Monday, November 21, 2016

SINCE 1891

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016

VOLUME CLI, ISSUE 111

WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM

Student sustains minor Protesters display U.S. flags, drive by campus injuries in attempted robbery Drivers bear ‘Don’t Five men reportedly attack victim at Thayer, Keene intersection, try to steal backpack

By KYLE BOROWSKI SENIOR STAFF WRITER

A student was accosted in an attempted robbery Friday, according to a community-wide email from the Department of Public Safety. The incident occurred near the intersection of Thayer and Keene Street at approximately 10 p.m.

“The student sustained minor injuries during the attempted robbery,” wrote Deputy Chief of Campus Police Paul Shanley in an email to The Herald. “He was treated and released at

the scene and transported home by the DPS officers who had responded,” he added.

Five male suspects wearing black hooded sweatshirts approached the student from behind, attempting to rob him of his backpack. The suspects, who were described as being between 15 and 18 years old, then fled on Thayer north toward Hope Street.

Due to the incident’s off-campus location, the Providence Police Department is leading the investigation, Shanley said. He added that he was not aware of any updates on the suspects.

DPS has increased patrols in response to the incident and recommends community members visit the department’s website for information about safety awareness.

Tread on Me’ flag, sound horns, sing anthem, leave students feeling daunted

By KYLE BOROWSKI SENIOR STAFF WRITER

In the wake of Wednesday’s #OurCampus walkout and last week’s flag destruction incident, another protest of sorts marked the end of a tense week. According to the Department of Public Safety, a group of 10 to 12 vehicles drove through campus starting at around 4:15 p.m. This was apparently “in reaction to the recent flag vandalism incidents,” Deputy Chief of Campus Police Paul Shanley wrote in an email to The Herald.

“They beeped their horns at some points,” Shanley said, adding that they “at one point stopped and played the national anthem.” The protestors did not attempt to

access the campus itself, he added.

“I was at Sears Hall, and when I looked out there were all of these white people in these white trucks,” Katherine Jiménez ’19 said, confirming that the group appeared to be exclusively white.

She added that some of the vehicles bore American and “Don’t Tread on Me” flags.

“They were being very loud and roaming the area,” she said.

“It felt incredibly intimidating,” Jiménez said, adding that “it felt very white nationalist and alt-right.”

“I called DPS, and they told me that they knew it was going to happen,” Jiménez said, adding that she was told that “DPS along with the Providence Police would be overseeing the so-called protest.” She added that she was told the protest would end by 5:30 p.m. and that DPS had not received any complaints about the motorcade.

“We did have advance notice of the possibility (of a protest),” Shanley said, adding that “DPS and Campus Life were

Choreographers take center stage at Fall Dance Concert

FOOTBALL

Event brings campus dance groups together, invites audience members to assess choreography

By BELLA ROBERTS STAFF WRITER

ELI WHITE / HERALD

Columbia’s offense racked up 419 yards, including nearly 200 yards rushing, en route to a 31-13 win over Brown Saturday at Brown Stadium. The loss was the first against the Lions since a 35-28 defeat in 2011.

Columbia defense stifles Bruno on senior day Bears fall 31-13 at hands of Lions for sixth loss of season, marking first losing record since 2006

By BEN SHUMATE SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The football team dropped its final game of the 2016 season Saturday at

INSIDE

present as a precautionary measure.” The protest did not appear to be associated with any specific organization, he added.

Reports on the exact number of vehicles involved in the protest varied from the 10 to 12 originally estimated by DPS. A source who spoke on the condition of anonymity estimated that there were 10 to 20 trucks organized in a line at one point. Jiménez said she witnessed five to seven vehicles on Charlesfield Street, but there were already more on Waterman Street at that point.

In a post on the public Facebook group “Resist Hate RI,” Elisabeth Hubbard wrote that she saw at least 20 vehicles circling the College Hill neighborhood “complete with a Dixie horn.”

“They noisily circled several times and then sped off like cowards,” Hubbard wrote. “I just witnessed a horrible act of intimidation.”

“It’s come here, guys,” Hubbard wrote to the group. “We need to be vigilant.”

Brown Stadium, struggling on both sides of the ball in a 31-13 defeat at the hands of Columbia.

For Brown (4-6, 3-4 Ivy), the loss ensured its first losing season since 2006 and was its first defeat against the Lions (3-7, 2-5) since a doubleovertime loss in 2011.

The Bears couldn’t crack the Lions’ top-ranked pass defense, as TJ Linta ’18 and Nicholas Duncan ’19

combined for just 126 passing yards.

Duncan took over in the second half after Linta was sidelined by injury.

“We didn’t handle their blitz very well,” said Head Coach Phil Estes P’18.

