Thank you, Lulu

an extra hour in the dining hall. I pass by the grotto, assuring myself I’ll take a moment to kneel the next time I have free time, unsure when that will be. As my head hits my pillow, I think about tomorrow’s duties, forgetting today’s beauty.

but these routine markers that approach so eminently — the papers, exams, meetings, commitments and networking events — are not what I will measure my life by.

As I think back to my high school years, where I was filled with brash anxiety, what are the moments I remember the most? Yes, I recall the sleepovers, the cafeteria jukebox singalongs, the park picnics and prom dresses. but I also remember the sweltering feeling of stress, of knowing that the next four years of my life depended upon these four.

now that I’ve arrived here, I don’t want my future self to have this same anxiety when she thinks about college. All the work I put in during high school has led me to here, and I refuse to let these same pressures consume four more years of my life. I will not measure my college years in the same way I measured high school: by A-pluses and recommendation letters.

I will measure not by my GPA, LinkedIn connections, number of lectures attended or number of miles I’ve run. I will measure not by the hours spent bent over my textbooks or locked up in hesburgh.

I will measure my life by the laughter, the spontaneous concerts, the walks around the lake, the late-night ramen noodles, the friends I’ve made, the songs I’ve listened to, the roads I’ve driven. I will measure these four years by the egg white omelets shared with my two early rising friends, the stale smell sitting within the walls of the rockne dance rehearsal space, the pinks and oranges of a sunset reflecting over st. mary’s lake, the sound of the chants at a midnight drum circle and the books I’ve read.

I will measure my life by the betweens.

Gracie Eppler is a sophomore Business Analytics and English major from St. Louis, MO. Her three top three things ever to exist are 70’s music, Nutella and Smith Studio 3, where she can be found dancing. Reach her at geppler@nd.edu.

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

This edition of The observer will be very special for me.

It contains the last column I write for this newspaper and is the culmination of a threesemester stint as a member of one of notre dame’s most select clubs, The observer’s v iewpoint columnists. beyond that, it will also be my final journalistic endeavor for what will probably be a very long time. I meditated on what this column should be about for a very long time. What should it be about? I could once again produce an 800word long tangent on history, current events or something about notre dame. however, I have written about those topics enough and my mind chose to focus on writing about why I chose to write to begin with. As I sat in my usual spot among the sea of monitors in hesburgh’s second-floor computer lounge, I meditated on my long relationship with journalism and writing and the one person who helped it come to life. This is what came out: I love to write. since grade school, I have always been the first one to volunteer to write out group projects, meeting notes and essays. Words are incredible to me. They can be hurtful, helpful, loving, divisive, healing or motivating. Words can be anything you want them to be.

Knowing your way with words makes all the difference, and grasping the significance of the impact of the written word is one of the most valuable lessons I have learned so far.

In another life, I surely would have been a full-time journalist. Given that I hail from nicaragua, a developing country, I grew up hearing that whatever I studied in college needed to have a practical application that gave me sufficient knowledge and marketable skills to survive in an economy with very limited opportunities for niche and humanities degrees. It would be very hard to break through in a country that lacks a strong journalistic tradition. however, I did not let that dissuade me and discourage me from finding the avenues to develop what I consider one of my passions on the side. during my final two years of high school, I took on the role of editor-in-chief of my school’s virtual newspaper, The eye of the Tiger, and helped revitalize it in order to broaden its appeal within the school community. during my tenure, I expanded the paper’s total output and worked very closely with administrators, sports teams and clubs to cover school events more thoroughly and effectively. Upon arriving at notre dame, I took a year long hiatus from writing and journalism, as I devoted most of my time to adapting and getting familiar with my new environment. At the start of my sophomore year, I began to submit Letters to the editor every now and then until that translated into an offer to come in as a regular columnist and contributor in the spring of 2022. over the past year and a half, I have cranked out a wide array of columns covering topics ranging from empress dowager cixi of the Qing dynasty to the much-perfected art of stealing at notre dame. It has truly been a great experience.

I would like to devote this final column of mine to one of the most important people in my life, Lulu, my aunt.

