Wednesday, February 16th, 2022

SINCE 1891

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022

VOLUME CLVII, ISSUE 10

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Students discuss testing, isolation amid Omicron surge

Pinkard discusses HBCUs

Campus community reflects on changes to COVID-19 public health guidelines

In MLK Jr. lecture, Pinkard describes HBCUs as “part of who we are as a nation”

BY WILL KUBZANSKY AND GABRIELLA VULAKH SECTION EDITORS Nearly two years ago, the University recorded its first COVID-19 case on campus.

The response was swift: Students received instructions to leave campus as soon as they could. Graduate students learned that libraries would soon close. All faculty and staff, save for “essential personnel,” were told to telecommute and teach classes online.

On Feb. 11, the University announced that 361 students had reported positive COVID-19 test results in the preceding week, a sharp increase from 117 positive cases the week before.

But this surge, students told The Herald, looks far different from last semester in terms of policies surrounding isolating, picking up meals and finding tests.

While some students isolate in hotel rooms or quarantine at home, others have tucked themselves away in residence hall singles or shared suites. In-person classes have continued, though some once-full lecture halls are half-empty as students keep

BY DANA RICHIE STAFF WRITER

“a lot like COVID,” she said.

But Chang had already used her two University-provided antigen tests, and she could not pick up new ones until Monday, per University guidelines. While she largely stayed away from public places, she did not wear a mask in her shared suite and sped in and out of the Sharpe Refectory for takeout meals.

As part of the question and answer portion of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. lecture, Elfred Anthony Pinkard, president of Wilberforce University, asked the audience to stand up if they have a relative, colleague or important member from their community who attended a Historically Black College and University or have read something influential by someone who went to an HBCU. A majority of those in attendance rose from their seats.

In Brown’s 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. lecture, Pinkard spoke about the public perception of HBCUs in the past, present and future. In addition to Pinkard’s keynote address, the event featured musical performances from the Harmonizing Graces — Brown’s gospel choir — welcoming remarks from Provost Richard Locke P’18, an introduction from N’kosi Oates GS and

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SEE HBCU PAGE 4

CYNTHIA ZHANG / HERALD

up with class online from isolation.

Rapid tests, students told The Herald, have become a valuable commodity as they search for testing kits wherever they can — asking friends for extras or even purchasing their own.

The University is confident in its COVID-19 protocols, according to Executive Vice President for Planning and Policy Russell Carey ’91 MA’06.

“We really feel that we’re doing well,” Carey previously told The Her-

ald. “There’s nothing that we are recommending to make any changes to.”

Students in isolation reflected on their experiences testing positive as well as navigating academics and dayto-day life while isolating.

“I wish I could have tested earlier”: Finding a test and testing positive On the weekend of Feb. 5, Allison Chang ’23 felt a sore throat coming on.

Then she developed a fever that felt

ARTS & CULTURE

UNIVERSITY NEWS

‘The Power of the Dog’ excels in every way

Renowned Prof. Joukowsky dies at 85

Academy Award nominee is crafted beautifully, purposefully

BY RYA VALLABHANENI SENIOR STAFF WRITER The cinematic world does not make movies like “The Power of the Dog” anymore. Like many of its contemporaries, it is a decidedly aesthetic film, with boundless scenery and a respectable score. What sets director Jane Campion’s work apart is the film’s ability to string together a thoughtfully crafted series of events to tell a full-bodied story from beginning to end. Every action has a purpose; each piece of dialogue is delivered with an underlying aim. So when the ending of the film finally does arrive, instead of frustration, viewers are left satisfied. If they follow the signs,

they will see what is coming. And if they don’t, more power goes to Campion — she certainly knows how to creep up on her audiences from behind.

Based on the book by Thomas Savage, “The Power of the Dog” is a western set in 1925 following the lives of two cattle ranchers, George and Phil Burbank. George (Jesse Plemons) is the softer and cleaner brother who handles the administrative side of the business. He finds love in widow Rose Gordon (Kirsten Dunst) and is mocked incessantly for the romance by his brother. Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch), by contrast, seems to be the embodiment of a standard tough cowboy: dirty, domineering and more than willing to castrate a bull by hand. But there are reasons for the steel front he puts up, and as the film plays out, we watch Phil unravel along with it.

The key to Phil’s unfolding can be

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Family, colleagues recount generosity to U., students, humanitarian work

BY ALEX NADIRASHVILI UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR Professor Emerita Martha Sharp Joukowsky ’58 P’87, who held a double appointment as professor of anthropology and archaeology and the ancient world at the University, died Jan. 7 at 85 years old.

During her professorship, Joukowsky conducted pioneering archaeological fieldwork in countries such as Jordan, where she “discovered and excavated the Great Temple at Petra,” according to a University statement released following Joukowsky’s passing.

At the University, Joukowsky was a foundational figure in establishing

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COURTESY OF THE JOUKOWSKY INSTITUTE

Joukowsky is remembered not only as an internationally-renowned scholar but also as a generous, empathetic and curious individual.

Arts & Culture

U. News

Sports

U. News

Lin-Manuel Miranda delivers adaptation of “Tick Tick Boom” Page 3

University welcomes RI food trucks to Josiah’s over next two weeks Page 6

Women’s lacrosse team returns this Saturday after cancelled 2021 season Page 8

U. alum Wendell Pritchett ’86 to become interim president of Penn Page 8

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JOUKOWSKY FROM PAGE 1 various academic infrastructures, including the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World, and was a major benefactor of the greater Providence community.

Joukowsky published several major works, including “A Complete Manual of Field Archaeology” in 1980 and “Breaking Ground: Pioneering Women Archaeologists” in 2006. She also held the title of president of the Archaeological Institute of America between 1989 and 1993.

In the weeks following her passing, The Herald spoke with several of Joukowsky’s family members, colleagues and friends about her legacy and character. In her passing, Joukowsky not only left behind an internationally-renowned legacy of scholarship, but also an enduring memory of her generosity, empathy and unbounded curiosity.

Lifelong dedication to scholarship Joukowsky was “a scholar, a teacher (and) a mentor,” said her close friend Mary Hollinshead, who is a professor emerita of art history at the University of Rhode Island. “Not always in that order, you could mix it up on any given day, but she was definitely all of the above.”

She “was a lifelong student, … which made her a good teacher,” said Rebecca More MA’86 PhD’98, a visiting scholar of history and close friend of Joukowsky. “She was curious about everything. She had many, many interests way beyond her narrow field.”

