Friday, October 26, 2018

SINCE 1891

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

VOLUME CLII, ISSUE 89

Dean of Students stepping down next month

WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM

Perez ’83, Steele talk midterm election DNC chair, former RNC chair stress importance of youth voting, bemoan polarization in Congress

By DYLAN CLARK SENIOR STAFF WRITER

COURTESY OF BROWN UNIVERSITY

Before serving as dean of students, Mary Grace Almandrez was the director of the Brown Center for Students of Color until 2014, for which she was awarded the University Excellence Award for Managing Excellence.

After seven years of service, Almandrez’s departure from U. follows ResLife staffing issues

By SOPHIA GRACE CARTER SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Mary Grace Almandrez will step down from her position as associate vice president for campus life and dean of students, according to an Oct.19 email from Vice President for Campus Life Eric Estes sent to the University’s Division of Campus Life. Her official last day in the office will be Nov. 5, but she is currently out of the office as she transitions, according to Estes’ email.

Almandrez has held multiple roles since she first arrived at the University in 2011. In her role within the Division of Campus Life, she oversaw Student and Employee Accessibility Services, the Office of Residential Life, Student Conduct and Community Standards and Student Support Services. One of the numerous offices Almandrez supervised, ResLife, experienced internal turmoil this fall after the departure of three community directors along with the Associate Director of Programs Kate Tompkins. At the time, Tompkins cited an understaffed and unstable work environment as well as the lack of support from the administration as her reasons for resignation, The Herald previously reported. Almandrez served as the acting senior director of ResLife

at the beginning of this semester, The Herald previously reported.

Almandrez initially worked at the Brown Center for Students of Color, where she served as director until 2014.

In this position, she reorganized the center’s staffing structure, created new programming and changed the name from the Third World Center. Her work at the BCSC was recognized in 2014 by the University Excellence Award for Managing Excellence, which is given annually to staff members.

Everyone who has worked with “Mary Grace (knows) that she is passionate about students, those both on and beyond our campus,” Estes wrote in an email to University faculty and staff.

A reason for Almandrez’s departure was not provided by press time.

Former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele and Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez ’83 P’18 sat down yesterday at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs to kick off a two-part forum called “Across the Aisle.” They discussed the upcoming midterm elections, the current state of U.S. politics and the importance of youth engagement in politics. The event was moderated by the Director of the Watson Institute Edward Steinfeld.

Steinfeld emphasized that these forums are meant to provide more than a simple analysis of the midterm elections. “It’s about real discourse about ideas and debate about ideas,” he said.

Steele’s and Perez’s remarks echoed this theme. “We can understand that you can disagree without being disagreeable,” Perez said, while Steele added that college campuses should remember their role as spaces for public discourse.

Steele and Perez also discussed the rising polarization of the two parties, and where it originated. Steele suggested that partisanship within the

electorate is due to the fact that partisan political tactics have become increasingly personal. The divisiveness that President Trump evokes from voters acts as a distraction and “clouds all other judgements,” he said. But Steele admitted that “we’ve been on this path for a while.”

Steele then argued that the upcoming election is not about policy differences but rather a referendum on Trump. “The president himself has told us as much every single day,” he added.

Perez agreed with Steele, adding that “the party of Lincoln is dead. … It’s been replaced by the party of Trump.” He said the death of Sen. John McCain marked the end of an era where Republicans were willing to work across the aisle.

Despite the uphill battle that Democrats face in the midterms, Perez feels positively about the direction of the party. “I feel bullish about 12 days from now … because we’ve gotten back to our roots. Listening better. Organizing everywhere,” he said.

Steele blamed the broken policy promises of both parties for the popularity of Trump. He cited how Republicans had vowed to cut the Department of Education during the Reagan years and how the Democratic Party told voters that it would tax the rich. “How do you think the circle completed itself with Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump standing there talking about a » See MIDTERMS, page 6

U. prof elected to National Gross ’22, Isaac ’20 shine in opening weekend Academy of Medicine Rookie forward earns hat Professor Josiah Rich one of 75 members elected this year, selected for expertise on opioid crisis

By TYLER JACOBSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Josiah Rich, professor of medicine and epidemiology, was recently elected to the National Academy of Medicine, a nonprofit organization that offers advice on medical and public health issues.

Being elected to NAM is “considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service,” according to an Oct. 15 press release by NAM. NAM is rooted in “service, best practices and scientific knowledge” and is an organization focused on “trying to

INSIDE

improve American health and health care,” said James Morone, a member of the academy and professor of public policy, political science and urban studies.

NAM “is an institution that I strongly support and believe in, and I’m hoping that I can use my membership to provide further input on how to come up with sensible approaches to the challenges in medicine and public health that the world is facing,” Rich said.

New members are nominated and voted on by current NAM members, and Rich was one of 75 new members elected in 2018, according to the press release.

Rich’s medical and research career has focused on the spread of infectious diseases and opioid addiction, particularly among incarcerated individuals.

He has advocated for numerous public health policy changes, including » See MEDICINE, page 3

trick, junior goaltender records first career shutout for women’s hockey team

By ALEXANDRA RUSSELL SPORTS EDITOR

The women’s hockey team opened its season in formidable fashion with a series sweep over the College of the Holy Cross last weekend. The Bears earned a 3-1 victory at Meehan Auditorium Friday before eclipsing the Crusaders in Worcester with a 4-0 shutout win Saturday. Bruno also notched four goals in the third period to earn a 5-3 comeback victory over the University of Connecticut at home Tuesday night.

Saturday’s contest was highlighted by impressive performances from goaltender Calla Isaac ’20, who recorded 32 saves for the first clean slate of her career with the Bears, and forward Lizzy Gross ’22, who earned a hat trick on her first collegiate

NICOLE KIM / HERALD

Calla Isaac ’20 (left) and Lizzy Gross ’22 (right) delivered impressive performances on the ice last weekend against Holy Cross. points. Isaac made 56 saves in total for the weekend and garnered ECAC Goalie of the Week honors, while Gross was named the ECAC Rookie of the Week for her offensive efforts.

For their outstanding play on the ice

last weekend, Isaac and Gross have been named The Herald’s Athletes of the Week.

Herald: Congratulations on winning the series last weekend. » See AOTW, page 3

WEATHER

FRIDAY, OC TOBER 26, 2018

NEWS Jonah Hill’s new film, “Mid90s,” raw portrayal of young skateboarders in Los Angeles

SPORTS Men’s hockey team to open season with home game against Ivy rival Yale Sunday

COMMENTARY Klein ’20: Golden State Warriors sit atop NBA, with Raptors, Celtics not falling far behind

COMMENTARY Flynn ’20: Sen. Warren should address use of DNA test in upcoming U. lecture

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TOMORROW

51 / 38

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NEWS

PAGE 2 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Men’s hockey to open season against Yale, Vermont Bruno emphasizes team identity, industry as it opens 2018-19 campaign this weekend

goals last year, followed by Assistant Captain Zach Giuttari ’20, who led defensemen with 16 points. Co-captain Max Gottlieb ’19 also returns to the squad after earning Second Team AllIvy honors in his junior campaign.

just building a team.”

Bruno has also added depth to its roster with a freshman class of six, including four forwards, one defenseman and one goaltender. The first-years have integrated well with the team and have

competitiveness of every day is just that much better,” he said.

As the season commences, Bruno looks to improve upon last year’s 10th place finish in the ECAC standings with an approach that emphasizes industry

By ALEXANDRA RUSSELL SPORTS EDITOR

As the lights turn on and the crowd gathers in Meehan Auditorium tonight, familiar sets of blades prepare to take the ice.

