Monday, November 19, 2018

SINCE 1891

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

VOLUME CLII, ISSUE 104

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Class explores ruins beneath local soccer field Bruno goes undefeated in

Brown Bears Tip-Off Classic Cambridge ’21 leads Bears with 20.3 points per game throughout critical tournament

By RYAN HANDEL STAFF WRITER

COURTESY OF ALEX MARKO

While Brown students have largely excavated the dig site, sixth graders from Moses Brown School were invited to visit and explore in an effort to expose young students to archaeology field work. than open space, two goals and a few the chance to conduct an archaeological stray balls. But underneath the field dig without having to fly to a remote Students’ excavation at the intersection of Hope and Lloyd site or pay for travel expenses, said Alex uncovers remnants Streets lies the ruins of a house dating Marko GS, who teaches the class. Most of house foundation, back to 1884. Demolished in 1939, the people get their first hands-on experihouse once belonged to the Sack fam- ence with archaeology in a field school inscribed ring ily, longtime Providence residents. The on a one- to two-month assignment, ruins now serve as the dig site for the but this class makes the field more acBy JONATHAN DOUGLAS students of ARCH 1900: “Archaeology cessible, Marko added. With handsSCIENCE & RESEARCH EDITOR of College Hill.” on experience, the course hopes to At first glance, the soccer field at MoIn this unique course, which was teach archaeological techniques and ses Brown School contains little more originally offered in 2006, students get » See ARCH 1900, page 2

The men’s basketball team had a perfect weekend at the Brown Bears Tip-Off Classic, knocking off the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Sacred Heart University and Army West Point to earn a 3-0 record for the tournament.

The Bears’ potent offense, led by guard Desmond Cambridge ’21, allowed them to race out to an early lead in all three games and hold on for a win each time.

Brown’s strong tournament represented an emphatic rebound from an 0-2 start to the season, in which both losses came by three or fewer points.

Guard Brandon Anderson ’20 said that the Bears spent the days before the tournament “focusing on the things that we need to do individually to help the team be successful, and it showed this weekend.”

Bruno (3-2) took on the UMass Lowell River Hawks (3-3) Friday in its first game of the weekend. Josh Gantz and Alex Rivera helped the River Hawks to an early 13-6 lead in the first half, but the Bears quickly bounced back. Bruno

took an 18-16 advantage after a strong run led by two three-pointers from guard Chris Sullivan ’19 and harnessed the momentum to take a 45-30 lead into halftime. Though the persistent River Hawks refused to back down, drawing within four points of the Bears in the second half, Brown stood firm for the 82-74 win.

Brown’s second game of the weekend was a similar story, as the Bears raced out to a 42-28 halftime lead over the Sacred Heart Pioneers (2-3). The Bears maintained a comfortable advantage for the first nine minutes of the second half, but an 11-0 Pioneer run, which included nine points by Sean Hoehn, cut Brown’s lead to just three with 9:42 remaining. Although Sacred Heart hung close with Bruno for the remainder of the contest, a gritty finish enabled Brown to keep ahead and earn an 82-77 victory.

In the final game of the tournament, Brown downed the Army Black Knights (1-4) with a score of 86-66. Eight threepointers in the first half powered the Bears to a 20 point halftime lead, and this time Bruno remained comfortably ahead as there was no second-half surge by the other team. The closest the Black Knights could come in the second half was within 19 points as Brown cruised to its third triumph. » See M. BBALL, page 2

Bears finish second winless U. examines lead paint in Donovan House Ivy League season in a row Brown falls to Dartmouth 49-7 on road, finishes year 1-9 overall with lone win against Georgetown

By ALEX SMOLAR SENIOR STAFF WRITER

More than two years ago, the football team walked off Memorial Field in Hanover, New Hampshire as winners following a 24-21 victory over Dartmouth.

That was the last time that the Bears won an Ivy League football game. In the last 737 days, Brown has been on the losing end of 15 straight conference matchups, with the most recent defeat coming in a 49-7 rout against the Big Green Saturday.

When the team walked off Memorial Field again this weekend, it did so having completed its second straight 0-7 season in the Ivy League, and capped off one of the most fruitless periods for the Bears in the past half century.

“This season has shown me that college football is a team game and all 11

INSIDE

guys have to do their job on every play to be successful,” wrote quarterback Michael McGovern ’21 in a statement to The Herald. “This season was tough, but I’m proud to lead and play next to my brothers out there.”

