Issuu

SINCE 1891

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

VOLUME CLII, ISSUE 59

WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM

Marching, Pokanoket demand U. return land Elected officials gather to

speak in support of DACA

Negotiations between U., tribe stalled due to disagreement over various tribal claims to land

Governor, mayor stress program’s significance, announce R.I.’s effort to legally challenge decision

By RHAIME KIM SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Members and supporters of the Pokanoket Nation marched Tuesday from Brown Street Park to the University demanding the reclamation of University-owned property in Bristol. Approximately 40 people attended the march and chanted next to the Van Wickle Gates as first-years entered for convocation. The protest comes two weeks after the Pokanoket established an encampment, Po Metacom Camp, at the disputed land in Bristol. The site is considered the tribe’s holy ground as the site of the beheading of the Pokanoket chief Metacomet, whose English name was King Philip, in 1676. The land was donated to the University by the Haffenreffer family, which acquired the land in 1903 to use as a summer home, according to the Haffenreffer Museum’s website. The march was organized to “make a statement,” said Harry “The Hawk” Quanunon Edmonds, sachem of the Pokanoket Nation. “We want our sacred land back.”

By PRIYANKA PODUGU SENIOR STAFF WRITER

CALEIGH AVIV / HERALD

While first-years were waiting to enter the Van Wickle Gates, a protest on behalf of the Pokanoket Nation made its way down Prospect Street. Some Brown current and former students marched alongside the Pokanoket, including members of the FANG Collective, which has helped to advocate for the tribe. In a letter to Sagamore Po Wauipi Neimpaug of the Pokanoket Nation published online, Executive Vice President

for Planning and Policy Russell Carey ’91 MA’06 said plans to resolve the dispute “will not and cannot initiate while the current encampment is ongoing” but that the University will solidify its plans after the encampment is completely cleared. The University submitted a proposal » See POKANOKET, page 3

The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it would end the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program, a policy enacted by the Obama administration in 2012 that offers legal protections to individuals who entered the United States as children without documentation. The decision, which places roughly 800,000 DACA recipients, also known as “Dreamers,” at risk for deportation, was met with criticism from elected officials in Rhode Island who spoke at a press conference held at the Segue Institute for Learning in Central Falls. In her speech at the event, Gov. Gina Raimondo said that Rhode Island stands “behind (its) Dreamers … we want them to know that there’s a place in Rhode Island for everybody.” Like other Rhode Island leaders,

the governor has criticized several of Trump’s proposed policies. “Let’s send a message to (President Donald Trump) … and members of Congress who are trying to divide America in this time … (that) their policies of hate and cruelty … aren’t going to be tolerated in our country or our state,” she added. Peter Kilmartin, attorney general of Rhode Island, also spoke at the conference and announced that he would join “other like-minded attorney generals” in legally challenging Trump’s decision to end the program on behalf of the state of Rhode Island. “Trump has committed a moral crime against children by rescinding this order today,” Kilmartin said. He also urged attendees to “put the pressure on Congress” to pass legislation that would protect DACA recipients. Mayor Jorge Elorza said that Dreamers are “Americans in every sense of the word,” and to repeal the program is a “cruel-hearted” decision. “This marks a day that is an assault, an attack on the American dream for 800,000 young people in our country,” he added. Dreamers are » See DACA, page 2

Sarah Lapp ’94 brings paint, puzzles to campus

W. SOCCER

Pair of overtime wins Sarah Doyle Women’s Center features alum’s propels Bruno to 3-1 start exhibition, ‘This is a Life Pair of first-years score late-game, decisive goals in season-opening win against Maine By ALEXANDRA RUSSELL SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The women’s soccer team (3-1, 0-0 Ivy) opened its 2017 season strong by winning three of its first four games. Brown 2, Maine 1 F/OT A pair of solid performances from rookies Star White ’21 and Zeinab Kante ’21 fueled the Bears to an overtime victory in its season opener Aug. 25. Kante scored the golden goal in the 98th minute, launching a shot into the back of the net from just outside the box. “Scoring that goal felt like a championship win,” Kante said. She was later named Ivy League Rookie of the Week for her performance. “Everyone got up on their feet celebrating, and it felt really nice, but also, I had to remember to not let that get to my

INSIDE

head — that was literally my first game and first goal.” White’s 82nd-minute equalizer had sent the teams into overtime deadlocked at one. White and Kante registered an assist on each other’s goals. Brown peppered the Maine goal with shots, accruing ten to the Black Bears’ three. Brown 3, Rhode Island 2 F/2OT Two days after its season-opening win, Brown faced off with Rhode Island in an in-state rivalry match. Celia Story ’19 led Bruno with a pair of goals, including the gamewinner in double overtime. Story converted a penalty kick in the 104th minute after Rhode Island matched Brown’s early lead in the first half. Veteran goalkeeper and 2016 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year Christine Etzel ’18 made eight saves in the matchup, blocking back-to-back shots on a breakaway and corner kick four minutes into play. Brown 4, Hartford 0 » See W. SOCCER, page 3

Worth Living’

By AMY WANG CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In viewing the exhibition currently housed by the Sarah Doyle Women’s Center gallery, audiences have the opportunity not only to admire art, but also to take part in the artistic process itself. “This is a Life Worth Living,” a collection of pieces by Rhode Island-based artist and Brown alum Sarah Jane Lapp ’94, features 15 paintings and two jigsaw puzzles— the latter of which audiences are encouraged to assemble, disassemble and reassemble together. The collection of paintings in the gallery span a variety of sizes, colors and styles. Some are visually complex, with layer upon layer of acrylic or gouache; others are more visually straightforward but equally as thematically nuanced — such as “Today’s Sliding Scale Price Menu,” a simple checklist written in ink. Two paintings, “Aquatica” and “Mumma’s Big Green Heart,” are accompanied by

