The independent
To uncover
newspaper serving
the truth
Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s
and report
and holy cross
it accurately
Volume 53, Issue 95 | monday, march 4, 2019 | ndsmcobserver.com
SMC reflects on Riedinger House history Former College president, director of donor relations discuss House’s role as laboratory, guest home By JORDAN COCKRUM Saint Mary’s Editor
While Saint Mary’s is now well-known for its nursing program and preparation of women leaders, it was once also known for its ability to prepare students to run a home. The College had a major in domestic science — commonly known as home economics — until the mid-1960s, director of donor relations Addie Cashore said in an email. “The program was considered rather advanced for the time,” Cashore said. “Students with a concentration in dietetics or nutrition were required to take several rigorous courses in biology and chemistry in addition to fulfilling
laboratory requirements.” All seniors majoring in domestic science were required to complete a unique practicum: a nine-week stay in the campus’ Riedinger House, Cashore said. The Riedinger House was built in 1939 through a gift given to the College by Charles Riedinger and his sister, Caroline Riedinger. The gift was donated in honor of Adaline Crowley Riedinger, class of 1864, and her daughter Mary Adeline, class of 1889 — the College’s first mother/ daughter legacy, Cashore said. The house was built with the purpose of allowing students to have a practicum experience during College President see HOUSE PAGE 4
ANNA MASON | The Observer
The Riedinger House was built in 1939 to temporarily house students pursuing a degree in domestic science and help them master home-management skills. It now hosts various events throughout the year.
SMC creates Pantry to combat food insecurity By GINA TWARDOSZ News Writer
On Feb. 19, Saint Mary’s announced in an email that it would open the Mother Pauline Pantry, which will offer nonperishable food and personal hygiene products for all students and will be named after the College’s first
president. The pantry will open with a ceremony on March 4 at 4:30 p.m. in McCandless Hall’s Niner’s Lounge. Dean of students Gloria Jenkins said the division of student affairs led the initiative to open the pantry, with the decision being inspired by the growing issue of food insecurity across all college
campuses. “A growing number of colleges and universities are opening food pantries as a resource for all students,” she said. “On our campus, we want all students to have access to food when needed specifically when dining services see PANTRY PAGE 3
IDEA Week 2019 to emphasize narrow focus By SOPHIA LAUBER News Writer
The first annual IDEA Week in 2018 aimed to create awareness about the principles of innovation and entrepreneurship. This year, the event will focus on specific industries that the IDEA Center and its community partners believe will be important for the future
NEWS PAGE 3
of both Notre Dame and the surrounding South BendElkhart community. IDEA Week executive director Nick Swisher said last year’s attendance was much greater than expected, but that the executive committee hopes to shift the focus from numbers to impact this year. “We needed a big splash last year because we needed
SCENE PAGE 5
the community and the University’s students, faculty and staff to kind of understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it,” Swisher said. IDEA Week will take place from April 8 to 13 and will include over 60 events that are split into four categories: learn, meet, play and see IDEA WEEK PAGE 3
VIEWPOINT PAGE 7
Basilica rector to retire after 23 years By CLAIRE RAFFORD Associate News Editor
Basilica of the Sacred Heart rector Fr. Peter Rocca said he wanted to be a priest from a very young age — ever since he started playing the organ at his local parish Mass in elementary school. “I became really close with the priests because of Mass. I got to know the liturgy very well, I became very familiar with Gregorian chant and I just became sort of immersed in the liturgy,” he said. “And it was something I really loved and [was] fascinated by, and by the fourth grade, I was pretty much thinking, ‘I would like to be a priest.’” Rocca’s ambition would begin to come to fruition as early as his high school years, when he attended the now-closed high school seminary formerly located on Holy Cross Hill. After his year as a novice, he attended the University of Notre Dame, also earning a master’s degree in theology from the University. Rocca then left
ND W BASKETBALL PAGE 12
South Bend to be closer to his dying mother, serving as pastor at St. Ignatius Martyr in Austin, Texas. After the death of both his mother and father, Rocca left Texas to pursue graduate studies at the Catholic University of America, where he received master’s degrees in both liturgical studies and liturgical music. Rocca then was asked to return to Notre Dame. “In 1980, I was assigned to live at Moreau Seminary, where I had two duties,” Rocca said. “One to work in formation — working with seminarians — and the other to be director of liturgy and music for the house. I have been doing that since 1980, to this day.” Previous to his current position, Rocca worked as the assistant vice president for student affairs in the Office of Student Affairs. All of his experiences would culminate in his appointment as rector of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in 1997. “In 1997, my classmate … Fr. see ROCCA PAGE 4
HOCKEY PAGE 12