SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016
VOLUME CLI, ISSUE 112
WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
Gina Rodriguez inspires in Lecture Board talk Paxson signs statement
supporting DACA program
‘Jane the Virgin’ star preaches self-love, willpower, resilience in telling life story
U. joins schools across nation to provide legal counsel, financial help to undocumented students
By MADISON RIVLIN SENIOR STAFF WRITER
In eager restlessness, students arranged themselves into a haphazard queue that wrapped around the sides of Salomon Center and spilled into Ruth Simmons Quadrangle more than an hour before the first words of Gina Rodriguez’s lecture, hosted by Brown Lecture Board Nov. 21. The auditorium buzzed with excitement as ticket holders scrounged for every available seat. “People seem to be really excited. Just walking around campus is exciting, overhearing so many conversations about this,” said Allison Schaefer ’17, vice president of marketing and public relations for Brown Lecture Board. The anticipation reached new heights as Latino heritage series coordinator Lehidy Laura Frias ’17 took to the stage to introduce Rodriguez. Recalling when she first told her father that Rodriguez was coming to speak at Brown, she said he asked: “¿Qué ha hecho ella?” What has she done? What makes her special? Frias described Rodriguez as a “strong, fearless Latina woman” in the acting industry. She has involved herself in the philanthropic community and works as an activist for first-generation students
By HATTIE XU SENIOR STAFF WRITER
COURTESY OF BROWN UNIVERSITY
Actress and activist Gina Rodriguez spoke honestly about overcoming adversity and the power of ambition last Monday. and members of the Latinx community. in life: “I didn’t take the easy cruise line. But what touched her Papi’s heart and I took the difficult one. I have a story. I roused emphatic cheers, whoops and survived it. I got through it. … I’m the clapping from the passionate audience hero of my story.” was the touching phrase: “She looks like Rodriguez gave credit to her family me.” The crowd roared as Rodriguez, alive — her father, “the man who made me with genuine gratitude, came out from who I am. He has so much power inside the wings to embrace Frias. me,” and her mother and her sisters, who Rodriguez began humbly: “I’m just “have supported (her) through this entire like every single person in this room — journey.” just trying every day to be a better version “I have monsters around me. My of myself,” she said. She pondered aloud mom is the reason why I don’t need to what she could offer the Brown com- wear makeup to feel beautiful. She was munity as a speaker, deciding that, as all about accepting who she was.” someone well versed in the realms of art This journey to self-love began when and love, “I can only give you my truth.” Rodriguez was just 15 years old when In genuine, raw conversation, Rodri- her father was hospitalized and forced guez went on to elucidate her perception to stay home due to his health. As he of truth regarding self-love, resiliency and became consumed by the messages of willpower. She reflected on her challenges » See RODRIGUEZ, page 3
President Christina Paxson P’19 joined over 250 college and university presidents in signing a statement that calls for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to be “upheld, continued and expanded.” The statement was written by the administration of Pomona College and circulated by the Association of American Universities. DACA is a program that allows undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States before the age of 16 to avoid deportation for a renewable period of two years, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services website. Applicants must meet several eligibility requirements. For example, they must be enrolled in school, have a high school diploma or obtain a general education development certificate, according to the website. As of June 2016, 741,546 people had benefited from DACA since the program’s implementation in 2012, according to USCIS’ third quarter report for the
2016 fiscal year. The statement calls DACA a “moral imperative and a national necessity.” Paxson described supporting undocumented students as a moral stance because they were brought to the United States by their parents, and many do not have memories of the country in which they were born. “The idea that you would ask (these) people to leave seems wrong to me,” she said. University administrators have been meeting with DACA students to learn about how to better meet their needs, said Provost Richard Locke. Earlier this year, the University changed policy to classify DACA students as domestic in the admission process. The University also committed to using its resources to support undocumented students, who are ineligible for federal financial aid, he said. The University is in the process of bringing in legal advisors who can counsel students on DACA and other citizenship and work authorization issues, Paxson said. It is also providing financial assistance to students who cannot afford the $465 DACA application fee, Locke said. The University will not collect or turn over student information on immigration status to federal officials without a warrant or a similar legal document, Paxson said. Officers from the Department of » See DACA, page 3
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Bruno beats Morgan State in shootout Blackmon ’17, Howard ’20 dominate shooting in second-half comeback, bringing Bruno out on top By EMILE BAUTISTA STAFF WRITER
The men’s basketball team (2-4) ended a three-game skid with a hard-fought 8175 victory against Morgan State (2-4) at the Pizzitola Sports Center Wednesday. It was Bruno that came out on top in the battle of the bears, despite trailing by as much as 12 points in the second half. Cocaptain Tavon Blackmon ’17 and forward Joshua Howard ’20 paced the squad with 20 points apiece. Meanwhile, co-captain and top Ivy scorer Steven Spieth ’17 flirted with a triple-double again, contributing 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Bruno came out with the hot hands, shooting 8-for-11 from the field to start the game and enjoying a trio of
INSIDE
three-pointers for Blackmon and four layups from Howard. The team raced out to an eight-point lead with a little more than 12 minutes left to play in the first half. Morgan State closed out the half on an 8-2 run — with six of those points coming from forward Phillip Carr — taking a 34-30 lead into halftime. Both teams came out confident in the second frame. Though Bruno committed four fouls in the first minute and a half, Blackmon continued his hot shooting with a three-pointer that brought the team within two. The two sides exchanged layups and free throws before the visiting Bears charged out in front. Five consecutive turnovers by Bruno allowed the team’s opponents to go on a 10-0 run, extending the deficit to 12 points with 12 minutes remaining. Travis Fuller ’19 stopped the bleeding with a put-back layup from an offensive rebound while also getting fouled. He » See M. BBALL, page 2
ELI WHITE / HERALD
Mara Liasson ’77, national political correspondent for National Public Radio, posited that Hillary Clinton’s failure to inspire a broad section of the electorate with a cohesive message doomed her campaign.
