Print Edition for The Observer for Monday, January 22, 2024 by The Observer

OWBOY HAT

THE INDEPENDENT

TO UNCOVER

NEWSPAPER SERVING

THE TRUTH

NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S

AND REPORT

AND HOLY CROSS

IT ACCURATELY

VOLUME 58, ISSUE 41 | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

Students react to Saint Mary’s rebranding The changes include the launch of the Avenue experience, new school colors and an updated magazine By ALLISON BOWMAN News Writer

Saint Mary’s began their new marketing campaign by unveiling the school’s new colors, college website and magazine. The new school colors, yellow and green, can be seen around the Shaheen bookstore, in addition to the typical blue and white. Shannon Larkey, a freshman, said she’s not a fan of the new colors, but she doesn’t feel like it will affect the college’s identity. “I feel like the identity has more to do with the people that are here than the colors, but I definitely think it will have an impact on our image,” Larkey said. Sophomore Sara Peabody said she likes the color green,

but to her, Saint Mary’s is blue and white. “It’s not my favorite, but it’s not bad,” Peabody said. “I feel like it gives the Notre Dame connection feeling, but I also feel like we are our own separate entity.” Lisa Knox, the director of public relations at Saint Mary’s, said that this change has been in the works for over two years. “Rest assured, we are not changing the school colors. They are still blue and white,” Knox said. “Rather, the current look of our enrollment and fundraising materials is a way to showcase the newly developed programming and other enhancements within the College.” see REBRANDING PAGE 3

ALLISON BOWMAN| The Observer

New yellow and green window decorations adorn the Shaheen Bookstore which is located on the north side of the Student Center. The bookstore is one of the first locations affected by the rebranding changes.

Right to Life attends March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Irish Fuel supports student athletes By JENNA ABU-LUGHOD News Writer

Courtesy of Bridgette Rodgers

Right to Life members wield a banner and process on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on Friday, Jan. 19. The first March for Life took place in 1974 after the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973. By CL AIRE LYONS View point Editor

Last Thursday night, seven busloads of tri-campus communit y members headed to Washington, D.C. to attend the annual March for Life. The event was sponsored

GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION NEWS PAGE 4

by Notre Dame’s Right to Life Club and SMC’s Belles for Life. Becase these clubs receive funding from the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture, students and facult y members traveled to the East Coast for $35 a ticket. At least 330 members

from the tri-campus communit y attended the event, according to Notre Dame’s Right to Life’s bus roster. “Over the past few years, we’ve had 700 to 800 students attend the March for Life,” Fr. Terrence Ehrman, see RIGHT TO LIFE PAGE 3

As a Division I school, the University of Notre Dame dedicates a myriad of resources to its more than 750 athletes, one of which is a multifaceted nutrition program. The Sports Nutrition Department aims to provide nutritional advice to all Notre Dame athletes, helping them achieve their goals and optimize performance, according to the department’s website. “Not only does proper nutrition help fuel athletes for lifts and competition, but it is also crucial for general health, a robust immune system, proper recovery and restful sleep,” assistant director of sports nutrition Christopher Doyle said. “Making sure they are putting quality fuel in their bodies at the proper time can increase their endurance, power, speed, focus and overall performance.” Each of the five sports

dietitians takes the time to build relationships with their athletes, understand their nutritional habits and identif y their goals in order to best assist them. Doyle said that the first step in sports nutrition is making sure the nutritional foundation is solid. This includes macro/micronutrient needs, hydration and adequate fruits and vegetables. From there, the dietitians implement more sports-specific interventions such as meal timing, recovery and supplements, he said. Each athlete has different nutritional needs, which vary depending on the athlete’s sport, sex, position, goals, muscle mass and activity levels. “Every single athlete is different. No matter the sport, the position or the year. You will never find two athletes that need the same thing,” Doyle said. With travel being such see IRISH FUEL PAGE 3

THE ART OF MAKING A PLAYLIST SCENE PAGE 5

VIEWPOINT PAGE 6

W BASKETBALL PAGE 12

HOCKEY PAGE 12

TODAY

THE OBSERVER | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

QUESTION OF THE DAY: ndsmcobserver.com

Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com

What’s your favorite class of the semester so far?

P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556

Valentina Rubio

Maggie Hansen

junior Le Mans Hall

“Child Development.”

“Social Problems.”

Vincenza Paradiso

Lindsey Chaveriat

junior Le Mans Hall

“Fabric Printing.”

“U.S. History Since 1865.”

(574) 631-6900 advertising@ndsmcobserver.com

Kitty Enright

Maureen Galvin

Editor-in-Chief

junior Holy Cross Hall

junior Le Mans Hall

“New Testament.”

“Digital Marketing.”

Editor-in-Chief Maggie Eastland Managing Editor Ryan Peters Asst. Managing Editor: Gabrielle Beechert Asst. Managing Editor: Hannah Hebda Asst. Managing Editor: José Sánchez Córdova Notre Dame News Editor: Saint Mary’s News Editor: Viewpoint Editor: Sports Editor: Scene Editor: Photo Editor: Graphics Editor: Social Media Editor: Advertising Manager: Ad Design Manager: Systems Administrator:

Isa Sheikh Meghan Lange Claire Lyons Andrew McGuinness Anna Falk Sofia CrimiVaroli Christina Sayut Emma Duffy Confidence Nawali Christina Sayut Jack MapelLentz

Office Manager & General Info

Ph: (574) 631-7471 Fax: (574) 631-6927 Advertising

(574) 631-4542 meastlan@nd.edu Managing Editor

(574) 631-4542 rpeters5@nd.edu Assistant Managing Editors

(574) 631-4541 gbeecher@nd.edu, hhebda@nd.edu, jsanch24@nd.edu Business Office

(574) 631-5313 Notre Dame News Desk

(574) 631-5323 news@ndsmcobserver.com Saint Mary’s News Desk

(574) 631-5323 smcnews@ndsmcobserver.com Viewpoint Desk

(574) 631-5303 viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.om Sports Desk

(574) 631-4543 sports@ndsmcobserver.com Scene Desk

(574) 631-4540 scene@ndsmcobserver.com Photo Desk

(574) 631-8767 photo@ndsmcobserver.com Systems & Web Administrators

webmaster@ndsmcobserver.com Policies The Observer is the independent, daily newspaper published in print and online by the students of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross College. Editorial content, including advertisements, is not governed by policies of the administration of any institution. The Observer reserves the right to refuse advertisements based on content. The news is reported as accurately and objectively as possible. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Assistant Managing Editors and department editors. Commentaries, letters and columns present the views of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer. Viewpoint space is available to all readers. The free expression of all opinions through letters is encouraged. Letters to the Editor must be signed and must include contact information. Questions regarding Observer policies should be directed to Editor-in-Chief Maggie Eastland. Post Office Information The Observer (USPS 599 2-4000) is published Monday through Friday except during exam and vacation periods. A subscription to The Observer is $130 for one academic year; $75 for one semester. The Observer is published at: 024 South Dining Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-0779 Periodical postage paid at Notre Dame and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER Send address corrections to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 024 South Dining hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-077

Today’s Staff News

Sports

Caroline Collins Grace Tadajweski

Madeline Ladd

Graphics

Cecelia Swartz

Marissa Panethiere

Photo

Scene Viewpoint Peter Mikulski

Meghan Lange

Corrections 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 our error.

GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer

Fans and hockey players celebrate after Notre Dame’s goal during the home game against Penn State on Friday, Jan. 19 at the Compton Family Ice Arena. Notre Dame swept the Nittany Lions with a score of 4-1 on Friday and a score of 6-3 on Saturday.

THE NEXT FIVE DAYS:

Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Red Cross Blood Drive Duncan Student Center, 8th Floor 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Donate blood.

Relaxing Semester Kickoff Science Hall 105 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Relax and talk with SMAACS.

The New Catholic Integralism - True or False? Eck Hall of Law 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Attend book talk.

Senior Startup 135 Spes Unica Hall 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Learn about resources and programs for after graduation.

Interfaith Dialogues Common Good Lounge Noon - 1 p.m. Discuss values with those of other faiths to promote tolerance.

Volunteer Database Launch Tabling Lobby Table A Door 16 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Learn how to get involved with service.

NDPD Table Talks Dahnke Ballroom 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Listen to panel and participate in Q&A with police officers.

PrismND HangOut LaFortune History Makers Room 8:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Socialize with others and enjoy food.

Acousticafe Hagerty Family Cafe 8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Relax with music from students with artistic talents.

ND/ SMC Irish Dance Team Showcase Washington Hall Mainstage Theater 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. Watch the yearly show.

