Sofia CrimiVaroli | The Observer

Right now, the Big Ten is a conference of haves and have-nots. Two teams — Michigan State and Wisconsin — already have more than 30 points. The next four teams are separated by just seven points, but none have more than 20. Notre Dame currently sits atop that group, although they should probably have a much more secure grip on that spot than they do. Five straight losses in conference play (before beating Ohio State 5-2 on Saturday) created a sizable gap between the Irish and the conference’s leap and a marginal one between the rest of the conference.

If the season ended today, the Irish would have a home-ice advantage in the first round of the Big Ten playoffs. However, they lead No. 4 seed Minnesota by just one point and No. 5 seed Michigan (who wouldn’t have home ice in Round 1) by only six. Penn State sits just 1 point back of the Wolverines themselves, and the Irish must widen the gap between themselves and the Nittany Lions, who they host this weekend at Compton Family Ice Arena. March is both right around the corner and so far away — the Irish have completed just over 50% of their Big Ten slate so far, holding an uninspiring 5-7-2 record against conference foes.

Perhaps that skid-snapping victory on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, can be a turning point for the Irish. Notre Dame’s five goals were tied for their second most in a conference game and their most since Dec. 1 against Michigan. That night was also the last time the Irish scored first in conference play, with the team netting just one goal in the first period across their previous three contests. The Irish didn’t over-rely on graduate student goaltender Ryan Bischel as they have at times in the last two seasons, peppering the Buckeyes with 43 shots on goal. Even the struggling Irish power-play, last in the Big Ten at 17.5%, lit the lamp courtesy of senior forward Landon Slaggert.

In theory, Penn State’s play fits right into Notre Dame’s strengths. The Nittany Lions are third in the Big 10 with 3.73 goals per game and lead the conference in shots per game, averaging just under 40. However, they’re last in the Big 10 by a decent margin in goals against per game (3.68) and neither special teams unit is anything special.

The two teams met earlier this year in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania. Both games went as far as possible, with a shootout deciding each one. The Irish got the extra point in the series opener thanks to a pair of power-play goals, with freshman forward Maddox Fleming tying the game on the man advantage midway through the third period. The Irish jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead on Saturday only for Penn State to tie the game on a last-minute tally by Dylan Lugris. Xander Lampa scored the only goal of the shootout to send the fans home happy.

Like the Irish, Penn State is just 1-5 in its last six conference contests, with a wild 7-6 win over Army in the middle. Penn State doesn’t have the flashiest roster — only three of its players are NHL draft picks. They also had below-average goaltending, with both goaltenders holding sub-.890 save percentages. What the Nittany Lions do have is a nice arsenal of quality scorers. While the Irish only have one player at 20 points (Slaggert), Penn State has four, plus Matt DiMarsico at 19. Aiden Fink is just outside the top 10 in scoring in the nation with a team-high 27 points. He and Ryan Kirwan have also potted a dozen goals apiece.

The puck drops for the series opener on Friday night at Compton Family Ice Arena at 7:30 p.m. Saturday’s finale begins at 6 p.m. The Irish have been much better at home (9-6) than on the road (2-5-2) this season. They’ll be counting on their home-ice advantage to help propel their positioning in the Big Ten.

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Peter Breen | The Observer

With three days to go before the start of the spring semester, 21 Building Services staff members who volunteered for the newly created Snow Patrol team got out their shovels. More than six inches of new snow would blanket campus by the end of the day. The air temperature would drop to 9 degrees below zero before the weekend was out.

The “expedition” on Saturday lasted seven hours, according to Building Services senior director Christopher Hatfield.

“Battling three-foot drifts, the team shoveled their way through an icy ND landscape, ensuring that students and staff returned to clear entryways,” Hatfield wrote in a statement to The Observer.

When Snow Patrol’s mission was complete, Hatfield wrote, more than 600 entrances and exits from almost all buildings on campus had been cleared.

As students traveled back to campus after winter break, the temperature in South Bend reached a five-year low, according to the National Weather Service. The last time the city got this cold was in January 2019, when the mercury dropped to minus 20.

Campus remained open despite the weather conditions.

Tracy Skibins, who as senior director of emergency management is constantly monitoring for severe weather, wrote in an email that the decision to close campus involves consultation with internal and external partners, including meteorologists. Skibins wrote that any changes to normal campus operations are shared via ND Alert, email and social media.

On the morning of the first day of classes, the Office of the Registrar sent an email to students about issues with classrooms related to the cold. University spokesperson Sue Ryan wrote in a statement that at least three academic spaces were impacted by the weather.

