Guest Saturday squirrel.

Godspeed furry friend!

In his travels, Eoghan Fay, Steds freshman, Irishman, and WSND contributor, recently encountered this squirrel on a quad in Ann Arbor, Michigan. What was this furry friend doing? Was he digging for a buried treasure, a nut, or was he simply frolicking in the winter snow? When Eoghan approached, the answer was surprisingly none of the above. Fay said, "He clearly non-verbaled, 'I'm trying to dig a tunnel to Notre Dame to get out of this awful weather.'"

It's true...

Irish smiles all around

… that studying abroad is demanding. In addition to taking a full load of classes, students take on the added responsibility of learning the customs of different countries, being minimally proficient in a foreign language, and the ups and downs for foreign currency fluctuations. And as we learned yesterday, they do all of this while cramming in a lot of travel. But there is something else they do… they play host for mom and dad! Yes, they do all this AND host their parents who happening to come by because, well, they thought it would be nice. Indeed, it was for these juniors studying abroad because they missed out on JPW weekend. Cindy and Cully Olmanson, Katerina and John Haley and brother Ryan, along with Kathy and Gary Michael, all visited their sons Jack, John, and Kevin in Dublin, taking in all that the city had to offer. On the having the opportunity to have a most unique Junior Parent Weekend, Cindy Olmanson offered, "It was all like finding a pot of gold!"

Studying...

Nice, but it's no Yacht Dance

… abroad is demanding. In addition to taking a full load of classes, students take on the added responsibility of learning the customs of different countries, being minimally proficient in a foreign language, and the ups and downs for foreign currency fluctuations. Still yet, they have to do all of this as cram in as my traveling as possible. But it would appear that our Stedsmen studying abroad have figured it all out and then some. Here’s a picture of juniors Chris Meissner (Norwich), Noah Viner (Dublin), John Lucciola (Rome), Jack Usher (London), and Matt Coffey (Norwich) taking a break from class so they can take in the canals of Amsterdam. On seeing his son and his friends in Amsterdam, a Steds dad described the scene by saying, “They are sober and coherent.” Indeed… Indeed they are!

February...

All smiling: Ben (middle) with fellow SkyZoners...

... often gets a bad wrap, and it's deserved! By far, the worst month to be at Notre Dame is February with its perma cloud, gloominess, and dreariness. But just because the weather might be truly frightful outside, it does not mean that fun cannot be had! Enter Josh Blossfeld, Steds senior and fourth floor RA, who organized a Hall outing to SkyZone. SkyZone? Yes, SkyZone. What college student wouldn’t want to go to SkyZone and bounce around on trampolines playing dodge ball? So, on a bleak day in February, Blossfeld and thirty other Stedsmen had an afternoon of trampoline dodge ball helping them forget their February blues as well as giving them a great cardio workout. On the outing, Ben Merrick, Steds VP and junior, shared, “A quick weekend trip to SkyZone was an absolute blast for the boys of St. Ed’s. Our mullets flowed and our bodies rolled as we enjoyed a day at the trampoline park.”

... but Bergstrom was a bit winded to muster a smile.

It’s a mess…

Yet another new building on the way

… across the way from St. Ed’s. With the demolition of Bronson Hall, the west side of Steds now looks out on the Dome and a huge construction pit. What is replacing the building that Fr. Sorin built? The Remick Family Hall. Adding more space the Institute for Education Initiatives and the Alliance for Catholic Education, the Remick Family Hall, when completed, will be not only pretty to look at but also bring an end to the incessant blipping and honking of horns from dump trucks, backhoes, excavators and what not all coming from that pit. On the construction going on to the west of campus, a Stedsman, who did not want to be identified, said, "I hope they will be good neighbors."

To learn more about the new building: click HERE.

A fight in...

