SINCE 1891 1891 SINCE
THE BROWN THE BROWN DAILY DAILYHERALD HERALD VOLUME CLVIII, ISSUE 45
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023
BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
WHAT’S INSIDE
METRO
Providence Community Herbarium bridges science, storytelling PAGE 5
ADMISSIONS
Brown doubles undergraduate veteran population since 2019 HERALD FILE PHOTO
Lifespan, Brown announce plans to expand existing affiliation, licensing agreements Lifespan hospital network may be renamed ‘Brown Health’ per outside reports BY RHEA RASQUINHA & RYAN DOHERTY METRO EDITOR & SENIOR STAFF WRITER The Corporation and Lifespan’s Board of Directors voted this month on “a new nonbinding term sheet” to extend and expand the existing partnership between the two institutions, accord-
ing to an Oct. 24 Today@Brown announcement. With the existing affiliation agreement between the University and Lifespan, a hospital system that operates in Rhode Island, expiring at the end of 2023, “this is a natural time for conversations about extending our agreement,” wrote University President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 and Senior Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences Mukesh Jain in the announcement. On Oct. 20, WPRI reported that “ad-
PERFORMING ARTS
vanced talks” were underway between the University and Lifespan, including the possibility of renaming the Lifespan health system to “Brown Health.” WPRI later confirmed the rebranding on Oct. 23, though neither party has confirmed the naming. Lifespan is currently the state’s largest hospital system with over 1620 hospitals and clinics, according to its website. Three of these hospitals — Rhode Island, Miriam and Bradley hospitals — are academic teaching hospitals affiliated with the University’s Warren Alpert Medical School,
Paxson and Jain wrote. Many Lifespan physicians in those hospitals are faculty members at the medical school, Paxson and Jain wrote. “Both Brown and Lifespan collectively aspire to ensure robust health care services and biomedical research in Rhode Island and beyond” through means such as “creating the Rhode Island Life Science Hub” and “more well-paying jobs,” Paxson and Jain wrote. The institutions also hope to improve primary and specialty care
BY ISABEL HAHN SENIOR STAFF WRITER The Lindemann Performing Arts Center held its opening celebration Saturday, Oct. 21. The day-long festivities consisted of a block party, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and an inaugural public performance featuring world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman. The Lindemann’s celebration this past weekend aimed to spotlight the presence of arts on campus and act as a preview of the creative endeavors the space will be hosting after its opening. Arts of many mediums across College Hill were featured, in-
ACTIVISM
Students, community members rally in support of Palestine PAGE 14
post-
SEE LIFESPAN PAGE 15
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Lindemann Performing Arts No. 15 women’s soccer comCenter celebrates opening pletes Ivy League four-peat
Festivities include ribbon-cutting ceremony, inaugural public performance
PAGE 3
cluding several a cappella and dance groups, a painting booth organized by Arts for Service, a student community service group and several interactive installations from local artists. “This is more than a building,” said University President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20. “It’s a work that reflects the creativity and expression that will take place inside. … We want this to be a catalyst for making Providence an even more creative destination for the arts.” The Brown Arts Institute staff, governing board and chairs are marking the opening of the Lindemann with “a 14-month celebration of the arts across campus and surrounding communities, not just with one jubilant weekend,” wrote Artistic Direc-
SEE LINDEMANN PAGE 12
Brown will host Ivy tournament to determine guaranteed NCAA bid BY NICHOLAS MILLER SENIOR STAFF WRITER It happened again. The No. 15 Brown women’s soccer team (10-1-2, 6-0 Ivy League) are the champions of the Ivy League — just as they were last season, and the season before that and the season before that, only interrupted by the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This time it was a 2-1 win over Cornell (4-4-6, 0-4-2 Ivy) in Ithaca Saturday that clinched the title, with forward Brittany Raphino ’23.5, the lynchpin of the Brunonian attack across all four championship seasons, fittingly scoring the first goal and as-
sisting on the second. In a sport where consistency can be hard to come by, Brown, which is currently ranked 15th in the country, has not slipped up even once over thecourse of their four-year reign on top of the conference. In that span, the Bears — led by Head Coach Kia McNeill — have recorded 24 wins, two draws and exactly zero losses in conference play. McNeill feels “extreme gratitude and joy” when thinking about the last four seasons, she wrote in a message to The Herald via Brown Athletics. “We have such a special program, and I wish I could pinpoint exactly what it is, but it is something that you can’t put into words.” “It honestly feels amazing; this feeling never gets old,” midfielder Sheyenne Allen ’23.5 wrote in a mes-
SEE SOCCER PAGE 6
SEE PAGE 8
ARTS & CULTURE
SEE PAGE 12
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023
TODAY WEEK IN HIGHER ED
1
FALL ON COLLEGE HILL
MATHIEU GRECO / HERALD
LILA QUINN / HERALD
Harvard students vote to form undergradaute workers union
After nine months of organizing, the Harvard Undergraduate Workers Union has succeeded in its campaigning — with the University’s non-acdemic student workers voting to unionize this week. Out of 154 votes, 153 were in favor of forming the union.
2
361 academics leave Hong Kong public universities due to shrinking freedom
Last year, 361 academics left Hong Kong’s eight public universities, a turnover rate of 7.4 percent and the highest in over two decades, according to official data. Researchers said shrinking academic freedoms and fears of falling foul of a far-reaching national security law in 2020 were encouraging some to leave.
3
TALIA LEVINE / HERALD
Montana State University under investigation by federal Office for Civil Rights
Montana State University, the state’s largest public university, is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights for discrimination. The Office for Civil Rights received more than 20 complaints alleging the flagship failed in its response to reports of harassment and threats based on sex, race, color and national origin. LILA QUINN / HERALD
THIS WEEKEND Churchill House Delegation Friday, Oct. 27 5:00 p.m. Churchill House.
Halloween Extravaganza Saturday, Oct. 28 3:00 p.m. Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center
Women's Ice Hockey vs. Dartmouth Friday, Oct. 27, 4:00 p.m. Meehan Auditorium
BioWeek 2023 - Bio Run (5K) Sunday, Oct. 29 10:00 a.m. 250 South Water St.
NEXT WEEK RI LGBTQ+ Community Archives & Queer History Friday, Nov. 3 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Swearer Center
Career and Internship Fair Saturday, Nov. 4 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.School of Engineering, Barus and Holley
ONE FLEA SPARE Saturday, Nov. 4 2:00 p.m. Pell Chafee Performance Center
Cabaret Saturday, Nov. 4 8:00 p.m. Stuart Theater
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
PAGE 3
UNIVERSITY NEWS
ADMISSIONS & FINANCIAL AID
Brown doubles undergraduate veteran population from 2019 Brown to continue offering veterans full scholarships in future application cycles BY ETHAN SCHENKER CONTRIBUTING WRITER Four years after committing to double the enrollment of undergraduate student veterans by 2024, the University has surpassed its goal and secured permanent funding for full veteran scholarships, according to an Oct. 17 press release. Twenty-two student veterans enrolled at the University in September, bringing the University’s total undergraduate veteran population to 49, according to the press release. When the University set its goal in 2019, the total number of veterans on campus was 21, The Herald previously reported. “The types of veterans that served in the military and then want to pursue Brown are really rich in terms of what they can add to the community,” said Christian “Mac” Manning, program director for the Office of Military-Affiliated Students. “They have really diverse backgrounds, they have diverse experiences.” “We are immensely grateful for the support of Brown student veterans, OMAS, Brown alumni and friends who have made this initiative so successful,” Logan Powell, associate provost for enrollment and dean of undergraduate admission, wrote in an email to The Herald. “Student veterans bring an invaluable perspective to College Hill and their service and sacrifice make Brown a stronger community.” The doubled student veteran enrollment follows the rollout of a broad set of initiatives aimed at making Brown more accessible and welcoming for student veterans, according to the press release. President Christina Paxon P’19 P’MD’20 previously announced the University’s
COURTESY OF SARA RUNKEL
A $25 million fundraising campaign and $20 million gift in 2020 will allow the University to continue offering undergraduate student veterans full scholarships in future application cycles. plans to eliminate out-of-pocket costs, make applications need-blind and eliminate standardized testing requirements for prospective undergraduate veterans. A $20 million gift from Joseph P. Healey P’22 P’24 in 2020 was a key contributor to building out an endowment of scholarships for students who had previously served in the military, according to the press release. Coupled with the completion of a $25 million fundraising campaign, the donation allows the University to offer student veterans full scholarships in future application cycles, according to the press release. “Turning Brown into an affordable choice and a supportive educational environment for a broader segment of our nation’s extraordinary, courageous veterans not only honors their service, but also enhances the education of all
Brown students who benefit from veterans’ perspectives and experiences,” Paxson said in the press release. Veterans can receive up to $27,120 annually from the Post-9/11 GI Bill to go towards mandatory tuition and fees. At Brown, the difference is made up through Yellow Ribbon awards, which are contributions from private institutions towards the tuition of veterans, and matched funding from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, according to the press release. Consequently, there are no out-ofpocket costs for veterans at Brown, Manning said. “That makes us enormously competitive,” he said. “Brown is an institution that’s really committed to working with specialized populations and trying to cut through financial barriers and they’ve done a good job with that.”
When Sean Braga ’25, who served in the army for four years and is the president of the Student Veteran Society at Brown, was applying to college, he encountered some institutions that were unable to provide him adequate Yellow Ribbon benefits. Brown, he said, was able to guarantee that he would not have to pay any out-of-pocket educational expenses. Beyond the recent growth in financial support for student veterans, Manning said that he attributes the University’s success in meeting its enrollment goal to the Veterans Application, a separate, rolling application that first opened to prospective students in the 2021-22 application cycle. The specialized application encouraged prospective students to submit recommendations from military commanding officers and allows “maximum time flexi-
bility” for currently serving veterans, who are often deployed on missions without consistent access to a computer, according to Powell. Jonathan Black ’25 served in the Marines for five years before applying to Brown as a transfer student from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte during the 2020-21 application cycle. Without the Veterans Application, it was “really tough to navigate the application system,” Black said. “I had been out of high school for five years and the application was asking me for teacher recommendations, counselor recommendations and all this stuff.” Targeted recruitment efforts have also been an “integral and indispensable” part of the University’s efforts to double the population of student veterans, according to Powell. “We have partnered with organizations such as Service to School to identify and communicate with talented student veterans from across the country, we have hosted more virtual outreach sessions and we have attended more in-person events as well,” he wrote in an email to The Herald. Both Black and Braga engaged with Service to School during the admissions process. Black worked with a counselor who helped him integrate his military experience into his application, he said. Braga has also worked with Warrior Scholars, an organization partnered with the University, and was able to obtain an alternative letter of recommendation for his application through the program. “Brown’s done a really great job,” Barga said. “More and more service members are learning that schools like Brown are an option for them and that schools like Brown value the perspective that they’re able to bring to their student bodies.” This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 23, 2023.
