This is head coach Marat Isrealian of Yale Fencing fame. Since 2022, he has led the Bulldogs to two consecutive winning seasons and top-ten finishes in the men’s and women’s 2022-23 season. His story begins years before that in 1991.

Originally born in the Soviet Union, Marat Israelian began his fencing journey in Israel. Like many others, his family left the fallen Russian state, starting a new life within the small coastal town of Ashkelon. While not well known for its fencing or sports, Israelian soon found himself amongst the small athletic community of Ashkelon as his school’s gym teacher and local fencing coach Boris Viener — a fellow immigrant from the USSR and an Olympic men’s coach himself — directed him towards the town’s fencing club.

“It was a unique situation with a high-level coach trying to develop a high-level club,” Israelian told the News. “In my town, historically, they were épée [fencers] and [the club] had been there for a while. It developed, became really strong on a national level, and that is how I started, from gym class to trying fencing at the local club.” 

It was not until Alexey Cheremskey — an Épée Fencer for the Ukrainian National Team — immigrated to Israel that things changed for Israelian. Coming under Cheremsky’s guidance, Israelian truly embraced the sport, dueling in the Junior Fencing World individually and with the Israeli Junior National Team in 2002.

Israelian thrived in this competitive environment, battling his way through numerous opponents and frequently placing within the top twenty at Junior world cups across the globe, with his highest results coming in 2004. 

Reaching second place in the Coupe de la Paix in his hometown of Ashkelon, along with third place finishes in the Coupe Heracles Junior in Budapest, Hungary and the Trophée Mannino in Catania, Italy, he finished the year ranked tenth overall, with a peak of third place.

Around this time Israelian began to battle injuries. In spite of this, he continued to fence and ultimately landed himself a spot on the St. John’s University Fencing Squad in 2009, transitioning from the Junior League to the NCAA. From the start, he solidified himself as a strong competitor for the St. John’s team, with an NCAA Épée championship, 76–20 record, and All-American honors in his first year. This was followed by another NCAA championship and All-American honors the following year, with a triumphant record of 50-17. 

Things were not to last.

“While at St. John’s, I kept getting injured,” Israelian told the News with a slight chuckle, “It was kind of early, as an athlete, to be done at 21, but with all the injuries, I knew I was done after graduation.” 

With his career cut short, Israelian prepared to focus his life beyond the sport. Armed with a bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance, he was readying  to enter the world of Wall Street, but when faced with problems with his immigration papers he struggled to find a financial job. 

Immediately, he started giving private fencing lessons to the local crowd of New York City and fell in love with the sport even more, now from the role of coach as opposed to athlete.

Israelian found his calling in the realm of coaching, connecting with each generation of athletes he coached, whether they were young children just starting out or older athletes bettering themselves. Through his interactions with these developing athletes, he came to appreciate the effect the sport and his coaching had on people’s lives. Embracing this, he told the News he used his financial skills to navigate securing a serious coaching position beyond his private practice. 

“I was coaching privately in Long Island when the owner [of North Shore Fencing Club] Vladimir Gofman gave me the opportunity to coach there,” Israelian said to the News. “When I was looking for a job, he was looking for a coach, and I will forever be grateful to him for the opportunity. I was not a real coach; I was more of an athlete, and he gave me the chance to develop my coaching there [at North Shore]. We started winning, and I gained confidence in my own abilities with our students doing well nationally.”

Garnering a reputation for himself, it was not long until Yale came knocking in 2018. Seeking an épée coach for the team in preparation for the Ivies, the most competitive tournament of the fencing season, the Yale Fencing Team personally reached out to him. Sensing it was time to move on from North Shore and being specifically sought after by the Yale fencing squad, Israelian began working with the Yale team as a volunteer coach, helping the team earn a tenth-place finish in the 2018 NCAA Championship. During the following season, he was officially hired as an assistant coach, helping the team to a seventh-place finish in the 2019 NCAA championship. 

Now an official member of the Yale Athletics team, Israelian faced a new adjustment in coaching the collegiate fencers. Where before he had dealt with children and teenagers, now he handled young adults, preparing for their professional life beyond college and sports.

