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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

VOLUME CLII, ISSUE 56

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PawSox to move to Worcester, MA Office of Residential Life understaffed Three ResLife leaders resign, forcing community directors to nearly double typical workloads By CELIA HACK SENIOR STAFF WRITER

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

After negotiations made to keep the Pawtucket PawSox in Rhode Island for the next thirty years fell through, R.I. officials voiced their frustration and disappointment with State House leadership for changing legislation.

Pawtucket PawSox driven out by differences between House, Senate finance deals for new stadium By DYLAN CLARK SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The Pawtucket PawSox, Rhode Island’s only Triple-A affiliated Minor League Baseball team, signed a letter of intent to move to the Worcester, Massachusetts, Aug. 17, according to the Providence Journal. This decision came after the state Legislature passed a financing bill for the team that was different from what had been originally negotiated and approved

by the team. The letter, signed by PawSox Chairman Larry Lucchino and Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr., outlines joint financing between the city and team to build an $86 million ballpark in Kelley Square. Worcester would issue $62.6 million in bonds and the team would need to provide a $6 million cash investment and $25.9 million financed through bonds. The agreement also outlines a $35 million grant for infrastructure projects related to the stadium and a clause that states the team will keep all stadium revenue, according to the Journal. The team’s decision to relocate to Worcester came as a disappointment

Candidates crowd primary elections Candidates from federal, state, local races urge students to turn out, vote in Rhode Island By SOPHIE CULPEPPER SENIOR STAFF WRITER

This article is part of The Herald’s ongoing coverage of the 2018 Rhode Island elections. The penultimate primary in the country will take place a week from today in Rhode Island and will decide the party candidates in several state elections, including in mayoral, gubernatorial and federal races. No independent candidates are involved in primary elections. A photo ID is necessary to vote in the Sept. 12 primaries. The deadline to register to vote in this year’s Nov. 6 general election is Oct. 7. United States Congress In the upcoming race for the U.S.

INSIDE

House of Representatives, the University falls in House District 1 — where incumbent David Cicilline ’83 is running against Christopher Young, who has run in both U.S. Senate and House races, as well as for mayor of Providence multiple times. Patrick Donovan and Frederick Wysocki are squaring off on the Republican ballot. Donovan did not respond by press time and The Herald was unable to reach out to Wysocki for comment. Of Rhode Island’s two sitting Democratic senators, only Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., is up for reelection this year. He is challenged from the left by Patricia Fontes, a peace activist. Whitehouse did not respond by press time, while Fontes could not be reached for comment. Vying for the Republican ticket are Rhode Island attorney and former Associate R.I. Supreme Court Justice Robert Flanders Jr. ’71 and businessman Roque “Rocky” de la Fuente, a California resident who is running » See PRIMARY, page 2

to Rhode Island state and local officials alike. Rep. Mary Messier, DPawtucket, said a deal to keep the PawSox in the state for the next three decades had been in the works for three years. “I’m just very disappointed that we couldn’t get this done,” she said. The legislation did not start in the House, however. Sen. Donna Nesselbush ’84, D-Pawtucket, was one of three senators who initially introduced the bill detailing the financing of a new stadium in Pawtucket. In the Senate bill, which was drafted with input from the PawSox, the team would have contributed $12 million upfront in equity, and issued a principal debt of » See PAWSOX, page 4

Three community directors in the Office of Residential Life have resigned this summer, leaving two supervisors with the primary responsibility of overseeing and training this year’s 137 Residential Peer Leaders, according to Mary Grace Almandrez, dean of students and acting senior director of ResLife. The Associate Director of Programs Kate Tompkins, who oversees the community directors, also resigned this summer, Almandrez confirmed. Typically, six community directors and one associate director are meant to oversee the RPL program. The office was not at full capacity at the start of the summer, with just five community directors and one associate director. Currently, the two remaining community directors, who are being assisted by Nicholas Greene, the program manager of operations, are each essentially managing close to double their typical workload. At full staff, each community director is assigned one region of a sixregion campus, in which they oversee

all the RPLs and secondarily all the students within that region. Currently, both CDs and Greene have two regions each, according to a recent email sent by Almandrez to RPLs. Shortly after announcing their resignations, Tompkins and community director Samuel Ortiz explained their decisions at an RPL training Aug. 22. Their decisions were responses to an unsustainable, understaffed work environment in which they did not feel supported by the “administration,” according to three RPLs who asked to remain anonymous for fear of professional repercussions. Almandrez said she could not speak to the employees’ specific reasons for leaving, though she emphasized that the entry-level job of community director has a “high turnover rate of three to five years.” The average turnover rate was 2.25 years for the four community directors that have departed within this past year, according to their four LinkedIn profiles. Current and past community directors were either unavailable or declined to speak with The Herald. Being a community director is a live-in position, and the cohort is one of the first responders for the administrator on call system, which “provides a mechanism for Brown students to » See RESLIFE, page 3

Gender dysphoria study faces criticism Recent study uses parental surveys to examine ‘rapidonset gender dysphoria’ in transgender youth By MIA PATTILLO SENIOR REPORTER

On Aug. 22, the University published a press release on the first-ever research study to investigate “rapid-onset gender dysphoria,” which was authored by Lisa Littman, assistant professor of the practice of behavioral and social sciences in the School of Public Health. Littman’s study proposed that online forums and social media have allowed transgender identities to spread among adolescents in a manner dubbed “social contagion.” Five days later, PloS ONE, the peer-reviewed journal which published the study, posted a comment on the online paper indicating that the journal would “seek further expert assessment on the study’s methodology and analyses.” The same day, Aug. 27, Brown removed the press release highlighting Littman’s findings from

TIFFANY DING / HERALD

Assistant Professor Lisa Littman’s study suggests that online forums and social media have allowed transgender identities to spread among youth. its website and news distribution. research evidence” has garnered 3,926 The following day, Dean of the signatures, as of press time. School of Public Health Bess Marcus issued a letter affirming the School’s Methodology and data collection commitment to both academic freeGender dysphoria is defined by dom and the well-being of sexual and the American Psychiatric Associagender minority populations. A recent tion as a conflict between a person’s petition supporting Littman’s research physical or assigned gender and the and calling on both Brown and PloS gender with which they identify. LitONE to “resist ideologically-based tman’s study defined a new form of attempts to squelch controversial » See GENDER, page 6

WEATHER

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

NEWS Jennifer Hunter began work as the new associate director of athletics for diversity, inclusion

NEWS As Harvard is sued for alleged discrimination against Asian Americans, U. declares support

COMMENTARY Pontbriant: University courses at Rhode Island prison could provide opportunities for inmates

COMMENTARY Kupetz ’19.5: University should allow inmates to receive course credit for courses they take

