Monday, March 2, 2020

SINCE 1891

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

VOLUME CLV, ISSUE 27

BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM

METRO

METRO

R.I. aims to avoid polling station issues Metro Recap: Reflections In last presidential on Sanders’ 2016 R.I. win primary, only a third of state’s 419 polling stations were opened

BY COREY GELB-BICKNELL AND BEN POLLARD SENIOR STAFF WRITERS After the 2016 Rhode Island presidential primary left some voters confused about which polling locations were open, the location and number of polling stations for this April’s primary remain in question.

“We’re still formulating a plan,” said Steven Taylor, special projects

coordinator for the Rhode Island Board of Elections. “We’re looking to make sure that they don’t have an excess of polling stations in one area, and that polling locations are evenly spread out throughout the community.”

In 2016, only one third of the state’s 419 polling stations opened for the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries, The Herald previously reported. “Nobody in my neighborhood knew where to vote,” Hillary Salmon, a Rhode Island resident, told The Herald four years ago. Salmon spent over an hour visiting polling stations before finding the correct one.

When asked last week by The Herald about issues with 2016 polling stations, Providence Chief of Com-

Sanders maintains grassroots support, campaign infrastructure from 2016

SUMMER ZHANG / HERALD

munications and Senior Advisor to the Mayor Emily Crowell contended that the Board of Canvassers notified 2016 voters of their updated polling locations “any time there were changes” and put up signs to redirect voters to open polling locations.

This year, Rhode Islanders will head

BY OLIVIA GEORGE METRO EDITOR The nation’s smallest state voted big for Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on April 26, 2016. Winning 54.7 percent of the vote compared to Hillary Clinton’s 43.1 percent, Sanders emerged victorious in Rhode Island’s Democratic presidential primary even as Clinton scooped up wins in many neighboring states. Some Rhode Island political authorities told The Herald that Sanders’ support in the Ocean State today is likely to manifest in another primary victory.

Back in 2016, “Sanders’ victory in Rhode Island was a surprise to a lot of the political scientists who study Rhode Island voters, including myself,” said June Speakman, professor at Roger Williams University. Similarly, a poll released by

SEE POLLING PAGE 8

2020 Issue

SUMMER ZHANG / HERALD

the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy had predicted that Clinton would lead Sanders by 10 percent, The Herald previously reported.

Speakman, who is also a Democratic state representative in District 68, which includes Warren and Bristol, added that the Ocean State had long been considered “Clinton Country,” given former President Bill Clinton’s success in the state.

“There was an assumption,” said Speakman, “because of (Bill) Clinton’s past history and popularity in the state that Hillary would win easily.”

Sander’s success in the state demonstrated a growing sentiment that voters were not happy with the status quo, said Aaron Regunberg ’12, former state representative and Sanders’ campaign delegate. “It sent a really strong message to a lot of people in the state that Rhode Island voters want bigger, bolder, progressive change.” Such a sentiment persists today, added Regunberg.

SEE SANDERS PAGE 3

UNIVERSITY NEWS

SCIENCE & RESEARCH

U. students plan leave to work on campaign trail

U. political researchers discuss 2020 primary

Students express obligation to play role in important upcoming elections

BY KATIE CHEN SENIOR STAFF WRITER This fall, while some students will look forward to apple-picking, pumpkin spice lattes and shopping period, others will trade in their textbooks and backpacks for long workweeks spent knocking on doors and organizing communities.

Citing the importance of the 2020 Presidential Election this November, these students will be taking a leave of absence from the University to work on political campaigns.

For Seth Goldstein ’22, it’s an issue deeply tied to his home state of Wisconsin, where he plans to return to canvass in the fall.

“Wisconsin is one of the three states that Trump (marginally won by) the electoral vote, and it was by (22,000) votes. I just remember that feeling of ‘Oh my god, how is it that my state is the one that elected this guy?’”

Goldstein said. “How could I be here, thinking about political action when I have the most important opportunity to practice it?”

For other students, their roles in campaigns are tied to the future of specific issues that are important to them.

“This election is kind of the last chance we have to turn things around and avoid the worst of climate change, so that’s what gives me the biggest feeling of urgency. The main reason why I decided to consider (going on leave) is because it feels like I can’t just sit on the sidelines and watch things unfold,” said Galen Winsor ’22, who plans to work on a House or Senate race in New England this fall.

“This election is too important, and I can’t really imagine being on a college campus while it’s going on,” added Matt Rauschenbach ’23, who plans to work on the campaign of the Democratic nominee. “Should we lose the House or continue to not have control of the Senate, whoever is President for the next four years is going to be pretty important.”

While Goldstein, Winsor and Raus-

SEE CAMPAIGNS PAGE 4

Researchers examine minority voters, filibuster, populism, electoral issues

BY RAHMA IBRAHIM SENIOR STAFF WRITER With the 2020 Democratic primary under way, University political scientists are researching new ways to evaluate the current election cycle and incorporate current election news into the classroom. Professors Katherine Tate, Richard Arenberg and Rachel Meade spoke with The Herald about their research and experiences as they relate to the 2020 election.

Katherine Tate: 2020 and the Black vote Katherine Tate, a professor of political science, has focused her work on understanding trends in the Black electorate. Tate currently teaches two political science courses — POLS 1315: Social Groups in American Politics and POLS 1823H: Public Opinion. In these classes, Tate hopes to provide undergraduates with minority perspectives so that they may develop a deeper understanding of policy debates.

In her research, she discovered that since the 1990s, Black voters and Congressional Black Caucus members have been becoming less liberal. Tate said that white voters did not see this same trend. Her research analyzed national polls of eligible Black voters as well as NOMINATE scores, which assign an ideological score to political entities, including the Congressional Black Caucus, and are often used by other researchers.

