Print edition for The Observer for Wednesday, October 11, 2023

ND students abroad relocated to safety

In response to the Israel-Hamas conflict,

By GABRIELLE BEECHERT Assistant Managing Editor

The Notre Dame students who were studying abroad in Jerusalem this semester have been relocated to other Notre Dame International locations, according to a statement released Tuesday by University President Fr. John Jenkins.

“We will continue to support our relocated students and ensure that their transitions are as smooth as possible,” the statement said. “We have temporarily suspended our study abroad program at Tantur and will continue to assess the situation as it develops.”

Moreau program to undergo expansion

By ETHAN CHIANG News Writer

The Moreau First Year Experience — a distinctive component of a Notre Dame education — will soon expand to a broader program to include undergraduate students beyond their first year of study.

William C. Mattison III, professor of moral theology, has been appointed as the inaugural faculty director of the expanded Moreau Program.

Mattison said the initial Moreau seminar for freshmen will still take place during their fall semester, but the second one-credit seminar — currently taken in the spring — will be repositioned to later in a student’s course of study. He said the second seminar may take place in the fall of students’ senior year, and it will focus on the theme of “a life well lived” as related to their field of study.

members of the tri-campus community gather in prayer

As of Tuesday night, the Wall Street Journal reported Israeli authorities updated the death toll to 1,200 following a barrage of attacks from Hamas over the weekend that ignited a war between the Palestinian terrorist and political group and Israel.

Hamas’ invasion into Israel from the Palestinian enclave Gaza has seen the terrorist group launch multiple rocket attacks throughout the country, open fire into crowds, invade homes and take civilians hostage. Israel responded to the incursion

see PRAYER PAGE 3

New DEI center brings increased traffic

Additionally, the Moreau Program Committee is looking to integrate cocurricular activities and experiential learning opportunities into the seminars.

“We imagine that the credit-bearing seminars will be a bit more academic with greater faculty involvement ... we anticipate the co-curricular activities will be integrated with the seminar as to content and timing,” Mattison said.

The current Moreau program will continue for this academic year and next, according to Mattison.

“Since all current students will have taken their second one-credit course by the end of this spring, the [second seminar] would not apply to current students,” he added.

However, Mattison said all of these changes, along with their specific details, have yet to be

see MOREAU PAGE 4

By KATHRYN MUCHNICK Associate News Editor

The new Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) held its grand opening on Sept. 21, showcasing the remodeled space on the second floor of LaFortune Student Center.

The remodel was done in partnership with Workshop Architects,

based on feedback from roughly 150 students provided in focus groups, according to Arlene Montevecchio, director of the Gender Relations Center.

The DEI center is home to three University offices — the Gender Relations Center (GRC), Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS) and the Office

of Student Enrichment (OSE). Additionally, student groups PrismND and Diversity Council have designated offices on the second floor of LaFortune.

Construction of the center began in 2022, after the Notre Dame Board of Trustees’ Task Force on Diversity, Equity and

see DEI PAGE 3

Gabriel Beechert | The Observer

Prayer service attendees gathered around the Our Lady of the Lake World Peace Plaza fountain Tuesday evening as Notre Dame choral program director Jonathan Hehn led the assembly in song and prayer.

Kathryn Muchnick | The Observer Panels highlighting the newly remodeled Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI ), can be seen decorating the walls outside the center, now located on the second floor of LaFortune Student Center.

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The

Inclusion called for “a space on campus where underrepresented students can gather” in their 2021 strategic framework.

The second floor of LaFortune has become a popular study spot since the remodel. Because of this, the DEI center offices have seen “increased foot traffic,” Montevecchio said.

“There’s more people on the floor at any given time than there ever was, but also more people coming into the office to ask about what we do — what services and programs we offer,” she said.

Arnel Bulaoro, the director of MSPS, said the new space has enabled a different kind of student interaction.

“I think previously in the old space, everything was transactional, ‘I’m here to meet with a particular staff member,’ and there was nothing else on the floor to keep you here, so they were gone after the meeting. Now we’re somewhat seeing the opposite,” Bulaoro said. “We’re discovering more unscheduled meeting time with students than ever before.”

In addition to opening the space up for collaboration between the three offices, the remodel was key in “bringing the space back to the students,” said Ana Reyes Lam, assistant director for communications and operations at the DEI center.

After hearing that many student groups would go off campus for meetings so they could cook food, Workshop Architects suggested the idea of a community kitchen in the DEI center.

“ What if we created a space that actually did what is currently happening with our student clubs, but instead of it happening off campus, it’s happening here in LaFortune?” Bulaoro said.

The kitchen features a tile wall with the colors of flags from around the world and the word for “eat” in many languages. Lam said during a recent event for Graduate Student Appreciation Week, international graduate students searched the wall to find their home country’s flag.

“It is really great to see how a … small decoration piece of the space also brings visibility to our underrepresented student populations on campus,” Lam said. “And I think a lot of us know the power that food has to bring people together.”

The kitchen and three executive meeting rooms in the center are available for student reservation through ND Central. Lam said although community members have been slow to reserve those rooms, students have been using the space to play card games or have club meetings to prepare for the activities fair.

“I think this space does multiple things, but as a center, it now draws people particularly to a focused conversation,

conversation around belonging. And how do we make sure that Notre Dame is a space where everybody belongs? And now we have a specific location where that conversation can happen,” Bulaoro said.

Between 600 and 800 students visited the center for its grand opening in September, Montevecchio said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more diverse group of people at Notre Dame on this floor and it was truly remarkable,” Montevecchio said.

Jo’Vette Hawkins, president of Diversity Council, said she has seen increased meeting turnout because the space is so accessible and open. Now, sometimes their offices cannot hold everyone who attends.

“I think that the creation of the DEI center has created a home — not only for people of marginalized communities or multi-ethnic backgrounds, but it creates a space for all people to come and learn about diversity,” Hawkins added.

Bulaoro said the center was designed so that it’s difficult to leave because of the community present.

“We really wanted to create a space where you know, ’This space, my friends will be in it. And this is where I can just be myself,’” Bulaoro said.

Contact Kathyrn Muchnick at kmuchnic@nd.edu

with ongoing airstrikes in Gaza, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Israeli retaliation against Hamas will “reverberate for generations.”

In response to the conflict, Campus Ministry hosted a prayer service Tuesday evening at the new Our Lady of the Lake World Peace Plaza.

Fr. Pete McCormick presided over the service that included a communal prayer for peace, readings from the Torah, Quran and Bible and lighting of candles at the Grotto.

“We live in a world where there’s terrible conflict and violence. We remember the victims tonight,”

Jenkins said before giving the opening prayer. “We can’t stop that, but what we can do here is witness this something else: the understanding, the love, the unity in the midst of all our differences.”

After the opening prayer, senior Atara Greenbaum, sophomore Saif Elmaleh and junior Amir Khouzam read passages from the Torah, Quran and Bible, respectively.

Greenbaum’s passage from the Book of Isaiah spoke of transforming weapons of violence into tools used for the good of the world and ending conflict between nations.

Elmaleh read from the 60th chapter of the Quran in Arabic, and then he explained the direct translation into English. “God does not forbid people from acting justly towards those who have not fought them nor expelled them from

their homes”, he explained.

“God loves those who act justly,” Elmaleh said during his reading. “Conversely, God holds accountable those who act in an unjust and unrighteous manner. So let us strive to treat one another with just[ice] and righteousness.”

Khouzam then read a passage from the book of Ephesians. The reading described that different peoples can come together as “fellow citizens with the Holy Land and members of the household of God.”

