Trumbulletin 3-31-18

April 2, 2018

I hope all had a wonderful spring break whether you went home, traveled elsewhere, remained here in New Haven (or combined these options in some way). The Dean, I and our resident fellows all got away a bit ourselves, but we also covered Trumbull making sure someone was always here. In that regard, I thank Dean Chandhoke, John and Linda Wargo, and my fellow Head of College, Julia Adams from Hopper College, for helping the Dean and me to insure someone was always available for our Trumbullians over the break (whether they were here or away and still found themselves in need of some Trum-help. (That happens!) 

We sponsored three spring break dinners for those who were in Trumbull, two in the house and one hosted by our graduate affiliates in our Buttery. For help in setting those up I thank Debbie Rueb,  Karen Eisenman and our graduate affiliates  (who helped in the House as well as in the Buttery). They ordered food,  got things set up and cleaned up.   I also thank Bernadette Janis and Christopher Molyneux for their help with those dinners as well. (Keeping Trumbull active and supportive is  a team effort.) I truly enjoyed those dinners as everyone is less scheduled, more relaxed and better able to linger and chat than is typically the case when classes are occurring.

Now we’re all back. The academic pace picks up and intensifies from right now  through final exams. The pace of concerts and plays and presentations picks up as well. So, pace yourselves! We  have some upcoming Trumbull speakers during the next  two weeks (see below) but then we’ll transition to hosting study breaks in the evenings and, later, early in the mornings too. We’ll include a repeat of our massage study break as well. 

Seniors: Those theses will get done. You will graduate. After finals (and jobs starting!) and before graduation there will be a lovely two weeks when you can truly relax. If you have ideas for special things I might sponsor during senior week, send me those ideas. If you have photographs of yourselves  during first year move-in and your first weeks here at Yale (which you are willing to share), send them along. 

Everyone: Today and throughout the weekend many of you will be celebrating Passover or Easter. On Sunday, I will distribute some Easter eggs and chocolate covered Matzo within the college. Whomever finds them may claim them. (Claims need not coincide with religious beliefs or lack thereof!) This is just for fun and to supply necessary chocolate.

On Sunday morning, the FARR room will be open at 8 a.m. with coffee, tea, and pastries for people who are up early and will miss brunch due to religious services (or who are simply up early and hungry.) 

                                                                                  Congratulations! 

Congratulations to Jeremy Sontchi, Annalise Lozier, and Renee Ong for being chosen as our Trumbull representatives to the Final Cut competition and for doing such a great job cooking at the event. (I personally tasted their creations and can attest to their high quality.) 

Thanks to Milo Brandt and Katie Shy for bringing the Yale Handbell Ensemble Concert to the Trumbull Common Room last Wednesday evening and congratulations on that concert. It was wonderful. 

Congratulations to Caroline Heilbrun for winning second prize in the Yale Carbon Charge competion this week for her proposed interactive energy saving app. (There were many entries from many colleges.  Caroline, you made Trumbull proud!) 

Congratulations to Jaeden Graham not only for having had a standout football season at Yale this year but also for being invited to Pro Day (today) and for successfully meeting all his goals for the day – goals which he set high.  I’m also  happy to share with the Trumbull  community the exciting news that the Denver Broncos have invited Jaeden to practice with them this coming week.  Best wishes!! 

Finally, congratulations to Tasha Boyer, artistic director of Groove Dance Company for the company’s terrific performance of The Future is Female tonight (Friday) and for her own dancing in that performance.

                                                             Upcoming Trumbull Tea on Thursday, April 5th 

Guess who is returning to Trumbull for a tea? It’s Keren Abreu, Ian Miller and Chris Peters

Join them for a Trumbull tea at 4:30 next Thursday in the house for stories about making music in New York City and for advice for “making it” as independent artists as well as for sharing Trumbull memories with them. 

I include their music bios below and note that whereas they are independent artists, they also  have all done a wonderful job supporting one another. 

