Thursday, September 4, 2003 by The Brown Daily Herald

T H U R S D A Y SEPTEMBER 4, 2003

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXXXVIII, No. 64

An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891

www.browndailyherald.com

Network at full capacity after outage BY JONATHAN ELLIS

After viruses, firewall glitches and a student’s incorrectly configured equipment caused campus Internet outages over the past two weeks, the University’s computing network has returned to normal operations, said Alan Usas, executive director of academic and network systems and services for Computing and Information Services. In the latest network mishap, a student who tried to set up a wireless access point but incorrectly configured it inadvertently cut off several residents of Goddard House from the Internet, Usas said. CIS worked with the student to correct the problem, he said. Personal routers or wireless access points, which allow more than one computer to benefit from a single ethernet jack, can often cause network problems. “Ideally, we’d prefer no (wireless access points) installed in the dorms,” Usas said. “We have to visit the policy on that,” he added. Meanwhile, Brown’s own wireless network has not grown from its initial rollout last spring, and expansion has been delayed by other projects, said Ellen Waite-Franzen, vice president for CIS. Prior to Commencement in May, 160 different users logged on to the wireless service, said Richard Boes, director of network technology. Usas said he understood students might wish to use a router in their rooms, such as to connect video game consoles to the Internet. But he urged students to call the Help Desk first to assess their plans. “We may have to ask you to disconnect it,” he said. Network problems caused by students’ personal equipment occur about four times a year, Boes said. That trend will continue as routers and wireless access points become more see CIS, page 5

File photo

The Thayer Street Improvement District plans to revitalize the commercial street with better security, lighting and sanitation.

Thayer St. set to improve BY MONIQUE MENESES

Next time you walk down Thayer, make sure to take a second look. The Thayer Street Improvement District, a project headed by members of the Brown community, business owners and members of the Providence community, has kicked off plans to revitalize Thayer Street. Some changes since May 2003 include additional security, additional lighting and improved sanitation. Deborah Dinerman, Brown’s community and government relations liaison, said the TSID project began in 2000, in response to growing problems with sanitation, safety and the overall condition of the street. Mike Shore, the owner of the spaces occupied by student-frequented Thayer

UCS President Kurji ’05 reflects on past and projects a bright future BY JONATHAN HERMAN

Rahim Kurji ’05, president of the Undergraduate Council of Students, began UCS’s first meeting of the academic year by commenting on the Council’s inefficient past and potentially bright future to an audience of mainly firstyears. The Council discussed limiting the length of its meetings, but came to no conclusion after input from over a dozen UCS members. A decision was postponed until the next executive session. Elections for first-year representatives to UCS will be held Sept. 15 and Sept. 16 online. Candidates must attend an informational session on Monday or Tuesday, collect 50 signatures from fellow firstyears and complete a mission statement

by Sept. 12. The Associate Chair of the Undergraduate Finance Board will be elected at the Sept. 10 UCS meeting because the elected associate chair recently resigned. “It was encouraging to hear that a lot of the issues that people brought up were areas we were working on,” said Interim Vice President for Student Life David Greene. “It was good to see all the people here, particularly the first-years.” Kurji echoed Greene’s sentiment. First-years have “been here for a week and you guys have already realized the problems we have been dealing with for years,” he said.

hangouts like Johnny Rockets and Kabobn-Curry, compared the area five years ago to Thayer Street today. “People didn’t come to Thayer Street at night or if they were alone because they were afraid back then,” Shore said. “Parents and students visiting Brown were often disillusioned by the drug dealers and punks who surrounded Brown’s campus. Today, however, the streets are much cleaner and I believe both students and parents feel safer on campus.” Shore’s business partner, Mark Leventhal, said Thayer is an indelible part of Brown’s image. “There is a symbiotic relationship between Brown, its students and Thayer Street,” he said. “Students come to Brown because of what is around Brown — what it has to offer both socially and environmentally.” The TSID project is targeting the area that spans from Bowen to Waterman streets. The most observable changes, Dinerman said, include improvements to the streets’ security and sanitation. Both Shore and Leventhal agree the changes have been good for the Brown community and have benefited their businesses as a result. “People are noticing that Thayer Street is definitely much cleaner now,” Shore said. “At Johnny Rockets, for example, many more families are coming. More students from surrounding high schools and middle schools are coming after school to grab a Coke. Parents are allowing them to come because the element of fear is not there anymore.” Although the administration and business owners seem to be seeing and feeling the effects of the changes, many returning students told The Herald they did not

Lack of funding may result in lost stipends at Teach for America BY JULIAN LEICHTY

The non-profit organization Teach for America, one of the largest employers of recent Brown grads, recently lost a portion of its AmeriCorps funding, potentially putting teacher stipends in jeopardy. The budget gap has left Teach for America unsure of how it will fund stipends for the program’s nearly 2,000 teachers. But the organization has promised to provide the funds to this year’s group, which includes eight members of the class of 2003. Each Teach for America recruit currently receives $4,725 every year for their own education. Teach for America received about 5 percent of its funding from AmeriCorps last year, according to Christina An, Northeast recruitment director for Teach for America. “We were definitely given verbal commitments, and then this happened — it was definitely a shock,” An said of the July 11 notification sent by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which funds AmeriCorps programs. The form letter said its grant “was not selected for funding.” Teach for America is committed to providing all current recruits with their educational awards this year, An said. The lost funding has been “replaced by public and private

see UCS, page 5

see TFA, page 4 see THAYER, page 5

I N S I D E T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 4 , 2 0 0 3 New booklet documents the state of Rhode Island’s history with the slave trade page 3

Two Brown students spend the summer in South Africa interning with the Bafokeng King page 3

Cecilia Kiely ’04 tells us why students think Geo 5 is a humanities class column, page 11

TO D AY ’ S F O R E C A S T Republicans are using legal but lethal methods to take over, says Youngsmith ’04 column, page 11

