SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019
VOLUME CLIII, ISSUE 20
WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
Men’s basketball earns Ivy League weekend sweep U. student
wins Oscar for documentary short
Bears move into fourthplace tie with two victories, will face off against Columbia Friday By RYAN HANDEL
Film follows Indian women fighting stigma around menstruation by distributing supplies
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The men’s basketball team earned crucial victories over Harvard and Dartmouth this weekend, drawing the Bears closer to an Ivy League tournament berth. The win over Harvard Friday was the Bears’ first victory against the Crimson in 20 matchups spanning almost ten years. A 68-65 triumph over Dartmouth Saturday coupled with a Cornell loss put Bruno in a fourth-place tie with the Big Red in the Ancient Eight standings. With just four regular season games remaining on Brown’s schedule and the top four teams advancing to the Ivy League tournament, the conference weekend sweep put the team in prime position to seize a spot in the bracket. Brown’s season-long scoring leader Desmond Cambridge ’21 paced the team against Harvard (14-9, 7-3 Ivy), pouring in 30 points on 11-21
M. BASKETBALL
By ELISE RYAN ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
ANDREW DING / HERALD
Desmond Cambridge ’21 drives to the hoop in a home win against the Dartmouth Big Green. The Bears pulled off two Ivy League victories this weekend, winning against Harvard 88-79 and Dartmouth 68-65. shooting. Against Dartmouth (1115, 2-8), it was Brandon Anderson ’20 leading the charge, coming off the bench to put up a career-high 21 points. Tamenang Choh ’21 also posted a strong performance Saturday night, recording a double-double as
well as a highlight-reel dunk near the end of the first half. “(Obi Okolie ’19 and Anderson) were great and led the way, but up and down the lineup guys contributed,” said Head Coach Mike Martin ’04. Despite struggling with slow starts
earlier in the season, the Bears (17-9, 5-5) came out hot against the Crimson. After Harvard took a 3-2 lead in the opening minutes, Bruno led for the remainder of the game. Brown raced out to a 21-12 edge with the help of » See M. BBALL, page 2
In just twenty-five minutes, the student-produced Oscar-winning short documentary “Period. End of Sentence.” draws attention to a global problem — the lack of access to supplies for and education about menstruation. “Period. End of Sentence” won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject at the 91st Academy Awards yesterday. “I can’t believe a documentary about menstruation just won an Oscar!” director Rayka Zehtabchi said through tears as she took to the stage. » See PERIOD, page 4
ARTS & CULTURE
U. students organize Bears shut out Big Green 2-0 on road for Beto O’Rourke Brown for Beto holds event to discuss potential O’Rourke presidential candidacy By DYLAN CLARK SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Despite the already packed field of candidates vying for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, a group on campus is intent on one person joining the fray. Brown for Beto held an event at 85 Waterman this past Saturday that drew a crowd of roughly 30 students and community members to discuss the potential candidacy of former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke. O’Rourke, who narrowly lost a Senate bid against Texas Senator Ted Cruz in 2018, has said he would decide at the end of this month whether he will fight for the nomination. The event was supported by two national organizations, Draft Beto and Draft Beto 2020, that have focused their resources on encouraging the former representative to join the race. “What the (Democratic) Party needs
METRO
COURTESY OF BROWN ATHLETICS
Goaltender Luke Kania ’21 made 30 saves against Dartmouth Saturday, earning his first shutout of the season and second of his career. Bruno closes out the regular season against Princeton and Quinnipiac this weekend.
30 saves from Kania ’21, goals from Marchin ’19, Schoo ’19 fuel Bruno to victory over Dartmouth By ALEXANDRA RUSSELL SPORTS EDITOR
This weekend, the men’s hockey team took its final road trip of the regular season, paying visits to Ivy rivals No. 17 Harvard and Dartmouth. The Bears fell
to the Crimson 4-2 Friday but bounced back the following night in Hanover to earn a 2-0 shutout victory over the Big Green. Tommy Marchin ’19 led the Bears with a goal and a pair of assists over the weekend. Goaltender Luke Kania ’21 made 30 saves against Dartmouth for his first clean slate of the season and second of his career. The results came after Bruno drew
M. HOCKEY
a pair of contests against No. 9 Cornell and Colgate University at home last week. The Bears are currently tied for sixth place in the ECAC with the Big Green, with two games remaining before playoffs open in March. Brown 2, Harvard 4 Friday night, the Bears (11-11-5, 8-7-5 ECAC) jumped out to an early lead with a pair of power play goals in the first period, but the Crimson » See M. HOCKEY, page 3
WEATHER
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019
COMMENTARY Thomas ’21: Legacy, significance of Black History Month continues to grow, evolve
COMMENTARY Meszaros GS: U. should bridge divide between arts, sciences by promoting STEAM education
SPORTS Men’s lacrosse loses to Stony Brook University despite fourthquarter comeback effort
PAGE 7
PAGE 7
BACK
Read Join
INSIDE
