SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017
VOLUME CLII, ISSUE 10
WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
COURTESY OF HACK@BROWN
The annual hackathon, hosted by Hack@Brown, took place this weekend in Sayles Hall. The hackathon, open to high school and college-aged students, put new emphasis on design, product management and user experience.
Hack@Brown strives for increased inclusivity, beginner-friendliness Hack Week workshops introduce students to computer programming, software design By MIA PATILLO SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Over 500 students and professionals from around the world gathered this
past weekend to participate in the University’s annual Hack@Brown, 24 hours packed full of learning, creating and building. Hackers were provided access to some of the top tools and mentors to help design and present their own software projects. Hosted by the student-run organization Hack@Brown, the hackathon was preceded by “Hack Week,” in which Hack@Brown students ran a series of
workshops to learn about different topics in technology and design. These events were open to all Brown and Rhode Island School of Design students, regardless of prior coding experience, giving them the opportunity to learn a new skill or pick up knowledge to be applied towards hackathon projects, said Max Luzuriaga ’18, co-leader of Hack@Brown. This year’s Hack Week and
hackathon prioritized inclusion of thosewith little coding experience, said Katie Hsia ’17, co-leader of Hack@ Brown. “I’ve never even been to a hackathon before, but I just tweeted from a Chrome extension I just learned to make myself,” said Stephanie Alvarado ’20 after the “Intro to Chrome Extensions” workshop. The workshops were accessible entry points for students not
concentrating in computer science, a field that can come across as intimidating, said Ankita Sharma ’19, who ran the Chrome extension workshop. “I’m new to coding and wanted to come to Brown’s hackathon because I heard it was really good for beginners,” said Mir Lim, a senior at Boston University. “It’s been a really collaborative atmosphere.” » See HACKATHON, page 2
U. makes efforts to expand Immigration ban disrupts services for RI refugees Mayor’s vow to protect veteran admissions marginalized residents
Office of Admission waives application fees, guarantees phone interviews for veterans By SARAH WANG SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The University has implemented a number of measures in order to increase veteran admittance as current student veterans continue to build a community on campus. Most recently, the Office of Admission announced Jan. 11 that it would waive the application fee and guarantee a phone interview for all “U.S. military service members and veterans who complete an undergraduate application,” according to its Facebook page. These changes are meant “to lower the barrier to entry for submitting an application,” said Dean of Admission Logan Powell. Having veterans as students on
INSIDE
campus “is one of the most important things we can do as an institution and as a country to support our veterans,” he said. The University plans to increase its number of student veterans to match those of other private universities around the nation, said Karen McNeil, program director in the Office of Student Veterans and Commissioning Programs. “Looking nationally and (at) the local scene, most public colleges and universities have something like 3 to 3.5 percent of the student population as student veterans, and for private universities it’s about 1 percent,” McNeil said. “Right now, at Brown, we are at 0.25 percent.” To increase the number of veterans on campus, the University first needs to attract more applicants, McNeil said. There are a number of barriers that dissaude veterans from applying to private universities like Brown, Powell said. Many veterans lack adequate college » See VETERANS, page 2
at odds with President Trump’s executive order By STEPHANIE REYES SENIOR STAFF WRITER
One hundred refugees were expected to arrive in Rhode Island by this October, prior to President Donald Trump’s executive order, said Jessica Barry, director of development and communications at Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, an agency that helps to resettle refugees. Signed Jan. 27, the order temporarily prohibits entry into the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries. As for the many families hoping to find refuge in Rhode Island — sanctuary remains uncertain. Dorcas, which also uses the acronym DIIRI, is one of the largest refugee resettlement agencies in the » See REFUGEES, page 3
LAURA FELENSTEIN / HERALD
WEATHER
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017
NEWS Gov. Gina Raimondo proposes two years of free tuition for future R.I. state school students
NEWS FeldmanHall Lab uses economic games to investigate emotional decision-making
COMMENTARY Jacobs ’18: Far-right criticism of political correctness threatens free speech
COMMENTARY Rosen ’19: Students should take political action, enact change within community
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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
