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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

VOLUME CLI, ISSUE 64

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U. hosts free speech series to promote open dialogue

Events organized by Provost include Ivy League faculty lectures, workshops, dinner series By SHIRA BUCHSBAUM SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Provost Richard Locke P’17 announced the new “Reaffirming University Values: Campus Dialogue and Discourse” event series coming to campus this year in a communitywide email Sept. 2, adding to the ongoing national conversation regarding open discourse on college campuses. Locke began planning the series last winter and developed it with the help of Associate Professor of Religious Studies Nancy Khalek among many other professors with whom he had formal and informal conversations about potential speakers and the purpose of the series, he said. The planning process was deliberate and lengthy, Locke said, because “I wanted (the series) to be about speaking across differences.” » See FREE SPEECH, page 3

NAOMY PEDROZA / HERALD

University students who are registered to vote in Rhode Island cast their ballots in Salomon lobby for the state’s primary election. The seats up for grabs included mayoral positions, state legislators and Rhode Island’s two spots in the House of Representatives.

In RI primary, incumbents’ success maintains status quo Low turnout, few options in Democratic stronghold make for relatively uncompetitive races By KYLE BOROWSKI SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Tuesday’s state primary changed little for the Ocean State, with most incum-

bent candidates retaining their parties’ nomination. Notable positions being contested included scattered mayoral seats, state legislative positions and the congressional spots of U.S. Rep. David Cicilline ’83, D-RI and U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin, D-RI. As expected, the two Democratic representatives fended off their respective primary challengers, which, given the state’s largely Democratic base,

increases their odds of reelection. “I really think highly of David Cicilline,” said Jon Land ’79, who cast his vote at Temple Beth-El on the East Side of Providence. “I’m on the same page with him on about every issue.” While he admitted that Cicilline had a fairly strong chance of keeping his seat, Land also said that the possibility of an upset resulting from low voter turnout was enough to get him to the polls.

“I can’t watch political shows and get so upset about the direction we’re going in and then not do something about it,” Land said, adding that “if you don’t show up, then you can’t complain if things don’t work out the way you wanted.” Abysmal voter participation has hardly had much of an effect on Rhode Island politics in the past. Only 13 percent of voters turned out in 2012 , but the » See PRIMARY, page 2

School of Public Health attains accreditation Rebooted compost initiative School recognized for brings sustainability to BUDS quality of education, research output after lengthy approval process

Student, staff, community volunteers collected 40,000 pounds of compost in first three weeks

By HATTIE XU SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The Council on Education for Public Health approved the School of Public Health’s application for accreditation June 18. CEPH, an “independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education,” has accredited just 59 schools of public health in the United States and its territories, according to its website. During the application process, the School of Public Health compiled a 348-page self-study for the review of CEPH. Though there was a central accreditation committee, all faculty members worked on the self-study in one way or another over the three years of writing, said Terrie Fox Wetle, dean of the School of Public Health. The report lays out the school’s mission and analyzes how it meets CEPH’s criteria for accreditation, from having sufficient financial resources and

INSIDE

By JACKSON CHAIKEN SENIOR STAFF WRITER

LILLY NGUYEN / HERALD

Upon receiving the accreditation of CEPH, the School of Public Health became the only accredited institution for public health in the state. promoting diversity outreach to helping students develop “competencies” outlined by the agency, Wetle said. One competency identified by

CEPH, especially for students studying specific tracks like epidemiology or biostatistics, is to expose a “variety » See HEALTH, page 2

As a part of its continuing sustainability efforts, the University compost initiative is now present in most oncampus dining establishments, said Jessica Berry, sustainability program manager. The initiative is a revival of the pilot program launched spring 2015 at Andrews Commons. With the expansion, the compost operation is now present in the Sharpe Refectory, the Verney-Woolley Dining Hall, the Blue Room and the catering services at Andrews, she added. In the first three weeks of the program, over 40,000 pounds of compost were collected, said Megan Kelly ’17, who worked on the initiative as an intern in the Office of Energy and Environment. In August, approximately 24,000 pounds were collected, Berry

said. The initiative is already a success, Kelly said, adding that Brown is the first institution of its size in Rhode Island to take on a compost operation of this magnitude. But there is still room for improvement. For example, “not every load of compost that the compost plant picks up is contaminant-free,” she said, adding that “there are going to be obstacles and bumps along the road in any major project.” Much of the ongoing work involves finding specific items that could contaminate the compost bin and creating “new marketing, education and sign ideas,” to spread the information, Kelly added. The compost team is also determining the optimal locations for compost bins around campus. Currently, there are 36 students, 11 staff members and two community members volunteering for the initiative, Berry said. Most visibly, they can be seen wearing neon yellow vests helping students compost properly. As the program continues, Berry » See COMPOST, page 2

