Tuesday, November 2, 2004 by The Brown Daily Herald

T U E S D A Y NOVEMBER 2, 2004

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXXXIX, No. 101

An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891

CAMPAIGN 2004

www.browndailyherald.com

ELECTION DAY

College Hill gears up for Election Day

Brown student mugged in Fones Alley Monday night

BY ERIC BECK

A Brown student was not harmed in a mugging Monday night that three other Brown students witnessed and tried to stop. Judy He ’06 did not suffer any injuries when a man mugged her in Fones Alley between Thayer and Brook streets at about 9:45 p.m.. He, a Herald photo editor, was talking on the phone in Fones Alley as she walked towards The Herald’s back door when the man approached her from behind. “I was really surprised,” she said. “Luckily, he didn’t have a weapon.” He said she struggled with the suspect as he tried to take her bookbag. “I kept trying to hit him in the balls, but it wasn’t working,” she said. As He struggled, a Herald editor drove

Election Day is here, and students registered to vote in Providence will be heading to polls located throughout College Hill to make their voices officially heard. But students who have not registered to vote or mailed in an absentee ballot still have a chance to vote in the presidential race. Students registered to vote at Brown are assigned to one of four precincts on or near the campus — Hope High School, the Ladder 8 fire station on Brook Street, the Salomon Center or The Governors B. Students are assigned to polling locations based on their dorm when they first registered — students who registered when they were first-year students, for example, are assigned to the polling location for their freshman dorm. McCormick said students should notify poll officials if their address or dorm location has changed. In a campus-wide e-mail Monday, President Ruth Simmons directed students unsure of their polling venue to the Web site of the Secretary of State of Rhode Island. The address is http://204.17.96.7/divs/elections/pollfin der/show_place. The Brown Democrats funded signs posted For a list of throughdorm-by-dorm out camto polling locations, go pus inform to www. students f browndailyherald.com o polling l o c a tions, said Brown Democrats President Seth Magaziner ’06. Providence polls will be open between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Same-day registration is available at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center at One LaSalle Square in downtown Providence from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, according to Dawn McCormick, acting administrator of elections for the Providence Board of Canvassers. Voters who register on Election Day can only cast ballots for president and vice president — they cannot vote in local races or on ballot initiatives. Same-day registration is designed to allow citizens who have failed to meet Rhode Island’s 30-day registration deadline a chance to vote because of the importance of the presidential race, McCormick said. It also provides a convenient last chance to vote for Brown students who are registered in their home state but did not send in an absentee ballot. She added that people who are registered elsewhere but did not complete an absentee ballot should tell poll officials at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center that they are registered in another state. People who want to register to vote

see ELECTION, page 3

BY ROBBIE COREY-BOULET

Nick Neely / Herald

Hope High School students strolled through campus Monday carrying political signs and urging those they met to vote in today’s election.

Students grapple with question of where to vote BY KIRA LESLEY

Liz Knights ’07 is not a native Rhode Islander. But tonight, she’ll be waiting along with long time Ocean State residents to see the outcome of local elections and ballot measures. Although Knights is from Acton, Mass., she is registered to vote in Rhode Island. When deciding whether to register in their home state or in Rhode Island, many Brown students weigh the influence they think their votes will have and their knowledge of candidates and issues. Although Knights does not live far from campus, she said she registered in Rhode Island because she thought she would be more informed about local issues in the state where she spent most of the year. “Partially it was just for convenience and partially because I thought I’d end up knowing more about the local candidates in the Providence area than the local candidates in the Boston area,” she said. Knights said she doesn’t want to vote in any election without being informed, and at this point she feels more informed on Rhode Island issues than Massachusetts issues. Local residents believe it’s important that students take time to inform themselves about local issues. Professor of Religious Studies Susan Harvey said long-term residents sometimes see elections and local issues differently from students who are only living in Providence for four years. But she said she believes students who choose to vote in Rhode Island can be informed and responsible voters. “Wherever you vote, you have a moral, an ethical obligation to know the issues and their long-term ramifications,” she said. Some students feel they are more informed about politics in their home states than Rhode Island politics. Shepherd Laughlin ’07 registered in his home state of Oklahoma because while Oklahoma and Rhode Island are both safe states — Republican and Democratic,

respectively — he wants to vote in his hotly contested senatorial election. “I still feel more connected to the political situation in Oklahoma than the political situation in Rhode Island,” Laughlin said. In addition, Laughlin said he wants to vote on Oklahoma’s ballot measures, including the definition of marriage bill, which would define marriage as strictly between one man and one woman. Laughlin said he is against the bill, and although it is likely to pass, “symbolically, I’d really like to have my say in that.”

Brandie Lustbader ’07 says the real problem in America is Florida — it’s time to get rid of it column, page 7

Things are already ugly in the 2004 election, and it’s only going to get worse, writes TePing Chen ’07 column, page 7

“I feel more significant as a liberal in a conservative state than as just another liberal in Rhode Island,” he said. Most students agree that no matter where they register, they have a responsibility to stay abreast of current political issues. The question of where to register takes on added significance at a college like Brown, which is known for its political participation. But no matter where they chose to register this year, one thing students seem to agree on is that today’s election is one of the most important in years.

