The Week In Brief

Pierson move-in floods entryway

The problem began when one student moving his couch accidentally tore off a fourth-floor fire sprinkler head.

"It was like something out of a movie," Niki Dembitz, PC '03, said. "In no time we were drenched with water up to our ankles."

The water retreated through the floor to lower levels, ruining electric circuitry and leaving the walls rust-streaked and musty.

Marjorie Zauderer, PC '01, who lives a floor below the broken sprinkler, lost a rug and had to dry clean an entire closet's worth of clean clothes. "I couldn't sleep in my room for two nights," she said.

Jonas Heymann, PC '02, suffered heavy damages—both he and his roommate lost their computers. When Heymann goes to close his laptop now, he says, it's like pushing on a wet sponge.

Both the New Haven Fire Department and members of the Yale custodial staff were on the scene in a matter of minutes. The sprinkler was shut off immediately. "We had our jacks checked, and maintenance was really great," Dembitz commented. "Our room is fine now, just a little humid and damp."

On Weds., Sept. 6, Master Harvey Goldblatt sent affected Piersonities a reassuring e-mail about compensation. "Dean [Richard] Brodhead [BR '68, GRD '72] told me he was going to do what he could for those students without insurance coverage to help cover some of the losses, especially insofar as academic necessities," Goldblatt wrote.

Casey Kuczik, PC '03, noted that the present situation has improved, "It's under control. It smells like pumpkins," he said.

—Strand Conover

Brooks finally resigns from Yale Corporation

Four months later, in June, Brooks officially resigned from her post.

Considered by many to be one of the art world's most powerful women, Brooks was forced to resign from Sotheby's when the FBI launched an investigation into price-fixing in the auction industry. Shortly after, Brooks also gave up a place on the Board of Directors of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter.

"Dede has been a devoted Yale alumna, trustee, and parent," President Richard Levin, GRD '74, said in a press release earlier this year. "She has been an important leader on the Yale Corporation, helping to improve many of its practices and procedures. Her service has been complemented by her generosity."

Brooks donated funds for the Dwyer Sports Medicine Center and the Brooks-Dwyer varsity weight room at the Payne Whitney Gym. She also led the project for the creation of the Women's Table by Maya Lin, SY '81, ARCH '86.

—Anna Dolinsky

Would-be Yale student caught with cocaine

Jenkins first came into the public eye in December 1997, when Yale officials discovered that she falsified a 4.0 GPA at a community college and letters of recommendation in her transfer application to Yale's Biological and Biomedical Sciences graduate program. Jenkins, who drew attention to herself by repeatedly missing final exams, was arrested on larceny and fraud charges and was accused of robbing Yale of $15,739 in financial aid and stipends.

When facing charges in 1999, Jenkins missed a court date—only to claim that she had been abducted, raped, and forced into the trunk of a car. Later, Jenkins' lawyer, Norman Pattis, submitted an anonymous letter that accused three Yale professors of conspiring to have Jenkins arrested for "outright racial hatred." Pattis also presented photos of a bound and gagged Jenkins. Both the letter and the pictures were dismissed as fabrications.

On Fri., Apr. 7, Jenkins was sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to larceny and forgery charges, as well as to biting two prison guards who had tried to fingerprint her. She also had to repay the $15,739. Now, Jenkins faces up to five years in prison for violating probation, as well as many more years for possession of cocaine with intent to sell.

—Sam Frank

Library's nap haven to be renovated

After years of frequent leaks, the roof gutters and window trimmings are being replaced. Building manager John Vincenti expects construction to continue for at least the next three months.

Vincenti stressed that the Green Room will remain open during construction, but students who enjoy napping on the room's cushy leather chairs may have to relocate over the next few months. "The removal of stone from the structure will make [the Green Room] noisy at times," he said.

During the construction process on the exterior, however, the room's interior will not be altered or renovated.

—Joanna Dolgin

Yale alum awarded Medal of Freedom

"Senator Chafee was one of America's greatest public servants," President Richard Levin, GRD '74, said shortly after Chafee's death last fall. "He had an independence of mind and a clarity of perspective that is unusual among elected officials today."

The Presidential Medal of Freedom was established by President Harry S. Truman as a wartime honor. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy renamed the medal and changed the selection board in order to honor individuals in civilian service. It is presented to those who have made contributions "especially meritorious to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." Chafee received his award because of his many contributions to the military and to the government.

—Katrina Schnoebelen

KATIE ALDRICH/YH Following Yale tradition, members of the Class of 2004 attempt to complete their 'Rumpus' crossword puzzles before the Freshman Assembly gets them too excited.

IN MEMORIAM: Samuel Itty

Itty, a computer science major, was spending the summer in Louisville as an intern for General Electric. During the school year, he was known as a friendly, helpful computing assistant (CA) for JE, and as a contributor to the Yale Daily News online edition.

Julie Kang, JE '02, recalls his contagious optimism, even under stress. "When we walked up Science Hill to our midterms, Sam always displayed such grace under fire," she said. Others remember his dogged persistence when solving problems. David Davies, JE '98, Manager of Student Computing, recalled how, long before becoming a CA, Sam wrote to the CA email list with ideas on how to deal with a computer virus. "I saw him as a devoted person," Davies said. "He worked hard until he found a solution."

Itty also found simple ways to add cheer to his friends' lives. Sam Stubblefield, JE '00, shared a running joke with his friend. "Whenever we'd pass each other, we'd exchange, `Hi Sam,'" Stubblefield said. Andy Graham, JE '02, who drove with Sam to work at GE, remembers the repartée they often had in the car. "It was hilarious," he said. Mark Abraham, JE '02, Itty's roommate sophomore year, said,"He definitely enjoyed himself." Melissa Buchanan, JE '02, agreed: "I remember him happy."

—Yuka Igarashi

"A Celebration of Life," a memorial organized by Jonathan Edwards College, will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 9 in the JE Great Hall.

YALE INDEX
1. Registered 1999-2000 Undergraduate Organizations	188
2. Organizations listed on YaleInfo that are not registered	116
3. Number of official organizations Yale claims to have	200
4. Members of the Class of 2004	1,352
5. Approximate number of frosh per organization	4.4
6. Minutes in the frosh bazaar	180
7. Seconds per booth a frosh would have if all groups were represented	35.5
8. Cheapest textbook on ybay.org, in dollars	4
9. Largest percent discount Yale Bookstore promises	25
10. Largest percent discount promised by varsitybooks.com before being sued	40
11. Number of discount promises now on varsitybooks.com	0
12. Current stock price of VSTY	1 5/32
13. Minimum stock price of a NASDAQ stock	1
14. Minimum number of students in an undergraduate organization	2
15. Total donations on fairtunes.com, in dollars	2,177.20
16. Percent of donations to undergraduate organizations Yale takes for itself	20
17. Freshmen from Montana	0

—Compiled by Kushal Dave

Sources: 1, 17) Counting; 2, 5, 7) Math; 3) Propaganda; 4) Suffocation; 6) Dehydration; 8, 10, 15) Internet; 9, 11, 12, 13) Empty wallet; 14, 16) Bureaucracy

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