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Articles by Gray Nocjar
Notre Dame introduces violence prevention modules for returning students
This fall, the University of Notre Dame rolled out a set of new violence prevention modules — now annually required for all returning undergraduate students beginning this year. The announcement was shared via email by the Division of Student Affairs and signed by Fr. Gerry Olinger, vice president for student affairs, and Erin Oliver, assistant vice president for institutional equity and Title IX coordinator on Sept. 2.
The Observer promotes new managing editor
Grace Tadajweski, The Observer’s longest-serving assistant managing editor, took over Friday as managing editor — the paper’s No. 2 position. “I’m very excited to be stepping into the role of managing editor,” Tadajweski said of the new position.
Notre Dame investigates McGlinn rector for alleged sexual misconduct
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story which references allegations of sexual misconduct whose authorship has not been identified by The Observer or administrator(s) of shareyourstory.notredame, an Instagram account where the allegations originated. References to allegations are not intended to be construed as evidence of their accuracy or credibility.
Princeton presses pause on Irish lacrosse dynasty
Under the weight of back-to-back national titles, Irish backs finally broke — sinking in the mud of Scott Stadium, 16-9, to senior Chad Palumbo and the Princeton Tigers. A hopeful 3-0 start for the No. 2-seeded Notre Dame lacrosse team became a laugh after No. 1 Princeton took off for 11 unanswered, including an 8-0 second quarter. A valiant second half put some air back in Irish lungs, but not enough to power past a rugged Tigers offense.
New taxidermy additions underscore expansion plans by Museum of Biodiversity
A polar bear, a 500 pound walrus and avian species from around the globe all went on display last month along the galleria of the Jordan Hall of Science. The Museum of Biodiversity, led by curator Joanna Larson, is in charge of the animals — their care and upkeep, protection from vandalism and their location within the science hall or elsewhere. “We trust that Notre Dame students are not going to try to ride the polar bear,” Larson said of the exhibit’s open placement in Jordan Hall.
Student groups, community members and Sycamore Trust offer perspectives on ‘March on the Dome’
Editor’s Note: This is the second article in a series covering the Feb. 27 protest of Susan Ostermann’s promotion to direct the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. Student groups and Sycamore Trust offered their opinions on an upcoming demonstration to protest the appointment of Susan Ostermann to lead the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. Sycamore Trust, an organization aiming to uphold Notre Dame’s Catholic identity, put out a tweet Sunday announcing the protest.
UZIMA! dance founder, South Bend TV host Kelly Burgét dies at age 60
Kelly Burgét, a South Bend television host and founder of UZIMA! Drum and Dance Company, died at age 60. Burgét passed away after a long battle with lung cancer, despite being a non-smoker. She was a classically trained artist who performed at Lincoln Center and appeared on "Sesame Street" before moving to South Bend. In 2012, she founded the nonprofit UZIMA! to celebrate West African song, dance and culture.
Grojean Hall selects Penguins as mascot in shark-tank pitch night, forming new identity
The incoming residents of brand-new Therese Mary Grojean Hall will call themselves the Penguins next academic year after concluding with 20 ”Shark Tank“-inspired pitches for prospective mascots in a two-hour hall government meeting last Tuesday. Howard Hall’s executive board hosted the event in “The Pond,” a communal space alluding to the dorm’s own mascot, the Ducks. Howard Hall rector Anna Kenny presided over the meeting and presented two of her own options: Puffins and Foxes.
Irish restrained by Husky defense in blowout loss
The unranked Notre Dame women’s basketball team produced flashes of hope in a Monday afternoon brawl against No. 1 UConn in Storrs, Connecticut. But a flash became a distress signal, and an even second quarter gave way to a 85–47 thrashing-in-the-jaws of a devastating Huskies defense. The Irish entered the affair on a three-game streak of upset victories against the perennially championship contender Huskies. UConn had last won against Notre Dame on Dec.
