Saturday squirrel.

A busy bee

With the cooler temps becoming more the norm, we are reminded that the days of summer are slowly drawing to close. Sadly, the brilliant color of campus flowers will soon fade away, but the trees will take their turn to show off their own magnificence. But that day has not arrived, and so, the order of the day is to soak it all up while it is here. Walking between the Basilica and the Main Building, a small patch of red coneflowers was planted where a bumble bee was encountered one sunny day. Look closely, and you even see the flakes of pollen on its legs. Enjoy this picture of the waning days of summer! 

The end of the week...

Mission accomplished

... cookout. At the end of the first week of classes, the Hall government held a cookout for the Hall to celebrate not only the end of the first week of classes but also the installation of a new gas grill at Plaza St. Edward's. Yes, before the school year end, Hall government initiated "Operation Burnt Offering" whose purpose was to install a gas grill. The idea was that it would be used in situations like this but also on Saturdays of home football games after floating. With the grill in place, Jared Walsh, Steds sophomore, took a step forward and accepted the invitation of the Hall government to be the Hall's grillmaster-in-chief, and the rest is history. On the cookout, President Josh Gambardella said, "Jared is our hero."

Walsh: Griller-in-chief

Making his...

Attention: Wheaton, IL is on the map!

... mark. Konrad Rozanski, Steds sophomore and Illinoisan, was the first to make his mark on the Steds Map this year. The Steds Map, located on the first floor by the main staircase, contains color coded push pins that mark every hometown of current Stedsmen by class level. When you see the map, you can really see a trend as to where students come from... and if you are from Nebraska like Matt Coffey and Fr. Ralph, then you really are one of a kind... literally and figuratively. On making his mark, Rozanski said, "I loved Chicago weather so much I decided to go to school in South Bend!”

Sitting down...

Schaeffer: All smiles

... on the job. Yesterday was the first day of classes, and the toll on the students has been tremendous not only for the freshmen but also the upperclassmen. While taking a ride on the Steds elevator, Sam Schaeffer, 3rd floor RA, was spotted sitting on a chair. Sitting down on the job already? No, not in the least! Sam wasn't derelict in his duty, but rather, oddly enough, performing his duty. You see, Sam was moonlighting as the Hall's elevator operator! On his moonlighting, Schaeffer said, "It's simple work... but it's honest work."

Finally...

Sanson and Magner: All smiles

... classes at Notre Dame started! Amid sunshine and passing cumulus clouds, campus was alive with action as students made their way to various academic buildings, some smiling, some in various states of being awake, and some actually learning something on the very first day. With classes in session, once again, the library's prime studying space are going fast, and the bookstore is actually selling books. On the first day of class, Patrick Magner, Steds junior, said, “I think that I speak for everyone in saying that we are fired up to start this new semester” while his fellow junior, Patrick Sansone, interjected, “Wait. There was class TODAY?!?” 

Your Sunday picture...

Steds Freshmen

... from Notre Dame. Here's a picture of the Steds freshmen class gathering with Fr. Ralph in St. Edward's Park. Taking advantage of an empty plinth, Fr. Ralph went atop and imitated St. Ed. But instead of holding the Basilica of the Sacred Heart as St. Edward's does, Fr. Ralph held a miniature St. Ed's created by Bryan Keve '11. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Move in...

Andrew McClimon: The first freshman to arrive

... day was perfect! First, the weather couldn't have been more agreeable. In the mid sixty's and no humidity,  it had to be the best weather for move in for the last ten years. Next, the Hall's Welcome Week Committee, under the direction of juniors Josh Gambardella and Conal Fagan, assisted further by sophomores Henry Bergstrom and Alec Lis, was organized and sprung into action like a well oiled machine, making unloading times under three and half minutes. Still, Peter Nichols turned the tables, dropping beats and even dabbling in a bit of karaoke. All of this combined for freshmen move in that was grooving, efficient, and all done before Noon. On move in operations at Steds, Fr. Ralph said, "It was amazing. I couldn't ask for anymore!"

Steds Welcome Week Crew 2019

The 4th of...