Linta “got banged up pretty good.

We didn’t protect him very well,” he added.

Duncan led the Bears on a sevenplay, 61-yard scoring drive late in the » See FOOTBALL, page 2

The annual Fall Dance Concert, which took place between Nov. 17 and Nov. 20 in the Ashamu Dance Studio, brought a range of campus dance groups together for multiple days of student-choreographed performances.

The concert was co-produced by artistin-residence and Senior Lecturer in Theatre Arts and Performance Studies Julie Adams Strandberg, Senior Lecturer in TAPS Michelle Bach-Coulibaly and Lecturer in TAPS Sydney Skybetter.

The event’s organizers aimed to spotlight its choreographers, handing audience members response forms on which they could evaluate the choreography of each performance. “I think this is the first year that we really stressed (the choreography), and the performance quality showed that there was that outside eye,” Strandberg said.

Choosing which choreographers get featured in the show was a selective process. First, there was a meeting of interested choreographers, then a preview of the dances, after which feedback was sent to the dancers. Two and a half weeks later, there was a final preview to choose which pieces would be part of the concert. “About a third of the pieces don’t get chosen,” Strandberg said.

Choreographed by Stanley Munoz ’17, “Fade”opened the show, reflecting on how individuals maintain social order and comfort in their interactions. “In ‘Fade,’ I struggle to break from subconscious group behavior and decision-making, a natural social phenomenon causing our character to fade with the groups we surround ourselves with,” Munoz wrote in the playbill.

In “Lmn/opqr/s,” choreographed

by Sarah Hsu ’17 and created and performed by Leslie McCauley ’18, Monica Caparas ’17 and Nomvula Mbambo ’17.5, the audience members were invited to join the dancers to take part in “the process of healing.” The dance was originally inspired by the works of sociologists W.E.B. Du Bois and Erving Goffman and is “grounded in their thoughts on identity itself,” Hsu said.

The show closed with “Pure Imagination,” choreographed by Megan Gessner ’20, which focused on the theme of individuality. “My piece was about breaking away from going day to day and not being present and being authentic about who we are,” Gessner said. Gessner became inspired for her piece through a combination of life experience and the song, “Pure Imagination.”

“I have always tried to embrace being myself and being different from other people,” Gessner said. “But recently I’ve felt … inauthentic in the way I present myself. My dance comes from this experience.”

Gessner, who has been dancing » See DANCE, page 3

WEATHER

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016

NEWS U. researchers develop wireless device that allows paralyzed monkeys to walk

SPORTS Women’s basketball falls to Bryant, Colgate after 80-66 triumph over Sacred Heart

COMMENTARY Okin ’19: We should immerse ourselves in discomforting literature to gain empathy

COMMENTARY Kumar ’17: In political discussion, we should choose effective tactics, consider humanity of opponents

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SPORTS

PAGE 2 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

ELI WHITE / HERALD

Troy Doles ’16.5 takes a hit from a Columbia defender Saturday at Brown Stadium. Doles finished with five catches on the day and was one of 23 seniors honored in a pre-game ceremony.

» FOOTBALL, from page 1 third quarter, often scrambling outside of the pocket to extend plays.

Duncan “made some plays,” Estes said. “We knew that’s what he does­.

He can run.”

Livingstone Harriott ’20 punctuated the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run up the middle to cut Columbia’s advantage to 21-13.

But the scoring ended there for Bruno, and a field goal by Oren Milstein restored Columbia’s two-score

lead with six minutes to play. After a missed field goal by Ben Rosenblatt ’17.5, Alan Watson broke a 69-yard touchdown run with 2:23 left to put the contest well out of Brown’s reach.

The Bears’ only lead of the game came in the first quarter when Rosenblatt converted a 42-yard field goal.

Brown’s offense had the ball inside the 5-yard line after Ike Marchie ’19 blocked a punt on Columbia’s opening possession. But the offense went backward, squandering the opportunity for a touchdown and eventually settling

for three points.

Anders Hill had a productive day for Columbia, finishing 13-for-20 for 222 yards passing and a pair of secondquarter touchdown throws to Josh Wainwright. Wainwright finished with 150 yards receiving on five catches.

Bruno trailed 21-6 after two quarters in which the offense totaled just 105 yards. Troy Doles ’16.5 and Alex Jette ’17 led Brown with five catches each in their final game in a Brown uniform.

Jette and Doles were among 23

seniors honored in a pre-game ceremony.

Defensively, Richard Jarvis ’17 and Will Twyman ’16.5 also impressed in their final games. Jarvis, who finished first in the Ivy League in tackles for loss, made eight total tackles and 2.5 in the backfield. Twyman finished with a sack, six total tackles and an interception.

