Cross Campus: 2.27.13

Tag Archive: XC

Cross Campus: 2.27.13
February 27, 2013 4:38 am Leave a Comment
Calling all musicians. A new endowment in honor of University President Richard Levin and Jane Levin will help fund visiting artists looking to teach and support programs at the School of Music. Known as the “Jane and Richard Levin Music Fellow,” the lucky designee will be a “person of distinction” such as a visiting conductor, according to School of Music Dean Robert Blocker.

It’s casual. Yale alum and Rhodes scholar Jake Sullivan ’98 LAW ’03 has been appointed the national security adviser for Vice President Joe Biden, a new role he is expected to start this week. Sullivan previously served as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s LAW ’73 director of policy planning and deputy chief of staff, and has clerked for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.

It’s official! Chairman of the Federal Reserve and former Princeton professor Ben Bernanke will speak at Princeton’s baccalaureate ceremony on June 2, administrators announced on Tuesday morning. Bernanke, who has chaired the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors since 2006, previously served as chair of Princeton’s Economics Department.

Move over, Bill Nye. Here’s the real science guy. Yale immunologist Ruslan Medzhitov has snagged another major science prize — the Lurie Prize in the Biomedical Sciences. Medzhitov, who was awarded the Vilcek Prize for Biomedical Sciences with Richard Flavell earlier this month, will receive a $100,000 award for his work on the immune system.

Remembering Sandy Hook. Facebook has agreed to remove several alleged “tribute pages” to the victims of the Sandy Hook shootings in light of ongoing concerns that the pages were being used to harass victims’ family members and commit financial fraud. The move came after Sen. Richard Blumenthal LAW ’73, Sen. Chris Murphy and Rep. Elizabeth Esty banded together Monday morning to write a joint letter asking that the pages be taken down immediately.

Considering violence. Connecticut legislators expressed mixed reactions Tuesday to a proposal that would forbid children under 18 years old from playing point-and-shoot video games in arcades and similar establishments.

THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1902 The University Library releases a report detailing its financial situation and total holdings of books. According to the report, the library holds 270,000 volumes, 100,000 pamphlets and 1,000 manuscripts. It has $310,000 in funds.

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Cross Campus: 2.26.13
February 26, 2013 4:13 am Leave a Comment
Is love in the air? A recent rankings list from College Magazine seems to think so. According to the publication, Yale is the eighth-best school to find a husband, falling behind West Point, the United States Naval Academy, Brigham Young University and — somewhat inconceivably — Harvard.

The next Yale idol? The Yale College Council is seeking a student DJ to perform at Spring Fling 2013 alongside Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Interested music enthusiasts should submit a five to 10-minute set by this Friday, and the submissions that receive the most “likes” will have the chance to perform at an outdoor DJ/laser show and Spring Fling.

Rallying for mental health. More than 150 Harvard students rallied for mental health reform last Friday, chanting “Our Harvard can do better” and “Reform mental health” in an effort to encourage administrators to take action on mental health issues. The protest — which drew members of Harvard’s student government — came one day after an anonymous op-ed was published in The Harvard Crimson by a student with schizophrenia, who detailed perceived flaws with Harvard’s mental health services.

Covert marketing. For those of you looking for fun things to do on the weekends, checking out the flyers in the Bass Library bathrooms may be a start. Recently, studious Yalies seeking a quick bathroom break have stumbled upon flyers for a Latin Dance Night at GPSCY, the popular graduate student bar. Whether the advertisements were strategically placed to attract bathroom-going Yalies remains unknown, but the method has not gone unnoticed.

Marriage equality. A statement of support for marriage equality that is being circulated by the Ivy League College Democrats and Republicans chapters has received unanimous support from the eight College Democrat chapters, but only from two of the College Republicans chapters: UPenn and Columbia, according to The Daily Princetonian.

Cookie monsters. For no apparent reason, two Yalies set up camp in Commons Monday armed with only an empty plate and a sign reading “Accepting Free Cookies” — a seemingly spontaneous effort that drew curious glances from Yalies and tourists alike.

THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1931 The University is granted permission to build the new Sheffield Administration Building 15 feet higher than New Haven zoning law typically allows. Construction is slated to begin at at the corner of Grove and Prospect streets in the fall.

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Cross Campus: 2.25.13
February 25, 2013 4:07 am Leave a Comment
Did you watch the Oscars? Then you must have seen Meryl Streep DRA ’75. That is all.

From president to conductor. While attending the Yale-Harvard basketball game on Saturday, President-elect Peter Salovey went beyond the role of a traditional spectator: During the middle of the game, Salovey asked the conductor whether he could take the lead and conduct the Yale Precision Marching Band. The conductor agreed, and Salovey reportedly spent the next few minutes directing the musical ensemble as he waved his arms around in circles.

Joining the race. The quest for the mayor’s office became a four-man race on Tuesday when New Haven firefighter Salvatore Consiglio Jr. announced his bid to replace Mayor John DeStefano Jr. A resident of the Fair Haven neighborhood, Consiglio said he plans to run as an independent, a choice that will let him bypass the Democratic primary scheduled for September.

A toast to 50 most. In honor of the classic campus favorite, “Rumpus’s 50 Most,” several Yalies have launched a parody account showing off the 50 best-looking toasts. That’s right — the 50 most attractive pieces of bread. The Tumblr features a series of bread slices toasted to different levels, with one attractive toast broken up in pieces and another in the form of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

Third highest. Yale fundraised the third-highest amount of money nationwide during the 2012 fiscal year, pulling in a total of $543,905,260, according to the Council for Aid to Education’s annual fundraising survey. Donations fell slightly from last year’s total of $580 million. Altogether, roughly 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities raised $31 billion, a 2.3 percent increase from the 2011 fiscal year.

Divesting across the Ivies. A fossil fuel divestment conference at Swarthmore College over the weekend drew representatives from 77 different divestment campaigns, including Yale’s. Representatives from Fossil Free Yale traveled to the liberal arts college to discuss divestment, environmentalism and social justice.

Rising tuition costs. For the first time, the price of tuition at Princeton will surpass $40,000. But the university is offering a financial aid plan, “Private College 529 Plan,” that could cut that price in half if Princeton parents choose to invest in the program today.

THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1922 Commons is expected to open today after being temporarily closed for the past two days following a walkout by the entire dining hall staff.

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Cross Campus: 2.22.13
February 22, 2013 3:36 am Leave a Comment
On hold. After the potential Department of Defense training center at the School of Medicine generated a storm of controversy, School of Medicine Dean Robert Alpern released a statement Thursday night saying the University will not move forward with the center until administrators can fully address concerns raised by the Yale and New Haven community. In recent days, the proposed center has been accused of ignoring Yale’s mission as a university and potentially exploiting minorities. Alpern’s statement followed one that was released earlier this week, in which administrators affirmed that the program, if implemented, would meet Yale’s academic standards.

It’s Oscar weekend. Although admissions booklet and film stars Jodie Foster ’85 and Meryl Streep DRA ’75 won’t be receiving any golden statues at Sunday night’s Academy Awards, Yale isn’t quite out of the hunt. “Silver Linings Playbook,” produced by Bruce Cohen ’83, is up for best picture. And if you thought the 2011 awards were dull, don’t worry: James Franco, formerly GRD ’16, won’t be hosting.

Fire and ice. A vivid dragon was spotted in the snow outside Book Trader Café on Chapel Street Thursday, seemingly oblivious to the cold air outside. Breathing flames this realistic, it’s a surprise the mythological masterpiece hasn’t already melted everything in sight. Make sure you catch this colorful critter before the sun chases it back into storybooks.

Due in court. East Haven resident Amanda Bowden, who threatened a mass shooting and bombing at Gateway Community College earlier this month, will appear in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport for a bail hearing today. Bowden, who faces six counts including false information, hoaxes and criminal trespassing, allegedly praised Newtown shooter Adam Lanza in conversations with an undercover agent.

