Seen at the Golden Dome (at midnight in -4° windchill and sideways snow): Notre Dame's very own Troubadours.

"Kids who come to Notre Dame are very affected by what they've heard and been told about South Bend. They hear it's a dangerous place, that they shouldn't go into the city. And South Bend residents are affected by what they've heard about Notre Dame kids--that they're snooty and think they're invincible. So we put ourselves into these silos, containing ourselves to stereotypes and appearances. The only way to break barriers is to immerse yourself in the community: going out as a volunteer, as a mentor, on an educational experience like Urban Plunge. You can't understand a community if you're removed from it. I love this city. I've lived here my whole life. It's been good to me, it's been good for me.
"Here's a challenge for you--for everyone: tomorrow, go up to someone you've never seen before, a stranger, and smile and say hello."

                "Do you have any insight to share with people interested in social justice or social enterprise?"

"Three things come to mind. One: collaborate. There is so much more strength in a team 
or partnership. Green Bridge Growers found connections with Hannah and Friends and the 
Logan Center, who were very interested in the cause which we were serving. We grow herbs and leafy plants through aquaponics, and we employ people who are affected by autism. Teamwork with other organizations has helped us grow and be where we are today. Two: connect. Stay engaged with the people who are enduring the problem you are interested in. Your work doesn't make sense if you forget whom you are truly serving. Three might sound trite or simple, but...if you really believe in something, and people tell you that you can't do it, or things change, or you need a plan B or C or D...keep going forward with it. You yourself know the potential that's there. If you are firm in your beliefs, don't be affected by the critics and keep forging ahead. When you're creating something new, setbacks are inevitable. It helps to be flexible, always wondering, 'What if?'"

"I'm the only one in my family with an American name. Everyone else has Vietnamese names. My mom works as a housekeeper in Walsh and two of my four sisters went to Notre Dame. And me? I like to dance! I go to Zumba five times a week!"

"I decided to be an usher for the Keenan Revue just because it was a way to be involved with the show, but less of a time commitment. I'm a freshman, so I thought I'd take it slow and get the feel of the show."
            (after taking his picture)
"Wait...you mean...I'm going to be on a blog? Me? Cool!"

"She really likes the light on your camera!"

              "Have you felt yourself change over your 6-year PhD program?"
"When I started, I was a lot greener...as in inexperienced. I came to know much more about research and statistics--the meat and bones of science. I went to University of Wisconsin Oshkosh for undergrad, but for graduate school, I chose Notre Dame because it's one of the only places where my research would be possible, thanks to UNDERC (University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center)."
            "What got you started in your research?"
"I grew up around forests in Wisconsin, where deer hunting is very common. One day, I noticed: there are no saplings on the ground. And I wondered why that was. This was around the same time wolves were reintroduced to the Great Lakes area. I put two and two together and became more and more interested in wolves' effect on biodiversity."

"Everyone employed at Notre Dame has some variation of the ND logo on their uniform. This year, a new uniform was adopted without one. Wouldn't you want the first thing you see at Notre Dame to be the famous ND? But there's nothing I can really do about that."

"The kids here at Notre Dame are unlike any other. They're really the best. They aren't focused on themselves--they're always looking outward."
          (After hearing his homily about baseball) "How is being a priest like coaching a sports team?"
"In both situations, you're in a leadership position, and you're trying to rally your team around a cause. Being a coach, you're explaining a specific course of action to a group of athletes, and you're saying, 'If you do it like this, you will succeed.' And being a priest, your team are children of God. And you're helping them realize their inherent worth."

                "Do you have any insight to share with people interested in social justice or social enterprise?"
"Three things come to mind. One: collaborate. There is so much more strength in a team or partnership. Green Bridge Growers found connections with Hannah and Friends and the Logan Center, who were very interested in the cause which we were serving. We grow herbs and leafy plants through aquaponics, and we employ people who are affected by autism. Teamwork with other organizations has helped us grow and be where we are today. Two: connect. Stay engaged with the people who are enduring the problem you are interested in. Your work doesn't make sense if you forget whom you are truly serving. Three might sound trite or simple, but...if you really believe in something, and people tell you that you can't do it, or things change, or you need a plan B or C or D...keep going forward with it. You yourself know the potential that's there. If you are firm in your beliefs, don't be affected by the critics and keep foraging ahead. When you're creating something new, setbacks are inevitable. It helps to be flexible, always wondering, 'What if?'"