“Considering the significant cold weather, the University has experienced minimal effects from broken water pipes this week and is operating under normal conditions,” Ryan wrote.

Notre Dame’s campus has 21 miles of roads, 92 acres of parking lots and 45 miles of sidewalks. Timothy Dyczko, a superintendent in Landscape Services, said in a statement that the University has 12 Bobcat Toolcat brooms to maintain the sidewalks when it snows. Landscape Services has 18 plow trucks of various sizes and a salt truck for the parking lots and roads.

Dyczko added that Notre Dame has a special, smaller broom for the areas near the Grotto and additional equipment for tight areas around dumpsters and alleyways.

“We also have two staff members that visit 41 specific areas of steps and bus shelters around campus after every snow event,” Dyczko wrote.

English professor Romana Huk taught a poetry seminar in DeBartolo Hall at 11 a.m. on the first day of classes. She said it was 54 degrees in the classroom building.

“I just apologized to my University seminar because I think that my voice was about an octave higher on Tuesday in class in the DeBartolo Hall because I was simply undone by the fact that we had no heat,” Huk said.

Aaron Dingler, a computer science and engineering professor who also taught a class in DeBartolo Hall Tuesday morning, said he was more fortunate than Huk.

“I taught in DeBart 102, which luckily doesn’t have any windows, so it was nice and warm,” he said.

Courtesy of Chris Hatfield

Sophomore Caroline Fleming, who took a charter bus back to campus from Philadelphia, said she could see the weather worsening the closer the bus got to the Midwest. Fleming said deciding how to bundle up both for the “brutal” cold and for the possibility that she might get too hot once inside a building has been challenging during the first week of classes.

Eric Gordy, a sophomore from the Detroit area who is used to driving in the snow, said the roads were really bad on his return to campus. Freshman Faith White added that the roads in South Bend aren’t as plowed as they were in her hometown, Indianapolis.

Following some time at the beach on the swim team’s trip to Florida during break, graduate student Ellie Jew said she enjoys being back on campus and seeing her friends and classmates. Jew said she has always thought Notre Dame has done a good job of plowing the sidewalks and roads.

“Driving on campus and then walking around on campus has been pretty manageable,” Jew said. “It’s just cold.”

Peter Assaf, an off-campus senior, said the cold has made him less willing to walk outside to social events during syllabus week.

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As controversial as they are, royal families serve several purposes in society. Often these are to do with culture, identity, history and diplomacy, but another is emerging — advocacy. Perhaps there is no better time for these global figures to be speaking about one of the most concerning issues of our age: mental health.

The much-adored Princess Diana was one of the first royal pioneers of mental health and wellbeing. During her interview with BBC’s “Panorama” in 1995, Diana was the first royal to ever open up about post-natal depression. Diana also spoke out about wider mental health issues, such as eating disorders and depression, inspired by her own experiences with bulimia. In the “Panorama” interview, she described her experience with depression: “feeling you didn’t want to get out of bed, you felt misunderstood and just very, very low in yourself.” 

Despite her tragic death at 36, her passion to raise awareness about mental health lives on through her two sons — William and Harry. Both sons have spoken publicly about their experiences with grief and how it has led them into bouts of depression and anxiety. 

Prince Harry has openly discussed problems with self-medication. In an interview with “The Me You Can’t See,” he said, “I was willing to drink, was willing to take drugs, as well as trying to do the things that made me feel less like I was feeling … and I would find myself drinking, not because I was enjoying it, but because I was trying to mask something.” 

For William, his experiences in the armed forces took a dramatic toll on his mental health. After serving in the Armed Forces in an air ambulance, he was left with a great deal of trauma after seeing so much death and pain. William has stated, “For some reason, we’re all embarrassed by emotions — British people particularly — we’re very embarrassed by revealing our emotions.”

Prince William’s wife Kate Middleton has also spoken publicly about how motherhood affected her mental well-being. She is a strong advocate for breaking down existing stigmas around mental health and motherhood. When she became a mother in 2017, Middleton described the experience as “overwhelming.”

“There is no rule book, no right or wrong. You just have to make it up and do the very best you can to care for your family,” Middleton said at an event for Best Beginnings, “For many mothers, myself included, this can at times lead to a lack of confidence and feelings of ignorance.”

This led to Harry, William and Middleton joining together to launch the “Heads Together” campaign in 2016. Heads Together is a coalition of eight mental health charities, including Mind and the Campaign Against Living Miserably. This campaign’s agenda is to challenge existing stigmas about mental health and promote more open conversations, as well as to fundraise for start-up mental health services. Heads Together has brought in public figures such as Gareth Southgate to openly discuss their experiences of mental health and change the national and international outlook on personal wellbeing. 

