SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD VOLUME CLXI, ISSUE 8
BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
FRIDAY, MARCH 13
On Dec. 13, a gunman opened fire on campus. Dining workers say they weren’t prepared. Workers described confusion in the Ratty and Andrews on Dec. 13 BY JAMES LIBRESCO SENIOR STAFF WRITER Content warning: This article includes discussion of the Dec. 13 mass shooting at Brown University. Almost 90 minutes had passed since a gunman stormed into a Brown lecture hall and opened fire around 4 p.m. The shooter was still at large. Two and a half blocks from where the shooting took place, more than 100 students and employees were sheltering in the Sharpe Refectory’s main dining room. Around 5:30 p.m, students and staff moved downstairs to hide in the building’s basement at the suggestion of an Andrews Commons cook who phoned a colleague working in the Ratty. The scenes in the Ratty and Andrews that day have raised questions among Dining Services employees about Brown’s level of
preparedness for campus violence. In interviews with The Herald, 13 Dining Services employees said they were not trained on building-specific response plans for an active shooter incident on campus. Some of the employees were granted anonymity for fear of retaliation. Eleven of the employees — some of whom have worked at Brown for decades — said they did not receive intruder training of any kind leading up to the Dec. 13 shooting that killed Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov ’29 and Ella Cook ’28. Two employees said they participated in general trainings — one said he was trained at a mandatory onboarding session and the other said he received training at a workshop for dining workers. Experts told The Herald it is ideal to prepare employees for their roles in intruder situations — though communicating overarching safety plans with too many people could create a security risk. In a February interview with The Herald, President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 said the University has “a really
well-developed protocol for management of emergencies writ large.” Active shooter trainings were not mandatory for employees and took place when requested by specific departments, she said. University spokesperson Brian Clark wrote in an email to The Herald that training has been available “for many years.” Additional optional hostile intruder training for staff, faculty and students will also be available beginning next week. Other guardrails have also been implemented since the shooting, employees told The Herald, including panic buttons at Andrews, security guards at each dining hall and restricted swipe access to buildings. George Barboza, the vice president of Dining Services, declined interview and comment requests and referred The Herald to the University’s communications office. When a student rushed into the Ratty’s front entrance shortly after 4 p.m. on Dec. 13 and said there was an active shooter on campus, cashier Rosa Gonzalez first thought it was a “terrible joke,” she recalled. She had
TRAVEL
University strongly recommends deferring Brown-related travel to Middle East The travel recommendation applies to over a dozen countries in the Middle East BY EMILY FEIL METRO AND UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR The University has issued guidance recommending that students, faculty and staff defer all Brown-related travel to over a dozen countries in the Middle East, according to a Tuesday Today@Brown message. The recommendation, which the University has followed, was made by Brown’s Global Travel Risk Assessment Committee in consultation with the Office of Global Travel Operations, Risk and Resilience.
The University is “closely monitoring the evolving security situation that began in Iran,” the message reads. The travel deference recommendation applies to Brown-related travel to Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, according to the message. The “strong recommendation” was issued “out of an abundance of caution, and in light of the dynamic and uncertain security environment,” the message reads. The guidance will remain in place until further notice. Students traveling to any high-risk area for Brown-related purposes must submit a safety plan for GTRAC to review before receiving University travel support.
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not yet received an emergency alert from the University. Across campus at Andrews, workers had just reopened for dinner when a student came over “panicking,” an employee recalled. When Brown sent out an emergency alert about the shooting at 4:22 p.m., “everyone scattered,” the Andrews employee recalled. “There was nothing set. Nobody told us, ‘Okay, this is what you need to do.’” The Andrews staff locked the kitchen’s sliding gate and retreated with students to a hiding spot. For safety reasons, The Herald has refrained from describing the specifics of lockdown areas that are not publicly accessible. “Was there a better place for us to go?” the Andrews worker said. “I think there should have been a better place, but there was nothing set up because nobody expected this to happen.” Dan Dusseau, a law enforcement veteran and campus public safety consultant, said in a February interview with The Herald that it
is “best practice” to provide location-based guidance and training on emergency situation protocols, but it is an “unachievable goal” to do so in every building. Back in the Ratty, a group of students took cover in the center of the dining room. Most remained seated at their tables. For several minutes, Latin music still played from the speakers. Eventually, students in the alcove areas were told by employees to move away from the windows, toward the middle of the building. There in the dining room, they waited. The room’s approximately a dozen doors were locked, but they were not barricaded. The scene prompted concern for one worker, who said he saw Telma Ramos, the supervisor on duty, “distraught, sitting over in the corner texting someone.” The worker approached Ramos and asked what the University’s protocol for the situation was. “She told me that we didn’t have any protocol,” he recalled, other than “to
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TRAINING
Brown to offer hostile intruder training for students, faculty, employees Prior to the mass shooting in December, training was not typically offered to students BY JAMES LIBRESCO SENIOR STAFF WRITER Brown will offer optional hostile intruder training to students, faculty and employees beginning next week, according to a Monday Today@Brown message. Students, faculty and employees can register online to attend the newly designed in-person or live virtual training sessions, which will be held between March 17 and April 9. All sessions will be led by FBI-trained instructors, Brown Police Chief Hugh Clements and Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Sarah Latham wrote in the message.
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Prior to the Dec. 13 mass shooting, the University had “not done active shooter training with students” unless a department requested a training session that included students, President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 previously told The Herald. Training for faculty and employees was offered but not mandatory, Paxson said. After Dec. 13, “we know that building a sense of preparedness for such events can help contribute to an individual sense of safety and well-being,” the message reads. “At the same time, we understand that each person’s readiness to participate will vary.” The upcoming sessions were “designed with sensitivity and a trauma-informed framework,” and will not include loud noises or graphic images, Clements and Latham wrote. They added that each
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Friday, March 13, 2026
UNIVERSITY NEWS TRAVEL FROM PAGE 1 The message also noted that Brown maintains war risk exclusions for Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. This means that students, faculty and staff who plan to travel to these areas must complete a GTRAC-reviewed safety plan, receive approval from their dean or unit head and purchase war risk insurance before they leave. Travel to those regions is also exempt from the University’s travel abroad accident and sickness insurance. Christine Sprovieri, the senior di-
rector of the Office of Global Travel Operations, Risk and Resilience, wrote in an email to The Herald that GTRAC “only assesses Brown-related travel; it does not have any role in community members’ personal travel.” The guidance does not influence any funding or support the University provides for Brown-related travel and was only issued with traveler’s safety in mind, Sprovieri wrote. Students from “high-risk” countries whose personal or Brown-related
KENNA LEE / HERALD
The recommendation was made by Brown’s Global Travel Risk Assessment Committee in consultation with the Office of Global Travel Operations, Risk and Resilience.
travel plans have been impacted “are encouraged to reach out to their respective academic advising deans for support,” Sprovieri wrote. She added that the University provides legal assistance to employees and students who are not U.S. citizens through an immigration law firm, as long as their Brown-related travel has been approved.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 10, 2026.
INTERNATIONAL
University to replace Travel Pilot Program with region-based airfare allowance The program arranged one round-trip flight per academic year BY ZARINA HAMILTON UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR On Feb. 20, the University notified eligible students that the Travel Pilot Program would end this year. Founded in 2020, the program covers one round-trip flight per academic year for international students receiving financial aid. Starting in the 2026-27 academic year, eligible students will receive travel support through the University’s Cost of Attendance framework, which outlines estimated costs at Brown, Associate Dean of the College for International Students Chia-Ying Pan wrote in an email to The Herald. The amount of aid given will be determined by airfare data that was gathered during the pilot program and the individual’s home region, Pan added. The Travel Pilot Program launched amid the COVID-19 pandemic when “global travel was highly disrupted and airfare pricing was volatile,” Pan wrote. It guaranteed that international students receiving financial aid could travel “safely and reliably,” she added. “As global travel systems have stabilized, the direct-booking structure is no longer necessary to achieve the purpose for which the pilot was originally created,” Pan said.
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In the 2026-27 academic year, student financial awards will account for travel support as part of the University’s overall cost of attendance. After learning about the changes to the program, several students shared their thoughts about the new travel support system. Antonio Furleo Semeraro ’29, an international student from Italy, believes the change is “just another thing that is adding up to the billion things that international students have to take care of,” noting that international students have to prepare visas and file paperwork. Felipe Barbosa ’27 also noted that the transition to the new system would make booking “not as convenient as it was before.” But he added that the flexibility of the new program would balance out those concerns. With the stipend, Barbosa said he might try to book cheaper flights to campus and use the remaining money to cover traveling home for break. Under the
Travel Pilot Program, one round trip was covered and an outside agency selected students’ flights. “I’m happy that it gives us more flexibility,” Barbosa said. Daniyal Suleimen ’28, who has used the program for the past two years, expressed similar sentiments, explaining that the Pilot Program only allowed for travel to or from Boston. “I’m glad this change happened because it will make it easier for me to apply to internships and other opportunities outside of the New England area,” he added. But Suleimen and Semeraro both expressed concerns about the extent of the program’s consideration of students’ home regions. Semeraro was concerned about differences in cost within regional boundaries.
Within the same country, some students may have to pay more to reach the nearest international airport than others, he explained. “The intent of the pilot program was great because it would give everybody (the) same opportunity to get home, to get back on campus,” Semeraro added. “I hope Brown takes potential travel restrictions and other difficulties into account when deciding how much funding to provide,” Suleimen said, noting that students who travel through or from the Middle East may face greater complications and costs in light of current travel restrictions. According to Pan, travel costs that exceed the allowance will be handled using the COA budgeting framework, which says that if indirect costs of attendance — which include transportation costs — exceed the amount accounted for by a student’s financial aid package, students can request a loan from the Office of Financial Aid. Pan encouraged students to speak with the Office of Financial Aid to discuss caseby-case situations when “students face unusually high travel costs due to their specific circumstances.” When it comes to actually booking the flights, some students are also worried about the allowance being granted too late to be beneficial. “This could be difficult for incoming freshmen from households that can’t afford to pay for travel tickets upfront,” Suleimen wrote. “They would have to
cover the cost of their first flight out of pocket, and they would not yet have the chance to work on campus.” Pan noted that “the University will continue to purchase airline tickets for $0 Parent Contribution students who are unable to front the cost.” While Semeraro noted that flights from Italy are more readily available, students hailing from other countries “really have to look into flight months in advance and take a million layovers all around the world.” The fact that he didn’t have to worry his parents “about tickets and the whole booking process was definitely something that pushed our decision towards Brown,” Semeraro said. Pan wrote that the University remains committed to meeting international students’ demonstrated financial need. As the University transitions to the new travel framework, departments including the Office of Financial Aid, the international student advising team and the International Student and Scholar Services will continue to support and advise students, Pan wrote. “We recognize that international travel planning involves multiple considerations,” Pan wrote. “The goal of the new model is to provide students with greater flexibility while maintaining advising support across offices.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 12, 2026.
