Tuesday, November 4, 2014

THE

BROWN DAILY HERALD vol. cxlix, no. 102

since 1891

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

In costume, thousands trek to Rhode Island Comic Con U. delays Deadpools, Zeldas swarm compliance convention center, line up en masse for ‘Trek’ star, with Title IX LGBTQ advocate Takei obligations

By GABRIELLA REYES CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Superheroes, armored robots and monsters of all shapes and sizes swarmed downtown Providence Halloween weekend in a take over of the Rhode Island Convention Center. As various Caption Americas congregated and and Star Lord grabbed coffee at the food court, the only thing confused Providence Place Mall-goers could do was helplessly look on — it was that time of year again.

This weekend marked the third annual Rhode Island Comic Con, where cosplayers, Trekkies and assorted fans gather to celebrate all that is nerddom and pop culture. Highlights included Q&A sessions with “Star Trek: The Original Series” icons William Shatner and George Takei, a costume contest and a panel with cast members of the television show “Supernatural.”

Vendors, artists and celebrity guests had stalls in the ballroom on the lower level, while Q&As and panels took place on the upper level, and the Kids’ Con was set up on the ground floor.

Saturday’s roughly 20,000 attendees spilled out of the Convention Center and into the mall and Omni Hotel. The

flux of participants left the convention organizers unprepared, as their numbers exceeded the building’s maximum capacity of 17,000. Hundreds of people with reserved tickets were left waiting outside or denied re-entry after leaving the building for lunch, though the convention’s organizers stated that any ticketholders denied entry to the convention would be refunded. Significantly fewer people were on the showroom floor on Sunday.

Many of the attendees cosplayed — that is, they not only dressed up as characters from different media but also acted out their characters’ personas — responding to questions and posing for photographs accordingly.

“I’m here for the costume contest,” said Nicole Pattek, a competitive cosplayer. She chose to dress up as Princess Zelda from “The Legend of Zelda” franchise because of the games’ impact on her childhood, she said, explaining that she enjoys cosplay because it “gives (her) an avenue for different art skills.”

“The atmosphere here is very open and judgment-free,” Pattek added.

“There’s a lot of trust — no one will steal your stuff, for example ... everyone’s your friend.”

The same culture of openness attracted Lynne Cabral to the convention scene. “It’s like my own little sanctuary. I don’t have to worry about things. I don’t even have to be me — I can be anyone I want!” she said. “It’s not like walking on the streets. You can just be you or

Report from Task Force on Sexual Assault, search for Title IX officer extend to end of fall semester

BY CAMILLA BRANDFIELD-HARVEY SENIOR STAFF WRITER

COURTESY OF GUARAV MANEK

Deadpool was a popular cosplay at Rhode Island Comic Con this weekend.

Cosplaying attendees displayed creativity in portraying the wild character. be whoever. Nobody criticizes you. It’s the best feeling.”

Cabral noted that this convention culture “grows more and more every

year. It’s amazing how much cosplay has grown.”

Cabral, who cosplayed as Lady » See COMIC CON, page 4

The University’s efforts to better comply with the federal Title IX act have been delayed, as the deadlines for a final report from the Task Force on Sexual Assault and the addition of a Title IX Program Officer have been extended.

The task force, charged with presenting recommendations in response to campus dialogue about the University’s sexual assault procedures, will present its final report in March 2015, wrote task force co-chairs Michele ​​Cyr, associate dean for academic affairs for biology and medicine, and Russell Carey ’91 MA’06, executive vice president for planning and policy, in a community-wide email Friday. The final report was originally planned for Dec. 2014, Maahika Srinivasan » See DELAYS, page 2

Voting expected to run smoothly in midterm election Board of Canvassers expects fewer voters for this year’s midterm election than in 2012

By KATE TALERICO STAFF WRITER

HERALD FILE PHOTO

This year, fewer voters and a shorter ballot are expected to mitigate the long lines that plagued 2012 elections. These long lines cause delays and dissuade some people from voting, said Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island American Civil Liberties Union. years typically draw fewer voters to the polls than a presidential election year. In 2012, 58.6 percent of eligible Rhode Islanders cast their

vote at the polls, a 6.8 percent decline from the 2008 election, according to Nonprofit Vote, a nonpartisan organization that partners with other

Commentary

nonprofits to encourage participation in elections. The 2010 midterm election only brought in 48.93 percent of registered voters, according to the

Metro

SLA: Students must stand with mailroom workers against U.’s outsourcing

Sundlee ’16: Many social activism groups operate with nose-in-theair sentiment

A $125 million bond to URI’s College of Engineering is up for approval in today’s elections

Voters at Tuesday’s polls to decide heated gubernatorial and mayoral races

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Before most Rhode Islanders reach for their morning coffee today, poll workers across the state will have begun feeding ballots into voting machines, which they will continue to do throughout the day, watching the number of votes cast tick upward in what could become a critical election year. These workers play a large part in ensuring this election day runs smoothly, a particularly important task after numerous issues with voting in the 2012 election, such as broken machines and long lines.

Polling places open this morning at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. As of Monday, 114,004 people were registered to vote in Providence, said Kathy Placencia, administrator of elections for the Providence Board of Canvassers. Placencia said the Board of Canvassers expects the number of voters in 2014 to be under the number in 2012 because it is a midterm election year, and these

Rhode Island Board of Elections.

While long lines discouraged some voters in 2012 and led to delays » See VOTING, page 3 t o d ay

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2 university news » DELAYS, from page 1 ’15, president of the Undergraduate Council of Students, told The Herald in September.

Due to the scope of the research required and the widespread student

input needed, the task force decided an extension would allow them to complete their work “thoughtfully, comprehensively and well,” wrote Cyr and Carey.

Justice Gaines ’16, a student representative on the task force, said he

believes the task force’s delayed start this semester and weak faculty and staff representation contributed to the report’s extension. After scheduling troubles with the newly appointed task force members, the group did not begin meeting until the beginning of

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

October, he said.

Along with scheduling, “the composition of the task force was not necessarily the best to expedite the process,” Gaines said, adding that he believes many of the faculty and staff “most involved” with issues pertaining to sexual assault on campus were not chosen for the task force.

Instead, those chosen “did not have the baseline knowledge that we need to discuss the issues more in-depth.”

