“My biggest worry has been the
Devi and Paxton’s relationship sparks a captivating discussion on insecurities. Dating the most popular and experienced guy from your high school is no easy feat. Devi constantly compares herself not just to Paxton’s previous girlfriends but also to Paxton himself, a phenomenon the teenage target audience is likely to relate to. She wonders whether a geek like her
Students worry about lack of trymaskinguniversalasprofessorstoremainflexible
Jha, Varshney and Saxena bounced around ideas about the center’s possi bilities in a nearly five-hour conversa tion that left Saxena feeling energized, he said. If only two professors could bring this much energy to the idea, an endowed center seemed to hold even more promise, Saxena said.
73 / 63 71 / 57 TODAY
SPORTS Bears finish secondhalf comeback to defeat
For Matty Lichtenstein, post doctoral fellow in International and Public Affairs, the return to in-person learning has brought “with it an en ergy and intellectual experience that remote classes don’t usually provide.”
UniversityBryant44-38 SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 4
SEE SAXENA PAGE 6
This August, we saw the return of the lovable yet frequently infuriating Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrish nan) in Mindy Kaling’s Netflix original “Never Have I Ever.” Between more love triangles than one can count on their fingers and a range of emotional breakdowns, Devi’s third year of high school is somehow an even greater mess than her life in the previous seasons. But this season also reveals deeper char acter development for Devi — while there are still incidents where she is frustratingly left off the hook out of sheer luck, Devi’s friends and loved ones finally tell her some of the much-needed harsh truths that were only previously hinted at by her therapist Dr. Jamie Ryan (Niecy Nash). This makes for the most emotionally aware season the show has seen yet.
Donors, research,hopeassociatedscholarswithcentertostrengthenrelationships
The center’s inauguration Sept. 9 was conducted by President Christina Paxson P’19 and was followed by an economics panel and a concert by mu sician Ali Sethi. Panels on politics and

UNIVERSITY NEWS
The Saxena Center’s work focuses on urban development, pluralism, de mocracy and inequality across South Asia, according to a University press release. The new $10 million endow ment, which was approved in February, will help expand the center’s offerings across disciplines and will allow the center to send more students to South Asia for immersive study, Varshney told
The center was endowed with a $10 million gift from Parag and Usha Saxena P’13 P’14 P’15.
Classes for the fall 2022 semester began Sept. 7, and students are expe riencing their first in-person shopping period since the start of the pandemic without mask or testing mandates. Students and instructors shared con cerns about COVID-19 safety without such restrictions in place and dis cussed how courses can better accom modate students in isolation.
,
Now, the Saxena Center, previously called the Center for Contemporary South Asia, has been inaugurated fol lowing a $10 million gift from Parag and Usha Saxena P’13 P’14 P’15, leaving stakeholders in the center hoping that its new funding can push research on South Asia forward.
Page 3
DESIGNED BY BEN GLICKMAN '23 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JACK WALKER '23 SENIOR EDITOR
The game continued to be a back and forth battle as both teams traded touchdowns to open the second half. Bryant scored on a 40-yard touch down pass less than four minutes into the third quarter. Brown then responded with running back Jordan
Page 2
Head Coach James Perry ’00 em phasized the importance of the “full team” effort that was necessary for the win. “A lot of hard work goes into pulling that off,” Perry said. “When you play a really good football team like today, I know they put the work in and when they lean on each other
The show appears to age with its viewers, with a nuanced take on relationships and characters who mature through the three seasons.
BY SOFIA BARNETT & ALEX NADIRASHVILI SENIOR STAFF WRITER & UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR
For some students, the lack of a mask mandate and regular testing during shopping period has been a source of concern.
SEE NEVER PAGE 6
“Brown requires that courses be offered in the approved and adver tised modality both for the benefit of students and to ensure the Univer sity remains in compliance with our accreditation and federal reporting obligations,” Locke wrote.
Latest season of teen Netflix show sparks conversation on insecurities, healing

and the leadership of this team in critical moments, we have a lot to build off Despiteof.”striking first, the Bears struggled to hold the lead throughout the game. Brown got on the board with 2:48 to play in the opening quar ter as kicker Christopher Maron ’25 completed a 39-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. But Bryant struck back quickly, breaking free for a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown to put the Bulldogs ahead 7-3 on the ensuing possession.
Football wins season opener in overtime thriller
BY GABRIELLA SARTORI SENIOR STAFF WRITER
“I feel hideously underprepared for the start of the semester,” said Booth, who is now out of isolation.
ARTS & CULTURE
According to an Aug. 10 Universi ty-wide announcement from Provost Richard Locke P’18, all classes must be held in the mode that they were orig inally listed as in Courses@Brown, even during shopping period.
The idea of growing the Saxena Cen ter for Contemporary South Asia’s endowment sprouted from a con versation.Roughly two years ago, Ashish Jha, dean of the School of Public Health, and Ashutosh Varshney, professor of international studies and social scienc es and political science and director of the Saxena Center, visited Parag Saxena P’13 P’14 P’15 at his home to discuss the project, Saxena said in an interview with The Herald.
COURTESY OF NETFLIX
SEE SHOPPING PAGE 8
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Commentary
Volleyball wins over Lindenwood for final nonconference victory
Review: Disney’s recreation of Pinocchio misses the mark
Students, faculty reflect on shopping period policies
Researchers find brain pathway linking light to mood cognition
The Bears, led by a standout per formance by quarterback Jake Willcox ’24, won the game in second overtime after intense back-and-forth scoring throughout the matchup.
COURTESY OF RYTHUM VINOBEN
After an interception on a Brown offensive possession, Bryant had a first and goal opportunity that led to a 26-yard field goal with 1:54 remaining in the second quarter. Brown ended the half behind the Bulldogs 10-3.
Saxena Center to expand study of S. Asia
UNIVERSITY NEWS
Lichtenstein said she wishes she had had the option to consider con ducting some shopping period classes over Zoom, especially because of the difficulties of managing classroom density during shopping period.
BY AKSHAY AMESUR STAFF WRITER
‘Never Have I Ever’ season 3 triumphs
Page 5 Sports S & R
Sender ’25: Highwayfocused transportation is
BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM SINCE 1891 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022VOLUME CLVII, ISSUE 42