LECTURE
Jelani Cobb highlights civil rights history, community action in 30th annual MLK Jr. Lecture Cobb discussed collective action under the Trump administration BY MARAT BASARIA SENIOR STAFF WRITER On Monday, Jelani Cobb, a staff writer for the New Yorker and dean of the Columbia Journalism School, spoke at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s 30th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture. During the talk, Cobb traced activist movements and collective resistance from the Civil Rights Movement to the modern day. Throughout times of injustice, “The most basic thing that we have as a society is our collective conscience and our willingness to fight back,” Cobb said. In addition to his work as a journalist and dean, Cobb was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Commentary in 2018 and, two years later, won the Peabody Award for his film titled “Whose Vote Counts?” Cobb has also written multiple history
books, including his most recent titled fighting injustice), they generally come said about the issue of neighborly decen“Three Or More Is a Riot: Notes on How from people who have far less in terms of cy as being a sort of cornerstone to any We Got Here: 2012-2025.” power and far less in terms of resources,” democracy.” Opening the lecture, Cobb drew on Cobb said. Having grown up in Queens, New York King’s book “Where Do We Go from Here: That sentiment is embodied by those City, Cobb said he has long understood Chaos or Community?” to outline some in Minneapolis who protested, night after the importance of collective community of the setbacks and successes of the Civil night in freezing weather, against immiin one’s neighborhood. Rights Movement. gration enforcement actions, Cobb said. In 1960, Queens was the second-whit“Victory has a way of erasing all the Those protesters stood “up in defense of est part of New York City, Cobb said. But things that could have been or might have people whom they may not throughout his childhood, the borough was been or that weren’t executed to the way have actually known but “en route to becoming what it currently that they would have been intended,” to whom they believed is, which is statistically the most diverse Cobb said. they owed a civic recounty in the United States.” He explained that King’s novel is a sponsibility as their This change in Queens reflects a simkind of “self-assessment tool neighbor,” he added. ilar trend toward diversity across the rest that he uses to try to underAaron Stark, a PhD canof the country, he said, adding that the stand what is next for the didate at Brown who rising rate of interracial marriages and civil rights movement.” attended the lecincreased representation for people of Cobb tied the history of ture, said that he various backgrounds in American instithe Civil Rights Movement “liked what tutions also reflected this pattern. But to present-day communi(Cobb) President Trump is attempting to reverse ty-based efforts to resist U.S. this progress, Cobb added. immigration enforcement “We are fooling ourselves if we activity. believe that it is a coinciJAKE PARKER / HERALD “When we look for Cobb opened the lecture with a synopsis of Martin Luther King dence” that Trump, sources of inspiration (in Jr.’s resilience through decades of Black struggle. who Cobb called the
“most xenophobic politician in modern American history,” grew up in Queens, an area that experienced such sudden diversification. The White House did not immediately respond to The Herald’s request for comment. But amid social turmoil, Cobb said that he has the “optimism of a boxer in the late rounds, which is that if you’re still on your feet, if you haven’t been knocked out, you still have a chance to win.” “And that’s what optimism is — a chance, not a guarantee,” he said. Cobb “has a way of giving us information that pulls on history, but also gives us a path forward for the future,” said Jai-Me Potter-Rutledge, chief of staff for Brown’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She said her biggest takeaway from his lecture was to “never lose sight of optimism.” “As long as you’re still standing, keep at it,” she added.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 10, 2026.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
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UNIVERSITY NEWS SHOOTING FROM PAGE 1 lock down the doors.” Ramos usually oversees Verney-Woolley Dining Hall, but she was at the Ratty on Dec. 13. Ramos said she felt grateful for how students in the building followed instructions. She declined to comment on her training, citing policy that she must receive permission from her boss. “It felt like we were winging it,” said Timothy Hilliard, a food service worker who was in the Ratty that day. But, he noted, Ramos was “doing her best.” After moving to the dining room, “we were just kind of hanging around,” he said. Luis Cabrera, a first cook at the Ratty, was downstairs in the kitchen when he was alerted via text of the shooting. Ramos eventually instructed him to join the crowd upstairs, he said. According to Cabrera, Ramos said it was the protocol to gather in the dining room. But after false reports of a second shooting circulated, Cabrera received a phone call from a coworker at Andrews who had returned home earlier in the day. The coworker, who declined to be publicly identified, urged him to find a more hidden space to shelter. “You guys shouldn’t be there,” Cabrera recalled his coworker saying. He suggested Cabrera move to the basement where
“there are a lot of hiding spots.” Cabrera found Barboza in his Ratty office to ask whether he could bring students down to the lower level. Barboza told Cabrera that he could do whatever he wanted, according to Cabrera. “And that’s when I take everybody to the basement,” he said. By around 5:40 p.m, all students and most workers were in the basement. Although workers steadily guarded one of the basement’s two doors, the other remained open with a tube on the floor, which one Ratty worker said has “something to do with the generators” in the building. Dusseau said that it is safer to shelter in rooms with fewer entry points. But Jaclyn Schildkraut — the executive director of the Rockefeller Institute of Government’s Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium — noted that there has never been a recorded instance “in which a shooter was able to defeat a locked door.” At the Ratty, the open basement door was barricaded with a shelf of food supplies. Cabrera stationed staff with pocket knives or boxcutters to protect the area. Cabrera’s decision-making was not based on any official plan, he said — in fact, he had “never” heard of one. “Everything that I was basically doing,”
he added, was “from all the drills that I did when I was in high school, videos and movies that I watched growing up.” As students took refuge in the basement for the next seven hours — calling
“
ulous, but got to do what you got to do.” The Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management has offered active shooting training when requested by “units and groups across campus,” according to
There was nothing set. Nobody told us, ‘Okay, this is what you need to do.’
”
Andrews employee who was working on Dec. 13 their families, playing card games and napping — employees including Cabrera and Gonzalez passed out Oreo cookies, bananas and water. Hilliard manned the door as workers escorted students upstairs when they needed the restroom. Back at Andrews, the group used a bucket as their toilet. “ It wasn’t safe to go to the restroom from where we were,” the Andrews employee recalled. It “was ridic-
a Monday Today@Brown message announcing additional optional hostile intruder safety trainings for individual workers. Clark did not respond to a question about if dining workers had taken the original course. According to Schildkraut, American universities “typically require some form of annual compliance training,” with
varying content from school to school. She wrote that in her experience, active shooter preparedness was included but “only minimally.” Employees expressed frustration that Brown’s new active shooter trainings were not implemented more immediately, and that they do not appear to be location-specific. “We’re almost two and a half months in,” the Andrews employee said in a mid-February interview. “And nothing. It’s almost like (the shooting) didn't happen.” Amid a rise in school shootings nationwide, the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown was the first at a school in Rhode Island since at least 2008. On Brown’s campus, “we never think about that type of stuff,” Cabrera said. “But unfortunately,” he added, “this is something normal in our country.” On Dec. 13, Cabrera was “working just like a normal day.” Hilliard was in the bathroom when he first received the notification and Gonzalez was browsing online for wedding decorations. “I went from wedding planning to, ‘Oh my God. I might die,’” Gonzalez said.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 12, 2026.
TRAINING FROM PAGE 1 element of the training will be announced beforehand, allowing attendees to leave the session if they feel uncomfortable participating in particular sections. “There is no expectation that everyone will engage with this training in the same way,” the message reads. The sessions will revolve around the “Run, Hide, Fight” framework, which asserts that during an active shooting or similar incident, individuals should first try to evacuate the scene before resorting to sheltering in place or attempting to debilitate the intruder. Sessions will also “focus on situational awareness, decision-making and personal safety readiness,” according to the message. The eight in-person and seven virtu-
Training sessions will follow the “Run, Hide, Fight” framework. al sessions for students will take place separately from the eight in-person and three virtual trainings for faculty and employees. The new optional trainings are
distinct from the mandatory training required for first responders on campus, Clements and Latham wrote. In addition to the new training, the
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Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management is continuing to offer a course on responding to hostile intruders upon request, Clements and Latham wrote.
The DPSEM course “highlights campus resources, response plans, and recovery support,” and teaches participants “to assess rapidly changing situations, make informed decisions, and protect themselves and others,” they wrote. Each person must make a “personal decision how, when and whether to participate” in the newly-designed training sessions, Clements and Latham wrote. “Even if you have attended a hostile intruder training in the past, you may want to consider these updated sessions.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 9, 2026.
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Friday, March 13, 2026
METRO GRANT
CCRI to launch early childhood education certificate program Brown awarded a $1.5 million grant to the Community College of R.I. BY AVA STRYKER-ROBBINS METRO EDITOR Six weeks ago, Brown awarded a $1.5 million grant to the Community College of Rhode Island as part of the University’s commitment to invest $50 million in Rhode Island workforce development over 10 years. Now, the grant will help CCRI launch five cohort-based early childhood education certificate programs that will serve 125 educators over the next three years, CCRI Chief of Staff Amy Kempe wrote in an email to The Herald. This will be Providence’s first bilingual credential program. Brown’s contribution will also fund “more than $1 million in scholarships and student support,” including bilingual tutoring and mentorship, technology and transportation, for individuals pursuing programs in early childhood education. “Investing in the next generation of those educators is incredibly important,” Professor of Education and Economics Matthew Kraft told The Herald. “I think these investments will help to both expand the pipeline of future early childhood educators and to ensure that those educators are well prepared and trained to succeed in their roles.” CCRI and the PPSD held two virtual information sessions for the program in the first week of March, according to Kempe. Starting in May, CCRI will pilot the program’s first 20-student cohort. The first two classes will take a hybrid approach and
The CCRI aims to start a cohort-based program that will serve 125 educators over three years. meet once per week at CCRI’s Providence campus, she added. About 40% of PPSD students are multilingual learners, and the majority of those students primarily speak Spanish at home. “Providence schools, like many school communities across the nation with diverse student populations, are in need of bilingual educators, and CCRI's bilingual credential program will be a long-overdue game changer for our community,” PPSD spokesperson Alex Torres-Perez wrote in a statement sent
to The Herald. “This program will help us strengthen our schools from the inside out by creating a clear pathway for our teaching assistants and community members. It will also ensure more of our students can learn from mentors who speak their language, share their culture and understand their lived experiences,” she added. “Children's early cognitive and social emotional development is the core building block for all that they go on to accomplish and experience in their lives,” Kraft said.
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“Those fundamental early years in which brain development happens most rapidly, and early childhood education plays a critical role in supporting healthy child development.” Marinel Russo, deputy director of the Rhode Island Association for the Education of Young Children, believes the grant is “a great way to provide additional opportunities to our workforce.” She added that professional development opportunities, including both training and higher education, are “foundational” in
ensuring educators bring their “knowledge back into their classrooms” and utilize it. Currently, about 1 in 4 elementary school teachers in the PPSD are using preliminary or emergency certifications, according to Rhode Island Department of Education data. “Obviously, the nurturing and the compassion that (teachers are) providing in their classrooms is important,” Russo said, but education provides “that level of expertise that is needed in order to be the best they can be in their classrooms.”
RAMADAN
Brown Bee Coffee hosts late-night service during Ramadan The late-night selection includes rice pudding and a Ramadan croissant BY PAVANI DURBHAKULA METRO EDITOR Illuminated by moonlight and lamplight, the tables at Brown Bee Coffee were strewn with specialty treats on Saturday. Some customers shared Ramadan Croissants — crescent-moon-shaped pastries stuffed with fresh dates, walnuts and vanilla pastry cream — while others sipped on matcha with date-flavored cold foam. Many people observing Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic year, spend 11 to 16 hours of their day fasting from pre-dawn to sunset. In celebration of the month, Brown Bee is offering a specialty late-night menu from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays until March 14. According to Brown Bee owner Waleed Ghazi, who also observes Ramadan, a large proportion of the shop’s guests are Muslim. “It was our job, in order to bring the community together, to offer them something at night as well,” Ghazi said. The community response to the latenight services has been unexpectedly “insane,” Ghazi said. “The line’s been down the street at 9 p.m. every time.” Habiba Adeyemi, a Providence resident observing Ramadan, said that she decided to break her fast at Brown Bee after hearing about the Ramadan night service on social media. “I feel like this brings us together as a
ELLA LE / HERALD
In addition to some of their classics, their late-night menu features a new rose date drink flavor and their Ramadan croissant. community, especially as a Muslim, in this trying time,” Adeyemi said, adding that both the rice pudding and the rose date latte were “really, really good.” Maysha Chowdhury ’29 said she visited the cafe specifically because of their Ramadan service. “A lot of people usually go to coffee shops after Taraweeh,” said Chowdhury, referring to prayers typically performed at night during Ramadan. “We came here after Taraweeh to get some coffee, some croissants and just to have fun.” Maryama Ali ’29, who came to the
cafe with Chowdhury, added that a lot of places “are closed after the time that we typically eat,” during Ramadan, noting that “it’s a nice gesture” for Brown Bee to be open late. Brown Bee’s added hours “really feel like community, especially when you’re far from home,” Ro’a Hammo ’29 said. “This is kind of like my Suhoor, which is the meal that we have before fasting,” Hammo said. Sara Muqudas, a student at Providence Country Day School who is also observing Ramadan, said this was her second week
in a row coming to Brown Bee’s Ramadan night. “I enjoyed the vibes and the matcha a lot, so I came back,” she said. Muqudas described coming to the cafe after prayer as “always such a reward.” Ghazi said that people “of all faiths, different religions, different communities” have come to enjoy Brown Bee’s Ramadan nights, including many people who are not Muslim. Alexandra Coia ’26 said that she came to Brown Bee’s Ramadan night because “it’s a unique thing for cafes, or just places that sell great pastries, to be open late.”
Harsh Thakkar, a RISD student, also does not observe Ramadan but said he was “here for the sweet treats.” “It’s just been beautiful to see all different cultures and religions come together … to all have fun and enjoy Brown Bee,” Ghazi said. During the first weekend of Ramadan service, the coffee shop was “overwhelmed by customers and trying to meet demand,” Ghazi said, but “it’s gotten smoother and smoother” with each night. While the shop ran out of food items “pretty quickly” during the Ramadan service, Brown Bee was able to continue serving drinks the whole night, Ghazi said. To manage crowds and keep sales running efficiently while maintaining a good customer experience, Brown Bee implemented two lines — one for dine-in and one for take-out — and gave dine-in customers a one-hour table time. “Having the one-hour turnaround times helped us accommodate everybody that did want to dine in at different parts of the night,” Ghazi said. Hammo said she and her friends waited around 25 minutes to get inside, which she thought was “not that long.” Looking forward, Ghazi said the Ramadan nights are “something that we want to make a part of who we are.” If possible, he hopes to host the special hours “even more often” next year. “I would love to have this every Ramadan moving forward,” Adeyemi said.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 12, 2026.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
PAGE 5
METRO COUNCIL
Deadline for R.I. coastal council appointments elapses without action New leadership was supposed to be appointed by March 1 BY TALIA KATZ SENIOR STAFF WRITER
On March 1, the deadline for Gov. McKee to appoint a new executive board to the Coastal Resources Management Council passed with no new appointments. The board — which manages and regulates the Ocean State’s 400 miles of coastline — has been criticized for inefficiency and lack of accountability. A bill passed last year by the Rhode Island General Assembly aimed to reform the council by reducing its members from 10 to seven and requiring those members to have specific expertise relating to environmental and coastal management. Previous members include a liquor store owner and a dental hygienist, among others. The bill also established the March 1 deadline for McKee to appoint a new board. The current council model “doesn’t work,” State Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Portsmouth, Middletown) said. She added that there have been vacancies on the CRMC that have remained unfilled. “The appointment process is underway, and until appointments have been made, the existing council members can continue to serve,” Laura Dwyer, a spokesperson for the CRMC, wrote in an email to The Herald. The CRMC did not reply to further requests for comment regarding criticisms of inefficiency. CRMC members are volunteers, and meetings often fail to achieve a quorum. As a result, decisions can take years —
There are currently vacancies on the CRMC and have been for years. proposals for an aquaculture permit, for example, can take up to five years to process, according to Save the Bay, a nonprofit organization that works to protect Narragansett Bay. Topher Hamblett, executive director of Save the Bay, noted that, while experts offer recommendations to the council, the group is not required to take their advice. State Sen. Mark McKenney (D-Warwick) said that this system has led to issues in the past. In 2020, the CRMC made a
“backroom deal” with Champlin’s Marina and Resort, permitting its expansion on Block Island despite public disapproval, he said. Though the case was later struck down by the Rhode Island Supreme Court due to environmental concerns, it is “an illustration of why a politically-appointed board is not the way to go,” he said. To State Rep. John Edwards (D-Portsmouth, Tiverton), McKee’s inaction on last year’s bill proves that “the CRMC as it is with a council is archaic,” he said.