A Tall Order | Notre Dame Magazine | University of Notre Dame
On a campus of more than 1,250 acres — with more than 13,000 students and about 8,300 employees — Notre Dame must tackle some massive tasks to keep itself running smoothly. Some of these jobs require hundreds of workers, tons of materials and staggering man-hours of physical labor. By the numbers, here are some of the duties that Notre Dame people handle in a big way. Dining halls Photo by Matt Cashore ’94 Food variety in the dining halls is a common topic of debate among students.
Irish Mark Half-Century of Women’s Varsity Sports | Notre Dame Magazine | University of Notre Dame
First women’s varsity tennis team, 1976-77 In 1976, fencing and tennis became the first two women’s varsity sports at Notre Dame. Fifty years later, 13 female varsity squads share a legacy that includes 16 national championships, hundreds of All-America honors and dozens of Olympians — achievements accumulated over decades of athletic dedication that created lifetimes of good memories for participants. At first, involvement in varsity athletics wasn’t an option for Notre Dame women.
Thanksgiving storm creates travel odysseys for returning students
Junior Maria Emilia Quiroga was nearing the end of a snowy, hour-long drive from northwest Indiana to campus. She had just passed The Inn at Saint Mary’s when she was rear-ended. The driver had lost control in the icy weather, turning a quick trip into an odyssey. Quiroga’s accident was one of several unfortunate stories among returning students that arose out of the potent winter storm that swept the Midwest over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Lyons residents uprooted by major dorm renovation
Residents emphasize community strength and express optimism for an improved building Lyons Hall will become the Lyons community in Zahm Hall for the 2025-2026 academic year as the dorm undergoes its first major renovation in over a decade. Hall rector Karla Diaz broke the news to residents at a Tuesday meeting in the hall’s All Souls’ Chapel. Associate vice president for Residential Life Karen Kennedy also spoke at the gathering and answered questions about the transition.
University denies porn filter, renews promise on opt-in version
Notre Dame held multiple dialogues with SCOP leadership over instituting a campus-wide filter on pornographic content Students for Child-Oriented Policy (SCOP), a University-sponsored club, met twice this semester with Notre Dame officials to discuss implementing a pornography filter on campus Wi-Fi. The University denied the request for a blanket filter, but is adopting a SCOP effort to reintroduce an optional content censor.
The Long Road Home | Notre Dame Magazine | University of Notre Dame
I’m sitting on a curb outside a vape store travel center co-op on the outskirts of Texarkana in northwest Texas. The pair of golden-brown aviators I’m wearing belong to a man I just met a few minutes ago, and I’m holding a rusty metal baton, also not mine. I’m trying to understand a YouTube how-to by Dan the Wheelchair Man on troubleshooting lift ramps for a Greyhound bus. A group of four stare at me, waiting for my instructions. How did I get here?
'Rockne' exhibit artifacts break new ground on Notre Dame coach's famous legacy
Gray Nocjar Special to The Tribune The History Museum in South Bend is hosting an exhibit titled “Rockne: Life & Legacy” about the legendary Notre Dame football coach. Artifacts on display include personal items, memorabilia and even pieces from the 1931 plane crash that killed the coach. Donations for the exhibit came from the Rockne family, Notre Dame Archives and private collectors. The exhibit, which features over 100 artifacts, will be on display through May 31, 2026.
Don't invite Trump to speak at commencement
We recognize the importance of intellectual discourse, both among the student body and within the editorial board at The Observer. A diversity of perspectives strengthens our work and challenges us to think critically. However, given the weight of the argument presented in last week’s “Invite Trump to speak at commencement” editorial and the significance of the topic, we believe it is important to clarify that the editorial does not speak for all of us at The Observer.