“You can’t treat them like kids; the attitude itself is different. You got to balance things,” Israelian said. “You have to encourage them to be excellent students because they are pursuing their professional lives, while at the same time, I am the fencing coach, and I need to push them to 100 percent with their fencing, keep them checked in.”

Firmly committed to this coaching style based on his previous experiences, Israelian established himself as a premier fencing coach, loved and respected by his athletes. 

“You can tell he cares so much about the team and is really dedicated to it,” Sabreuse Stephanie Cao ’25 told the News. “It is rare to have a coach you can respect and depend on. He’s the best.”

It did not take long for Yale to appreciate Coach Israelian’s effect on the team. After his third season with the team, he was promoted to Head Coach in 2021. From his athletes’ strong performances to the enjoyable environment he fostered during training and practice, he showed his qualifications for the top job and has continued to produce strong results.

“He is a very chill guy and very good at what he does,” Foilist Nick Kim ’27 told the News. “We are able to truthfully talk about the strengths and problems of the team with him and work on it. We have very good communication, and things are only going to continue to get better.”

Now in his fourth season at the helm of the Dueling Dans, Israelian looks to the next stage of Yale Fencing, beyond the current “transition period” from the previous leadership. 

Talking about the upcoming recruitments and the long-awaited recovery from the injuries that have plagued the team, he, like his fencers, is confident that the best is yet to come. 

“We are looking to attract more recruits, and we are getting stronger. We should have a fully stacked squad next year, and we’re looking to be one of the strongest Ivies next year,” Coach said. “We are going to try to win, but we are going to do it in a way that is beneficial to athletes both athletically and personally. We are going to show who we are.”

The Bulldogs’ next tournament is the NCAA regionals on Sunday, March 9.

The post The man in the mask: Yale Fencing’s head coach Marat Israelian appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Fresh off winter break, the bouting Bulldogs took the fight to their opponents in the city of brotherly love, squaring off against nine total teams across the day’s matches. Haverford, Wagner and Penn — the tournament’s host — all fell to the Elis’ blades. Tying Princeton in a 13-13 nailbiter in the women’s competition, the only losses of the day came at the hands of Princeton in the men’s competition and Temple in the women’s competition. 

“We fenced well after the break,” Coach Marat Israelian told the News, “and things look good for us this season, very strong even with the injuries. We have a very cohesive team here that is fighting better and is better prepared to face the other Ivies in the next competitions and the finals.”

Despite injuries, which have left the women’s team short one fencer in matches — an automatic forfeit — and the men’s team not at full strength, the Duelling Dans managed to slash and stab comfortable and close victories, reflecting the underdog status that has characterized their season.

Many on the team, especially on the women’s team, have attributed this success to each other and their work together as a team. The presence and support of their fellow comrades have given the team the confidence and the grit to overcome the slugout matches and the big moments. 

When asked about the invitational, men’s team captain and épée wielder Tony Whelan ’26 said, “We won as a team; everyone did a great job. Where one squad struggled, the other pulled through, especially against these good fencing schools like Princeton.”

While no victory was claimed over the Tigers, the men’s 10-17 loss and women’s 13-13 tie are signs of improvement worth celebrating. For the men’s team, the loss is a marked step up from the 7-20 defeat of their last matchup, as well as the similar and frequent underperformances of past seasons. For the women’s team, the tie broke a seven game-loss streak to those furry friends.

In addition, Yale has risen in the collegiate fencing rankings, securing top ten positions this season. With an overall record of 16–3 and a USFCA record of 13–2, the men’s team is ranked No. 2 behind Notre Dame. For the women’s team, with an overall record of 20–3–1 and a USFCA record of 15–2, Yale’s female fencers are ranked No. 5. 

“This is the last meet before Ivies, and we showed up and showed out like we have all season,” Women’s team captain and Foil fencer Erica Hooshi ’25 told the News. “I am very confident in my ladies. When we get to Ivies, it is going to be awesome. We will be at full strength and full potential then. #Proud.”

The Fencing teams will compete next in the Yale Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 1, in the Payne Whitney Gymnasium. 