Liasson ’77, Corn ’81 dissect Clinton’s defeat Journalist alums argue media underestimated Trump, Dems offered outof-touch message By ANNA KRAMER STAFF WRITER
Mara Liasson ’77, national political correspondent for National Public Radio, and David Corn ’81, Washington bureau chief at Mother Jones, reflected on the mistakes of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and gaps in the media’s understanding of the 2016 election cycle Nov. 21 in List
Art Center. The event was hosted by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs as the third and final part of its “Election 2016: Behind the Scenes” series. Liasson characterized the » See ELECTION, page 3
WEATHER
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016
SPORTS Lackluster special teams force desperation play, doom men’s hockey in 5-1 loss to Maine
SPORTS Rookies’ play offers bright spot for women’s hockey in Mayor’s Cup loss to Providence College
COMMENTARY Steinman ’19: History has its eyes on students, who are uniquely positioned to fight Trump policy
COMMENTARY Zeng ’20: Hollywood’s failure to cast Asians creates vicious cycle that reinforces whitewashing
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SPORTS
PAGE 2 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
ELI WHITE / HERALD
Co-captain and guard Tavon Blackmon ’17 helped lead his team to a hard-fought 81-75 victory over Morgan State Wednesday, sinking 4-for-4 free throws in the last 30 seconds.
» M. BBALL, from page 1 made the subsequent free throw and helped to spark a 10-0 run by Bruno — capped off by a three-pointer by cocaptain JR Hobbie ’17 — over the next minute and a half to bring it back within two. Over the next four minutes, the sides traded baskets, but the visitors remained in front. Corey Daugherty ’19 sank a three to tie the game at 64-64 with six
minutes left before Hobbie gave Bruno its first lead since the end of the first half with a three of his own. Morgan State retook the lead off a couple of free throws, but Obi Okolie ’19 turned the tables for the last time when he seized back the advantage with his own free throws. With 1:37 left, the hosts never looked back. Howard got fouled on an emphatic layup off an offensive rebound and made his free throw with 52 seconds left to put Bruno up four. Blackmon iced
the game by going 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the last 30 seconds. The final buzzer went off, and the hosts had outlasted their guests, 81-75. The game was tight throughout, but Bruno excelled after halftime, outscoring Morgan State 51-41 thanks in large part to a shooting rate of 57 percent from the field. The trio of Spieth, Howard and Blackmon shot 10-for-14 in the second half to lead the way. Then Spieth did most of his damage, netting 12 points,
five assists and zero turnovers, while Fuller scored all seven of his clutch points. “I think we just started defending and took better shots,” Blackmon said. “When we watched the film of the game the next day, we saw that we just weren’t being patient enough on offense to work for the best possible shots. And in the final 12 minutes we did that” On the flip side, Bruno will look to take better care of the ball. In this game, the team amassed a season-high
19 turnovers but was able to overcome that obstacle in part by causing 16 turnovers itself. “I think we just have to focus in on the defensive end for 40 minutes,” Blackmon said. “We always do it in spurts and have our good moments, but we need to focus on that part of the game for a full 40 minutes.” The Bears hope to carry this momentum into their next game against in-state rival Bryant at home Monday at 7 p.m.