14 referenda await Rhode Island voters at polls today BY CHRISTOPHER CHON

Voters in Rhode Island will have the option of supporting or opposing 14 referenda that will appear on today’s statewide ballot. The 14 proposals — ranging from bonds to rehabilitate the Quonset Point/Davisville Industrial Park pier to appropriations to create connections between the state’s water systems — request from the state a total of $392 million, the most expensive list to ever appear on a Rhode Island ballot. Out of the 14 questions, the most attention has been paid to Question One, a separation-of-powers bill that would attempt to more clearly define and separate the state’s three branches of government — legislative, executive and judicial. The referendum would prohibit any state senator or representative from being appointed to any state agency’s board or commission during his term in the legislature. For years, many Rhode Island legislators have simultaneously served as officials on state boards and commissions, but there has been mounting opposition against such dual office-

I N S I D E T U E S D AY, N O V E M B E R 2 , 2 0 0 4 See the list of referenda Rhode Island residents will vote on at polling stations across the state inside, page 4

see MUGGING, page 5

holding. While lawmakers insist their dual roles allow them to better understand their responsibilities, opponents claim there is a lack of oversight and a dangerous opportunity for abuse. In many cases, opponents argue, the same people executing laws on boards and commissions are those who wrote the laws. Phil West, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting a representative democracy, said the passing of this referendum would lead to a “much more accountable government, more transparency, less patronage, fewer opportunities for corruption.” Behind voting, separation of powers is “the most basic foundation principle of American government,” and it is conspicuously lacking in Rhode Island politics, West said. “There’s a vast energy of excitement across the state among people who understand this,” he said. “As a result of this, boards and com-

see REFERENDA, page 3

WEATHER FORECAST Men’s cross country unable to recapture last year’s victory at Heptagonal Championships sports, page 8

Football loses early advantage to Penn’s Quakers, despite opponent’s weak kicking sports, page 8

TUESDAY

showers high 52 low 44

WEDNESDAY

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

THIS MORNING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2004 · PAGE 2 Coreacracy Eddie Ahn

ELECTION OUTLOOK

Hopeless Edwin Chang Strong Kerry Weak Kerry Up for grabs Weak Bush Strong Bush

MENU SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH — Chicken Fajitas, Vegan Rice and Jalapenos, Mexican Corn, Pancakes, French Toast, Paprika Potatoes, Kielbasa, Hard Boiled Eggs, M & M Cookies, Liberty Chocolate Cake DINNER — Pork Loin with Green Apple Dressing,Wild and White Rice Pilaf, Stir Fry Carrots with Lemon and Dill, Brussels Sprouts, Squash Rolls,Yellow Cake with Coconut Frosting, Lamb Stir Fry

VERNEY-WOOLEY LUNCH — Vegetarian Lentil Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup, Chinese Chicken Wings, Pastito Mandarin Blend Vegetables, M & M Cookies DINNER — Vegetarian Lentil Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup, Italian Beef Noodle Casserole,Vegetable Frittata, Red Potatoes with Fresh Dill, Sauteed Zucchini with Onions, Carrots, Squash Rolls,White Cake with Coconut Frosting

Jero Matt Vascellaro

UT Yu-Ting Liu

CROSSWORD y

ACROSS 1 Fast flier 4 Mesh with the group 9 Vegas game 13 Blood classification system 14 Response to “No you don’t!” 16 Give __ of approval: silently okay 17 Possible 11/3 headline 20 Cabinet dept. 21 Onion cousins 22 Defamed in writing 26 Pupil site 27 Hesitant speaker’s sounds 28 Call __ day 29 Cuban water 31 Living room piece 33 Below zero: Abbr. 34 European herders 36 Quite 37 Unlikely 11/3 headline 40 Gillette brand 43 Electronics device 44 Marcel Marceau character 47 Bricklayer’s tool 50 Marcus of movie theaters 51 Lennon’s lady 52 “__ folly to be wise”: Gray 53 __ generis 55 Distribute, as leaflets 57 Opts not to opt 60 Ballpark figs. 61 Possible 11/3 headline 65 Most eligible to serve 66 The Cyclades’ sea 67 Chapter in history 68 Oenophile’s concern 69 College quarters

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38 Thought 39 Rather report 40 Parent’s words of encouragement 41 Chicago paper 42 Arm of the Pacific Ocean 44 Ardent supporter 45 Unborn 46 1945 conference site 48 Actor Morales

49 Soprano Tetrazzini 54 How some losses are printed 56 Brief moment 58 Whaler’s direction 59 Utah state flower 62 Slogan ending? 63 Escape 64 USCG rank

DOWN 1 Olympic spear 2 Inelastic rubber 3 Pledge drive incentive, maybe 4 Needle bearer 5 Security guard’s requests 6 Spinning toy 7 “That’s the way __” ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: 8 Dark time in Durango J U D A H H E L L P I K E 9 Critic Pauline O P E R A O L E O U L N A 10 On the way S T E E L S M A G N O L I A S 11 Arctic gale O P E N S L A V E 12 Adventurous trip H O D A G A R D E C I D E D 15 Green lights 18 Before, poetically W O N D E R S W O M A N 19 Artist Paul A V I A N Y O U R A B U 23 __ land: unreality C A L M I M A M S E N O S 24 “Good golly!” O L E S C O T U S E R S 25 Taken to the S H O R T S A N S W E R cleaners B E E L I N E E L L E 30 Time for fools A L L I N E P E E R N A 32 Hosp. room S U M M E R S V A C A T I O N fixtures I D E E C O I L S O L O N 35 Attack like an eagle N E R D A W L S H Y E N A 37 Dogpatch denial xwordeditor@aol.com 11/02/04 1

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Intensive Care Eunuch Akiva Fleischmann

