Wednesday, September 5, 2007 by The Brown Daily Herald

The Brown Daily Herald Wednesday, S eptember 5, 2007

Volume CXLII, No. 61

Since 1866, Daily Since 1891

New details shed light on demise of swim center

Planned sirens to alert campus in emergency By Michael Bechek Senior Staf f Writer

An emergency siren system that would alert the entire campus when activated is now awaiting approval and cooperation from the city of Providence. If approved, the sirens would be the most significant of several efforts by the University to increase security on campus after a Virginia Tech student killed 32 people and himself at the Blacksburg, Va., campus in April in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. The plan proposes the installation of three sirens — one near the Olney-Margolies Athletic Center, a second around Thayer Street and a third closer to the center of campus, said Walter Hunter, vice president for administration and the University’s chief risk officer. At the origin of the sound, the siren would be “substantially louder than 100 decibels,” he said. The system would be designed only to reach Brown’s College Hill campus, but “if things were quiet downtown, you might hear it,” he added. A working group with representatives from the University, the Providence Emergency Management Agency and Providence’s police, fire and communications departments has met weekly over the summer, said Providence City Councilman Seth Yurdin, who represents Ward 1, which includes much of Brown’s campus. Yurdin said the group has been meeting to address “mostly ... continued on page 4

By Zachary Chapman Senior Staf f Writer

graduate degree in Romance languages from Princeton University and a comparative literature master’s degree and doctorate from Harvard University. In addition to teaching at Brown, Weinstein has written six books and published articles about American, French, Scandinavian and German literature. A total of 2,105 students will be welcomed during the ceremony, including 1,486 freshmen hailing from 46 states and 49 countries. The class of 2011 was the most selective ever, with an acceptance rate of 14 percent and a 55 percent matriculation rate. Today is also the first day classes will meet. Classes meeting during D hour, which usually end at 11:50 a.m., will end at 11:30 a.m. F-hour classes, usually starting at 1:00 p.m., will start 20 minutes late, at 1:20 p.m.

New details and questions are emerging about what caused the Smith Swim Center’s demise — primarily, University officials say, the building’s lack of a dehumidification system, which caused support beams to rot away over the course of almost 35 years. The facility, built in 1973 and closed for good in February when its roof was deemed structurally unsound, is now slated for demolition. The problems in the Smith Swim Center’s roof that led to its closure first surfaced last November, according to Stephen Maiorisi, vice president for Facilities Management. The swim center was closed temporarily last winter as the University conducted inspections and made last-ditch repairs to see if the structure could be salvaged. It was closed permanently on Feb. 13. In May, the Corporation announced that it had approved a plan to build both a permanent swimming facility and a temporary on-campus training pool. The move reflected a significant commitment of the University’s financial and projectmanagement resources, especially in light of its existing plans to construct a new $35-million fitness center. Initially, University of ficials were hesitant to say what caused problems to develop in the swim center’s roof. They also could not say whether a flaw in the design of the building or faulty maintenance work caused deterioration in the beams supporting the swim center’s roof. Now, they say, it appears that the root of the swim center’s problems was the lack of a dehumidification system — which would almost certainly be included in any similar new facility built today, according to Maiorisi. Moisture built up on the roof of the building, causing the roof’s support beams to rot, he said. “The lack of dehumidification in the facility over 35 years was the main cause of deterioration,” he said. “It was a slow process that started basically from the point the building was opened.” Additional inspections conducted in the last year also revealed that the support beams were shifting, Maiorisi said. “It was really two issues: the rotting beams, along with differential settlement of the beams,” he said. Maiorisi said it was possible that the beam shifting was related to the beam deterioration, but he said he couldn’t definitively make that conclusion.

— Rachel Arndt

continued on page 4

Chris Bennett / Herald

Fred Strammer ‘11 browses through a course listing in the Friedman Study Center.

First-years test Banner registration Chaz Firestone Senior Staff Writer

It’s almost 4 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon in Jameson House’s lowest floor. “I’m freaking out,” Margiana Petersen-Rockney ’11 says to her roommate, Sara Powell ’11. Petersen-Rockney looks at the list of classes she has compiled through Web browsing, recommendations from her adviser and general word of mouth. Her list includes a wide variety of courses: NEUR 0010: “The Brain: An Introduction to Neuroscience,” ENGL 0180: “Introduction to Creative Nonfiction” and courses in classics, theatre arts and poetry. First-years were slated to register for classes all at once on

Tuesday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., while Meiklejohn advisors roamed the halls of Keeney Quadrangle to offer counsel and a calming presence. Though upperclassmen pre-registered for fall classes in April using the electronic Banner system, the class of 2011 is the University’s first to select their freshmen courses online. And so in Jameson as the registration hour nears, Petersen-Rockney has two problems: her class list is twice as long as it should be, and the clock isn’t slowing down. “I’ve got like two minutes to decide,” she says. “And I still don’t know.” Just as the words leave her mouth, her roommate springs into action. “Go go go!” Powell says. “It’s

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four!” Fingers mash keyboards, typing furiously in the hope of securing those precious few spots in limited-enrollment classes. But the excitement ends abruptly as Powell stops and sinks into her chair. “It’s still 3:59 in Banner-land,” she says. Meanwhile, on Everett House’s second floor, Sam Holzman ’11 is repeatedly pressing the “refresh” button on his laptop. The atmosphere is more mellow than in Jameson, as funk music from one of Holzman’s favorite hometown groups, The Budos Band, pours out of his modified record player. continued on page 11

Brief

Convocation at noon kicks off academic year

Chris Bennett / Herald

First-years might not be bored of the Ratty and V-Dub yet, but when they are, they’ll find that Thayer Street offers plenty of alternatives. See Page 5

INSIDE:

CAMPUS NEWS

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Computer Breach The social security numbers of almost 450 students and staff may have been compromised

DINING GUIDE

The University’s 244th academic year will officially open today at noon with the traditional Opening Convocation ceremony on the Main Green, presided over by President Ruth Simmons. New students and faculty will walk through the Van Wickle Gates — which are ceremonially opened only twice a year, at the opening and closing of the academic year. Simmons has occasionally used her speech to announce important news — at the 2004 convocation, for example, she announced three gifts to fund the construction of a new campus fitness center, which, three years later, is still in development. Professor of Comparative Literature Arnold Weinstein will deliver an address titled, “Reading Proust, Tracking Bears, at Brown.” Weinstein came to Brown in 1968 after receiving an under-

Thayer St. eats The Herald gives you the scoop on all the ice cream parlors, pizza joints and everything in between

OPINIONS

195 Angell Street, Providence, Rhode Island

OPINIONS Jacob Schuman ’08 offers his solution for restoring Brown’s “happiest” status before its too late

16 SPORTS

PITCHING POWER Star pitcher Jeff Dietz ‘08 is moving up after inking a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday.