ARTS & CULTURE

COURTESY OF SARAH JANE LAPP

Sarah Doyle Women’s Center’s new exhibition features large-scale paintings and interactive puzzles. The exhibit will be on display until Sept. 15. a puzzle version of the work. The exhibition’s namesake, “This is a Life Worth Living,” sits against the far wall of one of the gallery rooms. The large, vibrant painting was finished

in 2013 and “launched my puzzle project,” Lapp said. “That painting was a big turning point in my practice as an artist.” » See SARAH DOYLE, page 2

WEATHER

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

ARTS & CULTURE Latest LCD Soundsystem LP paves somber, tributary ground for the alternative band

ARTS & CULTURE Avon’s new film, ‘Menashe,’ focuses on themes of convention, responsibility, family

COMMENTARY Kumar ’17: Hurricane Harvey exhibits a force more powerful than political polarization

COMMENTARY Bustos ’16: Pokanoket Tribe occupation of U. land in Bristol raises complicated questions

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NEWS

PAGE 2 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

» DACA, from page 1 “simply asking for the opportunity to continue studying, working and defending our country in the military. … They deserve the ability to pursue the American dream.” Two Dreamers also spoke at the event, including Javier Juarez MA’18. Juarez spoke about his journey to Brown, which he felt was made possible by programs like DACA. Juarez, who planned to attend law school next fall, said Trump’s decision saddened him as it meant his accomplishments could vanish. Juarez told The Herald he came to the United States when he was 10 and has lived in Rhode Island for the past 18 years. “It’s frustrating when people are like, ‘You’re an illegal alien,’” Juarez said. “They don’t know how much I’ve become part of this community or how much I’ve contributed to this community.” Juarez said that he felt that his

work with the Coalition of Advocates for Student Opportunities, which connected him with younger students from similar backgrounds as himself, gave him a “sense of responsibility” to speak publicly about his experiences as a DACA recipient. “When I have the opportunity, I’m going to speak for the students I work with that don’t have the courage to come out,” Juarez said. “But I also have to deal with reality, which is I’m (at Brown) now. … I have to register for classes. I have to fund my degree.” The latest decision to rollback the DACA program complicates Juarez’s ability to pay for his degree at Brown. “Is it smart for me to take out a loan knowing that I should save money in case I get deported?” Juarez said. While he previously had the security to work and pay off his loan, Juarez said he is now dealing with “a ticking time bomb” given the program’s new expiration date. “Being forced to make these

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD decisions is tough mentally,” Juarez said. But Juarez said he is happy to be at a University that supports its DACA students. “My own department, the American studies department … reached out to me saying (that they) hoped everything was okay,” he said. It “feels like you belong and like people are looking out for you.” Juarez said that it was important for people who aren’t personally affected by the decision to end DACA to “advocate on behalf of those people that are scared to come out.” “These are people who cannot vote. I pay taxes, but I cannot vote,” he added. Given Congress’ responsibility to replace the program, Juarez stressed the importance of placing pressure on Congressional members and attorney generals around the country to allow Dreamers to stay.

NEW COURSE offered by the Department of Cognitive, Linguistic & Psychological Sciences CLPS 0010 - Mind, Brain and Behavior: An Interdisciplinary Approach MWF 1-1:50, Metcalf Auditorium FIRST-YEARS WELCOME FULFILLS PSYCHOLOGY PRE-MED REQUIREMENT This course will provide an interdisciplinary approach to the science of the mind through the lens of psychology, cognitive science, cognitive neuroscience, behavioral neuroscience, computational modeling and linguistics, as uniquely represented by our department. It will focus on questions that drive the field, current state-of-the-art, and successful techniques and approaches. Questions addressed will include: What is the nature of the human mind? How do we get input from the world? How do we communicate? How do we change as infants and adults through experience? How do we make decisions and judgments? How do minds meet other minds in a social world?

» SARAH DOYLE, from page 1 While undergoing physical therapy and confined to relative inactivity in southeast Massachusetts, she decided to rent a puzzle from the local library. This puzzle not only helped Lapp eventually finish the painting, which, up until that point, had been an ongoing project, but also inspired her to begin making puzzles out of her work. The puzzle “really changed my life. I wasn’t really a jigsaw person as a kid, but this experience of slowly assembling something in an incremental fashion was very therapeutic,” Lapp said. “I noticed that (medical spaces) were often bereft of anything of beauty or interest, … and I thought it’d be really nice to have a creative, meditative activity in this context.’” Lapp added. This idea evolved into “the puzzle project.” Eleven of the artist’s works are now available in jigsaw form, and Lapp has helped initiate a number of projects in their wake. For example, Lapp now provides puzzles to the Miriam Hospital oncology unit for patients to put together when getting infusions. “For me, that’s a rewarding relationship — to find spaces where the puzzles expedite feeling and communal action,” Lapp said.

