Print Edition for The Observer for Friday, September 29, 2023

Office of Sustainability rolls out more blue toters

ND recycling expands Students react to US News ranking

By KATHRYN MUCHNICK and KELSEY QUINT

Associate News Editor, News Writer

Notre Dame’s Office of Sustainability is partnering with Building Services to roll out an expanded recycling program on campus. As part of the communication efforts of the program, the Office of Sustainability and Building Services co-hosted their third installment of “Recycling Listening and Learning Sessions” this past Wednesday in an effort to share updates and receive feedback from

Founder of Exonerated Nation speaks at ND Law

By KEIRA STENSON News Writer

Obie Anthony, founder of the organization Exonerated Nation, spoke at the Notre Dame Law School Thursday. He was joined by David McLane, one of the attorneys who worked on his civil rights lawsuit.

In 1995, at the age of 19, Anthony was wrongfully convicted of murder and attempted robbery and was sentenced to life without parole. Despite his insistence that he was innocent, he spent 17 years in prison (plus about a year and a half in Los Angeles County Jail) before being exonerated in 2011.

The Northern California Innocence Project and Loyola Project for the Innocent took up Anthony’s case in 2008. His conviction was overturned on the grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel, prosecutorial misconduct and use of informants.

The original verdict was based on an identification from John Jones, who managed a brothel near the crime

scene. It was later revealed that he got an advantageous deal on his own criminal charges in exchange for testifying against Anthony and didn’t actually have eyewitness knowledge of the perpetrator.

McLane and Anthony both discussed the factors contributing to his conviction, including the effects of the 1994 crime bill and his situation as a young man of color in southcentral Los Angeles, where gang violence was a pressing concern.

They also referenced the

high pressure on police officers to close a case, typically with an arrest. This pressure was magnified by the fact that the detective on Anthony’s case was the first Black female detective in L.A.’s homicide division and this was her first case.

In discussing the challenges to getting a conviction overturned, McLane said there is a presumption that the justice system worked.

“The burden of proof is now on the inmate,” McLane

By GRACE TADAJWESKI News Writer

Notre Dame was recently ranked 20th on the U.S. News and World Report’s 2024 Best National University Rankings, down two spots from its spot at 18th last year.

The ranking irked some students, while some said the ranking never factored into their decision to attend the University. Others were pleased to attend a top-20 school.

“For me, it did matter that Notre Dame was a top 20

because, coming from the Philippines, Notre Dame is not known at all,” freshman Jada Bautista said. “So, when I decided to apply, I think it was like the only school that my friends, my family and even my teachers didn’t know about.”

Princeton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard filled the top three spots accordingly. All three are private universities located on the East Coast with an average tuition totaling just under $60,000.

see RANKING PAGE 3

OSU game brings in record revenue

By RYAN PETERS Managing Editor

While the Notre Dame vs. Ohio State game last Saturday generated heartbreak for Irish fans, it also generated record revenue for the campus economy.

University Enterprises and Events (UEE) director of marketing Jennifer Heckel said the UEE division, which oversees all event hospitality and most retail establishments like the bookstore and

campus dining, broke its previous record set the weekend of last year’s Stanford game with a 25% increase.

UEE does not publish its total revenue, but a 2018 report from the University estimates the average home football weekend generates $26 million in visitor spending. The University is currently updating the report, University spokesperson Sue Ryan said.

see REVENUE PAGE 4

Former journalist speaks at SMC

By ALLISON BOWMAN News Writer

Danielle Lerner (‘06), an Emmy award-winning former broadcast journalist and now lifestyle host, media consultant and content creator, visited Saint Mary’s on Thursday night. The Saint Mary’s alumna was welcomed back as the Ann Plamondon Endowed chair

speaker.

Lerner began by expressing her joy to be back on campus.

“Saint Mary’s definitely still feels like home,” she said. “As I was reflecting back on the last 20-plus years since I first stepped foot on campus, I’ve spent roughly ten of those years working towards my see SPEAKER PAGE 3

Kathryn Muchnick | The Observer

Blue toters for recycling are available in each residence hall and inside DeBartolo Hall, O’Shaughnessy Hall and Coleman-Morse.

Keira Stenson | The Observer Attorney David McLane discussed the difficulty in overturning wrongful convictions and the need for post-conviction relief.

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Today’s Staff

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Keira Stenson

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Friday Mid-Autumn Festival

214 Student Center 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Celebrate the Moon Festival with food and activities.

Africa on the Quad Library Lawn

8 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Enjoy cultural immersion activities, food and trivia.

Saturday

To Be A Kid Again (Yet Again) Library Lawn 9 p.m. - midnight

Participate in 90s reminiscent activities.

Holy Cross vs. Viterbo

2:30 p.m.

Saints Field Cheer on the Saints’ men’s soccer team.

Sunday

Basilica Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 10 a.m.

Join others for morning Mass.

Discernment Brunch

Coleman-Morse Center Room 330 11:15 a.m.

Reflect on questions and hear speakers.

Monday

Special Presentation

Eck Auditorium

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

“Synodality

“I found Notre Dame on an online college fair, and I found it to be super cool, and I thought it was a great fit,” Bautista said. “And the fact that when I searched it up, it was a top 20, I think it really contributed to [my decision].”

Of the top-20 universities, only two are public institutions — University of California, Berkeley and UCLA which tied for the 15th spot. The U.S. News and World Report noted that Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, law school and architecture are well regarded.

“No, I don’t think they really did [affect my decision] actually,” freshman Caroline Costigan said. “I think I just knew I liked the

Recycling

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

community members.

Lizzie Stifel, director of sustainability for student government, said that one of her main objectives is to debunk student mistrust in the University’s recycling process.

“I think a lot of people love to recycle, and they want to trust in it, but I think we’ve had a kind of tough spin right?” Stifel said. “Because when I was a freshman, it was COVID, and we didn’t have recycling. And then when we got it back, it was like, ‘Well, what are we actually doing with it?’”

For Geory Kurtzhals, senior director of sustainability, this mistrust is precisely why her department has prioritized a “student-focused” program.

A key component of the new recycling initiative, which began this past August, includes blue toters that have been placed on each floor of residence halls that have the space to accommodate them. The individual trash bins of classrooms in Debartolo and O’Shaughnessy Halls have also been removed and replaced with centralized trash bins and recycling toters.

The Office of Sustainability hopes that the close placement of landfill and recycling bins will have a behavioral impact on student waste disposal.

So, what exactly can be recycled? During the “Recycling Listening and Learning Session,” Kurtzhals explained that the recycling industry is extremely volatile and subject to regional differences. Many universities, including Notre Dame, work with third party vendors and must tailor their programs to the specific capabilities of vendor machinery.

For about two years, Notre Dame has partnered with Recycling Works, a facility based in Elkhart, Indiana, that receives, breaks down and separates Notre Dame’s single-stream loads.

school, and I liked what it stood for. And the architecture program’s the best, and the people are very good. I think rankings are subjective.”

Like Costigan, freshman Kimberly Hernandez’s decision to attend Notre Dame was not affected by its ranking, she said.

“I chose Notre Dame for the academics, and I feel like Notre Dame is really well-rounded in the sense that it balances both academics and sports,” Hernandez said.

“I think what makes Notre Dame better is that it balances both and doesn’t prioritize one thing or the other.”

The New York Times reported that several private universities fell in their ranking this year while many public universities climbed to higher spots on the list. Some of these changes can be attributed to

Before the pandemic, recycling was collected in plastic bags at locations across campus to be processed by the University’s then-vendor, Waste Management. However, Recycling Works cannot collect recyclables in plastic bags because they interfere with the machinery, according to Kurtzhals.

This requirement, along with stricter standards for contamination, meant the Office of Sustainability had to shift to collecting recyclables in the blue toters.

The Office of Sustainability is working to place informational posters above every blue toter about what can be recycled.

“We have to be really thoughtful about what we print and put on our containers because the recycling industry changes,” Kurtzhals said. “And so that’s why there are so many iterations of posters because of the changes over time.”

Austin Poyar, the sustainability program manager for operations, clarified some of the common misbeliefs about recycling. For example, at Notre Dame, solo cups, greasy pizza boxes, plastic forks and Starbucks coffee cups can all be recycled and processed at Recycle Works, as long as they are empty. However, paper towels — new or used — cannot be recycled.

In general, rigid plastics, paper, metal and glass can be recycled in the blue toters, as well as cardboard placed in larger gray toters in residence halls.

“What we’re after really is minimal contamination [from] the landfill container,” said Chris Hatfield, senior director of Building Services.

“We know there’s going to be some contamination and we’re working with our partner to see what level of contamination they can deal with, and sometimes they might have to reject a load if it’s very heavily contaminated.”

The recycling industry has seen a steep reduction in the amount of contamination

adjustments made in the U.S. News and World Report formula such as no longer considering average class size, graduation rate, financial resources per student and high school class standing.

“I didn’t care much about the 1, 2, 3, 4, but I think prestige definitely played a part,” freshman John McGlynn said. “I think that’s something employers look at when they’re hiring people, and I thought Notre Dame was a pretty prestigious university, so I think that played a part of it.”

According to the New York Times, this year, the U.S. News and World Report rankings placed more of a consideration on the graduation rates of disadvantaged and first-generation students. The ranking also considered whether college graduates were earning

permitted per load. Kurtzhals estimates a shift from an allowable 35% contamination, down to about 5% or less.

