F R I D A Y DECEMBER 6, 2002
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXXXVII, No. 126
An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891
www.browndailyherald.com
Early winter snow storm dumps up to 10 inches on Providence
Faculty, staff organize to oppose U.S. war in Iraq
U. remains open despite closures at RISD, Salve Regina and URI
BY DYLAN BROWN
A campus anti-war group of faculty, alumni and staff recently formed to educate the campus about possible problems with a potential U.S. war against Iraq. The group, Brown Faculty, Alums and Staff Against the War, collected 300 signatures from the Brown community on a petition and plans to bring speakers to campus next semester, said the Rev. Janet Cooper Nelson, University chaplain, a founding member of the group. The new organization is dedicated to educating the Brown community about the negative aspects of a war against Iraq, said Professor of American Civilization Paul Buhle, another member of the group. The people signing the petition are basically saying “war with Iraq is ill-advised, and we oppose it,” Cooper Nelson said. “As a faculty we are saying (war) doesn’t lead to greater security, it only leads to escalation.” Faculty, Alums and Staff Against the War is trying to get at least 1,000 signatures from the Brown community, Cooper Nelson said. She also said no one was pressured to sign the petition. “Whether you choose to act or participate is your business,” she said. Cooper Nelson and the other founders of Brown’s newest anti-war organization formed the group soon after author and activist Howard Zinn spoke on campus in November, Buhle said. Buhle said he was very happy that nearly 1,000 people wanted to see Zinn speak and that 350 stayed afterward for a teach-in. Because of this enthusiasm, it will “not be difficult to get other members of the peace movement together,” he said. Several Brown alums joined the group. Snigdha Vallabhaneni ’97, a medical student and member of the group, wanted to get involved, but “didn’t feel that connected to the undergraduate campus,” she said. “I felt it was important for me, as a Brown alum, to have my voice heard.” Cooper Nelson said that to better educate the community, the organization will hold weekly teach-ins next semester, pass out literature and host guest speakers. Vallabhaneni is also putting together an educational presentation on the medical effects of war, such as radiation poisoning. “We expect to have a major celebrity” come speak at Brown “in February or early March,” Buhle said. see WAR, page 6
Seth Kerschner / Herald
The University remained open Thursday as six to 10 inches of snow covered the greater Providence area and the Brown campus. On the Main Green outside University Hall, the plowing power of a fullsized bulldozer was necessary to clear snow off of paths.
UCS to present long-term wish list to President Simmons today BY JONATHAN ELLIS
The Undergraduate Council of Students will present President Ruth Simmons with a list of long-term priorities for campus life improvements today that includes renovating the Ratty, constructing a new athletic complex, renovating dormitories and building an assembly hall. Though the list was not immediately available Thursday night, UCS President Allen Feliz ’03 said the Ratty, athletic complex, dormitories and assembly hall are the four main components of UCS’ priorities list. Besides renovating the Ratty dining area to be comparable with the refurbished Verney-Woolley dining hall, Feliz said UCS hoped the University would “use the Ratty as a footprint,” adding additional levels on top of the existing building. That would allow space for student organization offices, as well as social space with games and meeting areas, Feliz said. “Right now, all we really have is the Blue Room,” he said. Adding more living space to dormitories is also a top priority, Feliz said. Lounges were lost to the University’s housing crunch, he said. Restored lounges could also have game space, he added. Feliz said an ideal assembly hall would have a capacity of 1,500 students. That space is required for all-class meetings, he said. It would also allow larger audiences
than those the Salomon Center can hold for lectures and other events, he added. UCS representatives discussed the priorities with Frances Halsband, the University’s master planner, in a Tuesday meeting, Feliz said. “We need a simple, straightforward means of ensuring that the administration is aware of what students want to see achieved in terms of campus life improvements over the long run,” wrote Justin Sanders ’04, UCS Campus Life Committee chair, in an e-mail. “This way, there is a document that the administration can reference and consider when planning out the upcoming capital campaign.” Simmons will likely reference the document in her February meeting with the Corporation, Feliz said. The list lets administrators hear a student voice as they consider long-term planning, he added. Feliz wasn’t sure how strictly Simmons would adhere to the list, but “at least we know that in her planning process she has a UCS list,” he said. UCS will have frequent follow-ups with Simmons to check the status of the priorities, he added. “Since (the priorities) are being considered at the planning stage of the capital campaign, they will likely be issues raised as President Simmons solicits funding,”
In Leeds, West Side Story provides a mix of fun and poignant moments page 3
Eric Tucker ’02 wins Marshall Scholarship to study at Oxford University page 5
see SNOW, page 4
Eric Suuberg named associate dean of faculty BY CASSIE RAMIREZ
Professor of Engineering Eric Suuberg will begin serving as Associate Dean of Faculty Jan. 1, 2003. Suuberg was chosen for the position in part because of his expertise in science and engineering, Dean of the Faculty Mary Fennell said. Suuberg cofounded the Chemical Engineering Program at Brown in 1981. He studies comEric Suuberg bustion, fuel chemistry and environmental technology and their relationship to the chemical reactions of solids. In addition to being a Fulbright Scholar in Estonia last year, Suuberg is also the U.S. editor of the journal Fuel. The incoming associate dean told The Herald he has yet to discuss his duties with the other deans of the see SUUBERG, page 4
see UCS, page 6
I N S I D E F R I D AY, D E C E M B E R 6 , 2 0 0 2 Brownbrokers producion of Anna Karenina debuts in Stuart Theatre page 3
The University remained open as a slow-moving but powerful snow storm pummeled the state Thursday. Several schools in the Providence area closed early Thursday afternoon and some University events were cancelled. The National Weather Service predicted 8 to 10 inches of snow would fall on Rhode Island by early this morning. The weather service announced a winter storm warning for parts of northern Connecticut and Rhode Island. Meteorologists attributed the unusual early December snowstorm to the El Niño weather patterns. The quick accumulation of snow occurred because
TO D AY ’ S F O R E C A S T Victoria Harris ’03 says citizen participation only way to improve media news coverage column, page 15
Post- takes a good hard look at the best and worst culture of 2002 magazine, inside
partly sunny high 33 low 20
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
THIS MORNING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2002 · PAGE 2 Pornucopia Eli Swiney
W E AT H E R TODAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
High 33 Low 20 partly sunny
High 39 Low 23 wind
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High 23 Low 15 cold
GRAPHICS BY TED WU
A Story Of Eddie Ahn
CALENDAR SEMINAR — “Learning in Separate Transparencies,” Assaf Zomet, Microsoft Research. Room 506, CIT, 11 a.m. DISCUSSION — “Independence: Art and Activism,” A conversation with Milcho Manchevski. Joukowsky Forum, Watson Institute, noon. FLU SHOTS — anyone with a Brown ID. 4th floor conference room, Brown Office Building, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. SEMINAR — “Laser Studies of Molecules at Liquid Surfaces,” Kenneth Eisenthal, Columbia University. Room 115, MacMillan Hall, 4p.m. WORKSHOP— featuring students in the applied music piano program. Department of Music. Grant Recital Hall, 4 p.m.
Cup O’ Grace Graciela Mildeschi
PERFORMANCE — A cabaret featuring selections from Ophelia’s Cotillion, Hot Comb and Song of Sheba. Rites and Reason Theatre, 7 and 9 p.m. SPORTS — women’s hockey vs. Northeastern. Meehan Auditorium, 7 p.m. THEATER — “Anna Karenina,” Brownbrokers. Stuart Theater, 8 p.m.
CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 “Judging Amy” network 4 Rhythmic dance 9 Covered, as expenses 12 Many an April baby 14 Military group 15 Light gray 16 Money 18 Party purchase 19 Moving aid 20 Hotel addition? 21 Phaser setting in “Star Trek” 22 ’95 World Series champs 23 Furniture designer Charles 25 One in a dark suit 26 “The Bells” poet 27 General on a Chinese menu 28 1948 literature Nobelist 30 Get ready 32 Simple home 34 “__ glad to see you!” 35 Not fond of conflict 39 Menu words 40 Indians, on a scoreboard 41 Kind of show 44 Hamilton Fish was his Sec’y of State 48 Young salamander 50 Gold medalist skier Tommy 51 Trade things? 52 “Enigma Variations” composer 54 Source of some govt. checks 55 Numbers on charts 56 LP filler? 57 “A Fish Called Wanda” actress 59 Is for you? 60 HMO buzzphrase 62 PBS funder 63 Come together 64 “Breaking Away” director 65 Pro __ 66 Israeli statesman Dayan
67 Notice DOWN 1 Inventive type 2 1946 Bogart/Bacall film, with “The” 3 Government center 4 __-Foy, Quebec 5 “L.A. Law” lawyer 6 Unassuming 7 Afrikaans speaker 8 Car ad abbr. 9 Tropical cocktail 10 Old Spanish coin 11 1995 Sandra Bullock film 12 “Colonel Gilfeather” cartoonist 13 Driving hazard 17 Refuse aid 21 Orthopedist’s apparatus 24 Pout 25 Truck stop sight 29 Preserve some dignity 31 Choice examples 33 Puzzle theme found in 16-, 35and 60-Across
36 Dramatic wail 37 Jackie’s designer 38 Northwestern nickname 42 Emphatic refusal 43 Vamps 44 Dag Hammarskjöld’s successor 45 Late party
46 Part of a cheer, often 47 One place to find love 49 Jerry Marcus comic strip 53 Reluctant 56 Hand for Segovia? 58 Some TVs 60 Quiet 61 Word of surprise
My Best Effort Andy Hull and William Newman
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: L A C Y M O T O R A S P S A L O N E S H U T A C R E W H A T D I D D E L A W A R E I D E O M O R S E S E W A D E N S T O O P E D C H U R N S A L M O N K L E E K R O N A E S P I D O N T K N O W A L A S K A W E E N Y I T I S P A N P E R L E B E R E T S T A P E A M B I E N T B O A R D C O N E A L L I T W A S A N E W J E R S E Y V I D E O A H E M D E L T A X E L S T Y K E E L S E
Cookie’s Grandma is Jewish Saul Kerschner
12/06/02
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DINNER —vegetarian broccoli cheese soup, roasted corn chowder with bacon, marinated beef, Mexican cornbread casserole, roasted rosemary potatoes, sugar snap peas, cauliflower in dill mustard sauce, pueblo bread, apple pie
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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
ARTS & CULTURE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2002 · PAGE 3
New Theatre Brownbrokers Karenina a farce — but enjoyable dept. DUG has Brownbrokers big plans, high offers Kurtz ’03 hopes for unique chance & CULTURE campus theater ARTS to stage direct REVIEW BY ETHAN RIS
BY JEN SOPCHOCKCHAI
The Theatre, Speech and Dance department’s new Departmental Undergraduate Group, “DOUG,” intends to run campus theater like a well-oiled machine. The group’s goal is to smooth out communication and solidify resource sharing among student groups and between students and the department of Theatre, Speech and Dance as well, its founders said. “West Side Story,” this semester’s Musical Forum production, being in Leeds Theatre is a perfect example of this symbiotic relationship. When Musical Forum approached the department in August, the notion of lending Leeds bounced around for a few months, until the student group definitely knew that their show needed a home, Smith said. “In my mind it wasn’t a difficult decision,” said Department Manager Laura Smith. The only point of debate was whether or not two shows, “West Side Story” and Brownbroker’s “Anna Karenina” could open at the same time, Smith said. After faculty and staff discussed the issue, the department agreed to let Musical Forum use their theater. “They agreed to let us use Leeds, and we basically performed ritual celebration ceremonies for days,” Musical Forum Chair James Egelhofer ‘04 said in an e-mail. “West Side Story” Director Jessie Austrian ’03 told The Herald that her show could not have happened in any other space. “I really want to say thank you to the department,” she said. Smith did emphasize, however, that Leeds and theatres like it are still departmental spaces. With all the productions the University constantly presents, it is just physically impossible to offer up the theatres to student groups on a regular basis, she said. “If you open your door to one group, you have to do it for everyone,” she said, which the department cannot do. Keeping the mutually supportive relationship alive is DOUG’s job. Student groups and the department have always shared props, staff and set striking tools, along with providing input for each other’s shows, but now it will be even easier. “DOUG was formed because I wanted there to be a forum that could act as a communication-liaison between the department and the students,” said DOUG’s leader Jeffrey Kurtz ’03 in an email. DOUG even has its own Web site, where students can reserve tickets, check out auditions and contribute to a forum. “I think that through DOUG we will be able to find a balance wherein no group feels overpowered or encroached upon, but everyone has increased capabilities and somewhere to turn,” Egelhofer said. Herald staff writer Jen Sopchockchai ’05 can be reached at jsopchockchai@browndailyherald.com.
