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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2017

VOLUME CLII, ISSUE 112

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Half of students oppose CCC’s proposal to move drop deadline Nearly half of femaleidentifying students say they are catcalled at least once a month on campus By GWEN EVERETT METRO EDITOR

The Herald held its bi-annual undergraduate poll Nov. 8-10 and Nov. 15, finding that 48.2 percent of femaleidentifying students polled are catcalled at least once a month while at Brown. The same is true for 60 percent of the students surveyed who did not specify their gender. Of the 41.7 percent of students surveyed who have never been catcalled on or near campus, 76 percent identify as male. The poll also found that a slight majority of undergraduates polled — 51.1 percent — oppose the College Curriculum Council’s proposal to move the course drop deadline closer to the middle of the semester. About 23 percent of students strongly agree with the proposal, and 16.3 percent somewhat agree. Nearly 10 percent of students have no opinion. The election of Donald Trump also changed the way some students behave.

FALL POLL 2017

Nearly 60 percent of students said they have consumed more news since the election, and 47.8 percent of students said they participate in activism more often. Twenty percent of students said their relationship with family became more positive after Trump’s election, and 9.8 percent said it got worse. All other students said there was no change. Similar numbers describe students’ surveyed relationship with their friends: 23.8 percent said their relationship with friends improved, 8 percent said it got worse and 68.2 percent said it stayed the same. Students were also surveyed about their drug habits. Around 81 percent of Brown students surveyed have consumed alcohol in the past year, and 49.9 percent have used marijuana. 18.1 percent have used tobacco, seven percent have used cocaine and 6.1 percent have used psychedelic mushrooms. 17.5 percent of students surveyed did not consume any of the listed substances in the past year. Does Brown have school spirit? Nearly 45 percent of students somewhat agree it does, and 10.8 percent strongly agree. About a quarter of students somewhat disagreed. Health services received mostly positive ratings: 38.3 percent of those surveyed said they were very satisfied, and 30.8 percent were somewhat satisfied

with the care they received. 18.3 percent had no opinion, while 12.6 percent were somewhat or very unsatisfied. The poll found that over half of students have a majority of friends from different socioeconomic backgrounds. 17.4 percent of students surveyed said most (over 75 percent) of their friends come from a socioeconomic background similar to theirs, and another 25.5 percent said this was the case for the majority (50-75 percent) of their friends. 34.5 percent of students said that about half of their friends come from different socioeconomic backgrounds — 15.8 percent said that a minority of their friends came from similar socioeconomic backgrounds as them, and 6.8 percent said this was the case for very few of their friends. Of the students surveyed who did not study abroad, the most commonly cited reason was concentration requirements — 35.9 percent of students indicated this concern. 27.3 percent said it was a matter of personal preference, and 23.7 percent said financial concerns played into their decision. Students also cited extracurricular concerns — 17.3 percent — and recruitment for internships — 11.3 percent — as well as social concerns — 10.5 percent — as other reasons they chose to stay on campus. The majority of students are generally

KATE TALERICO / HERALD

confident in their ability to get a job in their chosen fields with their Brown degree — 31.2 percent are very confident,

while 43.6 percent are somewhat confident. 18.3 percent of students are » See POLL, page 2

W. BASKETBALL

Bears win Turkey Tip-Off tournament Clad in pink, newest bubble tea outlet opens on Thayer

Steeves ’19, Gaziano ’20, Will ’19 lead Bruno in victories over Hampton, Pacific University

Vivi Bubble Tea rivals nearby Kung Fu Tea in range of food choices like popcorn chicken, cookies

By TESS DEMEYER SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The women’s basketball team followed up its tough home loss against the nationally-ranked University of California at Berkeley with a trip to the Golden State to play in the University of the Pacific’s Turkey Tip-Off Tournament. Brown advanced to the championship game after a 73-66 victory over Hampton University in the first round and then defeated the hosts 74-57 to claim the crown. “Going into it, everyone was really excited,” said co-captain Erika Steeves ’19. “The tournament was very competitive, so we had a chance to prove ourselves.” Brown 73, Hampton 66 The Bears (4-1, 0-0 Ivy) opened their tournament run by holding off the Pirates (2-3) Friday afternoon. Hampton took an early seven-point lead, but Bruno bounced back after

INSIDE

By JACOB ALABAB-MOSER STAFF WRITER

Offering a novel and colorful ambiance to bubble tea seekers, Vivi Bubble Tea opened mid-November on Thayer Street beneath Ben & Jerry’s. One of the newest additions to Thayer’s culinary scene, Vivi Bubble Tea provides an alternative to Kung Fu Tea and other bubble teaoffering establishments on College Hill. Upon entrance, customers are immersed in an alarmingly brightly lit, bubble gum pink aesthetic that stretches from floor to ceiling. A large cardboard cutout of the franchise’s mascot — a skeleton draped in a pink tutu and feather boa — greets customers as they enter. The cutout is flanked by posters showcasing the chain’s equally colorful, signature beverages, such as the fluorescent blue and orange “Blue

REVIEW

COURTESY OF BROWN ATHLETICS

Co-captain Erika Steeves ’19 recorded her first double-double this season against Hampton, accounting for 16 points and a career-high 19 rebounds. an offensive run that brought the team within one point of the Pirates at the end of the first quarter. Steeves went on to record her first double-double of the season, accounting for 16 points and a career-high 19 rebounds. Bruno took over in the second frame, riding a 14-2 scoring run highlighted by three-pointers from Steeves and Shayna Mehta ’19 to outscore the Pirates by 11 in the quarter. Justine

