Remembered...

Resquiat in pacem

...not forgotten. During the month of November, when we remember All Souls, the University's Book of Remembrance was placed in the Hall's chapel. The Book of Remembrance contained the names, submitted by the Notre Dame family as well as the Hall, of those who had died, and throughout the month, those named were remembered at every Hall mass. Wrapped in the golden mantle of Notre Dame, may they enjoy the peace of Christ!

Guess who's in....

Enjoy the sun while you can!

L.A.? Not me, but Joe Scollan, Steds Senior and RA, is. Spending time in the Golden State with his family and girlfriend, Michelle of PW, Joe is a brave soul who will cheer on the Irish at the Colosseum today. Of his visit, Joe said, "Enjoying the sun at Santa Monica beach, bottling the heat for the return trip, and waiting, of course, for an Irish win."

Steds loves its...

It's true... We do!

...moms! Sorry dads, but Steds is once again hosting its Moms' Weekend, March 20th to March 22nd, 2015. While the exact schedule of events is still being worked out, Mark Grasberger, the Moms' Weekend Commissioner, is gauging interest and taking registrations, and if you haven't received an email from him, it means that your son didn't give Mark your email address! 

If you came last year, come again. If you're new or haven't in the past, make sure to come. The weekend is a great time with your son, his friends, and other Steds moms, and expresses what we Gentlemen never say enough, "We love our moms!"

To request more information or to receive a registration form, click on Mark's name and send him an email.

Rancher Larry says...

Rustle up some turkeys too 

...it's time to say thanks. Yes, the Gentlemen, as I am too, are thankful for all the laughs, Yacht Dances, and memorable times associated with this special place, St. Edward's Hall. Thank you to all who help make the traditions and high jinxes carry on. God's blessing upon you all!

VIDEO: A THANKSGIVING DAY MESSAGE

Oh, the things...

Room 120: University spokesmen or "wisdom people" in disguise?

..the Gentlemen write on their dry erase boards. When you quote the Basilica door, you can't go wrong. Well said…well said indeed Gentlemen!

More News From the Front…

Leading the charge and winners: Team Peshtigo River State Park Correctional Facility

The battle against malaria has taken a decisive turn in the favor of the Gentlemen who on Sunday rallied forces to open yet another front. Taking to the ice of the Compton Arena, the Gentlemen caught the enemy off guard as they stormed the rinks, holding an University wide broomball tourney, Suffice it say, it was just what the campaign needed. On hearing the news from the front, St. Ed said, “It was their finest hour. Gentlemen everywhere have risen to the occasion and done their duty for King and Hall.” On returning from the front, Patrick Krauss said, “The men push through enemy lines and delivered punch after punch to send the enemy home…mullet-less and defeated.” Huzzah!

LAST DAY to join the Gentlemen and deliver one LAST punch against malaria, click HERE.

They got married!

Tony (in the center) with the Sted's wedding delegation

Anthony Piskurich '09, M.Ed '12, and Stephanie Frketic were married this past Saturday at Sacred Heart Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Fellow Stedsmen were attendance as well as Fr. Ralph who was the celebrant and received the couple's vows. The weather was great, but the couple was even better! On Stephanie joining the Sted's family, Nate Uzas '09, Stedsman and Best Man, said, "Just when you think that things can't get better... they get better!"

Your Sunday...

Snow: What's it good for?

...picture from Notre Dame. Here's a picture of North Quad, looking at Stone hedge, just after the snow stopped. Enjoy.

Oh, the things...

Patience is a virtue, possess if you can...

...the Gentlemen write on their dry erase boards. Witty and insightful, and in this case, so true! Still, as we patiently wait for break, let’s not forgot those who are patiently waiting for the brave and courageous Gentlemen to strike a blow against malaria. To join the Gentlemen in their fight, click HERE.

News from the Front.

There is no stopping them.

First Floor Lounge. 20:00hrs.

Mullets Against Malaria continued as it opened up a new front against the enemy. In a surprise move, the Gentlemen cut their hair, revealing their secret weapon, the mullet. The breakout was reminiscent of Pickett’s charge at the Battle of Gettysburg… but this time, it was successful. On the use of shock and awe tactics, Michael Murphy, Sted’s President, said, “My grandfather contracted malaria in the South Pacific during WWII. I just found this out. Suffice it to say, this thing just got personal. Malaria is going down.”

