Div Dictionary: CPE

CPE, (n): Clinical Pastoral Education, a hospital chaplaincy work/study program which many YDS students do during one of their summers.

CPE is basically a crash course in pastoral care, usually in a hospital setting. Students spend about half of their time in class, group sessions, and other teaching modules, and about half serving as real-life chaplains. CPE programs usually include some time spent "on call," when students spend the night in the hospital with a beeper, and are called to all sorts of trauma cases.

From the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education's website: "Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith professional education for ministry. It brings theological students and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and others) into supervised encounter with persons in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback from peers and teachers, students develop new awareness of themselves as persons and of the needs of those to whom they minister. From theological reflection on specific human situations, they gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, they develop skills in interpersonal and interprofessional relationships." Mmmmyeah, that tells you just about nothing.

Some denominations (like mine) require students to do a unit of CPE to be ordained, but some YDS students who are not required to do CPE choose to take a unit because it will inevitably help them build great skills for ministry. YDS also pays its CPE students - not much, but about $3,100 over the 10-week summer - as well as awarding an elective credit. (Or three credit hours, which is the equivalent of one class.) Rarely but occasionally, students choose to do an extended or full-year CPE program, which meets only one day a week throughout the academic year.

Ed. note: The above image is the photo that came up first when I did a Google search for images using "chaplain." Although CPE involves extreme sleep deprivation during on-call, it will likely not turn you into a literal zombie. That's some pretty amazing liturgical garb, though.

Updaaaaaate: More on Housing

Ed. note: Put this in a new post because that last one was getting really long. Anyone know how to do cuts in Blogger?

Mike G., Dale's assistant (and YDS's in-house WolframAlpha), points out that for off-campus housing options (that is, those not run by Yale), you should also check out the Yale rentals website. They've also got a link on the left for those interested in buying property, and ones below for looking for roommates, as well as a few links of resources for tenants. (Sadly, the "How Much Rent Can I Afford?" link doesn't work ... perhaps indicative of the fact that I can't, actually, afford any rent? Did it work for anyone else?)

The Yale Off-Campus Rentals Database is sort of a Yale-specific Criagslist, and might be the most valuable thing on there, in my opinion. Their area profiles, although not super-helpful, are kind of adorable and fun, and I am going to send you them again in an email.

Mike says he found his apartment through here, and that there are 4.805 people born every hour in Connecticut, which is good enough for me.

(With apologies to anyone who, like me, is now going to spend three hours on WolframAlpha.)

-Kate

A Few Notes on Housing (Or Rather, a Whole Bunch of Links To Stuff About Housing)

If you're any kind of rational creature, you've already had more than a few thoughts which went something like "But where will I liiiiiiiiiive?" Moving is scary, expensive, and un-fun. I myself love looking at houses (house museums are one of my favorite things in the world - I'd totally be a fan of them if they got a Facebook page), but when it comes to actually packing up and moving? Forget it. I'm about to sign a two-year extension on my lease out of what amounts to complacency.

A few of you all will be living in the Divinity School Apartments, which is awesome for you. You'll be literally steps from campus, and all of your utilities will be included in your rent. One of the few downsides I can see to this arrangement is that these buildings are nothing short of butt-ugly, but you don't need to look at the outside of a structure if you're inside.

For the rest of us (including those of us, like me, who were waitlisted for Div School Apartments and might be a little bitter), here are a few tips:

- There are a LOT of on-campus (or rather, Yale-operated) housing options. You can do dorm-style accommodations through the Grad Student Housing Office. These include the Hall of Graduate Studies, which is very dorm-like (I'm told), but on Yale's main campus. Closer to our campus and similarly dorm-like is 276 Prospect Street. (You'll note that we have a really creative staff when it comes to naming buildings.)

- Then there are a lot of apartment-style options, also run by Yale. The "Science Hill Properties" are the ones which are closest to YDS's campus, and Prospect Gardens is right across the street. I'm sorry that I don't have a whole lot to say about these ... I frankly have very little idea of how they work.