» HACKATHON, from page 1 This year’s Hack@Brown also broke the “coders only” stereotype of hackathons by emphasizing design, product management and user experience more than previous years, Hsia said. Some of the less coder-centric workshops — such as “Learn how to use Sketch” — were taught by RISD students and focused on design. The hackathon was open to high school and college students who, in addition to learning new technology skills, came to meet new people, explore Brown’s campus and apply skills learned at previous hackathons. Hack@Brown has earned a reputation around the world. Martha Czernuszenko, a business major at University of Texas at Austin, applied to join the hackathon after first hearing of it while in London. Mentors from the professional world also travelled to College Hill to take part in the hackathon and recruit students. Marcin Romaszewicz ’98, a CS concentrator, returned for the hackathon to find new interns and future graduates for his San Francisco-based company, which was co-founded with another Brown alum, he said. “It’s also fun to see what kind of technologies students are using these days to get their foot in the door, because this sort of thing wasn’t possible when I graduated,” he added. A group of RISD and Brown students won the award for best first-time hackers for their creation of a wearable
» VETERANS, from page 1 counseling services which can deter application to selective schools, Powell said. Additionally, some veterans may identify as first-generation college students, and “the idea of getting out of the military and going to a place like Brown is something that is just not part of their world view,” McNeil said. The University is focused on increasing communications to veterans after they leave the military to boost applications, McNeil added. Powell and McNeil visit military
COURTESY OF HACK@BROWN
Students put their heads together to come up with new application or product ideas over the course of just 24 hours during Hack@Brown. This year, the winners of the best first-time hackers award created a device that can be worn by those with visual impairments to sense their surroundings. device for those with visual impairments that senses its surroundings and notifies the user about any nearby obstruction or elevation changes. “We were all interested in hardware, so our team of entirely new people just decided to join”, said Jillian Cai, a RISD student on the team.
She added that one of the best parts of participating in the hackathon was meeting other students from Brown. The Social Impact Winners team consisted of sophomores from Brown who participated in the hackathon for the first time last year. In returning, they hoped to use what they had
learned last year to make a new product, said Lauren Ho ’19, a member of the team. Together, they created a twofold Chrome Extension and website that presents a news story from both the liberal and conservative perspective side by side. “The atmosphere of hackathon
makes it easy to create something in just 24 hours,” said Lucy Wei ’19, a Herald web editor who led the “Launching your own Online Portfolio” workshop. “It shows that the only thing stopping me … is my own motivation.”
bases across the nation to speak with active-duty forces about transitioning to college life after finishing their service. The University is also working with a number of programs that help veterans who are thinking about applying to college, Powell said. While the majority of current student veterans attend the University through the Resumed Undergraduate Education program, the administration hopes to encourage more veterans to apply through other means, such as the transfer pool or as first-year students when applicable. This would allow the University to admit
more students since the RUE program has constrained funds, McNeil said. The University refocused its effort to admit more veterans after students tore up American flags that were placed on the Main Green Veterans Day last fall, McNeil said. The Office of Student Veterans and Commissioning Program was instructed by the admission and financial aid offices to “figure out how we can do something fast to increase the number we admit this year and then also (do) structural things for future years,” she said. Despite the events that unfolded on Veterans Day, both McNeil and student veterans maintain that the University provides a supportive and welcoming community for veterans. “We probably had a hundred other students who came forward to help us put the flags back up or who organized themselves to guard the flags or who came to the Veterans Day ceremony to
show their support,” McNeil said. “I think it actually in the end showcased a really supportive environment for veterans.” Michael Muir ’20, a former combat engineer in the marine corps, agreed with McNeil and recalled that he was “taken aback by the awesome response of the community” after the Veterans Day incident. Though known for its liberal environment, Brown has proven itself to be very welcoming, he said. “I think a lot of these schools get applied a label,” Muir said in reference to Brown’s liberal reputation. “But there is more than just that. There’s people from across a broad spectrum (of experiences), and I like hearing Brown students voice their opinions.” Tristan Hood ’17.5, who served in the Air Force for four years and completed two tours in Iraq, has assimilated well into Brown’s community, he said. “There is no moment (when) I feel unwelcomed or like that oddball out,”
Hood added. Both Hood and Muir are members of the Brown University Student Veterans Society, which works to create a community for veterans as well as raise awareness of military and veteran issues. As president of the society, Hood is working to strengthen this on-campus network that formed in 2009. Along with the existence of the BUSVS, both Hood and Muir agree that the unique role of McNeil and her office served as a major factor in their decisions to attend Brown and continue to provide support to them on campus. Muir and Hood also hope to see the number of veterans grow as a result of the University’s recent initiative. Muir emphasized the importance of relationships developing between veterans and students who might be “dictating policies that surround war and conflict,” Muir said. “It’s important that we grow together right here.”
