We are writing as graduates of the Holy Cross-Notre Dame Gateway Program. We were shocked and disheartened by the recent news that the current Gateway class will likely be denied on-campus housing for the upcoming academic year (and quite possibly their entire time as Notre Dame students). The Office for Residential Life names dorm life as the place where “students are able to discover their identity and a sense of belonging by living in a welcoming and inclusive hall community on campus.” The failure of the University to accommodate current Gateways in dorm communities undermines the most basic pillar of our experience of the Program — that Gateways can participate fully in the life of Notre Dame. Between meals shared at Siegfried Dining Hall and “Holy Hikes” down Dorr Road, each Gateway cohort has built a community that rivals any Notre Dame dorm. Nonetheless, as we began our sophomore years, each of us was ready to have a less complicated answer to the question, “What dorm are you in?” One of the most distinctive marks of a Notre Dame student is a connection to an on-campus residence hall, and we looked forward to shedding the nagging concern that we were not “full” or “real” Notre Dame students. Significantly, the Residential Life website notes that “Residence halls are a ‘point of entry’ for introduction into the broader University culture.” Gateway students (as well as other transfers) desperately desire and need that point of entry. The eventual transition of our cohorts into the dorms not only solidified our participation in campus life — it was a gift to dorms across campus as well. From sophomore year on, we watched as our friends performed in the Keenan Revue, planned our new dorms’ SYRs and formals, and grew as leaders in our new homes. Last year alone, at least five dorms had an RA that had entered the community as a GatewayFormer Gateways have never been shy about sharing their positive experience of the program. We are proud advocates of our unique opportunity. Through senior year, we consistently volunteer to lead tours and student panels, telling prospective students that the Gateway Program is a very real path to full participation in student life. With the current Gateway 9.0 class now likely locked out from campus housing once they transfer to Notre Dame, the simple reality is that the dorm experience which helped to shape our formation at Notre Dame is no longer accessible to Gateway students. The same could be said of Driscoll Scholars and the broader transfer community that has faced this challenge for years. Notre Dame believes that life in an intentional community is an essential element of student formation — so much so that most Notre Dame students are required to live on campus for six semesters. It seems this year’s cohort is being denied the opportunity to experience that fundamental sense of belonging — and that Notre Dame residence halls are being robbed of a Gateway cohort that would unquestionably enrich dorm life with their own distinct identity. If Notre Dame believes that dorm life is essential to student formation, it must be accessible to all undergraduates. Our experience of the Gateway Program was the opportunity to turn a cohort into a lasting family, and it was a joy to watch that family participate fully in the life of Notre Dame. We will always be grateful for that experience — we hope future cohorts have the chance to be too.
Gateway Cohort 4.0 –– Class of 2020
Maura Bradley
Conor Fitzgerald
Brooke Guenther
Dan Marshalla
Caroline Plouff
Gateway Cohort 5.0 –– Class of 2021
Matt Benson
Maddie Bollenbacher
Chasen Brutocao
Jake Cahill
Thomas Dang
Ally Desrosiers
Jordan Felicia
Matt Fessler
Morgan Heileman
Evan Hesse
Declan Hotter
Reagan Jacobs
Sophia Kartsonas
Elisabeth Lasecki
Bella Martinez
Paul McAndrew
Ryan McNelis
Brooke Mumma
Hannah Nelson
Alessandra Nies
Michael Perenich
Sophia Stefanovski
Courtney VanHuffel
Olivia Venvertloh
Jake Winningham
Gateway Cohort 6.0 –– Class of 2022
Julia Buckley
Adam Biz
Chelsey Boyle
Jack Boyle
Emma Dudrick
Grace Hachigian
Nick Kloska
Sydney Missigman
Peter Raus
Megan Rice
Daley Ryan
Alberto Sbrolla
Victoria Smerdon
Lizzie Trense
Maddie Tupy
Gateway Cohort 7.0 –– Class of 2023
Aidan Anderson
Julia Braniff
Britton Brindle
Josiah Castillo
Kayla Daruty
Rob Ducheskie
Kendall Duffie
Anna Fitzgerald
John Froman
Anna Gailoto
Aya Geary
Lily Gile
Martha Gluck
Aidan Kearns
EJ Kelly
Ava Larsen
Cavan Lynch
Ireland Majewski
Maddie McBride
Zach McKay
Timothy Merkle
Lauren Pizzella
Christina Randazzo
Kiera Russo
Lauren Skolos
Rachel Smith
Katharyn Stefanovski
Rachel Stockford
JC Wackowski
Eliza Wall
Gateway Cohort 8.0– Class of 2024
Philip Ahrens
Gabriela Betanzos
Jackson Buckley
Ella Cain
Sarah Cernugel
Nate Ciocca
TJ Connors
Megan Corrigan
Angela Chu
Sarah D'Spain
Brigit Ferry
Joseph Gallagher
Hannah Hebda
Dylan Hotter
Sean Kelley
Toby Kult
Aedan Joel
David Liu
Emma Luchetti
Jack Malone
Stella Mancini
Lauren Murphy
Celina Ryan
Delaney Ryan
Merlot Shorey
Victoria Son
Charlotte Stubbs
Holly Sullivan
Annie Texido
Natalie Tihanksy
Shay Zilvitis
Oct. 4
