Frank Wilczek is a physics professor at MIT and a Nobel Laureate. He recently visited Yale to deliver two lectures: "The Origin of Mass and the Feebleness of Gravity" and "The Universe is a Strange Place," and he took time out to speak to the Magazine about music, mastodons and the state of the cosmos. YDNM: The teaser for your lecture, "The Universe is a Strange...
Q: My New Year's resolution is to lose weight by eating less junk food. Everything is going well in the dining halls, but the trouble starts when I get back to my room. My roommate stocks the room with chocolate chip cookies and Pringles, and sometimes she even brings back a box of Krispy Kreme donuts. When I see her snacking on my favorite unhealthy snacks -- and even...
Q: How do you feel about Greek life at Yale? Is Greek life well represented and/or well publicized (fraternities versus sororities)? Do many social events revolve around Greek life? Do you feel that Greek life is a part of the college experience [at Yale]? Please include any other thoughts you have on Greek life at Yale. Jenevieve Lee JE '06...
Q: I am a freshman, and I have been having lots of trouble figuring out the fraternities at Yale. First of all, where is "frat row?" Whenever I ask people, they give me weird looks. I also get weird looks when I refer to "85" -- but isn't that the lacrosse frat? And is Sigma Alpha the frat with all the preppy boys? How about CCL? One of my roommates always goes there on...
Q. I've been hanging out a lot with a guy, "Jack." Jack and I hook up almost every weekend, and sometimes hang out during the week days -- there's a big problem, though. We talk almost exclusively online, through AOL instant messenger. Jack never calls me, he just IMs me to see what I'm up to or to see if I want to hang out with him. Lately, my friends have been telling...
I auditioned for several comedy groups and was rejected by all of them. Now, when I see the members of the groups on the street, I'm kind of embarrassed and I'm not really sure what to do. I would make a joke about it, but clearly I'm not funny. Help! Members of improv groups are known for their quick reactions. Try kicking one of them in the shins and...
I've hooked up with the same person every weekend this semester, but unless we're both out and happen to see each other, we never talk or hang out. With finals and summer coming, what should I do? If you're hooking up consistently with this person, then you're 'dating.' Anywhere else this would be an ambiguous situation. At Yale, this is considered a...
I am planning to take my girlfriend to Jamaica over spring break. My parents, however, would not be down with that, and since they are the ones paying for my ticket and accommodations, I'm worried they will find out. To make matters worse, I told my parents that I was going with friends, and one of my friend's mothers is friendly with mine. What should I do? ...
Every year, I resolve to go to all of my classes, but somehow, come March, I barely see 9:30 a.m. I've tried everything from caffeine to blaring alarm clocks, but nothing seems to work. Any suggestions? First of all, you have no business taking a class before 10:30 a.m. and even that is cutting it a little close -- 11:30 is preferable. Although I can...
My mom sends me homemade cookies every week because I'm really homesick. But they keep disappearing from my common room! Whenever I have confronted my suitemates, they have denied eating them. What should I do? First, despite what your suitemates might like you to believe, let us cross off the possibility that there is some "serial cookie-eater rat"...
