THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS ESTABLISHED 1966
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2026 | VOL. LXI, NO. 3
NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
Observer appoints ND’s third geothermal plant new management set to go online this year By Observer News Staff 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. “The Observer is composed of incredibly driven, passionate and diligent students, and I feel honored to be able to support and work alongside them in a new capacity.” Tadajweski is originally from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and lived in Lyons Hall before relocating off-campus. She majors in American studies and film, television and theatre at Notre Dame. She joined The Observer news department in August 2023 and has written over two dozen articles since. Tadajweski served as a production assistant and an associate news editor under former Notre Dame news editors Isa Sheikh and Liam
Kelly. She became an assistant managing editor under then-editor-in-chief Kelly, and retained that position in March. “Grace is the epitome of dedication at The Observer,” editor-in-chief Gray Nocjar said of the new appointment. “She has worked the late nights, sat in for the most tense Editorial Board meetings and she has witnessed more changes to the paper than anyone. Through it all, she has stayed the course.” As managing editor, Tadajweski is responsible for implementing the editorial policies of the newspaper and leading a majority of shifts to create The Observer’s twice-weekly print newspaper. “The Observer is an invaluable vessel for accountability, transparency, connection and voice for the tri-campus community,” Tadajweski said. “Its work is important, and I am thankful to be a part of the team that ensures this historic institution lives on.”
By Mara Hall Associate News Editor
The geothermal plant attached to the Joyce Athletic Convocation Center, known as the Southeast Plant is expected to be online by the end of this year. The Southeast plant is Notre Dame’s third plant with a well field and is located under the parking lot south of the Joyce Center. The original plant, the South Plant, is located in the basement of Walsh MARA HALL | The Observer Family Hall of Architecture, with a well field in the parking lot north of The hot water supply leaves the Southeast Plant via an underground the building. The second plant, the steam tunnel system. The geothermal plant will open later this year. East Plant, is located just east of the practice rugby fields, with well fields move heating hot water and chilled due to the relatively similar length of hot and cold seasons. The long-term water around campus.” underneath. He added that campus has long maintenance of ground temperaIn speaking about the addition of the Southeast plant, Paul Kempf, as- had a chilled water piping system tures sustains the system. The latest plant is one of multiple sociate vice president of utilities and underground, but the heating hot maintenance, said, “It is located in water system is being built to even- Notre Dame sustainability initiaa place that we take as part of oth- tually replace the steam systems tives. Unlike steam, hot water enables the electrification of the system er projects tying these three plants Notre Dame relies on. Kempf noted that the region is together, so they work together as an integrated distribution system to well-suited for geothermal plants see “Geothermal” on page 3
Kylemore Abbey marks 10 year anniversary with ND
ND releases ticket lottery results
By Andrew Poulton
By Andrew Poulton
The University of Notre Dame and Kylemore Abbey recently celebrated their 10th anniversary of partnership. The celebrations took place at the University’s second annual Threshold Festival at Kylemore, with University President Fr. Bob Dowd in attendance to say Mass. While the Benedictine Community — a religious monastic tradition tracing back to the fifth century — has had a monastery at Kylemore Abbey since 1920, the University began its partnership with Kylemore in 2016. A plethora of opportunities have been offered at Kylemore Abbey over the past decade for undergraduate and graduate students alike, including summer courses, leadership and residency programs, research opportunities, graduate programing for PhDs and masters
students in Irish Studies with additional conferences and seminars during the year. The Threshold Festival was themed “The Smiling Public Figure: Wit, Satire, and Irony in W.B. Yeats.” From July 30 to Aug. 2, the Notre Dame and Kylemore communities gathered to celebrate a new visual arts exhibition, live music in Kylemore’s chapel, a panel
discussion from Abbey Theatre and a performance from the Wexford Festival Opera with emphasis on William Butler Yeat’s works and legacy. Awarded the Noble Prize for Literature in 1923, Yeats is largely regarded worldwide. “W. B. Yeats is one of our greatest poets and writers and
On Thursday, Notre Dame Athletics released its ticket lottery results for this year’s edition of the Shamrock Series. Following a one-year hiatus of the Shamrock Series, the Irish will face off at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 6 against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. On July 22, students received the annual email from Notre Dame Athletics announcing the opening of student ticket purchases. In addition to the discount for all home games, department offered one ticket to the Purdue match-up and two for the Shamrock Series. The email stated that a lottery would take place if demand exceeded supply. The lottery process was last used for the 2025 College
NEWS | PAGE 3
OPINION | PAGE 6
SCENE | PAGE 10
SPORTS | PAGE 11
SPORTS | PAGE 15
The new space features three new classrooms, collaboration spaces and faculty offices.
Saint Mary’s College President Katie Conboy welcomes new students to campus.
Nolan didn’t make “The Odyssey” — he made “Oppenheimer 2.”
Sports editor Ben Hicks offers his opinion on what is wrong with sports.
Associate sports editor Henry Lytle on Notre Dame cutting funds for 17 programs.
Associate News Editor
Mendoza addition
Associate News Editor
LUKE FOLEY | The Observer
Notre Dame recently celebrated 10 years of partnership with the Benedictine Community at Kylemore with the Threshold Festival.
SMC welcome letter
see “Kylemore” on page 5
‘The Odyssey’
Editor’s column
Football Playoff National Championship against Ohio State at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Observer reported that 3,400 students applied for tickets to the game. Of those, 1,000 tickets were granted to the University — 500 made available by the CFP for student use and the remaining 500 left for the University’s own allotment. Last season offered no gamers closer than Pittsburgh, and the lottery system remained dormant. Multiple students who got tickets through the lottery process expressed excitement about the upcoming game. “I’m excited. I wasn’t really expecting it,” sophomore Logan Hykes said. “I thought it was going to be pretty selective.” “I was a little worried see “Tickets” on page 3
Budget cuts