THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS ESTABLISHED 1966
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2026 | VOL. LX, NO. 49
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Ostermann declines directorship after backlash ‘March on the Dome’ protest to be continued on Friday, despite Ostermann turning down position from the Liu Institute By Observer News Staff Associate professor of global affairs Susan Ostermann has decided to reject her appointment to lead the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. The decision was announced in an email to students of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs from the school’s dean, Mary Gallagher, Thursday morning. Ostermann will remain a faculty member of the Keough School. “Professor Susan Ostermann, a member of the Keough School faculty who was recently appointed director of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, has decided not to move forward as director,” Gallagher wrote. “I am grateful for her willingness to serve and for the thoughtfulness with which she approached this decision.” Ostermann was announced as
incoming director by the University on Jan. 8, with her appointment effective July 1, 2026. Since then, Ostermann has faced backlash from 15 bishops and two cardinals, multiple campus groups and a number of professors for her outspoken abortion rights advocacy in multiple articles in the Chicago Tribune and elsewhere. “The Liu Institute remains ... committed to supporting its faculty, students and staff as they carry forward this important work,” Gallagher wrote. A demonstration to advocate for the University’s Catholic identity and protest Ostermann’s appointment was organized for this upcoming Friday by sophomore Luke Woodyard and junior Gabriel Ortner along with multiple student group sponsors. Woodyard confirmed to see “Ostermann” on page 3
Protest shifts to prayer service
Courtesy of the Keough School of Global Affairs
Associate professor Susan Ostermann had previously been appointed to serve as director of the Liu Institute on Jan. 8. However, due to recent backlash, had recently declined the position in an email sent to students.
International students receive benefits with finance By Zack Pohlman and Zach Ford
Associate News Editor and News Writer
In an email to the Mendoza College of Business’ undergraduate student body on Oct. 27, 2025, assistant dean Andrew Wendelborn announced that in January 2026, the College’s most popular major comes with additional benefits for international students. “I’m pleased to share that Mendoza’s finance major recently
Megan Cornell | The Observer
March on the Dome protest, originally held due to Susan Ostermann’s appointment, has shifted its focus to a prayer service at the Grotto.
By Observer News Staff Student organizers of the “March on the Dome,” protest have changed course for the event and now plan to hold a prayer service today at 6 p.m. The protest was originally planned in response to the appointment of Susan Ostermann to lead the Liu
Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. Ostermann’s appointment had received significant pushback over the professor’s abortion rights advocacy. While student leaders from Catholic and conservative groups on campus initially see “Protest” on page 5
received a STEM designation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This means that the finance major is officially recognized as aligning with one or more fields in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Specifically, the finance major qualifies as STEM by being designated as financial mathematics,” the email read. DHS keeps a list of majors that qualify for work authorization benefits after graduation. It’s up to the University to assign each
major a CIP code aligned with the curriculum, and the finance major’s code was updated in the most recent review. “All F-1 students who complete a degree are eligible to apply for 12 months of work authorization - or Optional Practical Training (OPT), and those with a STEM-designated degree, per Department of Homeland Security, are eligible to apply for an additional 24 months see “Finance” on page 4
Holy Cross announces housing update for fall 2026 By Eileen Doyle News Writer
As Holy Cross College prepares to open its new residence hall in fall 2026, administrators have outlined several updates that will reshape campus housing. While plans for the $12 million residence hall were first announced in May
2025, recent decisions clarify how the space will be structured and how other housing will adjust. The new residence hall will open as an all-male dorm housing students from multiple class years. Pulte Hall, currently a coed residence with women on the second floor and men on the first floor, will transition to an all-female
residence hall. The college will also reduce its use of off-campus housing at University Edge, reserving approximately 80 beds with preference given to seniors. In addition, sixperson apartments in Legacy Hall will convert to four-person units. see “Holy Cross” on page 4
NEWS | PAGE 5
OPINION | PAGE 6
SCENE | PAGE 9
SPORTS | PAGE 14
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SPORTS | PAGE 16