Nonetheless, the Office of Sustainability and Building Services notes that their single-stream partnership with Recycling Works has been accommodating. Recycling Works has not rejected a load of University recycling since the Notre Dame-Clemson game in Nov. 2022, when the bins were overflowing with tailgating waste.

With the new recycling programs in place, Stifel said that the next important step is to establish a “sustainability network.”

“There’s so many people that are super passionate [about sustainability], but they’re in their own little silos,” Stifel said. During her time as sustainability director, she hopes to bring this network together in a “physical and virtual space.”

In addition to the recycling program expansion, the Office of Sustainability is developing a strategic sustainability plan, exploring options for transportation electrification and converting food waste into energy with the Grind2Energy program, Kurtzhals said.

Despite the changing program, Stifel emphasized that recycling on campus is “legitimate.”

“We can trace what we’re recycling down the road to Recycling Works. You can go visit Recycling Works and see where our recycling goes and how much we’re diverting,” Stifel said.

Kurtzhals extended an invitation to students to be a part of the recycling expansion process.

“Yes, we do recycle on campus. Yes, we are working hard toward solutions, and please be a part of this process with us and help us to move in a positive direction.“

Contact Kathryn Muchnick at kmuchnic@nd.edu and Kelsey Quint at kquint@nd.edu

more money than those who had just a high school diploma.

“I’ve always known it as a prestigious school, but it wasn’t a numbers game where I’m applying to all the top schools and going to the top one,” freshman Ben Sarrazine said. “It was more for me getting a Catholic education, and I live less than two hours from here. So, I’ve wanted to come here all my life.”

CEOWorld Business Magazine ranked Notre Dame as the second-best Catholic university in the world. Georgetown University took the first-place spot. However, Georgetown University ranks 22nd on the U.S. News and World Report, below Notre Dame.

“[The ranking] is important to me especially because it kind of decides how much value our degrees hold, like post-grad,” junior

Speaker

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

dream, and only three and half years living it.”

She pulled from her own personal experiences, the good and the bad, to share with the audience what she believes to be the keys to success. Lerner’s first piece of advice is to be adaptable when the unexpected happens.

“To understand why this is such a big one for me we have to go a ways back,” Lerner said. “For most of my life I have not only hated change, but I have legitimately feared it.”

Lerner started her first news internship the summer before her senior year at the Fox News station in Phoenix, Arizona, where she said she fell in love with broadcasting and storytelling. She said she loved the process of piecing together all of the elements involved, generating story ideas and interviews, and she knew then that she wanted to go into local news.

Lerner graduated from Saint Mary’s before pursuing a graduate degree from Northwestern, working toward her goal of becoming a journalist. Her dedication was later rewarded when she received a job offer for KSBY-TV in San Luis Obispo, California, Lerner said.

During her three and half years at KSBY-TV, Lerner said she worked every shift, including news, anchoring, writing and sports.

Having built a solid foundation there, she was promoted to her first full-time morning anchor position in Tuscon, Arizona. After three years in Tuscon, Lerner achieved what she was waiting for: a job offer as a main anchor in Market 12 in her hometown.

In 2014, she started as a weekend anchor, and within a couple months she was promoted to morning news anchor for the ABC news station in Phoenix. She covered big local and international stories such as the Jodi Arias trials, the Super Bowl and the 2016 election.

“I was living my dream, until I wasn’t,” Lerner said.

During May of 2018, Lerner was abruptly removed from the morning show and demoted back to anchoring weekends and reporting night shifts.

“I was so devastated and absolutely crushed. I had done

Matthew Dipaolo said. “We’re still in the top 20, which I’m glad about … I think we’re fairly placed. I think we should be a bit higher … They need to take into account the academic rigor in my opinion.

Sophomore Sarah McArthur believes that graduating from a top-20 university will help her later in life, she said. While she said she does not believe the specific ranking affected her decision to come here, she explained that the range of the ranking did influence her decision.

“I think perception is very important,” McArthur said. “I think the number helps with that, but I wasn’t like, during my research and stuff, … ‘oh I want a school like within these numbers.’”

Contact Grace Tadajweski at gtadaje@nd.edu

everything right, followed my plan and their plan to a tee, yet there I was and I wanted to quit,” she said.

During her first week back at her night reporting shift, Lerner cried the whole 23-mile drive there.

“I wasn’t just disappointed, I was scared, angry, embarrassed and I was resentful. I cried on the way to and from work for months,” Lerner said.

She explained that while on set she knew she had to make this situation work, not only for her but also for her family.

“Sometimes that’s what it takes: to adapt to the unforeseen or unfortunate circumstances, it’s just putting your head down, putting one foot in front of the other and finding a way to get through the day,” Lerner said.

Throughout her speech Lerner mentioned the importance of adaptability, but she also introduced the idea of authenticity.

“Authentic is a buzz word for sure, but I’m talking about the skills, character traits and the passions that you bring to the table but other people can’t,” she said. “This one can be tricky because in order to be who you are, you have to know who you are.”

In the spring of 2019, six weeks after Lerner’s second daughter was born, Lerner was diagnosed with severe postpartum depression and anxiety. She was able to get access to resources like therapy and medication to help recover.

Lerner attributed much of her diagnosis to “spending years caring more about what others wanted than I did about myself.”

“I now view my postpartum struggles as the final straw that broke me, so that I could be rebuilt,” she said.

In February 2019, Lerner decided to take the next steps in her new journey by making her experiences public to raise awareness and give others hope. She created a three-part series about postpartum depression and anxiety.

Lerner concluded her lecture by discussing her own personal struggles with body dysmorphia and the physical and mental toll of working in media and broadcasting. She then provided the audience some more realistic lifestyle advice, leading to her third and final takeaway: “Be adaptable, be authentic and always be humble and kind.”

Contact Allison Bowman at abowman01@saintmarys.edu

The bookstore had a record weekend, according to Heckel. Demand was up 68% from Central Michigan, and all Notre Dame vs. Ohio State gameday merchandise sold out by Thursday.68% from Central Michigan, and all Notre Dame vs. Ohio State gameday merchandise sold out by Thursday.

Vice president for campus safety and University operations

Mike Seamon said the University estimates last weekend to be the busiest football weekend on record.

Seamon said parking and traffic are key indicators of gauging crowd size.

“Friday was by far the busiest football Friday we have seen since we can remember. Iconic places like the Main Building, the Basilica and the Grotto were crowded all afternoon. Our parking was completely filled by midday and places like the bookstore and dining outlets were consistently crowded,” he said in an email. “On Saturday, parking had extremely high numbers from the moment the lots opened at 8:00am through midday. We had parked over 10,000 vehicles on campus by 4:00pm.”

Both teams ranking in the top-10, the presence of ESPN’s College GameDay

and The Pat McAfee Show and the driving proximity of Ohio State’s campus contributed to the business, he said.

“The attendance around both The Pat McAfee Show on Friday and ESPN GameDay indicated this was one of the biggest attendance home football weekends in memory,” Seamon said. “The soldout stadium filled much quicker than usual, including the student section, given the excitement surrounding the game.”

Local hotels and rentals saw large business and price spikes. Executive director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka Jeff Jarnecke said 94% of the 5,400 hotel rooms in St. Joseph County were booked.

Rooms went for an average of $580 per night, Jarnecke said, with some going for triple that rate. Some hotels set three-night minimums to capitalize on the demand.

By comparison, the average daily hotel rate for the area sits around $110. And for the average home football weekend, about 70% of hotel rooms are booked. While the nature of a night game contributes to an increase in hotel occupancy, the demand last weekend was nonetheless massive, Jarnecke said.

“Just a huge, huge weekend overall in terms of the hotel occupancy side,” he said.

Weekend rentals through platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo saw a lower occupancy rate than expected, but prices were still sky-high, Jarnecke said.

He said St. Joseph County peaked at 1,400 short-term rentals available for rent on Friday and Saturday night. About 50% of them were booked at anaverage rate of $855 per night.

Jarnecke said the rental prices may have priced some people out of the short-term rental market.

“We would have thought that number might have been a little bit stronger than 50%, but not everybody’s looking for a short-term rental — that’s still a growing audience for sure,” he said. “And at that price point, we price some people out of the market when they would rather stay in a hotel and pay a different rate than what you might pay for a full house.”

Jarnecke said the lodging industry in St. Joseph County brought in an estimated $10 million last weekend.

Shouldering counties LaPorte, Elkhart and Marshall feel the demand for home games, as well. Jarnecke said the majority of hotel rooms in the three neighboring counties were booked.

“The impact can’t even just be felt within St. Joseph County,” Jarnecke said. “The impact of University of Notre Dame on a big event weekend and specifically a football weekend stretches well outside of St. Joseph County.”

Contact Ryan Peters at rpeters5@nd.edu

said.

Individuals like Anthony need to not only prove their innocence, but also the existence of misconduct in their original investigation.

McLane also referenced the existence of a “trial tax,” in which the district attorney offers the public defender a shorter sentence than their client would likely receive in trial because they think chances of conviction are high.

As a result, many people (though innocent) plead guilty because they’re scared the jury will convict them anyway. Those who don’t and are convicted, face the risk of repercussions in their sentencing for “show[ing] no remorse.”

Anthony spoke about the many challenges he faced upon his release, describing the “first 40 days” during which excitement over his freedom gave way to the realization that he was almost entirely on his own in restarting his life. He had neither money nor support to find education, employment or housing.

Having spent his whole adult life in prison, Anthony had no credit history and a credit score of 450 despite being 37 years old. It took him six to eight months to get a new ID, during which time he said he had to carry the newspaper article with his

exoneration since he had no identification. It took an additional year to find a job and five years to get compensation. Anthony’s civil rights lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles was settled for $8.3 million in 2015.

