Print Edition for The Observer for Friday, February 21, 2
Day of Man initiative raises funds
Siegfried Hall hosted their annual Day of Man fundraiser for South Bend Center for the Homeless
By MARIA CLARA LOPES CORONA News Writer
oFor nearly two decades, Siegfried Hall residents have participated in the Day of Man, an annual event aimed at raising awareness and funds for the South Bend Center for the Homeless. By braving the winter cold in minimal clothing, participants highlight the challenges faced by the homeless community while collecting donations to support essential services such as food, clothing and shelter.
This year’s event surpassed last year’s total of $32,000, with $34,000 raised by Wednesday and hopes of reaching $38,000 before the donation period ends
on Feb. 26.
“For two decades, we’ve been chugging along, going outside, walking to class in the cold — you’ve seen our shirts, we rip our sleeves off. We don’t even wear shoes for class,” junior Kevin Sadler, one of the event organizers, said.
The tradition traces back to a former Siegfried Hall student who once rushed to class in winter without a jacket, sparking a realization about the harsh conditions faced by those experiencing homelessness. This moment led to the creation of Day of Man as a way to briefly simulate the physical hardship endured by the homeless in South Bend.
Sophomore Charlie Griffin, Siegfried’s senator, explained the event’s purpose.
“The phrase we always use is ‘freezin’ for a reason.’ We want to stand in solidarity and experience the winter conditions to show our support. For many people, there’s no option to go inside or add another layer,” Griffin said.
Participants collect donations throughout the day with red cups and signs, often standing outside dining halls and academic buildings. Siegfried Hall residents also engage in regular volunteer work at the South Bend Center for the Homeless.
“We make a great effort every year to impact the community outside of Notre Dame,” Siegfried Hall president Khalif Cissé said. “We are very privileged to have
SMC opens sales for formal tickets and merch Arts and Letters hosts lecture
By SOLEDAD CASTELLANOS Staff Writer
On Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m., the Residence Hall Association (RHA) of Saint Mary’s College held its first initial sale for the 2025 formal dance for merchandise and tickets. Premiering their first ever online ticket sale, students lined up in the Student Center commons for a chance to snag a baby pink sweater and scan the ticket QR code.
Further adding to the excitement was the second floor pop-up that displayed light up signage, sweet treats and a backdrop with a hint as to what this year’s theme would be. The design read, “Smicks are a Girl’s Best Friend,” a nod to the aesthetic of old Hollywood film.
Organizing the event were RHA president junior Bella Perry, co-chairs junior Mia Therapos, sophomore Kayla Pleiness and freshman Kirra Halfman.
SOLEDAD CASTELLANOS | The Observer
The themed banner was uncovered during the 2025 Residence Hall Association formal reveal on the second floor of the Student Center.
Halfman explained the approaches that the association wanted to take with this year’s planning.
From picking a theme to decorations and information roll out, the group had to plan considerably ahead for the event on March 29.
“[Therapos and I] came up with a theme in September, and ever since then, we’ve been planning decorations and all that stuff,” Pleiness said.
Therapos emphasized her excitement for planning the formal and the ideas she has to offer.
“As a junior, I’ve had two formals before, and I’ve always been interested in the process of planning and getting everything together,” Therapos said. “I’ve taken notes on what they’ve done in previous years, and now we are also
By MARIA CLARA LOPES CORONA News Writer
During his Wednesday lecture, Harvey Young, dean of the College of Fine Arts at Boston University, dissected the intersection of racial justice, public perception and political movements, offering an analysis of recent resistance to an American commitment to
anti-racism.
The lecture, hosted by Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters and titled “How AntiRacism Lost the Popular Vote: Race, Performance & the Idea of America,” provided a historical and cultural examination of resilience and the evolving landscape of activism.
Students assist people with taxes
By SAMANTHA GEBERT Staff Writer
For 53 years, Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame accounting students have been helping other students and local community members with their taxes to gain real-life client experience.
According to Colleen Creighton, director of
undergraduate studies in the accountancy department and assistant department chair of the Mendoza College of Business, “Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s have the second longest continuous VITA program with the IRS.” VITA is a volunteer income tax assistance program.
Courtesy of Braeden Smith
Residents of Siegfried Hall pose outside thier dorm at the end of their annual Day of Man homeless fundraiser event on Feb. 5.
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Men’s tennis faces Wisconsin.
Cosmic Bowling Strikes and Spares
8 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Free bowling and transportation provided.
Saturday
Notre Dame vs. Pitt Purcell Pavilion
2:15 p.m.
Notre Dame men’s basketball takes on Pitt.
American Psycho
Debartolo Performing Arts Center
9:30 p.m. - 11:15 p.m.
Get tickets to watch this film.
Sunday
BP Beat Biking
Smith Center for Recreational Sports
2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Breen-Phillips Hall hosts mingling event.
Heart on Fire
DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
2:30 p.m.
Library hosts workshops with robot pets
By BERHAN HAGEZOM News writer
Since September 2024, the Cushwa-Leighton Library at Saint Mary’s College has been providing a new initiative for students to adjust to the library’s resources and understand the technology that it has, including through a workshop that includes robot pets.
Susan Wiegand, the scholarly communications librarian, has been the principal individual who has applied and facilitated the initiative for students to consider the ethics of having surrogate pets.
“We wanted to bring more students into the library earlier in their academic careers, and I was trying to think of a way that would be fun in bringing people into the library. So, I came up with this idea of robot pet companions from articles that I had read … It’s a way of getting people
Taxes
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WThe program operates at multiple locations with different teams of students working at different locations. On Thursdays and Saturdays, they work at the St. Joseph County Public Library, and on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., they set up at Saint Mary’s College in Spes Unica Hall. The program assists Indiana residents and is open to families with an income below $67,000 and $34,000 for single individuals.
Creighton said the program started with retired accounting professor, who established it during his first year at Notre Dame. Currently, Creighton and professor Jeff
Formal
trying to put our own spin on it and come up with our own ideas. We are having some more surprises this year, because we want to make it more exciting than previous years.”
Together, Therapos and Halfman worked with Perry to create a more efficient way of processing and purchasing tickets to combat the commotion of long lines in cold weather as seen in previous years.
“Any Saint Mary’s students in the past have probably waited in line for formal tickets, and it’s very arduous, and we wanted to make it more accessible and a stress-free process for
to come in and discuss the new kinds of things that you can do with technology that would still be human centered,” Wiegand said.
This workshop is part of the “You Belong in the Library” grant from the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) for students to feel more adjusted and be less hesitant about materials and programs that the library offers.
“It’s all related to this program, which really is focusing on making sure students are comfortable using the library, especially students who might not have started off feeling comfortable about [it] … So the theme is that you belong here. We just want to make sure that everybody understands that it’s a very welcoming environment,” library director Joe Thomas said.
Wiegand explained more about what the library plans to do throughout the duration of this grant, including
McGowan, a senior lecturer for accounting and tax, work together to keep the program going. McGowan runs the Saint Mary’s site on Wednesday evenings.
The program allows students to earn course credits by preparing tax returns for low-income individuals and families. Students take a class for three and a half weeks and then help the community prepare for their tax returns due April 15.
“It’s a win-win for everyone. It’s a win for the community because they get free tax preparation services … for the students, they get real, life client experience,” Creighton said.
Junior George Henken expressed that he took the class for the hands-on experience it provides.
everyone involved, including the RHA members working it,” Perry said. “Additionally, we’ve brought back merch sales this year for formal and just kind of making it more like an event, because it’s the only formal that Saint Mary’s has.”
The new addition of online ticket sales has seen some backlash, as some students who were unable to enter their request for purchase saw a message pop-up that said “A max capacity has been reached. A pause has been put on sales.”
When asked about the complications, Therapos said, “We expected some challenges, because with technology comes challenges, and this is our first time
increasing more diverse art.
“It goes until summer of 2025, so we still have the semester to go, but the first work stream is to bring more diverse art into the library, so that people feel more welcome and represented … I thought why don’t we have more women in the library? Why don’t we have women scholars, women scientists, women lawyers, judges and astronauts … that we could be using to put around the library and make people feel more at home,” Wiegand stated.
The project also aims to explore the psychological effects robot pets can have on humans, and if they are effective.
“It’s both a way to attract people in because it’s kind of this unique and fun thing, but it’s also the it’s gives students a chance to participate in the actual study of how these sort of surrogate pets work with people in a psychological way. Is it good
“In doing our service, we are able to take a hands-on approach to learning about filing tax returns and the many aspects that process entails,” Henken said.
Junior Jake Norton agreed, who said, “I took this class because I wanted to actually learn how to file taxes in the real world rather than just study taxes in the classroom.”
Sophomore Ava Stojkovich explained the value of this hands-on experience, “This hands-on experience is invaluable because it goes beyond just learning the information. It gives real-world exposure to tax preparation, improves problem-solving skills and allows for direct interaction with clients.”
Creighton said this experience helps students recognize need in their own
doing this, so we didn’t really know what to expect.”
Halfman ensures students can count on RHA to “do the right thing,” as plans are put in place for the exceeding ticket sales.
“We’ve really looked at it from all the angles, and we’re like, ‘How can we make this right? How can we benefit everyone?’”
Halfman said. “We’re gonna take all the resources that we can get to make sure that everyone gets a ticket and is able to [have] fun, because that’s what they deserve.”
Tickets will be sold until Feb. 26, with the dance being held on March 29 at the Gillespie Conference Center.
Contact Soledad Castellanos at scastellanos@saintmarys.edu
for them? Does it help them feel more comfortable in certain settings,” Thomas said.
Being able to interact with the robots and workshops itself are part of the experience for students to feel more accommodated in the library and further understand how to interpret scholarly works while creating their own research. Student peer mentors assist students throughout the workshop for hands-on activities.
