Advent Kisses, Christmas Skits, and Holiday Havoc: IT at ND Shares Its Traditions
Behind the Screens: IT@ND19 Des 2025

Advent Kisses, Christmas Skits, and Holiday Havoc: IT at ND Shares Its Traditions

This special holiday episode of Behind the Screens IT at ND features hosts Diana (IT support technician) and Scooter (Director of Information Technology for the College of Arts and Letters), along with producer Andy (IT Partnerships Manager), as they reflect on their favorite Christmas stories and traditions.

Scooter shares a funny, self-deprecating memory from when he first started dating his wife, mistaking purple-wrapped dark chocolate Hershey Kisses for "Advent kisses". Diana recounts realizing that Santa’s bite marks on her Oreos looked exactly like her dad's, while Andy shares fond memories of family gatherings in Florida during the holidays. The episode also highlights a diverse array of unique traditions shared by staff across OIT and the University:

• German Christmas: A Christmas Eve dinner featuring schnitzel and sauerkraut (which the grandkids usually skip).

• Festive Havoc: Lighting the old Christmas tree on fire in the yard after Christmas, and the tradition of "dog pile on the rabbit," where everyone jumps on the last person out of bed.

• Christmas Skits: An annual, highly orchestrated event where characters are assigned, and the quality of your character decreases if you miss a Christmas.

• Infiltration: The story of a young son who somehow bypassed jingle bells and tinsel to sneak into the living room and open presents like "Christmas Ethan Hunt".

• Cultural Practices: The Polish tradition of using the Oplatek wafer on Christmas Eve to exchange wishes for peace, bury grievances, and ask for forgiveness.

• Cautionary Tales: A warning for young listeners about the dangers of wiring a battery-operated BB gun shooting gallery to a 120-volt AC household outlet.

Finally, the hosts share their current plans: Scooter will be playing handbells at his church's Christmas Eve service, Andy is preparing for a combined holiday as he blends his families, and Diana looks forward to spending two weeks back home in sunny Arizona. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Behind the Screens IT at ND.


About this podcast:
Behind the Screens: IT@ND is a podcast based out of the University of Notre Dame, where hosts Scott Russell (IT Director for the College of Arts & Letters) and Diana Garcia (IT Support Technician: Service Desk) give you a behind-the-scenes look at what IT consultancy is all about. Whether you're deep in the IT world or just curious about how technology powers a university, this podcast is for you.

Each episode gives insight into Information Technology at Notre Dame — with focus on how IT consultants support the University, breaking down the challenges they face and the innovative solutions they create. From interviews with experts driving key campus projects to practical tips for making the most of your tech, this podcast explains how IT teams work behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly across campus.

With this podcast, not only will you learn how technology professionals at Notre Dame help shape and support the future of the University, but you'll also get helpful insights and strategies to help you stay ahead.

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