Daily
Herald
the Brown
vol. cxlvi, no. 10
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Since 1891
Chafee nominates education board
ROTC committee members announced By Mark Raymond Senior Staff Writer
By Amy rasmussen Senior Staff Writer
In an e-mail to students and faculty yesterday, President Ruth Simmons announced the members of the new committee tasked with examining the University’s policy on the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. The committee is comprised of seven faculty members, Dean of the College Katherine Bergeron and two undergraduate students. The Graduate Student Council will also name a student representative to serve on the committee. Though Simmons credits the recent repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as one of her reasons for forming the committee, Bergeron said the University began considering a reassessment of its ROTC policy before the controversial law was repealed. Brown’s ROTC policy has been a topic of discussion for decades, beginning with the decision to terminate the on-campus program in 1969. Since then, students and faculty have regularly debated whether or not Brown should reassess its stance. “It’s not the first time the question has been raised,” Bergeron said. “This wasn’t stimulated entirely from the recent legislation.” Cade Howard ’14, one of the
In his most high-profile act yet to shape Rhode Island’s education policy, Governor Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 announced four nominations to the Rhode Island Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education early last week. The nominations come as the state contemplates controversial education reforms proposed by Deborah Gist, commissioner of elementary and secondary education.
For staff, B.E.A.R. hugs and awards By Katrina Phillips Contributing Writer
It began with an auto-tuned video montage by Bruno and ended with roaring applause. A crowd of Brown employees and their families filled Salomon 101 yesterday as staff members were recognized for their service to the University. At the celebration for the seventh annual Brown Employee Appreciation and Recognition Day, President Ruth Simmons emphasized the “devotion and motivation” of the University’s employees. “The personal investments you’ve made in your work
r a l ly f o r e g y p t
echo throughout the University,” Simmons said. She praised employees’ “heartwarming dedication” in light of the recent economic downturn and said the great appreciation expressed by the students and families in the audience was evidence that the staff ’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. Alumni remember their relationships with staff members fondly and often cite such relationships as important to their development at Brown, she said. During a break in her speech, Simmons invited staff being honored for five, 10 and 15 years of
Elizabeth Carr / Herald
inside
news...................2-3 CITY & State.....4-5 editorial.............6 Opinions..............7 SPORTS...................8
Got pot?
State debates proposed medical marijuana centers City & State, 5
Brown will celebrate its Year of China initiative in the 2011-12 academic year, organizing events and activities to increase awareness of China’s role on the world stage and in the lives of individuals. Professor of Physics Chung-I Tan, who is a member of the Faculty Executive Committee, and the Office of International Affairs will lead the organization of the year’s programs and events. The Year of China follows several other such initiatives including those focusing on Latin America, Africa and — in the 200910 academic year — India. The current academic year has no foreign country or continent as its theme. While international themes in the
city & state
past began as more informal ideas, the University decided to more fully plan and execute international themes, Tan said. This year is being spent organizing next year’s events. The Year of China aims to “introduce our students to Chinese culture and examine China’s current and future role on the world stage,” according to a University press release. But the program’s motivations are not confined to cultural or societal categories. “The sciences cut across national boundaries,” Tan said. In order to remain at the forefront of scientific knowledge and technological research, the University must integrate itself into the world stage, he said. President Ruth Simmons traveled
Chafee was elected in November with strong support from the state’s teachers’ unions, which have steadfastly opposed Gist’s reforms. The nominees, who must be confirmed by the state Senate before they can officially take office March 3, represent a diverse set of leaders from across Rhode Island. George Caruolo — a former House Majority leader — was nominated to replace current Chairman Justice Robert Flanders ’71, who was appointed by former governor Donald Carcieri ’65. Chafee recently named Flanders to oversee the receivership of Central Falls, which was placed under state control due to financial distress. Other nominees include former University of Rhode Island president Robert Carothers, Rhode Island education policy veteran Mathies Santos ’77 and Institute for Labor Studies Program Director Carolina Bernal. Patrick Guida, Colleen Callahan, Betsy Shimberg and Karin Forbes have been asked by Chafee to maintain their current positions on the board. Carcieri-appointed Board of Regents members Angus Davis and Anna Cano-Morales have not been asked to remain on the board. They learned of Chafee’s decision to remove them by reading about it online, according to yesterday’s Providence Journal. The governor met individually with each of the four nominees prior to the announcement, Chafee spokesman Mike Trainor said. “They understand what
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U. to expand int’l ties with Year of China By Nick Lourie Contributing Writer
Protesters rallied in Providence Saturday in support of democracy in Egypt. See full coverage on page 4.
service to stand for applause. Groups with 20, 25 and 30 or more years of service were invited on stage for a photograph. “They move a little slowly” at this point, Simmons joked as they made their way to the stage. Simmons also mentioned the over $1.6 billion raised in the Campaign for Academic Enrichment and thanked staff members for “giving people the confidence that this place is worth something.” The ceremony featured a video in which employees were sur-
Cyber crime U. must provide legal alternatives to piracy Opinions, 7
weather
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Stephanie London / Herald
President Ruth Simmons thanked staff members for their contributions to the University at B.E.A.R. Day yesterday.
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2 Campus News
Winter fellows use new media abroad
calendar Today
february 8
5:30 P.M.
ToMORROW
february 9
5 p.m.
Lecture by Professor Jasbir Puar,
Lecture by Professor Beverly Silver,
List Art Building, Room 120
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9:30 p.m. Student Activities Fair,
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The Brown Daily Herald Tuesday, February 8, 2011
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Over winter break, eight students traveled abroad and created new media projects about their destinations. The students were funded by the Watson Institute for International Studies’ AT&T New Media Fellowship, part of a larger program called the Global Conversation — an online platform allowing students and faculty to discuss international issues — that gives students the opportunity to upload video, photo, audio or text to the website. Though similar to other fellowships offered by Watson and the University that fund unpaid internships, the New Media Fellowship is unique because of its media requirements and its involvement with the Global Conversation site, said Geoffrey Kirkman ’91, deputy director of the Watson Institute and founder and director of the fellowship. Fellows are required to blog on the site and to produce a new media project, which many turn into an independent study upon returning to Brown, Kirkman said. Winter fellow Jonah David ’13 did just that. David was already planning to go to San Juan Del Sur — he had visited his sister there five years ago and returned three years ago with his high school — when he heard about the fellowship.