It would be folly to suggest that “Anna Karenina,” playing through Sunday in Stuart Theatre, is anything short of enjoyable. It is unclear, however, whether the show is meant to be enjoyed as the rollicking farce that it is. A Brownbrokers original musical, the book, music and lyrics of “Anna Karenina” are by Jillian Tucker ’04, and are an adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s 1876 novel of the same name. Tucker’s work is necessarily removed from Tolstoy’s; the story has been translated from Russian, adapted for the stage, and set to music. But the transformation continues, molding a classic tragedy into a work unavoidably reminiscent of “Springtime for Hitler,” the ironically successful centerpiece of Mel Brooks’ “The Producers.” The plot of Tucker’s “Anna Karenina” is loose and ultimately inconsequential. There is simply too much to tell for any of it to be relevant. As the title character, Caitlin Marshall ’05 deftly portrays a tormented and unstable woman, but the disjointed scenes in which she appears afford little character development. Anna loves and loses various men for ambiguous reasons, and they are clearly not the focus of the show. “Anna Karenina” is a spectacle of song and mostly low comedy. The cast is well aware of their curious situation, and they do not attempt to stop the farce. Steve Kidd GS and Diana Jeffrey ’04, in supporting roles as Russian aristocrats, are particularly entertaining as they each upstage any potential drama with their vaudevillian antics. Musical theater is often an awkward affair, and director Jeffrey Kurtz ’03 does not shy away from jarring leaps into song. Act I is launched with an all-female chorus line number, “Parents,” which emerges from nowhere, but is notable for its catchy carnivalesque backing music. Equally strange is the trio of solos in the first act, which serve as revelatory monologues, falling directly into the oft-lampooned convention of a vocalist pouring his heart out to the rafters. Jed Resnick ’06, as Anna’s lover Vronsky, is particularly notable for enduring his unwieldy lyrics: “Starlight made her eyes / Venus made her face. / But her husband’s there / I swear I’ll take his place.” The show’s musical strength lies in its
ensemble numbers, and it is unfortunate that Tucker only includes three. The song “Anna Karenina” is a riveting dialogue between “Society,” as the chorus is named, and Anna. The piece builds to an impressive crescendo, and is the finest window in the show into the title character’s growing insanity. “Alexei Won the Nevsky,” on the other hand, is a bizarre and extremely funny chanting awards ceremony. Greg Shilling ’04, as Alexei Karenin, is nothing less than valiant in his straight-faced participation in the piece. Shilling’s grim portrayal of Anna’s cuckolded husband is a consistently good foil for melodrama, and it is unfortunate that he is not used more. There are a few sober moments in “Anna Karenina,” the most notable of which is a largely extraneous death-bed scene early in Act II. Graham Norwood ’03 is magnificent as the dying Nikolai Levin, while Allison Posner ’05, Jason Siegel ’03, and Farra Ungat ’06 pull off a beautiful three-part a capella piece, “Life Moves One Way.” It is too bad that Nikolai has to expire and the lovely scene has to end. The musical accompaniment for the show is provided by an on-stage fourpiece orchestra, conducted by Andrew Hertz ’04. Their playing is sufficiently unobtrusive and is particularly good during scene changes. The set is elaborately constructed, and yet most settings are surprisingly minimalist. A faux wrought iron second tier, with a prominent staircase at each wing, frames a large space at stage level that is never set with more than a few chairs, and perhaps a bed. As a result, locations blur together. Time is also an indefinite matter, as costumes and makeup remain the same despite apparent skipping of months and years. Like the setting, much of Tolstoy’s story is only alluded to, in a confusing fashion. A series of fatal and near-fatal accidents occurs offstage throughout the play, none particularly well revealed or justified. An entire subplot of a love affair between Siegel’s and Posner’s characters is interspersed throughout the play, and despite very good performances by both actors, it is superfluous and could easily be dropped from the show. “Anna Karenina” is proof that the musical form cannot be universally applied, especially to a drama. It is, however, an effective and enjoyable comedy, even though that is probably not how it was conceived.
“Anna Karenina,” running in Stuart Theater through Sunday, is the Brownbrokers musical for 2002. The Brownbrokers Society, in collaboration with the Department of Theatre, Speech, and Dance, sponsors an original student-written musical performed at the end of first semester each year. According to Jeffrey Kurtz ’03, the director of “Anna Karenina,” the Brownbrokers board selected the play in late September. Shows are usually chosen in April, but a controversial abandonment of the board’s original selection opened the way for Jillian Tucker ’04’s proposal. An expedited refinement process had Tucker writing 15 songs in three weeks, some of which were added to the six or seven she had already composed. The script also underwent significant changes from the September version, some coming just three weeks before opening night. Kurtz stressed that while these transformations throughout the rehearsal process were unusual, they were consistent with the traditional Brownbrokers treatment of their productions. “We consider these plays to be works in progress,” he said. “We’re obviously working towards a finished product, but as a director, I’m more concerned with the process. “This is a real living theater. Every night it’s changing. If you came on five different nights, you would probably see five different shows.” Brownbrokers was founded in 1935 as a collaboration between Brown and Pembroke College, and has always been entirely studentrun. Several of its productions have gone on to professional venues. —Ethan Ris
West Side Story has some fun, plays it cool in Leeds Theatre BY JEN SOPCHOCKCHAI
Musical Forum’s “West Side Story” plays it hot and cool at Leeds Theatre this weekend in a fun but nonetheless poignant production. The show is a musical adaptation of S h a k e s p e a r e ’s ARTS & CULTURE Romeo and Juliet, only substituting REVIEW family feuds for gang wars, Verona for U.S. city streets. The Sharks and the Jets, racially segregated rival gangs, battle it out for their slice of the sidewalk, and idealistic young lovers Tony and Maria get caught in the crossfire. Leeds Theatre is transformed into an urban jungle. The show uses every inch of the theater, including the catwalks. The set is captivating, made out of unfinished two-by-fours, trashcans, ladders and a fire pole. Like a troop of wild gorillas trashing a campsite, the actors use all the junk strewn across the stage to reek havoc. Reminiscent of “Stomp,” bottles, cans and
even forks are used as instruments of syncopated celebration and disturbing dissonance. Audience members are right in the middle of it all, almost to the point of being too close for comfort. But this discomfort is effective in achieving the show’s goal for the story to be accessible and real for the audience. There are some incredible performances in this show. Claire Karpen ’04 and Emily Young ’03 have powerhouse voices as the naïve Maria and magnetic Anita. Andrew McClain ’03 makes for a sincere and endearing Tony. All 29 cast members pulled their own weight, and minor characters such as Rosalia (Vanessa Gonzalez ’04) and Baby John (Matt Naylor ’06) have show-stealing moments. But the real star of the show is the sizzling choreography by Tisola Logan ’03.5. Movements spoke volumes more than any words would have, established character and were just plain aesthetically pleasing. From fight scenes to mambos, “West Side Story” dances its way into theater-going
hearts. Director Jessie Austrian ’03 said she wanted to experiment with movement and stillness, and the results are stunning. The juxtaposition of the frenzied and frozen, the noisy and the silent have a powerful effect. Performers handled Leonard Bernstein’s difficult music extremely well. The show’s chorus was solid, but some of the solos are less than stellar. Particularly among male vocalists, volume and pitch often could not be sustained. What cast members lost in vocal presence, though, they made up for in acting. Although the costumes are eye-catching, they become confusing because members from both gangs wear the same colors. The well-crafted choreography compensates for this, but a visual opportunity still is lost. Austrian manages to create an innovative approach to a classic while maintaining the show’s integrity. Don’t walk into the theatre see WEST SIDE, page 6
PAGE 4 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2002
Snow continued from page 1
Seth Kerschner and Nick Mark / Herald
Snow fell across campus Thursday afternoon, making a ghost town of usually crowded campus locations, including Soldiers Arch at the foot of Lincoln Field and the Van Wickle Gates at the top of College Street (top left and top right). Ana Mascarenas ‘05, bottom right, and the rest of Unit 19 took advantage of the snow to stage a massive snowball fight on Andrews Terrace.
