The Yale Herald Commencement Issue New Haven, Conn. Friday, May 16, 2014
FROM THE STAFF
Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, enemies, grandparents, guardians, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, cousins in-law, pets, pets of cousins in-law of the Class of 2014: welcome to New Haven—land of lux, veritas, and more than a weekend’s worth of Yale’s Commencement festivities!!! We are the Herald, Yale College’s humble weekly newspaper. While we’re seemingly inanimate, through what’s in these pages, we’ll help your weekend come to life. Yale is a pretty complicated place that we won’t claim to understand fully, but we do know a little, so allow us to be your sidekick or your wingman. We’re Virgil and you’re Dante. We’re a Google Maps iPhone app and you’re lost. Any way you put it, for the next few days, hold on to these fine pages because we’ve got everything you need to get you through it. But the one thing you don’t need us to tell you is that The Class of 2014 is destined for serious accolades, power, esteem, and greatness. In a word, trophies. And big shiny ones at that. So finally, congratulations to the Class of 2014, and to all who have helped them get to this milestone. We wish you the best of luck as you brave what’s out there in the deep unknown. Much love, Micah Rodman Editor-in-Chief
The Yale Herald Volume LVII, Graduation Issue New Haven, Conn. Friday, May 16, 2014 EDITORIAL STAFF: Editor-in-chief: Micah Rodman Managing Editors: Kohler Bruno, Austin Bryniarski Senior Editors: Sophie Grais, Eli Mandel, Emily Rappaport, Emma Schindler, John Stillman Executive Editors: Olivia Rosenthal, Maude Tisch Culture Editor: Katy Osborn Features Editors: Alisha Jarwala, Leyla Levi, Lara Sokoloff Opinion Editor: Alessandra Roubini Reviews Editor: Kevin Su Voices Editor: Jake Orbison Design Editors: Madeline Butler, Julia Kittle-Kamp, Zachary Schiller, Jin Ai Yap Assistant Design Editor: Kai Takahashi Photo Editor: Rebecca Wolenski BUSINESS STAFF: Publishers: Shreya Ghei, Joe Giammittorio Director of Advertising: Dustin Vesey Director of Development: Thomas Marano Director of Finance: Aleesha Melwani Executive Director of Business: Stephanie Kan Senior Business Adviser: Evan Walker-Wells ONLINE STAFF: Online Editor: Colin Groundwater Bullblog Editor-in-chief: Jack Schlossberg Bullblog Associate Editors: Carly Lovejoy, Larry Milstein, Caleb Moran, Jessica Sykes The Yale Herald is a not-for-profit, non-partisan, incorporated student publication registered with the Yale College Dean’s Office. If you wish to subscribe to the Herald, please send a check payable to The Yale Herald to the address below. Receive the Herald for one semester for 40 dollars, or for the 2013-2014 academic year for 65 dollars. Please address correspondence to: The Yale Herald P.O. Box 201653 Yale Station New Haven, CT 06520-1653 micah.rodman@yale.edu www.yaleherald.com The Yale Herald is published by Yale College students, and Yale University is not responsible for its contents. All opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect the views of The Yale Herald, Inc. or Yale University. Copyright 2014, The Yale Herald, Inc. Have a nice day. Cover by Julia Kittle-Kamp YH Staff
2 – The Yale Herald
THIS WEEK
COMMENCEMENT
Index 4
Yale: fall 2010 - present Having trouble remembering what actually happened in the past four years? Herald editors help jog your memory.
24
Number of students enrolled in Yale College in the 1713-1714 school year.
1426
Number of students enrolled in Yale College in the 1913-1914 school year.
5409
The Yale Herald
Deans and masters’ farewells
8
Your guardian angels bid you adieu for the final time. (But some promise they’ll see you later!)
Number of students enrolled in Yale College in the 2013-2014 school year.
155
Cost of a year’s tuition to Yale
College for the 1914-1915 school year, in dollars
60,900 10
Family congratulations Surprise! Your family wanted to wish you a formal “mazel tov” in the Herald. There’s an embarrassing photo of you in here...
Cost of a year’s tuition
to Yale College for the 2013-2014 school year, in dollars
1:8.54
Teacher to student ratio
for Yale College in the 1914-1915 school year
1:6 Weekend guide
18-backcover
Commencement weekend is a confusing time—but fear not, we’re here to help. Check out the Herald’s guide for the lowdown on where to go and what to do.
Teacher to student ratio for Yale
College in the 2013-2014 school year Sources: 1,2,4,6) George W. Pierson, A Yale Book of Numbers Historical Statistics of the College and University 1701 - 1976, 3) YaleFactSheet, 5) Yale.edu/admissions, 7) US News and World Reports
—Kohler Bruno YH Staff
May 16, 2014 – 3
THE NUMBERS
Bright College Years
The most memorable events from the best four years of your life While 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, and touched every member of the Yale community. Some events, such as the tragic deaths of Yale students, brought the campus together. Others, like the DKE chanting incident and the Title IX investigation, divided us. In the end, these moments are chapters in everyone’s Yale story. Fall 2010 As always, the school year began with excitement. We were excited to see our friends, we were excited to sit outside and play lawn games, we were excited to jump around. Jump up, jump up, jump around. But this time, there were a few new places to go and a few new people to meet. In August, we were greeted by a flurry of new buildings. Most importantly, a new store opened on High Street and subsequently stole our hearts. Its name: Froyo World. Hailed as “a haven for girls and gays alike,” Froyo World quickly destroyed its competition across the street, the ever-depressing Liberry. Now, just 10 months later, Froyo World has a strong following—groups of students can be found loitering in the lounge at all times of the day. In a sense, Froyo World replaced Copper Kitchen, the friendly neighborhood kinda crappy/cheap (which is good because we’re not made of money) diner. On the downside, now we have to walk all the way to Patricia’s if we want to get some eggs and home fries. On campus, DUH-turned YUHS-turned Yale HEALTH moved from its former location on Hillhouse Avenue to a beautiful new home at 55 Lock St., just around the corner from Ingalls Rink. Whether the actual health services will improve remains to be seen. In other construction news, the University presented the penultimate piece of the residential college renovation project: the grand reopening of the Eero Saarinen-designed Morse College. Those in charge of the renovation made a conscious effort to respect Saarinen’s design, albeit with modern updates. Among the new features are common rooms and a large fountain, nicknamed “the Beach,” in the middle of the college’s courtyard. On a much larger scale, the administration announced plans to open a campus in Singapore, to be called Yale-National University of Singapore College. Administration officials have stated that the new school is an attempt to bring liberal arts education to a new venue. A model of the future Yale-NUS campus displayed the incorporation of tradition Yale architecture and Singaporean design. The news of the campus sparked debate amongst students and alumni alike. Many were suspicious of the University’s desire to expand its brand; others saw Yale as providing superior education to a greater number of students across the world. Later in the semester, a group of students caused quite a bit of controversy campus-wide. As part of their pledge activities, member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity were heard chanting, “Yes means no, no means anal!” on Old Campus. As a result, students argued over the group’s intent and punishment; their case went to the Executive Committee. In May, ExComm handed down a harsh sen-
tence. According to an email from Yale College Dean Mary Miller, “The Committee imposed sanctions on the DKE chapter as an organization that prohibit it from conducting any fraternity activities on campus (including recruiting) for a period of five years, prevent it from communicating with Yale students by means of Yale bulletin boards or Yale email, and severly limit its use of the Yale name in connection with the DKE organization. The Committee has also formally requested that the DKE national organization suspend the chapter for five years.” But what has become known as the “DKE incident” was not the only controversy on campus this fall. Police brutality became the subject of much student fodder in early October. At approximately 12:50 a.m. on Sat., Oct. 2, the New Haven Police Department raided the Morse-Stiles Screw, held at Elevate, in response to an anonymous tip about underage drinking at the club. The officers asked each attendee to present their IDs. But it was when students finally started to leave that violence broke out—NHPD officers used a Taser on one student, Jordan Jefferson. The raid on Elevate that night was part of a program that the NHPD had
in national politics—this fall, it was time for the 2010 midterm elections. Yeehaw! In one corner were the majority-holding Democrats, attempting to hold on to their power despite disappointing approval ratings. In the other corner, elephants, gaining momentum off of the failures of their opponents. But the season offered more than just our fuddy-duddy political parties. There was a new guy in town— The Tea Party, the freaky younger and more extreme sister of the GOP. They were serious—they actually won some seats, too. The Democrats held on to the majority in the Senate, but dropped the ball on the House of Representatives. John Boehner of Ohio dethroned Queen Nancy as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Spring 2011 Students returned from their winter holidays refreshed and ready to study! They had gotten some much needed rest over the vacation, perhaps had gone to see the newest (but not final!) installment of the Harry Potter series, granted they had not already seen it over the Thanksgiving recess,