To try and address this need, Anthony founded Exonerated Nation in 2016 to show exonerees that “there is a community there that can embrace them.”

Exonerated Nation provides support and opportunities for others like him, including twice-yearly retreats for exonerees to develop skills, leadership and mental health.

“Wherever there’s a necessary need for help, if you have the capacity and capability to do it, you do it,” Anthony said.

In addition to helping individuals, Exonerated Nation has worked to pass laws that support the wrongfully convicted. One example is Obie’s Law in California which ensures transitional services to help with housing, employment, mental health and identification, just like what parolees receive.

“My life mission is to do this — go out to talk about and educate individuals about how it can happen to you … to do my best and to continue that march forward and continue to educate others from all around the United States,” Anthony said.

Contact Keira Stenson at kstenson@nd.edu

Ex-hackers roundtable discusses cybersecurity

By REDMOND BERNHOLD

News Writer

Notre Dame faculty

Walter Scheirer and Luis Felipe Murillo began teaching a course last spring called “The Archaeology of Hacking: Everything You Wanted to Know About Hacking but Were Afraid to Ask.” On Thursday, the two faculty members held a hacker roundtable where 1990s hacking and its evolution were discussed by three ex-hackers and a professor of anthropology.

The panel was mediated by Gabriella Coleman, a Harvard professor of anthropology focusing on hacking and computing. Panelists included Rocky Witt, a senior security engineer in the cryptocurrency industry; Mike Schiffman, lead of network security engineering at Google and Stephen Watt, a software engineer at DomainTools. Witt, Schiffman and Watt were all former hackers.

Each panelist introduced themselves and told the story of how they became interested in hacking.

Witt said his family received their first computer in the mid-1990s.

“I was very bored in school, very bored in my small town and I turned to mischief to keep myself entertained,” he said.

Witt’s first attempt to gain unauthorized access into systems was copying login strings.

Schiffman said his first experience with a computer was with a Commodore VIC 20, which was owned by his father.

Schiffman’s friend introduced him to the hacking world, where he used an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) to “consume information.”

Watt received his first computer around 1991, when he was about eight years old.

“I got online because I grew up in Florida — weather was too hot,” Watt said.

“Shortly thereafter, I started dialing up some local bulletin boards with my modem. From there, I started getting into pirating software.”

When Coleman asked about the “multifaceted” social scene among hackers in the 1990s, Witt mentioned the vast use of IRCs in “looking for sources of information or people who can teach you something.”

“Back in the day, it was probably a lot more likely that [security vulnerabilities with ‘zero days’ left to protect] would actually leak. You’d have … a closed network of people sharing information between trusted friends and somebody might just publish it,” Watt said.

Watt said an interested hacker would usually have to ask highly specific questions rather than general help in order to appear more advanced and receive specific codes.

Witt then mentioned the use of script kiddies

— publicly accessible means to hack into computers — and the stigma attached to them at a conference he once attended.

Coleman then transitioned the conversation about the hacker pipeline into the security industry, which she described as “contentious in the underground.”

Watt said the current security industry “couldn’t be further away from how things were done in the past.” He specifically noted the overuse of puns and branding to the information within security.

Schiffman said he “started working at companies and aggregating sort of both things [hacking and a job in industry] at the time … until I eventually started to just sort of transition out of the hacking scene entirely.”

As the last question, Coleman asked about the current state of security and the possibilities for hacking.

Watt and Schiffman both

noted how current hacking is less “innocent” than what it was years ago.

“There’s just a lot of money on both sides,” Witt said, pointing to a motive for current hackers.

When asked if the three hackers do anything differently in regards to their own security, Watt said he has nothing on the cloud. He also described social media as a “trade-off.”

Schiffman said he likes to minimize his footprint in his posts, specifically in regards to location, and Witt explained his lack of use of technology when he’s not on the clock.

“I don’t really use computers outside of my job,” Witt said.

All three agreed that they do not see a relationship between being an expert in security and excessive concern with personal data.

Contact Redmond Bernhold at rbernho2@nd.edu

It’s time for Notre Dame to include sexual orientation in its non-discrimination policies

At Notre Dame, hearing hateful comments about LGBTQ+ people is more likely than landing tails on a coin flip. According to the 2022 Inclusive Campus Survey, approximately 59% of all respondents heard students make disparaging comments about the LGBT community on campus.

Another sobering fact: the University’s “first and only LGBTQ+ undergraduate student organization” is younger than the students who attend this University. PrismND is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this weekend. Institutional recognition for PrismND is a sign of the University’s efforts to promote inclusivity, but LGBTQ+ organizations have not always been accepted on campus.

Students have asked for more welcoming spaces for LGBTQ+ students at Notre Dame since as early as 1972, according to past Observer articles. There were decades of struggle between administrators and students to establish an LGBTQ+ group before the University recognized PrismND ten years ago.

While the University’s movement toward a more inclusive campus environment is commendable, protection and support of the LGBTQ+ community is still not ingrained in Notre Dame’s culture. Members of the LGBTQ+ community have reported higher rates of adverse experiences on campus than non-LGBTQ+ students.

According to the 2022 Inclusive Campus Student Survey, 56% of nonbinary or transgender respondents said they experienced adverse treatment on campus due to their gender identity. The survey reports 48% of LGBQ men and 35% of LGBQ women have experienced adverse treatment due to their sexual orientation at Notre Dame.

As part of du Lac — Notre Dame’s standard of conduct for students — the University includes “The Spirit of Inclusion” statement that says Notre Dame welcomes and values all students.

“We welcome all people, regardless of color, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social or economic

class and nationality, for example, precisely because of Christ’s calling to treat others as we desire to be treated,” the statement says. “We value gay and lesbian members of this community as we value all members of this community. We condemn harassment of any kind, and University policies proscribe it.”

Despite this statement, there is no mention of gender expression and sexual orientation in its notice of non-discrimination.

According to the notice, “The University of Notre Dame does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in the administration of any of its educational programs, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school-administered programs, or in employment.”

In 2021, the U.S. Department of Education confirmed Title IX protects students from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Out of the U.S. News top-50 universities in 2022, Notre Dame and Pepperdine University are the only two schools that do not protect gender identity and sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policies.

Even our sister school across the street, Saint Mary’s, includes sexual orientation and gender expression in its non-discrimination policy.

When asked why Notre Dame does not include “gender identity” or “sexual orientation” in its notice of nondiscrimination, University spokesperson Sue Ryan said in an email that Notre Dame’s non-discrimination policy is a recitation of legally-protected characteristics.

According to the University’s policy on sexual and discriminatory harassment, no type of sexual or discriminatory harassment is tolerated, and all incidents of intolerant or disrespectful conduct will be addressed. The policy, which can be read on the website of the Office of Institutional Equity, states that the University is dedicated to responding quickly and thoroughly to all reports of sexual or discriminatory harassment and to enforcing the University’s non-retaliation policy.

In 2022, junior Pablo Oropeza and senior Dane

Sherman began Irish4Inclusion, an initiative that sought to change the non-discrimination clause to include sexual orientation, gender identity and religion. The cause received over 1,000 signatures from undergraduates, professors and residence hall councils. But the initiatives did not have enough signatures to reach University administration.

(Editor’s note: Dane Sherman is a viewpoint columnist for The Observer.)

In a Letter to the Editor written to The Observer cosigned by Oropeza and hundreds of other students, an anonymous student described the harassment experienced at the hands of a roommate. The letter said the roommate called the anonymous student homophobic slurs for hanging a bisexual flag.

“I met with my rector about this, and I was told they could facilitate a conversation between my roommate and I, but that there was nothing else they could do — because they told me I was not protected in the nondiscrimination policy,” the student wrote in the letter.

Irish4Inclusion has not been the only initiative to ask for a change in the University’s notice of non-discrimination. In 1985, then-University President Fr. Edward “Monk” Malloy created the Task Force on Marriage, Family and Other Life Commitments. The task force’s report included sections on “homosexuality” and “nondiscrimination policies.” It proposed “The University should include ‘sex’ and ‘sexual orientation’ as part of its nondiscrimination policies,” according to LGBTQ ND, a project that documents 20th-century LGBTQ+ student activism at Notre Dame and St. Mary’s.

Thirty-six years later, this aspect of the policy remains unchanged.

The approval of PrismND was a win for the advancement of LGBTQ+ inclusion and representation at Notre Dame. But it’s not where LGBTQ+ rights on campus should end. We cannot let our University become complacent. We cannot let intolerance and discrimination fester or grow. LGBTQ+ students should have the same protections as others named in the non-discrimination statement.

Not Asian enough

Meg Tamura Subject to Change

I don’t like the way my real name — Megumi — sounds in English. When it’s said in English, the “u” sound is emphasized too much (“Meg-ooo-mi”), so it sounds different from the smooth and natural way my name rolls off the tongue when it’s said in Japanese. That’s why I go by Meg. It’s not out of shame of my real name because it’s something that I really love and am proud of — I love the meaning of the kanji that makes up my name (the character for “blessing” or “blessed”), I love that I have a very traditional Japanese name, I love the way it sounds with my last name in Japanese (where my last name is said before my first name, instead of the other way around), and I love that my name connects me to my parents, to their homeland and to my ancestors. I appreciate that my family and my best friends from back home are the only people who call me by my real name instead of “Meg” because it makes me feel closer to them and like they know me fully. But, it got to a point a few years ago where I got sick of people butchering my name, of teachers misreading my name (M-e-g-u-m-i) to be “Megan,” of the pause in every first day of school roll-call reading, and of feeling like my name — something for which the meaning and connection to my ethnicity is so important to me on a very personal level — was being belittled in a way. It was convenient to go by “Meg” because it’s just a shortened version of my name, so it didn’t feel as unnatural as changing my name entirely like many first or second generation Asian Americans do.