The game followed a familiar script for the Bears — one that haunted the team in brutal losses to Cornell and Columbia earlier in the season. The Bears played well enough in the first half to stay in the game, only to collapse in the second. Despite the loss, players spoke highly of their teammates’ commitment.

The seniors “are some of the best examples of dedication and perseverance that I have ever witnessed,” McGovern wrote. The offensive line “made a lot of sacrifices to protect the running backs and me. … Every time they go out and give it their all and I’m proud to play behind them.”

I am “really proud of how the guys went out and competed every Saturday for 60 minutes,” even though the team occasionally lacked a solid running and » See FOOTBALL, page 2

JEFF DEMANCHE / HERALD

Though students discovered chipping lead paint on the interior walls of Donovan House, Environmental Health and Safety concluded that it is unlikely to cause lead exposure.

The Department of Facilities Manage- at 219 Bowen Street — tested areas of Students discover lead ment will work with a painting contractor the house’s interior walls for lead in early paint at 219 Bowen Street, certified by the Environmental Protec- October, according to Jasmine White ’19. walls to be repainted over tion Agency to repaint areas of Donovan Upon inspection, Environmental Health House over winter break following stu- and Safety concluded that the chipping winter break dents’ detection of lead in chipping wall paint in the building is unlikely to cause paint. The residents of Donovan House­ lead exposure, Director of EHS Stephen

By JACOB LOCKWOOD — an on-campus, substance-free dorm SENIOR STAFF WRITER » See LEAD, page 3

WEATHER

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

SCIENCE & RESEARCH University lab researches cancer cells through multidisciplinary approach

COMMENTARY Editors’ Note: Herald’s 128th Editorial Board wishes readers Happy Thanksgiving

COMMENTARY Sachan ’22: Football encourages people to come together during Thanksgiving

COMMENTARY Simshauser ’20: Democrats should run more progressive candidates to rally base in 2020

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PAGE 2 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

» FOOTBALL, from page 1 passing game during the season, wrote tight end Anton Casey ’19 in a statement to The Herald. Dartmouth utilized a dual-quarterback system, featuring Derek Kyler and Jared Gerbino. In just their second drive of the game, the Big Green drove down to the one, and Gerbino faked a run but passed to a wide open Connor Rempel in the endzone to take an early touchdown lead.

The Bears, meanwhile, were able to move the ball early on but had back-toback drives stall on failed fourth down conversions. Bruno’s only points came on special teams, as Dartmouth muffed a punt that Brown recovered in the endzone. This potentially momentum-shifting play tied the game at seven and put the Bears in position to secure an upset.

But it was not meant to be.

The Bears played with high energy in the first half against a Big Green squad that seemingly underestimated them, as Bruno’s defense was able to get crucial fourth down stops and even force a fumble by Gerbino. Though, with just 16 seconds left in the half, Kyler found Drew Hunnicutt on a slant in the endzone to give the Big Green a 13-7 lead at halftime.

Dartmouth picked up right where it left off to start the second half, as Gerbino and Rashaad Cooper gashed

COURTESY OF BROWN ATHLETICS

Ryan Putnam ’21 makes a tackle against Penn in a 13-7 defeat Oct. 27. Linebacker Daniel Aidman ’19 led the Bears in tackles this season with 91, while defensive lineman Michael Hoecht ’20 led in sacks with 3.5.

Brown’s defense with numerous long runs. Cooper capped off the drive with an 18-yard touchdown gallop to extend the lead for the Big Green.

With the score, Bruno’s chances for victory evaporated. Dartmouth scored touchdowns on each of its first five drives of the half, to bring its final offensive output to 49 points after earning only seven near the end of the second quarter.

Brown simply could not match the Big Green’s offensive explosion and was shut out in the final two quarters.

While Dartmouth scored on nearly all of its second-half possessions, the Bears punted four times, threw two interceptions, fumbled once and had another turnover on downs.

When the final whistle sounded, Dartmouth had outgained Brown in

total yards 526-248 and first downs 2916. The Bears were unable to run the ball effectively all season, and displayed this trend again Saturday as the Big Green rushed for 365 yards and Bruno ran backwards for negative 23 yards.

McGovern finished the game throwing 34-55 with 271 yards and a pair of interceptions.

This loss caps one of the most

»ARCH 1900 , from page 1

DANIELLE EMERSON / HERALD

Zach Hunsaker ’20 handles the ball against the University of Massachusetts Lowell Friday in an 82-74 victory.

