Zahm House
- Thread starter House16
- Start date
- Messages
- 20,894
- Reaction score
- 8,126
First, congrats! Get ready for the best four years of your life. Make the most out of every day, because it will go by quickly.
As for Zahm, it was the closest thing to a fraternity on campus for a long time, and the culture in the dorm reflected it-- it was exclusive, juvenile, and thoroughly obnoxious. When I graduated as an undergrad in '06, serious efforts were underway to reform it internally. IIRC, by the time I graduated from law school in '09, Zahm had succeeded in rehabilitating its reputation (somewhat).
I'd go in with an open mind, but be aware of the dorm's history and reputation. I wouldn't recommend falling in with any wannabe frat boys; you don't want to be "that guy". If I'm right, and Zahm has turned things around, you should be fine. If not, make some friends in Keenan, Stanford, or St. Ed's and look to transfer dorms as a sophomore.
RDU Irish
Catholics vs. Cousins
- Messages
- 8,622
- Reaction score
- 2,722
I always took it as more of a love-to-hate type of thing. I mean how else do you pick where to start the first campus snowball fight if all the dorms are super-kumbia?
Dorms are meant to cultivate comradarie and friendship, and it is hard to argue that Zahmbies lacked in that front. They shut down Flanner and Grace partially because people didn't get to know each other between floors (although I suspect the well earned "Hotel Flanner" rep was more to blame).
So, as in life, moderation is the key to happiness.
Dorms are meant to cultivate comradarie and friendship, and it is hard to argue that Zahmbies lacked in that front. They shut down Flanner and Grace partially because people didn't get to know each other between floors (although I suspect the well earned "Hotel Flanner" rep was more to blame).
So, as in life, moderation is the key to happiness.
SaltyND24
Well-known member
- Messages
- 2,165
- Reaction score
- 484
Congrats on joining the ND family! I knew a few good people that lived in Zahm, good guys. As it was spelled out to me when I was just a little freshmen in O'neill, EVERYTHING that came from Zahm was to be ridiculed and mocked for no other reason than pure entertainment. Hell, a few upper classman said it's tradition...lol
I'm biased towards O'neill, because Easy E (the rector) was by far one of the easiest going people. Plus, you're right across from reckers and a short distance from the bookstore. Either way, enjoy yourself and make an attempt to step outside your comfort zone socially...You'll be a better man for it in the long run! God bless, and Go Irish!
ClausentoTate
New member
- Messages
- 631
- Reaction score
- 43
North Quad's where it's at. NDH is WAY better than South.
Few things I know from being in proximity to Zahm (Stanfordite):
1) You better learn to take a joke, there will be tons thrown at you in the beginning. It's a common rallying cry for all other dorms to heckle you guys. It will make people seem cool so in the first few weeks you will see lots of comments about your sexuality, your moosehead, your rituals, etc.
2) It was originally the low-GPA dorm, hence its frat persona today
3) I know zero people that didn't stay there all four years, you'll have a blast
4) You're going to miss out on my favorite cheer, the one where we put up our fist in alternative fashion (you guys throw up an X)
5) Ole, ole ole ole, Zahm's Gay, Zahm's Gay!
PS - Regis was in Zahm, he makes appearances sometimes during big football weekends. Also, please find a way to stop blasting Top 40 pop songs from the corner room. It got really annoying after 4 years.
Have a good time!
Few things I know from being in proximity to Zahm (Stanfordite):
1) You better learn to take a joke, there will be tons thrown at you in the beginning. It's a common rallying cry for all other dorms to heckle you guys. It will make people seem cool so in the first few weeks you will see lots of comments about your sexuality, your moosehead, your rituals, etc.
2) It was originally the low-GPA dorm, hence its frat persona today
3) I know zero people that didn't stay there all four years, you'll have a blast
4) You're going to miss out on my favorite cheer, the one where we put up our fist in alternative fashion (you guys throw up an X)
5) Ole, ole ole ole, Zahm's Gay, Zahm's Gay!
PS - Regis was in Zahm, he makes appearances sometimes during big football weekends. Also, please find a way to stop blasting Top 40 pop songs from the corner room. It got really annoying after 4 years.
Have a good time!
Last edited:
SaltyND24
Well-known member
- Messages
- 2,165
- Reaction score
- 484
Honestly, I wasn't impressed with NDH...set up blew imo and the only thing anyone ever said in their explanation for why it was superior to SDH was the fact that you could create your own pizza...plus in my time, SDH had more hotties...gotta love BangP0rn, I mean Pangborn
Emcee77
latress on the men-jay
- Messages
- 7,295
- Reaction score
- 555
This. People love-to-hate Zahm but it's really all a joke. You won't really be at any social disadvantage.
In fact, there is a sense in which Zahm is an ideal dorm. The real virtue of the dorm system at ND is the built-in camaraderie that you have to do nothing to build. You arrive at ND with upperclassmen across the hall who will serve as mentors as well as classmate-neighbors who will be your lifelong friends. Possibly nowhere is this virtue greater than in Zahm. So be excited and take advantage! (I didn't live there, by the way ... I lived in Siegfried).
But I'd also bear in mind Whiskey's point that Zahmers have had a tendency to take the camaraderie that's inherent in the dorm culture at ND to extremes with annoying frat-ish exclusiveness and obnoxiousness. Don't feel like you have to condone or join in that stuff if you encounter it (possibly you won't).
