A Yale Tale

Under the guise of scholarship, the professoriat would have us “leave them alone” but is the feeling mutual? You can get an insight into the answer to this question not by what they tell the public but what they communicate to each other.

Take Yale sociologist Michael Yarbrough. His university web site tells us that he “works in the areas of law and society; family; the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality; and political subjectivity.” His page goes on to note that “He is particularly interested in the role of law and legal institutions in interpersonal relationships.”

“A recent graduate of the Yale Law School through the joint J.D./Ph.D. program, Michael is currently developing a dissertation comparing marriage reform debates in the United States and South Africa, which seeks to understand the relationship between legal change and changing understandings of family and self,” his page explains. “He is also researching small-claims disputes among family members, friends, and others with pre-existing relationships.”

When recently searching for a Manhattan pied-a-tierre, Yarborough was a bit more explicit. “I am over and done with boring New Haven and looking to move down to
the city and rejoin the living,” he declared. “Was planning on moving in with one or
two friends but it looks like their plans may well fall through, so
now I’m also looking for a room in an existing apartment with folks
reasonably similar to myself (i.e. hardworking 90% of the time but
laid back about the occasional party or overnight rendezvous; late 20s
through early 40s would generally be best).”

“It would be awesome to find a friend of a friend (of a friend?) in order to minimize the chance of creepy or crazy BS, so I’d be very grateful if you could put
the word out for me, open your ears, etc.” What this son of Eli considers “creepy or crazy” is an open question, particularly since he ends his plea with “Thanks in advance for helpin’ a homo out.”

“I owe you a drink.” He signs the notice “xo, M.”

Even given the bent of his humor, there is no reason to believe he is not kidding on the square when he states, “I’ll be commuting up to New Haven twice a week to indoctrinate young undergraduates.”

“Otherwise, I expect to spend a lot of time pumping out a dissertation in my room.” Conspiracy theorists, though, may not want to make too much of the network he hints at: “For those of you not on the East Coast presently, please feel free to forward as appropriate onto those extensive NYC networks I know you have.”

Among his other preferences:

~“$800/mo. (not incl. utilities);

~“a room big enough to accommodate a bed, a desk, a bookcase or two,
and clothes storage (closet preferred);

~“move-in beginning of August (possibly later for a truly awesome situation)
year-long commitment;

~“would strongly prefer to avoid any broker’s fee (deposits etc. are
OK, of course);

~“internet a must;

~“cat-friendly (by which I mean that I have one and don’t plan to
abandon her in the alley, not that I’m hoping to find plenty of
roaches to keep her entertained and physically fit)”; and

~“gay-friendly (as if that weren’t obvious).”

Malcolm A. Kline is the executive director of Accuracy in Academia.