Tuesday, October 26, 2004 by The Brown Daily Herald

T U E S D A Y OCTOBER 26, 2004

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXXXIX, No. 96

An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891

Econ professor Grossman remembered as passionate academic

Panelists discuss R.I.’s hidden history of slavery BY ANNA ABRAMSON

University Hall was built with slave labor, panelists said in a discussion held Monday night by the University Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice. This and other rarely discussed facts — slaves who worked on the project were “donated” for a certain amount of labor from contributors, the most common point of departure for slave ships was Rhode Island — were the focus of the latest in the series of lectures sponsored by the committee. The event, which almost filled Salomon 001, featured three speakers — Newport Chamber of Commerce Director Keith Stokes, Professor of American Civilization and University Curator Robert Emlen and Rachel Chevrons GS. Chevrons, who is writing a dissertation about the Rhode Island slave trade, pointed to little-known facts and statistics about the role of slavery in the Ocean State. While it is true that Rhode Island “was a smaller player in terms of the slave trade as a whole,” she said, it was actually a prominent part of the American trade. Rhode Island was the most common point of departure for slave ships. This created “intricate links” in both the economy and community, she said, directly or indirectly involving colonists of diverse social statuses and professions. Chevrons concluded by saying that confronting Rhode Island’s role in slavery “may make our historical burden far greater (but that is) one of the keys to moving forward.” Emlen described the racially integrated construction crew that built University Hall, saying that the reality of slave labor in the foundation of the University is “virtually unimaginable to those of us who know Brown in the 21st century.” After the Corporation of what would become Brown University approved the structure, a crew of laborers including whites, slaves and free blacks was assembled. Emlen pointed also to the rarity of historical records that explicitly document slave labor and demonstrated the need to “read between the lines” to assess material and visual documents, such as payment bills and

BY ROBBIE COREY-BOULET

Nick Neely / Herald

Boston Red Sox fans came from East Providence to display their team pride on Thayer Street Monday night. The Red Sox, which lead the best-of-seven World Series 2-0, play the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis tonight.

BTV set to premiere eight new shows ARTS & CULTURE BY SHIYIN WANG

Brown Television is set to air eight new student shows this fall. The season’s schedule will be more full than any in recent years and will include comedies, sports, news, a poker tournament and a drama produced as a Group Independent Study Project. BTV Station Manager Ariana Nobles ’06 said she is excited that BTV could go “back to the old days” when student shows were in abundance, adding that BTV is “trying to go back to a good balance” between movies and shows. “It’s for the students. We want to do things for the University,” Nobles said. Since BTV began showing movies five years ago, the number of shows has dropped. But this semester, a few elaborate student projects will take the spotlight. “Double Blind” is one such ambitious project. The serial, which will follow four undergraduates and one graduate student as they uncover a campus conspiracy, is the product of a GISP called “Episodic Storytelling,” which is running

see PANEL, page 4

this semester. The GISP is cosponsored by the Department of Visual Art and the Department of Theater, Speech and Dance. Erica Meredith ’05 is the leader of the GISP and the show’s producer. Meredith, an MCM concentrator and PLME student, said she would “love to continue in the tradition” of creating dramatic, serious shows like those that appear on commercial television or, in the past, on BTV. The show is a chance to “try things you don’t have the leeway to do in a professional setting,” said Meredith. She sees the show and the GISP as a great opportunity for experience in TV theory, reception, production and management. Meredith and her production crew, WESt TV, plan to have five episodes per semester over the course of the year. The show has been filmed in high definition, and episodes will also be available on the Internet in streaming video. “Double Blind” will air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. starting tonight.

see BTV, page 3

Advertised Ashcroft speech a hoax BY STU WOO

For the record, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is not coming to campus. But someone wanted people to think Ashcroft would be making an appearance, going to such lengths as postering around the Main Green and in campus buildings. According to several signs around campus, Ashcroft would have been speaking in Smith-Buonanno 106 at 6 p.m. today. The signs stated that Ashcroft would be speaking “with a small group of federal, state and local law enforcement officers” about the Patriot Act. But the posters are apparently a hoax. According to Ricky Gresh, director of student activities, there is no indication that Ashcroft is coming. “The (poster) says local and state law enforcement officers would be spoken to,”

but DPS was not contacted, he said. He added that the Secret Service would probably work with DPS to provide security if Ashcroft were actually visiting, but the agency had not contacted DPS. The posters stated that the event was being sponsored by the “Brown Conservative Alliance,” as well as the “P.P.S.O.M.A.” and the “A.F.U.” However, Gresh and leaders of Brown political groups had never heard of the organizations, which are not registered student groups, and no one had reserved SmithBuonanno 106 for that time period. The Brown Conservative Alliance’s phone number on the poster is actually the number of the Transportation Office. The signs said the group would conduct a ticket lottery for the event and requested that students “call our office” to be entered in the lottery. Gresh said the

Transportation Office “had been getting an inordinate amount of calls.” “I’ve never heard of the Brown Conservative Alliance,” said Chris McAuliffe ’05, president of the College Republicans. “If there is a conservative group on campus, I would know who it is.” Gresh directed facilities workers to take down the signs because they violated sign policy, since they were not put up by an existing student group. Kelly Hall ’06, legislative committee chair of the Brown Democrats, said when she first heard that Ashcroft was coming, she was excited and was planning on telling College Democrats to attend the lecture. “I’m always excited by political debate on the campus,” Hall said. “I was excited to question him and debate him and ask him intelligent questions.”