Lapp’s exhibition, which will be on display through Sept. 15, supplements a current shift in the curating process at the Sarah Doyle Women’s Center. In the past, a designated gallery board would make formal calls for art and choose which artist to feature from among the submissions. “What we found was happening was that a lot of the artists selected weren’t from around here,” said Felicia Salinas-Moniz MA’06 PhD ’13, who helped curate the exhibit. “(So) this year we’re trying something different.” Instead of issuing a call for submissions, gallery coordinators have been reaching out to artists from within the local community. “I really enjoyed seeing how folks come together and collectively try to put the art together. … The act of creating the puzzle becomes also an art piece. It’s an idea that I think really works well in a university community,” SalinasMoniz said. The curators also found Lapp’s puzzles to be an exploration of playfulness, fitting for the start of the school year. “One of the things I appreciate about (Lapp’s) work is that she’s delving into really difficult issues, but there’s a playfulness in puzzlemaking,” Salinas-Moniz said. “I think at the beginning of a … school year, having that playfulness and hope is a good way to start.”

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The Department of East Asian Studies

FALL 2017 CONTENT COURSES

• 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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• CHIN 1040 Modern Chinese Literature • EAST 0350 Pop and Political: Modern Culture in Japan and the Koreas • EAST 0600 Literature and Social Inequality in Late Imperial China • EAST 1070 China Modern: An Introduction to the Literature of Twentieth Century China

RELS 0030: Sound, Song & Salvation in South Asia MWF 11-11:50 Prof. Srinivas Reddy

• EAST 1280 Introduction to Japanese Cinema • EAST 1510 Chinese: A History of the Language • EAST 1940A Crafting Early Modern China: Handicraft, Witchcraft, and Statecraft • EAST 1950W Translating Korean: Fiction, Poetry, Film, and K-Pop • EAST 1951C Picturing Korea: History and Memory in South Korean Cinema

www.browndailyherald.com Religious Studies 401-863-3104 Religious_Studies@brown.edu

RELS 0415: Ancient Christian Culture MWF 10-10:50 Prof. Dora Ivanisevic

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 • PAGE 3

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

» POKANOKET, from page 1 to the tribe, which would offer to complete a “cultural and environmental resource survey” and commit to work with “all Native peoples … with an interest and stake in the past, present and future of the Bristol property.” Negotiations have been stalled due to a disagreement on whether other tribes in the area also have claims to the contested property, Neimpaug said. In a statement published online, the University wrote that it “does not find

» W. SOCCER, from page 1 Veteran Mikela Waldman ’18 posted her first career hat trick as Bruno earned its first shutout at Hartford Aug. 31. “All the goals that we scored that game were really team goals,” Waldman said. “They were all really good buildup plays. … Jennifer Caruso ’19 did a really good job of getting the ball on the line and getting it to the middle, and it made it easy for me to tap the ball in.” Abby Carchio ’20 added a goal in the 34th minute as Brown’s offense dominated the field. Bruno doubled Hartford’s shot total, eight to four. In net, Etzel shared her first season shutout with Rylee Shumway ’18. Brown 1, Vermont 2 F/OT Despite outshooting the host Catamounts 13-11, the Bears were unable to capitalize as the team’s winning streak came to an end in overtime. Caruso scored Bruno’s lone goal of the evening, slipping a left-footed

ethical or acceptable” that the Pokanoket Nation “refuses to recognize” that several Wampanoag tribes, which are federally recognized and also native to the area, and the Narragansett Indian Tribe also consider the land as sacred. The Pokanoket Nation “is not recognized by the other federally recognized Wampanoag communities,” wrote the Steering Committee of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative in a community-wide email Aug. 24. But Neimpaug said that Pokanoket identity was criminalized and punishable shot past the goalkeeper in the 72nd minute. “Our team still hasn’t really found the fluidity yet that is going to come in the rest of the season even though we’ve gotten good results the first four games,” Waldman said. “It’s really good to be able to get those results early on, but I still think our team is very much aware that we haven’t played anywhere close to our potential.” The squad will seek to build on the successes of the 2016 season, which resulted in a second-place conference finish. “Last year (Brown) came really close to being first place, so this year, as a team, we have to prove ourselves,” Kante said. “It’s nice coming in that everyone believes that we’re going to be winning this year — it’s a lot of pressure on the freshmen coming in, but it’s a good thing.” Brown hosts Providence College at 7 p.m. Thursday at StevensonPincince Field before Lafayette comes to town Sunday.

by death during King Philip’s War in the 1670s. So Pokanoket tribe members thus referred to themselves as Wampanoag to avoid punishment, he added. The University “recognizes that these lands were historically Pokanoket” and “that after King Philip’s War people from the Pokanokets were dispersed among several other Native tribes,” wrote Director of News and Editorial Development Brian Clark in an email to The Herald. The University has given other tribes access to the Bristol property as well, in addition to the Pokanoket. “There

is no dispute that this site holds great significance for a number of native and indigenous peoples,” Clark wrote. The NAIS also emphasized that “the Pokanoket Tribe is not recognized by the federal government or the state.” Neimpaug said the Pokanoket does not seek federal recognition, viewing its entering under the U.S. government’s jurisdiction as a loss of their rights. The Bristol property houses the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology’s Collections Research Center. “Some of the things that are in that museum

belong to my people,” Neimpaug said. The museum’s collection includes artifacts that were part of an exhibit on King Philip, he added. Every year, the Pokanoket perform many sacred ceremonies, such as the Strawberry Thanksgiving and a cultural summer camp on the land, but “we don’t feel as though we should be asking (Brown) permission” to do so, Neimpaug said.

COURTESY OF BROWN ATHLETICS

Jennifer Caruso ’19 registered an assist in Brown’s win over Hartford in which Mikela Waldman ’18 recorded her first hat trick. The Bears started their season with three consecutive wins before falling to Vermont.