This meant faculty and staff members on the task force had to be educated on current policy and procedures, as well as student sentiment toward the University’s current standards, he said.

Due to the combination of a serious topic, a lack of expertise and a press for time late in the semester, Gaines said the task force decided it could not release a comprehensive report of recommendations by the initial December deadline.

The task force will issue an interim report in December with “preliminary findings” and “near-term recommendations,” wrote Cyr and Carey.

Gaines said the December report will serve primarily as an update for students but will suggest recommendations for Health Promotion, a program within Health Services, and the Office of Student Life that can be

implemented immediately, since they will not require the Corporation’s approval.

Carey and Cyr stressed the importance of community feedback going forward in their email. Following a “teach-in/panel discussion” scheduled for Nov. 5, the task force has scheduled open forums on Nov. 5, 11 and 14.

Gaines said the task force has already met with members from Imagine Rape Zero to hear student voices and recommendations.

Separate from the task force, the search for a Title IX Program Officer has also been delayed, said Liza Cariaga-Lo, associate provost for academic development and diversity and the University’s Title IX coordinator, in an email to The Herald.

“This hiring process has been protracted in part because of trying to ensure that applications from individuals with high levels of experience working on university Title IX issues were included,” she wrote.“We have been doing actual outreach and recruitment of such individuals to ensure an outstanding candidate pool,” she added.

In a separate email Cariaga-Lo wrote she hoped to begin initial interviews for the position by midNovember.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

This Week in Higher Ed

BY KIKI BARNES AND MAXINE JOSELOW, UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITORS

Yale School of Medicine faces criticism over sexual harassment case handling

Faculty members at the Yale School of Medicine have voiced concern over the school’s handling of a sexual harassment allegation, the New York Times reported Saturday.

The university announced last week that Michael Simons, former cardiology chief at the medical school, “‘had decided’ not to return to his post” after being named in a complaint of sexual harassment, the Times reported.

Eighteen faculty members interviewed by the Times expressed worry that the announcement did not publicly acknowledge what they perceived as Simons’s wrongdoing, and some added that the handling of the case highlights high-level administrators’ lack of commitment to women’s advancement in the workplace.

Annarita Di Lorenzo, an Italian researcher at the medical school, filed the sexual harassment complaint with the University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct in 2011, according to the Times. In her complaint, Di Lorenzo alleged that Simons created a hostile work environment, pointing to an unwelcome love letter he gave her despite knowing she had a boyfriend.

Frank Giordano, her then-boyfriend and current husband, also filed complaints, claiming Simons had tried to stall his professional career.

The committee responded to the couple’s complaints by recommending that Simons quit his post and be barred from any administrative position for the next five years.

“There will be continued concern by the faculty as long as Michael Simons is allowed to continue in his positions,” John Schley Hughes, a professor of medicine, told the Times, referring to the moderate and, according to those concerned, dodgy language of the press release.

U.S. Justice Department sues community college over anti-military bias Pima Community College in Arizona is facing a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice over an administrator’s alleged anti-military bias, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported Monday. Discrimination in the workplace based on military service is illegal under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The suit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court in Arizona, alleges that an administrator twice denied a promotion to campus police officer Timothy Stoner due to his service in the Arizona National Guard, the Chronicle reported.

Stoner, who was deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, failed to be promoted to police corporal in 2010 and again in 2013, the Chronicle reported. After the suit was filed, administrators started investigating Stoner’s case and recommended that he receive the promotion.

The suit singled out only one of two administrators responsible for the promotion decision, the Chronicle reported.

Over two dozen, including Cornell admin, implicated in UNC academic fraud Nine employees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have been fired or disciplined since the Oct. 22 release of a report revealing new information about a two-decade-long academic fraud scandal, Inside Higher Ed reported Monday.

The report, conducted by a former federal prosecutor, implicated at least two dozen current and former university employees in the scheme, which aimed to boost the GPAs of varsity athletes through the creation of “paper classes” that would award high grades for little or no academic work. Some of those implicated only knew about the courses, which did not meet academic standards, while others, according to the report, directly encouraged about 1,500 athletes to enroll in them, Inside Higher Ed reported.

Several of those implicated in the report left UNC to work at other colleges before the scandal broke, while some abandoned higher education altogether. Cynthia Reynolds, currently an administrator at the Cornell School of Applied and Engineering Physics, was heavily involved in the fraud scheme, according to the report, Inside Higher Ed reported.

While serving as the director of a support program for student athletes at UNC, Reynolds allegedly sent lists of academically struggling football players to those running the “paper courses.” In some cases, Reynolds also included the grades the players needed to maintain athletic eligibility, Inside Higher Ed Reported. Reynolds refused to speak with investigators who compiled the recent report, though she is currently cooperating with an independent investigation by the NCAA. Cornell is encouraging Reynolds to cooperate with the investigations, though the university has taken no disciplinary action against her so far, Joel Malina, vice president of university relations at Cornell, told Inside Higher Ed. Malina declined to comment on whether Cornell has plans to conduct its own investigation of Reynolds.

Should Reynolds be named in the NCAA’s investigation, she could receive a show-cause order, which would apply sanctions such as “public censure” and probation on Reynolds even though she now works for a different institution, Inside Higher Ed reported.

university news 3 » VOTING, from page 1 at polling places throughout the state, officials expect to mitigate any potential problems this year because there will be fewer voters and a shorter ballot.

This year’s ballot is only two pages, while the 2012 ballot was three pages long, Placencia said.

“If there’s a long line, it can dissuade people to stay because of workplace or child obligations,” said Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island American Civil Liberties Union.

The city has increased the number of technicians on call to help with the voting machines from two to 12 this year, Placencia said, adding that there is a mechanism for manually feeding ballots into machines should the city still not have enough technicians.

Placencia said the voter ID law, which was new in the 2012 election, will also not be a hindrance to elections this year.

“We’ve already gone through two elections with voter ID, voters are

more aware of it. … Everything ran smoothly in September.”

The state’s voter ID law requires residents to show proof of a valid photo ID in order to vote. In 2012 and the September primary, some voters without identification were refused a provisional ballot — issued to those unable to present identification at a polling place at the time of voting — Brown said.

People were told by elections officials they could not vote without an ID and were instructed to go home and return with one, Brown said, adding that this limited people’s right to vote.