I N S I D E T U E S D AY, O C T O B E R 2 6 , 2 0 0 4 Local candidates gear up for Election Day, conclusion of competitive State Senate race metro, page 3

www.browndailyherald.com

It’s time for excessive partisanship to end, and it’s up to voters to say so, according to Rob Sand ’05.5 column, page 7

Ward 1 City Council Rep. David Segal says State Sen. Rhoda Perry P’91 deserves Brown students’ votes column, page 7

Professor of Economics Herschel Grossman was more than an academic — the avid Brown football fan somehow managed to balance his passion for economics and teaching with his personal interests, according to family members, friends and colleagues. “He was one of the lucky few whose profession was not just a means to earn money,” Grossman’s son Andrew said during Grossman’s memorial service Sunday. “It was his life’s passion.” Grossman died of a heart attack Oct. 9 while attending a conference in Marseilles, France. Those in attendance at the service filled Hillel’s Winnick Chapel to capacity, forcing some to remain outside. At the afternoon service, a range of speakers from Grossman’s personal and professional life described the University of Virginia graduate as both a passionate family man and a dedicated scholar. Many at the service said the portrayal of Grossman’s accomplishments in and outside the field of economics was an accurate picture of a man who led a balanced and full life. Grossman’s son highlighted the passion with which his father approached his role at the University, where he worked as a faculty member since 1964. Grossman also served two stints as department chair, the first lasting from 1982 to 1985 and the second from 1986 to 1991. Grossman’s son also commented on his father’s impact as a parent, saying he “granted me the freedom to make my own decisions.” Grossman had two children and one grandchild. He was previously married to Elizabeth Greenwell Grossman. Herschel Grossman’s second wife, Suzanne, told those gathered that she’d lost her best friend and companion when her husband died. “Herschel’s heart broke, and now mine continues to suffer,” she said. Suzanne Grossman described her husband’s strengths as a companion and life partner, emphasizing the intimate connection they shared during their marriage. She said she most appreciated her husband’s optimistic personality, abundant enthusiasm and sense of humor. “Most of all, I was turned on by how much he liked what I like. We clicked,” she said. “I learned a tiny bit of economics. Moreover, I learned a lot about myself.” On Monday, Andrew Grossman told The Herald that his father didn’t let his career affect his family life. “He was at the office a lot, but he didn’t talk about it that much. He was able to leave his job at the office.” Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Economics Rajiv Vohra P’07 and Professor of Economics Anthony Lancaster talked about Grossman’s role within the economics department, describing him as a tireless

see GROSSMAN, page 4

WEATHER FORECAST W. volleyball splits weekend games; team could place second in league if it wins next two matches sports, page 8

Field hockey defeats Cornell University in difficult Homecoming matchup sports, page 8

TUESDAY

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

THIS MORNING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26 , 2004 · PAGE 2 Coreacracy Eddie Ahn

TO D AY ’ S E V E N TS FUNDING AND FELLOWSHIPS 5-6 p.m. (Rhode Island Hall 116) — A comprehensive info session on funding and fellowship opportunities. Representatives from the Swearer Center, the Resource Center and the Dean of the College Fellowships Office will speak.

SCREENING OF “VOICE FOR CHOICE” 7:45-9:30 p.m. (Morriss Lounge) — A screening of this documentary film about the “March for Choice” and reproductive rights in America. THE RHODE ISLAND MEDIEVAL CIRCLE LECTURE 5:30-7:15 p.m. (Annmary Brown Memorial, 21 Brown St.) — Judith Cohen of York University in Canada will present this lecture and concert on “Iberian Music Connections to the Middle Ages and the Sephardic Diaspora.”The event is co-sponsored by the Program in Medieval Studies, the Department of Hispanic Studies and the Department of History of Art and Architecture.

“THE 2004 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND THE FUTURE OF THE ENVIRONMENT” 7-9 p.m. (Salomon 101) — Eight panelists representing wideranging disciplinary and ideological viewpoints will discuss the implications of a Bush or Kerry administration on the future of the environment.

Hopeless Edwin Chang

Jero Matt Vascellaro

TOMORROW ’S EVENTS RHODE ISLAND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES “CONCERT NO. 1” 8 p.m. (Alumnae Hall) — The Rhode Island Chamber Music Series will present the Czech Nonet, which includes works from Martinu, Ward, Lutoslawski and Dvorak. Tickets will be available at the door, and advance tickets can be obtained by calling 863-2416 or contacting Books on the Square.

How to Get Down Nate Saunders

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Roman love god 5 Rapscallion 10 White as a ghost 14 Bundle on a farm 15 Western author Bret 16 U.S. motto word 17 “I weren’t doin’ nothin’,” e.g. 19 Box-office backup 20 Rogers’s partner 21 End of a bridal path 22 Holmesian phrase 26 Fort where the Civil War began 28 Home of Hammett’s falcon 29 Favorable forecast 30 Animal welfare gp. 31 Boyfriend 35 Not ’neath 36 This puzzle’s theme 39 Woman with a habit 40 Sunset direction 42 Homeowner’s pride 43 Wing: Prefix 45 Fern seed 47 Pleasing scents 48 Conventionless nomination process 52 Running track shapes 53 Early New York natives 56 Indian princess 57 Mid-level army rank 60 Hooked on 61 Sea moss, for one 62 See 58-Down 63 Muchautographed medical item 64 Replay option, briefly 65 Zoomed DOWN 1 Balanced rhyme scheme