Gaziano ’20 added another three and a last-minute layup to give Brown a 35-25 edge at the half. Gaziano led the team in scoring with 21 points and was automatic from the free-throw line, hitting a perfect 10 for 10. As a whole, the team netted over 82 percent of its free throw attempts. Defensively, the Bears showed improvements from their previous games, nabbing 34 rebounds — seven more » See W. BBALL, page 2

Galaxy.” Vivi’s adds to its playful, childlike ambiance by offering customers games to play while they drink their tea, like Jenga and Hungry Hippos, though the games threaten to topple over drinks. The menu for bubble tea is extensive, spanning the common categories of milk tea and slush and also including more novel varieties like yakult, a drink with an herbal, medicine-like flavor. The menu itself does not provide descriptions of the drinks or allow for drink customization, forcing customers less familiar with the world of bubble tea to either ask the cashier about the different drinks or risk selecting something unknown. I ordered my usual bubble tea, blended matcha with boba. Compared to the same drink at Kung Fu Tea, it was noticeably less sugary and more fragrant, with notes of rose. Meanwhile, the boba was smaller, sweeter and chewier. Vivi also offers a larger food selection to accompany drinks: the menu features popcorn chicken, cookies and takoyaki, ballshaped fried octopus dumplings. Despite these minor differences, » See VIVI, page 2

WEATHER

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2017

ARTS & CULTURE Ashour ’19 keeps audience entertained, engaged in BUGS adaptation of musical, ‘Pippin’

COMMENTARY Metz ’20: Brown Democrats urge Al Franken to resign, demonstrate dedication to women’s issues

COMMENTARY Oke ’20: Admissions should account for plurality of black experience in America

SPORTS Men’s Basketball: Anderson ’20 scores career high of 24 points in Bruno win over LIU Brooklyn

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NEWS

PAGE 2 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2017

» W. BBALL, from page 1 than they averaged across their first three contests — and holding Hampton to zero fast break points. Brown maintained its lead in the second half, but the Pirates fought hard for the comeback and cut their deficit to 59-57in the final five minutes. Bruno relied on experienced starters to preserve the advantage. “Coach Behn has been really big on leadership from our veterans this year because it’s the first year that we really have solid leadership from the older girls,” Steeves said. “At the end of the game, that’s when it really showed that we were more mature. In past years, that’s where we would have caused some turnovers and maybe allowed Hampton to take the lead. In the last minutes of the game, that’s when our veterans stepped up, and we stayed composed.” That composure resulted in an 8-0 spurt that extended Bruno’s lead, and, as Brown held Hampton scoreless for 4:34, Gaziano drained six free throws in the final 48 seconds to secure the victory. Brown 74, Pacific 57 With the Turkey Tip-Off title on the line, Bruno took to the court Saturday with a clear goal. “The biggest thing was proving ourselves,” Steeves said. “As a team that is invited to a tournament and then playing that host team on (its) home court, some would count that as a disadvantage to us, but we went into it with an attack mentality. … We didn’t come into it scared.” The Bears took an early lead and stayed on top for nearly 39 minutes of the 40-minute game, dominating the Tigers (3-2) on their home court. Pacific posted 106 points in its first game

of the tournament, but Brown held the hosts to only 27.1 percent shooting and outshot them 34-20 in the paint during the championship game. Taylor Will ’19 opened the game with a pair of layups and scored eight of Bruno’s initial 10 points en route to a game-high 23 points. Matching threes from Mehta and Kathleen Ryan ’20 gave Brown an 18-10 edge, and a buzzer-beater by Mehta put the Bears up 21-13 at the end of the first quarter. Steeves made her presence known in the second stanza, nailing a 17-foot jumper and tallying five of her gamehigh 14 rebounds on her way to a second double-double. The Tigers crept within eight points of the Bears in the final minutes of the half, but Brown held its lead and went into the locker room up 40-32. Will continued her hot streak in the second half, netting six of the eight points Bruno tallied in the opening minutes. After a late three-pointer by Will, Mehta scored Brown’s final five points of the third to give the Bears a 58-41 lead going into the last quarter. Three layups from forward Janie White ’18 and a pair of free throws by Steeves put the Bears up by 21 with 4:40 left on the clock. As the Tigers scrambled for a comeback in the final minutes, Herald staff columnist Randi Richardson ’20 and co-captain Megan Reilly ’18 added a layup and two free throws respectively to settle the final score at 74-57 and clinch the victory. “It shows a lot of promise for when we do get to the Ivy League games,” Steeves said. “It was a really promising team effort, and we’re all excited to get back into it.” The Bears return home to host the College of the Holy Cross Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. before taking on Providence College in the first round of the Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament Dec. 2.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

LILLY NGUYEN / HERALD

Vivi Bubble Tea boasts a larger selection of drinks, a pink and playful ambiance and board games for customers. It also offers popcorn chicken and spherical octopus dumplings, takoyaki, as food options.

» VIVI, from page 1 the overall composition of the drinks

is comparable to those offered at Kung Fu Tea. Though taste does not deviate largely from that of Kung Fu Tea, Vivi

drinks are a tad cheaper. While a medium red bean green tea slush is $4.25 at Kung Fu Tea, it is $4.00 at Vivi’s.

