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OPINION
GUEST COLUMNISTS
E L I Z A B E T H T E R RY A N D E M I LY F OX
Basking in
reflected glory
BY ELIZABETH TERRY AND EMILY FOX
THE CLASS OF 1994
A
t our 20th reunion in 2014,
newly appointed Yale Presi-
dent Peter Salovey accepted
our invitation to give a brief talk to
our class. Salovey was a beloved
figure when we were undergradu-
ates at Yale — a record number of
students enrolled in his class “Psy-
chology and Law,” forcing a venue
change to the enormous Battell
Chapel.
When President Salovey arrived
to speak to our class on the Friday
of reunion, it was with all the star
power of an NBA champion plus
British royalty plus Tom Hanks. He
walked into the room, and suddenly
it felt like all of us were back in col-
lege, acolytes thoroughly enrap-
tured by the cheerful wisdom of our
guru, as luminaries of bygone days
gazed down at us from their oil por-
traits on the walls of Sheffield-Ster-
ling-Strathcona Hall.
Salovey’s talk that day focused
on a research interest of his called
“Basking in Reflected Glory” or
“BIRG-ing” — the psychologi-
cal phenomenon that accounts for
why we feel great when “our” team
wins a championship or “our” can-
didate wins an election. We all like
to feel affiliated with prestige, with
power, with winners. But some-
times — especially for Yalies, espe-
cially at reunions — it’s hard not to
look left and right, clock the success
of your peers, and think: why them
and not me?
Instead, guru Salovey suggested,
a class reunion is the ideal time to
indulge in the positive effects of
“BIRG-ing.” He advised us to side-
step the impulse to compare and
contrast; instead, simply applaud
the success of your classmates, and
let them applaud you. Revel in your
collective success and any lingering
envy will melt away.
Both of us have reflected often on
that advice in the last five years. The
mid-forties are… an adventure. The
term “midlife crisis” may sound
trite and overused, but it’s real and
it’s a sucker punch — even though
everyone told us it was coming.
But we realized we’ve experi-
enced a newfound peace, too, that
comes from looking back over the
last four decades and realizing that
no one’s unscathed by now. Even
the most successful of our peers,
the ones with the highest profiles,
awards on the mantle, more money
in the bank than they could spend in
a lifetime — all of us have lost loved
ones, survived health crises or had
major career setbacks. Marriages
have imploded, our parents’ health
has deteriorated, the economy has
been a gut-churning rollercoaster,
never mind the state of our democ-
racy. Life is a great equalizer. No
one’s unscathed, but we’re all in this
together, so no one’s alone, either.
When we let ourselves BIRG a
little, we find so much to feel great
about. We find true delight in our
friends’ successes, big and small.
We take enormous pride in the bond
of friendship among our classmates
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— some of whom we’ve known
since the first day of college, some
of whom we are now just meet-
ing for the first time this weekend.
We feel lucky to be here, and now
more than ever, we feel lucky to be
together.
MARRIAGES HAVE
IMPLODED, OUR
PARENTS’ HEALTH
HAS DETERIORATED,
THE ECONOMY
HAS BEEN A
GUT-CHURNING
ROLLERCOASTER,
NEVER MIND THE
STATE OF OUR
DEMOCRACY.
Peter Salovey’s attendance
record finally fell last year to Laurie
Santos’ “Psychology and the Good
Life,” which met in Woolsey Hall —
even bigger than Battell. Her class
explores research into the behaviors
and practices that boost well-be-
ing. It’s heartening for us to see that
young, vibrant, idealistic under-
grads are interested in unlocking
the secrets to happiness and men-
tal health. It’s not just for grownups
anymore.
One of Santos’ assignments is
to keep a gratitude journal, which
experts say can be a very power-
ful happiness practice. We’re giv-
ing the Class of ‘94 that assign-
ment too: one of the souvenirs for
this 25th reunion is a small navy
blue bound book in which we hope
our classmates will note the things
in life that they feel grateful for, the
things that spark joy, that give them
that unique BIRG glow.
The two of us are thankful to have
had the chance to burnish our 25+-
year friendship through months
of Zoom video calls, random texts
and pizza emojis as we planned this
reunion. We’re thankful we had the
chance to go to college at Yale, and
to our families who made that pos-
sible. We’re thankful to the Alumni
Association staff that works tire-
lessly on these reunions. We’re
thankful the Yorkside menu hasn’t
really changed since we last had
a Greek salad there when we just
couldn’t face the dining hall. And
we’re truly thankful to every single
classmate who decided to take the
time and spend the energy to return
to New Haven this weekend. We’re
basking in reflected glory.