But current progressions in the 2020 primaries have caused Tate to reevaluate this trend. Many Black voters originally supported former Vice President Joe Biden, who is viewed as a more moderate candidate, but Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has picked up

SUMMER ZHANG / HERALD

News

News

Commentary

Metro

As the Rhode Island primary nears, few state politicians have endorsed a candidate Page 2

Graduate labor regulations could see major changes following the 2020 election Page 3

Apple ’21: Rhode Island needs better voter I.D. laws, trails behind other blue states Page 7

Apple ’21: Rhode Island needs better voter I.D. laws, trails behind other blue states Page 7

support. “Sanders is Black (voters’) second choice because they are too moderate,” she said. Despite the leftward shift in Black politics, Tate believes that Black voters “would rather fix Obamacare than have Medicare for All.” Overall, candidates have been scrambling for endorsements from Black community members, Tate said, citing former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as having asked for endorsements from Black leaders.

“The Black vote is critical in determining who gets to be the nominee,” Tate said.

Richard Arenberg: 2020, the fili-

SEE RESEARCHERS PAGE 2

TODAY

TOMORROW

53 / 43

60 / 43

2

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

METRO

Some R.I. politicians endorse candidates, most refrain Many politicians remain officially neutral, some throw support behind moderate candidates

BY BEN GLICKMAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER

RESEARCHERS FROM PAGE 1 buster and 34 years working at the US Capitol Richard Arenberg, a visiting professor of the practice of political science and senior fellow in international and public affairs, came to Brown 11 years ago after spending 34 years on Capitol Hill in senior staff positions with three different US Senators.

He has since taught various courses on Congress, the presidency, campaigns and elections. This semester, he is teaching POLS 1100: US Congress, where he hopes to impart a respect and admiration for the US Congress. “I teach about (Congress’) frailties and failures, but I greatly admire the role Congress plays in our system and think it is the heart and soul of the democratic system,” Arenberg said. In his other course this semester, POLS 1130: American Presidency, Arenberg teaches undergraduates about the history and evolution of the presidency.

In Arenberg’s co-published book “Defending the Filibuster: The Soul of the Senate,” he provided support for maintaining the filibuster of the US Senate —which has become a point of debate among the Democratic presidential candidates. “I admire (Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)) as a political figure among other things, but I think she has chosen to focus on removing the filibuster in the Senate — and that is a very short sighted position she’s taken,” Arenberg said.

The filibuster has been used to “delay debate or block legislation” and is “widely viewed as the Senate’s most characteristic feature,” according to the Congressional Research Service.

NAOMY PEDROZA / HERALD

Governor Gina Raimondo endorsed former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg at an event early last month. She is the only current governor to support Bloomberg after his late entry into the race. Raimondo expressed approval of Bloomberg when she first ran for office in 2010.

The Ocean State’s congressional delegation has also refrained from endorsing any candidates.

In the state assembly, Democratic leadership has shown support for younger moderates. President of the Senate Dominick Ruggerio is supporting Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). “She leads with integrity and class, and she

gets things done,” he said in an email to The Herald. Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello has not officially endorsed a candidate, but according to a spokesperson for the representative, Mattiello has “publicly stated that he has been impressed with Amy Klobuchar.”

House Majority Leader K. Joseph

Shekarchi endorsed former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg before he dropped out of the race last night.

“He has the energy, the stamina and the temperament to be an outstanding president,” Shekarchi said before Buttigieg announced his withdrawal.

Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey did not respond to request

for comment by press time.

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza had also endorsed Pete Buttigieg in September 2019, The Herald previously reported. His endorsement came shortly after a list of over 50 mayors from 26 states expressed their support for Pete Buttigieg in an op-ed in USA Today.

The United States Senate reaches a filibuster when less than 60 of the 100 Senators agree to close debate and move to a vote. During a filibuster, debate can continue indefinitely, effectively halting a bill that lacks Congressional minority support.

Arenberg said that with the filibuster, the senate needs at least some of the minority to vote with the majority, which has been a positive concept in the long history of the Senate, as it fosters discussion and moderation.

“My perspective is that the greatest difficulty we are facing in the Senate is … hyperpartisan polarization ... (making it) very difficult to get the parties to the same table to negotiate.” Arenberg added that removing the filibuster would strengthen that polarization.

“There are a number of critical issues not adequately addressed by our government largely because of the ideological polarization we see,” he said. “A lot of those issues are at the forefront of the Democratic (primaries) … but if these issues will be dealt with going forward, candidates need to address not just what their (political) positions are but (also) how they will get through the legislative process.”

Rachel Meade: 2020 and populist movements Rachel Meade, a visiting assistant professor of political science, has focused her research on the motivation behind the support of populist politics. “A lot of research focuses too much on the leaders, and I wanted to focus more on the identity of the supporters,” she said.

Meade has identified populist

movements as having any “type of language or discourse where people are seen as opposed to a group of (elite establishments).”

Her earlier research identified Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and Sanders’ 2016 campaign as examples of new populist movements. She argues that Trump supporters tended to see the elite as the liberal establishment and the media, and Sanders supporters viewed the elite as the wealthiest one percent of Americans.

In both cases, Meade argues that supporters of these movements felt that elites were against them.

Meade currently teaches POLS0920G: US Populism in Comparative Perspective, where her goal is to introduce students to the “causes and consequences of populist phenomena and compare current and historical cases of US populism with those in Europe and Latin America,” according to the course description on Courses@Brown.

“The (2020) Democratic candidates really illustrate the effects that populism has had on (the Democratic Party),” Meade said. “Sanders was the lone candidate (in 2016) discussing the top one percent and Medicare for All, and that was sensed as a radical message for the Democratic Party,” Meade said. Now, Warren is running on a similar campaign and many Democratic candidates are endorsing similar measures that address the wealth gap, Meade added.

