Monday, October 1, 2012

daily herald the Brown

vol. cxxii, no. 77

INSIDE

Page 3

Crime report

DPS announces uptick in theft, liquor law violations Page 5

Diversity U. officials look to up minority faculty numbers

Page 12

Arts festival

Artists enlivened downtown Providence this weekend

today

71 / 52

tomorrow

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012

since 1891

As Paxson seeks strategic plan, committees form

By Sahil Luthra Science & Research Editor

As part of a year-long process to develop President Christina Paxson’s long-term strategic initiatives, six committees — whose memberships were announced today — will meet throughout the year and discuss ways to follow up on the goals of the Plan for Academic Enrichment, former president Ruth Simmons’ signature outline for University academics, infrastructure and finances.

The respective committees will examine topics of faculty retention, infrastructure, financial aid, curricular innovation, online education and doctoral education. Each working group will bring suggestions to Paxson and Provost Mark Schlissel P’15 at the end of the semester so that a final plan can be detailed by the end of the spring.

Over the year, the committees will post updates on the strategic initiative website, which goes live today.

The development of a new strategic

initiative will also pave the way for a new capital campaign, Paxson told the Brown University Community Council last month.

“It makes sense to try to organize one’s thinking around these big topics sooner rather than later,” said Dean of the College Katherine Bergeron, who is chairing the committee on educational innovation. “If there’s going to be a new campaign launched, then you need to have your ideas in place.”

University efforts to expand its global presence and increase its diversity are not reflected in any one particular committee. Rather, these two issues should be “part of everything that we do,” Schlissel said, and multiple committees will focus on those topics.

In addition to including suggestions from the committees, the strategic initiative will look to develop two or three new “signature initiatives” over the next decade, Schlissel said. Similar in scope to the Brown Institute for Brain Science and the proposed School of / / Paxson page 4 Public Health,

courtesy of jehane samaha

President Christina Paxson commended the Marine Biological Laboratory’s global reach and inclusion of all students in its research. Above, students participate in a suburban ecology project for the lab.

Conference promotes sustainable design Indian minister kicks off initiative

By Lee Bernstein

Contributing Writer

Students and professionals flooded in from across the globe this weekend to attend the fifth anniversary of A Better World By Design as the conference sought to promote interactivity and increase participant engagement.

The three-day conference, put on by a committee of Brown and Rhode Island School of Design students, aims to facilitate discussion between innovators and attendees through lectures, panels and workshops with the common goal of enhancing communities and sustaining the environment through radical design.

Commonly known as “ABWxD,” the conference was created in an effort to expose students to people and

ideas concerning real-world design and planning, said Sharon Langevin ’09, one of the co-founders. Conventional education often teaches students on a very theoretical level, she said, while “missing the practical piece and social impact piece.”

“We strive to have a lot of students and professionals for the best kind of interaction … and that happened this year,” said Raaj Parekh ’13, chair of the conference.

This year, the conference brought seven speakers, eight panels, six events and 18 workshops to College Hill. According to the conference’s official website, speakers included Rocco Landesman, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts; Cheryl Heller, founder of Heller Commu/ / Design page 2

By Caroline Saine Senior Staff Writer

TOM SULLIVAN / HERALD

A Better World by Design celebrated its fifth anniversary with more workshops and audience participation.

Bruno crushes Georgetown 37-10 in capital

By Jake Comer SPorts Editor

Emily GIlbert / Herald

The Bears pulled out a victory against Georgetown this weekend, sacking the Hoyas’ quarterback five times in a strong defensive showing.

The football team flew down to Washington and soared past Georgetown University Saturday, crushing the Hoyas 37-10.

A week before its homecoming loss to the Bears (2-1, 0-1 Ivy), Georgetown (3-2) squeezed out a 21-20 victory at Princeton. That triumph broke the Hoyas’ 13-game losing streak against Ivy League teams.

But Bruno, rebounding from its own homecoming defeat against Harvard, swept up the pieces and handed the Hoyas a reminder of their disappointing Ivy record.

“It was a good way to have the team respond” to the Crimson game, said Head Coach Phil Estes. “People put a lot of emphasis on the fact that it was a night game last week, it was on national TV, it was against Harvard, the defend-

ing champs. And you walk away from it a little bit down.”

“We needed to snap back,” he added..

“I thought our guys responded extremely well.”

Their response was loud and relentless, beginning with a touchdown drive on Bruno’s first possession, and it did not let up as the Bears went on to outscore Georgetown in every quarter.

“Coming off the loss to Harvard, we were looking to get back on the right foot,” said running back Spiro Theodhosi ’12.5.

Bruno first picked up the ball after Georgetown’s opening drive ended in a sack by linebacker Luke Miller ’12.5.

That sack was the first of five suffered by sophomore quarterback Stephen Skon, the Hoyas’ third-stringer.

“He kind of held the ball a few times a little too long, and we were able to get to him,” Estes said. / / Football page 3 The Bears

In a lecture Friday that served as the official inauguration of the BrownIndia Initiative, S.M. Krishna, India’s minister of external affairs, said the nation must create an “external environment” conducive to both collective and individual welfare.

Krishna, who has held the position since 2009, discussed India’s foreign policy priorities in the 21st century in the highly attended lecture in the List Art Center. Krishna previously served as chief minister — the highest elected position in Indian states — of his hometown of Karnataka between 1999-2004, said Provost Mark Schlissel P ’15, who presided over the talk and subsequent Q & A session.

“In our judgment,” Schlissel said, “not since the early days of independence has the study of India been so exciting and important.”

Krishna, who addressed the audience as “friends,” began his lecture by saying he hopes the Brown-India Initiative will focus on the country’s heritage, progress, challenges, global engagement and ongoing partnership with the United States.

Among the structures necessary for fostering this environment are an “open and equitable international trade system” and a “stable financial system,” he said.

Foreign policy in India will stay / / India page 2 rooted in its

2 campus news / / Design page 1

c alendar today

oct. 1

1 P.m.

tomorrow

oct. 2

4 p.m.

Film and Politics in Divided Korea

Prof. Francoise Hamlin Reading

Pembroke Hall 305

Brown Bookstore

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5:30 p.m.

Chinese Mid-Autumn Gala

Classic Apple Pie Demonstration

Main Green

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menu SHARPE REFECTORY

VERNEy-WOOLLEY DINING HALL

LUNCH Chicken Parmesan, Vegetable Submarine Sandwich, Hot Roast Beef on Sesame Roll, Malibu Patties

Chicken Fajitas, Black Bean Taco, Vegan Black Bean Soup, White Chocolate Chip Cookies

DINNER Macaroni and Cheese, Grilled Cheese Sandwich on Wheat and White Bread, Roast Beef

Italian Meatballs with Sauce, Italian Couscous, Broiled Stuffed Tomatoes, Vegan Chana Masala

Sudoku

the brown daily herald MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012

the audiences.”

With this in mind, committee members added two new components to the weekend schedule: “Hall of Fame” and “Failure in Five.”

“Hall of Fame” highlights the work of five featured innovators and displays it on the conference website. The conference helped Veronika Scott jump-start a humanitarian project called the Empowerment Plan, which helps provide skills for

often face challenges that can lead their ventures in new directions. nication Design; DJ Trischler and These additions to the program Jonathan Mansfield, founders of D+J, broadened the spectrum of discusa brand consulting firm; Lorna Ross, sion and increased student involvement. health and health care specialist; The group owes much of its sucShula Ponet, Brooklyn-based kids cess to its foundation as an organidesigner for education; Noel Wilson, zation that is supported via internal lead designer with Catapult Design; and Timothy Beatley, an internafundraising and outside sponsortionally recognized sustainable city ships, said Hannah Bebbington ’14, researcher and author. financial coordinator of the conference.

While the “Over the years, we have become more and more atA B etter conference World By explored tendee-driven and really interactive.”

Design various isErin Jones ’12.5 aims to sues such as Head of Public Relations for ABWxD e du c at i on , “expand as psychology, an orgahealth and nization, business, it not just as also fostered a confera communal atmosphere. With both a homeless laborers who produce coats ence,” she said. specific and global focus, the confer- for residents of homeless shelters, At the close of the conference, ence promotes “interactivity,” Parekh according to the conference website. coordinators looked at the bigger picsaid.

“Failure in Five” is a panel of five- ture for the organization as a whole, “Over the years, we have become minute presentations by students said Beth Soucy ’13, public relations more and more attendee-driven and who started projects and encountered coordinator. “We are really thinking really interactive,” said Erin Jones difficulties, said Anna Plumlee ’15. about what this organization can be ’12.5, head of public relations for the “I don’t believe in failure,” said year-round, and part of that trying conference. “So this year, we have Noah Fradin ’15, founder of Cher- to document and track the ideas that more workshops than ever before, ryCard, an initiative to donate to come out of the workshops and trying fewer speakers, because we want to charity every time money changes to figure out if any of them can turn encourage speakers to engage with hands. Fradin said new innovators into something viable.”

proaches, but we seek the same future for our people and the world at core values of internationalism, inlarge,” Krishna added. dependence of judgment, support Krishna closed his lecture by of democracy and commitment to stressing that though some may be international peace, Krishna said, but frustrated by the pace of developwill also “continuously adapt to the mental progress in India, the demochanging external circumstances and cratic way in which the changes are occurring must be recognized. the shifting domestic needs” during the 21st century.