WEATHER

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

NEWS International Space Station veteran proclaims importance of space exploration, need for public attention

NEWS Gérard Araud, French Ambassador to the U.S., speaks about recent burqa controversy, cultural differences between U.S., France

COMMENTARY Savello ’18: When it comes to study abroad, STEM should not limit students’ global exploration

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» HEALTH, from page 1

HUAYU OUYANG / HERALD

Bins in the Ratty play a central role in Brown’s compost intiative, projected to cut waste by one fourth this year.

» COMPOST, from page 1 said projections show 600 tons of organic material will be diverted in fiscal year 2017 out of the approximately 2,400 tons of trash thrown out annually. “The organics collection program going into the fall semester is expected to see some initial challenges as students become accustomed to the process,” Berry said. “We have extensively planned and implemented communications and training strategies to give students, faculty and staff the tools they need to properly sort their waste.” “I think a lot of students — and staff particularly — are mindful of composting,” Kelly said. She added

that there are also locations around campus for “opt-in” composting, for students outside of dining halls who want to compost. Compost operations in the V-Dub are “fully back-of-house and managed directly by the dining staff,” Berry said. At the Ratty, things run smoothly because of work done with Dining Services that minimizes the potential contaminants. “Our general rule is if it grows, it goes. Anything organic can go in our compost,” Kelly said, adding that while this is easy to do in the Ratty, there are many items in the Blue Room that could contaminate the compost. In the Blue Room, and in general

with composting, she said, “when in doubt, throw it out.” The initiative is part of the University’s commitment to comply with the Rhode Island Refuse Disposal Law, which took effect Jan. 1, The Herald previously reported. The law requires institutions to compost if they are large producers of organic waste and are close to a compost facility. The University’s move to composting is in line with many municipalities, nations and companies that are also composting, Berry said. “By understanding and learning about the importance of this program, students are preparing themselves for life beyond Brown.”

of public health topics” and apply different strategies, said Patricia Risica, assistant professor of epidemiology and behavioral and social sciences. Risica, a member of the curriculum committee, said that most class curricula remained unchanged because the courses were already successfully fulfilling competencies. After receiving the self-study, a team from CEPH visited the campus to conduct a site review, Wetle said. CEPH’s review of the application revealed that they were impressed by the level of participation of both students and faculty members in research and by the high volume of research output, she said. They also reacted positively to the School of Public Health’s close relationship with the Rhode Island Department of Health, she said. But the group also asked the school to develop ways for students to give feedback efficiently about their courses and experiences, she added. With the accreditation, the School of Public Health now has access to funding opportunities from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that are only available to CEPH-accredited schools, said Linda Laliberte-Cote, associate dean of public health for administration and finance. It may also help the school continue to attract high-caliber students and faculty members who can be assured of the school’s quality of education, Risica said. “We are recognized … for meeting national standards and (for being) among a valued group of peers,” said Don Operario, associate dean of public health for academic affairs. “It means that all of the students who come through our program can be sure that the education, research mission

» PRIMARY, from page 1 Rhode Island General Assembly has been completely controlled by the Democratic party for decades, with the party currently holding 94 of the state’s 113 seats. “When I walked out of the voting booth, I said, ‘I think we already know who’s going to win,” said Carol Delaney, adding that “this primary wasn’t really much of a contest.” Social programs were the most important policy issue for Delaney, who considered herself liberal in spite of the fact that elected Democrats in Rhode Island are typically more conservative than the national contingent. The Rhode Island State Democratic party can be notably “heterogeneous,” said Scott Wolf ’75, adding that “a lot of the leadership in the legislature can be especially conservative” when it comes to social issues like reproductive rights. This contrasts greatly with U.S. Sen. Sheldon