The post FENCING: Bulldogs battle for victory at Philadelphia Invitational appeared first on Yale Daily News.

In the first match of the season, the Dueling Dans took to the piste against 12 opposing schools, earning a record of 5–0 for the men’s team and 6–1 for the women’s. Across the board, Yalies fenced extremely well, with the only loss of the day coming at the hands of Cornell in a 12-15 nailbiter.

“We started really strong even though we were not at our full strength because of the injuries.” Head Coach Marat Isrealian told the News. “The men’s and women’s teams fenced really well, and it was a good day for the freshmen. They did great, and I think it is going to be a very strong year for all of the team.” 

First-year notables Alina Zhang ’28 and Daniel Lee ’28 began their collegiate fencing careers at the invitational with triumphant records, dropping only two bouts each throughout the entire day. 

Amongst the veterans, Helen Tan ’25 had a particularly strong performance, slicing her way to a victorious record with only one bout lost, which helped secure an overall, decisively dominant women’s foil score of 58-5. 

On the men’s side, the épée and sabre squad skewered the competition with scores of 35-10 and 34-11, respectively. 

The only loss against Cornell happened mainly because of an injury-related vacancy in the Yale women’s sabre squad. This led to the forfeit of three points. Despite the loss, three members of the fencing team, plus Isrealian, told the News that the Elis would give the Big Red a run for their money when the squad was at full strength again.

“We did super well on Sunday, putting our best foot forward,” Women’s Team Captain Erica Hooshi ’25 said. “We had high energy and were cheering for each other throughout. We competed as a team, and that was key.”

Yale fencing teams attribute their victorious performances to their camaraderie, citing their support of each other both on and off the piste. 

Audrey Lin ’28 told the News that while the team had to fence a lot that day, it “kept up the energy” and added that she is “proud of the team and proud to be a part of it.” 

The team is next set to compete in the Brandeis Invitational on Sunday, Dec. 8.

The post FENCING: Bulldogs triumphant in bouts at Vassar appeared first on Yale Daily News.

This excellence results from various factors, most importantly the daily commitment of Yale fencers to their sport, team members said. The News talked to fencers about their daily campus life.  

For the bouting Bulldogs, practice is held daily in the Fencing Room on the seventh floor of Payne Whitney Gymnasium — in the evenings Monday through Wednesday and early in the mornings Thursday through Sunday. 

As the athletes shuffle into the fencing space, Coach Marat Israelian and his dog Sebastian, the team’s unofficial mascot, greet them. With good humor and blasting music, Israelian leads the team through warmups, stretches and shadow fencing, where they fight imaginary bouts without any gear. 

At the same time, Sebastian runs around the fencing room, playing with the Elis and watching his team’s preparations. Once these warm-ups are completed, a moment of rest is taken so the fencers can don their gear. Then, practice begins in earnest.

“On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have drills and lessons, tactics, and on Mondays and Wednesdays, free fencing and sparring,” Israelian told the News. “In practice, we split into the three disciplines — épée, foil and sabre — and will fence against each other.”

While competitive bouts are split by gender, practice sessions are not. Men’s and women’s fencing team members will face off against each other for one hour, no matter their team or skill level. According to Israelian, this encourages familiarity and preparation for a wide variety of styles and skill levels and binds the team together. 

On the days that call for free fencing, after their warmup, the Bulldogs immediately line up opposite each other according to their blade discipline and jump into the bouts. 

Sitting on a bench in the front of the fencing room, Israelian watches the team as they face off, with Sebastian happily seated in his lap. He offers guidance and encouragement amidst the clinging of blades and the sound of sliding shoes upon the pistes. 

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, when the assistant coaches — who each specialize in a specific sword — are present at practice, they do the same.

On tactical days, Israelian focuses on improving the fencers’ skills and technique, advising them both individually and in groups. He tells the team what to work on together and lets them battle. If needed, he gives individual fencers specific assignments based on past performances and practices.

