Yale Launches Beyoncé Course, Unveils Arts Season, Highlights Health Research, and Adapts to Financial Shifts in August 2025 Update

Good afternoon, Yale community. Today is Monday, August 25, 2025, and here are the latest updates from around campus. Currently, it's sunny in New Haven with a temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Expect mostly cloudy skies with a chance of thunderstorms around noon, and temperatures reaching up to 83 degrees by late afternoon. Yale University is set to offer a new course titled "Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition, Culture, Theory & Politics Through Music." Taught by Professor Daphne Brooks from the African American Studies department, the course will analyze Beyoncé's work from her 2013 self-titled album to her recent "Cowboy Carter" album. It aims to explore how Beyoncé's music addresses social and political ideologies within the Black radical intellectual tradition. The class is anticipated to be highly popular, though enrollment will be limited. The Yale Schwarzman Center has unveiled its Fall 2025 season, featuring a variety of performances, events, and exhibitions that are free and open to the public. Highlights include "Celestial Garden (Yale)" by renowned visual artist and Yale alum Leo Villareal, on display from August 9 to October 10. Additionally, Liz Toonkel's one-woman show "Magic for Animals" is scheduled for November 14. For a full listing of performance dates and building hours, visit the Schwarzman Center's website. The Yale School of Public Health has released significant research findings this month. A national study led by Dr. Susan Busch revealed that only 10% of mental health treatment facilities in the U.S. offer medications for alcohol use disorder, highlighting a substantial gap in care. Another study co-authored by Dr. Xi Chen found that long-term exposure to surface-level ozone significantly increases respiratory mortality, including deaths from COVID-19. These findings underscore the urgent need for stronger environmental regulations and improved mental health treatment options. The Yale Film Archive has received a grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation to support the preservation of two films by alumnus Sheldon Renan: "Basic Film Terms: A Visual Dictionary" (1970) and "Basic Television Terms: A Video Dictionary" (1977). Additionally, the Haas Arts Library welcomes Caroline Scheving as the 2024/25 Kress Fellow in Art Librarianship. Caroline will work on various projects at the Haas Arts Library and the Yale Center for British Art. In response to potential increases in the endowment gains tax, Yale has implemented a 90-day hiring pause and is reducing non-salary expenses by 5%. Several construction projects will be delayed, and annual salary increases for faculty and staff will be lowered. These measures aim to navigate financial uncertainties while continuing to support the university's mission. That's all for today's update. Stay informed and engaged, Yale.