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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

VOLUME CLVII, ISSUE 21

BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Ukrainian students reflect on conflict

Campbell to step down as Graduate School dean

Students discuss families in Ukraine, University support during conflict

Campbell will return to previous appointment in medical sciences

BY ISHITAA GUPTA SENIOR STAFF WRITER Worries in Ukraine about the possibility of a full Russian invasion of the country have been present since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. But tensions heightened in October when Russian president Vladimir Putin increased military presence around the Russia-Ukraine border, The Herald previously reported. On Feb. 24, the Russian military invaded Ukraine. The Herald spoke with Ukrainian undergraduate students about what the Russian invasion has meant for them, their communities and their families back home. Nazarii Koval ’25 was studying for a chemistry midterm when a friend alerted him about the invasion. “I opened the news,” he said. “At that moment … everything just stopped.” Koval immediately called his parents, who weren’t

BY CALEB LAZAR UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR

DELORA LI / HERALD

aware of the situation because Cherkasy — a city two hours south of Kyiv where they live — had not yet been affected. Artem Kyrylov ’24 experienced a similar shock upon hearing news of the invasion. “I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t think,” he said. “Even a few days after I learned (about the invasion), I had a hard time processing the reality of what’s happening.” For days, Kyrylov

said he was in denial, hoping the situation would subside rather than become a full-on war. For Koval and Kyrylov, maintaining contact with their families in Ukraine has been an integral part of dealing with the crisis. Kyrylov has family all over eastern

SEE UKRAINE PAGE 6

Graduate School Dean Andrew Campbell will step down from his role after six years and return to the faculty as a professor of medical science on June 30, according to a March 11 press release. During his term, Campbell worked to implement a strategic vision for the Grad School, focusing on increasing the school’s size and diversity, according to a March 11 Today@Brown announcement from Provost Richard Locke P’18. According to the press release, enrollment of graduate students from historically underrepresented groups and overall enrollment levels reached record highs during Campbell’s tenure. The Grad School also achieved

its 10-year goals for enrollment and student diversity within two years of establishing them, the press release said. As dean, Campbell led efforts to eliminate the Graduate Records Examination test score requirement in admissions for 24 of the University’s PhD programs, introduce new programs to make the Grad School more inclusive — including an orientation program for students of color — and expand the Open Graduate Education program, which allows doctoral students to apply to pursue a master’s degree in a secondary field, Locke wrote. Campbell also worked to directly connect with students by holding feedback sessions where the graduate student community could express concerns, The Herald previously reported. Campbell said that his own experiences as a graduate student — he earned a PhD in biology from the University of California, Los Angeles

SEE DEAN PAGE 2

UNIVERSITY NEWS

U. to start programs to expand class size

Raimondo speaks at Ogden Lecture

Programs will focus on research, entrepreneurship, social change BY JACK TAJMAJER SENIOR STAFF WRITER The University’s Ad Hoc Committee on Promoting Financial Health and Sustainability recommended that the undergraduate class size expand by “5 to 10% through careful enrollment management” and increased participation in study abroad and experiential learning programs, according to a report released October 1, 2021. Preparations for the expansion began in the fall 2021 semester through improved tracking of on-campus housing vacancies, increased online course offerings and the hiring of an associate provost for strategy and a dean for experiential education, the report said. This semester, the University began implementing another part of the strategy by introducing three pilot experiential learning programs. The programs, collectively titled BE Brown, include

Berlin: Research & Entrepreneurship; Boston: BioTech & Life Sciences; and U.S.: Campaigns & Social Change. While students still complete coursework, all three programs offer a six-month immersive internship experience and opportunities in multiple fields of study across differing locations, allowing more students to come onto campus. Pilot experiential learning programs kick off Students who participate in a BE Brown program will take a one-credit overview course in the summer and then have the opportunity to gain four or five course credits during the fall semester — either through Brown or Humboldt University International Campus in Berlin — while they are off campus. These new opportunities build off existing experiential or alternative learning programs like the Nelson Center for Entrepeneurship’s certificate program in entrepreneurship, the Swearer Center’s various community outreach programs or the UTRA and SPRINT awards, said Betsy Shimberg, senior associate dean of the college for co-curricular and ex-

SEE EXPANSION PAGE 4

Current secretary of commerce, former R.I. governor visits campus community BY CHARLIE CLYNES SENIOR STAFF WRITER United States Secretary of Commerce and former Gov. of Rhode Island Gina Raimondo encouraged domestic investment and innovation during a speech to the Brown community in the 101st Stephen A. Ogden Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture in International Affairs. The speech, entitled “Growth, Innovation, and Equity: Ensuring American Global Competitiveness in the 21st Century,” took place in Salomon Center Auditorium Tuesday. Before beginning her tenure as secretary of commerce in March 2021, Raimondo served as governor of Rhode Island from 2015 to 2021 and general treasurer of Rhode Island from 2011 to 2015. She grew up in Providence before attending Harvard. Raimondo identified four objectives that the United States could

SEE LECTURE PAGE 4 LEON JIANG / HERALD

Gina Raimondo’s speech highlighted the importance of manufacturing in American economic growth. pursue to enhance its economic competitiveness: growth, innovation, equity and the reinvigoration of strong relationships with allies. These, she said, have all faced threats in the past decades, causing America to fall behind when compared to other countries. She believes a central root of this problem is the decline in domestic manufacturing. “Here’s the brutal reality,” Raimondo said. “You cannot have vibrant long-term economic growth without a vibrant manufacturing sector.”