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Penguiener Haan Lee

11/02/04

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

ELECTION 2004 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2004 · PAGE 3

Referenda continued from page 1 missions are going to have to change.” West said there are currently 73 major agencies — which oversee state functions ranging from clean water financing to state lotteries — where lawmakers have executive powers. West said this setup muddles any possibility of a clear separation of powers. “There’s a conflict of interest that could not exist anywhere else in the country, and it’s rampant in Rhode Island,” he said. “There’s nobody to watch out and make sure the branch is doing their job. And in all these cases, there is a failure of oversight precisely because the same people are both writing law and executing law.” Professor of Political Science Darrell West said he believes this referendum would improve the “ethical climate” of Rhode Island’s government. “The first (referendum) is most important because it relates directly to the functioning of government. What this proposal would do is to give the governor much greater authority to administer public policy, which is a situation that exists in every other state, so it’s really just bringing Rhode Island in compliance with national pattern,” he said. Another referendum gaining public interest is Question Two, which asks voters whether a constitutional convention should assemble to propose amendments or revisions to the state constitution. The convention itself would not be able to approve changes; it could only make proposals to be put on the ballot for voters to ultimately ratify or rebuff. Besides a convention, the only other way an amendment to the constitution can be deliberated is through passage of a bill by the General Assembly. Rhode Island is required to ask voters every 10 years whether a convention should

Election continued from page 1 today need to bring a form of photo identification to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, McCormick said. People who register today can only vote for president and vice president because it is impossible to obtain information about a person’s General Assembly and State Senate districts quickly, McCormick said. Citizens who register today will be eligible to vote in all races in future elections. As Brown students head to the polls today, any students or community members with questions can call the Providence Board of Canvassers at (401) 421-0495 for more information. Televisions will be set up in the Gate, Josiah’s and Faunce House so members of the Brown community can keep an eye on the election throughout the day tomorrow.

assemble. The last convention, held in 1986, suggested 14 amendments, of which eight were approved. One approved amendment established the state Ethics Commission. A convention can address any topic, and if approved this year, possible motions could define the state’s position on gay marriage, addressing gambling, establishing a full-time Assembly and giving the governor a line-item veto for the budget, according to the Providence Journal. Darrell West said he thinks the referendum will pass and that a convention could have significant impact. “It has potential ramifications because a constitutional convention has the ability to put items on the ballot, so there could be things related to how the government functions, the nature of the budget, and various social issues such as abortion and gay rights,” he said. “So those are things that would have direct relevance for residents of Rhode Island as well as Brown students.” Unlike Question One, this second referendum faces much stiffer opposition. Speaking on behalf of Common Cause Rhode Island, Phil West said he does not think it is in the best interest of the state to support this proposal. “We think it’s not needed now,” he said. “We’re saying separation of powers is a huge, historic change that will have profound ramifications all across Rhode Island state government. We need time to absorb these changes before taking another step.” Phil West said that since the beginning of the 20th century, the Alabama state constitution has been amended more than 600 times, a statistic he said is “not good for the state.” “The bottom line is a constitution should not be amended lightly,” he said. “We shouldn’t amend hastily or casually, and we just don’t think it’s necessary now.” Proposals one and two on

today’s state ballot are the only referenda that would not require state bonds. Out of the other 12 referenda involving state money, four proposals — if passed — would affect the state’s schools, Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island. Question Five asks voters to authorize the state to issue bonds in the amount of $50 million for dormitory projects at RIC and URI. $20 million would be used to construct and renovate residence halls at URI and $30 million to construct a new residence hall at RIC. Michael Smith, assistant to the president of RIC, said the college can currently accommodate on-campus housing for only 820 students, but that the approval of this proposal would allow for an additional 366 students. Smith emphasized that the benefits would not only be felt by RIC students but also by residents of Rhode Island. “Anytime you have a college or university situated in a community, a lot of good things happen, but it also tends to push up local rent prices,” he said. “With students taking up off-campus housing, it makes it more difficult for families. If we can take 366 people out of neighborhoods and onto the campus, it opens up possibilities for other folks.” Smith also said new businesses will look to relocate in Rhode Island if there is a large “skilled and trained worker force, so the more college graduates you can get in the area, the greater the economic benefits will be for the state.” Referendum 13 seeks approval for $50 million to be used for the construction of a Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences at URI. Robert Carothers, president of URI, wrote in an e-mail to The Herald that the referendum was a “part of the state’s effort to build an economy tuned for the future.” “The biosciences building at URI, coupled with Brown’s new

see REFERENDA, page 5

PAGE 4 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2004

R.I. ballot initiatives Rhode Island voters will have the chance to vote on the following referenda in today’s election: 1: Institutes a “separation of powers” rule to more clearly separate and define the state’s three branches of government. The referendum would do so principally by not allowing lawmakers to simultaneously serve as members of boards and commissions of important state agencies. Cost: Nothing 2: Authorizes a convention to propose amendments or revisions to the state Constitution. The convention could address any issue, and possible topics could be gay marriage, gambling and modifications in state elections, among others. Cost: Nothing 3: Authorizes the state to improve highways, roads and bridges; to replace or repair transportation maintenance facilities; and to purchase more buses for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority’s bus fleet. Cost: $66.52 million 4: Authorizes the state to construct, renovate and rehabilitate the state’s regional career and technical schools. Cost: $15 million 5: Allocates funds to construct, renovate and rehabilitate residence halls at the University of Rhode Island and to construct a new residence hall at Rhode Island College. Cost: $50 million 6: Allocates funds to restore the exterior of the historic Cranston Street Armory facility, as well as the interior of one tower of the facility and the basement. Once the renovations are complete, the state would use the space for offices, a records center or for educational purposes. Cost: $12.3 million 7: Allocates funds to develop connections between and among the state’s water systems, which would be used in the event of an emergency. The ref-