Troy continued from page 16 chance. Look for Bledsoe jerseys to be out in full force and for Drew to perform a unique end-zone celebration by giving Mr. Brady a “Prince Albert” with his Super Bowl ring. Bengals (+3) over the PANTHERS In what is sure to be the game CBS broadcasts nationally, for the first time all season I am putting faith in the Bengals. With Julius Peppers out for the rest of the season, Carolina’s best talent on defense may be its coach. JAGUARS (even) over the Browns In a game between two teams that have choked more in big games than Mama Cass, I think experience will win out in the end. While both teams had shots at a division title, now it is just a matter of justifying why they should keep their jobs. CHIEFS (-3.5) over the Rams To me it sounds like Kurt Warner’s recent injury is just an excuse to get him not to play quarterback. The story of his life now goes from bag boy to NFL MVP to pancake maker at IHOP. At least he can watch from the sidelines as Priest Holmes gives some good publicity to the Catholic Church with a few more touchdowns. STEELERS (-13.5) over the Texans Something I never thought I would be writing: Pittsburgh is grateful to have Tommy Maddox back. Although “Slash” performed well in his absence, if Mr. XFL can put up big numbers in his return he should secure the QB job for the postseason. Falcons (+4.5) over the BUCCANEERS Right now, I would suggest sending Michael Vick into Iraq to see if he could solve the conflict in the Middle East. He seems to be
able to do everything else. Last week alone he ran and threw for close to 175 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime. Don’t expect Warren Sapp to get in any cheap shots on him. TITANS (-1.5) over the Colts Tennessee was my Super Bowl pick, and for the Titans to have a chance, they are going to need to pick up some big wins. It started last week in OT against the “G-men.” If McNair can keep his performance up, people may start to forget coming up one yard short in the Super Bowl. Giants (+3) over the REDSKINS Both of these teams have done everything possible to avoid making the playoffs. Donovan McNabb breaks his ankle, and New York and Washington fail to beat Houston and Dallas respectively. Still, after the Redskins nearly made me ill during Thanksgiving, I cannot forgive them just yet. Maybe Spurrier will see if Ron Zook is willing to trade places. 49ers (-5) over the COWBOYS This week, Terrell Owens will cement his legacy by signing his name on the star in the middle of Dallas’s stadium. The rest of us will be longing to remember when this game featured the two best teams in the NFC. Who else misses Leon Lett? SEAHAWKS (+3) over the Eagles Here’s my theory: Philly with its third-string quarterback roughly equals Seattle almost entirely healthy. For the Seahawks, Shaun Alexander is trying to compile stats over the course of the season to equal his Sunday night performance. Saints (-5) over the RAVENS New Orleans left the Bucs drunk somewhere in the French Quarter on Sunday, and with Joe Horn the most consistent receiver in the NFL, the Saints should not suffer a letdown
against Baltimore. Lions (+1) over the CARDINALS The Cardinals should be able to recognize their fans by name for this game. Neither team may want to show up for this one. Still, after being shut out 49-0 by the Chiefs, one of the worst D’s in the NFL, and six straight losses, Arizona might be under the impression that the season is only eight weeks long. JETS (+1) over the Broncos The Wayne Chrebet jersey streak is over, but only because Chad Morton forgot he could call for a fair catch on punt return. CHARGERS (+3) over the Raiders Oakland wins four, loses four and then wins four to tie San Diego for the best record in the AFC. Thus, the Raiders are due for a loss, especially since the Chargers are trying to become the first team to earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the Super Bowl. PACKERS (-9.5) over the Vikings Green Bay’s loss in the Metrodome might have cost Brett Favre the MVP award. The only thing that will console him is not Cameron Diaz but rather destroying Minnesota in Green Bay. For the Vikings, at least they are losing close games now, and Randy Moss has now gone four weeks without being arrested. The Blazers are thinking of bringing him in as a counselor.
recent cold temperatures froze the ground. On Brown’s snow-covered campus, the 6:30 p.m. lecture that was to be given by Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jorge Castaneta was cancelled. Shuttle and Escort services were also cancelled due to inclement weather, said Ben Donsky ’03, coordinator of Student Security Operations. “This is standard procedure” for when it snows, he said. As of press time, the University snow line was reporting no cancellations and “normal operations were in effect” at Brown. Down the hill, RISD closed early Thursday afternoon along with the University of Rhode Island, Salve Regina University and Community College of Rhode Island. T. F. Green Airport also experienced some delays and cancellations as a result of the snowstorm. The snow was expected to taper off around midnight Thursday. As of press time, the University announced no plans to close on Friday. — Herald staff reports
Suuberg continued from page 1 faculty. Suuberg joins current Associate Dean of Faculty William Crossgrove. The position of Associate Dean of Faculty has been held by two people at the same time on an intermittent basis, Fennell said. Under Provost Kathryn Spoehr ’68, Fennell and Crossgrove both held the title for a semester before Fennell was moved to Dean of Faculty. Crossgrove and Suuberg will share the duties that go along with the associate dean position, Suuberg said, but those duties have not been divided yet. “The addition is sorely needed with the initiative for academic enrichment and the expected hiring of additional faculty,” Fennell said. “And the workload is increasing, both in scope and volume.”
Zarda continued from page 16
DOLPHINS (-8.5) over the Bears (Lock of the Week) Guess who’s back? The combination of Jay Fiedler and Cris Carter has the potential to be more successful than Sonny and Cher, Martin and Lewis and the two lesbians from “Cruel Intentions Two.”
But why? Can it really get any better than this? Sampras has a unique opportunity to walk away on top. He would leave behind a legacy unparalleled in men’s tennis and unmatched in sports — the perfect ending to the ultimate career. So, Pete, I’m asking you to hang ’em up. Walk from the game you love, and let us remember you by your grand finale. Maybe I live in a world with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell, but I want the fairy tale. And Pete deserves it.
Joshua Troy ’04 hails from Stamford, Conn., the home of the WWE(F), and is a political science concentrator.
Brett Zarda GS hails from Gainesville, Fla., and wishes everyone a happy and healthy New Year.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
CAMPUS NEWS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2002 · PAGE 5
IN BRIEF Eric Tucker ’02 wins Marshall Scholarship to study at Oxford U. Eric Tucker ’02 was recently awarded a prestigious Marshall Scholarship to study for a Masters of Science in Education Research Methodology at Oxford University. The Marshall grant of around $60,000 generally covers two academic years at either Oxford or Cambridge. Tucker hopes to obtain a Ph.D. in political science and pursue research on urban schools as a professor. Comparable to the Rhodes Scholarship, the Marshall award includes university fees, living expenses, annual book grants, research grants, thesis grants, daily travel grants and airfare to and from the United States. It was established in direct answer to the Rhodes in 1953 as a British gesture of thanks to the people of the United States for the assistance given to them through the Marshall Plan after World War II. Tucker joins the distinguished ranks of other Marshall Scholars including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, Duke University President Nanneri Keohane, “Listening to Prozac” author and psychiatrist Peter Kramer and Stanford Law School Dean Kathleen Sullivan Forty Americans received Marshall Scholarships for 2003. Tucker completed honors theses in both Africana Studies and Public Policy while at Brown, and post-graduation he founded the Providence Urban Debate League, a statewide youth development program dedicated to improving urban schools. Tucker said Brown faculty members played an instrumental role in preparing him for his post-graduate work and supporting him throughout the Marshall Scholarship application process. “Brown offers the best undergraduate program in the country,” he said.“The support, resources and instruction prepared me to succeed.” Tucker also praised the Africana Studies Department, calling it “the finest department of its kind in the world.” “It’s like a family — a very nurturing environment,” he said. — Elena Lesley
Yale pres pleads the fifth when confronted with violating U. regulations Yale University President Richard Levin refused to talk with a coalition of 76 Yale undergraduates who charged him with violating the school’s Undergraduate Regulations on free speech and community relations Thursday. The Undergraduate Organizing Committee charged Yale’s president with misrepresenting university policies, harassing students who were peacefully leafleting, stifling free speech, complying with “the physical restriction, intimidation and coercion of students for their advocacy of unpopular views” and violating Yale bylaws requiring civil and charitable relations with the Yale community. The undergraduate group delivered the charges to College Dean Richard Brodhead and Levin at Yale’s Woodbridge Hall Thursday. Levin confronted the students on the steps of Woodbridge Hall and asked,“If you are going to charge me like this, shouldn’t I have my Fifth Amendment right of silence?”Thomas Frampton, a Yale first-year and Undergraduate Organizing Committee representative, told The Herald. After a three-week investigation, Yale’s Dean’s Committee on Student Grievances will review the complaints, Frampton said. The committee is made up of two Yale administrators, two faculty members and one student. The committee “will recommend the appropriate cause of action to Brodhead, who is the final arbiter in the matter,” Frampton said. According to the coalition’s press release, the charges could result in censure or expulsion from the university. “With thousands of university workers preparing to strike, the deteriorating condition of New Haven’s neighborhoods, and increasing student dissent on campus, students feel it is their ‘only remaining option’ to pursue this severe course of action,” the coalition said in a press release. — Herald staff reports
Zen expert Ferguson traces history of Chinese Buddhism in Middle Ages Recently published author explored Buddhist history through a family tree of disciples that covers 26 generations BY MATTHEW SHOPSIN
Andy Ferguson, author of the recently published book “Zen’s Chinese Heritage,” told the history of the Chinese Zen school of Buddhism from the sixth century to the 11th century in MacMillan Hall Thursday night. Ferguson traced crucial parts of Zen philosophy through its introduction to China from India in the sixth century. He has created a family tree for Zen in Asia over 26 generations showing how teachings were passed on to different disciples. His lecture focused on six teachers in China known as the “six ancestors.” Ferguson’s fluency in Chinese helped him translate many of the inscriptions that have no English equivalent. He traced the geographic route Zen took in China from the six successive ancestors. He showed numerous photographs of old Chinese temples that were in ruins and contrasted those with newer temples that were well preserved. While projects are underway to rebuild temples in honor of Zen’s first three ancestors, Zen followers maintain and use temples that honor later Zen ancestors, Ferguson said. At multiple points in China’s history, including the Cultural Revolution, there have been movements to wipe out Buddhism entirely. Ferguson elaborated on sixth-century Zen beliefs and philosophies. The first Zen ancestor in China, Bodihidarma, was actually from India, he said. “He recognizes the problem of defining truth and seeks to define truth through the nature of life,” Ferguson said. “There was Zen before Bodihidarma, but he sees the idea of sudden enlightenment.” From Bodihidarma on, Chinese Buddhism focused on defining things in terms of the mind, Ferguson said. Ferguson traced the use of the mind to explain enlightenment through future generations of Zen masters in Asia. When asked how the practice of modern-day Zen differs from how it was practiced in ancient China, Ferguson said there is too little evidence of how Zen was practiced in ancient times. “In other schools of Buddhism, they do record the ele-
Matthew Shopsin / Herald
Andy Ferguson traced crucial parts of Zen philosophy through its introduction to China from India in the sixth century. ments of daily practice. In Zen there is more of a focus on dialogue and understanding of our own truth,” he said. While he acknowledged that there are many existing stories about the early Zen ancestors, many of these stories are likely apocryphal, Ferguson said. Audience members said they enjoyed the lecture. “I am glad that more lectures like these are appearing at Brown. It gives a new dimension to hear it from a first hand source,” said Alexander Bazes ’06. “I liked the overview of early Zen teaching in China and combination with modern times, seeing the disconnect with modern places and how China is changing,” said Associate Professor of Physics Brad Monistar.
Bear’s Lair plans to expand exercise facilities The renovation could bring up to 14 new aerobic machines to the center BY CARLA BLUMENKRANZ
The 4 p.m. pileup in the Bear’s Lair exercise room could be a thing of the past as early as next semester, when a student life initiative could bring up to 14 new aerobic machines and expanded hours to the student center. A group of staff and administrators, including Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services Janina Montero and Director of Student Activities David Inman, examined potential sites for new student exercise equipment on Nov. 26. Of the spaces they examined, the group determined the Bear’s Lair could most easily accommodate additional equipment, Inman said. Pending University approval, up to 14 new aerobic machines could arrive in the Bear’s Lair, which currently houses 16 stairclimbers, stationary bikes, treadmills and elliptical machines. The new machines will most likely be housed in the games room, while the ping-pong and air hockey tables would move to the central TV area, Inman said. The group also considered expanding the exercise facility into the current Hourglass Café and moving the café to another location but determined that changing the layout of the games room is the least disruptive option, Inman said. At the same time, increased hours for the Bear’s Lair’s student staff would allow the facility to remain open from about 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., Inman said. Currently, the Bear’s Lair is open from 9 to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Pending University approval, up to 14 new aerobic machines could arrive in the Bear’s Lair. Increased hours for the Bear’s Lair’s student staff would allow the facility to remain open from about 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Currently, the Bear’s Lair is open from 9 to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. According to student frequenters, more equipment and hours are long overdue. At 5 p.m. Thursday, Robin Steiner ’05 said he had been waiting to use an elliptical machine for about 25 minutes. Even once a machine becomes available, he is never able to use it for more than half an hour because of the long line behind him, he said. “It’s ridiculous that it’s closed from 11 to 4,” said Sarah Anderson-Redfern ’04. “It’s a good idea, but it needs to be bigger and open more.” Montero said she won’t comment about the proposal until more information is available. Herald staff writer Carla Blumenkranz ’05 can be reached at cblumenkranz@browndailyherald.com.
