W E D N E S D A Y APRIL 27, 2005
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXL, No. 57
www.browndailyherald.com
An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891
SPORTS EXTRA Action on campus cycles, but Brown alums dominate R.I. government
POLO’S NORTHERN ROUTE • W. water polo 3-1 in New London • M. golf 7th under Providence rain • Kapostasy ’07: Let kids play in NBA I N S I D E 11
AT HOME AND ABROAD • Segal: For inclusionary zoning • Fajans-Turner ’07: Darfur Action • Zarrabi ’06: Graves on the Green I N S I D E 13
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mostly cloudy 62 / 42
Nobel winner Nash critiques economic theory
MEET MR.BROWN
BY JULIA ZUCKERMAN STAFF WRITER
An overflow crowd packed Salomon 101 Tuesday afternoon to hear John Nash, the Princeton mathematician, Nobel laureate and subject of the film “A Beautiful Mind,” present an unorthodox view of international monetary policy. Nash’s lecture, “Ideal Money and Asymptotically Ideal Money,” centered on the connection between fluctuation in inflation and exchange rates and the perceived long-term value of money. “Good money,” he argued, is money that is expected to maintain its value over time. “Bad money” is expected to lose value over time, as under conditions of inflation. The policy of inflation targeting, whereby central banks set monetary policy with the objective of stabilizing inflation at a particular rate, leads in the long run to what Nash called “asymptotically ideal money” — currency that, while not achieving perfect stability, becomes more stable over time. Nash argued that the emphasis on stabilizing the value of currency should extend to the international level, where exchange rates represent currencies’ value relative to each other. He proposed that international exchange rates be fixed
BY ROBBIE COREY-BOULET METRO EDITOR
When Ethan Ris ’05 arrived on campus to begin his first year, a potential career in local politics “wasn’t on the table.” Though the Maryland native came to Brown with political interests, he said, “I definitely didn’t think I’d be staying here after graduation.” Four years later, Ris is “very strongly considering” a run for David Segal’s Ward 1 City Council position in 2006, the culmination of four years spent “learning about the city and state and coming to appreciate it tremendously.” Such stories are not uncommon — a quick scan of the state’s top political offices reveals Brown alums’ undeniable impact on the local political scene. Former Brown students currently occupy the governor’s mansion, the attorney general’s office, a U.S. Senate seat and Providence City Hall. In addition to these officeholders — who represent a broad spectrum of political ideologies — students have historically participated as interns, lobbyists and political activists, a trend that continues today. Many alums say Brown’s reputation as a hotbed for political activism represents a tradition that has gone largely uninterrupted for decades. Others offer a different description, saying students’ level of political participation is cyclical and requires prominent social issues or the efforts of visible leaders for high mobilization. Attorney General Patrick Lynch ’87, a Rhode Island native, came from a decidedly political background — his father served five terms as the mayor of Pawtucket before Patrick turned 16. But his time at Brown played an important role in shaping the issues that would become central to his political career and reinforced his commitment to public service, he said. At the time of his graduation, the University “was a hotbed of debate and public discussion of issues” that taught stu-
see NASH, page 4
Marissa Hauptman and Mark Cho / Herald
Mr.Brown 2005 entertained a full Solomon 101 Tuesday.The annual contest was judged by a panel of Brown faculty and staff.Clockwise from top left: Brian Fujimoto ’05 shows off his jumproping ability; Cliff Voigt ’05 danced during the talent portion; Herald Sports Staff Writer Ian Cropp ’05 won the hula hoop segment; Shushil Jacob ’05 was crowned Mr.Brown 2005 for his ability to jump between Hip Hop and Bhangra; Josh Wilson ’05 shows off his bulging biceps as he lifts Clement Lee ’05.
see POLITICS, page 8
Architect of Vietnam War to speak about nuclear threats McNamara was attacked onstage in previous appearance at Brown BY MERYL ROTHSTEIN ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
Robert McNamara, former secretary of defense under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, will appear on campus today as part of a Watson Institute for International Studies series on Vietnam. McNamara was one of the principal architects of the Vietnam War. He will speak with Professor of International Relations James Blight on “Reducing the Risk of Conflict, Killing, and Catastrophe in the 21st Century.” The event will be held at 4 p.m. in MacMillan 117. McNamara will discuss the effects his
personal experiences have had in shaping his view of war and in particular the threat of nuclear war. McNamara, who at 88 is essentially the last living major figure involved in the Cuban missile crisis, wants to make clear that the risk of catastrophic nuclear war may be even greater now than it was during the Cold War, Blight said. Nuclear war “can happen and it almost did,” Blight said. McNamara is what Blight calls a “nuclear abolitionist,” — he shares his experiences with potential nuclear disaster to help avoid it at all costs in the future. Because of his central involvement in perhaps the most controversial war in U.S. history, McNamara was attacked by contemporaries for allegedly misleading and misinforming the American public. Both pro-war and anti-war groups criti-
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cized him for not doing enough to win the war and for getting the nation involved in the war in the first place. McNamara first lectured at Brown in 1996, when an ex-marine in the audience attacked McNamara onstage, Blight said. When security guards tried to shuttle McNamara offstage after restraining the man, McNamara shrugged them off. Instead, he asked the man to talk. After 15 minutes, they shook hands, agreeing that no matter their difference of opinion, physical violence was unnecessary. McNamara’s visit is particularly noteworthy not only because he is one of the foremost political figures in recent U.S. history, but also because he is “one of the very few people we know who is willing to look critically at what he and his cohorts did,” said Professor of History see MCNAMARA, page 4
195 Angell Street, Providence, Rhode Island
Matt Lent / Herald
A lecture by economist and Nobel laureate John Nash filled Salomon 101 Tuesday.
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ROTC may have left campus 33 years ago, but Brown’s participation in the U.S. military did not leave with it. Brown students are active in the military through the ROTC program at Providence College and a military leadership training program in the summer. Though Brown students may not see a strong military presence on campus, the Brown community is represented in the armed forces. This week’s Focus spotlights five Brown alums currently serving and examines the larger issue of Brown’s relationship with the military. News tips: herald@browndailyherald.com