Tag Archive: XC

  1. Cross Campus: 2.12.13

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    Her Holiness? Several eager Yalies have drafted an official White House petition urging the Obama administration to nominate University Vice President and Yale celebrity Linda Koch Lorimer to the papacy. The popular administrator — who reached star status after she announced that classes would be canceled following Hurricane Sandy and last weekend’s blizzard — has been known to inspire ecstatic behavior among undergraduates. Upon receiving her emails, students have reportedly raised their hands in praise, looked up at the stars and chanted “Sunday night Toad’s!” in unison.

    Speaking of Lorimer. Though the papal nominee has been sending warning emails to Yalies following the blizzard, she is reportedly in Paris right now, safely an ocean away from the Elm City’s 3 feet of snow. Before then, Lorimer was in Florida. Looks like you really can have it all.

    Once again, Yale’s hookup culture takes the spotlight. In Helen Rittelmeyer’s review of Nathan Harden’s “Sex and God at Yale,” Rittelmeyer argued that the University’s pervasive hookup culture is not a result of declining morals, but rather Yale students’ natural desire to aim for perfection in all fields. Numerous hookups are a means of improving performance and reaching excellence, Rittelmeyer wrote.

    Excited about no class? Not everyone. Some lucky Yalies still get to trudge through the snow and hit the books. Students in Mark Oppenheimer’s course “Classics of Political Journalism” will be meeting today and discussing McCarthyism. The lesson? Journalism stops for no one, not even Nemo.

    New Haven Shakes. Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brothers created their own version of the Harlem Shake in anticipation of their upcoming Smooch’d Valentine’s Day party this Thursday. The video, which has garnered over 2,000 views since it was published on Sunday, depicts, among other things, a fraternity brother ironing a printer and another two rubbing their nipples. Sounds like a party.

    Horseplay in Swing. On Saturday, a group of Yalies took one of the Swing Space fire extinguishers and, “for no apparent reason,” threw the lifesaving device outside into one of the snow banks, according to an email sent to Swing residents from the Swing Space fellows.

    THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1969 An ad hoc Graduate School faculty committee releases a report proposing reforms in the humanities, including the construction of a Yale Center for Humanistic Studies and a shorter timetable for the Ph.D.

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  2. Cross Campus: 2.11.13

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    School’s out! In case you haven’t heard, there will be no classes today as officials work to clear the streets of snow. It’s a Monday miracle. Residential college dining halls will open for brunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for dinner.

    Making the most of Nemo. As the blizzard dumped nearly 3 feet of snow on the Elm City, Yalies took the opportunity to ski around town and build igloo fortresses. A group of singing Saybrugians filmed their own version of Harlem Shakes, while other students were spotted snowboarding down Science Hill and making snowmen and igloos. On Friday, a jubilant delegation of Timothy Dwight students stormed the Silliman courtyard amid dramatic music, pelting snowballs at confused Sillimanders. And Branford seniors and juniors created something new: the Bigloo, an 8-foot-tall igloo with a built-in bench. Let it snow!

    Identity theft. An alleged President-elect Peter Salovey sent an email to the Yale community over the weekend supposedly correcting a typo in Salovey’s new “president-elect” website, which is intended to facilitate communication with the Yale community and himself. Rather than “president-elect,” the email said Salovey’s website should say “president-select,” adding that the appointment “did not involve an election or a democratic process of any sort.”

    Yale’s own snow angel. When Ericka Saracho ’14 came across a car stuck in the snow on Friday night, she and a Yale security officer dug the car out and freed the vehicle. The two then proceeded to spend the next three hours digging out other cars, including emergency vehicles, from the snow. A good Samaritan indeed.

    Weird news of the day. A study by the Harvard School of Public Health found that men who watched more than 20 hours of television per week had a 44 percent lower sperm count than those who watched almost no television. In addition, the study observed that young men who did not exercise had significantly lower sperm counts than their exercising counterparts.

    The Newtown Children’s Choir’s performance that was scheduled to take place during the red carpet show of Monday night’s 55th Grammy Awards was canceled due to the blizzard, the Hartford Courant reported. The group was slated to sing in Newtown as part of a “live to tape” performance.

    THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1974 Sen. Sam Ervin is appointed a Chubb fellow and prepares to deliver a lecture in the Law School auditorium on “A Nation of Laws.”

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  3. Cross Campus: 2.8.13

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    Neither friend nor food. Nemo is coming — this time, not as a clownfish, but as a potentially historic blizzard. The storm is expected to hit New Haven this morning and dump up to 2 feet of snow on the Elm City. In preparation, Yale Dining has adjusted its hours and will serve dinner in the dining halls from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. In addition, Shabbat dinner will start one hour early at 6 p.m.

