Monday, April 8, 2002 by The Brown Daily Herald

M O N D A Y APRIL 8, 2002

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXXXVII, No. 45

An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891

U. likely to face lawsuit seeking reparations, reports indicate

Stranded in Ramallah, U.’s Chopra awaits end of Israeli army offensive

BY ANDY GOLODNY

Reports from the national Reparations Coordinating Committee indicate the group will likely sue Brown for monetary compensation relating to the University’s alleged historical role in the slave trade. In an editorial written in the New York Times last week, Harvard Professor of Law Charles Ogletree named Brown, Yale and Harvard Law School as “probable targets” in a reparations lawsuit to be filed later this year. The schools “made headlines recently as the beneficiaries of grants and endowments traced back to slavery,” Ogletree wrote. Mark Nickel, director of the Brown News Service, said Brown has no response because no lawsuit has been filed yet. The RCC is made up of a number of prominent black leaders including attorneys Randall Robinson and Johnnie Cochran and Harvard Professor of AfroAmerican Studies Cornel West. The reparations movement gained steam last year with the publication of Robinson’s “The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks.” Ogletree told the Harvard Crimson that the RCC’s goal in filing the suits is to “create opportunity for discussion of slavery and its impact on culture and society as well as how we can move forward as a nation to remove barriers and work for equality to stop racial disparity.” Sources disagree about the strength of the link between Brown’s endowment and slavery. According to a Brown News Service report, John Brown was the member of the prominent Rhode Island Brown family most involved in the slave trade. The University itself was not named after John Brown, but after his nephew, Nicholas Brown Jr., who donated $5,000 in 1804, forty years after the University was founded. “The Browns were not uniform in their attitudes or their actions regarding slavery,” the report says. Nicholas Brown Jr. and his brother Moses Brown had both joined the abolitionist movement, and Moses became a Quaker and started a Providence abolitionist society, the report says. The clearest connection linking the University to slavery is that four slaves were likely used to build University Hall during its 1770 construction. It is unclear how all of this historical evidence will stack up in a courtroom, but Ogletree made clear in his editorial that the RCC will go forward with the suit. “Reparations litigation will show what slavery meant, how it was profitable and how it has continued to affect the opportunities of millions of black Americans.” Anti-reparations critics say the suits should not be brought about at all. “This is a shakedown operation, a frivolous scam,” said David Horowitz, author of

www.browndailyherald.com

BY WILL HURWITZ

Allie Silverman / Herald

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews spoke Saturday about U.S. foreign policy after Sept. 11.

Matthews: US must adopt ‘coiled snake’ defense BY VINAY GANTI

Nationally recognized television news analyst Chris Matthews played hardball with his audience Saturday in a lecture about U.S. foreign policy and military action after Sept. 11. The United States should take on a foreign policy stance of a “coiled rattlesnake,” he said. Matthews said the United States should be reactive and judicious when provoked, just like a rattlesnake, which does not attack without provocation. When attacked, the country should not surrender until it vanquishes its opponents. Matthews said the United States would benefit from the “high moral advantage” this “rattlesnake” foreign policy brings with it. Matthews said he approves of the actions of the U.S. government to find the people responsible for the terrorist attacks and bring them to justice, but said he is afraid of what actions may take place after Osama bin Laden and other members of Al Qaeda are found. He said former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill spoke about two types of success — initial and ultimate. Though the United States may be succeeding initially, Matthews said he is unsure if the country’s actions will ultimately be successful. When asked about his position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Matthews said he disagreed with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s actions as they will simply increase the hatred Arab nations have toward Israel. He

added that the United States does not need to be Israel’s big brother, and that the U.S. government should focus on helping other Middle Eastern nations as well. Matthews said he fears the neoconservative “pencil necks” in Washington, D.C., who want to enter into long-term wars fighting one country after another. He said phrases and labels, such as “axis of evil,” simply tell the world the United States is “looking for trouble.” “I didn’t like the fights in high school,” he said, and added that he does not understand why some bureaucrats and politicians are so belligerent. With such pro-war policies, “why do we need embassies in the world? Just shut them down,” Matthews said, as the embassies will become targets for further terrorist strikes. “You do have to take that one risk,” Matthews said, of allowing the United States’ enemies the chance to attack first. The United States should remain involved in foreign affairs on a diplomatic level but should avoid long-term alliances and entanglements as they eventually lead to war, he said. “We are a country of reluctant warriors,” he said. Americans fight when they absolutely have to, but when the fighting is over, they gladly return home to resume their previous lives, Matthews said. “We want a war to come home from,”

Jarat Chopra, a research associate for the Watson Institute for International Studies, remains stranded in war-torn Ramallah this morning, ten days after the Israeli army’s invasion interrupted his peacekeeping mission. Some reports say Chopra is one of hundreds of internationals trapped by the Israeli invasion of the West Bank. Chopra traveled to the Middle East as a consultant to the British government and part of an international team to study peace between Israel and Palestine, said Tanja Hohe, visiting fellow for the Watson Institute for International Studies, who is in daily phone contact with Chopra. Chopra intended to return to Brown after spring break, but instead finds himself sleeping on the floor without clean drinking water and little to eat. Hohe last spoke to Chopra Sunday night. “Things are getting worse,” she said. “He is down to one meal a day. They are running out of water.” Chopra is staying in a two-story house with two Americans. “They said the water is spoiled. It smells,” Hohe said. “They are confined to the house.” Hohe added that Chopra is lucky to have electricity and a working phone. Chopra did not answer his phone at 9:30 a.m. in Ramallah this morning. Chopra tried to leave Ramallah see CHOPRA, page 6

Delta Tau can move back on campus, ResLife announces BY BRIAN BASKIN

Delta Tau will return to campus next year following a decision by Director of Residential Life Donald Desrochers to end the fraternity’s five-year housing ban. The fraternity will most likely occupy part of Sears House, though the University has not made an official decision, said Michael Blitstein ’03, program house chair for Residential Council. ResCouncil voted 8-0-2 to recommend housing for Delta Tau in late February. Blitstein said Delta Tau’s commitment to community service, sponsoring of campuswide events and fulfillment of program house requirements contributed to the Council’s decision. ResCouncil voted to remove Delta Tau from campus in 1997 after ResLife accused the fraternity of damaging University prop-

see MATTHEWS, page 4

see LAWSUIT, page 6

see DELTA TAU, page 6

I N S I D E M O N D AY, A P R I L 8 , 2 0 0 2 Kevin Kramp ’02 unveils his fashion designs in Saturday show in List center page 3

NAVA uses benefit concert to get out the word on opposing the U.S. war on terror page 5

TO D AY ’ S F O R E C A S T Author Tariq Ramadan addresses the changing role of Islamic values in American society page 5

Abraham Young ’04 says Brown students must make efforts in Providence community guest column,page 11

Men’s tennis rolls over Penn and Princeton, gets off to best Ivy start in team history page 12

windy high 56 low 45

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

THIS MORNING MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2002 · PAGE 2 Ted’s World Ted Wu

W E AT H E R TODAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

High 56 Low 45 windy

High 63 Low 42 windy

High 65 Low 43 partly cloudy

High 58 Low 40 partly cloudy

GRAPHICS BY TED WU

!#$% Happens Peter Quon and Grant Chu

CALENDAR SEMINAR —”Applications of Modeling and Simulation in Computational Biology,” Russell Schwartz, Celera Genomics. CIT Lubrano, noon. LECTURE — “On Becoming Modern,” Nicholas Onuf, Florida State University. Watson Institute 353, noon. LECTURE — ”Applications of Quantal Response Equilibrium to Auctions and Information Aggregation,” Tom Palfrey, Caltech. Robinson Hall 301, 4 p.m. LECTURE —”Spatial-time Series Models for Air Pollution Research,” Scott Zeger, John Hopkins University. Arnold Lab, 4 p.m. COLLOQUIUM —”Sketch of a Theory of Human Spatial Memory,” Timothy McNamara, Vanderbilt University. Metcalf Lab 129, 4 p.m.