LITERARY ARTS PRIZES 2020

On the eve of Super Tuesday and two months before the Rhode Island primaries, most of Rhode Island’s prominent Democratic officials have not endorsed a presidential candidate.

Those who have endorsed candidates are supporting a range of moderates.

Gov. Gina Raimondo endorsed former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg at an event early last month, The Herald previously reported. Raimondo, a longtime political ally of the former mayor, is the only current governor to support Bloomberg after his late entry to the race. Raimondo expressed approval of Bloomberg when she first ran for office in 2010, and received his support in her 2014 gubernatorial campaign.

Lt. Gov. Daniel McKee has announced his support for former Vice President Joe Biden. At a fundraiser in Providence Nov. 2019, McKee cited the vice president’s experience in office. The Biden campaign later announced McKee’s official endorsement.

Attorney General Peter Neronha P ’22, General Treasurer Seth Magaziner ’06 and Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, all Democrats, have not endorsed any candidates in the presidential primaries.

The Literary Arts Department is sponsoring the following prizes for the Brown community

Academy of American Poets Prize: For the best poem (up to 10 pages). Open to all Brown students.

Kim Ann Arstark Memorial Awards: For the best poem or poems (up to 20 pages) written in celebration of life. Open to all Brown students.

Mark Baumer Prizes for Language Art: For the best works in language art (any media).

Open to Brown students. A discrete Mark Baumer Prize is open to university staff and information about this will be shared under separate cover.

Feldman Prizes in Fiction: For the best story or stories (up to 20 pages). Open to all Brown students.

Beth Lisa Feldman Prize in Children’s Literature: For best story or stories for children four to eight years old (up to 50 pages). Open to all Brown students (and may be a collaboration).

Frances Mason Harris ’26 Prizes: For a book-length manuscript of poetry or prose fiction by a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate woman.

John Hawkes Prize in Fiction: This contest honors the memory of John Hawkes, the internationally-recognized author and dedicated professor of creative writing at Brown University. The contest is open to all students currently enrolled in the Graduate Program in Literary Arts. The submission must be a work of fiction (up to 50 pages).

Edwin Honig Memorial Prizes in Poetry: Honoring the memory of Edwin Honig — poet, translator and founder of the Literary Arts Department at Brown University (up to 10 pages). Open to all Brown students.

Keith and Rosmarie Waldrop Prizes for Innovative Writing: For literary work, any genre, that best exemplifies the spirit of innovation found in the writings and translations of Keith and Rosmarie Waldrop (up to 15 pages). Open to all Brown students.

DEADLINE: 11:59 PM ON 15 MARCH. ALL APPLICATIONS ARE COMPLETED ONLINE. TO APPLY VISIT: BROWN.EDU/CW THEN GO TO: LITERARY ARTS PRIZE ENTRY 2020

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

3

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Roundup: Graduate labor regulations may see changes in 2020 election NLRB politics may allow U. to no longer recognize graduate student unions

BY KAMRAN KING UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR About 40 years ago, one in five American workers were union members; though membership has dropped to about 10 percent since then, labor is still an essential part of the American political landscape. As graduate student unionization efforts become increasingly prevalent, the 2020 elections could affect labor across the country and on campus.

The long-recognized importance of labor was codified through the passing of the Wagner Act, which led to the creation of the National Labor

SANDERS FROM PAGE 1 Regunberg volunteered with Sanders’ primary campaign in 2016, and Sanders endorsed Regunberg’s ultimately unsuccessful bid to unseat Lieutenant Governor Dan McKee in Sept. 2018.

This year, Ocean State voters will not head to the polls until April 28.

While presidential hopefuls have spent little time campaigning in Rhode Island to date, Speakman said that she expects to start seeing the candidates pay more attention to the state after Super Tuesday, March 3, when voters in more than a dozen states will cast their ballots.

Rhode Island’s primary is a semiopen primary, meaning that unaffiliated voters can vote in a party’s primary.

This, Regunburg contends, plays to Sanders’ strength in the Ocean State.

“His base includes a lot of people who

Relations Board in 1935. According to its website, the NLRB’s mission is to safeguard employees’ rights to organize and join unions and to remedy unfair labor practices.

The NLRB agency hears and rules on cases, and its five-member Board is empowered to engage in rule-making — a lengthier process, not tied to a particular case, that creates a precedent that is difficult to overturn. Once a rule is in place, later judgements by other agencies cannot overrule it. A rule can only be changed by once more engaging in the NLRB rulemaking process.

It is through the Board of the NLRB — whose members are appointed to fiveyear terms on a staggered basis by the President of the United States — that politics enters the NLRB. As a result of this appointment process, the political party in control of the White House is usually able to create a political majority on the NLRB quickly. As a result, the

Board usually follows the Commander in Chief’s political leanings.

The case of graduate student labor is illustrative of the Board’s seesawing tendencies. In a case about graduate student labor at New York University in 2000, the Board supported grad students’ right to collective bargaining.

That Board’s members had been elected during President Bill Clinton’s term.

Four years later, with President George W. Bush’s appointees on the Board, it ruled against grad students’ right to collective bargaining. At the time, there was a graduate student unionization movement at Brown, and the University brought the case that led to this ruling before the NLRB. Although graduate students had already voted to decide whether or not to form a union, the ballots were destroyed with the outcome unknown.

Another 12 years down the line, after President Barack Obama had appointed

members to the Board, it ruled in favor of grad student collective bargaining once more. Two years later, in 2018, Brown graduate students voted to form a union through Stand Up for Graduate Student Employees, The Herald previously reported.

This pattern of reversals continued once President Donald Trump’s nominees joined the Board. But the current board is not making an ad hoc ruling on a case; rather, it is proposing a new rule. This distinct process would be much more difficult to reverse, setting a strong precedent in a weak area of labor law.

