Print Edition for The Observer for Monday, October 14, 2024
Condoleezza Rice returns to Notre Dame
Notre Dame discusses foreign policy in talk titled “The Perils of Isolationism”
By ISA SHEIKH Editor in Chief
On Friday, former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice spoke with University President Fr. Robert Dowd, with much of the conversation revolving around a recent article Rice penned in Foreign Affairs about “The Perils of Isolationism.”
The event was billed as part of this year’s Notre Dame Forum, the theme of which is “What do we owe each other?”
The political scientist and diplomat spoke on stage in a packed Leighton Concert Hall ahead of the Notre Dame-Stanford game. Rice has long been affiliated with both schools. She graduated with a master’s degree in government and
international studies from Notre Dame in 1975. She also served on the University’s Board of Trustees from 1994 to 2001. She last spoke at Notre Dame two years ago in a conversation with Fr. John Jenkins.
Rice has been on the faculty at Stanford since the 1980s, outside of stints serving in the government. She was provost in the 1990s and is currently director of Stanford’s Hoover Institution.
Rice addressed her split loyalties on stage after Dowd asked her who she would root for in this weekend’s football game.
“I said no hard questions,” Rice said, noting she was wearing neutral colors, and that she would wear
see RICE PAGE 4
Notre Dame president Fr. Bob Dowd, C.S.C. talks with former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice on Friday. The discussion was part of this year’s Notre Dame Forum, themed “What do we owe each other?”
Disease summit highlights patients Congressmen Boyle and Fallon talk bipartisanship
By SOPHIA TRAN Staff Writer
On Oct. 11, Notre Dame hosted its fourth annual Rare Disease Patient Advocacy Summit in Dahnke Ballroom. The summit featured a series of talks presented by patients, family members and patient advocates who all focused on the importance of rare disease awareness.
Barbara Calhoun, the Reisenauer family director for patient advocacy education and outreach, and Katrina Conrad, the program manager for the Advocacy
Education and Outreach Initiative, organized the summit. According to staff workers, 250 guests were reportedly registered for the event.
The summit itself was split into a series of eight talks, each with a separate focus in relation to rare disease. Talks were given by both adult and student advocates within the Notre Dame community.
“Real Stories, Real Impact,” one of the eight sessions, featured three speakers who all shared their perspective as a parent of a child with a rare disease.
see DISEASE PAGE 4
By LIAM KELLY Notre Dame News Editor
Congressmen Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania and Pat Fallon of Texas spoke in Geddes Hall Friday morning about bipartisanship in Congress in an event hosted by student government. Boyle, who graduated from Notre Dame in 1999 and Fallon, who graduated in 1990, were led in discussion by junior Jack Onderdonk, director of national affairs and
political engagement for student government. Seats in the Geddes Hall auditorium were mostly filled by members of student government, with roughly a dozen other students making the trek to the auditorium on their Friday mornings. Boyle and Fallon were introduced by student body president Dawson Kiser, who praised the pair for showing “the role each of us can play in fostering a more united society.”
Boyle and Fallon both reflected on the impact Notre Dame had on their personal lives and their political careers. Boyle said he was the first in his family to attend college and explained Notre Dame emphasized the values he had been taught by his family growing up.
“[Notre Dame was] a continuation of what I had been taught in terms of the value of public
see BIPARTISAN PAGE 3
Law professor, journalist debate upcoming election
By ZACK POHLMAN Staff Writer
On Friday, the Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government hosted a panel discussion on the 2024 election and the future of American democracy. The center welcomed professor John Yoo from Berkeley Law and Harry Litman, senior
legal affairs columnist at the Los Angeles Times, to the Carey Auditorium for a debate on issues relevant to the upcoming election.
Yoo, a card-carrying Republican, represented the conservative side of the debate while Litman, who had a position on the Obama-Biden campaign staff in 2008, argued the liberal position.
Both men have previously worked in multiple levels of government, including the executive branch and as clerks for Supreme Court justices.
The director of the center, Vincent Phillip Muñoz, moderated the debate. He opened the session by remarking that the subject
see DEMOCRACY PAGE 3
Courtesy of Michael Clubb
SOPHIA TRAN | The Observer
An eight-member panel shares their experiences with rare diseases. Patients, parents and researchers all spoke at the six hour event.
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.
Chandler Davis freshman Keough Hall
“30
Jacob Finley junior Morrissey
“Minus
Hannah
“Minus
Nate Pennington sophmore Dillon Hall
“Minus 6 in Ohio.”
Ethan Morgan senior Morrissey Manor
“Minus 10 in Alaska.”
Claire Early senior
Johnson Family Hall
“Zero
SMC wraps “What it Means to be Human”
By MADYSON CAISANO Staff Writer
On Oct. 10 at 7 p.m., the Center for the Study of Spirituality at Saint Mary’s College held the final webinar, “What it Means to be Human: Synodal Considerations on Technological Anthropologies,” to cap off the three-part series conducted by several authors of the coinciding, to be published, essayist novel.
Of the series’ parts, this webinar was the first to have an all-female cast of theologians at the helm of discussion: Elsie Miranda, Tina Beattie, M. Shawn Copeland and Susan Ross. During the webinar, the cast read prepared sections and summaries of their essays and later opened up to free dialogue during the Q&A finale of the webinar. The discussions specifically focused on women, minorities and LGBTQ+ persons finding place in
Bipartisan
service, believing in this country, but also believing we have an obligation to give back,” he said.
Fallon recounted his experience as a transfer student living off-campus and said the experience taught him the importance of working hard and delaying gratification.
“It’s so hard to get into this university that you have to set goals, and you all have, if you’re here,” he said, imploring students to “continue to do that your entire life.”
Although political disagreement can be cumbersome when it comes to getting legislation passed, Fallon said it is worth the price of having “legitimacy” in government.
“For 9,000 years or so of human history, people were ruled by the warriors that had the most spears and the most accurate guns,” he said. “So we are the exception.”
Fallon stressed the need not
Democracy
of the center’s debate had changed radically since the idea for the event was conceived in the spring.
“There was more Trump prosecution, then there was a conviction, then the Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity, and then Trump got shot, Biden got deposed,” Muñoz said. “And that all happened within about six weeks.”
The lively debate covered most of those topics across four rounds of questions, followed by a short question and answer session from students. The first topic discussed was the prosecution of former President Donald Trump and whether it was a threat to democracy.
“I think that the prosecutions have been a disaster,” Yoo said. “If you wanted to get Donald Trump out of the race, which I think was the purpose of the prosecutions, all they did was guarantee Trump
the anthropology of the Roman Catholic Church.
The webinar opened with a prayer said by Miranda, director of diversity and inclusion at the Association of Theological Schools. She prayed to open the minds of those in the Synod to these conversations. She then introduced the first essayist, Beattie.
Author of “The Last Supper According to Martha and Mary,” Beattie is the director of Catherine at Siena College. Correlating with her feminist approach to theology, Beattie touched on the issue of women’s placement in the Church:
“We cannot have a theological anthropology if half of the population is absent,” she said.
According to Beattie, a proper anthropology of the Catholic Church cannot be attained until the full equalization of discipleship amongst men and women is achieved.
to make every issue a partisan flashpoint.
“We have to change the culture of the chamber. At one point in time, it was far more functional and far more bipartisan, and it evolved for many reasons. Depending on who you talk to, there’s a finger point, but it’s devolved into a very bad and dark place right now, and we can get out of it,” he said. “It doesn’t always have to be that way.”
Preventing this progress, both Fallon and Boyle said, are members of Congress who aim only to create controversy and advance their own political careers.
“The vast majority of members are doing it for the right reasons, and they’re very talented people on both sides,” Fallon said. “But there are some looney tunes that are in it for themselves.”
Fallon said working across the aisle can be necessary in order to prevent these members of Congress from having a “veto” on legislation.
winning the primary.”
As former employees of the Justice Department, both participants agreed the prosecution could have been done more effectively. Although the two agreed often throughout the debate, some issues were more divisive.
According to Yoo, the fault for the poorly executed federal prosecution concerning the Jan. 6 case lay solely with the Biden administration while Litman took a wider view of the argument.
“Jack Smith played the legal role that Jack Smith is supposed to play, but already by the time Smith was appointed, we were past the point of a broader solution,” Litman said.
Both Yoo and Litman lamented the extreme political ecosystem under the two-party system, which has led to controversy regarding the 2024 campaign. Yoo noted, even many Republicans see the issues presented by Trump.
“The Republican establishment doesn’t want Trump to be president,” he said. “He represents a
Beattie ended her section by highlighting the play of fear in these gender divides within the Catholic Church.
“Fear is such a big factor, but the antidote to fear is encounter,” she said.
This and Beattie’s feminist approach set precedent for a discussional motif of the need to return misplaced and harmed diverse peoples to proper unification with the Catholic Church for the duration of Thursday night’s webinar.
Copeland, professor emerita of theology at Boston College, continued this motif in her section of the webinar by enlightening the value of distinguished bodies in Catholic anthropology. Copeland listed the negatives in which the gender divide harms women.