NEWS

Rebranding CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Joana Gonzalez, a junior, said she thinks it’s good that the school kept the traditional Saint Mary’s colors of blue and white. “But I honestly think they added the green from Notre Dame,” she said. “I think it’s a good color, but I also think they should keep the blue and white for Saint Mary’s.” The changing of school colors comes along with the development of the Avenue experience. “The Avenue experience weaves together academic study, vocational discernment, career preparation, experiential learning, spiritual development and the essential knowledge and skills for leadership,” College President Katie Conboy said in an email. The new school colors were unveiled alongside a refreshed college magazine called Avenues and an

NDSMCOBSERVER.COM | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 | THE OBSERVER

updated website “to introduce the new programming to a new generation of prospective students and their families,” Knox said. Conboy touched on the new rebranding campaign in an email. “Prospective students are learning about the Avenue experience (and many other aspects of Saint Mary’s) through our beautiful new admission print materials that tell the story of the empowering education students will receive at Saint Mary’s,” Conboy wrote. “W hile Courier has carried the news from campus to you for many years, we have also made new upgrades to this important publication. Strengthened, revitalized and redesigned, it even has a new name — Avenues.” The new redesign can also be seen on the updated school website where the traditional white French cross is now yellow. Knox said choosing yellow for the French

cross was intentional as it is an eye-catching color. “Yellow is common in marketing materials because of its broad appeal,” Knox said. “Our choice, Pantone 7404 yellow, is a vivid pop of color that helps us stand out with new students and donors.” Students shared their concerns about losing the customary white French cross, and Knox responded by saying that they will continue to see the cross in blue and white. “It is a normal process for colleges and universities to refresh their look regularly, and Saint Mary’s hasn’t gone through a major refresh in many years,” Knox said. “It’s also common to do so during milestone moments such as anniversaries or to mark the development of new programming, as we have with Avenue experience.” Contact Allison Bowman at abowman01@saintmarys.edu

JENNA ABU-LUGHOD | The Observer

The fuel station in the Guglielmino Athletics Complex offers a variety of pre or post-workout snack for athletes to enjoy. The Guglielmino Athletics Complex is located across from the Loftus Sports Center.

Irish Fuel CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

a significant part of athletic programs, dietitians must ensure that the athletes have all the necessar y nutrition for a successful trip. This is particularly important when the dietitians are unable to accompany the athletes. “I travel about 50% of the time w ith women’s basketball and only travel to conferences and NCA A tournaments w ith the other teams,” Doyle said. “Football has t wo dietitians for them specifically and both travel to all their games each season.” In order to maintain such a robust program, the department also relies on Irish Fuel student employees who are responsible for restocking the fuel station and making smoothies and protein-rich snacks. Sophomore Irish Fuel student worker Eva Damonte said that they work in the

Guglielmino Athletics Complex, better know n to students as the Gug. “We get all of our tasks on this app called Todoist. Our job usually involves restocking the fuel station and making smoothies all the time,” Damonte said. The Gug is the main fuel station on campus. It is located right next to the largest weight room, so it is frequently utilized before and after lifts to prov ide quick carbs and recover y. According to Irish Fuel employee Katie Cole, the powerbites are a Gug athlete-favorite. “Our claim to fame is our powerbites which are small peanut butter balls that have oats, chocolate chips and other fun mix-ins. We make them in batches of 100 plus,” Cole said. Doyle said he believes ever yone should take the time to learn about nutrition because of the incredible benefits of a healthy diet. He said that w ith the obesit y and

diabetic epidemics that are currently prevalent in the U.S., proper education regarding a healthy diet can go a long way. “Working at Irish Fuel has opened my eyes. For example, I now implement collagen into my ever yday routine because I learned about its benefits,” Damonte said. “Irish Fuel also has an Instagram which Notre Dame students can get great nutrition tips from.” Because of the nutrition program’s positive grow th, the demand for Irish Fuel student workers is on the rise. “I love this job and the communit y and atmosphere of sports has always been something I’ve been passionate about,” Cole said. “I love that I can work so closely w ith people in my desired field. I have learned so much from this job … it’s been awesome.” Contact Jenna Abu-Lughod at jabulugh@nd.edu

Right to Life O’Connor’s conference on CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the chaplain for Right to Life said. “This year’s attendance is dow n from the average, but I think that is because people are focusing on the state level.” On Friday, students attended Life Fest at the D.C. Armor y. The event included different speakers and a mass run by the Sisters of Life in New York Cit y. There were four bishops, a Cardinal and approx imately 100 priests in attendance — including four from Notre Dame. Around lunch, students took a group picture at the Washington Monument at the National Mall. The afternoon’s events concluded w ith the Rally for Life and the March for Life. According to Ehrman, in prev ious years, the route used to pass by the Supreme Court building. This year, it was rerouted to pass in front of the Capitol building. “This sy mbolizes, now, the issue is in the hands of the states,” he said. On Friday night students slept in sleeping bags on the f loor of g y mnasiums and classrooms in the basement of St. Charles Catholic Church in Arlington, Virginia. Students’ packing lists included pillows and blankets, along w ith a message from Gregor y Pratt, the event organizer: “This is a pilgrimage, so we encourage you to pack simply!” The next morning, students woke up early to attend a holy Mass presided by Ehrman on Blessed Basil Moreau’s feast day. Mass was celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in northeast D.C. adjacent to Catholic Universit y. Students spent the rest of the evening in D.C., w ith some optionally choosing to participate in Cardinal

life from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Buses departed for Notre Dame at 7:15 p.m. W hile ref lecting on the event, many students discussed how the March for Life brought them closer to their fellow club members. “Seeing the passion, courage, dedication and innovation that these young 17 and 18-year-old undergraduates have for the pro-life cause was extremely inspiring and emotional,” law student Abe Arun said. Jackie Nguyen, Notre Dame Right to Life’s director of design, was surrounded by communit y — and her ow n designs. “This year, surrounded by Marian apparition posters that hailed our Marian theme, we joined hands and began singing the A lma Mater to Our Lady,” she said. Anne Marie Bollman, Notre Dame Right to Life’s let them live commissioner, was also struck by the different communities that she encountered at March for Life. “It was a great bonding opportunit y w ithin the Notre Dame group to drive overnight w ith these people and then sleep on a parish f loor together,” Bollman said. “The event was also organized by Notre Dame alumni in D.C., so it was really special to see some of my friends who had graduated in the past few years.” She also felt like being a part of the larger anti-abortion communit y that weekend was a special experience. Ehrman postured that the March for Life is changing in a post-Dobbs United States. “The question is what’s going to happen to the March for Life? It was successful, right? ” he said. “The March ex isted to overturn Roe V. Wade, but now that it’s overturned, abortion still ex ists in our countr y.” Contact Claire Lyons at clyons3@nd.edu

NEWS

THE OBSERVER | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

Burke Golf Course to shrink amidst construction of new residential halls By LIAM KELLY News Writer

Over t he past few mont hs students, facult y and v isitors to campus may have noticed construction ta king place on t he west side of campus on t he Burke Golf Course. The construction ef fort, which w ill reshape Burke Golf Course, is related to t he construction of t he t wo new residence ha lls on t he site of Fisher and Pangborn Ha lls, according to Universit y architect and v ice president for facilities design Doug Marsh. In order to ma ke room for t he new residence ha lls — which w ill have larger footprints t han t he current dorms — Holy Cross Drive w ill be relocated approx imately 250 feet to t he west of its current location. This relocation, while freeing up space for new recreationa l areas, including “open play” at hletic f ields, w ill shrink t he nearby Burke Golf Course. W hile t he course w ill

remain a nine-hole course, it w ill now consist of four par t hree holes and f ive par four holes, ma k ing it a par 32 course. The course was origina lly built as a par 71 18-hole course in 1929 and was f irst shortened to accommodate t he building of Rock ne Memoria l in 1939. It t hen became a 9-hole par 25 course in 1995 when O’Neill Family, Keough, McGlinn and Welsh Family Ha lls were constructed. A lready, t he old starting house has been demolished. A mound of dirt a long w it h some tubes have been placed on what was t he nint h hole. According to Marsh, t he current Holy Cross Drive w ill remain open as t he new road is constructed to t he west, apart from a one or t wo-day closure early in t he summer “to connect t he new leg at its nort h and sout h ends to t he rest of Holy Cross Drive.” During construction, t he practice putting green located adjacent to t he Rock ne Memoria l Gy m and

LIAM KELLY | The Observer

A construction fence blocks an entrance to the Burke Golf Course next to Holy Cross Drive in accordance with upcoming residential hall changes. The golf course will remain for the rest of the academic year.

Pangborn Ha ll w ill be demolished. A new practice green w ill be built near t he new f irst tee of t he course. The road project w ill be

completed “over t he summer,” Marsh explained. The course w ill t hen be reopened “once t he greenskeepers have determined

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

2024 TEN YEARS HENCE

Trustworthy Machine Learning and the Security Mindset Somesh Jha

Lubar Professor in Computer Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison

January 26, 2024 10:40 am – 12:00 pm Jordan Auditorium, Mendoza College of Business Lectures are free and open to the public. Ten Years Hence is sponsored by the Eugene Clark Distinguished Lecture Series endowment.