The proposed rule would exempt private universities from having to recognize graduate student unions. This would, for instance, allow Brown to abandon its ongoing contract negotiations with SUGSE. While the rule would not prevent private universities from recognizing graduate student unions,

are not ‘true blue’ Democrats,” he added. “They don’t trust the Democratic Party — but they trust Bernie.”

The mass of unaffiliated voters in Rhode Island could create an opportunity for more moderate candidates if they are able to successfully mobilize support, said Tony Simon, a Rhode Island-based political consultant. Given Rhode Island’s late primary date, however, “not a lot of campaigns are spending too much time or resources here right now,” added Simon.

Looking forward to April, Simon said that he thinks “it’s a short period of time to really be able to mobilize a large group of independent voters in this particular election.”

Sanders will likely benefit from already having a campaign infrastructure in place, added Simon. Speakman echoed this prediction, and Regunberg emphasized that Sanders maintains the

largest grassroots campaign in the state.

Still, much could change after Super Tuesday. “A lot will depend on what happens in the next couple of weeks as to who (Sanders’) strongest opponent is,” Simon said. Speakman added that “The whole story may change after Super Tuesday.”

None of the four members of the state’s congressional delegation have picked a candidate yet. Governor Gina Raimondo endorsed Michael Bloomberg last month, The Herald previously reported. She now serves as his campaign co-chair. Cyd McKenna left her position as executive director of the Rhode Island Democratic Party to work for Bloomberg’s presidential campaign in late February.

Votes will also be cast in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut and Delaware on April 28. Rhode Island has 30 delegates at stake, of

which 21 will be allocated on the basis of the primary results.

it would exempt them from the legal responsibility to do so.

The rule was proposed in Sept. 2019 and is currently under a review period.

The NLRB is taking and reviewing comments about the issue, having extended the review period numerous times since September. The NLRB must review all comments before it can implement the proposed rule.

According to a pre-election agreement signed in June 2018 by the University, SUGSE and its union affiliate — the American Federation of Teachers — the University would have “no further obligations to the union” if the rule were to take effect before the University and the union reached a collective bargaining agreement, The Herald previously reported.

The University has not committed to continued bargaining should the rule absolve it of its obligations before contract negotiations are complete.

COURTESY OF TODD CHURCH

Bernie Sanders won a surprise victory in the 2016 Rhode Island Democratic contest, partly due to the state’s semi-open primary.

STAY UP-TO-DATE. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK. FACEBOOK.COM/BROWNDAILYHERALD

4

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

UNIVERSITY NEWS

U. suspends study abroad program in Italy due to coronavirus concerns Students told to depart from Italy, given option to take online UniBo courses, withdraw

BY VICTORIA CARUSO CONTRIBUTING WRITER In light of growing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, the University cancelled its Brown in Bologna program Friday, asking all enrolled students to make arrangements to depart from Italy.

The email from the Office of International Programs announcing the program’s cancellation came hours after a previous email sent to students gave them the option to stay in Italy or leave.

Classes at the University of Bologna have been cancelled since Feb. 24.

At press time, there were almost 1,700 coronavirus cases in Italy, causing 34 deaths, according to a tracker run by Johns Hopkins University. The University’s final decision to suspend the program was a result of the Department of State raising Italy to a Travel Advisory Level 3: Reconsider Travel, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raising Italy to a Travel Warning Level 3: Avoid Non Essential Travel. At press time, there were no cases of the virus in Bologna.

“While we understand that this is incredibly disheartening news, especially since we have been working hard over the past days to put contingency plans in place that would allow you to remain in residence in Bologna — and more importantly because this comes so soon after our earlier message — we unfortunately have to make arrangements for your departure,” the email from OIP states. “This is a testament to how swiftly this outbreak has been evolving.”

Brown in Bologna is comprised of seven Brown students, as well as 32 students from other universities. Students are currently rushing to book flights out of Italy by March 7 in order to get their travel covered by the University.

VICTORIA CARUSO / HERALD

Students enrolled in the Brown in Bologna program were told to leave Italy, with the option of taking online courses or withdrawing entirely.

Once out of Italy, they have the option of taking online courses via the University of Bologna remotely, or of formally withdrawing. If students choose to withdraw, they “will receive a full refund of the Brown in Bologna program fee and a prorated refund of housing,” according to the OIP email.

The decision comes amidst a growing number of cancelled collegiate programs, including Rhode Island School of Design in Rome and programs in Florence led by Syracuse University, Johns Hopkins, New York University, Elon University and Stanford University.

Two Brown students were taking part in the Syracuse program and have already left Italy.

Students from the program have shown mixed reactions. Some said that the OIP was premature in cancelling the

program, and think that this decision is an overreaction caused by the sensationalism of the media. Others understand why Brown had to suspend the program.

Joseph Sciales ’21, a Brown student enrolled in Brown in Bologna, said he understands that “it’s not Brown’s fault.”

“Once they reach Level 3 they have no choice but to send us home. But I feel bad that this disease has been such a product of media sensationalism,” Sciales said. He would rather “sign a waiver risking it because there’s a (very high) chance of surviving.”

“I’ll take my chances with it,” he said.

Sophie Otero ’21, another student enrolled in the program, said she understands the program’s cancellation is unfortunate. “But at this point it’s also not just about us. It’s also about spreading the virus, and it has the potential to

kill … (those with vulnerable immune systems), so if I have to leave so I don’t have to possibly infect someone, that’s okay,” Otero said.

Other students expressed concerns about their own health. “I have asthma, so I have a higher chance of dying than a 70-year-old, so when people are like ‘it’s just killing the (older) people,’ they aren’t thinking about my situation,” Lucas Sanchez ’21 said.

Sophia Zamboni, a Tufts University student enrolled in the Brown in Bologna program, thought Brown should have waited longer before making the call to cancel the program. “I immediately burst into tears while I was reading the email. I’m in shock because I think all of us in Italy still feel so safe, and we don’t feel like it’s an emergency,” she said.

