SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015
VOLUME CL, ISSUE 21
WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
RISD selects Somerson as president Alum assaulted on
Waterman and Gano
Search committee, board of directors unanimously elect an alum to executive position for first time
Unidentified male assailant flees crime scene after arrival of two witnesses
By DUNCAN GALLAGHER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Rosanne Somerson P’11, a renowned studio furniture designer, became the 17th president of the Rhode Island School of Design Wednesday. For the past 13 months she served as interim president following the departure of her predecessor, John Maeda. Every member of the RISD Board of Trustees voted to elect Somerson after a unanimous recommendation by the 11-member presidential search committee, according to a Wednesday press release. A 1976 RISD graduate, Somerson previously held multiple faculty and administrative positions, co-founding the furniture design department in 1995
By BAYLOR KNOBLOCH SENIOR STAFF WRITER
METRO
COURTESY OF STEPHANIE EWANS
Rosanne Somerson P’11 has served as RISD’s interim president since John Maeda’s 2013 departure. Somerson took office permanently Wednesday. and serving as provost from 2012 until she assumed the interim presidency. “It was amazing. I felt extremely honored and excited,” Somerson said
of being elected, adding that she feels supported by the unanimous decisions of both the board and the search » See RISD, page 2
A woman walking near the intersection of Waterman Street and Gano Street was assaulted Wednesday night around 9:30 p.m., according to a campus-wide email Thursday from the Department of Public Safety. The victim, who received a master’s in public humanities from the University in 2011, broke free from her male assailant, whom the email described as approximately 5-foot-7 and 40 to 45 years old. The assailant then fled the scene on foot. “What was odd to me about the event was that he didn’t try to take my
purse or grab my stuff,” said the woman, who wished to remain anonymous due to privacy concerns. “He tried to grab me, and he said ‘you’re coming with me.’ He was trying to take me somewhere.” When two individuals appeared across the street, the assailant let her go and ran away, she added. She remained in the area until Providence Police officers arrived. “The Providence Police were responsive and showed up very soon after,” she said. A Brown detective also arrived at the scene to interview the victim about the incident. A Providence Police investigation to identify the assailant is ongoing, according to the email. The victim has been in communication with officers via email. “It does seem like they’re doing their best,” she said. DPS could not be reached for comment by press time.
Snow woes Fusion showcases emotional range in spring show includes challenge Program collaboration with Badmaash, dances inspired by current events Ocean State By ANDREW DECK
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Municipal snow removal budgets, school schedules struggle to keep up with weekly snowstorms By AGNES CHAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As more than 40 inches of snow have blanketed the Ocean State in just the p a st mont h , municipalities are struggling to deal with quickly evaporating winter budgets and limited space to store snow. Significant winter storms, which began occurring on a near-weekly basis in mid-January, have made driving difficult and affected the routine operations of public services such as the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. The storms have incurred regular delays for RIPTA as a result of icy patches, narrow roads and steep hills that have not been thoroughly cleared. “Since the first major storm hit, we daily update our riders on detours, and I don’t think we’ve had a » See SNOW, page 2
METRO
INSIDE
As the name suggests, Fusion Dance Company — Brown’s oldest studentrun dance group — performs in a variety of styles, from modern to hip-hop. After watching the group’s Annual Spring Show, which features music ranging from the “Chicken Dance” to a ringtone to Timbaland, it becomes clear that Fusion can engage an audience with a wide range of choreography. Founded in 1983, Fusion has put on a program of all student-choreographed and -performed pieces every year since. This year’s show expands beyond the group’s conventional contemporary and hip-hop combination. The program includes a South Asianinspired collaboration with the Badmaash Dance Company and a rhythmic piece choreographed by alum Jamal Jackson ’00 set to a vocalized percussion track. Lauren Behgam’s ’15 “Propinquity” begins the show with the alarming and propulsive electronica of Alt-J’s “Fitzpleasure.” Behgam’s mad-scientist approach to costuming and her jolting choreography complement the music’s frenetic sound. While the fullcompany performances, such as this
REVIEW
DANIELLE PERELMAN / HERALD
Nora Ellmann ’17 rehearses for Friday’s 32nd Annual Fusion Dance Company Spring Show. The show will present an assortment of hip-hop, ballet, modern, jazz and contemporary dances, all choreographed by students. one, sometimes have difficulty finding cohesive movement, they ultimately work off the strength of the choreography and emotion of individual performances. The show, despite abrupt shifts in tone, features both entertaining and passionate performances. Griffin Hartmann’s ’15 political commentary in “Handprints,” part of the passionate
category, stands out as one of the show’s most memorable moments. The performance grapples with disconnection and the images of Ferguson protestors, as dancers continuously reach out and struggle to grasp hands. Rory MacFarlane’s ’15 “The City,” contains similar themes. The piece features four female performers, each taking their turn in the spotlight. At
the end, only one of the four is left standing, the others thrown to the ground by the harshness of city life. An eerily slow recording of the optimistic “New York, New York” accompanies the piece. The contrast between visions of the city and its reality are stark and provocative. Jacob Goldberg’s ’17 lighting » See FUSION, page 3
WEATHER
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015
ARTS & CULTURE Alpert Medical School exhibit celebrates patients’ humanity for Rare Disease Month
ARTS & CULTURE Providence Children’s Film Festival teaches kids to appreciate more than Disney films
COMMENTARY Kenyon GS: A J-term could increase employment and research opportunities for students.
COMMENTARY Kiernan ’16: The University should take a proactive approach to banning cigarettes on campus
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