Your Sunday picture...

Spring continues to spring

... from Notre Dame. Even though we may not be there to see it, campus is still awash in the glories of spring. Trees, flowers, and that grows exudes new life so much so that you smell its sweetness. Of course, you have allergies, I would advise to refrain from inhaling it too deeply. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

We may be...

Steds mom teaching and styling at the same time!

... quarantining, but it does not mean we throw everything to the wind! That is certainly the mentality that Betsy Vogel, mother of Stedsmen Peter '12 and Edward '17 Vogel, has as she continues to remotely teach her fifth grade in Orange, Connecticut  While her teaching may happen over the internets, it does not mean Betsy is dialing it in with an unkempt and slovenly appearance as if she rolled right out of bed and straight into the virtual classroom.  On contrary, she's dialing it in and looking, as Father Sorin would say, trés chic. Trés chic indeed because Betsy is wearing a couture hat from Steds spring apparel line of 2017. And in the process, the kids are getting schooled not just in the fundamentals but also the fundamentals of looking good! It's the proverbial win-win. On wearing her Steds couture hat, Betsy said, "Some may say I am wearing this hat because I had a "bad hair day" or wanted the attention of "socially distanced onlookers." But I tell you they are all wrong. I did for the kids!"

While quarantining...

Rutherford signaling "We going to beat this thing"

... you may have missed it, it was his proverbial fifteen minutes of fame. Yes, Stedsman, Charlie Rutheford '18, EMT, aspiring medical student and native Washingtonian, was highlighted on Notre Dame's recent Covid-19 broadcast, a broadcast that highlighted the work of alumni to stem the affects of this pandemic. Suffice it to say, as an EMT and living in Washington State, Rutherford has truly been, and still is, at the front lines of the fight. On Rutherford's interview, Fr. Ralph said, "It was edifying and uplifting. In the end, it gave me great hope as well as confirmed what I already believed... that our graduates are exactly what the Founder wanted them be for the world... forces for good. Good on you, Charlie!"

To watch the interview, click HERE

This Memorial Day...

... is certainly different than those of the past, but let that not damper the true spirit of this day. Often thought of as the official start of summer, Memorial Day is much more than just that as it the day for remembering those men and women who died while serving our country's Armed Forces. So, while we go about our holiday, let us pause, remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation and giving our thanks.

To read Fr. Ted Hesburgh's words at Notre Dame's Clarke War Memorial, click HERE.

Saturday's squirrel.

Nuts: once again for dinner 

Charles Dickens wrote a novel entitled Hard Times, and for our furry friends, the times are definitely hard. With no handouts and no trash cans to dive, it's lean times. How are our furry friends surviving? Simple. Going back to basics. Here's a squirrel who doing that just. On nibbling on an identified tree nut, this squirrel stopped and non-verbaled, "Can we make a trade?"

Kids in...

O'Leary: A purveyor of chicken and more

... quarantine: VIRTUAL FINALS WEEK. These are serious times, and so are the academics. On-line classes have given way to finals. Hard to believe it, but it’s Virtual Finals Week. Rest assured, the Stedsmen are playing for keeps they always do, taking their on-line finals for King and Hall. But how do you take an on-line? Who knows… but they do. Tonight, we will hear all about and more from Jack O’Leary, Steds freshman and resident Floridian, and Chick-Fil-Aer, who had some time to speak amid this demanding and taxing week.

St. Ed: With the University's residence halls, including the oldest and most storied, St. Ed’s, shut down, where are you these days?

O’Leary: Away from Steds I’m back home in Stuart, Florida. For people who know Florida I'm near West Palm Beach, and for those who don’t… let’s just say Miami.

St. Ed: Your on-line classes are over, are you glad that it is now Finals Week?

O’Leary: This last half of the semester felt slow, but I think its crazy that its already finals week. I only have two finals and I finished my papers early so this week isn’t that bad for me. I’m definitely ready for online classes to be over so that I can get out of the zoom classroom and enjoy the sun before it gets hotter than Hayes-Healy down here in FL.

St. Ed: Still, how do one do “finals” on-line? After all, while you would never cheat, who is there to make sure that the other guy isn’t opening a book or something?

O’Leary: Today I had my Econ exam at 1:45. So, naturally, I woke up at noon, ate a Publix sub, and logged online at 1:44 to take my exam. To make sure nobody's opening any books without permission, my professors decided to instead allow all of their students to open up their books. Open-note, open-book exams have made my exam week stress free. 

St. Ed: With on-line classes and finals soon to be done and over, what do you intend to do with all of your newly found free time?

O’Leary: To keep myself busy I have returned to my high school job at Chick-Fil-A. Since my return we've broken the drive-thru record and served 287 cars in a single hour. Not to say this was all me, but I spot a correlation. When I’m not selling chicken, I plan on soaking in as much sun as possible. I have a lot of work to do in order to get back the tan that the South Bend Winter stole from me. 

St. Ed: Do you have any advice for getting through quarantine?

O’Leary: The advice I have for my fellow Stedsman (and all others) is to watch Peaky Blinders. Available on Netflix, this show has made my staying in enjoyable, and sometimes even preferred. 

The answer is...

Students returning soon

... classes will start early. With Graduation festivities now over, the University made an announcement late this afternoon concerning the upcoming Fall Semester. The Fall Semester 2020 will start in the fall, but it will start early AND on a Monday... Monday, August 10th. Citing informed decision making and the stringent testing, classes will start early, forego Fall Break, and end early, before Thanksgiving. On the announcement, an Stedsman, speaking on the condition of anonymity said, "I hope stringent testing refers to testing for the Corona virus- not academic testing."

To read the full announcement, click HERE.