Anthony Tuck PhD’96, a graduate student of Joukowksy, agreed. “Martha had this remarkable intellectual curiosity that drove her … a genuine explorer spirit,” Tuck said. “She was always pushing boundaries and finding new opportunities to discover.”

“She was just so open to people, and she told such good stories,” Gina Borromeo PhD’93, chief curator and curator of ancient art at the RISD Museum, said. Borromeo first met Joukowsky as a graduate student at the University.

“Learning is made even more memorable when it’s presented in a way that it becomes a human interest story. …

Whenever there was a human angle to anything, it would enter Martha’s equation.”

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Those close to her distinctly remember Joukowsky’s generosity.

Throughout her career and retirement, Joukowsky remained a dedicated supporter of the University.

Michael Joukowsky ’87 attributes his mother’s generosity to her fundamental belief that “education was a key part of a young person’s discovery of life and discovery of what makes you curious about life. It was that process of awakening.”

The creation of the University’s Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World was made possible by “a generous gift from Martha and her husband Artemis Joukowsky,” according to the University’s statement.

The Institute’s presence has branded the University as “one of the elite leading academic institutions associated with archaeological research … in the whole world,” Tuck said.

Associate Professor of Archaeology and the Ancient World, Egyptology and Assyriology and History of Art and Architecture Laurel Bestock ’99, former student and colleague of Joukowsky, spoke further on the Institute’s impact.

Joukowsky understood her own “ability to create the (Institute’s) structure and excitement, but she wanted students to carry it forward,” Bestock said. “She gave it a spirit but did not direct exactly how it should go.”

“Martha wanted her influence to be broad … to create excitement (and) make space for people (to) participate in rigorous methodology,” Bestock added.

Fostering community on campus During her time at the University, Joukowsky remained dedicated to supporting students at all different stages and rigors of learning.

“She thought that people needed every opportunity to learn as much as possible, wherever possible,” Michael Joukowsky said.

Joukowsky was an avid supporter of Resumed Undergraduate Education, which focuses on students “who interrupted or delayed their formal education” due to personal reasons, according to the University’s admissions website.

Hollinshead recalled how the Joukowskys privately sponsored young and

displaced mid-career scholars from the Middle East “with no fanfare … without anybody knowing.”

Joukowsky was also instrumental in founding the Harriet W. Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning, which creates “teaching and learning communities dedicated to improving learner success and supporting educators’ professional growth,” according to the Center’s website. She was the Center’s first chairman and remained deeply involved in its proceedings from 1992 to 2010, according to More.

More remembers her time working at the Center with Joukowsky fondly.

“We had to have monthly meetings to get the Center established firmly, (which) included making sure there were pastries at every meeting,” More said. “There was no detail that would help people feel comfortable that was overlooked.”

Joukowsky was “dedicated to the center’s mission of supporting all the faculty, no matter what department, and graduate students,” More said. “Her goal wasn’t to fix people, but to create environments where people could find their own learning.”

Several of her friends said Joukowsky’s greatest impact is felt among the graduate students she interacted with, a community for which she sponsored numerous scholarships and dissertation prizes.

“She was such a down-to-earth person. She understood the challenges that graduate students faced, not just in research but also in financial constraints,” Bestock said.

“My first year, I was living with my friend in this unheated apartment. It was bitter cold but cost virtually nothing. She knew what the situation was, walked into our office one day and said, ‘You’re house sitting for me,’ ” letting the two stay in “her beautiful house,” Tuck said. After that, “she began advocating for higher graduate student life.”

In 2001, “I was a new graduate student of Egyptology coming from Egypt.

I had no dormitory room reserved or other place to rent,” Ramadan Hussein PhD’09 wrote in an email to The Herald.

Joukowsky agreed “to host me for three days … she never made me feel like I was a guest.”

“She immediately started talking

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022

about her times in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon and shared stories with me,” Hussein added. “It was very warm reception and so comforting to feel that your host understands and appreciates your culture.”

“You would go to her house, and students would be popping in and out.

Martha made her house available for students,” Borromeo recalled.

Many of her friends fondly remember Joukowsky’s love of her dogs, Lucy and Pushkin. “It was always chaotic, and the picture was never complete without her entourage of White West Highland Terriers,” Borromeo added.

Michael Joukowsky does not consider his mother’s generosity as charity, but rather an investment. “If you could prove to Mom that you were going to educate yourself and be responsible for yourself, then she would invest in you,” he said.

Legacy of leadership and giving Joukowsky’s generosity to students extended beyond financial support.

“What she truly delighted in was being a magnetic force that drew people to classical archaeology and instilled in them a lifelong curiosity,” Tuck said.

“Conversations with professors can feel very one-sided. Martha was different, … she got to know students and actually remembered things about us,” Angela Murock Hussein PhD’04, a former student of Joukowsky, wrote in an email to The Herald. “It is easy to feel unseen at a new school, so Martha helped to make it feel like home.”

“Mom really liked to listen … I think the reason why so many people fell in love with her was that she was present … the whole time,” Michael Joukowsky said.

Tuck remembers how prideful Joukowsky was that “life-long relationships had been forged in all her classes.”

“At her house, (Martha) was always making introductions and getting people talking. For students, that could be crucial to finding opportunities,” Angela Murock Hussein wrote. She “introduced a new foreign student to me at a party,” Ramadan Hussein, “since she wanted him to make friends. Two years later we got married at her house.”

Bestock commended Joukowsky’s

unwavering professionalism in her relationships with students. “She was able to be close with her students without blurring the boundaries,” Bestock said. “Bridging mentoring as (I was) an undergraduate, colleague and friend showed the depth of her humanity. It was unusual.”

Joukowsky’s impact spans far beyond College Hill. She was an avid humanitarian and generous donor to the city of Providence, closely involved with the Rhode Island Committee on the Humanities, Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School and Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, according to Michael Joukowsky.

Michael Joukowsky can specifically recall his mother’s dedication to the Rhode Island School for Progressive Education, which aids the state’s public schools by “diversifying the teacher pipeline, promoting the use of anti-racist pedagogy and preparing teachers for success with high-quality clinical experiences,” according to the RISPE website.

Even while conducting her fieldwork at Petra in Jordan, Joukowsky encouraged and worked diligently with the local Bedouin women “to create their own jewelry … and help them sell it so that they could have the respect of having their own income,” Michael Joukowsky said.

