Monday, November 26, 2018 by The Brown Daily Herald

SINCE 1891

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD VOLUME CLII, ISSUE 105

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018

Graduate students vote to unionize

U. to review proposed Title IX regulations

576 graduate students voted in favor of SUGSE, AFT union, 394 against in four-day vote By ERIC CHOI SENIOR STAFF WRITER

A majority of eligible graduate student voters supported unionization in an election that took place Nov. 1419, Provost Richard Locke P’18 and Dean of the Graduate School Andrew Campbell wrote in a community-wide email. Though the results have yet to be certified, the American Arbitration Association recorded 576 votes for unionization and 394 votes against, according to the email. “We’re so happy with the results and really proud of the work that we’ve all put in — the hundreds of hours of organizing that’s gone into this and just the display of solidarity from our colleagues that led to this result,” said Hilary Rasch GS, a member of Stand Up for Graduate Student Employees. “Final certification of the outcome will not occur until all valid

ballots are counted and any electionrelated disputes are resolved,” Locke and Campbell wrote. Approximately 1,250 graduate students — doctoral or master’s students who are or were TAs, RAs or proctors in fall 2018, spring 2018 and fall 2017 — were eligible to vote. Once the outcome is certified, “the University will recognize SUGSE (and the American Federation of Teachers) as the exclusive representatives of graduate assistants in the bargaining unit on employment matters.” Graduate assistants are defined as “all Brown PhD and master’s students enrolled in the Graduate School who are engaged in research or instructional services,” according to the Pre-Election Agreement between the University, SUGSE and AFT. “Per the June 2018 Union-University Pre-Election Agreement, Brown and SUGSE/AFT will begin negotiations over the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, and we will work in good faith around the important matters of wages, hours and terms and conditions of employment for the members of the bargaining » See SUGSE, page 4

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JACK JACOBY / HERALD

The Department of Education has provided a 60-day public comment period on its proposed changes to sexual misconduct regulations. The University expects to comment and plans to solicit community input.

U. Title IX program officer encourages community feedback, will host information sessions By MELANIE PINCUS SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Following the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed changes to Title IX regulations, President Christina Pax-

son P’19 reaffirmed the University’s commitment “to providing equitable and clear procedures for reporting, investigating and resolving allegations of sexual misconduct” in a Nov. 16 community-wide email. The DOE’s proposed regulations would alter how universities investigate sexual misconduct allegations made under Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination at educational institutions that receive federal funding.

The DOE has provided a 60-day public comment period that allows schools to discuss its proposal. The University is “carefully evaluating the proposed regulations to understand their possible implications for the University’s current policies and practices,” Paxson wrote. The University anticipates commenting independently or alongside peer institutions — or both — “on any aspects of the regulations » See TITLE IX, page 2

Tong ’95 elected Connecticut’s first Asian-American attorney general

COURTESY OF WILLIAM TONG

William Tong ’95 won the general election by a margin of 5.7 percent. Tong previously served as a Connecticut state representative, during which he championed bills for gun control and criminal justice reform.

Asian-American alum makes history, plans to expand reach of office of attorney general By JORDAN KEI-RAHN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

INSIDE

In the early hours of Nov. 16, William Tong ’95 won the race to be Connecticut’s attorney general. After he is sworn in next January, Tong will be Connecticut’s first-ever Asian-American constitutional officer, the country’s second Asian-American state attorney general and the first elected ChineseAmerican state attorney general.

This year’s contentious race for Connecticut attorney general featured five Democratic candidates, two Republican candidates and at least one third-party candidate. While Connecticut rarely holds a Democratic primary for the position, this year’s election included one because of the large number of candidates. Tong

won the primary by a margin of 31.4 percent. In the general election, Tong won by 5.7 percent, a tight margin that he partially attributes to the state’s highly contested gubernatorial race, which focused on fiscal concerns and energized pro-Trump opposition. When asked why his platform resonated with voters, Tong said, “For a lot of people in Connecticut, we feel like our way of life is under attack. … I’m the son of immigrants, and people recognize that immigrants are under attack. I’m the son of small business people, and small business people are under attack. This is a fight for me and my family.” To that end, Tong plans to expand existing initiatives like consumer protection and continue national endeavors established by incumbent attorney general George Jepsen. Current projects include addressing the opioid epidemic, tackling generic drug price fixing and holding large banks accountable for financial wrongdoing. In addition, Tong said he would like to establish a civil rights division within the attorney general’s office. Currently, Connecticut’s attorney general can only defend the state from accusations of civil rights violations.

