Notre Dame class of 2002 leaves its mark
HELENA PAYNE
News Editor
The 1,872 members of the Notre Dame undergraduate class of 2002 will enter a new phase of their lives, leaving four years of memories filled with academics and service, along with tragedy and hope.
Since the day they stepped foot on the 1,250-acre Notre Dame campus in August 1998, prepared or unprepared to attend their freshmen orientation graffiti dance or the Sunday mass for students and families, the class of 2002 has seen many changes at the University. They entered a campus with a new South Quad restaurant, Recker's, a recently opened Eck Visitors' Center and a renovated Morrissey Hall. The same class is leaving the campus with the one-year-old Coleman-Morse Center, Malloy Hall, Hayes-Healy and a renovated Fisher Hall.
While witnessing the construction of the University, the class of 2002 has also left its own marks. Included in the class of 2002 was the first female student body president and the first African-American drum major among other firsts and students who added new things to the University.
"I'm really glad that I decided to run for student body president," said Brooke Norton, the first female student body president during the 2001-2002 academic year. "It's an amazing experience to be able to meet so many different people," said Norton of her four years at Notre Dame.
Norton, a graduating senior, said her election as well as the accomplishments of fellow classmates, has made the class of 2002 stand out.
"It just seemed like the turn of the century, the turn of the millennium equals a new phase, a new destination for Notre Dame," senior Tambre Paster said.
Paster, who was the first African-American head drum major in the Notre Dame marching band, said she believes her accomplishment was significant but one that began with members of the previous class of 2001, such as the first African-American Leprechaun Mike Brown or the first female Irish Guard Molly Kinder. Paster identified these individuals as representatives of a trend toward increasing diversity in the University as well as discovering new types of leadership.
"With our class in particular, we're just carrying on that trend," Paster said. "We're carrying on the torch and hopefully this will be something continues on for years to come."
In addition to sprinkling new flavor to the leadership roles of the University, the students of the class of 2002 banded together during times of heightened tragedy in the nation and on campus. The death of three students in the class of 2002 inspired bone marrow drives, cancer walks and runs, scholarships and masses to deal with the losses.
"I think that is one of the most difficult things our class had to deal with," said Norton, referring to the deaths of Brionne Clary, Conor Murphy and Miranda Thomas.
Senior Drew Gawrych said that the class of 2002 has shown resilience as they have broken traditions, as well as coped with tragedy.
"We've dealt with the loss of three classmates," said Gawrych. "We're also the graduating class in the year of one of the greatest tragedies in our history."
Gawrych said the events of Sept. 11 challenged the class and also bonded them together to help the world.
He added that social activism was a way that students addressed the issues of poverty and inequality in the world. Gawrych, who conceived the idea for the University's first Blessing Unto Others Week to fight poverty and promote social service, said the class of 2002 has made a conscious effort to get involved with communities outside of Notre Dame.
"Being so blessed at the University, we need to share those blessings with other people and help make this world a better place," said Gawrych.
As Gawrych prepares for the candidate program at the Moreau Seminary, he said he is excited to hear about the future accomplishments of the class of 2002.
"We're ready to make a big impact on the world outside of Notre Dame," said Gawrych.
All News Stories for Friday, May 17, 2002