2 “Serpico” author Peter 3 Baseball alumni 4 Sailing race 5 Opposite of a hog 6 Skating spin 7 Give weapons to 8 Boston transit syst. 9 In accordance with 10 Soda pop poptop 11 Pop singer Baker 12 Kind of eclipse 13 Manicure abrasive 18 Vampires are late ones, you might say 21 Wee crawler 23 Give authority to 24 City SE of Atlanta 25 Mideast carrier 26 Garbage barge 27 Cinematic beekeeper played by Peter Fonda 30 Like a good knife 32 Other side, collectively

xwordeditor@aol.com

33 Distinctive air 34 Andalusian ones 37 Blood blockage 38 Arranged a release, as from jail 41 “The Waste Land” poet 44 Matadors 46 Windows boxes? 47 Painter Modigliani A V E R

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METRO TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2004 · PAGE 3

State Senate

CAMPAIGN 2 0 0 4

District 3

Independent candidate Perry P’91 campaigns on Fain is ready for a change history, progressive views BY ROBIN STEELE

Barry Fain, a local community leader and co-publisher of East Side Monthly and Providence Monthly, is running as an independent against Democratic incumbent Rhoda Perry for the Rhode Island State Senate seat in District 3, which encompasses most of the East Side of Providence, including the Brown campus. Fain considers himself a social liberal — he is pro-choice and favors gay marriage and other issues on the liberal agenda, adding, “As an ex-hippie, you don’t have to ask my stand on medical marijuana and things like that.” But Fain also considers himself a fiscal moderate. “The danger of being an activist solely in social issues is that increasingly, as a society, we need to find the means to pay for it,” he said. According to Fain, among the biggest issues that need to be addressed are rising per capita tax rates, which are much higher in Rhode Island than in neighboring states. Fain said he is concerned about the difficult environment doctors face because of the high costs of liability insurance. According to Fain, Rhode Island has the sixth-highest tax structure in the nation, which he attributed largely to the pull of unions on issues like pensions and health care. Fain cited the dominance of legislators backed by unions and special interest groups as a cause of rising tax rates. He was also upset that Democrats hold 85 percent of the seats in the state legislature. Regardless of which party holds power, he said, one-party domination leads to insider dealing, arrogance and inaccessibility. Fain said he has “always supported” Perry in previous elections. But Fain said Perry’s votes in favor of construction of a downtown hotel and a casino convinced him to enter the race. “This was a very spontaneous decision,” Fain said. He filed his paperwork just before the June deadline after seeing Perry’s last few votes in the spring. He said the final push came from his 18year-old son, who said, “Well, you’ve been complaining about it and writing about it, and why the hell don’t you do something about it?” Fain, a Providence native, is married to a 1970 Brown alum. His children both attend the University of Pennsylvania, his alma mater. Fain was formerly president of the College Hill Neighborhood Association and is currently the group’s secretary. Fain said he would like to see more financial contributions to the city from tax-exempt institutions like Brown, RISD and Johnson and Wales University. Fain added that he wants to

increase economic development and create new jobs. “We give tax breaks to Brown as a non-profit to educate some of the best and the brightest kids in the country in Providence, so that’s an investment we’re making,” he said. “These very kids, many of whom fall in love with Providence and want to stay here, have to leave because we don’t have any jobs for them.” Fain said his priorities include improving the educational system through teacher testing and regionalization, which would address the fact that 39 cities and towns within Rhode Island each have to negotiate separate union contracts. “I think you have to have some middle-of-the-road people that realize that this is in the best interest of our state, our taxpayers and, most importantly, our children,” Fain said. He argued the importance of property tax reform for Brown students — a decrease in property taxes could potentially decrease the rent of apartments near campus, he said. Fain said Brown students make up what he sees as the wildcard vote. “My horrible fear is that they’re going to vote Kerry, as I am, and then see a woman’s name under state senator as a Democrat and not knowing either one of us, possibly pushing that lever,” said Fain, who said he hopes that students voting locally in next week’s elections will either research this campaign or choose not to vote on the local level. Fain is optimistic about the election. “I think I have an excellent chance to win, which would send shockwaves to the legislature,” he said. “I think there’s a real people’s movement here, which is going to make this a very interesting race.”

BY ERIC BECK

Claiming the need to keep progressives, women and experience in the Rhode Island Senate, Rhoda Perry P’91 hopes Brown students voting in Rhode Island will support her in her reelection bid for State Senate District 3 against independent challenger Barry Fain. “I am a progressive candidate. I see that the State Senate is getting more and more conservative, so we need to keep progressives,” Perry said. Perry has been in the State Senate for seven terms, or 14 years. She said experience is the most significant difference between her and her challenger. “I have performed, and I have a record. The best indicator of future performance is what you have done in the past,” she said. The most important issue on Perry’s platform is health care, which she calls her “forte.” She is a member of the Health and Human Services Committee. Among her recent achievements in health care legislation, she said, is a bill allowing citizens to purchase pharmaceuticals from Canada, where drug costs are often lower than in the United States. She supported the Mental Health Parity Act, which required insurance companies to fund mental health treatment in the same way they pay for physical health care. Prior to the creation of the legislation, patients faced “many problems” with health insurance coverage of mental health services, she said. Perry argued that women need to be included in politics at all levels. Of the 38 State Senate posts, up to seven might be filled by women next term, she said. Women, on average, tend to get involved in politics about 15 years

after men. But they come with more experience in community organizations, she said. Women’s participation in politics is especially important because they “tend to put forth different types of legislation,” she said. She cited her advocacy of the Contraceptive Parity Act, which requires health insurance companies to fund “all federally approved methods of family planning.” “At a time when men could get Viagra (covered by their health insurance), women could not get birth control pills without paying out of pocket,” she said. Perry hopes to continue her record of advancing progressive legislation in the upcoming term. “The care of the elderly is an important priority for me,” she said. She wants to investigate problems of abuse and neglect in nursing homes, she said. Perry, a member of the Judiciary Committee, said she wants to push for a “homicide prevention act,” which did not pass last session on a tied vote because of a strong anti-gun control lobby. The act would require domestic abusers who have a restraining order filed against them to relinquish their guns. Perry legislated Rhode Island’s first gun safety measure, requiring trigger locks on guns. Perry also said that changes are needed to ensure that the “underfunded” Rhode Island Public Transit Authority provides “proper service.” “Public transportation is good