Aside from the British royal family, there are other royals from across the globe speaking out on mental health today.

For instance, Princess Amalia — heir to the Dutch throne — has candidly discussed her mental health and is open about seeing a therapist. She believes mental health is as important as physical health. “Talking to a professional every now and then is quite normal,” she said, according to MQ.

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, whose family was devastated by the suicide of her ex-husband, has also advocated for the importance of greater awareness of mental health on a national and international scale.

Therefore, while royal families have plenty of controversy to fill the tabloids and institutions which warrants criticism and speculation, it is important to acknowledge their contributions to mental health advocacy. Born into some of the most influential positions in the world, they can make a huge impact on the issues we face as a global community. To give credit where it is due, the younger generations of royals are at the beginning of something great in the international movement for a happier and better global community.

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington is an international exchange student from London, England. She is currently a junior studying history, political science and journalism. You can contact her at lcarrier@nd.edu.

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

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Mary Votava

On Saturday, Jan. 21, No. 19 Notre Dame took on Wake Forest in Winston Salem and emerged victorious 75-56. Wake Forest entered the game 0-6 in the ACC, looking for a statement home win. The Irish proved too prolific from the 3-point range for Wake to keep up. Despite a 55% conversion rate from behind the arc, the Irish turned the ball over 16 times, raising the stakes for this week’s Thursday battle against Syracuse.

Recent ACC freshman of the week and guard Hannah Hidalgo had 21 points and four assists, shooting 3-6 from the 3-point line. Junior guard Sonia Citron added another four 3-pointers and 18 points. The Irish led the whole game and showed their defensive strength on the perimeter, holding the Demon Deacons under 22% from 3-point range. Earning their fourth straight ACC victory Notre Dame has gone 5-1 in January. 

The Irish got off to a solid start with a 3-pointer from Hidalgo and never gave up the lead. Scoring 21 points in the first quarter, the Irish shot efficiently from beyond the arc. A layup from the Demon Deacons’ Malaya Cowles, who led them with 13 on the afternoon, brought the score to 25-18 early in the second. However, that was the closest Wake would get for the rest of the game. The Irish built their lead to 12 at halftime (45-33) and continued to coast. Scoring another 12 points in the third quarter, the Irish  extended their lead to 13 (57-44) at the end of the third. The Irish finished the game by outscoring the Demon Deacons 18-12 in the fourth quarter, earning their fifth ACC victory this year to bring their conference play record to 5-2. 

The team shot 51.9% from the field and 10-18 (55%) from behind the 3-point arc. This Notre Dame squad has relied heavily on shots from Hidalgo, Citron and graduate guard Anna DeWolfe to carry the scoring load. By this same metric, the Irish have struggled in games where the guards have shot poorly. Notre Dame has lacked a consistent scoring presence in the paint against teams with physical front courts. Scoring 24 out of 75 points in the paint against an undersized Wake Forest team certainly fails to silence this anxiety.

Senior forwards Maddy Westbeld, Natalija Marshall, and Kylee Watson shot a combined 8-15 from the field for 18 points. The volume of shots from the paint should increase as the Irish continue to build chemistry with more players returning from injury. The Irish have also struggled with turnovers in the last few weeks and gave the ball away 16 times this afternoon. Although this was a strong victory, in each of the three losses this season, the Irish have lost the turnover battle. Looking to win five consecutive games, Notre Dame will take on 16-2 Syracuse on Thursday Jan. 25 at home and look for revenge following the 86-81 defeat on Dec. 31.

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Marissa Panethiere | The Observer

Music is the thread that stitches together the fabric of human life. It is one of the many privileges of being alive, and its beauty in its various forms enhances how we live. Its diversity brings people together and tears people apart, but it is a universal good, all things considered. 

In this modern day and age, an important practice in the act of listening to music is making playlists. No matter the platform we use to compile songs, their creation is another form of art in itself, encapsulating certain moods, themes, ideas and moments in life which will prevail as long as we keep putting them on repeat. Everyone has their own way of making playlists, but sometimes it takes time and guidance when perfecting your craft. In my (in)finite wisdom surrounding all things music, I have a few suggestions: 

Choose a few starter songs

Every good playlist needs a strong foundation. Without a strong base, how can you expect the rest of the playlist to hold up? A few bad songs can really ruin a mood. Picking even two songs to base the rest of the playlist off of can be a good starting point to direct you in the right path towards creating beauty. 

