Print Edition for The Observer for Friday February, 24, 2023

O’Neill Family Hall rector departs

o ’ n eill Family h all’s rector will “no longer serve” in the role as of Thursday, Feb. 23, according to an email sent to residents that afternoon.

r esidential l ife is fully committed to supporting you and the entire o ’ n eill Family community throughout this transition.”

“ e ffectively immediately, o rlando [ l eón] will no longer serve,” b reyan Tornifolio, the r esidential l ife director who oversees the hall and supervises l eón, wrote in the email. “ p lease know

h is biography has been removed from o ’ n eill’s profile on the r esidential l ife website. a ccording to a web archive screenshot of his biography, l eón served in various youth programs throughout his career in education, primarily serving youth who had “experienced trauma, loss of some sort, and/or removal from the home.”

Fr. c hris r ehagen will serve as the interim rector for the remainder of the academic year and was

see o’neill PAGE 5

off the ave: student-run coffee shop opens at smc ND hosts Ukraine prayer service

By PETER BREEN news writer

To mark one year since russia’s full-scale invasion of ukraine, the nanovic institute for european studies arranged a commemoration in nanovic hall, which was followed by a candlelit prayer service for peace at the grotto with university president Fr. John Jenkins Thursday evening.

in the nanovic hall Forum — adorned with the student research exhibition “ukrainian art as protest and resilience” — sophomore marko gural welcomed attendees on behalf of the ukrainian society of notre dame.

Saint

newest dining option , student-run-and-created Off the Ave

Feb. 20. The shop was thought up and run by six Saint Mary’s students in the Department

By KATELYN WALDSCHMIDT a ssociate news editor

monday morning saw many saint mary’s students starting their week off with an extra kick of caffeine, courtesy of off the avenue, saint mary’s new student-run coffee shop.

off the avenue has been started

and run entirely by students. one student, hannah shoemake, had the idea last spring to give new life to the space, along with some help from James rogers, a business administration and economics professor.

“[we] got talking about the vacant space and how back during my freshman year it was

occupied by sedexo,” she said. before notre dame dining took over in 2020, sedexo used to be the food service used by saint mary’s.

“he and i were kind of brainstorming and kind of thought of the idea of how cool it’d be to offer

“i think that one year ago harkens back to a completely unrecognizable reality, on Feb. 23, 2022, the ukrainian society hosted a panel of notre dame professors that evaluated the state between russia and ukraine,” gural said. “That evening russia invaded.”

studying cultural studies at ucu, explained the hatred she has felt during the past 365 days.

“i let myself be angry at every russian soldier… who put me in danger, every person in my country in this danger…,” opryshko said. “it was something that i screamed into my pillow about, something that made me want to break and throw things. i remember being jealous of people who could cry and tried not to snap at my friends because of the anger that wasn’t even directed at them.”

next, those gathered in the forum acquired candles and marched together toward the grotto.

director of liturgy for campus ministry kate barrett received the procession after the lit candles were placed inside the rocky cavern, greeting the crowd on behalf of the president’s office.

“we’re so glad to gather together in prayer, even though it’s really hard to believe that we are here recognizing the one-year anniversary of this invasion,” barrett said. “walking together as you all

see smc PAGE 4 see ukraine PAGE 4

Four exchange students from ukrainian catholic university (ucu) then gave their stories of war and exile. The last to speak, andriana opryshko, who is

Courtesy of Erin Bennet

Mary’s

coffee shop, opened Monday

of Buisness.

Observer Staff Report

ANNA MASON | The Observer

Orlando León departed Thursday afternoon from his post as rector in O’Neill Family Hall, an email sent to hall residents announced. Fr. Chris Rehagen will serve as the interim rector for the remainder for the year.

Several residents said they have reason to believe the departure is the result of misconduct

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Keenan Hall hosts 47th annual Revue show

By KATHRYN MUCHNICK Associate news editor

“I think that we are going to find ways to disappoint our parents that nobody thought was even possible.”

That is how s ammy Kacius, a senior in Keenan h all, describes the 47th annual Keenan r evue.

Kacius is the director of the r evue, which will kick off Thursday in the s tepan c enter and run until s aturday. The r evue is Keenan h all’s signature event, and this year, the theme is “ h igh s chool r evuesical.”

“It just felt like the theme to do,” Kacius said of the “ h igh s chool r evuesical” decision. “You get all the character tropes that you can put in there, you get the music — everything about it is just so revue-able.”

The decision process for the theme begins in the fall semester, when the r evue staff posts pieces of paper around the dorm for Keenan residents to write ideas on. The staff then selects the final theme from the crowdsourced list.

b obby n ichols, the rector of Keenan h all, said the theme decision isn’t just about what is funniest.

“The theme doesn’t necessarily matter [in the show]

beyond the theme skit,” n ichols explained. “What really matters is: h ow do we market it? What’s the logo going to look like?”

After the theme is decided, the rector, director and executive producers finalize music and host skit try-outs. Any member of Keenan h all can write a skit and pitch it to the r evue staff. After skit callbacks, the script is finalized and each role is cast.

n ick s lusher is one of two executive producers for the show, and he said his role is slightly different from the directors.

“The director is very much in charge of the show itself — the comedy, the way the skits are laid out, the blocking, all that good stuff,” s lusher said. “The producers are more in charge of the logistics — behind the scenes stuff to make sure that the show is running smoothly.”

Tickets for the show were distributed last m onday in d ahnke ballroom. Alumni entirely cover the cost of the show, so students were given tickets for free — with a limit of 2 tickets per student I d

“We are expecting about 1,600 people a night,” s lusher said. The r evue staff reserves seating for

Keenan residents and v IP audience members — alumni and families of performers — before distributing the remaining tickets to students.

Instead of charging for tickets, Keenan collects donations for d ismas h ouse, a local nonprofit that provides transitional housing for people recently released from incarceration. n ichols said a group of five to eight Keenan residents volunteer at d ismas h ouse every m onday, and members of d ismas h ouse will be at the r evue to introduce themselves.

“We really want to see them as an integrated part,” n ichols said. “ o ur hope is that, whatever money that you thought was going to be spent on a ticket, donate that to d ismas h ouse.”

The r evue moved into the s tepan c enter on m onday for tech week. r ehearsals run from 5 to 11 p.m. every day until opening night last night.

“Tech week is a magical, weird, somewhat tiring time,” said b eri Tangka, the other executive producer. “I think it’s just finally seeing what happens when all of these parts come together.”

n ichols said that although he helps to choose the directors, producers and how

to navigate s A o , the r evue is run almost entirely by the students.

“ m y role is, I think, just to accompany the guys,” n ichols said. “I really will defer to s ammy, b erry and n ick — as directors and producers — to make the decisions.”

n ichols takes the script to various campus organizations, including r esidential Life, s A o , Prism nd , d iversity c ouncil and m ulticultural s tudent Programs and s ervices ( ms P s ), to make sure that none of the jokes cross a line.

“ o ur goal really for all of the skits and the process is that … we make a show that’s welcoming and inclusive to all,” n ichols said. “We won’t hold back on jokes, but … we don’t want anybody to feel slighted or upset.”

The vast majority of Keenan residents are involved in the r evue, according to n ichols. The r evue staff note that it is central to Keenan culture.

“I’ve never seen another event at n otre d ame that gets people as immediately into it as the r evue,” Kacius said.

m usic director m ike h anisch said the r evue makes every resident of

Keenan feel like they are essential to the dorm.

“The r evue is a great place to just all have a common goal, bring what you have to the table and really feel like collectively, you’ve created something — which just makes you feel so much closer to everyone involved,” he said.

The music team has been rehearsing every s aturday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. this semester. h anisch said he is excited for the n otre d ame community to see the “depth of talent” in the band this year.

“We have a couple of freshmen on guitar who are going to blow people away, I think, especially alumni coming back,” h anisch added.

Tangka said that this year’s r evue will be another step back to “normal” after the show was hosted in the stadium in 2021. As of now, he’s looking to the future of the r evue.

“I really like the place that the r evue has in the culture of the tri-campus community and what we can do to sort of comment on things and suggest new, fresh ideas and just make everything a little bit sillier,” he said.

Contact Kathryn Muchnick kmuchnick@nd.edu

Professors comment on U.S.-China relations

By LIAM KELLY news Writer

o ver the past few weeks, the United s tates has witnessed a heightening of tensions with c hina, raising concerns about a potential conflict between the two world powers.

o n Feb. 4, a U. s . F-22 fighter jet shot down a c hinese surveillance balloon over the Atlantic o cean that had made its way across the U. s after being spotted by bewildered onlookers in m ontana, according to a story published by the Associated Press.

s peaking on the flight and subsequent neutralization of the c hinese spy balloon, Zoltan b uzas, associate professor of global affairs at n otre d ame, said the incident will “complicate efforts to improve s inoAmerican relations.” b uzas noted that s ecretary of s tate Antony b linken canceled his planned visit to b eijing after the balloon was shot down.

This deterioration in U. s .- c hina relations comes at a time when the two countries are voicing fierce disagreements over Taiwan and c hina’s relationship with r ussia.

n otre d ame professor of

law and global affairs d iane

d esierto explained that it is “not altogether clear what c hina stood to gain” from taking this step.

b uzas argued the use of the spy balloon gave c hina a tactical advantage to survey U. s . military sites when compared to surveillance satellites.

“ r adars have a harder time detecting balloons, which have less predictable trajectories than satellites,” he said. “ b alloons can also collect better images, given their proximity to their targets.”

While the response of the b iden administration to the balloon incident has been criticized by some as weak, d esierto said she does not see it that way.

“I actually think the United s tates had a calibrated response,” d esierto stated.

“It made the determination of the threat assessment, it made the determination of the possible consequences for its population and ultimately, it did make it very clear to c hina that this is an obvious breach of international law.”

b oth d esierto and b uzas made the point that the balloon incident will likely harm c hina’s reputation on

the world stage.

“ e mploying spy balloons might be a good way to gather military intelligence, but it might strike people as amateurish,” b uzas argued.

“c hina’s already in standing breach of many of its international obligations,” d esierto added. “It’s just a flagrant invitation to worsen existing relations with many states around the world.”

e arly in February, the U. s announced that it had secured access to four new military bases in the Philippines, aiming to improve their tactical position in the s outh c hina s ea and counter c hina’s territorial ambitions for Taiwan, according to an article published by the bbc

d esierto argued that while c hina will strongly oppose this move, “it also has reason to be very cautious, because now there will be more permanency and regularity with respect to the presence of American troops in s outheast Asia.”

s ince the shooting down of the balloon in early February, tensions have further worsened, with s ecretary b linken revealing that c hina is considering sending lethal support to r ussia in their war

against Ukraine. In a story published by the Wall s treet Journal, b linken firmly stated that such a move would cause a “serious problem” in America’s relationship with c hina.

c hina’s close alignment with r ussia — in addition to its violation of U. s . airspace and threatening of Taiwan — raises the frightening specter of a military conflict between the two nuclear powers.