MAX ROBINSON / HERALD
McKee did not respond to multiple requests for comment. “Having people with a little bit better expertise, it doesn’t get rid of the fact that this is a politically-appointed board,” McKenney said, adding that Rhode Island is an “outlier” among coastal states nationwide. “Unfortunately, (the CRMC) has not operated in the manner that we had hoped it might, and as with any number of organizations or entities, there comes a time when change is needed,” he said.
Some critics of the CRMC are looking for ways to restructure the council. A new bill introduced by Edwards and co-sponsored by Cortvriend in February would make CRMC into a bureau housed under the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. While CRMC employees — of which there are around 30 — do “great stuff,” the organization needs more guidance, Edwards told The Herald. He pointed to an ongoing debate over an oyster farm in his district, which has been in limbo since 2020. Edwards added that he had spoken with RIDEM directors and found them very well-qualified to oversee the CRMC. He said he believed that this change “would not be a burden on any director or future director.” Hamblett is working with Edwards and Cortvriend to develop the new bill. This restructuring would give the newly-formed bureau “the resources it needs to do its job effectively,” including an increased communications capacity and a “greater presence at the Rhode Island State House, where very important policies are made and decisions are made about the coast,” Hamblett said. “The bill that was passed last year did not address the glaring problem or the elephant in the room, which is the council itself,” he added. “In spite of the Council’s many missteps and controversies, it’s never been held accountable,” Hamblett said. “Rhode Island’s coastal agency should be a fully professional, accountable, effective agency.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 9, 2026.
LEGISLATION
R.I. House Speaker introduces 2026 housing legislation package The nine bills aim to address Rhode Island’s ongoing housing crisis BY SARAH VOIGT CONTRIBUTING WRITER On Feb. 26, Rhode Island House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi announced a package of nine bills that aim to address the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis in Rhode Island through policies such as encampment protections and municipal building reuse. The package is the sixth annual housing package Shekarchi has introduced since he assumed his current position in 2021. “As home prices and rents continue to rise, more Rhode Islanders are being priced out of the communities they call home, deepening our state’s housing crisis,” Melina Lodge, executive director of the Housing Network of Rhode Island, wrote in a statement sent to The Herald. “There’s going to be more homelessness if people can’t afford to buy or rent,” said Emily Martineau, Shekarchi’s deputy director of communications. She added that homelessness “goes hand in hand with the increase in housing prices.” Martineau said that the package of bills was designed to promote housing production. “Shekarchi’s belief is that when we’re dealing with a shortage of housing, the best way to address it is to create more,” she said. The SAFE bill, one of the measures in the package, would help cities and towns in
Rhode Island to quickly set up Supportive and Functional Emergency Units — a form of temporary housing — in response to extreme weather or other disasters. “This winter, we had at least three Rhode Islanders freeze to death,” Martineau said. If “winter is coming and we need to find shelter for people, this (bill) would give municipalities the ability to do this quickly,” she added. Another bill in the package, sponsored by Shekarchi, would update Rhode Island’s Homeless Bill of Rights to “ensure that unhoused individuals are given at least a 15-day notice before an encampment is disbanded,” Martineau said. She added that Rhode Island was the first state to create a homeless bill of rights in 2012. As part of the package, State Rep. June Speakman (D-Bristol, Warren) sponsored a bill that would change state building code requirements to allow housing units to be approved with only one staircase. The legislation, which she first proposed two years ago, would allow for the construction of buildings in smaller lots. “The advantages of a building with a single stair as opposed to two stairways is that you have a lot more floor area available to build bigger apartments and corner apartments,” Speakman said, adding that a single-stair building provides “more housing options.” Another bill in the package — also sponsored by Speakman — would create a commission to review Rhode Island’s Condominium Act if passed. In the past two years, the number of Rhode Islanders who have contacted
JJ LI / HERALD
Speakman about problems with their condominiums “has grown and grown,” Speakman said. She said she has heard stories of people buying condominium units at affordable prices but struggling to afford rising condominium association membership fees. Existing laws that restrict the price at which owners can sell their units have also posed issues, she said. “The condo laws that we have on the
books in Rhode Island need a good, hard study and a good, hard reform,” Speakman said, “so that’s what the commission is going to do.” Other bills in the package aim to reduce parking requirements in areas with high public transit access, limit tax rates for the construction of residential units that include a percentage of affordable housing options and support the redevelopment of vacant state-owned buildings
into housing. “This legislative package builds on prior efforts to reduce obstacles to residential development,” Lodge wrote. To her, it “represents meaningful progress toward increasing housing supply and affordability across Rhode Island.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 10, 2026.
PAGE 6
Friday, March 13, 2026
SPORTS BASKETBALL STAR
A star’s final game day: Landon Lewis ’26 reflects on his remarkable Brown basketball career Lewis sat down with The Herald to discuss his athletic journey BY SAJIV MEHTA SENIOR STAFF WRITER As the whistle blew in the waning minutes of the men’s basketball team's (9-18, 3-11 Ivy) season-finale against Penn (16-11, 12-2) this past Friday, a chorus of cheers filled the Pizzitola Sports Center. The echoing ovation, defiant in the face of an 82-61 defeat, commemorated the final moment of the illustrious career of Landon Lewis ’26. A standout forward throughout his years in the men’s basketball program, Lewis captained the squad this season. The senior left no doubt as to his prolific ability, achieving the feat of a 30-point performance twice in this year alone and leading the Bears in the number of points scored per game by over seven. On the last day of his undergraduate playing career, The Herald followed Lewis to understand his pregame habits and athletic journey at Brown. Lewis’s game day routine is “built around the team’s schedule,” he told The Herald in an interview the following day. But he always makes time for his own habits. “If I did a certain routine and played a good game, I would just replicate it,” Lewis said. “I kind of built my routine around that.” To Lewis, the most important part of preparation takes place during mealtime. On Friday, he began his routine with an hour-long breakfast at the Sharpe Refectory, prioritizing protein and “barely” touching carbohydrates. Next, the Los Angeles native returned to his dorm to watch the HBO hit show “Industry.” As “thinking about the game all day is mentally exhausting,” watching television intentionally serves as a distraction, Lewis explained. Lewis emphasized the importance of spending time alone throughout the bas-
ketball season. “If I’m eating with someone else, or I’m out, hanging out — I can’t be super
Lewis said he seeks to balance leading his teammates and remaining in his “own es-
outgoing,” he said. “When I’m just (going to) class, practice, Ratty, back to my room, and I complete that every day, I feel more locked in.” But overcoming his solitary nature has been an important step in his journey as a captain and leader, Lewis added. He said that he’s become more outspoken to his teammates in an effort to guide the team to success. Departing from his dorm early Friday afternoon, Lewis made the walk to the Salomon Center for an exam in CPSY 0220: “Making Decisions.” On the days when he must balance pressing academic and athletic obligations, Lewis has built a dependable internal framework. “I have to use my mental health skills to not think about the game and only think about the midterm,” he said. “And then as soon as the midterm is over, it’s a switch back ... it’s tough, but it’s a habit now.” After completing his exam, Lewis hustled over to the Pizzitola Sports Center for a walkthrough. As the team practiced their plays for the contest ahead, Lewis shouted callouts and commands to his teammates. “Naturally, I lead by exam-
sence.” After a half-hour nap, Lewis emerged from the locker room, clad in a fresh white-and-brown jersey to begin warmups. Utterly focused during a precise shooting regimen, the star smiled with satisfaction when the basketball went through the hoop and grimaced in frustration following near
Mike Martin ’04 stressed the importance of Lewis’ perfectionism. “He’s just so hard on himself, and that’s why he’s
PROVIDENCE, RI
nior Day ceremony, which hosted Lewis and forward Drew Kania ’26. Accompanied by his family, Lewis strolled to the painted Brown “B” for a moment of acknowledgement from the Bruno faithful. Reflecting on his family’s presence, Lewis said, “I couldn’t have done it without them.” He highlighted his father’s impact, calling his dad “super pivotal” to his basketball career. Once the opening whistle blew, Lewis immediately demonstrated the poise and tenacity of a four-year program cornerstone. Cutting a commanding figure on the court, the 6-foot-8-inch, 230-pound floor general pushed through contact to score the contest’s very first points. “When people think of me, they think of physicality and bullying guys; being a good finisher; relying on my athleticism,” Lewis remarked on his playstyle. “I hope that’s how they remember me.” But a resolute double-double from Lewis was not enough to overcome turnover-riddled play by the Bears. Though Brown pulled within five points of Penn at moments throughout the match, the outcome had long been decided by the final minutes. So when the buzzer sounded with two minutes remaining and Lewis checked out of the contest, the home crowd knew he had walked off the floor for the last time. Rising in celebration of Brown’s distinguished captain, the arena showered Lewis with applause. Shaking Martin's hand and bumping the fists of assistant coaches, Lewis made his way down the bench and took a seat. As the final seconds ticked off the game clock, Lewis embraced his teammates and, together, they watched the time expire on his collegiate basketball career. “I was just feeling a whole ton of gratitude,” Lewis said. “At the bottom of all of our hearts we want what’s best for each other.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 9, 2026.
HORATIO HAMILTON / HERALD
MARCH 20-29 at Moses Brown School
H e a d Coach
good,” Martin told The Herald in a press conference following Friday’s match. “He doesn’t accept a lower standard for himself.” Before the game HORATIO HAMILTON / HERALD began, the stadium’s Landon Lewis ’26 captained the team attention was fixed this season. on half court for a Se-
ple,” t h e captain said. “I like to be on my P’s and Q’s and make sure I’m doing what I need to do before I try to get on anybody else.” With the end of their preparation, the players headed off the court for a team meal. During these collective moments,
WOODMAN CENTER
misses.
Lewis and his family on the court for Senior Day.
Featuring ALLEGRO BRILLANTE GEORGE BALANCHINE
LITURGY
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HORATIO HAMILTON / HERALD
Lewis eats dinner with teammates before the game.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
PAGE 7
SPORTS WRESTLING
Andrew Reall ’28 wins Brown’s first Ivy Wrestling Tournament for 197-pound title Reall is one of three Bears who qualified for NCAA Championships BY CHIUPONG HUANG SENIOR STAFF WRITER This past weekend, Andrew Reall ’28 made Brown history, winning Bruno its first Ivy League Championship at 197 pounds. Reall, who is ranked No. 19 according to NCAA’s Feb. 26 Ratings Percentage Index, notched a spot in the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championships next weekend in Cleveland, Ohio. This is the second year that Brown’s wrestling team, who placed fifth in the tournament, has competed in an Ivy League championship. Coming off a successful season, with 34 wins and 4 losses, Reall sought to prove himself as the top seed in his division at the Ivy Wrestling Tournament. Throughout the competition, Reall was matched up against opponents — Cornell’s Aiden Hanning and Columbia’s Jack Wehmeyer — he bested during the regular duel season. During his semifinal bout against Hanning, Reall used pressure and heavy handfighting to patiently wear down his opponent in the early periods. As Hanning grew tired, Reall used his expertise in sensing fatigue to pave the way to his tournament victory.
COURTESY OF BROWN ATHLETICS
Despite making history, the Bears are not celebrating yet — they’re focused on the upcoming national competition. Despite the bout standing scoreless after two periods, Reall’s relentless attacks resulted in three takedowns in the third period. He proved so successful in countering his opponent’s offense that Hanning was awarded a stall penalty late in the final period. Reall again proved his knack for cinching up close victories in his finals win over Wehmeyer, which was decided by a clean
single-leg takedown in a thrilling sudden-victory overtime. Reall attributed his success to his physicality throughout the match, which differed from their previous matchup. In their Feb. 15 match, Wehmeyer “kind of was putting the pressure on me,” he added. But at the tournament, Reall said that Wehmeyer “was a lot more tired, the pressure was more on him.”