Elizabeth Terry ’94 and Emily Fox ’94
are co-chairs of their 25th reunion
committee. Terry is a writer and editor
based in Washington, D.C. Fox is a
TV producer and writer based in Los
Angeles.
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YALE DAILY NEWS · ALUMNI EDITION 2019 · yaledailynews.
GUEST COLUMNIST
MELINDA BECK
The YDN, then and now
BY MELINDA BECK
THE CLASS OF 1977
taking it over and giving the space
to the Art and Architecture build-
ing next door.
promising reporters and editors
had quit the News because they
couldn’t manage to work at a cam-
T
urn on a cable news show In 1978, future-minded student pus job (as required by their finan-
these days, read a top news- editors, guided by former pub- cial-aid package), keep up with
paper or listen to a political lisher Eric Nestler ’76, asked News their classes and devote 20 or 30
podcast. You’ll likely find a News alumni for help to pay for the build- hours each week to producing the
alum breaking an important story. ing repairs and set up a retirement News.
The current roster of top jour- fund for Frances Donahue, a fixture In 2016, after extensive debate,
nalists from Yale includes The at the paper for more than 50 years. the Foundation began offering sti-
Washington Post’s White House That effort inspired a group of pends of up to $3,000 a year to beat
Bureau Chief Philip Rucker ’06, its News alumni, led by Jim Ottoway reporters and editors on financial
Deputy Editorial Page Editor Ruth ’60, Jonathan Rose ’63 and Joseph aid to allow them to work fewer
Marcus ’80 and the host of its daily Lieberman ’64 LAW ‘67, to estab- hours and devote more time to the
news podcast Martine Powers ’11. lish the Oldest College Daily Foun- News. (Many other Ivy League
Michael Barbaro ‘02 hosts The New dation, a 501(c)(3) organization that papers have similar programs.)
York Times’ daily podcast, and
David Leonhardt ’94 is an op-ed
could solicit tax-deductible con-
tributions to assist the newspaper
The stipends have clearly helped
individual students. One recipient
columnist. Zeke Miller ’11 cov- they loved. wrote: “I am incredibly grateful for
ers the White House for the Asso- The student-run Yale Daily the stipend from the YDN Foun-
ciated Press. Michael Crowley ’94
is the White House and national
News Publishing Co. also filed for dation. I can’t emphasize enough
not-for-profit status. In the subse- how much stress it has taken off my
security editor for Politico. Isaac
Arnsdorf ’11 covers the Trump
quent years when the News made shoulders. This makes it possible
money, those profits were added to for those of us with a [student-in-
administration for ProPublica, the the foundation’s endowment to be come requirement] to participate at
award-winning investigative news available for future needs. In years the News with the same time com-
organization founded by Paul Stei- when the News didn’t make money, mitment and intensity as everyone
ger ’64, after he served as The Wall the Foundation has provided a else on the board.”
Street Journal’s Managing Editor safety net and a way to fund major In a recent survey of News staff-
for 16 years. capital improvements. (Since 2003, ers and alumni in the classes of 2013
At a time when serious, fact- the Foundation’s endowment has to 2021, 85 percent said it “very
based reporting is more essential been invested along with Yale Uni- important” for the Foundation to
than ever, the News continues to versity’s endowment, which has provide some financial assistance
train some of the best journalists in greatly enhanced its returns.) to Newsies on financial aid.
the world, just as it did in the days
of Briton Hadden and Henry Luce,
Over the years, funds from
the OCD Foundation (recently
Meanwhile, the econom-
ics of publishing have taken an
both members of the Class of 1920. renamed the Yale Daily News even more challenging turn.
Last month, the Society of Pro- Foundation) have helped the News Print advertising for all newspa-
fessional Journalists named the launch its website and online pub- pers and magazines has dropped
News the best all-around student lication, purchase state-of-the- precipitously in the internet age;
newspaper of 2018. The News also art software and other equipment web advertising hasn’t grown fast
won the national prize for best and pay for repairs. Even before enough to take its place. News-
breaking news reporting, and the he graduated, Paul Needham ’11, papers across the country have
Yale Daily News Magazine was a now the Foundation’s vice presi- folded or cut back on production.
finalist in the best student maga- dent for development, raised over Many college newspapers no lon-
zine category. $600,000 to fund an extensive ger publish every day; some no
But the economics of college renovation of the building that was longer publish at all.
