A Day on College Hill Special Issue: April 14th, 2023

The Brown Daily Herald A Day on College Hill Special Issue

Welcome to a Day on College Hill

Hi everyone!

Congratulations on getting into Brown, and we hope you enjoy A Day on College Hill. Quick intro: We’re the 133rd editorial board of The Brown Daily Herald, Brown’s only independent, student-run daily newspaper. We work with over 300 students to deliver timely and quality news to Brown’s campus and the broader Providence community.

Within the pages of our ADOCH special issue, you’ll have a chance to get to know the rest of the admitted class of 2027, learn about hidden gems around College Hill and hear about the traditions that make Brown special!

Table of Contents

Editors’ Note

10 must-dos on College Hill

Admitted class of 2027

Figuring out financial aid

Deciding on Brown

Arts & Culture on College Hill

College Hill destinations

Late night food on Thayer

Favorite courses

As you explore campus, we hope this edition gives you a peek into what life at Brown could be like for you.

Warm wishes and enjoy your visit!

Will Kubzansky ’24, Katy Pickens ’24, Alex Nadirashvili ’24, Augustus Bayard ’24, Caleb Lazar ’24, Peter Swope ’24 and Kaitlyn Torres ’24

Student government round-up

Activism and labor round-up

A brief history of a capella

Origins of open curriculum

Environmental activism

10 Things to do before leaving College Hill

1. Chow down at the Blue Room. Enjoy a muffin and iced latte at the café in the Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center. It’s a great spot to work or catch up with friends — but gossipers beware, you never know who’s in the booth behind you.

2. Lounge and picnic on the Main Green. Play Spikeball, read a book or watch the Brown University Poler Bears — the Brown-RISD pole dancing troupe — rehearse on the Green.

institutions merged in 1971. But be careful: Legend has it that any student that steps on the stone engraved with Pembroke’s seal is doomed to not graduate — or get pregnant!

Providence. Enjoy scenic views of the bay at India Point Park, check out the pedestrian bridge or take in the sunset over at Prospect Terrace.

3. Get a ‘spicy with’ from Josiah’s or enjoy pho Friday at Andrews. After a long day, visit Andrews Hall to try some pho. For late-night fare, swing by Jo’s for a spicy chicken sandwich with cheese — ask for a “spicy with.”

4. Skillfully avoid stepping on the Pembroke Seal. Campus’s north end is what once was Pembroke College — Brown’s coordinate women’s college until the two

5. Snap a pic in front of the Van Wickle Gates. Every Brown student passes through the Van Wickle Gates twice during their undergraduate education — once during Convocation and again at Commencement. The gates remain closed during the rest of the year, but every prospective student should make sure they snap a pic in front of them.

6. Grab a bite at Bagel Gourmet or Louis. Students looking for a morning pick-me-up often find themselves at Bagel Gourmet, with locations on Thayer and Meeting streets, or Louis Family Restaurant on Brook Street.

7. Relax in a park and get to know

8. Be serenaded at Wayland Arch. With over a dozen a capella groups on campus, everyone can find a sound that works for them. Groups often congregate under Wayland for its acoustics and central location.

9. Explore Ives and Wickenden. Further off the beaten path and quirkier than Thayer Street, Ives and Wickenden streets in Fox Point feature antique shops, bakeries and coffee shops that are all worth a visit.

10. Stop by 88 Benevolent St. The Herald has served the Brown community for over 130 years. Today, our offices are at 88 Benevolent Street, where we hope to see many of you during your time at the University!

Get to know the admitted

The University extended offers of admission to 1,730 regular decision applicants last month, bringing the total acceptance rate for the class of 2027 to 5.08%.

With 51,302 applications in total, the University saw its largest undergraduate applicant pool ever, over 650 more than last year’s 50,649. And with an overall acceptance rate of 5.08% and a 3.8% acceptance rate for regular decision applicants, this year marked the second-most selective application cycle in the University’s history.

