Notes & News - Week of December 8th, 2013

December 8, 2013

confirm: baraboo

MASTER’S PIECES

Quite a week. Huge shout out to our dining hall manager, Diane Meyer, two extraordinary events back to back: our Chubb Fellowship dinner on Friday with Wendell Berry and the all-TD holiday dinner on Saturday. See item number 3 below for her next big effort to keep us all going in the challenging week ahead:

·         Sophomores not feeling special? Cure the reading week blues with a Sophomore Study Break on Monday, Dec. 9, 9:30 pm – 10:30 pm in the TD Buttery  Relax for a bit with our Chaplaincy Fellows, Samone Wheeler and Smita Shukla. They’ll be making calming jars – swirling vortexes of glitter that will help you de-stress. Not feeling crafty? Then just come for the Insomnia Cookies, pumpkin pie, hot chocolate and apple cider.

·         Tuesday and Wednesday: Get your new 2014 TD GEAR, courtesy of  your Mott Woolley Council  The 2014 Collection has arrived! Whether you need a new Quarter-Zip to keep you warm for finals or cozy sweatpants, TD pride abounds in the newly designed collection. Gear will be available for purchase on Tuesday (dinner) and Wednesday (lunch and dinner) in the Common Room. For more info and pricing, go to http://timothydwight.yalecollege.yale.edu/gear

·         Wednesday, Dec. 11, from 11:30 pm to 12:30 am: the famous exam week Timothy Dwight Midnight Breakfast  Set your buzzer, beeper, alarm clock or friend alert, and turn midnight into morning. Fool your circadian rhythm and top up your fuels. Breakfast should always be served at midnight, but this once is the best we can do for now. (TD students only; off-campus Lions welcome.)

·         Sunday, December 15, 9 pm-10 pm: TD SAC Study Break with Mickey D’s in the Thompson Room.  Yes, the food product that in some weird, twisted way signals togetherness in a modern society. I know I will be doing penance in eternity for agreeing to this, but you guys are worth it. SAC will bring in the sacks next Sunday night to get you through the final two days of exams.

A note from the folks behind the WEPA print kiosks: an additional $4 has been added to your WEPA print account, meaning you are up $5 of free printing. Simply log in at wepanow.com or at a print station using your NetID and you should see the additional funds (and you can also check out the how-to guide.)

A note from me: take care of your friends this week. Everybody’s in the same boat.  

TIMOTHY DWIGHT

TD Quiet Hours:  11 PM – 8 AM, every night during reading and examination periods, especially including the music practice rooms and the recording studio.  Of course, it is most courteous to keep the noise down during all hours during our remaining days of examination period.

Timothy Dwight Library (TDL) and our computer rooms are for quiet studying only.  Use other places in the college for group studying and conversation (for instance, buttery area, Selin Lounge, Common Room and South Common Room).  Also, please clean up when you are done studying (soda cans and snacks and wrappers and the like) and please do not to spread out so much at a table that others cannot also study at that table.

TD Dining Hall Open 24 Hours for quiet studying during reading and examination periods. Wireless access is available. Hot water for tea, coffee, and hot chocolate will be available each night the dining hall is able to manage it and as everyone clean up after themselves. 

A Message from TD Writing Coach Diane Charney:  “Dear TD’ers: We are only allowed to tutor through this Wednesday, the end of Reading Period (Dec.11), so please let me know if you would like to meet before then.  Even though the Scheduler looks full, I will do my best to make extra time for you. First-timers are always welcome. Good luck and courage to all of us as we head into the Homeward Stretch.diane.charney@yale.edu

The freshman counselor application is available online now at http://yalecollege.yale.edu/content/freshman-counselors.  All juniors may apply from December 1-January 31. The deadline for applications is January 31 at 4 PM.  If you plan to be abroad in spring 2014, arrange with Dean Loge to complete your application and interviews before winter break.  An information meeting with current TD freshman counselors will be held after winter break.   Attendance at the meeting is not part of the application process – it is only for information and to ask questions of the current TD freshman counselors.