“Our religion discounts [the female] body [and] mistrusts pleasures,” Copeland said. She further pressed that the divide “associates
Boyle stressed the importance of having strong leadership in times of slim majorities in order to get legislation passed, and he praised former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for accomplishing this.
“If you have a small majority, the lesson to be learned is you need a lot of party discipline,” he said.
Fallon echoed Boyle’s praise of the effectiveness of Pelosi’s speakership. “You have to tip your cap,” he said.
One issue that both Fallon and Boyle said needs bipartisan support is addressing the potential financial insolvency of social security in the next decade. The Treasury estimates that social security will be bankrupt by 2035.
Fallon clashed with Boyle, however, on what Democrat plans to address social security insolvency might entail, with Fallon suggesting restructuring how the program works, including potentially raising the retirement age, and Boyle suggesting raising government
populist uprising against the establishment and against the way government is done.”
Litman agreed and framed the topic as a broader political problem, focusing on the use of governmental positions as ways for political gain.
“Because of our polarization politically, we had a failure of institutions to be able to bring some consensus choice or wise solution to what is largely a political problem,” he said.
Towards the end of the discussion, as Yoo extolled the political system’s ability to check politicians who lie, he was interrupted by a woman yelling in the crowd.
“I cannot remain silent,” she said. “Not all politicians lie. I’m 74 years old, I have an MBA from Yale University, and I will not be quiet when lies are being told.”
Despite repeated attempts to calm her down by Muñoz, Litman and Yoo, the woman continued to yell for about two minutes. Other audience members spoke up with
women with the nature to be controlled and men with the spirit to control.”
Copeland later elaborated, stating the language used in doctrine can be harmful to the distinguished bodies of the Catholic Church, where the terminology of certain bodies can be used as alienating remarks. Copeland opened the discussion to not only the divide amongst gender but that of LGBTQ+ bodies and racially diverse bodies.
Her segment emphasized the importance of the Catholic Church not being “separating but distinguishing.”
The final co-author of the novel to present Thursday night was Ross.
Ross, professor emerita of theology at Loyola University Chicago, wrote the introduction to the anticipated novel. From the introduction, she read a section which
revenue and keeping the program the same.
“When you say increasing revenue, that means increasing taxes,” Fallon quipped. “That’s a good way to market it.”
Ultimately, the pair agreed that a compromise solution would have to be found and stressed the need to address the problem sooner rather than later.
Reflecting on increased polarization in Congress, Boyle lamented the fact that parties have become increasingly ideologically pure.
“We have over this generation, purified both parties … and I think that that has actually been bad for the parties. I think it has made it more difficult in Congress. And I think part of the divisions we have in society is the fact that we have, instead of two heterodox major parties, we have two ideologically pure ones,” Boyle said.
Despite their disagreements, Boyle and Fallon highlighted the importance of fostering personal
their frustration at her, one even saying they were getting nauseous from the noise.
Security escorted her from her seat out of the auditorium in order to restore order. On her way out, she made one parting remark.
“God bless you all,” she said. “I knew Father Hesburgh. I know Pete Buttigieg.”
The first half of her statement drew a smattering of applause from the Notre Dame contingent of the audience, but the mention of the Secretary of Transportation resulted in jeers and retching noises from the back of the room.
Despite the tension created by the interruption, the debate continued smoothly. Yoo lightened the mood with a joke, saying, “This reminds me of teaching at Berkeley.”
Both speakers drew laughter from the audience on multiple occasions. When asked to predict who was going to win the election, Yoo quoted Yogi Berra.
grasped the goodness of certain essayists’ work and shared a brief synopsis of the issues to be addressed.
Ross then shared her personal thoughts on what had been said throughout all three parts of the webinar series. Concerning the motif precedent set by Beattie and Copeland, Ross defined the human body.
She said humans are “creatures of emotion and feeling … know to God through our bodies” and are connected by the Trinitarian model. She too urged for change in the Catholic Church.
Ross implored her excitement for the future in her closing remarks.
“A better Church, a better world, one which gives glory to God through all of its wonderful, glorious people.”
Contact Madyson Caisano at mcaisano01@saintmarys.edu
relationships, such as theirs, to getting things done in Congress. Fallon emphasized with Congress being so large, it is impossible to get anything passed without working with others.
“Relationships are everything,” Boyle said. “And the kind of people who don’t make it, or aren’t very effective serving in the house, frankly, are people who didn’t learn the lessons in kindergarten, basically how to play nice with others.”
Both Boyle and Fallon expressed their hope that Notre Dame students will get involved in politics and value bipartisanship.
“What the interesting and exciting thing for me is, not only are there people in this room that are considering running for office, but that will, but will also win and will serve and we might be serving with you in Congress some day,” Fallon said.
Contact Liam Kelly at lkelly8@nd.edu
“Predictions are hard, especially when it comes to the future,” he said.
Despite the debate’s serious subject matter, the debate was remarkably civil. The participants were respectful and even friendly, and neither one interrupted the other or raised their voice often.
The debate concluded with both candidates expressing their faith in the American political system and returning to the theme of the debate, ‘the future of American democracy.’
“I think there is this fear of [Trump] because of his rhetoric, that exaggerates him as this threat to democracy,” Yoo said. “We’ve had all kinds of colorful characters that have run for president, that political establishments of those times thought, ‘How can we let this guy be president?’ But still, we had a system that survived and handled it, and I think our system has functioned pretty damn well for 230 years.”
Contact Zack Pohlman at zpohlma2@nd.edu
East Asian Culture Day celebrates traditions
By AREZO KARIMI News Writer
O’Shaughnessy’s Great Hall served as a melting pot of different East Asian cultures on Oct. 13.
The event featured games and traditional arts spread throughout different stations, including a Janggu display, calligraphy, painting, origami making, Korean Hanbok dressing and more. The event also served foods from varying East Asian cultures, giving students a better taste of the region’s rich traditions.
“East Asian Culture Day is celebrated annually, providing a great opportunity for languagelearning students to mingle and interact through various activities from different language programs,
Disease
Chris Ostertag, clinical ethicist at Intermountain Health and board chair of the Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders, was one of the speakers for “Real Stories, Real Impact.” Ostertag shared his story as the father of the late Hans, who had Zellweger spectrum disorder.
“Hans had seizures, a feeding tube, liver disease and global developmental delays,” Ostertag shared. “Hans was such a happy little guy early in his life. You would always hear him kind of battling about and laughing in the back.”
Last year, Hans died at the age of five. Despite the tangible pain of losing a child, Ostertag emphasized the importance of using Han’s story to shine a brighter light on rare disease and to develop a community with patients through events such as this.
Rice
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blue and gold for part of Saturday and red for part of it. “John Kennedy was asked one time, [which team would he root for] when Notre Dame played Navy? And he said, ‘I think I’m going to root for Navy, but I’m going to pray for Notre Dame.’”
Rice and Dowd discussed ideas of isolationism and American leadership in a relatively brief chat that lasted approximately 35 minutes.
Rice said the piece in Foreign Affairs was meant to address her theory of the “four horsemen of the apocalypse.”
“That’s also another Notre Dame reference, I guess,” she joked. “It’s populism, nativism, isolationism and protectionism, and they tend to ride together.”
Rice said she understood the recent tendency in American politics towards these instincts.
“And I understand that Americans may feel tired after almost 80 years of international leadership. You know, haven’t we defeated the Soviet Union? Didn’t we unify Germany? Did we then defeat al-Qaeda? Couldn’t somebody else do it?” she said.
including Chinese, Japanese and Korean,” Xian Wang, director of undergraduate studies and assistant professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures, said. “Since students learning one language do not often get the chance to interact with the culture of their own language or other cultures, this event offers them the chance to experience that and step out of their comfort zone, while also making new friends.”
Lilly Polster, a first-year student in the Korean language program, helped students try on a Hanbok.
“A Hanbok is a traditional Korean garment usually worn for celebrations. People also receive one after a wedding. It is a significant part of Korean culture, especially in the past,” she explained. She further described it as “a flattering piece of
“It’s a family you never want to have, but it’s a family you need more than ever,” Ostertag explained. “You don’t have to filter things, [because] there’s a shared understanding, and [you can] just air things out that among others, even your own family, would be uncomfortable. We were just so grateful to have this family.”
In addition to the community founded around rare disease, other speakers spoke about how their personal experience with rare disease pushed them towards public policy and patient advocacy. Sarita Edwards, CEO and president of E.WE Foundation, a global healthcare advocacy organization, spoke . Edwards vocalized her journey as a patient advocate for her son Elijah whose diagnosis with Trisomy 18 led her to start a foundation that supports families dealing with the rare disease. She noted her personal struggles as a parent of a child with
Rice’s response turned to great power politics and the American obligation to the world.
“And what I really wanted to say to Americans is that great powers don’t mind their own business. They try to shape the world, and if we don’t shape it, the great powers that will shape it are authoritarians like China and Russia, and we won’t like that world,” she said.