Karen Abreu’s music bio: Keren is a singer-songwriter born and raised in the Bronx, NY. Her R&B/soul music is infused with various aspects of her upbringing, including but not limited to her Afro-Dominican background, the many years she spent in church, and her love of jazz and musical theater. She currently lives in Brooklyn, where she writes about family hardship, personal growth, relationships, and themes of identity and self-love. While at Yale (TC ‘15), Keren was a French major and the recipient of the James T. King for Distinction in the Senior Essay, a Freshman Counselor in Trumbull College, and a member of the Shades of Yale and Whim ‘n Rhythm. She was also involved in multiple theatrical productions with the Yale Dramat and the Yale Drama Coalition. With these varied ensembles, Keren has sung for audiences such as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, as well as Grammy award-winning Sweet Honey in the Rock. She was also selected as the musical opener for English singer-songwriter Jessie J at Yale’s 2015 Spring Fling. 

And Clark’s addition: Keren is a Trum-Alum whom many of you because she was your because she was your FroCo and/or you attended that Spring Fling Concert at which she sang.  Alternatively perhaps you know her simply because she was and is so very outgoing and it would have been  hard to miss that! I recall well her performance for her own class at their senior dinner in our dining hall). 

Ian Miller’s official music bio: Ian Miller (TC ‘15 1) is a NYC-based freelance musician pursuing a career in musical theater. He works alternately as a music director, piano accompanist, arranger, and educator, and also writes and performs his own music. While at Yale, he was involved with various theatrical productions, was the music director for Shades and the Black Church at Yale, sang with the Whiffenpoofs, and he spent a summer in Hakodate, Japan on a Light Fellowship. 

And Clark’s addition: Ian is also a Trum-Alum. Our students and fellows likely remember him playing piano for many, many Trumbull events in the House as well as for his leadership of, and singing with, Shades and the Whiffenpoofs as well as for his wonderful smile. 

Chris Peters music’ bio: Chris Peters (TC ‘16 1) is a singer-songwriter based in Long Island CIty, Queens. He works as a wedding singer, an accompanist for other NYC-based singer-songwriters, a bar entertainer, a barista, and as a solo artist; he is currently producing “Chris Peters: Grown-Up Singer,” an album of original songs. While an undergrad at Yale, Chris performed with and produced albums for Tangled Up In Blue, The Duke’s Men and the Whiffenpoofs, and was an active participant in the Shen Curriculum for Musical Theater. 

And  Clark’s addition: Chris is yet another wonderful Trum-Alum. While in Trumbull in addition to all the activities listed above he often performed his music in the House and in the Courtyard along with Kevin Garcia and Thomas Hopson (including playing at the first event I ever hosted in the house over Yale’s Family Weekend.) Kevin Garcia is still at Yale. He’ll be back too, traveling all the way down the street from Pauli Murray College to join us. He may be a resident fellow in Pauli Murray college, but we all know he’s still, at heart, a Trumbullian. 

Our three tea guests graduated not so very long ago. We miss them but we are thrilled they are coming back. 

                                                 Trumbull Fellows’ Meeting:   Tuesday evening, April 10, 2018 

What happens to a community after a school shooting?   What does the community need?  Our guest on Tuesday will be a professor from Yale’s medical school who has asked those questions and and tried his best not only to answer them but also to provide the care that such communities need.

Our guest for the evening will be Dr. William Sledge. Dr. Sledge is a psychiatrist at Yale New Haven Hospital. From 1995 until 2005 he also served as the Master of Calhoun College. (Now the equivalent would be Head of Hopper College, given two name changes.) He also served as the Chair of Yale College’s Council of Masters. Most relevant to the evening’s discussion, following the December 14, 2012 school shootings at the Sandy Hook Elementary School Dr. Sledge was in charge of coordinating after care for the community – for the teachers and staff and students at the school, for the first responders, and for all the many affected families in the community. Providing that care will be the topic of the evening’s discussion. Sadly, such care is still needed in communities making lessons learned from Sandy Hook still relevant. 

Trumbull students: If you’re interested in interested in joining the Trumbull Fellows and hearing Dr. Sledge’s thoughts, let me and/or Deb Bellmore know. We’ll accommodate as many students as possible. If the number interested is small, we’ll include everyone in the dinner and talk. In the number interested is larger, we’ll randomly select a number for dinner, move the talk (and the dessert) to the Common Room and include all who are interested for that. 

                                                                     Spring IM Sign-ups: Sunday 8-10 p.m.

This Sunday evening, in the Buttery from 8-10 p.m. our IM secretaries will hold a spring IM sign up event. There will be food! Enthusiasm is needed; athletic talent is great but it is, most certainly, not required.