Stories published in The Observer

In October 2018, I wrote my first story for The Observer. Since then,"to uncover the truth and report it accurately," has become both my life's mission and passion. I authored stories in all of the paper's four sections (yes, even Sports), but most of my work is part of the News section.

At The Observer, I held different roles. As staff writer, I both reported on events and created the print paper's layout. Even though I spent sleepless nights hunkered at The Observer's office in the basement of South Dining Hall, I count these among my most cherished and formative experiences at Notre Dame, as being part of The Observer led me to discover my passion, helped me develop professionally and personally, and taught me to be enterprising, resourceful and perseverant. 

I was also an inaugural member of the News Department's podcast team. From January to May 2021, I served as one of the hosts for The Recap, a summary of the most important headlines of the week. I have to admit that pivoting to audio was an experience outside of my comfort zone — I'm still learning, but I'm excited to convey stories in a unique way that delivers a feeling of actuality to our audience.

In February 2021, I became the paper's talent and inclusion director and thus a member of the editorial board. Holding this position, my main goal was to make sure our coverage included different groups who traditionally did not see themselves represented within our pages. "Giving a voice to the voiceless" is widely seen as journalism's main objective. However, this role came with an important realization: maybe it was not that people did not have a voice. Maybe we were just not listening to it. My hope was to provide a platform for ALL students to be included, and to always be on the lookout for even the faintest whisper.

Filters & Sorting
The Observer •

Hey, pitcher. I’m ready for the curveballs //

This year, I based my March Madness bracket on the teams’ colors and predicted that Garbanzo College (what I thought Gonzaga University was called) would win. If you’d ask me to explain football, I’d say it’s a bunch of guys running behind a ball. But then again, that’s how most sports go. I’m not a sports person, but I know this: Every batter fears a pitcher’s curveball. Though slower than a fastball, its spin and drop confuse the eye. A curveball’s optical illusion tricks our evolutionary tra
The Observer •

‘This guy is irreplaceable:’ Friends, colleagues remember Lou Somogyi //

Few people understand the grief of losing a beloved pet. When Irish Breakdown publisher Bryan Driskell and his wife, two self-declared animal lovers, had to make the hard decision of putting their dog down, not all could empathize with their overwhelming loss — except maybe their neighbor and Driskell’s colleague, Lou Somogyi. The senior editor for Blue & Gold Illustrated and longtime Notre Dame football reporter sent Driskell a heartfelt letter and a poem. He called to make sure Driskell was
The Observer •

‘We’re more than Bad Bunny and good food’: Puerto Rico Week explores island’s identity //

For some, Puerto Rico might conjure images of oneself lounging beside Caribbean beaches — piña colada in hand — while listening to Bad Bunny’s grooving voice. For others, the island might bring to mind Hurricane Maria’s ravaging winds, two-decades-worth of a crippling debt crisis or former Governor Ricardo Roselló’s scandalous demise from power. Regardless of the case, junior Álvaro Carrillo said his aim as co-president of the Puerto Rican Student Association at Notre Dame (PRSAND) is to prove
The Observer •

‘If you have a voice, you should use it’: Jewish Club of Notre Dame hosts Antisemitism Awareness Week //

When former student body vice president senior Sarah Galbenski announced Notre Dame’s student senate had unanimously voted to pass Resolution SS 2021-37, sophomore Blake Ziegler’s first thought was “Thank you, God.” The resolution not only pushed for the acknowledgement and condemnation of antisemitism, but also called upon the University to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism — one that has been embraced by 29 nations (including the
The Observer •

The Recap Episode 8: University welcomes class of 2025 //

In this episode of The Recap, host Maria Luisa Paul covers the newly-admitted Notre Dame class of 2025 and a program for local entrepreneurs and businesses facing adversity. The Recap is available to stream on Anchor, Breaker, Google Podcasts, RadioPublic and Spotify. Maria Luisa Paul: From the News Department of The Observer, this is The Recap. I’m Maria Luisa Paul, and I’ll be hosting this episode of The Observer’s News podcast — serving Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross. Maria Luisa
The Observer •

Notre Dame alum creates product to convert SUVs into campers, serve homeless people //

As COVID-19 began wreaking havoc on the U.S. a year ago, daily life saw a rise in different challenges and experiences. For many, the pandemic brought financial complications and increased mental health issues. In the midst of a pandemic that is also hurting businesses, Frank P. Quinn, a former administrative assistant at the IDEA Center’s Innovation Lab and Notre Dame alumnus (‘02), found an opportunity to merge his three passions — camping, innovation and giving back — into a startup company.
The Observer •

“It’s a getaway from campus”: Howard Park offers opportunities to de-stress, explore South Bend //

Hailing from Birmingham, Michigan, senior Jenna Wade has ice skated ever since she was a toddler. As a college student, she is a member of the Notre Dame Figure Skating Club’s intercollegiate team. An experienced skater, Wade found a way to inject her passion for ice skating into a fun outing with friends at Howard Park, South Bend’s oldest park located near downtown, at 219 S. St. Louis Blvd. While visiting the park’s popular ice rink, which features an ice trail with varying levels of terrain
The Observer •

‘We'll bring a touch of home’: Africa Week to celebrate African culture, history //

Though COVID-19 has put a dent on travel, from March 15 to 20 the Notre Dame community will have the opportunity to experience African culture through food, art exhibitions, music, dance and dramatic performances. Every year, the African Student Association of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s (ASA) brings “a touch of home” to South Bend through the club’s flagship event, Africa Night. However, ASA president, junior Trevor Lwere, said the club is aiming to cater to a broader audience through a week f
The Observer •

