Princeton really doesn’t matter, and apparently even University President Richard Levin agrees. During his speech about the rise of Asia’s national universities, given Monday at the Royal Society in London, Levin listed among the strongest American institutions Yale, Harvard, Stanford, the University of California at Berkeley and MIT, but not Princeton.

All roads lead away from Toad’s, at least as far as the American Red Cross at Yale’s blood drive is concerned. The drive, originally planned to take place at Toad’s Place, was halted around 2:45 p.m. Monday because of “site complications,” according to an e-mail from one ARCY member. The organization is now trying to find a new location for the event.

Terrorists in New Haven? Amid increasing pressure to move the trial of alleged 9/11 conspirator Khalid Sheikh Mohammed farther from Ground Zero, several news sources have reported that New Haven is under consideration by the White House as a potential location for the trial. Staff members for Sen. Joe Lieberman ’64 LAW ’67 have said the senator is against holding the trial anywhere but in a military tribunal.

New Haven Police Department Assistant Police Chief Stephanie Redding will likely be appointed acting chief come February when current Chief James Lewis departs, Mayor John DeStefano Jr. announced after his State of the City address Monday evening.

Inspired Branfordians will once again have a creative outlet as “Calliope,” Branford’s own literary magazine, will be revived this semester after a two-year hiatus, according to an e-mail from editors Iman Sakkaf ’11 and Isabella Lores-Chavez ’12.

The scaffolding on Harkness Tower has been steadily receding in recent weeks as the masonry is restored. Administrators said they hope the renovation, which costs less than $10 million, will be done in time for Commencement.

Speaking of which, University Secretary Linda Koch Lorimer e-mailed the class of 2010 Monday, formally inviting them to Yale’s 309th Commencement and providing a detailed schedule of ceremonies.

this day in yale history

THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY

1988 Dean of Student Affairs Betty Trachtenberg says no disciplinary action will be taken against two Yale Political Union officers who participated in chanting a Nazi slogan in the Timothy Dwight basement in December 1987; the students who discovered the incident chose not to file a complaint.