While the Title IX complaint was met with equal parks skepticism and commendation, no one can deny that the media whirlwind it created began right here at the Yale Herald. initiated, named Operation Nightlife, designed to, ironically, crack down on violence in the bars and clubs in downtown New Haven. Though the NHPD’s actions outraged the student body, many outside accused the Yale community of believing it is above the law. As happens every two years or so, Yale students engaged
of course. However, despite how well-rested, rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed they may have been upon arrival, their dreams of a semester filled with long walks in the brisk winter air were soon shot to pieces. The cold months of January and February brought with them harsh weather, including the greatest accumulation of snowfall that had
The plans of Ezra Stiles College, Morse College, and neighboring buildings superimposed on the construction area for the two new colleges. (Courtesy Arielle Haves/YH) 4 – The Yale Herald
ever rested on the ground in this, the fair Nutmeg State. It seemed as though the frozen precipitation would never disappear disappear, and for many weeks, it did not. Spring has yet to arrive. This year has sucked. However, the semester provided much in the way of on-campus hubbub as things got underway. First of all, Chief Ronnell Higgins replaced Former Chief James Perotti as the Chief of the Yale Police Department. Many were sad to see Perotti go, but as long as the emails keep providing details such as, “the suspect was wearing a purple wig,” no one seems to mind too much. Second of all, Amy Chua, the John M. Duff, Jr. Professor of Law at the Yale Law School, penned the controversial book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Chua received much flack for her perceived harsh parenting methods, generating a heated response both for its portrayal of Asian-American child-rearing styles, as well as the implicit comparison Chua made to “Western” parents, and their stereotypical molly-
Oceanographer. While it is difficult to know how to process an incident of this sort—one of random tragedy—it is certain that Michele was an incredible friend, as well as student and musician. The outpouring of love and affection that arose in the wake of her death reminds us all of the supportive community of which we are lucky to be a part, and which will certainly make a concerted effort to keep the exemplary legacies of both Michele and Mandi burning brightly. Fall 2011 Students returning to campus in late August were faced with the imminent threat of destruction thanks to Hurricane Irene. Yale’s campus was left mostly unscathed, the exception being Lynwood Place, whose tenants remained without power for over a week. New Haven as a whole suffered 13 million dollars’ worth of damages, and Toad’s Place was forced to
Students returning to campus in late August were faced with the imminent threat of destruction thanks to Hurricane Irene coddling, especially among the Boomer generation. However, Chua’s success was a big ol’ slap in the face to any and all of her naysayers. At the bi-annual Herald-YDN banquet for all editors hosted by President Levin and his wife at their ceremonial home, President Levin said of this here publication, “The Herald is less accurate [than the YDN], but it’s interesting.” This prompted a tearful and angry outcry among every student on campus since, in a recent poll, 100 percent of the student body said that they read the Herald in its entirety every week. Additionally, the Herald has a lot of money to spend, and Yale has an on-campus dog-breeding facility. How’s that for accurate, Mr. Pres? Another important and watershed moment for the Yale student body this semester was the grand opening of the ¡Ay! Salsa dining room. Described as “heaven” by its acolytes and “pretty close to heaven” by its detractors, no one has anything bad to say about this fine dining establishment in the heart of the Elm City. On Mar. 30, 16 current students and alumni filed a Title IX complaint against the University, on the grounds that it creates a hostile environment for women, thereby barring them equal access to a Yale education. The complaint combines several public incidents of sexual discrimination with personal testimonies about the University’s handling of incidents of sexual harassment and assault. While the complaint was met with equal parts skepticism and commendation, no one can deny that it has created a media whirlwind, which began right here at the Yale Herald, where the story first appeared. The Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education, the arm of the federal government that is conducting the investigation, has yet to release its findings, but the University is already taking steps to combat the issues raised in the complaint. Regardless of one’s personal feelings about the validity of the complaint, it seems that the filing of the complaint will do much to improve how the University and its students think of sexual relations within and outside of its walls. After a long battle against leukemia, Yale Women’s Hockey star Mandi Schwartz, CC ’11 passed away on April 3. The Yale student body rallied around the Canada native—many students participated in bone marrow drives which were organized in the hopes of finding a match for Mandi here at Yale. After a second relapse early this year, Mandi passed away at home in Wilcox, in Regina, Saskatchewan. She is remembered not only for her talent in the field of ice hockey, but for her generosity of spirit and bottomless kindness. In a second tragic event this semester, Michele Dufault, SY ’11, was killed in an accident at Sterling Memorial Chemistry lab. A talented saxophone player and member of the Yale Precision Marching Band, Michele was an accomplished Astronomy and Physics major who planned on becoming an Applied
cancel their Aug. 27 dance party. October saw heated campaigning throughout the city, as the Mayor’s seat and all Aldermanic positions were up for grabs. Vinay Nayak, DC ‘14, and Sarah Eidelson, JE ‘12, energized campus with a month and a half of stumping for the Ward 1 seat. November 8 saw a record 962 voters turning out in Ward 1 to elect Eidelson, 563 to 399, as well as an easy reelection for DeStefano, who is now serving his ninth term as mayor. The University continued to deal with fallout from the Title IX suit filed in the spring. Communication and Consent Educators, a new peer-education program sponsored by the Dean’s office, was rolled out to a mixed response among the student body. In November, President Levin released the findings of the Advisory Committee on Campus Climate along with a seven-page response, detailing the recommendations of the committee and the University’s planned responses. A new website offering resrouces for cases of sexual misconduct was launched, along with an expansion of SHARE and a renewed focus on registering and regulating student organizations. Running parallel to many campus discussions of sexual climate was an intense debate on the legitimacy of Sex Week at Yale (SWAY). This debate, played out in classrooms, dorms, and on the op-ed pages of the YDN, involved a backand-forth between the supporters of Undergraduates for a Better Yale College (UBYC), a socially conservative group that publicly called for the end of what they saw as SWAY’s
York and Elm, which provided the much-loved burritos, arepas, and quesedillas made by Ernesto Garcia for nearly half the in-restaurant price. FroYo World’s new franchise on High and Chapel found itself embroiled in fierce competition only a few months after its opening, as Flavors arrived on York to challenge it for the frozen yogurt crown. Little Salad Shop, a student-owned and run fast-food restaurant, joined Fro Yo World as High St’s newest resident. In early November, Elm City Market, a food cooperative on the first floor of the newly-opened 360 State Street apartment building, opened its doors. As if in response to fall’s culinary explosion, the University announced a lifting of the long-hated food ban in Bass Library. On the technology front, the creation of new panlists was banned. Panlists are now replaced by Mailman lists, whose added security measures make it more difficult for students to send emails to lists of which they are not members. Broadway Ave moved further towards suburban mall-dom as a retail Apple Store opened its sleek glass doors in September. Spring 2012 In late December, the New Haven Independent reported that Richter’s, the recently-closed Chapel Street pub frequented by junior societies, would be up and running “before the snow melts.” The bar never re-opened, maybe because the snow never came—New Haven saw some of the warmest late winter days of all time (and we could see sunbathers in bikinis on Old Campus as soon as we returned from Spring Break). Unfortunately, not all the news this semester was warm and sunny. On Jan. 26, the New York Times reported that Patrick Witt’s, JE ’12, admirable decision to play in the Harvard-Yale football game last November was not really admirable—or even a decision—after all. As it turns out, “the Rhodes Trust had learned through unofficial channels that a fellow student had accused Witt of sexual assault,” and suspended his candidacy. Witt countered that he had in fact made the choice to formally withdraw his candidacy, and that the Trust had received “false information.” As of January he was no longer enrolled at the University, but he claimed he would graduate. February saw the culmination of a heated, year-long debate in the YDN opinion pages (and Jezebel!) about the ethics of Sex Week. The event, which President Levin mandated remove “at Yale” from the end of its name, kicked off on Feb. 3 and ended on Valentine’s day, featuring such talks as “On the Grind: Queer Online Social-Networking on Campus,” “Play With Your Playlist: Talk with Suki Dunham, Founder of OhMiBod Musical Vibrators,” and “Relationships and Faith at Yale: A Panel Discussion,” to name a few. Undergraduates for a Better Yale College’s True Love week scheduled alternative talks during the same week, including “The State of Marriage Today” and “Chastity and Human Goods.” To
Running parallel to many campus discussions of sexual climate was an intense debate on the legitamacy of Sex Week at Yale.