To address these issues in this election, the RIACLU prepared brochures and flyers to educate voters about their rights, Brown said. “We have been trying to get the word out, but the people who need it most are the poll workers themselves … we don’t know how much they have been trained.”

But Placencia wrote in an email to The Herald that poll workers have been trained by the State Board of

Elections about the components of the voter ID laws and how to handle issues that might come up.

The RIACLU has stationed polling monitors, individuals who will remain at polling places throughout the day, to “check up on how polls are being conducted as well as check how voter ID laws are being put into place,” Brown said.

Throughout election day, the Board of Canvassers will be in the office and on call, handling problems as they arise, Placencia said. She expects their biggest challenges will be the two-page ballot because it might take people longer to cast their votes, she wrote in an email.

The ballot from the last midterm election only had four ballot questions compared to this year’s seven questions, and was a shorter form, according to the Board of Elections website.

Another challenge that the Board of Elections will address is ensuring that any campaigners outside of polling places stand at least 50 feet away from the entrance, she wrote.

4 arts & culture ‘GoodBye’: DAP ’16 enters rap prominence New Dolapo Akinkugbe mixtape beautifully combines varied genres, coming-of-age lyrics

By ANICA GREEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Multifaceted and vibrant, “GoodBye For Never,” Dolapo Akinkugbe’s ’16 newest mixtape, produced under his rap name, DAP, is a richly woven tapestry of stylistic elements. The fusion of genres — the album draws on neo-soul, gospel, jazz and blues — makes each song dynamic and interesting and offers something for everyone.

Akinkugbe, who began playing piano as a four-year-old and producing at 14, has been a musician for most of his life. Two years after branching into rap, at age 19, he released his first mixtape, “GoodBye For Now,” which precedes his recent release “GoodBye For Never.”

The confluence of inspirations was an intentional move, one that is culturally and personally important to Akinkugbe. His Nigerian heritage stimulated his desire to make music that people of all ages can enjoy, he said.

Akinkugbe’s 17-year background on the piano beautifully shines through in the jazzy riffs that anchor the first two tracks, “GoodBye” and “It’s Alright.” Meanwhile, “Please Come Home,” with gravelly and raucous vocalization from Clyde Lawrence ’15 and a recognizable bluesy guitar riff, is almost as much a blues song as it is a rap one. Still, the harmonic vocals and organ-esque tone of the keyboard on the interlude, “Would You,” suggest a gospel feel.

On top of these inflences, neo-soul and R&B vibes recur throughout the album in vocal hooks and background harmonies.

REVIEW

COURTESY OF DANNY SOBOR

Ranging from commentary on the political state of Nigeria on “Corruption” to the party anthem “King,” DAP’s new mixtape has something for everyone.

Individual songs also refuse containment by a single category.

On multiple tracks, there is an unexpected and dramatic switch from a slower, more relaxed beat to one that is livelier and accompanied by punchier lyricism. By keeping his listeners guessing, Akinkugbe keeps them engaged.

Akinkugbe’s call for inspiration from Kanye West is evidenced in the album’s experimental production, most clearly on display in “Hey Love, Hey Love / Lust Love” and “Would You / Would I,” in which vocal distortion layers over spacious and echoing electronic sounds to effect a futuristic vibe. While the mixtape is primarily sonically driven, many of the lyrics tell a coming-of-age story, a search for independence and broader horizons.

With Akinkugbe now 21 and on the cusp of “real” adulthood, lyrics like, “Don’t need advisers man I’m over school / don’t need a visor see the future 20/22” exemplify the spirit of

a big dreamer that is, in many ways, the spirit of the mixtape itself.

Two tracks stand out from the rest to show just how well Akinkugbe can handle drastically different material.

“King” is bawdy, braggadocious and unapologetically raw with lyrics like, “Even got thousand-dollar drawers just to hold my balls.” The track begs to be danced to while blasted from speakers with red solo cups balanced on top of them. Conversely, “Corruption” takes a look at the political situation in Akinkugbe’s home country of Nigeria. A harsh condemnation of Nigeria’s violently anti-gay practices, the track effectively uses music as a vehicle for message.

Through its assortment of varied yet harmonious styles and influences, “GoodBye For Never” offers a wide range of emotional veins to follow. But it is the consistently raw power of the mixtape that compounds its versatility, promising to linger with listeners long after the final track fades out.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

» COMIC CON, from page 1 Deadpool, described the unique subculture that has developed around the Deadpool character.

“He just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” she said. “We act crazy and outrageous and go overboard, and no one says anything because that’s what Deadpool is. He’s known to be wild, he’s known to be crazy, to say what he wants and what’s on his mind.”

Cabral said she views cosplay as a bonding experience, citing that making her costume required such painstaking intricacy that she “couldn’t have done it alone.”

While Matthew Johnson, another Rhode Island local and convention regular, is also attracted to convention culture and “being around people like me,” he said, he came to RICC for another reason entirely. Clothed in a dizzying array of tartans and polka dots, Johnson was dressed up as the Sixth Doctor from the “Doctor Who” television series. He came to the convention to see Colin Baker, who plays the Doctor, at a Saturday panel.

“Last year I was the ‘Doctor Who’ Northeast Trivia Champion, so I know more about that show than I should,” he said, adding that his indoctrination into the show started at a young age. “Very slowly … the obsession grew.”

A handful of Brown students attended the convention, including Savannah Gomes ’18. Gomes dressed up as Lucy, an anti-heroine with a split personality, from the anime “Elfen Lied.”

Comic Con is a place for people to express themselves, Gomes said. “Everyone’s super excited for other people’s cosplay even if it’s not the best.”

“Everyone is kind of there for everyone. Even if you haven’t seen this or that, it’s still great to see people from those different shows,” she said.

Representatives from the Brown Costume Design Society were also in attendance.

The 30-minute “Supernatural” panel Saturday was completely packed, with attendees lined up hours in advance.

Shatner spoke to an enthusiastic

audience Saturday about his “Star Trek” experiences and the modern world. He addressed rumors of appearing in the next “Star Trek” movie by chronicling his spiraling-out-of-control social media adventures: “Don’t anybody tweet anything that’s been said. I know nothing!”