ARTS & CULTURE PAGE 4 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Homage-heavy ‘American Dream’ re-tools LCD Soundsystem James Murphy drops ambitious tribute to fallen artists, critiques American values in reunion album By CONNOR SULLIVAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER

“Look what happened when you were dreaming / And then punch yourself in the face.” So begins the eponymous song off “American Dream,” the much-anticipated reunion album by the electronic alternative rock outfit LCD Soundsystem. The lyric reads like a call for reflection in the wake

of the six years that have eclipsed since LCD Soundsystem’s initial 2011 break-up — a disbandment defined by an accompanying farewell show at Madison Square Garden. For the alternative crowd, the group’s nowlegendary concert, organized by LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy emulates The Beatles’ “Let It Be” 1970 rooftop performance in its import. Selling out instantly, the nearly four-

hour-long set drew tens of thousands of Converse-clad fans and cemented the band’s synthy, stimulant-ridden sound into rock ‘n’ roll’s canon. In retrospect, it’s hard not to see it all as a masterfully executed publicity stunt. In 2015, after delighting in the money and surge of popularity brought about by that “final” performance, the band promptly reunited. Murphy is clearly no stranger to this kind of deliberate brand-building. As anthologized in “Meet Me In The Bathroom” — Lizzy Goldman’s recently

LITERARY ARTS COURSES, FALL 2017 For First Year Seminars: LITR 0100 workshops (Introduction to Fiction, Introduction to Poetry) and LITR 0510 and 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. For LITR 0110 workshops (Fiction I, Poetry I, Digital Language Art I, Screenwriting I): 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, Writing 3D, Advanced Screenwriting) & LITR 0310 & 1110 (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, 6 September. Most sections may accept samples through early afternoon, Friday, 8 September. For LITR 1150/1151 workshop/seminars: attend the first class session; bring a writing sample with you. For LITR 1200, 1230/1231 & 2110 literature courses: register through Banner during the registration period; and/or attend the first class.

For details, see our web site: https://www.brown.edu/cw

released oral history of the 2000s rock — Murphy had an illustrious career as lead producer for DFA Records before forming his own musical project in his thirties. That project, LCD Soundsystem, made waves early on with tracks like “Losing My Edge” and “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House.” These songs showcased Murphy’s supreme technicality and his characteristically ironic and referential bent. Yet, as Goodman’s book documents, this rapid success was not achieved without cunning and deceit. Through the evisceration of countless bands’ careers, Murphy established himself as a virtuosic veteran capable of making incredible music and navigating a cutthroat industry. For what it is worth, Murphy may very well be the alt-rock analogue to Kanye West in ego and artistry. “American Dream” takes Murphy’s musical prowess and self-mythologizing to new heights. Technically the fourth album under the LCD Soundsystem name, the record might as well be a solo one, as the singer-songwriterproducer remains at the helm of almost all of the album’s instrumentation and production. Every track on the album revels in both explicit and implicit references. Perhaps egotistically, Murphy attempts to both emulate talents of and equate his musical chops with departed creative giants like David Bowie and Leonard Cohen. The LP’s opening song “Oh Baby” echoes the sultry vocals and synths of the ’70s electronic group Suicide, while the lyrics to closing track “Black Screen” play out as a thinly-veiled ode to Bowie’s death. In the hands of basically anyone else, such a move would be setting the stakes unreasonably high.

But Murphy capably approaches rock greats, transcending mere imitation for an incredible sound at once new and old. LCD Soundsystem has always made alternative music that you could actually dance to, full of sharp drum fills and manic synth lines. But “American Dream” takes a decidedly more subdued turn, tending instead towards drawn-out soundscapes and layered textures. Both honoring and slandering the traditional social ideals encapsulated by the album’s title, Murphy avoids tossing barbs at easy targets like political figures and the media. Instead, Murphy looks inward, analyzing his own experiences both living out and failing to realize the American Dream. On standout track “Tonite,” Murphy’s lyrics continue to grapple with his successes and shortcomings in scrutinizing his and others’ actions over the course of one sad night. In this respect, he triumphs over his contemporary Father John Misty, whose 2017 LP sunk under pretentious generalities. Taken alone, the straightforward lyrics could be read as terrible poetry. But from Murphy’s limited yet evocative register, the words more than compensate for their simplicity. There are no immediate hits to be found on “American Dream.” The somber and glacial record invites rumination rather than celebration, hitting listeners like a profound “punch to the face” after repeated, focused listening. On the LP, Murphy cements his status as one of alternative’s finest, shining through the static that obscures his personal and creative talents more than ever before.

THE DEPARTMENT of AFRICANA STUDIES/RITES AND REASON THEATRE

WELCOME CLASS OF 2021!!!

F�� 2017 CO�R�� OFF�R��

Located in the historic Churchill House on the campus of Brown University, the Department of Africana Studies is the intellectual center for faculty and students interested in the artistic, cultural, historical, literary, and theoretical expressions of the peoples and cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora.

AFRI 0090: An Introduction to Africana Studies

The Department’s forum for arts and ideas, Rites and Reason Theatre, brings together artists and scholars in creating original performances and artistic expressions that generate new knowledge about the world and human existence. The Department offers a rigorous undergraduate program and graduate program leading to the Ph.D. in Africana Studies and has one of the leading faculties in the discipline.

