ND Administration: Who do they follow?

irish68178
Thu, 14 Jun 2007 01:11:56 +0000

There is no doubt that Notre Dame is an elite university, and I am very proud to be an alum. However, I think it is very important that we are an elite CATHOLIC university. There are plenty of elite universities, but we need ND to be an elite Catholic university so that those who want to have a Catholic experience but also go to an elite college have that choice. I will be honest, I looked strongly at transferring to Franciscan University because I was worried about ND being Catholic enough. If it was any more secular, I may now be a graduate of Franciscan University.

I know the school attracts a lot of great students, and that is fantastic, but it should not trade its Catholic character for getting the best students. In my opinion, if we only get the best students who also want a Catholic experience, fantastic, that is fine. While academics are first and foremost, we have to be a Catholic university. If not, we may as well be like Georgetown or Duke (Methodist); religious schools where religion doesn’t matter.

I will be honest, in all respect to Fr. Hesburgh I disagree with him on some things, and I think Land O’ Lakes was a bit too liberal. ND became a great university and got the following we have now in large part because we are a Catholic school. My great aunt gave a great amount of her salary to Notre Dame for example…we never had anyone who had ever gone to Notre Dame and we had no connection with the school…but it was the best Catholic school and that was important to her. That is our legacy in my mind.

I am proud to call myself an alum of the University of Notre Dame, and I think that is safe with Fr. Jenkins. I pray, however, that I never have to be ashamed to call myself an alum (as I frankly would be with Georgetown). Don’t get me wrong, Georgetown is a great school, but if ND did that I think it would truly be a tragedy.