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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 · WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 · VOL. CXXXVI, NO. 11 · yaledailynews.com

INSIDE THE NEWS MORNING EVENING

SUNNY SUNNY

77 84

CROSS CAMPUS In memoriam. Today is the 12th

anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks.

ART GALLERIES FRESHMEN TOUR YUAG AND YCBA

SYRIA

ORIENTATION

MEN’S SOCCER

International relations experts weigh pros and cons of U.S. intervention

NEW PROFESSORS EXPERIENCE THEIR OWN CAMP YALE

Peter Jacobson ’14 records a hat trick in first victory of the season

PAGES 6-7 CULTURE

PAGES 3 NEWS

PAGE 3 NEWS

PAGE 12 SPORTS

And then there were two 49.8%

23.2%

Harp

Elicker

Attention, seniors. Your last fall semester course schedules ever are due today at 5 p.m. Cross your t’s and dot your i’s, and don’t get fined. Still made the podium. Yale came in third in U.S. News’s latest college rankings, which ranked more than a thousand U.S. universities on factors including graduation rate, selectivity and competitiveness of the incoming class. Princeton came in first, followed by Harvard in second and Columbia in fourth. Stanford and the University of Chicago tied for fifth place. Looks like having a social life wasn’t a factor for U.S. News.

BY LARRY MILSTEIN AND ISAAC STANLEY-BECKER CONTRIBUTING REPORTER AND STAFF REPORTER

18.9%

8.1%

Fernandez

standing tough with me,” Harp said to a crowd of supporters Tuesday night at her victory party. “Each and every one of you gave me your blood, sweat and tears. Each and every one of you want a new New Haven.” Elicker held his election party at O’Toole’s on Orange Street. He

Ward 7 Alderman Doug Hausladen ’04 defended his bid for re-election to the New Haven Board of Aldermen on Tuesday, withstanding a Democratic primary challenge mounted by Ella Wood ’15. The final count gave 331 votes to Hausladen and 232 to Wood, dwarfing 2011’s turnout levels and delivering a victory to the incumbent. On his way to a post-returns party hosted by mayoral hopeful and Ward 10 Alderman Justin Elicker FES ’10 SOM ’10, Hausladen said he felt “terrific.” “The voters of Ward 7 have made their votes count,” he said. “They’re going to have a strong independent voice on the Board, and I’m looking forward to the Democratic Party supporting me in the general election.” Wood, an Ezra Stiles junior from Albuquerque, N.M., filed paperwork to oppose Hausladen in early August, two days after moving from her apartment in Ward 2 to Ward 7. Simultaneously, she filed to run as an Independent in the general election pending a loss in the primary. In the wake of Tuesday’s results, Wood said she is “not sure” whether she will stay in the race through November, a decision that she added will be based on “conversations with all of my supporters.” Many of those supporters crowded into the New Haven Hall of Records to await the announcement of the vote count at Wood’s side. She said Tuesday afternoon that she had amassed a volunteer staff of roughly 35 people, comprising both Ward 7 residents

SEE MAYORAL RACE PAGE 4

SEE WARD 7 PAGE 4

Carolina

127 hours of egging. Before

the world famous actor James Franco, formerly GRD ’16, began his illustrious English career at Yale, he made a name for himself in Palo Alto, Calif. egging houses and causing ruckus. An apology letter written by the 14-year-old miscreant recently surfaced online thanking the victims of Franco’s pranks for not involving the police. “It will never enter my mind to do something like this ever again,” Franco wrote. Good thing the cameras weren’t rolling.

Race in Russia. Though 2010 World Fellow Alexei Navalny received international attention for his anti-Putin campaign and race to become Moscow’s next mayor, he did not garner enough votes in Sunday’s election to keep vying for the position. Election officials announced that Navalny received 27 percent of the vote, far more than his supporters expected, but not enough to overtake Sergei Sobyanin, who won 51 percent of the vote. Cutting law school short.

In a recent Washington Post op-ed, law professor Bruce Ackerman LAW ’67 repudiated President Obama for saying law school should last only two years rather than the standard three. Ackerman argued that the third year of law school is not just an “expensive frill,” but rather an essential year for budding lawyers to understand the cross-applications of economics, statistics and psychology in law. Still, one can imagine that many law students would not mind saving a year of tuition. THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY

1991 More than 300 students join together in a cake-eating protest against dining hall budget cuts and what they call a “declining quality in student life.” The protesters, who feasted on a cake shaped like Commons dining hall, denounced then-President Benno Schmidt’s decision to close Commons for dinner. Submit tips to Cross Campus

crosscampus@yaledailynews.com

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Hausladen fends off Ward 7 challenger

FERNANDEZ AND CAROLINA DROP OUT OF THE MAYORAL RACE AFTER HARP CLAIMS VICTORY IN THE PRIMARY BY DIANA LI STAFF REPORTER After a months-long campaign and a final day of get-out-the-vote efforts, two candidates remain following Tuesday’s Democratic primary election. State Sen. Toni Harp ARC ’78 took home 49.8 percent of the votes, followed by Ward 10 Alderman Justin Elicker FES ’10 SOM ’10 with 23.2 percent, former city economic development director Henry Fer-

nandez LAW ’94 with 18.9 percent and Hillhouse High School Principal Kermit Carolina with 8.1 percent. Shortly after the results were finalized, Fernandez and Carolina announced that, despite being eligible to run as Independent candidates in the general election, they would not run again. Their withdrawals narrow down the field to two aiming to replace retiring Mayor John DeStefano Jr. after 20 years in office. “My family has taken it on the chin, and I want to thank them for

Unions poised to expand control

MORE INSIDE For more on the New Haven elections, see pages 4 and 5.

President’s house undergoing renovation

CANDIDATES BACKED BY UNIONS RETAIN MAJORITY ON BOARD OF ALDERMEN BY MATTHEW LLOYD-THOMAS STAFF REPORTER When the Board of Aldermen begins its next session in January, the balance of power will have barely shifted from its current political state, leaving much of the decision-making in the hands of union-backed legislators. Tuesday’s Democratic primary showed that 2011, when union-backed candidates swept into power, was no fluke. The city’s unions exerted their strength on Tuesday, capturing a decisive victory in the mayoral primary while maintaining their majority on the Board of Aldermen. The results pave the way for an even greater presence of organized labor in the city’s policy-making. At the same time, the hopes of candidates running to dent the union “supermajority” are dimmer after Tuesday’s vote count, when New Haven voters expressed satisfaction with the present dynamics of the board. “We’re going to work in collaboration,” Ward 22 Alderman Jeanette Morrison said of the Board’s relationship with the mayor. “It’s no more us versus them because Toni Harp buys into the board’s agenda.” In 20 of the 30 wards, the

aldermanic races were uncontested. In 18 of those wards, the incumbent alderman ran unopposed, while in Wards 10 and 13 Anna Festa and Rosa Santana ran without challengers. Of the 10 contested races, seven included incumbents, all of whom emerged victorious after election officials announced the results Tuesday evening. Currently, union-backed aldermen hold 20 seats on the board. Although affiliations between candidates and unions do not always come in the form of formal endorsements, Tuesday’s results suggest that number is likely to remain materially the same. And after labor-friendly mayoral candidate Toni Harp ARC ’78 took the Democratic nomination with a wide margin of victory, the dynamic between the Board of Aldermen and the mayor’s office is likely to change come January. Current Mayor John DeStefano Jr.’s relationships with the board and the city’s unions were often contentious throughout his 20-year occupancy of the top seat in City Hall, and the mayor was frequently criticized for stepping over the Board. Ward 1 Alderman Sarah SEE UNIONS PAGE 4

