Destination Notre Dame {Day 5: Orientation}

Basilica of the Sacred Heart, University of Notre Dame

 

A full day of parent and student orientation activities on the agenda, we began in the Knott Hall chapel where the dorm’s rector, Brother Jerome, introduced us to the young men (seniors) who will serve as residence assistants (RA’s) this year and gave a general talk about dorm life in an effort to “put parents’ minds at ease.” The questions from parents following the presentation:

• What if my son doesn’t KNOW there was alcohol in his room?
• Can’t you please call me if you are taking my son to the emergency room?
• What if my son just can’t stand his room mate?
• Will my son be forced to wear an orange beanie?

didn’t phase Brother Jerome in the least. He encouraged us to allow our sons the opportunity to make their own decisions and learn to live with the consequences; turn off the helicopter, so to speak. The dorm room stability policy at Notre Dame encourages students to learn to live and work with others and figure out how to negotiate the differences and difficulties rather than offering an easy ‘fix’ and removal (extreme cases not withstanding). In a very direct statement, an RA told us that the University of Notre Dame “follows the teachings of the Catholic Church” (Please God, may it always be so!) “that intercourse is to be reserved for marriage…”

Brother Jerome addresses parents of Knott Hall freshmen, in the dorm's chapel.

 

“Introduction to Academic and Student Life” followed a family style lunch in the dining hall. Gathering the entire class of 2016 and their loved ones at Purcell Pavilion, Notre Dame administrators, Dean Page, President Fr. Jenkins, Erin Hoffmann Harding, and senior student Catherine Reidy officially welcomed the new students and gave sound advice for a successful university experience including:

• Take everything as an opportunity to learn (in all humility) and grow
• Encounter the mystery of God
• Be Christ for others
• Be a leader and a servant
• Make time for discernment 
• Begin to learn a new language~ very well 
• Wander the stacks of books and explore the libraries
  

  

  Students of the Notre Dame class of 2016 and their families enter Purcell Pavilion for first-year orientation.

Notre Dame's “Parent Orientation Session” with Dean Page, Erin Hoffmann Harding, and Parent Orientation Panel (James McKenna, Lee Svete, Darrell Paulsen) coincided with a break-out session for our first year students to meet with their academic advisors. A few tips from the Dean’s key to success list:

• Be patient in this time of transition
• Master the art of supporting rather than solving 
• Trust in the values you have instilled in your child (pray and trust) 
• Encourage your child to find time for contemplation and silence 
• Embrace this new stage of life

The topic, ‘Discernment in Year 1,” sounded promising, although I didn’t particularly appreciate the ‘wisdom’ passed along by the first presenter, Professor James McKenna, who quoted his own UC Berkley prof from 1966. McKenna redeemed himself with a slightly comedic repeat after me phrase for parents, preparing us for that excited call from our student announcing his new intended major of study in an area never before mentioned, like, say, anthropology: “Anthropology!! There’s NOTHING you cannot do with THAT major!”

 

Migrating across campus after the parent orientation program concluded, we reconnected with Zachary at the Arts and Letters exploration session. Lemonade, cookies and snacks were enjoyed by Joseph and Peter, who understandably opted out of another lecture and rather passed the time in comfy chairs in the lobby area.

Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame

 

Leaving Zachary to peruse the Arts and Letters open house at his own pace, the four of us made our pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart for the 5PM Mass. The organ and student choir ensemble filled the church with the beauty of holy music, and the sound preaching and awesome sacramental miracle of the Holy Eucharist brought heaven to earth (see Revelation).  Time to visit the reliquary and side chapels followed, and we eventually made our way to the dining hall where Zachary sat surrounded by new friends at a table not far from ours. He joined us mid-meal and shared bits of his student orientation experience.

Tabernacle; home of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, at Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame

 

Leaving the dorm after a brief post-dinner tour of Zac’s room-in-progress, we introduced ourselves to the rector, Brother Jerome, and enjoyed a visit with him before departing campus for the much anticipated swimming pool at our hotel.