The Herald created a data breakdown of this year’s admitted class. Get to know your fellow admitted students in the class of 2027 by looking at gender, geography, high school background and more breakdowns. Scan the QR code for the full article.

Gender

The numbers of men and women admitted to the class of 2027 were nearly identical, with 1,305 accepted applicants identifying as female and 1,304 as male. While the breakdown of total applicants by gender was unavailable for the class of 2027, women have consistently outnumbered men in Brown’s applicant pool by at least 2,000 applicants since at least the 2003-04 application cycle.

High schools backgrounds

Sixty percent of prospective students in the class of 2027 attend public high schools. The remaining 30% attend private high schools and 10% will complete their secondary education at parochial schools. This does not include students who are homeschooled or did not provide their school type in their application.

18% of admitted students identified as first-generation college students, a 1% increase from the class of 2026.

admitted class of 2027

Intended concentrations

The top indicated concentrations for the class of 2027 were computer science, economics, political science, engineering and International and Public Affairs. Neuroscience has fallen off this list for the first time in over a decade.

Geography

Eleven percent of the admitted class — approximately 287 students — are international students. Outside of the United States, countries with the most representation at the University include China, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, South Korea, Pakistan and Singapore. Domestically, admitted students hail from all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. California, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Texas were the most represented states, roughly consistent with previous years.

Eight percent of this year’s admitted class reside in rural areas, a 3% increase from last year’s admitted pool.

Financial aid

Sixty-eight percent of admitted students indicated that they intended to apply for financial aid, a number consistent with recent years.

This story was adapted from a 2023 article, “Brown accepts 5% of applicants to the class of 2027.”

How does financial aid at Brown work?

Choosing Brown doesn’t just mean opting for College Hill on the merits alone — for at least the 44% of students who receive need-based financial aid, it also requires making sure that the University’s financial aid awards make attending Brown affordable. Students can find answers to many questions on the Office of Financial Aid’s website. Brown is needblind for domestic students and will be need-blind for international students by the time the class of 2029 applies.

Does Brown have student loans?

Brown does not include loans in its financial aid packages. All aid comes in the form of grants and scholarships, which students are expected to supplement with earnings from summer jobs and work-study. The University’s financial aid awards meet all demonstrated need — meaning that after submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid and College Scholarship Search profile,

Brown calculates what it believes your family can reasonably contribute. It then offers a financial aid package that covers the rest of the cost of attendance. Brown does not offer merit scholarships.

Who gets the full cost of attendance covered?

In 2021, Brown announced that for almost every student whose family makes $125,000 a year or less, it would cover the full cost of tuition. For most students whose families make $60,000 a year or less, the University covers nearly the entire cost of tuition and fees.

What if my award isn’t enough?

One option is to take out a federal or institutional student loan, another is to appeal your aid offer.

To learn more about filing an appeal, go to finaid.brown.edu/apply/appeal-aid-awards. Previously, the Office of Financial Aid

has suggested students reach out to them before filing an appeal to learn more about the process and what documentation might be helpful. The office also noted that successful appeals often came from students who saw major changes to their financial circumstances, or from students who received packages that failed to consider a key factor in their family’s finances, such as siblings attending college.

Students also sometimes submit copies of offer letters from colleges with comparable need-based aid practices as a comparison point — and some have noted that the most important piece of the appeals process is putting together a cohesive story backed up by financial documents.

This article was adapted from a 2020 article, “Students share experience with financial aid appeals,” and a 2021 article, “The Supplement: How does applying for financial aid work?”

Brown: Why or why not?

If you haven’t yet made up your mind, we think you should come to Brown. But in case a polite recommendation from a college newspaper isn’t enough, we spelled out some pros and cons to help you make your choice.

5 reasons to choose Brown (not including the ever-famous Open Curriculum):

1. The people: Brown is full of students who are passionate about what they’re learning and professors who want to help along the way.

2. Providence: Over four years, you’ll get to know the city — with its bustling arts and food scene — well beyond Thayer Street.

