SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2017
VOLUME CLII, ISSUE 29
WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
Faculty discusses community outreach U. focuses on obtaining H-1B visas for new hires, setting aside research funds in case of cuts By ROSE SHEEHAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER
COURTESY OF NICK DENTAMARO
The theatre arts and performance studies department and Sock and Buskin’s production of “In the Heights” bring New York City’s Washington Heights to Stuart Theatre. Originally written in 1999 by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the play showcases diverse characters and narratives.
Theater performance reaches new ‘Heights’
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘In the Heights’ pushes against homogeneity, highlights student talent By JUSTIN FERENZI STAFF WRITER
“Hamilton” — the musical that shook the world of Broadway — has become
so ubiquitous that nowadays, people often think of the play before the political figure. Thanks to this stratospheric success, Lin-Manuel Miranda has achieved international fame and a renewed interest in some of his earlier works. Chief among those is “In the Heights,” a play centered in New York City’s Washington Heights neighbor-
ARTS & CULTURE
hood, which debuted in 1999. Miranda conceived of the music and lyrics for the play while Quiara Alegría Hudes ’04 MFA wrote the book for the play. This month, the “Heights” hype reached Brown’s Stuart Theater with a student performance. The musical focuses on an eclectic group of friends and families who live on the same block. The play’s main character and de facto narrator is bodega-owner Usnavi. Originally
from the Dominican Republic, Usnavi’s father named him after a passing ship he witnessed while immigrating to America — “U.S. Navy.” Usnavi is played by Richard Flores ’16.5, whose impressive rap style sounds uncannily similar to that of Miranda’s style, who originally played the part. In the play, Usnavi strives to make an earnest living in an area riddled with » See HEIGHTS, page 2
President Christina Paxson P’19 and Provost Richard Locke outlined University responses to President Trump’s most recent immigration ban and the suspension of premium processing for H-1B visas at the faculty meeting Tuesday. Locke also presented the budget for fiscal year 2018, and faculty members discussed community outreach efforts. The suspension of fast-tracking H1B visas, which will go into effect April 3 and could last for six months, will have the greatest impact on pending Brown faculty and staff hires who do not already have H-1B visas, Locke said. “If an H-1B visa sponsorship is needed for a pending hire with a start date in September, then we have to get on this right away,” he added. The University will also address concerns about future government reduction in research funding by » See FACULTY, page 4
Med School programs provide assistance for refugees
Refugee Health Clinic, BRYTE address healthcare, education needs of young refugees
By GALEN HALL AND JONATHAN DOUGLAS SENIOR STAFF WRITERS
With the questionable future that many refugees in the United States face, the Alpert Medical School community is taking steps to provide resources and care for refugee children in Rhode Island. The Refugee Health Clinic at Hasbro Children’s Hospital — led by Carol Lewis, associate professor of pediatrics and director of the clinic — is an important first stop for child refugees coming to Rhode Island. Refugees often have difficulties accessing health care during their first year in the country, Lewis said. “(The Refugee Health Clinic) is …
SCIENCE & RESEARCH
INSIDE
SAM BERUBE / HERALD
BRYTE, which was previously housed under the Swearer Center for Public Service, was recently incorporated into the Alpert Medical School. The Med School has been providing funding for the program for several years. unique in Rhode Island,” Lewis said. “We see (the refugees) for their initial evaluations, and they stay with us for their primary care.”
Half of Rhode Island’s refugees are children, Lewis said, adding that they all go through the clinic. These children often need more care than the clinic
can provide. “What we do in a 20- to 30-minute visit here is a tiny drop in the bucket of what (the refugees) need out in the community to keep them
healthy,” she added. The children often arrive at the clinic with physical health problems, but “none of these kids are public health threats,” Lewis said, adding that “they are so vetted … and they have extensive medical exams” before being allowed into the country. The major problems new refugees face include developmental issues and trauma. “I have a Syrian family with a nine-year-old kid who’s never been to school,” Lewis said. In recent years, the clinic has developed community health programs to help these refugees adjust to their new homes. “One of the most exciting things that (has happened) recently is that we received a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation about a year ago to train community health workers,” Lewis said. These health workers help refugees navigate the health care system, which is often difficult due to language barriers and bureaucratic red tape, she added. Lewis also advises Brown Refugee Youth Tutoring and Enrichment, a » See REFUGEES, page 2
WEATHER
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2017
NEWS DPS crime log shows series of criminal incidences from December to mid-February
ARTS & CULTURE Re|ACT symposium features 22 international artists, launches Brown Arts Initiative
COMMENTARY Sauber ’20: SEAS allows staff, faculty to focus on efficiency at expense of accessibility
COMMENTARY Jacobs ’18: Reliance on social media for news leads to formation of political echo chambers
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