Keenan Revue
It was built in 1957, funded by James Keenan, a hotel executive and Notre Dame alumnus, and dedicated to the memory of his late son James Keenan Jr. Its mascot is the Knight, and its colors are blue and white. It leads the Notre Dame halls by number of Hall of the Year titles won, and it hosts a number of the most popular events on campus, such as the Keenan Revue and Muddy Sunday, and is known for its interhall football team.
History
Keenan Hall was built in 1957 and was named after James Keenan, a Notre Dame alumnus from Fort Wayne, in memory of his son James Keenan Jr., who died in 1941 before entering the university. The Keenan family operated a chain of hotels in the Midwest, and Mr. Keenan served on Notre Dame's Lay board of Trustees. Its cost was $1,000,000. Keenan Hall was designed by Ellerbe Becket and built by the M. J. McGough Company. Keenan was part of a 4 million dollar expansion which included Stanford Hall and the North Dining Hall. The hall was dedicated on November 23, 1957, by bishop Loras Thomas Lane of Rockford, Illinois and president Rev. Theodore Hesburgh. It was followed by a luncheon for the Keenan residents sponsored by Hesburgh. Originally, it accommodated 300 students in 150 rooms. The inaugural rector was Rev. Michael Murphy, C.S.C. Keenan and Stanford were built as part of Rev. Hesburgh's vision of hosting all undergraduate students on campus housing. Initially, they accommodated freshmen. When it opened, it also had rooms for the priest-rector and four prefects.
Keenan and Stanford are hosted in two wings of the same building, built on the spot that once hosted the toboggan of the University's minims program. They are connected by a lobby and the chapel of the Holy Cross which they share. Keenan Hall is four stories high. The building is representative of functionalist architecture with a simple double-L shape plan, a flat roof, and little exterior ornamentation. Until the mid-60s, it was a hall for incoming freshmen. It was designed by Ellerbe Becket and built by the M.J. McGough Company. The entrance doors are split in between the two dorms, and traditionally, Keenan residents do not use the Stanford doors and vice versa. The corridors of Keenan are blue and white, reflecting the dorm colors. Each floor is divided into two sections, North and West.
The Holy Cross chapel features a 13-foot crucifix and a wooden carving depicting "Christ as a Young Boy in the Temple" by Croatian artist Ivan Meštrović, at the time professor and artist in residence at Notre Dame. The chapel also features stained glass windows by Robert Leader, one of the last remaining Iwo Jima veterans who witnessed the famous flag-raising. The chapel, which is shared with Stanford Hall, seat 400 and also features a marble main altar and stone side altars. The pipe organ was a gift Helen Kellogg of Chicago.
Robert F. Griffin, C.S.C was rector of Keenan Hall from 1969, and he was a well-known campus figure, known for his cocker spaniel Darby O'Gill, his Urchin Masses, and his radio show. He described his time as Keenan rector and life in Keenan Hall in his memoir, In the kingdom of the lonely God. In the 1980s, Keenan residents launched "Keenan Community Services", a program that focused on improving neighborhoods in disrepair in South Bend by renovating local homes, with about 50 of the 300 residents contributing to the renovation, upkeep, and maintenance of local homes. Brother Bonaventure Scully, CFX, was rector from 1986 to 1999, and instrumental in Keenan's commitment to Dismas House, a local non-profit dedicated to helping ex-convicts, where he volunteered often and was known for his cooking skills. In 2011 the Hall was awarded the T. Brooks Brademas Lifetime Achievement Award for their work at Dismas House. Keenan residents have been the longest serving volunteers at Dismas house.
The current rector is Cory Hodson.
The basement, known as the Keenan Kommons, is one of the largest common spaces on campus. It has lounges, ping pong tables, pool tables, televisions, and study spaces. The Kommons also includes a weight room, two kitchens, a laundry room, a music rehearsal space, a library and study room, and a meeting room. There is a student-run pizzeria called Zaland.
Keenan has several times won Hall of the Year, Men's Hall of the Year, and Golden Hall of the Year.
Traditions
Keenan Revue
Keenan Hall hosts many activities and events, the most prominent of which is the Keenan Revue, a comedy sketch attended annually by more than 4600 students, making it Notre Dame's most popular hall event. The first Revue was organized in 1976 by two Keenan Hall RAs, Thomas Lenz and Richard Thomas. The event was created as an alternative pastime to the campus drinking culture, and was meant to showcase the performance talent of Keenan residents. Lenz was a member of the Glee Club and Thomas had previous experience in theater. The first show, called "New Keenan Revue", opened on November 6 in Washington Hall. The first Revue was a variety show, with performances including singing, comedy, violin, poetry, juggling and others. Over time, the Revue evolved mostly into a skit-based comedy show.