             "May I ask what your shirt means?"
"It's Awkward Awareness week! It's a week dedicated to conversation about the uniqueness of everyone you meet. Everyone is, well, awkward in some way. But it's also about acknowledging each person's inherent dignity, no matter if parts of them go against what are considered to be social norms. So we can be vocal about it, because sometimes, awkwardness is really funny!"
              "Did you choose the awkward situation on that shirt for a reason?"
"Actually, my RA got it for me! I wasn't able to make the dining hall hours when they were giving these out, so she picked one up for me. It was really kind of her. And, I mean, this shirt is the story of my life." (laughs) "That and misunderstanding people. I'm deaf in both ears but I wear a hearing aid. Sometimes, if we're in a loud place, I'll think I heard something and be like, 'Did you say what I think you just said?' It's awkward sometimes, but it's hilarious."

"It's a little past her bedtime."

"They always say, 'College is a time to reinvent yourself.' So I decided I was going to be more social and outgoing. I brought my Batman hat and wore it all the time--yaknow, just so people would recognize me. And people started calling me Batman! So I took it on as my identity. It seems to have worked, huh? I've collected enough Batman shirts that I can wear one every morning to work."

(If you haven't ordered an omelet from him at North yet, do so. He'll brighten your morning--and maybe save Gotham City while he's at it.)

"I ran a writing website for middle schoolers and high schoolers for around five years. My freshman year of college, I was bummed I had to take Writing and Rhetoric. I'd kinda wished I'd taken AP English to place out of it. After I wrote my first paper, I was lucky enough to have a professor who was willing to work with me. He pulled me aside and said, 'Look, I don't want to give you an F. This is a good paper...it's just not the assignment.' I was home-schooled, so I was used to a more creative approach in assignments. I'd look at a prompt and say, 'Well, that's a good idea,' but then take it a different direction. So I really learned how to write with guidelines my freshman year. By the end of the semester, my professor encouraged me to apply for the Writing Center. In fact, he said, 'Well, grades aren't in yet, so if you want to apply, you should do it now...' Just joking around, of course. But it was a surprisingly thorough process of application and interviewing. I guess the University likes to brag about us."
            "And now you are the Writing Center!"
"I am the Writing Center...yeah, I like the sound of that. Sounds powerful."

"I grew up outside Chicago, went to high school in Wisconsin, and my two brothers and I went to Notre Dame. My older brother attended but was killed as a fighter pilot during World War II. I graduated in 1949. Since then, I've lived in North Dakota, South Bend, California, and Chile. I was the rector to a certain John Jenkins. I also knew Rudy very well--the movie creates a composite of three priests in Father Cavanaugh, and it seems I was one of the three priests.
"I retired in 2001, but my health was still doing well (to my knowledge). It was Catholic social teaching that drew me to prison ministry, because, in a way, the inmates are the poorest of the poor. Along with general population, I visit death row--they call it x row--weekly. The men there appreciate the company. They form a certain community there, taking care of one another. One man is going through the process of being baptized. Two of them receive Communion. More than anything, though, they just want someone to be with them, to listen to them, to show compassion. I tend to avoid the topic of their crimes, simply because I don't want to treat any of the men differently.
"I've witnessed three executions, one of a man whom I had known for a few years. When we were escorted from the witness seats after the execution, a group of protesters was packing up and leaving the parking lot. I've often thought, if I wasn't in the witness seats, I would be out there with them.
"It's as Pope Francis has said: a human life is a human life. And everyone has the right to life, regardless of their past."

"My father was the glee club director from 1937 until 1973, when he retired. My mother was so involved with the club. She knew everyone--which ones were having trouble, what each person's major was, everything. She knew every member of the glee club from 1937 until the year before she died, 2004. She had a tradition of bringing candy on Valentine's day for the boys, so I'm carrying on that tradition. It's hard for me to be quite as involved as my mother was because I'm overseas often, but I do my best to visit and come to concerts. I think it's great that people know about tradition and carry it on!
"Once at a concert in Washington Hall, I overheard a boy telling his friend, 'I used to be in glee club, but I had too many prior obligations. Glee club isn't just a club--it's a way of life.' And from what I've learned, that's exactly right."

"I always say that one of God's greatest gifts to humans is the ability to create. Because that's what He does. So we can take materials here on earth and do what we need to do with them. As an engineer, I'm constantly amazed by how many complex details go into a seemingly-simple task. There's a certain meticulous beauty to everything God has made."

"Can you take our picture?"
"I can't feel my hands."
"You know how I stay warm? These rock-hard abs."
"I can't feel my hands." (Again.)

            "How're you holding up?"
"All right. I mean, I can't feel my toes. I had to take a five-minute break in DeBart to thaw out. Wait. I said DeBart. I meant CoMo. I'm frozen."

Seen on North Quad.

Seen behind LaFun.