3. RISD: If you’re interested in art and can snag a spot in VISA 0100, you’ll have access to some of the best art classes in the world. Plus, the students are intimidatingly cool.

4. Spring Weekend: Every year, Brown Concert Agency brings a handful of musicians to campus for a festival on the Main Green. Inevitably, you’ll see someone perform who you can brag about in five years: Mitski, Kendrick Lamar, Phoebe Bridgers, Smino and Ari Lennox have all headlined in years past.

5. The social scene: You don’t need to rush a fraternity or go out to make friends — Brown students are good at meeting people by joining clubs, forming bands and playing intramural sports.

5 reasons not to go to Brown (early decision kids ... maybe skip this part):

1. Sports culture: Brown has its fair share of great sports teams but if you want to go to a school that tailgates, regularly packs its football stadium or is full of school spirit, you might want to look elsewhere.

2. Providence: For all its charms, Providence is still a small city. You’ll be spending a lot of time on trains if you’re looking for big concerts, a vibrant downtown or restaurants that stay open past 10 p.m.

3. Housing: Brown has built three dorms in the last two years, but students still clamor for a spot in Young Orchard or Wellness — the goal is to avoid Grad Center (a block-sized ode to brutalism).

4. Greek Life: Brown still has sororities and fraternities, but they play a limited role in the campus social scene. If you like to go out, you’ll need to know what sports team is throwing or whose birthday it is.

5. January to March: Somewhere between 2 and 49 degrees. Maybe snowy, but it usually melts before you can build a snowman. Survive these two months, and you can survive the rest of your Brown career.

Where to find arts & culture on College Hill

By Finn Kirkpatrick, Arts & Culture Editor

College Hill is home to many historic centers of art and culture open for students to explore. From visual art to literature and film, these are three places near Brown to scratch your artistic itch.

Scan the QR code for the full article.

Avon Cinema

Located right on Thayer Street, Avon Cinema is an art-deco single-screen movie theater that predominantly plays independent films from across the globe. Opened in 1938, the theater is a relic of a past world, where showtimes are displayed on an incandescent marquee and your popcorn is rung up with an analog-looking gold plated cash register.

The theater strives to play films that

wouldn’t normally be shown at a large multiplex: almost always from small distributors, frequently not in English. During the Oscars season, the Avon screens all of the nominated short films in the documentary, live-action and animated categories. The Avon also frequently hosts community events, including end-of-semester short film screenings from Brown Motion Pictures (a student film making club), concerts by student artists and the Providence French & Francophone Film Festival.

RISD Museum

Waking down College Hill, you’ll find the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design — the top destination to view fine art in Providence since its establishment in 1877. The museum’s collection contains more than 100,000 works of art, with 2,177 on view to the public, ranging from ancient Buddhist statues and Egyptian mummies to avant-garde furniture and expressionist painting.

Split across five connected buildings, the museum supplements its permanent collection with a constant cycle of new exhibitions, making each visit a fresh experience.

Places to visit around College Hill

By Rhea Rasquinha, Metro Editor

Thayer Street and the Blue Room have some good offerings, and you may feel overwhelmed by everything going on at Brown, but there’s a whole world beyond campus to see. The Herald put together a starting list of just some of the many places to eat, drink and explore during your time in Providence.

Restaurants

1. Tallulah’s Taqueria : Tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, nachos, bowls and more, all counter-served.

2. Jahunger : Noodles, dumplings and stir-fry with the spice you’ll probably miss eating dining hall food.

3. Chomp Kitchen and Drinks : Burgers. Sandwiches. Beverages. Come prepared with an empty stomach and ready to chomp!

4. Amy’s Place : One of the only places — if not the only place — where waiting 45 minutes for a sandwich is totally worth it.

5. Plant City : 100% vegan. Waterfront view. Enough said.

Coffee shops and sweet treats

1. Small Format : A queer cafe, art gallery and servery of small plates all in one cozy spot.

2. The Shop : An industrial chic-style cafe serving single-origin coffees, pastries and other lighter fare.

3. Bolt Coffee : A specialty coffee roasting company with four locations in Providence — try all four for the full experience.