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TOMORROW

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NEWS

PAGE 2 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

» PRIMARY, from page 1 simultaneously in six different states. De la Fuente could not be reached for comment. “In my race, national issues predominate, though as I learn from every visit to a senior center, all politics are local,” Flanders wrote in an email to The Herald. While both the U.S. House and Senate have upcoming elections, “the big contest is in the House this time around,” said Professor of Political Science Richard Arenberg. Twenty-six of the 35 Senate seats up for re-election this term are defended by Democrats, which means Democrats would have to win all of their seats and flip two seats currently held by Republicans to achieve a majority. The race is tighter for the House, where approximately 30 seats are considered toss-ups — creating an opportunity for Democrats to turn the currently red House blue. Arenberg said there is “a tendency to maybe underestimate the possibility of Democrats also taking the Senate.” There are six closely contested races — four held by Republicans and two by Democrats, according to the New York Times. Rhode Island has historically elected Democrats to Congress since the 1940s, according to Ballotpedia, and is considered a solidly blue state. But while “it’s a very blue state, it’s full of different shades of blue. You have those very progressive Democrats and you also have some Democrats who may, in other parts of the country, feel more like Republicans,” said Alexander Cramer ’21, Brown Democrats’ communications director. “It’s really important for anyone living in Rhode Island, whether a

student or otherwise, … to take the responsibility both to find out who their candidates are and not necessarily just vote based on who the party will elect as a candidate,” Cramer added. Both the Brown Democrats and the Brown Republicans told The Herald they plan to wait for the outcomes of the primaries to champion the winning candidates. Rhode Island’s population is represented by two representatives in the House, though this could decrease to one representative for the 2022 elections following the 2020 census; in 2017, Rhode Island was 157 residents away from losing a representative, according to WPRI. R.I. Governor The race for governor is hotly contested this year, with three Democrats and three Republicans vying to represent their parties. While Rhode Island is solidly blue at the federal level, gubernatorial control of the state has historically swung between Democrats and Republicans. Gov. Gina Raimondo, elected in 2014, was the first Democratic governor of Rhode Island to be elected since 1990, according to Ballotpedia. If she wins the Democratic primary, as predicted by a July 2018 poll conducted by Fleming & Associates, Raimondo will most likely face Cranston Mayor Allan Fung in the November general election. The same poll shows Fung, who nearly beat Raimondo in 2014, just 2.2 percent behind Raimondo. Raimondo also faces challenges from the left from former Democratic State Rep. Spencer Dickinson and former Secretary of State Matt Brown. Brown has drummed up local and national support from former governor

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD and U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee ’75, as well as an endorsement from Our Revolution, a political action organization inspired by Bernie Sanders, among others. Brown did not respond by press time. In the Republican primary, Fung is running against businessman, former state senator and military officer Giovanni Feroce and House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan, as previously reported by The Herald. Fung, Feroce and Morgan could not be reached for comment. The Brown Republicans plan to focus their efforts on the “especially tight” gubernatorial race, said Brown Republicans President Nicholas Guarino ’20, adding that the group also has its eye on the upcoming Senate election. Providence Mayor Mayor Jorge Elorza faces challenges from Kobi Dennis, director of a mentorship program for youth of color named Princes 2 Kings, and Robert DeRobbio, a former educator currently running the nonprofit Resources for R.I. Education. Elorza and DeRobbio could not be reached for comment. Lieutenant Governor Incumbent Dan McKee, who has been in office since 2015, faces off against State Rep. Aaron Regunberg ’12, D-Warwick, in the Democratic primary. Paul Pence is the sole Republican candidate for lieutenant governor. Local politics are “our last line of defense” from Republican Washington policy, Regunberg said. McKee and Pence could not be reached for comment.

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R.I. State Senate and House Representatives University students will be voting in District 1 and District 3 for state House and Senate representatives, respectively. “This election differs from past cycles. … Because of national politics, (people) are really paying attention to what’s going on at the State House,” said Gayle Goldin, who is running for reelection uncontested to represent District 1 in the State General Assembly, which includes the University. In District 3 for the state Senate, current State Sen. Edith Ajello, DBristol, Warwick and Providence, faces no opposition either in her primary or from a Republican candidate. Ajello could not be reached for comment. City Council The University falls under the jurisdiction of Ward 2. Helen Anthony, Mark Feinstein and Ryan Holt are running for an open Ward 2 City Council seat. There is also a competitive city council race in Ward 1 with councilman Seth Yurdin running against community organizer Justice Gaines ’16. The Herald did not reach out to the candidates for comment. Other Races Democrat Peter Neronha is running uncontested for attorney general. Primaries for secretary of state and general treasurer are also uncontested. Incumbent Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea will be challenged by Republican Pat Cortelessa in the general election, and incumbent General Treasurer Seth Magaziner will face

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competition from Republican Michael Riley. The Herald did not reach out to the candidates for comment. Where to Vote? On the whole, R.I. candidates encourage students to vote where they live — in Rhode Island. “It is important to vote in the state in which you reside,” Young said. “Rhode Island needs your passionate commitment to bring change to our state and our nation. I strongly encourage you to register to vote in Rhode Island,” Raimondo wrote in an email to The Herald. Dennis also emphasized the importance of student participation. “College students should be active, informed participants and vote, but it should be up to them whether they vote in their home state or Rhode Island if Rhode Island isn’t where they are from. They are critical with great ideas, and we need their involvement,” he wrote in an email to The Herald. “The idea that out-of-state students lack a vision of the long-term commitment to the community is an outmoded concept that fails to credit the students with representing the long term interests of the students who follow them,” Pence wrote in an email to The Herald. “Each of us should establish residency and vote accordingly, without concern that their voices are unwelcome in whichever state they choose to vote in.” Regunberg encouraged students to be politically engaged both in their hometowns and while at school. “I would definitely encourage folks, if you’re following closely a swing district race from back home, to make your voice count in that district. But if you’re not from that situation, I would think where you live, you want to be invested in that; you want to know what’s going on; you want to be able to make your voice heard. And so I think people have a lot to gain from following local politics and having a say, and one of the ways you have that say is you vote,” Regunberg said. Regardless of where students vote, candidates encourage engagement in the community beyond College Hill. “You can’t build a fence around Brown. It’s got to be part of the city,” Dickinson said. If you are “living here for four years, I think you’re expected to become part of the community that you’re living in for that long,” Cicilline added. “It’s important to realize that even if you aren’t a Rhode Island voter, that you realize that the voice of students from Brown is very important up at the State House, and you have so much energy and capacity to influence good public policy by coming up and sharing their voice and continuing to be actively engaged,” Goldin said. Despite concerns about youth disengagement with politics, “I see a much higher level of interest in this election among my students than before—not just interest, but I think commitment to act, commitment to vote,” Arenberg said.

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 • PAGE 3

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Cable Car Cinema, Cafe closes after 42 years of film French Film Fest reels after ‘theater with couches’ shuts doors of its South Main St. location By JACKSON WELLS SCIENCE AND RESEARCH EDITOR

After 42 years of featuring films in a uniquely intimate setting, Cable Car Cinema and Cafe shut the doors of its 204 South Main St. location May 27, the owners announced in a Facebook post April 26. The closure comes at the tail end of negotiations with the Rhode Island School of Design, which owns the building, wrote owners Daniel Kamil and Emily Steffian in the Facebook post. Cable Car occupied the space through a 10-year lease that ends in September 2018, according to a statement from RISD. On April 16, after unsuccessful lease renewal discussions, the owners notified RISD that they would not be seeking a new lease. “We did not come to this decision lightly,” the owners wrote. In a statement, RISD wrote that it was “saddened” by Cable Car’s decision. The school had been in talks with the owners to explore a number of options that would allow Cable Car remain in that location, such as adding second

