Many said the days after Tuesday’s terrorist attack would be the worst — and so the University continued to cancel programs and make schedule adjustments to help a grieving community.
Classes throughout the University met as planned, but many professors deviated from their lesson plans to address the current events. The Dean’s Office extended shopping period by several days, taking into consideration that some students would not be able to attend classes this week.
Schedules are now due for freshmen and sophomores on Thursday, Sept. 20 and for juniors and seniors on Friday, Sept. 21.
“This will not be a problem,” History Department director of undergraduate studies Paul Freedman said of the extension of shopping period. “As for seminars that met Tuesday for the first time, I assume students worked out [admissions] with their individual professors.”
Classes were not the only way administrators tried to bring students together.
In an effort to unite students who may be absorbing the tragedy alone, Yale President Richard Levin arranged for students living off campus to receive free meals in the dining halls through Sunday dinner. Yale last opened its dining halls like this after the December 1998 murder of Suzanne Jovin ’99.
Deputy Secretary Martha Highsmith said Levin spent the day Wednesday responding to calls and e-mails from community members regarding the tragedy. He also spoke at New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr.’s press conference.
“The entire University community stands ready to assist those affected by this tragedy,” Levin said at the press conference. “We have had a University representative stationed at the city’s emergency operations center since it opened yesterday.”
Highsmith said the top priority of administrators Wednesday was to disseminate as much information as possible to the Yale community. At 10:30 Wednesday morning, officials posted a link on the Yale University homepage and the Yaleinfo Web site with information regarding event cancellations, postponements, emergency phone numbers and blood drives.
Posted is information about a vigil and silent walk planned for tonight by the University Chaplain’s office. The event will commence at Battell Chapel at 8 p.m.
Also on the Web site is information regarding Yale-sponsored blood drives being held next Friday at the Epidemiology and Public Health Center on College Street. Highsmith said more blood drive information will be posted in the next few days. Administrators also arranged buses to transport students to various New Haven blood drive locations.
Although most classes met Wednesday, many Yale events were cancelled.
All varsity athletic events have been cancelled through Sunday, but practices are being conducted as usual.
Undergraduate Career Services made many cancellations to what would be the start of its normal recruiting season. At least five company events — several by groups that were directly affected by the terrorist attack — cancelled or postponed their campus visits.
Tuesday and Wednesday’s UCS-sponsored law school forums for undergraduates were also cancelled.
And the Yale College Council extended its deadline by one day for the election of class representatives to 8 p.m. Wednesday.