In a letter to his officers, U. s . Air Force General m ike m inihan made the startling prediction that the U. s . will likely be at war with c hina by 2025, which was made public by nbc c ommenting on this assessment, d esierto argued that things weren’t quite that simple.

“There have been many assessments that yes, conflict with c hina is imminent, but nobody has ever pinned a date,” she said.

d esierto also argued that a military conflict between the two nations might not be as direct as many believe, adding that it is a “question of the degree to which the United s tates will be engaged in that conflict.”

While the current situation

might appear to be dim, there are still reasons to be optimistic, b uzas said.

“The two countries have shared interests. s inoAmerican trade is high despite efforts to decouple. There are global problems such as climate change that require s inoAmerican cooperation,” b uzas noted, insisting there remain areas where cooperation can still take place.

d esierto emphasized that in order for relations to improve, more communication is necessary from the c hinese government.

“There needs to be better diplomatic communication,” d esierto said. “It certainly does not help when President Xi Jinping’s government issues inflammatory language. The Foreign m inistry pronouncements have been very inflammatory and have been very quick to characterize the United s tates as somehow the culprit.”

m uch may depend on the two countries’ ability to accomplish this, d esertio emphasized.

displaced from their homes due to this war, but it also reminds us that we are each on a journey to God that is made easier when we walk together.”

subsequently, Jenkins, inviting his colleagues Fr. Yury P. avvakumov, Fr. herman majkrzak and Fr. a ndrij h labse into prayer, asked God to be with the people of Ukraine.

“Lord God, we pray for the people of Ukraine for all those suffering or afraid that you will be close to them and protect them,” Jenkins said. “We pray for the world leaders for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices.”

Following Uc U psychology student Yevdokiia Yevdokimova’s reading from isaiah 41, Jenkins urged the notre dame community to take action through prayer.

“Let us as notre dame continue to stand with all peace-loving people in praying for an end to this unjust war,” Jenkins said. “Let us pray for peace and freedom and dignity of all the people of Ukraine and for all peoples around the world. We ask God until that comes to keep safe the innocent men, women and children who are currently in harm’s way.”

a fterward, Uc U computer science exchange student Yana muliarska brought petitions before the congregation.

“We pray o Lord our God to give us the grace to remember to have mercy on our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and russia who are involved in violent conflict,” muliarska said. “remove from their needs all hostility, confusion and hatred lead everyone along the paths of reconciliation and peace.”

Wrapping up the program, barrett relayed the Ukrainian Greek c atholic c hurch’s proclamation for a day of fasting, prayer and almsgiving on Feb. 24, 2023 — marking one year from the day of the first fullscale assault of the war.

“We may want to consider spending some time tomorrow [at the Grotto] or wherever we are, participating in this day as we feel called and as we are able,” barrett said.

Jenkins called on God to intercede in the war with peace in the closing prayer.

“Lord God, look down with mercy on the people of Ukraine,” Jenkins said. “Protect and save them from unjust aggression of those who seek to subdue them… You give the people strength and courage to defend what is good, right and holy… let us pray for peace.”

Contact Peter Breen at pbreen2@nd.edu

the idea of how cool it’d be to offer the campus a more high-end coffee experience. With that idea, we thought that maybe some other marketing b elles would have the same opinion,” s hoemake said.

s hoemake went around to different marketing classes, sent out emails and eventually ended up with a board of six additional founders.

o ne of these founders, Grace m archeselli, said that the hands-on experience drew her into wanting to help.

“ i feel like in the business world, getting that experience of starting a company is what helps you learn a little bit more and helped me learn what i would want to do postgrad,” she said.

Grace b ennett, another co-founder, seconded this sentiment, saying “ i ’ve learned a lot of real world experiences.”

e lizabeth a ndersen said she was drawn into helping by the fact that nothing like this has been done at s aint m ary’s.

“We all wanted to leave our mark on s aint m ary’s and this was a great way to do it,” she said.

The team talked about how their vendors were all carefully picked based on values they hold dear as b elles. a ccording to s hoemake, their coffee supplier, Uncommon c offee r oasters, has been with them through all the ups and downs of kickstarting o ff the

a venue.

“What’s really great about them is that all of their coffee is sustainably farmed,” s hoemake said. “a dditionally, they have a coffee plant called s al m arya s tate, and it’s all owned by women. s o that’s really cool — it kind of ties back to one of s aint m ary’s main ideas of empowering women.”

For their food products, o ff the a venue uses r agamuffin, a local s outh b end bakery. m archeselli talked about how r agamuffin has a connection with s aint m ary’s, as well as offering exceptional products.

“a bby, the owner of r agamuffin, her mom recently retired from being a professor at s aint m ary’s in the education department,” she said.

The founders also talked about how many opportunities that have been opened to them since starting this shop, not only in trips but also making s aint m ary’s connections.

“a lot of us just viewed each other as classmates, but now i can say that they are more like the closest people i ’ve become friends with,” s hoemake said.

a ndersen talked about how the shop is still looking to expand its offerings, including a packaged sparkling lavender lemonade and a new cookie.

“We are open to removing things off the menu and putting things on it. i t’s definitely not a fixed menu,” she said.

a s well as menu expansions, the board also said to be on the look out for a business club they are working on to keep the coffee shop running after they graduate.

“We’ll have students from different business majors so finance, accounting, management, marketing, and then they can oversee what we’ve been doing and make sure it’s functioning,” b ennet said.

m onday was the shop’s grand opening, and many students took the opportunity to be some of the first customers.

First-years a shley s ims and m ariah h ornak came to the opening after s ims’ professor told the class about it that morning. They talked about the convenience of having a coffee shop on campus, especially in s pes Unica h all, one of the main class buildings.

“ i t’s a lot more convenient and especially being here in s pes, it’s a lot easier to just like go on my way to class so that’s nice,” s ims said.

h ornak spoke to local vendors the coffee shop utilizes, saying “ i think it’s an awesome initiative to have, more local stuff around here instead of big corporates like s tarbucks.”

Junior s hannon Williams said she was “super excited” for the shop to open.

“ i know we’ve wanted this open for a while and i ’m actually very happy that it finally came to fruition,” she said.

Williams talked about how nice it was that

something was filling the space since the close of the old shop during covid that never re-opened.

“ s ince we didn’t have it during my freshman and sophomore years, it’s just nice to have the space filled, so i ’m super excited,” she said.

The opening even saw some tri-campus support. h oly c ross seniors a iden c avazos and b revin s lusher stopped by and said they would absolutely be returning.

“ i think it’s really important for the campus overall,” s lusher said. “ i t’s a place where you can bring people together.”

a ttendees also spoke about how they loved the idea of the shop being created and run by students, and how it created so many opportunities for present and future students. s omething students can get involved in, something that would last, something that stay at s aint m ary’s even after their gone.

“ i think it’s an amazing opportunity that the business majors took on, and it’s an awesome task that will benefit people in the future and drive ambitions,” Williams said.

“ i think it sets a good example for students coming in and just kind of, what you can do here,” s lusher said. “You’re not just a student, but you can also make a bigger impact.”

Contact Katelyn Waldschmidt kwaldschmidt01@saintmarys.edu

ND researchers develop peanut allergy inhibitor

By EMMA DUFFY news Writer

Peanut allergies are some of the most common in the world. scientists have some knowledge on these allergies and how they function, but do not know how to truly stop their symptoms. now, notre dame professor basar bilgicer is working with a team to research peanut allergy inhibitors.

The commonality and knowledge of peanut allergies is what pushed this condition to the forefront of their research, bilgicer said.

“it’s the most pervasive form. You know, the one that you hear the most about, because a number of people would have this condition,” he added. “it is the most studied, so we already knew the most about this specific allergy condition.”

bilgicer noted that the goal of this study is to find a way to stop allergy symptoms before they start. Unlike an epipen, their new treatment does not stop symptoms after eating the allergen, rather it addresses the chemical makeup to stop the symptoms from occurring upon exposure.

bilgicer said another a goal is to accomplish inhibition with the smallest impact possible on the immune system. so far, most allergy medicine attacks the immune system in the process of dealing with an allergen. bilgicer’s research would have the ability to change the way people deal with their allergies.

“a lot of these allergy treatments or medications, they are immunosuppressants, one way or another they block your immune system partially or you know, pretty broadly, which makes your exposure to pathogens becoming more dangerous for you,” he explained. “so this eliminates that concern, because it only blocks

ndPd discusses scooter theft

By LIAM PRICE a ssociate news editor

those few antibodies that are responsible for recognizing the allergen and leaves everything else alone.”

These goals are lofty, but years of work have been put in to achieve them. bilgicer joined the research in 2008 and since then, the researchers have tried their hardest to take small steps toward their goal.

“it’s been making progress a little bit at a time,” bilgicer reflected. research is a slow-moving process. studies do not begin with random hypotheses and human testing, and those working on this project have spent a decade and a half watching the experiments evolve, he explained.

“originally when we started out, we were working with model systems that didn’t really have real human energy relevance, but as years progressed, we learned more about allergies and the human immune system,” bilgicer said.

The experiments have moved from basic discussions of molecular biology to using mice as subjects. recently, the mice were treated with the inhibitor, and tests proved the method has real potential to work on human beings.

however, bilgicer emphasized this does not mean that inhibitors will be available to people in the near future. There are still years of tests before the product will be used on humans. first tests will be performed on other animals, and as the tests progress, they will grow larger and closer to the biology of people.

bilgicer said this process creates some uncertainty moving forward, because the research cannot be done at the school. While notre dame owns the patent, they would need to make partnerships with larger companies in order to performs tests on other animals.

Saint Mary's College

Master of Autism Studies

despite all the progress made and the time already spent on the research, there remains a long road ahead. not only must the researchers find a partner, but bilgicer said they also need to perform these experiments in a thorough manner.

not all medicines are fasttracked like the covid-19 vaccine, and bilgicer said that without the immediate threat of a public health crisis, it will take more time to evaluate their research. he said he feels the vaccine may have given false hope on how fast the research process works.

“everybody’s expectations are a little skewed because the covid vaccine came up late in about a year,” he explained. although the research may take time, bilgicer said the researchers have faith in the process and are excited about the prospect of helping people with peanut allergies. but they also realize this model has a possibility to help with many other allergies. Their breakthroughs could be applicable to more than just peanuts, and they have already begun to look at allergens such as shrimp and penicillin.

no matter how far they have come, bilgicer looks back at their first real breakthrough as their biggest accomplishment. To him, it seemed to be proof that they were doing something truly worthwhile.