In 1979, issues with the electric wiring of Washington, together with the small size of the building, prompted the 1980 show to move to the O'Laughlin Auditorium at Saint Mary's College. The Revue broke even in terms of finances for the first time in 1983, and in 1984 it was taped for the first time. Because the residents wanted to keep the show free of charge as a gift for the community, the Revue was subsidized by Hall Presidents' Council in 1986.
The comedy of the Revue was often based on Notre Dame inside jokes and stereotypes. This led to a long contention with St. Mary's College, which hosted the show, but was also the frequent target of jokes. St. Mary's students started expressing their discontent with the show in 1991, and in 1996 Keenan invited St. Mary's representatives to preview the show's dress rehearsal. Nonetheless, controversy persisted, and many took aim at the Revue for the content of its jokes, sometimes deemed offensive. In 2000 the St. Mary's Board of Governance voted to allow the Revue to remain on campus, but controversy did not cease and in 2004 the editorial board of the student paper The Observer wrote a column to invite students to take the issue less seriously. The show was hosted in the O'Laughlin Auditorium at Saint Mary's College for the last time in 2010, when St. Mary's administration decided to cut ties. Since 2011, it moved to Stepan Center on the campus of Notre Dame.
In recent years, the skits of the show have parodied and made fun mostly of campus life and stereotypes, have been less harsh, and have caused less controversy. The show is the signature event of Keenan Hall. Three shows are offered on consecutive Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in February. The show is loved by the student body, and ticket distribution is an event in itself, always drawing large crowds, with tickets running out in minutes. With an attendance of over 4600 (1500 per show), it is the most attended hall event, and one of the most popular and beloved events at Notre Dame.
For the 2021 edition, the Revue was performed in the Notre Dame stadium. It returned to Stepan Center in 2022.
Rivalries with Stanford and Zahm
Traditionally, the rival dorm of Keenan has always been the twin dorm Stanford Hall, with whom Keenan shares its chapel. The annual inter-hall football match is called "Battle for the Chapel". Keenan is very active in sports, especially in interhall tackle football. In recent times the main rival of Keenan has been Zahm Hall. Residents of Keenan and Zahm have a long history of pranks and feuds.
Other Traditions
Another event on campus is Muddy Sunday, a volleyball tournament played in mud during the annual spring An Tóstal celebrations. All the profits go to Habitat for Humanity. Keenan Hall's "SYR" is Disco Roll, a 70's-themed disco dance held at a local roller skate rink. Keenan also takes part in two service events each year as well as a weekly trip to South Bend's Dismas House, a safe haven for people recently released from incarceration, every Monday evening for dinner. Keenan residents have volunteered at Dismas House for over 35 years, and in 2011 the Hall was awarded the T. Brooks Brademas Lifetime Achievement Award for their contributions. The two major service events are the Great Pumpkin, a haunted house set up in the Kommons for underprivileged children in South Bend for Halloween, and Day of Service, which takes place in late March. Keenan also runs Keenan Klassic, a two-on-two charity basketball tournament the weekend of Reading Days in May.
Awards
Golden Hall of the Year:
- 2023-2024
Hall of the Year:
- 1996-1997
- 2001-2002
- 2013-2014
- 2023-2024
Men's Hall of the Year:
- 2003-2004
- 2005-2006
- 2007-2008
- 2010-2011
- 2014-2015
List of rectors
- Rev. Michael Murphy, C.S.C. (1957/58 - 1958/59)
- Rev. Joseph Hoffman, C.S.C.(1958/59 - 1960/61)
- Rev. Daniel O 'Neil, C.S.C. (1961/62 - 1963/64)
- Rev. Chester Prusynski**, C.S.C. (1964 spring)
- Rev. Michael Heppen, C.S.C. (1964/65)
- Rev. James McGrath, C.S.C. (1965/66 - 1967/68)
- Rev. Maurice Amen, C.S.C. (1968/69)
- Rev. Robert Griffin, C.S.C. (1969/70 - 1973/74)
- Rev. Richard Conyers, C.S.C. (1974/75 - 1981/82)
- Rev. David Garrick C.S.C. (1982/83 - 1984/85)
- Br. Bonaventure Scully, C.F.X. (1985/86 - 1998/99)
- Rev. Gary Chamberland, C.S.C. (1999/00 - 2001/02)
- Rev. Mark Thesing, C.S.C. (2002/03 - 2007/08)
- Rev. Dan Nolan, C.S.V. (2008/09 - 2011/12)
- Noel Terranova (2012/13 - 2016/17)
- James Tull (2017/18 - 2020/21)
- Bobby Nichols (2021/22 - 2022/23)
- Cory Hodson (2023/24 - present)
**Interim rector
Notable residents
- A.J. Pollock - Major League Baseball outfielder
- George Atkinson III '14 - former NFL running back
- Stan Bowman - Chicago Blackhawks Vice President and General Manager
- Joe Montana - 4-time Super Bowl champion quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs
- Allen Pinkett - former running back for the Houston Oilers
- Golden Tate - Current NFL wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans
- Jamie Reidy '92 - Huffington Post author and screenwriter
- Matt Storin '64 - former editor of the Boston Globe
- Steve Bartman '99 - fan infamous for interfering in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS
- Alize Mack - former Notre Dame Football tight end
- Cole Luke
References
- ^ Hine, Chris (December 28, 2017). "Taking Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman back to the place that helped shape him — Notre Dame". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ "Donor gives funds for ND student hall". South Bend Tribune. July 5, 1956. p. 29.
