SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019
VOLUME CLIII, ISSUE 5
WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
Researchers improve 3D printed human organs
U. offers tuition deadline extension in light of govt. shutdown
New material made of alginate graphene oxide has range of medical, biological applications
Children of fed. workers, students awaiting fed. tuition assistance eligible for extensions
By JANET CHANG SENIOR STAFF WRITER
University researchers recently published a study analyzing the material properties of alginate graphene oxide, which could lead to new developments in both cancer research and 3D printing technology for human organ printing. The team aims to simulate the environment in which tumors grow and use that simulation to predict the response of human cells to tumor growth.“There’s (an) ongoing hypothesis that if you make (a cell) matrix that’s disregulated and stiffer … (it may) also support more aggressive tumor cells,” said Ian Wong, associate professor of molecular pharmacology, physiology, biotechnology and engineering, who oversaw the study. The adjustable stiffness of alginate GO allows researchers to examine how changes in stiffness affect cell behavior, he added. In addition, the discovery of alginate GO’s properties could potentially be used to develop
By LI GOLDSTEIN SENIOR STAFF WRITER
COURTESY OF AMY SIMMONS
In a new study, researchers analyzed alginate graphene oxide and assessed its potential for use in organ 3D printing. They further suggested its relevance to cancer immunotherapies, drug delivery and tissue engineering. cancer immunotherapies, improve drug delivery and aid in tissue engineering. The study found that by adding a certain amount of GO to alginate gel, a jello-like substrate, a firmer gel is produced; this new gel can be used in ways
distinct from the uses of pure alginate gel. Thomas Valentin GS , the principal investigator of the study, described the experimental process. First, the team tested if the mixture could behave like a liquid, a property which is ideal for
particular kinds of 3D printing. Second, the researchers evaluated the mixture’s ability to withstand various pressure and stress tests. The team found that the alginate » See ORGANS, page 2
The University is offering tuition deadline extensions to students whose parents are federal workers affected by the partial federal government shutdown, according to a Jan. 18 press release. Students awaiting tuition assistance directly from a federal agency will also receive a penalty-free extension on tuition payments. The University is handling requests on a case-by-case basis. The shutdown — which began Dec. 22 and temporarily ended Jan. 25 — left some families across the nation without a constant source of income, prompting numerous universities to offer extensions on tuition payments to affected students, the Associated Press reported. » See EXTENSION, page 2
Reproductive rights take Former prisoners discuss incarceration center stage at State House Omar Alshogre, Jose Over one hundred activists gather in support, opposition of five proposed bills By JACKSON TRUESDALE SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Five bills regarding abortion were heard by the Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee Tuesday night, and over 100 activists filled the State House halls to support or oppose the bills. Should the U.S. Supreme Court ever overturn Roe v. Wade, the Reproductive Health Care Act (H 5127) would codify protections set forth in Roe v. Wade at the state level. In her testimony, Rep. Edith Ajello, D-Providence, one of the bill’s lead sponsors, argued that the RHCA would maintain the current status quo as exists under Roe v. Wade in the state. Both Providence and Central Falls city councils affirmed their support for the RHCA in resolutions this past week, which were distributed at the State House Tuesday night. This hearing marks the third year that state legislatures have filed the RHCA, The Herald previously reported.
INSIDE
Another bill heard Tuesday, the Reproductive Privacy Act, is similar to the RHCA but does not repeal existing state abortion restrictions that currently do not align with federal law. The other propositions are not in favor of codifying Roe v. Wade in the state — the R.I. Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act, the Right to Life Act of 2019 and a resolution “recognizing the fetus as a human life upon the existence of a heartbeat.” An hour before testimonies began, the hearing room filled to capacity, and overflow rooms quickly became crowded. Signs with Planned Parenthood or pro-life slogans flew overhead. Around 5:00 p.m., a chant of “Life!” broke out for several minutes. At least three priests of the Catholic Church stood in the halls. In the hearing room, those seated held signs, and one Make America Great Again hat could be seen. “I don’t understand how people can rationalize it,” said Providence resident David Gillis, a self-proclaimed devout Roman Catholic and pro-life supporter. Deploring the “loss of human potential,” Gillis added, “You can’t take somebody’s life because it’s inconvenient » See BILLS, page 2
Diaz share experiences in Syria, United States By PEDER SCHAEFER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
For former Syrian political prisoner Omar Alshogre, the experience of looking into a mirror after his release from prison was shocking — he was unrecognizable to himself, with bloodshot eyes and weighing just 75 pounds. Alshogre was imprisoned in 2012 at the age of 15, and he spent the next three years shuffled from prison to prison in Syria, eventually ending up at the infamous Sednaya military prison, near Damascus. He was released three years later, after his mother paid a bribe to an army official. Alshogre, along with Jose Diaz, a student at New York University who was incarcerated for 11 years at various prisons in New York, spoke Tuesday night at an event entitled “Critical Conversations: Experiences of Incarceration in the United States and Syria,” which was organized by Students Organizing for Syria and the Brown Middle East Studies Department. The event took place in the new Stephen Robert ‘62 P’91 Hall and was moderated by
COURTESY OF BROWN UNIVERSITY MIDDLE EAST STUDIES
Omar Alshogre (right) and Jose Diaz (middle) shared their stories of incarceration at an event moderated by Professor Alex Winder (left). Visiting Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern Studies Alex Winder. At the event, Alshogre and Diaz shared their stories. Alshogre recounted his family life in northern Syria before demonstrations against the Bashar al-Assad regime began in 2011. While he had a relatively peaceful childhood, the demonstrations transformed his future. After he and his friends and family chose to participate in the protests, he was arrested for the first of seven times. “I knew before … if you are in prison, you are one of the bad guys,” he