University News Sports

Commentary

Arts & Culture

Webinar examines intersection between race and environment Page 2

Sender ’25: Remaining I-195 land should be under community control Page 5

Chance Emerson describes his musical journey and growth Page 7

Men’s tennis defeats Holy Cross, Hofstra in matches over the weekend Page 3

Manufacturing, she explained, drives “innovation, research and development, growth and job creation.” She attributed her decision to accept her current position as secretary of commerce to her desire to revitalize the sector and the American economy. To illustrate the trajectory of the American economy over the past few decades, Raimondo cited the decline of the domestic semiconductor industry, which emerged in Silicon

SEE LECTURE PAGE 4

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Webinar explores links between race, environment “Race & Environment in America” discusses connections between racism, climate issues BY KATY PICKENS METRO EDITOR Faculty across various departments discussed the complex intersections of climate and race during the “Race & Environment in America” webinar Tuesday. This was the penultimate webinar of the school year in the “Race & in America” series, which is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America and the Office of the Provost. The event was moderated by Professor of Environment and Society and Sociology Scott Frickel, who fielded questions and led a discussion with Mark Cladis, professor of religious studies and chair of religious studies, and Elizabeth Fussell, professor of population studies and environment and society. While Cladis brought the literary arts of W.E.B. Du Bois and Leslie Silko into the conversation, Fussell focused on demographic data and sociological studies. The two professors combined to give an interdisciplinary look at how race and the environment are connected. The intersection of race and the environment “is a topic that more and more of us at Brown are thinking about and paying attention to as the consequences of climate change and related ecological crises have begun to play out before our eyes,” Frickel said while kicking off the event. “It’s hard to imagine two more important topics separately, and today we are bringing these two critical topics together,” Cladis said. Cladis laid out three different ways he understood connections between nature and race. The first is the “connection between

DEAN FROM PAGE 1 in 1987 — shaped his work as a dean. “Becoming Graduate School dean was an opportunity for me to replicate the good experiences I had as a graduate student, and to make better the experiences that could have been better for me,” Campbell told The Herald. “That’s the reason I was really excited to become dean. All of my initiatives are really derivative of that lived experience.” Campbell said his personal experience pushed him to focus on the daily needs of students, including by emphasizing financial support and community building for graduate students with children or relocation needs. “Over the past six years, I have taken great pride in the work we have done to make graduate education accessible to all students,” Campbell said. “We have worked to help make sure that Brown is a welcoming place for all students, and to help all of our graduate students feel a sense of belonging.” Beyond work at the University, Campbell served as the 2021 board chair of the Council of Graduate Schools and was named a fellow of both the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Society for Cell Biology during his deanship,

KATY PICKENS / HERALD

Faculty across various University departments discussed the intersections between race and the environment in a webinar sponsored by the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America and the Office of the Provost. subjugation of people of color and the land,” both of which have been “exploited by extractive capitalism, by greed, by cruelty and by racial and environmental prejudice,” Cladis said. The second link, according to Cladis, is how people of color are disproportionately impacted by “environmental toxicity.” “In the US for example, African Americans are 75% more likely than white people to live in communities near industrial facilities that produce pollution (and) directly affect the health of local populations,” he said. The third connection was how nature and the “more than human,” referencing feelings of spirituality, can be “a vital agent that supports communities of color and challenges racism,” Cladis said. “I know this may seem romantic

according to the press release. Now, Campbell will return to the faculty appointment he held from 1994 to 2016. Locke will lead a search committee to choose Campbell’s successor, according to the press release. “Andrew has been a stalwart partner and a steadfast proponent for graduate students throughout his tenure,” Locke wrote. “While I will miss his vision and presence on the senior leadership team, I am happy he is continuing his research and teaching at Brown.” Emphasizing his belief that “change is good,” Campbell said that he did not plan on remaining dean indefinitely. “One of our former presidents, Vartan Gregorian, would often make these analogies that plants need to be repotted to thrive,” Campbell said. “I see this as an opportunity of replanting myself.” “Being dean is not about me. It’s about the people I work with, who are faculty, staff and students. It’s about the people I work for. That’s what I want to be my primary focus, and I feel that I’ve done that well in six years,” he said. “I’m not sure that there’s much more that I can do in this role. I’ve learned a lot, and I hope to apply what I learned in other ways.” Prioritizing student needs will continue to motivate Campbell once he returns to a faculty position, he said.

to talk about the more than human as supporting communities of color but it is, to my mind, … a truth that should not be denied.” Cladis discussed Silko’s fictional novel “Ceremony” set in the swamplands of Alabama, which focuses on Indigenous traditions of the Navajo and Pueblo tribes and details how a uranium mine created environmental hazards, threatening the health of those populations. Cladis compared “Ceremony” to “The Souls of Black Folk” by Du Bois, which uses a swamp as an allegory for culture. “The southern, white culture sought to subdue both (non-white) bodies and swamplands jointly,” Cladis said. Fussell also touched upon the meaning and impact of swampland and how

interactions with the environment are intertwined with race. She discussed her experience living in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and her subsequent research of the impacts. Katrina “triggered a much larger disaster than it might have otherwise,” Fussell said. “The levees protecting the below-sea-level city failed in multiple places, and floodwater poured into the city faster than it could be removed.” Black residents were more likely to live in the areas that had extreme flooding because of racist housing practices and historical settling practices, Fussell said. Unequal outcomes and harms after extreme weather events can be traced back to how systemic racism shapes the landscape of a city, according to Fussell.