Opening its 2018-19 campaign, the Bears will begin their season with a pair of home contests, hosting Ivy rival Yale tonight before facing the University of Vermont (1-1) in a non-conference matchup this Sunday.

The Bears will lace up their skates following a month and a half of preparation on and off the ice. The team started training in late September and began official practices in the first week of October.

“The team is coming together very well,” said Head Coach Brendan Whittet ’94. “We’ve been working a lot each day on just having good habits, … making sure we’re doing the right thing every time we step on the ice and improving each and every day. Having that kind of accountability will ultimately lead to good things on Fridays and Saturdays when we play.”

This season’s team features a core group of 20 returning players, four of whom ranked among the top five point scorers in the 2017-18 season. Co-captain Tommy Marchin ’19 paced Bruno’s offensive efforts with a team-high 12

COURTESY OF BROWN ATHLETICS

The men’s hockey team opens regular season competition this weekend with a pair of contests at Meehan Auditorium. The Bears are slated to play 29 contests before playoffs begin in March.

In addition to this trio, other members of the squad have also adopted leadership roles and contributed to a sense of cohesiveness among the team, Gottlieb said.

“Other guys that aren’t (assistant captain) or (captain) do a really good job of keeping morale high and competing every day,” he said. “That’s what we kind of need from everyone if we’re going to go where we want to go this year.”

“Everyone has a leadership role,” Giuttari said. “We want everyone to help each other out, so it’s all about

delivered impressive performances on the ice so far, Marchin said.

“They know the roles that they should be doing, and in the scrimmages that I’ve seen, they are fulfilling those perfectly,” he said.

The first-year class has also created a higher level of competition and developed a sense of team chemistry, Gottlieb added.

“These guys are right in there like they’ve been here for a couple of years, which is great because the

PAYSAGISME

Art and Ecological Responsibility Usually translated as “landscaping,” “landscape design” or “landscape architecture,” paysagisme incorporates a wide range of land-use issues, including urban planning, public spaces, sustainable agriculture, land reclamation, and ecology; it has a pronounced aesthetic element in garden and park design, and overlaps with the important late 20th century and contemporary movement known as Land Art.

Friday, 26 October at 7 pm Studio Two, Granoff Center, 154 Angell Street GillesTiberghien will present a slide lecture to introduce the subject of Paysagisme, its main practitioners and its relationship to environmental issues.

Sponsored by the French Center for Excellence in the Cogut Institute for the Humanities, the Brown Arts Initiative and Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne

and everyday processes of improvement.

“You always have to look at it with a growth mindset, so where we are today ultimately is not where we’re going to be in March when the puck is dropped in the playoffs,” Whittet said. “That being said, the day-to-day approach just means focusing on the process (and) understanding that each day is a new opportunity to improve.”

The team needs to “take it day-byday, step-by-step, shift-by-shift,” Giuttari added. “Every practice you have

to be ready from the moment you step on the ice until you get off the ice. Even after practice ends and the coaches get off, we have guys always staying out there working on other stuff, whether (it is) shooting, skating (or) passing.”

The development of a team identity has also been a focus of this year’s squad, as the Bears seek to establish themselves as competitive opponents in the league and build the status of the program.

“This year … we’re really confident in how we’re doing and developing our own identity instead of trying to find one or (saying) that we have an identity then try to reach it — we’re kind of developing it ourselves,” Marchin said.

“We want to go into games knowing that we can win, and we want other teams to know that it’s going to be a tough night playing against us and it’s going to be a battle.”

This weekend’s matches follow a 3-1 scrimmage victory over Princeton and 2-2 tie against Yale last Saturday.

The Bears will play 29 games in regular season competition, which includes 22 conference contests before playoffs open in March. They will also compete at the Dartmouth Ledyard Classic and Three Rivers Classic tournaments in December and January, respectively.

“We’ve gotten off to a great start, especially with these games this past weekend,” Giuttari said. “We’re looking like we’re heading in the right direction this year, so we’re all really excited.”

The Bears will face off against the Bulldogs at 7 p.m. at Meehan Auditorium.

Issue

In This

4

Abbie Hui

Andrew Liu

2

Den Den v. Den Den

Little State of Hauntings post- scarecrows 4

Scary Sentences James Feinberg

Love and Marriage 5

Julian Towers

Power to the People 6

postCover by Halle Krieger

OCT 26

VOL 22 —

ISSUE 7

FEATURE

Little State of Hauntings

Reflection on Vampires, Spirits, and Halloween

By Andrew Liu Illustrated by Cricket McNally

I

was easily scared growing up. There was one episode of Scooby-Doo in particular that my sister and I would rent repeatedly from the local library: Its main villain was a disturbingly well-drawn vampire with the most startling hyena laugh. Yet, the most unsettling part came near the end of the episode. Instead of the standard unmasking of the culprit with a detailed explanation of his elaborate ploy, he turned out to be an actual vampire—an undead, distant relative of one of the characters. There was something so jarring and fascinating to me about how the

monster was real that I couldn’t sleep alone the nights after we watched that episode. Still, I returned to the library to rent it out again a few weeks later. It was fun to re-experience that bit of fear, to emerge from the episode feeling a little less safe than before.

With Halloween arriving soon, horror-lovers and thrillseekers on the Brown campus won’t have to travel far to find their fix. Despite its inconspicuous size and pleasant New England scenery, Rhode Island has a surprisingly rich collection of dark fables and attractions that have

Chester Hill Cemetery and the Story of Mercy Brown In the 1890s in Exeter, Rhode Island, George and Mary Brown were happily married with three children—that is, until tuberculosis struck.

Tuberculosis, or “consumption,” as it was called

Halloween Costumes

Letter from the Editor Happy Halloweekend! post- has

inspired many storytellers and filmmakers, from H.P. Lovecraft to the makers of The Conjuring. In researching this spooky history, I’ve compiled a couple of our state’s most chilling attractions and their backstories.

1. CPax

(just turned 50!). Alternatively, schlep

2. Blue exam book

prepared some haunting RI stories and a

down to the Trinity Rep theater to admire

list of ultra-scary sentences to get you in

the new production of Pride and Prejudice,

the mood before your night out, as well as

dressed as yourself or Elizabeth Bennet.

suggestions for some delicious sodium-

Either way, consume and admire the

5.

packed late-night meals you can partake

aesthetic of some good ol’ candy corn.

6.

in after your Halloween treats. Halloween ascetics, fear not! We suggest you block out the obligatory “Spooky Scary Skeletons” remix floating down your hall tonight by bopping along to The Beatles’ White Album

3.

4.

7.

Drink responsibly,

Jennifer

editor-in-chief of post-

8.

9.

10.

2!post–

at the time, was the root cause of countless waves of paranoia that gripped New England in the late 19th century. Filled with gruesome and prolonged symptoms, consumption was also associated with wickedness, turning neighbors and families against each other in pious hatred. At one point, this tension led to a widespread “Vampire Panic,” causing a number of New Englanders to believe that those who died from consumption later reanimated at night to draw blood from their family.

Mary Brown was the first in her community to contract and die of the disease, followed by her eldest daughter, Mary Olive. Then her other daughter, Mercy Brown, fell ill and died shortly after. These quick successive deaths prompted a panic throughout Exeter, whose leaders insisted that they must exhume the bodies of the dead.

They unearthed the corpses sequentially.