erendum also would complete the Shed Factory Pipeline to perserve the state’s water rights to two Massachusetts reservoirs. Cost: $10 million 8: Allocates funds to develop anti-pollution projects; to restore the Narragansett Bay and state watersheds; to preserve open space, farmland and recreational development; and to acquire land for groundwater protection and supply. Cost: $70 million 9: Allocates funds to renovate, rehabilitate and construct an addition to the Pell Marine Science Library at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett Bay Campus. Cost: $14 million 10. Allocates funds to construct an Athletic Performance Center at the University of Rhode Island and to renovate existing athletic facilities at Meade Stadium and Keaney Gymnasium at the University of Rhode Island. Cost: $6.7 million 11. Allocates funds to support preservation and renovation projects for public and nonprofit historic sites and buildings currently used as museums and cultural art centers. Cost: $3 million 12. Allocates funds to purchase, build or modify state facilities for state agency use to reduce reliance on leased space. Eight state-owned buildings at the Pastore Center in Cranston would be renovated, among others. Cost: $46.5 million 13. Allocates funds to construct the University of Rhode Island’s Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences. Cost: $50 million 14. Provides financial backing for road and utility infrastructure, building demolition, site preparation and pier rehabilitation at the Quonset Point/Davisville Industrial Park. Cost: $48 million

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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2004 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD PAGE 5

Mugging

Referenda

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into Fones Alley, saw He struggling with the suspect and called the police. Mathew Geltzeiler ’05 noticed the struggle from a parking lot on the other side of Brook Street. Geltzeiler and Sachin Shah ’05 were returning from squash practice and were walking through Fones Alley after parking their car. “By the time we got close enough to see they were struggling, he had broken away from her,” Geltzeiler said. He lost her hold on her bag as two cars pulled into the parking lot. She initially tried to run after the suspect and then asked Geltzeiler and Shah to chase after him, as well. According to witnesses, the mugger was a black man about 5 feet 10 or 11 inches tall, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, white Tshirt and black sweatpants. The suspect ran out of Fones Alley to Brook Street, then turned east onto Angell Street. Geltzeiler said he found He’s bag on Angell Street, where the suspect dropped it before reaching Cooke Street. Nothing had been removed from the bag. Shah continued to follow the suspect but said he remained between 15 and 20 feet behind him during the chase. Shah said he saw the suspect turn off of Angell Street and slow to a walk before turning onto Stimson Avenue, at which point Shah he lost sight of the suspect. Both witnesses said they had no reason to believe the suspect was armed. As of late Monday night, neither the Department of Public Safety nor Providence Police would release any information about the investigation.

medical bioscience building, will give Rhode Island a strong position in the growing biotechnology industry, both preparing students to work in those fields and building a research base in Rhode Island,” Carothers wrote. In addition to schools, the 14 referenda also aim to improve other state functions and facilities, including transportation,

local water supplies and the old bell tower in Burrillville. Question Eight seeks bonds in the amount of $70 million to finance environmental projects such as efforts to improve the Narragansett Bay, protect water quality, renovate state parks and preserve open space and farmland. Scott Wolf ’75, executive director of Grow Smart Rhode Island, a non-profit organization committed to protecting cultural and natural resources, said the referendum is an

“important vehicle for protecting Rhode Island’s quality of life.” “Rhode Island sells itself on beauty, not brawn,” he said. “We don’t have the lowest taxes and the best industrial sites in America, but we have some of the nicest communities and coastal areas.” “By addressing our authenticity and our beauty, we advance our ability to appeal to enlightened businesses looking for a great place for themselves to live,” Wolf said.

“We think it’s good not only for the environment and quality of life, but also from an economic standpoint,” Wolf said. “People will be looking at a lot of different, fairly ambitious spending proposals on the ballot, and we want to make sure they view this referendum as the best way to get a bang for their buck,” he said. See page 4 for more information on the referenda that Rhode Island voters will see on ballots today.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

EDITORIAL/LETTERS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2004 · PAGE 6 S T A F F

E D I T O R I A L

Get out and vote Over the past several weeks, we have published a series of articles on Brown and the election, looking at Brown students and alums who have participated in the campaigns and at the issues that are mobilizing young voters here and across the country. From Isaac Belfer ’08, who has gone on two road trips to canvass in swing states for John Kerry, to Cynthia Lee ’05.5, who took this semester off to work for the League of Conservation Voters’ Environmental Victory Project, to Richard Campagna ’72, the Libertarian candidate for vice president, Brunonians have put a great deal of work into this election. But in the end, the only act that counts is voting. The Herald doesn’t endorse candidates in national races — we don’t know where and when students vote, and we think it’s more important to encourage our classmates simply to participate in politics. Voting is the simplest, and most important, act of participation. As it stands going into Election Day, this election is very close, and experts disagree on which candidate holds the advantage. But this much is clear: The results of the election will hinge on who shows up to vote today. Turnout is expected to rise dramatically this year, with much of the increase coming from new voters, including our age group. No matter what state we vote in, our votes are important, because this can be the year we shatter the common wisdom that young people don’t participate. And, quite simply, there is no reason to not vote, especially with same-day registration available in Rhode Island. Students who did not register in their home state or Rhode Island can take advantage of the opportunity to vote for a presidential candidate today. Students who didn’t receive absentee ballots from their home state or who didn’t apply in time for absentee ballots can vote downtown, too. And students who didn’t pay attention to the election still have time to read up on the issues and make an informed decision. Because today, there’s no excuse not to pay attention. If you think none of this matters, you’re wrong. If you think there’s no difference between the candidates, you’re wrong. This election will affect our lives in many ways, and if you opt not to vote, you forfeit the right to complain. So go to the polls and cast your vote — no matter who wins, you’ll know you did your part.

