24 • Commencement

24 • Commencement
Commencement 2006 • THE YALE HERALD
BRIGHT COLLEGE
Commencement • 25
Years
A look back at the shortest, gladdest years of life
From the GESO strike to Yale’s divestment from Sudan, a review of what happened and when.
W
hile the fondest memories of the past four
years are different for each graduate, there
were many moments and events that captured the attention of the entire campus, touching every
member of the Yale community. Some events, such as
campus-wide Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, brought the
campus together. Others—the 2004 presidential race,
the push for graduate student unionization, and the
admittance of nondegree student Sayed Rahmatullah
Hashemi—divided the campus. In the end, these moments are chapters in everyone’s Yale story.
NACAC’s guidelines that stipulate that early-action applicants can apply to an unlimited number of schools.
Yale again ventured into largely uncharted waters when
Berkeley’s dining hall announced its decision to serve only
organic food.
Fall 2002 wrapped up with the announcement of Susan
Hockfield’s succession of Alison Richard as university provost. Richard left Yale in January to become vice-chancellor
of the University of Cambridge. Peter Salovey, GRD ’86,
chair of Yale’s Psychology department, was selected to fill
Hockfield’s post as dean of Yale Graduate School.
Fall 2002
Spring 2003
In the fall of 2002, students returned to a politically
charged and internationally conscious campus. The United
States’ drive to war with Iraq intensified, and conflicts over
union contract negotiations reached critical mass. Fall 2002
was a time for Yale to adjust to a changing national and
international climate as well as a time for the university to
deal with its own crop of homegrown issues.
Even before shower-deprived freshmen could return
from their orientation trips, Yale was at the center of a
college-admissions controversy. Stephen LeMenager, director of admissions at Princeton, breached Yale’s admissions web site to gain access to admissions decisions. His
actions resulted in an investigation by the FBI as well as his
removal from Princeton’s admissions office.
As classes started, the university began its commemoration of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. A moment of silence was
held across campus at 8:45 a.m., when the first of the Twin
Towers was hit. A candlelight ceremony was held later that
day on Cross Campus.
Yale’s day of remembrance served as a gentle reminder
that, despite the perceived safety of the “Yale bubble,” the
university and its students had to understand the increasingly
complex international climate. As a part of its effort to facilitate such an understanding, Yale hosted a number of speakers, forums, and panels. Early in October, Secretary General
of the United Nations Kofi Annan came to speak about globalization before an overflow crowd in Battell Chapel.
Within a few days of Annan’s visit, former Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Barak stood before a packed audience to
denounce terrorism. Many of Yale’s own scholars participated in the discourse as well, including Diplomat-in-Residence Charles Hill, who sat on panels addressing topics such
as the War on Terror and U.S. national security.
At the same time, Yale made news around the country
when it decided to abandon its early-decision admissions
policy in favor of an early-action policy. Although this decision was for the most part favorably received, it drew fire
from the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), as Yale’s version of early action would allow
applicants to apply to only one school early, violating the
Spring 2003 was marked by drama closer to home, as
Yalies focused on their campus and community. Yale was
confronted with tragedy, intolerance, strikes, and new academic policies.
Not even a full week into the spring semester, the Yale
community was struck by the loss of four of its members. On the morning of Fri., Jan. 17, members of the Delta
Kappa Epsilon (DKE) fraternity were involved in a
car crash on I-95. Kyle Burnat, CC ’05, Andrew Dwyer,
DC ’05, and Sean Fenton, DC ’04, were pronounced dead
at the scene. Several others were wounded. Nicholas Grass,
PC ’05, who was listed in serious condition, died the
following day. Several on- and off-campus memorial services were held.
The following month, Yale’s labor conflicts reached a
boiling point. On Wed., Feb. 12, Locals 34 and 35 voted not
to renew their contracts with the university. A strike for the
week of Mon., Mar. 3 was announced shortly after. A week
after Locals 34 and 35 cast their ballots, GESO members
remained divided.
GESO’s fight for union recognition stalled when graduate students voted against unionization on Wed., Apr. 30.