    Rainbow nation. Five hundred students are expected to participate in this weekend’s IvyQ Conference, which will draw hundreds of LGBTQ students and allies from across the country to Yale for the weekend. While the second annual LGBTQ GALA reunion was canceled due to severe weather conditions, organizers said IvyQ will continue as planned with minor scheduling changes.

    Sex and the Elm City. Cynthia Nixon, the Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress from the hit television show “Sex and the City,” will be honored during a special concert tonight with the Whiffenpoofs. Nixon will receive the University’s first annual Artists for Equality Award, which is presented to artists who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the LGBTQ community.

    Yale’s very own Captain Hammer. Daniel Perez DRA ’13 has been named the winner of the 2013 Buerki Golden Hammer Scenic Technology Award in part for his work in engineering the flying pink cotton candy cloud that Katy Perry rode during her 2011 “California Dreams” tour. Sounds like a teenage dream.

    Trashing 007. A stealthy intruder has infiltrated Pierson’s basement and may be there to stay. In recent days, a photo cutout of a smirking and gun-wielding James Bond has been spotted above the label for Pierson’s trash room, appropriately numbered room 007. Who knew James Bond could be so comfortable next to trash?

    Fighting fire. A district court judge ruled yesterday against 11 New Haven firefighters who argued that the city had unlawfully denied them potential advancement by failing to comply adequately with the 2009 Ricci v. DeStefano Supreme Court ruling on reverse discrimination.

    A strategy shoutout. New York Times columnist and Jackson Institute fellow David Brooks gave a shoutout to “Grand Strategy” yesterday when he mentioned the course — and the lessons he’s learned from Machiavelli — in his weekly column. Glad at least someone is learning.

    THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 2008 Yale considers expanding day care options for employees and graduate students.

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  4. Cross Campus: 2.7.13

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    Speaking to the masses. In an email to the Yale community yesterday afternoon, President-elect Peter Salovey introduced a new website that aims to help members of the Yale community send him suggestions and feedback regarding changes they hope to see at Yale in the coming years. The open forum is meant to give Yalies a chance to share their suggestions, concerns, ideas or simply offer greetings and well-wishes.

    Mirror, mirror, on the wall? The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will unveil a video portal to Duke University in its student center this Friday, UNC reported yesterday. The oval-shaped portal — which features a 50-inch high-definition monitor, webcam, microphone and speakers — will allow students from both schools to communicate more directly with each other. Talk about taking rivalry to the next level.

    #SodaProblems. An upcoming conference sponsored by PepsiCo for Yale’s female graduates has raised concerns among some University alumni regarding Yale’s partnership with the beverage and snack company — which announced in 2009 that it would fund a graduate fellowship in nutritional science with the School of Medicine. According to a New York Times article published today, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor LAW ’79, who is scheduled to speak at the event, has also received criticism for her participation. Yale administrators, though, have said they welcome PepsiCo’s participation and support.

    Wait, Valentine’s Day is next week? Sadly, yes. But if you’re a freshman and don’t have a valentine yet, fret not. The Freshman Class Council is here, and FCC members — much like the television producers for ABC’s hit television show “The Bachelor” — want to help you find your one true love. The council is distributing a free matchmaking survey that will pair up freshmen with their perfect mates. It’s a match made in heaven.

    A distinguished guest. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will speak at Yale today as part of a Jackson Institute town hall meeting. Annan served two terms as the U.N.’s top official from 1997 to 2006 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.

    Snap to the future. Has Snapchat taken over Yale? Sean Haufler ’13 thinks so. In a Tuesday blog post entitled “How Snapchat Took Over Yale,” Haufler argued that Snapchat’s temporary nature makes its messages more engaging and personal.

    THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1914 Harvard’s hockey team defeats Yale 4-3 in a hard-fought overtime game at the Boston Arena.

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  5. Cross Campus: 2.6.13

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    A balanced diet. Newark Mayor Cory Booker LAW ’97 may one day join the legendary ranks of Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon and Phish. After the vegetarian politician expressed his love for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, the company’s public relations director suggested possible names for a Booker-inspired flavor, including “Smart Cookie” — a nod at Booker’s days as a Rhodes scholar — and “Mayor’s 7-Layer Cake.” Who knows, maybe we’ll start seeing Booker’s face in the dining halls soon.

    A sticky situation. A three-year study led by Yale psychiatry professor Bruce Wexler that examined Israeli and Palestinian textbooks has received vehement criticism from the Israeli government. The study — which was titled “Victims of Our Own Narratives?” — praised both Israel and the Palestinian Authority for avoiding “extreme dehumanizing characterizations” of each other, but added that both the Israeli and Palestinian books lacked sufficient information about the other’s religions, culture, beliefs and activities.

