SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018
VOLUME CLII, ISSUE 62
WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
U. on track to meet sustainability goals Rhode Island bans
vaping in public spaces
University to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, combat climate change through new initiatives
Bill extends state ban of traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes, similar vaping devices
By ALLIE REED SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The University is on track to meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 42 percent below 2007 levels by 2020, according to Stephen Porder, assistant provost for sustainability and associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. The University began its current mission to cut greenhouse gas emissions in 2008 under the leadership of former President Ruth Simmons. This year, President Christina Paxson P’19 seeks to make the University “a model of sustainability,” she wrote in a Sept. 3 University-wide email. “Currently, the University has reduced its emission by about 27 percent below 2007 levels,” in line with the goals outlined in the 10-year strategic plan “Building on Distinction,” wrote Jess Berry, director of sustainable initiatives, in an email to The Herald. “Globally, the activities over the past 100 years have put the Earth on a trajectory toward a tipping point that we are fast approaching,” making it essential to mitigate some of the effects of climate change, Berry wrote. Porder’s focus as assistant provost for sustainability is determining how to reduce the University’s greenhouse gas emissions, which are classified under three scopes. Scope
By DYLAN MAJSIAK SENIOR STAFF WRITER
ALEX SKIDMORE / HERALD
one emissions stem from on-campus combustion, such as the natural gas burned in the current central heating plant. Reducing these emissions will “require the electrification of campus heating, … which is currently provided by fossil fuel combustion,” Porder wrote in an email to The Herald. This process is “a major engineering, logistical and financial challenge, but one I am eager to address.” Scope two emissions reflect combustion done for the University by outside organizations, like electricity
production. To address these concerns, “we are moving towards purchasing renewably-generated electricity for Brown,” Porder wrote. Scope three emissions are those that “occur as a result of Brown’s activity” but do not fall under the previous categories, including emissions from “faculty, staff and student travel” as well as “the production of goods that Brown purchases,” Porder added. This year, he will chair a committee that aims “to consider how » See EMISSIONS, page 2
Rhode Island joined 13 other states in prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes and similar vaping devices in most enclosed public spaces after a bill was signed into law by Gov. Gina Raimondo this July. Advocates of this effort cited health concerns that secondhand vapor poses for the general public, said bill co-sponsor and R.I. Senator and Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Chairman Joshua Miller, D-Cranston, Providence. The legislation — which increases the reach of Rhode Island’s 2005 workplace smoking ban — prohibits the use of e-cigarettes and other vaporizers in spaces including “private businesses, restaurants, most bars (and) public restrooms,” according to the Senate’s press release. “It has been discussed … whether the impacts of (e-cigarettes) overall was a positive or negative,” Miller said. “A consensus has been reached by those who are both advocates of legislators and health advocates that there’s enough negatives in (e-cigarettes) to warrant further legislation.” The e-cigarette — a small smoking
device that heats up a liquid composed of nicotine and other additives — has been on the market for over ten years but has just recently gained popularity in the past five years, said Jennifer Tidey, professor of behavioral and social sciences and psychiatry and human hehavior. This new technology has been widely utilized as a safer alternative to smoking combustible cigarettes, and many of these users have an end goal of quitting smoking entirely, Tidey added. However, Tidey notes that while e-cigarettes are “much less risky” than traditional cigarettes, they are not entirely “risk free.” “I think banning (e-cigarrettes) indoors is appropriate,” Tidey said, noting the lack of sufficient research on the risks of e-cigarette vapor exposure to those who are pregnant, elderly or asthmatic. “When we think about it, we have to think about these special populations who are vulnerable.” New research — such as in the January “Public Health Consequences of E-Cigarettes” report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine — indicates there are other toxins present in the use of e-cigarettes. While the quantities of these materials are “mostly” small, there are emissions of propylene glycol, which may damage the respiratory system when inhaled, » See VAPING, page 4
Rosen ’22 heads in overtime game-winner Hyundai, University forward Rebecca tackle research challenge Rookie Rosen scores in 95th Prize of up to $45,000 to be split among multiple winners of smart mobility competition By GLORIA NASHED STAFF WRITER
On Sept.10, the submissions portal for the Hyundai Visionary Challenge opened exclusively to University students, alums and teaching faculty members. The competition centers around three main themes: biology-inspired mobility, digital phenotyping and humanmachine partnerships, according to the HVC website. A prize of up to $45,000 will be split between at least three winning teams, and the winners
SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
INSIDE
will be offered the opportunity to secure up to $200,000 in additional research funding. Successful teams will also be invited to speak at a global conference on smart mobility in Silicon Valley. This is the first time Hyundai Motor Company has brought the competition to the University. There is a mutually beneficial relationship between companies like Hyundai and the University, said Daniel Behr, executive director of the Office of Industry Engagement and Commercial Venturing. “Companies have needs for innovation and the University is always looking for new sources for research funding.” While most research funding comes from federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation, companies have market-driven needs » See HYUNDAI, page 3
minute to notch her first goal of season By ALEX SMOLAR SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Rebecca Rosen ’22 is a rookie on the women’s soccer team, but she played like a true veteran against the College of the Holy Cross last weekend. Playing as a substitute, Rosen made her presence felt on the field, recording two shots and notching the game-winning goal in the 95th minute. Rosen located the ball in a sea of defenders off of a corner kick from midfielder Abby Carchio ’20 and headed it in for the golden goal. Rosen, who hails from Port Washington, New York, helped deliver the women’s soccer team its second win and first overtime
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
BENJI TURUÑO / HERALD
Rebecca Rosen ’22 recorded a total of three goals when the women’s soccer team faced the College of the Holy Cross last weekend. victory of the season. For her outstanding performance against Holy Cross, Rosen has been named The Herald’s Athlete of the Week.
Herald: Congratulations on scoring the game-winner! How did it feel » See AOTW, page 2
WEATHER
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018
SCIENCE& RESEARCH New analysis of relected light data provides conclusive evidence of water on moon
COMMENTARY Aman ’20: Former RNC Chair Michael Steele’s appointment as fellow supports U.’s mission
COMMENTARY Schapiro ’19: Many baseball statistics are entrenched, but that doesn’t mean they’re important
COMMENTARY Klein ’20: 2018 Superbowl could be anyone’s game as several teams demonstrate early potential
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