Yale’s study-abroad program was threatened by the outbreak of SARS, resulting in travel restrictions to destinations
across Asia. This left recipients of travel funding such as the
Light Fellowship without definite summer plans.
While students were on spring break, international issues returned to the forefront when the United States attacked Iraq on Wed., Mar. 20. U.S. involvement in Iraq
resulted in numerous demonstrations, panels, and debates
on campus.
Things remained relatively peaceful until the night of
Thurs., Mar. 20 when Katherine Lo, CC ’05, was threatened
inside her room for hanging a U.S. flag upside down outside
her suite. The university’s slow response to the threat sparked
an outcry from many students. In the midst of this, a number
of other acts of intolerance occurred, creating a racially and
politically charged campus.
Tensions were further aggravated by several other events
on campus. On Tues., Apr. 1, the United States Supreme
Court heard arguments in Gratz v.
Bollinger and Gutter v. Bollinger, two
cases challenging the legality of affirmative action. In a show of support
for affirmative action, many Yale students participated in a march in Washington, D.C. and a day of silence on
campus to simulate the absence of
minority students on campus.
Two weeks later, family members of the Reverend Fred Phelps led
a march near campus to show his
distaste for what he called Yale’s sexually liberal atmosphere. New Haven’s
bitter fight over recognizing samesex unions also led to protests and
media attention.
On Thurs., Apr. 3, the Senior
Class Council announced that Thomas L. Friedman, the foreign affairs
columnist for The New York Times,
would be the 2003 Class Day
YOO SUN CHEONG/YH
speaker.
Students gathered on Beinecke Plaza to support the troops in Iraq on Mar. 25, 2003.
As Yale headed into the summer, Levin celebrated 10
years in office with the publication of his first book, The
Work of the University, a collection of speeches.
Fall 2003
The start of the 2003-’04 school year was unlike any other
of the previous four years. On freshman move-in day, members of the class of 2007 and their parents were met with
chants of “What do we want? Contracts! When do we want
them? Now!” The voices of the striking members of New
Haven’s two largest unions, Locals 34 and 35, resonated in
national publications and in the ears of Yale students as they
attempted to shop for their fall-term classes. Throughout
September and part of October, students woke up to whistling, pot-banging, and shouting strikers. All dining halls but
FILE PHOTO
Yale College Dean Peter Salovey, GRD ’86, changed offices
three times in four years, rising through the ranks from chair
of the Psychology department to the college’s chief officer.
Commons closed. Students scrounged the city for food on
rebate checks. Some classes were moved off campus. And
members of the Yale community faced the daily dilemma of
crossing picket lines. At City Hall in mid-October, resolutions between the Yale administration and the unions drew
the strike to an official close.
In October, on the heels of the strike, the arrival of
Jeopardy! ’s college championships to Payne-Whitney Gymnasium excited Yale’s trivia buffs and Alex Trebek fans alike.
After rounds of tryouts, Robby Schrum, SM ’05, was selected
to represent Yale on television. All over campus, students
clamored for tickets to tapings of the show, and Schrum,
fueled by the ferocious support of a Yale-dominated studio
audience, made his way to the semi-finals of the championships. The ultimate winner of the tournament was Keith
Williams, then a freshman at Middlebury College.
On Halloween, former president Bill Clinton, LAW ’73,
delivered a speech on globalization to a packed Woolsey
Hall. But perhaps the most memorable weekend of the fall
centered around the Yale-Harvard football game. Though
the Cantabs had a rocky season, losing to the likes of
Columbia and Dartmouth, they were able to crush the
Bulldogs for the third straight time by a score of 37-19.
Although the Game itself was a letdown for Yale students,
big parties the night before, warm weather, and packed
tailgates on the day of the game made Yale-Harvard weekend a success.
To many students, the saddest news of the semester
came with the announcement that Yale College Dean Richard Brodhead, BR ’68, GRD ’72, would leave Yale in the
summer of 2004. After almost 40 years in New Haven as a
college student, graduate student, English professor, and
beloved dean, Brodhead became Duke University’s ninth
president in July.
