NDLS Prepares for the Annual Father Mike Variety Show

Notre Dame students, faculty and administrators are gearing up for a night of fun to honor the memory of Rev. Michael Dillon McCafferty at the annual Father Mike Variety Show.

Father McCafferty was the assistant dean of Notre Dame Law School when he died at the age of 40 in 1987 of lymphatic cancer.

The show, organized by the Law School’s Student Bar Association, takes place on Wednesday, March 23, at Legends of Notre Dame Restaurant and Alehouse. As one of the largest Law School fundraisers, in the form of an auction and talent show, proceeds generated by ticket sales and auction items will be allocated toward scholarships. Tickets will be available in the Commons from Monday – Thursday from 12:30pm to 1:30pm for cash only, and in the SBA store from Monday – Thursday from 11:30am to 4:30pm for cash and credit card.

“Besides the importance of summer scholarships to public interest students, the Father Mike show is a symbol that law students have a lot more to offer than book smarts,” said Brian Israel, 3L, SBA secretary and producer of the show. “The event is really an opportunity to remind people that there is more to someone than whether they know what FRCP 12(b)(6) is, but that we are all uniquely talented individuals.”

Israel said over 20 different acts, ranging from traditional Philippine dancing to standup comedy, are set to perform, with special appearances being made my a few faculty members.

“It will be a really spectacular show,” he said. “There are some things you just wouldn’t get to experience outside of a show like this.”

As a lawyer and assistant dean, Father McCafferty specialized in constitutional law, medical malpractice and product liability. He was a trial attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Washington from 1974 to 1976 before joining the Notre Dame faculty.

Father McCafferty was a triple Domer, earning a bachelor’s degree in government and international studies in 1969, a juris doctor in 1973, and a master’s degree in theology in 1974.

He was ordained a priest in 1974, and he was appointed assistant dean of the law school in 1979 after joining the law school faculty in 1978. He was also responsible for the Sunday evening Law School Liturgies, and he was even a finalist to succeed University President Emeritus Father Theodore Hesburgh as University President before his death.

Items up for auction on the evening the event include but are not limited to:

Professor	Item	Starting Bid
Dean Newton	Brunch for 8	$75
Dean Newton	Dean for the Day	$50
Dan Kelly	2 on 2 basketball game with dinner at CJ’s Pub	$80
Bob Jones	Kentucky Derby themed party for 8	$100
Huber, Kozel, Pojanowski	Dinner and poker night for 4	$100
Nagle	Canoe trip with lunch for 2	$50
Rees	Dinner and wine pairings for 6	$80
Nicole Garnett	Dinner for 6 at the Garnett’s	$100
Amy Barrett	New Orleans style dinner for 6	$120
Tidmarsh	Trivia for 4	$80
Smith	TBD	$150
McKenna	Beer and SKYZONE dodge ball for 8	$150
Fick	Dinner and Beer at Evil Czech Brewery for 4	$60
Simon	Brewery tour and beer tasting party for 6 at her brewery, Beer Church Brewing Company in New Buffalo, Michigan. Brewer will sit down with students to teach them about beers and tasting. This prize is not available until the summer or later next fall, because the brewery isn’t opening until the summer.	$90
O’Connell	Bike ride and lunch for 2-5 people	$60
McAward	Dinner for 6 at her home	$100
Jenuwine	Murder Mystery Dinner Party for 6 people at a historic location in Michigan (45 min drive so bidders must have transportation!)	$120
Julie Douglas	Evil Czech dinner and guided beer tasting with her husband, a beer professional, for 4 students	$$120
AJ Bellia	Dinner for 6 at his home	$120
Jimmy Gurule	Dinner for 4 at Puerto Vallarta on Grape Rd.	$70
Tammye Raster and Maura Ratigan	Margaritas and Mexican food at Tammye’s home (likely for 6 students but TBD)	$100
Ali Wruble	Here it is…the most exciting new item up for bid this year! A group of up to six hearty souls will enjoy a single malt whiskey tasting with a former member of the University of Edinburgh Whiskey Tasting Team. Ali Wruble will be your guide through the wide and wonderful world of Scotch whiskey. The tasting will include at least 6 single malt whiskies, including two 18-year single malts. The retail price of the whiskies involved is well over $400! The event will take place at the historic Rose Inn in downtown South Bend. Sip fine whiskies surrounded by the splendor of Old World charm. Learn about the noble art of whiskey so you can impress future colleagues and annoy anyone with your snootiness. Don’t miss the opportunity to bid on this one-of-a-kind event!	$100
Jim Kelly	TBD	TBD
Dean Edmonds	South Bend Cubs Game for 4	$60
Judith Fox and Barbara Fick	Dinner for 4 (possibly more) with Tapas and Sangria	$60
John Robinson	TBD	TBD
Pat Salvi	4 box seats plus throwing out the first pitch at Gary Railcats Baseball game	$60
Rick Garnett	Drinks with Professor Garnett	$80
Randy Kozel	TBD	$80