MEN’S ICE HOCKEY
Painful losing streak persists for Bruno with visit to Maine Brown struggles on power play, penalty kill against Black Bears in nonconference matchup By ALEX RUSSELL STAFF WRITER
The men’s ice hockey team continued a rocky season with a 5-1 loss against the University of Maine Saturday, getting outshot 32-29. After warding off the opposition in a scoreless first period, Bruno (1-8, 1-5 ECAC) allowed the Black Bears (5-7-3, 1-4-1) a two-goal advantage in the second. “We had a good start with very good energy for the first 15 minutes of the game,” wrote Head Coach Brendan Whittet ’94 in an email to The Herald. “After that, we had an inconsistent effort.” “We kind of just lost track of the direction we were supposed to be headed and kind of tried to do our own thing,” said Trey Dodd ’20, who led the Bears with five shots on goal in the contest. Sam Lafferty ’18 gave the Bears their only score of the evening, netting a shot in the second period from the front right of the goal. Andrew Doane ’17 and Ben Tegtmeyer ’18 each recorded assists on the play. The Black Bears widened their lead in the third period, scoring twice before clocking a shorthanded empty netter after Bruno pulled goaltender Tim Ernst ’17 on the power play. “In order to attempt to jumpstart
ELI WHITE / HERALD
Max Willman ’18 prepared to fire off a pass during Saturday’s game against the University of Maine. Despite a spirited showing, Bruno fell 5-1. our offense, we pulled our goalie to allow for a (six on four) situation,” Whittet wrote. “I would rather aggressively fight to attempt to win, so we took a chance on that power play to try to claw back into the game.” “That was us trying to play with a little desperation, which we had in the first period,” Dodd said. “Whittet made the right move by trying to get that (desperation) back.” Netminder Ernst made 24 saves before giving the crease to Connor Maher
’18 in the third, following Maine’s empty-net goal. Maher stopped three shots in the final nine minutes of play, keeping the score intact. Despite this, Bruno’s offense was unable to turn around the losing effort. Whittet cited the frequency of penalties in the league as a key issue contributing to this season’s modest scoresheet. “The way that the NCAA has instructed the referees to call the games has resulted in an exorbitant amount of specialty teams play,” he
wrote. “If you don’t score on your power plays, and you give up goals on your penalty kill, you will not win many hockey games.” Additionally, Whittet emphasized the need for more puck possession to increase Bruno’s scoring output. “We need to possess the puck more,” he added. “Increased possession time leads to more offensive opportunity.” Looking forward, Whittet underscored the importance of the learning process and consistent hard work. “We
need to focus on the team this week and find a way to get better each day,” he wrote. “I want the guys to understand that it is a process, and we just need to strive for improvement.” Dodd echoed Whittet’s determination to improve. “The game against Army this weekend is a good starting point” for a targeted team effort, Dodd said. Bruno will return to action with a visit to Army West Point Saturday. Face-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
NEWS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016 • PAGE 3
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
This Week In Higher Ed BY ELENA WEISSMANN, NEWS EDITOR
‘Anti-American professors’ A conservative nonprofit group called Turning Point USA recently started a project called “Professor Watchlist,” a list of about 200 college professors deemed “anti-American” by the organization. The project aims to “expose and document college professors who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist proganda in the classroom,” according to the group’s website, though the Chronicle of Higher Education points out that actions such as attending anti-campus carry demonstrations and writing about gun control as a public health issue have landed professors on the list. Names on the list include Sarah Pritchard, associate professor of science and technology studies at Cornell, and Joan Neuberger, professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin. Pritchard landed on the list after saying student evaluations of female professors were slanted by gender bias, while Neuberger appeared after advocating against the campus carry law that went into effect in Texas last year, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. “A website that seeks so openly to discredit me by suggesting (incorrectly) that I broke the law and (nonsensically) that I have no credibility as an experienced classroom professor can only exist to chill my right to free speech,” Neuberger wrote in an email to the Chronicle.
At LaGuardia Community College, students unshaken by Trump Students at LaGuardia Community College in western Queens did not appear stricken by this year’s elections results, The New York Times reported. Students at the college — which is “arguably the most ethnically diverse college in the most ethnically diverse corner of the world” where “more than two-thirds (of students) come from households that make less than $25,000 a year,” per the Times — seemed predominantly unaffected, with some welcoming the change. Gail Mellow, LaGuardia’s president, was surprised by the students’ mixed reactions on the morning after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory. “Many of us have experienced this as a uniform negative, and they don’t,” she told the Times. Karen Dubinsky, an administrator at LaGuardia, led a meeting of students on the day after the election and also experienced subdued reactions. The subject of Trump hardly came up, she said — instead, students wanted to talk about job interview etiquette, résumés and future job prospects. Anthony Salinovic, a student about to graduate from LaGuardia, said the new president cannot affect him. “It can’t affect my success or failure. Trump isn’t here in this school; he isn’t in my classes,” he told the Times. For Esmerelda Burgos, regardless of how “malicious” Trump had been during the election cycle, she would not let his victory “change how I carry myself.”