To learn more, all members of the Brown community are invited to attend the department’s

FALL OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, September 20th @ 5:00PM - 7:00PM George Houston Bass Performing Arts Space Churchill House 155 Angell Street - Providence, RI

Prof. Keisha-Khan Perry TTh 9AM - 10:20AM 70 Brown Street 132

AFRI 0210: Afro Latin Americans and Blackness in the Americas Prof. Anani Dzidzienyo TTh 2:30PM - 3:50PM Churchill House 106

AFRI 0670: Global Black Radicalism Prof. Geri Augusto and Prof. Brian Meeks Th 4PM - 6:30PM Churchill House 106

AFRI 1010C: Race, Gender, Ethics and Environmental Justice Dr. Vanessa Fabien F 3PM - 5:30PM Churchill House 106

AFRI 1050V: Rhythm and Resistance

Dr. Ryan Mann-Hamilton T 4PM - 6:30PM J. Walter Wilson 201

AFRI 1060X: African Development Prof. Patricia Agupusi TTh 6:40PM - 8PM J. Walter Wilson 301

AFRI 1060Z: Race, Sexuality, and Mental Disability History Dr. Nic Ramos M 3PM - 5:30PM Churchill House 106

AFRI 1110: Voices Beneath the Veil Prof. Elmo Terry-Morgan TTh, 10:30AM - 11:50AM Churchill House 106

AFRI 1210: Afro-Brazilians and the Brazilian Polity Prof. Anani Dzidzienyo W 3PM - 5:30PM Churchill House 106

For more information on courses, programs and events - visit: HTTPS://WWW.BROWN.EDU/ACADEMICS/AFRICANA-STUDIES

STAY UP-TO-DATE. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK. FACEBOOK.COM/BROWNDAILYHERALD

Comparative Literature

New SOPHOMORE Seminar INTERSECTIONS OF RACE AND CULTURE IN THE WEST Comparative Literature COLT0610Z, Fall 2017 Fridays, 3:00-5:30pm, J Walter Wilson 303 Professors Kenneth Haynes and Esther Whitfield Drawing from readings across various languages, and from lectures by several distinguished guest speakers, this seminar will explore the ways in which knowledge, power and race have been interrelated in understandings of culture and the writing and reception of literature. Beginning in the classical period, we will trace a history of political, ethnic and social groups’ perceptions and categorizations of each other; moving to the present day, we will consider changing ideas of alliance, belonging and power, in the context of contemporary American and global politics. Working resources at Brown and New England area archives, the seminar will also offer students an introduction to working with historical archives.

Brown University’s Contemplative Studies Program Welcomes the Class of 2021 and Announces Fall 2017 Classes

COST 0030 Sound, Song and Salvation in South Asia Srinivas Reddy Class: MWF, 11 - 11:50 am Rockefeller Library, Rm. 205

COST 1950 Senior Concentrators’ Seminar Hal Roth Class: W, 3 - 5:30 pm J. Walter Wilson, Rm 503 Meditation Lab: W, 12 - 1:30 pm Hillel House, Winnick Chapel

COST 0040 Great Contemplative Traditions of Asia Hal Roth Class: TTH, 2:30 - 3:50 pm Salomon Center, Rm. 202 Meditation Lab: MWF, 9 - 9:50 am Hillel House, Winnick Chapel

RELS 0045 Buddhism and Death Jason Protass Class: TTh, 10:30 - 11:50 am Smith-Buonanno, Rm. G12

COST 0200 Meditation and The Brain Jared Lindahl and Willoughby Britton Class: M, 3 - 5:30 pm Salomon Center, Rm. 203 Meditation Lab: M, 2 - 2:50 pm Hillel House, Winnick Chapel

PHIL 1520 Consciousness Christopher Hill Class: MWF, 1 - 1:50 pm Salomon Center, Rm. 202 NEURO 1030 Neural Systems Monica Linden Class: TTH, 10:30 - 11:50 am 85 Waterman St., Rm. 130

ANTH 1240 Religion and Culture Bhrigupati Singh Class: TTh, 10:30 - 11:50 am Lincoln Field Building, Rm. 209 SOC 1871R Knowledge Networks and Global Transformation Michael Kennedy Class: TTH, 4 - 6:30 pm 101 Thayer St. (VGQ 1st fl.), Rm. 116E

EDUC 1850 Moral Development and Education Jin Li Class: W, 3 - 5:30 pm Alumnae Hall, Rm. 212

For more information please go to our website: www.brown.edu/academics/contemplative-studies/ or contact anne_heyrman-hart@brown.edu

BROWN UNIVERSIT Y LIBRARY Welcome back to campus. The Library is ready to serve you. Research support: We’re here for you, online, on the phone, or in person —

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library.brown.edu/collatoz Library hours — we’re open when you need us

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John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library — humanities, social sciences, fine arts Sciences Library — physical, biological, medical sciences John Hay Library — rare books, manuscripts, University Archives Orwig Music Library — music materials in all formats Champlin Memorial (Medical) Library — online access to journals, textbooks, databases library.brown.edu/about/champlin/#champlin

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Library exhibitions — See

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TODAY

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 • PAGE 9

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

feral first-year friends

menu SATELLITE DINING ANDREWS COMMONS

Pizza: Spicy Sausage and Garlic, Assorted Roasted Mushroom New England Grinder JOSIAH’S

BLUE ROOM

Lasagna Bowl, Make Your Own Grilled Cheese, Bacon Burger

Soup: Beef Chili with Beans Blue Room Grain Bowl

DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH

DINNER

Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders, Lyonnaise Potatoes, Cream Cheese Brownies

Pacific Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry, Garden Style Baked Hake, S’mores Cupcakes

VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH

DINNER

Sloppy Joes Sandwiches, Country Wedding Soup, Pumpkin White Chocolate Cookies

Grilled Chicken Cilantro, Green Pepper and Tomato Lentils, Hot Fudge Pudding Cakes

sudoku

MARIANNA MCMURDOCK / HERALD

Two first-years whimsically embrace at an Alumnae Hall dance during Orientation, trading their Brown Bear gear for lemur and shark masks as they embark on their collegiate careers.