see PERRY, page 4

BTV continued from page 1 The fall season will also see the premiere of three new comedies — “Thayer Street,” “White Brown Friends” and “The Erica and Diana Show.” “Thayer Street” follows two puppets named Steve and Brodie as they play out the lives of first-years. It airs Thursday at 10 p.m. and will continue in that time slot. “White Brown Friends” is a series about four students who point out some of the ridiculous parts of life. The premiere is this week on Wednesday at 9 p.m., and it will continue in that time slot. “The Erica and Diana Show” is a sitcom featuring false accounts of events on campus. Its timeslot has not yet been determined. Nobles said she is excited about the work that went into all the shows. Because of the large amount of editing and filming that is required for series shows, the number of episodes per semester is rarely more than three. This semester will also see the return of “TheBAR,” a live sports commentary show that airs Thursdays at 8 p.m., and “Brown Date,” which pairs up students on blind dates. Also, now that ESPN has finished broadcasting the World Series of Poker, BTV will show one of Brown’s own poker tournaments. “Brown Poker Championship” is scheduled for December. In addition to the shows, BTV will also continue to air feature films — the station buys licenses for eight films a month.

PAGE 4 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2004

Grossman continued from page 1 worker who did much to influence the direction and focus of the department during his 40-year career at Brown. Grossman had “a passion that will be difficult to match,” Vohra said, citing as evidence his influence on the undergraduate curriculum, efforts to promote graduate student research and avid support for the Brown football

team. “He was always pushing us to make sure we kept an eye on keeping standards high,” Vohra said. “He kept us focused.” Part of Grossman’s influence on the economics department stemmed from his impact on the department’s hiring decisions during his time as chairman, Vohra said. Professor of Economics Mark Pitt, one of many faculty members hired during Grossman’s term, called him a very “persuasive” promoter of the department. “He

told me all of the wonders of teaching and researching at Brown,” Pitt said. “He listens well to the interests of others — he was always coming by.” Pitt, who was hired by the department in 1989, added that he remembers Grossman as a “very welcoming guy.” Several of Grossman’s colleagues offered anecdotes that featured Grossman’s practical and efficient approach to his work. Vohra recalled how Grossman stopped by Vohra’s office to notify him that he had been granted tenure by the University. “And before I could say a word, he was gone,” Vohra said, to laughs from the crowd. Others also remembered Grossman as focused and deliberate in many of his endeavors. “You never could bullshit Herschel,” Pitt said. “He always

does his homework.” This approach reflected “a strong and evident commitment to reason and the power of logic,” Lancaster said. “He leaves a huge hole in the department.” Lancaster also highlighted Grossman’s consistently active schedule and enthusiasm for various projects throughout his career, an observation that was nearly ubiquitous among the speakers. “Quite predictably, he found the idea of retirement laughable,” Lancaster said. Andrew Grossman echoed this sentiment. “He was very much involved with his career, and that sometimes seemed to supercede other commitments,” he told The Herald. This high energy level made his death particularly shocking to those who knew and worked with him, Pitt said after the service.

“Herschel had the same strength of mind the last time I saw him as the first time,” he said. Associate Professor of Economics Kaivan Munshi said after the service that he believes Grossman “was probably one of the most influential people in the department.” Grossman, whose work focused on monetary policy, was recognized with a Guggenheim Fellowship, research scholarships and seats on the editorial boards of numerous preeminent journals of economics. Grossman’s family requested that any donations be directed to the Herschel Grossman Fund, a project to promote economics lectures and graduate student research.

Perry

The three components of economic development are “land, labor and capital,” she said. The state legislature has already made many infrastructure improvements to support the first component, but she thinks more needs to be done to improve education and literacy to provide an educated workforce. She lauded the tax credits that have been passed to promote historic preservation efforts. Rhode Island is respected nationwide for its “innovative” support of historic preservation, she said.

Perry was the chair of the Rhode Island Women’s Political Caucus before joining the State Senate. Her mission there was to get women involved in politics by participating in community organizations before running for elected positions. Perry said she has been thrilled by the “wonderful” support her campaign has received from Brown students. She hopes that Brown support will continue on Election Day. “I want their support, and I need their support,” she said.

class in Newport and having “every single kid in that class look at me as if I were the authority” because he is African-American. In his historical work, Stokes said, he has tried to gain knowledge by focusing on the humanity of Africans in the colonies. He said he prefers to analyze the complex lives of individuals and to avoid excessive attention to the slavemaster relation. He said also that he tries to “allow these markers to speak for themselves.” Stokes showed slides of some of the 310 existing African gravestones in Newport as well as prominent buildings built by slave laborers in Newport. Maintaining the importance of preserving the buildings, Stokes also asked, “Shouldn’t we also preserve the memory of the people who made these colonial masterpieces?” He concluded by reiterating the importance of a look into the humanity of Africans that extends beyond their captivity, say-

