Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Daily Herald the Brown

vol. cxlv, no. 75 | Wednesday, September 22, 2010 | Serving the community daily since 1891

New deputy provost to join U. administration

By Casey Bleho Staff Writer

Joseph Meisel will succeed Vincent Tompkins ’84 as the University’s deputy provost Oct. 1. The appointment marks the end of a summerlong national search coordinated by Associate Provost Nancy Dunbar and Provost David Kertzer ’69 P’95 P’98, which began after Tompkins stepped down on July 1 to head a private school based in New York.

Meisel, a Columbia graduate, will be coming to Brown after spending the last 11 years as a program officer in charge of humanities at the Andrew Mellon Foundation. He also worked in Columbia’s Office of Management and Budget.

“I’m absolutely delighted to have been chosen as Brown’s next deputy provost and am ea-

New CLiPS dept. means few changes for students

By Qian Yin Staff Writer

Since the former psychology and cognitive and linguistic sciences departments merged into the new Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences in July, the transition process has not significantly affected students.

Kathr yn Spoehr, associate chair of CLiPS, said the merger has not caused dramatic changes for students so far, since neither course arrangements nor concentration guidelines have changed significantly. Faculty members have continued to work to ensure a smooth transition process, she added.

“What has worked for the students in the past is continuing to work for them now,” Spoehr said. Yet in the long run, students will benefit from an increased range of course and research topics brought about by the merger, she added.

So far the merger is helping students find classes that are less familiar to them, but appeal to their academic interest, said Associate Professor David Sobel, a concentration adviser for

inside

continued on page 2

News.......1–3 Sports.....4–5 Editorial......6 Opinion.......7 Today..........8

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P oster c hi l dren

gerly looking for ward to getting started,” Meisel wrote in an e-mail to The Herald. “The opportunity to work at such an excellent institution as Brown, with its outstanding people and many interesting developments under way, was enormously compelling.”

According to a University press release, Meisel helped coordinate and implement a variety of scholarly programs that looked to provided “direct support to individual students and faculty scholars as well as funds for libraries, centers, and scholarly publishing,” while looking to strengthen both the humanities and social sciences within universities.

His work on the staff of Columbia’s central budget office was, accontinued on page 2

By Suzannah Weiss Arts & Culture Editor

dren in the Providence school system who are seeking to improve their lives through education,” according to the University’s official response.

To accomplish this goal, the University has pledged to create a $10 million endowment in order to support the Providence school system in “perpetuity,” according to Vice President for Public Affairs and University Relations

A roomful of professors and administrators discussed proposed revisions to tenure review procedures at a faculty forum Tuesday night.

Faculty will vote on the set of motions — established by the Committee to Review Tenure and Faculty Development Policies, chaired

by Provost David Kertzer ’69 P’95 P’98 — to address faculty concerns about timing of tenure applications and letters of recommendation, at the next forum Oct. 5.

Chair of the Faculty Forum and Professor of Histor y of Art and Architecture Dietrich Neumann mediated the discussion.

The proposed guidelines would push the beginning of tenure review several months earlier relative to the end of an assistant professor’s probation. But combined with another proposed motion to lengthen the probationary period by a year, this motion would give the candidate more time before review.

A date has not been set to vote on the latter proposal, though Dean of the Faculty Rajiv Vohra P’07 told The Herald that he hopes the forum will address the motion at its November meeting.

Some faculty members expressed concern that keeping the

continued on page 5

continued on page 3

Freddy Lu / Herald

Students leaf through collections of images at a poster sale on Wriston Quadrangle.

Prov. schools get 3rd round of grants No growth for fund since 2009

By Chip Lebovitz Contributing Writer

The Fund for the Education of the Children of Providence awarded $40,000 worth of grants to three local Providence schools last month, despite a lack of a significant increases to the fund’s endowment

Faculty forum continues tenure debate

since May 2009.

The fund is a response to recommendations in the 2006 final report of the Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice, which studied Brown’s historical connections to the slave trade. In addition to ser ving the education of local students, the report also recommended a memorial to the slave trade and the continued study of slaver y.

The fund is designed “to help meet the urgent needs of the chil-

Athlete of the Week: Tronti ’11 gets it done for the Bears

by Maria Acabado Contributing Writer

Last year, running back Zachary Tronti ’11 suffered from a serious season-ending injury. But after the Bears won their first game of the season against Stony Brook, Tronti and the Bears look to be in good shape for the rest of the season.

Sports For his valiant efforts in Saturday’s season opener and scoring the game winning touchdown in the second overtime, The Herald has named Tronti Athlete of the Week.

You’re coming back from a season-ending injur y. How does it feel to be out on the field again?

It feels great. Last year I tore my ACL in the eighth game of the season, so I’m a little over nine months

Cup of Sun

right now in the recover y stage.

It’s been really good, though. I got back to camp and started right away with practice and everything. The coaches and trainers didn’t really try to hold me back.

After dealing with such a serious injur y, are you ner vous at all about getting hurt again during your senior year?

