T H E O L D E ST C O L L E G E DA I LY · FO U N D E D 1 8 7 8
NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT · MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2012 · VOL. CXXXV, NO. 39 · yaledailynews.com
INSIDE THE NEWS MORNING EVENING
SUNNY SUNNY
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CROSS CAMPUS
FOOTBALL BULLDOGS PUT AN END TO LOSING
DONOVAN
PROP 8
DISCIPLINE
Former School of Medicine admin alleges age discrimination
CALIFORNIA COURT RULING COMES TO DRAMATIC LIFE
Connecticut experts selected for national education panel
PAGE B1 SPORTS
PAGE 3 SCI-TECH
PAGE 3 CULTURE
PAGE 5 CITY
City education reform praised
FALL ARRIVES IN ELM CITY
Don’t know what to watch on TV? The News’ website will
be live streaming the third presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney today at 9 p.m. If you need a quick study break, or if you just want to freshen up on U.S. politics before the fall recess, make sure to check out the website to witness the final showdown.
BY MONICA DISARE STAFF REPORTER
Swinging back. After a month-
long repair process, the Branford Courtyard swing is back in business, continuing to serve stressed-out students and young tourists with a new wooden plank. The swing, which had to be repaired because the wood near the rope connector was wearing down, had been temporarily unavailable since Sept. 18.
SHOWING THEIR TRUE COLORS
ALLIE KRAUSE/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Pierson Master Harvey Goldblatt and Dean Amerigo Fabbri GRD ’03 have taken the theme of Pierson’s annual “Inferno” dance to heart. The two college administrators decked out in colorful garb and head gear as part of a promotional campaign to advertise Pierson’s upcoming costume-themed dance, which will take place Nov. 3.
FALL FOLIAGE ANTICIPATES BREAK With the leaves on campus beginning to turn, students only have two days of classes this week before October recess — a new five-day fall break first introduced by University President Richard Levin and Yale College Dean Mary Miller over a year ago.
More sex and God at Yale.
Nathan Harden ’09, author of the controversial book “Sex and God at Yale,”is back again to take another hit at the University’s sexual culture. In a recent editorial, Harden cited a flyer for a fake Saybrook Master’s Tea with “Wilma Dickfit” as an example of Yale’s spiral into a “bizarre and sad sexual dystopia.” Despite his claim that the flyer “wouldn’t be so troubling if it weren’t so true to life,” Dickfit did not appear on campus.
Row, row, row your boat.
London 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Charlie Cole ’07 is in the running to become America’s favorite rower. He is a finalist in the USRowing’s Fan’s Choice Award for “National Team Rower of the Year.” Voting ends at 5 p.m.
THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY
1881 The Yale Banner revamps its appearance, featuring a larger number of original cartoons. Submit tips to Cross Campus
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SEE EDUCATION PAGE 4
New Haven eyes charter reform BY DIANA LI AND CHRIS PEAK STAFF REPORTERS
Partying politics. Over the weekend, the Yale College Democrats battled the Yale College Republicans in their annual game of “Partisan Pong.” After a grueling match, the Democrats came out on top, clinching the victory after winning 11 points compared to the GOP’s eight.
With the November elections in two weeks and a debate over the direction of the country’s school system taking place nationwide, ongoing education reform in New Haven has become the subject of praise from local, state and national political officials. On Sunday afternoon, Mayor John DeStefano Jr. attended Hill Central School’s dedication ceremony to celebrate the renovation of the pre-kindergarten to eighth grade building. Last week, Gov. Dannel Malloy visited Community High School in New Haven to observe progress on the school’s reform initiatives. And according to a press release last week from United Way, White House officials are impressed with the city’s efforts to engage local residents as part of the School Change Initiative and are looking to spread the reform model to other communities. All of this recognition comes amidst New Haven’s school change effort — the result of a 2009 teachers’ contract many observers said was groundbreaking.
New Haven residents will have a once-in-a-decade opportunity to make major changes to city government in coming months, potentially reshaping City Hall and the political playing field. The city is initiating a pro-
cess to revise its charter — the basis for the city’s government — which has not been revised since 1993. City Hall is required to consider charter revisions at least once every 10 years by the charter and must follow specific procedures set out in state law. Last week, the Board of Aldermen took the first steps
Div school dean articulates vision BY ALEKSANDRA GJORGIEVSKA STAFF REPORTER As he awaits his inauguration this Tuesday, Divinity School Dean Gregory Sterling has already started to implement his vision for the school. Sterling, who served as the dean of the University of Notre Dame’s Graduate School before he assumed leadership of the Divinity School in August 2012, said his plans for the school focus on inclusivity. He said he intends to bolster financial aid, which will help the school recruit students from a broader range of geographic and theological backgrounds, and he has begun working to meet current students and faculty in the Divinity School. “Openness to engage one another is something we need to model for the rest of the world,” Sterling said. “We need to embrace people from across the theological spectrum, so that individuals can openly disagree with others in a civil way. This is often absent in ecclesiastic circles.” In an effort to increase diver-
of the process by proposing a list of potential topics and candidates for a charter revision commission of up to 15 members. After the commission proposes a series of changes, voters must decide whether or not to approve them at the ballot box. Charter revision could include changing the number
of aldermen that represent the city, lengthening the mayor’s term or setting limits on the amount of time public officials can spend in office. “The charter is to the city like the Constitution is to the country, so revising it is a serious and important opportunity,” City Hall spokeswoman Elizabeth Benton ’04 said.
APPOINTING A COMMISSION
According to the city charter, the charter revision process must be initiated before June 30, 2013 with the creation of a charter revision commission of up to 15 members. SEE CHARTER PAGE 4
Ginsburg reflects on career
sity at the Divinity School, Sterling aims to raise $35 million for financial aid and make it possible for some students with financial need to attend the school for free by 2025.
Openness to engage one another is something we need to model for the rest of the world. GREGORY STERLING Dean, Yale Divinity School HENRY SIMPERINGHAM/SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Sterling said financial aid reform is particularly pressing because Divinity School alumni rarely secure lucrative careers right after graduation, which makes many applicants hesitant to take out student loans to finance their education. “The challenge is that many of our students will not immediately enter positions where they will make six figures after SEE STERLING PAGE 6
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Friday lecture at Battell Chapel was the last of three events on Yale’s campus featuring the Supreme Court Justice. BY ALEKSANDRA GJORGIEVSKA STAFF REPORTER Through a mix of personal anecdotes and legal case analysis, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg reflected on her role in shaping the U.S. legal system at a Friday afternoon talk. Ginsburg, who was introduced by Yale Law School Dean Robert Post, took part
in an hour-long discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and Yale Law School lecturer Linda Greenhouse LAW ’78 before a packed Battell Chapel. Friday’s lecture was the last of three events featuring Ginsburg that took place while she was on campus for the first Gruber Distinguished Lecture Series in Women’s Rights, organized by SEE GINSBURG PAGE 6