Lately, I’ve started wondering whether, by going by a more Anglicized nickname rather than my Japanese real name, I’m “whitewashing” myself. Whitewashing, or calling someone whitewashed, is basically when someone who is not white is told that they act white or want to be white while erasing their own or their family’s cultures. I know that I tell myself and others that I decided to go by Meg because I was just tired of people mispronouncing my real name, but could it be that I was really trying to fit in more to a predominantly white hometown and college? On top of that, I can’t speak Japanese well (even though I can understand it), I don’t listen to Asian music, I don’t have an Asian friend group at Notre Dame, I can’t cook Asian meals and I don’t feel all that connected to Japanese or Asian culture. In other words, I don’t feel Asian, or even Asian American, enough — despite being 100% Japanese with immigrant parents and being a dual citizen of both Japan and America. Everything from my name (my real name), to my appearance, to my citizenship is as Asian/Asian American as someone can get, but I still don’t feel like I’m enough of one.

It’s an interesting place to be because I find that I feel most Asian and “different” when I’m with my non-Asian friends, but I feel most disconnected from my Asianness when I’m with other Asians. So, no matter what, I often feel like an outsider who’s stuck between three worlds and cultures (Japanese, American and Asian American) yet not fully belonging to any. I think this is a struggle that a lot of second generation Asian Americans who grow up in predominantly white places experience. It might not be the same for those Asians who grew up in places like Orange County or

Hawaii — where there’s a significant population of not only Asians but Asian Americans, too. It’s also a struggle that, for me, has come with a lot of guilt and even a sense that I’m almost like a fraud. I feel sad that, throughout my life, I might have subconsciously been repressing my Asian identity — responding in English when my parents speak only Japanese to me at home, listening only to American music growing up, not taking Japanese weekend school seriously enough, not joining the Asian clubs when I came to Notre Dame three years ago, etc.

At the end of the day, I don’t think any amount of guilt or regret, or any lack of Asianness, that I might feel and have felt for my whole life makes me any less Asian. Being Japanese and Asian American is something that I’m very proud of, and it’s a central part of who I am because it ties me to my family and where we come from. I’ll never forget or take for granted stories of my parents leaving Japan in the 90s and landing in New York City without knowing a single person, not having any family or friends here to lean on and not speaking English yet working hard, persevering through struggle and building a good life for our little family of five here.

So, I don’t think it matters if I go by Meg or Megumi, if I’m “knowledgeable” about Asian culture or not — it shouldn’t and doesn’t change who I am.

Meg is a senior majoring in political science and minoring in data science and business economics. Besides writing, she enjoys spending time with the people she loves, riding on public transportation and listening to good music.

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

Lessons on love at Notre Dame

Christina Sayut Graphics Editor

I am the kind of person who tries to find love in the tiniest places. Sure, it’s easy to find love in the hug of a friend or in the words “I love you.” But I think it’s much more meaningful to look for it in places you don’t always expect it. As a sad senior who doesn’t want to leave Notre Dame, I have been reflecting on all of the places here where I have been able to find love and on all of the lessons that I have learned from loving those around me.

1. The basement of South Dining Hall

If I made one correct decision in all of my time at Notre Dame, it was getting involved with The Observer. If I could do anything differently, it would be to join my first year. There is no way to accurately describe the way that walking into the basement of South Dining Hall feels like coming home.

I find love in sitting in the office until the early hours of the morning just to be moral support for everyone else who still needs to finish up production. I find love in picking up a can of Diet Coke and immediately making fun of Andrew and Joche who I know are drinking regular Coke. I find love in knowing that I can kick a soccer ball around incredibly poorly and write messages on a filing cabinet out of magnetic letters. I might go insane the second I enter the basement, but it is only because I feel so surrounded by love that I can be my most real self.

2. The hallways of Lyons Hall

I was built for the RA life. I almost cried tears of joy the other night because I had a group of residents hanging out in my room – sitting on my couch, laying on my floor, eating my snacks. I’ve been nervous about being able to love all 48 of the girls who live on my floor enough, about making it clear I want to be here to support them. But I’ve been able to find that love and show my support in so many ways. I find love in sitting at my whiteboard erasing the date and rewriting it, hoping that someone will stop by and talk to me. (Hi Ellie, Kathryn and Hayden.) I find love in sitting on Anna’s futon in the middle of the first floor hallway, accosting everyone who walks past me. I find love in my karaoke rounds when

I serenade everyone who is showering. I only hope that the love for my Taylor Swift impression is reciprocated. I find the most love in knowing that my candy bowl will be empty the second after I fill it – and I find the most love in hearing everyone talk to each other out in the hallway outside of my door.

3. The various studios in Riley Hall and the West Lake Design Studio I take on a lot of projects. There is no easy way to say it, but I am almost always working on four or five projects at a time. I might not always love working on these projects, but the place I work on them is something which makes them worth doing. I find love in the BFA studio of West Lake where I can sit and see all of the incredible projects that my friends work on and gain inspiration on how to be a better designer. I find love in the ceramics studio, blasting Taylor Swift so loudly that I cannot hear when someone walks up behind me. I find love in the photography studio, helping Jessica take photos of herself for her thesis. I have found love in the support of my thesis advisor, Sarah, who lets me stumble into thesis meetings in absolute shambles as I try to explain my newest breakthrough. The random studios in these buildings have been able to drive me insane while grounding me at the same time – and I have loved every second.

4. The big diagonal across South Quad Hi Mom. Hi Dad. I find love in knowing that I can call my parents any time I step outside of my dorm. Are my AirPods in my ears? Nine times out of ten, I am on the phone with my parents. I have found the most love in my walk across the South Quad diagonal as I try to find something new to talk to my parents about since I have probably already called them about twelve times that day. I have also found love on the diagonal across South Quad when I walk back with my old roommate, Marissa, from Duncan Student Center, listening to Pitbull songs and making up parodies to fit it with Lyons Hall (ask us about Hotel Room Service). You can contact Christina at csayut@nd.edu.

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

You can suck at hobbies

Last fall semester, my friends and I thought it would be a cool idea to try rock climbing. We had all climbed in various scenarios before, whether it was at summer camp or in gym class, always strapped into harnesses and supported by belayers. While the rock climbing club at Notre Dame offers time to practice on the vertical wall, we challenged ourselves to learn about bouldering. Bouldering is when you mount a much shorter wall, but instead of being harnessed up like a high-rise window washer, you’re solely assisted by the crash pads laid out on the floor, patiently waiting for you to forfeit.

Between my lack of upper body strength and the complexity of some of the routes, I fell a lot. There were definitely moments of frustration every now and then, but most of the time, I would just laugh it off and let my friends have their turn. The reality is climbing was never something I intended to excel in, but rather a hobby I did with my friends simply as a way to hang out (literally and figuratively). We eventually became too caught up in other activities to stay in the club, but nonetheless, I only have good memories from it because I felt so carefree. Giving myself permission to be bad at the sport allowed me to have so much more fun than if I was trying to perfect the craft of indoor climbing.

Everyday I find myself surrounded by students striving for success in all different types of endeavors. Whether it’s academics, athletics or artistry, it is human nature to want to work hard at achieving

big goals and preparing for the future, even at the expense of our own sanity. People across the globe are constantly reaching the top of their respective fields, none of which can be accomplished without dedicating yourself to hard work. In many scenarios this attitude is necessary, but in many others, it can become pretty paralyzing. Believing everything must be done flawlessly trickles into days where we just want to be still and enjoy life, sometimes making it impossible to do.

I noticed I actually possessed this mindset recently when I saw the wildly overused saying “your twenties are for making mistakes” neatly jotted down by a family member inside one of my birthday cards this past May. Before I started fresh and entered this brand new decade, I took some time to reflect on how patiently learning new things is difficult for me. I grew up playing nearly every sport under the sun, falling in and out of love with them sporadically. The minute I felt stressed out or not good enough, I would quit and it’s something I honestly regret. I have no ill will towards the idea that maybe I could’ve gone far in one of them, but instead the mere fact that I stopped because the thought of failing got the best of me.

Read the rest of this column online at ndsmcobserver.com

Moira Quinn is a junior at Saint Mary’s College studying communication. When she isn’t writing for The Observer, she can be found with friends, watching a good romantic comedy or missing her basset hound.

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

‘Gilmore Girls’ season

The leaves are starting to change. There’s a brisk electricity in the air. The Starbucks pumpkin spice latte has been back for over a month. The autumnal equinox has passed. Even with temperatures still sneaking up past 80 degrees, it doesn’t matter. Everyone dons their red flannel, puts “All Too Well” on aux, and cruises to pick up their pumpkin spice treat. It’s officially that time of year to light a candle, fill up a mug with steaming hot coffee, put in a large Chinese food delivery order and throw on Netflix. It is officially the “Gilmore Girls” season.