First, Mary Brown’s body—though it still had some tissue and sinew—had no blood left in its heart or veins and thus could not possibly reanimate. Next, presumably due to variation in the soil and burial conditions, Mary Olive had nothing left on her but bone and hair.

Then came Mercy Brown. To the shock of the village leaders, her body exhibited minimal decomposition, and her heart was filled with fresh blood. They concluded that the wicked culprit had been found, and Mercy’s heart and organs were quickly incinerated shortly following her exhumation—with the ashes given to her brother to drink in an unsuccessful attempt to cure his own tuberculosis.

It is easy to forget that this incident occurred in the late 19th century, in a progressive society with fairly advanced medicinal resources. Inspired by how paranoia created a vampire hunt within just a few months, famous horror writer H.P. Lovecraft wrote the character of Mercy Dexter in his novel The Shunned House based on the story of Mercy Brown. Lovecraft shaped the novel’s plot out of horror that such barbarism could still reign in a peaceful New England town in the 19th century.

Today, Mercy lies in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, where she may or may not be resting in peace after her disinterment. There are many theories of why her body remained so fresh, such as a possible winter chill preserving her organs and keeping the blood in her body. Another theory is that her body retracted due to lack of moisture, causing both her hair and nails to appear longer in relation to the rest of her figure and giving the illusion of growth.

Mercy Brown’s case remains one of the most welldocumented exhumations in history though her story has largely faded into legend. If you are ever in the Chestnut Hill area this coming Halloween, feel free to pay your respects.

The Perron House In 1971, Roger and Carolyn Perron moved into a new farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island, with their five daughters. Almost immediately, the paranormal activity began.

In the first few weeks, a broom mysteriously relocated itself around the house, leaving behind piles of collected dust in various locations. An orange oozed blood, and the smell of rotten flesh permeated the house, causing whoever caught the scent to experience the shivering sensation of a presence. If these events seem too cryptic, other incidents included the slamming of doors, levitation of beds and furniture, and perhaps the most famous: the morning Carolyn woke up to an apparition hanging over her bed. It was an old lady whose head hung to the side at an impossible angle. The lady said, “Get out! Get out!”

Convinced that something was amiss in their home, the Perrons enlisted the help of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the founders of the New England

Despite its inconspicuous size and pleasant New England scenery, Rhode Island has a surprisingly rich collection of dark fables and attractions that have inspired many storytellers and filmmakers, from H.P. Lovecraft to the makers of The Conjuring.

Society for Psychic Research, the oldest ghosthunting group in New England.

“Oh boy, that was something else, that Harrisville case,” said Lorraine when interviewed by the Providence Journal. When questioned by USA Today, she recalled, “The things that went on there were just so incredibly frightening. It still affects me to talk about it today.” One of the Perron children stated that, as soon as Lorraine entered the house, she remarked, “I feel a dark presence, and her name is Bathsheba.” According to legend, Bathsheba was a practicing Satanist who sacrificed her daughter to the devil and proceeded to hang herself to bind her spirit to the property.

Supposedly, the haunting came to a head one night when Carolyn Perron seemed to be possessed.

Andrea, one of the Perron daughters, remembered that “the only time I was truly terrified in that house was the night I thought I saw my mother die.

She spoke in a voice we had never heard before, and a power not of this world threw her 20 feet into another room.”

“Her body was distorted...it lasted several hours,” said Carolyn’s husband, Roger. Despite all of this, the family continued to live in the house for nine more years. Every morning, levitating beds and the stench of rotting flesh would greet them.

“Eventually, the family accepted the fact that [they] were not living there alone,” said Carolyn.

Andrea went on to write a trilogy on the

hauntings in the Perron House titled House of Darkness: House of Light. Regardless of whether this is smart marketing or a desire to confront terrifying experiences, there is no doubt that whatever happened in the Perron House stayed with Andrea for many years after. “Both my mother and I would just as soon swallow our tongue than tell a lie,” said Andrea. “People are free to believe whatever they want to believe. But I know what we experienced.”

The happenings in Perron House also inspired the blockbuster hit The Conjuring. The film heavily marketed its believability; it was known to be so scary that some screenings invited priests to bless the audience before the movie began. According to Carolyn, the film captured “the essence of what [the family] went through.”

Nathanael Greene Homestead Located in Coventry, Rhode Island, this historical landmark was built and occupied by the Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene, who was appointed by Washington to command the southern colonial forces during the war. Nathanael would commonly refer to it as “Spell Hall” in his letters.

Since the 1920s, this house has been reported to exhibit odd behaviors. Doors, handles, and even a baby carriage have been seen to move on their own. Occasionally, the kitchen abruptly fills with the smell of baking bread, even though the room hasn’t been used for centuries. There are sounds of voices, and at times, even that of a horse carriage pulling up to the front of the house. At night, there are reports of disembodied screams—but this may come as no surprise, given that the Homestead Cemetery, located right down the hill from the house, contains the bodies of four soldiers who failed to be nursed back to health at Spell Hall.

Currently, the Nathanael Greene Homestead Association is interviewing those interested in managing the landmark. Members get unlimited free tours of the house.

It’s amazing, the lengths we will go to in order to frighten ourselves with the unknown, with these and countless more mysterious attractions residing in our tiny state of Rhode Island. To this day, I cannot brush my teeth in front of a mirror immediately after seeing a horror film. And yet, the thought of going to see a scary movie with friends remains just as exhilarating. No matter how chilling the scene, I always keep one eye halfopen.

Now that we are older, perhaps Halloween’s magic lies no longer in the pillowcases of free candy, but in having a day to confront the things that make us shiver. We are lucky that we do not truly fear death via supernatural means today as people did in the 19th century, when deaths by polio, tuberculosis, or vampires were still common threats. On Halloween, we can embrace the ghosts and vampires that no longer haunt us. For a day, we can stare death and horror in the eye, and maybe even give them a friendly nod.

“Any action before an event is just pregaming for said event.”

“Usually when I speak into the void, someone responds.”

“Is there something deeply wrong with Den Den?”

October 26, 2018'3

NARRATIVE

Scary Sentences

Things You Don't Wanna Hear By post- scarecrows Illustrated by Halle Krieger

Never gonna say goodbye.

here are two Den Dens within 0.5 miles of each other. These sister restaurants share great service and tasty, artfully presented food, but both have distinct personalities—evident through their food, decor, and more.

vegetables, a sunny-side fried egg, and your choice of protein (beef, seafood, chicken, mushrooms, and more). I tried and recommend both of the two sauces: one spicy and one citrusy. I got the perfect dish for a chilly day in Providence—bibimbap served in a hot stone pot.

After you order at the counter, bring your table stand—which is pretty neat— back to your table and get settled. I remember my first time taking in the restaurant’s minimalistic decor and stylish exposed brick interior, which evinces a rustic feeling, while I waited for my food. Complementing the brick walls and yellow lighting are wooden tables, good for double dates and large groups. The nice open space and high windows further bring out the charming, hip, and laid-back ambience.

When our food arrived, I took an obligatory picture of its colorful presentation and my friends.

Then, we put our phones away and dug in. The bibimbap remained hot throughout the meal, and the sizzling stone bowl made the rice extremely crunchy at the bottom. There were many different vegetables, my egg was perfectly fried, and the protein was tender and full of flavor. All in all, I was very satisfied with the dish’s quality and quantity.