2014-2015 Peer Liaison Program applications are now available for all rising sophomores, juniors and seniors. Peer liaisons are upperclassmen who help connect freshmen to the programs and services of Yale’s cultural and community resource centers, including the Afro-American Cultural Center, the Asian American Cultural Center, the Chaplain’s Office, the Office of International Students and Scholars, the Latino Cultural Center, the LGBTQ Resource Center, and the Native American Cultural Center. Click here to complete the 2014-2015 online application (if the link does not work from here, try looking for Peer Liaison Program on line to find the application). The deadline for application submission is Friday, February 7, 2014.Selected applicants will be contacted for a personal interview. Decision letters will be emailed on Friday, March 7, 2014. Questions to Rodney T. Cohen, Assistant Dean of Yale College, Director, Peer Liaison Program.

TD Mellon Senior Forum: The Mellon Forum will meet this Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 5:30 over dinner at the Master’s house. Presenters include Danna Moustafa (“The Neural Circuity of Parenting and Substance Abuse”), Ryan Laemel (“Late Cenozoic Glacial History of Patagonia”), and Andy Helson (“Bonding: A Glimpse of Human Sexual Selection”).  Please RSVP to Jacob Marcus when you receive your evite. 

Stress Down Day:

December 11th, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Woolsey Hall, President’s  Room

Stop by for a study break to enjoy all the free activities.

• Chair massages*

• Make your own aromatherapy

• Delicious, healthy snacks

• Holiday postcard decorating

• Stress management and sleep tips

• Health and wellness info tables

• And much, much more!

*Registration is required for chair massages.

Sign up begins at 11:00 am for massages betweeen 11:00 am-1:00 pm.

Sign up begins at 12:30 pm for massages between 1:00-3:00 pm

TD Dining Hall dishes and cutlery and cups – please return them.  Thanks.

Check for your mail in the mailroom.  You may or may not know that there is a mailroom next to entryway C where many of you have mail waiting for you. Before you leave for break, please check your mailbox (the mailboxes are arranged by suite/room number) and remember in the future to check it periodically throughout the semester.

ACADEMICS

The official final examination schedule and a list of assigned classrooms for fall term 2013 are available online at http://www.yale.edu/sfas/registrar/exams.htm.

Click “Yale College Fall 2013 Exam Locations” to display a list of all courses, sorted by subject, that are scheduled to hold a final examination. The list contains the day, start time, and assigned classroom(s) for the final exam. A link to the building codes and locations is just below the link to the exam list.

Please note that exam locations may change during the exam period, so you should check the location on the day of the examination to avoid confusion or delays.

Advice: Check this schedule daily because examination times AND examination rooms may change and because, well, you may wrongly remember the date and time of an examination.

Postponement of Final Examinations:  The residential college dean (and only the residential college dean) may postpone an examination (ordinarily to January) only for certain reasons: if a student has three examinations scheduled within four time slots, whether or not each of these slots has an examination group number assigned to it (the 7 PM slot is included in this calculation); if a student has three examinations scheduled during the first two days of the final examination period; if a student has an incapacitating illness, family emergency (or another matter of comparable moment), or for the observance of religious holy days (See YCPS, page 52.) 

Advice: Before the examination takes place, see me if you think any of these reasons apply to you (in case you misunderstand, for instance, the rules about postponing an examination and are not eligible to do so). Reminder:  An examination cannot be postponed on account of travel arrangements or mis-arrangements.

Pregistration opens for spring ‘14 introductory English Department courses

Monday, December 2, 2013 - 9:00am to Thursday, January 2, 2014 - 12:00am

INTRODUCTORY COURSES
Preregistration for introductory English courses opens. Please visit the English department web site for detailed course information and application instructions (see link below).
 