said. “I can’t imagine a prisoner being a good guy. But when they put me in prison, I know that I am a good guy.” When officials began torturing him, he understood “that they are not a good guy. They are not good, now they are the people who kill us. That’s why we need a revolution.” When Alshogre eventually reached Sednaya, he found that the prisoners were not allowed to talk, or else they faced torture. So instead they whispered, telling each other about themselves, what they did and who they were. » See PRISON, BACK
WEATHER
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019
NEWS Year after building opening, occupants of South Street Landing positively review new workspace
NEWS U. neuroscientists developing new bioluminescence tools to better study brain activity
COMMENTARY Calvelli ’19: Seniors should not fear being unemployed straight out of college
COMMENTARY Secondo ’16 GS: Students should consider duty to embody Brown’s mission of stewardship
PAGE 3
PAGE 6
PAGE 7
PAGE 7
TODAY
TOMORROW
32 / 3
17 / 8
NEWS
PAGE 2 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019
» ORGANS, from page 1
Read Join
GO mixture is stronger and stiffer than just alginate, all while behaving in the liquid-like manner required of biomaterials used for 3D printing. Valentin worked closely with co-investigators Alex Landauer ScM ’16 GS, Luke Morales ’18 and other researchers based at the School of Engineering, University of Wisconsin and the National University of Singapore. The researchers chose GO to add to the alginate because they knew it was “a material several orders of magnitude stiffer than alginate,” Valentin said. GO is unique because it is comprised of a sheet of “atomically thin carbon,” making it one of the strongest materials in the world. The findings of this study build on Valentin’s previous work, which demonstrated that it was possible to 3D print using alginate through a process called stereolithography, whereby a laser beam passes over a vat of liquid and transforms selected liquid molecules into a solid shape. Using the combination of stereolithography and alginate GO, scientists can now 3D print human organs with blood vessels, a feat not previously possible using alginate alone because alginate is “too soft … and hard to handle,” Wong said. 3D-printed organ cells typically suffer from a short lifespan due to a lack of nutrient delivery to the center of the organ and its cells, which can
lead to potential cell and organ death. Now that this new 3D printing technology allows for the printing of blood vessels throughout the organ, nutrient delivery to the centermost cells of the organ is possible, which increases the organ’s shelf life, Valentin said. These innovations will allow researchers to 3D print vascular (blood vessel) systems. Moving forward, the next step for researchers will be to further optimize the material for other properties, which in turn could lead to additional applications. Two properties that are most exciting to researchers are oil repellency and anti-fouling behavior. “If we optimize these, we could have many applications for marine anti-fouling, (such as) sensors that can take readings during an oil spill,” Valentin said. One day, the oil repelling abilities of alginate GO could be used to prevent fouling by oils and corrosion by seawater, he added. Although GO is commonly added to various compounds, including certain types of plastics, this is the first time it has been used in biomaterials for 3D printing, said Robert Hurt, professor of engineering and founding director of the University’s Institute for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation, whose research concerns environmental and biological safety testing of new materials. “The use of (GO) for 3D printing is a very specific application. You could easily take this further. It’s not expensive or difficult,” he said.
The Herald browndailyherald.com/join herald@browndailyherald.com
» BILLS, from page 1 for you.” In the hearing room, certain witnesses’ testimonies were met with “Amen” and applause. One witness, former R.I. State Representative Linda Kushner, recounted nearly dying after getting an illegal abortion 60 years ago. “I don’t want any woman to go through what I had to go through,” she said. “When abortion is restricted, (women) are forced outside the medical system,” said Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Benjamin Brown ’08 MD ’12. While many came to testify and support their positions, the future of these bills remain unclear as states across the nation contest abortion legislation. “We’ve been seeing really restrictive abortion bans in states like Ohio. … And a lot of these types of things some people are saying are kind of bait or could be used to bring things up to the Supreme Court,” said Maeve Wiesen ’21, president of the Brown chapter of
NARAL Pro-Choice America. Wiesen was joined by Ben Lipson ’22, political director of the Brown Democrats, and Liam Greenwell ’20, treasurer of the Brown chapter of the ACLU, who said they support the RHCA and oppose the four other bills. They planned to testify Tuesday but left the State House before they were able to deliver their addresses, citing a backlog of other witness testimonies as the reason for their departure. Greenwell and Celia Story ’19 have been concerned about reproductive rights in the state since last April, when they wrote an oped in The Herald positing that repealing Roe v. Wade would pose a serious risk to abortion access in Rhode Island. Six University students accompanied the representatives of the Brown ACLU, Brown Dems and Brown NARAL to the hearing. “I think that a lot of people have assumptions about what it means to be going to school in New England and in a state that is blue. In my experience a lot of people just haven’t thought that this is an issue here,” Wiesen said.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
» EXTENSION, from page 1 “We wanted to make sure that we were able to assist those families that may run into issues, since the government shutdown was running for an extensive amount of time,” said Director of Financial Services Wynette Zuppardi. As of last week, about 40 students who receive federal tuition assistance were still waiting on funds, Zuppardi said. “The funds that are expected for those students are posted on their student account as ‘memo credits,’ or anticipated money that we will be getting from a third party,” she added. “Those memos stay on until February 15 — if we haven’t received those funds by (that date), we will extend them so that those accounts will not accrue any sort of late fee.” The Bursar’s Office is not aware of which students are children of federal workers, so students in need of an extension on their tuition payments must request one, Zuppardi said. To date, the Bursar’s Office has received three inquiries into tuition deadline extensions, she added. Judy Kim ’22 said her father is a federal worker who had to work without pay during the shutdown. Kim has been paying for educational expenses with her own money, but she noted that since the government has reopened, the back pay her father will eventually receive should cover her expenses. Peter Huson ’21 said both of his parents are federal workers who went without pay during the shutdown. “Due to the government reopening recently, they’ve just received all of their back pay,” he added. Neither Kim nor Huson was aware of the tuition deadline extensions made available to students affected by the shutdown. Had Kim known about them, she said she would have considered requesting an extension. “Students who would qualify (for an