On more than one occasion, view ers are left feeling upset at Devi’s lack
When Olivia Booth ’24 returned to her dorm after her first day of classes with a sore throat, she took an at-home COVID-19 test as a safety precaution. Fifteen minutes later, two red lines appeared on Booth’s test, and she en tered a period of isolation that would last through much of shopping period.
BY SEOEUN CHOI STAFF WRITER
Pageunsustainable7

culture followed on Sept. 10.
Arts & Culture TOMORROW
The football team (1-0) completed a comeback effort to defeat the Bryant University Bulldogs (0-3) 44-38 in their season opener, the Bears’ first overtime victory since a 2016 home win over Cornell.
of accountability in seasons one and two. Although it was easy enough for her friends to forgive her for her many mistakes, it was not necessarily the same for the audience — from dating both the highschool sweetheart Pax ton Hall-Yoshida (Darren Barnet) and longtime nemesis-turned-lover Ben Gross (Jared Lewison) to unintention ally spreading a jealousy-filled rumor about the new transfer student Aneesa Qureshi (Megan Sur).
Brown 3, Lindenwood 1
Brown 1, UConn 3
Ella Park ’26 controlled Brown’s offense from the setter position with 36 assists in the win. The first-year, who started for Bruno for the first time Saturday, added 16 digs defensively for a double-double.Withmultiple players contributing, Brown dropped only the third set on the way to beating Lindenwood. Kay la Griebl ’25, Vanderlaan, Sheire and Sidorova each had eight kills. Victoria Vo ’25 led the Bears defensively with 21 digs.Brown’s offense found its groove in the first set, with the Bears hitting .367. Two kills by Sophia Miller ’23 spurred a 4-0 run that brought the Bears up by five. Two more kills by Curtin and errors from Lindenwood sealed the set for Brown.
“I don’t think anyone (in the Ivy League) had a preseason strength of schedule quite the same as ours,” Kim said. “We’re pretty battle-tested. … We’ll be ready.”
Curtin and kills from Curtin, Sidorova and Griebl. Lindenwood crawled back and Brown derailed a set point before Curtin had two kills to give the Bears a 2-0Lindenwoodlead. forced a fourth set after scoring the final four points of a tight third set, taking the round 25-23.
At 6 feet 1 inch, the first-year setter is one of the tallest at her position in the Ivy League, and nearly as tall as some of Brown’s middle hitters. Kim noted that Park being in the game allowed middle-hitters to become more central to the Bears’ offense, which was critical in theParkwin.said she was proud of her success playing such a pivotal role for the Bears in her first career starts, and said she enjoys the opportunity to contribute. “I just always feel grateful to be a part of this program no matter if I am playing or supporting from the sidelines,” Park wrote in a message to TheKimHerald.acknowledged the importance of getting the first-year players colle giate volleyball experience, allowing them to get comfortable with the pace of theCurtin’sgame. dominant performance against Lindenwood was also instru mental in the win, Kim added. The senior came into the program as an outside hitter, and has worked with the coaching staff for the past year and a half to transition to a middle hitter.
SPORTS Bears split doubleheader, losing to UConn before winning against Lindenwood
COURTESY OF DAVID SILVERMAN / BROWN ATHLETICS
Brown had a slow start against the Huskies, finishing the game with a .136 hit percentage, significantly lower than their team average of .204 for the sea son so Afterfar.falling behind early in the first set 13-5, the Bears made adjustments in their substitutions to come within four points in the set, but ultimately could not get ahead.
The volleyball team (4-5) beat Linden wood University (3-6) in a tournament at the University of Connecticut (6-5) Saturday, Bruno’s last non-conference matchup before Ivy League play be gins. After losing a match to UConn hours before the Lindenwood game, the Bears locked in to defeat Lindenwood in four sets.
“Really our offense started to take shape around Ella (Park),” Kim said.
(Curtin and Park) connected that quick ly,” Kim said. “Knowing that Elise has this ability to score for us is going to be really crucial for us down the stretch.”
A back-and-forth second set also went to the Huskies after being tied at eight points. Brown climbed back from an 18-11 deficit with kills by Jilienne Widener ’24, Beau Vanderlaan ’25 and Kate Sheire ’24, who led the Bears in the match with 10 kills, but the effort wasn’tBrunoenough.took the third set to keep the game going, coming out strong with a 12-7 lead. The Bears went on a 4-0 run spurred by two kills from Widener and blocks from Widener and Vanderlaan, earning Brown a sev en-point lead that the Huskies were unable to overcome.
2 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

