Thursday, November 10, 2016

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

VOLUME CLI, ISSUE 104

Professors dissect results of election Schiller, Blyth link rise of Trump to global populist wave, call for increased engagement in politics By KYLE BOROWSKI SENIOR STAFF WRITER

In the wake of last night’s electoral surprise, Professor of Political Science and International and Public Affairs and Chair of the Political Science Department Wendy Schiller and Professor of Political Economy and Political Science and International and Public Affairs Mark Blyth gave a post-mortem at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, offering potential explanations for the success of President-Elect Donald Trump and their ideas on what a Trump administration might look like early on. “I’m a little surprised at the outcome,” Schiller said. “But I’m not stunned.” She added that an inability to call the state of Virginia early in the night made it obvious that it was going to be a challenging evening for former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. “Twenty-four years of vitriol and attacks can become a liability that is more difficult to overcome than a lot of people thought,” Schiller added.

“Well, that wasn’t surprising at all,” Blyth said, adding that he had predicted a Trump victory as far back as May. Blyth said he also predicted that Britain would vote to leave the European Union in June. “It’s not because I’ve made a pact with Satan to see the future,” Blyth said. “It’s pretty obvious when you think about things in a more global way.” Blyth presented an international perspective on Trump’s triumph, pointing to trends of globalization and economic liberalization as precursors to his rise. He added that the success of a populist candidate like Trump could be predicted based on left-wing parties’ loss of power in Western Europe and the simultaneous rise of right-wing European parties like the National Front in France. “The people have decided to give their elites notice that ‘We’ve had enough,’” Blyth said. “People have begun to realize that huge amounts of money have been generated by the global economy, but most of it’s gone to a tiny fraction of the population.” Even after more than a year of a drawn-out electoral contest, it’s difficult to imagine with certainty what Trump might look to accomplish once in office. “Republicans will fall in line, but it is not at all clear how much they will » See ELECTION, page 2

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Perceived stereotypes pose a threat to the academic performance of minority groups, said Claude Steele, professor of psychology and former vice chancellor and provost of UC Berkeley in a lecture Wednesday.

Prof. explains stereotype threat In light of DIAP, Claude Steele discusses risk of lower performance from perceived stereotypes By ANNA KRAMER STAFF WRITER

Claude Steele, professor of psychology and former executive vice chancellor and provost at University of California at Berkeley, spoke Wednesday evening in Salomon about the dangers stereotypes

pose in a diverse learning environment. Hosted as part of the Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan lecture series, the lecture, titled “Stereotype Threat: The Science of a Diverse Community,” addressed the power of biases to negatively affect academic performance. Steele defined the phenomenon of stereotype threat as “being in a situation or doing something to which a negative stereotype about (an) identity is relevant.” When members of a minority group are exposed to stereotype threat, they will often achieve at a lower level than their

non-minority counterparts in spite of the same initial level of preparation. Women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and African-American students are two examples of groups that frequently encounter stereotype threat, Steele said. When a student faces stereotype threat, the anxiety created by that negative assumption increases cognitive stress, Steele said. As a task or exam becomes more difficult, a student wastes time and energy by focusing on » See STEREOTYPES, page 3

Workshop links entrepreneurs, artists Eric Nathan debuts Entrepreneurship Center, Arts Initiative lecture series first of many collaborative efforts

‘the space of a door’ Boston Symphony Orchestra commissions modern piece from university professor

By MADISON RIVLIN SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The Brown Arts Initiative and the Jonathan M. Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship at Brown collaborated to host a series of lectures called “Music, Tech and Entrepreneurship: A Creative Workshop” this Sunday. The series aimed to reflect the intersections between entrepreneurial ideals and the artistic world and music industry, said Joseph Butch Rovan, director of the Brown Arts Initiative and professor of music. The program featured presentations from Rovan himself, Steven Schwartz ’91, Arvid Tomayko-Peters ’07, Prachi Jain ’16, Professor of Physics Stephon Alexander PhD’00 and Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship Daniel Warshay ’87. Professor at the Rhode Island School of Design Charlie Cannon and composer Melvin Gibbs were