USHA BHALLA / HERALD
extension) would have had to reach out to the Bursar Office, which isn’t very convenient,” Huson said. “That puts the burden on the student.” Because the shutdown occurred during the University’s winter break, Huson said he did not have trouble covering educational expenses. “The coincidental timing of the shutdown meant that for many students, the impact wasn’t felt at school but rather felt at home,” Huson said. Students unable to cover expenses can also request emergency financial assistance from the University of up to $500 throughout the year, according to the press release. Kim said that she was looking into applying for emergency funds before buying books for the spring semester, but she did not end up doing so after the government reopened. There has not been any notable increase in the number of students requesting emergency funds as a result of the shutdown, aside from the normal peak seen at the beginning of every semester, Zuppardi said.
In light of the recent temporary end of the shutdown, the University will continue to work with affected families and offer necessary accommodations, “especially since some families won’t get paid for another couple of weeks as they return to work and wait for the payroll process,” Zuppardi said. At present, the tuition deadline extensions have not placed a significant strain on University funds. “Looking at where we currently stand, I would say that it’s not going to be a significant impact. We will be waiving some late fees on a case-by-case basis,” Zuppardi said. “If the government shutdown was to continue, it could be more costly to the University.” In the case of another government shutdown, Zuppardi expects that the University would continue offering tuition deadline extensions. “In the short term, we would continue to do what we’re doing,” Zuppardi said. “However, the team would definitely have to regroup and consider the impact as we move forward.”
JACKSON TRUESDALE / HERALD
State Rep. Edith Ajello listened to testimony regarding abortion legislation at a public hearing at the State House. She sponsored the Reproductive Health Care Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade in Rhode Island.
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 • PAGE 3
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Move to South Street Landing improves staff experience In occupancy survey, 46 percent of staff say new space exceeds expectations By CORRINE BAI SENIOR STAFF WRITER
South Street Landing, once a coalfired factory in the Jewelry District, has transformed into an expansive workspace for the University. Administrative staff from 11 departments — once located in the Brown Office Building at 164 Angell St. and various buildings on College Hill — finished moving into South Street Landing Dec. 2017. In their first year at South Street Landing, staff members have been satisfied with their new workspace’s function, design and productivity. In the South Street Landing occupancy survey, 46 percent of participants found the new space exceeded their expectations and 34 percent agreed that the new design improved their productivity, according to John Luipold, vice president of Real Estate and Strategic Initiatives. As a historical preservation project, South Street Landing maintained the original brick and steel structure of the four-story factory and added two additional floors of office space, The Herald previously reported. The building was not originally intended for office use, so it has features that may be considered atypical for a traditional office building, Luipold said. For example, the floors were pulled in to create a gap between the office area and the original glass paneling
that made up the factory, he added. Moving more than 400 people from College Hill to the Jewelry District was a logistical difficulty, Luipold said, adding that the process took roughly three months. The University office area, which occupies the fourth through sixth floors of South Street Landing, consists of both open and hard-wall space to promote collaboration, while leaving opportunities for privacy, Luipold said. Besides cubicles, the University office area also includes private offices, conference rooms, privacy rooms, mother rooms, kitchens and common areas which await future development. After the staff settled in, they found unexpected challenges with the space of the new building. For example, though ample natural sunlight is usually considered an asset for office buildings, one side of the fourth floor had so much sunlight that employees who are stationed in the area had to wear sunglasses, Luipold said. However, after installing blinds and frosting the windows, the situation improved. Judy Nabb, associate director of Learning@Brown, called her new office a big “step up” aesthetically and professionally compared to the old Brown Office Building. Her old office had many mismatched desks and cubicles cramped up in a limited space, she said. Prior to moving to South Street Landing, the human resources department was split between two separate floors in the Brown Office Building. She finds that the new spacious setup of South Street Landing promotes collaboration among co-workers. Now,
“(people in my department) are all in such proximity,” Nabb said. The employees often pop up their heads above their cubicles to ask questions or pull their chairs to the middle of a common area for a discussion, she added. Doreen Burgers, director of Administrative Services and Outreach, used the word “neighborhood” when reflecting on her experience so far at South Street Landing. She enjoys the “clean, fresh, bright and comfortable” office which helps her collaborate better and more easily with her colleagues. Despite the move, employees who work at South Street Landing still find ways to stay connected to College Hill. The University shuttle transports employees from South Street Landing to College Hill within 10 minutes, and Burgers often returns to the main campus to provide training sessions or check out new eateries on Thayer Street.