BY ADIZA ALASA STAFF WRITER
The fourth and final set was well fought, with the Huskies eventually taking a 23-21 lead. Mariia Sidorova ’26 then had two kills to bring the Bears to set point at 24-23. And after the two teams fought off several set points from each other, three straight UConn points brought the match to a close in the Hus kies’ favor.
Lindenwood in four sets. Brown’s of fense came out strong, with a stand out performance from Elise Curtin ’23, who set a career best with 12 kills and tied her career-high six blocks, a personal best she had set in the previous game. Curtin finished the game hitting .450.
Volleyball team earns final non-conference win before Ivy play

In the second set, Brown came back from a 12-10 deficit, going on a 9-0 run led by three straight blocks featuring
Brown wrapped up the match with an 8-1 run in the beginning of the fourth set, as Lindenwood’s offense faltered. The Bears went up 23-12, and a Lindenwood error and Sidorova kill sealed Brown’s win.
Despite the loss against UConn, Head Coach Ahen Kim said that the tactical changes his team made within the loss allowed the Bears to prevail against Lindenwood. “Personnel-wise we made some changes in the Lind enwood game, but I think a lot of our tactical changes came through for us in the UConn match, and they were working really well for us,” Kim said.
Kim emphasized the value of hav ing a roster full of strong players. “We have a lot of really capable players and depth that this program hasn’t had in the past,” he said.
“Her ability to (perform well) was not a surprise. I’m really proud that
After falling behind early in the first set 13-5, the Bears made adjustments in their substitutions to come within four points in the set but ultimately could not get ahead.
The Bears bounced back from their loss earlier in the day to defeat
Curtin viewed her performance as an opportunity to fill a role for her team. “It’s important to come off the bench and be ready to play that role and do the best that I could with it,” sheBruno’ssaid. doubleheader in Connecti cut marked their last games before Ivy League play begins Friday at home against Yale. Throughout the presea son, Brown has traveled as far as Texas for tournaments that require the team to play multiple games in short time spans, unlike in Ivy League play.
Heading into conference play with a losing record has not dampened the team’s morale. “Our mindset is the same as it always is. ‘Humble and hungry’ is our team motto,” Curtin said. “Having tough competition in the beginning has really prepared us for what’s to come in our own league.”
nights,” Berson explained. “After a couple of weeks, they showed signs of depression.”Theresearchers hypothesized that this same pathway exists in humans. Using functional MRI, they were able to test this hypothesis by looking at global activity in the human brain in response to changes to light in the en vironment, Berson said. Participants were exposed to four different light intensities ranging from nearly dark to moderately bright.
tenance and regulation of circadian rhythms, learning, mood regulation and other brain functions influenced by light.“Some of the frontal cortical areas that tracked light intensity are the same areas that show different responses in patients with mood disorders,” Sanes wrote.Asa
The researchers’ findings may have implications for the study of depressive disorders, though future work is still beingBerson’sexplored.interest in this pathway started nearly 20 years ago, when he discovered a new type of retinal gangli on cell — a cell that transmits informa tion about light in the retina. He found that unlike most retinal ganglion cells, this new class of cells had pigment. Since then, he has been on a quest to find where these neurons project to and what these projections mean.

“Mice were very sensitive to having their day-night cycle warped by put ting them in a housing situation where they have three-and-a-half-hour-long days and three-and-a-half-hour-long
In this way, the “stimuli were devoid of any kind of color or form informa tion,” Worden said. “The participants were wearing teflon goggles, so all they could see was how bright or how dark it was, but they couldn’t see any kind of images.”Bymeasuring the blood oxygen levels of the brain, fMRI allowed the researchers to see which brain areas were activated during light exposure, WordenWhilesaid.the researchers found re
SCIENCE & RESEARCH
As a follow up to their recently published paper, the lab’s researchers are studying how depressive disorders relate to changes in light levels. Their research sheds light on the brain path that is responsible for light affecting mood.
sponses to changes in light intensity across the brain, these responses were temporary in areas of the brain tradi tionally considered to process visual information. But the changes were sustained in other areas of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex.
“As the light got brighter, the sus tained brain activation in prefron tal regions went down … in regions that have been previously associated with mood and cognitive processing,” Worden said.
follow up to this study, the re searchers are studying how changes in light levels affect patients with various depressive disorders, such as major de pression or seasonal affective disorder,” Worden“Fromadded.aclinical standpoint, it’s too early to tell how the results will trans late to our understanding and treat ment of seasonal affective disorder and non-seasonal depression, but (the re searchers) have definitely been talking about next steps in this line of research to better understand the clinical impli cations,” Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Linda Carpenter wrote in an email to The Herald.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 3THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

