University of Notre Dame
Coverage of University of Notre Dame in the Nexus archive.
- The Trump administration is ramping up pressure on states to change election practices
The Trump administration is pressuring states to alter election practices by threatening federal funding cuts and criminal prosecution for officials who do not remove noncitizens from voter rolls. The Justice Department sent letters to all 50 states and the District of Columbia, while a FEMA grant program ties funding to compliance with election-related requirements.
- New research traces how ‘forever chemicals’ move through the Great Lakes and into people
New research from the University of Notre Dame reveals how PFAS chemicals accumulate in the Great Lakes ecosystem, increasing in concentration as they move up the food chain. The study, published in the Journal of Environmental Quality, found a decline in PFOS levels in lower lakes but not in the upper lakes, highlighting the persistence of these 'forever chemicals' in the environment.
- New study traces PFAS in Great Lakes food webs over 40 years
A University of Notre Dame study analyzed 42 years of data to track PFAS chemicals in the Great Lakes food web, finding lower concentrations in Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior compared to Ontario and Erie. The study noted a decline in PFOS levels over two decades following its industry phase-out but highlighted bioaccumulation in predators like salmon and eagles.
- Trump’s fixation on voting has had mixed results. He still has ways to affect November’s elections
President Donald Trump has attempted to influence U.S. elections through executive orders and legislation, but recent Supreme Court rulings and stalled bills like the SAVE Act have limited his success. His focus on noncitizen voting and voter data faces legal and political challenges, with experts noting constitutional constraints on presidential power over elections.
- Trump's fixation on voting has had mixed results. He still has ways to affect November's elections
President Donald Trump has attempted to influence U.S. elections through executive orders, legislation, and legal actions, but many efforts have been blocked by the Supreme Court and stalled in Congress. His focus on noncitizen voting and voter data has faced legal challenges, and the Republican-run states have taken some actions aligning with his demands despite mixed results.
- Priestly secrets and sexual misconduct at University of Notre Dame
Two priests, Rev. Thomas King and Rev. David Porterfield (who died in November), affiliated with the University of Notre Dame and Holy Cross College, are accused of grooming and sexually abusing young men from the 1980s onwards. A report commissioned by Notre Dame, following an investigation by the Chicago Sun-Times, revealed misconduct by King, including a scheme involving students, and ongoing ministry despite awareness. The university issued an apology and pledged greater accountability.
- AI ignores religion when you need it most — and takes sides when you ask about switching
A multi-university consortium found that AI models systematically exclude religious perspectives in sensitive topics like grief and ethics, while subtly steering users toward specific faiths such as Catholicism, Baha'i, and Sikhism, and away from others like Jehovah's Witnesses and atheism. The study revealed a significant gap between human expectations of religious relevance in moral discussions and AI's low incorporation of such perspectives.
- Notre Dame Students Abused by Priest in ‘Weighing Scheme,’ Report Finds
A report found that a priest at the University of Notre Dame abused students through a 'weighing scheme.' The allegations involve sexual abuse at the university.