The seniors “were just so resilient, letting things just bounce right off them,” Estes said. “I admire them for the sacrifice and commitment they

made and for giving us that warriortype mentality that gives us a chance to win each game.”

Despite a loss on the season’s final day, Brown finished fourth in the conference with an identical 3-4 mark from the 2015 season.

“We’ve overcome an awful lot,” Estes said. “We ended up getting the opportunity to play a lot of young kids.

You look at the talent once you get them into the system. If we get some consistency, we can be a really good football team.”

NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016 • PAGE 3

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Device allows paralyzed monkeys to walk Sports Roundup Wireless interface first of its kind to use neural feedback to move paralyzed limbs

By RHAIME KIM STAFF WRITER

A team of international scientists, including two Brown professors, has successfully developed a brain-spinal interface that helps monkeys with severed spinal cords walk again.

The device, described Nov. 9 in the journal Nature, is the first of its kind to allow paralyzed primates to regain control of their limbs using neural feedback.

When there is an injury in the spinal cord, the brain’s commands cannot move past it, leading to paralysis in the affected areas, said David Borton, assistant professor of engineering and co-author of the study. The two-part device works by collecting movement commands from within the brain and sending them to a computer that decodes the signals. The computer then sends the decoded movements to a stimulator located past the spinal cord injury, and it enables the monkey to move its paralyzed leg as intended.

The interface consists of a wireless neurotransmitter as well as the implanted spinal cord stimulator, which activates movement in real time.

In the study, each monkey was

paralyzed in one leg and walked using its remaining three legs. But as the brain-spinal interface took effect, the monkeys began to use all four legs in a semi-normal gait.

While Borton was excited about the results, he said he “look(s) forward to one day delivering a fully implanted solution that would allow true mobility of (a human) patient to use the locomotor support system in their daily life.”

The challenge in using the device in paralyzed humans is that the translation from brain signal to limb movements is difficult to generalize across individuals, Borton said. This is because the trillions of connections in the brain develop differently according to life experience; they are unique to the individual and can also change over time. “We’re not even close to find(ing) generalizations across people. It’s a very big challenge. It might not even be tenable in people,” Borton added.

Additionally, each of the components of the brain-spinal interface must be proven to be safe in humans before testing is possible, Borton wrote in a follow-up email to The Herald.

While this is a new feat, it is “not good enough yet for independent walking,” wrote John Donoghue, professor of neuroscience, in an email to The Herald. Donoghue was not a coauthor of the study, though he helped develop the brain sensor used in the

study along with Richard Normann, emeritus distinguished professor of bioengineering and emeritus professor of ophthalmology and visual science at the University of Utah.

The study builds on the work by the BrainGate collaboration, a team that includes researchers from Brown, Case Western Reserve University and Massachusetts General Hospital, according to the press release. BrainGate focuses on developing technologies to restore the functions of people with neurologic disease, injury or limb loss.

In its research, BrainGate uses the brain-computer interface that was initially developed at Brown. In a 2012 study, this brain-computer interface allowed people with severe paralysis to control a robotic arm using their brain activity. The study was led by Donoghue and Leigh Hochberg, professor of engineering at Brown and neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“This (work) has relevance not only toward the restoration of gait for people with paraplegia, but (also) more broadly in the development of closed-loop neural interfaces that could help people with other neurologic, cognitive or affective disorders,” Hochberg wrote in an email to The Herald.

Braingate is led by Hochberg, Donoghue, Borton and Arto Nurmikko, professor of engineering and professor of physics.

BY ALEXANDRA RUSSELL, STAFF WRITER

Men’s Water Polo

The No. 10 men’s water polo team looked to cap its successful season with a conference title at the NWPC Championships over the weekend, entering as the top-seeded team. Unfortunately Bruno (22-8, 8-2 NWPC) could not grab the conference crown, defeating St. Francis Saturday in the semifinals but falling to Harvard Sunday in the title game by tallies of 9-4 and 11-7, respectively.

Saturday’s contest saw seven Bears make the scoresheet. Jake Wyatt ’17 and Rico Burke ’18 posted two goals apiece, while Luke Irwin ’17, Yahel Murvitz-Lahav ’17, Tommy Bush ’18, Tyler Kirchberg ’18 and Jack Wilson ’20 each recorded one. Goalkeeper Luke Weiser ’17 saved 10 shots in the matchup.

In the next day’s contest, Bruno was unable to recover from an early 3-0 deficit and fell to the third-seeded No. 11 Crimson (25-6, 7-3). With the loss, Bruno failed to earn automatic entry into the NCAA championship.

Despite a hat-trick from Kirchberg, the Bears were unable to ward off the Crimson’s dominant offense. Murvitz-Lahav, Wyatt, Burke and Austin Hwang ’18 each netted goals in the matchup. Weiser made eight stops, saving a 5-meter penalty shot in the third quarter.