Amy Sherman-Palladino’s 2000s cult classic which aired on the Warner Bros. network between 2000 and 2007 follows the lives and relationship of Rory Gilmore in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. Rory and her mother Lorelai have an abnormally close relationship as Lorelai got pregnant when she was 16, roughly the age Rory is when we first meet her. The closeness of Lorelai and Rory’s relationship gives them a solid foundation as they pursue their individual ambitions: Lorelai’s dream of opening an inn and Rory’s goal of attending her dream school, Harvard University. They grapple with the complicated dynamics of Lorelai’s estranged relationship with her parents following her teenage pregnancy, navigate the ups and downs of romance and nurture their friendships, and they’re surrounded by and thrown into a pool of small-town drama.

Many of the most iconic moments in the series take place within the fall season: Luke and Taylor fighting over a corn maze for the Autumn Festival, running through the town and subsequently covering up Luke’s Diner; Lorelai and

Rory attempting to fit four Thanksgiving dinners in one day; Lorelai and Rory attending the Harvard-Yale football game with their Yaleloving grandparents; Rory and Logan attending a secret society event where autumn air brushes past them as they jump from a high structure; Luke and Lorelai’s Stars Hollow Planetarium date. All these moments, frozen in a show that premiered over 20 years ago, get revived and relived by its persisting audience as fall rolls around each year.

Fall has been collectively deemed as the time its fans rewatch the series. This is due, in part, to the aesthetics of Stars Hollow. The picturesque small New England town (or the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank that depicts it) is at its peak when the trees are adorned with colorful fall foliage and the town gazebo is decorated with pumpkins and sunflowers. Lorelai and Rory bundle up in chunky sweaters and other warm 2000sstyle get-ups and go around town drinking coffee from Luke’s Diner, the warm hues of orange and yellow serving as the backdrop for their quippy conversations with other townspeople. Even as time progresses, technology develops and Rory moves out, in each passing autumn — in both real life and in the series — Stars Hollow retains its slow, small-town character.

Read the rest of this column online at ndsmcobserver.com.

Kat Regala is a junior studying the Program of Liberal Studies with minors in Computing and Digital Technology and Science, Technology and Values. She originally hails from Naples, Florida, but loves traveling. When not reading or writing, you can find her drinking coffee, practicing yoga or binge-watching reality television.

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

Moira Quinn Working Title

Kat Regala The Absurd-ver

By COZETTE BROWN Scene Writer

As a kid, I used to take comfort in thinking my life could be a narrative, just like all the heroes I read about in novels — but after seeing “Monomythical,” that same sentiment is creepy at worst. At best, it’s oh-so existential and I love it.

“Monomythical” is a new musical written by Notre Dame’s very own Solomon Duane and directed by Noah Sim. It’s truly an “Irish exclusive” and you definitely do not want to miss this one. Kate Turner shines as Hera under an ever-changing circle of spotlights. She’s ordinary, like all the best heroes plucked by fate, but she’s spectacular because everything depends on her. Claire Ann Santos, whose sweet soprano voice carries throughout her whole performance as Elise, somehow manages to come back in every scene better than before, despite her un beatable entrance. Josh von Werder is everything as Nathan and Bryce Bustamante nails every comedic moment as Emmanuel. Even Camila Holden manages to be a revelation whenever she appears and disappears as Miss Connors at small moments in Hera’s journey.

The dialogue is bitingly funny, the songs ironically upbeat and the character development especially swift and robust. “Monomythical” spins you around and around a story cycle that never slows. By the end of it, you might wonder: Does it ever really end?

Inspired by his past experience manipulating the story arc in “Dawn’s Early Light,” Solomon Duane set to work on “Monomythical” to create a story his characters could control — except this production didn’t end up going in that direction. In “Monomythical,” the ensemble says not even the musicians are free from the story cycle. I wonder if Duane penned that line as he abandoned his original idea for Hera’s journey, realizing his omnipotent character ended up powerless anyway. Regardless,“Monomythical” is incredibly self-aware and thought-provoking. You might leave with more questions than answers, but you’ll go away feeling like an insider to some secret of the universe (a secret only your mailman knows the answer to, perhaps).

I had chills from Hera’s very first breakout in the opening song “The Monomyth” to her final fade out in the closing song “Questions and Answers.” In between it all, I laughed, I clapped and

I asked myself: Are we all characters and nothing more?

“Monomythical” left me questioning reality, which I didn’t expect going into PEMCo’s tech rehearsal last Tuesday. I’d say more, but it might ruin the surprise. Just don’t take this new musical for granted and let the cycle push you forward into Washington Hall for this weekend’s performances. The script of fate is already written and it says you’ll be there.

I used to take comfort thinking my life might follow some predestined story arc as it does for the heroes of stories — but now, after seeing “Monomythical,” I am changed. The whole thing was strangely beautiful — I walked into Washington Hall thinking this was going to be a night with some laughs and left worried I might be a victim of the suburban rat race. It’s a miracle this play exists — and you should go see it. You can experience “Monomythical” for yourself this weekend in the Washington Hall Lab Theater. The show will be playing Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 3:30 p.m and 7 p.m. Tickets are limited and can be purchased for $10 at the StaND in LaFortune Student Center or at the door.

Contact Cozette Brown at cbrown64@nd.edu

By ANDY OTTONE

Scene Writer

The main character has a seizure, then she falls into a coma. That is how “Theater Camp” starts. Most films don’t start this way. That being said, “Theater Camp” is not like most films. Molly Gordon’s (“Booksmart,” “The Bear”), “Theater Camp” is a fun, light-hearted, lowstakes comedy. Whether you’ve done theater your whole life (note: I have) or never seen a play in your life, there is something to enjoy.

Setting the scene

The movie starts with a focus on camp founder Joan Rubinsky (Amy Sedaris) in the guise of a documentary. She immediately suffers a seizure at a children’s theater production. This is where the movie shows its secret weapon: the humor that can arrive with a fake documentary. Introductory text provides context on the characters and events, and some of the best jokes in the film can be found here. The documentary style not only offers jokes but also acts as a welcome to those not in-the-know, giving what feels like a genuine inside-look into a real theater.

The film’s focus on what a real children’s theater production is like may be its greatest strength. In any production, there are specific types of people you will encounter. I’ve met the type of people in this movie — multiple times — and it demonstrates the film’s greatest strength. This movie knows what theater is really like.

The film’s screenwriters are no strangers to theater. Three of the film’s stars — Ben Platt, Noah Galvin and Molly Gordon — wrote the screenplay. Platt is son of prolific Broadway and film producer Marc Platt, and Ben Platt himself starred in multiple Broadway productions, winning the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his career-defining role as the titular character in “Dear Evan Hansen.” Galvin took on the same role, but he is also known for his work on screen as a star on the ABC sitcom “The Real O’Neals” as well as “Booksmart,” alongside co-star Gordon. Gordon originated the role of Alice Spenser in the off-Broadway production “Alice By Heart.” All of this is to say, these artists know Broadway, and their love of theater is visible in the film.

And the actors take the stage No matter how well-written a script may be (which this film certainly is), direction and acting remain important. I was pleasantly surprised to see that not only did Molly Gordon write and star, but “Theater Camp” serves as her directorial debut. The film’s direction is good and utilizes the mockumentary style expertly. Gordon’s acting in the film stands strongest when paired with scene partner and real-life friend Platt. Platt has made a career of playing sad, anxious or awkward teenagers. His performance is a breath of fresh air: assertive, snarky and a bit of a jerk. Galvin gives a solid performance as a technical director who dreams of performing on the stage.

The actors that most surprised me though, were the campers. The aspiring talent agent Alan Park (“Minari’s” Alan Kim) is given the funniest dialogue of the children, while a stagecombat demonstration by Lainy (newcomer Vivienne Sachs) stands as perhaps the most laugh-out-loud moment in the film, bolstered only by the earnestness of Ayo Edebiri’s (“The Bear,” “Bottoms”) Janet Walch.

Edebiri’s role in the film is small but memorable. While it does not appear shoehorned in, her scenes do feel separate from the rest of the movie’s events. That being said, her performance is great. A moment where she tries to avoid suspicion of her lack of theater background — she is introduced in the film with a text card stating she lied on her resume — solely through the use of deflection gives the audience a great scene with her “The Bear“ co-star Gordon.

A standing ovation

“Theater Camp” is a triumph. It wears its love for theater on its sleeve, while still having enough humor and heartfelt moments for those who are not part of this audience. Does my past in theater affect my view on this movie? Most definitely. If you’ve been in theater, you should see this movie. There is a lot you can take away from it. And if you haven’t been? You’ll still find something to love. Contact Andy Ottone

Taylor Swift provides NFL with new fanbase

By ANNIKA HERKO Sports Writer

87 + 13 = 100, and the NFL is giving Travis Kelce an A+ for his ‘new friend’.

During a football weekend that was full of headlines, it was the appearance of Taylor Swift next to Travis Kelce’s mother, Donna, at the Chiefs game that stole the show. The Fox broadcast would often cut to updates of Swift during the game (who appeared to be having a fantastic time) and everyone from Patrick Mahomes to Bill Belicheck has been asked about it.

That’s cool, but what’s the big deal? Celebrities show up to sporting events all the time, and it

FOOTBALL COLUMN

doesn’t dominate the media for days. Dwayne Johnson and Offset went to watch Coach Prime and Colorado, but no one wrote a Wall Street Journal article about it.

Since Sunday, Kelce’s jersey sales have been up 400% and the ChiefsBears battle (OK, smackdown) was the most watched game of the week. People weren’t tuning in to watch the Bears get destroyed. (If they were, they would have watched the Broncos-Dolphins game.) They were tuning in to see Swift. That growth in ratings (and probably jersey sales) came primarily from one demographic: young females.