Abstract Fantasy Nate Pollard

LECTURE —”International Administration and Local Political Legitimacy in East Timor,” Tanja Hohe, visiting scholar. Watson Institute 353, 4 p.m. COLLOQUIUM — “Viruses, Vesicles and Multi-Electron Bubbles: The Thomson Problem Revisted,” David Nelson, Harvard University. Barus & Holley 168, 4:30 p.m. SEMINAR — professional development for advanced graduate students. Sharpe Refectory, 5 p.m. PANEL DISCUSSION —“ The Changing Face of National Service in the Wake of September 11,” Matt Dunne ‘92, AmeriCorps; Alan Khazei, City Year; Susan Stroud, Swearer Center., MacMillan, Starr Auditorium 7 p.m.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Defense attorney’s challenge 16 Big name in porcelain 17 College disappointment? 18 Job safety org. 19 See 11 Down 20 Sushi fish 21 IV sites 23 Cal. pages 25 32-qt. dry measure 28 Append 32 An ex of Frank 35 Sound of a slip? 37 “I Have a Rendezvous with Death” poet 39 Is less vigilant 41 Lock trouble? 42 Badger 43 Stallone sobriquet 44 Man on the street 46 “Delta of Venus” author 47 __ Clemente 48 Abu Dhabi’s fed. 50 Obi-Wan’s portrayer 53 Subj. usually studied at night 56 Deep cut 59 Attack force at sea 64 1996 bestseller about social policies 65 Oft-unexplored areas

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ARTS & CULTURE MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2002 · PAGE 3 ARTS & CULTURE REVIEW

Kramp ’02 puts edgy duds on runway in List Center fashion show BY JUAN NUÑEZ AND LAURA RIASCOS

Imagine Radiohead — circa OK Computer — manifested as an article of clothing. Just as the group posited what the future might sound like, Kevin Kramp ’02 offered an interesting array of avant-garde, edgy outfits in a fashion show held Saturday night at List Art Center. Kramp’s female designs were built around a single variation of the tube dress, which rendered the show repetitive and derivative. This dress was presented in two lengths: a long one that went down to the knee and a shorter one that barely covered the girls’ buttocks. The short dresses raised the question of the role of functionality in fashion, since any of the wearer’s movements could result in overexposure. Sitting down would not be feasible. Kramp said that functionality and fashion are often two separate entities. “Functionality is not always the foundation for a critique of fashion. That is not the role of fashion,” Kramp said. “Fashion is for me something really exciting and really beautiful. “Whether someone can sit down when wearing a garment is not my first consideration when designing,” he continued. “Comfort in clothing is a concern for people who are concerned about comfort.” Kramp said the collection was guided by two principles — transparency and layering and a general experimentation with color. Donatella Versace’s 1998 fall couture

show served as the inspiration for the collection’s notion of layer and transparency, while Kramp’s painting experience guided his occasional selection of flourescent tones. The strength of Kramp’s play with shades upon shades of transparent and iridescent fabrics made up for the collection’s lack of originality in cut and style. In most of the designs, there were deliberate tears in the middle organza layer, which exposed Kramp’s artful play with vivid colors of folded satin and organza. One particularly striking variation of the dress combined purple satin, purple and pink organza and brown nylon tulle. This experimentation with fabrics, although imaginative, proved somewhat repetitive because of its presence in most of the designs. However, the contrast in textures gave the dresses their futuristic, synthetic feel. The metallic shine of the tulle contrasted alluringly with the sparkle of the organza and the discreet gloss of the satin. Kramp’s juxtaposition of perfect, geometrical stitching with raw and asymmetrical hemlines contributed to the collection’s informal feel. In contrast, the white, visible zippers detracted from the aesthetic of the overall ensembles; they were too large to allow the natural folds of the garments to conform to the women’s contours. see FASHION, page 7

Courtesy of Christopher Kramp

The work of Kevin Kramp ’02, which went on display during a Saturday fashion show in List Art Center, brings back the tube dress in new materials and with added layers.

PAGE 4 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2002

Matthews continued from page 1 Matthews said, and thus Americans do not favor “monotonous Orwellian wars” that destroy what is “truly American.” Matthews discussed the effects of the events of Sept. 11 on how Americans behave. Matthews said post-Sept. 11 New York City reminded him of post-World War II Berlin because of the shell-shocked atmosphere. He said he is “troubled, yet happy” about present-day America, and said he saw many underlying American characteristics surface after the terrorist attacks. “We’re individuals that come together for a cause,” he said about the newfound rise in national unity. National courage has risen significantly as a result of the terrorist attacks, Matthews said. The actions of the firefighters and police officers during and after the terrorist attacks were a display of the bravery of U.S. citizens, Matthews said. “This country does react

extremely well to attack,” Matthews said. When he was a kid, Matthews said, the most admired career for boys was firefighting, and the most popular profession for girls was nursing. He said after Sept. 11, U.S. citizens have once again placed those two professions as the most heroic and moral jobs to which a person can aspire. The United States has returned to the value system of when he was born, Matthews said. “I’m not talking about B.S. idealism, I’m talking about human idealism,” he said, and he stressed the importance of Americans choosing occupations that help others. Matthews is the host of MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews” and author of the recently published “Now Let Me Tell You What I Really Think.” He is a nationally syndicated columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. He held a book signing after the discussion in the lobby of Salomon, where the lecture took place. Herald staff writer Vinay Ganti ’05 can be reached at vganti@browndailyherald.com.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

CAMPUS NEWS MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2002 · PAGE 5

IN BRIEF NAVA holds benefit concert to raise awareness in anti-war campaign Not Another Victim Anywhere held a benefit concert Thursday and a series of workshops Friday afternoon as part of its effort to raise awareness about various aspects of the recent U.S. military action against suspected terrorist groups. “We wanted to get the anti-war message out in as many political ways as possible,” said Shaun Joseph ‘02.“We wanted to have a couple events that would expose the war on terror’s dangerous effect on lots of areas of life at home and abroad.” In order to accomplish these goals, NAVA hosted a series of six workshops that explored the topics of “Labor After 911,”“The Israel-Palestine Conflict,”“Anti-War Veterans,”“The Afghan Refugee Crisis,”“The Attack on Immigrant Rights” and “Iraq.” Joseph, who attended the Israel-Palestine Conflict workshop, said audience members expressed a variety of opinions about relations in the Middle East. After Rhode Island Republican congressional candidate Rod Driver showed video footage of the effect of Israeli occupation on Palestinians, those attending the workshop launched into a debate, Joseph said. He described the audience as “running the political gamut.” Thursday’s concert, which raised funds for Afghan refugees, hosted local musicians performing hip-hop, folk and rock. Held in the Upstairs Production Workshop, the event raised about $150 for Focus, an international emergency response organization, Joseph said. Although NAVA has no on-campus events planned for the near future, the group is preparing for an April 20 demonstration in Washington, D.C., that will focus on the IsraelPalestine conflict. But Joseph said the group’s work has just begun. “We need people to know that the “war on terror” doesn’t only mean the war in Afghanistan,” he said.“It means the attack on immigrant rights; it means that Israel has an excuse to come down harder on the Palestinians. “We need people to understand,” he said. — Elena Lesley

Walk-a-thon raises hundreds for Karina Lago ’95 scholarship fund The sixth annual Karina Lago ’95 Memorial Scholarship Walka-thon attracted nearly 15 walkers Saturday and raised between $600 and $700, said walk-a-thon co-coordinator Rosanna Castro ’04. Sigma Lamba Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas sorority hosts the annual event during Latino History Month to maintain the scholarship, said Castro, president of the sorority. Lago was a first-year graduate student at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in November 1996 when she was killed by a car while jogging on the Tufts campus, said Alexandra Ocampo ’02, a sorority member. While at Brown, Lago was a member of the honors society Phi Beta Kappa, a minority peer counselor and an international relations and Portuguese and Brazilian studies concentrator, Ocampo said. Originally a member of the class of 1998, Ocampo met and knew Lago during her freshman year.“She was such a wonderful part of the Brown community,” Ocampo said. — Kavita Mishra

Author/prof: The time to build bridges between Muslim and US culture is now BY CRYSTAL Z.Y. NG