“What I’m trying to do is make it more student centered, so that I have peer mentor students that I am hiring and they are the ones who actually interact with the students. They’re bringing the robots over to the student center and working with students in the workshops, because I want students to be leading this and talking to each other and saying, ‘this is the advantage working, coming to the library and getting your resources,’” Wiegand said.
community.
“When you see people who are cobbling together a living with, you know five or six different W2’s and you know, they’re still not making anywhere near the cost of our tuition, it can be very eye opening for our students,” Creighton said.
Stojkovich shared that she has gained a greater understanding of the specific challenges that lower income families face.
“It’s a humbling experience. Many people I’ve helped are hardworking individuals who simply don’t have the resources to hire a tax professional,” Stojkovich said. “Being able to assist them, even in a small way, feels incredibly fulfilling.”
Stojkovich added that the most rewarding aspect of the
Man
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warmth and food whenever we need it, and we should push to improve conditions outside our immediate community.”
The initiative is not without challenges. With temperatures often dropping below freezing, some participants report getting sick after spending extended hours outside. Still, many see it as a necessary sacrifice.
“Day of Man helps us recognize the things we take for granted,” Griffin said. “Even when you’re inside, you still feel the cold. For many, there’s no option to escape it.”
The funds raised provide immediate necessities while also contributing to long-term support programs at the Center for the Homeless, including
As of Nov. 1, 2024, the academic repository has been added as a third stream of the grant for interested students to have their scholarly works be saved and inputted to, along with having a pathway towards getting their works published.
Jill Hobgood, the reference and rare books librarian, hopes that students are able to come into the library and explore more of the |programming and collections that the library offers to students.
“I hope that they will see the library as a welcoming place where there are people who can help them with the research or even their interests, regardless of what that might be. There’s a librarian here for you and we cover a lot of ground, not just traditional books,” Hobgood said.
Contact Berhan Hagezom at bhagezom01@saintmarys.edu
class is making a difference in the “small details.”
“Many people miss out on credits and deductions just because they don’t know about them,” Stojikovich said. “It’s also been rewarding to help fellow community members do their taxes when they don’t know how.”
Norton expressed the importance of helping people with their taxes.
“We can make a difference in our community just by helping with a small thing like taxes,” Norton said. “It’s important to help people with their taxes because everyone needs to file their taxes every year and our services are completely free.”
Contact Samantha Gebert at sgebert01@saintmarys.edu
educational and childcare services. Sadler emphasized the importance of human connection.
“Sometimes one of the best things you can do for people is just acknowledge them — smile, shake their hand, ask how their day is going. Making them feel valued is just as important as providing material support,” Sadler said.
Organizers encourage the Notre Dame community to continue their involvement beyond the event, whether through donations or volunteering.
“Winter is tough for everyone, but some experience it more harshly than others,” Griffin said. “It’s important to recognize what we have and think about ways we can help.”
Contact Maria Clara Lopes Corona at mcorona@nd.edu
New club at SMC provides AAPI representation
By MADYSON CASIANO News Writer
Across the nation, there are thousands of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) clubs, intending to prioritize inclusivity and diversity at the forefront of student life. This year, Saint Mary’s College added its own student-driven AAPI club.
Last year, junior Avery Lazaro, founder and AAPI president, served as secretary of the Student Diversity Board (SDB). While serving, Lazaro realized Saint Mary’s doesn’t offer an AAPI club and felt students of Asian American and Pacific Islander descent “were so underrepresented, there was nothing for us.”
When applying to SDB, Lazaro made it her mission to increase awareness of the gap in AAPI inclusion. She later learned there used to be a club similar to AAPI prior to her attendance at the College.
“They had their version of an AAPI club, but by the time that I was a freshman, it wasn’t even on Belle Tower. Like, it has not existed for probably well over a decade,” Lazaro said.
In starting the club, “I think it’s just a matter of celebrating
Lecture
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Young began by acknowledging the optimism that followed the widespread racial justice movements of 2020, triggered by the death of George Floyd.
“The petitions and calls for change reached most organizations and institutions,” Young said, referring to the post-2020 activism surge.
Nevertheless, he noted, a few years later, those very commitments have been met with strong opposition, legal challenges and policy reversals.
At the heart of Young’s lecture was a close examination of the word resilience.
“Resilience, the word that I’m partial to because, like race, it can be contested, but unlike race, it is incredibly difficult to deny,” he said, suggesting that the term is central to America’s self conception.
Resilience, Young argued, is a coiled spring: able to absorb extreme pressure without breaking and harnessing said pressure to surge forwards with momentum.
He applied this understanding of resilience to a reading of progress and resistance in American history, suggesting that while the racial justice movements of 2020 sought to bring about substantive change, the backlash that followed — manifested in political rhetoric, legal action against DEI initiatives, and the resurgence of nationalist narratives — illustrates the cyclical nature of progress and therefore necessity of
diversity and raising awareness,”
Lucy Vung Nu, sophomore and AAPI vice president, said.
Regarding the importance of bringing an AAPI club to Saint Mary’s College, Vung Nu touched on the underrepresentation of the AAPI community.
“If we look at the demographics, specifically the Asian community, [it’s] not [large],” Vung Nu said. “I think it’s just really important to kind of empower the women here who really do want to learn more about their culture, or even just learn about other cultures.”
Lazaro reflected on her history with her culture and the impact of her AAPI club in high school.
“In high school, we started our own AAPI club, and we did have a large Filipino group at our school. So that made it super fun, because it’s like, ‘Okay, I’m just there with my friends,’” Lazaro said.
Prior to high school, Lazaro’s immersion in her Filipino heritage felt limited and distanced.
“I guess, personally, I’m not very immersed in Filipino culture, just because when my grandparents immigrated here, they wanted their kids to just focus on living the American
resilience.
“We are seeing a race to unwind some of the initiatives and pledges that were made previously,” he said, furthering his suggestion of this cyclical nature of progress by acknowledging a recent pushback against DEI commitments.
“[Resilience is seen in] the complicated and messy history of race and resiliency of these movements and with calling for change and tradition at the same time. It’s that tension, it’s that binary, it’s that stress. It’s the recoiling, the pullback and straight forward, it’s that dynamic that makes this country,” Young said.
Young connected the origins of anti-racism discourse and its framing in contemporary political debates to an increasing hostility towards DEI programs. He highlighted the shift from institutional declarations of solidarity to the recent wave of censorship and exclusion related policies, such as book bans, affirmative action rollbacks and racial discourse in public education.
Young then moved to speak on the performative aspect of political discourse. As a scholar of performance studies, he has explored how narratives of American greatness, for instance the M.A.G.A movement, have historically masked exclusionary policies and systemic discrimination. The image of America, he suggested, is constructed through selective storytelling — a carefully curated performance that often obscures uncomfortable truths. He also addressed the
lifestyle and didn’t even teach them Tagalog or anything, just so that they could focus on English,” Lazaro said.
Lazaro’s involvement in her high school AAPI club allowed her to be further immersed in her heritage.
“It’s just kind of nice to be able to touch on those roots,” Lazaro said. “And I guess it gave me that sense of community.”
Once Lazaro graduated high school and came to Saint Mary’s, the environment proved noticeably different, especially as a student of a mixed background.
“Coming here, when I didn’t have that [community] at all, it was kind of intimidating ... It just felt like I needed something more.”
That “something more” for Lazaro would be trying what she did in high school, starting an AAPI club at Saint Mary’s.
“I felt like by establishing an AAPI club, it was able to help me bring that [community] in more and give other students more opportunity as well,” Lazaro said.
Vung Nu referenced the impact AAPI has had on students within the community. She relayed the experience she had while being involved in the Asian American
generational divide in activism and resistance, noting that while younger populations have been at the forefront of anti-racist advocacy, institutional and political structures have not evolved at the same pace. He cautioned against the risk of ideological rigidity, accentuating the importance of dialogue and coalitionbuilding in sustaining momentum for social change.
Additionally, Young explored the role of universities and cultural institutions in shaping conversations regarding race and identity. He argued that while many academic institutions have taken steps towards greater inclusivity, there remains a significant gap between commitment and action.
The concept of safety also emerged as a central concern in Young’s lecture. He maintained that discussions on safety have become conflated and confused with personal
Association’s showcase at Notre Dame. Vung Nu had encouraged many Saint Mary’s students to participate.
“I think we created a cute little community there too,” Vung Nu said. “I could tell there was a complete difference from day one to when we were getting ready to perform. They felt very comfortable with each other.”
Vung Nu attributed this sense of community to the shared identity many Saint Mary’s participants enjoyed.
“It was just comforting having each other’s presence, because we share this identity of not only being a smick, but also being an Asian American here. And just all of this, [with] the identities that we shared, we really, I think, found community.” Vung Nu said.
The impact of the club has spread beyond club leadership to the student body more broadly.
Freshman Hannah Walsh is a member of the AAPI club. In an email, Walsh noted the impact the club had on her readiness for college.
“I initially followed the club’s Instagram a year ago when I was still a prospective student. Knowing that this opportunity
agreement, particularly in academic spaces.
“As educators, one of our responsibilities is to introduce our community to a range of ideas and to give them access to contrasting perspectives and points of view. How are we to understand this obligation if a student’s conception of unsafe more closely resembles what we might describe as disagreement?”
Young questioned.
The erosion of open discourse, he argued, has been exacerbated by the broader political climate where “everyone is painfully aware of the all-out assault by the executive branch on DEI, critical race theory, woke-ness and practically any critical practice that challenges the myth of meritocracy.”
By reinforcing the importance of engaging with difficult conversations, Young shared that a commitment to resilience may also include a
was available to me encouraged me to make my membership official once I stepped foot on campus,” Walsh said.
