<p>This message is for anyone who has been lucky enough to have ResLife bestow them wonderful position of Blessed Man and Brother of Alumni.</p>
<p>As a sophomore next year, and a member of the Freshman-Orientation staff of Alumni, I am very happy and proud to let you know that you have been put into the best dorm on campus. I'm here to answer any questions. Post here, PM me, or even facebook me - Kevin Gallin, ND class of 2010. I made it a point to talk to some of my frosh-o guys last summer, and some of them have ended up being very good friends of mine, as well as reliable sources of information, so speak up!</p>
<p>Congratulations, and get pumped. You have no idea how awesome it really is going to be. Talk to you soon, and see you in August. Welcome to the Dawghouse.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Is your dorms really one of the oldest dorms on campus? Doesn't that mean the rooms are a bit small and, well, old? </p></li>
<li><p>Is it true that Fisher is closer to the Rock, Dining Hall, and probably COMO?</p></li>
<li><p>Is it true that Alumni doesn't know how to spell Dogs?</p></li>
<li><p>Is it true that you don't have a signature event like the Fisher Regatta or the Dillon Pep Rally</p></li>
<li><p>Did you have Joe Montana live in your dorm like Fisher or Brady Quinn like Dillon?</p></li>
<li><p>Is it true that there isn't a girl's dorm within a stone's throw distance regardless of who throws the stone (I know, Welsh Fam is close, but I don't think you get it there)?</p></li>
<li><p>Do you have a dorm pet like Fisher or Farley?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I think that is about it for now :). If you haven't caught on by now, I am just joking around with Kevdude...you will love your dorm even if you are stuck in Alumni!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Some say oldest. Others say steeped in tradition. Since 1931 Alumni Hall has enjoyed a reputation for being one of the most storied and respected home to its students on campus. When it was built, it was referred to as "The Gold Coast," a nicknamed that, although less used now, is still just as relevant and descriptive. </p></li>
<li><p>The first two may be true, although the third is patently false. But is it not true that Alumni is closer to DeBartolo, O'Shag, LaFortune, the Main Building, the Law School, the Business School, the Engineering Buildings, Legends, DPAC, Hayes-Healy, the Music Building, the JACC, and, most importantly, Notre Dame Stadium?</p></li>
<li><p>The spelling of "Dawg" is a storied tale that will be presented to the Freshman in due time, and as such I don't want to ruin it.</p></li>
<li><p>Wake Week. Anyone who honestly believes that the Regatta or the Pep Rally rivals the Calling should probably be checked out by admissions to make sure there wasn't a clerical error accepting them. </p></li>
<li><p>Jerome Bettis? Ever heard of him? How about Trevor Laws, Tom Zibikowski, and Jeff Samardzija? All former Dawgs.</p></li>
<li><p>Welsh Fam, Walsh, Badin, Pangborn, Howard, Lyons McGlinn. Stone's throw? Maybe not. Equidistant? Certainly. </p></li>
<li><p>Bricktop Shaun-Rue.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Let your daughter know that I'm very, very good friends with a bunch of girls in PW, including their Frosh-O commissioner and one other member of the staff. Great group of girls over there (although the Rectress is a bit... strict. We don't quite get along).</p>
<p>The tradition in Alumni is to name your quad (or, in the case of the Sweet Suite, three rooms with adjoining rooms). It was occupied by current Juniors, in their freshman year, including the President and Vice-President of Alumni, and basically they're all pretty sweet people. The named their room last year the Sweet Suite as well. </p>
<p>Other room names: Studio 654, The Fieldhouse, The House of Bounce, The Estate, etc etc. </p>
<p>ndorange, what room are you, specifically? I can give you the rundown.</p>
<p>Mombot:
Your daughter is very lucky to get placed in PW! Just so you know, since she is in a freshman quad, she will be in one of the "converted study room quads" aka "super quads," meaning that instead of having three rooms like the quads for upperclassmen, she will live in one room with three other girls. However, she is guaranteed to have modular furniture, meaning the furniture will stack to save space. I loved my freshman year in P-Dub...all of the girls are really close and tight-knit, our dorm is newer so we have bigger rooms and A/C, we're probably the most athletic girls' dorm on campus (we've won the girls interhall football championship two years in a row, and many varsity athletes live in PW), and we have a great location very close to North Dining Hall (the superior one), the library, Jordan Hall of Science, LaFun, etc. And Sister Sue (our rector) is really nice...she may seem strict at first and to outsiders, but she really just cares about her girls and has TONS of dorm pride. Please let me know if you or your daughter have any questions about PW...I'm on Frosh-O staff and also on PW Hall Council so I can answer any questions you have!</p>
<p>Irish, you are quite the ambassador for Fisher! I'm sure my son would echo your thoughts. Should be interesting to have a sister living next door--gives the term "sister dorm" new meaning! :)</p>
<p>I had some awesome friends who lived in Alumni Hall. Plus some in Pangborn, who are not only adjusting to the fact their dorm is now a women's hall, but that my daughter is living where they once trod! Fortunately, they renovated it when they converted it, and again in 2000, so that dirty sock stench is all gone.</p>
<p>Honestly, though--this will tick you all off--I think the coolest guys dorm on campus, as far as the building is concerned, is Morrissey. There is nothing like that entrance. The lake views are spectacular.</p>
<p>The people are great whatever dorm you are in. But Morrissey is the best...</p>
<p>Hey Kevdude--how 'bout that third floor triple, with two rooms and a private bath? It was the euchre capital of south quad--with the restroom there, the games often went quite a bit later than Fr. George (he still there?) ever knew...</p>
<p>Wow! Fr. George was oblivious way back when...witness the late night co-ed euchre games (I was so good at it then, and can't remember any of the rules now). On the whole, it seems rectors of guys dorms are more lax than the girls dorms. For some reason, I've had a big change of heart about rectors of women's dorms--I don't know that they can be strict enough :)</p>
<p>Talking about dorm dogs...Ellie, the Fisher basset hound, seems as if she has seen all, heard all, and is phased by nothing. I cannot imagine what that animal has seen and endured lurking in the hallways of Fisher!</p>
<p>I went to Fisher's mass one Sunday night (not knowing about Ellie). When I exited the chapel and looked for the restroom, I was pumped to see a dog living on campus - just another aspect of ND's sweetness.</p>
<p>I posted this last year, and, barring the updates that I am no longer a sophomore, I will be a junior, I'm not on Frosh-O staff, and I'm not going to be in Alumni next semester (although I will be there for frosh-o weekend, before leaving for study abroad in Ireland), all the facts remain the same. Get in touch, let me answer questions if you have any.</p>
<p>And I reiterate: Welcome to the Dawghouse. You really did "win" the housing lottery.</p>