“We got some really good results that i was really excited about. and then i started thinking, ‘okay, you know, this is a chance, let’s move forward,’” he said.

Contact Emma Duffy at eduffy@nd.edu

con T in U ed from Page 1

available to speak to residents from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday evening, the email said. That night, r ehagen was walking around o ’ n eill to introduce himself to residents.

s everal o ’ n eill residents said they had reason to believe León’s departure is connected to misconduct. a source close to hall staff members described them as “distressed.” University spokesperson d ennis b rown did not confirm or deny that León had been fired or that misconduct was involved but said the University has “nothing to add at this point beyond the message that was sent to the hall’s residents.”

a ccording to his Linked i n profile, León served in the position

for sophomore Zach brown, having a few friends over in his dorm one night last spring ended with a rather upsetting surprise: his electric scooter, which he had stored outside of his room to make space for his friends, had been stolen.

“i put it out there probably around 8 p.m. and then i knew it was there until about probably two in the morning,” brown said. “Whenever i woke up, at like 9 a.m., it was gone without a trace.”

sophomore Liam redmond, a first-year gateway student at holy cross, also reported having his scooter stolen. one saturday morning last fall, the night of a notre dame football game, he left his ninebot scooter in a friend’s car in the holy cross student parking lot.

“[i] went back sunday morning to open the truck and get it and it was missing. and, it appeared as though the car had been rummaged through,” he said. “We cannot remember if it was like, a locked and somebody broke in-situation, or if it was unlocked and somebody opened the trunk itself, but it was clearly stolen.”

redmond’s scooter was stolen in the 2021 fall semester before notre dame implemented its e-scooter registration initiative to help prevent scooter thefts, and brown had not yet registered his scooter at the time his scooter was stolen. both reported their scooters being stolen to the notre dame Police department (ndPd), but neither redmond nor brown was ever contacted about their scooters being found.

increasing scooter thefts on campus

Kris hinton, who works in the investigations department at ndPd, said that this school year, as more students are buying scooters to use rather than riding bikes or skateboards, there has been an uptick in

for only eight months, beginning the role in July 2022. a fter completing his undergraduate studies in social work at c al Poly Pomona, León earned a graduate degree in social work from s an Jose s tate University in 1992 and another graduate degree in elementary teaching and education from Loyola m arymount University in 2009.

i n an interview with The o bserver in the fall, León said he had worked in education for 17 years before taking the job as o ’ n eill rector.

” i think for me, it’s the building of relationships, building a foundation and understanding it’s about the whole, not necessarily myself,” León said in the interview on starting his job as rector.

scooter thefts reported to ndPd recently, hinton said ndPd has received reports of about 10 to 15 scooters a month being stolen. additionally, the electric scooters on campus look so similar to each other that students often mistake another student’s scooter for their own.

“What happens is that when someone purchases a scooter, they may not take any photos of it, they may not put any stickers on it, they may not write down the serial number of it,” hinton said. “and that would really help us with identifying it because with some of the scooters that have been reported as missing or as a theft, they’re more likely on campus somewhere, but we don’t have that information to help us distinguish it from one gotrax to another.”

hinton said that identifiable stickers are very helpful for ndPd to locate students’ lost scooters.

“We’ve had some incidents in the past where some students have put some special stickers, either somewhere they’ve been, or a place, or a name… we’ve actually been able to use that particular sticker or accessory they put on it to help identify it,” he said.

The best ways for students to keep their scooters safe, hinton said, are to register their scooters with ndPd and to use a lock.

“Takethetimetoregister.ifyoudon’t want to come to the police department, you can do it online,” hinton said. “if you register it, we have all the information we need. That would help deter a lot of this from happening.”

after having his own scooter stolen, brown also had advice to share with other scooter owners on campus.

“onceit’sgone,there’sreallynothing you can do,” brown said. “Whatever it takes to invest in [your scooter’s security], like a good lock or an airTag to track it, which i know a couple of friends of mine have done, those are 100% worth it.”

Contact Liam Price at lprice3@nd.edu

racism in the brain

people harbor hidden prejudices against specific racial groups. This is the modern battle of racism.

racism seems to be a never-ending battle that our modern society desperately tries to dig itself out of. We have battled external cues and blatant discrimination, believing that this will eliminate the big issue that is racism. however, these observable demonstrations of racism and explicit racial attitudes are minimal to the real battle we have yet to conquer: our brain. now, dealing with such, is what I believe is the real way to unravel racism once and for all. We have heard about implicit racism before, even if we can’t fully recognize it. That is what fuels systematic racism — discrimination embedded in law and regulations (including the unspoken) of a society. An example of such racism has been in the spotlight recently — the skewed police brutality toward black men over white men. An estimate by northwestern University in 2019 places a black man being 2.5 times more likely to be killed than a white man by a police officer in their lifetime. now, this might be one of the first cases of major awareness to implicit bias. Implicit bias is thoughts and acts on the basis of prejudice and stereotypes without intending to do so. It brings an underlying layer of racism to light as even the most well-intended

dr. martin Luther King Jr. made big strides with the civil rights movement of 1964. he created awareness to the explicit bias and blatant segregation of the times. he changed the nation’s contentious racial landscape. The United states saw an African American president for two terms. black political figures routinely serve at top levels of the legislative branch, proving race has not deterred in the ballot box. African Americans have obtained legally mandated equality in civil rights and voting rights. however, he could’ve never guessed the devastating scars that a long time of injustice would leave in our society. As demonstrated by a stanford University’s recruitment to e xpand diversity and e xcellence Program research, to this day about 75% of whites and Asians demonstrated an implicit bias in favor of whites compared to blacks. A 15 page-study research on health care disparities provided results suggesting that implicit bias against black, h ispanic/Latino/ Latina and dark-skinned individuals is present among many health care providers of different specialties, levels of training and levels of experience. A cornell Law review has found that black defendants fare worse in court than their white counterparts. These

cases aren’t blatant and in your face; they are subtle and unacknowledged without deeper thought. At fault is our brain.

A cognitive process takes place where the brain decides if the person is an in-group or an out-group. out-groups (“bad”) are seen as unaffiliated groups that provide discomfort and danger — which our brains mostly associate with people of color. Ingroups (“good”) are usually considered people of the same race or similar to oneself that provides a sense of identity — however, even in cases of fully identified black men are seen to consider other black men as out-groups. This does not mean explicitly a show of discrimination is given by the people to their outgroups; instead, it concludes that their first impression is primed by the brain to follow stereotypes subconsciously.

The Implicit Attitude Test designed by harvard shows how much implicit bias a person has. I recommend everyone reading to take it. Further understanding what motivates racism, and how we can therefore prevent it, may make our society a better and safer place for all of its members.

Contact Carolina at cjimene4@nd.edu.

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

Observer Editorial: Where will it happen next?

Last monday, three students were killed and another five were injured at a shooting at m ichigan state University, a community just two and a half hours away from our own. students on the e ast Lansing campus were told to return to classes a week later. The e ditorial b oard at the msU state news said no, it was too soon. Thousands more agreed. students at msU are tired. students across the country are tired. And we are tired.

We’re tired of this senseless violence, yet we are not tired of addressing how it impacts us, even when — especially when — that violence happens somewhere else. Why then, does it seem like tri-campus leaders aren’t doing the same?

Gun violence has been a facet of our lives for so long — despite how loudly we say enough is enough — and we ask campus leaders to take more active steps toward making us feel safe here.

The University of m ichigan released a statement expressing its solidarity for the msU community. This statement included information on how students at the former university can seek resources for support and announced its plans to come together for a vigil in honor of the victims. Why have we not done more to pay our respects and show our support?

In the last week, the institutions of our tri-campus have issued statements and posted to their official Instagram accounts, but the students of notre dame, s aint mary’s and holy c ross deserve a greater show of solidarity with our friends at msU. c ondolences are certainly worthwhile, but when

they are only two sentences long, they can’t help but feel like checking off a box. We must do more to actively demonstrate support for those enduring an unspeakable tragedy. As three c atholic colleges, we have the opportunity to hold a mass, for example, in remembrance of the lives lost and hurt by this shooting.

moreover, it is presumptuous of campus leaders to assume, if tacitly, that students, faculty and other community members are not heavily impacted by this event just because it did not happen here. many students know someone on msU’s campus, some have directly experienced gun violence and others may be disturbed to be so close to this kind of tragedy for the first time. We are connected to msU — even if we don’t have an official relationship.

We would like to thank our fellow student journalists at m ichigan state University for their coverage during this traumatic time. The strength and bravery they have shown in keeping their campus informed amidst the unimaginable is deeply admirable, especially at a time when msU students may feel manipulated by national press scouring for stories and interview subjects. stories we would like to highlight include: Alex Walters’ coverage of a vigil for the victims; maddie dallas’ gutting account of how students sheltered during the lockdown; and s a mya o verall’s memorial piece of the three students lost. Their work has remained diligent at a time when it’s hard to keep going.

Alarmingly, this recent tragedy is one of at least 67 mass shootings so far in the first 55 days of 2023. o ur generation grew up with regular active shooter drills in school — we learned how to barricade doors, where to hide in classrooms, how to know when we were safe. What seemed like the unimaginable has

become commonplace. There are even students at msU who have survived multiple school shootings. every time a new headline breaks, grief floods our timelines, followed in quick succession by a frightful thought: Where will it happen next? students on all three of our campuses are rightfully concerned about their safety now more than ever.

o ne specific concern is how infrequently active shooter information is distributed by the University. Knowing there’s a plan — or at least knowing how to access it — often provides comfort in times when tragedy strikes. While we understand how confidentiality may be a safety measure in itself, the reluctance to talk about the possibility at all is concerning. The University could do more to reassure students that there is a plan and publicize how students would hear important information if we became the next victims of violence.

While some may argue this kind of preparation is akin to paranoia, when students are experiencing this fear at such a high rate, it’s no longer over-preparedness. Faculty, staff and students are required to complete active shooter preparedness training once but a more consistent interaction with this resource would be beneficial. There are also national resources one can use to feel more prepared including a guide from the d epartment of homeland s ecurity (personal protection begins on page three) and a webinar workshop from the c ybersecurity and Infrastructure s ecurity Agency.

This isn’t something we should have to prepare for, but when it is the reality students face, the University should readily be providing us with these resources. It’s time to stop acting like we would never experience something like the students at msU are living through right now.

Carolina Jimenez v iewpoint copyeditor

Looking for a job is a full time job

Partially. For some reason that puzzles me, this clip reminds me of a pregame speech of Knute rockne’s that is at the beginning of “rudy”:

r A, babysitting, joining a startup that failed after 6 months or being a varsity athlete, its experience. Use it and leverage it.