CHARLOTTE LOVEJOY/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A $17-million renovation of 43 Hillhouse will include updating electrical and mechanical systems. BY JULIA ZORTHIAN STAFF REPORTER Though the President’s House at 43 Hillhouse Ave. showcased University Art Gallery pieces and hosted over 150 events a year, the Victorian gothic mansion — which has not undergone renovation since 1937 — had long required updates and was not ready for newly appointed University President Peter Salovey. The University planned to renovate the house even before Salovey told the News in April that he would move into the residence,

which has not been home to a Yale president since Bartlett Giamatti left in 1986, so the building has been undergoing a series of renovations to be completed in fall 2014, said Provost Benjamin Polak, who is overseeing the project. Woodbridge Hall Chief of Staff Joy McGrath said she is working to relocate the events normally held in the space during the $17 million project, which will include adding handicap accessibility and updating electrical and mechanical systems. SEE SALOVEY PAGE 8

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YALE DAILY NEWS · WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 · yaledailynews.com

OPINION

.COMMENT “TYCO has needed to GTFO for a while.” yaledailynews.com/opinion

'GOLDIE '08' ON 'FORUM: SHOPPING PERIOD'

Salovey, speak The irony of ‘justice and development’ out on drinking G U E S T C O L U M N I S T S E R A T O L G AY

L

ast April, when the Yale College Council asked then-President Richard Levin to publicly support lowering the drinking age, the student body laughed. It was absurd, silly, ill-timed. It wouldn’t happen, we thought — and if it did, our voice would certainly sink in the big pond of national politics. But after the inauguration of Peter Salovey — who has since used his pulpit to speak out on federal issues like immigration, research funding and wealth inequality — we should no longer laugh too hard. The YCC’s proposal was not preposterous; in fact, it is now right. If our president is indeed serious about making Yale “a leader in reducing high-risk drinking” — which he said just this past week — then he cannot duck when it comes to fully committing our school to the big fight on the national stage. The merits of lowering the drinking age are relatively clear. We know that college students drink. But the current law drives college students “underground” to consume alcohol, like when students take shots in quick succession in dorm rooms. The current drinking age also edges students toward other illegal activities, such as purchasing fake IDs in order to enter bars and clubs. What’s more, 21 is a false threshold for maturity, if such a threshold even exists. Last year’s alcohol report, which surveyed over 2,000 Yale students, found that upperclassmen actually drink more irresponsibly than younger students. Seniors, the report found, more frequently engaged in binge drinking than any other class. It is telling, then, that Yale acts as if all students were able to openly drink. Our programs are created with the purpose of mitigating the dangers of drinking, not stopping alcohol consumption itself. Freshmen take a skit-based online course before they arrive, as well as attend orientation meetings designed to acclimate them to the drinking scene. For all current students, the Dean’s Office even offers a “bartending class” to teach us how to serve alcohol and intervene effectively. If we already act as if all of campus were of drinking age, why wouldn’t we support a change in the law? Our effort to deal with the reality of underage drinking clashes with our duty to teach students to respect existing laws. Indeed, one cannot wholly advocate for both abstinence and protection. An 18-year-old drinking age — or 19-year-old, in order to avoid legal drinking by high school seniors — would complete the circuit in our “safety first” alcohol strategy. If we do choose to go ahead and announce our support for change, it would not be hard.

Our school will not be alone. In fact, we would be joining a group of 136 colleges, includGENG ing DartNGARMmouth and BOONANANT Duke, who are signatories of the Geng’s Amethyst All Here I n i t i a t i ve . Amethyst — which means “not intoxicated” in Greek — is a coalition of college presidents who urge a reconsideration of the national drinking age. They may not be able to battle Mothers Against Drunk Driving singlehandedly, but it is certainly a beginning. While there are limitations to what a university can do, we have seen that Yale’s half-amillion lobbying budget can change things. In 2007, Richard Jacob, the University lobbyist, led the opposition against proposed academic research restrictions on international students, which had been discussed in the Bush administration as a potential response to the 9/11 attacks. Jacob, along with a coalition of universities, orchestrated a campaign against the proposal, which included phone calls, mail, policy statements and meetings. In the end, the proposal never became law. To say that we are ineffective — that our words don’t matter, especially when joined by hundreds of peer schools — is a vast understatement. The time is perfect for change. This fall, the University Council Committee on Alcohol, which is made up of five university officials and five alcohol experts, will recommend major reforms to our school’s alcohol policies and programs. Among these recommendations should be public University support for a lower drinking age. Otherwise, the inherent contradiction in our alcohol strategy will never be fully resolved. In the end, the drinking age is not simply an issue of our right to choose. It is a matter of policy inconsistency. In this country, a 19-year-old can choose to risk her life on a battlefield but cannot take a sip of beer. At this school, the law prohibits us from fully enforcing alcohol safety, no matter how effective our program. As all economists know, inconsistencies lead to real costs. In this case, the biggest cost is not financial — it is personal, and it results in injuries, hospitalizations and damaged lives. GENG NGARMBOONANANT is a junior in Silliman College. Contact him at wishcha.ngarmboonanant@yale. edu .

T

ens of thousands — bridging left and right, pious and secular — spontaneously came together for the first time in Turkey’s history this June. Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s strongman politics and megaprojects, notably the demolition of Istanbul’s Gezi Park to make way for yet another shopping mall, were met with the strongest critics yet. Protests cropped up across cities as the sit-in against the park’s demolition snowballed into a demonstration against the Justice and Development Party (AKP)’s increasing authoritarianism. Yesterday, anti-government protests were revived as demonstrators clashed with police in Istanbul, Ankara and southern Turkey following the funeral of a 22-year-old protester. Though the Gezi protests are old news for the global media, “Gezi” remains the point of reference in Turkish politics. Public forums have sprung up in parks throughout Istanbul to fill the void of parliamentary opposition. A month ago, verdicts for the Ergenekon trial, which tried alleged coup plotters, were handed down in a purpose-built courtroom outside Istanbul. Only 21 of the 275 accused, including a former chief of staff, lawyers, journalists and academics, were acquitted. But defense lawyers have long claimed that much of the evidence was doctored. Families of the accused were not allowed into

court and the police teargased the thousand-strong group outside. The trial is seen as AKP’s witchhunt for critics — using conspiracy to quash dissent and reinforce AKP’s moral superiority as a democratically elected party persecuted by ex-military personnel and allies. In the meantime, AKP leaders are constructing the world’s biggest courthouse in Kartal. This is the way they have chosen to implement the party’s vision of “justice and development” — megaprojects complimented by increasing control of the judiciary, the arrest of lawyers and judges, the highest number of imprisoned journalists, harsh tax fines on businesses thought to be supporting dissenters. AKP has not only revived but also intensified the tactics of the old state it once used to abhor. As of late August, at least 60 journalists have been fired or forced to resign for covering the protests, indicating that the Turkish media moguls have only gotten better at self-censorship. Erdogan recently threatened to sue the British Times for publishing a letter by the likes of Sean Penn and David Lynch, who condemned his “dictatorial rule.” The Turkish Minister for EU Affairs called the letter “a crime against humanity.” AKP leadership has been keen on using such Orwellian doublespeak, appropriating the language of human rights whilst violating human rights. In the absence of an indepen-

dent media, the majority in Turkey, who are excluded from international coverage and social media, are solely exposed this kind of rhetoric. “Every four years we hold elections and this nation makes its choice,” Mr. Erdogan had said in response to the protests in June. “Those who have a problem with government’s policies can express their opinions within the framework of law and democracy.” That very framework of law and democracy is corroding while AKP keeps preaching democratic values; therein lies the irony of AKP’s “justice and development.” Turkey has been hailed as a model democracy for the rest of the Middle East. After all, GDP growth averaged over five percent a year since the AKP took office in 2002. Justifiably, many were taken by surprise by the excessive police brutality against protestors, which left 7,478 injured and five dead. Yet instead of engaging with the protestors like a “model democracy,” AKP did its best to criminalize protestors and threatened to gather AKP supporters against demonstrators. In a country that prides itself for being a “cultural mosaic,” the AKP’s aggression only served to further divides. Party officials have traced the protests’ roots from domestic terrorist groups to the mysterious “interest rate lobby” with tentacles reaching Brazil, but to none of AKP’s own policies. The U.S.’s grand strategy in the Middle East, working with mod-