A lens into our football season
There were approximately 78,000 people in Notre Dame Stadium when Mitch Jeter lined up for a last second 62-yard prayer against NIU. Nearly all eyes were on him, but mine were on the uprights. I stood directly under the goalpost with a Nikon D7500 camera and an 18-140 mm lens. I was in a focused, rigid stance, anticipating what I thought would be the defining shot of the evening. As it turned out, I couldn’t have been more wrong. There are two things you should know about me before I tell this story.
Student ticket lottery exceeds Ohio State’s, falls short of demand
The Fighting Irish are set to appear in the 2025 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship on Monday, but tri-campus undergraduates face challenges securing their own spot at the game. Despite a lottery system that offered more tickets than Ohio State’s student allotment, demand on campus still exceeded the supply of tickets available. On Jan.
Michelle Thaller presents in Christmas lecture in South Bend
In a lecture all about stars, speaker Michelle Thaller was the brightest in the room. On Friday, Dec. 6, the retired assistant director for science communications at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center hosted the annual Christmas lecture sponsored by Notre Dame’s College of Science.
Fireside chat illuminates enduring ‘friendship’ with Ukrainian Catholic University
On Tuesday afternoon, Volodymyr Turchynovskyy, dean of the social sciences faculty at the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) in Lviv, Ukraine, sat down with Nitesh Chawla, founding director of the Lucy Family Institute for Data & Safety, for a fireside chat on Ukrainian resilience and university partnerships in the Hesburgh Center Auditorium.
Election night 2024 at Notre Dame: a minute-by-minute account
6:30 p.m. — Jordan Hall: The College Democrats gathered in formal attire for a watch party, as students awaited the election results with anticipation. The event featured MSNBC’s live broadcast on two large screens, providing a central space for around 35 students to follow the unfolding results. 7:00 p.m. — DeBartolo Hall: The College Republicans set up for their watch party at 7 p.m. in the main auditorium of Debartolo Hall. CNN’s election coverage played on the three large projector screens.
Campus lights highlight rare diseases on Leap Day
Word of Life Mural lit green, red, blue On the last day of February, the University observed Rare Disease Day. A host of events including patient testimonials, research panels and faculty presentations were organized to promote the day and provide a space to encourage further study into rare diseases. The events were championed by Notre Dame’s Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases.
Museum of Biodiversity displays new taxidermy acquisition
If you have stopped by the Jordan Hall of Science recently, you may have found it hard not to notice the newest exhibit on display at the Notre Dame Museum of Biodiversity. A taxidermy of an adult giraffe has been placed in the main galleria opposite the museum, and plans are for it to become a permanent addition to that space, as well as others to join soon.
Tax Assistance Program assists low-income locals with filing taxes
For over 50 years, the Vivian Harrington Gray Notre Dame-Saint Mary’s Tax Assistance Program (TAP) has provided free income tax return preparation services for low-income residents of the South Bend community. TAP’s services are legally available to any U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident living in Indiana or Michigan who has an individual income of less than $32,000, or less than $64,000 for families.
John Mearsheimer talks war and International Politics
Students and faculty packed a room in Jenkins-Nanovic Hall for an international relations lecture given by John J. Mearsheimer. The professor of political science from the University of Chicago spoke on his newest paper, titled “War and International Politics.” The lecture was part of a seminar series hosted by the Notre Dame International Security Center. Mearsheimer began by outlining three key themes that would encompass his lecture.
Fall in love with NSR's autumn show 'Love's Labor's Lost’ // The Observer
To everything, there is a season, and to every season of Notre Dame’s end-of-semester performances, there is Shakespeare. William Shakespeare runs deep at Notre Dame. 1864 marks the first full production of a Shakespeare production at the University. 1997 marks the revival of the student-run Shakespeare troupe Not-So-Royal Shakespeare Co. (NSR).
Notre Dame hosts robotic football fall combine
The Collegiate Robotic Football Conference (CRFC) held their 2023 fall combine at Notre Dame on Saturday. The event was conducted in the Stepan Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and featured teams from four other Midwestern universities: Valpraiso University, Trine University, Calvin University and Ohio Northern University. The CRFC manages an annual football tournament played by remotely driven robots designed individually by collegiate teams.