St. Edward: Refreshed and ready to go

...September!  After being taken away to an art conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio for a long, overdue restoration, St. Edward will be returning, looking better than ever, to his plinth in the Park on Wednesday, September 4th. St. Edward was scheduled to return on this coming Friday, but unfortunately, it conflicted with Freshmen move-in. So, a day more conducive for a move was selected. While that's not too far off, it seems like an eternity for the Stedsmen and the "Steds World" who miss his presence. On St. Edward's imminent return, Suzanne Lofton of Honolulu and mother of Steds sophomore Keenan Lofton, said, "Knowing that the statue is older than the Golden Dome, the fact that St. Edward is getting a well-deserved renovation excites me. He stood tall at ND through years and years of hard core cold weather, and so, a new fix is well deserved. STEDS is not complete without our main guy... a blessing in disguise. Wish I could be there for the big welcome celebration on the 4th !!!! 

Some of the damage...

... that needed immediate attention.

Move in...

Moving in and up: Barth (in white) and Wayer

... is not today, but later this week. Yes, Stedsmen from all over the United States and around the world will move in later this week as the new Fall Semester begins next week. As they are busy packing, a former Stedsman, Will Barth '14, noticed an eye catching post on the University's FaceBook page. What Barth spied was something in the past... his very self moving into Steds! Here's what Barth said when I caught up with him.

St. Ed: Barth, who took that amazing shot of you and Greyson Wayer moving that couch into the Hall?

Barth: I have no idea who took this pic, and I haven’t seen it before that I can remember. Maybe the University has a photographer that goes around? Definitely not from my Facebook that I know of

St. Ed: How did you run across this special post?

Barth: Actually, my sister, who graduated ND last year, first noticed that picture on the post last week. If she hadn’t, I never would have seen it since it’s buried in the post, picture 8 of 10.

St. Ed: Where did you get the couch?

Barth: That’s definitely my junior year, lived in 326? That room was a big double at the end of that wing, and I loved with Pat Wall. I do remember the crummy couch because my dad picked it out on Craigslist because it was a bargain. I’m sure he’s happy the couch was included since he picked it out, and but it’s painful for my mom. She hates the couches he picks. Sadly, the couch was a causality in the course of the year. Happy memories for sure.

St. Ed: Is there anything you would like the readership to know about your “beloved” couch?

Barth: There were many great things about Steds, and this couch was one of them. It wasn’t like all the other ones. It was special. It understood me, and now, I only wish I told it so when I had the chance.

Saturday Squirrel.

Knock, knock...

Our furry friends are not the only ones to cross our paths. Granted, they may be the funniest ones about campus, but they are not the most eye catching. On a recent visit to the Presbytery, the building located behind the Basilica, this caterpillar was spotted trying to enter. With a bright red head, neon yellow body, and large black "antlers," this caterpillar could not do anything but capture one's attention. On seeing this caterpillar, Fr. Terry Ehrman, CSC, theologian and botanist, said, "I saw one of these before, and now, I really need to ID it." Yes you do Fr. Terry. Yes, you do. More to come!

Best of...

...the Gentlemen's Monthly. Yes, four year ago today, here was today's posting. Enjoy this blast from the past.

Not Squirrels...

Yes. This bird lives at Notre Dame.

...but birds. While Notre Dame has its fair share of squirrels, it also has a great number of birds. Thanks to St. Mary and St. Joseph's Lakes, Notre Dame has a diverse population of birds from the common to, well, the not so common. Fr. Terry Ehrman, CSC, a botanist and theologian at Notre Dame, not to mention bird lover, captured this beautiful picture of a Great Blue Heron on St. Mary's Lake. On capturing the Great Blue Heron, Fr. Terry said, "At Notre Dame, the lover of birds draws near to the Kingdom of God where "the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches" (Matt 13:32). Indeed, Fr Terry... indeed!

Your Sunday picture...