Caveat emptor. The Yale Senior Class Council is now taking orders for black Ultrasuede “trapper hats” rimmed with faux fur for their 2013 class gift fundraiser. If you’re worried they’ll run out before you can get your hands on these chic chapeaux, perhaps you shouldn’t be. According to the promotional email, “there is a limited quality, so get yours today!” Typo? We hope they mean “quantity,” but let the buyer beware.

THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1993 After a pipe bursts beneath the Pierson gate, more than 500 students in Davenport and Pierson are left without water or heat. Administrators immediately take drastic action, sprucing up the college courtyards with 20 portable toilets, giving students blankets and encouraging them to stay with other friends for the night.

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Cross Campus: 2.21.13
February 21, 2013 4:14 am Leave a Comment
Public service announcement. Today is chicken tenders day. On a diet? Good luck.

It’s starting to look a lot like Hogwarts. An owl was spotted in Davenport last night perched on the college’s balcony over entryway L. But the furry intruder may have been more than just a nocturnal animal sneaking into the courtyard: According to Davenport Master Richard Schottenfeld, the owl was believed to be an offspring of the owl drawn by Davenport’s first master, Emerson Tuttle. “It is surely an omen of Davenport domination in Intramural Sports!” Schottenfeld added in his email to the Dport community.

Harvard nap space. Harvard students like to take naps, and now they want to do it in public. According to the Harvard Crimson, 184 students signed a petition urging administrators to create a nap space in Harvard Yard. The effort comes with some pushback, though: Some supporters have said they will only sleep in a designated nap room if the cushions meet their standards of hygiene.

A 19-year-old East Haven woman has been accused of threatening to carry out a mass shooting and suicide bombing plot at Gateway Community College, according to the New Haven Register. The woman’s home was raided on Tuesday after she allegedly sent troubling text messages detailing her plans. But the threat does not seem severe: She has been arraigned in district court on one count of false information and hoaxes.

Price tag. According to a recent report by Wealth-X, Harvard nets the largest number of alumni billionaires, claiming 52 billionaires with a collective fortune of $205 billion. Boasting 28 billionaires, Penn took the No. 2 spot, followed by Stanford at third. Yale was listed at ninth with 13 billionaires sharing a total wealth of $77 billion.

Giving back. A new nonprofit organization has started to oversee the more than $9 million that poured into Newtown in the aftermath of the December Sandy Hook shootings that left 20 children and six adults dead. The five-person organization, known as the “Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation Inc.,” will oversee the distribution of donations and determine how to allocate funds.

THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1912 Members of the student group Yale Forum hold a mock presidential nominating convention for the first time to introduce Yalies to presidential elections on a national stage. But unlike the real world, the mock convention joins together the Socialist, Republican and Democratic parties.

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Cross Campus: 2.20.13
February 20, 2013 3:43 am 1 Comment
Reinventing the Wenzel. In celebration of Timothy Dwight Master Jeffrey Brenzel’s 60th birthday, several TD students and the TD writing tutor banded together to give Brenzel the gift of a lifetime: an eternal sandwich to be named after him — the “Brenzel,” the modern-day counterpart to the iconic Wenzel. The gift was revealed at a Mellon Forum yesterday as participating students taste-tested four different sandwiches from Town Pizza to determine which one would win the lucky title. Though unconfirmed, earlier reports suggested that a buffalo chicken sandwich would take home the prize.

Reborn. The historic Richter’s bar is slated to re-establish its place in the Elm City’s bar scene and reopen under a new owner. Jason Sobocinski, the current owner of Caseus Fromagerie & Bistro, will refurbish the bar and said in a statement that he expects it to be “relaxed, adult, nostalgic and 100 percent New Haven.”