In a Friday lecture to a mixed Muslim and non-Muslim audience, Tariq Ramadan spoke about building bridges between Islamic values and Western culture. Ramadan said the question of the Muslim identity in the Western world is the biggest challenge facing today’s young generations. “Is the Western society my society?” he urged students to ask themselves. “Am I at home?” A Swiss-born philosopher who teaches at the College of Geneva and the University of Fribourg, Ramadan is the grandson of Hasan al-Banna, the 1928 founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, a movement promoting a return to traditional Islamic values. He was named one of 100 innovators by Time magazine in 2000 for his book “To Be a European Muslim,” which questioned the traditional dichotomy between Islamic and Western beliefs. Ramadan spoke at length about the need for Muslims to reach out to people of other cultures and said that the Islamic and U.S. cultures need not be at odds. Individuals can be both good Muslims and good Americans, he said. Muslims need to integrate American values that are consistent with Islamic principles into their beliefs and create bridges with non-Muslims, Ramadan said. Education, he said, needs to be examined and reformed so Muslims growing up in America can retain their Islamic principles. Ramadan also talked about how the experience of Muslims in America has changed. When the first wave of Muslim immigrants came to America, Muslims adopted an attitude of protection and non-assimilation, he said. But that practice no longer holds true for today’s generation of Muslim Americans, he said. “Protection is okay for the first generation, but it’s no longer okay for the second, third or fourth generations — having the American experience changes it,” he said. Ramadan pointed to his own childhood as an example of the kind of identity conflict facing many young Muslims. Growing up in Switzerland, Ramadan said he was educated in Islam from an Egyptian perspective. He said this phenomenon of fragmentation has created an identity crisis among Muslims that must be addressed. Ramadan said the Sept. 11 attacks complicated the question of Muslim identity in the United States. He said the image of Islam was negative even before Sept. 11, making it even more important now for Muslims to speak up and rectify negative conceptions of their culture. Though many observers tie the image of Islam to violence and the current Israel-Palestine conflict, Ramadan said Muslims must remember the essential principles of their religion and culture. He called attempts to separate the Islamic community from the rest of society impractical. “You can’t isolate yourself from the American culture,” he said. Ramadan asked students to look within themselves, find their true personalities and stand strong. “Muslims today in this society are not confident,” he said. “This trend is coming from inside.” Using parables from the Koran, Ramadan emphasized the teachings of Islam pertaining to the cultivation of the individual. “Our essential teaching of Islam is: change your heart before you change the world,” he said.

Josh Apte / Herald

Swiss-born author and professor Tariq Ramadan spoke about Muslim values in American society Saturday. Zeba Huq ’04, president of the Brown Muslim Students Association, said she was happy with the lecture. “It was interesting to understand his arguments and get a glimpse of the issues that affect the Western community,” she said. After hearing Ramadan speak at a conference last year, Huq and other members of BMSA decided to bring the professor to campus, she said. Herald staff writer Crystal Z.Y. Ng ’05 can be reached at cng@browndailyherald.com.

PAGE 6 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2002

Lawsuit continued from page 1 “Uncivil Wars: The Controversy Over Reparations for Slavery.” “You just can’t try cases after everyone involved is dead,” he said. “What they are doing is to take a crime committed 150 years ago and using it to make money for people today.” The lawsuit would not be without precedent. Deadria Farmer-Paellmann, a New York legal researcher and activist, filed a reparations suit in federal court against three companies last month. The claim stems from the companies’ past involvement with slavery. The companies, insurance agent Aetna, railroad group CSX and FleetBoston Financial, are being sued because they “conspired with slave traders, with each other and other entities and institutions to knowingly facilitate crimes against humanity, and to further illicitly profit from slave labor,” the lawsuit alleges. The class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of the 35 million

decedents of African slaves living in the United States. It does not seek a specific dollar amount, but estimates the total value of slave labor between 1790 and 1860 as $1.4 trillion in today’s money. The suit reserves the right to include up to another hundred companies in the claim. Brown University is also mentioned in Farmer-Paellmann’s lawsuit as one of several “esteemed and celebrated institutions of learning which had its origins in the profits derived from the slave trade.” The Brown family was also included because of its connection to FleetBoston, which takes its corporate ancestry from Providence Bank, which was founded by John Brown. “Providence Bank lent substantial sums to Brown, thus financing and profiting from the founder’s illegal slave trading … (and) also collected custom fees due from ships transporting slaves, thus, further profiting from the slave trade,” the suit alleges. Herald staff writer Andy Golodny ’03 edits the campus news section. He can be reached at agolodny@browndailyherald.com.

Delta Tau

Chopra

continued from page 1

erty. The University wanted Delta Tau to wait until all undergraduates involved in the 1997 incidents had left the University before granting on-campus permission. ResCouncil voted 10-1-1 in spring 2001 to allow the fraternity on campus, but ResLife overturned the decision. “They felt as if we started the process too late, and they questioned our intentions,” said Roy Cho ’03, President of Delta Tau. This year, Delta Tau made a stronger effort to fulfill the University’s requirements to return to campus, Cho said. Delta Tau began performing community service at a soup kitchen in September and held outreach programs for community safety and drug abuse. “We were very proactive this year in terms of what we could do to change our perception,” Cho said. Cho said an on-campus house would improve the fraternity’s unity and help the pledge process.

Thursday when the Israeli army lifted curfew for about three hours. But the army turned him away before he could escape. Hohe said Chopra will try to leave again soon. “There is a rumor of curfew lifting” again today, she said. Professor of Political Science Terrence Hopmann said he did not talk to Chopra, but he did talk to others who have. Chopra, who Hopmann said holds both British and Canadian passports, has contacted the British government. “There’s not much else we can do,” Hopmann said. “Complaints have been made to the highest international levels.” With reports of the Israeli army shooting at United Nations aid workers, it is unlikely Chopra’s limited food and spoiled water supplies will be replenished anytime soon, Hopmann said. Even U.N. officials wearing blue aid-worker helmets have been targets of Israeli bullets, he

Herald staff writer Brian Baskin ’04 is a news editor. He can be reached at bbaskin@browndailyherald.com.

said. U.N. officials for the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees told The Herald this morning that providing needed aid to Ramallah has proven difficult. “There is a problem of food because of the long-time closure of the area,” a U.N. official told The Herald. Another U.N. official said movement was “very, very restricted” for aid missions. “In many cases, we fail to go and provide assistance to places in Ramallah,” he added. The official said Israel has stopped and searched every vehicle, even diplomatic ones providing aid. These searches, he said, breach a previous U.N.-Israeli agreement. Though the official said the Israeli army has delayed, stopped and, in some cases, turned away U.N. aid trucks, the greatest danger in Ramallah right now is violence — bombs and stay bullets — not starvation. But he warned that the lack of provisions could become a serious problem. “The situation is difficult and deteriorating,” he said. The U.N. is not the only organization having difficulty supplying humanitarian aid. Uriel Masad, spokesperson for the Red Cross in Israel, told The Herald this morning that Israeli authorities are making it difficult for medical supplies to reach places like Ramallah. “Hospitals are running out of oxygen cylinders and blood,” he said. “There is enough in the West Bank to supply all the hospitals.” The University is not involved in any attempt to return Chopra safely, said Mark Nickel, director of the Brown News Service. “As far as I know, the University hasn’t contacted him,” Nickel said. Hopmann said he is not aware of any University involvement in helping Chopra, but said “people at much higher levels” are trying to intervene. But the fighting might not end anytime soon. Hopmann said President George Bush’s recent call to halt the violence in the Middle East may be too late. “He should have intervened a long time ago,” Hopmann said. Hopmann, an expert on conflict prevention and resolution, added that Secretary of State Colin Powell, who will visit with Arab and European leaders next week, is Bush’s most competent foreign policy expert. Hopmann said other countries might not take Powell’s visit seriously, but said he hoped Powell would successfully initiate an end to the violence on both sides. Chopra, who studies international law, society and organization, and peace operations, was involved in a U.N. mission to create a new government in East Timor in 199900, according to the Watson Institute for International Studies Web site. He teaches a senior thesis seminar in international relations. Chopra received a master’s degree and a doctorate from the University of Cambridge in international studies. Herald executive editor Will Hurwitz ’03 can be reached at whurwitz@browndailyherald.com.

MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2002 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD PAGE 7

W. Track

Fashion

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continued from page 3

accustomed to running in the back of the pack and coming from behind, felt the race was comfortable and well paced. She used that comfort to her advantage and took off in the last 400 meters to clock in the blazing time. Also running an extremely competitive race was Katherine Kosub ’04 in the 800 meters. Her race tactic of going out fast and holding on was perfectly executed. “I like being out in front,” she said. “This way when I hear people coming up behind me, I run faster.” Kosub led until the last 200 meters, finishing second with a time of 2:16. Her time, however, does not do her justice because of the turbulent homestretch, which made it feel like the racers were running into a wall. Caci Cambruzzi ’04 and Laura Hughes ’02 followed closely in third and fourth with times of 2:18 and 2:19, respectively. Morey also finished second in the 3000 meters. Brown came away with three more victories in the sprint events. Alexis Hall ’05 won the 100-meter dash against the wind in a time of 12.83 and then joined Claudine Compass ’02, Ayanna Andrew ’02 and Julia Stevenson ’04 in the 4x100-meter relay, coming away with a strong victory. Keely Tharp ’03 won a windy 200-meter race with a time of 27:14. The cold conditions were numbing to her legs and it was not until 100 meters into the race that she said she finally felt warm. According to Head Coach Robert Johnson, it was a meet where strength was needed and prevailed. “Everyone is upping the intensity,” Tharp said. “It is already showing up in meets and hopefully will all come together at Heps.” Hale and Morey will compete at the prestigious Sea Ray meet at the University of Tennessee this upcoming Friday in the 800- and 1500-meter races. Hale says the competition will be fierce, because it is midseason and the competitors should be in top shape. She and Morey will then join the rest of the team at home on Saturday in the Brown Five-Team Invitational. The meet will take place on the newly renovated track in the Brown Stadium. The Bears are looking to win again this weekend and see a victory as key. “Spring season is short, and with only three meets left until Heps we have to work hard now in order to bring back the gold,” said Basia Dabrowski ’04.

Kramp’s male designs were counterparts to the female garments. Not only was their construction similar — the shirts as fitted and layered as the dresses and equally unfinished in their edges — but the rampant play with color was also present. The design of the shirts seemed to suggest that the lower and middle layers were cut in a more orthodox fashion than the outer layers. With their high necklines and seven-eighth sleeves, the outer layers almost suggested a shirt put on backwards, adding to a deconstructionist feel. Oddly, the most striking of the designs were sober, neutral pieces, reminiscent of Jil Sander’s minimalist design. Kramp intended these garments to act as “breathers” from the “color explosion” and they departed completely from the theme of the collection. The relative absence of color only highlighted Kramp’s eye for texture æ a white muslin dress that was inviting in its fuzziness, a fitted knit shirt with exposed

Sports staff writer Melissa Perlman ’03 covers women’s track. She can be reached at mperlman@browndailyherald.com.

seams that, from a distance, seemed like magnified mesh or blown-up linen threads. The models were well chosen, representing all beauty types, although they at times appeared to lack confidence as they strolled down the catwalk. They were diffident when they should have been arrogant, more interested in posing for the cameras than in interacting with the audience. Also noteworthy was the decadent makeup — designed by Whitney Braunstein ’05, Justine Durrett ’03, Lindsay Rhodes ’02 and Joy Wu ’03 — which was characterized by heavy eyeliner on the boys and intense blushes on the girls. The lighting and sound were quite simple, but made excellent use of List’s resources. The available space of List’s second floor was impressively turned into a catwalk by placing four rows of chairs, two parallel to each wall, facing the center. The simplicity of the layout allowed the audience to concentrate on the models and Kramp’s sexy, messy pieces. Herald staff writer Juan Nuñez ’03 can be reached at

Courtesy of Chritopher Kramp

Kramp’s mens’ fashions made use of rampant play of color.

PAGE 8 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2002

Thomas continued from page 12 received what she had coming to her — about a Benz less than the men’s winner. The same thing happened to her sister Venus at Wimbledon this year. She pocketed $52,923 less than men’s champ Goran Ivanisevic, and Capriati took home $29,300 less than Gustavo Kuerten at last year’s French Open. See, the dinosaurs in charge of tennis have a way of compensating its athletes that is “interesting” at best. The motto must be “Advantage, Men.” The men, who play a brand of power tennis with 120-mph aces and rallies that begin and end with the serve, are inexcusably paid more than the women. The women’s tour has everything: a new controversy every week, amazing storylines with the likes of Seles, Capriati, the Williams sisters, Hingis and Anna Kournikova, rallies that are long and impressive, matches that are

M. Track continued from page 12 put in a very good effort. It’s not quite there yet, but he did have a very good finish to his race,” he said. Some underclassmen gave good performances in the 5000meter run. Jeff Gaudette ’05 sped to first place with a time of 14:32.50 and Matt Emond ’04

intense yet fluid and that’s not even mentioning the outfits. Fortunately, it looks like things may be changing. Just this Wednesday, the organizers of the French Open announced that the gap between the men and the women is closing. The men’s champion will earn $686,135 and the women’s champ will earn $668,981, a marked improvement from last year. It is worth noting that not all tournaments are behind the times. The powers that be at the U.S. and Australian Opens know a little something. There, the men and women receive the same paychecks; at least in America and Down Under, the men and women are at deuce. It almost seems fantastical that in 2002 women’s tennis players are paid less than their male counterparts. Tennis is one of those sports where the men can do nothing the women can’t. The men don’t set themselves apart by dunking or hitting 450-ft home runs. They don’t put on pads and hit each other at full speed. They don’t even sweat

more. The only real difference is the length of the matches. The men play five sets and the women only play three. But that doesn’t make a difference; length of matches means about as much as a Mike Tyson apology. The dictionary is longer than Huck Finn, but which one is a better read? And the women have the statistics to back up their gripe. Last year, for the first time, more women’s than men’s matches were played on Center Court at the U.S.Open. The TV ratings for the U.S., French and Australian Open finals over the last two years have been dominated by the females. In a recent survey by MSNBC, 70 percent of the respondents preferred the women’s game to the men’s. Let’s face it, the women’s game has stronger personalities, Anna Kournikova, edge-of-your-seat points, more exciting matches, the Williams sisters (plus father) and the clincher — body-hugging multi-colored dresses. Looks like a straight-set triumph for the women.

took third with a time of 14:43.03. “This was Matt’s first time back on the track in a while (due to injury), and he gave a very good effort,” Johnson said. The Bears grabbed two more third-place finishes, in the 110meter high hurdles and the 100meter dash. Daveed Diggs ’04 hurdled to a time of 15.17, and P.J. Morris ’02 sprinted a time of 11.74. “I think it’s only a matter of time before we start to see improvement, and we will see

lots as the season goes on,” Thomas said. “We’re in better shape now than we were at this point in the indoor season, and we’re in good standing for the next couple of meets coming up.” The next challenge for Brown will be this coming Saturday in its home invitational. Sports staff writer Joanna Grossman ’03 covers men’s track. She can be reached at jgrossman@browndailyherald.com.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

WORLD & NATION MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2002 · PAGE 9

IN BRIEF New shareholder lawsuit to target Enron’s investment banks, law firms (L.A. Times) — Investment banks and law firms that helped

Enron Corp. create the off-the-books partnerships that lie at the heart of the company’s collapse will be targeted in a sweeping legal action expected to be filed Monday by aggrieved Enron shareholders. The court papers — which will name nine investment banks, two law firms and several individuals — portray the Wall Street firms as deeply involved in an effort to disguise the company’s deteriorating financial condition from shareholders, rating agencies and other outsiders. The allegations will come in the form of a consolidated complaint scheduled to be filed in federal court in Houston by the University of California Board of Regents, the lead plaintiff in the previously filed class-action case that had named only Enron executives and accounting firm Andersen. The plaintiffs claim to have lost more than $25 billion when Enron’s stock price shriveled from its August 2000 peak of almost $91 to its current 33 cents. The shareholders claim the Wall Street firms intentionally designed a series of sham transactions that let Enron mask its worsening finances by moving millions of dollars of debt off its balance sheet. The dealings made the company seem to be profitable and hid the severe financial risks it was taking. The lawsuit also alleges that top Wall Street executives profited personally from some of the transactions.