now more than ever is a sense of hope and energy,” said attendee Samuel Waxman ’19.5. Waxman said that while policy matters, the ability to generate energy and excitement in voters is a valuable political tool. “He was able to draw people in who had not been engaged in the political system before,” said Emma Caviness ’19, a co-host for the event, referencing the increase in registered voters in Texas prior to the 2018 general election. O’Rourke’s ability to fire up voters is “very unique,” Caviness added. Another attendee, Joshua Neronha ’22, believes that O’Rourke has the rare opportunity to flip a traditionally red state like Texas. “If we’re going to get into the nitty gritty on electoral prospects, putting Texas on the map, even in a semi-tossup category … provides a really interesting jumping-off point for a campaign,” he said. The event, though targeted toward those in the University community, attracted others from the area. Geoffrey LaForce, a graduate student at Northeastern University and a Rhode Island native, attended the event in a “Draft Beto” shirt. LaForce said O’Rourke has » See BETO, page 3
TODAY
TOMORROW
36/ 20
30 /12
The Herald browndailyherald.com/join herald@browndailyherald.com
SPORTS
PAGE 2 • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019
» M. BBALL, from page 1 two Cambridge three-pointers and carried that momentum into a 37-27 halftime lead. Harvard’s Noah Kirkwood, who finished the night with 28 points despite coming off the bench, helped keep the Crimson in the game. Kirkwood put up 10 points in the first four minutes of the second half to cut the Bears’ lead to two. Brown responded
with a run of their own to extend the lead back to 10, but each time the Bears tried to pull away the Crimson would draw close again. Eventually, a Kirkwood layup with 1:04 left pulled Harvard within just three, but a crucial layup by Matt DeWolf ’21 and accurate free-throw shooting from Anderson sealed the 88-79 win. The contest against Dartmouth was close throughout, with neither team ever jumping out to a
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
double-digit advantage. The Bears and the Big Green tussled for the lead, with Dartmouth pulling ahead 27-20 during the first half. But an 11-0 Brown run capped by an and-one dunk from Choh through contact put Bruno in the driver’s seat. A long three from Dartmouth’s James Foye cut Brown’s lead to just 31-30 heading into halftime. Brown again struggled out of the halftime break, as Dartmouth
immediately took a 41-33 lead, the largest advantage of the game for either squad. Still, the Bears clawed back into the game with a 15-7 run to tie the score at 48 with 10 minutes remaining. Clutch free throw shooting down the stretch helped Brown take the lead and remain in front, as Bruno finished the game 22-27 on free throw shooting. A Foye three-pointer drew Dartmouth within one point of Brown with 1:14 remaining, but Anderson made seven
free throws in the final 67 seconds to give Brown the 68-65 win. The Bears shut down Dartmouth star Brendan Barry, a 46.1 percent three-point shooter, and held him to just 1-6 from beyond the arc. The defensive effort of Okolie, who guarded Barry for much of the game, was central to Bruno’s win. “(Okolie) was just relentless, hounding (Barry),” Martin said. “We have a team full of great defenders, but
NEWS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019 • PAGE 3
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
SARA RUNKEL / HERALD
On Saturday, students and community members gathered for the “Brown for Beto” event as part of a national grassroots movement to encourage the presidential candidacy of former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke.
» BETO, from page 1 qualities reminiscent of former President Barack Obama. “There’s this charisma, there’s this relatability, and I think that’s what people respond to,” he said. Both Draft Beto movements were instrumental in supplying organizational and logistical resources for the Brown for Beto event, said Ben Martel ’19, who co-hosted the event alongside Caviness. The event hosts set the tone of the event with songs like Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next,” David Bowie’s “Changes” and a Willie Nelson song played at a rally for O’Rourke titled “Vote ‘Em Out.” Caviness and Martel then explained the goals for both of the Draft Beto movements and why they support O’Rourke. While Draft Beto has a broader approach, Draft Beto 2020 is focused on establishing support in “New Hampshire and Iowa” and other “early states,” Martel said. Collectively, the two groups intend to build a national grassroots movement for O’Rourke by creating email lists,
» M. HOCKEY, from page 1
(Okolie) is our leader and he’s been our stopper.” “(Barry) is a good player, obviously a really good three-point shooter,” Okolie said. “I was just trying to run him off the line.” The victory over Dartmouth finished off Brown’s first Ivy League weekend sweep since 2014. “We just emphasized this morning in shootarounds, how we were going to respond (after beating Harvard),”
Anderson said. “Do we want to be a team that just wins one big game, or do we want to reach our goals?” Next weekend, Brown will take on Columbia and Cornell in two all-important matchups. Victories in those two games would place Bruno in contention for a playoff position. The contests will also be the Bears’ final two games at the Pizzitola Sports Center, and the Cornell game will serve as their Senior Night.