Sunday’s contest marked the seventh time that the Bears emerged as runners-up in the Northeast Water Polo Conference title game, previously earning second place in 1978, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1990.

Men’s Basketball

Following a mid-week loss to the University of Rhode Island, the men’s basketball team fell to Marist in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament by a tally of 87-79.

Steven Spieth ’17 again led scoring action for the Bears (1-3), posting 21 points and sinking eight of his 11 shots during the contest.

Guard JR Hobbie ’17 also contributed to the squad’s offense with 12 points, followed closely by Obi Okolie ’19, who recorded 11.

Bruno trailed behind the Red Foxes (1-3) 40-37 at the half. Brian Parker furthered the lead for the Red Foxes 51-41 with a trey seven minutes into the second. Marist later widened the difference to 70-54 with a layup scored 5:24 before the end of the contest.

Marist’s Khallid Hart recorded a game-high 27 points, followed

by Brian Parker, who matched Spieth’s total of 21 for the Red Foxes.

The Red Foxes shot about 55 percent from the floor, while Bruno managed 54 percent in the matchup.

The Bears faced off against Albany Sunday night. The Bears will host Morgan State Wednesday in the Pizzitola Memorial Sports Center.

Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Men’s Ice Hockey

The men’s ice hockey team could not sustain its momentum from its first win of the season last weekend and suffered a pair of losses to Clarkson Saturday and St. Lawrence Sunday. The Bears (1-7-0, 1-5-0 ECAC) fell by tallies of 3-2 and 7-2, respectively.

Friday night saw an even contest against the Golden Knights (75-2, 4-1-1). Charlie Corcoran ’18 and Tim Lappin ’18 posted scores for the Bears, each leveling the tally in the second and third periods, respectively. Despite these comeback attempts, Bruno was unable to gain an edge over the Knights. The host team responded to Lappin’s goal with a quick shot past netminder Tim Ernst ’17 at 15:47 in the third to claim a narrow victory.

The following day, the Bears were unable to ward off the St. Lawrence Saints’ (8-4-2, 5-0-1) offense, as Bruno was outshot 39 to 27.

Despite second-period goals from Tommy Marchin ’19 and Max Willman ’18, Bruno was unable to recover from a 3-0 first period disadvantage.

Bruno encountered some penalty trouble in the contest. In addition to posting five minor penalties, the Bears earned a five-minute major and a 10-minute misconduct at the end of the first period.

Netminders Ernst and Gavin Nieto ’20 each posted strong performances in the contests. Ernst made 21 saves Friday before giving the crease to Nieto Saturday, who stopped a career-record 32 shots against the Saints.

The Bears return to action Saturday with a visit to Maine.

» DANCE, from page 1

COURTESY OF BROWN UNIVERSITY

Two Brown professors created a device that is groundbreaking in its ability to restore mobility to paralyzed primates. It contributes to research on interfaces that aid people with neurologic, cognitive or affective disorders.

for 15 years and only started choreographing recently, debuted her first group choreography at the concert.

She said that as a choreographer she would regularly check in with her dancers for any feedback on her piece.

“Every time before they went on stage, I would talk to them and (say) something a little different,” Gessner said.

“Sometimes there was a word that I said that they held onto.”

Each dance told its own story, a phenomenon that the performance space helped to construct, Strandberg said.

“This concert had a more intimate setting,” Strandberg said. “There was a nice balance between a big group and smaller pieces where you can sense the narrative.”

SPORTS

PAGE 4 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

ELI WHITE / HERALD

Mary Butler ’19 looks to make a pass in an 80-66 win over Sacred Heart Monday. Butler led all players with 11 rebounds and contributed seven points on 3-of-8 shooting on the day.

Bears dominate Pioneers, drop pair against Bryant, Colgate Bruno shoots 46 percent from field in win over Sacred Heart, Gaziano ’20 leads all scorers with 22 points

By EMILE BAUTISTA STAFF WRITER

The women’s basketball team started off its week with a commanding win over Sacred Heart before stalling and dropping consecutive contests against Bryant and Colgate.

In their first road contest of the season, the Bears (2-2) handily defeated Sacred Heart 80-66, largely due to the team’s excellent 48 percent shooting. Justine Gaziano ’20 led the way with 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc while Taylor Will ’19 added 14. Meanwhile, Erika Steeves ’19 nearly notched a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Bruno raced out to an enormous lead. A layup up from Mary Butler ’19 started a 15-0 run for the Bears to close out the first quarter. The host Pioneers (1-2) struggled to find the bottom of the bucket and ended the

game’s first frame shooting a dismal 3-for-19.