A look at the sailing team’s successes and a preview of the NFL’s first week sports, page 12

rain high 80 low 60

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

THIS MORNING THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2003 · PAGE 2 Coup de Grace Grace Farris

W E AT H E R THURSDAY

FRIDAY

High 80 Low 60 rain

High 75 Low 53 partly cloudy

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

High 75 Low 55 partly cloudy

High 73 Low 54 sunny

GRAPHICS BY TED WU

Three Words Eddie Ahn

MENU THE RATTY DINNER — Vegetarian Squash Bisque, Kale & Linguica Soup , Pizza Supper Pie, Kansas City Fried Chicken, Stuffed Shells with Meat or Meatless Sauce, Baked Sweet Potatoes with Honey and Chives

V-DUB DINNER — Vegetarian Mexican Bean Soup, Lobster Bisque , Roast Turkey with Sauce, Vegan Roasted Vegetable Stew, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Whole Kernel Corn, Butternut Apple Bake

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Elegant 5 Was really hip 10 Stand-ins 14 Pod opening? 15 One making refinements 16 Its motto is “Industry” 17 Cowpoke’s pal 18 Oil source 19 Pack animal 20 Bush or Clinton, once 21 Place for an art book, perhaps 23 City on San Francisco Bay 25 Most pleasant 26 Schmooze 27 Lee, for short 29 Italian wine region 31 Jazzman, at times 33 Luau dish 36 Did barbering work 38 Mournful 40 Stooge name 41 Dissolving agent 43 Black 44 S.F. Giant, for one 45 Toronto’s prov. 46 With no strings attached 50 Heads overseas 55 Misinformed (and a hint to this puzzle’s theme) 57 Elhi gp. 58 Was inventive, and then some 59 Architectural style 60 Writes (down) 61 Actress Bancroft 62 It’s a mess 63 Singles 64 Old despot 65 NFL cofounder George 66 “Did __ and gimble in the wabe”: “Jabberwocky” DOWN 1 Innocent and Urban

2 City SSE of Gainesville 3 Narrow neckwear 4 Mason’s carrier 5 Spring growth 6 “Look Homeward, Angel” author 7 Consistent 8 Actress Campbell 9 Karate award 10 Poison __ 11 Horseshoeshaped lab item 12 Ump’s supply 13 Polar formation 21 Tourist transport 22 Strength of a solution, in Sussex 24 Injure seriously 28 Portent 29 Dough dispenser? 30 Sellout sign 31 Tentacled stinger 32 Together, musically 33 Mottled mount 34 Symbol of strength 1

35 Like an unfriendly stare 37 __ Park, Calif. 39 Tanqueray products 42 Weapons supply 45 Roman goddess of plenty 46 Key with seven accidentals

A V I L A

T E L L T H E T A L E

A S T O F A A N S T A D W I H O M E R E E S T S T S O U S L A V E P O K E D A B A S E

G A L A S S U B S E T S

E L I S H A

T A S N U R O F T A I C S E

S C T O U I D D D E E X R A O M P W A R N I B N I T Z T H E T E E T R A

T O N N E

S L O G S

L U N G S

M E T O O

Hopeless Edwin Chang

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B A L I

C O M I C R E L I E F

My Best Effort Andy Hull and William Newman

N E O

R R Y I N E O A P

09/04/03

U N S N A P

xwordeditor@aol.com

L I Q U E U R

47 Chichén Itzá attraction 48 “Maria __”: Jimmy Dorsey hit 49 Church official 51 Israeli city 52 Ear bone 53 Absolute 54 Café cup 56 __ fide 60 Prompt, as the memory

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: R A J A S

Greg and Todd’s Awesome Comic Greg Shilling and Todd Goldstein

Cry Happy Fun Eric Rachlin 09/04/03

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CAMPUS NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2003 · PAGE 3

New booklet examines R.I. slave trade BY DANA AYOUB

Rhode Island, founded by those escaping persecution, ironically had the largest enslaved population in all of New England during the 18th century. A new interpretive 10-page booklet addressing this paradox — “Rhode Island and the African Slave Trade: John Brown and the Colonial Economy of Slavery” — was released by the Rhode Island Historical Society on Aug. 28, the 40th anniversary of the March on Washington. The booklet’s publication “is another important step forward in acknowledging the full, complex human history” of John Brown, said Bernard Fishman, executive director of the Historical Society, during an event held last Thursday at the John Brown House. “Some of the soul of Rhode Island exists in (John Brown’s) house, and it is stained at the root,” he added. It describes how John Brown, a prominent Providence merchant and congressman, not only participated in the African slave trade but protected and defended it. John Brown was brother to Nicholas Brown, the University’s namesake. Although Nicholas was involved in the slave trade, he left it after several debacles. John Brown, however, remained a staunch advocate. Even after slave trading was banned from American ports, he continued to embark on voyages and became the first American to go to trial for disobeying this law. The booklet also illustrates the prominence of slavery in Rhode Island. Most of the goods Rhode Island traded in the South and West Indies were grown by slaves on plantations in southern Rhode Island. Even abolitionists were forced to use products somehow tainted by slavery. Moses Brown, brother to John and Nicholas see BOOK, page 9