While Joukowsky’s impact is undeniable, a shared sentiment that endures among those close to her, including Professor of Anthropology Patricia Rubertone, is that “Martha didn’t like to be fussed over.”

“I think she would like to be remembered as a fine archaeologist, an outstanding teacher and mentor, a friend of the University and a wonderful human being,” Rubertone added.

“I don’t believe that she would want a legacy,” Michael Joukowsky said. “I believe that what she would truly desire is for the people that she loved … (to see) something (in her) to emulate.”

“Mom will live forever, in my opinion, because of that,” Michael Joukowsky added. “Her legacy is in the spirit and in the hearts of all of us who have been in her life.”

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022

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ARTS & CULTURE

‘Tick, Tick...BOOM’ masterfully comments on anxieties of adulthood Musical scores, performances bring Jonathan Larson’s experiences to life

BY SEOEUN CHOI STAFF WRITER What do you do when you feel like you’re running out of time? When all of your friends have their lives together and you’re still barely aware of your weekend plans? You can’t help but doubt whether every decision you make toward your ambitions is correct.

Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and first composed as an autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, “Tick, Tick…BOOM!” hits on these anxieties and more with strong performances from all actors, hard-hitting tracks and an astounding musical performance from Andrew Garfield as Larson himself.

The movie starts a week before Jonathan’s workshop for “Superbia,” his first musical, which he has been developing for eight years and to which he “devoted his entire youth.” But these seven days turn out to encompass a number of trials for Jonathan. He struggles financially as he is behind on rent.

His best friend and roommate, Michael (Robin de Jesus), moves out after relinquishing his own dreams of becoming a musical actor, opting instead for a mundane job at an advertising firm.

Jonathan faces additional challenges in his love life. His girlfriend, Susan (Alexandra Shipp), similarly decides to quit professional modern dance, sparking conflict in their relationship as she lands a teaching job in the Berkshires in Massachusetts and wishes to move

POWER FROM PAGE 1 found in perhaps the most intriguing character of Campion’s film: Rose’s son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who is studying to be a medical student. Phil first encounters Peter while eating at Rose’s restaurant. He pokes fun at him, choosing to ridicule the boy’s job as a waiter and burn the paper flower bouquets he creates to place on the tables he waits.

Peter is odd, detached and surrounded by a strangely elegant air. He is about as unmasculine as rural Montana gets, which sets Phil on a mission to assert his dominance over the boy.

The entire film is characterized by a series of conflicts — although they are not your traditional cowboy-to-cowboy standoffs. Animosity has clearly defined Phil and George’s history. Phil is introduced to viewers as a decidedly broken man, while his brother appears relatively whole. Phil constantly tries to make George feel inferior. Another conflict lies in Rose and Phil’s relationship — they loathe each other. Phil can’t stand the fact that a drunken widow has latched on to his family, so he quickly takes to playing mind games with her. Rose, as a result, becomes deathly afraid of what Phil might do to her son. The defining conflict of the film is between Phil and Peter, who are what you’d call equal but opposite. Phil initially can’t stand the boy because of a secret they have in common (a secret he keeps close to his chest): Peter and Phil are both gay.

The film’s main source of tension comes from Phil’s anger. He appears to have bottled up a lot of pain throughout

there with Jonathan. With only a week left before the workshop, Jonathan is also missing the most critical song of his musical which signifies the turning point in the protagonist’s life. All these personal problems are then presented with constant uneasiness as the AIDS crisis of the 90s rages in the background of the narrative.

The magic of “Tick, Tick…BOOM!” comes from its soundtrack, written by Larson in real life. The upbeat music with distressed lyrics found in songs such as “30/90” and “Swimming” convey Jonathan’s confusion as he navigates his last week before entering his thirties. Strong bass and drum sections bring these songs alive and inject youthful impatience into the musical experience. Still, Larson creates a balance as he also introduces more mellow, reflective songs such as “Johnny Can’t Decide” and “Why.” Through this, he depicts Jonathan’s deeper desires and foregone memories, prompting viewers, regardless of their respective generations, to crave the nostalgia of their own childhood.

In addition, Jonathan’s leitmotif, the ticking of a clock, follows him throughout the movie and his musical scores.

This ticking, which at first is merely an enjoyable accompaniment to the music, becomes increasingly eerie as the movie progresses, creating a saddening little detail that hints at the tragedies yet to come in Larson’s life.

As a whole, 2021 was Miranda and Garfield’s year. A number of movies that Miranda contributed to in 2021 received critical acclaim after being continuously delayed due to the pandemic. “In the Heights” and “Encanto” are some of the titles that have made headlines in the past year. Similarly, Garfield’s career

his life and is now taking that pain out on those around him, including George, Rose and Peter. But Phil’s emotional wall soon begins to crumble. He finds himself growing closer to Peter, partially because the boy reminds him of his late friend Bronco Henry, of whom he was uncharacteristically fond. But as they say, “You reap what you sow.”

Ultimately, Phil’s actions come back to haunt him when, at the end of the film, Peter kills Phil for his mistreatment of Rose.

The moments of revelation in “The Power of the Dog” are quiet but well done, resulting from an accumulation of small inconsistencies that Campion drops throughout the film. Despite a demeanor that makes Phil appear to have never left Montana, it is mentioned at a dinner party that he actually went to Yale. And though Phil acts like he has few relationships he cares about, he drops Bronco Henry’s name several times. Parallels are even established between Phil and Peter right after they meet each other. Viewers are first shown a shot of Peter hula-hooping, directly followed by one of Phil mirroring the motion by spinning a table chair. Such details might be better caught on a second watch, as picking up on many of Campion’s subtleties requires effort on the part of the viewer.

In fact, the film is steeped in subtlety. Seemingly insignificant objects contribute to the film’s plot. From Peter’s comb to Rose’s gloves to Phil’s handkerchief, each object helps explain quite effortlessly why a closeness between Peter and Phil inevitably ensues throughout the film.

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The film soundtrack features songs written by Jonathan Larson himself such as “30/90,” “Johnny Can’t Decide,” “Why” and “Swimming.” entered the spotlight as he made several appearances in memorable titles such as “Mainstream” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” The collaboration between these two big names had great results, with “Tick, Tick…BOOM!” being deemed an American Film Institute Movie of the Year and Garfield winning the 2021 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy.