ANITA SHEIH / HERALD
LAURA FELENSTEIN / HERALD
The Soldiers Memorial Arch commemorates the 41 alums and students and the single faculty member who died in service during World War I. Almost a century later, the University seeks to admit more veterans.
NEWS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017 • PAGE 3
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Raimondo proposes two years of free tuition at state colleges Plan to cost around $30 million, aims to increase CCRI, URI, RIC enrollment by 20 percent By ISABEL GENSLER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Gov. Gina Raimondo introduced the Rhode Island’s Promise proposal — which guarantees two years of free college for the state’s students if they choose to attend the Community College of Rhode Island, the University of Rhode Island or Rhode Island College — as a part of her FY2018 budget proposal in a press release Jan. 16. “The data shows that in today’s economy, a college degree is the ticket to the middle class,” wrote Deputy Press Secretary Catherine Rolfe in an email to The Herald. “Roughly 70 percent of the jobs we’ll create in the coming years require at least an associate degree,” Rolfe wrote. But less than 45 percent of people in the state have received any higher education degree, according to data from the R.I. Department of Labor and Training. “Low-income students spend nearly 75 percent of their family’s income to cover the cost of college,” according to a press release from the governor’s office. Almost 75 percent of R.I. students take on debt to earn a degree, and average debt adds to more than $35,000 after graduation — the second highest reported in the country. The cost of the R.I.’s Promise proposal would be $30 million, which constitutes less than 0.5 percent of the state’s budget according to the R.I.’s Promise proposal website. All high school seniors who graduate from public, private or home school or get a GED, starting with the class of 2017, are eligible according to Raimondo’s proposal. “(The governor’s) proposal to provide tuition and fees helps make college affordability more of a reality (and) would help ultimately reduce student debt levels and … increase completion
» REFUGEES, from page 1 state. The agency has resettled an estimated 100 refugees since October 2016, and was expecting at least 100 more before the end of the fiscal year, Barry said. She added that the agency’s services have been impacted as the anticipated arrival of refugees in the Ocean State is no longer guaranteed. Though U.S. District Court Judge James Robart halted the enforcement of Trump’s order Feb. 3, it could be reinstated if temporary stays by judges nationwide expire. The announcement of the ban has already disrupted the services of organizations like Dorcas. “We understand that safety and security is an issue, (but) we feel very strongly that there is already tremendous amount of vetting,” especially with immigrants from places like Syria and Iraq, Barry said. “We’re certainly disappointed in the ban.” Each year, DIIRI serves over 450 refugees from around the world, many of whom have traveled from the seven countries affected by Trump’s order, Barry said. DIIRI’s
ALEJANDRO SUBIOTTO / HERALD
Starting with the class of 2017, Gov. Gina Raimondo’s proposal would allow all R.I. students that graduated from public, private or home school or those who get a GED to attend state college for free for two years. rates,” said Andrew Bramson, president finish college.” that “cut cost for attendance at these restricting peoples’ choices, that tends and CEO of The College Crusade of The cost of tuition is not the only colleges do seem to have an effect on to not lead to better outcomes,” FriedRhode Island. “More state money to barrier preventing high school stu- increasing college attendance rates,” man said. support higher education scholarships dents from continuing on to college, Friedman said. “If you knock the price Friedman referenced one side efis really both needed and overdue,” he said John Friedman, professor of eco- of attendance down by $1,000,” it in- fect of a similar policy in Massachuadded. nomics and international and public creases enrollment in colleges by four setts, where students who performed “When you put out a proposal like affairs. “There’s evidence that small to five percent, he added. Friedman well enough on high school graduafree tuition, it’s clearly going to catch barriers to applying or applying for also noted that though community tion exams were offered free tuition the attention of first-generation and financial aid have really important college in Rhode Island is not very ex- to the University of Massachusetts. low-income families and students,” effects in keeping kids out of college” pensive after federal grants, tax credits The impact was that students who Bramson said. He added that College he added. and other loans, having a policy that would have attended other instituCrusade expects more students to In addition to the R.I.’s Promise guarantees free tuition greatly simpli- tions, typically private schools, instead pursue four-year over two-year insti- proposal, the governor has implement- fies the process. went to UMass, which “led to a lower tutions, considering that tuition over ed several measures to lower the costs The governor expects that once graduation rate because … kids don’t four years will now be cut in half. of attending college, including making fully enacted, enrollment at URI, RIC graduate from UMass at as high a rate How Raimondo’s proposal contrib- the PSAT and SAT free for every tenth and CCRI could increase by as much as they graduate from other schools,” utes to completion “is more of an open and eleventh grade student, as well as 20 percent, Rolfe wrote. More than Friedman said. question,” Bramson said. The proposal as introducing the Open Textbook 7,000 students per year would be afA tax credit for prospective R.I. does not cover living expenses, which Initiative, which lowers the cost of fected, she added. college students that would make atBramson said “is what’s really deter- textbooks, Rolfe wrote. But the fact that the policy will tending CCRI free but still leave open mining whether or not low-income Though there are several barriers to only allow enrollment at state colleges the option to go to other institutions and first-generation students can attending higher education, programs may be a drawback. “Anytime you’re would be a better option, he said.
