<p>MoTown is would be a great on campus option. Yes the doubles are small compared to every other dorm, but but the Manor population has been shrinking so that means more relative space over the next couple of years. Morrissey is generally quieter and stricter in enforcement than all other male dorms. It doesn't mean that people don't have fun, it is reigning Hall of the Year (that Christmas SYR under the dome was pretty nice). And no one will try to pull a sexile on that ship because that line is very clear.</p>
<p>I've been away for awhile, so I've missed this entire discussion.</p>
<p>But, I'd like to say that this topic is very interesting and it definitely doesnt get brought up here much.</p>
<p>Glad to see that others support the Morrissey Manor Option.
Some history- Not long ago, Morrissey Manor had a terrible reputation, according to the Rector their motto was "Underachievers and Proud of It".</p>
<p>Well, Rector V was brought in to clean things up, and he did it, and is very proud of it. He said there were some "bad apples' and they were forced to move out of the dorm. As a new Rector, he instituted "his" rules, and he explained them as NO TOLERANCE! </p>
<p>Last year Parents left that orientation quite stunned, and concerned that it was High School Redux, and would the boys have any fun. </p>
<p>We consulted with other freshman parents and what other ND dorm rules, and indeed the Rector had "his" own! </p>
<p>To his credit the Dorm won "Dorm of the Year' - kudos to the Rector in turning the dorm around. </p>
<p>We receive regular emails from Father V, and not sure if this happens at the other dorms. </p>
<p>The dorm last year was extremely overcrowded, and all the "common rooms' were turned into triples, so not only did the boys have prison size rooms for TWO people, they lost their "common rooms".</p>
<p>Well, they have common rooms now, and as others stated, they should have space for transfers.</p>
<p>By the way, S loves the comraderie of the dorm, and has plenty of fun from what I hear :)
but, as engineering major with a ridiculously hard course load, has been on Deans list each quarter </p>
<p>PM me if you would like to know more.</p>
<p>I'll chip in with kudos for Father V. My Son is a sophomore living in Morrissey, and though he does occasionally complain about the age of the facilities, he's happy with his experiences there. Of course, it helps that he's in the School of Architecture and that Bond Hall is next door. :)</p>
<p>As a parent, I've taken comfort from Father V's leadership, and I believe he has curbed some of the excesses of the past. I also appreciate his making an effort to foster the spirit life of his charges, with a variety of meetings and liturgical events that are unique to Morrissey.</p>
<p>It's not the party dorm on campus, but it suits my son, and I'm glad he's there.</p>
<p>Morrissey's rules are Draconian at best. In my opinion, the absurdly strict policies regarding basically everything from alcohol to noise to girls is dark spot on our entire residence hall system. I have yet to meet a Morrissey guy who doesn't, at least deep down, wish they had been put somewhere else. They're forced to party of campus, which is dangerous and more likely to get you into trouble, instead of providing a safe place where people can test their limits. Also, Morrissey has an embarrassingly high negative transfer rate, more people transfer out of Morrissey than any other male dorm. Even worse, these transfers are fairly frequently forced out, after minor infractions. I've heard about people getting written up and fined upwards of $100 simply for being caught bringing a garbage bag with beer cans in it to the garbage. A friend of mine had his room fined $1400 (three people) for having a bottle of hard alcohol in the room. It's ridiculous. It hinders maturity, and creates a tense, furtive, angry atmosphere, from what I've seen.</p>
<p>"It takes all kinds" and personally I'm glad to hear that there are places on campus that have different expectations--there are students who would prefer a quieter atmosphere, so I don't see an issue with one or two dorms having stricter rules.</p>
<p>I have a girl who is a first year student at ND and for the most part she loves the school, but she does share some of the OP's son's views about the general immaturity and Animal House-ness of some of the guys dorms. She's got the option of just not hanging out there, but then she misses the cameraderie of having guy friends. </p>
<p>I wish ND would experiment with some co-ed dorms. I think they'd be pleasantly surprised that it would mitigate some of the partying and hooking up that goes on presently. </p>
<p>There is no perfect school and no perfect group of people. One of the biggest growth experiences for my D. this year has been the dorm. She's very different in terms of her personal and political beliefs from the girls on her floor. She's learned a lot about herself and learned to examine her beliefs critically. If nobody challenges you, how can you know why you believe what you believe?</p>
<p>Can't refute much of what KevDude reports, regarding fines, and rules being enforced,
which just makes my point,
that Morrissey may be an excellent option for OP's son.</p>
<p>Kev Dude-as "Dorm of the Year" they are enjoying a new large screen TV ;)</p>
<p>As a two-year (current) resident of Morrissey, let me just say that there is a good deal of truth in what people are saying about it. By truth I mean factual truth, of course. </p>
<p>For starters, the Manor is notorious for actually enforcing dorm and school policies. Breaking parietals, excessive drunkeness, the presence of hard alcohol, and disruptive behavior: are these things that should be permitted? I think most people would say no. I appreciate being able to get some sleep at night, to study in peace during the week, and having my time and space respected. That is why the school has created these policies: to foster a positive, productive, and dare I say Catholic, learning environment at the nation's most respected Catholic institution. </p>
