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Current Week

Week of April 4, 2010

• It's UNICEF's annual Children's Week!
  This year, "Children's Week 2010: Childhood is Forever" will focus on five themes: Education, Advocacy, Trauma in Childhood, Diversity and the Global World, and Kids in the Spotlight. Events include: Teach for America Information Session (4/5, 8 pm, WLH 119), The Lion King Screening (4/7, 9 pm, Silliflicks), Conversation with Lee Norris (4/8, 4:30 pm, WLH 119), and Sing-a-long for Haiti (4/9, 9 pm, LC 201)
• Spring CASPY
  The Chinese Adopted Sibling Program for Youth, which pairs Yale students with children who are their "little sibs" for the day, took place this Saturday. The program consisted of fun and culturally-educational activities such as Tai Chi, a Night Market, and a talent show. CASPY takes place once every semester and this year it was coordinated by Michelle Yu and Hana Omiya. Yalies from various ASA clubs signed up to be Big Sibs for the children, many of whom are Chinese or Vietnamese children adopted by Caucasian families.
• Yale Census
  is on Tuesday! Residential colleges have sent out information on where to pick up census forms. Every Yale student is required to fill one out if they are living in New Haven for the spring semester. For more information, check out http://www.yale.edu/census/Yale_Census/Welcome.html
• April Fools Day
  For April Fools Day, the IvyGate Blog had uploaded a post stating that MGMT, currently the most popular Indie band on the music charts, would cancel their performance at Yale's upcoming Spring Fling in order to protest misogynistic lyrics of the Ying-Yang twins, who are also scheduled to perform that day. Fortunately for Yale, as YCC president Jon Wu confirmed, the post was only a prank and MGMT will still be performing as scheduled.
• Welcome Class of 2014!
  The acceptance rate for the class of 2014 remained at 7.9%, which is the same as last year's acceptance rate. Yale was the only school of the Ivy League not to experience a decline in the admissions rate, with Harvard and Stanford at record lows of 6.9% and 7.2%, respectively. Yale admitted 1,940 of 25,869 applicants and waitlisted 932 students.

Week of March 28, 2010

• Crushes and Chaperones
  The age-old advice that being late was fashionable proved false as police turned away latecomers at at Branford College's premiere dance "Crushes and Chaperones" on Saturday night due to capacity restrictions. Sponsored by Branford College, YCC, and the UOC, the dance featured such classic 90s like Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and even the heartbreaking "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion in Titanic. According to the Yale Daily News Cross Campus, students dancing on top of a windowsill also caused a ledge to fall.
• Jook Songs
  an Asian-American group that performs personal narratives, had its Spring Show Friday and Saturday at Saybrook Underbrook. The performers covered a variety of very moving topics, from dreams of owning a restaurant to dealing with heartbreak to finding identity. The show, titled departure, certainly took audience members along for a riveting ride.
• The Asia Tomorrow Conference
  held by the Yale Business Society, took place all day Saturday in SSS, Dunham Lab and Mason Lab. Yalies dressed to impress as they attended panels on sustainability and innovation in Asia and listened to three keynote speeches. Panelists included accomplished members of Yale's Science departments as well as alumni who have pioneered work in international sustainability.
• A break in the sewage line in Bass
  on Sunday displaced many students from their usual study cubicles as the smell permeated the entire library. Nonetheless, some managed to stick it out and enjoyed the rare emptiness of Bass on a Sunday afternoon, despite the unpleasant stink.
• Rain, Rain Go Away
  After a couple of days with sunny skies, New Haven is expected to experience heavy showers Monday, March 29th through Wednesday, March 31st. But on the bright side, April is expected to open with clear, sunny skies! Don't forget your umbrellas Yalies!

Week of February 28, 2010

• Tsunami False Alarm?
  Following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile, scientists predicted that shock waves would devastate the Pacific coast, from the shores of Australia to eastern Russia and even to Hawaii on Sunday. Many coastal residents were evacuated from their homes and left on edge for about 24 hours. However, the lethal waves receded, only leaving about four feet of water along the Japanese coast.
• Chile Earthquake
  A deadly 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck central Chile early Saturday, killing at least 300 people and displacing more than 1.5 million. President Michelle Bachelet called the quake "one of the worst tragedies in the last 50 years" and declared a "state of catastrophe." To donate $10 on behalf of Habitat for Humanity, World Vision, Salvation Army, or American Red Cross, text "CHILE" to 25383, 20222, 52000, or 90999, respectively.
• Pierson Ski Trip
  This Saturday Feb 27, Piersonites went on a subsidized ski trip to Hunter Mountain. The beautiful snowfall made it perfect for skiing, although the optimal weather also attracted a lot of people, so the check-in and rental lines were unbelievably long. Overall, the trip was a blast, the road scenery was gorgeous, and for beginners like me, learning how to ski was a refreshing break from normal classroom lessons.
• The KASY Cultural Show
  put on its sexiest act as a group of freshman guys danced to a spoof of two K-Pop dance songs, T-ara's Bo Peep Bo Peep and Brown Eyed Girls' Abracadabra. Links to videos of the so-called "Brown Eyed Boys" can be found on the APA Blog website!