“I think it’s really important that they’re doing this service and they’re inviting all the different faiths to really talk about peace, especially in a time like this,” Greenbaum said. “It’s really needed and it’s really important at this time that we come together.”

After the readings, McCormick invited choral program director Jonathan Hehn to lead those attending the prayer service in a call and response hymn. Hehn asked attendees to gather around him and the plaza’s fountain before leading the hymn.

Following the hymn’s conclusion, assistant director of faith and justice Becky Czarnecki led the group in a reflection of how attendees may pray in light of the ongoing conflict. She mentioned those who have died, those who are suffering and those who are missing loved ones, as well as the communities that have been destroyed.

Her prayer also asked that compassion and wisdom guide the work of politicians who seek peace.

“We lift up to our God all victims of the current conflict, for an end to the cycle of violence throughout the world and for lasting peace with justice,” she said.

McCormick began his concluding remarks by inviting attendees to light a candle at the Grotto, but he also asked everyone to consider some calls to actions, such as engaging with the different scholars and professors on campus who may have insights how to live a life of faith and builders of peace in the world.

“How beautiful it is for us to ponder how it is that those gathered here in just a few short moments will return to the daily tasks of life. But might we do so just a little bit differently?” he said. “Might we do so mindful of the unique call that all of us have been given to be stewards of this world and the builders of the kingdom, builders of peace and so with that, I offer you that for your own consideration.”

Raclin Murphy Museum of Art nears opening

By JOSÉ SÁNCHEZ CÓRDOVA Assistant Managing Editor

After years of work, the new Raclin Murphy Museum of Art (RMMA) is set to open to the public on Dec. 1-3, with a special student opening scheduled for Nov. 30.

Plans for the new art museum were first announced as part of the University’s 2007 update to the master plan. Ten years later, the $66 million lead gift, from Ernestine Raclin and her daughter and sonin-law Carmen and Chris Murphy, who lend the museum their names, began the process of choosing a design and building the RMMA.

The project was awarded to New York City-based architecture firm Robert A.M. Stern Architects in Dec. 2018. The two lead architects, Melissa DelVecchio ’94 and Tony McConnell ‘06, are both Notre Dame graduates. This is their second building on campus after their work on the Stayer Center which opened in 2013.

“It’s like doing a studio project for school that I got paid for,” McConnell said. “It was an extremely fulfilling opportunity.”

The construction, which began in April 2020, is the first of two phases that will make up the RMMA. This initial phase features galleries, an object study room, teaching spaces and a bookstore across four levels. The RMMA also has two unique spaces.

The first is the chapel located on the second floor. The space will be consecrated and named for Mary, Queen of Families. McConnell and DelVecchio said it was

Moreau

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

confirmed.

Andrew Whittington, a Moreau instructor and associate director of first year programs, noted the expansion is the product of an ongoing process to improve the course for students.

“For the past few years, we’ve gradually implemented significant improvements ... on a variety of levels. These improvements have been the result of the thoughtful and deliberate work of hundreds of individuals and formative feedback from both students and

unusual to have a chapel in a university museum, but that it was something Notre Dame wanted from the start.

“It’s really designed as a contemplative space to go view ecclesiastic art in a way that ecclesiastic art would have been displayed in an actual church,” McConnell said.

DelVecchio said that the chapel was designed to complement the art installations that were destined for the space. Well-known Italian artist Mimmo Paladino was commissioned to create several pieces of art for the chapel. Most notably the mosaic on the ceiling and the stained glass that will stand behind the altar.

“One of the things that we bring into this conversation is the idea of being responsive to student needs with an understanding maybe that everything can’t happen immediately,” Bambenek said. “But you know if it’s a serious safety concern, it can happen pretty quick.”

“It was a much more hand-in-hand collaboration with the art installation and the architecture in that space, which is really unique,” DelVecchio said about the chapel. “We basically created the shape of the room and the shape of the ceiling. And then the artist articulated all the finishes in there,” she said.

The other space McConnell and DelVecchio highlighted was Ivan’s Cafe on the ground floor. The cafe is named after Ivan Meštrović, a prominent Croatian sculptor who came to work and teach at Notre Dame at Fr.

faculty. These moves and partnerships have helped inspire the expansion of the program,” he said.

Whittington said it will build on the integration of academic and co-curricular formation that Notre Dame uniquely offers.

“This expansion is a big move on behalf of the students of Notre Dame. The aim is to better equip students to encounter and engage with a coherent, integrative four-year undergraduate experience,” Whittington said.

Freshman Cameron Thompson offered his support for the new framework.

Hesburgh’s invitation in 1955. McConnell said the space was designed directly as a result of student feedback.

“You’ll either have really quiet places or you have really loud places and it would be really great to have a place to go to study, that would be halfway between,” McConnell said. “Students were very clear that there’s not a place in between.”

Adjoining the main atrium, McConnell hopes Ivan’s cafe will provide just that. He characterized it as a semi-quiet space with some activity, but where people will still be able to go study and get work done.

The new 70,000-squarefoot museum is the latest addition to Notre Dame’s burgeoning arts district

“The biggest limit to Moreau right now is that it’s just a 50-minute conversation once a week. I think [the experiential opportunities] would definitely add a lot, especially because a big part of Moreau is the connection you form with the other people there,” Thompson said.

Looking ahead, Thompson said delaying the second one-credit course would provide a meaningful balance to the academic rigor of other classes.

“It is definitely nice to have a course ... that forces yourself to take some time to have a conversation that

on the south side of campus. In the last 20 years, the University has inaugurated the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center (opened in 2004), the O’Neill Hall of Music (2017), the Walsh Family Hall of Architecture (2018) and the Hayes Family Sculpture Park (2018), all in the same area of campus.

DelVecchio said the new museum’s location was intentionally chosen by the University to foster the relationship between the arts at Notre Dame and the wider South Bend community. She added that the Snite Museum of Art used to be in a similar position, but it was slowly isolated from the community by numerous University building projects in the 43 years since

is more personal,” he said. “I think it’d be really useful to have something that helps balance out tough academic studies.”

In a similar vein, Whittington said moving the second course will be valuable for upperclassmen who are concluding their educational journey at Notre Dame.

“When combined with other components of the program, [it] can serve as a kind of final capstone that validates all of the life that has been lived at Notre Dame,” Whittington said. “The repositioning of this credit could serve as a timely way for students to

it opened, hurting visitor numbers.

“[Notre Dame] are really trying to pull the building towards the edge of campus to make it more accessible both to the community and to visitors, but also to the students so that all three of those audiences can feel more welcome,” DelVecchio said.

The Raclin Murphy Museum of Art will take over for the Snite Museum of Art, which had operated as the University’s art museum since it opened in Nov. 1980. The Snite, which closed last April, has been repurposed and will open in January as the Snite Research Center in the Visual Arts.

Contact José Sánchez Córdova at jsanch24@nd.edu

reconnect with what really matters to them, reflect on who or what has most formed them at ND, and prepare to intentionally integrate all of what they’ve learned and experienced with their lives after graduation.”

Moving forward in his role as faculty director, Mattison said, “It is my hope that the Moreau Program seminars and activities can serve as an inflection point, situating and illuminating various dimensions of life at Notre Dame and beyond.”

Contact Ethan Chiang at

echiang@nd.edu

José Sánchez Córdova | The Observer Notre Dame’s new art museum, the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art (RMMA), which will replace the Snite Museum, announced its opening dates for the student body Nov. 30 and for the general public Dec. 1-3.

