History

Residents of Cavanaugh did not always enjoy the prime location on campus that we do today. When Cavanaugh was built in 1936, it was the first dorm on North Quad. Ever wonder why we are the only dorm on North Quad with no door actually on the Quad? When Cavanaugh was built, it was assumed that it would be the end of campus, extending as far north and east as it would ever go. However, Zahm was built immediately following the completion of Cavanaugh in 1937.

Cavanaugh is named after the first Father Cavanaugh to be president of Notre Dame. Fr. John W. Cavanaugh was president from 1905 - 1919. Under his leadership, Notre Dame took integral steps to making it the prestigious institution we know today. It worked to build a new library in Bond Hall, now the School of Architecture. His presidency also included the institution of the Glee Club and the hiring of a certain football coach named Knute Rockne.

In 1994, the Crusaders of Cavanaugh became the Cavaliers. More importantly, the men of Cavanaugh became the women of Cavanaugh. After 58 years as a male dorm, the University chose to convert it to a women's dorm in response to a need for more female housing on campus. In the first few years, the nickname was changed to the Chaos. We have also moved from our first rectress Sister Pat Dearbaugh to our second and current, the much-loved Amy de la Torre.

Today, Cavanaugh welcomes a new batch of young women each year. Throughout the year we learn to live as a community - a community that has a large impact on campus. In 2000 and 2003 Cavanaugh was named the Best Women's Dorm on Campus. Cavanaugh was also named the Hall of the Year in 2009! We hope that our community will continue to grow in such a positive way in the future. Go Chaos, and Go Irish!

Interesting Facts

Famous residents:
'59 Michael J. Conlon - President of SUNY Binghamton
'60 James Naughton - Editor of Philadelphia Inquirer
'66 Tom Bettag - Executive Producer of Nightline
The backfield of the 1973 National Championship football team: Crick Penick, Art Bert, Wayne Bullock, Al Samuel
'88 Tim Brown
'92 Craig Counsell

It is rumored that in 1963, Farley Hall invaded Cavanaugh through a steam tunner. Cavanaugh used fire hoses to repel.

Cavanaugh had a history of disliking its rectors. It has been noted that students in 1947 even lowered firecrackers on a fishing line to explode outside the rector's window.

During WWII, Cavanaugh Hall hosted naval officers in training.