“Social vulnerability to environmental hazards is socially constructed,” she said. Previous installments in the webinar series have included “Race & Inequality” and “Race & Poetry,” The Herald previously reported. “We’re nearing the end of our second year of this wonderful series,” said Tricia Rose MA’87 PhD’93 P’14, professor of Africana studies, associate dean of the faculty for special initiatives and director of the CSREA. “We have, over the course of the past year and three-quarters, shared and featured research of dozens of Brown faculty members.” The “Race & Performance in America” webinar on April 19 will conclude the series for this semester.

COURTESY OF BROWN UNIVERSITY

Campbell led efforts to eliminate the Graduate Records Examination test score requirement for admissions for 24 of the University’s PhD programs. “I’m going to continue what I have been doing … caring about students and supporting students. It all falls under that broad umbrella, whether it’s teaching, research, what have you,” Campbell said. Campbell’s research focuses on microbial diseases, particularly in neglected populations and regions, and he is currently principal investigator on two National Institute of Health grants, according to the press release. One of those grants funds the Initiative to Maximize Student Develop-

ment, which helps graduate students transition to biomedical and STEM research careers through professional development opportunities and academic support. Campbell listed continued involvement with the program among his future plans. Campbell said that as a dean, he was able to collaborate with colleagues outside of his appointment in biomedical sciences and hopes to apply this experience to his future work. “Knowing that I have closer colleagues … and understanding students

in different disciplines is going to be helpful to me as I go back and work with graduate students,” he said. In his final months as a dean, Campbell said he is looking forward to attending commencement. “Six years is about the average time for a PhD degree,” Campbell said. “I would say the bulk of the students who I admitted when I started as dean will be graduating this year. We have the classes of 2022 and 2020 coming back, and I want to be able to wish some of them farewell.”

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

SPORTS

Men’s tennis wins matches against Holy Cross, Hofstra Bears earn doubles points in both weekend games as Ivy League season approaches BY ADAM REMELS SENIOR STAFF WRITER

February 23 – March 25, 2022

The men’s tennis team (9-6) swept its weekend matches at home against the College of the Holy Cross (1-5) and Hofstra University (3-5). The Bears won by scores of 7-0 and 5-2, respectively, at the indoor tennis courts in the Pizzitola Sports Center. “Our guys kept things simple and brought lots of energy, which led to us not dropping more than two games in any of the doubles sets for the weekend,” said Assistant Coach Rob Raines. “If this trend continues we will be in great shape for Ivy (League) play.” In Saturday afternoon’s match against Holy Cross, Brown clinched the doubles points by winning all three doubles matches. Niraj Komatineni ’23 and Alan Arocho ’22 won their match by a score of 6-3. Duos of Ching Lam ’22 and Chun Lam ’24 and Roger Chou ’22.5 and Matthew Mu ’23 both swept their matches with 6-0 wins. “This weekend’s matches were great for us since it has been a couple of weeks since our last match,” Komatineni said. “It allows us to hone back into what we need to work on in practice for the next few weeks going into spring

break and Ivy season.” Singles wins by Chou, Komatineni, Mu, Chun Lam, Sam Feldman ’25 and Robert Siniakowicz ’22 — who was playing his first game for Brown in two years — gave the Bears six more points to cap off a 7-0 win against the Holy Cross Crusaders. Komatineni won his match in straight sets with a final score of 6-0. “We bounced back from a tough loss against (the College of) William and Mary two weeks ago,” Ching Lam said. “We trained hard to improve on our game during these two weeks, which definitely showed.” Bruno fell to William and Mary 4-1 Feb. 27. Brown earned another win in Sunday’s match against Hofstra. The Bears opened the match with doubles wins by Komatineni and Arocho as well as Ching Lam and Chun Lam. Chou and Mu led 5-2 in their match, but the third match ended early because the Bears had already won the majority of their double sets. Komatineni said his and Arocho’s doubles match was “the best doubles that (we) have played together in a match so far.” “The best part of the weekend was the doubles point against Hofstra,” Komatineni said. “All three doubles teams came out of the gate with a ton of energy and got out to commanding leads early.” The Bears earned four points in singles matches after wins by Ching Lam, Chou, Komatineni and Mu. The singles wins secured Brown’s 5-2 victory

Public Humanities Lab at the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage, where Public Humanities graduate students and alumni curate exhibitions and public programs that probe questions about art, memory, heritage, culture and sensation.

COURTESY OF BROWN ATHLETICS

Brown clinched all three doubles matches in its Saturday afternoon match against the College of the Holy Cross, which included a 6-3 win by duo Niraj Komatineni ’23 (above) and Alan Arocho ’22. over Hofstra. “It was a great overall performance by the team this weekend coming out with two wins,” Ching Lam said. “I think our performance (Sunday) as a team, especially in doubles, was one of the best we’ve had all season.” Even though the team has only two matches left before Ivy League play begins April 3, Komatineni said “nothing changes” in terms of the Bears’ preparation.

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Erotic Vision: Poetics of Body and Image February 23 - March 9

sonic-scapes March 1, 8, 15, 22

Coffee: A Journey through the Senses March 10 -18

Memoria: Care Work and Memory in the Free Burial Ground March 11 - 18

Oral History Crash Course March 15

All events take place at the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage 357 Benefit Street Providence, Rhode Island Building entrance at 50 Williams Street Gallery Hours Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please visit the Public Humanities Center website for more information: brown.edu/academics/public-humanities/events

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“We’ve been working toward getting ready for Ivy League play since the beginning of the year and want to keep working hard as we go into April,” Komatineni said. “The level of tennis is generally super high, so we need to make sure we are practicing playing high energy, disciplined tennis.” Ching Lam added that the team will “treat every match the same way.” From April 3 to 24, Brown will face at least one Ivy opponent every weekend.

