THE
BROWN DAILY HERALD vol. cxlix, no. 13
since 1891
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014
In PW Downspace, a ‘Godot’ worth waiting for Corp. set
By EMMAJEAN HOLLEY SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The occupants of Samuel Beckett’s theater of the absurd — dithering and defunct — vacillate in and out of uncertainty. They search in vain for validation and reprieve. A new production of his juggernaut “Waiting for Godot,” directed by Patrick Madden ’15, opens tonight in the Production Workshop Downspace. Naturally, the play’s reputation precedes it. Since its 1953 premiere in an obscure French theater, “Waiting for Godot” has become a bedrock of post-war literature.
REVIEW
M. BASKETBALL
Bruno hits the road in pursuit of top seed Win against Harvard would land Bears atop Ancient Eight, quelling talks of Crimson domination By ALEX WAINGER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
inside
Riding a three-game winning streak, the Bears enter their toughest weekend of conference play this season. Bruno will compete for first place in the Ivy League against Harvard Friday in the Lavietes Pavilion — where the Crimson hold a 19-game home winning streak, the nation’s 6th longest — before traveling to Hanover to take on Dartmouth Saturday. Harvard (17-3, Ivy 4-0) is no stranger to the top of the Ivy standings — the Crimson have reached 4-0 in league play for each of the last four seasons. Dartmouth (9-9, 2-2), a surprise contender this season, has already knocked off traditional powerhouses Penn and Princeton. “These are going to be really big games,” said Steven Spieth ’17. “Every game is a championship game in the Ivy League. We’re going to play good defense, knock down some shots, and I think we’ll have a good chance to beat both of these teams.” The Bears (11-7, 3-1) are coming off an impressive weekend, having toppled Cornell and Columbia on backto-back nights. Spieth accompanied » See BASKETBALL, page 5
Famously described by literary critic Vivian Mercier as “a play in which nothing happens, twice,” the show is currently running on Broadway in a production starring Sir Ian McKellan and Sir Patrick Stewart. For such a widely performed work, Madden’s interpretation feels distinctly fresh. Swinging from idealistic to cynical, arrogant to self-loathing, Vladimir, Estragon and friends supply more than sinister humor. They lend even the most pedantic exchanges a chilling accessibility. Audiences will experience the uncanny sensation that they’ve been here before. The entirety of the two-act play unfolds by a tree on the country roadside. Haunting and haunted, Sam KeamyMinor’s ’16 set design is one of the most compelling aspects of the production. The stage, an elongated platform » See GODOT, page 4
to discuss budget, strategic plan
Vote on annual budget, annual tuition rates and financial aid on the table for first 2014 meeting By KIKI BARNES AND MAXINE JOSELOW UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITORS
RYAN WALSH / HERALD
Skylar Fox ’15 plays Vladimir and Vincent Tomasino ’14 plays Estragon in PW’s production of Samuel Beckett’s classic “Waiting for Godot.”
Paxson picks provost search committee Committee includes eight faculty members, one graduate student and one undergraduate By JOSEPH ZAPPA SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The search committee for Provost Mark Schlissel’s P’15 replacement will comprise two administrators, eight faculty members, a graduate student and an undergraduate, President Christina Paxson announced in an email to the Brown community yesterday. Paxson will chair the committee. The University reached out to faculty members and administrators in order to select people who would represent the diverse interests of the
Brown community, said committee member David Rand, professor of biology and chair of the department of ecology and evolutionary biology. The committee includes two faculty members representing each major academic discipline: the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and physical sciences. Crystal Ngo GS is a PhD candidate in American studies, and Daniel Pipkin ’14 is an international relations and Hispanic studies concentrator. Paxson selected Pipkin, who was one of three candidates recommended by the Undergraduate Council of Students. All undergraduates had the opportunity to apply to UCS for the position, and the Council received 10 applications last week. Multiple sources said the
committee will likely consider both internal and external candidates for the position, though an explicit policy has not been finalized. Both Rand and Jack Mustard PhD’90, professor of geological sciences and environmental studies, said they do not automatically prefer either external or internal candidates. “I think we’ll consider a lot of people, and usually it’s pretty clear who the best fit for Brown is at the current time,” Rand said. “I’m looking for someone who has a clear understanding of where they want to take the University,” Mustard said, adding that one cannot categorically eliminate candidates based on the type of university at which they previously worked. » See PROVOST, page 2
The Corporation will vote on approving the University’s annual budget, consider raising tuition and debate expanding financial aid at its meeting this weekend, said Russell Carey, executive vice president for planning and policy. The Corporation, the University’s highest governing body, will also discuss the implementation of President Christina Paxson’s strategic plan, Carey said. This is the first Corporation meeting since October, when the body approved the strategic plan — Paxson’s blueprint for the University’s next decade — and decided not to divest endowment assets from major coal companies. The Corporation will consult a report by the University Resources Committee that recommends whether and how much to increase tuition and financial aid, Carey said. Recognition of the current $4.3 million deficit “was infused in the discussion of the URC throughout the fall, and will be reflected in the report,” he said. “That’s something that the Corporation, just like the rest of the campus, grapples with all of the time.” Last year, the Corporation approved a 4 percent hike in undergraduate tuition » See CORP, page 2
Hipster haven Flatbread Company falls flat New restaurant has family-friendly service but signature namesake offering disappoints By SABRINA IMBLER FEATURES EDITOR
It’s easy to miss Flatbread Company — tucked away at the butt end of a large parking lot behind CVS — but the space is surprisingly roomy. The decor can best be described as a rustic, veganfriendly ski lodge, with large windows overlooking the monochromatic landscape of the parking lot. It’s easy to miss the Flatbread Company, but that may not be your loss. The atmosphere is undeniably » See FLATBREAD, page 4
REVIEW
TOM SULLIVAN / HERALD
Flatbread Company offers a wide selection of flatbreads with colorful names, such as Jay’s Heart, left, and Mopsy’s Kalua Pork Pie, center.
Arts & Culture
Sports
‘Nebraska,’ now playing at the Avon, offers viewers a look into family life in small-town America
Alum’s collection of books and objects on magic is currently on display in Rock lobby
Blasberg ’16: Peyton Manning’s Super Bowl loss hurts his legacy
Cohan ’17: Playoff structures in pro sports too often include subpar teams in post-season play
ARTS & CULTURE, 3
ARTS & CULTURE, 4
SPORTS, 5
SPORTS, 8
weather
Inventive set design, strong performances energize Beckett’s oft-done post-war classic
t o d ay
tomorrow
31 / 14
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