Yale University

Yale University is located in New Haven, Connecticut. Yale University was founded in 1701 as the Collegiate School to train ministers. Lux et Veritas (Light and Truth) is the motto of the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. The private university's school color is Yale blue, which is an genuine shade (UC Berkeley uses this shade also). In 1889, the first college mascot in America was established, Handsome Dan the bulldog. There have been sixteen Handsome Dans so far. In 1966, Yale wanted to merge with Vassar College (its sister school) to become coeducational. Eventually in 1969, both of them separately became coeducational.

Yale has about 3,300 faculty members, 5,300 undergraduate students and 6,000 graduate students. Half of all Yale undergraduates are women, more than 30% are minorities, and 8% are international students, while 55% attended public schools. All Yale professors are required to to teach at least one undergraduate class. Yale offers 70 undergraduate majors. About 45% of Yale undergraduates major in the arts and humanities, 35% in the social sciences, and 20% in the sciences. Yale University includes the Sheffield Scientific School and the Yale School of Fine Arts.

Yale University Library holds over 12 million volumes and is the second-largest university collection in the United States. The Yale Center for British Art is home to the largest and most comprehensive collection of British art outside of the UK. The Yale University Art Gallery exhibits masterworks from all major periods.

Payne Whitney Gymnasium is the second-largest gym in the world. One myth is that Mrs. Payne Whitney wanted Yale to build a great cathedral, but that the University desired a gym. Since she was getting old, a gym was constructed that could pass for a cathedral. When it was completed, Mrs. Whitney shortly died, knowing that she gave Yale a fabulous church. “The cathedral of sweat" is home to the original Handsome Dan, who is stuffed and put on display.

Yale intramural sports are a vibrant aspect of student life. Students compete for their residential colleges. About half the sports are coed. Yale crew is the oldest collegiate athletic team in America.

Communiversity Day offers a fair for New Haven schoolchildren, who take part in activities and demonstrations offered by student volunteers. Almost half of all Yale undergraduates participate in community service.

Yale alumni include: U.S. Presidents William Howard Taft, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Presidential nominee John Kerry, Pulitzer Prize winner author and Nobel Laureate Sinclair Lewis, lexicographer Noah Webster, inventors Samuel Morse and Eli Whitney, and Academy Award winners Meryl Streep and Jodie Foster.