Leaving students out in the cold

To the Editor:

As I read last week's Herald article, "Withdrawal policies lack compassion," tears of compassion sprang to my eyes for the student described in the article's story—a student representative of many struggling young adults at Yale. Yale's education is not just about attending classes. Students here are expected to continue to learn outside of the classroom, to try to find their place in the world as thoughtful, positive contributors.

From Chapter 1 of the Undergraduate Regulations, General Conduct: "Yale College is an academic community dedicated to the advancement of learning. Its members freely associate themselves with the College and in doing so affirm their commitment to a philosophy of mutual tolerance and respect...If any member of the community should interfere with its functions or show himself or herself unable or unwilling to assist in them, the community may find it necessary to protect itself by suspending or terminating his or her membership."

I stipulate that Yale College, as "an academic community," is necessarily part of that community. According to the above statement, Yale stands in remission of a policy of "advancement of learning" and "mutual tolerance and respect." By its own rules, Yale as an entity ought to have its membership to our community of learning and mutual respect revoked.

Also included on the same page of the Undergraduate Regulations is the following statement of the Executive Committee's responsibilities: "As an institution, the Executive Committee is...charged with protecting the Yale College community so as to assure the integrity of academic instruction, the well-being of students, and the preservation of the property and educational resources of the University." The personal trauma caused by Yale's withdrawal policies is a clear violation of "assur[ing]...the well-being of students."

As implied in the Herald's recent article, the only option left to an undergraduate who must take a sudden leave-of-absence for academic or personal reasons and who wishes to return to school the following term is to make it a medical issue. Medical withdrawal requires the authorization of a physician, so the student would have to be in a physical or mental condition severe enough to warrant such authorization. Perhaps this is not so difficult: a student distressed by "personal" issues might be driven into such a condition by Yale's rigid and unforgiving policies. At least then he or she would be permitted to leave and return the following term.

Something must give and it is the policymakers for Yale who have the choice: will the withdrawal policies or Yale undergraduates' physical and mental well-being snap first?

—Kevan Moffett, TC '02

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