Desmond Cambridge ’21, named Tournament MVP, led the Bears with 61 points over the three games.

» M. BBALL, from page 1 “Our defense was sound and solid throughout, and that’s why they weren’t ever able to make an established run,” said Head Coach Mike Martin ’04 about Brown’s performance against the Black Knights.

Cambridge put up a total of 61 points over the three games, including a 25-point scoring outburst against Sacred Heart. Other key contributors included forward Tamenang Choh ’21, who averaged 8.7 rebounds per game throughout

the tournament and posted a doubledouble against Army, and Anderson, who averaged 9.3 points per game on the weekend. Cambridge, Choh and Anderson were named to the Brown Bears Tip-Off Classic All-Tournament Team, and Cambridge was named Tournament MVP. Guard Zach Hunsaker ’20 believes the Bears’ ability to build momentum helped them jump out to early leads in each game. “When we get those open shots and get that first one going, we get into a rhythm,” he said.

Anderson also acknowledged the Bears’ offensive prowess and said that Brown’s defense made the difference this weekend. “Last season we were basically outscoring teams to win, and this season we know we’re going to score,” he said, adding that it is only a question of “can we get the stops.”

The fast-improving Bears will look to carry this weekend’s momentum throughout the rest of their non-conference schedule. They host Division III opponent Salve Regina Wednesday, before facing Bryant in a Sunday showdown.

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give students a better understanding of the history of the University’s surroundings, he said. “We want to use objects and context to try to understand people,” he added.

After digging for several weeks during the first half of the course, students learn how to analyze archaeological artifacts in the lab. Over the years, students have explored several spots close to the classroom, including the Quiet Green and the First Baptist Church of America.

Four years ago, students combed through housing records at the Rhode Island Historical Society and found evidence that the soccer fields at Moses Brown contained much more than what immediately met the eye. Multiple documents provided evidence that the site contained the ruins of the Sack family house, so the group began digging. After four years of work at the site, the exact locations of this year’s dig are new. Previous digs from past students indicated that the chosen spots held remains of the house’s foundation and possibly more. Students first marked off the area, then carefully peeled back decades of dirt class after class.

After digging for several weeks this fall, students have uncovered extensive remains at the site. Hours of digging, scraping and sifting through dirt have revealed significant portions of the house’s foundation, decorative tiles and dozens of nails that once held the home in place. In a flashy surprise, Yale Friend ’19, a student in the course this year, uncovered an inscribed ring at the site. Though the class has been unable to determine the ring’s origins, they are beginning to run lab experiments to unlock its mysteries. While they wait to analyze it in the lab, class members speculate that the object is either a class ring or commemorative of a special occasion.

The digs have been conducted almost entirely by the students in Marko’s course, but the group invited sixth grade students from Moses Brown to

disappointing football seasons in the program’s history. The Bears only won one game this season, dominating Georgetown University 35-7 in September. Brown’s 1-9 record this year marks the first time that the Bears have won fewer than two games since the team went 0-10 in 1992. The Bears have gone 0-7 in the conference before, but they have never done so two years in a row.

Since Ivy League football became standardized in 1956, the only other team in the Ancient Eight to have experienced consecutive 0-7 seasons is Columbia.

“We have to understand that this family is what takes the field on Saturdays and playing for each other is all that matters,” McGovern wrote.

When the team takes the field again next fall, only its seniors will know the feeling of an Ivy League victory. This makes for a long offseason for all of Brown’s players and fans, as the clock keeps ticking since the team’s last conference win in 2016.

“Nine of the 11 offensive starters are returning next year, which is huge in terms of experience,” Casey wrote. “The spring will allow these guys to gel and effectively play better as a unit next fall.”

“We have to stick together and work for each other and rebuild this program,” McGovern wrote. “The work towards next season starts right now.”

visit the site as part of an effort to engage the students studying only a few hundred yards away. The course supports community interaction and participation in many other ways as well.

Students are encouraged to have a final project that is “outward-facing” and makes the findings accessible — such as a presentation at a local school or conference, Marko said. A community dig day in October also helped bring local residents to the site to uncover artifacts for themselves. The class will present some of its findings in February alongside another archaeology class, ARCH 0317: “Heritage in the Metropolis: Remembering and Preserving the Urban Past,” as part of Providence’s Year of the City, which highlights the centuries of rich Providence history.

