Best of...

... the Gentlemen's Monthly. Here's the story du jour... five years ago today. Yes, it's five years old, but it's still creating a buzz.

Were you there when they...

ND Tiger bait? Tosh!

...beat LSU? In keeping with my moratorium on traveling to away football games, I was not there, BUT Stedsmen were in attendance. Sted's seniors, Andrew Borchert and Jacob Haley, were in the stands cheering their Irish on to victory in what has to be one of the best endings to a game this Bowl Season.  On the Irish win in the Music City Bowl, Borchert said, "Good win to end the season on a 'high note.'"

Your Sunday picture...

... from Notre Dame. Here's a view of the Chapel of Saints Edward and John at Steds. Originally dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, who by the way is one of the saints captured in the stain glass windows of the chapel, St. Edward the Confessor, the namesake of the Hall, was added in more modern times. Endowed by Coach Lou Holtz and undergoing a renovation, the chapel is a mini Basilica in the minds of many a Stedsman. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Getting ready...

Looking for a win: Mathias

... for the big game. While many of us may not be "happy campers," Irish fans will watch the Camping World Bowl in Orlando tomorrow, Saturday. Yes, it was disappointing that the Irish could not break through to the top twelve and advance to a better bowl. Still, we might find solace in the wisdom of the ancients, a Greek philosopher particular, who once said, "You can't always get what you want, but you get what you need." Indeed. Still, the wisdom of the today's youth can teach us all something and that was certainly the case with this young Nebraskan, Mathias, the nephew of Fr. Ralph. On the Irish playing in the Camping Bowl, Mathias said, "No tent is needed... just a win!"

Merry Christmas!!!

Main Dome’s Christmas Tree

A people in darkness have seen a great light! May the Christ Child born this day- but not pictured in this photo as someone at the University forgot to place him in the manger- is born this day guide you and all to true happiest and lasting peace. Merry Christmas to the Steds family wherever you may be! 

Christmas Eve at...

... St. Edward's is probably like this. Yes, Christmas Eve, when all through the Hall not a creature was stirring- not even a mouse, well with the exception of the third floor! Well, that's not true since the mice went on break too, returning to a neighboring hall that shall remain anonymous. Enjoy your Christmas Eve!

Your Sunday picture...

Good morning!

... from Notre Dame. Here's a sunrise captured, once again, by Fr. Terry Ehrman, CSC, theologian and botanist... and apparently now, photographer. While the skies have been cloudy and grey, the sunrises and sunsets have been amazing, appearing as if the sky was on fire. See above. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Saturday Squirrel.

In capable paws?

As all students depart today for Christmas Break, campus will not be completely vacant. As all students leave, our furry friends will remain. What will they be doing? Squirrel things of course, but they will do something else. What will they do? They will keep an eye on things, of course. On being on his own, this squirrel non-verballed, "Don't worry. We got this."

Today marks the start of Christmas Break, and we will continue to bring you, every other day, the life and times of St. Edward’s Hall!

It's all over...

Usher: on a three month vacation 

... and and smiles are in order. Smiles and much more for some Stedsmen. Of course, to the delight of all Stedsmen, Finals Week came to an end today, and there was no shortage of smiles in the hallways. But for some, smiles were just the tip of iceberg because they were moving on to better and, well, more exotic places. Yes, for some Spring Semester classes would not be here but rather somewhere around the world. One such person is Jack Usher, resident Wisconsinite and Glee Club member, who will take a brief leave from campus and head off to London. On his finishing Finals Week and started moving out of the Hall, Usher said, “I am relieved to have the fall semester under my belt and headed into the great study abroad. Surely, I will balance any studying I do with corresponding amounts of “abroading” and, of course, I will not rush back.” 

Doing their...

Inspiration for Finals Week

... part too. With Seniors Cole Edwards and Pat Digenan leading the way in helping the younger Stedsmen, other Stedsmen want to do their part and lend their assistance too. While they may not be hosting a Chick-Fil-A and root beer float, seniors like Ryan Shelley is offering what he can to aid those still taking finals. And what is that? His encouragement. Sharing an inspiration video, Shelley is sharing what he and other senior Stedsmen learned on football field while playing inter-hall football season- something that speaks the present moment. On sharing this important video, where he exits the port-a-potty first, Shelley said, "Records are meant to be pushed. Icarus didn't fly to close to the sun- he got in his own head. This video is footage of some guys who understand winning is a mental game. Now, go take your finals!"

MUST SEE VIDEO: CLICK HERE

Sending in...