and culture of our school meets these high criteria.” The School of Public Health will need to be reaccredited by CEPH in five years, he added. The school can also participate in the Schools of Public Health Application Service, which allows students to apply to multiple schools using one application, Wetle said. As a result, she expects a large increase in the number of applications in the upcoming cycle — up to three times as many applications as last year, she added. Prior to receiving official accreditation, the School of Public Health opened in 2013 and was allowed to operate as long as it was in the process of accreditation, Wetle said. Establishing a CEPH-accredited school of public health has been a project in development since even before Wetle joined the University in 2000, she said. “Our accreditation occurred as immediate as it can occur,” said David Williams, associate professor of behavioral and social sciences. “It wouldn’t be correct … to have the impression that we’ve had a school of public health around for years, and we are only just now getting accredited.” Having achieved its accreditation goal, the school aims to successfully implement all programs described in the self-study and solidify its commitment to service and the community, Operario said. As the only accredited school of public health in Rhode Island, Wetle said that the school has a “responsibility to train the next generation of public health leaders, conduct research that is relevant to the issues of the community and … translate that research into policies and programs.” After successfully receiving accreditation, the CEPH now approves any new programs developed by the school or faculty member hires, Wetle added. Whitehouse, D-RI and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-RI, whose progressiveness Wolf said he identifies more with. “I say shame on the Democratic party for not offering the voters a choice,” said Ray Mathieu, a conservative independent candidate running for state representative. Though his name did not appear on Tuesday’s primary ballot, Mathieu handed out pamphlets advocating his candidacy to potential voters outside of Temple Beth-El in hopes of a strong showing in November’s statewide general election. “You don’t have to go crazy like the Republicans did and throw up 16 candidates (in the U.S. presidential primary), but we should have two good candidates that we can choose from,” Mathieu said. “We shouldn’t have one person who keeps getting reelected year after year after year to where it almost becomes an entitlement,” he added.

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 • PAGE 3

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

» FREE SPEECH, from page 1 National discussion about free speech on college campuses has increased drastically over the last few months, but Brown has dealt directly with multiple incidents regarding free speech over the last few years — including the Ray Kelly forum in 2013, the Wendy McElroy debate in 2014 and the Janet Mock talk this past spring. But Locke disagrees with the way the press has portrayed the issues, noting that “the framing of these issues tends to be free speech versus diversity — I think that’s the wrong framing.” In this ongoing discourse, Locke said he has found that “on campus and in public life, we’re not really speaking to each other anymore. We’re speaking past each other, and the conversations are becoming shrill.” Khalek agreed, saying “We thought it might be more energizing and more constructive to move past arguing and (toward) listening,” she said. Locke and Khalek both noted that the series can help move the campus away from that false dichotomy. Such conversations will aim to “get us past oversimplification even if that leads us towards complication,” Khalek said. In working with Locke, Khalek drew upon her experiences in the classroom — where she discusses issues of race, religion, sexuality and identity in an atmosphere in which she and her students can verbally

acknowledge the difficulty of having these conversations. “The classroom had to be set up to be a place where we could stumble with confidence,” Khalek said. “In the middle of these tense and difficult conversations, we’d say ‘this is tense and hard talk about.’” Khalek said she hoped to help “transfer that model to conversations on campus” in thinking about how to plan the series. She hopes the result helps create an ethos where people can disagree without feeling hurt or insulted and without fear, she added. “There’s really nothing we can’t talk about, but we should be aware of how we talk about it,” Khalek said. Lectures, workshops and roundtable discussions offer opportunities to learn how to discuss difficult issues in different ways, she said, adding that it requires buy-in from people on multiple levels. Ken Miller ’70 P’02, professor of biology, said he hopes the series will “reaffirm the right to hear” people from a diverse range of perspectives speak. Miller noted that “the issue of free expression has been contentious at Brown for quite a while,” and that he was pleased the administration has moved to address it. But the announcement of the series was not without criticism. Mark Patinkin of the Providence Journal wrote a “translated” version of Locke’s campus letter in an op-ed; he wrote that Brown was “mealy-mouthed” and minced words where the University of Chicago and Claremont McKenna College were clear in telling students

Reaffirming Values event series October 1 2

Nov. 14 “Freedom of Speech in the University” Robert C. Post, Professor of Law, Yale University Oct. 11, 6 p.m. “A Note from the Margin: The Unsafe Spaces of Democracy” Jelani Cobb, Professor of Journalism, Columbia School of Journalism

Oct. 28 One-Day Workshop on Personal Narrative and Community Values Marshall Ganz, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy, Kennedy School of Gov. Feb. 6, 2017 “Free Speech and Civil Disobedience” Martha Nussbaum, Professor of Law, University of Chicago

November 1

February 1

Feb. 3, 2017 “Free Speech on Campus” Geoffrey Stone, Professor, University of Chicago

Source: Office of the Provost that they will have to confront open dialogue. Unlike other universities that have simply released a statement on their positions on free speech and campus dialogue, like UChicago, Locke said he wanted to “model that behavior” of conscious conversation and engaged listening with a series of activities.