erate Islamist groups like Turkey's AKP and Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, was forecasted to make the region more democratic by supporting the moderates and isolating the radicals. Yet the political maturity of many of these moderate groups was overestimated. In an interview with Corriere della Sera in 2011, President Obama had described Turkey as “a great Islamic democracy,” but not as “a democracy.” It almost reads as if “moderate” Islam is a euphemism for “moderate” democracy; it is democracy bon pour l’orient, or “good enough for the Orient,” as the French used to stamp their diplomas for colonial students. The Gezi protests cannot be reduced to the rise of a global middle class and an alienated youth in search of more liberties, as suggested by columnists like Francis Fukuyama. The protests, rather, point to the corroding foundations of a republic where fundamental rights for political participation and consultation, the right to a fair trial and free speech are eroding. Despite the absence of a popular, all-encompassing political party, Gezi has come to represent a democratic catharsis, a re-awakening of political discussion outside of a parliament that may be good enough for the Orient, but has failed to deliver for the thousands who have taken to the streets. SERA TOLGAY is a senior in Branford College. Contact her at sera.tolgay@yale.edu .

G U E S T C O L U M N I S T E M M A FA L L O N E

For the sophomores M

oving in for the second time is a strange experience. There’s no longer the blind dash of freshman year, the absolute, terrifying newness of everything, the flurry of names and faces and events. Coming to campus as a sophomore is different — it’s no longer an arrival, but a return. Entering the courtyard of a residential college, the memories of so many leisurely meals and afternoons lying out on the grass come rushing back. Instead of anxious, we are excited to reconnect with our friends and begin again the crazy, exhilarating whirlwind that is Yale. Some things have changed this year, of course. There are no advising meetings, no consent workshops, no special convocations or masters’ receptions. We don’t have freshman counselors and big sibs and peer liaisons giving us guidance at every turn — and that’s okay. We don’t need that level of support; after all, we’ve done this before. We know what we’re doing. But at the same time, we really don’t know it all. One year is far too

short a time to figure out what college is all about, and sometimes, it seems as if even four years is hardly enough time for that. This reality truly hit me a few days ago, as the panlists for clubs and activities came roaring back to life. Emails flooded my inbox from all of the extracurriculars that I’d committed myself to last year, and all of a sudden, my iCal turned into an impossible sea of multicolored, overlapping blobs. A wave of exhaustion came over me, as I remembered the long, frantic nights of last year. Everyone knows that baby ducks need to be pushed out of their nest so that they can learn to fly. But I pity the duckling — in that first stomach-dropping moment of freefall, it can be hard to believe that you won’t just splat on the ground. Last year, we were told to try everything: explore new fields! Discover your passions! Visit every table at the bazaar! Well, now we have. We overloaded our schedules with meetings and IM practices and rehearsals and that one extra activity that we weren’t

really interested in but all of the successful people seemed to do it so we figured we might as well join, too. We found ourselves donning suits and blouses and going to conferences about leadership and enterprise and networking, although sometimes we weren’t quite sure what those terms even meant. We ran for positions, planned community service projects and designed web pages. And some of it was amazing. But not all of it. And though we discovered much about our interests, we learned other things as well: the bone-deep fatigue of starting homework at 1 a.m. after a night full of meetings, the painful slowness of hours spent doing something that you don’t enjoy but thought would look good on your resume and now have an obligation to continue. If freshman year was the time to explore, then sophomore year is the time to reevaluate. A few nights ago, instead of heading out to those endless meetings, I spent the evening cleaning out my email inbox. From the unreasonably long list of extracur-

riculars I was somehow involved in, I chose a few that I would be willing to trek across campus in the pouring rain in order to attend. I also picked one or two new activities to try, ones that I wasn’t aware of last year or wasn’t bold enough to audition for. And then I took a deep breath and deleted everything else. Even the clubs that might have looked good on my resume, even the positions that I had flaunted proudly as proof of my place as a well-rounded and successful college student. And yes, it was a bit unnerving. And yes, it went against most of what we had been told as freshmen. But you know what? It’s a new year. We’re not newbies anymore — we’ve had a year to explore and discover and exhaust ourselves. It was fun, and it was crazy, but now it is done. And now is the time to focus on what we love, and have faith that it will carry us aloft as we step into the air. EMMA FALLONE is a sophomore in Ezra Stiles College. Contact her at emma.fallone@yale.edu .

GUEST COLUMNIST ADAM WEINER

Jewish life and compassion at Yale

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he High Holy Days are upon us, a time for Jews to reflect and to atone for any wrongs they’ve committed. During my time at Yale, the Jewish holidays felt incomplete without the presence of Yale’s leader in Jewish life. For over 30 years, Rabbi James Ponet has been the Jewish chaplain at Yale, and has inspired generations of Yalies with his unending, compassionate wisdom. Last month, news reached students and alumni that Ponet will retire at the end of a yearlong sabbatical he will begin in January. On a recent visit to my alma mater, I made sure to stop by the Slifka Center to catch up with my former mentor, whose vigilant dedication to helping students made a strong impact on my time at Yale. His role in my college life had gone beyond the call of duty. When I was growing up, I never had the opportunity to undergo the most important event in a young Jew’s life: a bar mitzvah. Then, one night during the fall semester of my freshman year, my friend dragged me to Shabbat dinner at Slifka. My stubbornness caused us to be late to the festivities, and by the time

we arrived, the only seats left were at the “adult table.” There I met Rabbi Ponet for the first time as he broke challah for me. I grew up without a Jewish community around me, and had always felt ostracized from those sharing my faith. However, sitting next to Rabbi Ponet, I sensed the warm and inviting nature of the culture at my table. By the end of the meal, I had built up the courage to ask Rabbi Ponet if it was still possible for me to have a bar mitzvah. “Of course!” I took free Hebrew classes at the Slifka Center and met with Rabbi Ponet regularly to discuss reading material that he provided. On April 25, 2009, with family and friends in attendance, I had my bar mitzvah outside on the Slifka Center veranda. It was a beautiful spring day. It was also the first bar mitzvah ever conducted at Yale. For the first time ever, I felt I was a part of the Jewish community. Since then, I’ve returned to Rabbi Ponet’s office to grab some tea and advice. My recent visit was no exception. We caught up briefly. He spoke about plans for

his sabbatical and I described my first year at medical school in Chicago. At one point, I expressed my desire to foster candid, compassionate conversations, just as we were currently having, with my future patients. I told him I didn’t want to become desensitized to the plights of others, even as my career advances. Just as he did during those many meetings freshman year, Rabbi Ponet sprang into action and saved me from entering a sand trap of concern. Compassion fatigue, he explained, is something people claim to experience after long-term exposure to the misfortune seen in others. However, Ponet told me, compassion begets compassion. He described the phenomenon using a story from the Midrash, an important book in Judaism. In the story, one man believed that using his candle to light that of another man might diminish the brightness of his own flame. But just as we know that lighting another candle actually creates more light, we should also know that interacting with others in a compassionate manner does not deplete our com-

passion. In fact, it inspires more compassion. I thanked him for the lesson, and in return, he thanked me for helping him remind himself of that important story. I left Rabbi Ponet’s office feeling lighter than when I entered, a sensation that reminded me of my college days. Mentors like him have an important place on Yale’s campus. They fulfill their job’s obligations and then continue to work by shaping young students into compassionate citizens. In turn, we pay their compassion forward in our own actions. Thank you, Rabbi Ponet, for the years of service to the Yale community. Your words have inspired countless students and your contributions to Jewish life on campus have been invaluable. I urge students and alumni to reflect on a career dedicated to promoting compassion. Just as one candle has given light to countless young Yalies, those inspired people will continue to spread compassion for years to come. ADAM WEINER is a 2012 graduate of Silliman College.