» POLL, from page 1 somewhat concerned, and 4.4 percent are very concerned. 3.6 percent of students were neutral on the topic. How well do Brown professors foster discussion that respects opposing points of view? About 19 percent of students strongly agree with the idea that Brown professors foster such discussion, with 47.9 percent somewhat agreeing and 19.4 percent somewhat disagreeing. Just 4.5 percent of students strongly disagreed. Among polled students, 41.1 percent approve of the way the Undergraduate Council of Students is handling its job, with 11.8 percent strongly approving. 37 percent had no opinion, while 10.1 either somewhat disapproved or strongly disapproved. Students also generally supported the way President Christina Paxson P’19 is handling her job. 45.7 percent generally approved of her work thus far, and 16.2 percent strongly approved. 24.7 percent had no opinion, and 10.7 percent somewhat or strongly disapproved.

LAURA FELENSTEIN / HERALD

Change in social media usage since Trump’s election Though most students have not changed their social media usage since President Trump was elected, more than a quarter of students increased their use.

Increased No change

29.4% 52.7% 17.8% Decreased

Source: Herald Poll Fall 2017

KATE TALERICO / HERALD

NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2017 • PAGE 3

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

FA L L 2 0 1 7 P O L L

Herald Fall 2017 Poll Results and Methodology Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christina Paxson is handling her job as president of the University? 16.2% Strongly approve 45.7% Somewhat approve 9.1% Somewhat disapprove 1.6% Strongly disapprove 27.4% No opinion Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Undergraduate council of Students is handling its job representing and addressing the concerns of the undergraduate student body? 11.8% Strongly approve 41.1% Somewhat approve 7.9% Somewhat disapprove 2.2% Strongly disapprove 37% No opinion Do you agree with the College Curriculum Council’s proposal to move the course drop deadline closer to the middle of the semester? 23.4% Strongly approve 16.3% Somewhat approve 15.8% Somewhat disapprove 35.3% Strongly disapprove 9.3% No opinion If you have visited Health Services, how satisfied were you with the care that you received? 38.3% Very satisfied 30.8% Somewhat satisfied 9.9% Somewhat unsatisfied 2.7% Very unsatisfied 18.3% No opinion How many of your friends come from a socioeconomic background similar to yours? 17.4% Most (more than 75% roughly) of my friends 25.5% The majority (more than 50%) of my friends 34.5% About equal (50%) of my friends 15.8% A minority (less than 50%) of my friends 6.8% Very few (less than 25%) of my friends How often you catcalled on or near campus? 1.5% Everyday 10.7% At least once a week 18.3% At least once a month 27.8% Rarely

41.7% Never If you do not intend to study abroad, what factors influenced your decision? (Circle all that apply) 27.3% Personal preference 35.9% Concentration requirements 23.7% Financial concerns 11.3% Recruitment for internships 10.5% Social concerns 17.3% Extracurricular commitments 8.5% No program interested me 1% I did not qualify for the program of my choice 9.4% Other How confident or concerned are you in your ability to get a job in your chosen field with your Brown degree? 31.2% Very confident 42.6% Somewhat confident 18.3% Somewhat concerned 4.4% Very concerned 3.6% No opinion Do you believe your professors facilitate discussions that respect opposing points of view? 19.1% Strongly agree 47.9% Somewhat agree 19.4% Somewhat disagree 4.5% Strongly disagree 9.1% No opinion After President Trump’s election, how were the following aspects of your life changed? Consumption of news Increase: 59.4% Decrease: 17.4% Neutral: 23.2% Visits home Increase: 6.3% Decrease: 5.7% Neutral: 88.0% Social media engagement Increase: 29.4% Decrease: 17.8% Neutral: 52.7%

LAURA FELENSTEIN / HERALD

Participation in activism Increase: 47.8% Decrease: 3.1% Neutral: 49.1%

After President Trump’s election, how did the following aspects of your life positively or negatively change? Relationship with friends Positive: 23.8% Negative: 8.0% Neutral: 68.2% Relationship with family Positive: 20.2% Negative: 9.8% Neutral: 70.4%

In the past year, which of the following substance have you used recreationally? 80.8% Alcohol 49.9% Marijuana 18.1% Tobacco 3.6% Prescription painkillers 4.7% Amphetamines 7% Cocaine 5.5% Ecstasy 6.1% Psychedelic mushrooms 6.2% LSD 1.1% Other 0.0% I don’t know 7.5% None of the above Do you believe that Brown has school spirit? 10.8% Strongly agree 44.9% Somewhat agree 24.5% Somewhat disagree 13.8% Strongly disagree 6.0% No opinion The results come from 873 surveys collected at J. Walter Wilson, the Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center and the Sciences Library over the course of four days — Nov. 8-10 and Nov. 15. The margin of error is 3.1 percent with 95 percent confidence. The margins of error for specific subsets are as follows: 4.2 percent for females, 5.0 percent for males, 6.2 percent for first-years, 5.8 percent for sophomores, 7.1

