Daily Herald the Brown
vol. cxliv, no. 48 | Thursday, April 9, 2009 | Serving the community daily since 1891
In turbulent economy, tuition worries many
bran c hin g o u t
for college is a large part of a family’s expenses, and as their incomes come under pressure, it becomes a As the global economy continues to greater concern, he said. struggle, questions about the posDespite this, administrators sible impact on higher education are have been “pleasantly surprised” becoming more pressing — particu- that there have been fewer cases larly following last year’s dramatic of students contacting the Office of unveiling at many top universities of Financial Aid about increased finanexpanded financial aid programs. cial need than some had expected, Among the students surveyed Spies added. in a recent Herald Regardless of HERALD POLL economic circumpoll, 30.9 percent of undergraduates are stances, Brown will very confident in their ability to fi- remain committed to supporting nance their education, 29.3 percent students, he said. are somewhat confident, 27.5 perIn October, Brown announced cent are somewhat worried and 10.5 a temporary policy allowing many percent are very worried about their students with outstanding tuition ability to finance their education. balances to pre-register for spring Approximately 41 percent of classes. Approximately 360 students students qualified for financial aid benefited from the temporary meathis year, according to the Brown sure, Elizabeth Gentry, assistant Web site. vice president for financial and Dick Spies, executive vice presi- administrative services, told The dent for planning and senior adviser Herald in a Jan. 26 article. to the president, said he was not continued on page 2 surprised by these figures. Paying By Joanna Wohlmuth Metro Editor
Katerine Regalado / Herald
Knight Memorial Library on Elmwood Avenue is one of nine neighborhood branches that a new community group may take over. See article, page 5
UCS votes to up funding for groups By Ben Schreckinger Senior Staff Writer
The Undergraduate Council of Students unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday to offer limited funding to Category I student groups and to create a new unfunded category for
club sports. Category I organizations, which have the lowest level of official UCS recognition, previously received no funding. But they may now apply for $100 every two years. If every current Category I group received funding, it would cost the Undergraduate Finan-
cial Board about $5,000 a year. UCS Academic and Administrative Affairs Chair Tyler Rosenbaum ’11 said an initial proposal to provide groups with half that amount presented an “awful lot of work to go through continued on page 4
New student business eyes discounts By Luisa Robledo Staf f Writer
Sanna Vohra ’12 wants to give Brown students even more freedom of choice — by offering some alternatives to cafeteria dining. With
FEATURE Shristi Pandey / Herald
Baja’s will be coming to Thayer Street in about six weeks.
Tex-Mex restaurant to open on Thayer Street said. “Ever ything’s cooked in front of you,” Hugh said, because the Baja’s, a Tex-Mex restaurant, kitchen faces the customers, prowill soon be opening its doors viding them with the opportunity on Thayer Street. Ray Hugh, the to watch the chefs at work. owner of Shanghai and Xtreme There will also be “a lot of things Pizza and Wings, is now expand- imported directly from Mexico,” ing with a venue at 273 he added. Thayer St., where Spike’s Hugh’s last venture, METRO Junkyard Dogs used to Shark Sushi Bar and Grill, be housed. encountered trouble with city orThe establishment will be un- dinances over parking spaces. But veiled in about six weeks, providing Hugh said that since Baja’s is in the a wide selection of foods, Hugh old Spike’s Junkyard Dogs location, said. With the option of eating there the parking is already provided. or taking out, patrons will be able to “I think this street can use a enjoy Philly cheesesteaks, burgers, good Mexican fast-food place,” he salads, fries and burritos, Hugh said.
inside
By Monique Vernon Contributing Writer
News.....1-4 Metro.....5-6 Spor ts...7-9 Editorial..10 Opinion...11 Today........12
www.browndailyherald.com
post-
the help of three friends, Vohra has launched 2020, a business that seeks to make it moe affordable for students to eat in restaurants on Thayer Street. “We want to make it easier for students to eat out,” Vohra said. “They should be able to do so at a good price.” The company grew out of a business plan that Vohra wrote with Luke Sher win ’12 for Professor Emeritus of Engineering Barrett Hazeltine’s class, ENGN 0900: “Managerial Decision Making.” Their friends Muhammad Saigol ’12 and Parth Jindal ’12 joined the company later. Brown students pay $20 for a membership card that gives them a 20 percent discount at restaurants along Thayer. The cards will be valid until May 2010, said Vohra, a former Herald contributing writer. So far, Kabob and Curry, Spice, Andreas, Phonatic and Byblos and its hookah bar have agreed to work with 2020. Paragon and Spats may
Kim Perley / Herald
Sanna Vohra ’12 has launched a company to make Thayer eating more affordable.
join later once the business is more established, Sherwin said. The discount, which works all day from Monday through Thursday and until 3 p.m. on Fridays, lowers the price of restaurant food to “roughly the price of a meal credit,” Vohra added. Currently, each meal credit is worth $5.75. Because the discount doesn’t work during weekends, and students still need to eat, 2020’s founders do not think their discount will replace meal plans, Vohra said.
Even so, the group thinks it’s possible that people will “start to get cheaper meal plans,” Saigol said. Ann Hoffman, director of administration for Brown Dining Services, wrote in an e-mail to The Herald that, at this stage, it is impossible to tell the effect that 2020 will have on the number of students who choose the University’s dining program. Dining Services “will continued on page 2
Inside
Metro, 5
Opinions, 11
is serious. We fold cardigans, strum the banjo and hit it wild. And there’s an article about animal sex.
Library Lifeline?
Special responsibility
An agreement to examine public library stewardship offers hope to the troubled system
Jeanne Jeong ’12 argues for special elections to be instituted in the Ocean State.
195 Angell Street, Providence, Rhode Island
herald@browndailyherald.com