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VOLUME 58, ISSUE 36 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
Electric scooters banned from campus Notre Dame will not allow storing, charging or use of personal electric vehicles beginning Dec. 17 Observer Staff Report
The operation of personal electric vehicles (PEVs) including e-scooters, e-skateboards, e-hoverboards and go karts will be banned on Notre Dame’s campus starting Dec. 17. Storage and charging of these machines will also be prohibited, executive vice president Shannon Cullinan announced Thursday afternoon in an email to campus. Mobility aids such as electric wheelchairs and powerchairs are exempt from the ban. Electric bicycles are still permitted as long as they are operated on campus without electric assistance, according to the email.
“Although we recognize the convenience of PEVs for those who have them, this fact cannot outweigh the threat to campus safety,” the email said. “Moreover, we believe the proliferation of mechanized vehicles on campus is inconsistent with the pedestrian character of campus we have tried to preserve.” The University changed its PEV policy after receiving the recommendation from a committee of students, faculty and staff that recently published a report on PEV safety. The report summarized 586 responses from the campus community, 90.9% of which “expressed see E-SCOOTER PAGE 5
Students weigh in on new president By CLAIRE LYONS and ANNELISE DEMERS Viewpoint Editor, News Writer
When Fr. Edward “Monk” Malloy announced he would step down as 16th President of Notre Dame during a press conference on April 29, 2004, he and the Board of Trustees also named Fr. John Jenkins as his successor. On Oct. 13, Jenkins announced he would step down from his role, but more than a month has gone by and the 18th University President has not yet been named. Selecting the next University President takes time. Before the Board of Trustees announced Jenkins as the 17th University President, it took four months to find the right candidate. The next President of the University is selected through specific standards set out in the University bylaws. According to the bylaws, the President must be “elected by the Trustees from among the clerical members of the Congregation,” meaning the President must be a priest or brother from the United States province of the Congregation of the Holy Cross. The bylaws specify that the
NEWS PAGE 5
Governance and Nominating Committee must request recommendations for the office of the President from the Provincial of the Congregation before submitting nominations to the Board of Trustees for election. According to the U.S. Congregation of Holy Cross website, the current Provincial leaders are Fr. William Lies, Fr. Peter Jarret and Fr. William Beauchamp. Despite these stipulations, the student body could still have some influence on the selection process. The bylaws say “the Governance and Nominating Committee may also receive recommendations from any other interested person or persons.” While the choice is ultimately up to the Board of Trustees, The Observer surveyed students to figure out their own opinions and thoughts on the matter.
Google Form Poll Results The first poll was a Google Form given out to students at South Dining Hall during lunch and dinner early this week. The form listed five options — Basilica see PRESIDENT PAGE 4
VIEWPOINT PAGE 8
SOFIA CRIMIVAROLI I The Observer
The University announced that starting Dec. 17, there will be a ban on all personal electronic vehicles which includes e-scooters, e-skateboards, e-hoverboards and go karts after concern for student safety.
Beading event celebrates Native American culture By JENNA ABU-LUGHOD News Writer
On Wednesday, the Native American Student Association of Notre Dame (NASAND) and student government co-hosted a beading event in celebration of Native American Heritage Month. The event took place in the LaFortune Student Center’s newly unveiled
Champions of Diversit y Room and gave students the opportunit y to learn more about Native American art and culture. Throughout the month of November, NASAND hosted multiple events to honor Native American heritage, culminating in the beading event. “Besides this beading event, we had a panel
where we talked about land acknowledgements and what being Native is like,” NASAND president Jada Dav is said. “We also had a drum and dance performance put together by Dav id Martin. We haven’t had something like that in over a decade, so it was really cool.” see NASAND PAGE 3
SMC Votes considers gun control policies By SALLY BRADSHAW News Writer
On Wednesday night, the SMC Votes club held a “Discussion and Donuts” night to foster dialogue on the topic of gun control and policy. The event included refreshments of donuts, coffee and hot chocolate and began with a presentation
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outlining gun registration and licensing policies in the U.S. The presentation included a six-minute video produced by Vox titled “The gun solution we’re not talking about.” The video proposed requiring a firearm license process instead of the current registration process required in some states. In the video, Vox reported
that while a sweeping majority of Americans support universal background checks when it comes to purchasing a gun, “universal background checks won’t solve America’s gun crisis.” This is because there is only one, outdated database that is drawn from during these background checks,
M SOCCER PAGE 16
HOCKEY PAGE 16
see GUN CONTROL PAGE 3
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Corrections In Wednesday’s print edition, a headline on page one was incorrect. The headline should have mentioned the Notre Dame philanthropy class described in the article. The Observer regrets this error.
MEGHAN LANGE | The Observer
Gi’Bran Payne scores on a 3-yard run during last Saturday’s football game. The Fighting Irish beat the Stanford Cardinals 56-23 in the final game of the regular season. This brings the Notre Dame record to 9-3, and the Irish end at No. 16 in the CFB rankings.
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The 2023 Christmas Lecture with Kate the Chemist Jordan Hall of Science 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Annual lecture.
Service Saturday SMC Student Center 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Paint signs to mark the garden beds on the sustainable farm.
Raclin Murphy Museum of Art Opening Weekend Raclin Murphy Museum of Art 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Holiday Letter Writing Event Rice Commons 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Write letters to South Bend children.
Men’s Basketball vs. Western Michigan Purcell Pavilion 7 p.m. Taylor Swift night with giveaways.
ND Chorale Presents Handel’s “Messiah” Leighton Concert Hall 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Concert choir performance.
Presenting Series’ Cultural Collective: Orange Moon Decio Theatre 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. Support local artists.
Jazz Band Concert Leighton Concert Hall 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Notre Dame Jazz Band performs a wide variety of jazz music.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration Stapleton Lounge 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Paper roses and food.
Management Master Regina 4th Floor Lounge 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Learn about your habits with cookies.
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NDSMCOBSERVER.COM | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 | THE OBSERVER
a space for peoGun Control allowing ple to come and talk about CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
according to the video. Policies utilizing a licensing system, which have been enacted in 12 states already, would implement a more comprehensive process to reduce the amount of potentially dangerous individuals purchasing firearms, the video said. “This is something that has affected many individuals’ lives, and if it’s not directly, it’s been indirectly,” said SMC Votes co-president and political science major Jeanett Ochoa. “We just wanted to have a space where we could have discussions on our own opinions and what can be done.” After watching the video and reviewing community guidelines for ensuring respectful discussion, the group talked about some of the issues they have observed with the current legislature regarding gun control and talked about solutions. Ochoa said two key issues surrounding gun violence are a lack of awareness about gun policies and restrictions from state to state, in addition to malicious intent from some gun owners. Along with discussing policies and restrictions on firearm purchasing and use, the group mentioned other issues related to gun violence, such as school and mass shootings, suicide by firearm, police and border patrol brutality, weapons exports and the U.S. military budget. Ochoa said students at Saint Mary’s College should care about standing up against gun violence. “In a way, we all have our own different opinions and experiences when it comes to gun violence, but here we want to create that … civil discussion, and it’s
NASAND CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Student government’s current director of diversit y and inclusion: race and ethnicit y, senior Luzolo Matundu, said that her goal for the year is to host at least one event w ith each racial umbrella group on campus. She said she hopes to highlight various cultures and collaborate w ith different groups of people through her efforts. “I reached out to Jada and asked her if NASAND would be w illing to have an event for Native American Heritage Month. I knew that would be really important,” Matundu said. “As student government, we also made sure to post a land acknowledgement and w ish
this very [controversial and complex] situation,” she said. Ochoa discussed the college’s longstanding tradition of promoting justice. “If we’re talking historically, Saint Mary’s as an institution has been a strong advocate for justice, whether it’s been social justice or other forms, and even the nuns here at Saint Mary’s are major advocates about gun control and raising awareness about gun violence,” she said. “Therefore, it has that environment here for students to really care about justice.” Along with getting involved in the the Sisters of the Holy Cross silent protests to end gun violence, which are held every first Saturday of the month at the College, Ochoa encouraged students to engage in discussion with their peers about gun violence and gun control. “But ultimately it comes to organizing with other students and creating an action plan to try and maybe put measures or prevent gun violence as a whole,” she said. Walking away from the “Discussion and Donuts” event, Ochoa said she is hoping students have a “better understanding of gun violence in the U.S. and how gun control is just something that a lot of people have been asking for for so many years … and leaving them [thinking]: ‘There’s just a lot of work to be done.’” The club also previewed some of their topics of discussion in the coming semester, including book banning, immigration and LGBTQ+ rights.
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Student Union treasurer presents on funding at Senate d i rect ly by FMB du ri ng spr i ng a l locat ion to t he St udent Un ion. A f ter a l locat i ng f u nds to t he St udent E x per ience Fu nd, all rema i n i ng proceeds a re spl it bet ween t he St udent Un ion Endow ment, T he Sh i r t Cha r it y Fu nd a nd t he Of f ice of St udent En r ich ment Endow ment. Bla sk iew icz prev iewed t he f isca l yea r ca lenda r. Spr i ng a l locat ion occu rs i n Apr i l or May, a nd w i nter rea l locat ion occu rs in December or Ja nua r y. T here were no genera l orders. A resolut ion rega rdi ng t he proposed cha nges to t he Moreau cu r r icu lu m rema i ned i n new busi ness a f ter a vote to move t he resolut ion to genera l orders fa i led. Accord i ng to W i l l ia m C. Mat t ison III, t he i naug u ra l facu lt y d i rector of t he expa nded Moreau prog ra m, t he second semester of Moreau — wh ich is genera l ly ta ken i n t he spr i ng semester of f resh ma n yea r — w i l l be reposit ioned to later i n a st udent’s cou rse of st udy. T hese a nd ot her cha nges to t he cu rr icu lu m have yet to be con f i r med. T he resolut ion, wh ich ca l ls on t he Un iversit y to ma i nta i n t he Moreau cou rse exclusive to f i rst-yea r st udents, w i l l be hea rd at nex t week’s meet i ng.
Contact Sally Bradshaw at sbradshaw01@saintmarys.edu
T he Not re Da me St udent Senate convened for a br ief meet i ng Wed nesday n ig ht to d iscuss t he f u ndi ng of t he St udent Un ion a nd delay considerat ion of a resolut ion add ressi ng t he proposed cha nges to T he Moreau Fi rst Yea r E x per ience. St udent body v ice president A ida n Rez ner bega n t he meet i ng by promoti ng St udent G over n ment’s “Steps to Wel l ness Week.” T he week w i l l cont i nue w it h a let ter w r it i ng event i n Du nca n on T hu rsday a nd a ca r nat ion/jou r na l g iveaway i n t he d i n i ng ha l l Fr iday. Rez ner a lso encou raged senators to promote t he Wa l k t he Wa l k Week donat ion d r ive, wh ich w i l l suppor t t he a ssembly of “d ig n it y k its” du ri ng Wa l k t he Wa l k Week i n Ja nua r y. T he k its w i l l be d ist r ibuted t h roug h orga n i zat ions i n Sout h Bend a nd prov ide ba sic hyg iene suppl ies a nd w i nter gea r. “We’re hopi ng to be able to get to $12,000. It goes to a rea l ly good cause, a nd be su re to spread it a rou nd you r dor ms,” Rez ner sa id. Donat ions w i l l be accepted t h roug h nex t T hu rsday, added st udent body president Da n iel Ju ng. St udent Un ion Trea su rer Ha n na h Bla sk iew icz t hen gave her const it ut iona lly-ma ndated over v iew of
how t he St udent Un ion is f u nded. Fi na ncia l suppor t for t he St udent Un ion is overseen by t he Fi na ncia l Ma nagement Boa rd (FMB). T he St udent Un ion encompa sses st udent gover n ment, Senate, Ha l l President’s Cou nci l, Club Coord i nat ion Cou nci l, Jud icia l Cou nci l, St udent Un ion Boa rd, t he cla ss cou nci ls, Of f-Ca mpus Cou nci l a nd FUEL (Fi rst Underg raduate E x per ience i n L eadersh ip). Fu nd i ng for t he St udent Un ion comes f rom t h ree sou rces, Bla sk iew icz sa id : st udent act iv it y fees, t he St udent Un ion endow ment a nd T he Sh i r t revenue. T he st udent act iv it y fee is cha rged to each st udent a n nua l ly, a nd it ha s stood at $ 95 si nce 2012. T he St udent Un ion endow ment wa s created i n 2007 w it h t he help of t he st udent body president a nd v ice president, Bla sk iew icz sa id. A ny i nterest f rom t he endow ment is a l located at spr i ng a l locat ion to d i f ferent St udent Un ion orga n i zat ions, a s deter m i ned by FMB. “Or ig ia l ly, t h is pr i ncipa l i nvest ment wa s about $ 600,000 — t hat’s on ly g row n si nce t hen,” Bla sk iew icz sa id. Fi na l ly, revenue f rom sa les of t he prev ious yea r’s T he Sh i r t f u nds t he St udent Un ion t h roug h t wo cha n nels, Bla sk iew icz expla i ned. $125,000 of T he Sh i r t revenue is a l located
ever yone a happy Native American Heritage Month on Instagram.” After Dav is decided that beading would be the most suitable activ it y, she worked alongside Matundu to plan, prepare for and advertise the event. “I think there has been some tension bet ween indigenous groups and the Universit y. So we made sure that all of the information going out was accurate and that the posters we created were correct and ref lective,” Dav is said. In addition to the beading activ it y, Dav is and Matundu said they felt it was important to give attendants the opportunit y to learn more about Native American culture and the significance of different Native art forms.