Week of February 21, 2010

• The Video Musicals Continue.
  If the "Why I Love Yale" admissions video wasn't enough, the administration released The Yale Senior Gift Class Fund of 2010 to encourage donations to the Senior Class Gift. Whether it was the musical charms of the video or not, the class of 2010 became the most generous class to date. The seniors donated $29,670.41 with 91 percent participation. According to the Senior Class Gift Website, the donations fund a variety of resources: "You have likely benefited from donations to the Alumni Fund through use of the Writing Center or a tutor, financial aid, the renovation of your college, or the addition of a new course."
• Yale to offer gender-neutral housing for class of 2011.
  After about two years of advocacy, Yale will finally be providing seniors with the option for mixed gender suites in the 2010-2011 academic school year. It's about time considering every other Ivy has already done so.
• JECP Plays Homage to Music
  On Sunday February 21, the Jonathan Edwards College Philharmonic Orchestra held a concert in Battel Chapel. They played music by musical masters Gustav Mahler, Samuel Barber, and Dmitri Shostakovich in commemoration of their anniversaries. The concert featured Yale undergraduates from various colleges - as soloists, singers, composers, and conductors. JECP's next concert will be on April 30.
• Eating Disorder Awareness Week!
  Events include a Free Yoga session with Discussion on Health and Wellness on Monday in the Davenport Recreation Room at 4 p.m., a Lecture on Art Therapy on Wednesday in the Dwight Hall Common Room at 4 p.m., and a Talk on How Eating Disorders fit into the Obesity Epidemic on Thursday in Dwight Hall Common Room at 4 p.m.

Week of February 14, 2010

• GoodCrushYale answers the age-old question - does he/she like me?
  GoodCrushYale.com has taken campus by storm this past Valentine's Day season. Students can input the names of their crushes to have GoodCrushYale send an email to their crushes to do the same and notify users if there's a match. With the "Missed Connections" feed, students can also post anonymous messages to their crushes such as the likes of this hapless lover: "I saw you bent over at your computer in Bass. Orange shirt, Asian. You are cute. Bend over for me? I'm in a study carrell. Red sweater. ;)" As of Valentine's Day night, 21921 crushes had been sent. The site has branched out to all the Ivy League schools, as well as Stanford, MIT, and NYU.
• We are the World 25 for Haiti
  just hit the web on YouTube and iTunes. The music video, a cover of the USA for Africa tune by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, was recorded to raise money for Haiti earthquake relief. Over 75 artists, including Miley Cyrus, Lil Wayne, Celine Dion, Jason Mraz, Barbra Streisand, Jonas Brothers, and Usher, participated in this musical extravaganza! Check it out on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glny4jSciVI
• The opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver
  was spectacular but bittersweet, following Nodar Kumaritashvili's fatal luge crash just hours before. The Olympics will continue for the rest of February and includes much-anticipated events such as figure skating, speed skating, and ice hockey.
• YaleStation Dating Matches
  Results are officially in! If you've taken YCC's Valentine's Day Compatibility Test in the last week, it's time to check out who you're ideal matches are online. You can also view rankings for your Facebook friends and for members of the same class or residential college. However if you're not fully satisfied with your list of matches, fret not. Results are by no means final, as changes can be made to your survey answers at any time.
• Chinese Lunar New Year in Commons
  on Thursday night featured sushi, dumplings, kimchi, egg drop soup, stir fry, dim sum, and much more! Dinner also came with a show - performances from a Chinese dance troupe and some of our very own Yalies.

Week of February 7, 2010

• Stock Up Your Ramen Supply with Ramenbox!
  When Durfee's Ramen supply runs dry during the cold winter months, there's no need to fret anymore! Just go to Ramenbox.com to order your favorite flavors and brands delivered by mail. The website offers many popular brands include Shin Ramen, WuMu, Sapporo Ichiban, and Paido. Users can get a box of 20 ramen packs for $19.95 or 40 packs for $34.95, along with disposable chopsticks and extra sauce packets. The Los Angeles based company was founded by Howard Chen and Becky Wu.
• Sex! (Week at Yale)
  Founded in 2002, Sex Week at Yale is a 10 day campus-wide event which kicked off on February 5th. The event includes various workshops and discussions, including sexually transmitted disease testing and even a workshop on how to give oral sex. For more information and schedule of events, check out http://www.sexweekatyale.com/schedule.
• Storm Watch
  The blizzard that is ravaging the mid Atlantic, leaving Washington D.C. in over 32 inches of snow and 230,000 homes without power, will only brush by Connecticut, according to the National Weather Service. Keep your fingers crossed.
• Fresno is America's Drunkest City
  according to Men's Health magazine. Rankings were based on "data such as death rates from alcoholic liver disease, booze-fueled car crashes, frequency of binge-drinking in the past month, number of DUI arrests and severity of DUI penalties." Some of America's largest cities fell pretty low on the list: Chicago came in at 85, New York at 93, Los Angeles at 48, and San Francisco at 86. The 10 "drunkest" cities on the list, all scoring a grade of F are, in order: Fresno; Reno, Nev.; Billings, Mont.; Riverside, Calif.; Austin, Texas; St. Louis; San Antonio; Lubbock, Texas; Tucson, Ariz.; and Bakersfield, Calif. (Credit: Slate)
• Progress on Prospect
  Road construction in front of Davies Auditorium on Prospect Street finished up this week. However, construction expanded on High Street and stretched into Chapel Street just this week as well, creating a tunnel-like pathway in the middle of the road.