4. The Coffee Exchange : Serving FairTrade Organic coffees and herbal teas with a delightfully Providence energy.

5. Dave’s Coffee : A Rhode Island staple serving java drinks, snacks and upscale coffee milk. They also give out stickers with their logo for free.

The great outdoors

1. East Bay Bike Path : 14.5 miles of

mostly scenic views and opportunities to let off steam!

2. Blackstone Boulevard : Ever wanted to run in the middle of the road? On Blackstone Boulevard, you can do so while enjoying some shade, greenery and all the neighborhood dogs.

3. Barrington Beach : Just a quick ride away with the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, this beach is also known as “RISD beach.”

4. The Cliff Walk : Another (slightly longer) RIPTA ride away is the quaint city center of Newport and the Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile public walking trail along the coast that takes you past famous mansions and panoramic views.

5. Pedestrian Bridge : Formally known as the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge, and informally known as a city landmark, this bridge connects two riverfront parks and Brown’s campuses as well.

A guide to Thayer Street’s late-night eats

By Daphne Dluzniewski, Senior Staff Writer

Lined with restaurants and shops, Thayer Street is a magnet for Brown students seeking after-hours dining options to fuel late-night studying or meet the need for a midnight snack, here is a list of Thayer’s best dining joints that are often open past midnight.

Caliente

While a little pricier than some of the other restaurants on the list, Caliente offers an extensive spread of filling choices. Though described as a Mexican grill, Caliente’s menu includes wings and subs in addition to tacos and burritos. Its vibrant atmosphere and delicious meals make it a bustling Thayer highlight.

Chinatown

Chinatown’s generous portion sizes make it a great spot for college students on a budget. Their meal combo is an extension of the Open Curriculum with an assortment of dishes to build a plate from. Chinatown is about

quantity more than it is quality — but its food still attracts a sizable line throughout the day.

Baja’s Tex Mex Grill

Once Baja’s Taqueria (also located on Thayer) closes, you can walk two blocks up Thayer to Baja’s Tex Mex Grill, which remains open until 2 a.m. As indicated by its dual presence on the street, Baja’s is one of Thayer’s most popular spots.

East Side Pockets

East Side Pockets can stake a claim to the title of Thayer’s tastiest and cheapest late-night option. They offer a delectable range of Middle Eastern-style appetizers, wraps, soups and more. To top it off, their fast and friendly customer service

provides an all-around positive dining experience.

Mike’s Calzones

Only one midnight snack is better than pizza: its easier-to-eat counterpart, the calzone. Mike’s Calzones offers a variety of filling options from classics like pepperoni and cheese to teriyaki chicken. If calzones aren’t what you’re craving, you are certain to find a tasty option among their wide selection of salads, subs and sides.

Insomnia Cookies

A cookie is a perfect way to end your night on a sweet note. Insomnia has a mouthwatering lineup of cookie and ice cream flavors, and if your sweet tooth is extra strong, you can even make a cookie ice cream sandwich.

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Students discuss favorite classes they’ve taken at Brown

By Harry Yang, Staff Writer

Each semester, Brown offers over 1,000 classes that allow students to explore academic interests, confront intellectual challenges and meet concentration requirements. The Herald interviewed four students who discussed their favorite classes at Brown.

encouraged us to inspire each other, and there were a lot of exercises that helped actors to gain insights and skills into performing,”

Cecile Schreidah ’24, who is pursuing an independent concentration in immunology, told The Herald that her favorite course at Brown has been BIOL 0530: “Principles of Immunology,” which was “the focus of her independent concentration” and “what affirmed (her) interest in infectious diseases.”

Nathaniel Berman, because of his interest in constitutional law.