Walsh further shared her opinion of the club and her hope for its future.
“I think [the] AAPI club has created a greater community for Asian American and Pacific Islander students at Saint Mary’s. I think collaboration with the other clubs on campus such as SDB and clubs in the tri-campus community such as the Asian American Association (AAA) at Notre Dame is just what this club needs,” Walsh said.
Freshman Jinely PinedaMartinez also felt impacted by the club.
“As someone who wasn’t as close or in tune with their Asian side, coming to Saint Mary’s and being a part of a community and being seen and learning more about their Asian heritage, it’s been nice being able to see events [by AAPI]” PinedaMartinez said. “In a way, they make me feel seen and a part of something I thought would be a lost part of me.”
Contact Madyson Casiano at mcasiano01@saintmarys.edu
willingness to confront discomfort head on.
Young concluded the lecture by asking, ”how does the fight for racial justice continue in a climate where the language of anti-racism itself is under siege?” Young’s response to this question stressed the necessity of resilience — not merely in weathering setbacks, but in strategically adapting to new challenges. He urged the audience to recognize that while the progress may be met with resistance, the arc of history is shaped by those who persist in the pursuit of justice.
Through efforts to engage with history, embrace discomfort and foster informed dialogue, he suggested, the pursuit of a more just society remains both necessary and achievable.
Contact Maria Clara Lopes Corona at mcorona@nd.edu
Richard Taylor
Just Glad To Be Here
I usually struggle to answer the ‘favorite’ questions — “What’s your favorite book? What’s your favorite movie? What’s your favorite food?” I never understood why, but I think I see now.
To have a favorite is to claim something as yours, to be willing to defend it from criticism, to pick something and say, “Ah … this. This is it.” Maybe the reason I don’t pick favorites is that I’m afraid of saying, “It doesn’t get better than this.” I wonder instead, “What if it could get better, though?” I’m afraid of settling for less. When I enjoy something, I tend not to take my experience for what it is but to take it as an indicator, a sign, for greater joy.
I am like a tourist in a hotel room with a beautiful view of the ocean: I enjoy the view, but I don’t just want to keep looking — I want to go out on the beach! I am like someone watching a wonderful sunset through smudged glasses: I am in awe but, not content with the blur, I wipe off my glasses. I am like an archaeologist who has just discovered an ancient coin: I cry ‘Eureka!’ and rub the dirt off my coin, but then I quickly get back to excavating, for there may be an underground palace nearby.
I recently asked some friends, “Have you ever experienced perfect bliss?” I was shocked when many of them replied, “Yes, of course — have you not?”
They told of legendary nights with friends, of storybook study abroad experiences, of those timestopping deep conversations. They insisted that I must have felt that same bliss, too. We all do sometimes, right? But I was, and still am, hung up on the word ‘perfect.’
Picking favorites
Perfect happiness, in my vocabulary, in my experience, sets an inconceivably high bar. There have been times when I have thought, “I didn’t know I could be this happy,” or, “I didn’t know nature could be this beautiful,” or, “I didn’t know an idea could be this true” or, “I didn’t know I could be this good or love this much!” And while for a short time I may be content or at peace or joyful or in awe, even then I feel my heart leaping for more of the new world I just discovered.
I am like one who has awakened from a deep sleep — experiencing reality more richly than I dreamed. I eagerly jump out of bed into real life. You may call me melancholic for discounting my experiences of true joy, but I consider myself alive with hope for a higher life — one I can hardly begin to imagine. Mine is a restless heart, and I should rest in my true restlessness, not rest in a false rest.
I am coming to see, however, that there is something good about having favorites, about collecting trinkets of joy from life, about learning to love more deeply this world. The apostle John writes, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20).
Perhaps we may adopt this verse and say, “Whoever does not love this world in which he lives cannot love Heaven in which he longs to live.” How often do I look but do not see, hear but do not listen, take note but do not understand! How often do routines and complacency and ingratitude blind me from the treasures of this world and keep me from a higher life even now!
“This is an interesting planet,” writes Marilynne Robinson, “It deserves all the attention you can give it.”
Fr. John Dunne, formerly a Theology professor here at Notre Dame, had the interesting idea that matter is a dimension. One end of the matter axis is what we see in routine and complacency and ingratitude — just plain stuff. The other end of the matter axis, which stretches out to infinity, is Christ, the Living Word made incarnate, through whom all things are made.
This depth that is the axis of matter (which, if you will allow me some liberty, is also the axis of particular things, places, events, and people), at rare but distinct moments, “flame[s] out, like shining from shook foil,” or “gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil,” as Gerard Manley Hopkins says — for this depth is, again, nothing but Christ, “for Christ plays in ten thousand places.” It is in these rare but distinct moments when we feel a semblance of perfect bliss or perfect peace or perfect beauty or perfect love or perfect truth.
It is when something or someone “flames out” or “gathers to a greatness” that we choose favorites and say, “Ah … this. This is it.” Indeed, it is it, because it is Christ, and Christ is it. But it is not perfectly it — for that we await with hope Heaven and our resurrections.
I think it is time for me to plunge myself into the dimension of matter and particularity, in hopes of finding Christ at the bottom. It is time for me to start picking favorites.
Richard Taylor is a junior from St. Louis living in Keenan Hall. He studies physics and theology. He encourages all readers to send reactions, reflections or refutations to rtaylo23@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Can Notre Dame students read?
college kids to “get by without doing all of their assigned work.”
For me, and all my fellow readers around campus, this January meant not only the beginning of another semester, but the beginning of a brand new reading year. Reading as a hobby has undeniably become more and more popular among Gen Z.
The rise in reading as a trend on TikTok (“BookTok”), Instagram (“Bookstagram”) and even YouTube (naturally, “BookTube”) has seen its viral books break sales records, dominate bestseller lists, and according to some experts, even saved bookselling chains such as Barnes and Noble, who opened 60 new stores last year after closing over 150 before the pandemic.
But despite the clear evidence that young people are reading, or at least engaging with books, recent rhetoric in some academic circles has implied that college students are less able to read than ever before. A widely circulated article, provocatively titled “The elite college students who can’t read books,” was published in The Atlantic last October. The article, written by Rose Horowitch, a recent Yale graduate, controversially argued that students at elite universities like Columbia and UC Berkeley (and presumably Notre Dame) were assigned less reading because they are incapable of focusing long enough to complete or understand entire novels.
Horowitch blames all of the usual suspects for Gen Z’s lack of willingness to engage in long-form text: technology (especially TikTok), the public school system (where “excerpts have replaced books across grade levels”) and even grade inflation that allows
Horowitch also points to another horrifying finding in her article. Rather than undying classics such as “Wuthering Heights,” college students are naming young-adult books like “Percy Jackson” (horrifying) as their favorite novels.
As I expect most Notre Dame students will tell you, we are hardly skating through college, blowing off our work and benefitting endlessly from grade inflation. While your average engineering major may not be reading “The Iliad” cover to cover, most of us feel pretty adequately assigned in the reading department — if the measly fifty or so pages per class that most of my fellow Arts and Letters students read isn’t enough, I’m not sure what is.
It is true that TikTok can be a distraction from our homework and dedicated reading time, just as it can be a distraction to any average adult from any average task. I will assume it is also true that Notre Dame students, like most college students, have a lot of extracurricular and work commitments that take up time that might have otherwise been devoted to the American literary canon. But part of the reason that students are less inclined to read in their free time is the demonization, including by authors such as Horowitch, of genre fiction and “non-literary” works.
As Barnes and Noble, the New York Times bestseller list and the publishing industry have certainly found out with the rise of “BookTok,” the dying business of print books was not saved by maintaining a superiority complex about what kind of books count as “real reading” and what kinds don’t. Newsflash: people are reading. The top-selling genres include
romance, fantasy, young-adult, memoir and true crime, among others. Notably absent from this list are Greek epic poetry and Elizabethan British theater.
While I have no doubt that there is benefit in reading the classics, and a class whose syllabus includes classic novels could be both educational and entertaining, there is also value in books read just for fun. My favorite authors, from Emily Henry to Alex Michaelides to Rachel Gillig, range genres.
For the average Notre Dame student, who likely reads so much for classes they feel overwhelmed by the thought of picking up a book in their spare time, I encourage you to try reading a “silly” book from your FYP this summer if you’re interested in reading as a hobby.
I have read and enjoyed many classics, but I have also found many dry and genuinely hard to finish. The pain of forcing myself through countless pages of a Shakespeare play (no offense Shakespeare lovers) or history textbooks has understandably turned me off of reading in the past, in a way that many students can likely relate to. Just remember, all reading is reading. If Hemingway and Austen don’t speak to you, listen to a science fiction audiobook, pick up a true crime paperback or try the romance that your favorite TV show was based on.
You could discover a buried ability to read after all.
Sophia Anderson is a sophomore transfer at Notre Dame studying political science and planning to go to law school. You can contact her at sander38@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Sophia Anderson Transfer Tales
Jonah Tran Amate et Odite Deo
FOMO is stupid: here’s why
The most dangerous disease facing young people ages 18-22, aside from COVID-19, alcoholism and seed oil consumption, is FOMO, or fear of missing out.
FOMO is commonly regarded as an uncontrollable, external influence, something that suddenly strikes you against your will, forcing you into a bout of fear on account of your not having the same experience as someone else. Many times, I have heard someone remark that they have “really bad FOMO,” as if it were a chronic disease. Many times, I have seen someone do something against their good judgment because of FOMO. Almost always, these instances arise in the context of going to the bars or club.
In a combination of analysis and hypotheticals, I will systematically explain why FOMO is stupid. This article is intended for those who suffer from such a disease, and though I cannot offer financial compensation, I can offer my unsolicited opinion.