ing the discussion about the role of slave labor is “not an assignment of guilt, not a controversial discussion, but a celebration” of remarkable lives and their legacies. The diversity of perspectives represented during the questionand-answer period reflected the committee’s desire for open communication — those who responded included a member of the Nation of Islam, a professor at Northern Kentucky University, a teacher in the Providence public school system and a member of the Class of 1955. Delores Walters, assistant professor of sociology, anthropology and philosophy at Northern Kentucky University as well as a research specialist with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, raised questions about relationships between slave masters and women and the unequal roles of slaves in colonial religious life. Stokes responded by pointing out that while sexual relations between masters and slave women occurred, the more common type of interracial relationship was that between blacks and Native Americans. He also confirmed the inequality of Africans in the church, pointing to early practices of segregation in those spaces. Speaking with extreme passion, a member of the Nation of Islam said he thought panel members were downplaying “the pain and suffering that goes with the fabric of slavery.” He said, “If I hadn’t done my own research, I might be wondering: What’s all the hype about?” Stokes responded by saying that he appreciated the personal feeling. He said that he intended to focus on the awe-inspiring stories of slaves’ lives because “it is so invaluable to present the humanity of an oppressed people (and recognize) the extraordinary survival of these lives.” The panel “took me down memory lane,” said Providence resident William Atwater. “They certainly never taught me in school. … I had to do my own digging.”

continued from page 3 economically, socially and environmentally. I don’t think we should dismantle it,” she said. She suggested a change to the fare structure or supplemental funding as ways to improve RIPTA. Perry supported state efforts to reduce income and automobile taxes. She called promoting economic development an important goal.

Panel continued from page 1 gravestones, in order to comprehend what could not be written down. Using slides to demonstrate the process of making inferences, Emlen pointed to clues such as the absence of a worker’s last name or the payment to a white colonist for a black man’s labor as ways of analyzing a practice “so remarkable that it has passed almost unrecorded.” A member of the board of directors of the Newport Historical Society and a national lecturer on early African history in New England, Stokes drew material from his current research and restoration project: “A Visual Remembrance: African Slave Markers in Colonial Newport.” Stokes began his discussion by describing the experience of learning about slavery in his fifth-grade

— With additional reporting by Stephanie Clark

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

EDITORIAL/LETTERS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2004 · PAGE 6 S T A F F

E D I T O R I A L

Perry for State Senate Barry Fain says he is tired of one party controlling the Rhode Island Senate. He says he is tired of legislators beholden to special interests. His independent challenge to incumbent Democrat Rhoda Perry P’91 is good for democracy. But Fain is not the right candidate for Brown students. Fain is a former president and current secretary of the College Hill Neighborhood Association. In an interview with The Herald, he said CHNA is not an anti-Brown organization and added that he loves the University. He also did his best to explain his opposition to the construction of the Life Sciences Building, but his concerns about the project’s ill effects on the neighborhood’s residential atmosphere and the environment are stale. CHNA has indeed established itself as an anti-Brown organization, and Fain’s leadership in that group does little to convince us that he would support the University’s necessary expansion. The challenger also urged students either to research the campaign or not vote in the local race. Informed voting is essential, and an examination of Perry’s record reveals much to like. She has supported issues important to students, including insurance coverage for contraception and a reduction of the automobile tax. While Fain alludes to his support of medical marijuana, Perry has fought for it for years. And far from succumbing to special interests, Perry has stood up to the gun lobby to make our streets safer. Fain is legitimately concerned that disinterested voters will choose Perry simply because they see a woman’s name on the ballot, though we suspect Perry is more likely to earn votes thanks to her Democratic label. It would be a mistake to pick Perry solely on the basis of her gender, but supporting women running for public office is important, especially given that only a quarter of liberal Rhode Island’s senators are female. The independent Fain brings good ideas and great enthusiasm to this race, but he should spend less time attacking Perry, a proven, experienced, progressive legislator. We are not convinced that her recent record reveals a serious favoritism of harmful special interests. We are convinced that Rhoda Perry has Brown students’ best interests at heart.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD EDITORIAL Juliette Wallack, Editor-in-Chief Philissa Cramer, Executive Editor Julia Zuckerman, Executive Editor Jen Sopchockchai, Arts & Culture Editor Leslie Kaufmann, Assistant Arts & Culture Editor Danielle Cerny, Campus Watch Editor Jonathan Ellis, Metro Editor Sara Perkins, News Editor Dana Goldstein, RISD News Editor Alex Carnevale, Opinions Editor Ben Yaster, Opinions Editor Ian Cropp, Sports Editor Christopher Hatfield, Sports Editor Bernie Gordon, Assistant Sports Editor Chris Mahr, Assistant Sports Editor Eric Perlmutter, Assistant Sports Editor PRODUCTION Peter Henderson, Design Editor Amy Ruddle, Copy Desk Chief Melanie Wolfgang, Copy Desk Chief Eddie Ahn, Graphics Editor Judy He, Photo Editor Nick Neely, Photo Editor

BUSINESS Jack Carrere, General Manager Lawrence Hester, General Manager Anastasia Ali, Executive Manager Zoe Ripple, Executive Manager Daniel Goldberg, Senior Financial Officer Mark Goldberg, Senior Financial Officer Ian Halvorsen, Senior Financial Officer Lisa Poon, Marketing Manager Abigail Ronck, Senior Accounts Manager Kathleen Timmins, Senior Accounts Manager Laird Bennion, Senior Project Manager Elias Roman, Senior Project Manager Jungdo Yu, Senior Project Manager Laurie-Ann Paliotti, Sr. Advertising Rep. Susan Dansereau, Office Manager POST- MAGAZINE Ellen Wernecke, Editor-in-Chief Jason Ng, Executive Editor Micah Salkind, Executive Editor Abigail Newman, Theater Editor Josh Cohen, Design Editor Fritz Brantley, Features Editor Jeremy Beck, Film Editor Jonathan C. Liu, Music Editor

