THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS ESTABLISHED 1966
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2025 | VOL. LX, NO. 31
ND omits support for Catholic mission from new staff values University reframes Catholic mission as overarching ‘umbrella’ value By Sophie Hanawalt and Henry Jagodzinski Notre Dame News Editor and Assistant Managing Editor
During the University’s staff town halls on Oct. 29 and 30, the University’s vice president for human resources, Heather Christophersen, announced a new set of “ND Values.” The previous list included a value that called for staff acceptance and support of the University’s Catholic mission, which was absent in the new list. These organizational principles are geared towards the University’s roughly 4,500 staff members, such as those working in administration, communications, facilities, dining services, financial management and residential life, among other areas. They do not generally apply to faculty. In an interview with The Observer, Christophersen explained that the values are meant
to drive staff’s mission. They are implemented through presidential awards, the highlighting of each value in publications, and are also used to evaluate staff during performance reviews. The new values were described in the news release as “an expression of how we seek to advance Notre Dame’s mission as a global, Catholic research university.” In materials released alongside the announcement, the list was prefaced with the statement, “In all that we do, we seek to advance Notre Dame’s mission as a global Catholic research university to be a force for good in the world.” The values and their accompanying descriptions are: Community: Treat every person with dignity and respect Collaboration: Work together with honesty, kindness, and humility Excellence: Pursue the highest standards with a commitment to
truth and service Innovation: Embrace opportunities with creativity and dedication These values replace a previous set of values, which had been in place since their creation by then University President Fr. John Jenkins some 20 years ago, Christophersen shared. The five former values were: Accountability: Takes responsibility and ownership for decisions, actions and results. Accountable for both how and what is accomplished Teamwork: Works Cooperatively as a member of a team and is committed to the overall team objectives rather than own interests Integrity: Demonstrates honest and ethical behavior that displays a high moral standard. Widely trusted, respectful and honorable Leadership in Excellence: see “Values” on page 2
NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
University denies porn filter By Gray Nocjar Managing Editor
Students for Child-Oriented Policy (SCOP), a Universitysponsored club, met twice this semester with Notre Dame officials to discuss implementing a pornography filter on campus Wi-Fi. The University denied the request for a blanket filter, but is adopting a SCOP effort to reintroduce an optional content censor. In an interview with The Observer, SCOP vice president Theo Austin elaborated on the impetus of SCOP’s efforts to institute the filter. “Our basic position is this is damaging. It’s against the teaching of the Church, which the University should uphold, and it’s in the University’s policy we ask that you enforce it,” he said. The University’s Responsible Use of Data and Information Technology Resources policy, last updated in 2016, explicitly forbids “pornographic, sexually explicit or offensive material, except
for officially approved, legitimate academic or University purposes.” SCOP became a Universitysponsored club in 2014. According to the organization’s website, they are unaffiliated with any political or religious group and are focused on multiple issues, including pornography. They host multiple events, including White Ribbon Against Pornography Week, which promotes conversations about pornography use and addiction through lectures and activities. In 2018, the club sponsored a petition to institute a filter on Notre Dame Wi-Fi, gaining over 2,400 signatures and sparking coverage from multiple national news outlets. The next year, they met with former University President Fr. John Jenkins to discuss a filter. Jenkins denied the request for a mandatory campus-wide censor, but did offer to create a filter that users of the University network could manually approve. An article by The Observer in April 2023 suggested the opt-in see “SCOP” on page 3
Doctor, Navy veteran discusses service in Sudan By Sophie Magnano News Writer
When asked about burnout, Catena reflected on the difference between his work and that of a typical physician in the U.S. While he has experienced the “30 or 40 worst days” of his life in Sudan, he said, “There’s not any one time I have once felt I wanted to be anywhere else in the world.” Catena attributed the burnout of many U.S. healthcare providers to repetitive tasks and heavy administrative work. A 2020 study indicated that outpatient physicians in the United States spend 44.9% of their time working with electronic health reports. “In the Nuba Mountains, there is something different every second,” he said. “It’s tiring, but it’s not causing me to burn out, and that’s the difference.” Catena’s Catholic faith, he said, is essential to sustaining his work in a region affected by war and chronic shortages. The most recent conf lict, a civil war between factions of the military, broke out in Sudan in
Tom Catena’s resume may stand alone. As a football player, engineer, Navy flight surgeon, doctor and now missionary, Catena’s calling has put him through a wringer of formative experiences. The Catholic missionary and physician spoke at the University of Notre Dame Institute for Social Concerns’ annual lecture in honor of Fr. Bernie Clark this Wednesday. Catena shared an inside look at his past 17 years as the only permanently stationed doctor in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains. Raised in Amsterdam, New York, Catena first studied mechanical engineering at Brown University before realizing he felt drawn to service work. His original goal was to graduate in four years and join the workforce, but his plans quickly shifted during his time at Brown. After graduating, he attended Duke University School of Medicine on a U.S. Navy scholarship, completed his Navy commitment and eventually left for mission work in Africa. As a former defensive lineman, he discussed the
the vital role that football and other team sports can play in physically and emotionally demanding work. “Sports, especially football, are wonderful for anything you want to do in life,” he said. Overnight emergencies, he added, “are like the fourth quarter.” Catena played nose guard for the Bears as an undergraduate at Brown. His path to Sudan began with a
year in Kenya, where he repeatedly met people fleeing conflict in the Nuba Mountains. “People kept coming from Sudan, and they were saying, ‘If you think Kenya is a challenge … they really, really need the help of doctors,’” he said. “I really wanted to go where my limited services were needed.” In 2007, Catena established the Mother of Mercy Hospital and has
been there ever since. The hospital is equipped with 485 beds and treats up to 75,000 patients each year. A typical day begins before sunrise at 5:30 a.m., arriving at the hospital chapel by 6:45 a.m., followed by ward rounds, surgeries and an afternoon clinic. His daily schedule continues after supper with overnight calls via walkie-talkie. “Groundhog Day, right?” he said.
NEWS | PAGE 2
OPINION | PAGE 4
SCENE | PAGES 6-7
SPORTS | PAGE 8
SPORTS | PAGE 12
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SOPHIE MAGNANO | The Observer
Dr. Tom Catena his experience as a warzone physician in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains Wednesday in the Eck Center Auditorium. Catena, a Navy veteran, was the only permanent doctor in the region for 17 years.
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