GROW THE GOOD IN BUSINESS

Learn more:

t hat t he rea ligned holes are ready for play.” Contact Liam Kelly at lkelly8@nd.edu

THE OBSERVER | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

THE ART OF MAKING A PLAYLIST By ANNA FALK Scene Editor

Music is the thread that stitches together the fabric of human life. It is one of the many privileges of being alive, and its beauty in its various forms enhances how we live. Its diversity brings people together and tears people apart, but it is a universal good, all things considered. In this modern day and age, an important practice in the act of listening to music is making playlists. No matter the platform we use to compile songs, their creation is another form of art in itself, encapsulating certain moods, themes, ideas and moments in life which will prevail as long as we keep putting them on repeat. Everyone has their own way of making playlists, but sometimes it takes time and guidance when perfecting your craft. In my (in)finite wisdom surrounding all things music, I have a few suggestions: Choose a few starter songs Every good playlist needs a strong foundation. Without a strong base, how can you expect the rest of the playlist to hold up? A few bad songs can really ruin a mood. Picking even two songs to base the rest of the playlist off of can be a good starting point to direct you in the right path towards creating beauty.

Fill up the rest of the playlist Now that you have a base, find other things to fill in the cracks. Consider what is true about your playlist: Does it span multiple genres? Is it focusing on a specific theme? Are you trying to make it diverse, or are you simply cultivating a vibe and don’t care about what artist makes up the majority of the playlist? Find inspiration elsewhere If you can’t seem to decide on what songs are best for the playlist you’re currently making, look through some of your friends’ playlists. Look through some of your own. Do a search in whatever platform you are using for a particular word or phrase you are trying to encapsulate. Maybe there’s an artist you haven’t thought about in a long time who has the perfect song. Maybe another playlist you made a while back has some songs which would make great additions. Maybe you’re even so lost that you have to look up “Songs like [insert title here]” on Google just to find anything else worthy of gracing your playlist. It happens to the best of us. Pick a title This is the scariest part. Sometimes, it takes me days to think of something good to name a playlist. What you call your playlist can be very personal and intellectual, or it can be something completely

random and hilarious. Are you someone who will title a playlist with a single word or phrase? Do your titles look more like “Fall Out Boy songs”? Do you dabble in a bit of both practices? Personally, I dabble in a variety of naming practices, including taking inspiration from the lyrics of one of the songs on the playlist, keeping it simple by naming the playlist relevant to the situation or place I’m using it in or I find a word from another language which fits the mood of the playlist. Don’t be afraid to change it Once you listen through the playlist, you might notice that some things seem off. Maybe one song has a much faster tempo than every other song. Maybe the genres don’t mesh well. Maybe you think every single song is dissatisfying in the context of what you are looking to create. All these options are common, but it doesn’t mean your playlist has to go to waste! One of the best things about using technology in this way to listen to music is its f luidity. Add new things as they are released or as you come across them. Delete things you think aren’t fitting or that you’ve listened to so many times you want your ears to fall off. Whatever you choose is up to you, and constant practice makes perfect listening. Contact Anna Falk at afalk@nd.edu

MARISSA PANETHIERE | The Observer

THE OBSERVER | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

INSIDE COLUMN

If you’re not a cowboy, don’t wear the hat Claire Lyons Viewpoint Editor

Westernwear is having a renaissance. It seems everywhere I turn, another friend is donning a funky cowboy hat (a la Beyonce or Barbie) or colored boots (a la FKA Twigs or Emily Ratajkowski). And to my dismay, a little part of my soul dies when I see a city slicker in cowboy garb. I’ll start this column off with a huge disclaimer. I’m from the suburbs of Fort Worth, Texas, and I’ve never felt the right to wear a cowboy hat. I’d like to claim the lack of twang in my voice or cowboy boots in my closet are the reasons why everybody is a bit confused when I say I hail from the Lone Star State. But if I’m being honest, I know people’s surprise about my Southern roots stems from the fact that I rarely talk about Texas. IthinkoftenaboutthisquotefromwriterHanifAbdurraqib on documenting one’s hometown: “So many of us lean into romantics when we write of whatever place we crawled out of, perhaps because we feel like we owe it something. The mission of honesty becomes a bit cloudy when we decide to be honest about not loving the spaces we have claimed as our own.” For this reason, I find it incredibly hard to look at my hometown the same pair of oversized rose-tinted designer sunglasses customary of Dallas women. Texas is so easy to

romanticize. Yet, Texas is not so easy to love. “The great mission of any art that revolves around place is the mission of honesty,” Abdurraqib writes. This is the trouble with writing about Fort Worth. Even my hometown is not honest about itself. Yes, it is home to the world’s largest honky tonk and the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Yes, some streets close down twice a day for the cattle drive. But Fort Worth, for all of its cowboy mythos, is sometimes a farce. I’ve seen many stereotypical cowboys breeze in and out of Fort Worth for the annual Stock Show and Rodeo, but they were not the bean-eating, rugged, authentic kind you have in mind. You could tell these guys were from ranch and “oll” money by the way people fell into orbit around them, drawn in by the undeniable gravity of their cowboy costume: big hats, big boots, big belt buckles — and an even bigger ego. But if you took a closer look, their 5-gallon hats were always a little too white and their boots were a bit too unscuffed. They had no grit to them. No honesty. The aesthetics and songs of the West are being co-opted, as comedian Bo Burnham argues, by “millionaire metrosexuals who’ve never done a hard day’s work in their life.” The Wild West itself has turned into a gentrified tourist trap that pushes out working-class people, a home to some of the worst wealth inequality in the country. Let’s face the (country) music: The entire appeal of the cowboy look is its ruggedness and authenticity, but what happens when people treat authenticity like a costume?

I met a real cowboy once on a Colorado ranch. He hated pre-ripped jeans and loved horses more than life itself. He cried when my aunt broke her arm falling off a horse (presumably because he felt bad and presumably because he would be fired for the accident). He hummed while he worked. He said “I’m not gonna lie” every other sentence, to the point where I wondered why he felt the need to defend his integrity so much. The impression he left will always define a cowboy to me: somebody who is honest to a fault. So, I’ll try to be honest. The Texas cowboys I know are a little less ”The Lone Ranger” and a little more ”King of the Hill.” Cowboys are everywhere. They just don’t look the way you think they do. When I survey the vast landscape of my heart (as I hope you do), I know, deep down, there is something as wild and free as the rolling North Texas hills I once called home. There is something there — just as honest. I will never need the hat to prove it, and neither do you. Claire is the current Viewpoint Editor for The Observer. She is a senior from Fort Worth, TX with majors in Honors English and political science. She is interested in fostering free speech on campus, the latest non-fiction essay collections and Sufjan Stevens. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Notre Dame should not be complicit in genocide The University of Notre Dame calls upon its students, alumni, parents and friends to be a force for good in this world. Inspired by its Catholic identity, education at Notre Dame integrates intellectual formation with cultivating a love for and commitment to the common good. It is with the values Notre Dame instilled in us that we, the undersigned students, staff, alumni and faculty of the University of Notre Dame, express deep disappointment and concern at the University of Notre Dame’s complicity and silence on the ongoing atrocities being committed in Gaza. Our concerns come from a place of respect for all human life and a commitment to Notre Dame’s mission “to create a sense of human solidarity and concern for the common good that will bear fruit as learning becomes service to justice.” We follow the steps of our very own peacemaker, Father Hesburgh, who said in his address to the 1973 Pacem in Terris conference: “Opus justitiae, pax. Peace is the work of justice.” We believe Notre Dame’s actions and ongoing silence undermine its Catholic commitment to human dignity and justice. As U.S.-funded Israeli attacks render a complete collapse of Gaza’s health sector, displace nearly 85% of its population and inflict death on thousands of children, we cannot remain silent. We call for action on the following demands: 1. In line with Pope Francis and the United Nations, Notre Dame must issue a statement publicly condemning mass atrocities by all parties and calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages. 2. Notre Dame must end relations and divest from all companies complicit in war crimes and military occupation. This includes ending such companies’ participation in career fairs and presence in departments on campus. These companies include but

are not limited to: Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Raytheon. 3. In the long term, Notre Dame must use its institutional influence and leverage its ties with political leaders to push for an end to Israeli occupation and an end to unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel. Our demands are made with the knowledge that Notre Dame has historically used its influence to address injustice. In 2022, Notre Dame demonstrated unequivocal solidarity with Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, hosting over 25 events covering the context and updates in Ukraine and extending institutional and political support to the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Notre Dame has also not been afraid to use a “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions” method where necessary. For example, in 2011, Notre Dame chose to “take a stand against unethical labor practices” by forbidding merchandise produced in China to bear the school’s trademarks. Yet, when it comes to Palestine and Israel, Notre Dame has not spoken a single word about the 56 years of Israeli apartheid and occupation and 16 years of military siege in Gaza, opting instead to ignore 80 years of historical context altogether in its last and only statement endorsing the violence following the events of Oct. 7. Meanwhile, Notre Dame benefits from a presence in the region, whether it be Notre Dame’s Jerusalem Global Gateway which hosts study abroad programs or the Tantur Eccumenical Institute on land owned by the Vatican, which hosts continuing education programs. This also includes its partnership with Tel Aviv University, an institution that continually withholds the stolen dead bodies of Palestinians as part of a larger policy of necro-violence and collective punishment. Outside of its involvement in the Holy Land, Notre Dame also maintains partnerships and investments with armsmanufacturing companies, the most recent being Lockheed