Steds eyes glued to the TV

... the Flounge! Well, on TV that is. Watching the Wilder vs. Fury II through the Hall’s Apple TV and subscription to ESPN+,  Stedsman we’re treated to a riveting fight that did not disappoint. If someone was disappointed, then having some free pizza. Oh, yes, there was free pizza there too. Going to the seventh round, Fury emerged victorious, and the Stedsmen were amped up for the other fight on the near horizon, the Bengal Bouts semi-finals. On organizing and watching the fight, Dan O’Brien, Steds VP and Bengal Bout defending champ, said, “Seeing these heavyweight giants clash in the ring resonated deeply with the audience. Many seems to leave with a revitalized excitement to see our own, smaller, giants step into the ring on Monday.”

Your Sunday picture...

February never looked so good

... from Notre Dame. Here's an early morning view of St. Joseph's Lake, from the power plant to the the Main Building and Basilica, taken by Alec Lis during at early morning run. Struck by the beauty of moment or just looking for a bit of breather... who knows and who cares? Let's enjoy the scene. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Saturday squirrel.

I say hello...

Our furry friends are out about this winter. Not hibernating like Ned, the ND groundhog, squirrels are out and about doing who know what. Sometimes they are standoffish, running away at the sight of a student while at other times, they come right up to you, looking for a hand out of course. Other times,   we find them staring at us, plotting who knows what. But sometimes, they want a moment of privacy like this furry friend wanted when chowing down on some red berries. His backside non-verbaled everything, "Leave me alone."

... and you say good bye

Don't look behind...

The sign in corner says it all...

... the curtain! That was what Dorothy was told in the Wizard of Oz, but as we all know, she did look. Perhaps there is a bit of Dorothy in all of us. We all want to see behind the curtain, and perhaps that's why the University decided not to put up a curtain in the new home of WSND, the University's radio station. Maybe the University didn't want students trying to break into the radio station's small office at the Duncan Student Center like they do for the campus' underground tunnel system. No curtain here but instead a large window where the curious can peer into the depths of 88.9FM. And what do they see? A big machine that is responsible for making the magic of WSND come alive. On seeing the machine that makes WSND go, Fr. Ralph said, "It startled me. I turned around, and there it was looking right at me. It all was very reminiscent of something from a Terminator movie, you know, where the machines rise up against us. But then, I was told that this was a good machine, and I my fears vanished as Vivaldi was piped in over the speaker system."

We have...

Stedsman and former champ Dan O'Brien giving "Money" needed advice... 

... a winner! Well, we have several winners in Bengal Bouts from Steds. Congratulations to all who got into the ring and give a whole lot more than just the old college go. But one bout that caught the eye of many was that of Matt "Money" Cyrs. Cyrs, Steds senior and 1st floor RA, was back in the ring this year after having to drop out last year at the last minute due to a broken thumb during practice. And those who were there to see him enter the ring were not disappointed. Going three rounds, Cyrs finally finished his competition by delivering a TKO early in the third round to the delight of his supporters. On Cyrs' win, Peter McKeon, Steds AR and armchair boxer, said, "One look at the steely complexion of one Matthew Cyrs, gave even the most courageous onlooker something new to fear. The question wasn’t “would” Cyrs win this fight, it was “how”. In a series of thudding exclamations, his Mac Truck of a right hand answered that question for everyone. Today we spell victory: C-Y-R-S!"

MUST SEE VIDEO: CLICK HERE.

... while McKeon (far left) and friends congratulate our winner.

Going where...

Stedsmen: Intramural Racquetball Champions

... no Stedsmen have gone before! That is exactly what the Steds intramural racquetball squad did by clinching Steds first ever intramural racquetball championship. Still yet, it was also the first, certainly not the last, intramural championship of the 2019-2020 season. Channeling their "inter Joe Sobek," the man accredited with inventing the sport of racquetball at the YMCA in Greenwich, Connecticut, the Steds squad walked not only with the championship but also the coveted Recsports "Champion t-shirt," a must for every Notre Dame student's t-shirt collection. On captaining the Steds squad to glory, Josh Chapple, Steds junior and resident Virginian, disclosed, "We would have won by more if those courts were regulation." Indeed, you would have... Josh, indeed you have have!

Enjoying some...