YALE DAILY NEWS · WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 · yaledailynews.com

PAGE 3

NEWS

“I am Syrian, I was made in Syria, I have to live in Syria and die in Syria.” BASHAR AL-ASSAD SYRIAN PRESIDENT

Faculty orientation revamped

WHAT’S ON TAP?

BY SOPHIE GOULD AND JANE DARBY MENTON STAFF REPORTERS

PETER SUWONDO/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

YALE A CAPPELLA WELCOMES FRESHMAN TAPS Mere mortals spend their freshman fall forming frienships and fumbling through classes. Those rushing a capella, though, have that and so much more. On Tuesday, Old Campus was stormed by singing, half-dressed upperclassmen eager to usher in the latest class of freshmen crooners who will bid goodbye to their suitemates and disappear forever.

Though there were no hiking boots or FroCo ice cream socials, new faculty members across the University experienced their own version of “Camp Yale” this year. Before most students arrived back in New Haven this fall, 64 new faculty members took part in a revamped two-day orientation program on Aug. 20 and 21. Provost Benjamin Polak said the University “experimented” with the format of faculty orientation this year in an effort to emulate the success of Yale’s freshman orientation program and prepare new professors for life at Yale and in New Haven. This year’s orientation, which was extended to two days instead of one, featured new workshops on topics such as Yale’s library system and teaching methods. New professors interviewed said the program provided a helpful introduction to the University. “Whether a person chooses to stay at Yale or not, their time at Yale should be formative — it should be the kind of experience as a faculty member that really helps them launch their career, hopefully here,” said associate provost Jim Antony, who organized the new orientation. “This is one of those inaugural types of act that I think sets that tone.” Antony said one popular addition was a panel entitled “Understanding Review, Promotion and Leaves,” which gave a detailed overview of Yale’s tenure process, which was overhauled in 2007. Yale College Dean Mary Miller, who helped lead a panel for new professors in the arts and humanities, said the orientation sought to “demystify” processes at Yale that can be confusing or daunting to new faculty members. This year’s orientation also

placed a greater emphasis on teaching practices. Bill Rando, director of the Yale Teaching Center, helped lead several workshops that discussed topics including syllabus writing, Yale’s grading system and library and collection resources. Rando said both he and Antony hope to broaden the scope of the workshops to emphasize different techniques to enhance classroom teaching in future years.

Whether a person chooses to stay at Yale or not, their time at Yale should be formative. JIM ANTONY Associate provost, Yale University “We want to prepare people for shopping period and the role of the deans and all of that … but what we really want to do is start a conversation about effective teaching, and so I think we should focus more of our time on that,” Rando said. “I think it’s important to start off a faculty member’s experience with a focus on teaching because a lot of these folks love to teach, and everybody who teaches wants to be a good teacher.” Though Antony said he is just beginning to review feedback from orientation participants, he said next year the orientation might include more information about Yale’s online resources and technological capabilities that can be utilized in the classroom. Antony said the orientation aimed to foster community both within the cohort of new faculty and to build relationships between those arriving on campus for the first time and current faculty members and adminis-

trators. “A lot of time when junior faculty come to new place, they’re really anxious,” Antony said. “To sit down and hear from people who have been successful here talk about loving the place and loving students, that sends a really great message.” Daniel Greco, a new philosophy professor, said the orientation program gave him a chance to meet new faculty in other departments with whom he would not have interacted otherwise. Music professor Rebekah Ahrendt, who also joined the faculty this fall, said she particularly enjoyed the sessions on teaching. A lot of professors feel nervous about stepping into an unfamiliar classroom, she said, adding that it was helpful to learn about Yale policies on syllabi and shopping period ahead of time. “The panelists discussed a lot of aspects of undergraduate life that might be particular to Yale that it’s good for us to learn about and familiarize ourselves with so we can also support the students,” said Anne Eller, a new history professor. Eller said Yale’s faculty orientation was similar to that of the University of Connecticut, where she taught prior to coming to Yale. “Schools have their own philosophies and approaches, and [an orientation program] helps you feel like part of the university,” she said. Thirty-seven of the orientation attendees were new tenured or tenure-track professors in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and 27 were non-ladder faculty or faculty in the professional schools. Contact SOPHIE GOULD at sophie.gould@yale.edu . Contact JANE DARBY MENTON at jane.menton@yale.edu .

International relations experts debate strike on Syria BY ANNA SOPHIA YOUNG CONTRIBUTING REPORTER A group of international relations experts discussed the effects a possible U.S. military strike on Syria could have on the political climate of the Middle East and U.S. global supremacy at a Tuesday evening panel. At the talk, the panelists — Yale World Fellow and Egyptian diplomat Mohammed Elfayoumy, University of Jordan professor Hassan Barari, political science professor Ellen Lust, history professor Charles Hill and Jackson Institute senior fellow Emma Sky — said the United States must be careful in its negotiations with Syria. Recently, the United States has been debating taking military action in Syria following a discovery that the country’s government allegedly used chemical weapons on the civilian population. The panelists discussed ways that the United States can maintain its role as an international police force without disrupting the political balance in the Middle East and causing uprisings from insurgent groups. “We [in the Middle East] have an intrinsic skepticism towards any U.S. attempt to intervene in the region,” Elfayoumy said. “We are just doing [accepting aid] out of despair.”

We [in the Middle East] have an intrinsic skepticism towards any U.S. attempt to intervene in the region. MOHAMMED ELFAYOUMY Yale World Fellow and Egyptian diplomat U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are set to meet in Geneva on Sept. 12. The United States insists that Syria must create a plan for the transfer and destruction of its chemical weapons, while Putin says Russia will only facilitate the turnover of the weapons if the United States agrees not to use

JOYCE XI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

On Tuesday evening, a group of international relations experts — from left, Mohammed Elfayoumy, Emma Sky, Hassan Barari, Charles Hill and Ellen Lust — discussed the situation in Syria. force. Hill said U.S. withdrawal from the region would leave a vacuum of influence that countries such as China and Russia could fill. Lust said President Barack Obama’s stated position that there will be “no U.S. boots on the ground [in Syria]” is too limited a strategy to have a lasting effect on the region. The effect of half-hearted intervention in Syria could result in a shift in the balance of power

in the region toward countries such as Iran that are hostile toward the United States and Israel, panelists agreed. “If deterrents work for a short period of time, it’s a message to Iran that Americans aren’t serious about deterrence and they will start with nuclear weapons,” Barari said. “Israel cannot stand aside and watch Iranians develop nuclear capability. Maybe acting now could avert another big problem in the Middle East.”

In a statement on Tuesday, the Syrian government said it is willing to reveal the location of their chemical weapons to Russian and United Nations officials. During the panel, Hill read a topsecret internal message to Russian President Vladamir Putin leaked by Edward Snowden earlier on Tuesday. In the message, a Russian diplomat said if Syria released information to Russia instead of the United States, it could potentially damage the

United States’ influence on the international community. “The U.S. is close to locking itself into a state of permanent ineffectiveness,” the diplomat said. “The country is politically fragmented and Obama is regarded as confused and vulnerable.” Sarika Padrangi ’17 said she found the discussion informative because it incorporated voices from both the United States and the Middle East.