“It’s really scary because we’re going to have to take these online classes in an environment that we’re not prepared for.

We didn’t mentally prepare to have to take courses in Italian in America,” she said. “We don’t know what that’s going to consist of but it’s going to be hard — a lot harder than here, and that’s really going to put a strain on mental health, in my opinion,” she added.

Marina Chiaramonte, a Barnard College student, found out about the program closure while she was in London.

She was traveling Saturday to Bologna to pack her things and had a same day flight back to London. She is trying to stay as long as she possibly can in Europe, but her plans remain unclear.

“I slept for two hours last night. I’m falling apart because I can’t just comprehend this right now,” she added.

CAMPAIGNS FROM PAGE 1 chenbach have considered careers in politics, their main motivation for working on a campaign is promoting progressive politics, rather than advancing their careers.

“It will be incredible to get six months of experience working on a campaign, and I’ll get a lot of understanding of how those things work, but it’s a lot about electing someone.” Goldstein said.

Rauschenbach echoed Goldstein’s sentiment: “It is in some ways a career stepping stone, but it’s also important that we make progress.”

It is not rare for students at Brown to take time away from their studies.

“It is pretty common that in a given year we would have between 160 and 200 students taking leave” for a variety of reasons, Deputy Dean of the College Christopher Dennis said. According to Dennis, the University typically sees an increase of student leavetaking during election years.

“Brown is pretty easygoing about leaves. Generally, when the deans are speaking to students they are really helping to clarify goals for the leave and what people want to accomplish,” Dennis added.

Goldstein said that the deans were

SUMMER ZHANG / HERALD

very accommodating about his leave.

“I talked with one Dean who was like, ‘Yeah, I think you should do it, … you will make a big difference,’” Goldstein said.

But taking leave is not without its challenges.

“I’m not going to be finding housing in the same way other second-years are.

I’m leaving my friends for a semester,

and I’m not (going to) have a ton of time to keep in contact, which is a little sad,” Rauschenbach said.

Winsor added that “it definitely feels a little strange imagining graduating a semester later. It’s mainly the social aspect … I want to be able (to) be with the people I care about at Brown.” But he emphasized that it still feels like a

“really important and powerful moment in our nation’s history, and I really want to know that I did all I could to defeat Trump and turn around the House and the Senate.”

To Goldstein, this moment “feels like a cross country race: the feeling when you’re tired, and you’re not done yet, and it is like I could give up now and

cruise to the finish, and I would be fine, or I could really work; I could do really well. ... I can either mail in a ballot and go home and work in the summer, or I could really push, and commit to doing this until November and just do it. It’s exciting. It’s daunting.”

For Rauschenbach “it is a moral imperative.”

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | TODAY

5

CA L E NDA R TODAY

FEBRUARY S

M

Tu

W

Th

F

S

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

S U D O KU

Book Launch: “Organizing While Undocumented” 12:00 P.M. Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center

Contesting and Creating the Hanoi Central Library 12:00 P.M. Peter Green House

Dana Goldstein ’06, NYT: Impact of Education Policy 4:00 P.M. Watson Institute

U-FLi First-Year Mixer 7:30 PM Sciences Library, 5th Floor

TOMORROW Lunch Talk: Empowerment Through Discomfort 12:00 P.M. Nightingale-Brown House

Women’s Lacrosse vs. Holy Cross 12:00 P.M. Stevenson-Pincince Field

Screening: The Edge of Democracy 7:00 P.M. Stephen Robert Hall

Super Tuesday Watch Party 7:30 P.M. Barus & Holley 166

Q U OTE OF TH E DAY

“This election is too important, and I can’t really imagine being on a college campus while it’s going on.”

—Matt Rauschenbach ’23 SEE LEAVE PAGE 1

NOT JUST AN EMOJI CR O S SWO R D

REBECCA HO / HERALD

Polished purple aubergines remind of the duality and duplicity of nature: while eggplants may seem like vegetable produce, it may produce concern to find that they are botanically berries.

6

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | COMMENTARY

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

The wise vote is the moderate vote

BY LEA BRODY-HEINE ’22.5 STAFF COLUMNIST

Since the presidential election of 2016, protests have erupted across the nation. Americans have united in disparate camps for polarized causes, marching in the streets to stand up for what they believe in. More people joined demonstrations in the first 15 months of Donald Trump’s presidency than ever before in American history. The rise in protests from both liberals and conservatives has been accompanied by hostile divisions between the two American political parties — which will only continue to increase if an extremist from either side of the political spectrum is elected in 2020. To avoid this outcome, Democratic primary voters must choose electability and interest in bipartisanship over ideology at the polls tomorrow.

The sizable support base that far-left Democratic candidates have obtained this election cycle is emblematic of a broad push — by both conservatives and liberals — to the outer edges of the political spectrum. According to the Pew Research Center, the “partisan divide has increased in recent years, (and) hostility between Republicans and Democrats has remained high.” Even more troubling, in 2017 a substantial majority of Republicans and Democrats — around 80 percent for both parties — had an “unfavorable” view of the opposite party. Since then, the animosity has only grown during Trump’s administration, resulting in the government’s inability to execute its everyday functions and respond to issues of greater national concern, such as the coronavirus. While we would expect our government to rise to the occasion in preparing for a potential pandemic, polarization has led our leadership to channel most of its energy into nasty rhetoric and childish attacks rather than creating unity around protecting the American people. Governmental dysfunctionality will continue to escalate — to the detriment of American communities — if we elect a president who adheres to radical ideologies in 2020. This is not to suggest that any Democratic nominee would necessarily respond poorly to a pandemic such as the coro-

navirus; rather, if a far-left Democrat held office, it is possible that the Republican party would continue to perpetuate divisive rhetoric rather than coalesce around a bipartisan solution — much like we are seeing today.