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 Library workers express their thanks To the Editor: We are writing as members of the Brown Library Bargaining Unit to thank all the students, faculty and staff of the University who supported us in our recent efforts to secure a labor contract that is both responsive to the library’s mission to support the research and teaching of Brown faculty and students, and fair to unionized library employees (“Library workers reach tentative contract agreement,” Oct. 25). We are glad that so many community members recognized that these goals are not mutually exclusive. We especially want to express our appreciation for the hard work done in our behalf by the members of the Brown Student Labor Alliance. Through the long months of these negotiations, SLA members maintained their interest in the problems we faced, and were always generous with their support. It meant a lot to have them standing with us. And the display they put up on the Main Green on Oct.

22 to highlight issues under negotiation was powerful. By their willingness to spend time and effort to put their ideals into practice, they are truly a credit to this institution. Many thanks! Alison Bundy A.M. ’85 (Brown staff for 15 years) Trish Dumin (21 years) Tim Engels ’92 (12 years) Yvonne Federowicz ’86 (14 years) Suzan Gervais (11 years) Marie Malchodi (13.5 years) Margaret Mutter A.M. ’87 (37 years) Debra Nelson-Danielson (29 years) Deborah Peterson A.M. ’83 (20 years) Joanne Tandy (19 years) Oct. 31

Fleischmann’s comic is insulting to Hindus To the Editor: I am unsure what sort of political statement Akiva Fleischmann is making with his comic strip, “Intensive Care Eunuch” in Monday’s Herald . I am shocked that such a discriminatory statement towards Hindus would be made in any college newspaper. I am a Hindu, but that does not mean I am the only person appalled by this gross stereotyping and bigotry. Fleischmann seems to have no problem with perpetuating stereotypes about Hindus regardless of veracity or respect to the oldest of the five major religions on this planet. Hindus do not belong grouped with agnostics and Satan-worshippers. We are honest people of faith and peace, and what that has to do with the Pledge of Allegiance is, quite frankly, beyond me.

I am Hindu and against the phrase “under God” in the pledge, and many Hindus agree with me. However, this is not because I think that God is a cow, but that I want to pledge to America without invoking a God or gods. Fleischmann obviously has no regard for Hindus, their religion, their intelligence or their place in American society. Not only is the strip not funny, but it perpetuates the same tired prejudices over and over again. I have never seen anything more offensive toward Hindus in my life in America. I can only hope The Herald will be more careful in monitoring comic strips. Sonia Saraiya ’08 Nov. 1

Jason Lee, Night Editor Katie Lamm, Lela Spielberg, Copy Editors Senior Staff Writers Stephanie Clark, Robbie Corey-Boulet, Justin Elliott, Ben Grin, Kira Lesley Staff Writers Marshall Agnew, Camden Avery, Kathy Babcock, Zaneta Balantac, Alexandra Barsk, Zachary Barter, Hannah Bascom, Eric Beck, Danielle Cerny, Lexi Costello, Ian Cropp, Stewart Dearing, Gabriella Doob, Jonathan Ellis, James Feldman, Amy Hall Goins, Dana Goldstein, Bernard Gordon, Kate Gorman, Krista Hachey, Chris Hatfield, Jonathan Herman, Leslie Kaufmann, Kate Klonick, Allison Lombardo, Chris Mahr, Lisa Mandle, Ben Miller, Sara Perkins, Eric Perlmutter, Meryl Rothstein, Marco Santini, Jen Sopchockchai, Lela Spielberg, Stefan Talman, Jessica Weisberg, Brooke Wolfe, Melanie Wolfgang, Stu Woo Accounts Managers Steven Butschi, Rob McCartney, John Nagler, David Ranken, Joel Rozen, Rukesh Samarasekera, Ryan Shewcraft Project Managers In Young Park, Libbie Fritz Pagination Staff Eric Demafeliz, Deepa Galaiya, Jason Lee Photo Staff Marissa Hauptman, Ashley Hess, Matthew Lent, Bill Pijewski, Kori Schulman, Sorleen Trevino, Juliana Wu Copy Editors Chessy Brady, Jonathan Corcoran, Eric Demafeliz, Leora Fridman, Allison Kwong, Katie Lamm, Suchita Mathur, Cristina Salvato, Sonia Saraiya, Lela Spielberg, Zachary Townsend, Jenna Young