Thirty-eight percent of Americans sedentary in leisure time, study says WASHINGTON (Washington Post) — Nearly 40 percent of

American adults are sedentary in their leisure time, basically never exercising. In contrast, about 30 percent exercise on a regular basis, either vigorously several times a week, or even more often at lower intensity. The rest do something in between. Those are among the findings of a survey, whose results will help the federal government track behaviors in the American population in the coming decades. Regular exercise is more common in men than in women. It is also more common in the young and in the better educated. Whites are more likely to exercise regularly or vigorously than blacks or Hispanics. The information was collected as part of the National Health Interview Survey, which is conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. Since 1957, interviewers have queried a representative sample of Americans about their health. In 1997, the survey was extensively revised and new exercise questions were added. People had been asked about leisure-time activities in some previous surveys. Now, however, the subject will be part of every year’s survey, and the questions won’t change, said Charlotte Schoenborn, the demographer at the National Center for Health Statistics who was the main author of the report. This will produce data that can be compared year to year, over long periods of time. “Light-moderate physical activity” was defined as activity causing a light sweat and a slight increase in breathing or heart rate.“Vigorous activity” causes heavy sweating and large increases in breathing or heart rate. Only activity done during leisure time—not on the job, in housework or as transportation—was counted. The new data are the combined results of the 1997 and 1998 surveys, in which a total of 68,556 people were interviewed. Most of the results have a margin of error of less than 1 percent. Among the findings: Sixty-two percent of adults reported doing “at least some” exercise. This category was very inclusive: any lightmoderate or vigorous activity lasting at least 10 minutes qualified, regardless of how often a person did it. Among men, 65 percent engaged in “at least some” exercise; women, 59 percent; people 18 to 24 years old, 70 percent; people older than 75, 39 percent. Among whites, 66 percent of people did “at least some” exercise; Asians, 62 percent; blacks, 50 percent; and Hispanics, 47 percent. About 38 percent of adults are entirely sedentary in their leisure hours. For women, it’s 41 percent; men, 35 percent; for people below poverty level, 57 percent; for people with incomes at least four times higher than poverty level, 24 percent; for southerners, 44 percent; for northeasterners, 38 percent; for westerners, 32 percent.

Israeli army forces pound remaining targets in Nablus, Jenin refugee camp NABLUS, West Bank (L.A. Times) — Israeli troops and helicopters hammered away Sunday at determined but weakening Palestinian resistance in Nablus and in the Jenin refugee camp, the prime remaining targets of an Israeli military under international pressure to curtail its West Bank offensive. Israeli forces gained ground in both conflict zones, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials. At least 30 Palestinians have been killed in house-to-house combat here in the past two days, including a legendary chief who fell Sunday as his forces retreated in a warren of underground tunnels and winding alleys. A senior Israeli general predicted that the assault on both strongholds could wind down as soon as Monday. At Israel’s northern border, Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon unleashed another barrage of mortar and antitank fire into Israel, wounding six Israeli soldiers. That elicited a counterattack with artillery and rockets and an Israeli warning to Syria, which supports the guerrillas and permits their activity in Lebanon. And on the increasingly sensitive political front, Israeli leaders defended their West Bank incursion a day after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon rebuffed President Bush’s call for Israel to withdraw from Palestinian territories without delay. "This is a fateful battle," Sharon said at a Cabinet meeting Sunday, "a war for our homes." But Sharon and his top aides sent conciliatory signals as well, saying they hope to finish the operation soon. Israeli leaders hinted that pullbacks could occur in calmer areas and announced the temporary lifting of curfews in cities including Ramallah, the site of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat’s battered headquarters, and the town of Jenin, near the embattled refugee camp. "Our time is running out" because of Bush administration requests and this week’s diplomatic mission by U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told Israel radio. "But we will not pull out only to return soon." The military cannot move more quickly, Israeli leaders argued, because it must uproot the infrastructure of terrorist groups while refraining from aerial and artillery bombardments to minimize civilian casualties. Israeli defense officials warned that an abrupt withdrawal — as demanded by European and Arab governments — could result in another round of Palestinian terrorism and Israeli retaliation. "Now everybody wants us to get out of the territories," said Maj. Gen. Dan Harel, operations chief of the Israeli army. "If we do it too soon, another wave of terror will hit Israeli cities and streets. And we’ll go back in again. Paradoxically, if we stay in, we can do more to put an end to terrorism." The crackdown has been a success, Harel said, noting that intelligence reports of suicide bomb plots in Palestinian territory have dropped dramatically. After near-daily suicide attacks killed 128 Israelis in March, a week has gone by without a major suicide bombing. Since the offensive was unleashed March 28, about 12

Israelis and 200 Palestinians have died in the hostilities, Harel told reporters. About 1,300 Palestinians are being held by Israelis, who have identified 500 to 600 prisoners involved in terrorism and 60 to 70 hard-core terrorists, he said. Israeli forces say they also have dismantled more than 10 labs dedicated to preparing terrorist explosives. Palestinians say civilians have been undeserving victims of the violence and destruction. Their plight caused the foreign ministers of Spain and Belgium to warn Sunday that the European Union will consider sanctions if the Sharon government does not relent. Discussions of a cease-fire seemed fanciful, though, amid the blood and hate in war zones such as Nablus, the biggest and most militant West Bank city, where close-quarters combat felled three Palestinian leaders Sunday. Ahmad Tabouk died about noon in the casbah, the old market area where he was undisputed top dog. Tabouk commanded his own armed militant group after years as a feared chieftain of the Fatah movement during the first intifada in the late 1980s and early ‘90s. Tabouk was cut down in the street during an exchange of fire with Israeli infantry. His body lay face down, clad in black jeans, sweatshirt and holster, a pile of trash burning nearby. Anguished fighters tried to retrieve Tabouk’s corpse. A gunman darted from a narrow lane toward his fallen leader as another shouted for protective fire: "Cover, cover!" Before reaching Tabouk’s corpse, the fighter was hit and went down, blood pouring from his mouth and leg. His comrades dragged him away. "Hurry up, hurry up!" yelled a Palestinian. "Give me something to carry him on. He’s alive, he’s alive!" Wearing black ski masks and green headbands, fighters fired from behind sandbags, pressed themselves against stone walls and sprinted through underground tunnels. A fighter crouched in a tunnel over a car battery with wires in his hands, ready to set off an explosive booby trap if the Israelis approached. In the windows of hillside homes, Palestinian women and children cheered on the men with shouts of "God is great!" Two other leaders were killed in Nablus as the Israelis pressed forward, their generals predicting they would soon dominate most of the casbah. Palestinian legislator Hussam Khader remained defiant, though. "No matter what Sharon does, he will never be able to kill the spirit of the Palestinians," Khader said in a telephone interview. "The resistance will still continue." In the Jenin camp, five Palestinians approached Israeli soldiers, offered to surrender but then attempted a suicide bomb attack. The five were gunned down, and one was blown up when the explosives strapped to him went off, army officials said. There were no Israeli casualties. The death toll in the refugee camp is close to 100, according to Palestinian sources. Fighters were being pushed into the center of the camp amid helicopter barrages but were determined to fight to the death, said Jamal Shati, another Palestinian legislator. "It’s a real war of annihilation," Shati said.

Colombian clubs targeted in fatal bombings BOGOTA, Colombia (L.A. Times) — Two bombs ripped

through a strip of nightclubs and restaurants in a provincial Colombian capital early Sunday, killing at least 12 people and fueling fears of stepped-up terror attacks in urban centers. Police said the first bomb exploded at 1:08 a.m. Sunday in a parking lot in the most popular entertainment district of Villavicencio, 45 miles southeast of the capital city of Bogota. Minutes later and just yards away, a car packed with 150 pounds of dynamite blew up, dismembering many of the victims. Authorities said more than 70 people were treated in nearby hospitals and several were in critical condition. None of Colombia’s armed groups claimed responsibility for the attack, but military and police chiefs quickly singled out the Marxist-inspired Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, as the likely culprits. The 17,000-strong guerrilla group has carried out a sabotage campaign since February in retaliation for President Andres Pastrana’s decision to end peace talks and send government troops into a southern rebel haven. “The way this attack was carried out points toward them,” said Chief Prosecutor Luis Camilo Osorio, referring to the 38-year-old insurgency. “It’s a possibility we’re not dismissing.”