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PAGE 4
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023
METRO
CITY & STATE POLITICS
2023 Hunger Survey reveals rise in Rhode Island food insecurity According to survey, monthly SNAP benefits only last two weeks for most R.I. families BY YAEL SARIG SENIOR STAFF WRITER On Oct. 11, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank released its 2023 Rhode Island Hunger Survey. Commissioned every four years, the survey found that the majority of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients in Rhode Island cannot make their monthly benefits last longer than two weeks, and that demand for food banks has jumped sharply since 2019. Through SNAP, Rhode Island residents receive monthly electronic benefit transfers which they can use to purchase food at grocery stores, supermarkets and farmers’ markets. Michelle Rogers, assistant professor of behavioral and social sciences in the School of Public Health, helped organize the survey. In an email to The Herald, she wrote that the report represents a random sample of 65 food pantries and meal sites affiliated with the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. A team of trained food bank volunteers and SPH’s Survey Research Center staff conducted face-to-face interviews with clients attending the food assistance sites between April and June 2023. According to the 2019 survey, an average of 53,000 people sought food assistance in Rhode Island each month. In 2023, that number has jumped to 75,000. The 2023 survey found that nearly 80% of the population receiving food
JAANU RAMESH / HERALD
In 2019 survey, an average of 53,000 people sought food assistance in Rhode Island each month. In 2023, that number has jumped to 75,000. assistance has incomes below the federal poverty level or an annual household income of $30,000 for a family of four. That figure jumps to 90% when considering households with children. David Banno, president and CEO of Community Action Partnership of Providence County, said that the federal poverty level might not be representative of all those who seek out food assistance in Rhode Island. “People look at this survey, and they go, ‘Oh yeah, of course, those people who are super (impoverished) are using the food bank,’” he said. “But you don’t understand that your neighbors … come to our food banks too.” CAPP provides support services and programs to Providence County residents to help them attain economic self-sufficiency, according to the organization’s website. The nonprofit runs one of the largest food banks in Providence County. Banno said that since last spring,
CAPP’s food pantry has seen a modest increase in the number of families it serves weekly. This increase occurred after additional SNAP benefits from the COVID-19 pandemic ended in the spring. In March, the federal government ended the allocation of extra SNAP benefits, which began as a pandemic measure in March 2020. The month after increased SNAP benefits ended, the R.I. Community Food Bank saw a 25% jump in visits to member food pantries, said Lisa Roth Blackman, the organization’s chief philanthropy officer. While expanded benefits were relatively new, “people got used to it, and I think (they) were relying on those funds to help make ends meet in their household.” Despite the broad utilization of food assistance services, aid continues to fall short for SNAP recipients. According to the Hunger Survey, Rhode Island households enrolled in SNAP receive just $315
per month on average, or $78.75 per week. The 2023 survey estimated that 70% of families exhaust those benefits
up staples like milk, orange juice and eggs, but has recently stopped visiting as he believes food options have be-
within two weeks. In 2019, that figure was 49%. Blackman cited rising food prices, which have outpaced overall inflation over the past year, as a central contributor to the struggle to make SNAP benefits last. The survey results also showed that nearly a quarter of families surveyed lived in temporary housing, such as a shelter or campground, or had no housing at all. “Parents will say, well, I’ll miss a meal if I have to to make sure that I can pay rent and my kids will eat,” Blackman said. “Food is fungible in that way, but housing is not as fungible, so food is what might get cut if they’re trying to make sure they keep a roof over their heads.” But while inflation is an easy answer, the real culprit for rising food costs is “corporate greed,” Banno said. “Corporations know they can charge more because it’s accepted to charge more, and the government doesn’t do anything about it,” he said. John Shea, a Rhode Island resident and veteran who is currently unhoused, said the rising cost of food and drop in SNAP funding has put him in “survival mode.” He now receives $66 a month in SNAP benefits, he said. “I couldn’t live on that for two weeks, never mind a month. So it’s a scramble,” Shea said. Beyond issues of insufficient food assistance, the products offered at food banks are not always suitable for those in need, Shea said. He used to attend food pantries on a regular basis to pick
come more limited and, he said, less nutritious. Food pantries were also “giving out things that weren’t edible for some folks that are living on the streets,” Shea added. “You can’t heat up dinners and things like that when you’re living on the street.” Food insecurity in Rhode Island intersects with issues such as housing and health, according to the survey. Nearly half of survey respondents rated their health status as fair or poor, and food-insecure respondents had higher rates of chronic disease than national averages. The chronic medical conditions food assistance beneficiaries may complicate the types of food they can consume. To address this issue, Blackman said the R.I. Food Bank has increased the amount of produce they distribute to families, as produce tends to naturally be lower in sodium, carbohydrates and other nutrients that might need to be avoided with chronic health conditions. Food insecurity is also associated with race. 12% of the survey respondents were Black, and 33 percent were Latinx, while the state of Rhode Island is 6% Black and 18% Latinx, according to U.S. Census Bureau’s estimates. Banno said he was most disturbed by the racial statistics the survey uncovered: “Our system is totally skewed,” he said. This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 19, 2023.
HOUSING
2023 Housing Fact Book, Rhode Island Zoning Atlas detail various housing trends Homelessness has increased 72 percent since 2019, HousingWorks RI factbook finds BY STELLA CHEN SENIOR STAFF WRITER On Friday, HousingWorks RI at Roger Williams University released two bodies of work: the 2023 Housing Fact Book and the Rhode Island Zoning Atlas. Both resources seek to shed light on the state’s housing affordability crisis. The 2023 Housing Fact Book is an annual publication of housing trends across the state and its municipalities. This year’s Housing Fact Book breaks the state down into seven regions, including Providence, North and South Rhode Island and East Providence County, based on new data from the U.S. Census Bureau in 2020. According to the fact book, there has been a 72 percent increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness since 2019. Through this past August, there was a 43 percent increase in eviction filings and a 76 percent increase in foreclosures in the state since 2021. The fact book also found that housing has increasingly become less affordable in Rhode Island. In 2022, the median household income of Rhode Island homeowners was just
KAIOLENA TACAZON / HERALD
The 2023 Housing Fact Book found that housing has increasingly become less affordable in Rhode Island. In 2022, the median household income of Rhode Island homeowners was just under $100,000. under $100,000. According to the fact book, more than a third of Rhode Island households are burdened by housing costs, meaning that they dedicate over 30% of their income to paying for their housing. The report found that this burden falls heaviest on Black and Hispanic homeowner households. Now, in only one out of Rhode Island’s 39 municipalities is the annual income needed to purchase a home
less than $100,000 — Central Falls. But even in Central Falls, homes remain unaffordable: The median single family home price in the city is $273,000, while the median household income is $40,235. The fact book also contextualizes the housing situation within federal funding and new laws passed during the 2023 Rhode Island General Assembly legislative session. This legislation included the housing pack-
age which mostly targeted municipal planning and aimed to increase housing production statewide to address the housing crisis, The Herald previously reported. In March 2021, Rhode Island received $1.13 billion in State Fiscal Recovery Funds from the federal government as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. From the 2022 to 2024 fiscal years, $321 million of those funds were allocated to the
state’s housing needs. Of the $191 million remaining for the 2024 fiscal year, around $112 million is budgeted for increasing housing development. “In the ‘2023 Housing Fact Book,’ we see a number of areas where deployment of federal funds helped to stem the pandemic’s effect on housing insecurities and offered a temporary pause to some of the worst outcomes,” Brenda Clement, executive director of HWRI, wrote in a statement accompanying the release of the fact book. “But we know we need more healthy, affordable homes for all Rhode Islanders.” HWRI is also a part of the National Zoning Atlas collaborative, a group of researchers who aim to increase understanding of U.S. zoning codes through digitization. On Friday, HWRI launched the RIZA, an interactive map which “provides an unprecedented look” at zoning across the state. This is the fourth statewide zoning atlas in the nation to launch, according to a statement released by HWRI. “We understand that zoning is not the only factor to unlocking more production of housing,” Clement wrote. “But we have understood for many years that zoning is a key piece to this puzzle.” This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 22, 2023.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
PAGE 5
METRO
ENVIRONMENT
Rhode Island’s air quality in 2020 met state targets. What does that mean? R.I. report states air pollution reductions met 2021 Act on Climate mandates BY MAYA KELLY STAFF WRITER In 2016, Rhode Island’s Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council released updated targets for greenhouse gas emissions — calling for a 10% reduction from 1990 greenhouse gas emission levels by 2020. On Oct. 20, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management announced that the state had reached those targets, enshrined in the 2021 Act on Climate. The state’s 2020 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Statement shows that statewide emissions decreased 20.1% from 1990 levels — and 6.5% between 2019 and 2020. These statistics were determined by DEM air quality specialists, according to a DEM press release.
“There's been a need to assess Rhode Island's greenhouse gas emissions to see how we're doing with our state
information, air quality specialists collaborate with neighboring states to see what meth-
Alliance, according to Poccia. Poccia explained that the department primarily uses “federal data and shrink(s) it down to Rhode Island.”
laws,” said Joseph Poccia, senior air quality specialist for RIDEM. The Greenhouse Gas Inventory Statement assesses Rhode Island’s progress towards meeting the targets outlined in the Act on Climate, which calls for the state to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Inventories currently lag the year of their data by three years — a gap that the Department of Environmental Management is working to decrease, according to the release. The 2020 inventory cited a decrease in transportation activity during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic as the source of 2020’s emission reductions in the release. To gather
But the emission reductions observed in 2020 do not necessarily indicate future reductions, experts wrote in the published inventory. The DEM expects to see a “rebound in emissions” in the 2021 GHG inventory, to be published in fall 2024. “None of the findings are surprising, nor meaningful,” wrote J. Timmons Roberts, professor of environmental studies, environment and society and sociology, in an email to The Herald. “2020 was a completely anomalous year, with the JULIA VAZ / HERALD odology they use, COVID shutdown, so we knew they'd along with tapping into resources like be meaningless numbers.” the Environmental Protection Agency’s In the press release, Governor Dan Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator and McKee explained that while the reducthe resources from the U.S. Climate tion in emissions may be skewed, the
inventory “demonstrates what can be achieved through emissions reductions, particularly in the transportation sector.” He added that the achievement shows that more work is necessary to reach net-zero targets. Poccia agreed that even with the pandemic, the inventory could be an indication that R.I. is making progress. “Direct impacts of the pandemic on electricity consumption, residential heating and a lot of the other sectors which still saw declines in 2020” are “less clear,” he said. Roberts warned readers of the inventory against optimism. “The rate of decline really must be far steeper than what we're seeing,” he wrote, adding that “there's not actually good evidence that our policy is meaningfully moving the dial.” “This report should really be titled, ‘Wait Til Next Year,’” he wrote. This article orginally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 23, 2023.
ENVIRONMENT
Artist Heather McMordie bridges science, storytelling through art of printmaking
While conducting research on subjects ranging from salt marshes to plant-soil relationships, Artist Heather McMordie was inspired to push the boundaries of herbarium collections and explore intimate narratives about people’s relationships with plants. This past spring, McMordie, who is also an adjunct lecturer in visual arts, set out to turn her idea into reality by launching the Providence Community Herbarium. The project invited twelve Providence residents to submit their “plant stories” and work together with McMordie to produce prints inspired by these tales. Last Friday, as the project moved into full production mode, McMordie welcomed The Herald into her studio. While setting up the space — organizing the prints in progress, mixing vibrant paints and putting on soft tunes — McMordie explained that collaborators would be coming in to work on their projects. “It’s going to be a studio party,” she said. “I've tried to do my best to either invite or spread the word to collaborators from a variety of different neighborhoods so that
with McMordie through a mutual friend. Now, Scheff is working on a drawing that depicts an avocado seed growing in a glass on a windowsill for McMordie’s project. Scheff’s drawing will be turned into monoprints, a technique “in which an image is made from a smooth surface or ‘plate’ coated in printing ink such as a sheet of glass or metal,” according to the National Galleries of Scotland website. “My mom used to grow avocado seeds throughout the house,” Scheff said. “It’s just this very interesting memory I had. … It was just a beautiful thing to take a seat” and watch the seeds grow. Scheff’s intimate connection to the subject of her print represents exactly the types of narratives McMordie aims to center through her project. The Providence Community Herbarium involves people “who aren’t necessarily ecologists or scientists that are collecting plants and telling stories,” looking beyond the academic contexts of typical herbaria, McMordie said. “Our relationship with plants … extends beyond just the scientific value of those plants.” McMordie’s ultimate goal is to create an accessible project that invites people to recognize the plant life around them. “Hearing the stories that we all have to tell about these plants,” she said, “allows us to take ownership of our local environments.” High school student Khalil Lloréns
arts and science in meaningful conversation with one another,” she said. “As I thought about it, I realized it would be really difficult to incorporate art in the way I wanted to do it into a science program,” but incorporating science into art projects felt more possible, she said. This project has also allowed students like Jaden Bleier ’23, McMordie’s studio assistant, former printmaking student and current teaching assistant, to learn new skills: “I feel like there’s always more to learn,” Bleier said. Designer Charlotte Powning, for example, was able to build on her skills as an “amateur photographer” while working on her print for McMordie’s project. The first step in creating Powning’s prints was making cyanotypes using samples of moonflowers. Powning then set out to photograph her chosen plant — the moonflower — around her neighborhood. Now, the photographs have been printed on a transparent surface so they can be placed together with the cyanotypes. “This was the house that I lived in for two years prior to moving,” Powning said, pointing to one of the photographs. The moonflower on the sidewalk “would grow for several months on end and get really huge. … I just really like the plant and how resilient it is.” Conor MacDonald MA’20, a law clerk and legal researcher, similarly chose a plant he admires due to its resiliency. For
there are people contributing stories from all across the different urban ecosystems within Providence,” McMordie explained. Collaborating with newcomers and experienced artists alike “has been a really wonderful way to get to know people” in a safe and rewarding creative space, she added. “We also have a shared interest so … I just get to be myself in the studio and hopefully invite people to do the same.” McMordie’s project received funding from the Interlace Grant Fund, which supports Providence-based artists and allowed her to provide local collaborators “a small stipend for their time and creative energy.” Vessna Scheff, a recent graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design master’s painting program, first connected
learned about the Providence Community Herbarium through a family friend. Interested in nature and native plants, he decided to submit a story. “It seemed like a really cool opportunity to make a piece about something I care about,” he said. With his print, Lloréns wants to “showcase how many different types of milkweeds there are,” he explained. Lloréns’s art aims to blend scientific drawings that highlight the importance of milkweed to local ecosystems with his intimate relationship with the plant. Similar to Lloréns’s print — which will feature a vibrant color palette of pinks, purples and greens — McMordie has always been interested in blending scientific research and art. “It has always been my goal to have
MacDonald, pepperweed, a plant often found in the city’s untended areas sidewalk cracks, is a “reminder of the generosity, unpredictability and potential of city life, and the rewards of giving some attention to something we mostly ignore.” The print MacDonald’s is designing with McMordie will highlight how pepperweed changes with the seasons, a process represented by a varied color scheme: “The bright green spring and summer color, the late summer straw-gold, and the tinges of magenta which the seeds develop in the fall,” he explained. Through her collaborations, McMordie has begun to notice more and more plants around her: “Now that I can recognize (a plant) because this person has told me about it, I value it more,” she said.