Shust and Ferraro: More sunshine please 

... sun in the Park. When the "permacloud" unexpectedly broke and the sun reappeared, it did not take long for students to rush out and soak up some golden goodness. With sunglasses and blankets, and maybe a book or two, students took to the quads and reacquainted themselves with that bright orb in the sky. The first to bask in these rare golden rays of February were two freshmen, Gavin Shust and Peter Ferraro. 

On taking up residence in St. Edward's Park, Shust said, “When the permacloud disappears, opportunity must be seized. When Peter and I came back from philosophy, we basked in the warm winter sun and decided to picnic and study in the beautiful St Edwards Park. With a light snack of chocolate Teddy Grahams, we studied until the clouds came back.

And Ferraro added, "February began with a bang, catching us all off-guard with the intense heat that bathed the campus. After spending the majority of my morning in class, I walked outside only to be welcomed by intense brightness. The permacloud had lifted and both Gavin and I knew that we had to capitalize on this opportunity, so we gathered our books, a speaker, and some snacks and enjoyed ourselves in Steds Park for the remainder of the afternoon."

Good bye...

Goodbye old friend...

... old friend. You were always there for us, cooking our ramen noodles and heating ups our easy Macs. And even when we didn't need to you, you were there. Without fail, you were always at ready to conjure up high levels of RF radiation to warm up whatever. Last last week, when you took your leave of us, our hearts were broken and tears welled up in the eyes of many. Sadly, the Flounge microwave microwaved its last, and the Hall was at a lost in more ways than one. But, thanks to ND Day funds, as we said goodbye to an old friend and said hello to a new friend, a new microwave. On being able to microwave to his heart's content once again, Marcus Braun, Steds freshman and resident Californian, said, "This microwave is the height of luxury. No longer must I press a whopping 4 buttons. Verily, only one button is necessary. Plus, it heats things up and spins real good."

... hello, who do we have here? A new friend.

Your Sunday picture...

The Grotto, the Basilica, and even a little bit of the Dome too

... from Notre Dame. Mid last week, winter made it's present felt as several inches of heavy wet snow felt on campus and the coldest temps of the season rolled in. While it was terribly cold, it was beautiful as a white blanket covered everything, only adding to the everyday beauty of campus. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Saturday Squirrel.

Paw prints...

These paw prints in the recently fallen snow look like they were made by a rather rotund squirrel. These prints belong to a squirrel who is either very good at getting hand outs from students or scrounging up morsels from a drive in a trash can... or both. Whatever it is, he's warm this winter. But   wait... these prints are not from a squirrel but rather from Notre Dame's very own groundhog! Forget Phil from that Pennsylvania town that nobody can spell nor find on a map because we have our own groundhog... Ned. Ned from Notre Dame, who resides around St. Jospeh's Lake, likes to keep a low profile but was spotted through the snow. What he would non-verbal we know not, but I think his empty burrow says it all.

... from Ned tells us spring is springing soon.

V M DAY!

President Gambardella (L) and Vice President O’Brien congratulating 

Commander Smith 

We have victory in our battle against malaria! The power of Steds mullets could not be repelled, and the enemy is now on the run. With the nets that will be purchased through donations, the enemy will cede more territory, and soon, malaria will have no place to hide. So, while the boys are returning home, our fight is not over, the war will go. Indeed, the enemy will see our brave boys and their powerful, magnificent mullets again! But for now, it’s back to the Steds barracks for some R&R and a haircut!

Earlier this afternoon, President Gambardella and Vice President O'Brien received Steds Mullet Commander, Jacob Smith, giving the order to cease operations an demobilize. And as sign of the Hall's gratitude, Smith was promoted to the rank of general. On the successful campaign, General Smith shared, "My dear friends, this is your hour. This is not victory of a class or of any floor for that matter. It's a victory of Steds and Steds nation. We were the first at this University to draw the sword against malaria, but it is with our mullets that we have vanquished this foe.” 

We THANK those who gave their follicles for the fight, but we also must give thanks to all those from who joined us in this fight, monitoring our progress, buoying our spirits, making donations, all of which made this campaign a RESOUNDING SUCCESS, raising $11,226! Whether or not we donned a mullet, today's victory is something that we can all be proud of and celebrate. 