Navigating campus with autism The first wave of students diagnosed with autism is beginning to hit college campuses, the New York Times reported. An increase in diagnoses in the 1990s and the success of early intervention programs that aim to prepare children with autism for higher education has resulted in a generation of students with autism starting college. Since autism spectrum disorder is characterized by difficulty communicating and forming relationships with people, many colleges have responded by developing special support programs. The Kelly Autism Program at Western Kentucky University, for example, focuses on providing students with social support and advocating for them in difficult circumstances. Students enrolled in the program spend 12 hours a week at the program’s center meeting with tutors, counselors and psychologists for support and guidance. The program’s success has encouraged administrators to continue expanding it, from three students at its conception to what they hope will be 77 students in 2019. Besides helping students with autism transition to college, the program also hopes to prepare them for life beyond higher education. “The goal is not necessarily a college degree but becoming an independent, successful adult,” Jane Thierfeld Brown, a consultant for families with children with autism, told the Times. “And a bachelor’s degree doesn’t guarantee that.”
» ELECTION, from page 1 unexpected Trump victory as primarily “a failure of imagination.” Corn and Liasson faulted both the media and Clinton’s campaign for failing to comprehend the power of President-Elect Donald Trump’s anger and celebrity. “You can change the rules if you have no shame,” Liasson said in reference to Trump, citing this as the lesson of Trump’s ability to escape serious fallout from numerous controversies that many expected would sink his
campaign. Corn and Liasson agreed Clinton failed to gather her individual programs and policies into a message that could speak to everyone. “She had the lyrics; she didn’t have the music,” Liasson said. Trump “understood that there was tremendous resentment,” and his rhetoric against political correctness played into animosity toward elites, Liasson said. “The phrase ‘PC’ is just a proxy for ‘elites who look down on us,’” she added.
» RODRIGUEZ, from page 1 various motivational speakers, inspirational mantras influenced every aspect of Rodriguez’s life, she said. Even attempting to talk to her subconscious while she was supposedly asleep, her father would whisper, “You can be anything you want to be.” Each day, he would tell her to “Look in the mirror. Say that today’s going to be a great day. I can, and I will.” “When I went to college, I got used to (the mantra),” Rodriguez said, as she continued to “find (her) yes” at New York University at the Tisch School of the Arts, despite her father’s doubts regarding her acceptance. “The only person stopping me is me. If I fail I can just try again, so eventually, I will.” Today, as an actress in Hollywood, Rodriguez must continue to remind herself of her worth, she said, utilizing her father’s mantra among others, including “fear only exists between your two ears,” and “I am enough.” “I was conditioned to believe I didn’t have a space in Hollywood,” she said. But, “I worked hard. I can act my ass off. I got an education. I’m ready to participate in the conversation. Nobody can stop me.” “This journey of self-love is every single day,” Rodriguez added. It has “allowed
me to start working on the fact that I deserved everything that I ever dreamed of, and this is what I have to give to you.” She noted her hopes for the Brown community: “I want that journey to start for you now. You must love yourself.” Rodriguez’s dynamic authenticity and relaxed, casual air carried throughout her lecture. She spoke openly about her bouts with failure and her nervousness regarding her “journey that scares the shit out of me” — a trip to Thailand during which she attempts to write a book. “I could fail. The book could suck. … I could disappoint. I could let down. But I’m going to try. I would way rather fail and try than not try at all.” She reflected on her battles with student loans that she recently paid off. She relayed without inhibition her insecurities regarding her body image, her struggles with mental health and bouts of panic attacks and her thyroid disease. “Being an actor and being brown and then someone telling you that you are never going to be super thin? I felt like I was cursed. … I just wanted to be able to do what I wanted to do.” Yet she considered “what I wanted my life to look like every single day: … to be able to look in the mirror and not
be afraid of my brown skin, especially now. This is my one journey.” In the question-and-answer session, Rodriguez addressed students informally yet tackled the serious concerns they voiced with gravity. One student spoke out about her insecurities in proving to herself that she belongs at Brown and her fear of participating in class due to her “speaking in a particular way.” Rodriguez noted the student’s speech speech pattern and accent were “beautiful,” and encouraged the student to “make (herself) the hero of your story because your story is the only one you walk with.” Rodriguez sat, stood, kneeled, twirled, kicked, trotted and sashayed around the stage, while weaving in and out of English and Spanish, out of serious, grave assertions and posits and amusing, often linguistically colorful short stories and witticisms. Rodriguez was earnest and thoughtful, yet she maintained her vivacious, bubbly, personable attitude and humorous character throughout her speech and in answering questions. “You only get one life. You might as well go and fucking fly,” she said, as she laughed and mimed the flapping of a bird’s wings on stage.