» RESLIFE, from page 1 seek assistance in emergency situations after business hours.” The group’s main priority, however, is to mentor and supervise RPLs, Almandrez said. “The problem of stress and overwork and lack of administrative support was described as being a problem that had existed for a long time” as opposed to a “short-term problem,” said Joan, an RPL whose name has been changed to protect their identity. The department has not been fully staffed for at least two years, according to multiple RPLs and confirmed by Almandrez. ResLife hired a full-time director, Melissa Flowers, in the fall of 2017 following the 2016 departures of both former Senior Associate Dean of Residential Life Richard Bova and former Director of Residential Experience Natalie Basil, The Herald previously reported. “When we didn’t have a full-time director, we had associate directors that were making sure the department was running, along with me, and at that time there was another assistant vice president,” Almandrez said. In The Herald’s fall 2017 story, Almandrez said that prior to Flowers’ appointment, ResLife had been operating as a result of “hardworking staff who had to pick up a lot of additional responsibilities” and “strong student leaders.” Tim, an RPL whose name has also been changed, said Tompkins and Ortiz expressed that they were asked to take on responsibilities outside their own job descriptions, so they urged the RPLs to download copies of their own job descriptions in case they were changed online. “What happens if I’m worried about a resident, and it’s not so much an emergency, but also feels like they definitely need support?” Joan said. “If (the community directors are) so busy dealing with crises and all the other stuff they have to do for three times as

floor or alternating usage of the space, but ultimately could not agree, Silva told the Providence Journal. The school offered Cable Car a renewal at a lowered rent, but the owners still refused the offer, RISD wrote, adding that the owners told them their decision to close was “not based on finances.” Kamil and Steffian responded with another Facebook post asserting that Cable Car was “never formally offered any rent reduction by RISD.” The post also claimed that the theater had made three requests to purchase its Main Street building from RISD, even suggesting in May of 2017 that Cable Car be run as a nonprofit going forward. But none of these requests were accepted, the post stated. Danielle Mancuso, senior public relations specialist at RISD, did not respond to a request for comment about RISD’s statement. The theater’s closing was met with nostalgia and dismay from community members. Many Brown students know Cable Car as the host of the annual French Film Festival. Sylvie Toux, resident director of the Brown in Paris program and one of the founders of the festival, was sad to learn of Cable Car’s closing. Toux previously lived on Benefit Street, just down the road from Cable Car. A true regular, she would visit the theater many people, they’re just not going to have time to meet about less important stuff on a regular basis, and that’s going to cause the less important stuff to spiral into more important stuff.” Almandrez emphasized the priority of community directors’ roles as mentors and supervisors to RPLs. While “we’re short-staffed, the level of care (and support) should still be the same for RPLs,” she said. To ensure this is the case, in the last couple of weeks tasks that are ancillary to supporting RPLs have been reduced or redistributed internally or even externally, Almandrez said. This includes duties regarding facilities and operations or meeting and programming expectations. “For example, one of the (community director’s) responsibilities might be walking through the buildings and making sure ... that there’s no problems with the facilities,” Almandrez said. “We have staff in the department who are going to be doing that instead of the (community directors.)” Going forward, these responsibilities will not fall to community directors even after the departments fills its vacancies,, Almandrez said. The department has more than 80 applicants for the open community director positions and plans to bring the final candidates for on-campus interviews by the end of September or October. ResLife will also undergo an external review in October, in which two to four experts unaffiliated with the University will assess its strengths and weaknesses. Focuses for the external review will include determining if ResLife has appropriate staffing and better understanding how to create systems that support CDs, Almandrez said. While Almandrez said she cannot guarantee that community directors will never leave en masse again, the plan moving forward is to continue to take concerns expressed by community directors seriously, she said.

twice a week to watch a film, she said. The theater stood out to Toux due to its atmosphere — the same one that had caught the attention of patrons for decades. Audience members sat on couches rather than traditional theater seats. When Toux started the Providence French Film Festival, she chose Cable Car over other possible venues, such as the Avon Cinema, because the kinds of movies that Cable Car showed were similar to those she wished to feature in the festival, making it the perfect choice, she said. “(The closing) was very upsetting,”

said Lewis Seifert, a professor of French studies who served as head of the department from 2011 through 2017. Cable Car had an “excellent” relationship with the department, Seifert added. As a result of the change, he is concerned about the future of the French Film Festival — even when it does find a new home, the program will probably be shorter and include fewer films, he said. Since the owners had access to a vast, esoteric filmography, Cable Car made it possible to bring lesser-known titles to the public eye, Seifert said. This

may become more difficult now after Cable Car’s closing, which is “a loss for the entire community,” he added. Richard Blakely, research associate in French Studies and current director of the French Film Festival, noted that Cable Car was always enthusiastic about hosting and accommodating the festival. The event has drawn Brown students and members of the community every year, overflowing the theater, he said. The festival’s upcoming 22nd year will be the first time Cable Car does not host the event, he said. The next location remains uncertain, but the Granoff Center for the Creative Arts and the Avon are possibilities, he added. Though the theater officially shut its doors at 204 South Main St. after showing the movie RBG, Cable Car has since hosted a number of screenings at different locations around Providence, such as “The Gospel According to Andre” at the Columbus Theatre. The owners have not written off the possibility of reopening the “theater with couches” in the future, they wrote. “For the short-term, we will catch our breath, take a moment, and if the right opportunity arises — the Cable Car Cinema may emerge in another locale and in another form,” they wrote, ending their letter by noting that the closing was not a goodbye, but rather a “blackout.”

Almandrez shared many of these plans with RPLs at an optional lunch Aug. 23, where “pretty close to universal” concerns were expressed, according

to Joan. “I think there’s a lot of skepticism that these solutions are going to actually work,” Joan said. “Clearly if it’s

as easy as the things that they’re proposing, this wouldn’t have happened. Clearly the fact that all these people have quit means it’s not.”

SAM BERUBE / HERALD

After unsuccessful lease renewal negotiations with Rhode Island School of Design, Cable Car owners decided not to renew their lease.

NEWS

PAGE 4 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

LITERARY ARTS COURSES, FALL 2018 For First Year Seminars: LITR 0100 workshops (Introduction to Fiction, Introduction to Poetry) and LITR 0710 seminars: spaces were filled by the Dean of the Collegeʼs office. No wait lists are created before the first class meeting; attend the first class to see if space has become available. These courses are open to First Year undergraduate students only. For LITR 0110 workshops (Fiction I, Poetry I, Digital Language Arts I, Screenwriting I) and LITR 1110N*: spaces were filled during the registration period. No wait lists are created before the first class meeting; attend the first class to see if space has become available. For LITR 0210 (Fiction II, Poetry II), LITR 1010 (Advanced Fiction, Advanced Poetry, Advanced Digital Language Arts, Advanced Screenwriting, Writing 3D) & LITR 0310* (Special Topics) workshops: writing samples are due in the front hallway of the Literary Arts Building, 68.5 Brown Street, between 10 am and 4 pm on Wednesday, 5 September. Most sections may accept samples through early afternoon, Friday, 7 September. For LITR 1110S* and 1150/1151* workshop/seminars: attend the first class session; bring a writing sample with you. For LITR 1200 and 1230/1231* literature courses: register through Banner during the registration period; and/or attend the first class. LITR 0310K – The Web Narrative ~ LITR 1110N – Potential Literature ~ LITR 1101S – Fiction Into Film ~ LITR 1150A – Ecopoetics in Practice ~ LITR 1150M – Short Fiction Experiments ~ LITR 1151X – Interdiciplinary Arts: Translation as Concept ~ LITR 1151Y – Against Genre ~ LITR 1151Z – Paysagisme: Art and Ecological Responsibility (1/2 credit course) ~ LITR 1200 – Writers on Writing ~ LITR 1231I – Sacred and Profane: Dante, Milton, Rushdie

For details, see https://www.brown.edu/cw or visit “courses at brown”

PAYSAGISME

ART AND ECOLOGICAL RESPONSIBILITY LITR 1151Z, Sec. 1 – a half-credit fall-semester course meeting from 25 October through 10 November 2018 Though the French word paysagisme is usually translated as “landscaping,” or “landscape architecture,” the field covers much more, including urban planning, public space use, land reclamation, and ecology, as well as garden and park design, and overlaps with the late 20th-century and contemporary art movement known as Land Art. This short course covers all that. Landscape theorist and Land Art specialist Gilles Tiberghien, professor at Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne, will be in residence this fall for a series of lectures that can be taken as a half-credit course. Requirements are: attendance at all events, weekly readings and the completion of a final project, either creative or critical. Open to graduate students and undergraduates, this course is ideal for students in ecology studies, urban studies, environmental science and any of the arts — and is open to all, no matter what your concentration.