Zachary's dorm room, under construction

Joseph takes the camera in hand and snaps revenge on the family photographer.

 

One more day.

Destination Notre Dame {Day 5: Move-In Day}

Assisting the sophomore moving company, Tim and Peter haul Zachary's gear out of the van at Knott Hall.

Our official campus move-in pass displayed on the dashboard as instructed, we trekked from our South Bend hotel to the University of Notre Dame and took our place in a long line of vehicles loaded with excited freshmen dorm inhabitants and their furnishings.  Rather like waiting for a ferry on a holiday crossing, we inched along at single digits speeds for nearly an hour. Along the fenced border of a large grassy field where the marching band rehearsed in the morning sun, we lifted the seat belt requirement a rode along with the sliding door wide open, feet dangling.

Car door-to-door hospitality provided by the Notre Dame parents’ club delivered cold water bottles, campus maps and driving directions to the nearby superstores for any last minute shopping needs.  Eager sophomores greeted us as we finally pulled up the front entrance of Zachary’s new home at Knott Hall.  Whisking Zachary off to sign for his room key, his new dorm-mates unloaded Zac’s belongings from our van and delivered them to his new room on the third floor.

Zac and his new roommate, Joe, rearrange the furnishings to their liking as Joe's parents look on.

Finding his Google-Earth assisted measurements to be precisely accurate, Zachary lost no time unpacking to inhabit his12x16 cinder block double dorm room.  A friendly resident assistant suggested removing the closet doors which would allow ease of access to the main storage areas and offered tools for the project.  The especially anticipated move-in moment occurred when Zachary’s new roommate, Joe, arrived together with his parents, Linda and Steve.  A gentle-spirited and serious young man, slightly on the shy side, Joe immediately hit it off with Zac and simultaneously won my heart.  I offered silent, fervent prayers of gratitude for the complimentary pairing and for the opportunity to get to know Joe’s parents.

Zachary and Joe in their new room in Knott Hall at the University of  Notre Dame.

A drop-in dorm visit by our Bellingham friend, Matt (ND sophomore), and his mom, Vicki, was a great consolation and spirits lifted to see their familiar faces.  Matt and his mom gave sound suggestions and answered many questions for us in the months, days and hours prior to Zac’s move to Notre Dame. Having them join in the joy of Zac’s first day on campus was certainly fitting. By divine providence we ended up eating lunch with Matt, Vicki, and another Bellingham youth group friend, Drew, and his family on the grass outside the campus ministry welcome barbecue tent. 

Matt, Zac, and Drew at the campus ministry-sponsored picnic lunch on Freshmen move-in day at ND.

Bellingham moms unite on the grounds of Notre Dame; Vicki, Bridget and Diane.

Many booths set up to provide insightful leads for students and parents on campus, we collected treats and freebies while learning about the various campus services, work study options and extra curricular offerings.  Anxious to settle in to his new dorm room, Zac took us up on our offer to do a bit of running around in town on his behalf.  Had we known we would need to visit four stores before a box of thumbtacks could be found…


Reuniting for a walk to the family friendly dinner served at the dining hall, we were blessed to find five seats all together right next to Zac’s new roommate and his parents.  Although the noise level in the expansive space made our attempts at polite conversation fairly futile, just sharing a meal all together hit the spot.  Our paths parted after dinner as Zachary rejoined his dorm activities and the four of us made a visit to the Grotto in time to pray the sorrowful mysteries with the faithful crowd which assembles there every night at 6:45. 

Joseph, Peter and Tim light a candle and pray for Zachary at Notre Dame's Grotto.

Back at our hotel, Joseph and Peter wasted no time getting to the pool for their evening exercise.  We enjoyed visiting with other parents of Notre Dame freshmen gathered at the Jacuzzi after a long move-in day.  One couple was delivering the youngest of their three sons into university life; one brought the middle son of three boys; and we, the oldest son of our three.  A lively conversation ensued and once again, it seemed as if every little detail of this day had been prearranged for our benefit