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I can. Despite the flaws of Father Malloy and his ilk, Notre Dame (and neighboring St. Mary's College) is the most spectacular educational community in the country. There is no place quite like it. The best and the brightest of Catholic youth go there, and most families who support the ND/SMC community still retain their Catholic faith. Sometime, visit ND and go down to the "Grotto", the 1/7th scale replica of the place at Lourdes, France where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette Sobiroux. Attend the rosary there. Light a candle there. There is no place like it on this continent.

When I spent the four best years of my life there almost 30 years ago, I noticed one thing--when the sky turned the grayest, the Golden Dome shone the brightest. Those of us who love ND so strive through our comments and our contacts on campus to make ND the best it can be. That is why the "monologues" incident is so disturbing. We want ND to be the best, and the "monologues" detracts from that.

I look forward to visiting ND sometime in the near future. However, I take friendly exception to your remark that the 'best and brightest of Catholic youth' go to ND.

Among the best four years of my life was spent at that great Jesuit institution, Gonzaga University. During my 25th reunion last year, my wife fell in love with the place, and now she wants to send our kids there (hopefully on scholarship!). She could sense that I was 'back home', as I regaled her with the wonderful experiences, both academic and personal, that I enjoyed.

I wish you luck in your attempts to 'right the ship' at Notre Dame. Fortunately, the leadership at Gonzaga, led by Fr. Bob Spitzer, S.J. (GU President) has my alma mater headed on the right course.

Although ND may have greater visibility, I'll put the quality of Gonzaga's students and alumni up against ANY school in the nation.