Fill up the rest of the playlist

Now that you have a base, find other things to fill in the cracks. Consider what is true about your playlist: Does it span multiple genres? Is it focusing on a specific theme? Are you trying to make it diverse, or are you simply cultivating a vibe and don’t care about what artist makes up the majority of the playlist? 

Find inspiration elsewhere

If you can’t seem to decide on what songs are best for the playlist you’re currently making, look through some of your friends’ playlists. Look through some of your own. Do a search in whatever platform you are using for a particular word or phrase you are trying to encapsulate. Maybe there’s an artist you haven’t thought about in a long time who has the perfect song. Maybe another playlist you made a while back has some songs which would make great additions. Maybe you’re even so lost that you have to look up “Songs like [insert title here]” on Google just to find anything else worthy of gracing your playlist. It happens to the best of us. 

Pick a title

This is the scariest part. Sometimes, it takes me days to think of something good to name a playlist. What you call your playlist can be very personal and intellectual, or it can be something completely random and hilarious. Are you someone who will title a playlist with a single word or phrase? Do your titles look more like “Fall Out Boy songs”? Do you dabble in a bit of both practices? Personally, I dabble in a variety of naming practices, including taking inspiration from the lyrics of one of the songs on the playlist, keeping it simple by naming the playlist relevant to the situation or place I’m using it in or I find a word from another language which fits the mood of the playlist. 

Don’t be afraid to change it

Once you listen through the playlist, you might notice that some things seem off. Maybe one song has a much faster tempo than every other song. Maybe the genres don’t mesh well. Maybe you think every single song is dissatisfying in the context of what you are looking to create. All these options are common, but it doesn’t mean your playlist has to go to waste! One of the best things about using technology in this way to listen to music is its fluidity. Add new things as they are released or as you come across them. Delete things you think aren’t fitting or that you’ve listened to so many times you want your ears to fall off. Whatever you choose is up to you, and constant practice makes perfect listening.

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The University of Notre Dame calls upon its students, alumni, parents and friends to be a force for good in this world. Inspired by its Catholic identity, education at Notre Dame integrates intellectual formation with cultivating a love for and commitment to the common good. It is with the values Notre Dame instilled in us that we, the undersigned students, staff, alumni and faculty of the University of Notre Dame, express deep disappointment and concern at the University of Notre Dame’s complicity and silence on the ongoing atrocities being committed in Gaza. Our concerns come from a place of respect for all human life and a commitment to Notre Dame’s mission “to create a sense of human solidarity and concern for the common good that will bear fruit as learning becomes service to justice.” We follow the steps of our very own peacemaker, Father Hesburgh, who said in his address to the 1973 Pacem in Terris conference: “Opus justitiae, pax. Peace is the work of justice.” 

We believe Notre Dame’s actions and ongoing silence undermine its Catholic commitment to human dignity and justice. As U.S.-funded Israeli attacks render a complete collapse of Gaza’s health sector, displace nearly 85% of its population and inflict death on thousands of children, we cannot remain silent. 

We call for action on the following demands: 

1. In line with Pope Francis and the United Nations, Notre Dame must issue a statement publicly condemning mass atrocities by all parties and calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages. 
2. Notre Dame must end relations and divest from all companies complicit in war crimes and military occupation. This includes ending such companies’ participation in career fairs and presence in departments on campus. These companies include but are not limited to: Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Raytheon. 
3. In the long term, Notre Dame must use its institutional influence and leverage its ties with political leaders to push for an end to Israeli occupation and an end to unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel. 

Our demands are made with the knowledge that Notre Dame has historically used its influence to address injustice. In 2022, Notre Dame demonstrated unequivocal solidarity with Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, hosting over 25 events covering the context and updates in Ukraine and extending institutional and political support to the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Notre Dame has also not been afraid to use a “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions” method where necessary. For example, in 2011, Notre Dame chose to “take a stand against unethical labor practices” by forbidding merchandise produced in China to bear the school’s trademarks. 

Yet, when it comes to Palestine and Israel, Notre Dame has not spoken a single word about the 56 years of Israeli apartheid and occupation and 16 years of military siege in Gaza, opting instead to ignore 80 years of historical context altogether in its last and only statement endorsing the violence following the events of Oct. 7. Meanwhile, Notre Dame benefits from a presence in the region, whether it be Notre Dame’s Jerusalem Global Gateway which hosts study abroad programs or the Tantur Eccumenical Institute on land owned by the Vatican, which hosts continuing education programs. This also includes its partnership with Tel Aviv University, an institution that continually withholds the stolen dead bodies of Palestinians as part of a larger policy of necro-violence and collective punishment. 