By using the models set by New York and Massachusetts, Tong wants to create a department charged with “taking action on behalf of Connecticut residents whose civil rights have been violated.” To expand the attorney general’s role, Tong will need permission from the state’s legislature, but he is confident that he will receive the necessary support. Citing the current political climate, Tong said he felt compelled to run for the position because “state attorneys general have become the first line of defense against the Trump administration. … This feels like an existential moment in our democracy.” Prior to his run, Tong established a long track record of advocating for progressive policies in Connecticut, particularly in his role as a state representative. While chairing the state’s Judiciary Committee, Tong passed laws to fight hate crimes, promote criminal justice reform and implement gun regulations. “Our state’s gun laws are my responsibility,” Tong said. “I see it both as an honor and obligation, especially since Connecticut has the worst relationship you can have with » See TONG, page 4

WEATHER

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018

NEWS DNC Chair, former RNC chair offer analysis of 2018 midterm elections, look ahead to 2020

NEWS Students protest DNC’s acceptance of fossil fuel money at Watson talk with Chair Tom Perez

COMMENTARY Nugent ’21: Manchester City dominates Premier League with number of goals, talent

COMMENTARY Colby ’20, Grassfield ’19, Klein ’20: Public policy deserves individual concentration

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NEWS

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Perez ’83 P’18, Steele delve into midterm elections Discussion between DNC chair, former RNC chair focuses on role of voters, recently elected women By DYLAN CLARK SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez ’83 and former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele reviewed the aftermath of the 2018 midterm elections Nov. 19 at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs in the second and last forum of the series “Across the Aisle.” Following the results of the midterms, the duo examined voting trends in the United States, the demographic asymmetry of the two parties and issues that could become key in the 2020 elections. The event was moderated by Susan Moffitt, the director of the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy. Moffitt opened the discussion by applauding the turnout rates for the election. She asked both Perez and Steele whether voter turnout could be considered an upside to political partisanship: “Is this a signal of renewed political engagement?” Moffitt’s question set the stage for the two to focus their discussion on the role of voters in the midterms. Steele congratulated his counterpart for his success in taking back the House of Representatives but remained focused on the task facing both parties in 2020. “We’re doubling

» TITLE IX, from page 1 that might make our processes less fair and effective or hinder our ability to support Brown community members who have experienced sexual harassment or assault.” Currently, Title IX regulations allow universities to use a “preponderance of evidence” standard when determining culpability in their investigations. The proposed regulations would allow schools to choose between the “preponderance of evidence” standard or the higher “clear and convincing” evidence standard. In addition, the regulations intend to implement “a clear definition of sexual harassment” and would narrow the scope of incidents that universities must investigate. “Schools would be responsible only for investigating incidents that are part of campus programs and activities and that were properly reported,” the Washington Post reported. The proposed regulations also emphasize “due process requirements” that mandate that universities presume innocence, offer equal opportunity for involved parties to appeal their case and provide complainants and respondents with equal opportunity to review evidence. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos stressed the importance of “fair processes” in a press release announcing the proposed regulations. “Every

down on crazy,” he said. Steele stressed that voters could not afford to disengage from politics just because the midterms are over. “That citizen responsibility has been amped up even more so going into the next two years.” Before Perez could add to the conversation, a small group of student protesters stood up and urged the DNC to divest from fossil fuels before exiting the event. “I wish they had stayed” Perez remarked, emphasizing the need to approach the issue in an inclusive manner and adding that the shift to a green economy will be a slow and difficult process. In August, the DNC voted to reverse a ban on donations from fossil fuel interests, allowing contributions from “workers … their unions’ or employers’ political action committees.” Perez went on to highlight the successes of the Democratic party earlier this month, particularly the work being done to engage voters. “There was very good message discipline,” he said. Perez praised the work of organizational groups who helped the DNC engage voters at the local level and noted the significance of winning state legislatures and statehouses across the country. “That’s a twelve-year election cycle because these governors are overseeing a redistricting cycle, and that’s a big deal.” Moffitt then steered the discussion toward the record number of women elected to the House — according to CBS, over 100 women are projected to win seats in the House once all elections

are called. She wondered whether the “Year of the Woman” would create change in the chamber. “We saw a lot of firsts. … Sometimes with these firsts, though, comes backlash,” she said. Perez highlighted the growing diversity in the Democratic party. “I think our leadership in political America … ought to reflect who we are.” Steele was cautiously optimistic, stating that it would be interesting to see whether new representatives could change the system from within without themselves becoming changed by it. “How do these women fit into … the established order?” In any case, newly elected female representatives, led by

survivor of sexual violence must be taken seriously, and every student accused of sexual misconduct must know that guilt is not predetermined,” according to a DOE press release. Critics of the proposed regulations, such as It’s On Us — a national campaign against sexual assault on college campuses that was launched under former president Barack Obama’s administration — argue that the proposed rules would make it more difficult for survivors to come forward. The University’s Title IX Office remains committed to gender inclusion and “a meaningful response to the reports of harassment and discrimination” through both formal and informal pathways, independent of the proposed federal regulations, wrote Rene Davis, the University’s Title IX program officer, in an email to The Herald. To comprehensively assess the DOE’s proposal, the University will “consult with constituents across campus to review the guidance proposed and take in initial feedback,” Davis wrote. University community members, “especially activist(s) on this topic,” should also provide feedback to the DOE on the proposed policies, Davis wrote. Davis plans to “host a series of information sessions” to better inform the University community about the