They did so by show ing several v ideos created by the Renw ick Galler y of the Smithsonian American Art Museum which highlighted different Native art forms. “I think the v ideos are important for show ing different aspects of Native culture,” Matundu said. “It is great because you get to do something fun, the beading, while learning at the same time.” The event attracted over 20 students, giv ing the attendees an opportunit y to connect w ith one another as they worked on their pieces. Junior Tori Van Arsdale, the historian and social media representative of NASAND, said she chose to attend the event to represent Native American students and connect w ith other
members of the communit y. Many other students took the event as an opportunit y to take a break from studying while simultaneously expanding their knowledge of Native American culture. “I am here today because I felt like the beading could be a stress reliever before exams start, but also because I wanted to come to more events that appreciate different cultures and diversit y at Notre Dame,” sophomore Sophia Torcelino said. W hile learning more about the art of beading, several students expressed their new found appreciation for the hard work that Native American artists put into their pieces. “Doing it myself really makes me have a lot of respect for people who handcraft things on the regular,”
junior Serra Marquez said. Junior Emma Spey rer said she chose to attend the event because she believes the best way to grow as a world is by learning about other cultures. Dav is said her main goal w ith hosting the event is to introduce people to Native American culture and give people the opportunit y to connect w ith one another. “I’m hoping that students w ill begin to think more about Native people. We are a prett y small proportion of Notre Dame’s overall population, and so it is kind of easy to overlook us,” Dav is said. “We have a lot of things to say, a lot of culture and a lot of beaut y.”
By KATHRYN MUCHNICK Associate News Editor
Contact Kathyrn Muchnick at kmuchnic@nd.edu
Contact Jenna Abu-Lughod at jabulugh@nd.edu
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THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
President CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
rector Fr. Brian Ching, associate provost Fr. Daniel Groody, associate provost Fr. Robert Dowd, Student Affairs vice president Fr. Gerald Olinger and theology professor Fr. Kevin Grove — along with a write-in option. In total, this form received 70 responses with a large cross-section of students based on class-year and place of residence. The poll also included a freeresponse section with two questions. The poll asked students why they think their chosen candidate will be the next University President. Additionally, students were asked to identify what qualities matter in the selection process of the next University President. As the priest-in-residence for Alumni Hall, Olinger had a polling advantage among Alumni Hall residents. Sophomore John Peterson claimed being a member of Alumni Hall was both why Olinger should be the next University President and the most important quality for a potential candidate to have. Other Alumni Hall residents inputted the iPhone goat emoji as the reason why Olinger should be University President. Another Alumni Hall resident claimed his face-to-face interaction with
Olinger influenced his vote, positing a demonstration of “care for the students of the University” as an important quality. Likewise, many students emphasized the importance of the next President’s care for the student body and willingness to involve the student body in his decision-making. Students wrote that the next President should be “personable,” prioritize “student connection,” care “about student happiness (and therefore, football!)” and engage “with students on important issues.” Others said that he should have “commitment to hearing students voices” and take “full account of student perspectives and opinions.” Broken down by year, freshmen and sophomores have a preference for Grove, juniors prefer Groody and seniors prefer for Olinger. Underclassmen voted for a more diverse range of candidates, while seniors voted more homogeneously. Freshmen cited faith as a qualifying factor more than any other class, but this did not seem to be a deciding factor for who they voted for. Freshman Oliver Puccini claimed “a genuine relationship with God” made him vote for Olinger. Freshman Theresa Lalli said the next University President should “uphold the
Catholic Church values in the institution while continuing to be a force for good.” She voted for Grove. Freshman Ben Koberlein cited faith as well, and voted for Ching. Regardless of grade level and dorm, students valued personability and leadership skills across the board. Other notable qualities were commitment to the University’s diversity and academic excellence. “Commitment to academics, religion and investment to the future,” wrote senior Robbie Donahue, a resident of Baumer Hall. “Intelligence, conservatism, approachability, well-spokenness and leadership,” are qualities that matter to sophomore Thomas Smith. His pick for president is Grove. “He’s an extremely intelligent, faithful man who can connect to students on a personal and broad level,” he wrote. “His experience with guiding large groups in his large section classes would make him a great leader.” Jake Miller, a senior living in Baumer Hall, picked Olinger. “He has proved himself enormously qualified in his role as [Student Affairs] vice president and has consistently engaged with the Notre Dame student community,” Miller wrote. He added the most important University President qualities are “engagement with students on important PAID ADVERTISEMENT
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The front-runner for the position among the student body is Olinger with 40.2% of the vote. Groody follows in second with 22.3% of votes.
issues, communication, honesty, integrity and accountability.” A single Notre Dame student suggested himself, Kacper Szyller, for the next President of the University. In regards to what qualities he possesses in order to qualify for the job, he wrote “I’ll grind buddy.” Other students used the write-in option to vote for their fellow classmates: junior Maxine Zamora and senior Kian O’Connor.
Instagram Poll Results
on Instagram only allows up to f our spots which were filled with the following options: Fr. Ching, Fr. Groody, Fr. Dowd and Fr. Olinger. They were the chosen options as they are currently the most widely speculated candidates for the office. There was also a write-in option on the Instagram story. There were also a number of write-in responses for campus celebrities such as Taylor Swift and Notre Dame football running back Audric Estime.
The second poll was conducted on The Observer’s Instagram account to reach a wider audience. The total amount of respondents was 274. The poll feature
Contact Claire Lyons at clyons3@nd.edu and Annelise Demers at ademers@nd.edu
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NDSMCOBSERVER.COM | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 | THE OBSERVER
Soviet hockey players reflect
E-scooter CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
strong or moderate concerns about the safety of PEVs on campus.” Between fall 2021 and fall 2023, 104 PEV-involved accidents were reported to Notre Dame police, according to the report. Almost 90% of these accidents required medical attention. The ban also comes after the Mendoza College of Business was evacuated in October due to a fire started by an electric skateboard. The lower level of Mendoza’s southwest wing was temporarily closed as a result. University police will offer temporary storage through spring semester for those unable to bring their PEVs home over Christmas break, but storage in dorms over break is not permitted.
By ANNELISE DEMERS News Writers
On T hu rsday, t he Na nov ic Inst it ute hosted a pa nel d iscussion on t he i ntersect ion bet ween l i fe i n t he Sov iet Un ion a nd at h let ics. Tom Heiden wa s t he moderator a nd ch ief a rch itect of t he prog ra m. T he fa l l of t he Iron Cu r ta i n, sy mbol i zed by t he open i ng of t he Berl i n Wa l l on Nov. 9, 1989, represented t he end of decadeslong Cold Wa r tensions bet ween t he Ea ster n Bloc a nd t he Wester n world — a world i n wh ich t he fol lowi ng nat iona l ly a nd i nter nat iona l ly accla i med hockey players l ived i n.
“T hose people who were t here, who saw it, l ived a nd k new what it wa s l i ke to l ive u nder t he heel of t he book of t he Russia n bea r,” Heiden sa id, a s he poi nted to t he pa nel. T he pa nel consisted of Vaclav Nedoma nsk y, Dm it r i K h r ist ich, A nton Šta st ný a nd h is brot her Peter Šta st ný. Nedoma nsk y defected i n 1974, becom i ng one of t he f i rst el ite hockey players to escape f rom beh i nd t he Sov iet bloc to play i n t he Nat iona l Hockey L eag ue (NHL). He is a member of t he Hockey Ha l l of Fa me a nd wa s a n NHL A l l-Sta r. K h r ist ich wa s bor n i n U k ra i ne a nd wa s ca l led
back to be t he head coach of t he Nat iona l Hockey tea m t h is pa st Febr ua r y a s t he cou nt r y wa s u nder at tack. He played i n 811 NHL ga mes a nd ea r ned 596 poi nts. A nton Šta st ný wa s on t he Czechoslova k ia nat iona l tea m a long w it h h is brot her when t hey bot h decided to leave a nd head for Quebec. Heiden sa id t hei r reason i ng beh i nd t hei r decision wa s “to be f ree men a nd have f reedom for t hemselves a nd t hei r fa m i l ies.” A nton Šta st ný played 650 ga mes du r i ng h is t i me i n t he NHL , ea r n i ng 636 poi nts. Peter Šta st ný, a lso refer red to a s “Peter
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t he Great” i n t he hockey com mu n it y, ea r ned 1,239 poi nts du r i ng h is ca reer. He is a lso a member of t he Hockey Ha l l of Fa me. W hen a sked why he chose to pa r t icipate i n t he pa nel, A nton Šta st ný refer red to a n a r t icle t hat wa s w r it ten about h i m w it h a head l i ne t hat referenced h is i nabi l it y to compla i n about h is sit uat ion. He sa id he bel ieves t h is best su ms up h is t i me i n Czechoslova k ia u nder Russia n i n f luence. Due to bot h of t hem playi ng on t he Czechoslova k ia n nat iona l tea m, t hey were a l lowed cer ta i n perk s such a s t ravel i ng once a yea r, ow n i ng ca rs, hav i ng access to educat ion a nd bei ng pa id wel l, A nton Šta st ný sa id. “So t he g uy i n t hat a rt icle wa s per fect ly r ig ht. I cou ld not compla i n,” he sa id. However, he sa id he a nd h is brot her st i l l faced d i f f icu lt ies. “We had issues because t here a re some dea l i ngs t hat a re not ver y kosher. We were st r ug g l i ng,” A nton Šta st ný sa id. A member of t he Com mu n ist Pa r t y a nd one of t he top ma nagers f rom t he nat iona l tea m v isited t hei r hockey tea m d ressi ng room to sha re a message, A nton Šta st ný sa id. “If you g uys don’t obey, i f you compla i n, t here is no more nat iona l tea m. No more hockey, no more u n iversit y,” he sa id. T h is is when A nton a nd Peter Šta st ný bot h sa id t hey rea l i zed t hey had to leave t he cou nt r y. “Freedom is not for f ree. But don’t ta ke it for g ra nted,” Peter Šta st ný sa id. K h r ist ich ta l ked about t he pu n ish ments t hat ca me f rom someone push i ng back aga i nst t he reg i me. “A v isit to ja i l to be ta ken away f rom pro spor ts … It cou ld be a ny t h i ng. It depends on what you’ve done w rong compa red to what you shou ld have done. Just to be nor ma l l i ke ever ybody else,” K h r ist ich sa id. A s someone who g rew up i n U k ra i ne, he sha red what it wa s l i ke hav i ng t he i n f luence of Russia so close a nd hav i ng t hei r i n f luence over t he cou nt r y. “I remember my t houg hts when I wa s a l it t le k id. I sa id to mysel f, we’re l iv i ng i n t he capita l of U k ra i ne. W hy do we spea k Russia n la ng uage f i rst? ” K h r ist ich sa id. Contact Annelise Demers at ademers@nd.edu and
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THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
INSIDE COLUMNS
Finding flavortown Isa Sheikh Notre Dame News Editor