Without her, I surely would never have fallen in love with writing and journalism to begin with. many moons ago, I would sit with her late into the night as she revised and edited interviews and articles for the magazine she ran. eight-year-old me was thoroughly impressed with how raw chunks of text came to be transformed into carefully crafted pieces worth publishing on a national scale. To this day, we still keep an archive of all those magazines tucked away in an overflowing cabinet in my house. she was the one that instilled the power and importance of writing in me and consistently pushed me toward exploring the opportunities this field has to offer. Without your help and guidance, one of the most important parts of my identity would instead be a hollow void, forever unfilled. I believe your impact on my life cannot be quantifiably measured, but if I were to try, it would at the very least contain around 20 pieces published in The observer, another handful in The eye of the Tiger and two in the now defunct el nuevo diario.

In short: I love you, I love you, I love you.

Writing for The observer has been an incredibly rewarding experience over the past three years. A huge thank you to all those that encouraged me to join, edited my columns and read whatever it was I had to say. The acts of reciprocity, which could have been as small as “I read your column,” made every last bit worth it. As I close this chapter of my life and move on to the next, I carry on with the certainty that writing is one of the best tools we have at our disposal and using it for good is one of the noblest things a person can do.

Until next time. over and out. hasta la victoria siempre.

Pablo Lacayo is a senior at Notre Dame, majoring in finance while minoring in Chinese. He enjoys discussing current affairs, giving out bowl plates at the dining hall, walking around the lakes and karaoke. You can reach him at placayo@nd.edu.

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

By GABRIEL ZARAZUA scene Writer

Inspired by their Japanese counterpart “ s uper s entai,” “ m ighty m orphin Power r angers” has stood the test of time to become one the longest-running children’s television shows ever. s panning over 30 years and 21 different iterations, it seems there is no end to this franchise in the near future. It made sense for the series to make a memorable anniversary episode starring the original cast, even if not all of them are there. s till containing cheesy and corny dialogue, this hourlong special still manages to be entertaining and give a loving tribute to the original Yellow r anger Trini, played by Thuy Trang.

Trang passed away in a car accident in 2001, though this anniversary special is the first time her death is acknowledged in the show’s canon. Trang originally left the show in season two, with her character moving away for a peace conference. n ow being killed by old foe r ita r epulsa, “ o nce & Always” deals with the team’s grief over their fellow ranger’s death, along with looking after her daughter m inh. With the show usually known for being light-hearted and full of jokes, it was interesting to see this special take a darker tone. e ven though the show takes this approach, it is still full of entertaining fight sequences, weird monsters and a plethora of references to past interactions. d iehard and casual fans alike will recognize something from either the original show or a different season. n ostalgia aside, I couldn’t look past the many flaws the show had. n ow, I understand, Power r angers is still a show meant for kids. h owever, from what I remember and looked up again before writing this, even older iterations had better c GI than this. With n etflix being the majority owner of rights to the show, I know for a fact they had plenty of money to spare for this special. The final big m egazord fight was hard to watch, even for a kid’s show. Plot elements also made little sense, even for Power r angers. o f course, the showrunners had to find a way to write about why the original red and pink rangers, Jason and Kim, weren’t in the special. d ue to scheduling conflicts and creative differences in general, Austin s t. John and Amy Jo Johnson did not return. While this did allow for s teve c ardenas to reprise his role as r ed r anger r ocky and c atherine s utherland as Pink r anger Kat, they are mostly put aside and don’t make much of an impact. h aving the original b lue r anger b illy ( d avid Yost) and b lack r anger Zach (Walter Jones) take on leading roles instead of being the usual side characters, however, was great to watch.

It is also worth noting that this special was filmed before the tragic passing of Jason d avid Frank, who played the most popular Power r angers character in the entire series — Tommy o liver. While this special is meant as a tribute to actor Thuy Trang, it is hard to not also think of Jason as well, though I’m sure the series will eventually make a proper tribute to him in the future as well.

While not an amazing television spectacle, “ o nce & Always” is what it is supposed to be: a tribute to 30 years of r anger history and those who were sadly lost along the way. It’s hard to film any kind of tribute and bring back cast members who have all gone on separate paths since. This special is a fun watch for the whole family no matter what your familiarity is with the show.

