The Week in Brief

Yale med prof upgraded to good condition

LIZ OLINER/YH Yanagisawa was shot outside his office at 98 York St. on Tues., Apr. 14.

Yanagisawa, 67, and his wife were accosted by two individuals demanding money in the parking lot outside his 98 York St. University Towers office just before 11:30 p.m. on Tues., Apr. 14. In the struggle that ensued, one of the subjects shot Yanagisawa in the neck before the pair fled with an undetermined amount of money. Yanagisawa was treated by Dr. John Bonadies in intensive care before being moved to a regular medical-surgical unit Wednesday afternoon.

Word of the incident has spread quickly among University Towers residents. "I'm definitely surprised--and appalled. I always have felt safe," Kathryn Sievers, TC '99, said. Yanagisawa's collegues were equally shocked by the shooting, but said that safety issues are always a concern. "It was pretty much expected around here--but we're being more precautious," a medical assistant at his office said. "Everyone is doing well."

--David Altschuler

ROME to join students with profs for research

"[The program] will give students the chance to get directly involved in the ongoing research of their professors, giving them the opportunity to learn many of the skills associated with the reasearch process," Donald Brown, director of undergraduate studies in economics, said.

ROME will run during the school term and the summer. During the school year, the commitment will be 10 hours a week for three months. Summer participants will be paid $2,400 and will be expected to work 20-hour weeks with their professors. Yalies are eligible to participate in the program starting the summer before their junior year.

--Lauren Patrick

Tensions flare at Slifka abortion debate

Jewish texts do not specifically refer to abortion rights, as Alpert demonstrated with opposing passages that define an unborn fetus anywhere between "property" and a "living citizen." Alpert, who is pro-choice, said allowances for eating meat and fight-ing wars suggest that "killing is not out of the realm of Jewish understanding," and that necessary abortions could be deemed acceptable.

Alpert urged the Jewish community to resolve its contradictions and take a unified stance on abortion. "We are so much in the middle that our morality is in danger of being obsolete and ineffective," she said.

--Drew Swan

Malik supporters mark anniversary of shooting

Members of the Malik Organization honored the anniversary by fasting from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. An estimated 200 participants also marched from the site of the shooting to Varick Memorial AME Church on Dixwell Ave., where Tyrone Powers, author of Eyes to My Soul: The Rise or Decline of a Black FBI Agent, gave a talk. According to Jones's mother, Emma, Powers gave "a thorough and complete analysis" of the report in which State's Attorney Michael Dearington cleared Flodquist of any wrongdoing.

The federal case is now pending as investigators decide whether to press charges against Flodquist. Emma Jones expressed concern that the local FBI was involved with the federal investigation, saying "we certainly don't want people in Connecticut with connections to the original investigations [to influence the federal case]."

--Anika Singh

Homeless advocate highlights YHHAP week

Mitchell addressed the issues of welfare reform, homeless advocacy, and empowerment for homeless women. "Organizing is a powerful tool, especially among women," she said. "It is the key to bring about change." Mitchell also cited political empowerment, voter registration, and voter turnout as important tools in fighting homelessness.

The talk led off the week's events, which included the traditional YHHAP Fast on Tues., Apr. 14, an education fair, various speakers, and a panel on Yale-New Haven relations. The week concludes on Fri., Apr. 17 with a candlelight vigil. YHAAP Co-Coordinator Shayna Silverstein, PC '00, explained that the week was meant to "hone in on issues of homelessness" and raise student awareness.

--Amanda Poppei

Back to News...