Outside of its involvement in the Holy Land, Notre Dame also maintains partnerships and investments with arms-manufacturing companies, the most recent being Lockheed Martin, whose weapons have advanced the climbing death toll of over 18,900 Palestinians (44% of which are children). This comes in contradiction with the U.S. Council of Bishops (USCCB) Investment Guidelines which states, “From a Catholic perspective, ethical and socially responsible investing … requires us to evaluate specific investments in terms of how those companies or entities protect life, promote human dignity, act justly, enhance the common good and provide care for the environment.” The Guidelines stress the importance of “divesting” from companies that do not meet these standards. As the USCCB’s pastoral letter ”Economic Justice for All” advises, with each investment we must ask, “How will my economic decisions to invest serve human dignity and the common good?” 

The situation in Palestine is clear. There is a massacre — which numerous reputable organizations and scholars are calling a genocide — taking place against the Palestinians living in Gaza. As journalists, scholars and healthcare workers are assassinated and academic institutions, churches, hospitals and schools are destroyed, Notre Dame’s refusal to divest from war and its ongoing silence indicates its complicity in genocide. We affirm our demands and ask that Notre Dame act in accordance with the Holy See in “support for a just, comprehensive and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, in all its aspects, in accordance with international law and all relevant United Nations resolutions, as well as for an independent, sovereign, democratic and viable State of Palestine.” 

Occupation Free ND

Dec. 17

The views expressed in this Letter to the Editor are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

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As a Division I school, the University of Notre Dame dedicates a myriad of resources to its more than 750 athletes, one of which is a multifaceted nutrition program. The Sports Nutrition Department aims to provide nutritional advice to all Notre Dame athletes, helping them achieve their goals and optimize performance, according to the department’s website. 

“Not only does proper nutrition help fuel athletes for lifts and competition, but it is also crucial for general health, a robust immune system, proper recovery and restful sleep,” assistant director of sports nutrition Christopher Doyle said. “Making sure they are putting quality fuel in their bodies at the proper time can increase their endurance, power, speed, focus and overall performance.” 

Each of the five sports dietitians takes the time to build relationships with their athletes, understand their nutritional habits and identify their goals in order to best assist them.

Jenna Abu-Lughod | The Observer

Doyle said that the first step in sports nutrition is making sure the nutritional foundation is solid. This includes macro/micronutrient needs, hydration and adequate fruits and vegetables. From there, the dietitians implement more sports-specific interventions such as meal timing, recovery and supplements, he said.

Each athlete has different nutritional needs, which vary depending on the athlete’s sport, sex, position, goals, muscle mass and activity levels. 

“Every single athlete is different. No matter the sport, the position or the year. You will never find two athletes that need the same thing,” Doyle said. 

With travel being such a significant part of athletic programs, dietitians must ensure that the athletes have all the necessary nutrition for a successful trip. This is particularly important when the dietitians are unable to accompany the athletes. 

“I travel about 50% of the time with women’s basketball and only travel to conferences and NCAA tournaments with the other teams,” Doyle said. “Football has two dietitians for them specifically and both travel to all their games each season.” 

In order to maintain such a robust program, the department also relies on Irish Fuel student employees who are responsible for restocking the fuel station and making smoothies and protein-rich snacks.

Sophomore Irish Fuel student worker Eva Damonte said that they work in the Guglielmino Athletics Complex, better known to students as the Gug.

“We get all of our tasks on this app called Todoist. Our job usually involves restocking the fuel station and making smoothies all the time,” Damonte said. 

The Gug is the main fuel station on campus. It is located right next to the largest weight room, so it is frequently utilized before and after lifts to provide quick carbs and recovery. 

According to Irish Fuel employee Katie Cole, the powerbites are a Gug athlete-favorite. 

“Our claim to fame is our powerbites which are small peanut butter balls that have oats, chocolate chips and other fun mix-ins. We make them in batches of 100 plus,” Cole said. 

Doyle said he believes everyone should take the time to learn about nutrition because of the incredible benefits of a healthy diet. He said that with the obesity and diabetic epidemics that are currently prevalent in the U.S., proper education regarding a healthy diet can go a long way.

“Working at Irish Fuel has opened my eyes. For example, I now implement collagen into my everyday routine because I learned about its benefits,” Damonte said. “Irish Fuel also has an Instagram which Notre Dame students can get great nutrition tips from.” 

Because of the nutrition program’s positive growth, the demand for Irish Fuel student workers is on the rise.