Spring 2004
The university was in the press more than usual in the
spring of 2004 due to the high proportion of Yale alumni in
(continued on pages 20 and 21)
THE YALE HERALD
• Commencement 2006
24 • Commencement
Amid overseas conflicts, Yale was a center of protest,
the U.S. presidential race. With three Yale graduates vying however, pointed to the two-year limitation of registering performer compared to Columbia’s Kanye West, Penn’s
for the Democratic presidential candidacy, the world soon harassment complaints. Wolf had waited two decades. Wyclef Jean, and Colgate College’s Dave Matthews, Yale’s
learned about Yale student life in the ’60s—including After a few weeks of public attention, nothing came of Third Eye Blind brought back plenty of fond middle school
memories.
Senator Joseph Lieberman’s (D-Conn.), DC ’64, LAW ’67, Wolf’s accusation.
post as Yale Daily News editor-in-chief and Senator John
Come April, Yale was involved in yet another scandal.
Kerry’s (D-Mass.), JE ’66, stint as president of the Yale After releasing its popular online dating service “YaleStation
As the class of 2005 returned to New Haven in the fall
Political Union, among others. In addition, President Degrees,” the Yale College Council (YCC) was soon accused
of 2004 for its final year under the elms, the students
George W. Bush, DC ’68, a famed Skull and Bones
found that much had changed during their three
member, was the candidate of choice for the Repubmonths away. While Pierson residents marveled at
lican Party.
their newly renovated rooms, the campus noted the
While the Yale College Democrats tugged in five
conspicuous absence of former Dean Richard
different directions—for General Wesley Clark and SenaBrodhead, BR ’68, GRD ’72, as he began his first term
tor John Edwards (D-N.C.), in addition to the Yale
as president of Duke University. While these changes
alumni—students prepared for primaries by serving as
were to be expected, students were surprised by yet
interns and shoring up support on campus for their
another shift in the Yale front offices within their first
respective candidates.
days back.
As students looked forward to changes in leaderOn Thurs., Aug. 26, then-Yale Provost Susan
ship beyond New Haven, Levin announced in early
Hockfield was named the 16th president of MIT, conFebruary that Peter Salovey, GRD ’86, would become
tinuing a trend of administrative exodus, from former
the new dean of Yale College, while History departProvost Judith Rodin’s presidency at the University of
ment Chair Jon Butler would take over where Salovey
Pennsylvania to Brodhead’s move to Duke. While Yale
left off as dean of the Graduate School. The selection
administrators moved up in the ranks of some of
committee, headed by Levin, hoped that the appointZVIKA KRIEGER/YH
America’s best institutions, the campus was left wonment of Salovey would not only soften the blow of
Brodhead’s departure but also improve relations be- Members of the Undergraduate Organizing Committee, including Ward 1 dering what prompted the sudden turnover. As history
tween the College and Graduate School. Graduate and aldermanic candidate Rebecca Livengood, SY ’07, occupied the Admissions Professor Emeritus Gaddis Smith framed the issue, the
Office on Thurs., Feb. 24 seeking financial aid reform.
changes were all too natural. “It’s like if you had a fleet
undergraduate students alike voiced concerns over
the tension between the two parts of the university, an issue of intellectual-property theft by Wesleyan students. The of terrific cars, and in 10 years you replace them all,” Smith,
that many hoped Salovey would solve with his prior experi- founders of Wesleyan University’s dating service accused who is also authoring a history of the 20th century’s impact
ence as Graduate School dean.
the YCC of copying substantial portions of their web site on Yale, said. “[President Richard] Levin [GRD ’74] was
As one of Yale’s top administrators made plans to de- “WesMatch.” Upon hearing of the allegations, YCC Presi- blessed with tremendous continuity, and now it’s catching
part the university, accusations were made against one of dent Elliott Mogul, TD ’05, immediately disabled the survey up with him.”
Two months later, Chemistry department Chair Andrew
Yale’s top faculty members. After 20 years of silence, Naomi section of YaleStation Degrees.