Schedule: 25 October – 10 November 2018 Thu., 25 Oct. 6:30-8:30 pm Fri., 26 Oct. noon-6:30 pm Fri., 26 Oct. 7-9:30 pm 29 Oct. – 2 Nov. Thu., 1 Nov. noon-4:30 pm Thu., 1 Nov. 6-9 pm Fri., 2 Nov. 4-6:30 pm Fri., 2 Nov. 7-9:30 pm 5 – 9 Nov. Fri., 9 Nov. 3-5:30 pm Fri, 9 Nov. 7-9:30 pm Sat, 10 Nov. noon-4:30 pm

Introductory reception Class introduction to paysagisme Public slide lecture on paysagisme Individual meetings with Prof. Tiberghien Class introduction to Land Art Presentations of related research by faculty and others Class continuation on Land Art Public slide lecture on Land Art Individual meetings with Prof. Tiberghien Class to workshop projects Public slide lecture on sustainable gardening Presentations of student projects

Primary instruction will be provided by Gilles Tiberghien; Professor Cole Swensen (Literary Arts) will be instructor of record. To learn more, write to coles@brown.edu

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

» PAWSOX, from page 1 $33 million, while the city and state would have contributed $15 million and $23 million in debt respectively. These bonds would have been floated and executed through the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency. In this bill, more than $80 million in potential borrowing would have been guaranteed by the state, the Journal reported. The Senate passed the bill only two weeks after it was introduced, according to the Rhode Island General Assembly bill tracker. The House version, described as “a companion bill to the Senate bill,” was introduced soon after Jan. 25, said Messier, who co-sponsored the bill. Though the Senate bill passed quickly, it took until May 29 for the House companion bill to get a hearing scheduled by the House Finance Committee, despite the fact that it had been referred the day it was introduced. The bill was then held for further study, heard by the Finance Committee again June 19 and once again held for study. It was finally recommended for passage after alterations were made June 21 and passed the next day, just days before the legislative session ended June 25. It was signed into law by Gov. Gina Raimondo a week later, according to the bill tracker. The Finance Committee, in coordination with House leadership, made changes to the bill that removed the state guarantee and posed higher borrowing costs to the team, according to the Providence Journal. Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello, D-Cranston, “was not in favor of the original bill because he thought it would hurt the taxpayer too much, so he wanted it changed,” Messier said. The version that was ultimately passed “took away the risk for the taxpayers, which was one of the key elements that both my constituents and a number of my colleagues’ constituents were very concerned with,” said House Majority Whip John Edwards, D-Portsmouth and Tiverton. Edwards, who sits on the Finance Committee, said he met with House leadership “at least three times” to talk about changes for the House bill. But the subject of taxpayer risk was not met with unanimus support. The changes made to the final House bill would make it impossible for the team to seek financial assistance from the City of Pawtucket or the state if they were not financially successful, Nesselbush said. “If for any reason the stadium was not making enough money, the investors couldn’t look to the State of Rhode Island or the City of Pawtucket for any payment,”

Nesselbush said. “This was calculated risk. It was designed for the ballpark to pay for itself, and for the economic development spurred by the ballpark to enable the city and the state to make their debt payment … in a revenue-neutral way that wouldn’t cost the taxpayers any money,” Nesselbush said. “I think that the PawSox were a tried and true successful business,” she added. Blame was quick to follow the announcement of the PawSox move. Nesselbush called out Mattiello in a public Facebook post for not prioritizing the passage of the House bill. Allan Fung, Republican gubernatorial candidate, told the Providence Journal that “the dysfunctional relationship between the Governor, Speaker and Senate President prevented any deal from ever happening, and now families and local businesses are paying the price.” Fung opposed the initial deal made with the Senate, according to the Journal. Fung’s campaign did not respond to muliple requests for comment from The Herald. “The changes were not agreed upon by the PawSox. That’s why they left. … At no time were the Governor, the Speaker, the Senate President, the PawSox, the Mayor of Pawtucket or the Pawtucket reps all in a room together. Never,” Messier said. PawSox President Charles Steinberg, along with Lucchino, wanted the team to stay in state. Had the House passed the Senate’s version of the bill, the team would have stayed in Pawtucket, according to the Journal. Despite the desire to stay in state, the letter of intent signed with Worcester provided a significantly more attractive financial deal to the team. The team will provide $6 million in upfront equity, which is half of what the House bill would have required, and over $7 million less in issued debt. The Worcester Division of Planning and Regulatory Services declined to provide further comment, and the PawSox did not provide comment by press time. In an Aug. 22 press conference recorded by NBC 10 News, Raimondo and Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien avoided placing blame and instead focused on the future of Pawtucket’s downtown district. “We’re committed … to continuously move forward,” Grebien said. Raimondo reiterated her support for Pawtucket and congratulated Grebien on his efforts to keep the team in state. “You put your all into it,” she said. “To compete with Worcester’s offer would have jeopardized our city’s future, and I would not have done that, just as the state was not willing to do that,” Grebien added.

MEAL PLAN

changes

STEP ONE:

Choose a Meal Plan.

REMINDER:

T DAY THE LASEA L PLAN

TO MAKE M EDNESDAY, CHANGES IS W

SEPT. 2 !

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• You can ADD a new Meal Plan at any time during the year • You can make one CHANGE per semester. Fall deadline is 9/2 • Meal Plan CANCELLATIONS for the whole year are due by 9/2

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• Changes can only be made in person weekdays from 9:00AM to 4:00PM at the Brown Dining office located at 144 Thayer Street (Sharpe Refectory).

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 • PAGE 5

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Athletic department works to promote diversity, inclusion Jennifer Hunter plans to evaluate department’s DIAP, integrate athletes with student body By IVY BERNSTEIN STAFF WRITER

Jennifer Hunter began her role as the University’s first ever associate director of athletics for diversity and inclusion initiatives Aug. 30. Prior to her arrival at Brown, Hunter worked in similar positions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of California at Berkeley. “She brings a great track record of expertise and experience,” wrote Eric Estes, vice president for campus life and student services, in an email to The Herald. Estes, who co-chaired the search committee for Hunter’s position, added that Hunter has worked “on inclusion efforts at the big picture, strategic visioning and planning level, and with people, especially coaches and student-athletes.” When President Christina Paxson P’19 and Estes “approached us about wanting to add this position to athletics,

we were thrilled,” said Jack Hayes, director of athletics. “We are appreciative that we had the opportunity to bring (Hunter) to this position.” Hunter plans to assess the University’s current environment and evaluate the athletic department’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, she said. From there, she would be able to identify specific areas that she could help improve. One of Hunter’s main goals is to ensure the full integration of student athletes with the student body. “Are students athletes heavily involved in campus life? How can we get students on campus … more involved with students athletes and their endeavors too?” she said. “The students at Brown have so many things they’re interested in, and there’s an (unbelievably) wide range of passions here,” said Patrick Laughlin, coach of the men’s soccer team. Hunter said that co-hosting events with other campus organizations could help bring student athletes closer to the broader student population. Campus Life noted that it has sponsored events to “bring athletes and nonathletes together” in its 2017 Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan. Hunter said she also wants to create

spaces where people can ask difficult questions and be vulnerable about their experiences. Hunter emphasized the importance of diversifying candidate pools for hiring staff. “Representation is important, and we just want to make sure we are working to diversify our own staff,” she said. “Students of color, women, LGBTQ students always need representation.” She also intends to connect with student athletes and alums to understand what new programming and initiatives should be introduced. Hunter’s love for education and her hopes for the future made her feel comfortable at the University, she said. “It’s just an amazing opportunity to do what I love and to be in an environment that’s just so academically enriching,” she added. “As soon as I stepped on campus, … everyone at Brown made me feel like I was at home. People were very honest and direct,” Hunter said. “I could tell from the students and staff that there is an ideology of wanting things to be better for everybody.”