services aim to settle immigrants in the state by aiding many in the citizenship process. Now, the immigration ban has impacted such services as families are barred from entering the state, leaving the future of DIIRI and the refugee population uncertain. “It’s going to change the pace of how we work (and) the everyday work for our staff members,” Barry said. “A lot of the folks in the refugee population are definitely aware of what’s going on,” she added. “They may require additional services — it’s a tough time.” Reacting to Trump’s executive order, the Rhode Island American Civil Liberties Union has filed a number of lawsuits across the nation challenging the immigration ban, said Steven Brown, executive director of the RI ACLU. According to Brown, the order raises numerous questions of constitutional concern including “its particular focus on certain Muslim countries and its explicit preference for Christian refugees.” He added that “these provisions strike us as being totally antithetical to fundamental,
constitutional principles.” Brown hopes the courts will continue to be receptive to the arguments raised by groups like the ACLU. State leaders and city officials across the country, however, have taken it upon themselves to obstruct Trump’s immigration orders on their own. In November, Mayor Jorge Elorza vowed to protect marginalized residents of the state after some expressed concern with Trump’s campaign promises. After the election, Elorza introduced the One Providence Initiative, a series of programs, events and reforms announced in the leadup to Inauguration Day. Elorza has supported the proposed Community Safe Act — a provision of the One Providence initiative — aimed to reform police-community relations. He also created a new Muslim-American advisory board — a group of advisors meant to guide the mayor on policy and issues relating to the Muslim community in Providence. The mayor’s actions to prevent the Providence Police Department from cooperating with immigration
enforcement have not been supported by all. “He and (Gov. Gina Raimondo), to say they are not going to follow the law in the face of the president of the United States — it’s atrocious,” said William Gorman, executive director of Rhode Islanders for Immigration Law Enforcement, a non-profit organization advocating for strong enforcement of immigration laws. In favor of the executive order,
Gorman is critical of city officials like Elorza and hopes the executive order will fulfill Trump’s campaign promise to enforce current immigration laws. “We’ve had these laws since 1986, and no one’s bothered to enforce them, and that’s why we’re in the situation we’re in,” Gorman said. “We’ve been in existence since 2006, shouting from the rooftops to please enforce the current immigration law.”
NEWS
PAGE 4 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Emmy-nominated Tony Gerber ’86 P’20 talks film, politics Alum discusses founding Market Road Films, working with Michelle Obama on documentary By BELLA ROBERTS SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Tony Gerber ’86 P’20 has always used art as a form of resistance, both as a filmmaker and as cofounder of the independent production company Market Road Films. Fresh out of Brown, Gerber began his career directing theater in New York playhouses and has since become the director, producer and cinematographer of Emmynominated documentary “Full Battle Rattle,” which centers on life inside the U.S. Army’s Iraq simulation in the California desert. In 2016, he released the critically acclaimed “We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World” with CNN. Herald: You recently released a documentary about Michelle Obama’s mission to educate girls across the globe. Why do you think this is an important message to publicize? Gerber: In many parts of the world, education is not an option for girls and young women. Those of us in positions of power with access to political agency, power and voice need to fight for those who don’t have agency. Statistically, it’s been proven that investment in girls goes further in terms of creating liberal societies and improving the gross national product of a nation. Any dollar invested in girls’ education becomes an investment of thousands. This is one of the reasons Michelle Obama, with (the) help of Barack Obama, launched Let Girls Learn. She has the power to reach people and make policy and this is the issue she has chosen. Our film, “We Will Rise,” is the beginning for Michelle Obama of what will be a campaign that I imagine will occupy her for the rest of her life. Were there any particularly meaningful moments you witnessed while filming? The interaction with the girls was so poignant. For the young African girls to see Michelle Obama and see someone who looked like them in a position of power was remarkable. When the film aired, there was a screening in the White House. Ten Liberian girls were flown over for
COURTESY OF TONY GERBER
Tony Gerber ’86 P’20 described his most recent documentary, “We Will Rise,” as the beginning of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s post-White House campaign to invest in girls’ education. The film focuses on Let Girls Learn, a project she launched with the help of former President Barack Obama. the screening. The first lady wept after seeing it for the first time. She told them: “This is my house. You’re here. You belong here. This is also your house.” In other words, access to this kind of power needs to belong to the people. It’s not about closing doors, it’s about opening doors. It’s about making knowledge and the capacity to learn open to everyone, but also letting girls around the world know that they need to dream big. There was a moment in our town hall in Liberia when Secret Service was taking Michelle Obama away and all the girls mobbed her, just wanting to touch her. It speaks to this reality that in her they saw a small piece of themselves. You co-founded Market Road Films in 2003. Why did you feel the need to start your own film production company? The industry is indifferent to the individual by and large. It’s about doing work, but also it’s about making money. There’s a kind of fortitude, a kind of reinforcement you get by having your own company. Not just
emotionally, but you can build a family of like-minded artists. I have members of my team who have been with me for years now. We have an intuitive understanding of how things work. It gave us the ability to take on larger jobs and increased responsibility in those jobs. We handle everything from the development of an idea through the production and execution.