"Being a rector is one of the greatest jobs in the world. It’s funny to me: if I could change one thing about the job, I would wish there were more hours in a day. And that’s coming from someone who works seven days a week, essentially 24 hours a day. I feel very privileged to have the chance to get to know the women in the dorm the way I do. It’s unique. There isn’t any other job that involves living with college students. I not only see their academic and social sides, but also many personal matters. When I was an undergrad, my rector, Jenny, was always friendly, always happy, and always smiling. And I try very consciously to make sure that every time I see someone, I try to be happy and smile because I never know when I’ll have a chance to talk to them. In that sense, being a rector is a lot like being a teacher: you can’t give every student as much attention as you wish you could give them. If I can go beyond solely making sure everyone is safe, happy, and healthy, then it’s a really great day."

I swiped into the dorm right as he hopped out of the FedEx truck with a package: "Sweet! You're a lifesaver."
When we headed in the same direction, he said, "Is this package for you?" (Sadly, it wasn't.) "It's incredible how often that happens. It's been at least twice a week since I started this job. I end following someone all the way to their room and saying, 'Hey, this package is actually for you.'"
After I took his picture, I told him the name of the blog, and he said, "I Am Notre Dame? You know what, I think I am!"

Seen on Cavazahm / Zahmanaugh Quad.

Members of the January Freshman Retreat gather silently in a circle at the Grotto, holding candles and mentally reflecting on their personal struggles. Snow falls softly.
A man visiting the grotto notices the retreatants and watches them with both interest and compassion. After a moment, carrying his own candle, he joins the circle. More retreatants arrive; the circle grows. Candlelight flickers on meditative faces.
The man steps forward to speak to the students. "I am a graduate of Notre Dame on a visit. I'm returning to Puerto Rico early tomorrow morning and decided to stop at the Grotto one last time. It seems the Holy Spirit has brought us together here."
He proceeds to recall Pope Francis's Apostolic Exhortation, number 24: the 5 actions the Church must do in order to go out and meet people. "Number one: primerear. It is a verb Pope Francis made himself. It means be the first. Be the first to go and love; be the first to do good. Number two: involucrarse. Get involved--with your campus, your friends, the Church's activities, causes about which you are passionate. Number three: acompañar. Accompany. Be part of the journey with others. Walk together; show compassion. Be side-by-side. Number four: fructificar. Produce fruits. Do not act for the sake of acting; look for results, look to better the world. And finally, number five: festejar. Celebrate together! Feast together; be joyous of God's work and will in your lives."
He then thanks the circle for their time and stands inside the Grotto's gate. When each retreatant steps inside to set their candle down, he blesses them with the sign of the cross.

In very few places could such a holy, interconnected, and relevant encounter occur. Beautifully enough, Notre Dame is one of them.

Seen at Sacred Heart Parish Center.

"My grandfather, dad, cousin, and brother all went to Notre Dame. I grew up around it. When it was time to apply to colleges, they told me, 'You don't have to go to Notre Dame if you don't want to.' And, I mean, yeah, I applied to other colleges. But I always knew I wanted to be here."
           "If Notre Dame could do something differently, what would you suggest?"
Having just finished a long lecture right around the time of the mid-afternoon crash, he yawned and said, "Well...probably keep me awake."

"When people hear 'March for Life', they think of something based strictly on abortion issues. Of course abortion issues come into the picture. At the heart of the issue, however, is concern for the well-being of people. We want people to have access to clean water, affordable food, sustainable jobs, shelter...to have the opportunity to live a long and happy life. I was proud to represent Notre Dame in DC, especially because the voice of Notre Dame is a definite force in America. Ultimately, March for Life is about care for people at every stage of life."

Seen in Harper.

"I came to Notre Dame feeling calls to both ministry and to engineering. The summer after my freshman year, I spent time as a missionary through Life Teen. The next summer, through a biology professor, I visited Harper and found my call: cancer research. It's a highly demanding and very challenging line of work, but its products are rewarding beyond measure. I'm just playing a very small part...but any part at all is worth it.
"I'm fighting for more birthdays. That's the reason why I'm doing this."

No interview can properly convey the light that shines from within this awesome human being. I was so struck--inspired--by his selflessness and work ethic that I could not stop thinking of how beautifully his work reminded me of an Emily Dickinson poem. The least I can do is use Ms. Dickinson's words, because there comes a time when my own fail me.

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain. 

- Emily Dickinson

"We're making tours through the dorms. We're running for student government together, and we think the best thing a representative can do is be accessible and open. So we're talking to anyone and everyone we meet."
"It's harder than it sounds! The snow days cut our time by two days. And the hours make it difficult."
             "Are there regulations on when you can visit dorms for your platform?"
"No--it's that nobody's in the dorm during classes!"
"And during meal hours. 7-11 is the prime time for people to be in their dorms. We've gotten through seven already. We'll be done with the rest of them by election day (Wednesday), even if it messes up my sleep schedule a little."

Seen at Stonehenge at 10:15 pm.
"They're campaigning for Student Government. The elections are next week, so we're helping get the word out."
"Hey, are the eyes on this snowman even?"