Over a span of four weeks, David filmed a documentary during his trip to San Juan Del Sur and Balgue — two Nicaraguan villages — interviewing Nicaraguans, tourists, restaurant owners and hotel employees about the impact of recent globalization in Nicaragua, with a focus on San Juan Del Sur. The film does not present a positive or negative opinion of globalization, but tries to “let the interviewees speak,” he said. David conducted all interviews in his subjects’ native languages — either Spanish or English — and the film will be subtitled in both. David has turned the editing of the film into an independent study, hoping to have a finished project that he can present by the end of the semester. Elias Scheer ’12 also chose to use film for his project but went with a more organized program called the Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions, which conducts walking journeys in rural areas of India. During his winter break, Scheer traveled to a province in the Northeast called Meghalaya. He said he will be posting his raw footage on the Global Conversation site and hopes to put out a final edited film in the future. Scheer said the fellowship stood out because it was offered during winter break and provided all the necessary equipment for
his project. The fellowships can take the form of formal trips, like Scheer’s, or informal ones, like David’s, according to Kirkman. But summer fellowships are often more formal. “The Global Conversation will represent the best of what Brown does in a globalized world,” Kirkman said. The site is also used by students who are not New Media fellows, including those studying abroad and those participating in other Watson fellowships. One student used the site to pursue a Global Independent Study Project with Kirkman as her faculty sponsor. Media fellows from the past have been getting outside recognition and support to continue their projects, including summer 2010 fellow Chantal Berman ’10.5 who received an additional $3,500 from the Clinton Global Initiative University. Summer 2010 fellow Sarah Gibson ’10.5 raised $10,000 to continue her project in the Eurasian state of Georgia, according to an e-mail from Karen Lynch, communications director for the Watson Institute. Summer fellows can get up to $3,500 of funding while winter fellows were granted up to $1,500, Lynch said. Both the site and the fellowship were funded by grants from AT&T, Kirkman said, though the institute is looking for new funding to support future fellowships beyond the summer of 2011.
U. thanks outstanding employees continued from page 1 prised by visits from University mascots Bruno and Cubby. In the film, an employee said working at Brown felt “even more like a big bear hug,” while another employee said he wanted “to treat these kids that we have here like I’d want my kids to be treated.” Beppie Huidekoper, executive vice president for finance and administration, also emphasized the variety of nominations for this year’s awards. Over 100 employees were nominated from 20 different departments, she said. Recipients included the electrical team for their efficient problem solving and the Computing and Informa-
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tion Services’ college admissions team for enabling the conversion of the admissions process to a fully paperless system. The system handled more than one million documents received last year, she said. The seven categories of excellence included citizenship, diversity, efficiency, innovation, managing for excellence, service and “rising star” — which recognizes new employees in the Brown community. One such rising star was Jesse Marsh, administrative assistant for undergraduate concentration in the neuroscience department, who “has provided the highest level of administrative support” since starting at Brown
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just two years ago, according to the event program. Walking on stage to accept his award, he gave Simmons a big hug as the audience laughed. “I was nervous, but it was awesome,” he said, calling the award a “huge honor.” Natalie Basil, associate director of Residential Life, was honored for excellence in diversity. “We were really surprised at her being awarded,” said her mother Linda Basil. But she added that her daughter has always been good at what she does. Despite an emphasis on student appreciation, few students were present at the event. Simmons told The Herald that though students appreciate the staff ’s efforts, the ceremony is “not convenient” for the student body and generally does not attract many students. Staff members are encouraged to invite students with whom they closely interact. Simmons said B.E.A.R. Day “should evolve,” and she encouraged the human resources department “to continue to seek feedback from the staff.” Since the addition of excellence awards to B.E.A.R. Day, staff members are invited to nominate their peers each year. The day “emphasizes to people not only that we value their work but also their opinion,” she said.
Campus News 3
The Brown Daily Herald Tuesday, February 8, 2011
U. to foster dialogues on China continued from page 1
Nick Sinnott-Armstrong / Herald
Wei-Ying Wang GS works at the Center for Computation and Visualization.
Computing center seeks permanent new director By Morgan Johnson Contributing writer
The Center for Computation and Visualization is seeking a new executive director to manage the center’s services on a daily basis. The center, which houses the University’s supercomputer, also provides researchers access to “computational science, scientific visualization and virtual reality display applications,” according to its website. The center has never had a permanent executive director. John Spadaro, director of technical architecture and outreach for Computing and Information Services, took on the role of interim executive director in September. But Spadaro said working in both departments has been hectic, and the amount of time he must devote to the center has left a backlog of work at CIS. The search to find a full-time replacement — which has been going on for a year — has not been easy, said Jan Hesthaven, director of the center and professor of applied mathematics. There are very few individuals that possess the skills necessary to handle the job, he said. Hesthaven said he could not specify when he and the hiring committee expect to hire someone. “I can’t even begin to give you a timeline,” he said. So far, all of the potential candidates have come from outside the Brown community. Hesthaven’s faculty position prevents him from managing the activities of the center on a daily basis, so an executive director position held by a non-faculty member is necessary to keep the center running smoothly, he said. In addition to daily management of the center’s staff and facilities, Spadaro said outreach is an important aspect of the executive director’s duties. Recently, the department completed a brochure which was sent to all faculty and researchers, he said. The center also holds workshops for faculty members and graduate students to make them aware of the resources the center provides. He said the workshops are also open to undergraduates. Despite plans to step down,
Spadaro said he enjoys his work at the center. “CIS is the central computing organization at the University,” he said, but it “never attempts to provide resources to the research community.” Spadaro said his position at the center gave him his first exposure to working with researchers. The executive director will manage the center’s supercomputer. Hesthaven said the supercomputer, which was first unveiled in 2009, is currently serving 300 users at all academic levels. The supercomputer is currently operating at its maximum capacity, but Hesthaven said the center will continue to try and expand its capabilities, in part through funding from faculty research grants. Another project taking place is the rebuilding of the Cave, which will utilize 3-D imagery and virtual reality to aid researchers and academic courses, Spadaro said. David Laidlaw, professor of computer science, will head the rebuilding funded by the National Science Foundation. “It’s a very exciting project that’s getting a lot of attention,” Spadaro said.