“I love this job and the community and atmosphere of sports has always been something I’ve been passionate about,” Cole said. “I love that I can work so closely with people in my desired field. I have learned so much from this job … it’s been awesome.” 

The post Irish Fuel supports student athletes with nutrition program appeared first on The Observer.

Hockey games often boil down to which team handles momentum swings with poise. 

On Friday and Saturday nights at Compton Family Ice Arena, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13-11-2) managed the pivotal game moments better than their opponent Penn State Nittany Lions (10-11-3). Such poise under pressure earned the Irish a much needed Big Ten conference sweep, fortifying their third-place position in the standings prior to this week’s bye. 

Irish respond to adversity 

Both nights of the series featured momentum swings that could have folded the Irish. 

In Friday’s contest, the Nittany Lions came out swinging. They held the upper hand in the first period, but the Irish clung to a 1-0 lead late in the frame. With Penn State on the power play and building momentum, Notre Dame sank a dagger when graduate student Trevor Janicke scored on a shorthanded breakaway with 0.6 seconds remaining in the period. 

Janicke’s goal would stand up as the game-winning goal.

Yet, it was only a precursor to Saturday’s dramatics. Down 3-1 in the 3rd, Penn State mounted a comeback that saw the Irish give up the lead in the most disastrous of fashions. 

The score was 3-2 and Penn State was pressing when the official’s arm went up for a delayed penalty against the Nittany Lions. Irish graduate student goaltender Ryan Bischel skated to the bench for the extra attacker. With possession at his own blue line, Notre Dame senior Grant Silianoff passed the puck backwards, but it ricocheted into the empty goal. 

The game was tied, and Compton Family Ice Arena was stunned.

Yet, it was no matter for the Irish. The penalty against Penn State still standing, freshman Danny Nelson scored on the ensuing power-play to give Notre Dame the lead back.

“Responding to adversity is part of what I was hoping we would learn after the first half,” Irish head coach Jeff Jackson said. “We went through a lot of adversity, ups and downs, in the first half of the year, and we didn’t always respond to it well.”

On both Friday and Saturday nights, Notre Dame was forced to respond to adversity. They staved off an underwhelming start Friday. They staved off the nearly-unthinkable Saturday.

“From a coaching perspective, they responded really well, because we could’ve panicked,” Jackson said. “It was a critical power-play for us, and we went out and scored. And we’ve had those all year, and we haven’t scored, so it’s a good sign.”

Friday: Notre Dame 4, Penn State 1

In Friday’s game one, Penn State opened the series by territorially dominating the first period. Yet, by period’s end. they had nothing to show for it. Instead, the Irish scored twice on four shots, including Janicke’s last-second marker, to take a 2-0 lead to the first intermission. Danny Nelson scored the first Irish goal 6:28 into the contest, cleaning up a rebound on freshman defenseman Paul Fischer’s point shot.

The Nittany Lions answered back halfway through the second period when junior forward Dylan Lugris finished off a 3-on-2 rush by potting a rebound past Notre Dame starter Bischel. Despite having their lead cut in half, Notre Dame outshot Penn State 14-7 in the second period. The Irish were rewarded with just over five minutes to go when freshman forward Maddox Fleming caused a turnover inside the Penn State blue line. In stride, Fleming beat Penn State sophomore goaltender Noah Grannan from the tops of the faceoff circles to restore the two-goal margin. 

The Fleming goal deflated the Nittany Lions, who were unable to find their legs again until late in the third. In the final 7 minutes of the game, Penn State pushed to cut into the lead again. But the Nittany Lions could not generate any scoring from a late power-play, and graduate student defenseman Ryan Siedem iced the game with an empty-net goal from deep in his own defensive zone. 

Saturday: Notre Dame 6, Penn State 3

In Saturday’s game two, an evenly-played first period ended in chaotic fashion. 

It began when freshman forward Reese Laubach barreled into Bischel en route to scoring the game’s opening goal. Laubach finished off a two-on-one by driving hard to the net and jamming the puck past Notre Dame’s perennial starter, running him over in the process. The goal counted, but the officials assessed Laubach a 5-minute major for charging. 

Less than a minute later, sophomore defenseman Jarod Crespo was whistled for cross-checking, putting Notre Dame on the 5-on-3. The Irish could not convert before the siren sounded to end the first period, but both penalties carried over to the second period. It was then, just 43 seconds into the middle frame, that graduate student forward Patrick Moynihan made the Nittany Lions pay. Moynihan one-timed a loose puck in the slot over the glove of Penn State starter Liam Souliere to tie the game. 