Contact Gabriel Zarazua at gzarazua@nd.edu

“Once & Always”

Director: Charlie Haskell

Starring: David Yost, Walter Jones

Where to watch: Netflix

By ANGELA MATHEW manager of Talent and Inclusion

The most ubiquitous notre dame bucket list is to visit all of the 32 residence halls on campus. You could rank food sales run by the dorms, go to mass in each of the chapels or even participate in every dorm tradition (building boats, entering pageants, or even gambling). dorms shape culture on campus, and past writers have imagined the halls as seniors at prom, great metropolises and even preschoolers.

This article is the upgraded buzzfeed quiz, the personality test to put myers-briggs to shame: this is the nd dorm e nneagram. (What follows is extremely unscientific, please do not contact The observer if you disagree with these characterizations).

The Reformer (1): Ryan Hall

The rational, idealistic type — principled, purposeful, self-controlled and perfectionistic. hotel r yan is one of the most well-maintained dorms. The Wildcats are committed to building awareness for accessibility issues through events like Wheelchair basketball and c at Fest. They also have cookies every Tuesday.

The Helper (2): Dillon Hall

The caring, interpersonal type — demonstrative, generous, people-pleasing and possessive. From hosting its signature Thursday night m ilkshake mass to the LGbTQ+ mass, d illon opens its arms to everyone on campus to enjoy their lively music and sweet treats. Just don’t ask them what’s on the fourth floor

(it’s not an attic apparently).

The Achiever (3): Pasquerilla West Hall

The success-oriented, pragmatic type — adaptive, excelling, driven and image-conscious. P-d ub, this year’s winner of Women’s hall of the Year, embodies the achiever — they adapted one of their study rooms into a wellness room because balance is key. mod Quad is prime real estate and allows P-d ub girls to get everything done, from studying in ndh, socializing at hes and everything in between.

The Individualist (4): Lyons Hall

The sensitive, withdrawn types — expressive, dramatic, self-absorbed and tempermental. most people know the beautiful arch of romance lore, but Lyons is not just a pretty face. It’s great for moody times as well with its serene views of the lake, the ominous stuffed lion on the first floor and the option to live in the basement.

The Investigator (5): Carroll Hall

The intense, cerebral type — perceptive, innovative, secretive and isolated. To the outsider, c arroll seems rather cultish … Imagine agreeing to bleach your hair just to fit in with some guys you just met, but that’s probably what living in isolation on the outskirts of campus does to you.

The Loyalist (6): Keenan Hall

The committed, security-oriented type — engaging, responsible, anxious and suspicious.When they’re not keeping everyone well-fed with Zaland, the Keenan Knights are busy defending their shared chapel and lounge (you would too if your rival lived next door). That doesn’t mean they can’t have fun though, who else but the Loyalists would host one of nd’s most beloved traditions, the Keenan revue?

The Enthusiast (7): O’Neill Family Hall

The busy, fun-loving type — spontaneous, versatile, distractible and scattered. The o’neill Angry mob is fun-loving (with nicknames for every resident) and is often the place where many first-years get their first taste of college life. They love a performative streak — they had their own Acoustic afe night this year, and they host the m iss nd pageant.

The Challenger (8): Lewis Hall

The powerful, dominating type — self-confident, decisive, willful and confrontational. Lewis is one of the biggest women’s halls, and the original c hicks were multitasking nuns pursuing graduate degrees. now they’re the girls who host hundreds of students at midnight for L hoP and have the best community with their six-chick rooms.

The Peacemaker (9): Knott Hall

The easygoing, self-effacing type — receptive, reassuring, agreeable and complacent. The men of Knott have some middling food sales like Waffle Wednesdays, defunct traditions (Is AquaKnott still a thing?) and, despite their irrelevance, they’re always trying to insert themselves in the Pe-PW rivalry (Knott hall, Knott hall!).

Contact Angela Mathew at amathew@nd.edu

By ANNA FALK scene e ditor

As a student at notre d ame, it’s hard to deny my love for the “shrek” franchise. The film boasts of alleged connections with the University that have been denied by various sources but still remain present in campus culture. If it were any other film, the perpetuation of such mysteries and affections would not be the same. Then again, “shrek” is just that iconic.

b ased on a book of the same name by William steig, the rights to the story were sold to d reamWorks for $500,000. m any things led it to develop a nasty reputation amongst its animators, including its low budget of $60 million and the laborious process of animating everything using computer generated images. This technology and the techniques featured in the movie were unlike anything that had been done before, so the animators had to start from scratch.

d irector v icky Jenson said that “Getting sent to [work on] ‘shrek’ felt like being sent to siberia.”