Now, I’ve been a Taylor Swift fan and a football fan my entire life.

However, it’s pretty unusual for a 14-year old girl wearing a Speak Now T-Shirt to be shouting at the TV because the referees missed a blatantly obvious roughing the passer call. But that is exactly what the NFL needs if they want to continue to grow their fan base and, more importantly, their revenue. Young females are not a historically strong demographic for the NFL. If they keep the attention on whether she will be at the next game or have reporters continue to ask Jason Kelce for updates on his brother’s love life, they keep these new fans engaged. They have the opportunity to create a whole new generation of fans who started watching (or even going

to) Chiefs games, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite singer, and ended up writing their own ‘Love Story’ with the game of football. The commercial practically writes itself.

The NFL has basically won over the American man. They’re buying tickets and are all in on their fantasy teams. I went to several baseball games this summer, and guys were talking about football in the stands. Consider the market basically cornered.

The NFL has tried to expand their reach west into Europe and south into Mexico, but there’s a bit of a problem. They already have a sport called football everywhere else in the world. ‘American football’ just

doesn’t roll off the tongue.

So who else is out there to bring into their fan base? Young females who love Taylor Swift and are way too invested in her love life. Especially since all of this attention costs the NFL exactly $0, they’d be crazy to not try and capitalize on Swift Mania. Get ready for game announcers to start integrating song lyrics into commentary and for fans with witty Swift-themed posters to be featured on TV.

The NFL already has Swift-fever. The only remaining question is how will they use that to their best advantage.

Contact Annika Herko at aherko@nd.edu

Post: Duke game will show where Irish stand

Notre Dame hasn’t been here before under Marcus Freeman.

They’ve been in similar situations — Freeman’s initial campaign was far from flawless, particularly early on, but the Irish have yet to absorb a gut punch quite like the one they took this week.

Notre Dame left the Ohio State loss in 2022 with a note of hope. The team lost, but they also held their own on the road against what was, realistically, an opponent that had them overmatched. Defeats to Marshall and Stanford each triggered a week of soul searching that — while agonizing — didn’t quite match Saturday’s frustrations.

That’s because Marshall and Stanford were both 60-minute disasters. Train wreck performances against teams Notre Dame had no business battling with. What made last Saturday so

brutal — and unique — is the fact that so many things went right for the Irish under the lights at Notre Dame Stadium. For most of the game, Al Golden’s defense successfully limited Ohio State’s arsenal of weapons. An Irish offense that had sputtered in key moments in the first half found a second-half groove. With just a few moments left in the contest, a signature victory for Notre Dame, in a game where all the elements seemed just right for a statement, was more than within grasp.

We all know what happened next. Gerad Parker called for a second-down screen pass, with a subsequent incompletion allowing the Buckeyes to pocket a spare timeout. Kyle McCord and Co. would then engineer a game-winning drive, capped off by a back-breaking third and 19 conversion and a touchdown against a ten-man Irish defense with just seconds to play.

It was all but certainly the most heartbreaking loss

Notre Dame has seen in at least a half-decade. In a game with playoff implications that could haunt the Irish in December.

But it’s also now in the past. Notre Dame has recovered from difficult defeats before with mixed results. A common thread, though, has been an ugly first half leading to a slowburn win that leans on the ground game.

This Saturday should tell us a lot about how the Irish respond to adversity under Marcus Freeman. If they bounce back well and are at their best, expect Sam Hartman to be a major reason why. Notre Dame brought in Hartman for games like the Ohio State contest, a top10 showdown with playoff implications. But they also brought him in to be at the forefront in moments like this. When you’re down, you look to your veterans to lead from the front and engineer a strong response.

Hartman has been playing

Keys

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

more involved in Durham. Take care of the football

A big storyline for Duke has been their suffocating defense. Through four games, the Blue Devils have held all their opponents to 14 or fewer points and have allowed less than nine points per game.

They have also excelled in the turnover department,

college football since 2018. He’s quarterbacked on good teams and he’s quarterbacked on bad teams. There aren’t many situations, on the field or off, that are new to him. He was named a captain before the season for a reason — he’s someone the team believes they can turn to at the most crucial times.

The run game should also play a major role in Notre Dame’s response in Durham. Though perhaps not reflected on the scoreboard, the Irish rushing attack had an effective outing against the Buckeyes. It wasn’t Audric Estime’s most dominant performance, but the bruising junior running back still posted 70 yards.

Sophomore Jadarian Price and freshman Jeremiyah Love each mixed in effectively. Sophomore Gi’Bran Payne continues to impress as a third-down and shortyardage option.

The best way for the Irish to control their own destiny against the Blue Devils will be to dictate the tempo

forcing four interceptions and recovering four fumbles. Three of those turnovers came against Clemson, who lost two fumbles against the Blue Devils. Duke also picked off Cade Klubnik in the final minutes of the contest to effectively seal the outcome.

Luckily, Notre Dame has been fairly good at protecting the football through five games. The Irish have only turned it over twice this year. Hartman hasn’t thrown

of the match. And running the ball with efficiency is perhaps the most critical element of dictating tempo. Expect Notre Dame to try to take control on the ground early on.

Duke, currently undefeated and coming off a ninewin season last fall, won’t be a pushover. But how Notre Dame attacks the Blue Devils could be a bellwether for the rest of the season. If the Irish look uninspired and disappointed, warning bells could go off for future matchups against the likes of USC and Clemson. But if Notre Dame is assertive, it will be as clear of a sign as any that this Irish team, led by perhaps the most battle-tested quarterback in college football, is not ready to give up on its College Football Playoff dreams.

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

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

an interception yet. The only two turnovers were a Hartman fumble against NC State and a kick return fumble from graduate student running back Devyn Ford against Tennessee State.

Notre Dame will need to take care of the football and limit Duke’s opportunities to set the offense up for success.

Contact José Sánchez Córdova at jsanch24@nd.edu

J.J. Post

Associate Sports Editor

| EUGENIA LAST

Happy Birthday: Size up your situation and devise a plan that utilizes what you know and do best. Changing your financial situation is possible but requires monitoring for safety due to temptation and scams. When in doubt, refer to an expert, but don’t give anyone control. Pay attention to health, fitness and proper nutrition, and approach life and love with passion and a positive attitude. Your numbers are 5, 12, 19, 27, 38, 42, 45.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Hone your skills and reinforce what you want to achieve. A clear mind and set goal will encourage you to put your strengths to work for you and to pursue what makes you feel passionate. Don’t clutter your plans with someone else’s demands.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Use your imagination to discover how to entice your peers to accept your ideas and plans. Don’t hesitate to spotlight the intricacies of every move you want to make, and be sure to enlist individuals you feel confident will carry out your plans as specified.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Look at the possibilities and put your energy where it counts. A playful presentation will grab the attention of someone eager to join your team. Offer tidbits of information, but not enough that someone tries to take credit for your ideas.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Refuse to let the hustle and bustle around you occupy your time when there is so much you can accomplish that will position you for greatness. Be aware of the possibilities and take heed of where your intuition leads you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Mingle, communicate, offer services and use charm. Refuse to let the decisions others make throw you off guard or put a dent in your plans. Follow your heart and engage in learning, traveling and putting your plans in motion. Personal gain is favored.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Embrace whatever comes your way. New beginnings will set your mind on fire and give you the courage to use your imagination to find solutions that excite you. Don’t limit your vision if discipline and hard work can carry you to victory.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Pick up the pace and dazzle onlookers with your enthusiasm and ability to surpass your target. Refuse to let someone’s negativity ruin your plans. Stay on the path that offers security and a healthy lifestyle.

Romance and updating your image are favored.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A creative adventure will change how you approach life. Assess your lifestyle and goals, and you’ll develop a plan that is more to your liking. It’s time to live life your way and to deep-six programs that no longer fit your criteria.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Listen and respond with honesty and facts, or someone will challenge you. Take precautions when dealing with someone who tries to manipulate you emotionally. It’s up to you to take charge when necessary.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Choose a path that offers mental stimulation and the ability to change your routine and reach a happy place. It’s OK to be different and to do things your way. You control your destiny, so don’t allow others to deter you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Sidestep anyone who tries to divert you from the direction you want to go. Give yourself the power to make decisions that ease stress and create the place you feel most comfortable. Walk away from temptation.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You’ve got the drive and the resourcefulness to do your own thing. Don’t let a bad decision, disagreeable associate or overindulgence be your downfall. Think about what concerns you, and surround yourself with people contributing to your success.

Birthday Baby: You are enthusiastic, flexible and imaginative. You are impulsive and charming.

JUMBLE | DAVID HOYT AND JEFF KNUREK

SUDOKU | THE MEPHAM GROUP

Could Marcus Freeman become the next Mike Elko?

By JAKE MILLER Senior Sports Writer

Recently, several online bloggers have suggested that Marcus Freeman would be an ideal hire to fill the vacant head coaching position at Michigan State. At first glance, this seems like a strange fit, if not a clear downgrade from his current role at Notre Dame. The Spartans have had very little on-field success since 2016. Located in dead-center Michigan (East Lansing), it’s a hard area to recruit. Local talent is sparse. Academically, it’s significantly lower in rankings than Notre Dame and the endowment

KEYS TO VICTORY

is less than 20% of Notre Dame’s. However, if we saw one thing with Mel Tucker, it’s that Michigan State is willing to pay for a head coach. Tucker received an annual salary of $9.5 million. Notre Dame is skimpier. Of course, I don’t think Marcus Freeman would leave for the raise and I don’t think the position in a competitive Big Ten makes a lot of sense for him.

