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!