“I think preparation will be more or less the same, but with an emphasis on keeping our bodies healthy and fresh given the long season we’ve had,” Ching Lam said. “We want to play our best tennis when Ivy play comes and end our season on a high note.” The team will travel to California next for matches against California State University, Sacramento (9-5) on March 29 and the University of San Francisco (7-5) on March 30.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

EXPANSION FROM PAGE 1 periential learning. Shimberg explained that the University is “trying to continue some of the flexibility that emerged during the pandemic” and that these programs are necessary because of the “broad curiosities” of University students and the “interdisciplinary nature of the Open Curriculum.”

community was invited to weigh in on the ad hoc committee’s draft recommendations last June.” The University received 340 responses to the draft report from 88 individuals, which it shared with the committee for subgroup revisions based on community feedback. Gabe Mernoff ’22.5, advocacy coordinator for Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere, said he supported

“Instead of just studying abroad for the fall,” Shimberg said, “you can now be a part of a structured experience that happens in that time frame.” She explained that the programs are set up to involve “knowledge synthesis opportunities” and outlined how students could learn about topics like biology or philanthropy and voter engagement. Shimberg highlighted the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s International and Science Technology Initiatives program and the co-op programs at both Drexel University and Northeastern University as models for global internship programs. Shimberg clarified that unlike those co-op programs, the University wants students to “integrate their credits into their schedule” rather than working full-time. Her committee, she said, aimed to “rethink where, when and how students are learning” while “developing these internships to be alongside reflection opportunities.” The programs, which are accepting applications until March 21, will begin in June and run until the end of the fall. The programs will each accept five to sixteen students. After the programs conclude, the University will launch an evaluation plan in which they will look at “student experiences, faculty experiences, student advisors’ experiences” and other information from the programs to “build them out more” for future years.

LECTURE FROM PAGE 1 Valley in the latter half of the 20th century. The United States used to produce about 40% of the world’s semiconductors, a figure that now stands at 12%. “If that doesn’t get your attention, I don’t know what will,” Raimondo said. “That is downright scary, it’s vulnerable, it’s a risk to our national security.” The

Deepak Gupta ’22, former Undergraduate Council of Students chair of academic affairs and a past participant in the Brown in Washington Summer Signature Program, said he thinks “it’s sort of a good thing that Brown is trying to find creative ways like experiential learning programs through which they can onboard more undergraduates.” Gupta, who also worked on an experiential learning working committee in 2021, emphasized that he’s excited about the new programs because they’ll provide opportunities for Brown students who want a “more creative experience.” Spencer Schultz ’22, a former University News section editor and strategy director at The Herald who also participated in the Brown in Washington Summer Signature Program, said that he thought using programs like BE Brown as one method for class expansion is “a smart route because there’s already an extreme shortage of housing and facilities on campus.”

While Gupta and Schultz participated in the Summer Signature Program virtually as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, both stressed that they still enjoyed their experiential program, mentioning the ability to network and interact with their peers in a new environment through the program. Schultz said he’d “like to see more programs focused on leveraging Brown’s great alumni network to connect students with internships.” He added that he hopes the new programs “are targeted towards students who are genuinely interested in doing them.” Shimberg underscored that the programs prioritize accessibility: The pilots are available to new and returning students, accept students with international visas, have financial aid components for students who receive University aid and incorporate accommodations for students of all backgrounds. “I know myself and my fellow committee members have worked a

ton to make sure that these programs are thoroughly built out while at the same time meshing well with the current University infrastructure,” Gupta said. “I’m extremely excited to see how these pilot programs go and where they’re going to lead the university in the future.” Students raise concerns about growth of student body University Spokesperson Brian Clark wrote in an email to The Herald that the University is making sure to respect the surrounding Providence community while increasing the undergraduate population. “The goal is to marginally grow the undergraduate student body in (a way) that ‘would not strain … campus life infrastructure,’” Clark wrote, quoting from the ad hoc committee’s report. “Growth would also come progressively over time, not in a single moment,” he added. Clark wrote that “the full campus

the expansion “as a concept” because the University could help alleviate “a lot of the inequality that we have in this country” by accepting “way more students.” Citing his experiences as a Providence resident and HOPE member, though, he discussed how an increased student body size could lead to an increase in students living off-campus — continuing the University’s history of gentrification, especially in “low-income communities and communities of color.” While the plan states that it aims to grow the student body in a manner that does not “strain existing resources,” Mernoff said he thought the University would need to “build a lot of on-campus housing” to accommodate new students. He also recommended that the University “encourage people to stay on campus” rather than having them move off-campus and drive rental prices up. Despite approving of the growth of experiential learning programs, both Gupta and Schultz also expressed some concerns with the undergraduate population growth. Gupta said he was hesitant about how the University would address the “different levels of resources” available in various academic departments and “the risk of certain opportunities” becoming less available to students. Schultz argued that the University should “address some of the shortcomings in dining and athletic facilities” before planning to increase the student body size.

solution, she says, is to significantly enhance American research and production in the industry. Political divisiveness has skyrocketed in the past decade, a change that, in the eyes of Raimondo, stems in part from the loss of 9 million manufacturing jobs and a decline in “small and medium manufacturers.” In times of uncertainty and hardship,

people turn to more radical ideologies, she said. Raimondo also reiterated the importance of maintaining strong relations with allies, citing the reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an example of effective cooperation among like-minded countries. “What we’re doing is truly unprecedented in … the way we’re doing it

with the whole world,” Raimondo said. She noted that international economic sanctions are designed specifically to limit Russia’s military potential, given its reliance on foreign companies for vital supplies. Following the lecture, President Christina Paxson P’19 spoke with Raimondo in a question-and-answer session that featured questions from

students. Raimondo answered questions about the relationship between labor shortages and lack of equity, Russia’s response to the sanctions and the differences between working in the Rhode Island government versus the federal government. “There is no average day” for the U.S. secretary of commerce, Raimondo said.