Yeah, it goes through your mind, but once you get out into the flow of the game it kind of just becomes normal again. You have so much adrenaline that you don’t even think about it. I just try to take care of my body during the week. Try not to think about it as much as you can.

Last season Brown lost to Stony Brook by one point. Did you guys have that in mind going in continued on page 5

Jesse Morgan / Herald

Zachary Tronti ’11 pulled a Brown victory from double-overtime against Stony Brook in the first game of the season last Saturday.

Making a fan

Harder work

Web Ed

The Blue Room switches coffee brands for new cafe

Explaining the origin of sports team obsession

Post-Brown life requires more than just brains

Dan Davidson ’11 on the changing world of online education

Campus news, 2

sports, 5

EDITORIAL, 6

Opinions, 7

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Page 2

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

C ampus N EWS

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Merged CLiPs dept. Blue Room switches up its coffee brew brings new resources

By Sophia Seawell Contributing Writer

continued from page 1 cognitive science. In the past, a student interested in psychology might neglect to explore courses in the cognitive and linguistics sciences department, some of which might be of potential interest, he said. Now that all these classes are listed under one department, he said he expects the course hunting process to be “more streamlined” for undergraduate students, Sobel added.

Sobel said one way the merger benefits concentrators is that they now have more options for their thesis advisers. For example, there were a number of psychologists in the cognitive science department who were eligible to direct psychology thesis projects, though many students were not aware of the option because they were in a separate department before the merger. The merger has made this process “much more transparent,” Sobel said.

Teaching assistant positions are now open to graduate students of all programs in the new department, so it is now easier for graduate students to be teaching assistants for courses that are not strictly in their areas of expertise, Spoehr said.

The new department — which offers concentrations in psychology, cognitive science, cognitive neuroscience and linguistics — is in the process of examining all four sets of concentration requirements and is likely to expand the choices of courses that count towards the requirements, Spoehr said.

The department is also trying to reduce the overlap in subject matter that were covered by courses offered by the previously separate departments, said Professor Sheila Blumstein, a concentration adviser for cognitive neuroscience.

An impor tant par t of the merger is to enhance the studies of mind, brain, behavior and language at Brown through building stronger faculty, Blumstein said.

Since 2007 — when the plan for the merger and joint search for new faculty members by both departments began — the University has brought and will continue to bring faculty members to the department, Spoehr said.

The faculty additions will boost the department considerably. As a result the department will be able to of fer a number of new courses and research projects, she added.

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While this year’s increased seating, food options and hours this year in the new Blue Room are hard to miss, a more subtle change has taken place.

The Blue Room, which formerly served Green Mountain Coffee, now serves Sun Coffee Roasters.

The change was made during the re-evaluation of the menu and products that accompanied the Blue Room’s renovation, according to Ann Hoffman, director of administration and human resources for Dining Services. Sun was chosen by “a panel of representatives from Brown, including students” that determined, based on taste and other factors, that Sun “offered the best overall package,” Hoffman wrote in an e-mail to The Herald.

Like the company that preceded it, Sun is “a fair trade line” dedicated to “sustainable growing practices,” she added.

Based in Plainville, Conn., and in operation since April 2009, Sun already sells coffee to 80 colleges and universities nationwide. On its website, the company calls itself “one of the most technologically advanced roasters and packagers of Organic Fair Trade coffee in the United States.”

Max Monn/ Herald

Sun Coffee Roasters is a new addition to the brand new Blue Room.

To be certified Fair Trade, companies must pay coffee farmers a minimum price of $1.26 per pound of coffee beans. This requirement helps coffee farmers escape the cycle of debt created when they receive less for their coffee than it costs to produce the beans, which often occurs when developed countries buy from developing countries. Fair Trade practices improve the standard of living for farmers and their communities and benefit the environment.

While the benefits of movements involving organic or Fair Trade goods are generally supported at the University, there is great variation in reactions to the taste of the new coffee.

Jasmine Lee ’12 said she noticed no change in the flavor, while Gypsy

Vidal ’12 said she did notice a difference, though she said she does not necessarily think it is for the better.

Lauren Beeder ’13, on the other hand, said she finds the new coffee to be a definite improvement.

For now, the Blue Room has been “managing the transition,” which involves focusing on operational matters such as distribution and invoicing, said Associate Director of Dining Services Peter Rossi.

Sun has initiated a “Wake Up Your Campus” campaign that donates a percentage of every pound of coffee sold on campus to a scholarship fund to promote sustainable living. “Once the changeover is complete, we will begin to explore these opportunities,” Rossi said.

New deputy provost takes on role continued from page 1 cording to Meisel, a key element in helping him learn the inner workings of large universities, providing him with opportunities to work in close coordination with the provost in matters of both academic and financial planning. “Taken together, these experiences have given me a

broad perspective on a wide range of issues that universities must contend with, and the concerns and interests of higher education’s key constituents,” Meisel wrote.

Meisel’s familiarity with university management, coupled with his experience in academic administration and program development, were important in the decision to

hire him, said Kertzer.