Concerns raised over United States Conference of Catholic Bishops partisanship sparks calls for Vatican investigation //

Sixty years after President John F. Kennedy said to an audience of skeptical Protestant ministers that he was “the Democratic Party’s candidate for president, who happens also to be a Catholic,” President Joseph R. Biden has become the second Catholic to lead the nation. His presidency comes at a time marked by increased polarization of politics and society. Just as in politics, the legacy of Biden’s predecessor, former President Donald J. Trump, overcasts religion.
The Observer •

The Recap Episode 3: Student government election //

In this episode of The Recap, host Maria Luisa Paul covers the results of the 2021 student government election which occurred Wednesday. She also discusses the number of positive COVID-19 cases on campus and recaps the events that were held during Walk the Walk week. Maria Luisa Paul: From the News Department of The Observer, this is The Recap. I’m Maria Luisa Paul, and I’ll be hosting this episode of The Observer’s news podcast — serving Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross. To start off,
The Observer •

‘We are Holy Cross Saints’: Holy Cross builds identity, fosters community through Spirit Week //

No mass gatherings. No hosting guests inside rooms. Long-awaited study abroad plans cancelled, and some classes switched to Zoom. To top it all off, the spring semester began with frosty weather and grey skies. The school year and plans students had anticipated seemed to evaporate. Despite the dreary scenario, Holy Cross College was determined to boost morale and increase the sense of community within the institution. As a result, Holy Cross’s first-ever Spirit Week and Spes UniCup were born.
The Observer •

'You guys are here to legislate': Senate debates amount of signatures, Student Government election petitioning //

The Notre Dame student senate convened Wednesday evening during an agenda-rich meeting. As the night progressed, this student government branch approved two orders, debated procedures pertaining to the forthcoming student body presidential race and culminated with the distribution of sweaters described by senior student body vice president Sarah Galbenski. Once Baumer Hall senator, first-year Daniel Schermerhorn, delivered the opening prayer, the chamber unanimously voted to suspend vacancy ele
The Observer •

‘She would always enjoy every single moment’: Olivia Laura Rojas’ friends reflect on her legacy //

Olivia Laura Rojas had a special talent for bringing people together. Those who knew her remember her as someone who lived life passionately, formed strong relationships easily and remained loyal to every friend she made along the way. Although she was only a first-year student, Olivia’s friends said the tight-knit Latino community at Notre Dame all knew of her. “She was a leader, that type of girl that everyone kind of knows and everyone wants to know,” said junior Juliana Salvatierra Moreno.
The Observer •

Second Women’s March 2020 held in South Bend to honor life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg //

For the past three years, millions — typically clad in pink hats — have taken to the streets in support of the women’s rights movement in January. But this year, the Women’s March organization decided to host a second protest on Oct. 17. While the first Women’s March was held the day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017, this year’s Saturday’s march was organized to both honor late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy and to oppose Trump’s choice to replace her with former Notre Dame law professor, Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
The Observer •

Notre Dame adopts saliva-based testing as part of its surveillance testing strategy //

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical experts have been looking for inexpensive and effective ways to detect positive cases. While nasal swab and nasopharyngeal testing gained traction across the U.S., saliva-based testing is becoming more prominent, with the technology being adopted in the surveillance testing strategies of institutions like University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Yale University, University of South Carolina and Rutgers University.
The Observer •

Dillon Hall senator to resign prior to impeachment proceedings //

Senior Michael Dugan, who serves as Dillon Hall’s senator, has resigned from his student government position effective 6 p.m. Thursday, at the start of the senate meeting scheduled to take place at the same time. The decision to step down comes amid controversy sparked by a Letter to the Editor sent by Dillon officials — including Dugan — in which they criticized the delay to hear a piece of legislation that would prevent Student Union organizations from utilizing funds in companies that profit
The Observer •

SAO hosts virtual Activities Fair after rescheduling in-person event //

Every year, thousands of students attend the Student Activities Office (SAO) Activities Night to sign up and learn about the different clubs, organizations and campus partners that are present at Notre Dame. With the ongoing pandemic making social distancing a necessity, the event — rebranded as Activities Fair — looked a little different. Instead of storming to the booths, with just one click students were able to enter the participating groups’ Zoom calls and talk with representatives Sunday
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Scene

The Scene department offers a myriad of reviews. Through it, writers share their thoughts on music, literature, fashion, film and food.

Filters & Sorting

Viewpoint

In Viewpoint, diverse opinions find their spotlight — some even make national news, as was the case of a Letter to the Editor criticizing leggings. 

Filters & Sorting
The Observer •

An open letter to my abuelo //

When I was three, you sat for hours on the kitchen table with me repeating the random English words I taught you during our “lessons.” Let me tell you: Between my grandmother and you, you were definitely the worst student I had. You pronounced the words as if you had a potato in your mouth. You kept saying you “forgot” them and made me repeat “red es rojo, blue es azul,” a million times. Then you chuckled as I waved my arms in frustration and accepted defeat. When I was four, you became my very
The Observer •

Students’ silence is the loudest noise //

DeBartolo Hall’s room 101 is used to host events when organizers expect a big audience. Yet when I flung its heavy doors open, the massiveness of the room overwhelmed me. In a hall built to hold 465 people, only 13 were present. “I must have gotten the wrong room,” I thought as I awkwardly stood by the door. “Surely more students are coming to the listening session,” I thought as I made eye contact with University President Fr. John Jenkins, who, at this point, was waving at me and telling me t

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