An Open Letter To The University Of Notre Dame

Dear University of Notre Dame, her alumni, students, fans/defenders,

I am writing this letter to offer a mocking and sarcastic "congratulations" to you, for you have sunk to a new low today. Over your entire existence, you have made no secret of your self-proclaimed divinity. You also have tirelessly self-promoted, and selectively applied your alleged "higher standard" of which you claim to operate under. People with half a brain knew it was nothing but pure B.S., but unfortunately many people bought into it. One of those people was the late Declan Sullivan.

You remember Declan right? He worked for your "prestigious" at best, "loathsome" at most honest, football program. He was one of the videographers you had on staff, until you killed him by putting him directly in harm's way. Declan was doing his job on a scissor-lift, filming football practice in the middle of a windstorm that gripped the entire Midwest on October 27. He managed to send a couple of tweets during his last moments of life which were obviously filled with concern and terror-you can look at them pictured above if you need proof.

An ordinary university, (let alone a catholic university) most likely would have been absolutely mortified at what happened and would have done everything possible to punish those responsible for Declan's death, but then you quickly remembered, "Hey.....we're Notre Dame! We do whatever we want and answer to nobody!" Christ-like indeed...

Apparently "nobody" included the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA), who despite your efforts to sabotage their investigation, still managed to give you a record fine of $77,500 for ignoring industry standards that could have prevented Declan's death. Still selectively applying your "higher standard", you are appealing the fine, even though you were already caught lying to IOSHA. That appeal alone would be worthy of outrage, but you didn't stop there.

Today you revealed the results of your own toothless and spineless "investigation", in which you concluded:

"We did not find any individual who disregarded safety or was indifferent to safety. Consequently, there was not any individual discipline...Our conclusion is that it's a collective responsibility."

That quote is from your University President Rev. John Jenkins. Jenkins says this even though it's a known fact ND practiced indoors for two consecutive days before October 27 due to high winds. Jenkins says this despite the fact that Videographer Director Tim Collins kept a female staffer off the scissor-lift that same day because he feared for her safety. Jenkins says this despite Tim Collins saying that ND is practicing outside "contrary to his judgment" that day. Jenkins says this despite the South Bend Regional Airport diverting planes because of extremely high winds. Jenkins says this despite AD Jack Swarbrick dismissing any reports of dangerous winds by saying the conditions were "...nothing out of the ordinary" that day. Do I really need to go on? 

It's rather obvious that there is one person, and one person only, that is responsible for practice being outdoors that day, and its head football coach Brian Kelly. When you consider that every college football coach in the country will tell you that as a head coach you are directly responsible for everything that happens on that practice field, 100%. That definitely includes whether or not practice will be filmed, and where it will be filmed from.

Rather than hold Kelly accountable for his irresponsibility and show any sense of decency, let alone display any of that supposed integrity of which you claim to possess, you have chosen to lay "collective blame" which holds NOBODY responsible. That simply is inexcusable, let alone unforgivable.

By taking these actions, you have exposed yourselves as frauds, hypocrites, and duplicitous phonies of the lowest form. Your failure to deal with this matter appropriately and respectfully is a violation of common sense and intelligence. In short, HOW DARE YOU!? How dare you continue to make a mockery of yourselves, of us, and most importantly Declan's family?! You are nothing more than Talking Monkey's who don't deserve the title of "Human Beings", in addition to having Declan's blood on your hands.

Divinity, piety, and catholic character are two way streets. They are not reserved strictly for those times when positive things happen for you. They must also be applied during times of crisis and tragedy, even if you are directly responsible for those tragic events. It is only then, when your apologies will be taken seriously. Until then remember these wise words:

"Whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me". You remember who said that right? He's the one you put "Touchdown" in front of when you speak of him.

Sincerely,

Angelo Pesce aka "Luzinski's Beard"