Video images from the scene showed twisted car frames in a street carpeted by glass shards and rubble. Several building facades collapsed, and crumpled barroom furniture littered the sidewalks. Police said the first blast was meant to draw anguished spectators closer to the scene so that the second bomb would claim more victims. Pastrana traveled with top military advisers to Villavicencio on Sunday to devise security measures aimed at thwarting further terror attacks. Speaking to reporters later, the president offered a $45,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the bombers. “We’re going to pursue these terrorists wherever they are. They’re not going to find a hiding place anywhere in the world,” Pastrana said, adding that nine teenagers were among the dead. The attack also kindled fears that Colombia’s bloody civil conflict is spilling into city streets. Until recently, the conflict mostly consisted of territorial battles fought between the rebels and their ultra-right paramilitary foes for control of drug crops and gun-running routes. But in January, suspected FARC militias detonated a bicycle bomb in front of a Bogota cafeteria, killing six civilians, including a small child.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

EDITORIAL/LETTERS MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2002 · PAGE 10 S T A F F

E D I T O R I A L

Imprisoned by war Watson Institute for International Studies Research Associate Jarat Chopra went to Palestine two weeks ago to advise the British government on peacekeeping. It’s safe to say the 37 year-old got more than he bargained for when Israeli forces invaded the city of Ramallah, where he was stationed. The Israeli invasion of Ramallah and the subsequent war has prevented Chopra from returning home to Providence and subjected him and others to unacceptably inhumane conditions that directly violate the provisions of the Geneva Convention. Chopra, a British and Canadian citizen, has been confined to a two-story house for ten days with two Americans, eating only crackers, pistachio nuts and pasta. He eats one meal a day, and his supply of spoiled water is running low. He sleeps on the floor to avoid bullets. Tanks, Israeli soldiers and a 24-hour curfew imposed by the occupying army keep him from leaving the house. Article 35 of the Geneva Convention states that “all protected persons who may desire to leave the territory at the outset of, or during a conflict, shall be entitled to do so, unless their departure is contrary to the national interests of the State.” Twice last week, Chopra and other internationals attempted to leave Ramallah during the periods of time that the Israeli occupying army lifted the curfew. The second time he tried to escape, Chopra waited two hours only to be sent back by Israeli soldiers firing guns. The soldiers did not tell Chopra why he was being prohibited from crossing the border, where a representative from the British consulate was waiting for him on the other side. The Geneva Convention also states that “upon request, representatives of the Protecting Power shall … be furnished with the reasons for refusal of any request for permission to leave the territory.” Chopra was told by the soldiers at the checkpoint that the authority to let him through that checkpoint did not lie with them, but was not given a reason for his further detainment. Regardless of international law, the holding of Chopra and hundreds of other internationals against their will by the Israeli occupying army is unjust, inhumane and unnecessary. The conditions under which he is forced to live are deplorable and dangerous. It is also unfortunate that the University has yet to take any action to contact Chopra or use its influence to help him flee the war zone. While Brown may not have as much sway as the British government, a statement in support of a faculty member is called for. The Israeli invasion of the West Bank has taken many lives, and there are countless victims. One of Brown’s own is a victim, and his story is troubling. We offer Chopra our support and look forward to his escape from the war zone and a peaceful and expedient solution to the conflict.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD EDITORIAL Beth Farnstrom, Editor-in-Chief Seth Kerschner, Editor-in-Chief David Rivello, Editor-in-Chief Will Hurwitz, Executive Editor Sheryl Shapiro, Executive Editor Brian Baskin, News Editor Kavita Mishra, News Editor Andy Golodny, Campus News Editor Bethany Rallis, Campus News Editor Elena Lesley, Arts & Culture Editor Juan Nunez, Asst. Arts & Culture Editor Jonathan Noble, Campus Watch Editor Chris Byrnes, Metro Editor Victoria Harris, Opinions Editor Sanders Kleinfeld, Opinions Editor Shana Jalbert, Listings Editor Maria DiMento, Listings Editor Marion Billings, Design Editor Stephen Lazar, Design Editor Stephanie Harris, Copy Desk Chief Jonathan Skolnick, Copy Desk Chief Josh Apte, Photography Editor Makini Chisolm-Straker,Asst.Photography Editor Allie Silverman, Asst.Photography Editor Grace Farris, Graphics Editor Nathan Pollard, Graphics Editor Brett Cohen, Systems Manager

BUSINESS Stacey Doynow, General Manager Jamie Wolosky, Executive Manager Jared Gerber, Associate Manager Angela Kim, Local Accounts Manager Hyebin Joo, Local Accounts Manager Moon-Suk Oh, University Accounts Manager Jan Vezikov, University Accounts Manager Eugene C. Cha, National Accounts Manager Joseph Laganas, National Accounts Manager Josh Miller, Classifieds Account Manager Elizabeth Tietz, Marketing Coordinator Shereen Kassam, Marketing Coordinator Tugba Erem, Marketing Coordinator Miguel Escobar, Subscriptions Manager Laurie-Ann Paliotti, Senior Advertising Rep. Kate Sparaco, Office Manager Jennifer Gillis, Advertising Representative

N AT E P O L L A R D

LETTERS Schulman ignores the socio-economic issues behind Mideast Crisis To the Editor: Alex Schulman’s generalization of Arab-Muslim societies in the Middle East vis-a-vis Israel bluntly substitutes an understanding of the social and political realities of Islam with a vapid polemic that implies that only through the “mosque and Mullah” may entire populations of Muslims articulate their political praxis(“The limits of the Arab/Israeli conflict,” 4/5). Schulman argues that the Middle East conflict is essentially a religious one. This ignores the disparate economic and geopolitical strands of engagement that lie deeply embedded in the region. Islam, seen as a dynamic discourse comprising not only different texts and principles but also the lived experiences of Muslims across time and space, does not ipso facto claim to destroy the Jewish nation. Only with rampant unemployment, corrupt and repressive regimes (most of them secular in spirit if not in letter), social unrest and a selective interpretation of Islamic texts in the last half

century have the phenomena of suicide bombers and other jihadist-Islamist groups risen. Seldom is the invocation of Allah alone enough to motivate young Arabs to kill and maim. Combined with other social, economic and political grievances, however, it is the most visible — but not necessarily most powerful. Furthermore, when Schulman claims that Muslim populations are “locked into cycles of religious extremism,” he overplays the role of radical Islam in states such as Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq, where the secular calculus of political autocracy, rather than the holy word of the Qur’an, justifies dictatorship. His alliterative claim that Muslims relay negative emotions through the “mosque and Mullah” is not only wrong, it misses the entire point. A combination of distinct factors are at play in the Middle East; simply because the mosque and Mullah are the most media-driven symbols does not necessarily mean the religion they symbolize inherently plays any more role than geopolitics. I agree with Schulman’s conclusion that the current situation in Israel is untenable. But I find it puzzling, even disturbing, to witness how he came to that deduction. Sean L. Yom ’03 April 5

P O S T- M A G A Z I N E Kerry Miller, Editor-in-Chief Zach Frechette, Executive Editor Morgan Clendaniel, Film Editor Alden Eagle, Theatre Editor Meredith Jones, Calendar Editor Juan Nunez, Asst. Features Editor Alex Schulman, Features Editor Theo Schell-Lambert, Music Editor SPORTS Jonathan Bloom, Sports Editor Nick Gourevitch, Asst. Sports Editor Maggie Haskins, Asst. Sports Editor Jonathan Meachin, Asst. Sports Editor Joshua Troy, Asst. Sports Editor Jesse Warren, Asst. Sports Editor Emily Hunt, Sports Photography Editor Michelle Batoon, Sports Photography Editor

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

OPINIONS MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2002 · PAGE 11

Problems of a “God named by whatever name” Exploring the ecumenical implications of John Rockefeller Jr.’s creed I FIND MYSELF SPENDING A LOT OF I am not yet certain which of these readtime in the lobby of the Rock — not buying ings, if any, is the correct one. But one 90 percent of the textbooks you’re thing is clear to me: there is something assigned will do that to you. The other day, wrong with the idea of believing in a God in one of my moments of sleep-deprived, “named by whatever name.” The intention overworked stupor, I actually read the is good, but it errs in asserting as a prewords attached to the wall existing object of belief that that stands opposite the the distinction between the reserve desk: John Rockefeller Gods of various faiths is mereJr.’s “I Believe.” These words in ly nominal. particular stood out to me: This assertion depends “I believe in an all-wise and upon the assumption that the all-loving God, named by apparent differences are false whatever name.” differences, and behind the appearance of difference lies This statement clearly the reality of identity. What it reflects syncretic and ecupromotes is a spirit of commenical values. By syncretic, I NICK SHERE promise: “At least we can agree mean forming ones own reliCHAOS AND that there is a God, by whatevgiosity from a fusion of others. MEMORIES RUINS er name.” Compromises of By ecumenical, I mean seekthis sort clearly achieve a ing to create community between sects and faiths. Both of these are minimal level of tolerance and leave no fairly urgent concerns for me. They are the further need for conversation. Indeed, it is two related implications of one of the premised on a view of the other that is basic structuring principles of my reli- alien to the very conditions of real comgious upbringing, expressed in the dictum munication, which is the basis of real ecu“all roads lead to the truth.” This is, like menism. When I assume that I know you before I much in religion, beautifully vague — does it mean that all traditions are equally even get to know you, I cannot really comvalid? That all lead to truths that, while municate with you, or the dialogue is in a expressed differently, are nonetheless spirit of knowing, cynical irony or one of identical in meaning? That each gives a patronizing pedantry. In neither case do I come to terms with you in the authentic truth, which is a portion of the truth? moment of your existence that you are now living. My words are aimed beyond If Nick Shere ‘04’s scholarship checks had you, at some deeper “you” I have prebeen sent to the correct address, this coljudged into existence; they miss the “you” umn would never have been written.