However, the idea that Notre Dame coaches - whether it be head coaches or coordinatorscan find more money elsewhere for a linear change in position isn’t new. The trend started in 2018, when current Duke head coach Mike Elko left Notre Dame (where

he was defensive coordinator) for the same job at Texas A&M. Elko left Notre Dame over a roughly $400,000 difference in salary offers. Nonetheless, Elko was impressive at Notre Dame and has continued to be in the time since.

Elko at Notre Dame

During his time at Notre Dame in 2017, Elko ran a 4-2-5 scheme with a floater/rover. The Irish averaged 1.5 turnovers per game with a strong run defense, holding opponents to 4.0 yards per carry. In his short time with the Irish, Elko helped Notre Dame sign five fourstar defensive recruits. He is one of college football’s best recruiters.

But the Elko story at Notre Dame is very similar to Marcus Freeman’s current story. Both had a goodnot great - level of success. Both were huge “gets” for the University. Neither had an existing relationship with Notre Dame. The Irish undervalued Elko, relative to the market. Freeman is currently undervalued as well.

Expectations for Freeman

The expectations for Freeman are sky-high. Every single year, he’s expected to win at least nine games. Some years, like 2023, his team’s schedule is brutally difficult. Freeman is paid around $5 million a year. Recent reports

indicate that Freeman’s salary is outside of the top 25 in the country among head coaches. Notre Dame has to be cognizant that its offerings can easily be matched elsewhere and if Freeman is the long-term guy, as all accounts indicate that he should be, further investment may be required. Notre Dame’s frugality continues to puzzle both myself and countless fans elsewhere. All we can do is hope that, unlike Mike Elko, we’ll never have to play against a brilliant Marcus Freeman.

Contact Jake Miller at jmille89@nd.edu

Keys to victory: Notre Dame vs. Duke

By JOSE SANCHEZ CORDOVA

Assistant Managing Editor

After an unforgettable game against Ohio State last Saturday, the time has come for the Irish to shift their focus to another primetime matchup, this time on the road against a surprising ranked opponent: the No. 17 Duke Blue Devils.

Duke turned heads with a 28-7 win over thenNo. 9 Clemson in week one of the college football season. It was the program’s first win against an AP Top 10 opponent since 1989. So, what can Notre Dame do to move past the Ohio State heartbreak and avoid the

Predictions

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

the Ohio State loss was Notre Dame’s struggle to extend their own drives and get the Buckeyes’ offense off the field. Third-down execution on both sides will again loom large against a talented Duke team.

The Irish should key in on containing mobile quarterback Riley Leonard after he racked up 98 rushing yards against Clemson through a combination of designed keepers and scrambles. On offense, expect a lot of carries for Audric Estime, given the Blue Devils’ stingy pass defense. Notre Dame will improve to 5-1 with a comfortable-ish win on the road. Notre Dame 31, Duke 20.

Tom Zwiller, Senior Sports Writer I can’t guarantee much, but I can guarantee that Notre Dame will always have 11

same fate as the Tigers?

Contain Riley Leonard

Quarterback Riley Leonard is by far the Blue Devils’ most dangerous player. The 6’4” junior is a bona fide NFL prospect and a huge part of his team’s early season success.

Through four games in 2023, Leonard has completed 67.7% of his passes for 778 yards and two touchdowns. He also poses a massive threat on the ground, averaging nearly eight rushing attempts per contest for 8.2 yards per carry. He has scored four rushing touchdowns.

His dual-threat ability was a huge part of the Blue Devils’ marquee win over Clemson. Leonard led his team with 98

men on the field. I can also guarantee that Duke is not going to beat themselves Saturday. Mike Elko is a great coach who has a solid, disciplined team and a good defense.

I am hesitant to say that the Blue Devils have a great defense, as they have the 92nd overall strength of schedule, so any stats about yards per game or rush are probably a little skewed. But it is a good defense, so I expect the Irish to be limited on explosive plays. Against Clemson, Duke was limited on offense with a low third-down efficiency and held to about five yards per pass attempt. But the Blue Devils were able to move the ball on the ground at 6.6 yards per rush, and I think they might be able to replicate that against Notre Dame.

Notre Dame can win, but Duke is going to be within striking distance the entire game. Notre Dame 24, Duke 21.

rushing yards and a touchdown on just eight carries against the Tigers.

Notre Dame’s defense will need to figure out a way to slow down Leonard and a potent Duke offense that has averaged 37.3 points per game in 2023.

The Irish already had success against another dualthreat quarterback in NC State’s Brennan Armstrong. They held the former ACC passing leader in check and forced three interceptions.

Graduate student linebacker Marist Liufau flew across the field against the Wolfpack, keeping Armstrong contained and recording five tackles. Look for Liufau to play a pivotal role

Evans

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

challenge. They’ve shown it all year, they’ve beat some pretty great teams, so they’ll be a good challenge for us.”

Evans emphasized that the loss only motivated the Irish to attack Duke this weekend. No one is dwelling on what happened, rather they’re looking forward toward the away matchup under the lights at Wallace Wade Stadium.

“We want to come together and show a response,” Evans said. “Obviously, it was a tough week last week, but championship teams respond. That’s the kind of mindset we’ve taken on, we had a great practice today all around. We didn’t flinch today, no one was with their head down moping around. We’re ready to go.”

Contact Madeline Ladd at mladd2@nd.edu

in Notre Dame’s game plan for Leonard this Saturday. Run the ball effectively

Duke’s secondary has been outstanding so far this season, holding opponents to less than 150 passing yards per game. Sam Hartman will need to attack that unit at some point in the game, but Notre Dame’s best chance for success is on the ground.

The Blue Devils have allowed 133 rushing yards per game while Notre Dame has averaged nearly 200 yards per game on the ground with its deep stable of running backs. These efforts are spearheaded by junior Audric Estime, who leads the country with 591 rushing yards.

Notre Dame will need to lean on its proven formula to beat the Blue Devils. Pound the ball behind their excellent offensive line to open up opportunities for explosive plays through the air.

Look for Notre Dame to switch up the running looks too. Jeremiyah Love, especially, was exceptionally effective against a big Ohio State front. The freshman averaged over seven yards per carry against the Buckeyes. Sophomore Jadarian Price also had great efficiency last Saturday but only got three carries. Look for him to get

see KEYS PAGE 8

ND VOLLEYBALL

Irish head to Raleigh after top-five loss

By TYLER REIDY

Associate Sports Editor

With a performance as crisp as the late-September breeze, No. 5 Louisville swept Notre Dame volleyball (25-12, 25-18, 2516) at Purcell Pavilion on Wednesday night. The Cardinals improved to 12-1 and 3-0 in the ACC, extending their winning streak against the Irish to five. Meanwhile, Notre Dame suffered its first home loss since last November’s meeting with Louisville, dropping to 8-3 and 2-1 in conference play.

The Irish attack appeared overmatched from the start, posting a -.115 hitting percentage against Louisville’s .250 mark. As she did in both Louisville matches last year, sophomore outside hitter Lucy Trump paced Notre Dame. The Kentucky native posted seven kills, leading the Irish in that category for the first time this season. However, Notre Dame’s marquee outside hitters, junior Sydney Palazzolo and freshman Ava Lange, struggled to a combined -.297

hitting percentage on 37 attacks.

On the other side, Louisville middle blocker Phekran Kong enjoyed an outstanding night. The tallest starter on the court racked up a career-high 12 kills along with a season-high seven blocks. Beyond Kong’s work, Louisville put forth a balanced effort with Elle Glock contributing 30 assists and eight digs. But Notre Dame’s block made its presence known, accumulating 9.5 rejections to edge the Cards’ nine.

Cardinals take off in set one domination

Defeating the fifthranked team in America is tough. It’s even tougher when you fall behind 9-0 in the first set. But that’s exactly what Notre Dame did as Kong registered a rapid three kills.

The Irish would score the following two points after Louisville’s opening streak, but a 6-2 Cardinal run made it 15-4 and forced a second Notre Dame timeout.

After the break, Irish head coach Salima Rockwell’s

team closed the gap to seven. However, as it did all night, Louisville finished the set brilliantly. Sparked by three consecutive Irish attack errors, the Cards closed on a 6-1 run to win 25-12. Kong provided Louisville’s 17th kill of the set to finish the Irish, who generated only one kill.

Irish hang tight, but Luper’s service run closes out set two

With 4.5 blocks and four Trump kills, Notre Dame improved significantly in the second set. Louisville also helped the matter with a messier overall receiving operation. Once again, the Cardinals opened the set well, constructing leads of 3-0 and 7-4. But three consecutive attack errors allowed the Irish to tie the score at seven. The set would remain close after that, with Notre Dame pulling ahead 15-13 at the media timeout.

The Irish lead held up briefly, but Louisville soon forced an 18-18 tie. Kong then recorded her seventh kill of the match,

sending Charitie Luper to the Cardinal service line. As it turned out, she would never give up the serve. Luper’s ace capped a 7-0 Louisville run, wrapping up a tight second set with a statement from the visitors.

Louisville maintains cushion throughout matchending third set

Regarding comfort level, Louisville’s third set fell precisely between its previous two. While the Cardinals never opened up a double-digit lead, they also never allowed the Irish within three points after it was 3-1. This time, Louisville jumped out to a 6-1 advantage, later extending it to 15-7.

