Print Edition for The Observer for Wednesday, October 2, 2024
ND ranks 18th in national universities
Students and faculty react to the University’s rise in the U.S. News and World Report rankings
By ZACK POHLMAN Staff Writer
On Sept. 24, U.S. News & World Report released their 2025 edition of college and university rankings, placing the University of Notre Dame at 18th in the nation. This marks an improvement for the school, which tied with Rice University and Vanderbilt University, moving up two spots from its position in last year’s rankings.
According to the U.S. News website, the ranking methodology combines a variety of factors, including retention rates, graduation rates and financial data. The most heavily weighted factor is “peer assessment,” a measure of how a school is regarded by top
administrators at other institutions, which accounts for 20% of the overall score.
While the U.S. News rankings are the most commonly referenced by prospective students, they are not the only influential list. Other notable rankings include Forbes and Niche, where Notre Dame is currently ranked 42nd and 26th, respectively.
Forbes focuses on postgraduate success, while Niche incorporates factors such as campus life, safety and student experiences to give a more comprehensive view of the university.
For many Notre Dame students, these rankings play a role in their decision-making process, but they
see RANKINGS PAGE 3
Notre Dame’s admissions office is located in the recently constructed
rankings can often play an important role for prospective students in determining their
Vance, Walz face off in VP debate ND Alumni Association gives out three awards
By LIAM KELLY Notre Dame News Editor
On Tuesday night, Ohio Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz met in the first and only vice-presidential debate on CBS, discussing foreign policy, immigration and democracy.
The tone of the debate appeared significantly more
civil than last month’s presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. The two candidates often said they agreed with each other and were seen speaking to each other cordially after the debate.
In a statement to The
see DEBATE PAGE 3
Observer Staff Report
The University bestowed awards to three alumni this weekend during the Notre Dame Alumni Association board of directors meeting, according to a University news release.
Admiral William J. Houston, a graduate of the class of 1990, was given the Rev. William Corby,
C.S.C., award, which honors graduates for their military service. Houston has served as director of the United States Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program since January.
J. Martin Regan Jr. received the Rev. John J. Cavanaugh, C.S.C., Award, given to alumni for their service in government, public service and politics.
Regan received his undergraduate degree from Notre Dame in 1976. In addition to practicing law privately, he has served as senior staff attorney to the city of Memphis for over 30 years, where he focused on improving education in the region.
Finally, Kristin Komyatte
3
Belles for Life hosts discussion training
By MADYSON CASIANO Staff Writer
On Monday, Sept. 30, Belles for Life, an antiabortion student organization at Saint Mary’s, hosted a training session on how to facilitate civil discussions about abortion. The session was led by Benjamin Ice, the Great Lakes regional coordinator for Students for Life of America. Ice,
who is a cyber security student at Western Governors University, spoke for an hour and a half on the skills he obtained from advocacy within his four years of working for Students for Life.
Students for Life of America is an anti-abortion organization aimed at increasing student involvement in the movement. The organization has
visited 1,400 campuses and claims to have trained over 202,000 advocates. Ice’s approach to conversations on the politics and philosophy of ethics and the science surrounding the “pro-life” and “pro-choice” debate allowed the attendees to feel more equipped to handle civil conversations.
Club president senior
see SMC PAGE 4
see ALUMNI PAGE
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
Notre Dame College Republicans hosted a watch party for the vice presidential debate in Duncan Student Center on Tuesday evening.
Owen Van Horn junior Siegfried Hall “A telescope.”
CHANCELOR GORDON | The Observer
English professor Leah A. Milne of the University of Indianapolis spoke Tuesday at St. Mary’s College. Her speech in Spes Unica Hall, “Mirrors and Windows: Reading for & Beyond Empathy,” explored approaches when reading across differences of identity.
Today’s Staff
News
Liam Kelly
Henry Jagodzinski
Graphics Marissa Panethiere
Photo Chancelor Gordon
Corrections
Sports John Bailey Scene Ayden Kowalski Viewpoint Abby Hernan Wednesday
Shine Bright Like The Dome
Holy Cross Circle
7:45 p.m.
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.
Join and walk or run to the Golden Dome.
Using AI for Students 141 Debartolo Hall
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Interactive workshop guiding students in learning about AI.
Play about tensions of a high school girls’ soccer team.
Film: “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” DPAC 4 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Thriller explores story of climate activists.
Observer, Shri Thakur, political director of College Republicans, praised Vance’s performance in the debate.
“JD Vance delivered a dominant performance in tonight’s debate,” Thakur said. “Vance offered a thoroughly intellectual argument for the Trump movement and proved why he was absolutely the correct choice to serve as former President Trump’s running mate as he seeks to return to the White House.”
In their statement to The Observer, College Democrats co-presidents Olivia Anderson and Trista Brantley highlighted Walz’s vision for the country.
“In a refreshingly civil debate, Governor Walz stood united with Vice President Harris in promising to defend American freedoms, protect our children and support the middle class,” Anderson and Brantley said. “Senator Vance, on the other hand, only seemed to agree with his running mate on a small number of issues — most notably wrongfully blaming immigrants for the majority of America’s problems and not recognizing that Donald Trump lost the election in 2020.”
Rankings
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
are not the sole factor.
“Notre Dame is a place where I felt I could get the best possible education,” freshman Nick Martin said.
Martin, who is majoring in electrical engineering, pointed to Notre Dame’s academic
While Anderson and Brantley sought to characterize Vance as breaking with his running mate, Thakur framed Walz as a progressive Democrat, despite Walz’s insistence on being a moderate.
“Walz was totally exposed for what he was — a progressive radical masquerading his far-left ideas under the pretense of ‘midwestern dad normalcy,’” Thakur said.
The debate began with a discussion on foreign policy, specifically regarding the middle east. Walz had the first word, describing Harris as a calm and steady force in a time of crisis, while Vance sought to blame Harris for the rising conflicts throughout the world.
“You blame Donald Trump. Who has been the vice-president for the last three and a half years? And the answer is your running mate, not mine,” Vance said.
On climate change, Walz argued for government subsidies for clean energy, while Vance argued emissions could be lowered by producing oil and natural gas in the United States, as opposed to overseas.
Regarding immigration, Vance criticized Harris for overseeing record numbers of illegal immigration to the U.S., promising to close
reputation and highly-ranked programs in areas such as business, engineering and architecture as key influences on his choice. Still, for other students, factors beyond academics are central to their decision to attend Notre Dame. The university’s religious identity, community atmosphere and commitment to the common good were recurring themes in
the border and enact mass deportations in a second Trump term. Walz attacked Trump for opposing a bipartisan bill that would have increased funding for border agents, arguing that Trump preferred to campaign on immigration issues instead of solving them.
Vance repeatedly returned to the topic of immigration, claiming it was leading to higher housing costs and straining public services.
On abortion, Vance sought to paint Walz as extreme, saying he supported abortions in the ninth month, while also characterizing Republicans as pro-family. Walz, however, attacked
Republicans for overturning Roe v. Wade and controlling women’s medical decisions. Vance said he did not favor a national ban of abortion, but rather supported states’ ability to craft their own abortion policies.
Walz was quick to attack Vance for Trump’s actions following the 2020 election and on Jan. 6, specifically asking Vance whether or not he believed Trump lost the election. Vance refused to answer the question, saying he was “focused on the future.” Vance also argued that Harris and Walz were seeking to limit free speech, which he claimed
posed a greater threat to democracy.
The two candidates also clashed on the issues of the economy, healthcare, housing and gun rights.
In a poll conducted by CBS immediately after the debate, 42% of voters thought Vance won the debate, compared to 41% for Walz, with 17% calling it a tie. As of now, Trump has turned down a second debate against Harris, possibly making last night’s debate the last before voters head to the polls in November.
Contact Liam Kelly at lkelly8@nd.edu
student interviews.
“National rankings are only able to consider a limited number of factors,” said Fr. Kevin Grove, a theology professor at the university. “Other key aspects of Notre Dame — community, communion and dedication to the common good — will never fit neatly into magazine rankings.”
Notre Dame is one of only three
Catholic institutions ranked in the top 40, alongside Georgetown University and Boston College, and is the only religious institution in the top 20. The Catholic mission of the university is reflected in its required theology and philosophy courses.
