Yale Fall 2025: Art Premieres, Beyoncé Course, Climate Week, Major Endowment Sale & Campus Safety Updates

Good afternoon, Yale community. It's Monday, September 8, 2025, and here's what's happening on campus. The Yale Schwarzman Center has unveiled its Fall 2025 season, offering a diverse array of free public programming. Highlights include "Celestial Garden (Yale)," an immersive light and sound installation by alumnus Leo Villareal, running from August 9 to October 10. Additionally, members of the New York City Ballet will perform "Visionary Steps: Balanchine & Beyond the Contemporary" on October 25, celebrating the legacy of choreographer George Balanchine. For more details, visit the Schwarzman Center's website. In academic news, Yale is set to offer a new course titled "Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition, Culture, Theory & Politics Through Music." Taught by Professor Daphne Brooks, the class will analyze Beyoncé's work from her 2013 self-titled album to her recent "Cowboy Carter" album, exploring how her music addresses social and political ideologies within the Black radical intellectual tradition. The course is anticipated to be highly popular, though class size will be limited. Looking ahead, Yale will participate in Climate Week NYC from September 22 to 25. The university will host a series of events at The Yale Club of New York City, including the Climate Capital Summit on September 24, which will bring together leaders across energy, investing, policy, innovation, and higher education to discuss scalable and transformative climate solutions. For more information and to register, visit the Yale Climate Week website. In financial news, Yale is reportedly planning to sell nearly $3 billion in private equity holdings. This move comes as the university's endowment, valued at $41.4 billion, has underperformed since 2022. The sale is part of an effort to address budget constraints and sustain current levels of spending. On the safety front, the Yale Public Safety Department has issued an advisory regarding reckless driving and its risk to public safety. The university urges all community members to exercise caution and adhere to traffic regulations to ensure the safety of pedestrians and drivers alike. Finally, the weather in New Haven today is sunny with temperatures ranging from 57°F this morning to a high of 73°F this afternoon. Expect mostly sunny skies throughout the day, making it a perfect opportunity to enjoy the campus outdoors. That's all for today's update. Stay informed and engaged, Yale.