To join the Gentlemen in the fight, click HERE.

Gentlemen Muses.

 "A must see"... and "the feel good campus musical of the semester"

Braeden Fallet and Ned Vogel, Steds junior and sophomore respectively, were co-directors of PEMCo’s (ND’s student-run musical theater group) recent performance of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods. To bring this classic to life, Fallet and Vogel stayed behind the curtain with Fallet directing vocals and Vogel directing the overall performance. On co-directing this production, Vogel said, “It was one of the best experiences I have ever been a part of; from the fantastic production team to the amazing and talented cast.” Still, an unnamed Stedsman and patron of the arts said, “What a triumph for such young directors!”

VIDEO: PEMCo's Into the Woods

Target: Malaria.

Release the mullets!

At the direction of the Hall President, Michael Murphy, the Vice Presidents, Patrick Krauss and Christian Verhamme, have mobilized the Gentlemen to undertake one the administration’s many campaign pledges: a campaign against malaria. Yes, the Murphy Administration has targeted malaria, a disease transmitted by mosquitos, afflicting 207 million people worldwide.  What’s the plan of attack? Mullets. Yes, mullets.

Since August, the Gentlemen, some of them at least, have been growing their hair out in this not so popular, but not forgotten, 80’s hairstyle all in an effort to raise awareness and funds for mosquito nets in malaria prone areas.

The campaign will commence this Friday with t-shirts and mullet wigs sales and end with a broomball tourney on Sunday evening at the Compton Ice Arena. All proceeds will go to "Nothing But Nets."

If you would like to join the Gentlemen in this campaign, click HERE.

On Mullets Against Malaria, Jacob VandenBosch, Sted’s Junior and mullet wearer, said, “I’ve never met a mullet that I didn’t like.” 

Egg rolls with Maem...

Cooking Class 101 now in session

...took place in the 1st floor lounge's new kitchen last week. Maem Detaksone, Sted's beloved and hard working housekeeper, taught the Gentlemen how to make egg rolls with a Thai flare. Nothing burned, and great tasting egg rolls were had by all. Christian Verhamme, Sted's Junior and Vice President, said, "We all had a blast making egg rolls with Master Chef Maem. It was a great medium for everyone to hangout and share some laughs and  Sted's loves Maem!" Indeed, we do...yes, indeed!

A picture is worth...

I was right there with you...

... a million words, and this one is no different. NBC Sports caught these three Stedsmen, Wen Zhong, Will Minor, and Kevin McCarthy, on camera during the recent game against Northwestern. Suffice it to say, their faces say it all. Still, on the game, McCarthy managed to say, "It was just so... disheartening to watch. I knew at some point that all of our mistakes would lead to our downfall but not like this!"

Your Sunday...

...picture from Notre Dame. A beautiful view of the Basilica taken from St. Edward's Park. Enjoy.

Flashback Friday...

Kempf, Krauss, and Quast: A law firm?

...on Saturday.

Graduation - May 20, 1984

After spending freshman year in Flanner Hall, Rob Kempf ’84, Greg Krauss ’84, and Pete Quast ’84 were privileged to answer the call to come higher and become Gentlemen of St. Edward’s.  This trio roomed in rooms 215, 405, and 411.  On the recent remodeling of the 2nd floor, Kempf, Krauss and Quast said collectively,

"Too bad about the demise of Room 215. Now it’s up to us to keep the stories 
alive; the leather chair, the aviator helmet phone, the devil poker, the triple-high 
bunks, turning the Dome spotlight onto St. Ed's during a power outage, 
sneaking into the main building during an away football game, and of course the 
trumpet pre-rally that left the room smelling for decades. Just the greatest..."

Just the greatest, indeed, and I am sure that Sted's junior, Patrick Krauss '16, and sophomore, Max Kempf '17, would agree!

Oh the things...

It's like watching the WeatherChannel.

...the Gentlemen write on their dry erase boards. While they are not certified AMS meteorologists, the residents of 321 St. Edward's nevertheless seem to have a jet stream of truth flowing from their dry erase board because on Thursday morning...