Many of the course’s 13 students had little or no previous experience in archaeology prior to enrollment, Marko said. They came from diverse academic backgrounds but all wanted to learn about archaeology in a handson way, he added.

Friend said that he was particularly excited about the opportunity to take a class that would let him get outside for a few hours during the week. “I love being outside, I love working with my hands and this gives me a break from normal lab work,” he said.

Sasha Pinto ’21 enjoys learning about what an archaeologist does to uncover artifacts. “I had no concept of what an archaeologist did,” she said.

“It gives you an appreciation for what’s underneath you everyday.”

The class also lets students learn about history from perspectives that are not always covered in textbooks, especially those that are typically minimized in historical narratives such as women and people of color, said Rachel Gold ’19, a former Herald senior staff writer. “We can fill in a lot of gaps in the textual record,” she described. “Other than the fun of digging up the dirt, there’s a potential to learn about what the artifacts are saying together with what the texture of the dirt is saying,” she added.

NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018 • PAGE 3

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

University lab tackles cancer from multiple angles Researchers hope new printing techniques, biological pathways reveal hidden processes in cancer

By EMILIJA SAGAITYTE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Observing cells in petri dishes, pipetting biochemical solutions into glass tubes — these images often come to mind when one envisions cancer research. But Assistant Professor of Engineering and Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology Ian Wong has taken a more comprehensive approach in his lab that primarily focuses on the emergence, early spread and behavior of cancer cells.

By incorporating computation and biotechnology into biology and chemistry, Wong — who could not be reached for comment — has developed his own community of multidisciplinary researchers that are not only trying to enhance the field, but are doing so through a multitude of lenses, said Susan Leggett GS, a member of Wong’s lab.

As one of the biology specialists in the lab, Leggett began working with Wong as a graduate student shortly after Wong came to the University.

Along with the rest of the group, she has focused specifically on carcinoma

» LEAD, from page 1 Morin wrote in an email to The Herald.

Many University buildings — including Donovan House — were constructed before 1978, the year when production of lead-based house paint was banned, Morin wrote. As a result, many dorms and academic buildings contain leadbased paint. “The presence of lead paint itself does not pose an exposure hazard,” he wrote. “The primary routes of exposure are inhalation and ingestion when there is significant paint damage.” Inspectors found only minor paint damage in Donovan House, he added.

Facilities Management routinely paints over the walls inside University buildings and retouches areas where paint has deteriorated, said Director of Residential Life Melissa Flowers. Because of this, many layers of paint without lead cover the old lead-based paint.

“Per guidelines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the safest remedy for minor damage where lead paint may be present is to repair and repaint,” Morin wrote.

Chipping paint can expose old layers of lead paint that have been covered, Flowers said. Lead can pose health risks when it is consumed, but the chance of consuming lead in old wall paint is small, she explained. In addition, lead exposure is primarily dangerous for children under the age of six, she said.

Though Donovan House residents who spoke with The Herald expressed some concern over the health risks posed by lead exposure, White said she does not feel unsafe living in Donovan House

— one of the most prevalent types of cancer that affects many of the cells that composing the epithelial tissue lining the body, she said. Leggett has dedicated significant attention to epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a process in which these high-plasticity epithelial cells change to more closely resemble cells that can move more freely about the body and cause harm. Leggett said that EMTs have been identified in some cancer patient tissues and account for “a lot of the fundamental changes (of cancer cells) that are being quantified.” Looking ahead, she added that “if we learn some fundamentals about this process, perhaps why it happens, when it happens, how to control it or reverse it, now we might have some translation targets” or clinical applications.

The research at Wong’s lab has also led to the discovery that, upon stimulation, cells can migrate while staying together, Leggett said. The team has explored this phenomenon by studying cells in a three-dimensional environment resembling that of an actual cell, a task that falls into Thomas Valentin’s GS area of expertise.

Valentin, who has been in the lab since September 2014, works with biomaterials and 3D printing and has created 3D-printed hydrogels out of synthetic polymers. What makes these hydrogels unique is their ability to

conglomerate on their own after being taken apart, as well as their tendency to react and move, Valentin said. More recently, the researchers designed hydrogels that do not degrade easily and can therefore be used to build structures, he added.