proposed regulations, she wrote. After the DOE issues final guidelines following the 60-day comment period, the University “will allow faculty, staff and students to comment on specific changes the University has the discretion to make,” Davis wrote. The University was already planning to assess its current Title IX procedures, so “it makes sense to fold any changes of the law into that review,” Davis wrote. The review will include “a series of open forums, town halls and (an) electronic comment box to allow the community to comment on the finalized regulations and the changes the University will make to our current policy and/or procedures,” Davis wrote. The Steering Committee for Equity and Diversity will “take the lead in synthesizing community feedback and translating that knowledge into recommendations to policy and practice,” Davis wrote. “I will then take the recommendations from the SCED and incorporate them into an updated policy and procedure.” The DOE’s proposed regulations arrive more than a year after it issued interim Title IX guidelines following its rollback of policy guidance from the Obama administration. The interim guidelines did not result in any immediate changes to the University’s policies, The Herald previously reported.

JACK JACOBY / HERALD

In the first “Across the Aisle” event Oct. 25, former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele and Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez ‘83 P’18 discussed youth engagement in politics. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), have the opportunity to change the direction of the country. “If the women win, … watch out, because what comes after that … is an incredible change for the body politic.” Perez added that “democracy cannot be a spectator sport, … and women have led the charge, and I applaud that.” Moffitt brought up the recent ballot initiative passed in Florida that allows convicted felons to regain their right to vote and asked what other measures to increase voter turnout could mean for the parties. Both Steele and Perez emphasized

the importance of voter participation in the electoral process. Steele called for each state to re-evaluate its current rules surrounding voting, stating that many state processes are flawed and antiquated. Perez brought up contemporary examples of state laws that have made it harder to vote, such as measures in Ohio, South Carolina and Florida. “We should make voting easier, not harder,” he added, echoing his statement from the last forum. Both men agreed that people should encourage state legislatures to re-evaluate their voting laws and take measures to protect the integrity of elections.

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NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018 • PAGE 3

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Protestors disrupt Perez talk to demand action on climate change

MAX DEKLE / HERALD

Students gathered outside the Watson Institute last Monday afternoon and demanded that Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez ’83 P’18, who was participating in a panel discussion at the time of the protest, reinstate the DNC’s ban on fossil fuel money and incorporate a plan for a Green New Deal in the Party’s 2020 platform.

Students call on DNC Chair to reject donations from fossil fuel industry, support renewable energy By JACOB LOCKWOOD SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The crowd outside the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs grew steadily as students arrived to join the chorus of voices singing and chanting for climate justice Nov. 19. Inside and outside Watson, students disrupted a panel discussion between Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez ’83 P’18 and former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele to demand that Democratic leaders reject campaign donations from the fossil fuel industry and champion policies to combat climate change, said Lauren Maunus ’19, a lead organizer of the protest. After more protestors walked out of Perez’s event in the Joukowsky Forum, the crowd of students calling for action on climate change expanded to 70 people. Over the summer, Perez spearheaded a DNC resolution to reject donations from the fossil fuel industry. But two months later, Perez led the DNC

to overturn its ban on campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry, Maunus said in a speech to the crowd of protestors. Perez stated the DNC reversed its ban on money from fossil fuel industries after labor advocates described the original decision as “an attack on the working people in these industries,” The Hill reported. “We are saying enough is enough,” Maunus told The Herald. “No more fossil fuel money. You can’t be a champion for climate change and still be taking money from this industry any longer.” Students in the crowd outside Watson held banners that read “Fossil Fuel Free DNC” and “DNC: Stand with People, Not Corporations.” The crowd chanted, “Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Fossil fuels have got to go!” Other banners said “Green Jobs For All” and “Champion a Green New Deal.” The protestors assembled to demand that Perez reinstate the DNC’s ban on fossil fuel money and include a plan for a Green New Deal into the Party’s platform for 2020, Maunus said. A Green New Deal would transition the United States to renewable energy over the course of the next decade and provide green jobs to workers displaced

by the transition, Galen Winsor ’22 told The Herald. Winsor led the protesters in songs and chants while people entered Watson to hear Perez and Steele speak. The crowd invented lyrics related to climate justice using tunes ranging from old gospel songs to contemporary songs like “Blessings” by Chance the Rapper, Winsor told The Herald. “Music is a really powerful way to bring people together and send a message that’s uplifting,” he added. A number of student protestors delivered speeches on the dire threat posed by climate change. Speakers pointed to deadly wildfires in California, barrages of devastating hurricanes, air pollution in Indonesia that affected the whole subcontinent and desertification in Mali as evidence of climate change’s destructive impact. Some speakers shared deeply personal stories of their experiences with these disasters. “We are seeing the impacts of climate-fueled disasters as we speak,” Maunus said in her speech, referring to the wildfire currently ravaging California. The death toll from the fire has risen to 79, and around 700 people are missing, according to CBS News. “We cannot afford the fires in