I do think it’s become increasingly difficult in this day and age to define fiction and nonfiction. What’s important is honesty and emotional clarity — the necessity of creating a richer and deeper experience for an audience. If the audience can go in with an assumption of the subject or character and come out with a different understanding, then I’ve achieved something.
Why are you drawn to creating documentaries as opposed to fictional stories? I’m drawn to both, actually. I don’t see a tremendous distinction between the two in terms of the impetus, which is to create empathy and understanding in an audience. The films I’m most drawn to use cinematography to get their point across. When I teach, we often speak of the line between nonfiction and fiction. That line is becoming less and less firmly agitated. You saw that this week in Washington D.C. — the notion of what is truth and what is “alternative fact.” Not to necessarily take this in a political direction, but
Are you worried about creative freedom under President Donald Trump? What do you think his election means for the arts? I am worried that government funding for the arts will be cut. I think it’s an opportunity for folks in the arts to fight back using the tools we have at our disposal. We had a very fortunate eight years, and we were luckier and better off than we all realized. New forms will emerge, new audiences will be born. The arts will be critical to reach folks in the red states. If you look at a map, funding of the arts exists mainly in the blue states but not the red states. Folks
in the red states have not had the same access to this wealth of dialogue. The belief among myself and my colleagues is that art can change and affect positively a community. The next four years are a prime time to test that belief system. How did your path at Brown shape your career? I gained the courage to go out into the world and try to be an artist. I would credit this to (visiting Playwright-atLarge in Theatre Arts and Performance Studies) Paula Vogel. She gave me the courage to move to New York City and begin working in the arts. I worked in the theater before transitioning to film. I learned how to learn — that’s the most important lesson I took from Brown. I learned how to be curious and how to research. I learned how to listen to other people — people I may not always agree with. My curiosity became refined in college. I met my wife at Brown, and now my daughter is at Brown, so it’s a big part of my life. — This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
TODAY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017 • PAGE 5
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HUAYU OUYANG / HERALD
Martha Nussbaum, professor at the University of Chicago, addressed the fine line between free speech and civil disobedience Monday, clarifying its relevance to college campuses and explaining how they can respond.
Q U O T E O F T H E D AY
“Those of us in positions of power with access to political agency, power and voice need to fight for those crossword
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who don’t have agency.
—Tony Gerber ‘86 P’20
See gerber on page 4.