BY ANNA KIM SENIOR STAFF WRITER
It is well known that light has a signifi cant effect on mood: “If you’re looking for a new apartment, you go for the one with the nice big windows and not the basement with only artificial light,” Professor of Neuroscience David Ber son
Brown researchers find brain pathway linking light to mood, cognition
Asaid.new study by University research ers now sheds light on the brain path way responsible for this behavior. Their paper, published in July, suggests that light exposure suppresses activity in parts of the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain associated with mood and cognitive processing.
“We know that light is implicated in mood disorders both in humans and animals, and we know that there are pathways from the retina of the eye to the prefrontal cortex in experimental animals,” said Assistant Professor of Neuroscience Michael S. Worden, an other author of the paper. “But we have never seen those pathways in humans, so we were interested to know whether or not we could find evidence for those neural pathways in humans through thisSomeexperiment.”worksuggests that this path way plays a role in regulating behavior, Sanes wrote, citing a study of the phe nomenon in mice.
For this study, the researchers built off previous work that demonstrated a pathway from the retina that conveys light intensity to areas of the brain that
“The paper makes an exciting dis covery about brain areas that are influ enced by light and that are independent of the conventional pathways for con scious visual perception,” Felice Dunn, associate professor in the department of ophthalmology at the University of California, San Francisco, wrote in an email to The AccordingHerald.toDunn, who has previ ously worked with Berson, these find ings identify regions in the prefrontal cortex that may participate in the main
Light decreasesexposureactivity in brain areas involved in mood disorders
don’t typically carry out visual func tions, Professor of Neuroscience Jerome Sanes, an author of the paper, wrote in an email to The Herald.
COURTESY OF MICHAEL WORDEN, DAVID BERSON AND JEROME SANES
How to Find a Job for Seniors 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
TOMORROW’SEVENTSEVENTS
U-Lock or U-Lose Bike Registra tion Event 12 p.m.
“Growing up, that’s one thing my dad always preached to me: fight until the end,” Willcox said. “No matter what happens, as long as you keep fighting until the end and give it everything you’ve got, hopefully, everything will work out. Luckily today, the whole team came back and fought harder than any thing and came out with the win.”
FOOTBALL FROM PAGE 1
the toss and had Brown begin with the first offensive possession. The offense trudged through to the 23-yard line and on third and eight. Willcox con nected with Walker, who leapt over his defender down the right sideline and received a pass for his second score of the game. Maron’s kick was converted to give Brown its first lead since the opening quarter.
Brown Center for Students of Color

LCDS Seminar Presents Zsolt 4Verasztop.m.to 5 p.m.
TODAY’S
CALENDAR
To begin overtime, the Bulldogs won
DeLucia ’25 making a 50-yard run to the endzone to score the first Brown touchdown of the season and cut the deficit to Bryant’sseven.lead went back to 14 with a 24-yard touchdown reception with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter, putting pressure on Brown’s offense as the clock wound down.
SEPTEMBER SFThWTuMS 765 8 2 3 4 141312 15 10 11 9 212019 22 17 18 16 25 23 24 1 26 27 28 29 30
second overtime and put pressure on Brown’s defense early. With a third and one situation for the Bulldogs, DeVeau cut off a pass attempt to the endzone. Another defensive stop on a run halted the Bulldogs from scoring.
the score at 31 with 38 seconds left in the game, sending the game into overtime.Smith said his confidence in the team never waivered, especially when it came to the pressures of an overtime situation. “I take a lot of pride in leaning in on all the guys,” Smith said. “There’s dispersed leadership among the whole team. When it comes down to it, you’d be surprised how slow the game gets. There’s time to breathe. Trust these guys to get the looks and really see how unbelievable the moment gets.”
4 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS
Bear Terrace, Main Green Telescope Observing Night 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
COURTESY OF CHIP DELORENZO / BROWN ATHLETICS
Ladd Observatory
Exploring the Dark Side of 4:30Inequalityp.m.
CareerLAB
170 Hope Street Room 108
Processing to Thrive 12 p.m.
Watson Institute, McKinney Con ference Room
IMNI Distinguished Lecture: Robert O. Ritchie 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Wide receiver Hayes Sutton ’23 ignited the Bears’ offense in the be ginning of the fourth quarter with a 40-yard reception to give Brown a pos session. With the momentum in their favor, Brown’s defense was quick to respond as cornerback Harrison Ochs ’23 intercepted a pass on Bryant’s next possession. Brown was then within scoring position, allowing Willcox to hit wide receiver Graham Walker ’24 for a 30-yard pass into the endzone. On the extra point attempt, the Bulldog defense blocked Maron’s kick to keep the 24-23 lead.
Build Your Network while Ex ploring Career Options
Barus and Holley Room 190
12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Online
26-for-39 statline for 356 yards and three touchdowns. He credited his per formance to his competitive nature.
With 7:30 remaining in regulation, Brown’s defense continued their he roics as cornerback Cooper DeVeau ’23 picked off a pass to once again raise the energy for the Bears. But Brown’s offense couldn’t connect fol lowing the turnover and was forced to punt, giving Bryant the chance to score the go ahead touchdown with 2:35Downremaining.31-23, Brown rallied for a last-chance effort after a 30-yard re ception from Walker to put the Bears in scoring position. The offense con tinued to push its way to the one yard line, which resulted in a touchdown by second year captain Allen Smith ’22.5 as he leapt over the defense into the endzone. Down by two with the game on the line, Willcox connected with wide receiver Wes Rockett ’23 on the two-point conversion to even
With a chance to win the game, Willcox rushed for 23 yards on a third and 14 situation. This led the Bears to a first down that gave them first and goal. Brown won the game off a Smith run into the endzone untouched on second down, giving the Bears their victory in the overtime thriller.
Jake Willcox ’24 made a standout performance in the second overtime, rushing for 23 yards on a third and 14 situation. He finished the game with a 26-for-39 statline for 356 yards and three touchdowns.
Willcox finished the game with a
The Bulldogs responded on their ensuing offensive possession and scored the touchdown and extra point, forcing the game into a second over time. Bryant started on offense for the
Brown will open up Ivy League play next week as they host Harvard (1-0) Sept. 24 at 12:30 p.m.

