Published on September 27, 2024, 12:36 am

The University of Notre Dame, though nominally affiliated with Roman Catholicism and known for its liberal ideological leanings, surprises many with the strong pro-life sentiment on campus. In 2020 political statistics displayed that 66% of the student body lent their support to Joe Biden, while Donald Trump gained only 29%. The scenario was similar in 2016- Hillary Clinton was backed by 59%, with only 24% voting for Trump.

However, it’s important not to overlook a significant pro-life segment among the students, clearly highlighted during a squabble involving the views of two professors who supported abortion rights. Professors Tamara Kay and Susan L. Ostermann stirred controversy with their article titled “Forced pregnancy and childbirth are violence against women — and also terrible health policy” in Salon in 2022. This led to considerable criticism from students.

Notre Dame’s administration stands firm on life-related issues consistent with Catholic teaching. As reiterated by Fr. John Jenkins, President of Notre Dame University, they maintain that human life is sacred—from conception till natural death.

Another surprise emerged from a poll carried out by the Irish Rover which showed Donald Trump ahead of Kamala Harris by a narrow margin (48% to 46%). The College Republicans President Elliot Anderson expressed hope that such trends signaled an end approach of starkly liberal campuses due to burgeoning youth support for conservative policies. Unfortunately, there was no response from College Democrats when approached for comment.

Contrary to institutions like Columbia or Berkeley which known for radical student activities; Notre Dame’s Catholic traditions seem to mitigate extremities among students. Even protests supporting Palestine on campus were reportedly small-scale and peaceful.

Another significant detail thrown up by the poll was dissatisfaction towards Biden-Harris policies driving Trump’s support among students – just 35 percent approved of them while a whopping 65 percent disapproved. These results echo findings from a Harvard survey citing Biden’s approval among young voters at a low 31 percent.

The question remains whether there is an underreported surge of support for Trump among college students. Notably, Harris does enjoy a substantial lead over Trump among the 18-29-year-old demographic, by 31 points. However, the solidity of this lead and potential undeclared support for Trump makes the upcoming political scenario interesting and uncertain.

Reporting on real news grounded in a Christian worldview allows one to see how cultural currents flow through society’s significant institutions—like universities—informing their stance on key issues like abortion rights and political leanings. Believing in providing trusted news, it’s important to recognize all perspectives in these situations. It appears that Notre Dame University serves as an interesting case study where liberal politics co-exists with Christian pro-life sentiments- making it a microcosm of the nation itself. So stay tuned to real and trusted news platforms for more insights into such breaking news around the world.