Wolf, DC ’84, accused renowned Humanities Professor
Later that month, the YCC hosted a memorable Spring Hamilton was tapped to take over Hockfield’s office on
Harold Bloom of sexually harassing her during her senior Fling with musical guest Third Eye Blind. As expected of a Hillhouse Ave. While Hamilton’s appointment filled a void
year. Wolf’s accusation came in the form of an article in student body as diverse in backgrounds as in musical on the Yale campus, most students focused their attention on
New York Magazine. A published feminist author, Wolf interests, students sent the YCC mixed messages about the the larger election at hand—the 2004 presidential race besaid she chose to go public because Yale had ignored her selected musical group to highlight the biggest social event tween Democrat John Kerry, JE ’66, and Republican George
repeated requests to discuss the incident. The university, on campus. Despite complaints of scoring a lackluster W. Bush, DC ’68.
Fall 2004
When the students of the class of 2005 entered Yale as freshmen in the fall of 2001, they had been culled from one of the largest applicant pools in Yale history.
The group was not just intelligent, but diverse, intriguing, and ready to make its mark on Yale. These figures illustrate the unique composition of the class of 2005.
APPLICANT
breakdown
Applicants:
14,809
Accepted:
2,038
Matriculated:
1,296
Yale College
and Graduate/
Professional
School legacies: 169
SCHOOL
origin
Public:
54 percent
Independent,
parochial,
other:
46 percent
SAT
median range
Verbal:
Math:
680-770
680-770
ACADEMIC
interests
History:
Political Science:
Economics:
English:
Biology:
Psychology:
MB&B:
201
167
144
104
83
81
35
Home is where the heart is…
American Studies:
EP&E:
History of Science,
History of Medicine:
Literature:
Mathematics:
Sociology:
34
33
33
25
25
24
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS…
While the Northeast represents a hefty portion of the class of 2005, students represented all 50 states, and
approximately 57 percent of the class is drawn from states or countries outside the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States. International students make up 10 percent of the class. A sampling of representation follows:
New York
California
Connecticut
Texas
Massachusetts
New Jersey
190
158
98
65
63
58
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Florida
Virginia
Illinois
Ohio
48
48
39
37
33
27
Sources: Office of Institutional Research
Commencement 2006 • THE YALE HERALD
Commencement • 25
political action, and the 2004 presidential campaign.
SY ’07. While both candidates ran as Democrats, significant differences between the two emerged as the race
progressed during March. Weeks stressed his role as a
defender of clean elections, while Livengood’s active
membership in the Undergraduate Organizing Committee (UOC) came under scrutiny. On Thurs., Feb. 24,
the group had staged a controversial, vocal protest
outside of the Admissions Office on Hillhouse Ave. in
support of financial aid reform. The demonstration
garnered attention from the national media, but it also
spawned campus criticism, with claims that the UOC’s
targeting of the Admissions Office was misguided. Nevertheless, the administration eventually offered an improved financial aid package, leaving students wondering whether such methods would drive Livengood’s offcampus politics as well.
In the end, Livengood prevailed, capturing the nomiDANNY MINDLIN/YH
nation of the Ward 1 Democratic Committee—a victory
Members of GESO gathered along Elm St. in the week of Mon., Apr. that inspired the mayor’s support and effectively sealed
18 to assert their right to unionization. The protest was Yale’s fifth the September election for her, as Weeks elected to drop
labor strike in the last 15 years.
out of the race.
Even with the Ward 1 aldermanic post all but decided,
National media outlets salivated over the Skull and
Bones face-off, but many Yalies avoided the hype by the end of the semester was far from smooth sailing. In midworking in key states and on campus to fight for their April, the Yale administration’s strained relations with its
candidate of choice. The “Bush Busters” bussed droves of teaching assistants flared up again as the members of the
Democrats northward to the hotly contested state of New Graduate Employees and Students Organization (GESO)
Hampshire, while the Yale College Republicans experi- voted to hold a five-day strike in hopes of being recognized
enced a campus resurgence after a few years of relative as a union. The strike, which challenged the 2004 National
dormancy. Most politically active Yalies adopted the Labor Relations Board decision stipulating that graduate
grassroots spirit; one zealous Eli, however, found himself students at private universities do not have the right to
momentarily thrust into the national spotlight. At the unionize, brought several union supporters to campus, inRepublican National Convention in New York City, Pierson cluding the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who had previously joined
junior Thomas Frampton was arrested by Secret Service Locals 34 and 35 in support of their 2003 strike.