COURTESY OF DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Based on the 1940 animated film adapted from a 19th century Italian children’s novel, Pinocchio has become a household name even for those unfamiliar with the details of his transformation and story.
poorly acted. This film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, known for such acclaimed classics as the “Back to the Future” trilogy and “Forrest Gump.” It would probably be unfair to say that his creative touch is gone altogether, but it certainly is nowhere to be found in thisDisneyfilm.seems to have completely lost understanding of what it means to make a good movie. They think that “The Lion King,” “Dumbo” and now “Pinocchio” can be reformed into something fresh by simply throwing the newest technology at it and putting big names before and behind the camera. In practice, these live-action remakes serve as a eulogy to a bygone era — one where animation was a respected art and creativity was valued by the studios. What we are left with is a half-baked simulacrum of a film that didn’t even need to be remade in the first place.
& CULTURE
Live-action remake pales in comparison to 1940 animated classic film
Disney remake of ‘Pinocchio’ struggles to find its purpose
BY FINN KIRKPATRICK SENIOR STAFF WRITER
for being a puppet, he decides to take up the seedy duo on their promise of fame, joining a traveling act as the marquis performer. After leaving the act, he makes his way to a magical place called Pleasure Island, which turns out to be a much more sinister locale than advertised.
It’s no secret that the last decade has been a slow descent into complete creative bankruptcy for Disney. The studio that once made dreams come true now lays out smorgasbords of unin spired, unoriginal content ranging from botched Marvel sequels to live-action remakes of Disney classics that feel lifeless. “Pinocchio,” released Sept. 8 on Disney+, is one of the studio’s worst offenders to date. It feels more like a fever dream that slowly sucks the viewer’s soul than a movie with plot, character and excitement.
ARTS
and devoid of any of the classic motifs that make Disney movies stick in the mind. Everything the original movie did right, this film finds a way to do wrong. Like all the other live-action Disney remakes spewed out over the past few years, they are not a love letter to the classics but rather a desecration of their magic.
As the movie weaves through these plot points, it starts to completely unravel. The filmmaking becomes bland and robotic as the characters that populate the “live-action” mov ie are almost all poorly rendered CGI creations. The original “Pinocchio” did excellent work in crafting a solid tone that shifted from upbeat to eerie while always being chock-full of that Disney charm. But this newest iter ation lacks expression and feels like the product of experimental AI tasked with replicating the beloved classic. Even the score is annoying, invasive
Based on the 1940 animated film that was adapted from a 19th-century Italian children’s novel, “Pinocchio” is a story that most people know, even if they’ve never actually seen the movie. Geppetto (Tom Hanks) is an elderly craftsman who has never had a child. He is working on a marionette puppet named Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) that resembles a young boy. One night, he sees a shooting star out his window and wishes that his pup pet was a real boy. Once Geppetto falls asleep, his workshop is visited by the Blue Fairy (Cynthia Erivo) who grants the puppet consciousness and makes Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Joseph Gor don-Levitt) his conscience. She leaves after singing “When You Wish Upon a Star” and telling Pinocchio that he will become a real boy if he is brave, truthful and selfless. Pinocchio is then left alone with his guard, Jiminy Cricket, who has to teach him right from wrong in this newTheseworld.opening scenes are really the only part of the movie that deserve any form of commendation. Aside from

But unlike most of the Disney re makes, this film didn’t even get released in a movie theater — it went straight to streaming on Disney+, a streamer that already has the original “Pinoc chio” on it. Not that seeing this in a theater would make it any better, but at least that experience would grant some justification for its existence. There is not a single reason why you should pick this over the original — it’s longer, the changes made to the story are all for the worse, it looks terrible and the characters are all poorly developed and
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 5THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS
the questionable CGI, the film demon strates potential in crafting an envi ronment with a charming storybook aesthetic evoking a certain childhood nostalgia. Geppetto’s workshop feels alive, fantastical and whimsical, but sadly the majority of the movie takes place outside the workshop. This flick ering light of promise is immediately snuffed out once the story unfolds and Pinocchio is taken into the outside world.Geppetto drops Pinocchio off in the streets to join a line of kids heading off to school, but quickly gets roped in by Honest John (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key), a talking fox who along with his sidekick Gideon, a mute cat, tries to convince Pinocchio to pursue a life of fame. Jiminy Cricket steps in and brings Pinocchio back on the path to school, but once Pinocchio gets kicked out of the schoolhouse

“jock” and “nerd” stereotypes through their respective motivations. Paxton’s character arc develops this season through his college application process, whereas Ben’s newest arc focuses more on the academic pressure he faces to get into an Ivy League school and how he finds purpose beyond school.

This season really excels in devel oping the previously abandoned male characters of the show. Unfortunately, this focus on the male characters leads to a lackluster writing of Devi’s female friends — specifically the trainwreck of a relationship that Fabiola (Lee Rodri
Nearly “every fourth person in the world (24%) is South Asian … and Brown has taken a very clear institutional de cision to study the region,” Varshney explained. “When I came in 2009, there was very little that was offered on South Asia. And now we’ve grown (into) an endowed center.”
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.
“Over time if we can get people, whether they are bureaucrats, academi cians, students (or) even businesspeople (together),” Saxena said, “that will make for much better relationships” within South Asia and beyond.
should be allowed to date a guy like him. While in other rom-coms these insecurities get brushed aside with an instant makeover or reassurance by the male lead, “Never Have I Ever” goes for a more realistic approach by depicting the strain these insecurities and com parisons put on their relationship.
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.