» DACA, from page 1 Public Safety also “will not act on behalf of federal agents to enforce immigration laws” unless they are required to do so, she added. Students and faculty members circulated a petition imploring the University to make Brown a “sanctuary campus.” Though Paxson and Locke wrote in a Herald op-ed that the University cannot legally become a sanctuary campus or promise “absolute protection” by refusing to comply with the law, Paxson said the University is approaching the issue from multiple angles. In a statement issued Nov. 24 on the Our Campus student walkout Facebook event page, organizers questioned why the University cannot become a sanctuary campus if other colleges have been able to, even though some “have much lower endowments and fewer resources than Brown.” Columbia has also announced intentions to serve as a sanctuary campus. Paxson said there is no single definition for the term “sanctuary campus.” While other universities may apply the label to themselves, she said it is not helpful to do the same for Brown. Despite not adopting the label of “sanctuary campus,” the University is taking many of the same actions as colleges that have used the term, including committing to not turning over immigration information to federal officials without a warrant and providing legal counsel, she said. Though it is uncertain how federal policies will change and the effects they will bring, Paxson said the University will do “everything we can to support Corn addressed Clinton’s inability to secure the support of rural voters, which led to her loss in the electoral college despite winning the popular vote. “The point can’t be emphasized enough that a majority of those who voted shared Hillary Clinton’s view of the world — that America is an inclusive communal society where people should work together to advance,” Corn said. “And yet (Trump’s) side will be gaining power because of the way his votes were distributed
HERALD FILE PHOTO
Administrators have been meeting with undocumented students to learn how to best meet their financial and legal needs. our undocumented and DACA students.” Kenneth Wong, chair of the education department and professor of international and public affairs, said the administration of President-Elect Donald Trump must not shift or make policies based on generalizations about all immigrants. Though a cornerstone of Trump’s platform has been to tighten immigration laws and crack down on immigrants who are criminals, this group of people is just a small portion of the entire immigrant population, Wong said. “DACA speaks to the group of immigrants that doesn’t have anything to do with what (Trump) is targeting,” he added. “It’s my hope that the incoming administration will think hard about some of the policies they have proposed and not go through with the elimination of DACA,” Locke said. “It’s not in the interest of the country, and it would be a morally offensive act.” From an economic perspective, allowing undocumented immigrants
benefiting from DACA to stay makes sense, Wong said. These immigrants have already benefited from the education system, so they should have a chance to give back to society by working here, he added. The statement also invokes this sort of logic. “America needs talent — and these students, who have been raised and educated in the United States, are already part of our national community,” the statement reads. “They represent what is best about America, and as scholars and leaders they are essential to the future.” The statement calls on “our country’s leaders … across the business, civic, religious and non-profit sectors” to join universities in supporting DACA. University administration has sent the statement to state leaders, including Gov. Gina Raimondo, Mayor Jorge Elorza and state legislators, Paxson said. Such a statement supporting undocumented students is “unprecedented,” Wong said.
geographically,” he added. Corn stressed that Clinton failed to address the more traditional economic concerns of many Democratic voters. While social issues are paramount to some, the Democratic Party must address economic questions if it wishes to succeed, he said. A Trump presidency means that “we are now in a debate about first principles and democratic values,” Liasson said. “We’re going to find out whether our democratic institutions are strong enough and resilient
enough to resist what seems to be his authoritarian policies.” “There should be wide-ranging conversations about what’s going on in America, especially with those who you disagree with,” Corn said. “There are some people you can’t make common cause with. There are people who are racists, and there are people who are bigots, but politics is about addition, not subtraction.” He encouraged students at Brown and other institutions to engage in discourse inclusive of different views.
NEWS
PAGE 4 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
In My Mother’s House
One day Lina Fruzzetti receives a photograph from Italy with the words, “If this is your father, we are cousins.” The photo is of her father, who died when she was three. The film “In My Mother’s House” follows Fruzzetti on her decade-long quest to understand a family divided against the backdrop of colonial rule, war, emigration and the global world we live in today.
