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The Observer, 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN (2025)

12/07/2025

Notre Dame held a Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart for immigrants and immigration reform on Monday. The event was followed by a trip to the Grotto for prayer and further reflection on the state of immigration policy in the United States.

University President Fr. Robert Dowd said that the Mass was inspired by his meeting with Pope Leo XIV and the rare special message from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops condemning “indiscriminate mass deportation” and advocating for immigration reform.

“For some time, I have been thinking a great deal about the immigration issue in our country. A few weeks ago, during the visit that other university leaders and I had with Pope Leo, we talked about a number of things, including his concerns for immigrants in the United States these days. Just before that visit, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a special message on immigration. It was clear to me that it was time for us, as members of the Notre Dame family, to gather in prayer for immigrants as well as for sensible and humane immigration reform,” Dowd said in an email interview.

Story by Lucy Loes

12/07/2025

In addition to navigating the temporary serving areas in South Dining Hall’s west dining room and the partially-under-construction former serving area amid renovations, students have been facing abnormally warm temperatures as they eat in South’s east dining room.

On Dec. 3, measurements taken by The Observer found that dining hall temperatures reached up to 80.1 Fahrenheit.

In a statement, ND Dining confirmed that the renovation efforts are temporarily affecting the heat balance and wrote they hope to resolve the issue over the upcoming Christmas break.

Story by Mara Hall

12/07/2025

At 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, a lab on the second floor of Stepan Chemistry Hall alerted emergency responders to a “suspicious odor,” according to a statement from a University spokesperson. Following the incident, four people were taken to the Notre Dame Wellness Center to be evaluated.

A coalition of emergency teams arrived at the scene. The University deployed units from the Notre Dame Police Department, Fire Department and Risk Management teams. The South Bend Fire Department was also called to assist. Over a dozen vehicles remained parked around the north and southeast entrances to the building for at least three hours.

According to the spokesperson, the chemicals causing the odor were discovered and disposed of. “The lab remains offline until a refrigerator can be replaced,” the spokesperson wrote.

Four individuals brought to the Wellness Center were evaluated “out of an abundance of caution.” All were discharged by 11 a.m. Thursday at the latest.

Story by the Observer Staff Report

12/04/2025

Senior Kristen Rizkalli, a resident assistant in McGlinn Hall, opted for the meal plan with the least amount of swipes and most flex points available to on-campus seniors. The plan features 180 swipes and $1,000 flex points.

The National Weather Service officially announced a Winter Storm and Lake Effect Event on Saturday. “Blowing and drifting snow were reported, with road conditions becoming treacherous,” the statement read. The storm blanketed most of the northwest United States in at least an inch of snow or sleet.

Read more through the news link in our bio.

12/04/2025

As students rush to complete final essays and exams by the end of the semester, they are also rushing to use their remaining meal swipes. With a fixed number every semester and no option for swipes to roll over, unused swipes expire without benefit.

“You don’t use them, you lose them,” Robyn Bruneau, who works at the entrance desk in North Dining Hall, said.

Senior Kristen Rizkalli, a resident assistant in McGlinn Hall, opted for the meal plan with the least amount of swipes and most flex points available to on-campus seniors. The plan features 180 swipes and $1,000 flex points.

Read more through the news link in our bio.

12/02/2025

Over the past few months, legislators in Texas, California and Indiana have considered various bills to redistrict their states’ congressional maps, partly in response to one another’s efforts. This redrawing of maps comes ahead of the 2026 midterm elections as Republicans and Democrats get ready to battle over majority rule in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Presently, Republicans hold the majority in both chambers.

James Curry, a professor of political science at Notre Dame, said redistricting is becoming more and more common and that mid-decade redistricting is particularly unusual.

“What stands out this time is how those pushing for it are not even trying to obscure their reasons for doing it,” Curry wrote in a statement to The Observer. “Trump and other Republicans were explicit in telling Republican legislators in states like Texas and Indiana that they wanted them to find congressional Republicans more seats. Usually, the reasons for these efforts are presented in less starkly transactional terms.”

Story by Mara Hall

12/02/2025

ROTC students’ stipends and training were largely unaffected by the lapse in appropriations, but several ROTC staff were furloughed and ROTC tuition payments to the University have been delayed.

Salaries for federal workers across the country were impacted by the recently resolved government shutdown, but the lapse in appropriations did not reach ROTC students at Notre Dame, whose stipends were unaffected during the shutdown.

Lt. Col. William Kobbe, a professor of military science at the University of Notre Dame working with the Army ROTC program, described his perception of the shutdown’s impact.

“There has been little to no impact on their day-to-day leadership development experience. This is our number one mission, to recruit, educate, develop and inspire senior ROTC cadets in order to commission officers of character for the total Army,” Kobbe said.

