Thursday, January 26, 2017

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

VOLUME CLII, ISSUE 2

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RISD Museum offers free entry on Inauguration Day Museum promotes inclusivity, defends freedom of expression as Trump assumes presidency

By MADISON RIVLIN ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

MARIANNA MCMURDOCK / HERALD

The Undergraduate Council of Students unanimously passed the Campus Consent Bill Wednesday night. The bill requires one member of every Category III student group to undergo sexual assault peer education training.

UCS passes Campus Consent Bill Bill mandates Sexual Assault Peer Education trainees in every Category III student group

By EDUARD MUÑOZ-SUÑÉ SENIOR STAFF WRITER

In a unanimous vote, the Undergraduate Council of Students passed the Campus Consent Bill at the council’s general body meeting Wednesday night.

The bill dictates that every Category III student group must have at least one member of its executive board trained by the Sexual Assault Peer Education program by the 2018 spring semester.

Category III student groups risk their UCS funding and classification if they do not comply with the bill’s conditions.

UCS President Viet Nguyen ’17 hopes the trained club member, referred to as the SAPE liaison, will share the training with other members of the group.

The liaisons “will be given the tools to

opt into doing a full-on presentation for their student group,” Nguyen said.

“It’s not random people coming into your group and asserting their own values,” Nguyen said, adding that the liaison will be “someone from your group who is trained to talk about how community and cultural norms can shift to address rape culture, both at Brown and at its smaller communities.”

“We understand that for true change to happen, especially in communities, » See UCS, page 3

In response to the sentiments of anger and trepidation surrounding the Trump presidency expressed by many within the art community, the Rhode Island School of Design Museum offered free admission to the public on Inauguration Day Jan. 20.

The free admission elicited a positive response from the Providence public. According to Colleen Mullaly, the RISD Museum’s manager of visitor services, 378 people visited the museum that day. “A typical Friday in January may have half that number,” she said.

The decision to offer free entry came largely in response to a call for collective anti-Trump resistance in the art world, known as the #J20 Art Strike, said Amee Spondike, director of development and external affairs

ARTS & CULTURE

for the RISD Museum.

“We are always looking at the community at large and thinking about our place within the art world. Very early it became clear that the #J20 group was calling for a boycott of sorts,” Spondike said.

The movement, made up of artistic institutions and artists who asked museums, galleries and other spaces “to close on the day of the inauguration as a form of concern about what the Trump presidency might look like in terms of freedom of expression and … human rights in general,” said Director of the RISD Museum John Smith.

But after witnessing expressions of solidarity through social media outlets and discussing the movement with RISD President Rosanne Somerson and colleagues at other museums, the RISD Museum directors decided to keep its doors open to the public.

“Instinctively, (closing) didn’t feel like the right idea to me or (Smith) — as an art museum, it felt like a waste of an opportunity for us,” Spondike said. “We both agreed to be open and free that day — both of our moral compasses pointed to this, and I’m proud of that decision,” she added. » See RISD, page 3

Sea sponge study offers engineering insights Race, gender define reveals skeletal Oscars’ best picture race U.rodsstudy in marine sponge, ‘La La Land’ and ‘Moonlight’ incite debate over cinematic, social repercussions of win

By DANIEL WAYLAND SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The Golden Globes, affectionately known as the little (and drunker) brother to the Academy Awards, aired with much fanfare Jan. 8. Yet despite all the conversation and attention that the awards ceremony generates, the Golden Globes themselves provide relatively little insight into who will collect Oscar hardware in February. The Golden Globes occur several weeks before Oscar nominations are even announced, introducing a format that lends itself to a certain measure of awkwardness. Indeed, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, whose performance in “Nocturnal Animals” won him a Golden Globe for best supporting actor, did not even receive an Academy Award nomina-

ARTS & CULTURE

INSIDE

tion. Additionally, “La La Land” and “Moonlight” both earned Golden Globes in their respective categories for best musical or comedy and best drama, though they will compete for best picture at the Academy Awards.

Such discrepancies are expected, as the separate voting bodies responsible for the Golden Globes and Oscars differ in both adjudication style and membership. Nonetheless, while the Golden Globes might not offer a precise means of predicting future Oscar winners, they, at the very least, identify and uncover the emerging narratives that will define the Academy Award season.