Martin, whose weapons have advanced the climbing death toll of over 18,900 Palestinians (44% of which are children). This comes in contradiction with the U.S. Council of Bishops (USCCB) Investment Guidelines which states, “From a Catholic perspective, ethical and socially responsible investing ... requires us to evaluate specific investments in terms of how those companies or entities protect life, promote human dignity, act justly, enhance the common good and provide care for the environment.” The Guidelines stress the importance of “divesting” from companies that do not meet these standards. As the USCCB’s pastoral letter ”Economic Justice for All” advises, with each investment we must ask, “How will my economic decisions to invest serve human dignity and the common good?” The situation in Palestine is clear. There is a massacre — which numerous reputable organizations and scholars are calling a genocide — taking place against the Palestinians living in Gaza. As journalists, scholars and healthcare workers are assassinated and academic institutions, churches, hospitals and schools are destroyed, Notre Dame’s refusal to divest from war and its ongoing silence indicates its complicity in genocide. We affirm our demands and ask that Notre Dame act in accordance with the Holy See in “support for a just, comprehensive and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, in all its aspects, in accordance with international law and all relevant United Nations resolutions, as well as for an independent, sovereign, democratic and viable State of Palestine.” Signed by 565 students, faculty, alumni and staff Occupation Free ND Dec. 17 See the full list of this letter’s public signatories online at ndsmcobserver.com.

THE OBSERVER | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

Love affairs of the stomach Gracie Eppler The Soapbox

I fell in love four times last semester. My friends and I guzzled down pastas and curries and minced meats and pies while visiting museums and ancient ruins and palaces and clubs. But there were four particular meals that truly captured my heart — and my stomach.

1. Puppy Love I arrived in Dublin, wide-eyed and clutching my money wallet close. This was my first trip outside of the United States. The day after touching down in Ireland was game day, Notre Dame versus Navy. The entire town was decked out for the Fighting Irish — you couldn’t turn a corner without seeing our school’s mascot stamped across some banner or painted on the cobblestone streets. As my friends and I raced from Dublin Castle through the Temple Bar area, following the thick crowds of green-clad ND fans, we decided to stop for a drink and a bite at Mulligan and Haines. Enter the very first love of my European tour: bangers and mash. Two perfectly peppery and juicy sausages sat atop a mountain of fluffy, perfectly salted mashed potatoes. The entire plate was doused in onion gravy that swarmed the rim like a moat. Since it was one of the first bites I’d ever taken in Europe, of course I fell in love. It was puppy love, after all — the kind of romantic affair that forms when you’re young and inexperienced. Sitting there in that Irish pub, surrounded by my friends and the dynamic tunes of live music, I thought I had it all. I thought I’d found my perfect pairing, the one dish that would keep me satisfied. But this was only my first week in Europe. Mulligan and Haines’ bangers and mash, much like a high-school ex, was perfect for its time. But there are plenty of fish in the sea … and a lot of them taste great fried. 2. Your Toxic Ex The second time I fell in love was in Rome. Pizza Florida

was a tiny hole in the wall, accurately named because it sat on Via Florida, and it served, well, pizza. My friend Caroline and I first stumbled upon it walking back from class, when we spotted a little Italian lady standing just outside. “I am from here,” she told us as she guzzled down a slice littered with peppers, “and this is the best pizza in Rome.” The place wasn’t much bigger than a women’s dorm gym. It featured several different flavors of flat-crusted pizzas. (Caroline and I ended up splitting one covered in caramelized onions and another slathered with pesto.) Pizza Florida was, perhaps, the best pizza in Rome. It was cheap and no-nonsense, but each slice was so deliciously slathered in cheese and sauces that I couldn’t help but feel bad about myself after. Thus began our complicated situationship. I loved Pizza Florida but knew I couldn’t have it too often. It was without a doubt, a relationship of utilitarianism. I loved it, but at the end of the day, love just wasn’t enough.

3. The Tinder Date Listen, I never expected to fall in love in Germany. I never expected to eat an entire plate full of pickles. But things happen. “The Tent” was a hippie-filled, campfire-songs, no-judgement-zone kind of hostel in Munich, Germany. When my friend Jane and I first set out to find it, we walked circles around Kapuzinerhölzl Park unsure what to expect. What we found was half an acre of tents, basketball hoops and log cabins filled with young adults from across the world, all smoking and drinking together. Though we came for Oktoberfest, we spent the first night relaxing and dining on The Tent’s specialty: pork sausages, potato salad, corn on the cob and homemade pickles. Jane and I took one bite and stared up at each other with our eyebrows raised. “This is amazing,” we both agreed. It was different from the carbonaras and amatrcianas we’d been used to guzzling down. It had a diverse flavor profile. The pickles were sour but not too tart, the pork sausages were meaty and spicy, the potato salad had a unique bite to it and

the corn on the cob was roasted to perfection. It’s a plate full of food I never would’ve expected to fall for, and it was honestly pretty weird that I ate an entire plate of pickles by myself. But like the random match on Tinder you end up spending an evening with, even though it might have been wrong for you, I just couldn’t stop thinking about it.

4. One True Love The singular food which will forever own my heart was at my home base in Rome: the pistachio sfogliatella. The first time I ordered this was on accident. I was checking out a little shop near my university called Café Trastevere and found myself eye-to-eye with piles upon piles of pastries, from cannolis to bambolinis. In broken Italian, I hesitatingly muttered, “Posso avere questo?” and pointed to what I thought was a pistachio croissant. But this sweet was different. It wasn’t made from soft and airy bread, but rather, layers of crisp and flaky dough. It was molded into a curved cornucopia shape and piped full of bright green cream. The first bite was somewhat underwhelming — all I got was a mouthful of crunchy pastry — but true love takes time. It isn’t as instant and deceptive as the other foods were. True love lasts. When I reached the cream — the perfect marriage of nutty, silky and sweet — I knew I was going to be coming back for more. Later, when I asked the owner what the treat was (“Cos’è questo?”), he explained that it was Italian for “lobster tail.” The next time I returned and fearfully asked for “one lobster, per favore,” I was met with ridiculing laughter. But the embarrassment truly was worth crunching down into that crispy pastry as a bit of pistachio cream dribbled down my chin. For true love, you’re willing to sacrifice your dignity. Gracie Eppler is from St. Louis, Missouri and lives in Flaherty Hall. Her top three favorite things ever to exist are Nutella, the ND drum circle and thesauruses (in that order). The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Credit where it’s due: The British royal family and mental health Lucy Carrier-Pilkington The Crown Jewel

As controversial as they are, royal families serve several purposes in society. Often these are to do with culture, identity, history and diplomacy, but another is emerging — advocacy. Perhaps there is no better time for these global figures to be speaking about one of the most concerning issues of our age: mental health. The much-adored Princess Diana was one of the first royal pioneers of mental health and wellbeing. During her interview with BBC’s “Panorama” in 1995, Diana was the first royal to ever open up about post-natal depression. Diana also spoke out about wider mental health issues, such as eating disorders and depression, inspired by her own experiences with bulimia. In the “Panorama” interview, she described her experience with depression: “feeling you didn’t want to get out of bed, you felt misunderstood and just very, very low in yourself.” Despite her tragic death at 36, her passion to raise awareness about mental health lives on through her two sons — William and Harry. Both sons have spoken publicly about their experiences with grief and how it has led them into bouts of depression and anxiety. Prince Harry has openly discussed problems with selfmedication. In an interview with “The Me You Can’t See,” he said, “I was willing to drink, was willing to take drugs, as well as trying to do the things that made me feel less like I was