- ^ "Keenan Hall is Dedicated". South Bend Tribune. November 24, 1957. p. 17.
- ^ "Keenan Hall dedicated". Vidette Times. November 25, 1957. p. 1.
- ^ "Dedicate Keenan Hall at Notre Dame". The Star Press. November 24, 1957. p. 2.
- ^ ""He nailed Jesus on a crossing pattern!": Pray for the Keenan Revue". Newsweek. February 12, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "Notre Dame intramural football". Chicago Tribune. November 13, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ Skrbina, Paul (November 15, 2015). "Only one college still offers intramural tackle football: Notre Dame". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ McDonough, Andrew (September 9, 2021). "Ultimate Notre Dame Football GameDay Experience". Sports Illustrated Notre Dame Fighting Irish News, Analysis and More. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ "Indiana College Road Trip: Notre Dame". USnews.
- ^ "Bishop Dwenger's Centlivre finally takes field for Notre Dame after Rudy-esque journey". WANE 15. October 19, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ Blantz, Thomas E. (2020). The University of Notre Dame : a history. [Notre Dame, Indiana]. p. 391. ISBN 978-0-268-10824-3. OCLC 1182853710.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Bishop Blesses Keenan Hal". The Scranton Times-Tribune. November 26, 1957. p. 5.
- ^ "Notre Dame Hall Dedication Set". The Indianapolis Star. November 15, 1957. p. 31.
- ^ "Keenan Hall dedication set for Nov. 23 at ND". South Bend Tribune. November 14, 1957. p. 8.
- ^ "Keenan Hall is Dedicated at Notre Dame". The Hammond Times. November 24, 1957. p. 7.
- ^ "Mrs. Stanford Gives Building for 300 at Notre Dame" (PDF). The New York Times. April 7, 1957. p. 122.
- ^ "N.D. Appoints Rectors". South Bend Tribune. July 18, 1957. p. 8.
- ^ Schlereth, Thomas J. (1976). The University of Notre Dame: A Portrait of Its History and Campus. University of Notre Dame Press. ISBN 978-0-268-01905-1.
- ^ Vonada, Damaine (1998). Notre Dame : the official campus guide. Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press. ISBN 0-268-01486-8. OCLC 38870733.
- ^ "Arkos Design — University of Notre Dame — Stanford Hall & Keenan Hall Renovations". Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
- ^ "About Keenan // Knights of Keenan Hall // University of Notre Dame". Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
- ^ Cunningham, Lawrence (2012). The Chapels of Notre Dame. University of Notre Dame Press. ISBN 978-0-268-03735-2.
- ^ Meštrović, Ivan (2003). Ivan Meštrović. Snite Museum of Art.
- ^ "Ivan Meštrović Collection An inventory of his collection at the Syracuse University Archives". library.syr.edu. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ Gleason, Maureen; Blackstead, Katharina J. (1994). What is Written Remains: Historical Essays on the Libraries of Notre Dame. University Libraries of Notre Dame. p. 201. ISBN 978-0-268-01949-5.
- ^ "Ivan Mestrovic at Notre Dame". Irish Rover. April 30, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ Hughes, Andrew (October 23, 1999). "N.D.'s Rev. Griffin dies at 74". South Bend Tribune. p. A8.
- ^ Storm, Hannah. (2006). Notre Dame inspirations : the University's most successful alumni talk about life, spirituality, football, and everything else under the Dome. Weill, Sabrina Solin. (1st ed.). New York: Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-51812-9. OCLC 71365254.