Stripping for science. Before starting his “Frontiers of Science” lecture on Monday, Columbia professor Emlyn Hughes shocked his students by stripping down to his underwear, hugging his knees in a fetal position and watching as another individual hacked up a stuffed animal with a sword — all in front of a backdrop of 9/11 videos, the Columbia Daily Spectator reported. But what do nudity and stuffed animal cruelty have to do with science? Well, according to Hughes, learning quantum mechanics requires you to “strip to your raw, erase all the garbage from your brain and start over again.”

Final call. Today is the last day of the Senior Class Gift campaign, a three-week endeavor that began Jan. 30. As of yesterday evening, the effort raised $27,525.79 with 90.4 percent participation across the residential colleges, just shy of the record-breaking $31,545.57 raised last year for the Senior Class Gift.

Adam Lanza, the shooter in the Sandy Hook killings, was reportedly fascinated and possibly inspired by a 2011 massacre at a Norwegian summer camp that left 69 people dead, according to the Hartford Courant. The articles were found in Lanza’s bedroom at his mother’s home in Newtown, Conn., where police also discovered a collection of violent video games.

THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1992 GESO, the Graduate Employees and Studies Organization, calls off its three-day academic strike after reaching an agreement with the University. The strike — which began over tensions regarding teaching assistant salaries, grievance procedures and library access — ends after GESO leaders approached the union’s members with a proposal from Graduate School Dean Judith Rodin.

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Cross Campus: 2.19.13
February 19, 2013 10:00 am Leave a Comment
Trouble in Hollywood. Oscars season is always exciting for Hollywood — but this year, the drama is coming home to Connecticut. Sen. Joe Courtney stirred controversy when he complained that the Oscar-nominated film “Lincoln” inaccurately depicted Connecticut’s stance on the 13th Amendment. Though Courtney demanded that the scene be refilmed or dubbed, “Lincoln” screenwriter Tony Kushner called the complaint “ridiculous.” “It’s like saying that Lincoln didn’t have green socks, he had blue socks,” Kushner said to The New York Times.

Making a statement. Forty Yalies traveled to Washington, D.C., last Sunday to join the 50,000 people who gathered together for the “Forward on Climate” rally. The trip — which was organized by members of Fossil Free Yale and the Yale Student Environmental Coalition — called on President Barack Obama to reject the Keystone XL pipeline, a proposed expansion of the current Keystone pipeline that transports synthetic crude oil and diluted bitumen from oil sands regions in Canada to the United States.

Says who? Yale Law School pretty consistently outranks Harvard Law School in U.S. News and World Report’s rankings, but University of Chicago law professor Brian Leiter said in a National Jurist article last week that Yale Law School’s No. 1 status is due to its per capita expenditures. Since Yale has fewer law students than Harvard, it spends more per student, but the “increased cost does not mean a better education,” Leiter contended.

Blizzard problems. The cost of the Elm City’s snow-removal effort totaled $1.6 million and nine days of around-the-clock work, according to the New Haven Register. Since the blizzard hit, city workers have worked 24 hours a day in 12-hour shifts to remove the nearly 34 inches of snow that dropped on New Haven earlier this month. Luckily, the city won’t have to foot the entire bill: New Haven can receive up to 75 percent reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for storm cleanup costs.

THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1968 Roughly 250 people gather in the Law School auditorium for a meeting of Yale Friends of the Hill Parents Association. At the event, some speakers — including representatives from the NAACP — accused Yale of discrimination and neglecting the city’s black community.

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Cross Campus: 2.18.13
February 18, 2013 3:49 am Leave a Comment
Telling it like it is. In a Friday New York Times profile of BuzzFeed Editor-In-Chief and Yale alum Ben Smith ’99, Smith defended the depth and importance of the content provided by the popular website. As an example, Smith called BuzzFeed’s April 2012 post “33 Animals Who Are Disappointed in You” as a “work of literature,” arguing that it took the author “like 15 hours finding images of animals that would express the particular palette of human emotion he was going for … and that in some ways is harder and more competitive than, say, political reporting.”

Uh oh. It looks like Blizzard Nemo is not quite finished with the Elm City just yet. According to a Saturday email from Branford Master Elizabeth Bradley GRD ’96, there was a major gas leak by Branford under High Street on Friday night. Though the issue will be resolved soon, Bradley said in her email that it will require major road upheaval and repair in the spring.