A film by Ákos Östör and Lina Fruzzetti, Professor of Anthropology Brown University November 30, 2016 5:00 p.m. A reception will follow Smith-Buonanno Hall Room 106 95 Cushing Street Providence, RI Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
TODAY
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016 • PAGE 5
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
menu
november madness
SATELLITE DINING ANDREWS COMMONS
Pizza: Caprese, Chicken Ranch, Rhode to Italy Bibimbap JOSIAH’S
BLUE ROOM
Make-Your-Own Paninis
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DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH
DINNER
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VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH
DINNER
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sudoku
ELI WHITE / HERALD
Women’s basketball suffered a nail-biting one-point defeat against Manhattan Tuesday. Guard Shayna Mehta ’19, one of the Bears’ leading scorers, fends off a defensemen as she drives to the basket.
Q U O T E O F T H E D AY
“You only get one life. You might as well go and fucking fly.” crossword
— Gina Rodriguez
See rodriguez on page 1. CORRECTION An article in Monday’s Herald (“‘Reading Women’ reflects on role of beauty, womanhood in literature,” Nov. 16) stated that in 2012, 4 percent of the artwork in New York’s Museum of Modern Art was produced by female artists. In fact, in 2012, 4 percent of the artwork in New York’s Museum of Modern Art’s Permanent Collection Galleries was produced by female artists. The Herald regrets the error.
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Cyber Monday Tech Event 10:00 A.M. Brown Bookstore Tech Center
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COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
comic
Brown should follow
The Daily Life of Alfonse | Patrick Huang
Columbia’s lead To the Editor: Brown’s decision not to offer legal sanctuary to members of the community who are undocumented immigrants is disheartening to say the least. While I applaud President Christina Paxson P’19 for adding her name to the letter from the Association of American Universities that calls for the United States to uphold the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the statement cites a “moral imperative” that the University’s lukewarm stance undermines. Columbia recently declared itself a sanctuary campus; Columbia, like Brown, is a private Ivy League university. It is difficult to imagine that the legal advice Columbia was given differed significantly from whatever Brown received. During these uncertain times, we need institutions to stand strong in support of our fellow Americans’ human rights. Brown has not yet shown itself up to the challenge. Ashley Minihan ’98
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Brown should protect DACA-status students, staff To the Editor: I cannot pretend to know all or any options actually available to students or staff currently at Brown under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or any other immigrant program. I do believe that these individuals should be able to get some level of security or sanctuary in their present status in this country. I think that Brown’s institutional perspective as a leader in the realm of civil rights behooves it to find some methodology to keep the targeted people from harm. Jim Gronefeld ’72
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COMMENTARY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016 • PAGE 7
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Finding a way forward CLARE STEINMAN staff columnist
In the hours before dawn Nov. 9, I walked to where I could see the Providence skyline and looked out at a country I wasn’t sure I recognized. These couldn’t be the actions of the America I thought I lived in. It wasn’t until morning that I recognized the privilege of that thought. As a straight white woman from an overwhelmingly liberal city, I have spent my life so shielded from the dark hate and vitriol of this country that I didn’t see these election results coming until they slapped me in the face: the planned Ku Klux Klan victory rally in North Carolina, the appointment of Steve Bannon as chief White House strategist, the constant stream of hate crimes meticulously documented on Shaun King’s Twitter feed — innumerable individual outrages combining into a toxic pool of intolerance. Extreme proposals we hoped would remain campaign promises suddenly have prominent nominees to back them up: antienvironmentalism crusader Myron Ebell, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-AL, Chairman of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus. If you feel crushed by the elec-
tion results but have some measure of privilege, we have a lot of work to do. Now is the time to fight for civil liberties and to be ready to defend what this administration is likely to actively dismantle or let fall apart by inaction. Standing up for people of color, immigrants, Muslims, LGBTQ+ people, women, people with
tacked, either by the president-elect himself or by his supporters, I am here for you and always will be. At the same time, we can use the privilege afforded to us, whether by our identity or our education, to take on the role of protectors and defenders, devoting our time to educating ourselves and volunteer work.
commitment and unity that we will be able to turn the bulldozers back from Standing Rock and to hold open the doors to Planned Parenthood. We’ll need to fight off despair — both in ourselves and in others — and go to bed each night ready to work harder tomorrow. I had a teacher in high school
There’s no way to stay truly neutral in times like these, and every choice we make — from internships we apply for to how we spend an afternoon — has the potential to influence the status quo.
