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AYA Contact: Information on the AYA and its programs is available by sending e-mail to aya@yale.edu, or you can write to Rose Alumni House, Box 209010, New Haven, CT 06520-9010 or phone (203) 432-2586. This space is made available to the Association of Yale Alumni by the Yale Alumni Magazine. |
News From the Alumni House November
2000 In April 1996, as a representative for the Class of 1965, I arrived in New Haven for an AYA Assembly. I was particularly interested in the Assembly topic, "Admissions: Selection for Leadership," because my oldest son Matthew had just been accepted for the Class of 2000. At the outset of the college selection process, Matt felt he might like his own school, as opposed to "following in Dad's footsteps." However, by the end he decided that Yale was the best place for him and he didn't feel he should "penalize himself" because I went to Yale. In the afternoon I reported to a workshop on admissions decisions. As I approached the leader, an associate director of admissions, she glanced at my nametag and, face brightening, asked, "Are you Matt Obernauer's father?" It was at that moment I realized that my primary identity at Yale now was Matt Obernauer's father, that he was not about to enter my school but his own, and I was to begin following in his footsteps. Does that sound melodramatic? Well, I understated. Matt soon joined the Yale Daily News, so of course I signed up for a subscription. Now I could keep up with all the issues on campus and many of the concerns of current students. Later, I learned how to access the YDN on the Internet (yaledailynews.com). After a while, checking the News in the morning became as habitual as checking my e-mail. But the aspect of this reconnection with Yale that was most enlightening, and joyful, was making the acquaintance of a broad cross-section of students -- Davenport College, the News, various sports teams, singing groups, and a fraternity. These are some of the most interesting, dynamic, energetic, and caring men and women I have ever encountered. I mentioned earlier that the AYA Assembly on admissions was entitled "Selection for Leadership," and if that is the guiding mission of the admissions office, they appear to have succeeded superbly. My generation of 1960's students was noted for its active idealism, and some have lamented its absence in this generation. Idealism -- that sense of wanting to make the world a better place -- is very much alive and particularly well-expressed by a Yale undergraduate body in which at least half of all students are engaged in some form of community activity. But many of today's students manifest their idealism somewhat differently than we did 35 years ago. Whereas we tended to express our activism through existing structures, often governmental, students today look to by-pass existing structures and build their own. They seem more confident in relying on themselves (and may be less confident in government). The result is a more entrepreneurial social activism -- an appropriate and constructive reflection of this era. Between AYA meetings, parents' events, football games, and any other excuse I can find to be on campus, I became a witness to, and even a very minor participant in, an exceptional example of this social entrepreneurism. Several students, including my son, founded an organization that responds to the new welfare-to-work culture and is dedicated to building networks in the business community to connect people to jobs. Today, this two-year old organization, called National Student Partnerships, has moved its headquarters from New Haven to Washington, supports a permanent staff, and has expanded to more than 20 chapters at universities across America. Now the Class of 2000 has graduated, and Matt will be moving on to new experiences. But fortunately for me, my younger son Michael is in the Class of 2002 and is exposing me to yet another fascinating and dynamic cross-section of students and activities. Mike has become very active with the Yale radio station (WYBC) and is heard regularly broadcasting Yale hockey games, as well as several other sports. Now the hockey mavens of my class look to me for the inside scoop on the Bulldogs hockey team. Given the extraordinary competitiveness of the Yale admissions process, even for alumni children, I am twice blessed. My sons enjoy this magnificent experience while I am at the same time afforded a unique window into Yale. They have allowed me to reconnect with Yale in ways that would otherwise not be possible. Yale was a wonderful
place when I attended -- stimulating, challenging, and enriching.
I can bear witness that Yale is an even better place today.
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Yale
Alumni Magazine, PO Box 1905, New Haven, CT 06509-1905. USA.
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