By ARI DENNING Scene Writer

“Can you separate the art from the artist?” is a question that has cropped up again and again in recent years as more celebrities are exposed as problematic or criminal. It’s especially prevalent in the most popular artists of the day — Kanye West has made antisemitic comments, Chris Brown publicly beat Rihanna back in 2009, Morgan Wallen was recorded yelling the N-word. All of these artists have huge platforms and are creating charttopping music. Even huge music legends of the past such as Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley are still held up as defining artists of their respective music genres. How do you determine what is morally OK to listen to, and are you supporting them if you love their art?

This is a very nuanced topic. There is no definitive correct or incorrect way to interpret this question. It all comes down to one’s own interpretation of what their standards are for what they deem as acceptable to listen to or support. Everyone has their own personal stance on this subject, and the one I present is still something I question and am challenged by.

Some people will say art is a completely separate entity from who creates it. It stands on its own and has its own intrinsic meaning which is not impacted by an artist’s

actions. Others will say there can be no separation between that art and the artist; art fundamentally has to be a reflection of the artist’s beliefs and ideas.

Still others say that it depends on certain factors, such as the severity of the actor’s actions, your own enjoyment of their work and the connection between the artist’s beliefs and their work. For example, when it comes to someone like actor Woody Allen, I’ve made the decision to not consume his movies. His actions have directly tainted how I view any of his work. The same goes for West and Brown.

Other issues give me pause. Online cancel culture has certainly become quite intense and fickle about judging and proclaiming people irredeemable, but the public also has such a hypocritically short memory concerning particular artists whose music they just don’t feel like giving up.

The biggest conflict I personally feel concerns a lot of classic rock stars — John Lennon, Axl Rose and David Bowie among others — who have been accused of a variety of issues from problematic statements to assault allegations. I grew up listening to these artists in the car with my dad, and they have shaped my musical tastes. I have an incredible amount of nostalgia attached to their work. I won’t lie and say I’m not guilty of listening to some of their music — I love their work even if I don’t love them as

people. It’s also still true that my knowledge of their actions has irrevocably hurt how I view their work and my enjoyment of it.

There are more facets at play, such as how much their work is espousing their beliefs and the degree to which you support an artist. I find it easier to separate art from artist when their work is about a topic separate from their personal shortcomings. It’s relatively impossible for me to separate the two when their work promotes a similar toxic ideology they hold or when they seem hypocritical.

It becomes even more complicated when the artist is still alive and performing. Your support, financial or otherwise, can end up strengthening their platform and allow their views to reach a wider audience. When it is an artist of the past that has since died, it may be easier to consume their work because your appreciation can’t exactly benefit them now.

This is just a snapshot of all the sides to this issue and the questions I ask myself. The ones you ask yourself may be different. As a consumer of many kinds of media, I try to be mindful of where I’m spending my money and who I’m glorifying. I find importance in consuming content created by people whose values I respect. But ultimately, art and how you think about it is subjective.

Contact Ari Denning at adenning@nd.edu

By LUKE FOLEY

Scene Writer

Are there two words more synonymous than “Drake” and “mid”? Despite still being immensely successful, Drake’s music has started being criticized more in recent years. People say he has “fallen off,” become complacent and exerted little effort into his predictable albums. But when he actually did something risky and fresh by experimenting with house music in last year’s “Honestly, Nevermind,” his efforts were widely derided. So what could the “6 God” do to win back acclaim? Drake decided that he would acquiesce to the people’s frequent pleas by explicitly billing his new album, “For All the Dogs,” as a return to the “Old Drake.” Was he successful? Somewhat. “For All the Dogs” features some stellar production and great performances from Drake and guests but is bogged down by its bloated tracklist and embarrassing lyrics.

The album starts strong with the opening track, “Virginia Beach.” Drake both sings and raps over a wonderful beat with a warped, sped-up Frank Ocean sample and glittery synths. From here, the tracklist oscillates between chestthumping bangers and more somber and reflective tracks.

On the high-energy side, there are highlights like the heavy bass “Daylight” and “First Person Shooter,” which features a stellar guest verse from J. Cole and is the best song on the

album. “IDGAF” has a trippy, maximalist beat that shows Drake impressively performing outside his comfort zone. While sometimes repetitive and safe, the album’s production is consistently catchy, crisp and well-mixed.

The album also has a solid selection of somber tracks.

“Slime You Out” is a melodramatic ballad with a great feature from SZA. In “Amen,” Drake mixes religion with his usual Drake musings on relationships and features a very soulful hook from Teezo Touchdown. “Tried Our Best” sees Drake lamenting a toxic relationship in one of the album’s rare moments of vulnerability instead of aggression.

“8am in Charlotte” is another entry in Drake’s trademark “Time in City” series, and here he commentates on a wide range of topical issues. The song features many hilarious, corny lines. Some of my favorites are “Knowin’ they gon’ sell another citizen ’caine, they think they Orson Welles,” “And now it’s silence in the Lamb’ like the horror film” and “Feel like I’m bi ’cause you’re one of the guys, girl.”

The biggest issue with the album is the bloated runtime of nearly an hour and a half long. No Drake album should be longer than “Toy Story.” While I’m sure it helps Drake rake in more streaming money, it seriously hurts the album’s overall quality. You forget that there’s a great selection of songs in the album when you have to drudge through Drake crooning about the same relationship woes over beats that eventually sound homogeneous.

This brings us to another issue: Drake’s tiresome, spiteful lyrical focus. The staying power of classic Drake songs like “Marvin’s Room” and “Highlights” is due to Drake’s hearton-his-sleeve lyricism that endearingly expresses both pride and pain. But Drake’s maturity has regressed with age, for in recent albums, he has ditched this style that propelled him to fame, instead donning a toxic, bitter, selfaggrandizing persona. This results in pathetic songs like “Fear of Heights,” where he insults his ex of seven years, Rihanna, and calls their sex life average. This toxic, petty Drake can be entertaining in moderation, but when combined with a 90-minute runtime, the incessant tendency of slighting women, rappers and the world gets old and obnoxious.

I think “For All the Dogs” is a good album despite its problems, but I am in the minority with my positive opinion, as both audiences and critics don’t seem to like this album very much. Thus, Drake’s candid attempt to recapture the success of his old music has failed. Before the album’s release, he announced he’d be taking a one-year break from music. During this time, he will have to reflect on where his career goes from here. People don’t know what Drake they want, and now, I don’t think Drake himself knows either.

Contact Luke Foley at lfoley2@nd.edu

My favorite books and shows Lost in translation

Caitlin Brannigan Viewpoint Copy Editor

As an English major, a lot of people — with good intentions — ask what my favorite book is.

Oh no.

Embarrassingly, I always nervously laugh as I desperately try to remember what I said the last time someone asked, and suddenly I can’t think of any book I’ve read in the past year.

I thoroughly enjoy most of the books I read, but there isn’t one that particularly stands out among the others. The same can be said for television. This is a mental note to myself of books and shows I would recommend to someone so I can avoid more embarrassing moments.

“Circe”

This book was my introduction to the recent wave of feminist retellings of ancient Greek mythology. I was incredibly emotionally invested in Circe’s story of finding herself despite facing immeasurable odds from the misogynistic system around her. The novel totally called into question everything I thought I knew about Circe from reading “The Odyssey” in high school. It made me think more critically about how she was represented; my image of her shifted from someone with a minor role in the story to a fully fleshed-out character with undeniable agency.