SUMMER STORIES: A CONTINUING SERIES

Brown students help enthrone a king BY HANNAH BASCOM

Nimisha Parikh ’04 and Mia Locks ’05 may be the only Brown students who can claim to have planned a royal enthronement ceremony this summer. Their journey began last spring when they heard about two internships with the Royal Bafokeng Nation in South Africa through the Watson Institute for International Studies. Princess Tirelo Molotlegi, sister of King Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi, who was enthroned as the 36th Bafokeng king on Aug. 16, requested help planning the ceremony and offered two internships through Dr. Susan Cook, visiting assistant professor of research at the Watson Institute and a personal consultant for King Molotlegi. Parikh and Locks were accepted for the positions and departed for South Africa in mid-June. Upon arriving in Johannesburg, the girls were immediately given the royal treatment when they were picked up at the airport by their own driver. After a two-and-a-half hour drive to Phokeng, the largest city in the Bafokeng region, they arrived at the King’s home. “People think kings live in a palace,” Parikh said, “but it’s not. It’s a really nice suburban house.” The royal estate did come complete with a helicopter pad, a gas station and other necessities for the monarch’s political and personal life. Parikh and Locks also had their own 15-bedroom house to themselves. Parikh and Locks took over two months before the enthronement ceremony working with members of the royal family to coordinate the event and gala dinner afterwards. “We did anything and everything,” Parikh said. “We would work 11-hour days doing everything from organizing

Photo courtesy Watson Institute

Mia Locks ’05 and Nimisha Parikh ’04 helped plan an enthronement ceremony in South Africa through an internship with King Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi, also pictured. the décor to inviting VIP guests to speech writing to taste testing food.” Much of the event was planned to stimulate the local economy. Villages, which were each required to sacrifice something to the cause, contributed most of the food at the event. Other food was purchased from local suppliers. Companies hired from Johannesburg worked with local laborers and used locals as interns. “The King wanted to do more than put people to work doing paperwork,” Locks said. “He was interested in a skills transfer program. Companies really taught skills that allowed the people to be upwardly mobile.”

The event, attended by 20,000 people, was the first enthronement ceremony to take place in the Bafokeng Nation in 50 years. During the enthronement celebration, which drew international media attention, a Yale University a capella group performed and 1,000 schoolchildren presented the history of the nation. The nation held the lavish event in part to draw investors to the tribe and work toward self-sufficiency, Parikh said. Besides coordinating the enthronement, Parikh and Locks spent time in see PROFILE, page 5

PAGE 4 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2003

TFA continued from page 1 sources,” she said. Future recruits might not get the educational funding. “Without funding for the educational grants, we’re going to miss out on a lot of people who can’t afford to teach for two years,” Jonas Chartock, executive director of Teach for America Houston, told the Houston Chronicle. An told The Herald that Teach for America officials are looking into “loan forgiveness and forbearance” to continue funding the educational grants. Mars Gunja ’03 is currently teaching life sciences at Prescott Middle School in Baton Rouge, La. “The fact that AmeriCorps

dropped (Teach for America) is a bit surprising, but does not have much effect, if any at all, on the morale and mission of current corps members,” Gunja wrote in an e-mail. The government “has proved itself again to be untrustworthy in its commitments,” but he wrote the effect on the program would be minimal. “People only do this because they believe in the mission,” he wrote, but noted that scholarship money is probably a consideration for lowerincome applicants. Stephen Goldsmith, chair of the Corporation for National and Community Service, told Time magazine he was not pleased his organization defunded Teach for America. “We’ll try to get this rectified in the 2004 budget year or before,” he told the magazine. Sandy Scott, a spokeswoman for the Corporation for National and Community Service, told the Houston Chronicle, “We wish we were able to support many other organizations, but we can’t because we are maximizing enrollment given our budget.” “Teach for America’s dilemma is one of the most dramatic examples of the unhappy state of the Corporation for National and Community Service,” Elizabeth

Hollander, executive director of Campus Compact, told The Herald. Campus Compact is a coalition located at Brown, of over 900 college and university presidents committed to the civic purposes of higher education. Hollander said hundreds of AmeriCorps supporters are in Washington, D.C., this week, giving testimony in hopes of securing emergency funding for AmeriCorps’ overall $200 million shortfall caused by the Corporation for National and Community Service’s mismanagement. In addition to lacking funding for Teach for America’s education stipend, the corporation may be unable to fund 20,000 of 50,000 AmeriCorps positions, she said. The U.S. Senate has voted to appropriate $100 million to help support AmeriCorps, but the U.S. House of Representatives has not. Some representatives are opposed to AmeriCorps itself, saying the government shouldn’t pay people to serve, but its supporters say that without the small amount of support AmeriCorps provides — a $4,725 education award and annual living allowance of $9,300 — only the well-off could afford to volunteer. More than 190 college and university presidents, including President Ruth Simmons, signed a July 14 letter to President Bush requesting he support a $200 million emergency funding to AmeriCorps. That is the amount needed to “ensure that 50,000 AmeriCorps positions — the same number as in previous years,” remain, according to the letter. “The bad side of this is good programs are being badly hurt,” Hollander said. “The good side is that the service movement has gotten organized politically more than I’ve ever seen before,” she said. Herald staff writer Julian Leichty ’06 can be reached at jleichty@browndailyherald.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2003 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD PAGE 5

Profile

CIS

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the community promoting the ceremony and doing volunteer work. “We went to high schools and gave motivational speeches to not only promote the enthronement ceremony but also to promote education and community involvement,” Parikh said. They also visited AIDS orphanages and squatters’ camps. Parikh said visiting the shantytowns was “emotionally draining and mentally challenging,” due to the profound level of poverty and high incidence of AIDS in those communities. “We would do community work (in the squatters’ camps), go back to our place and try to digest everything while trying to work,” she said. “We had to figure out what tablecloths to use, had millions of dollars to fund this event, but on the other hand you’re pulled to people who don’t have food on their table. How do you justify it?”

affordable, Usas said. With Internet outages reduced to “sporadic” individual cases, which is the normal level, Usas said he was glad the problems did not spread further. “With patience, we were able to get through a pretty tough period,” he said. When students moved back into dorms, the new myConnection system allowed CIS to block over 800 problematic computers from the network,

Herald staff writer Hannah Bascom ’05 can be reached at hbascom@browndailyherald.com.