- ^ "The words of Father Griff | Stories | Notre Dame Magazine | University of Notre Dame". Notre Dame Magazine. April 6, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- ^ "Honoring the 'angels' of Notre Dame // The Observer". The Observer. October 7, 2005. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- ^ Griffin, Robert, 1925- (2003). In the kingdom of the lonely God. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0-7425-1484-6. OCLC 51204705.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Daley, Lynne (November 1, 1981). "N.D. students going all out vs neighborhood blight". South Bend Tribune. p. 23.
- ^ Ferraro, Julie (February 1, 2005). "Keenan Hall residents lend a hand". South Bend Tribune. p. E1.
- ^ Bradford, Judy (February 1, 1997). "With his cooking, measuring gives way to creativity". South Bend Tribune. p. C2.
- ^ Tribune Staff Report (March 19, 2011). "McCoy to speak at Dismas House banquet". South Bend Tribune. p. B3.
- ^ "What We Do". Dismas House. June 7, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ^ Dame, Marketing Communications: Web // University of Notre. "Keenan Hall // Residential Life // University of Notre Dame". Residential Life. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ http://www.arkosdesign.com/OC/site/index.php?page=galleries&type=misc&id=stanford_hall___keenan_hall_renovations
- ^ "The quest for the best dorm pizza: Keenan, Siegfried and Zahm // The Observer". The Observer. September 23, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "Keenan wins Hall of the Year // The Observer". April 2, 2014.
- ^ Fosmoe, Margaret (February 19, 2010). "No venue for Revue at Saint Mary's". South Bend Tribune.
- ^ Luzer, Daniel (February 23, 2010). "Notre Dame's Permissive Values". Washington Monthly. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ "Top 10 Can't Miss Events at the University of Notre Dame". College Magazine. November 9, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ Fosmoe, Margaret (February 3, 1989). "Dorm show satirized life at ND". South Bend Tribune. p. 21.
- ^ Feldmann, Doug (2020). A view from two benches : Bob Thomas in football and the law. Mike Ditka. Ithaca. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-5017-4999-5. OCLC 1119122429.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "It's curtains for risque revue at women's college". Herald Bulletin. February 20, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ Staff (February 22, 2010). "Bawdy Notre Dame revue won't play college again". The Courier-Journal. p. 1.
- ^ "Keenan Revue Lives On for Laughs".
- ^ "'Horton Hears a Revue': Keenan Hall prepares for annual comedy event // The Observer". The Observer. February 6, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "The Keenan Revue". Her Campus. February 8, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "It's curtains for risque revue at women's college". The Victoria Advocate. February 20, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ Fosmoe, Margaret (May 20, 2006). "The great divide". South Bend Tribune. p. A4.
- ^ "Racy revue banned from campus". Arizona Daily Star. February 10, 2010. p. 10.
- ^ MENAFN. "- MENAFN.COM".
- ^ "Cheers and Jeers". Irish Rover. March 2, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "Keenan Revue in Review // The Observer". February 11, 2011.
- ^ "Revuepoint: The Keenan Revue Reviewed". February 27, 2014.
- ^ "Your weekly weekeND update". The Tab. February 7, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ Buchanan, Matthew. "Keenan Revue".
- ^ ""He nailed Jesus on a crossing pattern!": Pray for the Keenan Revue". Newsweek. February 12, 2016.
- ^ "The Rover Reviews: The Revue". Irish Rover. February 17, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- ^ Skrbina, Paul (November 15, 2015). "Only one college still offers intramural tackle football: Notre Dame". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ "Postcard". www.irishlegends.com. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "Muddy Sunday // Knights of Keenan Hall // University of Notre Dame". Archived from the original on November 23, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
- ^ "What We Do - Dismas House". Dismas House. June 7, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "Keenan Hall // Residential Life // University of Notre Dame". Residential Life. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "Keenan Hall to host 0.5K race with proceeds to benefit South Bend homeless center // The Observer". The Observer. November 6, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "Stan Bowman: Notre Dame becomes a special place for Chicago Blackhawks". Archived from the original on September 16, 2013.
- ^ Blake, Bob (September 14, 2013). "Blackhawks' dorm visit shocks pair". Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ "Stan Bowman maintains close ties with Notre Dame". ABC57. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ Bob, Blake. "Blackhawks' dorm visit shocks pair". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "Observer Newspaper - Scene". Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
- ^ http://archives.nd.edu/Scholastic/VOL_0125/VOL_0125_ISSUE_0005.pdf
- ^ Dame, ENR/PAZ // University Communications: Web // University of Notre (May 8, 2005). "Hall Portrait: Keenan // News // Notre Dame Magazine // University of Notre Dame".
- ^ "Interfering fan a Notre Dame grad // The Observer". The Observer. October 16, 2003. Retrieved February 7, 2018.