In Arizona’s Tonto National Forest, Chi’chil Bildagoteel, known as Oak Flat, is a sacred space for the Apache and other Native tribes. Countless generations have used the site for religious and coming-of-age ceremonies and have gathered medicinal plants and acorns from its majestic oaks.But Oak Flat is in danger. In 2014, a land swap deal offered Oak Flat to a mining company that intends to place a copper mine leaving the site unsafe for humans. Apache Stronghold, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization made up of Native and non-Native allies, are intent on saving Oak Flat.While the Notre Dame Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic, launched in 2020, isn't representing the Apache Stronghold, it's very supportive of its mission and has filed multiple amicus briefs in support of protection for Oak Flat. The Clinic, one of the world's leading academic institutions on the subject, is representative of Notre Dame's values. Informed by its Catholic character, the University has always supported and promoted religious liberty as a fundamental human right.Marcus Cole, the Joseph A. Matson Dean and Professor of Law at the Notre Dame Law School, is careful to note that religious liberty encompasses all faiths, and those without faith.“The Religious Liberty Clinic was created because our freedom of conscience, our freedom to believe, and then live according to our beliefs, is the most important and fundamental freedom that we have. Not just as Americans, but as humans,” he said.

Mention the word NICU, and so many parents are instantly transported back to days spent there with their tiny babies. The loud monitors. The blinking machines. Crying babies. Doctors and nurses rushing around. But Dr. Bob White ‘71 has a different experience.For decades, Dr. White, a practicing neonatologist and Notre Dame professor, has spearheaded a team of physicians, nurses, researchers, architects and regulators who created recommendations for NICU design and care. Based on clinical research, the recommendations have led to improvements in NICUs around the globe, including the one where Dr. White works in South Bend.These guidelines are the gold standard and lead to healthier results for both babies and families.

The Summus virtual specialist platform is a voluntary benefit available at no cost to Notre Dame staff and family members. It provides virtual access to a world-class medical advisory team and to specialists who are available by phone or video from anywhere in the world—across all health concerns, from allergies to chronic conditions to acute, complex diagnoses such as cancer.In this episode, we speak with Summus Member Experience Coordinator Hana Berhe, who talks about the benefits of using Summus for your medical needs.---This episode of NDWorks Podcast was hosted by Natalie Davis Miller, managing editor of NDWorks, and was edited by Michael Wiens, visual media coordinator, with original music by Alex Mansour.

Democracy is in crisis both at home and abroad.The level of democracy experienced by the average person in the world today has regressed to the level of 1985 and more than 70% of the global population currently lives under autocracy, according to a 2024 report by the Varieties of Democracy Project.The Notre Dame Democracy Initiative hopes to play a key role in responding to this crisis.

The Notre Dame Democracy Initiative will establish the University as a leader in the study of democracy both in the United States and worldwide, as a convener for conversations about and actions to preserve democracy, and as a model for the formation of civically engaged citizens and public servants.Learn more: https://go.nd.edu/Democracy