PAGE 6 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2002
War continued from page 1 It will be “a Hollywood type.” Cooper Nelson acknowledged some are questioning whether her organization and its petition are over-politicizing Brown or trying to speak for the community. She said that was not the case, but “it’s very important for people in their role in this democracy to have an opinion” and be able to show it. However, Cooper Nelson does not think that signing a petition is something taken lightly or “something you do every day,” she said. “I see this in the very simplest way political.” Vallabhaneni said her goal is to get all 300 medical students to sign the petition. “I think we are going to easily reach our goal of 1,000 signatures,” she said. “I don’t really believe (the petition) will make George Bush take the February date off the calendar,” Cooper Nelson said, referring to reports of a Bush plan to invade Iraq next year that she said she heard from members of U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee’s staff. Vallabhaneni agrees. “I don’t
think that this one petition will stop the war, but even if the war does happen, it’s important for people to know we’re opposed,” she said. Most importantly, the Faculty, Alums and Staff Against the War hopes its petition will encourage other groups to join the discourse about the war, Cooper Nelson said. “I have respect for the expression of all points of view,” she said. Buhle said he hopes the organization’s efforts will be much like the student protests of the 1960s that spread from the college campuses and helped end the Vietnam War. The current emergence of progressive zeal is “part of a rebuilding of an idealistic spirit and self confidence in democracy,” he said. “I believe this is another mass social movement from below.” The local increase in antiwar and progressive sentiment is directly related to Brown graduates remaining in the Providence area to work at non-profit organizations and fight for social justice, Buhle said. These Brown alums were “met by an upsurge of progressive politics in Providence,” he said. It is “something of a groundswell,” Cooper Nelson
said. “It is a way for folks at Brown to show their strength.” In the past, Brown’s impact on Providence has been from the elite end or the more conservative side. Now some local graduates and staff members are helping link “together movements in Providence,” Buhle said. “This has been a tremendously positive development.” Buhle believes the renewed progressive feel today is because “there is something very remarkable about Providence and Brown.” It is “outside the white bread culture of American dominant culture.” RISD has always been the bohemian center of Rhode Island and that Providence has always been a “funky place.” Today, Providence is like a “mini-Greenwich Village in the 1910s.” There are progressive politics, bohemian art and a new excitement, Buhle said. Working with the organization is “exciting because I’m working with some of my old professors. … I hadn’t though of them as possible partners before,” Vallabhaneni said. Herald staff writer Dylan Brown ’03 can be reached at dbrown@browndailyherald.com.
UCS continued from page 1 Sanders said. “Therefore it is much more likely that they will receive specific funding from donations than it would have been if we brought these ideas to light after the campaign had begun.” The list was compiled with feedback from UCS members and students at large, Sanders said. Campus Life Committee members interviewed hundreds of students, and students could voice their opinions at two town meetings earlier this year. “The list addresses a severe dearth of student services,” Feliz said. “Clearly there’s a need for more social space, space that contributes to the quality of life here at Brown.” Sanders agreed that the most important theme is space. “Whether
West Side continued from page 3 expecting the traditional Hollywood musical Jerome Robbins immortalized in 1961. The gangs have girls, the cast is diverse and some of the characters fish their costumes and props out of a
social space, performance space or study space, there is currently an embarrassing lack of space on campus, and I see remedying this problem as the most important longterm goal, for it alone will solve many of the other current problems with campus life,” he said. The new document complements a list of short-term priorities submitted to Janina Montero, vice president for campus life and student services, on Oct. 21. That list includes recommendations for installing small recreational areas, e-mail kiosks and more 24-hour study spaces. It calls for more campus-wide and traditional events, as well as improvements in sophomore advising and reductions in textbook costs. Herald staff writer Jonathan Ellis ’06 covers the Undergraduate Council of Students. He can be reached at jellis@browndailyherald.com.
box right in front of the audience. But all the things that make “West Side Story” great remain: the songs, the dancing and the timeless story, allowing the departures to give the show a refreshing kick. Herald staff writer Jen Sopchockchai ’05 can be reached at jsopchockchai@browndailyherald.com.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
WORLD & NATION FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2002 · PAGE 7
Church leader in China on hunger strike in jail BEIJING (Washington Post) — The leader
of an underground Chinese church, sentenced to life in prison during a closely watched trial, has gone on a hunger strike to protest his jailers’ refusal to allow him to write letters and file an appeal, a religious activist said Thursday. Gong Shengliang, founder of the South China Church, has refused to eat since Nov. 14, said Xiqiu Fu, an advocate for religious freedom in China based in the United States. Fu cited sources familiar with the situation inside the Jingmen detention center in Hubei province, where Gong is being held. Gong leads a vibrant evangelical Protestant group in China that claims about 100,000 members. Started in 1991, it has dispatched missionaries throughout China and is known to be active in 10 provinces. Though it was illegal to do so in China, the South China Church operated a seminary, a publishing house and a bimonthly magazine. Gong was sentenced to life in prison on Oct. 10 in a case that underscored China’s off-again, on-again persecution of Christian groups operating outside government-tolerated religious organizations. Twelve other members of his church were also sentenced to terms ranging from life to two years. Gong’s case illustrated the tensions between the more progressive factions within the central government, who have sought to modify the most repressive of China’s religious practices, and local authorities in Hubei province, who are committed to smashing the sect. It also showed the effect that an international human rights campaign can have on the courts. Gong was originally sentenced to death in December 2001 by a court in Hubei for various crimes, including “using an evil cult to undermine the enforcement of the law.” That crime has become popular for security services to apply since China began its crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement in 1999. Gong Shengliang had also been accused of raping some of his followers. Kim-kwong Chan, a Hong Kongbased expert on Christianity in China, and other sources familiar with the case said such charges, while occasionally true, are usually tacked on by police or prosecutors to justify a death sentence. Gong’s initial sentence sparked an outcry from Christian groups, which argued that Gong’s church did not qualify as a cult under Chinese law. As the visit of President Jiang Zemin to President Bush’s Texas ranch last October drew near, Chinese officials contacted advisers on Christianity in Hong Kong to seek guidance, sources said. Hubei’s highest court threw out the death sentence Sept. 22 along with the cult charges, which was taken as a sign Beijing had interceded. In a retrial a few weeks later, Gong was given a life sentence, but several of his codefendants were cleared. However, authorities in Jingmen rearrested four of them and sent them to labor camps in a move that was privately criticized by officials in Beijing.
Newscom
Passenger fill the United Airlines terminal Thursday at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Ill. UAL's request for $ 1.8 billion in federal loan guarantees was rejected, pushing the carrier to the brink of bankruptcy.
United bankruptcy filing may trigger changes across the airline industry As United files for bankruptcy due to recordbreaking losses, labor union contracts may be renegotiated, and some flights may be eliminated (Baltimore Sun) — A widely anticipated bankruptcy filing by United Airlines could provide the industry with the catalyst it needs to slash costs, renegotiate union contracts and eliminate unprofitable flights as part of an industrywide restructuring aimed at stemming record-setting losses. When it’s over, labor unions will have less clout and consumers will enjoy fewer perks as airlines start to look and behave more like their low-cost, no-frills competitors, analysts said Thursday. A few airlines, such as Arlington, Va.-based US Airways, may not survive the shakeout, some added. But it all depends on whether Chicago-based United successfully uses Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings to drastically cut costs and force the entire industry in a new direction that reverses years of excesses driven by the stock market boom of the late 1990s. “The irony of the bankruptcy is that through it, United stands the potential of defining the cost structure and efficiency level of the whole industry — if they do it right,” said Henry H. Harteveldt, an industry analyst for Forrester Research Inc. Shares of beleaguered UAL Corp., the
airline’s parent, slid 68 percent to close at $1 Thursday after being halted for most of the morning. The battering came a day after the Bush administration rejected the airline’s plea for a federal loan guarantee considered crucial to its plans to avoid bankruptcy. A bankruptcy filing would make the company’s shares all but worthless. United declined to say if it will file for Chapter 11 protection, but analysts said such a move seems inevitable unless it comes up with nearly $2 billion in financing on its own. The carrier still has the option of resubmitting its loan application to the federal Air Transportation Stabilization Board, which was set up after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to help struggling airlines. Consumers aren’t likely to feel any immediate impact if the company files. United would continue to fly in bankruptcy, just as US Airways has since it filed for bankruptcy in August. Analysts said a bankruptcy filing would give United considerable leverage in negotiating with its banks, vendors and unions as it tries to squeeze more costs out of its system. A smaller United Airlines also would be beneficial to competitors. American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc. and Continental Airlines Inc. could pick up market share as United shrinks and consumers flee to the competition. Those airlines could also have an easier time raising ticket prices as their market share grows. “There’s blood in the water; they can smell it,” said Bill Oliver, an aviation analyst with the Boyd Group, an
Evergreen, Colo., consulting company. “They see this as an opportunity to enhance their own revenue by attracting passengers away from United.” Part of the problem is that United has some of the highest costs in the industry, spending about 11.3 cents to fly one airline seat one mile, a key industry measure. That’s almost 20 percent more than some of its main competitors and comes largely as a result of expensive labor contracts negotiated in the mid-1990s. United’s generosity emboldened unions at rival carriers, analysts said, contributing to spiraling labor costs throughout the industry. “Many (airline executives) feel United caused this problem,” said Ray Neidl, an airline analyst with Blaylock & Partners. But a bankrupt United could help solve it. As it cuts costs as part of a restructuring, other carriers may soon find themselves playing catch-up again. American, which passed United last year to become the world’s largest carrier, would be the most vulnerable. It spends about 11.5 cents to fly one seat one mile. By contrast, low-fare leader Southwest Airlines, the only airline to post a profit this year, spends between 7 cents and 8 cents. Unions will be under increasing pressure to accept new work rules that increase productivity. For example, pilots at United are contracted to fly about 75 hours per month, but the actual number comes in at around 60 because of work rule restrictions, said Robert Agnew, an airline consultant with Morten Beyer & Agnew Inc. By contrast, Southwest pilots fly about 80 hours per month.
