The Fisher Regatta, an annual boat race on a campus lake hosted by the much-maligned Fisher residence hall, is one of the more fun and distinctive student traditions. To call it a “boat race” is a bit of a misnomer because the only enforced rule is that no part of an actual boat can be used in the construction of the vessels entered in the competition. The regatta defined Fisher’s identity for decades and, when the news came that the dorm would be torn down and replaced, the residents felt deep regret about the community that would be lost, despite the building’s many flaws. One current resident, Ryan Murphy, wrote an essay detailing the history, the impact on the community, and the joyful experience of participating in the regatta. By turns moving and funny, the story achieves what might have seemed impossible—giving readers an appreciation for a long-unloved residence hall—and illuminating the notion that progress does not come without loss.
From the Judges
A lovely feature from Notre Dame Magazine, "Once More to the Lake"—like its namesake E.B. White essay—takes readers through one cycle of a Fisher Hall tradition while telling a timeless story of personal fulfillment and the vitality of a place to a community. Well done!
