Tag Archive: The Buzz

  1. Thursday’s Buzz: 3.7.13

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    THE NEWS

    • Yale’s campus is fairly centralized, but one essential component sits as somewhat of an outlier. Located at 55 Whitney Ave., the Undergraduate Career Services office has often caused students to grumble about its far-off location. But beginning this Friday, UCS will extend its services by hosting weekly open hours in a “satellite” office in Dwight Hall. Each Friday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., a UCS adviser will be present in the Dwight Hall library to answer students’ questions during 15-minute walk-in sessions similar to the open hours held at the official UCS office for two hours every weekday.
    • As part of efforts to expand its influence and communication with South Asia, the University is partnering with other schools to create a global justice program in India. In October 2011, Thomas Pogge, founder of the Global Justice Program at Yale, teamed up with professors from University of Delhi and the University of Birmingham to create a program in the Indian capital to raise awareness about global justice and to find concrete solutions to poverty in India. The professors received roughly 50,000 pounds ($75,000) in funding from the British Council, an organization that promotes cultural relationships between the United Kingdom and other nations, to create the Nyaya Global Justice Programme at the University of Delhi.
    • The Graduate Student Assembly is considering offering students new transit options for the Westville, Edgewood, and Dwight neighborhoods, amid graduate student concerns that Yale’s campus is inaccessible from these locations. The GSA created an ad-hoc committee last October to assess the need for more transportation options and examine which transit options would best serve the communities farther from campus. Currently, the committee is in a preliminary phase of collecting data on the three neighborhoods, but it has also begun to consider three options to improve transit — to offer students inexpensive passes for CT Transit, to reroute the Yale Shuttle to the neighborhoods, or to create a park and ride near the Yale Bowl. A majority of graduate students living in the three neighborhoods said they currently use the CT Transit system to commute to campus, but its sporadic arrivals and limited service hours make it undesirable.

    THE WEATHER High of 42 degrees, low of 31 degrees, chance of snow.

    THE FOOD In the colleges

    Breakfast: Steelcut Oats, Waffle Bar, Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Ring

    Lunch: Greek Bean Soup (Fassolatha), Chef’s Choice Soup, Chef’s Choice Beef, Cashew Chili, Honey Mustard Dip, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Grilled Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, Hand-breaded Chicken Tenders, Athenian Chicken Salad Pita, Fresh Market Vegetable, Moroccan Carrot Salad, Chef’s Choice Pantry Salad, White Chocolate Macadamia Cookie, Blondie Butterscotch Bars

    Dinner: Greek Bean Soup (Fassolatha), Chef’s Choice Soup, Chef’s Choice Griled Flatbread, Spanish Chicken Chillindron, Pork Souvlaki, Spanish Stuffed Pepper, Tomato & Chick Pea Soup, Chicken Tikka Masala, Dal Masala, Saag Tofu, Eggplant & Red Pepper Panini, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Grilled Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, Omelets To-Order, Oven Roast Potatoes, Fresh Market Vegetable, Moroccan Carrot Salad, Chef’s Choice Pantry Salad, Lemon Sheet cake with Raspberry Icing

    In Commons

    Breakfast: Grits, Cage-Free Scrambled Eggs, Scrambled Egg Whites, Waffle Bar, Omelets To Order, Sausage Links, Potato Pancakes, Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Ring

    Lunch: Italian Sausage & Pasta Soup, Corn Chowder, Georgia Baked Ham, Ground Beef Stroganoff, Spaghetti, Grilled Chicken Breast, Vegetable Quesadillas, Pepperoni Pizza, Cheese Pizza, Broccoli Bianca Pizza, Pork Char Siew, Vegetable Fried Rice, Jasmine Rice, Stir-Fried Chicken, Szechuan Tofu Stir Fry, Cheese Spread & Tomato Sandwich, Cilantro Rice, Fresh Market Vegetable, Fresh Corn On The Cob, Couscous With Lemon & Tomatoes, German Potato Salad, White Chocolate Macadamia Cookie, Blondie Butterscotch Bars

  2. Wednesday’s Buzz: 3.6.13

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    THE NEWS

    • The Hall of Graduate Studies, previously plagued with heat, gloom, smells and floods, can now add toxins to its list of problems. The cancer-inducing building material, asbestos, was detected over two weeks ago in the basement of the Hall of Graduate Studies, forcing faculty members and classes to relocate while the hazard was removed. Though the asbestos was removed after a week, the incident comes as the latest example of the building’s ongoing infrastructure problems, which may finally end after the University’s $100 million renovation of HGS that is set to begin in summer 2013.
    • As Yale contemplates new initiatives in online education, graduate students are seeking ways to participate in discussions on the University’s next moves. At December’s faculty meeting, the Ad Hoc Yale College Committee on Online Education presented a report suggesting possible routes the University could take to expand online, including offering for-credit courses to Yale undergraduates and the public during the academic year and expanding online offerings during the summer. Members of the Graduate Student Assembly have criticized the report for failing to include graduate student input and have raised questions about the potential ramifications of new policies on the teaching fellows program.
    • In the age of increased globalization, nations need to eliminate the number of nuclear weapons within their borders, according to Angela Kane, the United Nations high representative for disarmament. At a Tuesday afternoon talk co-sponsored by Yale International Relations Association and Global Zero, Kane explained the steps the U.N. is currently taking to combat nuclear weapon proliferation and provided guidance on ways to advocate for global disarmament to a small crowd of seven students. Kane, who has worked at the U.N. for roughly 30 years, said disarmament is the key to future conflict resolution throughout the world.