He shared a humorous anecdote about the inefficacy of the fighting techniques used in “Star Trek.” After challenging a trio of “muscle-bound 18-year-olds” harassing his daughters, he discovered that “if you leap up and push, you fall down.”

Humor infused the entirety of the Q&A session, but Shatner grew serious when he talked about the personal growth required for him to do a oneman Broadway show with no script.

“I’ve learned the courage,” he said.

While Shatner had a doting audience, it was Takei who brought the house down. People crowded outside the ballroom well in advance of his Sunday session, swarming into the room as soon as the doors opened.

Like Shatner, Takei discussed “Star Trek” and technology, noting that technology today is much better than what “Star Trek” predicted. He attributed this innovation to the “ingenuity of humankind and vision of imaginers like Gene Roddenberry.” He — like many fans — prayed for the development of the Transporter, exhorting engineers and scientists to “start working.”

He also made a jab at Shatner, his long-time enemy. Takei described an arrogant professor he played in the film “Larry Crowne” and how he modeled aspects of the character on people he knew in real life. He told his audience — which was significantly larger than Shatner’s — that he “modeled the puffed-up, pompous aspect of the character off one of my Star Trek colleagues. No names!”

Takei also detailed his journey from a closeted, supporting cast member of “Star Trek” to the openly gay social media legend and LGBT advocate he is today. He noted that while he was in the closet for most of his adult life, his anger at California’s Proposition 8 law drove him to advocacy. “That’s when I came out, and boy did I come out roaring.”

Takei said society has changed signficantly since he was on “Star Trek.” The “changed world was made possible by all of us, following one of the tenets of ‘Star Trek’ — ‘Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.’”

Convention culture, attendees might argue, strives to live out this ideal.

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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SATELLITE DINING JOSIAH’S Steamed Dumplings with Dipping Sauces BLUE ROOM South Indian Chicken Curry, Potato and Zucchini in Green Pea Masala Soups: Organic Butternut Squash, Turkey, Sausage and Kale, Three Bean Chili ANDREWS COMMONS Pastas: Meatball, Mac and Cheese

DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH

DINNER

Roasted Spicy Curried Broccoli and Cauliflower, Turkey Tacos, Vegan Rice with Jalapenos

Ratatouille with Cheese, Peas with Mushrooms, Roasted Parsnips, Steak Fries

VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH

DINNER

Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich, Grilled Rotisserie Chicken, Krinkle Cut Fries

Vegan Siena Roasted Couscous, General Tso Chicken Stir Fry, Washington Apple Cake

sudoku

LILY CRUZ / HERALD

Raising awareness about human trafficking and its effects on children worldwide, Richard Lapchick, author and human rights activist, delivers a lecture Monday in Smith-Buonanno Hall.

comic Cat Ears | Najatee’ McNeil ’17

RELEASE DATE– Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle c rNorris o s sandwJoyce o rNichols d Lewis Edited by Rich ACROSS 1 Makeup or final 5 Olympics segment 10 Elaborate dance 14 Golf clinic topic 15 “The Lincoln Lawyer” actress Marisa 16 With 41-Across, plant source of cosmetic additives 17 Rowboat pair 18 Hot-looking dude 20 GPS part: Abbr.

21 Yeses in Congress 22 Labor day arrival?

23 Powerful engine 25 650, to Augustus 26 Unsavorysounding Cajun side 31 Does a general’s job 35 “Be that __ may ...”

36 Work in the cockpit 38 __-de-sac 39 Maker of the Air Max athletic shoe 40 Rich cake 41 See 16-Across 42 Extremity sporting a ring, maybe 43 Lyricist Johnny 44 “Terrible” ruler 45 Come next 47 Taiwanese LPGA star who is the youngest golfer to win five major championships 49 ’60s militant campus gp.

51 Fax button 52 Slacks measure 55 It’s cut before dealing 58 Most like it hot 60 Nook Tablet rival 62 Angler’s artificial fly, e.g.

63 Monogram ltr.

64 Yippies cofounder Hoffman 65 Major exporter of handmade carpets 66 “What did I __ deserve this?”

67 Takes a chance on

68 Country, and word that can be appended to the three-letter ending of 18-, 26-, 47- or 60Across

29 About, in dates 30 Moth-__: tattered 32 Pet detective of film 33 “Hungry Like the Wolf” rockers 34 “Hit the road” or “hit the books” 37 Actress Hatcher 41 Workbench clamp 43 Reward for a hero 46 At ease with

48 “Shame on you!”

50 Eyeliner problem 52 “Just joking” 53 Boy, in Bogotá 54 Bad mood 55 “That’s mine!”

56 ’70s-’80s heartthrob Estrada 57 So-so grades 59 Curve in the road 61 G-man’s org.

62 “__ Abner”

DOWN 1 Self-perceptions 2 One of Superman’s powers 3 Bombing attacks 4 AWOL pursuers ANSWER TO PREVIOUS 5 Online marketplace for handmade goods 6 Cast a ballot 7 Flightless birds 8 Actor Beatty 9 Like a mouse 10 Confuse 11 A, in radio code 12 Pork cut 13 Pre-Easter season 19 Ben or Sam 21 “__ luck?”

24 Suffix with kitchen 26 “Inferno” poet 27 Hourly charge 28 Old piano key material xwordeditor@aol.com

PUZZLE:

calendar TODAY 12 P.M. HEALTH CAREERS ADVISING BONANZA

Director of Pre-Professional Advising and Assistant Dean of the College George Vassilev will be at CareerLAB with Health Careers Peer Advisors to talk with students interested in pursuing careers in health. CareerLAB 7 P.M. HISTORY OF CLASS AT BROWN

$ocial Classmates will host a discussion featuring alum, student, faculty and staff perspectives about socioeconomic diversity at Brown. Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center 11/04/14

7 P.M. MARK FEENEY TALK

Visiting Professor of English in the Nonfiction Writing Program and Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Mark Feeney will give a talk entitled “President in the Dark: Writing ‘Nixon at the Movies.’” Rhode Island Hall 108

By C.C. Burnikel (c)2014 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

11/04/14

TOMORROW 12 P.M. ANALYZING THE OUTCOMES OF THE 2014 MIDTERM ELECTIONS

The Political Science DUG will host a lunch with professors Wendy Schiller and Richard Arenberg to talk about this year’s midterm elections and their far-reaching effects.

