Thursday, January 26, 2006

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006

Volume CXLI, No. 2 MISS CONDUCT Natalie Smolenski ‘07: Rude American behavior is alienating the rest of the world OPINIONS 11

www.browndailyherald.com

An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891 GUNS FOR EVERYONE Michal Zapendowski ’07: firearms on campus promote public safety, not violence.

OPINIONS 11

A HAT TRICK OF W’S W. ice hockey sits in third place in the ECACHL after winning three games in the past five days SPORTS 12

TODAY

TOMORROW

partly cloudy 35 / 19

sunny 37 / 31

Lawless agrees to U. policy on contributions but keeps Hull donations

Arming draws little fire from College Hill Unlike two years ago, Brown community members and residents have not vocally opposed University decision

BY BEN LEUBSDORF METRO EDITOR

Jennifer Lawless has agreed not to accept contributions to her congressional campaign from her students or their parents, but will hold on to two controversial contributions that may meet that description.

Lawless, an assistant professor of political science and public policy, has decided to accept the University’s interpretation of its conflict of interest policy. Under the terms of this policy, she is not to accept campaign contributions from students in her classes, her advisees — including thesis students for whom she is serving as a reader — or their parents or “financial guardians,” according to Dean of the Faculty Rajiv Vohra P’07.

“She has agreed to abide by this, so going forward we should not have any problems with this issue,” he said.

Lawless — who is running for the Democratic nomination in Rhode Island’s 2nd District, currently represented by U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin, D.-R.I. — previously opposed a ban on donations from parents in an internal memo obtained by The Herald in November 2005, saying that such a policy “disregards reality and will trample on the rights of parents and family members.” But she agreed in the same memo not to accept contributions from students in her classes or those she advises.

However, Lawless will not return contributions of $2,100 each from Blair Hull P’06 and Megan Hull ’95, the father and sister of Courtney Hull ’06, for whom Lawless had been serving as a thesis reader.

“It is correct to say that (Lawless) and the University have come to an agreement on a conflict of interest policy. However, she has not and does not plan to return contributions from see LAWLESS, page 5

BY ANNE WOOTTON METRO EDITOR

the University’s early applicant pool. He attributed the increase in applicants to several factors, including rising awareness of Brown’s recent implementation of needblind admissions.

In addition to the total increase in students applying early, applications from certain minority groups and prospective science concentrators rose substantially.

Early applications from Asians and Latinos are up by about 30 percent each, Miller said. However, after experiencing a notable 45 percent increase last year, applications from African Americans totaled 75, down five from last year. Brown received eight early decision applications from Native Americans, three more than it received for the Class of 2009.

Brown experienced a 13 percent rise in students applying to the engineering program and an overall 10 percent increase in those applying for a Bachelor of Science degree, Miller said. Although he believes that these changes mirrored the overall increase in the general applicant pool, he also noted that initiatives under the Plan for Academic Enrichment have made “more people … aware of the fact that we’re

The Department of Public Safety’s move to arm its 33-member police force last month appears to have gone smoothly, with little concern — or reaction whatsoever — from the College Hill community. This muted response differs markedly from reactions to the University’s original announcement in December 2003 of its plan to arm, which sparked vocal concern from Brown community members, neighboring residents and local politicians.

“When we first announced the decision (to arm), I did receive some communications from parents and students — people who had lots of questions about the rationale for arming, why it was necessary and what had changed in Providence that made it necessary to arm the police, because a lot of people were just fundamentally opposed to having guns,” said David Greene, vice president for campus life and student services.

But as of earlier this week, neither Greene nor Vice President for Administration Walter Hunter said he had received calls or e-mails from concerned parents, students or other College Hill community members since the arming went into effect on Jan. 11.

“No one’s written me,” Hunter said of the response to the e-mail President Ruth Simmons sent to the Brown community Jan. 11. He added that he does not remember any objections voiced at a Brown University Community Council meeting shortly before winter break, where he and

see ADMISSIONS, page 5

see ARMING, page 5

Jacob Melrose / Herald

The Office of Admissions received 2,379 early decision applications for the class of 2010 — a 16 percent increase from last year.

U.’s early decision acceptance rate drops Brown becomes most selective Ivy League school offering binding early decision

BY MELANIE DUCH SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The University accepted 545 of the 2,379 applications received under its binding early decision program this year. Brown’s 22.7 percent acceptance rate makes it the most selective Ivy League university using such a program, though Harvard and Yale universities — two schools that introduced single-choice early action programs several years ago — saw even lower acceptance rates.

Early applications for Brown’s class of 2010 increased 16 percent over the previous year. Dean of Admissions James Miller ’73 called Brown’s acceptance rate — which fell from 28 percent last year — one of the lowest in recent history.

Yale University had the lowest early acceptance rate among Ivy League schools, admitting only 17.7 percent of its 4,084 early applicants, while Harvard accepted 20.8 percent from its pool.

Under a single-choice early action program, students apply early to only one school, but are not obligated to matriculate if accepted.

Miller said he believes this year’s numbers reflect an ongoing trend in

MAP QUEST

Armstrong to step down after five years as Dean of College

BY REBECCA JACOBSON SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Sophie Barbasch / Herald

On the first day of classes for the spring semester, Olga Koshevaya ‘08 and Saori Kishi ‘07 reviewed the campus map under Faunce Arch.

Editorial: 401.351.3372 Business: 401.351.3260

Paul Armstrong will step down as dean of the college on June 30, Provost Robert Zimmer announced in an email to the Brown community sent Jan. 13.

According to Zimmer’s e-mail, December marked the end of Armstrong’s five-year term, though he will stay on for an additional semester for the sake of continuity. He will spend next year as a visiting scholar at the Free University of Berlin, where he will work on two projects: one about the relationship between aesthetics and history and another about the response of 1930s writers to the challenges of fundamentalism. Armstrong will return to Brown the following year to teach in the Department of English.

195 Angell Street, Providence, Rhode Island

The search for a new dean of the college has not yet begun, but Zimmer said he hopes a search committee will be appointed soon. The search committee will consist primarily of faculty, but Zimmer said he expects some undergraduate representation. He said finding a replacement for Armstrong by June 30 presents an ambitious timeline, though it is one he would like to pursue.

A commitment to the continued enhancement of undergraduate education will be fundamental in the selection of a new dean, who could come from within or outside the University, Zimmer said.

“We’re looking for a dean who would help us both think through and implement the enhancement of undergraduate education,” he said. “We’re in the process see ARMSTRONG, page 4 News tips: herald@browndailyherald.com

THIS MORNING THE BROWN DAILY HERALD · THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006 · PAGE 2

WORLD IN BRIEF

Jero Matt Vascellaro

Palestinian Voting Leaves Fatah in Power

BY SCOTT WILSON WASHINGTON POST

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Hamas won a large share of the vote Wednesday as Palestinians selected their first new parliament in a decade, but appeared to fall short of deposing the governing Fatah movement as the leading party in the legislature.

An exit poll conducted in cooordination with the Palestinian election commission showed that neither Fatah nor Hamas achieved a majority in the 132-seat legislature, meaning that the next Palestinian Cabinet will comprise a coalition of parties. But by gaining near parity with Fatah in parliament, Hamas — formally known as the Islamic Resistance Movement — will have a major role in the Palestinian Authority and complicate efforts to revive a dormant U.S.-backed peace plan that runs counter to the party’s campaign platform in key respects.

Chocolate Covered Cotton Mark Brinker

TO D AY ’ S E V E N TS BROKEN CHAINS: ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND THE LEGACY OF EMANCIPATION IN THE AFRICANAMERICAN EXPERIENCE 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (John Hay Library Gallery) — An Abraham Lincoln exhibition will be on display in the John Hay library in conjunction with the “Forever Free” exhibit in the Providence Public Library.

“THE INSOMNIAC’S MANSION AND OTHER PICTURE STORIES BY BEN KATCHOR” 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. (John Nicholas Brown Center, Carriage House Gallery, 47 Power St.) — New York comic artist Ben Katchor will be featured in this exhibition curated by students from Brown and the Rhode Island School of Design.