ASHLEY CHOI / HERALD

CA L E N DA R

COVID -19 AT BROWN MAR. 3 TO 9

MARCH S

Confirmed Positives

Students in On-Campus, Designated Off-Campus Isolation Housing

31* FEB. 24 TO MAR. 2 Confirmed Positives

80 Students in On-Campus, Designated Off-Campus Quarantine Housing

51* *APPROXIMATE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | COMMENTARY

Sender ’25: I-195 Commission has failed the community In 2011, Providence took a major step in redressing the damages wrought by highway construction by relocating a portion of Interstate 195 so that it circles around downtown rather than cutting through it. This opened 26 acres of prime downtown real estate for development and productive uses, such as housing, commercial space and cultural venues. The job of distributing this lucrative land was given to the state-appointed I-195 Redevelopment District Commission. Though the group has done some good since its inception, recent shortcomings have proved that its useful life has passed. After repeatedly failing the community, the I-195 Commission should step aside and be replaced by a community development corporation, putting residents in charge of the remaining land. The I-195 Commission started off strong when it got off the ground. Early on, the committee set aside seven acres for open space, which is today the Innovation District Park and contains a pedestrian bridge. Since then, another 10 acres have been redeveloped into apartments, a hotel and office space. Residents in the affected communities of Fox Point and the Jewelry District have complained that the developments do not match the surrounding community and are unimpressive. Most controversial, though, has been the committee’s support of the Hope Point Tower, frequently referred to as “Fane Tower” after its wealthy backer, New York developer Jason Fane. If built, it would be the tallest building in Rhode Island, but it has received serious criticism from many different corners. Residents have claimed that it will stand out horribly in the historic Jewelry District and that the committee is naively continuing to work with the developer despite lengthy delays. To some residents, it is clear that the I-195 Commission does not have the interests of the community at heart and is instead serving the interests of wealthy developers. All is not lost, as the remaining nine acres of I-195 land can still be dedicated to a more human model of urban planning, putting community members at the center of decision making instead of developers. That said, the commission, as currently structured, is not capable of successfully pivoting to a new development model. In particular, the lack of regard the I-195 Commis-

sion has for the community is obvious and unacceptable. By nature, the committee was not designed to accommodate public input. The committee currently meets once a month publicly at 5 p.m. on Zoom. This is a deeply problematic practice for a number of reasons, though one that is certainly not unique to the I-195 Commission. Firstly, a once-a-month meeting seems insufficient for accurately gauging community input on various development proposals, especially when there have already been vocal objectors in the community. Secondly, 5 p.m. is a particularly poor time to hold a community meeting. This is during rush

mittee in advance. This callousness is in sharp contrast with willingness the commission has shown to accommodate developers. In the case of Fane Tower, the committee has extended multiple deadlines for the developer after numerous delays. So, while the committee is happy to make exceptions and concessions to wealthy developers, they are unwilling to facilitate adequate community input. It is no wonder then that some in the community have been unsatisfied with the uninspired developments in their area. If community concerns are not addressed, even would-be uncontroversial developments are guaranteed to draw ire, as

“The remaining nine acres of I-195 land can still be dedicated to a more human model of urban planning, putting people at the center of decision making instead of developers.”

hour, when many people are just getting off of work, or when others are sitting down for dinner, picking up children or running other errands. Placing a community meeting at 5 p.m. then excludes a vast number of residents from having a chance to contribute to the discussion, allowing only those with significant free time to do so. It is important to note that these practices are seen across public-facing planning groups from Denver to British Columbia. It is precisely because these practices are so common that many believe the entire planning process is exclusionary. Further, these meetings hardly provide any opportunity for community members to speak, demonstrating only a facade of caring for the community. Public comment in every recent meeting of the I-195 Commission has been limited to 15 minutes total. Each member of the community is allowed to speak for three minutes at most, and they only have the opportunity to do so if they email the com-

public officials have violated their fundamental obligations to be responsive to the community. It is apparent that community members have strong ideas about what they want to see in their neighborhoods. Thus, they should be placed in charge of deciding the fate of the remaining nine acres via a community development corporation. This kind of organization would be an excellent way to ensure that the community sees the remaining land developed how they want. At its most basic, a community development corporation is a non-profit which maintains a close relationship with local government and is composed chiefly of community representatives and advised by experts. Typically they are governed by a charter that outlines their duties, and often major decisions require soliciting tangible community input. Their chief areas of concern are housing and the economic growth of their neighborhoods, and in practice, they undertake programs to

promote affordable housing as well as new development. The benefits of creating a development corporation to oversee the remaining I-195 land would be twofold: First, it would place the community in charge of the development of the nine remaining acres, and in doing so ensure that what comes into the space is what the community approves of. Secondly, and arguably more importantly, it would establish a framework for incorporating community involvement in the trajectory of the neighborhood, which could continue long after the I-195 land is developed — development corporations can remain operational for decades after their inception. Community development corporations have been extraordinarily effective in the places where they already play prominent roles. For example, in New Jersey, where a robust development corporation system exists, the total network has created 82,000 jobs for residents, fostered an overall economic impact of $12 billion and has built 21,000 affordable homes and 2.5 million square feet of commercial space, according to data from the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey. Equally important, these corporations have been key facilitators of the resident-driven community planning process. There is no reason the success seen in New Jersey cannot be replicated in Rhode Island. The state must only be willing to take this courageous first step to prioritize the needs of residents over the desires of developers and, in doing so, ensure responsible development. Thus far, the tremendous opportunity presented by the relocation of I-195 has been squandered. Rather than producing community-oriented development, the committee in charge has served only the interests of wealthy developers who have backed lackluster and controversial projects. However, opportunity remains, and Providence stands at a crossroads, with one path leading to a community deeply lacking in character, and the other leading to a radical new form of community-centered development. Gabe Sender ’25 can be reached at gabriel_ sender@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald. com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