“We do a lot of bouting,” Men’s Fencing Team Captain Tony Whelan ’26 told the News, “but there will be rules applied to the bout; like I can’t take a parry, so I will have to work on hitting straight … we’ll have restrictions on our fencing, putting us in a challenging place.”

In addition to these different practices, there are the workouts. 

Fencing is a very fast sport, relying on the body to quickly transition from defense to offense and move constantly. Beyond the piste, fencers work out in the weight room twice a week, doing various exercises focused on the main muscle groups they use: the core and the legs.

“We do different weight-based exercises, a little bit of cardio work,” Jordan Silberzweig ’27 told the News. “There are a lot of back and forth movements with your legs … we do lunging exercises and different weight lifting exercises, a lot of stuff with the bar.”

This hard work is not limited to their training sessions. Often, fencers put in the work on their own in their free time. This takes many forms, most often in an unofficial practice bout with fellow teammates. Other forms of engagement include runs and recreational lifting sessions with other team members. 

“We rely on each other,” Whelan said, “We have dinner together after practice, and we try to make time for each other outside of fencing. We are all pretty close” 

The Yale men’s and women’s fencing teams will compete in their first official competition of the season at the Vassar Open Invitational on Sunday, Nov. 10.

The post Under the sabre mask: A day in the life of a Yale fencer appeared first on Yale Daily News.

How do I get a costume without going broke?

Now, if life was fair, good Halloween costumes would be available to all, free just like the Constitution promises. You could have that movie quality bling you always dreamed of and still have both your kidneys when you put it on for the first time. 

But unfortunately, life isn’t fair, and where did that lead you? To me of course, and boy, am I glad to be of service. I have been dressing up since I was a wee lad, and after watching my mother scour through countless stores for affordable yet stylish outfits over the years, it is my honor to impart that knowledge to you, dear reader.

Keep it simple, stupid. 

Yes, I did just quote Dwight from “The Office,” and for good reason. He was right. As far as Halloween costume prices go, the simpler the better. A costume is a vessel for your vision of what you want to be. It does not require the flash and pomp of Hollywood to accomplish this goal. Focus on the major features of what you want to dress up as, what comes to mind when you close your eyes. Once you know what those are, then it’s time to buy. 

Example: the cowboy. Major features: hat, boots, vest, belt. Boom. Costume ideas down, time to kiss my savings goodbye.

Thrift through the streets, Halloween cheats.

With the main idea of your costume locked in your noggin, we come to the hard part of the process: buying. Now, before you go gleefully sprinting through costume stores, you need to first set a budget. Each of us has different concepts of “cheap” but I believe that $45-50 is a solid hard ceiling to work with, especially considering the places I will be taking you.

That in mind, let’s get started… by avoiding costume shops. Yes, you read that right. Don’t go into Spirit Halloween or other places like it. They know you are a captive audience and are content to rip you off with pricey wares. 

Instead, we begin at the greatest of all on-a-budget-costume-shops: Goodwill. Each year, second hand costumes and other thrifty items find their way into the store, perfect for us to capitalize on. Be it nice suits or a Darth Vader mask, you can most likely find whatever it is you want at Goodwill for $20 and under. Quite the steal if you ask me. Oh, and let us not forget the neat little odds and ends Goodwill has that you could acquire. But beware: if you spend too long looking, before you know it, you will have bought far more than you need.

Now, sometimes things just don’t work out, and Goodwill might not have what you are looking for. That’s fine, we may have to go to Spir…

[Scary thunder noises and whispers]

No. You don’t mean…

[More scary thunder noises and whispers]

Very well, mysterious, spooky third party. I will tell them.

When Goodwill fails, there is one place you could go. A place your parents warned you never to go to after dark, a place where the souls of late Halloween shoppers and the tormented costumeless go when the grim reaper calls: Walmart. 

[More scary thunder noises]

Yes, I recommend that you check out Walmart on your costume crusade. While not as cheap as Goodwill and featuring quite a few more odd people — I once saw a man drinking wine out of a Pringles can — you can find many a costume item here, before even looking at their actual Halloween section. Surprisingly enough, they have quite a selection to choose from, and, might I add, their Halloween section actually has some unique items to grab.

