Splash Biography



TILDEN CHAO, Sophomore from upstate NY!




Major: Economics, environmental studies

College/Employer: Yale

Year of Graduation: 2023

Picture of Tilden Chao

Brief Biographical Sketch:

I grew up in Ithaca, a small town in upstate New York. Ithaca is best known for Cornell University and Ithaca College, but it also has amazing people, beautiful waterfalls, and incredible food.

In my free time, I love to hike, watch birds, play saxophone, and sing. Here at Yale, I play in the saxophone in the Concert Band and saxophone quartet, coach debate at Hill Regional Career High School, and teach for SPLASH, among other things.

As a Chinese-Japanese-American, I also love to stay informed about how policy has affected minorities in the United States and across the world. During World War II, my own Japanese-American great-grandparents were incarcerated in concentration camps in California. Learning about Japanese internment has profoundly affected my life. More recently, hate crimes directed at Asians have become increasingly common. I have been lucky to not have suffered from racial prejudice, but I have noticed a shift in the way my family and I are treated in town. These issues remain very real, and I think that they are very important to explore.

My studies of Japanese internment have inspired me to pursue a career in politics, policy, or education. I hope you'll consider taking a class with me. We have lots of fun!



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

X4356: Witnesses to Internment – Incarceration of Minorities in American History in Splash Spring 2021 (Apr. 24, 2021)
During World War II, the United States incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese Americans in concentration camps in California, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arkansas. These Japanese-American prisoners—the vast majority citizens—lost their jobs, dignity, and livelihoods in what would become one of the greatest civil rights abuses in American history. Japanese internment occurred under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Chief Justice Earl Warren, and a slew of other progressive politicians. So—how could this happen? In my course, we'll discuss the stories of my incarcerated relatives, the broader struggle of Japanese-American prisoners, and the Japanese Americans who chose to serve in the Army during the war. In today’s fraught political climate, we'll also explore what it means to be a patriot, what it means to be a citizen, and how we can move forward socially in American society. Along the way, we’ll discuss the connections between internment and modern-day immigration policy and incarceration practices. We’ll also brainstorm solutions—ethically, politically, and socially—that could prevent future periods of reckless incarceration. No matter your race or your familiarity with social justice issues, I hope that you’ll join this conversation. We need all of your minds to solve these issues. Candid discussions are a first step to a brighter future. If you are curious about my studies in internment or want to learn more, feel free to visit my website at www.witnessestointernment.org. This course assumes no prior history knowledge and all students are encouraged to join.


X4290: Witnesses to Internment – Incarceration of Minorities in American History in Splash Fall 2020 (Nov. 14, 2020)
During World War II, the United States incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese Americans in concentration camps in California, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arkansas. These Japanese-American prisoners—the vast majority citizens—lost their jobs, dignity, and livelihoods in what would become one of the greatest civil rights abuses in American history. Japanese internment occurred under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Chief Justice Earl Warren, and a slew of other progressive politicians. So—how could this happen? In my course, we'll discuss the stories of my incarcerated relatives, the broader struggle of Japanese-American prisoners, and the Japanese Americans who chose to serve in the Army during the war. In today’s fraught political climate, we'll also explore what it means to be a patriot, what it means to be a citizen, and how we can move forward socially in American society. Along the way, we’ll discuss the connections between internment and modern-day immigration policy and incarceration practices. We’ll also brainstorm solutions—ethically, politically, and socially—that could prevent future periods of reckless incarceration. No matter your race or your familiarity with social justice issues, I hope that you’ll join this conversation. We need all of your minds to solve these issues. Candid discussions are a first step to a brighter future. If you are curious about my studies in internment or want to learn more, feel free to visit my website at www.witnessestointernment.org. This course assumes no prior history knowledge and all students are encouraged to join.