California that have created hell in the town of Paradise,” Dana Kurniawan ’22 added. The ongoing wildfire reminded her of the toxic air in her home country of Singapore which was created by the controlled burning of forests in Indonesia. “No one could breathe clean air, not even the oil-hungry executives who ordered the burning,” she said. When Hurricane Sandy hit New York City in 2012, the city went dark. Buildings flooded. People were displaced from their homes, and many families still have not recovered, said Lily Gordon ’21, a Manhattan resident. “There still is no government plan for when the next flood comes,” she added. “How much longer until Puerto Rico and New York recover from Hurricane Sandy, Maria, Irma, et cetera? For how much longer are we going to worry about the water we drink or the air we breathe, or whether our homes are going to be destroyed?” Wassa Bagayoko ’21 told the story of how her father left his home country of Mali in the 1980s when the land in his village became unfarmable. “Many Malians are victims of this climate crisis but have done so little to contribute to it,” she said. “Mali isn’t alone in this. Around the world, developing countries suffer the consequences of decades

of European and U.S. pollution.” Speakers at the protest repeatedly emphasized the immediacy of the threat of climate change by citing a recent report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which states that society’s use of land, energy, transportation and industry must be rapidly transformed by 2030 to prevent extreme global warming. But students also expressed hope that policies aimed at curbing climate change will prevail. “The politics of climate change are shifting,” Maunus said in a closing speech to the crowd of protestors. She praised Congresswomanelect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for releasing a resolution advocating for a Select Committee on a Green New Deal, which has garnered the support of 11 Congressional Democrats since its release earlier this month. This development “has been the biggest breakthrough of climate politics in our lifetime,” Maunus said. “We have the momentum, and every day is bringing dozens of new victories,” Maunus said. “But we need to keep pushing right now. We cannot let up because our lives, our homes, our futures depend on it.”

NEWS

PAGE 4 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Phil Estes steps down after 21 seasons as head football coach Estes leaves Bears following two consecutive seasons without conference win By TESS DEMEYER SENIOR REPORTER

Two days after the football team capped a second consecutive season without an Ivy League win, Head Coach Phil Estes stepped down from his position after 21 seasons Monday, according to a press release from Brown Athletics. The Bears finished 1-9 in 2018 and 2-8 in 2017 after losing 15 straight conference games over the past three seasons. Players were informed of Estes’ departure this morning via an email, in which he thanked them for their hard work and commitment to the program. “There’s always a lot of talk, but you never really expect something this big

FOOTBALL

» TONG, from page 1 gun violence,” he added, referencing the 2012 Newtown school shooting. Though many of his initiatives successfully passed through the state legislature, a bill intended to regulate ghost guns and 3-D printed guns failed last year. Tong’s experience and values ultimately resonated with voters, Jepsen said. He added that Tong’s private sector background with complex civil litigation made him a highly qualified candidate. Woo Lee ’95, a childhood friend of Tong and a deputy chief in the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, emphasized the role that Tong’s family background played in shaping his candidacy for state attorney general. “I remember when I would go over

to happen so fast,” said starting quarterback Michael McGovern ’21. “Everybody was kind of caught off guard. It was definitely a shock when we all got that email this morning.” The team has not yet met to discuss what Estes’ departure means for the program, but plans to do so after Thanksgiving break. Though he will be an alum when the Bears take the field under new direction next season, Co-captain Anton Casey ’19 voiced expectations about changes to the team. “As sad as it is to see the coaches that you had for three years leave, the football team needs restructuring,” Casey said. “A coach that can really discipline the guys who are going to play on the team next year is really necessary, because the team needs to get on one page and really bond to one common goal, which is to win.” Prior to the 2017 season, Estes had never finished last in Ivy League rankings. In 21 seasons, he recorded 115

victories and three conference titles, and concluded his tenure as the secondwinningest coach in Brown football history. Estes “built a truly exceptional record, not just for Brown football, but more importantly for the generations of student-athletes who came to Brown passionate about playing the game,” said Director of Athletics Jack Hayes in the press release. “Brown University took a chance on me more than two decades ago, and the rest is history,” Estes said in the release. “I’m deeply grateful to Brown for the opportunity to have coached this team and so many outstanding players. Brown has been a wonderful home for me and for my family.” Estes took over the program in 1998 and achieved early success, winning a conference championship in his second year. But after finishing the 2016 season fourth in the league, the Bears struggled to compete with Ivy opponents. The

team won its most recent conference championship in 2008 and hovered near the middle of the pack until falling to the bottom a year ago. Current student-athletes who played through two straight last-place seasons are looking forward to how new leadership will reshape the program. “We haven’t won a lot of games, and there’s definitely some wounds that need to be healed,” said Co-captain Michael Hoecht ’20. “We’re all going to really miss (Estes). He’s done wonders for this program and I can’t say enough good things about him. But moving forward, it’s going to be important that this new coach is able to sort of unify this team and sort of steer us in the right direction.” The outcome the Bears are hoping for is clear: a winning season and a shot at restoring the program to its former glory. With a young roster and a fresh staff, McGovern is confident that the climb back to the top isn’t impossible.