News tips: herald@browndailyherald.com

T oday Page 2

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

We a t h e r

sunny 74 / 64

Aibohp Phobia | Roxanne Palmer

sunny 76 / 62

Menu But Seriously | Charlie Custer and Stephen Barlow Sharpe Refectory

Verney-Woolley Dining Hall

Lunch — Couscous Croquettes, Parsley Potatoes, Meatball Grinder, Buffalo Chicken Wings with Bleu Cheese Dressing, Magic Bars, Apple Turnovers

Lunch — Chicken Fajitas, Vegan Black Bean Tacos, Vegan Refried Beans, Mexican Succotash, Magic Bars

Dinner — Vegan Warm and Spicy Dahl, Herb Rice, Tilapia Provencal, Italian Vegetable Saute, Asparagus Spears, Orange Delight Cake

Dinner — Cilantro Chicken, Mexican Cornbread Casserole, Herb Rice, Stir Fry Vegetable Medley, Beets in Orange Sauce, Orange Delight Cake

Sudoku

Deo | Daniel Perez

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

RELEASE DATE– Wednesday,©September 5, 2007 Puzzles by Pappocom

Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle C r o sDaily sword Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis ACROSS 1 Mum 6 Cops’ gp. 9 Shows concern 14 Old Athenian meeting place 15 Right-angle shape 16 “__ you clever!” 17 Arm bones 18 School of tomorrow? 19 Bagel alternative 20 Stationary biking group 23 Tee follower 24 LP insert? 25 Biological ring 28 Squash relative 31 Williams title starter 34 CPA part: Abbr. 35 He led his team in homers for 18 straight years 36 1975 Wimbledon winner 37 Sonar datum 39 Fly on a lake, maybe 40 1959 hit with the line “Charlie couldn’t get off of that train” 41 Pebbles’s pet 42 Dog to stay away from 43 Biblical burial place for the poor 47 Like inspections 48 When repeated, a Kenyan rebel 49 Sturm __ Drang 52 1986 movie truant 56 2002 film for which Salma Hayek received an Oscar nomination 58 Big Apple sch. 59 Poi eater’s porch 60 Frenzied 61 Undivided 62 In the least 63 Ran through 64 Composer Rorem 65 Word that can follow the first word of 20-, 28-, 43- or 52-Across

DOWN 1 Heron’s hangout 2 Open-mouthed 3 “It’s __ for!” 4 Brockovich of film 5 Charlie Babbitt’s brother, in a 1988 film title 6 Licorice-flavored liqueur 7 Paperless journal 8 Actor Guinness 9 Dinner theater kin 10 Up 11 Think through 12 Photog.’s blowup 13 Farm home 21 Voter’s choice: Abbr. 22 Gate fastener 26 Westminster wine measure 27 Late bloomer 28 “Once upon a midnight dreary” poet 29 __ luxury 30 Outer: Pref. 31 South American plain

32 First name in luxury cars 33 “It’ll do” 37 Needing more urgent attention 38 Printing widths 39 It’s flipped in anger 41 Take away (from) 42 Puritanical ban 44 Linked 45 Inspired, as with feelings

46 Nice thirstquencher 49 Arm bones 50 Author Zora __ Hurston 51 Try to find oil 53 Privy to 54 Last word on New Year’s Eve? 55 Plastering strip 56 Radio choices 57 Mostly monotonic genre

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C ampus N ews WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

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Student and staff personal information potentially compromised in campus network security breach By Scott Lowenstein Senior Staff Writer

Chris Bennett / Herald

The Hemisphere Building on Angell Street may be the temporary home of the Career Development Center, but the Career Connection program is here to stay.

New Career Connection will link seniors to jobs By Nandini Jayakrishna Senior Staf f Writer

Job-seeking students sick of sorting through ads from less appealing employers on the eRecruiting Web site, the CDC’s previous online job service, will now have a more streamlined option — the Brown Career Connection. The Career Development Center is launching the new online system to facilitate students’ job searches by limiting content to material handpicked by the CDC, not from external sources like advertisements, said CDC Senior Associate Director Barbara Peoples. “One of the big differences is that with eRecruiting, information was coming into the system from a variety of sources. With this new Brown Career Connection, the only source of information coming into the Web site will be from the Brown Career Development Center,” Peoples said, adding that the new Career Connection will include improved search features and a calendar system to track deadlines and interviews . Peoples encouraged all seniors

to attend a 50-minute senior meeting at the CDC — now housed in the Hemisphere Building at 167 Angell St. — to activate their own Brown Career Connection accounts. “In these meetings, we give them information, answer their questions and send them out with a packet of material giving them step-by-step instructions,” she said. During September, in addition to various career fairs and halfhour counseling appointments for seniors, staff and peer counselors are available in the CDC librar y for questions, resume and cover letter critiques. Scheduled workshops focus on applying to graduate school, on-campus recruiting and independent job searches. “We are here to assist (seniors) no matter what their career direction might be, if they’re still exploring or, as we love to say, if they’re clueless,” Peoples said. Currently, three counselors are available to help students and another will be hired this year. Peoples said the CDC’s resources are available to seniors “up and continued on page 4

The social security numbers and names of almost 450 students and staff may have been compromised in an Aug. 21 security breach of a Rockefeller Library computer. A majority of those affected were students who have recently worked at the library, but information on nearly 15 library employees might have also been leaked. The problem was discovered when University intruder detection software identified unusually high traffic on a computer in the Rock’s administrative offices, Connie Sadler, director of information technology security for Computing and Information Services, told The Herald. CIS officials discovered that the computer had been hacked by a botnet  an automated network of potentially thousands of computers that work together, often without the knowledge of the computers’ owners  to send spam messages, Sadler said. When the intrusion was confirmed, University officials removed the hard drive from the network and notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This type of attack is common on personal computers, but it is particularly troubling in this case because of the personal information stored on the compromised machine, Sadler said. In total, payroll information — including names and social security numbers — of 444 people was po-

tentially compromised. Fewer than 15 of these people are library staff members, according to Sadler. The infiltrated computer did not contain other information, such as bank records, birthdays or credit card numbers. An e-mail was sent out to all of those affected by the breach, providing them with information about the attack and advice for identifying and avoiding identity theft, said Russell Carey ’91 MA’06, interim vice president for campus life and student services. For her part, Sadler characterized the attack as “good news and bad news.” “The bad news is of course that there is some way an individual could get into this machine at all,” she said. “The good news is that it appears that, based on the automated nature of the attack, the only thing the intruders were looking for was processing power” and not to get personal information, such as social security numbers. The hard drive of the hacked computer was sent to a forensic analyst, and Sadler said it is likely the firm will determine that the attack was not intended to gather personal data. “We are working really hard to tell individuals in departments to not keep confidential information on (personal) workstations and instead to keep it on the server or larger applications that have intrusion detection,” Sadler said. Sadler also said CIS is adding