Herbarium project highlights collaborators’ personal relationships with plants BY JULIA VAZ METRO EDITOR
KAIOLENA TACAZON / HERALD
The Providence Community Herbarium project, led by Adjunct Lecturer Heather McMordie, invited twelve Providence residents to submit their “plant stories”. And McMordie’s project is still expanding. Beyond working on the prints, she plans to create a zine about the Providence Community Herbarium that will be distributed in spaces like public libraries and community gardens as a means of engaging “Providence populations on environmental issues and environmental care.” McMordie is also planning to hold an
exhibition for the project in March. During the exhibition, the prints will be accompanied by a letter-pressed text from each artist about their plant stories. For McMordie, the project is “an opportunity to learn from one another and, in valuing our community of people, start to value the community of plant life and non-human life around us.”
PAGE 6
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023
SPORTS SOCCER FROM PAGE 1
sage to The Herald. “In the locker room after the game, (forward Ava Seelenfreund ’23.5), (Raphino) and I were reflecting on our freshman season. … Then, we were so excited about having one ring on our finger and now it feels so unreal to have four. It’s something we never thought of, almost like a dream!” Such a run of success hasn’t been seen in Ivy League women’s soccer in decades: Not since the Bears were champions or co-champions for nine straight seasons from 1982 to 1990 has a school won the Ivy League four seasons in a row. Brown has now won 16 conference championships in program history, three more than Harvard, which has the second-most. “Years ago when we proved to ourselves that we could win championships and go to the NCAA (tournament), it became a new standard for this program,” McNeill wrote. “We want to settle for nothing less than that. We rarely talk about winning, but instead, we talk about the habits and qualities we need to have to create our own success on the field. When you reinforce those habits year after year, it becomes ingrained in your culture. And that’s what we have here with Brown women’s soccer.” Raphino’s opening goal against Cornell was the 40th of her career, tying her with Debbie Ching ’82 for the second-most in program history. It was also her fifth straight game finding the back of the net, a feat she had never previously accomplished. Last weekend against Columbia, she moved into sole possession of second place for most points in program history. Raphino’s score came as a result
COURTESY OF WILLIAM MALONEY / BROWN ATHLETICS
In the past three seasons, the Bears have twice advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, including last season when they were defeated by University of California, Irvine. of an opportunistic finish fewer than six minutes into the game. A Cornell defender whiffed on a cross into the box from forward Kira Maguire ’24, causing the Big Red goalkeeper Erica Fox to come charging out to try to slap it away. Fox made only weak contact, popping the ball out to Seelenfreund, whose shot towards the empty net was cleared off the line. But it fell right for Raphino, who slotted it into the
received a throw-in with a defender on her back, turned and played a ball over the top of the defense for Lam. Receiving it on her chest, Lam then chipped the ball over the head of the onrushing Fox and watched it bounce into the back of the net. Cornell got one back in the 67th minute, but afterwards didn’t pose a particularly strong challenge to the Bears’ advantage, and in the end the
and Princeton, who are now tied for second place in the conference. Each team lost to Brown, drew each other and beat every other conference team they’ve faced. But the Tigers and Crimson will still have an opportunity to get their revenge. Unlike previous seasons in which finishing at the top of the Ivy League table earned the Bears an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament,
open net. In the 55th minute, midfielder Audrey Lam ’27 doubled the Bears’ advantage with her first career goal. Raphino
Bears lifted the championship trophy. The key stretch of Brown’s conference schedule this season came at the outset, with wins over Harvard
this year a postseason conference tournament among the top four teams will determine which school earns that honor. As the number one seed, Brown
will host the tournament. But even if Brown were to lose, its high position in the national rankings means the team would still have a strong chance of making the NCAA Tournament. In the past three seasons, the Bears have twice advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, including last season when they were defeated by University of California, Irvine. “I think winning the Ivy League regular season and (our) results in our non-conference play have put us in a position to be in the NCAA Tournament,” McNeill wrote. “The Ivy League Tournament is another bonus for us to add to our impressive resume this season.” “The support we’ve felt from the Brown community is something we are so grateful for, and the opportunity to play on our home turf, in front of our supporters is such a great way to kick off postseason,” goalkeeper Clare Gagne ’24 wrote in a message to The Herald. Brown will conclude regular season play with a Senior Day match against Dartmouth on Saturday before hosting the conference tournament the following weekend. “This program has been so committed to what it takes to be successful and their buy-in has really allowed us to do our job as coaches to make sure that we are developing players and having repetitive success,” McNeill wrote. “I am so grateful to be the leader of this team and there is no greater feeling than seeing the hard work we have all put in over the past year pay off.” This article orginally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 22, 2023.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball drops Friday match to Yale in straight sets
Bears look ahead to four away games against Ivy opponents, Penn Friday BY DENNIS CAREY SENIOR STAFF WRITER This weekend, the women’s volleyball team (14-4, 5-3 Ivy) lost in straight sets to Yale (13-3, 8-0 Ivy) at home. Entering the game, Head Coach Taylor Virtue had achieved both the most total wins and the most Ivy League wins of any first-year coach in Brown volleyball history. Despite losing in straight sets, the Bears were not dominated by the Bulldogs, managing to hold close to them in every set. Statistically, the Bears had 42 kills to Yale’s 46, four aces to Yale’s five and six blocks to eight, respectively. “Our level of play was reasonable all night,” Virtue wrote in a message to The Herald via Brown Athletics. “We struggled to maintain that level through the end of each set but that doesn't change the fact that we are playing at a high level.” Bruno’s attack was led by Jilienne Widener ’24 with 10 kills and Cierra Jenkins ’24 with 32 assists. “My strong offensive performance was due in part to our consistent serve receive and Cierra's ability to put up a hittable ball no matter where she was on the court,” Widener wrote in a message to The Herald via Brown Athletics. “Additionally, the team had numerous film sessions
“
At the end of the day, Yale played cleaner volleyball at the end of each set.
throughout the Jilienne Widener '24 week to scout Yale's defense, so I was able to practice shots each day in practice leading up to the match.” The Bears also had three players who hit with a hitting percentage over .300: Widener, Gabby Derrick ’25 and Mariia Sidorova ’26. “Mental toughness contributes greatly to having frequent success and low errors,” Widener wrote. “The ability to move on after errors and focus on the next … thing is crucial for success.” The first set started with a back and forth between the Bears and the Bulldogs, with both teams ex-
changing the lead until reaching a TV timeout with Yale up 15-14. Coming back from the timeout, Bruno scored four straight points including a kill from Beau Vanderlaan ’25 and two aces from Victoria Vo ’25 to take the lead by three points — tied for the greatest advantage of the set with Yale’s earlier 6-3 lead. After the two teams each traded points, the Bears maintained a 19-16 lead. Yale then responded with a run of its own, scoring five straight points and regaining the lead at 21-20. The Bears never recovered from this run, and — despite scoring a consolation point — were defeated 25-21. Losing the lead close to the end of the set would become a theme for the Bears. “At the end of the day, Yale played cleaner volleyball
at the end of each set,” Widener wrote. The second set seemed to be leaning mostly in Yale’s favor after they jumped out to an early 9-4 lead, but the Bears won six of the next seven points to tie the Bulldogs at 10 apiece. From then on, neither side could maintain an advantage until the Bears managed to pull away to set point at 24-22. But Bruno then lost four straight points and the set. The third set began in nearly the same way as the second, with a close battle between both teams, neither gaining an extensive lead: Throughout the entire set, neither team maintained a lead greater than three points. Despite the set being drawn at 23 points apiece, Yale was able to score two straight points to seal the set and the match, defeating the Bears for the second time this season. “Being able to make plays at the end of matches is something that we have been focusing on in practice, and we will continue to do so,” Virtue wrote. The Bears now look ahead to four straight away games against Ivy opponents and will take on Penn this Friday. This article orginally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 25, 2023. KAIOLENA TACAZON / HERALD
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
PAGE 7
SPORTS
FOOTBALL
Football loses 36-14 to Cornell after going down 33-0 in third quarter
Bears struggle offensively, quarterback Jake Willcox ’24 throws three interceptions
After a rousing win against Princeton last weekend, the football team (3-3, 1-2 Ivy League) was unable to keep its momentum going, falling to Cornell in Ithaca (3-3, 2-1) by a final score of 36-14 on Saturday afternoon. Cornell “played very hard,” Head Coach James Perry ’00 wrote in a message to The Herald via Brown Athletics. “We knew they were a good team and they dictated the game well beyond time of possession.” The Big Red dominated the Bears in the first half, outscoring them 20-
ics. “Looking back on it, there were many opportunities that I, personally, failed to capitalize on, and that is something where you have to look yourself in the mirror and realize you have to be better for your teammates in terms of giving us a chance to win the game.” “We were on our heels on offense, especially in the first half, and we’re a much better team than that. I was disappointed,” Perry wrote. “We played a little bit better in the second half, but when you put yourself in that kind of hole playing that poorly, it makes it very hard.” In the third quarter, the Bears found themselves in a 33-0 hole before getting on the board with a pair of touchdowns that brought the score to 33-14. Both came from long
“The league has a few athletic quarterbacks and he’s one of the best,” Perry wrote of Wang. Cornell also picked off Willcox three times, the most interceptions he’s thrown this season. The Bears will look to bounce back facing off against Penn on the road next Saturday night. The game will begin at 7 p.m. and be televised on ESPNU. “We have to continue to play fast, work hard every day and continue to have trust in one another,” Willcox wrote. “Penn is a great team, so it is an opportunity that the team could not be more excited about and we are looking forward to the chance to play a game on live television.” “We have four games coming up against very evenly-matched teams,
0. Bruno’s offense, entering the day leading the FCS in passing yards per game behind quarterback Jake Willcox ’24, was held in check, managing just two first downs in the half. “Cornell did a good job of bringing energy and playing disciplined football,” Willcox wrote in a message to The Herald via Brown Athlet-
passes from Willcox, who aired it out to Solomon Miller ’26 for a 61-yard reception and later found Graham Walker ’24 for a 43-yard score. Bruno remained at 14 points for the remainder of the game, surrendering a fourth-quarter field goal to conclude the match at 36-14. Overall, Cornell possessed the ball
including a very good Penn team on the road,” Perry wrote. “The kids will use this weekend to fuel themselves in practice to play our best ball next week.”