“A Darker Shade of Magic”

This is the first book in the “Shades of Magic” series, which focuses on a magician who illegally trades items between alternate universes and a thief from real-world London. The world is incredibly immersive, fleshing out completely fantastic kingdoms but also focusing on the real-world city of London that exists in every universe within the story. The characters are refreshing, dynamic and entertaining. The thief in particular is unpredictable and really fun to read about. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t stop reading it.

“Heartstopper”

“Heartstopper” is excellent in all of its forms, from the Netflix series to the original webcomics, but I particularly liked the graphic novels. The art style is cute, clear-cut and a good fit for the wholesome high school romance storyline. Although each graphic novel is short, the plot is well-developed and each character comes across clearly as having their own unique voice. I found reading these novels relaxing — the art and coloring is satisfying and cute — but at the same time, the story had pivotal moments in which I was very actively engaged with the plot.

“Extraordinary

Attorney Woo”

This K-drama centers on the experiences of an autistic lawyer in her first year at a top South Korean law firm and the societal stigmas she faces. It is both emotional and incredibly fun to watch. I was really absorbed in every aspect of this show, from the intense legal drama to the budding friendships to the slow-burn romance. I can’t wait for season two.

“Avatar: The Last Airbender”

This animated series follows a group of teenagers who use elemental magic to end a hundred-year-long war. It’s a childhood favorite of mine, comedic at times yet serious at others, with a really well-constructed world and a plot that is as much about defeating the Fire Lord as it is bringing together people of different backgrounds. The characters are all unique in their own ways, but the dynamic between the group creates some of my favorite moments in television.

“Survivor”

“Survivor” is a classic — my favorite kind of messy reality television. With almost 50 seasons, there are so many flavors of drama to choose from. Take “Gabon,” for example — pretty much everyone makes decisions based on how much they hate each other. And in “Cagayan,” a cast of people with very strong, unique personalities make for a blend of camaraderie, fighting and generally comedic television. The more recent seasons have more strategy, which is also interesting to watch.

You can contact Caitlin at cbrannig@nd.edu

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

During lunch at the dining hall a few weeks ago, I found myself sitting with one of my closest Brazilian friends. As we chatted in Portuguese about our daily lives, classes and fall break plans, a mutual friend decided to join us. As he took a seat, my Brazilian friend and I smoothly switched to English since we knew this friend didn’t speak Portuguese. The transition was so natural that it felt almost instinctual. We continued our conversation without missing a beat and carried it on until our English-speaking friend left. As soon as he walked away, my Brazilian friend turned to me and said: “It’s very interesting to see you speak in another language, it’s like a little bit of you changes every time you switch languages.” When he said that, I looked a little confused, as I didn’t exactly understand what he meant by that. Seeing my expression, he started to explain.

He spoke about how he noticed subtle shifts in my demeanor, tone and even body language when I switched from speaking Portuguese to any other language such as English, Chinese, Spanish or German. It was as if, with each language switch, a different aspect of my personality came to the forefront. For example, in Portuguese, I seemed more relaxed and comfortable, freely using colloquial expressions and sharing stories. But when we transitioned to English, I seemed more composed and articulate.

Intrigued by my Brazilian friend’s observation, I decided to talk to a Spanish-speaking friend of mine who was also in my Chinese class. After class, I brought my friend’s comment up and she said she, too, had noticed changes in my behavior depending on the language I was speaking. According to her, when I switched to Spanish, my gesticulations became more animated, my voice grew louder, and my words were infused with passion and intensity. It was as though the very act of speaking Spanish awakened a heightened sense of expressiveness within me. On the other hand, she noted that when I spoke Chinese, my gesticulations were more subdued, my voice was calm and I appeared more passive compared to my usual self.

As I walked back to Ryan, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was something common or if I was just weird. As I searched the Internet, I found countless testimonies of other people who had noticed the same thing, as well as several research papers supporting the idea of what is called in psychology, “the

cultural accommodation hypothesis.” This theory states that individuals will respond in a manner that favors or accommodates the culture associated with the language of presentation. In other words, our personalities, behavior and communication styles adapt to the cultural norms and expectations of the language we are using if we learn it while being exposed to the culture.

As I delved deeper into my research, reading academic papers and personal testimonies, I couldn’t help but look back on situations from my past when I lived in other countries, such as Spain and Taiwan. I thought of moments where I faced challenges and struggled to find solutions, and I often attributed these difficulties to simply “freezing” under pressure. However, this new understanding of the connection between language and culture provided me with a different perspective on these past experiences. It occurred to me that the reason I had struggled to tackle these issues wasn’t because I had “frozen.” Instead, it was due to the fact that I didn’t have the cultural experience necessary to navigate those situations in those particular languages. It was as if I had never been through those scenarios before, even though I had successfully dealt with similar challenges in other languages, such as Portuguese, German, French and English.

This profound connection between language, culture and behavior, which I stumble on through these experiences, underlines the significance of cross-cultural psychology in our world. Cross-cultural psychology, a field dedicated to understanding how cultural norms, values and expectations influence our thoughts, emotions and actions, offers a very valuable perspective on this topic. It reminds us that our cultural contexts shape our problem-solving and decision-making processes. This understanding allows us to act with more empathy and openness, as well as to recognize that people from different cultures may approach challenges and solutions in unique and equally valid ways and help us grow as human beings.

Lara is a member of the class of 2026 from Taubaté, Brazil with majors in economics and Chinese. When she is not complaining about the weather, you can find her studying in a random room of O’Shaughnessy with her friends or spending all her flex points in Garbanzo. You can contact Lara by email at lvictor@nd.edu.

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

Lara Novaes Victor Diary of an International Student

Being politically ‘middle’: Critical thinking or cop-out?

I have always found a sense of pride in calling myself politically middle, independent or whatever vague term you would like to use to classify someone who doesn’t fully fit into either of the two parties. I often look at the two rivaling parties and roll my eyes. Not because I think either group is inherently wrong, but because I simply can’t relate to falling into one party so strongly as to fully classify myself as such. This mindset of being able to see the pros and cons to both parties has continually been something I view as a positive tenet of my personality. I label myself a “critical thinker,” “a middle ground amongst irreconcilable division” and “a defier of groupthink.” Yet, recently I have begun to question if my refusal to choose a political “side” is actually a more productive way to achieve political harmony…am I really a critical thinker, or am I merely scared to choose a side and be controversial?

Is it truly better to toe the line between the two parties constantly without ever fully making a stand on different issues than to flat-out state what you believe and potentially cause division among those around you? If you asked me this question a few years ago, I would answer the former without a second thought. However, if you were to ask me now…I’m really not sure. I now fall into the belief that the intent behind what you say or believe matters significantly more than what you actually declare.

If a person picks purple as their favorite color merely because their two friends’ favorite colors are red and blue and they don’t want to choose a side…is purple really their favorite color? Inversely, if someone were to pick blue as their favorite color merely because a person they don’t like’s favorite color

is red, does that actually make blue their favorite color? I believe the intent behind a political declaration is what truly makes the opinion right or wrong. If I want to declare myself an independent, that is perfectly fine, given that my reasoning is I simply don’t align with either party, and not that I am too afraid to make a clear decision. If someone wants to call themselves a Democrat or Republican, that is great, as long as they aren’t doing so simply out of a dislike for the other party.

I am sick, along with much of America, of seeing the U.S. political system built not on educated opinions or leaders, but rather based out of hatred for the opposing party. In fact, according to Time, as many as 67% of Americans are tired of such intense division. I would love to believe that independents can make a difference within this fiercely divided political system. I would love to believe that my decision to think critically and openly on issues can help encourage others who fall within a distinct party to be more open to listening to the other side. I would love to believe that a majority of Americans actually fall closer to the middle than our political system allows to be shown.

