Sorin Hall (University of Notre Dame)

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Sorin College


Established	1888
Type	Residence Hall
Rector	Rev. Jim King, CSC
Location	Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
Campus	God Quad
Undergraduate residents	151
Colors	Blue and Gold
Mascot	Otters
Website	Sorin Hall Website

Sorin Hall, popularly known as Sorin College, is one of the 27 Residence Halls on the campus of the University of Notre Dame and one of the 14 male dorms. Sorin is located directly north of Walsh Hall and is directly south of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Sorin houses 151 undergraduate students.

[edit] History

Sorin Hall was the first dormitory built at the University of Notre Dame and is named in honor of Fr. Edward Sorin, CSC. Construction of the Hall began in 1888 and the hall opened in early 1889. The structure as it exists today was completed in 1897 with the addition of two wings. In its early years, Sorin housed Notre Dame's law school. Sorin's chapel is dedicated to St. Thomas Aquinas. Notable former residents include former coaches Knute Rockne, Moose Krause, and player George Gipp. All four of the famed Four Horsemen of Notre Dame ( Harry Stuhldreher, Don Miller, Jim Crowley, and Elmer Layden) lived in Sorin Hall for at least one year during their college careers. Former university president Fr. Edward Malloy, C.S.C., currently resides in the hall.

The history of Sorin College brings a surge of pride in any of us who have lived here while attending the University of Notre Dame. Sorin’s long and glorious history not only tells the story of what has taken place within the dorm over the past 118 years, it also embodies what has taken place in the University as a whole. There are many reasons why the residents of Sorin College swell with pride when they are asked where they live or where they did live while attending this distinguished University. Hopefully from the following account you too will realize the great honor and tradition that comes with being a Sorin Otter.

When looking for the unrivaled qualities of Sorin College one has to look no further than the building itself. In the 1880’s Fr. Sorin, the University’s founder, had a revolutionary idea. Instead of having students sleep in wide-open rooms with rows of beds and study in open areas filled with desks, Fr. Sorin constructed Sorin Hall with rooms that were “large enough to encourage study and at the same time small enough to discourage visiting.”

Only a few years prior to the building of the first residence hall (Sorin), the Main Building had been equipped with a small number of private rooms reserved for a few lucky students. Once a student was chosen to live in these private rooms in the Main Building, he was required to remain “above average” in both study and conduct. If the student did not meet the requirements, the room would be given to someone else.

The performance of those living in private rooms was so good that some of the priests began to wonder whether or not private rooms should be offered to more students. The students loved the idea of having a chance to live and study in rooms of their own. As a result, the University began construction of “Collegiate Hall” in 1888. The hall was quickly renamed "Sorin Hall" in honor of Notre Dame's founder, Fr. Edward F. Sorin. On May 27, 1888, he blessed the cornerstone of the newly completed building, ushering in a new era for the university.

Before it was enlarged, the original building offered 50 single rooms. In its earliest years, Sorin was reserved for Juniors and Seniors of all university departments. In order to gain admission, which was and still is considered a great privilege, students had to have high scholastic standing and good conduct. Though the University does not openly admit that it still adheres to the policy of only admitting the best and brightest to Sorin College, Sorinites stand by their opinion that Sorin is still home to the finest the University has to offer.

Sorin has not always had the design that it does today. The structure was originally planned as being a large square enclosing a central courtyard, in which each side of the building would be identical to the current front of the hall. However, a rapidly expanding student body necessitated that construction be finished before the initial design was realized. For the first nine years of its life, Sorin only consisted of the rectangular front part of the current building. In 1897, the north and south wings were added, giving the building the distinctive exterior appearance it sports today. In 1905, a porch was completed to give the façade a whole new look. This porch has typically been a favorite location for all Sorin men to sit, relax, and socialize. On each corner of Sorin stand the famous turret rooms, including the largest room of any Notre Dame dorm.

Thousands of fortunate young men have enjoyed the privilege of living within these walls, including many celebrities. Knute Rockne resided in the basement subway during one of his years at Notre Dame. The famous George Gipp, the man for whom Rockne gave his famous “win one for the Gipper” speech, also lived in Sorin’s basement for a year. “The Captain’s Corner” (Room 11) has been the home of many football captains, including Rocky Bleier. More recently, famous Otters have included Steve Beuerlein (’87), Andy Heck (‘89) and Chris Zorich (’91). Sorin is also home to Father Edward “Monk” Malloy, the President of the University. Monk lives in the turret on the first floor on the north side (room 141) and welcomes Otters to visit whenever he is available.

For decades residents of Sorin College have enjoyed a sense of community with which few other halls can compete. This pride and spirit was one reason that led Otters to protest the Vietnam War by seceding from the University in 1969 and renaming the dorm “Sorin College.” The College, bearing the name of Notre Dame’s founder, maintains a strong and vital sense of spirit. As part of our appreciation for Fr. Sorin and his achievements, his statue stands in the front hallway. Based on hall tradition, Otters rub the feet of the statue for good luck when they walk by it as a way of remembering that they carry on the legacy he established in 1888.