In separating “La La Land” and “Moonlight,” the Golden Globes failed to address the most contentious debate of early Oscar buzz — which frontrunner will win the best picture honor come February. Race once again dominates the awards season and is particularly central to the arguments surrounding “La La Land” and “Moonlight.” Following the #OscarsSoWhite controversy of previous years, “Moonlight,” which » See OSCARS, page 4

geometric shape that resists buckling

By STEPHANIE ZHANG SENIOR STAFF WRITER

New research in a study conducted

by Michael Monn GS and Assistant Professor of Engineering Haneesh Kesari revealed that the structure of the marine sponge Tethya aurantia demonstrates an impressive strength and inspires new connections between nature and engineering. Rods called strongloxea spicules make up the skeleton of the sea sponge and closely approach the optimal shape to resist buckling under pressure.

The rods are thicker in the center and tapered on either end. Their shape was remarkably uniform between spicules of different sponges, which led the researchers to question whether it served a mechanical function, Monn said.

“The immediate finding … that the spicules are tapered seems to increase the effectiveness of supporting a load by 33 percent,” Kesari said. The exact shape closely resembles the shape of

COURTESY OF MICHAEL MONN

A recent study by Michael Monn GS and Assistant Professor of Engineering Haneesh Kesari offers new perceptions of the structure of a marine sponge. the Clausen column, theorized in 1851

by German scientist Thomas Clausen

to optimize resistance to buckling. » See SEA SPONGE, page 2

WEATHER

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

NEWS Alternative blood clot removal treatment proven cost-effective by U. researchers

ARTS & CULTURE ‘Sweet/Vicious’ mixes genres, addresses sexual violence on college campuses

COMMENTARY Colby ’20: U. admissions accepts too many from top one percent, elite New York private schools

COMMENTARY Tisch ’17: Brown Athletics’ ‘Beauty and the Beast’ event title harmful, misogynistic

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PAGE 2 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

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New blood clot removal device proven cost-effective U. analysis of related health costs demonstrates economic viability of stroke treatment

By JONATHAN DOUGLAS SENIOR STAFF WRITER

When used with medication, a new stroke treatment cost $23,203 less than treatment with medication alone, according to a new study by University researchers. The new treatment, thrombectomy — a procedure in which a surgeon widens the artery using a “stent retriever” and then draws out the blood clot — was established as cost-effective in a study conducted by a team coled by Theresa Shireman, professor of health services, policy and practice.

Strokes, which are often caused by a blood clot in the brain, can have debilitating effects, such as slurred speech and partial paralysis. Doctors must necessarily remove the clot quickly after the stroke occurs, Shireman said.

Previously, drugs alone had been used to break apart the clots. But with the advent of thrombectomies, the study co-led by Shireman evaluates a combination of both methods of treatment.

While this procedure had been proven medically effective during a clinical trial run in 2015, the study conducted by Shireman and her team revealed that the treatment is also costeffective.

In order to assess the financial toll of each treatment, Shireman and

» SEA SPONGE, from page 1 Kesari said that the motivation behind biologically-inspired engineering research is in using nature as a source of possibility: “Engineers are really good, given an initial design, at making it very precise. But there’s no systematic way to arrive at the initial guess. That’s why we look at nature.”

While homo sapiens have only evolved in the past 200,000 years, sponges have existed for over 700

her team collected data on the costs of treatment while in the hospital 30 days after the treatment and 90 days after the treatment.

To calculate the costs of the treatment beyond 90 days and complete the study within a reasonable timeframe, the authors used a separate group of stroke patients, all of whom were demographically consistent with the group used for the analysis up to 90 days, said Jeffrey Saver, a co-author of the paper and professor of clinical neurology at the University of California at Los Angeles. To analyze the costs after 90 days, the researchers considered factors such as life expectancy, medical costs and daily living expenses. Data were drawn from a variety of national databases to project future costs for patients like those in the study.

While cost-effective analyses vary case by case, the procedure followed in this study is relatively standard for calculating cost predictions, as the data collected was combined with a longterm model, said Milton Weinstein, professor of health policy and management at Harvard. Not all devices that pass clinical trials are evaluated in a cost-effective analysis like this one, which provides evidence to hospitals and insurance companies that the treatment is economically viable. Though the study was funded by Medtronic — the company that produces the device — the researchers secured academic freedom before pursuing the analysis, Shireman said.

Saver considers the outcomes of million years. A large segment of the planet’s organisms have become extinct during this time, Kesari said. Organisms with the longevity of these marine sponges have faced extreme evolutionary pressure and experienced many opportunities to adapt. “If they’ve survived to this day, there’s a higher probability that the kind of adaptations they have are really good,” he added.