BY LINUS LAWRENCE SPORTS EDITOR
COURTESY OF BROWN ATHLETICS
Brown’s next game on the road against Penn Saturday evening will be televised on ESPNU. for 39 minutes and 47 seconds, almost double Brown’s 20 minutes and 13 seconds of posession time. Cornell
also gained 434 yards to Brown’s 298, led by a career-high 330 passing yards from quarterback Jameson Wang.
This article orginally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 22, 2023.
MEN'S WATER POLO
No. 19 men’s water polo sweeps three-game California road trip Ilias Stothart ’26, Jaxson Tierney ’27, coach share keys to recent success BY BEN GOLDBERG STAFF WRITER Brown men’s water polo’s (15-4, 3-2 NWPC) hot streak came to a temporary halt against No. 6 Princeton (21-4 , 5-0 NWPC) and No. 18 Harvard (18-3, 4-1 NWPC) on Oct. 1 and 8, as the Bears dropped two games in a row. But since then, the Bears have rebounded, winning eight straight nonconference games as they prepare to try and avenge their earlier conference losses against Ivy foes. This weekend, the team traveled to California for a three-game road trip at the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament. Bruno got off to a strong start against the United States Air Force Academy (16-10, 1-0 WCC) on Saturday, taking a 10-5 lead into the half and eventually winning 14-11. Brown continued their stellar play with a 12-9 win over California State University at Fullerton (16-12, 0-3 Big West) on Saturday, and followed up with an 18-15 win over Santa Clara University (10-11, 0-2 WCC) on Sunday. A key to Bruno’s recent success has been center Ilias Stothart ’26, who scored 11 goals in the weekend’s games. In the fifth game of the Bears’ recent eight-game win streak on Oct. 15 at home against Occidental College (914, 3-2 SCIAC), Stothart put together an extraordinary performance, scoring 10 goals to break the program record of nine previously held by Kent Rapp ’80 and Steve Ennis ’86. Stothart started out strong against Occidental with six goals in the first two quarters and added four more in the latter half to lead Brown to a 20-14 victory. A teammate’s observation that Occidental’s goalie was vulnerable over his head, paired with great passes from my teammates and some quick
COURTESY OF KAIOLENA TACAZON / BROWN ATHLETICS
Ilias Stothart ’26 broke a program record with ten goals against Occidental College on Oct. 15. shooting, allowed me to get up to ten,” Stothart wrote in a message to The Herald. Reaching the program record is “something I’ve been wanting to do for a while,” he added. “Ilias is one of the best centers in the country and arguably the best pure center in our conference. Teams are trying to double and sometimes triple team him,” Head Coach Felix Mercado wrote in a message to The Herald via Brown Athletics. “The most impressive thing about the last couple of weeks is that the team is getting better at getting him the ball in great positions to score. His presence also opens up a lot of great looks for our outside shooters.” “It was very fun to watch and be a part of,” wrote Jaxson Tierney ’27, who recorded a season-best six-goal performance against Santa Clara this weekend, in an email to The Herald via Brown Athletics. “Having one of your teammates do so well in a game and feeding off of their energy is such a fun experience whenever someone is playing well, especially during our game against Occidental.” For their outstanding individual efforts during Brown’s 4-0 weekend on Oct. 14-15, Stothart and Tierney — former high school teammates at Harvard-Westlake School— were named NWPC Player and Rookie of the Week
respectively. With 70 and 45 total goals respectively, Stothart and Tierney have been the Bears’ top scorers this season. Gabe Chang ’25 has the third-most with 44. “It was my first time getting player of the week, and I’m especially proud of it because (Jaxson) was selected as the Rookie of the Week at the same time,” Stothart wrote. “It felt good to … show our conference that Brown Water Polo doesn’t screw around.” Brown’s contingent of first-years have provided stellar contributions to the team throughout the recent winning streak. “Our first-years are a big part of our improvement this season,” wrote Mercado. Tierney, Máté Tymcyna ’27, Mac Berry ’27 and Goran Narancic ’27 “have had to pick up a lot of the slack as we battle through injuries on the team. While this is their first year playing NCAA water polo, (all four) have had success representing their countries in various age groups. Their impact on both the defensive and offensive ends have allowed us to compete.” “We’ve seen a shift in mentality across the board this year, and a lot of it has to do with our freshmen,” Stothart wrote. “Their talent and passion threatened to kick everyone out of their starting spots, stirring competition that
we just didn’t have last year.” “With such a young team and some players at the beginning of pre-season not knowing the specific tactics and style of play we play with, we have been able to learn to play with (the rest of the team) quickly so that was not a barrier we ran into this season,” Tienrey wrote. Sitting at 15-4, Bruno has already nearly matched its win total from last year’s 16-16 season record. A large part of the positive environment surrounding the team comes from its “chemistry outside the pool,” wrote Tierney. He also cited communication as an integral part of the team’s success. “The key to our recent momentum has been communicating more and becoming more comfortable playing with each other,” Tierney wrote. “The key has been us building cohesiveness and our improved attention to detail,” Mercado wrote. Brown will look to continue its hot streak as they reach a tough set of five consecutive conference games on their schedule, starting against Princeton at home in Providence on Oct. 28. “Going into the next two weekends of games, keeping this up will be crucial, especially against teams like Harvard and Princeton, (in) which working together and communicating will be very important if we want to succeed,” Tierney wrote. “We have a big mountain to climb with how good Princeton and Harvard are, (as well as) much-improved Iona (College), MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and LIU (Long Island University) teams that all want to win and get into the Championship Game” wrote Mercado. “Regardless of how this season ends, I know we are building the right way and not skipping steps. This is a fun team to coach and watch grow.” This article orginally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 22, 2023.
SCORES RECAP WOMEN’S FIELD HOCKEY VS. CORNELL VS. GEORGETOWN
L 0-1 W 7-2
HOCKEY VS. QUINNIPIAC VS. PRINCETON
L 0-1 L 0-3
SOCCER VS. CORNELL
W 2-1
VOLLEYBALL VS. YALE
L 0-3
MEN’S FOOTBALL VS. CORNELL
L 14-36
SOCCER VS. PRINCETON
T 0-0
WATER POLO VS. AIR FORCE W 14-11 VS. CAL SATE FULLERTON W 12-9 VS. SANTA CLARA W 18-15
WOMEN’S SOCCER BY THE NUMBERS
4 Number of consecutive Ivy League titles won by Women’s Soccer, after the Bears clinched 2-1 victory against Cornell on Saturday.
40 Number of career goals by Brittany Raphino ’23.5, the second most in program history.
0 Number of losses by the Bears in conference play in the past 27 games — over the past four years.
post-
APR 14 — VOL 31 — ISSUE 9
See Full Issue: ISSUU.COM/POSTMAGAZINEBDH
OCT 26 — VOL 32 — ISSUE 5
Letter from the Editor Dear Readers, This week the copy chief has to write the editor’s note. Ah! Terrifying. I’m not supposed to write; I just read everyone else’s writing. But maybe this creepy, spooky, dare-I-say-uncanny situation is kind of perfectly on theme for this pre-Halloween issue of post-. ’Tis the season, and all that. Readers, I have a confession to make: I don’t really like Halloween. Wait, wait, hear me out. It wasn’t always this way. When I was younger, Halloween was my favorite holiday. I remember planning my costume months in advance, building it piece by piece in eager anticipation. I remember decorating the house with cotton spiderwebs, spray-painted styrofoam gravestones, and plastic skeletons that lived in boxes in the attic for the rest of the year. I remember the night itself, running from house to house with a pillowcase in hand, and ending the evening in the living room trading candy with my sisters and our friends. Now, though, Halloween is all scrambling together clever, but also cute, but also cheap last-minute costumes; trying to figure out what party will actually be fun; and a surprising, and disappointing, dearth of candy. Basically, what I’m trying to say is: Halloween just isn’t what it used to be. Many of our writers this week are also reflecting on bits of the past. In Feature, the writer reflects on memories of her piano lessons, and her connection to her teacher. In Narrative, one writer mourns the closing of a beloved coffee shop while contemplating their experience with belonging and community. Our other Narrative writer celebrates the memory of familial connection through creative and artistic processes like singing and beading. In A&C, a writer considers tulips as a metaphor for growth, absence, and regrowth, and another writer explores the changing attitudes toward two popular “it-girl” pop artists—one from her childhood, and another from the present day. For a break from the past, our two Lifestyle writers are looking at right here, right now. One provides a guide to running in Providence for beginners, and the other tells you what Brown dining hall you are, based on your red flags. There’s something to pique everyone’s interest, whether you are spending this weekend reminiscing about Halloweens past or embracing wholeheartedly the college Halloween experience. So—amid the parties or the memories—grab a handful of candy and a mug of hot apple cider, and enjoy this issue of post-! Trick or Treat,
Eleanor Peters Copy Chief
See Full Issue: (and crossword answers)
ISSUU.COM/BROWNDAILYHERALD
Liebestraum and Loss sydney pearson
Haunted Grounds liza kolbasov
America’s Sweetheart sofie zeruto
6
Recording Scriptures of Glory nélari figueroa-torres
Which Dining Hall I Think You Eat At Based on your Red Flags raima islam
Even Where the Grass Grows Over sarah kim
A Beginner’s Guide to Running in Providence Indigo Mudbhary
Scary
“An umbrella is also the optimal weapon.”
Sentences
“I'm rewatching this lecture capture for a lecture I attended. I be nodding so often it’s kinda embarrassing, especially at 2x speed.”
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1. Death 2. Run-on 3. “Where my hug at?” 4. Boo! 5. “We need to talk” 6. (Over Instagram DM) Hey girlie! 7. Your instructor has released grade changes and new comments for Midterm Exam. 8. “We should get coffee” 9. “Do you want the good news or bad news first” 10. Red rum (read it backwards)
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Molé by AJ Wu
Across
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Martial art in Rio de Janeiro
5 A handsome hombre 7 Chilean cheerio 8 Burrowing mammals 9 It's fit for pigs
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Down
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Not quite the team's best effort
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An offshoot of jiu-jitsu that involves flips and grapples
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3 Sends to the big house like an 4 Domineering, older sibling
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6 A regular Whitman or Silverstein
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kimberly Liu
“Whenever someone learns my name, they make it sound smoother than it really is. Like turning a square into a circle, cutting away all the edges. It had too many of them anyway.” —Magdalena del Valle, “A Name with Room to Grow: Part Two” 10.22.21
“Maybe, when we grow up, it’s not so much that we learn who we are, but that we learn that we have never had any idea who we were in the first place. Is this all I am, all I ever was? A person who worries a lot?” —Liza Kolbasov, “To Hold in My Hands" 10.21.22
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Want to be involved? Email: mingyue_liu@brown.edu!
Section Editors Emily Tom Anaya Mukerji
FEATURE Managing Editor Klara Davidson-Schmich
LIFESTYLE Managing Editor Tabitha Lynn
Section Editors Addie Marin Lilliana Greyf
Section Editors Jack Cobey Daniella Coyle
ARTS & CULTURE Managing Editor Joe Maffa
HEAD ILLUSTRATORS Emily Saxl Ella Buchanan
Section Editors Elijah Puente Rachel Metzger
COPY CHIEF Eleanor Peters
NARRATIVE Managing Editor Katheryne Gonzalez
Copy Editors Indigo Mudhbary Emilie Guan Christine Tsu
SOCIAL MEDIA HEAD EDITORS Kelsey Cooper Tabitha Grandolfo Kaitlyn Lucas LAYOUT CHIEF Gray Martens Layout Designers Amber Zhao Alexa Gay STAFF WRITERS Dorrit Corwin Lily Seltz Alexandra Herrera Liza Kolbasov Marin Warshay Gabrielle Yuan Elena Jiang
Aalia Jagwani AJ Wu Nélari Figueroa Torres Daniel Hu Mack Ford Olivia Cohen Ellie Jurmann Sean Toomey Sarah Frank Emily Tom Ingrid Ren Evan Gardner Lauren Cho Laura Tomayo Sylvia Atwood Audrey Wijono Jeanine Kim Ellyse Givens Sydney Pearson Samira Lakhiani Cat Gao
Want to be involved? Email: mingyue_liu@brown.edu!
