Heather Rakoczy Russell // The Observer

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Heather Rakoczy Russell’s tenure as associate VP for residential life ends

Observer Staff Report | Friday, September 22, 2023

Heather Rakoczy Russell’s 12-year tenure as associate vice president for residential life ended Sept. 15, according to University spokesperson Sue Ryan. Ryan said in an emailed statement Tuesday that a nationwide search for Russell’s replacement will commence in the coming weeks. According to Student Affairs, Russell oversaw Notre Dame’s 33 undergraduate communities, graduate communities and

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University says Fischer previously was option for trans students

Isa Sheikh | Monday, February 27, 2023

The apartments at Fischer Graduate Residences have served as an residential option for transgender students, associate vice president for residential life Heather Rakoczy Russell told The Observer in an interview. Transgender students could be assigned to a dorm aligned with their assigned sex at birth, move off campus or “they have the option to live

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Zahm House to close, become transitional housing for Sorin College in upcoming year

Observer Staff Report | Monday, March 15, 2021

Zahm House will be used as a swing hall for students in residence halls undergoing yearlong renovations, according to an email sent from the Division of Student Affairs to the Zahm community Monday evening. Current Zahm residents can transfer to another men’s dorm or move off-campus, the message said. Students who are eligible to live

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Notre Dame announces move out plans

Observer Staff Report | Tuesday, May 5, 2020

In a Tuesday email to students, associate vice president for Residential Life Heather Rakoczy Russell announced Notre Dame will begin the move out process May 22. Students will have the option to retrieve their belongings through an in-person appointment or opt to have their belongings packed, stored or shipped. “In-person move out appointments (4 hours

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Residential life associate VP speaks to senate about on-off campus differentiation policy

Isabella Volmert | Thursday, March 5, 2020

Associate vice president of Residential Life Heather Rakoczy Russell spoke with the student body senate during Wednesday’s weekly meeting concerning the on-off campus differentiation policy. Rakoczy Russell met with the Hall Presidents Council (HPC) last week to discuss the same policy. The controversial policy was first proposed in April 2019 and was met with widespread

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Residential life to announce official on-off campus ‘differentiation’ policy

Observer Staff Report | Tuesday, March 3, 2020

During the last Hall Presidents Council (HPC) meeting, associate vice president of Residential Life Heather Rakoczy Russell walked hall presidents and vice presidents through an early draft of the on-off campus differentiation policy which is expected to come into effect in the fall of 2021, hall presidents said. Last April, the Division of Student Affairs

Viewpoint

Swipe policy change is not backed by public ND data

Letter to the Editor | Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Notre Dame claimed increased threats to campus justified revoking universal dorm swipe access. Public records indicate a decrease in cases handled by the Notre Dame Police Department (NDPD) between 2016 to 2018. Shortly before the fall semester began, director of residential life Breyan Tornifolio announced at the end of hall staff training that Notre Dame

Viewpoint

Regarding proposed off campus ‘differentiation’ policies

Letter to the Editor | Thursday, December 12, 2019

As a young alum who cherished my senior year living off campus in addition to my three years on campus, I’m baffled by the University’s seemingly punitive policy proposals towards future seniors choosing to live off campus and am even more confused after reading The Observer’s reporting of the meeting with associate vice president of Residential

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Notre Dame to strip student ID cards of campus-wide dorm access, claiming safety reasons

Observer Staff Report | Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Notre Dame students now only have Irish1Card access to their own dorms, director of residential life Breyan Tornifolio announced August 15 during a hall staff training, according to multiple people present at the meeting. The University eliminated student ID card access to all dorms starting this academic year, restricting students’ abilities to access any residence