Reall’s teammates also placed at the tournament. Austin McBurney ’28 finished third at 149 pounds, and Alex Semenenko ’26 cemented himself as a heavyweight finalist. McBurney entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed ready to win. He ended the day in third place to qualify him for the NCAA tournament. “I lost to a bunch of those Ivy oppo-
nents pretty close in the year, and I knew I was right there with them, and I knew I could beat them all,” he told The Herald. Early in the day, McBurney lost 10-4 to Princeton’s No. 3 seed Eligh Rivera. But he was able to rebound from the loss quickly. “The main adjustment from that was to just stop all his shots in space, because if I stopped that, he wasn’t going to take me down,” McBurney said. McBurney would go on to garner an 8-2 upset victory over Rivera, improving his record from last year’s 2-14 to 21-13. Semenenko — the final Bear to qualify for the national championships — cemented Bruno’s position as a wrestling powerhouse. As the No. 2 seed, Semenenko’s first tough match came in his semifinals duel against Penn’s John Pardo, who he had previously bested earlier in the season. Semenenko secured a takedown off an ill-attempted shot from Pardo, sprawling and cutting around the back to draw the win. Although the Bears made history at the Ivy Tournament this past weekend, they are not celebrating just yet. Reall said he is trying “not to get too high off this win and trying to stay focused for nationals.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 11, 2026.
BASKETBALL
Women’s basketball falls 69-56 to Penn, eyes Ivy Madness The Bears qualified for Ivy Madness before this past weekend’s play BY RAHUL SAMEER STAFF WRITER On Saturday afternoon, the women’s basketball team (16-10, 8-6 Ivy) dropped their final regular game of the season 69-56 against Penn (17-10, 7-7 Ivy) at the Palestra in Philadelphia. But before play started in Philly, the Bears had already solidified their position in the Ivy Madness Tournament. “I think we can play better, and we’ve shown that we have the ability to do so,” Alyssa Moreland ’26 wrote in an email to The Herald. “There are definitely areas to improve, but we are grateful to have another week to do so.” The opening tip-off saw Olivia Young ’27 win possession of the ball. Brown took to the offensive but a travel call resulted in an early turnover. Despite Bruno’s aggressive play, it was Penn who nabbed the first basket when the Quakers’ Simone Sawyer dashed past Young and executed a perfect layup. Soon after, Ada Anamekwe ’26 made a clever pass to Moreland who leveled the score at 2-2. Bruno soon found themselves in a deficit, but Charlotte Adams-Lopez ’29 rallied back with the first successful 3-pointer of the game. For the next couple of minutes, back-and-forth play continued and it seemed that neither side would take a substantial lead. Up 9-8 with just seconds left in the first quarter, Grace Arnolie ’26 searched desperately for a break in the defense to rack up one more basket. Seeing none, Arnolie launched a three. The ball arced through the air and swished cleanly through the net
COURTESY OF BROWN ATHLETICS
Isabella Wesley ’29. On Saturday, the women’s basketball team dropped their final regular game of the season 69-56 against Penn. as time expired, earning Brown a 12-8 lead going into the second quarter. Just under 5 minutes into the quarter, Brown managed to secure a 21-15 lead. Unfortunately, this would mark their largest lead for the rest of the game, as Penn’s comeback was jumpstarted seconds later when the Quakers’ Mataya Gayle sank a three. After a series of back-and-forth baskets, Brown led by just one point with under two minutes left in the quarter. When Gayle went for a layup, Beth Nelson ’26 attempted to stop her but inad-
vertently fouled to give Penn two bagged free throws. And with about 40 seconds left in the half, Nelson fouled again, allowing Sawyer to boost Penn’s lead to five points. “Overall, this game was not our best effort and did not reflect how we usually play,” Young wrote in an email to The Herald. “Our defense usually wins us games because of elite communication and a team effort to contain the ball, but we didn’t show up how we needed to last Saturday.” “I thought our performance, both individually and as a team, was disappointing because of this,” Young added.
After Quaker Tina Njike’s layup made it a 7-point lead for Penn just 10 seconds into the third quarter, it looked like Penn was about to pull away. But Nelson earned redemption after a quick pass found her behind the 3-point line. Nelson smoothly finished the contested three to end Penn’s streak and Anamekwe followed in her footsteps with a layup, encroaching on Penn’s lead. The Bears took the lead 38-37 following two free throws and a layup from Moreland, but Penn soon took full control of the game. Penn went on a 15-5 run, leaving
Bruno trailing as the third quarter ended 43-52. “We had some positive runs, but overall we could not close the gap and finish the game,” Moreland wrote. Brown kicked off the final quarter taking charge in an effort to close the 9-point deficit. After a missed attempt by Arnolie gave possession to Penn, the Quakers reignited their offense. The Quakers were soon up by a dozen points, and by the last two minutes of the quarter, their lead was a staggering 67-53. Sawyer saw an opportunity to widen this gap as she drove past Sela Klein ’28 and bagged a layup, bringing Penn’s lead to 16 points. Bruno tallied the last hoop when Charlotte Climenhage ’27 found Mady Calhoun ’26 for a three. But with 23 seconds left on the clock, Brown had no time to make up Penn’s lead, and the final score rested at 56-69. “Penn came out very intense, and we didn’t adjust as well as we should have early on,” Moreland wrote. “We could have executed our game plan better, which we will do so moving on.” The loss bore no impact on Brown’s position in the playoffs. The Bears will face Princeton in the Ivy Madness semifinals this Friday in Ithaca, looking to secure a spot in the finals of the tournament for the first time ever. “We have the potential and belief that we can pull off a big upset as the 4 seed,” Young wrote. “Cleaning up our defensive communication will put us in a much better position to win our next game against Princeton, and that, coupled with better offensive execution, will be important keys to winning our next game.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 10, 2026.
PAGE 8
Friday, March 13, 2026 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Elaina Bayard
by Rachel Wicker
Section Editor Christina Li
Section Editors Anika Kotapally Gabriella Miranda
HEAD ILLUSTRATORS Junyue Ma Lesa Jae
ARTS & CULTURE Managing Editor AJ Wu
COPY CHIEF Jessica Lee
become acquainted with the surrounding Providence area.
NARRATIVE Managing Editor Gabi Yuan
The city has charmed me with its tree-lined neighborhoods, downtown area dotted with shops and restaurants and weekend markets, dispersed parks with their outlooks and
LAYOUT CHIEFS Alexa Gay Amber Zhao
Section Editors Chelsea Long Lucie Huang
benches and fleeting greenery, and how the seasons have made everything anew again and again as the months have progressed. I have started to regularly explore Providence
Layout Designers Emma Vachal James Farrington Joshua Rezneck
LIFESTYLE Managing Editor Hallel Abrams Gerber
with intention, trying to soak up as many places and experiences as possible. Although I still have much to find, I’ve covered decent ground, visiting bookstores, parks, libraries, stores, restaurants, and so many cafes. Here are
Section Editors Alayna Chen Tatiana von Bothmer
some of the places that shine:
ISSUU.COM/POSTMAGAZINEBDH
Copy Editors Eve Kobell Indigo Mudbhary Kate Schuyler Rebecca Sanchez
Section Editors Lizzy Bazldjoo Sasha Gordon
After arriving at Brown last August, I have slowly
See Full Issue:
SOCIAL MEDIA Rebecca Sanchez Yana Giannoutsos Yeonjai Song
1. Small Point Café
ISSUE 6
pockets of providence
FEATURE Managing Editor Chloe Costa Baker
VOL 37
excerpt from
POST-POURRI Managing Editor Tarini Malhotra
Tucked into Westminster Street of downtown and delicious drinks. I spend time here when I’m up early or need to do a quick assignment, as Small Point’s only
SIGNS
drawback is that it closes at a sharp 3 p.m. on weekdays. With its spherical hanging lights, a large red decorative rug under black tables, and bright green plants lining the floor-to-ceiling windows, it is earthy, homey. I recommend sitting in one of the teal velvet chairs closest to the windows
MAR 13
Providence, Small Point Café provides an artsy atmosphere
1. Now Entering Rhode Island 2. “I saw the—” 3. The one that is both the signifier and the signified 4. Goose crossing 5. Those vultures circling overhead 6. This one—send that text! 7. Auld Lang 8. On the dotted line 9. Count Olaf’s ankle eye tattoo 10. Now Leaving Rhode Island
and plants. When ordering, try the drunken mermaid latte, made with housemade caramel bourbon sauce, or the roasted turkey sandwich with cheddar, cranberry, chipotle mayo, and greens. If this place was a person, it would be: a hippie grandma with long silver hair and bangles on her wrists…
Cover by Isabelle Wang @isabelledoesarts
first light
by aj wu illustrated by Lesa Jae
1
2
3
4
Across 1. Shrek, for one 5. What 8A will do with water, sun, and care
5
6
6. Take in 7. Greets the day 8. Future flower
Down
6
1. An _____ but a goodie! 2. You don't want yours to be cooked 3. Used a lasso
7
4. CPR experts 5. Denies access to
8
8
“The eight-year-olds yearn for the gorges.”
Want to be involved? Email: elaina_bayard@brown.edu!
“You brought a knife to a black hole fight.”
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
PAGE 9
table of contents 1 chippy
11 dancing in a world alone
Coco Kanders
madison diaz
3 twenty-six years of post-
13 all of us at once
Sasha gordon
acadia philips
5 my emily
15 pockets of providence
Danielle li
rachel wicker
7 pro tips, life hacks, and didacticism katya michkovskaia
17 find a penny, pick it up alayna chen
9 music for a revolution! ozzy wagenseil
“We’re entering our twenties now, which means internships, boyfriends, darker shades of lipstick, reading books other than young adult romance novels. But I still think about third grade—noisy recorders, dirt in our hair from the playground, and after-school crafts—with a warm familiarity.” — Ana Vissicchio, “spooled” 03.14.24
“Fish don’t exist. It’s quite a simple concept, though I suppose I should elaborate. ” — Ishan Khurana, “everything is everything” 03.14.25
letter from the editor
writes about the changing seasons within her home, while Katya discusses the different ways to give advice. In one Feature article, Coco talks about elementary school love through secret notes. In the other, Sasha details the history of post-, interviewing members of our original staff (!!!). In A&C, Ozzy analyzes action-thriller One Battle After Another, while Madison reflects on how Lorde is quintessential to coming-of-age imaginings. In this week’s
Dear Readers, Despite the warm weather, I’m stuck reminiscing in the cold while time escapes me. Undoubtedly, February ranks first out of my twelve months—
Lifestyle, Acadia talks about enjoying movies alone, while Rachel reviews the local charms of Providence. In post-pourri, Alayna has a scavenger hunt for us. Finally, check out AJ’s springtime crossword!
probably because there’s so much worth celebrating in just those twenty-eight
As the snow melts and I no longer have to wear thermals under my
days. With the mini snowstorms and record-breaking blizzard, after spending as
T-shirts and long skirts, I’m looking forward to the activities that take place
much time outside as possible until my toes could feel no more, I spent the rest of
best outside. Long runs by Blackstone Park, starting late in the afternoon with
it lackadaisically resting, in and out of a state of sleep and thought. I’m thinking
relentless sun; Prospect Terrace picnics consisting entirely of Whole Foods’
about my large circle of loved ones bedazzling lip balms on a Saturday night,
various cake options; traveling across the country to see friends we miss the
playing Cabo at 8 p.m. in isolated Western Maine, recreating the baseball scene
most. Do you feel it?