Edwards and Digenan: Doing their part for the kids

... reinforcements. With Final Weeks reaching the midpoint, the spirits, energy levels, and much more of the Stedsmen were in need of being reinforced, and what better way to do that than to have a study break. With the assistance of  Cole Edwards, former Hall President, and Patrick Digenan, the Stedsmen were treated to a feast of Chick-Fil-A sandwiches and root beer floats. Regular or spicy, one scoop or two, the sandwiches and floats gave many a Stedman a much needed break so that the studying could not just continue but do so productively and with success. On helping their fellow Stedsmen, Steds Seniors, Edwards and Digenan, said, "For the kids!"

The studying...

Dieterich's studying, really

... is commencing, and it is happening everywhere. The studying is happening in the libraries, the student centers, the study lounges of residence halls, and in many other places... actually any place that is quiet. Still, for some, there are other places that lend themselves to being places for study. Will Dieterich, resident Mainer and 1st floor Steds resident, is one such person. Being spotted in the first floor hallway, Will was thought to be procrastinating, but was he? On being spotted walking in Steds with a laptop, soccer ball, and headphones, Dieterich said, "The First Floor Hallway: My stadium and my study space."

Learning is...

Dahnke and Paz executing their game plan in the laundry room...

... happening all the time at Steds. One thing residents often learn in their first year at Steds is how to do laundry. Separating clothes, understanding the nuances of the various washing cycles, and appreciating drying levels are all things our freshmen have confronted, and for some mastered, in the Steds laundry room. But for some, there is another skill- a knowledge- that some seek to obtain and master- the skill of ironing. Laundry is an important skill, but ironing, making one's clothes nicely pressed thus enabling the wearer to be presentable in any and all situations, is a skill for the truly brave. Two students seeking to know the way of the iron are freshmen Ryan Dahnke and Alec Paz. On their ironing skills, Dahnke said, "My skills are progressing everyday but are not ready for prime, " while Paz added, "I've never officially ironed clothes before, but that just means there's only room for growth. This is a game of inches so my team and I have been shedding blood, sweat, and tears in practice and film to make sure that our defense can go toe to toe with any crease or wrinkle. We know what we have to do, we just have to get in the laundry room and execute the fundamentals. At the end of the day, we just gotta iron through the whistle and take it one shirt at a time."

We wish them and all students of ironing the best of luck... and don't be afraid to show off those skills while at home over break!

  

Your Sunday picture...

It just doesn't get any better...

... from Notre Dame. Here is a December sunset at Notre Dame captured by Fr. Terry Ehrman, C.S.C.  from his office on the 10th floor of Flanner Hall. What was he doing there at such a late hour you may ask? Grading papers he said. Well, we can only hope this beautiful scene influenced his grading of those papers! Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Saturday Squirrel.

Can you see me?

There are many different species of squirrels. When we think of squirrels, we think of, well, squirrels, but there more "squirrels" at Notre Dame. When walking around St. Mary's Lake, one of the "other" squirrel species was spotted. Yes, camouflaged among the fall debris was an American red squirrel. Easily blending into its surroundings, this squirrel was keenly aware that it was being watched and even gave a grunt of sorts as a warning to keeping move along the lake's pathway. On being spotted, this American red squirrel, with a healthy amount of sass, non-verbaled, "What are you looking at?"

Just in time...

Always the trendsetter... 

... before we leave. Yes, the Hall's Christmas decorations, sans Christmas trees atop the porticos, were put up earlier this week. While the battle continues for our Christmas trees, and believe me it does, there must be semblance of the Christmas season that we are about to enter come this Christmas. Simple and tasteful our decorations are, Stedsmen lament the loss of their trees... and even snow too! On seeing the Steds Christmas wreaths, David Hale, Steds freshman and resident Michigander, said, "I saw the decorations on my way home from a tough day of classes, and they truly brightened my day. If the rest of campus didn’t have me in the Advent spirit already, seeing my home away from home dressed up in Christmas attire warmed my heart." 

Nearing the end...

Hall Staff: Seniors rounding the final corner 

... these Steds seniors are. Today marked a milestone in the lives of our Steds Hall Staff has finished their last Fall Semester as classes concluded. They may be smiling, but rest assured, Josh Blossfled, Christian Kirby, Matt Cyrs, and Sam Schaeffer... and John Quinlan not pictured as he was still in class... are mentally pumping the brakes, trying to make their Senior year last as long as possible. But how did their last day of class go? Was it a walk in the park, or was it jammed packed with a test or paper right up until the bitter end? Let's hear how it went...

On his last day, Christian Kirby, Steds 2nd RA and resident Rhode Islander, said, “My arduous last day featured a single class in which we watched a film at my professor’s house while enjoying tea and cookies. Oh, the trials of higher education!”