While the GESO strike interrupted the final week of
agents after charging toward Vice President Dick Cheney
while shouting anti-Bush epithets. Frampton’s charges classes as graduate educators took to the streets, it failed to
were later dropped, but the episode only added to the accomplish the organization’s goals. In many ways, the
tension surrounding the election. Tues., Nov. 2 came and strike highlighted the existing divisions within the organiwent, bringing good news to some and bad to others, but zation: A low turnout of science educators marked the
even after Bush’s divisive reelection, the campus found an distinction between Science Hill and central campus TAs,
while several scathing op-eds attacked the organization’s
issue that all could agree on—tailgating.
At the 121st Game, in Cambridge, Mass., Yalies of all overbearing recruitment methods. Most important, the
political persuasions assumed that the traditional face-off strike revealed that labor relations have been and will rebetween Crimson and Blue would be coupled with the main a heated issue on the Yale campus.
traditional downing of several frosty brews. Much to the
dismay of the Harvard Undergraduate Council (HUC), the
Boston Police department decided to clamp down on unDays before students returned to New Haven for the
derage revelry by enforcing tighter restrictions at the Sat.,
Nov. 20 tailgate, which included wristbands, a keg ban, and 2005-2006 school year, disaster struck the country. On
limiting beer dispensing to an outside vendor. Despite Mon., Aug. 29, Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orunsuccessful negotiation attempts with the police, the HUC leans, Louisiana, leaving behind a submerged city, thouwas unable to lift the restrictions before The Game. Few sands dead, and many more stranded across the Gulf Coast.
tailgaters, however, found their experience hampered by Members of the Yale community responded generously
limited access to alcohol. Rather, it was the Bulldogs’ dis- over the following months and raised a total of $748,915 in
mal 35-3 loss to the Cantabs that ruined the party for most relief funds. The University hosted students unable to atYalies. Even so, Yale had the last laugh as a group of Eli tend their own universities and aided in an effort to resettle
undergrads—led by Mike Kai, PC ’05, and David Aulicino, displaced Gulf families in the New Haven area.
Local news did little to counterbalance the national
PC ’05, and disguised as the “Harvard Pep Squad”—fooled
the Crimson faithful into spelling out “We Suck” with 1,800 tragedy: At the beginning of the year a surge in muggings led
to greater vigilance among students and increased security
red and white cardboard signs.
measures by the Yale Police.
Despite a gloomy start, incoming freshmen were greeted
with a new freshman-year program under the guidance of
The class of 2005 began its first Yale semester in trag- George Levesque, the new assistant dean of freshman afedy, as students huddled together in candlelit vigils after fairs. Davenport students also had reason to celebrate as
the horrific events of Sept. 11. Sadly, its last semester began they settled into their newly renovated building, while
with a similar disaster—the Sun., Dec. 26 tsunami which Trumbullians prepared for a year in Swing Space. The
decimated much of Southeast Asia. With the same fervor School of Music had good news of its own and announced,
they showed four years before, Yalies rushed to the victims’ on Wed., Nov. 2, that it had received a gift of $100 million—
aid, donating blood and setting up benefits for the Red the largest-ever donation to an institution of music—from
Cross and other tsunami charities. A handful of students anonymous donors.
Both national and local issues fueled campus discusand Medical School staffers even traveled to Sri Lanka to
sions. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s rehelp in the relief efforts.
On campus, the Yale Student Activities Council (YSAC) tirement and the death of Supreme Court Justice William H.
planned Yale’s first ever Winter Arts Festival and donated all Rehnquist left two positions open and President George W.
proceeds to the victims. The kick-off show at Battell Chapel Bush, DC ’68, nominated John Roberts, LAW ’79, and
on Fri., Jan. 21 brought together a capella groups Tangled Samuel Alito Jr., LAW ’75.