feeling … and I would find myself drinking, not because I was enjoying it, but because I was trying to mask something.” For William, his experiences in the armed forces took a dramatic toll on his mental health. After serving in the Armed Forces in an air ambulance, he was left with a great deal of trauma after seeing so much death and pain. William has stated, “For some reason, we’re all embarrassed by emotions — British people particularly — we’re very embarrassed by revealing our emotions.” Prince William’s wife Kate Middleton has also spoken publicly about how motherhood affected her mental well-being. She is a strong advocate for breaking down existing stigmas around mental health and motherhood. When she became a mother in 2017, Middleton described the experience as “overwhelming.” “There is no rule book, no right or wrong. You just have to make it up and do the very best you can to care for your family,” Middleton said at an event for Best Beginnings, “For many mothers, myself included, this can at times lead to a lack of confidence and feelings of ignorance.” This led to Harry, William and Middleton joining together to launch the “Heads Together” campaign in 2016. Heads Together is a coalition of eight mental health charities, including Mind and the Campaign Against Living Miserably. This campaign’s agenda is to challenge existing stigmas about mental health and promote more open conversations, as well as to fundraise for start-up mental health services. Heads Together has brought in public figures such as Gareth Southgate to openly discuss their experiences of mental

health and change the national and international outlook on personal wellbeing. Aside from the British royal family, there are other royals from across the globe speaking out on mental health today. For instance, Princess Amalia — heir to the Dutch throne — has candidly discussed her mental health and is open about seeing a therapist. She believes mental health is as important as physical health. “Talking to a professional every now and then is quite normal,” she said, according to MQ. Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, whose family was devastated by the suicide of her ex-husband, has also advocated for the importance of greater awareness of mental health on a national and international scale. Therefore, while royal families have plenty of controversy to fill the tabloids and institutions which warrants criticism and speculation, it is important to acknowledge their contributions to mental health advocacy. Born into some of the most influential positions in the world, they can make a huge impact on the issues we face as a global community. To give credit where it is due, the younger generations of royals are at the beginning of something great in the international movement for a happier and better global community. Lucy Carrier-Pilkington is an international exchange student from London, England. She is currently a junior studying history, political science and journalism. You can contact her at lcarrier@nd.edu. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Submit a Letter to the Editor: viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com

SPORTS

THE OBSERVER | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

ND WOMEN’S TENNIS

SPORTS AUTHORITY

McGuinness: In sports, there’s no place like home Andrew McGuinness Sports Editor

Spor ts fa ns beg i n ever y sea son k now i ng t hat it l i kely won’t end w it h a cha mpionsh ip. Even t he best tea ms i n a ny professiona l spor t face st i f f compet it ion, a cut t h roat playof f bracket, t he potent ia l to su f fer br uta l i nju r ies or for luck to just si mply not be on t hei r side. Out of t he 32 NHL a nd NFL , 30 ML B a nd NBA tea ms, t here ca n on ly be one cha mpion. If w i n n i ng a cha mpionsh ip wa s t he on ly t h i ng t hat cou ld ma ke spor ts fa ns happy, t here probably wou ld n’t be ma ny spor ts fa ns. It’s ha rd to sel l people on i nvest i ng t hei r emot ions w it h a 97% cha nce of t h i ngs end i ng i n sad ness. T here a re plent y of moments t h roug hout a ca mpa ig n t hat fa ns ca n ha ng t hei r hats on a nd look back on fond ly, even i f t hei r tea m isn’t t he one to br i ng it home. Each of t hem mea n somet h i ng d i f ferent depend i ng on what t he tea m, its fa ns a nd its players have been t h roug h i n bot h t he recent a nd t he d ista nt pa st. But a nyone who ha s watched t he NFL Playof fs t h is yea r ha s seen a n upf ront rem i nder of t he second-best feel i ng i n spor ts. It’s not reach i ng a f i na l or seei ng you r favor ite player w i n t he M V P. It’s a feel i ng not ever yone is for t u nate enoug h to get to ex per ience, but on ly because ma ny a ren’t u nfor t u nate enoug h to dea l w it h t he su f fer i ng t hat ma kes it possible. For decades now, t he Det roit L ions have been t he pu nch i ng bag of not just t he NFL , but t he ent i re spor ts world. T hei r i ncompetence t ra nscended footba l l. T he tea m made h istor y i n 2008 by goi ng a n i mperfect 0-16. Before t h is yea r, t he L ions have made t he playof fs just t h ree t i mes i n 21st cent u r y, losi ng i n t he f i rst rou nd each t i me. From 2019 to 2021, t he tea m went 11-36 a nd had t h ree head coaches. T hey watched for mer f ra nch ise face Mat t hew Sta f ford lead t he L os A ngeles Ra ms to a Super Bowl. It looked l i ke t hei r reputat ion wa s a s rock sol id a s ever. But t he L ions showed prom ise nea r t he end of 2022, w i n n i ng 8 of t hei r la st 10 ga mes. T hey ca r r ied

t hat moment u m i nto 2023, record i ng t hei r best reg ula r sea son record si nce 1991. T hat wa s a lso t he la st yea r t he L ions hosted a playof f ga me — u nt i l la st week when t hey welcomed Sta f ford a nd t he Ra ms i nto Ford Field. T he scene wa s somet h i ng out of a mov ie. A sel l-out crowd waved t hei r wh ite ra l ly towels w it h fer vor a nd screa med l i ke t here wa s no tomor row. For t u nately for t he L ions, t here wa s one, a s t hey edged out L os A ngeles 24-23. Shots of t he crowd on NBC’s broadca st capt u red t he raw emot ion of a cit y t hat t houg ht t h is moment m ig ht never come a nd wa s happy to be over whel med by t he rel ief a nd euphor ia t hat it broug ht. I f i rst rea l i zed how i mpor ta nt t h is t y pe of moment is back i n Apr i l 2019. T hat wa s when t he Ca rol i na Hu r r ica nes, one sea son away f rom t y i ng t he NHL record for longest playof f d roug ht, cl i nched t hei r f i rst postsea son t r ip si nce 2009. V ideos of fa ns hug g i ng, shedd i ng tea rs a nd t he bag gage of a decade of m iser y made even a neut ra l obser ver sm i le for t hem. T he NHL a nd NBA Playof fs bot h g ua ra ntee t hat ever y tea m who ma kes t he playof fs w i l l host at lea st t wo home playof f ga mes, a nd I’m su re t he a nt icipat ion of t hat moment wa s cer ta i n ly on t hei r m i nd. For t he Hu r r ica nes, t hat ga me t u r ned out to be ever y t h i ng t hey were d rea mi ng of. Dow n 2-0 i n t he f i rst rou nd to t he defend i ng Sta n ley Cup cha mpion Wa sh i ng ton Capita ls, Ca rol i na blew t he Caps out of t he water w it h a raucous 5-0 v ictor y. A Hu r r ica nes f ra nch ise mocked by t he hockey world for its poor at tenda nce enjoyed a sel l-out crowd propel l i ng t he tea m to a d i f ferent level, a s t he Hu r r ica nes sw u ng t he moment u m of t hat ser ies i n t hei r favor w it h t he v ictor y, event ua l ly w i n n i ng it i n seven ga mes. T here a re no g ua ra ntees t h is moment w i l l be perfect, of cou rse. T he Seat t le Ma r i ners ended a 21-yea r postsea son d roug ht in 2022, wh ich wa s t he longest act ive playof f d roug ht across t he ML B, NBA, NHL a nd NFL at t he t i me. A f ter w i n n i ng t he W i ld

Ca rd Ser ies on t he road to ea r n a home ga me, Seat t le lost its lone ga me at T-Mobi le Pa rk 1-0 — i n a hea r tbrea k i ng 18-i n n i ng ma rat hon. Even st i l l, t he at mosphere for t he ga me wa s i ncred ible, a nd t he Ma r i ners pitch i ng sta f f gave its fa ns plent y of moments to cheer i n a way t hey had n’t si nce 2001. T h is feel i ng ca n on ly come for t hose who have to rea l ly wa it for it. I don’t mea n for just a few seasons. A decade is probably t he m i n i mu m cut-of f to u n lock t h is u n ique sensat ion. A s someone who’s celebrated a recent cha mpionsh ip, I ca n tel l you t here wa s not h i ng l i ke seei ng t he Ph i ladelph ia Ph i l l ies br i ng postsea son ba seba l l back to Cit i zens Ba n k Pa rk on Oct. 14, 2022, a mere 4,025 days a f ter t hei r most recent home postsea son ga me. Seei ng R hys Hosk i ns spi ke h is bat i nto t he g rou nd a f ter lau nch i ng t he tea m’s f i rst home r u n of t he ga me sent a bu rst of elat ion t h roug h me u n l i ke a ny ot her spor ts moment before or a f ter it. It d id n’t even ta ke exper ienci ng t hat euphor ia to k now how i ncred ible it wou ld be. T he moment t he Ph i l l ies won t hei r W i ld Ca rd Ser ies to cl i nch a home ga me, I remember yel l i ng “T hey ’re com i ng home ! ” i n pu re g lee. For fa ns st i l l wa it i ng for t h is brea k t h roug h, I k now it ca n be toug h. Seven f ra nch ises have act ive d roug hts of at lea st seven yea rs. To some, I’m su re l i ke it feels it w i l l never end. Ha ng i n t here. One day you’l l be wa l k i ng t h roug h t hose gates, wav i ng a ra l ly towel, a nd you’l l rea l i ze t hat a l l of t hose yea rs had a pu r pose. It’s opt i ma l to avoid t hem a nd just w i n a l l t he t i me, of cou rse. Sad ly, we ca n’t a l l have. W hat we ca n have, t houg h, is t hat bu rst of excitement when t he big gest stage ret u r ns to ou r back ya rds. If you a sk me, t hat’s pret t y da r n good. Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Irish focus on consistency By A NDREW McGUINNESS Spor ts Ed itor