Rice also spoke to other grievances in the American electorate.
“In keeping with your theme, there are an awful lot of Americans who got left out of globalization, the unemployed coal miner in West Virginia, the unemployed steel worker. And this time around, we can’t just say globalization was good for you. We have to make sure that we give people the skills and the education to keep up in a world in which they have to compete. And if we can’t do that, we won’t be confident in international leadership,” she said.
Dowd asked Rice about China, Russia and his area of focus, Africa. Rice said American universities should keep not close themselves off from China.
“Let’s stay open. Let’s stay true to ourselves. You know, nobody wants the research we do to be
clothing that comes in bright colors, which makes everyone love them and feel like they’ve stepped back in time when they wear it.”
Anna Rohrer, a second-year Chinese student, enjoyed the artistic and literary aspects of calligraphy.
“It combines both art and language, which is a cool tradition. I get to write actual Chinese characters on my bookmark, which I will also get as a souvenir at the end,” she said.
Two important pieces of traditional Korean music were also displayed at the Korean station: the Gayageum, an instrument with 12 strings, and the Janggu, a drum.
“These instruments give students a taste of Korean music,” Yeonhee Yoon, teaching professor of East
Trisomy 18.
“We were told, ‘enjoy your time, that [Elijah] would probably die soon,’” Edwards said. “When the healthcare system tells you your child is not worth medical resources, something activates in you.”
Since then, Edwards has used the E.WE foundation to encourage more individualized dialogue that goes beyond the science for rare disease patients. However, Edwards’s road to patient advocacy has not been a straightforward path, and she shared her difficult beginning and provided advice for other individuals interested in advocacy.
“I didn’t choose to tell our story in the beginning, [because] that made it too real for me,” Edwards said. “But when I saw that there was a need to, I saw that the healthcare and state legislators need to know that children with this diagnosis are living past what the science says. Advocacy starts with exploring
used to and to enrich the [People’s Liberation Army]. Nobody wants that, but universities are not going to thrive if we don’t remember that we benefit when we think of knowledge as without boundaries,” she said. “I’m all for as many Chinese students as I can get to come to Stanford and Notre Dame and wherever they’d like to go, because I think we can influence that generation about the value of democracy.”
She also said Vladimir Putin had made miscalculations strategic mistakes in Russia’s war with Ukraine: assuming Ukrainians did not have a distinct identity, assuming the Russian army was good and assuming the world would not respond.
Rice recalled her time engaging with Putin.
“I do know Vladimir Putin pretty well. In fact, he kind of liked me early on because he thought I was a Russianist, I would understand them and so forth. But he always had this ambition about reconstituting the Russian Empire, not the Soviet Union, the Russian Empire. He told me once, ‘Condi, you know us, Russia’s only been great when it’s been moved by great men like Alexander II and Peter the Great.’ He
Asian Languages and Cultures and Korean language program coordinator, said. “Both of these traditional instruments, along with others, are played for different celebrations by the Korean Club here on campus, such as at the Asian Allure event.”
The Japanese station featured Samurai hat origami making, which was led by assistant teaching professor in Japanese Yoko Kawamura.
“The Samurai hat, or ‘Kabuto’ in Japanese, is made of light material, like a newspaper, and can be worn by children. This tradition is part of a celebration wishing young boys to grow up strong and healthy,” Kawamura said.
Traditions from Tanabata, a Japanese celebration on July 7, were also showcased. In this tradition,
what you want from your advocacy efforts and then connecting with a group of people that can help you reach those goals.”
With a focus on both advocacy and community development, the summit provided an intimate opportunity for not only the speakers to voice their perspectives but also for the audience members to speak.
One individual, Kristin Meyer, is the mother to 3-year-old Noah who was diagnosed with a rare genetic mutation just six weeks ago. When discussing her feelings as a mother, Meyer shared how the rare disease community has impacted her family throughout this experience.
“This has been the most challenging six weeks of our lives,” Meyer said. “We have no idea what the future holds. Us being vulnerable enough to open up what we’re going through with Noah has allowed our friends to be vulnerable with us.”
didn’t say Lenin and Stalin. He said the Tsars at the furthest extent of the Russian Empire. And so that was his ambition,” she said.
Rice also answered two questions from students, junior Tia Mittle and sophomore Patrick Smart. Mittle asked about how to address the rise of nationalism and populism in the United States.
“Sometimes you have to paint a future of what it would look like without American leadership and remind people that every time we have tried to withdraw from the world, we had to reenter,” Rice said.
In her closing thoughts, Rice spoke about Notre Dame.
“I’m always delighted to be back at Notre Dame. This place was very, very special to me. I came to Notre Dame as a very young graduate student,” she said.
Dowd noted she was just 19.
Japanese people write their wishes on tanzaku paper and hang them on a tree with hope.
Mahjong, a traditional Chinese game, was among the many Chinese cultural activities at the event. With simplified rules, the event’s version of the game allowed students to mentally challenge themselves while playing.
“The game helps keep people sharp as it involves calculations and strategy, which is why it is popular among families during holiday seasons in China,” Weibing Ye, associate teaching professor for the Chinese language at the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, said.
Contact Arezo Karimi at akarimi2@nd.edu
With the conclusion of the summit, the speakers and advocates encouraged students to increase their curiosity when learning more about rare disease. Aside from increasing awareness for rare disease, they hope this summit will also increase students’ empathy when regarding patients with rare diseases.
“The mascot for rare disease is the zebra,” Ostertag said. “There’s this old saying that if you hear hoof beats, think horses. But zebras have hooves as well. It’s not the everyday thing, it’s the rare thing.”
Ostertag continued, “In medicine and healthcare, we’re so compartmentalized. We’re so focused on our specific organ system or symptoms. But I think no matter how specialized you get, just never lose sight of the whole patient and the whole family.”
Contact Sophia Tran at stran2@nd.edu
“What I really love about this place, and I hope that each and every one of you folks soak it in while you’re here, is that there really is an emphasis, not just on the learning, although there’s an emphasis on that, not just on what you’re going to do when you get out of here, although there’s an emphasis on that, but on how you mature into people that have the right values as you do [proceed],” she said.
She also offered some words of advice directly to students.
“One of the most important values that you can develop is the willingness to listen to those with whom you don’t agree. It is very easy, particularly in the age of the internet, to go to your tribe, to go to your aggregators, your influencers, your websites, only talk to people who think like you do, and to become overly confident in your own high opinion of your opinion,” she said to laughs.
“In dorms or wherever, don’t avoid those difficult conversations. But sometimes, if you’re gonna have a difficult conversation, just one other thought, it’s really important to listen, not just transmit. And I think you’ll find that those are our values that will serve you well throughout your life,” Rice added.
As Dowd thanked her for time, Rice had one more note on the football game.
“I know at this point I’m supposed to go ‘Go Irish.’ I’m gonna say ‘Go Irish,’ but I can’t repeat that other part about ‘beat somebody,’” she said.
Contact Isa Sheikh at isheikh@nd.edu
Kate Casper Outsider Instincts
The best concert I ever went to was the one I went to last weekend. I remember the room tasted as fresh as cardboard, and although I was only one Liquid Death in, I felt as high as a kite (Liquid Death is mountain water, by the way, and no, I was not doing drugs).
I was seeing COIN at the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom (if you don’t know COIN, then you’re not cool, and you should probably change that, and if you do know COIN, then I guess I love you forever).
I’m not claiming to know how we’re supposed to feel in this life, but perhaps I’d like to feel more like that again — dancing next to one of my best friends, knowing every word to every song, feeling weightless in the middle of the Aragon ballroom, bonding with Ashley and Emily (these random girls I swear I’ll never see again) and feeling myself sink into songs I knew only from tinny plastic earbuds.
Yeah, sure, that’s heaven.
Yeah, sure, that’s weightlessness. That’s life. That’s our only choice.
We left the venue after the concert and stepped into the night, and I wondered where it would take us. To a cocktail bar. To a bar bar. To a dirty martini (hopefully). To a friend. To Amelia’s family home in the suburbs.
There were so many choices to make that night in Chicago after the COIN concert. So many choices
UNTITLED
we could make with our freedom, so many forks in the road, such as: Do I order the cocktail called the “Pick-Me” because the name is funny, or do I order the dirty martini because I’ve been thinking about dirty martinis all week? Do we go to Halligans now or in 15 minutes? Do we leave at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m.? Will that guy named Jasper who said he’d order us two Mich Ultras actually order us two Mich Ultras? Was he lying to us? I could’ve sworn he said he’d buy us two Mich Ultras. Fine, I guess I’ll buy us two Mich Ultras.
These days the burden of freedom has been the theme of my life. Being in control of my next move has never felt so terrifying, and knowing I can maybe, possibly afford a plane ticket to Italy if I just move some money around is even more terrifying (also knowing I can maybe, possibly order a drink called the “Pick-Me” is just hilarious).
What on earth do we do with all this freedom? Certainly we don’t listen to guys named Jasper who say they’ll buy us two Mich Ultras within two minutes of knowing us. We also probably don’t book flights to Italy because that’s probably irresponsible. But even in the midst of all this choice, I keep trying to tell myself that the only way in this life is forward. The only way is through.
