Zahm Pledge to Withhold Donations to the University of Notre Dame

No common rooms, No donations.

As a freshman, the common rooms have been essential in making me feel part of the Zahm and Notre Dame community, and I will never contribute financially to a university that would take that away from current and future students.

Zahm is a house and must be preserved

Zahm is a house and must be preserved

Keep them!

Zahm is the single greatest part of my Notre Dame experience. As a graduating senior, I've been asked to think about my favorite parts of ND and take them into consideration when making a pledge to contribute donations for next year and for years to come. I therefore cannot contribute to a system that supports actions detrimental to the Zahm community, and I instead pledge to not make any donations until the common rooms are restored.

I could never donate to a University that destroys my favorite place on earth: Zahm House.

I had always said that if I ever donated to this University I would request that it be given directly to Zahm. Under these proposed changes, the Zahm that I was privileged to know and love and call my House for four years would not be the same Zahm that my money would be going to. Therefore I will not donate a cent until Zahm's common rooms have been restored. That is a promise.

Keep yo pockets fatter than Kelly's ass

I'm going to be perhaps the first quadruple Domer to not give a penny back to this University.

Zahm is such a memory for all its redidents, and the common rooms were and are a big part of this.

I have grown more as a person because of Zahm House than because of this University. I would never donate to an institution that destroyed my home.

Quoting directly from the ND site on the Zahm House: "Few dorms have as much spirit or as deep a commitment to community service. Residents volunteer with a program called There Are Children Here that enables youth from troubled homes to escape from their domestic situations by going to a camp outside of town or, in the case of Zahm, coming to campus to spend time with college students. All of the profits from Zahm's Foodsales Pizza Kitchen are donated to TACH." Fr. Chamberland are you not proud of this reputation? I am very confused as to your logic or reasoning to interfere with a house spirit so strong and steeped in tradition. I supported my son's attendance at ND not only for the obvious classroom education but to grow socially and build the life-long relationships our university is known for. These common spaces are where these relationships are fostered and grown and good part of what makes Zahm what it is, a tightly knit and high achieving house. Even if you don't agree there is a correlation to the community of ZAHM and its consistent high performance you should recognize the significant financial contributions being made for their room and board. Either way respect the efforts of these young men to be heard. Dan Kennard ND MBA 98

I would argue, as I'm sure many on campus, not just residents of Zahm would, that the fraternal bonds existing among the freshmen through seniors of Zahm, both on and off campus, are the closest and strongest at Notre Dame. I think it would be hard to find members of a dorm that affiliate themselves with their dorm in the same manner in which my brothers in Zahm do. Maybe the administration could ask professor Carl Ackermann about his thoughts on Zahm, or Father Hesburgh, who helped create the Hesburgh challenge with Zahm, not another dorm. Hearing from professors and administrators who have actually had significant and meaningful conversations with residents of our dorm, not just a new rector who does not even know residents by first name, may gave some insight into the character and nature of the fraternal bonds among the residents of Zahm. Last year at freshman orientation, Scott greeted each freshman by first name, and in the meeting last night our rector of two months, whose sole job is to look out for and become familiar with our community, admitted to not knowing the first names of men in the room. This reminds me of friends I know in other dorms, who don't even know the names of people who live a few doors down from them. This is acceptable for students, although that certainly would not fly in Zahm, but certainly not a rector - to me that is an absolute disgrace. Based on my residence in Zahm for the past two and a half years, barring any drastic changes since I left school in December for winter break and subsequently a semester in London, there is beyond ample space in Zahm for social and study space. The entire basement serves as a place for study during the week and weekend - tables are often covered in notebooks and laptops for those studying alone and in groups. Students also hold game watches down in the basement for away games and it serves as an after parietals space to continue socialization. The ping pong and pool tables are regularly occupied

Enough is enough. Notre Dame prides itself on "community, lasting bonds, friendships and tradition. Taking away the common rooms and changing Zahm is the exact opposite. I can think of several things that should be changed or "fixed" at ND, but this is not one of them.

The administration's attempt to change dorm dynamics without any input from the residents who live there is an outrage. This process is especially disheartening given that Zahm has lost their rector this year and an assistant rector meaning that there is no one in a place of authority to look out for the best interests of the hall. Given that there is no advocate to protect the community, Notre Dame housing is attempting to make significant changes at a time where there is the least resistance.

The fiber of that dorm and the University is in the uniqueness of the dorm system. I don't understand the need to try to make ND like every other school when it's uniqueness is what drew us to it and keeps us supporting it. I made life long friends in those common rooms and the threat of removing them shows how painfully out of touch the administration is with the students.

Unfortunately, the university feels that it needs to support its growing campaign to whitewash, standardize, and nullify student traditions on campus. As an alum, I will not support this.