COURTESY OF BROWN UNIVERSITY

New Associate Director of Athletics for Diversity and Inclusion Jennifer Hunter aims to connect current student athletes and alums.

Adderall shows adverse effects in students without ADHD Often used as study aid, Adderall has no positive effects for many cognitive processes, research finds By JACKSON WELLS SCIENCE AND RESEARCH EDITOR

Many college students in the United States abuse prescription ADHD medications with the belief that they can improve focus and cognition to achieve academic success. The results of recent research, however, suggest that these medications — specifically Adderall — either have a negative or nonexistent effect on performance in a number of brain processes. The study, published in Pharmacology, looked at the performance of “healthy” college students — students with no attention or major medical disorders — who took both Adderall and a placebo at different times, said Lisa Weyandt, professor of psychology at the University of Rhode Island and co-lead author of the study. The study was conducted with 13 participants who were given 30 mg of Adderall — a common dosage that college students take — and took tests to measure performance on and off the drug, said Tara White, assistant professor of behavioral and social sciences and co-lead author of the study. Participants’ results with the drug were compared with their results without the drug to control for any factors that could affect differences in performance, said Bergljot Gudmundsdottir, a researcher who worked on the study. The team initially hypothesized that the drug would increase performance in these students. “What we found was that the results were mixed — if anything, they point to the opposite,” Gudmundsdottir said. The team was surprised to find that the drug did not enhance healthy

COURTESY OF LISA WEYANDT AND TARA WHITE

A study co-authored by Tara White, assistant professor of behavioral and social sciences, found that individuals without ADHD had poorer working memory after taking Adderall. Working memory was assessed using a digit span task, which requires participants to recall a sequence of numbers. students’ cognition, which is the primary reason college students take the drug in the first place, Weyandt said. Cognitive processes such as reading comprehension, the ability to maintain attention over time and the inhibition of impulses were unaffected by Adderall, while working memory was negatively affected, she added. However, Adderall did increase the students’ alertness because it is a stimulant like coffee and energy drinks, Weyandt said. The students also reported feeling happier than they did on the placebo, White said. Physiologically, the drugs increased cardiovascular and central nervous system activity, White added. The increase in happiness, as well as the commonly held belief that

the drugs improve cognitive performance, are most likely the driving reasons behind their prevalence on college campuses, Weyandt said. While research has shown that the abilities to maintain attention and inhibit impulses improve when students with ADHD take Aderall, students without ADHD do not experience the same effects, she said. “An analogy I sometimes use is if you wear glasses or corrective lenses. If someone … doesn’t have a visual impairment, and they put on your glasses, that’s not going to enhance their vision – in fact, it makes things blurrier,” Weyandt added. In her other research, Weyandt estimated that anywhere from 5 to 35 percent of college students are

abusing these prescription drugs. College students who have lower GPAs and worse study skills and experience more psychological distress have an increased risk of abusing these medications, Weyandt said. Given that the medication does increase alertness and happiness, as well as act as an appetite suppressant, it can be an attractive option for some students, she said. Students who abuse these drugs are placing themselves at a greater risk for other health issues, such as cardiac conditions, Weyandt said. Society should pay attention to the dangers of misusing them, Gudmundsdottir said. “It’s a public health issue that we all need to be aware of to mitigate,” she said.

Weyandt’s takeaway is that students should seek out their university’s resources for long-term solutions rather than resorting to pills for a short-term fix. The study is significant because it helps to dispel an “urban myth” regarding drugs like Adderall and their effects on healthy college students, said Edward Walsh, assistant professor of neuroscience, who was unaffiliated with the study. “Abuse of Adderall in the hopes of getting some kind of cognitive advantage of cognition is really a very dangerous thing,” he said. Weyandt stressed that this is a pilot study intended to lead to further research and should be replicated with a larger sample.

NEWS

PAGE 6 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

» GENDER, from page 1

said Michelle Forcier, professor of pediatrics and clinician educator. “Anyone who has kids or takes care of kids knows that parent perception doesn’t accurately tell you what that adolescent’s experience is.” Anne Fausto-Sterling, professor emeritus of biology, claimed that this research was a beginning point rather than an endpoint. “Frankly, it’s disingenuous to attack the method when (Littman) is the first person to even try to figure out what’s going on,” she said. “I don’t think the study does any more than say this is something we need to look at.”

this phenomenon, “rapid-onset gender dysphoria,” which takes place when “gender dysphoria is observed to begin suddenly during or after puberty in an adolescent or young adult who would not have met criteria for gender dysphoria in childhood.” In the study, Littman gathered data by posting a survey that asked parents about their transgender teens on three parenting websites focused on transgender adolescents. Littman declined a request for comment. “The three websites (that Littman posted to) all have ties (to) organizaAccounting for transgender tions and people that promote conexperiences version therapy and reject gender Some experts do not believe Littidentity,” wrote Brynn Tannehill, who man is exploring a new circumstance has written widely about transgender at all. Adolescents commonly show experiences, including her own, in a little to no sign of gender dysphoria follow-up email to The Herald. “The prior to puberty, Forcier said. “The fact that she did not acknowledge physical changes of puberty mean the bias of these websites, and the ef- you can’t just live in this androgynous fects that this would have on the data, place where everyone looks the same, clearly distorts whatever conclusions but that doesn’t discount their early you may find. That’s flat-out bad re- experience or their timing for seeking search,” she wrote. gender-affirming treatment.” Forcier Multiple other experts interviewed has seen patients coming out in their for this article agreed with Tannehill, forties, fifties and sixties, she said. adding that it was unfair to draw conMany adolescents hide their genclusions about transgender adoles- der identities from unsupportive parcents and their experiences based on ents until they no longer feel that they parent experiences. can, multiple experts noted. The stig“The data is not presented as par- mas surrounding transgender people ents’ thoughts, feelings and percep- can be incredibly isolating in many tions of youth experience, but is ex- sociocultural situations, Forcier said. trapolated to ‘this is what happened to “That’s what rapid onset is actually FALL 2018 BDH Advert .pdf 1 8/28/18 11:54 AM these youth, this is their experience,’” describing — the parents finding out

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD rapidly,” said Katie Chung MD’20, who studies LGBTQ health care and advocacy. “Are we witnessing a new phenomenon, or are we witnessing the same old phenomenon that we would see in any transgender kid in an unsupportive home?” Tannehill asked. “Littman is describing something already very well understood, but she’s trying to put a ‘scientific’ veneer on rejecting the identity of trans youth.” It should come as no surprise that transgender teens use online forums to discuss their identities, Tannehill said. “We know that there are not a lot of trans people, especially trans youth. It was a 50-minute drive for me to find another trans person that was out,” she said. “Where else are you going to find a trans community but online?” Suggesting that transgender identities spread through social contagion is not only invalid, but harmful to an already vulnerable population, said Julia Serano, an author who has written extensively on transgender experiences, including her own. “This idea has been used by many parents and by some practitioners to isolate trans children from trans peers, from resources related to trans people and from treatment,” Serano said. “If you say that (being) transgender is contagious, what effect will that have on trans children?” Such framing and wording used throughout the study is incredibly dangerous, making gender dysphoria sound like “some weird pandemic,”