The team 3D prints using stereolithography, which operates differently from more common 3D printers, Valentin said. The lab’s printers use a laser that converts liquid plastic into solid plastic, unlike conventional printers that shoot out melted plastic. “There are very few labs that I know of, at least in the United States, that use this strategy of 3D printing. The benefits are that it’s very fast, but it requires more complex chemistry,” Valentin said. These printers in the lab are also relatively old — from the ‘90s — but by prioritizing accuracy, speed and flexibility, the researchers have continued to use them. “I go into it, and I can change every single parameter within the printer that I want. It’s 100 percent customizable,” Valentin added.

Wong’s lab then brings the work from the bench to the screen by approaching the 3D modeling of these cancer cells through computer science and mathematics. Utilizing microscopic images and data to create computational models, Dhananjay Bhaskar GS has worked on digitally and mathematically representing

while waiting for Facilities Management to repaint the walls. “To my knowledge, our exposure isn’t super high,” she said.

“But if there is paint that could cause lead exposure, it’s better to err on the side of caution and not have it present at all.”

Kiana Phillips ’19, another Donovan House resident, said the lead paint makes her feel more uncertain than unsafe. “There’s definitely this air of mystery about where there is and isn’t lead exposure in the house,” she said.

“But I don’t feel overburdened by the hazardousness.”

Facilities Management conducts annual inspections of most rooms after students move out of their dorms in May. If inspectors see damaged paint during their annual inspections, Facilities Management will repaint portions of the wall as needed, Flowers said. Since dorms are evaluated in May, paint damage can only be caused by wear and tear that occurs in the time between room inspections, she added.

Phillips, who lived in Donovan House last year as well, recalls the wall paint being similarly chipped before she moved out for the summer. “Why did they miss that?” she said. “What are they not testing?”

Not all chipped paint is serious enough to require repainting, Flowers said. The University has added many layers of non-lead-based paint since 1978, so “really superficial scratches are okay,” she said.

If students see chipped paint in their dorm rooms, they should not be alarmed, but they should report it, Flowers added. “That should be a quick

call to Facilities Management,” she said.

“They’ll come and evaluate it and see whether or not it needs to be touched up.”

White said she was comforted to learn that Facilities Management handles chipping paint through their annual room inspections. But Phillips said that the lead detected in Donovan House suggests a flaw in the University’s process of covering up lead paint. “The system should not rely on students reporting (chipped paint),” Phillips said. “Right now, whatever system they have doesn’t really seem to be working.”

After detecting lead in their chipping wall paint, Donovan House residents — including Phillips and White — asked the University to publicize the presence of lead paint in the walls of many buildings on campus.

ResLife and Facilities Management are working with residents of Donovan House to develop a fact sheet that notifies students of lead paint’s existence in dorm walls under more recent layers of paint. It also explains why students should report chipped paint, Flowers said. This notification will be completed in time for the spring semester and will be included in housing contracts moving forward. “We’d rather inform students than have them living in fear in their own spaces,” she added.

White and Phillips both agreed that ResLife and Facilities Management must make students aware that there is lead paint in many dorms without causing panic. “I don’t want students to feel like, ‘I’m going to die,’” White said. “It’s not like that. But it still should be addressed.”

communication between, and movement of, cancer cells. Within this area of research, topology — the study of figures and points in space — can be applied to understand the spread of cancer cells, and 3D image segmentation can serve to graphically recreate and quantify the three-dimensional shapes of cells observed in the hydrogels, a difficult task for which Bhaskar is currently generating algorithms.

In their research, the group has faced significant challenges. In addition to a shortage of proper equipment, “when you write models for a cellular and tissue scale, you have to take into account things that happen at the subcellular level,” such as cell signaling and forces between cells, Bhaskar said. “The key challenge for me is to develop models in concert with a great experimental data analysis and to make sure my models are realistic when, in reality, I calibrate my models using images that are taken from the microscope,” he added.

There are difficulties in the biological component of the research as well, Leggett said. Cancer can vary in every patient, but the lab has made progress in identifying even subtle changes in cell structure or function.

“We developed a platform to be able to detect on a single-cell level” when a cell has undergone EMT, Leggett said.

This technique may be used to detect

cancer in animals and patients in the future, she added.

The group also hopes to expand upon their work in the near future. The team is excited by the idea of putting “tumor cells in a context of different types of metastatic niches,” and studying how cells react in these environments, Leggett said. They also hope to find a way to use drugs to prevent or reverse EMTs, she added.