“Tick, Tick…BOOM!” leaves the viewers with various lessons. The most evident moral is an encouragement to viewers to pursue their ambitions. One question repeated throughout the movie musical is “fear or love?” Are our actions governed by our love for the subject or by fear of failure? The film teaches us that if we pursue something

out of love, we are not wasting our time.

While this lesson could easily have an unrealistic happy ending, “Tick, Tick…BOOM!” evades this cliche by shedding light on Jonathan’s struggles.

While he may not be wasting his time, pursuing what he loves is no easy feat: It is achieved through blood, sweat and tears. Moreover, the numerous pragmatic paths followed by other supporting characters, including Michael and Susan, ground the movie. Because there are characters taking realistic steps toward a stable and safe life, the audience cannot help but admire Jonathan’s distinctive reckless ambition.

Larson’s tale is also a cautionary one, warning viewers to not allow this ambition to blind them to other parts of their life. Throughout the movie,

Jonathan struggles with juggling his relationships and passions, making several blunders as he frequently gets his priorities wrong — a very human and relatable dilemma familiar to many individuals first entering adulthood.

Jonathan’s experience shows viewers that even the most talented and famous artists go through the same struggles as us, even doubting their work and quarreling with roommates in uncomfortable, tiny apartments in the city.

Miranda’s “Tick, Tick…BOOM!” is a love letter to a Broadway musical written by Larson himself, a brilliant masterwork that will prevail against the test of time due to its universality. A deep dive into an extraordinary artist’s mind, Miranda’s work brings Larson’s musical justice.

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“The Power of the Dog” follows the lives of two cattle ranchers in rural Montana — one softer, cleaner brother, and one domineering brother facing his own unraveling steel front.

Cinematography doesn’t get much better than that in “The Power of the Dog.” The gray, rolling hills characterizing the entire film are vast and stunning, giving the rural American West a sense of boundlessness. They would normally make a viewer want to stop and click pause, but the film is cognizant of this beauty. It takes care to contrast the scope of the land with its small, distant characters, using several faraway shots. The music paired with such scenes is similarly stunning, consisting mainly of tense, orchestral accompaniments, a soft piano and a

solemn guitar. Care is taken to avoid overlapping these voices with those of the characters — an incredibly smart move to showcase both score and actors alike.

The “Power of the Dog” is cast beautifully. Jesse Plemons is just mellow enough to play George, and Kirsten Dunst is just weathered enough to be a drunken widow. Kodi Smit-McPhee possesses all of the eerie grace integral to Peter’s character, and Benedict Cumberbatch’s undeniably-off Western accent somehow makes his character even stronger.

Although Campion’s film is incredibly well-rounded — as is evident in its 12 Academy Award nominations — its ending still stands as its high point.

It is not drawn-out because it doesn’t need to be; after one last scene between Peter and Phil, Phil falls ill, and the film cuts to George picking out his brother’s coffin. Peter is left with the evidence.

Viewers never see Peter kill Phil, but they know he did it. Campion lays the foundation for her last few scenes with one of the film’s very first lines. “And what kind of man would I be,” Peter asks, “if I did not help my mother?”

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HBCU FROM PAGE 1 a discussion led by Sylvia Carey-Butler, vice president for institutional equity and diversity.

Pinkard, who has experience working at six HBCU institutions and who describes himself as “consumed by HBCUs,” presented an argument, based in historical context, of how HBCUs came to generally be viewed as “subpar, marginalized and unworthy of support and celebration.”

He explained that an article about HBCUs written in 1967 by Christopher Jencks and David Riesman — who both went on to become professors at Harvard — set forth the notion that “academic achievement was antithetical to HBCUs,” beginning the dangerous “single story” he alluded to throughout the lecture.

“It shaped the public perception of HBCUs for generations to come,” Pinkard said. “I would suggest that with few exceptions, in the public’s imagination, this notion of HBCUs as being marginal institutions still exists.”

The impact of a degrading, stereotypical story can be harmful, Pinkard said.

“There are few things as soul-crushing as being unseen or seen in ways that belie the truth of who we really are,” Pinkard said.

Pinkard challenged this narrative by highlighting the role that many Black

scholars like W.E.B. Du Bois played in creating a robust “intellectual footprint at HBCUs.” “Within the HBCU community, there were always aspirations for greatness and the notion that these institutions were alive and should exist for a purpose that was meaningful and game changing and visionary and, in some ways, audacious and disruptive,” Pinkard said. “This tradition of intellectual gravitas at HBCUs seems to have been lost in the public imagination.”

He also emphasized the unique role and opportunity that exists with the presence of HBCUs. “African Americans are the only racial (or) ethnic group in this nation that have 107 institutions of higher learning that were developed especially for their education,” Pinkard said.

“The intellectual power resident in those institutions should be galvanized in full force to address all of the issues that face the African American community and, by extension, other communities of color.”

Pinkard noted that HBCUs have consistently faced systemic challenges, including “underfunding and neglect.”

“It is exceptional that HBCUs have done so much with so little,” Pinkard said. “That is a critical part of this story: their power and magnificence by punching above their weight.”

He said he believes that part of

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022

DANA RICHIE / HERALD

Elfred Anthony Pinkard challenged negative stereotypes and misleading narratives around HBCUs, citing the “intellectual footprint” of prominent Black scholars such as W.E.B. Du Bois. reimagining the narrative includes increasing funding for all HBCUs. Pinkard cited the fact that a number of HBCU institutions recently received large philanthropic donations, which has already been “game changing.”

“Every one of them has earned the right of doing more with more

and expecting access to resources and funding historically unavailable to these institutions,” Pinkard said.

“Imagine what we can do with (more) resources.”

Pinkard closed his lecture by emphasizing the key role that HBCUs will continue to play in the sociocultural fabric of American higher education.

“The contemporary HBCU is redefining purpose in the 21st century and beyond, and in so doing, we are writing a richer, truer narrative about who we are and how we are capable of contributing to the American story of higher education,” Pinkard said.

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COVID FROM PAGE 1 On Monday, Chang picked up her tests. When she received a positive result, she began to fear for the people she had interacted with over the previous days and reached out to tell them that they were exposed.

“I wish I could have tested earlier,” she added.

“Students often have a desire, if they’ve heard that a friend was positive, to test right away,” Carey said. “I can understand that. In general, when people have been asking for more tests, we’ve been providing them access to them.”