The run extended to 20 in the opening minutes of the second quarter before the Pioneers were able to finally stop the bleeding. Bruno’s lead ballooned to as much as 28 before deflating to 18 by halftime.

The second half yielded much of the same for both teams. In the third, Sacred Heart could not whittle the margin down to less than 18, nor could it stop Gaziano, who shot a perfect 3-for-3 from the field. The Pioneers would get as close as 12 several different times in the game’s final quarter, but Bruno responded each time with runs that eventually put the game out of reach by the final whistle.

Three days later, the team traveled to Bryant (3-0) in a battle of two undefeated teams. Unfortunately for the Bears, they were the ones to suffer their first loss of the season, falling 7067. Will led the team in scoring for the

second time in three games, tallying a career-high 25 points on 9-for-16 shooting. Guard Shayna Mehta ’19 chipped in 21 points, while Steeves added 10, but the efforts were not enough to overcome a late-game resurgence by the host Bulldogs.

In the first half, little separated the two teams. It was a tug-of-war battle of numerous lead changes and ties with the biggest margin being five points. The Bulldogs held a slim three-point advantage at halftime and a sizable 27-15 rebounding edge.

The Bears opened the third with an 8-0 run in less than three minutes.

Bryant responded with an 8-0 run of its own, restoring its lead. From there, the teams kept flip-flopping until Mehta scored five of the team’s last six points in the third, giving Bruno a 50-48 lead going into the final frame.

It was more of the same in the fourth quarter. Bryant retook the lead with less than eight minutes remaining and opened up a lead as big as seven. But the Bears battled back within one after a Steeves layup with

two minutes left. Yet that was as close as the team came, as the host saw out the game for a three-point victory.

Rebounding was a huge issue on the night for Bruno, as the Bulldogs amassed 47 rebounds to the Bears’ 24, leading to a 19-5 advantage in second-chance points for the host.

Bryant’s Naomi Ashley’s four offensive rebounds outnumbered those of the entire Bruno squad.

It was another three days before the squad lost its second consecutive game, this time at home against previously winless Colgate (1-3), 67-62. In an even game where both teams shot below 38 percent, it was the Raiders who had the last laugh. Steeves led the way with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds — plus five assists — while Will and Mehta netted 15 and 10 points, respectively. But the trio combined to shoot an inefficient 14-for-42 total.

The first quarter boded well for Bruno. After a Kathleen Ryan ’20 three-pointer and layups from Mehta and Lames ElGammal ’20 near the end

of the frame, the Bears had a 13-point lead. The quarter ended with the host up by 10 on 53 percent shooting while holding its opponent to a 25 percent field goal conversion rate.

Bruno lost some of its shooting rhythm in the second quarter, but the Raiders still could not find theirs, allowing the Bears to enter halftime up by 11.

Colgate came out firing in the second half with a 7-0 run. The visitors shot a blistering 69 percent, while Bruno could only muster three made field goals on 15 attempts. Its lead evaporated, and Colgate entered the last frame up by two.

The Bears attempted a comeback in the fourth and came within one point. But clutch free-throw shooting by the Raiders sealed the game in the last second. Though both teams shot abysmally in the fourth, it was Colgate that did just enough to come out on top by five when the final whistle blew.

The Bears now hope to bounce back against Manhattan at home this Tuesday at 4 p.m.

TODAY

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016 • PAGE 5

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

menu

new digs

SATELLITE DINING ANDREWS COMMONS

Pizza: Rhode to Italy, Caprese, Chicken Ranch Grinder Sandwiches JOSIAH’S

BLUE ROOM

Spicy Frisco Chicken Melt

Soup: Turkey Chili, Spinach and Feta, Chicken Noodle

DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH

DINNER

Popcorn Chicken, Gnocchi With Cabernet Marinara, Baked Acorn Squash, Roasted Couscous

Lemon Sesame Chicken, Tangy BBQ Pork Spareribs, Macaroni and Cheese, Caribbean Beans

VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH

DINNER

French Bread Pizza, Noodle Bowl Bar, Green Beans With Tomatoes, Curly Fries

Spicy Cuban Beef Stir Fry, Salt And Pepa Jerk Chicken, Egg Foo Young, Squash Rolls

sudoku

ELI WHITE / HERALD

Night falls on Brown’s newly renovated softball field Sunday night, as the fall sports season comes to an end.

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

crossword

“I admire them for the sacrifice and commitment they made and for giving us that warrior-type mentality.”

— Phil Estes P’18, Football Head Coach

See football on page 1.

CORRECTIONS An article in Friday’s Herald (“Princeton sociologist discusses stereotype threat,” Nov. 18) stated that President Christina Paxson P’19 asked whether grade withholding would lead some students to underperform academically. In fact, she asked whether masking grades would improve performance. The Herald regrets the error.