X4230: Witnesses to Internment – Incarceration of Minorities in American History in Splash Spring 2020 (Apr. 11, 2020)
During World War II, the United States incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese Americans in concentration camps in California, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arkansas. These Japanese-American prisoners—the vast majority citizens—lost their jobs, dignity, and livelihoods in what would become one of the greatest civil rights abuses in American history. Japanese internment occurred under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Chief Justice Earl Warren, and a slew of other progressive politicians. So—how could this happen? In my course, I’ll discuss the stories of my incarcerated relatives, the broader struggle of Japanese-American prisoners, and the Japanese Americans who chose to serve in the Army during the war. In today’s fraught political climate, I’ll also explore what it means to be a patriot, what it means to be a citizen, and how we can move forward socially in American society. Along the way, we’ll discuss the connections between internment and modern-day immigration policy and incarceration practices. We’ll also brainstorm solutions—ethically, politically, and socially—that could prevent future periods of reckless incarceration. No matter your race or your familiarity with social justice issues, I hope that you’ll join this conversation. We need all of your minds to solve these issues. Candid discussions are a first step to a brighter future. If you are curious about my studies in internment or want to learn more, feel free to visit my website at www.witnessestointernment.org. This course assumes no prior history knowledge and all students are encouraged to join.


X3903: Witnesses to Internment - Incarceration of Minorities in American History in Splash Fall 2019 (Nov. 16, 2019)
During World War II, the United States incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in concentration camps in the West and South. These Japanese-American prisoners—the vast majority citizens—lost their jobs, dignity, and livelihoods in what would become one of the greatest civil rights abuses in American history. Japanese internment occurred under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Chief Justice Earl Warren, and a slew of other progressive politicians. So—how could this happen? In my course, I’ll discuss the stories of my interned relatives, the broader struggle of Japanese-American internees, and the Japanese-Americans who chose to serve in the Army during the war. In today’s complicated political climate, I’ll also explore what it means to be a patriot, what it means to be a citizen, and how we can move forward socially in American society. Along the way, we’ll discuss the connections between internment and modern-day immigration policy and incarceration practices. We’ll also brainstorm solutions—ethically, politically, and socially—that could prevent future periods of reckless incarceration. No matter your race or your familiarity with social justice issues, I hope that you’ll join this conversation. We need all of your minds to solve these issues. Candid discussions are a first step to a brighter future. If you are curious about my studies in internment or want to learn more, feel free to visit my website at www.witnessestointernment.org. This course assumes no prior history knowledge and all students are encouraged to join.


X3911: Witnesses to Internment - Incarceration of Minorities in American History in Splash Fall 2019 (Nov. 16, 2019)
During World War II, the United States incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in concentration camps in the West and South. These Japanese-American prisoners—the vast majority citizens—lost their jobs, dignity, and livelihoods in what would become one of the greatest civil rights abuses in American history. Japanese internment occurred under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Chief Justice Earl Warren, and a slew of other progressive politicians. So—how could this happen? In my course, I’ll discuss the stories of my interned relatives, the broader struggle of Japanese-American internees, and the Japanese-Americans who chose to serve in the Army during the war. In today’s complicated political climate, I’ll also explore what it means to be a patriot, what it means to be a citizen, and how we can move forward socially in American society. Along the way, we’ll discuss the connections between internment and modern-day immigration policy and incarceration practices. We’ll also brainstorm solutions—ethically, politically, and socially—that could prevent future periods of reckless incarceration. No matter your race or your familiarity with social justice issues, I hope that you’ll join this conversation. We need all of your minds to solve these issues. Candid discussions are a first step to a brighter future. If you are curious about my studies in internment or want to learn more, feel free to visit my website at www.witnessestointernment.org. This course assumes no prior history knowledge and all students are encouraged to join.


C3820: Witnesses to Internment - Incarceration of Minorities in American History in Sprout Fall 2019 (Sep. 28 - Oct. 12, 2019)
During World War II, the United States incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in concentration camps in the West and Midwest. These internees—the vast majority American citizens—lost their jobs, dignity, and livelihoods in what would become one of the greatest civil rights abuses in American history. Japanese internment occurred under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Chief Justice Earl Warren, and a slew of other progressive politicians. So—how could this happen? In my course, I’ll discuss the stories of my interned relatives, the broader struggle of Japanese-American internees, and the Japanese-Americans who chose to serve in the Army during the war. In today’s complicated political climate, I’ll explore what it means to be a patriot, what it means to be a citizen, and how we can move forward socially in American society. Along the way, we’ll discuss the connections between internment and modern-day immigration policy and incarceration practices. We’ll also brainstorm solutions—ethically, politically, and socially—that could prevent future periods of reckless incarceration. No matter your race or your familiarity with social justice issues, I hope that you’ll join this conversation. We need all of your minds to solve these issues, and candid discussions are a first step to a brighter future. If you are curious about my studies in internment or want to learn more, feel free to visit my website at www.witnessestointernment.org.