“The course covered the legal framework and precedents from the Supreme Court,” Rauschenbach said. “But we also looked at some Circuit and District Court opinions that surround the intersection of the legal sphere and questions of religion and government.”

Jintao Yue ’26 said his passion for theater led him to greatly enjoy TAPS 0030: “Introduction to Acting and Directing,” taught by Connie Crawford, adjunct lecturer in theatre arts and performance studies.

“It was an introductory class, so there were people with different levels of experience in acting,” he said.“But (Crawford)

The class “taught me a lot about the immune system and provided new insights into medicine and the entire pre-med track,” she said.

Matthew Rauschenbach ’23, an international and public affairs concentrator, enjoyed RELS 0750: “Law and Religion,” taught by Professor of International Affairs, Law and Modern Culture and Religious Studies

ASHLEY CHOI / HERALD

Restructuring, runoffs and recalls: Brown’s student government

By Kathy Wang, University News Editor

In spring 2022, leadership of the three branches of student government — the Undergraduate Council of Students, the Undergraduate Finance Board and the Class Coordinating Board — formed the Student Government Association to foster better communication between each organization.

Since then, student government has seen a series of dramatic elections — in addition to pushing for a handful of on-campus changes.

2022 elections: Runoff and recall

In April 2022, conflicts between the existing UCS rules and new SGA policies prompted an unexpected runoff election that led to the election of Ricky Zhong ’23 as UCS president. But in fall 2022, a student filed a petition to recall Zhong from his position in response to UCS eliminating its general body. The UCS Code of Operations requires 300 signatures to initiate a recall election.

met in late November and the Council moved forward with the verification process earlier this spring. Both the signatures and content were approved in late January. Students reacted to the resulting Feb. 8th recall election with a mixture of indifference and confusion and Zhong kept his position with 83% of the vote.

On-campus changes

Last month UCS worked with the Nelson Fitness Center to extend its hours. UCS also recognized the University’s student-run yearbook as an official club this spring, which reduced the cost of the yearbook by $70. And with the Graduate Student Council, UCS worked to install menstrual product dispensers in University women’s and gender-neutral bathrooms in late February. UCS also collaborated with UFB to remove the fundraising requirement for campus club sports in fall 2022.

opportunities, ensuring all groups receive at least $300 in baseline semesterly funding.

Last fall, a poll conducted by The Herald and the Brown Opinion Project showed that 43% of respondents were “unsure” if they had benefited from a UCS service or program.

The recall petition’s signature requirement was

In January 2022, UCS and UFB restructured student group categories to increase funding

What you need to know about activi

By Sam Levine and Katie Jain, University

Since fall 2022, Brown has seen a revival of activism on campus and the unionization of computer science teaching assistants. Here are the key things you need to know about activism and labor on campus.

Brown Activist Coalition

This spring, several campus activists announced the revival of the Brown Activist Coalition, an alliance of activist groups across the University that aims to build solidarity and encourage collaboration among activists. The coalition held its first in-person conference since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in January, during which more than a dozen campus activist and labor groups gave presentations about their organizations to a packed room of prospective and current student activists.

BAC is actively campaigning to encourage the University to invest more in the Providence community by increasing its voluntary payments to the city in lieu of taxes. The payments are currently being renegotiated

by the University and Mayor Brett Smiley’s office, President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 said in February. “It’s important that we act and mobilize now (to) ensure continued investment in the city,” said Lorenzo Mahoney ’24, a BAC member, at the UCS-sponsored teach-in in March.

Teaching Assistant Labor Organization

Last month, more than 90% of eligible computer science teaching assistants voted in favor of unionizing under the Graduate Labor Organization, paving the way for the official formation of their union — the Teaching Assistant Labor Organization — and the start of contract negotiations between union organizers and the University.

TALO first announced its unionization campaign in December 2022, after which the University declined its request for voluntary recognition — prompting the organizers to file a petition with the National Labor Relations Board. TALO organizers have previously told The Herald that the

union will enable CS TAs to bargain for higher wages and better working conditions, including more defined responsibilities and revamped feedback mechanisms.