BENJI TORUÑO / HERALD
South Street Landing, a historical preservation project that was formerly a coal-fired factory, is now a University workspace.
Want daily headlines or weekly Brown Bites in your inbox? thebdh.org/subscribe
NEWS
PAGE 4 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
The Herald celebrates Student Press Freedom Day
Ravi Betzig, General Manager
“Supporting journalism and watching Brown students launch careers in journalism has been an incredibly rewarding experience.”
Celia Hack, Metro Editor
Celina Sun, Copy Editor
“The Herald is a place that’s encouraged my love of learning new things, as well as forcing me out of my comfort zone to learn about Providence.”
“The Herald is a place where I can laugh, make new friends and learn more about Brown.”
Chris Schutte, Science & Research Editor
“The Herald started as a fifth class at 195 Angell. But it’s grown from that. The Herald is a family.”
The Brown Daily Herald SINCE 1891 Sarah Martinez, Graphics Editor
Benji Toruño, Photo Editor
Maia Rosenfeld, Senior Staff Writer
Elise Ryan, Arts & Culture Editor
Providing daily news for 125 years
Read Join
“I like The Herald in part because of the skills I’ve gained from working on the graphics team, but mostly because of the fantastic friends I’ve made.”
“The Herald is a place to pursue my photographic interests in a context that invites me to continually improve.”
“The Herald is a fun and powerful way to discover and share important stories.”
“The Herald has allowed me to work with a creative group of students that have, without a doubt, made me a better writer and thinker.”
BE A PART OF HISTORY. JOIN THE HERALD. The Herald browndailyherald.com/join herald@browndailyherald.com
thebdh.org/join
TODAY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 • PAGE 5
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
menu
college hill sunse t
SATELLITE DINING ANDREWS COMMONS
Pizza: Pepperoni, Spicy Sausage and Garlic Po’ Boy JOSIAH’S
BLUE ROOM
Empanada Bar, Quesadilla Station, Southwestern Burger
Broccoli and Cheddar Soup, Grain Bowl, Beef Chili
DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH
DINNER
Butternut Squash Soup, Grilled Pesto Chicken, Roasted Beets, Millet Grain Bowl, Meatballs
Carne de Porco Alentejana, Baked Polenta, Braised Greens, Broccoli Alfredo Pasta
VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH
DINNER
Brown Rice Pilaf, Gnocchi with Bolognese Sauce, Minestrone Soup, Cream Cheese Brownies
Antipasto Bar, Rotini Pasta, Risotto, Stuffed Shells with Meatless Sauce, Chicken Piccata
sudoku
REBECCA HO / HERALD
The beautiful colors showcased in a College Hill sunset give students a sense of nostalgia for a summer sunset long since gone. Students now eagerly await the beginning of spring and warmer weather.
Q U O T E O F T H E D AY
“We will use principles of open science to share our tools and knowledge with all interested scientists.” — Justine Allen PhD ‘14
See bioluminescence on page 6. crossword
calendar TODAY JANUARY
S
6
M
7
T
W
Th
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
8
9
10
11
12
Joy + Justice Art Exhibit 9:00 AM Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity
Responding to Advisor and Committee Feedback 12:00 PM Sciences Library, 520
Gathering to Honor the Life of Will Povell ‘20 4:00 PM Leung Family Gallery
2019 Midyear Activities Fair 6:00 PM Alumnae Hall
TOMORROW
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Warm Up to Study Abroad! 12:00 PM Page-Robinson Hall, lobby
Wellness at Brown!: Breath and Bliss Yoga 12:00 PM South Street Landing
How to Find and Fund an Internship by CareerLAB 4:00 PM CareerLab, 1st floor
January Jam 7:30 PM The Underground
NEWS
PAGE 6 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Bioluminescence researchers study neuronal activity, promote education Bioluminescence Hub’s collaborative project allows for specialized labs, increased impact By ZACHARY LEVIN STAFF WRITER
A team of University researchers received funding from the National Science Foundation in August 2017 to develop bioluminescent tools that can be used to enhance methods of studying the brain; researchers atCentral Michigan University and the University of California, San Diego also received the funding. The group studies tools in bioluminescence and optogenetics, the process of altering non-light sensitive cells so that they become light sensitive. They also share the techniques with other scientists and develop ways to engage with students of all levels, said Justine Allen PhD ’14, the group’s program manager. Allen summarized the group’s core goals as “innovation, dissemination and education.” The group, called The Bioluminescence Hub, is a part of the National Science Foundation’s effort to invest in researchers that innovate new ways to learn about the brain and share those tools with other scientists, according to Christopher Moore, professor of neuroscience and associate director of the Carney Institute for Brain Science. Moore is the principal investigator of the Bioluminescence Hub and leads one of the group’s four labs. Along with Moore, the other coprincipal investigators include Diane Lipscombe, professor of neuroscience and director of the Carney Institute for Brain Science, Ute Hochgeschwender, professor of neuroscience at the College of Medicine at Central Michigan University and Nathan Shaner, principle investigator at the Scintillon Institute. Each researcher leads a lab that focuses on different topics within research on