As I write this on Feb. 21st, 2023, I unfortunately still check the box as that of an unemployed king. While many undergrad and graduate students who will graduate in may are set up to start full time roles this summer, I am not yet one of those fortunate folks. Professional job recruiting is a dance, and it is a dance that can be all parts soul-sucking, irritating, nauseating, exciting and enlightening. I don’t care if you’re going to work for a nG o, a mbb consulting firm, a think tank or for that pr*ck Jeff bezos — recruiting processes for jobs are all alike. Unless your dad is a managing director at Goldman sachs or sequoia capital, everyone in my shoes has played the game at some point. And I am talking about applying for a job, sending 30 networking emails, scheduling 6 coffee chats, maybe getting an interview, having a first-round interview, scratching your way to the second round, getting selected for the final round and waiting a week or so to hear about a job offer. e nd to end, these processes can take weeks and require high emotional intelligence, time management and endurance. I have been going at my current process now since basically July, and it so continues. I can’t begin to count the number of application rejection emails I’ve received since then. running the race is not for the faint of heart, but what is worth having in life that really is?

so here I am, 9 months later and still an unemployed king. After graduation from the accelerated mbA this may, I haven’t the faintest idea where I’ll be working. And yet, I’m not discouraged. I can hardly believe it, but here I am, February of 2023, floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee. After 300 informational phone calls and nearly 2,000 outreach emails, I’m still kicking. I thank Kim Kardashian partially for my current state of mind. her “get your f***ing ass up and work” moment on “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” really keeps me up at night. For those of you wondering at home, yes, I’m being sarcastic.

“We’re going inside of ‘em, we’re going outside of ‘em — inside of ‘em! outside of ‘em! — and when we get them on the run once, we’re going to keep ‘em on the run… And don’t forget, men — today is the day we’re gonna win. They can’t lick us — and that’s how it goes... The first platoon men — go in there and fight, fight, fight, fight, fight! What do you say, men!?”

Yes, I bombed an interview at my dream company in september, so what? Yes, I am recruiting off-cycle for my desired industry, so what? Yes, I turned down five job offers in the fall of 2021 to commit toward finishing my education. so. What? Your career is one of the few things you can control in life, so why not try to? As rockne berates in the best of ways, “Go in there and fight, fight, fight.” If you want to be a consultant as a theology major, what’s stopping you? refuse to take no for an answer. Force a seat at their table and pay it forward. be the best of the best.

With all this being said, I’m close. Like dangerously close to landing a role in my desired city with a great growth trajectory and team environment. And while the job isn’t finished, through the grace of God and the great experiences I’ve had, I just know my patience is going pay off. For those of you who may be discouraged, here are some tips you might find helpful.

“it’s not personal, its strictly business.”

I’ve seen folks get discouraged about rejections by taking it personally. but as m ichael corleone chillingly points out, 90% of the time, this is not the case. companies need change all the time, and in this labor market, this continues to be the case. You weren’t declined for a role because you put “hogwarts Legacy Fanatic” on your resume. no, that company just needed something else.

“Oh, i don’t have any experience.”

I hear this all the time. Guess what, yes, you do. everyone has experience, and whether that’s being an

Invisible string

what it represents. Looking it up, you’ll find an array of words that could potentially give a half-formed idea: affection, heart, sympathy.

e mail, email, email

This brings us to outreach. currently, it is difficult to get application traction by just applying cold. so what can you do? Go to LinkedIn, find out the names of team members at company name XYZ, and write them down. Then, go to Google and find the email format for said company. Proceed to send a blast email to every member of the team and just ask to connect for their experiences. 70% of the time, you will see connectivity. I have followed up religiously with some folks and they appreciate the persistence.

Leverage the Notre dame network

Take whatever thoughts you might have about the notre dame network and toss them out the window. This network is so much more powerful than anything you could’ve possibly fathomed. And the best part? People want to help. notre dame alums love to connect. but they aren’t mind readers, and it all it takes to get some help is to ask for it. brilliant, right?

Gratitude and check-ins

once you have made connections, follow up. Let people you’ve talked to know how you are doing. Tell them if you have landed a role, etc. And always thank them for their time. A little love goes a long way. Trust me.

so to those of you still looking for gainful employment, good luck and happy hunting.

Stephen Viz is a one-year MBA candidate and graduate of Holy Cross College. Hailing from Orland Park, Illinois, his columns are all trains of thoughts, and he can be found at either Decio Cafe or in Mendoza. He can be reached at sviz@nd.edu or on Twitter at @ StephenViz.

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

Jeong is cosmic. Jeong is a silhouette. Jeong is an enchantress who follows us, just as much as we follow her — trust in her to guide us, protect us, comfort us.

Jeong is my favorite Korean word, and it’s the one term for which I can never manage to pinpoint an e nglish translation.

I wish I could explain it to you.

When I visit s eoul for break, my mother drives us to a sujebi restaurant in Jongno. It’s a discreet nook, blending into the street corner’s timeworn scenery. Sujebi is a simple meal, soup with noodles handmade from dough. It’s the meal that’s been perfected over decades in the same lively kitchen, the same bowl of warmth and comfort that generations of locals return to. A family-owned business, turned one of the city’s culinary legacies — with signatures covering the wall from celebrities and politicians who seek sujebi on a rainy afternoon, just like us.

As we wait for our order, my mother recalls coming here with her friends when she was around my age, a trusty hangover cure after a night out. The owner gives us extra sides of banchan when she finds out I’m studying abroad, and because she likes my long eyelashes. I have to eat all the real food I can while I’m here, she says, before I return to french fries and pizzas.

no translator or Korean-e nglish dictionary gives a definition of jeong that succeeds in encompassing

Jeong explains itself through experience. It’s more profoundly defined by the moments in which it trickles into our lives than any written definition could — like the kindness of the extra banchan at the restaurant, or the serenity shared by the families, businessmen and college students depositing their umbrellas in the basket by the door as they wander in for lunch.

I like to think of it as an invisible string, attaching us with unbreakable bonds, yet light as a feather. The immediate comfort I feel going up the elevator to my grandmother’s apartment, the photos my mother sends me when she receives the peonies I sent her. It’s more than affection or heart or sympathy. It’s the kind of connection you feel with someone that comes to be over time. The kind that doesn’t come with effort, but saturates your presence when you’re not paying attention, the way a light summer rain seeps into the shoulders of your T-shirt.

Too often, I look into the eyes of someone I adore and wish they spoke Korean, just so we could label it jeong , together. The one-syllable word is always on the tip of my tongue, like a teaspoon of sugar, melting faintly into a sweet and enticing aftertaste. It tints our most subtle hours and is here to stay, and I know the sensation is mutually acknowledged.

It’s at the tip of my tongue when my friend comes into my room crying, and I know that no questions need to be asked — how we’ll sit and listen to our

favorite songs until she’ll offer a weak laugh at my stupid joke. o r when I come home after spending the day with a boy I like, recounting his compliments and embrace after he drops me off, lingering by the door for a few extra minutes before saying goodbye. When I’m watching my little cousin go through the rites of passage of a teenager and offering her never-ending, unsolicited advice despite her annoyance.

As many times as I’ve regretted the absence of the perfect e nglish word for jeong , it’s all the more entrancing that we all feel the jeong in our lives, imbued by its warmth and led by its invisible string. If you hadn’t encountered it before, now you have a word for it.

Jeong is the fondness humming through us as we split a dessert, hold hands, exchange knowing glances. Jeong is the contentment in weathering someone else’s turbulence. Jeong is the confirmation you can hear in the silence as you sit together in the back of the cab, the grace you can see in their eyes in the dark.

Jeong . I wish I could explain it to you, but I’ll bet you already know.

Reyna Lim is a sophomore double majoring in finance and English. She enjoys writing about her unsolicited opinions, assessing celebrity homes in Architectural Digest videos and collecting lip gloss. Reach out with coffee bean recommendations and ‘80s playlists at slim6@nd.edu.

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

Reyna Lim

The o vershare

Stephen Viz

Poor stephen’s scrapbook

Joey Jegier

discerning Your best self

I was visiting a m oreau class last week to talk about my research when the instructor posed a difficult question: What makes life well-lived? I was stumped. s o many things make life good and beautiful. Friendship, family, fulfillment. h ow do they all fit together?

o n the spot, I gave two answers. First, I said that a life well-lived would be one after which a person would look back upon their life and say, “I did the best I could.” d issatisfied with a posthumous answer and wanting to provide the first-years with a concrete idea, I said that the ultimate mark of a life well-lived is love.

In this essay, I would like to elaborate on the principle of love and provide some ideas and suggestions for how to live a life of love.

A loving life is a good life. Love forges meaningful relationships. We love our family, our friends and our communities. This bonds us with other people and gives us a sense of purpose. Love leads to transformation and transcendence of the self. b y loving others, we escape the bounds of the ego and live a different way of life. Finally, love radiates peace, joy, faith and hope. When we abide in love, though it may not always be easy, it will always be worth it.

When I say love, I do not mean the mere experience of passionate, infatuating emotions. n or do I mean only romantic love. Love is not an emotion, but an action, a way of being, an infinite and universal power that undergirds existence, sustaining and connecting all of us in one web of humanity.

Love is an act of the will. To love, according to s t. Thomas Aquinas, is to will the good of the other for their own sake. When we love, we want the person or people we are loving to flourish and increase in well-being.

This kind of love, however, requires a radical redirection. It shifts the focus of our thoughts and actions away from our self-serving desires and toward the goodness of our fellow human beings. Instead of saying, “I want to do what makes

Life well lived

me happy,” we say, “I want to do what makes you happy.” Instead of egocentric, true love is othercentric. It calls us to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others.

I am aware that this description of love goes against the grain of modern, utilitarian, selfserving conceptions of love. b ut how are those modern ideas of love and happiness working out? We have the means to satisfy our desires, but are we happy? r esearch says that, in general, our societies are unhappy. Indeed, happiness does not stem from satisfaction — it comes from connection.

m odern love seeks to satisfy egocentric desires, but this eternal, radical love seeks to connect human beings in other-centric relationships. True love joins us together, and it does so for all people.

s o, how do we go about living a life of love? h ow can we live up to the commandment to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind … [and to] love your neighbor as yourself” ( m atthew 22:37-38).