Last edited:
Zahm ... Social Suicide.
That's like committing suicide in Buffalo. It's redundant.
Enjoy!
gkIrish
Greek God
- Messages
- 13,184
- Reaction score
- 1,004
It's actually Zahm House now.
You're going to love Zahm but everyone else will hate you. I hate Zahm.
Notre Dame's housing begs to disagree. That they (seemingly) want to call themselves Zahm House just brings to mind the whole "we're totally like a frat" thing they like to perpetuate. And is one of the reasons everyone hates them.
That said, one of the nicest girls I knew in my 4 years at ND dated (and eventually married) a guy from Zahm. So not everyone is a d-bag there.
Classic Irish
Well-known member
- Messages
- 1,313
- Reaction score
- 322
I lived in Zahm for three years and then moved off campus. I guess I'm not the best person to give advice since I graduated in 1992, and thankfully Zahm didn't have that "frat" reputation back then. Dillon was actually viewed as kind of the "fratty" dorm. I say go in with an open mind. Just because you live there doesn't mean you have to embrace everything about Zahm. I'm sure there will be others who live there who feel the same way you do.
Seeing the remarks about Pangborn makes me feel like an old fart. When I was at ND, it was a mens dorm!
Congrats on getting into ND---it will be the best four years of your life.
jimmymac
Well-known member
- Messages
- 1,566
- Reaction score
- 242
This is very accurate. Everyone in zahm loves it, everyone else hates it. Definitely a better dorm to be in in terms of commraderie within your hall
It really doesn't make any difference what hall you get placed into, except that some rectors/ARs are more lenient than others. If you are a fun down to earth guy you'll make friends across dorms.
I never understood the point of dorm x hates/mocks/is rivals with dorm y. Who cares? Always seemed like a waste of time/energy to me.
I never understood the point of dorm x hates/mocks/is rivals with dorm y. Who cares? Always seemed like a waste of time/energy to me.
returnofthemack
New member
- Messages
- 1,798
- Reaction score
- 128
Every dorm fosters camaraderie between its residents. Most of the dorm rivalries are just for fun. Nobody really hates any other dorm - especially since people are placed in them randomly. Each dorm has its own sort of persona, but you'll meet great people from all over campus. Zahm does have some funny traditions though, but I don't want to spoil any of that for you. Enjoy the best 4 years of your life.
ResLife Hero
Well-known member
- Messages
- 6,737
- Reaction score
- 190
As a former Zahmbie, you've found a great home. There's always interhall rivalry and "hatred", but the young men you live with will have your back, and the traditions have their place.
I know our dorm gets a bad rep, and historically there has been some justification for that, but it's a close-knit dorm, the RAs will be coming from a culture of being brothers (not bros) and, as with everything at Notre Dame, you make your own legacy any way.
As for the issue of the name, my senior year, we formally got the name reverted to Zahm House, and you can check ResLife's website for that, but it actually calls upon some history of residential life at ND in general (think Sorin College), and it has nothing to do with being a frat.
Residence Halls // Office of Student Affairs // University of Notre Dame
I know our dorm gets a bad rep, and historically there has been some justification for that, but it's a close-knit dorm, the RAs will be coming from a culture of being brothers (not bros) and, as with everything at Notre Dame, you make your own legacy any way.
As for the issue of the name, my senior year, we formally got the name reverted to Zahm House, and you can check ResLife's website for that, but it actually calls upon some history of residential life at ND in general (think Sorin College), and it has nothing to do with being a frat.
Residence Halls // Office of Student Affairs // University of Notre Dame
Last edited:
Classic Irish
Well-known member
- Messages
- 1,313
- Reaction score
- 322
Good point, Lax. But you know, the guys I knew from Carroll loved living out there.
Hall Profiles // Office of Housing // University of Notre Dame
Says it's still Zahm Hall. Not a big deal either way in the end, just saying.
95NDAlumNM
Banned
- Messages
- 514
- Reaction score
- 45
Agreed. I had a friend who lived in carrol. He would always want to crash at my dorm because he did not want to have to walk all the way out there and then have to come back. It is like someone who lives in the country. You plan your "trips into town" so that you got everything done at one time and did not have to make two trips. I so enjoyed being able to go back to alumni and rest between classes. He never got to do that
Ultimate Penn St. Hater
Go Irish!
- Messages
- 11,214
- Reaction score
- 377
Just be happy you got into our favorite university. I would live in the maintainance room like Rudy and be thrilled to be there. Best of luck! Go Irish!
IrishAlum1997
"Gru" the Dew
- Messages
- 2,466
- Reaction score
- 216
Alumni Hall will wake their dead. We will sing its requiem.
Father George. That is all.
Father George. That is all.
IrishRugger2013
Member
- Messages
- 151
- Reaction score
- 14
I lived in zahm the past three years and am moving off campus this year. You dont need to worry another second, you should be celebrating. You are going to have a blast at frosh o in a couple weeks and for the next couple years. Anyone who says living in zahm sucks didn't live there as I dont know any zahmbies who dislike zahm. Sure people from other dorms will give you ****, but it's more of just a tradition and you will embrace it. Plus if anyone actually hates someone because of what dorm you're from and won't hang out with you because of it is a preposterous excuse for a human being. Enjoy it man, solid chance I meet you at some zahm event