October 26, 2023 7
PAGE 10
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023
COMMENTARY
Guan ’27: Even without college rankings, reputation matters Each year when U.S. News and World Report updates its college ranking list, calls for colleges to end their participation grow stronger. Critics of the rankings argue that students are misled by their arbitrary criteria, causing many to ignore which school is best for them in favor of prestige. In response to these problems, many, such as the Editorial Page Board and fellow Herald columnist Tas Rahman ’26, have argued that rankings are counterproductive and that Brown should stop participating in them. While rankings can be problematic, they are not the root cause of the effects associated with them. And the harms of Brown not participating in rankings may ultimately outweigh the benefits. Many blame U.S. News for leading students to prioritize rank over fit when choosing which college to attend. But a recent report concluded that only 5% of prospective students thought they could identify the U.S. News ranking of their first-choice school, indicating that rank may not be as important to students as critics suggest. The uncomfortable reality is that rankings are only a small part of the over-glamorization of schools that are widely considered prestigious. A desire for prestige is practically hardwired into us. When asked what the best university in the country is, Americans have overwhelmingly answered with the Ivy League and its peer institutions. While U.S. News acts as a quantification of college rank or prestige, we already have our own predetermined ideas of the world’s best schools which we can’t escape. Many critics argue that rankings are overblown. Even the president of Princeton, Chris-
topher Eisgruber, wrote that rankings are a “slightly daft obsession that does harm when colleges, parents or students take (them) too seriously.” But while no student is doomed in life because they did not attend a prestigious college, where one graduates from does matter more than many are willing to admit, and studies that conclude otherwise frequently omit key details. For example, a write-up of an annual report
advantages isn’t at all related to the quality of education received: It’s simply that an Ivy League diploma can open doors for the rest of one’s life. And when the U.S. News rankings list Ivies at the top, the reputation of these schools is reaffirmed year after year, helping students impress employers post-graduation. Whether or not this cycle is problematic is a hotly debated question. Some claim it serves
“ It is unreasonable to expect
students to ignore prestige when it can have such a profound effect on their future in today’s society.
by a Dartmouth professor attempts to downplay the importance of a prestigious degree by stating that “only” 11.8% of this year’s Fortune 500 CEOs attended an Ivy League institution as an undergraduate. This framing neglects the fact that schools educating no more than 0.4% of students are massively overrepresented in this respect — especially considering around half of Americans do not have a college degree. There are real advantages to attending a renowned school. Median earnings of Ivy League students 10 years after graduation are double the national average, and one of the biggest
to overemphasize institutional wealth and historic prestige, while others consider it fair to reward the students of prestigious colleges in this way. But regardless of the answer to the question, it is unreasonable to expect students to ignore prestige when it can have such a profound effect on their future in today’s society. While Rahman writes that he did not choose Brown because of U.S. News’s rankings, it is impossible to ignore the role a school’s reputation plays in determining where students ultimately matriculate. Rahman’s individual decision was due to “unique academic
programs, campus vibe and strong financial aid,” but I have met many other students that chose Brown in part because of the clout associated with the school. Perhaps they did not specifically read U.S. News, but prestige informed their decision regardless. This leads me to largely oppose removing Brown from rankings. Whether or not we participate, people’s perceptions and assumptions regarding the top schools will not change. If anything, Brown’s position as a top-ranked college in U.S. News publications can only benefit Brown students in the long run by adding to the allure of a Brown degree. There are unfortunately no easy solutions to the issues critics say college rankings cause, as our own perceptions of top schools are the root of the problem. Even if rankings are ignored, as Rahman proposes, students will continue to be influenced by the status that accompanies attending an elite school and the career benefits associated with them. The effects Rahman draws attention to will remain present. College rankings can be problematic. But unless we’re collectively willing to treat the Ivy League like an otherwise unremarkable group of eight colleges, the trickle-down effects of prestige are here to stay. Lucas Guan ’27 can be reached at lucas_ guan@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and other op-eds to opinions@ browndailyherald.com. This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 24, 2023.
Gupta ’25: Let’s make clear communication about our finances and boundaries sexy Sometimes, the difference between a platonic hangout with a friend and a first date can be difficult to ascertain. Brown students may find themselves asking a certain question to determine whether it was friendly or romantic: Did they split the bill, or did one person treat the other? At times, it can feel like money is part of what distinguishes romantic connections from platonic ones. And it’s no secret that dating can be a somewhat expensive endeavor. Sticking to the Brown bubble of on-campus housing and dining, for example, can feel limiting, leading many to splurge on fancy dates and dinners to keep a relationship fun and exciting. So it made sense that this week I got a question in my virtual anonymous question form about how we should best handle financial differences in relationships. Considering how unwilling Brown students are to talk about money, addressing this topic is important. While most couples do eventually discuss finances, those conversations often occur in the later stages of a relationship. It’s unsurprising that on college campuses the topic of money is taboo. Some students are financially independent, others have unlimited access to their parent’s credit cards and many find themselves somewhere in between — the variety of experiences can make financial conversations tricky. To be fair, it can be awkward and uncomfortable to talk about it, especially when our peers lack so much context about our families and hometowns. But while finances are deeply personal, they play a major role in shaping the dynamics of our relationships. Brown students have different financial means, habits and priorities and, because they are rarely explicitly discussed, we can end up with misaligned perspectives on money — a problem that can be particularly
damaging when it comes to relationships and dating. Finding a partner who shares your financial habits or values might seem impossible, especially if not everyone is considering finances when searching for a significant other. But if we push ourselves to have open conversations about our own spending habits and comfort levels with money, we can get closer to finding a partner who will understand us in our entirety
The question I received raised another important idea: different cultural backgrounds. Our approach to handling money is intrinsically linked to our families and culture, whether we are trying to emulate our parent’s financial strategies or depart from their habits. Some cultures are more open about money and some families have the resources to teach financial literacy better than others. For me, arguing with
“ While finances are deeply
personal, they play a major role in shaping the dynamics of our relationships.
That is even more important in a place like Brown. When it comes to socioeconomic diversity, Brown doesn’t impress; it ranked 230th out of 286 selective colleges in a recent New York Times analysis. Such rampant wealth inequality can distort our personal and romantic lives just as it does society and politics at large. The truth is that social scenes and friend groups at Brown often end up being dictated by socioeconomic status, with the wealthiest students flocking together. When these backgrounds do mix, it’s easy for students to feel left out if they can’t financially keep up with plans. Sure, you were invited, but can you actually afford to participate? A similar dynamic can play out in romantic relationships — invitations to dinner dates can feel to some like a low-stakes night out and to others a serious financial commitment.
relatives over who gets to pay the bill at dinner is a sign of love and respect. And as an only child, I think I had more financial freedom than some of my friends because my parents didn’t have to budget for multiple kids. We may not understand why our partner holds certain beliefs about money, but it can help to remember that they have been influenced by factors that are difficult to articulate and likely predate your relationship. Unlinking the way we see ourselves from our financial situations can help ease discomfort about discussing them. Being upfront with your partners about your non-judgmental willingness to broach the topic can foster mutual understanding and strengthen your connection. It’s okay to acknowledge money being a factor in your relationship, especially if there is a large
difference. Consider talking in advance about how or if to split bills, budgets for gifts and excursions you might want to partake in. While these conversations may seem silly now, having them now can save you from awkward, embarrassing or uncomfortable situations in the future. While finances are deeply intimate, so is a romantic relationship. Introducing practical matters like money into that dynamic might feel like a buzzkill, but it is ultimately safeguarding the future health of the relationship. We can address this problem by first understanding our own financial situations and being cognizant of how they affect how we move through the world. Relationships are about letting someone into various parts of your life. While that doesn’t have to include every bank account statement, it’s time that we start practicing financial vulnerability and communication. This column is part of a series of opinion pieces about the impact of wealth and inequality on politics that receives financial support from the Stone Initiative on Inequality. The Herald maintains editorial independence over the published work. If you have questions about sex or relationships that could be discussed in a future column, please submit questions to an anonymous form at https://tinyurl.com/ BDHsexcolumn. Anusha Gupta ’25 can be reached at anusha_gupta@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and other op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald. com. This column originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 25, 2023.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
PAGE 11
UNIVERSITY NEWS
FACULTY PROFILE
Professor Arnold Weinstein retires after 54 years at Brown COURTESY OF ARNOLD WEINSTEIN
Community members reflect on legacy of retired comparative literature professor BY ROHEY JASSEH CONTRIBUTING WRITER When Luiz Valente, professor of comparative literature and Portuguese and Brazilian studies, was asked to describe his lasting impression of his former teacher and colleague, Arnold Weinstein, professor emeritus of comparative literature, he reminisced on Weinstein’s kind, respectful and brilliant nature. “He was a very charismatic teacher,” Valente said. “But not only that, he was someone who was really willing to listen. I wanted to be like Arnold Weinstein.” Weinstein received his Bachelors of Arts in Romance Languages at Princeton. During his time there, he spent a year studying in Paris and a summer in Germany — experiences that fostered his love for both literature and comparative studies, Weinstein said. “I developed a view that literature was not just about language,” he said. “It’s about human values, about human relationships, about all the things (that) resist any metric.” Weinstein went on to earn his PhD
in Comparative Literature at Harvard, where his chosen languages were French, English, German and Swedish. Almost immediately, he landed at Brown — where he stayed for 54 years before retiring last spring. “There is a season for everything, including exit,” he wrote in a piece for Brown Alumni Magazine. A new era of comparative literature at Brown Following the completion of his dissertation in the spring of 1967, Weinstein accepted a job offer at Brown that began in 1968. “My timing was impeccable, because that’s when … within a year, Brown became Brown (with) the new curriculum,” Weinstein said. According to Weinstein, the comparative literature department was nearly nonexistent for undergraduates at the time. The new open curriculum allowed Weinstein to upend the comparative literature program — or lack thereof. In the following years, Weinstein’s experiences with colleagues across departments at Brown and the country emphasized to him the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, According to Weinstein, one course
called “Sacred and Secular” gathered professors from religious studies, philosophy and literature “who had totally different views about what a piece of literature is or why you would read” it. Dore Levy, professor of comparative literature and East Asian studies, noted Weinstein’s efforts in bringing non-Western languages into the comparative literature department. “He was a visionary about the cultural inclusion in comparative literature,” she said. According to Weinstein, international students from non-Western countries would often choose Western languages instead of their first languages, such as Chinese or Japanese, for their comparative literature studies. But studying in their birth language is “part of (their) birthright,” he said. Moving past the existing confinements of Western languages in comparative literature allowed new professors — like Levy — and students at that time to find a home in the department. Levy praised Weinstein for greatly expanding the scope of Brown’s comparative literature department. “He was elegant, he was suave, he was sophisticated, but he was taking a big chance on expanding the department into Asian literature,” Levy said. “I don’t know
any other (institution’s) department that has so many core faculty in non-Western literature.” Impact beyond books Jennifer Franklin ’94, Travis Landry ’97 and Eric Calderwood ’03 — former students of Weinstein who are now teachers and professors — also attributed positive experiences in the department and beyond to Weinstein’s contributions. “For me, Arnold really defined what it was to be a college professor,” said Calderwood, who currently teaches comparative literature at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “I think until I met him, I didn’t really even know what that was.” He added that Weinstein’s joint lecture-seminar mode of teaching created a “mesmerizing” experience. In some class sessions, students and Weinstein would gather in an undergraduate’s off-campus home for discussions. “That was … very intimate and fun, in a different way,” Calderwood said. What Franklin and Landry remember about Weinstein goes beyond their classes and even their time at Brown. Landry’s relationship with Weinstein “did not end with graduation from Brown,” he said. “In some ways, that was the beginning.”
