W E D N E S D A Y APRIL 6, 2005
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXL, No. 43
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An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891
SEASON TWO ‘White Brown Friends’ returns to BTV tonight, with guest stars and technically advanced production A R T S & C U LT U R E 3
SPORTS EXTRA: SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
M. track strong in the South, tennis teams pick up wins in the West; crew teams prep for season INSIDE 9
Without quorum present, faculty endorse new intellectual property policy
TOUGH LOVE Rob Sand ’05.5 spends spring break planting trees in a rough North Philly neighborhood O P I N I O N S 11
TODAY
TOMORROW
partly cloudy 60 / 44
showers 62 / 46
Cleland says Brown sets example for veterans’ mental health care
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHER
BY AIDAN LEVY STAFF WRITER
Vote might have been void; Corporation must approve controversial policy next
Speaking about his personal experiences in Vietnam, former U.S. Senator and one-time Veterans Administration chief Max Cleland addressed a predominantly civilian audience Tuesday about a different war: the fight to preserve and expand the U.S. effort to provide counseling to veterans returning from Iraq. Cleland implored everyone in the packed crowd at Andrews Dining Hall to volunteer their services to alleviate the burgeoning mental health epidemic and praised the Brown Medical School’s Pathways to Recovery from Combat Center. The program at Brown has recently gained its wings after a donation from Steven Price ’84, among oth-
BY ERIC BECK SENIOR STAFF WRITER
After contentious debate lasting more than an hour, the faculty voted 33-22 at its Tuesday meeting in favor of a resolution endorsing a new policy on patents, inventions and copyrights — but the result might have been illegitimate because procedure at the faculty meeting appeared to violate faculty rules. At issue was whether the University should be able to claim rights to inventions and discoveries made by professors while away from Brown and without University funding, such as during summers, breaks, sabbaticals and in independent consulting projects. Sixty-four professors were present for the vote — short of the required quorum of 100 voting faculty members. In a last-ditch effort to block the passage of the resolution after it passed a faculty vote, opponents quickly pointed out that a quorum was not present. But the meeting’s parliamentarian, Professor of Engineering Peter Richardson, said that a quorum is assumed unless a count is first requested. Because a request for a count was not made before the vote, Richardson said the passing vote was legitimate. With Richardson’s assertion, the meeting continued to other business. But the faculty rules and regulations that govern faculty meetings suggest that the vote should have been voided. Part 1, Section 1, Clause IV-B-7-a of the faculty rules and regulations reads, “Business that has been transacted in the unascertained absence of a quorum is legal unless it is ascertained that there is an absence of a quorum before other business has intervened. If no other business has been taken up, the business that has been transacted just prior to determining the absence of a quorum is automatically null and void.” In other words, any action taken immediately prior to a count finding a lack of a quorum is null and void. Tuesday’s vote supporting the resolution to endorse the policy occurred immediately prior to the count finding that a quorum was not present. Richardson could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening. This was one example of the procedural confusion that plagued the meeting and increased tension among those present. At times, faculty and administrators were unsure of which resolution or amendment was on the table for debate, and President Ruth Simmons, who presides over faculty meetings, inconsistently interrupted and stopped professors who spoke without being recognized. Some professors who wished to speak could not due to time constraints. The intellectual property policy caused see FACULTY, page 5 Editorial: 401.351.3372 Business: 401.351.3269
see CLELAND, page 6
Raphael Lee / Herald
Feminist pornographer Tristan Taormino spoke about the process of producing, directing and starring in her first video,“The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women,”Tuesday evening in Smith-Buonanno. She discussed the reasons for which she chose to do pornography, the challenges and breakthroughs she has experienced within the adult industry with regards to women’s pleasure, and her personal goals for working within the industry.
U. changes Spring Weekend’s schedule in response to Passover conflict Community-wide Seder to be included in program BY STEPHEN NARAIN STAFF WRITER
University officials decided to conclude Spring Weekend’s “major social events,” including traditional campuswide parties, by Saturday afternoon in order to allow those celebrating Passover to travel or participate in campus Seders, according to an e-mail sent to undergraduates by the Office of Campus Life. The dates of Spring Weekend will not be changed, because doing so “would mean diminishing the program significantly,” according to the e-mail. In February, the Greek Council announced that Rage on Wriston, a popular student band concert held Saturday of Spring Weekend on Wriston Quadrangle, will be moved to Friday. Greek Council President Chris Guhin ’05 wrote in an e-mail to The Herald that there will be no official parties of over 250 people between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday. Evin Isaacson ’05, vice president of religious life for the Hillel Executive Board, said she is “pretty sure” smaller parties can still go on. “Saturday evening there are no offi-
Senate Judiciary Committee hears medical marijuana testimony BY MARY-CATHERINE LADER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
cial University events. … I don’t think it’s asking too much to not have official university parties from 8 (p.m.) to 10,” she said. These changes will allow students observing Passover, which begins at sundown April 23, more time to travel and make Seder preparations. A “broadly inclusive” Seder aimed at sharing the Jewish festival with different parts of the Brown community will be held the Saturday of Spring Weekend at 8 p.m. in the Hillel building. “There are so many different levels of observances. It will actually be 10 different Seders happening at once at Hillel,” said Isaacson, who was instrumental in planning the event. “It’s about however you feel like participating. Some Seders last four hours, other last one (hour).” Isaacson noted that the event “is not simply a Hillel thing.” “We have a social justice Seder, a sustainable food Seder and a freedom Seder. It may not be traditional, but these themed Seders were meant to be imbued with the unexpected. They fit in with the holiday’s celebration of freedom and triumph over oppression,” Isaacson said. Ricky Gresh, director of student activities, said the idea of the Seder
Chronically ill Rhode Islanders, medical experts and advocates testified in favor of the Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Act before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday afternoon at the State METRO House. Although State Sen. Leo Blais, R, expressed animated opposition to the bill early into the proceedings, there were no witnesses testifying against the measure. If passed, the bill will allow chronically ill individuals and their caregivers to acquire and cultivate marijuana with protection from prosecution and arrest. Qualifying medical conditions include cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS and illnesses that cause severe symptoms alleviated by marijuana use, such as nausea or seizures. Ten states have passed similar measures, most through voter initiatives, but medical use of the drug remains illegal at the federal level. “We believe this bill is about compassion for those with serious illness and those on the precipice of dying,” said the bill’s lead sponsor, Sen. Rhoda Perry P’91, a Democrat who represents College Hill and serves on the judiciary committee. The committee’s chair, Sen. Michael McCaffrey, D, and two of its other members, Democratic Senators Michael Damiani and Joseph Polisena, are co-sponsors — a “very rare” combination, Polisena said. Despite such pre-existing support, legislators questioned each witness and raised concerns about whether the bill’s language might allow for abuse of the drug. Each of the sponsors said at least once that they opposed the legalization of marijuana in
see PASSOVER, page 5
see MARIJUANA, page 4
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