ARTS & CULTURE

INSIDE

By ROLAND HIGH

ELI WHITE / HERALD

Panos Panay, managing director of the Berklee Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship, gave the keynote speech at the lecture series Sunday. featured, and Managing Director of the Berklee Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship Panos Panay delivered the keynote speech. As part of President Barack Obama’s declared National Entrepreneurship Month, “We wanted to focus on telling stories of entrepreneurship, scholarly research and the latest technologies in music,” said Elizabeth Malone, program manager for the Center for Entrepreneurship. “We want to show, tell and apply.” The collaborative series has been in the works since “the very first meeting after (Warshay) was announced as director,” Rovan said. Rovan and Warshay had previously collaborated

to develop the plans for the Center for Entrepreneurship as both were “interested in entrepreneurship and the arts and how they connect.” Rovan has long been interested in programming on business and the arts due to his “own background as a composer and musician who has also worked in Silicon Valley,” he said. Rovan tried to illuminate the range of professional options available to arts students when he was chair of the music department, he said. He cited the development of classes in music business and summer high school entrepreneurship programs such as B-Lab, a collaborative effort between Brown and the Berklee » See WORKSHOP, page 2

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

When he walked through the doors of the Providence Athenaeum, Assistant Professor of Music Eric Nathan saw inspiration: The stacks of old, leather-bound books and the sunlight pouring in from above would serve as the “springboard for musical and textural ideas” culminating in his new composition, “the space of a door.” “I was imagining the latent energy that inhabits these very old places,” Nathan said. Nathan’s piece, commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, was also influenced by the recent passing of his mentor, Steven Stuckey, along with other emotions brought on by this year’s “tragic

ARTS & CULTURE

world events.” Nathan said he is eager to hear his work played by the BSO, an orchestra to which he has listened since he was in fourth grade. “All the music I’ve written is very experimental,” he said, noting the way his style takes advantage of the “visual texture of the bows all moving at different speeds.” This style gives players the freedom to express themselves, creating a different performance every time, he added. Nathan also brings his experience as a composer to the classroom. “As a composition teacher I, … lend my experience and how I think about composing and how I problem solve,” he said. “A few of my students are actually coming to the Boston Symphony’s rehearsal … so they’ll get a hands-on experience seeing how an orchestra” works. “After the rehearsal we’ll talk about how it went,” he said, adding that it can be educational for students to see how a composer’s work plays out in practice. The orchestra will perform Nathan’s piece in a concert that also features the » See NATHAN, page 3

WEATHER

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

NEWS U. community sees spike in bike theft, students encouraged to increase defensive measures

ARTS & CULTURE ‘Finding Metacom’ exhibit charts history of famed Native American leader through art

COMMENTARY Krishnamurthy ’19: Liberal community must remain hopeful, drive local, state progress

COMMENTARY Cohn ’17: In response to divisive election, Democrats must exhibit positive attributes of party

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Bicycle thefts surge, prompt DPS safety measures » WORKSHOP, U. community encouraged to use U-locks, register bicycles with DPS in effort to deter thefts By MALCOLM NASH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Bicycle thefts on campus have spiked in the past two months. The Department of Public Safety reports that 38 bicycles have been stolen this year alone compared to 25 in all of 2015 and 31 in 2014, said Deputy Chief of Police Paul Shanley. Twenty-five of these thefts occurred after Sept. 9, worrying both DPS and members of the Brown biking community, he said. DPS has recently made one arrest for an attempted theft, but officers “feel that it’s more than one group responsible for these thefts,” Shanley said. Stories like that of Karla Monge ’20 are becoming more common on campus. Monge reported leaving her bicycle “right in front of my dorm locked on the bike rack with a cable lock,” she said.