The simplicity of the organism also makes it a better candidate for research, Kesari added. The sponge

DOROTHY WINDHAM / HERALD

both the clinical trial and cost-effective analysis to be promising. The study proved that the combined treatment is one that not only improves outcomes

for patients but also saves the health system money, Saver said, adding that the results were “very gratifying.”

Shireman furthered that sentiment:

“It was really an exciting project to work on. … It’s a project that, at the end of the day, you feel good having been involved in.”

both supplies an evolutionary benefit and lies at the “sweet spot” of animal complexity, making it easy to understand, he said.

“Sea sponges basically act as water filters — water pumps for nutrients,” Kesari said. The simplicity of the mechanical function makes it more straightforward to identify a structureproperty connection, Monn added.

The implications for this outcome are twofold, the researchers said. The most immediate and concrete impact is the potential for optimizing structures and thereby reducing costs. “For example, in aerospace applications, a lot of the cost comes from the fuel needed for transporting mass,” Kesari said. Finding that the spicules can support 33 percent more load than a regular column means engineers can reduce the mass of a column with the same function by 33 percent by using this design.

The larger implication for this study, Kesari identified, is a fundamental shift in the dynamic between scientific study and nature. “Long ago, in Darwin’s time, people were interested in nature, but assigned a theological meaning to it.” But the

existence of biological structures that are far from optimal created skepticism, Kesari said. “This work somehow brings it to a balance; a lot of things in nature are not the best, they only have to be good enough,” he added.

“This is a proof that nature can actually hit optima — not that it will, but that it can.”

This marks what Kesari calls a “paradigm shift” that allows us to be more open-minded about looking toward nature for inspiration. Monn added that their research “might lend weight to the possibility that nature is capable of powerful adaptations.”

James Weaver, senior research scientist at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, said that other studies investigating structure-function relationships in skeletal materials traditionally focus more on the material composition than on external geometry.

The authors’ detection of the strength created by the “tapering geometry of these simple linear skeletal elements was ... really unexpected,” Weaver said. The study “shows potentially how many other interesting lessons you can learn from investigating

even the simplest biological skeletal materials,” he added.

With the study’s interdisciplinary nature, Monn spoke of several considerations the researchers faced when conducting their study. With a background in mechanical engineering, Monn found it particularly challenging to understand “the subtleties of the biological details.” The study required both the skepticism of an engineer and that of a biologist, Monn said.

Regarding the field as a whole, there has recently been a lot of buzz surrounding “bio-inspired engineering” that characterizes it as a new and emerging field. But Kesari discouraged framing bio-inspired engineering as a new phenomenon. He cited Leonardo da Vinci’s 1488 ornithopter — a flight device designed in the style of bird or bat wings — as an example.

Despite its historical underpinnings, the field is moving in a new direction.

“We do have new tools, and therefore new possibilities, so we can ask questions that we haven’t before,” Kesari said. “Just as flight revolutionized the world … there is room for many such revolutions.”

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 • PAGE 3

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

» RISD, from page 1 “We are a public institution that considers itself welcoming, where people can gather in good times, bad times and everything in between,” Smith said. “Free admission sends a very strong message about our belief that museums are places that are inclusive places where conversations can occur between and among people of all backgrounds and all points of view.”

The directors did not intend the free admission to be interpreted as a direct political statement, but rather as an acknowledgement of the art community concern surrounding the incoming Trump administration’s attitude toward the arts, Smith said.

Through this decision, they hoped to assert the vitality of art within a civil society.

The museum’s intent was to remain inclusive, an open space that stimulates conversation, Smith added. “Museums are community spaces where people of all backgrounds can and should come together.”

As there is “really something here for everyone … this was an opportunity for us to open our doors, as we hope that everyone feels safe at the RISD Museum,” Spondike said. “Art museums can play a role in helping us share in moments of humanity … and help spark a greater understanding.”

The RISD Museum was not the only art institution offering free admission on Inauguration Day. Others

» UCS, from page 1 it can’t be forced,” Nguyen said, adding that student interest is integral to the program’s success. For the 2017 spring term, SAPE will run a pilot program with roughly 30 student groups that volunteered to participate. The program is intended to be fully implemented by the 2018 spring term.

In an effort to raise student enthusiasm for the bill, UCS reached out to club leaders two weeks before the start of the 2016 academic year. By the beginning of Wednesday’s meeting, the bill had received endorsements from 98 student groups.