However, all of these hopes are futile unless those who fall politically in the middle are willing to speak on them. To use the political middle as a “cop-out” means to refuse to share your political opinions — which likely fall on both sides of the political aisle — because you don’t want to ruffle feathers. It means not getting involved in any type of political club or organization because you won’t fully agree with everyone’s opinions. It means not being friends with anyone who falls more extremely into either party because you don’t want to have to hear their differing opinions from your own. With that being said, I believe more people speaking out about falling closer to the middle would do immense good for our political system. If those who share these beliefs with me

are to not shy away from discussions, speak strongly about what they DO believe (and not what they are trying to avoid) and stop having a fear about not fitting into a distinct box, I believe it would help the U.S. in general become more open and educated.

I don’t desire to be a wishy-washy person, as I would hope no other politically engaged person would desire to be. I want to be someone who stands strong in what I believe, even if it does fall in the middle of our political system. To be educated does not mean to agree with everything that is written, taught by leaders or believed by your peers. It means to constantly challenge the opinions around you and within you. It is imperative that everyone — Democrats, Republicans, Independents and others — are continually looking inward and asking themselves why they believe what they believe… isn’t this exactly what it means to be a critical thinker?

Lauren Buetow is a junior living in Flaherty Hall studying political science and psychology. She currently serves as the director of social media within BridgeND, a multi-partisan political organization on campus that focuses on an openness to respectfully sharing, discussing and learning about different opinions regarding pertinent political issues.

BridgeND is a multi-partisan political club committed to bridging the partisan divide through respectful and productive discourse. It meets bi-weekly on Mondays at 7 p.m. in Duncan Student Center Meeting Room 1, South W106 to learn about and discuss current political issues, and can be reached at bridgend@nd.edu or on Twitter @ bridge_ND.

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

An oration against polo shirts

How far will you continue to abuse our patience, Polo Shirt? For how much longer will you mock us with that madness of yours? When will there be an end to that unbridled arrogance of yours? Already for a long time now, a pestilence has unleashed its illness on many of our unsuspecting statesmen here at the University of Our Lady. I stand unfazed as the leader of the rebellion to prevent this plague from corrupting the moral character, or more importantly the fashion sense, of our people.

I must limit the scope of my argument to address the university-aged cohort, whose wills are bound to the overflowing mercy of those who practice du Lac. Also, I speak to the male population of students since I have no knowledge of women or their fashion preferences. What do they look like? What constitutes a business professional outfit for them? Where do babies come from? I do not know. Additionally, I will not be speaking about the garment in the athletic context, where it originally was fashioned. Lastly, I will not address the shirt in the context of a uniform since, as we all know, it is treasonous to make fun of those in uniform. With those parameters established, I will continue.

The illness lies in its deceitful promises of being acceptable in too many contexts. Those who wear the shirt, to their folly, believe that they can unite superlative looks and optimal comfort in every instance of social interaction.

9:25 a.m. lecture in DeBart? Polo Shirt!

Trader Joe’s run? Polo Shirt!

Tailgating? Polo Shirt!

Sleep? Polo Shirt!

Going out to The‘Cade? Polo Shirt!

Interview with Deloitte? Deloitte Polo Shirt!

The fact of the matter is, when this garment promises you

everything, it ends up doing nothing for you. What other clothing item affords this much liberty in application? The only ones that come to mind are underwear and socks. If the polo shirt was reserved for only business casual contexts, we would not be having this conversation. The issue is that Mr. Consultant networks 9 to 5 in his Deloitte polo shirt and “networks” 5 to 9 in his Deloitte polo shirt. Moreover, the pairing of polo shirts with other supporting garments is where even more offenses occur. Styling a polo with khaki shorts is the most common application. Oftentimes, there is no regard for harmony with respect to color combination, texture of the cloth or style of either garment. I seriously doubt that one can make a neon green Under Armour Notre Dame dri-fit polo shirt look like a well-thought-out outfit. What went through your mind when you draped on an oversized polo shirt with 9-inch inseam shorts? And when it gets cold, you conceal yourself within the safety of a hoodie and sweatpants? (The khaki shorts are still underneath, mind you.) The over-application of the polo shirt is its most egregious offense.

Some might say, “But, I just wear it because I need something to wear, and I don’t care what I look like.” This ridiculous declaration of apathy seems insensible for an association of men whose intellectual prowess and superior achievement merited them spots at this University. But I will entertain it. I ask, “Why did you choose this shirt specifically?” If you wish for pure utility with indifference or even rejection of any care for looks, then why not wear a tarp? Under your philosophy, a tarp might be more useful to wear than a polo since you have protection from the elements. It is clear that these crazed utilitarians cannot even follow their own principles.

Some might say, “But, I just want to be comfortable.” It is apparent that many people forsake propriety, an objectively good thing, since they have an inordinate attachment to comfort, or pleasure for that matter. It is a shame that we

shirk responsibility and difficulty in pursuit of that which is comfortable. Why does life have to be all about comfort? Why be obliged to do something that I don’t want to do? Why can’t I just do things that make me happy? You see where that road leads.

Some might say, “But, the polo shirt does look very good, or at least good enough, with all the pairings you, the author, have mentioned.” This sentiment is very reminiscent of the previous. I see too often that people are satisfied with anything less than the best. They are like feathers being blown in the wind, being taken from good times to bad times back to good times since they have no constitution to weigh them down. Why do you cut yourself short when you have so much proven potential for more? I deem you mediocre in all regards of the human person since you yourself have told me thus. Why would you not be compelled to carry yourself in a manner that respects your dignity and conveys such to me?

It is not just that our standards for fashion are too low; it is that our standards for essentially everything are too low. Relationships are established on a faulty foundation as self-interest trumps the good owed to the other. Romantic relationships are sadly commodified and characterized by licentiousness. How are we to care for one another if we cannot care for ourselves?

We announce to the world that we do not possess incalculable dignity. We cut ourselves short in so many endeavors out of paralyzing fear or rank ignorance. We are made for so much more than just a polo shirt.

Jonah Tran is a sophomore at Notre Dame double majoring in finance and classics with a minor in Constitutional studies. He prides himself on sarcasm and his home — the free state of Florida. You can contact Jonah by email at jtran5@nd.edu.

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

Jonah Tran Saturae et Sapientia

Lauren Buetow BridgeND

Irish fall to Duke, trump UNC

By ANDREW McGUINNESS Sports Editor

After a strong start to the 2023 season, Notre Dame volleyball faced a critical juncture last weekend. The Irish had been swept in matches against Louisville and NC State the weekend prior. It was the first time they had lost consecutive games all year, doubling their loss total for the season. Road matches with Duke and North Carolina, who each entered the weekend with winning records, put Notre Dame further to the test.

The road trip didn’t get off to a great start for the Irish, who fell in four sets against Duke to drop their third straight game. Duke has been daunting to beat inside of Cameron Indoor Stadium all season, improving to 7-2 at home with the victory. The Irish did start the match on a nice note, taking the first set 25-21. The set went back and forth, and Notre Dame did not take the lead for good until an attack error from Duke put the Irish ahead 19-18. Kills from sophomore outside hitter Avery Ross on the last two points put the set away.

However, the Blue Devils would take control of the match from there. The third set proved to be the turning point. It featured multiple extra points, and both teams had match-point opportunities. Down 28-27, the Blue Devils rattled off three straight points to take the set and the lead in the match.