Cardboard, oh how I love thee. 

With your wallet a few bucks lighter, you are now ready to enter the final, arguably most fun part of the costume grind: making your own accessories.

And guess what we are using?

Cardboard! Yay!

Cardboard is God’s gift to mankind. With the help of some duct tape, spray paint and scissors, you can make just about anything with it — tridents, swords, cat ears, etc. — and can dispose of it easily when the holiday passes. Time to go down to your residential college’s basement and art room and activate your inner creator, readers.

Or just ask that one arts major friend we all have to do the work for us. Do we know their name, no. Are we going to profit from their skills while calling them “old sport” and other terms that hide our lacking familiarity, yes. 

Because that’s the Yale way.

Well, there you have it. My job is done, and you, beloved audience, are ready to set about the time honored tradition of budget Halloween-ing. Best of luck, spooksters. Who knows, by the end of this you might have a really great costume worth saving for years to come.

The post Thrift-tober: how to not break the bank with your Halloween costume appeared first on Yale Daily News.

The Dernell Invitational is named after famous Yale fencer Dernell Every, class of 1928, a 1932 Olympic bronze medalist for team foil. The event pitted the current Bulldog squad against each other and the Fencing alumni in friendly match play. 

“There were a lot of really fun matches today,” said saber user Jordan Silberzweig ’27, who faced off against two teammates and an alum in the final. “I had to work extra hard for some of them, but overall, it was an awesome experience.”  

The event is designed to show off the talent of the freshmen and sophomores and excite Bulldogs for this coming season. The Dueling Dans did not drop a single game in their matches with the alumni, sweeping their opponents in a good-natured competition. 

The men’s team ranked fifth in the NCAA individually last year and is set to enter this coming season even stronger. Coach Murat Israelian told the News he believes this group to be one of the strongest squads nationally. 

Tony Whelan ’26, the team’s captain, qualified for the NCAA tournament last year. He is joined by notable veterans Michael Mun ’25, an épée wielder who competed in the NCAA Northeast Regionals in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, and Silberzweig, a saber specialist who won Ivy Champion at the Ivy League Conference Championship and placed fifth in the NCAA Championship during his first year. 

Last year’s women’s team suffered through a series of injuries. The 2024-25 season may also start rough, with previous injuries still posing a problem for competitions. But, with captain Erica Hooshi ’25, a foil wielder who made Second Team All-Region in 2022 and competed in the NCAA Northeast Regionals in 2023, and the inevitable return of injured athletes, they will be a serious threat to opposing teams come January. 

First-year breakout Kristina Petrova ’28, who made All-American at the NCAA championship and finished 7th in foil at the Northeast Regionals, is set to return to the team along with épée user Amanda O’Donnell ’26, who held a 56-12 record in bouts last season. 

“We are trying to continue doing a good job and making everybody proud,” Coach Marat Israelian, head coach since 2020, told the News. “I am very happy with where we are now. The event [Dernell Invitational] was a good intermingling session with the alumni.”

The Invitational was also a networking event for the Fencing squad. 

Following the bouts and talks with the coach, the event moved into the PWG trophy room, where the team met with the alumni and saw what opportunities could await them beyond Yale. From lawyers to doctors to the founders of start-ups, Yale Fencing carries its success, prestige and drive beyond the piste. The alums shared advice and traded stories with this year’s batch of Bouting Bulldogs. 

“One of the unique things about the Fencing team is that it has really dedicated alumni who are still involved even after their college careers are over,” multi-medal Olympic saber fencer Sada Jacobson ’06 told the News. Although she did not fence with the team this year, she did note that “the team looks great, very promising. … Very athletic fencing. Very smart fencing.”

The Yale Men’s and Women’s Fencing teams are set to compete next at the Vassar Open Invitational in Poughkeepsie, New York, on Nov. 10.

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According to the Student-Athlete Handbook, all varsity athletes must wear Under Armour apparel when representing Yale in competition due to a sponsorship deal signed between the two in January 2016. This was the school’s first all-sports deal, and its most expensive. 