Deo Daniel Perez

MENU SHARPE REFECTORY

VERNEY-WOOLLEY DINING HALL

LUNCH — Hot Ham on Bulky Roll, Lyonnaise Potatoes, Kielbasa, Hard Boiled Eggs, Jelly Roll, Toffee Bars, BBQ Chicken Sandwich

LUNCH — Vegetarian Cream of Mushroom Soup, Chicken Soup with Tortellini, Cavatini, Falafel in Pita, Creole Mixed Vegetables, Toffee Bars

DINNER — Spice Rubbed Pork Chops, Mashed Red Potatoes with Garlic, Cajun Corn and Tomatoes, Broccoli, Garlic Bread, Ice Cream Sundae Bar, Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Sauce

DINNER — Vegetarian Cream of Mushroom Soup, Chicken Soup with Tortellini, BBQ Chicken, Vegan Vegetable and Tempeh Saute, Herb Rice, Corn Cobbets, Stir Fry Vegetable Medley, Garlic Bread, Jelly Roll

Cappuccino Monday Christine Sunu

CROSSWORD

Goldfish Dreams Allison Moore

Homebodies Mirele Davis

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CAMPUS NEWS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD · THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006 · PAGE 3

From librarians to legal counsel, U. announces key administrative appointments

BY ERIC BECK NEWS EDITOR

Former Clinton aide to head JCB library Edward Widmer, an American history scholar who previously served as an adviser to former President Bill Clinton, will join Brown as director and librarian of the John Carter Brown Library, effective July 1.

Widmer is currently the inaugural director of the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, an interdisciplinary initiative at Washington College in Chesterton, Md., to promote scholarship in American history.

Prior to joining the Starr Center, Widmer held various positions in the Clinton White House. After serving as a speechwriter and the president’s special assistant for national security affairs, Widmer became Clinton’s

senior adviser for special affairs and advised the president on matters involving history and scholarship.

The first new head of the JCB library in 23 years, Widmer succeeds Norman Flering, who will retire at the end of the academic year.

Andrews ’83 leads alumni relations Todd Andrews ’83 MA ’95, formerly the director of corporate communications for the Rhode Island-based CVS Corporation, joined the University in November 2005 as vice president for alumni relations.

Andrews now manages the Office of Alumni Relations, with a staff of 28 and an operating budget of $2.1 million. His office works closely with the 76,000-member Brown Alumni Association to keep Brown alums involved in the University community.

Green ’82, Breker join legal team Two new appointments to Brown’s legal team joined the University earlier this month.

James Green ’82 started as the University’s deputy general counsel Jan. 9. He previously served as the claims manager and general counsel for Rhode Island’s municipal risksharing pool.

While at Brown, Green served as an associate editor of The Herald.

Also this month, Elke Breker became the new director of the Office of Foreign Students, Faculty & Staff Services.

The OFSFSS attempts to assist international faculty, staff and students handling matters related to immigration, visas, payroll and taxes. The office also helps newly arrived foreigners settle in and hosts social events.

Last year, the Brown Medical School admitted students through a standard admissions process for the first time since 1985, a move that generated strong competition for a place in the program: admissions officers reviewed over 1,600 applications for 11 spots.

Since 1985, the Medical School has only admitted students through the Program in Liberal Medical Education, which accepts students before they enter Brown, and several specialized programs. This year — the second with the standard admission policy in place — the Medical School saw a 60 percent increase in applications. Assistant Dean of Medicine Arnold-Peter Weiss said that these applicants are vying for a yet-to-be-determined number of spots, and 20 to 25 will likely be accepted.

Candidates applying through the standard admission route

(as 90 percent of prospective medical students do nationwide) are required to present Medical College Admission Test scores and undergraduate grade point averages.

The majority of applicants to the Brown Medical School present GPAs of 3.6 or higher and MCAT scores of 10 or above, according to the Medical School Web site.

When considering standard applicants, Weiss said, administrators must first make sure the individuals can get through medical school and excel — information that usually comes from the MCAT and GPA numbers. Weiss stressed it is necessary to get students who are not “cookie cutters.”

The desire for a diverse and wellrounded student body contributed to the adoption of a standard application procedure. The Medical School is particularly interested in enrolling students who are age 25 or older and who have engaged in activities other than formal

BY SIMMI AUJLA SENIOR STAFF WRITER

education between graduation from college and their application to the Medical School. Weiss said that PLMEs entering the Medical School, who are usually 22 years old, learn a lot from students who have gone out into the world and held jobs and started families. Such students provide a “bubbling effect” which contributes to a liberal medical education, Weiss said.

Among those accepted last year through the standard admissions route were a programmer at Microsoft and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.

For the 2005-2006 academic year, the Medical School’s enrollment totaled 345 students. About 55 percent are PLME students, 13 percent were admitted from postbaccalaureate programs, 7 percent are Early Identification Programs students, 3 percent of students were admitted in the standard admissions

Six students charged with disorderly conduct in early December for blocking a bridge in a protest against the treatment of janitors in an office building in downtown Providence will continue their involvement in the movement to support janitors’ rights, but must avoid getting arrested again.

Charges against the students have been dropped, provided they do not get arrested again within a year.

Alicia Pantoja ’06, Lincoln Restler ’06.5, Julian Drix ’06.5, Nureen Ghuznavi ’08, Sharon Mulligan ’06 and Jonna Iacono GS were arrested along with eight other protestors after they refused to move from the street to allow traffic to pass. The alleged mistreatment of a janitor employed by non-union contractor Martins Maintenance at the Turks Head building sparked the protest. The janitor was reportedly threatened, assaulted and then fired by his supervisor for talking to union representatives in late November.

The city council passed a resolution in support of the protesters, which influenced the police department’s decision to release them several hours after they were arrested.

“What’s important is that we’re trying to make Brown more accountable for what happens in Providence and more aware about the plight of janitors in Providence — it’s not just about the arrests,” Drix said. He plans to stay as involved in supporting workers’ rights, but to avoid situations where he might get arrested again.

Ghuznavi echoed this sentiment. “I’m still going to attend protests but will avoid getting arrested.”

“Certainly after the year passes, I will get more involved,” she added.

In late October, four janitors and others, including three Brown students, fasted for five days in front of the Turks Head building to protest the meager compensation janitors received for their work there.

Restler was one of the students who fasted with the janitors. “From my own personal interactions with the (building) owner (Lloyd Granoff), I would be surprised to see Martins Maintenance fired in the very near future,” Restler said. “I wrote a letter to Granoff with the janitors I was fasting with in late October and he was very bullish and felt very much personally attacked.”

see MED SCHOOL, page 6

see PROTEST, page 7

Medical school applications up 60 percent in the second year of admitting standard applicants

BY KRISTINA KELLEHER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Protesters pledge to continue support of janitors’ rights

www.brown d a i l y h e ra l d. co m

PAGE 4 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006

Armstrong continued from page 1 of thinking through exactly what special interests we might need to have. Specifics will certainly evolve over the next couple of months. Transitions are always times of evaluation.”

Armstrong has spent 12 years as a dean, including stints at the University of Oregon and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He said his five years at Brown have been both productive and fun and described his role as dean of the college as “a great position at a wonderful institution.”

He also said he has enjoyed interacting with students and faculty, emphasizing that his achievements have come only through collaboration with others at the University.

Armstrong has stayed active as a professor at Brown, teaching four classes in his five years, but he added that he looks forward to teaching full-time.

“The possibility of trying to transform an institution has been exciting, but it’s also been a lot of administrative work that has taken me away from my first loves, which are research and teaching,” Armstrong said. “I’ve had a great time being dean of the college, and I’ll miss working with colleagues I’ve had at the dean’s office and in other offices on campus.”

Administrators agreed that Armstrong’s presence in the dean’s office will be missed.

Zimmer said Armstrong oversaw a period of great activity and evolution for the University, including the hiring of 100 new professors, the upgrading of instructional equipment and the expansion of multidisciplinary initiatives. Zimmer emphasized

Armstrong’s commitment to ensuring that investments made in the University would benefit undergraduates, citing the First Year Seminar program as an example of the dean’s dedication to students.

