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A recurring supplemental essay option for Notre Dame has been the question, “What would you fight for?” A motto embodied by the school as a premier research university with a strong history of liberal arts curriculum and philanthropy. For undergraduate students in 1983, the answer would not fit in a typical essay format.

In October 1983, a handful of students were outraged to learn that their beloved Cap’n Crunch cereal had been taken out of the dining hall. Frustrated by this bureaucratic demonstration of control by Dining Services, students took to South Quad during dinner to protest.

Inspired by the support behind this movement, then sophomore class president-hopeful Lee Brossard and his running mate made a campaign promise to hold a Cap’n Crunch party if elected. The sophomore class officers subsequently contacted Quaker Oats, asking for a few boxes of cereal as a party favor, and to their surprise, this intrigued Quaker greatly.

After a bit of back and forth at Quaker headquarters with Notre Dame administrators, they scheduled a week-long Cap’n Crunch Festival. In 2026 and the era of the influencer economy, this seems like a remarkable feat, as brands rely on PR and sending out free samples. But, in 1983, the only way to celebrate the students’ commitment to the cereal was a festival.

The event, coined “Crunch Fest,” featured a visit from Cap’n himself, treasure hunts and cereal-eating contests. Per a press release on Oct. 5, 1983, the eating contest “stresses dexterity and timing rather than amount.” Better yet, the festival concluded with $1,000 being spontaneously awarded to charity and a “winner’s prize,” which entailed a spring break trip to Florida for two. Talk about a way to impress your SYR date.

Although Notre Dame students may no longer be as passionate about cereal as they once were, the Fighting Irish spirit remains intact. So for undergraduate students here now, the question lingers … what will we fight for?