morally corrupting influence on campus hook-up culture. 2011 closed with a record number of murders—32— and a shake-up in the NHPD that saw the end of Police Chief Frank Limon’s career in New Haven. Limon was replaced by Dean Esserman of the Providence PD. A fatal tragedy at the Harvard-Yale tailgate left one person dead and two more injured; Brendan Ross, BK ‘13, was driving a U-Haul when it crashed into a crowd of tailgate attendees. The New Haven iteration of the global Occupy protests set up camp on the upper Green in October. In November, a group of Yale students affiliated with the Occupy movement organized a protest of Morgan Stanley’s recruiting session at the Study Hotel. The fall also saw the arrival of an Ay! Arepa foodtruck on
protest the homophobia of True Love week’s second speaker, Prof. Anthony Esolen of Providence College, about 50 students staged a same-sex “kiss in,” which they carried out when someone’s cell phone began playing Diana Ross’s “I’m Coming Out.” As always, April was the cruelest month. Yale lost Zachary Brunt, DC ’15, an aspiring musician and scientist who tragically took his own life. He reminded us never to take the people we love for granted. A University-wide vigil was held in Davenport, and two of his Drop Team teammates wrote in the YDN, “Our memories of Zach encourage us to brighten others’ lives as he brightened ours.” Also in April, Occupy New Haven was evicted from the
May 16, 2014 – 5
VOICES Green after a six-month long occupation and a long legal battle with the city. They left chanting, “You can’t evict an idea.”
Fall 2012 Shopping period had hardly begun when President Levin sent a University-wide email announcing his decision to step down from his position at the end of the 20122013 academic year, after 20 years serving as president of Yale. Before his presidency, Levin was hardly a stranger to Yale: he received his Ph.D. in economics from the University in 1974, and went on to serve as chair of the economics department and dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. As president, Levin undertook ambitious projects to expand Yale’s presence both in New Haven and the world. During his tenure, the University successfully completed its Yale Tomorrow campaign, raising $3.881 billion dollars in the school’s largest fundraising campaign to date. All 12 residential colleges were renovated and plans were made for the construction of two more. Yale-NUS College, in the face of considerable resistance from Yale faculty, is set to open in Singapore in August 2013. In a joint effort with the City and the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, the University announced the New Haven Promise scholarship program to help send the city’s public school graduates to college. “It is a source of great satisfaction to leave Yale in much stronger condition—academically, physically, and financially—than it was when I began in 1993,” Levin wrote in his email. In another break from recent tradition, the University cancelled all classes and extracurricular activities for the first time in 34 years when Hurricane Sandy hit in late October. Classes were cancelled, all nonessential staff was told to stay home, and curfews kept students inside. A 100-pound exhaust fan fell from the top of the Malone Engineering Center, and a glass bus shelter near Commons shattered. In the wake of the storm, Yale provided warm showers, ice, and discounted lunches to faculty, staff and students who had been affected by the storm. A report released in February by the National Hurricane Center said that Sandy was the deadliest hurricane to hit the Northeast in 40 years and the second costliest in U.S. history. Connecticut found itself in the national spotlight during election season, with one of the 10 Senate races—out of 33—in which each of the major parties’ candidates seemed to have an equal shot. On Tues., Nov. 6, Connecticut voters had a choice between Republican Linda McMahon, former President and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, and Democrat Chris Murphy, a veteran Connecticut politician who, at the time of the election, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Just two years earlier, McMahon spent over $50 million—out of her own pocket—on a Senate race which she ended up losing to Richard Blumenthal, LAW ’73. Her bid proved once again unsuccessful: Murphy won the seat, despite the 42.6 million McMahon spent this time around. Yale students campaigned actively for both candidates, undeterred by Hurricane Sandy. Most importantly, the New Yorker stole the headline of the Herald’s piece covering the race, “Pinning down Connecticut.” Murphy’s victory at the polls was arguably overshadowed by President Obama’s. Obama captured both the popular vote and electoral college, defeating Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Seven current Yale undergraduates took the fall semester off in order to work on the Obama campaign. Students who remained on campus could stop by the recently-opened Chapel Street branch of Danny Meyer’s burger empire, Shake Shack, to take a Pledge to 6 – The Yale Herald
Vote and receive a coupon for a free custard on their next visit; Atticus gave out free loaves of bread to customers with an “I Voted” sticker from the polls. While many Yalies turned out to the polls to vote for Obama, there were other presidential decisions being made, albeit not quite so democratically. On Nov. 8, Edward Bass, ’67, senior fellow of the Yale Corporation, sent an email to the Yale community announcing the election of President Levin’s successor: Peter Salovey, who, according to the email, will take office on June 30, 2013. Like Levin, Salovey came to Yale as a graduate student and has been here ever since, having served as chair of the psychology department, dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, dean of Yale College, and, currently, as provost. Students criticized the administration and the Corporation for their lack of transparency in the search process, mocking the choice of the word “elected,” pointing out that Salovey had instead been selected. As final exams got underway, students found a choice study break in the Yale University Art Gallery, which celebrated the grand opening of the renovated and expanded museum on Dec. 12, 2012. The expanded museum is comprised of three buildings and showcases more than 4,000 objects; its opening marks the climax of a 15-year project. The Gallery, which has a heavy focus on education, aimed at Yale, New Haven, and beyond, is free and open to the public. “New Yorkers, who have museums huge and tiny but few at the harmonious in-between scale of this one, will want to start checking New Haven train times,” declared the New York Times. This moment of rebirth for the YUAG was tempered as Yale and the entire nation watched in horror as the tragedy of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting unfolded. On Dec. 14, Adam Lanza shot and killed his mother in their home in Newtown, Conn.; he then drove to Sandy Hook Elementary, where he shot and killed 20 children and six adult staff members before taking his own life. Sandy Hook Elementary is 24 miles from Old Campus’s Phelps Gate.