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

“I think at the beginning of a … school year, having that crossword

playfulness and hope is a good way to start.” — Felicia Salinas-Moniz MA’06 PhD ’13, Gallery Coordinator

See SARAH DOYLE on page 2.

calendar TODAY MARCH APRIL

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Brown Language Festival 3:00 P.M. Sayles Hall

Charlottesville: Perspectives on White Nationalism 5:00 P.M. Salomon 101

Swearer Center Open House 12:00 P.M. Swearer Center

Healing Yoga 12:00 P.M. Hillel

TOMORROW Making the Most of Shopping Period 12:00 P.M. J. Walter Wilson, Room 203

Study Abroad Info Session 4:00 P.M. Brown Center for Students of Color

Richard Fishman: What Remains Exhibit 1:00 P.M. List Building, Bell Gallery

Ebb and Flow Reception 5:30 P.M. Granoff Center for the Performing Arts

COMMENTARY PAGE 10 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Pokanoket land To the Editor:

As a Brown University graduate, I am appealing to President Christina Paxson P’19 and Brown’s leadership/administration to return the 375 acres they currently “own” in Bristol to the Pokanoket tribe. (This land was donated to Brown by the Haffenreffer family in the 1950s, according to a University statement). Brown has long been touted as one of the “most liberal” of the Ivy League schools. As such, one would think that their sensibilities would lead them toward returning this land to the Pokanokets. In the past, Brown has advocated for social justice and civil rights. One might also think that such a school would be in favor of returning ancestral lands to an indigenous tribe that suffered so greatly under the yoke of imperialist settler colonialism. About 375 acres of land is presumably a drop in the bucket for a university with a $3.2 billion endowment. In a letter to the Brown community on behalf of their Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative, the University requested that students and faculty not share anything from the FANG (Fighting Against Natural Gas) Collective — a group partnered with the Pokanokets — such as sponsored petitions, fundraising drives or materials, and that people ask the University “any questions you may have before sharing out information.” This sounds like a patronizing attempt to sanitize or censor any information that the Pokanoket tribe wishes to disseminate in their efforts to reclaim their ancestral land. Also in that letter, the University states, “There is a delicate yet important technical difference between holding Native ancestry and holding nation status, and that is at the heart of the issue here.” The University never goes on to explain exactly what this “delicate yet important technical difference” is. This appears to be an attempt to delegitimize the blood history of the Pokanokets, thereby abrogating their claim to their ancestral lands. I am certainly grateful to Brown for providing me with a scholarship to earn my master’s degree, and I applaud their efforts to provide scholarships to students of lower socioeconomic status. I also hope that Brown does the right thing, recognizes the legitimacy of the Pokanoket’s claim and returns the land to its rightful stewards.

A L E X W E ST FA L L

comic Comic | Zach Silberberg

David Andrews MA’12

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COMMENTARY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 • PAGE 11

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Rescued from the hurricane NIKHIL KUMAR

op-ed contributor On Aug. 29, First Lady Melania Trump grabbed the national spotlight by opting to wear stilettos before departing to survey the damage wrought by Hurricane Harvey. Though she changed into tennis shoes upon arrival, the image of a luxury shoe-clad first lady preparing to greet Texans who had lost everything sparked a social media storm and spawned countless think pieces. How could Trump flaunt her wealth in the midst of a natural disaster deemed “unprecedented” by the National Weather Service? To her critics, this fashion choice epitomized a first family utterly out of touch with the American people and illustrated the new political lows to which our country has sunk. I, too, considered the situation in Texas through a political lens at first. The hurricane’s severity provided evidence for the perils of climate change. The Houston metropolitan area’s susceptibility to flooding spoke to the dangers of urban sprawl and poor city planning. The numerous Latinx immigrants whose life savings

had been wiped out by Harvey highlighted the need for more inclusive immigration policy and rhetoric. As I have continued to follow coverage of the storm, though, these political questions seem increasingly disconnected from the experience of those fighting to survive on the ground. In these near-apocalyptic circumstances, there is no room for the hyper-partisanship that has paralyzed the rest of the country. While recent political discourse

seeking shelter. For Democrats and Republicans alike, the protection of life became the sole priority, even in the state at the center of the divisive national debate on immigration. Now that the storm has passed, the commitment of government officials from both sides of the aisle to facilitate the grueling rebuilding process speaks to the extraordinary nature of the situation. The White House has requested more than $7 billion in initial aid from Congress, and President

into action to provide help has been heartening. Boat owners from Texas and other states have assisted in rescuing those trapped by the rapidly rising floodwaters. The Austin Independent School District said that students forced to abandon their homes were welcome to enroll in Austin schools. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been donated to Harvey relief efforts by businesses and individuals across the country. Any animus people may hold toward one

While recent political discourse often casts doubt on Americans’ willingness to stick together, the response to Harvey’s destruction has proven otherwise, at least when it’s a matter of life and death. often casts doubt on Americans’ willingness to stick together, the response to Harvey’s destruction has proven otherwise, at least when it’s a matter of life and death. According to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, officials were concerned first with “rescuing every person we can find.” Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement stated that immigration status would not be considered for admittance to emergency shelters. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, a Democrat, promised to defend any immigrant facing deportation after