Armstrong himself considers this program his most visible accomplishment and the one of which he is most proud.

“When I arrived five years ago, one of the few ways that Brown seemed not to live up to the promise it made to students is that first-year students could not get small classes at all,” he said. “The class size numbers for freshmen were not what you want at a college that emphasizes close collaboration between students and faculty.”

Since the First Year Seminar program’s inception four years ago, it has grown to offer about 60 seminars per year and enroll over 600 first years.

“It’s been very popular with students and very well received by faculty, and I really think it’s going to endure,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said he views improvements made in advising as another of his important accomplishments.

First-year advising has always been strong, but he said he has worked to make significant improvements to sophomore advising. Since the beginning of Armstrong’s term, the percentage of sophomores with identified advisers has increased, as has the number of sophomore advisers.

Other advising improvements include a more effective integration of career counseling and liberal arts advising, Armstrong said.

“I’ve worked hard to break down barriers between the career office and academic advisers and also make career counseling at Brown part of

the way you think of a liberal education,” he said.

Zimmer agreed that career counseling at Brown needed improvement, and that Armstrong succeeded in securing needed resources for this effort. The career office now offers a “much more robust type of services,” Zimmer said.

Armstrong named improvements to undergraduate research, particularly enhancing Undergraduate Teaching and Research Assistantships, as his third major accomplishment as dean. He described this commitment to undergraduate research as “a work in progress” that he hopes his replacement will pursue.

Armstrong’s legacy, however, extends beyond curricular, advising and research improvements, students said.

Emily Blatter ’07, who worked with Armstrong when she chaired the Committee of Academic and Administrative Affairs last year, described him as extremely supportive and genuinely interested in students.

“He really loves meeting with students, finding out what they’re about, and helping them to solve any issues,” Blatter said.

“We could be in his office forever.

He would talk everything out with us.”

Charley Cummings ’06, who chaired the Committee of Academic and Administrative Affairs two years ago, stressed Armstrong’s strong understanding of Brown’s academic culture.

“He’s done a fantastic job at pushing forward with the New Curriculum and not attempting to undercut the very ideas on which it was founded,” Cummings said. “This is cliché, but whoever is coming in has definitely got big shoes to fill.”

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD PAGE 5

Arming continued from page 1 Chief of Police Mark Porter gave a 40-minute presentation on the status of the preparation process.

“It’s a serious matter, but I think people understand that we’re doing this in the best interests of safety and in a way that’s as careful as we can be,” Hunter said. “Though I expect that we’ll be getting some e-mails of support and opposition from people from inside and outside campus.”

Evolution of the arming debate The debate surrounding the arming of licensed DPS officers has existed at Brown since at least the early 1990s, when thenPresident Vartan Gregorian rejected several proposals to arm DPS officers. In 1998, DPS was the third police force in Rhode Island and the first in the Ivy League to gain accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

This accreditation gave DPS authority equal to that of any state police force.

In 2001, the University commissioned former New York City Chief of Police William Bratton — currently chief of the Los Angeles Police Department — to lead a study of campus safety at Brown. Bratton’s report ultimately concluded that, among other increased safety measures, arming DPS officers was a necessary step to ensure the safety of the community.

Among Ivy League schools, Harvard and Yale universities and the University of Pennsylvania have armed campus police forces. Locally, Boston College and Boston University both have armed police forces, according to Greene.

In accordance with the findings of the Bratton report, Simmons made public the University’s decision to arm officers in an e-mail to the Brown community in December 2003.

“Attention has been focused on (campus safety) due to real and perceived increases in crime on and around the campus,” Simmons wrote in that e-mail.

The announcement to arm prompted the strongest objection from Providence Mayor David Cicilline ’83 and Ward 1 City Councilman David Segal.

In a letter to Simmons following the announcement, Cicilline wrote, “(Arming officers) will unnecessarily inject additional firearms into our city.”

He cited improvements to City Hall and the Providence Police Department made in the time since completion of the Bratton report as reasons to abandon the arming of DPS, according to a December 2003 Providence Journal article.

In fact, the December 2003 announcement of plans to arm DPS was originally delayed for over six months at Cicilline’s request. During this time, PPD Chief Dean Esserman introduced a program of community policing on Brown’s campus. This effort led to the opening of the PPD’s Brook Street substation less than a block away from DPS headquarters, one of nine community-policing substations that opened about two years ago.

The University spent $70,000 to renovate the space for the substation and is leasing it to the city for free.

Though Hunter said he does not know if Cicilline still disagrees with the decision to arm licensed DPS officers, he praised cooperation among DPS, the PPD and city officials.

“The PPD and the city have been very professional and cooperative in helping us implement this … I can’t say enough good things,” Hunter said.

For his part, Segal continues to question the rationale behind arming.

Segal said that he had anecdotal experience with community members being “exclusively and overwhelmingly” concerned about the prospect of an armed DPS and the introduction of more guns into the College Hill neighborhood.

“I’m skeptical that this will do anything to change crime rates,” Segal said in a recent interview with The Herald. “Not that it’s particularly terrible around campus right now. I just don’t think (arming Brown police officers) will do anything (to enhance safety).”

Admissions continued from page 1 pushing more resources into the sciences. I think it has focused attention on Brown as a science destination.”

After Brown, Columbia University had the next lowest acceptance rate at 25.9 percent, only slightly lower than Princeton University’s 26.8 percent. The University of Pennsylvania, which experienced the largest increase in early applications among Ivy League schools this year, accepted 28.6 percent of its early applicants, down from 34 percent last year. Dartmouth University accepted 30.1 percent of its early applicants, filling about one third of next year’s freshman class. Cornell University accepted 1,333 students for a 46.7 percent acceptance rate.

Yale’s Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Jeff Brenzel said that Yale limits the number of students it accepts for several reasons, including the belief that

Lawless continued from page 1 Blair or Megan Hull,” said Adam Deitch ’05, Lawless’ campaign manager.

The Herald has been unable to confirm whether Lawless remains a thesis reader for Hull, who contributed $1,000 to Lawless’ campaign last year. That contribution was subsequently returned, along with a $500 contribution from Nick Hartigan

early admission forces students to choose a college or university too early in their senior year.

“We … do not want applicants who are strongly interested in Yale to draw the conclusion from a high acceptance rate that they will significantly increase their chances of admission by applying to Yale early,” Brenzel said.

He added that Yale sees no advantage in “locking up” a high percentage of its first year class early, underscoring one of the many critiques of early admissions.

Despite increasingly low acceptance rates and heightened criticism, more and more students seem to be opting for the early route. All Ivy League schools except for Harvard reported an increase in early applications this year. Audrey Reynolds, the director of college counseling at Friends Seminary in New York City, a school that has sent 12 students to Brown since 2001, says that in recent years she has seen a larger percentage of students applying early.

“I think what sometimes

happens is that students feel pressured to find a number one choice,” Reynolds said. “There’s a lot of media coverage about (early options) and I think there are unspoken pressures … If a student comes into my office and has a clear idea of where he or she wants to go, then I can work with them to make it happen, but if they come in and say, ‘I want to go early, I just don’t know where,’ then it’s clear that they’re approaching early decision from the wrong angle,” Reynolds said.

Charles Xu ’10, a senior at Sharon High School in Sharon, Mass. who applied and was accepted early to Brown University this year, offered a similar critique of early admission programs.

“Most people who I know were in the same situation as I was. They apply and know that they don’t have a great chance to the early school that they applied to, but they still have the hope of getting in. I’m just one of the lucky ones that did,” Xu said, adding that many of his friends applied early but received disappointing news.

’06, whose thesis Lawless was also grading.

Deitch and Vohra declined to comment further, saying the conflict of interest agreement is confidential. Hull did not return requests for comment.

Vohra said questionable contributions not explicitly covered by the conflict of interest guidelines will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. He rejected the idea that the guidelines restricting contributions stifle students’ and parents’ freedom of political expression.

“I don’t think anyone should feel this is a way to restrict anyone’s political speech,” Vohra said. “We need to make sure there is not even a shadow of a doubt in how students are graded.”