NICK SCHADE

LETTERS The value of undergraduate TAs To the Editor:

To the Editor:

In response to “Undergraduate TAs need to go” (Oct. 25): I agree that many undergraduate teaching assistants just don’t cut the mustard, but the problem is not that they are undergraduates teaching the courses. In fact, it is preferable to have an undergraduate who has just completed the class as TAs because, as long as they are decent teachers, undergrads can be more effective than graduate TAs. I’ve even had teachers who were post-docs that were less effective than some undergrad TAs. The fact is that in many of the sciences and in certain math classes, graduate students are not taken on to teach undergraduate students — they are here for research. The solution to this problem exists more in the selection of undergraduate TAs than the eradication of the entire group. I myself was solicited to become a TA for a course for which I would consider myself unfit to serve as a TA. The only requirements to become a TA were that I had taken the course and that I write a small paragraph stating why I should be a TA. In solving the problem of terrible TAs, perhaps filtering out the ones who do not cut it is preferable to removing the entire body of undergraduate TAs.

In response to the column by Benjamin BrightFishbein ’07 regarding undergraduate teaching assistants (“Undergraduate TAs need to go,” Oct. 25): I have both worked as and dealt with undergraduate TAs in the computer science department and have had wonderful results. (I have also had some graduate TAs who were not very good.) I am in my second semester as an undergraduate TA and have found the experience valuable and rewarding. Many courses in the CS department hire large staffs of undergraduate TAs to manage the large amount of administrative work, from grading homework to holding office hours. Hiring undergraduates allows a course to provide more personalized service to students because that course can afford to hire more TAs. Many students, including myself, feel more comfortable approaching peers with simple questions than trekking to a professor’s office hours only to be embarrassed for not understanding the material. Having questions answered by your peers can bolster a student’s confidence and comfort with the material. If students are not feeling challenged by a course and need more advanced instruction, then they should head to the professor’s office hours to hear from someone more experienced. However, Bright-Fishbein is wrong to assume that just because someone is an undergraduate, he or she is not qualified to assist the professor in running the course.

Andrew Miklos ’06 Oct. 25

Bill Pijewski ‘07 Oct. 25

write letters XXII

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OPINIONS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2004 · PAGE 7

Voting progressive in District 3 GUEST COLUMN BY DAVID SEGAL

It is understandable that in this election year, Rhode Island’s activist communities are focused on the outcome of the national election and are focusing their attention and political energies on swing states like Maine, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Rhode Island is the safest state in the union for Democratic presidential candidates, and in 2004, we are without competitive races for the U.S. House or Senate. But this year, as every two years, all of Rhode Island’s State Senate and House seats are up. And this year there is a competitive race for the East Side’s Senate District 3 seat, where Democratic Sen. Rhoda Perry is running for reelection. The campuses of Brown and RISD are central to District 3 — students make up perhaps a third of District 3’s population, and Perry deserves their votes. Perry has served in the State Senate for 14 years, and she is easily the Senate’s most progressive member. Here’s a quick sampling of her various awards and accolades: ACLU Civil Libertarian of the Year (twice), Planned Parenthood Community Service Award, 2003 Providence Preservation Society Public Policy Award, R.I. Public Health Association Award, AIDS Leadership Award and National Association of Social Workers’ Legislator of the Year. She’s endorsed by the Progressive Leadership Fund, Rhode Island NOW, Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island, United Nurses and Allied Professionals, Clean Water Action and the Sierra Club. Perry has worked hard and been vocal about these important issues for 14 years and has earned this organizational support.

Perry’s legislative record is more impressive than her list awards. There’s that “crazy lefty” stuff she’ll try pushing but which won’t move too far because the political climate is so gross: the notion that low-income housing residents shouldn’t be evicted if someone brings drugs onto their property without their knowledge, or the idea that police shouldn’t be able to search a car just because it holds a passenger whose seatbelt isn’t fastened.

State Senator Rhoda Perry deserves your support next week. But she has also worked towards many concrete successes: mandating trigger locks on guns; banning racial profiling; banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment and housing; repealing the anti-sodomy law; requiring that health plans offering prescription drugs also offer birth control, lifting state barriers to buying prescription drugs in Canada and

prohibiting insurance companies from releasing information about their enrollees’ medical records; mandatory counseling for animal abusers and mandatory sterilization of pets adopted from shelters; and much more. For every act President George W. Bush has undertaken to offend your progressive sensibilities, there’s a Rhode Island equivalent: Bush signed the PATRIOT Act, and Gov. Carcieri ’65 pushed a local version of his own; Bush under-funded No Child Left Behind, and Carcieri under-funded urban schools across our state; Bush cut taxes for the rich, and Carcieri signed budgets that forced higher property taxes on Rhode Island’s poor. We need elected officials at the state level who will fight back. This is particularly true if Bush remains in office, so as to launch continued assaults on the poor, our schools, the environment, affirmative action and the LGBTQ community. If Bush is allowed an appointment or two to the Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade could be overturned and abortion-rights issues sent back to the states. In Perry, we’d have a proven vocal advocate for choice and women’s rights. Now, more than at any other point in last 15 or 20 years, it is imperative that we have progressive legislators of Perry’s caliber in the Rhode Island Senate. For more information about Perry, visit her Web site, RhodaPerry.com.

David Segal is Providence’s Ward 1 City Councilman.