An article in Friday’s Herald (“School of Public Health aims to make real-world impact,” Nov. 18) stated that the School of Public Health has 11 research centers. In fact, the school has 12. The Herald regrets the error.

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Guests of Islam 12:00 P.M. Watson Institute, McKinney Conference Room

Election 2016: Behind the Scenes 2:30 P.M. List Art Building, 120

Physics Colloquium: Senthil Todadri 4:00 P.M. Barus and Holley, 166

Brown Lecture Board: Gina Rodriguez 7:00 P.M. Salomon, 101

TOMORROW Spanish Manila: Latin America in Asia 12:00 P.M. Watson Institute, Birkelund

BURP Neck/Back Massages 1:00 P.M. Faunce, 229

Goodbye emotional baggage!

6:00 P.M. Granoff Center

Telescope Observing Night 7:00 P.M. Ladd Observatory

COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

EDITORIAL

What we’re thankful for Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, Facilities Custodian Alice Chin, Office Manager Diane Da Silva, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students Mary Grace Almandrez, Jonathan Ellis ’06, Ben Leubsdorf ’08, Sudeep Reddy ’01, Shefali Luthra ’14, Michael Dubin ’16, abrupt visits from Mathias Heller ’15, Associate Professor of English Deak Nabers.

Our staff, General Manager Moniyka Sachar ’17, General Manager Joshua Tartell ’17, special flowers, baby children, diamond flower clouds, Post- Magazine Editor-in-Chief Yidi Wu ’17, Blog editor Anica Green ’17, each other.

When our tampon supply doesn’t run out, “Girls,” “30 Rock,” “Parks and Recreation,” “The Office,” our office, new chairs.

Sleep, electric toothbrushes, Trojan, baklava from East Side Pockets, Meeting Street cookies, the Creperie, Chipotle, Baja’s, Madeira Liquors, Fireball, Rumchata, Red Bull, coffee.

Spotify Premium, The Weeknd, Marina and the Diamonds, silence, words, em dashes, one-word responses, well-crafted emails, spreadsheets, heterotopias, The New Yorker, Martha Nussbaum, Michel Houellebecq, Zadie Smith.

The 127th Editorial Board, the 125th Editorial Board, the 124th Editorial Board, the 123rd Editorial Board, the first Editorial Board, print media.

Our families, our friends and our readers.

To us, these things are good.

The Herald’s 126th Editorial Board has a lot to be thankful for. Thanks for reading.

Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial board: Emma Jerzyk ’17, Joseph Zappa ’17, Andrew Flax ’17 and Caroline Kelly ’17. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.

L IO R A M O R HAY I M

EDITORS’ NOTE The Herald will not be publishing a paper for the rest of the week. We will resume printing Nov. 28. Until then, check for any breaking news updates online at browndailyherald.com. Happy Thanksgiving!

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COMMENTARY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016 • PAGE 7

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

What we can learn from literary discomfort REBECCA OKIN op-ed contributor In my comparative literature course this week, my professor warned us that what he was about to say would probably be an unpopular sentiment among us students. He quoted Kafka: “We ought to read only the kind of books that wound or stab us.” Nervous eyes wandered. Jaws opened slightly. Silence. “If the book we’re reading doesn’t wake us up with a blow to the head, what are we reading for?”

Immediately, I was brought back to a moment several summers ago, when the last page of “The Bell Jar” was turned, and I entered a weeklong period of Sylvia Plath-induced desolation. School was out, three ice cream trucks surveyed my apartment building’s five-block radius, and I was absolutely despondent.

For those who haven’t read it, Plath’s tale chronicles a young woman’s excruciating spiral into mental illness — one that debilitates her and culminates in several unforgettable episodes of depression. As someone who has not dealt with depression, I found myself shaken by the world of Esther Greenwood, her desperation

and drowning crushing me nonetheless.

My week of dejection ended when my concerned mother took me to Barnes and Noble and refused to buy anything but “a beach-read, for God’s sake, Rebecca.”

But from then on, my “favorites” bookshelf gradually became overwhelmed with stories of death, narratives of loneliness and accounts of

my life. As an English concentrator committed to the study of stories, I like to think that I’ve pledged to confront the uncomfortable and face and endure especially the words that “wound or stab.” It is somewhat bizarre to willingly submit yourself to unease, but I believe that it is in this process of reading through discomfort that we are the most affected and learn the most about the human ex-

tion the integrity of our society, I urge you to reach for the most raw, most uncomfortable literature. Immerse yourself in literary discomfort; then reflect and seek to understand it. Through this process, we improve our ability to empathize.