For many, this combination of academic rigor and spiritual depth is a defining characteristic
of Notre Dame. Nate Moore, a student who chose Notre Dame for its religious identity, emphasized the importance of a faith-based education in his decision.
“[It was] mostly the religious factor,” Moore said. “I wanted a Catholic base for education.”
While academic prestige and rankings will continue to be a point of pride for the university, for many members of the Notre Dame community, the value of their education goes beyond the numbers.
“It’s cool to see that [the ranking] keeps moving up, but I don’t really focus on it or care too much about it,” Moore added. “I don’t care about the number, it’s more about the culture.”
Contact Zack Pohlman at zpholma2@nd.edu
Alumni
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Sheehan received the Harvey G. Foster award, which rewards athletes or former athletes for their contributions to the community or the University. Sheehan works to facilitate character development in youth sports through the Play Like a Champion Today Educational Series. She earned her master’s degree in psychology from Notre Dame in 1993 in addition to her bachelor’s degree in 1990.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
Notre Dame College Democrats also held a watch party for the debate Tuesday in LaFortune Student Center. Club members nervously watched on together as the likely final debate of the election progressed.
Saint Mary’s president reacts to rankings
Observer Staff Report
On Sept. 27, Saint Mary’s College announced in a press release the national rankings of the institution for 2025. These rankings were awarded to the College by the U.S. News in its listings of the Best Colleges for 2025 through the organization’s annual survey of nearly 1,500 colleges and universities nationwide.
Saint Mary’s ranked no. 80 in the annual ranking of top National Liberal Arts Colleges,
SMC
Jocelyn Porter emphasized the importance of this civil approach.
“It doesn’t have to be so scary to approach these conversations. We can feel collected and be nice,” Porter said.
Ice highlighted the values of respect and finding common ground and clarity.
“One of the big takeaways is being able to find common ground,” junior social media and marketing coordinator Kyndal Christy said. “A lot of understanding can be gained from common ground.”
Ice encouraged practice throughout the seminar by
tied with Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania and St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Top liberal arts colleges are ranked based on a number of factors, including but not limited to graduation rates, ethnic and economic diversity, undergraduate education and the awarding of merit aid.
Within the subfield of liberal arts colleges, the College ranked no. 33 in the distinction of Top Performers on Social Mobility, tied with Macalester College in St.
involving students in debating exercises where they switched positions and posed common abortion rights arguments.
When prompted, Ice recounted his path toward advocacy, admitting he “used to be pro-choice and not Catholic.” It was seeing the 2019 movie “Unplanned” via clips on Instagram which changed his mind. The film is about a clinic director at Planned Parenthood who becomes an anti-abortion advocate.
Ice explained his reaction to the clips.
“I’m sitting here pro-choice because I thought abortion was women empowerment, but there’s nothing empowering in this — it is
Paul, Minnesota. This distinction describes the college or university’s ability to enroll and graduate economically disadvantaged students with the use of Pell Grants. According to U.S. News, the large majority of these federal grants “are awarded to students whose adjusted gross family incomes are under $50,000.”
Saint Mary’s was also ranked no. 43 in the distinction of Best Value Schools in the liberal arts college subfield. The calculation of the rankings for this distinction takes
tragic,” Ice said. “With how terrible chemical abortion is, it is clearly not pro-women. There has to be a better option.”
He said that his interpretation of the movie and change in opinion did not concern the life of the child initially, instead “everything was for women.”
“I have a mom, I have a sister. I don’t want her to be treated that way,” he said.
Ice proceeded to start an antiabortion club at his high school and gradually became more involved as time went on. Now with Students for Life, he currently travels to colleges in the area, giving similar seminars and advice.
As the seminar concluded, Ice
into account the college or university’s academic quality, based off of the 2025 U.S. News Best Colleges ranking, and the net cost of attendance for an out-of-state student receiving the average amount of need-based financial aid in the 2023-2024 academic year.
According to the College’s press release, president Katie Conboy expressed contentment with the offered rankings.
“While rankings are only one measure of a college’s success, our students, faculty and staff are
was commended by the attendees and board members for his presentation. The board of Belles for Life gathered the attendees to take a photo with the lecturer.
“We’re really happy to have Ben,” Porter said.
Porter enlightened her hope for a continuation of the seminar.
“I think we should try and make this at least a once a year thing to refresh people of apologetics, especially for incoming freshmen who maybe have never experienced it before,” she said.
Junior Alessandra Besachio further stressed the importance of involving first year Saint Mary’s College students in these seminars.
“I think especially in college, at
pleased to see Saint Mary’s recognized as a premier destination for women seeking a personal, challenging and supportive learning environment,” Conboy said. “The Sisters of the Holy Cross came here in 1844 with a big idea to give women access to education. We have always been guided by the Sisters’ concept: read the signs of the times and respond to them. Saint Mary’s has been brilliant at recognizing what the world needs and developing the programs and people who can respond to those needs.”
least in my personal pro-life journey, I feel that women are highly targeted in social media with generalizations of what you should or should not believe,” she said.
By attending higher-education institutions with a further diverse and greater population samplings, Besachio noted, students “start developing their own ideas and opinions rather than regurgitating the media.”
The meeting Monday night marks the beginning of an annual series of seminars for members of Belles for Life.
Contact Madyson Casiano at mcasiano01@saintmarys.edu
Notre Dame offers one-credit Irish dance class
By AREZO KARIMI News Writer
This semester, students can take a one-credit Irish dance class where participants learn old-style Irish dancing while also connecting with and learning about Irish culture.
Shannon Dunne, the adjunct assistant teaching professor for the Department of Irish Language and Literature and the founder and director of the Notre Dame Céilí band, is teaching the class this fall. First introduced in fall 2021 by the Irish Language and Literature Department, it allowed students to connect with and learn more about Irish culture after COVID-19.
“Music and dance are such integral parts of everyday Irish culture that it seemed like a no-brainer to offer this class to teach old-style Irish dancing,” Dunne said. In the first session offered, 25 students registered, and interest in the dance class grew. By the spring semester, 33 more students participated, some of whom continued taking the class until their senior year or joined the Céilí band and performed at different events along with Irish music. In the years since the class’ popularity has increased and become a fan-favorite among students. This semester there are four subdivisions of the class and it is open to students of all levels.
The class is unique in the sense that it involves not only studying dance academically but also treating it like fieldwork, Dunne said. She explained that this type of “experiential study” helps students learn and connect to style of dance.
“It’s not like a traditional dance class where you stand with the teacher and learn. Instead, you’re taught the rules, and then you build your own version of the dance while keeping track of pulse and adding rhythm to it,” Dunne said.
This kind of freedom is one of the many things senior Hayley Brownd, who has been dancing for three years, loves most. As a former participant in the Irish Dance and Music
Tournament in West Ireland, she took the Irish dance class as an elective during her freshman year. The class led to her enthusiasm for joining the Céilí band and eventually becoming the team captain.
Fieldwork trips to Ireland, which the class has conducted for the past two years, provide students the opportunity to study and work with musicians and dance experts in Ireland, Dunne said. The class can also prepare students for bigger tournaments such as the Western Ireland Music and Dance competition, where students get the chance to participate in competitions at the regional and international levels. Other students cited breaking up
their academic schedule and staying active as reasons for taking Irish dance.
“It’s a nice break between lecture classes and a good way to stay active throughout the day,” seniors Eric Lawson and Jaidin Esser said.
Senior Casey Brenan said she enjoys the learning process of Irish dance.
“Since everyone is taking this class for fun, which is outside their comfort zone, I do not feel like I am behind or get discouraged, but rather we all enjoy the journey as we learn how to dance together,” Brenan said.
Contact Arezo Karimi at akarimi2@nd.edu
SUB hosts ‘yoga on the quad’ on Sunday
By LUKA VAICEKAUSKAITE News Writer
On Sunday, Sept. 29 the Student Union Board (SUB), in partnership with ND RecSports, hosted their annual yoga on the quad event. Students gathered on the south quad for a beginner-friendly morning yoga session with a scenic view of the Golden Dome. Following the session, participants were treated to smoothies to cap off the experience, making it a refreshing way to recover from Saturday’s game-day festivities.
Senior Madison Chambers taught the Sunday class. Chambers is a yoga flow instructor at Notre
Dame who enjoys teaching because it offers physical and mental health benefits that can not always be gained from other workouts.