The Irish built momentum as the period went on and took the lead on senior forward Landon Slaggert’s goal at 11:50 of the second. Moynihan had a hand in that goal too, executing a beautiful drop pass for Slaggert to one-time in the slot. 

The third period saw the teams trade a combined 6 goals, with Notre Dame scoring twice into an empty net. Moynihan kicked off the eventful period by scoring his second of the game 2:36 in. Penn State responded 1:01 later, as junior defenseman Simon Mack slammed home a rebound to make the score 3-2. 

The Irish own-goal brought the game to 3-3 before Danny Nelson scored on the ensuing power-play. Trevor Janicke and Danny Nelson scored the empty-net goals (intentionally, this time) to lock up the sweep for Notre Dame.

Irish off this week

Eleven Irish skaters recorded points over the two game set, led by Danny Nelson and Landon Slaggert who each had 4. Since returning from the IIHF World Juniors in Gothenburg, Sweden, Nelson has 4 goals in 5 games. Slaggert, on the other hand, has 6 points in his last three games. With 16 goals, remains in the nationwide top-10.

Special teams were also strong for Notre Dame over the weekend. The Irish were a perfect 7-for-7 on the penalty-kill and were 3-for-9 on the power-play, with all 3 goals scored Saturday night.

Notre Dame has their scheduled Big Ten bye-weekend upcoming, but the No. 7 Michigan State Spartans loom in the distance. Coming out of their bye, Notre Dame will host the Spartans Feb. 2-3.

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Saint Mary’s began their new marketing campaign by unveiling additional school colors, a new college website and rebranded magazine. The new school colors, yellow and green, can be seen around the Shaheen bookstore, in addition to the typical blue and white. The colors will be used primarily for marketing materials.

Shannon Larkey, a freshman, said she’s not a fan of the new colors, but she doesn’t feel like it will affect the college’s identity.

“I feel like the identity has more to do with the people that are here than the colors, but I definitely think it will have an impact on our image,” Larkey said.  

Allison Bowman | The Observer

Sophomore Sara Peabody said she likes the color green, but to her, Saint Mary’s is blue and white.

“It’s not my favorite, but it’s not bad,” Peabody said. “I feel like it gives the Notre Dame connection feeling, but I also feel like we are our own separate entity.”

Lisa Knox, the director of public relations at Saint Mary’s, said that this change has been in the works for over two years.

“Rest assured, we are not changing the school colors. They are still blue and white,” Knox said. “Rather, the current look of our enrollment and fundraising materials is a way to showcase the newly developed programming and other enhancements within the College.”

Joana Gonzalez, a junior, said she thinks it’s good that the school kept the traditional Saint Mary’s colors of blue and white.

“But I honestly think they added the green from Notre Dame,” she said. “I think it’s a good color, but I also think they should keep the blue and white for Saint Mary’s.”

The additional school colors arrive along with the development of the Avenue experience.

“The Avenue experience weaves together academic study, vocational discernment, career preparation, experiential learning, spiritual development and the essential knowledge and skills for leadership,” College President Katie Conboy said in an email. 

The new palette was unveiled alongside a refreshed college magazine called Avenues and an updated website “to introduce the new programming to a new generation of prospective students and their families,” Knox said. 

Conboy touched on the new rebranding campaign in an email.

“Prospective students are learning about the Avenue experience (and many other aspects of Saint Mary’s) through our beautiful new admission print materials that tell the story of the empowering education students will receive at Saint Mary’s,” Conboy wrote. “While Courier has carried the news from campus to you for many years, we have also made new upgrades to this important publication. Strengthened, revitalized and redesigned, it even has a new name — Avenues.”

The new redesign can also be seen on the updated school website where the traditional white French cross is now yellow. Knox said choosing yellow for the French cross was intentional as it is an eye-catching color.

“Yellow is common in marketing materials because of its broad appeal,” Knox said. “Our choice, Pantone 7404 yellow, is a vivid pop of color that helps us stand out with new students and donors.”

Students shared their concerns about losing the customary white French cross, and Knox responded by saying that they will continue to see the cross in blue and white.

“It is a normal process for colleges and universities to refresh their look regularly, and Saint Mary’s hasn’t gone through a major refresh in many years,” Knox said. “It’s also common to do so during milestone moments such as anniversaries or to mark the development of new programming, as we have with Avenue experience.”