W henever somebody cooks in our shared thirteen-person kitchen, the smell of sauteing onions puts hooks into the unsuspecting person and draws them toward the stove. No matter how dissatisf ying the meal might end up, that fragrance — paired with the interruption of a housemate peeking into the kitchen to say how delicious it smells — is enough to keep one going. Of course, in the biological sense, you don’t need onions (or their aroma) to survive. We need food, yes, but the bare minimum of nutrition doesn’t necessarily require f lavor. You can eat unseasoned chicken breast and quinoa for a long time and keep doing what it is you need to do. And yet, for some reason, many of us have an interminable desire for f lavor, for food to be scintillating and beguiling and for our plates and palates to be danced upon. Food is love, just as it is art. Food is love whether you are sitting at a cajun restaurant in front of a plastic bag of shrimp and looking across the table to see that the spice is making your father sweat even more than you or when your mother puts a few drops of curr y in your mouth to see if the amount of salt is right. The look in a friend’s eyes as they accept your recommendation of the shrimp rigatoni at The Lauber and the restless anticipation in the boom boom salad line. W hen I opt to skip dinner rather than eat the free meal I’m presented with before class in Dublin, refusing to take the sogg y cardboard box with my name on it, smelling of something indiscernible. It feels wrong to be so “picky,” as I remember all the children I have known who did not have the choice to refuse the food they were blessed with. But my upbringing spoiled me deeply, making those latein-the-semester treks to the dining hall so painful, as I seek to prepare my tastebuds for a shower of mediocrity. Food — f lavor, fragrance, family and maybe some other f-words — has always been one of the most important things in my life. W hen I smell onions fr ying and feel my mouth begin to water, I am transported to the places I grew up, where the aroma would waft through the halls and into each and ever y room. More often than not, the onions would soon be introduced to ginger and garlic paste and spices from my mother’s stainless steel “masala dabba.” The smell was an invitation to saunter down to the kitchen and watch my mother’s art take shape on the stovetop, almost levitating off the ground like Mickey Mouse towards the steaming pie on the windowsill. I remember my cousins and I made
fun of our parents for exclusively going to eat at Indian restaurants on the sparse occasions we went out to eat, but how could they not? For one, once you’ve had the best, you can forget the rest. But on another level, those f lavors are impossible to leave behind once they are inextricably tied to the love you have felt through them. I can’t forget the feeling of my mother hand feeding us soft khichdi with squash or eggplant or shrimp or a hundred other dishes — long after we were capable of feeding ourselves. I myself have ended up in London over and over this year, chasing the thrill of Indian curr y shops and takeaways, becoming my parents by recalling the kitchen of my childhood. In that kitchen, the labor my mother put into her food may have been ex hausting and intensive, but it was never dissatisfied or devoid of love. As she filled to-go containers with chicken legs and pasta to fill the trunk of the car and offer a bite and smile to the homeless, there was no question that this was what food was for. On a visit to my friend Liam in London, our conversations kept returning to this idea. I sat at his dorm kitchen table as he made burritos with halal chicken he had bought just for me. We had walked around South London, tr ying Jamaican saltfish and beef-and-cheese patties and sipping Ethiopian coffee while taking in the Afro-Caribbean rhythms of Brixton. We walked around Tooting, sharing one f lavor after the next from my childhood; the milky richness of Indian sweets and the inexplicable nature of pani puri — a street food consisting of a fried sphere filled with spicy water — immediately thrown into one’s mouth to burst like a water balloon. We sat in the King’s Cross Dishoom eating lentils as Liam’s eyes opened wide at the force of these simple legumes. Cheap, filling and rich in all the important things, dal is central to so many Indian cuisines for a reason. The people who come from my ancestral village still largely practice the Friday tradition of cooking dal — often followed by a contented nap. A friend of my mother’s once wrote in ref lection on a night when my mom had, as always, “cook[ed] enough to feed ever yone in that building because that is what she does.” As Tiffany wrote, my mother was “an incredible cook and manager of resources and she can feed hundreds for less than most of us spend to feed our family.” That budgeting was real, and dal was one of those secrets. But there was something far more priceless in her food: the f lavors of love. You can contact Isa Sheikh at isheikh@nd.edu. The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Who could replace Fr. Jenkins? Jake Miller Sports Writer
Several weeks ago, the Notre Dame world was shaken by the sudden news of Fr. John Jenkins’ resignation as President of the University. Jenkins will conclude his time as President at the end of the academic year. A new President will be named in the coming months. Per University bylaws, the president must be a Holy Cross priest. However, de facto, the president must also be a tenured professor with a Ph.D. Typically, professors with the title of assistant professor or assistant teaching professor do not have tenure. W hile there are many priests at Notre Dame, only a small handful are qualified to succeed Father Jenkins. The three most likely individuals include Fr. Bob Dowd, Fr. Dan Goody and Fr. Bill Lies.
1. Fr. Bob Dowd Dowd currently serves as vice president and associate provost for interdisciplinary initiatives. Additionally, he is an associate professor of political science and the religious Superior of the Holy Cross Community at Notre Dame. He is also a fellow and trustee of the University. Ordained in 1994, Dowd later received his M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from UCL A. Around campus, Dowd is known as a deeply pastoral man. He lives and serves as priest-in-residence in Cavanaugh Hall. Dowd is known to be an advocate for communities in East Africa. Dowd has a long-standing relationship with St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica, California, the largest parish in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Each year, he goes to St. Monica to conduct a Mission Appeal for the Holy Cross mission in Nairobi. Dowd regularly presides over the Friday morning daily mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
2. Fr. Dan Groody Groody currently serves as vice president and associate provost for undergraduate education. Additionally, he is an associate professor of theology and global affairs. Considered one of the leading global experts on immigration, Groody has worked with the USCCB, the Vatican and the United Nations on migration issues. He is also a fellow and trustee of the University. Ordained in 1992, Groody
received his Ph.D. in theology from the Graduate Theological Union in 2000. Since then, Groody has served at Notre Dame. Groody also continues to engage in pastoral ministry, serving as priest-in-residence in Alumni Hall. Groody is f luent in Spanish. Widely respected at the University, Groody is considered more of a mystery candidate than others and is viewed as rather reserved. In 2016, Groody was criticized for his comments regarding a priest accused of sexual abuse
3. Fr. Bill Lies W hile Dowd and Groody represent the most plausible possibilities, Lies is a wild-card candidate. Lies currently serves as the Provincial Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Cross in the United States. In other words, Lies oversees the entire Congregation of the Holy Cross across America. Lies’ current role is similar to that of a bishop over a diocese. Prior to his appointment in 2018, Lies served as vice president for mission engagement and church affairs at the University. An expert in political science, he was ordained in 1994. In 2008, he received his Ph.D. in Latin American politics from the University of Pittsburgh. Unlike Dowd and Groody, Lies did not attend Notre Dame as an undergraduate, and instead attended Saint John’s University in Central Minnesota. Lies also served as the director of the University’s Center for Social Concerns from 2002 to 2012. He is also f luent in Spanish. His brother Jim is also a Holy Cross Priest. W hile Lies’ elevation to President would be a strange departure from his current position, he is known as an extremely outgoing and charismatic man, qualities valued as President.
What about… I don’t want to promise anything, but I would be shocked if Notre Dame departed from its traditional presidential qualification standards. Candidates like Holy Cross Frs. Pete McCormick, Gerry Olinger and Kevin Grove are beloved by the community. Nonetheless, given their current certifications, none of them seem to be in a position to take over for Jenkins at this time. You can contact Jake Miller at jmille89@nd.edu. The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Submit a Letter to the Editor viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com
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THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
Am I my own person? Allison Abplanalp Under Further Scrutiny
At 1:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I get lunch with my friend at South Dining Hall. Afterward, we get acai refreshers at Starbucks and head to the library. Once we find a table, we each put in our airpods, play a song by The 1975 and start a game of Minesweeper. All of this is done in almost mime-like mimicry. On one of these Tuesdays or Thursdays, as I was rapidly sweeping mines, I took a moment to contemplate what I was doing. Here I was listening to the 1975, a band my friend was a big fan of but one I never really cared for. Not to mention the Starbucks cup on the table, a drink my friend loved but something I never used to waste f lex points on. But now, Apple Music just informed me that The 1975 was my fifth most listened-to artist of the year, and probably half my f lex points have gone straight to Starbucks. From the things I say, the clothes I wear, the way I think, the food I eat and the jokes I make, aspects
of my friends shine through. As I realized just how much I have been inf luenced by my
“We are highly influenced by the people we interact with and adopt the behaviors of those around us.” friends, I began to wonder, is it even possible to be my own person? My slow molding into my friends is the result of the social proximity effect. Humans are social creatures. We are highly inf luenced by the people we interact with and adopt the behaviors of those around us. It’s likely you and your friends talk similarly, shop at the same places, eat the same foods, and practice similar habits. This is not the result of peer pressure, which involves a deliberate choice to fit in. Rather, this is largely an unconscious incorporation of social cues that inform one’s behavior. One of the biggest ways my friends have secretly
infiltrated my personality is through my vocabulary. Thanks to my friends, I say “probs” quite frequently these days, despite the fact that I find it really annoying. Beyond vocabulary, I recently placed an order at Gap, a store I never shop at, but one that my friend raves about. I was never much of a fan of Culver’s, but thanks to my Wisconsin friends, I now frequent it. And despite having never seen the film, I even quote “The Hunger Games” because my friends talk about it so much. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Yet this assimilation makes sense. In college, we all live such similar lives that it’s hard to remain distinct. My friends and I get dinner at the same time, eat at the same circle table in North Dining Hall, head to the same spot in the library, make the same jokes and recount the same stories when we’re too bored to study. With this much time together, we’re bound to become somewhat alike. But on a more creepy level, some studies suggest that my friends and I may even start to look alike. When people
spend lots of time together, they use similar facial expressions such as frowning, looks of disgust, laughing and smiling. This causes wrinkles to develop in similar places and friends may begin to have similar facial patterns. With all this said, it’s clear that our friends have a notable impact on us. This impact can have significant consequences. Studies have shown that habits such as eating healthy, smoking, drinking, exercising and more are heavily inf luenced by who we surround ourselves with. For example, a person’s chances of becoming obese increase by 57% if they have a friend who becomes obese. Furthermore, our friend’s disposition makes a big difference in our own moods and emotions. When I asked my friends in what ways they think we have inf luenced each other, one of them responded that thanks to us, he has “a more cynical and pessimistic outlook on life.” I like to think he’s joking, but if not he might want to reevaluate his choice of friends. Studies show that eliminating 10% of
unhappy people in your life will have dramatic impacts on mood and disposition. It is important to harness the social proximity effect in order to live your healthiest and happiest life. In the end, as much as I like to think that I’m my own free-thinking person with control over who I become, it is impossible to remain unchanged by those around me. But I think this is the point. Friendship involves letting go of a little bit of our individuality to make space for someone else in our lives. I love and admire the people I call my friends, and it makes me happy to think that I have a small part of them in my own personality. Allison Abplanalp is a sophomore finance and accounting major. If she could change one thing about the English language, she would make “a lot” one word. Her least favorite month is March because every year she is devastated when she fails to pick the perfect march madness bracket. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
A college student’s thoughts on parenting Matt Baird Are you Paying Attention?