from Twilight on the Main Green, and a new type of feeling—perhaps one finally returning, flickering under the edge of my arms, growing warm at the thought of new friends made each semester. I’m learning to remember and to recall and to recollect these mini moments, especially when alone. In this issue of post-, our writers are simultaneously reflecting on moments that bring us peace, while exploring new activities. In Narrative, Danielle
Spring is coming,
Gabrielle Yuan Narrative Managing Editor
March 13, 2026
9
PAGE 10
Friday, March 13, 2026
OPINIONS
Tao ’27: The Diocese of Providence must repent This month, R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha P’19 P’22 released a report detailing the results of the state’s investigation into child abuse by the Diocese of Providence. Since 1950, over 300 children were abused by 75 priests. Criminal charges have been filed against four of the named clergy. The report found that the diocese systematically covered up abuse by failing to report complaints to authorities and transferring accused priests to different parishes instead of firing or reporting them. This resulted in more children being abused. It seems the prevailing mantra, at the time, was that “we must by all means avoid scandal,” as one bishop put it in 1971. In covering up child sex abuse, the entire church was complicit. With all this public scrutiny, one might expect the diocese to emerge penitent. But their statement responding to the report was one long deflection of responsibility. They pat themselves on the back for voluntarily cooperating with the investigation, and emphasize that all the abuse occurred decades ago. “Today’s standards cannot adequately judge responses from forty years ago,” the church leaders argue, while pointing to the church’s accountability reforms from the ’90s, which it claims have been effective for its time. They criticize Neronha for presenting “this 75-year history in ways that might lead the reader to conclude these issues are an ongoing diocesan problem or that these are new revelations.” Never in its statement does the church apologize or ask for forgiveness. But in order to regain the trust of the public, the Diocese of Providence must repent. The Bishop of Providence, Bruce Lewandowski, to his credit, does apologize. “I take this opportunity to apologize to the victim-survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy for the failures of Church personnel and others in past decades to protect
them and keep them safe,” he said. Yet this apology is insufficient because he made it in his personal capacity, not on behalf of the diocese. The remainder of his statement on the report toes the line between an apology and an excuse. He emphasizes that “there are no credibly accused clergy in active ministry,” that this was “in the past” and that he is “confident that (their) parishes, schools and ministries are among the safest places for children today.” Though all of this is important to share with the public, it implies that no further investigation, reform or accountability is needed and that victims should simply move on. But the diocese has not been cooperative with the investigation and needs continued reform, according to Neronha. In a press release, Neronha said the church only partially cooperated with the investigation — they refused in-person interviews and “dragged their feet” when turning over documents. Neronha wrote that “their tendency to reflexively turn inward is part of what perpetuated this crisis, and I’m not sure if all of the lessons have been learned.” According to some reporting, this is the reason the R.I. investigation took years longer than other regions. The report also claims that many of the diocese’s modern practices are far from adequate because they lack written procedures for internal investigations, fail to prevent grooming and insist that victims submit to polygraph tests, an inaccurate and legally inadmissible intimidation tactic. The report recommends tightening oversight, both within the church and in Rhode Island law. I am not an expert in child abuse prevention, so I cannot comment on what reforms are needed, but I know a fake apology when I see one. The church is trying to play the hero and bury responsibility in the past. Though today’s individual priests aren’t guilty of the crimes of their forefathers, institutions
have a duty to account for their past sins. This is especially true for a storied institution like the Catholic Church that is proud of its nearly 2,000 years of faithful works, but acts as if abuses in the 1980s are ancient history. The great irony is that the Catholic Church is failing to practice what it preaches. The need for repentance — owning up and changing one’s behavior — is core to the Christian faith. The Apostle John writes that “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” One of the greatest works of Catholic literature, Dante’s “Inferno,” written in the 14th century, is all about fake apologies. The epic poem is a grand tour of the Nine Circles of Hell, in which the narrator meets souls suffering poetic justice for their sins. When they tell him why they’re in Hell, their accounts deflect responsibility in subtle and creative ways, claiming that they’re the good guy and the victim, and what they did was mostly not their fault. I was reminded of the Inferno when I read the diocese’s response to the investigation. As a Christian, when I first read this book in high school, it was — and still is — hard for me to understand how a just and loving God could send many of his children to hell. Doesn’t God have the power to save everyone? How could finite sin justify infinite suffering? The “Inferno” is fiction, not scripture, but it gave me a helpful answer. Accepting responsibility is necessary for forgiveness. To Dante, humans bring hell upon themselves by refusing to admit they’ve done anything wrong. Un-
fortunately, his work is a reflection of the denial and dishonesty of real leaders here on Earth. In Christianity, God cannot forgive sins unless we confess. In the same way, the Rhode Island community’s scars cannot heal unless the church owns up to them. The diocese can do this by publicly apologizing for the sins of their predecessors. There are also opportunities for reparative action: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops urges churches to raise awareness of sexual abuse from the pulpit instead of sweeping it under the rug. The Boston archdiocese pays for the medical care, therapy and medications of sexual abuse survivors. Providence’s diocese should do the same. This is all the more important today because the Catholic Church is in a period of growth driven by Generation Z parishioners, who are too young to remember the first eruption of the church’s sex abuse scandal in the early 2000s. If the church doesn’t learn its lesson, it risks repeating these crimes in future generations. As a member of the Rhode Island Christian community, I am ashamed of the diocese. I apologize for sexual abuse and coverups, perpetrated by churches of all denominations in both the past and present, and I promise to be part of the solution. On behalf of the church, I ask for forgiveness from survivors, the families of survivors, those who have lost faith as a result of church abuses and God. I pray that the Diocese of Providence does the same.
Evan Tao ’27 can be reached at evan_tao@brown.edu. Please send responses to this column to letters@browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
Kaak ’29: The SciLi’s one redeeming quality was its hours — now it’s just ugly Late nights at the Sciences Library used to be a central part of my routine. It is simply my nature to stay up late, very late. Last month, however, the University quietly announced that the SciLi would no longer operate with 24-hour access on weekdays. Where once I was able to view the sunrise from the 12th floor of our brutalist library, now the event is marked only by a shift in the brightness behind my Andrews Hall curtains. The University should reverse its decision. Brown cited increased operational costs and low early-morning attendance as justification for the change. While the University should work to reduce its deficit by cutting down inefficiencies and redundant spending, eliminating the only 24/6 study space on campus is an odd way to do so. It simply isn’t the case that the University is cutting down on inefficiencies — the SciLi was a unique resource. Now the students who utilized the amenity, even if there weren’t many of us, have nothing comparable. The strangeness of this decision is accentuated further in comparison to the other members of the Ivy League. Nearly all of our Ivy League peers have at least one library with 24-hour access. Not everyone is productive during the day. This variation in when we prefer to sleep — known as chronotype — has a biological basis. Anthropologists suggest that diversity in sleep patterns offered evolutionary benefits to our hunter-gatherer ancestors, ensuring that some of them remained alert throughout the night. While most professional work takes place during the day, these biological differences persist, and many find it easier to focus during the nighttime hours. This may be especially true for students with ADHD. The University has a responsibility to accommodate these natural biological variations. For years, the SciLi accommodated students across the full range of chronotypes. While the Herald reported that less than 1% of the SciLi’s yearly occupancy occurs between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m., this data was based on entry swipes during that
HELEN BESCH / HERALD
period. This number does not account for students who swiped in before 2 a.m. and stayed throughout the night. Given how conducive the SciLi environment is for pulling all-nighters, this explanation is not only plausible but likely. Still, whether the building was crowded at 3 a.m. is beside the point. The SciLi used to fulfill the needs of a small but significant group of students who are now stranded without a stable place to study. For individual regulars, late-night SciLi study sessions created an informal community space, where students could work alone, yet still be surrounded by others. I found solidarity in this form of parallel work. Night owls are now pushed toward academic isolation.
The SciLi used to serve the function of a sort of late-night “third space,” an “informal public gathering place” where Brunonians could brave the wee hours of the morning together. Libraries are one of the most common forms of third spaces. While there was a tilt towards a more academic “second place” attitude present in the 24-hour SciLi since it functioned as a “workplace,” it still served as an informal environment where community was fostered either actively or passively. For those seeking more active connections, group study sessions in the basement allowed for collaborative work. For those seeking a lock-in session, the atmospheric friends found in the stacks created an implicit community. Consistent among both groups was the creation of a community
space where academic and personal lives could come together. By reducing the SciLi’s hours, Brown has eroded an integral aspect of College Hill culture. The SciLi is more than just a study spot. A 2018 Atlantic article described the library as “a place where students socialize and even flirt.” Even then, an “all-nighter at the SciLi (could) end in a groggy early-morning breakfast at the off-campus, early-hours breakfast cafe Louis.” It is a shame that after losing Louis and now 24-hour access to the library, this hallmark of the Brown grindset has been erased. The article’s reference to the late great SciLi all-nighter highlights the cultural significance of the act. Not all SciLi night-goers were likely frequent flyers, but still, many students may have had to pull occasional all-nighters to complete long-procrastinated homework or cram for tests. Even if daytime study habits are healthier, students aren’t going to stop pulling all-nighters just because the SciLi is not open. The workload remains the same — it must now be completed somewhere else. Increasingly, that somewhere will be students’ dorm rooms. What is lost is not just the ambiance of that brutalist abomination, but functionality: Having the immediate temptation of a bed so close to where the all-nighter is taking place serves to lull an already behind student further behind into the depths of sleep. As I write to you from my dimly lit residence hall closet, I see light peeking through from the corners of my window. In moments like these, it feels like Brown has decided to leave its night owls behind. I’d be much happier if I could see this sunrise in full — perhaps from the 12th floor of the ugliest building on campus.
Avery Kaak ’29 can be reached at avery_kaak@brown. edu. Please send responses to this column to letters@ browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@ browndailyherald.com.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
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OPINIONS
Leggat-Barr ’28: The violence of nostalgia in Providence We’ve all done some selective remembering — convincing ourselves a time in our life or an experience was all sunshine and rainbows and forgetting the storm clouds. Painting an idealized picture of the past helps us escape from the reality of the present. I often find myself yearning for what I remember as my flawless high school years. My thoughts gloss over the sleepless nights and college admissions anxiety, fixating instead on the comfort of my home and the camaraderie of my sports teams. While this nostalgic tendency seems harmless on the individual level, the same romanticization of certain ideas of the past has been weaponized on a political level here in Providence. From 1950 to 1975, Providence saw an intense period of urban renewal. The federal government funded projects that increased the city’s car accessibility by building large highways and increasing urban surface parking. As a part of this, the Providence Preservation Society and Providence Redevelopment Agency contributed to the destruction of parts of College Hill and Fox Point that were once home to vibrant immigrant communities to make way for I-195. Emboldened by the threat to historic architecture, the founders of the PPS pushed to maintain houses they deemed valuable. They purchased and renovated many dilapidated properties, displacing the residents who lived there and making way for a new vision of a pristine College Hill. To save Providence’s most historic downtown buildings from demolition during I-195 construction, the PPS moved them to College Hill and surrounding neighborhoods. They were moved in part to lots made vacant by the demolition of working class housing largely inhabited by Cape Verdean residents, including 300 families, 172 homes and 32 businesses. A new historic district was created around transplanted and restored buildings on Benefit Street, raising property values and pricing out former residents.
MIRANDA MASON / HERALD
By calling this “preservation,” the PPS used language of stewardship to conceal the reality of dispossession. The history deemed worth preserving was that of the wealthy and powerful, and those erased had no voice in the decision. The estates that were rescued once housed founding fathers, American revolutionaries or the original settlers of Providence, and the immigrant housing that welcomed the longshoremen or mill workers who made their home in Providence was demolished. The appeal of nostalgia behind historical preservation weighs into what our society values — what history feels sacred and worth defending, versus who gets written out. When we collectively remember certain buildings as symbols of identity and heritage, we inflate their importance. That inflated importance creates stakes that have real impacts. Once a structure is deemed historic, it becomes worth protecting — worth, in Providence's history, physically relocating across the city. If relocating that building requires clearing the lots of working-class immigrant housing, that trade begins to feel justified. The people living there simply had not been assigned
the same historical weight as the buildings replacing their homes. This is nostalgia used as a technology of power — quietly ranking whose past matters, calling that ranking natural and timeless and using it to justify the displacement of those with no voice in the decision. The urban renewal movement wreaked havoc on cities across the country and carved a class of historic buildings out of our current environment. We can’t let history fade away — we must establish protections to maintain physical testaments to our past. Yet, these histories and priorities need to be established through egalitarian means. We must ensure diverse, representative leadership so that marginalized voices are represented in the decisions that shape their communities. Current conservative rhetoric like Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan operates under an identical logic — invoking a rosy past that was only golden for a certain demographic to pave the way for a future built for that same privileged demographic. Then, to easily craft a simple narrative for why our country isn’t how we remember it during
our daydreams of yesteryear, these same political figures assign blame to politically marginalized targets, attacking immigrants or transgender people. Selective amnesia allows for this grievance without accountability. The weaponization of nostalgia keeps power in the hands of those who have always held it — the history of the few supersedes that of the diminished many. This is antithetical to core American beliefs of equal opportunity and equal protection: Collective nostalgia inherently functions as an agent of inequality and betrays the ideals of inclusion. The streets surrounding our campus evoke the idealized aesthetics of the Revolutionary War and colonial America. This handpicked history purports itself as if it has always belonged here. Pristinely painted clapboard siding and implacable brick seem to stand unabashedly, as if their right to be there is self-evident. The erased histories of immigrant housing and working class neighborhoods lay beneath our feet. This nostalgic image of College Hill — one painted onto a canvas the PPS and selective nostalgia helped clear — sits as a shrine to the “winners” of this history. There is nothing wrong with appreciating aspects of the past and wanting to preserve history. The danger begins when memory is used as sole justification for policy. These rose-colored glasses allow our human tendencies to obfuscate the true past, systematically reinforcing the hierarchies that selective memory was built to protect. We owe it to the erased, in Fox Point, on College Hill and everywhere else where memory has been wielded as a weapon, to ask who gets to define history before the bulldozers arrive — not after.
Tommy Leggat-Barr ’28 can be reached at thomas_leggat-barr@brown.edu. Please send responses to this column to letters@browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
McKenzie MPP’16: Hegseth’s policy is a gift to our adversaries
expanded to include other educational funding for ROTC cadets, service members and veterans. This new policy stands in the way of the mutually beneficial relationship between service members and students. Hegseth’s restrictions on active-duty members' ability to attend Brown and other top-tier universities will not strengthen the military but weaken it, deepening a dangerous gap between our military and the society it serves. Brown and other elite institutions must actively work to preserve these programs because their benefits extend to the University and the military alike. The Watson School’s Military Fellows Program — established in 2019 — embeds experienced military practitioners directly into the scholarly community. The fellows audit graduate courses, engage in security seminars and participate in research — ensuring civilian students study policies like regime change, peacekeeping, humanitarian aid and di-
saster relief alongside those who have been on the frontlines implementing them, creating a two-way exchange between theory and lived reality. Since the end of the draft in 1973, the military has been increasingly separated from the population it serves. Many veterans feel misunderstood by their civilian counterparts. At the same time, only about 6% of the population has worn a uniform, down from 18% in 1980. Fewer veterans means that civilians are in-
the citizenry they are sworn to protect, eroding the mutual understanding that healthy civil-military relations require. Secretary Hegseth claims that the Ivy League and other elite institutions expose students to “woke indoctrination.” However, Brown does not indoctrinate — it challenges students to grapple with complex viewpoints. Brown’s Open Curriculum encourages students to seek out diverse
“In the 21st century, the U.S. military
cannot succeed with soldiers who only follow orders, nor with civilians who do not understand the military.