UCS continued from page 1 The new schedule of the Bear’s Lair was also announced. It will now be open Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to midnight, Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to midnight. UCS also hopes to improve disability services available throughout the University. Kurji outlined a plan to make all build-

Usas said. The blocked computers were either infected with or vulnerable to the worms responsible for two network shutdowns that occurred on Aug. 26, he said. Forty computers still harboring either the Blaster or Welchia worms are currently blocked from the network, Usas said. CIS Help Desk members are tracking down those machines to disinfect them. Herald staff writer Jonathan Ellis ’06 covers technology at Brown. He can be reached at jellis@browndailyherald.com.

ings handicapped accessible, pointing out that even the first UCS meeting was inaccessible to handicapped students. Plans to improve UCS’s visibility and connection to the community received much support. UCS members touted their past successes, including the installation of e-mail kiosks across campus. UCS plans to improve relations with the student body through a two-pronged effort: contacting the presidents and leaders of student organizations and meeting students in the residential and dining halls.

Thayer continued from page 1 notice the new and improved Thayer. “The only thing new about Thayer that I’ve seen is the new tanning place,” said Ragan Kenner ’04. “Thayer could be cleaner.” Dinerman said improvements of a larger scale would take place in the near future. She said proposals included the removal of utility poles, garbage can renewal, new planters (placed on a higher level to lessen littering), a standardized logo throughout the street, new signage and new parking areas. “Small things, however, go a long way,” she said. Herald senior staff writer Monique Meneses ’05 can be reached at mmeneses@browndailyherald.com.

hi smooha

Sara Perkins / Herald

The revitalization effort hopes to brings new business to Thayer Street.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2003 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD PAGE 7

Troy continued from page 12 dated, the New York Post might implode. With just two TDs, Shockey is the most over-hyped loudmouth since the “Round Mound of Rebound.” Kurt Warner will return to form, remembering he is a real quarterback, not a bag-boy dressed as a quarterback for Halloween, and lead St. Louis to a crucial early-season road win. BUFFALO (-1) over the Patriots — After starting last season O-for-the-Patriots, I have still not learned anything. If you combined the best attributes from all of the RB’s on the New England roster it would barely result in a quality NFL running back. Furthermore, releasing captain Lawyer Milloy was like sprinkling blood in the water before swimming with sharks. Plus, nothing will motivate Drew Bledsoe like the opportunity to show-up his former team, while wearing the Super Bowl ring he essentially stole from them. STEELERS (-5.5) over the Ravens — When examining the Ravens, I just have to wonder whether Brian Billick bothers to learn the name of his starting QB, since he will probably have him on the bench by the time kickoff lands. Clearly, releasing Trent Dilfer seems like a smart move in retrospect. With the Baltimore offensive being generously labeled as limited, if Tommy “XFL Relic” Maddox can reach the end zone twice that should be enough to guarantee victory. PANTHERS (-4) over the Jaguars — It is never a good sign when a team calls a press conference and the media is not sure whether it is to announce the team’s captain has been traded or will remain the starting quarterback. Mark Brunnell may want to head to Jacksonville’s Career Services to start preparing that resume. As for Carolina, Julius Peppers can start a new iron man-streak for games played without testing

positive for steroids. If he reaches 12 games, he gets a “Skip a Drug Test” card. DOLPHINS (-14) over the Texans — David Carr was sacked more times last season then Jenna Jameson — I counted when watching her “E! True Hollywood Story” — and to help him the Texans drafted two QB’s. One of the two, Drew Henson, may actually be even better then Carr. Carr was further rewarded by getting to play the AFC Pro Bowl defense, a.k.a. the Dolphins, in Week One. Fourteen points is a large spread but Ricky Williams has had almost eight months to dwell on the fact the closest he came to the playoffs last year was talking to Mike Ditka on the phone about the ’85 Bears. Colts (+1.5) over the BROWNS — The “Help Wanted” sign up in Cleveland is for anyone to come and play linebacker. With the money they are paying Tim Couch to sit on the bench, maybe they ought to try lining him up in the middle of the D. This game will test my faith in Peyton Manning becoming a Hall of Fame quarterback. He has the best receiver in the game and one of the best running backs, and if they don’t start winning more, maybe he should switch with Eli and lead Ole Miss where there is less pressure. Broncos (-6) over the BENGALS (LOCK OF THE WEEK) — Cincinnati had its best off-season since the end of the Cold War, but they are still the team that excels at finding a new way to lose each week. They will be better, but the playoffs are still a few years down the road. An interesting side bet would be which will take longer, the rebuilding of the Bengals or the rebuilding of Iraq? Denver, on the other hand, will put its fate in the hands of Cardinal reject Jake Plummer. Watch out for Ashley Lelie to become serious TD threat with “The Snake” throwing to him. LIONS (-4) over the Cardinals — First, I dedicate this part of

Do you want to run a

$1 million corporation? You can. The Brown Daily Herald email jwolosky@ browndailyherald.com

see TROY 2, page 9

PAGE 8 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2003

Football continued from page 12 SUVs. Though he is not isolated from the student population entirely, it yet is good for the semiprofessional athlete to be treated as an extraordinary human being entitled to perquisites not normally available to pencil-necked geeks. That’s where the school president comes in. Coach’s list goes on to F) Arrange the annual fall cookout at the university president’s estate, making sure he has enough four-wheelers for players to use. Ha, and you thought big-time athletics was about X’s and O’s. And now we come to those allimportant academics. Coach is involved even in that aspect of semiprofessional life. He must… G) Prepare a syllabus for my Coaching Theory class, which meets once a semester — if it isn’t raining — and find a replacement class for the kids who were scheduled to take Welding 101. Coach’s university president wimped out on the Welding 101 class. He excised it from the school curriculum because of the St. Bonaventure incident. The Bonnies’ president lost his job when it was revealed that the school admitted a player on the basis of junior college academic records that included a welding certificate. “But not to worry,” Coach says. “We’ve still got Shop 100 and Advanced Shop 101. Shop is where they teach you to make a chair. Advanced Shop is where you learn to paint it.” Such arrangements might suggest our great universities cut corners in favor of athletics over academics. They might suggest the tail wags the dog. They might even suggest that great universities have lost sight of their purpose. Ha. Coach reminds us that sports is the university’s purpose.