Spending time around so many young adults in the past year and a half, I have found myself puzzling over how the people around me have come to be who they are. When thinking about college students’ personalities and behaviors, my mind defaults to thinking about their upbringings and parents. At an age where I can begin to have serious conversations with parents about their experiences in raising children, I have developed a deeper understanding of child development and greater appreciation for parents. With more exposure and curiosity of the parent side of the parentchild relationship, I have become more excited about the idea of having children of my own. Though I have only had the lived-experience of being a child in this relationship, I have an idea of how parenting works. Here is my way of understanding parenting: it is like a game of tug-ofwar with a child, where the progression of the game is
dictated completely by the parent(s). The objective of the parent is to keep the game competitive. To pull the rope too hard will hurt the child, and may cause them to leave the game completely. To give too much slack might give the child an unwarranted confidence in their own capabilities. I have met a lot of people whose parents pulled too hard on the rope. Typically, in a strict, tense relationship, the child might completely abandon the rope and decide to play a game where they dictate the rules. This may mean that they move out when they become independent and never look back. They may also pretend while they are still playing the game while they are secretly acting in rebellion to their parents by participating in activities that they would not approve of. Conversely, I have seen people who were given too much slack. From lack of care or fear that they would tug the rope too hard, they let their kids do whatever they want. When the child believes that they are winning the game, they may start to believe that they are in power in other
situations in their life, as they are in control of their most fundamental authority in their lives. This leads to their own troubles, where they are
“The goal then is to achieve a balance.” disenchanted too late to save themselves from danger. The goal then is to achieve a balance. Parenting muscles have to be exercised in push and pull movements to maintain a good image in the child’s eyes and maintain their respect and authority in the relationship. My perspective is narrow, and I have much to learn. Nevertheless, I am intrigued by parenting and look forward to having a child of my own down the road. Gen Z and millennials are becoming increasingly reluctant towards the idea of having children. A 2023 survey by The Times showed that only 55% of respondents expressed a desire for having children in the future. This is from a multitude of factors, ranging from personal financial instability to a strong
individualism movement among the generations. Personal financial inability to support a child is a completely valid reason to hold off on having children — it has always been. These generations have witnessed economic and global catastrophes that incite fear and anxiety around the idea of bringing children into the world. An article published by UnHeard discusses a different repellant: a selfish individualism that stems from drawn out adolescence. Gen Z and Millennial children have had enough slack to draw out their adolescent teenage views into adulthood because of a plague of entitlement that comes from a Western cultural movement that overvalues the importance of individual pleasure. People are motivated to pursue their own desires in defiance of larger communities and institutions that encourage altruistic behavior. The result is a Gen Z dreamscape of endless world travel and fun. People would rather remain “free” and travel the world to feed their own endless appetites. Commitment to any person or role that restricts their ability
to exercise personal freedom is too frightening for people to want to bring a child into the world. They would have to sacrifice the pursuit of pleasure that they feel entitled to and in turn prevent new children from experiencing the beauty of life. Though I do not often think of having children as a college student, sometimes I find myself staring off in the dining hall and thinking of why I would find parenting fulfilling. I love sharing myself with others, and I am compassionate about making an impact on the people I interact with. Having a child would be the most intimate way to share my heart and mind with another human being. To bring up a child would be a war of sorts, but I would certainly love to show my child the ways in which I have come to see and love the world. Matt Baird, proud native of Danville, California, is a sophomore majoring in English and finance. He enjoys walking, listening to music, and humming. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
LETTER
EDITOR
An Alumni Dawg’s bark for help: Here we go again All this happened, more or less. Back in September, when my previous Letter to the Editor was published at midnight, I was informed 10 minutes later by my rector that the laundry machine malfeasance had finally been solved. I hadn’t been that proud of myself ever since I wrote that essay last year comparing ”The Epic of Gilgamesh” to ”Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” Despite this brief moment of bliss, the forces of evil did not rest for long. Last month, I was forced to survive a f lood of Biblical proportions as a water leak forced my upstairs neighbors out of their room and created a dark patch on my ceiling that hung over my head like a personal South Bend permacloud. I know I told people that I wished we still had Thirsty Thursdays, but this was not what I meant. Then, when South Bend finally realized that summer was long over, Alumni’s radiators kicked into high gear, creating a cacophony of hissing and clanging. It might sound innocuous, but I was convinced that either the contraption had gained sentience and set out to perfectly disrupt my sleep cycle, or that the lint bunnies which inhabit my room began training for Bengal Bouts in the pipes. To make matters worse, our dorm’s dog Toph began levitating and speaking in
strange tongues, but luckily sprinkling her with Holy Water and invoking the spirit of (Uncle) Knute Rockne worked as a stopgap. I could only hope the Vatican soon returned my calls, lest I be forced to exorcize the demon myself by reciting “A Whisper of a Thrill” to it. Thus, my dear readers, we are not out of the woods just yet. Like Captain Ahab searching for Moby Dick, I then set my sights once more on hunting down and skewering the beastly “Bigs” responsible for our woes. After all, the DEFCON-1 alert from my first letter had done the trick, and Dawgs both past and present had united to beat Big Laundry, Big Pool and Big Heat. While only Big Retail Dining remained at large, they were too busy keeping their prices artificially inf lated to meddle in our dorm’s affairs.
“Mayor James Mueller of South Bend answered my smoke signals and came to visit the hall.” Our problems seemed to come from some deeper, more malicious enemy, and to learn how to battle this malevolent force I called upon a former Dawg. A man of great wisdom and wizardry, Mayor
James Mueller of South Bend answered my smoke signals and came to visit the hall. He recalled countless stories of Wake Weeks past, once shrouded in mystery, that allowed me to open my mind and reach the Avatar State. After breaking free of my mortal shackles, I set out to rid the hall of our plagues with the power of community, friendship and the “shroud.” To defeat Big Flood, I decided I had to prove that I could withstand water, no matter how much or how cold. So, at the Third First-Annual Dawgtoberfest, I was dunked into a tank of actual ice water, teaching me how people on the Titanic felt (there was enough room for Jack and Rose on that door, by the way). The next challenge was Big Radiator, and after confirming that the source of the clanging was the lint bunnies’ boxing practice, I resolved to harden the Dawgs to defeat them in combat. We did so by recreating ”All Quiet on the Western Front” through paintball with Pangborn, in which the threat of a shot to my lower extremities constantly hung over me like the Sword of Damocles. Some Dawgs went even further, preparing both their bodies and minds by literally only eating meat for a week during Meat Week. With this newfound strength, we quickly banished the lint bunnies to the shadow realm, leaving us
with one Big left: Big Demon. To save Toph from her curse, the Dawgs watched ”Happy Halloween, ScoobyDoo!” with the Pasquerilla East Pyros. It was a terrifying movie, in which the Scarecrow from Batman, a Skull Trooper look-alike and Bill Nye (voiced by Bill Nye) appeared in the first five minutes. The film was so frightening that it scared the demon out of Toph, who now thankfully only speaks in English again, although she keeps mentioning something about a “Beldam.” Despite our successes, I could feel the dark aura of yet another Big: Big Red. Using the powers we had gained from battling the Bigs, the Dawgs set out to beat Big Red in the 93rd Alumni-Dillon Rivalry Week. With our masterful Super Smash Bros players, elite basketball athletes and famed “Banana Bandits,” we emerged victorious for the 93rd year in a row. It was a bittersweet victory, however, because even as Big Red was vanquished yet again, I could sense something worse lurking in the shadows, injured but waiting to strike: the Biggest of Bigs. Although this Lovecraftian nightmare continues to elude me, I have learned a valuable lesson. Through the pain of leaky ceilings, angry radiators, possessed dogs and much more, the Dawgs of Alumni found community and spirit. These struggles
strengthened the bonds not only among ourselves but with our fellow dorms as well.
“The Dawgs of Alumni found community and spirit.” This reminds me of what a great philosopher and dear friend of mine, Kelly Clarkson, once said: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” After watching my friends and Marriage Pact match (dinner at SDH tomorrow?) beat each other up in Baraka Bouts, I have concluded that this maxim rings true. It is not always about the destination or about trying desperately to defeat every problem and find that one last Big. It’s about the journey — and the people you meet along the way — that makes you a better Dawg and a better person. I’d like to imagine I now ride off on horseback into the sunset and the credits roll, but I know that this story has not yet ended. Dawg Pizza has just reopened, and the mysterious Biggest of Bigs will surely emerge to end it. But until then, this is Alumni President James Baird signing out. James Baird President of Alumni Hall, class of 2025 Nov. 27
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THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
By ANDY OTTONE Scene Writer
Editor’s Note: This review contains spoilers for “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.” What is the point of remaking a movie that only came out 13 years ago? In 2010, “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” was released, adapting the “Scott Pilgrim” graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O’Malley. The film was directed by Edgar Wright and featured an all-star cast of actors. Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth-Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Brie Larson and Jason Schwartzman all starred in the film. In 2023, the cast reunited with Wright producing to remake the movie as an animated series. Animated by Japanese studio Science SARU, “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” had high expectations to live up to. Both the comic and the film have become cult classics, breaking into the mainstream despite independent publication and low box-office returns. Fans knew what to expect from the story, either from the books or the movie, and the show’s first episode leans into this entirely. The debut episode is close to a shot-for-shot remake of the film’s opening scenes, leading into the story’s first big fight. It’s a great place for an episode to end. It sets the tone for the series and shows that the story has more
By Observer Editorial Board
Today is the first day of December. Though Thanksgiving gives us a taste, it is now the time when many people begin to celebrate the holiday season, and with the holiday season comes numerous traditions. These are some of our Editorial Board’s favorite holiday traditions.
Taking a rest — Anna Falk, Scene Editor
going on than it appears. Scott wins the fight and learns he has to win more to get the girl, Ramona Flowers. We see the first fight start, and when we expect Scott to win … he doesn’t. In the first episode’s final moments, the show turns itself on its head. Episode two begins, and Ramona goes from love interest to protagonist. The show positions itself perfectly, paying homage to the various source materials while remaining its own work. The story is wholly fresh and original while being fundamentally “Scott Pilgrim,” even if Scott himself is not present for most of the story. I hate spoiling elements of stories when I write reviews. If I have to reveal specific story elements to sell a point, I feel I’m not making the point well enough. I can see no way to discuss the series without mentioning the twist. As a fan of both the original comics and the film, it was the moment when Scott lost that sold me on the show. While I would have enjoyed a straightforward adaptation of the books, the show did everything a normal retelling would. Side characters received more focus than their movie counterparts, creating some of my favorite moments from the show. A particular standout from the series is Young Neil, played by Johnny Simmons. As a wonderfully unaware character, Young Neil brings some of the series’ funniest jokes.
I want to take a brief moment to talk about the show’s music. Music itself is a core part of the franchise’s identity. The show’s score and music, composed by the band Anamanaguchi, features some beautiful pieces. A standout is an electronic, video game-like cover of the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows.” Another highlight is Emily Haines of the band Metric, who provides the singing voice for Envy Adams, performing a cover of Sarah McLachlan’s “I Will Remember You.” The show’s strongest quality is its stance on remakes themselves. In the show, we see the story of Scott Pilgrim get adapted into a film, book and off-Broadway musical. While this allows for little callbacks to the source materials, their presence and importance within the series is itself a statement on remakes. All that being said, the show itself is not a remake. It’s hard to define what it is, to be honest. Retelling feels inaccurate, implying the story structure is roughly the same. The most fitting way to describe the show is “reinvention.” The characters are undeniably the same, and the story has the same feeling and vibe as the original. But it is something completely distinct. And that’s why I like it.
mother’s favorite movie. Because of this, she started a tradition that we would watch it every Christmas night once the festivities had ended. When I was younger, I thought the movie was boring, and I just wanted to play with my toys. Now that I am older, the movie has also become my favorite. This film will remind you why it is important to be the best person you can be because you never know the impact it will have on somebody else’s life. Plus, it will put you right into the Christmas spirit!
in wool mittens and clunky boots to heave some fresh powder usually means one thing: guests are on the way. There’s no better way to build anticipation and fill your face with color like shoveling the driveway. For added fun, invite your siblings to join (yes, this is a competition, and yes snowballs will fly) or blast “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” in your earbuds. Shoveling snow is an underdog Christmas tradition, but it’s a winner in my book.
Contact Andy Ottone at attone@nd.edu
Christmas lights — Christina Sayut, Graphics Editor
Winter break is usually the only time during the year when I have absolutely nothing to do, and it is a tradition I intend to keep this year. Busyness is the antithesis of rest, yet that’s what all my other breaks are filled with. Fall and spring breaks are packed with homework, short weekend trips are just that — short — and summer break is generally jam-packed with internship and research opportunities. I hate it. Winter break allows me to finally sleep, talk with friends and family and find my passions again. Even though it is not easy to slow down after months of constant work, this time of rest is necessary.
Here’s a list of my favorite things hanging from the Christmas tree at my family’s house: silver and glass baby boots marked with the year 2004, picture frames with my brother’s face and a handcrafted sparkly clay Christmas tree. I’m a firm believer that your collection of Christmas ornaments is a small glimpse into your soul. Each one is a sentimental artifact of a life lived. What a joy to put my ornaments up next to yours.