“
When I was a graduate student studying public policy at Brown, I was an anomaly: an active-duty Coast Guard officer and an Army Iraq combat veteran surrounded by some of the country's brightest civilian intellectuals. I brought my military experience into the classroom — the weight of combat decisions, the impact we made as peacekeepers and the human cost of policies made in Washington. My classmates challenged my assumptions in ways military training never had, and I gave my fellow students a view into the armed services. We were all better because of the rigorous debates we had over military policy, including operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. On Feb. 27, The Herald reported on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s new policy that eliminates funding for officers enrolled in graduate programs at elite universities, including Brown. He accused these institutions of being “breeding grounds of toxic indoctrination.” While this policy is currently limited to service members assigned to fully-funded graduate education, this decision could later be
creasingly disconnected from servicemembers and the realities of service. Our national security relies on the intellectual rigor that results from deep study and debate — not insulation. Closing doors out of fear of differing views underestimates the resilience and intelligence of our service members. Brown’s students could be future political leaders of the armed forces, and they would benefit from learning from service members who have implemented policies made by civilians in Washington. Isolating service members by banning them from these influential academic institutions risks a future where civilian leaders make life-and-death decisions without understanding the military. We risk creating a “warrior class” cut off culturally and intellectually from
knowledge and its mission statement exhorts Brunonians “to serve the community, the nation, and the world” through a “spirit of free inquiry.” This academic environment fosters the critical thinking and adaptability needed for modern, complex warfare. Burning these bridges doesn’t protect the military; it deprives it of a vital strategic advantage. This intellectual friction is essential for victory in the 21st century. In many ways, a Brown education is like special forces training for the scholar-warrior. Modern warfare is complex, spanning from multi-spectrum conflict in the gray zone — including cyber operations, misinformation and unconventional tactics — to high-intensity combat operations. A soldier who has learned how to think
is better-equipped than one who has only learned what to think. History shows that militaries built on rigid ideological conformity struggle against adversaries that promote initiative and critical thinking. We see how a lack of intellectual prowess led to failures in the Red Army’s conflict against Finland and Germany, and in present-day Russia’s campaign in Ukraine. The U.S. military has long valued initiative at every level. Commanders state their intent, and subordinates are trusted to determine how to achieve it — a philosophy that has been forged and tested on the battlefield and stands in sharp contrast to the Russian military, where independent thinking has historically been a liability rather than an asset. The greatest danger of Secretary Hegseth’s policy is that it pushes us toward the restrictive educational models that we criticize other nations for. In the 21st century, the U.S. military cannot succeed with soldiers who only follow orders, nor with civilians who do not understand the military. Instead, we need institutions of higher education — like Brown — to bridge the gap between these two groups. Secretary Hegseth's policy takes us in the wrong direction. Brown and similar elite institutions are not threats to military readiness — they are force multipliers. Every door closed between our universities and the armed forces is a strategic gift to our adversaries. We cannot afford that. Open the doors.
Jeremy M. McKenzie, MPP ’16, is an Army veteran who later retired as a Coast Guard officer. He served for over 22 years as an officer and aviator, including a peacekeeping tour in Bosnia and two combat tours in Iraq. He can be reached at jeremy_mckenzie@alumni. brown.edu. Please send responses to this op-ed to letters@ browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@ browndailyherald.com.
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Friday, March 13, 2026
ARTS & CULTURE EXHIBIT
46th Annual Student Exhibition highlights diverse range of student artwork The gallery will be on display at the Granoff Center until April 2
BY KENDRA EASTEP SENIOR STAFF WRITER Spanning multiple floors of the Granoff Center for the Creative Arts, the 46th Annual Student Exhibition showcases a variety of artworks, ranging from sculptures to mixed mediums. Last Friday, the Brown Arts Institute welcomed community members to the gallery’s opening reception.
This year’s jurors were Tarik Bartel, a Providence-based artist, community organizer and arts educator, and Jinghong Chen, a visual artist currently based in New York. For Bartel, jurying the submitted works was “an exciting and challenging collaborative process.” “Putting this show together is truly a team effort involving Brown’s admin staff and installation team,” Chen wrote in an email to The Herald. “We received many wonderful submissions and did our best to include work from as many artists as possible to showcase everyone’s talents.” Alex Schupak ’26 received the first-
QUYEN NGUYEN / HERALD
QUYEN NGUYEN / HERALD
place award for his multimedia piece titled “Impression/Expression.” Composed of foam, concrete, acrylic paint and natural materials, the work features a synthetic rock with distinct markings on its surface. Behind the sculpture is a photograph of a cragged wall with a crater a similar size to the rock. By juxtaposing the sculpture with a two-dimensional print, Schupak hopes to “disrupt the linear translation of the truth value of a photograph.” “What I’m trying to explore with this work is challenging people’s perceptions of how photographs deliver truth value and deliver information about other objects that are linked to them,” he explained. Despite his first-place win, Schupak advised prospective artists to not let the format of juried exhibitions interfere with their creative expression. He noted that since curators have “a certain set of ideals or a certain vision for the project,” many artists may try to “change their vision and change their art to match the vision of someone else.” Instead, Schupak urges other artists to try and create authentic work. “You can only just hope and pray that the exhibition happens to align with your values and happens to see your vision,” Schupak said. A few feet away from “Impression/ Expression” is an ornate display resembling an altar by Jacqueline Zhang ’27. The installation, titled “The Nursery,” features a half-naked doll inside a box decorated with white lace trim, pink curtains and floral designs. Created last semester for VISA 1410: “Sculpture: Material Investigations,” the installation explores themes of birth, gender and gender dysmorphia. Zhang recalled molding the childlike doll to look “more mature,” a commentary on “child exploitation” and sexualization. According to Zhang, the audience’s interactions with the installation is also “part of the piece.” “The holes (on the box) are there so that you can reach your hands into it,” they added.
QUYEN NGUYEN / HERALD
The exhibition showcases a variety of artworks, ranging from sculptures to mixed mediums.
QUYEN NGUYEN / HERALD
Bartel refers to the pieces in the exhibit as “vibrant, playful and evocative.” “I find it powerful and encouraging to see the color, joy and creativity present in these times of intensity,” they added. Kate Hao, the curatorial coordinator at the BAI, noted the student exhibition presents an “eclectic mix” of work from students across concentrations and degree levels each year. Many of the pieces reflect themes “that are very much tied to curricular life of the campus,” Hao said. At the opening reception, Hao recalled
seeing the students with their friends at the event, adding that it was “really sweet to see them celebrated.” “As a staff member, it’s really exciting, and it’s an honor to work on the exhibition and to be able to create this special opportunity,” she added. The exhibition will be open to the public until April 2.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 10, 2026.
EXHIBIT
Vibrant textiles at new ‘Art at Watson’ exhibition showcase history of Odisha The exhibition will be on display through June 1 at the Watson School BY AMELIA BARTER SENIOR STAFF WRITER Art at Watson’s latest exhibition — “Odisha Illuminated: A Celebration of Ritual in a Modern World” — offers insight into the multigenerational craft of colorful appliqué panels in Odisha and the importance of women in their creation. The exhibition, which opened on March 4, will be on display through June 1 in Stephen Robert ’62 Hall. During the exhibition’s opening reception and panel on March 5, event attendees heard from the exhibition’s curator, Rakhi Jain, a high school senior at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, and Vibha Pingle, an adjunct lecturer in international and public affairs. Presenting the textiles — which are known locally as chandua — “in an academic and public policy setting like the Watson Institute invites us to consider how cultural heritage is sustained, whose labor is valued and how living traditions
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ART AT WATSON
The exhibition had an opening reception and panel on March 5. can be supported without being reduced to the exhibition is to raise “awareness of the commodities or being frozen as artifacts of status of women globally.” the past,” Jain said at the panel. Jain grew up in Odisha, India, surThe exhibition invites viewers to con- rounded by the colorful panels, which sider “craft as a way to empower women” are often used in rituals and displayed in and to look at art, not just as a commod- temples. During the opening event, she reity, but as a way to express and honor the called the “geometric forms and repeating creator’s identity, Pingle said at the panel. symbols” with “colors and shapes (which) Watson Communications Specialist are dictated by tradition.” Pete Bilderback, who also serves on the Art The appliqué tradition is centered in at Watson committee, said that the goal of Pipili, a town in Odisha. “Were you ever
to drive through Pipili, you would find the main street a kaleidoscope of color with thousands of fabric panels hanging from the shop fronts,” Jain said at the event. Jain noted that the patterns use a “shared visual grammar” which is “critical for passing down stories … in a community that until the late 19th century was largely illiterate.” Jain explained that the textiles — which are colored by pigments derived from natural sources — are made primarily by women. Men typically are responsible for the “selling and decision-making” and women do the manual labor, Jain said. She explained that men typically cannot create these fabrics because the skill has been handed down from mother to daughter for centuries. “I feel like that’s a very powerful thing,” Bilderback said in an interview with The Herald. “Knowing that the techniques that were used to create (the panels) have been handed down from mother to daughter over generations.” Intentionally taking in artwork that has been created by hand for so long is “a respite from so much of what we’re kind
of subjected to in terms of visual culture right now,” Bilderback said. While the practice of making fabrics has become commercialized, the exhibition at Watson displays more traditional panels. Female fabric weaving has a long history, dating back to 1500 BCE in Crete, Greece, Pingle said. While fabrics often brought economic prosperity to cities and towns, they also had functional and communicative uses, Pingle explained. In Oaxaca, Mexico, for example, women weave ceremonial huipils, garments worn as attire that “demonstrate to the world what one’s identity is,” Pingle said. In Mali, women express themselves and communicate with each other through zigzag textiles called mud cloths, also known as bògòlanfini, she added. Throughout history, “the very act of creating that fabric art is defining one’s sense of identity,” Pingle added. “I feel like that’s a very powerful thing knowing that this is all done by hand,” Bilderback added. “It’s very human.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 11, 2026.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
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ARTS & CULTURE REVIEW
‘She Loves Me’ brings vibrant romantic comedy to center stage The musical was performed by the Brown Musical Forum BY SONIA CHU STAFF WRITER “She Loves Me,” Brown Musical Forum’s most recent show, has something for everyone to love. On March 5-7, the BMF performed the 1963 rom-com musical at the Fishman Studio in the Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts. Directed by Thomas Seeger ’27, the musical was brilliantly executed with colorful lighting choices, tightly-coordinated choreography and wildly comedic moments. “She Loves Me” follows Georg Nowack, played by Charlie Fitzgerald ’28, and Amalia Balash, played by Isabel Levine ’28, two employees at a parfumerie who are unknowingly corresponding through letters despite their intense in-person hatred for each other. The musical, set in the 1930s, focuses on how Georg and Amalia’s relationship develops far beyond their initial
JAKE PARKER / HERALD
work rivalry. The cast seemed to have boundless energy, and the quality of their singing remained superb throughout the threehour performance. The actors switched between speaking and singing so smoothly that audience members could sometimes barely tell the difference. Overall, the phenomenal acting made audience members feel as if they were in the scene themselves. Avi Levin ’26 excelled in his portrayal of Steven
Kodaly: his foreign accent, exceptional tone and strange mannerisms made the attendees laugh at almost everything he did. Background characters, even when they were not speaking, made the stage feel alive. Each member of the show also adapted flawlessly to last-minute changes. They handled feedback coming through a cast member’s mic with grace and ease. When one actor was not able to perform, Noa Saviano ’29, a Herald senior staff writer,
JAKE PARKER / HERALD
seamlessly stepped in to act in the ensemble. Saviano also designed the show’s tight choreography, which was reminiscent of the 1930s setting. Despite limited onstage space — with much of the already small area being filled with props and sets — the performers were still able to jump and twist around each other with stellar coordination. The deliberate lighting choices by lighting designer Jasmine Zheng ’28 were
JAKE PARKER / HERALD
JAKE PARKER / HERALD
instrumental in creating the full scene. When a character was hurt, red lighting created a tense environment. When a character seemed to be falling in love, a pink hue fell over the stage. The deep, dark timbre of the orchestra’s string instrumentalists was the perfect sonic match for these romantic moments. Overall, the music from the pit orchestra — led by Eurie Seo ’26 — created a dynamic environment, with music that perfectly aligned with the stage movement. In scenes where the whole cast is dancing, the music paced the actors’ movements with fast, lively tempos and quick, sharp accents. In the playbill, Seeger praised the musical for its exceptional script and score. “There is nothing that has to be made to work — the script and score do the heavy lifting,” Seeger wrote. “Rather than worrying about making the show work, (the cast and crew) simply have to execute.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 9, 2026.