Record-w ise, t here wasn’t a ton to disting uish A lison Silverio’s f irst four seasons coaching Notre Dame women’s tennis. In t hree of t hem, t he Irish were w it hin t wo games of .500. The ot her began w it h a promising 11-5 start but f inished w it h a postseason t hat never arrived due to t he COV ID-19 pandemic. However, t he Irish did ta ke a bit of a step for ward a year ago. Their 16-11 record was Notre Dame’s best under Silverio in a f ull season. It was a good season, w it h t he Irish represented in t he singles and doubles NC A A Tournament brackets. But t here’s still anot her level t he Irish hope to reach t his year. “This year, our main goa l is to continue to evolve w it h our elite competitive spirit,” Silverio said. “A nd we do have a team f ull of some veterans, which is exciting. So we def initely have quite a bit of experience under our belt and going into t he season.” The Irish coach isn’t k idding when she ta lks about hav ing a veteran roster. Only t hree of t he team’s 10 players are sophomores. None are freshmen. A ll were w it h t he team last year. It’s a level of continuit y uncommon in any era of college sports, but especia lly t his one. “I wouldn’t say we’re ma k ing too many changes from what we’re doing, but just evolv ing and adjusting where we can continue to get better and get sharper,” Silverio said. “W het her it’s somet hing in our daily routine, somet hing in practice [...] somet hing as simple as our recover y, routine or recover y habits, but just ma k ing sure we’re continuing to sharpen t hose details.” One promising returner is t he elder stateswoman of t he team, graduate student Page Freeman. Freeman has been named to t he A ll-ACC Third Team for t he last t wo seasons. She won her f irst-round singles matchup in t he NC A A Tournament against Florida State’s A nna A rkadianou. There’s no doubting t he

importance of Freeman to t he team — on and of f t he court. “Page is relent less, and I would say a resilient competitor and person. She is someone t hat has certainly dea lt w it h dif ferent cha llenges and adversities t hrough her career here at Notre Dame, bot h as a student and an at hlete and just developing as a person. She’s someone t hat has done a phenomena l job ta k ing care of t he details,” Silverio said. Just because t he Irish roster is experienced doesn’t mean t here isn’t room for grow t h. Silverio said she liked how t he team pushed one anot her and t he competitive spirit t hey showed during t heir ex hibition fa ll season. She is excited to see t he team develop as a whole. But junior Nibi Ghosh is one player who could be in store for a brea kout campaign, Silverio said. “[She] has been extremely focused, ver y disciplined in what she is work ing on what she is wanting to develop and how she is organizing herself and just again, ta k ing care of t he details. So she’s someone t hat we certainly are excited about to see her transformation t hrough season.” The early results for t he Irish are promising. Notre Dame began its season t his weekend in strong fashion, beating Iowa 6-1 on Friday and Columbia 5-2 on Saturday. Ghosh struggled a bit in doubles play a longside sophomore Bojana Pozder. But she and Freeman were a combined 4-0 in singles play, and Freeman won bot h of her doubles matches. There is still work to be done. A fter starting last season 5-0, including a w in over No. 13 USC, t he Irish went .500 t he rest of t he way. The dif f icult y of t his season’s schedule w ill ramp up, especia lly when ACC play begins Feb. 23. But t he Irish have t he sk ill and experience to handle whatever cha llenges are necessar y to match up w it h t hose foes. Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu

The Observer accepts classifieds every business day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Notre Dame office, 024 South Dining Hall. Deadline for next-day classifieds is 3 p.m. All classifieds must be prepaid. The charge is 5 cents per character per day, including all spaces. The Observer reserves the right to edit all classifieds for content without issuing refunds.

DAILY

NDSMCOBSERVER.COM | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 | THE OBSERVER

CROSSWORD | WILL SHORTZ

HOROSCOPE | EUGENIA LAST Happy Birthday: Look for the positive in every situation, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you. Oversee financial, contractual and medical matters yourself. You can ask for insight, but maintaining control is the most effective way to get what you want. Minor adjustments will help you stay on track and reach your goal. Your numbers are 8, 12, 21, 27, 33, 38, 42. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Assess your situation and consider what sector needs an overhaul. Tally your expenses, think about how to cut back and make monetary room for what you want to explore. Stop repeating; start implementing the changes that will get you where you want to go. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Explore and expand your mind. Learning or trying something new will prove what’s possible. Travel, educational pursuits and research will help you discover what’s doable physically and financially. It’s better to be safe than sorry. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be open to suggestions, but make decisions that suit your needs. An emotional incident will raise questions regarding a connection you have with someone. When in doubt, be observant; only time and actions will reveal what underlying causes are brewing. Patience is necessary. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Pay attention to how others react. Knowledge is the key to making the right decision and avoiding compromising situations. Don’t feel you must go above and beyond to impress someone. Be yourself, follow your heart and take responsibility for your happiness. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Learn from your mistakes, share thoughts and listen to others’ concerns. Don’t feel the need to enforce a change because someone else does. It’s OK to head in a different direction. Do what makes you happy, and allow loved ones the same privilege. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take care of yourself and the ones you love. Domestic problems will surface if you don’t address emotional issues. Share your feelings and be willing to compromise. A change will encourage better communication and a happy outcome. Ask challenging questions and stick to the truth. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Frustration and tension will mount if you spend time arguing instead of taking care of responsibilities. Concentrate on finishing what you start and taking care of your emotional well-being. Feeling good about yourself and your accomplishments will wipe out negativity and outside interference. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t apply pressure where it isn’t necessary. Be innovative, and use your insight and experience to flush out what you want to achieve. An open dialogue will help ward off interference, allowing you the time to take care of what’s important to you. Recognize manipulative situations. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Handle financial affairs and shared expenses carefully. Giving someone access to personal information will end up costing you. Set boundaries before you enter an agreement or commit to something that entails joint efforts. Be aware of other people’s shortcomings, and learn to say no. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Be open to suggestions, but do what’s best for you. A change at home will give you breathing room to explore possibilities. Don’t give up on your dreams when you should be initiating a plan that helps you implement what makes you happy. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Network, reach out to experts and connect with people who can further your interests. A change of scenery will spark your imagination and encourage you to consider your options. An adjustment at home will play in your favor. Rearrange your space to service your needs. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take time to give yourself a chance to rethink your next move. Don’t let anyone pressure you into something you aren’t ready to pursue. Consider what makes you happy and brings you peace of mind. Invest in furthering your dream, not someone else’s. Birthday Baby: You are proactive, committed and original. You are talkative and prolific.

SUDOKU | THE MEPHAM GROUP

JUMBLE | DAVID HOYT AND JEFF KNUREK

Support student journalism. Donate to The Observer. ndsmcobserver.com/donate

@ndsmc.observer WORK AREA

Make checks payable to and mail to:

Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday, The Observer is a vital source of information on people and events in the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross communities. Join the more than 13,000 readers who have found The Observer an indispensable link to the three campuses. Please complete the accompanying form and mail it today to receive The Observer in your home.