“The only thing to do is simply continue.”
That’s a line from Frank O’Hara. He says, “The only thing to do is simply continue / is that simple / yes, it is simple because it is the only thing to do / can you do it.”
I’m not saying this is the antidote to feeling stuck or uncertain; I’m just saying it’s simple.
Choose hard
There is nothing better than a close parking spot, at least, according to my mother. My dad’s opinion is so plainly contradictory that it really makes you believe in the whole ‘opposites attract’ thing: if presented with the option of a close parking spot or the farthest one at the edge of the lot, take the far one to maximize your daily step count. The minor additional exercise each day can lead to a notable physical change for the better.
When faced with a choice regarding the proximity of her parked automobile, my mom favors convenience. My dad chooses deliberate inconvenience, a purposeful detriment in order to achieve some physical benefit. Dad is an elementary school physical education teacher who, by the time this column is published, will have just completed his 18th marathon. Mom, on the other hand, is the type of person who dreaded PE class as a young girl, who much prefers to read about lengthy and arduous physical endeavors rather than partake in them.
Though the physical may be a point of disparity for my parents, both agree that, when it comes to mental challenges, one must always opt for deliberate inconvenience — or at least, one should try to avoid any intellectual ‘close parking spots.’ They believe that there is opportunity in academic adversity. They like to play sudoku in the morning and read novels at night (“Horatio Hornblower” for my dad, and any story featuring a Southern housewife for my mom). They encourage bold philosophical debates about situations that, to any typical observer, would not encourage bold philosophical debates.
It is probably easier to not have bold philosophical debates about banal things like playing pickleball at a local Missouri park. It is easy to wake up and not do a sudoku, or to put your pencil
down when the sudoku goes awry and you can’t figure out where that stupid little seven goes. It is easy to close a book that bores you, to opt for TikTok instead of “Of Mice and Men” or to take the class that you know is a ‘blowoff’ instead of the one that requires three papers and a bluebook written exam. I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve overheard in which students cross-examine their peers for the names of “easy A” courses. For Notre Dame students, the search to find a second theology that doesn’t require any reading or a professor that believes in un-grading is as toilsome and frenetic as any search can be. We all want to find a class that promises convenience. We all want the “close parking spot” elective.
When did we become so obsessed with finding the easy way out? I am not denying that I have been a part of this search myself. I understand the appeal of the ‘blowoff’ course (amidst our millions of other commitments, no one wants to have to sit through a complicated chemistry lecture). But at times, college feels to me like the perpetual calculation of what variables will maximize one’s GPA, while minimizing one’s mental efforts. Did we always used to think like this? I recall a time when each of us must have fallen in love with learning, with continually choosing to study hard topics. Perhaps we only selected those AP courses and strenuous extracurriculars with hopes of getting in to Notre Dame. But surely, we would’ve known then that Notre Dame is the premier Catholic institution in the world and, subsequently, that Notre Dame would be very mentally challenging. We would have understood that courses taught here would be difficult and should be difficult. Otherwise, the title of a top-20 university would be undeserved.
Aedan told me something similar several months ago when I was moping about a guy I sorta kinda dumped (or maybe we both dumped each other, it’s still somewhat unclear). I told Aedan I was worried I made the wrong decision.
Aedan told me, simply, that decisions are only decisions. There’s usually not one definite right way or wrong way. You just keep going.
Maybe Aedan and Frank O’Hara should meet sometime for coffee (if Frank O’Hara were still alive). Maybe Aedan is the reincarnation of Frank O’Hara, just a lot less poetic.
Maybe the weightlessness I found in the Aragon Ballroom listening to COIN is something I can harness here too, back in Notre Dame, Indiana where I feel so stuck and stunted sometimes.
Maybe our weightlessness is found in this choice, our only choice, to simply continue. To hit forks in the road and know that the only path is forward. The only path is to meet more Ashleys and Emilys at concerts (girls you swear you’ll never see again). The only path is to dance in more rooms that taste like cardboard and take more chances.
Yeah, sure, that’s heaven.
Yeah, sure, that’s weightlessness. That’s life. That’s our only choice.
Kate Casper is a senior at Notre Dame studying English with minors in digital marketing and Italian. She strives to be the best waste of your time. You can contact her at kcasper@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
If convenience were a commodity, it would be indefinitely backlogged. We live in the age of convenience. We buy convenience when we plug in our homework questions to ChatGPT, when we use our Apple watch to call our phone so we don’t have to physically leave our bed to go and find it, or when we dig a Trader Joe’s meal out of our freezer, rather than purchase the ingredients to cook a homemade meal. Do all these small conveniences we rely upon every day reflect a larger cultural shift away from things that challenge us in a good way?
Sometimes, discomfort is a positive thing. Challenge — whether physical or mental — is the only way we grow. The ancient Greeks knew this, which is why they questioned everything around them, developing the system of logos. The Keough School of Global Affairs knows this, which is why they print flyers to remind students that “You can do hard things” (in fact, we all came to this school in order to do hard things!). Marcus Freeman knows this, which is why he encourages our football team to “choose hard” in and out of the stadium. If we elect for a difficult second theology rather than continuing our infinite search for the ‘blowoff’ course, we ‘choose hard.’ And when we ‘choose hard,’ we may find that the minor additional exercise each day leads to a noticeable change for the better. A strengthening of ourselves.
Gracie Eppler is a senior business analytics and English major from St. Louis, MO. Her three top three things ever to exist are ‘70’s music, Nutella and Smith Studio 3, where she can be found dancing. You can reach her at geppler@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Gracie Eppler
The Soapbox
Delusional dichotomy: decisions & distractions
Carlos Basurto
Banter
Decisions are hard. Decisions may be our bread and butter — as everything we do is inherently a decision — yet they also are our most dreaded enemy: as decisions determine, at long last, what we get to have and what we forever lose. Future decisions are the origin of our anxieties, and guilt and depression may arise from misguided past ones. Decisions appear to be the only way with which to advance in our lives, but any advancement permanently serves as a nail in the coffin, eternally severing our current lifestyle and the next. Naturally, many then engage in a wide array of methods with which to delay decisions, or outright avoid them altogether — distractions.
And yet, we appear to hate distractions too.
We look down upon them, for some may refer to them as procrastination, as laziness, as cowardice. They come in many shapes and forms, but their result is the same: momentary escapism. Although this is our typical line of thought, is it really the case?
Perchance we ought to reflect on where these ideas come from and not be so quick to judge and attribute malice to distractions, but rather, merely refer to distractions as a particular lifestyle — perhaps a glorious one, or even a peaceful one. Certainly, to scroll through your phone’s social media feeds, overriding your entire soul with dread and lethargy, can be considered a distraction. And yet, is exercise not also a distraction? A walk down the street, a delicious meal, a riveting novel, a joyful time shared with your loved ones, a cleansing laugh and roses cracking through the pavement, greeting you on the side of the road. These distractions seem hardly to inhibit your life, but all the opposite: these ‘distractions’ are what
life is all about.
On your deathbed, will you complain to your friends and family that you wish you had spent less time doing that which you love? Will you groan, wishing you had worked longer, harder? One more homework assignment, one more spreadsheet and your life would have been significantly better? I profoundly hope you do not believe so.
Thus I ask, these distractions we speak of, they are distractions from what, exactly? From decisions, sure, but decisions to do what? To continue with our “path,” our predetermined journey in a sporadic civilization?
Why, we have absolutely demonized distractions in our hyper-productive, hyper-consumerist society. Whatever we do that does not progress our career, further fatten our profit margins or sharpen arbitrary skills is a disgrace, a shameful and illinformed path. Indubitably, we have purposefully misunderstood the nature of distractions.
After all, what are distractions, really? To choose to avoid a decision is, in itself, a decision, is it not? Somewhat counterintuitive to consider, indeed, but in the avoidance of a decision we have made a decision after all. We decide not to decide, and engulf ourselves in distractions. It is not that decisions must be made, but that decisions will be made, regardless of what we do: as silence is a response, so too is inaction an action.
Let us push this further: if distractions are what give life meaning, and they are only attainable by the illusion of striving away from decisions, are decisions not innately distractions? Decisions distract us from distractions, after all. Which are, in the end, decisions.
Evidently, this entire system is cyclically ridiculous and has begun to fall apart. Distractions are decisions and decisions are distractions, but they are so fundamentally different whilst being entirely identical. A clear, logical contradiction. Not
that human experience and the social constructs we have surrounded ourselves with need be logical, for that matter.
Ultimately, we are presented with a false dichotomy between decisions and distractions, framing them as opposites, as the smart and the dumb, as the productive and the wasteful, as the right and the wrong, but such conniving distortion is outright delusional. Be it for order, for control, for comprehension or due to pure, ignorant inertia, this is simply a misconception. The universe cares not for what you do. There is no forwards or backwards in your life other than what you decide for yourself (or otherwise deceive yourself into believing).
