Nicolas Abouchedid
Graduation Year: 2022
Rover Roles: Writer, Politics Editor, Editor-in-Chief, Opinion Editor
Favorite Article: “Anti Homophobia” Display Targets Catholic Writers (2019)
Current Job: Teacher & Communications Manager
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Irish Rover: How did you first get involved with the Rover?
Nicolás Abouchedid: I started writing for the Rover my freshman year, in the second semester, after a friend of mine invited me to start writing in the politics section of the paper. After my freshman year, I was asked to be the editor of the politics section. My junior year, I was the Editor-in-Chief, and that was a real blast—one of the highlights of my time, without a doubt.
What’s your favorite article that you worked on during your time with the Rover?
One highlight article was when we reported [that] someone had put a door-sized poster in the middle of campus, right outside of a Debartolo Hall. [They] printed out dozens of articles from the Rover, pasted them on the poster, and painted over those articles in blood-red paint, saying, “There’s queer blood on homophobic hands.” It was really big, and they had circled in red paint the authors of all those articles. My name, my colleagues’ names, and different professors. We got a lot of emails from donors and readers across the country who were interested. That piece was picked up by the Daily Wire, by Fox News—Michael Knowles talked about it. [It] was fun to see that the work we do actually has national relevance.
After I published that piece, the group of radicals doubled down, and they published a crazy article in the Observer linked with a video of them reading slam poetry about how they were going to come to my room with a crowbar. In any case, it was a fun experience to try to shed light on some of the things that were going on on campus. If the shoe was on the other foot, I think the university would have come down on whatever group that was, but the university [didn’t do] anything about it.
What impact do you think the Rover has, on and off campus?
I think the mission of the Rover is very unique, specifically looking after the Catholic character of the university. Just writing for a campus newspaper is a unique experience, as opposed to other things you could do with your free time. It really opens up a lot of professional options.
People love Notre Dame all over the country, all over the world, and there are many faithful Catholics who support it, and they appreciate reliable, well written, thoughtful opinion and reporting. So I can only imagine [the Rover] helps people stay informed and keep Notre Dame in their prayers. I think it’s one of those few avenues that they have to keep up with how things are going on campus.
You mentioned professional options—how did writing for a newspaper help your career?
I think as a professional development tool, writing for a campus paper and getting involved is valuable. I learned how to work as a team, and ultimately, how to lead others, not in a way that was imposing, but in a way that everyone felt they were getting more out of [the paper] than they were putting in. That was a good experience for me and, of course, I could say on my resume, “I’ve led a team of 30 people.” That really made me proud.
What did you do after graduation?
When I was a senior, I wanted to move to New York City, and I was interested in journalism [and politics] generally. [I told] Professor Phillip Muñoz, and a few weeks later, he emailed me saying that the Manhattan Institute in New York City had reached out asking if any graduating seniors were looking for jobs in New York. In my interview, my future boss said they were looking for someone on the communications team to do a lot of the same work [I was] doing on the Rover, like editing and writing articles, and reaching out to people in the journalistic industry. She was very eager to hire me because of my experience.
After two years in the Manhattan Institute, I decided I wanted to give teaching a try, and that’s what I’m doing now. I’ve been here for a year and a half at a high school in Niles, Illinois, called Northridge Preparatory School.
[Writing at the Rover] helped me land the job, because the headmaster of Northridge was eager to harness my ability to write well, to lead teams to get things done, to work on projects, and to take initiative. I teach classes, but I’m also now in charge of the media team here at the school. My ability to write well and to communicate effectively in the way that a journalist [does] has really come in handy.
Has your view of Notre Dame changed since you graduated?
Whenever I visit, and I try to visit at least once a year, I still love it. I still feel super grateful for everything that Notre Dame is and stands for, just like when I was at the Rover. You love Notre Dame, and that’s why you want to try to help it fulfill its mission.
As a teacher now, I have many students who want to go to Notre Dame. There are good, strong, Catholic families who have concerns because they read about the problems there. But I always try to show the positive things of Catholicism at Notre Dame. There’s a lot of good going on. I always try to point out that there are still 30 daily Masses on campus, and every dorm has a chapel, and there are so many priests on campus, and so many [students] will go to the March for Life. I try to highlight that at Notre Dame you can definitely live a full Eucharistic life.
Finally, do you have any advice for student journalists?
Dive right in and take initiative. If you give it a good go, you’ll realize that you’ll develop a lot as a professional, as a friend and colleague, [and] as a mentee. And opportunities will emerge at the same time—know that the articles that you write are things you can then use professionally later on. For instance, if you want to work in a world like journalism, or even a world where skills like that might translate, such as teaching, you then can graduate saying, “Hey, look at the work of my writing.” And people can quickly get a sense of your ability to write. I think that’s really helpful.
Haley Garecht is a senior studying political science, constitutional studies, and Irish studies. She’s running out of funny byline ideas, so please send any suggestions to hgarecht@nd.edu.
Photo Credit: Sauganash Study Center
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