“It’s important that we try to assess the effects and implications of U.S. intervention not only from the American perspective, but also from the Syrian perspective and that of the entire Middle East,” Padrangi said. On Sept. 4, Obama asked for Congressional approval for a drone strike on Syria. Contact ANNA SOPHIA YOUNG at annasophia.young@yale.edu .

PAGE 4

YALE DAILY NEWS · WEDNESDAY, SETPEMBER 11, 2013 · yaledailynews.com

FROM THE FRONT

“The years teach much which the days never know.” RALPH WALDO EMERSON AMERICAN ESSAYIST

Harp lands half of primary vote

LEFT: MATTHEW LLOYD-THOMAS/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER, RIGHT: DIANA LI/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Toni Harp ARC ’78, left, and Justin Elicker FES ’10 SOM ’10, right, will continue on to the November mayoral election after placing first and second, respectively, in the Democratic primary. MAYORAL RACE FROM PAGE 1 encouraged his supporters to refocus their efforts on the upcoming general election in November. “I called [Harp] about a half hour ago and congratulated her on her victory tonight … I told Toni that she ran a great campaign, but what I didn’t tell her is that we’ll see her in November,” Elicker said to a cheering crowd. In addition to the mayoral race, the Elm City saw another citywide election in the race for city clerk between Aldermen Michael Smart and Sergio Rodriguez. Smart came out on top with 52.9 percent to Rodriguez’s 47.1 percent. According to Michael Hayden, a poll worker in Ward 1, about 15 people showed up to vote each hour. Hayden said it was a “pretty slow day,” attributing the pace to the fact that Tuesday was not the general election. Though Fernandez spokesman Danielle Filson told the News on Sunday that the candidate’s campaign would continue through November regardless of the primary results, Fernandez, alongside Carolina, dropped out of the race Tuesday evening.

“I believe that the people of New Haven deserve a run-off between the top two candidates, and I’m not one of those candidates,” Fernandez told his supporters at Michael’s Trattoria on Court Street at his post-election party. “I wish I had been able to pull it off for you guys. Any shortcomings in this race were mine, not yours … I’ve given this thought, and I won’t be going forward in this election, and I do believe this is a beginning.” Julie Anistasio, one of Fernandez’s campaign workers, said she was “surprised” that Tuesday’s race was not primarily between Fernandez and Harp, adding that she told Fernandez that he should not pull out of the race. Still, both Fernandez and Carolina took Tuesday’s results as the end of their mayoral prospects this election season. “The numbers have pretty much spoken for themselves,” Carolina said at his post-election party. “I submit to the will of the people of the city of New Haven.” Carolina adviser Michael Jefferson said the candidate’s choice to participate in the Democracy Fund, New Haven’s public finance

system, put him at a disadvantage. The Fund, in which Elicker also participated, provides public funds in exchange for limiting the size of donations to $370 and requires that participating campaigns not accept donations from political action committees or lobbyists. When news surfaced that Fernandez and Carolina were dropping out of the race, Elicker election party attendees erupted in cheers and began chanting “Justin” as they waited for Elicker to appear. “I’m actually surprised [Fernandez and Carolina] dropped out so soon,” Elicker volunteer Laura Snow said. “Someone needed to drop out because a lot of the wards were splitting 200 votes for Harp, 100 for Elicker and for 100 for Fernandez, and all summer long we discussed the risk of splitting wards.” With two campaigns remaining, each candidate can now focus on the other without having to worry about the calculus of other candidates in the race. Harp, widely considered the frontrunner leading into the primary, has been endorsed by the Demo-

cratic Town Committee, many of the University and city’s politically powerful unions, a majority of the Board of Aldermen, Conn. Gov. Dannel Malloy and State Sen. Majority Leader Martin Looney. On Tuesday night, Looney and Malloy joined Harp on stage. “Toni Harp has worked diligently on behalf of the people of New Haven: She has paid her dues and she has come back with the bacon,” Malloy said. “If you believe in a more prosperous New Haven, then Toni Harp is your candidate for mayor.” In her speech, she pointed to the fact that her campaign gathered 4,000 signatures in four days. Harp spoke to the need to include communities that feel they are underrepresented and the need for improving public education. “No children in this town should go to bed afraid that a stray bullet goes through their bedroom,” Harp said at her speech on Tuesday night. “The buck stops here. We are taking this city back.” While Harp points to 20 years in the state legislature as evidence of her political experience, Elicker has often accused Harp of

practicing “pay to play” politics due to the large percentage of her fundraising from lobbyists, PACs and non-New Haven residents. Elicker, meanwhile, has worked to define himself as an independentthinking candidate free from the political chains of machine politics. Elicker joked to a spirited crowd at Tuesday night’s post-election party that the only endorsement his campaign has received has been that of Ward 7 Alderman Doug Hausladen ’04, calling this is a sign of the Elicker campaign’s departure from typical New Haven politics. He mentioned “folks from West Hartford” who were paid to canvass for Harp when contrasting the two campaigns. Elicker has said that, despite no longer being bound to the Democracy Fund following the primary, he will still follow the rules of the Fund into the general election. Although Harp won the Democratic primary by a significant margin — receiving almost 4,000 votes more than her November challenger — Elicker’s hopes for November rest on winning over a significant portion of Fernan-

dez and Carolina’s voters, as well as a majority of the Independents and Republicans who will be eligible to vote in the general election. Elicker said on Tuesday that out of 20,000 registered voters who are not Democrats, he expects about 4,000 of them to vote in November. “And who do you think these people are going to vote for? Why are they unaffiliated?” Elicker asked his supporters Tuesday night. “Because they are tired of politics as usual: They don’t want to be associated with some political party that’s going to scratch your back if you scratch theirs … Those people are ours.” Ultimately, 14,723 votes were cast Tuesday for the mayoral candidates, not including absentee ballots. Sarah Bruley, Monica Disare, Michelle Hackman, Lorenzo Ligato, Matthew Lloyd-Thomas, Larry Milstein and Nicole Ng contributed reporting. Contact DIANA LI at diana.li@yale.edu .

Ella Wood ’15 falls to Ward 7 incumbent WARD 7 FROM PAGE 1 and Yale students. Many of her volunteers were affiliates of the city’s unions, principally UNITE HERE Locals 34 and 35, which represent pink- and blue-collar workers at the University.

We’ve seen how hard it is to be an independent voice if you don’t have a machine out there behind you. DOUG HAUSLADEN ’04 Incumbent alderman, Ward 7 Wood worked over the summer for UNITE HERE in New Haven and is a member of Students Unite Now, an undergraduate affiliate of UNITE HERE’s Locals 34 and 35. In the weeks leading up to the primary, Wood won the support of a series of union-backed city politicians, including Democratic mayoral primary victor Toni Harp ARC ’78, Ward 1 Alderman Sarah Eidelson ’12, Ward 22 incumbent and Democratic primary victor Jeanette Morrison, Ward 9 Alderman Jessica Holmes, Ward 6 Alderman Dolores Colon Ward 29 Alderman and Local 35 Vice President Brian Wingate, many of whom spent the afternoon canvassing voters or standing outside the polling place urging Ward 7 residents to vote for Wood. Eidelson, whose High Street apartment served as Wood’s headquarters throughout the day, delivered phone messages to Ward 7 residents encouraging them to come to the polls.