I appreciate the insight from clinical psychologist h elen s chucman, who said that “your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it” (“A c ourse in m iracles,” p. 338). Allow me to suggest two values that can help us find and remove those barriers to love: mercy and wonder. First, our love should be merciful. The sun shines on both the good and the bad. o ur love should likewise be unconditional. We should love with mercy, even when it feels hard. o ur love should also be curious. We should seek to understand, and we should not assume. We should listen to others and love without hesitation, without judgment, always willing the good of that person. s eek to “do everything in love” (1 c orinthians 16:14). Let love be your teacher. d esire the good of the other. m ight I suggest two concrete steps to practice this love?

Meditate

Try a 10-minute mindfulness meditation. Allow yourself to find a comfortable position. Anchor your awareness to the breath. Pay attention to

the rising and falling of your chest or abdomen. Feel the coolness of the air as you inhale and the warmth as you exhale. n ow, as you focus on the breath, thoughts, images, emotions and other sensations will invariably arise. Pay attention to what comes up with non-judgmental curiosity. That is, be merciful to yourself and wonder about the contents of your consciousness. The point of this meditation is not primarily to feel more at peace (though that may happen), but rather to become more in tune with the patterns of your mind and heart. Try meditating every day and see what happens.

Give

Try to give some part of yourself (time, money, talent, etc.) to another person to make them better off. This could be listening (without judging) to a friend, donating to a charity or volunteering. The point is that you do something not for yourself, but for another. Paradoxically, as you give yourself away, you may become more fulfilled. As you pour out your love on others, love will continue to fill you up. Try bringing a smile to someone’s face and see how that feels.

m any of us here at n otre d ame want to do something or give something up for Lent. Try love. Try the eternal love that connects and sustains. Try the radical love that offers up the gift of sacrifice. This is the love of God. When we love others as God loves us, we love absolutely and unconditionally. When we love this way, we transcend the limited self and participate in the infinite divine. When we love like this, then we are happy.

Joey Jegier is a senior at Notre Dame studying philosophy, ESS and German. He enjoys coffee, conversation and taking time to be still (when possible). Areas of interests include mysticism, education and discernment. Joey loves the city of South Bend and regularly visits the farmers market, his only source of milk and eggs. He would love to chat about anything and can be reached at jjegier2@nd.edu.

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

By ANNA FALK scene Writer

I’ve seen U2 in concert three times. o nce at Acrisure stadium (formerly heinz Field) in Pittsburgh, once at the United c enter in c hicago and once at the metLife stadium in e ast r utherford. While my attendance was largely based on the fact that my parents are giant fans and I wasn’t old enough to stay at home, I can still say I’ve grown quite fond of the Irish rockers.

Knowing this, imagine my surprise when I found out b ono’s son had a band of his own.

In the spring of 2020, my sister and I sat in our 2009 gold honda Accord (named r udy) while we waited in the starbucks drive-thru line. s he asked if she could play something for me (to which I agreed), and she turned on “my honest Face,” the first single from Inhaler’s debut LP. It rocked my world, and I’ve continued to listen to the band as they’ve gathered a devoted following.

With their new album, “c uts & bruises,” I did what I always do when a band I like releases new music — I avoided it like the plague. Unless something comes along to force me to listen to a new album or song, I try to forget about it so I won’t be disappointed if it turns out bad.

b ut Inhaler’s second LP, released on Feb. 17, is anything but bad. s ome tracks are better than others by a mile, but the album as a whole shows that they’ve

beat the sophomore slump and are on their way to greater success.

The d ublin quartet — e lijah “e li” hewson (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), r obert “b obby” Keating (bass), Josh Jenkinson (lead guitar) and r yan mc m ahon (drums) — wrote much of “c uts & b ruises” while on tour for their 2021 debut, “It Won’t Always b e Like This.” The beginning half of the record sounds like it would fit perfectly in an early-2000s teen rom-com starring Lindsay Lohan, e mma r oberts or Amanda b ynes. It features introspective verses and uplifting choruses backed by resounding pop-rock instrumentation. Featuring the album’s singles, this half is good, but it lacks any innovation or flair.

When I listened to the LP before, I stopped before the second half. This was a terrible decision. o nce the eerie backing vocals of “Perfect storm” commence, the course of the album takes a turn for the better.

“d ublin in e cstasy” is a long-time fan favorite and cult classic of the band. They’ve played it live since their teenage years and made the decision to release it officially. “The Things I d o” features an insanely groovy beat that resonates with the soul. “now You Got me” is a perfect closer with a riff from Keating that’s worth obsessing over.

What I think makes these songs stand out in particular is how hewson uses his voice. The 22 year old sounds a lot like his dad when he was young, and

fans of both Inhaler and U2 are reminded of this with each new release. “c uts & bruises” is an album reflecting on love and loss, the good days and the bad, feeling like you’re on top of the world and being down in the dumps. The first half mainly reflects those happy and nostalgic moments, while the second mainly reflects the ones you’d rather not suffer through. I do, in fact, enjoy happy music, but I think the lyrically and instrumentally-expressed vulnerability of the second half brings out a certain power in hewson’s voice.

This LP shows a promising future for the group and it’s one that’s currently unfolding, as they were recently announced as support for Arctic monkeys and h arry styles’ upcoming e uropean tours. They’ve certainly got the guts to change the music world, and I think they’ll continue to evolve miraculously despite all the cuts and bruises.

Contact Anna Falk at afalk@nd.edu

“Cuts and Bruises”

Artist: Inhaler

Label: Polydor

Favorite tracks: “Perfect Storm,” “Dublin in Ecstasy,” “The Things I Do”

If you like: Sam Fender, Wallows

By NICOLE BILYAK scene Writer

American actress and famed sex symbol r aquel Welch passed away after a brief illness on Feb. 15, 2023 at the age of 82. Welch was well-known for many films in the 1960s and had quite an illustrious career in the film industry, so it seems only reasonable to commemorate Welch’s life by taking a look at her early days and career.

b orn on s ept. 5, 1940 in c hicago, Welch eventually moved with her family to s an d iego, where she studied ballet until she left the ballet academy at the age of 17. After graduating from high school, Welch married her high school sweetheart, James Welch, and went on to work as a weather presenter, since her family and television duties were too demanding on her.

In 1963, Welch finally connected with Patrick c urtis, who became her personal and business manager. They both planned on turning Welch into a sex symbol. o ne year later, Welch was cast in many small roles in projects like “roustabout” and “b ewitched.”

she made her first featured appearance in 1965 in a film called “A s wingin’ summer.” she then won the d eb Award that same year for a photo in Life m agazine — this photo created buzz around town. she was given a seven-year, nonexclusive contract with 20th c entury Fox where the executives tried to convince her to change her name, but she vehemently refused. she appeared in her first Fox film, “Fantastic voyage,” where she played a woman on a medical team who is miniaturized and injected into a scientist to save his life. It became a huge success and made Welch a star.

Fox lended Welch to h ammer studios, one of the most famous genre film companies from the United Kingdom. she starred in “o ne m illion Years b c .,” which made Welch even more of a sex symbol with her outfit of a two-piece, deer-skin bikini. This bikini was her only costume in the entire film, and she only had three lines. While the film was censored for provocative dancing and moments of graphic violence, the film became a hit and made Welch a bigger star.

After “o ne m illion Years b c .,” Welch went on to star in many international projects including

“Fathom,” which was released in 1967, along with “b edazzled,” which is a retelling of the Faust legend. The film was set in s winging London during the 1960s, and the film later got a 2000 remake starring brendan Fraser.

shortly after working at 20th c entury Fox, Welch went on to film an adaptation of Alexandre d umas’ “The Three musketeers” in 1973, which awarded Welch her first Golden Globe nomination for her performance as c onstance b onacieux. she garnered so much attention — and the film was such a massive success — that a sequel came out a year later called “The Four musketeers.”

Welch had been married a total of four times and had two children. s he married her manager c urtis in 1967, but divorced him in 1972. After her fourth divorce in 2004, Welch elected to not be in any more relationships.

In conclusion, Welch had a lot of success in the 1960s and 1970s in the film industry, and she will be missed by those who were fans of her films.

Contact Nicole Bilyak at nbilyak01@saintmarys.edu

CLAIRE KIRNER | The Observer

By CAITLIN BRANNIGAN scene Writer

It has almost been 20 years since the formation of the rock band Paramore. s ince then, the band has produced hits spanning across a variety of genres, from pop-punk to new wave. Popular new artists like o livia r odrigo and Willow s mith have been influenced by Paramore’s cutting yet dreamlike sound.

The band is currently made up of lead vocalist h ayley Williams, drummer Zac Farro and guitarist Taylor York, although other members have left and rejoined over the years. After a wildly successful tour in fall 2022, they’ve released their newest album “This is Why,” which debuted at n o. 2 on the b illboard 200 this week.

The album is an emotional rollercoaster in its lyrics and its wide range of sound, reflecting the anxieties of living in a post- cov I d world. The title track, “This is Why,” grieves the public failure to set aside differences and solve society’s socioeconomic problems even after communally enduring a global struggle. It begins with soft, taunting strums of the guitar, ironically telling listeners

that “If you have an opinion, maybe you should shove it.” The chorus swells in volume, a jagged guitar instrumental accompanying lyrics halfdespairing, half-raging over the current state of society.

As a whole, the album captures a wide range of the paranoia and unsettling anxiety of adulthood and living in a post-pandemic world. “The n ews” encapsulates the distressing experience of acknowledging all the terrible things happening in the world, even those that don’t directly affect the listeners. The very first word of the song is “war,” communicating strongly and effectively the song’s hopeless tone. The instrumental of the chorus sounds somewhat dreamy, but the lyrics declare that one can “shut your eyes, but it won’t go away.”

m y favorite track of the album, “ b ig m an, Little d ignity,” has a dreamlike, slow pace relative to other songs on the album. It’s the kind of song I would put on a playlist for walking around one of the campus lakes. The steady guitar melody and softness of the vocals are relaxing and offer a break from the torrent of emotions in the rest of the album. It gives the listener space to reflect,

whether that be on the difficult issues the other songs confront or anything else they may have on their mind. d espite this, it has its own powerful message to share. Though the lyrics leave room for interpretation, they describe people in power who are perceived as morally sound but really are incredibly corrupt, again echoing disappointment in modern societal structures.

Paramore’s return to music making with “This is Why” is incredibly exciting. The album both shares a strong and important message and offers a mix of well executed pop-punk and rock sounds. e ven after two decades, Paramore’s still got magic.

Contact Caitlin Brannigan at cbrannig@nd.edu

“This is Why”

Artist: Paramore

Label: Atlantic Records

Favorite tracks: “Big Man, Little Dignity,” “Running out of Time,” “This is Why”

By ROSE ANDROWICH scene Writer

When I first heard about the student run cafe, off the Avenue (oTA), opening in spes Unica, one of the classroom buildings at saint mary’s, I was excited, to say the least. The cafe opened on monday, much to the excitement of the saint mary’s college community. The hard work of the students who founded and now run the cafe is one of many reasons to go there.