With the multitude of STEM disciplines mixed into Wong’s lab, the team hopes to continue to improve and innovate in the field of oncology. “I’d never thought I’d work in a biomedical engineering lab when I first came here, but I’m glad I did because … I got to gain a lot of different perspectives and kind of a new toolbox … especially with how interdisciplinary our lab is,” Leggett said. “When we meet as a group to discuss (the projects), … people are tackling it from different ways of thinking, and that to me can make the research more powerful,” she added.

Valentin was originally drawn to the mentorship in the lab. “The way (Wong) manages is hands-on and hands-off,” adding that “(Wong) doesn’t want to necessarily limit us to one singular focus, which is just cancer. He kind of lets us find our passion and keeps it relatively related to his wheelhouse.”

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PAGE 4 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Decoding the Human Brain with Data Opening Remarks: Diane Lipscombe Director of the Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science

Bjorn Sandstede Director of the Data Science Initiative

Featuring: Matthew Harrison Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics

Stephanie Jones Associate Professor of Neuroscience

Dima Amso Associate Professor of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences

Moderated By: Cornelia Dean Visiting Professor of the Practice of Science, Technology and Society Science Writer for The New York Times

Wednesday, December 5, 2018, at 5 p.m.

To request special services, accommodations or assistance for this event, please contact the University Event & Conference Services Office at universityevents@brown.edu or 401-863-3100

Institute at Brown for Environment & Society Room 130 85 Waterman Street Reception to Follow

Building on Distinction: Integrative Scholarship at Brown Featuring the Carney Institute for Brain Science and the Data Science Initiative

TODAY

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018 • PAGE 5

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

menu

c a n a d a g o o s e i n i t s n at u r a l h a b i tat

SATELLITE DINING ANDREWS COMMONS

Pizza: Pepperoni, Sammy Special, Barbecue Chicken Ranch Grinder, Pho Bar, Pulled Pork Sandwich JOSIAH’S

BLUE ROOM

Dumpling Bar, Thanksgiving Burger, Tomato Soup

Turkey Chili, Spinach and Feta Soup, Bread Bowl

DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH

DINNER

Five Spice Chicken, Sticky Rice, Sweet Chili Beef with Sesame Noodles, Roasted Carrots

Italian Style Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Piccata, Sauteed Broccoli with Garlic

VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH

DINNER

Sweet Potato Soup with Green Pea, Beef Tacos, Bean and Garden Burger Tacos

Chicken Pasta Carbonara, Cheesy Polenta, Sweet and Spiced Baby Carrots

sudoku

NICOLE KIM / HERALD

Winter may have come early to Providence this year, but that isn’t stopping students from braving the cold and spending some quality time outdoors playing in the snow, doing homework or just enjoying the fresh air.

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

crossword

“We have to stick together and work for each other and rebuild this program. The work towards next season

”

starts now.

— Quarterback Michael McGovern ’21

See Football on page 2.

CORRECTION A previous version of the Nov. 15 article “Photo exhibition chronicles archaeological excavation” misspelled Kelley Tackett’s ’20 name as Kelly Tackett. The Herald regrets the error.

calendar TODAY NOVEMBER

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

Across the Aisle: PostElection Discussion 4:00 P.M. Watson Institute

Colloquium with Matt Reece (Harvard) 4:00 P.M. Barus and Holley, 166

Invited Talk with Dr. Chandra Ford 4:00 P.M. 121 South Main St

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Chinese Language Table 12:00 P.M. Page-Robinson Hall, 340

Turkish Language Table 3:00 P.M. Page-Robinson Hall, 312

Screening of The Last Pig and Discussion 7:00 P.M. Friedman Hall, 108

Telescope Observing Night at Ladd Observatory 7:00 P.M. Ladd Observatory

COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

EDITORS’ NOTE LETTER TO THE EDITOR

What we are thankful for

Paxson establishes false dichotomy between unionization and collaboration To the Editor: Is there any evidence that unionization at other universities has corroded positive relationships between graduate students and administrators? If there is, President Paxson P’19 would do well to share it. It is hard to imagine that graduate students at, say, New York University, have seen their relationships with professors and administrators worsen now that they receive compensation for their teaching in addition to their stipends.

The president’s letter unwittingly indicates the need for unionization — for she shows herself to be

(willfully?) unaware of the basic fact that graduate students are workers.

They are students, of course, but they are also workers. That is just a fact about the structure of the University. It is a fact which remains true whether or not the University takes the honest step of recognizing it.

During mandatory meetings, Target employees watch anti-union videos; such videos argue not only that unions are inefficient, but also that they are superfluous and threaten to undermine the “community” of the (supposedly) happy and supportive workplace. Can we have any doubt as to Target’s real interest in preventing

unionization?