(16-8-3, 12-6-2) scored four times in the final two periods to secure the victory in Cambridge. Zach Giuttari ’20 opened scoring on the power play midway through the opening frame, firing a shot from in front of the blue line past Crimson goaltender Cameron Gornet. Chris Berger ’21 found the back of the net six minutes later, redirecting a feed from Marchin in the right circle to double Bruno’s lead and increase his goal streak to five games. Though the Bears continued to pressure the Harvard net in the final two periods, the Crimson were able to break through the team’s defense and mount a comeback. Lewis Zerter-Gossage put Harvard on the board three minutes into the second stanza, before Reilly Walsh capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play late in the frame to send the teams into the third period tied at two. Nathan Krusko reclaimed the lead for the Crimson early in the third, scoring a wraparound goal at the two-minute mark. John Marino added another tally to secure the victory for Harvard late in the stanza. The Bears pulled Kania for an extra skater in the final two minutes, but the Crimson were able to fend off the attack. Brown 2, Dartmouth 0 The following day, goals from Marchin and Brady Schoo ’19 and a 30-save performance from Kania fueled
building a strong social media presence, raising $1 million to support O’ Rourke and planning phone banking efforts in New Hampshire if O’Rourke announces his run. “It turned out to be a little bit harder than expected because people don’t really want to give money to someone who’s not even running yet,” Martel added. But these efforts seek to convince O’Rourke to run and show him that there is a large group of excited young supporters ready to help his campaign, Martel and Caviness said. Brown for Beto’s organizing and support for O’Rourke currently separates them from several other politicallyoriented student groups. The Brown College Democrats, Brown Republicans and the Brown Political Action Committee have not begun to mobilize for 2020. “Our organizing for 2020 has been pretty much nonexistent,” said Zoë Mermelstein ’21, speaker and events coordinator for the Brown College Democrats. The College Democrats do plan
on participating in get-out-the-vote and voter education initiatives. Though the College Democrats are not allowed to endorse any candidates prior to the election, “we try to make all … opportunities to support Democratic candidates available,” Mermelstein said. The Brown Republicans face similar circumstances. “We haven’t really discussed (the 2020 election) at all,” said Nicholas Guarino ’19, co-president of the Brown Republicans. The group doesn’t plan on diving into the 2020 elections until next semester, Guarino said. The Brown Progressive Action Committee is also staying out of the 2020 race for the time being. “We’re really focused on this current legislative session. We really focus on taking action here and now,” said Jenna Israel ’21, co-chair of BPAC. In addition, the group has yet to develop an official endorsement policy. “We’re excited to see groups forming to support progressive candidates, but we’re really hoping they use their platforms to highlight local progressive action.”
Bruno to its second shutout victory of the season. The win completed a season sweep over the Big Green (10-13-4, 9-8-3), following a 4-2 victory over Dartmouth at home Nov. 9. The Bears pressured the Dartmouth net from the drop of the puck, outshooting the Big Green 11-8 in a scoreless first period. Marchin put Bruno on the board eight and a half minutes into the second stanza, capitalizing on a power play opportunity to take the lead. Tristan Crozier ’22 sent a pass to the left circle, where Marchin blasted a one-timer past Dartmouth netminder Adrian Clark. Schoo widened the Bears’ advantage seven minutes into the final frame, finishing off a rebound after Clark made the initial save on a shot from Marchin. Dartmouth pulled Clark with just over two minutes remaining, but Kania denied a bid from Big Green forward Drew O’Connor with a catcher save to preserve the shutout. “Our defensemen just had really good gaps and kept the shots out, out towards the boards and out to the outside for me, so it allowed me to make some simple saves,” Kania said. “Our forwards were backchecking and blocking a lot of shots, so it just made my job a lot easier. The guys played a really good, sound game … We just clicked really well on Saturday night and found a way to win.” The Bears’ three power play goals over the weekend account for a quarter of their power play goals so far this season.
Increasing production on the power play has been an ongoing focus and recent success for the team, Schoo said. “We made a couple personnel changes on the power play to kind of change up the groups, and I think that’s been helping us a lot,” he said. “If we can start producing more on the power play like we have been for the last three weeks or so, … it’s going to really help us down the stretch and hopefully turn some games into wins instead of losses or ties.” “We all knew that we had the skill and the guys and the personnel to have a successful power play, and it was just a matter of putting guys in the right spots and giving them good opportunities,” Kania said. “It’s coming together right now and it’s a perfect time going into playoffs … so the guys are going keep working on it and keep it rolling.” Bruno returns home to close out the regular season with a pair of contests against Princeton and No. 5 Quinnipiac University this weekend. Looking to its recent successes as a source of optimism, the team remains focused and poised entering the postseason. “We’re definitely a different team than we’ve had at Brown in the past, so it’s going to be really exciting to see where we go in the playoffs,” Schoo said. “I think we can do something really special here, and we have the right guys to really make a good run at hopefully an ECAC title.” The Bears host Princeton and Quinnipiac at Meehan Auditorium this weekend.
NEWS
PAGE 4 • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
COURTESY OF NETFLIX
The documentary, “Period. End of Sentence.” directed by Rayka Zehtabchi, opens dialogue around stigma of menstruation in Hapur district, India. It follows the installation of a low-cost sanitary pad manufacturing machine in the district, providing 600 pads per day.