The animosity between parties in the Federal Government makes it challenging to elicit bipartisan action, without which political

the current political climate has made unattainable in the next four years. Voters need to recognize that this is a unique political era.

Nominating a candidate in the primaries who can spark powerful excitement for the majority of the Democratic Party is a crucial step toward winning the 2020 election.

While Sanders evokes passion from an ex-

“In a study that polled 40,000 voters, researchers concluded that if Sanders were the Democratic nominee, many Americans who would have otherwise voted for a moderate Democrat would instead vote for Trump.”

progress is inevitably stalled. While some bipartisan bills have been passed under the Trump Administration — such as the First Step Act to reform the criminal justice system — the majority of operations within Congress are not amicable. Statistics presenting the 115th Congress as more legislatively active than its predecessors are deceptive; most of the bipartisan bills passed remain without substance. According to Pew Research, over a third of the bills voted into legislation since 2017 were merely ceremonial in nature. Nominating a candidate who is willing to compromise and reach across party lines is the only way to thwart the increasing difficulties perpetuated by polarization within Congress.

Not only will far-left candidates be unable to manufacture change in the way they, and their supporters, hope due to deep partisan divides — they also will not be successful in the fight against President Trump. While generally I would support the political platforms of far-left candidates such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren, their platforms represent a distant pipe dream that

tremely loyal support base, this excitement is generated largely among far-left-leaning Democrats. Although a moderate stance is highly criticized within Congress, moderates continue to make up a significant portion of the American public. Perhaps this is why meta-analysis on presidential elections have found that moderate nominees historically perform better in general elections than nominees who are more ideologically extreme.

The Democratic nominee must be able to unite both far-left and moderate Americans while expanding voting participation from its dismal 61.4 percent in 2016. By gaining the support of the moderate American public, the Democratic candidate will not only amplify their chance of winning but will also encourage further political participation from Americans who currently feel excluded from politics. The increasing polarization of the current political climate leaves moderate Americans without representation and without a reason to vote. Thus, the opinions from political minorities of the far left and far right control the majority of power in our govern-

ment. Arguably, this engenders frustration and a general unwillingness to continue engaging in politics, leaving the bulk of the American public unrepresented in a federal government designed specifically to represent them.

The desire for a radical change in the direction of extreme leftist ideologies is enormously prevalent among Democrats. It can be difficult to accept a more moderate stance in the presence of a president with questionable morals and a far-right-wing stance. Nonetheless, the Democratic Party must set aside their utopian goals for now and get realistic about which candidates have the highest probability of beating Trump in November. While some polls suggest candidates like Sanders may be more likely to beat Trump, the reality is that moderate votes are key to winning the presidency. In a Vox study that polled 40,000 voters, researchers concluded that if Sanders became the Democratic nominee, many Americans who would have otherwise voted for a moderate Democrat would instead vote for Trump.

Both Sanders and Warren stand further left than candidates such as Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar, who generally call for a more bipartisan approach to fixing our governmental issues. The extreme leftist views of Sanders and Warren could potentially transform into the “socialist” label that Americans are so allergic to. Once a candidate is labeled as socialist, they will lose support from moderate Democrats in the election, a side that is vital in the path toward taking office. This election cycle, the Democratic Party must be united and must vote. If a far-left, socialist-labeled candidate is nominated, the chances of moderate Democrats abstaining from voting on Nov. 3 2020 is high. If this happens, Trump will keep his title as President. If this happens, America will fall further into the pit of polarization and emerging far-right populism. Tomorrow, I hope voters will choose wisely.

Lea Brody-Heine ’22.5 can be reached at lea_brody-heine@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@ browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.

Opinions pieces published in The Herald — which include columns, op-eds , letters to the editor and editorials — are written independently of news coverage.

SINCE 1891

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Editorial Leadership Editor-in-Chief Colleen Cronin Managing Editors Sophie Culpepper Allie Reed Senior Editors Elise Ryan Alex Smolar post- magazine Editor-in-Chief Amanda Ngo

Sections Arts & Culture Editors Katherine Ok Emily Teng

Special Projects Coordinators Jacob Lockwood Melanie Pincus

Metro Editors Henry Dawson Olivia George Isabel Inadomi Maia Rosenfeld

Commentary Opinions Editors Jordan Allums James Flynn Krista Stapleford

News Editors Olivia Burdette Daniel Goldberg Li Goldstein Kayla Guo Kamran King Spencer Schultz

Editorial Page Board Amanda Brynn Riley Pestorius Vicky Phan Krista Stapleford Dylan Tian

Science & Research Editors Emilija Sagaityte Cate Ryan Sports Editor Ryan Handel

Multimedia/Production Design Editors Bilal Ismail Ahmed Hee Won Chung Keelin Lyons Head Photo Editors Rebecca Ho Victoria Yin

Copy Desk Chief Vicky Phan Illustrations Editor Summer Zhang Graphics Editor Usha Bhalla Immersive Editor Michael Bass Business General Managers Nicholas Fabrizio Mariel Jackson Office Manager Diane Silvia Directors Rey Blandon Shreya Das Arman Lateef Michael Wang

@the_herald

facebook.com/browndailyherald

@browndailyherald

youtube.com/browndailyherald

195 Angell St., Providence, RI (401) 351-3372 www.browndailyherald.com Editorial: herald@browndailyherald.com Advertising: 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. Periodicals postage paid at Providence, R.I. Postmaster: Please send corrections to P.O. Box 2538, Providence, RI 02906.

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 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.

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | COMMENTARY

7

One Person, One Vote — No ID

BY CALEB APPLE ’21 OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR Democrats in many states have committed to defending voter rights and increasing turnout as Republicans make efforts to disenfranchise voters. Stacey Abrams, the 2018 Democratic nominee for Governor of Georgia, recently launched Fair Fight, an organization working to build voter protection in states across the country. Several presidential candidates have publicly called for allowing felons to vote as well.