“Yale Athletics highly values the partnership with Under Armour,” Sam Greil, the assistant athletic director of brand management, wrote to the News. “We are proud to be the only Athletics Department in the Ivy League to be outfitted by them.”

With Big 10 conference contenders such as the University of Maryland and the University of Wisconsin as fellow sponsorees, Yale was considered a unique choice, given that its athletics are not as prominently featured or advertised as other teams. However, Yale’s brand carries a certain global elite status that made the deal worth it to Under Armour, Bloomberg wrote when it was originally signed.

The historic rivalries between Yale and Harvard extend beyond just tradition and athletic competition — the schools’ sponsors also clash in the realm of business. All other Ivy League teams are sponsored by the apparel company Nike. 

“There’s probably three leading manufacturers of [sports] goods in the country right now— Nike, Under Armour and Adidas,” Glenn Kreig, retail director of Legends Global Merchandise, told the News. “Adidas is making a push on Under Armour, and Under Armour is making a push on Nike, and Nike is pushing back on all of them.”

As Yale competes for victory amongst the many collegiate teams in the NCAA and the Ivy League, so too does Under Armour. Exposure and prestige are the name of the game and have become a binding link between the Bulldogs and its athletic supplier. Under Armour attempts to maintain an elite status by only outfitting one Ivy League university, Yale. 

Fashioning whatever apparel the Eli’s need, be it uniforms, cleats or pads, Under Armour exposes Yale Athletics to its global consumer base. In return, Yale has worn Under Armour to tournaments across all sports since 2016, including the Yale men’s basketball team’s historic run during March Madness last year, a fitting mirroring of their brand’s underdog status in its competition with Nike.

The partnership between Yale and Under Armour is not limited solely to varsity athletics. The sports company also outfits Yale’s club and intramural sports teams, which have worn the company’s wares during their triumphs in club competition and intramural rivalry for the Tyng Cup. No matter the level of competition, Yale athletes proudly wear the interlocked U and A. 

“It feels great to represent the brand and all that,” Ethan Martinez ’26, an athlete on the Yale club soccer team, told the News. “We’re the only non-Nike school in the Ivy [League], and that’s cool.”

Now, however, that brand representation is up for debate. The Yale and Under Armour contract expires in 2026, and there is no indication of its continuation. 

“Unfortunately, at this time, I cannot provide any information on that subject,” Greil wrote to the News when asked about the renewal of the sponsorship.

Under Armour is currently worth $3.61 billion. Nike is worth $123.1 billion. 

The post Renewal remains uncertain as end to Under Armour-Yale sponsorship draws near appeared first on Yale Daily News.

The events — co-hosted by Latino advocacy nonprofit Junta for Progressive Action and the Yale Peabody Museum — featured Latino music, dance and food and highlighted the museum’s Latin American artifacts, which include dinosaur bones discovered in South America. Guests enjoyed tours of the museum held in Spanish and meet-and-greets with Latino Yale faculty from the sciences. The event fell midway through Latino Heritage Month. 

“What we want to let people know at this event is that the museum is open, it’s free — and it will always be free — and that we are developing programs that serve Spanish-speaking audiences in new ways,” Andrea Motto, the Peabody’s director of education, told the News.

The organizations have held the celebration for the past two decades, initially hosting it at the Peabody and moving it to Junta’s home base during the museum’s four-year renovation. After the Peabody reopened in March, the organizations elected to expand ¡Fiesta Latina! to a two-day event, with one day of programming at Junta’s 169 Grand Ave. location and the next day’s activities held at the museum. 

¡Fiesta Latina! was organized by a planning committee with representatives from Junta, the Peabody, New Haven Pride Center, Arte Inc., the New Haven Free Public Library and Music Haven.

Junta kicked off ¡Fiesta Latina! with the tunes of local musicians and food trucks, as well over 20 information stations spotlighting community resources on Saturday afternoon. The stations included a voter registration table and information on legal aid, educational opportunities, medical assistance and other resources. 

Kayla Natal, administrative assistant for community care provider Project Access New Haven, said her main goal was to spread the word about the organization’s resources, such as upcoming mobile pharmacy and dental clinics. She estimated that 35 attendees stopped by the table.

