Yale University and slavery

Yale University recently acknowledged the historical involvement of enslaved individuals in the creation of its campus, as well as the existence of differing attitudes about slavery among members of the academic community.

Yale University and slavery

“Today, we are acknowledging that slavery and the slave trade are part of Yale’s history — our history,” Peter Salovey, the president of Yale, said in a speech early in a conference, Yale & Slavery in Historical Perspective. “We do this because moving forward requires an honest reckoning with our past. And because the purpose of our university — to create, preserve and disseminate knowledge — calls us to do so.”

During a symposium titled “Yale & Slavery in Historical Perspective,” Peter Salovey, the president of Yale, expressed the recognition that slavery and the slave trade constitute an integral part of Yale’s historical narrative. The reason for engaging in this practice is rooted in the necessity of confronting and acknowledging our historical legacy in order to progress. Furthermore, the mission of our university, which is centered on the generation, conservation, and distribution of knowledge, compels us to undertake this endeavor.

Several aspects of Yale University’s history were recognized and appreciated.

The construction of Connecticut Hall, a prominent structure situated in the middle of Old Campus, during the mid-18th century, relied on the labor of enslaved Africans.
In 1831, notable individuals from the Yale community, together other influential figures in New Haven, collaborated in opposition to a proposition aimed at establishing a college specifically catering to Black students within the city.
The inclusion of Confederate names on Yale University’s Civil War memorial in the rotunda of Memorial Hall, known as the “reconciliationist” approach, took place during a period when the university actively sought to attract students and financial support from the southern region of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
During the 1920s and 1930s, faculty members from Yale University assumed prominent positions within the American eugenics movement. Notably, three distinguished scholars from Yale sat on the board of directors of the American Eugenics Society.
Yale University has recently announced a series of initiatives aimed at addressing historical injustices. These initiatives include the establishment of a permanent memorial dedicated to enslaved individuals and Indigenous people, an intention to significantly enhance the university’s financial contributions to its local community of New Haven, and the fostering of partnerships with historically Black and tribal colleges and universities across the nation.

Founded in 1701, Yale University has become one of the most well-known academic institutions in the world. Even non-Americans know the name of the university, despite the fact they may have never set foot in the country. Despite this world-renown, few people actually know much about Yale.

A historic and prestigious institution, it has a deep history, countless well-known alumni, and a still popular appeal. If you’re considering attending Yale, or simply want to know more about it, it’s worth diving into what the university actually is, its history, and what it offers. There’s more to Yale than just the name appeal.

What Is Yale University?

Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University is a private, Ivy league university that also serves as a research institution. Founded in 1701, it’s the third-oldest university and is one of nine colonial colleges started before the American Revolution, and it was originally known as the Collegiate School.

Since then, it’s gone on to become one of the most prestigious universities in the country. It’s also one of the more well-known American institutions worldwide. While the Yale Corporation technically owns the institution, it’s broken down into several schools, with each school overseeing the programs and curriculum.

It has its central campus in downtown New Haven, but it also owns property across the county, such as various forests and nature preserves. It’s now considered one of the largest landowners in New England.

History

It took a while for the university to get to this point, however. At over 300 years old, the institution has a long and accomplished history. Throughout this time, more than a few notable events have happened. For example, it was originally called The Collegiate School, but was renamed in 1718 after businessman Elihu Yale, who gave financial help to the then-budding university.

It’s likely that, without this donation, the university wouldn’t be where it is today. During its early history, Yale only taught Connecticut’s elite, but it’s grown to welcome thousands of people from various backgrounds in the centuries since then. At least 10% of its students, for example, come from other countries.

An expansion to the original college came in 1810, with two more in 1822, and another in 1847 and 1869. Each of these expansions added new schools to the university, some of which are no longer active. Further expansions occurred in 1894, 1915, 1916, 1923, 1955, and 1976, each of which adding a new school.

Most recently, the Jackson School of Global Affairs was set to be open in 2022.

Throughout this time, Yale University continued to add more programs and courses, with more and more students attending the prestigious university.

Popular Majors

Despite the various schools and programs Yale University offers, certain majors have proven popular than others. While students usually have a minor on top of this, that isn’t always the case. Some majors have remained in the top five rankings for decades, showing students still have an interest in them.

Most recently, graduates from the prestigious university were split among certain groups. A quarter of graduates finished with the institution with a degree under the social sciences banner. Biology and biomedical sciences came in a close second, with 11% of graduates graduating with a degree under that banner.