Firstly, it is necessary to break FOMO down into its core components. It must be repeated that FOMO almost always occurs because of a missed social opportunity, one that often includes drinking alcohol. The contrast between the missed social opportunity — drinking with friends — and the current situation probably doing homework alone — is striking. It is unknown if the catalyst for FOMO is the drinking aspect, or the spending time with friends or both.
If one were to have FOMO without there being a
social component, that is, the prospect of drinking alone, I would direct you to St. Liam’s Hall for counseling. If FOMO were to occur from just not being in contact with friends in conversation, then this seems a bit more plausible but still unusual. It would seem like the social aspect, with the inclusion of friends, makes FOMO all the more present and powerful.
I can acquit the desire to spend time with friends. That is a good and necessary thing. However, I wish to examine the social setting in which you want to spend time with friends.
It is known that the event or setting that often causes FOMO is drinking. What are other occasions that could cause FOMO? Volunteering at a soup kitchen? No. Going to your dorm’s boring town hall meeting? Doubt it, unless there are free Insomnia cookies. Going to Sunday Mass? Maybe, but probably not.
What we are left with is this desire to go drinking with friends, of course. It is admittedly mysterious how such an activity and setting can so easily cause mental disturbance and drive someone from their study desk? I concede that studying alone is not the most glamorous activity, nor is it an activity enjoyed by the masses, but I do offer a theory for why FOMO exists in this way.
It is probable that FOMO exists because we have a poor relationship with both the hypothetical current activity — doing school work — and the missed opportunity — drinking. We place both activities at the extremes, where we abhor spending time studying in silence and solitude, and adore drinking.
This creates an intense conflict in one’s mind, leading them to say nonsensical phrases like “Part of me wants to do X, but the other wants to do Y.”
FOMO is a marked sign of lack of conviction. Ideally, a person would invariably prefer to study during the week rather than drink and do so with the utmost resolve. However, I argue that it would be equally noble, in a way, for someone to be drinking during the week and still do so with the utmost resolve. I applaud those with strong convictions even if I disagree with their actions.
FOMO is stupid because it can easily be resolved by making a decision. FOMO is a symptom of a half-hearted decision to do one thing and another half-hearted desire to do another thing. It would be better to make a decision in a timely manner to do something, even though it leads to a suboptimal outcome, rather than compling about suffering from some mystical ghost of FOMO, and being paralyzed in your decision-making process.
Notre Dame students are prime victims for FOMO because we often live unbalanced lives, ones that try to harmonize two extremes. Our official motto is “Vita, Dulcedo, Spes,” but our unofficial motto is “Work hard, play hard.” We have FOMO because part of us wants to do one thing whereas the other part wants to do another. We are neither hot nor cold, but strikingly lukewarm. Persistently, we will continue to serve two masters, but blame FOMO as the cause for our recurring distress.
Jonah Tran is a junior at Notre Dame studying finance and classics. He prides himself on sarcasm and never surrendering. You can file complaints to Jonah by email at jtran5@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The things we share
find a common ancestor to every single animal as well.
There are very few things that we can faithfully argue that every human being that has ever lived has experienced. Throughout every history and every empire, present in every society and every isolated hermit, lived throughout countless stories and laughs, heartbreaks and sacrifices, quenched flames and boundless oceans. Let us seek them out, so we can understand what truly connects us, shall we?
Every human that has been, must have lived. Indeed, that shall be our definition of being and precisely what we are here to analyze. Still, we ought not to forget how we are henceforth delimiting the grand majority of the possibilities by using human existence as criteria. The human existence is but one of infinite modes of experiencing the world. We will never know how a tree feels, how a spider or whale reasons, what a cat sees when they peer into a mirror. We could never subjectively comprehend the inherent strings of the quantum nor the blazing stars above us.
Nevertheless, we know precisely — as imprecisely of an art as it is — what it is like to be a human. It is all we have ever known, and all we ever will.
Every human that has been, must have predecessors.
Ultimately, we all have had parents. Perhaps good ones, perhaps bad ones, perhaps unknown ones. But they were, and they were human too. We originate, a caused effect, and become members of the ledger of billions of genealogies.
The tree of human history blossoms with our blood. Trace the branches and trunk and roots for long enough, and you will find a common ancestor to every single person you have met in your life. Keep tracking on, downwards the evolutionary line, and you will
Continue the generational journey to an unknown extent, and you will find a way to link with the bacteria on your eyeballs, the roses on the road, the dirt between your toes. Connected the world is in a tale of being. And amidst it all, nescient of the forest surrounding us, lay we.
Every human that has been, must have possessed a time.
Naturally, our times — brief as they are — most rarely coincide, yet we all have one. We are temporal creatures, who rise and fall a sprouting beginning with its due end. Light comes in, illuminates surroundings, casts shadows and then departs, permitting the forever night to dominate.
Every human is a timely finite entity who witnesses the apparently eternal processes of the universe; thus we writhe, incompatible with the timely infinite. But as we twist and turn, our minds incognizant, whether terrified or enamoured by the fading colors of the sunset, we are never alone. Why, it is the most common experience of them all.
Every human that has been, must have consumed.
Energy is conserved, within and beyond us. We devour others, amassing might in our vessels. We function in an equivalent exchange, a zero-sum game: for us to be something else must not. We eat, we drink; we take from our surroundings and, as a result, we transform and return it in our own form.
Yet, as we take, we too can give. A doctor can heal the ill, a mother can nurse their child, a friend can return the smile. Creatures of kineticism, entities of energy who mold and reshape the world: it is up to us how much we will claim, and how much we will return. It is most strange, the idea of our connected existence. Despite the apparent differences in every regard, we are nevertheless a single thing. Though that
does not owe anyone any particular respect, as we are all equal, it does attribute a certain dignity. It is not a matter of expecting something from others de facto, but whatever sacred thing we have, they have too. These are the things we share. These might be the only things that matter.
Every king, every rich woman, every great poet or inventor, every murderer and every saint, every poster in LinkedIn, every parent and grandchild, every figure of authority and every victim of suicide: we all defecate, we all bleed, we all die. Likewise, we all dream, we all come from somewhere and will go elsewhere, in our due time, taking and giving what’s ours.
Thus, what are we?
I speak not of you or I as individuals, but of the human entity we belong to.
What kind of thing is it? A group. Groups are defined by the shared features of its constituents.
What features do we all share, without excluding one of our members? Biological creatures, belonging to the genus Homo. But is that the end of the story? Is there anything more, or are we merely romanticizing? Do we know of any other biological creature that romanticizes the way we do? Does it really matter? The lines of human and the rest of the universe begin to blur once we realize: none of the things listed before are uniquely human, are they?
So connected are we with all else, yet so distinct. Not so dissimilar from every individual in the human genus, we who differ so but are nevertheless one. So incongruent, so paradoxical — so human.
Carlos A. Basurto is a junior at Notre Dame studying philosophy, computer science and German. He’s president of the video game club and will convince you to join, regardless of your degree of interest. Now, with the power to channel his least insane ideas, feel free to talk about them further at cbasurto@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Carlos Basurto Eudaemonic Banter
By AJ BROOKSHIRE Scene Writer
On family road trips, music choice can be a struggle. Someone wants country, someone wants pop and someone wants 80s. The Lumineers have always been one of the few things my family can actually agree on when it comes to music. In fact, my first concert was at their “Brightside” tour a few years ago. I may also have plans to see them again this summer, but I do wonder how well this new album will translate to a concert venue.
“Automatic” is The Lumineers’ latest album, released on Valentine’s Day this year. Don’t let the release date on the day of love fool you: this is not necessarily the album I’d recommend slow dancing to with your significant other. The alternative folkrock band primarily centered around Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites is known for hits like “Ho Hey,” “Cleopatra” and “Ophelia,” but time will tell if any of their newest work will join the old hits.
“Same Old Song” is one of the fastest tracks on the album and is therefore the most likely contender to join previous bops on the radio and as a concert highlight. The instrumental employs more techno
than The Lumineers tend to use, which is one of the first signs that they are branching out from their usual brand. “Same Old Song” is the first track and the beginning of the overarching story of the album, which is seemingly about moving on from a previous unworkable relationship. It marks the first realization that nothing seems to be changing.
“Asshole” is the second song and my personal favorite from “Automatic” for its “Dead Sea” vibes. I would highly suggest listening to “Dead Sea” afterwards so you don’t end up sucked in by self deprecation. “Automatic,” the titular song, was slower than I would expect and, frankly, a bit disappointing. The storyline continues to “You’re All I Got” where there is a clear sense of holding on to something that simply does not work anymore. The trend of edgier tones and lyrics continues to be a staple of “Automatic,” but doesn’t necessarily make the album better. After all, “Plasticine” was about as interesting as real modeling clay.
The Lumineers give us a more upbeat track with “Ativan,” where the positive tone is eerily contrasted with the rest of the album and portrays the mindset of someone who isn’t fully sober. “Keys on the Table” is essentially the second half to “All I Got” where the
story finally starts to accept that the relationship in the story is unsalvageable. “Better Day” shifts towards hope, an idea that continues through the instrumental track “Sunflowers.”
The album ends with “So Long,” where severance from the past finally takes place. This song is fraught with biblical allusions, which makes me wonder if The Lumineers were inspired by a faith crisis rather than a physical relationship. This track may just end up on one of my playlists.
Overall, I would say that The Lumineers have tried to branch out of their comfort zone, but time will tell if that was a good idea. I do not personally prefer the edgier tone that “Automatic” takes, but I think after a few more listens I will become a bigger fan. Everyone should definitely give the album a whirl, whether you are new to The Lumineers or have been a fan for over a decade. Whatever you decide to do, try to take away the lesson that sometimes we all have things that we need to move on from in order to grow in our own lives. Change does not come automatically (laugh here) to us, but maybe it is best to step out and try something fresh.