He added that he was happy to resolve the controversy over Lawless’ campaign contributions, which began when The Herald first reported on her contributions from Hartigan and the Hull family last October.

“I am satisfied with the way we have resolved things,” he said.

PAGE 6 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006

Med school continued from page 3 process and 23 percent were admitted by other admission routes.

According to Asssociate Dean of Medicine Julianne Ip, the implementation of a standard admissions process represents a broader attempt to better attract doctors applying for residencies, a move partially motivated by President Ruth Simmons and Provost Robert Zimmer. As part of that effort, the Medical School

is in the process of gradually increasing the size of incoming classes, she said.

These initiatives could substantially alter the character of both the Medical School and PLME, a fact that may explain why Brown waited so long to adopt a standard admissions process, said Ip, who was once a PLME student herself.

The Medical School gained full accreditation as a four-year program in the 1970s, at which time it also offered a six-year program that allowed students to complete their undergraduate studies and the first two years of their medical education before transferring to another accredited medical school, according to Encyclopedia Brunonia.

In 1985, when PLME was established, the Medical School was composed of about half combined program students and half standard admission students. The Medical School

stopped admitting standard applicants in 1986.

PLME currently accepts about 60 students each year out of high school. The program is designed to focus on competency instead of course requirements so as to shorten traditional pre-medical requirements. The minimum GPA that PLME students must maintain is 3.0, which is meant to allow students to experiment with harder courses outside of the sciences.

According to Weiss, the number one thing the standard admission students admitted last year like about Brown is the mix of smart, driven students who have passions outside medicine. Non-PLME students expose PLME students to different perspectives and values. In turn, PLME students expose non-PLME students to a firm understanding of the philosophy and workings of Brown, Weiss said.

FRIENDLY ADVICE

Jean Yves Chainon / Herald

Meiklejohn Maggie Cheney `06 counseled Rebecca Binder `09 in Keeney’s Arnold lounge Wednesday night along with other Meiklejohns and first-year students.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD PAGE 7

Protest continued from page 3 “Brown did make a commendable decision to disavow Martins Maintenance,” he added.

The University employs Martins Maintenance in late night cleaning of eateries such as The Gate and Jo’s, but in light of the company’s treatment of its janitors, is now going to put this work in the hands of its own cleaning staff. The University has been planning to sever its relationship with the company since this summer, but does not know when the

W. icers continued from page 12

www.browndailyherald.com

consisting of two shutouts and a 20-minute relief appearance against Union. Shipe did not let the goal rattle her, as she settled in to stop the last 18 shots she faced.

“You have to take your hat off to O’Hara Shipe,” Murphy said. “She has been the impetus behind our wins. She was big.”

“She’s been outstanding for

action will be taken, said Mark Nickel, director of University communications.

“The plan is to bring the work in (to University employees).

How we achieve this is still being planned, but it will happen,” Nickel said.

Ward 1 City Councilman David Segal, who attended the December protest, was one of the city councilmen who supported the arrested students.

“At the (city council) meeting we passed a resolution in support of their efforts and after the meeting (Ward 9 City Councilman) Miguel Luna and I waited for their release (at the police station),” Segal said.

us every game she plays,” said defenseman Ashlee Drover ’06.

“She gets the job done.”

After the lackluster second period, Brown came out for the final period once again skating hard, determined to return to Providence with a victory. Three minutes into the third period, Glennon and Ramsay teamed up once again to score another goal, putting the Bears back on top 2-1. It was Ramsay’s second goal off of a rebound in the game — a product of being at the right place at the right time, but also excellent effort, a good understanding of where to be and an ability to read the play.

“Those two have played together for a while and they’re in a rhythm,” Murphy said.

“It’s nice to see those patterns emerging and have those two pieces clicking.”

Moore sealed the game for

M. tennis continued from page 12 Buffalo in the afternoon.

Tedaldi conceded that it was “mentally and physically draining” at times, but “we just had to stay tough.” The Bears did just that, coming back even stronger in the afternoon, winning every one of their matches against Buffalo.

According to Gresh, a big component of this weekend’s victories was the Bears’ improved doubles play since the fall season. At first doubles, Kohli and Lee earned an 8-2 victory over Yules Hadisubroto

the Bears with a great individual effort. Skating toward the net with a defender on her back, she beat Love five-hole for her teamleading 14th goal, giving Brown a 3-1 lead with just over five minutes to play.

Shipe withstood a late game barrage of shots after the Bulldogs pulled their goalkeeper to preserve the victory.

“We have a big game against Cornell coming up to position ourselves in the league championship,” Murphy said.

The Bears take to the ice in an attempt to continue their hot streak this weekend when they play host to the 1-11-0 Big Red Friday at 7 p.m. at Meehan Auditorium. They will face a stiffer challenge the following day when Colgate, currently sitting at 6-4-2 in the ECACHL, rolls into Providence for a 4 p.m. tilt.

and Nikesh Singh Panthlia, while Thomas and Scott Blumenkranz ’08 took the second doubles match against Mike Rockman and Albert Alant by the same score. At third doubles, Tedaldi and Ratnam defeated Matthew Kennedy and Fred Duncan 8-4.

The singles victories were even more resounding. Hanegby won his match against Rockman at first singles 6-3, 6-0. Charm, Ratnam and Tedaldi all posted 6-2, 6-2 wins at second, third and fourth singles. Garland was the only Bear to drop a set, losing the second set of fifth singles. He compensated, however, taking the third set breaker for a score of 6-2, 6-7, 1-0. Noah Gardner ’09 finished off the Bears’ shutout by

winning the sixth singles match 6-1, 7-6 (4).

Tedaldi said that gaining match experience is key. “Early on in the season, our main goal is to get as many matches in as possible. Being such a young team, experience is our main issue. It’s up to the older guys to show the younger guys the ropes.”

The Bears will play again this weekend, traveling to N.Y. to face No. 27 Clemson University on Saturday and Army on Sunday. “This match is very big for us,” Charm said. “Clemson is ranked extremely high, and this is a great opportunity for us to show the rest of the country what we can do.”

PAGE 8 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006

SPORTS EXTRA THE BROWN DAILY HERALD · THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006 · PAGE 9

Wrestlers pin down 19-16 win over Rutgers, as Mock ’08 wins closing match

BY STEPHEN COLELLI SPORTS EDITOR

Winter break is typically a time for rest and relaxation. For the wrestling team, however, nothing could be further from the truth.

The Bears nudged their season record over the .500 mark with a 19-16 win over Rutgers University Saturday. Now 4-3 (1-1 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association), Brown has emerged from its brutal early schedule in good shape to contend for the conference crown. Although the team dropped close decisions to then-No. 18 University of Wisconsin and No. 14 Purdue University at the Lone Star Duals to open this calendar year, wins over American University and California State University, Fullerton have shown that the Bears can compete with and defeat top programs.

“When I saw our schedule this year, I was surprised (at the number of top teams it contained),” said captain Michael Savino ’06. “I think our coach beefed up the schedule for this year because we (were expected to have) a senior-laden team.”

As it turns out, the Bears have been forced to utilize two firstyears due to the absence of their positions’ expected starters.

Despitetheirrelativeinexperience, both Matt Gevlinger ’09 (174 lbs.)

M. icers continued from page 12 10 University of Maine and a 3-3 tie against No. 11 Colgate University over the span of two weeks. Still, while the effort was there, the results did not follow suit.

“It’s been somewhat of a frustrating season because we’ve been in so many tight games but haven’t been able to make that next step,” Grillo said. “I think the positive of it is that as a team we’ve developed more in hardcore games and gotten more consistent. Through the adversity I think we’ve figured out who the guys are that we can rely on and who truly is inspired to turn this thing around.”

The team’s mettle was tested over a stretch in which three straight games went to overtime, the first of which was against Colgate University. Despite valiant efforts from all its skaters, Brown was unable to emerge from any of those games with a victory, dropping a 3-2 decision to Quinnipiac University and tying Princeton 2-2 in addition to the three-all deadlock with the Raiders. The overtime games were the last three contests in a 0-8-3 stretch that severely tested the team’s morale.