“Ninety-eight (clubs) — I don’t think that’s ever been done before. It shows there is high demand and (the bill) is

COURTESY OF RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN MUSEUM

In response to the #J20 protests, the Rhode Island School of Design Museum sought to create an inclusive community environment by offering free public admission on Jan. 20. Over 370 people visited the museum — more than double the museum’s typical Friday attendance. offered a “pay what you want” option, extensive programming or lectures, while others went about business as usual, Smith said.

“The arts community is as diverse as a country. I am sure that across the country there are artists and others who support Trump and others who

obviously feel strongly the other way,” Smith said. “I think and hope that (what) artists share in common is the belief that freedom of expression in

whatever form that takes is something to be celebrated rather than something to be denied.”

a necessity,” Nguyen said. At the end of the vote, two more student clubs had endorsed the bill, raising the total number of endorsements to an even 100.

After five questions from current UCS members, including questions about topics covered by SAPE training, the bill passed unanimously with no abstentions.

At the meeting, Nguyen also announced that the Counseling and Psychological Services had chosen a new director, William XXX. XXX will be on campus tomorrow for a dinner and to tour the CAPS facilities and Brown’s campus.

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ARTS & CULTURE PAGE 4 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

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‘Sweet/Vicious’ grapples with campus sexual assault MTV series uses crossgenre approach to combine humor, social consciousness

By AMY WANG SENIOR STAFF WRITER

“People are just getting away with awful things. I’m trying to make some of that right,” says protagonist Jules Thomas on MTV’s ongoing series “Sweet/Vicious.”

“Sweet/Vicious,” which premiered last November, tells the story of two typical college students — Jules , portrayed by Eliza Bennett, and Ophelia Mayer, portrayed by Taylor Dearden — who each take on a vengeful vigilante persona at night. Ophelia is a computer wizard and a green-haired outsider with perfect grades and a terrible attendance record. Jules is a popular sorority member hiding a secret alter ego and a painful past.

Forging a unique friendship along the way, the girls join together to form a vigilante team that specializes in late-night ambushes of rapists on the school’s campus. The genre of the show is best described as an amalgamation of action, drama and comedy: a blend that is effective at times and less so at others, as is the show’s approach to discussing the hot-button topic of sexual assault.

Rape on college campuses is an extraordinarily relevant issue, and media centering on this subject has the potential to be meaningful and evocative.

“Sweet/Vicious” encapsulates many aspects of such compelling media.

Rather than blaming rape victims, “Sweet/Vicious” humanizes them. It holds perpetrators accountable and demonstrates that those who commit sexual assault do not all conform to a single profile. These are all important points, and “Sweet/Vicious” addresses them carefully and effectively.

REVIEW

» OSCARS, from page 1 narrates the life of an impoverished gay black man named Chiron, comes

COURTESY OF MTV

Eliza Bennett and Taylor Daerden star in MTV’s “Sweet/Vicious,” which follows two college students who combat sexual assault on campus by resorting to vigilante violence against the perpetrators. The show, which premiered Nov. 15, aired its season finale on Tuesday.

Less commendable is the way in which the show reduces sexual assault to something that can be addressed simply via midnight violence, legstabbing, electrocution and even — spoiler alert — murder. Take the very first scene of the series: Jules, dressed as some kind of imitation ninja, crawls into a student’s dorm room, warns him — through a voice changer, of course — never to commit the act again, stabs him in the thigh and leaves without even retrieving the weapon. The whole scene comes across rather farcically; it is neither realistic nor tasteful, and espouses the idea that inflicting violence on another individual is the only way to settle the score. Sexual assault is more of a systemic, prevalent issue than a series of nighttime ambushes can resolve. While Ophelia and Jules

are attacking rapists, their words intentionally echo those of the rapists themselves, something that may strike viewers as more uncomfortable than empowering.

Of course, this is a TV program about teenage vigilantes, and it’s not as though Batman is any less violent in fighting crime. Still, considering the show’s central theme bears such enormous relevance to student life on campuses today, it’s unfitting to talk about “Sweet/Vicious” in the same context as other superhero series. Things might be different if the protagonists had any sort of significant qualms about their actions — but they don’t, and that’s a problem.

But in terms of sheer entertainment value, “Sweet/Vicious” has its moments. The juxtaposition of

lighthearted humor and darker scenes works well. Moreover, the humor is snappy, highly referential and very appropriate for its 21st-century audience.