People who consider hypocrisy unpleasant might not like the 21st century world of college sports. It’s the most visible aspect of the school. Every Saturday, there are 100,000 painted-face people with season tickets making fools of themselves for Hummer H2 State U. Compare that, he says, with the number of people who pony up big bucks to watch geeks peer into microscopes. See? People who consider hypocrisy unpleasant might not like the 21st century world of college sports. But it’s the world that is. It sure keeps Coach busy: “So much to do in this profession and so little time.” At that moment, for instance, Coach had to run. “Got a strategic-planning meeting with my staff. No, not game plans. We’re working up a list of things that could go horribly wrong. Shootings, stabbings, drug busts, rapes, NCAA cops coming to town, athletic directors and presidents throwing you under the train, strippers ordering one of everything off the room service menu. “For all that, we need to be prepared with a long list of coaches’ alibis. Dave Bliss, Rick Neuheisel, Mike Price, Jim Harrick and Jim Harrick Jr. will be our guest lecturers. Tomorrow’s meeting is on staff relations. Nolan Richardson III will moderate.” Here I ask Coach if he might invite Larry Eustachy, another man who had recent experience with the problems that come up in the modern game. “Yes,” Coach says, “we’ve watched Larry for years now. And we’ve asked him to speak to our staff on warming down with coeds after road games. I’ll take notes for you.”

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2003 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD PAGE 9

Troy 2

Oakland kept its geriatric squad intact and

continued from page 7

the biggest concerns for this team are gout

the column to all those individuals who are stuck with this as their regional game. The only areas of interest are seeing the debut of Charles Rogers and the possibility of Arizona being dropped down to the NCAA with Oklahoma moving up, a la the Premier League. Between the Lions last season, the Red Wings’ early playoff exit and the Tigers this season, a loss here could put the city of Detroit on suicide watch. PACKERS (-5.5) over the Vikings — Fortunately this game is not in Minnesota, otherwise Brett Favre would feel obligated to under-perform and lose to a less talented team. While Green Bay should win, the Vikings will be better. It is almost impossible for Daunte to match his 30-plus turnovers and Randy Moss has promised to try on 75 percent of the plays this year. CHIEFS (-5.5) over the Chargers — Sports Illustrated picked the Chiefs to go to the Super Bowl and while it would be great to see Dick Vermeil cry again, I don’t see that in their future. Still, Priest Holmes is doing more than anyone else to restore faith in the Catholic Church and leading his team to an opening week win would definitely help the cause. As a side note, David Boston now officially weighs a metric ton and to clear up any confusion, he is brought to the games in a horse trailer, and he is not the “horse trailer player of the game.” Falcons (+2) over the COWBOYS — The Dallas off-season has been filled with intrigue. Who will Parcells start at QB? Who will replace Emmitt? Has Jerry Jones already been embalmed? Is Parcells actually a homosexual? As the regular season starts, only some of these questions have been answered and the team is still mediocre. But like seniors with freshmen, he lives by a three-year plan and I have total faith that in 2005 the Cowboys will be contenders. (Note: I refuse to acknowledge the Vick injury; it is still too painful.) SEAHAWKS (-3) over the Saints — I am picking Seattle to go to the playoffs based on the “They have talent, so they should be good” theory, made famous by New York Mets’ fans for the past five years. With Mike Holmgren coaching, Matt Hasselbeck throwing, Shaun Alexander running and Koren Robinson receiving, the defense might not need to stop anyone, instead just slow them down from scoring too quickly. By the same theory, New Orleans should be decent as well, only

and the timeliness of social security checks. The “Silver and Black” won in the AFC Championship Game last year and this Sunday should be no different. hampered by the temptations of Bourbon Street. 49ERS (-7) over the Bears — With Mariucci back in Michigan, San Francisco fans can be happy to know that Terrell Owens will now be more active in coaching the team. His first act will be to make celebration practice mandatory. Even with an injured back, Jeff Garcia equals two Kordell Stewarts and with Chicago remaining away from Soldiers’ Field for another game, San Fran should coast. Raiders (+3) over the TITANS — People talk about an East Coast media bias, but after reading some predictions, I believe there is a Tennessee bias. The Titans added free agents with less talent than Keanu Reeves, they play a tougher schedule than last year and are still a “Music City Miracle” away from being a perennial underachiev-

Book continued from page 3 and avid abolitionist, invested in a textile factory that used cotton grown by slaves, according to the booklet. In 1755, about 11.5 percent of Rhode Island’s population was black, most of which were slaves. Large farms developed due to the rich soil and temperate climate, creating a demand for slaves. Mayor David Cicilline ’83 said the project “represents a new

er. Moreover, Oakland kept its geriatric squad intact and the biggest concerns for this team are gout and the timeliness of social security checks. The “Silver and Black” won in the AFC Championship Game last year and this Sunday should be no different. Buccaneers (+3) over the EAGLES — To top her MTV VMA kiss with Madonna and her role in the NFL’s kickoff special today, Britney will also head to Philly for the first Monday Night Football game of the year and will make out with John Madden and Al Michaels. As for the game, Tampa is the defending champ and until they are knocked off, I will stick with them. Joshua Troy ’04 hails from Stamford, Conn., and is a political science concentrator.

city,” one that is “inclusive, thoughtful, honest.” He said he hoped “fewer people will be ignorant about this history after this project.” Diane Johnson, first vice president of the Historical Society, said that through the project “we will all learn more, we will become enriched as individuals and therefore enriched as a community.” Herald staff writer Dana Ayoub ’05 can be reached at dayoub@browndailyherald.com.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

EDITORIAL/LETTERS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2003 · PAGE 10 S T A F F

E D I T O R I A L

Stay focused At the semester’s first Undergraduate Council of Students meeting last night, UCS President Rahim Kurji ’05 outlined a familiar plan — to make the council more efficient this time around. Student government officials have touted this goal for years, but it’s hard to reign in an organization populated mainly by idealists. Last year’s Council made some headway. Instead of pontificating endlessly about racism, classism, sexism and other social ills, members did what student government should do: focus on short-term projects that can tangibly affect the quality of student life. Over the year, the Council secured the future installation of campus e-mail kiosks, installed additional free weights at the Bear’s Lair and created a list of underrepresented high schools for the Office of Admission. It’s now up to Kurji and other members of the Council to

SHANE WILKERSON

keep the organization focused. To be an effective student government, UCS must often sacrifice loftier, unworkable aspirations for more realistic ones.

