An aerial shot of Notre Dame's campus, including the Main Building and Basilica.
Campus

Be Notre Dame

The 2022-23 institutional message

September 1, 2022

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Each year the University produces its own institutional message to air during televised Fighting Irish athletic contests. Often these messages will focus on a specific theme or topic, such as climate change or civil discourse, for example.

This year’s message seeks to convey the breadth and depth of the Notre Dame identity by answering the rhetorical question, “What does it mean to be Notre Dame?”

The spot features glimpses of the University experience with a corresponding word or phrase. Collectively, the scenes paint a picture of what it means to be Notre Dame.

A woman hiking through a rocky field, 'Explore' text on top of the image.

Explore

Engineering students explore the geology of western Ireland and walk the well-known Máméan pilgrimage trail. A series expounding on Notre Dame’s presence in Ireland will be released in the coming months.

A Black woman wearing a black t-shirt uses sign language, 'Question' text on top of the image.

Question

Courtney Langford from Notre Dame’s Campus Dining division signs her question.

A man in military uniform with his back facing the camera and other military members line up, blurred in the background. 'Set an Example' text on top of the image.

Set an Example

ROTC members assemble for the annual Pass in Review on South Quad. Watch the stirring highlights from a recent ceremony.

A White man with red hair wearing glasses and a white lab coat looks into a microscope. 'Pursue Truth' text on top of the image

Pursue Truth

PhD student Tyelor Reynolds studies chemical biology and molecular pharmacology and potential cancer therapeutics.

An individual drives a dune buggy through mud. Mud is splattered all over the diver and camera. 'Get Messy' text on top of the image.

Get Messy

Engineering students in the ND Baja Club test drive the buggies they designed and built for the national competition.

A Black holds a pencil and eraser and erases something on a sheet of paper. 'Struggle' text on top of the image.

Struggle

Computer science major Luis Sosa Manubes divides time between engineering and art classes here in the Riley Hall of Art.

Ginika Kalu from Nigeria works on her project in the design studio of Walsh Hall of Architecture.

A large telescope shines in a dim red light at night. 'Discover' text on top of the image.

Discover

With the golden dome in the background, science students gather for a night of stargazing in the Jordan Hall of Science Observatory.

A woman writes on a small pad of paper while looking at skeletons inside of a drawer. `Be Curious` text on top of the image.

Be Curious

Junior Kayla Anderson examines specimens in the Museum of Biodiversity in the Jordan Hall of Science.

A small group of people use shoves to move dirt to a wheelbarrel. 'Give Back' text on top of the image.

Give Back

Notre Dame alumni families revitalize Unity Gardens, a network of community gardens. The Alumni Association coordinates volunteer camps to invest in communities and families.

A woman works on standing on her tiptoes while testing out a powered prosthetic lower-leg. 'Succeed' text on top of the image.

Succeed

Laura Light stands on her toes for the first time in her life in Patrick Wensing’s engineering lab.

Two people walk towards framed artwork on a wall. 'Open-Minded' text on top of the image.

Open-Minded

Students Emily Shetterly and Connie Chen consider works in the 20th century gallery of the Snite Museum of Art.

A Black woman works on her laptop. 'Honest text on top of the image.

Honest

Monica Bell, president of the Black Law Student Association, researches a case in the Eck Hall of Law.

'Notre Dame's president, Fr. John Jenkins, shakes hands with a mother of a first year student. Community' text on top of the image.

Community

Fr. John Jenkins greets first year students moving into Flaherty Hall during move-in weekend 2022.

Two children play a clapping game with each other. `And a Force for Good in the World` text on top of the image.

Force for Good in the World

Members of the Notre Dame Folk Choir sing and play on a tour through Africa.

For more compelling stories that show what it means to be Notre Dame, visit nd.edu/stories.