Spirited McGlinn: Livin' on the edge — of campus
By LAURA KELLY
Scene Writer
Where Notre Dame's golfers once shot the back nine holes now sits McGlinn Hall, one of the newest additions to Notre Dame's residential halls.
One of four West Quad dorms, McGlinn opened in the fall of 1997, a gift from Notre Dame alumnus and trustee Terrence McGlinn and his wife, Barbara. McGlinn's first residents moved from Knott Hall and were joined by their rector Sister Kathy Haas.
"It was a big change for all of us to relocate from the north side of campus to the south," said Haas. "But with the renovation of the dining hall and the building of the new bookstore, the location has become ideal."
Although some may still find their home on the westernmost edge of West Quad a bit out of the way, sophomore Stephanie Hoover pointed out that McGlinn is "right by Recker's and South [Dining Hall]," making it a short walk for food or a place to relax.
McGlinn is one of the larger dorms on campus, housing 270 women in two wings branching out from a central lobby. Despite its size, the hall maintains the feeling of a small community. According to freshman Priscilla Ro, McGlinn is a close-knit dorm. "Our section spirit is really strong. We do a lot of activities together, like movie nights and attending the pep rallies."
Spirit runs strong in this dorm. Beginning with the Dillon Pep Rally, where many McGlinn girls could be seen decked out in togas, the Shamrocks are a visible group at all the football rallies. True to their mascot's name, Ro said her fellow dormmates are easy to spot in a crowd — "We wear a lot of green!"
While Sister Kathy describes her women as "a spirited bunch," the Shamrocks also come together each Sunday night on a quieter note. True to Notre Dame traditions, McGlinn Masses have their own unique flavor. A resident of McGlinn himself, Father Don McNeill often presides, coloring the service with stories of his work in Chile and as the director of the CSC here on campus. On other weekends, McGlinn residents offer their own reflections on the Gospel, making Mass even more personal.
Living in a new dorm like McGlinn has many benefits: large rooms, air-conditioning and more social space. Ro described her excitement at learning she had been placed in one of the new dorms: "When I talked with my roommate for the first time, I couldn't believe we had gotten in McGlinn — I figured the newer, nicer dorms would only be for upperclassmen."
Although new dorms like McGlinn lack the history of their older counterparts, the Shamrocks are determined to establish their own traditions. One McGlinn tradition is the West Quad formal, held each year with Keough, O'Neill and Welsh Family. Another annual event quickly becoming a favorite is Casino Night, a fundraiser for the Catholic Worker House in South Bend. In this spring event, gaming and karaoke are held throughout the night as guests compete for prizes donated from area and campus businesses. Each McGlinn woman can invite a certain number of guests, who make a charitable donation for their part in the night's festivities.
"Everybody loves Casino Night because you can bring three dates!" said Hoover.
Events like these, which not only entertain but also benefit a worthy cause, give McGlinn its character as an energetic, upbeat dorm. Echoing the sentiments of her rector and fellow Shamrocks, Ro said, "I love McGlinn. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
All Scene Stories for Wednesday, February 23, 2000
