible.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Consider your next move, show compassion and understanding for those struggling, and the outcome will be gratitude for who you are, what you do, and the possibilities ahead of you. When one door closes, another will open. Refrain from hanging on to something you no longer need or use.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You may crave change, but uncertainty will kick in without sufficient research. Money and emotions won’t mix well today. Point of purchase sales, gimmicks, and pushy salespeople are off-limits. Learn from experience and focus on what you can accomplish that will help you get ahead. Physical activity will ease stress. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Leave nothing unfinished. Take pride in your work and express yourself creatively by incorporating a unique twist to ensure you stand out in a competitive situation. Apply for a position or take the initiative to start a sideline to bring in extra cash. Love and personal gain are favored.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Pay attention to what others are doing and position yourself accordingly. Sticking to those who are like-minded will help you achieve the most. Refrain from trusting someone trying to enforce a change; you need more time to consider. Trust your instincts and stick to what and who you know and trust.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Mix business with pleasure, and you’ll win approval. Networking functions, cold calls, and updating your qualifications are favored. Decline a partnership that lacks authenticity. Do your due diligence and ask tough questions. When in doubt, move forward alone. Use your energy for your gain, not someone else’s.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Keep your emotions undercover. Use your energy to explore and expand your interests. What you learn will uncover better options and keep you from associating with those looking for what serves them best, not you. Learn all you can, attend workshops, and read reviews before making a move or spending money.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Get out, socialize, network, and you’ll dazzle those you encounter. Who you meet, what you learn, and the information and potential changes you experience will grab your attention and encourage you to forge ahead. An event will lead to interesting encounters and new beginnings. Romance is favored.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): It’s one step forward and two steps back. Proceed with caution. Not everyone has your best interests at heart. Put your energy into tying up loose ends and using your skills, knowledge, and experience to advance. Say no to anyone trying to take advantage of you.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Live and learn. Be a good listener and observer. What you discover will help you put your talents to good use and bring about changes that encourage advancing your position or status. Exploring new outlets for your skills or turning a pastime you enjoy into a profitable endeavor looks promising.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Changing your money management will pay off. Market your skills to suit what’s trending, and you’ll increase your earning power. High energy, intelligent input, and prompt business care will pay off. An expressive and vibrant vision will help you gain support. Personal gain, self-improvement, and love are favored.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Refuse to let uncertainty cost you. Size up situations and act quickly to avoid missing an opportunity that can help you and those close to you. A social or networking event will be informative and offer insight into how you can contribute. Your efforts will pay off.
Birthday Baby: You are forceful, creative, and unique. You are responsive and adaptable.
ND MEN’S BASKETBALL
Irish look to avenge earlier Georgia Tech loss
By TYLER REIDY Sports Editor
After claiming its first win inside John Paul Jones Arena at Virginia on Saturday, the Notre Dame men’s basketball team will return home Tuesday night. Coming off a 74-59 win, the Irish (9-10, 3-5 ACC) will take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-11, 3-6 ACC) for the second time this season. Georgia Tech defeated Notre Dame in Atlanta on New Year’s Eve by an 86-75 score but has lost four of five games since.
Around the ACC
With just over a month remaining in the college basketball regular season, Duke has pulled away as the clear and obvious ACC frontrunner. Ranked second in the country as of Sunday night, the Blue Devils have won 13 consecutive games — all by at least six points. As a result, they’re 9-0 in conference play with a key non-conference win against Auburn in the picture.
Behind the Blue Devils, Louisville has emerged as a terrific story under first-year head coach Pat Kelsey. One of the worst teams in powerconference basketball over the last few seasons, the Cardinals have entered the national rankings on a ninegame win streak. While they’ve struggled to take down top-tier opponents, the Cardinals have taken care of business in the ACC, posting an 8-1 in-conference record with a loss to Duke.
Clemson’s also playing well after a deep postseason run, checking in at 17-4 overall and 9-1 in the ACC.
The Tigers have won five straight games since a loss to Louisville and have a marquee defeat of Kentucky under their belts going back to early December. Notre Dame will host Louisville on Feb. 16 and travel to Clemson on Feb. 26.
Behind those two, Wake Forest is unsurprisingly contending at 15-5 overall and 7-2 in the ACC. The Demon Deacons lost to Duke on Saturday but won six consecutive games before that. They’ll play host to the Irish behind March 1.
