THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS ESTABLISHED 1966
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 | VOL. LX, NO. 14
NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
ND investigates past rector for sexual misconduct Observer Staff Report Notre Dame has announced an external investigation into allegations that Fr. Thomas King engaged in sexual misconduct during his time as rector of Zahm Hall from 1980 to 1997. University President Fr. Robert Dowd and John Veihmeyer, chair of the University’s board of trustees, requested that the board of trustees convene a special commission to oversee the external investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations. The investigation will be led by Helen Cantwell at the law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. Cantwell, a former prosecutor for the sex crimes unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, “has deep experience in conducting sensitive investigations involving allegations of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment,” according to Debevoise & Plimpton. Cantwell previously investigated allegations of sexual abuse against a Syracuse University men’s
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
Helen Cantwell at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP will lead an external investigation brought by the University into sexual misconduct allegiations while serving as rector of Zahm Hall between 1980 and 1997.
basketball coach and allegations of sexual misconduct against two Cleveland Orchestra musicians. In a press release, the University shared that the “key findings” of the investigation would be shared with the Notre Dame community.
FBI agent speaks on Madoff case By Grace Sullivan News Writer
On Thursday, special agent Patrick Duff y of the Federal Bureau of Investigation delivered a lecture on the largest known white-collar crime in U.S. histor y. Duff y discussed his perspective as one of the lead agents on the case in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme fraud in the Jordan Auditorium
at the Mendoza College of Business. Duff y is currently assigned to the FBI’s WhiteCollar Crime Squad that specializes in corporate and securities fraud. With a B.A. in accounting, Duff y previously worked at KPMG for six years before joining the Philadelphia division of the FBI, where he would see “FBI” on page 3
GRACE SULLIVAN | The Observer
Special agent Patrick Duffy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation speaks at the Mendoza College of Business on Thursday afternoon.
The announcement came after a letter was sent by the University to Zahm Hall alumni during the period that King was rector. The letter requested that anyone who may have been a victim or anyone with additional information about
the alleged sexual misconduct contact Debevoise & Plimpton at NotreDameReview@debevoise. com. In the letter, Dowd and Veihmeyer stated that the investigation will also examine “the
University’s handling of any past complaints regarding Fr. King.” “As University leaders, our most important duty is ensuring the well-being of our students and all who come to our campus,” the letter stated. “We are saddened that there are members of our community who may have suffered abuse while here and may not have received the support, care, and love they deserve.” The University declined to comment while the investigation is ongoing. Zahm Hall, where King was rector, was closed prior to the 2022 academic year. Concerns of a disregard for COVID-19 protocols, vandalism and a “troubling culture” were among the reasons cited for the decision. The building now serves as a transitional residence hall for residents of dorms whose buildings are undergoing renovation or demolition. This year, it houses the Coyle community in Zahm Hall, whose residents will move into Coyle Hall next year.
Senators justify choices on Heffernan impeachment Last Wednesday, the student senate voted to impeach St. Edward’s Hall senator Michael Heffernan in a 22-11 vote. Heffernan had violated section 4.4 of the student senate bylaws by missing more than seven meetings. Although senators have the option to send in a proxy on account of an expected absence, Heffernan claimed that he had previously made his constituents aware of his absences and that they had supported him. He said at his impeachment hearing that he had acquired 121 St. Edward’s Hall resident signatures on his behalf. As a two-thirds majority is required to impeach a member, the vote was close. A few senators gave their insight into the matter, sharing reasons why they voted the way they did. Senator Kyle Lauckner of Dunne Hall recounted his decision-making. “I decided mostly on my own conscience. I definitely could have contacted more of my
constituents, given the complex nature of it,” Lauckner said. Lauckner shared that three or four Dunne Hall members approached him prior to the hearing and attempted to convince him to acquit Heffernan. “And so I had to explain to them, in a relatively methodical fashion, as to why I was going the way I was ... We all signed up for the job. And they respected that,” he said. Lauckner voted to impeach Heffernan, as he believed that following the rules of the senate that each senator signed off on was his top priority. “We all agreed to the bylaws … It begs the question, if our hall gives us permission to violate any bylaw, then shouldn’t we all just do that? It just sets a bad precedent,” Lauckner said. In terms of convincing other senators, Lauckner said that he “thought sharing my insight could help other senators make up their mind, because I was given a stress test the week leading up to the impeachment, so I already had a pretty well-formed idea of what should occur.” Walsh Hall senator Laurel
Hamilton shared her uncertainty on which way to vote. “I think I actually came in with a little bit of a skewed opinion. I wasn’t really sure how I was going to vote when I walked in, because I did think that there was something to be said about the fact that so many of the Stedsmen were very intent on Heffernan not coming to the meetings. So, I respected that,” Hamilton said. She continued, “However there’s a lot of merit behind showing up for things … It applies outside of the dorm, for a plethora of reasons, which is why I didn’t know how I was going to vote.” Hamilton noted that the “general consensus” of the senate was that Heffernan could have accomplished his self-governance ideal by still showing up to the meetings and abstaining from every vote. “If anything, it probably would have more of an impact,” she said. Hamilton ultimately decided to vote to impeach Heffernan. “Where do we draw the line of letting people get away with these things?” she asked.
By Julia Connolly News Writer
see “Senators” on page 4
NEWS | PAGE 4
OPINION | PAGE 5
SCENE | PAGE 7
SPORTS | PAGE 8
SPORTS | PAGE 12
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