» PERIOD, from page 1 Charlotte Silverman ’22 and her peers joined the director and high school teacher and advisor Molly Berton on the Dolby Theater stage to accept the award. To the women featured in the film, the director said that she “know(s) that you are empowering women all over the world to fight for menstrual equality.” Silverman is an executive producer of the documentary, alongside several other students from her high school student group, which founded a nonprofit called The Pad Project aimed at reducing the stigma women face for menstruation. Funds raised by the students catalyzed the creation of the documentary short, which was originally intended as an educational tool. Set in the rural Hapur district of India, the film, with subtitles translating from Hindi to English, opens with a series of women young and old responding to the question: what is a period? “Period?” one asks, eliciting a chorus of giggles from the group of young women that surround her. “Say it!” a girl chants. In the next clip, a young woman responds through laughter, “I know what it is, but I feel embarrassed.” Older women answer more seriously, but with similar hesitation. “This is something only God knows. It’s bad blood which comes out,” one says. The director asks a group of young men if they are familiar with the term “period.” They stare blankly, shaking their heads in disagreement as one responds, “like a class period?” When prompted with the word
“menstruation,” the boys nod. “It’s a kind of illness, right?” one says. “It mostly affects ladies,” another adds. This opening provides context for the film, revealing the persistent stigma toward menstruation in the Hapur district. As the documentary continues, it follows the women of the district as a low-cost sanitary pad manufacturing machine is installed in the village Kathikhera. For these women, the newfound technology to create thousands of sanitary products — previously unobtainable or considered a luxury by women in the area — brings about the chance to participate in a microeconomy by producing and then selling the pads, which cost about five cents each to make. Both the machine’s installation and the documentary’s creation resulted from The Pad Project, which was created by students at the Oakwood School in Los Angeles. The seeds of the project were planted in 2013, when students and English teacher Berton, lead producer on the film, began to consider the stigma and challenges women face globally after she and some students visited a United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Berton then introduced the discussion around stigma faced by women across the world to the school’s chapter of Girls Learn International. Silverman joined the club within two weeks of arriving at Oakwood as a sophomore, when the club was “working on pad and tampon drives for women’s shelters and youth shelters” in the area, she said. After Berton’s visit to the UN, the group decided to
focus their efforts around the work of Arunachalam Muruganantham, who invented a manual, user-friendly machine that produces sanitary products. Partnering with Action India, a nonprofit based in New Delhi, “We made it a goal to purchase that machine,” Silverman said. As the students fundraised through bake sales, a yoga-thon and Kickstarter campaigns, Action India selected “the area that was in the most demand, … (as well as) specific women who wanted it in their area and people that wanted to work on the machine.” In the documentary, viewers witness women ripping pieces of cotton from a large roll and then blending the material before piling the softened cotton into rectangular molds. More women cut and align a covering for the cotton, while others paint adhesive onto each pad. While some women and girls in the film are encountering sanitary products for the first time, for others, this is simply the first time discussing sanitary products feels acceptable. One of the strongest presences in the film is Sneha, a young woman who aspires to be on the Delhi police force. “We aren’t encouraged to work or become independent,” she says, emphasizing her wish to join the police force “to save (herself) from marriage.” “We wanted the machine to produce pads that would reach girls in the area and surrounding areas,” Silverman said, noting that the team was aware that they could not simply send products and assume they were being helpful. “Our goal was to kind of really work to create a … (female-driven) micro-economy.” In the documentary, as Sneha works towards
pursuing her career on the police force, she participates in the business. Silverman and her peers raised enough funds to provide initial wages to women working the pad machine, to allow the business time to get off the ground. Now, despite challenges in finding a reliable source of electricity for the machine and combating lasting stigma, the women produce 600 pads per day, Silverman said, with their sights set on increasing production to 800. The pads are called “Fly Pads” — a name chosen because of the women’s hope that their products will help women soar toward their goals, the film explains. Zehtabchi was a recent graduate of the University of Southern California film school when she was approached by Oakwood parents about joining students on the project. In an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Zehtabchi said she “was totally moved and wanted to jump in. … I felt like we were all on the same wavelength.” After earning many accolades on the film festival circuit, “Period. End of Sentence.” was nominated for the Oscar for Best Documentary Short, alongside “End Game” co-executive produced by Jim Mittelberger ’78 P’13, as The Herald previous reported. The Oakwood students did not expect critical acclaim when they first imagined producing a video to raise awareness about the global problem. “The goal was to make a film as an educational tool to give people knowledge about this issue,” Silverman said. The film was released on Netflix earlier this month and has since been shared by numerous public figures and
reviewed by various media outlets. Silverman said both the film’s reception and the Oscar nomination have been “mind-blowing,” because “having so many people relate to it, or feel inspired by it, is incredibly empowering. … It makes me think that this is just the beginning of the project.” Silverman and her peers, teacher and the filmmakers attended the Oscars Sunday, along with many of the women prominently featured in the film, including Sneha. “I never thought I would go to America. Even now I can’t fully process what’s happening. For me, the nomination itself is an award,” Sneha told BBC News, continuing, “It’s a dream that I’m dreaming with my eyes open.” The Los Angeles Times reported that since the film’s completion, two more low-cost sanitary pad machines have been installed and about 40 other schools have reached out to Oakwood about partnering with The Pad Project. “We’re looking to make (a) global network of activists come together around this issue,” Silverman said. She and her peers visited India in March of last year to meet with the Action India team and the women of Kathikhera. “It is like two full time jobs,” Silverman said about her continued involvement with the project while a student at Brown. The team remains in contact with Action India and hopes to reach more students in India and the United States as they raise funds to install more machines and raise awareness. “We’re talking about how to … keep this little revolution going,” she said.