- For those who aren't into renting from mother Yale, you're probably going to want to go the Craigslist route. Search for apartments in "East Rock" and "Mansfield." I pay $1190 (split two ways with the roommate, at $595 apiece) for a large 2-BRDM without heat or electric included. I get the feeling that's a little more than some of my peers are paying, but mine is a new remodel and really very large. (I'd kill for a dishwasher and central A/C in here, for serious.) I will also note that my roommate didn't let us seriously consider any apartments with electric stoves.

- While you're on Craigslist, you'll probably notice a lot of properties put up by Seabury Hill Rentals. They're as close as you can get to an apartment-finding service here, in that they manage a ton of properties, and will make multiple appointments. They were very nice to us during our search, but didn't have much at that moment. A thing called Vacancy Busters exists, but I don't know of anyone who's used them successfully.

And yes, heat is pretty pricey. The opinion of people who have been living in Connecticut longer than me is that the best option for heating is gas, the next-best electric, and oil a dismal third.

Also: PAY ATTENTION to Melissa Pucci's emails! Melissa is a) really fabulous and b) really helpful. Her forwarded apartments didn't pan out for me, but they did for several people. What I really have to thank her for is hooking me up with my roommate - the same one I'm about to sign on for another TWO years with. Melissa sent around a list of other people who'd been waitlisted for Div School Apartments, and after some lengthy email exchanges, D and I were a love match.

The more I write here, the more I think I'm not being very helpful. Sadly, one of the best things you can do to get acclimated is what I did - pick a random weekend and come to New Haven, see a few places, and get a feel for the rental market. My general comments are that I'm surprised at how pricey things are (though we only looked in East Rock, and if you're OK with not being able to walk to campus, your options are greater) - I thought that since I was moving away from a major city I'd be able to get much more bang for my buck.* (I realize in retrospect that I was mostly just spoiled by Chicago; my roommate, moving up from Manhattan, was astounded at how cheap stuff was.)

As per uzh, I welcome all comments and questions; if there's something specific I can help answer, please ask away.

-Kate

* I was also irrationally terrified at the prospect of living in a wooden house - and they're all wooden around here - because we have long memories in the Midwest. So far we have not managed to burn the house down, although today I set a piece of toast on fire in the toaster oven.

"You are welcome here, and you are going to be fine": The Wit and Wisdom of your Soon-To-Be-Peers

Back in April, Sandra and I asked current YDS students to fill out a brief survey to give us some feedback on past years' BTFO's. Below is a small sampling from one of those questions (with some corrected spelling and grammar). We asked people "What is the most important thing to convey to new students during BTFO?"

They said ....

... The value of Chapel. The value of Annand Program. (Ed note: more coming on the Annand Program, but you can get started here.) Where the candy bowl is...

Yale Div school is an awesome, diverse (in age, gender, race, and spirituality) and supportive community. [I]t's hard work, but worth it.

Even if you don't thin[k] the stress will apply to you, it will. When it does, GET HELP, not drunk. Or something like that... (Ed. note: we'll have some panels and info sessions on "self-care", but it's never too soon to starting thinking about what you'll do when the stress hits. What makes you happy? Relaxed?)

This is all weird, new, and overwhelming... but that's okay. And it's perfectly normal to feel out of sorts.

The year ahead will be challenging, but you will be going through the process will others who will share similar experiences.

[T]hat people have to return their mugs to Holy Grounds (Ed. note: Holy Grounds is the Div School's student-run coffee kiosk. We'll be serving iced tea here, we hope.)


[T]hat YDS is not just a pastoral preparation program, but an academic program--community is not just about being into [J]esus, but can also be academic.

The variety of resources for support that YDS offers during your time here. (Just show them a big picture of Dale that says "friend" on it!)

You are very welcome here...and get off the hill once in a while!!!

The YDS community is glad you are here, we know this a an overwhelming time, we want to help you get started well

You don't have to make h's to be valuable to society (Ed. note: I didn't find this out 'til I got here, but YDS does not use an A,B,C grading system we have H's ("Honors"), HP's ("High Pass"), and P's ("Pass), which are roughly equivalent. No D grade exists - anything lower than a P is a No Credit.)

...not every MDiv is on the ordination track and not every MAR is on the PhD track :) "Tracking" language does not belong at YDS. I can think of other important things, but this is the first thing that comes to mind. Vocational aspirations among students vary widely. (Ed note: !!!!)


Not to read everything.