He did...

McKenna: Dropping the curtain on the Iron Curtain...

... it! Stedsman and resident Connecticutian, or some would say Nutmegger,  Greg "The Leg" McKenna, first time Bengal Bouter, took down his rival in the Bengal Bouts Preliminaries. Cheered on by a large contingent of supporters from the Hall, and despite his rector cheering for the wrong the boxer, McKenna was not phased. Composed and focused, "The Leg" from St. Eds's swept his competition, and as he did, he did it in style. McKenna was a boxer who delivered not only the hits but also showboating that assembled crowd quietly wanted. Still yet, he even made his competition look decent, dropping "the curtain" in the final round. On seeing his fellow freshman win, Peter Ferraro, shared, "The first night of the 90th annual Bengal Bouts did not fail to disappoint with Greg “The Leg” McKenna clinching a split-decision win in the first round.  It was an amazing turn of events with The Leg turning things around towards the end of the bout and with this result, his name should be Greg “McKilla” McKenna!"

Continued luck to our "Leg" and all our boxers!

... and signals victory!

A break from the...

Irish fans down under or right side up?: Peter, sister, and dad

... battle. While the conflict against the nemesis of Steds wages on, let us take a short break so that our spirit and resolve might be refreshed and renewed. Yes, let us once again hear what our Stedsmen were doing before the war... what they were doing before hostilities broke out. Oddly enough, let's hear what Hall legend and Mullets Against Malaria hero, Peter Molyneaux, did during Christmas Break. While many went home or went to the game in Orlando, Molyneaux did as well. He spent some time at home in Bettendorf, Iowa, but Molyneaux took in the ND bowl game against Iowa State, not from the couch at home nor in Orlando but in Australia. Yes, Australia! Molyneaux said, “While getting up at 3 am was tough, I felt worse for our neighbors who got to listen to us yell at an iPhone screen for a couple hours!” True fans indeed!

Who are the few...

Steds mullets to malaria: Back off!

... the brave, the mulleted? They are our Stedsmen... from every class level, from all over the country, from purple mountains majesty and the fruited plains, in short from sea to sea... and even beyond! While their hair may be different shades, lengths, and levels of curliness, one thing they ALL have in common is the desire to give their follicles to the noble cause. Damn the ignorance of others who don't understand why they are sporting mullets, racing stripes and skullets. Who cares if others do not appreciate the awesome power of their hair, especially when it is styled by the best decade ever- the 80's?  Ignorance, laughter, nay saying, and anything else that others can throw their way will not deter these brave, brave boys. So, now, thanks to our Hall photographer, Ashton Bieri, let us see these courageous young men, and if seeing their courage should move us, then let us do our part in this fight and help bring them home and their hairstyles back to the present decade!

To make a donation, click HERE!

On getting a mullet, Steds freshman, ND Marching Band trombonist, and resident South Carolinian, Nathaniel Hiott, exclaimed, “When the great lyricist Billy Ray Cyrus sang the words 'I want my mullet back,' he was merely repeating the words uttered by every Stedsman after their next haircut returns them to a normal hairdo. Rest assured, Billy Ray: the mullets will be back to continue fighting the good fight!”

A portrait...

Dieterich's mullet: It fits him well

in courage. It takes a great deal of patience to grow the amount of hair needed for a mullet. Still, it takes even more patience to endure all of the inconveniences associated with long hair. But, let us, at home front, not forget the amount courage needed to wear a mullet. Sadly, the 80's biases, misunderstandings, and stereotypes surrounding this hairstyle continue right down to this very day. While some will be dissuaded from giving their follicles to the cause because of this, one Stedsman whose resolve never waived ever since arriving is Will Dieterich, Steds freshman from South Paris, Maine. Since day one, this South Parisian answered the call, and now, he and his mullet are at the front. Earlier, I was able to speak with a veteran mullet wearer and legend, Peter Molyneaux, but recently, I was able to speak with this youngling, asking him a few questions. 

