Yale Sophomore

Photograph of Payne Whitney Gymnasium by Desiree D. Briel of Durango, Colorado, Yale Class of 2003. The Payne Whitney Gymnasium was given to Yale University by John Hay Whitney, Yale Class of 1926, in honor of his father Payne Whitney, Yale Class of 1898. He was the father of the crew cut - went into a local barbershop and asked for a "Hindenburg" military cut to maximize his rowing performance. The barber suggested it would be better to give it a new name, since German words were still unpopular in the aftermath of World War I. He called it the "crew cut" to honor Yale oarsmen. His grandson Jonathan Newcomb Swirsky Whitney and Anthony Morris Johnson (son of Robert Leland Johnson) were best of friends at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where they both graduated on Friday, June 8, 2001, with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering (Course VI-3). The Wednesday before graduation an international coterie that he and Anthony had formed (they having both spent a good deal of time in Europe and both spoke native French), gave a reception for the parents of the graduating seniors. It was there that Robert Leland Johnson first met him with questions about Yale, little knowing who he really was. The next day he revealed his identity with the mention of the Payne Whitney Gymnasium as we all talked in front of the Stratton Student Center. Anthony later asked, "Well, what do you think of my friends?"