Zahm Hall
| Zahm Hall | |
|---|---|
| Residence Hall | |
| University of Notre Dame | |
 Arms: Sable fretty gules | |
| Campus quad | North |
| Coordinates | 41°42′12″N 86°14′14″W / 41.7034°N 86.2373°W |
| Motto | Venite et apparete aliquid |
| Established | 1937 |
| Named for | Rev. John Augustine Zahm, C.S.C. |
| Architect | Maginnis & Walsh |
| Architectural style | Collegiate Gothic |
| Gender | Male |
| Undergraduates | 202 |
| Chapel | Saint Albert the Great |
| Interhall sports | Football, basketball, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer |
| Map | |
  Location in Notre Dame, Indiana | |
Zahm Hall, also known as Zahm House,[1][2][3][4] is one of the 32 residence halls on the campus of the University of Notre Dame and one of 16 male dorms. Zahm Hall was built in 1937 and is located directly east of St. Edward's Hall and is directly west of North Quad. Starting with the 2021-2022 school year, Zahm Hall hosts communities of residents whose halls are being renovated, starting with Sorin Hall.
History
Construction began in the spring of 1937. The new dorm was built just east of Saint Edward’s Hall on the site of the minim's extension (a structure that was added to Saint Edward's Hall) and the temporary dorm called Sophomore Hall (built in 1923), a wooden-framed structure that was demolished around 1935.[5] Zahm was the third building constructed on North Quad – at the time called the “east campus.” The Boston architecture firm of Maginnis and Walsh designed it, together with Cavanaugh hall and the Biology hall (now Haggar Hall).[6] The designs of Cavanaugh and Zahm Halls are nearly identical. They were erected despite the lack of funds during the Great Depression. The dorm, with its brick exterior, limestone stone, and slate roof, was finished in time for the opening of school in September 1937 and housed 193 men. At its construction, it joined Brownson and Cavanaugh halls to host freshmen, while Carroll, Lyons, Morrissey, and Badin were for sophomores, Howard, Dillon, and Saint Edward’s for Juniors, and Sorin, Walsh, and Alumni for seniors.[7] Zahm Hall was dedicated to Rev. John Augustine Zahm, CSC. Zahm was a priest, naturalist and scientist at Notre Dame, and was the pioneer of the study of natural sciences at the University.[8] The first rector of the hall was Reverend John A. Molter, C.S.C. Other rectors included Charles I. McCarragher (1945-1953), James L. Shilts (1960-1967) and, Thomas Blantz (1967-1970). The hall also housed U.S. Navy officers in training from 1942 to 1945.[9]
Over the years, Zahm Hall garnered a reputation on campus, and has been the center of many contentions with the administration and other dorms.[10][11][12][13] This no-good stereotype comes from the early days of the university, when Zahm Hall had the least desirable reputation and was always picked last by students. Since picks were in order by GPA, Zahm often hosted the least accomplished students.[14] In the 1960s, the University dropped academic requirements for first housing picks, and students were henceforth assigned randomly to residence halls before they arrived on campus their freshman year. One of the points of contention was the fraternity atmosphere fostered in the community, bolstered by hazing, streaking, vandalism, rowdiness, and the self-imposed moniker of "Zahm House".[15][16][17] Fraternities and sororities are not allowed on campus, as they are described as in opposition to the university's educational and residential mission.[18] In 2001, Zahm Hall residents were disciplined for purposely vomiting and throwing fruit at the window of Father Mark Thesing, CSC, rector of Keenan Hall.[19]
Zahm Hall was best known for its practice of streaking during the Bun Run. The Zahm residents run naked across various campus locations, usually the weekend before final exams.[20] This practice led to controversy and debate.[21][22] Zahm also hosted their formal dance, known as "Zormal" in the fall semester and their SYR (Screw Your Roommate) dance, Decade Dance, in the spring semester. Zahm was known for its raucous reputation on campus. It's residents referred to it as Zahm House. Zahm Hall exhibitseda large "Here Come The Irish" sign on the side of the building facing the North Quad during home football games. The mascot of the hall was Ignats, a stuffed moose's head acquired in 1979.[14]
It was announced that Zahm Hall would be a swing dorm and host the Sorin Hall community for the 2021-2022 school year.[23] The university cited vandalism inside and outside the dorm, a troubling culture and conduct of the dorm, deliberate lack of adherence to COVID-19 protocols (it was reported earlier that Zahm had twice the rate of cases than any other dorm[24]), and disrespect for university officials, rector turnover, and "years of unsuccessful intervention to alter a troubling culture."[23] Reactions to the shutdown of Zahm Hall are mixed. Zahm residents protested the move by marching on South Quad and in front of the Main Building, and they characterize the university's decision as unfair and claim the dorm's negative reputation is undeserved and that the dorm culture has improved from past years.[25][26] Student reporting from the University newspaper The Observer, however, describe a "disputed culture" in the dorm revolving "almost exclusively around beer and women" and email chains circulated around the dorm containing strong language and mentions of sexual assault.[27] Previous dorms that were shut down include Pangborn, Cavanaugh, Grace, Flanner, and Holy Cross Halls, and all were met by resistance from the students.[28][29][30]
Notable residents
- Regis Philbin ’53
- John Bellairs '59
- Barry Lopez '66
- Bill Laimbeer
- Phil Donahue
- Terry Hanratty
- Paul Hornung
- Johnny Lattner
- Joe Theismann
- Brady Quinn
References
- ^ Stockrahm, Bridget (31 March 2021). "Zahm House to be Dissolved". The Irish Rover (newspaper).