    All dogs go to heaven. Or, at least, let’s hope George W. Bush’s ’68 Scottish terrier will. Barney, the former First Dog of the United States of America, passed away earlier this week from lymphoma. The furry retired presidential pet was 12 years old.

    Check your allergies. Dean of Student Affairs Marichal Gentry wants to make sure you’ve kept your allergies in check. In a Tuesday afternoon email to the Yale community, Gentry reminded Yalies that they can find food allergy awareness information in all of the University’s dining facilities. In addition, students can fill out a “food allergy self-identification form” to notify Yale Dining and relevant administrators of dietary restrictions.

    The Edmonton Oilers have announced that forward Mark Arcobello ’10 has been called up from the Oklahoma City Barons. Arcobello played center for the Yale men’s hockey team and appeared in a record 131 games for the Bulldogs.

    In memory. A group of Newtown students will sing “Over the Rainbow” at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards this Sunday. The children, who recorded their version of the song with the help of singer Ingrid Michaelson, will donate proceeds from the song to the Newtown Youth Academy.

    THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1998 Freshman counselor applications drop 13 percent this year, going from 254 applications to 220. The fall is even more significant for Ezra Stiles and Timothy Dwight colleges, which both see a 40 percent fall in application numbers.

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  6. Cross Campus: 2.5.13

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    Pranking the president. When University President Richard Levin visited the Yale Club of New York last Saturday for a reception honoring his 20-year presidency, he proved to be receptive to practical jokes. All attendees who went to shake Levin’s hand were told to give the departing president a small blue plastic bead, a practice they had been told was a Yale tradition. But after receiving a substantial collection of beads, Levin explained to the crowd that the bead tradition was, in fact, a prank that had been pulled on him during his first year as president. Well played, Mr. President.

    #Hillary2016? Hillary Clinton LAW ’73 has launched a new website, hillaryclintonoffice.com, that contains nothing but a large photo of the former secretary of state and a “contact” button. The mysterious website has already furthered speculation that Clinton may be considering a 2016 presidential run. Hmm…

    Think textbooks are expensive? Well, prices may soon go up. Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy announced Monday morning that Amazon will open a distribution center in the state in the next two years, a move that is projected to employ over 300 workers and allow the state to levy a sales tax on all Amazon purchases. Starting this November, the state will charge a 6.35 percent sales tax on all Amazon products.

    And the YCC said, let there be light. Roughly two months after the YCC released its Campus Safety Report, Yale Facilities has reported fixing lights in a number of places, including Temple Street, Chapel Street, Wall Street and around Swing Space. But if you still walk in darkness, don’t worry: The YCC announced that they will “continue investigating the status of campus lighting.” Phew.

    Rising star. Though Sarah Solovay ’16 did not win the Hitlab Emerging Artist Competition, which would have given her the chance to perform at a Grammys Weekend event in Los Angeles, Calif., she was still named one of 10 finalists in the national competition. In a Q&A with the News, Solovay said she loves being a musician at Yale because of the University’s diverse community.

    Attention. Submissions for the Wallace Prize are currently being accepted. All fiction and creative nonfiction pieces are due to 202 York St. on Feb. 28 by 5 p.m. Winners will receive cash prizes and their submissions will be printed in the Yale Daily News Magazine.

    THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 2008 Students reflect on Hillary Clinton’s LAW ’73 round-table discussion, which she held with the Yale Child Study Center the day before.

  7. Cross Campus: 2.4.13

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    Super Bowl Solidarity. Twenty-six students from Sandy Hook Elementary School sang “America the Beautiful” during yesterday’s Super Bowl XLVII, marking a touching tribute to the 26 students and faculty members who were killed on Dec. 14 during the Sandy Hook school shootings. The students were joined midway by Grammy Award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson.

    Speaking of the Super Bowl. New Haven’s very own Union Station made a guest appearance last night when it was featured in a local Super Bowl commercial for the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven. In the commercial, young singers from the Fairfield County Children’s Choir sang BoDeans’ “Closer to Free” as they participated in a flash mob held in the train station.

    Over the weekend, the Yale College Council appointed Andrea Villena ’15 as the new YCC secretary. Villena, who will replace former YCC Secretary Leandro Leviste ’15, said she hopes to carve out a “more comprehensive image of YCC publicity” and keep better track of the YCC’s communication with the student body.

