Trumbulletin 9-12-22

September 12, 2022

Thanks to all who joined in yesterday’s sailing trip to Mystic, Ct.   I am glad the weather held, there was some wind and that the number of spaces on the trip seemed to work out. 

Some people who had signed up couldn’t go for good reasons such as exposure to CoVID and try outs for teams and groups that were announced after the trip was.  I so appreciate them letting our Operations Manager before Friday and me on Saturday so that we could go to our wait list and let other people know.  Thanks go to Deb Bellmore for arranging everything, to Marc Bertoni for helping me get supplies out of the Trumbull Office and onto the bus and to everyone who helped carry those things as well as to Josh Zeitlan for leading the group back to the bus (with me trailing behind) after the trip.  I will distribute the pictures taken on the boat to all who were on the trip.

Regarding the little Trumbull trivia contest on the bus, I must say that the person who identified Charles Bingham as the person after whom Bingham Hall was named was absolutely correct.  I owe that person a Trumbull hat!   But I can’t remember who it was!    That person should send me an email  (margaret.clark@yale.edu) and I will personally deliver the hat to its rightful winner. 

Here’s the relevant information about Charles Bingham retrieved from the internet:

Yale’s first building was constructed in 1718 where Bingham Hall now stands.  Bingham Hall was built in 1928 on the south east corer  of Old Campus.  It’s built of Longmeadow brownstone and cast stone and was designed by Walter B. Chambers. The five children of Charles W. Bingham donated the money for it.

Charles W. Bingham was a businessman from Cleveland, Ohio.  He graduated from Yale with a B.A. in 1868 and earned an M.A. from Yale in 1871.  He died in 1929 so he lived just long enough to know that Bingham Hall had been built.  

Thanks to Leah Jehan.   Trumbull is going to miss her (a lot!); .

Last week Dean Chandhoke wrote a heartfelt email message to you all letting you know that her fabulous Senior Administrative Assistant, Leah Jehan, was moving on to a new job as the senior administrative assistant to Yale’s Dean of the Graduate School, Dean Lynn Cooley.  It’s a wonderful opportunity for her;  she’s done a wonderful job in Trumbull (and before that in the music school).  It’s a well-deserved promotion and congratulations are in order.

But, but, but…….we’re all going to miss her terribly.  She has worked closely with Dean Chandhoke from the moment Dean Chandhoke herself arrived at Trumbull.  She’s been consistently a wonderful supporter of our Dean, of me, and of our whole team here at Trumbull, especially our students. 

We’ll celebrate Leah this Friday evening in the dining hall at dinner.  We’ll have cake. She’ll be there with her whole family.  Come celebrate her and thank her for all she’s done.

Fortunately, Leah isn’t going to lose her connection to Trumbull.  She’ll be a new Fellow of Trumbull.  She’s just moving a short ways away – to Hillhouse Avenue.  You’ll see Leah, and Thiago and Olivia and Noah back here. 

Thank you Leah for all your many years of supporting Trumbull students day in and day out. 

And to all our students:  We’ll be arranging for support for you in the Dean’s office as you make appointments there and Dean Chandhoke will oversee the search for a new Senior Administrative Assistant in her office. 

An official thanks to Debbie Rueb as well.

Of course, all our sophomores, juniors and seniors know that Trumbull’s other senior administrative assistant, Debra Rueb, retired last year.  She had served Trumbull for 19 years and Yale for 35 as well.  Her transition was slower (she officially retired last December but continued to help us through graduation last year.  We celebrated her at graduation and then again during the summer with a staff dinner. 

But I’m mindful that those of you who are currently sophomores, juniors and seniors did not get an official chance to say good-bye to Debbie and to wish her well.  I’ll schedule a smaller event in the House in just a bit so that all who wish to can come and wish her well for her retirement. 

Debbie too will remain a part of Trumbull as she has been appointed as an Associate Fellow of our College. 

Crowding in the dining hall. I know about it.  I was there.  We’ll address it.

I was in the dining hall last evening with many, many of the rest of you and, also, with many other Yale College students.  It was very crowded.  I didn’t miss that not everyone could get a seat nor that the dining hall staff was working mightily to get food out and served as some people had to wait for food in the server.   I’ll meet with the leadership of Trumbull Dining.  We’ll quickly attend to why this has happened.  (It’s almost certainly due to nearby colleges closing to transfers due to family nights).  I’ll let you know what we work out. 

Meanwhile I do thank our dining staff for scrambling to get food out last evening. 

IM’s are starting this week.  Join in!!!!!!  

I thank all our IM Secretaries for this fall.  They are Victoria DeMersseman, Hayley He, Lael Joseph, George Lan and Aviv Pinker.  They are terrific.

Trumbull has won the Tyng Cup in recent years.  We can do it again.  Join in. 

You can participate in one event or many. We know that many of you have athletic talent; so show it off!!!  

Know, though, you don’t have to be highly skilled to participate.  All are very welcome to participate and it’s a great way to meet new people (across all class years).  It’s a great way to take a break from your academic work, to get some exercise.  It’s a great way to show some Trumbull Pride.  Observers who just cheer their fellow Trumbullians on are also most welcome at these events.

Watch for your IM secretaries’ announcements!.  Sign up! 

I’ll be going to events myself.  I’ll do so mostly to cheer you on.  On occasion, when a warm body to make up a team was needed, I’ve participated.  But we need you.  I’m at my best at cheerleading.  The only times I’ve ever contributed points have been in tennis (which is no longer an IM sport) and, one time only, in bowling due completely to luck.  I’m a terrible bowler.  Still, it was fun.. 

Other things to keep in mind

Get your flu shot.

 Get the latest CoVID booster.

 Get adequate sleep.