Duke would close it out in the next set, snapping a two-match losing skid.

Junior outside hitter Sydney Palazzolo led the Irish with 17 kills, while fellow transfer

Irish shut out Oberlin to extend win streak to four

graduate student setter

Nicole Drewnick paced the team with 35 assists. Senior libero Hattie Monson’s 19 digs also led the Irish, with Palazzolo also in double figures at 11.

Despite the loss, the Irish put their foot in the ground two days later against the Tar Heels. It certainly didn’t come easy. Notre Dame found themselves down 2-0 right away and put up just 17 points in the first set. But despite having lost 11 of their last 12 sets at that point, the Irish dug deep in a way they perhaps would not have been able to last season. Notre Dame dominated the next two sets. North Carolina managed just 28 points combined during that stretch, bringing the match even.

The Irish also controlled the decisive fifth set. Notre Dame took six of the final seven points, two coming on kills by freshman outside hitter Ava Lange. The deadly combination of Palazzolo and Drewnick struck again to close it out and bring Notre Dame’s losing streak to an end. Once again, Palazzolo, Drewnick and Monson led the team in kills, assists and digs, respectively. The Irish had a hit percentage of at least 64% in each of the final three sets, a huge key to their success.

Notre Dame returns to action at home in Purcell Pavilion this weekend for matches against Virginia and Pitt. The Irish face the Cavaliers at 6:30 p.m. Friday and the Panthers at 1 p.m. Sunday. Both matches are available to watch on ACC Network Extra.

Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu

By J.J. Post Associate Sports Editor

Notre Dame men’s soccer picked up their fourth consecutive win Tuesday night, thrashing Oberlin 6-0.

The lopsided final score perhaps wasn’t even reflective of the Irish dominance on the stat sheet. Notre Dame outshot the Yeomen 32-2. They racked up 17 shots on goal, while holding Oberlin to just one.

It took the Irish 20 minutes to get on the scoresheet, though. Notre Dame took seven shots before finding the back of the net, with Michael Rossi deftly redirecting a shot from Matthew Roou home. The Irish would keep up the pressure afterwards, and a little over 10 minutes later would strike home again. Matthew Radivojsa fed a pass to Eno Nto in front of goal, and the

junior forward slotted in his fifth goal of the season.

Notre Dame would get their final goal of the half just two minutes later.

Radivojsa charged into the box but absorbed a hard challenge in the process. The referee pointed to the spot, and senior Matthew McLaughlin stepped up and fired a penalty kick into the bottom left corner to add on to the Irish lead.

The goal was the first of McLaughlin’s Irish career, with the senior midfielder serving as team captain on the day with usual skippers Paddy Burns and Ethan O’Brien off the field.

“It was a lot of fun. It was my first start too, which was pretty special,” McLaughlin said.

“I’ve been saying all week that if we get a [penalty kick] today I have to be the one to take it. And luckily [Daniel]

Russo was on the field but he was kind enough to give it to me so thanks to Russo for that.”

The goals kept coming in the second half. A Yeoman clearance only made it as far as Nicholas Legendre, and the sophomore volleyed home his first goal of the season.

The final two tallies of the day for the Irish came just 15 seconds apart. A Wyatt Borso cross created a chaotic scramble in front of the Oberlin goal, and, eventually, a touch by Mateo Acosta put the ball in the path of Alex Salvino, who fired it over the goalline. Almost immediately after the restart, Sean McDown leaped in front of a Yeoman pass out of the back, pushed the ball

Irish near end of season after Evie Odom Invite

ND GOLF By ANDREW McGUINNESS

Sports Editor

After Just over one month after it began, the end of the fall season is nearing for the Notre Dame women’s golf team. After starting the year with a fifth-place finish, the Irish have posted lackluster performance over the past few weeks. That continued last weekend, as they came in 10th place at the Evie Odom Invitational,

hosted by Old Dominion at Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach.

The Irish finished just six strokes behind sixth place College of Charleston.

Graduate student

Lauren Beaudreau led the way for Notre Dame, as she often has throughout her collegiate career.

Beaudreau shot 7470-72 across the three rounds, finishing six over par and in a tie for 18th place. Freshman

Mimi Burton and senior

Chloe Schiavone were right behind her, finishing two strokes back in a tie for 23rd. All three golfers shot par in one of their rounds, with Burton doing so in round three and Schiavone in round one.

Graduate student Nina Rissi and junior Montgomery Ferreira had some uncharacteristic struggles in the event. Rissi did rebound from a first-round 78, improving her score by four strokes in each

of the final two rounds. Ferreira also progressed following an opening round 79, going on to post scores of 76 and 73.

As a team, the Irish were one of the best in the event on par fours, finishing tied for second at 17 over par. Notre Dame wasn’t lacking for quality holes, finishing with the sixth-most birdies and being one of three schools to have an eagle in the event. However, consistency was an issue.

Notre Dame notched just 160 pars overall, the thirdfewest of any team.

The Irish finish their fall slate with an exciting opportunity to play at historic St. Andrews Links in Scotland at the St. Andrews Links College Invitational. Both the women’s and men’s teams end their fall campaigns there from Oct. 23 to 25.

Happy Birthday: Designate time and energy to help a cause or to rectify a concern you want to amend. Refuse to let domestic situations interfere with your purpose. A couple of financial adjustments will put your mind at ease and encourage you to restructure what’s essential and how you plan to do your part. Don’t waste energy on people or situations that don’t fit your plans. Prioritize. Your numbers are 9, 13, 22, 29, 31, 36, 42.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Listen, assess and move along. Don’t waste time on someone or something that has no future. Look for solid opportunities and put a contract that protects you, your ideas and your long-term goals in place. When opportunity knocks, open the door.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t share too much information. Mull over what you hear, verify facts and use what you learn to secure your position. Follow your heart and take advantage of an opportunity that offers a shift in how you use your skills to dominate the competition.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Making moves based on emotion will leave you confused. Think before you put more energy into restructuring your lifestyle and professional goals by picking up knowledge and skills to help you advance. Networking functions will reveal what’s available. Protect against illness or injury.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Stick to what you know and do best. An unexpected offer will put you at ease and help you decide where or how you choose to live. A change will offer security and prompt you to spend less time with people who don’t have your best interests in mind.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Concentrate on detail and expense involved before making a move, investment or contractual shift. Get your facts straight and find out if any updated information can help you make a difference in how well you communicate and get along with others.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take a look at your current situation and consider the changes that will rectify whatever isn’t working for you. Find a unique way to use your money and skills to make a difference in where or how you live. Make a meaningful relationship a priority.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Put on your adult pants and make a stance. How you use your skills and connections to make your community better will have a stabilizing effect on what matters to you. Participation will capture attention and encourage others to do their part.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Revisit your options, choose and follow through. Express your desires, and don’t back down under pressure. Change is necessary, but it must align with your long-term plans. Refuse to let anyone railroad you into something you do not want.

SAGGITARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take the path that offers the freedom to follow your heart’s desire. Refuse to let anyone infringe on you or your plans. Use your intellect to pick and choose who you confide in and what you pursue. Don’t let personal issues collide with financial stability.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take inventory before taking on something new. Don’t fall for someone’s investment plan. Stick to what you know and do your own thing. Build a strong base, make changes at home conducive to your needs and empower yourself.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Reach for the stars. Believe in yourself and structure your day to elaborate on a plan that supports saving, improved lifestyle and contractual protection. Don’t let someone interfere or enforce changes on you that aren’t necessary or in your best interest.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Your discipline will pay off. Look for an opportunity to partner with someone who can fill in the blanks regarding the skills or experience you lack so that you can focus on what you do best. Put everything in writing to avoid setbacks.