Watching “It’s a Wonderful Life“ — Emma Duffy, Social Media Editor
Shoveling the sidewalk — Maggie Eastland, Editor-in-Chief
Anything that has to do with Christmas lights is my favorite part of the holiday season. Most importantly, the daily 5 p.m. golf cart rides that I am going to take with my family where we look at the lights around our neighborhood. I am a HUGE fan of Christmas lights, whether they are on a tree or on a house. I love seeing how creative people can get with their lights, but nothing will top the 15-foot-tall Christmas tree that my mom and dad assembled out of a string of lights and a flagpole. Email me if you want to go look at Christmas lights in the South Bend area! Read more online at ndsmcobserver.com.
My favorite holiday tradition used to be my least favorite. “It’s a Wonderful Life” has always been my
Hot take: Shoveling the sidewalk is fun, especially during the Christmas and holiday season. Suiting up
Contact the Ed Board at editor@ndsmcobserver.com
Decorating the Christmas tree — Claire Lyons, Viewpoint Editor
MARIA TOBIAS | The Observer
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THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
By ANNA FALK Scene Editor
“If I’m going to go in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I’m going to have to earn it.” Dolly Parton is a living legend in the world of music. She’s been serving bangers and looks in country music since 1967, and recently, she made her foray into rock and roll. Last year, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. When nominated, she initially requested to remove her name from the ballot, though she eventually accepted the nomination. “I’m sure a lot of you knew that back when they said they were gonna put me in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I didn’t feel like I had done enough to deserve that. I didn’t understand at the time that it’s about more than that, but I’m just so honored and so proud to be here tonight.” Parton’s touching speech about her music legacy and her earnest desire to earn her spot in the hall of fame provide context for her latest release. Released Nov. 17, “Rockstar” is Parton’s 49th solo studio album. About one-third of songs on the record are originals, but the rest are covers with either the original artists of the song or with current popular artists
By NATALIE ALLTON Scene Writer
It has been 13 years since “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” dropped and Ramona Flowers forever redefined the manic pixie dream girl. The recent animated Netflix television series “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” sees the full cast reprising their roles, including director Edgar Wright returning as an executive producer. The question, then, is simple: Does the original still hold up? Is “Scott Pilgrim” still good? I’ll give you the TL;DR version: Yes. Yes it is. I am in lesbians with this movie. It just gets better the more you watch it. As a huge fan of Wright’s other work — “Hot Fuzz” and “Shaun of the Dead” are both among my favorite movies of all time — this movie fits as both a recognizable addition to his filmography and a welcome departure from his usual humor. Wright’s signature directing style is punchy and fast-paced, and the composition and choreography of every shot feels deliberate and perfectly calculated. The cast is phenomenal, with particular standouts in a pre-superhero Chris Evans, a pre-superhero Brie Larson, a post-superhero Brandon Routh and the evergreen Kieran Culkin. Michael Cera is especially brilliant as Scott, perfectly playing pathetic and awkward without ever feeling unbearable. The soundtrack is stacked with banger after banger, especially the diegetic original songs. Sex Bob-Omb’s
like Miley Cyrus and Lizzo. The sheer number of famous rockstars on the record is impressive (and seemingly impossible), but one has to remember — it’s Dolly Parton. With the sheer size of the tracklist, one article will not do the album justice. However, here are some of my personal favorites from “Rockstar”:
“Magic Man (Carl Version)” This song is on here for a lot of reasons. The main one: I’m a huge fan of Heart. You likely know them from songs like “C razy On You” and “Barracuda,” but “Magic Man” is another classic. Heart’s lead singer Ann Wilson and guitarist Howard Leese feature on this track — Wilson’s resonant voice works as a great partner to Parton, and Leese’s playing evokes the sound of the original hypnotic track. I adore that Parton added “(Carl Version)” as a nod to her husband of 57 years.
“Either Or” Out of the original songs on the album, “Either Or” is, in my opinion, the best. It’s a fun blend of country and rock, complemented by Kid Rock’s husky voice. In the song, Parton acts as a disgruntled partner fed up with Kid Rock’s cheating ways, telling him “It’s me or them, you take your choice / It’s an either-or situation.”
post-punk garage band sound is elevated even further with its crunchy, overblown production, and Brie Larson’s pop-rock cover of “Black Sheep” stands as a great song on its own merit. But it’s the details of the movie that are so addictive. Every time I watch the movie, I find a new trick in the editing which makes each shot feel seamless. When I rewatched it for the umpteenth time to write this review, I still found myself laughing out loud at line deliveries that I’d never caught or smooth-like-butter visual gags. There’s a great Seinfeld bit about halfway through the film which gets me every time. I can’t defend everything about the movie. Parts of it simply haven’t aged well. The song during the fight against Matthew Patel is particularly uncomfortable, as is the fan service-y tone of the Roxy fight. But for every moment that’s less-than-good, there’s something great to take in turn, like the bass duet during the Todd fight, or the vegan police bit during the Todd fight, or — okay, the entire Todd fight. It’s a shame that, for a while after this movie’s release, Scott Pilgrim became a symbol for emotionally stunted gamer incels, in the same way that Ramona Flowers became synonymous with the quirky, detached cool girl — the definitive manic pixie dream girl of the 2010s. It isn’t the movie’s fault this happened, but it’s a shame that a story about two deeply immature people who both have to learn to be better was so glossed over by public perception. A lack in media
“Purple Rain” While Parton often finds a way to add some pep to each of the tracks in her signature way, “Purple Rain” is a somber, yet powerful rendition which stays true to the emotion of the original song. Though she does Prince justice, his absence from the many collaborations is a bitter reminder of his unhappy end. Despite the wear in her voice from several years in the music business, Parton impressively manages to hold her own in this expressive and vocally demanding song. It’s one of my favorites from the album. Again, there are 30 songs on this album, and there is not enough space to adequately discuss the time and talent that went into each track. Some honorable mentions are “Free Bird” with Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Long As I Can See The Light” with John Fogerty, “You’re No Good” with Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow and “What’s Up?” with Linda Perry. “Rockstar” pays homage to the great rockers before Parton, and her devotion to mastering the craft with the help of the people who shaped the genre is admirable. Whether or not this album convinces listeners of her multi-genre talents, Dolly Parton will always be a rockstar in my heart. Contact Anna Falk at afalk@nd.edu
literacy — or maybe just the way that pop culture was at the time — caused Scott to become an underdog, an out-of-nowhere hero. In reality, he’s the villain of his own story. That’s a point the movie tries to make abundantly clear, even in its climax, but “Scott Pilgrim is just like me” remained a staple red-flag phrase of the early 2010s regardless. In a way, “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” feels like a solution to that problem, using the same cast to debunk its own mythology. “Vs. the World” has become a pop culture monolith, for better or for worse. “Takes Off” isn’t a movie-to-anime adaptation. It isn’t really even a comics-to-anime adaptation. It’s a second try at now-iconic characters in a way which interacts with its own premise in meaningful ways. “Takes Off” could have never existed without “vs. the World,” and both the show and the movie are better for it. “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” is now, retroactively, the black sheep of the “Scott Pilgrim” media family, and I can’t claim it’s the best iteration of the story. Still, it remains one of my favorite films, and a fantastically good time. If you’ve never seen it, I highly (highly, highly) recommend checking it out before watching “Takes Off” — if only to finally understand why people keep saying “Bread makes you fat?” every time you go to Olive Garden. Contact Natalie Allton at nallton@nd.edu MARISSA PANTHIERE, ANNA FALK | The Observer
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HOROSCOPE | EUGENIA LAST Happy Birthday: Happy Birthday: A financial change is heading your way. Be innovative, let your intuition guide you, expect the unusual and learn to accept and embrace whatever comes your way. Take responsibility and focus on achieving what you want to pursue. Keep an open mind and listen to experts, but be sure something is a good fit for you before you get involved. Charm your way forward, but don’t sugarcoat what you have to offer. Your numbers are 9, 14, 22, 26, 30, 37, 42. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Participate and show everyone what you can do. An innovative approach to life, love and happiness will create a stir among your peers and help you attract support. Self-improvement will not go unnoticed; love and romance are in the stars. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t take on more than you can handle. Your reputation is at stake, and how others perceive you will determine the possibilities. Accepting and making changes without skipping a beat will play in your favor. Embrace new beginnings. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Size up your situation and plan to rectify whatever isn’t working for you. Update your qualifications, appearance or prospects to meet your demands. Gather information to help you secure a routine that offers peace of mind and a clear passage forward. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Overindulgence will be your downfall. Don’t try to buy someone’s attention or affection. Stay calm and use your intelligence to get what you want. Invest more time in yourself, and strive for personal growth. Don’t take a risk with your health or financial stability. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Put drama aside and play fairly. Recognize the possibilities and aim to secure your position using intelligence and skills to your advantage. Make unique plans with someone you love, and share your intentions. Put your goals in motion and a positive lifestyle in place. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Don’t let anger set in when intelligence is required. Consider what you want and adjust whatever is necessary to reach your goal. Opportunity is available, but it requires a hands-on effort to ensure you make the most of every situation you encounter. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Research is favored. A firm grip on what’s possible will be your ticket to success. Speak up, ask questions and choose what feels right and is within your budget. Make stability one of your goals, and the outcome will offer gratitude. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Learn, develop your style and use your skills uniquely. Embrace change and turn it into an opportunity. Speak from the heart; the right people will help you reach your destination. Time is on your side, and trusting and believing in yourself will suffice. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Speed up the process and head for the finish line. Inject your strength and courage into whatever you pursue. Don’t trust others to be honest regarding their intentions. Consider what you can do yourself, and don’t rely on others to do things for you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Be open regarding your plans. Listen to the feedback offered, and you’ll sidestep an emotional situation caused by a lack of communication. Don’t box yourself into more debt than you can handle. Creative thinking will help you structure a manageable payment plan. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t go overboard. Keep things simple, affordable and in your comfort zone. Actions will bring far better results than bragging about what you plan to do next. Update your image and reveal your intentions. Revamp your finances to accommodate your plans. Romance is favored. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Focus on getting things done. Discipline and hard work will lead to looking and feeling your best. Refuse to let emotional issues bring you down when physical activity will encourage personal growth. Put anger behind you and head in a direction that promises gratitude. Birthday Baby: You are proactive, determined and colorful. You are unique and empathetic.
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SPORTS
THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
SPORTS SELECTIONS: RECAPPING THE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL SEASON, TAYLOR SWIFT STYLE
Earlier this season, The Observer brought you a look at the first half of Notre Dame’s football season in the unique form of Taylor Swift songs. The beloved popstar’s songs can summarize just about anything, including an up-and-down Irish campaign that saw the team finish 9-3. It was a good season but left fans wanting more. If “more” means another Swift-themed look at the Irish, this time with the entire regular season in focus, consider it done.
cord-breaking 54-yard field goal. Then, of course, there was the two-hour-long weather delay that began just two plays into the second quarter. Luckily, the Irish were able to pick up momentum once the game resumed. Even though the Wolfpack never had an advantage over the Irish, Notre Dame couldn’t truly get comfortable until two interceptions in the fourth quarter sealed the deal. After a long, competitive matchup, the Irish claimed their 45-24 victory.
NOTRE DAME 42, NAVY 3 – “READY FOR IT?” Mehgan Lange, Saint Mary’s News Editor They were not “Ready for It,” but we were. As over 40,000 fans descended on Dublin, Ireland for this highly anticipated game it is safe to say the Midshipmen didn’t know what we had in store. After the soft launch of the 2023 season in the Blue and Gold game, fans were ready to see their team dominate in this unique season opener. In other words “Baby, let the games begin.” When it came to Hartman, the Irish, both fighting and citizens, “knew he was a killer first time that we saw him” back in April. Hartman only continued “stealing hearts and running off and never saying sorry” when he threw four touchdown passes in the game tying with previous Notre Dame quarterbacks Ron Powlus and Jack Coan for most touchdown passes in a debut. But he wasn’t the only one “stealing hearts.” After Estimé scored the first touchdown of the game in the first seven minutes, he cemented his place in the Irish history books. The line “some boys are trying too hard, he don’t try at all, though” seems to describe how easy Estimé makes it look, almost too easy. Needless to say, Estimé is a safe bet … The team scored 42 consecutive points throughout the game. Navy’s score of three only came in the final four minutes of the game from a field goal. This game is one made for dreams, from being in Dublin to the way the team played, being on the sidelines for this game was absolutely electric.