Still, Carey added that the University considers two tests a week “sufficient.”

“We definitely want students who are experiencing symptoms to reach out to Health Services to be tested and possibly screened for other respiratory illnesses, if appropriate,” Vanessa Britto MSc’96, associate vice president of campus life and student services, wrote in an email to The Herald.

“If students have been exposed and need a test kit they could pick up a kit at the test pick up site at Alumnae Hall between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,” Britto wrote. “Alternatively, they could reach out to us at Health Services and we’ll problem solve with them.”

Zoe Redlich ’25 said she emailed Health Services when her roommate tested positive and received extra tests — one of which came back positive a few days later.

Students who did not contact Health Services prior to requesting additional tests at a testing site told The Herald they were unable to procure extra tests.

The same Monday that Chang tested positive, Dani Poloner ’24 said that he felt a scratchy throat. He had yet to pick up his tests for that week — so he instead asked a friend who had recently tested positive for a spare test. It quickly came back positive.

Later that week, when a friend felt symptoms come on but had run out of tests, Poloner offered up one of his spare tests.

Vivian Miller ‘24.5 said she had consistently been testing on Monday and Friday, aiming to “catch anything from the weekend or before going into the weekend” when she’s most “heavily exposed.”

The day that Miller tested positive, she said she noticed a sore throat and runny nose but assumed they were normal “winter allergy symptoms.”

“I had gotten my three vaccine doses, and I was like, ‘Maybe I’m just not going to get it,’” she said.

Then, three of her friends who she had seen in person texted to let her know that they had all tested positive within a few hours of each other. By the time she realized she needed to test, it was 11 p.m., University test distribution sites were closed and she was out of tests.

Miller and a friend who was also exposed to the same group of people that tested positive ordered an Instacart delivery to bring them COVID-19 rapid tests.

“We wanted to make sure that we got a test before midnight so that if we

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had (COVID-19), we could start the timer on being able to leave quarantine,” Miller said.

Within 30 seconds, her antigen test indicated that she was positive, she said.

“I expected it to be a positive result.

All the people who I would have been spending time with on campus were already (in isolation),” Miller said. “The social isolation that I think has been the killer for people who’ve tested positive (is) not an issue (for me). I was feeling okay and was not super worried about getting really sick.”

After Gabby Smith ’23.5’s suitemate tested positive, she said her roommate attempted to pick up extra tests from the University’s testing center. But the staff at the testing center denied the request, leading Smith to purchase testing kits at CVS with the aim of getting reimbursed through her health insurance.

“I was a little bit like, ‘I shouldn’t have to be doing this,’” she said. “I don’t know … if (reimbursement is) going to be a big, cumbersome process.”

Isolating in residence halls, suites and hotel rooms Out of six students who had tested positive interviewed by The Herald, none reported symptoms more severe than a fever — with most reporting a cough or scratchy throat.

“It’s just annoying,” Redlich said.

“Universally, (COVID-19 is) clearly not endemic, but in my personal experience, it’s taken the form of what a cold would be.”

After testing positive, the University requires students to fill out a form on the Health Services portal. On the form, they indicate their housing location, if they live in a single or shared residence hall room and if they are experiencing symptoms.

Later, they receive a call from the University explaining next steps.

Poloner said that his test came back positive around 9 p.m. Monday.

He notified the University and received an automated message that he would receive more information during business hours.

On Tuesday morning, he waited for Health Services to reach out. But by 12 p.m., he had heard nothing — and still had not left his residence hall as he waited for instructions. He finally called Health Services himself, learning the isolation protocols on the phone.

Soon after, he said he received another call from Health Services and an email directing him to a website providing isolation resources, as well as a login to a “Temporary Resource Management” system to make “essential requests.”

“The response time can vary depending on any number of variables involved in the process of getting students to isolation housing, including the number of positive case reports we’ve received in a given period of time and how quickly we have been able to move students to where they need to go,” Britto wrote. “Sometimes that process takes longer than expected.”

In semesters prior, Poloner would have been sent to isolation housing — as did every student who resided on campus without exception. But this spring, students who live in single residence

hall rooms or single rooms within a suite have the option to stay in their residence.

Poloner is currently living in a single room in Harkness Hall — on a floor where he suspects “quite a few people” have COVID-19.

Aside from worries about potentially spreading the virus while going to the bathroom, Poloner added that he is “totally fine” with the setup. He referred to himself as “sort of a homebody anyway.”

To pick up meals, Poloner and other students in on-campus isolation go to 251 Bowen Street between 4 and 6 p.m., where they can pick up that day’s dinner as well as breakfast and lunch for the next day.

He added that he has ordered from restaurants about once a day — and that Brown’s “soggy sandwich” often goes straight into the trash. “Stock up on food and groceries so that if this happens, you’re not stuck with the food they have,” he recommended.

“If the amount of food that a student receives on a given day is not enough, ordering takeout is fine but an alternative method of drop off should be arranged,” such as GrubHub or DoorDash, Britto wrote. “Picking up takeout from area restaurants while isolating is not acceptable.”

If students need more food while isolating, Brown Dining Services is “very much open to providing additional food which students can order,” Britto added.

For students who cannot isolate in their own rooms, Health Services coordinates with Brown Emergency Medical Services to pick up students from campus and drop them off at designated isolation housing — either in Vartan Gregorian Quadrangle, Minden Hall, 251 Bowen Street or the Courtyard by Marriott Providence Downtown.

Students are assigned to these designated isolation spaces depending on individual and administrative necessities, according to Britto.

A third of the reserved isolation spaces are currently occupied, and the University is “not concerned” about capacity, Carey said.

“I was really impressed by how put-together and cohesive (Brown’s) response was to my positive test,” said Miller, who is also a Residential Peer Leader in Marcy House.

Miller said she requested to be moved into the Marriott despite having a single in an effort to avoid interactions that would otherwise occur with students on her floor.

RPLs, Miller said, were required to participate in multiple COVID-19-related trainings to be able to best support residents in their building.

“We are basically told it is possible that there are people who have tested positive in our buildings and who are using the facilities, but (the University) is not allowed to tell us who they are or whether there are people at any given time who have tested positive for COVID-19 isolating in their singles and potentially using bathrooms or kitchens,” Miller said.

If a student decides to share with their RPL that they tested positive, RPLs must adhere to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act guidelines

and cannot share that information with any other residents in the building.