There was a lot I enjoyed at oTA. First, I love the cafe’s convenient location. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have three classes in spes Unica, and two of the classes are back to back. I’ve rushed to 1844 cafe more times than I can count to get coffee. This frequently results in me arriving late to poetry class. now, with the cafe’s proximity to my classrooms, I can frequently stop for coffee and not be late to class.

In addition to the convenience of the cafe, the overall space is wonderful. It provides a study space for students along with their coffee. The decorations and the thought that was put into the space enhance the overall experience. There is also a terrace right outside the cafe equipped with tables to enjoy outside. The customer service is also exceptional.

The founders’ attention to detail with off the Avenue extends to the menu. The cafe features both specialty drinks like skunk Tails (coffee with mocha and white chocolate) and cinnamon squirrels (cinnamon, honey and vanilla), with cappuccinos and lattes coming down the line. I tried the cinnamon squirrel, the skunk tail and their cold brew coffee with cinnamon syrup. my favorite drink was the skunk Tail coffee because of the flavors used. The combination of mocha and white chocolate was good with the black coffee. While I enjoyed the skunk Tail, I found myself on the fence in regards to the other drinks. The combination of the flavors in the cinnamon squirrel was a bit overwhelming, and I found myself unsure about the trifecta of cinnamon, honey and vanilla. The skunk Tail used two flavors that enhanced each other. The white chocolate had a more subtle tone than the mocha. In contrast, the cinnamon squirrel felt like a battle between the cinnamon and the vanilla. When I tried the cold brew coffee, drinking it with solely cinnamon made the experience more enjoyable than drinking the c innamon squirrel. cinnamon and vanilla are both strong flavors on their own, which made me question the combination. In addition to the cinnamon and vanilla, there was also honey, which made the drink taste almost like

tea.

The cinnamon squirrel was very sweet, and I personally enjoy bitter coffee. I think the drinks currently served at off the Avenue would be highly enjoyable for a new coffee drinker who may not like the bitter taste of coffee. After five years of drinking coffee, however, I have a clear perspective on how I like my coffee, and the drinks the cafe is serving currently don’t match my taste. I really look forward to seeing drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos become available. more availability in their menu would broaden the reach of the business. off the Avenue has a lot of creativity in their strategy, though, and I love seeing a student-run business on campus.

Contact Rose Androwich at randrowich01@saintmarys.edu

Off the Avenue

Location: Spes Unica at Saint Mary’s College

Drinks: Coffee, tea

Favorite drink: Skunk Tail

Happy Birthday: Be discreet, secretive and change only what’s necessary. Consider how to make your life less stressful. Concentrate on physical adjustments that add convenience to your everyday routine. Create opportunities instead of waiting for someone to step in and tell you what to do next. By taking control, you will eliminate opposition and reach your goal without interference. A trendy new look will boost your confidence. your numbers are 3, 16, 24, 29, 35, 37, 40.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take a break and rethink your strategy before you make a mistake. A proposal will mislead you; ask questions. Be specific about your responsibilities and what others expect of you. Staying active will help you avoid making impulsive moves.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Mix business with pleasure to get along better with your colleagues. Don’t let the changes you encounter discourage you from following your heart. Compensate for anything that disrupts your day or plans, and keep moving forward.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): get involved in something you believe in or feel you can contribute to and make a difference. first, however, eliminate dealing with anyone trying to take advantage of you. handle business, get things done on time and avoid controversy.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Sign up for a class, event or activity that will allow you to use your imagination. A discussion with someone who shares your concerns will lead to a change that will make a difference at work or in your circle of friends.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be receptive. What you learn will give you hope and revive your interest and ability to fight for what you want. Take the steps required to turn what you know and do well into a lucrative outlet. Self-improvement and relationship opportunities are apparent.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Tkeep your eye on the market and invest wisely. Discuss your plans with an expert. An offer will pique your interest, but until you get all the facts and figures, you should keep your money in the bank and observe.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Stand up and be counted. Speak freely, follow through and be willing to do the work yourself. run the show instead of sitting in the audience. Show your worth, and set guidelines for those who show interest in your plans. romance is encouraged.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The response you receive from sharing your intentions will give you a push to make your next move. A partnership looks exciting but is unlikely to pan out if you refrain from delegating who’s responsible for what before you begin.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): TWhat you contribute will make a difference at home. get everyone you care about involved, and a closer bond will develop that encourages you to make positive lifestyle changes moving forward. follow through with your plans; success will unfold.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Emotional situations will confuse you. keep your thoughts to yourself until you gather the facts and fully understand the implications involved should you address issues prematurely. Bide your time, and you’ll discover what you want and how to proceed. An offer looks promising.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): lean on the experience you have to speed up the process of getting what you want. Don’t wait for someone to come along and do things for you. Believe in yourself and make things happen. A brilliant idea will lead to a cash infusion.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): hiding out at home will give you time to rearrange rooms to suit your needs. Don’t feel you have to conform to standard procedures when your ideas and plans are innovative and can help you reach your destination. Birthday Baby: you have speed, agility and technique. you are versatile and persistent.

Irish travel to Greensboro

By ANNIKA HERKO sports Writer

n otre d ame baseball is off to Greensboro, n orth c arolina, for their second series of the season to take on U nc Greensboro.

The Irish have gotten off to a bit of a slow start this season. In their opening series against Lipscomb, they went 1-2. In the first game, Lipscomb won 5-4, but junior outfielder TJ Williams had an outstanding game for n otre d ame. h e had a hit, a run and two rb Is. Junior infielder c asey Kmet, sophomore infielder Jack Penney and sophomore infielder n ick d e m arco also scored. Graduate student b lake h ely pitched the first three innings, giving up four hits and three runs before he was replaced.

In the second game, n otre d ame bounced back, winning 8-4. Graduate student outfielder b rooks c oetzee had two runs and an rb I. Graduate student outfielder Jack Zyska, graduate student infielder c arter Putz, Penney, graduate student infielder Zack Prajzner, junior catcher d anny n eri and Williams all scored one run each. s ophomore r adek b irkholz started and pitched the first three innings, allowing one hit and three runs. Graduate student Aidan Tyrell got the win, pitching four hitless innings in relief. Junior m att b edford then came in to close things out for the Irish victory.

In the final game of the series, the Irish fell 4-2 after struggling to get on base. The game was scoreless until the top of the sixth,

Slaggert talks ND Hockey, series with Michigan

when Putz and Penney each scored. The Irish wouldn’t score again. Lipscomb’s starting pitcher was pulled after six innings, and their two relievers didn’t allow a hit through the final three innings. Five players pitched for the Irish, with junior Jackson d ennies as the starter.

U nc G has also had a frustrating start to the season. They lost to n ortheastern 11-0 in their season (and home) opener before going on to win 7-6 and lose 12-9 in the remaining games of the series. They were also blown out by n o. 4 Wake Forest 20-2.

The s partans have clearly been struggling in terms of both hitting and pitching so far this season. This should give the Irish a good opportunity to really dial in and get their hitters across home plate. n eri and Williams lead the team with .200 and .182 batting averages, respectively. Irish head coach s hawn s tiffler and the rest of the coaching staff should take this series as an opportunity to really evaluate the team’s in-game hitting abilities. n otre d ame’s pitching has been pretty solid so far, so there is no reason to suspect this being a concern this weekend.

The first game will be Friday at 4 p.m. and can be watched on es P n +. The s aturday and s unday games start at 2 p.m. and noon, respectively. It may rain this weekend in Greensboro, but with A cc play starting in a little less than a month, the Irish will need to be ready.

Contact Annika Herko at aherko@nd.edu

By RYAN MURPHY sports Writer

To say that notre dame hockey has been a big part of Landon slaggert’s life would be an understatement.

After all, the junior forward’s relationship with the team essentially began at birth.

“my dad’s been a coach, I think this is his 30th season now? Kind of crazy how time flies by,” slaggert said after practice Wednesday. “Growing up around the rink, these guys, they were my heroes.”

Indeed, slaggert’s father Andy (himself a notre dame hockey alumnus, class of 1989) is in his 30th year on the Irish coaching staff. As the program’s lead recruiter, he has played a large part in building the recent success of Irish hockey. he also played a significant role in recruiting his sons — all three of them — to notre dame.

Graham slaggert — the eldest of the three brothers — graduated from notre dame last year after four years with the team. Two of those seasons, he played with Landon by his side. Graham is currently playing with the Toronto marlies of the American hockey League.

The youngest of the trio, carter, is a signee playing with the UsA national Team development Program. carter is expected to be a freshman on the team next year.

“It’s just a special, unique bond. not many people can say they [have] played with their brother but also been coached by their dad,” said slaggert. “It’s definitely a unique situation, but something that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”

In his third year with the team, things have not necessarily been easy for slaggert. After notching 12 goals and 26 points last season,

he struggled to find the back of the net early this year. slaggert went without a goal until nov. 23, two months into the season.

“sometimes it just doesn’t fall for you, and you kind of keep your mindset right, keep a level head, so that’s what I try to do,” slaggert said. “Luckily, right now I kind of got my mojo back and am getting some points.”

Yes, slaggert does have his mojo back. he has four goals in his last four games and scored two in a crucial win over ohio state two weeks ago. slaggert’s uptick in production could not have come at a better time for notre dame, amid the race for home ice in the big Ten tournament and an at-large bid to the looming ncAA tournament.

“It was a long time comin’ for sure, and I had to battle that mentally and stay positive through it all,” slaggert said. he also noted that he is playing with more freedom and confidence lately, as a result.

but for slaggert, there will always be more to notre dame hockey than goals and assists. Growing up around the program, slaggert has not only a deep connection, but also a deep memory.

Perhaps no opponent brings those memories out quite like michigan, who the Irish will meet in their final two games of the regular season this weekend.

“It’s a big rivalry. They go way back to the cchA days, and that’s where I really kind of found a love for notre dame hockey, and a love for the game,” slaggert said.

The Irish and Wolverines have played some unforgettable games since their first meeting in 1923. since the turn of the century, the Irish have topped michigan in two Frozen Four semifinals and three cchA championship games.

“I think the 2008 [game], the semifinal Frozen Four game

— that one will definitely be burned in my memory and one of my favorites of all time,” slaggert said. “I remember it was over in denver, colorado, at the Pepsi center. It was a late game, I think I was falling asleep on my mom’s lap as it was going into overtime. It was a late night.”

In that game, notre dame’s calle ridderwall scored the overtime winner to send the Irish to the national championship.

“That was their first big win, and it was just awesome,” slaggert remembered.