The Observer P.O. Box 779 Notre Dame, IN 46556

Enclosed is $130 for one academic year Enclosed is $75 for one semester Name Address City State Zip

SPORTS

THE OBSERVER | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

ND TRACK AND FIELD

ND Invite 2024 B y Obser ver Spor t s Sta f f

Not re Da me t r ack a nd f ield played host to it s second event of t he 202 3-24 sea son. T he I r i sh welcomed compet itor s f rom sever a l nea rby school s such a s DePau l, Ea ster n I l l i noi s a nd L ew i s Un iver sit y to t he L of t u s Spor t s Center on Sat u rday. T houg h t here were no tea m scores ha nded out for t he event, ju st l i ke Not re Da me’s f i r st t wo event s of t he sea son back i n December, t he i nv it at iona l st i l l gave sever a l I r i sh at h letes a cha nce to sh i ne. Ma ny of t hem took adv a nt age. Five men a nd eig ht women of t he I r i sh c a me i n f i r st place i n t hei r event s. Gr aduate st udent Bla ke Ku sk y won t he men’s weig ht t h row w it h a d i st a nce of 19.17 meter s, na r row ly edg i ng out tea m mate M ichael Shoa f by 0.1 meter s. Not to be outdone, Shoa f ea r ned t he top spot i n shot put w it h a t h row of 18.53 meter s. Sophomore CJ Si ng leton took home t he 30 0 0m t it le w it h a per sona l best t i me of 7: 53.9. I n t he shor ter-to-m idd i st a nce r u n n i ng event s, sophomore Daelen Ack le y ’s PR of 1: 49. 31 i n t he 80 0m put h i m i n f i r st place by less t ha n ha l f of a second. Fresh ma n Jack A ha r t pu l led out t he v ictor y i n t he 40 0m w it h a PR of h i s ow n at 0 : 47.6 0. Fresh ma n M ichel le Qu i n n won not one but t wo event s over t he weekend, pick i ng up v ic tor ies i n t he 6 0m a nd 20 0m. Qu i n n’s 20 0m t i me of 0 : 24.5 4 w a s a per sona l best . A l so set t i ng a PR w a s jun ior E l l i s Week le y, w ho beat L oyola’s Jay la Joh n son by 0.03 second s i n t he 6 0m hu rd les. T he top women’s 40 0m spot went to f resh ma n Jordy n Bor sch, a s she c rossed t he f i n i sh l i ne i n 0 : 55. 24. A s for t he men, t he I r i sh women a l so broug ht home t it les i n t he 80 0m a nd 30 0m, t ha n k s to t he ef for t s of C la i re Siever n (2 : 08.6 8 ) a nd E r ick a Va nderL ende ( 9 : 40.6 8 ), respec t ively. Mov i ng of f t he t r ack, sen ior Jad i n O’Br ien ea r ned t he top spot i n shot put w it h a d i st a nce of 14.79 meter s. T he pole v au lt cha mpion w a s I r i sh g r aduate st udent Ol iv ia Fabr y w it h a heig ht of 3.6 0 meter s. T he I r i sh ret u r n to ac t ion nex t weekend a s t he y t r avel to A n n A rbor, M ich iga n, for t he M ich iga n I nv it at iona l. A week later t he I r i sh w i l l be back home for t he Me yo I nv it at iona l on Feb. 2 a nd 3.

WBB

ND MEN’S TENNIS

Irish are healthy and hungry again in 2024 By ANDREW McGUINNESS Sports Editor

One. That’s t he number of points during which t he Not re Da me men’s tennis tea m was f u l ly hea lt hy last season, head coach Rya n Sachire says. Not matches. Not sets. Points. One. The rest of t he yea r, t he Irish were ba nged up. It took a tol l on t he tea m as t he schedu le never let up a nd bui lding momentum beca me ha rder a nd ha rder. Now, Sachire doesn’t wa nt to ma ke excuses. The Irish st i l l had oppor tunit ies. Maybe t hey shou ld’ve been a litt le better t ha n t heir 13-14 record last season, t he tea m’s f irst season w it h a losing record since 2002-03. But t hat’s in t he past now. Ever y t hing about last season is. A new season is here, a nd it feels dif ferent. “We have a lot of turnover f rom last yea r to t his yea r, t hrough g raduat ion a nd t hen bring ing in new g uys, a nd it’s a new tea m, right? ” Sachire sa id. “It’s a g reat school yea r. We had a rea l ly good fa l l a nd feel li ke our g uys a re improv ing a nd ma king prog ress, a nd t he cu lture is rea l ly good.” The biggest piece gone f rom last yea r’s roster is Connor Fu. His g raduat ion leaves t he Irish w it hout a fouryea r sta r ter who had racked up numerous accolades a nd competed in count less big matches, consistent ly producing outsta nding resu lts. Fu’s senior season was his best yea r, too, leav ing a n even bigger void for t he Irish to replace. Though Sachire sa id it w i l l be a tea m ef for t to

replace Fu’s product ion, it’s not ha rd to f ig ure out who he might be rely ing on t he most. Sophomore Sebast ia n Domin ko beca me t he f irst f reshma n A l lA merica n in t he histor y of t he prog ra m. He enters 2023 as t he f if t h-ra n ked player in t he count r y a nd No. 1 in t he ACC. A nd Sachire believes, li ke when Fu was a n underclassma n, t hat t he best is yet to come. “The sca r y t hing is he’s gotten better. Ross Wi lson, our associate head coach [was] rema rking at t he end of pract ice today t hat t here’s ta ng ible t hings in Saturday’s ga me t hat he’s doing better, even t ha n he was doing in t he fa l l, which was better t ha n he was doing last spring,” Sachire sa id. It showed in Not re Da me’s sta r t to t he season, a clea n sweep of t wo matches aga inst IUPUI. Domin ko predictably took ca re of business. But t he scoresheet ref lects t he sent iment t hat t his is a much dif ferent tea m. A nd it’s not just young players being ca l led into bigger roles. Senior Jea n-Ma rc Ma l kowsk i has a lso worked his way into a bigger role, Sachire sa id. “He elevated to t he most senior g uy on our tea m [...] overnight, a nd so his fa l l was phenomena l,” Sachire sa id. “He cont inues to work. He’s t he ha rdest working g uy on our tea m, you k now, a nd t he professiona lism he has brought. A nd just li ke I sa id, I t hin k k now ing t hat t his is his last yea r, in seeing himself just k ind of orga nica l ly elevated into leadership posit ion.

WRITE SPORTS. Email Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu

He’s rea l ly ta ken t hat on ... he’s been a huge boost.” Sachire a lso spoke high ly of Not re Da me’s young ta lent. Sophomore Jaya nt h Deva ia h a nd f reshma n Ky ra n Mag imay a re t wo players Sachire ment ioned as close to cracking t he sta r t ing lineup. A not her f reshma n, highly-rated recr uit Chase Thompson, has accomplished t hat a lready. “Chase has had a g reat yea r a nd a g reat f reshma n fa l l a nd obv iously he got of f to a good sta r t on Saturday, w inning a l l four of his matches a nd was na med ACC Freshma n of t he Week a nd a l l t hat good stuf f,” Sachire sa id. “He’l l be a key player for us for sure.” As a tea m, it’s ha rd to ask for a better sta r t. The Irish a re 3-0 t his season. They swept IUPUI at home on Ja n. 13 a nd ea rned a road w in aga inst Wisconsin on Sunday. Thompson a nd sophomore Eva n Lee won t heir f irst t wo doubles matches by ident ica l 6-0 scores. Thompson won a l l 4 sets in his f irst t wo singles matches. It was as good of a beg inning as possible for Thompson a nd t he Irish. Contact A ndrew McGuinness at amcguinn @nd.edu

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

the fourth quarter, earning their fifth ACC v ictor y this year to bring their conference play record to 5-2. The team shot 51.9% from the field and 10-18 (55%) from behind the 3-point arc. This Notre Dame squad has relied heav ily on shots from Hidalgo, Citron and graduate guard Anna DeWolfe to carr y the scoring load. By this same metric, the Irish have struggled in games where the guards have shot poorly. Notre Dame has lacked a consistent scoring presence in the paint against teams w ith physical front courts. Scoring 24 out of 75 points in the paint against an undersized Wake Forest team certainly fails to silence this an x iet y. Senior for wards Maddy Westbeld, Natalija Marshall, and Kylee Watson shot a combined 8-15 from the field for 18 points. The volume of shots from the paint should increase as the Irish continue to build chemistr y w ith more players returning from injur y. The Irish have also struggled w ith turnovers in the last few weeks and gave the ball away 16 times this afternoon. A lthough this was a strong v ictor y, in each of the three losses this season, the Irish have lost the turnover battle. Looking to w in five consecutive games, Notre Dame w ill take on 16-2 Sy racuse on Thursday Jan. 25 at home and look for revenge follow ing the 86-81 defeat on Dec. 31. Contact Henry Lytle at hlytle @nd.edu PAID ADVER-

SPORTS

Hockey CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Compton Fa mily Ice A rena was stunned. Yet, it was no matter for t he Irish. The pena lt y aga inst Penn State still sta nding, f reshma n Da nny Nelson scored on t he ensuing power-play to g ive Notre Da me t he lead back. “Responding to adversit y is pa rt of what I was hoping we wou ld lea rn a f ter t he f irst ha lf,” Irish head coach Jef f Jackson sa id. “We went t hrough a lot of adversit y, ups a nd dow ns, in t he f irst ha lf of t he yea r, a nd we didn’t a lways respond to it well. On bot h Friday a nd Saturday nights, Not re Da me was forced to respond to adversit y. They staved of f a n under whelming sta rt Friday. They staved of f t he

NDSMCOBSERVER.COM | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 | THE OBSERVER

nearly-unthinkable Saturday. “From a coaching perspect ive, t hey responded rea lly well, because we cou ld’ve pa nicked,” Jackson sa id. “It was a critica l powerplay for us, a nd we went out a nd scored. A nd we’ve had t hose a ll yea r, a nd we haven’t scored, so it’s a good sig n.”