to China in November and spent a week meeting with politicians and academic leaders. Simmons signed memorandums of understanding with Zhejiang University and Nanjing University and met with the president and vice chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong to discuss possible collaborations. Last week, the University announced “Brown Plus One,” a new fifth-year international master’s program. Students in the program begin earning a master’s degree during their junior year, completing a semester or year at either the Chinese University of Hong Kong or the University of Edinburgh. Many of next year’s events are still in their early stages. Tan and the Office of International Affairs aim to involve the campus on all levels, from academic programs and class lectures to extracurricular activities and stu-
dent groups. Lectures and workshops will promote understanding of all aspects of China, including Chinese economics, politics, art, literature, history and scientific contributions, Tan said. The Year of China will explore both the ancient and contemporary culture of the country. One lecture, titled “Opening Doors Open Minds,” will focus on Chinese students who have attended school in the U.S., examining both the knowledge and culture that they bring with them from China to America and that which they take back home, Tan said. “China needs to be better understood,” said Halsey Niles ’12, who recently studied abroad in Kunming, China. Niles said American understanding of China often characterizes the country as foreign and mysterious, and that American high schools teach little about China’s culture and history. Contrary to some stereotypes about the country, censorship and
government are not very present in daily life, he said. While Niles said he is happy to see Brown fostering further understanding, he added that studying abroad still leads to the best international dialogue. Several undergraduates proposed the Year of China about a year ago, said Chinese Student and Scholar Association president Lu Lu GS. The event’s organizers hope to bring Chinese alumni back to campus to speak about the impact Brown had on their lives in China, he said. The key to improving current and future relations with China is understanding its past and contemporary culture, Lu added. While Brown plans to strengthen its ongoing relationships with Chinese universities in the coming year, Tan said the University also hopes to foster new collaborations with other Chinese schools. There is an ongoing contest to design a logo for the Year of China.
Committee to investigate military policy continued from page 1 students on the committee, said he was glad “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was repealed, and this committee will be an opportunity to foster dialogue around whether ROTC should be reinstituted. “The repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was the catalyst for this committee,” Howard said. “We’re not in the position we were in when the student body wanted to get rid of ROTC.” “The military has a different role in the world today,” he added. Howard, who has a brother currently enrolled at the United States Coast Guard Academy, said he is still relatively unbiased about the issue and hopes to be a voice for his peers. “I just want to represent what the student body feels is the right decision and maintain an open mind,” he said. Committee member Chaney Harrison ’11.5, who has worked with student veterans at Brown and served in the military himself, wrote
in an e-mail to The Herald that the committee’s recommendations will give the University a chance to reassess and clarify its stance towards the military. “It is my hope that this committee will be able to foster dialogue and, if not create new policy, then at least clearly define the reasoning for the policy that exists,” Harrison wrote. Harrison wrote that there have been ongoing discussions between the University and student veterans about their experience at Brown, which played a role in the University’s decision to form the committee. Candidates for the committee were not vetted based on their political views, but rather chosen for their interest in and expertise on the policy, Bergeron said. “We were looking for diversity on the committee, but we didn’t inquire about political leanings,” she said. Kenneth Miller ’70 P’02, professor of biology and a member of the committee, was a student when the policy first came under fire. His goal
in serving on the committee will be to get input from students and faculty, as well as gather information that will help inform University policy, he said. “I think everyone has an opinion on this one way or another, but I wouldn’t have agreed to serve on the committee if I wasn’t interested in finding out the facts,” he said. The committee, which will be staffed by Stephen Lassonde, deputy dean of the College, will hold its first meeting today. In the coming months, the group will be looking for input from the Brown University Community Council and the Undergraduate Council of Students, as well as from other students and faculty at open forums. “I think academic institutions have a responsibility to have open dialogue on all kinds of important issues,” Bergeron said. “The time was right for this committee to be formed.” The committee will release its recommendations this spring.
4 City & State
The Brown Daily Herald Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Protesters march in support of Egyptian revolt By ELIZABETH CARR Contributing Writer
“Hey, Mubarak, you will see, Egypt, Egypt will be free,” protesters chanted Saturday afternoon at Burnside Park to show solidarity with the people of Egypt. The protest was organized by the Rhode Island Mobilization Committee to Stop War and Occupation. “We were very happy when these demonstrations started happening,” said RIMC member Shaun Joseph ’05. “What’s going on in Egypt now is going to change not just U.S. policy, but world history from here on in.” Protestors marched from Burnside Park through Kennedy Plaza to the Providence Place Mall, which RIMC member Jared Paul called the “symbol of capitalism and globalism.” Alternately chanting and listening to impassioned speeches, they culminated the protest in a huddle with one last
chant for the Egyptians. Protestors shared admiration for the way the Egyptian people have come together to protect each other and expressed disgust for Mubarak’s “thugs.” During the speech of an Egyptian citizen, they mourned those who perished in the protests with a moment of silence. The situation in Egypt could be “resolved very quickly without all the violence and bloodshed that we’re seeing on the streets of Cairo today,” Joseph said. Ed Benson AM’68 PhD’71, one of the protestors, added that he would like the CIA “to butt the hell out.” Representatives from supportive groups — the International Socialist Organization, Brown Students for Justice in Palestine and the Rhode Island Unemployed Council — spoke at the rally, expanding the agenda beyond freedom for the Egyptian people.
