"The House" Celebrates 45

(YBAA photos)

New Rochelle residents Ralph Dawson '71 and Bill Lighten '86 spoke as panelists in New Haven during the October 17-19 weekend celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Afro-American Cultural Center, better known to many students and alumni as "The House."  The series of events was organized by the Center and the Yale Black Alumni Association.

The House is one of several cultural centers at Yale.  Dawson (second from L in left photo) was among founding students who spoke about the Center's early days at the panel discussion.  Lighten (at R in the right photo) spoke about philanthropy.  He and his late wife Janifer Lighten '83 made special contributions over the years to help renovate the Center. A section of the Center is named for the Lightens.  (Janifer Lighten was also a board member of YWAA.) Rodney Cohen, who two years ago served as a judge at the YWAA debate competition in Westchester, is the current director of the Center.