Daily
THE BROWN
vol. cxlviii, no. 40
INSIDE
POST
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013
adult flesh pie
By SARAH PERELMAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER
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Game over Studio 38 attempts to dismiss a state lawsuit Page 5
Fast talkers Annual debate contest tries competitors’ quick thinking today
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tomorrow
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since 1891
Health officials identify campus norovirus outbreak The U. has not seen a norovirus outbreak in almost 10 years, Health Services said
post-
Herald
A stomach bug spreading through campus was identified as a norovirus by the Rhode Island Department of Health yesterday afternoon, said Edward Wheeler, director of Health Services for the University. Since Sunday, one student has been admitted to the emergency room with the virus, and 18 others have visited one, Wheeler said, adding that 49 students in total have contacted Health Services with symptoms. The “highly contagious” virus is found in stool and vomit, Wheeler said. It can be transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces but is not airborne, he said, adding that Facilities Management is providing extra cleaning to dorms and athletic centers this week to help prevent further spreading.
Though people with the illness are scattered throughout campus, the “epicenter is the whole Keeney Quadrangle area,” Wheeler said. “I think it’s the numbers of people,” he said, adding that shared bathrooms could contribute to the disease’s spread. Health Services reached out to the Department of Health Sunday, when staff saw the number of students with gastrointestinal symptoms spike, Wheeler said. Health Services normally only sees three or four students with gastrointestinal symptoms per week, he said. The Department of Health provided materials for collecting sick students’ stool samples, which its labs tested to determine the illness patients contracted, he said. The state laboratory confirmed two samples as positive for norovirus, said Dara Chadwick, chief officer of health promotion at the Department of Health. “For the purpose of determining if this is in fact a norovirus outbreak, two cases is enough, she said. “One of the number one things that people can do (to prevent contracting or / / Virus page 4 spreading the
TOM SULLIVAN / HERALD
Forty-nine students have contacted Health Services experiencing symptoms, and one has been hospitalized.
State challenges DOMA constitutionality UCS to R.I. joins 14 states to oppose the law, which withholds fund federal marriage benefits from same-sex couples service groups By HANNAH KERMAN STAFF WRITER
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin filed an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court March 1 arguing the court should declare Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. DOMA, which was signed into law in 1996, established the federal definition of marriage as a lawful union between one man and one woman — regardless of the marriage laws in a particular state — and allows states to choose whether to accept other states’ same-sex marriage statutes. As a result, all federal marriage benefits, including the ability to file joint tax returns and receive health care coverage under a
CITY & STATE
spouse’s plan, only apply to heterosexual couples. The Supreme Court will hear the case of Windsor v. the United States, challenging Section 3 — the restriction on federal benefits for same-sex couples with legally recognized marriages — when it considers the constitutionality of DOMA March 27. By signing the amicus brief, Rhode Island joined “14 other states challenging the constitutionality of DOMA,” said Amy Kempe, Kilmartin’s public information officer. “We’re not the primary party in the lawsuit,” but signing the amicus allows Rhode Island to show support for the groups challenging DOMA’s constitutionality, Kempe said. Gov. Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 has long opposed DOMA, signing a 2011
letter sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign that declared the federal legislation financially irresponsible and counter to the principles of equality and fairness, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Chafee also participated in a panel at New York University sponsored by the Respect for Marriage Coalition, where he discussed the financial drawbacks of restricting benefits for same-sex couples. The brief defends states’ prerogatives to regulate domestic relations, keeping issues of family and marriage away from the federal government, Kempe said. “States have made different choices about protecting same-sex marriages,” she said. “DOMA is one of the first times that the federal government has weighed in on regulating domestic relations,” Kempe said. Roger Williams Law Professor Jared Goldstein said the brief starts with a “federalist argument that
appeals to both the liberals and the conservatives — a states’ rights argument.” For the federal government to say one state’s marriage laws are valid and another’s are not violates the most basic definition of equality, he said. Wary of making a firm prediction of the trial’s outcome, Goldstein said he has a hard time imagining that five judges would vote against what he called the equal treatment of legally married couples. When DOMA was passed, no same-sex couples were legally married, so equal protection was purely hypothetical, Goldstein said. Now, real couples, married under the laws of their state, are being treated differently. “Labeling DOMA unconstitutional will not cause every state to recognize same-sex marriage, but it is one more step on that road — and a very significant step,” Goldstein said. Supporters / / DOMA page 5
class enrollment choices freely, which is something we do not want to do,” Carey said. The data was compiled by Sasaki Associates and mapped the networks of departments with overlapping student enrollments, Carey said. As students progress in their undergraduate paths and declare concentrations, they might be expected to focus on a few key areas of interest, but the data suggest “areas become, if anything, even more connected,” he said. While certain departments, such as computer science, tend to be a bit more isolated, “the map shows a tremendous number of connections across the entire curriculum,” he said. The committee polled faculty members to incorporate their needs into the report and found that “the strongest academic collaborations were within departments,” Carey said. He displayed a campus map that showed that physical science buildings were the most closely