In his opening remarks, Schlissel Among India’s foreign policy emphasized the University’s longgoals, Krishna emphasized the imstanding interest in India, noting portance of that over the last fostering “We sometimes differ in our approaches, but we seek the few years, it an era of peace and has forged same future for our people and the world at large.” prosperity partnerS.M. Krishna i n S out h ships with Indian Minister of External Affairs Asia. For institutions more than in India 30 ye ars, including the region the Indian Institute has undergone immense conflicts that have tion to counter-terrorism policies, for Technology in Kanpur and the reached beyond India to the rest of non-proliferation and nuclear dis- Christian Medical College in Vellore. the world, he said. armament.

The University celebrated a Year Maintaining maritime security “The enduring strength of our of India in 2009-10, hosting a series and stability, particularly in the In- relationship comes from the public of seminars, performances and exhidian Ocean region, will also be a goodwill in our two countries and bitions to showcase India’s politics, major goal, he said. the warmth of ties between our peo- economics, history, culture, literature Krishna said ties from India’s ple,” Krishna said. “We come from and art. This initiative will focus on strong strategic partnerships with different circumstances … but one four primary themes ­— the rise of Russia, China, the European Union thing that is common is our shared Indian cities, economic change and and Latin American countries will values.” inequalities, pluralism and diversity “We sometimes differ in our ap- and India’s democracy, Schlissel said. continue to strengthen over the coming years, and that India is committed to providing support and forging stronger bonds with both Africa and Afghanistan.

India and the U.S. share a convergence of interests as well as an important partnership, Krishna said.

“Our rapidly growing ties of trade and investment constitute the strong underpinning of our relationship,” Krishna said, noting that the two countries share a common dedica-

/ / India page 1

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campus news 3

the brown daily herald MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012

DPS reports increased theft and alcohol law violations

By Caroline Flanagan Senior Staff Writer

There were significant increases in robberies and liquor law violations between 2010 and 2011, while most other crime rates remained fairly stable, according to the 2012 Annual Security Report released by the Department of Public Safety this weekend.

The report contains safety information and tips for students, as well as crime statistics in categories such as forcible sex offenses, robbery and drug and alcohol violations between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2011. Liquor law violations increased from 29 to 59, and robberies increased from seven to 11.

Students found violating alcohol, drug and weapons policies are typically referred to the Office of Student Life for disciplinary follow-ups, as opposed to facing arrest. Though disciplinary referrals for alcohol violations sharply increased, there were no arrests in any of the three categories.

Disciplinary referrals for drug viola-

/ / Football page 1 harassed Skon all afternoon during his first collegiate start. The team’s “great pass rush” was partially to blame for Skon’s three interceptions, Estes said.

Just over two minutes after the Hoyas punted it away to end their first drive, Bruno’s first touchdown came on a seven-yard pass from quarterback Patrick Donnelly ’13 to tight end Andrew Marks ’14, capping a 41-yard push. It was the first of two scoring passes for Donnelly, who registered 188 yards through the air.

“We wanted to throw a more quick game, get the ball off in the three-step,” Estes said. “I think we did all those things particularly well.”

But Donnelly said his offense could have done better. “We were still sputtering a little bit” in the first two quarters, he said.

“We were a little frustrated as an offense,” he added. “We felt like we weren’t playing well, we weren’t executing well.”

While Bruno may have been disappointed with its first half performance, Georgetown fared worse. Bottled up by a vicious Bears defense, the Hoyas could not get on the board until an 18-yard field goal brought the score to 10-3 as the first quarter expired.

And after a 53-yard touchdown drive

by Georgetown to start off the second quarter and tie the game, Bruno shut the Hoyas down entirely.

“Defense played extremely well,” Estes said. “I just think that (Defensive Coordinator Michael Kelleher) put a good game plan together … this week I thought they tackled well, they put tremendous pressure on the quarterback and we created some turnovers.”

The Bears pinned Georgetown at 166 total yards, with 19 rushing yards on 34 attempts. The Hoyas’ offense was paralyzed in the second half, registering only one first down.

“We were all really fired up,” said defensive lineman Ross Walthall ’13.

“I think we had a great game plan. We didn’t do anything fancy, we just said, ‘Hey, we need to stop the run.’”

On the other side of the ball, Bruno fought to rack up 27 unanswered points before the final whistle blew.

“We just settled down and played

tions decreased by 26 percent. There was a slight increase in disciplinary referrals for weapons violations — ­ four in 2010, and six in 2011 ­­— which usually result from ceremonial knives or swords being discovered during room inspections, said Paul Shanley, deputy chief of police for DPS. The OSL could not be reached for comment.

Most of the robberies in 2011 were cell phone thefts, Shanley said.

The majority of the robberies occur on public property. Thieves snatch phones from unsuspecting students at night and run away, sometimes escaping on bikes.

Cell phone robberies have increased across the country in the last six months, Shanley said, adding that profits for stolen phones can be significant.

DPS encourages the use of applications like Find My iPhone. Six cell phones were stolen last week — three from Brown students — and use of the application led to the apprehension of three suspects and the recovery of four phones. Shanley stressed that students

them really well in the second half,” Theodhosi said.

The Hoyas are “very good defensively,” Estes said. The defense boasts first team All-Patriot League linebacker and captain Robert McCabe and first team All-Patriot League cornerback Jeremy Moore, a National Football League prospect.

But the Bears’ offense rolled right over them. Donnelly said Bruno’s lead would have been even greater if not for missed scoring opportunities in the first half.

“There were a couple times where the offense sort of stalled out,” he said.

“But overall, every time you put 37 points on the board, it’s a good day for the offense.”

“Our offensive strategy is get the ball in our best players’ hands,” Estes said.

“If (Theodhosi’s) having a good day, he’s going to get it. If Patrick’s having a good day throwing it, we’ll throw it.”

Saturday was a good day for both.

Donnelly threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns, and Theodhosi balanced the passing game with 143 rushing yards and a score.

Theodhosi’s “done a terrific job of running and creating some nice opportunities,” Estes said. “And I think that the line up front has been doing a great job of blocking.”

Theodhosi also credited the line for his early season success. “We have a great offensive line. … We do a great job of run blocking,” he said, which lets him “do what I do in the open field.”

It all came together for Bruno on Saturday, and Georgetown had no answer.

But Estes said he isn’t satisfied.

“Our special teams can play better.

We can tackle better. We can block better up front. We had too many penalties, too many offsides, too many mistakes that were in this game,” he said.

The Bears dropped 79 yards on penalties and recorded a fumble.

“We’re not as bad as we looked against Harvard, and we’re not as good as we looked against Georgetown,” Estes said. “We’ve just got to keep grinding.

If there’s anybody patting us on the back that thinks that we’ve found the answers, I don’t think they know this football team.”

should be aware of their surroundings at night and keep their phones out of sight.

DPS also has plans to introduce a new personal alarm system for the class of 2017, Shanley said. The new model will be smaller and easier to carry than the current design and will come in a variety of colors, he said.

Laptop thefts remained stable last year, Shanley said, adding that he thinks heightened awareness about the need to lock doors and the use of the DPS laptop tracking software prevented a further climb in theft incidents.

Crime in categories outside robbery and liquor law violations remained consistent. Forcible sex offenses declined slightly, with seven instances compared to nine in 2010.

There were two cases of aggravated assault and no incidents of homicide, negligent manslaughter, non-forcible sex offenses, motor theft or arson. The full report is available on the DPS website.

HERALD FILE PHOTO

The annual DPS report found an increase in liquor law violations and cell phone robberies and a decline in forcible sex offenses.

Students discuss drug war at SSDP conference

By Sophie Flynn Contributing Writer

At this weekend’s Northeast Regional Students for Sensible Drug Policy Conference, 120 college students representing eight different states and Washington, D.C. — including 20 from Brown — gathered to discuss drug policy reform’s focus on human rights.

“We wanted … to show people that this drug war in America is a war on people who use drugs rather than a war on drugs,” said Brown SSDP Social Chair Elizabeth Kinnard ’14. “It’s about stigmatizing people and putting people in prison for victimless crimes.”

With the theme “Talk it Up,” the conference provided networking opportunities, in addition to six panels featuring representatives from various areas of drug policy reform and three keynote speakers. Topics discussed included the medicinal benefits of marijuana, coalitionbuilding with other community organizations, the criminal justice system, the treatment of drug abuse as a public health issue and increasing diversity in SSDP chapters and the drug policy reform movement.

The conference began Friday night with a speech by Jill Harris, managing director of strategic initiatives at the Drug Policy Alliance.

Harris highlighted the failure of the “War on Drugs.” “Why do we continue to have this bizarre conversation?” she asked. “Everybody in this country takes drugs. My friends put their dog on Prozac.” Still, she added, some drug users are “secondclass citizens for life” due to harsh drug policies and prolonged prison

sentences.

Changing these policies isn’t easy, Harris said. America listens to people with certain characteristics: “They wear suits. They’re older than you guys. They don’t look scruffy.

They don’t have nose rings.” Despite these obstacles, Harris encouraged the audience to fight for drug policy reform. “You gotta have some juice coursing through your veins to make life worth living. This movement is that,” she said.

SSDP Associate Director Stacia Cosner opened up Saturday’s events speaking about her experience with SSDP. A straight-A student at the University of Maryland, Cosner was arrested for possessing fewer than 0.5 grams of marijuana and temporarily put in jail, she said.

She was kicked out of her dorm and put on random drug testing for two years, she said, adding that her peers who engage in weekly underage drinking haven’t been disciplined. After the incident, Cosner worked to change university policy with SSDP. SSDP Outreach Director Devon Tackels, who helped organize the conference, highlighted the consequences for students faced with drug charges. The 1998 amendments to the Higher Education Act can prevent students with drug possession charges from receiving federal financial aid, he told The Herald.

President of the Boston University SSDP chapter K.C. Mackey said she originally joined SSDP during her first year for the wrong reasons.