Spring 2013 On Jan. 29, New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. announced that he does not plan to run for reelection. DeStefano has served 10 terms—20 years—effectively overseeing New Haven’s regeneration; he’s worked to win a federal grant to develop a stretch of city boulevards from the unfinished Route 34 highway, supported a “jobs pipeline” proposed by the Board of Aldermen, and worked to cultivate a relationship between Yale and New Haven. DeStefano’s decision not to run again has opened up the November 2013 election. As of printing time, seven candidates have thrown their hats into the ring, and the race to replace DeStefano promises to be exciting. The administration’s first-semester historic decision to suspend University operations during Hurricane Sandy was followed by a second instance of class cancellations. On Feb. 9, massive snowstorm Nemo hit New Haven; over the next three days, the Elm City was pummeled by more than 34 inches of snow and winds that reached 55 miles per hour. Connecticut declared a state of emergency, and Linda Koch Lorimer and crew ended up cancelling classes on Mon., Feb. 11, and Tues., Feb. 12. Yale students found this snowstorm, which proved hugely destructive elsewhere, to be a godsend; the FCC organized an “ice art” competition, and “Snoads” was a popular destination. After a Feb. 19 YDN op-ed by Alejandro Gutierrez, CC ‘13, about low-income, first-generation college students at Yale, the College’s accessibility became a popular topic of discussion. Other students echoed Gutierrez’s questions about easing the transition to college, and later that month, the College Dean’s Office announced the launch of a new five-week summer bridge program to help incoming freshmen get acclimated to Yale. February saw other University policy come into question as well; on the 19th of that month, an ad hoc faculty committee released a proposal to change Yale College’s grading practices, recommending a transition from a letter grade system to a 100-point scale, the imposition of recommended grade distributions, and presenting grading data to departments. Campus exploded with discussion and debate about grading and the value of a Yale education, and only nine weeks later, the faculty met in the heavily guarded Davies Auditorium
The NCAA Champion Yale University men’s hockey team posed for a picture after their championship victory in Pittsburgh, Penn. (Courtesy YaleNews)
to vote on the proposal as protesters chanted outside. The faculty ended up electing to postpone the vote nine months in order to allow for further examination and student input. Fall 2013 We returned to campus in August to find a university alive but in flux. The Sterling Memorial Library had shrunk to the size of a hallway, whitewashed and sterile, while there was a new occupant calling 43 Hillhouse Avenue home: President Peter Salovey. Although Salovey officially took office on July 1, 2013, his inauguration did not come until Oct., and the once-in-a-generation event boasted all the pomp and circumstance that accompany the rare but consequential changing of the presidential guard. “Our task—even while we grow in size, even while we commit to being a more diverse faculty, staff and student body, more cross-disciplinary, and more global, is to retain Yale’s focus on the ties that bind us together,” Salovey said in his remarks in Woolsey Hall on Oct. 13. In the week leading up to the installation of Yale’s 23rd president, students sported light blue shirts marked with navy 23’s as a host of events and ceremonies ushered in the new presidential term. The festivities came on the heels of an exciting development in the University’s efforts to expand Yale College with the addition of two new residential colleges. On Sept. 29, Salovey announced a 250 million dollar gift—the largest in Yale’s history—from Charles B. Johnson, SM ’54, toward the construction of the new colleges. Progress on the buildings, which had all but ground to a halt, seemed poised to recommence shortly, with the uni-
While many initially feared that See’s death had occurred after mistreatment by the police, an autopsy by the New Haven Police Department eventually revealed that See died from a heart attack induced by methamphetamines. Friends and family gathered to remember See’s life and mourn his death in January at Battell Chapel. As autumn yielded to winter and midterms turned to final, we began to retreat into the sanctuaries that are Yale’s libraries, and the transformation of the Sterling Memorial Library’s nave into a long and lifeless hallway grew more and more poignant. For the class of 2014, the last time to walk as a Yale student through Sterling’s grand atrium to the holiest circulation desk in the world had come during the previous semester. With the nave undergoing a 20 million dollar restoration and renovation, access to one of Yale’s grander interiors was cut off as students shuffled from the entrance to the long desks in the Starr reading room or upstairs to the Stacks. The plans for the restoration are expansive—the nave is set to become a social space, with seating and study areas, while the stained-glass windows and the hundreds of intricate reliefs will receive a much-deserved facelift. Perhaps it was Yale’s way of saying to the class of 2014 that although they graduate in May, they won’t be able to stay away for long: sooner or later they’ll have to return to campus to take a spin through the new Sterling nave, and maybe poke around campus for a little while. Who knows what they might find. Spring 2014
But the bright and triumphant mood that Jonhson’s gift and Salovey’s inauguration brought to campus was soon muted by news of the death of Calhoun Dean, Leslie Woodward versity just 80 million dollars shy of its fundraising target for the development. But the bright and triumphant mood that Johnson’s gift and Salovey’s inauguration brought to campus was soon muted by news of the death of Leslie Woodard, professor of English and Dean of Calhoun College, on Oct. 14, just one day after the presidential ceremonies at Woolsey. Much beloved by her students and fellow faculty, Woodard, who taught “Introduction to Creative Writing” and earned her BA in Literature and Writing at Columbia University in 1994, left Calhoun and Yale at large mourning her passing. Students held a candlelight vigil at which Salovey, University Chaplain Sharon Kugler, and Calhoun Master Jonathan Holloway spoke. “She would say, ‘Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and march with a capital M,’” Holloway said. “We owe it to her to be sad and confused, but we will do honor to her by picking ourselves up, dusting ourselves off, and marching.” Meanwhile, outside Yale’s courtyards, the country grappled with the shutdown of the Federal government, which started on Oct. 1. The University’s operations were all but unaffected, with the exception of some research projects whose funding derived from federal grants. With the end of the shutdown on Oct.16, that funding stabilized and university operations continued as before. Not six weeks later we were struck with another tragic death when Sam See, an assistant professor in the English department who was on leave during the fall semester, was found dead in a police holding cell after a domestic dispute with his husband on Nov. 24.
Shopping period began on Mon., Jan. 13, with a bang. That day, 1,418 Yale undergraduates logged on to the website Yale Bluebook+ (YBB+) to find that the site was shut down and their hypothetical schedules were unretrievable. Created by twin brothers Peter Xu, MC ’14, and Harry Yu, SY ’14, in 2012, YBB+ was designed to help students streamline course selection by repurposing Yale’s course evaluation data to compare courses to one another. As expressed in the first letter Yale College Dean Mary Miller released to explain the university’s decision, the site was blocked because the data is the university’s property, and Yale never gave the brothers permission to use it. This announcement created an uproar both among the student body at Yale and beyond New Haven, as many were quick to deride the university for censoring its students with a so-called “firewall.” National news sources such as The HuffingtonPost, the New York Times, and Reddit, to name just a few, reported and printed op-eds on this issue, creating a major public relations nightmare for the university. Besides conveying the university’s outof-touchness to issues pertaining to its modern student body, it was later exposed that the administration’s position was a result of much pressure from its professors who are seriously worried about quantitative evaluations, such as the ones hosted on YBB+. The YBB+ ordeal wasn’t the only big news story regarding Dean Miller during shopping period. On Fri., Jan. 24, just days after Miller made her second statement to the Yale community regarding the YBB+ fiasco, Miller announced that she will be stepping down from her post in June after her five-year term as dean of
Yale College. In an email to the university, President Salovey announced that the university would establish a search committee to find and appoint a new dean of the college and that this committee would have a student representative, which was ultimately filled by YCC president Danny Avraham, BR ’15. But this appointment ruffled the feathers of some who wished to see a more democratic selection process for the student voice on the committee. At the time of press, the university has not announced Miller’s replacement, nor has it announced replacements for John Meeske, associate dean for student organizations and physical resources, and Graduate School Dean Thomas Pollard who will both also step down from their deanships at the beginning of this summer. However, over the course of the semester, Yale did select Sarah Mahuri, GRD ’11, to be the next dean of Timothy Dwight College, and Jessie Royce Hill, an admissions officer, to be the next dean of Silliman College, replacing deans Loge and Flick respectively, while Sociology professor and Deputy Provost Julia Adams will be the next master of Calhoun College, replacing Jonathan Holloway, GRD ’95. Also in Yale hiring news, on Mon., March 24, former university president Rick Levin accepted a post at Coursera, the nation’s largest online education platform. Major news within leadership organizations was not limited to the university administration this semester. On Tues., Feb. 11, the Yale Daily News reported that the University Executive Committee was investigating former YIRA president, Larissa Liburd, SY ’14, for the alleged misallocation of 3500 dollars in organizational funds to her group, Citoyen Haiti. In the comments section of the Daily News website, many claimed, in outrage, that the News mishandled the story by reporting on an ongoing ExComm investigation and by reporting on the facts of the story that were not thoroughly sourced or vetted. ExComm has since found Liburd to have no guilt in the affair, clearing her name. Also stirring up much controversy on the News comments board, the YCC presidential election produced much drama and excitement, especially following last year’s comparatively dull, uncontested race. Michael Herbert, SY ’16, ultimately beat out Leah Motzkin, BR ’16, in a heated runoff race, ending the election cycle which both generated and expressed a flurry of criticism towards the YCC. But this year’s Spring Fling was a YCC event that few had anything to complain about. To start, it was the first time in recent memory that Fling was held on a Saturday, instead of on a Monday, making attendance generally more justifiable for grade-concerned students. While Chance the Rapper fell ill in the week leading up to the performance, causing him to drop out of his agreement with the YCC, YCC Events Director extraordinaire, Eli Rivkin, TC ’15, and company pulled off signing Ja Rule to a contract to play in the eleventh hour before the performance, which was perhaps the most exciting thing to happen in April besides Pinkberry opening up shop on Chapel Street. With Ja Rule added to the concert bill, which was already stacked with Betty Who and headliner Diplo, Spring Fling was made even stronger. The rain that pounded the audience throughout the course of the evening couldn’t stop this fling from being the best in recent memory.