And finally ...

You are welcome here, and you are going to be fine.

So true.

-Kate

NEWS FLASH: There are a lot of you.

Hey! YDS got a big mention in this Fox News article. Check out Harry Attridge hatin’ on the financial sector (“gross immorality”? Oh, snap!) and two of your fellow incoming students sharing their reasons for heading to Div School this fall.

As the Attridge quote mentions, we're welcoming about 10% more students into this year's class. That might mean sitting closer to your neighbor in lectures, waiting a few more minutes for a sandwich at the refectory, or having to take someone out over the last slice of pizza at community dinner. (We hope it doesn't come to that, of course, but pizza is pizza.) This year will take a little extra patience from new and returning students alike to make sure that everyone feels welcomed and no one's toes get stepped on.

All kidding aside, it’s a shame that some of you are headed back to school as a result of the economic downturn. Yale University feels your pain, too. Still, not matter what brought you to YDS this fall, we’re thrilled to have you and look forward to helping you adjust to life at YDS.

-Kate

Div Dictionary: East Rock

East Rock (n): 1) One of two huge bluffs which bookend New Haven. 2) The park surrounding this bluff. 3) The neighborhood directly south of this park.

New Haven history Quickie: originally founded as utopian Congregationalist Community, New Haven is nestled between East and West Rocks – two rocky crags which neatly bookend the original city grid. The streets were originally gridded (or so people claim – I’m from Chicago and I know from gridded; I have my doubts), with the grid tilted so that the north-south thoroughfares led towards the twin bluffs. YDS is closest to East Rock, which you can see clearly from the back of the quads.

East Rock Park is one of my favorite things. In addition to providing baseball and soccer fields, basketball courts, and a river for boating, East Rock has miles of trails, paved and unpaved. You can bike to the summit of East Rock on paved trails, hike up through the wooded ones, or attempt to climb the accurately named Giant Steps (pictured above) – which are probably the most direct route, but also the steepest. Once there, you’ll have panoramic views of the city of New Haven, as well as Long Island Sound. If it’s a clear day, you can often see all the way to Long Island itself. During the summer, there’s almost always a guy in a truck up there selling ice cream, and a decently clean porta-potty over by the tennis courts. East Rock is HUGE – I took a three-hour walk there recently and still haven’t been able to find the rose garden. Enjoy getting lost in there.

At the southern foot of East Rock lies the neighborhood of East Rock, the neighborhood where many of you will be taking up residence. Local merchants line Orange Street, including European grocers Romeo and Cesare, Lulu’s Coffee House, and further down, Oriental Pantry, which has some great Kim Chi. On sunny Spring and summer days, East Rock is rife with tag sales, where you can furnish your apartment for cheap.

Ah, East Rock. Time for another long walk.

-Kate

Div Dictionary: GPSCY

GPSCY (n.): 1) The Graduate and Professional Students’ Center at Yale. 2) The only place I can find $2.00 PBR’s in this town.

New Haven’s got plenty of places to get your drink on, but few of them as cheap (read: Yale-sponsored) at the Graduate and Professional Students’ Center at Yale, or simply GPSCY (pronounced “gypsy”). Although the “center” part of its name implies it must perform some other services, it’s website betrays that GPSCY is essentially a bar. A really cheap bar, that is. The bar is actually called “Gryphon’s Pub,” but call it that and 99% of divvies will have no idea what you’re talking about. Its just GPSCY.

GPSCY runs many weekly specials, including weekly Karaoke, and Monday Night Football specials, but the one you’ll really care about is 2-for-1 Wednesdays. From open to 11pm, when you buy one drink, you’ll get a ticket you can redeem later that night for another drink. Wednesdays are also the traditional Div School night – you’ll usually find a crowd of us downstairs by the bar, or outside talking to Forestry kids if it’s a nice night.

To get into GPSCY, you’ll need to buy a membership at the beginning of the year. This’ll run you less than $10, and means you never pay cover. They’ll stick a little sticker on the back of your Yale ID card, and you’ll have to bring that AND your ID that proves you’re 21+ to get in every time.

Don’t worry – we’ll be introducing you to GPSCY during BTFO. And if you’re very, very good, Sandra and I will do a karaoke number for you.

-Kate