Title
Recognizing and applauding the historic effort of the Reverend Doctor W. David Lee to join the Yale Corporation as an alumni fellow.
Body
WHEREAS, As a child growing up in a housing project of New Haven, W. David Lee had a dream of attending Yale. Years later, Reverend Lee realized that dream when he was admitted to study for the ministry at the Yale Divinity School; and
WHEREAS, One night during his first year of Divinity School, Lee accompanied his aunt to the hospital to identify the body of Lee's cousin. He'd been shot to death in the Mudhole, a drug-dealing spot down the hill from the "Div school" in the Newhallville neighborhood. Lee returned from the hospital and chewed over the incident with two fellow African-American students. "Our people are dying and killing each other in the 'hood. How do we bring the hill to the valley?" he remembers them asking. They resolved "never to disconnect" from the community when they become ministers; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from Yale, the Reverend Dr. W. David Lee became known and admired for his courageous work as a civic, religious and civil rights leader as the Pastor of the Varick Memorial AME Zion Church, located in New Haven's Dixwell neighborhood, adjacent to the Yale campus; and
WHEREAS, To fulfill his commitment to make a difference for the citizens of New Haven and the future of his alma mater, Reverend Lee has now set his sights on a seat on the Yale Corporation which has 17 members, including Yale President Richard C. Levin and six alumni fellows who are elected by alumni for six-year terms. The corporation sets all major university policies, overseeing construction, programs, investments and fees; and
WHEREAS, Unlike most candidates who are nominated in a closed process by a select group of alumni officials, Reverend Lee successfully petitioned his way on to the ballot by garnering the support of over 4,000 alumni. Only once before in Yale's history has a candidate successfull...
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