Letters
to the editor: web extra, p. 2
The Sobering Policy
Your magazine is a work of outstanding art and reporting. I look
forward to each issue. Having said that, Ed Cohen's "Sobering
Debate" in the Summer 2002 issue begs a big "Shame on you" Notre
Dame students, Father Malloy, board of directors and the Alumni
Association. It seems each of you is afraid of offending the immoral
scum leaders of the student body.
Don't you teach religion and morals at Notre Dame anymore? Don't
you require exemplary moral behavior anymore? Why so few expulsions?
Why the big compromise by just winking at campus sex, alcohol
use and abuse? Why is there not better selection and development
of student character?
Why the tolerance of the practice SYR "screw your roommate,"
real and wishful? Why do you allow Notre Dame to be morally degraded
to the level of other universities where the students major in
fornication, alcohol and pornography? (I do not buy the concept
that these are just kids acting like college students everywhere.)
When did Notre Dame add Satan as a staff moral policy director?
Remember Satan? Remember the words purity, virginity and sobriety?
If these virtues are not taught at Notre Dame, where will they
be taught? Certainly not at the parish level today? Why are immoral
students allowed to set the tone of moral development at Notre
Dame?
Robert L. Bobbett, student '41-'42
Las Vegas, Nevada
We are shocked, Shocked! Fr. Poorman's draconian new campus policy
on alcohol, as told by Ed Cohen in your summer issue, is taking
away student "rights" and spoiling their "fun." It's shocking!
There was no mention of the penalties, nor any use of the dread
"R" (for responsibility) word. So three suggestions:
1) Require all students to acknowledge Fr. Poorman's rules,
in writing.
2) Specify that any infractions are grounds for dismissal.
3) Then Do It!
Who knows? Expelling a few of the hard core rowdies might give
entirely new meaning to the (disgusting) SYR idea: Shoulder Your
Responsibilities And, apparently, that would really be
shocking!
Carl F. Bachle '52
Jackson, Michigan
It recently dawned on me that in the 1950s, you could smoke in your
room, but you couldn't drink. Now you can drink, but you can't smoke.
There is probably no way to completely control drinking, but
there must be some restrictions to put barriers up to gross misconduct.
Without rules, you run the risk of chaos. Despite severe penalties
in the 50 s, drinking still went on, but it was a rare occasion
that real drunkenness was evident. Eliminating hard alcohol seems
to be a minor point. 19 year olds don't really need a martini
at the end of the day.
Dances at the Student Center or other locations seem to make
sense. The halls were not built for dancing. Realistically, I
don t know if you can monitor tail gate parties, but I have always
wondered why it was necessary to get drunk to go to a football
game. Students expect to be treated like adults. What they sometimes
don t realize is that most adults treat alcohol responsibly and
if the students had all been responsible this would not be an
issue. They will also come to realize that a good social life
doesn't require alcohol. Hey! There are girls there now.
Jack Barthel '58
Rockville Centre, NY
Sobering thoughts on "Sobering Debate." Hall President Joe Muto's
statement, "This place will no longer be fun in 10 years. I say
that not as a warning but as a statement of truth." Does he mean
no fun without alcohol or only with alcohol can there be fun?
A sober ND is fun!
I spoke with a Notre Dame grad in another state who arranges
golf outings. When he tried to set one up for recent ND grads,
he was advised by a previous coordinator, "Young ND grads only
want to eat and drink at these events." I had lots of fun during
my days at ND and after graduation with and without alcohol. It
did not control my life or many of my friends, but I have seen
where it has destroyed many lives and families.
Pray that all in the ND family return to the real spirit of ND,
not the spirit in the bottle. Our Lady would approve and this
place will be filled with fun and accomplishments that all will
remember! Plus setting a good example!
Jim Stevens '55
Fort Myers Beach, FL
While reading the article "Sobering Debate," I was filled with disgust.
I returned to Notre Dame in 1946 after two years in the Navy-
South Pacific. Joining me were thousands of veterans, most with
more time in the service than I. In fact, one of my roommates
earned a Silver Star and two Purple Hearts.
At that time we had to be in our rooms at 10 p.m. and lights
out at 11 p.m. If we had a "midnight," we could stay out until
that time, but had to sign out and in.
NO DRINKING ON CAMPUS!
It seems to me that the protesting students should remind themselves
why they are at Notre Dame and why their parents are spending
fortunes to send them there.
Donald B. Begley '49
Franklin Square, NY
It is most disheartening to see the depths to which our once
proud University has fallen. Some of the recent "low-lights" include:
NCAA infractions and sanctions; hosting "The Vagina Monologues"
and, as Norm Beznoska '64 notes in Letters (Summer 2002),
the Clintonesque justification by Father Malloy; and when a new
policy is announced to ban hard alcohol in residence halls and
in-hall dances (a.k.a. booze parties), 4000 students sign petitions
and demonstrate in protest... Those of us who were fortunate enough
to attend ND during the Hesburgh Era can only say...how sad!
But there is hope on the horizon if we get a few more administrators
like Father Mark Poorman who will make intelligent and informed
decisions that are in the best interest of the University. In
the meantime, ND will have to be content to be known as just "another
liberal Midwest party school."
Thomas P. Glavin '61
Groton, VT
Walsh Hall and the Navy
I read, with interest, the article in the Summer 2002 issue of
the Notre Dame Magazine by Kristin Kramer '02
entitled, "Hall Portrait Walsh." However, she does not mention
that from 1942 to 1946, the Notre Dame unit of the NROTC was housed
in Walsh Hall. She must have overlooked the bench in front of
Walsh placed there by Notre Dame graduates who were in that unit.
