Global experience of past 25 years shows that while mass movements succeed in toppling dictators, most countries do not succeed in establishing a democratic system. The vexing question is will Bangladesh, which has embarked on a democratic journey after experiencing sixteen years of Sheikh Hasina’s personalistic autocracy, succeed? Hasina was toppled in a popular uprising in July–August 2024 and fled the country. The country experienced unprecedented atrocities perpetrated by the members of the law enforcement agencies and the activists of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League in the wake of the movement. More than 1,400 people were killed and thousands have been injured. The country is currently being governed by an interim government, and an election is scheduled for February 2026. This presentation examines the challenges for the country drawing on the lessons of democratic transition and the country’s political dynamics involving a wide array of political forces and weak institutions.  Ali Riaz is a distinguished professor of political science at Illinois State University, a non-resident fellow of the Atlantic Council and the president of the American Institute of Bangladesh Studies (AIBS). He has served as the head of the Constitution Reform Commission in Bangladesh appointed by the Bangladesh’s interim government and is currently serving as the vice-chair of the National Consensus Commission. His recent publications include Charade: Bangladesh’s 2024 Election (2024), and Pathways of Autocratization: The Tumultuous Journey of Bangladeshi Politics (2023). He also co-authored How Autocrats Rise: Sequences of Democratic Backsliding (2023). Presented by the Liu Institute's South Asia Working Group and cosponsored with the McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business, the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, and the Kellogg Institute for International Studies.Lunch Provided - Please Bring Beverages In support of the Liu Institute’s growing commitment to sustainability, we will no longer be offering drinks at our public lectures and panels. We encourage audience members to bring their water bottles or to drink from nearby water fountains.  Originally published at asia.nd.edu.

Please join the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies and its Clingen Center for the Study of Modern Ireland for a lecture and public conversation with the Honorable Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States. This event will be the inaugural lecture that will launch the Keough-Naughton Institute's annual Jim Kelly Diplomacy Speaker Series.  On Wednesday, October 29, Ambassador Byrne Nason will deliver a public lecture that addresses Ireland’s foreign policy, Ireland-US relations and Ireland’s plans for marking the Irish dimensions of the 250th anniversary of foundation of the US. She will also be joined in conversation with the Honorable Claire Cronin, former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. A reception will follow the event in the McKenna Hall auditorium gallery. About Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason assumed her role as Ireland’s 19th Ambassador to the United States in August 2022. Geraldine was Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations in New York (2017–22). Previously, she served as Ambassador to France (2014–17), Second Secretary General in the Department of the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) (2011–14), Ambassador and Ireland’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU (2005–11)), and Director of the National Forum on Europe (2004–05). During her career, Ambassador Byrne Nason has served in Brussels, New York, Paris, Vienna and Helsinki. As Second Secretary-General in the Department of the Taoiseach from 2011–14, she was the highest ranking female public servant in Ireland. During that period, she also was Secretary General of Ireland’s Economic Management Council. On her arrival in New York, Ambassador Byrne Nason led Ireland’s successful campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council, and led the New York Security Council team for the 2021–22 term. Geraldine was Chair of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for 2018 and 2019. She has also co-chaired high-level political negotiations on the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela and on the ‘Samoa pathway’ for Small Island Developing States. A native of County Louth, in 2020 Ambassador Byrne Nason was awarded the Freedom of Drogheda, the town’s highest honour and was the third woman to receive the award of its 35 recipients. In 2014, Geraldine was elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, Ireland’s highest academic honour. Ambassador Byrne Nason holds an honorary doctorate of Law from Maynooth University as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees in literature from Saint Patrick’s College in Maynooth (NUIM). Ambassador Byrne Nason is married and has one son. About the Jim Kelly Diplomacy Speaker Series Named in memory of Ireland’s former deputy permanent representative to the UN and ambassador to Canada, the Speaker Series will bring to Notre Dame members of the diplomatic corps of Ireland who have served in ambassadorial roles around the world. The late Ambassador Jim Kelly was serving as Ireland’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations on his untimely death in March 2022. Among other roles he had served as Ireland’s Ambassador to Canada from 2016 to 2020. Read more here: Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney on the passing of Ambassador Jim Kelly.    Originally published at irishstudies.nd.edu.

