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On Sept. 13, 2024, the University of Notre Dame inaugurated its 18th president, Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. But this momentous occasion was not just a singular event, it was a week-long celebration. From a feast on Library Lawn to the Inaugural Ball held in Notre Dame Stadium, few students and faculty didn’t attend at least one item on the menu of events.

 

And while this wasn’t the 18th time the occasion was treated with such style, it certainly wasn’t the first. When Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. took office in 2005, the university celebrated in similar fashion. Many comparable events were featured, including the first Notre Dame Forum, the Inauguration Mass and a slew of musical performances.

 

Perhaps one of the most memorable events of Dowd’s inauguration weekend was the Inaugural Ball, which was also a key feature in 2005. The Sept. 21, 2005 issue of Scholastic said of the ball held on South Quad in Jenkins’ honor: “[It] will feature live music, fireworks and free ice cream, and Student Body Vice President Lizzy Shappell will present gifts to Jenkins on behalf of the student body. [Student Body President] Baron says the ball was designed to be a good time for students, so formal dress and dates are not required.”

 

Now, did Dowd’s inaugural ball hold a candle to the Jenkins edition from 19 years ago? On the one hand, there was no free ice cream in sight this year, but the addition of the campus-wide Inauguration Picnic to the roster of events more than makes up for that. On the other hand, the 2024 ball took place in Notre Dame Stadium, arguably a significant upgrade from South Quad. While thousands of students trek across the quad every day, crowds of that caliber are only present on the stadium field after the occasional thrilling football victory. If you got in, that is. For many, the ball functionally took place in the “line” on Library Lawn. Yet even more so, this year’s ball may not have had a stringent dress code either, but formal wear was certainly implied with the guideline: “Dress to Impress.” And who doesn’t love an excuse to dress up and turn heads?

 

Then again, as far as I’ve heard, no one bestowed Dowd with gifts on behalf of the students, so maybe he has a different opinion.