As deputy provost, Meisel’s responsibilities will include “acting as a representative to the provost in the oversight of centers and institutes at Brown, particularly with regard to those with separate endowments,” Ker tzer said. He will also play a role in the budget committee of the University.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

C ampus N EWS Faculty continues to review tenure policy amendments continued from page 1 two proposals separate will confuse matters. Professor of Sociology Gregory Elliott said approving the one currently under consideration before the other would be “putting the cart before the horse.”

Kertzer responded with hopes that they both will pass. Adding a year to a candidate’s probationary period would give potential tenured faculty the chance to accomplish more and establish themselves before their evaluation, he said.

The rest of the proposal deals with selection, submission and tracking of recommendation letters for tenure candidates. Currently, at least five letters are required, a number which would increase to eight under the proposal.

Professor of Neuroscience Jerome Sanes, who sits on the Tenure, Promotion and Appointments Committee, said most candidates receive more than five letters anyway. “I don’t really see this as a big issue. It’s already protocol,” he said.

Most universities require more references, with many asking for 12 to 15, said Professor of Africana Studies Tricia Rose, who said the purpose of a tenure review is “to have a wide range of people who assess the candidate.”

During the cur rent review process as outlined in the faculty rules, the candidate submits a list of potential referees to an academic department, which then selects at least three of the suggested names and may add others it deems appropriate. The dean of the faculty or the dean of medicine and biological sciences receives these recommendations and meets with the Tenure, Promotion and Appointments Committee to discuss the promotion.

Under the new proposals, the department would be required to add names for letter requests and submit a list to the dean, who may add to this list.

In addition, names of recommendation writers would no longer

be known to the candidate. Instead, the candidate would be asked to inform the department if there is a particular scholar who should not provide a reference.

Some faculty members objected to the dean’s ability to request references, saying it would increase the power of the administration outside the academic department.

Under the proposed change, the dean would add names “in consultation with the department.”

The revisions also sparked debate about transparency. Professor Emeritus of East Asian Studies Steve Rabson said someone could file a lawsuit for being denied information on referees. Professor of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences Andrea Simmons expressed concern that not informing candidates of their letterwriters was “messing around with the honesty of the process.”

Submitting the names of inappropriate people to contact poses its own problems, said Professor of Comparative Literature Dore Levy.

“That can be an extremely dangerous document for the candidate to produce” if he or she objects to a certain referee for “embarrassing” reasons such as “because you refused to sleep with him,” she said.

Professor of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences Sheila Blumstein, a member of the Committee to Review Tenure and Faculty Development Policies, said the motion would not decrease transparency. She said she knew a professor who would not give a reference because the candidate would see the name.

“I hope very much that the motion passes,” Blumstein told The Herald, adding that she hopes there is “a ver y strong faculty turnout” at the next meeting.

Kertzer said at the meeting that “it’s harder to imagine a more important decision” than how to “have the best review and fullest review for tenure faculty.”

If passed, the motions will go into effect in July.

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“I don’t really see this as a big issue. It’s already protocol.”

— Jerome Sanes, Professor of Neuroscience

SportsWednesday The Brown Daily Herald

Wednesday, September 15, 2010 | Page 4

Of winners and losers: fandom explained

By Sam Sheehan Sports Columnist

Jonathan Bateman / Herald

Kiersten Berg ’14 helped the Bears to a win and a tie in overtime.

W. soccer takes two opponents to OT

by Madeleine Wenstrup Contributing Writer

The Bears (3-2-1) had fans on the edge of their seats this week. They took Army (7-2-0) into overtime on Wednesday evening and came out with a 2-1 win. Returning home on Sunday afternoon, their match against Sacred Heart (4-3-2) went into two overtimes, ending in a 0-0 tie.

Brown 2, Army 1 In West Point, N.Y. on Wednesday night, the Bears halted Army’s 6-0 winning streak and became the first team this season to score more than one goal against the Black Knights.

The game started off slow, with a scoreless first half, despite even attempts by both squads. Army’s goalkeeper Monica Lee stopped shots by Marybeth Lesbirel ’12, Gina Walker ’11 and Kiersten Berg ’14 to continue her shutout streak.

The beginning of the second half was Army-dominated as they led in the shot count and scored in a one-on-one contest with goalkeeper MC Barrett ’14. The goal came just eight minutes after

halftime. In the final 20 minutes Bruno kicked up the intensity, outshooting the Black Knights 8-0 and taking five corner kicks.

Their efforts seemed to be fruitless until Brown earned a corner kick with 52 seconds remaining.

Louisa Pitney ’14 took the kick, setting up Carly Ruiz ’12 for a goal to tie the game.

It was a game for last minute performances. With only 15 seconds left in the ten-minute overtime, Pitney, with an assist by Walker, secured her first career goal and game-winner for Brown.

Pitney’s standout performance earned league recognition when she was awarded the Ivy League Rookie of the Week on Monday.

Teammate Berg received the award the previous week.