LETTERS

When Kurji ran for president last semester, he said he would chart concrete goals for UCS, while remaining committed to issues of equality and social justice. It’s now time to begin following through on some of those plans, which included 24-hour study spaces and snack bars, increased handicapped access across campus, additional computer clusters and e-mail kiosks and a program in which students could use meal credits at any time of the day. But abstract goals outlined by Kurji, such as fostering “meaningful dialogue” on campus, should not eclipse more practical initiatives. Battles for idealistic causes should be fought — just not completely by UCS.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD EDITORIAL Elena Lesley, Editor-in-Chief Brian Baskin, Executive Editor Zachary Frechette, Executive Editor Kerry Miller, Executive Editor Kavita Mishra, Senior Editor Rachel Aviv, Arts & Culture Editor Jen Sopchockchai, Asst. Arts & Culture Editor Carla Blumenkranz, Campus Watch Editor Juliette Wallack, Metro Editor Philissa Cramer, RISD News Editor Jonathan Skolnick, Opinions Editor Jonathan Meachin, Sports Editor Maggie Haskins, Sports Editor PRODUCTION Zachary Frechette, Chief Technology Officer Ilena Frangista, Listings Editor Marc Debush, Copy Desk Chief Grace Farris, Graphics Editor Andrew Sheets, Graphics Editor Sara Perkins, Photo Editor

BUSINESS Jamie Wolosky, General Manager Joe Laganas, Executive Manager Lawrence Hester, Senior Accounts Manager Bill Louis, Senior Accounts Manager Joshua Miller, Senior Accounts Manager Midori Asaka, National Accounts Manager David Zehngut, National Accounts Manager Anastasia Ali, Local Accounts Manager Elias Roman, Local Accounts Manager Peter Schermerhorn, Local Accounts Manager Jack Carrere, Noncomm Accounts Manager Laurie-Ann Paliotti, Sr. Advertising Rep. Elyse Major, Advertising Rep. Kate Sparaco, Office Manager P O S T- M A G A Z I N E Alex Carnevale, Editor-in-Chief Dan Poulson, Executive Editor Morgan Clendaniel, Senior Editor Theo Schell-Lambert, Senior Editor Doug Fretty, Film Editor Jason Ng, Music Editor Colin Hartnett, Design Editor

O pinions

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

OPINIONS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2003 · PAGE 11

Now that’s entertainment The slow erosion of democracy in America THIS EVENING, WHILE PLAYING POKER to make between equality and security in my Grad Center suite with a deck of when dangerous mutants walk among official Iraq’s Most Wanted Playing cards Americans in “X-Men 2.” Witness not one, but two tortured Alexanders and talking about the (Leonardo DiCaprio and Colin upcoming release of two BARRON Farrell) conquering Iraq with films about Alexander The YOUNGSMITH blitzkrieg speed and remaking Great, I was simultaneously the Middle East in their mulling over a recent Herald GUEST COLUMNIST Western image. Witness opinion column about how “Terminator 3’s” thematic Californian democracy is best served by an election that is “more assertion that the coming reign of thouentertaining and accessible to the public sands of marching, robotic Arnold than a Broadway show” and ruminating Schwarzenneggers across first California about how the ancient Romans used to and then the rest of the nation is as mix war, elections and entertainment – inevitable as the relentless march of time all while stacking the deck in my favor itself. Secondly, if you want to draw parallels against my suitemates – but I realized all of these things are, if not intimately relat- between my poker strategy and the global ed, able to touch on a few important game Karl Rove (who is not completely in charge of all Republicans in the country, points about today’s world. Firstly, pop entertainment mirrors our but is more able to decide strategy than I national subconscious. The 1980s pro- am) is playing – then you only need to duced a slew of films about lone warriors look to the language pundits all across the fighting against faceless machines, inner country are using: Bush’s trump card is city gangs and Gotham-City like urban national security, Bill Simon finally deciddecay (representing in the real world chic ed to fold, Rove wishes he could bet on a ‘rugged individuals’ fighting the common final round against Howard Dean, etc. These are all idioms commonly used to fears of, respectively, out of control apocalyptic Cold War technology, inner city describe nonviolent conflicts, but I’d like gangs and Gotham-city like urban decay). to draw your attention to an important Today, we’ve returned to epic films about element of the Republican ‘poker’ strateconquerors and superheroes – witness gy as of late: The deck is being stacked. the disquieting choice the President has Through loopholes and legal means, of course, the system is edging towards Rove’s vision of a lasting Republican majority. Barron Youngsmith ’06 is sometimes forConsider the following situations: Bill getful when it comes to responsibility.

