Monday, October 15, 2007

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The Brown Daily Herald M onday, O ctober 15, 2007

Volume CXLII, No. 88

Corporation approves sites for two new buildings By Ross Frazier News Editor

The Corporation, the University’s top governing body, this weekend approved the locations of two major capital construction projects, formally accepted over $12.5 million in gifts, discussed the ongoing review of the undergraduate College and considered a reassessment of Brown’s strategic plans. In addition, University officials announced the appointment of Brown’s first vice president for international affairs. As the new vice president, David Kennedy ’76, a Harvard Law School professor and expert on international law, will oversee the Watson Institute for International Studies and lead the University’s efforts to internationalize its teaching, research and reputation. In addition to Kennedy’s appointment, the Corporation discussed internationalization in general during its regular October meeting, speaking with University officials about how to spark campus conversation on the topic, build international partnerships and give research a global focus. Kennedy’s appointment fulfills one of the primary recommendations of the University’s internationalization committee. Though his job officially begins in January, the addition of an official to President Ruth Simmons’ cabinet who focuses solely on international initiatives will likely quicken the pace of Brown’s efforts to globalize. Dean of the Faculty Rajiv Vohra continued on page 6

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Kennedy ’76 named VP for int’l affairs By Nick Werle Senior Staff Writer

David Kennedy ’76, a professor of law and director of the European Law Research Center at Harvard Law School, will become Brown’s first vice president for international affairs, President Ruth Simmons announced Saturday after a meeting of the Corporation. Kennedy, who will lead the University’s effort to raise its global profile, will take his post in January 2008. “David has been one of the major forces in the teaching of

international law at Harvard for many years now and has developed an incredibly rich network of relationships with institutions and scholars around the world,” Provost David Kertzer ’69 P’95 P’98, who co-chaired the search committee for the new vice president, told The Herald. “He knows government leaders and major figures in the academic world, so he brings a tremendous set of resources for Brown to build up relationships.” Since the University’s internationalization committee, which was established in October 2006,

released its report in early September, the administration has largely been waiting for the arrival of the vice president for the effort to continue. The report — a wide-ranging exploration of what Brown can do to raise its international profile and expand its connections to institutions abroad — makes clear that the vice president will drive the effort and determine the implementation of specific proposals. Kennedy’s appointment this weekend allows the internationalcontinued on page 6

Courtesy of Brown.edu

Newly appointed Vice President for International Affairs David Kennedy ’76

Future of UEL uncertain By Chaz Kelsh Contributing Writer

Tai Ho Shin / Herald File Photo

A new “Mind Brain Behavior Building” will be constructed on the Angell Street site that is the current location of the Urban Environmental Laboratory.

The Corporation decided this weekend to locate a new “Mind Brain Behavior Building” on Angell Street between J. Walter Wilson and the Walk, at the current location of the Urban Environmental Lab and two University-owned houses, President Ruth Simmons announced Saturday in a campus-wide e-mail. The decision leaves the future location of the Center for Environmental Studies unclear. The proposed building, which will house the Department of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences, the Department of Psychology and the Brain Science Program, was originally to be located at 154 Angell St., which used to be the site of a Shell gas station and is now slated for the planned Creative Arts Center. The Corporation’s announcement did not specify whether the UEL could be relocated or whether the center would move to a new building, and both remain a possibility, according to Patti Caton ’92 MA’02, administrative manager

of the center. The UEL, conver ted from a carriage house in 1981, previously contained student housing and the offices and classrooms of the center. According to Encyclopedia Brunoniana, the UEL was designed to be “a model house to show what can be accomplished in an urban environment with a solar greenhouse, insulation, water-conserving plumbing and a recycling facility.” The construction of the cognitive and linguistic sciences building on the site is part of the University’s initiative to make better use of space near the center of campus, a goal that was adopted by the Corporation in 2003 as part of the Strategic Framework for Physical Planning. The UEL would be more difficult to move than Peter Green House, Caton said. The only likely new location would be Waterman Street, but even that would be a temporary solution. “It would only be a matter of time before they would want that footprint for another building,” continued on page 4

U. has no immediate plans Soapbox cars race down College Hill to switch to Common App By Seth Motel Contributing Writer

The University has no plans to abandon its unique admission application, but it is constantly reassessing options such as adopting the Common Application, Dean of Admission Jim Miller ’73 told The Herald. Brown and Columbia University remain the only two Ivy League schools that have not adopted the Common Application, which is used by 315 colleges nationwide. Still, Brown could switch to either the Common Application or the newly formed Universal College Application for future classes, Miller said. “In terms of making Brown accessible, there is some amount that the Common App would allow us to do that,” Miller said. A possible impetus for change

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ARTS & CULTURE

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By Hari Tyagi Contributing Writer

is the introduction of the Banner system, which Miller said could integrate with the Common Application more easily than the previous system. Though he agrees that joining one of the consortia would likely increase the number of applicants, Miller said that isn’t a primary concern. The University has seen applications rise by about 25 percent in the last five years, he said. “We’re not looking for more applicants,” Miller said. “The key is to have the right people in the applicant pool.” A school that has more applicants apply for the same number of spots is able to reject a higher percentage — a criterion used to determine the widely cited U.S. News and World Report rankings.

An estimated 50,000 spectators watched over 50 human-powered, homemade soapbox cars race a quarter-mile track down College Hill Saturday afternoon at the Red Bull Soapbox Race. Competitors came from around the country and were scored by five judges on a scale of 1 to 10 based on three categories — creativity, speed and showmanship for each team’s opening skit prior to launching the soapbox. “This was one of the funniest, most outrageous events I have ever seen,” said Christopher Peck, a Boston College student. “Not every day do I see grown men dressed in tacky costumes racing down a hill in hilariously designed carts.” The Good, The Bad and The Nerdy — comprising five students from the South Dakota School of continued on page 4

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PHANTOM OF SAYLES Guest conductor Eric Culver led the Brown University Orchestra in a concert Saturday evening.

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CAMPUS NEWS

PITCHES AND EATS Scott Norton ’08 and Chris Ordonez ‘07 held a “Startup Dinner,” the first in a series, on Thursday.

Alex Unger / Herald

Homemade carts raced down Waterman Street Saturday as part of the Red Bull Soapbox Race.

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OPINIONS

195 Angell Street, Providence, Rhode Island

POWER TO THE PEOPLE Zachary Townsend ‘09 says there should be more student representation on key University committees.

12 SPORTS

BEARS MAUL TIGERS The football team defeated Princeton 33-24 on Saturday, picking up a badly needed league win.

News tips: herald@browndailyherald.com


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