T U E S D A Y NOVEMBER 30, 2004
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXXXIX, No. 117
An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891
www.browndailyherald.com
BuDS says changes are here to stay after positive student feedback
DPS chief will depart in December
BY MARY-CATHERINE LADER
tional theory and policy and learn how to create a lesson plan, before finally going to bed at 1 or 2 a.m. According to Marshall, having difficult and violent summer-school students has made her school year experience much easier, because it taught her to be strict. People who have difficult training experiences often have better teaching experiences, Marshall said. Marshall is just one of many recent graduates who chose to enter a program that provided a crash course in
For the second time in the past decade, Brown’s chief of police will resign and migrate to the Carolinas. Col. Paul Verrecchia, who has served as director of Public Safety since January 1997, recently accepted a position as chief of police at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. “I like the quality of living down there,” Verrecchia told The Herald. “My wife and I have traveled to the Carolinas and we just like it there.” Verecchia will continue to serve at Brown until Dec. 31, when Capt. Emil Fioravanti will take over as interim chief. The Department of Public Safety has already set up a search committee to find a replacement, with résumé reviews scheduled for December and interviews expected to begin in January. When Verecchia served on the accreditation committee for the Medical University of South Carolina several years ago, he made the decision to eventually relocate. The chief of police position opened there last year, but Verrecchia decided not to apply for the job on account of the high level of DPS activity. Verrecchia, a 21-year veteran of the Providence Police Department and lifetime Providence resident, succeeded former police chief Dennis Boucher, who left Brown to move to North Carolina. When the position at the College of Charleston opened up last spring, Verrecchia said he quickly decided to apply. “I want to eventually retire in South Carolina,” he said. “After discussing it with my wife, I decided that it was an opportunity that I didn’t want to let pass.” However, Verrecchia, 55, does not intend to retire for at least another eight years. He said his new position will entail even more responsibilities than his job at
see TEACH, page 8
see DPS, page 8
From panini grills and street signs to meal credits and local produce, changes implemented by Dining Services this semester have received largely favorable student reviews, much to the satisfaction of BuDS staff members. The new meal plan, introduced in September, initially created surging crowds at the Sharpe Refectory, and the introduction of local produce through the Sustainable Food Initiative challenged BuDS to reconsider traditional supply methods. But initial glitches were minimal and, according to BuDS Director Gretchen Willis, the changes will stay in place. “I don’t plan to backtrack on any of them,” Willis said. “I think collectively they’ve made some positive changes for our customers, which is what our goal was.” The amended meal plan allows students to use three meal credits a day at any time of their choosing rather than within meal zone times. Willis said 200 additional students are on meal plan this semester, a welcome increase after declining numbers in previous semesters. Still, some students are not fully aware of the way the plan works. “When I go to the Gate and they ask if I want to use points or credit, I don’t really know what they mean,” said Nick Clifford ’08. “So sometimes I just starve.” Regardless of how well it is understood, Willis said the late-night option of the new
BY AIDAN LEVY
Nick Neely / Herald
Esta’s, Thayer Street’s video rental store, bike store, and gift shop is closing in December. See story, page 3.
Brown grads step into the classroom — as first-time teachers, not students BY ROBIN STEELE
see BUDS, page 4
ARTS & CULTURE
Production Workshop grants make student artists’ projects possible
On her first day as a high school social studies teacher at the Community School for Social Justice in the South Bronx, Rachel Marshall ’04 had a student curse at her. But that didn’t faze her — as a Teach for America trainee, Marshall had learned to assert authority in the classroom. The previous summer, Marshall spent five intense weeks at a Teach For America training program. During an average day, she would wake up at 5 a.m., teach a range of subjects at summer school, attend classes in educa-
BY KIM STICKELS
How can the place of art change its meaning and significance? For artist Emily Pudalov ’05, place is an important consideration in her art, helping shed light on hidden meanings. Pudalov performed her most recent performance piece, “grief,” on the Main Green earlier this month, with aid from a grant provided by Production Workshop. Production Workshop, a student-run theater that provides support to students who want to produce art outside of “standard theater,” gave Pudalov about $75 to purchase supplies for “grief.” Each semester, PW allots $400 for grants to students. Past grants have been used for such diverse functions as starting up a literary magazine, buying reels for a film, and publicizing performances. Projects that explore social and political issues are encouraged. The program has been underused this semester, however. According to grant board member Maya Bruhns ’05, “We have not had many applications yet.”
see PW, page 6
Plan for Academic Enrichment revitalizes political science department with new faculty BY JUSTIN ELLIOTT
The Plan for Academic Enrichment has been a boon at 36 Prospect St. The tan, green-trimmed building across from Carrie Tower that houses the Department of Political Science has welcomed seven new faculty members since the plan was approved in 2002 — four as replacements and three as “incremental” additions provided by the plan. With another new addition set to arrive next year, there will be a total of 21 faculty members formally associated with the department, up from 17 three academic years ago, according to Professor of Political Science Alan Zuckerman, the chair of the department. “What we’ve been able to do is to replace all those who’ve retired and to
FACULTY EXPANSION THREE YEARS IN second in a five-part series add as well. ... For this department, the academic enrichment program has only had positives,” Zuckerman said. The new faculty have revitalized the department, strengthened its reputation and increased its course offerings, according to Zuckerman and other political science faculty members. For students, the change is primarily felt in the greater range of faculty expertise, producing new courses such as PS 182.42: “Women and Politics,” taught by Assistant Professor of Political Science Jennifer Lawless, and PS 121: “Latin American Politics,”
Sheila Dugan ’07 writes that the United States is not as divided as red and blue states may make it seem opinions, page 11
Alex Carnevale ’05 and Ari Savitzky ’06 square off about Kofi Annan and the oil-for-food program opinions, page 11
see POLI SCI, page 4
W E AT H E R F O R E C A S T
I N S I D E T U E S D AY, N O V E M B E R 3 0 , 2 0 0 4 Thayer Street to lose gift shop, bike rental and video store — all when Esta’s closes in December metro, page 3
taught by Associate Professor of Political Science Richard Snyder. Both professors came to Brown last year. According to Professor of Political Science Wendy Schiller, the past several years’ growth has affected the entire department, including senior faculty. “We’ve been infused with both energetic younger people and more energetic mid-level people,” Schiller said. “When you’re around new people who are doing new things, you modernize.” Schiller said the department has hired “the best people in political science” who have come out of graduate programs at, among others, Harvard, Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley. She added that the department has been able to
After winning season, football places nine on All-Ivy teams, four on first team, including Will Burroughs ’05 sports, page 12
Women’s basketball improves to 3-1 after impressive defensive performance in tournament victory sports, page 12
TUESDAY
mostly sunny high 48 low 37
WEDNESDAY
rain high 53 low 34