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

OPINIONS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2004 · PAGE 7

Severing the Sunshine State GUEST COLUMN BY BRANDIE LUSTBADER

I was reading the paper the other day and was annoyed, but not really surprised, to find that they are already having problems with voting in Florida. Where else, right? Early voters in one county had a bit of difficulty casting their votes when the computer system crashed. Elsewhere in the Sunshine State, some of the paper ballots were found to be incomplete. This kind of incompetence simply cannot continue. Now, we cannot stop Floridians from being dense, but maybe we can stop them from being Americans. I am going to suggest something that’s a little out there. I may be alienating a small yet very nasal percentage of the Brown population in the process, but I’m going to say it anyway: Let’s break Florida off from the rest of the United States. Now, I know what you’re thinking: This idea is a bit extreme, if not insane. However, it is not without precedent. When one of your limbs is infected and can’t be saved, what do you do? You chop it off. When it’s almost finals time and you realize you can’t possibly study enough to pass a course, there’s no need to panic. You just drop the class. Let’s be honest — Florida is like that gangrenous arm about to infect the rest of the body or that applied math class you have no hope of passing. The time has come to cut our losses — literally — and move on. Actually, the plan couldn’t be simpler. A few strategically placed explosives, and we’re a few million citizens lighter. And it’s not so bad for people living in Florida, either. It’s always been the poor man’s Bahamas. Now they’re finally going to get their wish of living on a trop-

ical island. Once we cut them loose, they can just float on out to the Caribbean. Then again, they might just keep floating right on down to the South Pole, but I don’t think that’s really our problem anymore. I guess we couldn’t have predicted what would happen in Florida four years ago, but let’s face it: When a majority of the retired population of the United States resides in one state, there are bound to be some problems. Think about what would have happened if we’d had this idea four years ago. Sure, the White House

Palm Beach County, Florida: The real threat to democracy. might not have been such a gold mine of comic material, but I think most of us would agree that we’d all be a lot better off. Obviously it’s a tradeoff: unnecessary death and destruction for our favorite Bushisms. But as our esteemed president once said, “My views are one that speaks to freedom.” Ours too, Dubya. And that is why we need to be free of that sack of dead weight, Florida.

Okay, I am not a completely irrational person. I realize that the logistics of the plan are a little vague and breaking off an entire land mass might prove difficult. So I have come up with an alternative that aims right at the crux of the problem: old people. The heat must have gotten to them. Because let’s face it, without those geezers, Florida might actually be salvageable, and perhaps even able to contribute to positive change in this country. As it is, they couldn’t even distinguish between an illiterate moron and our former vice president, who was at least capable of rational thought. I propose this: Throw away the ballots of Florida’s elderly population. This would solve most of our Florida-based voting problems, and it would not matter if seniors voted for Bush or Saddam Hussein, which, remembering those crazy Florida ballots from 2000, is not entirely out of the realm of possibility. Of course, I’m not promoting ageism. The elderly of Palm Beach, Miami and everywhere else in Florida should certainly be allowed to vote. But do their votes actually have to count toward an important national election? I don’t think so. What they don’t know won’t hurt them. All I’m asking is that you give some thought to what I’ve said. Whether we break off the state so that it can’t do any further damage, or quietly dump a few million ballots into the Gulf of Mexico tonight, something has to be done. Bush might say it is our patriotic duty. Brandie Lustbader ’07 is a comparative literature concentrator.

TE-PING CHEN

This week is going to be ugly It is becoming ever more likely that we will wake up tomorrow still not knowing who won the presidency. Four years ago, George W. Bush took Florida by 537 votes, while Al Gore carried New Mexico by 365. In Iowa, New Hampshire, Oregon and Wisconsin, each margin of victory was narrower than 7,200 votes. Four years ago the Supreme Court picked the president of the United States. Four years ago, we waited for well over a month for a succession of court challenges to play out before Bush was granted the presidency. Today, the voters will cast their ballots; tomorrow, a team of lawyers across the nation will take the stage. The presidential election will be close. The aftermath will be hotly contested. There will be narrow margins to dispute, fingers to point, court challenges to draw out and truckloads of provisional and absentee ballots to count, recount and recount again. Today, with Bush and John Kerry polling neck-andneck, even New Hampshire’s four electoral college votes could easily tip the balance. This year, think Florida, but multiply it by New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Colorado — all states that have jurisdictions in which there are more registered voters than the number of adults. Throw Colorado’s Amendment 36 — which, if passed, would implement proportional representation for the state’s electoral votes — into the mix, and you’ve got a situation ripe for a flood of judicial challenges. In the city of Columbus, Ohio, alone, the Republicans have a team of 24 lawyers assembled to grapple with post-election drama. The Democrats

reputedly have 10,000 lawyers ready nationwide similarly poised for action. The Democrats and Republicans have already invested well over a record $1 billion in this election cycle — they aren’t letting go without a fight. If you were hoping that election-season drama would come to an end this week, think again. It is far more likely that today represents the beginning of an agonizing, protracted battle — this time not merely

With both sides stacked with lawyers, we will be lucky if the election is decided by tomorrow. for the presidency, but for the hearts and minds of the American people. The election is not only a challenge to the Bush administration; it presents a grave challenge to our already-debilitated faith in the democratic process. Today, we will vote, but the fate of the presidency will be decided by back-room court decisions and leg-

islative machinations. We will vote, but up to 6 million of our votes will never be counted. We will vote, but for the more than 163 million of us who live in socalled “safe” states, our vote doesn’t matter much anyway. Four years ago, Democratic presidential nominee Gore won his biggest statewide margin in Broward County, Fla. This past week, some 58,000 absentee ballots inexplicably vanished in the area. According to the U.S. postal service inspectorate, it is “highly unlikely” that those 58,000 pieces of mail were simply lost. Four years ago in Florida, 179,855 ballots were invalidated by state officials; 53 percent of them were cast by blacks. This past summer, Rep. John Pappageorge, R-Mich., was quoted as saying, “If we do not suppress the Detroit vote, we’re going to have a tough time in this election.” Detroit’s population is 83 percent black. In a climate of unreliable, untraceable electronic voting, widespread purges of voter rolls and ubiquitous allegations of voter fraud, can our national consciousness really survive another electoral fiasco? When this garish electoral nightmare has finally come to an end, what scars will it have left upon our country? And the most important question: come tomorrow, where will the people of the United States be left standing?

