[irish guard]

>>>>>>>>>nor even by the religious order that founded it, the CSC (Holy Cross fathers). It passed into essentially secularized ownership some 40 years ago.<<<<<<

Not sure I understand what you mean. The CSCs still control the university through the reserve powers held by the Fellows on the board of trustees, all of whom are Holy Cross priests.

[Mrs. Don-o]

As I remember from a very frustrating "who's in charge" search during the Obama Honors scandal, the Board of Fellows is indeed the power cell: it consists of 6 CSC's and 6 laymen, and they control the bylaws, the Trustees, and, for that matter,the property.

Th problem seems to be that nobody out of that (by the way self-selecting, self-perpetuating) group seems to have --- or admits having --- decisive executive power. Not the UND President, not the CSC Superior, neither here or in Rome.

The buck does't stop anywhere: it just goes around and around and around.

It seemed to me a slippery, evasive, and insular form of leadership, and I wish I had a better grasp on how it all works and where to put the leverage.

Even "Let's withhold donations" seems unlikely to work, since anyone of a conservative Catholic sympathy has long since stopped giving to Notre Dame. After so many donors ditched them during the shameful Obama episode, who's left to exert any pressure?

I'm baffled, frustrated. What's your advice?