“I wanted to find other people to smoke with. I hate to admit that, but it’s precisely the reason that I don’t want people to join today.” It

did not take her long to realize that SSDP dealt with much deeper issues, she said. “I realized at the core of our society was patriarchy, racism and classism. The ‘War on Drugs’ was just a tool to perpetuate these ideologies,” she said. Mackey said she realized at an international SSDP conference that she wanted to spend her life pursuing drug policy reform.

George Melton, a senior at the University of Rhode Island, said he became involved in SSDP after his brother was arrested and drug-tested for marijuana in Texas.

“The ‘War on Drugs’ costs more than the good it’s causing,” said Daniel De Vasquez, a student at the Community College of Rhode Island, who is working to start an SSDP chapter at his school.

Corey Walker, associate professor and chair of the Africana studies department, closed the conference with a short speech Saturday evening. “I’m asking you to be truly and really radical Democrats,” he told the audience. Walker stressed the need for “radical reorientation of our society.” Otherwise, he said, “we will continue to see massive amounts of individuals incarcerated, and continue to manifest inept public policy.” Walker thanked the audience for their consciousness, activism and moral imagination. “The energy in this room will bring us to a brighter place,” he said. “I stake my life on that.”

Brown SSDP President Jared Moffat ’13, an opinions editor at The Herald, Kinnard and Tackels worked to organize the conference beginning in May. The Brown chapter of SSDP has about 20 active members, Kinnard said.

4 campus news / / Paxson page 1

admission, Paxson said. Schlissel cited a petition by the student group Brown for Financial Aid last spring as another impetus for the discussion.

“Our educational quality depends on the diversity of students that are sitting in the room next to you as you’re

these new initiatives will focus on large areas and involve multiple faculty members from several different departments, with a few possible focus areas being the environment, the arts or government.

Schlissel plans “The open curriculum is a jewel — ­ it’s to discuss potenprinciple here.” tial initiatives with the faculty throughout the year, with the goal of selecting new initiatives by the end of the spring semester, he said. learning and discussing and living here on campus,” Schlissel said.

Reevaluating Brown Currently, transfer students, interIn examining the University’s ap- national students and Resumed Unproaches to education, Schlissel and dergraduate Education students do Paxson both stressed that the values of not qualify for need-blind admission. the New Curriculum are still relevant.

Schlissel said the committee will “The open curriculum is a jewel have to balance the expansion of need— it’s our uniqueness principle here,” blind admission against priorities such Schlissel said. “What this committee as increasing aid for middle-class stuwants to think about is, ‘Are there ways dents, who often struggle to pay tuition to build on it that will give us a next even with aid. Financial aid currently generation of wonderful new oppor- constitutes more than 10 percent of tunities to provide in undergraduate the University’s total budget, and any education?’ And it’s important because expansion will require either reducing the world has changed an awful lot in funds elsewhere or raising additional the 40 years since the open curriculum revenue. became our New Curriculum, and it’s not so new anymore.”

Finding the resources Brown’s open curriculum attracts a As part of developing the initiagroup of hard-working and entrepre- tive, administrators will speak with neurial students, Bergeron said. “We faculty members to identify additional need to think about how we maintain resources they need to be successful, that excellence into the future, because Schlissel said. things don’t remain excellent just by Nurturing faculty is critical for staying the same.” their recruitment and retention, SchlisAnother question for the plan- sel said. At last month’s BUCC meeting, ning committees is how to enhance Schlissel emphasized that the Univerfinancial aid. The University has not sity cannot serve as a “farm team” for met the PAE’s goal of fully need-blind other institutions, a place where profes-

the brown daily herald MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012

sors ready themselves for employment The committee focused on reiAt a retreat in August, senior facat another university. magining infrastructure will address ulty and administrators discussed the The committee on faculty recruit- the optimization of space on campus idea of “untethering” students from ment, career development and reten- as well as examining its virtual con- campus, which could build upon tion will also focus on mentoring fac- nections between College Hill, Provi- projects like those at the laboratory, ulty and evaluating tenure professors. dence’s Knowledge District and places Paxson said.

“People really do need guidance around the world.

“Can we get students more involved ­— they “We’ve already invested a lot in the in international research projects durneed help Jewelry District — we have roughly ing the year, not just during the sumour uniqueness and sup- 1,000 people who are there in one mers?” Paxson said.

The University has already identiport and way or another,” said Executive Vice fied online education as fundamental a d v i c e President for Planning and Policy Mark Schlissel P’15 through- Russell Carey, who is chairing the in- to its educational innovation. Last Provost out their frastructure committee. He pointed month, the University announced careers,” to research facilities and the Alpert its plan to launch two pilot programs said Ed- Medical School as key examples. “So in online education. The committee ward Wing, dean of medicine and we have an interest in making sure on online teaching and learning will biological sciences and chair of the that those activities are happening as discuss these pilot programs as well committee on faculty recruitment, well as they possibly can.” Carey said as ways to use internet-based techcareer development and retention. he anticipates the committees will be nologies both inside and outside the “Teaching is such an important part involved in constant communication classroom. of Brown, so how do you make sure due to overlap between their charges.

“We don’t want to jump to answers that they are mentored in terms of betoo quickly,” said Harriette Hemmasi, Teaching and research coming the best teachers?”

University librarian and chair of the Despite the increase in the size of Brown is uniquely positioned to committee on online teaching and the faculty under the PAE, resources integrate teaching and research, Pax- learning. “The committee that I’m “haven’t uniformly increased,” Paxson son said. During a visit this summer, working with is not saying what should said.

Paxson was struck by Brown’s Marine be done, but what are the options that In discussing a lack of resourc- Biological Laboratory’s global reach are available, and how do we sort of es, Paxson understand those pointed speoptions?”

“People really do need guidance — they need help cifically to and support and advice throughout their careers.” the physical space availEdward Wing able to deDiscussing Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences, Chair of the Committee on doctoral partments.

Faculty Recruitment education But “talking ab out As a result of space doesn’t resource allocanecessarily mean building,” Paxson and the way it involves both under- tion under the PAE, “graduate students said. “It means looking at how we use graduates and graduate students in have really been squeezed,” Paxson space and whether we can use space its research. Undergraduates interning said. “And the space that graduate in a way that makes more sense.” The through the laboratory this past sum- students have to work with underspace freed up by the digitization of mer conducted research in a range of gradautes has been squeezed.” library materials could potentially be locations, such as North Dakota and The public’s perception of the repurposed, she added.

University is Kenya. / / Paxson page 7

U. looks to further globalization efforts via Watson, study abroad students study abroad, compared knowledgeable about urban India, transformations in those countries to 40 percent of students concentrat- Gutmann said, suggesting that this right away.” ing in humanities or social sciences could become an area of strength With a new president recruited in — a discrepancy part for her high-profile work framhe said the Uni“Everybody’s going to India and Brazil. We’re all going there ing academics in an international versity hopes to — we’re all trying to do stuff there.” narrow. Efforts context, the University is positioned c o u l d i nv o l v e to reexamine and expand its global James Goldgeier creating internpresence.

Dean of American University’s School of International Service Since her naming this March, ships abroad for President Christina Paxson has students, encourhighlighted internationalization aging professors as a key priority, noting opportuto take classes on Working through Watson nities to strengthen connections international field trips and adding for the University. The University with other countries and integrate universities to Brown Plus One, a officially launched its Brown-India Since beginning her tenure, international studies with the unprogram through which students Initiative, which includes a lecture Paxson has also taken a lead role dergraduate education. As Paxson can study at both Brown and an series and an increase in research in identifying and recruiting a new international university to get a about contemporary India, on Fri- permanent director for the Watson develops a framework of goals for Institute. her presidency, internationalization bachelor’s and master’s degree in day. is a thread that will run through ‘Comparative advantage’ five years.

Brown is among many instituUnlike in previous years, the discussions among the planning Though many ideas are under The University will also try to tions of higher education interest- search currently involves a smaller committees tasked with informing consideration regarding the Uni- take root in countries where it has a ed in Brazil and India due to their ad hoc advisory committee, and Paxson’s agenda, said Provost Mark versity’s international expansion, “comparative advantage,” both Gut- geopolitical importance, said James Paxson will make the final decision.

Schlissel P’15. opportunities for experience abroad mann and Schlissel said, pointing Goldgeier, the dean of American Schlissel said he expects a new diin particular University’s School of International rector to be identified by the end to India and Service. of the year.

“We want our efforts in internationalization to be part of our Brazil.

“Everybody’s going to India and Because the University will be overall effort at making Brown increasingly excellent.”

Brown has Brazil. We’re all going there — we’re targeting candidates in high-profile extensive fac- all trying to do stuff there,” he said. positions, the search will be more Mark Schlissel P’15 u l t y e x p e r - Brown’s true advantage, Goldgeier secretive than past ones have been, Provost tise on Brazil, said, is its caliber as “one of Amer- so as not to jeopardize candidates’ Gutmann said, ica’s top universities.” current jobs, Schlissel said. “You But there are challenges beyond have to be sensitive,” he said. adding that the University competing with other top universiPaxson’s involvement influences “We want our efforts in inter- may be an initial focus, said Matt also researches climate change in ties. the search in two ways, said Peter “There are issues related to bu- Andreas, interim director of the nationalization to be part of our Gutmann, vice president for inter- Brazil through a partnership with national affairs. overall effort at making Brown inthe Marine Biological Lab in Cape reaucracy working in those coun- Watson Institute and a member of creasingly excellent,” he said.

