At corner of world, Lyons Hall serves all
By LAURA GAINES
Scene Writer
Editor's note: Scene will continue to feature the dorms of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's throughout the spring semester. Anyone interested in writing a feature of a dorm should e-mail Scene at Scene@nd.edu.
Like most of the older women's dorms on campus, Lyons started housing male residents in 1927.
Along with Morrissey and Howard, Lyons was designed by Architecture faculty to house incoming students after the post-World War I college boom. According to Thomas Schlereth, a Notre Dame historian, the famous Lyons arch was designed so a pedestrian could have numerous views of the lake from various points around South Quad. One of the arch's main "claims to fame" was its incorporation in the movie "Rudy." Lyons was the only Notre Dame dorm shown in the film.
The dorm was named after Joseph Lyons, a member of the English faculty and Notre Dame graduate who died in 1888. He is said to have been the heart and soul of the Notre Dame faculty, a man whose greatest concern was his students.
In 1974, Lyons was chosen to be one of the six dorms to initially house women. Since then, new traditions have sprung up, taking the place of the old. Every fall, Lyons hosts the Mara Fox Fun Run. Named after a Lyons freshman who died in 1994 as an innocent victim in a drunk driving accident, the run raises money through T-shirt sales, entrance fees and donations. This money is then placed in a scholarship in Fox's name. Last fall, more than 300 members of the Notre Dame community participated.
Other annual activities include a spirit week in the fall, a retreat each spring, and the naming of the "Women of the Year" every spring. This title honors any woman within the Notre Dame community who has had a great influence on the residents of Lyons during the year.
Sister Kathleen Beatty has been a strong and influential figure within the Lyons community since coming to Notre Dame in 1991. Known as an effective rule enforcer, she also motivates Lyons women to succeed and make the most of their time at Notre Dame. According to SKB, as the residents affectionately call her, "One of the things Lyons has been known for is service. A good proportion of women participate in summer service projects and post-graduate service work."
This reputation has been attached to Lyons for quite some time.
"Historically, there have been times when Lyons residents were extremely involved in social justice issues," Beatty said, mentioning a time when more than 25 Lyons residents made the trip to Michigan City to protest an execution.
Besides having a reputation for service, Lyons Hall prides itself on its sports tradition. Lyons residents compete annually in more than seven interhall sports. From 1994-1996, Lyons captured the women's football championship and continues making the playoffs almost every year. Last spring, Lyons competed in Dillon's Irish Iron Classic, capturing first place in the women's A division.
Lyons Hall also boasts its Annex, the only all-senior private living space on campus. The Annex comes complete with separate bathrooms, a common room and a functioning fireplace.
"We're separated from the dorm, so it has the feeling of being off campus," said senior Kelly McGeever. "But it's still easy to roll out of bed and head to class." McGeever's roommate Katie King added: "It's fun to be able to roast marshmallows every night".
Situated at the end of South Quad and overlooking St. Mary's Lake, Lyons lays nestled in a small piece of heaven. Although not one of the most boisterous or most talked-about dorms on campus, Lyons enjoys a quiet serenity and strong internal spirit.
For many, this is just the way they like it.
All Scene Stories for Wednesday, February 2, 2000