Birthday Baby: You are talkative, forceful and changeable. You are unique and assertive.

Holy Cross Saints men’s soccer and Saint Mary’s Belles continue conference play

By MATTHEW CROW Associate Sports Editor

Holy Cross men’s soccer and Saint Mary’s soccer both continued their conference slates with a pair of games on Saturday and Tuesday. The Saints suffered a hard-fought defeat on the road against St. Ambrose before dominating Calumet at home. The Belles were handed their third straight conference loss by Adrian, but snapped that losing streak with a draw against Albion.

Saints split conference matches

Holy Cross has struggled to find consistency in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play throughout the season. That up-and-down play continued this week, as the Saints (5-7-3) split a pair of conference games to push their CCAC record to 3-3-2.

On Saturday, they travelled to Davenport, Iowa, looking to get back in the winning column against St. Ambrose after having tied in their previous two outings. For most of the game, though, it looked like they might be on their way to a third consecutive draw.

The Saints opened up the scoring when junior forward Kevin Vidana found the back of the net off an assist from junior forward Isaac Filippo

Defense

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Secondary

Making his third start against Notre Dame at as many different schools, Plummer delivered a good but not great game. In fact, his QBR of 70.7 was nearly identical to his mark two years ago when he was with Cal (70.8). However, Plummer had 21 incompletions in that game (plus an interception that was wiped out because of a targeting foul on the play) compared to just seven on Saturday. Plummer also converted three of six third downs when he kept the ball in his hands (excluding one picked up via penalty). He made the throws he needed to and his receivers did enough to support him — unlike Notre Dame’s. Missed tackles also hurt the

just five minutes after play began, but the Fighting Bees had an answer. St. Ambrose’s leading scorer, Zac Monnet, leveled the score in the 32nd minute with his third goal of the season.

That 1-1 score would hold until halftime, and through most of the second half as both defenses buckled down. However, the scoring drought would give way to a flurry of goals down the stretch. St. Ambrose took their first lead of the game in the 78th minute, but the Saints had a quick answer. Not done after scoring the team’s opening goal, Vidana assisted junior forward Juan Perez to make the score 2-2 with less than 10 minutes to play.

The match appeared headed for a draw, but the Fighting Bees’ Hayden Newton scored the gamewinner with just 10 seconds remaining to earn a dramatic victory for St. Ambrose and leave the Saints with a painful defeat.

Despite the loss, Holy Cross was able to regroup quickly and played their most complete game of the season on Tuesday against another conference foe, Calumet. Just like against St. Ambrose, the Saints got on the board first, albeit much deeper into the match. In the final minute before halftime, Filippo assisted freshman midfielder Dominic Castillo’s first

secondary.

Weekly Grade: C; Season

Grade: B+

Special Teams

Look, a unit that performed well on Saturday! This grade is mostly due to the right leg of Spencer Shrader, which has often been the case this season. The Irish kicker may be inconsistent, but his strength is no joke. Shrader tied his own school record on a 54yard make after hitting from one yard shorter earlier. Sophomore running back Jadarian Price also delivered a 57-yard kick return, the longest of Notre Dame’s season.

Combine that with a nonexistent Louisville return game, and at least Marty Biagi has something to smile about this week.

Weekly Grade: A+; Season

Grade: B

Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu

career goal to give Holy Cross the edge.

The Crimson Wave evened the score shortly after the break. But from that point on, it was all Saints. Three days after his late goal against St. Ambrose nearly secured a tie for Holy Cross, Perez scored again to break the tie against Calumet, with Filippo picking up his second assist of the day. Just three minutes later, Filippo would score one of his own with an assist from junior defender Martin Von Thun.

Perez’s second goal stretched the Holy Cross advantage to 4-1 in the 70th minute. After assisting Perez’s goal, sophomore forward Amos Gborie scored one shortly after to give the Saints some extra insurance, with Von Thun setting him up. When the final whistle blew, Holy Cross emerged with a 5-1 victory, winning with their largest scoring output and largest margin of victory of the season to date.

The Saints will look to build on the win when they host Saint Xavier in their final home game of the season on Saturday.

Belles earn first conference point against Albion

Following an impressive start to the season, Saint Mary’s took a bit of a step back as they began play in the Michigan Intercollegiate

Hockey

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

contest.

In their second game of the extended weekend, RIT defeated the University of Guelph (Ont.) 6-4 in an exhibition game on Monday.

Saturday’s game between the Irish and Tigers can be streamed, for a fee, on FloHockey.com. The puck drops at 7 p.m.

Series History

RIT and Notre Dame have met six times over their hockey histories, with four games played while RIT was a member of NCAA Division III. The series is split three games apiece, the latest game being a 6-0 win for the Irish in October 2021. This weekend will mark the first time the schools have matched up on RIT’s home ice.

Athletic Association. The Belles (6-6-1, 0-3-1 MIAA) were held scoreless in their first two conference matches, and they were unable to snap that streak on the road against Adrian on Saturday.

Saint Mary’s limited the Bulldogs’ scoring opportunities throughout the game, as Adrian managed just two shots on goal over the 90 minutes. However, they made good use of their chances, converting both of those shots into goals to win 2-0.

The Belles had the first chance to score midway through the first period, but senior defender Holly Skrip’s shot was saved to keep the match even. In the 36th minute, Adrian’s Rylea Mougrabi found the back of the net to put the Bulldogs ahead. Their lead was doubled shortly after halftime on a goal from Leah Homan.

Saint Mary’s junior midfielder Grace Barresi nearly answered soon after in the 58th minute, but her shot to the bottom left corner of the goal was saved. The Bulldogs were ultimately able to retain that two-goal advantage, winning their third straight conference game and posting their third straight shutout.

Entering Tuesday’s home matchup with Albion, the Belles were in dire need of a positive result to avoid

Around the Nation

The first weekend of college hockey went off without a hitch this past weekend. Well, there may have been a bit of a hitch for a few teams, including the No. 5 Michigan Wolverines, who were upset by No. 18 Providence 4-2 on Saturday. Boston Bruins prospect Philip Svedebäck kicked out 30 of 32 for the Friars in the win. Michigan rebounded on Sunday, throwing 40 shots at Svedebäck and taking a 5-1 lead before Providence roared back. The Friars made it to 5-4, but no closer.

Defending national champions and No. 2 Quinnipiac also hit a road bump on Saturday. They were toppled in overtime by #8 Boston College on their banner-raising night. The Bobcats

starting conference play 0-4, and they got just that. The Britons were the aggressors in the game’s opening stages, taking a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute.

But unlike in their previous MIAA matches, Saint Mary’s had an answer. Freshman midfielder Margaret Slove launched a shot from outside the box that glanced off the right post and into the net, tying the score at 1-1. The goal was Slove’s 10th of the year and the Belles’ first in three games.

The game would remain level for more than 40 minutes before junior forward Izzi Linus scored an unassisted goal to put the Belles in front in the 69th minute. Their lead was shortlived, however, as Albion tied things up on a penalty kick less than two minutes later. Neither side could break through for a winner over the final 20 minutes, and the game ended in a 2-2 draw, a promising result for the Belles as they look to climb the conference standings during the final weeks of the regular season.