disabilities and especially the many who hold more than one of those identities, is the most important task of the era of President-Elect Donald Trump. As allies, we must not take up space that doesn’t belong to us but be vigilant, supportive and ready to call out injustice in all its forms. And if you feel that any of your identities have been at-
Looking ahead, I see hard work. I see days when it’s too much to hear about yet another victory for hatred or a court decision that sets us back 30 years. The next four years — which include for most of us our entry into the post-college world — are going to ask everything of us: our patience, our energy, our faith in justice. But it is only with focus,
who liked to say “your vocation is where your greatest passion meets the world’s greatest need.” When it feels like there is nothing to be done, remember that in every field there is a way to make changes that promote inclusivity and acceptance. Whether your passion is art, political science, medicine, engineering or economics, find a way to utilize it to do good
when Trump will not. Look locally: Don’t just call your senator; call your governor, your mayor and your state representative. If we are lucky, we can still achieve progressive reforms on the state and city levels. This kind of work is tangible and meaningful and serves as a much-needed reminder that there are still things we can do to repair the world. There’s no way to stay truly neutral in times like these, and every choice we make — from internships we apply for to how we spend an afternoon — has the potential to influence the status quo. “What to do next” articles abound on the Internet these days, and many of them offer valuable advice, but they aren’t directed at college students. We are in a truly remarkable place in our lives — living in an echo chamber, yes, but surrounded by passionate and driven fellow students who share many of the same ideals. We have more choice and flexibility right now than we ever will again until retirement. It would be an almost unforgivable waste for students to pass up the opportunity to get involved right now. We’re living in history, in moments that our grandchildren will ask us about. It’s time to come up with answers that will make them proud.
Clare Steinman ’19 can be reached at clare_steinman@brown.edu.
Doctor, save me from the racism CINDY ZENG staff columnist “Doctor Strange” is not the first instance of Hollywood whitewashing, nor will it be the last. You may recall the #OscarsSoWhite backlash from February of this year after the Academy Awards nominees were revealed. Despite sparking a massive resurgence of discourse on the lack of diversity in Hollywood, it seems nothing has been learned. “Doctor Strange” is not just an isolated incident but a reflection of much broader insensitivity within Hollywood and our culture. The film is based on a comic series in which American neurosurgeon Stephen Strange embarks on a magical journey of healing and selfdiscovery in Asia. Mentored by the Ancient One, a Tibetan sorcerer, Strange ultimately becomes a superhero of sorts who must defend the world from evil powers. This original Doctor Strange narrative follows the white savior trope — white man goes to Asia, learns Asian culture and uses his newfound skills to save the Asian people because they weren’t capable of saving themselves. These 1960s-era comics are heavily grounded in racist stereotypes, reflecting outdated beliefs. The 2016 remake should reflect the progress we’ve made on these issues and portray these cultures in an accurate, anti-racist way. Instead, the Hollywood producers recast the Ancient One as a Celtic woman, played by Tilda Swinton, an already prominent white actress. Doctor Strange is played by Benedict Cumberbatch, another prominent white actor. They filmed in Nepal, a country in Southeast Asia, but
erased the Tibetan origins of the narrative entirely. In part, the casting decision was for political and economic reasons. The producers didn’t want to risk alienating a good portion of the Chinese market because of the highly controversial Tibetan sovereignty issue. China and Tibet’s relationship is, to put it lightly, tense. A movie that included prominent Tibetan elements had the potential to be censored in China, and a lot of money would have been lost. So for the sake of profit, the producers removed all mention of Tibet from the movie and claimed that they were avoiding taking a political stance on the matter. I would argue that the erasure of Tibet and
vert gender roles by casting a woman in a male role, they didn’t consider the issue of Asian representation important enough to do it justice. Rather than rework the narrative or the character, they cast a white person. I expected better from Marvel. If the movie really wanted to be subversive in its casting, why not cast Doctor Strange himself as a non-white person? The white savior racist stereotype could have been subverted had Doctor Strange not been white. In this case, many of the tropes the producers were worried about would have been much less relevant. There is no dearth of ways in which the producers could have avoided and even negated the problematic
What we see onscreen reflects our social values and culture.