Fall 2025 Staff Town HallAll staff members are invited to attend the Fall 2025 Staff Town Hall on Wednesday, October 29, and Thursday, October 30. University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., Charles and Jill Fischer Provost John McGreevy, Executive Vice President Shannon Cullinan, and Vice President for Human Resources Heather Christophersen will share important campus updates. If you’d like to submit a question to help inform the sessions, you can do so by using this form. Session Schedule WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29 10:00-10:45 a.m. | Washington Hall Athletics; Audit and Advisory Services; Finance; General Counsel; Institutional Research, Innovation, and Strategy; the Investment Office; Human Resources; Office of Belonging, Engagement, and Mission; Office of Information Technology; Office of Mission Engagement and Church Affairs; Office of Public Affairs and Communications; Undergraduate Enrollment THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30 10:00-10:45 a.m. | Washington Hall Facilities Design and Operations; Office of the President; Student Affairs; University Operations, Events, and Safety; University Relations 1:00-1:45 p.m. | Washington Hall Centers and Institutes; Colleges and Schools; Hesburgh Libraries; Notre Dame Global; Notre Dame Press; Notre Dame Research; all other units reporting to the Office of the Provost 10:00-10:45 p.m. | Carey Auditorium, Hesburgh Library Facilities Design and Operations; University Operations, Events, and Safety Please plan to attend the session designated for your division. Offices may be listed multiple times to accomodate staff who work different shifts.

Fall 2025 Staff Town HallAll staff members are invited to attend the Fall 2025 Staff Town Hall on Wednesday, October 29, and Thursday, October 30. University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., Charles and Jill Fischer Provost John McGreevy, Executive Vice President Shannon Cullinan, and Vice President for Human Resources Heather Christophersen will share important campus updates. If you’d like to submit a question to help inform the sessions, you can do so by using this form. Session Schedule WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29 10:00-10:45 a.m. | Washington Hall Athletics; Audit and Advisory Services; Finance; General Counsel; Institutional Research, Innovation, and Strategy; the Investment Office; Human Resources; Office of Belonging, Engagement, and Mission; Office of Information Technology; Office of Mission Engagement and Church Affairs; Office of Public Affairs and Communications; Undergraduate Enrollment THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30 10:00-10:45 a.m. | Washington Hall Facilities Design and Operations; Office of the President; Student Affairs; University Operations, Events, and Safety; University Relations 1:00-1:45 p.m. | Washington Hall Centers and Institutes; Colleges and Schools; Hesburgh Libraries; Notre Dame Global; Notre Dame Press; Notre Dame Research; all other units reporting to the Office of the Provost 10:00-10:45 p.m. | Carey Auditorium, Hesburgh Library Facilities Design and Operations; University Operations, Events, and Safety Please plan to attend the session designated for your division. Offices may be listed multiple times to accomodate staff who work different shifts.