PAGE 8 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2002
Groups contend new campaign finance law further disenfranchises the poor WASHINGTON (Washington Post) —
The nation’s new campaign finance law discriminates against low-income Americans because it doubles the amount that individuals can give a candidate, rendering small donations ineffective, lawyers told a panel of federal judges in Washington Thursday. On the second and final day of hearings on the McCainFeingold campaign finance bill, lawyers for a group of lowincome plaintiffs and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group told the three-judge panel that by allowing individuals to donate up to $2,000 to a presidential or congressional candidate, the new law effectively disenfranchises the poor. The limits apply to so-called hard money, which the national political parties still can raise and spend. The law, which took effect a month ago, bars the national parties from raising “soft money,” which are unlimited contributions from corporations, interest
groups and others. “Under the hard money increases ... bundling (contributions) from the well-connected will grow to be intolerable,” said the group’s lawyer, John Bonifaz. “The First Amendment isn’t the only issue at stake here. There’s also equal protection, and that must include equal protection of the poor.” Bonifaz cited a study concluding that one-tenth of 1 percent of the voting-age population made contributions of $1,000 or more in the 1999-2000 election cycle. Yet those funds accounted for about half of the total donated by individuals. He said that wealthy, corporate donors often “bundle” such donations by canvassing business associates, friends and family members to put together huge contributions. Under the new law, a bundle of $2,000 hard-money donations would overwhelm the $10 and $20 donations that low-income voters can afford, said Stephanie
Glacial melt fattens earth, poses flood, water problems A team of researchers from Belgium and California has confirmed that Earth is becoming more pumpkinshaped (Baltimore Sun) — The melting of
Earth’s glaciers is making the planet fatter, and scientists say if the trend continues, it could increase flooding, beach erosion and water shortages worldwide. A team of researchers from Belgium and California has confirmed that Earth is becoming more pumpkin-shaped and concluded that it is because glaciers are melting and sending more water into the oceans. “There’s been a melting of the glaciers, a rise in the oceans and a redistribution of the mass of the oceans,” said Jean O. Dickey, a geophysicist at the California Institute of Technology’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Research at the Jet Propulsion Lab and the Royal Observatory of Belgium shows that melting glacier ice is flowing into the oceans and forcing sea levels to rise — albeit in a small way — along the equator. Dickey said the study, to be published in Friday’s issue of Science, pinpointed the warmer weather created by El Nino in 1997 and 1998 as a likely short-term cause. But she said future studies may show that it is also the result of longer-term climate change. “I feel it’s global warming, but we still can’t say for sure,” she said. Earth has always been a little thick around the middle, because its rotation causes a bulge along the equator, according to Dickey and other scientists. Measurements show the planet’s diameter to be about 26
miles longer through the equator than through the poles. A U.S. Geological Survey report released in May says many of Earth’s 160,000 glaciers have been shrinking for more than a century. Other research has shown a correlation between the thinning of the glaciers and increasing global temperatures. Bruce Molnia, a glacial geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, said that so much of Earth’s water was tied up in glacial ice at the end of the last ice age 18,000 years ago that the oceans off North and South America were 300 feet lower than they are now. “Glaciers come and go over time,” he said. In August, a team of researchers at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center reported in Science that Earth began getting plumper around the equator in 1998. The researchers bounced laser beams off satellites and measured Earth’s surface based on the amount of time it took for the beams to bounce back to earth. The cause of the changing shape of the planet detected in that study was unknown until Dickey’s team analyzed records dating back to the 1960s on ice and ocean levels. The study shows melting ice has raised ocean levels from 4 to 7 millimeters along the equator since 1997, Dickey said. More drastic changes to Earth’s shape would affect the rate at which it rotates, with an even fatter planet spinning more slowly. Dickey said the findings have ramifications for flooding and beach erosion in tropical areas and coastal communities. It also means a loss of fresh water to the oceans on an increasingly thirsty planet. “Superimposed over normal sea level rises, it’s not an insignificant amount,” she said.
Wilson, executive director of the Fannie Lou Hamer Project, a voter-rights group named after a Mississippi civil rights activist. “I’m a single parent with three kids, worried about health care and day care,” Wilson said. “But I should still be able to meaningfully participate in the electoral system. Under the new law, I think my $10 donation would buy me absolutely nothing.” The three-judge panel is composed of Karen Henderson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and U.S. District judges Colleen Kollar-Kotelly and Richard Leon. Henderson hinted Wednesday that the panel may render a decision by late January. From there, the case is expected to move immediately on appeal to the Supreme Court. Henderson said at the close of the hearing that the panel would unseal all documents in the case in the coming weeks unless lawyers could convince the court the information should remain private.
Hussein decries U.S. but welcomes U.N. inspections BAGHDAD, Iraq (Washington Post) —
President Saddam Hussein said Thursday his government will continue to tolerate intrusive U.N. arms inspections with the hope they will disprove American allegations that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction, suggesting the intense anger here over a surprise search of one his palaces would not lead Iraq to eject the inspectors. The Iraqi leader alternated between magnanimous and caustic comments in his first public comments since the inspections began a week ago. In a rambling, seemingly extemporaneous televised address to top government and military officials, he said he will comply with the searches “to keep our people out of harm’s way” in the face of “unjust, arrogant, debased American tyranny.” Iraqi and U.S. officials alike have criticized the inspectors’ performance in their first week on the job. Hussein’s support for them Thursday — and his avoidance of much of the bellicose rhetoric that often infuses his speeches — appeared to be an attempt, at least in part, to defy American characterizations of him as a dangerous, war-hungry tyrant and instead cast himself as tolerant and peace-minded. “Some might claim we didn’t give them the proper chance to resist, with tangible evidence, the American allegations that Iraq produced weapons of mass destruction during the period of the inspectors’ absence,” Hussein said, according to an English translation of his speech provided by the Information Ministry. Hussein did not make clear to whom he was referring, but it could have been the inspectors, members of his own inner circle or other Arab leaders, several whom have acquiesced to U.S. requests for support in the event the Bush administration carries through on its threats of war.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2002 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD PAGE 9
General strike reaches fourth day in Venezuela Turmoil deepens over Chavez presidency CARACAS, Venezuela (Washington Post) — A four-day-old general
strike called to push President Hugo Chavez from office disrupted Venezuela’s vital oil industry Thursday, and the streets of Caracas filled with rival partisan crowds, leading Chavez to warn of an imminent coup attempt and urge supporters to stand by his populist government in the days ahead. The president’s warning came after the captains of seven tankers that belong to the national oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, dropped anchor and joined the strike — a defiant threat to the government’s main source of revenue. The tankers represent more than half of the company’s fleet and about 25 percent of its total shipping capacity. The captains refused to resume work even after Chavez warned that he intended to use military force to take over the idle craft and force them to haul their normal loads. Late Thursday afternoon on Lake Maracaibo, witnesses said the navy boarded the tanker Pilin Leon, which was carrying 280,000 barrels of gasoline, but it was unclear whether it took control. The other ships, which Chavez called “pirated,” apparently remained on strike. Opposition leaders announced that the strike will continue at least another day, reflecting a decision to continue a financially punishing protest for as long as it takes to force concessions from the government. The announcement further complicated negotiations to end the increasingly tense standoff and raised fears of gasoline shortages and cancellation of oil shipments to the United States and other foreign customers. Chavez, who until Thursday had dismissed the strike as a
media-driven display destined for failure, said in a national address that the opposition was organizing the type of events that preceded his brief ouster in April, when street protests and an oil strike provoked a military-led coup. He called on Venezuelans “to reflect so you won’t be manipulated again,” even as he called his opponents “fascists” and “coup-mongers.” “There is a plan in progress to defeat the constitutional government,” said Chavez, who canceled a trip to Brazil. “These are groups of subversives, groups of destabilizers. I won’t say opposition, a democratic opposition, which we still do not have in this country.” The president’s comments demonstrated the escalating rhetoric on both sides of a broad ideological divide that has brought Venezuela, the United States’ third-largest oil supplier, to the brink of more political violence. After tacitly endorsing the failed coup carried out by senior military officers in April — and making clear its distaste for Chavez and his class-based populism — the Bush administration has been careful in public to urge a peaceful and legal resolution of the crisis this time, preferably through new elections. But Chavez, a former army colonel elected twice on a leftist platform, has refused to resign or move up presidential elections now scheduled for 2006, as his opponents have demanded. He must go, they say, because he has ignored the constitution, ruined the economy and allied the country with Cuba. Chavez, who retains a large following among Venezuela’s poor, claims he’s the victim of a privileged elite displaced by his 1998 victory on a pledge to bring a “social revolution” to country rich in oil but where more than half the 23 million people still live in poverty.
Newscom
Demonstrators opposed to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez march near the headquarters of Petroleums of Venezuela in Caracas. Chavez ordered troops to protect Venezuelan oil installations as he condemned the organizers of a four day old general strike to press him to stand down.The embattled leader told the navy and air force to reclaim three oil tankers taken over in a protest by their crews and gave a personal guarantee that the strike would not hold up deliveries of oil from the world's number five exporter to other countries.
PAGE 10 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2002
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
OPINIONS EXTRA FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2002 · PAGE 11
Sports Utility Vehicles: a gas-guzzling menace to society Both the press and the public are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and objectivity of news coverage WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES FACING cantly more gas than other options, why college students today, it is easy to see do they continue to purchase them? Is it how the simple act of getting from one the overpowering lure of the advertising place to another may seem like a trivial that makes people disregard their detail. We all have places to go and peo- impact — those big open spaces we ple to see, and it may seem like the wish we could explore? I sure hope not, because the thought of overvehicle we choose has no privileged college students significant impact on anyhoping to fulfill some lost one other than ourselves. SARAH GILBERT connection to the wilderUnfortunately, this not the GUEST COLUMN ness through the purchase case, and the Brown student of a vehicle (an environmenbody, concerned with higher tally damaging vehicle that learning and the world at large, has a responsibility to start think- nine times out of 10 they will never take ing carefully about the choices we even remotely near a tree) is just too pathetic. make. Perhaps it is the myth of safety — the A close look at any University parking lot will demonstrate the extent to which idea that a SUV will likely crush any we are simply not putting any serious other car it hits — that motivates some thought into our transportation choices. I to purchase these vehicles. This answer understand that there are some pretty is also a little depressing. Since when did steep hills in Providence and, here and “safety” come to be based on pulverizing there, even a few pot holes. But a the smaller guy? In truth, SUVs do not Pathfinder? A Yukon? An Expedition? have to meet the high level of safety Why? Sports Utility Vehicles represent standards that passenger cars do, due to U.S. over-consumption at its worst. In some antiquated legislation that classiaddition to being excessive and unneces- fies SUVs as “small trucks.” In terms of sary, SUVs also damage the environment actual vehicle safety, SUVs have poor and endanger the health of everyone side impact safety and a high instance of rollovers. around them. Perhaps one reason people are still If people know that SUVs use signifipurchasing SUVs is that they are simply not fully aware of their impact. SUVs Sarah Gilbert ’05 is a student at RISD. She use more gas, but so what? How does is also a proud graduate of The Shipley that really affect anything? One concern School in Bryn Mawr, Pa.
is simple resource consumption. The United States uses a drastically disproportionate amount of resources, especially oil, and purchasing an SUV flaunts this wealth and wasteful consumption. Another concern is climate change. SUVs burn more gas than cars and consequently have higher carbon dioxide emissions, which lead to global warming. Whether or not you care about the habitats and species that are immediately affected by climate change, it is pure hubris to believe that human beings can survive without the basic systems that support ecological existence. Another concern with high automobile emissions has to do with public health. Damage to the environment does not exclusively affect birds and trees. This is the air you breathe! Growing rates of asthma and other respiratory problems, especially among young children, are public health threats that are being greatly exacerbated by automobile emissions. For many students, the aforementioned problems with SUVs and automobile emissions are not breaking news. In fact, at a place like Brown, many students are probably fairly familiar with these concepts. Yet parking lots are still full of SUVs. Perhaps, then, the problem is that we just don’t care enough about our impact on the
environment in the first place. If our predominant culture is simply not as concerned with the environment or public health as it is with status symbols and ostentatious displays of wealth, than SUVs are just another example of U.S. overindulgence. But what about Brown? Do educated students at a good university have a responsibility (or a desire) to question the norm and seek out more sustainable alternatives? The alternatives are out there, and they are surprisingly easy to find. Look down! You have feet! There are also skateboards, roller blades, bicycles and, for those of us who need more substantial forms of personal transportations, hybrid vehicles. Contrary to popular belief, hybrid vehicles are readily available (they even make hybrid SUVs if you really need one), affordable and easy to maintain. The only thing required to make hybrid happen on a larger scale is some effort. People need to take some initiative and educate themselves on alternative options before purchasing a vehicle. More importantly, an effort needs to be made to change the relative social value of SUVs and hybrids. SUVs are not status symbols. They are shameful symbols of flagrant over-consumption and public endangerment, and this must be recognized.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
OPINIONS EXTRA FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2002 · PAGE 12
Getting the University to improve amenities for students The top 10 inadequacies that plague Brown students, from too few psychologists to too many Macs IN SPITE OF THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS the University has, it still manages to fall short in taking care of its students. The optimal learning environment for the student is being sacrificed for useless bottled Brown University water and enormous flower arrangements for the administration. Here are the top 10 changes that will improve student life at the University.
stock Diet Dr. Pepper. A vast number of students here only drink diet sodas. Diet Coke competes only with Cherry Coke for most-often restocked soda at the Ratty. Yet when Cherry Coke runs out, high-fructose corn syrup drinkers can revert to any number of other sodas and drinks. Meanwhile diet soda drinkers — including the Kosher-for-Passover minded Jewish community — must wait 30 minutes for their only available sweet drink to be refilled.
