Yale Daily News

Ok, so if the new colleges are inevitable: what will they look like?? The university is unwilling to spend the money to get collegiate gothic done right (and it would look kind of silly out of context in that neighborhood anyways) but georgian (i.e. pierson) is pretty bland. something contemporary would be nice, as long as it were good, stunning contemporary (i.e. zaha hadid) rather than something bland and unfriendly like morse and stiles.

The main question that Board members should ask themselves before the vote is, what would William F. Buckley do were he on the Board? But you can bet that not a single Board member will ask him/herself that question.

Great graphic to the right of the (electronic) article; too bad that it doesn't fully capture the general area of the proposed colleges.

Anyone have an idea of exactly what the proposal includes, geographically? Or is it too early...

"The main question that Board members should ask themselves before the vote is, what would William F. Buckley do were he on the Board?"

I disagree. I'm not eager for Yale to become a champion of apartheid and segregation.

Unless, of course, you meant that they should consider what Buckley would do, and then do the exact opposite.

A map showing the site is on Attachment B of the full report. The report is a PDF file here http://www.yaledailynews.com/files/2008/02/18/ResColl0218.pdf

and the map is on page 76 out of 102 pages. It is a triangle bordered by Prospect, Canal and Sachem Streets with the exception of the Mudd Library in the northwest corner of the plot on Sachem Street.

Thank you for the link to the report. Looked at from that vantage, the graveyard becomes far less of a concern. Although losing the SOM cafeteria would be sad (really a nice building--almost an oasis: subtle, refreshing, out-of-the-way), SSL is no big loss (IMO), and some of the other nearby bldgs/houses, while "nice," likely do not reach "historical preservation" status (and some are downright ugly).

Hmmm...thinking of SOM commons: I wonder if one could build an entire college in that style...probably not.

[aside: does anyone else find Mr. Kaplan's phrase "dignified assortment of rich people" rather amusing? Exactly the sort of stock lens expected from a current collegian... Of course, Yalies coughing up the equivalent of $100 grand/year ($50k cost + $50k opportunity cost, or foregone salary) would NEVER qualify as "rich," right?

"Wealthy" (or, better yet, "affluent") carries somewhat less of a pejorative tone...]

As long as the Board is tossing money in that general direction, they should show a little pride and common sense and finish fixing up the Divinity School Campus.

The Framework for Campus Planning, a document from 1999 or 2000, has details on what the geographical layout of the two new colleges might look like.

Carl:

The only time that Div School should be renovated is when it is REDEPLOYED to a more useful endeavor. I only wish Benno had succeeded in de-commissioning that school; it is an embarrassment to Yale.

[In a way, it's kind of like seeing the most beautiful and historic churches in New England--the Unitarian churches--now run by UU congregations--you know, Mother Earth worshippers, Wiccans, and whatever else would make true Unitarians roll in their graves...]

Hieronymus:

I respectfully disagree. The endeavor is extremely useful and deserves to be a part of Yale. Your criticism is ill-informed and likely the result of pure prejudice.

Or perhaps there are other departments you'd like to throw overboard...? Philosophy ? Latin ? Sociology ? Gender studies ?

The Divinity School campus deserves to be fully restored, and as long as the University is sloshing millions around, it can finish making up for years of shameless neglect and slosh some of them up Prospect Hill.