SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2015
VOLUME CL, ISSUE 9
WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
Email clarifies interim alcohol policy changes Administrators detail restriction of alcohol service at large gatherings in residence halls By DUNCAN GALLAGHER AND KATE TALERICO SENIOR STAFF WRITERS
Following student concern, the Office of Campus Life and Student Services released a campus-wide email Friday clarifying that the the interim policy changes announced Jan. 19 ban alcohol service at large organized events, not informal or individual alcohol consumption by those of legal age, in residence halls this spring. Large organized events include parties organized by Greek and program houses and events that would require a city permit to serve alcohol, according to the email. The policy changes are intended to reflect the recommendations in the Task Force on Sexual Assault’s interim report, said Margaret Klawunn, vice president for campus life and student services. “We were concerned that conditions where alcohol wasn’t monitored and where there were too many students in a space they weren’t supposed to be in… (contributed) to sexual assault,” she said. The follow-up email was sent in response to questions that arose from various student groups, Klawunn said. “It made sense to clarify for everybody
what the intent was and what the scope is,” she said. While administrators always consider the policies in place at peer institutions when defining the University’s policies, “this decision was made very specifically about the concerns we had about incidents … this fall and making sure students are safe,” she added. A committee comprising students, faculty members and administrators will conduct a comprehensive review of the University’s alcohol policies this spring, Klawunn said. “If we start getting strong recommendations from the committee to go in a different direction, we could decide before the end of the semester that these weren’t the right measures to have in place.” In creating a permanent policy, the University will incorporate student input on the interim policy by hosting community forums and consulting with the Greek Council, the Undergraduate Council of Students, the Brown University Community Council and the Office Residential Life, she said. Klawunn said she has spoken with Residential Peer Leaders, who have expressed confusion about their role in enforcing the new policy. “It’s the same way we’re always asking them to ensure that their residents are safe,” she said, adding that the University still forbids underage drinking. The allowance of “informal gatherings” in residence halls has not changed, the email read, since “these » See ALCOHOL , page 2
HERALD FILE PHOTO
The Office of Residential Life faces a lack of housing as the student body continues to grow and those coming back from abroad transition from temporary to permanent housing.
Temporary housing angers students Students express dissatisfaction with ResLife’s communication, crowded dorm spaces By SUSANNAH HOWE SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Of 160 juniors returning from study abroad in the fall, 11 students were assigned to temporary housing in kitchens and lounges before the semester began, compared to 18 students last year, said Richard Bova, senior associate dean of residential life. Four students who studied abroad in the fall are still living in temporary housing and are on schedule to move into permanent housing this week, Bova said, adding that the recent blizzard delayed the process.
Though the Office of Residential Life’s goal was not to place any students in temporary housing, having “only four is pretty good,” he said. One kitchen in Vartan Gregorian Quad still houses a student, creating problems for the dorm’s residents. “I’m very frustrated,” said Nicolas Schank ’16, who is off meal plan and had relied on the now-occupied kitchen to prepare meals. “We basically signed a lease over the expectation that we would have a kitchen on our floor,” Schank said. “It’s literally ResLife’s only job to make sure that people can live somewhere,” he said, adding that “the fact that they did not plan for what they knew to be this enormous event ... is just stupid.” Returning juniors who did receive housing expressed frustration with the last-minute uncertainty and lack of clarity in the process. “Everybody was
super stressed,” said Courtney Bergh ’16, who studied abroad in Barcelona last semester. ResLife could be more communicative and clear, she said. “I understand that (ResLife was) bombarded with a lot of questions, but I think that overall there should be a much better system,” said Melissa Hill ’16, who spent the fall semester in Spain. “It was in shambles.” Housing issues arise when students’ plans are not known to ResLife or when the numbers of departing and returning students are not equal, Bova said. This year, ResLife did not have official confirmation of those numbers until Jan. 7. “It would be inappropriate for us to give away students’ spaces (that) had not come through officially on University departure lists,” Bova said. Other students may choose to leave or » See HOUSING, page 2
Bruno splits weekend, claims first Ivy win School choice advocates W. BASKETBALL
rally at Statehouse
After falling to Cornell, three Bears record career wbests in Saturday’s victory over Columbia
Public subsidies for private schools, charter school expansion generate discussion across state
By TANEIL RUFFIN SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Opening the six-week stretch of conference doubleheaders at home in the Pizzitola Sports Center, the women’s basketball team came up short against a strong Cornell squad Friday but managed to salvage the weekend with an impressive win against Columbia Saturday. The Big Red (12-6, 3-1 Ivy) displayed an aggressive offense early in the contest, as the team jumped out on the Bears (711, 1-3) to claim an early 6-2 advantage. Not to be bested, Janie White ’18 swished a shot from behind the arc to bring the squad within one. A free throw from Kennedy Martin ’18 equalized the score
INSIDE
By DUNCAN GALLAGHER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
In the early evening of Jan. 29, the statehouse dome glowed bright yellow for School Choice Week. Earlier that day, as both chambers of the General Assembly met, the rotunda bustled with uniformed schoolchildren, school administrators, religious officials and concerned parents. Though their dress code varied from business suits to prep-school uniforms, all of these individuals sported the same embroidered
METRO
DAVID DECKEY / HERALD
Rebecca Musgrove ’17 sets up Bruno’s offense, which dominated on Saturday night against Ivy cellar dweller Columbia. after just under six and a half minutes of a timeout to straighten out her squad. play. Shortly after, the Big Red launched Coming out of the timeout, the teams into a quick offense. Bruno struggled in went shot for shot for about five mintransition, and Cornell capitalized on utes, and Cornell managed to keep its the mishaps with two fast break layups lead. A layup — immediately followed before Head Coach Sarah Behn called » See W. BBALL, page 2
yellow scarves. The accessory signaled their participation in a legislative session seeking to call attention to the much-debated issue of school choice. Advocates of school choice promote government subsidies for parents to send their kids to private schools. “Anything that empowers parents promotes the general welfare of our state,” said Deacon Steve Raymond, director of operations at Saint Patrick Academy, a co-educational Catholic high school in downtown Providence. Discussion of school choice is extremely active at the moment. The legislative reception took place during National School Choice Week, over the course of which more than 11,000 related events took place throughout the country, said keynote speaker Rabbi A. D. Motzen, national director of » See EDUCATION, page 2
WEATHER
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2015
SPORTS Men’s basketball flounders twice in second half, suffers losses to Columbia and Cornell
SPORTS Women’s swimming and diving captures first Ivy win of 2015 during Senior Day celebrations
COMMENTARY Weinstein ’17: Pope’s response to Hebdo attacks raises debate on self-censorship
COMMENTARY Isman ’15: Second semester seniors feel forced to make hard decisions in final shopping period
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