Scholarship, events, to honor Black History Month

Last month, Yale undergraduates came together to recognize Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. On the heels of that commemoration, student activists again coalesced in a fight to increase the amount of financial aid given to underprivileged minorities applying to Yale.

COURTESY YALE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Courtland Van Rensselaer Creed was the first African-American to graduate from the Yale School of Medicine.

On Thurs., Feb. 8, the Yale School of Medicine directly addressed many concerns of the undergraduate community when it announced the establishment of the Creed/Patton/Steele Scholarship Fund.

The campaign, started by alumnus Dr. Robert E. Steele, GRD '75, is aimed specifically at students entering the department of epidemiology and public health. Dr. Curtis Patton, a professor in the departments of microbiology and epidemiology and public health, stated that the scholarship had been "in preparation during the past year."

The financial aid and scholarships offered by Yale's professional schools have served to motivate Yale undergraduates to fight for similar offers at the undergraduate level. Abbey Hudson, BR '03, described the financial aid packages offered by Yale professional schools as "something to strive for" at the undergraduate level. The celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day served as the impetus for Hudson as well as Francisco Lopez, TD '02, Laura Kennington, BR '01, and Dan Smokler, TD '01, to put together a Yale College Council resolution asking for increased amounts of financial aid. Although still in its formative stages, the group hopes to reach a more specific resolution after it administers surveys to all students, to those on financial aid as well as those who pay full tuition.

In honor of Dr. Courtlandt Van Rensselaer Creed, who in 1857 became the first African-American to graduate from the Yale School of Medicine, the scholarship is designed to help better represent minorities in the field of public health, and was recently announced in commemoration of Black History Month.

"Creed is remarkable for having been the first African-American to be enrolled at and graduate from Yale," Patton, a Creed historian, noted. "African-American students moved on with wonder and grace to witness new possibilities for themselves, their communities, and their nation," Patton said.

Creed entered the School of Medicine in 1854, eight years after the Connecticut Assembly's decision to remove all references to race from the state constitution. Yet Creed was only permitted to attend Yale because he was a New Haven resident. In 1854, out-of-state African-Americans were still prohibited from attending any school by Connecticut law. Creed recieved his M.D. three years later, on Jan. 15, 1857, after writing his thesis, "On the Blood," which explored the blood's changing chemistry through health and sickness. He went on to open a successful medical practice on Chapel Street and led a distinguished career as a surgeon in the Civil War. He was, on multiple occasions, featured in The New York Times for his medical and forensic expertise. He was even consulted upon the shooting of President James A. Garfield for suggestions on how to locate the bullet. Creed died at the age of 65 in New Haven on Aug. 8, 1900.

Currently, there are a total of 21 African-American students enrolled in the School for Public Health, out of a total of 223. There are 11 Hispanic and 70 Asian students. Together, Hispanic and African American students make up 14 percent of the student body.

Continuing its commemoration of Black History Month, the School of Medicine is planning the Creed Community Health Conference, "Partners In Health and In Sickness, New Haven and Yale." The conference will be hosted by students at the School of Public and Mental Health and the School of Nursing. Speakers and members of the community will discuss how Yale's medical resources can serve to address health disparities in New Haven. The conference has been organized with the aim of better educating students as to the health problems that burden minority populations significantly more than their non-minority counterparts.

Rahel Nardos, MED '03, organized the conference with the aim of having medical and public health students establish a network with community health providers. "As students," Nardos stated, "we get a lot of numbers and statistics about how certain health problems are dominant in the minority population." Yet, Nardos concluded, "the frustrating thing is that nobody ever tells you why." Nardos hopes that the conference will take place annually and that students will eventually use their new base of knowledge in the greater New Haven community. The conference is open to the public and will be held on Sat., Feb. 17 at Winslow Auditorim.

On campus, the undergraduate community continues its celebration of Black History Month. On Sat., Feb. 17, the African Diasporic Showcase, a free student show, will be presented at Sudler Hall. Sponsored by the Af-Am Cultural House, the show was written and directed by Eldred Marshall,
ES '03. "The show is an evolution of black music and art over time," Marshall said. Opening with the dundunba, a dance from Guinea staged by the Konjo African Dance Troupe, the show will then explore the influence of African culture in the Americas. The Yale Jazz Ensemble will also perform pieces by Duke Ellington and will be followed by a performance of the Gospel Choir. The show will be narrated by the poetry of Taneika Taylor, ES '02. The Af-Am House will also join Calhoun College in sponsoring a Master's Tea with film director Spike Lee next Wed., Feb. 21.

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