Pizza will be served. Salomon 003 5:30 P.M. ARTIST TALK: CANDICE BREITZ

Candice Breitz will talk about her artwork currently on display at the Bell Gallery in the exhibit “SHE: picturing women at the turn of the 21st century.” Granoff Center Martinos Auditorium 7 P.M. INTERRACIAL DATING PANEL

The Brown Center for Students of Color will host five student panelists of varying perspectives for a conversation on interracial dating at Brown. Salomon 001

6 commentary

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

EDITORIAL

Drying out campus

Margaret Klawunn, vice president for campus life and student services, and Russell Carey ’91 MA’06, executive vice president for planning and policy, sent out an email to students two weeks ago detailing the University’s response to the complaints of two students who, while at Sears House Oct. 17, were allegedly drugged. One of the students also reported being sexually assaulted. The email stated that the University intends to hone its alcohol policy to protect students and punish offenders. In the meantime, it has suspended the organization that hosted the event, and warns other organizations that any infraction of the alcohol policy would certainly result in suspension.

This turn of events begs the ever-pressing question: What role does the University have in regulating the behavior of student groups, especially when student group interests are pitted against the risk of harm befalling other students? It is clear, and the University reiterates, that students deserve a safe environment to learn and cohabitate, and that both date rape and drugging are impermissible under any circumstances. There are a few ways the University could achieve this goal.

Since the culture of college parties ostensibly creates a risk of harm, particularly with respect to drinking, perhaps the best amendment the University could make to college parties would be to dry them out — to make alcohol impermissible at parties, regardless of function or group type — for some reasonable amount of time.

While this first course of action is cut and dry, it preserves almost all of the autonomy (and the existence) of the social groups on campus. Parties, of all types, could still happen, and drinks and food could still be served under the strictures placed by the Undergraduate Council of Students, which are relatively prescriptive. This strategy would further the fight against sexual assault by subtly limiting the amount of alcohol students consume, and it would make any daterape drugs in drinks blatantly obvious.

Pomona College enacts a similar policy, called “Substance Free Opening”: For the first two weeks of every school year, the Pomona campus is alcohol-free. Of course, infractions do persist, but this policy is thought to significantly reduce the amount of sexual assault on campus, especially as many sexual assaults befall incoming first-years during their first few weeks of school.

The policy need not be so firm. Perhaps the University could limit the Class F designation, which is given to parties that serve alcohol, to events whose main focus is not the party itself — fundraisers, improv shows and live music during student group-sponsored parties that might be called “mixers.” It could also mandate EMS presence at parties, the way it does at Spring Weekend and formerly at Sex Power God. Drying out parties for a period of time could, however, drive people to drink in settings that are harder to moderate, like their dorms or off-campus parties. To minimize this shift while still tightening the faucet at campus events, the University might choose to get actively involved in supplying alcohol at parties. It could mandate that drinks be sold and a meticulous sales record be kept — maybe even tying Banner IDs to sales. Cost would set a fiscal constraint on party drinking.

The drinks could even be distributed by a third party, a professional bartender hired for an event who opens or makes the drinks and checks IDs. This would certainly cost more, and limit the number of student parties, yet it would make drugging harder. Or Brown itself could, like Syracuse University, obtain a liquor license and sell alcohol to students at parties with independent bartenders who would card and make drinks themselves.

However, these interventions, unlike dry parties, are intrusive, bureaucratic and expensive, and they still leave some risk of abuse of alcohol and date-rape drugging. And, by their very nature, they would also push some people to drink in spaces further removed from campus and monitoring. There are costs to all these approaches, and perhaps the one that promotes the greatest change to the culture of Greek parties would be to dry them out for a fixed period of time, to underscore the need for a more responsible and self-aware community at Brown.

Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial page board: its editors, Alexander Kaplan ’15 and James Rattner ’15, and its members, Natasha Bluth ’15, Manuel Contreras ’16, Baxter DiFabrizio ’15, Manuel Monti-Nussbaum ’15, Katherine Pollock ’16 and Himani Sood ’15. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.

A N G E L IA WA N G

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The compatibility of religion and academics To the Editor: In her Monday Herald opinions column (“Are religion and academics incompatible?” Nov. 3), Divya Bhatia ’15 argued that the lack of religious dialogue in academic settings goes against our “liberal” values. While I agree with the point that there should be more open and prevalent religious and belief-oriented dialogue on campus, I strongly dissent with Bhatia on her understanding of what actual liberal dialogue is.

Liberal dialogue is one in which beliefs and perspectives are discussed in an area of valid criticism. Bhatia cites the discomfort one student felt when creationism was presented in a mocking manner in a biology course. While I sympathize, her feelings and unscientific beliefs have no bearing

When any Brown community member dies, The Herald typically publishes an immediate article announcing the news and follows up with a more detailed obituary — including remembrances from friends, family members, professors or others — a few days later.

But in the case of Sara Overstreet ’16, who died Thursday, we are not writing an obituary, per the request of her family and some close friends. Though we believe obituaries provide an important service to readers, it would be neither respectful nor feasible to publish one here. Readers with questions or concerns about this decision may email herald@browndailyherald.com.

Editors’ notes are written by the 124th editorial board: Eli Okun ’15, Sona Mkrttchian ’15, Mathias Heller ’15, Madeline Berg ’15, Katherine Cusumano ’15 and Kate Nussenbaum ’15.

CORRECTIONS An article in Monday’s Herald (“Dynamo House set to undergo renovation,” Nov. 3) misstated the number of cars a new parking garage near the to-be-renovated South Street Power Station will hold. It will hold 650, not 260. The article also misstated the number of beds for graduate, medical and nursing students a new, nearby facility will hold. It will hold 264, not 164. The Herald regrets the errors.

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on the teaching of core scientific theory. Putting creationism alongside evolution as possible perspectives validates it as an equal, which is absolutely false.

Liberal dialogue is not about letting everyone speak, or at least speak equally. If it is, I am hurt every time a religious studies class ignores my belief that Franz Kafka is the one true God and we do not read more Kafka texts. The strength of an opinion’s voice in dialogue must depend on its validity and rebuttal to its criticisms; otherwise the voicing is simply a monologue. Faith is wonderful, but personal belief cannot trump scientific fact in a liberal dialogue. Religion and academics can coexist at Brown, but that does not imply all religion and all science must be compatible.