Maritza Gant, who represents New Haven’s Democratic Registrar of Voters Shannel Evans, encouraged community members to sign up to vote early. Midway through Saturday’s event, she had registered four people to vote and checked two people’s registration status.

“Some people… don’t want to be involved in politics — they’re not interested,” Gant said when asked about unregistered voters in the New Haven Latino community. “But I got a lot of comments like, ‘This year, it’s important to vote.’”

Fred DePourcq, Junta’s managing director, said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the high turnout on Saturday. 200 people attended last year’s event, Serrano said, and he estimated that across both days, they had well surpassed that number.

María Pérez, one of the attendees, told the News that while she was drawn to the event because of the mariachi performance, she took the opportunity to explore some of the community resources as well. 

“[¡Fiesta Latina!] is for the community to reunite and converse with each other… and to learn about the services that are available to them,” Pérez said in Spanish. 

Julio Mendoza and Margarito Mello — two members of Mariachi Voces de Mi Tierra Connecticut, the group that performed at the event — emphasized the importance of bringing together the Latino community, especially with the upcoming general election in November.

At the Peabody on Sunday, the Afro-Latino group Proyecto Cimarron opened the event with bomba music inspired by their Puerto Rican roots. They were followed by the Spanish Community of Wallingford Youth Mariachi Band and Dancer Troupe, who captivated museum-goers and staff alike with lively dance routines and dresses of bright reds, purples and blues.  

Meanwhile, on the third floor, members of Yale’s Muñoz lab participated in the meet-a-scientist event. Aided by their own specimens and tools, they shared with attendees their work on the evolution of reptiles and amphibians, as well as how their cultural heritage is at the heart of what they do.

“[¡Fiesta Latina!] had personal high significance; we are a majority Latino lab,” Professor Martha Muñoz told the News. “The ability to bring trilingual engagement with the public — we speak Spanish, one of us speaks Portuguese, and we all speak English — show who we are as individuals in addition to the science we do, and celebrating this lab’s scientific excellence was really exciting.” 

Occupying all floors of the Peabody, various artifacts from Latin America were on display throughout the museum. Be it the clay crafts of the Aztecs or the Inca or the bones of ancient dinosaur species that greeted visitors, the museum highlighted the treasures found south of the U.S. border.

Rounding out Sunday’s festivities were final performances by Tere Luna, a singer of Mexican descent who specializes in the musical style Bolero, and the Orquesta Afinke, a Latine salsa group based in Stratford, Conn. 

“I think it is very important to show the bright side of every culture,” Veronica Gonzalez, a dancer in the Spanish Community of Wallingford Youth Mariachi Band and Dancer Troupe said. “We get to show a very beautiful part of our culture and share it with everyone.”

Latino Heritage Month is observed from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

The post ¡Fiesta Latina! promotes Peabody, community resources for Spanish speakers appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Then I realized I had no idea how to care for my ivy plant. Sure, I have a garden at home, but those are all outside plants, the kind I can water with a hose and live in the ground. I am dealing with an indoor plant, a decorative piece. I would need to take extra care so it would look nice, get enough sun and water, not dirty up everything else in my room, and somehow stay alive in the process.

Luckily for me (and for you, dear reader), the internet has quite a few websites dedicated to navigating this very conundrum. After scavenging the World Wide Web and learning from many a plant-site, I’ve compiled a list of what to do.

Here comes the sun, oh no…

To begin, let’s start with one of the easiest and most important things to consider with regard to our plant: sun exposure. While a lot of plants love to soak up the sun uninhibited, our little vine does not. English Ivy is a shady plant and prefers partial or full shade. Too much of the big ball of fire will dry it out, so before settling on its placement, make sure it has good shadow coverage and can get some of the sun’s rays indirectly. 

I blessed the rains on my ivy plant!

In addition to the sun, us new ivy-growers need to be hyper-aware of our little buddy’s water intake. Thankfully, it’s very easy, and this bit of advice boils down to two words: don’t overwater! Ivy prefers a dryer existence, especially when it grows indoors. Water it only once a week, giving just enough H2O to wet, not drench, the soil around the plant. Also, avoid watering the leaves because the wetness can spawn fungi, and nobody wants a fungus among us. 