On May 12, 2025, a group of 59 white South Africans arrived in the United States as refugees on a flight chartered by the U.S. government. The new arrivals, many of whom are Afrikaner descendants of Dutch settlers, were granted refugee status based on claims they faced racial discrimination and violence in South Africa. At the center of this situation is South Africa’s land restitution program, which is designed to return land, under certain conditions, to Black communities that were dispossessed during the country’s Apartheid era. John Eligon, the Johannesburg bureau chief for The New York Times, has covered this story from all angles — including the passage of South Africa’s Expropriation Act, reactions to the policy in different communities, the Trump administration’s creation of a special refugee program for South Africa’s racial minorities, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pushback against narratives amplified by President Trump, Elon Musk, and others. Eligon will share insights from his reporting during “Post-Apartheid? Restitution and Racial Fear in South Africa,” a public conversation moderated by Dory Mitros Durham, assistant dean for academic affairs and associate teaching professor in Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs. About the speakerJohn Eligon has served as The New York Times’ Johannesburg bureau chief since 2021. In that role, he is responsible for covering countries in southern Africa. He writes about how big trends and phenomena — from climate change to political upheaval — influence and shape the lives of ordinary people across southern Africa. “My work seeks to upend easy assumptions and stereotypes about the region,” he says. “I strive to show readers a side of Africa they rarely see or hear about, like how the Apartheid-era townships have become a hub of nightlife for South Africa’s rising Black middle class, or how the Rugby World Cup unified a very divided South Africa.” Eligon’s career at The New York Times started in 2005 as a sports reporter. He has covered courts for the Metro section and was a correspondent for the National section based in Kansas City, Missouri. He spent most of his time on the National desk covering issues of race across the United States. He was The Times’ first reporter on the ground in Minneapolis following the murder of George Floyd, and wrote extensively about the national movement for racial justice that it sparked. Several years earlier, he helped to shepherd The Times’ coverage of the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Eligon was born in the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago, and grew up mainly in Florida and Michigan. He is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he earned degrees in journalism and German. Originally published at klau.nd.edu.

All faculty and academic staff are invited to join Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., for his first annual address to faculty. This is an opportunity to hear firsthand from the University president about a number of important initiatives and campus updates. A reception will follow the address in the Main Building Rotunda (2nd floor).  

Join in for a frighteningly fun family evening filled with more treats than tricks outside in the Charles B. Hayes Family Sculpture Park (rain or shine). Enjoy festive art-making activities and trick-or-treating throughout the Sculpture Park, be entertained with spooky tales, and get your groove on in a Halloween-themed dance party. Costumes are strongly encouraged! All are welcome. Activities are designed for children ages 4 to 10. Parking is available in the Visitor Lot immediately north of the Sculpture Park for a fee during the week (before 4:30 p.m.). Free two-hour parking is available in the Eddy Street Commons Parking Garage or along Angela Blvd. After 4:30 p.m. and on weekends, parking is free and available in any non-gated campus lot. If traveling via South Bend Transpo, take the No.7 bus and use the Eddy St. Commons stop.   Originally published at raclinmurphymuseum.nd.edu.

Learning Beyond the Classics: Voicing Intergenerational Trauma in Postwar Korea and Japan through Contemporary Cinema Directed by Hyun kyung Kim Not Rated, 84 minutesIn English and Korean with English subtitles Director Hyun kyung Kim scheduled to appear live! This documentary explores the lasting impact of the Korean War while revealing the weight it still exerts to this day on several generations of the filmmaker's family. South Korean filmmaker Hyun kyung Kim grew up with the inherited burden of the Korean War, a conflict that left an indelible mark on her family and country. Her mother compulsively fills the house with items she finds on the streets of Seoul while her veteran father devours books about the war. The filmmaker's encounter with a North Korean defector mirrors the story of her grandfather, who likely stayed in the North when the country became divided, never to be seen again by his family. Defectors confronts the impact of a brutal war on several generations of the filmmaker's family. GET TICKETS *Free for ND, SMC, HC, and IUSB students. **Co-presented by the David A. Heskin and Marilou Brill Endowment for Excellence, Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good, East Asian Languages and Cultures, Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship/Hesburgh Libraries.

In collaboration with the University Counseling Center (UCC) and the McDonald Center for Student Well-being (MDC), this support forum offers an open space for students experiencing concerns related to substance use and recovery, offering a practical, skills-based approach to maintenance and well-being. We will cover topics such as finding and maintaining your motivation ("why"), navigating urges and cravings, cultivating self-awareness, and integrating holistic well-being. Originally published at mcwell.nd.edu.