more firewalls  “gateways” that limit the amount and type of incoming traffic in a network  to the Rock and other University networks to make networks with secure data “as tight as possible.” Leah Shabshelowitz ’08, one of the students whose information may have been compromised, called the incident “unfortunate” but added that situations like this “happen all the time.” “There’s nothing I can really do about it,” she said. As for the University’s response to the incident, Shabshelowitz said the information she was provided was adequate, but she added that would have liked to know more about what happened. “I am not really sure how (the University) could have handled it differently though,” she said.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Proposed siren will alert all of campus in case of emergency continued from page 1 technical requirements.” But the University will now have to work to win the support of neighbors on College Hill as the plan seeks public approval. “I think there are a lot of questions that we need to make sure are answered,” Yurdin said, “about what happens when this siren goes off.” Among those, he said, are when the sirens would be tested and how people would be advised what to do in the event of a real emergency. Yurdin said he will introduce an ordinance Thursday night to the City Council that would provide the framework for approving the sirens and give PEMA the authority to handle the approval process. The proposed ordinance also sets out specific requirements for what Yurdin called “public outreach,” mandating that communication with the neighborhood be coordinated with regular testing, according to a draft he provided to The Herald. University administrators have also been busy this summer pur-

chasing and learning how to use an electronic alert system that will make it possible to reach the entire community by e-mail, phone or text message simultaneously. T he MIR 3 inCampusA lert system uses a database with the e-mail addresses and phone numbers of more than 16,000 people associated with the University to instantly send out emergency notifications. The system also has the capability to ask the recipient to enter a response. “If we ask people, for example, to evacuate a building and wanted to know that people got the message,” Hunter said, “we could say, ‘Press one if you are evacuating now, press two if you need assistance.’ ” Hunter said the new alert system could be used in cases such as last year’s evacuation of Faunce House after a suspicious package was found. The system can be used in different ways depending on the type of emergency, Hunter said. Notification by phone, he said, would probably only be used for extreme situations, while notifications that

were less time-sensitive could be sent by e-mail. The alert system’s database of phone numbers currently contains only students’ residence hall phone lines. But Hunter said he would e-mail students this week encouraging them to register their personal phone numbers — such as off-campus landlines or cellular phones — with the system, which can be marked as “private” and only for emergency use if desired. “I think when people understand the nature of the message,” Hunter said, “and that what we’re trying to do is find a vehicle to contact them as quickly as possible, that they will (register).” The system’s yearly subscription price, Hunter said, was a negotiated amount between the University and the vendor, which he declined to disclose except to say that it was “quite reasonable,” given the system’s capabilities. Students can expect to see the system in use relatively early on, if only for a test, Hunter said. In another attempt to boost security, the Department of Public Safety conducted situation training for its officers this summer, continuing work it began in December 2006, before the Virginia

Chris Bennett / Herald

The Department of Public Safety headquarters on Charlesfield Street.

Tech shootings. In joint exercises with the Providence Police Department, campus police officers practiced hostage situations and “active shooter situations” — defined as when an armed person has used deadly force and has access to additional victims — and learned to search and clear buildings and capture suspects.

The shootings in Blacksburg, Va., made the officers take the work even more seriously, said Brown Chief of Police Mark Porter. “I think it made us more proactive,” he said, adding that the tragedy at Virginia Tech had “enhanced our approach” and that the training overall was “extremely successful.”

Swim center closure attributed to rotting beams continued from page 1 Maiorisi hesitated to say who was to blame for the facility’s problems. “We’re not actually sure what caused (the shifting of the beams). It could be an error in design,” he said. Maiorisi added that the University is aware of other collegiate swimming facilities that have experienced similar problems, such as the pool in Boston College’s William J. Flynn Recreational Complex, which — like the Smith Swim Center and the Olney-Margolies Athletic Center — was designed by Daniel Tully. A call to BC’s athletics staff was not returned Tuesday. Tully — a Santa Fe, N.M.-based architect who has designed numerous other collegiate swim facilities that bear his patented “hyperbolic paraboloid design” — told The Herald Tuesday that he was “frankly astonished” that the University plans to demolish the Smith Swim Center and build a new facility, calling those plans “inappropriate” and “beyond me.” Tully said he told the University in a report and analysis that the existing building could be repaired in a year or less for a cost of $2-3 million. “It’s a great building. It could

have been repaired. But I guess that’s life,” he said. In an article in the July/August issue of Brown Alumni Magazine, Tully hinted that the swim center developed problems in its roof because of improper maintenance. Tully told The Herald in April that the “hyperbolic paraboloid” design, which he patented, is a “wonderful structure” that is “extraordinarily strong.” Maiorisi said the building was regularly maintained and that a series of renovations has been performed on the swim center over the years. He said renovations undertaken in the 1990s to the Smith Swim Center revealed problems related to the building’s lack of a dehumidification system, but that one was never installed. Maiorisi said he did not know why. Beverly Ledbetter, vice president and general counsel for the University, said the University reviewed the history of the Smith Swim Center’s problems but has decided not to pursue any legal action at this point. “There are lots of people involved in construction issues, such as architects, designers and builders, and sometimes all of those come together, and sometimes there are issues related to the age of the build-

ing,” she said. “I can’t say that we have put the lid on it, but as of this time, there is no legal action contemplated.” The Smith Swim Center will be demolished and replaced by a new, permanent pool. The new facility will be designed by Robert A.M. Stern to complement the planned Jonathan Nelson Fitness Center. The temporary facility, which will consist of a modular, aboveground pool and an air-supported cover, is scheduled to be completed sometime in January. The facility will allow aquatics athletes to train — but not compete — on Brown’s campus. Maiorisi said the University will be able to sell the temporary pool back to the company supplying it after the permanent facility is completed, allowing Brown to recoup at least some of its $4-million investment. Head men’s water polo coach Felix Mercado, newly hired this summer, said that despite the team’s current lack of an on-campus facility, his program “couldn’t be in a better situation” right now and that recruiting was largely unaffected. For the time being, the men’s water polo team is training at Wheaton College in Nor ton, Mass., and Seekonk High School in Seekonk, Mass., Mercado said.

New CDC program to help job-seeking students continued from page 3 until graduation and even after,” noting that the biggest challenge for the CDC is figuring out how best to communicate with students. “We’re considering going back to mailbox stuffers because students are so inundated with e-mail,” she said. Peoples said 85 employers have already signed up for career fairs scheduled for later this month, and she expects the number to increase to “almost a hundred.” Seniors and one recent alum said previous CDC programs have been helpful in their summer and

full-time job searches. “I found it really helpful in a lot of ways — with my resume, cover letters and lots of tips on inter views,” said Dia Muthana ’07, who applied for her current job at Google through the CDC. As a senior looking for a transitional job before pursuing graduatelevel education, Caitlin Smolewski ’08 said though the process of searching is “a bit overwhelming,” good resources are available. “The CDC will give me a better idea of what’s out there and narrow down my search,” she said. Elizabeth Backup ’08, who interned with Citigroup this sum-

mer, said she used eRecruiting last spring and attended an interview workshop which was “useful.” This year, she said, she “will be utilizing an alumni network to find a film production kind of job.” But some seniors, like Jesse Maddox ’08, have used the CDC once and may not have a need for the new program. Maddox interned with the Boston Consulting Group in Atlanta this summer. “I got advice on my resume, books and other resources when preparing for interviews,” he said. “I’m not in the dark anymore. I already have two interviews with other consulting firms coming up.”