•          ENGL 114b Writing Seminars


•          ENGL 115b Literature Seminars


•          ENGL 120b Reading and Writing the Modern Essay


•          ENGL 121b Styles of Academic and Professional Prose


•          ENGL 125b Major English Poets: Chaucer to Donne


•          ENGL 126b Major English Poets: Milton to Eliot


•          ENGL 127b Readings in American Literature


•          ENGL 129b Tragedy


•          ENGL 130b Epic

•     

Contact: 

http://english.yale.edu/undergraduate-program/pre-registration.

Registration for  Spring Term 2014

Freshmen are required to attend a registration meeting on Sunday, January 12, TD Dining Hall, 9 PM. At this meeting each is permitted to pick up only his or her own registration packet.  Failure to attend incurs a fine of $50. 

Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors pick up your registration packet on Monday, January 13 in the Thompson Room, 8:30 AM – 5 PM.  Failure to pick up your registration packet by 5 PM incurs a fine of $50.  Each is permitted to pick up only his or her own registration packet.

STUDY ABROAD

Yale Summer Session Information

Yale Summer Session offers courses during the summer for Yale students, qualified undergraduate students from other colleges and universities, students about to enter their last year in high school, and adult learners. Additional programs offered through Yale Summer Session include: Study Abroad, English Language Institute, Online Courses, Writers’ Conference, Drama and Film, and Foreign Language Courses. General dates for Yale Summer Session Abroad programs led by Yale faculty are listed below; applications will be available December 15. Session A: June 2 – July 4, Session B: July 7 – August 8, 8-week languages: June 2 – July 25

International Summer Award (ISA) Info Session

Monday, December 9, 4:00-5:00pm, CIPE/UCS Room 305

Upcoming Study Abroad Application Deadlines

Summer 2014 Yale in London: February 1, 2014

Yale Summer Session Programs Abroad: February 15, 2014

Global Summer Program: March 1, 2014

Summer Abroad Credit for Non-Yale Programs: March 1, 2014

Fall or Full Year 2014 Year or Term Abroad (YTA): March 5, 2014

FELLOWSHIPS

Online fellowship advice available 24/7

Wondering what fellowship options there are for you? Looking for advice on asking for letters of reference, tips on making connections abroad or putting together a fellowship proposal/budget?  Check out www.yale.edu/fellowships—and remember that advising appointments may be via Skype or telephone.

Last Fellowship Proposal-Writing Workshop of term

Monday, December 9th  at 2:00pm

CIPE, 55 Whitney Avenue, room 305

*Seniors and Juniors in particular will want to plan for fellowship proposals due in mid-January…

International Summer Award Information Session

Monday, December 9th  at 4:00pm

CIPE, 55 Whitney Avenue, room 305

John Thouron Prize

Supports the eight-week summer Pembroke-King’s program at the University of Cambridge

Eligible: Yale sophomores or juniors who are U.S. citizens and permanent residents without significant prior experience abroad

http://studentgrants.yale.edu

Campus deadline: January 6, 2014, 3pm

Echoing Green Fellowship

Provides start-up capital (up to $90,000) and technical assistance to help social entrepreneurs launch their for-profit or non-profit organizations in any country. Individuals or two-person partnerships may apply. Organizations must work toward solving social, environmental, economic, and/or political inequities.

Eligible: Graduating seniors and alumni.  Applicants must speak English fluently to participate in the interview process and Echoing Green conferences, but U.S. citizenship not required

www.echoinggreen.org/fellowship

Deadline: January 6, 2014

Humanity in Action Summer Fellowships

Support participation in a program focusing on human rights and global issues. HIA programs take place in five countries; fellows will be assigned to one.

Eligible: Yale freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and graduating seniors

www.humanityinaction.org/

Deadline: January 9, 2014

New York City Urban Fellows Program

Supports nine-month internships that combines work in Mayoral offices and City agencies with a seminar series focused on urban issues and public policy.

Eligible: graduating seniors eligible to work in the United States (see website for details)

www.nyc.gov/html/dcas/html/work/urbanfellows.shtml

Deadline: January 10, 2014

Davis Projects for Peace

Support grassroots projects designed by individual students or groups that “promote peace and address the root causes of conflict among parties.” Projects must take place over the summer following receipt of the award.

