Socrates once said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”

As the academic year comes to an end, so will the Department of Physical Education and Wellness Instruction.  Most of the campus community knows that there is to be a new program that will take its place, focusing on topics like academic strategies and spirituality.  This new program will try to fill gaps in student socialization, cultural competency, and independent learning with online activities for students to complete at home, with smaller discussion sections meeting once a week.

Wait just a second.  A university synonymous with sport—one that created the Department of Physical Education the same year as its College of Business (1921) and that can claim Notre Dame greats like Knute Rockne and Dennis Stark as previous faculty—is replacing the physical education requirement with a discussion-based course?

Where will the wellness and physical activity components come into play?  Will the students receive the devotional care given to them by the current department?  According to the Academic Council meeting minutes from April 14, 2014, the proposal that was approved includes: “a robust set of non-fee based activity courses available to students through Recreational Sports.”  My questions will likely only be answered in the coming years as this new program takes shape.

Many of us in the physical education department have imagined being at Notre Dame for the rest of our lives.  Walking around the Rockne Memorial Gym you hear phrases like “dream job” and “I love my students.”  As much as we wanted to keep our composure, the reality has been stressful.  There has been an array of emotions—feelings of disgust, disappointment, and anger.  We’ve cried.  We’ve worried about finding new jobs and relocating our families.  We also fought to reverse this decision in hopes of preserving the healthy futures of the students that we remain devoted to.  Nevertheless, our voices seemed to be heard only within the boundaries of prayer.

And so we move forward.

First and foremost, a huge, gigantic thank you to Aaron DeGagne, a Notre Dame student.  Aaron took initiative and accepted every opportunity to express his strong feelings against eliminating the department.  He devoted countless hours trying to give the student body a voice.  Aaron, thank you for being so wonderful and supportive.  Thank you to the rest of the students who showed their support for our department in various ways.  To the alumni who got involved, thank you for sharing all of your fond memories of the PE requirements and voicing your enthusiasm for maintaining the department.

As we bid farewell, we give the students a new motto: “Build a champion today.”  Keep moving forward.  Know that while Our Lady’s university is devoted to giving you the tools that you will need to be successful in your career and impact the world in a positive way, your challenge moving forward will be to ensure that you are proactive in your own personal well-being.

I am reminded of the countless flight attendants I’ve listened to as they recited the safety protocol stating ‘If you are traveling with a child or someone who requires assistance, secure your mask on first, and then assist the other person.’  So I urge each of you to be preemptive in your own wellness journey before you go off and save the world.  Seek out the opportunities and resources that the university offers.  We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.  You are all so wonderful.  Be safe, be strong, and be well.

ALL IN GOOD HEALTH

Coach Gaal