ISO and BSJP representative Lindsay Goss GS, who is studying the contemporary theater of the Middle East, described the revolutionary activity in Egypt as “one of the most exciting and inspiring things to happen in my life” in her speech. Goss said participants in the rally should “take on our government’s total complicity with what’s going on right now.” The youngest protester present was 2-year-old Mireille Chidester, in the arms of her father, Brian. “We’re trying to teach her to say ‘solidarity,’” he said. “What the revolution in Egypt opens up is a possibility of a transformed society from one of profound inequality and exploitation to a different society based on democracy and meeting people’s needs,” Brian said. The RIMC was originally created to oppose the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as a part of the
United Anti-War Committee but has since expanded its focus to support the Palestinian cause and an end to both U.S. aid to Israel and aggression toward Iran. The committee aims to “think about the tally of U.S. policy and try to advocate for more democratic and just policy globally and locally,” Joseph said. “All the issues of U.S. foreign policy are connected.” Many of these protesters joined a second protest in front of the State House Sunday afternoon, this one sponsored by the Rhode Island Council for Muslim Advancement. RICMA “supports the right of Egyptian people to decide their future through peaceful protests” and expressed its outrage at the police’s violence in response to protestors, according to a press release distributed at the protest. “We are optimistic that this time the U.S. government will be on the right side of history to refute oppression and corruption in Egypt and the Middle East as a whole,” according to the press release. Mohamed Abdelrahman, former RICMA president, left Egypt 30 years ago. “I went outside to
have a dignity and a living situation that was more appropriate to an engineer and his wife and his child,” he said. “I hope to go back to a better situation.” Abdelrahman noted that many Egyptians live under the poverty line on less than $2 a day. He said he would like to see an end to Mubarak’s entire regime, a modification to the current constitution and an end to the current emergency law, which he said keeps the Egyptian people living in fear of joining the thousands that have already been sent to detention camps for dissent against the government. The theme of universal freedom was prevalent in the words of many of the protestors. “In the religion of Islam, we have brothers from all over the world, and we stand by our brothers,” said protester Waleed Muhammed. “In this country we have freedom and justice for all — that should apply all over the world.” And even if Egyptian protestors don’t initially succeed, “I don’t think people are going to forget what they did,” Joseph said. “There’s no going back from it.”
Chafee’s nominees may shift educational policy continued from page 1 their shared vision of education policy should be in the state.” Kenneth Wong, professor of education and chair of the department, said he was pleased with the variety of the picks, noting that Caruolo especially has “tremendous legislative experience.” The former majority leader is known throughout Rhode Island for his sponsorship of the 1995 Caruolo Act — a law that provides a framework for resolving school funding disputes between school committees and city and town councils. “It’s important to have a champion who understands how the government functions,” Wong said of Chafee’s choice for the chairmanship. Although it is hard to predict the direction the new board will take in the upcoming months, its ties to organized labor should not be discounted, said Victor Profughi, Rhode Island College professor emeritus of political science and director of the polling firm Quest Research. It is clear that board members’ individual relationships “with the teachers establishments is going to influence their thought process,” he added. “One would think that they would be more sympathetic to the positions of the union.” Racing to the top
Chafee’s decision not to reappoint Davis — a technology entrepreneur and a strong supporter of Gist’s reforms — has riled reform
supporters. Davis played a key role in lifting a cap on new charter schools beyond two per district. While the decision not to reappoint Davis to the board may slow down the implementation of certain policies, Chafee is following protocol for newly elected governors, Wong said. It was “very important for the new governor to use the structure and board appointments to make sure his priorities would be taken seriously.” Much of the recent concern, Trainor said, stems from the governor’s decision to “take a thoughtful pause” in charter school expansion to permit a closer examination of the state’s 15 current charter schools. Education groups around the state have expressed worries that a halt in charter school expansion will also result in a halt in Race to the Top funding. The Obama administration awarded Rhode Island $75 million as part of its education reform initiative in October. Rhode Island Campaign for Achievement Now and “the burgeoning education reform movement in Rhode Island will be closely watching the actions of the new board members,” Maryellen Butke, the executive director of RI-CAN, wrote in an e-mail to The Herald. Marion Orr, professor of political science and director of the Taubman Center for Public Policy, said although federal waivers may be possible, the future of the continued on page 5
City & State 5
The Brown Daily Herald Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Gist steps down stance on reform continued from page 4
Herald file photo
Eighteen applicants are seeking to receive “compassion center” — or medical marijuana business — status from the Rhode Island Department of Health.
Weed dispensaries seek state approval
federal funding remains uncertain. “Clearly, a governor who is pushing back on charter schools jeopardizes those funds,” he said. “The question becomes whether or not the new state government can work with the federal officials.” In reality, a “tiny, tiny” portion of the grant is directed specifically at charter schools, Trainor said. Modifications are certainly possible — Chafee has been in discussion with federal officials, including Education Secretary Arne Duncan, to ensure that the status of the grant money remains unaltered. According to Trainor, a study of charter schools conducted by the Rhode Island Foundation will provide Chafee with the information and data he needs to make a well-informed decision. The review process will take approximately six months. “The Governor is absolutely confident that there is no chance of losing the $75 million,” he said. Stepping back from reform
By Shara Azad Contributing Writer
Over 100 Rhode Islanders attended yesterday’s public hearing on the 18 applications to develop in-state medical marijuana businesses, called “compassion centers.” The compassion center applications were submitted to the Rhode Island Department of Health for a second round review in midJanuary. The department rejected all applications during the first round review in September, alleging complaints against many of the applications. Several of the current applications list Rhode Island public figures as partners, including William Lynch, former first district Congressional candidate and state Democratic Party chairman, and Cuttino Mobley, a retired NBA player. The 2009 Medical Marijuana Act stipulated that the Department of Health could register up to three compassion centers for the cultivation and sale of medical marijuana. Since the passage of a 2006 law allowing licensed patients to use cannabis for medical purposes, more than 3000 patients have been licensed to use the drug. Many of the proposed centers met early opposition. One applicant, the Rhode Island Center for Compassion and Wellness — backed by a number of high-profile Rhode Islanders including Lynch, retired Pawtucket police chief George Kelley and real estate developer Louis Yip — listed the former headquarters of the To Kalon Club, a historic Pawtucket socia lclub once frequented by the state’s business elite, as the location for the proposed center. But according to Greg Troy, president of the To Kalon Club, the location will not become a compassion center. The Rhode Island Center for Compassion and Wellness “never told us what they were doing,” Troy said. “We didn’t know what the pro-
