University of Notre Dame alumni and faculty are calling on new president Rev. Robert A. Dowd to remove coverings from 12 historic murals of Christopher Columbus in the administration building that were effectively hidden in 2019 over concerns about their portrayal of Native Americans.
According to Restoration News, the murals, painted by Luigi Gregori between 1882 and 1884, were covered under the leadership of then-president Rev. John Jenkins following criticism regarding their depiction of Native Americans. History professor Felipe Fernandez-Armesto said that the murals portray Native Americans positively as models of innocence and moral exemplars. Alumni like Werner Graf and faculty members such as Rev. Bill Miscamble are advocating for the removal of these coverings to preserve Catholic heritage and historical context.
The Association of Religion Data Archives reported that in 2020, approximately 11.49 percent of Indiana's population identified as Catholic, placing it 34th among U.S. states in terms of Catholic population percentage. This community includes dioceses such as Indianapolis and Evansville, which support institutions like the University of Notre Dame.
Pew Research Center found that Columbus Day is recognized in some form by 30 states and three U.S. territories. Twenty states and two territories offer a paid holiday for state workers on this day, while five states observe both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day concurrently. More than half of the states do not provide a paid holiday but often issue proclamations honoring Native heritage at other times.
Founded in 1842 by Edward Sorin of the Congregation of Holy Cross, the University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana. It enrolls over 13,000 students across undergraduate and graduate programs as of fall 2024 and features notable landmarks such as the Golden Dome and Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