“Our guidance was pretty much ‘to be the generalized supportive influence that you are and pass on any questions or concerns to the higher-ups at ResLife,’” she added.

Redlich also found herself in the Marriott after her roommate, who had initially tested positive, tested negative and returned to their Keeney Quadrangle room. Students are given two rapid tests to use while in isolation — one to be used at the end of their fifth day in isolation to determine if they can leave, and, in the event that they still test positive, one to test again on their sixth or seventh day of isolation, according to Britto.

Life at the Marriott has been “completely fine,” Redlich said — save for a lack of microwavable Tupperware to heat up cold food, which is the same food that students in on-campus isolation receive.

But students in shared spaces, such as suites and communal houses, said that their situation is more complicated.

University policies list isolation housing as a “primary option” for students who test positive and share a room with another student, but Smith’s suitemates agreed to all stay in their suite in the event that one of them tested positive, she said. Bearing health concerns in mind, Smith slept on the floor of the room shared by her other two suitemates who tested negative to avoid her positive roommate. All four roommates wore masks while in the suite, she said.

“Wearing a well-fitted and high quality mask at all times when in the company of others is very important,” Britto wrote. “The KN95s that have been distributed to students are well suited for this.”

“Students isolating in place should wear their mask at all times unless brushing their teeth or showering, and socially distance at least 6 feet whenever possible,” Britto added.

Lucas Washburn ’23.5, who lives in North House, tested positive at the same time as his roommate. When he goes to the bathroom, he said he wears a mask except in the shower, and he brushes his teeth in his bedroom.

“It’s hard to be perfect in terms of limiting the spread,” he said.

Chang said she asked her mom, a doctor, for best practices to follow in her Young Orchard suite. With her roommates, she established a shower schedule so that the vent in the bathroom could “do its thing.” An air purifier sat next to the sink, and whenever she left her room, she wore her mask.

Maintaining academics in isolation While in isolation, students are expected to keep up with coursework and assignments.

Some professors who did not already have a Zoom lecture capture set up at the beginning of the semester “have not been accommodating at all,” Miller said.

“I’ve had some pretty bad experiences, asking professors to set up a Zoom … or lecture capture … where they often say, ‘well, I didn’t set this course up as a hybrid course,’” she added. Miller said she compensates for this

5

by getting notes from classmates.

Washburn noted that some of his classes lack a virtual option entirely — though, as someone who is “pretty good at learning remotely,” he is able to keep up with his work.

Redlich said that most of her classes are accessible, but that her main challenge surrounds balancing “sleep, getting the work done and watching Olympic figure skating” as she recovers.

Poloner noted that some of his professors have been more accommodating than others, though there is one seminar he cannot attend, as it lacks a virtual option.

“It’s going to be different for every person,” Poloner said. “I imagine it’s a lot harder for people who are taking more small classes, or theater, performance (and) language (classes)” which are “very hard to translate online.”

“It’s pretty familiar to what I went through last year,” Chang added, reflecting on previous virtual semesters.

“Most of my classes are recorded, so that’s just been easy to catch up on.

It’s not as fun as being in person, but it’s not too bad.”

Policy takeaways Despite students testing positive or having their lives disrupted by the surge of COVID-19 on campus, none of the students interviewed by The Herald said they strongly disapproved of the University’s new self-isolation and self-reported testing policies, aside from the availability of tests.

“Pretty much everyone I know is testing on their own and reporting their cases,” Washburn said. “I feel like it’s working out … It’s less expensive for the University and less time-intensive for students.”

“Compared to other universities, I feel like Brown has been pretty good about trying to at least do something to combat or address positive cases and provide some kind of support,” Chang added.

Emily Moini ’23, who received a positive PCR test result as soon as she returned to campus, quarantined in her Barbour Hall suite at the beginning of the semester.

“I have confidence in the administration making the right decisions,” Moini said, explaining that she thinks the current policies take into account the decreased illness that boosted students tend to face if they do end up testing positive. “I would be more frustrated if the University was still requiring us to be doing PCR tests twice a week.”

Carey said that the current caseload is “manageable” for the University — especially given that the vast majority of students are experiencing mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.

Redlich noted that she appreciates being able to go to class in person and has not heard of anyone “gaming the system.” Still, Redlich added that she would be more concerned if she were immunocompromised.

“There was some frustration at the University taking a hands-off, you-figure-it-out (approach),” Smith noted.

“But in some ways, we were grateful that we didn’t have to move out.”

Additional reporting by Haley Sandlow.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

6

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Buckle up: In BDS special event, food trucks roll onto campus Foodtrucks, local vendors will be stationed outside Jo’s for two weeks

BY LAURA DAVID AND SAMEER SINHA SECTION EDITORS For the next two weeks, various local food trucks will be parked outside of Josiah’s starting at 6 p.m. each night.

The new schedule began yesterday with Gnarly Vines Farm serving “farm to table Brazilian/American food,” according to an Instagram post from Brown Dining Services. Among the other vendors advertised are Incredabowls, Saugy’s, The Ish and Championship Melt. Food trucks will continue to sell in Vartan Gregorian Quadrangle every night from Feb. 15 to 27.

“I’m excited that we’re being offered a different sort of food that we wouldn’t normally get and that we can get it with a meal swipe,” said Morgan Jones ’24, who visited the Gnarly Vines truck and ordered cheese pastels, which are savory pastries “similar to an empanada,” according to the food truck’s website.

“It’s really cool,” said Daniel Newgarden ’25. “I ordered feijoada for my-

self and my partner … I’m very excited to try it.” Feijoada is a bean, pork and beef stew that is Brazil’s national dish, according to Ester Bishop, the owner of Gnarly Vines in Tiverton, Rhode Island.

Newgarden said that he had heard of the truck from word of mouth and would like to see more advertising for the dining event.

Bishop said that the Gnarly Vines food truck came to campus following an invitation from the University through PVD Food Truck Events, an organization that runs various food truck events throughout the state.

Gnarly Vines had visited the University before, Bishop said. They were “very popular with the students” in the past, he added, which was part of the reason they were invited back. Barring any scheduling changes, the Gnarly Vines truck will not return to the University in February, but Bishop said he hopes they can come back later in the year.

Students can purchase a food truck ticket inside Josiah’s dining hall with a meal swipe or Flex Points and then use it to order a meal at a truck. The University compensates Gnarly Vines Farms based on the number of food tickets sold inside Josiah’s, Bishop said.