It is easy to see that the same moves are at play in Paxson’s letter.

The letter implies, without ground, that there is a foundational opposition between, on the one hand, unionization, and on the other, true collaboration, mutual respect and progress. Honesty and nuance demand that we spurn this false dichotomy. It is no surprise that owners of corporations fail to do so. Still, it is a disappointment when the leaders of purportedly liberal academic institutions fail to, too.

Margaret Shea ’19

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COMMENTARY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018 • PAGE 7

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

A retreat from the center DEREK SIMSHAUSER staff columnist As the final provisional ballots from the 2018 midterm elections are counted, and the forecasted Democratic wave in the House becomes more precise (most likely a gain of at least 37 seats), the electoral significance can be parsed. Certainly, exit polls from the House have already revealed concrete changes in the electorate that led to the Democrats’ triumph, such as their massive gains among women and increased turnout. When the vote tallies are finalized, Democrats will have won the House popular vote by between 7 and 8 percentage points — the largest disparity since 2006, and larger than either Republican wave in 2010 or 1994. For most everyone (New York Times columnist Bret Stephens notwithstanding), there is little question that this was a “wave election,” at least in the House.

However, it is elsewhere that the significance of national politics must be more rigorously examined. Democrats faced a difficult Senate map in 2018, with seven incumbents running in states that voted for President Trump in 2016. As Democrats look to 2020 and beyond, they would do well to learn from their senatorial and gubernatorial races in Trump states: Rather than run quasi-conservative campaigns to persuade the elusive “Obama-Trump” voter, they should

turn to progressive candidates who inspire the base and boost turnout.

In Texas and Georgia, the benefits of a progressive candidate were manifest in both turnout and downballot results. While former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) lost his senatorial bid, and Stacy Abrams is likely to lose her gubernatorial race, the significance of the results extends beyond the binary outcome of the headline races. Up and down the ballot in Texas, the “Beto effect” could be seen; voter turnout spiked to 46.1 percent, leaps and bounds above the dismal 28.3 percent turnout rate from 2014, according to Elect Project. Voters who turned out in droves for Beto helped elect Democrats down the ballot in Texas; the party flipped two seats in Republican districts and came within a hair of unseating another Republican (Will Hurd) in the 23rd district.

In the Peach State, Abrams’ campaign remained firmly progressive, even while running against arch-conservative Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Despite fairly comprehensive reports of voter suppression, she came within two percentage points of winning. According to the Times, she garnered over 1.9 million votes — the highest Democratic vote total in the state’s history. Similar to the races in Texas, the downstream effect of Abrams’ campaign netted substantial gains for Democrats. They flipped a House seat in Georgia’s 6th district, came within 800 votes of unseating Rep. Rob Woodall in the

7th district and gained 13 seats in the state house. A more orthodox political strategy would have advised for a centrist campaign. Georgia is both ideologically and politically red; moreover, her opponent happily aligned himself with national Republicans, identifying as a “proud, hardcore Trump conservative” in a campaign ad. By valuing a coherent campaign message, even at the cost of alienating a fraction of moderate voters, Abrams juiced turnout to 55 percent (up from 38.6 percent in 2014), boosted other Georgia Democratic candidates and set a high-water mark for liberal success in the state. Though Abrams ultimately conceded the governorship, her success in energizing the Democratic base shows that progressive values can find traction in c ons e r v at ive states.

Elsewhere in the c o u n t r y, t h e failure o f

moderate Democratic incumbents underscored the fallacy of a centrist campaign. In Indiana, lame duck Sen. Joe Donnelly ran a confusing campaign as a “Trump Democrat.” His ads tried to highlight his streaks of conservatism: “I split with my party,” Donnelly says in one commercial, “to support funding for Trump’s border wall.” He quotes former President Reagan in a different ad and brags about being called “the most moderate Democrat in the Senate” in yet another. On election day, Donnelly was trounced by GOP challenger Mike Braun; though he polled as a slight favorite, Donnelly ended up losing by six percentage points, according to the Times. In Missouri, outgoing Sen. Claire McCaskill’s similarly moderate campaign resulted in an identical six percentage point loss to challenger Josh Hawley. And North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp — who possesses an A rating from the National Rifle Association — was decimated in her re-election bid, losing to Rep. Kevin Cramer by 11 percentage points.