To round out the top of the conference, three teams each have a 6-3 in-league record, including 13-8 North Carolina. The Tar Heels struggled badly in nonconference play and have lost two of their last three, but they hung 102 points on Boston College at home on Saturday. SMU and Stanford have been massive surprises, rising from respective rankings of 13th and 17th
in the ACC Preseason Poll to a tie for fifth in the conference standings. SMU has used a terrific, well-balanced offense that averaged 83.1 points per game, while Stanford has followed the lead of double-double machine Maxime Raynaud. Raynaud currently leads the ACC in both scoring (20.5 points per game) and rebounding (11.7 rebounds per game).
The New Year’s Eve game
After sweeping the season series against Georgia Tech last year, Notre Dame battled the Yellow Jackets in McCamish Pavilion just under a month ago. The Irish arrived at 1-0 in the ACC and on a three-game win streak, while Georgia Tech entered at 0-2 to start conference play.
Georgia Tech completely controlled the first half, building a 43-24 lead through 20 minutes of action. Notre Dame shot just 28.1% from the field in the opening half, while the Yellow Jackets hit at a 60.7% rate during the
same timeframe.
The Irish would rally in the second half, going on 11-0 and 11-3 runs to close within a possession, but Georgia Tech shot the ball well enough to survive 51 post-halftime points from Notre Dame. Georgia Tech received massive contributions from its bench, as nonstarters Javian McCollum and Duncan Powell each provided 21 points to help the Yellow Jackets outscore the Irish 44-15 in bench points. On the other side, junior forward Tae Davis poured in 27 points to finish off his phenomenal month of December.
What’s happened since
In the four weeks since the Georgia Tech loss, Notre Dame could easily have a record of 4-2 or 5-1. Instead, the Irish are 2-4 with one-point losses to North Carolina and NC State to go with a blown first-half lead at Syracuse on Jan. 18.
With a full week off, Notre Dame responded nicely this past Saturday, beating
Virginia by 15 points on the road. The Irish lit up Charlottesville with 12 made three-pointers, including a total of seven from the backcourt duo of sophomores Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry. Burton, who reached 21 points on the night, enters the Georgia Tech contest with four consecutive 20-point games.
Shrewsberry collected 13 points, while Davis stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and only one turnover.
Georgia Tech has also gone 2-4 to start the new year, booking a four-game skid with home wins against Boston College on Jan. 4 and Virginia Tech on Wednesday. The Yellow Jackets were not in action over the weekend.
Fighting the injury bug and absences for other reasons in recent weeks, the Yellow Jackets have not played a rotation deeper than seven men over the past three games. In Wednesday’s 71-64 defeat of Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech once
again leaned on Powell and McCollum, who combined to tally 39 points. In total, all five of Georgia Tech’s starters played at least 31 minutes, two of those starters being players who did not crack the first five on opening night.
Against the Hokies, Powell played all 40 minutes, notching a career-high 23 points.
The Sacramento State transfer has averaged 14.1 points and 6.1 rebounds over the past six games, giving life to a thin Georgia Tech squad.
McCollum’s averaging 16.5 points over his last eight after a 16-point effort against the Hokies. Sophomore Naithan George has been the consistent presence in the Yellow Jacket lineup all season, averaging an impressive 6.3 assists per contest with double-figure scoring in seven straight games.
Notre Dame and Georgia Tech will tip off at 9 p.m. inside Purcell Pavilion on Tuesday night.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
JONATHAN KARR | The Observer
Sophomore guard Markus Burton (3) lets go of a three-pointer from behind a screen from graduate forward Nikita Konstantynovskyi (25) during Notre Dame’s 78-60 defeat of Boston College at Purcell Pavilion on Jan. 13, 2025. Burton has scored 20 or more points in four straight games.
ND SWIMMING AND DIVING
Irish take second at home in Tim Welsh Classic
By TYLER REIDY Sports Editor
Between Friday and Saturday, Notre Dame swimming and diving hosted the Tim Welsh Classic, welcoming in Ohio State, Akron, Indiana State and Wisconsin. The Irish claimed second with 818 points, finishing behind Ohio State’s 1,623 and ahead of Akron’s 803, Indiana State’s 478 and Wisconsin’s 50.
Notre Dame took home a win in the women’s 200yard freestyle relay, beating out the Buckeyes by just 26 hundredths of a second.
