Over a hundred Notre Dame students and South Bend locals gathered on February 27 to pray in thanksgiving after the withdrawal of abortion advocate Susan Ostermann as director of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.
Leaders and organizers of the event described the withdrawal as a victory for both the pro-life movement and the Catholic character of Notre Dame. The appointment of Ostermann, who has claimed that pro-life policies are violence against women and associated the pro-life movement with white supremacy, caused national controversy and received major media attention from EWTN News, National Review, and Fox News.
Notre Dame students, faculty, and alumni—along with the nineteen cardinals and bishops—voiced their opposition to Ostermann’s appointment, arguing it was a betrayal of the university’s name and a cause of scandal. Following weeks of controversy, Keough School of Global Affairs Dean Mary Gallagher announced over email on February 26 that Ostermann had decided to withdraw from her appointment.
The student-organized “March on the Dome” was initially intended as a protest urging Ostermann’s removal. After her withdrawal the day before the planned event, organizers transitioned to a prayer service in thanksgiving for the victory.
Prior to Ostermann’s decision to decline, student leaders were expected to give speeches addressing their discontent with Notre Dame’s administrative leadership and its disregard for the university’s Catholic mission. These speeches were dropped from the schedule and replaced with Marian hymns as the event was changed from a protest to a prayer service.
The event began at the flag pole on South Quad, where members of the Knights of Columbus and the Militia of the Immaculata handed out candles that would be lit and placed at the Grotto.
Co-organizer Luke Woodyard opened the service with an address to participants, thanking the students present and the clubs that co-sponsored the event, including Right to Life, Militia of the Immaculata (MI), Students for Child-Oriented Policy, and Children of Mary.
Woodyard also acknowledged the remarkable number of students, alumni, faculty, and members of the media who voiced their concern for Notre Dame’s Catholic identity in past weeks, noting that their efforts made the favorable outcome possible.
After Woodyard’s speech, fellow organizer Gabe Ortner spoke about how Bishop Kevin Rhoades’ letter regarding the Ostermann appointment had been the catalyst for organizing the “March on the Dome,” crediting Woodyard’s efforts to continue the event after the news of the withdrawal.
Ortner added, “By God’s mercy we stand here, united together in gratitude to Him. With these developments, we would like to take the opportunity to turn to God; it is to Him we offer all praise and thanksgiving. To Him we pray for the future of our beloved university.”
Father Wilson Miscamble, C.S.C., Professor Emeritus of History, blessed the candles held by attendees, praying, “God, we give you thanks for your providential care over the University of Notre Dame. In moments of uncertainty and doubt, you remain faithful. We thank you for guiding this institution and for sustaining your holy labor in service of truth.”
Miscamble continued, “Let their light be a reminder of Notre Dame’s mission: to be a place where Christ is honored, where the gospel is proclaimed boldly, and where future generations are formed in wisdom and holiness.”
Following the blessing, participants processed with a statue of Our Lady from South Quad to the Grotto while singing Marian hymns. When they arrived at the Grotto, students prayed a Rosary dedicated to the lives of unborn children and closed with the Alma Mater.
After the march, Woodyard praised the service’s success, telling the Rover, “The event went really well. There were so many people who attended—many more than we could have expected. Today was so beautiful; even the sunset was beautiful. God really had a great vision for this.” He expressed his gratitude for Bishop Rhoades’ support throughout the Ostermann controversy, as well as for the efforts of the day’s sponsors and members of Catholic media.
Woodyard emphasized the importance of student participation, saying, “It’s about people. This is about the people and students. The university listens to us, and that’s why we’re here celebrating them.” He added, “The fight is not over, but we are here right now in thanksgiving. We appreciate the university responding to her students. We are not here in hate. Professor Ostermann and all who are involved in this scandalous appointment are at the forefront of our prayers. It’s not Ostermann’s fault. She has her beliefs, but those beliefs have no place in this University. Although something does need to change, right now we are in celebration.”
Iain Conley, a freshman participant from Holy Cross college, also expressed his gratitude and hope at the outcome of the controversy, saying, “I thank the Lord for all these great people who participated. I thank the Lord that Ostermann has withdrawn her appointment, and this is great news for both the pro-life movement and the whole of Notre Dame.”
Conley told the Rover, “Notre Dame still requires much progress and improvement, but right now it seems that they are sticking to their Catholic mission as far as being in line with pro-life values. This is a momentous event, and we hope the outcome of this situation will encourage our leaders to preserve our Catholic identity.”
Sophomore Brady Seaburg explained to the Rover why he attended the service, saying “I believe that Notre Dame’s Catholic identity is worth upholding. I love our university. I believe that it is possible for the university to flourish while also maintaining diversity of thought among our faculty. Our university uses the terminology of academic freedom very loosely, and it is possible for our leaders to be committed to excellence and pursue truth while upholding Catholic values.”
Other participants were not as satisfied with Ostermann’s resignation, remaining critical of the university’s response to the controversy. Anthony Fedoruk, a junior from Siegfried Hall, told the Rover, “In the whole scheme of things, this outcome is not truly a victory. Horrific appointments will continue to happen if we do not respond to the current ethos and secular paradigm of the university’s leadership.”
Fedoruk continued, “It’s contained in the very fabric of our current academic philosophy to not only include anti-Catholic figures like Ostermann, but to promote them for the sake of elitism. We placed the burden of this controversy on Ostermann when it should have been on the entire administration.”
Raymond Webber is a sophomore philosophy major. His favorite hobby is listening to Bishop Fulton Sheen homilies on YouTube. Contact him at rwebber2@nd.edu.