Josh Blossfeld, 4th floor RA and jack of all hall sports, added, “As I near graduation, this may be the end of my formal education in fall but certainly not the end of my learning”

While Matt Cyrs, 1st floor RA and Staff heavy said, “Senior year is for tears and facing the fears. Bring on the Spring Semester!”

But, understandably, Sam Schaeffer, 3rd floor RA and part-time comedian, was too overwhelmed by the moment to share his thoughts. 

Good luck to all as we enter Finals Week! 

A white knight...

Our hero: Cook cooking it up

… enters at Ed’s! While Ed’s was closed on Sunday due to the fact that no culinary service representative (C.S.R.) was available to work, that was not the case on Tuesday. Thanks a white knight, Steds sophomore, James Cook, the door of Ed’s was opened once again. Cook heard the cries of anguish and the hunger pangs of his fellow Stedsmen, and he could not and would not allow Cook opened the door, warmed up the oven, and turned on panini machine. Such courage, such dedication, such sacrifice in such a young Stedsman! Want to know why this young Stedsman did what he did, I sought him out for a moment of his time.

St.Ed: Why did you take a step forward and open Ed’s? 

Cook: In the evening, between the hours of 9 and 12, there is nowhere I would rather be than Ed’s. 

St.Ed: While the Stedsmen are able to get their late night snack thanks to you, what do you get out of this?

Cook: During the semester I have worked at Ed’s, I have been able to get to know many of the fine Gentlemen of St. Edwards Hall. From freshmen to RA’s, it is wonderful to chat with everyone that comes in. 

St.Ed: Is Ed’s really that important to the life of Steds?

Cook: No Ed’s, no Steds! Enabling Gentlemen to nourish not just their bodies, but also their spirits through the communal aspect of food, has been an absolute delight. It is an honor and a privilege to serve my Hall by preparing an assortment of savory snacks and artisanal paninis, and I look forward to working in the next semester.

THANK YOU MR. COOK!

A transformation...

Not SoHo just the Steds Art Gallery...

... has occurred in the Steds lobby. Normally reserved for important messages and announcements, one of the lobby's glass cabinets has been transformed into the Steds Art Gallery. Instead of dull black and white messages, colorful, vibrant, and expressive of works of Wabi Sabi art have a new home in the high traffic area of the Steds lobby. Fitting, certainly, but this display of abstract art has only added to ambiance and allure of Notre Dame's oldest and most storied residence hall. Still yet, it has offered a platform for aspiring artists of Blossfeld School as different pieces, with explanations, are posted each day. On seeing his art displayed, The Spirit of Walden, NY, Gavin Shust said, "I surprise myself at times... and this is one of those times."

... but you could think it is!

What's cooking...

What...

... at Ed's? That's what many were asking themselves this past Sunday night as they were looking to have a late night snack. Excited that their favorite hall eatery was once again open, Ed's patrons rushed to place their orders, but when they swung by, the door was shut, the lights were off, and there was a note on the door. What did the note say? Take a gander below. Why are there no workers? On this sad predicament, Josh Gambardella said, "No workers? Is it a strike? if so, it's tragic. On the one hand, these salesmen and sandwich artists are definitely entitled to their $50/hour wages as demanded, but on the other hand, THE PEOPLE NEED TO EAT! I see both sides, but my stomach longs for a reinstatement of the employees of Ed’s.” Still yet, Fr. Ralph said, "There's no strike. It's called preparing for Finals."

Will Ed's open again? Stay tuned.

... oh no!

Your Sunday picture...

The newly renovated Grotto

... from Notre Dame. Here is a picture of the newly renovated Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. Taken earlier this year, actually right after the renovation was completed, the Grotto received many upgrades, namely expanded candle racks, an entrance and exit to the Grotto itself, and new paving stones and benches. The improvements have made the Grotto prettier than ever as well as more accessible. Regardless of the season, the Grotto remains a place to see and pray. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be! 

Saturday Squirrel.

Enjoying the show...

Our furry friends are watching. They are watching us as we go about our day. Oh, we may not notice them, but they notice us. And what are they thinking? Yes, what conclusions are they drawing about us as they spy on us from their treetop perches? Who knows. This furry friend was spotted by a Stedsman as he entered O'Shaugnessy Hall. What did this squirrel non-verbal, the freshman could not tell. But if he had to venture a guest, the freshman said, "He probably was non-verbaling to be left alone as he was in the middle of a snack when I spotted him."

Founder's Week may...

Harris with his art...