Freshman Hollie Widdows, senior Jessica Geriane, graduate student Imogen Meers (a transfer from Rice) and senior Madelyn Christman swam the Irish to a winning time of 1:28.68 in the event.
Geriane and Meers each finished inside the top three during the women’s 50-yard freestyle race. Geriane captured first place with a time of 22.29 seconds, while Meers
SMC BASKETBALL
claimed third with a time of 22.57.
Freshman Carli Cronk put on a terrific performance in the women’s 400-yard individual medley, taking first place by more than three seconds. Her time of 4:07.63 led the Irish, who also placed sophomore Lainey Mullins inside the top five at 4:14.82.
Notre Dame put another two swimmers in the top five of the women’s 100-yard butterfly. Junior Renee Gillilan took third with a time of 53 seconds flat, while Widdows followed in fourth at 53.65 seconds.
Geriane earned another top-five result in the women’s 100-yard backstroke, placing fourth with a time of 53.86 seconds. Meers followed by just two hundredths of a second, grabbing fifth in 53.88 seconds.
Moving back to the relays, Notre Dame finished second in the women’s 800-yard freestyle relay, as Christman and Cronk teamed up with
senior MaryCate Pruitt and junior Greta Kolbeck. With their time of 7:14.82, the Irish finished eight seconds behind Ohio State’s A team. The Irish also earned second in the women’s 400-yard freestyle relay, as Meers, Geriane, Widdows and Christman posted a time of 3:18.21.
Senior Sophia Karras found third place in the women’s 1650-yard freestyle, ending the lengthy race in 16:49.41. Christman earned another second-place result in the
women’s 200-yard backstroke, finishing about a second and a half off of first place in 1:54.85. Widdows notched a third-place finish in the women’s 100-yard freestyle, coming in at 49.27 seconds.
Notre Dame’s most successful individual event was the women’s 200-yard butterfly, which Cronk won in 1:55.28. Mullins finished third at 1:57.35, while Gillilan claimed fifth at 2:00.82.
Shifting to the diving sphere, junior Benedict
Nguyen scored 350.25 to take second place in the men’s 1-meter, while junior Grace Courtney earned third on the women’s side with a 268.1. Courtney won the women’s 3-meter at 351.25, while Nguyen claimed second again at 356.75.
Up next, the Irish will head to Columbus for the Ohio State Winter Invite on Valentine’s Day weekend.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
WRITE SPORTS.
Belles fall to Calvin on big third-quarter run
By CLAIRE WATSON Sports Writer
Over the weekend, the Saint Mary’s Belles basketball team faced off against the Calvin Knights, taking the 65-47 loss.
The first quarter started in favor of Calvin, as the Knights went on a 4-0 run before senior forward Julia Schutz dropped a layup that brought the score to 4-2. Calvin added on another layup, but sophomore guard Kate Restovich answered with a three-point shot and Schutz added a free throw to tie the score at six. Calvin, not backing down, hit a
three-point shot of its own, but a layup from Schutz and a three-pointer from sophomore guard Annie Restovich brought the Belles ahead 119. The Knights tacked on 10 more points for themselves, pulling ahead 19-11, but junior guard Nicole Connolly finished the quarter with a layup, making the score 19-13.
Schutz started off the second quarter by dropping in a three-point shot that moved the score to 19-16, but Calvin responded with two points to stay ahead at 21-16. Freshman guard Kate Passinault put in a layup, but Calvin responded with three
more points to make the score 24-18. A three-point shot from Connolly changed the score to 24-21, but Calvin responded with four points, bringing the score to 28-21. After a foul on Calvin, the Belles added another point to the board, but a quick response from Calvin made the score 30-22.
A 3-0 run from the Belles then closed the score to 3025, but the Knights came back with a layup and took a 32-25 lead. Two points from Kate Restovich made the score 32-27, but the Knights added two more points of their own to restore the seven-point advantage at 34-27.
Three more points from Saint Mary’s made the score 34-30 heading into halftime.
Calvin started off the third quarter by going on a 17-0 run before Schutz added on two layups and Kate Restovich added two free throws to make the score 51-36 at the end of the third quarter.
Calvin began the fourth quarter with another 4-0 run to go up 55-36, but Schutz responded by putting in a layup to make the score 55-38. Calvin put another point on the board, but Kate Restovich responded with a made three-point shot that trimmed the Knights’ lead to
56-41. A quick response from Calvin, in the form of four more points, stretched the lead before a 6-0 run from the Belles made the score 60-47. Five more points from Calvin finished the quarter, and the Knights took the 6547 win.