Story by Mara Hall

11/22/2025

Less than a month after the University revealed a list of four new “ND Values” for staff which omitted a previous value calling for staff to accept and support the University’s Catholic mission, Notre Dame President Fr. Robert Dowd announced Friday that the University would be adding an explicit reference to the Catholic mission of the University back to the list of values.

The new values were announced to Notre Dame staff during town halls on Oct. 29 and 30 and initially included four values: community, collaboration, excellence and innovation. The prior list of values, instituted by then President Fr. John Jenkins years ago included: accountability, teamwork, integrity, leadership in excellence and leadership in mission. Under the leadership in mission value, the University expected that each staff member “understands, accepts and supports the Catholic mission of the university and fosters values consistent with that mission.”

This change in the ND values was first reported by The Observer on Nov. 14 before being covered by national outlets such as Fox News and Catholic News Agency.

11/22/2025

Turning Point USA, which was newly approved as a student organization at Saint Mary’s College, held their first official event in collaboration with the Leadership Institute. Retired staff sergeant Joey Jones, a Fox News contributor and Fox Nation host, delivered a lecture titled “The American Military Under the Trump Administration” on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Regina Hall

Jones spoke to the roughly 100 audience members about his life leading up to a 2010 IED explosion during his time as an explosive ordnance disposal bomb technician in the Marine Corps, from which he lost his legs and injured his arm.

Senior Mary Gunnell, president of the College’s TPUSA chapter, opened the event by thanking the audience and chapter leaders for their attendance, along with the College for their approval of the chapter. She then provided a brief introduction to Jones’ life growing up, his service in the Marine Corps, the 2010 incident, the position he currently holds in Fox News and his status as a New York Times bestselling author.

Story by Berhan Hagezom

11/20/2025

After more than a century of welcoming undergraduates, Howard Hall at University of Notre Dame will no longer serve as a permanent residence hall following the 2025-26 academic year. Established in 1925 and later converted to a women’s residence in 1988, the historic building will close its doors to undergraduate housing and see its approximately 150 residents transition to the newly built Therese Mary Grojean Hall.

Leadership cited the University’s Residential Master Plan, capacity limitations, and the unique constraints of the building’s design as the reasons behind the decision. Associate Vice President of Residential Life Karen Kennedy explained that “the manner in which the building was constructed ruled out the kind of restoration other residence halls had received.” Current residents responded with mixed emotions—some cheered, some cried—as they learned their community tradition was shifting into a new chapter.

Looking ahead, the University has not yet finalized the building’s future use, though past halls have evolved into offices or temporary housing. Kennedy reassured the Howard community that their legacy would be honored in the transition: “As we prepare for this transition… hall staff, in collaboration with the current Howard community, will decide how to best honor the hall’s legacy.”

11/20/2025

Notre Dame is reshaping the future of admissions by remaining test-optional even as other top universities move back to required SAT and ACT scores. According to VP of Enrollment Micki Kidder, keeping the policy in place “remov[es] financial and logistical barriers for talented students” and stays true to ND’s mission of widening access.

The University is also introducing a new video component to the application, giving students 60 to 90 seconds to speak directly to the admissions team. It’s unedited, authentic and meant to reveal personality and perspective in ways an essay can’t. Students interviewed in the article said the option feels refreshing because sometimes writing alone “doesn’t really reflect my personality.”

Notre Dame plans to review the policy annually, but for now they’re leaning into a more holistic approach—one that values story, voice and character just as much as academics. In a shifting admissions landscape, ND is choosing to look at the whole person.

11/20/2025

Kevin C. Rhoades, Bishop of Fort Wayne–South Bend, delivered a powerful address at Notre Dame Law School on Nov. 17 2025, centered on the twin themes of religious liberty and humane care for immigrants. He strongly condemned mass deportations and anti-immigrant rhetoric, declaring: “In last week’s special message on immigration, we expressed our strong opposition to the indiscriminate mass deportation of undocumented immigrants … we expressed our serious concerns for the welfare of immigrants, living in fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement.”

Bishop Rhoades also recognized the need for lawful immigration systems: “We truly do recognize our nation’s responsibility to regulate its borders and to have a just and orderly immigration system for the common good.” He highlighted how Catholic charities face investigations and funding cuts for simply offering basic aid: “Ministry to migrants is not peripheral to the work of the Church. It’s part of Christian discipleship.”

Finally, he issued a call to action—encouraging his audience to prioritize faith over partisanship: “Be Catholic first, be a disciple of Jesus first, before being a Democrat or being a Republican.” At the heart of his message: faith, dignity and compassion should guide how we treat newcomers and how we protect the freedom to worship.

The Observer

12/07/2025

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