As leads, Bennett and Dearden have lukewarm chemistry. Both fit their roles well — Ophelia’s snarky sarcasm is typical of a token “edgy teen” character, but Dearden delivers it so well that would-be bland lines are made humorous. The same goes for Jules’ wide-eyed naivete, which could be frustratingly saccharine if not for Bennett’s endearing delivery.

Character relationships are another big plus. Jules and Ophelia’s partnership aside, it is heartwarming — and sometimes heartbreaking — to watch the interactions between Jules and her sorority sister Kennedy, portrayed by Aisha Dee. Their care for each other is

so pure and authentic that it automatically boosts the quality of the show.

But the show also suffers from stereotypical side characters, plot line inconsistency between first season episodes and an admittedly ridiculous storyline, as Ophelia’s hacking prowess ensures that a timely deus ex machina is always in reach.

“Sweet/Vicious” does, at times, recognize its own implausibility. For example, in one scene, Ophelia asks Jules: “Who takes their bright pink sorority backpack to vigilante target practice?”— a very meta nod to the absurdity of the situation.

Maybe “Sweet/Vicious” tackles issues of sexual assault in an empowering way, or maybe such issues would be best addressed through other platforms. It’s up to the viewer to decide.

as a tonic to the Academy’s aversion to art either celebrating black life or authored by black auteurs. It is characterized as the “serious” and

“important” counter to the feel-good pastiche of antiquated Hollywood musicals in “La La Land.”

“Moonlight” suffers more from

this characterization. The film falls victim to its own strengths: Critical dialogue surrounding Chiron’s experience as black, gay and male inevitably leads to bland conclusions about the movie’s “seriousness.” These conclusions allow audiences to indirectly treat the film as an opportunity to fulfill “woke-ness” quotients rather than recognize it as a legitimately beautiful art piece. “Moonlight” isn’t “important” just because of Chiron’s race and gender, but rather because of Director Barry Jenkins’ ability to communicate the suffering bound up in America’s centuries-long toxic treatment of black male sexuality. Jenkins treats Chiron not simply as a vehicle for that communication but rather as a fully-realized human being.

Discourse surrounding “La La Land” has also ventured into the cultural morass of race and gender.

The film has faced criticism for Ryan Gosling’s character’s penchant for “mansplaining” jazz to co-star Emma Stone’s character. Moreover, critics argue that the film gives into cinema’s white savior narrative cliche — as Ira Madison wrote for MTV: “The wayward side effect of casting Gosling as this jazz whisperer is that ‘La La Land’ becomes a Trojan horse white-savior

film … In ‘La La Land,’ the fate of a minority group depends on the efforts of a well-intentioned white man.”

Criticism for “La La Land” is as unfair as that for “Moonlight”; the film is not a jazz movie, but rather uses jazz as to explore the very human flaws of its subjects. In its portrayal of two artists struggling to hone a craft, “La La Land” explores tensions between professional and romantic passions.

The undue effects of advertising space and box office success also add to the contentious nature of the Best Picture race. “La La Land” has enjoyed a stronger Oscar advertising campaign, purchasing 1,872 square inches of total advertising space compared to the paltry 266 bought by “Moonlight,” according to statistics aggregated by FiveThirtyEight. Furthermore, “La La Land” has reeled in $175 million in total box office revenues, against the $15 million brought in by “Moonlight.”

These figures have only furthered the narrative of “Moonlight” as a progressive David fighting the conventionalist Goliath of “La La Land.”

Regardless of which film wins the best picture race, “Moonlight” and “La La Land” have charged the early Oscar season with competing discourses on race and gender.

COURTESY OF WIKICOMMONS

“ La La Land” and “Moonlight” each took home a Golden Globe in their respective categories but will have to compete for best picture at the Academy Awards in February.

TODAY

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 • PAGE 5

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menu

a winter tea break

SATELLITE DINING ANDREWS COMMONS

Pizza: Mushroom’s Revenge, Spicy 5 Cheese and Garlic, BBQ Bam Bam Make Your Own Pasta JOSIAH’S

BLUE ROOM

BBQ Chicken Burrito Bowl

Soup: Turkey Chili, Fire Roasted Vegetable, Kabob and Curry

DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH

DINNER

Castle Hill Clam Chowder, Breaded Chicken Fingers, Assorted Cupcakes

Chicken Florentine, Italian Beef Noodle Casserole, Yellow Cake with Coconut Frosting

VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH

DINNER

Roasted Corn Chowder, Enchilada Bar, BBQ Beef Sandwich

Shepherd’s Pie, Couscous, Creamy Parmesan Primavera, Hearth Bread

sudoku

ELI WHITE / HERALD

Tea in Sahara, a Moroccan-themed cafe nestled in a quiet corner of Providence on Governor Street, offers locals a respite from the winter cold while serving light fare as well as coffee and tea.