This past s aturday, the film celebrated its 22nd birthday. When it was first released, d reamWorks did not anticipate the popularity of the film among children and adults alike — a phenomenon unfamiliar to animators at the time. b efore “shrek,” animated films were just for kids. The green ogre’s comedic and vulgar speech elevated the film and changed mainstream perception of what animation could look like and who it could be for. since the first movie — which grossed nearly $500 million worldwide — the franchise has grown and shifted dramatically along with the animation industry. Three additions to the “shrek” franchise have been released (and another is in the works), as well as two spinoffs about Puss in b oots, various short films and a few T v specials. shrek revolutionized what animation could be, but this sentiment no longer seems to exist. netflix has canceled several of its animated series after one season, even scrapping some that had yet to make it to the platform. c artoon network’s merge with Warner bros. d iscovery has caused some major layoffs. e very 2 d d isney classic is now being made into a live-action movie, devaluing and taking the spotlight from their original versions. It seems that the whimsy and excitement embedded within the art of animation is starting to lose favor within the mainstream.

The popularity of animated features rises and falls throughout the years, but the declines never fail to scare the artists and enthusiasts. d espite the impact of “shrek,” animation is still considered just for kids. however, there is hope. “Puss in b oots: The Last Wish,” one of the “shrek” franchise spinoffs, has done well in box offices worldwide. With a stunning cast, adventurous music and an altered animation style to make the film seem more like a storybook narrative, the film has continued to create buzz months after its release. e ven though the movie expands on a fairy-tale classic, it tackles real issues that people of all ages experience. Puss deals with the concept of mortality and a failed relationship, Goldi struggles with feelings of belonging in her found family and all the characters tackle the terrors of Jack horner’s industrial plans. The moments of emotional vulnerability shine through and bring the audience to tears.

This is just one example of animation’s ability to “wow” an audience. There’s something about this medium that transcends realistic expectations all while bringing the issues of life to the forefront. It’s a difficult art to master, and those who pursue it are hardly appreciated enough for their hard work and dedication.

The anniversary of “shrek” reminds us of its wonder but also of its power to transform a whole artistic medium. As Guillermo del Toro said in his speech at the 2023 o scars, “Animation is cinema. Animation is not a genre, and animation is ready to be taken to the next step … Keep animation in the conversation.”

Contact Anna Falk at afalk@nd.edu

By CLAIRE LYONS v iewpoint e ditor

Three weeks of ronald Gladden’s life are fake. And before you ask, yes, ronald is very real.

In February 2022, Gladden, an average 29-year-old solar panel contractor looking for adventure, responded to a craigslist ad about an opportunity to be in a documentary film following “the American judicial process as seen through the eyes of a jury.” What he didn’t know, however, was that he was unwittingly volunteering to star in a real-life version of “The Truman show.” everybody involved in the trial is an actor. cameras are hidden everywhere. somewhere in a court house backroom, a team of producers huddle around screens, feed lines to actors and control the next 17 days of Gladden’s life with a script that reads like a c hoose Your o wn Adventure book. Gladden, sequestered in a Los Angeles hotel room with no internet, no phone and no access to the outside world, is none the wiser.

And although the court case itself isn’t real, “Jury duty” is most certainly a trial.

Throughout the series, Gladden’s wits and kindness are constantly tested by the wild antics of the other “jurors.” he embraces his hotel roommate’s wacky and unsettling inventions with open arms, becomes a wingman for two flirtatious friends on the jury and does a little investigating of his own to ensure that justice is served. With every challenge, Gladden unexpectedly rises to the occasion and gracefully maneuvers some sticky situations. h is good behavior has made him into America’s newest sweetheart and catapulted him into (relative) stardom. but therein lies the other trial: the success of the actors and producers.

In fact, the show is successful precisely because of Gladden’s kind-hearted demeanor. The key element is that Gladden is unaware of what might happen next, naturally playing the “straight man” stock character that deadpans in the face of the ridiculous and absurd. he’s like a real-life version of Jim from “The office,” and just might be given that “Jury duty” was the brainchild of “The office” producers.