    THE WEATHER

    High of 42 degrees, low of 33 degrees, slight chance of snow.

    THE FOOD

    In the colleges

    Breakfast: Steelcut Oats, Waffle Bar, Cinnamon Sugar Bun

    Lunch: Chef’s Choice Soup, Tomato & Chick Pea Soup, Moroccan Spiced Salmon, Beef & Turkey Moussaka, Penne, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Grilled Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, Mediterranean Turkey Burger Sandwich, Lebanese Ciabatta Sandwich, Fresh Market Vegetable, Turkish Chopped Salad, Chickpea, Peppers, Olives & Charmoula, Peanut Butter Iced Chocolate Cupcake, Chocolate Chip Cookie

    Dinner: Chef’s Choice Soup, Tomato & Chick Pea Soup, Chicken Tikka Masala, Dal Masala, Saag Tofu, Eggplant & Red Pepper Panini, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Grilled Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, Basmati Rice Pilafi, Fresh Market Vegetable, Turkish Chopped Salad, Chickpea, Peppers, Olives & Charmoula, Coconut Cream Pie

    In Commons

    Breakfast: Steelcut Oats, Cage-Free Scrambled Eggs, Apple Cinnamon Dairyless Pancakes, Waffle Bar, Omelets To-Order, Scrambled Egg Whites, Red Bliss Home Fries, Cinnamon Sugar Bun

    Lunch: Thai Coconut Chicken Soup, Minestrone, Baked Cod, Chard & Gruyere Tart, Penne, Grilled Portabella Mushroom, Grilled Ham & Cheese Sand On Rye, Pepperoni Pizza, Eggplant Pizza, Cheese Pizza, Vegetable Lo Mein, Chicken & Broccoli, Vegetable Fried Rice, Jasmine Rice, Curried Tofu, Olive Oil & Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Fresh Market Vegetable, Fresh Green Bean-Garlic Saute, Turkish Chopped Salad, Chickpeas, Peppers, Olives & Charmoula, Peanut Butter Iced Chocolate Cupcake, Chocolate Chip Cookie

  3. Monday’s Buzz: 3.4.13

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    THE NEWS

    • While the Yale Office of Undergraduate Admissions earned a record-high number of applications this year, admissions officers at Yale Law School are witnessing the exact opposite trend. The decline in applications correlates with a decline in legal jobs across the nation. In 2012, the American Bar Association published a study showing that only 55 percent of law students found full-time jobs that required passage of the bar exam nine months after graduation, and law schools nationwide are feeling the effects of the poor economic climate on their applicant pools. In 2004, 100,000 students applied to American law schools, but this year, experts and media outlets predict a total number fewer than 60,000.
    • Less than 24 hours before substantial federal spending cuts were scheduled to go into effect, four Connecticut politicians met to describe what they claimed would be the grave consequences. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal LAW ’73, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr. warned at a news conference at Tweed Airport on Friday that the sequester — a series of federal military and domestic spending cuts totaling $85 billion that went into effect Saturday — would seriously damage Connecticut’s economy if not stopped.
    • Around 30 students gathered in Linsly-Chittenden Hall Saturday evening to learn about sex practices involving consensual pain, such as those depicted in the popular novel “50 Shades of Grey.” The workshop was part of Sex Weekend, a shortened, three-day version of Sex Week — a series of events on sex-related topics typically held every other year. Sex Weekend, which has been held sporadically in the past, marks the start of an effort to host sex-related events annually to make the program more institutionalized, organizers said. Sex Weekend activities included six lectures and three small-group discussions on topics including sexual health, AIDS activism and sex work.

    THE WEATHER

    High of 40 degrees, low of 27 degrees, partly sunny.

    THE FOOD

    In the colleges

    Breakfast: Steelcut Oats, Waffle Bar, Orange Fiesta Muffin

    Lunch: Miso Soup with Watercress & Shiitakes, Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup, Korean Barbecued Pork Chop, Chicken Breast In Beer & Teriyaki, Indonesian Vegetables & Noodles (Peanuts), All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Grilled Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, Sweet Potato & White Bean Burger, Asian Pork Sandwich with Asian Peanut Slaw, Scallion Jasmine Rice, Fresh Market Vegetable, Cucumber Salad, Edamame & Escarole Salad, Toffee Coffee Cookie, Super Fudge Brownies

    Dinner: Miso Soup with Watercress & Shiitakes, Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup, Squash Curry with Tofu, Pho Noodle Bowl Bar, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Grilled Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, Beef Shogayaki, Jasmine Ginger Rice, Fresh Market Vegetable, Cucumber Salad, Edamame & Escarole Salad, Iced Gold Cake