Since that first visit, I have tried an extensive selection of the menu. Den Den’s bento boxes come with a bed of rice, Japanese pickles, vegetables, and a choice of protein, such as moist, flavorful eel. The translucent, sweet potato Japchae noodles with beef are bouncy and healthy, and I will definitely be back again to try it with a different protein. The edamame— salty, creamy soybeans—is an ideal appetizer for sharing.

Den Den Cafe Asiana is a unique dining experience: in this “fast-casual” cafe, consistently tasty food pairs well with great company for a relaxed, fun time. The service is always friendly and knowledgeable–especially for first-timers.

However, Den Den often attracts a crowd on weekend nights. Additionally, it no longer accepts reservations as they renovated the building next door to expand seating capacity. Nonetheless, check out this casual spot, perfect for a catch-up date.

Den Den Cafe Asiana

Den Den Korean Fried Chicken

The first time I went here, I celebrated my first college Friendsgiving. Since then, I have returned countless times with more friends. My roommate and I always eat our first meal here to catch up when we return to campus.

Located in a neat, old brick building on the outskirts of College Hill, this quaint cafe overlooks the Providence skyline. With the restaurant’s brick exterior giving off an unassuming vibe, its delightful and cozy interior is a surprise.

As you enter, you are greeted by welcoming servers and quickly directed to a table (when the restaurant is not packed). A server hands you a menu and tells you to order at the counter when you are ready. It might feel strange to pay before you eat, but it saves you from the post-meal bill struggle when you’re eating with a big group.

The menu features an excellent variety of Korean and Japanese dishes. Behind the counter, an artsy chalkboard menu adds to the restaurant’s cafe-esque feel. Several of the popular options are boxed on the standard menu, which definitely helps first-timers narrow down the delicious options.

Despite this, I struggled to make up my mind on my first visit and asked the server at the counter what to order. Deciding between the bibimbap and the bento boxes, I ultimately chose the former: rice topped with plenty of traditional Korean marinated

The evening before a snow day, my roommate and I, excited to watch the snow fall heavily yet beautifully and hibernate in our dorm, couldn’t choose what to eat on Thayer to celebrate the upcoming cancelled classes. We decided to give Den Den Korean Fried Chicken a try as we had such great experiences at its sister restaurant.

Spinning off the original Den Den’s minimalistic decor, Den Den KFC adopts a clean, cool, and crisp style with its modernist dining room and partially open kitchen. My first impression was that the place was pretty sleek—subway tiles, black-and-white décor, wooden tables. There are two seating areas, butthe restaurant is still relatively small: tables and chairs are squished together with only one large-party table available.

As you settle down, servers hand you a simple and straightforward menu. Though it doesn’t feature all of the original Den Den’s classics, it does offer quite a few dishes in common—like kimbap—in addition to its own delicious snacks. Known for its fried chicken, Den Den KFC has interesting spins on Korean bar food.

Since it’s a namesake dish, I was initially surprised that Den Den KFC serves more than fried chicken. After a few visits, I have tried dishes ranging from whole-chicken stew to beef bulgogi served in a pan-like display. Recently, I tried an appetizer of pork

At least I’m gonna say that I tried. What’s the sense in hurting my pride?

It’s laundry day.

~~It’s spooky time~~ Please leave a message after the tone. *beep* Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo.

Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you.

Your instructor has released grade changes and new comments for Midterm 1. These changes are now viewable.

I really can’t stay. Baby, don’t hold out.

Let’s go to this party right when it starts.

I want to give back your essays one-on-one, in my office.

Let me check my schedule.

Your midterm isn't tomorrow; it was yesterday.

I’m PLME.

Never gonna give you up.

Read 11:47 p.m.

I really can’t stay. Baby, it’s cold outside.

She fell asleep to something scratching underneath her floorboards.

The SciLi basement is my favorite place to study.

Let’s go to the CIT. Never gonna let you down.

I’m sorry, but you don’t have enough credits to graduate.

Harry woke up in his bedroom under the stairs and realized it had all been a dream.

I’ve got to go away. Baby, it’s cold outside.

Den Den v. Den Den

Playing next: "Scott’s Tots."

Panic! at the Disco is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, formed in 2004 by childhood friends Brendon Urie, Ryan Ross, Spencer Smith, and Brent Wilson.

Never gonna run around and desert you.

Say, what’s in this drink? No cabs to be had out there.

This is not a simulation.

Comparing Sister Restaurants

By ABBIE HUI illustrated by RÉMY POISSON

T

Chicken Finger Friday is cancelled.

Never gonna make you cry.

I ought to say no, no, no. Mind if I move in closer?

Out of the corner of your eye, you spot him: Shia LaBeouf.

I thought I was alone, and then Christina Paxson stepped out of the shadow.

4!post–

ARTS&CULTURE

and veggie tang su dumplings that came drowned in a sweet and tangy sauce. And, like the original Den Den, Den Den KFC is a non-tipping establishment— convenient and ideal for the budget of broke college students. More importantly, this policy allows its workers to receive fair wages without relying on customers’ unreliable generosity.

Den Den KFC is definitely a great place to drop by for a tasty meal when you’re on Thayer. Try a few of its delicious dishes in addition to its fried chicken because the huge portions are meant to be shared. Although there is sometimes a wait during popular meal times, you can use this time to check out the menu.

Both Den Dens offer great service, delicious food, and reasonable prices. Whenever you’re in the mood for comfort food, go to either Den Den—the original for a cute, clean, cafe feel or KFC for modernist, fun, and trendy vibes.

Love and Marriage

Pride and Prejudice at the Trinity Repertory Theater

by James Feinberg Illustrated By Stephanie Wu

P

laywright/performer Kate Hamill’s stage adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, which premiered at Primary Stages Off-Broadway in 2017, has now made its way to the Trinity Rep, where it runs through November 4th. In last year’s production, Hamill herself played Lizzy Bennett, and it’s possible the author’s presence made for a jolt of energy that lent the play more staying power. At Trinity, in a production directed and choreographed by Birgitta Victorson, the show, despite its sleek professionalism and commitment to the bit, seems to be struggling for a reason to exist.

Though I prefer Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice is the Jane Austen novel that has inspired a laundry list of adaptations. The most prominent is the 1995 British miniseries, a complex, wellcrafted, and ambitious work remembered today for the approximately 30 seconds in which Colin Firth

wears a slightly wet shirt.

Hamill’s take is not sufficiently revisionist to be called a reinvention. There are all sorts of bells and whistles, all to do with the idea of performance.

For instance, the actors cross-dress, play multiple roles, and pause between scenes for extended dance breaks to classic rock. Given that the matrimonial drama of Austen’s era was essentially an extended pageant, that’s a great starting point.

However, her double-casting gets into trickier territory. Michael McGarty’s set design leaves the backstage area exposed, so we see heroes changing into villains and men into women live. But the point escapes me, especially since the fast-paced, gag-ridden adaptation, while consistently funny, is never funnier than the novel, which has always been underrated for its wit. The program grandly announces that the double-gendering choice asks “us as the audience to consider how gender shapes the narrative event.” It seems to me it has exactly the opposite effect—in a world of rigid gender distinction, allowing characters to slip easily across those lines has the effect of erasing the threat of singledom specific to women of the time, and thus robs Lizzy’s commitment-phobic choices of their significance.

Most of the weaknesses really aren’t the actors’ fault. Rachel Warren and Rebecca Gibel, both Trinity Company members, play Mr. Darcy and Lizzy respectively (Warren also plays Wickham). The necessity of reducing the sprawling novel to two acts of theater leaves Darcy more

communicative than strictly fits his character, but Warren nonetheless delivers a more-thanadequate performance with hints of Janet McTeer.