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commentary 7

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Brown: Don’t fire mailroom workers (again) STUDENT LABOR ALLIANCE guest columnists

This summer, in a stunning display of putting profit over people, the University decided to outsource Mail Services to the multinational corporation Ricoh USA. On June 19, a few hours after mailroom workers received their would-be annual raises, Beth Gentry, assistant vice president of business and financial services, called the workers back into her office to tell them they would lose their jobs at Brown July 31, when the new company would take over. In the meantime, workers were expected to train their replacements from Ricoh.

Three of the nine mailroom workers who lost their jobs at had worked here for over 20 years, with another four logging over 10 years, workers said. They were experts in how the mailroom functioned. They had developed friendly relationships with students and staff members, often going way beyond the job description to help students with unwieldy packages.

But at the end of the day, they depended on those jobs for their families, for their health care, for stability in their own communities beyond Brown.

After all, as the largest employer in the city of Providence, Brown can improve its impact on the city simply by provid-

ing stable jobs with good wages and benefits, and by not treating workers as if they are disposable.

Yet Brown disposed of this dedicated workforce.

The justification to workers for outsourcing to the new company, Ricoh, was its supposed efficiency, as reported in the June 25 Herald article “U. signs controversial agreement to outsource mail operations.” A few months earlier, Brown invited Ricoh consultants to observe the mailroom. They found that the mailroom at Brown was inef-

bers and community members.

A petition asking the administrators to maintain the structure and staff of the mailroom began circulating June 21, gathering 1,000 signatures by June 25. Soon after, concerned students met with administrators to discuss their opposition. When administrators dismissed them, workers held a rally against the outsourcing in mid-July.

Yet the administrators remained committed to Ricoh, and Brown ultimately outsourced the mailroom.

While some workers chose to ap-

pioning freedom of speech, this is a shameful act: Brown bought the silence of former workers about the injustice it committed.

Meanwhile, the results of outsourcing to Ricoh have spoken for themselves. Important packages have been lost, students have not received medication in a timely fashion, departmental mail has been lost, and lines for picking up packages can be extremely long.

This is a statement in opposition not to the new mailroom employees, but rather to Brown’s decision to outsource to

We ask readers to stand in solidarity with the mailroom drivers against the corporatization of our university. This time, we will make sure Brown is both accountable to workers and transparent in its decision-making. ficient, and that outsourcing to their own company was the solution. This glaring conflict of interest would have been laughable had Brown not agreed to their offer and laid off the workers, who had already been requesting the equipment that would have increased their efficiency.

Perhaps Gentry and Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Beppie Huidekoper had hoped the workers would accept their decision as “the way the world works” and meekly move on. But the workers did not go quietly into night. They fought back, mobilizing students, alums, staff mem-

ply for a job with Ricoh, only two were accepted, and two other former workers were rejected for being “unqualified” for the position. Moreover, workers who lost their jobs and agreed to a so-called “generous” severance package had to sign an agreement that they would not speak poorly of the University or department employees, according to a worker — or presumably they would risk losing their severance package, which comes on a weekly basis.

This agreement implies that workers do indeed have reason to “speak negatively,” and Brown knows it. For a university that prides itself on cham-

Ricoh, and without transparency or accountability to workers or students.

We are working with the Brown University Community Council on a proposal that would build transparency and accountability into the process of making outsourcing decisions so that any plan to do so would first be submitted to the BUCC for review and recommendation. We look forward to the successful development and implementation of this policy. We urge you to look at our letter to the BUCC, comment and sign in support of it on our Facebook page.

In the here and now, however,

Brown’s decision to invite an analyst from Ricoh to come this Wednesday — a fact brought to our attention by the mailroom drivers’ union — is alarming and deja vu-inciting. The analysts will assess the two mailroom drivers, positions not previously outsourced to Ricoh. Will the analyst again find inefficiencies and promise that Ricoh will solve them?

Once again, this obvious conflict of interest would be humorous if workers’ jobs were not on the line. Given that Ricoh has failed to improve services in the mailroom, inviting the company back to possibly expand its services seems ill-conceived. We join the two mailroom drivers who are currently Brown employees as we ask that President Christina Paxson, Huidekoper and Gentry publicly commit not to outsource these jobs to Ricoh and maintain the current employees. We ask that they disinvite the analyst.

We ask readers to stand in solidarity with the mailroom drivers against the corporatization of our university. This time, we will make sure Brown is both accountable to workers and transparent in its decision-making. This time, we will not let Brown dispose of campus workers in the name of efficiency.

The Brown University Student Labor Alliance acts in solidarity with workers in our campus community, our local community and our global community.

Empty gestures ROBYN SUNDLEE opinions editor

We here on College Hill live in a bubble. It cannot be denied. Who among us has not ventured downtown and been startled by the vast humanity that exists beyond our gates?

This phenomenon is not inherently bad.

There is nothing wrong with spending our young years in an academic oasis. But this cloistered environment also comes with its faults. We become removed from the pulse of the population. This is especially dangerous for a campus that prides itself on its social activism.

The atmosphere of quixotic academia has clouded our conceptions of reality. Some of us have lost sight of what is deemed reasonable by the American public and prefer to operate on a plane that simply dismisses those who think differently. This problem is exacerbated by a dearth of students who come from poor, conservative, rural communities. I am sure we can all agree that most of the people we know here came from socially liberal, reasonably wealthy neighborhoods in populous areas. Indeed, students from the coastal, population-dense states of California, New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey make up half the class of 2018.

Given this homogeneity we forget that our campus in no way provides a good representation of the average American voter. This may not be of concern to many international students, but for those of us who intend to live in the United States after graduation and wish to correct social injustices here, it is critical.

We recently passed the anniversary of one

such example of this blindness. The Ray Kelly protesters garnered widespread publicity and spurred heated discussion throughout our campus about privilege and free speech. I believe in the sentiment behind the protests. The anger was justified. Stop-and-frisk laws are based on racist underpinnings and they must be overturned. But beyond Brown’s walls, the protesters accomplished nothing besides pats on the back from liberal news outlets whose audiences already agree with the protesters’ opinions.