Now only if the football team looked this good

... from Notre Dame. Summer is truly over as residence hall staffs return to campus today for the start of training. Yes, once again, there is noise in the hallways of St. Ed's as seniors and RAs, Matt Cyrs, Christian Kirby, Sam Schaeffer, Josh Blossfeld, and John Quinlan, moved in for their last and final year at Notre Dame's oldest and most storied residence hall. The RAs were also joined by grad students and Assistant Rectors, Frank Spesia and Pete McKeon. Later, they all were invited to dinner at the football stadium and for some time on the field as well as dinner. On the new Hall Staff, Fr. Ralph said, "Steds has the winning hand. They're all aces!"

Even though it is...

Taking five (left to right): Ryan Shelley, Chuck Rioux, Will Connolly, John "Poz" Posluszny, 

Joe Corcoran (front), Pat Digenan, and Greg Connors

… summer, let’s remember a different time... a cooler time. Yes, while many of us experienced a heat wave or two this summer, drawing our thoughts to this past winter might bring some relief. This past Christmas Break, Steds juniors headed out west for some rest and relaxation amid the mountains of Montana. Skiing during the day and soaking in the hot tub in the evening helped our Gentlemen prepare themselves physically and mentally for the Spring semester. On their Montana winter retreat, Will Connolly said, “Yes. We traded our books for skis and our coffee for hot coco. A week on the slopes in Montana was a fine way to transition away from finals and towards a beat down by the pretty blonde haired quarterback of Clemson. I just wish Poz could navigate a simple green ski trail the way he can navigate a DJ table.” He later added, “A special shoutout to Mr. Digenan (Pat’s dad) and Mr. Eldridge (Will’s uncle) for chaperoning and chauffeuring, the trip!”

Our Stedsmen on the slopes

Stedsmen reunite...

Minnesota Smiles: Sam Bradley, Kevin McCarthy, Ryan Meder (Background) 

and Kim Bradley, Mickey Dwyer, Randy Bradley (Foreground)

... in Minnesota! Members of the Steds Class of 2018 gathered in Minnesota, America's "Great White North," for some summer fun. Thanks to Kim Bradley for the above photo, we can tell from the smiles and greenery in the background, it appears that fun and summer weather make up that far north! Who knew? On enjoying their time together in Minnesota, they said, "Seeing all of the water on our flight in to Minneapolis, it true! Minnesota really is the 'Land of 10,000 Lakes!'" When asked if they’ll be back in January to go ice fishing, they replied, “Yeah, you betcha!” Okay, but Gentlemen, know I am taking your reply with a grain... a small mountain... of salt. Just saying.

Best of...

...the Gentlemen's Monthly. Yes, four years ago today, here was today's posting. Enjoy this blast from the past.

Will it or...

Mission Impossible: Ready for students?

...will it not be ready when students arrive? Who knows? Still, the bigger question is will Starbucks, Smash Burger, and other summer improvements be ready when students arrive! Yes, as they have been working on the exterior, they have also been working on the interior of LaFortune. Without doubt, students will notice and enjoy both the aesthetic and gastronomic upgrades. On the construction work at LaFortune, an unnamed rector said, "I looked behind the curtain of Smash Burger, and well, it doesn't look like they will be smashing out burgers any time soon."

Saturday Squirrel.

Now moving to the good side of campus 

Our furry friends are deep, possessing many hidden and unknown dimensions. One of those hidden dimensions surfaced recently. Outside the Riley Art Building, a student art installation was hung in branches of the trees along east end of South Quad. What the installation represented remains unknown, but the thoughts of the squirrel who ran across it are not. On seeing the above art hanging in a tree, this squirrel non-verballed, "We have litter on the ground, and now, we have to have litter in the trees too? That's just nuts. There goes the neighborhood!"

Where are they...

What else could a Stedsman ask for?

... now? Yes, where is the man, the myth, the legend, Frederick "Fritz" Schoenhut V '11? It's an important question because Fritz is an important person in Steds history. It was under his leadership and tutelage as Hall President that the "Renaissance" (said with an English accent) of Steds was ushered in, bringing with it things that all Stedsmen cherish... Ed's and the Steds gym. And it was this renaissance that paved the way for the later "Golden Age" of Steds. So, where is Fritz now? On catching up with the former Mr. President at the Hamptons, Fritz said, "I am rounding out my birthday weekend in style with my Steds hat on the beach." Happy belated birthday Mr. President!