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THE BROWN
vol. cxlviii, no. 45
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björk, bunratty, breakfast for dinner
Students seek to balance professional goals, liberal learning Many students find their academic interests shifting elsewhere over time, often pointing to ‘weeder’ introductory science courses as a deterrent By JESSICA BRODSKY SCIENCE & RESEARCH STAFF WRITER
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Blank Canvas Campus expresses concern over online transition Page 6
Tap your heels “Wizard of Oz”-themed rally boosts bill to help homeless today
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tomorrow
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since 1891
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2013
The Open Curriculum and nearly two-year window for students to declare a concentration give Brown students the freedom to change their STEM 0010 Part 3 of 4 minds about their academic interests — inAn examination of introductory science cluding students courses at Brown who come to Brown considering concentrating in engineering or pursuing the premedical school track. The decision to study science depends on many factors and is often influenced in part by students’ experiences in introductory science courses. Some students said their courses sorted out students from engineering
or the pre-med track, while others said they found different academic interests to explore. Moving ‘into the unknown’ Many Brown students said they view certain introductory science courses as “weeder” courses — courses that filter students out of a concentration or an academic track based on whether they can succeed in that class. For example, many students said they consider CHEM 0350: “Organic Chemistry” a “weeder” course. “The mindset that the school creates when entering an orgo class is like, ‘Your semester is going to be hell — your life is going to be hell — if you’re in orgo,” said Frances Brittingham ’14, who is currently pursuing the pre-med track. Eleanor Siden ’15 started out on the / / STEM page 5
ZEIN KHLEIF / HERALD
CHEM 0350: “Organic Chemistry” and ENGN 0510: “Electricity and Magnetism” are two courses students said caused them to change tracks.
TRI-Lab launch brings awareness to social issues FEC endorses In its first year, the lab will foster collaborative discussion about childhood development By MICHAEL DUBIN STAFF WRITER
The University announced the launch of the TRI-Lab — an initiative aimed to unite students, faculty members and community partners to address social issues collaboratively — at an event Wednesday morning at the Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts. The lab will be piloted starting this fall and will focus on early childhood development in its first year. The initiative was designed by the Swearer
SCIENCE & RESEARCH
ALEXANDRA URBAN / HERALD
The TRI-Lab initiative was unveiled Wednesday morning at an event featuring speakers from the University and community.
Center based on conversations with 200 students, faculty members and community members. Stephen Buka, professor of epidemiology and chair of the department, and Elizabeth Burke Bryant, executive director of Rhode Island Kids Count, will serve as the TRI-Lab faculty co-chair and community co-chair, respectively, for the 2013-14 pilot of the TRI-Lab. Around 175 people attended the launch, which featured remarks from a variety of University and Rhode Island officials. Dean of the College Katherine Bergeron spoke of the TRI-Lab as an important curricular development and a realization of the University’s academic philosophy. “A 21st century education needs to actually be amplified with more realworld, hands/ / TRI-Lab page 4
Wes Craven to headline Ivy Film Festival Brad Simpson ‘95, producer of ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ and ‘World War Z’ will also speak By KATHERINE CUSUMANO SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Cold-blooded murderers, rock-and-roll has-beens and undercover spies are among the diverse individuals featured in this year’s Ivy Film Festival selections. IFF released its annual screening and event lineup, which will run April 8 to 14, on the group’s website Wednesday. The keynote speaker this year is Wes Craven, director of iconic horror films such as “Scream,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “The Hills Have Eyes.” A midnight screening of “Scream” — sponsored by the Late Night Fund — will precede the keynote address. “He is the master of horror, especially for our generation,” said Evan Sumortin ’13, IFF executive director. “He is a visionary.” Many of the films in this year’s can-
on are drawn from Sundance Film Festival and were obtained through IFF’s relationship with Fox Searchlight Films, said Mahima Chawla ’13, co-director of IFF. Chawla said she is most excited for “The Way, Way Back,” a coming-ofage comedy to be screened at the Avon Monday. It was well received at Sundance, she said, adding that it should appeal to the Brown community. The IFF program provides a platform for important documentaries to reach a college audience, Sumortin said. Among these documentaries is the Javier Bardem-narrated “Sons of the Clouds,” which explores the human price of colonialism in the Western Sahara of Africa, a region that now encompasses Morocco. Another documentary, “Searching for Sugar Man,” recounts the tale of two South African fans who try to track
down ’70s rock star Sixto Rodriguez. “It’s going to be the sort of capstone for our ‘Stories for Change’ series,” Sumortin said. “Stories for Change” is a succession of documentary screenings sponsored by IFF that has been taking place throughout the academic year to inspire debate about contentious films. “After Tiller” follows the lives and daily struggles of the four currently remaining late-term abortion doctors following the 2009 assassination of physician George Tiller, and demonstrates the role of film in exploring difficult subject matter, Sumortin said. It highlights a controversial topic on which students have strong opinions, making it an ideal festival pick, he added. This year, a panel discussion will emphasize the role of the producer in development, finance and marketing of a film, he said. “A lot of people don’t really understand what the producer does,” he added. Speakers will include Christine Va-
chon ’83, producer of Oscar-nominated “Far From Heaven,” Brad Simpson ’95, producer of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and this summer’s “World War Z,” and Michael Shamberg, producer of Oscarnominated “Django Unchained,” “Garden State” and “Pulp Fiction.” “This is a heavyweight panel,” Sumortin said. Among other featured guests is Mira Nair, director of “The Reluctant Fundamentalist,” one of the festival’s documentary screenings, which IFF will co-sponsor with the Brown International Organization. The film, starring Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland and Liev Schreiber, focuses on themes of culture, race and gender, Sumortin said. Mark Heyman ’02 will lead an hourlong master class in screenwriting for the festival. He will examine particular passages of his first major feature, “Black Swan” and describe the process of translating writing to the screen. / / IFF page 8 Heyman
expanding ombuds post to full-time Under the proposed changes, undergrads could seek advice from the ombudsperson By MAX SCHINDLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The University may convert the ombudsperson position to full-time and expand access for students and some employees starting in 2014, a move the Faculty Executive Committee recently voted to support. Ruth Rosenberg was hired to the post last year and currently works parttime, offering services for two and a half days weekly. The proposal to expand the position must now receive full faculty approval. Pending approval from the faculty, provost and president, undergraduates, graduate students and non-unionized staffers would be able to consult the ombudsperson’s office. The ombudsperson currently liaises with faculty members and post-doctoral students, Rosenberg said. The proposed changes would allow most members of the Brown community to seek the ombudsperson’s services in dealing with workplace tension, personal problems or faculty disputes. The ombudsperson’s office has handled 55 cases since the beginning of this academic year, Rosenberg said, adding that she has covered issues including the tenure process, promotion and supervisor relations. Every other Ivy League institution offers a full-time ombudsperson to employees except for Yale, which turned down a similar proposal last year, The Herald previ- / / Ombuds page 2