D ining G uide WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Mainstays and fresh faces now on Thayer Andreas: Greek fare ranging from moussaka to souvlakis. Homesick European students can take comfort in the menu, which inexplicably lists prices in Euros as well as U.S. dollars. On Thayer. Antonio’s/Gordito Burrito: Despite competition from reggaespinning Nice Slice down the street, Antonio’s remains a late-night pizza fixture for hungry, drunk and alt-rock loving Brunonians. Eggplant and tortellini grace Antonio’s reasonably priced slices, and we know nothing about Gordito Burrito because we don’t know anyone who has actually been. Au Bon Pain: It may be a chain, but the create-your-own salads and chicken tarragon sandwiches keep us going all year long. If you come late at night, you can sometimes get super cheap pastries. Arrive after 10 p.m. and you can dumpster dive for a cinnamon bun — not that we would know.

few Fish Co IDs that could be several times a year. The buzz around Free Cone Day in April can sometimes rival Spring Weekend. Blaze: A newly opened offshoot of the Hope Street eatery with the same name, Blaze offers standard American fusion fare — whatever that means. This spot once housed a beloved student bar and the eternally empty La Luna. Blue State Coffee: Newly opened coffee shop that gives a portion of its earnings to progressive charities. Chief rival is Ralph Nader’s fledgling Green State Coffee, which we hear isn’t doing so well. Rumor is, Mitt Romney and his Red State Coffee cohorts are trying to buy them out.

Bagel Gourmet Ole: The stepchild of the original Brook Street bagel shop offers the same combination of bagels and questionable, but tasty, Mexican fare.

Byblos: So far, this Thayer eatery has already lasted longer in its location than its ill-fated predecessor Pizza Grille did — but that’s not saying much. The home of “Mama’s Falafel,” Byblos wraps french fries into its chicken shawarma and houses Thayer’s only hookah bar upstairs. The Lebanese-owned joint faces stiff but peaceful competition from longtime falafel powerhouse, Syrian-owned East Side Pockets.

Ben & Jerr y’s: You get free scoops on your birthday, and with a

Cold Stone Creamery: Drooool. These incredibly expensive, but in-

Chris Bennett / Herald

Thayer Street’s dining establishments represent an eclectic mix of ethnic backgrounds and political persuasions.

tensely delicious ice cream creations will substitute for up to one week of Ratty fare. Remember, kids, mix-ins are a “sometimes” food. Creperie: Tucked away on Fones Alley behind ABP, this French spinoff ser ves fresh crepes, wraps, smoothies and death metal. We’re quite sure it’s the only locale that serves an apple and brie crepe alongside Iron Maiden. Chinese Food Truck: This fast food staple makes even the Ratty’s Polynesian Ratatouille seem like ambrosia. Somehow its line still extends as far back as the Lichtenstein sculpture come lunch time. East Side Perks: It’s hard to say if this coffee joint on Waterman can ever best its predecessor, Ocean’s Coffee Roasters. But friendly service and a decent breakfast menu mean that even though partner restaurant Spice serves pad thai as you sip your latte, it remains a popular study haunt. East Side Pockets: East Side’s falafel is legendary for late-night munchies. Swallow your worries and get a “pocket with everything.” Friendly service, Arabic music videos and cheap prices. Geoff ’s on Thayer: First-timers at Geoff’s will be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of sandwich diversity. Once you’ve figured out what ingredients sandwich names like Buddy

Cianci and the Frigid Bitch entail, you may embrace these microwaveheated treats. Don’t miss two-for-one Tuesday, or Geoff’s sister location down the hill on Benefit Street. Haruki Express: New sushi place on Waterman Street, soon to be swamped by seniors sick of three years of Thayer Street pizza. Little brother of the Haruki at Wayland Square. Also sells Japanese gummy things, to the delight of Hello Kitty fans everywhere. J&J’s Candy Bar: One-stop shop for a good old-fashioned sugar high. Fudge and homemade candies share space with an impressive, colorful array of jelly beans, chocolate confections and M&Ms. Johnny Rockets: The popular wannabe-1950s burger joint on the corner of Meeting and Thayer streets. They sing, they may even dance. And the music that blares outside will forever color your memory of Thayer. Kabob and Curry: A mainstay at campus events. If you don’t sample their selections by October at an open house or info session, you clearly haven’t followed The Herald’s advice to join a plethora of student groups. If venturing into this Thayer Street establishment, be sure to bring cologne and Binaca.

Chris Bennett / Herald

You don’t have to walk far off campus to get your junk food fix.

Kartabar: Not the place for an intimate conversation, unless you’d like to meet some awfully friendly, occasionally leather-clad locals. Quarters are a bit cramped and the acoustics are terrible, but the lobster

ravioli and martinis are the best on Thayer. Liquid Lounge: Dark and kind of sketchy, with a mostly local crowd and some good live DJs. The College Hill Neighborhood Association doesn’t like it — we can’t tell if that’s a bad thing. Metro Mart: Upstart convenience store doesn’t have Store 24’s selection, but it’s a block closer to the Main Green. Meeting Street Cafe: A Meeting Street sandwich is big enough for two meals, so bring a friend. A plate-sized Meeting Street cookie can easily satisfy four and beats anything Grandma can bake. Microwave it and enjoy. Nice Slice: This tiny joint on Thayer must be doing something right, since it has won over a substantial number of dedicated pizzaeating Brunonians since it opened a few years ago. Tasty thin crusts are better for fresh pies than, say, reheated slices. Paragon/Viva: Whether you enjoy weekly trips to this dance floorslash-restaurant or distance yourself from the Eurotrash “Viva crowd,” you probably agree that Paragon’s food is among the tastiest and most consistent in quality that Thayer has to offer. Absolutely fantastic French fries. Roba! Dolce: The (Smoothie) King has left the building. Its replacecontinued on page 6

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

read share recycle Chris Bennett / Herald

The patio outside of Spice is always a good place to grab a cup of coffee or pad thai while studying for that late afternoon test.

Thayer Street dining guide continued from page 5 ment, Roba! Dolce, bills itself as “An Italian Cafe Experience.” It also has an oddly placed exclamation point in its name, and surprisingly good breakfast sandwiches (plus a lunch/ dinner menu) and cappuccino. Plus, when the power goes out on Thayer, free gelato! Shanghai: Another relatively recent addition to the Thayer Street Food Court, this joint is half classy pseudo-bar, half mall take-out joint, with the same good-enough Chinese food served on both sides. You will probably drink a Scorpion Bowl before leaving Brown. You will definitely not remember it. Spats: Do you enjoy beer, steak, sports and loitering drunk, whilst smoking cigarettes? Spats may be the place for you. Across the street from The Herald’s offices, so just keep in mind that when you urinate in the alley next door, we can see you. Spice: Good, decently priced Thai food on Waterman with a coffee shop (see East Side Perks) tucked in the front. Super convenient if you don’t want to haul down to Wickenden for your Asian food fix. Spike’s Junkyard Dogs: Many vegetarians have rediscovered their carnivorous roots after spending time at Spike’s. But the veggie dogs are good too. Try Spike’s Challenge sometime, and get your photo on the wall if you succeed. Spiritus Fermenti: The only liquor store on Brown’s campus. Overpriced, but you’re paying for proximity. Go there on your 21st

