Benjamin Hernandez
Staff Reporter
benjamin.hernandez@yale.edu
Benjamin Hernandez covers Woodbridge Hall, the President's Office. He previously reported on international affairs at Yale. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, he is a sophomore in Trumbull College majoring in Global Affairs.
Author Archive
BENJAMIN HERNANDEZ
Yale apologizes for ties to slavery in new report, pledges list of actions

Alongside the release of history professor David Blight’s book on “Yale and Slavery: A History” on Friday, the University formally apologized for the role slavery played in the institution and its early leaders’ lives. In response, Yale has announced a set of actions, some of which were first announced in the previous two years, to acknowledge the school’s ties to the institution of slavery.

February 19, 2024

BEN RAAB & BENJAMIN HERNANDEZ
Faculty group calls on Yale to make teaching ‘distinct from activism’

The new initiative urges the University to adopt six new measures, which include more thorough protections on free speech, a commitment to institutional neutrality and new guidelines regarding donor influence.

February 19, 2024

BENJAMIN HERNANDEZ
Yale trustees convene on campus for in-person meetings as presidential search continues

Before their third meeting of the year and five months since the University announced its ongoing presidential search, Yale Corporation members made their way to New Haven.

February 16, 2024

BENJAMIN HERNANDEZ
Federal investigation into antisemitism at Yale based on November ‘Gaza under siege’ panel

Since first reporting on the matter, the News has confirmed that the investigation was sparked by a Dec. 5 complaint about a Nov. 6 panel discussion related to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

February 16, 2024

BENJAMIN HERNANDEZ & LAURA OSPINA
Yale to begin design for High Street pedestrianization

The University plans to start redesigning the street in the spring, though some New Haven residents have expressed concerns over Yale’s role in the new project.

February 16, 2024

BENJAMIN HERNANDEZ
Student Advisory Council members reflect on presidential search committee report

The News spoke to the three ex-officio members and secretary of the Student Advisory Council, all of whom felt that the Search Committee’s email captured their report but noted its limitations in summarizing the 21-page report.

February 8, 2024

BENJAMIN HERNANDEZ
Woodbridge Hall: the President’s office?

The Offices of the President and of the Secretary and Vice President for University Life have been situated on the first floor of Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcona Hall since construction at the Schwarzman Center prompted relocation over five years ago.

February 8, 2024

BENJAMIN HERNANDEZ
Internal presidential search report shows student opinions on free speech, diversity, mental health

The News obtained a copy of the complete Student Advisory Council report — finalized last week — the contents of which were summarized in an email sent to the Yale community by Senior Trustee of the Yale Corporation Joshua Bekenstein Monday morning.

January 30, 2024

BENJAMIN HERNANDEZ
Corporation remains silent on presidential search, vetting process

In light of toppled leadership at Harvard and Penn — and after months of silence — Yale’s Presidential Search Committee has refused to disclose where it stands in its process.

January 29, 2024

BENJAMIN HERNANDEZ & YOLANDA WANG
Yale-grad, former MLB commissioner endows baseball coach position to memorialize father

The head coach position for the Yale baseball team was endowed by Francis “Fay” Vincent Jr. in honor of his father.

January 25, 2024

BENJAMIN HERNANDEZ
Yale under investigation for ‘response to complaints of alleged discrimination,’ details unclear 

The United States Department of Education opened a Title VI Shared Ancestry investigation into Yale and four other schools, per the most recent listing of cases by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Yale officials did not clarify the details surrounding what they called the “one specific event” prompting the investigation.

January 24, 2024