Such appears to be our most fundamental decision. Our greatest power as human beings, the authority to decide the framework with which to classify the entirety of our decisions, distractions and delusions: all of which are one and the same. We may not realize it. Indeed, we may have been lied to about it, but we do possess such dominance over our fate. And that is the greatest freedom one could ever strive for.
Hopefully we can make a decision we will be content with. But, even if we don’t, maybe it is for the best that we distract ourselves, just once in a while.
Carlos A. Basurto is a junior at Notre Dame studying philosophy, computer science and German. He’s president of the video game club and will convince you to join, regardless of your degree of interest. When not busy, you can find him consuming yet another 3-hour-long video analysis of media he has not consumed while masochistically completing every achievement from a variety of video games. Now, with the power to channel his least insane ideas, feel free to talk about them further at cbasurto@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The conflict of national identities
For as long as I can remember, the island of Ireland has played a central role in my life.
Having been baptized in Clonakilty, County Cork and having my middle name be named after the Irish general Michael Collins, this is perhaps no surprise. Living in London for the first ten years of my life, I was able to frequently visit my godparents in Cork and grew to love Ireland. Through my classes at Notre Dame and impromptu history lessons from my dad, I gained an understanding of its history and its struggles for freedom.
Despite my name and my love for Ireland, however, I am a citizen of the United Kingdom, and not of Ireland. Having spent ten years in Britain gave me a fondness for that country as well, even if my blood may be Irish. I feel some sense of Britishness along with a sense of Irishness and a sense of Americanness.
These different conceptions of national identity were brought forth for me when I interned at the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs this summer. There, I worked on the government’s Reconciliation Fund, which allocates funding to community organizations in Northern Ireland working to promote peace. Despite my previous travels to Ireland, it was the first time I had spent a prolonged period of time in Ireland and the first time I traveled to Northern Ireland.
With the Department of Foreign Affairs, I was able to travel to Belfast and meet with
community leaders working to promote understanding and better relations between different communities. I was able to see the peace walls which separate Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods. I was able to see the Republican and Unionist murals which line the city’s walls. I spoke with politicians and community leaders who had experienced death threats and lived in fear of violence.
In Northern Ireland, conflict between Unionists and Nationalists, between Irish and British, between Catholics and Protestants is not resigned to the past. It is not a page in a history book or an exhibit in a museum. It is the everyday reality of some two million people. It is they who are left to the deal with the complicated and often ugly legacies of both British imperialism and Irish republicanism. Only in the past twenty years has relative stability been brought to the region. Even still, the underlying issues have not been resolved. A modus vivendi has been achieved, but the region remains a powder keg that could ignite if given the spark.
My time in Northern Ireland this summer brought home the reality for me that the people in Northern Ireland, in both communities, have been forgotten in many ways. To most in Britain, Northern Ireland is a practical and political afterthought, and although polls show that the majority of people in Ireland favor a united Ireland, the Irish government has presented no plan for what a united Ireland might look like.
Whether or not there will be a united Ireland is, and ought to be, up to the people of Northern Ireland themselves. But shifting demographics and
an increase in the number of Catholics in Northern Ireland make unification more feasible in the coming decades.
If unification is to be undertaken, serious conversations must be had about what it means to be Irish, what it means to be British and what it means to live in Northern Ireland. The wrongs done by both Unionist and Republican groups must be recognized. This difficult work must be done. Projects such as the Reconciliation Fund are a step in the right direction, but more work must be done. If these conversations are not had and if all voices are not heard and respected, then the nottoo-distant tragedy of violence is doomed to repeat itself.
In my own life, competing conceptions of Irishness and Britishness exist and conflict with one another. At times, I feel as though my British citizenship is inconsonant with my love for Ireland, or that my appreciation of British institutions is at odds with the harm done by Britain to Ireland. In the end, though, both identities can exist within me. One does not diminish the other and both form essential parts of my self.
In Northern Ireland, these two conceptions of national identity have conflicted for over 400 years and at great cost. The future of Northern Ireland must make room for these two identities to coexist without being consigned to a slogan or a rigid ideology. It is difficult to reconcile different parts of a self or a nation. It takes care, time and sacrifice, but, in the end, it is the only option.
The views expressed in this inside column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Eudaemonic
Liam Kelly Notre Dame News Editor INSIDE COLUMN
By ANDY OTTONE Scene Writer
Every few years, there’s a mandatory panic about the death of some industry of some sort. Streaming was meant to be the end of network television, yet “Abbott Elementary” and “Young Sheldon” are cultural touchstones to many. Siskel and Ebert suspected home video might cause the death of the cinema, but with more options for home viewing than ever, movies such as “Inside Out 2” or “Deadpool and Wolverine” still manage to surpass a billion dollars in ticket sales. Over the last few months, I’ve noticed the next industry on the hypothetical chopping block: Broadway musicals.
Nobody is saying Broadway musicals are going away; with social media and music streaming, it might be the easiest era for musicals to gain mainstream popularity, or at least the lowest bar of entry for mainstream knowledge. Rather, there seems to be a growing notion that the “culture” of Broadway is dying.
It isn’t. If you feel this way, you just might not be the target audience anymore.
Like any institution, Broadway goes through phases. Grand sweeping romances dominated in the ’50s, with classics such as “Oklahoma!” and “The Music Man.” Then, the themes and music got more complex with the rise of Sondheim and works such as “Company” or Webber’s
“Jesus Christ Superstar.” In the ’90s and early ’00s, disillusionment and angst was in, which led to musicals like “Rent,” “Spring Awakening” and “Avenue Q” dominating the stages.
We’re entering a new era for Broadway, and I firmly believe that it’s for younger audiences. Surely, there remain classic shows that appeal to a wide swath of audiences, but newer productions such as the star-studded “Romeo + Juliet” and, ironically, “& Juliet” the musical, are without a doubt aimed at younger audiences than the usual Broadway fare. Musicals such as “Six” and “Ride the Cyclone” feel made for TikTok, with witty lyrics perfect for soundbites and quoting. Celebrities on Broadway have never been more normal: popular songwriters such as Sara Bareilles and Florence Welch (of Florence + the Machine) have been given chances to write shows, often to success in Bareilles’ case, or great anticipation as towards Welch’s unreleased adaptation of “The Great Gatsby.” Celebrities often appear onstage, too.
While I have personal objections to Nick Jonas appearing in Jason Robert Brown’s “The Last Five Years,” I don’t object to celebrity actors appearing in musicals in general. Charli D’Amelio, a TikToker famous for being genuinely good at dancing, is an ensemble dancer on the aforementioned “& Juliet,” while that show’s inspiration stars Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story,” “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”) as Juliet and Kit Connor
(“Heartstopper”) as Romeo, both to rave critical reviews and great fan response.
That fan response is what motivated me to write this article. I’ve seen criticisms online, in shocking quantities, towards the Shakespearean revival solely on the fact that audiences only want to see the show to watch the celebrities in it. Are movies not the same way? Why is Broadway so sacred that famous actors don’t get the chance to star there, too? Or is it only because they’re popular with young (read: seemingly less tasteful) audiences? Gatekeeping is the death of enthusiasm, in my opinion. If I encounter a seemingly impossible bar I need to pass to validate my enjoyment of a work, I find it’s not worth it. By gatekeeping theater because of your distaste for these popular (and based on reviews, skilled) actors being involved, and in turn gatekeeping from younger audiences interested in watching them perform, you are killing potential theater lovers before they can even grow and flourish.
Broadway isn’t dying. It’s thriving, actually. But maybe, if you’re of the opinion that it’s suffering because of the young blood being pumped in, then that’s a sign that you’re not the target audience anymore. And maybe, there’s nothing wrong with that, either. There’ll always be something for everyone in the theater. So, don’t make others feel unwelcome.
Contact Andy Ottone at aottone@nd.edu
By CLAIRE WATSON Scene Writer
Who doesn‘t like a good family comedy that‘s also super relatable? I know I do, but I‘ll admit it — I‘m fairly late to watching “Inside Out 2” (please don‘t judge!). The arrival of new emotions in “Inside Out 2” and the shape of the plot make it a great movie, touching upon ideas of competitiveness and friendship. Still, there are some plot crossovers from the original movie which were kind of disappointing. Just to do a quick recap, “Inside Out” — which was cowritten by Pete Docter, Meg LaFauve and Josh Cooley in 2015 — stars Riley Anderson (Kaitlyn Dias) and her five emotions: Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Anger (Lewis Black) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). They embark on a journey to help Riley navigate her adolescence. The original movie won over fans and also gained an Oscar.
“Inside Out 2” hit theaters nine years after the original release. According to Forbes, it “has grossed nearly $653 million domestically and $1.020 billion internationally for a worldwide box office tally of $1.673 billion to date — making it the highest-grossing film both domestically and worldwide in 2024 to date.” In addition to this, the BBC reported that “Inside Out 2” managed to out-earn last year’s
“Barbie” and now ranks as the 13th highest-grossing animated movie of all time. It‘s obvious “Inside Out 2” was a booming success at the box office.