Friday: Notre Dame 4, Penn State 1 In Friday’s ga me one, Penn State opened t he series by territoria lly dominat ing t he f irst period. Yet, by period’s end. t hey had not hing to show for it. Instead, t he Irish scored t w ice on four shots, including Ja nicke’s last-second ma rker, to ta ke a 2-0 lead to t he f irst intermission. Da nny Nelson scored t he f irst Irish goa l 6 :28 into t he contest, clea ning up a rebound on f reshma n

defensema n Pau l Fischer’s point shot. The Nitta ny Lions a nswered back ha lf way t hrough t he second period when junior for wa rd Dyla n Lug ris f inished of f a 3-on-2 r ush by potting a rebound past Notre Da me sta r ter Bischel. Despite hav ing t heir lead cut in ha lf, Notre Da me outshot Penn State 14-7 in t he second period. The Irish were rewa rded w it h just over f ive minutes to go when f reshma n for wa rd Maddox Fleming caused a turnover inside t he Penn State blue line. In stride, Fleming beat Penn State sophomore goa ltender Noa h Gra nna n f rom t he tops of t he faceof f circles to restore t he t wogoa l ma rg in. The Fleming goa l def lated t he Nitta ny Lions, who were unable to f ind t heir legs aga in until late in t he t hird. In t he f ina l 7 minutes

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

of t he ga me, Penn State pushed to cut into t he lead aga in. But t he Nitta ny Lions cou ld not generate a ny scoring f rom a late powerplay, a nd g raduate student defensema n Rya n Siedem iced t he ga me w it h a n empt y-net goa l f rom deep in his ow n defensive zone.

Saturday: Notre Dame 6, Penn State 3 In Saturday’s ga me t wo, an even ly-played f irst period ended in chaot ic fashion. It bega n when f reshma n for wa rd Reese Laubach ba rreled into Bischel en route to scoring t he ga me’s opening goa l. Laubach f inished of f a t wo-on-one by driv ing ha rd to t he net a nd ja mming t he puck past Not re Da me’s perennia l sta r ter, r unning him over in t he process. The goa l counted, but t he of f icia ls assessed Laubach

a 5-minute major for cha rg ing. Less t ha n a minute later, sophomore defensema n Ja rod Crespo was whist led for cross-check ing, putt ing Not re Da me on t he 5-on-3. The Irish cou ld not conver t before t he siren sounded to end t he f irst period, but bot h pena lt ies ca rried over to t he second period. It was t hen, just 43 seconds into t he midd le f ra me, t hat g raduate student for wa rd Pat rick Moy niha n made t he Nitta ny Lions pay. Moy niha n one-t imed a loose puck in t he slot over t he glove of Penn State sta r ter Lia m Sou liere to t ie t he ga me. The Irish built momentum as t he period went on a nd took t he lead on senior for wa rd La ndon Slagger t’s goa l at 11: 50 of t he second. Moy niha n had a ha nd in t hat goa l too, execut ing a beaut if u l drop pass for Slagger t to one-t ime in t he slot. The t hird period saw t he tea ms t rade a combined 6 goa ls, w it h Not re Da me scoring t w ice into a n empt y net. Moy niha n k icked of f t he event f u l period by scoring his second of t he ga me 2 :36 in. Penn State responded 1: 01 later, as junior defensema n Simon Mack sla mmed home a rebound to ma ke t he score 3-2. The Irish ow n-goa l brought t he ga me to 3-3 before Da nny Nelson scored on t he ensuing power-play. Trevor Ja nicke a nd Da nny Nelson scored t he empt ynet goa ls (intent iona lly, t his t ime) to lock up t he sweep for Not re Da me.

Irish off this week Eleven Irish skaters recorded points over t he t wo ga me set, led by Da nny Nelson a nd La ndon Slagger t who each had 4. Since returning f rom t he IIHF World Juniors in Got henburg, Sweden, Nelson has 4 goa ls in 5 ga mes. Slagger t, on t he ot her ha nd, has 6 points in his last t hree ga mes. Wit h 16 goa ls, rema ins in t he nationw ide top-10. Specia l tea ms were a lso st rong for Not re Da me over t he weekend. The Irish were a per fect 7-for-7 on t he pena lt y-k ill a nd were 3-for-9 on t he power-play, w it h a ll 3 goa ls scored Saturday night. Not re Da me has t heir schedu led Big Ten byeweekend upcoming, but t he No. 7 Michiga n State Spa r ta ns loom in t he dista nce. Coming out of t heir bye, Not re Da me w ill host t he Spa r ta ns Feb. 2-3. Contact Ryan Murphy at rmurph22 @nd.edu

THE OBSERVER | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM

ND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Led by Hidalgo, Notre Dame women’s basketball defeats Wake Forest 75-56 By HENRY LY TLE Spor ts Writer

INDIA DOERR | The Observer

Irish freshman guard Hannah Hidalgo dribbles down the court in Notre Dame women’s basketball’s 96-42 home win over Lafayette on Dec. 6. Hidalgo led the Irish to victory in the contest with a total of 26 points.

On Saturday, Jan. 21, No. 19 Notre Dame took on Wake Forest in Winston Salem and emerged v ictorious 7556. Wake Forest entered the game 0-6 in the ACC, looking for a statement home w in. The Irish proved too prolific from the 3-point range for Wake to keep up. Despite a 55% conversion rate from behind the arc, the Irish turned the ball over 16 times, raising the stakes for this week’s Thursday battle against Sy racuse. Recent ACC freshman of the week and guard Hannah Hidalgo had 21 points and four assists, shooting 3-6 from the 3-point line. Junior guard Sonia Citron added another four 3-pointers and 18 points. The Irish led the whole game and showed their defensive strength on the perimeter, holding the

Demon Deacons under 22% from 3-point range. Earning their fourth straight ACC v ictor y Notre Dame has gone 5-1 in Januar y. The Irish got off to a solid start w ith a 3-pointer from Hidalgo and never gave up the lead. Scoring 21 points in the first quarter, the Irish shot efficiently from beyond the arc. A lay up from the Demon Deacons’ Malaya Cowles, who led them w ith 13 on the afternoon, brought the score to 25-18 early in the second. However, that was the closest Wake would get for the rest of the game. The Irish built their lead to 12 at halftime (45-33) and continued to coast. Scoring another 12 points in the third quarter, the Irish extended their lead to 13 (57-44) at the end of the third. The Irish finished the game by outscoring the Demon Deacons 18-12 in see WBB PAGE 10

HOCKEY

Irish earn second big sweep, top Penn State By RYA N MURPH Y Spor t s Wr iter

Hockey ga mes of ten boil dow n to which tea m ha nd les momentum sw ings w it h poise. On Friday a nd Saturday nights at Compton Fa mily Ice A rena, t he Not re Da me Fight ing Irish (13-11-2) ma naged t he pivota l ga me moments better t ha n t heir opponent Penn State Nitta ny Lions (10-11-3). Such poise under pressure ea rned t he Irish a much needed Big Ten conference sweep, fort if y ing t heir t hird-place posit ion in t he sta ndings prior to t his week’s bye.

Irish respond to adversity Bot h nights of t he series featured momentum sw ings t hat cou ld have folded t he Irish. In Friday’s contest, t he Nitta ny Lions ca me out sw ing ing. They held t he upper ha nd in t he f irst period, but t he Irish clung to a 1-0 lead late in t he f ra me. Wit h Penn State on t he

power play a nd building momentum, Notre Da me sa n k a dagger when g raduate student Trevor Ja nicke scored on a short ha nded brea kaway w it h 0.6 seconds rema ining in t he period. Ja nicke’s goa l wou ld sta nd up as t he ga me-w inning goa l. Yet, it was on ly a precursor to Saturday’s dra matics. Dow n 3-1 in t he 3rd, Penn State mounted a comeback t hat saw t he Irish g ive up t he lead in t he most disast rous of fashions. The score was 3-2 a nd Penn State was pressing when t he of f icia l’s a rm went up for a delayed pena lt y aga inst t he Nitta ny Lions. Irish g raduate student goa ltender Rya n Bischel skated to t he bench for t he ex t ra attacker. Wit h possession at his ow n blue line, Notre Da me senior Gra nt Silia nof f passed t he puck backwa rds, but it ricocheted into t he empt y goa l. The ga me was tied, a nd see HOCKEY PAGE 11

MEGHAN LANGE | The Observer

Irish forwards Cole Knuble and Landon Slaggert assist in a shot fired by graduate student forward Patrick Moynihan in the Irish’s 3-0 victory over Ohio State on Nov. 11 in Compton Family Ice Arena.