“We have a lot of talent on our team,” McGovern said. “We’re all ready to work as hard as we can to make sure that happens. Once we get our new head coach and we fully buy into what he’s doing, I fully believe that as long as we stay dedicated and true to ourselves and stay close together as a family, then we definitely have a lot of potential to turn the program around.” Hayes said in the release that the search for a new head coach will begin immediately. Hoecht said that players are typically kept “out of the loop” until those hires are made by the Athletics Administration, but the co-captain thinks the transition will be smooth. “We’re players who play for coaches, and that’s up to the administration to make the right decisions,” Hoecht said. “Ultimately, I think a lot of guys will follow whoever we get because at the end of the day, we want to win, and in order to win you’ve got to buy into your head coach.”

… for a playdate (and) it would be at his family’s restaurant,” Lee said. “We would see his parents working, it was long hours, it was hard work. … All of those experiences bring something to the table.” Connecticut’s Office of the Attorney General handles over 54,000 cases a year across 15 different fields of law, including environmental regulations, data security and privacy, consumer protection and finance, Jepsen said. “The Connecticut attorney general has virtually no criminal jurisdiction. … We are exclusively civil law enforcement officers,” he added. “The Office of the Attorney General’s greatest strength is its credibility. It’s very important to have a reputation of integrity that you are not twisting the law to suit a political agenda.” Though state attorneys general

have varying powers and responsibilities depending on the state, they frequently collaborate, Jepsen said. “On a bipartisan basis, states’ attorneys general work well together on a national level,” he added. As the transition from Jepsen to Tong’s administration approaches, it remains to be seen how much the office itself will change. Jepsen said maintaining national investigations is important because “stepping up and providing leadership in these cases … can be very helpful to the state. … As a leadership state, you also get a bigger share of the settlement.” For instance, one share that Connecticut received from a national settlement exceeded the attorney general office’s entire budget, Jepsen added. But ultimately, “it is important for (Tong) to chart his own course,” Jepsen said.

» SUGSE, from page 1

Furthermore, after the results are certified, SUGSE will begin developing its “governing structures and bodies” to handle negotiating and bargaining, according to SUGSE’s website.

unit,” Locke and Campbell wrote. “We’re going to deliver our intention to bargain soon, and I hope that will initiate the process quickly,” Rasch said.

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TODAY

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018 • PAGE 5

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

g r a d u at i o n r e a d y

SATELLITE DINING ANDREWS COMMONS

Pizza: Sammy Special, Caprese, Barbecue Chicken Ranch Vegetable Lo Mein, Corey’s Sweet Chili Chicken JOSIAH’S

BLUE ROOM

Rodeo Burger, Make Your Own Grilled Cheese, Dumpling Bar

Chicken Noodle Soup, Turkey Chili, Bread Bowl

DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH

DINNER

Grilled Spicy Citrus Chicken With Corn Salsa, Cavatini, Green Peas, Frosted Brownies

Chicken Vegetable Soup, Vietnamese Style Pork Chops, Steamed Snow Peas

VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH

DINNER

Chicken Cutlet, Ravioli with Pink Vodka Sauce, Spicy French Fries, Noodle Bowl Bar

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Five Cheeses, Roasted Red Potatoes With Herbs, Roasted Carrots

sudoku

SAM BERUBE / HERALD

The University’s iconic Van Wickle Gates will swing open for the second time this semester Saturday to mark the achievements of ‘18.5ers at the Midyear Completion Ceremony.

Q U O T E O F T H E D AY

“For how much longer are we going to worry about the water we drink or the air we breathe, or whether our homes are going to be destroyed?

”

RELEASE DATE– Thursday, September 6, 2012

— Lily Gordon ’21

cro ssw ord Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

See CLIMATE RALLY on page 3.

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Cask stopper 5 Conquest for Caesar 9 Serbs, e.g. 14 School that expelled James Bond 15 Gustav Mahler’s wife 16 Hilarious person 17 Grandmotherly nickname 18 Protective trench 19 Miguel’s gal 20 Prickly undergrowth 22 Pine secretion 23 More than tehee, online 24 Prop for a safety briefing 26 Brewer’s vessel 29 Implore 31 Wheels 32 Mideast language 34 Finish a gymnastics routine, perhaps 37 Toward the stern 40 They lead you astray ... and what the starts of 20-, 24-, 52- and 60-Across are? 44 Brian of Roxy Music 45 “Yeah, sure” 46 Surpass 47 Washed-out 49 Bob Marley genre 51 Place in considerable disarray 52 It’s often a tough cut 57 Fighting Tigers’ sch. 59 Ness and others 60 Verbally overwhelm 65 Dim 66 Small pie 67 Time for action 68 2-Down, for one 69 Mother of Don Juan 70 Kerry’s home 71 Much of the RMS Queen Mary, now 72 Bank (on)