percent for juniors, 7.5 percent for seniors, 4.6 percent for students who receive financial aid and 4.6 percent for students who do not receive financial aid. The sample of students who took the poll is demographically similar to the undergraduate student body. The sample was 41.5 percent male and 57.4 percent female. First-years made up 27.8 percent, sophomores 31.6 percent, juniors 21.3 percent and seniors 19.3 percent of the poll. Of students represented in the poll, 6.3 percent receive just loans, 18.9 receive grants and loans, 15.2 percent receive grants covering some costs, 9.6 percent receive grants covering all costs and 50.1 percent receive no financial aid. Varsity athletes made up 9.8 percent, while non-athletes made up 90.2 percent. Of students surveyed, 78.4 percent identify as heterosexual, 6.1 percent as gay, 10.5 percent as bisexual and 5.0 percent as other. Of students surveyed, 55.4 percent identify as white, 32.2 percent as Asian, 12.3 percent as Hispanic, 9.5 percent as black, 1.2 percent as American Indian/Alaska Native, 0.6 percent as Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and 3.3 percent as other. Students also marked the concentration area(s) that they are in — 31.8 percent are in the humanities/arts, 21.4 percent in life sciences, 34.8 percent in physical sciences, 11.5 percent in BEO or economics and 22.5 percent in social sciences. Of students polled, 13.7 percent of students are legacy students, meaning they have a parent, grandparent or sibling who attended Brown, and 86.3 percent are not. First-generation students made up 18.1 percent of students surveyed and non-first-gen students made up 81.9 percent of the sample. Statistical significance was established at the 0.05 level. All cross tabulations are statistically significant. Science & Research Editor Elena Renken ’19, Metro Editor Gwen Everett ’19, Senior Staff Writer Emily Davies ’19.5 and Staff Writers Arjun Ganga ’21 and Sophie Culpepper ’21 coordinated the poll. Herald section editors, senior staff writers and other staff members conducted the poll. Over the next several weeks, The Herald will publish a series of articles about individual poll questions. Find results of previous polls at thebdh.org/poll.

KATE TALERICO / HERALD

ARTS & CULTURE PAGE 4 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2017

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

‘Lady Bird’ soars, capturing life’s silly and strange glory First-time director Greta Gerwig nails clever dialogue, narrative pacing, casting decisions By DANIEL WAYLAND ARTS & CULTURE CRITIC

Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson loves her mother. But she doesn’t like her mother. The daughter and mother duo, played superbly by Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf, respectively, are constantly at each other’s throats, always bickering and nagging and pushing their relationship toward a fatal precipice. But they are also kindred spirits, albeit contradicting ones. They weave in and out of each other’s lives, slowly revealing themselves as a messy, imperfect and wonderfully human mother-daughter pair. Perhaps, though, “weaving” is too gentle a term for Christine and her mother, Marion. Rather, they explode onto the canvas of their shared life, crashing into each other in a series of cluttered, wearying and ultimately touching interactions. But alas, “Lady Bird” deserves elegiac tributes and immediate consideration for a place amongst the pantheon of cinema’s great bildungsromans. It is also a tour de force from first-time

REVIEW

director Greta Gerwig, who also wrote the accompanying screenplay. It’s a lot of responsibility to juggle, but Gerwig manages to get just about everything right: From the clever and perceptive dialogue, to the film’s narrative pacing, to the casting decisions, “Lady Bird” never misses a beat. Set in an early-2000s Sacramento, CA, the film follows Christine during a senior year of high school befitting her character — a whirlwind, dizzy with emotion and prone to impulsive deviations. Gerwig does an exceptional job detailing the year, at times flying madly from one high or low point to the next, only to slow down at each moment to unpack the sensory intricacies of a school play, a dance, or a botched (and ultimately redeemed) prom night. Gerwig also demonstrates a phenomenal eye for understanding how to color in a movie along its margins: One scene involving communion wafers is a particularly inspired showcase of her subtly human touch. Film critics love to deliberate over the ability of a movie or script to move beyond basic caricatures. We desire that films illustrate more complex and profound human subjectivities. It’s a classic critic’s trope. But we return to that trope for a reason — the successful execution of that ideal is one of cinema’s most triumphant qualities. “Lady Bird” has it in spades. The

film expresses a remarkable generosity toward its subjects. Even peripheral characters are given space to articulate a range of humanities. It helps that those parts are driven by strong casting choices that mix veterans like Lois Smith and Tracy Letts with burgeoning stars like Lucas Hedges and Timothée Chalamet. But “Lady Bird” is built on the performance of Ronan, who beautifully captures the irreverent wit and vivacity of Christine— though she’d really prefer you call her Lady Bird — and Metcalf as her world-weary and tough-loving mother. After Christine struggles with a classic and heartbreaking coming-of-age moment, mother and daughter reenact their Sunday tradition of visiting forsale high-end houses that they could never afford. Theirs is a thoroughly middle-class family, and to see how the pair live out the fantasy of mobility — and how their financial reality has shaped their relationship — is both tragic and deeply humanizing for both characters. It’s the film’s most quiet and touching scene. Gerwig neither judges nor shies away from portraying the damage Christine and her mother do to one another, ultimately reminding us that their relationship is founded upon an intensely tender love that they often struggle to express.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” captures the beauty of human subjectivities through the powerful performances of actresses like Saoirse Ronan.