‘DIRE’ and ‘Divest and Democratize’ campaigns

Multiple activist groups on campus have recently launched campaigns to demand the University change its investment and gift acceptance practices. After reviving Brown’s Sunrise Movement chapter this past fall, organizers published their “Dissociate Now” report in March, which investigated the University’s financial and social ties to the fossil fuel and climate disinformation industries.

The report’s release coincided with the launch of Sunrise’s “DIRE” campaign calling for the University to cut financial ties with fossil fuel companies in its retirement funds, ban the acceptance of gifts from fossil fuel companies and ban fossil fuel companies from hosting recruitment events on campus, while “reinvesting” in the Providence

sm and labor movements on campus

News Editor and Senior Staff Writer

community. The group held a rally on the Main Green in March to mark the launch of the campaign and deliver their report to University administrators. Recently, they have organized letter-writing campaigns and petitions to demonstrate support for their demands.

tion members as they met for their February meeting. And in March, the group hosted a rally on the Main Green and delivered letters to the office of Paxson and University administrators encouraging them to support their divestment demands.

Ongoing GLO negotiations

that discussion between GLO and the University could extend past June, in which case workers would continue to operate under the existing contract, according to GLO President Sherena Razek GS.

Students for Justice in Palestine has also launched its own divestment campaign — “Divest and Democratize” — demanding that the University divest the endowment from companies that the group says are “profiting from Israeli apartheid and (are) complicit in human rights abuses against Palestinians,” according to the campaign flier. The campaign also calls for increased transparency concerning the University’s investment practices, including increased community access to the dealings of the Corporation, the University’s highest governing body.

Together with GLO, SJP members gathered outside the Faculty Club to greet Corpora-

This winter, GLO began renegotiating its collective bargaining agreement with the University in advance of its expiration in June. Per GLO’s request, the negotiation sessions use an open-bargaining structure, allowing any graduate worker who is covered by GLO’s contract to attend the meetings and voice their opinions.

In their first four meetings, GLO has proposed a range of amendments to expand the bargaining unit and protections for graduate workers. More contentious issues like graduate worker stipends have yet to make their way onto the negotiation table, potentially meaning

University

‘Full of traditions’: A brief history of a capella at Brown

By Rya Vallabhaneni, Arts and Culture Editor

On any given day, community members wandering around campus are likely to stumble across a familiar scene: a group of students huddled together under a campus arch singing a cappella to an audience of friends and fans.

Brown is home to 14 a cappella groups, ten of which comprise the Intergalactic Community of A Cappella, an overseeing body. But according to Elsa Block ’24, who leads the IGCAC, “the history and the tradition (of a cappella) really comes down to the individual groups.”

singing competition.” Led by Nancy Tobin ’55, the group was initially a parody of the then-all-male Jabberwocks. The Chattertocks were an immediate success and, today, are the longest-running, continuous a cappella group at Brown.

A cappella is a major part of campus life at Brown — in fact, the University boasts the most a cappella groups per capita in the U.S. And almost every student at the University has come in contact with the community — under archways, in audition halls and even tours around the country.

Musical groups have a long history on Brown’s campus, but the Jabberwocks was one of the first a cappella groups formed at the University that remains active today. Originally formed as a male double quartet in 1950, the Jabberwocks were known for their classic dress — often sporting white button-downs, striped ties and gray suits. Since the 50s — barring a brief period of inactivity in the 1970s — the group has released numerous albums, gone on numerous tours and competed across the country.

In fall of 1951, the Chattertocks were founded for an “interdormitory group

According to current Chattertocks President Katherine Dudley ’24, they are also the “third oldest historically all-women group in the nation.”

The Chattertocks also typically tour during winter break, most recently traveling to Washington D.C., New Jersey, New York and several parts of New England. “That’s a really big bonding opportunity for us,” Dudley said. “We’re like our own little chosen family at Brown.”