    In Commons

    Breakfast: Maple Flavored Organic Oatmeal, Waffle Bar, Omelets To-Order, Chocolate Chip Pancakes, Cage-Free Scrambled Eggs, Buttermilk Pancakes, Scrambled Egg Whites, Home Fries, Orange Fiesta Muffin

    Lunch: Vegan Lentil & Mushroom Soup, Chicken Orzo Soup, Roman Orecchiette with Chard, Chili & Tofu, Baked Chicken With Herbs, Penne, All-Natural Grilled Cheeseburger, Mediterranean Foccacia, Pepperoni Pizza, Fresh Vegetable Pizza, Cheese Pizza, Broccoli & Tofu, Beef & Snap Peas, Vegetable Fried Rice, Jasmine Rice, Stir Fried Chinese Vegetable, The Mexican Wrap, Forbidden Rice, Fresh Market Vegetable, Fresh Cauliflower & Carrots, Cucumber Salad, Peanut Noodle Salad, Toffee Coffee Cookie, Super Fudge Brownie

  4. Friday’s Buzz: 3.1.13

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    THE NEWS

    • As Yale approaches the end of the first full academic year under the new University calendar, students, faculty and administrators are contemplating the best way to allocate the days that make up a school year — a careful balancing act. Though students and professors said the fall break came as a welcome respite after midterms in October, they also expressed concerns about the changes, which they said resulted in heightened anxiety and stress at the end of the semester. But any change to an academic calendar requires a give-and-take between downtime and classtime, and administrators said it is too early to tell whether the new calendar has struck the correct balance.
    • Four months after the University ended its nine-year relationship with Indigo Blue and former Buddhist Chaplain Bruce Blair ’81, the Chaplain’s Office has unveiled a series of new events and hired two interim staff advisers in January to address the needs of the University’s Buddhist community. University Chaplain Sharon Kugler said the office is focusing on growing its current programs before searching for a new full-time Buddhist chaplain. This semester, events for the Buddhist community have included biweekly Dharma talks, weekly formal practice and open discussion, according to Nathaniel DeLuca, the Chaplain’s Office program coordinator.
    • Athletes, former adversaries and regulators gathered Thursday evening to discuss doping in professional cycling in the midst of a sport in turmoil. The panel, which drew a crowd of roughly 150 people, featured Floyd Landis, who won the 2006 Tour de France but was eventually stripped of his title for doping; CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency Travis Tygart; Jonathan Vaughters, team manager of the Garmin-Sharp cycling team who formerly took performance-enhancing drugs; and professor Thomas Murray, president emeritus of the Hastings Center. During the talk, panelists touched on the future of drug usage in cycling and explained the ways doping became prevalent in the sport.

    THE WEATHER

    High of 45 degrees, low of 29 degrees, mostly cloudy.

    THE FOOD

    In the colleges

    Breakfast: Steelcut Oats, Waffle Bar, Banana Nut Muffin

    Lunch: Boston Clam Chowder, Swiss Chard with Tomatoes & Potatoes, California Black-Eyed Peas, Picnic Barbecued Chicken, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, Hand Shaped Angus Hamburger, Hand Shaped Angus Cheeseburger, Curly Fries, Fresh Market Vegetable, Chickpea & Bulgur Salad, Roasted Sweet Potato Salad, Passionfruit Coconut Macadamia Shortbread, Blondie With Chocolate Chips

    Dinner: Boston Clam Chowder, Vegetable Cassoulet with Pecan Crust, Turkey Pot Pie, Baked Stuffed Portabella Mushroom, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Grilled Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, Reuben Grill, Roasted Yams & Bliss Potatoes, Fresh Market Vegetable, Chickpea & Bulgur Salad, Roasted Sweet Potato Salad, Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

    In Commons

    Breakfast: Maple Flavored Organic Oatmeal, Waffle Bar, Omelets To-Order, Chocolate Chip Pancakes, Cage-Free Scrambled Egg Whites, Cage-Free Scrambled Eggs, Sweet Potato Home Fries, Banana Nut Muffin

    Lunch: Boston Clam Chowder, Pork Sirloin Fajita, Vegetable & Black Bean Pasta, Linguine, Batter Fried Cod, Spinach Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza, Cheese Pizza, Yu Choy Stir Fry, Sesame Beef, Shrimp Fried Rice, Jasmine Rice, Curried Tofu, Ricotta, Prosciutto & Arugula Sandwich, Sweet Potato Fries, Basmati Rice, Fresh Market Vegetable, Caribbean Blend Vegetables, Chickpea & Bulgur Salad, Black Bean & Corn Salad, Passionfruit Coconut Macadamia Shortbread, Blondie With Chocolate Chips