To some extent, the series is scripted. The producers have written bits for each character, but the actors have to naturally work them in to conversation. nobody could ever predict how exactly Gladden would react to a certain situation, which required the actors to think on their feet. Their performances are improv at its most complex.

The casting couldn’t be more perfect. James marsden (“enchanted”) plays a diva version of himself. mekki Leeper (“The sex Lives of college Girls”) and up-andcoming edy modica have a hilarious on-screen relationship that plays to the strengths of not only their fictional characters but their own personalities. most of the cast with more experienced acting backgrounds manage to fly under the radar. The characters with more technical parts — the judge and the lawyers — are played by people with real life experience in law. ron song, who plays a slow-talking candy machine operator, was previously working as a senior director of strategic pipeline analytics at Uc Irvine. The cast comes from all different walks of life, just like a jury should. The production constantly had to toe the line of comedy, insisting on a degree of plausible deniability in order to prevent Gladden from figuring out the scheme. In a recent podcast about the show, Gladden describes the production’s strategy, “Anytime they would push the envelope too far, they would just pump the brakes for the next five or six hours or do nothing for the rest of the day.” At many points, the producers were on high-alert, wary about Gladden’s enthusiastic curiosity in the case or reactions to “planned” pandemonium.

Is “Jury duty” ethical? I guess the jury’s out on that one. Gladden rolls with the punches and is exactly the kind of guy who is nice enough to not sue everybody. At least now he’s friends with James marsden and $100,000 richer.

Contact Claire Lyons at clyons3@nd.edu

“Jury Duty”

Starring: Ronald Gladden, James Marsden, Mekki Leeper

If you like: “The Office,” “Nathan For You”

Where to watch: Amazon Freevee

Happy Birthday: Share your thoughts, formulate your goals for the year and balance your life with a mixture of hard work, exercise, healthy living and love. Push forward with gratitude; what you attract will complement your dreams, hopes and wishes. Don’t let stubbornness stand in your way. having flexibility and the willingness to work with others will be the keys to success. your numbers are 6, 14, 21, 25, 33, 38, 40.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take a moment to examine your plans before you begin. A couple of tweaks will make the difference between Ok and spectacular. Aim to open a window of opportunity that will allow you to show everyone what you have to offer.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Do your part and everything else will fall into place. Make the time to visit someone who both grounds and inspires you, and you’ll devise a plan that stimulates your mind and excites your soul. Pamper yourself.

GemiNi (may 21-June 20): Don’t settle or live in someone’s shadow. Consider what makes you happy, and strive to incorporate what you enjoy most into your everyday routine. It’s up to you to choose the path that excites the heart.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Stop struggling and choose to proceed down the path of least resistance. unleash your spirit and follow your dreams. Take a passionate approach to making a difference and participate in events that allow you to expand your interests and knowledge.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): you’ll face opposition if you try to do things your way. rethink your strategy, and you’ll discover how to incorporate your ideas into what’s already in place without raising a red flag. It’s not what you do today — it’s how you do it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): reach out and offer your skills, knowledge and ideas to an organization or someone in need of assistance, and you’ll make exciting connections that help you develop and market your attributes to suit your needs. listen, share and adjust to what’s trending.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Slow down and take everything in before you decide what to do next. reflect on the past and question the future. rethink your work ethic and goals, and consider how to pivot in a direction that suits you emotionally, physically and financially.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): you’ll have plenty of options, but before you make a decision, do your homework. Invest more time in learning and exploring the possibilities and what’s available. A partnership looks promising and can free up time to focus on what’s important to you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Distance yourself from trouble or anyone pushing you in a direction you don’t want to go, and you’ll begin to see opportunities that have eluded you in the past. Concentrate on personal growth, physical well-being and happiness. Peace of mind will prevail. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t hesitate when an opportunity presents itself. Changes to your living arrangements or space will positively impact your state of mind and relationships with those close to you. Share your thoughts, and the input you receive will enrich your plans.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Stick close to home; if you venture out, you’ll face resistance from someone who doesn’t share your views. Self-improvement projects will bring the most satisfaction and the least amount of controversy.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): you’ve got the stamina to do something spectacular. Attend meetings, upgrade your resume or enhance your skills to help you head in a direction that inspires you to be great. Participate in events that encourage networking.

Birthday Baby: you are enthusiastic, impulsive and engaging. you are determined and loving.