In 2018, Florida voters passed Amendment Four granting felons immediate voting rights upon the termination of their sentence. Rhode Island stands alone as the only blue state which continues to cling to misconceptions about voter fraud and disenfranchises its citizens through strict voter ID laws. The time is now for that to change. Rhode Island citizens should hold their State Legislators accountable and ensure they vote for S2274, a bill to repeal voter ID laws.

Until 2011, Rhode Island had no voter ID laws on the books. However, in that year, Democratic Senator Harold Metts from Providence sponsored a bill that required voters to present identification starting in 2012 and photo identification starting in 2014. In advocating for the legislation, Metts recounted two anecdotes of voter fraud, and asked “why are some so willing to sacrifice the voter integrity of our system on the altar of fear, while only being concerned about what may potentially happen?” The bill passed 27-6 in the Senate, with 20 Democrats in support.

Twelve of those Democrats are still in office, and five of them have strong primary challengers.

Advocates for voter ID laws often argue that our elections are easy targets for voter fraud if we have no identification requirements. However, there is no evidence to sup-

port this. The Washington Post conducted a study which found that between 2000 and 2014, where over 1 billion ballots were cast, there were only 31 instances of voter fraud.

The Brennan Center similarly estimates that voter fraud happens about .00003% of the time. In response to these overwhelming facts, politicians like Metts have countered

plementation, the law has become even more anti-democratic than the written bill.

Around the country, data shows that voter ID laws disproportionately affect the low-income people and minority racial groups.

While 8 percent of white people lack a photo ID, that number rises to 25 percent among African-American citizens. Rhode Island of-

“Rhode Island stands alone as the only blue state which continues to cling to misconceptions about voter fraud and disenfranchises its citizens through strict voter ID laws. The time is now for that to change.”

with more outlandish fictions, comparing unreported voter fraud to unreported rape.

Rhode Island’s voter ID law has undermined democracy in the state. A study done by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that the photo ID laws implemented in Rhode Island significantly decreased turnout. Some studies estimate the decrease in turnout to be between 2 and 3 percent. In addition, when the law first came into effect in 2014, there were numerous instances where poll workers turned away those without IDs, preventing them from casting ballots. But under Rhode Island law, those without an ID are still allowed to cast a provisional ballot, which counts once a voter’s eligibility has been confirmed. Thus, through poor and incorrect im-

fers IDs free of charge, but these IDs are actually far from free in practice. People must still jump through numerous hoops to get an ID, including providing other forms of ID like an employee ID card, an insurance plan card or a credit or debit card. These requirements hurt the numerous low-income people who don’t have access to any of these forms of identification. And even if they do have such a form of ID, it can be financially difficult to go to the DMV or registrar’s office to actually receive the ID, as it requires people to take time off from work, hire a caregiver to watch their kids or pay for transportation.

This kind of active disenfranchisement, particularly of voters of color, has become quite common in red states. In Georgia, then

Secretary of State Brian Kemp purged over a million voters from the rolls during the 2018 election season, forcing people to re-register if they wanted to vote. In addition, he closed almost half the polling sites in the state.

Kemp, who was running for Governor as he was doing this, is estimated to have prevented 85,000 people from voting in the Georgia election. Kemp won by 55,000 votes in that gubernatorial election.

But Rhode Island is not a red state. It has a Democratic governor and Democrats control both houses of the legislature. And yet it has adopted a voter ID law that makes it more difficult to vote. There are 15 states with Democratic trifectas, and Virginia is the only other one with a photo ID law. And the Virginia House voted on Feb. 11 to remove the photo ID requirement, with Governor Ralph Northam saying that he will sign the bill.

In 2015, Senator Gayle Goldin, who represents College Hill, introduced a bill to repeal the law. It died in the Senate Judiciary Committee, even though the Democrats controlled a majority of that committee. Each year since, Goldin has introduced a similar bill, with it gaining no traction in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The 2020 bill, S2274, was released two weeks ago, although no hearing has been scheduled yet. It’s time for something to happen. Democrats must make this passing of the repeal a priority. And the Senate Democrats — both the ones who voted in favor of the original 2011 bill, and those on the Senate Judiciary Committee who continue to block this repeal bill — must be held accountable at the ballot box.

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

STAY UP-TO-DATE. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK. FACEBOOK.COM/BROWNDAILYHERALD

8

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020

METRO

First two presumptive coronavirus cases reach Rhode Island State officials, U. health services address public concern, emphasize preparedness

BY EMILIJA SAGAITYTE SCIENCE AND RESEARCH EDITOR State public health officials announced Rhode Island’s first two presumptive cases of COVID-19 coronavirus Saturday and Sunday respectively after finding out that two people who had returned from a trip to Europe Feb. 22 tested positive. The first presumptive patient, a man in his 40s, is currently hospitalized and receiving treatment; the second patient, a teenager, is currently home with mild symptoms, the Providence Journal reported. Officials have said that the potential risk to those in the state and at the University who have not had direct contact with the patients remains low.

The cases are presumptive — not confirmed — meaning that the patients, after showing symptoms of the coronavirus, tested positive for the virus through a newly developed testing protocol that is being applied nationally. The Rhode Island Department of Health State Health Laboratory conducted the tests, but health officials are still awaiting results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who will repeat the same test. If the CDC’s results corroborate the prior findings, the cases will be confirmed. Rhode Island health officials worked swiftly to implement the protocol this weekend because of the increasing

POLLING FROM PAGE 1 to the polls April 28; the Democratic and Republican primaries are always held on the same day in the Ocean State. The Board of Canvassers will choose polling locations from 421 options and submit their proposals to the Rhode Island Board of Elections, said Jennifer Regan, the planning and programming specialist on the Rhode Island Board of Elections. If approved, the Board of Elections will supply each polling station with voting machines, check-in stations and other necessary materials, Taylor said.