bioluminescence and optogenetics, as they relate to neuroscience. “The four labs in our NeuroNex are working on advancing methods based on bioluminescent tools, and also working hard to openly and very freely disseminate this knowledge at a lot of different levels,” Moore said. Each lab specializes in a different part of the group’s goals, with Shaner’s lab at the Scintillon Institute working to find, develop and improve fluorescent compounds. “Out of the whole team, we are the most basic science … so one thing we do is we go out into the field, for example to the great barrier reef … and collect samples of fluorescent and luminescent animals,” Shaner said. Hochgeschwender’s lab takes these compounds and uses molecular biology techniques to tie the bioluminescent molecules to light sensitive proteins and implant the products into the neurons. Her lab, and NeuroNex as a whole, work to encode, in simplistic terms, both a light emitter and light sensor in neurons, opening a whole new variety of applications and tools for scientists, she said. These modified neurons, with the bioluminescent and optogenetic alternation, are studied in Lipscombe’s lab, where she and other researchers are looking at ways to use light emission as an indication of neuronal activity. “We’re trying to make these molecules bioluminesce when there’s a calcium signal, so we can use these molecules as a proxy for activity,” Lipscombe said. Moore’s lab takes these same tools to study more complex networks of neurons in the brain. To test theories about how the brain works, researchers often need to record from many neurons — Moore proposed 1,000 neurons as a possible sample size — which can be done in several labs around the world. These labs utilize neurons, modified with these bioluminescent constructs, which flicker each time they fire, allowing researchers to observe activity by counting the series of flashes. “Bioluminescence is a really powerful way of chemically generating
COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER FAVERO
After receiving funding from the National Science Foundation, University neuroscientists are developing new tools in bioluminescence and optogenetics with the goals of “innovation, dissemination and education.” light and controlling or watching cells,” he said. “(This research) allows us to tease out information from the brain in ways not currently possible,” said Hochgeschwender. Shaner also referenced the ways in which bioluminescence can be used to perform live cell microscopy at very high resolution, a challenge researchers face today. On this same point, Lipscombe mentioned how bioluminescence can provide better tools for observing neural activity, something neuroscience researchers continually need. “Being able to see where the brain is active is a huge goal,” Moore said. He added that the combination of bioluminescence and optogenetics could “allow cells to optically communicate where they used to chemically communicate … (and) rewire the brain with light.” Beyond the research and innovation goals of the group, the Bioluminescence Hub also works to share its technology with other researchers and with students
Find us online! facebook.com/browndailyherald
browndailyherald.com
@the_herald
Location: 195 Angell St., Providence, R.I. www.browndailyherald.com
@browndailyherald
youtube.com/browndailyherald
Editorial Leadership
Sections
Multimedia & Production
Business
Editor-in-Chief Emily Davies
Arts & Culture Editors Elise Ryan Annabelle Woodward
Design Editors Kyle Cui Bilal Ismail Dylan Tian Julie Wang
General Managers Ravi Betzig Nicholas Masiakowski
Managing Editors Anna Kramer Priyanka Podugu Senior Editors Anita Sheih Sarah Wang
Metro Editors Colleen Cronin Sophie Culpepper Celia Hack
Editorial Page Editors Grace Layer Krista Stapleford
News Editors Katherine Bennett Jacob Lockwood Melanie Pincus Allie Reed
post- magazine Editor-in-Chief Anita Sheih
Science & Research Editors Cate Ryan Chris Schutte Sports Editors Alexandra Russell Alex Smolar COMMENTARY Opinions Editors Rebecca Aman Emily Miller Derek Simshauser
Head Photo Editors Tiffany Ding Benjamin Turuño Copy Desk Chief Kelley Tackett Illustrations Editor Daphne Zhao Video Editor Victoria Caruso Max Dekle Graphics Editors Sarah Martinez
of all education levels, Moore said. “We’re hoping to educate students and the public at all levels. We have a plan for grade school students, high school students and undergraduates,” Allen said. “We will use principles of open science to share our tools and knowledge with all interested scientists through our website content, emissary program and workshops. These interactions allow other labs to use our tools to pursue their own research questions and serve as teaching and training opportunities for our graduate students and postdocs,” Allen added in an email to The Herald. At his lab in California during the summer of 2018, Shaner and his colleagues hosted three undergraduate students and two high school students — one sponsored by NeuroNex — who pursued independent research projects within bioluminescence and molecular biology. The Brown-based labs also offer Undergraduate Research and Teaching
Office Manager Diane Silvia Directors Sales: Bersabel Yifru Finance: Rudra Srivastava, Reynaldo Blandon Strategy: Edwin Farley
Awards for University students, in addition to a program called the Marine Biological Laboratory Undergraduate Practicum. “The (MBL Practicum) is an opportunity for undergraduates, usually juniors and seniors, from all across the United States to come to Woods Hole, MA for a week-long immersive experience (to learn about bioluminescence),” Allen said. The researchers, with the help of a few high school students this past summer, have also developed a “bioluminescence kit” for high school teachers, which they hope will help teachers present the topic in high school science classes. “We hope to give a zero- or lowcost kit to teachers and a lot of materials to make it easy to teach a hands-on lesson on bioluminescence,” Moore said. “I think the fun thing about having a collaborative project like this is that … each individual project on its own is great, but they are so much greater when they are combined,” Lipscombe said.