Chung said. “It can only serve to further marginalize this population.” “If one doesn’t do a semi-rigorous analysis of the methodology, the headline of this study will be used to question people’s experience of their body and their identity and adolescents’ ability to assert their identity,” said Georgia Lipkin MD’21, who studies LGBTQ health care and advocacy. “This is gatekeeping by another name, and I think it’s going to do a lot of damage,” they added. Many of the experts interviewed agreed that the study’s conclusions have harsh implications for the safety of transgender youth. Transgender adolescents who are not listened to or supported are more prone to a host of mental health issues that have historically been brought on by the stress of holding a marginalized identity, Forcier said. Academic freedom and scientific responsibility Fausto-Sterling, however, worries that shutting down Littman’s research has its own consequences. She believes the University and PLoS ONE journal have been treating Littman unfairly. The University claims to support free speech, Fausto-Sterling said. “I’m not convinced they’re doing it.” The research study, the University’s promotion of it and the subsequent removal of the associated press release were covered by a wide variety of news sources. While some of these, such as Slate Magazine, argued Littman’s methods and conclusions were flawed,

others such as Fox News critiqued the University’s decision to remove the press release. The choice to take down the press release was not a result of the Univerity taking a side, but rather from PLoS ONE’s own comment raising questions about the research design and methodology, said Cass Cliatt, vice president for communications. At this point, the University believes it is the “responsible thing to halt the distribution of our news of that research as those questions are assessed,” she wrote in a follow-up email to The Herald. The approval of research for this project was provided by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Thus, the study went through a human studies board and office of research integrity independent of the University, Marcus said. “We very much support our students and we very much support the transgender community, and we also very much support academic freedom and rigorous debate in our faculty. We don’t see those as at odds,” Marcus said. Members of the School of Public Health have expressed feeling personally affected by the study. “I feel really worked up in a way that I don’t often feel about science. It’s dangerous when science pretends to be neutral and it isn’t, and I think that’s when it does a lot of harm,” Lipkin said. “This study repeats a lot of dangerous narratives around trans identity that I thought we had moved past.”

FALL 2018 COURSE, OF INTEREST TO STUDENTS WHO LIKE TO READ AND DISCUSS NOVELS PHILOSOPHY 1400: ETHICS IN THE NOVEL

CMY

FELICIA NIMUE ACKERMAN T Th 2:30-3:50, ROCKEFELLER LIBRARY 412

In this course, we will discuss novels in terms of ethical themes involving love, envy, courage, faith, betrayal, self-deception, revenge, justice, and mercy. Authors will include Ernest J. Gaines, Lisa Genova, Mary Gordon, Randy Susan Meyers, Andrea Lee, Sir Thomas Malory, and George Orwell. How can such discussions offer fresh perspectives on fiction as well as on ethical issues? This course is open to all students who are interested in exploring this question; no background in philosophy is required. This is a writing-designated course (WRIT). If you want more information about the course, please telephone me at 863-3240 or email me at Felicia_Ackerman@brown.edu. Do as it liketh you!!

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 • PAGE 7

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

New Courses in Religious Studies Fall 2018 RELS 0415: Ancient Christian Culture Prof. Dora Ivanisevic T/Th 9-10:20a.m.

RELS 1610: Sacred Sites: Law, Politics,Religion Prof. Nathaniel Berman, Th 4-6:30p.m.

RELS 1650: Gospel Music from the Church to the Streets Prof. Charrise Barron, T/Th 2:30-3:50p.m.

For more information or to see a full course List, visit our website: www.brown.edu/academics/religious-studies

library.brown.edu

Welcome back, Brunonians! Want daily headlines or weekly Brown Bites in your inbox? thebdh.org/subscribe

NEWS

PAGE 8 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

U. files brief supporting Harvard’s race-conscious admission policy Anti-affirmative action group sues Harvard over alleged discrimination against Asian Americans By SOPHIE CULPEPPER SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Brown was one of 16 highly selective schools to sign an amicus brief July 30 supporting Harvard’s consideration of race in admission decisions. Harvard is currently being sued by the organization Students for Fair Admissions for allegedly discriminating against Asian American applicants. Much of the evidence they reference suggests white applicants benefit from this discrimination. In November 2014, Students for Fair Admissions filed a suit against Harvard in the District Court of Massachusetts alleging Harvard discriminates against Asian American applicants in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prevents “any program or activity” that receives federal funds from discriminating on the basis of race or ethnicity. The suit’s verdict could be used to further challenge race-conscious admission nationwide, if brought before the Supreme Court. “We at Brown will do everything in our power to advocate against changes to laws or policies that would undermine our ability to build a diverse community of outstanding students,” said President Christina Paxson P ’19 as quoted in a Brown news release Aug. 1. “Through our race-conscious admission practices, Brown assembles the diverse range of perspectives and experiences essential for a learning and research community that prepares students to thrive in a complex and changing world,” she added. The Harvard lawsuit The plaintiffs make four contentions about Harvard’s admission process in their court filings: Harvard discriminates against Asian Americans the way it once discriminated against Jewish Americans; the university engages in racial balancing by pitting members of ethnic groups against each other; race is not just a “plus factor,” one of many factors considered in the application process, but rather a defining feature of applicant evaluation; and Harvard uses race when race-neutral alternatives could be used to achieve diversity. The amicus brief that Brown joined was released six weeks after Students for Fair Admissions submitted more than 160,000 student records before

the federal court in Boston. Two statistical analyses of these documents reached conflicting conclusions with regard to whether Harvard discriminates against Asian Americans. David Card, professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, found no evidence of discrimination in his analysis for Harvard, while Peter Arcidiacono, professor of economics at Duke University, found that there was evidence of discrimination in his analysis for the plaintiffs. Harvard criticized Arcidiacono’s analysis, claiming it skewed the results and excluded data, according to a news release. In a separate amicus brief, five economists, including Glenn Loury, professor of social sciences at Brown, endorsed Arcidiacono’s analysis. Loury could not be reached for comment. The lawsuit against Harvard addresses two separate issues together: whether Asian American applicants are discriminated against to benefit their white peers and whether any consideration of race in admission decisions is legal and consistent with the Civil Rights Act. The amicus brief that Brown co-filed may influence and inform the court’s final decision; in previous court cases related to affirmative action, justices have cited amicus briefs in their decisions. The specific charge of discrimination against Asian Americans adds a “unique twist” to this court case, according to University of California, Los Angeles, Professor of Education and Asian American Studies Mitchell Chang. But race-conscious admission has been challenged multiple times in court as a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Over the last decades, a few cases concerning public universities have resulted in landmark Supreme Court decisions. Each time, the Supreme Court re-evaluated and reaffirmed the legality of race-consciousness in admission, though in some instances by a narrow margin. This is “as tough of a case as you can get,” said Indiana University Professor of Law Kevin Brown. Usually in affirmative action cases, “you’re thinking about blacks and Latinos, but this really does flip the script” by shifting the focus to Asian Americans, he added. In addressing affirmative action and discrimination against a racial minority together, this case reframes affirmative action by arguing that it hurts rather than helps a minority.

