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Stop obsessing over deadlines: Life is made in the margins

With 364 days left until next Christmas, I sit cross-legged on my bedroom floor, which is strewn with Christmas presents, books and scattered pieces of laundry. The time has come to clean out my backpack for the spring semester, a task I enjoy because it feels like I’ve reached a milestone; I’m turning the page on the past and looking forward to something new. To start, I unzip the main pouch of my backpack and slide out the five-subject notebook I used for my fall classes. Flipping through the pages, I notice that toward the end of each subject, bright colors flash out at me.  I pause, stop flipping and land on a page of philosophy notes dated early December. Emblazoned across the top of the page is a highlighter-yellow declaration covered in curlicues: 17 days ’til Christmas break!  I turn the page, amused, and find myself staring at a veritable art piece of pen-illustrated Christmas paraphernalia sprawling across the header. Wedged between a gingerbread house and a criminally neon-green Christmas wreath is a pink drawing of a calendar that triumphantly reads, 15 days ’til Christmas break!

Irish fan cycles across the country in remembrance of 9/11

After the 1993 terror attack on the World Trade Center, lifelong Notre Dame fan Pat McGarry vowed he would never work there again. Eight years later during the Sept. 11th attacks, his biggest fear of another attack came to fruition. This time, there was no escaping the grief. 

Saint Mary's, Sisters celebrate Holy Cross Heritage Month

In honor of the founder of the Congregations of Holy Cross, Saint Mary’s College and the Sisters of the Holy Cross celebrated Blessed Basil Moreau and his legacy with the recently-established Holy Cross Heritage Month.

Black Excellence Dinner awards campus leaders in fourth year

Notre Dame's student government hosted the fourth annual Black Excellence Dinner on Thursday evening, honoring students, faculty and staff whose leadership, service and scholarship have shaped the Black community on campus.

‘Sentimental Value’ is a radically empathetic family portrait

If you had to pick one defining theme of media from this decade, it would be “generational trauma.” Our Best Picture winners are about generational trauma (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”). Our critically acclaimed shows are about generational trauma (“The Bear”). Even our Disney films are about generational trauma (“Encanto”). I’m not saying these are bad — far from it —  but the topic has been exhaustively mined this decade. So when I heard that another generational trauma film was getting buzz at Cannes last year, I was skeptical. But “Sentimental Value” has only grown in stature since its Cannes debut and emerged as a dark horse at the Oscars, scoring a whopping nine nominations, including Best Picture and spots for all four of its main actors. So when the film came to town this weekend in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, I locked in. And as the credits rolled, I was left stunned. Director Joachim Trier’s portrait of a family confronting decades of grief and pain is a radically empathetic look at the ties that bind.

‘Miss Holy Cross’ crowned ‘Miss ND’ at O’Neill Hall’s signature charity event

On a cold Thursday night, in a sold-out Washington Hall, 17 girls fought for the chance to hold the coveted title of “Miss ND.” 

Stop obsessing over deadlines

With 364 days left until next Christmas, I sit cross-legged on my bedroom floor, which is strewn with Christmas presents, books and scattered pieces of laundry. The time has come to clean out my backpack for spring semester, a task I enjoy because it feels like I’ve reached a milestone. I’m turning the page on the past and looking forward to something new. To start, I unzip the main pouch of my backpack and slide out the five-subject notebook I used for my fall classes. Flipping through the pages, I notice that towards the end of each subject, bright colors wink out at me. I pause, stop flipping and land on a page of philosophy notes dated from early December.

Notre Dame women's basketball controls second half to top Stanford

Notre Dame used a strong defensive effort and a dominant third quarter to pull away from Stanford, earning a 78–66 road win Sunday afternoon at Maples Pavilion. The victory marked an important step for the Irish as ACC play intensifies, highlighting their ability to execute in key moments on the road.

Jones-Evers campaign puts forward pragmatic agenda

Elijah Jones, Judicial Council president, and Riley Evers, a student senator, are running for student body president and vice president respectively on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Last week, The Observer interviewed both candidates on their views and goals for their positions.

Students win big for local parish at McGlinn Hall’s signature event

On Friday night, Dahnke Ballroom transformed into a glittering casino, with students dressing up to compete in poker games, win raffle prizes and raise money for a local parish. McGlinn Hall’s signature event, Casino Night, expected an attendance of around 1,000 people dropping in from 8 to 11 p.m. to test their luck.

Fr. Miscamble: Ostermann’s appointment is untenable

The dissimulation evident in the comments of Prof. Susan Ostermann quoted in The Observer, Jan. 30, gives new meaning to the phrase “Paris is well worth a Mass.” Her clever efforts to avoid addressing her strident pro-abortion advocacy can only be described as outright evasion.

McCart, Parikh outline ambitious vision for student government

On Wednesday, Feb. 4, Notre Dame students will elect new student government leaders. Per a Judicial Council email, two campaigns – the Jones-Evers and McCart-Parikh tickets – qualified for the ballot. In an interview with The Observer, Mason McCart, who is running for president, and Luke Parikh, who is running for vice president, discussed their platform ahead of the election. 

Print Edition for Friday, January 30, 2026

Irish men’s basketball faces ACC test against Syracuse

Notre Dame heads on the road Saturday night for another ACC test, traveling to the JMA Wireless Dome to face Syracuse on The CW.

Legendary football coach Lou Holtz reportedly in hospice care

Lou Holtz, former Notre Dame head football coach from 1986-1996, has reportedly entered hospice care. After rumors began circulating across message boards over the weekend, multiple beat writers covering Arkansas and Notre Dame football began reporting the news on Thursday evening.

University develops alternative version of academic mark without Latin motto

In recent months, those viewing Notre Dame’s website and social media presence may have noticed a simplified version of the University’s crest which does not include the Latin phrase “vita, dulcedo, spes.” The phrase, which appears on the seal of the University beneath a cross, translates to “life, sweetness, hope” and is taken from the “Salve Regina” prayer. This change in branding is part of an effort to emphasize the University’s Catholic identity according to director of design and brand identity Tim Legge.

A based guide to looksmaxxing

I was recently browsing the news, i.e. 4chan.org, and I found out something about myself that changed my whole perspective on life. I am a manlet with a weak jawline, small wrist circumference, a negative canthal tilt, and a fear of anything with estrogen. This explains why women always run away from me! It’s not because I scream every time I see one, but it's because I’m hideous! It doesn’t matter, though, I know my boys got me. So I went looking for approval from my fellow man, and I posted a photo of myself on a message board. Scrolling through the comments, I saw one reply that just said, “ah hell nah its over for lil bro.” I fell to my knees in the middle of my pediatrician’s office. Is it really over for me … lil bro? This cannot be, I will not accept this.

‘His and Hers:’ An engaging, if tired story

“His and Hers,” a new gripping thriller on Netflix, presents a compelling narrative, but its mystery falls a little flat compared to its character dynamics.