I would like to extend a "high five" to my classmate Fr. Tom Doyle and the Office of Residence Life. The University of Notre Dame prepared me for life in so many ways and I lived out most of my dream from 1985-1989 as a proud resident of Dillon Hall. But for years, The Office of Residence Life has handed out punishments that focused more on judgment and less on growth. Those passing judgment on the University's "soft" punishment of Michael Floyd should bear in mind how they would want to be treated if they were in his shoes. I was in his shoes in 1988. I, along with my classmate, created and sold the original Catholics vs. Convicts t-shirt. Yes, I was warned to stop by the Office of Residence Life. But I made a mistake just like Michael Floyd did and sold thousands of shirts on October 15, 1988.
I had written head Basketball Coach Digger Phelps every year since I was in second grade telling him of my dream to play for The Irish. I finally made it as a walk-on my senior year in 1988. But my t-shirt transgression was too much for Res Life to handle and I was promptly booted from the team 13 days later. The harshness of that decision robbed me of my chance to live out my dream at Notre Dame. Keeping dreams alive for college students is a great way to go. Michael Floyd, when you see Fr. Tom, give him a high five for me and make us proud you get to live out your dream.
Patrick Walsh
alumnus
Class of 1989
April 12
