THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS ESTABLISHED 1966
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2025 | VOL. LX, NO. 33
Bishop Rhoades rebukes Trump By Liam Kelly Editor-in-Chief
Just a week after the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued its first special message in 12 years condemning the Trump administration’s deportation tactics, Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend spoke at the Notre Dame Law School. He delivered a message on the importance of religious liberty and humane care for immigrants. Rhoades serves as an advisor to the White House’s Religious Liberty Commission and until last week was the chairman of the USCCB’s Committee for Religious Liberty, when he was elected secretary of the USCCB. In his speech, delivered Monday afternoon in the McCartan Courtroom and sponsored by the Law School’s Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic, Rhoades offered his support for the USCCB’s special message and condemned the anti-immigrant rhetoric and deportation policies
of the Trump administration. “In last week’s special message on immigration, we expressed our strong opposition to the indiscriminate mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, we expressed our serious concerns for the welfare of immigrants, living in fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement, along with the vilification of immigrants,” Rhoades said. At the same time however, Rhoades recognized the right of the United States to defend its borders and ensure immigration occurs legally. “We truly do recognize our nation’s responsibility to regulate its borders and to have a just and orderly immigration system for the common good,” he said. “We note that without such processes, immigrants face the risk of trafficking and other forms of exploitation.” Rhoades drew particular attention to the ways in which Catholic see “Rhoades” on page 2
Lyons residents to be uprooted By Gray Nocjar Managing Editor
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. Lyons Hall opened in 1927 as the eighth residence hall at Notre Dame, and today, it is the fifth-oldest dorm in continuous use. It has been renovated twice: in 1974 to welcome its first female
residents, and in 2013 to add a kitchen and communal spaces. Lyons Hall has lounges with kitchens on all five of its f loors, but the dorm does not have any study rooms. Lyons also lacks an elevator and air conditioning and is not wheelchair accessible. After the renovation was announced, cheers could be heard, but reactions to the news were varied. Sophomore Maria Aboujaoude, one of two copresidents of the hall’s executive team, expressed optimism that the residents would retain their shared identity during the transition. “It’s definitely a shock to hear it, but I know that our see “Lyons” on page 3
NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
Pope Leo XIV meets with Notre Dame leadership By Henry Jagodzinski Assistant Managing Editor
Pope Leo XIV met with a delegation from the University of Notre Dame on Friday for the first time in his pontificate. The University delegation included University President Fr. Robert Dowd, vice president for mission engagement and Church affairs Fr. Austin Collins, vice president and chief of staff Ann M. Firth, chair of the Board of Trustees John Veihmeyer Courtesy of the University of Notre Dame and his wife Beth Veihmeyer. The University made University President Fr. Robert Dowd (left) and Fr. Austin Collins no public announcement (right) stand for a photo with Pope Leo XIV in the Apostolic Palace. of the visit in advance of the meeting. It announced between University officials a smaller group of Notre on Monday that the audience and a pope since Feb. 1, 2024, Dame officials met with Leo former University in a more private audience. had taken place three days when “This was the first meeting President Fr. John Jenkins prior. Plans for the meeting with and the Board of Trustees we were actually in his ofthe first American pope had met with Pope Francis. Dowd fice,” Collins said. According to Collins, Leo been in the works for months, was also in attendance for however, Collins said in an that 2024 audience and was spent a significant portion of of Notre interview with The Observer. president-elect This is the first meeting Dame at the time. This time, see “Pope” on page 3
Students arrested at protest take pre-trial diversion By Mara Hall News Writer
In May 2024, 17 Notre Dame students were arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing following a proPalestine protest. Nearly 18 months later, all the students have completed pretrial diversion stipulations. Pretrial diversion is an option for nonviolent, first-time offenders who agree to complete specific requirements in exchange for having criminal charges dropped. According to Ariel Thelander, a graduate student who was arrested, the requirements in this case included paying court fines and agreeing to refrain from criminal activity for a year. Background information On May 2, 2024, protestors
gathered on a grass lawn near Hammes Bookstore to read a letter addressed to then University President Fr. John Jenkins. According to The Observer, the letter articulated three demands: divestment from the University’s investments in military contractor companies, a reevaluation of the University’s ties with Israeli universities and the dismantlement of the 15-minute rule, a Vietnam War-era policy which manages protests on campus and requires prior approval from the University administration. Under the 15 minute rule, students can face disciplinary consequences after 15 minutes of an unregistered demonstration. “It wasn’t supposed to be a protest or even a demonstration. It was just supposed to be a gathering of students who
were dedicated to talking about Palestine. That is what we did for the majority of our events,” Connor Marrott, who was arrested during the protests, said. (Editor’s note: Marrott is a former columnist for The Observer.) Atalia Omer, professor of religion, conflict and peace studies believes students saw the demonstration as a way to put ethics into practice. “They wanted to be heard by the administrators. In the classroom, we are taught to do the right thing, to put into action what they are learning in terms of ethic — in terms of ethical commitment to the most vulnerable — and they felt very strongly a sense of urgency that they could not continue business as normal so they wanted see “Protest” on page 4
NEWS | PAGE 2
OPINION | PAGE 5
SCENE | PAGE 7
SPORTS | PAGE 8
SPORTS | PAGE 12
Notre Dame decided to remain test-optional for the next admissions cycle.
Columnist Sophia Anderson explains why being boredom isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.
The stage is set for a first-time Album of the Year winner at the 2026 Grammys.
The Irish return home to play Bellarmine following a heartbreaking loss to Ohio State.
Nine champions were crowned during Tuesday evening’s finals in Dahnke Ballroom.
Test-optional
Boredom
Grammys
Men’s basketball
Baraka Bouts finals