Corrections may be submitted up to seven calendar days after publication. Periodicals postage paid at Providence, R.I. Postmaster: Please send corrections to P.O. Box 2538, Providence, RI 02906.
But it’s not just Devi who finally ma tures — the male characters also shine this season. Her two exes, Paxton and Ben, both experience their long-awaited character development, breaking out of their primary roles as Devi’s love interests with their own realistic mo tivations and struggles. It is especially heart-warming to see these two guys, who have been at each other’s throats in previous seasons, finally befriend each other. Moreover, they subvert their
have finally allowed Devi to mature, making her a much more lovable and relatable character, especially to older viewers who might have previously re garded Devi as too cringeworthy.
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.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. is a financially independent, nonprofit media organization bringing you The Brown Daily Herald 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 2022 by The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
Corrections: The Brown Daily Herald is committed to providing the Brown University community with the most accurate information possible.
The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. reserves the right to accept or decline any advertisement at its discretion. 6 88 Benevolent, Providence, RI (401) 351-3372 www.browndailyherald.com Editorial: herald@browndailyherald.com Advertising: advertising@browndailyherald.com THE BROWN DAILY HERALD SINCE 1891 @the_herald facebook.com/browndailyherald @browndailyherald @browndailyherald 132nd Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Ben Glickman Managing Editors Benjamin Pollard Caelyn Pender Senior Editors Katie Chen Gaya Gupta Jack Walker Editor-in-Chiefpost-magazine Kyoko Leaman ArtsNews& Culture Editors Rebecca Carcieri Laura David Aalia Jagwani Science & Research Editors Kathleen Meininger Gabriella Vulakh Metro Editors Emma Gardner Ashley Guo Oliver Kneen Katy SameerPickensSinha University News Editors Emily Faulhaber Will KaitlynShilpaStellaAlexCalebKubzanskyLazarNadirashviliOlken-HuntSajjaTorres Sports Editor Peter Swope EditorialOpinionsPage Board Editor Johnny Ren Head Opinions Editor Augustus Bayard Opinions Editor Anika Bahl Bliss AlissaJacksonMelissaHanLiuMcGoughSimon PhotoMultimediaChiefs Danielle Emerson Julia Grossman Photo Editors Elsa DanaRoslynChoi-HausmanCorizRichie Illustrations Chief Ashley Choi Social Media Chief Alejandro Ingkavet Digital DirectorNewsofTechnology Jed Fox CopyProductionDeskChief Lily Lustig Assistant Copy Desk Chief Brendan McMahon Design Chief Raphael Li Design Editors Julia Grossman Gray Martens Neil Mehta GeneralBusinessManagers Alexandra Cerda Sophie Silverman Sales Directors Joe AmitBelfieldLevi Finance Director Andrew Willwerth
This theme has been especially im portant to Parag Saxena himself, whose career has mostly centered around early-stage investing in the U.S. and South Asia. Businesses can only suc ceed by understanding their customers, he noted.
But in comparing this season with its predecessors, it really does feel like the show is aging with its viewers. Its nuanced take on relationships is its strongest selling point. “Never Have I Ever” is reaching new heights thanks to the latest season, leaving new and old viewers in anticipation of what Devi’s final year of high school could look like.
VarshneyContinuingsaid. the center’s commit ment to the arts, Shaffer plans to take a group of University students to Wash ington, D.C. this fall on a visit to an exhibition of Rajasthani painting. She also plans to invite one of the exhibit’s curators to the University.
The center is “so exciting because
“Our seminars, lectures and events will bring leading literary and artistic figures, scholars, policy makers and public intellectuals to the campus,” he wrote. “We will not only be focused on teaching and research, but will also be involved in public engagement.”ParagSaxena noted that the center’s role as a hub of diverse thought has already begun.
An Indian immigrant, Parag Saxe na forged relationships with individu als from many South Asian countries throughout his own educational career, enriching his life with new perspectives, he said.The ideas he encountered shed new light on countries which “other wise you only see through the filters of your government and your news media, which may or may not be bal anced,” Parag Saxena said. “The inter mingling of people and giving people common ground to converse is really important.”Tohelpmake this a reality, Varsh ney said he aims to create a multidis ciplinary academic hub that facilitates long-term intellectual discourse be tween social scientists and diverse professionals such as physicians and public health experts.
Unlike in previous seasons, where Devi’s struggles are often portrayed as over-the-top and perpetuated by her own behavior, her internal conflict is presented in a nuanced way that allows viewers to more easily understand her actions. It seems as though the writers
The show’s newest addition, Des (Anirudh Pisharody) is a complex character that helps shed light on a new dimension of Asian parent-child relationships despite only being prom inently featured in the second half of the season. While Devi’s mom Nalini (Poorna Jagannathan) seemed to be a stereotypical depiction of the overly
SAXENA FROM PAGE 1 NEVER FROM PAGE 1
it’s bringing together all the countries in South Asia … across disciplines to create dialogue,” said Holly Shaffer, assistant professor of history of art and architecture who is associated with the center.With the new endowment, Varshney hopes to strengthen Brown’s relation ship with global partners such as India’s National Council of Applied Economics Research, as well as entities closer to home like the School of Public Health. He also would like to increase capacity for visiting scholars, policy makers and artists.The inaugural weekend featured a live concert performance by Sethi, a Pakistani musician.
strict Indian parent, the exploration of Des’s relationship with his mother com plicates this presentation and show cases how an overly indulgent parent causes its own issues. Simultaneously, Devi’s relationship with her own mother evolves as they heal and grieve together. Devi’s newfound maturity is particularly evident in how this mother-daughter relationship grows over the season.
“We are beginning to pay a lot of attention to the artistic side of the re gion, and (Sethi’s performance) was a way to showcase the artistic beauty and wealth of the region of South Asia,”
The“InHerald.asense, academia provides in tellectual candy,” Parag Saxena said, recalling his own educational days when he would debate intellectual theories with his peers until 3 a.m. — only to wake up for 8 a.m. classes the follow ing Theday.center is focused on expanding its research into new fields, he contin ued, an endeavor which he believes is especially crucial to understanding how people’s complex histories and cultures inform the way they think.
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.
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 oped, 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.
South Asia, a region of immense di versity, has experienced rapid economic growth in recent decades, placing its political, economic and social reali ties at the forefront of global affairs, Varshney wrote in a message on the center’s website.
Advertising:
guez) has with Aneesa. It seems that after Aneesa was introduced as a rival for Devi in Season 2, the writers don’t really know what to do with her. She is thrown into random relationships with zero chemistry on two separate occa sions before ultimately being dumped for the real love interest.
The inaugural discussion panels convened diverse professionals and academics from across South Asia and the United States in fields such as ar chitecture, political science, banking, economics and music.
efficient, high speed, intercity rail an attractive way to write down our coun try’s enormous highway budget. Naturally, such an extensive system would be expensive, but it would likely pay for its own operating costs. While highways generally do not cover their own costs, intercity transit easily recovers a far greater portion of its operating costs through fares. American passenger rail is a notable suc cess in this way, with Amtrak recovering 95% of its expenses at the farebox in the last year be fore the pandemic. Though profitability is not the most important factor when judging which type of transportation infrastructure to adopt, it is a notable point in intercity rail’s favor that it can mostly pay for its own regular expenses
highway. What’s more, a single rail line occu pies half the footprint of a four lane highway, yet it has more than double the shipping ca pacity.Since intercity public transport is inherent ly more efficient than a highway, it is likewise far more cost effective to maintain and operate. While cost estimates per mile for high-speed rail vary widely, an Obama-era plan for a na tionwide high-speed rail system was estimated to cost more than half a trillion dollars, a total similar to that of the Interstate Highway Sys tem. So, for the same price that it cost America to build its signature highway system, it could have a system wildly more efficient and capa ble of meeting far greater demand than even the widest highway. Regional plans are also more cost effective: For moderate-speed rail, the cost for a 3,150-mile system spanning the whole Midwest would be only $7.7 billion, or just under 4% of what the U.S. spends per year
— a point which, while obvious, cannot be over stated.Beyond considering the strict financial im plications of a transportation system, efficiency must also be a key metric for evaluating infra structure projects. This is another area in which intercity rail really shines: A single high-speed rail line has a greater capacity than a 10-lane
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 7THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | COMMENTARY