‘Murder on the Orient Express’ misses mark for fans of novel Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation proves visually appealing, faithful to plot, criticized for excess drama By LIYAAN MASKATI STAFF WRITER

Deceptive simplicity defines most Agatha Christie novels. At first glance, each of her works has the appearance of a classic “whodunit,” all based on a seemingly standard premise: A victim is found murdered; a list of suspects presents itself; a detective is handed the job of solving the case. Yet, as the plot unravels, apparent innocence almost always belies sin and culpability, and the murderer is inevitably the very person you would least expect it to be. Indeed, Christie’s novels employ a paradoxical melange of straightforwardness and complexity, which scorns the expression “innocent until proven guilty” and favors the idea “guilty until proven innocent.” Kenneth Branagh’s remake of “Murder on the Orient Express” is the second film adaptation of Christie’s distinguished novel. In terms of plot, Branagh’s

REVIEW

adaptation is, for the most part, faithful to the original. World famous detective Hercule Poirot — self-proclaimed as one of the best in the world — finds himself journeying on the Orient Express when one of the passengers on the train is found murdered in their compartment. The train, at this point, is snowbound. There are no visible footprints in the snow and it seems safe to assume that the murderer is one of the remaining passengers on the train. Faced with merely a set of disparate clues and potential suspects, Poirot begins his investigation. The most impactful aspect of the film is its cinematic quality. The train is lavishly decorated and the opulence of the set design and the period costume is impressive. The film also boasts a splendid cast, which includes Judi Dench, Michelle Pfeiffer and Johnny Depp. But a lot less splendid is their respective screen time. Aside from Branagh — who takes on the role of Poirot — all the other actors and actresses play rather insignificant parts by comparison. As Christopher Orr, senior editor and principal film critic at The Atlantic, put it bluntly, the film may be “visually sumptuous,” but the cast comprises “performers far too gifted to waste their

time like this.” Another limitation of Branagh’s film is its excess of dramatization. What Christie created as a sophisticated murder mystery has unfortunately been transformed into a sort of action-thriller film, where violence and drama are inserted wherever possible. While it is understandable that a certain amount of dramatization serves to heighten the film’s suspense, excessive violence in this situation trivializes the elegance of Christie’s work. The most vexing surprise in the film is the revelation of Poirot’s former beloved, a possibly deceased woman named Katherine, who does not make a single appearance in any of Christie’s novels. Although this was an inconsequential deviation from the plot, it was rather disconcerting and completely out of character to see Poirot periodically fawning over a photograph of this mysterious woman. Despite its cringeworthy moments, the film was aesthetically pleasing and moderately enjoyable to watch. Those unacquainted with Christie’s novel may find the film entertaining and the mystery brilliant. More devoted fans of Christie, however, would likely consider the film an unnecessary remake.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The film, based on Agatha Christie’s novel, follows world-famous detective Hercule Poirot as he investigates a murder that occurred on his train ride.

TODAY

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2017 • PAGE 5

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

h o ly t r i n i t y

SATELLITE DINING ANDREWS COMMONS

Pizza: Caprese, Chicken Ranch, Cheese JOSIAH’S

BLUE ROOM

Make Your Own Grilled Cheese, Chicken Dinner Bowl

Turkey Chili, Spinach and Feta Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup

DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH

DINNER

Tomato and Rice Soup, Roasted Broccoli, Curried Potato Salad, Golden Graham S’mores Bars

Tuscan Pork Roast, Fresh Collard Greens, Gnocchi with Sundried Tomato Alfredo, Lemon Squares

VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH

DINNER

Minestrone Soup, Beef Carnitas, Vegetable Frittata, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Flour Tortillas, Colorado Pork Chili, Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

sudoku ELI WHITE / HERALD

The men’s hockey team equaled its win total from last season with its fourth win in its ninth game this year. Three different seniors scored against the Crusaders, with Sam Lafferty ’18 notching two goals in the win.

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

“It shows a lot of promise for when we do get to the Ivy League games.” — Erica Steeves ’19, on winning the Turkey Tip-Off R

c r o s s w o rDd

See w. basketball on page 1.

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Turn over 8 Copes 15 Banned 16 “To reiterate ...” 17 *Dive, surface, dive, surface, etc.? 18 *Lab growth below sea level? 19 Item in a tent 20 French spa town 22 Some amber orders 23 Zenith 25 Syria’s Bashar al-__ 28 Lorelei, notably 30 *Underwater speaker? 34 Invite to one’s tree house 37 Wilde’s “An __ Husband” 39 At least one 40 *Story line for “The Hunt for Red October”? 41 *Hatch? 42 *Underwater lateral surface? 43 Ages 44 Bob Barker’s longtime sidekick Johnny 45 Clearance events 46 *Position on naval warfare? 48 Lose it 50 Bivouac 52 Starting lineups 56 Toll rd. 59 Nintendo ancestor 61 Caviar, e.g. 62 *Sonar reading? 65 *Message from beneath the surface? 67 In real trouble 68 Flavored, like some vodka 69 Comebacks 70 Convertible couches DOWN 1 Word for a rough date 2 Throw for __ 3 Demotion in 2006 news 4 *Scenery for “Operation Petticoat”?

5 “Uncle!” 6 More wacky 7 Util. bill item 8 Annual parade sponsor 9 Sch. with a Mesa campus 10 3,280.8 ft. 11 Sonora, por ejemplo 12 King David’s predecessor 13 Dreadful 14 Stanzas of tribute 21 How some singles play 24 Flood 26 Vacillate 27 IM provider 29 Fifth of fünf 31 Fall flat 32 German finale 33 Grains used by brewers and bakers 34 Copycats 35 One in a Vegas row 36 Hawaiian coffeegrowing district 38 Cube maker Rubik 41 Where Zeno taught

42 Nigerian-born Grammy winner 44 Mo. for many Libras 45 Fulfill 47 Must 49 Berth place 51 Leaves 53 Leave one’s seat 54 Left town, maybe 55 Feeder filler 56 Schedule abbr. 57 Skunk Le Pew