Gibel is as dignified and impressive as the sensible Lizzy, who gives the best performance in the show, but is also isolated by the wackiness around her and never seems to fit in. Joe Wilson Jr.’s portrayal of the fumfering clergyman Mr. Collins is borderline incoherent—though he gets the audience on his side, it often plays like he’s mugging for laughs (which, of course, he is).

What’s great about the performance’s dance sequences is that they give the actors an unvarnished chance to contribute something new.

They’re a motley crew of performers of all ages, shapes, and backgrounds, and seeing them grind to “The Final Countdown” is inherently funny and exciting. When they’re doing Pride and Prejudice proper, though, they continually strain to inject something into the proceedings we haven’t seen a million times before; in other words, they try to banish Colin Firth and other preceding iterations of the story, with little success. This production and adaptation won’t do much for fans of Austen’s work. It’s not loyal enough to the book to be rote re-creation, yet not slapstick enough to be outright silly. It’s slickly directed and charmingly acted, but not memorable enough to last through the time it would take to read the novel—an eminently more rewarding experience—or watch the miniseries.

Have you heard about that part where Colin Firth wears a wet shirt?

October 26, 2018'5

ARTS&CULTURE

Power to the People

Fifty Years of the Beatles' White Album

By Julian Towers illustrated by Katya Labowe-Stoll

L

et’s talk about that cover. Or, to focus the issue, let’s see how long we can talk about it. White background, black text, “The Beatles,”—that’s all we’re given to work with. Context is everything. So, placed in proper aesthetic sequence, following the detailed, popart explosions of the Revolver and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band covers, and far beyond the boy band posing of earlier albums, The Beatles’ artwork has obvious significance: it’s the first troll. By 1968, the band had grown so big, so world-devouringly important, it knew that, like Jesus or clean water, it had transcended the need to market itself.

There’s a reason the album’s actual title was immediately and forever discarded for the colloquial White Album; confronted with the cultural vastness of The Beatles, a blank, infinite field of space seems more manageable. But behind narcissism lurks a curious, inadvertent generosity. The artwork names the biggest musical phenomenon that had ever walked the earth, erases the phenomenon, and leaves the consumer to fill in the blank. As though that weren’t enough, each of the record five million original copies was stamped with another troll—an individualized “collector’s number.”

And that’s only the cover to a sprawling double album that, in so many more ways, bridged the gap between listeners and pop stars and fifty years on, still looms large in our understanding of that relationship.

It’s fitting that such a loose, undisciplined statement grew out of what was in many ways the tightest strung and most self-consciously iconic era of the band’s career. The previous year’s Sgt. Pepper had been rigorously conceived—a psychedelic song cycle that demanded to be heard complete and in order, each successive track like a chapter in a novel.

Though commonplace now, this sonic unity was unprecedented. Albums were rarely conceived as more than a reproduction of a live performance, and never as a performance in themselves—a notion the Beatles shattered explicitly with the bookending music-hall concept of Sgt.Pepper. Today, listening to the title track segue seamlessly from rowdy applause to the plinking riff of “With A Little Help From My Friends,” it’s difficult not to get a little giddy imagining the minds blown. And the response was indeed overwhelming.

Radio stations reorganized programing to play Sgt. Pepper in full, Time Magazine called the album “a historic departure in the progress of music,” and the band ascended from stadium pop stars to high artists with serious expectations on their back.

So they ran away, decamping to India for a transcendental meditation retreat with guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Famously, this would prove neither restorative nor pleasurable, and per Lennon, the band mostly “sat in the mountains eating lousy vegetarian food.” In this bored isolation, with no more than a shared bag of hash keeping them together, the

unity that had shone through Pepper’s day-glo military outfits fell apart. No longer pitted against the world, the Beatles turned upon themselves, upon everything they had created. Their seamless interplay, on which so much praise had been heaped, was forsaken, as members retreated into isolation to write new songs.

When it came time to record, the four were rarely in the same room together, electing to combine their parts through studio overdubs.

It’s often said that The White Album doesn’t quite sound like an album, or even the work of a group, and that it more often resembles a series of random tracks stitched together. That’d constitute a critique were this most bands, but the Beatles encompassed three songwriters of idiosyncrasy unrivaled in rock ’n’ roll.

That they could ever pool into a stable creative unit, an unshakeable brand, was remarkable. And for the first time, listeners could hear them forgoing the group identity to forward their own creative whims. This brought no loss in brilliance; classics like “Blackbird” and “Julia” feature only their songwriters on the track.

But across the record’s many sounds—grounded in their basic pop/rock, but incorporating hard blues, mournful folk, some truly frigged-up experimentation, and a whole bunch of English novelty crap—the band’s genius appears fractured and abstract.

And then there was the flip side—in the literal sense of “flip over the record side please; this song is bad and I don’t want to hear it anymore.” The Beatles had produced flawed music before, but without a united front, the missteps now had individual targets on their backs. “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” and “Honey Pie” revealed McCartney’s inexplicable obsession with sing-along children’s kitsch. Sick of being undervalued, Harrison strained too hard with the overblown arrangements for “Piggies” and “Savoy Truffle.” Lennon, bit hardest

by India's spiritual disillusionment, had grown unbearably cynical— with songs like “Glass Onion” and “Bungalow Bill” laying it on all too thick. And then there was Ringo, a first-time songwriter whose selfconsciously titled contribution—“Don’t Pass Me By”— had ironically produced the most skippable track on the album.

But taken as a whole, The White Album is unimaginable without these songs; minus their flaws, it certainly wouldn’t be as important, and it probably wouldn’t be as great. There’s nothing else

Chantal Marauta, The Cheerleader Effect 10.27.16

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“Despite their bucket hats, awkwardlyhanging jackets, and baggy dad jeans, their confidence, smooth voices, and synchronization make them awfully sexy.”

like it: pure chaos—the most iconic moments in music history competing against songs that baffle belief.

Occasionally, a stretch of something like logic will arise in the track listing—the run of animal titled songs on side B, the cheeky joke of putting the wholesome “I Will” right after “Why Don’t We Do It in the Road,” the long, wet fart of bullshit on Side A that lets you skip right from “Dear Prudence” to “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”—but on the whole, as the tracks scroll by, there's a constant feeling of discovery.

Figuring out the best way to listen to 90 minutes of The White Album can therefore feel like an economic exercise, a measuring of opportunity cost. Am I so sick of hearing “Back in the U.S.S.R” that I want to start the album on “Dear Prudence”? Do I lift the needle between “Birthday” and “Mother Nature’s Son,” or do I give John Lennon screaming “I WANT TAH DIEEE” another chance to win me over? Do I suffer all the way through “Revolution 9” just to hear Ringo sing me “Good Night?” Does hearing Ringo sing me “Good Night” mean anything if I haven’t just suffered all the way through “Revolution 9?” All these judgements will be made at some point, though it’s unlikely they’ll stick.

The White Album is curious in that people’s opinions about its songs will often shift wildly, even though their actual opinion about the album itself rarely does. It will always be overlong and unwieldy, but any day we might wake up and realize with shock that “Martha My Dear” is the prettiest song in the English language.

It’s therefore a remarkably individuating record, the platform from which many music nerds have reverse engineered their taste and preference (a love for loud music often begins with “Helter Skelter”).

