Notre Dame's Year End List

2020 was the year from hell for progressive Notre Dame alumni

I’ve Ben Thinking is a twice-weekly newsletter-blog hybrid from Ben Testani about a thing he couldn’t stop thinking about recently. If you like what you read, please consider forwarding this email to a friend or sharing the post on any platform. If this is your first copy of IBT, please consider subscribing.

With less than a month left in 2020, I’ve been thinking a lot about end of the year lists. I love lists (future topic?) but I especially love the lists we get at the end of a calendar year. I will read a year end list about pretty much anything. Best ads of the year? Sure. Art is personal and subjective - until it’s time for a list of the year’s best photos. There’s even a website that lists end of the year lists, which is deliciously meta.

I find year end lists so satisfying because they neatly package 365 days worth of albums or episodes or fashion faux pas into once place. There is a lingering sense of pride when your favorite basketball player places number two on The Ringer’s t…