Trump is no longer threatening to shut down the government if he does not receive funding for the border wall. Lawmakers from New York and New Jersey have promised to support an aid package despite the fact that their Texan colleagues refused to back relief for Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Gov. Gina Raimondo, a Democrat, encouraged Rhode Islanders to donate to help those affected by Harvey, and Rhode Island Air National Guard troops flew to Texas to pitch in. Beyond the robust response of high-level officials and the military, the bravery of Americans springing

another on issues such as gun control and racial justice seems to have been put on hold by the four feet of rain Harvey dumped on southeast Texas. Of course, the numerous displays of bipartisan goodwill churned up by the hurricane do not erase the reality of political polarization. Even as Houston residents are returning home to take stock of what little remains, President Trump has reportedly chosen to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children. It is clear, then,

Contested claims

CAMILA BUSTOS

op-ed contributor As a former high school and college student, I was privileged to visit the land at 300 Tower Street in Bristol many times. Every summer, the University hosts the Brown Environmental Leadership Lab, a two-week program for high school students. In 2011, I was a BELL student, and, in 2013, I worked as a leader fellow. Afterward, I continued to visit the property until graduation. During the program, we slept in tents, walked around the site, talked about climate change and learned about the history of the land. A lesson on Native history was one of the most enriching experiences of the summer. We discussed the transformations the property had experienced, the systematic dispossession of the Wampanoags and the turning points during King Philip’s War. We even walked in silence to the spot where King Philip (also known as Metacom) had been killed. As occupiers of land that underwent processes of dispossession and settler colonialism, we students — and for that matter, most of the public — had much to learn about the histories that have been deliberately erased. My memories of the property are colored with emotion and even nostalgia. It was here where I made a decision to pursue environmental studies, where I first thought that Brown could one day be home, a place where I ran miles lost in my own thoughts. So when I first heard about the Pokanoket Nation occupying the 375-acre land where I had spent many summer days, my immediate reaction was confusion. Why were there tents and boards all over the familiar landscape? Why were the Pokanoket claiming ownership of the property if Brown had held a legal title for decades? Hadn’t the University sustained or at least attempted to maintain friendly relationships with several Wampanoag tribes and even facilitated access to their spiritual visits every year? As I began to read more about the context

behind the claims and the contrasting statements between Brown and Pokanoket leadership, I was struck by the complexity of the issue. This was not just about occupying space in an act of defiance but about the implications of indigenous identity on land claims, notions of justice and stewardship. These concepts are inherently complicated, interconnected and far-reaching — as are several key questions behind this situation. First, there was the issue of self-identification and federal recognition. A specific piece of the University’s statement stirred some controversy: “There is a delicate yet important technical difference between holding Native ancestry and

further questions for me. Second, beyond the claim to the land, what else could reparations to historical exclusion and dispossession entail? For several decades, Brown has been in the process of coming to terms with its own involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. As a result, it has created the Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice, installed a Slavery Memorial and pursued other ways to understand and recognize the past. What would a parallel process for reparations to other ethnic communities look like? Assistant Professor of American Studies and Ethnic Studies Adrienne Keene has discussed some of the steps the University has

This was not just about occupying space in an act of defiance but about the implications of indigenous identity on land claims, notions of justice and stewardship. These concepts are inherently complicated, interconnected and far-reaching — as are several key questions behind this situation. holding nation status, and that is at the heart of the issue here.” But so what if the Pokanoket were not federally recognized? Of course this recognition has substantial legal implications, but what about the right to self-identification, which is in itself enshrined in international human rights law? Different interpretations of the notion of self-determination, in Paraguay for example, argue that neither courts nor states can determine the ethnic identity of a community, respecting the right to autonomy and self-determination. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states that “indigenous peoples have the right to determine their own identity or membership in accordance with their customs and traditions.” With this in mind, whether or not the group had federal recognition should not hinder a fair and responsive exchange. Though Brown’s response was more complex than this, the federal recognition statement only raised

already taken. But if Brown eventually reaches an agreement with the indigenous groups in the area, what would that mean for broader processes of collective reparation? Furthermore, if all the land we currently occupy has a nuanced history of dispossession and exclusion, what happens to the rest of the properties where so many other people have laid roots and built livelihoods? Even if there was an agreement with the Pokanoket and the other tribes with claims to the land, what would the implications be? Third, while Brown makes a valid point when it says that other Wampanoag peoples like the Aquinnah, Mashpee, Assonet, Herring Pond Wampanoag and Narragansett need to be involved in any negotiation, part of me wondered whether Brown was also trying to capitalize on existing tensions between these groups to defend its own interests. I fully agree with the need to hold discussions with all the relevant stakeholders, but

that the president has no intention of backing down from his aggressive immigration agenda, despite the temporary concessions made during Harvey. And the lessons offered by the hurricane on issues such as climate change and urban planning must be considered critically as the floodwaters recede. As life slowly returns to normal, it is natural that political disagreements will return, too. Despite the apparent intractability of the partisan divide, the commitment of Americans from both parties and in every state to support the victims of Hurricane Harvey demonstrates the country’s as-yetuntapped potential to come together. The devastating circumstances of a natural disaster remind us of what we share in common: a fierce will to survive and, even more importantly, to help others. Indeed, it would be a shame to reserve this understanding of our shared humanity solely for use during catastrophic events. Perhaps we can find a way to reach out to our neighbors in good times, too — not just when they’re waist-deep in the rising waters, waiting to be rescued.