    They are the 1 percent. More than half of the 125 students implicated in Harvard’s cheating scandal were asked to withdraw temporarily from the university, Harvard administrators announced on Friday. The decision marked an end to the monthslong investigation that began after nearly half of the 279 students in Government 1310 “Introduction to Congress” were accused of collaboration on their take-home final exam last year.

    Play it safe. Three New Haven restaurants — Great Wall on Whalley Avenue, Dee Asian Kitchen and Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine — failed the city’s most recent round of health inspections, according to the New Haven Independent. Restaurants are ranked on a scale from 1 to 100 and need to receive at least an 80 to pass their inspection.

    Budget issues. Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy is expected to unveil his budget plan on Wednesday, which will detail how he hopes to deal with a projected budget deficit of nearly $2 billion over the next two years. Malloy has said that his plan will not involve any new taxes.

    THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1994 Yale College Dean Richard Brodhead ’68 GRD ’72 creates the Committee on Math Instruction to examine teaching and curricular issues with the University’s introductory math course and how well they prepare students for quantitative or scientific majors.

    Clarification: Feb. 4, 2013

    There are two “Great Wall” restaurants in New Haven. A previous version of this article did not specify that the Great Wall restaurant that failed the health inspection is located on Whalley Avenue. 

  8. Cross Campus: 2.1.13

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    We’re going retro! Sort of. Did you like yesterday’s black-and-white issue? If so, you’ll love today’s paper. Again, #printerproblems.

    The 13th college? Not quite, but there’s a new housing structure coming to Yale. Griffin Collier’s ’13 project “The Treehouse at Yale” is quickly gaining steam and, if successful, would establish a treehouse in the Yale-Myers Forest. As of press time, the effort boasted 181 backers who pledged a total of $9,536 — a significant leap from Collier’s original goal of $5,000. Kickstarter funding for the project will end on Saturday.

    Magic for Muggles. This weekend kicks off Harry Potter Weekend at Yale, a magical adventure organized by the Sophomore Class Council and filled with Quidditch workshops, the Yule Ball, a Harry Potter movie marathon and a Horcrux scavenger hunt. For those of you still upset that you never received your letter from Hogwarts, now’s your chance. Seize the moment. Let your inner 11-year-old shine.

    Too much money in the bank. Now that incumbent Mayor John DeStefano Jr. is not running for re-election, the long-term politician needs to decide where to place the nearly $70,000 he still has in his campaign fund, according to the New Haven Independent. DeStefano has a few options: He can donate the money to any nonprofit organization or return it to his contributors. He cannot, however, give the money to another political campaign before the election.

    Weighing in. Yale Law professor Bruce Ackerman LAW ’67 penned an op-ed in The Huffington Post yesterday that discussed the Supreme Court’s “war on the twentieth century.” According to Ackerman, this is the dominant question raised by the Supreme Court’s recent series of decisions, including the health care ruling.

    It’s a digital world. Harvard Law School debuted its first-ever online course on Monday, a 12-week class called “Copyright” that is taught by Harvard professor William Fisher III. The class, which accepted 500 students out of 4,100 applicants, is being offered through Harvard’s branch of the online learning platform edX.

    Keeping count. The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness has teamed up with New Haven Public Schools to improve the city’s count of its homeless population, which typically numbers around 500, the New Haven Register reported.

    THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1942 The Engineering School releases revisions to its curriculum to prepare students better for the war effort.

  9. Cross Campus: 1.31.13

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    Professor Kelly Brownell, who teaches the popular course “Psychology, Biology and Politics of Food,” has been named the next dean of Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. Brownell is a leading expert on nutrition and obesity as they relate to public policy and also serves as director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, which he co-founded in 2005. It looks like Duke may be making a habit of hiring Yale faculty: Duke President Richard Brodhead ’68 GRD ’72 was dean of Yale College when he was named president of Duke in 2004.

    Strong words. A Yale Law School student sent an angry open letter to his classmates yesterday morning explaining, in detail, why he hates all of them. In his letter, the student wrote that Yale’s law students “openly judged” him for his career choices and were frequently offended over the “dumbest sh-t.” In a postscript attached to the end of the note, the student added that he bought a $100 desk chair from Ikea that he is willing to sell for $99.50.

    TEDxYale 2013 is open for registration, and organizers have started gearing up for the Feb. 23 event. This year, speakers include New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr., celebrity professor Michael Frame and Rhodes scholar and Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Global Youth Issues Ronan Farrow LAW ’09.

    Boosting the sciences. Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy has proposed to invest $1.5 billion in science, technology, engineering and math programs at the University of Connecticut. The proposed investment will be included in Malloy’s budget, which will be presented to lawmakers next week. Looks like Yale isn’t the only university seeking to boost its STEM programs.