The legendary Joffrey Ballet assumes a special place in this Presenting Series season: in residence at DPAC. Over one week, the world-renowned company is developing an unforgettable program of two tantalizing dance compositions highlighting their artistry, athleticism, and contemporary vision. Our audiences will be the first to preview Broken Wings, inspired by Frida Kahlo, and the nostalgic modern love story Wasbash & You.Harmonizing classical technique with moving ensemble storytelling, the Joffrey continues to be a leader among the most celebrated dance companies by unapologetically interpreting what ballet is now and will be into the future. And, they chose our community as the company's temporary home, preparing two brilliant dances for you and the world. The Joffrey's creative practice from their week in residence will leave an indelible mark on our community, and for audiences, a lasting impression with memories for a lifetime. GET TICKETS

MFA Students Pick Some Films for Us to WatchDirected by Tommy Lee WallaceWith Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin, Dan O'HerlihyRated R, 99 minutes, Blu-rayThe only film from the Halloween franchise to not feature Michael Myers, Halloween III: Season of the Witch shows the blueprint for how producers John Carpenter and Debra Hill were looking to take the momentum of the original Halloween and turn the franchise into an anthology (à la American Horror Story). The need to bank horror films on IP in the 1980s grew as Michael, Jason, Freddy, and Chucky became household names. Further, Season of the Witch wasn't well received and kept the anthology's launch essentially in the harbor after a brief excursion. Recently reevaluated and judged still to be weird and sloppy but loveable, the story (again with no Michael Myers, as the VHS would reiterate) follows an attempt to harness the power of a Celtic ritual and, under the guise of Halloween fun, kill millions of trick-or-treaters. GET TICKETS *Free for ND, SMC, HC, IUSB, and high school students.

Fall 2025 Staff Town HallAll staff members are invited to attend the Fall 2025 Staff Town Hall on Wednesday, October 29, and Thursday, October 30. University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., Charles and Jill Fischer Provost John McGreevy, Executive Vice President Shannon Cullinan, and Vice President for Human Resources Heather Christophersen will share important campus updates. If you’d like to submit a question to help inform the sessions, you can do so by using this form. Session Schedule WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29 10:00-10:45 a.m. | Washington Hall Athletics; Audit and Advisory Services; Finance; General Counsel; Institutional Research, Innovation, and Strategy; the Investment Office; Human Resources; Office of Belonging, Engagement, and Mission; Office of Information Technology; Office of Mission Engagement and Church Affairs; Office of Public Affairs and Communications; Undergraduate Enrollment THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30 10:00-10:45 a.m. | Washington Hall Facilities Design and Operations; Office of the President; Student Affairs; University Operations, Events, and Safety; University Relations 1:00-1:45 p.m. | Washington Hall Centers and Institutes; Colleges and Schools; Hesburgh Libraries; Notre Dame Global; Notre Dame Press; Notre Dame Research; all other units reporting to the Office of the Provost 10:00-10:45 p.m. | Carey Auditorium, Hesburgh Library Facilities Design and Operations; University Operations, Events, and Safety Please plan to attend the session designated for your division. Offices may be listed multiple times to accomodate staff who work different shifts.

Celebrate All Saints’ Day Vigil in the Mary, Queen of Families Chapel. Led by Rev. Mike Connors, C.S.C., professor emeritus of theology at Notre Dame, this opportunity to worship amidst site-specific installations provides a space to reflect on the connection between liturgy and the arts. Following the Mass, a five-minute guided exploration of a work of art on view connected to the All Saints’ Day Vigil will be offered. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Originally published at raclinmurphymuseum.nd.edu.

This drop-in tour will introduce you to your Raclin Murphy Museum of Art. Join a student gallery teacher or a member of the museum staff to explore the architecture of the building through some of its most unique spaces and discover works of art that are highlights of the collection. Meet at the Welcome Desk. All are welcome and no registration is required. This tour will explore all gallery levels of the museum. Although the tour will keep moving between spaces, gallery stools are available upon request. Originally published at raclinmurphymuseum.nd.edu.