“The toughest part is not playing up to our potential,” said forward Brian Ihnacak ’07. “We know we can be a great team but we need to find a way to put it together.”

“The difference for us this year between winning and

and Brandon Stearns ’09 (184 lbs.) have performed well.

Against the Scarlet Knights, the two rookies took “some lumps,” according to Savino, but otherwise have performed admirably in their first season.

“They’ve wrestled well this year, but they faced some tough competition last week,” Savino added.

Brown has made it a habit of beginning with close matches before pulling away from the competition with the heart of the Bears’ lineup. Saturday’s showdown with Rutgers was no exception.

Nate Myers ’07 lost the opening match at 125 lbs. by a score of 8-7 in overtime. Dan Appello ’06 followed Myers’ overtime match with a triple overtime affair, prevailing over Kellen Bradley 2-1. The teams then split the next two matches, leaving it to Savino to break the tie at 157 lbs. Savino was more than happy to oblige.

“This match was really fun for me,” Savino said. “I’m from New Jersey, I live only 20 minutes from Rutgers and most of my friends are still in the area so I had a big contingent there cheering for me.”

To the delight of his hometown fans, Savino put the Bears back in front by dismantling his opponent 11-5. Shawn Kitchner ’07 followed with another win at

167 lbs., but losses by Gevlinger and Stearns left the Scarlet Knights ahead 16-13 with two matches to go.

“It came down to whoever won (sophomore) Levon (Mock’s heavyweight match) would win,” Savino said. “It’s a long bus ride home when you lose a close match like that, but we brought our whole team down there and our bench was going crazy during Levon’s match.”

Mock cruised to a 6-1 win over Mike D’Amico, securing Bruno’s first victory over a league opponent in the process.

Now the team has its sights set on breaking the monotony of winter break and getting into the heart of its conference season. The team officially ended its twice-a-day practice schedule Tuesday as it gears up for another home meet this weekend. After hosting Drexel University on Friday, the Bears square off in the Pizzitola Center against two more EIWA rivals in the United States Military Academy and Lehigh University on Saturday.

“We know what to expect now,” Savino said after surviving the stiff competition that composed the early portion of its schedule. “We can beat Drexel. … Lehigh and Army will be tough. A lot depends on how we match up with them. But we’re feeling pretty good.”

losing is such a small margin of error that in some aspects those games compounded the problem a bit,” Grillo said of the recent rash of sudden death contests. “It made us kind of second guess ourselves. When you turn around and win those games your confidence grows.”

Still, these overtime setbacks have served to motivate the team while it gains invaluable experience in pressure situations.

“Games like that can really try you and really force you to kind of look inward and see how you can adjust and make things better as a coach, a player and a teammate,” Grillo said. “As a program this year we’ve grown leaps and bounds from where we were in the beginning of the year. Our guys are somewhat battle-tested and are ready for those situations now and are able to handle them.”

The ability to battle in closely contested games ties into the team’s ultimate goal for the remainder of the season of overcoming obstacles and coming away with wins, something the Bears are clearly hungry for.

“We’ve got to take that next step of putting up a string of wins and solid games and solid efforts and building on that,” Grillo said. “There isn’t a team we’ve played this year where our guys didn’t leave that game and not say we couldn’t beat those guys.

The level of hockey we’re playing at, there’s a fine line between the stronger and weaker teams in the country.”

Both Grillo and his players

are aware that performing well during the last part of the season and the subsequent ECACHL playoffs — to which every team in the league is invited — could go a long way to salvaging the season.

“Right now we’re just trying to become the team that we really are,” Ihnacak said. “There are no specific goals, but we’re going to try to put things together for the stretch run which is all that matters. We’re just trying to get where we want to be.”

M. track continued from page 12 Ray Bobrownicki ’06 garnered third-place points in their specialties, the pole vault and high jump, respectively.

Bobrownicki, a four-time Heps champion, continues to lead the conference as well. Steve Bernardi ’07 earned fourthplace points in the long jump, an event in which he has already hit a top-20 league mark.

Kent Walls ’06 moved into the top 10 with a toss of 524 3/4 in the weight throw.

In addition, a pair of rookie throwers made their marks on the league in the event, as David Howard ’09 and Tyler Prince ’09 moved into the top 15. Howard hit 49-6 1/2, while Prince marked 46-9 1/2, both personal records.

“We didn’t back off at all for this meet,” said Throws Coach Michelle Eisenreich. “We still

Depleted roster no hurdle as w. track takes second at Sorlein Invitational

BY JUSTIN GOLDMAN ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Despite competing without several key members, the women’s track team gave a solid performance Jan. 20 at the University of Rhode Island’s Sorlein Invitational.

The Bears placed second out of 11 squads, relying heavily upon the strength of the team’s young players.

“We have some very talented young runners,” said Director of Track and Field Craig Lake.

“Nicole Burns (’09) was sick over the holidays, but bounced back with her best time in the 400 meters all season. Akilah King (’08) is also a threat.”

Brown had a very strong showing in the field events, as Tiffany Chang ‘08, co-captain Brittany Grovey ’06 and Chelsea McCarron ’08 lead the team to seven top-six finishes.

Chang placed third in the pole vault, clearing 11-3 3/4, Grovey placed third in the long jump with a mark of 18-2 1/4 and McCarron earned fourth place in the shot put with a throw of 38-5.

“Right now we are a fairly well-rounded squad,” Lake said. “Our jumps group consists of Grovey, who looks to score in the long jump and triple jump, as well as Erin Meschter ’06, who looks to place in the high jump. Tiffany has been strong in the pole vault all year and looks to go over 12 feet.”

“Brittany really stood out for us this weekend,” said Jumps Coach Jerome Romain.

“She long jumped for the first time and broke into the top ten (for Brown). She has room to improve.”

In the sprints, Dianna Anderson ’09 took third overall in the 55-meter dash with a time of 8.72 seconds.

The middle distance events

had four personal bests.”

Eisenreich is the sole returning member of the coaching staff, as she enters her sixth year with the program.

The throws squad also placed second and third in the shot put, as Mathieu Frankel ’08 and Howard marked 48-10 3/4 and 47-10 1/2.

Lake’s distance men found their highlight in a rookie performance, as Brian Schmidt ’09, in his collegiate track debut, took third in the mile with a time of 4:20, only a second away from his personal best.

“With the men at their highest (training) mileage, it was good to see we still had some speed,” Lake said. Lake, who has already guided the Bears to improved finishes on the cross country course this past fall, will encounter the greatest tests to her talent this winter as the men set out to improve upon last year’s sixthplace Heptagonal showing.

were another area in which the Bears shined. Anna Willard ’06 took second overall in the 1,000-meter run, while Naja Ferjan ’07 and co-captain Kelly Powell ’06 took fourth and fifth in the same race.

Lindsay Kahn ’09 finished sixth in the mile with a time of 507.99, which was a new personal best for her, beating her previous record by five seconds. Smita Gupta ’08 also placed fourth overall in the 800-meter race.

Willard and Ferjan normally compete in the longer distances, but on this day, they put an emphasis on speed.

“They will both definitely have an impact in longer distance events,” Lake said. “They both gave fine performances given that they had not done a speed workout yet.”

The 4x800 relay team of Willard, Gupta, Kahn and Ferjan won with a time of 9:20.66, a five second lead over the second place squad from Quinnipiac University.

“Coach told Anna to run conservatively,” Powell said.

“But she just couldn’t do that.

She pulled away in the second lap and gave us a huge lead.”

With the Heptagonal Championships less than one month away, the Bears are trying to gain valuable experience with each competition.

“Every meet leading up to the championship is a stepping stone for us,” Lake said. “We train through the season and the early meets with Heps in mind.”

The Bears will continue their march toward the Ivy League Championships this Saturday, when the team travels to Boston for its Ivy opener with Cornell and the host Crimson.

On Saturday, Brown will take its full team to Cambridge, Mass., for the annual BrownHarvard-Cornell meet. It will be the first head-to-head Ivy competition the Bears have seen this season.

