Every Notre Dame residence hall hosts an annual signature event. For Siegfried Hall, that tradition is Day of Man, held each year on the first Wednesday of February.
Throughout the day, residents attended classes wearing only shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops despite winter weather to raise awareness and funds for people experiencing homelessness in South Bend.
Organizers said the goal is to help students better understand the conditions many unhoused individuals endure during the winter.
“I mean, the weather is absolutely brutal,” junior AJ Golden, Siegfried Day of Man co-commissioner, said. “It’s really to raise awareness of what they’re going through in their day-to-day lives.”
Residents described the cold as challenging but manageable with support from one another.
“It is a little chilly. Definitely colder than last year, but we are hanging in there,” Siegfried Hall vice president Luke Roy said. “We are supporting each other and we are getting through it.”
“Walking to class isn’t too bad. Your ears and toes get a little cold,” sophomore Bryan Greive said. “The real challenging part is standing outside for a full hour during the dining hall shift.”
Junior Anthony Fedoruk said the experience fosters solidarity.
“Obviously it’s very cold outside, but you really get to see what the unhoused are going through,” he said. “It’s a good form of solidarity.”
During their shifts outside the dining halls, residents hold signs and collect donations for the South Bend Center for the Homeless. Many write their personal Venmo usernames on signs so passersby can donate directly, with all proceeds turned over at the end of the day.
“It has been cold, but it is for a good cause. Even though we are cold, it kind of warms us up knowing that we are helping out the homeless,” freshman John Donohoe said during his dining hall shift.
“It is definitely cold, but spirits are high for sure. We are definitely excited to be here, and we appreciate all the love we have been getting,” freshman Packy Flannery said.
“Our biggest hope is to break $40,000 this year,” junior Jude Hubner, co-commissioner, said. “Since the event’s only 20 years old, it started off very small. We first broke $20,000 in donations 8 years ago, so we are still seeing a very good amount of growth.”
Hubner said dinner hours typically generate the most donations, as each of the dorm’s six sections takes an hour-long shift outside the dining halls. An online fundraiser also allows alumni and parents to contribute.
Golden said the event helps students look beyond campus life.
“It’s really easy to get trapped in our little bubble here at Notre Dame,” he said.
Day of Man takes place during Siegfried’s annual “Siggy Week,” a series of dorm events leading up to the dorm formal. Activities include tournaments and other community-building traditions.
“We kicked off [Monday] night with a mini golf tournament in the dorm,” Tommy Fawcett, Siegfried Day of Man co-commissioner, said.
“It’s a great week of tradition, camaraderie and just overall fun for the dorm,” Golden said. “I can really tell that people are excited about Day of Man and it seems like we’re going to get a lot of support.”
Organizers also worked to expand outreach this year, appearing on local television to promote the fundraiser.
“[Monday] morning, we went to ABC57’s studio, did a TV interview with them explaining the event and why the South Bend Center for the Homeless is in particular demand this year,” Hubner said.
This year marks the 20th Day of Man. According to organizers, the tradition began in 2006 after a student forgot his coat on a cold day and reflected on how many people face those conditions daily. What started as a small gesture has since grown into one of Siegfried’s largest philanthropic efforts.