Republicans have exploited the naïve and bubbly character of California’s twisted electoral system like Kobe Bryant on a first-year from Stanford. Clinton’s impeachment in 1998 was motivated almost solely by partisanship, though it was somewhat grounded in a legal claim of perjury. In the 2000 election, the final Supreme Court decision was split along partisan lines. Even though a recount would not have yielded enough votes to swing Florida into the ‘blue,’ nobody can deny the political nature of the situation and the verdict, nor the potentially non-democratic ramifications of the Court having say in an election. In 2003, Texas legislators actually packed up and left the state to live in a motel over the border in order to oppose the Republican redistricting plan that would create a safely Republican Congressional district, thus tipping the scales in Congress further towards the right. Once again, while this is totally legal, gerrymandering is a subtle threat to balanced democracy. Most obviously and recently, Republicans have exploited the naïve and bubbly character of California’s twisted electoral system like Kobe Bryant

on a first-year from Stanford. While it is totally legal and incredibly popular, most people one talks to will concede there is a slightly embarrassing, guilty feeling that comes with the knowledge that the Recall Initiative is gently at odds with the democratic ideal of elected officials serving terms when chosen for office by the public. All of this amounts to a situation where one must be incredibly wary of the guy dealing the Iraq Playing Cards. Sure, the public has often blown off these incidents as just more strange hands in a crazy game of poker – but the stakes are serious enough to merit a good look at the methods behind the madness. This may not add up to a degeneration of democracy on the order of the Roman republic sliding into the role of a voterless, imperial conquering machine, guided by muscular men in togas bearing fasces, but then again I think I saw a movie about that once and it was pretty entertaining. On a side note, I’d recommend to anyone Arnold Schwarzennegger’s 1970 film debut, “Hercules in New York.”

When satisfactory work doesn’t get credit An English concentrator stops doing all the reading, but that’s not why she’s not getting respect “Is that your only concentration?” I’M GLAD THAT I’M OFF MEAL PLAN Maybe it was a standard follow-up this year. Not only do I anticipate saving money by purchasing veggie burgers and question. Maybe if I had said I was majorcooking them myself instead of paying ing in physics he might still have wonsomeone else to cook them for me, but dered if I had a second major. One night during our sophomore now I don’t have to be obsessed with “meal credit.” I wouldn’t say I stressed about it for spring, my roommate was searching for a class to fill some type of the past three years, but it was humanities requirement for something that was always in CECILIA KIELY her biomedical engineering the back of my mind. It was concentration. Looking up actually the only part of that GUEST COLUMNIST from her course book, she vague list of obligations I ever turned to me and asked, “Is followed through on: I should Geo 5 a humanities class?” do my work, I should work out, I should go to Jo’s and spend my $3.65. If I Being a college student, the first thing I did wasn’t taking advantage of all the academ- when I was finished making fun of her was ic opportunities available to me here at put this quote up on my AIM profile. Then, Brown, I might as well be getting the most because I’m a Brown student, I deconstructed the statement to figure out exactout of my meal plan. Now one reason I’ve felt like I am not ly why I thought it was funny and what making the most of my education is that I attitudes it conveyed. First, geology is never go to office hours and I only sit in clearly a science (the department even has the front of the class when I take classes the unambiguous official title of “geologiwith my overachieving (or visually cal sciences”). We’re not talking about psyimpaired) friends. But the other reason I chology or linguistics, disciplines that feel as though I am not getting the most straddle the line. Unless it was a class out of my education is that I feel like a called “How We Feel about Rocks” or “Lava slacker. I do all of my work (OK, I do all my through Literature,” I can’t see how one written work). But I’m an English major. could even wonder about whether “Mars, Sophomore year I was interviewed for a Moon and the Earth” qualified as a random phone survey about housing. The humanities class. But Geo 5 has potential interviewer asked some background ques- for being mistakenly classified because it tions— year, dorm, concentration: is commonly considered a gut, and I have found that many people operate under the “English.” assumption that humanities classes are inherently less difficult than science courses. Cecilia Kiely ‘04 doesn’t even take politiObviously I don’t see the humanities = cal science classes. This is her first coleasy equation like many of my fellow stuumn for The Herald.

I have internalized this idea that humanities classes are easier than science classes, and this is why I have come to identify as a slacker. dents, but I have internalized this idea that humanities classes are easier than science classes, and this is why I have come to identify as a slacker. As a biology major you have options. You can be the genius — you work in labs and win awards from foundations. Or you can be the hard worker, an image you can project simply by complaining about your orgo exams and walking around with your heavy books. But if you are an English major you have to be the genius. You must be a brilliant writer and “dress like an English major” (don’t ask me how, I’ve been told that I don’t) and read good books. So if you don’t fancy yourself a brilliant writer, you embrace the role of slacker (although you may still feel like using words like “fancy” as verbs because you think it’s funny, although you hesitate to say it’s ironic because while you thought you understood irony in high school English class, college has made you feel like your grasp on the concept is inadequate and you avoid identifying anything as “ironic” for fear of being ridiculed like Alanis Morissette). It’s easier to play into the idea that you never have any work because the idea of a hard-working English concentrator just seems sad.

And this translates into the common perception that a humanities degree is less useful/valuable than one in chemistry or computer science. Answering the Question (“What’s your major?”) guarantees a history or English major a worried glance and everyone’s favorite follow-up question: “So, what are you going to do with that?” Apparently my only option is becoming a teacher (because a large majority of people have never considered that one might use an English degree to become a writer, I am not surprised that they have also never considered that I might do any number of things that may or may not be directly related to the study of literature). I have decided I want to be that person who writes the blurbs on the back of cereal boxes, soy milk cartons, potato chip bags. “Our products contain only the finest ingredients.” Those ingredients will probably include things like “natamycin” and maybe if I took more science classes I’d know what that was and how it “protects flavor,” but then I would probably want to stop eating veggie burgers, or at least go back to paying someone to take the veggie burger out of the box for me.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

