In an email today to the class of 2011, Dean of Student Affairs Marichal Gentry asked seniors to be “respectful” when choosing their hats (or whatever else they decide to put on their heads) for Sunday’s Class Day.

“Take a moment to consider how your headgear may appear to people of other ethnic or national heritages,” he wrote.

He then added:

I look forward to seeing what inventions you come up with! Perhaps some of you will wear creative “fascinator” hats as seen at the Royal Wedding. As for me, I’ll probably stick with my traditional Yale baseball cap.

Now, that makes us wonder: Will Princess Beatrice’s hat, or rather, fascinator be to Class Day what Sarah Palin costumes were to Halloween in 2008? (Maybe someone purchased the real thing.)

Time will only tell. For now, we leave you with this.