“It will be better competition this weekend, especially with perennial powerhouse Cornell in attendance,” Lake said. “We will be well-represented in all event areas and should expect some great times with the men more rested and on such a fast track.”

Several of the men will look to improve upon their league rankings by taking full advantage of ideal racing conditions. Others, such as McClintock, Bobrownicki and co-captain Jake Golenor ’06 will seek to defend their top seeds.

“The coaches have been working us hard,” Golenor said.

“This weekend we’ll see better performances, but we all know we’re waiting for Heptagonals to truly peak. We’re pumped.”

EDITORIAL/LETTERS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD · THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006 · PAGE 10

STAFF EDITORIAL

Out of arm’s way?

The Brown community’s tempered reaction to the arming of licensed DPS police officers is a far cry from responses generated by the December 2003 announcement of the University’s intention to arm. In her original e-mail announcing the decision, President Ruth Simmons acknowledged the dissent of a large portion of students that represented either a healthy majority or — at the very least — an outspoken minority of the undergraduate population. “I know that many of you will be unable to embrace the decision,” Simmons wrote at the time.

Fast-forward to January 2006, and one could argue that a little bureaucracy has gone a long way. By undertaking a thorough preparation process and implementing a broad range of campus safety initiatives, administrators have successfully defused what seemed destined to be a permanent point of controversy for both community members and neighborhood residents.

Granted, since the original announcement, many students who were concerned by the change have graduated. And by announcing the completion of the arming process over the longest break of the academic year, the administration avoided vocal protests that might have occurred had students been on campus.

Keep in mind that we are not advocating full-fledged student outbursts, nor are we implying that such heated controversy is the hallmark of healthy discourse. Indeed, University administrators should be credited for the smooth transition they have overseen. Yet current students who were on campus at the time of the arming decision remain strangely silent — showing little support for or disapproval of a decision that could greatly affect their lives and the lives of their classmates.

Perhaps this indicates that presentations put forth by administrators and DPS officials successfully changed the minds of some students. But we can’t help but wonder if this muted response reflects more than just successful administrative tactics. Perhaps it also indicates an apathetic attitude toward campus life issues. That local politicians and community leaders continue to voice their misgivings lends credence to this notion. Mayor David Cicilline ’83, though cooperative with other University efforts to improve safety on College Hill, has certainly not actively supported arming. While some community leaders praise the move, this sentiment is hardly unanimous.

The campus climate affects students more than any other segment of the College Hill community, and those who might disagree with critical initiatives shouldn’t hesitate to voice their concerns. When it comes to controversial issues such as this one, both sides of the debate need to be heard.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD EDITORIAL Robbie Corey-Boulet, Editor-in-Chief Justin Elliott, Executive Editor Ben Miller, Executive Editor Stephanie Clark, Senior Editor Katie Lamm, Senior Editor Jonathan Sidhu, Arts & Culture Editor Jane Tanimura, Arts & Culture Editor Stu Woo, Campus Watch Editor Mary-Catherine Lader, Features Editor Ben Leubsdorf, Metro Editor Anne Wootton, Metro Editor Eric Beck, News Editor Patrick Harrison, Opinions Editor Nicholas Swisher, Opinions Editor Stephen Colelli, Sports Editor Christopher Hatfield, Sports Editor Justin Goldman, Asst. Sports Editor Jilane Rodgers, Asst. Sports Editor Charlie Vallely, Asst. Sports Editor PRODUCTION Allison Kwong, Design Editor Taryn Martinez, Copy Desk Chief Lela Spielberg, Copy Desk Chief Mark Brinker, Graphics Editor Joe Nagle, Graphics Editor

Jean Yves Chainon, Photo Editor Jacob Melrose, Photo Editor Ashley Hess, Sports Photo Editor Kori Schulman, Sports Photo Editor BUSINESS Ryan Shewcraft, General Manager Lisa Poon, Executive Manager David Ranken, Executive Manager Mitch Schwartz, Account Manager Laurie-Ann Paliotti, Sr. Advertising Manager Susan Dansereau, Office Manager POST- MAGAZINE Sonia Saraiya, Editor-in-Chief Taryn Martinez, Associate Editor Ben Bernstein, Features Editor Matt Prewitt, Features Editor Elissa Barba, Design Editor Lindsay Harrison, Graphics Editor Constantine Haghighi, Film Editor Paul Levande, Film Editor Jesse Adams, Music Editor Katherine Chan, Music Editor Hillary Dixler, Off-the-Hill Editor Abigail Newman, Theater Editor

Adam Kroll, Allison Kwong, Night Editors Sonia Saraiya, Taryn Martinez, Copy Editors Senior Staff Writers Simmi Aujla, Stephanie Bernhard, Melanie Duch, Ross Frazier, Jonathan Herman, Rebecca Jacobson, Chloe Lutts, Caroline Silverman Senior Sports Writers Justin Goldman, Charlie Vallely Staff Writers Anna Abramson, Justin Amoah, Alissa Cerny, Stewart Dearing, Gabriella Doob, Phillip Gara, Hannah Miller, Aidan Levy, Taryn Martinez, Ari Rockland-Miller, Jane Porter, Chelsea Rudman, Sonia Saraiya, Kam Sripada, Robin Steele, Kim Stickels, Nicole Summers, Laura Supkoff, Spencer Trice, Ila Tyagi, Sara Walter Sports Staff Writers Zaneta Balantac, Erin Frauenhofer, Kate Klonick, Madeleine Marecki, George Mesthos, Matt Nicholson, Eric Perlmutter, Marco Santini, Brian Schmidt, Tom Trudeau Account Administrators Lisa Poon, Scott Dunn, Robert McCartney, Alexandra Annuziato, Steven Butschi, Rukesh Samarasekera, Ashfia Rahman Design Staff Adam Kroll, Andrew Kuo, Jason Lee, Gabriela Scarritt Photo Staff CJ Adams, Chris Bennett, Meg Boudreau, Tobias Cohen, Lindsay Harrison, Matthew Lent, Christopher Schmitt, Oliver Schulze, Min Wu Copy Editors Anastasia Aguiar, Simmi Aujla, Aubry Bracco, Jacob Frank, Christopher Gang, Elizabeth Inglese, Sonia Saraiya, Alice Winslow

ROX A N N E PA L M E R

LETTERS Tweed GS remembered as selfless, unique To the Editor: The nature of heartbreak becomes clear in the moment someone as amazing as Patrick Tweed GS leaves this world. Patrick died on Dec. 19.

His absence is the saddest imaginable: that he will not be here in the spring to TA in the English Department, spend time with his friends and cook the delicious meals for which he was famous is nearly beyond comprehension.

From his fur-trimmed coat to his obsessive love for Nick Cave’s music, Patrick was a truly unique individual. I lived with Patrick for a year and a half and he never stopped surprising or amazing me. He loved both Iron Maiden and Bobby Darin.

He was a fanatical food snob but enjoyed a greasy pizza. He was extremely quiet but would burst into 80s power ballads while doing the dishes.

He was a solitary individual, but could get along

with anyone and was a wonderful, compassionate listener. He disliked talking in the classes he was taking, but loved talking to, and helping, his students.

I feel bad for anyone who never had the opportunity to be friends, or live, with Patrick. He was one of the most compelling individuals I’ve ever met. He changed his friends’ lives and his absence will never stop being felt.

A memorial gathering will be held for Patrick on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. at the Brown Faculty Club. This will be a time for joyful remembrance.

All are welcome.

Hannah Sikorski GS ’03 English Department Jan. 25

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OPINIONS

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD · THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006 · PAGE 11

All U. staff should have guns, not just DPS

BY MICHAL ZAPENDOWSKI OPINIONS COLUMNIST

Students returning to campus this semester may notice some changes. Some may notice that the rooms are a bit colder.

This is because Brown is tightening its belt against rising energy costs (look on the bright side: you no longer have to share the fridge). Some may notice that someone has been eating their porridge while they were gone, and sleeping in their beds. Something that everyone might notice, however, is that the Department of Public Safety personnel on campus are armed.

The decision to give guns to DPS has run up against a wall of controversy, which might be why the University ultimately armed them under the surreptitious, snowy cover of winter break, several years after the decision was first made.