“It’s extremely, extremely close out there so we really need you to vote as soon as possible and to bring the people you live with,” Eidelson said in a voicemail message to a resident of High Street. Both candidates said they knocked on every door in the ward in the final days before the primary — and said their volunteers re-knocked every single door on the day of the primary. Hausladen said he was disappointed by a number of Wood’s vote-pulling tactics, which he said relied on “dragging people to the polls.” “I’ve seen five different vehicles, most with New York license plates, driving by all day,” Hausladen said. Wood countered that all of her volunteers were residents of New Haven and that the car with New York plates was a rental. Shortly after the votes were tallied and announced, Wood said she was not surprised by the results given the amount of time — five weeks — she had to campaign. “We brought a phenomenal number of people to the ballot box, and, in five weeks, made a huge difference in what was previously an uncontested race,” she said. She told her supporters that “we have all run this campaign.” Hausladen ran as part of a slate of aldermanic candidates called Take Back New Haven, a group aiming to counter the supermajority of city lawmakers backed by Yale’s unions. That supermajority emerged in 2011 when 17 of 18 union-supported candidates won election. Hausladen said he had 10 to 15 supporters volunteering for him on Election Day, and ran his campaign out of the

YDN

Doug Hausladen ’04, the incumbent alderman of Ward 7, shakes hands with Ella Wood ’15 after defeating her in the Democratic primary. Luck & Levity Brewshop on Court Street. If he is challenged in the general election, Hausladen said, his strategy will not change. He said he is confident in a second victory — and confident he will also win the votes of many of the ward’s Independents. “We’ve seen how hard it is to be an independent voice if you don’t have a machine out there

behind you,” he said. A number of Yale students — including Travis Hutchinson ’15, who lives in Rosenfeld Hall — said they voted for Wood because she reached out to them in their dorms. But one student, Mary Jo Medina ’15, said it was precisely the extent of Wood’s outreach efforts that turned her off. She said Wood approached her in the dining hall and later that night at

her dorm, where her campaign “had people on every floor.” Dallas Davis, a Ward 7 resident, said he voted for Hausladen because of the alderman’s help in shoveling out neighborhoods following the snowstorm in 2012. History Department Chair Naomi Lamoreaux and her husband, David Lamoreaux, said they both voted for Hausladen because of his depth of knowl-

edge of the ward, though Brooks Kelly, a middle school teacher in Danbury, said he voted for Wood because he had “never seen the other guy.” There are 1,700 registered Democrats in Ward 7. Contact LARRY MILSTEIN at larry.milstein@yale.edu . Contact ISAAC STANLEY-BECKER at isaac.stanley-becker@yale.edu .

YALE DAILY NEWS · WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 · yaledailynews.com

PAGE 5

ELECTION 2013

“I didn’t run for mayor to be the caretaker of the status quo.” MICHAEL NUTTER MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA

Elicker wins over Ward 1 voters

Morrison defeats two Ward 22 challengers

BY MICHELLE HACKMAN AND NICOLE NG STAFF REPORTER AND CONTRIBUTING REPORTER Despite Toni Harp’s ARC ’72 overwhelming victory in Tuesday’s Democratic mayoral primary, Justin Elicker FES ’10 SOM ’10 decisively won over Ward 1’s Yale voters. Elicker, who currently represents East Rock on the Board of Aldermen, won 108 of 223 votes within the Yale-dominated ward, also beating out former city economic development administrator Henry Fernandez LAW ’94 and Hillhouse High School principal Kermit Carolina. His victory follows high visibility and a sophisticated get-out-the-vote effort on campus, which featured teams of Yale for Elicker staffers passing out campaign literature on campus all day. Following his second-place finish in Tuesday’s primary — and the withdrawals of Fernandez and Carolina — Elicker stands as the lone candidate to challenge Harp in November’s general election. Although Democratically endorsed candidates typically win general elections in New Haven, Drew Morrison ’14, the head of the Yale for Elicker group, said that his candidate stands a fighting chance, as he will likely gain many of Fernandez’s and Carolina’s voters along with the support of 20,000 unaffiliated and Republican voters in the city. Given his candidate’s overwhelming victory within the Yale ward on Tuesday, Morrison said that Ward 1 will figure largely in Elicker’s election strategy for the next two months. “I think it means a lot that we won Ward 1,” Morrison said. “We will have a lot higher turnout among Yale students [in the general election] because of the aldermanic election. So that will be a really crucial part of our strategy for November.” But higher turnout on campus may not necessarily mean increased support for Elicker in November. Nailah Harper-Malveaux ’16 said she deliberated between Elicker and Harp, but ultimately voted for Harp in the primary. “Toni Harp had the most experience and had done so much more for the state already,” Harper-Malveaux said, “I think it’ll be great if she is elected because she’ll be the first woman mayor of New Haven.” Harp’s gender also influenced voter Stephen Marsh ’13, who was passing through New Haven this week and stopped by Ward 1 to vote. He voted for Harp, he said, because he “[doesn’t] vote for men.” Former News editor Eli Markham ’13, who works for Harp’s campaign, declined to comment on whether the Democratic candidate would alter her Yale strategy in the general election. Harp campaign manager Michael Harris ’15 could not be reached for comment. As the results for Ward 1 were announced at the Harp post-election party, one person in the crowd shouted, “That’s the Yale ward! We don’t need them! They’re not part of New Haven!” In the weeks leading up to the Democratic primary, Elicker has made numerous appearances on campus, participating in debates and showing up at casual events such as the Slifka Center’s bagel brunch to introduce himself to

BY MONICA DISARE STAFF REPORTER In one of New Haven’s most eclectic areas, incumbent Jeanette Morrison, the alderman who represents four of Yale’s residential colleges, clinched the democratic nomination for Ward 22 in Tuesday’s primary. The ward is home to students who live in Ezra Stiles, Morse, Silliman and Timothy Dwight colleges and also residents in the Dixwell community, a traditionally lowerincome neighborhood. Morrison secured 264 votes, more than her closest challenger, Helen Powell, a retired staffer in the New Haven Registrar of Voters, who received 110 votes. Also in the race was Cordelia Thorpe, a former state Department of Corrections employee who has run unsuccessfully in every Ward 22 election since 2005 and received 84 votes. “I really like doing the job of an alderperson and making sure that my ward and the city is taken care of,” Morrison said after her victory. “I’m so pleased that my constituents are pleased with me.” In her previous work as alderman, Morrison sponsored initiatives such as reintroducing the Q House — previously a community and youth gathering center — and promoting the Jobs Pipeline — a program to streamline the job search process for New Haven residents. She said that two of her top priorities for her coming term will be youth and safety. But her, “ultimate goal” she said, is to bridge the gap between the Yale students and permanent residents that live within her ward. Those deep town-gown divisions were on display today at the Ward 22 polling location. “If it wasn’t for Yale students, she wouldn’t have won. It’s not fair,” said Louise Pierce, a Ward 22 resident. “The only time we see her is at the election.” Morrison’s opponent, Powell, for example, said that freshmen, who are not yet acquainted with the city, should refrain from voting, and that upperclassmen should take time to familiarize themselves with the issues before heading to the polls. Newcomers to the Elm City, Powell said, lack sufficient community knowledge to make an informed decision on whom to support for the alderman role. Bruce Alexander ’65, another Ward 22 resident and Yale’s vice president for New Haven and state affairs, was also at the polls. While he would not say who he voted for in the aldermanic or mayoral races, he said that he supports students’ involvement in the election. “Yale students are very capable people,” Alexander said. “The notion that they can’t get involved is fallacious. Students ought to be active and engaged.” At least 25 Yale students were transported to the Ward 22 polling location, said ward co-chair Josef Goodman ’14. More students could have gotten their own rides or walked to the polling location at Wexler Grant School, he added. One Yale student who made it to the polls, Edmund Downie ’14, said he voted for Morrison because he worked for her campaign last year and thinks she “did a good job and is committed to sticking to it.” Morrison is a social worker with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. Contact MONICA DISARE at monica.disare@yale.edu .

students. At 5:15 a.m. Tuesday morning, seven students — known as the “no sleep” team — met in Morrison’s suite to gather campaign literature and strategize for the day. Immediately afterward, Morrison said, they fanned out across campus, canvassing each of the 12 residential colleges, making phone calls, passing out literature and, in Ward 22, driving students to the polls. In all, he added, 14 Yale students participated in the get-out-the-vote effort on campus.