“Our main goal with Yoga on the Quad was to spread wellness. We just wanted to spread the idea that fitness and wellness is definitely accessible for everybody,” Chambers said.
Yoga is a practice that combines physical postures, breath control and meditation to promote overall well-being. Regular yoga practice can improve flexibility, strength and balance, while also reducing stress and enhancing mental clarity. It has been shown to boost immune function and improve
cardiovascular health, making it a holistic approach to physical and mental wellness.
“I think that yoga is a very nice workout for a lot of different fitness levels. It can be very versatile, which I like for athletes, or even people that just want to get in the gym. It is a great way to get a good movement for the day,” senior Colleen Murdock said.
Murdock teaches sculpt’d yoga for RecSports. She was first introduced to yoga in her high school physical education class and continued taking classes during her first year at Notre Dame. Ultimately, she decided to enroll in a program through RecSports to
get her teaching certification.
As mentioned, SUB took the initiative in hosting this event to promote health and wellness, but that is just a bit of the work they do.
“SUB hosts on-campus events with the whole idea of student engagement. We just like to do things, whether it is stress relieving or entertainment, just those things where students know that they can have an escape from studying and take part in these fun events,” senior Maya Mehigan said.
Mehigan is deputy director of the Department of Health and Wellness in student government, chair of SUB’s Community Engagement
Committee and secretary of Active Minds Club.
Mehigan is passionate about promoting mental health awareness and views events like yoga on the quad as an integral part of that mission.
Students looking to get more involved with SUB’s wellness initiatives can join at the beginning of the school year or participate in activities throughout the semester. Freshmen can also engage through the ’First Look Into Programming’ (FLIP) or other campus committees.
Contact Luka Vaicekauskaite at lvaiceka@nd.edu
Work hard, play hard: are we doing too much?
our favorite Edikted top laid out on our bed because we’re planning to go out as soon as we hit submit.
When I was deciding to transfer here, one of the biggest reasons people encouraged me to attend was “the culture.” They would tell me Notre Dame was a school unlike any other, that I would be gaining one of the best educations in the country and that I would love tailgating as a student and then an alumnus for the rest of my life.
Once I got here, attended my first few weeks of classes and a game day, I realized that education and fun here really are equally important parts of students’ lives. It’s been kind of a shock to my system: surviving the demands of my classes during the week and then twelve hours of tailgating Saturday has left me sleeping through most of the Sundays I’ve had since I got here. I began to wonder: how do we do it all? Are we doing too much?
When investigating the first question, I found that Notre Dame students have three distinct traits: stamina, enthusiasm and a “go big or go home” attitude.
First, our stamina people on this campus embody the “work hard, play hard” stereotype. It wasn’t until Friday night before my second gameday, wandering campus at 10:00 p.m. looking for a place to finish my assignment due at midnight, that I noticed everyone was in the same boat as me. Students at Notre Dame don’t flinch at a daunting Friday night full of homework — we face it fearlessly under the fluorescents of Hesburgh. We put our headphones on in our bedroom to drown out the party raging next door and have
After getting home at 2 a.m. on Friday, of course, the average Notre Dame student is awake at seven the next morning to get ready for game day. To us, donning our Irish green while it’s still dark outside is the perfect way to prepare for a twelvehour day of meeting our friends’ (and realistically, vague acquaintances’) parents, sunburn and eating the weirdest combinations of free tailgate food.
Some of us are so dedicated to this weekend routine, in fact, that they will often walk to their tailgate running a fever, with assignments pulled up on their phone to work on between tailgate hops and in the case of a couple truly committed students I know, even throwing up. The only thing that keeps them going is sheer enthusiasm for every aspect of our student experience.
People are so enthusiastic about this school that after they graduate, they return with their families to walk around campus like tourists. I called my parents laughing when people were here on Friday taking pictures. You would think the Dome was the Eiffel Tower the way people were posing in front of it and discussing its history in line at the LaFun Starbucks.
The final distinguishing aspect of Notre Dame’s students, and the university itself, is the “go big or go home” attitude. Was it necessary, for example, to have an airplane flyover before the Miami Ohio game started? Did we need a university-themed drone show during our massive Inauguration Ball? Was it essential to cancel
classes so we could host basically the entire city of South Bend for food trucks and live music on the library lawn? My research (asking my friends) revealed that the answer to all these questions is yes, obviously this is Notre Dame, and I’m the only person who’s surprised.
It is obvious that ND students have what it takes to juggle a heavy course load, be involved in basically every organization on campus and get through the weekend marathon every week. But the question still remains: should we? Are we doing too much?
In the spirit of journalistic integrity, I admit that I didn’t go to the game this weekend. I woke up Saturday morning after a near all-nighter on Thursday with a headache, a sore throat and a cough. I even got up and pulled my game day clothes out before I accepted the reality: I wasn’t going to make it this weekend.
When I woke up around 3 p.m., I felt slightly guilty and embarrassed that I skipped a game. The more I thought about it, however, the more I realized that I was doing too much. Even a Notre Dame student sometimes has to rest.
So are we doing too much? I think it depends on the person. I respect everyone who decides to prioritize their peace every once in a while almost as much as I respect the people who crawl, throwing up the whole way, to every game of the season.
Sophia Anderson is a sophomore at Notre Dame studying political science. She is a sophomore transfer and plans to go to law school. You can contact her at sander38@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
On sunrises
calendars. Days are planned from sunrise past sunset. It the opposite of the small town pace of life to which I am accustomed.
I have lived my entire life in the greatest town in the world (Cumberland, Maryland), nestled in the heart of the Appalachian (App-a-lach-en) Mountains. After a few years, the natural beauty surrounding my home became an afterthought — except for the sunrise. The pink skies of a Cumberland sunrise were never taken for granted. Watching the sun crest over the oldest mountain range in North America yielded a new day and a mental reset. Sometimes, I slipped outside to take pictures. Other times, I admired it through my car window as I crossed those mountains, the same way many others did on their travels to the west. While I miss the Cumberland sunrise, I have encountered its distant, midwestern cousin: the Notre Dame sunrise. Everyday, I step outside early in the morning for a walk or a run to see the same pink sky crest over South Quad next to my new home in Alumni Hall. I’ve taken a few pictures of those too. Notre Dame can isolate you from the rest of the world — the campus, in all its beauty, is insular. This hive of activity feels separate from the outside world. Everyone is going all the time. People walk quickly. They color code their google
Still, there is always a sunrise. It is the same sunrise that my family eight hours away is witnessing a sunrise I observe as I stroll around the lakes and past the Old College, over to North Quad and back to Alumni Hall. No one moves during sunrise. Campus is quiet because the bustle hasn’t begun. I can stop to experience the new environment in which I find myself. I can create new ideas, observe the rain as it falls or look closely at the architecture illuminated by the first glimmer of a new day. I keep my phone off during this time. No notifications. No noise. Utter silence. Just light.
The light connects me to other aspects of my life. It is when I am closest to God. Some may assume I hear the undefinable voice of God but words are not a part of His vocabulary. I am spoken to through the breeze. Through the morning rain that collects on my shoes or the sleeves of my shirt. Through the sun and its warmth. Through the other people going about their day at unfathomably early hours.
It forces you to stop and spend time with your thoughts good and otherwise. I’ve experienced both over the course of my short time here but they don’t matter when the sun rises. In the face
of first light and utter beauty, you leave them behind. Instead of living as brains in jars, we live through the world. As a chronic overthinker and anxious person, it is exactly what I need, and I have a feeling I’m not the only one.
Since many of you reading this are not experiencing the Notre Dame sunrise for the first time, it might be time for another look. Get up early and go outside. I don’t take responsibility for one’s grogginess, but I can say that experiencing perfect fall weather at 7:45 a.m. provides a different kind of energy. Walk around your quad, the lakes and all the spots that I have yet to discover on my expeditions. It might change your perspective or, at the very least, give you a break from the noise. Perhaps my wonder at this place will one day fade. I will return to forgetting its beauty as I did in my hometown. That day has not yet arrived, and I remain enthralled by the new world I witness.
