Campus Clips

Jeopardy!

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A Yale doctoral student was on a remarkable winning streak on the game show Jeopardy! when we went to press. Matt Amodio ’23PhD (left), who studies machine learning and artificial intelligence in the computer science department, had won $430,200 over 13 days by August 6, enough to put him in fifth place on the show’s all-time regular-season winners list.

A federal judge has dismissed a Yale undergrad’s lawsuit seeking a partial refund for tuition paid for the spring of 2020, when the university moved to online classes in the early days of the pandemic. Jonathan Michel ’22 argued that the switch to online classes constituted a breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and unfair trade practices. In July, Judge Janet Hall ruled that Yale’s undergraduate regulations gave the university discretion over suspending operations and whether or not to provide refunds.

An organization of colleges and universities aiming to increase the number of low- and moderate-income students in their classes has recognized Yale for its progress in this area. The American Talent Initiative reported that Yale had the fourth highest growth rate among its 130 members in the enrollment of students who are eligible for Pell Grants (federal aid for low-income students). From 2015–16 to 2019–20, the percentage of such students at Yale increased from 13 percent to 18 percent, a growth rate of 55 percent.

The Jackson School of Global Affairs will occupy three historic Hillhouse Avenue mansions when it opens in the fall of 2022. Besides Horchow Hall, which is already home to what is now the Jackson Institute, the school will take over Steinbach Hall and T. M. Evans Hall across the street. All three houses were once part of the School of Management.