SPORTS THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2003 · PAGE 12

Looking ahead to NFL Week 1 THE KICKOFF OF THE NFL SEASON tonight also marks the return of my football picks’ column. Coming off last season when I went 107-97-3 and 10-4 with my “locks of the week,” including a run of eight straight, I only had to release one assistant sports editor because of salary cap constraints. Foregoing the usual pre-picks rant, here are some Super Bowl, MVP and rookie predictions. AFC East: JOSHUA TROY Miami Dolphins, WIDE RIGHT New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals AFC South: Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans AFC West: Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers Wild Card Teams: Patriots, Bills Conference Championship Game: Dolphins vs. Colts AFC Champion: Dolphins NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys NFC North: Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers NFC West: St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals Wild Card Teams: Falcons, Seahawks Conference Championship Game: Rams vs. Buccaneers NFC Champion: Rams Super Bowl Champions: Rams Offensive MVP: Ricky Williams Defensive MVP: Ray Lewis Offensive Rookie of the Year: Charles Rogers Defensive Rookie of the Year: Terrell Suggs Coach of the Year: Dave Wannstedt These picks have been made against the Skybook odds and as always are for recreational purposes only. As all true sports fans recognize, only flipping a coin can accurately predict the winner every time. (Home team in CAPS.) Last Season — 107-97-3 Jets (+3) over the REDSKINS — Dan Snyder did his best “Pirates of the Caribbean” impression this off-season, pillaging anything available from the Jets, including John Hall, Laveranues Coles, Chad Morton, the guy who does the pre-game introductions and Ken O’Brien’s first born child. Consequently, even with the loss of Chad Pennington, this is a game New York will be pumped up to play. Washington will finish the year with a better record, but Air Spurrier will take a few weeks to get off the ground and the Jets need to win at least one game before losing 15 straight. Rams (+1) over the GIANTS — The only people getting more press right now than Jeremy Shockey are Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, and neither of them seems to really deserve it. If all three ever see TROY, page 7

Photo courtesy Brown Sailing

Captain Joshua Jackson ’04 and Tee Suraphongchai ’04 will lead the Brown sailing team with high expectations for the fall season after a strong showing at Nationals.

Success at Nationals bodes well for sailing BY WARD YOUNG

Despite a late start due to ice on Narragansett Bay well into February, the Brown sailing team ended its most impressive season to date. Heading into Nationals at Detroit as favorites, the women finished an impressive seventh out of 18 teams from across the country, despite some setbacks and frustrating wind conditions. The coed team, consistently ranked in the top ten, ended the season at ninth. By Nationals in late May the women were ranked in the top three of the country and vying for the top spot. In April, Brown hosted 18 teams for the New England Women’s Championship out of Edgewood Yacht Club. The women flourished at their home venue and sailed to victory with a comfortable 35-point lead over No. 3 Yale and 17 points over No. 2 Harvard. All-American Whitney Besse ’03 finished third in A division, with crews Jessica Malkin ’05 and Christina Starr ’06, and All-American Emma Lichtenstein ’03 finished first in B division with crews Louise Sherman ’05 and Marisa Ihara ’03, who also received AllAmerican honors. At Nationals, Anne Davidson ’05 and Kate Henderson ’05 also sailed for the women. The coed Bears fared well at the New England Dinghy Championship, hosted by MIT and Harvard, where they finished fifth in a very competitive 17-team fleet. All-American Chris Ashley ’04 and AllAmerican Crew Alison Berenback ’04 sailed well and finished sixth in A division, while Besse and Malkin finished fifth in B division. With help from a very supportive mascot, it was the first time Interested in writing for the sports section? Want to cover a Brown sports team, write a weekly column or feature? Come to the Brown Daily Herald Open House Sunday at 6 PM or e-mail sports@browndailyherald.com

the Brown coed team qualified for nationals in several years. Coed Nationals presented several challenges for the sailors, including strong currents and highly variable wind conditions. The Bears responded with consistent performances throughout the regatta to finish ninth in the country. Ashley and Berenback sailed to a seventh-place finish in A division. The Bears finished 11th in B division thanks to the

efforts of Besse, Malkin, Ihara, Starr and Patrick Rynne ’05. “It was great to watch our team come together and succeed the way it did at the end of the season,” said Avi Robbins ’04.5. “The team worked hard to get to nationals and none of us could have done it on our own.” Ward Young ’05 is a member of the sailing team.

Faking higher education (The Sporting News) — It’s football sea-

son again. So we’re waiting for Maurice Clarett to suit up. At this moment, the young running back is using his down time to restock his CD tray and ask directions to an Ohio State classroom, any classroom, preferably a classroom in which classwork is not necessarily done all by your lonesome. Clarett is a great one, of course, and for the great ones great amounts of slack are cut. Soon he will resume his professional career. (Oops, wait a second. My bad. Pros get money, not CDs, SUVs and grades.) He may become the first semipro player ever to win the Heisman Trophy in six games. After all, as we’ve learned from Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA’s Mavericks, superstars who get sideways with the law are so appealing to the sucker-aminute class as to be “great” for business and, it follows, irresistible to Heisman voters. Anyway, with the sound of breaking bones again rending the air, I hear from The Coach. “School has begun,” says my friend, long in the business of building character through intercollegiate sports, “and we’re busy with the typical stuff.” As at all institutions of higher learn-

ing in the 21st century, Coach’s laundry list of Things To Do begins with: A) Make sure all of our players have properly registered their firearms with local authorities. B) Find out where the best fraternity/sorority parties will be held — because without an active social life on campus, athletes feel isolated from ordinary students. So Coach begins early to… C) Line up our recruiting visits for the fall, based, naturally, on the nearest/best strip clubs. In this day of $75,000 Hummer H2s in the hands of teen-aged prodigies, not even semiprofessional athletes should be subjected to the shame of being seen (whisper this next word) walking. Part of Coach’s job, then, is to… D) Set up leases with a local car dealer for players who need wheels, with on-board TVs, stereo systems and wet bars optional. Once those wheels have been obtained, Coach… E) Distributes all old equipment and T-shirts, sweatshirts and warmups to the players who drive the roomiest see FOOTBALL, page 8