Brown 0, Sacred Heart 0 On Sunday afternoon, Brown tied Sacred Hear t in a double overtime game. Both teams had a significant amount of shots on goal; tough defenses and a lack of follow-through kept the game even. Both teams had six corner kicks and Brown had a slight shot advantage — 21-18 — over the

Pioneers.

“We lacked intensity. We were a bit lethargic out there,” said Diana Ohrt ’13, describing the first half.

The heat turned up in the second half, as each team seemed to come off the bench with a sense of urgency. The pace quickened, but neither team could find the right formula to make it into the goal. The game went into two overtimes, both filled with long drives and high shots. Bruno had a glimpse of hope when a tap by Berg seemed to be in — but it knocked of f the top post and bounced out.

“We didn’t have the Team A Game,” said Head Coach Phil Pincince. “We had great individual efforts.”

Eliza Marshall ’13 agreed that fluidity was an issue. “We are all still getting to know each other,” she said.

The Bears play at home on Thursday afternoon, taking on the University of Massachusetts in a 4:30 p.m. contest. Bruno then travels to Dartmouth on Saturday afternoon to take on their first Ivy League challenger.

It’s hard for me to place my finger on exactly when it was that I first became a sports fan. Growing up, I was as uncoordinated and awkward as the study dates I see going on in the Sci Li so often. My time was spent reading the various Goosebumps books and discussing which Pokemon would be Sam Sheehan Badly dressed the best to beat Irish sports fan the Elite Four. I had no reason to love something that celebrated people for their physical abilities that I clearly lacked.

If I were to pick an exact time when I was first excited at the prospect of viewing a sporting event, I would have to settle on the first few Patriots games I watched with my Dad during the 1998-1999 season. When you are a kid and you see something your parents get excited about, it is hard for you to not imitate them. I still remember the look of dismay plastered across Drew Bledsoe’s face when we were disgracefully bounced from the playoffs early that year by the Jaguars.

Even though my Dad wasn’t at all upset by the outcome, I was devastated. Somewhere in that season, I had stopped imitating my father: a 9 year-old boy from the coldest corner of northern Maine had fallen in love with a group of hulking men wrapped in spandex and mesh.

Over the next six years, that same boy would slowly discover the other three professional sports teams Boston had to offer. (MLS doesn’t count.

It is like a poorly-placed rash. You probably should talk to someone about it, but it’s just too embarrassing.) Starting with the Red Sox in 2001 and ending with the Bruins in 2005, the boy completely threw himself into the fanbase of Beantown. He had officially completed his metamorphosis from a sweet, clumsy child to a Boston sports fan.

I’ve often heard that Boston sports fans have a reputation for being obnoxious, spoiled, obsessed with beating New York and just generally belligerent. I probably could have heard more of what these people had to say, but at that point I tend to start chanting “Yankees Suck” in their face.

Why deny it? I am obnoxious and belligerent when it comes to sports.

I would boo Ghandi if he played for the Lakers, especially during his fast breaks. I love going to Celtics games and trying to start the most offensive chants possible. I love defending the Patriots when they run up the score in blowout games. I love being a fatalistic Red Sox fan and complaining about how badly they suck when they are actually one of the ten best teams in baseball.

And yet I am so non-confrontational that when someone blatantly cuts me in line at the Ratty, I convince my-

self to go get something on the other side so there isn’t a vibe of unease. I am so thoroughly emasculated that I don’t feel a bit self-conscious knowing that I have read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series and various Nicholas Sparks books. (And yes, ladies. I am still available.) In short, I am the opposite of what I am when I’m in fan-mode.

So why? Why do these groups of people zipping around on wood flooring, a bit of grass or on some ice appeal to me?

What if I told you the appeal wasn’t in watching a juicing meathead club a home-run 500 feet, or seeing a probable sex-offender scramble for five yards? What if it’s actually in standing behind a drunken fool who smells like a landfill and high-fiving him because he’s wearing the same colors you are? What if it’s in a lady two rows down whose voice makes your ears bleed, but you yell along with her because you love the same player? The way I see it, these horrifying people are the reason that we love sports.

Darwinian laws dictate that we must be competitive. Otherwise, we would never have resources or territory and would therefore die out. We are still here, so humans are therefore competitive creatures by nature.

Now that competition for food and shelter is less strenuous, we have a leftover need to compete.

I often hear people talk about what the best restaurant is, or who has the best house, or where the most attractive people live. That’s all very competitive, but there is no definite measure for that. It’s impossible for you to get a clear-cut answer to any of those questions. With sports, you have a winner and a loser. You can argue who should have won, but that final score will always be there with a stony finality. That’s it. No gray area.

It’s a return to our primal needs.

You have your tribe and they have their’s. The “us vs. them” competitiveness has been integrated into the more social, modern times. We now gather at these temples of sport to feel like we are part of a fellowship and cheer our champions to victory.

At the end of the day, we have competed and, win or lose, we are part of something. It’s the family that we hunt with. It’s the friends that you go through the thrills of victory and the agony of defeat with. They are your people.

In this time, when hardships are a fraction of what they once were, sport is one of the last activities where you can be part of a competition with others and make a connection going through it all together. It’s a way for us to connect with those we consider our own and conquer those we don’t.