Editorial contact: 401-351-3372 herald@browndailyherald.com
Advertising contact: 401-351-3372 advertising@browndailyherald.com
Submissions: The Brown Daily Herald publishes submissions in the form of op-eds and letters to the editor. Op-eds are typically between 750 and 1000 words, though we will consider submissions between 500 and 1200 words. Letters to the editor should be around 250 words. While letters to the editor respond to an article or column that has appeared in The Herald, op-eds usually prompt new discussions on campus or frame new arguments about current discourse. All submissions to The Herald cannot have been previously published elsewhere (in print or online — including personal blogs and social media), and they must be exclusive to The Herald. Submissions must include no more than two individual authors. If there are more than two original authors, The Herald can acknowledge the authors in a statement at the end of the letter or op-ed, but the byline can only include up to two names. The Herald will not publish submissions authored by groups. The Herald does not publish anonymous submissions. If you feel your circumstances prevent you from submitting an op-ed or letter with your name, please email herald@browndailyherald.com to explain your situation. You can submit op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com and letters to letters@browndailyherald.com. When you email your submission, please include (1) your full name, (2) an evening or mobile phone number in case your submission is chosen for publication and (3) any affiliation with Brown University or any institution or organization relevant to the content of your submission. Please send in submissions at least 24 hours in advance of your desired publication date. The Herald only publishes submissions while it is in print. The Herald reserves the right to edit all submissions. If your piece is considered for publication, an editor will contact you to discuss potential changes to your submission. Commentary: The editorial is the majority opinion of the editorial page board of The Brown Daily Herald. The editorial viewpoint does not necessarily reflect the views of The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. Columns, letters and comics reflect the opinions of their authors only. Corrections: The Brown Daily Herald is committed to providing the Brown University community with the most accurate information possible. Corrections may be submitted up to seven calendar days after publication. Advertising: The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. reserves the right to accept or decline any advertisement at its discretion. The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. is a financially independent, nonprofit media organization bringing you The Brown Daily Herald, BlogDailyHerald and Post- Magazine. The Brown Daily Herald has served the Brown University community daily since 1891. It is published Monday through Friday during the academic year, excluding vacations, once during Commencement and once during Orientation by The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. Single copy free for each member of the community. Subscription prices: $200 one year daily, $100 one semester daily. Copyright 2019 by The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. All rights reserved. Periodicals postage paid at Providence, R.I. Postmaster: Please send corrections to P.O. Box 2538, Providence, RI 02906.
COMMENTARY WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 • PAGE 7
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Job advice from an unemployed senior AIDAN CALVELLI staff columnist I graduate in four months and have no idea what I’m doing next year. As so many fellow ’19-ers know, it is a terrifying feeling. The comfort and regularity of college life are rapidly giving way to an impending unknown where the only certainties are skyrocketing rents and more expensive access to the New York Times. Instead of being ghosted by that cute classmate you asked out, you’re now getting the brush from HR departments worldwide. In this climate, Brown seniors’ common refrain is to lament that they’ll never get a job. Jokes and memes about our nebulous employment prospects abound. Students (like myself) avoid questions about their post-grad plans with abandon, posturing a resignation to live at home. But this posturing, while perhaps an understandable outlet for graduation-induced anxiety, to me reflects an ignorance of the privilege our Brown education affords. It’s scary to not know what life holds after May. Still, we’re about to graduate from a super-elite university. While it’s important to recognize that not every student has the same background
and career network, there’s every indication that a job will turn up sooner rather than later for most of us. So when someone asks you what you’re doing next year, resist the temptation to complain about how hard it is to secure gainful employment. Finding work is stressful and difficult and, for many people, has serious financial consequences. But it doesn’t serve anyone well to make a public performance of unemployability, especially when for most Brown students, such a jobless fate most likely won’t be the
Moreover, the national unemployment rate is 3.9 percent. Ninety percent of jobs created in the last year went to people who have graduated college. A report from the Georgetown Public Policy Institute found that by 2020, there will be five million more jobs requiring a college degree than there will be workers to fill them. So as a college graduate, despite what your uncle who laughs at your classics degree might tell you, you are in an enviable position in the job market. That doesn’t even account for the
naling power and vast network that our fancy-sounding degree carries. Some people might respond, “Yeah, I know I could get some job, but not a good one in the field I want to work in.” To that I’d say, true! That’s precisely the distortion caused by the elite college bubble we inhabit. Our expectations for a good first job are skewed by the rare offers obtained by our friends from Goldman and McKinsey. The social pressure to be elite makes it seem like you need a fancy title to make a difference. And the
It’s on us to embrace the opportunity to look beyond the allure of a sixfigure salary with a recognizable job title and affirm that not having a job yet is both normal and okay. case. Statistics illustrate that some of our fears might not be wholly rational. Around 91 percent of Brown graduates each year immediately enter the workforce or graduate school. You might be in that 9 percent, but there’s a 91 percent chance you’re not. Although the Open Curriculum has allowed me to evade math courses, I’m still pretty sure 91 is greater than 9. While this data doesn’t reflect every individual’s experience, it does present a comforting picture for most of us.