“I don’t feel the need to make a public statement” on the University’s values, especially since the conversation is occurring internally, Locke said. Though he intends to add more events to the series, Locke included the initial list of featured speakers and workshop leaders in his email. At

LAUREN ARATANI / HERALD

the moment, that list includes faculty members from Columbia’s School of Journalism, Yale, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and UChicago, as well as a dinner series run by Andre Willis, professor of history and religion. Locke is also working with centers on campus to offer more events relevant to the purpose of the series.

NEWS

PAGE 4 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

French ambassador contrasts cultural role of secularism in France, US Ambassador Gérard Araud addresses burqa controversy, stresses value of history in diplomacy By AILEEN SEO STAFF WRITER

Gérard Araud, ambassador of France to the United States, spoke on French secularism and the growing issue of right-wing populism in Western Europe and the United States in a lecture titled “French Foreign Policy in an Unstable World” held at the Watson Institute’s Joukowsky Forum Tuesday. Araud prefaced his discussion about religion in France by drawing distinctions between the cultural norms of certain groups and countries. “Every country has a particular social fabric and is responding to challenges on the basis of this fabric,” Araud said. “Solutions which appear obvious in one country are impossible in another country.” Araud went on to discuss that American secular values cannot be adopted by the French due to social and cultural differences. He noted that American secularism was contrived by the Founding Fathers to protect religion from the state. But in France, secularism served to protect the state from religion, Araud added. “In France, we are extremely reluctant to give religion any public space. Religion is private. You never speak about religion,” he said. Araud noted that no large crosses or veils are to be worn in state schools or by civil

servants working in state institutions. “They want (the public sphere) to be a neutral space,” he added. Araud went on to further underscore France’s more potent brand of secularism, pointing out that a lot of American political rhetoric has religious themes and that just 4.5 percent of the French population attends church, compared to 25 percent of Americans. The ambassador went on to discuss how American secularism is centered on individual freedom, while French secularism is much more collective. In discussing the issue of French municipalities imposing restrictions on the use of veils and burqas on beaches, Araud stated that the intervention arose from larger collective concerns regarding women and their freedoms. “If you cover the body of the women, they are not equal, as it is seen that their bodies pose dangers. Men can wear normal swimming suits but women need to go to beach in veils,” he said. He attributes the laws in part to growing Islamophobia but also to France’s strong aversion to religion in the public sphere. In response to an audience member’s question of balancing the burqa as a symbol of anti-feminist clothing and an article of personal and cultural meaning, Araud responded, “We have to find the right balance, and there is no easy answer,” he said. “Some women accept this attire, but the oppressed accept oppression. (French policies) are obstructing oppression.” J. Nicholas Ziegler, professor of international and public affairs,

NAOMY PEDROZA / HERALD

Gérard Araud, French Ambassador to the United States, answers audience questions about the presence of religion in the public sphere and recent government policies concerning individual freedoms. directed the discussion to the issue of right-wing populism which has become “a major issue because it has thrown into question the ability of democratic political institutions to accommodate and incorporate the full range of public opinion,” he said. “Our institutions are based on this view that we have elections, and we pay attention to public opinion. But suddenly public opinion is including strains of sentiment that are seen as problematic for other parts of our democracy, including individual rights,” Ziegler said. Araud responded by assessing why there has been such an “expression of anger, prejudice, envy and fear” among the American middle class. “When you look at the figures, American households have seen

income falling from 2005. The basic reality is that the economy is not delivering anymore for middle-class citizens,” Araud said. “They are expressing their sufferings, and the expression of economic crisis is identity oriented. They say the immigrants and gay marriage are the problem.” Araud noted that historical evidence shows that in the 1960s and 70s, though there were many immigrants, no one complained because there were a lot of jobs. But as the first modern economic crisis hit in 1975, the middle class blamed too many immigrants taking the jobs of native-born workers. Araud, who specializes in the Middle East and strategic and security issues, was drawn to a career in foreign affairs during his time as a student.