ANSW R

58 ’50s-’80s pitcher Jim “Kitty” __ 60 Hemmed in by 63 Discount tag abbr. 64 Entomologist’s tool 66 Prefix for the answers to starred clues, and word needed for those clues to make sense

O S

calendar TODAY NOVEMBER MARCH

Yaron Minsky of Jane Street Capital 2:00 P.M. CIT, 368

Bereavement Group 7:30 P.M. J. Walter Wilson, 411

Reading: Novelist Micheline Aharonian Marcom

Kesem General Body Meeting 8:00 P.M. 101 Thayer Street

5:00 P.M. McCormack Family Theater

TOMORROW

Giving Tuesday 11:00 A.M. Sayles Hall

Library FYI Workshop 3:00 P.M. Rockefeller Library, Hecker Room

Election Security Workshop 5:00 P.M. CIT, 410

Resume Writing Workshop 8:00 P.M. CareerLAB, 1st Floor

COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2017

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

EDITORIAL

GOP tax plan sets up roadblocks to graduate programs When the House, with 227 Republican votes, passed its tax bill, it vowed to cut $1.5 trillion in taxes, with many of those cuts going to the richest in our country. But the bill will increase taxes for those who can afford it the least — among those, graduate students. As The Herald reported Friday, if the House bill passes through the Senate, graduate students’ waived tuition of $50,000 per year will be treated as income. That means they will be taxed in the $80,000 tax bracket rather than on the $30,000 stipends they actually receive. As the average tax per student under the new plan is estimated to exceed $16,500, graduate students would be left with only $13,000 to live on. And after paying 12-months of rent, estimated at around $600 a month in Providence for a place near campus, they’d be left with less than $6,000 a year. Many graduate students can already barely support themselves. Lowand middle-income students struggle to enroll in graduate programs. PhD programs are often expensive — this bill would allow only the wealthiest students to pursue PhDs. That takes away from the diversity critical to a healthy academic environment. Some students who are currently pursuing PhDs may even have to end their programs, resulting in wasted money and time. Without graduate students, the research arms of America’s top universities would be decimated. Researchers would leave for international institutions, putting a big hole in much of the groundbreaking research that comes out of America and leaving us less competitive with other countries. Our country prides itself on having some of the brightest minds in the world — let’s not give them a reason to leave. Is this worth the $344 million dollars a year that this tax would bring in, especially when the plan would add over $1 trillion to our debt in the next 10 years? This bill would affect the 145,000 graduate students who currently qualify for tuition reduction — let’s give them a chance to stay in school.

P HO E B E AY R E S

comic Comic | Cehywun Firat

Editorials are written by The Herald’s 127th editorial board: Lauren Aratani ’18, Matthew Brownsword ’18, Rebecca Ellis ’18 and Katharine Talerico ’18. Send comments to opinions@browndailyherald.com.

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COMMENTARY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2017 • PAGE 7

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Sen. Al Franken: Step down JOHN METZ

op-ed contributor After Leeann Tweeden revealed that Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn, had groped and kissed her against her will during a comedy tour in 2006, many commentators wasted no time accusing Democrats of hypocrisy amid the emerging Roy Moore scandal. Too often, they were right. Far too many on the left — including some of those who most vehemently condemned Moore — have remained silent when asked about Franken. That silence, like the Senator’s behavior, is unacceptable. Now, with Lindsay Menz telling CNN that she was groped by Franken while taking a picture with him at the Minnesota State Fair in 2010, that silence is all the more deafening. Tweeden’s and Menz’s revelations seem shocking, to be sure. Franken has made a name for himself in Congress by fighting to protect and expand progressive programs from Obamacare

to the Violence Against Women Act. On the other hand, Franken’s actions are far from surprising to the millions of individuals who have grown up in a society that is far too tolerant of harassment, discrimination and sexual violence at home and in the workplace. If Democrats wish to demonstrate their dedication to women’s issues, it is critical that elected officials and voters alike urge Franken to resign.

sues, but far too many Democratic politicians have taken it for granted that they will be the beneficiaries. So far, though, many Democrats in Congress and around the country have shown that they are more willing to condemn predators in the GOP than in their own ranks. During an interview on Sunday morning, Nancy Pelosi (DCalif.) — the highest-ranking Democrat in the country — declined to con-

against their own differently from allegations against their opponents, they will have willingly ignored the realities that half of their constituents face. By responding to allegations of sexual harassment with partisan defensiveness and bickering, Democrats will reinforce a culture that silences survivors. This silence is already especially profound for marginalized groups, such as immigrants, people

But we can start by setting a positive example — by calling out sexual abuse in the other party and in our own; by electing women to offices around the country; and by listening to, and standing with, survivors. If Democrats turn a blind eye to Sen. Franken, they do so at their own risk. The year since Donald Trump — a man caught admitting to sexual assault on tape — was elected president has seen American women mobilize on an unprecedented scale. Just this past January, more than four million women turned to the streets to fight for their rights. They represent real electoral power and champion vital is-

demn accused harasser John Conyers (Mich.-13), the ranking Democratic member of the House Judiciary Committee. Pelosi’s hedging broadcast to predators in both parties, and to their victims, that Democrats are willing to turn a blind eye to self-declared progressives like Conyers and Franken. If her fellow Democratic office-holders give in to the worst impulses of political expediency by treating accusations

of color, gender-non conforming and trans people and those with disabilities. It is not enough that Democrats be better than the other side. It is not enough that we merely point out abuses in the GOP to earn the votes of the millions of Americans who every year face sexual assault, sexual abuse and sexual harassment. It is not enough that we condemn predators in the Re-

publican party while merely slapping those in our own on the wrist. It is not enough to call for an Ethics Committee investigation, even after Sen. Franken has admitted to groping an unconscious woman. It is not enough to ask for women’s votes if we do not truly represent their interests. We cannot change the country from the top down. But we can start by setting a positive example — by calling out sexual abuse in the other party and in our own; by electing women to offices around the country; and by listening to, and standing with, survivors. Sen. Franken has distinguished himself in Congress, but for the sake of the growing movement for women’s equality, it is time for him to go. As Franken steps back into his office today, we call on Democratic officeholders around the country to join us in urging Sen. Franken to step down immediately.