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

crossword

“Just as flight revolutionized the world … there is room for many such revolutions.”

— Haneesh Kesari, assistant professor of engineering

See SEA SPONGE on page 1.

CORRECTION An article in Wednesday’s paper (“Wintersession fosters study of niche topics,” Jan. 25) stated that 82.5 percent of the students who attended Wintersession were first-generation. In fact, that percentage was 32.5. The Herald regrets the error.

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Fly Club 1:00 P.M. Science Center, 3rd Floor Athletes in Action Prime Time Gathering 8:00 P.M. Pembroke Field House

TOMORROW Exhibition — Northern Horizons, Global Visions 10:00 A.M. Haffenreffer Museum

Preparing for Career Fairs 12:00 P.M. CareerLAB

BOP Winter Arias Concert 7:00 P.M. Grant Recital Hall

January Jam with RUF 7:00 P.M. List Art Center, 120

COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

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D O R O T H Y W I N D HA M

comics A Horse of Any Other Name | Zachary Silberberg

Ampersand | Wasita Mahaphanit

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COMMENTARY THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 • PAGE 7

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Equal admission rates for all OWEN COLBY staff columnist Regular decision applications to Brown are finally in, and for some applicants, their high school’s name has already dramatically increased their chances of admission. Select high schools have acceptance rates to elite universities like Brown that are double or triple the national average. Brown has institutionalized a preference for elite, and mostly private, high schools, which undermines its commitment to holistic diversity in the admissions process.

Brown disproportionately focuses on applicants from elite private schools. It is an open secret that Brown assigns one admissions officer — Director of Admissions for Science Recruitment Annie Cappuccino — to just five of New York City’s most elite high schools, four of which are private.

Yet these schools together constitute a meager graduating class of 1,120 students, according to their enrollment statistics. Meanwhile, Associate Director of Admission Momoho Takao works with all other public and private schools in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx, an area that encompasses well over 35,000 graduating students yearly. These skewed admissions priorities are reflected in the composition of the student body: As a recent New York Times article notes, more Brown students come from the top 1 percent of incomes than from the entire bottom 60 percent.

The elite high schools represented in Cappuccino’s district boast remarkably high levels of Ivy League enroll-

ment. For instance, an astonishing 40 percent of students who graduate from private schools like Collegiate School, Brearley School and Trinity School attend Ivy League colleges. One might assume that not all students from these schools apply to Ivy League institutions and those who do are accepted at far higher rates than Brown’s stated 9 percent acceptance rate. These high acceptance rates from New York elite high schools are not an exception, but rather the norm among elite pri-

lion students in over 1,800 schools, including high-quality, specialized high schools and a citywide public school choice program. But only one, Stuyvesant High School, is on Cappuccino’s elite agenda. Still, no New York City public high school sees as many of their students attending Ivy League universities as the city’s elite private schools.

It also could be argued that most Ivy League applications come from elite high schools, and that’s why

panded the meaning of diversity to include gender diversity, aiming to maintain a near 50-50 gender balance. While Brown is making strides to increase its admission of underrepresented minorities, diversity in experience and upbringing is also important. Students from these private high schools are surrounded by peers and families that can afford an annual tuition in excess of $40,000 from a young age. And these high schools are largely racially homogeneous and

Such an overwhelming focus on elite schools undermines Brown’s stated commitment to diversity and also excludes a multitude of highly-qualified students who don’t come from elite schools.

vate high schools around the country; graduates from private high schools like the Dalton School, Horace Mann School and Chapin School all enroll in Ivy League schools at rates above 30 percent, according to their admissions statistics.

One could argue that these are the most qualified applicants, but this disproportionate acceptance rate is very hard to justify considering the vastness and quality of New York City’s public school system. The New York City Department of Education serves 1.1 mil-

Brown accepts students from these schools at higher rates. But this is patently false. Brearley, for example, only has 57 students in its graduating class.

This means that even if every single Brearley student applied to Brown, the number of applicants would still be less than two years’ worth of applicants from one of the city’s upper middle-tier public school, Beacon High School.

More than anything, this bias for private high schools undermines Brown’s stated goals of increasing diversity and inclusion. Brown has ex-

often do not represent the communities in which they are located. Even specialized public schools, intended to serve the diverse student population of New York City, aren’t particularly diverse. Stuyvesant High School, for example, admitted just 10 black students last year out of an incoming class of nearly 1,000, according to Brooklyn Magazine. When elite colleges admit students primarily from elite high schools, they ignore the economic and racial diversity of the broader student population.