The other option is that we just like watching people hit each other. It’s definitely one of those two, though.

– Sam Sheehan ‘12 was completely serious about the Nicholas Sparks books.

Page 5

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

S ports W ednesday

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

“We really wanted to get some revenge.”

— Zachary Tronti ’11, Bears RB

Friday’s Brown / Harvard game: ‘it’s going to be awesome’ continued from page 1 to this year’s game?

Definitely. We really wanted to get some revenge. It was a really tough loss. It was a game we definitely should have won last year. So this year it was kind of like the same situation but just the roles reversed, you know? They missed an extra point like we did last year, too. We were able to take advantage this year, so it’s really a good thing to get the season rolling.

You have three brothers and a sister. Are they as big on sports as you are?

Yeah, they’re all really big sports fans. My brother, who is in high school right now, plays football and my youngest brother’s a big football fan. My sister likes horses, but my other brother just goes to school right now. But yeah, they’re really big fans. They’re watching the game this weekend, giving me a lot of support.

What made you decide to leave Florida for Providence?

I’m actually originally from Providence; I was born here. And my family’s up here. My grandparents live in Rhode Island; my mom’s from Rhode Island. I just really liked Brown when I came here. I wanted to come back to school in New England. It was just a really good fit when I came.

What do you think you’ll be doing after graduation?

I’m not totally sure right now. I’m gonna take the LSAT this February and see how it goes. I’m gonna try

and finish up this football season.

It’s a lot of work and then tr y to figure out my plans after that.

Do you have any interesting pregame rituals?

Nothing too weird. I always have to listen to my music right before I go out. I always have to spat (overthe-cleat ankle tape) myself up, to make sure I tape up the outside of my cleats and everything. I have to play with a spat or else I feel weird out there. But nothing too crazy, nothing too weird.

Who’s your NFL team?

The Patriots. I’m a big Patriots fan because I was born here, and my parents were both big Patriots fans growing up, so that’s my team.

If you could hang out with any three NFL players for the day, who would they be and why?

Definitely Tom Brady, just because I really respect him as a leader, and as a player I think he’s the ultimate professional with how he carries himself on and off the field.

Who else do I wanna hang out with? I really like Fred Taylor — he’s the Patriot’s running back. I also like him ’cause he played for the Jaguars for a long time — which is where I live, in Jacksonville. And I really like him, he’s a running back.

And I think Chad Ochocinco would be a very interesting guy. Just for fun, just to throw it in, mix it up.

The upcoming Har vard game is obviously a big deal. Are you guys getting sick of hearing all of the hype?

U. grant money goes to three local schools continued from page 1 Marisa Quinn. According to Quinn, the fund has raised $1.5 million so far — a number unchanged since a 2009 press release.

Despite the lack of fundraising since 2009, the fund will still be able to provide grants, Quinn said.

The awards so far came from current-use gifts, Quinn wrote in an e-mail to The Herald. As the fund establishes an endowment, awards will come from the endowment’s payout, she wrote.

Quinn said she is still “optimistic” that the fund will reach its goal of $10 million, saying that different funds raise money at different speeds.

The grantees are Paul Cuffee School, Classical High School and Nathan Bishop Middle School, and the $40,000 distributed among the three schools brings the total amount disbursed by the fund to $217,000, Quinn said.

The majority of the grant money will go toward books, with the $20,000 gift to Nathan Bishop designated for music equipment and new fiction books to help rebuild

the school’s library, which has not received a new book since 2006, according to an August University press release. According to the same press release, the $10,000 gift to Paul Cuffee School will purchase 500 science books, while the last grant will update the Classical High School “college room,” a place for students preparing to apply to college.

Other projects supported by the fund in the past include $118,000 towards providing Providence Public School students with graphing calculators.

August’s grants were the third round of awards given out, with the initial gifts — the calculators — bestowed in May 2009. The second round was presented in December.

Rewards are usually around $10,000, a size that might have scared off teachers who might be interested in funding smaller projects, like classroom renovations, a member of the fund’s oversight committee told The Herald in December. Applications for the next round of grants, to be handed out in the spring, end Feb. 15.

No, I mean, it’s obviously the biggest game any of us are ever going play in. It’s something that usually determines who’s going to win the Ivy League. So we know it’s a big game, but at the same time I think everybody’s just trying to approach

it as any other game. When you play in the Ivy League, you know, it’s pretty much you have to win every game if you’re going to win the championship.

Me, personally, I’m just trying to take it as any other game and

prepare myself. Once you get out there, you know, it’s going to be a great atmosphere. Hopefully everybody comes out. We’ll get the whole student body to throw their support behind this one. It’s going to be awesome.

Editorial & Letters The Brown Daily Herald

Page 6 | Wednesday, September 22, 2010

l e t t e r to t h e e d i to r

Mission statement affirms U. priorities To the Editor: “[O]f what does Brown dream?” pondered Terrence George ’13 in his column “A lesson in responsibility” (Sept. 21). Let’s try Brown’s mission statement for answers.