Discrimination against Asian Americans The lawsuit considers admission practices implemented at Harvard to discriminate against Jewish American applicants beginning in the 1920s. It traces these practices to allege comparable present-day discrimination against Asian Americans. While Students for Fair Admissions focuses on holistic race-conscious admissions specifically at Harvard, they also reference admission data from other selective institutions. The case “could have been brought against any highly selective institution that uses holistic admissions practices,” wrote Michele Moses, associate vice provost of faculty affairs at the University of Colorado, Boulder, in an email to The Herald. Asian Americans made up 5.8 percent of the U.S. population in 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Harvard enrolled nearly the same percentage of Asian Americans each year between 2003 and 2013, according to Students for Fair Admissions. Asian American enrollment fluctuated between 15 percent and 20 percent of the entering class during these years, according to the filings. Other Ivy League institutions appeared to enroll Asian American students in a similar range of percentages between 2007 and 2013, as though they were filling a fixed number of seats by race, according to the filings. Racial quotas were deemed illegal by the Supreme Court in 1978 in the case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke.The same ruling stated that race-conscious admission that does not rely on racial quotas does not violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. In the amicus brief, Brown and the other institutions make no explicit mention of Asian American applicants. Nevertheless, the brief rejects the suggestion that the signatories employ a quota system or racial balancing in their established admission practices. “No seats in the class are reserved for applicants of any race or ethnic background, nor are applicants of any race or background limited to a certain number of places,” the brief states. Students for Fair Admissions argue that Asian Americans are held to a higher academic standard than other applicants. Asian American applicants had to score about 140 points higher than similarly qualified white applicants on the SAT to be accepted at elite schools, according to a 2009 study by Princeton Professor Thomas J. Espenshade and co-author Alexandra Radford cited in their court filings. The court documents and statistical analysis for the plaintiffs suggest that in the case of Harvard, one reason for this kind of admission disparity is that Asian American applicants are, on average, rated lower than white applicants in a “subjective personal component,” said Ben Backes, senior researcher at the American Institutes for Research. Harvard contests this analysis. “There’s been a sense in the Asian American community for a long time that the deck is stacked against them, and many are going to point to the evidence in this case and say, told you so, or we knew it all along,” Backes said. “For them it is very much a question of fairness.”

A case considering Asian American discrimination in holistic admission was “one that people who look at affirmative action knew was coming,” and was 10 to 15 years in the making, Brown said. As early as 1990, the Office of Civil Rights for the Department of Education found that Asian Americans were being admitted at “a significantly lower rate” to Harvard despite being “similarly qualified” to white peers between 1979 and 1988, though the probe attributed the disparity to the use of legacy admission policies. During this period, Brown reformed its own treatment of Asian Americans in admission, acknowledging that its admissions policies had treated Asian American applicants “unfairly,” according to a 1990 academic article on Asian American admissions by Dana Takagi, professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. In the last couple of years, Asian American groups have submitted multiple civil rights complaints about discrimination in admission to elite universities. In 2016, the Asian American Coalition for Education filed one such complaint against Brown, Dartmouth and Yale to the Civil Rights divisions of the U.S. Education and Justice Departments. “The 2016 AACE complaint was dismissed by the Department of Education and Office for Civil Rights shortly after it was filed,” wrote Director of News and Editorial Development Brian Clark in an email to The Herald.“We took no action because the complaint had no merit. Our admissions practices are inclusive of diverse populations and do not discriminate against any racial or ethnic group,” he added. Contesting affirmative action policies While the claim that Asian American applicants are discriminated against to the benefit of white applicants is not exactly new, the lawsuit also lays blame for this contention at the doorstep of race-conscious admission policies. Race-consciousness in admission “still doesn’t explain why white applicants are getting an advantage over Asian American applicants,” allegedly, Chang said. In the brief, universities emphasized the importance of race-conscious admission in achieving and maintaining diversity to provide students with the a comprehensive educational experience. The brief specifically references Brown’s mission statement, along with Dartmouth’s, to link their objective of preparing students for life with creating a diverse campus. The brief states that this diversity would not be possible if race-neutral measures were implemented. “Amici consider race and ethnicity as one factor among many in order to better understand each applicant and the contributions he or she might make to the university environment,” the brief reads. The right to set their own admission practices, amici argue, is “protected by the First Amendment and entitled to deference from the courts.” Prohibiting universities from considering race in admission would constitute “an extraordinary infringement on universities’ academic freedom,”

the brief adds. Most recently, the Supreme Court clarified the standards for evaluating the constitutionality of race-conscious admission in the case Fisher v. University of Texas. The Court addressed Fisher twice: Fisher I in 2013 sent the case back to a lower court to consider with “strict scrutiny” whether raceconscious admission was applied with a limited scope. In Fisher II in 2016, the Court held in a 4-3 decision that the use of race in admission by the University of Texas was acceptably tailored, strengthening the Bakke precedent. Dissents in this last case contended that race-neutral classifications could, in fact, achieve diversity, and that the objective of enrolling a diverse student body was too tenuously defined to justify race-conscious admission. In the Fisher II dissent, Justice Samuel Alito Jr. also wrote that “In particular, the Fifth Circuit’s willful blindness to Asian American students is absolutely shameless.” The ongoing suit against Harvard is comparable to the Texas case because the plaintiffs use similar evidence, according to Backes. “It’s not like they have a slam-dunk case,” he said of Students for Fair Admissions. In addition, Fisher I and Fisher II were orchestrated by the same person and organization bringing the case against Harvard now. A partisan divide? Students for Fair Admissions has the mission of ending affirmative action and was established out of the Project on Fair Representation. The president of both organizations, Edward Blum, a Republican, has staunchly and conspicuously opposed racebased classifications both in voting laws and affirmative action. Another professor characterized the partisan divides as more stark in this case than in others. “This suit is more about protecting spaces for white students than it is about concern for Asian American students,” Moses wrote. “The case absolutely reflects a right-wing agenda.” “The mission of SFFA is to end racial classifications and preferences in university admissions. We have the broad support of large majority of Americans of all races and ethnicities,” wrote Blum in an email to The Herald, in response to Moses. He referred to a 2016 Gallup poll showing that 70 percent of Americans believe merit should be the only factor in college admission. While challenges to affirmative action are typically characterized as conservative, the specific complaint of Asian American applicants may mean “conservatives and liberals will come down on both sides on this one,” Brown suggested. This case “is changing the opinions of a lot of Asian Americans,” said Chang, who noted that Asian Americans usually favor affirmative action. According to the 2012 National Asian American Survey, for example, 76 percent of Asian Americans support affirmative action. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs has scheduled a trial for October 15. The case is widely expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court regardless of the outcome.

TODAY

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 • PAGE 9

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

B lu e n o v . F r e s h ma n

menu SATELLITE DINING ANDREWS COMMONS

Pizza: Spicy Sausage and Garlic, Assorted Roasted Mushroom Po’ Boys, Make Your Own Pasta JOSIAH’S

BLUE ROOM

Chicken Wings Bar, Rodeo Burger, Quesadilla Station

Soup: Beef Chili with Beans, Hearty Country Vegetable

DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH

DINNER

Shrimp and Lemongrass Stir Fry, Cuban Sandwich, Steamed Snow Peas, Squash Bisque

Chicken Tikka Masala, Steamed Jasmine Rice, Cachupa, Caribbean Style Grain Bowl

VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH

DINNER

Sloppy Joes Sandwich, Falafel Wrap, Steak Fries, Asian Blend Vegetables

Grilled Chicken, Cilantro, Bean, Cheese and Salsa Cornbread Bake, Spanish Rice

sudoku

TIFFANY DING / HERALD

As first-years meet “Untitled (Lamp/Bear)” for the first time, they continue to debate the question: Should Blueno be considered art? Either way, the piece provides shade on a particularly hot orientation weekend. RELEASE DATE– Monday, February 18, 2013

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis c r o s s 39 wFlorence’s o r driver 47 Cardiac surgery ACROSS 5 Christina

1 Old flatboats 5 Stag party attendees 10 Fixes with thread 14 Skid row sort 15 River joining the Missouri near Jefferson City 16 “Is there __ against that?” 17 Skating maneuver 18 Gnatlike insect 19 Strauss of blue jeans 20 Jefferson 23 Hibachi residue 25 18-wheeler 26 Black cats, to some 27 Washington 32 Baton-passing event 33 Singer Brickell who’s married to Paul Simon 34 “You got that right, brother!” 35 In first place 37 Crab’s grabber 41 Impressionist 42 Chicago airport 43 Jackson 48 Coffee lightener 49 Word with popper or dropper 50 Fishing stick 51 Truman 56 Bump up against 57 Jeweled headpiece 58 Reverse, as a computer operation 61 It ebbs and flows 62 Kauai and Tahiti, for two 63 Read bar codes on 64 Large amount 65 Gets things growing 66 Number picker’s casino game DOWN 1 Leatherwork tool 2 Brazilian port, for short 3 Lumber blemish 4 Frosh, next year