Te-Ping Chen ’07 is keeping her hopes up.

It’s Nov. 2 — Please remember to vote.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

SPORTS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2004 · PAGE 8

Football falls just short of No repeat for m. cross country at ending Penn win streak in Heptagonal Championships in NYC 20-16 loss on final drive BY JILANE RODGERS

BY BENJAMIN MILLER

After leading for nearly the entire game, the football team was unable to stop the potent University of Pennsylvania offense, falling 20-16 to the Quakers in the waning moments of the game. The loss drops the Bears to a tie for sixth place in the Ivy League with a 1-3 conference mark, but the Bears maintain an overall winning record at 4-3. “I guess it comes down to making plays when you have the opportunity to make them,” said Head Coach Phil Estes. “We played hard and we played every down, but we did not have enough time to finish it out.” To make things worse, starting quarterback Anthony Vita ’07 severely sprained his wrist on his throwing arm after contact with a helmet; his status for Saturday’s game against Yale University is uncertain. With the Bears holding on to a slim 16-13 lead late in the third quarter, Bruno had the ball with second and goal to go from the Penn 2-yard line. As Bruno was poised to punch the ball in for six points, Penn’s 18-game Ivy League winning streak was looking almost as bleak as the Philadelphia skyline, which lay shrouded in a thick fog above Franklin Field. Estes called a handoff to Nick Hartigan ’06, who broke out after two sub-100 yard games, running 39 times for 176 yards on the day. Having already scored 10 touchdowns on the season, it seemed doubtful that Hartigan would be denied. The Quakers got the play they desperately needed as the ball was jarred out of Hartigan’s grasp. Penn defensive lineman Bobby Fallon recovered the fumble at the Penn 1-yard line. “I thought I was down,” a quiet and reserved Hartigan said after the game. “But you never are supposed to let the ref make a call.” Estes was quick to point out that Hartigan was not the only one at fault. “These things happen,” Estes said of the fumble. “(A score for us) could have changed the complexion of the game … but this is a team effort — no individual lost this game.” The Brown defense continued to play as aggressively and physically as they had all game, with Zak DeOssie ’07 and Dan Doublin ’05 both sacking Penn quarterback Pat McDermott on the ensuing Penn drive. Doublin, who also had an interception, had a particularly nice hit on the quarterback as he blitzed around the end, leapt at McDermott and leveled a rough blow. DeOssie, meanwhile, was an intimidating presence on the field, recording 12 tackles and helping to limit the Quakers to a mere 75 yards on the ground. But the game slowly slipped out of Bruno’s grasp as kicker

Steve Morgan ’08 missed his first kick in four games, a 46-yard attempt with 8:45 left in the fourth. Morgan had nailed his previous three kicks from 40, 31 and 35 yards. Vita completed 11 of 25 passes for 140 yards and one touchdown and was replaced by Joe DiGiacomo ’07, who was unable to lead Bruno into the end zone despite completing five of eight attempts for 38 yards. With the Brown defense still holding strong and Penn starting with the ball on their 12 with three minutes left, a sense of anxiety could be felt throughout the cavernous stadium. Unfortunately for Bruno, the Penn players responded and McDermott awoke from a gamelong slump and completed six passes for 10 or more yards, moving the ball to the Brown one. Running back Sam Matthews punched it in on first and goal to give Penn their biggest lead of the game, 20-16. With 40 seconds left on the clock, DiGiacomo led the Bears to the Penn 31; but with only nine seconds remaining, Brown was left with no options other than a Hail Mary pass; Penn intercepted it in the end zone. Both coaches said that while Penn might have the better record, the better team did not come out on top. “I give Brown a lot of credit,” said Penn Head Coach Al Bagnoli. “We were very fortunate to get out of here with a win.” “I though we should have walked away with the win,” Estes said. This was a game that the Bears seemingly had in control from their very first drive, in which they scored on a 30-yard diving catch by Jarret Schreck ’06. “I like how we established the run and then threw over the top,” Estes said. “It helped to loosen them up so we could move the ball.” Brown’s defense proved that it had McDermott’s number for most of the day, as Pat Curran ’06 recovered a fumbled snap in the first half and James Gasparella ’06 nabbed one of McDermott’s first passes in the second — his first of two picks. Both turnovers led to eventual field goals by Morgan. It also helped Bruno that Penn’s kicking game was poor, as Penn missed an extra point and a 36-yard attempt from backup kicker Peter Stine. With the Yale Bulldogs coming into Providence this Saturday, Bruno must win the rest of their games in order to equal last year’s Ivy record. “Every time you lose one you put yourself in a hole,” Estes said. “For us to have a winning season, we must beat Yale.” Herald staff writer Benjamin Miller ’07 covers football. He can be reached at herald@browndailyherald.com.