In the board’s public meeting last Thursday, Gist announced changes to previously proposed graduation requirements. Gist had proposed changing the state’s graduation requirements to a three-tiered diploma system, which would award high school degrees based on students’ achievement on the New England Common Assessment Program
standardized test. Gist said she now supports issuing only one diploma. Instead, “endorsements” will be offered to those students who display particularly high levels of achievement, she said. Change will also come in the form of timing. Gist told the board she plans to recommend delaying new graduation requirements so they will first apply to the graduating class of 2014 — a two-year shift from the current proposal. According to Gist, this will allow school districts the necessary time to adequately educate students and their families on the new requirements. By slowing down the process, “she’s already providing a gesture — a very important step to assure that the new board would find her agreeable and being willing to work with them,” said Wong. Gist’s recommendations will be discussed in greater detail Feb. 10 during the board’s public work session at the R.I. Department of Education. The decision to alter the requirements follows as a partial result of the “very eloquent” testimony of the 133 teachers, parents and other community members presented over the course of three public hearings, Gist told the board at the hearing last Thursday. Aaron Regunberg ’12 is a leader of Hope United, the student group responsible for organizing the Hope High School walkout to protest changes to the high school’s schedule. “They haven’t
seen a mobilization like that in a while,” he said. It was a “comprehensive group of people who usually don’t get along.” At the time, Regunberg said, he still didn’t think the board had been influenced by the public’s testimony. While Regunberg was pleased by the rejection of the tiered system, which he called “racist, classist elitism,” he said many of the requirements still stand to be challenged. “It was a really good political call for them,” he said of Gist’s decision to back off the proposals. A passing score on the New England Common Assessment Program will remain a requirement for the class of 2014. According to Steve Brown, the executive director of the R.I. American Civil Liberties Union — a group opposed to the new requirements — the test was never meant to be a high-stakes indicator of student achievement. “It was designed to hold schools accountable — not students,” Brown said. “It’s really perverse to turn this test on a tread and punish the student.” Though the new recommendations were made in the days following the announcement of Chafee’s nominations, Profughi said he does not think that Gist made the decision as a direct way to appease Chafee and the board. “She has demonstrated herself to be a pretty strong personality,” he said. “It would be out of character for her to simply respond to a new board of regents.”
cess was, and we didn’t object to it.” Last month, the To Kalon Club announced it would accept a different offer to purchase its building. The Rhode Island Center for Compassion and Wellness was simply “not the best bid,” Troy said. At yesterday’s public hearing, Cranston Mayor Allan Fung testified in opposition to the several applications for compassion centers in Cranston. “Marijuana is a dangerous drug,” Fung said. “I believe the cultivation (of marijuana) … in the quantities listed by the compassions centers is in contravention of federal BB & Z | Cole Pruitt, Andrew Seiden, Valerie Hsiung and Dan Ricker dictation.” Robberies of marijuana and cash from the proposed compassion centers pose a risk to public safety, he added. Compassion center supporters also voiced their views at the hearing. Compassion centers could be economically beneficial for the state, said Scott Miller, a resident of Lincoln. “If the state could generate revenue, then medical marijuana is Cabernet Voltaire | Abe Pressman an important economic investment, and the state should move forward with it,” he said. All of the applications for compassion centers projected their firstyear profits to be in the millions of dollars. Medical marijuana patient Donna Marcelonis suffers from stage III breast cancer and holds a license to use the drug. “I am 47, but I feel like I am 70,” she said of her illness. “Marijuana allows me to not feel Dot Comic | Eshan Mitra and Brendan Hainline as bad every day. Medical marijuana allows me to cut down the number of medications from 15 to 2,” Marcelonis said. Michael Graham, a North Kingston medical marijuana patient, said marijuana helps ease his chronic pain. “Opiates only aggravate the problem,” he said. “Cannabis is the only thing that has ever worked … I want people to have safe cannabis.”
comics
6 Editorial & Letter Editorial
Brown’s response to Egypt Since the political situation in Egypt reached its tipping point these past couple of weeks, we have been impressed with the University’s response. Last Monday’s panel discussion at the Watson Institute for International Studies on the protests in the Middle East was put together extremely quickly to immediately update the Brown community and was very well attended. Melani Cammett, associate professor of political science and director of the Middle East studies program, and Rebecca Weitz-Shapiro, assistant professor of political science, provided great historical background, as well as interviews and anecdotes from protestors in Egypt, where Internet and phone access has been extremely limited. Additionally, Cammett has been vital in aiding The Herald’s continuing coverage of the Egypt situation. Brown’s student body has been anxiously following the evacuation of two undergraduate students — Michael Dawkins ’12 and Amanda Labora ’12 — who were beginning their semesters abroad in Egypt on a Middlebury College program. We are thrilled that they have returned safely to the United States and are impressed and inspired by their bravery and grace under such intense circumstances. The administration and the Office of International Programs have been working closely with the students and their families to “make the best of a difficult situation,” wrote Kendall Brostuen, director of international programs and associate dean of the College, in an e-mail to the editorial page board. Possible options include re-enrollment at Brown for the current semester, spending a semester abroad at another location or taking a semester at Middlebury, which sponsors the Egypt program and starts classes much later than Brown. In an interview with the editorial page board, Labora said how helpful the Brown community has been in her re-entry. She noted that the OIP has been “very supportive,” professors have proactively e-mailed her to offer her spots in classes to ease her academic transition and Brown in general “has really worked” with her to make things easier. That said, Labora did admit that this has been an “overwhelming” time, and we feel that the University should use a more standardized policy to deal with these problems in the future. Though the crisis in Egypt was unexpected, political situations do arise, and we hope that the University will work to develop a coordinated plan to deal with situations like this in the future. Re-enrollment and readjustment are extremely difficult tasks — they involve coordination from the OIP, the Office of Residential Life, financial aid and individual professors and departments. Perhaps most importantly, they may involve mental health services to work with students readjusting to America and Brown after an emotionally distressing endeavor. This is also crucial to encourage students to continue studying abroad all over the world, including in potentially politically unstable places. The OIP makes a concerted effort to promote active learning to understand diverse cultures. If students know that Brown will provide a coordinated institutional structure to deal with the aftermath of derailed study abroad experiences, they might be more willing to study in more volatile parts of the world. Even with the interest that the Brown community has shown in Egypt, we still have much to learn. In the media, Labora notes that “nobody is talking about the human cost of revolution,” nor “what it’s like to lose everything.” It is vital that we continue to study and learn about the situation in Egypt to show its citizens the support and respect they deserve. Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial page board. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.