Nikhil Kumar ’17 can be reached at nikhil_kumar@brown.alumni. edu.

this claim struck me as an effort to dilute the main sources of tension. Fourth, as Brown explains in a recent press release, I am puzzled by the Pokanoket’s refusal to recognize the connection of other groups to the land. Perhaps this is where my lack of expertise on the subject matter fails me, but how can they be so certain of their claim as the only valid one? When the sources of Native history are closely linked to oral tradition, how do we reconcile conflicting versions of the “truth”? As an outsider, I do not pretend to hold any definitive answers to the questions I have raised. If anything, the past days have reminded me of how little we know about the histories of the land we now occupy. Even as someone who had spent time and was acquainted with the history of the Bristol site, I still find myself perplexed by the complexity and nuances of the situation. As many of my peers, my immediate reaction was to express solidarity with the Pokanoket and their claims. Now, as we await statements from the other Wampanoag peoples with spiritual and material ties to the land, I invite careful reflection on this moment. Beyond an intricate land dispute between a number of stakeholders, this case is also an opportunity to think critically about how we understand contested land claims, identities and processes of collective reparation. What is at stake here and what is being negotiated goes beyond this particular case in Bristol, Rhode Island. We must acknowledge the complexity of spiritual and ethnic claims to the land even when our legal systems do not. As someone who cherishes the memories and the time spent in 300 Tower Road, Bristol, I hope the land remains accessible to anyone who wishes to teach, learn or walk on it. And at the same time, I hope that — whatever legal, symbolic or ethical battles are fought over it — considerations of justice, environmental stewardship and public interest are part of the picture.

Camila Bustos ’16 works on human rights and climate issues in Colombia. She can be reached at camilabustos93@gmail.com.

ARTS & CULTURE THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

‘Menashe’ explores conflict between convention, individuality ‘Menashe,’ a film by Joshua Weinstein, follows subversive bachelor as he attempts to raise his son By ELIZABETH TOLEDANO SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Despite the influx of students coming back to campus for the start of fall semester, not many went to check out “Menashe,” a movie currently showing at the Avon. On the surface, it’s not obvious what would attract a typical Brown student to Thayer Street theater’s most recent attraction, which focuses primarily on the difficulties that face a man who, frankly, just doesn’t get it — a movie that features women only in supporting roles and takes place in an isolated Hasidic community. The first scene takes viewers to New York City where, Menashe, a middle-aged Hasidic man, stands behind the counter at a supermarket. Here, the movie showcases one of its best features — the ability to capture the atmospheric quality of its setting. The sallow yellow light in the crowded store serves as a backdrop to a harried woman who complains to Menashe while he checks her out. Her baby is crying, she’s rushed and Menashe looks on without empathy. Understandably so, as his wife recently died and he is estranged from his son. The movie uses Hasidic culture to reveal the complications of a society steeped in tradition that resents the

bumbling missteps to which Menashe is consistently prone. Menashe, like a baby, cannot effectively cook, clean or even fulfill his duties at work in the absence of his late wife. Through various comical mishaps, the movie reinforces the idea that Menashe does not comply with any traditional qualification of responsible behavior. In spite of this, he is stubbornly determined to raise his son independently from his wife’s brother. He essentially kidnaps his child from his brother-in-law’s more traditional home and takes him to live in his apartment where he feeds his son soda and cake for breakfast. By the end of the film, after Menashe has repeatedly failed to adhere to even basic responsibilities and refused any form of help, the rabbi forgives him and suggests that he will be able to raise his son on his own. The pivotal next scene shows him emerging from a bath, and implicitly beginning to turn his life around. Here, the director suggests that somehow Menashe’s subversive behavior trumps the confines of tradition; that his determination somehow earns him guardianship of his son. And in some ways this might be true: Undoubtedly, the harsh separation from his son initially imposed by the rabbi warrants some empathy for Menashe.

By diving into a society that enforces challenging and seemingly inexplicable guidelines for how things should be done, Menashe’s experiences evoke relatable emotions. Many are inclined to question and reassess these systems, and Menashe does exactly this — except that in his efforts, he also drags along his child. And while the viewer empathizes with Menashe’s principled approach to follow his heart over tradition, the implication in the film of Menashe’s ability to change and ultimately care for

his son, despite repeated failure, feels like an over-simplification. “Menashe” is, at its best, a movie about a stubborn old bachelor trying to raise a son. At it’s worst, it is a melodrama that follows an entitled man who just can’t get what he wants. It has its quirky moments: Menashe chatting about women in a supermarket basement, failing to raise a chicken in a New York City apartment or, simply, standing in a dark gas station eating his sandwich with an unamused cashier.

And it has its cringey moments — his bluntness on a date or his pleas to his boss to loan him money. But, more than anything, the director has effectively raised important questions that viewers can carry out of the Avon: When is it okay to comply with tradition? Can Menashe’s stubbornness and willpower surpass convention, even when it puts his son in an unsafe situation? Menashe’s neighbor says to him: “Even a bear can learn to dance,” and it’s up to the viewer to decide whether they’re convinced.

THANKS TO THE ALUMNI RELATIONS MARIANNA MCMURDOCK / HERALD

Avon cinema takes audience to streets of New York City with “Menashe.” The movie will be playing in the theatre until Sept. 7.

STUDENT STAFF WHO HELPED MAKE REUNION WEEKEND A SUCCESS!