Later, when she came back for her bike, she saw that both the bike and the lock were missing. Monge is not deterred from bringing her new bicycle to campus. “I’m going to keep riding my bike and leaving it everywhere, but now I have a better lock,” she said. Though bicycles have gone missing from all over campus, the most common location for them to disappear is the Main Green, followed by the parking lots near Pembroke, Shanley said. Typically, owners find their bikes missing between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., he added. Thin cable locks and poorly secured locks make some bicycles easier targets than others. “Most of the bikes that were stolen were locked incorrectly or locked with really thin cable locks that could be cut with handheld bolt-cutters,” said Harry August ’19. August is a mechanic at Bikes@Brown, a student group that rents out and repairs bikes on campus, as well as a sustainable transportation intern at the University’s Office of Energy and Environment. “I do not worry about bike theft,”

LILLY NGUYEN / HERALD

Incidents of bicycle theft on campus have increased recently, with 38 cases being reported in 2016. August said. “A good U-lock costs between $20 and $70, and if you have a decent U-lock through the frame of your bicycle, it will be very difficult to steal.” DPS has initiated a joint effort with members of the Brown biking community to reduce the likelihood of theft on campus. Several students met with officers and a detective to determine the

best ways to prevent bike theft. DPS has increased patrols of bike racks, prioritized educating bikers about securing their bicycles properly and encouraged students to register their bicycles with DPS, Shanley said. The department is in the process of buying U-locks to be distributed among students in the future, he added.

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College of Music. “Entrepreneurship has always been alive and well in the art community before the Nelson Center. All of these entities were a precursor to the series,” Rovan added. “There has been a long, slow process for developing this. Now we have reached the next level and are much more focused on supporting this relationship.” The lecture series fits well with the Center for Entrepreneurship’s purpose on campus, Malone said. “The center wants to collaborate with departments in which entrepreneurship isn’t commonly practiced or doesn’t readily come to mind. This is why we wanted to show how to apply entrepreneurial skill sets to the arts.” Hopeful for continued cooperation between the two organizations, Rovan predicts future lecture series. “Today represents that there are future possibilities for collaborations,” Rovan said. “We are bringing this collaboration to the forefront. These organizations are closely intertwined, and their collaboration is the most natural progression.”

» ELECTION, from page 1 support what he wants to do,” Schiller said. She added that an early willingness to invest in infrastructure spending may isolate Trump from the Freedom Caucus of the Republican Party. “He’s going to want to do things, and he’s not going to want to wait for Congress to appropriate money,” Schiller said, adding, “By the time you get to February or March, things might go off the rails.” Schiller also offered what she admitted to be an unpopular opinion: An “unpredictable president with respect to the use of force is not necessarily a horrible thing.” Drawing parallels to President Ronald Reagan, Schiller said that if leaders around the world believe that “he might just be crazy enough to do something,” then, “that may not always be a terrible thing.” Unfortunately for Democrats, Trump’s election will undoubtedly result in efforts to repeal legislation and other policies pushed by the Obama administration, Blyth said. “Obamacare and Dodd-Frank are gone,” he added. Blyth also predicted that tax cuts enacted by the Trump administration would primarily be focused on the “overwhelmingly well-off.” Concerning foreign policy, Blyth appeared more than willing to give someone else a shot at proposing solutions to the various disputes and conflicts currently embroiling the country. “The neoliberal yet interventionist Democrats have been an absolute disaster,” Blyth said, pointing to apparent policy failures in the use of drone strikes in Iraq and continued antagonization of some foreign actors. “They’ve been incredibly hostile to Russia,” he added. In closing her address, Schiller pivoted to the many Brown students in the audience, generally understood to take more liberal positions than the average election participant. “If it’s your first major campaign, and you were on the Clinton side, it can be rather devastating to suffer this loss,” Schiller said. “But you have to stay engaged,” Schiller said. “Don’t give up on the political venue because the idea is not to crawl away and say, ‘Woe is us,’” she added. “You pick yourself up, get back out there and keep fighting for what you believe in.”