“Isn’t it common sense that police be armed?” you might ask. After all, an unarmed DPS can’t protect anyone from crime. In fact, the official policy of Brown “public safety” in the past was not to interfere if they saw a student being raped or robbed, but to call the local police instead. I can just imagine the situation: “Stop right there! — you’ll soon be under arrest.” “Don’t give them your wallet, kid, just keep them busy with riddles while I call the real police!” Personally, I’d rather have no cops at all than cops who can’t protect me. If we’re not going to give DPS guns, we might as well saddle them up and send them north into crime-free

Canada. At least that way I don’t have to worry about them ruining my Saturday night — about the only thing they can do unarmed.

So why was the decision to arm DPS controversial? Vanessa Huang’s article “Rethinking arming” from April 27, 2005, summed up the usual arguments against arming Brown’s public safety officers: (1) DPS shouldn’t be trusted with weapons because they’re a bunch of trigger-happy maniacs, (2) criminals are really just demonized racial minorities and fighting them with guns is not the answer, (3) crime against Brown students is really the result of “rape culture” and “Brown’s relationship with the local community,” (4) the “imperialist” United States decided “to bomb Iraq and Afghanistan” and, therefore, the Brown police should not be armed.

Now, I am willing to grant the argument about Iraq. The chaos that developed in that country has shown the limits of arrogant unilateralism. So there’s one good argument against arming DPS. However, Ms. Huang’s other arguments dissolve upon closer scrutiny.

Crime undoubtedly has sociological causes. It is true that American society is far too eager to build prisons and send people there to serve long sentences for

stupid reasons. It’s also true that rape is the result of “rape culture” and that the vast majority of assaults on Brown students are, at least in part, the result of “Brown’s relationship with the local community.” However, none of these arguments weaken the case for arming Brown’s public safety officers. In fact, I

underlying sociological causes — you need to have cops, with guns, who have the authority to stop criminals. Prevention should be a complement, not a substitute, for enforcement.

If any student ever has a problem with the way a specific DPS officer behaves towards them or others, then they should deal with that as an issue relating to that particular officer, rather than projecting the problem onto DPS as a whole. Perhaps part of the solution is to make the process of reviewing officer conduct more transparent and accessible to students.

Ultimately, arming DPS is an issue of trust.

There are many Brown students who would prefer that no one had guns. However, because of the violent nature of crime, police have to be armed if they’re going to do any good.

Otherwise, opponents of arming campus officers should follow their arguments to their logical conclusion, which is that we should scrap DPS entirely. After all, there already exists local law enforcement, and having a separate police force that doesn’t have the ability to stop criminals is a waste of money — money that could be used for heating.

When a crime is taking place, it is too late to prevent it by addressing its underlying sociological causes. would argue that they strengthen it.

If Brown really is a poorly-defended city on a hill, surrounded by seething, proletarian Providence, besieged by sniveling rapists and dangerous students from Hope High, then all the better that our only defenders, DPS officers, be armed! They should even be given crucifixes and flasks of holy water, just in case anything comes crawling out of Swan Point Cemetery.

There is no doubt that violent assault on Brown students does happen, albeit rarely. When a crime is taking place, it is too late to prevent it by addressing its

Michal Zapendowski ’07 thinks guns are the surest solution to conflict.

A border as a looking glass: respecting cultural etiquette

BY NATALIE SMOLENSKI OPINIONS COLUMNIST

As I debarked my plane and walked to passport control at Newark Liberty International Airport, the first thing I noticed was the large American flag positioned above an otherwise featureless corridor and a large sign welcoming me and my fellow travelers to the United States of America. The sight momentarily took my breath away, and I slowed my pace to admire the aesthetic contrasts of the scene before me. The bold shapes and solid colors of the rectangular flag, the sharply chiseled corridor, and the unadorned, blocklettered sign embodied to me the contrasting stoicism, idealism and power of my country’s symbolic guardians.

I finally realized that I had left Egypt, and the terminal held the long-awaited arms of my home.

As I submerged myself in the corridor behind the flag, I played a game with myself, pretending to see everything through the eyes of my Egyptian friends.

I was torn between two worlds. When I reached passport control, I still thought in Arabic.

“Egypt!” said the American control officer through his window after flipping through my documents. “So did you learn a lot of Arabic?”

Instinctively I wanted to say, Aiwa, kteer khalis, but I remembered myself

and the words that came out were in English. “Yes, a lot,” I replied. I could not even describe to him how much.

“Shwayyeh. You’re supposed to say shwayyeh,” he quickly corrected me in a loud voice. Shwayyeh means “a little” in Arabic.

This conversation, my first real conversation upon entering the States, left me in a state of temporary social

itself understood to our detractors in the world.

Usually when we speak of “learning about other cultures,” we superficially focus on “foreign” mores and codes of etiquette. We follow these rules, but a silent understanding often passes among us that these conventions are silly, antiquated or unnecessary. We think we can even execute them half-heartedly — the “oh yeah, now I bow” phenomenon among Americans abroad. But there are no shortcuts to communicating true interest and concern.

Etiquette is a ritual showing respect, not a mask for a lack of it. If we treat cultural codes of etiquette flippantly, our actions will rightly be seen as inauthentic. And this, in short, is one of our country’s worst communication dilemmas.

America is a beautiful concept, a dream, whose communication to the rest of the world is central to our future security, economy and happiness. We can no longer project the image of America as a rugged land where politeness is a secondary thought. Getting rid of formalities was once a cultural asset, as it broke down barriers between people and did away with the concept of inherited respect. Ignoring etiquette is no longer beneficial; the pendulum has swung to the opposite extreme. As a country, we now appear willfully disrespectful. As funny and trivial as manners and etiquette may

We can no longer project the image of America as a rugged land where politeness is a secondary thought. paralysis. Egyptians never would have dreamed of so confidently contradicting me, a lady stranger, upon a first encounter in public. As my mind adjusted to what had just happened, the dim memory of similar exchanges resurfaced. I finally concluded that I was indeed in America.

I was unsure of which social language to speak to the man at the gate, and then once again unsure whether I should be offended by the man’s comparative lack of etiquette. I realized that my newfound cultural duality revealed to me a systemic insensitivity to cultures among many Americans. Only recently have I discovered that only through a return to cultural etiquette can America make

sound to us, their reintroduction into the social lexicon, both domestically and internationally, can go a long way to save our grace around the world.

Because of our reputation as the prototypical immigrant society sought out by the entire world, foreigners are hopeful to see that America has learned much from its many adoptions. I have witnessed firsthand the passionate enthusiasm shown by citizens of the world towards well-rounded Americans who display their sophistication, refinement and grace. The kind of politeness the world awaits from us does not resemble the vacant smiling and sweet butter talk of many high-society Americans. Instead, it reflects a cosmopolitan understanding and concern for others. Rather than placing the focus on ourselves and on our greatness, our new etiquette should emphasize the potential greatness of others and their value in our eyes.

This was supposed to be a column about my experience studying abroad in Egypt. It is apparent, however, that I am incapable of writing about such an experience without writing about America. For this reason, I wanted to present my story to you, the American reader, not as a description of a faroff land, but as a reintroduction to my own country. I hope that my America, a center to which so many aspirations are tied, will learn to show citizens of the world the same dignity it shows its own citizens.

Natalie Smolenski ’07 is the new Miss Manners.

SPORTS THURSDAY THE BROWN DAILY HERALD · JANUARY 26, 2006 · PAGE 12

W. ice hockey skating to top of ECACHL standings after 3 W’s

Ashley Hess / Herald

Margaret Ramsay ‘06 scored two goals in Brown’s 3-1 win over Yale Tuesday. The team has moved up to third in the ECACHL at 8-2-1.

TOM TRUDEAU SPORTS STAFF WRITER

The women’s ice hockey team skated to three consecutive victories by sweeping Union over the weekend and beating Yale 31 Tuesday night. The Bears made plays when they needed to and rode three strong goaltending performances by O’Hara Shipe ’08 to the victories.