Drag queens perform at DPAC amid outrage and protest
Friday night, as chants of “Jesus loves all” and prayers of the rosary competed outside, the drag artist Blair St. Clair took stage in the Philbin Studio Theatre for an event entitled “What A Drag.” Crowds with signs and banners gathered to protest the performance, faced by others in a counterprotest. St. Clair — the stage name used by Indiana native Andrew Allan Bryson — is known for competing on the reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Kellogg Institute panel debates democratic backsliding worldwide
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Kellogg Institute panel debates democratic backsliding worldwide
The Kellogg Institute of International Studies hosted a panel, “Global Democracy at Risk: Why it Matters and What Can be Done,” Thursday in the Hesburgh Center Auditorium. The five speakers included University professors, directors of democratic institutions and foreign political figures. The primary topic concerned democratic backsliding, which is the slow decline of democratic values and the rise of authoritarian elements with traditionally staunch democratic institutions across the globe.
Consumer notices of lead results in drinking water posted in dorms
In mid-September, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) posted a series of consumer notices on lead concentration across Notre Dame undergraduate residence halls and other academic facilities. The notices were a product of 43 samples taken in two rounds of testing by Facilities Designs and Operations (FDO) in the Office of the Executive Vice President, which is responsible for monitoring the quality of drinking water on campus. In the first round of testing conducted Aug.
Blessing of the Pets ceremony brings South Bend together
A parade of basset hounds and Yorkshire terriers, some dressed in denim clothing sewn with embroidered strawberries and pineapples, marched along South Quad Sunday afternoon, headed to a “Blessing of the Pets” at the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Fr. John Santone, a professor of theology and the priest-in-residence in Flaherty Hall, was responsible for proffering the blessings. “A blessing is invoking God and seeking his kindness, favor and goodness,” Santone said. “We do this when blessing the pets.
Colson Whitehead talks fiction writing at DPAC
The floor of Patricia George Decio Theatre in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center was brimming with anticipation on Wednesday for “A Conversation with Colson Whitehead.” The two-time Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction was this year’s Rev. Bernie Clark C.S.C. Lecturer, a discussion established by the Center for Social Concerns in 2009 for the purpose of illuminating those who promote justice, human dignity and the common good.
Hesburgh Library marks 60th birthday with open house of Holtz reading room
The University celebrated Hesburgh Library’s 60th birthday during an open house in the new Beth and Lou Holtz Family Grand Reading Room on Wednesday evening. Around 700 Notre Dame students, faculty members and alumni attended the occasion, according to library staff. Camille Martinez, an event specialist for Hesburgh Libraries, was responsible for coordinating the open house.
Irish men place first, women finish runner-up at Joe Piane Invitational
Notre Dame cross country got their first taste of postseason-caliber competition Friday morning. The Irish hosted several nationally ranked teams for the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational at Burke Golf Course. Both Notre Dame sides staked their claims as being among the best teams in the country. The Irish women earned a runner-up finish, while the men claimed the title.
LHOP serves breakfast for dinner, raises money
On Friday, Sept. 15, the five levels of Lewis Hall were abuzz with activity, as the smell of sizzling bacon and fluffy pancakes wafted through the corridors. The signature Lewis House of Pancakes, known as LHOP, ran from 9:00 p.m. to midnight. For just five dollars, students were free to enjoy a variety of breakfast-for-dinner options cooked by an large crew of Lewis Hall residents.
Student senate promotes Red Zone Awareness Week
Wednesday afternoon, the second iteration of the Notre Dame student senate took place. A variety of hall and campus events were publicized, including Red Zone Awareness Week and Teach@ND Day. Nominations for the Judicial Council Election Committee were reviewed and applications for various positions of leadership within the Notre Dame community were explained. In executive announcements, student body vice president Aidan Rezner introduced Red Zone Awareness Week.
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