  5. Thursday’s Buzz: 2.28.13

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    THE NEWS

    • Seeking to ease the particularly rocky adjustment from high school to college, Yale is set to debut a brand-new summer program this year. As part of its upcoming Summer Session, Yale will offer a five-week “summer bridge” program that invites roughly 30 accepted high school students to campus to be introduced to the academic and social environment of college life. Though the program — which is free to every invited student, covering all tuition and housing costs — was initially conceived in 2008, financial constraints forced Yale College to put the project on hold until last December, according to Yale College Dean Mary Miller.
    • Struggling to define its place and make a profit in a rapidly shifting media landscape, the Hartford Courant, Connecticut’s largest newspaper, launched a new website last week. The website, CourantPlus.com, requires registration and is an addition, not a replacement, to the paper’s long-standing free website. It is, however, a drastically different experience. The new website is simple, easy to navigate and almost entirely devoid of the banner ads, videos and other interruptions that litter Courant.com. While some see the site as a forerunner to a pay-wall site, where readers would need to buy subscriptions for access, the Courant’s owner, the Tribune Company, insists that the long-term direction of the site is still undetermined.
    • Inspired by President-elect Peter Salovey’s commitment make Yale more innovative and accessible, the Yale Information Technology Service is unrolling a University-wide initiative to enhance its technological resources. In a Wednesday email to the campus community, University Chief Information Officer Len Peters released a draft of the first University-wide three-year information technology plan and solicited comments from students, faculty and staff before the plan is finalized in April. The effort to develop the three-year plan was launched in December and aims to assimilate information and feedback from throughout the University to strengthen its technological capacities. Recommendations in the draft address topics that include technology in the classroom, web and email strategy and digital storage.

    THE WEATHER

    High of 47 degrees, low of 33 degrees, scattered showers.

    THE FOOD

    In the colleges

    Breakfast: Steelcut Oats, Waffle Bar, Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake Ring

    Lunch: Corn & Bacon Chowder, Vegetable Barley Soup, Gnocchi with Sundried Tomatoes & Parmesan, Buffalo Chicken Pizza, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, North Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich, Onion & Ricotta Wrap, Fresh Market Vegetable, Roasted Cauliflower & Radicchio Salad, Pasta Salad with Roasted Eggplant & Peppers, Honey Walnut Cookie, Cream Cheese Brownie

    Dinner: Corn & Bacon Chowder, Vegetable Barley Soup, Chermoula Stuffed Chicken Breast, Gaked Orzo Ratatouille, Moroccan Bean Stew, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, Pork Burgers, Lemon Herbed Israeli Couscous, Fresh Market Vegetable, Roasted Cauliflower & Radicchio Salad, Pasta Salad with Roasted Eggplant & Peppers, Oreo Cheesecake Kiss

    In Commons

    Breakfast: Grits, Waffle Bar, Omelets To Order, Cage-Free Scrambled Egg Whites, Cage-Free Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Ham Slice, Potatoes Pancakes, Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake Ring

    Lunch: Pumpkin Pear & Coriander Soup, Tortellini & Spinach Soup, Cashew Chili, Oven Fried Chicken, Spaghetti, Grilled Chicken Breast, Broccoli Quesadilla, Pepperoni Pizza, Cheese Pizza, Broccoli Bianca Pizza, Tofu & Vegetable Stir, Tofu & Bok Choy with Garlic Sauce, Vegetable Fried Rice, Jasmine Rice, Chicken Stir Fry With Teriyaki, Oven Roast Potatoes, Fresh Market Vegetable, Peas, Pasta Salad with Broccoli, Pinenuts & Raisins, Combination Salad, Honey Walnut Cookie, Cream Cheese Brownie

  6. Wednesday’s Buzz: 2.27.13

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    THE NEWS

    • The School of Management, which currently allocates roughly $3 million for combined scholarship and loan-forgiveness funding, has committed to increasing its financial aid to $6.5 million by 2015. The school will spend $1.2 million more on student aid in the 2013-’14 academic year than it allocates at the moment, said Joel Getz, SOM senior associate dean for development and alumni relations. SOM administrators said they hope the additional funds will help the school attract better and more diverse applicants.
    • Former Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman had a simple request for every student at his talk yesterday: “Change the world when you leave this institution.” At a Tuesday Pierson College Master’s Tea that was co-sponsored by the William F. Buckley Jr. Program, Huntsman — a former governor of Utah and U.S. ambassador to China — condemned the current climate of polarization in Washington in front of an audience of roughly 200 students. To fix the state of politics in the U.S., Huntsman said, the country needs future politicians who follow the University’s motto of “Light and Truth.”
    • As dusk settled on Beinecke Plaza earlier this evening, a group of 30 students and New Haven residents lit candles in a vigil commemorating the one-year anniversary of the death of Trayvon Martin. Organizers of the vigil — which called for an end to gun violence in urban settings — said they did not think the post-Newtown national conversation regarding gun control would result in meaningful reform for incidents of gun violence in urban regions.

    THE WEATHER

    High of 44 degrees, low of 34 degrees, rain.