To infinity and beyond. In celebration of “National Engineers Week” — a national event series that aims to celebrate the contributions engineers make to society — Yale will host activities throughout the week to honor the University’s engineering culture. These events will range from entrepreneurship panels and ice cream socials to networking sessions and engineering trivia night.

Activism on Cross Campus. Students involved with the Yale Global Health and AIDS Coalition were spotted on Cross Campus on Friday protesting President Barack Obama’s proposed budget cuts to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). In addition to asking students and passers-by to sign a White House petition urging the president not to “break [their] hearts,” the organizers launched a photo campaign to spread the word on Facebook.

Speak no evil. In a Sunday Washington Post editorial, Robert Barnes questioned why Supreme Court Justice and Yale Law alum Clarence Thomas LAW ’74 never asks questions during oral arguments. Thomas, who is famous for his silence on the bench, reportedly jots down inquiries once in a while and asks fellow Justice Stephen Breyer to pose them on his behalf, according to Barnes.

THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1971 The water bed arrives in New Haven and immediately causes a stir. Recommended for those afflicted by insomnia, arthritis and impotency, the waterbed drives Yalies to question whether the new product will replace the standard mattress, and even encourages one entrepreneurial student to start selling water beds out of his dorm.

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Cross Campus: 2.15.13
February 15, 2013 4:05 am Leave a Comment
Well, that was fun. Valentine’s Day is over, which means life can go back to normal. Across town, Yalies and Elm City residents alike celebrated the Hallmark holiday. Sandy Hook Elementary School students delivered cookies and handmade Valentine’s cards to the Yale Police Department, and the Admissions Office hosted a “I <3 Handsome Dan Poetry Contest” on its official Facebook page. In addition, the new Becton Center café flashed a pink “Happy Valentine’s” message across its walls.

Think your grades are bad? You might be able to make money off them. A 27-year-old woman has sued her alma mater, Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Penn., for $1.3 million for a C+ she received while a student there, arguing that the grade prevented her from being a licensed therapist. But don’t celebrate just yet: A judge threw out the case yesterday.

Faculty diversity. An analysis conducted by The Daily Pennsylvanian, the student newspaper at the University of Pennsylvania, found that at 3.8 percent, Yale has the lowest percentage of minorities serving as senior administrators among the Ivy League. The data — compiled by the newspaper — found that out of the University’s 26 senior administrators at Yale, only one is a minority.

The Science Guy(s). Yale School of Medicine professors Richard Flavell and Ruslan Medzhitov have been named co-winners of the 2013 Vilcek Prize for Biomedical Science for their work on the innate immune system. The annual prize comes with a $100,000 cash award and recognizes immigrants who have contributed significantly to American arts and sciences.

Dude, where’s my car? Hopefully not parked randomly around town. The Elm City is extending its parking ban from 6 p.m. tonight to 6 a.m. tomorrow as officials work to clear the streets. Luckily, the ban only affects part of New Haven so be sure to check online to see where it’s safe to store your car.

Too cool for school. After New Haven decided to open the city’s public schools next week during a planned February break to make up for lost classes after Sandy and the blizzard, Elm City teachers and students have risen up in protest, arguing that the decision was too last-minute.

THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1923 The Yale Corporation votes to combine all undergraduate departments into a single undergraduate Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Previously, the three undergraduate schools — Yale College, the Sheffield Scientific School and the Freshman Year — had been administered separately.

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Cross Campus: 2.14.13
February 14, 2013 2:57 am Leave a Comment
Luv in this club. If you didn’t find your soulmate at Toad’s last night, don’t worry. Today is Valentine’s Day — otherwise known as “Singles Awareness Day” — and Cupid is reportedly out and about shooting his arrows of love all across campus. And in any case, there’s always Saturday night Toad’s. Or lab. Or section. Or SigEp tonight. Anyway, there are plenty of fish in the sea so don’t worry.

