Richard Brodhead, BR '68, GRD '72, called a special meeting of top faculty and administrators in his office yesterday to announce that he will resign as dean of Yale College, effective Fri., Apr. 21. The low-profile announcement made by one of Yale's most popular administrators has left the Yale community shocked and grasping for explanations.
Aside from the brief statement which he read to the group of approximately 20 faculty members and administrators who gathered in his office for the 2 p.m. meeting, Brodhead offered few clues to the reasoning behind his decision. He granted a short telephone interview to the Herald yesterday evening, saying that he did not feel comfortable elaborating upon his decision. "After much deliberation, I think that my resignation is best for Yale College."
The terse manner in which Brodhead made his announcement only confused those present even more. Sitting behind his desk in Sterling-Sheffield-Strathcona dressed in a running outfit, he read a prepared statement. Once finished, he stood up before anyone could ask any questions, put his head down, and excused himself.
The Dean's Office agreed to allow the Herald to publish Brodhead's statement:
"This University has given a lot to me and I have always hoped to give something back. I love this institution, and that is why I believe it is in my own and Yale's best interests that I step down. I will resign from my position as dean of Yale College, effective April 21. Several factors have contributed to this difficult decision and I regret to say that I do not feel comfortable sharing them at this time. I will do my best to help the Corporation in its search for a new dean. Otherwise, I am afraid that I simply cannot go on in this role. I am sorry."
According to one anonymous administrator who was at the meeting, Brodhead did not seem like himself. "The Dick Brodhead I know, his wry smile, his normal gesticulations, this wasn't him. This was someone else, someone who wants out."
President Richard Levin, GRD '74, said that he had known about Brodhead's eventual plan to step down, but that the sudden decision nonetheless came as a surprise. "Richard Brodhead has been a fine associate and a good friend. This University will always be in his debt for all that he has contributed," Levin said. "Still, his departure is a shock and, from my point of view, a bit unnecessary. I have to stand by his decision, as much as it pains me." Searching for reasons
Perhaps more so than any other departure in Yale's history, Brodhead's resignation has the whole campus asking why. With former Harvard president Neil Rudenstine's recent decision to step down because of exhaustion, many wonder whether the grind of being dean of Yale College simply caught up with Brodhead. Levin shied away from such an interpretation, saying, "I do not think it is fatigue. He's one of the most awake people I know."
Despite his reputation for cheerfulness, other administrators have noticed changes in Brodhead's demeanor. Senior administrative assistant at the Dean's Office Betty Schiller cited baggy eyes, slouched posture, and occasional muttering as sides of Brodhead she had never seen until recently. "Just last week at a meeting of the deans, we heard a loud whomp at the table," Schiller said. "[Brodhead] was so spent that he couldn't hold his head up. That's when I knew something was up." Another line of speculation has centered upon the recent Bass grant debacle. An anonymous faculty member told the Herald that Brod-head would have been next in line for a Bass endowed chair, had the program been implemented. "Although he publicly supported Yale's position, I think he was truly miffed about it," the source said.
Other sources confirmed that Brodhead had become increasingly frustrated with Levin's handling of the matter. Brodhead said over the phone last night, "I kept reading these accounts in the press about how horrible Rick is, and, well, they wouldn't put it in print if it weren't true. Right?"
Brodhead also elaborated upon the rumor that he is planning to teach Israeli erotic dancing at the Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life, if it ever gets constructed and stops making life living hell for everyone in Silliman. "Sometimes I get a little schpilkes - need to shake my money-maker," Brodhead gyrated.
Others claim that Brodhead's resignation is meant to take the heat off of a future move. Brodhead will soon announce that he plans to live off-campus next year, a move that will surely draw much criticism in light of his recent attempts to encourage on-campus living.
YCC president Jon Klein, TC '97, was disappointed at the prospect of Brodhead moving off. "All this talk about community and residential colleges and it sounds like he's ready to jump ship," Klein said. "I believed in him and then he goes ahead and abandons us. By the way, I'm not wearing any clothes right now."
Gary Stewart, TD '96, if he had been elected YCC president, would have said the same, boring thing. Ben Gordon, SY '95, would have said something totally annoying. Elvis might have said somthing, but he's very dead.
The YCC held a vote last night condemning Brodhead's action, the Bass grant, student governing bodies that get anything significant done, and really mean people.
Brodhead commented on the off-campus issue: "I've been here in some shape or form since 1964. I think that I deserve a break. Also, I can no longer afford a dining hall contract with my current salary. If you don't like the sounds of that, you can just kiss my grits."
Ira Mecklenberg, SY '97, had his own theory about Brodhead's departure. "He's whack-ass," Spackleburp said.
This guy's been acting funny
And lordy, lordy has Richard been acting strange! His secretary, Rose Stone, yelped that Brodhead has been out running at least three times a day for the past two weeks. "He must have cancelled five meetings alone last week so that he could go run. It's starting to piss people off," she belched, spitting dip into a Dixie cup.
Although this running proclivity has most members of the Yale community especially perplexed, Dean of Student Affairs Betty Trachtenberg empathized, "I think I can relate to what's eating him up inside. There are times in your life when you just have to run. It's kind of like a Forrest Gump thing. Besides, he's got the finest tushie this side of the Mississippi."
Sources confirmed that Brodhead rearranged a lunch meeting with Levin last Tuesday for a jog. Halfway up Science Hill, Brodhead reportedly turned to Levin, delivered a punishing haymaker and jumped up and down, screaming, "I'm the greatest man alive!" His wife had no comment.
On a more rebellious note, piercing has been a large part of Brodhead's recent life. "What that man has done to his nipples is astounding!" Levin heaved.
Whether Brodhead's resignation was ultimately a result of campus politics, cross- dressing, the Aurora Borealis, flesh-eating bacteria, or the Jane Levin incident will take some time to sort out. Regardless, he certainly has left Yale in the lurch and deserves a good old-fashioned spanking. Or so his mother said.
"I guess it would have been more considerate if I informed the University of this decision before April. Fools like myself don't always get everything right," Broadbeef chirped.
Lirpa Sloof, B.O. '96, and Hsoj Nives, MS '69, contributed to this article.
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