“The mission of Brown University is to serve the community, the nation and the world by discovering, communicating and preser ving knowledge and understanding in a spirit of free inquiry, and by educating and preparing students to discharge the offices of life with usefulness and reputation.”

Recently, Manas Gautam ’12 wrote a column (“In defense of Brown, Inc.” Sept. 13) in which he claimed that Brown’s primary objective was education. George seems to agree. What I would like to posit is that, while the means by which the University proceeds towards its objective is by educating students to be useful and reputable human beings, education is not the objective itself. Our mission statement

is explicit on this point — Brown’s purpose is to serve our local, national and global communities.

What if, in attempting to provide the best education for our students, we increasingly fail our mission?

What if education increasingly becomes educational-product, while students increasingly are reduced to student-consumers, isolated and individualized beings on a track to satisfy themselves no matter the expense to others? We need to redefine our priorities.

I find it sickening that a Brown student would feel compelled to write about “a lesson in responsibility” based upon the University’s expenditure of approximately 0.000025% of our endowment to benefit those affected by the floods in Pakistan. Here is my counterlesson: Those with power and privilege have a responsibility to those who do not.

Julian Park ’12 Sept. 21

t h e b r o w n d a i ly h e r a l d Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editor

Deputy Managing Editors

Senior Editors

George Miller

Chaz Kelsh

Emmy Liss Joanna Wohlmuth

Ben Hyman Seth Motel

editorial Arts & Culture Editor Anne Speyer Arts & Culture Editor Suzannah Weiss Features Editor Sara Luxenberg Features Editor Brian Mastroianni Metro Editor Brigitta Greene Metro Editor Ben Schreckinger News Editor Sydney Ember Sports Editor Zack Bahr Sports Editor Tony Bakshi Asst. Sports Editor Ashley McDonnell Asst. Sports Editor Erika Mueller Graphics & Photos Graphics Editor Stephen Lichenstein Graphics Editor Alex Yuly Photo Editor Stephanie London Photo Editor Max Monn Photo Editor Hilary Rosenthal Jonathan Bateman Sports Photo Editor Jesse Morgan Asst. Sports Photo Editor Production Copy Desk Chief Kelly Mallahan Asst. Copy Desk Chief Joe Milner Asst. Copy Desk Chief Dan Towne Design Editor Julien Ouellet Asst. Design Editor Gili Kliger Asst. Design Editor Leor Shtull-Leber Asst. Design Editor Katie Wilson Web Editor Neal Poole Post- magazine Editor-in-Chief Sam Carter Editor-in-Chief Kate Doyle Editor-in-Chief Marshall Katheder

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ale x yuly

e d i to r i a l

Soften up After one is admitted to college and matriculates, entrance exams like the SAT or ACT quickly become a distant memory. However, given the advertisements for test prep programs we see all around campus, it’s hard to forget that the LSAT, MCAT or GRE are perhaps lurking in the not-so-distant future.

Of course, standardized tests only tell a portion of the story about an applicant to college or graduate school. While assessments of students’ verbal and quantitative skills are undoubtedly important, we appreciate supplemental methods — like Educational Testing Services’ new Personal Potential Index — that evaluate individuals on a broader range of criteria.

The Personal Potential Index, or PPI, is an evaluation form that seeks to portray a student’s noncognitive attributes. The form would ask faculty to rate and discuss applicants based on their propensity for things like teamwork, communication, motivation, organization, and leadership. These types of skills — sometimes called “soft skills” — are often just as crucial to an individual’s success as traditional skills in math and writing.

As Inside Higher Ed reported last week, a renewed focus on non-cognitive skills in college and university admissions appears to have begun. This year, applicants to the University of Notre Dame Masters of Business Administration program will submit letters of recommendation using the PPI. And the Law School Admissions Council has developed its own PPI that law schools can begin to use this year.

The Inside Higher Ed story highlights two key reasons that the PPI is a positive development.

Some students who excel in non-cognitive areas may struggle with grades or test scores, but the new

recommendation format gives them an enhanced opportunity to highlight their best attributes. In addition, letters of recommendation can often be stale and repetitive, but the PPI gives references a way to be more focused and informative in their letters.

We agree with these points, and would like to add one more. Non-cognitive or soft skills are becoming increasingly valued in the labor market. In 2006, four organizations that conduct research on business management teamed up to survey 400 American employers about the attributes they look for in employees.

When asked to select traits as “very important” for new employees, the survey respondents ranked work ethic, teamwork and oral communication ahead of skills like writing, reading comprehension and math.

It’s easy to understand why employers look to hire people with developed soft skills. Given the increasing role played by technology and automation, a worker’s contribution is more and more contingent on his or her communicative and collaborative abilities. And from an employee’s perspective, soft skills may be the only transferable skills if one is switching jobs.

To be sure, scoring 800 on the math section of the SAT is a tremendous accomplishment that suggests very high intelligence. But a score like that unfortunately doesn’t guarantee future success in life. We’re excited about the PPI because we think it reflects the imperatives of the 21st century labor market, and we hope continues to catch on.

Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial page board.

Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.

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Opinions The Brown Daily Herald

Wednesday, September 22, 2010 | Page 7

Will online colleges transform higher education?

By dan Davidson Opinions Columnist The University of Phoenix’s prominent sponsorship was among the many comical elements of LeBron James’s summer prime-time special, “The Decision.” It was bizarre that King James associated his brand with an institution more often the butt of jokes than the recipient of celebrity donations, and the irony became even thicker when, just weeks later, the university was implicated in fraudulent and unethical behavior by a government investigation.

Online colleges remain saddled with poor reputations but have become economic juggernauts. Apollo Group, Inc., which owns the University of Phoenix and other forprofit education ventures, posted revenue of nearly $4 billion in 2009.

The success of for-profit higher education is clearly benefiting executives and shareholders.

But online college holds even greater promise as a means of revolutionizing education in America. To date, however, this promise has yet to be realized.

The staggering cost of traditional college education is certainly leaving an opening in the market for online alternatives. According to the U.S. Department of Education, in 1980–81 the cost of tuition, room and board at a four-year, private institution was under $14,000 (in 2007–08 dollars), with the cost of a public institution less than half of that. By 2007, the cost of a private university was over $30,000, with public schools costing almost $13,500.

Many Americans simply cannot afford to attend college. Beyond monetary concerns, those who wish to get a degree may have familial obligations or a work situation that prevents them from doing so.

For those who cannot complete a degree in a traditional college setting, online colleges can be a powerful solution. In an article that appeared in the Washington Monthly last year, Kevin Carey, an education policy think-tanker, described an online college experience at odds with the image in many of our minds. Carey profiles a woman who, after earning lower wages than her college-educated counterparts, was laid off and finally decided to finish the degree she started years before. Faced with time constraints as a mother and economic

govern it.

Online colleges are for-profit ventures, which creates perverse incentives for administrators balancing concerns about students and revenue. While Carey speculates that universities could eventually collapse under pressure from online alternatives in a fashion reminiscent of newspapers, it may actually be for-profit colleges that best resemble the newspaper industry. Like newspapers, online colleges face tradeoffs between efficiency and the quality of their product. How many execu-

For those who cannot complete a degree in a traditional college setting, online colleges can be a powerful solution. concerns about spending a long time in school without work, she turned to StraighterLine, an online degree-granting program.

From her computer, Carey’s subject could “access course materials, read text, watch videos, listen to podcasts, work through problem sets, […] take exams” and “collaborate with other students via listserv and instant messaging.” She communicated with a course adviser through e-mail and could also talk to tutors online.

As for her two greatest concerns — cost and time — StraighterLine allowed her to complete courses as fast as she could work through the material and then begin new ones right away, all at a fraction of the price the same courses would cost on a traditional campus.

Why do we hear so few of these success stories? Some fault lies with the online college industry and some with the policymakers who

tives and investors would eschew the former in favor of the latter? Thus, many papers are cutting staff and shrinking their coverage, and there is plenty of evidence showing that online colleges are driven by a desire to maximize profit without regard for students.

A report released in early August by the Government Accountability Office highlighted illegal or unethical practices at every one of the 15 for-profit colleges investigated. Four attempted to defraud the government by suggesting ways applicants could lie on their financial aid forms, “and all 15 mislead potential students about their programs’ cost, quality and duration, or the average salary of graduates,” according to an Aug. 4 New York Times article.

Policymakers also deserve criticism for not addressing the regulations governing higher education, which are stifling innovation and protecting the status quo in an industry that

could use some shaking up. As Carey writes, “The most prestigious accreditors will only recognize institutions: organizations with academic departments, highly credentialed faculty, bureaucrats, libraries and all the other pricey accoutrements of the modern university. These things make higher education more expensive, and they’re not necessary if all you want to do is offer standard introductory courses online,” which is StraighterLine’s business model.

But such companies will never attract students without being accredited. When some for-profit colleges can remain accredited while deceiving students and committing fraud, and others trying to deliver a better product are forced to find ways around the rules, the regulations need rethinking.

There’s a strong argument to be made that the importance of college is vastly overstated, and that many people would benefit more from technical training than from a bachelor’s degree. But it is undeniable that in many sectors, a college education is now essentially a requirement for workers, and that on average, college-educated students make much more than those who only complete high school.

While many online colleges suffer from high dropout rates and leave their students jobless and debt-ridden, the potential online education holds should be obvious to anyone who has used a computer. With our workforce struggling and the economy stagnant, it’s more important than ever that politicians make it easier for forward-thinking ventures to offer students new, quality choices in higher education.

Dan Davidson ’11.5 is a political science concentrator from Atlanta.

He can be reached at daniel_davidson@brown.edu.

Brown’s conquistadors

BY CHRIS NORRIS-LEBLANC Opinions Columnist In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. After him came Vasco da Gama, Cortés, Pizarro and a whole slew of other Spanish and Portuguese explorers who set off to find the “New World.”