Economic barriers exist to even gain entry to schools that provide these advantages in college admission.

All of these selective private and public schools require standardized testing, which has a well-documented correlation with socioeconomic status. Standardized tests diminish the opportunities of lower-income students to gain admission to such exclusive educational institutions. The harm of these tests is compounded when success on such standardized exams is required as early as middle school to increase the chance of eventual admission to Ivy League schools.

Brown should shift its focus from elite private and public high schools and devote more attention to students from a wider range of educational backgrounds. Such an overwhelming focus on elite schools undermines Brown’s stated commitment to diversity and also excludes a multitude of highly-qualified students who don’t come from elite schools. Horace Mann — who, ironically, happens to be the namesake of a New York City private school that charges thousands in tuition ­­ — once called education “the great equalizer.” By focusing on elite private schools, Brown does a disservice to higher education’s role as a true equalizer and rather perpetuates existing inequalities in the United States.

If we want admissions to be truly fair, students from elite schools should be subject to acceptance rates that at least resemble those of other applicants. If not, Brown’s holistic admissions process will continue to be little more than hot air.

Owen Colby ’20 can be reached at owen_colby@brown.edu.

Let’s not objectify our athletes CHARLOTTE TISCH op-ed contributor Earlier this week, several events circulated on Facebook promoting a Brown Athletics department-sponsored meet featuring the gymnastics team and the wrestling team. This Friday will be the third annual iteration of the event, a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. Spectators are encouraged to #WearPink and #PackThePizz. As my life and the lives of many other members of the Brown community have been touched by cancer, I salute the athletics department and the teams involved for supporting this cause. But our lives have all been touched by the misogyny, sexism and traditional gender roles that have come to the forefront particularly in the election and Women’s Marches last week. It is for this reason that I implore the athletics department to take a long, hard look at why calling this event “Beauty and the Beast” is harmful and disrespectful.

The “beauty” in “Beauty and the Beast” refers to the gymnastics team. I cannot deny that the tumbling passes and dance elements of gymnastics are beautiful. But gymnastics and the athletes who participate in the sport are far more than just beautiful. Anyone who watched Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman and the rest of the USA gymnastics team at the

2016 Summer Olympic Games witnessed the sheer power and athleticism of the sport. Any inflexible person (like myself) who has struggled to do a simple cartwheel can appreciate the strength, balance and grit this sport requires.

To market these hardworking athletes as simply “beauties” is to objectify them. This is un-

care and skill. The misunderstood nature of the sport, combined with the hypermasculinity and aggression from the label “beast,” makes light of and normalizes these characteristics off the mat. Let’s not refer to these athletes with a label that implicitly condones hostility and violence.

While “Beauty and the Beast,” the 1991 an-

I urge the Brown Athletics Department to change the name of this event. It is especially inappropriate for an event that aims to showcase athletes (many of whom are not cis-males) and raise awareness for breast cancer to have a name so loaded with misogyny and bias.

acceptable.

The term “beast” is also problematic as it has connotations of wild aggression and hypermasculinity. Though often portrayed as a violent sport of domination, wrestling is actually a highly technical sport that requires tremendous

imated Disney film to which the event name most likely refers to, is regarded as a classic, it has been criticized by activists and scholars alike for promoting domestic violence. The anthropomorphic teapots, utensils and household utilities that inhabit the Beast’s mansion in the

film live in fear of his violent tendencies and aggressive outbursts. Though the Beast never directly strikes Belle or causes her bodily harm, he intimidates her, silences her and holds her hostage. By no means is this an example of a healthy relationship. By no means should the athletics department compare two teams that represent the University to this dynamic.

In the context of last week’s Women’s Marches and the growing marginalization of people who are not cisgender males, I urge the Brown Athletics Department to change the name of this event. It is especially inappropriate for an event that aims to showcase athletes (many of whom are not cis-males) and raise awareness for breast cancer to have a name so loaded with misogyny and bias. The new name should not speak to the presumed gender of the athletes on each team. The new name should not play with harmful stereotypes or traditional gender roles as portrayed in the media. The new name should not refer to works of popular culture that promote toxic relationship dynamics. I suggest a new name that either highlights breast cancer awareness or the equal athleticism and humanity of each team. This cause is important, and these athletes are talented and hardworking. It is more than enough to market this event for exactly what it is.