Local politics centered around Yale-New Haven
Up in Blue, Proof of the Pudding, and the Duke's Men,
comedy group Just Add Water, dance groups Yaledancers Hospital’s multi-million dollar proposal for a 14-story cliniand Rhythmic Blue, step group Steppin' Out, and dancer cal cancer center. While hospital officials pressed for the
Avanti Verma, BK ’08, performing alongside Sri Lankan pop project’s progress, labor activists halted the plans.
Cancer center politics became the defining issue during
star Ranidu Lankage, PC ’05.
After such an outpouring of international support, the the Ward 1 aldermanic face-off between incumbent Rebecca
focus turned back to campus as the spring progressed, bring- Livengood, SY ’07, and Nick Shalek, TD ’05, who ran on the
ing with it the always hotly contested aldermanic elections. In Independent Party ticket. While Shalek unequivocally supanticipation of the expiration of Ward 1 alderman Ben Healy’s, ported the cancer center proposal for the benefits it would
BR ’04, two-year term, two candidates emerged as his poten- bring to the city, Livengood advocated a more responsible
tial successors—Dan Weeks, BK ’06, and Rebecca Livengood, treatment of the hospital workers’ right to unionize. On
Fall 2005
Tues., Nov. 8, students flocked to the polls and ultimately
appointed Shalek Ward 1 alderman.
Yale football fans experienced a let down at the annual
showdown between the Bulldogs and Cantabs. While Yale’s
new policy on drinking—which ordered tailgates to cease at
halftime—caused no major problems, Yale failed to capitalize on its home-field advantage. Despite an early lead, the
Bulldogs lost in triple overtime, sending Harvard off with
a 30-24 victory.
Spring 2006
After winter break, members of Students Taking Action
Now: Darfur (STAND) held a rally on Thurs., Jan. 26, in an
effort to induce Yale’s divestment from corporations doing
business with the Sudanese government. The next morning,
STAND delivered a 1,100-signature petition to the Yale Corporation, which—following a report made by the Advisory
Committee on Investor Responsibility (ACIR)—decided to
divest from Sudan on Sat., Feb. 11.
As students prepared for the upcoming summer, Yale
worked on increasing its opportunities abroad. The International Summer Award (ISA) expanded, while the international Bulldogs at Yale program added Athens, Tokyo, and
Brussels to its list of destinations.
In their spare time, Yalies kicked back and relaxed on the
University’s tab. On Fri., Feb. 3, students swamped Commons Dining Hall to welcome Swedish artist Günther—best
known for his signature tune the “Ding Dong song”—to his
first concert in the United States. While enthusiasm ran high,
the event was far from cheap: The Yale College Council (YCC)
and the Committee for Campus-Wide Activites (CCA) allotted up to $16,000 to entice the Pleasureman and the Sunshine Girls, his two backup singers, to New Haven.
Those not sufficiently titillated by Günther’s sojourn could
look forward to Sex Week at Yale, which started Mon., Feb. 13
and boasted a program that included an appearance from
Pirates porn star Jesse Jane, a lingerie fashion show designed by Brynne Lieb, CC ’07, a diversified line of speakers,
and a Sex Week at Yale magazine.
On Tues., Feb. 21, Harvard attracted national attention
when then-president Larry Summers—condemned by a noconfidence vote from Harvard faculty members—announced
that he would resign at the end of June.
That same week, Yale also raised some eyebrows when
the New York Times Magazine ran an article on 27-yearold Sayed Rahmatullah Hashemi, a nondegree student at
Yale who served as an Afghani diplomat for the Taliban
government.
The year ended on a positive note as students enjoyed
performances from Ben Folds and Ludacris at Spring Fling.
The YCC lured the high-profile artists thanks to the Student
Activities Fee (SAF)—administered for the first time this
year—which added $168,450 to the YCC’s yearly budget.
Spring Fling cost a total of $145,000—almost $50,000 more
than last year.
—Compiled by Natasha Kim, Brian Bowen, Annie Hung,
and Phuoc La.
Spring 2005
FILE PHOTO
Günther and the Sunshine Girls graced Commons Dining Hall
thanks to the YCC’s Student Activities Fee (SAF).
THE YALE HERALD
• Commencement 2006