—Summary compiled by, Ariel Doctoroff, Emily Rappaport, Lucas Iberico Lozada, Emma Schindler, Maude Tisch, Micah Rodman and Kohler Bruno
May 16, 2014 _ 7
Parting words Deans and masters say good luck and farewell to the Class of 2014 EZRA STILES Camille Lizarríbar, Dean Dearest Stilesians, It has been a privilege to be your dean these last four years, and you will always be special to me as we were freshmen together! I will miss your spirit, your dedication and the wonderful energy you have brought to our residential college. Stiles has changed with you and because of you, and you have been a powerful example of what it means to be part of a community. You have gracefully navigated a last year full of challenges and accomplishments, and before going on to the next adventure I urge you to take time and bask in the beauty of this milestone. Look around to your Yale peers, your Stiles community, your close friends and your families, and celebrate all that you have done for yourselves and for each other. My wish for you is that you find happiness and success, however you may define them, and that you will continue to learn, explore and love throughout your life. We will miss you very much, and I look forward to hearing about all of your future successes (big and small). Congratulations class of 2014! Yours in love of the moose, Dean Lizarríbar Stephen Pitti, Master Stilesians in the Class of 2014, You’ve been great here in so many ways, and we’re willing now to let you go and be great elsewhere — provided that you Please Stay In Touch. College may not have been exactly what you expected back when you were in high school, but I take heart in knowing that you’ve experienced great joys here, that you’ve explored Yale’s curriculum in ways both wide and deep, and that you’ve learned some critical things about resilience, independence, collaboration, and community values that should serve you well in the years ahead. I’ve been impressed above all by your concern for others — suite mates, family members, New Haven residents, and communities on the other side of the globe. Remember the great people you’ve come to know here at Yale, hold those relationships close, and look for the ways that you can live out your values, and be agents of social transformation, in the years ahead. One Love, One Moose, MP
TRUMBULL Jasmina Besirevic-Regan, Dean Congratulations, Trumbull Class of 2014! It has been a privilege being a part of your life in the past four years. I will always cherish our memories of wonderful excursions to New York and apple orchards, your IM competitive spirit, delicious study breaks, Rumbles in Trumbull and Pamplonas, as well as your high Ex Com participation and hilarious dean’s excuse reasons that improved with each year! Thank you for making Trumbull the best residential college at Yale! We will miss you tremendously! You will always be our family and we hope that you will stay in touch long after graduation! Moo-rah!!! Dean Besirevic and family
8 – The Yale Herald
TIMOTHY DWIGHT John Loge, Dean Dear Wonderful Members of the Class of 2014, A postcard arrived: “Dear Dean Loge. We went to North Carolina to live deliberately, to front only the beach, to swim deeply, to suck all the meat out of crab legs, to learn what the sand dunes had to teach, and not, when we had come to graduate, discover that we did not have a suntan. Having a wonderful time -- wish you were here.” As I think of you at Commencement time, I want to remind you to heed your education and continue to ask those old questions, to heed Einstein and walk around those turtles, and to heed Thoreau and live on purpose. And, of course, turn that boat over, get behind those oars, and row with all your heart -- with the heart of a TD Lion, even. Our courtyard is quiet now. I saw you making your final preparations, packing in time with your friends, and shuttling boxes and relatives about. I want to remind you again that you are prepared and ready for what you next will do. I know what you may not yet know -- that you developed here at Yale resources and strengths that are not yet known to you but that will reveal themselves as you meet the expected and unexpected that await you. You are ready! In fact, you succeed already when you stand by Emerson’s definition of success: “To laugh often and much. To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children. To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty. To find the best in others. To give of oneself. To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition. To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation. To know even one life has breathed easier after one’s efforts. This is to have succeeded.” I will always remember our time together in TD and the friendships we have made; we will always stand together with our courageous red lion. See you around the courtyard of memory. Dean Loge Jeffrey Brenzel, Master It’s hard to imagine the TD courtyard and dining hall without this senior class. The river will bring us others, but never you again. As you depart Yale a newly independent soul, I hope you will recognize that your mistakes and shortcomings have been equal in importance to your achievements. You could nod briefly in assent to this commonplace sentiment without realizing how true it will continue to be. Perhaps you are ready to embark on a more advanced exploration of the same subject. If so, you will discover as well how to learn from the mistakes of others. You will never live long enough to make them all yourself. Bon voyage, bon courage. Be a force for good.
PIERSON Stephen Davis, Master To the Pierson Class of 2014, Congratulations on your extraordinary accomplishment this day. It has been an honor and a privilege accompanying you on the final stage of your journey at Yale. I want to thank you for what you have taught Jenny and me about creating community in the college, whether it was munching apples at Bishop’s Orchard, planting a thousand daffodils in the courtyard, hosting the best (and safest) Inferno ever, supporting each other faithfully at Mellon Forums, watching Firefly by night, celebrating dunk tank madness at Pierson Day, or simply sharing meals and conversations in the dining hall. Over the course of this year, I have witnessed in you a rare combination of leadership and service, a precious blend of strength, integrity, humor, and hospitality. As you begin the next phase of your life’s journey, may you continue to cultivate these virtues as an extension and fulfillment of what you have created in this place. You will always have a home here at Pierson, Pierson College! Peace, Stephen J. Davis, Master of Pierson College Amerigo Fabbri, Dean Congratulations, Splendid Piersonites! Will you carry that eternal flame with you, that Sun that warmed up your beautiful Pierson home? Will you nurture that dream, that state of mind that transcends bricks and stones and mortar of a place known as Pierson College? I know you will, and I know that you will “sing with me, sing for the years, sing for the laughter, sing for the tears, sing with me, just for today, maybe tomorrow,” maybe forever for the Pierson Sun. Fare thee well, Magical Class of 2014! Always dream on!
SILLIMAN Hugh Flick, Dean Dear Silliman Class of 2014—I have enjoyed getting to know you over the past four years and watching you excel personally and academically. Since I am “graduating” with you, I feel a special bond with your class. I wish you all the best as you leave the Silliman courtyard for other green pastures. I expect to see you achieve great things as you go out into the real world and I look forward to seeing you when we all return to Yale in the future for visits and reunions. Dean Flick Judith Krauss, Master Farewell to SM 2014: To each one of you in Silliman ‘14 To being part of the Silliman team To friendships – each and every one To times we’ve shared from sad to fun To the courtyard in summer, fall, winter and spring To Bocce, Frisbee, hammocks and the swing To Beer Tastings and Champagne Punch To Midnight Breakfast and Music Brunch. To haunted houses and Halloween To the class that graduates with our Dean I send you off with hugs and kisses To each of you my very best wishes! Master K
BRANFORD Hilary Fink, Dean Congratulations, Class of 2014! You are now embarking on a journey that is, at its core, the same journey that we see in the timeless classics of literature: Homer’s Odyssey, Virgil’s Aeneid, Joyce’s Ulysses, and so many others. It is a journey that involves going out into the world, exploring the unknown, facing and ultimately overcoming hardships and challenges, but realizing that everything you need to succeed is already inside of you. The skills, knowledge, varied experiences of all kinds that you have gathered over the past four years-- in addition to the solid foundation of love and support provided by your family-- all of this gives you a core that will help anchor you through the shifting currents of your life. And there will be shifting currents. Life will at times be tough, sometimes disappointing. Nothing will ever be perfect. But as we learn from Milton’s Paradise Lost, it is precisely the absence of perfection that allows for true humanity, for the freedom to make your own decisions, to learn from mistakes, to walk toward the future filled with some trepidation, but mostly with the exhilaration of knowing that you are the creator of your own story. Follow your passion, because life is too short to hate your job. Open your heart to others; the relationships you make over the years will enrich and sustain you like nothing else. Be grateful for your health, for the beauty of nature, for all the (non-monetary) riches of your life. Congratulations once again to you all, and good luck as you begin writing your first post-Yale chapters of adventure, challenge, and growth. All the very best, Hilary Fink Elizabeth Bradley, Master Dearest Branfordians, You have made a tremendous difference in so many people’s lives, and this is just the start. You undoubtedly will do great things – some by design, and some by dumb luck. Be graceful under pressure and remember that your role is not to address just your own problem but to address the collective problem. Share your power with others who need it more. Alone, we are a drop but together we are an ocean. Best wishes and I am sorry that I will not see you around the Courtyard for a while. Be well.