fact that you’ll graduate from a prestigious university with high graduate earnings into a world where the name on your diploma can take you far. None of these numbers will make a job magically appear for you. And getting a job is still a stressful, consequential endeavor, especially for people who can’t rely on their economic privilege to weather a stretch of unemployment. But the data should be a reminder that something will very likely materialize. Pretending that isn’t true is an insult to those navigating the labor market without the sig-
Brown bubble can make many of us forget that most people need a job to put dinner on the table, not to begin shaping the world in their image as 22 year-olds. Uncertainty is always part of the job search. But attending Brown acts as a big hedge against that uncertainty. When we complain about how hard it is for us to get work, we minimize the much more significant challenges faced by people who didn’t have the privilege to attend college, let alone an elite one. By complaining, we also treat the
job search as a burden, letting our fears drive a negative attitude. Instead of acting like we won’t get jobs and letting uncertainty make graduation stressful, I think we should acknowledge our position’s advantage and embrace the potential for growth this uncertainty provides. So, don’t think of finding a job you love as an entitlement or as a box to check that makes your expensive education worth it. Instead, work to see the job search as an opportunity to bring the values you’ve learned at Brown outside the college bubble. That search might be more erratic than the safe, regimented path many students took to get to Brown. But it’s on us to embrace the opportunity to look beyond the allure of a six-figure salary with a recognizable job title and affirm that not having a job yet is both normal and okay. With that mindset, we will eventually find work we’ll be proud to do and share.
Aidan Calvelli ’19 can only be reached for comment if you offer him a job. For employment opportunities, please email aidan_calvelli@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
A homecoming meditation REID SECONDO staff columnist During my second semester as an undergraduate, it clicked. Brown is more than a place of learning; it is also an idea: a celebration of free inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge deployed in service of making our world a better place. Born from countless people, values and aspirations, it is a dynamic collection of layers that are ever accumulating, subject to the course of over 250 years of history. Like Earth’s geological strata that progressively build upon each other, the Brown of today stands on the Brown of yesterday to shape the Brown of tomorrow. Archeological philosophy aside, I found this realization profound, and it shaped how I saw myself in relation to Brown and in turn its relation to me. Brown is a part of my identity, and I am a part of it. This symbiosis is not temporarily commercialistic, but perpetually mutualistic. For us who are lucky to call ourselves Brunonians, we are stewards of this idea of Brown, tasked to carry it with us throughout life beyond College Hill. No different than the expectation of living a life of usefulness and reputation, this responsibility is easier said than done. Lofty?
Sure. Highfalutin? Slightly. But whether we like it or not, our lives are woven into the fabric of Brown, layered into its history and embodying the very idea we convey to our communities. In the seeds we plant and the dreams we manifest, Brown thrives. If we fail to believe or practice its ethos, it erodes. When I first graduated from Brown during the sunset of Pax Obama, my class was sent off
the tragicomedy became reality. The rosy veneer crashed under the tumultuous undertow from a perfect storm long brewing in blue-collar homes, fringe media and dark-money conservative circles; all it took was the right people to unleash it. Returning to Brown against the backdrop of our current climate made me revisit my role as a steward of the idea of Brown. In the aftermath
Returning to Brown against the backdrop of this current climate made me revisit my role as a steward to the idea of Brown. into the golden hour with parting words to be constructively irreverent, embracing our Brown spirit to be forces of good in the world. At the time, our country lived in blissful complacency while watching a disturbing insurgency play out before us. A mounting danger to the status quo emerged from anger and displacement coupled with huckster opportunism and now-confirmed criminality. The vocal majority dismissed this threat as a fleeting phenomenon. Yet overnight,
of 2016, the values, norms and standards I practiced and believed in at Brown appeared to have lost worth in a world newly disrupted by forces of unconstructive upheaval. But in picking up the pieces, we have since found a revitalized appreciation for the norms that hold the world together and the values that bring people together. Though the tenets of progress, decency and civic virtue in the name of a free and open world may have wobbled, they have far from toppled. The
idea of Brown is no different. The idea of Brown today must be carried with greater vigor and passion than ever before. Against the tides of corrosiveness and maleficence, Brown is a resolute pillar of promise that inspires the better angels of our nature to take action. Perhaps more than just stewards, we are its faithful practitioners, the proud standardbearers of a belief that the power of knowledge and discovery is stronger than intolerance and isolation. We are the next leaders and changemakers armed with the wisdom and constructive irreverence to foster human progress and goodness. We build bridges while tearing down walls. Where there is darkness, we shed light. Where there is ignorance, we share truth. Where there is fear, we inspire hope. This is our charge. We are Brunonians, and our world is worth fighting for.