10. The University needs to employ more psychologists who may be seen for more than five visits before pawn8. Dorm showers need to be ing their students off to commade larger with better showmunity psychologists. erheads. Brown is home to many with SHIRIN LUA OSKOOI YOU’RE SO VAIN... Taking into account the deeply-rooted, complex psymucus-filled clumps of long chological issues that need to hair sticking to the walls and be dealt with. This University is other bodily filth, standing also home to many who pit their issues against each another, however space in dorm showers is extremely limited. frivolous they may be, to compete for the It is nearly impossible for long-haired indihonor of having overcome the most/worst viduals to wash their hair without it rubbing battles. Our own psychologists understand up against the shower curtain and walls. this dynamic better than any community There’s no room to shave one’s legs without psychiatrist can. The University needs to rubbing one’s entire body up against the ensure its students the best possible condi- curtain and walls. And one’s shower caddy is also supposed to fit in there. Furthermore, tions to learn. the uncontrollable water pressure varies so that one must always be on the alert to 9. All campus food establishments need to avoid being painfully blasted by water or stuck freezing in the shower, unable to wash Shirin Lua Oskooi ’05 prefers Quilted the shampoo out of one’s hair. Northern.
7. No suites should be definitively unisex. College students are adults; furthermore, they are adults preparing to live in the real world. Women and men who want to live together should not be limited to the few hard-to-get, coed-allowed areas. Existing non-coed conditions force friends to separate or to take undesirable rooms that are at least located in the same building. Only when the University randomly assigns someone to a suite should gender be monitored, if the person has not otherwise consented to living among both genders. 6. The University needs to furnish all classrooms with Kleenex. There exists some person who sniffles and slurps his snot through every lecture and every exam because tissues are not readily available. Professors deem it rude when some brave pioneer walks over to the person and hands him a Kleenex. 5. All pets should be allowed in the dorms so long as they are caged. Beyond their concern for students with allergies, the University does not want to be responsible for animal attacks for insurance reasons. This is reasonable, but so is a cage. Pet lovers should at least be accommodated with an “Animals Allowed” building. 4. The Brown University Police Officers need to be armed.
Then we won’t even need to bring in the National Guard for Kent State to happen all over again. 3. The University needs to lighten up about student-owned weapons. The University’s weapons clause states, “Knives and other cutting instruments, including martial arts devices, are not permitted in any University residence hall” (“Habitat”). Believe it or not, there are students who sell Cutco Cutlery here; this rule is therefore inconsiderate to the working student. Also, silverware left in the kitchens is often stolen. And what about scissors, nail clippers and razors? 2. The University needs to replace the Macintoshes in the CIT cluster with more printers and PCs. The way it is now, throughout the day, there are always several students waiting for a PC while most of the Macs remain unused. While the Macs can also be used for printing, they are slow and inconvenient, especially when running Microsoft Word, the word processor of choice here, even for Mac owners. 1. The University needs to invest in softer toilet paper for the dorms. Perhaps it can buy the same two-ply it buys for the English Department building, lest we all become hard asses.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
OPINIONS EXTRA FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2002 · PAGE 13
Human Rights Day is a call to action for Brown students On Dec. 10, college campuses across the country will be holding rallies to support human rights for all people DEC. 10 WILL BE CELEBRATED ALL OVER other day, but they have also been using the world as International Human Rights depleted uranium tipped weapons. Day. Unfortunately, 54 years after the Depleted uranium (DU) is a dangerous United Nations adopted the Universal radioactive material that not only affects Declaration of Human Rights, people all the target of the bullet but also releases a over the world still suffer from a lack of toxic cloud of radioactive dust that gets into drinking water. Internalized basic human rights such as DU is acknowledged to cause access to health care and kidney damage, cancers of the clean drinking water. In Iraq SHARON MULLIGAN lung and bone, non-malignant specifically, people struggle GUEST COLUMN respiratory disease, skin disorevery day to have the basic ders, neurocognitive disorders, things that American college chromosomal damage and students take for granted: defects (Encyclopaedia of knowing that we can find food and that birth our hospitals will not be bombed. The Occupational Health and Safety). The U.S. government is also destroyU.S. sanctions against Iraq, the 10 years of continuous bombing and the U.S. govern- ing Iraq with sanctions. The purported ment’s plan to declare all-out war on Iraq goal of sanctions is to convince Saddam are violations of the Iraqi people’s human Hussein to disarm. These have been rights. This is not justified by any need to going on for over 10 years, and Saddam remove Saddam Hussein or the supposed hasn’t satisfied U.S. requirement, so sanctions continue. Obviously, they threat of weapons of mass destruction. Yes, Hussein is also violating the Iraqi have no effect on Hussein and the Iraqi people’s rights, but invading the country elite, who stay rich and safe in palaces, will not improve their lives. The conse- but they do hurt the ordinary people, quences of an escalated attack outweigh blocking things like medicines, chlorine any possible benefits of a regime change, to clean drinking water (necessary and the United States will not put in a gov- because the United States has bombed ernment for the people but one that is water sources), ambulances and other resources needed for basic health. One friendly to U.S. interests. The U.S. military has not only been million people have died since the end bombing Iraq for a decade as often as every of the Gulf War as a direct result of these sanctions, according to the U.N. Right now the Iraqis are too busy worrying Sharon Mulligan ’05 is a member of NAVA. about surviving to organize any indigeThis is her first column for The Herald.
“People all over the world still suffer from a lack of basic human rights, such as health care and clean drinking water ... basic things college students take for granted. ” nous opposition to Hussein’s government, but this is the only way to create a democracy. A U.S.-installed government would not be the will of the Iraqi citizens. If the U.S. government really wanted to help the Iraqis create a democracy, it would lift sanctions. The U.S. government has basically decided to attack Iraq regardless of the results of the weapons inspections. If the U.N. inspectors find anything, the bombing will start; if no weapons are discovered, the government will accuse Iraq of lying and concealing arms, justifying an attack anyway. According to The Sun, the Pentagon is readying troops and planes in preparation for starting an attack on Dec. 16, which would last into mid-January. It is
unlikely that we can stop the war before it starts, but the peace movement across the country is growing and putting more and more pressure on the Bush Administration. Groups are joining the movement who are not typically thought of as peace activists. The labor movement, coalitions of churches, veterans, businesspeople and immigrants are all adding their voices against the war. We can show Bush that he does not have a mandate from the American people to invade Iraq, stop the war as soon as possible and get our government to lift sanctions. The lives of Iraqis depend on it. Let us ensure human rights for all. This is why American students have declared Dec. 10 to be a National Student Day of Action. On college campuses across the country, students will be holding rallies, marches and protests to raise their voices against the war, and for human rights for all people, shouting, “NO WAR, NO WAY!” NAVA (Not Another Victim Anywhere), the Brown Anti-War Coalition, and other students and faculty will be holding a rally at 11:30 a.m. in front of the SciLi and CIT with speakers, hip-hop and spoken word. Then we will march downtown to the park in front of the Federal Building and meet up with students from other colleges and Providence community members.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
EDITORIAL/LETTERS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2002 · PAGE 14 S T A F F
E D I T O R I A L
Diamonds and coal A diamond to the V-Dub for its entertaining suggestion wall. Most establishments have a suggestion box, but the V-Dub makes it fun and lets you read other people’s inane suggestions. Coal to the Undergraduate Resources Committee for deciding on the upcoming budget, tuition and fees in secret and not sharing the results of their deliberations with the community. If the V-Dub can be open about decision making, why can’t the URC? A diamond to former Mayor Vincent Cianci, who is currently on his way to the big house. We hope your experience is more “Goodfellas” than “Oz.” Coal to “the department” — by that we mean the Theater Department and its self-appointed “representative,” Jeff. Stop calling us. Speaking of people who should stop calling us … coal to Pacifica House. We laugh at your e-mails. We all make fun of your phone calls. Stop embarrassing yourselves. You’re going to bubble up. A diamond to the new campus group, Brown Faculty, Alums and Staff Against the War. On a campus known for student activism, it’s nice to see these individuals joining in on the protests. An entire diamond mine to Director of the Brown News Service Mark Nickel — Brown’s most underrated administrator. You put up with our incessant phone calls. You let us pester you at home. And you were clearly once a corn-fed Midwesterner with thorough knowledge of mice, mice control and the effects that small rodents have on community living environments. Thank you. A diamond to the Bear’s Lair’s (long overdue) extended hours and Director of Student Activities David Inman’s promise of new machines. But coal to the treadmill tyrants … you know who you are. Coal to anyone who self-identifies as a heartless capitalist. If you manage money, you have responsibility. Don’t skirt it.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD EDITORIAL Seth Kerschner, Editor-in-Chief David Rivello, Editor-in-Chief Will Hurwitz, Executive Editor Sheryl Shapiro, Executive Editor Beth Farnstrom, Senior Editor Elena Lesley, News Editor Brian Baskin, Campus Watch Editor Carla Blumenkranz, Arts & Culture Editor Stephanie Harris, Academic Watch Editor Juliette Wallack, Metro Editor Victoria Harris, Opinions Editor
BUSINESS Stacey Doynow, General Manager Jamie Wolosky, Executive Manager Joe Laganas, Senior Accounts Manager Moon-Suk Oh, Marketing Manager David Zehngut, National Accounts Manager Lawrence Hester, University Accounts Manager Bill Louis, University Accounts Manager Hyebin Joo, Local Accounts Manager Jungdo Yu, Local Accounts Manager Tugba Erem, Local Accounts Manager Jack Carrere, Noncomm Accounts Manager Laurie-Ann Paliotti, Sr. Advertising Rep. Genia Gould, Advertising Rep. Kate Sparaco, Office Manager
ANDREW SHEETS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
ResLife off-campus South no more racist policy exploits juniors than other U.S. regions To the Editor: It should be apparent to the University that money does not grow on trees (“ResLife restricts off-campus permission to make up for impending budget shortfall,” 12/5); it needs to realize that is true for students as well. Juniors returning from study abroad who have already signed leases for off-campus housing are going to be expected to live on-campus, which will tack $5,000 to their bill, unless they find some way to get out of their lease. That means they will most likely have to pay for both on- and off-campus housing. Not only is this unfair, but it shows an inherent weakness in Brown’s housing system. The University has a forced monopoly on housing. Brown’s housing is more expensive (I could save $1,000 by living off campus next year) and of a lower quality than surrounding apartments for rent. Forcing returning juniors to stay on campus is a shameless exploitation of a situation that is already unfair. Essentially, if Residential Life wants a better looking budget, they should improve housing and charge a market price, rather than exploiting undergraduates, so that more students will stay on campus by choice.