Though a proud progressive, I hail from a socially conservative community. When the story broke, several friends contacted me with

strong tendency to spurn what we do not agree with rather than engaging and changing it. It is almost as if we do not want to get our hands dirty. Or at least we imply that the effort isn’t worth it. Instead, we find it much easier to snub those who we disagree with, smug in the assurance that the statement is enough.

Brown’s relationship with American military student programs is another example. The major reasons for the continued prohibition of Navy and Air Force student programs include concerns regarding discriminatory policies and the legitimacy of recent foreign interventions.

Rather than sanctimoniously refusing to ac-

Because we disregard the viewpoints of the rest of the population, we have developed a strong tendency to spurn what we do not agree with rather than engaging and changing it. raised eyebrows. Did we really think this was an appropriate response? Yes, a piece of racist rhetoric was banished from our bubble. But any socially conservative American — the ones who actually need convincing on this issue — would see disrespectful, pretentious, spoiled children.

It is not just that we need to tailor our ideological expressions to accommodate the perceptions of those who may harbor what we see as ignorant notions, but it is the only pragmatic solution. A statement was made with the Kelly protests, but that was it. And the mode of the statement probably hurt the cause.

Because we disregard the viewpoints of the rest of the population, we have developed a

knowledge programs like ROTC — while hypocritically accepting funding from the Department of Defense — Brown faculty and student organizations should take positive action. This could range from fundraising for nonprofit groups that fight military discrimination to inviting members of the military to take part in open campus forums. If you care enough to expel something from your presence, you should care enough to put in the work to change it.

This was also evident in the Brown Divest Coal campaign. Sure, divestment would have made a statement. But nothing more. There were no such high-profile efforts to change national or state legislation. It was all about keeping our hands clean and remaining on our high

horse. Demonstrating outrage at something like Brown being involved in environmental degradation is important. But it is only one facet of making a difference, and a small one at that.

Is every social activism group at Brown guilty of this sort of self-righteousness? Certainly not. Many approach problems with a spirit of practicality while still staying true to their ideals. But many of the more high-profile campaigns at Brown have had this type of nosein-the-air sentiment. Why can we not publicize groups who dive into the grit?

It’s just so easy to write conservatives off as nutcases who cannot be reasoned with. It’s so easy to shun rather than to engage. Finding common ground means thinking critically about differences and facing realities that make us uncomfortable.

We booed Kelly off the stage instead of organizing a group to volunteer at progressive lobbying organizations. We make gestures to banish the military rather than working to improve it. We want to divest coal before making our own campus green. Too much energy is spent distancing ourselves from that which offends our sensibilities, and not enough on that which can alter our world. Indeed, some sort of effort to right these social wrongs is better than none.

But the social activism community at Brown can do better than ostentation.

I believe in Brown students’ capacity to concretely enact change and fight injustice. Reject the temptation to be dismissive. Don’t be satisfied with statements. Don’t fall back on that tired axiom — “the system’s f****d.” Dig your heels in and work for the reality you want.

Robyn Sundlee ’16 can be reached at robyn_sundlee@brown.edu.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

THE

metro

BROWN DAILY HERALD

Voters weigh in on ballot measures Today’s election results to

A $125 million bond for URI’s College of Engineering would update facilities and create jobs

By MOLLY SCHULSON METRO EDITOR

Today Rhode Island voters will head to the voting booths, where they will decide seven ballot measures — two constitutional amendments, one automatic ballot referral and four bond issues.

Questions 1 and 2 The ballot’s first two questions will determine the future of gambling in Rhode Island. Passage of Question 1 would alter Rhode Island’s constitution to allow state-operated casino gaming, like table games, at the Newport Grand casino, which currently only houses slot machines. Supporters for passage, including the group Jobs for Newport, argue the measure would increase revenue by $9 million and boost employment by 200 new jobs, as well as retain 175 current jobs.

The referendum’s opponents, including Citizens Concerned About Casino Gambling, suggest Question 1 would have a negative impact on Newport’s small business and tourism economy and increase government dependency on revenues from casinos, which they consider a “declining industry.”

In order for the first ballot measure to pass, Rhode Island and Newport must both log majority support.

Table games were on the ballot in 2012, and though the measure passed statewide, it failed to garner enough votes from Newport voters to go into effect, The Herald previously reported.

Question 2, if passed, would amend the Rhode Island Constitution to prohibit gambling location changes unless there is adequate voter approval, which

entails a majority in the location where expansion may occur must give their consent, along with a majority vote in a statewide referendum.

Former Providence mayor and real estate developer Joseph Paolino Jr. P’06 P’17 said he plans to invest $40 million into the casino if the ballot measures pass, The Herald previously reported.

President of Citizens Concerned About Casino Gambling Gene McKenna has said he believes a $40 million investment would better serve the state if allocated instead to an “innovation hub” — a group of entrepreneurs and arts who could generate jobs in a community, The Herald previously reported.

Question 3 This constitutional ballot proposition, which appears automatically on the ballot every 10 years, will determine whether Rhode Island will hold a constitutional convention. If Question 3 is approved, another election will be held to determine delegates to the convention.

“The convention is a process established in the Rhode Island Constitution to bypass the General Assembly when voters think it has failed to address important issues,” according to Renew R.I., an organization that supports passage.

Opponents include the groups Citizens for Responsible Government and Reject Question 3, who claims on its website that a constitutional convention would be a threat to civil rights and that money necessary to form a convention would be better spent elsewhere.

Question 4 The College of Engineering at Univeristy of Rhode Island will receive a $125 million bond from the state if the measure is passed. URI’s engineering facilities have not been updated in over 50 years, Providence Eyewitness News

reported at the end of September.

Supporters include the group Engineering Rhode Island’s Future and the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, who claim approval of Question 4 would generate 1,500 jobs.

Opponents to all bond questions — Questions 4, 5, 6 and 7 — argue the measures are too costly. According to a study released Oct. 14 by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, taxpayers may have to pay $400 million after interest is taken into account.

Question 5 The state could issue $35 million in bonds to cultural, artistic and historic centers — including the Rhode Island Philharmonic, the Chorus of Westerly, AS220 and WaterFire Providence — for their improvement and preservation if Question 5 is passed. Nine performing arts groups in total would receive $23.1 million in grants. The state preservation grants and Rhode Island State Council on the Arts competitive matching grants would total $5 million and $6.9 million, respectively.