Eligible: Yale freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors (U.S. citizenship not required)

http://studentgrants.yale.edu/grant_detail.asp?gid=142www.davisprojectsforpeace.org

Campus deadline: January 13, 2014, 3pm

Arthur Liman Public Interest Summer Fellowship Program

Supports summer internships focused on public interest law

Eligible: Yale undergraduates

www.law.yale.edu/intellectuallife/undergraduatesummerfellowship.htm

Deadline: January 15, 2014

CIPE Year-long Fellowships

Fellowships including the Frederick Mortimer Clapp, Cohen Public Service, Donald L. Dell, Gordon Grand, Charles P. Howland, and Parker Huang support a variety of year-long activities.  See the Yale Student Grants Database for details.

Eligible: Yale graduating seniors (only the Parker Huang requires U.S. citizenship) – some also open to Yale sophomores and juniors proposing to take a leave of absence for the year

http://studentgrants.yale.edu/grant_detail.asp?gid=308

Campus deadline: January 16, 2014

National Security Education program / David L. Boren Scholarship

Supports study abroad outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Appropriate and integrated study of a foreign language is required. Study abroad programs of one year are preferred, but summer programs will be considered for students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

Eligible: Yale freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are U.S. citizens

http://studentgrants.yale.edu/grant_detail.asp?gid=76www.borenawards.org/boren_scholarship

Campus deadline: January 17, 2014, 3pm

Samuel Huntington Public Service Award

Supports a one-year public service activity abroad or within the United States.

Eligible: graduating seniors

www.nationalgridus.com/masselectric/about_us/award.asp

Deadline: January 18, 2014

CIPE Research Fellowships for Juniors

Support summer research abroad that is related to senior essays and senior projects in the humanities and social sciences

Eligible: Yale juniors

http://studentgrants.yale.edu

Campus deadline: January 22, 2014

Beinecke Scholarship

Supports 2 years of graduate study at a university in the U.S. or abroad for those with financial need and aiming to pursue degrees in the arts, humanities, and social sciences

Eligible: Yale juniors who are U.S. citizens and nationals

http://studentgrants.yale.edu/grant_detail.asp?gid=59;  http://foundationcenter.org/grantmaker/beinecke/

Campus deadline: January 24, 2014, 3pm

Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowships

Supports a master’s degree program for those preparing for careers in the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service.

Eligible: juniors or graduating seniors/alumni who are U.S. citizens

http://woodrow.org/fellowships/pickering/

Deadlines: January 24, 2014 (for juniors); February 7, 2014 (for seniors/alumni)

USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship

Supports a 2-year master’s degree program for those preparing and planning for careers in the USAID.

Eligible: graduating seniors and alumni who are U.S. citizens

http://paynefellows.org

Deadline: January 27, 2014

Mortimer Hays-Brandeis Traveling Fellowship

Supports a year abroad in pursuit of an independent project (not formal study) in the visual and fine arts (including art history, conservation, studio art, and photography).

Eligible: Yale graduating seniors and recent graduates (U.S. citizenship not required)

http://studentgrants.yale.eduwww.brandeis.edu/mhb/

Campus deadline: January 31, 2014, 3pm

Henry Fellowship

Supports one year of postgraduate study in any discipline at Cambridge or Oxford.

Eligible: Yale seniors who are unmarried U.S. citizens

http://studentgrants.yale.edu/grant_detail.asp?gid=27

Campus deadline: January 31, 2014, 3pm

Josephine de Karman Fellowship Trust

Supports one year of undergraduate study in any discipline

Eligible: juniors (U.S. citizenship not required)

www.dekarman.org

Deadline: January 31, 2014

TIPS for READING and EXAMINATION PERIODS

At this time of year, it is my custom to send you my tips for reading and examination periods.  Maybe you will find them useful.  If you have some to add, please let me know. 

Keep perspective: The term will be over. You have succeeded before. Remember: Yale is difficult, but you can handle it. Have confidence. Believe in yourself. Repeat often: “I can do it”.