These three outgoing Democrats had a moderate voting record to match their campaign rhetoric. Per FiveThirtyEight’s “Trump Score,” Donnelly, McCaskill and Heitkamp voted with Trump more than any Democratic senator aside from West Virginia’s Joe Manchin.

As the outgoing incumbents learned, Democratic campaign strategy ought to focus on accentuating turnout, not converting moderate DAPHNE ZHAO

voters. Donnelly’s confusing centrism fell flat with the younger coalition in the electorate — voters between ages 18 and 29 voted for Donnelly by a slim margin of 48 to 45 percent, compared to a 67 to 32 percent nationwide disparity in youth support for Democrats as CNN reported in their midterm election coverage. Turnout in Indiana, typically a fairly active state, was just 46.1 percent, falling below the national average. Rather than trying to craft a clear message promoting liberal values, Donnelly fell into the old paradigm and ran a risk-averse campaign. Fearful of alienating any one voter, he failed to see the potential gains to be had by inspiring progressive, young voters. Ultimately, the success of Democrats who held fast to an uncompromising message of progressivism hints at a 2020 plan. This extends beyond O’Rourke and Abrams — Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin both easily secured re-election in states that voted for Trump. Indeed, as the next round of elections approaches, Democrats should recognize this lesson from 2018: As a campaign strategy, coherent progressive messaging is superior to performative conservatism.

Derek Simshauser ’20 can be reached at derek_simshauser@ brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.

Football traditions offer U.S. respite from chaos KSHITIJ SACHAN sports columnist

An international student at Brown once asked me why Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. My first instinct was to mention the pilgrims, but that’s not why most of us celebrate the holiday. At least, not anymore. Today, we treat Thanksgiving as a sort of pause button in the hectic cycle of life. Right before finals, we take a week for ourselves.

We recharge and spend time with friends and family. On Thanksgiving, we ignore our stresses, rivalries and personal ambitions to come together and be thankful for what we have. So what does football have to do with anything I just said? Thanksgiving football transcends all of the noise society throws at us and gives us an opportunity to come together as a community.

Like the real world, the NFL is messy. Constant media coverage of football, from press conferences and post-game interviews to President Trump’s tweets, means the NFL is never out of the news. Cultural tensions bleed into the game, manifested visibly in players kneeling during the national anthem. There’s a lot going on, and it’s easy for the casual onlooker to get so lost in the drama that they forget about the games

themselves.

But at its core, the NFL offers us an opportunity to take a break from the exhausting chaos of the news cycle ­— encouraging unity and a col-

class athletes who come together to play a sport they love. Each of them gives a voice to their team and their city in a way that’s difficult to understand for non-sports enthusiasts.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I compel you to turn on the TV. Sure, there’s a lot of noise in the form of commercials and controversies that separate you from the game. But look

Spend three hours taking a break from the noise of reality and appreciate the football community that comes together as a Thanksgiving tradition.

lective sense of pride. It isn’t the massive stadiums or multi-million dollar paychecks. It isn’t the Super Bowl halftime show or the articles people write about the Super Bowl halftime show the day after. It’s about world-

Fans wait their whole lives with unwavering loyalty for their team to make the Super Bowl. The narrative of a sports team often changes the narrative of a city; winning is a validation and celebration of its identity.

beyond all of that. Look at the wall of screaming fans that Seattle calls its 12th man. Look at the murals all over Philadelphia after the Eagles won the Super Bowl. Look at anyone wearing a Tom Brady jersey. Spend three

hours taking a break from the noise of reality and appreciate the football community that comes together as a Thanksgiving tradition. From the first Thanksgiving game played between Yale and Princeton in 1876 to next week’s matchups, Thanksgiving football will always be an important part of the American identity.

Sure, I could say you should watch Thanksgiving football because it features some of the most exciting divisional matchups. I could say it’s at a crucial point in the year when teams are gearing up for a playoff run with games that make or break a season. Or I could even tell you that the New Orleans Saints, who are the best team in football right now, will be playing Thursday night. But that’s not as important as embracing the Thanksgiving spirit to find something meaningful in this crazy, divisive world. So this Thanksgiving, when you’re sitting at the table trying to fend off your uncle who won’t stop asking you about your summer internship plans and stuffing yourself with pumpkin pie, maybe, just maybe, consider turning on the television and indulging in some beautiful Thanksgiving football.

Kshitij Sachan ’22 can be reached at kshitij_sachan@ brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and other op-eds to opinions@ browndailyherald.com.

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