Saint Mary’s will be on the road for their next two games, facing Kalamazoo on Saturday and Olivet the following Wednesday.

Contact Matthew Crow at mcrow@nd.edu

lost two of their best players early in the 2-1 loss. Collin Graf exited with an injury and Sam Lipkin left due to a game misconduct.

Of note to Irish fans, Big Ten opponents No. 9 Michigan State and Wisconsin recorded sweeps of Lake Superior State and Augustana, respectively. No. 13 Ohio State and No. 16 Penn State picked up single game wins on Saturday night over Mercyhurst and LIU.

Looking ahead, the Ice Breaker tournament headlines this weekend’s college hockey slate. The tournament this year features hosts North Dakota and Bemidji State, as well as Air Force and Wisconsin.game misconduct.

Contact Ryan Murphy at rmurph22@nd.edu

Soccer

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

forward to Legendre, and the sophomore found Nate Zimmerman who cooly finished Notre Dame’s sixth and final goal.

Twenty-one of Notre Dame’s 30 outfield players saw minutes in the win, the most the Irish have used in any game this season. Sophomore Owen Cornell earned his first career start at goalkeeper, replacing usual starting netminder Bryan Dowd. Cornell made one save to earn his first career clean sheet and victory.

Looking ahead, the Irish road swing will conclude with a trip to North Carolina to take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, who currently rank as the No. 4 team in the country.

The Irish will have plenty of motivation entering this upcoming stretch of away matches. Notre Dame currently holds first-place status in ACC standings. If the Irish can hold on to their

current standing, they’ll have a chance to earn a title at home on the season’s final day against Pittsburgh.

After the game, head coach Chad Riley discussed keeping his team focused despite the season’s stakes heading down the stretch:

“I think the big thing is the guys have been through it,” said Riley.

“So they understand that any of these things, you really have to take it a day at a time, a moment at a time. I think they totally understand that, and I think they apply that. That’s the way you handle these stretches where you have good, positive pressure on you.”

Notre Dame men’s soccer will be back in action Friday when they take on Virginia Tech in an ACC showdown. The match is slated for a 6 p.m. kickoff and will be broadcast on the ACC Network.

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

INDIA DOERR| The Observer

Irish senior midfielder Matthew Radivojsa races downfield in Notre Dame’s Oct. 10 home match against Oberlin. Notre Dame went on to win the contest 6-0 in Alumni Stadium, extending their win streak to four.

DEFENSE GRADES

Notre Dame football grades: Defense bends, breaks against Cardinals in disjointed loss

By ANDREW McGUINNESS Sports Editor

For the first time all season, the Notre Dame defense allowed more than 24 points in a game. Saturday’s 3320 loss to Louisville was only the second time an opponent cleared the 20-point threshold against the Irish all season. Defensive coordinator Al Golden’s unit didn’t get much help from its offense — 10 of Louisville’s points came from turnovers. And that doesn’t even include the three resulting from Notre Dame’s unsuccessful fourth and 11 in the fourth quarter.

But that doesn’t mean the Irish defense is blameless. A deflating loss like this one almost always has more than one cause, and this was no exception. The Irish made some plays, but ultimately the Cardinals were able to find a way when they needed to.

Defensive Line

Notre Dame was able to get to Louisville

ND HOCKEY

quarterback Jack Plummer for a couple of sacks, making good on all of the pressure they’ve generated this season. However, they didn’t have a single other hurry on the night, making their pass rush arguably less impactful than it has been in other games when they generated consistent pressure without the big stats to show for it.

More importantly, Louisville’s Jawhar Jordan gashed the Irish for 143 yards on the ground at an average of 6.8 yards per carry while finding the end zone twice. While the Irish held Louisville as a team under its season average for yards per carry, Jordan’s performance was too much to overcome on its own. His 45yard dash in the back half of the third quarter gave Louisville the lead for good, and his work down the stretch helped put the game out of reach. It was a slightly worse showing than the Ohio State game for Notre Dame’s run defense, which

makes for a slightly worse grade.

Weekly Grade: C; Season

Grade: B-

Linebackers

Always a tricky group to measure, graduate students JD Bertrand, Marist Liufau and Jack Kiser made their marks, combining for 21 tackles, 10 of which were solo. Bertrand also notched a sack and another half tackle for a loss. However, Notre Dame’s lack of depth at the position remains a concern, with sophomore Jaylen Sneed largely a non-factor. Of course, it’s the tackles you miss that matter as much as the ones you make. Missed tackles have plagued the Irish as of late, and that was an issue once again. Jordan was able to churn forward for critical yards after contact on multiple occasions, keeping the Cardinals’ offense moving.

Weekly Grade: B-; Season

Grade: B+

Irish prepare for road matchup with RIT

By RYAN MURPHY Sports Writer

Notre Dame hockey

head coach Jeff Jackson got a glimpse into what his team is made of this past weekend. His team split a two-game series with visiting Clarkson to inaugurate the new season at Compton Family Ice Arena. Yes, the weekend was a glimpse of what’s to come — but it wasn’t a long look.

“I didn’t know what to expect going in, really,” Jackson said after Saturday’s 3-1 loss, noting that the game marked the first full day of ice time for his team. Prior to the season-opener, Notre Dame (and all college hockey teams) were limited to just four hours a week of ice time.

As a result, there’s a lot still to learn about this year’s team for Jackson and his staff. That said, the 19-year Irish head coach did see one noticeable improvement in his team’s game after they rebounded Sunday with a 3-0 win.

“The biggest thing for me is, after all the headaches we had last year about getting out of our zone, I think we are doing a much better job of that,” he said. “The back end guys are so critical, not just to our defensive side, but getting out of the zone, and getting up the ice offensively. It’s been exciting. We spent a lot of time working on it, but it’s still a lot better than what we were dealing with last year.”

The Irish were

consistently smooth on the breakout throughout the weekend, and it impacted their success at both ends of the rink.

On the defensive side of the puck, the Irish spent less time in their own zone, giving up fewer shots on goal. In Sunday’s win, Notre Dame held Clarkson to 22 shots and no goals.

“I think that was a big emphasis for us this whole training camp, getting the puck out of our end and playing in the offensive zone,” graduate student netminder Ryan Bischel said postgame Sunday.

“I guess the shots were telling of that this weekend, it was a little different than the shots against in past years, so that’s nice for me.” Building upon their

play against Clarkson will be the focus for Notre Dame as they prepare for their first road test this coming weekend.

The Irish will pack their bags and travel to Rochester, NY, for a Saturday night matchup against the RIT Tigers. Road games are an area in which Notre Dame struggled last season, winning only 5 times in 17 tries away from Compton.

They’ll face an RIT team that dominated Atlantic Hockey last year, winning the conference’s regular season title by 10 points. Despite the success, their season ended in disappointment, as the Tigers failed to reach the AHA championship game and were upset by eventual champion

Holy Cross in game three of the semifinal series.

RIT returns leading scorer Carter Wilkie, who produced at a pointper-game rate last season and was named conference player of the year as a sophomore. Wilkie was named to the preseason all-Atlantic Hockey team last week, along with teammates senior defenseman Gianfranco Cassaro and junior goaltender Tommy Scarfone.

The Tigers were also in action over the weekend, opening their season with a 4-3 loss at St. Lawrence on Saturday. Wilkie scored once for RIT, who took six penalties and were outshot 34-29 in the

CHANCELOR GORDON | The Observer

Irish senior defenders Howard Cross III and JD Bertrand rush after the ball carrier in Notre Dame’s 21-14 Sept. 30 win against Duke.