that you are right now. When I assume I know that about which I speak, I am engaged in a monologue. Genuine dialogue depends on the earnestness with which I pursue the reality of the other. It requires the suspension of totalizing explanations which turn the other into a given, pre-known quantity. This is not to say I renounce belief in the explanations by which I understand myself and the world in which I move, but rather that I cease to assume that my interpretations of those explanations already tell me what is important to know about the people I encounter. When we really communicate, we are open to being transformed. We are vulnerable to being touched, moved, hurt, taught. This requires not just a willingness, but a willfulness to be changed by the dialogue. If I am to be changed by others and their beliefs, then it is no good to believe in a God “named by whatever name.” I give God the name or names that are meaningful to me, that have special value for me, that matter to me. And then I come forward and speak them in public, and when others speak other names in reply, I listen. Then the conversation can begin. I assume, indeed I hope, that others will come forward with their own names and their own meanings — with their own beliefs that challenge mine. While we may in the end find that these beliefs are compatible, and that our many names refer to one truth, this cannot be assumed. It must emerge at the conclusion of a conversa-

tion whose end is not known by those who begin it. This process must take place again and again in the encounters of real individuals. It is not like a math problem, to be solved once and for all, and only reproduced infinitely; every time it is arises, it arises anew, and must be dealt with as such. To inscribe a public tribute to a God “named by whatever name” is in fact offensive to a genuine ecumenism. True community is not built primarily on shared beliefs. It is not built on the will towards homogeneity and compromise, towards a resolution of conflict through agreement on some middling principle so common that none can take offense. True inter-religious community does not arise from a common truth. We do not come together and speak with respect, curiosity and care because, secretly, we know we have the same God. We come together and speak because, publicly, we know we share the same world. It is from this shared world and the conversations that begin when we discover one another, in our distinctness, in our difference. Out of this difference, communication and community arise — things that, being common activities, are held in common, though they are composed of discourse on the very nature of our differences. And it is in this common conversation, this shared dialogue, that those of us who are moved by a spirit of syncretism may hope for, but never assume and seldom expect, the revelation of a true unity of the many, many names of God.

There is a war going on right down the Hill Brown students must take a more active role in the local struggle against poverty TWO MONTHS AGO, AT THE 11TH Community Action, to name a few, that have Annual Action Conference for the Rhode battled relentlessly for action and an end to Island Campaign to Eliminate Childhood the neglect and apathy of the R.I. governPoverty, over 500 community leaders, rang- ment toward the state’s growing poverty. In Cranston, many families and their chiling from a Professor of Labor History at URI to the founder of People to End dren regularly go hungry because the only food stamp agency, which was Homelessness, watched as four created only after protests and reverends onstage graciously pleas for an office accessible by received plaques. They read: “In ABRAHAM YOUNG public transportation, refuses recognition of your inspiring GUEST COLUMN to open on nights or weekends. and continuing leadership However, these are the only through non-violent direct times feasible for working paraction in challenging Rhode Island’s political powers to fund affordable ents to go to the office and apply for stamps. housing for our state’s low-income people.” Now, the government is even threatening to These four reverends were voluntarily arrest- close that office because there are (very sured this past December at a sit-in of 15 clergy prisingly) “not enough clients.” Nick, a man in his early thirties, who has members at the downtown statehouse. This bold act of protest was organized in been struggling to find a job amidst the response to the governor’s announcement country’s recession and cannot afford the that vital affordable housing funds — finally dramatically rising rent costs in Providence, granted after endless lobbying by advocates has been forced to travel from shelter to shelter every night seeking an open bed. He — would now be frozen. Currently in Rhode Island, while 42 per- dreads the tremendously stressful, unpleascent of food recipients have to choose ant atmosphere of the shelters (which, the between paying rent or buying food, 43 per- word is, characterizes all under-funded, cent of those that “go hungry” are children overwhelmed shelters), but other obstacles under the age of 18. The state of Rhode preventing him from sheltered nights are the Island has had, since the 1980s, the fastest influx of families on the street that receive growing income inequality between the rich priority, and the shelters’ reluctance to take and the poor; since the 1970s, the average on the liability of his epilepsy. When I spoke income of the poorest fifth of families in R.I. with him over a bowl of soup at Amos House, has decreased by 9 percent, while the aver- he further predicted that the frequency of his age income of the richest fifth of families has seizures will dramatically increase in the increased by 71 percent. There are dozens of next year because, as a result of the ’96 advocacy groups and organizations such as Welfare Reform, his health coverage will the Coalition for the Homeless, the R.I. soon expire, and he will have to switch to less Community Food Bank, People to End effective epilepsy medication. If you stay for a couple of nights at the Homelessness, many religious communities and leaders and Family Resources Travelers Aid downtown — not only a guidance and aid center, but also a makeshift overnight space for those who cannot find Abraham Young ’04 is part of the Breaks shelter — you will witness a good number of Project, a group dealing with poverty families with their children lying on the floor issues, run through the Swearer Center.

for a night’s rest. In some of these cases, one or both parents work, but still cannot afford to pay the rent. Elsewhere in Rhode Island, other families, while managing to pay rent, have been forced to decide whether to “heat or eat.” In other words: do they feed their children, or keep the household heater on during the cold season? Are these conditions simply the unfortunate but inevitable byproduct of winners and losers in the free market economy? Or can the United States, “the greatest country on earth,” do better for its own people? “Poverty USA” (a national advertising campaign that attempts to draw attention to America’s forgotten state) reports, “among the richest nations in the world, the United States still has one of the highest child poverty rates of any industrialized country,” with 22.4 percent of its children below poverty level. This unsettling statistic of more than one out of five children in poverty is higher than that of the United Kingdom (19.8 percent), Canada (15.5 percent), France (7.9 percent) and the overwhelming majority of the world’s industrialized countries. For America’s “forgotten” people in poverty, what role has our government taken? According to Nancy Gewirtz, the director of The Poverty Institute of R.I. and a scholar of tax and budget functions of government, “We have heard over and over again from our elected officials that during these times of recession, we all have to make sacrifices to balance the state budget; however, to date the ideas being proposed focus on balancing the budget by cutting programs for those families least able to afford it.” American politics is swayed by the voice of its influential masses. The vast majority of Americans, especially those in the upper economic tier, do not hold images of poverty in their immediate consciousness because they are ignorant of this world, or

chose to ignore it. We, undergraduate students at Brown University, only a few steps away from filling the various sectors and leadership roles of society, will soon be part of this “influential mass.” If there is hope and optimism for a college of open-minded individuals to look compassionately into the face of poverty with willingness, then it is here at Brown. There is great inconsistency and a dichotomy here in Providence: Money Magazine ranked Providence as the number-one place to live in the Northeast: “On NBC’s hit drama “Providence,” the Rhode Island capital is cast as an idyllic town with a clean, sparkling river, colonial-style homes and well-groomed lawns. That’s not very far from the truth these days.” Even with pushing from advocates and community leaders, in the public view the fast gentrification of the city, the sprouting up of condo highrises, the sharp rise in property values and rents, in the public view, is not correlated to the demise of conditions for Providence’s growing lower classes. The war going on beyond the Van Wickle gates is a war of a voice unheard. The wounds of poverty mount in the dark corners of America, overlooked by the national agenda. By listening, learning and casting a spotlight of your own consciousness over these dark corners, we can become a positive force in the battle. Dharma Master Cheng Yen, the founder of the Taiwanese Tzu-Chi charity movement that has bloomed worldwide, urges all to help in their local communities, “thus, they earn love and respect from neighbors.” We can bridge the gap between the notion of Providence as the “best place to live,” and the unfortunate reality of poverty, by joining the ranks of those who contemplate the forgotten state and strive to debunk the ignorance and uncover the forgotten.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