TODAY
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019 • PAGE 5
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
menu
c a e s a r a u g u s t u s wat c h e s o v e r t h e r at t y
SATELLITE DINING ANDREWS COMMONS
Pho Bar, Grinder JOSIAH’S
BLUE ROOM
Grilled Portobello Mushroom, Cobb Salad, Turkey Burger
B-Y-O Grain Bowl Tom’s Bao Bao
DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH
DINNER
Sticky BBQ Grilled Chicken, Fagioli Soup, Cobb Salad Bar
Turkey Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie, Eggplant and Peppers with Cheese Ravioli
VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH
DINNER
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Five Cheeses, Chickpea Shawarma, Moroccan Beans with Raisins
Kimchi Vegetable Fried Rice, Vietnamese Style Chicken Cutlet, Taqueria
sudoku
VICTORIA YIN / HERALD
Originally situated in front of Rhode Island Hall, the one-armed statue of Caesar Augustus now looks over Wriston Quadrangle. The statue of Caesar lost his arm during the hurricane of 1938.
Q U O T E O F T H E D AY
RELEASE DATE– Friday, January 25, 2013
Los Angeles Times Puzzle c r o sDaily s w oCrossword rd Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 Fair share, maybe 5 Polite denial 11 Pro-__ 14 Arch type 15 Commensurate (with) 16 Soaked 17 Cry from a duped investor? 19 Brother 20 “I” strain? 21 Where to find Ducks and Penguins: Abbr. 22 Eyes 24 Cry just before dozing off? 28 Eschewed the backup group 31 Mrs. Gorbachev 32 Influence 33 Took in 37 Lab medium 38 Thinking out loud, in a way 40 Farm father 41 Anthem fortifications 43 Cupidʼs boss 44 Free 45 Dog named for the bird it hunted, familiarly 46 Cry from a superfan? 50 Hose 51 Dig in 52 John, Paul and George, but not Ringo: Abbr. 55 Electees 56 Cry from a Jeddah native? 61 Iron __ 62 Troubled state 63 Vronskyʼs lover, in Tolstoy 64 “Balderdash!” 65 Some aces 66 Kid DOWN 1 Clintonʼs birthplace 2 Bug-eyed 3 Jay related to a peacock?
4 Casbah headgear 5 Had a little something 6 Frère de la mère 7 Dent, say 8 Big lug 9 Travel org. since 1902 10 “Captain Kangaroo” character who told knock-knock jokes 11 Really bad 12 Haggard of country music 13 Flight part 18 Ocean-bay connector 23 Someone to admire 24 Grouch 25 Sung approval? 26 Prison area 27 Bring on board 28 Injury reminder 29 ʼ70s Olympics name 30 Good earth 34 Pixie dust leaver, to Peter 35 Deco designer
36 Beloved 38 Uffizi hangings 39 Hubbub 42 Pays to play 43 Into a state of decline 45 Ocean borders 46 Patch plant 47 Rockʼs __ Boingo 48 Start 49 One may follow a casing
52 Trig function 53 XXX, at times 54 Three-handed game 57 Singer DiFranco 58 Bookmarked item nowadays 59 “Gloria in Excelsis __” 60 British rule in colonial India
“Even now I can’t fully process what’s happening. For me, the nomination itself is an award. It’s a dream that
”
I’m dreaming with my eyes open.
— Sneha, from “Period. End of Sentence. “
See period on page 1
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
C L A R I F I C AT I O N The Feb. 5 article titled “Professor, students help to preserve Cofán language” quoted Hugo Lucitante ’19 as saying that “There’s no place where we have documented information about our people, so to have Brown to sponsor that was incredible.” In fact, Lucitante meant to say “There’s no place where we have (archived) information” in one place, so “to have Brown sponsor that was incredible.” The Herald regrets the error.