StEd: What do you think the wearer of a mullet is communicating to world through his hair?

Dieterich: The wearer of a mullet is telling the world he is both confident and compassionate. He supports the kids, and he does it in style.

StEd: When you see “younglings” about campus with mullets, racing stripes, and skullets, what do you think?

Dieterich: Seeing fellow younglings around campus with mullets makes me think of how amazing our St Edward’s community is and how we all came together and worked- some of us for months- to get our hair ready for the cause.

StEd: Can a mullet really do anything against malaria?

Dieterich: The mullets may be the ultimate weapon against malaria. It has extraordinary fundraising powers, which helps charities battle malaria!

As our boys are fighting malaria, let's do our part in this battle and bring them and their hairstyles back to normal! To make a donation, click HERE!

Your Sunday picture...

Moving on up... not to east side but the second floor

... from Notre Dame. Many people have shared with me how campus is inspiring, but you know, sometimes induces a bit of laughter. That was certainly the case earlier this week when walking to the Morris Inn. What is up there on McKenna Hall's elevator shaft? Yes! It's a port-a-potty. How did they get it up there? Some times not knowing is better than knowing. Still, I hope this view from campus brought you a bit of laughter. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be! 

Saturday's Mullet.

Molyneaux: The man, the myth, the mullet

During these trying times, strength and courage for the fight can be drawn from looking to the past, particularly to one Stedsman. The one I speak of is Peter Molyneaux, Steds senior and resident Iowan. Described as impressively hideous by his father, Molyneaux's mullet and accompanying mustache and sideburns are legendary among our fighting boys. The power, the beauty, the majesty of it all leaves one speechless and malaria dead in its tracks. With the boys off at the front, I was able to catch up with this Steds legend and ask him a few questions. Here's what he had to say...

St.Ed: What do you think the wearer of a mullet is communicating to world through his hair?

Molyneaux: The mullet is a bad hairstyle, no way around it. Because of this, those of us in Steds who choose to wear it put charity before looking good. We choose to look bad for the benefit of others. Sounds like something Jesus would do to me! 

St.Ed: When you see “younglings” about campus with mullets, racing stripes, and skullets, what do you think?

Molyneaux: It makes me proud to be a member of this Hall. Although my mullet has come and gone I can see the tradition is being carried on. Nothing makes me happier 

St.Ed: Can a mullet really do anything against malaria?

Molyneaux: I am 100% convinced that, after a mosquito net of course, the mullet is the single most effective way to beat malaria into submission. No explanation required.

As our boys are fighting malaria, let's do our part in this battle and bring them and their

hairstyles back to normal! To make a donation, click HERE!

It all started...

Stedsmen: Getting ready for the fight...

... this afternoon. It was pleasantly quiet on the home front, but then, suddenly, there was a cacophony from the Flounge and flurry of activity going up and down the main staircase. What was happening? A Chipotle give away in the Greg? A flash sale at Ed's? No, it was none of these. Rather, all the noise was our brave Stedsmen preparing for the fight against our nemesis. Reporting to the Flounge, our boys, with the help of three University hairstylists, received malaria's worse nightmare- a mullet. Having their locks crafted into the quintessential 80's hairstyles, the Stedsmen were finally ready for the fight. With mullets, racing stripes, and even skullets, the Stedsmen headed off to the front. Rest assured, we will bring you news and photos from the front lines of the battle, hearing from our brave boys, their heroics as well as their coiffures that just won't quit. On seeing his younger brother, Jack, with a mullet, Ryan Shelley said, "Not bad work at all, though the stripes leave something to be desired. I give 7.5 out of 10. But, it’s all for the kids… so 10.”

As our boys are fighting malaria, let's do our part in this battle and bring them and their hairstyles back to normal! To make a donation, click HERE!

... and the President did his part...

... while even the Hall mailman delivered more than just the mail...

... with the Man from Maine, Will Dieterich, undergoing a transformation... 

... with Deustch looking better than ever...

... just like Jack Shelley...

... all trying to be cool just like these guys.