Contact AJ Brookshire at abrooks8@nd.edu
By NATALIE SWIDERSKI Scene Writer
2025 has already proven itself to be the year of SZA. Fresh off of her 2024 “SOS Tour,” the 35-year-old R&B phenom has been hard at work; dominating pop culture, SZA has climbed the Billboard 200 with her album “SOS” at #2, starred in the critically acclaimed film “One of Them Days,” received Best R&B Song at the Grammys for her single “Saturn” and performed alongside Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl halftime show.
But SZA won’t stop there. To the delight of her fans, she has recently released “SOS Deluxe: LANA,” an updated double album containing all 23 songs from 2022’s “SOS,” as well as 19 new tracks.
The album is a thoughtful and dreamy reflection on what it means to be human, in love and just trying to get by. It is perfectly curated to create an atmosphere of profound longing but one resolute in independence, and while every song is memorable, a few rise to the top.
“30 for 30 (with Kendrick Lamar)”
Sampling R&B group Switch’s song “I Call Your Name,” SZA and Lamar reflect on their personal growth in relationships and the music industry,
rejecting those who do not fulfill them anymore. The song is calm and laid back, neatly intertwining Lamar’s contemplative lyrical style with SZA’s atmospheric and smooth backing beats. It’s an easygoing track that’s perfect for a night drive while leaving you with a little to think about too.
“BMF”
With an upbeat staccato backtrack and swift and bubbly lyrics, SZA interpolates Stan Getz and João Gilberto’s “The Girl from Ipanema” to express the excitement of new love. Similar to the funky blend of kickdrum and rhythm guitar of “I Feel It Coming” by the Weeknd, this song will jolt you awake like a 4 p.m. cup of coffee, though it won’t keep you up at night.
“Scorsese Baby Daddy”
This song’s strange title may leave unwitting listeners to question how distinguished film director Martin Scorsese could have such a connection to SZA. But, rest assured the question is answered, as SZA clarifies that she wants a relationship filled with all of the drama that characterizes Scorsese’s films, yet she yearns for a stable romance. This track showcases SZA’s versatile vocal style, as its frequent and sometimes abrupt changes in pitch masterfully complement the song’s overall theme.
“Open Arms (SZA)”
Perhaps the best of the new songs on the album — and my personal favorite — “Open Arms” is a vulnerable and ethereal meditation on what it means to lose yourself and change who you are for a love that won’t end well. 2022’s “SOS” also includes this song but with a feature from Travis Scott, and SZA’s choice to re-record the song by herself was a smart one, as Scott’s auto-tuned and frankly stale verses felt like an unwanted intrusion into SZA’s heartfelt reflections. Alone, the longing and desperation in SZA’s voice are more clearly palpable, and her impassioned vocals can be better appreciated as they are in a vacuum, devoid of an unnecessary and ill-fitting perspective in a song about the female experience.
Although 2025 certainly has been good to SZA already — and rightfully so — “SOS Deluxe: LANA” cements that even bigger things are in store for the singer. She has proven herself to be a force of nature in the music industry, consistently topping charts and subverting expectations, and if this album is any indication, something tells me she’s not done yet.
Notre Dame ends homestand with Pittsburgh
By NOAH CAHILL Associate Sports Editor
On Saturday, the Notre Dame men’s basketball team will host Pittsburgh to wrap up a three-game homestand.
Irish at rock bottom
The Irish hit what head coach Micah Shrewsberry described as “rock bottom” after their most lopsided loss of the season to ACC newcomer SMU. In the 24-point defeat, the Irish gave up a season-worst 97 points. The second-year head coach took responsibility in another emotional postgame presser, apologizing to those who built the program and the fans who stuck around despite his team’s struggles.
In his first season, Shrewsberry looked to build a strong defensive identity and had success in doing so, holding teams to 67.2
SMC BASKETBALL
points per game. However, his group has taken a step back on that goal this year, giving up 71.9 per game in 2024-25. Rather than hitting its stride down the stretch, Notre Dame has played some of its worst basketball in February, dropping five of its last six games, including an inexplicable loss to last-place Miami and two straight double-digit defeats.
Now sitting at 11-15 and 5-10 in the ACC, the Irish will need to find a response to guarantee a spot in the ACC Tournament, which cuts the bottom three teams in light of the conference’s expansion. As it stands, Notre Dame would make it as a 14 seed but has Boston College and NC State nipping at its heels only two games back. They will close out the three-game homestand with NCAA Tournament hopeful Pittsburgh in desperate
need of a bounce-back game.
Panthers on the bubble
The Panthers are 2-8 in their last 10 against the Irish across the past decade but won the most recent matchup 70-60 at home last season. They catch the Irish at the best possible time, looking to extend their winning streak to three. Every game down the stretch is pivotal for a Panthers team that finds itself on the outside looking in among teams in the NCAA Tournament bubble. Their hopes are hanging on by a thread as they rank sixth in the ACC in NET and have dropped eight of their last 11 games. In a major down year for the conference, sending five teams may be an ambitious expectation, leaving Pitt with work to do in their final five regular-season matchups heading into conference tournament season.
After enduring four seasons of struggles, head coach Jeff Capel has turned things around for Pitt basketball the last two seasons, going 26-14 in ACC play, reaching an NCAA Tournament in 2023 and just missing out in 2024. Looking to make it two tournament berths in three years, the Panthers have leaned on a blend of returning talent and valuable transfer additions in the offseason. The dynamic duo in the backcourt of sophomore Jaland Lowe and graduate student Ishmael Leggett has been the catalyst for the team’s success on the offensive end. The two have combined to average 32.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game this season. Florida State transfer forward Cameron Corhen and Houston transfer guard Damian Dunn have slotted in as key contributors in the
new-look starting lineup, which is rounded out by returning senior forward Zach Austin. Seven-footer Guillermo Diaz Graham has also been a welcome return to the frontcourt rotation.
Capel has put together an exciting blend of young talent in guys like Lowe with experienced veterans like Leggett who have complemented each other well all season. With several winnable games down the stretch — the upcoming contest with Notre Dame being one of them — his team will hold out hope for a late-season surge.
Tip-off for the ACC clash is set for 2:15 p.m. in Purcell Pavilion on Saturday, Feb. 22, with The CW providing the national broadcast.
Contact Noah Cahill at ncahill2@nd.edu
Belles lose winning streak after loss to Albion
By CLAIRE WATSON Sports Writer
After coming off two successful wins, the Saint Mary’s basketball team faced off against Albion but lost 69-65. Sophomore guard Kate Restovich started off the first quarter by putting in the first four points before three points from Albion brought the score within one. Senior forward Julia Schutz added on two points, but six in a row from Albion pulled it ahead 9-6. Kate Restovich added two points alongside freshman guard Kate Passinault,
who added two more to bring the Belles back ahead 109, but Albion took the ball back and recaptured the lead at 16-10. Junior guard Nicole Connolly scored the final two points of the quarter to bring the score to 16-12.
Albion opened the second quarter by putting in two points to make the score 1812, but a quick response came from Saint Mary’s as Schutz drained a 3-point shot to make the score 18-15. Albion added seven more points before a layup from Connolly and a jump shot from sophomore guard Annie Restovich
two periods.
Badgers have failed to replicate the success. They stumbled out of the gate, enjoyed a 9-4-3 stretch during the middle of the season but have since gone winless so far through the month of February.
Of late, goal-scoring has been the struggle. The Badgers have combined for just eight goals scored over their last six games and have not scored more than two in a single game over that span. Third-period scoring, in particular, has significantly dipped. Wisconsin has been outscored 16-2 in the third period over the course of its current losing streak. This comes a season after Wisconsin went undefeated (19-0-0) when leading after
“We’ve done a lot of good things defensively, at not giving up a lot, but we need to give our goaltender some support,” Hastings said this week. “Our power play has to get back to being productive. We have to score more than one or two 5-on-5 goals if we’re not scoring on the power play. We’re asking our goaltending to be close to perfect, and that’s hard to do at this time of the year.”
One player that hasn’t had trouble scoring this year for the Badgers is sophomore forward Quinn Finley. Finley’s 19 goals make up 20% of Wisconsin’s scoring this season. Graduate forward Ryland Mosley’s 14 make up another 15%. Other than that, though, Wisconsin doesn’t have another scorer
brought the score to 25-19. The Britons would go into the halftime break leading 34-26.
After halftime, Albion scored six points, but Saint Mary’s was quick to respond as Kate Restovich added four points and Schutz tallied two, bringing the score to 4032. Albion then put in three points, but Schutz added on three of her own to bring the score to 43-35. Three more points from Albion kept the Britons ahead 46-35, but two from freshman guard Ella Notaro and a free throw from Passinault brought the score
in double digits.
While Wisconsin has struggled offensively, Notre Dame’s challenge has been defensively. The Irish rank 57th of 64 teams nationally in goals against allowed, giving up 3.4 goals per game. In their last 21 games, the Irish have held their opponents to two goals or less only three times. In their nine games before that, they managed the feat eight times.
Still, Jackson insists his team is defending better. Offensive finish, on the other hand, has dried up.
“We still need to try and give up one less goal a game and try to score one more,” Jackson said. “If we’re going to win, we need to get to that magic number of three [goals scored] and keep the opponent to two or get to
to 46-38. Albion scored five more points, bringing the score to 51-38, but with four points from Schutz and three from Annie Restovich, the score was 51-45 to end the third quarter.
Starting the fourth, Kate Restovich converted a layup, Schutz notched three points and Passinault found two points to bring the Belles ahead 52-51, but Albion came back, scoring four points to move back ahead 55-52. A 3-point shot from senior guard Lauren Gumma tied the score, but six points from the Britons pulled them back ahead 61-55.
four [scored] and keep them to three. One or the other.”