She may have assumed that the NROTC was just part of the non-UND
naval program comprised of non-ND students sent there by the Navy.
In fact, it was the only Navy program on campus made up of young
men who were first Notre Dame students, who then volunteered to
serve in the Navy during World War II. (Some of the classes after
the first two did have students sent from other schools.)
Some prominent people who "Lived There as Students" were:
Walter LaBerge '44, instrumental in developing missals used
in the Gulf War
John Caron '45, a former trustee of the University, awarded
the Hesburgh Award for Ethics in Business
Roy Grumbine '44, the first ND NROTC graduate killed in WW II
Henry Frailey '45, who, since retirement from a business career,
has been teaching a class in the School of Engineering
William Klem '45, a retired business executive and attorney
who now is a volunteer tour director at the Basilica of the Sacred
Heart.
Ms. Kramer must not be related to John Kramer '45, who passed
away recently while still working on his memoirs of life in Walsh
Hall while in the NROTC
John R. Lavery '45- '47
Tampa, FL
I can not believe that in your article on Walsh Hall you neglected
to mention that the NROTC was the first naval unit to occupy a
residence hall (Walsh) at Notre Dame.
Mark A. Cronin '45
Harvey, IL
Enjoyed your Summer 2002 issue. A great number of interesting
articles. However, "Hall Portrait, Walsh" . by Kristin Kramer
'02, left out a very important part of Walsh Hall life, for a
large number of men during 1943-1946. Kristin, I am certain has
no idea of this part of Walsh's history. The first and second
ROTC classes were moved into Walsh in 1943, and all were transferred
to active duty as seamen the same year. In effect Walsh became
a Navy barracks as were most of the dorms on the campus at that
time.
Single rooms held two men, double rooms held four. Each room
had a double bunk bed (two double bunks in the case of four men),
a desk and chair for each member and a cabinet for each man's
clothes which were not many. No TV, no refrigerator, no computer,
no room decorations. At one point in time we had to move all of
our furniture into the hallways, live in the hallways and paint
the floors in our rooms. When dry everything and everyone moved
back into their rooms. Up at 6 a.m., in bed at 10 p.m. We were
allowed off the campus on Wednesday afternoons until around 7
p.m. and we could go into town on Saturday after the big formation
of the entire unit was dismissed -- that is if you received no
demerits during the week which would have to be marched off. If
you failed "any" course you were released from the ROTC and sent
to Great Lakes Naval Station boot camp as an apprentice seaman.
That was always a very sad day when many of your classmates and
friends were sent off in the bus to Great Lakes.
No drinking was allowed, but we did manage to acquire a beer
or two when downtown in the out-of-the-way bars. No hall dances,
but we did have Formal dances with well known famous big bands
at the Palais ball room in downtown South Bend. Your dates in
their long formals looked beautiful, and several of us ended up
with our date as our wife after the war was over and we were back
in South Bend to finish our schooling. I was a member of the second
class which graduated in 1945 with a BSNS degree -- bachelor of
science in naval science, You had to have a degree to get a commission,
and the members who graduated in January of '45 did not have enough
University courses to receive their regular degree. Too many Naval
courses were substituted for University required courses for a
regular degree. You had to come back after the war and take these
courses to receive your regular degree.
William Klem BSNS '45 JD '50
South Bend, IN
I recently wrote expressing my objections to some shortcomings
in the recent article about Walsh Hall. "The Irish Pennant" was
produced by the ROTC class of '45 and was the only "yearbook"
published on the Notre Dame campus during the WW II years. This
publication is available in the Notre Dame archives and provides
a very good history of the NROTC at Notre Dame starting with the
second class which entered in 1942, went on active duty and moved
to Walsh Hall in 1943 and graduated as the second NROTC class
in 1945.
William H. Kelm, Jr. '45, '50JD
South Bend, IN
On Page 9, the summer issue tells about Walsh Hall. Kristin
Kramer '02 could not have known about it. Walsh Hall enjoyed
the Naval ROTC in which I was, after being ordered of V-12 in
John Carroll University, Cleveland.
In the overhead flush tanks we cooled the beer. No officer inspected
it. Now there is no urinal. The plumbing fixtures were fine to
us.
James W. Guerin '45
Grangeville, Idaho
I enjoyed reading your article on Walsh Hall in the summer edition
of the Notre Dame Magazine. However, you missed the most
famous resident and happening in the history of Walsh Hall. The
hall was the residence of Dennis (H-Man) Etienne, who served as
the vice president for the King, J. Robert Kersten, who was elected
student body president in the spring of 1972. A large rally of
approximately 5,000 students was held outside Walsh Hall, which
was immediately followed by the tolling of the bells of Sacred
Heart Basilica. King Kersten went on to win the biggest landslide
vote in the history of student body elections at the University
of Notre Dame. This was truly one of my highlights in attending
ND.
Also, Austin Carr also did not live in Walsh Hall. He lived
next door in Sorin Hall.
Michael W. Hansen '73
Joliet, IL
I read with interest the article on Walsh Hall by Kristin Kramer
which appeared in the Summer 2002 issue of ND Magazine. However,
I was extremely disappointed that no mention was made of the importance
of Walsh in the 1940s during World War II. Walsh Hall was the
home of the Notre Dame NROTC unit. I lived there 1944-45 as a
member of the unit. I was awarded a Bachelor of Naval Science
Degree in 1946, having been commissioned an Ensign in the USNR
in October, 1945. I later returned to Notre Dame as a civilian
student and graduated with the class of 1948 with a Bachelor of
Arts Degree.
Norbert J. Geier, '46, '48
La Crosse, WI