Elicker is really visible on Yale’s campus. He’s a smart guy who likes data-driven solutions. RACHEL MILLER ’15 Member of Elicker’s “no sleep” team Rachel Miller ’15, a member of the “nosleep” team, said energy and support for Elicker has been palpable on campus. “Elicker is really visible on Yale’s campus. He’s a smart guy who likes data-driven solutions and keeps calling for more data and analysis when it comes to implementing policy, as opposed to just rhetoric,” she said. “That’s something that really resonates with Yale students who want sensible solutions.” Throughout the day, Elicker supporters maintained a presence outside the New Haven Free Public Library — the polling place for Ward 1 — making it the only mayoral campaign to do so. But not everyone on campus seeking a Harp alternative turned to Elicker. Jonathan Esty ’17, a Connecticut resident, called Harp a “vanilla liberal” who failed to define her views

WARD 2

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Douglass: 279 Smith: 121

Hausladen: 331 Wood: 232

Morrison: 264 Powell: 110 Thorpe: 84

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beyond a standard progressive agenda. Still, he voted for Fernandez over Elicker. “Both Elicker and Fernandez bring interesting ideas and are more likely to be collaborative rather than combative with Yale as an institution,” he said. “That being said, between Elicker and Fernandez, while Elicker has more support, Fernandez has organizational experience that Elicker, despite his work in East Rock, lacks.” Although he came in third in the city overall, Fernandez topped Harp in Ward 1, winning 61 votes to her 47. Elicker is expected to pick up a significant portion of Fernandez’s support throughout the city in the general election. Still, Ward 1’s final makeup remains to be seen. Just 223 of 1,345 eligible Democratic voters cast ballots Tuesday, and Michael Hayden, a poll worker at the Public Library, said he expects many more voters to participate in November’s election, in large part due to the aldermanic race between Democrat Sarah Eidelson ’12 and Republican Paul Chandler ’14. “It’s been a pretty slow day, but it’s a primary so not many people come out to vote for that,” Hayden said. “The general election will be much larger.” On Tuesday night, Chandler said he was “pleased to hear” that Elicker will continue to the general so New Haven residents can “continue to be formally engaged about the issues that matter.” The general election will take place on Nov. 5. Matthew Lloyd-Thomas contributed reporting. Contact MICHELLE HACKMAN at michelle.hackman@yale.edu . Contact NICOLE NG at nicole.ng@yale.edu .

ALDERMANIC RESULTS:

MAYORAL TOTALS: 3251

YDN

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YALE DAILY NEWS · WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 · yaledailynews.com

PAGE 7

ARTS & CULTURE

“Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles.” FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT AMERICAN ARCHITECT

In ‘Still Life,’ beauty of everyday objects

Galleries welcome freshmen

ALEXANDRA SCHMELING/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

“Still Life: 1970s Photorealism” — a new exhibit at the Yale University Art Gallery — is bringing the art of photorealism back by way of scultpures and paintings. BY SARA JONES CONTRIBUTING REPORTER BY YANAN WANG STAFF REPORTER This fall, the class of 2017 became the first group of freshmen to arrive on campus to a newly renovated Yale University Art Gallery and a Yale Center for British Art that is undergoing refurbishment. During the second annual Freshman Night of the Arts, hosted jointly by the YCBA and the YUAG last Friday night, first year students were given a glimpse of the museums’ new offerings, with introductions and tours led by each institution’s student guide groups. The art museum receptions were part of a larger roster of orientation arts events for freshmen. In the past, these events have been consolidated into larger art showcases spanning several hours, said Associate Dean for the Arts Susan Cahan. This year, the introductory activities — which total 92 programs on the online Calendar of Opening Days — were hosted individually to allow students to select and attend the ones which interested them the most.

The art gallery receptions, formerly a mandatory event for all firstyear students, were made voluntary this year. Cahan explained that given the number of obligations most Yale students have, it no longer seemed reasonable to force them to participate. Still, nearly 400 students attended events hosted by the YCBA and the YUAG over the course of two hours.

In the past, there would be a situation where a Yale student was in their senior year and had never gone to the galleries. KATE EZRA Curator of education and academic affairs, YUAG “I have very little experience going to museums,” said Daniel Leibovic ’17, who visited the YCBA with his freshman counselor group. “So I was pleasantly surprised to see that we

have this gem on campus, and very impressed by how fluent and insightful the guides were.” Kate Ezra, the YUAG’s curator of education and academic affairs, said the goal of the Freshman Night of the Arts is to make students aware of the University’s collections and arts resources early on in their college careers. “In the past, there would be a situation where a Yale student was in their senior year and had never gone to the galleries,” Ezra said. “Then they realize what a shame it is that they’ve spent four years at this institution with two world class art museums — ones that are pilgrimage sites for people who are knowledgeable and love art.” The YCBA experienced a lower turnout, with 50 recorded visitors as of 8 p.m. compared to roughly 200 at the YUAG, gallery employees at both institutions said. Due to ongoing conservation efforts, the center’s second and third floors were inaccessible, and freshmen were given tours of the permanent painting collection on the

fourth floor. The YUAG was faced with a similar situation during last year’s event, when visitors were barred from Street Hall and had limited access to the Kahn building and the Swartwout building. Employees from both museums said hosting the gallery receptions independent of other arts orientation events has had a positive impact on orientation programming. “The calendar is a lot more comprehensive [now],” Cahan said. “Freshmen can choose which events they want to attend — logistically, it’s a dream come true.” For those who were seeing the YUAG’s renovated spaces for the first time, the expansiveness of the facilities came as a surprise. Daniel Hoogstraten ’17, a Chicago native, said he was surprised by the size of the collections, comparing them to those on display at the Art Institute of Chicago. The YCBA’s conservation project will be completed in January. Contact YANAN WANG at yanan.wang@yale.edu.

CARLY LOVEJOY/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

After more than a decade of neglect, the Yale University Art Gallery is bringing photorealism back. A new exhibit — “Still Life: 1970s Photorealism” — features 22 paintings and three sculptures that exemplify the movement’s dedication to meticulous verisimilitude. According to the exhibit’s materials, the photorealists are typically seen as a lesserknown outgrowth of ’60s Pop Art, with its similar focus on dazzlingly accurate reproductions of preexisting images. That said, the group tended to shy away from Pop’s overtly commercial bent, forgoing the advertisements and comic strips of their predecessors in favor of the everyday, as evidenced by the works on display at the YUAG. Set against whitewashed walls, the paintings run the gamut from floral arrangements in jarringly vivid colors to retro diners, neon signs and oxidized shells of Chevrolets that nod to bygone, post-war Americana. On tap as well are several token examples of macrophotography, at least one magazine cover and more than a few depic-

tions of garbage, a subject which, curator Cathleen Chaffee added, always seemed to fascinate the photorealists.