For instance, Gutmann said Cod, Mass. tries,” Goldgeier said. “I don’t think the advisory committee. Last year’s Paxson, who previously headed about 16 percent of engineering Several faculty members are anyone should expect any major s e a r c h w a s / / Global page 9

By Shefali Luthra News Editor

Princeton’s renowned Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, has discussed the importance of “untethering” students from Brown, a goal administrators said is important to enhance education and expand the University’s presence in the United States and abroad.

Paxson will also head the search for a new director for the Watson Institute for International Studies.

The Watson Institute’s last permanent director, Professor of Sociology Michael Kennedy, stepped down in 2011. Last year’s search for a new director yielded three finalists, but none were ultimately hired.

campus news 5

the brown daily herald MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012

U. renews efforts to increase faculty diversity

By Eli Okun Senior Staff Writer

As the year-long strategic planning process commences, the University aims to redouble its efforts to increase faculty diversity. Though none of the six committees that will carry out the planning process will specifically focus on diversity, all of them will prioritize the issue as they consider their charges, University officials said.

President Christina Paxson told The Herald she plans to work toward improving faculty diversity, a goal originally outlined in the Plan for Academic Enrichment. The current racial composition is heavily white — approximately 11 percent of professors are Asian, 4 percent are black, 3 percent are Hispanic, 1 percent is multiracial and less than 1 percent is Native American, according to Associate Dean of the Faculty Janet Blume.

Though boosting faculty diversity has already been a concern for the Dean of the Faculty’s office, the strategic planning process will allow committees to consider new ways of approaching that goal, Blume said.

Associate Provost for Academic Development and Diversity Liza Cariaga-Lo, who arrived at Brown this year after several years at Yale and Harvard, said the University can capitalize on its distinctive strengths to attract talented minority candidates during the hiring process. “What Brown can also do more easily and more nimbly than other peer institutions is that when we bring candidates here to campus … we have opportunities there to really sort of showcase the uniqueness of Brown as a university-college,” she said.

12 11%

Cariaga-Lo said she will be working with department heads and administrators to institute new practices in outreach efforts to faculty candidates during searches. Currently, faculty search committees, which feature a mandatory diversity representative, create shortlists of potential candidates that are submitted to the provost’s office. If there is concern that the list does not accurately represent the diversity of talent in the pool, Cariaga-Lo works with the committee to adjust it.

The University also has multiple programs to encourage hiring of top minority talent, Blume said. The Target of Opportunity Program allows departments to secure permission to hire particularly outstanding candidates even when they don’t have open faculty slots, and the pre-select program gives departments with open spots the ability to circumvent the search process if they already know of an exceptionally qualified candidate. Though neither program is exclusively used for minority candidates, they generally boost the representation of minority groups on the faculty, Blume said.

The problem of a non-diverse faculty is a concern for all top research universities, and Brown has racial demographics fairly similar to those of its Ivy peers, Cariaga-Lo said. The pool of qualified minority candidates is simply too small, she said, so the process of attracting top professors often places the University in tough competition with peer institutions. “Like our peers, we have continued to make some minor progress, I would say, but not enough … to really sort of create the kind of critical mass that I think that we all wish we had,” Cariaga-Lo said. And

because open spots are often for specific subject areas or niches, it’s difficult for departments to diversify quickly, Blume said.

Considerations of diversity are not just ethnic — achieving gender parity, especially in the hard sciences, is another major concern, according to Blume. Increasing other types of diversity, including religious background, sexual orientation and veteran or disabled status, is also a priority, she said.

In recent years, schools like Columbia and Harvard have launched $30 to $40 million initiatives to increase faculty diversity, but Cariaga-Lo said funds alone have not been sufficient to make a difference.

In various departments, current minority professors said that though a more diverse faculty would enhance the Brown education, they did not see it as a crucial concern. Glenn Loury, the only black professor in the economics department, said it wasn’t a “glaring problem” and that the lack of diversity around him has not had a major effect on his career or scholarship. He added that the University’s Africana studies department and the recently formed Slavery and Justice Center reflect Brown’s commitment to diverse intellectual pursuits. Quality should still be the top priority, he said. “You certainly don’t want to encourage departments to lower standards or whatever as they’re doing these things,” he said.

At the same time, Loury said, his race is undeniably a factor in his teaching, especially in his course ECON 1370: “Race and Inequality in the United States.” “I play with this identity dimension because it is important,” he said. “I mean, it’s a subtle thing, I

2012 strategic planning committee chairs Doctoral Education Peter Weber, Chair Dean of the Graduate School Bernard Reginster, Co-Chair Professor of Philosophy Educational Innovation

Katherine Bergeron, Chair Dean of the College

Faculty Recruitment, Kevin McLaughlin, Co-Chair Career Development and Dean of Faculty Retention Edward Wing, Co-Chair Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences Financial Aid Jim Tilton, Chair

Director of Financial Aid Susan Harvey, Co-Chair

Professor of Religious Studies Online Teaching and Harriette Hemmasi, Chair Learning University Librarian Dietrich Neumann, Co-Chair

Professor of History of Art and Architecture Re-Imagining Russell Carey, Chair Infrastructure Executive VP for Planning and Policy Iris Bahar, Co-Chair

Associate Professor of Engineering think, that goes on with teaching because you’re not just imparting information. You’re inspiring people when you teach.”

Jaegwon Kim, the only minority professor in the philosophy department, said he had never experienced any racial discrimination or negative ramifications, adding that he thinks Brown does its best to hire diverse faculty members. But, he added, the opportunity to learn from professors of different backgrounds is important for students, and structural problems are to

Racial Composition of Minority Faculty

Percentage

10 8 6 4

4% 3%

2

1%

0

<1% 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0

Asian

Black

Hispanic

Race Data provided by Assistant Dean of the Faculty Janet Blume

Two or more races

Native American einat brenner / herald

blame for the faculty homogeneity. “Ultimately, I don’t think it’s because of any prejudicial hiring or recruitment that we have so few Asians in the mainstream humanities,” he said. “It’s the availability of the pool.”

Kim, whose scholarship and teaching focus on Western philosophy, said he wished there were more minority faculty studying issues not particular to their ethnicity. “One thing I’d like to see happen at Brown or in academia in general is, say, more Asians … represented in the core areas of the humanities and the social sciences and not be relegated to the Asian studies ghetto,” he said.

Blume said greater diversity could provide more role models for students.

“It’d be huge for the environment to have different viewpoints, different voices, people for students to look up to and interact with that come from maybe backgrounds similar to their own. It shows them that they too can do this,” she said. Even if the effects aren’t obvious or explicit, “your otherness is a part of who you are and how you might even subconsciously fit into a field,” she added.

Students expressed a mixture of perspectives on the mostly white, male faculty. Some felt diversity shouldn’t be a concern at all. “That’s a thing that I don’t think matters,” said Chris Farrow ’15. “It should be the quality of teaching.”

Audrey Cho ’15 agreed, saying that intellectual variety was more important.

“If they are very learned in what they teach, they’re going to be diverse in their own teachings,” she said.

Some students said they were able to surmount differences of background with faculty. “It doesn’t stop me from building a relationship with my professors or anything,” said Alter Jackson ’15, an engineering student, of the lack of diversity in his department.

But others expressed gratitude for the diversity they’ve encountered in the classroom. Phuc Anh Tran ’16 said she was happy one of her computer science professors was a woman. “I really appreciate that, because in high school I had a woman teacher in computer science, and that’s what influenced me to go into (the field),” she said.

6 sports monday m. soccer

Bruno tastes sweet revenge

jonathan bateman / herald

Tom McNamara ’12.5 scored the first goal in the Bears’ 2-1 victory against Columbia, a turnaround from Bruno’s loss to the Lions last season.

By ALexandra Conway Sports Staff Writer

The No. 21 men’s soccer team kicked off its defense of the Ivy League title Saturday night by defeating Columbia 2-1. After playing four consecutive games on the road, the squad (8-1, 1-0 Ivy) returned home to an enthusiastic crowd and delivered a crowd-pleasing result at Stevenson Field against the Lions (2-6-1, 0-1 Ivy).

Last season, the Bears fell to the Lions in double overtime, so Bruno was focused on kicking off conference play with both a solid win and a dose of revenge.

“It was a good result last night for our first league game,” said co-captain Eric Robertson ’13. “The Ivy League is always tough — every team makes the game a battle for at least 90 minutes.”

The two squads came out strong, but good defense on both sides kept the game scoreless at the half. The Lions led the Bears 6-4 in shots in the first 45 minutes of play.

“After the first half, (Head Coach Patrick Laughlin) called us out,” said cocaptain Ryan McDuff ’13. “We played well in Washington, but he told us we needed to put that behind us and focus on tonight.”

“I think there were some nerves and excitement in the first half, and that didn’t allow us to play as well as we wanted to,” said defender Dylan Remick ’13. But, as Remick explained, the team was able to execute its game plan more effectively in the second half.

Following the break, Bruno came out strong, outshooting the Lions 7-1 in the

first 13 minutes.

In the 70th minute, Bobby Belair ’13 was taken down in the box and Bruno was awarded a penalty kick. Midfielder Thomas McNamara ’12.5 took the shot, sailing it past the Lions’ goalkeeper to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.

After the first goal struck home, the Bears were rejuvenated. Just six minutes later, Daniel Taylor ’15 drove in a pass from Remick to push Bruno’s lead to 2-0.

The Lions responded in the 82nd minute as freshman Antonio Matarazzo scored on a long-range strike for his first career goal.

“It was a frustrating goal to give up because it was Columbia’s only real scoring chance of the night,” said goalie Sam Kernan-Schloss ’13.

The Bears shut out six of their first eight opponents this season, and Remick said the team was disappointed it couldn’t add another Saturday night. “We pride ourselves on clean sheets and finishing out games, and we made it a very difficult last 10 minutes by allowing them to score.”