birthday for a discount and a teeny bottle of champagne. Packed on Friday evenings. Fish Co IDs will probably work. Starbucks: What is there to say? Usually crowded, and a good place for Thayer Street people-watching opportunities. There’s a good chance your French class conversation section will meet here. Store 24: The convenience store with a name it can’t live up to — local law shuts its doors just shy of 2 a.m. It does have all your weekend needs — limes, Solo cups, Ping-Pong balls and soda. If you’re there around closing time Sunday through Thursday, chances are you’ll run into a Herald editor stocking up on Red Bulls, Dr Pepper and candy. Subway: Near Minden Hall and Finlandia, home to delicious chainmade sandwiches. This restaurant was psychotically anticipated by former Herald Executive Editor Chris Hatfield ’06, who did, in fact, eat the first sandwich there. Sushi Express: Don’t feel like walking to Wickenden or even, if you live near Pembroke, Haruki Express? Hole-in-the-wall Sushi Express has passable, quick sushi, made when you order it. So far, no health code violations. Tealuxe: Not a coffee person? Tealuxe has more tea than any sane person could ever want. Via Via IV: Unsubstantiated mob rumors abound about this stock Italian restaurant, which clings to its Meeting Street location with uncommon ferocity in the face of the looming LiSci.

Chris Bennett / Herald

Via Via is yet another option for those craving late-night pizza.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

Hurricanes slam Nicaragua, Mexico By Manuel Roig-Franzia The Washington Post

GUATEMALA CITY — Hurricanes swept ashore in Nicaragua and Mexico within hours of each other Tuesday, the first time Atlantic and Pacific hurricanes have made landfall on the same day since the National Hurricane Center began keeping records in the 1940s. Felix arrived first, punishing sparsely populated northern Nicaragua with 160 mph winds before dawn, then plowing inland across Honduras, threatening floods and mudslides in a region still recovering from Hurricane Mitch, which killed nearly 11,000 people in 1998. More than 1,900 miles away, Henriette swelled to hurricane strength Tuesday afternoon and roared onto the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, an area thick with some of Latin America’s swankiest hotels and vacation homes. Felix, which is expected to dump up to 25 inches of rain in the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, and the Guatemalan capital, Guatemala City, slashed through small villages in Nicaragua, turning thin walls into kindling, toppling trees and kicking up a heavy storm surge. The storm confounded meteorologists. Originally forecast to slam into Belize on Wednesday, it veered sharply south late Monday and early Tuesday, making landfall in a coastal region of Nicaragua populated primarily by small groups of Miskito Indians, many of whom refused to evacuate as the storm approached. By late Tuesday, at least three people — an ill baby being transported to a hospital, a man whose house collapsed and a person who fell off a roof — were reported dead in Nicaragua, said Gen. Oscar Valladares, who was among the officials overseeing disaster relief. Nearly 80 percent of the roofs in the port city of Puerto Cabezas were torn off by ferocious gusts of wind. Tourists huddled in Tegucigalpa hotels after being airlifted from the Roatan Islands, where scuba enthusiasts flock at this time of the year to the bright blue waters considered among the best in the world for deep-sea diving. After making landfall as a Category 5 hurricane — the second in two weeks, following Hurricane Dean’s landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula on Aug. 21 — Felix quickly weakened to a Category 1 storm and was downgraded to a tropical storm Tuesday evening. But authorities were wary because of their experience with Mitch, which also weakened, but dropped enough rain in a slow trudge across Honduras to cause devastating floods and mudslides.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

First-years test Banner registration continued from page 1 The prospective classics major from New York City has his five courses all picked out: three in the Department of Classics, one course in fiction-writing, and a first-year seminar — HIST 0970Z: “Atlantic Pirates.” “I know. It’s sweet,” he says with a raised fist. The Friedman Study Center paints a much more frantic picture. Freshmen crowd around computer clusters, poring over the newspapersized Brown Course Listing, which contains every course the University offers in microscopic text. Associate Provost Nancy Dunbar, University Registrar Michael Pesta and even Don Thibault, a representative of Banner developer SunGard HigherEd, form a home base of technical support as Meiklejohn advisers clad in bright green scramble busily about, fielding general questions about registration. The “25 decibels” sign hangs a few feet above, ignored. Back in Jameson, Banner-time catches up with real time, and the girls snap back into action. Powell quickly consults her neatly written list of five courses — including history, French and linguistics — and copies the course reference numbers into the registration fields. Petersen-Rockney types in her PIN, but Banner rejects it — twice. As she places a call to her faculty adviser, Holzman yells “I’m on! I’m on!” two floors up in Everett. He and his roommate are competing to see who can register first, and Holzman is behind. He starts tapping his foot, but not from nerves — The Budos Band’s rendition of “My Girl” has just come on. A few blocks away, in the Friedman Study Center, California native

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Evelyn Limon ’11 struggles with some of Banner’s more complicated elements. “It sucks. I hate it. I don’t know how to do it,” she says. “But it’s probably just me. I’m really bad with computers.” In Jameson, Powell breathes a sigh of relief. She’s made it into all five of her classes, including HIST 1030: “Early Medieval Europe,” in which she grabbed one of only two remaining spots. “I’d better like this class,” she says. But across the room, a less fortunate story unfolds. PetersenRockney was able to locate her correct PIN, but the delay stalled her long enough to miss the cutoff for the poetry and creative nonfiction classes. It’s an emotional moment for Petersen-Rockney, who takes a minute to clear her thoughts. She reminds herself of Brown’s pervasive flexibility and remembers that “no” rarely means “no” in the Open Curriculum. She quickly chooses two other courses and plans for shopping period.

Upstairs, Holzman has lost his friendly competition but has won the game of registration. He gets all five of his classes and jumps out of his seat. “Yarrr!” he exclaims. Ben Mishkin ’08, a Meiklejohn peer adviser, comes to Limon’s aid in the Friedman Study Center and helps her work through the kinks. The two select a course in Spanish, two in political science and ECON 0110: “Principles of Economics.” As the dust settles on the threehour registration session, Dunbar, Banner’s project owner, reflects on the day. “It was terribly quick,” she says, adding that the few problems that arose were easily solved by the wellstaffed support team of administrators and Meiklejohns. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to say the same after tomorrow.” Registration for all other students begins today at 8 a.m., and Dunbar says her team is prepared. As students and administrators alike gear up for the year’s academic kickoff, excitement is running high. “I’m ready to start,” Holzman says.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

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The Herald’s picks for fall athletes to watch continued from page 16 Kohli is already eighth for career doubles wins and 12th for both career singles wins and career combined wins. Last season, Kohli earned First Team All-Ivy recognition in doubles with Dan Hanegby ’07, a year after the pair garnered Second Team AllIvy honors. Kohli played a key role in Brown’s back-to-back Ivy titles in 2005 and 2006. Katie Lapinski ’08, volleyball Volleyball captain Katie Lapinski ’08 looks to lead the team in digs for the third season in a row at the libero position. Anchoring the back row last season, she earned First Team All-Ivy honors averaging 5.68 digs per game, the 21st best mark in the country last year. Look for her to break the Brown all-time career records for total digs (1,762) and digs per game (3.85) as well. This enduring senior has only missed three games — not matches, games — in her career and hopes to help Brown dig up their first league championship since 2000.