Mathematics and statistics, multi/interdisciplinary studies, and computer and information sciences and support sciences round out the top five most popular majors for graduates. Each fell below the 10% mark, comprising 9%, 8%, and 7% of graduates, respectively. A major in history came in joint fifth, also having 7% of graduates.

These graduates were all split relatively evenly across several types of degrees, ranging from certificates and diplomas all the way to doctorate’s and other post-master’s degrees. With a graduation rate of 88%, it’s led to tens of thousands of students graduating from Yale with a degree every year.

Student Life

Speaking of students, it’s worth looking into what student life is like at Yale University. An active research university, many students’ lives naturally revolve around their studies. That goes beyond similar turning up to seminars, though. Instead, there are the various research labs and similar areas for students to enjoy.

That doesn’t mean studying and researching is all that students can do when attending Yale. There are close to 400 student organizations, as well as more than a few “secret” societies, some of which have been depicted in the media. Students can enjoy themselves while pursuing their extra-curricular interests.

Some of the more notable of these include:

• Skull and Bones
• Myth and Sword
• Mace and Chain
• Book and Snake

Journalism and literature are also a big part of life on campus, with the Yale Literary Magazine having existed since 1836. It’s now considered the oldest student literary magazine in the country. The Yale Record also holds a world record as the oldest humor magazine on the planet, with the satirical paper first being published in 1878.

Add in the Yale Herald and Yale Daily News, and there are plenty of publications to go around. Not all of the publications are as general as these, however. Countless students have been published in the Yale Journal of Medicine & Law since its inception. Focusing on the intersection of law and medicine, it’s been well-read by students and industry professionals for decades.

Then there’s the athletics department, which is just as old as the university itself. The institution has taken part in the Ivy League conference and similar competitions for decades, if not centuries. Since its inception, the university has grown to include at least 35 teams across several sports.

Students from multiple backgrounds have been attracted to this, as well as the prestige of the university itself. They come from several ethnic backgrounds, as well as multiple countries, with at least 10% of students only being in America to attend the institution on a student visa.

Most of these students, however, come from upper class or upper-middle class backgrounds. Approximately 57% of students come from families in the top 10% of highest earning families. According to 2011 reports, only 16% come from families in the bottom 60%. This has been changing in recent years, however, with scholarships becoming much more available.

Yale Alumni

Being over 300 years old, Yale University naturally has quite a few alumni. Many of these have gone on to become household names and even become world-renowned. Some of the more notable of these include former presidents, such as George W. Bush, who attended the university’s Law School.

Other alumni have gone on to work in various other governmental roles. Outside of this, some notable Yale alumni include:

1. Jodie Foster
2. Matthew Barney
3. Garry Trudeau
4. Norman Foster
5. Stephen Vincent Benét

Countless alumni have gone on to win various accolades and awards, such as Pulitzer Prizes and Nobel Prizes.

Depiction Of Yale University In Movies & TV

Because of its rich history and countless alumni, it’s no surprise Yale University has turned up in countless television programs and movies. Notably mentioned in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Yale is also the setting of Stover at Yale. Written by Owen Johnson, the story follows Dink Stover’s collegiate career at the institution. It also serves as the basis of Frank Merriwell, a fictional character who solves mysteries at the institution while taking part in various extracurricular activities.

Yale University Alternatives & Competitors

Yale University is far from the only American institution to appear in movies and television shows. In fact, quite a few of its alternatives and competitors have appeared in various media over the years. While their popularity and competitiveness might have soared in a similar way to Yale’s, they’ve grown because of it.

They were represented in the media thanks in large part because of their popularity and similar factors before their appearances. Some of the more notable of Yale University’s alternatives and competitors include:

1. Northwestern University
2. Wesleyan University
3. Wake Forest University
4. Wheaton College
5. Vassar College

While many of these don’t have the same enrollment rates as Yale, they can be just as competitive. Some are even more selective with which students they admit. That selectiveness has often made them as appealing as Yale University, despite the apparent lack of prestige they may have in comparison.

They also offer their own unique pros and cons, with the campus life, popular majors, appeal, and other factors naturally being different. 

Future

An internationally recognized institution, there’s more to Yale University than just the brand name and prestige. With a deep history, it’s rooted in American culture and has become one of the leading academic institutions across the world. Students from countless backgrounds and countries go to Yale because of its name value, as well as the culture it offers.

Between its several schools, rich history, on-campus life, and accolades, it’s easy to see why it’s so appealing. Add in the countless depictions in various entertainment programs and media, and it’s consistently taken in thousands of students every year. Despite the prestige and apparent selectiveness, it’s never been more inclusive as an institution.