Author Archives: Yishai Schwartz

I get wistful and consider what advice I might have given myself four years ago. One word comes to mind: linger.

I wonder whether underlying our collective indifference is some deeper antagonism toward identity.

All too often it seems that Yale is more melting pot than tossed salad; values soften, orthodoxies crumble and a gray sameness takes hold.

The real problem is that the constant stream of speakers on campus crushes any kind of cohesive, campus-wide engagement with our guests and their ideas.

According to his public response to the Marshall report, President Levin tabled the creation of the position of ombudsman out of fear that it would inhibit the streamlining and simplification of resources. This concern is unfounded and completely counterintuitive.

At a time when donors expect constant honor and accolades, the desired secrecy of Sterling and Feeney is as beautiful as it is unusual.

Insist on disclosure, transparency and reforms where they belong. At the same time, we ought remember that mockery is not journalism and gossip is not advocacy.

Why do intelligent people fall for absurd conspiracy theories? That question has been on my mind for a week or two as I’ve followed the Republican attempt to discredit U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice over her Benghazi statements. But it has only grown more pronounced as I read some of the recent criticism of Yale-NUS.

The success of Yale Compliments and the turnout for the Vita Bella panel are connected. Together, they tell a story about a strange malady that overtakes most of us during our time here and points in the direction of a cure.

Justice is impartial; she takes no notice of an individual’s status or position in society. Given this bedrock assumption of total equality before the law, it becomes uncomfortable to suggest that the law ought to look more favorably on some by virtue of their service. But this discomfort is misplaced.

Yesterday began frenetically. Students woke to find the campus grounds littered with posters and flyers pasted all over our hallways. Student political activists rose early and barely stopped for breath, knocking on doors in a desperate final attempt to “get out the vote.” It seemed everyone — faculty, students and staff — was proudly displaying »

Halloween on campus is probably the single most distasteful annual occurrence at Yale. In the next two days, students will receive emails from Deans and professional staff desperately warning us to be careful and responsible in our drinking and sexual activity. Nevertheless, Yale Acute Care will add extra staff and prepare for the inevitable and »