It grants the courage to direct sacrilegious words— “garbage,” “trash,” “whaaaa—??”—against the most important band of all time, and opens the doorway to critical thought of all stripes. And right now, it’s an especially depressing contrast to our era of curated streaming, where Spotify Discover makes actual discovery unnecessary, and Drake’s Scorpion can be the most popular album in the world despite nobody actually listening to the whole thing. And while double albums would come from other bands—often just as indulgent, sprawling, and overflowing with ideas— never again would one prove so humbling of its artist and elevate so many of its listeners. So come on, take the Magical Mystery Tour.

NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018 • PAGE 3

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

» AOTW, from page 1

I’m doing two sports right now.

What was that like, and how did it feel for you all to open your season so strongly?

Isaac: For me, it was very different from the past two years for sure. Our team worked really hard, and we had a lot of offensive chances, which was really nice to see.

Gross: We knew we had something to prove, and I think we did this weekend and (Tuesday against UConn), and it’s because of our hard work during the preseason. … We just went to work and got the job done, which we just need to keep doing.

Do you have a favorite pro hockey team and a player you like to watch?

Gross: We’re (Detroit) Red Wings fans, even though I live in Maine — weird, I know. I always liked … Patrick Kane and Pavel Datsyuk, those are probably my two favorites.

Isaac: Definitely the Oilers, so Edmonton — that’s my hometown. They’re not generally the best team, but I still cheer for them. And then Carey Price.

When did you start playing hockey?

Gross: I was like three or four. My dad made a backyard rink and my older brother played hockey, so I started because of him and then just continued.

Isaac: Basically the same as her — (my) older brother played and I was always at the rink, always watching and one day I was like ‘I really want to play this,’ so I started. I learned to skate when I was three or four but I think I actually started playing hockey when I was seven.

COURTESY OF BROWN UNIVERSITY

Josiah Rich’s career has focused on the spread of infectious diseases and opioid addiction, particularly among incarcerated individuals.

» MEDICINE, from page 1

amending a “vigorously enforced” Rhode Island law that made the possession of a single syringe punishable by up to five years in prison, the most severe in the country at the time, Rich said. In addition, Rich is the co-founder and director of the Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights at the Miriam Hospital, which he started because “the health issues (surrounding incarcerated individuals) were not really well understood or known.”

“As a physician, you have to get involved and understand the social and political environment that you work in,” Rich said. Incarcerated individuals “are a disadvantaged population: impoverished, (have) poor access to health care … and terribly stigmatized.”

In 2015, Gov. Gina Raimondo appointed a task force to respond to the opioid overdose epidemic in Rhode Island. Rich was one of the experts chosen to devise a statewide strategic solution within 90 days. The task force recommended a solution in mid-2016 that provided treatment for recently released prisoners, who have the highest risk of drug overdose, according to Rich. Within the first year of their solution’s implementation, the task force “documented … a 61 percent drop in drug overdose deaths of people getting out of incarceration,” he said.

Associate Professor of Epidemiology Brandon Marshall, who served alongside Rich on Raimondo’s opioid task force and on various studies at the Rhode Island Department of

Corrections, said he “couldn’t be more pleased” that Rich has been inducted into NAM. “He is an extraordinarily dedicated physician who also works tirelessly to improve the health of all Rhode Islanders through this research and advocacy on opioids and overdose,” Marshall wrote in an email to The Herald.

Rich joins a number of Brown faculty in NAM, including Morone and Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences Jack Elias. Morone and Elias were both elected to NAM in 2015 for work in their respective fields. The two see Rich as a fitting addition to the organization.

Rich “is one of the world’s experts in opioid overdoses and opioid use,” Elias said. “It’s a tremendously pertinent topic right now and it suggests to me that the National Academy is going to be stepping in to try to help ease the opioid crisis that we have.”

Morone agreed, adding that Rich “is the perfect member — a distinguished scientist and practitioner working to make a better society.”

“To tell you the truth, when I saw his name on the list,” Morone said, “I kicked myself for not having nominated him myself.”

For Rich, election to NAM marks the continuation of his career in research.

“It’s not something I ever thought I would get,” he said. “I don’t know if I deserve to be there or not, … but I’m deeply overjoyed and it’s going to stimulate me to do more.”

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Gross: Yeah, I played soccer and lacrosse all through high school, so last year was my last year for those two. So I was kind of sad to have that go, but hockey is obviously my main sport.

Isaac: I played … junior high basketball, soccer, volleyball. I’m also on the track and field team here at Brown so

Do you have any pregame rituals or things you do to get into the zone?

Isaac: I like to throw balls against a wall and catch them for like half an hour, like a racquetball, and I have a reaction ball that I do too. That’s probably the extent. I always eat a banana.

Gross: Jacquie (Tam ’22) … (and I) like to play soccer before. We’ll try to beat our record in juggling.

Do you like to listen to music when you work out? What do you like to listen to?

Gross: Yes. In the gym, the song “breathin” by Ariana Grande reminds me of the Airdynes (laughs), so that’s a hard one to listen to, but I guess it gets us going.

Isaac: I listen to my free Spotify when I’m working out alone, which kind of sucks. … (laughs) You only get like three skips, so the song that you don’t like comes on in a crucial part of your workout, and you’re like, ‘I have to wait three minutes now.’

Has there been a most memorable experience in your Brown career so far?

Gross: Probably Saturday night for me, my first goal.

Isaac: For me, it was definitely (Tuesday) night just to see our team work so hard and come back. We have generally not fought so hard and just to see everyone work so hard and to have it pay off is amazing.

Gross: Yeah, that game for me too — I think that’s the most excited I’ve been about a hockey game in a while.

What’s your favorite thing about being on the women’s hockey team?

Gross: We’re all close already, it’s a super-close team friend-wise, … and everyone’s there for each other. I think that’s part of the reason we won (Tuesday) night because everyone wanted to be there for each other, everyone wanted to work hard for each other, so I like that.

Isaac: I like working super hard, putting everything out there and seeing everyone around me in the same position — just super tired (and) exhausted, but still willing to put the extra effort in.

What are your team aims for the season?

Isaac: Make playoffs.

Gross: Yeah. Be the hardest working team on the ice every day, every game.

The Bears open conference play tonight at Quinnipiac University. Face off is at 6 p.m.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

COMMENTARY PAGE 4 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

We should respect federal ruling on graduate student unionization To the Editor: I write to address a number of points made in a letter written by faculty colleagues regarding graduate student unionization, published in The Herald Tuesday, Oct. 23.

First, it is important to emphasize that we agree on many key points: Graduate students are highly valued members of our community who are integral to our commitment to education and research in service to society. We acknowledge and respect their significant contributions and benefit from their engagement in classrooms, laboratories, campus life and through shared governance.

The decision on whether or not to unionize is one for graduate students to make — and one that we hope is made fully informed by the facts. The University supports the right of graduate students to explore whether or not unionization is right for them, and has provided extensive informational resources for their consideration.

The upcoming election should be fair, impartial and free from intimidation, harassment or coercion by University or union representatives.

The University has worked hard to demonstrate our commitment to these beliefs. We have created and circulated widely the Faculty Conduct Guidelines and have signed the June

21 Union-University Conduct Rules Pre-Election Agreement with the union. I would encourage the authors of the letter — and all members of our community — to read the pre-election agreement, which states clearly that should graduate students vote in favor of union representation, Brown would recognize the union as the “exclusive collective bargaining representative” (Sec 3. A.) and would “bargain in good faith.” (Sec. 5. A.) Where I disagree, however, is with the signatories’ characterization of the role of the National Labor Relations Board. After the NLRB’s August 2016 Columbia decision that classified graduate students as employees, the University stated that it would comply with the ruling and support the right of students to decide for themselves whether or not to unionize. In other words, Brown decided not to challenge the decision as other institutions have done and instead to respect the rights of graduate students to make this important choice for themselves.