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COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
“International”: An artificial race To the Editor: The problems that Aliosha Bielenberg ’20 addressed in his op-ed are absolutely essential. However, “International” is a race. It is an artificial race created by and for the American federal government to legally persecute, oppress and discriminate against the foreign population. Other names for “international” include stranger, alien and “the other.” For a country with a native population of less than 1 percent, America is surprisingly unfriendly toward those who arrived late. Rumors surrounding the potential H1B reform seem to be going one direction: Make it harder and harder and harder for skilled foreigners to work in this country — as if the current lottery system is not painful enough. “It’s going to be ‘America First,’” said the president. We “Internationals” are described as “the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs.” Universities like Brown categorize “International” as a homogenous population because we are the group that does not count as “ethnic diversity.” As non-resident aliens, international students are not included in any other race or ethnicity categories. The existence of international students on campus is considered as “temporary.” In other words, at least according to the federal government, the international students do not really matter. We do not qualify for most of the scholarships (U.S. citizenship or permanent residency required). We are there as a background, to provide the American students with an “international” experience. Many of us have to either pay tuition or find external scholarships. Of course, some international students are from relatively well-to-do families; a few went to
prestigious international high schools. But we still struggle, as aliens, to be heard (some of us speak English with an accent), to be seen (we are a minority group that is too often ignored because it’s going to be “America First!”), to get jobs (employers ask rhetorical questions such as, “Do you have a work permit?” even though they know that they are supposed to provide you a work permit) and to stay here (all of a sudden my friends’ visas are no longer valid, because the president says so). We live in a limbo: we are never legal enough, we are never qualified enough, we are never at home. Some Americans have been shouting at us (or their fellow Americans): Go back to where you are from! The American racial minorities who receive these comments have a right to be angry because this is where they are from. But do we “International” students even have a right to be angry? Don’t we have a “home” to go back to? Even if our family, our career, our friends, our everything, for the past god-knows-how-many years, have all been here? Even if our “home” prosecutes us, discriminates against us and brings war against us? For some foreigners, going “home” means imminent death. Homelessness would be a blessing. I sometimes wish “International” could indeed be a race, however artificial. I wish we actually had a right to be here. I wish it was not okay for the federal government to officially prosecute some of us. I wish biases and unequal treatment based on immigration status could be treated as a problem. But unfortunately, we might have arrived too late. Jan Cao ’13 PhD student and German language instructor at Northwestern University
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COMMENTARY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017 • PAGE 7
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
The conservative assault on free speech JULIAN JACOBS staff columnist My conservative friends tell me that free speech is under assault by American liberals. A brief interaction with on-campus Republican groups or a glance at right-wing social media communities reveals similar sentiments. Conservatives claim that political correctness has gone wild and that attempts to censor speech threaten to hurl the United States into a dystopian and intellectually neutered future. But this is nonsense. It is a tale conservatives have retold in an increasingly banal litany that fails to accurately represent the American political climate and distracts from the most pernicious threats to free speech. What may have begun as a helpful — and perhaps needed — criticism of the left has mutated into a sordid and misused slogan, utterly incapable of contributing to political discourse and instead bent on coddling far-right conservatives. Of course, there have also been instances when progressives have undermined free speech. For example, when Milo Yiannopoulos was not able to speak at the University of California at Berkeley because of various protest-based disruptions, they arguably did a disservice to public discourse and inadvertently bol-
stered the very ideas they find so contemptible by bringing more attention to Yiannopoulos’s rhetoric. Berkeley students had every reason to protest Milo, but preventing him from speaking only fed into his repugnant convictions. But in recent years, the far-right has extended their criticisms to apply to moral condemnation of any kind. Now, when someone regurgitates a political perspective that is by any reasonable standard racist or
when they are employed as ad hominem insults instead of criticisms. But this type of language is no more antagonistic to free speech than calling someone’s opinion incorrect or stupid. It may be unhelpful in promoting discourse, but it is an entirely legitimate application of free speech. In fact, nuanced moral condemnation is essential to political discourse. Who thinks we should avoid such language when describing neo-Nazis? Criticism on ethical or moral grounds is
servatives on campus who may feel dwarfed by the largely liberal student population readily disposed to attack right-wing ideas, a liberal environment does not mean that free speech is under attack. It only indicates that conservatism is an ideological minority and that if someone wants to defend President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, they better do a damn good job of it. Today, with an administration disposed toward authoritarianism,
The irony here should be immediately apparent: In the attempt to cast progressives as hypersensitive, conservatives have adopted positions that have produced hypersensitivity amongst themselves. ignorant, many conservatives tell us we should not label their perspective with those terms. The irony here should be immediately apparent: In the attempt to cast progressives as hypersensitive, conservatives have adopted positions that have produced hypersensitivity amongst themselves. We have to be wary of politicians and writers of any political affiliation who justify contrarian viewpoints in the name of defending free speech. One might argue that the use of words such as racist and sexist — and indeed, the entire thesaurus of other -ist words — can stifle discussion