    THE FOOD

    In the colleges

    Breakfast: Steelcut Oats, Waffle Bar, Almond Bun

    Lunch: Shiitake Veloute, Hot & Sour Soup, Roasted Thai Red Curry Chicken, Asian Sesame – Peanut Pasta, General Tso’s Tofu, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, Szechuan Beef Stir Fry, Pork Bahn Mi, Basmati Rice, Fresh Market Vegetable, Vietnamese Cucumber Salad, Persian Carrot & Orange Pilaf, Raspberry Coconut Bar, Chocolate Chip Cookie

    Dinner: Shiitake Veloute, Hot & Sour Soup, Asian Sweet & Spicy Spareribs, Miso Glazed Whole Roasted Salmon, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, Tofu & Vegetable Stir Fry, Cilantro Rice, Fresh Market Vegetable, Vietnamese Cucumber Salad, Persian Carrot & Orange Pilaf, Apricot Pistachio Cardamom Ring

    In Commons

    Breakfast: Steelcut Oats, Waffle Bar, Omelets To-Order, Cage-Free Scrambled Egg Whites, Cage-Free Scrambled Eggs, Apple Cinnamon Dairyless Pancakes, Red Bliss Home Fries, Almond Bun

    Lunch: Thai Coconut Chicken Soup, Miso Soup, Stir-fried Cabbage, Peppers, Peanuts & Peas, Penne, Tofu & Vegetable Stir Fry, Southwest Turkey Burger, Pepperoni Pizza, Mushroom Pizza, Cheese Pizza, Vegetable Lo Mein, Chicken & Broccoli, Vegetable Fried Rice, Jasmine Rice, Curried Tofu, Dilled Tuna Lavash Sandwich, Basmati Rice, Fresh Market Vegetable, Roasted Cauliflower, Persian Carrot & Orange Pilaf, Broccoli Coleslaw, Chocolate Chip Cookie

  7. Tuesday’s Buzz: 2.26.13

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    THE NEWS

    • Three years after financial concerns caused administrators to cut back on Yale’s prizes, the prize reductions still remain in effect. When the recession tore a $350 million hole in Yale’s operating budget in 2009, administrators sought many ways to close the gap, such as a 2010 decision to cap most prizes at $1,000 and channel the excess funds toward the general operating budget for primarily financial aid purposes. Though at the time, the prize cap announcement elicited an outcry from students and faculty members alike, administrators and professors interviewed said the caps have not been lifted since and added that Yale is not encouraging donors to establish new prizes.
    • While students celebrated two consecutive snow days after a blizzard hit New Haven earlier this month, interns at the Yale Farm scrambled to rescue their spring crop from the storm’s path. The snowstorm that struck New Haven on Feb. 8 collapsed one of the farm’s three high tunnels, which will limit planting and harvesting capacity for the rest of the winter season. Farm Director Mark Bomford said in a Sunday email that the staff plans to rebuild the damaged structure before the spring, but reconstruction will leech from the farm’s budget. Although the farm received a grant to build a new high tunnel from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Resource Conservation Service, Shizue Rocheadachi ’15, the farm’s student manager, said the farm will instead use the funding to reconstruct the collapsed tunnel.
    • The University completed a successful 2012 fiscal year with a total of $543,905,260 in cash donations — the second-highest amount ever raised for Yale and the third-highest total for all U.S. colleges and universities this year, according to the Council for Aid to Education’s annual fundraising survey. Vice President for Development Joan O’Neill said 78 percent of the cash donations were pledges made during the Yale Tomorrow campaign, which took place from September 2006 to June 2011. Donors filling their outstanding pledges after the conclusion of the campaign significantly bolstered Yale’s performance during the 2012 fiscal year, which ended on June 30, 2012. The majority of cash donations went towards the University endowment, O’Neill said, and donations fell slightly from the fiscal year 2011 total of $580 million, the last year of the campaign.

    THE WEATHER

    High of 43 degrees, low of 33 degrees, partly sunny, rain in the evening.

    THE FOOD

    In the colleges

    Breakfast: Steelcut Oats, Waffle Bar, Cranberry-Orange Tea Bread (no nuts)

    Lunch: Pork & Hominy Soup (Pozole), Roasted Tomato & Black Bean Soup, Chipotle Tomato Salsa, Chilaquiles Verdes, Chile-Cumin Shredded Beef Tacos, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Grilled Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, Mexico City Chicken Sandwich, The Mexican Wrap, Peruvian Cilantro Brown Rice, Fresh Market Vegetable, Quinoa with Roasted Jalapenos, Brazilian Black Bean Salad, Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie

    Dinner: Pork & Hominy Soup (Pozole), Roasted Tomato & Black Bean Soup, Southwest Pasta, Mexican Grilled Vegetable Flatbread, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Grilled Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, Lime & Cilantro Carne Asada, Diri et pois coloes (Haitian Rice & Red Beans), Fresh Market Vegetable, Quinoa with Roasted Jalapenos, Brazilian Black Bean Salad, Pastel de Tres Leche

    In Commons

    Breakfast: Cream Of Wheat Without Milk, Waffle Bar, Zucchini Frittata, Omelets To Order, Texas French Toast, Cage-Free Scrambled Eggs, Scrambled Egg Whites, Shredded Potatoes, Cranberry-Orange Tea Bread (no nuts)