UKRAINE FROM PAGE 1

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

Europe, but his father chose to stay behind in Kyiv to help refugees and the humanitarian aid effort. The family connects every day through video chat to cheer each other up. These talks have been a source of “stability and stoicism,” Kyrylov said. But not everyone has had the opportunity to stay connected with family during this time. In the port city of Mariupol, which Artem Agvanian ’25 calls home, Russian airstrikes during a siege of the city cut off communication services. “There is no connection to the city whatsoever, therefore I wasn’t able to contact my parents” for a week, Agvanian said. The official civilian death toll

Living in a constant state of fear has become the reality in Ukraine, Kyrylov said. For his friends in central Kyiv, the sounds of bombs being dropped over neighborhoods has become a daily wake-up call. “Many would spend nights in underground shelters,” Kyrylov said. “Every time they tried to come out … there had been another siren tossed around.” The Russian invasion has caused the daily lives of Ukrainians to deteriorate significantly, Koval said. “One day my brother went to school, and the next day everything was canceled,” he said. “Stores are closed, schools are closed, public transportation is rarely going through the city. Everyone has a curfew.” Ukrainians in Koval’s city of Cherkasy are living “from one danger drill

bilities. “I tried to dive into work as much as I can to avoid thinking about” the invasion, he said. “During the day, it is easier because my parents are awake.” But after 6 p.m. eastern time, when his parents usually sleep, Koval said that he monitors the news so he can inform his parents in case a warning is issued. As Ukrainian students continue to navigate the situation in the middle of the semester, many noted that University teaching staff, administrators and the general Brown community have remained supportive. “I’ve got extensions on things I couldn’t get done on time … lots of mental health support from friends here and abroad,” said Kyrylov. He was also happy to know that there are other support resources available at

Ukrainian scholars through organizations such as the Scholars at Risk network and the New University in Exile Consortium. As the future of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine remains uncertain, Koval’s pride in his Ukrainian identity has only increased. “Just seeing that everyone, from the smallest child to an old man, (is doing) everything that they can to support the army and support each other,” he said, “it just makes me very proud.” Agvanian expressed similar pride, citing cooperation between citizens in Mariupol. “People are sharing medicine, people are sharing food, people are sharing water,” he said. They are “helping each other in case someone gets injured. … That’s kind of the only way you can survive.”

region) are worried that they might be next,” referencing fears of a return to Soviet-era Russian control of the region. As the conflict rages on, Ukrainian students on campus are largely hopeful for a peaceful resolution. Agvanian spoke about the importance of Russians withdrawing their support from Putin’s policies. “I believe that lots of (Russians) do not want this meaningless conflict because they understand that this is only harming Ukrainians,” Agvanian said. “I also believe that this is a good wake-up call to take a look at your government.” Both Kyrylov and Koval emphasized the importance of diplomatic talks between Ukraine and Russia, but remained adamant that Ukraine not give up any of its territory. “What we don’t want is Russia to

from Russian attacks in Mariupol is about 2,400, though local officials estimate the true number of casualties is higher. Along with the interrupted communication services, “there have been problems with food and water because humanitarian aid is not going through (during) the siege, because the Russian military doesn’t allow it,” Agvanian said.

to another,” Koval said. “Everyone has some stuff packed already in case there is a warning and you need to go. You just live from one moment to another.” Ukrainian undergraduate students on campus said they are living with a daily sense of worry about their loved ones in Ukraine. For the last two weeks, Koval has built a routine balancing academic work with personal responsi-

the University, should one need them. Agvanian believes the University’s response to the crisis, which President Christina Paxson P’19 detailed at a March 1 faculty meeting, “is responsible and something all big institutions, especially in the realm of education, should do.” Kyrylov also commended the University’s preparations to house

Kyrylov’s pride in his Ukrainian identity extends to the armed forces. “I am — and I think everyone is — incredibly proud of our armed forces,” he said. The conflict between the two countries has had far-reaching effects on the surrounding region, according to Kyrylov. Through his family in Lithuania and Poland, Kyrylov has learned that “people in most countries (in the

force us into a deal … but it’s also unlikely that we will resolve this conflict solely militarily,” Kyrylov said. “A ceasefire will be a good first step.” “I strongly believe that by the end of the conflict, Ukraine should gain its territories back with the borders” from before Russia invaded, Koval added. “We just want what was part of our country back.”

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

METRO

Bill aims to introduce climate change literacy to R.I. schools Proposed legislation reveals challenges within state’s education system BY JULIA VAZ SENIOR STAFF WRITER On Feb. 2, the Climate Literacy Act was introduced in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. Bill H7275 proposes that K-12 students receive education on climate change “and understand key environmental, climate and sustainability principles,” according to the text of the legislation. The bill calls for these principles to be “integrated into all … science, civics and social studies courses” in the state by August 2023. The bill was held for further study on Feb. 16. The Climate Literacy Act was also introduced in the R.I. Senate and awaits a hearing today. According to Representative Terri Cortvriend, a Democrat who sponsored the legislation, the bill’s progress within the Assembly is normal. “Bills almost never get voted on right at that moment. They get held for further study,” she said. Cortvriend, who had attempted to pass the bill during last year’s legislative session, said she is confident about achieving success this time. “I would say that the hearing this year was more favorable,” she added. Timothy Herbert, professor of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, said that climate education “should be very complementary.” He said that since science requires many different skills — from mathematics to English — the teaching of climate change has the potential to be a part of the entire curriculum.