the refusal to engage with this issue is a political statement in and of itself. Marvel is not avoiding politics through their effort to appease Chinese political sensitivities. By avoiding Tibetan discourse, Marvel aids China in denying the oppression of the Tibetan people. By refusing to acknowledge Tibet’s existence in the movie, Marvel is sacrificing ethics for profit. Yet this political issue was only one aspect of the casting decision. Marvel tried to justify casting Swinton in the role of the Ancient One by claiming that they were trying to avoid racist stereotypes. Read that again. They tried to avoid a racist stereotype by not casting an Asian person for an Asian role! While the producers did sub-
construction of the comic. Asians are already underrepresented in media. There are barely any Asian characters onscreen. With this movie, we’ve lost yet another opportunity for inclusion and diversity. It’s a self-perpetuating cycle that undermines any chance of progress. Producers and directors are economically driven, so they need prominent actors and actresses to film big movies, and those actors and actresses need to have gotten parts in other big movies already to be prominent. And since we rarely have any Asian characters in big movies or any substantial, nonstereotypical representation, it’s difficult to find Asian actors with enough star power to fit the
role. If this pattern persists, it’ll be more and more difficult for any Asians to make it big and give us the representation we need. You can’t separate the politics from the arts, as much as some people might try. What we see onscreen reflects our social values and culture. When only white people are visible, it creates a perception that other groups are not welcome or worthwhile. When we don’t bother to flesh out onscreen characters, we reinforce stereotypes pertinent to how people of color are perceived and treated in everyday life. As an Asian person, when I don’t see honest Asian representation in media, it feels as if I am not relevant to American movies and consequently American culture. It feels as if I must either be a collection of one-dimensional stereotypes or rendered entirely invisible. Either way, it’s demoralizing and diminishing. So don’t go see “Doctor Strange.” Tell your friends not to see “Doctor Strange.” We need to call out racism when we see it because it’s always relevant — not just during Oscar season. Every dollar we spend is support for the racist and economically driven casting decision and implies that we, the moviegoers, are apathetic to the filmmakers’ insensitive productions. The directors have made their stand, and it’s loud and clear: They don’t care about fair and honest representation. And as long as the money comes rolling in, they will never care. We need to make our stand, too, loud and clear: We cannot support Hollywood whitewashing anymore.
Cindy Zeng ’20 doesn’t think Asian representation should be this hard and can be reached at cindy_zeng@brown.edu.
SPORTS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016
WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY
ELI WHITE / HERALD
The freshman-laden women’s ice hockey team was outshot 20-4 by crosstown rival Providence College to lose the Mayor’s Cup Saturday.
Bears fail to recover from early deficit First-years, sophomores notch three goals in effort hampered by injuries, lose Mayor’s Cup to PC By MATT BROWNSWORD NEWS EDITOR
It was a tale of two 10-minute stretches for the women’s hockey team (3-9, 1-7 ECAC) Saturday as it fell behind early and staged a late effort to even the scoreboard before eventually losing the Mayor’s Cup to crosstown rival Providence (8-8-1, 4-4-1), 7-3. Calla Isaac ’20 got the first start of her career but only lasted 10 minutes after giving up four goals to the Friars’ lethal attack. Monica Elvin ’17 came in and stepped up to stop the bleeding in the first period, as neither team was able to record a goal for the rest of the frame. But the damage had been done. Providence’s hot start fueled a lopsided period in which the Friars outshot the Bears 20-4. In the second period, despite surviving a few penalties, Brown was unable to get anything past the Providence netminder. Sarah Migliori ’20 had the best chance for the Bears in the period, splitting defenders before her shot
found the shoulder of the opposing goalie. The penalty kill for Bruno was a lone bright spot, as the Bears stifled Providence in six chances. Still, the Friars were able to get two more goals in the frame, extending their lead to 6-0. “We recently changed up our penalty kill a little bit, so I think that helped a lot,” said assistant captain Sam Donovan ’18. “We also spent extra time in practice this week working on the penalty kill.” The third period was a whole different story for Brown, as a renewed effort led to the Bears’ first goal of the afternoon. Veronica Alois ’20 scored the first goal of her career thanks to a brilliant centering pass from Abby Niewchas ’19. Niewchas’ classmate and defensive partner Leah Olson ’19 followed that goal up with a tally of her own, netting a wrist shot from a tight angle. Migliori followed up with the first goal of her career, cutting Providence’s six-goal lead to just three in a span of fewer than three minutes. “Although it was a rough start, we remained positive in between periods, and (Catherine LeBoeuf ’17) has done such a great job stepping up as a leader ever since (captain Maddie Woo ’17) got hurt,” Donovan said. “Her positive attitude is contagious on the team.”
Migliori had two points in the game and was one of two Brown players with a positive plus/minus in a predictably tough matchup against the Big East opponent. Because of injury absences, including Woo and forward Erin Conway ’17, several first-years played an important role. Alois got the start, while Stephanie Rempe ’20, Alley Rempe ’20, Sena Hanson ’20 and Migliori all played crucial minutes on the penalty kill and power play and in closing minutes of the game. In fact, every point tallied for Bruno went to a sophomore or a first-year. “We have nine freshmen, and they all have huge roles on the team,” Donovan said. “They all work tremendously hard in practice and off the ice, and it shows in the games. Yesterday was (Alois’) first game, and she played great. (Migliori’s) confidence has grown so much from the beginning of the year. It definitely won’t be her only goal.” After a Providence timeout with six minutes left in the game, the Friars managed the result before eventually tacking on an impressive, shorthanded empty net goal from behind their own blue line. The loss marked the seventh that Bruno has lost in a row after starting the season 3-2. The Bears have a game against Merrimack at home Tuesday.