We learn about humanity, which is essential in our quest to restore our faith in it. More than anything, we learn resilience: both from the char-

Every time we choose not to consume tragedies, we face our own disastrous loss: the opportunity to add a permanent layer of understanding to our lives.

all kinds of earthly pain. I grew attached to books that brought such an incurable sense of sadness they left me immobile on my bed, books that so perfectly relayed bleak and unspoken truths that they stole my breath, books that exposed my life’s shallowness without regrets.

In these stories, I learned the true power of words and their ability to move, inspire and touch. I’ve found this force to be unparalleled by any other I’ve encountered thus far in

perience at the core of all literature.

Of course, in this op-ed I am writing about discomfort. I recognize that some people may have real-life experiences with the raw pain I read about and that reading about trauma that one has experienced can summon feelings beyond discomfort. My argument is not directed at those who may be forced to re-experience trauma by reading difficult texts.

In current times, when we ques-

acters’ plights as well as from our own experience of suffering alongside them and still returning to contemplate it all. When we want easy beauty in the midst of a calamitous world, we will always seek the sonnet by Shakespeare over the poem by Plath. But every time we choose not to consume tragedies, we face our own disastrous loss: the opportunity to add a permanent layer of understanding to our lives.

There has been no lack of painful

reading in this course, which focuses on medical humanities. Accounts of heroin addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder, morphine dependence and AIDS, alcoholism and chemotherapy, have left me numb and exhausted — to say the least. Yet the intense feelings of distress associated with the power of these texts have bonded me with them. As the fundamental pieces of characters are added to my mental literary repertoire, the ones who have invited me into their trauma and challenged me to internalize their suffering will always be at the forefront. In a way, I consider them inextricable parts of my own essence. Even in this classroom context, the act of close reading becomes more meaningful: You are deciphering language that has impacted the characters’ existence as well as your own.

Thus, read to sob and to vomit and to become unsalvageable, rapt in the pages of a word-created hell.

Don’t be scared of being scared. Emily Dickinson wrote, “If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can warm it I know that is poetry.” Read to shiver, and then revel in your own freezing.

Rebecca Okin ’19 can be reached at rebecca_okin@brown.edu.

Human family NIKHIL KUMAR staff columnist “I’m terrified by the America we might wake up to after Election Day,” I wrote in a midSeptember Facebook post in response to polls that put President-Elect Donald Trump ahead in Florida and Ohio. Of course, my worst fears came true Nov. 8, and I continue to grapple with this new political reality. In many ways, it really is frightening: plans for mass deportations, accounts of racial intimidation and the appointment of a white nationalist as chief strategist to the president-elect. After a brutal campaign that began in early 2015, my visions of life under a Clinton administration unraveled in the wee hours of Nov. 9. Now I’m left hoping that the country will remain intact over the next four years.

As I look ahead to the Thanksgiving holiday later this week, I am confronted with mixed emotions. I am excited to see my parents and sister, who are also disturbed by the election results and their implications for the future. But I am nervous about spending time with members of my extended family, some of whom undoubtedly voted for Trump. Will we discuss the election? How could we not? How will I find the energy to argue with them after expending so much in the weeks leading up to Nov. 8? Going home is usually an opportunity to rest and recharge during a brief break from the pressure of the semester, but might this five-day foray beyond the Brown bubble further contribute to my stress?

I am reminded of a Maya Angelou poem, “Human Family.” (You may have heard Angelou reading it in an iPhone commercial that aired during the Olympics this summer.)

The poem concludes, “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.”

This simple, rhythmic statement is undeniably true — science tells us so. And it has never been more relevant than at this very moment in time. If only we all shared the wisdom of this late, great American poet. We are all members of the human family, a cliche that Angelou elevated through honest poetry.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not one of those people who, after the most divisive election in

sary for the realization of the still-unattained ideal of a government that protects the rights of all people.

Keeping this in mind as I confront the intimidating prospect of discussing the election with my family, it is important to remember that people are not the candidates they voted for. If they voted for racist, sexist, xenophobic or homophobic reasons, then they should certainly be criticized. But many Trump supporters gravitated to him with different motivations, such as economic suffering or a sense of exclusion from the multicultural, progres-

Stay angry, and stay motivated to effect change in our political system, but be smart about which tactic will be most persuasive with the person whose mind you’re trying to change.

memory, demands that the heartbroken and horrified losers unify around a president-elect who has shown dangerous contempt for minorities, immigrants and women and in so doing has tarnished the country he represents. In the weeks and months ahead, it is more important than ever that we continue to challenge the hateful, unconstitutional rhetoric and actions of the Trump administration, as well as the Republican-controlled Congress whose speaker has shown support for Trump’s white nationalist chief strategist, Steve Bannon. Popular protests and sharp scrutiny of the president-elect by the media, government officials and civil society are absolutely neces-

sive future President Barack Obama’s administration has been working to construct. In my view, not even these explanations — nothing, in fact — could justify voting for such a hateful, ill-qualified candidate. But this does not mean we have the luxury of cutting these people off from our political debates. To sever ties with unapologetic Trump supporters — a suggestion I have seen a couple of times on Facebook — would not be wise.