SPORTS MONDAY APRIL 8, 2002 · PAGE 12

Weather hampers men’s track in lackluster meet

Obliterating Penn and Princeton, men’s tennis gets off to best Ivy start ever

BY JOANNA GROSSMAN

BY JESSE WARREN

On Saturday the men’s track team made the trek up to Harvard to compete against the Crimson and the Big Green of Dartmouth. Despite some good efforts, the Bears finished third in the contest. The cold and windy weather undoubtedly played a part in some of the performances. Tim Russell ’05 finished second in the discus, with a throw of 152’3. “This was a very good highlight for us, in terms of having someone perform like this while we are trying to rebuild the throws program,” said head coach Robert Johnson. Tri-captain Sean Thomas ’03 was pleased with some of the outcomes as well. “We had some really good performances from some people, and that’s really good to see this early in the season, especially considering the weather,” he said. In the triple jump, Brown jumpers captured second and third place. Thomas and Eric Shrock ’03 jumped 45’5” and 43’10” respectively. “We had some pretty good efforts and some solid attempts, but it just wasn’t quite there. The weather probably played a factor in this event,” Johnson said. In the 400 meter run, Johnson felt that tri-captain Ed Smith ’02 had a good race, finishing third with a time of 49.61. “He

The men’s tennis team (11-9 overall, 2-0 conference) is off to its best Ivy League start ever with two clear-cut 5-2 victories over Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania this weekend. “We had two matches on the road,” said Jamie Cerretani ’04. “To get two wins in this situation is definitely a positive.” The Bears got momentum early on Friday against Princeton when they quickly grabbed two out of the three doubles matches and the doubles point, gaining a 1-0 lead. Bruno never trailed for the rest of the day. The team took four of six singles matches with wins coming from co-captain Nick Malone ’02 (6-4, 6-2) at the second singles spot, Cerretani (7-6, 6-2) at third singles, co-captain Chris Drake ’03 at number four singles, and Adil Shamasdin ’05. After dominating his opponent in the first set, Nick Goldberg ’05 eventually lost in three sets (6-1, 3-6, 2-6) at the number six singles position. Justin Natale ’03 also lost at first singles (3-6, 1-6). “Everyone, including freshmen playing their first Ivy League matches ever, elevated his game,” Cerretani said. “We really wanted a win for Brown and Brown tennis.” Saturday’s matches ended with the same result, but the Bears fell behind early, losing the doubles point. With one doubles win for each team, the deciding match came down to Malone and Shamasdin. The squad played tough, but with a loud and vocal crowd rooting against them, they could not pull off the win. After a five-minute break between the doubles and singles points, the Bears regrouped. The team stormed back on the courts and took five out of the six singles matches. Drake was the first to win his match and evened the score 1-1 with his 6-1, 6-0 victory. Drake was soon followed by

see M. TRACK, page 8

Women’s track overcomes harsh conditions in win BY MELISSA PERLMAN

The women’s track and field team handled the cold, the wind and the competition in Boston this past weekend. The Bears are on a mission to show the Ivy League that they mean business this season and succeeded in doing so in their first competition as a full squad. They tallied an outstanding score of 77 points, while Harvard and Dartmouth trailed with 73 and 42, respectively. “We are still training really hard, and to beat Harvard and Dartmouth now leads to the fact that we will win the Heptagonal Championships,” said Co-Captain Mary Hale ’02. Because of the windy conditions, the athletes’ times were not as important as the places they earned. Hale, however, was not affected by the elements and posted a 4:33.20 in the 1500 meters on her way to a first place finish. Her time is a personal record and puts her number nine on the Brown top-10 record board. Angie Morey ’02 led for the first three laps of the 1500-meter race, breaking the wind and allowing Hale to draft off of her. Hale,

BY JERMAINE MATHESON

SCOREBOARD Men’s Tennis

Penn 14, BROWN 12 BROWN 2, Penn 1

BROWN 5, Princeton 2 BROWN 5, Penn 2

BROWN beats Boston University

BROWN 4, Princeton 3 Penn 7, BROWN 0

Men’s Crew

Women’s Crew

Women’s Tennis

BROWN beats Radcliffe

Men’s Track & Field BROWN finishes 3rd Harvard, Dartmouth

vs.

BROWN wins regionals

BROWN finishes Harvard, Dartmouth

vs.

Equestrian

Men’s Lacrosse

Georgetown 16, BROWN 6

Women’s Lacrosse

Women’s Track & Field 1st

BROWN 15, Columbia 4

Softball

BROWN 14, Conn. College 2 BROWN 11, Umass 8 BROWN 11, Harvard 8

Harvard 4, BROWN 2 Harvard 3, BROWN 1 Dartmouth 9, BROWN 1 BROWN 3, Dartmouth 1

Women’s Water Polo

Cerretani and Malone, who won their matches 6-2, 6-3 and 6-1, 6-2 respectively. “We didn’t wait around for anything,” Cerretani said. “We went out and won our singles matches.” But Penn inched a little closer when Natale lost against Penn’s top player in a tight two sets, 4-6, 4-6. Brown quickly responded, and not long after the Natale loss, Shamasdin walked off the court with a 7-5, 6-2 match-clinching victory. Goldberg, still playing at number six singles even though the Bears had already won, added another singles victory with a third-set tiebreak win. The Bears were ranked higher nationally then both squads, but this is the first time the Bears have come out of this

Hoya offensive barrage proves too much for men’s lacrosse

see W. TRACK, page 7

Baseball

Emily Hunt / Herald

The Brown men’s tennis team defeated Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania 5-2 each, starting its Ivy schedule 2-0.

The 20th-ranked men’s lacrosse team (35) suffered a 16-6 road loss to fifth ranked Georgetown on Saturday. The unbeaten Hoyas limited a usually proficient Brown offense to only 27 shots compared to 66 by Georgetown. Though disappointing, the loss does not jeopardize Brown’s hopes of making it to the postseason, which Brown can still do by winning the Ivy League outright. In front of their home fans, the Hoyas commenced the game with an offensive barrage, with 19 shots compared to only two for Brown in the first quarter. Goalie Mike Levin ‘04 made eight saves and the Bears found themselves down only 2-0 after the first quarter. In the second quarter, Brown put two scores on the board with a goal by Brian Miller ’04 with Matt Kelley ’02 assisting and an unassisted goal by Chazz Woodson ’05, ending the second quarter with the score 5-2 in favor of Georgetown. Brown could be satisfied being behind by three goals at halftime after not playing the first half up to its standards. The third quarter was a continuation of more stifling defense by Georgetown. The Hoyas, one of the better defensive teams in Division I, demonstrated why they are undefeated. Brown did register

two more goals in the third period with back-to-back goals by Jonathon Thompson ’03 and Matt Kelley ’02 with Richard Tuohey ’04 assisting. Georgetown, however, scored five times in the quarter and expanded its lead to a 10-4 margin. Perhaps it was due to fatigue from a long road trip, but Brown was clearly out-hustled by Georgetown, who picked up almost twice as many groundballs, 56 to 29. The final quarter had six more Hoya goals compared to two Brown goals by Thompson and Richard Mormile ’02 assisted by Mike Albarelli ‘02 and Miller respectively. After allowing his 14th goal, goalie Levin called it an early day and gave some net-minding time to Alex Schultes ‘03 and Nicholas Gentilesco ‘05. Levin made 16 saves overall and kept Brown in the game until late in the third period. Losing by 10 goals is never a good sign. Brown has some adjustments to make before its next game. The Bears return to home action versus Harvard on Wednesday night. The Ivy League game is essentially a must-win game for Brown. Sports staff writer Jermaine Matheson ’02 covers men’s lacrosse and can be reached at jmatheson@browndailyherald.com.

weekend 2-0. “The wins really settled our nerves,” Malone said. “Princeton is a tough opener and has always been a tough team in the past.” The Bears have a full week of tennis ahead of them. The team will take on No. 50 Yale at home on Tuesday at 2 p.m., followed by Cornell and Columbia on Friday and Saturday. “We are looking for three wins in the next week, but we need to take each, one at a time,” Malone said. “If we respect them, like we do for each team we play, we should be able to get three victories.” Assistant Sports editor Jesse Warren ’04 covers men’s tennis. He can be reached at jwarren@browndailyherald.com.

Trying to keep men’s, women’s pay on serve DID YOU HEAR WHAT HAPPENED TO Serena Williams last week? She was robbed. She had $71,000 snatched right out of her purse, by (get this) the WTA. On Saturday, after winning the Nasdaq 100 Open in straight sets against Jennifer Capriati, Williams received a check for $385,000. Quite a sizeable amount of money for one week of BRADY THOMAS GAME TIME work, but far less than the $456,000 awarded to the men’s winner Andre Agassi. No, Willams was not penalized for breaking her racket, making obscene gestures towards the crowd or even criticizing a line judge. She just see THOMAS, page 8