REVIEW
‘Wicked’ at PPAC was wickedly wonderful The show will remain at PPAC until March 22 — not “For Good” BY TALIA LEVINE ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Last week, the national touring cast of “Wicked” descended upon the Providence Performing Arts Center, where they will remain until March 22. The cast’s dynamic performance complemented an already fantastic show, doing the classic justice. The 2003 musical is based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.” The book is a prequel to L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” which was adapted into a film in 1939. Over the last two years, Universal Pictures has released film adaptations of the musical: “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good.” Although both films were perfectly adequate, it is impossible to even attempt to recreate the magic of the live musical. Upon entering the theater, viewers were greeted by a large metal dragon that looms over the stage which is curtained by a giant map of the Land of Oz, foreshadowing the incredible sets that were yet to come. The audience, which was decked out in various hues of pinks and greens — including some fully green-faced attendees — was hooked from the very first note.
COURTESY OF JOAN MARCUS VIA PPAC
The musical first premiered in 2003. As Zoe Jensen’s Glinda descended onto the stage in a metal bubble, she was showered with real bubbles. Jensen, who has previously starred in multiple Broadway shows, was a spectacular casting choice. While Jensen undeniably has big shoes to fill — the role of Glinda has been played by both Kristin Chenoweth and Ariana Grande — she brought her own effervescence to the performance and embodied the essence of the complicated character
beautifully. Jensen’s Glinda was well complemented by Jessie Davidson’s Elphaba. Together, the two were absolutely electrifying, and their chemistry radiated off the stage, with Davidson convincingly portraying the character who is notoriously difficult to perform. The two characters follow the classic enemies-to-lovers trope, though their relationship stops just short of the lovers
that they are in the book. The only truly upsetting part of the show was that the two never kiss, forcing their romance to remain in the imaginations of theatergoers. Unfortunately, not all of the characters could match Jensen and Davidson’s bond. Ethan Kirschbaum’s Fiyero, for example, had zero chemistry with Jensen or Davidson, his two love interests. Wildly, Kirschbaum seemed to have the most chemistry with Nicolas Garza’s Boq
despite the two only sharing one physical interaction. But that did not detract from the rest of the show. With just the right balance of anxiety and spunk, even the occasional voice crack felt intentional and only added to the emotion of the show. One of the most outstanding moments was immediately before intermission, when Elphaba famously defies gravity. This moment — and the high note — is the ultimate test of any actress playing the Wicked Witch of the West, and Davidson delivered beautifully, radiating as she floated above the audience. This excellence was also evidenced by Garza’s performance as Boq. From the second he stepped onstage, he embodied his famously quirky character. His emotions were immediately clear, which is exactly what any actor playing Boq should do. His descent into obsession-fueled hatred — as he goes from longing for Glinda to wanting Elphaba dead — is portrayed with spectacular accuracy. Through Boq, audiences see how those who proclaim themselves to be “good” are truly the most wicked of them all. At its core, “Wicked” is a loving tribute to the magic of musical theater, and this cast did not disappoint.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 9, 2026.
PAGE 14
Friday, March 13, 2026
SCIENCE & RESEARCH COSTS OF WAR
Watson studies analyze costs of U.S.-China militarized rivarly One study estimated $3.4 trillion in U.S. spending from 2012–2024 BY IVY HUANG UNIVERSITY NEWS AND SCIENCE & RESEARCH EDITOR The United States spent an estimated $3.4 trillion to compete militarily with China between 2012 and 2024, according to a Costs of War report by Jennifer Kavanagh, the director of military analysis at Defense Priorities, a foreign policy think tank. The paper comes as part of the Costs of War project at the Watson School for International and Public Affairs, which aims to research the social, economic and political impacts of U.S. military activities and spending. Another Costs of War report by Suisheng Zhao, a professor and director of the Center for China-U.S. Cooperation at the University of Denver, found that anti-Asian racism has risen due to the United States’s militarized rivalry with China. Kavanagh’s paper provides the first account to date of the financial costs spent by the United States to compete militarily with China. The $3.4 trillion figure — which averages to about $260 billion spent annually — surpasses the $2.3 trillion the United States spent on its 20-year war in Afghanistan, according to the paper. It also makes up about 30% of total defense spending from 2012 to 2024 and is about twice the amount the United States has spent on education during this time period, the report added. The paper also examines the opportunity cost of the expenditures, which includes rebuilding the U.S. air traffic control system, improving infrastructure and providing tuition-free education at public universities. According to the report, tuition-free
college would cost about $400 billion per decade. This means that “the United States could fund about 85 years of tuition-free college education for all U.S. college-goers” with its expenditures on its militarized rivalry with China so far, the paper states. The Department of Defense declined to respond to The Herald’s request for comment. Using published Department of Defense budget plans and annual expenditures, Kavanagh estimated how much of the spendings were allocated to the militarized rivalry with China, she explained in an interview with The Herald. From there, she looked at the different services and adjusted their expenditure. For example, Kavanagh said she made a “higher-end estimate” for the Navy “because the Navy’s focus has been so squarely on operating in Asia.” On the other hand, expenditures for the Air Force and the Army, which mostly focuses on “procurement and operations costs,” were estimated more conservatively. According to Benjamin Friedman, policy director at Defense Priorities, Kavanagh’s paper “helps us understand what our policies actually cost, and therefore, what we’re sacrificing for them, and hopefully we can make better decisions as a result.” While the media might pay more attention to the “dollar figures” in the costs of war, it is also important to “put the political economy of war in conversation with the human toll of war,” according to Stephanie Savell MA’11 PhD’17, senior fellow at the Watson School and director of the Costs of War project. In his Costs of War report, Zhao contends that this militarized rivalry with China has spurred “anti-Asian, especially anti-Chinese American, racism.” This racism has manifested “through hate crimes, unjust security targeting and legal exclusions, undermining American values and harming U.S. scientific, econom-
BEN KANG / HERALD
The Watson School for International and Public Affairs last year. The two reports tracking the costs of U.S.-China rivalry were published last Tuesday. ic and strategic interests,” the paper reads. “It’s very convenient to have an enemy,” said Lyle Golstein, director of the China Initiative at the Watson School and director of the Asia program at Defense Priorities. “Deep in our human psychology, we’re taught to sort of compete in this way — it helps us to unify as a country if we have something to compete against.” “Now, because of U.S.-China competition, Chinese Americans become (a) target,” Zhao told The Herald. “We’ve all intuited that Asian Americans face a more hostile atmosphere while this (militarized rivalry) is going on,” Goldstein said. But Zhao has made a “bulletproof case” and an “extremely well-documented study as to how this came about,” he added.
The White House did not respond to The Herald’s request for comment. Zhao argues that this rising anti-Asian racism risks losing scientific talent from China, which would significantly impact the United States technologically and economically. The paper cites a 2021 study that found that “foreign-born STEM workforce contributed $367 billion to $409 billion in labor value-added” in 2019, which was “1.7 to 1.9 percent of U.S. GDP” that year. The United States and China are in a “fierce race” over “high-tech technologies,” according to Zhao. When it comes to artificial intelligence, “80% of those top scientists and engineers are Chinese or (of) Chinese origins,” he added. “This is a very, very big loss for (the) United States,” Zhao said.
“When a major attack and war happens — like what’s happening in Iran right now — Americans start paying attention to the many costs of the war,” Savell said. But “this idea that war preparation has an enormous cost to us,” when it comes to the U.S-China militarized rivalry, is “hard to draw attention to because it’s just not something that’s on many people’s minds.” Savell emphasized the importance to “keep shining light” on these costs. “Continuing to draw these connections and raise these issues is just so essential for our democracy,” she added.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 10, 2026.
GRANT
Researchers granted up to $22 million to test age-slowing drug A drug developed to treat HIV may reduce age-related inflammation BY ELIZABETH ROSENBAUM SENIOR STAFF WRITER Working on a grant of up to $22 million in collaboration with University of Rochester researchers, Brown researchers will investigate whether a drug originally developed to treat HIV can slow human aging — the culprit of inflammation that causes diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s. The grant, from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, will support clinical trials in humans. Led by John Sedivy — Center on the Biology of Aging director and professor of biology — and Vera Gorbunova — Rochester Aging Research Center co-director and professor of biology at the University of Rochester — the grant will help the team investigate how the HIV drug Censavudine can reduce the inflammatory effects of retrotransposons. Sedivy explained that the researchers use HIV drugs because the retrotransposons are “genetically related” to the disease. Retrotransposons become more active as the host ages. according to Sedivy, these virus-like mobile segments of DNA are sometimes called “jumping genes” and
MARAT BASARIA / HERALD
Retrotransposons — virus-like mobile segments of DNA that integrate into different locations in the host genome — become more active as the host ages. integrate into different locations in the host genome. In addition, they cause inflammation that contributes to age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s and ALS. Because retrotransposons use a similar pathway as HIV to replicate and integrate into host genomes, drugs developed to treat HIV by inhibiting reverse transcriptase — the enzyme that enables that replication cycle — have been able to control
retrotransposons as well. In the past, Sedivy and Gorbunova have found that HIV drugs mitigate retrotransposon-related inflammation. There are already many FDA-approved drugs for HIV that the researchers have tested on Alzheimer’s in the past — first on mice and then in relatively smaller clinical studies. The $22 million grant will support a “much bigger” study on a “new generation
of reverse transcriptase inhibitors.” This new drug is more potent and has fewer side effects, according to Maxfield Kelsey GS and Ethan Grant GS, who are Ph.D. candidates in Sedivy’s lab. “The mechanism is cellular, but the effect is whole body,” Grant said. If the drug is found to slow aging in mice, the study will move on to human patients in a clinical trial in approximately
two years, Gorbunova wrote in an email to The Herald. “What’s really kind of crazy is that I really think this would be the first drug that would be shown to slow human aging, if successful,” Kelsey said. In the clinical trial, researchers will look for biomarkers of aging to assess how well the drug is working, according to Kelsey. This research is significant because “we’re all aging, and we’re all going to get diseases of aging if we make it that far,” Grant said. Sedivy said that retrotransposons are “really fundamental core mechanism(s) of aging,” so “the key here is to slow things down” more upstream. “This will slow down many diseases at the same time, so you don’t have to target each disease with its own pill,” Sedivy said. According to Gorbunova, this work has the potential to “improve health and wellbeing of millions of people.” “We urgently need to find ways to make older people healthier so they stay active for (a) longer time, enjoy life and take care of themselves,” Gorbunova wrote. “This will not only alleviate human suffering but will have a tremendous beneficial impact on … society.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 12, 2026.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
PAGE 15
SCIENCE & RESEARCH FACT CHECK
Fact Check: Why does drinking alcohol make people feel warmer in the cold? Brown researchers dispel common myths surrounding the “alcohol blanket”
be inappropriate for the weather while going out, they may be motivated to wear something similar, she explained.
BY ANGEL LOPEZ SENIOR STAFF WRITER This is the first installment in a series of Science & Research articles addressing widely held beliefs and myths. As the snow melts on College Hill this weekend, some students might put on their leprechaun hats and head out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But with a chill lingering in the air, those who choose to drink alcohol should still make sure to grab a coat, Brown experts say. The “alcohol blanket” is a phenomenon where people under the influence of alcohol feel warmer despite cold temperatures, according to Christopher Kahler, professor of behavioral and social sciences and director of the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies. But the alcohol blanket is “a double-edged sword,” said Kate Carey, director and professor of behavioral and social sciences. The perception of the alcohol blanket “comes from the effect of alcohol’s ability to dilate your peripheral blood vessels,” which can even occur at low blood alcohol concentrations, she said. These dilated vessels pump more blood to the surface of the body, which makes the skin feel warmer. But as the blood moves outwards, the body’s core temperature drops. “Blood is losing its heat from (the) core, so as it’s circulating back through
GINA BAE / HERALD
The “alcohol blanket” is a phenomenon where people under the influence of alcohol feel warm despite cold temperatures. the body, it’s cooler than it was when it started,” Carey said. Alcohol also affects the brainstem, which regulates heart rate, breathing and body temperature. Consuming alcohol impedes the body’s ability to physiologically control temperature, according to Carey. A
person under the influence of alcohol may not perceive this temperature drop, putting them at risk for hypothermia, she added. Kahler explained that the perception of warmth can cause the drinker to believe that they are not cold. According to the Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention, there was an average of 302 alcohol-related deaths by hypothermia in 2020-2021 across the United States. “Drinking alcohol is a social activity for most people,” Carey said. When someone sees others wearing clothing that might
According to Kahler, in social settings, people may be “more likely to overdrink because you see what other people are drinking.” Colin Bavibidila ’26 said that, in his experience with the alcohol blanket, it feels more like being numb than feeling warm. “You don’t even register the cold necessarily,” he said. “It’s just like the absence of any feeling at all.” “I definitely think (alcohol) plays a part in you ignoring the cold and definitely warming you up a little bit,” Bavibidila said. Naomi LeDell ’26 believes that “when you’re drunk, you care less about” the cold, but she always brings a jacket just in case. “I’d rather be warm,” she added. While Selena Yuan ’27 thinks that alcohol can “warm up your body a bit,” she believes that the alcohol blanket occurs because “you’re probably just not as aware of your surroundings.” Kahler said that having a plan for one’s drinking, tracking their consumption and knowing how long one has been drinking are all “really important.” People under the influence should also consider how long they will be out in the cold and where they will be walking, he added. So when heading out this weekend, students should consider keeping a jacket in tow.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 12, 2026.