A pot for your thoughts

As far as the potting goes, drainage and soil are the name of the game. Indoor ivy needs to have good drainage to avoid root rot while at the same time being placed in a soil environment that is nutrient-rich. Looks like the plastic container the vine came in will have to go. As a replacement, I recommend a ceramic pot with holes on the bottom and an accompanying plate to mount it on so you don’t get water and dirt all over your dorm. In addition, I would supplement this with a small bag of plant fertilizer, which will give the plant the nutrients it craves. Will this all cost money? Yes, but look on the bright side. You finally get to discover where Home Depot is and can embrace your inner gardener. 

To prune or not to prune, that is the question

For the most part, ivy is a low-maintenance plant. After planting, you can leave it be, and it will grow, but it does require your assistance from time to time. This comes in the form of pruning. Now, before you start clipping willy-nilly, allow me to expand further. Ivy grows slowly, taking ten years to become an adult plant. What this means is that you will have to do very minimal pruning, clipping some dying leaves and cutting away excess growth every few months. Just make sure you are wearing gloves, using sharp clippers, and cutting at the base of the vine. Ivy sap can cause irritation, so tread with caution.

Well, there you have it, ivy-owning Ivy Leaguers, a basic guide to caring for the newest addition to your dorm decor. As of now, you have unlocked your green thumb and are ready to put it to use. Good luck and happy gardening.

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Four months after it first opened, the McGivney Pilgrimage Center’s “True Presence: the Eucharist in Art and History” exhibit is set to close on Sunday. Inspired by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ push to re-engage with the Eucharist, the exhibit took part in a national three-year celebration of the Sacrament. 

The Center’s namesake — Blessed Michael McGivney of St. Mary’s Parish in New Haven — became the first person from Connecticut to be beatified by the Catholic Church and is on the way to becoming a saint. 

Displaying an altar replica and works of art, the exhibit highlighted the Eucharist, one of the seven Sacraments of the Holy Catholic Church. In Roman Catholicism, the Eucharist is the physical manifestation of Jesus Christ, consumed during weekly mass as spiritual nourishment. “True Presence” explores this practice of the church, recounting its history and its significance.

“It’s about teaching people about what the Eucharist actually is,” said Clare Bernard, a lifelong Catholic who visited the exhibit. “It is the center of our beliefs, so I attended because I wanted to learn more.”

With education at the heart of the exhibit, the gallery explains the Biblical connections found in the Gospels and the Old Testament, their impact on the church’s doctrine. The gallery’s first set of relics — an ornate receptacle that holds the Eucharistic Sacrament and mother of pearl creche — leads into a description of the Eucharist’s presentation in art and how it serves as a spiritual connector. A wall of artwork features recreations of famous Biblical scenes and depictions of priests partaking in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. 

Joe Luchene, a recently converted Catholic who visited the exhibit, said he was fascinated by both the Eucharist and the exhibit itself. Luchene noted that his reverence of the Eucharist translates into his day-to-day life. 

“When we hold the Eucharist in our mouth, the tongue is like a pedestal, and we hold our tongue accountable in this moment to hold the Eucharist,” said Luchene. “When we leave church, the question becomes how often do we hold our tongue to that same standard.”

Reflection on the Eucharist and its purpose is very much a part of “True Presence.” Visitors are  consistently prompted to consider the Eucharist from both a spiritual and academic standpoint. 

Finally, before one exits, there is an interactive screen dedicated to the miracles connected to the Eucharist. They are chronicled on a website created by the late blessed Carlos Acutis, who was recently put on the path for canonization by Pope Francis. 

“We really appreciate all the beautiful artwork,” Megan Bernard, Clare Bernard’s daughter, said in reference to the artistic cornucopia within the gallery, “but most importantly for me is the faith.” “True Presence: the Eucharist in Art and History” remains on display until Sept. 8 in the Jean B. Migneault Gallery of the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center.

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