73 “Seasons of Love” musical

DOWN 1 Not in good shape? 2 Natural Bridges locale 3 Second helping, to a dieter 4 Twist 5 Long shot, say 6 Baseball’s Moises 7 It has a campus near the JFK Library 8 Turning tool 9 Ancient Athens rival 10 Nitwit 11 Ouzo flavoring 12 Watch 13 Barely sufficient 21 Slangy “Don’t worry about it” 25 “High Voltage” rockers 26 Ex-GIs’ org. 27 Bern’s river 28 1982 sci-fi film 30 Superficially fluent 33 Grumpy friend? 35 Exist

36 Mosquito protection 38 Unfriendly types 39 Fastener named for its shape 41 Have supper 42 Wedding reception highlight 43 Catch sight of 48 Heineken brand 50 All thumbs

52 Winter puddle cause 53 Scout master? 54 Elaborate display 55 Up and at ’em 56 Scottish feudal lord 58 Milker’s handful 61 Hurler Hershiser 62 Large-tongued comics dog 63 Wave a red flag at 64 Nikita’s no

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

calendar xwordeditor@aol.com

09/06/12

TODAY NOVEMBER

Screening of “The Philadelphia Story” 12:00 P.M. Pembroke Hall

Peer Career Advisor Open Hours 1:30 P.M. CareerLAB

Hindi Language Table 4:00 P.M. Page-Robinson Hall, 312

TOMORROW

09/06/12

Study Abroad 101 Information Session 12:00 P.M. Page-Robinson Hall, 420

Tableau for Data Visualization 1:00 P.M. Digital Scholarship Lab

Graduate Student WalkIn Hours 3:00 P.M. CareerLAB

Dean in the Commons 5:00 P.M. Hazeltine Commons

COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Manchester City will claim the Premier League crown PATRICK NUGENT sports columnist

And then there were two. Chelsea’s 3-1 loss to Tottenham Saturday leaves only Manchester City and Liverpool unbeaten in the Premier League this season. The defeat also puts what seems to be the final nail in the coffin of Chelsea’s title campaign, early in the season though it may be. With 33 points over 13 games, Liverpool now sits two points behind City for the league lead. The Reds also rest three points ahead of Tottenham and five ahead of Chelsea. At this point they seem to represent the only realistic competition as City looks for a second straight title. However, though Liverpool has valiantly hung in with its competitors to the east so far, City will nonetheless lift silverware come May. The Manchester outfit has simply been too dominant, and while Liverpool will at least keep things interesting for a while, there’s no one stopping City.

A simple look at City’s 11 wins and two draws to Liverpool’s 10 and three paints a picture of a second place team that is one lucky break away from sharing the lead in points. A closer examination, however, reveals the stranglehold City has on the league. Both clubs have been strong at the

place Tottenham combined. That high-scoring offense doesn’t just show itself in easy matches either. While City has run up the score in 6-1 wins against both Huddersfield and Southampton, the team also beat Arsenal and Chelsea by two-point margins without conceding a goal.

Right now, the Premier League title race holds the illusion of competition, but as the season wears on, it will become a coronation.

back so far this year, each giving up only five goals in 13 games. But while Liverpool has been comfortably putting games away by one or two goals, City has been riding roughshod over its competition. Liverpool has found the back of the net 26 times to date, while City has already done so on 40 occasions. City’s resulting plus-35 goal differential is more than that of second-place Liverpool and third-

Against the same opponents, Liverpool has come away with two draws this season, with the tie against Chelsea coming days after a loss to the Blues in a League Cup match. Beyond simple statistics, City has consistently shown class, even when tired legs and injuries threatened to slow the team down. Against a wellrested West Ham United Saturday, City scored four times and kept a

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la’s third season as manager, the team looks to be fully adapted to his system of play, and City practically walks the ball in at will against bottom-half opponents. That isn’t to say Liverpool is undeserving of its high league position. The Reds cruised to their own convincing win Saturday, beating Watford 3-0. With an appearance in last year’s Champions League Final on

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clean sheet. With most of its players coming off of long travel and extra games during the international break, the Manchester club still managed to score three times in the first 35 minutes — each time making West Ham look like they had no business playing on the same field. In Pep Guardio-

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their resume, they certainly stand among the top teams in Europe. Yet City has amassed such a deep pool of talent and implemented such an effective system of play that even a top team in Europe simply isn’t catching the Cityzens. Two points may seem to be an insignificant lead with two thirds of the season left to play. To a certain extent it is, but it masks the disparity between the two teams that have still yet to lose in this Premier League season. By the time the busy holiday schedule of games comes to an end, don’t be surprised if that two points has turned into an insurmountable lead for the men from Manchester. Right now, the Premier League title race holds the illusion of competition, but as the season wears on, it will become a coronation.