ARTS & CULTURE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016 • PAGE 3

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Smick, Slick co-host talk on ‘Finding Metacom’ Artists discuss collaborative exhibition, delve into life, legacy of Wampanoag leader By ETHEL RENIA STAFF WRITER

The visual arts department hosted a talk Wednesday by Adjunct Instructor in Art Martin Smick and Rhode Island School of Design Professor Duane Slick. The two presented their latest collaborative exhibition, “Finding Metacom,” which was featured in the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, Mass. Metacom — also known by his English alias King Philip — was a Wampanoag chief in the 17th century. He succeeded his father Massasoit, who helped the pilgrims survive their first year in Plymouth Colony. Metacom initially lived in harmony with the English

» STEREOTYPES, from page 1 the implications of the stereotype, he added. Steele addressed multiple studies that prove that stereotype threat is one primary reason for underperformance of minority groups in academic settings. Steele proposed multiple solutions to the lower achievement caused by stereotype threat. Communities can help individual students cope with the stressor by reminding students that everyone faces challenges solving difficult problems, irrespective of stereotypes, he said. Additionally, saturating the environment with cues that show interest in diversity and highlighting role models with minority identities who have achieved success can make scenarios less threatening. In order to avoid conflict and accusations of racism, non-minority students generally disengage from conversations about identity, he added. Approaching those conversations as a learning opportunity and asking questions rather than stating opinions can decrease tension and encourage students to engage. “I hope to give people the language … to talk about things that are otherwise difficult to talk about. I want to help a community come together,” Steele said. “I admire the commitment of Brown to have (diversity) be a chief value of the community,” Steele said. Steele was chosen to speak due to demonstrated interest in stereotype threat during the development of Departmental Diversity and Inclusion Action Plans, said Liza Cariaga-Lo, vice president for academic development, diversity and inclusion. “As an academic administrative leader, (Steele) could speak to the work that we’ve been doing related to diversity and inclusion at Brown,” she said.

» NATHAN, from page 1 work of German composer Johannes Brahms. Nathan said the composer’s work bears similarities to his own, with both pieces travelling “through a bunch of interconnected emotional worlds.” “His music spans the continuum between joy and tragedy … (creating) a very complex and nuanced world of emotion,” he said. “You can feel ecstasy but also a little sad at the same time.” On a formal level, Brahms’ symphonies and Nathan’s work also both rely on economic usages of “simple building blocks,” Nathan said.

settlers but eventually took arms against the increasingly aggressive English authorities. “Metacom managed to unite the Wampanoags and (neighboring) native tribes,” Smick said. In 1676, Metacom was killed in an ambush in Mount Hope. His body was quartered and hung from four different trees. His head was severed and displayed in Plymouth for 25 years. Metacom’s legacy in American culture is ambiguous. His memory was appropriated by American revolutionaries in the 18th century as an American symbol of resistance against the British. But Metacom’s goal in his war against the English was to dispel white people from North America, the presenters said. “Finding Metacom” is the study of Metacom’s legacy and the mark he left on Native American history and mainstream American culture. The exhibition is the synthesis of the artists’ search for

Metacom’s path in history. It is the interpretation of what they saw along the way and an homage to Metacom’s legacy as a historical figure. Smick and Slick wanted to “connect the story of Metacom to the present,” rather than just let it be admired as a legend relegated to the past, Smick said. The exhibition is composed of several different types of work including paintings, pictures and books. The exhibit centers on Metacom’s war club — the only artifact in the exhibit belonging to Metacom himself — said Leigh Tarentino, associate professor of visual art. The war club is a wooden artifact that dates back to the 17th century. It is shaped like a peace pipe, but its legacy as a weapon is anything but peaceful. The exhibit’s art makes many references to the war club and Metacom’s life. There is a still video of the place where Metacom’s seat used to stand and where he used to hold his council, which now

“Faculty (members) and advisors … can use the knowledge of stereotype threat to create a learning environment that addresses it,” said Dean of the College Maud Mandel. Conversations on Steele’s work can help faculty members

introduce more inclusive methods in education, she added. “The more you know, the more you’re able to address issues when they arise,” Mandel said. “Our goal is to bring the thought leaders and provide the sort of larger

LILY NGUYEN / HERALD

Adjunct Instructor in Art Martin Smick and Rhode Island School of Design Professor Duane Slick presented “Finding Metacom.” stands on property owned by Brown, Smick said. The video also includes a clip of a sunrise on Mount Hope Aug. 13 — 340 years after Metacom’s death. Many of the paintings bear quotes such as “This is not a peace pipe,” “His war is in the water / It is in the light” and “Metacom was here / You are here.” The

paintings’ backgrounds include a variety of colors and shapes that are meant to give the viewer a sense of endurance — a sense that Metacom’s story lives on today. “We didn’t want to be overly explicit but rather let the work spark an interest in the story,” Smick said.

