Yale University

Class News

Bill Morse ’64, our delegate to the YAA, attends orientation

October 27, 2020

Bill Morse, our 1964 Delegate to YAA, attended several Zoom events that replace the YAA Assembly this year. Bill reported as follows:

Following the YAA virtual assembly of September 15th, I participated via Zoom in the YAA introduction to new Assembly representatives. The central theme: Yale’s comprehensive efforts to create a more collaborative, unified, and inclusive university. I would single out three standouts in Yale’s renovation and construction efforts:

  1. The Humanities Quadrangle (320 York), opening in September, uniting all the humanities, previously scattered across campus. This will facilitate, encourage, and promote cross-fertilization and interdisciplinary thinking.

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  2. The new seven-story Yale Science Building facilitates interdisciplinary research in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, molecular biophysics and biochemistry, and atomic, molecular, and optical physics. Similarly, the adjacent, renovated Kline brings together faculty, students, and staff in mathematics, astronomy, astrophysics, particle physics, statistics, and data science.

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  3. The Schwarzman Center (fall 2021 opening), a globally connected central hub of student life, features dining as well as social and artistic activity, with new venues for rehearsal, performance, exhibitions, and social gatherings. Overall, this center highlights a sense of “One” Yale, strengthening social and cultural connections between undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools.

There is much more to report, but most importantly, Yale is successfully dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, in terms of managing the budget, safety procedures, faculty resourcefulness and innovation, and student outreach and support.

Later in October, YAA had a Zoom event that featured the Arts at Yale. Bill Morse reported:

Yale Alumni Association featured an interview and exhibition of biracial photographer Genevieve Gaignard, who received her MFA from Yale in 2013. Her father is black, her mother, white. And Gaignard passes, most often, as white. She said: “I’ve learned that through processing my own shit and creating it into art, that there’s enough there for other people to see their story.” Gaignard challenges herself and us through striking, provocative, in-your-face art, to rethink our own story, our history, our attitudes on race, today and over the years at Yale and in America. Go to www.genevievegaignard.com. Take a look at her art. I must commend the YAA for featuring this fascinating artist.