One thing I enjoyed was the movie‘s depiction of competition. As a college athlete — I play softball — the inclusion of sports and competition appealed to me. I think that the emphasis on Riley (Kensington Tallman) as a teenager playing hockey was important to include. It does more with the original emotions — Joy, Fear (Tony Hale), Disgust (Liza Lapira), Anger and Sadness — alongside the new ones: Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), Envy (Ayo Edebiri) and Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser). The central theme isn‘t just competitiveness. It‘s also friendship — which is the underlying reason why we play sports, right? The movie portrays this fact as Riley and her two close friends go to camp together both to compete and to collaborate.
We‘ve all felt that anxious moment some way or another, whether it be waiting for a test result, waiting to see if you made a team or whatever else. This is another aspect that made the movie so relatable. Throughout the movie, I saw a lot of myself when it came to these anxious moments. Take the scene where Riley is waiting to see if she made the hockey team, for instance. It captures the feeling of anxiety, the waiting for hours, days and sometimes weeks
to see if you made the team. It makes “Inside Out 2” very appealing.
I am a sophomore in college, but as a freshman, one thing that I felt was a “need to fit in.” This is another idea explored throughout the story line of “Inside Out 2,” with Riley feeling like she needs to fit in among the hockey players in order to be a part of the team. As I learned, changing the way that you act to try and fit in isn’t the way to go — it only ever makes things worse. That’s portrayed in the movie: Riley drifts away, losing her two best friends and letting Anxiety take over. To fit in, she starts acting like she doesn’t know her friends or their interests and not even her own. One thing that disappointed me was the contour of the plot. As I watched, I realized that there was repeat conflict — the original emotions being kicked out of headquarters. This was a main plot point in the first “Inside Out,” so seeing this scenario repeated was not ideal. Still, Pixar did a good job covering the overlapping plot up with all of the new elements.
I believe that Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” was an amazing movie. They did an amazing job in appealing to a new audience, and I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a new movie to watch.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson7@nd.edu
Eastland: Irish happy to have Burnham back
By RYAN EASTLAND Sports Writer
Hailing from Traverse City, Michigan, the cherry capital of the world, Joshua Burnham decided to commit to the University of Notre Dame on March 17, 2021. In high school at Traverse City Central, Burnham played all over the field. Whether it was linebacker, running back or quarterback, when Josh was on the field he was making plays. His versatility and size led him to earn fourstar recruit status. He also led Traverse City Central to two state semifinal appearances.
After a stellar high school career, Burnham enrolled at Notre Dame in January of 2022. He redshirted his freshman year but was able to make his debut for the Irish against Boston
FOOTBALL OFFENSE COLUMN
College due to the new four-game redshirt rule. His redshirt freshman year, Burnham saw consistent play. He played in all 13 games, including the Sun Bowl against Oregon State where he stopped a fake punt which seemed to have changed the tides in Notre Dame’s favor. With Burnham’s versatility on defense as a defensive lineman, pass rusher or outside linebacker, Notre Dame had high hopes for Burnham going into his redshirt sophomore year. However, on Sept. 7 against Northern Illinois, Burnham injured his left ankle. He missed two consecutive games against Purdue and Miami (Ohio). He then saw limited to no action against Louisville two weeks ago. Despite lots of pain leading up to the Stanford game, he told head coach
Marcus Freeman: “There’s no way I’m not going to be able to play.”
Not only did Burnham want to return, but the team needed him. Notre Dame lost graduate student Jordan Botelho and sophomore Boubacar Traore, both edge rushers, to injury. With those injury woes, Burnham’s return was much anticipated and needed for the Irish defense.
Burnham returned from injury on Saturday for the rivalry game against the Stanford Cardinal. Not only did he return, but Burnham returned with a bang. Against the Cardinal, he recorded five total tackles, two solo tackles and a tackle for loss. He also contributed a huge impact play with a recovered fumble. While technically a fumble, Burnham actually tipped a pitch attempt up in the air
and then caught it. He almost even made it into the endzone but was tracked down after a 15-yard run back.
“He’s an athlete. [He] caught the ball — that goes back to his offensive days,” Freeman said of Burnham’s impressive defensive play. “It’s a gutsy performance because there are times in the week that you watch him, and it’s like he is practicing on one leg.”
The fumble recovery also sparked the Irish team to go on a run as they scored three touchdowns in a row after Burnham’s big play.
When asked where he was at health-wise, Burnham said, “We’re 100%, we’re good to go.” He also noted at the postgame press conference that he didn’t feel any nervousness upon his return.
“I think it was more
excitement [than nervousness], for sure … finally being able to go out there and play with the boys, it was awesome.”
With the season-ending injuries that this Irish defense has had this year, Burnham is taking on a larger role than fans might have expected. But Burnham has risen to the occasion. Even though he was dealing with an ankle injury, it seemed like nothing could keep him off the field. Having great performances from him on the edge as he delivered against Stanford will be crucial for the Irish and their success going forward.
Contact Ryan Eastland at reastlan@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Cahill: The Irish offense may be finding itself
By NOAH CAHILL Associate Sports Editor
Last weekend, Notre Dame watched from home as several upsets rocked the college football world.
Multiple top-ranked teams fell, headlined by No. 1-ranked Alabama. As a result, the Irish jumped two spots in the AP Poll without touching the football field.
They spent their time recovering and preparing for their 38th all-time meeting with rival Stanford with the Legends Trophy on the line.
Saturday’s edition of the historic contest was onesided, however, as Notre Dame cruised to a 49-7 victory over the Cardinal.
I believe the Irish left with more than just a routine win, but also a meaningful step forward.
In their first three games in Notre Dame Stadium, the Irish went 2-1 in disappointing fashion.
We have all lamented ad nauseam about the devastating defeat in the home opener to Northern Illinois, a game where the team completely overlooked the Huskies and was outplayed from start to finish by a team from a conference in the MAC that had, up to that point, gone 0-51 against top five-ranked competition.
But the two ensuing victories in South Bend were anything but convincing either. The offense labored
to move the ball against Miami (Ohio) and kept the RedHawks in the game with several turnovers and special teams blunders.
Senior quarterback Riley Leonard looked tentative all day, going 16 for 25 while missing a pair of layup-line passes and losing a fumble.
The performance against Louisville showed flashes of improvement, particularly in a three-touchdown first quarter with 132 yards of offense split almost perfectly between the rush and pass. And yet, that production would end up accounting for almost half of their total offense in a game where Notre Dame was outgained by over 100 yards despite the victory.
Barring a massive fourthquarter drive ending with a brilliantly designed screen pass for a Jeremiyah Love touchdown, the group stagnated after the first quarter, managing only 148 yards and going 1 for 8 on third downs.
Mistakes continued to creep in, with a pair of fumbles from Devyn Ford and Jadarian Price handing 14 points to the Cardinals. Even after the win, it was hard to say whether or not the arrow was pointing up, and if the Irish wanted to keep their playoff hopes alive, it needed to soon.
Given a much-needed week to get healthy and hit the drawing board, the
offense had its best performance of the season in a rout of its rival. The Irish put up 477 yards of total offense with 248 through the air and 229 on the ground, a far more balanced attack than has been the norm for this team.
Barring a punt on the opening drive, a Beaux Collins fumble and a series to run out the clock, Notre Dame’s offense scored a touchdown on all of its seven drives.
But what was even more significant than the remarkable stat line was the way the group executed.
Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock unlocked the passing game early and often, setting the tone with three straight throws to Beaux Collins on the opening drive.
He utilized play-action for chunk completions on early downs and leveraged the threat of the run against stacked boxes with well-timed RPOs, three of them leading directly to touchdowns. Preying on a weak Stanford secondary, Leonard spread the ball to 11 different receivers (including center Pat Coogan). He was poised in command of the offense and looked more in rhythm
with his receivers than he had in any game all season.
He did not have to rely on his legs as often but still displayed his playmaking ability, eluding pressure in the pocket and scrambling when the situation demanded it.
He added his eighth rushing touchdown of the year alongside three passing touchdowns, doubling his season total.
On a limited workload of six touches, Jeremiyah Love continued to shine, breaking out a 39-yard touchdown run that showcased his incredible speed.
Jadarian Price pitched in with a touchdown of his own to complete another stellar showing from the well-rounded Irish backfield.
Every player contributed to the dominant showing, one that many of us may have expected to see at the beginning of September, but are nonetheless encouraged by for the future.
The win had shades of last year’s annihilation of Wake Forest in the penultimate game of the season.
Graduate transfer quarterback Sam Hartman, who had fallen below preseason expectations, threw for 277 yards and four
touchdowns. Eight different Irish receivers caught passes with five different touchdown scorers.
Junior running back Audric Estime ran for 115 yards and a touchdown. Notre Dame took a 45-7 victory.
The performance was a sign of what could have been. At 8-3 on the season by that point, it was too little too late.
This Stanford game could be different.
Perhaps a similar beacon of hope to last season, but one that comes in time for the Irish to fulfill their playoff aspirations. If Saturday is any indication, this group might finally be reaching for its full potential.