The Bears improved their record in the ECACHL to 8-2-1 (10-8-2 overall), good for third place. The team trails Clarkson University and St. Lawrence University in the standings by one point.

In game one of the weekend series, the Bears scored three first period goals, while Union College only managed two shots. Brown notched three more goals in the third period and Shipe stopped all eight shots that she faced in a 6-0 rout in Schenectady, N.Y. Returning to the ice to face Union again on Saturday, the Bears came out flat, perhaps

overconfident after handling their opponent so easily the day before. They fell behind early, giving up a first period goal. Brown battled back in the second period when Keaton Zucker ’06 scored her fifth goal of the season to tie the score at two. However, Union quickly scored again to re-take the lead heading into the final period.

Head Coach Digit Murphy pulled goalie Stacy Silverman ’08 in favor of Shipe to close out the win. The move proved to be the right one, as the starter-turnedsuper-sub helped hold Union scoreless in the final period. It was Zucker who once again tied the game with her second goal of the contest.

“She carried us,” Murphy said of Zucker. “We really didn’t show up.”

Hayley Moore ’08 scored the game winner at 8:47 and Brown escaped with a 3-2 win.

Despite entering Tuesday night’s game in New Haven with confidence due to its current hot

Rough stretch behind, m. icers attempt to right ship

BY CHRIS MAHR SPORTS STAFF WRITER

The 2005-2006 season has not been kind to the men’s ice hockey team thus far. At 2-7-3 (3-11-5 overall) the Bears sit in the cellar of the ECACHL and recently endured an 11-game winless streak spanning nearly two months. They have played in seven overtime contests and have not won a single one (0-2-

inside

SPORTS EXTRA page 9 WRESTLERS WIN FIRST IN EIWA Levon Mock ’08 clinches victory over Scarlet Knights in day’s final match, brings team to 1-1.

W. TRACK MARCHES ON Young track-and-fieldsters pace team to second place finish at URI’s Sorlein Invitational.

5). Friday, Rensselaer Polytechnic University beat the Bears 3-1.

Saturday, the team saw an early 1-0 lead dissolve into 2-2 tie with Union College. Despite all the adversity, Brown is not throwing in the towel on its season.

“It’s nice to learn lessons and win, and it’s a lot more enjoyable.

Nonetheless, we learned some pretty valuable lessons this year about how to turn things into a positive,” Head Coach Roger Grillo said. “The guys have stayed the course and worked extremely hard. They have not been rewarded properly yet, but I feel that they will.”

Bruno could have easily packed it in after allowing five goals in consecutive nights in losses to Yale and Providence College in early December.

Instead, the squad’s resolve hardened. The Bears bounced back from those defeats with a hard-fought 2-1 loss to No. see M. ICERS, page 9

streak, Brown did not overlook a Bulldog hockey team four games under .500 for the season at the time. Yale is a scrappy, hardworking team that has been a victim of several close games this season, Murphy said.

The seniors set the tone for the game from the opening whistle, skating hard and being aggressive with their shot selection. Just before the halfway point of the first period, Lindsey Glennon ’06 and Margaret Ramsay ’06, teamed up for a two-on-one rush against Yale goaltender Sarah Love.

Glennon fired a low hard shot that Love was able to block, but the rebound bounced right to Ramsay, who was driving hard to the net. The senior buried her shot, lighting the lamp for the game’s first goal and giving Brown the early lead.

The Bears have had problems playing hard for all three periods throughout the season, and they began to lose some of their intensity in the second frame. Dena Caplette made a nifty one-on-one move against defenseman Lindsay Wilde ’09 and beat Shipe to knot the score at one. Caplette was the first player to score on Shipe in her last three appearances, see W. ICERS, page 7

Out of hibernation, m. tennis whitewashes BC, Buffalo to open semester

BY ERIN FRAUENHOFER SPORTS STAFF WRITER

The men’s tennis team opened its spring season with a bang Saturday, giving up just one team point during its doubleheader against Boston College and University at Buffalo. After overpowering BC 6-1 in the morning, the win-hungry Bears devoured Buffalo 7-0 in the afternoon.

“The guys were putting out a lot of energy,” said Assistant Coach Jamie Gresh.

Despite dropping one match in doubles play against BC, Brown grabbed the point.

The first doubles team of cocaptain Phil Charm ’06 and Dan Hanegby ’07 and the third doubles team of Eric Thomas ’07 and Sam Garland ’09 defeated their opponents by respective scores of 8-2 and 8-4.

Saurabh Kohli ’08 and Basudev Ratnam ’09, however, did not follow suit, losing the second doubles match 8-4 to Jason Sechrist and Brian Hartness, but Brown already had the two doubles wins it needed to take the point.

“We weren’t expecting to be perfect,” Charm said, “But when we compete hard and work hard, we get the results we want.”

The Bears lost their only team point of the day during singles play against the Eagles.

Hanegby played an extremely close match against Soma Kesthley in first singles, losing the first set tiebreaker, winning the second set tiebreaker and ultimately giving up the third set breaker for a final score of 76 (7), 6-7 (5), 0-1(2).

“It was a pretty even match,” Gresh said. “Dan wasn’t playing his best level of tennis, but (Kesthley) also raised his game.”

After the disappointing defeat, the Bears rallied and never looked back. They took the rest of their singles matches against BC in straight sets.

Thomas and Charm triumphed at second and third singles respectively. At fourth and fifth singles, Kohli and Chris Lee ’09 had matching 6-4, 6-3 victories, while co-captain Luke Tedaldi ’06 won the sixth singles match 6-3, 6-3.

The Bears played a total of nine matches and they won seven of those in defeating the Eagles. Despite their impressive showing in the morning, however, there were still nine more matches to come against see M. TENNIS, page 7

Despite intense practice schedule, m. track nabs second at Sorlein Invite

BY JILANE RODGERS ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

KINGSTON, R.I. — While the men’s track and field team opens the 2006 season with four new faces on the coaching staff, a roster that features some of the most talented athletes in the Ivy League should ease the transition.

This past weekend, the Bears traveled with a partial squad to the University of Rhode Island’s Sorlein Invitational. The men secured second place in the 11-team field with 109 points.

The University of Connecticut topped Brown with 205.5 points, and the host Rams trailed Bruno with 92.

“Overall it was a good

showing for where we are in our training,” said Director of Track and Field Craig Lake.

The Bears, in the middle of one of their heaviest training segments, competed with tired legs and sore bodies, which the coaching staff expected, Lake added.

“With only half of our squad, the tough winter practices and many men not competing in their primary events, second was impressive,” she said.

Deshaun Mars ’08 led the Bears by scoring in three events — the 55-meter dash and the long and triple jumps.

“For the last two weeks we’ve held two-a-days because of the winter recess,” said

Dan Grossman ‘71

Jamil McClintock ‘ and Deshaun Mars ‘, competed in the 55-meter dash at the Sorlein Invitational at URI over the weekend. Mars took sixth in the event, while McClintock later took fourth in the 55-meter hurdles.

Sprints Coach George Evans.

“We’ll back off now and even greater speed will come.” Evans joined the organization this fall with two years of experience at Youngstown State University in Ohio and a list of his own track accolades while competing for Lehigh University.

Mars’ time of 6.70 seconds in the dash ranks him sixth in the Ivy League this season.

While Mars was already ranked in the top 20 in the triple jump, his mark of 22-1 3/4 in the long jump moved him to a top-15 ranking in the conference for that event as well.

“Mars had a good performance that was even more impressive considering how banged up we are from the training,” said new Jumps Coach Jerome Romain, who brings Olympic experience to the staff, specializing in the triple and long jumps. “To set a personal best in the long jump in those conditions is great.”

Competing well for Brown’s sprint squad was Dallas Dissmore ’06, who clocked 1:05.98 in the 500-meter dash.

Dissmore’s time moved him to fourth in the league. He also anchored the winning 4x400 relay with a split of 48 seconds.

Jamil McClintock ’08 raced to a time of 7.77 in the 55-meter hurdles to place him atop the Ivies. Consistent Heptagonal scorers Grant Bowen ’07 and see M. TRACK, page 9