FACT CHECK
Fact Check: Is the Pomodoro technique actually effective for studying? Brown experts explain cognitive science principles behind the method BY NISHITA MALHAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER This is the second installment in a series of Science & Research articles addressing widely held beliefs and myths. On any given day at the Sciences Library, a variety of study techniques are on display: one student may be listening to music while another might be meticulously rewriting their lecture notes. But one study technique might be harder to identify, unless a student has a tomato-shaped timer on the table with them. The Pomodoro technique, developed by Francesco Cirillo, is a time-management method that recommends focused periods of work — usually a 25-minute work session — punctuated with brief breaks. Cirillo named the technique for the kitchen timer shaped as a tomato, or “pomodoro” in Italian, that he used to create the method in the 1980s. Some studies have shown that performance can be mapped on a “gradual slope,” and diminishes the longer one spends on a task, Assistant Professor of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences Apoorva Bhandari wrote in an email to The Herald. A 1948 study by Norman Mackworth substantiates the principles of the Pomodoro technique, although Cirillo likely did not rely on it to come up with his method, Bhandari wrote. Bhandari explained that Mackworth found that a “decrement in performance
CAROLYN NAKAWUNGU / HERALD
of 15-30% occurs around 20-30 minutes” into a task that involved “noticing small changes to a stimulus that occurs unpredictably.” Cirillo’s method posits that short breaks may help revive attention when it begins diminishing. Some studies have shown that “switches cued by external cues are more efficient than those by internal cues,” Bhandari wrote. So even though studiers may feel they can simply take a break when they get tired, timer-enforced breaks — like those in the Pomodoro technique — may be more effective. Bhandari also pointed to some research
that suggests that “interrupted tasks are actually easier to resume,” citing a study by Bluma Zeigarnik that indicates people “tend to remember interrupted tasks better than completed tasks.” For example, it is easier to restart writing in the middle of a paragraph than at the beginning of a new one, he explained. The Pomodoro method may also have more long-term memory advantages, according to Matt Nassar, associate professor of neuroscience, cognitive and psychological sciences. In the short term, tasks will feel less efficient “if you just interrupt yourself all
the time,” Nassar explained. “The more you interleave different tasks, the worse people perform on them,” he added. Taking a five-minute break clears short-term memory systems of any available information and forces “the plasticity” of long-term learning systems, Nassar said. Bhandari also noted that the mechanism behind the Pomodoro technique “remains largely untested.” The method’s efficacy may also be influenced by what one does during their breaks. Passive rest — recovery that does not involve significant mental or phys-
ical exertion — may encourage “replay” of experiences in the brain, leading to better memory consolidation, Bhandari explained. From that perspective, avoiding scrolling during five-minute breaks may be more effective for information retention. “Sometimes I use the five minutes to do something that does not require being on a device: go for a walk, make my bed, load the dishwasher,” Kamya Raman ’27, who has been using the Pomodoro technique since high school, wrote in an email to the Herald. Kaavya Pokhriyal ’28, who also uses the study method, said she will “stare at a wall or go take a little walk” during the breaks. But Bhandari described research by Sophie Leroy that suggests that people “struggle to disengage” when interrupted before completing a task. If the study technique relies on true rest during those five minutes, Leroy’s work “would suggest that they are probably still thinking about the task,” he wrote. Still, some students have reported finding the method useful to battle procrastination and plan their time. Pokhriyal described how, for her, the Pomodoro technique makes long and difficult tasks less daunting by breaking them down into manageable chunks. “I’ll just sit down for like, an hour and a half, and then I can do three pomodoros in that time,” she said.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 12, 2026.
PAGE 16
Friday, March 13, 2026
UNIVERSITY NEWS CONCERT
Benefit concert raises estimated $20,000 to support Brown Loves Providence The campaign aims to thank Providence for support after Dec. 13 BY ANNIKA SINGH METRO EDITOR On Friday night, over 250 students and community members made their way to The Strand Ballroom and Theatre to attend a student-organized benefit concert in support of the Brown Loves Providence campaign. All proceeds from ticket sales — priced at $15 — would go to the initiative, according to event organizers. The campaign, which is part of the Brown Ever True initiative, is a campuswide effort to express gratitude for aid provided by the Providence community in the wake of the Dec. 13 mass shooting. Though donations are still being collected, organizer Theo Coben ’28 estimated that the event raised around $20,000. He added that a group of alums had agreed to match the event’s proceeds, up to $30,000. The Strand’s owner waived the venue’s rental fee, Coben said. Pictured on stage are the emcees who organized and facilitated the event. The emcees pictured organized and facilitated the event. The concert spanned several hours and opened with a set from Allen “DJ Lefty” Pires — who works in the Engineering Research Center cafe. Pires was followed by student musician Wil Rowland ’26, who was backed up by Kate Javerbaum ’26 and JD Gorman ’26 on vocals, bass and bouzouki, a Greek string instrument. The evening also saw performances from Tabatha Rose ’25, student band Island
her bandmates. When planning the event, Coben noted student performers took “no convincing” to participate.
shooting. Coben was inspired “seeing how much that brought joy to people and helped peo-
On Friday, the emcees read out grateful messages to businesses and individuals in Providence that attendees had submitted
In a pre-concert interview, Island Rovers member Minne Hatchuel ’27 said when the group performed “Blue Love” at the first
This marks the second time Coben has used music to bring hope to the Brown community after Dec. 13. On the second day of the spring semester, several student performers organized a smaller benefit concert at downtown Providence venue AS220, he said. Proceeds from that event were donated to a mutual aid fund for workers impacted by the
ple start the semester off in a really reflective and optimistic way.” He wondered, “How could we make this bigger?”
before the show. Recipients ranged from Brown dining hall staff to strangers who helped students in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. During the show, Coben also announced that City Councilor John Goncalves ’13 MA’15 (Ward 1) — who was in attendance at the concert — had helped obtain City of Providence Official Citations recognizing the aid provided by submitted individuals and businesses in the local community. “I want this event to bring every corner of the city together — students, faculty, staff, people who aren’t affiliated with Brown,” Coben told The Herald. Pictured on stage are Trader Joe's employees and a student who was at the store during the shooting. Trader Joe’s employees showed up in support of the cause. The Island Rovers, a band composed of three Brown students, performed a combination of covers and original music. The trio ended their set with “Blue Love,” an emotionally charged single written about the Dec. 13 shooting. “Love is something we can choose,” Island
benefit concert, “everyone went quiet, and it was just beautiful.” “I think a lot of (student musicians) wrote about what happened in December,” Hatchuel said. “It kind of feels like a full circle moment to be able to perform these songs and all come together.” Coben worked with No Empty Seats — a nonprofit founded by Michael OuYang ’26 to raise awareness about mental health and fund suicide prevention measures — to host the event. “For the last few weeks,” Coben said, organizers have “given everything to this.” “It snowballed into something a lot bigger than I ever expected,” he added. The Jabberwocks, a large student a capella group, surround 3 microphones. The Jabberwocks, wearing different shades of Brown, were the third performers of the night. While advertising the event in local businesses, Coben had the chance to speak to small business owners in the surrounding area. Speaking to them, he realized that “as much as this is a Brown tragedy, this is also a Providence tragedy.” In an interview after the concert, attendee Kimmy Vu-Smith ’25 said that the event was “such a nice way to honor the community that held us so closely during a time of turmoil.” “It was both a fun event, but also felt very meaningful,” Vu-Smith noted. “We need a little dancing and music.” “I’m really hoping that this is the start of something, as opposed to the finale,” Coben said.
Rovers and the Jabberwocks, a campus acapella group. The final act of the night was student musician Daiela Simon-Seay ’26 and
KAIA YALAMANCHILI / HERALD
Rovers member Ava Fong ’27 sang, inviting audience members to join her.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 9, 2026.
Daiela Simon-Seay ’26 and her band performed as the final act of the night. This is the second benefit concert organized in the spring semester to support those affected by the Dec. 13 shooting.
BUCC
Teneo officials outline safety and security assessment at community council meeting Teneo will host focus groups for input beginning in April BY JEREMIAH FARR SENIOR STAFF WRITER Officials from the global consulting firm Teneo outlined their goals for the campus-wide safety and security assessment at a Brown University Community Council meeting on Tuesday. The council, which serves as a forum for Brown community members to discuss campus-related issues, discussed Brown’s potential involvement with the Providence Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center, a centralized hub that monitors live camera access to inform rapid incident response. The firm’s four objectives for the comprehensive safety review include conducting a risk exposure assessment, leading a security program review, gathering community feedback and developing a roadmap to improve safety and security on campus, according Courtney Adante, Teneo’s global head of security risk and David Cagno, Teneo’s head of public safety solution, both of whom are overseeing the review. Teneo will begin to host focus and listening groups on campus from April 6 to 10 for community members to share their input on campus security measures. Beginning next week, Cagno’s team will complete walkthroughs of campus buildings
in order to assess their risk profile. The team will examine building security and technology to “get a sense of what is already there and some potential target state changes,” Adante said in an interview with The Herald. “When I think about security in general, it’s not just about capability,” Cagno said at the meeting. “It’s about confidence. It’s about trust in the system.” Concerns surrounding Bill Bratton, executive chairman of risk advisory at Teneo and former New York City police commissioner, were brought up during the meeting due to his relation to broken windows policing. The strategy, a predecessor to “stop and frisk,” has been critiqued for targeting communities of color and contributing to mass incarceration. The University previously announced that the safety and security review would be co-led by Adante and Bratton. When asked about the University’s decision to work with Bratton, President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 told The Herald that the University “looked at the totality of the experience of Teneo Risk, and the work that they’ve done for a variety of institutions.” Bratton will not be leading the day-today operations of the review, Adante said in the meeting. She said that while she has worked closely with Bratton for 10 years, the safety and security review “is a very discrete project that has really nothing to do with Commis-
sioner Bratton’s philosophy.” “Consider (Bratton) in the background — a sponsor as a public safety expert and the leader of our division,” Adante said in an interview with The Herald after the meeting. “I’m the overall lead and working with (Cagno),” she said. In response to attendee concerns that increased policing could lead to race-based disparities in enforcement, Interim Vice President for Public Safety and Police Chief Hugh Clements acknowledged a history of problematic policing, but said, “that was a different moment in time, in policing in American cities and on campuses across the country.” “It’s about the culture, it’s about leadership, and it’s about our messaging and it’s about discipline in changing the culture internally in an organization to impress upon them what is the right way to keep your community safe.” According to Clements, the University is also considering connecting its cameras to the PPD’s RTCC. He said that conversations about connecting to the RTCC “have been had behind the scenes, but no decision has been made.” At the meeting, Clements — who spoke in favor of Brown joining the RTCC — said the hub is “critically important because it gives 100% situational awareness in real time, and accurate information to responding officers,” Clements said, citing the Dec. 13 shooting as an example.
“If you were connected to the RTCC and you had that real-time information on the first glimpse of who the suspect was, it gives those responding officers the absolute direct action as to where to go,” Clements added. He added that this would provide more situational accuracy than large volumes of 911 calls. Clements noted that the University would decide whether to provide its camera footage. “There will be complete transparency and auditing and oversight as to when that capability is used,” he said. In response, attendees shared concerns about the potential for increased campus surveillance and footage distribution to federal immigration enforcement. According to Clements, even if the federal government wanted crime information from Brown from a specific event where Brown had triggered their sharing mechanism with the RTCC, the government’s request “would have to be an official one through the courts, through a judicial subpoena for the information.” Following Clement’s explanation for how cooperation with the RTCC and potential outside agencies would operate, Alicia Joo ’26, who said she was detained during a protest on campus in 2023, had concerns. “Personally, that’s not very reassuring to me,” she said to Clements during the meeting. “In the eyes of the University, I was a criminal and arrested for student protests.” In an interview with The Herald, Joo
said she was worried that there aren’t clear enough statements about the privacy of the footage data. “A lot of that’s very just like, ‘just trust us,’ and it’s hard to do that,” she said. Joo also mentioned a Jan. 28 letter by the ACLU of Rhode Island written to Paxson, which urged her not to join the RTCC. “When the Providence Police announced the creation of the RTCC, we pointed out that the system lacked adequate privacy safeguards to prevent its misuse, a major concern considering how broadly the RTCC has expanded the Department’s surveillance capabilities,” the letter reads. “Sharing access to your campus cameras poses a substantial risk to your students, staff, faculty and visitors in the absence of sufficient protections for privacy and accountability.” The University will not use the RTCC for “student conduct that leads to a low-level criminal arrest,” Clements said. “I think the more you learn about this RTCC you will realize it’s essential in this evil world that we live in,” he added. The council will hear more about Teneo’s review at the next BUCC meeting, which is scheduled for April 14, The Herald previously reported.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on March 11, 2026.