John Metz ’20 can be reached at john_metz@brown.edu. He is writing on behalf of the Brown Democrats.

Defining blackness in college admissions BAMI OKE staff columnist “We attend a university that is obsessed with the optics of our black and brown faces, but is indifferent to the justice we seek,” wrote Cornell University’s Black Students United. After reading that statement I thought to myself, “Don’t we all?” Most of us have heard about the Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, Brown’s attempt at increasing minority representation in the University’s faculty and student bodies. And while the plan has potential for success, perhaps its most egregious shortcoming is its failure to differentiate between students who are black and those who are African-American. Consequently, there are no provisions to ensure that historically disadvantaged black folks within the United States will receive some of the restitution that they deserve. If the University truly seeks to build a more inclusive community, then it must make an effort to acknowledge the plurality of the black experience in America. In September of this year, Black Students United, an organization for students at Cornell who identify with the African diaspora, presented a list of demands for the advancement of black and brown students. Among the most notable of these demands was a push for the admissions board to increase the presence of underrepresented black students on Cornell’s campus . The group further defined “underrepresented Black students as Black Americans who have several generations (more than two) in this country.”

I’ve often wondered how we should define blackness and who should have the power to do so. Black Students United essentially required their school’s administration to not only acknowledge that there are different types of blackness in America, but also to cater to a specific group within the larger umbrella group of black Americans. But how does one tell the difference between a black American and an African-American? The answer usually differs depending on who you talk to. In my understanding, the term African-American refers to black

that by distinguishing between different types of blackness, groups like Black Students United will only further divide black communities and undermine the goals of solidarity. However, we must dispel the common belief that policies like the DIAP and affirmative action have been successful in assisting those from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. Take a look at Brown’s campus: Many black students at this university are of direct African descent, meaning that either their parents or they themselves emigrated to the United States

If the University truly seeks to build a more inclusive community, then it must make an effort to acknowledge the plurality of the black experience in America. folks whose families have lived in the United States since the time of the Atlantic slave trade. Black American, on the other hand, can mean anyone residing in the United States who is grouped as black based on their skin color. These definitions stem from my own experiences, though, and while we could sit around for months discussing the complexity of the black identity in the United States, what good would that actually do? Most people don’t see a visual difference between an African immigrant and an African-American person descended from slavery — they just see blackness. So, some may ask, why waste our energy bickering amongst ourselves to decide who is more oppressed than whom? It seems to many

from an African country. Even more interesting is the fact that oftentimes, these students (myself included) are Nigerian. A 2014 opinions piece in the New York Times stated that although they account for less than 1 percent of America’s black population, Nigerians make up almost a quarter of all of the black students at Harvard Business School. And while only 11 percent of white Americans have a graduate degree, over a fourth of Nigerian-Americans hold that same qualification. It is important for us to realize that people of the modern African diaspora (i.e., mid20th century onwards) did not have to suffer through American slavery, Jim Crow segregation, redlining, voter suppression or any of the

other horrible circumstances under which African-Americans have lived for centuries. The sad truth is that through the “positive discrimination” policies meant to correct these atrocities, over-performing African students have benefitted at the cost of their less privileged African-American counterparts. But when the Common App asks an applicant to indicate their race, the Black/AfricanAmerican checkbox takes none of these nuances into account. The result is exactly what you see on Brown’s campus: a disproportionately large number of high-achieving (and often financially privileged) first or second generation African students, lumped together with a handful of African-American students. If affirmative action worked the way it was intended — to “end and correct the effects of a specific form of discrimination” — these statistics would surely be reversed. Until that time comes, we must begin to see blackness for what it is: an arbitrary concept invented for the convenience of white supremacists. On top of that, we must also begin to see blackness for what it can become. Blackness as I’ve known it can be a movement, a musical genre, a death sentence, a community, a blessing and a curse. There is no one way to be black — blackness is beautiful because it has no limits. Therefore, we deserve to be seen by the University not as a collective group that needs saving, but as unique individuals, each with our own personal struggles, surviving and thriving in a world that constantly tries to box us in.

Bami Oke ’20 can be reached at bamidele_oke@brown.edu.

