A society of scholars. Adding to Yale’s growing list of Rhodes scholars, Julian De Freitas ’13 has been named an international Rhodes scholar from South Africa, bringing the University’s total Rhodes recipients this year to nine. The brainy Yalie is a Whiffenpoof, former co-captain of Yale Road Running and a cognitive science major. Congratulations!

We have competition. Harvard received nearly 15 percent more early applications this year compared to last year, collecting 4,856 applications from eager high school seniors looking to join the Ivy League. By comparison, Yale received 4,514 early applications, a 4.4 percent increase from last year. Whatever, Harvard still sucks.

Not quite crowdsourcing, but still. The Yale College Council is asking students to complete an online survey about their thoughts on what Provost and President-elect Peter Salovey should do to improve Yale. But is that really necessary? Based off the crowdsourcing Google Doc the YCC sent a few weeks earlier, it seems like most students want the administration to do something about the cold weather — such as hand out British torches — and consider building a footbridge over Elm Street.

Fashion faux pas. Looking for the perfect stocking-stuffer for the person you hate? Consider Campus Customs’ signature Yale crocs, which come in classic navy and are endowed with generous “ventilation ports” for the sweaty-footed.

Yalies give back. School of Medicine professor Vincent DeVita has been elected president of the 2012-’13 board of directors of the American Cancer Society, a national volunteer health organization dedicated to cancer issues.

Can you make the final cut? Registration for Yale’s annual culinary competition “Iron Chef Yale: The Final Cut” closes today. The preliminary competition will take place in each residential college dining hall on Dec. 9, and the final event will take place in Commons on Feb. 21. Get your cookbooks ready!

Harvard gets kinky. Administrators approved a BDSM group called “Harvard College Munch” that aims to provide a space for students to discuss their sexual desires. After more than a year of informal meetings, the group has grown from seven to roughly 30 members, according to The Harvard Crimson.

THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1969 The New Haven Black Panthers issue a statement saying they expect local police to raid their headquarters and arrest individuals on “trumped-up” charges.