“It was great to have another game with multiple goals for us,” Laughlin said.

“The players continue to show improvement, and I was pleased with the team for their toughness over 90 minutes.”

“We didn’t play our best soccer last night, but we found a way to win,” Robertson said. “That’s what makes this team great. Whether we’re playing beautiful soccer or enduring a sloppy game, we have the mentality that we’re going to win and that has continued to get us good results.”

the brown daily herald MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012

w. soccer

Bears shut out by Lions, fall to 0-2 in Ivy play

annabel ruddle / herald

Louisa Pitney ’14 registered two shots on goal in the loss to Columbia.

By Bruno Zuccolo Contributing Writer

Despite a strong non-conference record, the women’s soccer team has stumbled out of the gate in Ivy play. The Bears fell to Columbia 2-0 Saturday, which dropped the squad to 0-2 in conference play after a 2-1 loss to Dartmouth last week.

In light of Princeton, Columbia and Penn’s 2-0 conference starts, the Bears are now under more pressure to perform.

The Lions have not fallen to Brown since 2009, and by halftime Columbia appeared destined to escape another game unscathed.

The match started out fairly slowly, with little action at either end as both teams cautiously stayed around midfield.

Bruno starting defender Diana Ohrt ’13 was out of the match due to an injury, but Head Coach Phil Pincince said he did not think her absence was decisive in either goal. “We’re a team, and we always know that injuries are part of the game,” he said.

The first scoring opportunity arose from a Columbia corner kick in the eighth minute. After the rebound outside the box, the Bears’ defense moved out for an offside trap, but Erin Falk managed to slip in through the left with the ball, sending it just wide of the target.

About 15 minutes into the half, Falk got the ball in the left wing again, and after a quick dribble which left her marker on the floor, she crossed it to midfielder Coleen Rizzo for a quick volley straight at Bruno goalkeeper Amber Bledsoe ’14.

In the 29th minute, Columbia launched a quick counterattack led by forward Beverly Leon. Leon carried the ball until just short of the 18-yard box, where she was stopped by the Bruno defense. The ball trickled over to the right, and an undefended Isabel King crossed it to Rizzo. Rizzo then headed it down past Bledsoe to open the scoring.

The second goal came only four minutes later on a Lions’ free kick. Junior defender Maya Marder lifted the ball into the box and Leon managed

to get her head on it, sending it past Bledsoe and into the back of the net.

When the referee blew for the end of the first half, Bruno had only managed three shots on target, all of which were routine saves for goalkeeper Grace Redmon. The Lions had been similarly decisive on offense, creating opportunities with quick, one-touch passes. The Bears appeared to hold the ball more and struggled against an aggressive defense that brought back all 10 players to quickly envelop each Bruno attack in a sea of Columbia blue.

As in their previous game against Dartmouth, the Bears came back from the break with a revitalized fervor on offense. “We were hoping to be able to get one within 20 minutes,” Pincince said.

Maddie Wiener ’14 managed to get two shots in the first three minutes, but both sailed wide. In the 51st minute, Mika Siegelman ’14 received a cross inside the box but hit it weakly toward Redmon.

The Bears pressured the Lions on their defensive field but had difficulty capitalizing on their plays.

Another opportunity appeared in the 60th minute when Redmon came out of her goal slowly on a cross, and the ball floated over to Wiener who, once again, sent it wide. Just a minute later, Wiener hit a well-placed ball in the top corner, and Redmon extended her full 6-foot-2-inch frame to get a hand on the ball and send it over the crossbar.

The Bears kept up the energy in their attack as the Lions gave up much of their attacking efforts in order to maintain a two-goal lead. Columbia failed to get a single shot off in the second half. They instead relied on their effective marking and goalie, who made yet another spectacular save from a long-range shot

by Siegelman in the 74th minute.

Though Bruno controlled the entire second half, none of their 15 shots went in, and the game finished 2-0 in Columbia’s favor.

With five conference games left in the season, Pincince said he does not want to worry about the end of the season. “You need to be looking at one game at a time,” he said. “And that’s Princeton next week.”

science & research 7

the brown daily herald MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012

Study links oral health to pancreatic cancer

By Alex Constantino Contributing Writer

Failing to floss may have consequences far worse than cavities, according to an international study led by Dominique Michaud, associate professor of epidemiology. The study, published Sept. 18 in the journal Gut, found a twofold increased risk of pancreatic cancer in patients with high levels of antibodies for an infectious oral bacterium.

A particularly insidious form of cancer, pancreatic cancer often remains symptomless until the tumor has spread, at which point patients typically have less than six months to live. Even with aggressive treatment, the disease has claimed the lives of notable figures including “The Last Lecture” author Randy Pausch ’82 and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

Michaud’s research shines light on a potential cause of pancreatic cancer

/ / Paxson page 4 closely tied to its research, making it imperative to focus on doctoral students, who work closely with faculty in discovering knowledge, Weber said.

Focusing on doctoral students is also an investment in the “future leaders of academia,” he added.

The University will launch an additional group — focused on examining master’s programs — later this year.

The committee on doctoral education will focus on many of these issues at the graduate level, such as reexamining the doctoral curriculum and financial support for PhD students.

The committee will discuss whether to expand programs like the Open Gradu-

— namely, oral health.

The study follows previous research that showed a correlation between gum disease and pancreatic cancer. Michaud and colleagues analyzed blood samples of approximately

“People need to take care of their teeth.”

800 volunteers from 23 centers across Europe in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort.

The first part of the study examined antibodies — factors made by the immune system to respond to specific threats — for five oral pathogens and found that subjects with high antibody

ate Program, a pilot program launched last year that enables PhD students to pursue master’s degrees in a separate discipline.

Another question facing the committee is whether the number of incoming doctoral students is appropriate, said Peter Weber, dean of the graduate school and chair of the chemistry department, who is heading the doctoral education committee. Despite an increase in the size of the faculty and the introduction of new research programs, the number of incoming doctoral students is still the same as it was in 2001.

— With additional reporting by Shefali Luthra and Eli Okun

m. water polo

Bears vow to ‘stay hungry’ after two more victories

By Maria Acabado Sports Staff Writer

The men’s water polo team extended its winning streak to eight games after defeating Iona College 14-11 and Fordham University 17-7 this weekend on the road. With the victories, Bruno improved its record to 17-2 overall.

Though the game against the Gaels (3-9) was even at the midpoint, Bruno turned in a strong performance in the second half to secure the victory.

Ryan Gladych ’13 said the team was focused on limiting their number of mistakes, because “in high level play, one mistake can cost us the game.”

Against Fordham (2-13), the Bears quickly took a lead and maintained their dominance throughout the match. Captain Svetozar Stefanovic ’13 led the offensive onslaught with five goals, followed by another three from Cyrus Mojdehi ’12.5.

levels for the gum disease-causing bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis were twice as likely to have pancreatic cancer compared to matched controls.

Because the blood samples were obtained years before diagnosis, this

Aware of the difficulties involved with playing on the road, the Bears focused on turning in a high performance.

“It’s always tough playing in a hostile environment, especially twice in one day,” Mojdehi said. “Fortunately, we were able to dominate so we could get those two wins.”

Despite their success, the team is not concerned about complacency.

“We’re trying to play each game like it’s a (Collegiate Water Polo Association) Eastern Championship,” Gladych said.

The team is now preparing for its upcoming Oct. 11 match-up against Harvard and the following week’s Santa Clara Invitational.

“We are going to focus on tactics more and more as the culmination of the season is approaching,” Stefanovic said. “We are motivated to stay undefeated in the California tournament and stay hungry.”

@bdh_sports

The second part of the study looked at antibodies for naturally occurring oral bacteria. The researchers identified two subgroups, one of which had significantly higher antibody levels for the natural bacteria.

Dominique Michaud Associate Professor of Epidemiology

relationship hints at a causal relationship between the bacteria and cancer in which the bacteria may actually promote cancer. Michaud has developed a “working hypothesis,” theorizing that oral bacteria migrates to the pancreas via the blood or gut and causes “local damage” that can eventually become cancer.

This group had approximately half the risk of developing pancreatic cancer compared to their peers.

Michaud said the antibody levels for these natural bacteria may be indicative of immune strength. This may also explain why smoking is a risk factor, as it lowers antibody levels, she said.

Professor of Community Health Karl Kelsey, who was not involved in the study, described the study as having taken an “understudied and novel approach” in characterizing how the body’s natural micro-organisms can contribute to cancer.

Michaud is taking a different approach in a follow-up study to understand the mechanisms by which bacteria can promote cancer. Using a technique called pyrosequencing, the study will examine pancreatic tumors for bacterial DNA. By comparing the results with oral bacterial data, it could demonstrate which bacteria can migrate from the mouth and promote cancer.

Michaud emphasized the importance of detecting the disease early.

Though Michaud voiced concern about disparities in access to dental care, for her, the takeaway is simple.

“People need to take care of their teeth,” she said.

8 arts & culture

the brown daily herald MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012

New campus magazine explores feminism through writing, art By katherine james Contributing writer

What is feminism? “Bluestockings Magazine,” a new campus publication, hopes to shed light on this question — and explore its many answers — through community discussion, writing and art.

“It was really important to us to have this conversation. We were talking about it with our friends, but we didn’t necessarily have a voice on campus,” said Amy LaCount ’13, one of the organization’s founding members.

Founders LaCount, Analise Roland ’13 and Ana Alvarez ’13, a former Herald senior staff writer, all came to the idea of a feminist publication from different paths. LaCount said her education and the University community as a whole influenced her. “I think Brown instills it in you,” she said.