context in how this research should be informing the work that we do on the ground in terms of professional development,” Cariaga-Lo said. She hopes that faculty members can incorporate the solutions Steele discussed into their

curricular development. “I found the lecture very positive and forward looking,” said Hannah Duron ’17. “I found it very interesting that when you tell people about stereotype threat, they do better.”

Come Shining In Tribute to

C.D. Wright 9-10 November 2016

Wednesday, 9 November at 8 pm Studio One, Granoff Center for the Arts 154 Angell Street, Providence

Presentations by William Johnston, Christina Paxson, Joan Retallack and Steve Stern

Thursday, 10 November at 2 pm Studio One, Granoff Center for the Arts 154 Angell Street, Providence

Presentations by Laynie Browne, Peter Gizzi, Camille Guthrie, Catherine Imbriglio and Amish Trivedi

Thursday, 10 November at 8 pm Studio One, Granoff Center for the Arts 154 Angell Street, Providence

Presentations by Eiko and Richard Leo Johnson Exhibitions of work by Bill Johnston and Denny Moers will be on display in the Granoff Center during Come Shining.

Please join us in celebrating the life and work of C.D. Wright, acclaimed poet and I.J. Kapstein Professor of Literary Arts, who died suddenly in January 2016. C.D. Wright’s was a singular voice; her expansive and ever-surprising poetry consistently struck an authentic chord, focusing attention on the sensuality of language and a wide range of stylistic innovations; indeed, she worked with such diverse interests and approaches that with each new project, she pushed beyond any and all poetic categories and expectation. Her acclaimed books include Rising, Falling, Hovering, Like Something Flying Backwards: New and Selected Poems, and a text edition of One Big Self: An Investigation, focused on Louisiana inmates. She mentored generations of poets and students of literature at Brown University, where she taught from 1983 until her death this past winter.

Sponsored by Literary Arts and the Creative Arts Council, Come Shining was made possible by support from the Office of the President.

ARTS & CULTURE PAGE 4 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

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COLLABORATIVE. CONNECTED. IVY. The law touches virtually every part of our lives,

and Penn Law’s cross-disciplinary curriculum prepares students to be leaders in whatever field they choose.

Students are invested in each other’s success and become

an invaluable lifelong professional network. With a degree from Penn Law, you’ll embark on the career of a lifetime.

Meet Penn Law Admissions staff when we’re in Boston:

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 | Boston Marriott Copley Place | 1:00-6:00 p.m. Visit or contact us at: http://bit.ly/pennlaw-brown | pennlaw-brown@law.upenn.edu

The Brown Budget: Get Informed! Get Involved! The University Resources Committee (URC) needs your input. Plan to attend the open forum to learn about the process and share your ideas and insights.

Thursday, November 17 at 4pm Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center Petteruti Lounge, 2nd Floor Provost Richard M. Locke will discuss the process for developing the University’s budget, sharing primary sources of revenue and spending, and outlining key decisions that need to be made to advance the University mission. Community input is essential to the process. For more information about the URC see the following link: http://www.brown.edu/about/administration/provost/universityresources-committee-urc

TODAY

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016 • PAGE 5

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menu

somber beginnings

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Pizza: Na’cho Pizza, Spicy Five Cheese and Garlic, BBQ Bam Bam Make-Your-Own Pasta Station JOSIAH’S

BLUE ROOM

Quesadillas

Turkey Chili, Fire Roasted Veggie Chicken Kadhai

DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH

DINNER

Cuban Sandwich, Chicken Broccoli Pasta Alfredo, Chocolate and Pretzel Chunk Cookies

Roast Beef Au Jus, Cavatini, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Tofu Pumpkin Cheesecake

VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH

DINNER

Chicken Mulligatawny Soup, BBQ Beef Sandwich, BBQ Navy Beans, Rice Krispie Treats

Bulgar Pilaf, Antipasto Bar, Macaroni Shells, Tofu Parmesan, Yogurt Bread, Apple Pie

sudoku SAM BERUBE / HERALD

Even the unseasonably warm weather and comforting embraces of fellow students and faculty members could not brighten the ghostly, cold atmosphere on campus Wednesday, as students processed the election results.