xwordeditor@aol.com
calendar
01/25/13
TODAY
FEBRUARY
S
3
M
4
T
5
W
6
Th
7
F
S
1
2
8
9
Racism or Gluten: Why do I feel this way? 9:00 A.M. Sarah Doyle Women’s Center
Black History Month Student Reception 9:30 A.M. 121 S. Main Street
What Would a Great Economist Do? 12:00 P.M. Joukowsky Forum
Annual Anita Glass Memorial Lecture 5:30 P.M. List Art Center, 120
TOMORROW
By Kurt Krauss (c)2013 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
01/25/13
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Out for Lunch: Truth About Trans Healh 12:00 P.M. Faunce, LGBTQ Center
Royce Fellowship Information Session 12:00 P.M. Watson Institute, 112
The Rise of Conservative Subjectivity in Brazil 12:00 P.M. Joukowsky Forum
Rose Bsheer - Yemen’s Forgotten Wars 5:00 P.M. 280 Brook Street, 101
COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Income Inequality and Social Mobility: Data Meets Policy in Providence
a discussion featuring JORGE O. ELORZA
Mayor of Providence
JOHN FRIEDMAN
Professor, Department of Economics and Watson Institute for International and 3XEOLF $LJDLUV
moderated by CHRISTINA PAXSON
President
Monday, March 4, 2019 | 4-5:30 p.m. *UDQRLJ &HQWHU IRU WKH &UHDWLYH $UWV Martinos Auditorium 154 Angell Street
Tickets available
incomeinequalityandsocialmobility.eventbrite.com
6SRQVRUHG E\ WKH -DPHV 0 DQG &DWKOHHQ ' 6WRQH Wealth and Income Inequality Project
Find us online! facebook.com/browndailyherald
browndailyherald.com
@the_herald
Location: 195 Angell St., Providence, R.I. www.browndailyherald.com
@browndailyherald
youtube.com/browndailyherald
Editorial Leadership
Sections
Multimedia & Production
Business
Editor-in-Chief Emily Davies
Arts & Culture Editors Elise Ryan Annabelle Woodward
Design Editors Kyle Cui Bilal Ismail Ahmed Dylan Tian Julie Wang
General Managers Ravi Betzig Nicholas Masiakowski
Managing Editors Anna Kramer Priyanka Podugu Senior Editors Anita Sheih Sarah Wang
Metro Editors Colleen Cronin Sophie Culpepper Celia Hack
Editorial Page Editors Grace Layer Krista Stapleford
News Editors Katherine Bennett Jacob Lockwood Melanie Pincus Allie Reed
post- magazine Editor-in-Chief Anita Sheih
Science & Research Editors Cate Ryan Chris Schutte Sports Editors Alexandra Russell Alex Smolar COMMENTARY Opinions Editors Rebecca Aman Emily Miller Derek Simshauser
Head Photo Editors Tiffany Ding Benjamin Turuño Copy Desk Chief Kelley Tackett Illustrations Editor Daphne Zhao Video Editor Victoria Caruso Max Dekle Graphics Editor Sarah Martinez
Office Manager Diane Silvia Directors Sales: Bersabel Yifru Finance: Rudra Srivastava, Reynaldo Blandon Strategy: Edwin Farley
Editorial contact: 401-351-3372 herald@browndailyherald.com
Advertising contact: 401-351-3372 advertising@browndailyherald.com
Submissions: The Brown Daily Herald publishes submissions in the form of op-eds and letters to the editor. Op-eds are typically between 750 and 1000 words, though we will consider submissions between 500 and 1200 words. Letters to the editor should be around 250 words. While letters to the editor respond to an article or column that has appeared in The Herald, op-eds usually prompt new discussions on campus or frame new arguments about current discourse. All submissions to The Herald cannot have been previously published elsewhere (in print or online — including personal blogs and social media), and they must be exclusive to The Herald. Submissions must include no more than two individual authors. If there are more than two original authors, The Herald can acknowledge the authors in a statement at the end of the letter or op-ed, but the byline can only include up to two names. The Herald will not publish submissions authored by groups. The Herald does not publish anonymous submissions. If you feel your circumstances prevent you from submitting an op-ed or letter with your name, please email herald@browndailyherald.com to explain your situation. You can submit op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com and letters to letters@browndailyherald.com. When you email your submission, please include (1) your full name, (2) an evening or mobile phone number in case your submission is chosen for publication and (3) any affiliation with Brown University or any institution or organization relevant to the content of your submission. Please send in submissions at least 24 hours in advance of your desired publication date. The Herald only publishes submissions while it is in print. The Herald reserves the right to edit all submissions. If your piece is considered for publication, an editor will contact you to discuss potential changes to your submission. Commentary: The editorial is the majority opinion of the editorial page board of The Brown Daily Herald. The editorial viewpoint does not necessarily reflect the views of The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. Columns, letters and comics reflect the opinions of their authors only. Corrections: The Brown Daily Herald is committed to providing the Brown University community with the most accurate information possible. Corrections may be submitted up to seven calendar days after publication. Advertising: The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. reserves the right to accept or decline any advertisement at its discretion. The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. is a financially independent, nonprofit media organization bringing you The Brown Daily Herald, BlogDailyHerald and Post- Magazine. The Brown Daily Herald has served the Brown University community daily since 1891. It is published Monday through Friday during the academic year, excluding vacations, once during Commencement and once during Orientation by The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. Single copy free for each member of the community. Subscription prices: $200 one year daily, $100 one semester daily. Copyright 2019 by The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. All rights reserved. Periodicals postage paid at Providence, R.I. Postmaster: Please send corrections to P.O. Box 2538, Providence, RI 02906.
COMMENTARY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019 • PAGE 7
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Breaking down the art, STEM divide E.L. MESZAROS staff columnist Universities function as conduits for insular communities — your cohort, the other people in your concentration, your housemates and others. The further you commit to one course of study and the deeper you dive into a particular field, the more insulated these communities can become. While heavy specialization is critical for furthering academic research, so too is interdisciplinary work and collaboration. Actively bridging the divide between these isolated communities and creating opportunities to break down academic barriers all together is critical for students. Breaking down barriers ensures students’ later success and opens new opportunities for discovery in academia. Bridging the gap between art and science fits into a larger trend of STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math — education that returns art to its place among the STEM fields. This division between studies of science and studies of art or the humanities has a lengthy history. Since C.P. Snow’s influential “Two Cultures” lecture in 1959, which describes the sciences and the humanities as two different cultures, educators have debated the nature of the relationship between art and science.