Alvarez said she has been interested in the concept of feminism since freshman year, adding that her involvement in the Female Sexuality Workshop gave her a new perspective on female sexuality and made her want to bring more awareness

to Brown’s campus.

Roland gravitated to the project from both working on publications and a lifelong belief in feminist ideologies, she said.

“I am a feminist. This is how I’ve always been and how I always will be,” she said.

A serendipitous encounter brought the three together. LaCount and Alvarez were “talking at Blue State, and Analise by pure and happy coincidence happened to be sitting right next to us,” LaCount said. “She had a lot of experience (in publications), so the three of us decided to found ‘Bluestockings.’”

A term from the mid-18th century, “bluestockings” was originally

term in a positive and creative endeavor, the founders said they hope to reclaim it as their own.

Alvarez, LaCount and Roland soon realized they wanted to start not only a discussion about feminism, but also a change in the way the University looks at the movement in general.

“A lot of people get stuck on that word ‘feminism’ in the sense of we don’t shave our legs and we’re out there yelling that men are horrible,” Roland said. “But that’s not at all what it is. It’s about the idea behind feminist theory, which is all about equality and letting people speak their own opinion and giving everyone a fair shot.”

“We want to know the faces, to have a dialogue among the pages. ” Analise Roland ’13 Co-founder of Bluestockings

used to describe an educated, intellectual woman, but took on a derogative connotation during the women’s suffrage movement. By using the

“The definition of feminism is always evolving and always changing,” she added. “It’s not so much a label as a way of perceiving the world.”

Follow us on Twitter @the_herald

For Roland, a publication open to all forms of written and visual work was the obvious choice. “Not everyone expresses themselves through academic writing. You can explore

more than just a publication — it’s a community, Roland said. “It’s not just someone emailing in a piece.

We want to know the faces, to have a dialogue among the pages. It’s very

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be a female nude or a poem about women. ” Amy LaCount ’13 Co-founder of Bluestockings

these topics (of feminism) through a poem, through an abstract art piece, through a comical column or a recipe. It doesn’t have to be a set structure of a newspaper.”

They encourage all types of submissions, from all voices — including different sexual identities, gender identifications and racial backgrounds. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a female nude or a poem about women. Anything you’re excited about, anything that you are thinking about that you want to share,” LaCount said.

But “Bluestockings” aims to be

much learning and growing together.”

A voice for gender equality is especially relevant this year, LaCount said. “With the 2012 election, women’s reproductive rights are front and center. This is an incredibly important discussion,” she said.

Funded by Feminists at Brown, the organization will publish a monthly issue and work to foster discussion about feminism at Brown.

Their first publication will include an interview with Gloria Steinem, one of the leaders of the women’s liberation movement in the late 1960s and 1970s.

arts & culture 9

the brown daily herald MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012

/ / Global page 4 complicated by the fact that former president Ruth Simmons was leaving the University, and her successor had not yet been named, he said.

Candidates for the position “would understandably be concerned about taking on the job without knowing who the next president is,” Andreas said.

about what kind of support they would receive for the Watson Institute, Andreas said. And because of Paxson’s background at the Woodrow Wilson School, candidates can be confident she will prioritize internationalization, he said.

“We’re attempting to identify spectacular candidates that didn’t apply to the job last year,” Schlissel said. A president who has attained

“We can have our students really involved with things on our campus while they’re not physically here.”

President Christina Paxson

With Paxson in place, candidates can talk directly with the president

prominence in international studies “will tremendously enhance the cali-

/ / Italian page 12

With rising and falling tension, multiple fast-paced trills in the string section and melodic oboe solos, the piece unfolded much like an adventure story, recalling Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s work on film scores. “It’s very romantic music, not at all modern-sounding,” Phillips said.

The other main orchestral piece was a cello concerto. Typically, pieces include one cadenza — the virtuosic moment in a concerto when the soloist plays by himself — but in this concerto, there were three. The “first hurdle was to imagine how this could work,” he said, since the orchestra only had a total of six rehearsals before coming together for the concert Friday night.

The concert drew a large crowd of students and international guests, with all the seats filled and people standing in the aisles. In attendance were three of Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s grandchildren.

“Of course, it’s very exciting for us to be here,” said Diana CastelnuovoTedesco, the composer’s granddaughter, adding that she commends the conference for facilitating the “rediscovering (of) Mario’s work, and especially his songs.”

above the audience. Castelnuovo-Tedesco composed this piece as an acrostic poem for the Synagogue of Amsterdam after his mother transcribed the words to Hebrew so he could set them to music. The program continued with a sequence of poems sung to the accompaniment of the guitarist, who sat center stage and impressed the audience with his rapidly changing chords and trill movements.

For the orchestra portion of the concert, Director of Orchestras and Chamber Music Paul Phillips had to select the program’s pieces by ear because very few have been recorded. He settled on the “Overture to the Tragedy of Coriolanus,” based on a Shakespeare play. Composed in 1947, the piece premiered in Italy and was recorded once in Australia. Brown’s performance on Friday was the first time it had ever been played in America.

“Sixty-five years after it’s written, we’ll give the first performance,” Phillips said. “It’s a very unusual situation.

We feel like we’re doing something groundbreaking.”

ber of the person that’s interested in coming here,” he added.

As Brown pursues international ties and recognition, the Watson Institute should be seen as a “flagship center” of international collaboration, Andreas said.

Though the institute is waiting for a permanent director, it “can’t just hit the pause button,” he added.

“Watson has and can continue to play an important role,” specifically in the area of global security, he said. For instance, areas like cybersecurity, transnational crime and urban violence fall under the spectrum of global security — the institute’s historic area of focus — but are “understudied” in academia, he said.

What’s next?

A decade from now, Schlissel said he envisions an educational

/ / Film page 12 Yale now.”

Richard Snyder, director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies who attended the screening of “Juan of the Dead,” said, “In the past when Jose (Torrealba) was here, we played a stronger role … but the center is busy with lots of stuff.”

Much of the center’s faculty has been focused on preparing for today’s “Democratization: Lessons from Leaders,” a lecture featuring the former presidents of the Dominican Republic and Chile, he said.

Limonte also offered the “paternalistic view” that United States aca-

www.browndailyherald.com

James Goldgeier Dean of American University’s School of International Service

model where students and faculty will both learn and do research “as mobile communities of scholars.”

Such globalization could call for innovative ways of using technology to remain rooted in Brown, Paxson said. “Students should in theory be able to be anywhere in the world but still be able to connect back to the Brown community,” she added.

“We can have our students really involved with things on our campus while they’re not physically here, and they can go off and be doing really interesting things in other parts of the country and the world.”

In globalizing, Brown could play a distinctive role by focusing on undergraduate education and the liberal arts — emphasizing “being able to feel comfortable working in different kinds of environments, in different cultures,” Goldgeier said.

The University has “an incredible faculty and a lot of tremendous scholars on the faculty,” he said. “But I think about it really in the context of a tremendous liberal arts education. And that’s a very special thing.”

demics adopt towards Latin American cinema as a possible explanation for the disinterest. Scholars tend to lump it under the umbrella of Hispanic culture, he said, instead of film on its own terms.

“When you bring up a Latin American film festival, automatically everyone will tell me, ‘Talk to Latin American studies,’” he said. “But the French Film Festival is done at Modern Culture and Media, because it’s a film festival. … I think some of these departments are very Euro-centric.”

Still, organizers and attendees alike were disenchanted by the absence of Brown students in the theater.

“This year, it’s kind of sad,” said

Sandra Gandsman, a Providence resident who has attended the festival in the past and whose husband teaches at the Alpert Medical School.

“It’s embarrassing,” said Susan Gordon, who with Carol Gjelsvik ’59 had come from Wickford to see the films.

“I think it’s just the culture,” Limonte said.

NEFIAC screenings will continue at Yale until Oct. 3, with the juried awards presented on closing night. The organizers will also present “Posters from an Island: A Collection of Posters

by Cuban Designers,” a lecture by Sara Vega of the Cuban Film Institute, Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. in the Watson Institute for International Studies.

comics Join the Club | Simon Henriques

A & B | MJ Esquivel

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“But I think about it really in the context of a tremendous liberal arts education. ”

— With additional reporting by Sahil Luthra

10 editorial & letter Editorial

Dancing duos

If you haven’t yet heard of the uproar surrounding the demise of the fatherdaughter school dance and mother-son ballgame in Cranston, you must not be an avid reader of the Providence Journal. While Brown is renowned for a student body committed to social justice and active in causes for the greater good, we do not think this particular “injustice” demands much student focus. In fact, this issue has been blown up to such a degree that Rhode Island has — unnecessarily — managed to land itself in national headlines. While the controversy over the ban brings up legitimate issues within gender politics, we believe this particular case is an outdated, sensationalized triviality.

Over the past two weeks, we have watched in amusement as the debate over the ban on father-daughter dances has unfolded. The uproar was sparked when Sean Gately, the Republican candidate for the Rhode Island Senate, promised to introduce state legislation that would allow such gender specific events to occur. Title IX, the 1972 federal law against gender discrimination, would allow an exemption for events such as a father-daughter dance, but Rhode Island state law does not allow for such exemptions. School attorneys quickly worked to introduce the ban after a concerned single mother expressed concerns because her daughter could not attend the dance. The American Civil Liberties Union also mounted pressure on school officials to ban such events.

Though this ban was enacted over four months ago, only recently has it garnered significant attention. Critics of the ban, including Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, say it is an example of a “time-honored tradition under attack.” Many in Cranston have protested the ban, including the radio station Cat Country 98.1, which managed to rope American Idol winner Scotty McCreery into headlining the station’s own father-daughter dance in opposition to the ban. Girls who participate in the station’s dance will have the option of bringing any adult family member — not just their fathers.