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The Brown Daily Herald Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Editorial comic
by franny choi
letter to the editor Expanding education preferable to ROTC To the Editor: We are told that the return of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps on campus would mean being able to give quality leaders to the Army. If by quality you mean educated, then the Ivy League does not need ROTC to provide that. What we do need are better scholarships on a need basis and better mentoring for the poorest — so as to offer them another option than choosing the army in order to get a better education. If Brown really cares about those kids, don’t give them the means to die as cannon fodder — give them better scholarships. Reach out to Rhode Island’s badly failing school system. Talk to them and mentor them. As educators, we should make a difference, but the school system in this country is so bad that the only kind of mentoring some kids receive is through the army. And
having to wonder if that kid is going to make it to the end of his or her tour in Iraq is not a nice outlook as an instructor. Believe it or not, Brown’s students fought to kick the army out because of an unfair and unjust war, and we still have that in 2011, repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” notwithstanding. The betterment of oneself should not have to be made through risking one’s life for no other reason than having no prospects. If being in the army truly means the betterment of your life — if it’s truly what you want to do — I respect that choice. But let’s offer kids who are 16 years old another avenue than going to war to pay for education. Anne-Caroline Sieffert GS
quote of the day
“Medical marijuana allows me to cut down the number of medications from 15 to two.”
— Donna Marcelonis, medical marijuana patient
CorrectionS
An article in Monday’s Herald (“Fashioning the Fifth Symphony,” Feb. 7) misspelled the designer’s name. Monique Batson ’13 was the finalist and creator of a gown in the fashion competition Project Beethoven. The Herald regrets the error. An article in Monday’s Herald (“Under the radar, small teams find success,” Feb. 7) incorrectly stated that the members of the swimming and diving team practice in Seekonk, Mass. The swimmers practice at the Aquatics Bubble on campus and compete at Seekonk High School. The Herald regrets the error. C O R R E C T I O N S P olicy The Brown Daily Herald is committed to providing the Brown University community with the most accurate information possible. Corrections may be submitted up to seven calendar days after publication. C ommentary P O L I C Y The editorial is the majority opinion of the editorial page board of The Brown Daily Herald. The editorial viewpoint does not necessarily reflect the views of The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. Columns, letters and comics reflect the opinions of their authors only. L etters to the E ditor P olicy Send letters to letters@browndailyherald.com. Include a telephone number with all letters. The Herald reserves the right to edit all letters for length and clarity and cannot assure the publication of any letter. Please limit letters to 250 words. Under special circumstances writers may request anonymity, but no letter will be printed if the author’s identity is unknown to the editors. Announcements of events will not be printed. advertising P olicy The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. reserves the right to accept or decline any advertisement at its discretion.
Opinions 7
The Brown Daily Herald Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Pirates of the Narragansett: curse of the Brown pearl DAVID SHEFFIeld Opinions Columnist Brown students are kind, sharing people. As The Herald reported last week (“Despite enforcement, copyright violations steady in recent years,” Feb. 3), the University received reports of roughly 750 copyright violations by students. As most of the reported violations come from distributing copyrighted material rather than downloading it from others, our students clearly are compassionate redistributors of intellectual property. They steal from the rich and give to the poor, the other rich, the apathetic and those doing okay. Brown implemented its anti-piracy policy in 2003, yet illegally downloading music, movies, television and software is still a problem. I seriously doubt that any attempts to confront piracy directly will succeed. There will be no Pompey, and no excessive action will deter people from using the Internet to steal. Instead, copyright holders and institutions with many pirates — like universities — should try to satisfy the consumers. They should offer legal ways to download the material. Distributors will need to provide an equal quality of product with minimal annoyance to its users, or they will fail to supplant piracy. People want what they want and are lazy.
Hulu is a prime example of this strategy — it offers free television programs online with minimum commercials. But the parent companies of Hulu have not made it an appealing legal alternative to piracy. Some shows are delayed a week between being broadcast and getting uploaded to the site. That might encourage some viewers to buy cable or satellite — cable and satellite providers have pressured Hulu to delay uploading shows — but others, who wish to see their favorite programs shortly after they appear, will choose to illegally download them.