    Lunch: Escarole & Sausage Soup, Cream Of Fresh Mushroom Soup, Turkey Mango Chili, Vegan Shepherd’s Pie, Spaghetti, Pork Sirloin Fajita, Bean Burger, Pepperoni Pizza, Fresh Tomato & Basil Pizza (Vegan), Cheese Pizza, Shrimp Fried Rice, Jasmine Rice, Stir-Fried Chicken, Vegetable Curry, Tofu Lo Mein, Italian Deli Zep, Dirty Rice, Fresh Market Vegetable, Roasted Butternut Squash, Quinoa with Roasted Jalapenos, Brazilian Black Bean Salad, Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie

  8. Monday’s Buzz: 2.25.13

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    THE NEWS

    • Though Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard and Brown offer health insurance coverage for students to receive gender-reassignment surgery, Yale is still reviewing its policies for the procedure. Though the Yale Health Plan does not currently offer students insurance for gender-reassignment surgeries, coverage was extended to faculty and staff at the managerial and professional levels in 2011 and to the unionized workforce last month. Paul Genecin, director of University Health Services, said he has noticed “increasing interest” both at Yale and other Ivy League institutions in offering insurance coverage for the procedure. Yale Health has received “a small number” of requests from students for gender-related surgery insurance coverage in the past, he said, and changes to student benefits are currently “under consideration.”
    • On Friday afternoon, Chen Guangcheng, a blind Chinese civil rights activist, shared his personal experiences in the Chinese legal system as a barefoot lawyer. At a panel sponsored by the China Law Center, Chen and two other panelists — New York University Law School professor Jerome A. Cohen ’51, LAW ’55, who is the director of the U.S.-Asia Law Institute and played a central role in Chen’s leaving China, and New York University Law School professor Ira Belkin, the executive director of the U.S.-Asia Law Institute — discussed different aspects of the Chinese criminal justice system as well as structural and systematic difficulties within it. Chen said the greatest threat to the well-being of China’s legal system is that the Communist Party of China is above the law.
    • On Saturday, 22 speakers from across the world descended on campus for TEDxYale’s second annual conference. Audience members from the Yale community packed the Shubert Theater for the seven-hour event, called “Solve for y.” The day was divided into four sessions, titled “Hypothesize,” “Experiment,” “Theorize” and “Predict,” and offered ticket-holders the opportunity to hear from speakers as wide-ranging as New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr. to Yale professors, students and alumni.
    THE WEATHER

    High of 42 degrees, low of 27 degrees, mostly sunny.

    THE FOOD

    In the colleges

    Breakfast: Steelcut Oats, Waffle Bar, Lemon Poppy Muffin

    Lunch: Vegetable Soup Pistou, Split Pea Soup With Ham, Chef’s Choice Frittata, Penne with Tofu & Winter Vegetables, “Old Country” Porketta, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, All Beef Grilled Hot Dog, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Grilled Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, Roasted Potatoes with Olives & Caper Dressing, Fresh Market Vegetable, White Bean Salad with Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette, Peanut Butter Cookie

    Dinner: Vegetable Soup Pistou, Split Pea Soup With Ham, Spicy Black Bean Gumbo, Berkeley Mac & Cheese, Barbequed Pulled Beef, Groundnut Stew, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, All-Natural Grilled Cheeseburger, All-Natural Grilled Burger, Cornmeal-Crusted Catfish, Grits, Mixed Greens Southern Style, Fried Fresh Okra, Roasted Broccoli & Farro Salad, Southern Salad, Sweet Potato Pie, Peach Cobbler

    In Commons

    Breakfast: Maple Flavored Organic Oatmeal, Waffle Bar, Omelets To-Order, Buttermilk Pancakes, Cage-Free Scrambled Egg Whites, Cage-Free Scrambled Eggs, Home Fries, Lemon Poppy Muffin

    Lunch: Southwest Black Bean Soup, Spinach & Gruyere Tart, Fajita Beef, Portabella Fajita, Guacamole, Penne, All-Natural Grilled Chicken Breast, Pepperoni Pizza, Fresh Vegetable Pizza, Cheese Pizza, Green Bean & Tofu, Sesame Beef, Vegetable Fried Rice, Jasmine Rice, Chickpeas & Tomato Pita Sandwich, Spanish Rice, Fresh Market Vegetable, Sauteed Carrots With Dill, White Bean Salad with Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette, Peanut Butter Cookie

