24 • Commencement
Transcription
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