NEWS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2017

BUGS’ ‘Pippin’ carves out its own ‘corner of the sky’ Musical, directed by Ahmed Ashour ’19, stays true to original show’s extravagant theatricality By ANNABELLE WOODWARD STAFF WRITER

Brown University Gilbert and Sullivan, a student-led theater group, produced a jazzy, intimate take on the acclaimed Broadway musical “Pippin” that left audiences wide-eyed at the cast’s ability to remain animated throughout the show’s whirlwind of campy choral chaos. The musical, directed by Ahmed Ashour ’19, ran for four days from Nov. 17 to 20. It followed a romantic, introspective young prince, Pippin, played by Jake Polinksy ’20, on an epic quest to find existential fulfillment,

or, in his words, a “corner of the sky.” Pippin’s aspirations for greatness are regularly thwarted by his cruel, cheeky father King Charlemagne (Kevin Madoian ’19), his meddling stepmother Fastrada (Julia Moore ’21 and Annalie Brody ’20) and his “strong and stupid” stepbrother Lewis (Elias Solis ’21), whose sociopathic tendencies make him better suited for the errands of feudal lordship than Pippin, the rightful heir to his father’s throne. The most dynamic character in the ensemble was the flirtatious, scantily clad “Leading Player,” played by Brendan George ’18, who served as the musical’s spiritual coxswain, guiding the audience

through the narrative and taking the helm of its many songs and dances. The show was accompanied by the booming 21-person Shadow Orchestra led by musical director and Herald staff writer Shayna Toh ’20. According to Ashour’s note to the audience, the cast intended to offer “a more raw perspective (of Pippin) than the glitzy Broadway revival.” Gilbert and Sullivan’s interpretation did a masterful job of staying true to the show’s extravagant theatricality while keeping its content emotionally accessible. Though Polinksy’s lackadaisical, mild-mannered portrayal of Pippin at times made the protagonist seem disengaged, the actors overall did a fabulous job embodying characters that were truly invested in their fates and

relationships, regardless of the plot’s frequent tacks toward absurdity. The punchlines — often barbed critiques of religion, capitalism and oppressive institutions — were well executed, and though the script was saturated with sexual innuendo, the crude humor never grew stale. Madoian and Talia Brenner ’19 deserve special mention for outstanding acting and dance, and George’s performance merits acclaim usually reserved for Broadway professionals. While Pippin was by and large a success, technical shortcomings occasionally thwarted its coherency, an inevitable repercussion of staging a fully orchestrated musical in the acoustically ill-equipped Alumnae Hall. Between the 21-person orchestra and

the heavily-amplified singing, you occasionally had to fight the instinct to muffle your ears, and certain major plot points were lost in the clamor of instrumentals. All earaches aside, the show was so teeming with the oft-mentioned libidinous “magic” that the audience stayed engaged throughout. The wild-eyed players often frolicked through the aisles and addressed audience members, asking them to turn to certain pages in their playbills or inviting them to sing along. Perhaps most amusing was when the show broke the fourth wall with ironic humor, such as when King Charlemagne declared, “Now we sack and pillage!” then winked at the audience and added, “We also have to sing. That’s absolutely essential.”

M. BASKETBALL

Anderson ’20 lifts Bears over LIU Brooklyn with career day Guard’s career-high 24 points helps Bruno close out Blackbirds in home game Saturday By BEN SHUMATE SPORTS EDITOR

The men’s basketball team stayed active during its holiday break, returning home to face Long Island University at Brooklyn Saturday at the Pizzitola Sports Center. After a midweek road loss to Stony Brook University, the Bears used a second half push to defend their home court, ousting the Blackbirds in a high-scoring affair, 94-86. Brandon Anderson ’20 led Brown (4-2, 0-0 Ivy) with a career-high 24 points. Coming off the bench,

Anderson made his impact felt by getting to the free-throw line, where he sunk 14 of 16 attempts. He is averaging 20.2 points per game early in the season, second in the Ivy League behind only Cornell’s Matt Morgan. The Bears jumped out to an early 20-9 lead, taking advantage of sloppy play by the Blackbirds (2-5) which resulted in six turnovers in the first nine minutes of play. Trailing by as many as 12 points with five minutes to play in the half, LIU used hot shooting to climb back into the game. While LIU shot 6-of-12 from three in the first

20 minutes, including a 3-for-3 effort from guard Julian Batts, Brown hit just one of eight attempts early on. Raiquan Clark also gave the Bears trouble in the first half, scoring 16 points of his 26 total in the first 20 minutes. Batts hit a three-pointer to give the Blackbirds a three-point lead, its biggest of the half, with under a minute to play. But a pair of free throws by Desmond Cambridge ’21 pulled Brown within a point heading into the locker room, as the score stood at 48-47. After Travis Fuller ’19 put in a layup off an assist from Cambridge, Brown took a 51-50 lead just over a minute into the second half. The Bears wouldn’t give back the lead for the rest

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of the contest. The hot outside shooting that brought the Blackbirds back into the game cooled off markedly after the break, as the team shot just 14 percent from three and 42 percent from the field in the second half. For Brown, a balanced offensive effort helped the team to an identical 47-point output in the second half, which proved to be more than enough to close out the cold-shooting Blackbirds. Starters Obi Okolie ’19, Zach Hunsaker ’20 and Cambridge each contributed seven points to go along with 11 in the half from Anderson. In total, Brown shot 53 percent from the field in the half and 56 percent

overall in the contest. Fuller hauled in six second-half boards on his way to his first double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 total rebounds. Head Coach Mike Martin ’04 continued Brown’s early trend of spreading playing time around to younger players, as Tamenang Choh ’21 made his first career start alongside his classmate Cambridge, while Matt DeWolf ’21 logged 15 minutes off the bench. Brown followed up Saturday’s win with an 81-67 road triumph over instate rival Bryant University Sunday night. The team will continue nonconference play with another Ocean State foe, travling to Kingston to face URI Tuesday night.