Like it or not, the NLRB is the government agency that has governed private sector labor relations in the United States for more than 50 years. It is an important institution that has withstood many presidential transitions.

While we can challenge an outcome of a decision using legal means, this is not

an entity to disregard simply because we do not agree with the politics of the current occupant in the White House.

We know that many colleagues would have preferred that the University join with several of our peers and actively object to the August 2016 decision. We have held firm as a University in agreeing to follow the NLRB’s determination regarding the status of graduate students as employees. This is not hedging: It was a commitment made when the outcome of the 2016 election pointed to a different result than a Donald Trump presidency. Should the NLRB change its ruling, we have stated, clearly and openly, that we would adhere to this change. I believe the University’s position is preferable to one based on the personal views or political leanings of whoever happens to be serving in senior leadership roles at Brown.

The provisions in the pre-election agreement were agreed to by all parties when we signed the document in June.

Let’s live by the agreement and promote an environment that supports all of our graduate students — both those who support and those who oppose unionization — as they take full advantage of their rights.

Richard Locke P’18 Provost

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COMMENTARY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018 • PAGE 5

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

NBA power rankings GEORGE KLEIN SPORTS COLUMNIST

Chaos arrived in the first week of the NBA season. Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo fought over spit, LeBron James missed two clutch free throws to lose a game and Blake Griffin dropped 50 points. With all the wildness occurring around the league, I tried to make sense of the NBA’s current pecking order. The following are power rankings of the league’s top 10 teams.

1. Golden State Warriors Surprise, surprise. Unless something drastic happens, I’m not moving Golden State from the top spot until the end of the season. The Warriors dropped a game to Denver but are truly coasting, not using a lot of their best offensive plays until the playoffs. It doesn’t matter if Golden State finishes with a No. 2 seed again — they’re the best team in the league by far. Stephen Curry is on a mission, scoring 51 points in three quarters on Wednesday night. Just wait until DeMarcus Cousins comes back.

2. Toronto Raptors There were a lot of questions to ask about Kawhi Leonard entering the season. Was he fully healthy?

Would he be motivated enough to give his best in Toronto? Well, Leonard seems as good as ever. Once he shakes off the rust from his jump shot, he’ll be borderline unstoppable again, forming a dynamic duo with Kyle Lowry. The Raptors have perhaps the deepest team in the league from Jonas Valanciunas and Danny

Green to Fred Van Vleet and Pascal Siakim. They look like the best team in the Eastern Conference.

3. Boston Celtics While plenty of people expected the Celtics to run away with the Eastern Conference this season, there are still some areas of concern for Boston. It’s hard to give so many talented players enough playing time. Terry Rozier already said, “It’s tough when I don’t get the minutes that I may want.” Not a great sign so early on. Nevertheless, putting Kyrie Irving, Gordon Heyward, Jayson Ta-

is always in question. Houston has taken a big step back from last year’s 65-win performance.

5. Utah Jazz The Jazz suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Warriors and a perplexing defeat at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies early on, but they came back from a far worse situation last season. Donovan Mitchell moved past his early season struggles with a 38-point outing Wednesday against Houston. Joe Ingles, Rudy Gobert and Jae Crowder all appear to have improved in the off-season. Look for Grayson Allen to contribute as the

Pelicans have more than maintained their momentum from last season’s playoffs.

7. Denver Nuggets Coming off a frustrating season with unmet expectations, the Nuggets now look ready to compete for years to come. Nikola Jokic controls the offense, averaging 23.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game, while Gary Harris, Jamal Murray and Paul Millsap provide lots of support. Harris has improved each season he has spent in the league, and could be on the

Chaos arrived in the first week of the NBA season. Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo fought over spit, LeBron James missed two clutch free throws to lose a game and Blake Griffin dropped 50 points.

tum, Jaylen Brown and Al Horford on the floor is a recipe for success.

Boston will go far, but the journey will have its challenges.

4. Houston Rockets The Rockets have gotten off to a rough 1-3 start. Carmelo Anthony will take some time to adjust to his new bench role and won’t help a team much at this point of his career. James Harden and Paul still form an elite combination and Clint Capela continues to improve every year, but Harden’s hamstring injury is a major concern, and Paul’s health

season goes on too. The Jazz will vie for a high seed in the Western Conference.

6. New Orleans Pelicans This team has surprised so far.

The big man rotation of Anthony Davis, Nikola Mirotic and Julius Randle is impressive, and has led the Pelicans to an early 3-0 record. Davis can win the MVP this year if he continues his current level of performance, averaging 30.3 points, 13.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.3 blocks per game. He dominates on both ends like few can in the league. The

verge of stardom. Though Denver lost Will Barton to hip surgery (he’ll be out for five to six weeks), there is still plenty of depth. The Nuggets are here to stay.

8. Milwaukee Bucks The hiring of new head coach Mike Budenholzer gave Milwaukee fans plenty of reason for optimism, and the Bucks have lived up to expectations. Giannis Antetokounmpo will battle with Davis for MVP votes all season long, and is taking more three-pointers. Though not many of them have fallen yet, his new confi-

dence from outside is a good sign.

Khris Middleton makes for a perfect second option in an offense with his shot-making skills. Don’t be shocked if the Bucks end up stealing the third seed from Philly.

9. Philadelphia 76ers With Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, Philadelphia has sky-high potential. But after a largely quiet off-season, many of the issues that plagued Philly in the playoffs have returned: a lack of depth and players with difficulty shooting the ball.

This season comes down to Markelle Fultz. Can the second-year player regain his shot and look like Philly’s third star? Without him, the 76ers will end their season earlier than hoped.

10. Indiana Pacers Indiana surprised the league last year with an impressive campaign, ultimately falling short to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games. They won’t surprise anyone this year. Victor Oladipo is a star and the addition of Tyreke Evans in the off-season gives the Pacers a further boost at the wing positions. If Myles Turner can finally make a leap in his level of performance, then Indiana can fully contend in the conference. For now, expect to see them as a four or five seed in the playoffs.

George Klein ’20 can be reached at george_klein@ brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.

An open letter to Sen. Warren before her Brown lecture JAMES FLYNN STAFF COLUMNIST In a time of stark polarization, when America is more divided than ever and when the left and the right are unable to find any kind of common ground, both sides of the political divide seem at last to express agreement on one particular matter: It is wrong to exploit racial ancestry to serve a political purpose. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, — who succumbed to President Trump’s puerile mockery by releasing her DNA test to the public in order to prove her Native American ancestry — has taught us this lesson.

The criticism is not, of course, identical on both sides of the political aisle. The left is upset, among other reasons, because she conflated small traces of genetic ancestry with inclusion in an ethnic group to which she had no connection other than some family stories. The Cherokee Nation even issued an official statement explaining to Warren the irrelevance of DNA to tribal citizenship: “Warren is undermining tribal interests with her continued claims of tribal heritage.” The right is upset, among many other reasons, because she seems to have used her family stories to claim the status as a “Native American” professor at Penn and as the first woman-of-color professor at Harvard Law. But Ross Douthat at the New

York Times expresses well the annoyance felt by both sides: “From the identitarian left to the anti-affirmative-action right, I defy you to find a single person invested in these debates who believes that someone who might be one-64th or even one-32nd Indian and whose Cherokee experience consists of old family stories should qualify as a first ‘minority’ hire in anything.”