  9. Friday’s Buzz: 2.22.13

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    THE NEWS

    • After an extensive three-week campaign, the Senior Class Gift concluded Wednesday and netted $29,693.81 with a 96.1 percent participation rate of the class of 2013. Additional participation incentives including $10,000 scholarships, dollar-for-dollar matching and a $100,000 challenge brought in around $250,000 of extra funding. Though the participation rate was nearly 1.5 percentage points lower than last year’s record-breaking 97.5 percent, the campaign featured the largest number of volunteers, with 170 students working as coordinators, college representatives and class agents.
    • At a talk sponsored by the International Students Association and South Asian Society at Yale, law professor Oona Hathaway LAW ’97 honed in on the civil and legal issues surrounding unmanned aerial vehicles and called for a debate about the United States’ use of drones. In her talk, titled “The Legality of Drone Strikes,” Hathaway focused on three key challenges drones presented to the U.S.: the erosion of checks on the president’s power to wage war, the proliferation of drones at home and abroad, and the threat to civil liberties that the use of drones might pose to American citizens.
    • When it comes to corporate partnerships, a class of graduate architecture students is saying “just do it.” This semester, an advanced design studio taught by visiting architecture professor Greg Lynn and School of Architecture critic Brennan Buck is partnering with Nike Inc. to explore buildings in movement. As technology evolves, Buck said, architects are delving further into the possibility of not only creating the illusion of motion in a building, but also using robotics and sensory mechanics to build structures that actually move. While it is rare for studios at the School of Architecture to work so closely with corporate sponsors, Lynn said Nike’s focus on movement in design makes it an ideal resource.
    THE WEATHER

    High of 38 degrees, low of 28 degrees, increasing clouds and wintry mix.

    THE FOOD

    In the colleges

    Breakfast: Steelcut Oats, Waffle Bar, Orange Fiesta Muffin

    Lunch: New England Clam Chowder, Enchiladas Verdes, Argentinian Sierra Beef Sandwich, Quinoa Black Bean & Corn Pilaf, Guacamole, Tex-Mex Chicken Breast, Grilled Garden Burger, BLAT Sandwich, Fresh Market Vegetable, Peruvian Corn Salad, Mexican Tabbouleh Salad, Orange Cranberry White Choc Chip Bar, Toffee Coffee Cookie

    Dinner: New England Clam Chowder, Roasted Pepper Enchilada, Red Snapper Veracruz, Nachos Express Bar – Ground Turkey, Grilled Garden Burger, Chipotle Tomato Salsa, Portabella Fajita, Mexican Rice, Fresh Market Vegetable, Peruvian Corn Salad, Mexican Tabbouleh Salad, Mexican Hot Chocolate Sheet Cake

    In Commons

    Breakfast: Chocolate Chip Pancakes, Maple Flavored Organic Oatmeal, Waffle Bar, Omelets To-Order, Cage-Free Scrambled Egg Whites, Cage-Free Scrambled Eggs, Sweet Potato Home Fries, Apple Cinnamon Muffin

    Lunch: Manhattan Clam Chowder, Chilaquiles Verdes with Tofu, Batter Fried Cod, Linguine, Black Bean Quesadilla, Pepperoni Pizza, Cheese Pizza, Broccoli Bianca Pizza, Shrimp Fried Rice, Jasmine Rice, Stir Fried Broccoli & Carrots, Spring Roll, Tofu Lo Mein, Portabella Mediterranean Wrap, Tex-Mex Rice, Fresh Market Vegetable, Roasted Broccoli & Cauliflower, Peruvian Corn Salad, Coleslaw, Orange Cranberry White Choc Chip Bar, Coconut Macaroon

  10. Thursday’s Buzz: 2.21.13

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    THE NEWS

    • New Haven Public Schools Superintendent Reginald Mayo has announced that he will retire at the end of this year, effective June 30. Find out more about his legacy and what Mayo’s announcement means for the city in tomorrow’s News.
    • Peter Salovey has just four months until he settles into the President’s Office in Woodbridge Hall. Until then, the President-elect is on the move. Since Benjamin Polak took over as provost on Jan. 15, Salovey has devoted his full attention to preparations for the presidency. By the end of this semester, Salovey will have completed a partial world-tour to meet donors and introduce himself to the global Yale community. Though Salovey has been spotted in the lobby of the Yale Club of New York, trips down the Connecticut shoreline are just the beginning, as Salovey estimated he spends about one-third of his time traveling for the job.
    • University President-elect Peter Salovey wore two hats during this afternoon’s panel on the role of cultural centers on Yale’s campus, speaking both as Yale’s next president and as a social scientist. The event, which was hosted by La Casa as part of a weeklong campaign to increase awareness of the center, hosted three panelists — Salovey, Trumbull College Dean Jasmina Besirevic-Regan and Student Affairs Fellow Hannah Peck DIV ’11 — who discussed self-segregation, social identity and affirmative action. Salovey said the criticism cultural houses receive for being self-segregating is inevitable because race has been a sensitive issue in U.S. history.
    THE WEATHER

    High of 32 degrees, low of 20 degrees, mostly sunny and clear.