NOTRE DAME 56, TENNESSEE STATE 3 – “TODAY WAS A FAIRYTALE” Annika Herko, Sports Writer We all already know there’s a magic in the sound of her name. But on the first home game day of the season, there’s always a little extra. Campus buzzes with freshmen getting ready for their first game day. Dorm traditions are upheld and it’s still warm outside, so wearing a dress or a dark gray t-shirt is possible. The first few games of the season are light and filled with hope, like an intriguing second date. Irish nation fell in love with Hartman when we saw him standing there at the Blue and Gold Game. Every move he made, everything he said, was right. But fans had still yet to see him play in a real game at Notre Dame Stadium. By the time the students actually arrived in the stadium, they were rocking and rolling and feeling pretty “Fearless.” Even though the Irish didn’t come sprinting “Out of the Woods” in the first quarter, like we thought they would, by the second quarter they rallied to completely crush the visiting Tigers. Time slowed down whenever one of the running backs was around with the ball (or at least the defense wished it would have). Their band was incredibly talented and entertaining. But Tennessee State “Should’ve Said No” to coming to South Bend. It was “The Best Day” for Notre Dame fans and had everyone feeling like we were in our National Championship Era – a true Cinderella Story.
NOTRE DAME 45, NC STATE 24 – “LONG STORY SHORT” Gabrielle Beechert, Assistant Managing Editor One thing to remember about the NC State game is that it really was long. Like, really long. Both offenses had a slow start to the game, with neither team scoring until Spencer Schrader’s re-
At this point in the season, NC State was the only true competition the Irish had faced. They rose to the challenge, making it easy for fans to think “now I’m all about you.” It was a long, eventful game, with way more excitement than I could describe in this small blurb. But if you’re not in the mood, I’ll just leave you with this: long story short, we survived.
NOTRE DAME 41, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 17 – “I FORGOT THAT YOU EXISTED” J.J. Post, Associate Sports Editor This song works for Central Michigan for a couple of reasons. Most Irish fans didn’t really acknowledge this game on the schedule at all. The trip to Raleigh against North Carolina State represented the first true test for Notre Dame in 2023. Ohio State then loomed two weeks later as possibly the biggest game in years at Notre Dame Stadium. In between those two was a home game — but not the home opener — against a MAC opponent that was coming off a 4-8 campaign.
the prison break”. Once Estimé crossed the goalline, Irish fans were able to feel “the best of times,” turning the Blue Devils’ 14-13 advantage into a 21-14 Irish win. Notre Dame was able to grab the money, get in the getaway car and run away to the next team, Louisville. But as Taylor so famously warns, “nothing good starts in a getaway car.”
LOUISVILLE 33, NOTRE DAME 20 – “THIS IS ME TRYING” José Sánchez Córdova, Assistant Managing Editor In my opinion, this was the lowest point of Notre Dame’s season. No matter how you slice it, this Louisville game sucked. But, hey, they tried. Notre Dame had come off two extremely emotionally taxing games and they just ran out of gas in this road tilt against an unexpectedly good Louisville team. They tried their best, but they just didn’t have it that night. Similarly, despite how much Taylor might have tried, she also fell short, in a relationship sense, in “this is me trying.” This sad song from her album “Folklore” fits well with the general vibe of Notre Dame’s program after the loss to the Cardinals too. “I had the shiniest wheels, now they’re rusting,” sounds a whole lot like Sam Hartman’s three interception performance after his heroic 4thand-16 conversion the week before. And those national title hopes? “Got wasted like all my potential,” as Taylor sings. Those are just a few of the lines that resonate the most from a Notre Dame football perspective.
Fans showed up on Sept. 16, of course, but that attendance was merely a formality, a pre-game for the pending showdown with the Buckeyes. To their credit, the game itself ended up being pretty forgettable. Most Irish fans probably don’t recall that Notre Dame only led by seven points at halftime! Eventually, though, the Irish pulled away and set the stage for what would become possibly the season’s defining moment next Saturday against Ohio State.
NOTRE DAME 48, USC 20 — “SHAKE IT OFF”
OHIO STATE 17, NOTRE DAME 14 – “THE MOMENT I KNEW”
A special mention for defensive coordinator Al Golden and the Irish defense for a suffocating performance that mostly shut down one of the most potent offenses in the country. The “haters gonna hate, hate, hate,” but for this night it didn’t matter. Much like like this chart-topping hit, Notre Dame football felt like it was on top of the world.
J.J. Post, Associate Sports Editor Reliving the Ohio State game will likely be a brutal chore for Irish fans for years to come. This wasn’t the same as the boring but efficient 21-10 Buckeye win in Columbus in 2022. Notre Dame was right there, on the doorstep. The Irish could have put the game away with four minutes remaining in the final quarter. Instead, a failed screen pass allowed Ohio State to pocket an extra timeout. Notre Dame’s defense then forced the Buckeye offense, which had struggled to drive the length of the field all game, into a fourth and seven and a third and nineteen. Ohio State converted both. Then, with seconds left in the game, and the Buckeyes facing third down on the one-yard line … in the words of Taylor, “there was one thing missing.” More specifically, one player — the Irish had only put ten defenders out on the field. Ohio State scored. The NBC broadcast cut to Sam Hartman in disbelief on the sidelines. And though Notre Dame would get one last chance to try and throw together a circus play to win the game, that camera shot of Hartman in stunned silence doubtlessly represented the moment he, and thousands of Irish fans, knew.
NOTRE DAME 21, DUKE 14 – “GETAWAY CAR” Christina Sayut, Graphics Editor Coming out of the tragic Ohio State loss, Notre Dame needed something new, something exciting. Just like the feeling of having a new boyfriend and the excitement of a new relationship, the Notre Dame football team needed something to pump them up. Feeling tense through most of the game, it felt as if they had “poisoned the well” with a loss seeming feasible. Thanks to Sam Hartman’s 17-yard fourthdown scramble and Estimé’s 30-yard touchdown, the Irish were able to make the “the great escape,
José Sánchez Córdova, Assistant Managing Editor The players did, in fact, “play, play, play” on this October night in Notre Dame Stadium. After a disheartening loss against Louisville, the Irish shook off the Louisville loss and resoundingly beat reigning Heisman winner Calen Williams and the rival Trojans. It was a huge win for a program that seemed to be in a tricky spot after two losses in three games.
NOTRE DAME 58, PITT 7 – “MEAN” Tyler Reidy, Associate Sports Editor Not much from this Week 9 game itself warrants a song title. Maybe we should have been yelling “Stay Stay Stay” after Chris Tyree opened the scoring with an 82-yard punt return touchdown. Maybe we should have heeded the wise words of J.J. Post and seen two Irish special teams touchdowns coming. Yeah, I think he knows. But in the grand scheme of the Notre Dame-Pitt rivalry, the 51-point win was particularly harsh. Recall that a combined 28 points had decided the series’ previous six South Bend games. Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi wasn’t very nice to his players after the game either. “As a football coach, you lose a lot of good players from a year ago and you think as a coach you’re going to replace them, and obviously we haven’t,” he said. “Mean” works best when read as a tune of lamentation collectively written by the Pitt players. “You, with your words like knives … Calling me out when I’m wounded.” That sounds about right. In fact, the song specifically references “talking over a football game” and “ranting about the same old bitter things,” two Narduzzi-related things. As expected, Narduzzi quickly realized he “did something bad” and apologized for the comment soon after the fact.
CLEMSON 31, NOTRE DAME 23 – “CASTLES CRUMBLING” Emily DeFazio, Associate Sports Editor The melancholic reminiscing on lost greatness in Swift’s “Castles Crumbling” is the perfect encap-
sulation of this game. It certainly felt like castles were crumbling around us as my roommates and I watched the downfall of the Irish in Death Valley, any hopes we had of the season’s revival turning to questions of “how it could’ve ended this way.” As a senior, and therefore a freshman for the infamous 2020 double over-time field storm, the Clemson game each year borders on sacred. The continuation of a rivalry that formed during my collegiate career. The team I had such faith in instead seemed to “have fallen from grace” as the final matchup I would be a student for ended in a devastating loss. Hartman just could not seem to find his groove that day. Hopes of winning out and recovering from the blunder in Kentucky kept fans going with the loose shreds of hope, but after then-No. 16 Notre Dame lost to an unranked Clemson, Hartman was viewed as “the great hope for a dynasty” that eventually had to “sit alone, behind walls of regret/Falling down like promises that I never kept.”
NOTRE DAME 45, WAKE FOREST 7 – “MR. PERFECTLY FINE” Andrew McGuinness, Sports Editor While the song paints a more negative portrayal of the man in Taylor Swift’s head than the one calling signals for the Notre Dame offense, this song has to be about Sam Hartman from both a Notre Dame and Wake Forest perfection. Hartman’s lone season in South Bend was mixed. It had its highs and lows and there are certainly multiple reasons for Notre Dame’s slip-ups. Still, Hartman put up his worst numbers in three years (when he only played 9 games). He made some incredible plays — 4th and 16 against Duke was legendary — but he was at the center of a “casually cruel” season that was good but left everyone wanting more. Irish fans thought Hartman was Mr. “Always Wins” or at least Mr. “Always at the Right Place at the Right Time.” Ultimately, his performance, on the whole, was closer to just fine. Also, it’s safe to say Demon Deacons head coach Dave Clawson wishes he was Mr. “Here to Stay” at his old school, which was Team “Misery” at 3-9 following Hartman’s departure.
NOTRE DAME 56, STANFORD 23 – “DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS” Emily DeFazio, Associate Sports Editor Despite not being able to watch the game live (*cough* Pac12 Network *cough*), I knew what would be waiting for me at the end, win or lose. This season’s legacy is death by a thousand cuts. It started off with fans being able to taste a playoff bid and ended with crossed fingers that Notre Dame would get some form of a bowl game, hopes being whittled down one game at a time. Yet, at least for me, the what-ifs still linger and have me questioning “if the story’s over/Why am I still writing pages?” The “flashbacks waking me up” circle back to the high energy that carried all the way through the final second of the OSU game and the subsequent tentative positivity that was shaken each week. Swift’s upbeat musicality with depressing, wistful lyrics is the perfect ballad for Notre Dame’s final regular season game. Estimé had a career night, his 238 yards and 4 touchdowns accounting for the majority of Notre Dame’s offensive play. But even that kind of success could not mask the roller-coaster of highs and lows that ended with fans feeling like they were robbed of witnessing greatness. Instead, we can only peer through boarded-up windows into what the season could have looked like. Read the full article at ndsmcobserver.com
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guide the Irish to a third-ever College Cup, another familiar foe stands in his way. On Saturday, Notre Dame will welcome Indiana — perhaps the program’s greatest historical rival — to Alumni Stadium. And it’s been a rivalry that’s more often than not favored the Hoosiers. The Irish haven’t won against their instate compatriots since 2016. The last time Notre Dame and Indiana squared off in the NCAA Tournament was Riley’s first tournament loss with the Irish. Notre Dame has beaten the Hoosiers in South Bend just four times in program history, including a 1-0 overtime win
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somewhere in the middle. The Irish had a taste of greatness at the start of the season, and I think that being in a position to have hopes of a CFP bid was a benefit. Clearly, there is talent on the team and, clearly, if it is organized correctly, Notre Dame can be a formidable team. Whatever people say about Hartman’s contributions to the program, he was a much-needed breath of fresh air on offense. However, only tasting greatness is not the same as actually achieving it. The theme of this season has been the reminiscing on the “what could have beens” and “what ifs” that should have been tangible results. There is no way to call this season a complete success for that very reason, especially when there were such high hopes of a veteran quarterback leading Notre Dame to a playoff showing. Ladd: The Irish showed growth this year, but anything less than a playoff appearance for this
Knuble CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14
cheering for us.” Regardless, Cole will relish the opportunity to show out against Mike’s alma mater. “We haven’t talked about playing Michigan, but it will be bragging rights for sure going home at Christmas,” Cole said. Not that he needs extra motivation. This weekend’s series may just be the most consequential one of the season so far for both Michigan and Notre Dame. Rivalry aside,
during Riley’s senior season as a player, with the current boss assisting the game-winning goal. “There’s a lot of mutual respect between the programs,” Riley said. “Every game, we know it’s going to be tight, be a battle. As competitors, you’re just excited to play teams like that.” One of four current Notre Dame coaches to have also played for the Irish, Riley knows the importance of notching a rivalry win in the NCAA Tournament as much as anyone. With two College Cup trips in three seasons on the line, Notre Dame might be on the doorstep of taking another step forward as a program. And the Irish have one of their own leading the way. Contact J.J. Post at jpost2@nd.edu
team has to be considered a failure. Veteran Sam Hartman was brought in to compete for the national title, and that definitely didn’t happen. While the defense improved tremendously over last year’s squad, the Irish offense never truly found their identity and struggled on the road despite the superb play of juniors Audric Estimé and Mitchell Evans. Crow: For me, this question hinges largely on the outcome of Notre Dame’s bowl game. While the Irish entered the season with playoff hopes, I find it hard not to consider a 10-win season and an improvement over last year a success. Even with a bowl loss, failure seems a bit strong. Notre Dame was dominant at home throughout the season and saw significant growth from a lot of players, particularly at the skill positions on offense. A repeat nine-win season would no doubt be a disappointment but would still leave the Irish well-positioned to take a major step forward next fall.
the two teams are jockeying for early position in the Big Ten standings. Notre Dame is currently tied for second place in the conference, and Michigan is tied for fifth. But just four points separate the two teams. “That’s what you want. I think that’s one of the best parts about Notre Dame,” Knuble said. “That’s why you come to a place like this. You want to play in those games where it feels like it matters.” Contact Ryan Murphy at rmurph22@nd.edu
WRITE SPORTS. Email Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu The Observer accepts classifieds every business day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Notre Dame office, 024 South Dining Hall. Deadline for next-day classifieds is 3 p.m. All classifieds must be prepaid. The charge is 5 cents per character per day, including all spaces. The Observer reserves the right to edit all classifieds for content without issuing refunds.