We’d like to make two points about this controversy. The first is that the idea of specific father-daughter dances does strongly imply gender categories with which not everyone is comfortable. What does a child who is not able to bring a father do? Or how about a child with two fathers? Or if a boy wants to attend, and a girl does not? The situation implies prescribed, institutionalized gender roles, particularly the somewhat insulting implication that girls prefer dances and boys prefer ballgames. Additionally, the fact that the media has highlighted the “attack” on the dances far more than the similar ban on mother-son ball games seems like a deliberate attempt to politicize certain gender norms. The entire existence of these events is somewhat suspect and outdated, and we are proud that Rhode Island state law firmly upholds the spirit of Title IX. Second, and more bluntly — the fact that this minor controversy has the power to make national news, divide an entire community and somehow attract reality show winners is patently ridiculous. Though we welcome a break from the nonstop electoral coverage of the color of Mitt Romney’s tie on any given day, the simple truth is that there are a staggering number of issues, events and problems that if covered by the media could add something meaningful to society. In our opinion, this “issue” is not one of them. Pick anything: the Rhode Island public school system, slashes to the University of Rhode Island research budget or the upcoming vote on gay marriage in 2013 — all of these will have a long-lasting impact on life in Rhode Island, yet somehow none of these issues have gained widespread state or national attention. Sensationalism has become an endemic problem in the media and the public mindset, and this practice of ignoring big issues in favor of inflating trivial controversies is going to lead us down a path upon which we, as a society, do not need to tread.

Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial page board. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.

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le t ter Column takes issue with wrong policies To the Editor: In his recent column, Oliver Hudson ’14 decries the Obama administration’s policies (“Obama’s war on students,” Sept. 25). Oddly, he notes the increase in drone warfare over the past four years, while at the same time decrying the troop increase — a charge that the Bush administration is hardly free of. Additionally, Hudson attacks just about all

of the Democratic policies while urging us to vote for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. Does he really feel that someone who chooses to forgo loan interest rate cuts in favor of “borrowing money from our parents” is any kind of savior? Perhaps it has not occurred to him that not everyone’s parents have cash in such abundant supply?

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opinions 11

the brown daily herald MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012

Two ideologies, one education alex drechsler Opinions Columnist

When I explain that I am a registered Republican studying political science at Brown, people love to point out that Brown is very liberal — somehow thinking I never before realized. I laugh halfheartedly, nod my head to acknowledge their presumed novelty and proceed to explain the aptness of my choice.

Going to a more conservative school would be playing political science on easy. I was up for a challenge. I wanted my political views to be tested rather than regularly corroborated. I wanted to hear others’ opinions, and thus reconsider my own. In a nearly masochistic way, I dreamed I would gain from the personalized torture of a Socratic method I created for myself. In other words, I chose Brown not in spite of its liberalism, but in part because of it. And thankfully, to steal a phrase from Obama, my political views have been “evolving,” to say the least — in no small part thanks to this decision. Some of my views have been strengthened, others inverted completely and others questioned to the point of uncertainty.

Of course, my autobiography here is all fine and dandy, but what does it mean for the larger student body here at Brown? It means that I can speak from experience that the exceptional education we receive here at Brown misses one crucial piece — the intellectual growth that results from exposure to a diversity of opinions.

While most students may believe their time is wasted learning conservatism giv-

en that they steadfastly disagree with these views, this is faulty reasoning. Learning about conservatism — both in its political and moral form — is essential to a complete and fulfilling education. Going to college is about more than acquiring knowledge; it is about growing intellectually and academically by having preconceived world views challenged and reconsidered. This intellectual growth is at the heart of a Brown education, and I believe that its centrality is one of our greatest strengths.

In class and on assignments we are constantly challenged to rethink the world and our own viewpoints, to understand the rich diversity of world cultures and to thus come

tion. When a history, sociology or political science professor teaches liberalism as fact, they are effectively sending the message that this entire half of our political and social culture is not only meritless but also non-consequential. This is simply untrue. That ideological diversity exists across the country demands that we study and understand these conflicting views in order to form a more cohesive political, professional and social system. While divisiveness is seemingly a natural occurrence in America, we can reverse this process by recognizing and analyzing the legitimacy and merits of opposing views.

Of course, Brown at least in theory recognizes the importance of being presented

Even if students leave Brown just as liberal as they came, being challenged by conservatism will have provided these views the depth, authenticity and intellectual foundation that will be essential to our futures. to a better understanding of ourselves — even if we end up right where we started.

Similarly, even if students leave Brown just as liberal as they came, being challenged by conservatism will have provided these views the depth, authenticity and intellectual foundation that will be essential to our futures.

But there’s more. In addition to the benefits to our education, learning about conservatism here at Brown may actually help society. The truth is that the ideological homogeneity on Brown’s campus is not reflective of the real world. While for many Brown students liberalism may just simply seem natural, the reality is that there are literally millions of Americans who support conservatism and consider it a valid political posi-

a wide range of opinions. On its website it discusses “institutional diversity” and insists that “exposure to a broad range of perspectives, views and outlooks is key to fostering both breadth and depth in intellectual knowledge.” It even makes mention that this includes “political ideology” — shocking, considering how little is done to attract conservative students or professors. Kudos to Garret Johnson ’14 for pointing out the lack of effort by the administration to attract conservatives to campus in The Herald (“A different kind of diversity,” Sep. 13, 2011), but let’s take it a step further.

The administration could certainly do more to attract conservatives to Brown, to make it a part of our culture and curriculum

and to encourage its teaching. However, on par with the responsibility of the administration is that of professors — those who have both the impetus and potential to introduce a more balanced curriculum. I know how much professors like to flaunt their liberalism and even make tongue-in-cheek comments about Republicans, and this is all fine. But ignoring conservatism as a mode of thought is detrimental to the students whom they are trying to teach. Professors should teach conservative views even if they themselves disagree with them in order to strengthen the legitimacy of their argument, encourage individual exploration by students and provide a more holistic education.

Perhaps just as significantly, responsibility to seek out conservatism lies within us as students. I’m not expecting Brown students to take a class on Christian fundamentalism, but perhaps simply to consider conservative thought. Asking yourself why you personally disagree with conservatism is a worthwhile exercise. This opportunity does exist. Go to a Brown Republicans meeting, read the Brown Spectator and engage any and all conservative students in order to understand the nuances of political ideology at Brown. While Brown is very liberal, there are conservatives among us. Do your best to try to understand these strange creatures, and in turn perhaps better understand yourself.

Alex Drechsler ’15 is studying economics and political science. He is willing to talk with anyone — conservative or liberal or in between — and can be reached at alex_ drechsler@brown.edu.

If the Choo Fits, Wear It! Elizabeth Fuerbacher Opinions Columnist Last December, the Democratic National Committee released an attack ad against Mitt Romney that blatantly painted him as “simply out of touch.” This appears to be the theme of the Democratic agenda. Liberals summarily equate wealth with a lack of empathy for the average person. While this rhetoric might resonate well in today’s precarious economic times — and might be especially palatable to those who have lost significant resources over the last few years — it is important to understand that such assessments are shrouded in hypocrisy.

How can the Obamas and other high-profile Democrats, who are feted at $40,000 per plate fundraisers in $20 million townhouses and sport Bergdorf ’s finest new ensembles, genuinely paint Romney and other successful Republicans as “out of touch” by virtue of their lifestyles?

The sanctimony of this tactic must be confronted, for the system of automatically identifying financial success with elitism or apathy not only permeates politics but also fosters unwarranted stereotypes of people working in the business world.

In terms of political tactics, casting one’s opponent as disconnected to the general public is savvy. During an election season plagued by continued high unemployment and stagnant wages, the average voter might begrudge someone worth an estimated $250 million who built his fortune in the oft vilified field

of private equity. This sensationalism is quite dangerous, for it generates assumptions and conclusions that are not supported by facts.

Too often do we accept the end result without questioning the process. Yes, there are many successful Republicans — Romney being the most famous — who are affluent because of their success in business and finance. However, this material wealth does not totally disconnect them from the concerns of the average worker.

Furthermore, many of these individuals have worked hard to succeed in school and

skewed this discussion.

In a Herald column this spring, Rebecca McGoldrick ’12 bemoaned Brown graduates’ attraction to finance, which she called “an industry whose social credentials are spotty at best” (“Feeling the brain drain, April 26).

Sadly, this sweeping condemnation neglects the many millions of dollars that Wall Street firms donate to charity. Between January 2009 and December 2011, Goldman Sachs donated approximately $900 million to nonprofit organizations .

Central to my point is that Brown priz-

It is implausible to conclude that a person is “out of touch” or apathetic simply because he holds a lucrative investment portfolio. in industry, even if they were raised in fortunate circumstances. Romney graduated with top honors as a Baker Scholar from Harvard Business School and earned his Juris Doctor cum laude from Harvard Law School. After working at Bain and Company, he started Bain Capital with two other partners and led it to become a highly successful, well-respected private equity firm. This team may have never engaged in blue-collar labor, but they know what it feels like to work a 12-hour day.

They know the exhaustion that comes with challenging their mental faculties in a robust manner and stressing over professional endeavors.

At Brown we have begun to question whether too many students pursue finance and business. I firmly believe negative characterizations of boardroom success have

es individualism and acceptance of others’ ideas, interests and backgrounds. Students who celebrate Brown’s embrace of intellectual diversity should not dissuade their peers from seeking a specific career path. And yes, banking, consulting and entrepreneurship are quite respectable and have produced many business, social and political leaders.

The same students who say we should respect all of our peers’ choices — even if we do not agree with them — should not discourage a career on Wall Street because it does not emanate much “warmth” or because they fear it promotes greed. Doing so is duplicitous.

