Between 1995 - 2005, Notre Dame was one of four universities in Division I to win national championships in three different women’s sports. Ever since, Notre Dame’s loyal daughters have indeed marched on to victory: they won their first national championship in 1987 (fencing) and, in total, they have brought home 17 team (including 11 by the co-ed fencing team) and 7 individual national championships. They have competed in intramural sports since that same semester and, at the initiative of several female athletes, they began competing in varsity sports in 1976 with the creation of women’s fencing and tennis teams. Women have studied at Notre Dame since the fall of 1972. How Notre Dame's Daughters Have Marched on to Victory As a fight song meant to support the University’s athletes, it makes sense that the song was written in honor of Notre Dame’s “loyal sons” at a time when the University had exclusively male students, and therefore exclusively male athletes. So, I read about the history of the “Notre Dame Victory March” in search of its original purpose. This time, however, I wanted to actually think through the modification of a tradition. In full disclosure, I have on several occasions complained about changes to Notre Dame’s traditions, and not always with good reason. As we sing together, a sense of community arises. When I’m at a Notre Dame football game with other alumni and we hear the fight song, we all know the lyrics and the accompanying hand gestures. Every time we play, I’m reminded of our Italian heritage and I feel a sense of belonging to this group of people, my family. When the Italian side of my family gets together, I can count on a game of bocce ball. I believe that there is value in preserving traditions, especially those customs that create and sustain a sense of community. A few initial conversations about this change made me wonder: When should we modify traditions to reflect new realities? But as with any other change to Notre Dame’s traditions, this lyrical change was met with mixed responses from alumni. While once we cheered for Old Notre Dame “while her loyal sons marching onward to victory,” now we will sing “while her loyal sons and daughters march on to victory.” This change coincides with the 50th anniversary of the admission of women to the University. The University of Notre Dame recently changed the lyrics to the 114-year-old “Notre Dame Victory March” to specifically reference the women of Notre Dame.
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