some purposes. Brown’s libraries provide good resources for accessing music online, so if you take a music course, you can easily listen to the relevant pieces. While limiting access to music for a class can work, it does not meet the needs of general listeners. Similarly, the Friedman Study Center’s collection of DVDs can be nice if it happens to have the film you want, but it is nothing compared to the Internet, its tubes packed with almost every movie in history. The University also provides television on campus. IPTV allows students to watch shows legally on their computers just like
Adding better services and paying with increased tuition would trick students to legally paying for their downloaded content. The University has tried similar efforts to prevent copyright violations. In previous years, it implemented services to allow students to listen to music for free. It is also promoting the renting of movies from the Friedman Study Center. But the efforts have suffered the same problems as commercial attempts. They provided too little of what students want. One service, Ruckus, allowed students to stream music while connected to the network. But this did little for people who want to access their favorite songs on portable devices. The model is still good for
they would normally with a television. But this, too, fails to provide sufficient services to prevent students from viewing shows illegally. There is no ability to record shows the night before a big test to watch triumphantly — or dejectedly — the night after. It also has a relatively limited number of channels available — Fox News but not MSNBC. It must be because of all the good will Bill O’Reilly has garnered here. The absence of popular channels means more students will pirate their favorite shows at the times of their choosing. Providing better services to deter copy-
right violations will cost money. These services are free in the same way that police and fire departments are free to use. You pay for them, but not directly. Adding better services and paying with increased tuition would trick students into legally paying for their downloaded content. Sure, this will mean that users will share the cost equally rather than having it distributed according to use, but that is already common. Everyone contributes funding to the libraries despite — let’s face it — some students’ indifference to books. Some students attend more classes, and meal credits force people who eat less at the cafeterias to subsidize those who eat more. I have yet to see a fully acceptable solution combining sufficient functionality with the ability to return a profit. So far, none provides enough of what consumers want, so they continue to pirate. Companies will not make as much money as they would if everyone bought their products through the current legal means. But it is still greater than the profits from stolen files. As soon as copyright infringement made its way to the Internet, it became as hard to kill as the Internet. The sooner companies and other institutions realize this, the sooner they can realistically address how to entice, not force, people back to legal downloading. David Sheffield ’11 is a mathematical physics concentrator from New Jersey. Peers can contact him at david_sheffield@brown.edu
ROTC and the tyranny of the masses Oliver rosenbloom Opinions Columnist Democracy and freedom are often assumed to be codependent. In truth, these two concepts are often in direct conflict. In many cases, majorities vote to rob minorities of freedom. This despotism of the masses can be seen throughout the world. It can also be seen right here at Brown. The debate over the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps shows that students and administrators do not value individual freedom — in this case, the freedom to serve one’s country. Instead, they prioritize the will of the majority, even if this will robs others of liberty. If Brown wanted to honor individual freedom, it would have invited ROTC back to campus immediately after the army rescinded its homophobic “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. While Harvard immediately welcomed ROTC back to campus after the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Brown’s indecision proves that its continued ban is motivated by more than just logistics. I will acknowledge that Brown’s investigative committee does not constitute a simple majority vote about ROTC. However, the length of the investigation, as well as the desire to get significant student input, proves that the University’s decision-making process about ROTC is being greatly affected by popular sentiment on campus. Soliciting student opinion before making a decision seems reasonable enough, but in this case, such a democratic move would empower one group of students to effectively rob an-
other group of students of the freedom to follow a certain career path. If we want a campus that respects individual freedom, it does not matter what most students and administrators think about the army. It is irrelevant that ROTC would not fit into our campus culture. Proponents of ROTC should not have to prove that it would have a beneficial impact for the entire school. Students who want to attend an elite academic institution and serve their country should have the freedom to do so, regardless of other students’ political opinions. Brown students claim to love freedom, yet by wavering on the return of
an officially homophobic policy, the presence of ROTC would have hurt Brown’s gay community. However, the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” eliminated this obstacle, and ROTC enrollment does not infringe on any other students’ rights. Enrolling in ROTC should be viewed in the same way as a decision to join any other student group. There are certainly many student groups on campus that are not popular and that could even be voted out of existence if the University empowered its students to decide their fate. Thankfully, Brown respects the individual rights of its students to join unpopular clubs. I only ask
Launching a lengthy investigation into reinstating ROTC sends the message that the individual freedom to choose one’s career path can be sacrificed on the altar of popular opinion. ROTC, they impose their worldview on others and force conformity. The beauty of a genuinely free society is that no one person or group can prevent other people from expressing their individual wills. Nonconformists are entitled to the same dignity and legal protection as everyone else. Launching a lengthy investigation into reinstating ROTC sends the message that the individual freedom to choose one’s career path can be sacrificed on the altar of popular opinion. This forced conformity is anti-American. We protect minority rights and unpopular choices, as long as these choices do not harm others. When the military had
that the University maintain consistency and respect the unpopular ROTC’s right to exist on campus. The only issue that should be investigated is how to align ROTC’s academic standards with Brown’s academic standards. This purely logistical discussion would not require any lengthy political debate or investigation. It would also certainly not require some Brown students to impose their political ideology on the rest of the campus. To bolster my case against majority will and for individual freedom, I will cite a position with which most Brown students can agree — that gays should be allowed to marry.
In my home state of California, gays used to enjoy this human right. Then, we empowered our citizens and let them vote on the issue of gay marriage. The voters of California subsequently passed Proposition 8, robbing them of the right to marry. To the surprise of no one with a rudimentary understanding of human nature, the majority voted to impose its own worldview on the minority and oppress those with different lifestyles. Muslims in Europe face similar persecution from hostile majorities. In 2009, Switzerland empowered its people to vote on the issue of building new minarets. The Swiss people predictably chose to stifle nonconformist Muslims and robbed them of religious freedom by banning minaret construction. Clearly, pure democracy often leads to the oppression of minorities. We should therefore be skeptical of soliciting popular opinion with regard to the lifestyle choices of fellow students. Some individual rights are beyond popular polling. Our constitution is motivated by the understanding that tyrannical measures are often popular. The best way to protect minority freedom is to enshrine rights in a legally binding document. The United States is not especially tolerant compared to the rest of the world — rather, it has stronger institutional checks against the oppression of minorities. Brown’s decision-making should follow this principle and respect the rights of students to join unpopular groups such as ROTC. Oliver Rosenbloom ’13 is a history concentrator from Mill Valley, Calif. He can be reached at oliver_rosenbloom@brown. edu
Daily Herald Sports Tuesday the Brown
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
W. Basketball
track & field
Women’s squad picks up first Ivy win Three By madeleine wenstrup Sports Staff Writer
After a disappointing start to the Ivy season, the women’s basketball team was in need of a boost. On Saturday night, Bruno changed gears and picked up a key win against Cornell only one night after a big loss to Columbia. Columbia 72, Brown 49
On Friday, the Bears (5-15, 1-5 Ivy) traveled to New York City where they failed to snap their seven-game losing streak, dropping the ball to the Lions (5-15, 2-4 Ivy). Columbia jumped out at the start with an eight-point lead at 14:37, but Brown kept them at bay with a team-wide shooting effort. The Lions led by as much as 11 in the first half, but by halftime the Bears had cut the lead to five. But Bruno could not keep up the pressure in the second half, and the deficit ballooned to 20 points with 7:37 remaining in the game. The difference ultimately increased to 23, and the Bears dropped to 0-5 in the Ivy League. “We came out strong in the first half, but in the second half, their three-point game and inside game really took us out,” said Head Coach Jean Burr. The Bears could not match Columbia’s efficiency, shooting just 33 percent from the field compared to the Lions’ 41 percent. “The difference in shot percentages determined the game,” Sheila Dixon ’13 said. “They shot really well. We’ve been in a shooting slump the last couple of games, and it re-
first-place finishes at Yale
ally continued through Columbia.” The defeat was the fifth conference loss in a row this season and left the Bears in need of a spark to change their game. “At Columbia, we really hit rock bottom,” Dixon said. “We said, ‘We’re done. We’re losing. We are through with that. It’s time to come together as a team and step up.’”