Patrick Nugent ’21 can be reached at patrick_nugent@ brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

COMMENTARY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018 • PAGE 7

Don’t delete the public policy concentration OWEN COLBY, EVE GRASSFIELD, NOAH KLEIN op-ed contributors In a report circulated to students in an early October email, the Office of the Dean of the College proposed the combination of Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs’ three undergraduate concentrations into one concentration, which would be the third largest concentration at Brown. This proposal, which merges public policy, international relations and development studies, strips each concentration of its unique characteristics and agglomerates them into an entirely unremarkable patchwork of onerous requirements that lack direction. By merging what are unique fields of study, it is clear that Watson seriously undervalues public policy as a concentration and disregards American public policy as a topic that warrants individualized study. In sum, Watson’s proposal undermines Brown’s core values — interdisciplinary coursework, individualized education and student engagement. In an era of polarized politics, with a president whose proposals are ambiguous and whose claims are unsubstantiated, there has perhaps never been a greater need for professionals who have the skills to understand exactly how public policy affects people and communities. The University’s public policy concentration educates students to become these muchneeded public policy professionals by allowing them to study the life cycle of the American policy making process, from the passage of policies to their implementation and effects. By choosing a focus on a specific policy issue, students gain a deep and nuanced understanding of America’s urban, environmental or health policies, among others. In this political environment, which is increasingly devoid of fact, students have recognized the importance of an education in public policy. After Donald Trump became president in 2016, the number of graduating public policy concentrators doubled from 21 to 42. For years, the University recognized the distinct value in studying U.S. policy. But the new proposal reverses years of institutional policy and ignores the desires and interests of many students — and the braod needs of the United States.

We, as public policy concentrators, urge the administration and Watson’s faculty leadership to recognize one thing: Public policy’s main strength comes directly from what the new report claims is its weakness, namely its distinct focus “on U.S. policy.” The proposed concentration has an overwhelming focus on international issues, essentially removing a student’s ability to concentrate on American public policy at Brown. Of the five proposed required core courses, none are focused on the American context; the proposal goes as far as to suggest that an existing class, PLCY 0100: “Introduction to

deletes the public policy concentration as we know it and makes it impossible for students to concentrate in American public policy. The proposal undermines Brown’s open curriculum by making it almost impossible for students to pursue other areas of interest. The public policy concentration requires students to take courses in at least three different policy areas and is inherently multidisciplinary. It also provides students with a strong theoretical, quantitative and ethical background through its five core courses. However, apart from those few requirements, concentrators have the

proposed concentration undermines Brown’s core values with its burdensome list of requirements. While Watson has attempted to dodge student concerns by stating that a committee of Watson faculty “has not yet finalized its review or begun drafting its recommendations,” no further information has been released. In addition, given that a new proposal is expected to be released next month, we are skeptical that the Watson committee will sufficiently account for student criticisms. Therefore, we believe it is important to critique the Dean of the College’s proposal in its current state.

DAPHNE ZHAO

Public Policy,” change its coursework to become more international. The proposal also suggests that students might be required to take three years of a foreign language, which would strongly deter and place an unnecessary burden on students who simply wish to study U.S. public policy. Three years of a language can take up to 20 percent of a concentrator’s classes at Brown, and the proposal does nothing to justify such onerous requirements for students wishing to focus on the American context. Yes, a study of American policy would be enhanced by more internationally focused classes and foreign languages, but requiring this many classes goes too far. In essence, this new proposal

ability to explore the policy issues that interest them — with the option to take electives in over a dozen different departments. With 10 requirements plus a senior capstone, the current public policy concentration offers students the flexibility to pursue a double concentration. Two of us are currently double concentrators. The new proposal, on the other hand, requires students to take as many as 20 classes and thus makes it nearly impossible to double-concentrate. Ultimately, public policy at Brown typifies the open curriculum: It allows students to pursue their passions for politics and policy without sacrificing their interests in other subject areas. By contrast, the

Despite the gravity of this proposal and its outsized effects on the public policy concentration, Watson has done the bare minimum to solicit input from students. On Oct. 12, 2018, students in all three Watson concentrations received a surprising email from Watson leadership with the subject line “Watson Undergraduate Town Hall Meetings.” Upon first glance, the email seemed like one of Watson’s frequent promotional emails. If one spent time reading further, however, this nondescript email revealed the new and drastic proposal. Hidden in plain sight within a hyperlink at the email’s end was a document labeled “2018 Watson Committee Recommenda-

tions” that, in 25 pages, mainly argued one thing: all three Watson concentrations should be consolidated into one. No further effort has been made to explain the proposal in detail to concentrators and only three, hour-long town halls have been held to solicit feedback from students who made an independent effort to understand the gravity of the attached proposal. It does not seem that Watson has a genuine interest in gauging students’ reactions to the proposal. Watson’s lack of transparency and effective outreach to students when making fundamental decisions about the structure of their chosen education is just one of the new proposal’s many failures. We argue not only that the proposal ignores student wants but also that its broadcast has not afforded students the opportunity to understand the gravity of these institutional changes. Watson has a responsibility to openly seek student input beyond coded emails and poorly publicized town hall meetings. While many of our peers, including public policy concentrators, still remain unaware of this major transformation due to Watson’s inadequate outreach, we believe there is time to demand that public policy remain an independent discipline. There has never been a more important time to have a public policy concentration at Brown to teach students about the intricacies of U.S. public policy. While there is room for improvement in the current concentration, this new proposal deletes the public policy concentration entirely. Watson, in a continuation of its piecemeal efforts to gauge students’ feelings about the proposal, has opened a Google Form where students can provide feedback on their concentrations. We implore public policy students and the broader Brown community to criticize the proposal through that form or by emailing watson-director@brown. edu.