Take that with a defense that continues to establish its identity as one of the nation’s best as well as a schedule that looks more manageable by the week, and the ultimate goal of postseason football feels more and more attainable for this team.
Contact Noah Cahill at ncahill2@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
SUDOKU | THE MEPHAM GROUP
Happy Birthday: Use intellect and timing to stay ahead of the game and apply your energy to achieve positive gains. Letting what’s happening around you stir up negative energy or lead you down the wrong path wastes time. Set your priorities and establish your endgame prior to making a move. Happiness and satisfaction will be yours if you are clever, articulate and passionate in the process. Your numbers are 5, 13, 21, 24, 33, 39, 41.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Get your priorities straight before you engage in domestic issues. Nurture meaningful relationships. Push anger and frustration aside and try to see all sides of a situation. Listen carefully and take others’ concerns seriously. Compassion and understanding will be the vehicle to victory. Choose love over discord.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Have a plan, pace yourself and implement the changes that will make your life easier. Concentrate on relationships, home and family, and explore your options. Articulate your concerns with postive emotion, not anger, and you’ll drum up support and find a passage to personal growth and satisfaction.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t be fooled by hype, scammers or someone looking for a handout. Take matters into your own hands and finish what you start. Counting on someone else to do things for you won’t bode well when you are stuck with the fallout. Take control and make things happen.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Take the road that excites you. Tune into your creative outlets, and the outcome will impact who you are and what you do next. A passionate encounter will change your perspective on life, love, personal growth and prospects. Watch, develop, market and promote yourself and your attributes.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Stick close to home and give yourself time to think matters through to avoid a poor choice that can cost you emotionally or financially. Dig deep, ask experts and let your intelligence take precedence over feelings. A change of heart will evolve if you sit back and observe.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Change becomes you as you embrace new beginnings. Don’t hold back; let your actions lead the way. Travel, communicate and make things happen. Be the master of your universe, believe in yourself, be positive, and end old conditions, while replacing them with hope and vitality.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Direct your energy into something worthwhile. A high-energy approach to achieving your goal will win support and a pat on the back for effort. Learn and share your findings, but don’t mix business with pleasure. It’s best to keep your emotions to yourself and your efforts realistic.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Stifle your feelings and avoid getting into a nasty emotional argument with someone you love. Focus on the physical, not the emotional, and embrace the projects you want to complete. Attend a reunion, family gathering or event that stirs your imagination and inspires you to be creative.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Say what’s on your mind, clear the air and move on to what’s important to you. Getting rid of deadweight and dealing with unsatisfactory situations will lighten your burden and make room for investing more time in yourself and what brings you joy. Change begins with you.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’ve got what it takes to get things done to your specifications. Don’t waste time deliberating with someone over things that don’t matter to you. Let go of whatever stands between you and your heart’s desire. Be true to yourself, and everything will fall into place.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Make up your mind and get moving. Initiate opportunities instead of waiting for them to come to you. If you don’t go after your goals, you have no one to blame but yourself. The first step is the hardest, but after that, the sky’s the limit.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Simplify your life. Put an end to indulgent behavior, say no to temptation and maximize your effort to strive for a healthy lifestyle that encourages you to look and feel your best. A minimalist attitude will help you follow through with decluttering, stabilization and security.
Birthday Baby: You are insightful, passionate and emotional. You are inquiring and responsive.
JUMBLE | DAVID HOYT AND JEFF KNUREK
Enclosed is $130 for one academic year
Enclosed is $75 for one semester Name
Irish open season with North Country sweep
By TYLER REIDY Sports Editor
With a six-game homestand awaiting in the second half of October, Notre Dame hockey had plenty to gain this past weekend in terms of building momentum. The Irish took full advantage of the opportunity, going on the road to New York’s North Country and defeating St. Lawrence (4-1) and Clarkson (52) to begin the 2024-25 regular season. They’ll face Alaska in this coming weekend’s homeopening series with a 2-0 record, their first since the 2021-22 campaign.
Knuble returns with twogoal game at St. Lawrence Back on Oct. 4, as Notre Dame hosted the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) for an exhibition, one notable name did not appear on the Irish line chart. Sophomore center Cole Knuble, held out for precautionary reasons in that game, rejoined the Irish on Friday and appeared not to have missed a beat, scoring twice. His performance led the Irish to a 4-1 victory in their first visit to Appleton Arena and first overall matchup with St. Lawrence since 2000.
With junior Mercyhurst transfer Owen Say in goal for the first time (officially) in an Irish uniform, Notre Dame jumped out
ND MEN’S SOCCER
to a 1-0 lead thanks to another transfer addition seven minutes into the first period. Graduate forward Blake Biondi, who had already scored twice against the USNTDP, struck again for his first official goal at Notre Dame. The former Minnesota Duluth Bulldog won the race to a blocked shot from the point that settled in the low slot, went down to his knees and elevated a backhander over St. Lawrence netminder Mason Kucenski for the season’s first goal.
Less than two minutes later, St. Lawrence responded to Biondi’s 31st career tally. A power-play shot pass from Philippe Chapleau traveled down from the high slot to the top of the goal crease, where Tyler Cristall waited with his stick down.
With a quick sweeping motion, Cristall redirected the puck through the body of Say, tying the score at 1-1. Notre Dame easily could have carried a lead into the first intermission, but both Biondi and sophomore forward Brennan Ali hit posts, so the Saints and Irish remained level after 20 minutes.
Through the second period’s opening half, momentum remained balanced and the 1-1 score held up. However, with eight minutes to go in the frame, a poor St. Lawrence turnover tilted the ice irreversibly in Notre Dame’s favor. Knuble intercepted the dangerous outlet
pass in the deep slot, gliding down to the hash marks before releasing a glove-side wrister that put the Irish ahead. Five minutes later, as Notre Dame went to the power play, Knuble won a puck battle at the half wall and set the Irish offense in motion. After observing a few exchanges on the right side of the zone, sophomore defenseman Paul Fischer walked the puck right to left along the blue line and sent a shot that sophomore forward Danny Nelson tipped in. The top-line center’s first goal of the season had Notre Dame in a 3-1 lead at the end of two periods.
The final frame belonged to Say, who made 18 of his 32 saves to keep St. Lawrence at bay and clinch his first win at Notre Dame. Knuble helped him and the Irish get there with a putaway goal late in the third, invading the slot with a giveand-go through senior forward Justin Janicke.
The latter’s return feed ramped off Knuble’s blade at the top of the blue paint, kissed the inside of the right post and banked in for Notre Dame’s fourth and final goal.
Irish use explosive rally to bring down Clarkson In last week’s 5-2 exhibition victory against the USNTDP, the Irish used a four-goal third period to overcome a deficit.
On Saturday night at Clarkson, they went back to the well in a meaningful game for another 5-2 triumph.
Notre Dame came out a bit unorganized on night two and went down 2-0 at the end of one period on Clarkson goals by Jared Mangan and Tristan Sarsland. The Irish couldn’t muster much offensively, going 14 minutes without a shot on goal largely due to the Golden Knights’ seven blocked shots. However, as Notre Dame freshman goalie Nicholas Kempf settled into his 30-save collegiate debut, the Irish skaters followed suit. With exactly two minutes to play in the second period, they embarked on a power play and jumpstarted their comeback. Knuble again worked a give-and-go with Janicke upon zone entry, chipping home Notre Dame’s opening goal from the low slot with 21 seconds remaining.
With the outcome of the game largely riding on Notre Dame’s ability to perpetuate its secondperiod momentum, the Irish delivered.
Knuble again pulled free from a 50-50 battle in the corner and skated to the high slot, where he threaded the needle on a pass to the right dot. There, junior blueliner Michael Mastrodomenico moved down from his point and fired off the game-tying shot. Mastrodomenico’s second
career goal and first since Dec. 31, 2023, came in front of numerous supporters who had made the short trip from his home province of Quebec. Just before the third period’s halfway marker, Notre Dame returned to the power play and took the lead. A dot-to-dot feed from sophomore forward found senior forward Hunter Strand in the right circle, where he loaded a shot and ripped it under the bar on the glove side. Not long after, an Ali forecheck and pinpoint centering pass set up Danny Nelson to slap a onetimer home for Notre Dame’s fourth tally.
Closing in on a weekend sweep, Notre Dame sealed the deal in the final moments with one of the most preposterous goals imaginable.
Only seconds after Clarkson had pulled its netminder, Janicke blocked a shot that ricocheted off his shin pad and 170 feet in the other direction for an empty-net goal. The ultra-efficient display of defense-to-offense hockey sent Clarkson fans packing with the Irish up by three for a second straight night. Notre Dame’s upcoming puck drop times for the Alaska series are set for 7 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday at Compton Family Ice Arena.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
Irish draw No. 7 North Carolina 1-1
By BEN HICKS Sports Writer
The Notre Dame men’s soccer team returned to Alumni Stadium on Friday night, welcoming the No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels to South Bend for a pivotal ACC clash. Coming off back-to-back defeats, first at Syracuse and most recently at home against Michigan, the Irish entered Friday’s match much in need of a marquee victory to climb the conference table and boost their at-large resume.