Kate Restovich led the Belles on offense with 17 points, and Schutz closely followed with 16 points. Passinault led on the interior with eight rebounds for the Belles. Saint Mary’s now prepares to face Trine on Feb. 1, starting at 1 p.m.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson01@saintmarys.edu
Irish move to 5-0 with pair of Saturday sweeps
By TYLER REIDY Sports Editor
The Notre Dame women’s tennis team improved to 5-0 over the weekend with two 7-0 sweeps of Western Michigan and Butler on Saturday. The Irish have now swept four of their first five matches to start the season, protecting their home court at Eck Tennis Pavilion.
Western Michigan Notre Dame started fast in doubles play, as junior Rylie Hanford and senior Nibi Ghosh swept the No. 1 match
before senior Maria Olivia Castedo and junior Bojana Pozder clinched the doubles sweep with a 6-1 win. In singles, the Irish did not lose a set en route to their 7-0 victory. Ghosh (No. 3 singles) and Hanford (No. 5 singles) each cruised to 6-1, 6-0 victories. Senior Carrie Beckman’s 6-2, 6-2 win in No. 2 singles earned Notre Dame its fourth point, deciding the overall match. Castedo (64, 6-1), Pozder (6-4, 6-3) and freshman Bianca Molnar would finish out their victorious matches, getting the Irish to a 7-0 final score.
Butler
A few hours later, the Irish moved on to face Butler and found even sharper success. Beckman and Molnar teamed up for a No. 3 doubles sweep, setting the table for Hanford and Ghosh to gain the doubles point with a 6-2 win in the No. 1 match. Notre Dame once again didn’t come close to losing a singles set, as Hanford again turned in a 6-0, 6-1 win to start in No. 3 singles. Beckman (61, 6-2) and Pozder (6-1, 6-1) followed with dominant wins in the No. 2 and No. 1 battles, clinching the team victory
for the Irish. Molnar (6-3, 6-3), Castedo (6-1, 6-1) and senior Kate Bellia (6-3, 6-3) wrapped up the successful day of tennis with three more singles wins.
Through two weekends of play, Hanford still leads the Irish with a 5-0 record in singles play. Pozder improved to 4-0 on the season, while Bellia jumped to 3-0 and Ghosh to 2-0. Molnar’s win against Butler also marked the first singles victory of her collegiate career.
Over the next two weekends, Notre Dame’s unblemished records will begin to
face some stronger challenges. The Irish will face Maryland, which has finished at least six games above .500 in three consecutive seasons, at 11 a.m. on Saturday. At the same time on Sunday, they’ll battle a Columbia team that went 17-5 last season. Both games will take place in New York City.
The following Friday, the Irish will host their first ranked opponent of the season, No. 18 Tennessee.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
ND WOMEN’S TENNIS
HOCKEY
Irish bounce back on Saturday to earn a split
By RYAN MURPHY Sports Writer
It continues to be a tale of two nights for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish hockey team.
After the visiting Lindenwood Lions handed Notre Dame one of the most surprising losses of its season (in a season full of them), the Irish responded on Saturday to salvage a weekend split. The disappointing result against a Lindenwood team ranked 54th of 64 teams in the national pairwise ratings continues a trend of inconsistent play for the Irish.
“I think it’s a mindset,” Irish head coach Jeff Jackson said after Saturday’s 4-2 win. “We have to lose to figure out how to win. I mean, that’s the way it’s been for the last three weeks.”
Credit Lindenwood for taking advantage of Notre Dame’s inconsistency. The Lions, in their third year since making the jump as a program from the American Collegiate Hockey Association, earned another signature win in Friday’s 3-2 victory. The Lions showed their toughness by clawing back from an early two-goal deficit, scoring three second-period goals. It is difficult to get a program off the ground, but firstyear head coach Bill Muckalt’s squad has beaten two Big Ten teams on the road this season, something Notre Dame still cannot say.
“They’re hard to play against,” Jackson said of Lindenwood. “We need to learn to be a little harder to play against at times too.”
The Irish were able to do that Saturday night, outworking Lindenwood en route to a 4-2 win. Despite the result, though, it feels like the central problem for Notre Dame remains unsolved. As January comes to a close, Notre Dame will look back on the month as one of missed opportunities. Momentum-building wins over Penn State at Wrigley Field, No. 10 Michigan and at No. 4 Minnesota were all followed by flops in the next game played. Simply put, the Irish have not been able to handle success.