The rivalry in recent seasons has been no less entertaining than that near-midnight marathon game 15 years ago. despite michigan’s reputation for pumping out high-level nhL talent (the Wolverines had the most former players on opening day nhL rosters of any college team in the country this year), notre dame has been a thorn in their side.

“Guys tend to get up for the michigan game, it’s a big rivalry,” slaggert said. “You always want to beat those guys.”

nowhere does this seem to be more true than on michigan’s home ice at Yost Ice Arena. The Irish have won eight of their last 11 at Yost and have not lost there in the regular season since nov. 10, 2018.

Yost is especially famed for its raucous crowds, yet slaggert is unphased. he hinted that his team might even be looking forward to playing there.

“We like to play the villain,” he said.

The rivalry renews in climactic fashion Friday. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m, and the game will be streamed on b1G+. The series finale can be seen on the big Ten network at 8 p.m. saturday.

On Feb. 11, junior forward Landon Slaggert kills time between plays of the Irish’s contest against Ohio State. Slaggert tallied an assist on Nick Lievermann’s goal to help the Irish battle for a 2-2 tie.

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By MADELINE LADD Associate sports e ditor

The Irish swimming and diving team had a monumental meet last week at the A cc c hampionships in Greensboro, n orth c arolina. After five days of competition, the n o. 20 n otre d ame men’s s wimming and d iving team took fifth place, while the women finished eighth. s ophomore c hris Guiliano had a standout meet, breaking school records in all five of his events. h e saw the podium in all three of his individual events, even capturing a win in the 200 freestyle. s enior Jack h oagland also saw an individual win in the 400 I m and brought home some hardware for the Irish.

Day 1

The first day of events started off with a bang, with the quartet of Guiliano, graduate student c olton Paulson, h oagland and senior Alec d eLong breaking the men’s 800 freestyle relay record in a 6:16.29. Their performance

HOCKEY

Guiliano, Hoagland bring home gold for Irish at ACCs

in what Guiliano calls “such a gritty race” set the tone for the rest of the meet. h aving had a disqualification in this event at last’s year meet, the performance exceeded all expectations.

“Last year I actually d Q’d that very same relay,” Guiliano said. “I was kinda joking with my teammates like, ‘It’ll be better this year no matter how it goes.’ o nce I got that first swim under my belt, I think the confidence just grew from there. Just having those guys by my side, knowing they’d be able to give it their all too.”

Day 2 d ay two brought a bronze medal and another school record for Guiliano in the 50 freestyle (18.93). For the women, sophomore m ary c ate Pruitt saw a personal best and a b -final finish in the 500 freestyle with a 4:44.79.

Day 3 d ay three was huge for the Irish, with Guiliano and h oagland capturing a pair

of wins in the 200 freestyle and 400 I m , respectively. Guiliano’s freestyle time of 1:32.43 broke the 2014 school record, and h oagland was just off the mark in 3:41.15.

“If I’m being honest, the 200 kind of came out of nowhere, and that’s the one I won,” Guiliano said. “I had no thoughts going through my head after that win. I couldn’t really collect my thoughts. I just knew I had to go celebrate with the team.”

For the women, the Gillilan sisters — senior c olleen (52.34) and freshman r enee (52.55) — got the Irish on the board in the 100 butterfly.

Day 4

d ay four saw the Gillilan sisters back in action, this time in the 200 butterfly where they both saw nc AA b cuts. For the men, freshman Tommy Janton earned his first individual record with a 45.61 in the 100 backstroke. A time trial 200 freestyle relay of Guiliano, junior s tephan Lukashev, senior c ason Wilburn and Paulson broke another school record

in a 1:16.89. Guiliano’s leadoff time of 18.88 broke his own school record from two days prior.

Day 5

The final day of competition saw Irish dominance in the mile. s ophomore m aggie Graves placed sixth in the women’s 1650 with a 16:14.95, with h oagland in fourth for the men with a 14:48.82. Guiliano was back at it again, this time shattering his own record in the 100 freestyle with a final time of 41.85. The 400 freestyle relay saw Guiliano, Wilburn, d eLong and senior Thacher s cannell break the previous school record with a time of 2:50.14.

The Irish saw some personal best times and recordbreaking swims across the board, boosting confidence as they continue on into the postseason.

“I think the team as a whole definitely performed a lot better. We have the connection,” Guiliano said. “It was all there for everybody. e veryone contributed

and everyone did their job. It was a great meet for us and we definitely shocked a couple people across the country.”

For Guiliano personally, he was thrilled with his performance. h is sights are now set on the nc AAs, where he has lofty goals for all three of his events.

“ c oming off of last year, I wasn’t really sure where my expectations should be for this meet,” Guiliano said. “I came in seeded pretty well. I had a great year all season so that definitely helped the confidence. To podium in all three events is just mind blowing to me.”

As for now, it is nose to the grindstone until mid- m arch rolls around and the Irish get their chance to replicate the week they had at the A cc s.

“The coaches and I, and the training group we got going, have to buckle down for the last month and really grind,” Guiliano said.

Contact Madeline Ladd at mladd2@nd.edu

Stakes at an all-time high for Irish in final regular season series

By ANDREW McGUINNESS

Associate sports e ditor

In theory, the end of the season should provide the most dramatic moment of a team’s season. but that often is not the case. many teams are either too good or too bad to have much at stake for their season finale. As a result, the last weekend of the season can sometimes be more a glorified warmup in anticipation of a deep postseason run or merely just a playing out of the string.

notre dame hockey is not in either of these groups. They are one of those few special teams with a lot riding on their final regular season series, a daunting challenge in Ann Arbor against the no. 4 michigan Wolverines. A rivalry matchup with a top-five opponent in enemy territory would qualify as an exciting way to conclude a season no matter what. but there are massive implications for notre dame’s big Ten and ncAA Tournament hopes.

It is still possible for the Irish to host the first round of the big Ten Tournament. but they need at least four out of six possible points this weekend for that to happen. That would have been no problem for

last year’s Irish team. A year ago, notre dame swept its regularseason series against michigan, which included its final two games. The Irish were forced to settle for a split in their first meeting against the Wolverines this season back in mid-november at home. The Irish were thrashed in the series opener 5-1 before clawing back from a 2-0 deficit in the series finale thanks to 31 saves from senior goaltender ryan bischel and an overtime winner from junior forward Grant silianoff.

This weekend could also double as a preview of the first round of the big Ten Tournament if michigan takes care of business and some other results across the conference break in specific ways. That is a matchup the Irish would like to avoid as much as possible. not only did the Wolverines eliminate the Irish in last year’s big Ten tournament, but they once again boast one of the country’s best rosters. michigan’s roster includes four first-round nhL draft picks, headlined by 2021 top-five selection Luke hughes. They are second in the conference in goal scoring. And the Irish are probably not equipped to take advantage of michigan’s

achilles heel: their defense. There are a couple of factors that could change that, both this weekend and potentially beyond.

First, junior forward Landon slaggert is starting to come out of his nearly year-long shooting percentage funk. After scoring 13.9% of his shots in his first two collegiate seasons, slaggert converted on just two of his first 50 shots on goal this season, a staggeringly low shooting percentage of just four percent. It was always unlikely that the latter figure was indicative of slaggert’s true talent level after he spent two seasons as one of the team’s best forwards. sure enough, he has four goals on 11 shots in his last five games. That includes both goals in notre dame’s pivotal 2-1 over ohio state last Friday.

The other is whether notre dame’s power play can continue its late-season emergence. over their last six games, the Irish have scored on 26.9% of their power play opportunities. That number would be best in the big Ten over a full season. It is also well above notre dame’s full-season mark of 18.2%. It has been not just an effective unit as of late, but a timely

one as well. most notably, graduate student defenseman nick Leivermann netted a crucial PPG in notre dame’s last game, a second-period equalizer that helped the Irish erase a 2-0 deficit against ohio state. Without that goal, notre dame’s emotional senior night shootout win may not have happened.

michigan goaltender erik

Portillo has regressed a fair bit this season, with his save percentage dropping 18 points from last year. A confident slaggert and strong power-play performance would go a long way toward further diminishing his numbers. however, bischel and the Irish defense should expect to have their hands full this weekend. Three of the conference’s top six scorers play for michigan, including consensus 2023 no. 2 nhL draft pick Adam Fantilli.

seven Wolverines have more points than notre dame’s leading scorer (graduate student forward chayse Primeau with 21).

Fantilli himself is more than doubling Primeau’s output, leading the entire country despite turning 18 two games into michigan’s season. he and hughes, tied for

seventh in the country in assists, lead a Wolverines power play that is second in the conference at 23.1%.

expect the Irish to try and turn this into a tight-checking, physical series as they did last month against Wisconsin. That is especially likely because losing in regulation would be damaging to notre dame’s ncAA Tournament hopes. Teams must be at least .500 in order to be eligible, a line the 14-14-4 Irish are dangerously straddling. The Irish have finished under .500 just three times in Jeff Jackson’s first 17 seasons and not once since 2014-15. They have struggled to build off of last year’s impressive 28-12 campaign and near Frozen Four miss. There is still a chance for that to change, but this weekend is the time to make it happen.

The series begins at 7 p.m. Friday night at michigan’s Yost Ice Arena. The regular season finale for both teams is saturday night at 8 p.m. both games are available on b1G+ and the notre dame radio network.

Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu

WBB

con TI nued F rom PAGe 16

a turning point for an Irish defense that dug its heels in for the rest of the game, alternating between different schemes depending on personnel. The constant changes proved impossible for Georgia Tech to keep up with, as n otre d ame forced 16 turnovers and several bad shots.

In her postgame comments, Ivey remarked on her

UNC

con TI nued F rom PAGe 16

Graduate student guards

m arcus h ammond, d ane Goodwin and Wertz connected on three straight three-pointers. h ammond converted a tough stepback jump shot to extend the n otre d ame run to 110. s uddenly, the Irish held a six-point lead. They would continue to play well in the closing minutes of the half and went into the break leading 27-19. It was the best outcome they could have hoped for after being held scoreless for over a quarter of the half.

While the Irish came on strong at the end of the half, poor execution from n orth c arolina played a significant role in n otre d ame’s halftime advantage. The Tar h eels shot just 5-27 on field goals and 0-11 on threepoint attempts in the first half.

b eyond their dismal shooting effort, n orth c arolina head coach h ubert d avis said after the game that the team’s three keys to winning are defending, rebounding and taking care of the ball. The Tar h eels did not

ND soFtBAll

willingness to cycle through personnel and defensive looks throughout a game.

“I’m a believer in adjusting your defense, trying to throw teams off with different defensive schemes,”

Ivey said. “I have a three-big lineup, that helps, we extended our zone, we picked up full court with our press.