Thus, our education system has long been divided. Recent focus on STEM has accentuated this divide. Many have called to increase student engagement in STEM fields, including the Obama White House. More locally, the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation offers a fellowship to defray student loan repayments for those who choose to major in STEM fields and work in Rhode Island. Because high-
students become critical thinkers, better writers and engage their creativity. More than that, the university experience shouldn’t be about making the maximum amount of money immediately after matriculation. While preparing students for jobs is important, limiting our educational experiences through the artificial art and science division doesn’t prepare students for the workplace. In fact, many companies now actively look to
disciplinary work and a method for showcasing it to the greater community is critical for furthering an emphasis on STEAM. To that end, Brown is well-positioned to offer students opportunities for STEAM education. Nearby RISD led the push for including the arts (as well as the humanities and the social sciences) in STEM education. Brown students collaborating with RISD students through projects and clubs have the
Actively bridging the divide between these isolated communities and creating opportunities to break down academic barriers all together is critical for students.
schoolers have little choice in their curriculum, college students face the brunt of this pressure to pursue STEM. Faced with the choice of selecting brand new classes and disciplines, first years are told to concentrate in STEM fields, at the expense of the arts, in order to make money. This emphasis on STEM wrongfully devalues humanities and further inhibits any intersection between the two silos. Humanities courses help
hire people with backgrounds in both the humanities and STEM fields. Futhermore, breaking down this divide allows for innovative problem-solving techniques. For example, playing with new ways of communicating research advancements through design is especially important in the digital age and can contribute to further funding opportunities. Providing a platform for inter-
opportunity to engage with STEAM at its origin, benefiting from years of experience and additional resources available to them through RISD. But there are also many ways to engage with the intersection of the arts and sciences at the University, itself. Discover, a student led STEAM exhibition, allows University students to collaborate with RISD to generate art exhibits that interrogate the relationship between the STEAM
fields . The University’s Catalyst journal features science-inspired writing and art. More straightforward involvement can be found with groups like Brown STEAM, where students can play with the intersection of art and science on campus and with the greater Providence community. Within individual classes, too, professors can place an emphasis on STEAM. Professors can engage with this even in classes that initially appear to belong wholly to one category or the other. Incorporating authors from diverse fields and preparing activities that go beyond the standard essay or problem set can push students outside of their comfort zones. Brown offers many ways to engage in STEAM education, through its clubs, organizations and the Open Curriculum, but we can do more to encourage interdisciplinary work. Centering collaboration between disparate fields within classes and increasing participation at campus and community STEAM events can help further the important cause of tearing down the artificial divide between academic fields.
E.L. Meszaros GS can be reached at e.l.meszaros@brown. edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald. com.
Reflecting on Black History Month QUENTIN THOMAS staff columnist It’s Black History Month. Every February is dedicated to appreciating the history of black people in the United States. Superficially, people recognize the significance of this month of remembrance; when presented with the statement “Black History Month is important” many would agree. But, not everyone would agree, and some might even ask “Is Black History Month even important?” While this question comes with a noticeable dose of skepticism, the question is still worth engaging. It would be easy to dismiss the question as a waste of time or to assume the person asking is racist. Instead of doing that, I suggest we view it as a legitimate inquiry, and respond accordingly — as my fellow columnist Aidan Calvelli ’19 has noted, such conversations can create an opportunity for learning. And this learning isn’t necessarily just for the person asking the question. In articulating the importance of Black History Month, I also provide myself with a way to solidify my own understanding of this month’s significance. It’s safe to assume that most, if not all of us, are at least somewhat familiar with the staple figures and events of Black History Month. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus. Nine brave students integrated their high school in Little Rock. On their own, people and moments like these are inspiring. The resiliency and courage on display here is remarkable. It’s also important to remember the large-scale
implications of these historic moments. When we think about Black History Month, we’re celebrating the history of black people in this country, yes. But the fact of the matter is that black history is history, in general. So while this month is meant to remember and uplift black people, these moments should not be separate from the larger national memory. These people and events had implications for the entire country and inform how we all experience the world today — black history is relevant to everyone. Acknowledging the past that’s gotten us to where we are now is vital. But we should celebrate these moments with caution. At times,
Biles won her 13th gold medal, more than any gymnast ever. And in the world of print, the Harvard Crimson elected its first black woman editor-in-chief last year. This is to say that Black History Month is not simply a remembrance of things past. Its legacy is added to each time we commemorate it — black history is ongoing. As historical past instructs our future, the significance of Black History Month to black youth cannot be understated. I’ve written about the importance of representation before, and the argument still stands. Positive representation is powerful. To have a month that centers the contributions of black people to this coun-
This is to say that Black History Month is not simply a remembrance of things past. Its legacy is added to each time we commemorate it — black history is ongoing.