Mike Gartner ’09, m. water polo Even though Mike Gartner ’09 missed half of the men’s water polo season last year with a wrist injury, he was so impressive in the games he did play that he was named First Team All-North and an honorable mention All-American. He’s off to a quick start already — after leading the team with an average of 2.4 goals per game, he scored three yesterday in a 10-3 win against the Puerto Rican National Select Team. Ani Kazarian ’08, field hockey Ani Kazarian ’08 last year started all 16 field hockey games last season and has played in all 48 games since arriving at Brown in 2004. The midfielder earned honorable mention All-Ivy honors last year and has 13 career points and should be ready to step into an increased leadership role as a co-captain. — Herald staff reports

Four MLB rookies to watch for postseason and next spring continued from page 16 then is he only owned in 13 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues? For one, Bannister has a low strikeout rate of 4.37 K’s per 9 innings, and there’s the fact that he pitches for the Royals. A late draft pick, he has never been highly touted for having great stuff, so his numbers may drop hard after AL hitters figure him out. Good first year, but I’m not sold. Don’t waste a keeper on this guy. CF Chris B. Young, Arizona Diamondbacks Arizona’s speedy centerfielder is one of many young players that have the Diamondbacks in contention for a playoff birth this season. He has an outside shot at 30 HR and 30 SB and is only three leadoff homeruns shy of Bobby Bond’s national league record. Arizona manager Bob Melvin’s decision to have Young hit leadoff — however misinformed it is — means he will continue to score plenty of runs and steal bases. If he can improve his plate discipline, he could be another Alfonso Soriano. That’s a big ‘if.’ Judging by Young’s 116 strikeouts and .287 on base percentage, he has plenty of holes in his swing and could be heading for a pretty ugly sophomore slump. Outfielders are a dime a dozen, so don’t be too concerned about Young. If you really need to replace his production there’s always Mike Cam-

eron. 2B Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox Coming into the 2007 season, second base was one of the major questions facing the Red Sox. Pedroia has filled in remarkably, going .329/.396/.451 and playing very well at second base. The scrappy second baseman has recorded more walks this season than strikeouts and is eighth among all major league second basemen in doubles. His fantasy value is a bit suspect, as he doesn’t figure to hit many homeruns (six this year) and doesn’t run much, either (only five stolen bases). In AL-only leagues, Pedroia is a definite keeper, but in mixed leagues there are just too many other options. My apologies to Daisuke Matsuzaka, Hideki Okajima, Tim Lincecum, Troy Tulowitzki and Hunter Pence, who all had excellent years. Lastly, don’t give up on some other can’t-miss rookies who just didn’t pan out this year. At the plate, look for massive improvements out of Alex Gordon (probably the only 1B that could steal you 20 bases), Delmon Young and Justin Upton. On the hill Yovani Gallardo, Philip Hughes and Homer Bailey should be fine. If you have an empty roster spot you should feel confident adding any one of these guys.

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E ditorial & L etters Page 14

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Staf f Editorial

Sirens and safeguards On April 16, 2007, Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people and himself at Virginia Tech in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. For those of us on campuses far from Blacksburg, Va., the tragedy sparked an outpouring of grief and empathy that came with the knowledge that, perhaps, it could have happened here. This month, a panel appointed by Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine to review the attack and response released its report, noting that the tragedy at Virginia Tech still “assaults the senses: 32 innocent victims of homicide, 26 physically injured, and many others who carry deep emotional wounds.” The mental health system should have flagged Cho as a threat and treated him, the report notes. In fact, he was identified as a person in need of help. Mistakes were made, but it seems incredibly difficult to prevent a determined madman from carrying out such a crime, in Virginia or anywhere else. The openness and trust that define our colleges and universities — indeed, much of our society — can work against us, as well. We want to feel safe in our classrooms and residence halls, walking across the Main Green or talking to a professor at office hours. We don’t want to substitute complacency for security and do nothing. But putting airport-style security measures — bag searches and metal detectors — at every door doesn’t strike us as an effective or realistic solution, either. The problem of balancing security concerns with free exchange — and civil liberties — certainly isn’t limited to college campuses, and the vigorous debate over federal surveillance programs expected this fall in Congress is a sign of our times. Here on College Hill, we’re encouraged by the University’s implementation of a campus-wide emergency alert system this summer, which will allow officials to contact just about everyone on campus immediately by phone, e-mail or text message in the case of an emergency. We’re also glad that the MIR3 inCampusAlert and other measures, such as training for Brown police officers in how to deal with “active shooter” and hostage situations, were in the works before the Virginia Tech incident. It’s good to know that the Department of Public Safety and the University aren’t merely reacting in the wake of a horrifying disaster. Of course, pitch-perfect policies and large-scale siren systems do not leave us immune to tragedy. The Virginia Tech panel’s report concludes, “the police from Virginia Tech and Blacksburg did an outstanding job in responding quickly” to the massacre in Norris Hall, where 30 people were murdered by Cho before he turned one of his guns on himself. As the panel’s report indicates, a comprehensive approach is the best strategy to address threats, and efforts should not be limited to individual campuses. Most importantly, our national mental health system needs the resources and funding to prevent people like Cho from slipping through the cracks. Many threats can, and should, be defused long before a disturbed individual picks up a firearm. U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., whose district includes Brown’s campus, has long been at the forefront of the fight for parity for mental and physical issues in health insurance coverage — a goal worth fighting for on several grounds. And here on campus, Brown’s office of Psychological Services is run by hard-working, dedicated individuals who deserve much credit and recognition for the invaluable services they provide to this campus. In our community, we hope no one should ever hesitate to ask for help — or be unable to get it.

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O pinions WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

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Frown University JACOB SCHUMAN Opinions Editor

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel less happy lately? Yes, Brown University has fallen from its throne at the peak of the Princeton Review’s ranking of the top 20 American colleges with the “happiest students.” No longer can we lord our toothy smiles and squeals of ecstasy over the frowning, hunched-over lot toiling away in university libraries across the nation. Now it seems that Whitman College — enrollment: 1,421; location: Walla Walla, Wash.; mascot: the Fighting Missionary — is the happiest campus in the country. We’ve been demoted to number two on the list. Those cheerful bastards. Why are Whitman College students so much happier than we are? According to the Princeton Review, the student body is mostly kids “who grew up near Seattle or Portland.” Well, I’ve listened to the music coming out of that region. As far as I can tell, Elliott Smith and Kurt Cobain weren’t the two jolliest guys on the planet. What is it about Whitman that makes its quality of life so much higher than Brown’s, or any of our peer schools’, or any of the thousands of universities’ across the continent? How can we possibility compete with the rainy, heavily forested, grungy Pacific Northwest? We can take some consolation from the fact that we remain, pretentiously, the happiest school in the Ivy League. Princeton mopes in fourth place, while Yale glowers depressingly at us from ninth. Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, and Penn didn’t even make the list. Hampshire College (ranked seventh for “reefer madness” and first for

“Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, CloveSmoking Vegetarians”) is currently preparing to airlift emergency supplies to our dejected Ivy brethren. Massive shipments of Funyuns, balloon animals and Wii Sports will be trucked in soon after. The Beatles’ “Ob-La-Di, Ob-LaDa” will be played on repeat. Cotton candy will be served. But no amount of donations from our bleary-eyed friends to the north will help us reclaim our spot at the top of America’s happiest schools from the Whitmanian usurper. “Second place is just first loser,” my father

agonizing existential torture? Don’t worry, be happy! So let’s commit ourselves this year to a strict happiness regimen: a re-glad-ucation camp for the depressed classes. We’ll start out basic — one extra smirk, once a week — and we’ll build up with reps of grins, chuckles and guffaws until we can do a set of 20 bellylaughs without getting winded. I’ve heard that Botox works wonders for tightening up those facial muscles and forcing a smile whenever life feels too gloomy. Specially tinted contact lenses can add a twinkle to the eye. A red

What is it about Whitman that makes its quality of life so much higher than Brown’s, or any of our peer schools’, or any of the thousands of universities’ across the continent? used to tell me. Of course, he was only consoling me because second place would steal my lunch money on the bus (Oh, senior year of high school…), but the message remains the same. It’s up to us Brunonians to tighten our belts, grit our teeth, stretch out those lips and smile gleefully until our eyes water and our stomachs knot. Those shadowy inner demons and self-doubts that lurk just below the surface, tearing at our souls and rendering every second of waking life into

foam clown nose and brightly-colored suspenders help enhance the effect. That dark sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach is just all the happiness kicking in! Of course, an easier response to our demotion would be to conclude that the “happiest student” ranking itself is flawed — compiled from a likely non-representative survey of college students. Whitman, aside from its “happiest students” award, also basks in the glow of 10 additional superlative Top 20 list

appearances (not including their unofficial place at the top of the “most likely to fill out online ranking surveys” ranking). Perhaps these subjective Top 20 lists are just a contrived, superficial, unscientific ploy by the Princeton Review to lure in understandably ner vous, confused, insecure high school students and get them to buy their college books, test-prep classes and study guides. What an unhappy thought! Banish it from your mind, you happy Brown student! In fact, the true solution may just be found in the ephemeral nature of happiness, which often seems as blind as fate and as indiscriminate as bad luck. Just last week, we discovered that the actor Owen Wilson, who is blessed with money, fame and talent, is also desperately unhappy. Contentment, understood by the Princeton Review as a mood, state of mind or feeling, might better be conceived as a personality trait. Happiness is something about you, not your condition. Brown and Whitman students would be reasonably cheerful, under normal circumstances, at most other schools, too. Harvard students should probably just start hitting the bottle now. The lesson to take from all this, clearly, is that Brown needs to start recruiting inherently happy high school students if we want to get back on top of the rankings. While current Brunonians force themselves to exude the image of joy, the University can lay the groundwork for happy students in the future. I recommend a vigorous scouting process, by which the admissions board can identify happy high school students early and snatch them before other colleges get a chance. From what I remember, in all those movies about high school, the truly happy kids will be the geeky guys who finally get the girls of their dreams at the last party before graduation.

Jacob Schuman ’08 is a warm gun.

Bush leaves his mark — and it’s not Iraq BY LINDSEY MEYERS Columnist Abroad OXFORD — Predicting the judgment of history is no easy task. Even so, I wonder whether President Bush’s most lasting legacy will be the decisions rendered by the new conservative majority of his Supreme Court, rather than the debacle in Iraq. Because Bush has now surpassed Jimmy Carter as the most disliked president in recent history, many wags sardonically conclude that Bush will have no legacy at all. However, even Bush’s most strident critics should concede his political deftness in appointing John Roberts and Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. These appointments have enabled Bush to place his imprimatur on our nation’s highest court, even as the Democrats have become politically ascendant in Congress. The result is that the decisions of this Court may resonate in the United States long after even the bulk of our troops are withdrawn from Iraq. A dramatic case in point is the Court’s recent opinion in Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District et al. At issue in this case was the legacy of Brown v. Board of Education, the seminal Supreme Court decision that empowered local authorities to desegregate public schools pursuant to the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Following the long-established precedent of Brown v. Board of Education and its companion cases, the lower courts ruled that public

school districts in Seattle and Jefferson County, Ky., could lawfully allocate transfer students to their respective schools on the basis of race. However, the Roberts Court, in a bitterly divided 5-to-4 opinion, declared these programs unconstitutional because they unequally favor one race at the expense of another. Indeed, Roberts argued in his majority opinion, “The best way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”

continue to be employed as a policy tool in social engineering. Advocates of affirmative action may take solace in the concurring opinion of Justice Anthony Kennedy, which holds that race can be used as a factor in some circumstances. However, Kennedy arguably envisions a narrow exception, rather than a large loophole, to Roberts’ color-blind constitution. As a result, the Court’s decision casts doubt on a number of race-based programs. For

The appointments of Roberts and Alito have enabled Bush to place his imprimatur on our nation’s highest court, even as the Democrats have become politically ascendant in Congress. By announcing the principle of a colorblind constitution, the Roberts Court largely overruled Brown v. Board of Education. In doing so, the Court’s decision directly questions the legality of hundreds of comparable school desegregation programs throughout the country. More broadly, it also makes it unclear whether and to what extent race can

example, are programs predicated on creating racial diversity now constitutionally suspect? If so, what does that mean for the future of affirmative action in college admission? The far-ranging implications of the Court’s decision prompted an impassioned Justice Stephen Breyer to sharply criticize the majority decision by announcing, in open court, “It is not

often in the law that so few have so quickly changed so much.” Justice John Paul Stevens, in his dissenting opinion, also declared that the majority has radically rewritten one of the Court’s “most important decisions.” Though many Republicans applaud the concept of a color blind Constitution, the activist nature of the Court’s decision should be a source of grave concern to conservatives. Both Roberts and Alito came to the Court wearing the mantle of conservative jurisprudence that excoriates judicial activism. In fact, in their confirmation hearings, both affirmed respect for judicial precedent and deference to local lawmakers under the principles of federalism. Yet, in the Court’s decision, both unrepentantly rejected the precedent of Brown v. Board of Education just as they overturned decisions of local lawmakers that deserved greater deference under our federalist system. The bitter irony for conservatives is that Roberts and Alito seem just as capable of judicial activism as their liberal counterparts. Consequently, the Court’s decision may be a Pyrrhic victory for conservatives; a battle won that loses the war properly fought against judicial activism. If so, Bush’s new majority on the Court may be a further disappointment to conservatives who once held so much promise in his now all but failed presidency. Therein lies the possibility of yet another blow to Bush’s legacy, one that justifies enduring discontent among right thinking conservatives.

Former Herald Arts & Culture Editor Lindsey Meyers ’09 is currently studying at Oxford’s Lady Margaret Hall.

