THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS ESTABLISHED 1966
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 | VOL. LX, NO. 5
NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
Notre Dame readies for Saturday’s Zach Bryan concert By Sophie Hanawalt, Zack Pohlman and Megan Cornell
The concert is the latest example of the University using the stadium for events beyond football. Sicinski said these events, such as the NHL’s Winter Classic and the soccer match between Celtic FC and Chelsea last year, help to broaden the University’s reach by bringing in new visitors. “I’m really excited for so many people who probably don’t know what Touchdown Jesus is to experience Notre Dame,” Sicinski said. In anticipation of the concert, various stakeholders both on and off campus have prepared for a busy weekend.
Notre Dame News Editor and Associate News Editors
With 80,000 people packing its seats each football Saturday, Notre Dame Stadium is no stranger to big events. Saturday, however, the stadium will host a different kind of event, as country music artist Zach Bryan and comedian Shane Gillis perform at the stadium’s first concert since Billy Joel in 2022. In addition to the bowl, 7,500 floor seats will be filled. Experience Notre Dame and its campus partners are preparing for a busy event. “It’s basically a sold-out show. We had incredible attention at the point of sale, basically selling out at that point,” Lee Sicinski, executive director of University events said at a Thursday press conference regarding the event. “So tickets can be found online, but for all intents and purposes, it’s a sold out show.”
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Zach Bryan will headline the first concert held in Notre Dame Stadium since 2022 on Saturday. The University’s events team must navigate a quick turnaround before Notre Dame Football’s home opener next week.
New washing machines installed in residence halls
MEGAN CORNELL | The Observer
Notre Dame students shared their satisfaction with the new washing machines, an improvement from last year’s frequently broken ones.
By Sophie Hanawalt
Housing Operations, Dan Rohmiller, said in a statement to The Observer that the a committee of dorm rectors, Residential Life administrators, and University Procurement staff reviewed requests for proposal (RFP) from a number of companies, and evaluated proposals based on reliability, speed of service, and overall student satisfaction. “For students, we anticipate there will be fewer service issues than in previous years, more proactive maintenance on the machines, and easier ways to submit a work order when there is an issue,” Rohmiller wrote. In an email to students sent on August 15, Residential Life praised their nced this too, Students living in the 33 residential communities on Notre Dame’s campus now have new laundry appliances. Over 500 washers and dryers were installed in residence halls over the summer. The upgrade, carried out by Residential Life, fulfills a promise made by student body president emeritus Dawson Kiser, who announced in an April email to
Stadium preparations Sicinski and the University worked closely with promoter AEG Presents to plan the event. Set-up crews have been working in the stadium for the last week to ready for the concert. “All throughout this week, they’re loading in floor covering,” Sicinski said. “First they load the roof, they see “Concert” on page 4
ND raises Red Zone awareness By Jessica Mayor News Writer
From the moment students arrive on campus to Thanksgiving is the time when most sexual assault cases happen on campus, according to University a report, giving the time period the name the Red Zone. Lauren Mulhern, program director for education, outreach and prevention, wrote about the statistics released from their confidential survey conducted last year. “Recently released results from the 2024–2025 Sexual Conduct and Campus Climate survey, which supports the troubling statistics associated with the Red Zone … Survey results show that of those students who indicated they experienced sexual assault in the twelve months prior to taking the survey, 47% of incidents occurred between the start of the fall semester and Thanksgiving break,” Mulhern wrote. Defined by Active* Consent, a research program
created by the University of Galway, active consent is the “practice of actively giving consent and communicating with a partner about consent, boundaries, likes, and dislikes during intimacy, and for all sexual activity.” It mentions that pressure may indicate a lack of consent and that the lack of opposition does not imply consent. Prior to Thanksgiving break, the discussion-based workshops through Active* Consent will be scheduled and hosted within residence halls for students to have the option to attend to. “Active* Consent fosters open dialogue about consent in various contexts, the role of alcohol, and understanding personal boundaries in both intimate and everyday interactions and relationships. Students will receive notifications through NDCentral when workshops are scheduled in their hall,” Mulhern wrote. As a preventive measure,
Students living in the 33 residential communities on Notre Dame’s campus now have new laundry appliances. Over 500 washers and dryers were installed in residence halls over the summer. The upgrade, carried out by Residential Life, fulfills a promise made by student body president emeritus Dawson Kiser, who announced in an April
email to students that he had worked with Residential Life to guarantee that new washing machines would be brought to each dorm come fall. The new machines are managed by vendor Caldwell & Gregory. The company replaces the previous vendor, WASH Laundry, who had been contracted to manage residence hall laundry at Notre Dame since 2020. WASH Laundry’s contract expired in June 2025. Director of Residential Life:
NEWS | PAGE 2
OPINION | PAGE 6
SCENE | PAGE 7
SPORTS | PAGE 8
SPORTS | PAGE 11
Student senate met to discuss upcoming campus events and activites for the fall semester.
Columnist Sophia Anderson writes on the importance of holding ourseselves accountable.
Film debut of Kris Collins in 78 minutes nightmare, a surrealist ‘The Blair Witch Project.’
The Fighting Irish will face the No.4 Hoosiers in their 50th all time matchup.
Notre Dame volleyball will host Illinois after splitting the first two games of the season.
Notre Dame News Editor
Senate preps for fall
Yes to cancel culture
see “Washers” on page 2
On ‘House on Eden’
ND men’s soccer
see “Awareness” on page 4
ND volleyball