Week of January 31, 2010

• iPadding?
  iPad, Apple's newest creation, combines smart phone and laptop functions, allowing users to play games, browse the web, and read ebooks on a 9.7-in touch screen. However, critics point out that the iPad is little more than an iPod Touch with blown-up features. But with a price tag of $499, the iPad is sure to appeal to Apple fans.
• Barred by the Bureau.
  The United States Census set up camp on Elm Street Friday January 29, blocking the entire Cross Campus entrance with a big blue tent. No doubt the population of bewildered students was quite large.
• Let it Snow!
  Regional differences came to the fore when a surprise snowfall hit New Haven on Thursday. East Coasters watched nonchalantly as precipitation-happy West Coasters squealed at what was for many of them their first real experience of snow.
• Comedy Central.
  Woolsey hall was completely filled on Saturday night after throngs of students filed in to see Parks and Recreation star Aziz Ansari, who was recently named one of the "top-ten stand-up comedians of the decade" according to Paste Magazine and featured in the hit comedies "Funny People," and "I Love You, Man." Student openers for the Winter Show included Ethan Kuperberg PC'11, Michael Gabriel SY'12, and Eric DePalo TD'11. Despite several awkward moments during the Q and A session, Aziz brought the house down and received a standing ovation for his performance.
• Sign of the 'Times'.
  A cup of coffee with the day's edition of The New York Times at breakfast may soon be a thing of the past. When the President's Office asked the Yale College Council to raise student readership of the Times, the YCC discovered that less than half of the council's 28 members even read the newspaper regularly. Their discovery led them to recommend the President's Office to to cut back on Yale's subscription to the Times, including reducing the number of issues delivered by two-thirds or only delivering on Sundays. The Yale Daily News also conducted a poll of 50 students, in which 50% admitted that they "don't read it regularly". Nevertheless, some students are fighting to keep the Times. As of Jan. 31, a Facebook group started by Charlie Jaeger SY '12 titled "Keep the New York Times in Yale's Dining Halls" had garnered 1,149 members.
• J.D. Salinger dies at 91 (1/28/2010).
  Whether you thought Holden Caufield was a whiny brat in Catcher in the Rye, or whether he "changed your life," the impact that this revolutionary author had on generations of youth is immeasurable. From a statement by Salinger's representatives: "Salinger had remarked that he was in this world but not of it. His body is gone but the family hopes that he is still with those he loves, whether they are religious or historical figures, personal friends or fictional characters."

Week of January 24, 2010

• Model UN Sightings around campus.
  This past weekend, about 1,100 students from 10 different countries stepped into the shoes of ambassadors from UN member states to debate current issues on the organization's agenda. Whether sitting in and taking notes on the latest Freshman Orgo lecture, eating at Commons, or directing freshmen towards their screw dates on Old Campus, these high school students have permeated throughout many aspects of student life here at Yale.
• Shiba Inu Puppy Cam
  Shiba Inu Puppy Cam, the internet phenomenon that made its debut in 2008, is back online! Proven to be an instant mood-lifter, this new generation of five adorable puppies was born on January 16, 2010. Keep the puppy cam up as a permanent tab in your browser, and you'll always have something cute to look at (instead of your English paper, for instance).
• Freshman Screw doesn't screw up.
  Even though Harry Potter's magic really kicked in an hour after the dance was supposed to start, Freshman Screw on Saturday January 23 did not disappoint. Emblems of each Hogwarts house hung in Commons, a forbidden forest came with a warning to First Years not to enter, and a ghostly skull (admittedly ambiguous Harry Potter décor, possibly a Death Eater) glared menacingly from above.
• We tell the world why we chose Yale.
  The new admissions musical, "Why I Chose Yale" goes viral, getting over 200,000 hits since its release on January 14. The popularity of the video is probably due to its originality from what Yale has done in the past and what any other college has done. Plus, the song is so catchy.
• Mice can squeeze under doors!
  An unfortunate discovery that some Yalies come across when they try to trap the mouse in a room. Apparently, mice can also climb up walls too, according to ChaCha. If you classify a mouse as an "emergency", you can call Pest Control at (203) 432-6888.

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