Re-Elected

Five months after Stateside Catholicism's marquee school was embroiled in immense controversy over its choice of this year's commencement speaker, the Notre Dame trustees have re-upped Holy Cross Fr John Jenkins for a second five-year term as the university's president:

“The vision and leadership that Father Jenkins has demonstrated in his first four years in office have been inspiring and innovative,” [Board Chair Richard] Notebaert said. “Building upon the foundation set by his Holy Cross predecessors, he is making the aspirations of this University a reality. The Fellows and Trustees look forward to continuing our work with him in service to Our Lady’s University.”...

In a resolution issued Friday, the Fellows of the University said Father Jenkins has “combined courageous leadership with the kind of priestly dedication, pastoral concern and inspiration that we have come to expect of a President of Notre Dame.” They expressed their “appreciation for the commitment” of Father Jenkins to the “Catholic character of the University.”

First tapped as Domer-in-Chief in 2004 and inaugurated the following year, Jenkins' renewed mandate begins on 1 July.

Yesterday's trustees' vote came as the Indiana campus prepared to host its biggest football game of the year: another edition of Notre Dame's longstanding rivalry with USC, now ranked #6.

In the schools' 81st meeting on the field, the Irish lost this afternoon's game 34-27, but still hold a 42-34 advantage over the series' 83-year history.

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