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Note: The name Harold Yeager applies only to IDW Comics Canon.

"You're being moved off campus. The board of regents has decided to terminate your grant. You are to vacate these premises immediately."

- Dean Yeager; Ghostbusters

Dean Yeager[1][2] (also known as Harold Yeager in IDW Canon) was one of the administrators at Columbia University that Dr. Stantz, Venkman, and Spengler worked for before going into the business of paranormal investigations and eliminations.

History[]

Primary Canon[]

Columbia University's Board of Regents decided to terminate Peter, Egon, and Ray's grant, ceasing all funding for the Paranormal Studies Laboratory and ending their employment. Dean Yeager waited in Paranormal Studies Laboratory Room 205 A for Egon, Ray, and Peter while the Removal Men cleared their effects outside. Eventually, the trio returned from the New York City Public Library. Peter presumed they were being moved to better quarters on campus. Yeager informed them of the Board of Regents' decision. He instructed them to vacate the premises immediately. Peter closed his eyes then stated the situation was preposterous and demanded an explanation. Yeager wound up and obliged Peter. He stated Columbia was no longer continuing any funding of any kind for their group's activities. Peter countered the kids loved them. Yeager sat at the edge of a metal desk and stated Columbia believed the purpose of science was to serve mankind. He pointed out Peter seemed to regard science as some kind of dodge or hustle. He critiqued Peter's theories as the worst kind of popular tripe, told him his methods were sloppy, and thought his conclusions were highly questionable. He called Peter a poor scientist. Yeager concluded he had no place in the department or in the university. Yeager stood back up and turned away from them.

Secondary Canon[]

IDW Comics[]

For her book about the Ghostbusters, Rebecca Morales went to Columbia University a few weeks after Gozer was defeated and interviewed Dean Yeager in the Low Memorial Library. Yeager confirmed he fired Peter, Ray, and Egon and stood by the decision. He believed Peter remained a poor scientist and a poor influence on better men. He admitted Peter proved to be a shrewd promoter and the Ghostbusters' popularity was responsible for a resurgence of interest in science that had, in turn, increased alumni donations to the program. He remarked it was a no-lose situation for the University.

Personality[]

The Dean's personality fit hand-in-hand with his job as an administrator. His personality is common in academia, where one tends to judge another person's integrity solely upon scholarship. This was clearly the approach he took with the Ghostbusters, even though they were popular with the students.

Trivia[]

  • In the July 6, 1983 script, it was mentioned Dean Yeager was involved in paranormal research.[3]
  • In the July 6, 1983 script, Peter Venkman appeared before a university funding committee and acknowledged Dean Yeager. Yeager was up for a Nobel in Stockholm the previous week but didn't win.[4]
  • In early drafts down to the final shooting script, Dean Yeager's last name was originally spelled "Yaeger".[5] The original spelling was also used in Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular.[6]
  • On page 19 of Ghostbusters Issue #7, Peter has a get well card from Dean Yeager from the first movie and quotes his famous line when he addressed why the guys were terminated.
  • On page 80 of the revised edition of Ghosts From Our Past, there is a nod to Dean Yeager's line about Peter's theories being the worst kind of popular tripe, sloppy methods, and highly questionable conclusions.
  • On Cover B of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #2, there is a Columbia University business card for Dean Yeager on the left side by the yellow Post It.
    • Yeager's first name on it is "Jordan," taken from the name of the actor who portrayed him, Jordan Charney. However, in the issue itself, Yeager's first name is Harold.
  • On page 2 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #2:
    • Yeager's first name in the IDW canon is revealed to be Harold.
    • Dean Yeager refers to firing Peter, Ray, and Egon in Chapter 4: Terminated and when he called Peter a poor scientist.
  • On page 4 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #3, Rebecca recalls Dean Yeager called Peter a poor scientist. It came up last issue and originally in Chapter 4: Terminated.

Appearances[]

Primary Canon[]

Secondary Canon[]


References[]

  1. Ray Stantz (1999). Ghostbusters - Chapter 04: Terminated (1984) (DVD ts. 13:14-13:15). Columbia Pictures. Ray says: "Hey, Dean Yeager."
  2. End Credits - Cast
  3. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 22. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0590336843. Peter says: "Thank you not only for what you've contributed to our work in the paranormal, but I think the whole Board of Regents will want to join me in thanking you for your tremendous effort on behalf of all the sciences and departments of this university which I am so proud to be associated with."
  4. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 22. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0590336843. Peter says: "And if I was on that Nobel Committee, I think the story would have been a little different in Stockholm last week."
  5. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 36. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Paragraph reads: "Dean Yaeger is supervising."
  6. Mueller, Richard (August 1985). Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular, p. 41. Tor Books, New York NY USA, ISBN 0812585984. Paragraph reads: "Dean Yaeger was standing in the doorway, watching with great satisfaction as a workman scraped the names Venkman, Spengler, and Stantz off the door."


Gallery[]

Primary Canon[]

Secondary Canon[]

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