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

“It’s not because I’ve made a pact with Satan to see the future. It’s pretty obvious when you think about things in

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a more global way. RELEASE DATE– Tuesday, February 7, 2012

— Mark Blyth, professor of political economy

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle c rNorris o s sandwJoyce o rNichols d Lewis Edited by Rich

ACROSS 1 Hook or Cook: Abbr. 5 For the calorieconscious 9 Purse handle 14 Fairy tale baddie 15 Ugandan baddie 16 Remove pencil marks 17 Completely destroy 18 Rikki-Tikki-__: Kipling critter 19 __ Carlo: Grand Prix setting 20 *Reason consumers purchase certain brands 23 Ankle artwork, briefly 24 Fathers and grandfathers 25 Bks.-to-be 28 *Bumbling beginner 35 Historic WWII bomber 37 Threat punctuator 38 Timber wolf 39 Mil. detainee who may reveal only the starts of the answers to starred clues 41 Paper purchase 42 Poll findings 45 Island state of Australia 48 *Hookups for computer peripherals 50 Dadaist Jean 51 Wish undone 52 Opposite of ’neath 54 *Financial analysts 63 Inventor Howe 64 Winslet of “Titanic” 65 “The rest __ to you” 66 Insurance giant 67 “Did You __ See a Dream Walking?” 68 Int’l alliance 69 “Our Gang” dog 70 Ph.D. hurdle 71 Remove from power

DOWN 1 Ear on your plate 2 Isla surrounder 3 Stiffly neat 4 Religious belief 5 Infielder’s untimely move 6 1998 Apple debut 7 DVR pioneer 8 Tough nut to crack 9 Advanced study group 10 Relaxed pace 11 Hindu princess 12 Regarding 13 Rounded end of a hammer 21 Uncommon, aviswise 22 Much sought-after clownfish of film 25 Gets all gooey 26 Nocturnal noise 27 Clearheaded 29 Brit : lie-down :: Yank : __ 30 Former Japanese capital 31 Trillion: Pref. 32 Kagan of the Supreme Court 33 TWA competitor 34 Plot a new route

36 Actress Anderson 40 Serious conflict 43 Assume as probable 44 Disparaging remark 46 Habitual pot smokers 47 Fraction of a min. 49 Ate like a bird 53 Thick-skinned beast 54 Kind of tide

See election on page 1.

55 Fonda’s beekeeper 56 Oven user’s accessory 57 Thorn in one’s side 58 Shankar with a sitar 59 Western natives 60 Biblical twin 61 Grooves in the road 62 Carpet cleaner’s concern

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

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BURP Neck/Back Massages 1:00 PM Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Memorial Lounge Fire Fair 4:00 PM Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Multipurpose Room

Five Things I Learned as an Entrepreneur 1:00 PM Hillel, Meeting Room Thursday Night Supper: Interfaith Discussion Group 5:30 PM Chaplain’s Home

TOMORROW Veteran’s Day Ceremony 11:30 AM Brown Faculty Club

Challah Sale 12:00 PM Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Lower Blue Room

Post-Election Art Therapy 4:00 PM List Art Building, Room 225

Detroit, Inequality, and New Forms of Displacement 5:30 PM Nightingale-Brown House

COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

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COMMENTARY THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016 • PAGE 7