essential to prevent the normalization of such views. We should not pull our punches for the sake of ideological diversity. Not all opinions are good ones — there are no “alternative facts,” history is not a fictional narrative constructed by George Soros and there are very real consequences of espousing xenophobic and decisively immoral positions. The notion that people should not be allowed an impassioned rebuttal when faced with such distressing elements is inherently antagonistic to free speech. Though I sympathize with con-
free speech advocates who have traditionally criticized the left should turn their attention to a government and political movement that poses unprecedented threats to civil liberties, including free speech. The generously-named alt-right have appropriated the term “fake news” and apply it to any piece of information contrary to their own ideological positions. They’ve formulated petitions to arrest Madonna under charges as a terrorist sympathizer. They have contended that criticism of Trump’s policies against refugees is anti-American and treasonous. And
they’ve exhorted followers to harass and threaten ideological and cultural opponents. Things are even more worrying at higher levels. The president has attempted to thwart the media — referring to them as “the opposition.” He has threatened to “open up” libel laws so he can prosecute journalists and has repeatedly attempted to silence and discredit his critics. The current administration’s Chief Strategist Steve Bannon has said the media should “keep its mouth shut” while simultaneously expressing sympathies for authoritarian ideologies. Even if many currently express distrust in the media, one cannot find any parallel to this extreme on the left. If there was ever a time for freespeech advocates to direct their criticisms and opposition chiefly towardsprogressives, that time has passed. And though I believe that the left should undoubtedly do more to become receptive and open to conservative viewpoints, the notion that the left is engaging in some widespread movement that seeks to limit free speech is a misguided straw man. This argument distracts us from a party and an administration with an affinity for censorship and fundamentally undermines the movement to preserve free speech.
Julian Jacobs ’18 can be reached at julian_jacobs@brown.edu.
Change in progress MICAH ROSEN
op-ed contributor In some way, small or large, everyone wants to see change. But the blessing and the curse of change is that it never happens without concerted effort. Each of us has a choice: to stay or to move. In the wake of an administration full of hate in its many ugly faces, we know we need to move — this much is obvious. For American immigrants abroad, torn from their families for crimes they never committed, we need to move. For LGBTQ citizens, for women, for black Americans, for Muslims, for Jews, for Native Americans, for everyone watching their human rights threatened by a demagogue, we need to move. As Anne Frank once wrote, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” How powerful it is that all of us have a choice whether or not to take the challenging route of action. How our country fares over the next four years and beyond depends entirely on us — the people — and how much we decide to push for change. In such trying times, I have to ask myself: Will I give that one morning to an important demonstration? Will I hold my representatives accountable? If I don’t — if we all don’t — dive into the project of building a better country from the bottom up, then who will? Luckily, I can take heart in the knowledge that at Brown and in Providence and Rhode Island, apathy has no place. Over the past several months, a collection of students and I formed a group knowing that there are count-
less people in our communities willing and able to take action. Through the Brown Progressive Action Committee, we aim to amplify the efforts of the numerous activist groups already doing amazing work and empower those new to the political scene so their voices can be heard. By channeling the energy found on campus after the election results and the horrifying first two weeks of the new presidency, we hope to promote a simple mantra
Brown community and to reach as many inspired people as possible. A group like BPAC can provide a centralized hub of opportunities and events through its social media platforms. We need an organization ready to connect student groups with local politicians passionate about the group’s cause, keeping in mind that we are strongest together. With a number of students connected to groups and leaders throughout Rhode Island, we are each other’s
By channeling the energy found on campus after the election results and the horrifying first two weeks of the new presidency, we hope to promote a simple mantra of progress: that making positive change is neither inevitable nor automatic, but that it is above all achievable.
of progress: Making positive change is neither inevitable nor automatic, but that it is above all achievable. Though formidable on our own, we are strongest as a group. Whether you are an interested student, a group leader, an activist or an academic, every one of you has an important role to play. But we need a way to translate the need for change to change itself, and this is why an organization like BPAC is so important. On campus, there are a number of committed groups driving progressive policies. But it is often difficult for such groups to promote themselves and their events in the larger
best resources. For me, hoping for better was not enough. Frustrated with the status quo, I was looking for a way to get involved. I was looking, perhaps, for groups on and off campus who could teach me the skills of activism, like lobbying, effective protesting, calling representatives, canvassing and staying informed. And though there were many focused organizations teaching me how to discuss climate change, discrimination and LGBTQ rights, I felt a lack of centrality. Once I learned that there was more to acting than agonizing, it became all the more vital for me to find an organization devoted to
fulfilling these roles. This is where BPAC can be an important resource to our campus. Through weekly meetings and frequent events, an organization like BPAC can give Brown students the opportunity to discuss how we are going to push progress in the legislature. Together, we can lobby on behalf of upcoming state bills strengthening women’s health rights, regulating harmful pollutants and more. At a time when widespread citizen engagement is so necessary, it is important to remember that every single person’s voice and experience are valuable. As dreadful as it is to watch act after act from Washington affect lives across the country and the world, there is some solace in knowing that we can have an impact on our own communities. In order for BPAC to help political activism continue to flourish at Brown, we need to be a vibrant and diverse community with members committed to its success. If we all get in this fight together, we can reclaim progress. Fortunately, we need not wait even a single moment to begin advocating for change. Trump doesn’t deserve our inaction, but our communities deserve our support.