On Tuesday, the truck saw plenty of business. “We have served well over 100 people already,” Bishop said

JACK WALKER / HERALD

Food trucks will be parked outside of Jo’s for the next two weeks, starting at 6 p.m. each night. Gnarly Vines Farms, a Brazilian food truck, arrived Tuesday evening. at about 9:00 p.m. She added that the most popular dish was feijoada. In addition to events and catering, Gnarly Vines Farms serves food in the truck at the Mount Hope and Tiverton Farmer’s

SINCE 1891

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | COMMENTARY

7

Bahl ’24: Make tech adaptable to foster inclusivity When I try to check in for international flights online, I’m not always able to. The country of birth listed on my passport — Hong Kong — is only sometimes listed as an option when selecting a country, depending on the airline. When it isn’t, I have to head to the airport early, explain to the staff the unique characteristics of my passport and pray that they’re willing to help me out. Usually, this is more of an inconvenience to me than anything else, but it raises the question: Who gets to decide what a country is? And if someone is arbitrarily making that decision, what lines are being drawn in the context of other, even more fluid realms of data, like gender, sexuality or race?

The answer lies in the history of the database. When the relational database — an efficient multi-table index — was first proposed in 1970, it quickly became the industry standard.

Even database systems that were introduced later to mitigate technical concerns with the classic relational database (i.e. NoSQL databases or distributed SQL databases) were built with the same assumptions about data as their predecessors. As a result, many of today’s data systems still operate under societal norms from five decades ago, which is especially harmful to marginalized groups. Our technology is in fact holding us back from social progress. Societal views have evolved to become more inclusive — thus, software developers must start building systems that can adapt to changing views about the human experience.

One of the most eye-opening examples of database design’s harm to marginalized groups is its reductive representation of gender identity. In the mid-20th century, predominantly male and cisgender software engineering circles seldom recognized nonbinary gender identities.

As such, when standard database schemas were created, gender was invariably represented as a binary (zero or one), setting up a system that

ignores the idea that gender is a spectrum. Having databases store the variable of gender in a binary saved space, so the practice became the norm, despite the fact that it meant they could not capture all gender identities. In fact, this design was probably considered elegant and clever.

But since the 1970s, even as perceptions

society now sees it as a spectrum.

The same can be said about ways our predecessors chose to use databases to store information about race (most databases have a limited set of categories that don’t capture everyone) and even names (databases often assume a first-last name structure that a number of cultures don’t use). Databases habitually abstract

“If the developers who created the databases in the 1950s have the final say on which details are insignificant, we trap ourselves in an outdated worldview that we should move forward from.”

about gender identity have changed dramatically, databases have, for the most part, remained static in how they represent gender.

Although many tech companies have made surface-level changes in their user interfaces that acknowledge nonbinary gender identities, few have actually overhauled the ways they store this information in their databases. Take Facebook, for example: Even after users were given the opportunity to specify their genders freely, their identities were still eventually flattened to a zero, one or null — meaning “nothing” — in the site’s internal database. Nearly all entities that use gender data, from external advertisers to internal algorithms, are therefore forced to handle gender as a binary, even though much of

away their data’s insignificant details to access, analyze and process them more efficiently.

However, if the developers who created the databases in the 1950s have the final say on which details are insignificant, we trap ourselves in an outdated worldview.

Fixing this issue is more complicated than it seems at first glance, though. Since tech stakeholders rely on receiving gender data as a binary, tech companies have found it difficult to fundamentally revamp their databases and services to be more inclusive of the gender spectrum. On the other hand, if tech companies don’t make changes to their databases, tech stakeholders aren’t pushed to think of gender as nonbinary, either. If this cycle is to

be broken, any legacy code that expects gender as a binary would need to be replaced. Chains of functions that feed each other information based on assumptions about gender being represented in this way would all need to be entirely rebuilt from scratch — yet removing them all at the same time, rather than gradually, would break the entire system. Thus, cleaning out legacy code will end up being a slow and painstaking process.

All that said, making small, surgical fixes to the standard database design will not be a permanent solution. Inevitably, social conventions will evolve, and we’ll have to make new changes. Our databases should reflect those progressions. What is important is that technology is given the flexibility to accommodate society’s developments as we see fit. Software engineers need to maintain a capacity for adaptability in order to foster true inclusivity for future generations.

While this is a daunting challenge, none of this should be taken as an excuse to be complacent in the meantime. Maximizing inclusivity to the extent that we can is an undeniably worthy goal. Moving forward, we must be more cognizant of the fact that when we release software to the public, its impact will be ongoing. The software we build today should reflect our best judgements on what trade-offs are intelligent and what design decisions are fair, but ensuring that we produce flexible code is what will guarantee that these judgments don’t impede our future progress.

Anika Bahl ’24 can be reached at anika_ bahl@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald. com and other op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

8

SPORTS

Women’s lacrosse to return to field after two cancelled seasons Bears eager to compete in 2022 season with inexperienced but close team

BY ADAM REMELS SENIOR STAFF WRITER As the women’s lacrosse team gears up for the 2022 season, captain Kelsey Shea ’22 feels like a “little girl” picking up her lacrosse stick for the first time.

“I truly love lacrosse so much,” Shea said. “Having that adrenaline rush and joy I get is what I’m looking forward to.”

The Bears last played March 11, 2020 in a win against Virginia Tech before the Ivy League canceled the rest of the 2020 season and the entirety of the 2021 season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, 19 of the 40 players on the team have yet to play a collegiate game.

“It’s definitely been different walking onto the field for the first time this year having never played with half of the team,” Shea said. “But it’s also just been so fun because we’ve been able to see all this incredible talent and the future of the program.”

While Shea is looking forward to returning to competitive play at Brown, goalkeeper Margaret Woodberry ’24 said she is “super excited for lacrosse season to finally start” after losing her high school senior season in addition

to last season.

“I’m itching to get back out on the field and compete in the sport that I love,” Woodberry said. “I’m excited to see what our team accomplishes as we push to bring the Ivy League title home to College Hill.”

Head Coach Keely McDonald ’00 will lead the Bears for her 18th straight year. Last season’s cancellation gave her a unique opportunity for reflection, she said.

“Having not played in two years, it’s time to figure out what’s important and any adjustments you want to make,” McDonald said. “I’m eager to see the adjustments that we’ve made as players and as a coaching staff put into play.”