Owen Colby ’20, Eve Grassfield ’19 and Noah Klein ’20 are all public policy concentrators. They can be reached at owen_ colby@brown.edu, eve_grassfield@brown.edu and noah_ klein@brown.edu, respectively. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.

NEWS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2018

Gokaslan P’18 reflects on path to chief of neurosurgery Gokaslan leads department expansion, serves as president of Neurosurgery Foundation By CATE RYAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Ziya Gokaslan P’18 can trace his desire to be a doctor back to his childhood. His father was a surgeon, and his older brother is now an oncologist. Conversations centered on medicine were common in his childhood home, and he would go to the hospital with his father and observe doctors as they performed procedures and autopsies. Today, Gokaslan is the chair of neurosurgery at the Alpert Medical School and chief of neurosurgery at the Rhode Island Hospital and Miriam Hospital. He leads a team of extremely specialized physicians, surgeons and researchers who work every day to push boundaries in patient care and scientific discovery. “The mission of our department is to provide the most advanced and compassionate care to our patients, to train future leaders in neurosurgery and to advance our field through research and innovation,” Gokaslan wrote in his chairman’s message. Gokaslan did not always intend to become a neurosurgeon. His initial interest was in cardiac surgery, but while in medical school he found the repetitive nature of the heart procedures he learned to be intellectually

under-stimulating. He craved a challenge, and learning how to operate on the brain and spine offered exactly that. After rotating in neurosurgery, “I fell in love with it,” he said. Gokaslan has since developed expertise in chordoma, a rare spinal cancer that leads to tumorous growths in the spine. “It is really one in a million in terms of its incidence in the United States,” he said, adding that there are roughly 350 estimated new cases per year. About every four to six weeks, he sees a patient with chordoma — some of whom have traveled from across the globe to get his expert opinion or to have their tumor operated on at Rhode Island Hospital. The disease originates in notochordal cells, which are cells that give rise to the discs that lie between each vertebrae in the spine. As they grow, chordoma tumors may destroy the nerves that run through the spaces they occupy, most commonly at the base of the skull or above the tailbone, thereby impairing functionality as the disease progresses, Gokaslan said. Some tumors have been seen to surpass even the size of a watermelon before they are removed, he added. At advanced stages, tumors may also spread to other regions of the body. Though Gokaslan still spends roughly two days a week in the operating room performing spinal surgeries, his position as chief of neurosurgery, which he assumed in 2015, involves responsibilities ranging

from administrative to educational to research-based work. Gokaslan’s tenure as chair thus far has been characterized by extensive expansion. Not only has the size of the department grown, but new grant funding has facilitated novel research efforts involving collaborations between physicians at the Med School and scientists who run labs at the University, Gokaslan said. “When I took over the position here, we had only six faculty members,” Gokaslan said. “We have now 14 faculty members. We had barely, maybe a laboratory, now we have six different laboratories.” In addition to the new labs, the neurosurgery department has expanded its residency program, added a fellowship program and increased the number of patients they can take each year, he added. Gokaslan has also helped launch a neurological intensive care unit at the Rhode Island Hospital. “We have 18 beds (that) are dedicated to patients with neurosurgical disorders and stroke,” he said. “We have a dedicated neuroscience floor (and) a dedicated spine floor.” Curtis Doberstein, professor of neurosurgery and a previous chair of the department who has been at the Med School for 23 years, said the recent growth has been “exponential.” He added, “as a department, from that 23-year perspective, it’s never been better — it has not even been close to better than this.”

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Under Ziya Gokaslan’s P’18 tenure as chief of neurosurgery at the Med School, the department has expanded its labs and residency programs. “We have been able to do all of these things within the last three and a half years,” Gokaslan said. “I believe that our department is now a very comprehensive, highly competitive and fully integrated academic neurosurgery program.” “Gokaslan is widely recognized as both a superb surgeon, particularly in the area of spinal oncology, but also for his national leadership in a number of our leading societies,” wrote M. Sean Grady, chair of neurosurgery at Penn, in an email

to The Herald. Gokaslan currently serves as president of the Neurosurgery Foundation, according to the Brown Neurosurgery website. For aspiring neurosurgeons, Gokaslan emphasized the importance of early involvement and the necessity of developing a deep understanding of the foundations of the nervous system. Neurosurgery is “a highly technical area,” Gokaslan said. “Sometimes it’s not exactly like how it is featured in the movies or TV series.”