Charlotte Tisch ’17 can be reached at charlotte_tisch@brown.edu.

ARTS & CULTURE THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

ELI WHITE / HERALD

The Shop, Coffee Exchange and Malachi’s are three of the small, local cafes on College Hill that Brown students and professors as well as Providence locals turn to for casual fare and coffee.

Providence coffee shops offer unique atmospheres East Side neighborhood offers hidden retreats for students, variety of tea, coffee selections

By JUSTIN FERENZI STAFF WRITER

Thomas Jefferson once said, “Coffee is the favorite drink of the civilized world.”

These words still ring true — there is perhaps no drink as ubiquitous in the life of the college student as coffee. It can be a morning ritual, a classroom accessory, a social stimulant or a late

night savior. Luckily, for Brown students the East Side is spotted with quality, local options for that all-important brew.

Nestled between trendy boutiques and restaurant, Dave’s Coffee has become a favorite of South Campus dwellers and off-campus residents. Located on South Main Street, its rustic wooden signage serves as a constant beacon to potential coffee-seekers.

Well-sized with cozy bench seating in the back, Dave’s Coffee easily allows patrons to remove themselves from the din near the counter.

“It’s the perfect place to escape and

Religious Studies: Spring 2017

Many of today’s pressing political and social concerns are illuminated by an understadning of the religious beliefs and practices that lie beneath and within the news headlines. Come and explore what Religious Studies has to offer!

RELS 0057: Religious, Race, & Environmental Ethics Alda Balthrop-Lewis TTh 9-10:20am

RELS 0095: Islam Abed Azzam MWF 2-2:50pm For more information, please visit www.brown.edu/academics/religious-studies

get some work done. I love the music they play,” said Marissa Moreno, a resident of East Providence and frequenter of Dave’s Coffee. “It’s indie and fresh and really conducive to focus.”

“It reminds me of home,” said Emma Wexler ’18.5, a frequenter of her local Bay Area coffee roasters.

One of Dave’s Coffee’s most alluring options is its specialty lattes, with unique flavors like “Coffee Milk” and “Vanilla Bourbon.” The store also sells its own coffee syrup, which patrons can use to make Rhode Island’s famous coffee milk.

Dave’s Coffee’s intimate setting is echoed over on Wickenden Street at The Shop — a cozy, welcoming cafe, which The Shop Barista John Henry said boasts “a great community feel.”

“We get students, professors and commuters,” he said. “Everyone is always working on something interesting, and I love hearing about it.”

Bench and bar-style seating adds emphasis to this intimate feel, encouraging singletons to mingle with their fellow coffee drinkers.

Despite a smaller menu that prioritizes coffee, patrons praised the quality of the food. “The avocado toast is awesome,” said Nathan Buchwald ’19.

“They give you practically a whole avocado.”

Further down Wickenden Street, East Side students flock to Coffee Exchange. Charming and full of greenery, Coffee Exchange has an impressive array of coffees, teas, pastries and beans.

Joseph Austerweil, former professor of cognitive, linguistic and psychological studies was known to urge his classes to try its Cubano, a strong, espressolike shot.

“I brew my own coffee at home, but I go to Coffee Exchange for my beans.

The baristas are really knowledgeable about the roasts,” said Jonathan Chemburkar ’19, a devotee of the cafe.

In a more secluded location on Governor Street, Tea in Sahara, though known for its tea, carries a small selection of Moroccan coffees.

Daniel Plaisance ’19 cites Tea in Sahara as his favorite coffee shop, noting its “spaciousness” and “laid back

atmosphere.”

Tea in Sahara also offers an assortment of Middle Eastern fare, including hookahs, a hot and made-to-order falafel and sweet, sticky baklava.

Malachi’s, perhaps the local hotspot furthest from campus, is a small, family-owned coffee shop known for its enormous iced coffees served in mason jars and Portuguese-inspired food selections. The baristas also serve up frozen, blended drinks including a unique local favorite: the Chaistachio, a chai tea and pistachio flavored creation.

Another popular menu selection is the tea, which has Providence College student Salvatore Flight making the trek to Malachi’s whenever he can. “The coffee is great, but my favorite drink here is their green tea,” he said.

For students looking to get their coffee fix from local Providence cafes, East Side offers a strong selection of not only flavors, but also atmospheres.

“For me it’s all about the vibe,” said Thea Monje ’19. “When you find a place that makes you happy, you can just settle in, get some work done and enjoy.”