CALHOUN
April Ruiz, Dean Dearest all-grown-up, graduating Hounies, It has been my honor to serve as your dean these past few months. You’ve impressed me, and I know you will continue to impress me when I hear tales of all the wonderful things you will do out there in the world somewhere. Wherever you do go, however, never forget to come home once in a while. You’re always a Hounie. With so much Houn-love, Dean Ruiz Jonathan Holloway, Master Dear Hounies, What a great day! I can’t think of a more generous, more accomplished, and better looking bunch of Yalies. It has been my great fortune to get to know you over the course of the last four years and I am deeply honored that I now get to graduate with you. Aisling joins me in praising you for your sparkling wit and intellect (and again, those good looks)—all made clear during your Mellon Forum introductions and presentations. She also joins me in thanking you for being such fine role models for Emerson and Ellison. Whether you were singing, acting, thinking, debating, titrating, dancing, study-breaking, or simply hanging out in the dining hall or house, you should know that our children were watching, absorbing, and imagining their future. What lucky people! You already know as much, but just to be clear: Angela, Patty, Terry, Dean Ruiz and, of course, Dean
join me in singing your praises and standing in awe of who you have become over the course of these last four years. Now go on out there and spread the light as you speak the truth. Yours in HounLove, Dr.J
SAYBROOK
Behind the courtyard is all green The green of promise and of hope. The laurel climbs the iron gate Not letting go –a fitting trope Even if you do not come back These ties and bonds will never sever, Even if you remain afar You will be JE ‘s own forever. Master Laurans and Dean Spooner
Paul Hudak, Master Dear graduating Saybrugians, It’s hard to believe you’re leaving Yale! To you I’m sure it seems rather final, yet presents new opportunities; creates some anxiety, but carries an abundance of excitement; brings sadness to separate from classmates, but will allow you to experience other communities and cultures. To me, it’s more like, “See you later!” In Saybrook we forge bonds that last a lifetime. Bonds that transcend handshakes and hugs, and manifest themselves as deep and meaningful feelings, thoughts, and memories. I know that you will remember these bonds and treasure them for a long time. And of course there will be many opportunities to renew these bonds as we stay in touch, attend reunions, and of course, return for The Game. And so I simply say to you, “See you later!” Master Hudak Christine Muller, Dean It began with an eager, yet tentative approach to Old Campus in a car filled with clothing and keepsakes. Passionate upperclassmen cheered to welcomed you. Everyone was excited to meet the newest members of Saybrook College and to help them move into their new homes. Almost every person around you then was a stranger. So many now are life-long friends. For many years before Yale, you were not a part of Saybrook. But from that move-in moment forward into the unforeseeable future, you are and always will be an integral and inseparable part of the Saybrook community. No matter how far away you might go, here you will always have a home. We celebrate and congratulate you on your past and ever-unfolding accomplishments. We will miss you, and we wish you well. Dean Muller
JONATHAN EDWARDS Penelope Laurans, Master Joseph Spooner, Dean
Farewell 2014 Spiders The gate swings closed. This is the last You glance back, through your gathering tears, The tulips, hammock, and the swing: Sweet symbols of four magic years. How many thoughtless times have you Swiped in to this, your second home, Taking for granted all you love Receding now in memory’s gloam?
BERKELEY
Marvin Chun, Master Congratulations, Berkeley Class of 2014! Thank you for being such a wonderful community of friends, and I know your caring spirit will expand beyond your time at Yale, over a lifetime around the world. Life tastes better in Berkeley and beyond. Always be grateful for your precious education and experiences, and strive to add value and meaning to all your activities and relationships. Stay in touch, and as I said at Freshman Dinner, I wish you the greatest happiness, health, and success, knowing that these virtues do not trade off, but enhance each other! Forever Yours, Master Chun
MORSE Amy Hungerford, Master To the Class of 2014: My hope for you is that you honor the privilege of a Yale education by extending the faith we have in you to all those you meet in the wide world. May you be generous with your time, your attention, and your service; may you listen deeply and speak judiciously; may you meet both success and failure with humility, grace, and humor. And may you continue to practice the art of friendship as you build your life beyond this place. Amy Hungerford, Professor of English, Master of Morse College
DAVENPORT Richard Schottenfeld, Master Congratulations, Davenport 2014! Triple Crown winners, you turned a mythic quest into a heretofore never achieved reality. Champions on the athletic fields and scholars in science, mathematics, and liberal arts, the Tyng Cup, the Sheffield Prize Cup, and the Gimbel Cup are trophies to your achievements. We couldn’t be prouder of all your accomplishments, but most of all, we couldn’t be prouder of who you are: Kind, incredibly smart and talented. The community of friends you created in Davenport and Yale is your true legacy and something you won’t ever leave behind. Thank you for bringing to Davenport your enormous talents, your passions, your love of a good party, your love of learning, and most of all your friendships and concern for others. All the best, Master S
Who is the person that you were? Who is the one that you’ve become? The past and future tangled up And you are now the total sum Of what you came with, what you’ve learned: The hardest times you’ve ever known The happiest you’ve ever been Refined as you have learned and grown. We wave you off: Your master, dean, The staff who love you -with full hearts We know that all you’ll see in life Defies our atlases and charts.
May 16, 2014 – 9
The Yale Herald congratulates its
Class of 2014 Navy Encinias Hannah Flato Sophie Grais Stephanie Kan Eli Mandel Maggie Neil Cindy Ok Emily Rappaport Julie Reiter Emma Schindler John Stillman Jess Sykes Evan Walker-Wells
May 16, 2014 – 11
12 – The Yale Herald
May 16, 2014 – 13
FEATURE
Congratulations David
Embrace the grand adventure that is your life….and never forget to welcome and appreciate those who choose to travel alongside you, especially if they can confidently do it in their underwear. How could youths better learn to live than by at once trying the experiment of living? Henry David Thoreau
Dragi Marios:
Herzlichen Glückwunsch! बधाई हो! Félicitations! Συγχαρητήρια! Алал да му е! Поздравляем! Čestitamo! Love, Mama & Baba, Ellie & Ilya, Frank & Sherry, Steve, Svetlana, Zach, Greg, Nick & Vassilisa, Krin, Dmitri, Oskar & Maks, Iris, Waldemar, Johanna & Jonas
Job well done! Carpe Diem! Milan
Felicidades Marios! With love and best wishes from Marie and Tim
We're all so proud of you!
14 – The Yale Herald
May 16, 2014 – 15
16 – The Yale Herald
April 4, 2014 – 17
Herald
Superlatives
Heed our advice, lest you know not to do the best things in the city where, quote, “it all happens.”
BEST HANGOVER CURE Leland Whitehouse Patricia’s, on Whalley right next to El Amigo Felix, hands down. When, after one or another too-long beer-soaked romp-stomping night with my degenerate friends, I wake up with an upside-down stomach, squinty eyes and the conviction that God and Joy are forever dead, it’s Patricia’s or Bust. I groan my way out of bed, stumble to the family-size bottle of Advil we keep in the bathroom, then try my best to make it through the door and down the street to Patty’s. Patricia’s is an old school, no-frills breakfast diner with the sort of beautifully simple menu that even a whiskey-pickled brain can navigate. Eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, pancakes, coffee and orange juice - that’s about it. The waitstaff/management (Betsy and Nico) are quick and friendly. They’ve been tenderly guiding haggard Yalies through the Valley of the Shadow of Death for years, and they know what they’re doing. It’s cash only, but a twenty dollar bill will get you two doses. Easy on your wallet, tough on your hangover. Go for Patty’s.
BEST GLUTEN FREE ALTERNATIVE Emma Schindler First, I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to anyone who’s had to sit through a definitively uninteresting explanation of my autoimmune disease and pretend it’s interesting. Second, I’d also like to take this opportunity to do some consciousness-raising and ask you to please think twice before categorically ridiculing gluten-free diets. Because, as I’ve told many a hater, I have an autoimmune disease, sir. And while the world at-large seems to be up to its ears in celiac-friendly products, New Haven is decidedly slow to the good-tasting gluten-free grind. Admittedly, I used to cave to the peanut butter cookie in Blue State, or the weird little loaves on the counter at Book Trader, or those many-dollar cupcakes at Atticus. Every time, without fail, they tasted like s-h-i-t. Or c-h-a-l-k. And other things I don’t know how to spell. Every time, without fail, I ended up feeling like a serious loser. But finally, I’ve grown up. These days, I’m less impulsive—instead, I make dinner plans! Never have I ever felt like a loser after getting gluten-free pizza at Kitchen Zinc. Not even when I take part of my pizza to go and then eat it while walking down Chapel Street. Because you know what? I’m worth it, too. Maybe I don’t use L’Oréal, and maybe Pepe’s doesn’t give a flying hoot about me, but I, too, deserve Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Bread Covered in Sauce and Cheese.e $1.75 tomorrow. Or Saturday. Promise.