Furthermore, Warren’s pandering to

theless doubling down on her DNA test, now saying that she released it for the sake of restoring “trust in government.” More likely, she wants to appear confident and strong against Trump in anticipation of a possible presidential bid in 2020.

A week from now, as it happens, Warren will address the Brown community at the Governor Frank Licht ’38 Lecture. This is a great

This is a great opportunity for her to speak on the controversy surrounding her decision to release the results of her DNA test and the dubious backing they provide to her claim of Native American ancestry.

Trump’s shenanigans serves to degrade political discourse into a farce. Michelle Obama famously proclaimed the proper response to these tactics: “Our motto is, when they go low, we go high.” Warren did not heed this advice.

By internalizing and taking seriously Trump’s mockery, Warren descended to his level and legitimized it, with the bonus effect of offending the very people for whom she had claimed to speak. And in spite of — from what I can tell — nearly unanimous disapproval, she is never-

opportunity for her to speak on the controversy surrounding her decision to release the results of her DNA test and the dubious backing they provide to her claim of Native American ancestry. I, therefore, address this open letter to Warren in anticipation of next Thursday’s lecture: Dear Sen. Warren, With all due respect, might you just acknowledge your mistake? Everyone else acknowledges it. If the goal of the Democratic

party is — as it ought to be — to mend the sorry state of political discourse into which the country has fallen, then the best way of forwarding that goal is to acknowledge that DNA tests play no role in it. Brown itself grapples with issues of diversity. To claim minority status on the basis of some family stories and a few strands of DNA — without a more substantial connection to that group — does not help institutions of higher education that seek to diversify themselves, and it does not help to voice the grievances of underrepresented groups. You have also dignified the rhetorical bafoonery and the ad hominem attacks that characterize Trumpian politics.

I, with utmost cordiality, request of you at least to address this controversy. It is your decision whether you should reconsider your position. But if you do stick to your position, as you have thus far done, I do hope that you are doing so on the basis of your principles and not for a political purpose, and that you will discuss those principles with us on Thursday.

Thank you!

James Flynn ’20 can be reached at james_flynn1@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.

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» MIDTERMS, from page 1 rigged system?”

Perez echoed the statement, saying that voters want the kind of growth and prosperity the country experienced after World War II. “Workers are still working hard, but they’re not sharing in that prosperity,” Perez said.

Steinfeld then turned the conversation toward voter suppression. Perez argued that voter suppression is not a recent trend in elections. “This has been a permanent staple in the playbook,” he said. “Our job in this country is to have a debate in the marketplace of ideas. We should make (voting) easier, not harder.”

Steele added that no voter should take the right to vote for granted. “We’re in an environment in which our politics have become so personalized that the goal is to get you to check out, not check in,” he said.

Both Perez and Steele stressed the importance and power young voters have in the midterms and future elections. “You have no excuse not to engage in your civic responsibility to vote. Just cut the crap,” Steele said.

Perez noted that the Trump administration’s repeated violations of institutional norms have been incredibly damaging to the fabric of U.S. politics.

“Our democracy as we know it is on the ballot,” he said. Perez emphasized that this was “the most important election of our lifetime.”

The event was co-sponsored by the Brown College Democrats, Republicans, Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy, the American Enterprise Institute at Brown and the SPEAK coalition. The second installment of “Across the Aisle” Nov. 19 will also feature Steele and Perez.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018

‘Mid90s’ paints poignant portrait of teenage aspirations, struggles Jonah Hill film realistically depicts young skateboarders’ lives, toeing line between comedy, drama

By BECKY WOLFSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Jonah Hill’s film “Mid90s” transfixes viewers from the start with closeup skateboarding shots and actionpacked scenes that reveal turmoil at home. The film follows 13-year-old Stevie’s (played by Sunny Suljic) summer adventures in Los Angeles as he weaves between life at home with his single mom (Katherine Waterston) and abusive older brother Ian (Lucas Hedges).

The film features a colorful cast of characters as members of Stevie’s friend group. Ruben (Gio Galicia) is the youngest of the group and instantly connects with Stevie, easing Stevie’s initial transition into the circle. Fourth Grade (Ryder McLaughlin) adds some welcome comic relief and unique visuals to the film with his own choppy footage of his friends skateboarding, partying and driving.

Ray (Na-kel Smith), the leader of the group, dreams of a future within the skateboarding world and takes Stevie under his wing. On the other hand, Fuckshit (Olan Prenatt) has an attitude that matches his nickname and is constantly on the lookout for fun, drugs and alcohol.

The film is painfully realistic in

Brown University Presents

A Conversation with

John Banville “Without question, one of the great living masters of English-language prose.”

– Timothy Rutten, The Los AngelesTimes

Monday, 29 October at 7 pm 001 Salomon Center Following a short reading from his work, distinguished Irish novelist John Banville, author of the Booker Prize-winning novel, The Sea, will be joined in conversation by Paul Armstrong, Professor of English.

This event has been made possible by support from Marshall Woods Lectureship Foundation of Fine Arts, the Brown Arts Initiative, a Salomon Curricular Mini-Grant and is sponsored by the departments of Literary Arts and English

its presentation of young adolescents trying to find their way in the world.

Stevie’s relationships with the older members of the group serve as an important foil to his fractured bond with his own elder brother. In a particularly poignant scene, Ray takes Stevie to an abandoned skate park and mentors him into the early hours of the morning; the two even end up sleeping overnight in the park.

But Ruben and Stevie’s relationship gradually sours over the course of the film as they compete for the attention of the older boys, and comes to a head in a physical fight toward the end of the film.

At times the film is uncomfortable to watch because does not shy away from issues such as abuse, depression, addiction and poverty. The film’s presentation of these subjects is only surface-level, but snapshots of Stevie’s life could suggest deeper internal struggles. Stevie’s complicated relationship with his brother and mother are never fully fleshed out, nor are the home lives of the group, but in this film there’s no need. Hill refuses to diagnose or label Stevie or his friends for us and chooses instead to just present them as they are — young, confused and passionate. Viewers empathize with Stevie as he gradually develops his skateboarding skills, from the first time he flips his board to the time he tries to skate over a gap in the roof and falls — only to get right back up with a huge smile.

“Mid90s” is also full of contradictions, and it toys with the audience’s expectations. Stevie does everything that Ian expressly forbids: “Don’t go in my room, don’t touch my stuff, don’t hang out with those kids.” In another break from convention, a police officer at a skate park begins by berating the boys for trespassing but instead proceeds to joke around with Fuckshit and walk away without taking further action.

The ending of the film also subverts expectations, concluding very abruptly; Stevie wakes up in the hospital after a drunk driving accident engineered by Fuckshit. As Stevie is surrounded by his friends and mom, it looks like just another day in his life — but all of a sudden the film cuts to Fourth Grade’s camerawork and the curtain closes on the production.

This conclusion provides a gritty finish and reflects life — the ending you expect doesn’t always happen.

“Mid90s” toes the line between a comedy and a drama. There are moments in the film that will leave viewers chuckling and others that only warrant gasps. The film is a candid portrait of what it means to be a teenager grappling with newfound independence and how to cultivate healthy relationships.

The Ivy Film Festival hosted an advance screening of “Mid90s” Oct. 15 at the Granoff Center for the Creative Arts. The film is currently being screened at the Providence Place Mall.