Landry, who teaches literature at Kenyon College, told The Herald that his experiences with Weinstein shaped him as a professor in the best ways possible. He said that he wants to instill in his students “a continuation” of what Weinstein has brought to him. “What we took from this (class) aren’t all those close readings … but how they really helped expand our worldview, and our empathy and our compassion,” Franklin said. “The reason why I’m a writer is because of reading those texts and looking at them in the way that he encouraged us.” Franklin is a poet and teaches in the creative writing MFA program at Manhattanville College. As he leaves the department, Weinstein said he hopes its courses continue to allow students of all backgrounds to read literature from a wide variety of cultures — even if that means classes have to be taught with translation and the discipline has to depart from its “esoteric” roots. “Comparative literature is a field that should make sense to young people and should be taught in such a way that it makes sense” to everyone, Weinstein said. This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 24, 2023.
UNIVERSITY HALL
Corporation extends term length for new alumni trustees to three years Corporation approves $136 million in gifts, celebrates Lindemann opening BY RYAN DOHERTY SENIOR STAFF WRITER In its October meetings this weekend, the Corporation, the University’s highest governing body, approved a new term length for the New Alumni Trustee position, increasing its term from two years to three years, according to a Monday Today@Brown message. The position, which is meant to be held by recent graduates, was created in 2009 to provide “a perspective that is more closely grounded in the student experience, at times acting as an
interface with current Brown students,” according to the Corporation’s website. The Corporation reserves two positions for New Alumni Trustees, who serve staggered terms and are elected by graduating students and recent alumni. “Eligible voters in New Alumni Trustee elections include undergraduate, graduate and medical students in the final year of study, and undergraduate, graduate and medical alumni one to five years after their date of graduation,” President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 wrote in the Today@Brown message. She added that the Corporation opted to extend the term length because “two years go by very quickly,” adding “that one additional year of service from each New Alumni Trustee would be of
great value to the Corporation.” Current New Alumni Trustees William Zhou ’20 and Shanelle Chambers Haile PhD ’23 — Haile became a trustee this year — will both serve one additional year, the Corporation decided. New alumni trustee elections will not be held this year due to the change, Paxson wrote. In addition to Haile, four new trustees joined the corporation: Eldridge H. Gilbert III ’05, Christine A. Leahy ’86, Amra Sabic-El-Rayess ’00 and Gladys Xiques ’94. The Corporation, which formally accepts gifts over $1 million, also approved more than $136 million in gifts and pledges made since their last meeting in May 2023. The gifts will “provide critical support for Brown’s
priorities, including endowed professorships, financial aid, graduate education, the Integrated Life Sciences Building, athletics and a range of academic programs,” Paxson wrote in the message. The meeting occurred the same weekend as the opening of The Lindemann Performing Arts Center. Corporation members attended the building’s dedication ceremony “to thank and honor the many donors and members of the planning, design and construction teams who made this transformational academic facility a reality,” according to the message. Additionally, the Corporation engaged in conversations about ongoing violence in Gaza and Israel, including “the implications and impacts on the
campus and the Brown community as a whole,” Paxson noted in the message. “True to the mission of Brown, many members of our community are leading efforts on campus and beyond to broaden and deepen understanding through scholarship, education, community gatherings and forums for discussion,” she wrote. “While those efforts are underway, Brown’s primary focus has been, and will continue to be, on supporting the needs and safety of our students, faculty and staff who are Israeli, Palestinian, Muslim, Jewish, have ties to the region and are feeling impacted by current events,” Paxson wrote. This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 24, 2023.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023
ARTS & CULTURE LINDEMANN from PAGE 1
tor of the BAI Avery Willis Hoffman in an email to The Herald. In a speech before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mayor of Providence Brett Smiley emphasized the Lindemann’s mission to promote
and arts directors at Brown called “Looking Back/Looking Forward: A Brief History of the Arts at Brown.” In the evening, the Brown University Orchestra, University Chorus and guest artist Perlman participated in the inaugural performance in
arts within the greater Providence community. “To take advantage of an already world-class arts and culture scene here at the city of Providence, to have it all come together in a building where there is an overt commitment to (opening) up (into) the broader community … is a real delight for me,” Smiley said, adding his gratitude for the University and the Rhode Island building trades that made the construction of the new building possible. Rachael Yuan ’27, a member of Arts for Service, took part in freestyle painting at her club’s booth during the block party. Yuan said she enjoyed the opportunity to view the talents showcased by her peers: “I’m really excited to have or attend more events at this center.” Guided tours of the Lindemann were held throughout the day, as well as the first Brown Arts Forum, which featured a discussion with professors
the Lindemann’s main performance hall. The performance opened with the premiere of a collaborative piece titled “Open again a turn of light,” which incorporated a poem written by Professor of Literary Arts Sawako Nakayasu with music by Associate Professor of Music Eric Nathan. The piece, a fanfare performed by the orchestra and chorus together, exemplified how the Lindemann could provide a space for collaborations across different artistic mediums. Nakayasu said she “set out to write a poem that would embrace a sensation of celebration and an opening.” “I used that word ‘open’ … as an anchor point to center the poem and opened it up to a range of responses and interpretations about where that could lead,” she added. The piece “is mostly joyful, but also, I hope, contains a certain complexity around
LILA QUINN / HERALD
The Lindemann Performing Arts Center's celebration this past weekend aimed to spotlight the presence of arts on campus and act as a preview of the creative endeavors the space will be hosting after its opening. it too.” “I hope that hearing the work in the specific location gives it a new experience or resulting effect,” Nakayasu said. Eurie Seo ’26, who attended the performance, enjoyed “the combination of familiar and new pieces.”
“I’m really excited to see performances being held in a proper venue. I feel like (the Lindemann) will really be able to boost the arts on campus,” she said. “The Lindemann is truly a one-of-akind professional space on our campus that I hope will uplift us all — faculty,
staff, students (and) visiting artists — to make our best work, to be our best selves and to collaborate and experiment in a way that simply does not exist anywhere else,” Hoffman wrote. This article orginally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 22, 2023.
PERFORMING ARTS
‘Small and mighty’: Synergy Dance Company aims to bridge gap between student needs, dance opportunities at Brown
Founded by Isabella Delionado ’26 and Chidi Olewuenyi ’26, Synergy Dance Company is the latest addition to the expansive and thriving dance scene on campus. Only a year old, Synergy aims to be an inclusive community that bridges the gap between dancers and performance opportunities on campus. The club offers weekly technique classes and self-choreographed pieces in jazz, contemporary and ballet. Synergy’s founders created the
as well as auditions for specific dances in the spring show. Instead of assigning dancers to pieces like many other groups on campus, Synergy “allows students to audition for dances they’re interested in,” Delionado said. To accommodate students’ schedules, the company also offers “active” and “inactive” memberships where students can choose their level of commitment based on semesterly work schedules. “With active memberships, members audition for four pieces and are guaranteed at least two,” Delionado said. Inactive members “audition for two and are guaranteed one.” Adelaide Poulson ’26, a current Synergy member, described the company as a close-knit and welcoming
company in fall 2022 after auditioning for two other major contemporary dance groups at Brown. “Unfortunately, we both didn’t get in,” Olewuenyi said. “We also noticed there were a lot of good people there, but the groups only ended up taking about five people each.” With only a few dance class options and limited time slots in the Department of Theater Arts and Performance Studies, Delionado and Olewuenyi said they saw a gap between the number of students who wanted to dance and the opportunities available for them at Brown. Synergy allows students to audition for just only one or two of its styles, but also gives dancers the option to join any other genre “if they want to do a different style one day.” The company held auditions in September and is now in the process of choreographing their spring show. Over the past month, the group held internal weekly technique sessions
community. After taking a hiatus from dance during high school, Poulson managed to reconnect with the art through Synergy. “Everyone wants to be there, and there’s no pressure,” Poulson said. Currently in a ballet piece choreographed by Delionado, Poulson is also “excited to try jazz and contemporary.” The company, which currently includes 10 undergraduate, graduate and RISD dancers, will hold auditions in the spring and plans to increase its social media presence as a means of growing the group in the future. “We are small and mighty … but still want more people to know about us so we can give actual space to dancers,” Olewuenyi added. Moving forward, Synergy also aims to increase accessibility to dance on campus. Delionado and Olewuenyi plan to hold workshops open to all students in jazz and bal-
Group provides flexibility for members, looks to collaborate with other organizations BY REBECCA WENG CONTRIBUTING WRITER
LILA QUINN / HERALD
The company, which currently includes 10 undergraduate, graduate and Rhode Island School of Design dancers, will hold auditions in the spring and plans to increase its social media presence as a means of growing the group in the future.let throughout the semester. “We want to provide opportunities for dancers and non-dancers to explore dance without stress,” Delionado said. Karis Jia Ning Ma ’25, a member of Fusion Dance Company, is “excited about Synergy joining Brown’s dance scene” and the group’s efforts
to make dance more widely available to students. “Especially for students who have a busy schedule, it’s a great way to allow dancers to explore with flexible commitment based on individual schedules,” Ma said. Synergy Dance Company is also planning potential collaborations
with other dance groups on campus. While the company does not have a showcase this semester, Syngery has received an invitation from Attitude Dance Company to join the Movement Show in November. This article orginally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 19, 2023
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
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ARTS & CULTURE
STUDENT PROFILE
Dariana Alvarez ’27 details journey from Disney set to BioMed
Crew members speak highly of Alvarez’s work ethic on set of Disney+ short film BY SAHIL BALANI STAFF WRITER From accidentally getting into the acting industry at the age of six years old — conveniently discovered in the waiting room of her mother’s audition — to successfully taking part in various commercials and film series, Dariana Alvarez ’27 is already a veteran in the entertainment industry. Most recently, Alvarez appeared in the short film “Beautiful, FL,” which is part of a series of live-action shorts produced by Disney Launchpad that aims to highlight emerging talent and support stories from diverse communities. “It is definitely the biggest thing I have done,” Alvarez said in an interview
COURTESY OF DISNEY
with The Herald. “Beautiful, FL” premiered on Disney+ Sep. 29 and follows protagonist Omara (Alvarez) as she tries to win an ice cream-making competition with a recipe inspired by her late abuela’s Puerto Rican treats. The minute she saw the audition call for the show, Alvarez was hooked. “I (felt) super connected to the material,” she said. Like the character Omara, Alvarez is Puerto Rican and inherited a strong passion for baking from older family members. Producer Helena Sardinha said that it was a priority for the creatives behind “Beautiful, FL” to respect the authenticity of the film’s narrative, so Alvarez was the perfect fit for the role. “She has a really close connection with the character,” Sardinha said. “For us, it was how natural she was. (She) didn’t feel rehearsed.” “Dariana has a warmth and curiosity
that was clear from the moment I saw her audition tape,” said Joel Perez, who co-wrote and acted in “Beautiful, FL.” Alvarez said that she felt more connected to the script after having conversations with Director Gabriela Ortega about Omara’s motivations and thought processes throughout the film. One of the most high-stakes scenes Alvarez shot was with Perez’s character, Copernicus Crus. Since Perez is a co-writer of the film, Alvarez felt that she “really had to do (the part) justice.” Because “Beautiful, FL” was the biggest project Alvarez has worked on to date, she felt much of the same emotions as Omara did in the film.“Omara is feeling pressure. And she’s feeling nervous. So I was like, well, it’s perfect,” she said. “Dariana was a total pro,” Perez said. “Getting to share the screen with her was the cherry on top.”
