Dialectics: Detroit Red to X.

Dear comrade,

In defense of ‘Olympia’

I’m in Bitondo’s, eating a slice of pizza and watching the Olympics on a cable TV nestled in the corner of the shop. The staff is very Italian — stained wife-beaters, emphatic gesticulating, improbably thick accents given how long ago they emigrated, the whole nine yards — and they’re doing that thing Ellis Island whites love to do: rooting for the athletes from “the motherland” whenever there are no Americans to cheer for. An Italian swimmer wins his heat, and they’re ecstatic.

Irish have four-match shutout streak after defeating Michigan, Butler

The No. 9-ranked Notre Dame women’s soccer is in an early-season groove. The 4-1 Irish, paced by a freshman class achieving ahead of schedule, are on a four-game win streak and have not conceded a goal since Aug. 15. Their streak’s length doubled over the weekend with shutout victories at Michigan and Butler.

Saints rally too late in 5-3 loss to Huntington

On Saturday, the Holy Cross men’s soccer team took the field for their home opener against Huntington. The Saints’ highest-scoring match since 2021 ended in a 5-3 victory for the visiting Foresters. Huntington tallied multiple goals in both halves, riding a brace and five-point night from Dilesh Matel. Holy Cross, meanwhile, now holds a record of 1-3-0 entering September.

‘Gravity Falls’ and the return to summer

In 2012, Disney Channel debuted a new animated series called “Gravity Falls.” Focusing on the mysteries of the titular town through the eyes of twin protagonists Dipper and Mabel Pines, the show was a success on the various Disney cable channels until its conclusion in 2016. The show gained notoriety for its maturity and themes darker than those typical of Disney productions, and it gathered a fandom of audiences of all ages. 

Saint Mary's soccer falls short in opening match

The 2024 soccer season began for the Belle’s this past Friday. The team fell short with a 0-1 loss against the Providence Christian Seabeggars. 

Big Ten releases conference hockey schedule

The Big Ten Conference released its 2024-25 league hockey schedule last week, bringing Notre Dame’s full slate into picture. Notre Dame Athletics had previously announced Irish hockey’s 10-game non-conference schedule. 

Irish open the 2024 season at Winrow Valparaiso Open

The Notre Dame men’s and women’s cross country team opened their 2024 seasons in Valparaiso, Indiana, this past Friday. At the 35th Winrow Valparaiso Open, the No. 3 ranked women’s squad won the team title for the third straight year, while the No. 6 men’s squad finished second to Purdue.

Irish open 2024 season as Catholic Challenge Champions

For the first time since 2020, Notre Dame volleyball has a 2-0 start under its belt. On Saturday, the Irish defeated both Villanova and Santa Clara, becoming the 2024 Catholic Challenge Champions. The weekend of volleyball took place in the Leavey Center in Santa Clara, California, beginning a five-game Irish stint away from home.

Kelly makes eight saves as Irish earn draw at Indiana

On Thursday night, the Notre Dame men’s soccer team renewed its in-state rivalry with Indiana at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. And for the third consecutive matchup, the Irish and Hoosiers finished in a draw. The 2-2 contest, in which Indiana outshot Notre Dame by an 18-6 margin, moved the Irish to 0-0-2 on the young season. They previously wrapped up their home opener against Akron in a 1-1 deadlock on Aug. 22.

Students gather on South Quad for Morrissey Manor game watch

Students gathered on South Quad Saturday evening to watch the Fighting Irish football team beat Texas A&M, bringing out picnic blankets and dorm furniture to get a comfortable view of the big screen.

Foregone moments, present memories, forever buildings

Visiting your childhood neighborhood. Driving by your elementary school. Returning to your hometown after quite a long while. Walking back into your dorm, excited to reunite with your friends. Visiting campus after graduation. A distant warmth surrounds you, and yet, an innate coldness emerges from within. 

What the deuce is to love about 'Challengers'?

The first time I saw “Challengers” was at my hometown’s AMC — not the nice one in the surprisingly-still-vibrant mall, but the grimy one behind the Menard’s. It sort of feels like “The Stanley Parable” in there, or the parts of a Mod Quad dorm which’ve managed to avoid getting remodeled. For such a big multiplex, it’s always ominously quiet; more often than not, the staff outnumber the patrons.

They are human. They deserve to be served.

It was a 40-minute commute from my home in Greenfield, Indiana to my summer job just south of downtown Indianapolis. I worked at a thrift store associated with Saint Vincent DePaul, a Catholic-based charity dedicated to offering education and support for the most vulnerable in our communities. In addition to working the storefront, I volunteered with a branch of their unsheltered ministries. It changed my life, to say the least.

Belles go 3-1 in opening weekend

This past weekend, the Saint Mary's volleyball team went 3-1 in their opening weekend. The Belles won both matches on Friday with a  3-2 win over Penn State-Altoona and a blowout over Penn State-Behrend.

An Irish blessing

It’s never easy getting old. My recently graduated friend has been bombarded with an endless stream of inquisitors who insistently ask: “How are you doing?” Her reply is always: “I’m not dying.” And yet, as my final year looms closer, the reality of my dwindling time and my inescapable graduation sometimes makes me feel like I am, in fact, dying.

‘It was a true four-quarter battle’: Irish march on to victory against Texas A&M

The obvious and overused cliche to describe this game is to call it a rock fight. But nothing else seems to describe the way the Irish came into the hostile atmosphere of Kyle Field and emerged with a hard-fought, 23-13 victory, racking up 356 yards in the process. The stadium literally shook with the energy of 107,315 Texas A&M fans, each roar urging the Aggies on. Yet by the end, the chants of “Let's go Irish” drowned out the 12th Man as Marcus Freeman’s squad defied expectations, securing a statement win in its season opener Saturday evening.

Key moments: Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M

Few Week One games have carried as much weight for a team’s season as this one did for Notre Dame. Entering the season with high expectations for a deep postseason run, the Irish needed to prove themselves. And while facing an SEC team on the road is never easy, the Irish rose to the challenge in College Station. Here are some key moments from the 23-13 victory at Texas A&M.

Print Edition of The Observer for Friday, August 30, 2024

Student Involvement and Resource Fair offers students space to find community

Over 100 tables lined the grass of Library Green on Saint Mary’s campus Thursday evening to promote local resources, campus departments and student organizations at the Student Involvement and Resource Fair, sponsored by the Office of Student Involvement.