Sitting at third in the ACC, Carolina looked to regain separation from Clemson following its 3-2 defeat to the Tigers a week prior. The Heels conceded twice late to drop that match, despite playing with a man advantage for the majority of the second half. North Carolina was able to right the ship on Tuesday, as a 3-0 home victory over Charleston moved it to 7-1-3 on the season. The Tar Heels entered Friday night five spots better than the 5-33, eighth-placed Irish. Roou plays the hero again
The first 45 minutes of the match came and went without
any real flare, as the teams combined to manage just one shot on goal, a Carolina header which was easily reeled in by Notre Dame freshman goalkeeper Blake Kelly. The Irish were able to draw three corner kicks in the opening frame, but redshirt junior netminder Andrew Cordes was never tested.
Notre Dame controlled possession throughout the foremost quarter of an hour to begin the second half, but it was North Carolina senior midfielder Juan Caffaro whose redirection seemed to catch the arm of Irish senior defender Josh Ramsey in the 61st minute. A lengthy VAR check eventually overturned the handball ruling, and the Irish nearly capitalized on the manufactured momentum just half a minute later. The ensuing buildup ended with the ball at junior midfielder KK Baffour’s feet, and his curling shot from 12 yards out was remarkably deflected by the outstretched paws of Cordes.
Notre Dame was finally able to break the ice in the 66th minute through who else but Matthew Roou. The senior
forward’s NCAA-best 12th goal was perhaps his most creative, as he snuck behind the Tar Heel backline to toe-poke Wyatt Lewis’ pass over Cordes, dropping the volley perfectly into the corner of the net.
Lewis collected his first assist of the season after an exquisite individual run from Baffour led to an attempted scissor kick from sophomore forward Jack Flanagan, before being temporarily cleared. The sophomore midfielder from Missouri did well to win it back for the Irish before playing it forward for Roou.
Speaking postgame of the goal, Roou detailed his positioning and preparation.
“I think that goal falls under the category of always being ready,” he said. “I just trusted Lew to make a header, and I was ready to spring on it. You have to be optimistic as a forward, and I was able to convert that moment into a goal and end up feeling good about my night.”
Head coach Chad Riley echoed the sentiment of his senior star.
“Strikers always have to be switched on, and he scored a
similar goal last year against NC State,” Riley said of Roou after the game. “For all the times keepers have made good saves against him, he deserved to have a moment of magic there.”
North Carolina responded with a flurry, pushing numbers forward in pursuit of the equalizer. It finally came in the 83rd minute with senior midfielder Matthew Acosta’s 25-yard boot twirling around the diving Kelly. The leveler was true freshman defender Tate Johnson’s second career assist and Acosta’s first goal in the Carolina Blue, as he transferred from Rutgers in the offseason.
The 1-1 scoreline would hold, and each side received a share of the spoils in front of a sellout crowd of over 3,000 at Alumni Stadium.
Commenting on the Irish faithful, Riley said, “The fans were incredible with the energy and noise tonight. They played a big part in helping us have a good performance.”
What’s next for the Irish men’s soccer
After three grueling matches in just six days, Notre Dame
will get a well-deserved week of absence from competition before hosting Boston College next Saturday in a must-win affair that also serves as the ACC home finale. The Irish will then play twice more over fall break, first welcoming the University of Illinois Chicago Flames to Alumni Stadium for Senior Night on Oct. 22 before making the cross-country flight to Berkeley to do battle with the Golden Bears of California on Oct. 27. Boston College was bested 1-0 by Virginia on Friday night in Chestnut Hill and will also face Division-III Suffolk University before heading to South Bend next Saturday. With the Irish still aiming to gain ground in the ACC table, a home match with the 14thplaced, 3-4-5 Eagles could be the perfect opportunity to pick up their first conference win since the 2-1 defeat of Clemson on Sept. 27. Saturday’s match is set for a 7 p.m. first touch at Alumni Stadium and can be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.
Contact Ben Hicks at bhicks2@nd.edu
Irish senior transfer quarterback Riley Leonard attempts a pass downfield during Notre Dame’s 49-7 victory over Stanford at Notre Dame
on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Leonard put together his best throwing performance of the season, going 16 for 22 for a season-high 229 passing yards and four touchdowns which doubled his total for the
FOOTBALL
Five key moments: Notre Dame vs. Stanford
By NOAH CAHILL
Associate Sports Editor
After spending its bye week watching multiple top-ranked teams go down across the college football world, Notre Dame entered Week Seven looking to avoid the same fate. Facing rival Stanford, head coach Marcus Freeman surely had the outcome of their 2022 matchup, where his Irish team was upset at home as over two-score favorites, burned in his brain. This year, however, they left no doubt in a 49-7 win to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Offense responds to Stanford’s opening-drive touchdown
The game had an ominous feeling to it early on after a holding penalty stalled Notre Dame’s opening series and Stanford marched down the field with ease to take a 7-0 lead. Quarterback Ashton Daniels was in rhythm early, completing both of his pass attempts and showcasing the threat of his legs. The drive was capped off by a dive from backup quarterback Justin Lamson into the end zone. However, the Irish offense would produce a resounding response, launching a nineplay, 63-yard drive to tie the game.
Senior quarterback Riley Leonard was poised throughout, going 4 for 5 passing while showcasing great timing on connections with his receivers. After leading his team down the field, he took it in himself for his eighth rushing touchdown of the season.
Key fourth-down stops allow Irish to take control before the half
The game stayed knotted at 7-7 until the middle of the second quarter, when Notre Dame took control behind a pair of massive fourth-down stops. The first was courtesy of a two-sack series from graduate defensive tackle Howard Cross III, who got home once on first down and again on fourth and 5 after manhandling his block en route to the quarterback. The turnover on downs set up the Irish offense at midfield, a position they capitalized on with a go-ahead touchdown reception from graduate wide receiver Beaux Collins after a smooth, seven-play drive. The next fourth-down stop came courtesy of a patented Al Golden blitz design, as graduate safety Xavier Watts bombarded around the edge with help from junior defensive tackle Josh Burnham to hurry Daniels and force an incompletion. Positioned near midfield
once again, the Irish scored in nine plays on a drive that included a fourth-down conversion of their own and ended in a touchdown reception for graduate wideout Kris Mitchell. Leaving only 1:13 on the clock, the Irish defense held up and took a comfortable two-score lead into halftime.
Burnham’s heads-up play helps the Irish pull away
Coming out of halftime, Notre Dame’s defense snuffed out any hope Stanford had left for building momentum on offense. Graduate student kicker Eric Goins pinned the Cardinal at the 3-yard line, and after managing a couple of first downs, Burnham instinctually tipped a pitch attempt from Daniels to himself and took it the other way. After the outstanding defensive play, the Irish were set up in the red zone, where they needed two plays to punch it in. Junior running back Jadarian Price’s 16yard dash into the end zone gave Notre Dame a 28-7 lead, putting the game to bed early with nearly a whole half yet to play.
Riley Leonard commands a balanced offense
The story of this game for Notre Dame was the meaningful step forward Riley Leonard and the
offense were able to take, albeit against a weak and inexperienced Cardinal secondary. Playing an opponent built to stop the run, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock drew up the perfect game plan, attacking downfield on early downs and leveraging the RPO against stacked Stanford boxes. Leonard was in control all game, putting together his best throwing performance of the season. The senior transfer went 16 for 22 for a seasonhigh 229 passing yards and four touchdowns, one with his legs and three with his arm, doubling his total for the season. Of Notre Dame’s 477 yards of total offense, 248 came through the air and 229 on the ground, one of its most balanced stat lines all season. The Irish will need to prove they can execute at this level against better competition, but the display was nonetheless encouraging for the future.
Defense continues to dominate
After Stanford’s successful opening script, the Irish defense made sure their first score was also their last. Al Golden’s unit held the Cardinal offense to 200 yards of total offense on 3.4 yards per play. They came up with several key stops to set up the offense, holding Stanford to go 4
for 12 on third down and 1 for 4 on fourth. The powerful performance started up front, with the dynamic duo of graduate defensive tackles Howard Cross III and Riley Mills owning the front line and wreaking havoc on the quarterback. The two combined for a trio of sacks in a statement performance. The return of Burnham and senior defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio made a clear impact, with Burnham in particular logging a tackle for loss alongside his impressive fumble recovery. Behind the line, the linebacker core had a very disciplined performance, playing a big role in holding the Cardinal rushing attack to a mere 113 yards. And helped in part by a return to health for sophomore cornerback Christian Gray, the secondary looked as sharp as ever, limiting Stanford to 87 passing yards and corralling star receiver Elic Ayomanor, who only managed three catches for 16 yards. As this Notre Dame defense continues to perform at such an elite level, the ceiling of this team continues to ride on the growth of the offense. With this group, however, it is becoming abundantly clear what you are going to get each week.