Duncan Stangel is a first year Global Affairs major at Notre Dame. Currently residing in Alumni Hall (the center of the universe), he hails from the small town of Cumberland, Maryland nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. When he’s not saving kittens from trees, you can find him stumbling to Debart with a caffeine source in hand. Contact at dstangel@nd.edu
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Sophia Anderson Transfer Tales
Duncan Stagel The Center of the Universe
What we hold in our hands
Soledad Castellanos News Writer
If you were to ask my great grandmother how old she is, her response to the question would be “At least a hundred.” And she’s right because this past August she just celebrated her 103rd birthday surrounded by the love of her siblings, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who all came together for her special day. And as I asked her how she felt about a hundred and three, she simply said “I’m tired.” Aren’t we all?
You see, my Lita has seen nineteen U.S. presidents, the completion of the Empire State Building, saw both the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, the moon landing, lived through the Great Depression, World War II, 9/11 and survived COVID-19. So clearly, she’s seen a couple of things. Born in 1921 on the 11th of August in Cotulla, Texas, my great great grandparents welcomed their first born, a baby girl who they named Esperanza. As the first of 10 children, she was oftentimes tasked with lending a helping hand to her parents as the workload between the household chores and work in the fields was stacked. They traveled across the country to
Nebraska then finally settled in the great city of East Chicago, Indiana in the 1940s.
It was there that she worked to make a home with my great grandfather for their three children and then, for her grandchildren and ultimately, for me. She adorned the titles of cook, of hairdresser, of seamstress and of course mom and grandma. She worked hard from a young age to help provide for her family as she used her hands to cultivate the land and life that she had been given.
It was her hands that my dad recalled rolling out fresh tortillas every morning, her hands that made the most delicious pineapple upside cake, her hands that sewed countless clothing items and the hands that shared the warmth of love in everything she made. From all the life my Lita has lived, I can’t help but admire the world and life that she has created for herself and her family through the work of her giving hands. To me her hands are the ones that I secretly pass pop-rocks to because she likes them, her hands are the ones that I hold as I paint her nails while she plays bingo on her iPad and they are the hands that I wipe down after sharing strawberry shortcakes with her on a hot summer day.
But as these last warm days of September leave and I am away from home, I think about Lita more
and more. It is in the hands that I work with that I find myself reminded of her, which makes me start to wonder about the future that my hands behold. Is it my work here at The Observer and in my writing that will signify the strength of my hands or is it the comforting hands that lay atop a friend’s shoulder as we break into “Notre Dame, Our Mother,” to conclude the many football Saturdays or times of pure connection?
It is through our hands that we embrace the world around us as we bring it closer through the grasps and touch of our figures to feel and experience. It is the hands of our mothers and fathers, our sisters and our brothers that unite us together in every perceived creation that we wish to share with the world around us or maybe it is the hands that we hope so dearly to hold again. I guess the real question is what is it here that we hope to make with our hands that we wish to be admired, protected, inspected or destroyed? Whatever it is, make it quick but thoughtfully because you may not have a hundred and three years to figure it out!
You can contact Soledad Castellanos at scastellanos01@saintmarys.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Humor unites Gen Z
Don Hertzfeldt’s 17-minute short film “World of Tomorrow” has become one of my recent favorite watches. It’s a story about Emily, a toddler fashioned from scant lines. In the future, she will be impregnated with her clone, upload her past memories to this replica and live forever.
Her second-generation self contacts young Emily from 227 years into the future. They time travel to observe future Emily’s past while technologies manufacture an emotionless utopia.
“Our more recent history is often just comprised of images of other people watching view-screens,” future Emily says.
The film’s overarching message is to be wary of technology’s evolution while cherishing humanhuman interaction and its accompanying emotions. It hints that future — and current — technologies grasp the power to corrupt emotion and nostalgia. But I disagree.
Like Emily, I have aged with technology (albeit not to the point of wide-spread time travel). I have been active on social media platforms Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok during their respective growths.
Intriguing posts, to me and my friends, are the ones that evoke visceral, unexpected reactions that often precipitate off-screen life. I regularly say things for “the bit.” I try not to break character while making humorous situations because I want spontaneous reactions.
And I think Gen Z’s humor exemplifies the power of technology in stark contrast from “World of Tomorrow.” I’m confident and hopeful that technology has the sustaining power to connect humans, especially Gen Z individuals, with humorous emotion.
W.L.T.L: we like to laugh
Jake Shane is an online personality popular among Gen Z. His frequent skits and bits, under TikTok username “octopusslover8,” are viral because his content embodies current trends, references popular music artists and uses accessible humor. In popular posts, he reenacts famous situations
from celebrities and historical figures. Recently, he created a TikTok skit mimicking “the founding fathers after John Hancock signed his name super big.”
He also popularized “nyming”: forging acronyms from random sayings or dialogue. For example, “L.G.I”: “Let’s Go Irish!”
Nyming is not only popular on TikTok and Instagram, but also in real life (I.R.L.). When his nyming videos went viral last summer and autumn, fans, including me, regularly used them.
Creating new acronyms is fun. Decoding what others say is a thrilling challenge. And in the process, laughter spreads and connections spark.
Shane’s content isn’t the only example of online humor that materializes offline. Other influencers such as Sturniolo Triplets, Brittany Broski, Drew Phillips and Enya Umanzor are applicable to other fandoms.
Media, generational distinction
But drawing humor from technology isn’t new.
The 1950s hit sitcom “I Love Lucy” pioneered sitcoms. Youth were enthralled from the revolutionary film techniques: multiple cameras allowed for stronger situational comedy and reruns. Because generations of Americans consumed this show, which showcased physical satire and progressive heroine roles, it is now the “greatest TV show of all time,” according to Variety.
Over time, shows have used such techniques and writing to anticipate multiple generations’ cultural beliefs, fads and feelings. However, TVs weren’t as easily accessible as today’s smartphones. Bands of people regularly watched shows together.
Evolving mobile technologies, however, have greater ranges of anonymity. The internet, according to sociologist Ray Oldenburg in a 2013 technology opinion article by The Guardian, is a “third place,” a space where individuals have the freedom to bond with humor in some anonymity, similar to a bar or coffee shop. At the time of the article’s publication, over 70% of households used the internet.
In some ways, the emergence of hand-held devices has only added to that want and reality. Explore and for-you pages display the username chosen when the account was created. Users can comment, like,
favorite and repost a seemingly endless display of content. Trained algorithms curate content deemed worthy to fill our nearly five-hour daily average on social media, according to a 2023 Gallup finding. Accessibility in the 21st century simply allows for anyone to access any post on the spectrum of satire. Anonymity allows for a private social media feed individually personalized for each user.
Political impact
Despite technology’s ability to disconnect people, online humor facilitates further connection for Gen Z offline. And its effects have the potential to mobilize young voters.
I’ve received dozens of texts from friends about presidential candidate Kamala Harris’s edits to Charli xcx’s pop album “BRAT.” One of particular note is a coconut tree-inspired remix to “365.”
Millions of views, likes and shares are spreading Harris’s humor. Utilizing an entertaining TikTok account simply sustains young attention, which is so difficult at a time when youth have little trust in major institutions.
Her campaign’s TikTok account “Kamala HQ” has made several posts catering to Gen Z humor. (One post even revealed the Kamala HQ user as a girl wearing loafers with scrunched socks. Comments identified her as Gen Z).
Social media connects us through emotion. At times, we want to laugh. We seek people and content that make us feel good: why would we waste energy not seeking uplifting content?
Decades of technological evolution have set precedent for the culture of today’s youth. Social media platforms may be an unorthodox catalyst for human connection, but offline conversations remain emotionally stimulating. While media consumption is healthy in moderation, online humor bolsters interpersonal relationships bit by bit.
Redmond (Reddy) Bernhold is a junior studying biochemistry and journalism. He originally hails from Minster, Ohio but calls Siegfried Hall his home on campus. When not writing, he explores South Bend coffee shops and thrift stores. You can contact Reddy at rbernho2@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Redmond Bernhold Born Reddy
By ROSIE MAESE Scene Writer
As the leaves are starting to change on campus, the Notre Dame community is starting to prepare for spooky season. Halloween is approaching, and that means painted pumpkins, scary costumes and most importantly, horror movies! Fellow students and I alike are thrilled to see what new films will be released in cinemas this October, but hopefully none will be like the horror film of the summer, “Longlegs.”
I was very excited coming into this movie — the trailer was eerie, the soundtrack gave me goosebumps, and the movie seemed like it would actually be frightening, which is important to me as I am not easily scared by horror movies. My friend and I really felt that this film would do the trick. I must admit, I had initial skepticism walking into the theater, because my other friends who saw the movie prior warned me about the linear plot and lack of suspense. I soon learned that I couldn’t agree more!
