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To say that things have been difficult over the past year would be putting it lightly.

 

In fact, when I try to think back over the past 12 months, it’s hard for me to even envision the sheer magnitude of things that have changed.

 

For student journalists, such as myself and my staff, there is an immense privilege in being tasked with hearing and telling the stories of some of the multitudes of people at Notre Dame who have dealt with COVID-19 in a range of ways.

 

And while that work is likely among some of the work that I will remain proudest of for the rest of my life, this issue takes a break from the COVID-19 beat. It’s on all of our minds every single day and sometimes that negativity can hit us all at once.

 

With this issue of Scholastic, which I have begun to colloquially refer to as our “People Issue,” we hope we can help you remember how great our community is and that positivity can emerge from even the darkest of moments.

 

Our cover story profiles three unsung heroes of the ND community: Micki Kidder, Matt Cashore and Danny Bloss. These individuals are by no means the only individuals at Notre Dame who go unrecognized for the work they do, but we wanted to spotlight them for the unique roles they play on campus.

 

For information on other astounding people, head to the news section for a portrait of Rachel Palermo, a third-year law student who was hired as assistant press secretary to Kamala Harris, or the culture section for an in-depth conversation with Nhat Nguyen, rector of Duncan Hall.

 

If you’re looking for a star to watch on the court, check out our sports section for a write-up on featured women’s volleyball player Caroline Meuth. Finally, if you’re in need of a laugh — and most of us usually are these days — [read all about the crazy practices of the members of the squash team in our humor section.]

 

While the pandemic has required us to be increasingly attuned to the negative, let’s also remember to step back and appreciate some of the goodness that exists here in our own backyard.

 

Warmly,

Daphne Saloomey