Author: Wayne Willis

Books
Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society, by Nicholas Christakis
ByWayne Willis April 25, 2019April 22, 2023
I have assembled many materials and commentaries on the Halloween affair and debated about publishing it here. Although the “Halloween affair” is complicated and has three sides to the story,** there is no doubt that it is an ugly chapter in recent Yale history, a chapter that makes NO ONE proud.
But despite that depressing display of human nature, Professor Christakis has produced a work of both laudable scholarship and material accessible by the general reader. Relying on his expertise in social networks and evolutionary biology, he concludes …
Read More Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society, by Nicholas Christakis
Reunion Reflections
Branford and Silliman Neck and Neck For St. Croix Trip
ByWayne Willis April 22, 2019April 22, 2023
Other Colleges Are Close Behind
Here’s an interim report on how YOUR college is doing in the contest to see which college will win a long weekend in St. Croix. (See “College With Best Attendance Will Win Long Weekend on St. Croix.”)
Read More Branford and Silliman Neck and Neck For St. Croix Trip
Memories
Bill Sacco’s Photos
ByWayne Willis March 25, 2019April 22, 2023
For many years, William Sacco, ’69, was a professional photographer working directly for Yale. He photographed all sorts of official and alumni events over the years.
These are some photos from his undergrad years. The Ingalls Rink meeting was the one where the future of ROTC was debated and voted upon (creating the famous tie vote.)
Read More Bill Sacco’s Photos
News
New Reunion Events Announced
ByWayne Willis February 13, 2019April 22, 2023
The Reunion Details page has a few new items. In brief:
Golf – The Yale Golf Course has reserved a block of tee times starting at 10:00 AM on Thursday for us. Eric Lenck (JE) is organizing things. Details outlined here. If you want to play, plan to arrive early enough to join the other linksmen on Thurs…
Read More New Reunion Events Announced
Announcements
New Page: View ALL Comments (on All Posts)
ByWayne Willis February 3, 2019April 22, 2023
The right sidebar on the home page shows only the last five (5) comments. Responding to popular demand, here is a page that shows ALL comments, in reverse chronological order, 12 per page. (This page is always accessible from the link at the end of the five (5) comments in the sidebar.)
Read More New Page: View ALL Comments (on All Posts)
News
Jim Porter’s Film Wins Emmy
ByWayne Willis January 10, 2019April 22, 2023
Like many others, Dr. Jim Porter (SM ‘69, Ph.D. ’73) assumed that “Scientists don’t win Emmys.” But this year he falsified that hypothesis when his film, Chasing Coral won an Emmy for Outstanding Nature Documentary. Previously, it had been recognized with an Audience Choice Award at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and had been conferred a 2017 Peabody Award. “The Emmy was thrilling enough,” Porter said, “but winning all three of these awards was the journalistic equivalent of…
Read More Jim Porter’s Film Wins Emmy
Books
Tailspin
ByWayne Willis December 6, 2018April 22, 2023
“The most talented, driven Americans chased the American dream — and won it for themselves. Then, in a way unprecedented in history, they were able to consolidate their winnings, outsmart and co-opt the government that might have reined them in, and pull up the ladder so more could not share in their success or challenge their primacy.”
Read More Tailspin
Announcements
Listserv Reopened; Listserv FAQs
ByWayne Willis November 30, 2018April 22, 2023
Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about our email discussion tool, the 1969 Listserv. It’s an easy way to talk with the class as a whole. How to join. How to use it. How to manage it — the whole works, all here.
Read More Listserv Reopened; Listserv FAQs
News
A Good Time Was Had By All
ByWayne Willis November 19, 2018April 22, 2023
A Report From Yale Harvard Weekend The whole weekend was fun, although The Game was disappointing. The Bulldogs defense in the second half collapsed, and the Cantabs won 45-27. But that didn’t stop the 100 Classmates (and their guests) from catching up, chatting, posing with a Handsome Dan mascot, drinking Fenway beers and enjoying the uncharacteristically nice weather. Attendees: Alan Hurwitz (PC) Bill Newman (JE) Carney Mimms (JE) Eliot Norman (DC) Eric Lenck (JE) Frank Aronson (JE)…
Read More A Good Time Was Had By All
Announcements
The Engineer As Artist When Older
ByWayne Willis November 4, 2018April 22, 2023
When the Reunion Committee recruited me and Harry Forsdick to be webmasters of this site, it was because we brought some technical chops to the table. I had run some e-commerce businesses, and Harry is/was true engineering talent. Little did we know, but Harry has been exploring painting and watercolors … using his engineering talents, like Vermeer, to create images on an iPad good enough to warrant an Exhibit of his latest works.
Read More The Engineer As Artist When Older
Archives
Update: Our Last Bladderball
ByWayne Willis November 4, 2018April 22, 2023
Here is a late entry — the “Program” handed out by the Yale Record, including “Player Profiles” for teams from WYBC, The Daily News, Yale Scientific and others.
Read More Update: Our Last Bladderball
Music
Lunatic Fringe
ByWayne Willis October 8, 2018April 22, 2023
The Lunatic Fringe was one of several Yale rock bands that played the songs we could drink and dance to at our Saturday night mixers. The women bussed in from what we called the “girls’ schools” were always the main event of course, but the Fringe did their part to get everyone on the dance floor, playing the hits at juiced up tempos.
Read More Lunatic Fringe
Books
Submit New “Books By Classmates”
ByWayne Willis September 25, 2018April 22, 2023
According to the Class Survey, 49 percent of us have published a book or an article in a scholarly journal. So, to showcase our work, Yale1969.org hosts are section called Books By Classmates, a searchable and sortable library showing ALL the books we’ve authored or edited. Check it out!
Send us information about YOUR books by using the contact form or emailing support@Yale1969.org Send only the ISBN or ASIN number OR links to the books on any website, and we will …
Read More Submit New “Books By Classmates”
News
Friday Night Plans for Yale-Harvard Weekend Finalized
ByWayne Willis September 18, 2018April 22, 2023
Tickets to the Yale-Harvard Game in Boston on Saturday, Nov. 17th, are over 90% sold out. We’re now happy to confirm the details for the Friday evening festivities, which are composed of a dinner at Henrietta’s Table, a superb Cambridge restaurant that is a short walk from where the Yale-Harvard Glee Club concert will be held. Note: Limited ticket availability. It should be a fun evening!
Read More Friday Night Plans for Yale-Harvard Weekend Finalized
Potpourri
The Mystery of yale true Solved
ByWayne Willis September 8, 2018February 27, 2025
This little gizmo came in the mail last month to some of our more active Classmates. The main reaction was puzzlement. What was it? About 3″ x 2″, with a peel-off backer that exposed some adhesive, it caused a stir. The Listserv lit up: Macon Cowles started with the basic question: “OK, dear classmates …
Read More The Mystery of yale true Solved
Announcements
The Story Behind “The Class of 1969 Memorial Scholarship Fund”
ByWayne Willis August 21, 2018April 22, 2023
In May, you may recall that our website published Meet The New “Class of 1969 Scholar” – Maddie Hoffman. Well, the editors were curious: They had not heard of a “Class of 1969 Scholarship Fund,” so they decided to investigate. What was it? Who started it? How is it used? How much is in it? There were lots of unusual turns in the story and …
Read More The Story Behind “The Class of 1969 Memorial Scholarship Fund”