“It is one big way of looking at the world,” Herbert said. Cortvriend warned against viewing climate change as a topic that should be taught only in science classes. “We should do more. It touches more than just science,” she said. The intention of the bill, according to Cortvriend, is to create a baseline of knowledge around the topic. “I want to make sure (all) our Rhode Island students graduate with the same facts,” she said. The proposed legislation, if passed, would incorporate input from environmental experts to create teaching materials and “embed them in the curriculum,” she added. Herbert also addressed how the measure might help bring climate change awareness into urban communities. He said educating children and teenagers on climate change would mean inspiring small changes at the local level that could produce big impacts. By “bringing the environment … home to the neighborhood, to the family and to issues that have to do with equity,” the younger generation will become attuned to all the ways climate impacts communities, he said. For Thomas DiPaola, executive director of the Rhode Island School Superintendents Association, discussing climate change is crucial. Speaking about going on walks on the beach with his four-year-old granddaughter, DiPaola said, “believe me, I want that to be around for her grandkids.” But critics have expressed concern about the practicality of the proposed legislation given the larger reality of education in Rhode Island. Herbert described a challenging reality in Providence’s educational system which may limit the feasibility

JULIA GROSSMAN / HERALD

Though the bill has garnered support, some teachers worry about the lack of a concrete plan for implementing the required curricula outlined in the bill. of the bill. “I think a challenge that we certainly have in Providence is that … it has been hard to really give enough attention to science literacy in general,” he said. DiPaola said he is concerned that this legislation represents a “one off,” or stand-alone curriculum requirements that “almost never give a thought to other commitments.” While he believes the bill has merit, he said it is necessary to look at the bigger picture to better integrate climate literacy into the state’s current educational context, he said. “Who is going to pay for it, where is the time going to come from, where are the people going to come from and how does this fit into the bigger puzzle that (is) our schools?” he added.

Helaine Hager, president of the Rhode Island Science Teachers Association, echoed many of DiPaola’s concerns. She said the proposed legislation lacks concrete answers on how to practically provide climate change literacy. “It is interesting that they are proposing legislation, but then what do you do with it?” she said. Hager worries that the topic of climate change will only be addressed on a superficial level in classrooms. “I would like someone to have a clear idea of exactly what the ask is when you say, ‘Teach climate change,’” she said. “It is such a complex problem with complex origins and complex solutions that incorporating it on a superficial level within courses

is what I find to be a problem,” she added. Hager also stressed the importance of integrating climate change lessons into the broader curriculum. She highlighted the fact that updates to graduation requirements in the state are currently being considered by the Rhode Island Department of Education and proposed the addition of a climate change requirement. “If it is not a graduation requirement and someone proposes it as a rule of law, what happens to it?” Hager said. DiPaola said RISSA’s message is one of collaboration. “We are very interested in this” bill, he said. “Give us a chance to work with you and see if we can overcome some of the obstacles.”

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD | NEWS

ARTS & CULTURE

Singer-songwriter Chance Emerson finds his stride Student-musician discusses finding collaborators, songwriting process BY LAURA DAVID ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Of all the names on the campus music scene, Chance Emerson ’23.5 is likely one of the most widely known. Since getting his start by self-recording what would become his first EP in the attic of his high school’s music building, he’s released a debut album, amassed over 24,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and toured across the Northeast. Last week, he opened for critically acclaimed band Lawrence at Providence’s Fete Music Hall. And he’s showing no signs of slowing down. “I grew up in Hong Kong, so it was just a thing where like everyone learned piano or violin. So I did that, but I hated it.” For his 10th birthday, his only wish was to stop playing piano, he explained. While his mother refused to let him quit completely, the two struck a deal — he had to keep playing music but could switch instruments. He settled on guitar, and his infatuation was instant. It was also at home where he garnered an early appreciation for music. “My Dad was classically trained in opera for a year. He was very interesting and cool and would always play, just like, very good artists like Oasis, The Beatles and Norah Jones,” Emerson said. From his early exposure, Emerson began singing covers, turning his passion for the music of others into a drive to create his own. “I was actually born in Taipei, then moved to Hong Kong when I was eight,” Emerson said. “I was definitely moving around a lot, and I feel like playing music and guitar grounded me.” At 14, Emerson started writing songs. A few years later, he took the next step in his music career when he moved to the United States to go to boarding school, where he began producing music. He then met a friend a year ahead of him who was a “DJ at all the campus dances.” “He was trying to produce a lot of music and just said, ‘Okay, let’s make something together,’” Emerson said. It was with that friend that Emerson recorded his first EP, “The Indigo Tapes.” He expected little traction upon its release, he said. But when the project was successful — its most popular song, “Wandering Mind” now having accumulated over 1,000,000 streams — he was “totally shocked.” “It kind of just kept going from there,” he said.