memorializing historical events implies a break between past and present; with Black History Month, this implied break can suggest a transition into an imagined post-racial society. Conversely, the spirit of racial progress captured within Black History Month similarly persists today; history is constantly being made, so black history is also being written all the time. Recent memory provides us with multiple examples. At the Rio Olympics, Simone Manuel became the first African-American woman to win a gold medal in an individual swimming event. At last year’s World Championships, gymnast Simone
try allows young black children to feel a rare sense of belonging; understanding that your possibilities are endless is an experience that everyone should have. Promoting black historical figures in highly visible ways combats existing stereotypes. For example, mainstream media — which often portrays black men negatively and neglects to represent black women at all — instead focuses on the accomplishments of black people in general. And films like Black Panther and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse also provide young black children with positive representations of themselves. As celebrations of
black identity — both in history and popular culture — increase, it drives a positive feedback loop of Black History Month. The month itself, then, serves as a way to inspire youth to make their mark — black history has an ever-growing legacy. On a more personal note, this Black History Month I’m thinking about black students at Brown and the amazing work they’ve done this month to make it incredible. Thursday was Soul Food Night at the Ratty, and it was stellar. I enjoyed catfish, mac n cheese, and greens, which reminded me of making greens with my grandma during Thanksgiving when I was little. Classic R&B hits played on a speaker while I enjoyed my meal. I thought about all the times I’d heard those songs in the car with my mom. Everyone I talked to was in a good mood and was having a great time. I felt like I was at home with family. For me, at least, part of the importance of Black History Month can’t be precisely articulated. In that moment, I simply felt an indescribable joy. So, that’s why Black History Month is important. While the month’s name might only refer to elements of the past, Black History has past, present and future components within it. It’s a celebration that’s significant for everyone, and for some black folks, the importance of it can’t even be put entirely into words. Through opting to respond to the initial questioning of Black History Month’s purpose, this explanation was possible, thus building a mutual understanding on the part of both skeptic and proponent.
Quentin Thomas ’21 can be reached at quentin_thomas@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
SPORTS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019
Men’s lacrosse falls to Stony Brook in close finish
COURTESY OF BROWN ATHLETICS
The Bears lost narrowly to Stony Brook University on Saturday. Luke McCaleb ’20 scored an early goal for Bruno, but Stony Brook pulled away, going on a scoring run after the Bears got a defensive penalty. Despite a promising five goals from Darian Cook ’22 in the fourth quarter, the game ended with a score of 13-11 in favor of Stony Brook.
Bears gain momentum in fourth quarter but fall short, will face off against UMBC Saturday By EMORY HINGORANI STAFF WRITER
After opening its season with a 20-7 win at home against Quinnipiac Un i v e r s i t y, the men’s lacrosse team (1-1) was back in action at StevensonPincince Field Saturday against Stony Brook University (1-1). Entering this weekend’s matchup, Bruno hoped to continue the same offensive successes against the Seawolves. But time ran out on the Bears’ fourth-quarter comeback effort, and Stony Brook narrowly edged out Bruno 13-11. The Bears started the game quickly
M. LACROSSE
with a goal from Luke McCaleb ’20, which put Bruno on the board only 48 seconds into the first quarter. But despite the early lead, Brown’s offense stalled until the end of the opening period. Bruno’s defense forced three turnovers on three consecutive clear attempts by the Seawolves, but Stony Brook eventually broke free, scoring three points before a goal from Mike Panepinto ’19 set the game at 3-2 going into the second period. Stony Brook continued to gain momentum in the next stanza, adding two more points before a goal from George Grell ’21 made the game 5-3 with 11:37 left in the frame. The Seawolves responded with another point just under a minute later, which Bruno’s Ryan Aughaven ’21 answered with a goal to put the score at 6-4. Stony Brook closed the scoring for the period, putting up two more points
to earn an 8-4 advantage as the game headed into halftime. “It’s a game of plays and we had them early on (and) put a lot of pressure on them, but we didn’t take advantage of those plays and didn’t finish plays,” said Head Coach Mike Daly of the team’s performance in the first half. The Bears opened the second half in a man-up situation due to a penalty committed by the Seawolves at the end of the second quarter, and McCaleb put away a behind-the-back goal within the first 30 seconds of play. However, Bruno’s momentum was halted by a costly defensive penalty, and Stony Brook went on a scoring run, putting up three more goals to set the game at 11-5 by the middle of the third. Bruno answered with a goal from Jack Kniffin ’20 with about four minutes left in the third quarter, but the
game seemed to be getting out of reach for the Bears, as two more points from Stony Brook closed out the third quarter with a score of 13-6. The Bears regained momentum again in the fourth quarter, as the team’s offense finally began to click. “We just focused on making that next play, not really worrying about what’s happened before,” said attackman Jake Newsome ’19. “Doing the little things well, and kind of moving onto that ‘next-one’ mentality (was important).” As the period progressed, Bruno continued to fight. First-year Darian Cook ’22 began to take charge of the offense, and Brown’s defense held the Seawolves scoreless throughout the fourth. Cook found the back of the net three times in a row within a twominute span, pulling the game within four points to a score of 13-9 with 6:38
remaining. Cook proceeded to score two more goals — one with 2:37 left in the game, and one more roughly 30 seconds later. But time ran out on the Bears and the game came to a close at a final score of 13-11 in favor of Stony Brook. Going forward, Bruno looks to stay consistent, focus on details and capitalize on more opportunities throughout the game. “We’ve got to improve. Every phase has to make more plays, and coaches have to do a better job putting the guys in position within those phases to make plays,” Daly said. “We’ve just got to get back to the little things, making those little plays and getting that momentum in our direction,” Newsome said. “We’re excited to get back to work this week.” The Bears will be on the road for the first time Saturday, traveling to Baltimore to face the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.