In high school we learned that these were great men — fearless explorers, pioneers of their time. They set sail for uncharted territories with feathered caps, ready to face death and hardship with equanimity.

Then we grew up and went to college. We learned about the nature of history, specifically that it is often written by the winners. It became more evident that these men were not exploring because they had a great sense of adventure, but because they were trying to extend the borders of their respective empires by colonizing territories in the Western hemisphere.

Much like the day we realized the Easter Bunny doesn’t exist, we heartbreakingly realized that these “great” men were out to pillage, rape and kill native peoples to further their own careers.

We were forced to replace the image of their indomitable spirit with a narrative about colonial empires and their motivations to expand and conquer.

Fast forward about 500 years, during which the biggest and most powerful empires in the world have colonized everything, fought a great deal of wars concerning territorial disputes, and have created a map of the world with at least fairly stable borders. It is no longer acceptable

to conquer in the same way it used to be, and although many countries are still doing it subversively, overt colonization is now frowned upon.

We have entered the age of economic empires, where the power to expand is defined more by capital than weapons technology. Rather than sending in an army of soldiers to conquer bits of land, big corporations and people with private fortunes colonize by buying property and then changing its function to suit their needs, disregarding its original significance to the community around it.

first and most obvious of which is that even though former Mayor David Cicilline ’83 came to an agreement with Brown in which they would have to contribute some money (roughly $30 million over 20 years) to the city for newly acquired properties, it is a pittance in comparison to the property taxes any other business would have to pay. As Brown continues to buy up significant chunks of city real estate, this could eventually become a serious economic problem. For those of you who would argue that regardless of the circumstances, colleges

For those of you who would argue that regardless of the circumstances, colleges and universities ought to have a strict non-profit status, I would encourage you to take a look around at the amount of Building Brown logos plastered all over the city and think earnestly about what it means to be an NPO. In this way, Brown is colonizing the Jewelry district in Providence. I was shocked when I looked at a map of the property we own there and found that apart from the obvious Brown buildings (70 Ship St. and 222 Richmond St.), there are seven others scattered around Richmond Street, Eddy Street and Davol Square.

Also astonishing, most of this property is sitting empty, useless and largely tax exempt.

This is significant for several reasons, the

and universities ought to have a strict nonprofit status, I would encourage you to take a look around at the amount of Building Brown logos plastered all over the city and think earnestly about what it means to be a non-profit organization.

Secondly, whenever a wealthy institution begins buying property in a low-income neighborhood, gentrification is a huge concern. If the Brown campus is eventually extended into the

Jewelry District, it will clearly have an impact on property value in the area, leading to a situation in which non-wealthy people who live close by will have problems opening businesses, affording houses and even renting apartments.

Most concerning is that the gentrification of the Jewelry District will not only be felt within its borders; for example, the cost of renting an apartment decreases as you move further away from College Hill, but remains higher than the rest of the city for several square miles. The effect this could have on residents of Olneyville and the West End is devastating, and must be seriously considered before the Jewelry District becomes Brown’s west campus.

All of this suggests something fairly unpleasant about our beloved University, specifically that when presented with the choice between growth and prestige versus community accountability and good citizenship, Brown certainly takes the road more traveled. Just like all colonizers before them, the Brown administration has once again chosen sound business over sound morality. My decision to come to this school was purposeful and was in no small way affected by its veneer of moral responsibility. For this reason, I think it is important to let the administration know that it is not accurately representing its student body to the community and that we do not approve of these thoughtless and selfish expansion projects.

Chris Norris-LeBlanc ’13 is a Rhode Island native first and a Brown student second.

He can be reached at chris.norris.leblanc@gmail.com.

Today The Brown Daily Herald

4

W. soccer ties in overtime on Sun.

7

2 4 c a l e n da r

12:00 P.M.

ToMORROW

comics SeptemBER 23

The Adventures of Team Vag | Wendy Kwartin

2:30 P.M. Deaf Deaf World, Hillel

A Reading by Poet Keith Waldrop, 70 Brown Street

7:00 P.m.

8:00 P.M. Amazing Race Sci Li,

A Lie of the Mind, Leeds Theatre

Science Center

menu SHARPE REFECTORY

VERNEy-WOOLLEY DINING HALL LUNCH

Pepperoni, Spinach and Feta Calzone, Bruschetta Mozzarella, Sauteed Broccoli with Garlic

Beef and Broccoli Szechwan, Edamame Beans with Tri-Color Peppers, Pasta Bar

Fruitopia | Andy Kim

DINNER Curried Beef Tips, Vegan Chana Masala, Basmati Rice Pilaf, Oatmeal Apple Crisp

85 / 63

74 / 61

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

1 SeptemBER 22

to m o r r o w

Is Brown colonizing the Jewelry District?

t h e n e w s i n i m ag e s

Today

to day

Local Dinner - Grilled Pork Medallions with Local Herbs, Pasta with Local Tomatoes and Basil

crossword

Dot Comic | Eshan Mitra and Brendan Hainline

Bat & Gaz | Sofia Ortiz

Dr. Bear | Mat Becker

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