- ^ Le, Uyen; McKenna, Evan; Clark, Maggie; Kikel, Sarah (22 March 2021). "From the Archives: The history and controversy of Zahm House". The Observer (Notre Dame).
- ^ Ferdinandi, Emma; Saloomey, Daphne (29 April 2021). "Remembering Zahm: A Complicated Legacy". Scholastic Magazine.
- ^ Peters, Ryan (20 August 2021). "Nine residence halls welcome new rectors". The Observer.
- ^ New Residence Hall in Honor of Rev. Zahm,” Notre Dame Scholastic magazine, 28 May 1937, p. 5.
- ^ Damaine Vonada, "Notre Dame – The Official Guide," Notre Dame Press, 1998, p. 163-68.
- ^ “University Begins Its 96th Year,” Notre Dame Alumnus magazine, October 1937, p 1-2.
- ^ New Catholic World. 1922.
- ^ "Zahm House rector explores history, traditions of dorm // The Observer". The Observer (Notre Dame). 2018-09-28. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
- ^ "Zahm's fight to preserve community // The Observer". The Observer. 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ "The rules of existence in Zahm's kingdom // The Observer". The Observer. April 2013. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ "Claims regarding Zahm Hall unfounded // The Observer". The Observer. 2001-11-30. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Zahm losing respect // The Observer". The Observer. 2001-11-30. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Dame, ENR/PAZ // University Communications: Web // University of Notre. "Hall portrait: Zahm // News // Notre Dame Magazine // University of Notre Dame". magazine.ND.edu.
- ^ "Voters say Zahm is no 'House' // The Observer". The Observer. 2001-11-30. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Direction of Zahm examined, questioned // The Observer". The Observer. December 1, 2006. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Domers defend dorm life at Notre Dame // The Observer". The Observer. March 24, 2006. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Student Activities Policies". du Lac: A Guide to Student Life. University of Notre Dame. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
- ^ Van Hoegarden, Heather (2001-11-30). "Zahm awaits outcome for incident at Keenan // The Observer". The Observer. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Dame, ENR/PAZ // University Communications: Web // University of Notre. "Study break -- cover your eyes // News // Notre Dame Magazine // University of Notre Dame". magazine.nd.edu.
- ^ Merlan, Anna. "Notre Dame Engulfed in Fierce Debate Over Dong-Heavy Nude Run".
- ^ "On behalf of ND employees: boycott the 'Bun Run' // The Observer". April 28, 2015.
- ^ a b "Zahm House to close, become transitional housing for Sorin College in upcoming year // The Observer". The Observer. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ "Zahm House has twice the amount of coronavirus infections of any other dorm, all residents will be required to undergo testing // The Observer". The Observer. 2020-09-10. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ Now, 16 News. "Notre Dame students protest closing of residence hall". WNDU. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Tribune, Carley Lanich South Bend. "Notre Dame moves to disband men's dorm. Is it too much partying or an unfair reputation?". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ "Plans to alter COVID tests, thousands of dollars of property damage, a disputed partying reputation: Officials, students discuss 'troubling culture' in Zahm". The Observer. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
- ^ Dame, Marketing Communications: Web | University of Notre. "Hall portrait: Grace | Stories | Notre Dame Magazine | University of Notre Dame". Notre Dame Magazine. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ Dame, Marketing Communications: Web | University of Notre. "Hall portrait: Flanner | Stories | Notre Dame Magazine | University of Notre Dame". Notre Dame Magazine. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ Dame, Marketing Communications: Web | University of Notre. "Echoes: Holy Cross Hall | Stories | Notre Dame Magazine | University of Notre Dame". Notre Dame Magazine. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