Successful businesspeople likely understand the duties and concerns of employees at differing levels of a company’s hierarchy. Many industry leaders have risen from lower positions and have an appreciation for

the meaning of professional and personal growth. Even Donald Trump witnessed dramatic vacillations in his own career and has spent over three decades amassing the collection of high-end properties for which he is known. It is implausible to conclude that a person is “out of touch” or apathetic simply because he holds a lucrative investment portfolio.

Interestingly, we are not heralded with such conclusions about athletes or actors who have built multi-million dollar fortunes.

Is this because we do not want to mar classic pastimes or films that millions of Americans enjoy watching? Is it perhaps easier to target a field such as finance whose connection to money is much plainer? This may be so, but we should hold actors to the same standards as we do bankers.

This paradigm is especially true for liberal advocates of political correctness and unconditional acceptance who enjoy the same perks as the millionaire and billionaire conservatives they resent. The last time I checked, the Huffington Post — an outfit that fawns over the liberals’ “genuine” concern for the impoverished — gushed about House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s penchant for Armani.

On the other hand, that site was quick to highlight the costs of Cindy McCain’s wardrobe four years ago. I certainly don’t have a problem with someone wearing $800 Jimmy Choo shoes — just please don’t sport them while writing off others who do the same as “out of touch.”

Elizabeth Fuerbacher ’14 believes in celebrating rather than condemning success.

She can be reached at elizabeth_fuerbacher@brown.edu.

daily herald arts & culture the Brown

MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012

Arts festival on downtown plaza draws big crowd By riley davis contributing writer

Courtesy of Atossa Soltani

Bandaloop, a post-modern dance troupe, performed routines while suspended from One Financial Plaza at Saturday’s festival.

The Greater Kennedy Plaza came alive Saturday as Providence celebrated its first annual Festival: On the Plaza, sponsored by FirstWorks, a company dedicated to promoting Providence’s arts scene. Groups from all over the city, country and world sang, danced, painted and acted their way through the night, all the while backlit by WaterFire.

Festival: On the Plaza 2012 has been in the works for over a year, said Kathleen Pletcher, executive artistic director and founder of FirstWorks.

While FirstWorks has held smaller versions of the festival in years past, this year was the first held in as wellknown and public a space as Kennedy Plaza. Attendees took in art by Rhode Island School of Design students displayed in Burnside Park as various dance troupes and bands performed on stage and nearly a dozen different food trucks filled the air with enticing smells.

Some of the most highly anticipated groups of the night included dance troupe Bandaloop, interdisciplinary musical groups Squonk Opera and Red Baraat, puppet theater group

Papermoon, Sumatran martial arts and folk dance group Nan Jombang and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

Squonk Opera, an innovative music group started outside Pittsburgh, made a memorable entrance to their performance by parading down the street wearing full-on construction worker gear and carrying their instruments before taking to the stage, which was made out of a two-tiered, decked-out flatbed truck.

Both the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, a New York-based group dedicated to bringing Latin salsa flavor to its audiences, and Red Baraat, also a New York-based group that blends traditional North Indian rhythm Bhangra with jazz, funk, blues, Latin and pop had the crowd up and on its feet dancing away some of the evening chill.

Sumatran dance group Nan Jombang also drew large crowds as its members performed a story about two lovers expressing themselves through their unique style of martial arts, folk theater and body percussion.

For those who wanted to escape the cold and the music, there were ample opportunities. One of the most popular indoor performances featured a story exploring Indonesian ideas of identity using mixed media puppets.

One of the night’s most promoted groups, Bandaloop, drew massive crowds back into the cold later in the night to watch the post-modern dance troupe as they performed routines while suspended from the top of One Financial Plaza. Hanging nearly 300 feet in the air using rock climbing gear, the northern California-based troupe wowed the crowd as they performed excerpts from a larger piece titled “Bound(less),” to an original composition by Dana Leong. Some audience members brought out their yoga mats and lay down to watch the show, as encouraged by the troupe.

“We wanted to transform how people view dance and architecture and bring to them a new sense of the Providence city skyline,” said Amelia Rudolph, founder and artistic director of Bandaloop.

Nearly every performance was packed, and Greater Kennedy Plaza was transformed from a commercial and transportation center to a hub of artistic talent.

“I hope that people really had an experience of the arts at this festival that went beyond the audience-artist barrier and allowed them to experience this festival using all the senses,” Pletcher said.

Iberian film fest seeks Symposium celebrates Italian composer to break stereotypes

By Alison silver

senior staff writer

By andrew smyth Contributing writer

The third annual New England Festival of Ibero American Cinema, which played Sept. 27 and 28 at the Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts, addressed in various forms the diverse cultural and emotional experiences of the Iberian diaspora. The full program included more than 60 short and feature films from Latin America, Spain and Portugal, many of which had their New England premieres on Brown’s campus.

Selections were drawn from 20 countries, with titles in Spanish, Portuguese, Galician, English and French, and were all produced by Ibero filmmakers. Three juried awards with cash prizes, recognizing achievement in short, documentary and feature filmmaking, will be given at the festival’s conclusion Oct. 3. Screenings and panels also took place at Yale.

“The goal is essentially to promote Hispanic culture … and to promote the works of young prominent filmmakers,” said Leonel Limonte, president of NEFIAC. The festival focuses on “creating a space” for young artists with limited resources to exhibit their work in front of a wider audience, he said.

The selection committee looked for Ibero films with aesthetic and narrative excellence rather than films that specifically address social issues in the Hispanic community, he said.

Much of the festival’s programming was concerned with “breaking with the stereotype … that everything coming out of Latin American countries is focused on poverty, discrimination and all that,” he said, noting that “a lot

of the filmmakers lately are interested in showing more universal stories.”

Thursday and Friday nights’ offerings were varied in media and tone.

Standouts included Arian Enrique Pernas’s “Uvero,” an animated short that examines memory and space in an abandoned fishing community by transplanting old photographs into a reconstructed landscape. Another highlight, and the only feature film in the schedule, was “Juan of the Dead,” which reimagines a political satire of Cuba as a live action zombie apocalypse.

Despite this, the festival suffered from poor attendance, with as few as eight people attending on Friday night.

Some sessions had no audience at all.

The festival originated at Brown in 2008 as “Desde Cuba: New Cinema,” a program of Cuban short films organized by Christine Limonte ’11, daughter of the current organizer, and has spotlighted Ibero cinema since 2010.

NEFIAC has since moved the majority of its programming, including most of the feature films, closing night and the presentation of awards, to Yale, where organizers noticed greater enthusiasm from the faculty and a heightened interest from the community.

“I’ll take my resources to the people who are responsive to them,” Limonte said.

At least part of the attendance problem at Brown can be explained by logistics and timing. Jose Torrealba, who directed the festival for the last two years, was unable to assume a direct role this time around.

“I was not able to make any kind of publicity,” he said. “Everybody’s pretty much at / / Film page 9

An international conference entitled “Music Between Nation and Form: Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and the Boundaries of Italianita” combined modernist musical performances with the historical context of Italian-Jewish composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco this weekend. The Italian studies department organized the symposium to showcase the department and to inaugurate a recent donation by the Tabak Fund, which sponsored the three-day event. The conference included two concerts and a series of panels on the life, musical identity and influence of Castelnuovo-Tedesco.

Inspiration for the event’s topic came in spring 2011, when its organizer, Professor of Comparative Literature and Italian Studies Suzanne StewartSteinberg, attended a concert at Brown featuring a guitarist who performed several of Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s pieces.

After researching the composer further, Stewart-Steinberg, proposed his music to the department, which was “thrilled” at the idea of an interdisciplinary multimedia event, she said.

Born in Florence in 1895, Castelnuovo-Tedesco is best known today for his guitar compositions, though he gained recognition early on in his career for his interest in neoclassicism, which distinguished him from other musicians of the Italian modernist movement. After the persecution of Jews arose from racial laws in Italy, Castelnuovo-Tedesco fled Italy for the United States, where he later became a citizen. He embodies “all kinds of national identities and cultural identities,” Stewart-Steinberg said.

“We are absolutely thrilled that we have been able to organize (the conference),” said Massimo Riva, professor of Italian Studies and chair of the

Lauren Chan / Herald

Lesser-known Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco was brought into the spotlight through a series of panels and two concerts this weekend. department.

Despite the composer’s repertoire of over 200 compositions, not many people are familiar with CastelnuovoTedesco, Stewart-Steinberg said, which was another reason to exhibit his work in the conference. Each panel explored a different aspect of Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s musical journey, including his Florentine identity, his exile from Italy, the relationship between his music and poetry and the Jewish-Italian interculturalism that defined his music. One panel included a film entitled “Letters from Babylon” that was created for the event.

Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s numerous and varied compositions are in some ways compilations of the different identities that composed his life. The first of two concerts performed during the conference evoked the composer’s love for poetry in music. Entitled “Sounds

of Sonnets, Strings, and Winds: Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Chamber Music Between Two Worlds,” the concert featured sonnets, ballads and several pieces from Shakespeare Songs. In an essay called “Music and Poetry: Problems of a Song-Writer,” Castelnuovo-Tedesco wrote of his inspiration to “unite my music to poetic texts that arouse my interest and emotion” and to “set them forth in lyric expression.”

At Friday’s concert, the audience heard the music before they could see it.

Director of Choral Studies and organist Fred Jodry opened the program from the organ, accompanying the voices of a small singing group Schola Cantorum.

The first piece, entitled “Lecha Dodi,” involved several call-and-response interactions between the singers and the organist, with the singers’ voices floating throughout the concert hall from the balcony / / Italian page 9