Use reading period effectively (easier said than done, of course).

Go to review sessions. Find out in advance the format of the exam (IDs, essay questions, etc).

Check the exam schedule DAILY.  It tells the room where your exam is given. Changes do happen. 

Find the way and place you best study and prepare, and go at it that way.

Don’t compare yourself with others. Find a way and level of study that works for you. 

Take time for yourself each day – a small indulgence, perhaps. Take a walk. Do something small for someone else. Visit friends. Eat well.  Schedule quiet and private time. Get out.

Get enough Sleep, especially the night before the night before the exam. Lack of sleep inhibits efficient studying, concentration, and the ability to learn for recall later.  Lack of sleep can also sap confidence. 

Study with a purpose. Determine your purpose for reviewing a particular book or lecture notes. Prepare (study) in digestible amounts. Schedule your time accordingly. Review lecture notes before the night before the exam, for instance.

Keep in mind the big picture of the course – its major themes. Exams are the occasion for you to pull together in a coherent way what you have learned.

Look again at the syllabus to get a sense of the larger purposes and goals of the course. Be sure you did not miss any assigned reading in the small print (as I did once).

Find a study place or places that work for you. Sometimes changing study places can help. Some like studying in the same place all the time. It’s OK to rely on stuffed animals, cozy clothes, totems, charms, and comfort food.

Find a “study buddy.” Study collaboratively.

Find library materials before the last minute when you may find them already checked out. Likewise, use the language lab early. It can be packed the day before the language exam.

Be courteous and thoughtful of the stress of others and their study needs. Remember the quiet hours (after 11PM during exam period). Rumor has it that mornings are a quiet time to study.

Put your alarm clock out of reach of your bed. Help each other remember when exams are. Get up an hour or more before the exam starts to wake up sufficiently, to get some nourishment, and to gather your thoughts. Take some treats with you to the exam (lifesavers or the like). Bring extra pencils or pens.

Read the exam all the way through before you start it. Try to follow the time suggestions for each question or part. Pass over questions that are too difficult or stump you; first answer the ones you can readily answer; return to the others later. Read the directions carefully. Make an outline for long essay questions. Give long essay questions a title to remind you of your focus. Write legibly; it matters. And try to remember that thinking can be fun, including the kind of extemporaneous thinking required for exams.

Suggested “awakeners” while studying: lots of water (yes, water – a major cause of fatigue is dehydration), gum, going for a walk, short breaks, changing chairs, splashing cold water on your face. Leave the room. Stretch. Do Exercises. Take a walk in the cold air. Beware of caffeine, which can inhibit much-needed sleep. 

When you are running on little sleep, make no big decisions, draw no big conclusions (especially about your abilities and character). Your judgment and studying efficiency are impaired when you have too little sleep. Exams are a test of your knowledge, not of personal worth.

The TD dining hall will soon be set aside 24 hours a day for quiet studying. Bringing a lamp to study by can be helpful.  Internet connection is available.

When an exam is done, it is done. No need to dwell on it. Move on to the next task.

NOTES

Our term is coming to a close. I know you are working hard to finish.

Remember: You belong at Yale. Yale is difficult, but you will be fine. A demanding college takes getting used to. You will get used to it and even better you will discover resources within you that you do not know you have. Be optimistic!   You have the good fortune to be surrounded by others who care about you.

I want to remind you, as I have before, that exams are a test of your knowledge and not a test of your identity and personal worth, although it is difficult to make those distinctions sometimes. Also, keep perspective if you can. Exam period is a difficult time, but it is a finite time. And even this difficult time is an opportunity to look after yourself and others – a cheerful word, some encouragement, a cookie – small things that can mean so much, small things from one human to another.

And while taking an exam or writing a paper you might even have fun thinking – putting ideas together, calculating clearly, discovering themes, recalling with good effect, making connections coherently, making connections spontaneously, and finding you have personal resources you did not know you had. All these are possible. Remember, you will be fine. 

Best wishes as always during our final weeks together this term. 

Dean Loge