I have read several of the letters and articles about the Gestapo-like behavior of the ND and other security "forces" on campus for football weekends and generally on campus and in town throughout the year. I wholeheartedly concur in the view that these "squads" are completely out of control. Their tactics and obsessive pursuit of "rule enforcement" regularly taint and, at times, ruin the experience of being on campus for me. My wife, who is not an ND/SMC grad, is astonished by their anal behavior and "goon-like" approach to their work. The unfortunate reality, however, is that they are just following orders. If the University Administrators wanted a more relaxed approach that is conducive to the festive camaraderie that football weekends are supposed to be, they could very easily "call off the dogs". But over the last 37 years that I have been coming to ND as a student, alum, and now parent/alum, I only see the situation becoming more insulting and obnoxious.
With respect to the game day experience, I would ask Fr. Jenkins: What is it about the ND faithful that makes the University so afraid of us being on our campus? How is it that the University knows better than us what our "family atmosphere" is supposed to be like or what we need to do to be "safe?" At what point does the University recognize us as the responsible grown-ups we were supposed to be, in part, due to the benefit of our ND education and experience? I would advise Fr. Jenkins to tell the troops to lighten up or ND's reputation as a great place to be from but not such a great place to be at, will continue to grow.
Paul Cordes
alum
class of 1975
Oct. 3