Still, McDonald said the coaching staff is mostly “focused on what we need to do to get better from the day before,” rather than worrying about the team’s missed season.

“We’re just focused on our standards and what we need to do every day,” McDonald said, adding that the team hopes that when they play, “the wins will take care of themselves.”

Brown will host Bryant University in its season opener Saturday. In the Bears’ 15-game schedule, the team faces seven other non-conference opponents, including 2021 national champion Boston College Feb. 26. Brown will head to New York to play Columbia March 5, the first of seven Ivy League matches and Bruno’s first since a March 7, 2020

COURTESY OF BROWN ATHLETICS

This season also marks the first after the completion of the Center for Lacrosse and Soccer, a new facility built adjacent to Stevenson-Pincince Field. loss at Yale.

The Bears will also visit College of the Holy Cross, Yale, Penn, University of Massachusetts, Lowell and Harvard. In addition to Bryant and Boston College, Brown will host Hofstra University, Central Connecticut State University, Stony Brook University, Dartmouth, Princeton and Cornell. On April 18, the Bears will face San Diego State University at a neutral site. If the Bears finish top four in the Ivy League, they will qualify for the Ivy League Tournament scheduled for the

weekend of May 6.

This season also marks the first since the completion of the Center for Lacrosse and Soccer, a new facility built adjacent to Stevenson-Pincince Field.

McDonald said that being in the new facility “makes the training and the learning accelerate.”

“We’re all in one building (so) we can watch film (and) we can learn together,” McDonald said. “That’s been awesome so far from a learning standpoint.”

With the season’s start just days

away, Shea said she is looking forward to “enjoying the ride” and “watch(ing) half of our team experience it for the first time.” Shea acknowledged that others may think the group’s lack of experience will negatively affect the team, but Shea thinks “it’s an edge we have.”

“We all have a fire inside of us since we missed out last year,” Shea said.

“We’re harnessing it the right way, and we can actually use it to our advantage.

Our culture is super strong, and we’re all on the same page of what we want to accomplish.”

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Wendell Pritchett ’86 begins term as interim president of Penn New role follows Amy Gutmann’s Senate confirmation as U.S. ambassador to Germany

BY ANIYAH NELSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER Wendell Pritchett ’86, an academic who has spent the majority of his career in the Philadelphia area, began his tenure as interim president of Penn Feb. 15.

Penn’s Board of Trustees selected Pritchett to replace former Penn president Amy Gutmann as she prepares to step into her new role as the U.S. ambassador to Germany.

Gutmann, who President Joe Biden nominated for the position in July 2021, served as Penn’s president from July 2004 until her confirmation by the Senate Feb. 8.

Pritchett will serve as Penn’s interim president until June 30, when current University of Virginia Provost M. Elizabeth Magill — the nominee to serve as Penn’s ninth president — will likely begin her tenure.

Pritchett, who is the first Black individual to fill the role of president at Penn, served as Penn’s Provost from July 2017 to December 2021 and has an extensive history in academia. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in political science from Brown in 1986, he went on to earn a law degree from Yale in 1991 and received a PhD in history from Penn in 1997.

This is not the first time that Pritchett has played a historic role at Penn.

In 2017, he became Penn’s 30th provost

COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Pritchett will replace Amy Gutmann, who the U.S. Senate confirmed as the ambassador to Germany following her nomination by President Biden. and was the first Black individual to fill that role as well. Upon announcing his appointment as provost to the Penn community, Gutmann referred to Pritchett as a “celebrated teacher and scholar of urban policy, education, civil rights and race relations, an accomplished leader and administrator and a passionate advocate for academic excellence and civic engagement.”

“I’m very pleased to help during this important transition at Penn,” Pritchett said in an announcement regarding his new role as interim president.

“I care passionately about this institution — its faculty, staff and students,” he continued. “As we continue to work our way through the pandemic, there are many challenges ahead of us this semester, but we have an extraordi-

nary team in place and I have every confidence that the months ahead will see the University continue to shine.”

Pritchett’s professional background has included a variety of positions, many of them within the educational sector. He began his career at Baruch College - City University of New York, where he taught history courses from 1997 to 2002. He joined the faculty of Penn Law, where he served in a variety of positions through 2007, including as associate dean of academic affairs. He also served as the chancellor of Rutgers University-Camden from 2009 to 2014 before becoming Penn’s provost. Last fall, Pritchett took a medical leave and returned in the spring as senior advisor to the president.

Scott Bok, chair of the Penn board

of trustees, expressed his approval of Prichett’s appointment. “Wendell did an exceptional job as Provost,” he said in the same announcement. “He knows the issues, he knows the people, and he has a deep understanding of Penn’s values and priorities. All of us who care about Penn are pleased and grateful that Wendell Pritchett has agreed to fill this important role for our University.”

Brown President Christina Paxson P’19 echoed Bok’s comments in an email to The Herald.

“It’s wonderful that Penn will have a well-respected leader in higher education to serve as its interim president,” she wrote. “Because of Wendell Pritchett’s distinguished career and service as Penn’s provost, he is extremely well-qualified to lead the university

during this transition period.”

During his time as a Brown undergraduate student, Pritchett was viewed by his classmates in a positive light, according to Rich Taylor ’86, who went to college with Pritchett and still considers him to be a friend today.

“He was someone that everyone knew fondly,” Taylor said. “He took a real interest in people … he asks questions, he listens, he engages, he’s interested, he’s curious about the world.”

Pritchett’s commitment to civil rights and advocacy was evident during his time as a Brown undergraduate as well. He was quoted in a 1985 Herald article highlighting the growing momentum pushing universities to divest from apartheid South Africa. “Eight hundred have been killed this year,” Pritchett said at the time. “Momentum is building in South Africa, not slowing down.”

For Taylor, Pritchett’s new position reflects a key aspect of his personality.

“I think (Wendell and his wife) both have this core calling to be around people who are curious and engaged and want to learn, and to help foster that any way they can,” he said. “(Wendell) really cares about and wants to foster curiosity, learning and exploration.”

Taylor also noted that Pritchett likely didn’t seek out the title for its own sake.

“I don’t view him as someone who has ambition in a way that might be considered negatively,” he said. “He just goes about doing things the right way, and people recognize him for it.”

“He’s not a static person,” Taylor added. “He’s evolving, and I’m sure he’ll help Penn evolve as well.”