ROB SAND

A nation divided It should be clear to anyone following the news that our country is extremely divided. We have gone through terrorist attacks, a recession and a controversial war and now are in the midst of a divisive election battle. While division should be expected in times like these, the radical divisions and power grabs we see now are unacceptable. Political pundits of all stripes have commented on how they have not seen such a divided electorate or a hotly contested race in decades. Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Speaker Dennis Hastert and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi have made little or no effort at bipartisan cooperation in the House, while the same can be said for Majority Leader Bill Frist and Minority Leader Tom Daschle in the Senate. Essential bills were held up for personal or partisan reasons. The JOBS Act, intended to cut rising European Union tariffs, was held up so that every senator could add a favor for his or her favorite corporation. Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin, from Iowa, even held up emergency hurricane relief for Florida because he was upset over cuts to farm conservation programs. Party leadership should condemn these disgusting tactics, not endorse them. They are a disservice to our needs as a nation and our image in the world. In addition, the polarization of media on both sides has resulted in a public that cannot agree on basic facts. A recent University of Maryland nationwide study found that Bush supporters and Kerry supporters disagreed on numerous objective facts: whether WMDs were found in Iraq, whether there were strong ties between Iraq and Al-Qaeda and whether the majority of Europe supports President George W. Bush and the war in Iraq. If people can’t even agree on the facts, how can they ever unite on anything, or at least

agree to disagree on issues? These leadership and media divisions seem to indicate that this dividing trend will last beyond November. Furthermore, the likely possibility of another contested election, with armies of lawyers battling over which votes count, will only serve to embitter those on both sides of the battle and further divide the nation. I do not expect either side to lay down its beliefs for the sake of unity. But I find this level of division unacceptable. To take advantage of every opportunity for

The high partisanship in the United Sates has reached a new low. political gain, even postponing hurricane relief, is nothing short of spiteful. Even worse is the recent gerrymandering done by both parties, most notably Texas Republicans’ redistricting the state for purely partisan ends. To draw illogical district boundaries in order to ensure that one’s party will win elections regardless of how the people vote is not only shameful but dangerously undemocratic. If people do not speak out against these tactics or vote out those who perpetrate them, we will

become still more divided. Politicians on both sides have, in their hurry to gain power and influence, left fairness, respect and democratic principle behind. While this is not new, the contrast between the unity in our nation just after 9/11 and the division in it now is nothing short of spectacular. Three years ago we saw 3,000 innocent Americans murdered, Democrats and Republicans included; it made us more united than we had been in 50 years. Now it seems some would be willing to count the dead from the towers to see if the other party lost more. This summer I job-shadowed a lawyer in my town. He is a family friend of ours, and a Republican. While we ate lunch one day after court, the testy topic of politics was breeched. But our discussion of politics did not last long before we each noted how disgusted we were with the extraordinary partisanship in our country. While we disagree on much politically, there is one thing we strongly agree on: The spirits of compromise and community lie in civics. When politics begin to override civics, compromise, community and respect for differences begin to break down. When those things break down, we all are worse off. This division needs to end. We as citizens need to tell politicians and the media that we are tired of it and want them to work together to address the issues that affect us all. At this point it seems little more than a prayer to ask the next president to heal the wounds of the last four years. Yet, that asking, or demanding, must be done by all who want us to see each other first as humans, next as Americans and, perhaps much further down the line, as liberals or conservatives. Rob Sand ’05.5 went to Washington, D.C., last spring as a uniter, not a divider.

Midterms are over. Write a column. E-mail opinions@browndailyherald.com

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SPORTS TUESDAY OCTOBER 26, 2004 · PAGE 8

Volleyball picks up split, bests 2003 Ivy win total

Bill Pijewski / Herald

Rikki Baldwin ’07 recorded 13 kills against Dartmouth and tied for a team high against Harvard with 12 kills. BY MARCO SANTINI

On its two-game road trip this weekend, the women’s volleyball team (7-11, 4-3 Ivy League) took a split, defeating Dartmouth College Friday night before being swept by Harvard University Saturday afternoon. With the win over Dartmouth, the team picked up its fourth Ivy League win of the season, surpassing last season’s Ivy win total. The Bears took the first two games in Hanover, N.H., quite easily with scores of 30-23 and 30-28. Dartmouth battled back to win the third game 30-16, but that was all Bruno was willing to give up. In the final game, the Bears posted a team season-best .341 hitting percentage to pick up the road win with a final game score of 3022. “Dartmouth played well and gave us a run for our money,” said Leigh Martin ’06, who posted 49 assists and set up four teammates with double-digit kills. Lauren Gibbs ’06 directed the offense with 16 kills and a .343 solo hitting percentage. In addition to Gibbs, Rikki Baldwin ’07 had 13 kills, followed by 12 from Julie Mandolini-Trummel ’08 and 10 from Katie Lapinski ’08. Elvina Kung ’05 raked in 35 digs, keeping her atop the Ivy League. Also helping the defense were Baldwin’s 10 digs and Lapinski’s 16, which gave both of them double-doubles for the match. Despite winning back-to-back Ivy League matches, including Brown’s win over Columbia last weekend, Bruno fell B ROW N S P O RTS S CO R E B OA R D Tuesday, October 26 Men’s Soccer: at Boston University Men’s Tennis: Omni Regional Championships, Virginia Tech Women’s Tennis: ITA Fall Regional Championships, University of Pennsylvania