In politics, people are usually convinced that their own opinions are correct. So no matter how much you feel that the Constitution, morality, economics, good judgment and common decency are on your side, your oppo-

nent will be equally certain of their own superiority. To shout about how deplorable Trump supporters are or to stop talking to them, then, will do nothing to address the paralyzing polarization from which we are currently suffering. Stay angry, and stay motivated to effect change in our political system, but be smart about which tactic will be most persuasive with the person whose mind you’re trying to change. Yelling at your grandmother about how personally victimized by Trump you feel and then breaking down in tears might be an effective method. But it might not.

I regret not speaking directly with those family members whom I suspected would vote for Trump before the election. In a swing state that, like so many others, went red this year, maybe those difficult conversations could have made a difference if enough people like me had taken the risk of having them. We must never stop talking to one another because to do so would be to facilitate the continued deterioration of our society. The good news is that if we — people from both sides — approach these discussions from a place of love and empathy, we have nothing to fear. Of course, this is easier said than done, especially when the president-elect and his cronies insist on maintaining their divisive tactics.

Before the conclusion of “Human Family,” Angelou writes, “In minor ways we differ, in major we’re the same.” As we rebuild after this gutting election and gather around the dining table to give thanks, let’s strive to remember this simple truth about all people. After all, without it, what else do we have? If only Angelou were still alive to offer us a fresh slice of her wisdom for dessert.

Nikhil Kumar ’17 can be reached at nikhil_kumar@brown.edu.

SPORTS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2016

WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY

ELI WHITE / HERALD

Bridget Carey ’19 evades an opponent from St. Lawrence Saturday at Meehan Auditorium. Carey scored the Bears’ only goal of the weekend in two losses to top-10 ECAC opponents.

Rocky start continues in winless weekend Pair of undefeated conference foes dispatches Bruno at Meehan by combined score of 13-1

By ALEXANDRA RUSSELL STAFF WRITER

The women’s ice hockey team found little success against strong competition over the weekend, losing to Clarkson Friday and St. Lawrence Saturday by tallies of 8-1 and 5-0, respectively.

Bruno’s two opponents are now a combined 16-0-0 in ECAC play.

Friday night saw the Bears (3-8-0, 1-7-0 ECAC) outshot by the Golden Knights (12-3-1, 8-0-0) 47 to 13. Despite a goal from Bridget Carey ’19 early in the third period, Bruno was unable to ward off the Knights’ persistent offense.

“We played a very good team,” said Head Coach Robert Kenneally ’90.

“Clarkson’s probably one of the best teams in the country, definitely in the top two or three. … Tonight, the best

team won.”

Bruno was hindered by the absence of two of the team’s veterans due to injuries. “We’re down some players — it’s not an excuse, but we’re missing our two seniors who got injured this year,” Kenneally said.

The next day’s contest against the Saints (13-0-1, 8-0-0) also proved difficult for the Bears. After conceding one goal during the first period, Bruno struggled to kill penalties effectively in the second and third, allowing the Saints two power-play goals.

“We worked really hard, and they’re a talented team,” said Abby Niewchas ’19. “They were really good at moving the puck around. … If we work on our penalty kill, we’ll definitely be able to have a better chance in these games.”

“When we stay out of the penalty box and we play five-on-five, we battle really hard and play even with teams,” Kenneally said.

Netminder Monica Elvin ’17 put up strong performances in both contests, making an impressive 39 saves

Friday and 31 Saturday.

“Monica’s been playing great,” Kenneally said. “I’m really proud of the way she’s been playing.”

With contests against Providence and Merrimack coming up next week, Kenneally emphasized the importance of preparation to the team’s success.

“It’s two non-league games, so we’re going to practice every day this week,” he said.

Kenneally said he remains optimistic about Saturday’s matchup against the Friars. “It’s a nice cross-town rivalry, and they beat us last year for the Mayor’s Cup. So we’d like to get that trophy back,” he said.

Despite Bruno’s recent losses, Niewchas had a similarly positive outlook.

“We’ve always rallied behind each other — no matter what the score is in the game,” she said. “We’re going to continue to do that, and that’s one of our biggest assets as a team.”

The Bears will host Providence College for the Mayor’s Cup Saturday at 3 p.m. in Meehan Auditorium.

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