This short financial review makes it clear that the federal highway system is lumbering toward a crisis of epic proportions. The federal fuel tax, perhaps the most obvious avenue for raising highway funds, has not been increased in more than 27 years and currently sits at 18.3 cents per gallon. To make up for the difference, this tax would need to be raised astronomical ly, by nearly 360%, to 65 cents. At a time when the price of gas is an increasingly potent talking point, there is little hope such a tax hike would be politically feasible. Worse yet, congestion cannot be cancelled out by extensive highway expansions. The decades-long growth in vehi cle miles traveled, meaning more people driving more miles, has contributed to rapidly worsen ing congestion, suggesting that new highways, even if we could pay for them, will not solve congestion.TheU.S. is at a critical turning point, facing ballooning maintenance and construction costs. Without our regular routes for raising revenue, our government must choose which path it will follow. One path sees the government retrench ing its position and desperately attempting a massive tax increase, possibly solving the prob lem for a few years, but failing to address the greater ills facing the system. But a better way forward sees the government addressing the root of the problem — overreliance on roads — and investing in intercity public transportation. While the environmental benefits of inter
city public transport are well understood, what has gone underrecognized is its capacity to help solve the highway system’s endlessly growing woes. By reducing the number of vehicles on the road, both maintenance and construction costs would be dramatically reduced. Without such intense traffic volumes, the need for con stant maintenance would be alleviated so that
“A better way forward sees the government addressing the root of the problem — overreliance on roads — and investing in intercity public transportation.”
Sender It’s time to try new transportation systems
In 1991, the Federal Highway Administration revealed that the total cost of the Interstate Highway System was a whopping $128.9 billion, or about half a trillion dollars in 2016’s mon ey. In 2019, state and local governments spent $203 billion to maintain existing highways and roads, only 37% of which came from fuel tax es and toll facilities, with the rest coming from general tax revenues. Since 1977, inflation-ad justed state and local spending on highways and roads has more than doubled, an increase partly fueled by a 185% increase in construction costs since 1993. In short, highways are expen sive and getting more costly every year.
on highway maintenance and construction. And the project would still bring significant capacity increases over the highway system.
’25:
Gabe Sender ’25 can be reached at gabriel_ sender@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald. com and other op-eds to opinions@brown dailyherald.com.
EMAIL US YOUR OPINIONSopinions@browndailyherald.com