Classes cancelled?

...it snowed. Why can't room 321 be like other meteorologists and be wrong?

Word in the hallway...

Stoker's secret: caffeine and sugar

... is that Andrew Stoker, Sted's Junior, had FIVE classes this Wednesday. On having sat through five classes, Stoker said, "I learned a lot." Keep it up Stoker...keep it up!

Mission Accomplished.

Almost all smiles

Tuesday night saw the Sted’s broomball team finish their regular season with a 2-0 victory. Captained by Chris "Sick Lats" Lattimer (R), the team went 4-0, allowing not a single goal to scored all season. But, it hasn’t always been a bowl of cherries for Lattimer and fellow team members, Josh Schultz (L), Joel Kolb (C) and Andrew Borchert (not pictured). In their first season, the team went 0-4, but since then, in true military form, they have made an "about face.” On playing broomball, Lattimer said, "Broomball is love; broomball is life."

To find out why the team’s name was “Don't Hug Me, I'm Scared,” click HERE.

Congratulations all around for a job well done!

Houston, we got...

Yerkes: What Interstellar?

... a Stedsman working at NASA! That's right. Daniel Yerkes '14 is working for NASA in L.A. on the successor to the Hubble Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope. I have been told that it is basically a much bigger, meaner, and better version of its predecessor   Among other things, it will be able to look at the first galaxies formed in the universe, see how stars form, and determine the physical/chemical properties of planetary systems, possibly finding life in some far flung place. On that prospect, Yerkes, circled in red above, said, “Let's hope they don't find any ebola in other galaxies!” Indeed, Yerkes…indeed!

Rancher Larry says...

Rancher Larry: He calls it as he sees it, and he's calls it right.

...it's time to round up moms for Moms' Weekend! That's right. We've been planning a weekend to honor our moms, and you'll be hearing more about the fun filled weekend next week! Thanks Rancher Larry!

Yes, I was...

All smiles before a disaster 

...there when the Irish played the Sun Devils of Arizona State. With the sun unobstructed, the temps unseasonably above normal, and ASU fans rabid and out of control, it was inhospitable venue to say the least, and after the game started, I had flashbacks to our game with Alabama. The only silver lining to my journey to the "Valley of the Sun" was running into two former Stedsmen and now Californians, James Yurkovich '13 and Daniel Yerkes, '14. Of the game, Yurkovich said, "We almost had the biggest comeback win in Notre Dame history. As it was, I enjoyed the comeback of Fr. Ralph to his desert roots."

Throwback Saturday.

Parker and Amy Mathes: The Faltos got to them

Three weeks ago, the Notre Dame Marching Band, en route to Tallahassee, stopped in Atlanta, staying with various ND alumni in the area. Six faltos players- fancy way of saying French horn players- had the luck of staying with the Mathes family, a Sted’s family, where they encountered not only Southern but also “Edwardian” hospitality.

Donning band helmets and surrounded by falto players, Parker and his mother become quick believers that the falto, a.k.a. mellophone, a.k.a. french horn, a.k.a. marching French horn, was the greatest of all marching band instruments. Right. But what about the clarinets?

You can learn...

But is it a good book?

...a lot about the happening at St. Ed's by hanging out in the laundry room. Here, Chris Torres, Sted's Senior, happens to be reading a book while waiting for his laundry. When asked about his reading a book atop a washing machine, Torres said, “Pien Dao said, ‘manipulate your surroundings to your advantage.’ So, I made this washing machine into a chair.” Well done little grasshopper… well done indeed. 

Oh, the things...

Room 331: in-resident sages of the 3rd floor

...the Gentlemen write on their dry erase boards. Witty and insightful, and in this case, full of wisdom. But what if I am afraid of being "over read?"

Thoughts from abroad.

Studying abroad: sunbathing in the Andes Mountains

Finally, the last Stedsman studying abroad deigned to reply to my email inquiry about what he was up to in South America. Here's what Danny Espinoza had to say about taking the semester off...

St.Ed: So, where are you these days?

Danny: These days I'm sitting on a throne in the Beverly Hills of Chile otherwise known as Las Condes, which is quite a step up from the rough neighborhoods of Notre Dame.