We meet the main character Lee, who gives the audience, as a character, not much. The actress (Maika Monroe) portrayed the character well, but was clearly limited. Lee was completely unappealing as a protagonist and most of the time had a dreary, monotone demeanor. As a viewer, I felt no sympathy or care toward her discovering Longlegs’ identity because I wasn’t able to empathize or sympathize with her. My only reason for caring about Longlegs’ identity was my curiosity as someone who spent the time to see this movie, and I expected more suspense from the film. After law enforcement captured Longlegs, the film stopped having suspense early on. Although the plot twist in the end was shocking, I felt that as a viewer I waited too long for that twist and therefore was disappointed by it — especially since we never discover who Longlegs really is. To heed your curiosity for those who haven’t seen the film, the plot twist is simply that Lee’s mother worked with Longlegs to protect her daughter, and so Longlegs always knew who Lee was. Lee’s mother was eerie and creepy — very “horror-esque,” yet she
was almost too creepy, and her character became more off-putting than scary as the film progressed. As a viewer, I wished there were a deeper connection of Lee herself to Longlegs and a fulfilling revelation of his identity. By not knowing this, the audience is left on a loose end that will never be tied up.
Aside from the unresolved question and lack of suspense, I must applaud “Longlegs” for its downright blood-curdling imagery. For instance, in the scene where Longlegs kills himself, he smashes his skull open and you can see his face deforming more and more as he keeps slamming his head on the table. This gore made me queasy, which I enjoyed as I usually expect more gore from horror movies than I should and am usually disappointed. For such a bizarre scene, the imagery was oddly realistic. Though I have been quite critical thus far, I must commend the film for the scenery, props, setting, costumes, and soundtrack. While this story isn’t engaging, its presentation is excellent and terrifying.
Contact Rosie Maese at rmaese@nd.edu
By LUKE FOLEY Scene Writer
There isn’t a greater burden in this material reality than being a young U2 fan in 2024. Even though they were once beloved by audiences and critics alike during their peak in the ‘80s and ‘90s, they are now a pariah amongst younger generations. Subsequently, they haven’t been granted the same retro revival as other rock bands, so while you may see Nirvana shirts in Urban Outfitters and Metallica songs in “Stranger Things,” U2’s modern presence has been relegated to your father’s old CD collection. Why is this? Why has U2 been left behind? Are Zoomers stupid?
Regardless of the reasons, I’ve grown tired of modern U2 snubbing. I’ll take matters into my own hands and single-handedly start the U2 revival. Lucky for me, there couldn’t be a more perfect opportunity for this goal than celebrating the 40th anniversary of their breakthrough album, “The Unforgettable Fire.” Before this album’s release, U2 was primarily a domestic phenomenon in Ireland, and their music heavily borrowed from punk aesthetics. However, Bono and the gang wanted to radically change their sound for their fourth album. Thus, they boldly hired ambient musician/producer Brian Eno, known for his work on Talking Heads’ masterpiece “Remain in Light.” U2’s interest in Eno shocked both their label and Eno himself, for they thought Eno was too avant-garde for their arena rock sensibilities. However, U2’s sheer
enthusiasm for working with Eno won over both parties. After also bringing in producer Daniel Lanois and a 2-month recording period full of crunch and stress, “The Unforgettable Fire” was released on 1 Oct. 1984.
“The Unforgettable Fire” was a transformative release for the band; it’s the cohesive, ambitious work of a band that had finally achieved artistic maturity. The opener, “A Sort of Homecoming,” sets the tone for the album with an atmospheric soundscape of hazy guitars and polyrhythmic drums. Gone was the rawness of “I Will Follow”; U2 was now interested in ambient rock that twisted and turned through lush production. The following track, “Pride (In the Name of Love),” is one of their most famous songs, and for good reason. The Edge’s guitar riff is utterly brilliant; the tone, the rhythm, the texture and the chord progression all come together to make something truly exceptional. And then Adam Clayton’s propulsive bassline and Bono’s soaring voice make the song even more sublime. Yes, it’s overplayed, but as is the case with most overplayed songs, it became overplayed for a reason: it’s a great song. It’s probably the most succinct distillation of what makes U2 so special.
The next song, ”Wire,” is one of the album’s most stark moments. It’s a fast-paced, anxious track with frantic guitars and funky grooves. Bono even starts scatting towards the end. The following titular track has a diverse arrangement of synthesizers and strings that coalesce into gorgeously mellow songs. By this point in the album, it’s clear Eno and Lanois handling
production was a genius decision. They helped U2 create much richer soundscapes and complex arrangements while preserving the band’s brilliant interplay and songwriting.
The album’s time crunch becomes apparent in the second half, as tracks like “Promenade” and “4th of July” barely cross the two-minute mark, and the latter is a purely instrumental track. Nevertheless, they’re still pleasantly gentle listens and showcase U2’s further embrace of their new atmospheric sound. Moreover, there are some great deep cuts, like the fun Talking Heads pastiche “Indian Summer Sky.” However, the true highlight of the second half and arguably the entire album is the show-stopper, “Bad,” which many consider the greatest U2 song ever. It’s an immensely cathartic song; Bono’s poignant lyrics capture the turmoil and instability of addiction, and its slow build-up reaches a stunning, passionate crescendo by the end. Even though I’ve listened to the song countless times, I’m still enraptured by Bono belting that final “I’m Wide Awake” over Adam Clayton’s excellent drumming. U2 would go on to make more commercially and artistically successful albums, but “The Unforgettable Fire” is the band’s first great album. By collaborating with unorthodox producers who challenged and expanded their musicianship, they finally became a singular band creating gorgeous, lush rock full of spirituality and heart.
Contact Luke Foley at lfoley2@nd.edu
Irish volleyball splits 3-1 results in ACC openers
By TYLER REIDY Sports Editor
Over the weekend, Notre Dame volleyball finished the season’s first month by getting underway with Atlantic Coast Conference action. The Irish played out a pair of 3-1 contests at home, falling to No. 3 Stanford on Friday before defeating Cal on Sunday. As October and a full month of conference play arrives, Notre Dame sits at 8-3 overall and 1-1 within the ACC.
Irish battle Stanford, taking set two
Despite Friday’s loss to the Cardinal, Notre Dame did something it had never done against a top-10-ranked team under Salima Rockwell: claim a set. The Irish made for a tough customer against Stanford, scoring at least 17 points in all four sets and winning set two by a 25-23 score. As anticipated, Stanford started fast, scoring each of the night’s first three points. Notre Dame, however, hung in and briefly took a 6-5 lead in set one. The Cardinal then embarked on a 6-0 scoring run and would ultimately cruise to a 25-17 set victory. Stanford set the tone with a
.310 hitting percentage and five service aces — two of them by Taylor Yu — to overcome four kills and an ace from junior Irish outside hitter Lucy Trump.
The Cardinal appeared similarly comfortable to open up set two, marching out to leads of 6-1 and 12-7.
However, as Stanford’s success on the serve dwindled away, the Irish rallied, pulling ahead on a Trump kill at 16-15 to force a Cardinal timeout. Stanford then answered right back, moving into a 21-19 advantage before a kill from senior outside hitter Sydney Palazzolo put the Irish up 23-22. The hotly contested set finally ended when the Cardinal, who made seven service errors in set two alone, misfired on a serve with the Irish at set point. Despite carrying a .138 hitting percentage that paled in comparison to Stanford’s .276 mark, the Irish had found a way.
Stanford would return to business in set three, following the lead of Elia Rubin and her five kills. The Cardinal, who forced the Irish into nine attack errors in the set, raced out to an 8-3 lead and never looked back, capturing the set at 25-18. Notre Dame’s
attack struggled again in set four, but Stanford left the door slightly ajar with six service errors. The Irish, meanwhile, notched three aces to combat the Cardinal and their lofty hitting percentage of .340. In the end, despite Notre Dame holding close with a 15-13 deficit at one point, Stanford led from wire to wire and won the set and match at 25-20.
As usual, Stanford did a little bit of everything well to take down the Irish. Elia Rubin paced the Cardinal attack with 17 kills at a .325 hitting percentage. Sami Francis, who finished with nine blocks, combined with Lizzy Andrew for 17 kills at a hitting percentage just below .500. Yu added five service aces.
