Editor’s Note: This is the first article in a series of four covering a Feb. 27 student-led demonstration against promoting Susan Ostermann to direct the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. The first article documents early planning by event organizers. The second features perspectives on the protest from student and outside groups. The third records how the event shifted from a protest to a prayer service following Ostermann’s decision to withdraw from the position. The fourth covers the prayer service itself.
On Friday at 6 p.m., student leaders from Catholic and conservative groups across campus will host “March on the Dome,” a protest in response to the appointment of Susan Ostermann to lead the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.
Ostermann’s appointment has sparked criticism from Notre Dame Right to Life, Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend and other groups on campus over op-eds she has written in the past in favor of abortion rights. Two professors cut ties with the Institute following her appointment.
The University has maintained its support for Ostermann amidst the criticism.
“Professor Susan Ostermann was appointed director of the Liu Institute for her expertise in Asian studies, particularly her research on regulatory compliance in areas such as conservation, education, and child labor. She has stated clearly that she respects the University’s position on the sanctity of life, and that as director, she understands her role is to support the diverse research of the Institute's scholars and students, not advance a personal political agenda,” a University spokesperson wrote.
A tweet from the Sycamore Trust served as the news release for the protest, reading, “The demonstration, ‘March on the Dome,’ calls on the Dowd administration to rescind the appointment and urges University President Father Robert Dowd, CSC, to exercise his authority to enforce Notre Dame’s Catholic mission.”
The Sycamore Trust is a coalition of alumni and friends of the University who describe their mission as advocating to maintain the Catholic character of the University.
The march is set to begin at main circle before proceeding to a stage on South Quad.
“The Bishop did not urge us to sit silently and watch our Lady’s University fall before our eyes; he gave us a clear call to action,” Luke Woodyard, one of the co-organizers of the march, said in the news release. Woodyard is the director of operations for Notre Dame Right to Life and the politics editor at the Irish Rover.
In a statement to The Observer, Woodyard wrote that the protest had been approved by the Student Activities Office.
“We had to get special permissions for the locations. The south quad stage and grotto took extra forms. We have been working alongside SAO every step of the way and they have done nothing but help us make this a safe, positive, and constructive demonstration,” Woodyard wrote.
Maureen Doyle, director of Student Centers, Activities, and Events for SAO, confirmed the event had been approved in line with a demonstrations policy applied to all recognized student groups, including that protests remain “peaceful and orderly.”
“The demonstration being hosted by Notre Dame Right to Life (RtL) and co-sponsored by other University-recognized student groups that is scheduled for this Friday is one of many student group events created and approved through ND Central,” Doyle said.
Doyle clarified that all approved demonstrations must “adhere to time, place, and manner restrictions designed to (a) protect the health and safety of participants and the campus community, (b) avoid disruption of the regular and essential operations of the University, and (c) maintain an atmosphere conducive to scholarly and educational pursuits.”
In a statement to The Observer, the University said it “remains steadfast in its unwavering commitment to the inherent dignity of the human person and to the sanctity of life at every stage. We respect the perspectives of our students and their desire to be heard; this event is an example of the vibrant and deeply engaged community that makes Notre Dame a special place.”
The march’s other co-organizer, Gabe Ortner, said that the appointment was “the last straw in a long series of University actions counter to Notre Dame’s Catholic identity.” Ortner is the chancellor of the Knights of Columbus.
The two organized the protest alongside the Knights of Columbus Council 1477, The Irish Rover, Notre Dame Right to Life, Students for Child-Oriented Policy, Militia of the Immaculata and Children of Mary.
Woodyard and Ortner will address the crowd alongside Lucy Spence, editor in chief of The Irish Rover, Anna Kelley, the president of Notre Dame Right to Life, Theo Austin, president emeritus of SCOP and Fr. Bill Miscamble, who has called for the rescinding of Ostermann’s appointment.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated that the protest would take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday based on an X post by the Sycamore Trust. Organizers told The Observer that information is incorrect, and that the protest is scheduled for 6 p.m. An earlier version of this story also stated SAO did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This request was mistakenly not made by the time the original story ran. The Observer regrets and apologizes for this error. Comments from SAO were included on Wednesday, including clarification that a “15-minute rule” policy does not exist in response to an earlier, inaccurate statement on the rule.