“I’ve always loved history, and at the same time, I didn’t want to become a teacher. I found the best way to satisfy my love of history was to work in diplomacy. You can’t understand the world without knowing the history,” Araud said. The ambassador emphasized the importance of understanding the distinct nuances of multiple perspectives on a given issue. “When you negotiate with diplomats of another country, you have to know that their way of thinking or rationale is different from yours,” Araud said. “Don’t think the world is divided between good and evil, black and white. Understand the complexity of the world. The same problem can be seen in a different way from another point. Don’t forget that you stand where you sit.”

Genest links space exploration funding with public interest For the time being, space programs depend on government funding, public support By ISABEL GENSLER SENIOR STAFF WRITER

“The message space exploration sends to the rest of the human race is that when you get a bunch of people together who love what they do and put their talent together, you can do almost anything,” said Michael Genest, a key member of the Mission Control Center for the International Space Station in his lecture, “The International Space Station and The Future of Humans in Space,” Tuesday afternoon. Genest has been in charge of electrical power system mission planning and flight control expertise for the Mission Control Center of the ISS since 1992. He started his career in 1979 working on the Space Shuttle Program as a Mission Analysis engineer, and he received his degree in aerospace engineering from Penn State University in 1979. The ISS orbits 225 miles above the Earth’s surface, traveling at 17,500 miles per hour. It consists of one million pounds of mass, which presented a significant challenge to putting it in orbit, Genest said. It took 12 years, the collaboration of 15 nations and 174 spacewalks to realize the goal of the ISS. Confronting difficult challenges — such as sending a million pounds of mass into space, landing a rover on

Mars, sustaining 1,600-degree temperatures and traveling at 13,000 mph — is a hallmark of working in space exploration, Genest said. One of the most important attributes of a NASA employee is problem solving, second only to the “ability to stay cool under pressure,” Genest said. Despite NASA’s problem-solving abilities, the program is still faced with significant challenges when it comes to funding and public support. “The lifeblood of space exploration for now is funding,” Genest said, and “as long as we’re in the Lewis and Clark mode of exploration — government funded, expensive and therefore purely exploratory — we’re going to be vulnerable to political will.” One potential solution would be to “shift the center of gravity more to a more self-interested, commercial model. Then the things that motivate all commercial successes will motivate space flight,” Genest said. Until there can be this shift toward a more commercial model, NASA has attempted to gain public support through social media efforts and through the internet. NASA could be a generation ahead in what it has achieved, Genest said, if it had the right funding. During the space race, space exploration received 5 percent of the national budget. Now that number has dropped to 0.5 percent., he said NASA hopes to put humans on Mars by 2035, Genest said. He believes an important step toward this goal is starting to send manned missions to the Moon in order to test sustained life on extraterrestrial bodies.

SAM BERUBE / HERALD

Michael Genest, head of electrical power system mission planning and flight control expertise on the International Space Station since 1992, discussed mission and funding challenges facing NASA projects.

TODAY

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 • PAGE 5

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

c l e a r s k i e s , f u l l h e a r t s , c a n ’ t lo s e

menu SATELLITE DINING ANDREWS COMMONS

Pizza: Mushroom’s Revenge, Spicy Sausage and Garlic, Honey Boo Boo Po Boys JOSIAH’S

BLUE ROOM

Make-Your-Own Quesadillas

Beef Chili, Country Vegetable Burrito Bowls

DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH

DINNER

Chicken Fingers, Cannellini Bean Ragout, Edamame Pods, Lyonnaise Potatoes, Brownies

Garden Style Baked Tilapia, Tofu Lo Mein Stir Fry, Fried Tofu, Washington Apple Cake

VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH

DINNER

Italian Meatballs with Sauce, Mediterranean Eggplant Saute, Taco Bar, Brownies

Linguini Pasta, Mashed Sweet and White Potatoes, Caesar Salad, Washington Apple Cake

sudoku

SAM BERUBE / HERALD

A student walks by the building for the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, highlighted by the Maya Lin installation celebrating Rhode Island’s watershed.

Q U O T E O F T H E D AY

crossword

“Some women accept this attire, but the oppressed accept oppression. (French policies) are obstructing

”

oppression.