“It helps when you have success, but you gotta build on it. You can’t take a step forward and another one back,” Jackson said. “Hopefully these last eight games we can show some consistency in what we’re all about, because I think we’re good enough. I think we’re good enough to make a run here in the last month. We need to find a way to do it every shift of every game.”
“It’s just a mindset, you
know? We have to have the mindset of a winner.”
Friday: Lindenwood 3, Notre Dame 2
The night began auspiciously for the Irish, who found themselves ahead two goals just 6:44 into the contest. Sophomore forward Carter Slaggert opened the scoring for the Irish with his second goal in as many nights. Slaggert finished off a feed from classmate Jayden Davis by sneaking a shot five-hole on Lindenwood sophomore goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz. Senior forward Hunter Strand added on just 58 seconds later, tipping a shot from the high slot from graduate forward Blake Biondi.
Lindenwood head coach Bill Muckalt, in his first season with the Lions, called a timeout immediately following the second Notre Dame goal. The decision proved to be a wise one, as the Lions settled into a defensive posture for the rest of the evening and stymied Notre Dame. It would not be until the second period, though, that the decision would bear fruit. The Lions scored three consecutive goals in the middle
frame to take the lead for good. Lindenwood got on the board 8:40 into the period when freshman defenseman Noah Houle capitalized off a turnover to score unassisted. Houle scored again to tie the game six minutes later, finishing off a wraparound during a period of four-on-four play. Fellow freshman Tyler Loughman put the Lions in the lead in the final three minutes of the period. Loughman won a battle at the back post and one-touched a pass from senior forward David Gagnon past Irish junior goaltender Owen Say.
Notre Dame did not record any high-danger shots in the third period, despite outshooting Lindenwood 10-4 over the final 20 minutes. Bartoszkiewicz finished with 26 saves on 28 shots, while Say made 16 stops against 19 shots.
Saturday: Notre Dame 4, Lindenwood 2
The Irish got on the board first again to start night two. After being demoted to the fourth line ahead of Saturday’s contest, sophomore forward Brennan Ali responded with a goal just four minutes in to put
the Irish ahead 1-0. Ali’s fourth line, with freshman forward Maddox Fleming and graduate forward Ian Murphy, was Notre Dame’s best in the opening frame. Lindenwood managed just four shots against Irish freshman netminder Nicholas Kempf.
An early second-period power-play gave Notre Dame the chance to extend its lead. Just seconds after the offensive zone faceoff, senior captain Justin Janicke blasted a one-timer past Bartoszkiewicz — making his second consecutive start as expected — to put the Irish up 2-0. Sophomore forwards Cole Knuble and Danny Nelson moved the puck quickly to Janicke on the weak side to set up the goal.
Notre Dame dictated play for most of the second period, but the Lions refused to go away. They finally got on the board themselves when sophomore forward Jake Southgate beat Kempf with a wrist shot from the faceoff circle. The goal cut Notre Dame’s lead to one entering the final period.
The Irish added the wouldbe game-winning goal early in the third. Senior forward
Tyler Carpenter took a pass from sophomore defenseman Paul Fischer and snuck a shot over the short-side shoulder of Bartoszkiewciz to make the game 3-2. Lindenwood would test Kempf over the course of the third, throwing 14 shots on net. The Lions refused to go away, and junior forward John Evans scored to make the game 3-2.
But the Lions never could find the equalizer. Danny Nelson potted an empty-netter late to seal the win for Notre Dame. Bartoszkiewicz did everything he could do to help give Lindenwood its first sweep, finishing with 33 saves. Kempf earned his second win in an Irish uniform with 20 stops on 22 shots.
The Irish end the weekend 9-16-1 overall. With Penn State earning four out of six points against Ohio State this weekend, the Irish are now tied with the Nittany Lions for last place in the Big Ten. Penn State has two games in hand on the Irish entering the final month of the season.
Contact Ryan Murphy at rmurph22@nd.edu
GABRIELLA MARTIN | The Observer
Sophomore forward Danny Nelson takes a faceoff as senior forward Justin Janicke (8) and graduate forward Blake Biondi (27) look on during Notre Dame’s 4-2 defeat of Lindenwood at Compton Family Ice Arena on Jan. 25, 2025. Nelson and Janicke each scored a goal in Saturday’s win.
