THE INDEPENDENT
TO UNCOVER
NEWSPAPER SERVING
THE TRUTH
NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S
AND REPORT
AND HOLY CROSS
IT ACCURATELY
VOLUME 59, ISSUE 54 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2025 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
Day of Man initiative raises funds Siegfried Hall hosted their annual Day of Man fundraiser for South Bend Center for the Homeless By MARIA CLARA LOPES CORONA News Writer
oFor nearly two decades, Siegfried Hall residents have participated in the Day of Man, an annual event aimed at raising awareness and funds for the South Bend Center for the Homeless. By braving the winter cold in minimal clothing, participants highlight the challenges faced by the homeless community while collecting donations to support essential services such as food, clothing and shelter. This year’s event surpassed last year’s total of $32,000, with $34,000 raised by Wednesday and hopes of reaching $38,000 before the donation period ends
on Feb. 26. “For two decades, we’ve been chugging along, going outside, walking to class in the cold — you’ve seen our shirts, we rip our sleeves off. We don’t even wear shoes for class,” junior Kevin Sadler, one of the event organizers, said. The tradition traces back to a former Siegfried Hall student who once rushed to class in winter without a jacket, sparking a realization about the harsh conditions faced by those experiencing homelessness. This moment led to the creation of Day of Man as a way to briefly simulate the physical hardship endured by the homeless in South Bend. Sophomore Charlie Griffin, Siegfried’s senator, explained the event’s purpose.
“The phrase we always use is ‘freezin’ for a reason.’ We want to stand in solidarity and experience the winter conditions to show our support. For many people, there’s no option to go inside or add another layer,” Griffin said. Participants collect donations throughout the day with red cups and signs, often standing outside dining halls and academic buildings. Siegfried Hall residents also engage in regular volunteer work at the South Bend Center for the Homeless. “We make a great effort every year to impact the community outside of Notre Dame,” Siegfried Hall president Khalif Cissé said. “We are very privileged to have see MAN PAGE 3
SMC opens sales for formal tickets and merch By SOLEDAD CASTELLANOS
NEWS PAGE 3
Arts and Letters hosts lecture By MARIA CLARA LOPES CORONA
Staff Writer
On Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m., the Residence Hall Association (RH A) of Saint Mar y’s College held its first initial sale for the 2025 formal dance for merchandise and tickets. Premiering their first ever online ticket sale, students lined up in the Student Center commons for a chance to snag a baby pink sweater and scan the ticket QR code. Further adding to the excitement was the second f loor pop-up that displayed light up signage, sweet treats and a backdrop w ith a hint as to what this year’s theme would be. The design read, “Smicks are a Girl’s Best Friend,” a nod to the aesthetic of old Holly wood film. Organizing the event were RH A president junior Bella Perr y, co-chairs junior Mia Therapos, sophomore Kayla Pleiness and freshman Kirra Halfman.
Courtesy of Braeden Smith
Residents of Siegfried Hall pose outside thier dorm at the end of their annual Day of Man homeless fundraiser event on Feb. 5.
News Writer
During his Wednesday lecture, Harvey Young, dean of the College of Fine Arts at Boston University, dissected the intersection of racial justice, public perception and political movements, offering an analysis of recent resistance to an American commitment to
SOLEDAD CASTELLANOS | The Observer
The themed banner was uncovered during the 2025 Residence Hall Association formal reveal on the second floor of the Student Center.
Halfman explained the approaches that the association wanted to take w ith this year’s planning. From picking a theme to decorations and information roll out, the group had to plan considerably ahead for the event on March 29. “[Therapos and I] came up w ith a theme in September, and ever since then, we’ve been planning decorations and all that stuff,” Pleiness said.
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Therapos emphasized her excitement for planning the formal and the ideas she has to offer. “As a junior, I’ve had t wo formals before, and I’ve always been interested in the process of planning and getting ever y thing together,” Therapos said. “I’ve taken notes on what they’ve done in prev ious years, and now we are also see FORMAL PAGE 3
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anti-racism. The lecture, hosted by Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters and titled “How AntiRacism Lost the Popular Vote: Race, Performance & the Idea of America,” provided a historical and cultural examination of resilience and the evolving landscape of activism.
see LECTURE PAGE 4
Students assist people with taxes By SAMANTHA GEBERT Staff Writer
For 53 years, Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame accounting students have been helping other students and local community members with their taxes to gain real-life client experience. According to Colleen Creighton, director of
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undergraduate studies in the accountancy department and assistant department chair of the Mendoza College of Business, “Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s have the second longest continuous VITA program with the IRS.” VITA is a volunteer income tax assistance program. see TAXES PAGE 3
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