Crawford’s “__ Dearest” 6 Italian cheese region 7 Youngsters 8 “Simply delicious” waffle maker 9 Tea leaves reader, e.g. 10 Deli meat in round slices 11 Dreaded business chapter? 12 Greeting from a distance 13 Deli cheese 21 Wild revelry 22 Went off the high board 23 Taj Mahal city 24 Come across as 28 Competed in a 10K 29 Back in style 30 Altar vow 31 Pants seam problem 35 Not shut, in verse 36 Just out of the box 37 Comedian Margaret 38 “Sons and Lovers” novelist

40 Crab grass, e.g. 41 Military force 42 Black-and-white cookie 43 Middle East language 44 1971 Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo 45 Scooted 46 Brought to maturity

technique 48 Chews the fat 52 Spunkmeyer of cookie fame 53 Get out of bed 54 Auto racer Yarborough 55 Elephant’s incisor 59 “The Da Vinci Code” author Brown 60 John’s Yoko

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

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

“Suggesting that transgender identities spread through social contagion is not only invalid, but harmful to an

”

already vulnerable population.

— Julia Serano, author

See study on page 2.

xwordeditor@aol.com

02/18/13

calendar TODAY SEPTEMBER MARCH

02/18/13

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Talk with Gabrielle Greenlee 4:00 P.M. John Carter Brown Library

McKinsey & Company Recruiting 6:00 P.M. Faculty Club

Sophomore Dessert Reception 7:00 P.M. Granoff Center

Music Department Open House 7:00 P.M. Grant Recital Hall

TOMORROW How to Make the Most of Shopping Period 12:00 P.M. J. Walter Wilson 203

What is Entrepreneurship? 12:00 P.M. Campus Center Petteruti

Fall Orientation Activities Fair 5:00 P.M. Main Green

Chipotle Block Party 6:30 P.M. 168 Lloyd Ave.

COMMENTARY PAGE 10 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

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COMMENTARY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 • PAGE 11

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

In favor of the Brown Incarceration Initiative SOPHIE KUPETZ

op-ed contributor Jeremy Pontbriant is incarcerated in the medium security facility at the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institute. A deep thinker, inquisitive questioner, voracious learner and dedicated scholar, Pontbriant is just one example of a student who would benefit from the creation of the Brown Incarceration Initiative, a program that would

voice from one of the recordings. We were classmates. But while I received University course credit for my participation in and completion of the course, Pontbriant did not. Professor Remensnyder, along with other professors in the History department, teaches college-level history courses at the ACI through the Brown History Educational Prison Program. The University fails to officially recognize students in the program or award them college credit. Recognizing this injustice, professors and students at Brown (like those at Yale

A testament to the power of education in prison JEREMY PONTBRIANT op-ed contributor Jean-Paul Sartre said, “As far as men go, it is not what they are that interests me, but what they may become.” For someone convicted of a serious crime and serving a lengthy prison sentence, this simple statement is especially meaningful. It speaks of hope and faith in the redemptive spirit existing within us all. It also forecasts a future full of possibility for those who are given

tering the prison system, we surrendered our humanity at the gate and have been forever recast as undesirables — men and women incapable of reform or redemption. So when I first heard rumors that Brown may be considering offering accredited courses and possibly a degree program here at the ACI, my interest and excitement were piqued. I thought to myself, “Finally the fog of fear and disdain are beginning to lift.” With the implementation of such a program, Brown, one of the most revered and respected institutions of higher learning in the world, would be emphatically saying, “These men and women have value. If we as a society

DAPHNE ZHAO / HERALD

offer courses bearing University credit and taught by University professors to people incarcerated at the ACI. Pontbriant wrote the adjacent letter outlining the need for and potential impacts of such a program. We must learn from and honor Pontbriant’s words and demand the creation of a “Brown Incarceration Initiative.” I met Pontbriant over a year ago, as a Teacher’s Assistant in a course he was enrolled in at the ACI. Soon after I introduced myself to the class, Pontbriant and his classmate told me that my voice sounded familiar. We realized that we had previously talked — not face to face — but through recordings that traveled past Brown’s Van Wickle gates and through the barbed wire fences and metal detectors of the prison. Pontbriant and I were enrolled in Professor of History Amy Remensnyder’s course HIST 0150C: “Locked Up: A Global History of Prison and Captivity” at the same time. The course had two sections — one of Brown students, and another comprising incarcerated individuals in the state. Despite the many institutional and physical barriers that separated me and Pontbriant, Professor Remensnyder found a way to facilitate discussion between our two classes — we asked and answered questions via tape recorder. Pontbriant remembered my

and Harvard) are calling on Brown to join schools such as Columbia and Bard College in granting incarcerated students course credit. During the spring of 2018, Professor Remensnyder, in partnership with Professor of American Studies and Public Humanities Susan Smulyan and Assistant Director for Programs at the John Nicholas Brown Center Marisa Brown, submitted a proposal to the administration, calling for a Brown Incarceration Initiative. The proposal has garnered the support of over 250 faculty members and students thus far. The status of the proposal is in limbo, as we are waiting for the administration to take action. As an elite university with a mission to “serve the community, the nation and the world,” Brown ought to use its power to recognize that our incarcerated classmates — and the incarcerated population as a whole — are people, worthy of not only access to education, but of credit for their work.

Sophie Kupetz ’19.5 can be reached at sophie_kupetz@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.

the tools and opportunity to succeed. Upon receiving my sentence, I felt the world collapse around me. Any hope or faith I may have had were squelched in an instant. Sadly, I retreated within myself and tried to close out the world. I was attempting to resign myself to the bleak and hopeless future I believed lay ahead. But, try as I might, I could not kill completely that engine which seemingly drives us all: curiosity, the desire to know and understand. So I began to read — and the world opened up to me. In prison I discovered a love for learning I never knew existed. The more I read and the more I learned, the thirstier I became. The next logical step, and the only way I believed I could sate my growing thirst, was to pursue a college education, an endeavor I would never even have considered before coming to prison (economic and social roadblocks being the main deterrents). Unfortunately for millions of Americans like myself, who, for one reason or another, now find themselves on the wrong side of a cell door, chasing the dream of a college education has become a challenge fraught with all manner of obstacles. Access and availability loom the largest. Yet, there is a deeper, more ominous hindrance facing those striving to better themselves from behind the walls of a prison: the notion that we are no longer worthy, that somehow, upon en-

are serious about solving the problem of mass incarceration, we can no longer relegate these men and women to the unending vortex of that vicious cycle. We must be proactive!” An opportunity to shed the stigma and stereotypes associated with incarceration, a chance to prove to society as well as to ourselves that, if we are provided the means, not only will we succeed but we will flourish — well, that would be invaluable! In the spirit of Jean-Paul Sartre’s sentiment, Mumia Abu-Jamal, in his epic work “Live from Death Row,” asks, “What societal interest is served by prisoners who remain illiterate? What societal benefit is there in ignorance? How are people corrected while imprisoned if their education is outlawed? Who profits (other than the prison establishment itself) from stupid prisoners?” I end this now by posing the same questions to you.

Jeremy Pontbriant is a student in the Brown History Education Initiative. To reply to Pontbriant, email sophie_kupetz@ brown.edu and every effort will be made to deliver it. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald. com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018