— Gérard Araud, French Ambassador to the U.S.

See AMBASSADOR on page 8. CORRECTION An article in Tuesday’s Herald (“Undocumented applicants considered under domestic status,” Sept. 13) incorrectly implied that the release of the University’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan had been prompted by student demonstrations. In fact, the plan’s revision was informed by student demonstrations, among much other feedback. The Herald regrets the error.

calendar TODAY

SEPTEMBER

LingLangLunch 1:00 P.M. Metcalf Research Building, Room 305

WBRU College Night 6:00 P.M. Eastside Marketplace

Imperfect Recall 4:00 P.M. McKinney Conference Room

artSPEAK: Vision Launch 8:00 P.M. Brown Center for Students of Color

TOMORROW Race and the Presidential Election 12:00 P.M. Joukowsky Forum

Community Engagement Fair 7:00 P.M. Sayles Hall

Free Speech on College Campuses Lecture 5:00 P.M. Smith-Buonanno, Room 106

Animal Studies: Putting a Bird on It 7:00 P.M. Sciences Library, Room 305

COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

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COMMENTARY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 • PAGE 7

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

‘I can’t study abroad’ SAMANTHA SAVELLO staff columnist

As classes start up again this fall and you begin to reunite with your friends and classmates, you might notice that some familiar faces are missing from campus. And that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Every year, instead of returning to Brown, nearly 600 Brown students choose to study abroad, opting for a new academic adventure in another country. While Brown is a warm and lively campus, many of us eventually get a bit tired of our daily routine on College Hill and begin itching for something new. Study abroad programs offer students an exciting academic alternative to their sophomore — or junior — slump, so it’s no wonder some of your friends are missing from Brown this semester. But if studying abroad is so enticing, why do so many of us stay at Brown and opt out of the adventure? For some, it’s because they are international students and coming to Brown is already considered “studying abroad.” Others simply

love College Hill way too much to leave, even for a semester. But more often than not, the main reason students don’t study abroad — even though they desperately want to — is because they are afraid of not finishing their concentration requirements. Science, technology, engineer-

might hold true in some instances, they are usually not the case. With its Satisfactory/No Credit option and open curriculum, Brown is basically rooting for you to pursue your academic desires abroad, regardless of concentration. In fact, Brown offers engineering programs in Spain and France for the

sure they meet the needs and high standards of Brown students. As a result, the majority of Brown-sponsored study abroad programs take place at some of the most renowned and selective universities in the world, including Oxford University, University of Edinburgh and University of Granada — where I will be

But if studying abroad is so enticing, why do so many of us stay at Brown and opt out of the adventure?

ing and math concentrators, for example, are notorious for prematurely dismissing study abroad opportunities. Many claim they can’t waste time studying abroad because they have a heavy load of concentration requirements and fear falling behind in their studies. Other students choose not to study abroad because they believe it’s not possible to get an Ivy League-quality education elsewhere. While these beliefs

very purpose of combating the misconception that engineers can’t go abroad. And as for STEM students, the Ireland study abroad program at Trinity College offers multiple courses in math and science — most of which are transferable to Brown. It is also untrue that study abroad institutions are sub-par compared to Brown. Brown carefully selects the institutions it partners with for study abroad programs, making

studying next semester. Rather than diminishing your academic experience, study abroad enhances it by giving you the opportunity to form relationships with distinguished professors and faculty members at both Brown and other elite colleges around the world. But there’s much more to the study abroad experience than the status of the institution or the courses offered. Cultural immer-

sion, language learning (in nonEnglish speaking countries) and simply forming friendships are just a few of the many benefits that come along with studying outside of Brown. By exploring a new country, you can leave behind your comfort zone at College Hill and engage in opportunities that you would otherwise not have access to. Whether you’re navigating the streets of Hong Kong, speaking French to the locals in Paris, France or investigating religious differences in Spain, studying abroad allows you to do some serious soul searching and explore different passions— all while receiving credit toward your Brown degree. So if you’ve always felt that studying abroad was out of reach or only for humanities majors, it’s time to reconsider. Don’t limit yourself before doing your research and investigating all possibilities. Chances are there is at least one program — if not multiple programs — that meets your academic needs, no matter what you may be studying.

Samantha Savello ’18 can’t wait to take Spanish classes in Spain next spring. She can be reached at samatha_savello@brown.edu.

NEWS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016