As part of Disney Launchpad, “Beautiful, FL” was shot by a majority Latinx crew. From the sets to the script, there are small but meaningful moments throughout the film that contribute to its overall holistic portrayal of Omara’s experience, directly benefiting from the crew’s personal relationship to the project, according to Alvarez. She also praised costume designer Laura Cristina Ortiz, who added small details to her costumes that made her feel even more connected to Omara. Sardinha praised Alvarez’s professionalism, punctuality on set and eagerness to perform across long filming days. “She has star quality,” Sardinha said. According to Perez, anything Alvarez ends up doing will “be executed at a high standard.” At Brown, Alvarez is making use of the flexibility that the Open Cur-
riculum provides to pursue various courses and passions. “I am in my exploring era,” she said. Alvarez is currently studying biomedical engineering but plans to take courses that cover topics related to screenwriting, playwriting and everything in between. Alvarez is also keen on exploring the behind-the-camera world of filmmaking through Brown Motion Pictures, though she is still open to working on acting projects happening on the East Coast. Regardless of the field she ends up in, Alvarez “will be successful because of her work ethic,” Sardinha said. “That’s something you see … the fact that she has such discipline and takes the job so seriously at a young age.” This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 23, 2023.
CAMPUS EVENT
Cogut Institute presents ‘Atlantique’ as part of Film-Thinking series Screening, discussion of Senegalese film marks series’s latest installment BY NED KENNEDY SENIOR STAFF WRITER The Cogut Institute for the Humanities screened Mati Diop’s acclaimed 2019 film “Atlantique” and hosted an audience discussion at the List Arts Center on Monday. The event, which was the latest installment of Cogut’s Film-Thinking series, kicked off the institute’s fall 2023 screenings. The Senegalese film, Diop’s feature-length directorial debut, was chosen by Veronica Fitzpatrick, a postdoctoral fellow in Modern Culture and Media. Professor of English and Humanities Timothy Bewes and Professor of Modern Culture and Media Rebecca Schneider, along with Yasmina Price, a PhD student at Yale, accompanied Fitzpatrick in the open-forum discussion following the screening. “Atlantique” begins at the con-
struction site of a flashy, obstructive tower at the center of Dakar, the capital city of Senegal. Ada (Mame Bineta Sane), the film’s young protagonist, has fallen in love with Souleiman (Ibrahima Traoré), a laborer who works tirelessly on the aforementioned tower without being paid his wage. Her love for Souleiman persists despite her engagement to a wealthy Senegalese businessman. Early in the film, Souleiman and a band of his coworkers disappear at sea one night when attempting to emigrate to Europe. Before long, an unexplained phenomenon causes those lost at sea to repopulate their former Dakar neighborhood as zombie-esque embodiments of the girlfriends that they left behind. The possessed girlfriends take Dakar by night, demanding that the tower’s wealthy developer pay them the wages their boyfriends were denied for three months. “I love the double focus of the film,” Bewes said. “This is a film that is about real events and relations that have to do with exploitation
and real people’s lives. Mati Diop’s work in general has a social realist component to it.” “On the other hand, you’ve got this Afro-surrealist, expressionist and formally experimental quality to the film,” he added. “That for me is a very startling element of ‘Atlantique’ and Mati Diop’s cinema in general.” Jordan Mulkey GS, a PhD student in the Department of Modern Culture and Media, shared similar thoughts on the film: “I am most struck by Diop’s capacity to work across several registers of political and aesthetic concern that attend to the interlocked nature of Blackness, globality and materiality,” he said. “Atlantique” is characterized by a narrative and political complexity that renders it a challenging film to grapple with. This intricacy has been thoughtfully explored by Price, who was invited to participate in the postfilm discussion for her sustained interest in “Atlantique” within the larger context of West African cinema. “Yasmina Price has a very rich knowledge of West African cinema
in general, Senegalese cinema in particular,” Bewes said. “The ways in which we were able to develop a conversation about the historical trajectory of Mati Diop’s work was important.” As interim director of the Cogut Institute in 2019, Bewes launched the Film-Thinking series to promote conversations about film on campus. “It began as a way to have conversations about cinema that were not being covered on campus — that is to say, cinema as a mode of thinking,” Bewes said. The Cogut Institute has hosted a total of nine Film-Thinking events, including Monday’s screening of “Atlantique.” Bewes hopes that in addition to highlighting the work of underrepresented filmmaking traditions, the Film-Thinking series will continue to invite scholars from other universities to partake in future events. “We hope to continue to bring different voices on campus into the conversation and potential voices from outside of campus, too,” Bewes
said. “We’ve often invited guests from other universities to come and speak as we did yesterday, with Yasmina Price from Yale University.” The next installment of the Film-Thinking series will come in the spring semester. As Bewes announced, Professor of East Asian Studies Lingzhen Wang will present the Chinese New Wave film “Sacrificed Youth.” The screening and discussion will take place on campus in April. “In screen culture, we all too often forget to take a step back and talk to each other about what we are doing with our screens and what our screens are asking of us,” Schneider said. “What is important is that the Film-Thinking series is a way that we, from different departments, can come together and really think together.” “The Film-Thinking series makes more clear that we live our lives aesthetically, and aesthetics are central to the way we think about and engage with the world,” Mulkey said. “Film is not just leisure, but allows us to think about something that is implicated in our everyday existence.”
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UNIVERSITY NEWS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023
ACTIVISM
Community members rally at State House in support of Palestine Over 500 protestors march through downtown, call for end of U.S. aid to Israel BY ASHLEY CAI SENIOR STAFF WRITER More than 150 students gathered in the rain Saturday afternoon to demonstrate their solidarity with Palestine. The crowd chanted protest slogans — such as “not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel’s crimes” — before marching down College Hill and joining about 300 community members and activists on the steps of the Rhode Island State House. The “All Out for Palestine” rally was held to “demand an immediate end to U.S. military aid to Israel, and an end to the occupation and genocide in Palestine,” according to a press release from the Party for Socialism and Liberation of Rhode Island, one of the event’s several organizing groups. The rally was organized partially in response to the Israeli military’s retaliatory actions in Gaza following an attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants on Oct. 7. Since the attack, which killed an estimated 1,400 people in Israel, the Israeli military has launched continued retaliatory airstrikes killing more than 4,300
people and escalated its years-long blockade of Gaza, almost completely cutting off food, water, fuel and electricity, the Associated Press reported. Multiple human rights organizations, as well as an independent human rights expert commissioned by the United Nations, have published reports labeling the Israeli government’s 56-year treatment of Palestinians “apartheid.” At the State House, local activists gave speeches, decried Palestinian oppression, denounced Israel for its continued use of force and criticized the U.S. federal government for its financial support of the Israeli Defense Force. “I want to remind everyone that the fight for Palestinians did not start on Oct. 7 (but) rather it has been ongoing since 1948,” said Farah, a Palestinian-American activist who served as an emcee for the rally and only identified themself by their first name. “I want to remind you all of the 750,000 Palestinians that were forcibly displaced during the Nakba.” Speakers claimed that the Israeli government’s negative characterization of Palestinians was being used to justify their oppression. “Today, as it has always been for 75 years, it’s the belief that Palestinians are terrorists, the belief that
Palestinians are ‘human animals’ (and) the belief that Palestinian children are human shields that is leading to an active genocide as we speak,” said Loubna Qutami, a member of the Palestinian Feminist Collective and a postdoctoral research associate in Palestinian studies at Brown. United Nations experts have warned that statements by Israeli political leaders and the Israeli military’s actions pose “a risk of genocide against the Palestine people,” and the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations has called Israel’s military offensive in Gaza “nothing less than genocidal,” Reuters reported. Speakers also criticized the Biden administration for continuing to provide military aid to the Israeli military. President Joe Biden “has just called for $14 billion more for Israel’s crimes,” said Joel Reinstein, an organizer for Jewish Voice for Peace. “That’s on top of the $3.8 billion the United States gives Israel every year for weapons used to murder Palestinians.” “I’m calling on the Western imperial powers like the United States of America to stop funding genocide,” said Sherena Razek GS, president of the Graduate Labor Organization. “Stop giving Israel impunity to kill indiscriminately, and stop sending billions and extra
billions to aid military ethnic cleansing projects in Gaza.” Rally attendees echoed the sentiments of the speakers, with one saying that they showed up “to support and stand in solidarity with Palestinians who are being actively murdered and genocided by the Israeli government.” “Palestine just doesn’t have a military like Israel does, and Israel is constantly being funded by the United States,” said one Brown student who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons. “The playing field has never been level.” “I’m a Jewish American, and the resistance to this occupation represents my understanding of Jewish tradition,” said an anonymous Providence resident. “That feels worth coming out to say.” After the speakers concluded, hundreds of rally attendees marched for over an hour in the rain from the State House to Kennedy Plaza and around downtown Providence, ending at the world headquarters of Textron, a defense manufacturer whose clients include the U.S. military. Saturday’s rally follows intense dialogue between student groups on campus, as well as several vigils that were held in the past two weeks to commemorate the loss of life in Gaza and Israel. One Brown student who
attended the rally told The Herald that they felt the University’s response to the violence in Israel and Gaza has not been equitable. “Brown has not been showing the right support to Palestinian students,” said the student, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons. “They’ve shown clear support for Israeli students, who are also grieving at this time. However, the lack of respect for the Palestinian side cannot be ignored.” Separate from the rally, student groups have been circulating demands from the Palestine Solidarity Caucus that call on the University to “publicly condemn the genocide,” “condemn the doxxing, Islamophobic and racist harassment” of Brown community members and “divest the endowment from Israel and the military industrial complex.” The University did not respond to requests for comment by press time. While one anonymous Rhode Island School of Design student told The Herald that they feel as if they only have a “speck” of power individually, they hope that organizing will lead to broader change. This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald. com on Oct. 22, 2023.
ASHLEY CAI / HERALD
At the State House, local activists decried Palestinian oppression and criticized the U.S. federal government for its financial support of the Israeli Defense Force.
FACULTY & HIGHER EDUCATION
Engineering professor at large wins nation’s top science award Subra Suresh joined U. faculty in 1983, recieved award at White House Tuesday BY NEIL MEHTA UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR Subra Suresh, professor at large at the School of Engineering, was awarded the National Medal of Science in a Tuesday ceremony held at the White House. The award, which the White House considers the “nation’s highest scientific honor,” was awarded to Suresh and eight other scientists, according to a White House press release. President Biden awarded the medals at a Tuesday White
House ceremony. “It’s very satisfying,” Suresh was quoted saying in a University press release, adding that while honored for the recognition of his work, the work itself is what matters most. “It’s icing on the cake, but it’s not the cake itself,” he said in the news release. Suresh served as the National Science Foundation’s 13th director from 2010 to 2013, the first Asian-born American to serve in the role. There, he started the NSF’s Innovation Corps program, which trains scientists to commercialize their research. Suresh first came to the University in 1983, serving as a faculty member for ten years. In September, the School of Engineering announced that Suresh would
return as professor at large. University Provost Francis J. Doyle III and Dean of Engineering Tejal Desai praised Suresh for his work as an engineering scholar in the University news release. “On behalf of the entire University, I am thrilled to extend a heartfelt congratulations to our colleague Subra Suresh …for being recognized with the nation’s highest scientific honor,” Doyle said in the release. “His visionary leadership in higher education and at the National Science Foundation has had a tremendous impact in both fundamental science and innovation across the globe,” Desai said in the release. This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 24, 2023.
COURTESY OF PETER GOLDBERG / BROWN UNIVERSITY
Subra Suresh served as the National Science Foundation’s 13th director from 2010 to 2013, where he started the foundation’s I-Corps program.