Unexpected encounters are a common theme in Emerson’s career; most of his closest collaborators came to him through friends or from sheer luck. Palmer Nix ’22, the mix engineer for Emerson’s debut album, “The Raspberry Men,” met Emerson the first weekend of his sophomore year — Emerson’s freshman year. “I was in the Ivy Room and he showed up with our mutual friend, and we made a plan then and there to get in the studio,” Nix said. Nix had just agreed to go in to give feedback on Emerson’s existing work, but the two hit it off and ended up finishing the entire project together in the University’s studio facilities, he said. It was in a similar fashion that Emerson met his now closest collaborator, Jack Riley ’23, a music producer on campus. Riley first encountered Emerson at a first-year talent show where Riley played guitar for a friend’s performance. Emerson also performed at the same event, singing barefoot with only his guitar for backing. “Everybody was like: ‘Oh, he was ridiculous,’” Riley said of his first impression of Emerson. “He was shoeless!” A few weeks after the show, Riley heard a knock on his door. It was Emerson, trying to recruit Riley to play live in his band. “He and our current guitarist, Will Beakley ‘23, literally showed up at my door at Andrew’s,” Riley recalled. “They knocked on my door and asked if I was Jack Riley, because they had heard that I played drums and they were looking for a drummer.” “We were trying to find Jack — we emailed him, we called him up … He would not reply to us, he would not reply to our calls or texts,” Emerson said. “We knew he lived in Andrew’s, so we went door to door (checking the) nametags until we found his. He was living in the basement, of course. We’d started at the top.” Now, Riley and Emerson do almost everything together. “I love spending time with him,” Riley said. “We go to the gym together — we’re practically a married couple. We will just be doing whatever we’re doing and we’ll be like, ‘Oh, listen to this thing,’ and bouncing ideas off each other all the time. It’s super fulfilling just to be in this creative headspace all day. I literally never get tired of it.” The two plan to live together next year, Emerson said. In addition to joining Emerson’s band, Riley became Emerson’s main producer. While Emerson still does most of the writing, he’ll bring voice memos to Riley who then can bring the track to life, Riley explained. “I try to put a little spin on (what-

ever he sends me),” Riley said. “There’s great songs, and then there’s great songs that have something that’s really interesting about them. I’m trying to put the little sonic hook in it, something that makes it a little weird. Our process is mostly like he writes it, and I’ll mess it up in a good way.” Emerson’s sound has, with Riley’s influence, matured and developed during his time in college, he noted. Prior to coming to the University, Emerson had mostly marketed himself as a singer-songwriter, usually performing alone with a guitar and releasing acoustic-sounding records, he said. His newer work, however, has taken him into new sonic territory, Emerson explained. “I would say I definitely got a lot rockier and poppier here,” Emerson said. “I came in and was like, ‘I want to play in college.’ But there’s no way I’m going to be playing a party as an acoustic singer-songwriter, so I needed to find a band.” Emerson said he doesn’t think too much about genres. When asked to describe his music, he landed on “spicy flannel folk rock.” “I’ve definitely developed more of an appreciation for the live show, because there’s only so much hype you can bring with an acoustic guitar and one person,” Emerson added. Over the 2020–21 school year, Emerson took leave from the University and moved back to Taiwan. Given that the area didn’t see high levels of COVID-19 at the time, he found opportunities there to perform and keep practicing, he said. “I played at two music festivals when I was in Taiwan,” Emerson said. “They were pretty small festivals, but it was also really cool to play internationally.” After returning to the University this past fall he hit the ground running once again, setting off with his band on a short tour of colleges across the Northeast, including Harvard, MIT and Trinity, Riley said. “It didn’t totally feel like a tour because we would still go to class,” Emerson said. “I think there was one stretch where we had three shows in two weeks.” But the rigors of tour life, Emerson and Riley agreed, were more than worth it. “Trips like that were so formative for our relationship (with the band),” Riley said. In one standout show, Emerson had the chance to headline a venue in New York City, playing with friends whom he had known since he was eight years old who now attend New York University, he said. “We played in this beautiful venue that had two stories, and 300 people showed up,” Emerson said. “That was

VICTORIA YIN / HERALD

Chance Emerson grew up in Taipei and Hong Kong before attending boarding school in the United States, where he began producing music. the coolest show we’ve ever played because I didn’t feel like I knew the majority of the room … It was like, ‘Oh man, I’m finally breaking through to complete strangers.’” Behind each of these performances was also a lengthy logistical process, which Emerson largely had to navigate alone as a small musician, he said. “For so long I was acting as pretty much every role that a real artist would have,” Emerson said. “I was trying to do the bookings, manage the publicity, deal with press, playlists, merch, sync licensing — all of these things. It’s definitely more than I thought it would be, especially now with TikTok and Instagram you have to be a content creator (in addition to an artist).” Now, though, Emerson has finally added a manager — another old friend — to help with the logistics so that he can focus on his craft, he said. After all, even despite the time spent performing and working on the business of music, he still considers himself a songwriter first. “I use voice memos all the time,” Emerson said of his writing process. “Basically just when I’m walking around or, I don’t know, showering, or when I wake up, or even if there’s something in a dream or something, I just mumble it into my phone … I keep

those seeds and then hope days later I’ll play all of them and see if anything catches my eye.” This day and night commitment to his art and projects have set Emerson up for success, Nix said. After coming off the fall tour, Emerson and Riley have been back to their usual collaborative routine. In addition, Emerson and his band experienced a career high last Wednesday night, opening for Lawrence — a critically acclaimed funk group which includes former University students. A big fan of the band, Emerson mentioned that when he saw Providence on their list of tour locations, he immediately got in touch with a request to perform as the opener. “It just kind of serendipitously worked out,” he said. Emerson has also noted that he hopes to potentially finish out the spring semester with a few more live shows in Providence. “There’s a spectrum of ability needed to be successful in the music business, and Chance has every skill (on) every portion of that spectrum,” Nix said. “He has the business acumen and the business drive. He has the songwriting skill, the innate singing talent, and is a wonderful producer. He’s also an extremely likable, amazing person to be around and he can really bring people together.”