ASHLEY CHOI / HERALD

A look at the origins of the open curriculum

By Sofia Barnett, University News Editor

Brown has long touted the open curriculum as what sets it apart from its Ivy League counterparts.

Martha Mitchell’s Encyclopedia Brunoniana, an online database for University history, partially credits the efforts of former instructors George Morgan, originally a professor of applied mathematics, and Bruce Lindsay, a professor of physics, in the curriculum’s development. And both Brunoniana and a University website detailing the curriculum’s history note years of student work and activism that went into the curriculum’s creation.

Scan the QR code for the full article.

ty President Barnaby Keeney with a plan for a course titled “Modes of Experience: Science, History, Philosophy and the Arts,” which sought to examine the intersections between the respective fields of study. Keeney, intrigued by the idea, told Morgan to talk to Lindsay about a similar course, “The Role of Science in Civilization.”

quickly, according to a Brown Alumni Magazine article.

In 1958, Morgan approached then Universi-

The two courses became the first in a new category: “University Courses in Interdisciplinary Studies.” They gained popularity

Morgan, according to a 1970 Herald article, laid the intellectual foundation for the open curriculum.

Dissent, divestment and dissociation: A h

By Ryan Doherty,

College Hill is no stranger to climate activism. Since the 1970s, Brown has been a hub for discourse on environmental issues. From lectures on global warming to calls for complete dissociation from the fossil fuel industry, students have constantly pushed for a greener University.

Starting in the 1970s, following the celebration of the first Earth Day, environmental issues garnered national attention. But for students on College Hill, domestic environmental activism, when placed against the backdrop of the anti-Vietnam War movement, seemed performative.

In an April 20, 1970 Herald editorial titled “As Thousands Die,” the authors argued that national environmental concerns were superficial when weighed against the “ecological disaster” perpetuated by the United States in Vietnam.

But that view was not shared by all University students. A dissenting opinion published on the same day and a letter to the editor published the day after argued that the environmental and anti-war movements could coexist and collaborate, adding that environmental issues represented a global threat.

an immediate stop to greenhouse gas emissions. During the 2000s, students shifted their attention to the University, advocating for a new institutional policy on carbon emissions.

The 1980s ushered a greater recognition of global warming. On campus, the decade was marked by the conversion of West House into an environmental program house where students could practice sustainable living habits.

In 2006, the Brown Environmental Action Network called on the University to adopt “net-zero global warming emissions” by 2008. Two years later, the University pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to “42% below 2007 levels by 2020.”

A few years later, in 1989, three student groups came together to launch the Global Warming Information

Week to raise awareness of climate

change. In an opening lecture, George Woodwell, then-director of the Woods Climate Research Center, called for

The following decade unveiled a new demand: divesting the University endowment from fossil fuel-related companies.

Divest Coal, a student group founded in 2012, hosted a series of rallies to mobilize the student body and

istory of climate activism on College Hill

Senior Staff Writer

pressure the University into divesting its endowment from 15 coal companies. Following the 2013 decision by the Corporation — Brown’s highest governing body — not to divest, Divest Coal organized a silent sit-in at University Hall.

In 2019, the University announced a goal to “cut its campus greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2025, and to achieve net-zero no later than 2040.”

A year later, in March 2020, the University pledged a full divestment from fossil fuels in its endowment. In 2021, the University also unveiled a Sustainability Strategic Plan that includes deadlines for reducing emissions, pollution and water use.

Early this year, Sunrise Brown launched its DIRE campaign, calling for the University to completely dissociate from the fossil fuel industry and

reinvest in Rhode Island communities.

Sunrise is one of many student groups promoting sustainability on campus. Students have also worked closely with institutional offices in advocating for sustainability. Both the Office of Sustainability and Resiliency and the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society have highlighted the importance of student involvement for their initiatives.

“Each year I am amazed at the drive by the Brown community to take steps toward progressive environmental change,” wrote Jessica Berry, assistant vice president of the Office of Sustainability, in an email to The Herald.