Winter sports meeting Today, 7 p.m. 195 Angell St. New writers welcome

short in its bid for a three-game winning streak. In the loss to Harvard on Saturday, the team didn’t perform as well as it did against Dartmouth. The Crimson swept Bruno 30-21, 30-26, 30-27, giving the Bears their third Ivy League loss of the year. Bruno kept it close in the last two matches, but Harvard was able to hold on to the victory in two close games. “Harvard is number one in the Ivy League right now, and they made fewer errors than we did,” Martin said. “We were definitely able to compete with them. Our middle was very strong and consistent, especially Liz Cvitan (’07), who had a great weekend.” Cvitan had seven kills and five digs against Dartmouth, and she posted eight kills and two digs against Harvard. Gibbs and Baldwin led the offense with 12 kills each in the losing effort. Martin once again led the team in assists with 37. Despite the split weekend, the team

Field hockey edges out Cornell 2-1 with solid defense and goaltending BY KATHY BABCOCK

Cornell University’s Big Red could not stick with Brown’s field hockey at Homecoming this weekend as the Bears beat Cornell 2-1. The win improves Brown to 5-8 overall and 2-3 in the Ivy League. It was a competitive match-up and both teams fought their hardest. “There was so much of a different energy that day on the field,” said Tracy Dungo ’07. “It was really nice to see everything come together.” The Bears earned the win after two tough losses and played with more intensity than they have much of this season. “It was an exciting game,” said Samantha Lloyd ’07. “It was a fun game as a player and for the coaching staff and our fans. We had great support all the way through the game. The team kept up their energy, and we were able to finish when it counted.” Brown fended off a strong Cornell attack in the first half, during which goalie Kristen Hodavance ’08 collected seven of her 10 saves. The teams were evenly matched and went into halftime tied at zero. “I definitely felt like it was an even game, but in the second half I know that we as a team felt a different energy than we had in the first half,” Dungo said. Brown got on the board first when Julia Kelderman ’05 scored off a corner 10 minutes into the second half. Kelderman was in position for a stick stop but received the ball and went to the goal herself. Kelderman’s shot bounced into the boards for the fullback’s first career goal. Lloyd had taken the hit out, earning an assist.

came away with a positive outlook. The Bears’ four Ivy League wins so far is one more than the team had all of last season. Bruno, with half of its Ivy League season left, stands in third place with the potential to finish as one of the top teams. “This team is much better than last year’s team,” said Head Coach Diane Short. “Although we lost to Harvard, we had good attempts and we played together. We have a lot to look forward to this weekend.” For now, the team is concentrating on the remainder of this season.

“Julia just read the play the way the ball came out,” Lloyd said. “She used her instincts and took a great shot on cage.” Cornell evened it up with 10 minutes remaining in the game, also on a corner play, when Gina Testa scored on the initial shot. But the Bears recaptured the lead five minutes later on a penalty corner. Kristen Vincent ’06 took the initial shot, but Dungo, who was covering the post, deflected the ball in for the game-winning goal. “Every time we take corner shots, I protect the post and deflect any balls that are off goal,” Dungo said. “I was hoping to touch the ball. It ended up happening right. Everything worked out for the best.” Both teams took a large number of corner shots, which proved to be the key to the game. Cornell was awarded 13 penalty corners in the game, and the Bears received 11. Despite lagging in corners, the Bears out-shot the Big Red 1716. With only three games left in the season, the team must either keep its focus or prepare to finish the year below .500. “I think the team has great energy going into these last three games,” Lloyd said. “We have every intention of showing up to play every game to the best of our abilities.” The Bears are on the road this Wednesday, traveling to Worcester, Mass., to compete against the College of the Holy Cross. Herald staff writer Kathy Babcock ’05 covers field hockey. She can be reached at herald@browndailyherald.com.

“We don’t focus on how the team played last year,” Gibbs said. “We want to improve.” This weekend, Brown faces off against Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania in another two-game road trip. If the Bears can come away victorious from both encounters, it will bring them into a tie for second place in the Ivy League. Herald staff writer Marco Santini ’07 covers volleyball. He can be reached at herald@browndailyherald.com.

M. and w. crew teams compete in annual Head of the Charles Regatta BY IAN CROPP

Coming off impressive seasons, the men’s and women’s crew teams competed this past weekend at the 40th annual Head of the Charles Regatta. The women, who won the NCAA championship this summer, finished eighth in the varsity eights, fifth in the freshman eights and 10th in the championship fours. On the men’s side, the varsity eight finished 14th, the freshman eight finished fifth and the two fours finished in 10th and 12th. The winning boat in the women’s varsity eight finished with a time of 12:06.663, and Brown finished in 12:33.052, behind several Ivy opponents. “This year was a bit of a letdown in comparison to last year,” said Caitlin Flynn ’06. “We have some work ahead of us. The boats that beat us are the

teams we will be facing in the spring.” Although the team did lose to Ivy competitors as well as highly respected international boats, the Bears are not putting too much emphasis on the results of the race. “Head racing is not our main concern,” Flynn said of the race. “How we do in the spring is more important.” With several key losses from last year’s championship team, the women need to fill spaces and will be “training with ferocity for the spring,” according to Flynn. After placing seventh in the 2003 Head of the Charles Regatta, the men’s team dropped several places in this year’s race. The Cambridge University Boat Club finished first with a time of 10:43.026, while the U.S. men’s national team finished sixth with a time of 11:12.709 and Brown finished with a

time of 11:20.455. Much like the women’s varsity eight, the men lost many seniors from last year’s squad. “There are a lot of young guys on the boat,” said co-captain Jim Garvey ’05. “We have three sophomores, three juniors and two seniors.” Garvey echoed the mitigated concern about the women’s team’s results. “We haven’t been focusing on the Charles but more on the championship races in the spring,” Garvey said. “The race is more of a festival atmosphere.” Both teams will compete Nov. 20 in the Foot of the Charles, the final fall regatta. Herald sports editor Ian Cropp ’05 can be reached at herald@browndailyherald.com.