With two teams struggling toward the end of the season, this weekend’s series brings an opportunity to finish the season on a strong note. The trials these teams have faced are evident, but it’s not too late to start moving in the right direction, even if it’s the last (for Wisconsin) or second-to-last (for Notre Dame) weekend of the season.
“It’s so hard to be positive when you don’t win,” Jackson said. “My whole thing right now is about making progress so when we go into the playoffs we’re playing well and giving ourselves a chance to win a playoff series to start and then go from there.”
For Wisconsin, especially, this weekend brings extra
However, four straight points from Schutz brought the score back to 61-59. Five more points from Albion put it ahead 6659, but 6 from Schutz closed the score to 66-65. Three more points from Albion ended the game, as the Britons won 69-65. Schutz led the Belles on the court as she finished with 31 points and also led with 6 rebounds. The Belles now look ahead to play Adrian on Feb. 22, starting at 1 p.m.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson01@saintmarys.edu
meaning: it’s senior weekend. And while senior weekend is often viewed as a harbinger of the end, it also offers an opportunity to look forward — an opportunity for gratitude for what’s been, an opportunity to build towards more.
“If we want to honor (our seniors) in the best way we possibly can, it’s to stay with them as long as we can,” Hastings said. “To make sure we play as deep into the season as possible, that’s the best way to honor and show that group how we feel about them.”
Notre Dame and Wisconsin will drop the puck at 8:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday inside the Kohl Center.
Contact Ryan Murphy at rmurph22@nd.edu
SUDOKU | THE MEPHAM GROUP
Happy Birthday: Refuse to take a back seat. It’s your turn to shine and strive for the happiness you deserve. Strive to turn this year into a high-energy goal, goaloriented, and entertaining way to turn your expectations into a reality. Look for a unique and timely manner to put yourself out there and win the hearts of those you want sitting at your table. Smile, and do what makes you happy. Your numbers are 5, 19, 23, 27, 35, 38, 42.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Share a special moment with someone who can bring joy or help you explore new possibilities. Refuse to let anger ruin your plans or stop you from experiencing something that can help you see the positive and potential in whatever challenges you meet. Romance and personal gain are favored.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Refuse to let uncertainty leave you bewildered when discovering what’s possible, and using the process of elimination will teach you something and help you take advantage of pending offers that can improve your life. Hiding out doesn’t help you get ahead. Wrap your head around your options and pick a path.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Deep breath in, hold, release. Say no to anyone complicating your life, and focus on what’s important. Put what you hear in context with what you want to do and try to simplify your life. Spend less, only promise what’s reasonable, and pay more attention to health, diet, and fitness.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Size up your current situation, prospects, and desires. It’s time to take a chance and explore new possibilities. You may not welcome change, but to experience what life can offer, you must step outside your comfort zone and test what’s new and exciting. Hiding out will not satisfy your soul.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Pay attention to how you look and respond to those you encounter. Promoting something you are working toward prematurely will be met with criticism and potential financial or contractual loss. One step at a time. Focus on personal growth and gain and finish what you start. Romance is favored.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Walk away from temptation or anyone trying to push you into something questionable or excessive. A well-thought-out plan is the only way to implement desirable change. Put relationships first, show concern, and be sensitive to the needs of loved ones. A commitment requires boundaries to ensure you maintain equality and understanding.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Someone who excites you will grab your attention. A new adventure will spark your imagination and encourage you to change your direction, surroundings, or pastimes. Speak from the heart, share your feelings, and consider spending more time with someone who mystifies you. A business or personal relationship looks promising.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’re in the driver’s seat; it’s up to you to refuse to stop when your attention is necessary to reach your destination. Keep tabs on how much things cost and with whom you want to share life, expenses, and long-term commitment, and move forward without hesitation. A creative project will require dedication.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Observation will pay off. Refrain from giving away your secrets. Allowing others to steal your thunder or exploit your naivety will set you back and lower your self-esteem. Pay more attention to how you look and present yourself to others. Stand tall, update your look, and wheeled positive power.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’re on the right track; focus on your goal and the people who have contributed. Forming good relationships with helpers will encourage opportunities and reliable sources, leaving you more time to create your dreams, hopes, and wishes. Give yourself a chance to rejuvenate.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Fix your surroundings, but don’t over budget. Put your handiwork to good use, and you’ll get what you want at a price you can afford. A creative idea will turn into a moneymaking endeavor. What you do for yourself will turn into something marketable. Trust your instincts.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Implement an outlet that allows you to use your body, mind, and soul in ways that are exhilarating and life-altering and have the potential to achieve the happiness you deserve. Nothing happens without effort; do your part to ensure you manifest the life you desire. Stop dreaming and start doing.
Birthday Baby: You are novel, entertaining, and intense. You are enticing and eccentric.
AND JEFF KNUREK
JUMBLE | DAVID HOYT
Irish return to Florida to face three teams
By TYLER REIDY Sports Editor
Coming off a 2-1 opening series win against North Florida, the Notre Dame baseball team heads back to the Sunshine State this weekend. The Irish will face Iowa at noon on Friday, UMBC at noon on Saturday and Stetson at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday in DeLand, Florida.
Last weekend, Notre Dame outscored North Florida 2517, winning 5-3 on Friday and 19-6 in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader before losing 8-1 in the finale. Sophomore right-hander Jack Radel made the Opening Day start and was terrific, shutting out the Ospreys on 1 hit and 1 walk across four innings with 4 strikeouts. Saturday afternoon starter Jackson Dennies impressed as well, the graduate righthander bouncing back from a rocky first inning to last four frames and strike out 3. Graduate right-hander Dylan Heine didn’t have his best stuff Saturday night, giving up 3 runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings, but he did strike out 5. Graduate right-hander Tobey McDonough and freshman right-hander Kellan Klosterman starred out of the bullpen, with McDonough collecting a 5-out save on Friday and Klosterman striking out the side in a perfect seventh in his collegiate debut on Saturday.
Of the 10 Irish hitters who received seven or more atbats in Jacksonville, six finished the weekend with a batting average above .300 and an on-base plus slugging (OPS) north of .900. Freshman infielder Bino Watters jumped off the page in his debut series, starting all three games and going 4 for 11 with a home run, 4 RBI, 5 walks, a stolen base and 5 runs scored for an 1.199 OPS. Outfielder Jayce Lee (3 for 7 with a terrific diving catch in left field) and infielder Parker Brzustewicz (4 for 8 with 3 RBI) got in on the firstyear fun as well. Another newcomer, graduate outfielder Jared Zimbardo, led the Irish with 5 hits and 2 stolen bases in his first action since transferring from Quinnipiac.
A few of Notre Dame’s returning bats delivered, too. Sophomore catcher Carson Tinney was 4 for 10 with a long ball and 5 RBI in his first game since April 21. Junior Estevan Moreno crushed a grand slam and added a double, going 4 for 13 with 5 runs scored. Even
though graduate infielder
Connor Hincks, senior infielder Nick DeMarco, graduate outfielder Brady Gumpf and freshman infielder Noah Coy combined to go 2 for 36 as multi-game starters, all four of them drove in at least 1 run.
Iowa also heading back to Florida
The 1-2 Hawkeyes visited South Florida last week, dropping 5-4 and 9-5 results to bookend an 8-2 Saturday win in Tampa. Iowa made the NCAA Tournament two seasons ago but took a step back with a 31-23 record and a winless Big Ten Tournament appearance in 2024. Iowa’s effectiveness at the plate remained the same, but its pitching regressed from a 4.19 earned run average to a 5.74 with the losses of bullpen studs Luke Llewellyn and Will Christophersen and the down years of Saturday starter Marcus Morgan and reliever Jack Whitlock. Overall, the Hawkeyes have 11 consecutive winning seasons under 1000-gamewinning head coach Rick Heller.
Iowa plans to throw lefthander Cade Obermueller, a preseason All-Big Ten Team selection and Perfect Game’s preseason Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, against the Irish on Friday. The Iowa City native was drafted in the 19th round by the Texas Rangers in 2024 and made 13 starts last season, striking out 73 and posting a 3.92 ERA in 59 2/3 innings. He was dominant against the Bulls last week, punching out 10 in 5 innings of 1-hit baseball.
The Hawkeyes lost each of their five best hitters from last season. Two of their top returners, Daniel Rogers and Reese Moore, alternate between catcher and designated hitter. Rogers was seeing beach balls at the plate last weekend, as he slugged .909 with a double and 2 home runs. Infielder Gable Mitchell and left fielder Ben Wilmes are also both back after each producing an OPS higher than .800 in 2024. The two paced the Hawkeyes with 6 hits apiece in Tampa.
Iowa largely lost the USF series on defense, making eight errors across the weekend. The Hawkeyes trail Notre Dame 41-28 with one tie in the all-time series and last faced the Irish in 2012.
UMBC meeting Notre Dame for the first time
The Retrievers from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County will play
their first game of the year on Friday before battling the Irish a day later. UMBC, a school best known for its upset of Virginia in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, competes in the America East Conference. The Retrievers went 27-25 last season and have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2017, when they made their third appearance.
According to the probables listed on UMBC’s team website, the Retrievers will start Brady Fox against Notre Dame on Saturday. Fox, a freshman left-hander out of Delaware, would be making his collegiate debut as the Retrievers look to replace two-time AEC Pitcher of the Year Luke Johnson on the pitching staff.
This season, UMBC benefits massively from returning redshirt sophomore infielder Leewood Molessa. The West Virginian put together one of the best seasons in program history as a freshman two years ago, collecting a UMBC record 66 RBI on 16 home runs, 15 doubles and a .294 batting average. He finished as the America East Rookie of the Year before missing nearly all of 2024 with an injury. His supporting
cast features infielders Kyle Eddington and Danny Wyatt, two America East All-Rookie Team players last year. Wyatt’s 11 doubles, 45 RBI, .301 batting average and .903 OPS from last season lead all UMBC returners.