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

A republic of hope ANUJ KRISHNAMURTHY staff columnist

At moments like these — on a campus simmering with the heartache of young liberals and those who simply yearned for decency in their president — it’s hard to feel proud as an American. President-Elect Donald Trump, a man whose displays of toxic bravado, wealth and cavalier racism catapulted him to prominence, is now to become the chief executive of the United States. That is a tough pill to swallow. In the coming days, pundits and politicians will scramble to explain how a reality TV star with a penchant for dubious accounting felled a seasoned Washington, D.C., veteran. Commentators on the right have already begun to predict a renaissance of American glory and rejoice in the promise of an America only for Americans — or at least, for white, straight American men. The left, in contrast, will mourn the dissolution of a longstanding dream: the election of America’s first woman president. Either way, the nation is polarized, its people traumatized by a cantankerous contest and an unpalatable outcome. Right now, though, I am less scared of a Trump presidency than

the prospect of a broad cross-section of American society driven to political disillusionment, no longer amenable to future civic participation, susceptible to a rhetoric of fatalistic hyperbole. Trump’s victory might feel like an unwarranted sucker punch, but history routinely challenges our republic with critical tests — make-or-break moments that compel us to find within ourselves resolve and compassion in times of anxiety and darkness. This

seems imminent, we must also remember that presidents are not omnipotent masters of the universe. Defeated Democrats and heartbroken liberals will still exercise significant control over the American destiny. While Americans have been subjected to a disorienting array of progressive sales pitches in the last yearand-a-half, there has been a quiet revolution going on in Brown’s own backyard ­ — a revolution that has gone beyond electoral rhetoric and

presided over an ambitious program of development that is worthy of national notice. The state is now home to America’s first offshore wind farm near Block Island. Thanks to its commitment to Obamacare reforms, Rhode Island has expanded access to affordable healthcare, kept premiums low and reduced the uninsured rate to 5 percent. In the past two weeks, Rhode Island officials have unleashed a reinvigorated assault on the glass ceiling, appointing

We must remember that presidents are not omnipotent masters of the universe. … The progressive agenda can be transformed into a progressive reality at local and state levels.

election was one such test. No matter how agonizing the defeat of our beloved candidate is, we must remember that our democracy is not dead; that the country as we know it has not yet collapsed; that our vote and our advocacy will still count in the years to come; and that life will go on, and it will continue to go on, no matter who occupies the Oval Office. The republic, after all, comes undone only when we believe it does. In times like these, when oblivion

effected real change. Rhode Island has proven itself a leader in the progressive movement — and the state is proving every day that, whatever happens in the grandiose chambers of Washington, D.C., the progressive agenda can be transformed into a progressive reality at local and state levels. In a deft amalgam of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’, I-VT, ideological ambition and Clinton’s patient pragmatism, Rhode Island’s leaders have

the state’s first female state police superintendent and a female state poet. But Rhode Island’s greatest contribution to the American political scene has nothing to do with its numerous political victories. Instead, Rhode Islanders have made a mark on an entirely different plane. They have reminded us that, in this most un-American time, we can still find solace in the most American of endeavors: hope. In a brilliant defiance of all-too-pervasive trends, Rhode

Island has shown that change can happen in spite of federal dysfunction; that community can mitigate national disunity; and that local progress can prove far more meaningful — for our democracy, and for the American spirit — than the televised rituals of Capitol Hill. Indeed, while a Republican may reside in the White House three months from now, liberals and opponents of Trump are still capable of building a more united, more prosperous America. Granted, it will be tougher, and aspirations of federal-level transformation might need to be put on the backburner. But citizenship does not end at the ballot box, and our obligations to our country — to vote, to stay informed, to treat our fellow human beings with respect and kindness — will persist long after election day. Thus, the challenge for Americans now is not how vociferously we can contest the results, or how snidely we can denounce our adversaries, but how calmly and inclusively we can chart a vision for the future — one that will both withstand the whims of President-Elect Trump and support him in his efforts to ensure our people’s greatness.

Anuj Krishnamurthy ’19 can be reached at anuj_krishnamurthy@brown. edu.