I like adjusting, and throwing teams off. n ot staying in one [scheme] too long, I think that makes us hard to scout.”

accomplish any of those goals in the first half but got back on track in the second.

h owever, n orth c arolina would hold n otre d ame to just 32 points after halftime. The Irish shot 50% from the field in the half but made just four free throws and two three-pointers. After recording no assists and eight turnovers in the first half, the Tar h eels finished with eight assists and just one turnover in the second. They were also dominant on the glass after halftime, racking up 16 offensive rebounds and seemingly scoring second-chance points after every missed shot.

n otre d ame saw their lead slip away less than four minutes into the half but would regain it several times, as the margin remained within one possession up until the final seconds. The Irish got a boost from freshman guard JJ s tarling, who tallied 10 points in the second half after being shutout in the opening 20 minutes.

“I thought he really responded well,” b rey said of s tarling’s play after a quiet first half. “I give him a lot of credit because he’s really hung in there. h e gave us a

Points in the paint were a major emphasis for the Irish. For just the third time this year, all five members of n otre d ame’s frontcourt rotation recorded at least 10 minutes. The Irish capitalized off of a strong outing from their frontcourt corps, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 44-18 down low.

Kylee Watson in particular enjoyed a solid performance, notching her first doubledouble of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The

lift and got us going.”

s tarling’s increased usage came after an injury to h ammond, who led the Irish in first-half scoring with nine points. b rey said after the game that h ammond sprained his toe and is expected to miss n otre d ame’s next game.

With less than four minutes to play, n otre d ame continued to stifle n orth c arolina defensively. b ut the Irish simply could not keep the Tar h eels off the glass. n orth c arolina’s Armando b acot, Pete n ance and Leaky b lack combined for 17 offensive rebounds in the game. And the Tar h eels scored crucial second-chance points on three consecutive possessions in the final minutes in large part because of their efforts.

s tarling made a tough layup to cut the deficit to just one at 59-58 with under a minute to play. n otre d ame was in dire need of a stop. They actually got two, but a pair of n orth c arolina offensive rebounds forced the Irish to foul in order to stop the clock. Four made free throws later, and n orth c arolina left s outh b end as 63-59 victors despite finishing the game 2-23 (8.7%) from beyond the

outing marked yet another strong showing from the junior forward. s he has seemingly found a second gear since the return of graduate student center Lauren e bo from injury.

Watson was one of five n otre d ame players to reach double figures on the scoresheet, as the Irish once again handled scoring by committee. n o player scored more than 13 total points, but eight recorded at least one basket.

arc.

b rey spoke about how the Irish rebounding woes caused their defensive efforts to go unrewarded.

“I thought we defended fabulously. They’re going to get to the backboard because they’re athletic as heck,” b rey said about n orth c arolina’s 23 offensive rebounds. “That’s hurt us at times, not only in this game. b eing able to get that key defensive rebound when four athletes on the other team are going to the backboard, we just haven’t been able to do it.”

d espite the growing total of disappointing results, he praised his team’s ability to stay focused and continue to push heavily-favored opponents to the limit.

“This has been a hard year, but they come in and keep competing. I give our seniors credit that they’re coming in [with the mentality of], ‘We’re going to do this again,’” b rey said. “The old guys keep coming ready to go, and our young guys, I thought, really competed tonight.”

With just three games remaining in the regular season, n otre d ame will play at

n otre d ame will now head back on the road to end its regular season. The team will travel to Louisville for a s unday matinee tipoff. The showdown with the c ardinals will be the second in two weeks. The Irish notched their first win over Louisville since 2019 on Thursday, Feb. 16 thanks to a buzzer-beater from sophomore guard o livia m iles.

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

Wake Forest on s aturday. The Irish have a score to settle after the d eacons used a huge second half to roll past n otre d ame 81-64 when the teams met in s outh b end. Wake Forest was led in that game by d amari m onsanto, who made eight three-pointers and scored 28 points. b rey has clearly not forgotten that outburst, calling his performance in that game “unbelievable” and joking that he “still hasn’t missed” a shot. n otre d ame has come up short in crunch time in five straight games. b ut all it takes is one clutch moment to get a big win and gain momentum before the Acc Tournament. b rey has no doubt that the Irish will remain as confident and focused as ever against the d eacons.

“Let’s go to Winston- s alem and get in position again,” b rey said about his message to the team. “ m aybe I can help you better, and maybe we can get over the hump.”

n otre d ame will play at Wake Forest on s aturday night. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. on Acc n etwork.

Contact Matthew Crow at mcrow@nd.edu

Irish gear up for Spring Games

By J.J. POST

sports Writer

After a disappointing b1G/ Acc challenge last weekend, notre dame softball looks to regain some momentum at The spring Games in madeira beach, Florida.

The Irish seemed to be off to a great start in the b1G/Acc challenge after an assertive win over ohio state last Friday. It took notre dame until the fourth inning to grab the lead, but once they got it, they piled on. A three-run home run streak in the sixth brought the Irish a 7-2 win and a strong start to the weekend.

but saturday, things got off track. The Irish were stymied by a northwestern squad that had just given up 15 runs to clemson. notre dame could only muster up three hits over the course of seven innings in a

demoralizing 2-0 defeat. Problems compounded later in the day in a rematch with ohio state. The Irish amassed an early 5-2 lead, but struggled to close the game out. Graduate student pitcher Payton Tidd maneuvered her way out of a basesloaded jam in the sixth inning as the buckeyes cut the lead to one, and allowed another run in the seventh to send the game to extra innings. The Irish then failed to record a single hit in extra innings as a slowly-tiring Tidd was eventually tagged for a walk-off double in the ninth.

Perhaps drained from the unfortunate saturday doubleheader, notre dame then suffered their worst defeat of the season sunday in a second showdown with the Wildcats. northwestern took a five-run lead in the third inning, and though a home run from graduate student infielder Lexi orozco brought the Irish

within two, that was as close as they would get to the cats on the day. northwestern piled on five more runs in the fifth and seventh frames, finishing the game as 10-3 victors.

now in search of snapping a three-game losing streak, The spring Games offer notre dame a prime opportunity to get back in form. The Irish will play five games in madeira beach, all five of which notre dame should be favored in.

uT martin, who the Irish open their weekend with Friday afternoon, is just 1-4 on the year. Florida International, who notre dame will play twice, holds a 0-14 record against Power Five opposition over the last three years. dartmouth, who the Irish

will end their weekend against, still hasn’t played a competitive game this year.

A combination of opponent rust and talent gap should make this weekend a prime opportunity for the Irish bats, which struggled in south carolina, to find some form. With the team’s first Acc games of the year looming next week, the chance to develop some momentum with a strong weekend (as well as boost their record for an eventual nc AA Tournament bid down the line) looms large.

From the circle, notre dame will also likely get the chance to break in the squad’s two freshman pitchers, m icaela Kastor and Paige cowley. neither have gotten more than 12 innings of

action yet this year. The Irish seem set to use a particularly short rotation this season, only listing four total specialized pitchers on their roster. It is vital that head coach deanna Gumpf can trust all four of those arms in big moments. Tune-up games like the ones notre dame will likely get this weekend should play a big role in building that trust.

notre dame softball will start their spring Games slate Friday afternoon against u T martin. First pitch is slated for 1:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcasted on Flos oftball. com.

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Irish women’s basketball wins fifth straight against Georgia Tech

By J.J. POST s ports Writer

o n Thursday night, n otre

d ame women’s basketball extended their winning streak to five, downing Georgia Tech 76-53.

c oming off a 40-point triumph over Pittsburgh on s unday, the Irish entered Purcell Pavilion looking to notch another “style points” win against a Yellow Jackets squad currently sitting 14th in the A cc . Perhaps too focused on style, n otre d ame struggled to find its rhythm early.

Georgia Tech jumped out to an 8-0 lead from the opening tip, prompting Irish head coach n iele Ivey to call an uncharacteristic early timeout.

Ivey said after the game that the timeout was mainly to get the team in a more focused mindset on both ends of the floor.

“I think it was a reset mentally,” Ivey said. “We got some

good looks, my goal was to go inside early, but we got no offensive rebounds and ended up one and done. s o we talked about executing and crashing the boards. o bviously our defense [struggled], giving up eight quick points, I talked to them about locking in defensively. c hanged a little bit of the rotation, I think that worked. s ometimes it’s like that, given the emotion of senior night. They came out on fire, we had to adjust, so I’m just happy we adjusted early and turned the tables.”

Those small defensive tweaks turned out to be well worth it. Freshman c assandre Prosper was brought into the game to give the Irish some more length. The rookie guard immediately rewarded Ivey with a steal, a block and an assist as the Irish tied up the game with an 8-0 run of their own. That timeout proved to be

nD mEn’s BAskEtBAll

Irish fall in primetime thriller against North Carolina

By MATTHEW CROW Associate sports e ditor

At this point, it feels like n otre d ame men’s basketball games are following a script. Two weeks ago, the Irish went stride for stride with Georgia Tech all game before faltering in the final seconds. Then the same story played out against v irginia Tech, d uke and v irginia.

After a 63-59 defeat at the hands of n orth c arolina Wednesday night, n otre d ame has now lost five consecutive games by six points or fewer. In his final season, Irish head coach m ike b rey understands how frustrated his team is. They have been competitive in nearly every conference game they have played. b ut the results do not show it. Wednesday’s loss in Purcell Pavilion dropped them to a disappointing 2-15 in A cc play.

“I feel for our guys, because we keep getting in position, but we can’t finish,” b rey said after the game. “We

put ourselves in position, but [losing close games] has kind of been the recipe.”

For much of the first half, though, it did not look like they would even get in position to have a chance at winning. n otre d ame did not score for nearly six minutes to open the game. Luckily for the Irish, n orth c arolina could not take advantage of that scoring drought and led just 4-0 when the Irish finally woke up.

c oming off the bench, graduate student guard Trey Wertz sank a three-pointer to get the Irish on the board.

Wertz and graduate student guard c ormac r yan combined to score the first 10 points for the Irish. n orth

c arolina’s r J d avis converted a pair of free throws to stretch the Tar h eels’ advantage to 15-10 with just over eight minutes left in the half. b ut that was followed by one of the best extended stretches of basketball n otre d ame has played all season.

MARY VOTAVA | The Observer

Graduate center Lauren Ebo celebrates during the Irish’s game against No. 4 UConn on Dec. 4. Ebo tallied 12 of the Irish’s 74 points in what was a dominant performance and an electrifying victory for the Irish.

MICHAEL LI | The Observer

Graduate guard Dane Goodwin puts up a mid-range jumper during the Irish’s game against UNC on Feb. 22. Goodwin netted seven of the Irish’s 59 points, but it wasn’t enough to best a dominant Love-Bacot duo.