S ports W ednesday Page 16

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Rookie phenoms or flops? Yo Brown, hope everyone had a great summer, and welcome back. In the spirit of Orientation, I want to give a shout out to the rookies. Class Shane Reil Are You For Reil? of 2011, that means you, but this also goes out to the kids who balled out of their minds this year for their Major League clubs. Here are the few guys whom I consider to be the top candidates for Rookie-of-the-Year honors. Plus, for those of you in fantasy keeper leagues, I’m going to let you know which of them actually are big fish and which ones you’re better off throwing back. 3B Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers This talented third baseman has firmly positioned himself in the middle of a potent Brewers offense, and fantasy owners are reaping the benefits. He hits for power and average, steals bases and already has decent (but not great) plate discipline. Just for a little perspective, if we stretch his current numbers over a whole season, we get something around, oh, 47 HR, 25 SB, 131 RBI. Braun will win Rookie of the Year hands down. If you are fortunate enough to have this guy on your team, keep him and consider yourself blessed. SP Brian Bannister, Kansas City Royals The race for AL Rookie of the Year is still up in the air, but Bannister has to be considered a frontrunner. The former Mets prospect leads the Royals in wins and ERA as a starter. In nine of his last 10 starts, Bannister has gone at least six innings and has only allowed more than three runs once. At 26, he is coming right into his prime and should be able to post similar numbers for a few more years. Why continued on page 13

MLB’s Diamondbacks sign a sidewinder in Dietz ’08 By Stu Woo Spor ts Editor

Two years ago, Bob Dietz was in the stands at the University of South Carolina, watching his son, Jeff ’08, pitch against the No. 1 team in the nation. Since he was concentrating on filming the game, Bob wasn’t paying attention to the score. When he finally looked at the scoreboard in the sixth inning, he was shocked to see that his son was throwing a no-hitter. That’s when Bob realized: his son had the talent to be a professional baseball player. Two years after that breakthrough performance in South Carolina, Dietz finally realized a lifelong dream. On Friday, he signed a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. “It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Dietz said yesterday. “It’s exciting. I always wanted to play pro ball as a kid.” After leading Brown to its firstever Ivy League title this year as its staff ace and cleanup hitter, Dietz will delay his graduation and forfeit his last year of NCAA eligibility for what might be his only shot at the big leagues. After completing the fall semester, Dietz will leave Brown to join the Diamondbacks’ farm system in time for the 2008 season. But since

Jacob Melrose / Herald File Photo

Jeff Dietz ‘08 signed a professional contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday.

minor-league seasons end around late August, he might return to school as early as Fall 2008 to finish his last semester. “It doesn’t bother me that I’m leaving early,” said Dietz, the reigning Ivy League Pitcher of the Year.

“This has been the only goal in my life — I’m so happy.” For Dietz, a professional contract offer was somewhat unexpected. Dietz had hoped to join catcher Devin Thomas ’07, now in the Detroit Tigers’ organization,

as a selection in the Major League Baseball draft in June, but he was passed over. Instead of playing for a professional team, he competed in the amateur Cape Cod Baseball League this summer. Pitching against some of the top college baseball stars in the country, he pitched 24 2/3 innings, posting a 0.73 ERA. His performance caught the eye of scouts, and Dietz said he received contract offers from the Diamondbacks and Baltimore Orioles. He said he ultimately chose Arizona because of a better contract: a $40,000 signing bonus (about the equivalent of an eighthround draft pick) and the rest of his tuition paid. After spring training next year, Dietz will begin his career as a relief pitcher at Arizona’s rookieleague or single-A affiliates. Bob Dietz thinks his son, with a sidearm fastball that reaches the upper 80s and a good slider, will succeed as a professional, but he won’t mind if he doesn’t. “Ever ything he’s done since high school has been just icing on the cake,” said the father, who played college baseball himself. “He’s had a wonderful baseball career — to play at Brown and help them win a championship and play in the NCAA Tournament, he’s already succeeded beyond my expectations.”

A bevy of Bears to watch during the fall season Now that you’ve filled your calendars with all the can’t-miss games, here are the top players to keep an eye out for on the fields. Rhett Bernstein ’09, m. soccer When the men’s soccer team opens its fall season this weekend, all eyes will be on Rhett Bernstein, who has been selected to the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy watch list. Bernstein’s selection to the 29-member list comes as no surprise. Last season, Bernstein was unanimously voted First Team All-

Ivy and named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Northeast Region Team. The honors came after Bernstein impressed coaches and fans by starting every game and notching a total of eight goals and 16 points, placing him second on the Bears in scoring and third in the Ivy League for goals. Lindsay Cunningham ’09, w. soccer After earning honorable mention All-Ivy honors for the past two years, Lindsay Cunningham looks poised

for a monster season. Cunningham led the Ivy League with eight assists last season and ranks 17th at Brown for nine career assists. Steve Morgan ’08, Football The football team lost some key players at the end of last season, but fans can find comfort knowing talented kicker Steve Morgan remains with the Bears. Morgan was First Team All-Ivy and First Team All-New England last season, honors that reflect his 212 career points and 39 career field goals. Morgan’s impres-

sive numbers are already Brown records and put him in third place in Ivy League history. Saurabh Kohli ’08, M. tennis Brown tennis fans have faith that Saurabh Kohli may be just the person to lead Brown to its fourth Ivy title since 2002. They have good reason to think so, considering the heavy imprint Kohli has made in Brown tennis history so far. After only his third year with the Bears, continued on page 13

After summer of transition and training, MLS rookie Daniels ’07 looking ahead to next season By Evan Kantor Contributing Writer

Ashley Hess / Herald File Photo

Andrew Daniels ’07 just wrapped up his first season of professional soccer.

Life has not been the same for Andrew Daniels ’07 since getting selected 18th in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft in January. While graduating from Brown remained a priority, he also wanted to start playing with his new team, FC Dallas, as soon as possible. In early February, he went to Dallas for three weeks of training. He then returned to Brown to continue taking classes, but he flew around the country on weekends for all of the team’s games. After graduation, he was finally able to move to Dallas to be with the team full time. Playing at the professional level has forced Daniels, who has yet to play in an MLS game, to improve his game, both mentally and physically. “My fitness level wasn’t as high as it should have been,” Daniels said about his conditioning upon arriving

in Dallas. “You mentally have to be always prepared,” he added. “In college, you could make a play and then take a break for a couple of minutes. It’s so much more important keeping the ball at this level than at the college level.” In addition to adjusting to a higher level of competition, Daniels is getting acustomed to a new position. Daniels played forward for his entire Brown career, but he has played center defense ever since impressing coaches at that position during the MLS combine in January. “It works out to my advantage because I understand what forwards are thinking,” Daniels said. FC Dallas is currently tied for second place in the Western conference and is in a good position to make the playoffs, which begin next month. A week ago, FC Dallas got a big boost when Denilson de Oliveira Araujo, a Brazilian superstar, signed with the team. “It’s so crazy to be a year removed from college and

playing with him,” Daniels said. “He was the most expensive player in the world at one point.” Daniels has not played in any MLS games for FC Dallas so far this season, but he has played every minute of what he called “reserve league games.” After each MLS regularseason game, the reserves for each team face off, so every player can compete in a game. Though Daniels hopes to be playing league games for the team next year, he said he is satisfied with his role on the team for now. “I’m just happy to be playing every minute of the reserve game,” he said.

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