... be in the rearview mirror of Steds, but we remember the fun that it was. And the success that our beloved and cherished week was had an unseen, behind the scenes mover. That Stedsman was Jake Harris, Steds junior, resident Californian, and Apparel Commissioner, who among other things dabbles in the graphic arts. A practitioner of Wabi Sabi? We think not because Harris does not settle for anything less than perfection, and as evidence of that, look to his Founder's Week poster. Without any doubt, this poster was a work of art, catching the eye, moreover, the attention of the Stedsmen as they passed through the main lobby. In short, behind every great week is an even better poster! On experiencing his first Founder's Week and seeing this poster in the lobby, Steds freshman, John Brach, said, "The intricate design of the poster just drew your attention to the upcoming festivities and generated excitement around the entire hall to attend as many events as possible. I will never forget that poster."

And you never will John nor anyone else! Why? Because that poster is being shared with ND Archives as lasting memorial to Founder's Week 2019. Signed by the artist himself, the poster will reside at Archives so that future generations of Stedsmen may remember and have a connection to their historical and storied past. Oh, yes. What did Harris write? Harris wrote, "It was our moment!" Indeed, it was Harris... indeed it was!

... leaving his mark forever,

Ars gratia...

Morrison with his masterpiece...

... artis! Art for the sake of art, but if truth be told, it was much more than just this philosophy. What the evening was really about mistakes. Led by the biggest devotee of Wabi Sabi on Notre Dame's campus, Josh Blossfeld, Stedsmen learned of Japanese artistic concept focusing on imperfections, acknowledging the beauty in the imperfect, impermanent, and the incomplete. Blowing paint through straws, Stedsmen created multicolored masterpieces that not only captured their joie de vivre and the espirit de corp of Steds but also the hidden beauty of the imperfections, mistakes, errors, ugliness... everything wrong... with their art. Participating in the art dojo of Sensei Blossfeld, Alex Morrison, Steds sophomore and resident Indianian, shared, "Bloss was the best Wabi Sabi instructor we could have asked for - he taught us how to calm ourselves through using bendy straws to blow some paint around sheets of paper.  In the words of Robert Mulqueen, follow Stedsmen, who quoted Styx, 'Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto.''

... while aspiring artists give it a go...

...grabbing straws, paint and their hot air...

...to create works...

... that are beautiful in a Wabi Sabi sort of way! 

A sight...

It stands out...

... in our midst. Yes, the Norte Dame School of Architecture at Walsh Family Hall is certainly a sight in our midst, if not for the hall having two different and distinct architectural styles, then certainly for that three story tower. Looking like the Great Lighthouse of Alexandria, the tower has certainly caught the attention of many, raising questions of "can we go up to the top?" Still, the tower has put the school on the proverbial map as it has become a great meeting point on home football weekends. But what do the students think about this hall and its tower? Ben Cook, Steds senior, Californian, and 4th year architecture student, who makes the trek daily to Walsh, said, "The mysterious tower emerging from Walsh Family Hall of Architecture serves as beacon, a way-finding element that reminds we the students that our work should serve to guide humanity into a world of beauty.”

... and draws Cook and others to learn.

Moms Weekend...

A weekend to remember...

... invites are out! After sending out a "Save the Date" postcard back in August, the commissioner for this fun filled weekend, Jared Walsh, sent an email to all Steds moms with a registration link and tentative schedule. If you are a Steds mom and haven't received an email, then you better tell your son! We want you there! Every year, a great amount of planning goes into special weekend, and this year we have a few surprises up our sleeves! On the invitations going out, Walsh said, "What can I say, but we're excited! All invitations for current Steds Moms went out, and we encourage all moms to fill this form out as quickly as possible! If you did not receive your registration email, let us know! We want everyone there!"

What did they do...

Steds overall thanks to Hincka...

... during break? Catch up on sleep, eat great meals, and take the occasion nap or two, we hope! Even though it was break, Danny Hincka, Steds freshmen from Michigan via Waterloo, Belgium, could not take one.  Always on the go, Danny could not resist to do something because, well, he had the time. So, what did he do? What anyone with time on his hands would do- run a half marathon. Representing Sted’s, Danny ran a half marathon through the woods in a local state park near his home of Brighton, Michigan. Still yet,  so did his mom and sisters. In the end, Hincka was the fastest in his age group and took first place! On her son taking first place, Kerry Gallagher Hincka said, “It was his first time running a half marathon, but he has good distance running experience from running cross country in high school. Still, four flights of stairs every day are good training!”

... and Danny's power base, the Hincka Clan! 

Your Sunday picture...

Soak it in

... from Notre Dame. Here is a unique view of the Basilica steeple and Mary and the Main Building taken from the Duncan Student Center. Despite the sunshine reflecting off the Dome, it's a sunny day but not a warm day. Still, we'll take it. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!