Greater capacity also increases the econom ic benefits of the system, helping justify any of its lofty costs. Economists frequently point to how effectively the interstate highway moves people and freight as the key to its success. One estimate says that from 1950 to 1980, one quar ter of U.S. productivity growth was attributable to investments in the Interstate Highway Sys tem. So, if rail can move people and goods many times more efficiently than highways, then it necessarily follows that the creation of an effi cient rail network as expansive as our highway system would have broad economic benefits. As a result, it is easy to justify the initial capital costs for an expanded rail system, as it would make the country far more prosperous.
pricey reconstructions and repavings would be needed less often. In addition, by limiting the growth of traffic, the need for new highways or expansions to accommodate greater traffic is lessened.Thismakes
Ultimately, America cannot meet the de mands of its highway users. The cost of main taining existing highways, and the huge burden posed by the construction of new highways, would only serve to waste money. Thus, the U.S. is left with only one reasonable option — one which will not only rid us of the burden of maintaining and expanding an outdated sys tem, but will also make the country more pros perous. A robust intercity transit system is needed to save the country from its destructive course and ensure that people and goods can safely travel without having to sit in gridlock. Only an expanded rail network can actually meet the growing transportation needs of the American people, and it must be pursued with out delay.
According to an Aug. 10 Today@Brown announcement from Provost Richard Locke P’18, all classes must be held in the mode that they were originally listed in Courses@Brown, even during shopping period.
“I don’t want fully remote classes,” she added. “I just wish there was more remoteLockeaccessibility.”wroteinanemail to The Her
email to The Herald. This semester, the University is offering over 75 re mote-accessible courses for students both in Providence and those studying fromDespiteabroad.these efforts, Balbuena said she believes individual faculty members are lessening their leniency with ab sences, which “doesn’t feel fair” given the health risks evident at the start of the “Isemester.havemixed feelings about the University returning to normal,” Bal buena added. “It’s fun to have a more normal college experience, but, at the same time, I have friends that are in isolation or getting exposed to COVID, and it’s scary to see that nothing in the University’s systems is changing to accommodate that.”
“These plans may or may not in clude remote options,” Locke add ed. Other options include recording class sessions, posting class notes and discussions to Canvas and ensuring assignments can be submitted via Canvas.Imani Camara ’24 noticed that many of her professors have been attempt ing to remain flexible with student absences.“Professors are seemingly more un derstanding. … I am guessing professors
“The students were grateful to be able to still tune in and introduce themselves to the class,” Murphy said. “They’re still part of the community.”
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 8THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS
JULIA GROSSMAN / HERALD
RIPTA, do you have a moment? I wanted to ask something ... Where do you go at night? On those cold winter evenings when snow dusts the ground, do you have a home to turn to for rest? A pillow you can lean on and stare into the night sky? Does anyone plant a kiss on your forehead bracing for the new morning ahead? Or are your wheels left forever turning, searching for something beyond?

“I could get a grip of the class con tent but not the actual environment of the classroom,” Booth said, adding that she feels unprepared for the rest of the semester “because (she doesn’t) have time to keep shopping and (doesn’t) want to fall behind.”
“COVID-19 is still here and pres ent with us, and as we know, there is an unequal distribution of harm for more marginalized communities because of the pandemic,” Murphy said. “I definitely wanted to keep all of my students safe … so I continued the requirement for students to be masked.”“It’sreally important during shop ping period especially, when students are in and out of the classroom and there is more mixing than normal,” MurphyMurphyadded.also implemented a hybrid class format during shopping period for students who had fallen ill and did not feel comfortable attending class in person.
Only one of the courses Booth was shopping was offered virtually, so she spent most of her shopping period in isolation watching recorded lectures or looking at note slides posted online.
are just as worried as us,” Camara said. “I’ve missed two of my language class es already because I was sick and my professor was really cool about it and didn’t make it a problem at all.”
WHEN DUSK SWEEPS OVER KENNEDY PLAZA
were congregating in small classrooms after traveling to campus.
The University has communicated this transition to students multiple times, sheBoothadded.said she would have liked to see some formal mandates for test ing, specifically for the first few days of classes when big groups of students
DANIELLE EMERSON / HERALD
lack of a mask mandate throughout shopping period,” Makieda Mckenzie ’25 said. “I think it’s really scary to consider that COVID is still spread ing, yet our one protective factor … is being taken trivially, especially since everyone has just arrived on campus afterWithtraveling.”theexception of health care facilities and the Warren Alp ert Medical School, “the University is not currently requiring the use of face masks on campus, regardless of vaccination status,” Locke wrote in the announcement. Instructors may still require masks in the classroom at their“I’vediscretion.onlyhad one professor re quire masks, and the rest are proceed ing as if COVID never happened,” Ava Balbuena ’25 said. “It also definitely worries me that there’s no strict test ing system enforced because people can intentionally remain ignorant to the fact that they might have COVID and pass it on to people who would suffer more serious health repercus sions.”“We want to remind everyone that they have the option to wear a mask in any environment at any time,” wrote Vanessa Britto, associate vice president for campus life and student services, in an email to The Herald.
“The first part of the semester al ways comes with more crowded spaces, and being mindful of basic preventa tive measures is really useful,” Britto wrote in response. “Masks and tests are available to students if they don’t haveDespitethem.”the lack of a University-wide mandate, Kiana Murphy, a postdoctoral research associate in American Studies, is still asking their students to wear masks during classes — at least for the duration of shopping period.
Murphy believes the pandemic has allowed institutions of higher education to collectively focus their attention on accessibility. “Being accessible should already have been part of our protocols and classrooms,” she said, “but I think the pandemic has forced us to kind of give new attention to how particular communities on campus are being af fected by certain things.”
Britto encouraged students to con tinue engaging in basic preventative practices like hand washing, using hand sanitizers, abiding by “appro priate cough etiquette” and keeping a COVID-19 test on hand.
The University is currently transi tioning to addressing COVID-19 “much like … other infectious diseases,” which includes reporting public health infor mation, including positive case num bers, when it can help to “inform useful action for the community,” Britto wrote.
ald that students unable to attend class must proactively contact their instruc tor. The University has asked instructors to remain flexible and support students with excused absences by developing and communicating preemptive ab sence policies, he wrote.
The University is continuing to work with faculty members and broader departments to offer support for re mote-accessible courses and concen tration pathways, according to Locke’s