Notre Dame, meanwhile, also played with balance but didn’t receive high-end contributions to the same degree.
Palazzolo double-doubled with 10 kills and 10 digs but could only muster a .025 hitting percentage. Senior setter Phyona Schrader posted nine kills, 15 assists and 12 digs, falling just short of another triple-double. The Irish also suffered a disadvantage at the net, totaling 6.5 blocks to Stanford’s 13.
Irish flip the script on Cal
In Sunday afternoon’s matchup against Cal, the Irish accomplished everything they couldn’t two days earlier. They won set one, set three and set four, attacked more efficiently, were better at the net and got a tripledouble out of Schrader. She racked up 12 kills, 18 assists and 13 digs, hitting .429 while Palazzolo posted four service aces and a dozen kills at .286. Overall, Notre Dame outhit Cal .315 to .286
Set one opened
competitively, with Maggie Li leading the Golden Bears out to an 18-16 advantage. Freshman middle blocker Anna Bjork would turn the tides for the Irish, swatting back-to-back kills to level the score at 18-18. Trump then added a kill of her own, moving the Irish into a onepoint lead. Another Trump kill and block assist would bring the score to 21-19 Notre Dame, inciting a Cal timeout. Coming out of the break, the Irish remained on the hunt, and, with Trump at the serve, tallied three straight points to win the set at 25-20.
The Golden Bears punched back in set two, playing incredibly clean volleyball to bury the Irish at 25-13. Cal hit .464 in the set while committing zero reception errors, also posting a lofty sideout percentage of 92 to keep Notre Dame from
ND VOLLEYBALL
WENNY WANG | The Observer
Junior outside hitter Lucy Trump (7) and freshman middle blocker Grace Langer (33) rise up, their hands stretching over the net, in an attempt to block California outside hitter Peyton DeJardin (55). The Irish won the match in four sets. They will continue their ACC schedule with a matchup against No. 13 Georgia Tech on Friday, Oct. 4 at Purcell Pavilion.
TAURUS
into how you earn your living and investments, and take better care of yourself. Research, and you’ll discover how to take advantage of what and who you know and make the world around you better. Giving back will lift your spirits and your reputation.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Someone will mislead you if you come across as gullible. Question everything, go directly to the source, research, and decide what’s best for you. Act on your behalf and let others do as they please. Socialize and interact, but most of all, trust and believe in yourself.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Sit tight if your thoughts aren’t clear. Put your energy into selfimprovement, health, and fitness, and expand your circle of friends and interests. Don’t let anger seep into conversations or cause frustration and grief. Stay calm, listen, and proceed with a positive attitude. Choose peace over discord.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Fix up your living space, invest time and money in yourself and your surroundings. Efficiency will make a difference in the outcome of a project. Ask questions and gather information to help you decide what you can achieve independently and when to call for help.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Explore places and pastimes that excite you. A change will motivate you and give you a clear picture of your goals. The prerequisite to happiness is doing the right thing at the right time. Don’t hold back; follow your dreams and get on with life.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Enthusiasm will make a difference. How you influence others to see things your way will determine the outcome. Opportunity knocks, and time, charm, and patience will seal a deal that can further your expectations. Take action when action is necessary. Stick to facts and figures.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Interaction will give you something to consider. Communication, conferences, reunions, and gatherings that put you in touch with motivational people and influences will impact how you move forward. Be open and receptive to change and embrace whatever makes you feel good about yourself.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Be careful; someone you least expect will lead you astray. Look for opportunities that you have insight into and replenish your thoughts with the history of something or someone you want to pursue. Don’t take a risk; be thoughtful, gather facts, and be realistic regarding what you discover.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Question your choices and start conversations with experts, but don’t give in to anyone who treats you arrogantly. You decide what’s best for you. Your intuition is smackdab on target, and if you do your due diligence, it will lead you to positive change and profit.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Simplify your life instead of adding unnecessary stress. Spending on something you don’t need or getting into a joint venture, shared expenses, or iffy investment will be costly physically and emotionally. Stick to what and who you know, use your intelligence, and know when to say no.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Downsize, rethink your strategy, restructure your plans, and put your energy into studying and researching the possibilities. Your actions will make a difference in how and where you live. A change of pace, associates, or lifestyle will play in your favor. Personal growth and love are favored.
Birthday Baby: You are majestic, insightful, and kind. You are influential and bold.
Volleyball
building momentum at the service line. The Irish returned to their set one form in the third set, breaking out of a 6-6 deadlock early on to win at 25-16. This time, Notre Dame made no reception errors while Cal’s offense dried up to the tune of a negative hitting percentage. Palazzolo also provided the Irish an extra boost with a trio of service aces.
Set four started much like set three did, as another 6-6 tie ensued and Cal remained right behind the Irish at 12-10. However, hitting at a remarkable clip of .500, Notre Dame took off on a 13-5 run to wrap up the weekend with a matchclinching, 25-15 set win. Schrader finished with her best set of the weekend, contributing six kills on just seven total attempts along with five assists and four digs.
This week, the Irish will remain at Purcell Pavilion to take on No. 13 Georgia Tech (Friday, 6:30 p.m.) and Clemson (Sunday, 1 p.m.)
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
Belles finish winless at quad meet
By CLAIRE WATSON Sports Writer
Following a break after they faced Manchester, the Belles headed to Terre Haute where they went 0-3 heading out of the Rose-Hulman Invitational.
Anderson University
The first match of the invitational was against the Anderson University Ravens. During the first set, the teams went back and forth as they battled for the lead, but the Ravens would come out with a 25-23 win. Freshman Kalli Lewkowski led on the court with four kills followed closely by sophomore Caroline Carens with three kills.
The second set of the match looked almost identical as both teams battled for the lead. Saint Mary’s kept the score to a two-point lead throughout the second set. However, Anderson went on an eight point run to finish the match 25-16 over the Belles. Lewkowski finished the second set with six kills and sophomore Abby Reese
finished the set with eleven assists.
The two teams battled it out in the third set as Saint Mary’s added pressure on the Ravens as they took a three-point lead later in the set. The Ravens managed a nine point run over the Belles, making the final set score 25-20 and the final overall score 3-0 in favor of the Ravens.
Lewkowski left the court with 12 kills, junior Grace Braselton added eight kills, Reese finished with 14 assists, junior Karli Fegan added 11 digs and junior Delaney Martin and senior Cali Allen would both record multiple service aces. Martin had three with Allen at two.
Illinois College
Heading into Saturday, the second match for the Belles was against the Illinois Lady Blues. The first set went in favor of the Lady Blues as they took the first set 25-17 over the Belles. Carens totaled five kills and Reese tallied six assists.
The second set looked
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
stronger as Saint Mary’s stayed close behind the Lady Blues, battling them for the lead. Ultimately, the Lady Blues took the close 25-20 victory. Carens led the team on the court with a total of eight kills.
Illinois rounded out the match in the third set taking the 25-16 win over the Belles. Carens continued to shine on the court and continued her personal lead with a total of eleven kills, juniors Grace Braselton and Patricia Settlemier followed with seven and six kills, Martin and Lewkowski tallied five each, freshman Giuliana Graczyk led the team with 14 assists and Reese finished with 12.
Rose-Hulman
The second set looked tough for both teams as the teams totaled 17 errors throughout the set. Despite the errors, the Belles battled back against Rose-Hulman but was still unable to come up with a win. Reese tallied a total of eight assists during the set.
Rose-Hulman kept rolling during the third set taking a 25-19 victory over the Belles to win the match 3-0 overall. Lewkowski led the team with nine kills, Braselton recorded six, Carens had five and Reese finished with 18 assists. Reese has hit double digits in assists during 13 out of the 14 matches that the Belles have played so far.
For her performance across the three matches, Carens was named to the All-Tournament team.
Now 7-7 on the season, the Belles stay on the road as they travel to Alma College to kick off the conference starting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 1.
Heading into the third and final match of the invitational, Saint Mary’s took their third loss of the weekend to the Rose-Hulman Engineers. Taking advantage of six errors created by the Belles, the first set went in favor of the Engineers as they took the 25-14 win. Lewkowski tallied five kills and Graczyk recorded five assists during the first set.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson01@saintmarys.edu
Trine victory extends Irish win streak to four
By TYLER REIDY Sports Editor
As a chilly breeze from the north marked the calendar’s turning from September to October, Notre Dame men’s soccer produced more of the same Tuesday night at Alumni Stadium. The Irish extended their win streak to four matches, improving to 5-1-3 on the season with a 7-1 thrashing of Division III program Trine. Notre Dame scored in bunches, tallying seven goals or more for the first time since Sept. 27, 2022 against Kalamazoo.