Brainiacs on campus. Two Yalies have been named Gates Scholars, recipients of a prestigious scholarship that funds postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge. Matt Shafer ’13, who is involved with the nuclear weapons abolition advocacy group Global Zero at Yale, will pursue a M.Phil. degree in political thought and intellectual history, and physics major Rachel Kurchin ’13 will pursue an M.Phil. degree in materials science. Kurchin has a background in environmental issues, including climate change and renewable energy.

Wherefore art thou, Romeo? Maybe in Morse dining hall. In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Morse College will open its dining hall balcony for performances tonight, a once-a-year event that is expected to draw Shakespeare enthusiasts and wannabe actors to the venue. Members of the Morse College Council will act as judges and award “fabulous” prizes to top participants.

On a break. J. Press, the clothing store on York Street that has dressed the University’s gentlemen for more than a century, is temporarily closed after a portion of its front gambrel roof wall dislodged from the roof framing and interior walls, according to the Yale Alumni Magazine. The store will reopen temporarily at 976 Chapel St., conveniently between Ann Taylor and Shake Shack.

Questionable statistics. The National Jurist has released its rankings of top law schools, and the results are, well, surprising. After compiling data taken in part from RateMyProfessors.com, the National Jurist ranked Yale 13th in the country, after Harvard, Columbia, the University of Alabama, Texas Tech University and Louisiana State University. Yale Law School received an A in the “employment” category, but a D in “professor availability” as measured by the Princeton Review.

Good news or bad news? Though New Haven public schools will remain closed this week, Elm City students will meet next week during their scheduled February break to make up for lost time.

THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1966 Pro-segregation Sen. Allen J. Ellender is scheduled to discuss Africa at a Yale Political Union meeting.

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Cross Campus: 2.13.13
February 13, 2013 1:33 pm Leave a Comment
Talking gun control. In yesterday’s State of the Union address, President Barack Obama closed his speech with a call for action on gun control. “The families of Newtown deserve a vote,” Obama said. “The families of Aurora deserve a vote.”

Giving back to Yale. There is exactly one week left of the Senior Class Gift campaign, an effort that has already raised nearly $19,000 with just over 55 percent participation. Branford, Calhoun and Trumbull have all surpassed 60 percent participation, with Branford leading the pack. Last year, the Senior Class Gift ended with a record-breaking 97.5 percent participation rate and $31,545.57 raised.

So you want to be a millionaire? Sam Spaulding ’13, the quiz bowl extraordinaire who took away $50,000 from “Jeopardy!” in 2010, appeared on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” yesterday and walked away with $1,000. The Yale senior made it up to the 10th question, correctly answering questions about television shows and The Smiths before missing one on precious gems.

Harlem Shake fever overtakes Yale. In addition to Saybrook’s blizzard-themed Harlem Shake video and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity’s Smooch’d film debut, at least three other Yale groups have created their own versions of the Harlem Shake. Some freshmen in Jonathan Edwards College patented the “Farlem Shake,” which takes place in the JE library and features a dancing half-man, half-machine figure. And in Morse C32, Yalies provide a postmodern interpretation of the Harlem Shake, motionlessly playing video games throughout the music video. The Yale crew team donned animal suits and a bear mask as they brought their dance moves to the gym.

Imposter. A prominent donor with ties to Sen. Robert Menendez, the new chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee who is currently being investigated for ethics violations, falsely claimed to have worked as an intern at Yale, according to The Washington Free Beacon. The FBI is investigating Dr. Salomon Melgen, an ophthalmologist, for falsely claiming to have trained at Yale and Harvard, according to The Beacon.

Dean of the School of Engineering & Applied Science T. Kyle Vanderlick has been reappointed and will serve a second five-year term. In a joint statement. University President Richard Levin and President-elect Peter Salovey lauded Vanderlick for her work in strengthening the engineering culture at Yale.

THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1920 A series of religious meetings led by Henry Sloane Coffin 1897 will begin today.

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