newspapers have changed drasti- completed in 2010. The News remains marginally
cally over those years, and News From the start, the Foundation profitable—thanks in large part to
alumni have rallied to help. has left the daily business and edi- student-led innovations. (Among
Older alums may remember a torial operation of the News to the them: a book coming out next
time when the News was so flush students. (We all remember that summer profiling current Yale stu-
that when graduating editors split making high-stakes decisions over dents and including their admis-
up the year’s profits, their share coverage, trying to cut costs, mak- sions essays to feed the insatiable
could cover the cost of a car, an ing mistakes and facing the conse- hunger for advice on how to get into
engagement ring or a full year’s tui- quences were what made the News college.) But if current trends con-
tion. That was largely due to ciga- such a valuable experience — and tinue, the News will need to rely on
rette advertising, as rival tobacco also so much fun.) But Founda- its alumni more than ever for finan-
companies aggressively promoted tion members are available to give cial help in the coming years.
smoking among college students advice and expertise as needed. For now, though, those of us on
and competed to win their brand Board members over the years have the Foundation mostly watch in awe
loyalty early on. In 1963, U.S. included numerous lawyers, pub- as student journalists put out the
tobacco companies voluntarily lishing executives and financiers, News in print and online, with video
agreed to stop advertising in col- as well as working journalists. reports, blog posts, podcasts, a daily
lege newspapers — eliminating As part of its mission to support headline service and other offerings
about half of those papers’ national young journalists, the Foundation we never dreamed of in our day, fully
ad revenue overnight. also helps pay for living expenses bringing the Oldest College Daily
Liquor and beer ads made up for News staffers working at low or into the new media age.
much of the remaining reve- unpaid summer journalism intern- Come see for yourself. The News
nue, and those gradually dried up, ships, a classic stepping-stone to and the YDN Foundation are host-
too, leaving college newspapers, a career. Since 1993, the Summer ing a reunion open house for News
including the News barely profit- Fellowship program has helped alumni and friends on Saturday,
able by the 1970s. some 300 Newsies take internships May 25th and Saturday June 1, from
The News also had another at over 100 media outlets, ranging 3:00 to 4:30pm.
issue: its historic building at 202 from the Financial Times of Lon-
York Street, built for the paper in don to the BBC in Kazakhstan and Melinda Beck ’77, a longtime Wall
1932 without an endowment to Vanity Fair. Street Journal editor and columnist,
maintain it, was in such bad shape In recent years, the Foundation is the chair of the Yale Daily News
that the University contemplated also heard growing concerns that Foundation.
ale daily news open house
202 york street
may 23 and june 1st
3pm-4:30pm
YDN alumni and guests are invited to visit the renovated
PHOTOGRAPHY
Neehaar Gandhi
Briton Hadden Memorial Building and hear about the
Lucas Holter
Madelyn Kumar
Oldest College Daily in the New Media Age. Brief presentation at 3:30.
Eric Wang
Daniel Zhao
ILLUSTRATIONS
Keyi Cui
Valerie Navarrete
EDITOR’S NOTE: THE NEW’S FIRST EVER ALUMNI REUNION ISSUE
WEB
DEVELOPMENT
Lenny Khazan
Sara Lewis
For many years, the students and alumni of rizing the biggest news events that happened
the Yale Daily News have discussed how our on campus this year.
newspaper can better engage with the Yale The articles from our archives are partic-
alumni community. I and my fellow editors ularly special. Our reporters went through
sincerely hope that this special issue of the old issues of the News dating back to 1950 to
News, written and edited specifically for this dust off some of our most interesting stories
year’s alumni reunions, will help do just that. that coincided with each reunion class’ time at
This “alumni reunion issue” is the first of Yale. They range from historically significant
its kind, and we eagerly anticipate any and to outright quirky.
all constructive criticism on what can be Please do have a meaningful reunion this
done better for next year. If you ever have any weekend. In the meantime, we at the News will
thoughts about the Oldest College Daily that be at 202 York Street, eagerly working to keep
you want to share with our editorial board, we all of our readers informed about the nuances
can always be reached at editor@yaledaily- and developments of the Yale-New Haven
news.com community. I hope it makes a difference to you.
The alumni reunion issue is split into three
parts. These comprise an opinion section Sincerely,
authored by Yale alums, a suite of “articles Britton O’Daly
from the archives” and a set of stories summa- Editor in Chief of the Yale Daily News