“I think we were a little sluggish to start,” Notre Dame head coach Chad Riley said. “Credit to Trine — they came out and hit a couple of direct balls that woke us up. I think they pressed pretty well … Overall, I thought Trine started well, and it took us a little bit [but we] responded pretty well.”
Despite Trine’s early pressure, Notre Dame put forth the night’s first goal in the seventh minute. Sophomore midfielder Nolan Spicer drew contact inside the 18-yard box, winning a penalty kick for the Irish. None other than Matthew Roou, the reigning ACC
Offensive Player of the Week, stepped up to take the shot. With a crisp finish inside the right post, the senior forward notched his ninth goal of the season, scored for the fourth consecutive match and reached the 30-goal plateau for his career.
Six minutes later, Notre Dame struck again. Sophomore forward Jack Flanagan unleashed a cross from the right side that swerved into the arms of Trine goalkeeper Dillon Lambert. However, as he reached down to corral the ball, Lambert fumbled it back to the top of the 6-yard box. The rebound deflected off a Trine defender and trickled out to freshman midfielder Ian Shaul, who cut a perfectly placed shot through traffic and into the lower left corner. Shaul’s first career goal had the Irish up a pair of goals early on.
The 18th minute saw another member of the Notre Dame midfield score for the first time in 2024. Turning with a threaded pass from senior midfielder Bryce Boneau, junior KK Baffour navigated between Thunder defenders to open up a shooting lane from 15 yards out. As Lambert approached to challenge, Baffour
angled a shot around him to the right, extending Notre Dame’s lead to 3-0.
“I think he’s been really unlucky — he’s had some blocks, some good keeper saves, some narrow misses,” Riley said of Baffour. “Like Roou, he’s always in and around there, and it’s nice for him to get that breakthrough.”
On the other side of the pitch, graduate goalkeeper Collin Travasos made the start and played his first minutes in an Irish uniform. The sixth-year transfer from North Carolina made one save but faced a beauty of a shot that put Trine on the board in the 20th minute. Firing from 20 yards out, Braden Estep picked out the upper right corner for Trine’s first goal in four all-time matches against Notre Dame.
With the score having held at 3-1 midway through, the Irish returned with another flurry of early-half goals just after halftime. The 60th minute opened with a brilliant connection between Boneau and Spicer, who passed between one another three times atop the 18-yard box before Spicer marched in and registered his second goal of the season.
On Notre Dame’s fourth goal,
Boneau collected his second assist of the night and matched his career high with seven helpers on the season.
“He’s one that just finds the right times to join the attack,” Riley said of Boneau. “The interchange between him and Nolan was fantastic, and then just a good calm finish by Nolan.”
Only 80 seconds later, another Irish star equaled his own career high, as Roou broke free down the middle via Baffour’s setup. With an easy poke of the ball beyond Lambert’s reach, the Notre Dame talisman tallied his 10th goal of the season to parallel his 2023 total. Roou’s 31st career goal also moved him into a tie with Jack Lynn for 13th place on the alltime Notre Dame leaderboard.
“Hitting the back of the net is hard to do,” Riley said. “[Roou’s] locked in, and he’s finding the net now, so we want to keep him doing that.”
After an own goal pushed Notre Dame’s lead to 6-1 in the 63rd minute, sophomore midfielder Nico Bartlett opened his collegiate account. Running onto a wonderfully directed flick from sophomore forward Nate Zimmerman, Bartlett chipped
the ball over replacement keeper Aidan McGonagle for Notre Dame’s seventh goal of the night. The match would go final with the score still 7-1 in favor of the Irish.
As Notre Dame exited the pitch on Tuesday, it also wrapped up a six-game homestand. The stretch started with adversity, as the Irish played to a draw against Duquesne and lost a winnable contest to Stanford. However, Notre Dame responded with four straight wins, including Friday’s 2-1 takedown of No. 12 Clemson.
After Tuesday’s victory, Riley assessed how the long stretch of games at Alumni Stadium went for his team.
“Pretty well,” he said. “I think the performances continued to get better … I give the guys a lot of credit that they stayed the course, focused on the process, and they saw the fruits of their work in the results.”
Up next, Notre Dame will dip back into ACC play and visit 2022 national champion Syracuse. The match is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
MLB division standings and playoff picture
By CLAIRE WATSON Sports Writer
As I appreciate baseball just as much as any other baseball fan or baseball player even though I play a different sport (softball). I am interested in how each team finished in their division, looking at their win-loss numbers and winning percentage heading into the postseason.
AL East
The Yankees hold the No. 1 spot in the AL East division. New York finished the season with 94 wins and 68 losses for a .580 regular season winning percentage. Finishing in first, the Yankees also clinched the division and hold the best record in the American League. Finishing in second place and sneaking into the playoffs as a wild card, the Baltimore Orioles hold the No. 2 spot in the division, finishing with 91 wins and 71 losses. The Orioles also finished with a .562 winning percentage heading into the postseason.
The Boston Red Sox clinched the third spot in the AL East conference with an equal number of victories and defeats: 81 wins and 81 losses. The Red Sox finished with an even .500 winning percentage.
The Tampa Bay Rays (I’ve been to one of their home games) finished fourth and
failed to make the postseason.
The Rays finished out the regular season with 80 wins and 82 losses and a winning percentage of .494.
Last but certainly not least, the Toronto Blue Jays round out the AL East division in fourth place. The Blue Jays ended the season with 74 wins and 88 losses and finished with a .457 winning percentage.
AL Central
Clinching the division, the Cleveland Guardians hold the first spot in the AL Central division, rounding out the season with 92 wins and 69 losses and a winning percentage of .571.
Thanks to the wild card, the Kansas City Royals made the postseason after finishing second in the division. They wrapped up the season with 86 wins and 76 losses. The Royals also finished with a winning percentage of .531.
The Detroit Tigers round out the top three in the AL Central conference. The team finished the regular season with 86 wins, 76 losses and a winning percentage of .531 but lost the tiebreaker to the Royals. The Tigers also made the playoffs as the third wild card.
The Minnesota Twins took the fourth spot in the division with a total of 82 wins and 80 losses. They finished out the regular season with a winning
percentage of .506.
The Chicago White Sox did not look too hot throughout the regular season, winning just 41 games and losing a record-breaking 121 games. The White Sox finished the season with an overall winning percentage of .253.
AL West
Dominating in the AL West division, the Houston Astros hold the top spot after the end of the regular season with 88 wins, 73 losses and a .547 winning percentage.
The Seattle Mariners clinched the second spot with a .525 winning percentage from 85 wins and 77 losses.
In third, the Texas Rangers finish with 78 wins, 84 losses and a .481 winning percentage. The Rangers miss the playoffs after winning the World Series last season.
Fourth place brings up the Oakland Athletics. The A’s finished their final season in Oakland with 69 wins, 93 losses and a .426 winning percentage. Fifth place in the division is held by the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels rounded out the season with 63 wins, 99 losses and a winning percentage of .389 after losing Shohei Ohtani in free agency.
NL East
Clinching the division, the Philadelphia Phillies take the
No. 2 seed in the National League postseason bracket. The Phillies finished the regular season with 95 wins, 67 losses and a .586 winning percentage.
Second place goes to the Atlanta Braves, who made the playoffs as a wild card. The Braves finished out the regular season with 89 wins, 73 losses and a .549 winning percentage.
Rounding out the top three in the NL East, the New York Mets take third with 89 wins, 73 losses and .549 winning percentage. The Mets claimed the third and final wild card spot.
The Washington Nationals took fourth place in the division with 71 wins, 91 losses and a winning percentage of .438.
Finishing out the division, the Miami Marlins ended the regular season with only 62 wins. The Marlins totaled 100 losses and a win percentage of .383.
NL Central
The Milwaukee Brewers took the division crown by winning 93 games, losing 69 games and finishing with a .574 winning percentage.
The Chicago Cubs (my team!) took second place in the NL Central with 83 wins, 79 losses and a .512 winning percentage.