18 – The Yale Herald
BEST GHEAV ALTERNATIVE Olivia Rosenthal Sometimes things get off to a rocky start. Mad Men and Real Housewives of New York totally didn’t fully pick up until season two. It took a while for J&B to gain its stride, it had obstacles to overcome: namely, smelling like shit. More specifically, smelling like poop that had been sprayed in Lysol. I don’t ask questions, but I do know that my home away from home, J&B 2.0, now smells lovely. If their offerings—red bean mochi cakes, a constant supply of Dentyne fire, and a weird brand of multigrain rice cakes whose surprising aftertaste I think I might hate but it keeps me on my toes—are not enough of an incentive for you to join J&B’s fan club, lemme break it down for you. Do you like devoted fathers? J&B was named after the two daughters of the owner, John. Do you like unpredictability? The great thing about J&B is that its hours have a mind of their own. Once I was walking to Starbucks at 6 a.m. (RIP econ final), and there he was: John, smiling at the counter, ready to offer me treats galore! Last week, John decided to shut down shop at 4:37 p.m. on a Wednesday. John, you keep me young! Now, like any healthy relationship, John and I have had our ups and downs. More specifically, John’s wife and I didn’t start off on the right foot. Ok, if you put out free Japanese gummies, I am sorry but I am going to help myself to a nice handful. I understand what you were saying though—I shouldn’t have filled my wallet with them. You’re right: it just wasn’t fair to everyone else. And me and the credit card limit? Oh man, we have had our ups and downs. But a lil secret from me to you: if you prove your loyalty to Johnny Boy, well, he may just make you a little back-room deal. Buying a $1.75 fizzy pomegranate drink and only have a card? Sometimes, when Johnny’s feeling the holiday spirit, he’ll make you a little tab. I promise I’ll bring the $1.75 tomorrow. Or Saturday. Promise.
BEST PARTY TRICK We’re all adults here. The days of Mentos and Diet Coke are long gone. No one wants to see you do a handstand either. Who cares how long you can hold your breath. IDGAF if you can fit your whole fist in your mouth. Seriously? You think I’m impressed because you can open a bottle with your teeth? I’m supposed to stop traffic if you’re double jointed? You’re not the first and you sure as hell won’t be the last person I hear burp the “ABCs.” You’ve got a third nipple? So does Chandler Bing. Big whoop, I can name all the state capitals too. You want me to punch you in the abs so I can see how strong you are? I’m not going to because that’s how Harry Houdini died. Hate to break it to you, but balancing a book on your head isn’t what it used to be. Your origami swan is sick, I won’t fight you on that, but tying cherry stem in a knot in your mouth is child’s play. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen someone karate chop a wooden board in two. The best party trick is none other than a convincing Matthew McConaughey impression. You do a scene from Magic Mike or Fool’s Gold, and I can guarantee you that you’ll have the whole room eating treats out of your hand. Don’t get cocky, because this is no small feat. It’s not just affecting a southern accent or taking your shirt off. It’s both.
BEST YALE GALLERY SECRET BEST DEAL Jake Dawe I’m gonna be honest with you: I’m cheap. I’m really cheap. Twenty-five cents can sway my decision at any restaurant. I’ve opted out of a Big Mac meal at McDonald’s (blessed be its holy name) after I debated whether or not I was thirsty enough to pay for a Coke. Why fork over 75 cents more when I can just get the Big Mac sandwich and I dunno, lick the sweat from my arm? The nutritional benefits are pretty similar and that’s about the cost of a hefty dollop of cookie dough in any residential college buttery. So you’ll understand my elation when I wandered into the lounge at the Study to wait for a friend and her mother for lunch and was approached by a hotel staff member politely asking if I wanted coffee or tea. Apparently it’s complimentary for guests and I looked like one. I accepted. I wasn’t tired, but who knows when a fit of narcolepsy will pop up and threaten to ruin a classic Heirloom sourdough grilled cheese and spring water? A few weeks later I was strolling down Chapel and happened to be wearing slacks and a tucked-in Oxford. I decided to try my luck, wandered in, and played the role of hotel guest. I lazily draped myself over a couch in the lounge and stared out the window with feigned disinterest. “Excuse me, sir. Would you like a complimentary coffee as a guest of the hotel?” Of course I would, garçon. Of course. maybe? Here’s to the economic system we love to hate and hate to love. Get at me, invisible hand.
Anna Meixler The Yale Center for British Art houses serious paintings. They range from military scenes to stormy seascapes to my personal favorite, a naked, screaming man gripping a live snake. After viewing the museum’s work, I often want to make something soft and pastel colored and kitten-themed. But Lisa Frank stickers and crayons are hard to find in New Haven, and I forgot to haul my craft materials back to campus after Thanksgiving break. There’s a scarcity of childhood art supplies on campus, unless you attend Cookies and Coloring at the Chaplain’s office, but I feel bad feigning religiosity for Crayolas. It’s only logical that any and every Yale student would, at some point, need to finger paint or make a tailgating headpiece or construct critters out of pom-poms. You probably didn’t know that the YCBA possesses googly eyes and pipe cleaners along with priceless oil paintings of European battles, but they do. Its docent room is secretly stocked with every DIY material you desire. If you haven’t befriended the museum’s educational directors yet, you’re doing something wrong, and are probably slacking on Pinterest projects. Never again will you go to Hull’s and spend upwards of $50 on art supplies, only to settle for metallic Sharpies in lieu of glitter pens and abandon dreams of animal-shaped foam stickers. YCBA cabinets are stuffed with everything from stickers to stencils, perfect for any studio art project/ bedazzled garb/catharsis after viewing intimidating British art.
BEST MIYA’S MENU ITEM Alessandra Roubini
BEST SPLURGE
Forget the canned shit that most Japanese restaurants serve. Miya’s miso soup is not only homemade, but they literally dive for their own seaweed. As in they put on wet suits and dive down to pick their own local seaweed. It’s probs not the cleanest stuff, but dang that’s cool. And if you’re feeling super pumped about the holidays, definitely check out their pumpkin miso soup. It literally tastes like pizza so you can’t go wrong.
Thomas Yabroff You’ve earned it. You’ve burned calories left and right trudging amuck from Bingham to Broadway. You’ve earned your keep shelving books, monitoring phones, and letting the School of Management do tests on you. You need it, 6.7 credits and a graduate seminar on the ornithological implications of industrial psychoanalysis requires much work and little sleep. 20 ounce iced Blue State coffee twice daily. Get it. At around six dollars a day, this splurge may set you back over $1,600 over a year, but again, could you survive without it? This jet drink of caffeinated bliss may be cheap for the occasional TF meeting or club get-together, but a true aficionado and anti-Scrooge will splurge bi-daily on his or her cup of choice. What to pick? Irrelevant. Ethiopian French Roast? Italian Sumatran blend? Blonde roast with bleached highlights? It’s besides the point. You have your Blue State card and your brain demands tribute to the C8H10N4O2 gods. Splurge and slurp it up. No questions asked.
BEST RUDY’S SAUCE We’re at an impasse: Rudy’s samurai sauce vs. Rudy’s curry ketchup.