By james blum Sports Staff Writer
Brown 66, Cornell 53
Bruno brought that positive attitude to Ithaca, N.Y. on Saturday. They quickly jumped out to a 10-point lead in the first five minutes and only increased the margin throughout the first half. The Big Red (5-15, 2-4 Ivy) pulled within six points, but Bruno retained their lead and headed into the locker room with a comfortable 16-point advantage. Point guard Lauren Clarke ’14 was back in action on Saturday night after recovering from a shoulder injury. She put up eight points in the first half and 13 for the game, making her the second-highest Brown scorer of the night. “It’s really nice to have Lauren Clarke back at point guard. She added a lot of leadership and minutes for us this weekend,” Burr said. Co-captain Hannah Passafuime ’12 led the Bears in maintaining their edge over Cornell in the second half. Passafuime scored nine points right off the bat, extending Bruno’s lead to 21 points at 15:37. Brown held that momentum for the rest of the game. The team shot 44 percent from the field, a vast improvement from the previous weekend’s 22 percent shooting
Jonathan Bateman / Herald
With Hannah Passafuime ’12 leading the way, Brown beat Cornell on Saturday.
percentage against Penn. “Basketball is a game where you sometimes have droughts, and you just have to play through that — depend on each other more,” Burr said. “They came through on Saturday with passing and shooting.” The Bears hope to continue mov-
ing up in the Ivy ranks this weekend. “In the Ivy League right now, it’s any man’s game — we just have to come out with that intensity,” Dixon said. “We’ll be ready to go.” The team returns home to face Dartmouth Friday before hosting Harvard the following night.
gymnastics
Bruno scores a season high, but still falls short By sam sheehan Sports Staff Writer
The gymnastics team scored a season-high 188.3 points, taking third place behind the University of Bridgeport, with 191.975 points, and host Rutgers University, with 191.225 points, last Friday. The team’s efforts were led by Kasey Haas ’13, who placed third in the bars with a new personal record of 9.725. Haas’ score was the highest on the team in a day marked by a series of personal bests. Captain Chelsey Binkley ’11 and Emily Lutfey ’13 also set new personal records on the bars — Lutfey’s 9.650 earned her eighth, and Binkley’s 9.525 snagged her 12th. The team did well on the
beam as Michelle Shnayder ’14 took seventh place with 9.450, and Haas’s score of 9.375 was good for eighth. Both were career marks, complementing Carli Wiesenfeld’s ’12 third-place, 9.675 effort. Head Coach Sara CarverMilne said she was very happy with the team’s efforts and credited intense new routines as the reason for Bruno’s season-high performance. “We did some upgrading of routines, and it paid off. They really pulled it together,” she said. With only one more competition left before the Ivy Classic, the team continues to work on tightening up their routines, eyeing the 190 point mark required to qualify for nationals.
Haas, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her knee last year one month before coming to Brown, is competing in her first truly healthy season for the Bears. Carver-Milne said she thought Haas’ story was an inspiring one and praised her tenacity. With a predominately young team, the squad has also seen great leadership from the captains and veterans. Binkley in particular was cited by her coach for her determination. “A lot of seniors would just kind of coast in their last season,” said Carver-Milne. “Not Chelsey.” The team expects to see improvement in the coming weeks as the athletes become more familiar with their difficult routines in search of even higher point totals.
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The Bears also traveled to Arizona State for a head-to-head meet against the Gym Devils the previous Friday. The team again found itself on the short end of the stick, as they were edged out by only five points. Lutfey and Wiesenfeld took first and second in the all-around, and Katie Goddard ’12 and Lutfey scored high marks in the vault, with the two tying for fourth. Wiesenfeld grabbed a second-place finish on the beam, and Lutfey paced Bruno’s efforts in the floor, taking third place. The Bears are back in action this Friday when they will travel to Durham to take on the University of New Hampshire, the University of Alaska and Michigan State.
Although the Giegengack Invitational at Yale was not scored, the Bears still made their presence felt on the track last weekend. Three athletes returned to Brown with titles as the squads continue to progress through the indoor season with the Feb. 26 and 27 Ivy League Heptagonal Championships at Columbia less than three weeks away. “It’s a building process, and we’ve got a long ways to go, but I’m pleased with the progress,” said Tim Springfield, assistant distance coach. Christian Escareno ’11 gave the top performance on the men’s side, running to a first-place finish in the 5,000-meter in 14 minutes, 31.01 seconds. The sprinters were well represented by John Spooney ’14, who claimed fifth place in the 60-meter dash in 6.94 seconds. “I felt like it was okay. The start was a little off,” Spooney said. “For the 60-meter, I’d like to run in 6.80 seconds.” Dan Lowry ’12 covered 3,000 meters in 8:20.66, finishing second overall in the event. Brendan Boyle ’14 also ran a strong race in the 3,000-meter, posting a time much faster than what he ran in high school, Springfield said. “I was pleased with the performances,” Springfield said. “It may be hard to tell from the results, but we had a lot of individuals win their sections, so that’s a positive sign they’re competing well.” Elaine Kuckertz ’13 highlighted the women’s performances, covering one mile in 4:56.32. Not far behind, Kate DeSimone ’14 finished closely in third place in 5:02.21. Hannah Wallace ’13 won another title for Brown in the pole vault, vaulting 11 feet, 9.75 inches to clear the bar. Colby Lubman ’14 finished fourth in the 60-meter dash, while Susan Scavone ’12 came in second in the 60-meter hurdles. As the squads continue to prepare for the Heptagonal Championships, some runners remain sidelined by injuries. Michael Stumpf ’13 and co-captain Matt Duffy ’12 are among those who are banged up, according to Springfield. Bruno will next compete at the New York Road Runners Club in New York City Feb. 20, which will be the final chance for the squads to gain additional experience before returning to the state for the Heptagonal Championships.