<p>If you disagree with these policies, that is your opinion and your right. But because other dorms are lax does not mean Morrissey has to yield to "conventional wisdom." Anyone who complains knew about the policies when they signed up to come here. </p>
<p>As for the "outrageous fines," I intuit a bit of the victim card being played. Whoever you are, leave your misinformation at whatever water cooler you picked it up. No one is fined $1400 for having hard alcohol - that is a promise. Besides, unless it is kept "in house," most ResLife infractions are handed over to the ORLH and not handled by dorm authority anyway. Take your complaints to them.</p>
<p>Parties are still permitted in Morrissey, underclassmen still drink, and, believe it or not, girls even come into the dorm occasionally. I am proud to say that I live in perhaps one of the few dorms that respects its residents enough to grant them the due courtesy of sanity and order. We are, after all, here to get an education. </p>
<p>My only complaint about the dorm is the total inadequacy of the space and size of rooms. That ORLH charges upwards of $10,000 to Morrissey men to live in 8x10 holes in the wall and the same price to residents in luxurious West Quad dorms is ridiculous at best, insane at worst. Of course, I knew what I signed up for: flat rate housing fee. Hmm.</p>
<p>The fine for hard alcohol is 50 dollars per bottle per person so those three guys had 9.333 bottles apparently.</p>
<p>Contrary to popular belief there is an aweful lot of transfer into Morrissey. The recent decline in dorm population is due to a freshman class that was halved from last year. Fr. V told ResLife that we wanted our common rooms back and they obliged, I'm sure being Hall of the Year didn't hurt in that consideration. Spiritual life in Morrissey is also the best on campus. Beyond just liturgical superiority, Morrissey currently houses 19 young men who seriously intend to carry out vocations to the priesthood. That number is probably unmatched in any other dorm. If nothing else, this is a Catholic school, and producing priests should be a respectable acheivement.</p>
<p>Honestly, I wouldn't trade our interhall championships, our SYR under the Dome, our peaceable studying environment, our lake view, our 120 inch widescreen hi-def projector TV, our superior dorm programming, our roving RAs and a rector who, while you might hear horror stories, always has his door open to talk openly and amicably with residents. I mean, if you want to throw it back in the stairwell, then don't come here. But if you want the best example of what Notre Dame sells itself as residentially, Morrissey is it. </p>
<p>Irish_Hopeful knows, if you want to break the rules, you just have to be crafty about it. This also means that Morrissey is getting smarter, because all of the stupid guys who get caught are leaving.</p>
<p>so irish_hopeful...what kind of rules are you breaking?</p>
<p>helpull post</p>
<p>Son just called very upset - says a student died in his dorm. He lives in Dillon. Anyone heard about this?</p>
<p>A</a> student has died on Notre Dame’s campus
Please pray for his family.</p>
<p>^^^^just called son ..he knew nothing..OMG- terrible.
Thank you for posting this so fast. So sad, whatever the circumstances.</p>
<p>On the homepage of the ND website is a statement from Fr. Jenkins referring to TWO Notre Dame students who died over the weekend "in separate and unrelated incidents." University</a> of Notre Dame Absolutely heartbreaking.</p>
<p>^^^ so Dillon dorm which happened tonight ,and another unrelated death ??
Several of son's dormmates were traveling to various places, I hope they are all safe. So sad.</p>
<p>S has heard that the Dillon tragedy may be alcohol related.
And, the other student is from Sigfried, and may be related to diabetes.
This is just rumor at this stage.
Prayers for all involved, parents, families and ND students.</p>
<p>I think that was the same student. Son knew him (not well) and said he was diabetic and actually lived in Sigfried but had stayed with friends in Dillon. They called 911 today when they couldn't wake him up. There was speculation that alcohol may have played a role.</p>
<p>Son said the other incident involved a Notre Dame student studying abroad - no details.</p>
<p>From School Newspaper this AM
Two ND students die in unrelated cases
University releases little information; rectors inform halls during Sunday Masses
Karen Langley and Mary Kate Malone
Issue date: 2/18/08 Section: News
PrintEmail Article Tools Page 1 of 1 Two Notre Dame students died this weekend in separate and unrelated incidents, University officials said Sunday evening.</p>
<p>One of the students, Connor McGrath, was a sophomore who moved to Siegfried Hall in January. He died Sunday morning or early afternoon, Siegfried rector Father John Conley told students gathered at the dorm's Mass Sunday night.</p>
<p>McGrath's death did not take place in Siegfried, Conley said. His address was the first official notice to Siegfried residents of McGrath's death.</p>
<p>Local news outlets reported that a student died in Dillon Hall Sunday. This was unconfirmed Sunday night by University officials, who also had not released McGrath's name.</p>
<p>A call reporting an unresponsive male at Dillon was placed to the South Bend Fire Department at 1:39 p.m. Sunday, a fire department spokeswoman said. The ambulance arrived at Dillon at 1:53 p.m. and did not make a transport, she said.</p>
<p>No name has been released in the second death, but a number of dorm rectors said the student was not an undergraduate.</p>
<p>University President Father John Jenkins expressed condolences to the families of the two students through a statement Sunday night.</p>
<p>"On behalf of the entire University, my deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of these two members of the Notre Dame family," Jenkins said. "Our prayers are with them during this difficult time."</p>
<p>The University will release further information once the immediate families of the two students have contacted other family members, University spokesman Dennis Brown said.</p>
<p>Local news outlets reported that Notre Dame Security/Police responded to the scene Sunday, but The Observer was unable to reach the NDSP spokesman Sunday night.</p>