Our relationship with hyperrealistic images has been revolutionized in the past few years. CATHLEEN CHAFFEE Curator, “Still Life: 1970s Photorealism” She mentioned that one of her exhibition favorites is Bruce Everett’s “Gum Wrapper” (1971—’72), an oilpaint rendition of a scrap of crumpled metallic candy packaging that takes up the greater part of a wall. An incredible exercise in detail, the painting translates the camera’s optical effects — and shortcomings — onto canvas, visibly demonstrating its limitations as a technological device, she explained. More of the curator’s personal highlights include the juxtaposition between Robert Bechtle’s “Sacramento

Montego” (1980) and Ralph Goings’ “Walt’s Restaurant,” (1978-’79) which share a wall. Chaffee recalled that in a fateful twist, Goings is actually the figure featured in Bechtle’s painting, a fact discovered only after Goings came to visit the exhibit. As commonplace as the subject matter of these works may seem, the breadth of photorealist work the exhibit features is anything but everyday. Chaffee noted, for example, the rarity of seeing more than one ”hyperreal” — simply another term for the movement broadened to include 3D media — sculpture in any one exposition. Most museums, she said, have at most two, making Yale’s collection of three particularly extraordinary. And Chaffee was not the only one impressed by these astoundingly lifelike creations — throughout the exhibit, spectators marveled at their authenticity. “We have a lot of people come up and actually ask us if they’re real,” one security guard explained. “That’s how accurate they are.” Another viewer, Evangeline Cadieux-Mauro, cited this incredible realism as well, saying, “[The paint-

ings] are so lifelike, it’s really amazing.” Drawn predominantly from the University’s own holdings, many of which — not unlike photorealism itself — have long been shelved, the work has, in Chaffee’s eyes, poignant contemporary resonance. “Our relationship with hyper-realistic images has been revolutionized in the past few years,” Chaffee said. “Today, we’re constantly subjected to this barrage of pictures, via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, text messages and so on.” The movement, she pointed out, is very much a presentation and exploration of the relationship we have with images, and — particularly for modern viewers — toys with our expectations and definitions of what constitutes photography or realism. So call it the 70s’ answer to Instagram, the average Joe to Pop Art’s Marilyn, or whatever you please: Photorealism is here to stay — until next March, at least. The exhibition opened on Aug. 30 and runs through March 9. Contact SARA JONES at sara.l.jones@yale.edu.

The Yale University Art Gallery completed its 14-year renovation last December.

‘Everything Loose’ has landed in New Haven BY SARA JONES CONTRIBUTING REPORTER By way of Yale’s School of Architecture, a little piece of Los Angeles has taken up residence in New Haven. “Everything Loose Will Land,” which opened on Aug. 28, utilizes an eclectic mix of media to present an “archive of architectural ideas,” according to the exhibit’s wall text. Originally designed by Johnston Marklee Architects and curated by Sylvia Lavin for the MAK Center in Los Angeles, it was adapted for the School of Architecture’s space by Brian Butterfield ARC ’11, the school’s director of exhibitions. The exhibit focuses in particular on the relationship between architecture and the visual arts during the 1970s, as well as the developments in each field fostered by their union. Employed to this end are disparate objects including Jef Raskin’s “Bloxes.” The “Bloxes” include sculptural assemblages of cardboard blocks; a piece of playground equipment in clear polycarbonate plastic and stainless steel; Bruce Nauman’s massive triangular structure covered in black asphalt paper, “Untitled [Equilateral Triangle]” (1980); and graphite sketches by Frank Gehry on tracing paper that is thin to the point of luminescence. The exhibit also features bright, graphic collages and brilliant azure glass façade tiles, as well as exhibition posters and geometric swirls of neon light tubing that dangle from the ceiling like mod chandeliers. All have little in common aside from serving as placeholders for a decade School of Architecture Dean Robert A.M. Stern described as “a very fruitful period” in Los Angeles’ history when explaining his decision to bring the exhibit to Yale. “The exhibition is true to its name, offering a window of insight into a significant decade and place,”

echoed Meg Haron, a spectator at the exhibit. Upon closer examination, however, it becomes clear that while LA might have been the epicenter of innovation during the 70s, it was by no means the only area to foster advancement in the field, Butterfield said. He added that the exhibit, while certainly focused on LA, is also about “the idea that architects could be artists, and artists could be more interested in architecture.” Because the exhibit’s theme is linked more closely to a specific decade than to a geographic area, he continued, “Everything Loose” fits well in the Rudolph Hall space, as comfortably situated in the Elm City as in its Southern Californian home. The exhibit also fits well with Stern’s hopes for a new direction within the school. “We’ve lost the intimate connection that once existed between art and architecture — both in LA and in this school,” he said. “Since the two disciplines have become more distant, I am hoping that the exhibit might rekindle that connection.” Stern pointed out an additional connection between the University and five of the featured artists. This influential group includes Charles Moore, head of the School of Architecture from 1965-1970; Cesar Pelli, head of the School of Architecture from 1977-1984; Peter de Bretteville ’63 ARC ’68, a member of the School of Architecture faculty since 1990; Sheila de Bretteville ART ’64, director of the Yale School of Art’s graphic design program since 1990; and Frank Gehry, a regular visiting professor since 1979. “Everything Loose Will Land” will be on display through Nov. 9.

Bollywood invades South Asian dance BY PIERRE ORTLIEB CONTRIBUTING REPORTER

Contact SARA JONES at sara.l.jones@yale.edu . AMRA SARIC/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

“Everything Loose Will Land,” now on display at the School of Architecture, explores the dynamic between architecture and the visual arts in Los Angeles during the 1970s.

A new era in Yale’s South Asian dance scene has risen from the ashes of its traditional past. Yale’s South Asian dance groups have experienced a shift in their musical and artistic styles over the past few years. In particular, interest in Yale Anjali — the only remaining Indian classical dance society on campus — has declined dramatically, said Krisha Desai ’14, a member of Rangeela, a “fusion Bollywood group.” In its place, a batch of new, more pop-oriented clubs have emerged, replacing the styles of old, such as Bharata Natyam and Kathak with a refreshed fervor and penchant for entertainment, said Shona Hemmady ’16, a member of Yale Jashan Bhangra. “Anjali [performed] a very classical Indian dance,” said Hemali Shah ’16, a member of the two-year-old dance group MonstRAASity, which blends

customary folk songs with a distinct modern playfulness. “It was very focused on technique, form and posture — it’s more about the beauty of the dance than the entertainment.” Shah added that Anjali’s goal — the preservation of a centuries-old art of expression — may have eluded viewers. Tobias Kühne ’12 GRD ’18, a member of Sur et Veritaal, Yale’s only South Asian a capella organization, agreed. “Traditional dance tells a story based on subtle hand and feet movement, which, while beautiful, can be hard to understand for non-South Asians,” Kühne said. Bhangra, on the other hand, is a “really loud, energetic, big sort of dance,” according to Hemmady, who is one of the Jashan Bhangra team’s newest members. Established at Yale in 2009, the style is “far more accessible.” Kühne attributed the popularity of Bhangra to its “stronger visual signals,” which are far easier for viewers to pick up on. He added that at Roshni,

an annual South Asian cultural showcase on campus, bhangra has always yielded the most enthusiastic reactions from the crowd. “Bhangra doesn’t have to be decoded,” Kühne said. Celebrated after the yearly harvest in India, bhangra is considered a party dance, an exuberant and explosive celebration of hard work, making it far “easier on the eye” than the complex intricacy of Anjali’s ancient ritual movements once were, Hemmady said. Classical dance, requiring a lot of mental and physical strength and emphasising the perfection of every movement, “just doesn’t have the same obvious outward pop that Bhangra, Raas and Rangeela do,” she added. But simplicity and energy are not the sole reasons for the increasing appeal of these groups. The sheer difficulty of mastering Indian classical dance, a process which Hemmady said can take many, many years — sometimes even a lifetime —

stands in stark contrast to the ease with which one can now join Bhangra, Raas, Rangeela and other groups. Desai claimed that no experience is necessary for joining the groups outside of a sense of rhythm. More contemporary forms of dance are thus open to students previously perplexed by the complexity of traditional dances, which has contributed massively to the expansion of the groups’ presence, as has the growing popularity of Bollywood on campus, Desai said. The occasional “American song mixed in” certainly does not hurt, Hemmady noted, adding that the “flairs and flourishes from American dances” they often include have been crucial in reviving the public’s interest in South Asian dance. Roshni, the cultural showcase of Yale’s South Asian microcosm, will take place on Nov. 8. Contact PIERRE ORTLIEB at pierre.ortlieb@yale.edu .