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Over the past few months students, faculty and visitors to campus may have noticed construction taking place on the west side of campus on the Burke Golf Course. The construction effort, which will reshape Burke Golf Course, is related to the construction of the two new residence halls on the site of Fisher and Pangborn Halls, according to University architect and vice president for facilities design Doug Marsh.

In order to make room for the new residence halls — which will have larger footprints than the current dorms — Holy Cross Drive will be relocated approximately 250 feet to the west of its current location. 

Liam Kelly | The Observer

This relocation, while freeing up space for new recreational areas, including “open play” athletic fields, will shrink the nearby Burke Golf Course. 

While the course will remain a nine-hole course, it will now consist of four par three holes and five par four holes, making it a par 32 course.

The course was originally built as a par 71 18-hole course in 1929 and was first shortened to accommodate the building of Rockne Memorial in 1939. It then became a 9-hole par 25 course in 1995 when O’Neill Family, Keough, McGlinn and Welsh Family Halls were constructed. 

Already, the old starting house has been demolished. A mound of dirt along with some tubes have been placed on what was the ninth hole.

According to Marsh, the current Holy Cross Drive will remain open as the new road is constructed to the west, apart from a one or two-day closure early in the summer “to connect the new leg at its north and south ends to the rest of Holy Cross Drive.”

During construction, the practice putting green located adjacent to the Rockne Memorial Gym and Pangborn Hall will be demolished. A new practice green will be built near the new first tee of the course. 

The road project will be completed “over the summer,” Marsh explained. The course will then be reopened “once the greenskeepers have determined that the realigned holes are ready for play.”

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Last Thursday night, seven busloads of tri-campus community members headed to Washington, D.C. to attend the annual March for Life.

The event was sponsored by Notre Dame’s Right to Life Club and SMC’s Belles for Life. Becase these clubs receive funding from the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture, students and faculty members traveled to the East Coast for $35 a ticket.

At least 330 members from the tri-campus community attended the event, according to Notre Dame’s Right to Life’s bus roster.

Courtesy of Bridgette Rodgers

“Over the past few years, we’ve had 700 to 800 students attend the March for Life,” Fr. Terrence Ehrman, the chaplain for Right to Life said. “This year’s attendance is down from the average, but I think that is because people are focusing on the state level.”

On Friday, students attended Life Fest at the D.C. Armory. The event included different speakers and a mass run by the Sisters of Life in New York City. There were four bishops, a Cardinal and approximately 100 priests in attendance — including four from Notre Dame.

Around lunch, students took a group picture at the Washington Monument at the National Mall.

The afternoon’s events concluded with the Rally for Life and the March for Life. According to Ehrman, in previous years, the route used to pass by the Supreme Court building. This year, it was rerouted to pass in front of the Capitol building.

“This symbolizes, now, the issue is in the hands of the states,” he said.

On Friday night students slept in sleeping bags on the floor of gymnasiums and classrooms in the basement of St. Charles Catholic Church in Arlington, Virginia. Students’ packing lists included pillows and blankets, along with a message from Gregory Pratt, the event organizer: “This is a pilgrimage, so we encourage you to pack simply!”

The next morning, students woke up early to attend a holy Mass presided by Ehrman on Blessed Basil Moreau’s feast day. Mass was celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in northeast D.C. adjacent to Catholic University.

Students spent the rest of the evening in D.C., with some optionally choosing to participate in Cardinal O’Connor’s conference on life from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Buses departed for Notre Dame at 7:15 p.m.

While reflecting on the event, many students discussed how the March for Life brought them closer to their fellow club members.

“Seeing the passion, courage, dedication and innovation that these young 17 and 18-year-old undergraduates have for the pro-life cause was extremely inspiring and emotional,” law student Abe Arun said.

Jackie Nguyen, Notre Dame Right to Life’s director of design, was surrounded by community — and her own designs.

“This year, surrounded by Marian apparition posters that hailed our Marian theme, we joined hands and began singing the Alma Mater to Our Lady,” she said.

Anne Marie Bollman, Notre Dame Right to Life’s let them live commissioner, was also struck by the different communities that she encountered at March for Life.

“It was a great bonding opportunity within the Notre Dame group to drive overnight with these people and then sleep on a parish floor together,” Bollman said. “The event was also organized by Notre Dame alumni in D.C., so it was really special to see some of my friends who had graduated in the past few years.” She also felt like being a part of the larger anti-abortion community that weekend was a special experience.

Ehrman postured that the March for Life is changing in a post-Dobbs United States.

“The question is what’s going to happen to the March for Life? It was successful, right?” he said. “The March existed to overturn Roe V. Wade, but now that it’s overturned, abortion still exists in our country.”

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