Stetson back on the mainland
The Hatters spent the season’s first weekend in the Caribbean, competing in the Puerto Rico Challenge. There, they defeated UConn (10-6), Penn State (8-4) and Missouri (9-7) before dropping one to No. 25 Michigan (6-1) in the Monday finale. They’ll have a marquee home matchup against No. 10 Florida coming up two days after their date with Notre Dame.
Stetson comes off a terrific season in which it reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 by winning the ASUN Tournament.
Outfielder Jayden Hylton led the Hatters offense last week, going 5 for 13 with 2 home runs and 2 doubles on his way to ASUN Player of the Week honors. Shortstop Lorenzo Meola, the ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, contributed with his first home run of
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the season. Infielders and Preseason All-ASUN Team selections Isaiah Barkett and Yohann Dessureault got involved as well, combining to go 7 for 21 with 7 runs scored. Outfielder Jordan Taylor, an offseason transfer portal addition by way of Florida State and Chipola College, made a strong first impression with 2 long balls and 6 RBI in a 5-for-15 weekend.
Right-handed redshirt sophomore reliever Zane Coppersmith leads the Hatter pitching staff. An All-ASUN Second Team arm last year, he dazzled with a 1.82 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings. None of Stetson’s four starters from last weekend pitched for the team last season, as Friday arm James Hays was at Georgia, Saturday guy Jonathan Gonzalez was injured, Sunday pitcher Mason Davenport was at Kansas City Community College and Monday man Ethan Phillips was at Indiana.
The Irish are 4-3 against Stetson, last traveling to DeLand early in the College World Series season of 2022.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
Irish head to Mobile for Mardi Gras Classic
By TYLER REIDY Sports Editor
With the Kris Ganeff era off to a 5-5 start, Notre Dame softball will compete at the Mardi Gras Classic in Mobile, Alabama, this weekend. Notre Dame will take on Texas A&M Corpus Christi at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, South Alabama at 8 p.m. on Friday and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Maine at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Lipscomb at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
The Irish have followed a similar formula in splitting each of their first two weekends. At the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida, they started 0-3 before senior utility player Jane Kronenberger kicked off a three-game win streak with her walk-off home run. Last weekend in the Battle at the Beach, they went 0-2 with a walk-off loss to Coastal Carolina before shutting out Towson and Kent State. They’ll look to rise above .500 for the first time this season at some point across the next three days.
Despite the two shutouts last weekend in Conway, Notre Dame’s pitching is not yet a finished product. Junior right-hander Micaela Kastor (2.55 ERA in 22 innings) and sophomore righthander Kami Kamzik (3.85 ERA in 20 innings) have been outstanding, but the Irish could use more from senior right-hander Shannon Becker (5.79 ERA in 9 2/3 innings) and graduate righthander Alexis Laudenslager (11.45 ERA in 7 1/3 innings). Becker looked much better against Kent State on Saturday, finishing the game with 3 strikeouts in 2 scoreless innings.
It’s no surprise that sophomore infielder Addison Amaral has spearheaded the Irish offense. A starter in all 10 games,
HCC
BASKETBALL
she leads the team with 12 RBI on 2 doubles, a home run, an .864 on-base plus slugging (OPS) and a .321 batting average. Freshman Kaia Cortes has been a pleasant surprise on the infield, slashing .308/.471/.500 with 6 RBI in 10 starts. Senior catcher Rachel Allen and sophomore utility player have swung the bat well, Allen leading the team in average (.400) and OPS (1.009) with Poeck a .364 hitter.
Texas A&M Corpus Christi headed down the Gulf Coast
The Islanders enter the weekend with more rest than they anticipated having, as their Thursday afternoon game at Southern was canceled. As a result, they carry in a 4-6 record with appearances at the Bearkat Classic and the Troy Cox Classic. They lost their only game against a Power 4 opponent by a 20-1 score to Nebraska and most recently lost back-to-back games at New Mexico State by a combined 23-5 margin.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has centered its offense around a collection of junior utility players to start 2025. Skylar Heger has been the most productive Islander bat, slashing .320/.414/.520 with 2 doubles, a home run and 5 RBI. Crystal Davila has similar stars with a team-high 4 doubles, while Ripley Welker is hitting .281 and on an 8-game on-base streak. Senior first baseman Monee Montilla, the team’s lone representative on the Southland Conference Preseason First Team, is hitting a modest .207 with a long ball. She led the Islanders in batting average (.340), doubles (11), walks (18) and OPS (.958) last season.
The Islanders have not yet
found a top arm to replace Primrose Aholelei, who graduated last year after posting a 2.17 ERA in 167 2/3 innings. Junior Malia Williams leads the team in innings pitched to start this season but has a 7.67 ERA.
When the Irish take the field on Friday to start the Mardi Gras Classic, it’ll be their first time facing the Islanders.
South Alabama coming off Regional final appearance
The hosting Jaguars qualified for their sixth NCAA Tournament last year, going 34-20-1 with a 16-8 mark within Sun Belt play. In the big dance, they lost to Florida in the Gainesville Regional final, concluding their 18th season, all under Becky Clark.
This spring, South Alabama owns a 5-6 record. After hosting the South Alabama Invitational two weeks ago, the Jaguars ventured to Tucson, Arizona, for the Bear Down Fiesta last weekend. There, they took two losses to No. 10 Arizona, playing within a run of the Wildcats in game one. They enter the weekend on the heels of a 13-2 home loss to Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday.
Last year, the Jaguars did almost no power hitting outside of 15-home run-crusher Gabby Stagner. Mackenzie Brasher did end up on the All-Sun Belt First Team with a .309 batting average, though. The real strength of South Alabama was in the circle, where the Jaguars posted a 2.75 ERA, led by the phenomenal Olivia Lackie. A four-time AllSun Belt First Team hurler, Lackie handled 246 of South Alabama’s 389 ⅓ innings last year, delivering a 1.54 ERA.
But she’s gone, and so is the staggeringly low team earned run average. The Jaguars have
leaned on Ryley Harrison for 37 innings to start this season, and although she’s no Lackie, she’s fared well with a 3.78 ERA. On offense, Stagner, now a senior first baseman, is leading the way with 5 home runs and 12 RBI on a .286/.400/.857 slash line. Freshman outfielder Presley Lively has come in and swung the bat well, too, with a .915 OPS, but she is just 1 for her last 14.
The Irish are 1-1 against the Jaguars after South Alabama defeated them on Opening Day at the NFCA Leadoff Classic last year.
Maine seeking
its first win of 2025
The Black Bears, who went 5-41 last year with a 1-20 record in America East play, are off to an 0-4 start this season. To start Kimberly Stiles’ head coaching tenure, Maine competed at the Pinnacle PC Invitational last weekend, taking two losses apiece to East Tennessee State and Presbyterian College.
Coach Stiles has to be thrilled about the offensive success of senior outfielders Gabby Papushka and Kyrah Haba-Dailey last weekend. The two combined to start 55 games last year, but neither of them posted an OPS north of .500. At the Pinnacle, Papushka was 4 for 13 with a double and a home run, while Haba-Dailey was 4 for 10. Senior catcher Nora Campo, a former Georgetown Hoya, hit the other Maine long ball and took a teamhigh 4 walks.
The Black Bears, who totaled an ugly team ERA of 7.53 last season, have it at 4.20 through one weekend of play this year. Freshman Madison Simmerman was good in her debut series,
allowing just 1 earned run in 10 innings, while junior Alysen Rieth threw two complete games at a 4.67 ERA.
Notre Dame has not lost to Maine in two all-time games, last facing the Black Bears in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 2001.
Lipscomb off to brutal offensive start
Given their offensive output nine games in, the Bison might be lucky to have a 3-6 record. They’ve averaged less than 2 runs per game, slashing .169/.255/.235 for a sub-.500 OPS. As a result, they’ve required near-perfect pitching to win games (they’ve allowed 1 total run in their three victories).
Though it’s still early, the offensive struggles are surprising given the return of All-ASUN bats redshirt junior Josey Polk and sophomore Alyssa Hastings. An All-Freshman Team performer last year, Hastings has lived up to her billing, leading the team in batting average (.269) and OPS (.845). Polk, however, has not yet, following her All-ASUN Third Team campaign with a .185/.214/.259 slash line in nine starts. Sophomore Courtney Sauer has been the team’s leader in the circle, tossing to a 3.00 ERA in 23 ⅓ innings.
Lipscomb opened its season at the Texas State Tournament, shutting out Bradley before losing 23-0 to its only Power 4 opponent thus far, No. 14 Arkansas. Last weekend, the Bison went 2-2 with wins against Furman at the Georgia Southern Tournament. The Irish and Bison have never opposed one another on the softball diamond.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
HCC basketball teams split games Wednesday
By CLAIRE WATSON Sports Writer
The Holy Cross basketball teams were back in action on Wednesday, both with matchups against Trinity Christian. The women’s team took a convincing 83-38 win, while the men’s team fell in a 92-72 loss.
Women’s game
Holy Cross started the first quarter strong as senior guard Kayliana Hammel put in two points, senior guard Jordyn Smith added four, senior forward Grace Adams tallied seven, sophomore forward Brooke Lindesmith contributed seven, freshman forward Allie Caldwell added a jump shot and junior guard Audrey Tallent notched two points to pull the Saints ahead 24-0. Holy Cross ended the quarter with a 6-0 run, staying ahead
30-2.