To the Editor: I understand that Joshua Skolnick’s ’04 column “Lean pickings for the Democratic party in 2004?” (12/4) was tongue-in-cheek and that its shallow statements are not intended as serious commentary, but I still have a bone to pick. Skolnick says of Senator Lieberman’s potential candidacy, “It’s hard to envision many voters in the South running to the polls to vote for an Orthodox Jew from the Northeast.” Even if his comment is not serious, little insults like this tend to piss me off. It is possible that Skolnick would enjoy being stereotyped as a racist based on his place of origin; I however do not. It is a common misconception that racism is more prevalent in the South than in other parts of our country, when the fact of the matter is that racism has historically been expressed differently in the South than in other places. Racism is no less prevalent in other regions of the country. It is my belief that more Southerners will judge Sen. Lieberman by his politics than by his ethnicity.
Rob Sand ’05 Dec. 5
Aaron Fritschner ’06 Dec. 5
Sanders Kleinfeld, Opinions Editor PRODUCTION Marion Billings, Design Editor Bronwyn Bryant, Asst. Design Editor Ilena Frangista, Listings Editor Julia Zuckerman, Copy Desk Chief
P O S T- M A G A Z I N E Kerry Miller, Editor-in-Chief Zach Frechette, Executive Editor Morgan Clendaniel, Film Editor Dan Poulson, Calendar Editor Alex Carnevale, Features Editor Theo Schell-Lambert, Music Editor
Jonathan Skolnick, Copy Desk Chief Andrew Sheets, Graphics Editor Kimberly Insel, Photography Editor Jason White, Asst.Photography Editor Brett Cohen, Systems Manager
SPORTS Joshua Troy, Sports Editor Nick Gourevitch, Asst. Sports Editor Jermaine Matheson, Asst. Sports Editor Alicia Mullin, Asst. Sports Editor
Marion “La Belle” Billings, Night Editor Marc “Treats” Debush, Julia “Smarter than All of Us” Zuckerman, Copy Editors Staff Writers Kathy Babcock, Zach Barter, Brian Baskin, Jonathan Bloom, Carla Blumenkranz, Oliver Bowers, Danielle Cerny, Jinhee Chung, Maria Di Mento, Jonathan Ellis, Nicholas Foley, Dana Goldstein, Alan Gordon, Nick Gourevitch, Joanna Grossman, Stephanie Harris, Victoria Harris, Shara Hegde, Brian Herman, Momoko Hirose, Akshay Krishnan, Brent Lang, Elena Lesley, Jamay Liu, Lisa Mandle, Jermaine Matheson, Monique Meneses, Kerry Miller, Alicia Mullin, Crystal Z.Y. Ng, Juan Nunez, Joanne Park, Sara Perkins, Melissa Perlman, Cassie Ramirez, Amy Ruddle, Emir Senturk, Jen Sopchockchai, Adam Stella, Anna Stubblefield, Stefan Talman, Jonathon Thompson, Joshua Troy, Juliette Wallack, Jessica Weisberg, Ellen Wernecke, Julia Zuckerman Pagination Staff Bronwyn Bryant, Jessica Chan, Melissa Epstein, Joshua Gootzeit, Caroline Healy, Hana Kwan, Erika Litvin, Stacy Wong Staff Photographers Josh Apte, Nick Mark, Makini Chisolm-Straker, Allison Lauterbach, Maria Schriber, Allie Silverman Copy Editors Anastasia Ali, Lanie Davis, Marc Debush, Yafang Deng, Hanne Eisenfeld, Emily Flier, George Haws, Daniel Jacobson, Eliza Katz, Blair Nelsen, Amy Ruddle, Janis Sethness
COMMENTARY POLICY The staff editorial is the majority opinion of the editorial board of The Brown Daily Herald. The editorial viewpoint does not necessarily reflect the views of The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. Columns and letters reflect the opinions of their authors only. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY Send letters to letters@browndailyherald.com. Include a telephone number with all letters. The Herald reserves the right to edit all letters for length and cannot assure the publication of any letter. Please limit letters to 250 words. Under special circumstances writers may request anonymity, but no letter will be printed if the author’s identity is unknown to the editors. Announcements of events will not be printed. ADVERTISING POLICY The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. reserves the right to accept or decline any advertisement in its discretion.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
OPINIONS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2002 · PAGE 15
Ruminations on the nature of representation in media Political involvement by the vast majority of citizens is the only way to ensure the greatest good for the greatest number WITH THE END OF MY TENURE AS “the newspaper,” and all media. In theory, if Opinions Editor imminent, I feel compelled The Herald doesn’t represent its constituento write — perhaps out of an egotistic fear of cy through the composition of its staff, at again being the edited, when I have become least it can report news that is, objectively, used to the power of my red pen across other’s the most important to its readers. However, work, perhaps because of academia’s insis- from subjective humans cannot come objective news. Remember the tence that a semester does not staff of this newspaper, who do end until the final paper lies writnot represent Brown, who do ten. I came into this position with not even necessarily get reprethe grandiose idea that I could sented in editorial decisions? make this section represent the They choose the stories that entire Brown community, rather represent Brown on these than the section of white, middle pages, sometimes because the to upper class, conservative event is crucial to the operation males that generally graced this of the University, other times page. Have I succeeded? for the simple reason that the Does this page of approxiVICTORIA HARRIS editor’s friend’s sister, a memmately 2,000 words represent THE CRISIS HAS ber of group X, told the editor Brown? It did not one year ago, MATURED all about event Y and there was and it does not today. I doubt it little else to print. ever will. Does this newspaper Even the staff writer herself, represent our institution and those who comprise it? No, it does not. It can- no matter how frequently she peruses “The not. And it should never pretend to. Does The Associated Press Stylebook,” may think that Herald represent me? Not really. Sometimes the lecturer looks like an albino rhinoceros, more than other times, depending on which or, alternatively, doesn’t like using the commembers of our editorial board attend a dis- puter clusters and doesn’t mind that they cussion and vote, depending on how long I are shrinking in number. These little things am willing to sit and argue with or against influence, for example, what quotes are them over an issue. Whether I’d like to ven- written down and which are passed over, ture home and work on my thesis or procras- resulting in a story subtly colored by the tinate in the newsroom alters my connection experiences of the writer. Free speech does little better when we with the next day’s issue. The problematic nature of representation contemplate who is free to speak, and permeates every facet of this newspaper, of whether free speech can be equated with equal speech, or if, quite literally, it is free at all. Our old friend David Horowitz should Victoria Harris ’03 has the utmost respect get to speak, but his speech is not free when and affection for her coworkers and he places it in purchased ad space. Speech thanks them all for a wonderful year.
is not equal when opposing groups do not have the funds to buy equal space or when the antagonizer has money and high-powered lawyers who seek to quell critical interpretations of his work. Well, now my coworkers are probably crying, seeing me as the quisling who has undermined their hard work and time commitment to this paper. But I do not mean to lambaste The Herald, a paper highly regarded by other colleges and myself. I only wish to impart that those who run “real world” newspapers, large and small, who claim to represent the community with free and objective speech, once went to college and worked at newspapers like The Herald. Politicians such as George W. Bush and Bill Clinton attended Yale before becoming employed in the United States government. Columnists who now urge you to agree with their columns may one day make stump speeches and urge you to vote for their platforms. Thus, do the New York Times, The Nation, President Bush or Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi represent you? Have they transcended the subjectivity and self-interest that many students use as crucial examples of the failure of The Herald? The answer is an unequivocal no. Did Clarence Thomas act in the best interest of this nation when he upheld Bush’s victory? Maybe. Did he also wish that his wife, a developer of Bush’s cabinet, would remain employed? Definitely. To argue that an individual will not use power for personal advantage is to deny the nature of humanity and, essentially, to advocate a return to the divine-right monarchies of feudal times. To argue that objectivity is possible is just as foolish.
In the same way that students should criticize The Herald, pointing out its biases in letters and opinions, so too should they chastise the major media outlets. In the same way that Brown students question whether UCS representatives or this paper represent them, so too should they ask themselves about their relationship with politicians, voicing public opposition to policies that reek of self-interest. A pitiable number of Brown students write for The Herald each semester; similarly, depressingly few Americans go to the polls at election time. Lack of participation is the largest single reason for the state of U.S. politics and media outlets today. I am not trying to argue that The Herald or U.S. politics are inherently flawed, only that any organization will appear less than satisfactory to the majority of its constituents if it is run by a small minority of the community. But, when all citizens decide what best serves their common interests, the myth of objectivity is less dangerous. My time at The Herald has not been a failure; quite the opposite, it is my involvement with both my immediate and national community. My time here was not an escape from true social-conscience driven engagement, but my own personal form of activism. I urge all members of our community to act, whether through the newspaper, a political or cultural organization or volunteer social work. Brown community members cannot dictate change to The Herald, and Americans cannot do so to Washington, but by becoming involved in our surrounding world, the resulting collective action will be revolutionary.