“We think the arts are an economic generator and a local differentiator,” Laurie White, president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, told The Herald in October. “People want to come and live and spend money and work in areas where there’s a thriving arts and cultural scene to supplement their professional life.”

Using the grant, the performing arts groups estimate they could institute capital projects, creating 600 temporary and 600 permanent jobs and “$47 million annually in increased economic activity,” said Randall Rosenbaum, RISCA executive director, in the October Herald article.

Question 6 This measure would authorize the state to issue $35 million in bonds to improve public transportation infrastructure upon passage. Funds may potentially go to transit renovations near the Amtrak station in downtown Providence, The Herald previously reported.

The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce supports Question 6.

Sixty-five organizations, including the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority Riders Alliance, Grow Smart Rhode Island and the auto service organization AAA, have formed the Pro-Transit Hub Coalition, hoping to raise awareness of the bond measure’s benefits, multiple sources have reported.

Question 7 This measure would authorize a $53 million bond for the state to use for environmental and recreational purposes, including flood prevention, farm protection and water pollution infrastructure projects. As part of this bond, the Roger Williams Park Zoo would receive $15 million.

The question’s support is led by the group Vote Yes on 7. Supporters include the Rhode Island Zoological Society, the Environmental Council of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, among others.

Supporters argue that the projects funded by the bond would protect the Narragansett Bay, increase jobs and promote tourism and overall quality of life.

change political landscape While change in mayor, governor inevitable, incumbents in national offices run for reelection

By KATE KIERNAN METRO EDITOR

Today is Election Day, marking the end to an election season in Rhode Island that was full of memorable candidates, contentious debates, surprising endorsements and visits from national politicians. The gubernatorial election will result in either the state’s first non-white or non-male governor. Providence’s next mayor is likely going to be either a convicted felon or a judge. Incumbents across the state could be swept out by a new cast. Here is a breakdown of elections that voters in Providence and Rhode Island will be deciding today.

Reed runs to retain U.S. Senate seat U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., is running for reelection to his fourth Senate term against Republican challenger Mark Zaccaria, a former state Republican chairman. The latest CBS News, New York Times and YouGov poll taken from Oct. 16 to 23 has Reed leading by 45 percentage points, making it likely that he will safetly maintain his seat. Reed has run on a platform that emphasizes economic opportunities for the middle class, infrastructure investments, support for military families and veterans and strengthend entitlement programs for senior citizens, according to his campaign’s website.

If the Democrats maintain a majority in the Senate, Reed will likely become chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee in 2015, Rhode Island Public Radio reported.

Zaccaria has unsuccessfully run twice for the second Congressional district seat against U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., in 2008 and 2010.

Congressional challenges for Cicilline ’83 and Langevin For the first Congressional district seat, U.S. Rep David Cicilline ’83, D-R.I., is running for his third term in Congress against Cormick Lynch, an Iraq War veteran who served in the Marines.

At 26 percent earlier this year, Cicilline, a former mayor of Providence, had the lowest approval rating of any member of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation, The Herald previously reported. Despite those numbers, he is currently ahead in the polls.

In the second Congressional district, Langevin, running for his eighth term in office, faces a challenge from Rhue Reis, a businessman from North Kingstown.

Gubernatorial seat up for grabs The latest poll from the Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions shows a tight race between Democratic candidate and General Treasuer Gina Raimondo and Republican Allan Fung, mayor of Cranston, to replace Gov. Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 P’17. A third candidate Robert Healey, who is running for the Moderate Party, has about 10 percent of voters’ support, according to the poll.

For Rhode Island’s lieutenant

governor seat, Catherine Taylor, a Republican and former director of senior citizens’ affairs for Chafee, is running against Democratic Mayor of Cumberland Daniel McKee to replace current Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts.

McKee holds the lead at 36 percent of voter support, with Taylor logging 27 percent, according to the latest WPRI/ Providence Journal poll. But nearly one third of voters remain undecided, and a small percent of voters support Moderate candidate William Gilbert and Libertarian candidate Tony Jones, who have a combined 4.2 percent of the support.

Cianci comeback vs. Elorza entrance Independent candidate and former mayor of Providence Vincent “Buddy” Cianci is seeking to be elected back into his old seat, but Democrat and former housing court judge Jorge Elorza and Republican Daniel Harrop ’76 MD’79 hope to keep him out. While Elorza has run on a platform of progressive policy ideas, Cianci has been gaining supporters by emphasizing the accomplishments of his former administration over the 22 years he was mayor. Elorza and Harrop, who recently donated $1,000 to Elorza’s campaign and announced Monday that he will vote for Elorza, have both emphasized Cianci’s felony convictions and the notoriety of his former administration as reasons to keep Cianci from returning to the office. The new mayor will take over from Angel Taveras, who ran an unsuccessful bid earlier this year for the Democratic party’s nomination for governor.

Decision for District 4 After Former House Speaker Gordon Fox, D-Providence, vacated his seat over the summer, two candidates launched campaigns to represent District 4 in the General Assembly. Aaron Regunberg ’12, founder of the Providence Student Union, is running as the Democratic candidate against Independent Ethan Gyles.

Gyles is a member of a coalition of Independent candidates running for offices in the General Assembly. The coalition was formed in order to support one another’s Indepedent campaigns in a historically Democratic legislative body.

Seats across the state Seth Magaziner ’06, the Democratic candidate, and Ernie Almonte, an Independent candidate, are competing against one another to replace outgoing General Treasurer Raimondo. Magaziner is a financial consultant, while Almonte is an adjunct lecturer of public policy at the University.

The latest WPRI/Providence Journal poll places Magaziner ahead of Almonte by 12 percentage points.

Democrat Nellie Gorbea, a former deputy secretary of state from 2002 to 2006 and the former executive director of HousingWorks RI is running against Republican candidate John Carlevale for the office, which is currently held

by Ralph Mollis. Gorbea is currently up by 14 percentage points, according to the poll.

Attourney General Peter Kilmartin is running for reelection to his office against Republican challenger Dawson Hodgson, a former state senator, and currently holds a 14-percentage-point lead, according to the poll.