    Lux et Veritas. A new Yale Tumblr called “That’s So Yale” aims to celebrate Yale by posting photos of different parts of the University’s campus. So far, the blog includes pictures of Harkness Tower, Commons, Beinecke Library and Old Campus.

    Give them a standing ovation. A group of 26 students from Sandy Hook Elementary School will perform “America the Beautiful” during the Super Bowl XLVII pregame show, according to an NFL spokesman. The league will fly the students and their families to New Orleans later this week.

    THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1914 The Yale Alumni University Fund sets a record for number of individual contributors, boasting 3,624 contributors and marking an increase from the previous year’s 3,527 donors.

  10. Cross Campus: 1.29.13

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    The good news. This week is expected to be warmer than the last, with temperatures averaging in the low 40s and 50s. That said, it’s expected to rain almost all week, so make sure to get your raincoat ready.

    The other good news. Chipotle, the long-awaited Mexican grill famous for its burritos and guacamole, is scheduled to open today on Chapel Street. The popular franchise will run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and fill an untold number of study breaks for hungry Yalies seeking brain food.

    Exercising economics. During ECON 116 “Introductory Macroeconomics,” professor Aleh Tsyvinski energized his class by asking everyone in the lecture hall to stand up and follow along to a Japanese calisthenics YouTube video with him. No word on what’s next — yoga?

    According to the Connecticut Education Association, a strong majority of teachers said they oppose carrying guns in schools and would support banning the sale and possession of military-style weapons for regular citizens. The survey polled 400 CEA members who represent every district in the state and had a 4.9 percent margin of error.

    Beat Harvard. The annual Yale-Harvard Blood Drive competition has begun and will run until Thursday. Organized by the American Red Cross at Yale University, the event is encouraging all students to donate blood. All participants will receive free Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and a Red Cross T-shirt, and will be entered in raffles for prizes at various stores.

    Commuting increases. The Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven line saw a record 38.8 million trips in 2012, marking a roughly 1.5 percent increase from last year’s 38.2 million rides, according to Metro-North. The increase came despite the effects of Hurricane Sandy, which forced Metro-North to suspend its service temporarily.

    More gun talk. A student task force at Harvard has released a report examining the university’s gun policy, discussing its history of gun-related incidents on campus and recommending policy proposals to prevent campus shootings. The report made five general recommendations, such as banning firearms and mandating that universities regularly perform emergency drills.

    THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1914 Coupon books go on sale for carriages that will take Yalies to and from prom on Feb. 2, 1914. The books are worth $5, $10 and $20 and are being sold by the Kirk Carriage Company.

  11. Cross Campus: 1.28.13

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    In memory. The Yale women’s ice hockey team held its third annual “White Out for Mandi” fundraiser on Saturday, raising more than $10,000 for the Mandi Schwartz Foundation. The event honored Mandi Schwartz ’10, who passed away after a 28-month battle with leukemia.

    Say goodbye to your productivity. Since Friday, Yalies have been able to stream live, high-definition television to their laptops for free through IPTV provider Tivli. All undergraduates living on campus will have access to 28 channels, ranging from the History Channel to Comedy Central.

    A star is born. The New Haven Fire Department was featured in this weekend’s episode of “Saturday Night Live,” in which SNL actor Bill Hader threw a tantrum after seeing fellow firefighter, played by Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine, talking to Hader’s ex-girlfriend, who Hader dated nine years ago for two weeks. The situation gets so bad that Hader ultimately breaks down and is attacked by an inanimate Dalmatian that he tries to throw out the window. Not SNL’s best skit.

    Watch your stuff. Morse College Master Amy Hungerford and Ezra Stiles College Master Stephen Pitti ’91 warned students in a Friday email to keep their doors locked and watch out for unfamiliar faces after a student’s wallet, phone and keys were stolen in a computer lab shared by the two colleges. At the time of the theft, a “strange man” was observed in the computer lab room, according to Hungerford.

    Question of the decade. For those of you who do intramurals, you may be wondering: When was the Yale intramurals website last updated? According to a blog of the same name, it has been 72 days since the website last received a makeover, as of press time.

    Stanley McChrystal speaks. The retired general and senior fellow at the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs said yesterday that he thinks women will eventually become part of the special operations unit, including the Navy SEALs and Army Rangers. In addition, McChrystal told CNN’s “State of the Union” that he supported the Pentagon’s recent decision to lift the ban on women serving in combat.

    THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1914 The Inter-Fraternity Council updates its pledging rules, which include prohibiting fraternity or society members from visiting a freshman’s room “except for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions or selling articles of merchandise.”