The men’s Heptagonal cross country championship was slated to be one of the most highly contested races in recent Ivy League history. Five teams traveled to New York City’s Van Cortlandt Park last Friday with the possibility of winning, and every projection showed that the fifth man would be the deciding factor. While the Brown team had hoped to defend its 2003 title, the men finished fourth with 108 points. Host school Columbia University came away with the win, tallying 70 points. “It was hard to see the Columbia men celebrate, knowing that was us last year,” said Jeff Gaudette ’05. “But they ran an amazing race, from top to bottom, and would have been hard to beat even had we been at full strength.” Dartmouth College took the runner-up spot with 79 points, and the University of Pennsylvania was third with 87. However, the day was not without individual highlights for the Bears. Gaudette led the team in his final cross country Heptagonals, finishing third overall in 24:46 for the 8 kilometer distance, besting his finish last year by two places and five seconds. His time is the fifth-best all-time for Brown at the championship. Captain Patrick Tarpy ’05 crossed the line next for the Brown harriers, taking sixth overall with a time of 24:53. He improved from last year’s performance by six places and 26 seconds. His effort will also place him in the record books, making him the ninth-fastest Bear in Heptagonal history. “A lot of time and energy in the last four years has been devoted to training for and thinking about this race,” Tarpy said. Both Tarpy and Gaudette were named first team All-Ivy for their top performances, marking the first time since 1987 that two Brown runners have earned the honor. “Pat and Jeff ran great, and I’m proud of how they competed,” said Head Coach John Gregorek. “Heps is traditionally about the seniors, and ours came through, and had the experience necessary to do so.” Chris Burke ’07 and Owen Washburn ’06 also had solid races. Finishing less than two seconds apart, the duo captured 22nd and 24th places with times of 25:31 and 25:33, respectively. While Washburn did not compete last season due to illness, Burke’s finish marked a 33-second improvement. Unfortunately, despite the talent and improvements by the frontrunners, illness and injury limited the depth of the Bears’ squad. “Our top four ran what they were capable of, but we were looking for that fifth man,” Gregorek said. “A lot of inopportune things happened to our other top guys this year.” While Herald photo editor

Nick Neely ’07 had hoped to return and compete for the team, he was unable to recover quickly enough from an illness and hip, hamstring and shin injuries to race at full strength. But he was still able to take the final scoring spot and earned 73rd place in 26:39. “I’m proud of how my guys did,” Tarpy said. “Hopefully Jeff and I come back at Regionals and run tough and extend our seasons to include the NCAAs. For three-fourths of (Heptagonals) I ran just how I wanted to, but it left me wanting more.” The men head next into the NCAA Northeast Regionals on Nov. 13, where they will take on national powers, including Iona College and Providence College, in a competition where only the top two schools advance to Dan Grossman ’71 Nationals. Men’s cross country wasn’t able to “It would have been nice for us repeat last year’s victory at the to have taken both the individual Heptagonal Championships. and team wins our senior year,” Gaudette said. “We are looking Chris,” Gregorek said. “We just now to Regionals and to make our have to get someone healthy for the fifth man. Pat and Jeff have a marks there.” They will return to Van legit shot at individual berths to Cortlandt Park, but must face the (Nationals). We’ll just rest up and try and get as fresh of legs as poslonger 10-kilometer distance. “The 10k distance will be a sible and perhaps sneak in to benefit for Jeff, Pat, Owen and steal a team berth.”

W. ice hockey shuffles goalies in weekend split BY HELEN LURYI

The women’s ice hockey team started off its season this weekend with a road trip to northern New England. In their season opener Friday, the Bears shut out the University of Maine, 3-0. On Sunday afternoon, Brown traveled to Durham, N.H., where, despite a strong effort, the team fell to the University of New Hampshire, 2-1. The shutout in the Maine game was aided by two of the Bears’ three young goaltenders, Marie Desbiens ’07, who stopped 11 Maine shots in the first half of the game, and O’Hara Shipe ’08, who stopped 12 in the second. Brown was outshot 23-22. Bruno goals came from familiar sources in three veteran forwards. Krissy McManus ’05 put the Bears on the board with a breakaway goal, using a move she had been perfecting in practice last week, at 9:24 of the second period. Amy McLaughlin ’05 was credited with the assist. The other two goals resulted from scrums in front of Maine’s goal. Jessica Link ’05 scored with nine seconds left to go in the second period; soon after the start of the third period, Kerry Nugent ’05 had a power-play goal on which Margaret Ramsay ’06 and Ashlee Drover ’06 earned assists. Maine goalie Rachel Gettings stopped the 19 remaining Brown shots. Brown was unable to gain offensive momentum against No. 7 New Hampshire, despite outshooting New Hampshire 34-28. An unusually large number of

penalties marked the loss — according to Head Coach Digit Murphy, hockey referees at the college level are making an effort to call games more tightly this year, and it will take some time for teams to get used to the change. Murphy said Brown’s penalties against the Wildcats, which totaled 22 minutes, were part of an unavoidable “learning curve.” Both New Hampshire goals came on the power play, in the second and third periods. Brown goalkeeper Stacy Silverman ’08, who had 26 saves in her first full game, echoed Murphy’s opinion that the referees were calling a tight game. The lone Brown goal came during a strong offensive first period, from Katie Guay ’05 with assists from Nugent and Hayley Moore ’08. Wildcats goalie Melissa Bourdon made 33 saves for the win. The Brown goaltending situation remains murky, with all three goalies playing this weekend. “It is likely that the three will continue to split time unless one emerges,” Murphy said. “We really do have three excellent goalies,” Murphy said. “Silverman was outstanding in the UNH game, but unfortunately we couldn’t come up with enough offense. Desbiens and Shipe played excellent against Maine.” “It’s a good problem to have,” Murphy said, alluding to the Bears’ lack of a distinct top goalie. The Bears’ next game is Friday at home against Cornell University.