May 16, 2014 – 19
A VISITOR’S GUIDE TO NEW HAVEN’S FINE DINING As the reputed birthplace of both the hamburger (Louis’ Lunch) and the pizza pie (Pepe’s), New Haven supports a wide variety of eateries, restaurants, and gourmet establishments. The following is a list of local restaurants for formal and casual meals. Make sure to call ahead to check if reservations are recommended or required! Key: $ – under $10 per person $$ – $10-$15 $$$ – over $15 + – Not within walking distance. American 116 Crown (116 Crown St., 777-3116): Upscale, nouveau American cuisine in a swanky setting. Very extensive list of specialty bespoke cocktails. $$$ Claire’s Corner Copia (1000 Chapel St., 5623888): Kosher and vegetarian cuisine; wide selection of popular homemade desserts. $$ Heirloom at the Study Hotel (24 Whitney Ave., 865-5946): Contemporary American cuisine and outstanding décor. $$$ Prime 16 (172 Temple St., 782-1616): Perhaps New Haven’s best burgers and a great beer selection. $$ Rudy’s Bar & Grill (1227 Chapel St., 8651242): A stylish revision of what used to be a dive-bar. Great burgers, chicken sandwiches, and fries with special sauces, as well as an outstanding beer list. $$ Sage American Bar & Grill (+ 100 South Water St., 787-3466): Salads, fish, steak, delicious bread; view of the Sound. $$$ Shake Shack (986 Chapel St., 747-8483): Craving some upscale fast food? Check out the New Haven branch of Danny Meyer’s wellknown burger joint. Temple Grill (152 Temple St., 773-1111): Delicious burgers, martinis, and made-toorder salads in a charmingly post-collegiate setting. $$ Zinc (964 Chapel St., 624-0507): High-end atmosphere, innovative farm-to-table menu, mostly adult crowd. The Saigon Beef Lettuce Wraps are delicious. $$$ Italian Abaté (129 Wooster St., 787-1570): Good meat, seafood, and pizza. $$ Adriana’s Restaurant (771 Grand Ave., 8656474): Unassuming exterior belies excellent selection of veal dishes and other Italian fare. $-$$ Basta (1006 Chapel St., 772-1715): Owned by the proprietors of Claire’s next door; traditional Italian cuisine prepared with Claire’s signature fresh ingredients; their eponymous pizza has earned raves from local food critics. $$$ Consiglio’s (+ 165 Wooster St., 865-4489): A 50-year-old Wooster Square institution; traditional Italian cuisine with seafood specialties. $$ L’Orcio (806 State St., 777-6670): Pleasant, upscale atmosphere; traditional Italian fare with an extensive wine list. $$$
Skappo (59 Crown St., 773-1394): Familyowned, family-style restaurant with a medieval décor theme. “Signora Anna” teaches Italian on Monday nights. $$ Tony and Lucille’s (+ 150 Wooster St., 7871621): Charming decor; great pasta and pizza; another Wooster Square tradition. $$ Tre Scalini (+ 100 Wooster St., 777-3373): Large menu with excellent pasta, seafood, and terrific renditions of classic Italian dishes. $$$ French Caseus (93 Whitney Ave., 624-3373): A cheese-lover’s bastion as well as New Haven premier bistro. $$ Union League Café (1032 Chapel St., 5624299): Elegant French and Continental cuisine in an elegant ambience; good wine list. $$$ African and Middle Eastern Istanbul Café (245 Crown St., 787-3881): Authentic Turkish fare with late-night hours. $$-$$$ Kasbah Garden (105 Howe St., 777-5053): Eccentric family-owned Middle Eastern restaurant with a serene outdoor seating area and delicious couscous. $$ Mamoun’s Falafel (85 Howe St., 562-8444): Open until 3 a.m.; feels like you are eating in the desert, but the food is cheap, delicious, and filling. $ Lalibella (176 Temple St., 789-1232): Ethopian dishes served family style. $$ Asian Bangkok Gardens (172 York St., 789-8684): Thai cuisine with an unexpected Chinese twist; notable Thai teas. $$ Basil (142 Howe St., 865-400): Reliable, if underwhelming, Asian fusion with a very extensive menu. $-$$ Bentara (76 Orange St., 562-2511): Malaysian noodle soups and rice dishes; vegetarian options. $$-$$$ Miso (15 Orange St., 848-6472): Imaginative, distinctive, and delicious sushi rolls, as well as the traditional kind; good selection of sake; sleek, attractive decor. $$$ Miya’s (68 Howe St., 777-9760): Definitely worth checking out this funktastic twist on Japanese sushi with award-winning chef Bun Lai. $-$$$ Thai Pan Asian (1170 Chapel St., 562-0322): Fine Thai cuisine; its namesake dish is especially good; extremely quick service. $-$$ Kudeta (27 Temple St., 562-8844): Asian fusion including sushi amid intensely colorful curtains and ever-changing lighting. Some call it visually thrilling, others find it hard to concentrate on their dinners. $$-$$$ Rice Pot Thai Restaurant (+1027 State St., 772-6679): Sterile atmosphere and a long walk from campus, but blows the food at New Haven’s other Thai joints out of the water. $$ Seoul Restaurant (343 Crown St., 4979634): Good Korean cuisine; sushi, noodle
and rice dishes. $$ Tandoor (1226 Chapel St., 776-6620): Indian food; kosher food prepared upon request; decorated with a ’50s diner motif. $$ Thai Taste (1151 Chapel St., 776-9802): A below-street-level restaurant with less greasy Thai food. $$ Thali (4 Orange St., 777-1177): Delicious Indian restaurant specializing in meat and fish dishes; high-end atmosphere. $$$ Thali Too (65 Broadway, 776-1600): Excellent South Indian vegetarian dishes and imported beers; be sure to try the four-foot long Dean’s Dosa. $-$$ Zaroka (148 York St., 776-8644): A beautiful restaurant with Indian cuisine. $$-$$$ Mexican, Spanish, and Fusion Barcelona Restaurant & Wine Bar (155 Temple St., 848-3000): Hot and cold tapas and a variety of wines in a stylish but lively setting. $$$ El Amigo Felix (8 Whalley Ave., 785-8200): Mexican cuisine and good drinks. $ Geronimo (271 Crown St., 777-7700): New Sante Fe cuisine; outdoor roof seating area and tasty sweet potato fries make it a winner. $$$ La Cocinita (177 Park St., 772-1020): Casual atmosphere and slow service but worth the delicious Mexican fare. $-$$ Mezcal (+ 14 Mechanic St., 782-4828): A popular Mexican restaurant with a festive atmosphere, authentic food, and New Haven’s best margaritas. $$-$$$ Oaxaca (228 College St., 859-5774): Expensive Mexican restaurant with elaborate dishes and ornate décor to match. $$$ Rubamba (25 High St., 752-0517): Cheap, gourmet Latin American food for take out or sit in. Great arepas for a commencement picnic. $ Tomatillo (320 Elm St., 782-6000): Tasty taco joint offering reasonably priced burritos, tacos, quesadillas. Side of guac is generous. $ Soul de Cuba (283 Crown St., 498-2822): Cuban and diner-style fare; sleek and tasteful Latin-inspired décor. $$ Viva Zapata (161 Park St., 562-2499): Mexican food and Cajun specialties; sangria and margaritas. $ Diners, Cafés, and Brunch 168 York St. Cafe (168 York St., 7891915): Restaurant by day, gay bar by night; $7 bloody Mary and mimosa pitchers on Sundays for brunch. $$ Anchor (272 College St., 865-1512): Known for its drinks, but also has excellent lunch and dinner specials. $ Athenian Diner (+ 1426 Whalley Ave., 397-1556): Another old school Greek diner, this one a quick drive from campus. Open late. $ Atticus (1082 Chapel St., 776-4040): Great desserts, muffins, scones, and coffee; located within a bookstore. $ Bella’s (+ 896 Whalley Ave., 387-7107):
Upscale diner “with a contemporary flair” serving breakfast, lunch, and brunch. Prints of famous artworks on the walls. $$ Book Trader Cafe (1140 Chapel St., 7876147): Coffee, soups, sandwiches, and baked goods. Outdoor seating is a plus in warm weather. $ Bruegger’s Bagels (1 Whitney Ave., 7733199): The New York bagel has found its way to New Haven; reliable bagels and a large selection of schmears. $ Café Romeo (534 Orange St., 865-2233): Bagels, pastries, sandwiches, and pizza at this sleek coffee shop in the pleasant, residential East Rock neighborhood. $ Educated Burgher (51 Broadway, 777-9198): Breakfast, lunch, and dinner served; above-average hamburgers; cheese fries and sandwiches are recommended. $ Fuel (516 Chapel St., 772-0330): Coffee shop in Wooster Square with yummy breakfast burritos and fresh sandwiches. A pleasant walk from campus. $ Louis’ Lunch (261-263 Crown St., 5625507): This small shack-like restaurant claims to have made the first hamburger in the United States; no condiments are allowed to touch their burgers; breakfast, lunch, and dinner. $ Koffee on Audobon (104 Audobon St., 5625454): Coffee and sandwich shop with eclectic décor and a backyard. Serves wine after 5 p.m. $ Maison Mathis 304 Elm St, (203) 752-9779 Belgium-style cafe and coffee shop. Great pastries, coffee and salads practically on campus. Serves wine and Belgian beers. $-$$ Patricia’s (18 Whalley Ave., 787-4500): A diner that only serves breakfast; dirt-cheap but delicious omelets, pancakes, and French toast dished out quickly. $ The Pantry (+ 2 Mechanic St., 787-0392) Known for its California Eggs Benedict and fluffy Belgium waffles, this hideaway is a must for brunch-lovin’ Yalies and their families. $$ Pizza Alpha Delta Pizza (371 Elm St., 787-3333) A-1 Pizza (21 Broadway, 787-9054) BAR (254 Crown St., 495-8924) Clark’s Pizza (68 Whitney Ave., 776-8465) Aladdin Crown Pizza (260 Crown St.,(7733772) Est-Est-Est (1176 Chapel St., 777-2059) Kitchen Zinc (966 Chapel St., 772-3002): All pizzas can be served on gluten-free crust upon request! Wall Street PIzza (90 Wall St., 7769021) Modern Apizza (+ 874 State St., 776-5306) Pepe’s (157 Wooster St., 865-5762) Brick Oven (122 Howe St., 777-4444) Sally’s Apizza (237 Wooster St., 624-5271) The Spot (163 Wooster St., 865-7602) Yorkside Restaurant (288 York St., 7877471)