Leap-Day, February 29, 2016
Congratulations to Laurel Lehman and Caroline Powers on their very recent selections as members Whim n’ Rhythm for 2017. And congratulations to Zak Kayal and Ben Paltiel for their selections as members of the Whiffenpoofs for 2017 just a bit earlier in time. We’ve known how well you four sing for years – now many more people in many more places will know that as well.
Trumbull Skiing
I’ve often planned Trumbull trips that center around the arts – trips to the Metropolitan Museum, to MoMA, to Goodspeed Opera House and to the New York City Ballet, but I know it’s good to sponsor a variety of sorts of trips and events which is why Trumbull goes sailing each fall and why we sponsor massage study breaks.
Know that I’m always up for suggestions for new sorts of trips.
Valentines’ Week Notes
Valentine’s Day falls on next Sunday. It will happen before my next notes appear.
We’re all busy – often too busy. For my part, I’ll be devoting the day to attending to my own family. I urge all of you to do the same. Don’t forget to let all those who support you (and families typically play the biggest role in this regard) know how much you appreciate them. Consider sending a card or note off now.
Winter had to arrive – later than sooner – this academic year. I like it myself, especially being able to watch from a warm house as the courtyard transformed.
It’s not easy for all those and I especially appreciate our dining hall staff who made it in (and home again) so that we were all fed on Saturday. So too am I grateful for all those who quickly clear our sidewalks and entryways.
Congratulations Dean B! (but….. we’ll miss you.)
Mellon Forum Tonight, Monday, Dec. 7th
For our seniors in the Mellon Forum: Don’t forget it meets tonight at 6 p.m. We’ll eat, then hear talks by Matt Cohen, Austin Jaspers and Quyen Do.
Special Instructions for Dinner in Our Dining Hall this Thursday (Dec. 10th)
It’s been a quiet week.
Conversations about campus climate continue throughout Yale College. Many articles are appearing in the national media about Yale taking this or that position. I’m hearing from faculty, alumni and people outside of Yale expressing their (often strongly held!) views. I’m talking to all these people striving to explain issues that many of you have discussed privately or in group settings with me.
I am writing on a Wednesday this week. That’s unusual. The reason is simple. The time since Halloween weekend has been a very difficult one across all of Yale College. Many people, myself included, have been involved in numerous events, group discussions, and involved in many individual conversations. Of course there are other issues in the college that arise and to which I must attend. Ordinarily I write notes on Sunday, but honestly, save for sleeping and a trip to the dentist I’ve not had a chance to stop.
It’s November. There’s lots of work to be done. We’ll slowly decrease the number of activities we schedule and increase the number of study breaks we schedule. I’ll host some early morning study breaks in the FARR room again along with the late night ones in the house. We’ll have some Friday morning writing sessions (with coffee and tea) in the FARR room. Get exercise. Get sleep. Take breaks with friends. Get going on those papers you haven’t started setting goals of a page or two or three at a time.
Trumpkin Winners
I hope you all had a chance to relax more and spend some social time with others over fall break. Some went home, some stayed put yet took a day or two to travel to the beach, to go into NYC or to stay with other students’ families and some of you caught up on sleep or work here. I stayed put myself. All was pretty quiet here save for quite a number of Trumbull alumni who had gone on to Yale’s law school and who were back here for a reunion. They were back in our courtyard and college checking things out.
We’re the IM table Tennis Champions!