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UNIVERSITY NEWS LIFESPAN FROM PAGE 1
access, according to the announcement. Despite the proposed enhanced affiliation, Brown and Lifespan will remain distinct institutions, Paxson and Jain noted in the letter. This partnership follows two other separate agreements that the University
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023
has made with Rhode Island hospital systems in the last two years. Last November, the University, Lifespan and Care New England — another Rhode Island health care provider — signed an aligned research collaboration agreement to alleviate
University signed an agreement with Care New England surrounding collaboration on biomedical health services research, The Herald previously reported. In February 2022, Lifespan and Care New England withdrew an ap-
ademic health system in partnership with the University, The Herald also reported. The withdrawal came after Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha rejected the merger application. The new agreements will not impact
Healthcare System, HopeHealth and Brown Physicians Inc., Paxson and Jain wrote. They added that details of the possible agreement with Lifespan will be shared in the coming months.
administrative burdens and “streamline operations.” And this March, the
plication that would have merged the two entities and created a unified ac-
the University’s other affiliations with Care New England, the VA Providence
This article orginally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 24, 2023
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT LIFE
Society of Women Engineers at Brown offers students community, professional support Members say club is invaluable resource in exploring engineering careers
Engineering — a male-dominated field — can be “daunting for a lot of women,” said Mei Molinari ’24, a biomedical engineering concentrator. “It can be challenging for them to break into engineering and (know) what resources are there for them,” Molinari, co-president of the Society of Women Engineers at Brown, explained. Through social and professional development events aimed at building community, SWE hopes to change that, Molinari said. The student group, which offers women STEM students “a community of other female engineers,” is one of more than 400 collegiate and professional SWE chapters in the United States. For some, mentorship and guidance make SWE an invaluable resource before, during and after their time at Brown. Emilia Pantigoso ’26, SWE’s co-chair of professional development, has used the organization as a resource since she was 15 years old. “My high school was lucky enough to have an engineering course, (but) I was
with her application to the University. “I likely would not have come to Brown if it weren't for the women I met through Brown's chapter of SWE,” said Pantigoso, who is now a Biomedical Engineering concentrator. “I have never met a group of women more willing to help a complete stranger,” she added. “I don't think anything … speaks more to their desire to push and continue to fight for our gender in this obviously male-dominated field.” Megan Dansby Russell ’11, associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at the School of Engineering, was a member of SWE during her time as a Brown undergraduate. “I learned so much about what it means to persevere and what it means to really rely on your network and support each other,” said Dansby Russell, who double-concentrated in Electrical Engineering and Education. Dansby Russell noted that the “culture of engineering” can dissuade students from seeking help from others. “As a woman — especially as a first-generation woman of color — you sometimes have the notion that you don’t belong,” she said. “Or that if you struggle through something, clearly this is not for you.” For Dansby Russell, participating in extracurricular activities such as SWE and Brown’s chapter of the National
have similar interests and career plans. “My freshman year was really hard because of COVID,” said Jacyno, now a SWE co-events chair. “And (finding) connection was really difficult.” For Jacyno, matching with a SWEster felt like “having (an) older sister” — one who can help navigate job searches, help find graduate school opportunities and get the inside scoop on courses and
community-wide events such as the annual Engineering Winter Formal and recruitment events. “We try to bridge all of these minority groups so that we can foster a space where people … feel excited and confident to pursue this concentration,” said Nova Dea ’24, SWE diversity, equity and inclusion chair. Off campus, SWE also works with
thanael Greene Middle School. “We gave them a whole tour of the building and tried to get them excited about what we do,” Dea said. “They all got super excited, especially when we showed them our F1 racing car.” Snyder told The Herald that following COVID-related disruptions, the group hopes to create more long-term partnerships with local schools like Var-
one of three women in the entirety of the course,” Pantigoso said. “I so desperately wanted to find community.” While still in high school, she contacted another SWE chapter which provided her with the support to launch her high school’s Women’s Engineering Club. It was structured “entirely in the footsteps of SWE,” she said. Not long after, when it was time to apply to colleges, Pantigoso was able to use SWE’s collegiate network to learn about her options. In fact, it was Brown’s SWE members who read through her essays and helped
Society of Black Engineers was key to navigating the engineering environment and finding community to “talk casually about stuff that might not even be something related to engineering.” Dansby Russell also landed her first internship — and her first full-time job — through the connections she forged while attending SWE’s annual conferences, which bring together chapters from across the country. Other members, such as Jessica Jacyno ’24, find community and career opportunities through “SWE-sters,” a mentorship program connecting younger students with juniors and seniors who
professors. Along with the SWE-ster program, the group helps members find community and careers through LinkedIn and resume workshops, dinners, trivia nights and panels with the deans of Brown’s School of Engineering. Every November, to ring in the holiday season, the group hosts an annual “Gingerbread House Competition.” In true engineering fashion, the gingerbread houses must be structurally sound enough to survive the Brown Design Workshop’s shake table. SWE also partners with other engineering affinity groups to co-host
younger students to improve accessibility to engineering education. “We do everything from events with elementary and middle school kids, just introducing them to engineering … to tips on the college application process,” said Caroline Snyder ’24, SWE outreach director. Through SWE’s partnership with the Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England, troops can visit Brown and participate in SWE-hosted events to work toward their “STEM career exploration” and “Inventor” badges. SWE also offers tours and activity sessions to students at the nearby Na-
tan Gregorian Elementary School and Hope High School. Members shared their enthusiasm for the group’s initiatives this year and in the future. “We’ve got energy. We’ve got great passion. We’ve got great drive. I’m excited to see what happens going forward,” Jacyno said. Since the beginning, the group has been “women supporting women,” Pantigoso added. “Brown SWE … is the epitome of just continuing to fight for that.”
BY BISHAKHA OLI STAFF WRITER
AVERY GUO / HERALD
This article orginally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 23, 2023.
CAMPUS EVENTS
Cornel West, 2024 presidential candidate, attends Brown celebration in his honor Panelists discuss West’s academic work, legacy during two-day event BY ANISHA KUMAR SENIOR STAFF WRITER Over the weekend, philosopher and 2024 independent presidential candidate Cornel West attended a celebration of his academic work hosted by the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America. Held at the John Hay Library, the weekend event featured 18 panelists who discussed Cornel West’s academic work, views and legacy. Cornel West, who declared his candidacy for president on
June 5, is a scholar of religion and African American studies. “The rich musicality and the dynamic character of the life of Cornel West merit festivity,” said Associate Professor of Religious Studies Andre Willis, who delivered the celebration’s opening address on Friday. “He remains my teacher even to this day.” “In his writings … is a heartfelt and soul-driven attempt to leave the world with a little more joy,” Willis continued. “Professor West turns pain to power and stigma to style.” In Friday's opening discussion — moderated by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges — Cornel West spoke about the importance of exam-
ining suffering and marginalization in America. The United States “has a deathducking, death-denying culture” in regards to the historical treatment of Indigenous people, people of color and working-class people, Cornel West said. “America doesn’t want to engage (with) undeserved suffering individually, institutionally, structurally or personally,” he said. Addressing present injustices requires acknowledging historical suffering, he added. “It’s hard to generate mature courage if you’re in denial of the evil in your past and present.” Cornel West’s brother, Clifton West, also spoke at the conference on Saturday.
“He lives by a code of love,” Clifton West said, describing his brother. “He lives his life for others.” Tricia Rose MA’87 PhD’93 P’14, director of the CSREA and professor of Africana studies, moderated the celebration’s closing discussion. Rose asked Cornel West how to “carry on (his) honor and legacy.” “What should Black studies be going forward, given the time we’re in now?” she asked. For Cornel West, there isn’t one answer, though he urged the audience to engage with the performing arts. He also urged young people and established scholars to value intellectual pursuits over professional success.
“We have to be true to ourselves,” Cornel West said. “Something is at stake bigger than just your career.” Damali Britton GS, a doctoral candidate in political theory, attended the celebration because she was interested in learning about Cornel West’s development as a scholar, mentor and colleague. “I left feeling invigorated,” Britton wrote in an email to The Herald. “Something about the love people expressed for Dr. West and his work alongside the rich discussion of ideas made me excited to work on my own research.” This article orginally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 23, 2023.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
CAMPUS LIFE
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UNIVERSITY NEWS
BEMS offers students opportunities for hands-on EMT experience Student volunteers respond to emergency calls, work with professional paramedics BY JENNIFER SHIM SENIOR STAFF WRITER Founded in 1978, Brown Emergency Medical Services serves the Brown community as a paid and volunteer ambulance service, offering free emergency prehospital care. According to their website, BEMS “is primarily staffed by Brown students who are licensed prehospital providers including EMTs, advanced EMTs and paramedics.” In addition to emergency services, BEMS provides medical services at campus events, offers CPR workshops for community members and operates the Wellness Wagon, a non-emergency vehicle that transfers students to and from medical appointments around Providence, according to Julia Villani ’24 and former Herald senior staff writer Jasper Yeh ’24, BEMS student co-directors. Currently, BEMS consists of three full-time staff members, 39 active student ambulance EMTs — emergency medical technicians — and 17 student first-responders, along with a handful of graduate and professional staff supervisors. BEMS is also in the process of an expansion: According to Andrew Tetreault, training and performance officer at BEMS, the organization is currently onboarding
44 students to their ambulance team. BEMS is changing the way it recruits student volunteers, Tetreault said. While it previously followed a once-a-year recruitment cycle in the fall, the organization is shifting to “as needed” onboarding of student volunteers in response to shifting “personnel needs and the needs of the University.” According to Yeh and Villani, student shifts for BEMS consist of two six-hour day shifts and a 12-hour overnight shift. When on their shift but not actively responding to a call, students engage in practical training, skill refreshers and additional administrative tasks at BEMS’s headquarters in the Health and Wellness Center. For those working an overnight shift, volunteers have a bunk room to sleep in. “When we are dispatched, we drop what we’re doing and respond to the call,” Yeh and Villiani wrote in an email to The Herald. “During overnight shifts, the radio is definitely loud enough for us to immediately wake up and respond.” They added that each shift is staffed with one supervisor, either a hired professional staff member or an experienced student EMT, along with one to three students — all of whom are licensed EMTs. Having student volunteers respond to emergency calls across Brown’s campus “allows much easier connection between patient and caregiver,” Tetreault said. He emphasized the importance of student volunteers in fulfilling the mission of
BEMS, noting that the organization is powered by “students wanting to serve the Brown community.” “I really wanted to work for BEMS because it felt like a fantastic way to give back to the Brown community,” Yeh wrote. “(Volunteering) made me feel like I have a deeply personal stake in contributing to the health and well-being of Brown students and staff.” “My favorite thing is just getting to know the people that I’m taking care of and feeling like I’m doing something for Brown students,” said Clara Lee Molina ’25, a volunteer EMT. Lee Molina added that she joined BEMS in part because of her own experience having to call BEMS as a first-year. “I was treated by some really lovely people,” she said. For student volunteers interested in working on the ambulance, Tetreault explained that students must obtain an EMT certification in Rhode Island, which BEMS offers as a summer course. Students are also required to go through department-specific training, where they learn how to operate BEMS ambulance equipment. Tetreault added that some volunteer positions at BEMS do not require an EMT license, such as working as a first-responder on the Wellness Wagon. Lee Molina emphasized the education she has gained through BEMS. “I learned a lot about teamwork and genuinely hav-
LILLY NGUYEN / BROWN UNIVERSITY
On their shift, BEMS student volunteers respond to emergency calls alongside a hired professional staff member or experienced student EMT supervisor. ing to be able to communicate well with people in super high-stress situations,” Lee Molina said. “Being able to keep my composure and look out for my crew, for my patients in a difficult situation … that’s really important.” Saadhya Bahudodda ’24, a volunteer EMT, said that working with BEMS allowed her to become “more comfortable in my skills and more confident as a patient provider.” But students also noted the challenges that they have faced on the job, including the difficult nature of the situations they respond to. “I think it can be challenging depending on what kind of calls you get,” Bahudodda said. “You are working with students and people that you know, and a lot of times that can be hard if you see them
in a particularly vulnerable state.”“The most difficult calls for me are those that are highly emotional for the patient,” Yeh wrote. “There’s a general consensus that this work can be really difficult but it is also incredibly rewarding. As BEMS student volunteers, we have a unique opportunity to serve a community that we also belong to.” “The most difficult calls for me are those that are highly emotional for the patient,” Yeh wrote. “There’s a general consensus that this work can be really difficult but it is also incredibly rewarding. As BEMS student volunteers, we have a unique opportunity to serve a community that we also belong to.” This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Oct. 24, 2023.