Spilling the confessions of a dangerous mind A quest for authenticity, significance and resonance through institutionalized creative tutelage ONCE UPON A TIME, I DREAMED OF and sell a final script. With this arsenal at our disposal, success was all but guaranteed. writing the Great American Screenplay. This fall, after years of deferred aspira- Needless to say, I was jazzed by the prospect tions, I finally took my first plunge into the of a creative enclave that promised to hurtle world of formal creative writing with my writing into the stratosphere of quality — “Advanced Screenwriting,” a limited enroll- or, at the very least, the troposphere. Each two-hour class period ment S/NC course offered by of “Advanced Screenwriting” the English department, with an focused on the “workshopimplicit prerequisite of talent ping” of student work-inthat scares off insecure untalprogress. Short scenes were ented hacks and lures pompous brought in and read aloud, foluntalented hacks. As the adjeclowed by a freeform discussion tive “advanced” might suggest, in which both visceral and conthis class is not intended for templative feedback was given. neophytes. Each prospective Our professor emphasized that student jockeying for a spot in the purpose of these sessions this elite workshop is required was not to provide constructive by the department to submit a SANDERS KLEINFELD criticism, as lending criticism full-length dramatic work to the HOW VERY to a creative work inherently professor for review, creating a asserts the existence of a norpool from which to draw the mative aesthetic against which most promising auteurs. This semester our illustrious professor the piece must be judged. Thus, imposing (renowned for her masterworks in the genre standards of what constitutes good strucof vampyric opera) bestowed this honor ture, character development and dialogue upon approximately 15 gifted students. Nine was deplorable because it squelched the creintrepid folks rose to the challenge and ativity of the passionate artist who was desperately trying to cultivate his or her own enrolled in the course. The course objective? By the end of the style. When commenting on a scene in class, semester, each of us was expected to com- one was not supposed to say, “The plot does plete a whopping 120-page screenplay. To not make any sense,” but “I really like the help us accomplish this Herculean feat, we way you seem to be toying with classic had a wealth of resources at our disposal: the Aristotelian narrative form.” Such non-comexpertise of an M.F.A.-studded instructor, mittal, non-judgmental observations prothe pop culture savvy of our peers and our vide a setting in which the screenwriter can very own Holy Grail — a 500-page, $45 flourish. Skepticism is not the luxury of those who Allegra course packet burgeoning with Egoyan script bites, Bollywood cinema stills have never been bought, sold, published or and nifty flowcharts detailing how to pitch some combination thereof. I wholeheartedly embraced this holistic, organic approach Sanders Kleinfeld ’03 counts Joss Whedon and to fostering creative growth. I parsed my way through dense theoretical discourse on Donald Desrochers among his role models.
the technical (Robbe-Grillet on montage) and the thematic (“Bombay Cinema and Diasporic Desire”). I pored over the Playboy interview with Federico Fellini in my course packet. I was intrigued when my professor remarked that she saw an interesting parallel in my script between the man whose breasts inflate and explode and the broader undercurrents of corporate malfeasance that drive the film. (I just thought exploding man-breasts were funny.) But I had this nagging inkling of a suspicion in the bowels of my soul that this screenwriting class wasn’t really honing my writing ability as much as I would have liked. Sure, through pounding out several scenes a week and overdosing on reruns of the sublime fifth season of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” I saw a dramatic improvement in my dialogue: it was crisper, each character’s voice became more distinctive and dimensional, and I included lots of funny lines about multiple orgasms. But these were all skills I developed outside of the classroom. My intimate relationship with the course seemed passionless, gratuitous and compulsory. I desperately wanted to feel myself become engorged with joy as I strolled off to workshop every Tuesday afternoon, but tragically I just felt like a flaccid penis. Midsemester marked a turning point for “Advanced Screenwriting.” Having proven our dramatic mettle, our class graduated from discussion to dramaturgy. This hallmark transition signified our newfound insight into the analysis of filmic writing and saddled us with the additional responsibility of providing written commentary on theme, character, structure and dialogue. I relished the chance to hear some intelligent, reflective comments from my Ivy League compatriots. Some feedback I received on the midterm rough draft of
my screenplay: “Really unpredictable,” “Bill seems to be the main character,” “Is there a social statement?” “Seems very influenced by ‘South Park,’” “Very fun,” “Totally seems like a puppet show script. I don’t mean that in a bad way,” “There’s a scene in ‘Infinite Jest’ that might be worth reading.” I found myself spending more and more time wondering if I was unique among my peers in my disenchantment with our screenwriting class. Perhaps I was just frustrated with the creative process: insecure about my own abilities with the written word and all too eager to disparage any institutionalized artistic venue for my own failings to achieve resonance or significance in my work. Perhaps I was starting to realize that my screenplay about a sexually-suppressed janitor named Bilbo Baggins was a piece of crap. I awaited the final screenplay presentations of my peers with baited breath. The culmination of 10 weeks worth of instruction was at stake. Was I alone in feeling abandoned by Bohemia in a sea of mediocrity without a lifeboat? Would I find carefully couched signs of existential distress in the cinematic tales of my peers? My eyes bulged and my neck hair bristled as the stories unfolded: an after-school special with a maudlin twist, a romantic comedy about a hit man who falls in love with a florist, a spy quest set at the confluence of three- and four-dimensional space, a melodrama about the trials and tribulations of disaffected postmodern socialites seeking to achieve authenticity through artistic expression and a whimsical romp featuring three Scottish characters. Not a twinge of self-deprecating angst. It was just me. I was alone. I was drowning. Today, I’ve set my sights on penning the Great American Phoneme.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
SPORTS FRIDAY DECEMBER 6, 2002 · PAGE 16
Finding talent now easier than picking games
Best in tennis needs to ride off into the sunset
WHILE PARITY IN THE NFL MIGHT BE exciting because it allows a new and unexpected Super Bowl champion every year and for 14 of the 16 teams in the AFC to be in contention for a playoff berth, it also apparently allows anyone to succeed in the league. More specifically, quarterbacks no longer need to prove themselves in college or as quality backups. Now they just need to put on some pads and a helmet, a la Keanu Reaves in “The ReplacJOSHUA TROY ements,” and they SPREADIN’THE LOVE can play like Joe Montana. I only wish I were exaggerating. Take the Eagles, for example. They have won their last two games over teams with 11-plus wins last season, the 49ers and the Rams, and did so with Koy “My brother Ty and I are the greatest brother tandem since Tim and Matt Hassleback” Detmer and A.J. Feely at the helm. Not starting since his junior year at Oregon, Feely deserved as much respect at quarterback as A.J. Soprano. This trend of mediocre players becoming superstar quarterbacks continues all the way around the league with, among others, Marc Bulger, Chad Pennington and Tommy Maddox putting together Pro Bowl-caliber performances. The only debate left is whether Adam Sandler should give the NFL a shot after his success in “The Waterboy.” For this week’s picks, as usual they are against the spread as provided by the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. This week’s picks have been quarantined after traveling on a Disney cruise. (Home team in CAPS)
PETE SAMPRAS WAS NEVER ADORED as a champion. Statistically the greatest player to ever string up a racket, his ordinary personality and lack of court antics always hindered his popularity. It seemed as if with Sampras, people just tolerated and respected his BRETT accomplishments ZARDA instead of glorifyBORN AND RAISED ing them. So when Sampras lost two years ago at Wimbledon, ending years of total supremacy, few tears were shed. Immediately after, the once-potent warrior was relegated to a position of a “has-been.” Without a tournament win in years, a barrage of questioning from the media regarding his retirement irritated the normally unflappable veteran. The distraction of marriage, the consequence of age and a lack of craving were all provided by the experts as explanations for Pistol Pete’s collapse. Even the peers he reigned over for nearly a decade whispered doubts of the likelihood of his regaining his form. A second consecutive loss at Wimbledon, and a steep plunge in the rankings earlier this year, appeared to cement the agonizing post-prime going-away party most sports icons are unable to avoid. Ali, Jordan, Unitas and many more played just a little too long. It doesn’t diminish the impact they had or tarnish their reputation; it merely reminds the fans that they, too, are human. But then came this year’s U.S. Open. Finally, Sampras was a true underdog. The fans, bored by him for so long, now appeared sympathetic to the painful realization of Pete’s collapse. Maybe Sampras had been plotting this all along. Just when it seemed the end of an era had arrived, somebody switched the channel to ESPN Classic. The walk and, more importantly, the serve were back. Sampras sauntered across the court, his head bowed, adjusting his strings just as he had 12 years ago when he introduced himself to New York City. The running forehand, the scissor kick overhead and the most dominant serve in the history of tennis were once again on display for the world to marvel. He faced his career rival Agassi in the finals, the man who had garnered the attention, popularity and advertisements that Pete’s success had rightfully warranted. Pete and Andre were the storybook adversaries for a generation of tennis fans. The drama of the stoic, dominant champion pitted against the flamboyant, brash challenger was torn straight from a movie script. Papers nationwide hailed the match as “one for the ages.” At the tender age of 19, Pete used New York City and Andre Agassi to stake his claim as tennis royalty. On that same stage, more than a decade later, he reminded the world that he was King. The lingering question is whether that was the end. The birth of his first child has stirred speculation again, but no official word on Sampras’s future has been released. He long ago earned the right to leave on his terms. He might even have enough in the tank for another run at the All England Club.
Last week: 10-6 Season with the Patriots: 97-91-3 Lock of the Week: 9-4 (seven straight) Bills (+4.5) over the PATRIOTS No one likes to be shown up by his replacement, and that’s what happened to Bledsoe last time he faced New England. Don’t expect Drew to blow a second see TROY, page 4
SCOREBOARD Friday
Women’s Ice Hockey
Women’s Ice Hockey
Men’s Basketball
BROWN versus Mercyhurst, 3 p.m., Meehan Auditorium
Brown versus Northeastern, 7p.m., Meehan Auditorium
Men’s Ice Hockey
BROWN versus Holy Cross, 7 p.m., Pizzitola Center
Men’s Ice Hockey
BROWN at Yale
BROWN at Princeton
Wrestling BROWN at Invitational
Men’s Track
Las
Vegas
& Women’s
BROWN at Rhody Pentathlon
Sunday Women’s Basketball BROWN hosts Brown Classic
Men’s Squash
Saturday Men’s Squash BROWN versus Princeton, 12 noon, Pizzitola Center
Women’s Basketball BROWN versus Lafayette, 1 p.m., Pizzitola Center
Women’s Squash BROWN versus Princeton, 2 p.m., Pizzitola Center
BROWN versus Pennsylvania, 11 a.m., Pizzitola Center
Women’s Squash BROWN versus Pennsylvania, 1 p.m., Pizzitola Center
Men & Women’s Track BROWN hosting the Brown Invitational
dspics
Athlete of the Week Pat Powers ’04 (above) will try to lead the men’s basketball team to victory this Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Pizzitola Center against Holy Cross.
Powers sparks offense for men’s basketball BY LILY RAYMAN-READ
When Earl Hunt ’03 was sidelined with a thigh injury, the men’s basketball team knew just who to turn to in order to overcome the Naval Academy on November 30th: Patrick Powers ’04. Against Navy, Powers scored a career-high 32 points, leading Brown to its first victory of the season. The game ended 97-92 after going into overATHLETE time, during OF THE WEEK which Powers scored three points. As the guard replacing Hunt, the top scorer for both Brown and the Ivy League last season, Powers had large shoes to fill, but he has done a remarkable job of it. “With Earl out, Patrick has really turned up his game and helped out,” said Ben Logan ’06. “Even when Earl returns, I think he will continue to do so.” Without question, Powers was up to the challenge. After a first half including two threepointers and four dunks, Powers proved his mettle. He continued to show his ability throughout the second half of the game, especially on a long threepointer with only 57 seconds remaining in the game. When speaking of his teammates, Powers had only good things to say. “We have a lot of potential,” he said.
“We will hopefully win the league.” He thinks the freshmen have “adjusted well,” and that the team will have a good season in general. On December 2, the team faced Ohio University in the Pizzitola Sports Center, where despite a good effort, the team fell short. Powers once again had a great game, scoring 24 points for the Bears. Powers has been playing basketball since the age of six and was a four-year starter at his high school in Stamford, Conn. He was an All-Western New England Prep School All-Star and was selected as league MVP his senior year. Powers has accumulated numerous other honors and has done well in his career here at Brown. With all these amazing moments of basketball, though, one sticks out in Powers’ head: the moment when he “hit the game winning shot to win the league championship” for his high school. Sometimes it is the little things, other times a league championship. Either way, Patrick Powers has come a long way as a basketball player and has certainly stepped up to the challenge set to him this year. Sports staff writer Lily Rayman-Read ’06 can be reached at lread@browndailyherald.com.
see ZARDA, page 4