Micah Rosen ’19, communications director at the Brown Progressive Action Committee, writes on behalf of the group and can be reached at micah_ rosen@brown.edu. To be a part of this effort, you can follow “Brown Progressive Action Committee” on Facebook, @BPACteam on Twitter or sign up for their listserv. You can also contact the committee chair, Aidan Calvelli, at aidan_calvelli@brown.edu.
NEWS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017
New lab studies emotional decision-making FeldmanHall Lab merges disciplines to investigate questions of morality, social behavior By STEPHANIE ZHANG SENIOR STAFF WRITER
How does morality work in the brain? How do we choose between altruism and self-interest? These are questions that the new multidisciplinary FeldmanHall Lab seeks to answer. What started in August 2016 with the arrival of Oriel FeldmanHall, assistant professor of cognitive, linguistic and psychological sciences, FeldmanHall Lab focuses on three main topics: the self and other, moral cognition and social learning and emotion. The lab studies questions about the processes involved in common thoughts and actions, delving into how we prioritize our own interests compared to those of others, FeldmanHall said. FeldmanHall Lab’s work marks a paradigm shift from most research conducted in this domain, which has been more philosophical and focused on normative behavior, she said. Previously, research has focused on how people should behave, whereas her research investigates how people actually respond to situations. Research Laboratory Manager JaeYoung Son is currently conducting this type of research on the issue of restorative justice — compensation after enduring some wrongdoing — compared to retributive justice — seeking revenge. “We find that if you give people the option … they prefer restorative options overall,” he said. FeldmanHall often draws upon the Rwandan genocide between of the Tutsi people by the Hutu to exemplify this kind of decision-making. “After civil war, people in the same society have to learn to get back together and unite after so much hatred has been exchanged,” Son said. “What people have found is that people do forgive — you get victims to come together with perpetrators.” The lab uses economic games to simplify decision-making problems, Son said. “The beauty is that … they mimic real-life scenarios in a laboratory way.” One game involved in Son’s research is the ultimatum game, in which player A can offer player B a portion of their money, and player B can choose either
COURTESY OF FELDMANHALL
Members of the FeldmanHall Lab seek to understand the ways that people make decisions that affect others. The researchers use economic games to model real-life scenarios to understand how moral beliefs impact people’s actions. to accept it or reject it. questions about social decision mak- from social psychology, Son said. moral cognition,” Son added. The scenario becomes more com- ing and learning — morality, fairness, “There are people who do neuroThis merging of disciplines makes plex when two more options are in- altruism, cooperation and pro-social science and cognition, people who do the lab stand out, FeldmanHall said. troduced — compensate and reverse. behavior. social psychology and people who do “Some of the most interesting research If player B chooses to compensate, The lab specializes in the field of behavioral economics, but our lab is happens at the fringes of multiple difB’s monetary payment is increased social and affective neuroscience — or somewhat unique in that we blend ferent fields. It allows you to approach to match A’s. If B chooses to reverse, using neuroscience techniques to gain all these techniques together and use a question from a number of different the monetary payments are switched. cognitive insights on questions taken them to investigate questions about angles.” The researchers observed that when people played the game on their own behalf, they chose to compensate more than reverse. But when playing on someone else’s behalf, they chose to reverse more often. “When we observe injustices being done (to) other people, we apply abstract norms that we are more likely to uphold,” Son said. Joseph Heffner GS added that part of their work is focused on identifying the contexts in which people value compensation as opposed to punishment. In cases where people prefer punishment, Heffner said a possible reason is that “punishment has a great reputational advantage. When you’re known as the person to stand up and pay the price to punish perpetrators, you’re imbued with a good moral status.” FeldmanHall said she was drawn to studying these concepts based upon her training in college and experience working in the Senate following her graduation. Combining those two experiences together spurred her to ask