But deciding which polling stations to open is far more difficult than coming up with a number. For one thing, while schools are often used as polling places, Taylor noted that “a lot of schools won’t even let (The Board of Canvassers) use the space if the schools are open and in session.”

Because of this obstacle, the board is “almost forced to combine some of their polls.”

The budget also limits the number of polls that can be opened, and budgetary constraints are complicated further by the difficulty of predicting

need for it, according to Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott MD MPH’11. The patients had recently traveled to several European countries, including Italy, where cases of coronavirus have spiked. The University recently cancelled its study abroad program in Italy, The Herald previously reported.

“My primary message to the people of Rhode Island this morning is that the risk in Rhode Island at this point is low, and (the state in conjunction with federal government has) been preparing for this for weeks,” Gov. Gina Raimondo said in a news conference Sunday which announced the first case. “Be careful and be vigilant, but don’t panic,” she added. “We have an excellent plan in place that’s already working.” Raimondo also emphasized the importance of remaining well-informed about the situation.

“We have known that this (would) happen,” Alexander-Scott said at Sunday’s press conference.“We are ready to respond,”she said.

From the University’s standpoint, “Everyone has been preparing as though there could potentially be a case in the community,” Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Executive Director of Health and Wellness Vanessa Britto said, adding that “There is not (a case) in our direct Brown community that we know of.”

Now that coronavirus has expanded into the state, people may be more conscious of the illness, but “I don’t think that (the case in Rhode Island) directly changes the risk,”Britto said.“It’s certainly a very immediate issue,and so we certainly want people to take good care of themselves,” she said, but “We’re prepared just as we have been all along.”

voter turnout. In 2004, for example, turnout dipped to six percent, yet it reached 32.5 percent in 2008.

Once the locations are confirmed, University student groups will inform students voting in Rhode Island about their closest polling locations. “Leading up to the election, we’re going to distribute informational material about where to vote using our Listserv, social media and by tabling in the Blue Room every Friday from noon to 5 p.m.,” said Jack Malamud ’22, president of Brown’s chapter of Every Vote Counts, a student-led organization focused on voter accessibility and turnout. They are not alone in this effort: Brown Democrats have also been preparing educational materials regarding polling places and information on voting, according to the group’s president, Zoë Mermelstein ’21.

Polling locations will be confirmed in the coming weeks, said Taylor. After March 11, voters will be able to find their closest polling location for April 28 on the Secretary of State’s website.

“We’d love to see every single poll (location) opened,” Taylor added, but the issue of which and how many polling stations are opened is “not an easy decision.”

Despite the ongoing coronavirus developments,the University’s preparation strategies and recommendations on protection against the virus remain unchanged. Students and community members should continue to follow safe hygiene practices, especially if they are in contact with people who exhibit signs of illness, Britto said. These measures include using hand sanitizer, washing one’s hands, getting vaccinated for the flu and covering one’s mouth when they cough or sneeze,Britto added.Those who feel sick should not ignore their symptoms and should instead keep track of their temperature and contact their physicians.

Raimondo and Alexander-Scott recommended similar precautions. Addressing the entire Rhode Island community, Raimondo said,“Every single one of us has to play a role in being prepared and in limiting the spread of this illness.”

Alexander-Scott also said that receiving flu shots is important because it reduces one’s risk of having to go to the hospital, but she advised against wearing masks, which should be primarily reserved for those who are already ill and for health care providers.

Masks are not believed to be beneficial to those who are not sick, Alexander-Scott said.

People who suspect that they may have coronavirus should first be mindful of their symptoms and contact their primary care provider with concerns instead of immediately heading to the emergency department, which would result in long wait times to receive care, she added.

The Rhode Island Department of Health has been following CDC guidelines to determine who qualifies for testing.

“There are enough tests ... but we want to be judicious in how we’re approaching

COURTESY OF CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL

Despite the state’s first cases of coronavirus, Governor Gina Raimondo maintained that risk to Rhode Islanders remains low. it, which is why we have a system that’s set up where we are determining ... when it’s appropriate to use the test and when not to,” Alexander-Scott said. To be tested, a person has to show symptoms themselves.

“If (a person does) not have symptoms, we are not testing.”

Just as it is important to protect oneself from illness, people should also try to avoid spreading illness to others. At the University, “Sometimes people get really concerned about their academic obligations,” Britto said. “But we want people to take their health (and) safety first.” Students should inform their professors or supervisors and avoid attending their classes or other activities if they are feeling unwell. “Do take the appropriate precautions such that you’re both caring for yourself and not potentially putting another community (member) at risk,” Britto said.

Fortunately in the first case, all the steps the person who tested positive for the virus took upon his return to Rhode

Island — such as not returning to work and seeking out treatment — and health care providers’ and health officials’ handling of the situation were “done very quickly; there wasn’t a delay,” Britto added. “This was the most ideal ... situation that could happen in a case like this.” This comment came before the second diagnosis.

“Our thoughts are certainly with this person and their family to continue towards a full recovery,” Alexander-Scott said after the announcement of the first case and before confirmation of the second, in consideration of the first patient who tested positive. The approximately 40 people who had been in contact with him — who do not include the 26 others being monitored, as announced earlier this week — have been instructed on measures they should take moving forward to mitigate any possibility of spreading the illness, but symptoms have not surfaced in these people so far.

“Everyone should take a deep breath,” Alexander-Scott said.

NYT REPORTER ON HOW EDUCATION POLICIES IMPACT FAMILIES, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS Dana Goldstein ’06 national correspondent for The New York Times

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 4 PM – 5:30 PM Joukowsky Forum, Watson Institute 111 Thayer Street MODERATED BY Susanna Loeb director of the Annenberg Institute