Third place goes to the St. Louis Cardinals, as they finish their regular season with 83
wins, 79 losses and a .512 winning percentage, losing the tiebreaker to the Cubs.
The Cincinnati Reds take fourth place, rounding out the season with 77 wins, 85 losses and a .475 winning percentage.
The Pittsburgh Pirates head into the offseason with 76 wins, 86 losses and a winning percentage of .469.
NL West
In the NL West division, the Los Angeles Dodgers take the top spot with 98 wins, 64 losses and a .605 winning percentage. The Dodgers also hold the best record in the National League.
Earning the top wild card spot, the San Diego Padres finish the regular season in second place in the division with 93 wins, 69 losses and .574 winning percentage.
The Arizona Diamondbacks hold the third spot with 89 wins, 73 losses and a winning percentage of .549.
In fourth place are the San Francisco Giants. They finish their season with 80 wins, 82 losses and a .494 winning percentage.
The Colorado Rockies struggled throughout the season, finishing last in the division with 61 wins, 101 losses and a .377 winning percentage. a on Saturday.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson01@saintmarys.edu
Football stock up, stock down: Bye week edition
By NOAH CAHILL Associate Sports Editor
On Saturday, Notre Dame mustered a pivotal home win against No. 15 Louisville in the “Irish Wear Green” game heading into their first of two bye weeks this season. The game had just about everything you could ask for: incredible one-handed grabs, bizarre turnovers, questionable ball spotting, botched clock management and late fourth quarter drama. According to The Athletic’s college football playoff predictor, a win gave Notre Dame a 50.8% chance of making the playoff while a loss would have left them at 15.6%, essentially eliminating the Irish from contention before the month of October. That would have led to some very tough conversations. It was a rollercoaster experience for the Irish, but despite getting outgained by over 100 yards, they eked out a victory and pushed back those conversations for at least the next two weeks. Here are some of the team’s active strengths and weaknesses as they look to regroup this coming weekend.
Stock up: The offensive gameplan and execution
Through the first four weeks, Notre Dame’s offense looked largely one-dimensional. An inexperienced and injury-riddled offensive line struggled, especially in pass protection. Senior quarterback Riley Leonard threw only his first touchdown pass of the season in his fourth game and missed several layupline throws along the way. The receiving corps had failed to produce consistently, with only graduate transfer Beaux Collins eclipsing 100 yards receiving. Still being ramped up from last season’s ACL tear, we have yet to see the best of senior tight end Mitchell Evans.
The lone bright spot came from the rushing attack, particularly through the combination of rising star sophomore Jeremiyah Love and the dualthreat Leonard. However, the offensive performance against the Cardinals suggested the group might be taking steps in the right direction, even if it was just for flashes. In the first quarter, the Irish managed 7.8 yards per play for 132 yards of total offense, scoring three touchdowns without committing a single penalty. More importantly, the total yards were split almost perfectly between rushing and passing, reflecting a more balanced attack. The execution was clean and timely, the first touchdown drive coming in response
to a nightmare opening kickoff fumble which led to an early Louisville score. The other two touchdowns capitalized off of Louisville fumbles to take command of the game early on.
Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, aware of the limitations up front, did a good job scheming up passing concepts that allowed Leonard to break the pocket early and get the ball out quickly. Beyond that, he continued to mix in a healthy dosage of runs for Leonard, who got up to a team-high 374 yards on the ground and scored his seventh rushing touchdown of the season. The pièce de résistance of Denbrock’s afternoon of strong play calling came in the fourth quarter, when a perfectly disguised screen pass led to a Love touchdown. It would ultimately prove to be the game-winner.
It’s important to note the offense was very far from perfect and had several drives in the second and third quarters that ended in three-and-outs. For the game, the Irish were only 2-10 on third down conversions and totaled under 300 yards of offense. But for the first time all season, they looked like a legitimate threat to the opposing defense for more than a couple of drives.
Stock up: Riley Leonard
Like the offense, Leonard was far from perfect on Saturday. The Duke transfer still had his fair share of missed throws and slow decisions. However, they were few and far between compared to previous games. Through the air, Leonard went 17-23 for 163 yards and two touchdowns. While the numbers won’t blow you off the page, he looked far more comfortable with the offense and on-time connecting with his receivers. He continues to pose a substantial threat to opposing defenses with his legs, and his toughness in shortyardage situations is a valuable tool for moving the chains. Most of all, the performance highlighted why Leonard is the obvious choice to lead this offense. Behind the shaky offensive line, his mobility unlocks dimensions of the rollout passing attack and RPO game that are not available to someone like junior Steve Angeli, regardless of his chops as a passer. If Leonard continues to improve with his accuracy and reads, the offense has a chance to grow throughout the season. He is not without his flaws, but he is a reliable player and a capable leader.
Whether it was as a result of inexcusable special teams blunders or prolonged offensive droughts, the Irish defense had their backs against the wall literally from the opening kickoff, which was fumbled into the hands of a Louisville defender. That’s not to mention the brilliance of seventh-year quarterback Tyler Shough, who managed several high-difficulty throws throughout the game, many of them resulting in miraculous catches from the Cardinal receiving corps. But through it all, the Notre Dame defense stood strong and came up big when the team needed them most, just as they had all season. While the final stat line of 24 points and 395 yards conceded is not the most impressive, it was a formidable effort considering the context. The more telling numbers include Louisville’s 7-17 third down conversion rate and 1-5 fourth down conversion rate, with each of those fourth down stands coming at key moments. The final stop thwarted the Cardinals’ attempt at a game-tying drive and iced the game for the Irish. The group also forced three massive turnovers, putting the offense in prime position to take advantage, which they did. A defense that has proven itself to be one of the best in college football did so once again to keep Notre Dame’s playoff hopes alive.
Stock down: Special teams execution
Special teams blunders are proving to be common
occurrences for the Irish this season. Going back to the Week Two upset loss against Northern Illinois, graduate kicker Mitch Jeter had his field goal attempt blocked at the conclusion of the first half, leaving three potential points on the board in a two-point loss. Two weeks later, Notre Dame opened the door for Miami (Ohio) with a muffed punt from sophomore receiver Jordan Faison and a dropped hold on a field goal attempt, mistakes that luckily did not come back to bite the Irish in the end. Once again on Saturday, they made another terrible error. Senior running back Devyn Ford fumbled away the opening kickoff, leading directly to a Louisville touchdown on the ensuing drive. While they have escaped from these mistakes unharmed the last two weeks, the special teams unit needs to get sharper as the season progresses and the margins get thinner.
Stock down: Health
Injuries have plagued Notre Dame on both sides of the ball this season. An offensive line that was forced to begin the year without starting sophomore left tackle Charles Jagusah has quickly become a MASH unit week by week. Against the Boilermakers, the Irish lost starting junior center Ashton Craig for the season and starting junior right guard Billy Schrauth for multiple weeks. This past week, sophomore Sam Pendleton, who filled in at guard for Schrauth, also went down. Evans has yet to reach 100%,
and Faison appeared to reaggravate his sprained ankle from the Texas A&M game. Leonard’s health also remains a concern, having already injured the posterior labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. He exited for a play against Louisville after having the wind knocked out of him and continues to take significant punishment on a high frequency of rushing attempts.
On the other side of the ball, Notre Dame’s defensive line depth got even thinner. After losing graduate vyper Jordan Botelho for the season against Purdue, his natural replacement, sophomore Boubacar Traore, was taken out of the Louisville game after an awkward leg plant and was visibly emotional coming out of the tent — not a great sign for the remainder of his season. An Irish secondary that was deep and healthy enough to force junior Jaden Mickey into the transfer portal quickly got thinner within the span of a week. Sophomore cornerback Christian Gray was a late scratch on Saturday, thrusting freshman Leonard Moore into the starting role, and junior corner Benjamin Morrison got banged up, missing multiple plays throughout the game. Morrison returned to practice, and Gray’s injury is not considered serious, but the total damage has nonetheless taken a toll on this team. They will look forward to the bye week as a much-needed opportunity to recover.
Contact Noah Cahill at ncahill2@nd.edu
CHANCELOR GORDON | The Observer
Graduate wide receiver Beaux Collins (5) runs a crossing route, looking to create seperation from the Louisville defender on Sept. 28. Collins leads all Irish pass catchers with 181 yards receiving this season.