The 2016 election: a springboard for passion BRIAN COHN

op-ed contributor Last night, the impossible happened — now President-Elect Donald Trump won the presidency. Despite the myriad of pollsters and news sources giving former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at least a 2-to-1 chance to win, the American voters have spoken to the contrary. These voters, instead of choosing a candidate who championed equality, opportunity, diversity and experience, chose one who represents division, anger, selfishness and ignorance. The morning after came wrought with questions on the stability of the country, on what it now means to be American and how to move on from this. How could this happen? How could the media have been so wrong? Is politics broken? Is America going to be okay? Is there a place for me in this country? These emotional questions fill public discourse and will continue to do so throughout the next days and weeks and ultimately through the inauguration in January and beyond. In a moment like this, we should place our faith in our American institutions. A peaceful transition of power constitutes a hallmark of this country, and the very underpinnings of the country remain intact and strong. Indeed, the fact that the country will accept this drastic change speaks to the strength of its foundation. President Barack Obama has already extended a customary invitation to Trump to visit the White House, a tradition among sitting presidents. We have a responsibility to respect these hallowed institutions and tra-

ditions, and together we can get through this tumultuous and fascinating time in America’s history. As Obama emphasized Wednesday, we are all rooting for Trump’s success because we are all on the same team. Still, while the Office of the Presidency deserves our respect, the values that put Trump in that office deserve more attention and scrutiny than merely our disappointed shock. Trump no longer represents just himself or his brand, but he now stands — with substantial mandate — at the head of a national sen-

seemingly obstructed their agenda at every turn, condemning these Republicans for failing to compromise and contributing to a partisan freeze. One of the prevailing lessons from this election is “When they go low, we go high.” Now Democrats face the monumental task of putting their money where their mouths are. Democrats have the opportunity to showcase to the world what they truly believe in while also championing the ideas of compromise and unity. A large takeaway of Trump’s electoral win is that the country

If anything, this election should embolden Democratic and human efforts, and hopefully renewed fervor will translate to meaningful change for future generations.

timent worth fighting against. As the country continues to traverse its tortuous path, we still have the opportunity to shape the future. Acquiescing to this change in power should not and cannot equate to submitting to Trump’s ideology of anger, hatred and bigotry. If anything, this election should embolden Democratic and human efforts, and hopefully renewed fervor will translate to meaningful change for future generations. Under the Obama administration, Democrats have held disdain for Republicans who

is more divided and polarized than ever, but Democrats must do all they can to show their most favorable traits and disrupt a trend of spiteful tactics by the opposition party. I want to thank all the members of the Brown Democrats and Brown Students for Hillary for their hard work and dedication throughout this election season. This year certainly was not a failure across the board. Here in Rhode Island, we helped to elect and re-elect progressive leaders like U.S. Rep. David Cicilline ’83, D-RI, Rep. Edith Ajello,

D-Providence, Sen. Gayle Goldin, D-Providence, Rep. Chris Blazejewski, D-Providence, Rep. Katherine Kazarian, D-Providence, Rep. Aaron Regunberg ’12, D-Providence, and Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, D-Charles, Wanskuck, Elmhurst. Through our determined efforts in New Hampshire, Gov. Maggie Hassan ’80 P’15 won her Senate bid, and the state stayed blue. But more importantly, everyone who worked on these campaigns and others gained valuable experience in how political campaigns are run and learned just how important these efforts are to making change in this country. Losing an election is something all people interested in politics must learn to do gracefully, and ultimately, this election will hopefully be an impetus for continued political involvement, activism and passion rather than a cause for abandonment. The truest of passions are forged and tempered in the heat of adversity and challenge, so I hope this election serves more as a springboard than an inhibitor. I applaud President Christina Paxson P’19 for providing space to host these discussions of healing and acceptance, and I encourage everyone to continue to find ways to digest the results of this election. Similarly, the Brown Democrats will serve as a safe space for all who wish to process these election results, and the club will redouble its efforts to promote political education and interest on campus.

Brian Cohn ’17, president of the Brown Democrats, is happy to be a resource for all and can be reached at brian_cohn@brown.edu.

NEWS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

Freedom of Speech in the University Robert C. Post Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law, Yale Law School

November 14, 2016 5:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. The Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs Joukowsky Forum, Room 155 111 Thayer Street Providence, Rhode Island

REAFFIRMING UNIVERSITY VALUES: Campus Dialogue and Discourse Co-Sponsored by the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost

To request special services, accommodations or assistance for this event, please contact the University Event and Conference Services Office at UniversityEvents@brown.edu.