Reid Secondo ’16 GS can be reached at reid_secondo@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and opeds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
NEWS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019
City Council dismisses student housing ordinance Ordinance limiting undergraduate students to four per home removed from consideration
Providence City Committee on Ordinances voted Jan. 29 to “continue indefinitely” a previously proposed amendment which would have restricted housing to no more than four undergraduate students per home across the city. The ruling “kind of kills” the amendment, said Tina Mastroianni, first deputy city clerk. “(The committee) can’t take it up again.” The amendment had been introduced in July 2018 by councilman Seth Yurdin and Samuel Zurier, adding language that would restrict more than four undergraduates from living together in two-family, multi-family and various other types of homes. Yurdin later withdrew his support out of concern that the amendment discriminated against students. “A law that reduces the scope of discrimination, but still allows it to apply to others is not acceptable,” he wrote.
A previous housing ordinance amendment that was passed by City Council in 2015 limited the number of college students per single-family home to three, whereas the amendment discussed Tuesday would limit the number to four in various types of homes, such as multi-family. The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island later challenged the 2015 amendment in the Rhode Island Superior Court, which upheld the ordinance. Following that decision, the ACLU of Rhode Island appealed the case to the Rhode Island Supreme Court, where it is awaiting a decision on whether it will be heard. The amendment was initially proposed after many homeowners living in neighborhoods surrounding the University’s campus pushed for student housing limitations. Spurred by complaints of disruptive parties, concerns about rising housing costs and a desire to preserve “neighborhood character,” residents began a campaign in support of more extensive zoning rules, according to The College Hill Independent. Robert Azar, deputy director of the City Plan Commission, advised that the amendment is “superfluous” due to the ordinance currently awaiting hearing in the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
then eventually to Sweden, where he received medical assistance for his tuberculosis — which he caught in prison — and later, an education. Now, Alshogre lives in Sweden and works for the Boston Consulting Group. He tells his story to audiences across the world. Diaz also spoke about his experience with incarceration, but in the United States. Diaz was imprisoned in 2005 at the age of 19 after killing a man in a gang fight. Eventually, he joined a prisonto-college pipeline program through Cornell that led him to a Bachelor of Arts/Master of Art track at New York University, where he is currently majoring in Latino Studies and Social and Cultural Analysis. Diaz read aloud a short story he had written about his experience with imprisonment, called “Doors.” The story recounted both the experience of being in prison and the way prison severs connections with people outside the prison system. “We’re here not as tokens to share a story… but as accomplices in the struggle,” he said of the multifaceted aspect of the event, with Alshogre sharing his experiences in Syria and Diaz in the United States. Mahmoud Nowar, an audience member who has also survived Syrian
prisons, said that to compare Syrian prisons with American ones was to normalize prisons in Syria. Instead, he said that they are more similar to concentration camps than to prisons. “It’s not about competition of suffering. It’s not about who suffered more. It’s about extending our awareness of what a human can be,” said Nour Audi GS, a second-year graduate student in Brown’s Master of Public Health program and an SOS organizer. “It’s extremely difficult to put these two experiences side by side. It’s more about getting people to relate to other people. It’s about diverse perspectives,” said Samy Amkieh ’21, also an SOS member. Winder said that students drove the planning and organizing of the event, and they aimed to draw a diverse audience of undergraduate students and academics. Providing a contrast between Syria and the United States was a way of making the event “accessible,” he said, allowing the audience “to think more broadly about what the experience of incarceration is.” Both men were full of optimism and excitement for life in their talks. Both say prison changed them. “The most important and powerful and best experience I had in my life was prison,” Alshogre said. “I survived because I was in prison.”
By ISABEL INADOMI SENIOR STAFF WRITER
ISABEL INADOMI / HERALD
The Providence City Committee on Ordinances voted down an amendment that would have restricted the number of students that could live together in various types of homes.
» PRISON, from page 1 “I want to talk. I want to whisper,” Alshogre said, so the prisoners “created a university, the university of whispers.” In Sednaya, Alshogre was assigned to write numbers on the bodies of prisoners who died while in prison, often due to poor conditions and torture. The guards would ask, “How many dead bodies do you have today?” For Alshogre and his cellmates, there was only ever one answer. More. “And the numbers just kept going up,” Alshogre said. He told of how the guards would force prisoners to torture and kill one another, and that they were always hungry. He said it was a dream to die full in prison. He explained that torture was actually key to survival for him, “because if you sit down you’re going to die. In torture, you get to move.” “Three years in prison is quite some time,” Alshogre said. “It’s not like being in Providence or at Brown University, because every minute is a hundred years. You can see everything, you can feel everything. How difficult it is. People dying every single hour. We have dead bodies everywhere.” Once Alshogre was released from prison, he travelled first to Turkey and
MEAL PLAN
changes
STEP ONE:
Choose a Meal Plan. VIEW OPTIONS AT BROWN.EDU/FOOD
REMINDER:
T DAY THE LASEA L PLAN
TO MAKE M EDNESDAY, CHANGES IS W
FEB. 6!
• You can ADD a new Meal Plan at any time during the year • You can make one CHANGE per semester. The deadline for spring semester changes is Wednesday, Feb. 6. • Meal Plan CANCELLATIONS are not available during the spring
STEP TWO:
Let us help!
EMAIL DINING_SERVICES@BROWN.EDU OR CALL 863-3343 WITH QUESTIONS
• Changes may be made in person weekdays from 9:00AM to 4:00PM at the main Brown Dining office located at 144 Thayer Street (Sharpe Refectory).