Sophomore guard Lilly Toppen started the second quarter with a jump shot to bring the score to 32-2 before Trinity Christian responded with two points. Another five points from Holy Cross made the score 37-4, but four from Trinity Christian changed it to 37-8. The Saints would go into halftime leading 41-15.
After halftime, Adams put in the first two points but, Trinity Christian responded with two to make the score 43-17. Holy Cross added four points before Trinity Christian answered with 11 to bring the score to 47-28. Hammel hit a jump shot and Toppen added three points for Holy Cross, which went up 52-29. Though Trinity Christian scored the final points of the quarter, Holy Cross carried a 63-32 lead into the fourth.
A 12-0 Saints run would start
the final quarter, bringing the score to 75-32. Trinity Christian made a free throw, but another six points from Holy Cross kept it ahead by almost 50. Junior forward Elizabeth Edmonds would score the final Saints points of the game, finishing the 83-38 win. Adams led the team with a total of 21 points, and Caldwell led with 9 rebounds. The _team now prepares to face Governors State on Feb. 22, starting at 1 p.m.
Men’s game
Trinity Christian started the first half with 10 straight points before senior guard Nash Hostetler added four and sophomore guard Joey Garwood notched three for Holy Cross to make the score 10-7. Trinity Christian tallied 16 straight before senior guard Justin Milch stopped the run with two points
to bring the score to 26-12.
Trinity Christian would make it 36-12 before freshman forward Davide Brembilla made a free throw and Hostetler added four points to bring the score to 36-17.
An 11-0 run then put the Saints down 47-17 before Hostetler hit a jump shot, Garwood added four points and Milch recorded three points to make the score 47-26.
Trinity Christian ended the half with two points to stay ahead 49-26.
Trinity Christian started off the second half with 4-0 and 8-0 runs before two points from senior guard Phil Robles II and nine from Garwood brought the score to 61-42. A 9-0 run from Trinity Christian put it ahead 70-42 before Robles tallied five points, Garwood added two points and Milch added three points to tighten the score to 7052. Trinity Christian answered with nine points to stay ahead
79-52, but Garwood and O’Neal combined to make the score 79-57.
A 6-0 run from Trinity Christian widened the score to 85-57, but five points from Garwood, two from O’Neal and two from Milch made it 8566. Three points from Trinity Christian brought the score to 88-86 but a quick two points from O’Neal, two from Hostetler and two from freshman forward Karl Birgisson brought it back to 88-72. Four points from Trinity Christian ended the game as it took the 9272 win.
Garwood led the team as he finished with 31 points, and Hostetler led with 8 rebounds. The Saints now look ahead to play Governors State on Feb. 22, starting at 3 p.m.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson01@saintmarys.edu
ND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Irish beat Miami, secure ACC Tournament bye
By TYLER REIDY Sports Editor
When handed the No. 1 ranking in the nation, some teams don’t handle the situation so well. It hasn’t happened much in recent years with the dominance of South Carolina lately, but think about a team like 2023-24 LSU. Given the preseason No. 1 only to lose at home to unranked Colorado in game one.
On Monday, Notre Dame women’s basketball was placed atop the AP Poll in a week full of landmines. A matchup against No. 11 Duke at home, a Sunday clash against No. 13 NC State and, in between, a sleeper trip to pesky and recently dangerous Miami. Though the Irish could still falter in Raleigh, they’ve handled their prestigious opportunity very well, defeating Duke by 15 at home and handing the Hurricanes an 82-42 loss on Thursday night.
“I discussed it early when the possibility [of the No. 1 ranking] could happen on Saturday before it happened on Monday, so they knew,” head coach Niele Ivey recalled after Thursday’s game. “... You’ve got to keep the main thing the main thing, and they know that. They’re locked in.”
Notre Dame’s 40-point win started with its steady engine, graduate forward Liatu King, who tallied 13 points and 13 rebounds for her 10th doubledouble of the season. She was 6 of 12 from the field, adding four assists and two blocks for a quintessentially well-rounded King game.
“She’s so solid, she gives us so much and she does a lot of things that she doesn’t even get the credit for,” Ivey said of King. “Just the sacrifice that she does for our team and just being so super solid every
game — she’s been a big key to our success, and so I just love when the stats kind of show the things that she does.”
“She’s so super tough, and it’s just been, like I said, an incredible addition to our team.”
For King, transferring to Notre Dame from ACC peer Pittsburgh in May meant putting aside individual numbers for team success. Her scoring average has dropped from 18.7 last year to 11.5 this season, but she’s already won 13 more games than she ever did in a single season at Pitt.
“I’m trying to win,” King said bluntly. “... It looks good having 20-some points, but when you’re not on an as successful team, it doesn’t really matter. I care about winning and making history, and I feel like I can do that with this team.”
Notre Dame’s electric backcourt of course thrived as well.
Senior Sonia Citron led the team with 19 points, making each of her first five field goals and adding eight rebounds.
Sophomore Hannah Hidalgo totaled 18 points, while graduate student Olivia Miles stuffed
the stat sheet with 14 points, seven rebounds and a teamhigh six assists.
The Irish also got 23 quality minutes from sophomore guard Cassandre Prosper off the bench. The lengthy Canadian notched eight points, five rebounds and two steals, impressing her head coach.
“I thought she had a fantastic game today,” Ivey said of Prosper. “She’s another unselfish player. I think that her ceiling is so high. She’s healthier, she knows her role, she gives us such a spark offensively and defensively I thought she did a great job.”
“Cass is just a spark … she’s just a student of the game,” Ivey added. “Every game, she just gets better and better and I think this season you guys are seeing a blossoming version of her.”
Before Prosper entered the game, Notre Dame got off to a 10-0 start Ivey referred to as “dominant.” Miami would barely outscore that Irish run in the entire first half, going into the halftime break
trailing by a 38-13 margin. The Hurricanes made only six of their 34 field goals in the first half and were 0 for 16 from 3-point range across the whole game.
“We came into the season saying that we want our identity to fall on our defense, and I think with the addition of Cass coming back from injury [and] the addition of Liatu [have] allowed us to do that,” Ivey said. “We really challenge them defensively in practice, and I feel like it’s coming. We’re growing every day in that category, which I love, especially as a coach in this part of the season.”
Notre Dame’s defense did especially commendable work against Haley Cavinder, who leads Miami with nearly 19 points per game. The graduate guard nearly willed the Hurricanes to victory against No. 23 Florida State in their previous game, racking up 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
“We call it ‘K.Y.P.’ — know your personnel — so knowing [the] tendencies of everybody,
we really locked in on that,” Ivey described. “And again, I just think the energy of our team, just getting better every game of knowing what to do defensively. We put a lot of pressure — sometimes we’re switching 1 through 4. We look to ice ball screens a little bit. We top-lock some of their staggered actions, so we try to do different things to try to take them out of their spots, and I thought we did a great job of that collectively as a team.”
By winning Thursday’s game, the Irish (24-2, 15-0 ACC) secured a spot in the ACC Tournament’s quarterfinal round. With a win on Sunday at No. 13 NC State (21-5, 13-2 ACC), they would secure the ACC regular-season title for the second time in three years.
As she’s done all season, Ivey’s making sure her team has one focus and one focus only: winning the next game.
“The goal is the next 40 minutes, and obviously that’s lingering, but our focus is on the next opponent, which is NC State, so we have to play a great 40 minutes,” Ivey said. “It’s a really tough place to play. We’ll let everything else fall where it falls, but our goal is the next 40 minutes, the next game.”
The Wolfpack went to Atlanta and took down No. 20 Georgia Tech by an 83-68 score on Thursday night, bouncing back from Sunday’s onepoint loss at North Carolina. Aziaha James, their leading scorer, paced the Pack with 16 points, while top rebounders Saniya Rivers and Madison Hayes each double-doubled.
Notre Dame and NC State will tip off in Raleigh at noon on Sunday.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
Weekend preview: Irish travel to Wisconsin
By RYAN MURPHY Sports Writer
When the Wisconsin Badgers hockey team concluded a two-week road trip with a visit to Notre Dame in October, both teams had hit the skids. Wisconsin entered the weekend series with a four-game losing streak, while the Irish had split previous weekend series with Alaska-Fairbanks and Long Island University.
Fast-forward four months: Notre Dame hockey concludes a two-week road trip with a visit to Madison, Wisconsin, this weekend … and both teams have hit the skids. Wisconsin has lost six straight, swept on three consecutive weekends by No. 5 Minnesota, No. 18 Penn State and No. 7 Ohio State. Notre Dame has lost four straight, swept by the Buckeyes and last weekend by the Nittany Lions.
Sometimes the reflection in the mirror is not the image we want to see.
But for Wisconsin (1118-3, 6-15-1 Big Ten) and Notre Dame (9-20-1, 3-16-1 Big Ten), the two last-place teams in the Big Ten conference, the image in the mirror tells the story of what can only be described as frustrating seasons.
For Notre Dame, the play has been good but inconsistent. The results have not
followed. Notre Dame recorded its 20th loss of the season at Penn State last Saturday, marking its first 20-loss season in two decades (2004-05) and the first of outgoing head coach Jeff Jackson’s career.
“I thought we played pretty well after the first period (last) Friday night,” Jackson said this week. “We had a lot of good scoring chances to at least tie the game or get ahead. But we’re still having
a difficult time finishing at times. When you play well and don’t win, it’s a little bit frustrating. I know that applies to the players and the coaches.”
Jackson understands that that feeling of frustration is mutual on the other bench. Wisconsin made the NCAA Tournament last year in head coach Mike Hastings’ first season. This year, the
MARIELLA TADDONI0 | The Observer
Sophomore gaurd Hannah HIdalgo pumps her fist in the air during Notre Dame’s 64-49 victory over Duke at Purcell Pavillion Feb. 7. The Irish have now secured a spot in the ACC Tournament’s quarterfinal round.