St.Ed: Santiago? Say, someone once described Santiago as the "Cleveland" of South America. Any truth to that?

Danny: It's about as apt a comparison as empanadas (Chilean meat pies) to apple pie. The outside can be surprisingly similar, but once you sink your teeth into that crust, you’ll find that one is twice as sweet as the other. I'll leave it to your imagination to decide which is which.

St.Ed: Thank you. I will. Another question, unlike studying in Europe, where you can hop on a plane and visit a number of places, it seems to me that's not the case in Chile. Can you do any traveling?

Danny: Oh yeah, I can do tons of traveling down here! It takes me nearly an hour to get my classes each day so I'd say I get a fair bit of traveling in the days I go to class (read 4 days a week with a generous one day round up). I get to see the dark, rat - infested tunnels that make up this beloved city's transportation system. Also, there are times when the metro breaks down and streets get so crowded that I make the same trip on foot (we're talking hours of walking). That sure gave me a new perspective on travelling, one characterized by a frustration and a grumbling stomach. But it's not all so bad, I'm actually in Peru now. So the way I see it now is that South American Beverly Hills has reignited my desire to travel, even if just to get out the city.

St.Ed: Curious, does water drain counterclockwise down there? I think it does, but others tell me I am wrong.

Danny: Let me answer your question with another question, do bears take care of their business in the woods?

St.Ed: Do you have any advice for your Stedsmen about studying/traveling abroad?

Danny: Fellow Stedsmen discerning whether studying beyond the frigid realm we lovingly know as South Bend, consider not missing football season… especially when our team decides to put up big numbers against Michigan. Cheering on our boys with people who think the sport ought to be played with your feet isn't quite the same. Also, if your mom tells you to pack more pairs of underwear than there are days of the week, you should probably listen to her. Why? It can save you some awkward encounters. Lastly, if you have anything close to a passing interest in studying abroad or traveling, go for it! There's really nothing like it. From the people you meet, the food you get to eat, and the experiences you have, it all makes for a time of your life that you'll always think of warmly. But, honestly, if I got to do it all over again, I would choose to visit the real Cleveland not just a South of the Equator wannabe!

The Sted's inter-hall football...

Can any of you be a part of my Fantasy team?

...season came to a premature end this past Sunday.  Even though they lost to Fisher Hall, the Stedsmen didn’t go down without a fight. Drawing first blood, they were out to an early lead; however, without star quarterback, Jake Wittenberg, several interceptions stifled “forward momentum.” Taking advantage of these setbacks, Fisher pulled ahead and clinched a win, but it was a costly win… almost pyrrhic.

Of the game and season, Sted’s Vice President, Patrick Krauss, said,  "The team might have been 1-3 in the eyes of the refs, but they were clearly blind! We all know they were 4-0. Great players, great fans, great season.” Still, Sted’s President and member of the Sted’s inter-hall team, Michael Murphy, said, “I'm proud of my boys and the way they fought. At the end of the day though, I simply lacked the motivational cliches needed to lead us to victory. This one's on me, AND the refs." 

A sweet ending...

Dywer looks on as the bottom literally falls out of the ice cream

...to Founder's Week was had by the Gentlemen as a celebratory soiree was held in the First Floor Lounge. Following the Hall's Sunday Mass, where the St. Edward the Confessor medal was given, cake, ice cream, and in keeping with Fr. Sorin's French heritage, French pastries of eclairs and cream puffs were served. When asked about the week, an unnamed Gentleman said, "Can we do that again?" Yes, we can unnamed gentleman... yes, we can... next year!

Your Sunday...

                                                                                              *Photo by Tablada

...picture from Notre Dame. Enjoy this beautiful panoramic view of God Quad in Fall, a backdrop for any computer or iPad. Enjoy your Sunday, and as Founder's Week draws to close... May the Founder smile on you always!

Remembering the Founder.

Yesterday, October 31st, Halloween, marked the 121th anniversary of the death of the Founder,  
 Fr. Edward Sorin, CSC.   We, the "Princes" of his beloved hall and students at his University, remember him and honor this week, Founder Week. Wrapped in Mary's golden mantle, may you smile on this special place and all of us always!