Kills from Palazzolo and Trump would cut Notre Dame’s deficit down to four. But Louisville responded with a 3-0 run to force an Irish timeout at 20-13. After an Anna DeBeer service ace moved the Cards to match point, a Palazzolo attack error ended the night. One more time, Louisville finished with authority,

ND MEN’S GOLF

riding a 5-1 run to reach the 25th point.

Irish travel to Raleigh ahead of lengthy break

Notre Dame now prepares for another tight turnaround as a visit to NC State looms on Friday afternoon. After that match, the Irish will have played four games in an eightday stretch. Notre Dame will have a week off post-Wolfpack and will not play again at home until Oct. 13.

After posting its best 12game start in eight years, NC State fell to No. 13 Georgia Tech on Sunday. The Wolfpack, now 11-2 with a 1-1 start to conference play, defeated the Irish twice last November. One of the top serving teams in the ACC, NC State yields a pair of strong attackers in Jada Allen (.438 hitting percentage) and Ava Brizard (3.6 kills per set).

Notre Dame will face the Wolfpack at 1 p.m. on Friday in William Neal Reynolds Coliseum. ACC Network Extra will carry the match.

Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu

Irish to host annual event

By ANDREW McGUINNESS Sports Editor

For the Notre Dame men’s golf team, home is not often a place where they get to compete. The bitter cold winters of South Bend make hosting a competition during the spring season, which lasts from February to April, somewhere between unwise and unrealistic.

And unlike most other Irish sports teams, there isn’t a slate of home games filled with fans to raise team spirit.

But this weekend, the Irish won’t have to go anywhere for their third event of the fall. The Fighting Irish Classic, the annual outing Notre Dame plays at its own Warren Golf Course, will tee off this weekend.

Unsurprisingly, it’s a competition the Irish have fared well in over the years. Since 2015, the Irish have placed in the top five every year (except 2020, when no competition was held due to COVID-19).

On three occasions, Notre Dame earned at least a share of first place.

A year ago, Notre Dame placed fourth in the event, its lowest finish since coming in fifth in 2018.

Just five strokes separated the Irish from first-place Florida, with

Georgia Southern and North Carolina placing in between. Three of the five golfers who competed for the Irish last year are still around. Graduate student Palmer Jackson finished tied for 13th, breaking 70 in his final two rounds. Sophomore Nate Stevens, then competing in his first collegiate event, was one of four Irish golfers to register a second-round score of 68 or better. Senior Angelo Marcon’s final round 66 was tied for the lowest single-round score of anyone on the Irish in the tournament.

Last year, the Fighting Irish Classic was the first of five fall events for Notre Dame. This year, it’s the fourth. The Irish have finished first at Michigan State’s Folds of Honor Collegiate, eighth at Minnesota’s Gopher Invitational and 11th and Northwestern’s Windon Memorial Classic. After the Fighting Irish Classic, which takes place from Oct. 1-2, the Irish will have one event left in the fall. It’s an exciting one, though. The team will travel to iconic St. Andrew’s, former home of The Open Championship, in Fife, Scotland, from Oct. 23-25.

Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu

Tight end Mitchell Evans makes his mark

By MADELINE LADD Associate Sports Editor

Junior tight end Mitchell Evans is breaking out of the shadow that the legendary Michael Mayer has cast the past few seasons. An Ohio native and three-star recruit out of high school, Evans has become another weapon in offensive coordinator Gerad Parker’s arsenal this season. Having fully recovered from a concussion he suffered prior to the Central Michigan game, Evans exploded onto the scene last Saturday and led the receiver room with seven catches against Ohio State. One of these was a onehanded highlight reel grab, an unexpected moment for Evans in the primetime game.

“Obviously I wasn’t expecting it, because my job on that play was to get my teammate open first,” he said. “I was thinking in my head, ‘I’m at the top of my route’ and I looked and the ball was there. Sam threw it and I got my hand up there. My right hand was stuck.”

Despite the loss against the Buckeyes, Evans gained confidence in his ability to play with the best in the spotlight.

It was an expectation that

FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS

this would be a top matchup and it was time to show college football what the Notre Dame offense can do.

“We knew it was going to be a big game, top-10 matchup, top-five defense,” Evans said.

“All the guys, we were kind of like, ‘This is the time to show the world Notre Dame offense is legit.’ For me, I learned that if you put a linebacker on me I’ll win, put a safety on me, I’ll win. I learned I can go against anybody and pretty much win.”

Last year, Evans made his mark on the field as the ball carrier in the “Mitch-A-Palooza” short yardage formation which featured him bullying forward for several first downs and even one touchdown. However, he knew he needed to expand his playmaking abilities to provide mismatches on opposing defenses. Evidence of his improvement is his being flexed outside, away from the normal spot attached to the offensive line.

“That’s kind of always been there, but really been showing it this game,” Evans said. “That was one of the things I wanted to work on this offseason, route-running ability and staying low. That was one

of the games I got to show it.”

The tight end room features Evans and sophomore Holden Staes, a duo that will be a threat to any team. Peak performance is needed from both this Saturday, as junior wide receivers Deion Colzie (out) and Jayden Thomas (questionable) are banged up. Evans is confident the tight ends can pick up the slack.

“Our room is ready, we are healthy,” Evans said. “Every guy in the room can be split out wide, I’d say, so I wouldn’t say it puts more pressure on it because the guys in our room can handle it. Even guys in the receiver room, younger guys like [freshmen] Rico [Flores Jr.] and JG [Jaden Greathouse] have shown they can take on that extra load.”

As for Duke this weekend, Evans acknowledged the Blue Devils as a worthy opponent.

“Schematically, they’re good. Stats-wise, they produce a lot of turnovers and are pretty stout up front,” Evans said. “Backers are pretty good and the safeties and the corners are pretty speedy. They’re a good defense — should be a good

see EVANS PAGE 10

The Observer predicts Notre Dame vs. Duke

By Observer Sports Staff

José Sánchez Córdova, Assistant Managing Editor

Most Irish fans are still reeling from Ohio State, but Freeman and the staff need to have the players ready to go after a tough home loss. Duke is a quality opponent and Notre Dame has to go on the road to Durham. I expect another stressful game for Irish fans against a Duke team that has surprised many in 2023. The Irish defense will force quarterback Riley Leonard to stand in the pocket and beat them through the air, forcing mistakes and creating opportunities. Duke’s defense poses a difficult challenge for Sam Hartman and the offense, but I think they will do just enough, especially on the ground, to beat the Blue Devils. Look for the Irish to bounce back in Durham and get their season back on track. Notre Dame 30, Duke 23.

Andrew McGuinness, Sports Editor

Marcus Freeman has had some ups and definitely some downs in his first year and a half. So far, when the Irish have had their backs against the wall, Notre Dame has found a way. Duke will present a tough challenge, especially with its secondary, as the Blue Devils allow the third-fewest passing yards per game in the nation.

Expect a game somewhat similar to Ohio State, with the deep balls the Irish offense was known for in the first four weeks likely not very prevalent again. But expect a big bounceback game from junior running back Audric Estime to lead the way. Unlike last year’s letdown games, the Irish won’t need a repeat offense to learn from their mistakes. Notre Dame 24, Duke 17.

J.J. Post, Associate Sports Editor

I

Irish fans are hoping for. Duke is a well-marshaled unit, and Notre Dame might be working with a dangerously thin receiver group.

Ultimately, though, I expect the Irish to prevail with a big day from Audric Estime. The Blue Devil defense is no joke, but if Notre Dame’s own defense can keep getting stops, the Irish will eventually grind Mike Elko and Co. down. I think this matchup will be similar to Notre Dame’s trip to NC State, a game that didn’t truly see separation until the fourth quarter. Notre Dame 27, Duke 17.

Emily DeFazio, Associate Sports Editor

I don’t think I will ever recover from that final second against Ohio State, nor forget what it was like to watch the stadium go from elation to shock in milliseconds.

That being said, the Fighting Irish will certainly have to this weekend against No. 17 Duke. The team already

seems to have the “one-week season” mentality in place heading to Durham.

Given last weekend, expect the team to come back more determined than ever to erase the ten-man debacle from recent memory. They might be coming off a loss, but they are also coming off a fight to the death against the then-No. 6 team in the country, and they intend to remind everyone of that. Expect another back-andforth match with a heavier emphasis on Estime and the run game that will result in a definitive Irish victory. Notre Dame 28, Duke 21.

Madeline Ladd, Associate

Sports Editor

Despite the soul-crushing final few seconds against Ohio State, it’s time for the Irish to move on. They can’t let Ohio State beat them twice. Last year, the Irish had challenges coming off highenergy games such as the one against the Buckeyes, which resulted in the infamous loss

to Marshall.

This week, the Irish take on No. 17 Duke, a team that has seen its best performance in years and is a contender for the ACC title. With a mobile quarterback in Riley Leonard and a strong defense looking to force turnovers, the Blue Devils were able to upset Clemson and steamroll their lesser opponents. That said, they are good but very beatable. Against Ohio State, the Irish showed they are one of the top teams in the country. If they can stay out of their own heads and limit turnovers, they will bounce back with a vengeance this weekend. Notre Dame 35, Duke 17.

Matthew Crow, Associate Sports Editor

Notre Dame fans may not yet have recovered from last weekend, but the Irish players should be highly motivated to return to the win column. A major factor in

MARY VOTAVA | The Observer Irish junior tight end Mitchell Evans dives to lay a block during Notre Dame’s 17-14 defeat to Ohio State at Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 23.

MITCHELL EVANS FEATURE