    THE FOOD

    In the colleges

    Breakfast: Steelcut Oats, Waffle Bar, Lemon Meltaway Cake Ring

    Lunch: Tortilla Soup Mezclado, Orzo Vegetable Soup, Chef’s Choice Grilled Flatbread, Berkeley Mac & Cheese, Black Eyed Peas & Chili Casserole, Honey Mustard Dip, Duck Sauce, Grilled Garden Burger, Hand-breaded Chicken Tenders, Chicken Club Wrap, Bourbon Yams, Fresh Market Vegetable, Southwestern Potato Salad, Chipotle Carrot & Cucumber Salad, Orange Almond Cupcake, Coconut Macaroon

    Dinner: Tortilla Soup Mezclado, Orzo Vegetable Soup, Turkey Stew, St. Louis Style BBQ Spareribs, Baking Powder Biscuit, Tofu & Grilled Vegetables, Sweet Potato & Quinoa Burger, Grilled Garden Burger, Curly Fries, Fresh Market Vegetable, Southwestern Potato Salad, Chipotle Carrot & Cucumber Salad, Apple Strudel

    In Commons

    Breakfast: Grits, Waffle Bar, Omelets To Order, Cage-Free Scrambled Egg Whites, Cage-Free Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Sausage Pattie, Potato Pancakes

    Lunch: Roasted Corn & Tomato Soup, English Beef Barley Soup, Home-Style All Beef Meatloaf, Baked Polenta, Spaghetti, Black Bean Quesadilla, Grilled Chicken Breast, Pepperoni Pizza, Eggplant Pizza, Cheese Pizza, Pork Char Siew, Chef’s Choice WOK, Vegetable Fried Rice, Jasmine Rice, Roast Beef Sand with Caramelized Onions, Mashed Potatoes, Fresh Market Vegetable, Peas & Carrots, Barley, Corn & Tomato with Smoked Mozzarella, Arugula & Nectarine Salad, Orange Almond Cupcake, Toffee Coffee Cookie

  11. Wednesday’s Buzz: 2.20.13

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    THE NEWS

    • Facing a projected $40 million budget deficit in the coming academic year, faculty and administrators continue to deliberate on how to close the gap. The 2013-’14 shortfall is significantly smaller than the $350 million gap between costs and operating revenue that Yale faced after the onset of the economic recession in 2008, but Provost Benjamin Polak told the News that Yale has not yet reached a sustainable budget model and continues to draw on reserve funds. Though there will be no “across-the-board” cuts this year, the University must look for ways to permanently reduce expenses, Polak said, adding that he has begun meeting with departments and divisions to discuss their budgets for the coming year.
    • Within the next two weeks, the Yale College Council will submit a report detailing student opinion on issues concerning academics, student life and athletics to President-elect Peter Salovey. The report will give recommendations about 36 topics, including mental health resources, alcohol disciplinary policy and introductory science courses for Salovey to consider as he prepares to transition to Woodbridge Hall.
    • As Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy fielded questions from the press on a report seeking to discredit the National Rifle Association on Monday, the December shooting in Newtown, Conn., that took the lives of 26 children and teachers weighed heavily. “The Newtown shooting changed everything,” Murphy said in a Tuesday email to the News. “I don’t think anybody who’s talked to the families of those children, or the survivors, or the first responders there that day wasn’t fundamentally changed by it.”
    THE WEATHER

    High of 33 degrees, low of 20 degrees, mostly sunny and partly cloudy.

    THE FOOD

    In the colleges

    Breakfast: Steelcut Oats, Waffle Bar, Maple Pecan Bread

    Lunch: Rice Soup With Chicken & Ginger, Asian Mushroom Broth, Rice Noodle With Chicken & Ginger, Asian Mushroom Broth, Rice Noodle with Spicy Chili Sauce, Lime & Cilantro Roasted Tofu, Coconut & Green Curry Pork, Grilled Garden Burger, Fried Fish Hanoi, Thai Beef Lavash Wrap, Jasmine Rice, Fresh Market Vegetable, Cardamom Roasted Cauliflower Salad, Squash & Israeli Couscous Salad, Lemon Pistachio Cupcake, Chocolate Chip Cookie

    Dinner: Rice Soup With Chicken & Ginger, Miso Soup, Lemongrass Chicken, Korean BBQ Tofu Taco, Vegetable Curry, Grilled Garden Burger, Beef Pad Thai, Brown Rice Pilaf, Fresh Market Vegetable, Cardamom Roasted Cauliflower Salad, Squash & Israeli Couscous Salad, Chocolate Cream Pie

    In Commons

    Breakfast: Steelcut Oats, Banana-Walnut Dairyless, Waffle Bar, Omelets To-Order, Cage-Free Scrambled Egg Whites, Cage-Free Scrambled Eggs, Red Bliss Home Fries, Maple Pecan Bun

    Lunch: Chicken Gumbo Soup, Cream Of Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, Roasted Thai Red Curry Chicken, Spinach Felafel Burger, Penne, Bean Burger, Grilled Cheese & Bacon Sandwich, Pizza Margherita, Pepperoni Pizza, Cheese Pizza, Vegetable Lo Mein, Chicken & Broccoli, Vegetable Fried Rice, Jasmine Rice, Curried Tofu, Garden Salad Pocket Sandwich, Rice Pilaf, Fresh Market Vegetable, Vegan Collard Greens, Chicken Onion & Israeli Couscous Salad, Heirloom Tomato Salad, Apple Cinnamon Walnut Bar, Chocolate Chip Cookie