THE
BROWN DAILY HERALD vol. cxlix, no. 89
since 1891
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014
Elorza, Harrop target Cianci’s record Corporation to discuss strategic plan, infrastructure changes
At debate, mayoral candidates discuss economy, corruption, pension system
Budget deficit, sexual assault also slated as topics of conversation at this weekend’s meeting
By ALEXANDER BLUM SENIOR STAFF WRITER
“The next mayor of Providence faces daunting challenges,” said James Morone, director of the Taubman Center and professor of political science and urban studies, as he introduced the three mayoral candidates — Independent Vincent “Buddy” Cianci, Democrat Jorge Elorza and Republican Daniel Harrop ’76 MD’79 — at Wednesday evening’s debate in a full Salomon 101. With the Nov. 4 elections drawing near, one of these men will soon face the trials that Morone discussed, a challenge each says he is ready to face. » See DEBATE, page 6
METRO
ALEXANDER BLUM / HERALD
Comments on Buddy Cianci’s criminal history punctuated Wednesday’s mayoral debate, showing the intensifying race as Nov. 4 draws near.
By KIKI BARNES AND MAXINE JOSELOW UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITORS
The Corporation will review the ongoing implementation of President Christina Paxson’s strategic plan and consider the construction of a new Division of Applied Mathematics building at its meeting this weekend, said Marisa Quinn, vice president for public affairs and University relations. This weekend marks one year since the Corporation, the University’s highest governing body, approved the strategic plan, “Building on Distinction.” Provost Vicki Colvin will update
Corporation members on headway made on the plan, including in one of its main areas of focus: integrative scholarship. The seven themes under this section of the plan explore ways to improve many aspects of the student and faculty experience. Colvin will aim to address “where we are and what’s needed to support our progress,” Quinn said, adding that Colvin will discuss initiatives such as new faculty hires. The capital campaign will factor into this more general discussion, Quinn said. The Corporation’s Committee on Budget and Finance will decide whether to approve construction of a new applied math building, Quinn said. If approved, construction of the 13,000-square-foot building in the parking lot near Barus and Holley would begin in November and last roughly one year, The Herald » See CORP, page 3
Marisa Quinn to assume Working group forms to reduce deficit with $10 million role at Watson Institute Faced budget deficit, group will
Position change follows six-year tenure as vice president for public affairs and University relations By MAXINE JOSELOW UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR
Vice President for Public Affairs and University Relations Marisa Quinn will join the Watson Institute of International Studies as director of communications and outreach effective Jan. 1, wrote President Christina Paxson in an email Wednesday to faculty and staff. “I’ve worked with Watson in a
variety of ways since I arrived at Brown, and it’s always been an area of interest to me,” Quinn said, noting that she has previously partnered with the Watson Institute when reaching out to elected officials in Rhode Island. “I see tremendous opportunities for all of the things that are happening at Watson.” In her new position, Quinn said she will aim to connect faculty members and students at the Watson Institute with policymakers in the state. She also hopes to help advance Paxson’s strategic plan, “Building on Distinction,” in which the Watson Institute plays an “integral” role, she » See QUINN, page 4
try to identify $7 million in cost savings By LINDSAY GANTZ SENIOR STAFF WRITER
In response to a current structural operating budget deficit of approximately $10 million, the administration has convened a Deficit Reduction Working Group comprising faculty members, staff members and students with the task of increasing efficiency and cutting campus expenses, President Christina Paxson and Provost Vicki Colvin announced in a community-wide email Wednesday. In fiscal year 2014 the University
had a budget deficit of $8.7 million, The Herald reported last month. The group will be co-chaired by Richard Locke, director of the Watson Institute for International Studies, and Ravi Pendse P’17, chief information officer and vice president of Computing and Information Services. The other 11 faculty members, seven staff members and three students in the working group are charged with recommending “organizational changes that will improve efficiency and reduce expenses across the institution,” Paxson and Colvin wrote. The working group’s recommendations will attempt to find $7 million in cost savings, a value that does not cover the entirety of the deficit. “We assume there will be some
revenue enhancements as well,” Beppie Huidekoper, executive vice president for finance and administration, told The Herald. The working group is expected to present its preliminary findings in early March and its final recommendations in late April. The Organizational Review Committee that involved over 150 faculty members, students and staff members produced recommendations for $14 million in cost savings in 2009, Huidekoper said. Building on the 2009 review, the new working group is expected to examine potential savings by identifying areas overlooked in the past review, as well as new cost-saving opportunities that have emerged in areas » See DEFICIT, page 3
Corporation members discuss obstacles in adding student representative
By CAROLINE KELLY SENIOR STAFF WRITER
inside
Chancellor of the Corporation Thomas Tisch ’76 addressed the potential difficulties of adding a student representative to the Corporation at an open forum hosted by the Undergraduate Council of Students Wednesday night. In addition to Tisch, other Corporation members present at the meeting included young alumni trustee Alison Cohen ’09, Chair of the Corporation’s Committee of Campus Life
Dorsey James, member of the Corporation’s Fundraising and Campus Life Committees Joan Wernig Sorensen ’72 P’06 P’06 and Brown Alumni Association President and member of the Corporation’s Facilities Planning Committee Nancy Hyde P’17 P’17. Tisch began the discussion by stressing the balance of power between the Corporation and senior administrators. “I always think of the Corporation as always taking the long view into the future and also like a ship having a very deep keel,” Tisch said. “We do not manage the University,” he added, referencing the “presidential model of the University,” with a large governing body and involved president and provost. » See UCS, page 3
ASHLEY SO / HERALD
Chancellor of the Corporation Thomas Tisch ’76, young alumni trustee Alison Cohen ’09 and other members of the Corporation answered questions at an Undergraduate Council of Students open forum Wednesday night.
Metro
Commentary
Racial profiling comes to the forefront of recent RIDOT and RIACLU reports
The attorney general’s office examines statewide solutions to campus sexual assaults
Aluthge ’15 MD ’19: Gender disparity in the sciences must be addressed
Kenyon GS: Watson-Taubman marriage recognizes the U.’s most valuable assets
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Questions of the Corporation’s role in U. governance surface at UCS open forum
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