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SPORTS
THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
HOCKEY FEATURE
Knuble talks NHL Draft, Michigan By RYAN MURPHY Sports Writer
Pick up a Notre Dame hockey line chart, and you’ll see freshman forward Cole Knuble’s name with an NHL logo next to it. He’s more than earned the distinction, but the road to get there hasn’t always been easy. The latest step in Knuble’s hockey journey has landed him at Notre Dame, where he’s an important member of the Irish’s eight-player freshman class. “For me, the biggest thing when I was getting recruited [was] what school is gonna set me up for the most success after college, and a lot of that was with hockey,” Knuble said. “As a player, I thought this was the best place for me to develop [to] play in the NHL … but then also in just all aspects of life. I think this place will obviously make me a better person too.” Development for the NHL has long been the goal for Knuble. The Grand Rapids, Michigan, native committed to Notre Dame in January of 2022. That spring, he became eligible for the NHL Draft. But no NHL team selected him. Despite putting up 20 goals and 49 points in his first season of junior hockey with the Fargo Force, Knuble did not hear his name called over the course of the seven rounds. “I had a really good first year in the USHL,” Knuble said. “And I was disappointed, obviously, but I really took it personally. I guess all I [could] do from there is work and try to try to prove everyone wrong. So that’s what I did.” Knuble returned to Fargo last year with a chip on his shoulder. Building upon a successful first year with the team, he raised his goal total from 20 to 30. He scored 66 points, placing him among the USHL’s top-10 scorers. As an assistant captain, he helped the Force to the Clark Cup Final and led the team in scoring. “I think handling adversities is a strength of mine,” he said. The hockey world took notice. After his stellar second season in Fargo, Knuble was presented the Curt Hammer Award by the USHL, given to the player who demonstrates outstanding performance, leadership, pride and determination. USA Hockey, the sport’s national governing body, also recognized Knuble by naming him the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year. Several current NHL players are former recipients, including Jack Hughes, Kyle Connor and Joe Pavelski, among others. “I always felt growing up I
was overlooked, so finally it felt like I was being seen in the hockey world,” Knuble said. “But I think it’s just, you always want the next thing, so you can’t get satisfied.” Knuble’s biggest reward at the end of last season, though, was the one that motivated him in the first place — the NHL Draft. On June 29, the Philadelphia Flyers drafted Knuble in the fourth round. His hard work had paid off. “Not getting drafted obviously upset me at first, and I was really mad,” he said. “But now I’m really thankful for it, because I think it pushed me. It’s always a good reminder that you can prove people wrong, and it’s kind of fun.” Knuble’s start to his freshman season at Notre Dame hasn’t necessarily been easy, either. Despite his strong play at center, he only has two points to show for it. Nonetheless, the experience of handling adversity last season has proven invaluable for him. “You learn about yourself, and I think you can learn that you can get through stuff,” Knuble said. “I think it’s true that there’s lessons in everything.” After a seven-game unbeaten streak, Knuble’s Irish team now has some adversity of its own to face. Last Friday, the No. 1 Boston College Eagles beat Notre Dame 6-1 at Compton Family Ice Arena. The Irish have now lost two straight games for the first time all season. This weekend represents a chance to rebound, though, as No. 13 Michigan will be in town for a pair of rivalry games. “That’s the good part about Notre Dame and playing in the Big Ten, is that next weekend is always going to be a chance to get right back on it,” Knuble said. For Knuble, the chance to take on the Wolverines for the first time is an extra special one. His father, 16-year NHL veteran Mike Knuble, is a Michigan alumnus. Mike played hockey for the Wolverines for four seasons between 1991 and 1995. Old allegiances die hard, especially in the case of the MichiganNotre Dame rivalry. But it’s probably a safe bet that Mike will be rooting for his son this weekend. “I think he’s cheering for Notre Dame,” Cole said of his father. “I don’t know, actually, I haven’t asked him. But I saw him with a Notre Dame shirt on the other day, so he might be. He won’t be wearing a jersey, so you might not be able to tell, but I’m pretty sure he’s see KNUBLE PAGE 13
Hockey CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
State) before their holiday break, the Irish are in dire need of a bounce-back performance. Last Friday, Notre Dame was beaten 6-1 at home by No. 1 Boston College, and they have now lost consecutive games for the first time all season. Wins over No. 4 Boston University, Ohio State, and No. 7 Minnesota have shown the hockey world that the Irish are a legitimately good team, rather than just some scrappy underdog. What Notre Dame will be trying to prove this weekend is that they are not just a good team, but a resilient one, too. “Consistency becomes a huge factor,” Irish head coach Jeff Jackson said. “As well as we played the weekend prior against Minnesota — especially on Friday, but even just the big parts of the game on Saturday — we didn’t carry that over to the game against Boston College.” Of all the things to keep in mind, consistency may be the biggest key to a successful weekend for Notre Dame. “We just have to find that consistency in our game, and try to play the same way in every period of every game. From here on out, it’s going to be like that. We don’t have a lot of places to hide, so we’ve got to make sure we’re ready to play every night,” Jackson said. Another key for Jackson’s Irish will be improving their transition defense. It was lacking against Boston College on
Black Friday and will be tested by a potent Wolverine offense that ranks tied for third nationally, scoring 4.31 goals per game. It may seem ironic, but Notre Dame will need to defend Michigan’s defensemen this weekend. In fact, Michigan’s leading points-getter so far is a defenseman, New Jersey Devils draft pick Seamus Casey. Casey has four goals and 18 assists from the back end so far. “They’ve got good offensive depth, not just up front but on the back end,” Jackson said of Michigan on Wednesday. “They’ve got very mobile and skilled defensemen. Their defensemen play a key part to their transition game and their o-zone play. They’re very interactive, it’s like having five forwards on the ice at times.” The Wolverine’s offensive depth will be critically important for Michigan this weekend due to their ongoing struggle with injuries. Sophomore forward Jackson Hallum was ruled out for the rest of the season after putting up eight points in his first nine games, while the Wolverines are still awaiting the season debut of sophomore defenseman Ethan Edwards. To boot, junior forward Mark Estapa and sophomore star Rutger McGroarty have been sidelined for the last 3 games, and are unlikely to play this weekend according to the Michigan Daily. McGroarty, a 2022 first-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets, had 18 points in 13 games before sustaining an injury Nov. 17 against Penn State.
One area in which both teams will look to get an edge is on special teams. Notre Dame has succeeded so far in improving their penalty kill, and the Irish’s 87.5% success rate is good for 8th in the country. They’ll be in for a tall test this weekend though, as Michigan brings the 2nd-best power-play in the nation to town. The Wolverines are converting on a whopping 32.8% of their opportunities. Sophomore forwards T.J. Hughes and Gavin Brindley lead the team with four power-play goals each. While Michigan has soared on the power play, though, they have scuffled on the penalty kill. At 73.4%, the Wolverines are 58th of the 64 teams nationally. While Notre Dame’s power-play is by no means shooting the lights out (18.0%, 34th nationally), it will be an area Notre Dame seeks to capitalize on. Regardless of their diametrically opposed special teams play, or their individual paths to arrive at this weekend, both Michigan and Notre Dame are faced with opportunity this weekend. For the Wolverines, it’s one last chance to set things straight with a Big Ten sweep before the holidays. For Notre Dame, it’s another opportunity to show they are for real after a stinging loss. Yes, so much opportunity awaits for both sides. But perhaps the most enticing opportunity of all? The chance to beat an opponent both schools love to hate. Contact Ryan Murphy at rmurph22@nd.edu
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FOOTBALL ROUNDTABLE
Roundtable: Recapping Notre Dame’s 2023 football season By Observer Sports Staff
The 2023 regular season for Notre Dame football is over. The Irish finished the year 9-3 with some encouraging performances but frustrating lows. Our football beat breaks down the year that was and what might be to come.
What was the biggest surprise this season? José Sánchez Córdova, Assistant Managing Editor: Audric Estimé’s Doak Walker Award snub. The Notre Dame running back was an absolute stud for the Irish this season. The Irish offense struggled to find consistency through the air with an inexperienced wide receiver corps but Estimé never slowed down. He was near the top of the nation’s rushing ranks all year and ran for 18 touchdowns in 12 games to set a new single-season record for Notre Dame. I don’t know if he would win the award, but his exclusion from the 10-man semifinalist group is a huge shock. Andrew McGuinness, Sports Editor: Just how dominant the Irish defense was. It was reasonable to expect a step forward in year two of Al Golden’s run as defensive coordinator, especially in the red zone. But there’s a big difference between merely being better and being top 15 in defensive touchdowns (tied for 6th), first downs allowed (13th), red zone defense (2nd!), scoring defense (9th), defensive pass efficiency (1st), total defense (8th) and turnovers forced (tied for 10th). They weren’t perfect, but the Irish were a team that went as their defense did. Madeline Ladd, Associate Sports Editor: True freshman Jordan Faison — the lacrosse recruit and football walk-on that
went on to become a scholarship wide receiver. With 14 receptions and 3 touchdowns this year, he was a reliable source in the wide receiver group that struggled with injury and youth. His combination of speed and quickness also made him an immediate weapon. He showed improvement throughout the season, the biggest being his ability to read the defense and adjust his routes accordingly. Matthew Crow, Associate Sports Editor: The tight end unit was expected to take a step back after losing an all-time great in Michael Mayer but instead served as a key element of the Irish offense. Junior Mitchell Evans was Sam Hartman’s top target for most of the season, and when he went down with injuries, sophomores Holden Staes and Eli Raridon did not miss a beat. Staes broke out with a huge 115-yard, 2-touchdown outing early in the year against NC State, and Raridon tallied 39 yards and a score in his first real action against Wake Forest. All three are capable of playing big roles in the passing game next season, and it’s become clear that the Irish will continue churning out star tight ends on an annual basis.
Who Took the Biggest Step Forward? Sánchez Córdova: Xavier Watts is the clear choice here. His journey from wide receiver to Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist is remarkable. At times this year, he’s been the most impactful player on Notre Dame’s formidable defense. His penchant for forcing turnovers this year helped the inconsistent Irish offense too. McGuinness: Rico Flores Jr. seemed to me like the least hyped of Notre Dame’s three four-star
freshmen wide receivers. However, he finished the season with the most receptions and second-most receiving yards of all Irish wideouts. What was most encouraging about Flores was his ability to succeed in different areas. He had seven receptions of at least 20 yards and also came through in shortyardage situations, making key receptions for a touchdown against Ohio State and a two-point conversion at Duke. Emily DeFazio, Associate Sports Editor: Xavier Watts is the clear standout of the season - having the most interceptions of any player in college football and earning award after award every week just cannot be overlooked. While he contributed in every game last year, the way he, at times, had more impact on the outcome of the game than any other player on the field this fall shows leaps and bounds of growth. He will have a difficult decision going forward as his NFL draft stock rose rapidly this season.