The legendary Joffrey Ballet assumes a special place in this Presenting Series season: in residence at DPAC. Over one week, the world-renowned company is developing an unforgettable program of two tantalizing dance compositions highlighting their artistry, athleticism, and contemporary vision. Our audiences will be the first to preview Broken Wings, inspired by Frida Kahlo, and the nostalgic modern love story Wasbash & You.Harmonizing classical technique with moving ensemble storytelling, the Joffrey continues to be a leader among the most celebrated dance companies by unapologetically interpreting what ballet is now and will be into the future. And, they chose our community as the company's temporary home, preparing two brilliant dances for you and the world. The Joffrey's creative practice from their week in residence will leave an indelible mark on our community, and for audiences, a lasting impression with memories for a lifetime. GET TICKETS

New at the BrowningDirected by Danny BoyleWith Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O'ConnellRated R, 115 minutesWhat started with 28 Days Later in 2002 led to 28 Weeks Later, which was actually released 234 weeks later in 2007. After being mired in development hell, 28 Days Later arrives later than expected but clears the timeframe by a hefty five years. Arguably the most popular zombie franchise of this century, 28 Days Later brings the rage virus action back (and will return again in January with its shot-back-to-back sequel). Here, a cloistered island community free of the pandemic sees a father and son make a voyage into the zone with those infected by the rage virus. The voyage goes poorly, leading to a new fight to stay alive and not be killed by the undead. GET TICKETS

Designed to help children develop their visual and verbal literacy skills, Artful Storytime is a partnership with the St. Joseph County Public Library. Each session includes stories, songs, artwork explorations, art-making, and more! This month, we will explore Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, a time when Mexican families honor their ancestors. This program is best for families with children ages 4 to 6. Parking is available in the Visitor Lot immediately north of the Sculpture Park for a fee during the week (before 4:30 p.m.). Free two-hour parking is available in the Eddy Street Commons Parking Garage or along Angela Blvd. After 4:30 p.m. and on weekends, parking is free and available in any non-gated campus lot. If traveling via South Bend Transpo, take the No.7 bus and use the Eddy St. Commons stop.   Originally published at raclinmurphymuseum.nd.edu.

The legendary Joffrey Ballet assumes a special place in this Presenting Series season: in residence at DPAC. Over one week, the world-renowned company is developing an unforgettable program of two tantalizing dance compositions highlighting their artistry, athleticism, and contemporary vision. Our audiences will be the first to preview Broken Wings, inspired by Frida Kahlo, and the nostalgic modern love story Wasbash & You.Harmonizing classical technique with moving ensemble storytelling, the Joffrey continues to be a leader among the most celebrated dance companies by unapologetically interpreting what ballet is now and will be into the future. And, they chose our community as the company's temporary home, preparing two brilliant dances for you and the world. The Joffrey's creative practice from their week in residence will leave an indelible mark on our community, and for audiences, a lasting impression with memories for a lifetime. GET TICKETS

New at the BrowningDirected by Danny BoyleWith Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O'ConnellRated R, 115 minutesWhat started with 28 Days Later in 2002 led to 28 Weeks Later, which was actually released 234 weeks later in 2007. After being mired in development hell, 28 Days Later arrives later than expected but clears the timeframe by a hefty five years. Arguably the most popular zombie franchise of this century, 28 Days Later brings the rage virus action back (and will return again in January with its shot-back-to-back sequel). Here, a cloistered island community free of the pandemic sees a father and son make a voyage into the zone with those infected by the rage virus. The voyage goes poorly, leading to a new fight to stay alive and not be killed by the undead. GET TICKETS

The legendary Joffrey Ballet assumes a special place in this Presenting Series season: in residence at DPAC. Over one week, the world-renowned company is developing an unforgettable program of two tantalizing dance compositions highlighting their artistry, athleticism, and contemporary vision. Our audiences will be the first to preview Broken Wings, inspired by Frida Kahlo, and the nostalgic modern love story Wasbash & You.Harmonizing classical technique with moving ensemble storytelling, the Joffrey continues to be a leader among the most celebrated dance companies by unapologetically interpreting what ballet is now and will be into the future. And, they chose our community as the company's temporary home, preparing two brilliant dances for you and the world. The Joffrey's creative practice from their week in residence will leave an indelible mark on our community, and for audiences, a lasting impression with memories for a lifetime. GET TICKETS