Sad Day at Yale

It was announced today that the body found in an on-campus research building was that of Annie Le, a student at Yale's medical school. Tonight, there's going to be a candle-lit vigil at Cross Campus, a large outdoor meeting space near the center of campus. Of course, additional counseling staff have been brought on board, and a lot of extra security has been put in place around the medical institutions, which are generally on the south side of the Yale complex and about a 15-20 minute walk from the Law School.

Although it's believed that the crime was not a random act, lots of people are quite shaken that something so horrific could happen here, so close to where we live and study. [I walk by the Amistad building from time to time, usually on my way to the train station from the medical campus.] Perhaps rightly so, the Law School is doing its best to put forth a supportive but reserved face - reminding students that we do live in an urban area where crime does occur, circulating phone numbers and security shuttle schedules, and emphasizing the need for everyone to speak up if someone or something seems out of place.

Neither Cat nor I are strangers to living in cities that are stereotyped as dangerous and/or crime-ridden, and I don't pretend to be invincible...though I do walk home alone in the dark probably more often than would be advisable. Still, I think what's particularly troubling about this case is the reminder that threatening activity can happen even inside the confines of a building you think to be safe simply because it has the University name stamped on the outside. Sadly, that heuristic isn't always accurate.

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Things I Love In New Haven

I know a bunch of people that read this blog are prospective/admitted students, and a lot of you are going to be visiting various schools over the next couple weeks if you haven't already done so...and hopefully, you have plans to come to Yale. [If you're on the fence about whether or not to visit, my advice: DO IT. You'll never know whether you're making the right decision until you really *feel* a school in person.] Other people who read this blog are just our non-law school friends...and you guys should visit, too!! (I'm looking at you, NS, MT, and JS.)

While the YLS admissions office has some great blog posts about various things to do on campus/in New Haven, I thought I'd give my own random list of favorite things:

* This one's pretty general/overarching, but I love Restaurant Week (a week of prix fixe menus at some of the fancier restaurants in New Haven, similar to those in other, bigger cities). If you're coming for the ASW later in April, you're in luck - the next Restaurant Week is April 19-24. Call now for reservations, though, as it fills up quickly.

* Other great ethnic food. My favorites: Pan Thai Asian, Sitar, Bentara, and Skappo.

* Yale's known for its own architecture, but as a buildings buff I really prefer the School of Architecture. They have a ton of cool exhibits and lectures that are open to the public.

* Similarly, the coolest architecture on Yale's campus, in my opinion, is the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. This is what it looks like on the inside.

* The Cupcake Truck.

* IKEA.

* The New Haven Green. One of my best memories from law school so far is from a big picnic that a bunch of us 1Ls had at the beginning of the year. We spread out in a patch of grass on the Green and threw a frisbee. In the winter, there is a big tree lighting ceremony on the Green, too. I think it's nice that New Haven really does have a semi-vibrant downtown area, which is anchored by the Green...I'm always amazed by the number of people shopping and strolling downtown, even on week days.

* Various theatre & music options: The Shubert for touring Broadway shows and big names, Toad's for tribute bands and townies, and the Yale Symphony and Rep for cheap student tickets to quality performances.

There are a lot of other things, too, but this is probably more than enough to keep you busy for three days...

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