Most Important Offseason Move to Make Sánchez Córdova: The transfer portal is immensely impactful, but finding a permanent strength coach is the most important move for Notre Dame in my opinion. Matt Balis’ unexpected resignation in July left the Irish with Fred Hale as an interim coach for the season. Finding a replacement will be paramount for Marcus Freeman this offseason. Getting it right will be essential for the program’s success in the long term. McGuinness: Finding the next Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Thomas Harper. The Irish hit home runs on the former Ohio State defensive lineman and Oklahoma State safety, respectively, as
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graduate transfers. This doesn’t necessarily mean replacing those two players specifically — the Irish have great secondary depth, for example. While everyone will be focused on the quarterback situation, transfers at other positions can make a huge impact. Kaleb Smith not retiring from football prior to the season wouldn’t have saved Notre Dame’s receiving core, but it shows the cost of coming up empty in the portal. J.J. Post, Associate Sports Editor: Wide receiver and offensive line stand out as the two areas the team most obviously will need help in, though I think you can fairly argue that the Irish need upwards of seven new starters in the portal. Wide receiver is obvious: The departure of Chansi Stuckey means what little production Notre Dame had in the passing game is quickly evaporating. They don’t just need proven talent — they’re starting to need scholarship bodies outright. Offensive line is trickier. No doubt there’s a lot more young depth in that room compared to other Irish position groups. But how many young linemen does Notre Dame want to start next year? It’s possible the Irish head to Texas A&M for their opener next year without last season’s starters at both tackle spots and center. And neither of 2023’s starting guards, Rocco Spindler and Pat Coogan, had seasons that would be cause for building around them. Linemen will be at a premium in the portal, but finding an experienced, high-level starter would be huge for Notre Dame. Crow: Wide receiver and safety are two positions that the Irish should look to shore up in the transfer portal. The future prospects of Notre Dame’s young
receivers look extremely promising after their breakout performance against Wake Forest, but the unit had a severe lack of depth this season, and the Irish offense was hampered by receiver injuries for much of the year. Adding an experienced transfer into the mix could solve some of those issues. Defensively, Notre Dame will be losing a lot at the safety position and could use one or two proven players with the ability to step in and find success — on the field and as a leader — from day one in the same way that graduate transfer Thomas Harper seamlessly has this season.
Was The Season a Success or Failure? Sánchez Córdova: I can’t help but feel disappointed about this season. The addition of Hartman had everyone dreaming big, and the Irish fell short. The fact that a team with a top-10 scoring offense and defense lost three games is disappointing too. While it was a successful step forward for Freeman in Year 2, this was a failure after such a promising start to the season. McGuinness: I’m sorry, and maybe I’m just being harsh, but I lean toward the latter. Opportunities like the one Notre Dame had against Ohio State don’t come around every year. A quarterback with the pedigree that Hartman had isn’t going to be your signal caller every year. Even the most talented defense would have a hard time putting up better numbers than Golden’s unit has. To have all of those things and not even make a New Year’s Six bowl, especially when two of the three marquee opponents turned out to be duds (one of which Notre Dame still lost to), is a disappointment. The good news: It’s certainly not a failure that Freeman, and the Irish can’t come back from. Post: This is a weird one to answer. I don’t think I can say it was a success. The Irish indeed improved on Freeman’s first regular season by one win. Vegas expected Notre Dame to win 8-9 games. They did exactly that. The cataclysmic meltdown against Louisville was the only outright, all-around “bad” performance, and certain areas of the roster (namely, basically everywhere on defense and tight end) showed very real signs of progress. But at the end of the day, when you miss a chance to earn a landmark win at Notre Dame Stadium in the way the Irish did against Ohio State, and you miss a New Years’ Six bowl with more than enough talent to qualify for one, the season isn’t a success. All of that being said … I personally predicted in the startof-season roundtable a 10-3 record with a bowl game win, so maybe this season was just average? DeFazio: This is such a loaded question, and, as with most things, I feel the answer lies see FOOTBALL PAGE 13
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THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
ND MEN’S SOCCER
‘It’s my club’: Riley looks to build extensive Irish legacy in quarterfinal showdown By J.J. POST Associate Sports Editor
Last Sunday was a full-circle moment for Notre Dame men’s soccer coach Chad Riley. His Irish team had battled for 110 minutes, and now would see the fate of their season decided by a penalty kick shootout. Riley sent his team out to line up, perhaps having flashbacks to his own playing days. Nearly 20 years to last Sunday, Riley’s own Notre Dame playing career came to a close in the exact same situation. With a trip to the program’s first NCAA quarterfinal on the line, the Irish went to penalty kicks against Michigan at the old Alumni Field, roughly 100 yards from the touchline Riley now occupies. Riley scored in the shootout, but his efforts would prove futile. A pair of saves from Wolverine goalkeeper Peter Dzubay ended Notre Dame’s season and Riley’s collegiate career. Two decades later, the Irish
pulled through in the NCAA round of 16 against Western Michigan. A save by senior goalkeeper Bryan Dowd and a composed shooting performance proved enough for Riley’s squad. One key difference from 2003? Notre Dame will now head to its sixth NCAA quarterfinal, not first. Three of those six quarterfinal appearances have come under Riley’s tutelage, the sign of a coach who’s starting to build his own legacy on the Alumni Stadium touchline. The shadow of Bobby Clark, Riley’s own coach at Notre Dame and his predecessor in the Alumni dugout, looms large in South Bend soccer lore. Clark coached the Irish for 17 seasons, every one of which ending with a winning record. He delivered the program its first and only national championship in 2013. Clark’s eventual retirement segued nicely into the hiring of Riley, his former player and assistant coach. You’d be hardpressed to find a man with
FOOTBALL NEWS
No position group on Notre Dame’s roster has seen more change in this young offseason than wide receiver. Marcus Freeman announced the team had parted ways with receivers coach Chansi Stuckey on Tuesday. The day before, senior Chris Tyree was one of three players to head into the transfer portal. And on Wednesday, another wideout joined him — sophomore Tobias Merriweather. Merriweather was the lone wide receiver in Notre Dame’s 2022 recruiting class, although the Irish were hoping his quality could make up for their lack of quantity. A fourstar recruit from West Camas, Washington, Merriweather was a three-sport athlete in high school with great speed (one of those sports was track and field) and big-play potential. Merriweather made one of those types of plays as a freshman. He hauled in a go-ahead 41-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Stanford game, the first catch of his collegiate
2022. Transitioning from the loss of a highly influential group of graduated seniors, the Irish missed the NCAA tournament for just the third time since 2000. Such a strange 2022 season prompted some soul-searching from Riley and his team over the course of the offseason. There had been signs of promise, including a four-match unbeaten run to close out the regular season. But there had seemed to be an abundance of missed opportunities as well. Notre Dame knew they had pieces. But they had to figure out how to get them to click to reach their potential. “You’re always reflecting, growing and evolving things,” Riley said. “Not a lot was broken, but it was just continuing to grow. At Notre Dame, you’re always going to have four-year programs. Guys are hopefully going to continue to develop over time. I think this is a good example of a lot of hard work from January to now.” The development and
evolution of the Irish over the offseason was quickly evident. Notre Dame started the season on a five-match unbeaten run and would go on to finish its ACC regular season slate undefeated. It’s difficult to not draw a few parallels between this year’s Irish and the 2021 squad. They’re defensively sound and can win games in a variety of ways. Veterans in the midfield keep the team ticking. Most importantly, they respond well to adversity. These are the traits that Riley has built the program around during his tenure as coach, and the ones he thinks are most evident in the team’s biggest games. “The game last weekend kind of summed up the ideal of what we want to be as a team,” said Riley about the win against Western Michigan. “Never give in, never stop, whether you’re on top, whether you’re down. You just keep going and you really love one another.” Now, with Riley looking to see RILEY PAGE 13
HOCKEY PREVIEW
Merriweather enters portal By Observer Sports Staff
deeper connections to Notre Dame soccer than Riley. Since the turn of the century, he’s spent a combined 16 years either playing or coaching in South Bend. “It’s my club, right?” said Riley. “It’s my place … We take a lot of pride, try not to put more pressure on ourselves, but I’m a Notre Dame guy through and through.” But Riley is more than “a Notre Dame guy.” He’s also a highly accomplished coach that’s dead set on bringing his alma mater back to the top of the college soccer world. Six years into his tenure, the fruits of such labor have begun to emerge. His first NCAA quarterfinal appearance as a coach came in his first season on the Alumni Stadium touchline. He’d go on to lead the Irish to a second-ever College Cup appearance in 2021. That same year, he helped Notre Dame capture its first ACC Tournament title. Though that 2021 campaign represented a high-water mark for Riley’s tenure in South Bend, it set the table for an up-and-down
career. Ultimately, though, it would be the last of his freshman season. Merriweather suffered a concussion against Clemson a few weeks later that ended his regular season. As a sophomore, Merriweather again flashed his sky-high potential. He caught four passes of at least 35 yards, giving the Irish passing game a muchneeded explosive element when he was on his A-game. However, Merriweather wasn’t able to contribute as much as expected in between those big strikes. He finished the year with just 14 receptions for 284 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Jordan Faison, a walkon who originally came to Notre Dame to play lacrosse, essentially matched Merriweather’s production despite being a nonfactor until the Louisville game. With the departures of Merriweather and Tyree, the Irish are slated to have one of the country’s youngest receiver rooms. Five Irish receivers caught at least 10 passes last year. Junior Jayden Thomas is the only returner who is not currently a freshman.
Michigan, Notre Dame renew rivalry By RYAN MURPHY Sports Writer
Earlier this week, temperatures dipped into the low twenties and snow flurries dusted the ground. It’s regular now to hear Christmas music floating through the air on South Quad or to see your breath vaporized in a cold morning’s air. There is no doubt about it: winter is in full swing. At Compton Family Ice Arena, that means hockey season is too. As the calendar turns to December, Notre Dame hockey is readying for its most meaningful series of the season to date. Beginning Friday, the Irish host No. 13 Michigan for a two-game set. Pointing out that the two games this weekend are meaningful may seem like stating the obvious. Whenever Notre Dame and Michigan take the ice together, the games are always meaningful — that’s the nature of a rivalry. A fundamental antagonism exists between the two hockey programs, separated by a short three-hour commute. That antagonism has created a handful of dramatic college hockey moments. Just last year, Notre
Dame earned two climactic extra-time wins in Ann Arbor to secure home ice advantage in the Big Ten tournament. The teams have also met 18 times in postseason play, and although Michigan holds the edge with a 10-8 record, some of the most important wins in Notre Dame’s hockey history have come over the Wolverines, including two Frozen Four semifinal victories and three CCHA tournament championship games. This weekend, obviously, is not a postseason series. But, it will be a consequential conference series for both sides as they claw for positioning in the ever-competitive Big 10. Currently, Michigan sits in fifth place in the seven-team conference with nine points in eight games. Notre Dame is in third, with 12 points in six games played. Michigan (7-6-3-0, 2-4-1-1) has struggled to gain momentum so far this season. After a 1-4-1 start to November, they seemed well on their way to righting the ship in a non-conference series at No. 17 St. Cloud State. Having won the first game and built a 3-0 cushion in game two, the Wolverines saw their lead slip away late. A
St. Cloud State goal with 7.8 seconds remaining left Michigan to settle for a 3-3 tie. With only one sweep (over Lindenwood) so far this season, the Wolverines would have to wait for another. The fifth-place position in the standings is an unfamiliar one for Michigan. Winners of the last two conference tournament crowns, they have yet to earn a B1G sweep this season. Their current position would leave them without home-ice advantage in the tournament’s first round for the first time since 2019 if the tournament started today. The good news for Michigan is that isn’t the case. But with 16 games behind them, this series versus Notre Dame represents a fulcrum in the Wolverines’ season. After this weekend, Michigan will not play again until Jan. 12 against Stonehill. With one last chance to build momentum before the break, the Wolverines will be looking to send a message. But Notre Dame (7-5-2, 3-1-11) will be looking to send a message, too. Although they still have another series (at No. 8 Michigan see HOCKEY PAGE 14