concentrated on campus, followed by the social sciences. The humanities and arts departments were the most dispersed across campus. Current classroom space received the most unsatisfactory ratings from students who responded to the MyCampus survey, Carey said. “Most of what we’ve seen in the data is affirming what we already knew,” he said. In the report, the committee already listed the need for more flexible classroom space as a pressing concern, but multipurpose space is a complex issue, Carey said. “The more flexible space is, the more compromises you make for it to aptly fit a specific department’s needs,” he said, specifically referencing discussed construction of a concert hall for the Department of Music. A graduate student expressed his concern about facilities, another issue the interim report prioritized in the discussion fol/ / Plans page 3
Forum opens campus discussion on redevelopment Growth in the Jewelry District must account for varied student academic interests, the planning VP said By HANNAH LOEWENTHEIL SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Flexible and accessible classroom space, graduate student facilities and expansion into the Jewelry District were among the most salient issues addressed by Russell Carey ’91 MA’06, executive vice president for planning and policy, in an open discussion about strategic planning Wednesday afternoon. About 25 attendees gathered in List Art Center to hear Carey’s presentation regarding the Committee on Reimagining the Brown Campus and Community’s findings published in its January interim report. Carey then opened the floor for attendees to voice their opinions and concerns about the committee’s future plans. Carey said the committee is focused on determining “the academic
and space needs for the University for the next decade” to decide how to fulfill the University’s academic mission in the most effective manner. In its planning efforts, the committee will look to prioritize expanding facilities for the School of Engineering and the Brown Institute for Brain Science, Carey said. Until these departments are expanded, they are very limited in their research opportunities, he said. A recent analysis revealed that students enroll in varied courses. This exploration of interdisciplinary interests complicates the University’s planning for future use of the Jewelry District, Carey said. Most departments are currently located within a 10-minute walking radius of the Main Green, and moving any department off College Hill would “impede students’ ability to make
The newly created Service Group Funding Board will dole out $200 per group per semester By MAXINE JOSELOW SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The Undergraduate Council of Students voted to extend funding to service groups for the first time during its general body meeting Wednesday. Though the Undergraduate Finance Board funds Category 1, 2 and 3 student groups, it has historically refrained from funding groups dedicated to service. The code change establishes a Service Group Funding Board independent of UFB that provides $200 of baseline funding to service groups each semester “to further their missions.” Service groups may apply for supplemental funding if they find $200 insufficient. The board is “another UFB for service groups,” said Alexander Kaplan ’14, UCS student activities chair, who drafted and presented the code changes along with Sam Gilman ’15, UCS treasurer. “We didn’t want to burden UFB with this,” he said. The board will comprise two UCS members, two UFB members, one chair nominated from the Swearer Center for Public Service, four service group leaders and one alternate service group leader. Service groups must meet four criteria to qualify for funding from the board, ac/ / UCS page 2
2 university news
RISD gets $1 million for new teaching post
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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013
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The benefactors specified the gift must be used to promote Indian culture and artistic endeavors By ALBERT ANDERSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Rhode Island School of Design received its largest-ever gift from an international donor — a $1 million donation to fund a new visiting scholar position in the painting department, according to a March 1 press release from the institution. Vikram and Geetanjali Kirloskar of Bangalore, India were inspired to make the historic donation after their daughter, Manasi Kirloskar, graduated from RISD in 2012 with a degree in painting, Manasi Kirloskar said. The gift has few restrictions attached, but the Kirloskars did stipulate that the visiting scholar promote connections to Indian art and culture at RISD. Manasi Kirloskar said the gift came as somewhat of a surprise to her, adding that her parents were pleased with her growth as a student and the excellent teaching she received at RISD. She said her parents were also motivated by a desire to promote Indian culture and art at the school. “There are a lot of really good teachers, painters and artists from India who aren’t necessarily recognized in this country or even at RISD … so I’m really looking forward to a lot of exchange from India,” Manasi Kirloskar said. The gift’s aim to promote new connections with India corresponds with a broader push by the administration to increase the school’s global engagement. Provost Rosanne Somerson said she recently created the new position of director of global partners and programs
to replace an old administrative post primarily responsible for study abroad programs. Somerson said she was delighted when she learned of the Kirloskar family’s donation. “It’s actually essential for an art and design school to be engaged globally in all kinds of ways, not just study abroad,” she said, citing the value of this gift to RISD’s global outreach. She added that she plans on visiting art schools and foundations in China and Sweden this month to continue promoting RISD on the global stage. Somerson said RISD’s international engagement comes at a time when the institution’s student body is diversifying, adding, “It’s just such a wonderful, rich sort of textile in that classroom to have students coming from all over the world, because so much of what we do is about culture and about the human being.” The gift also came as a tribute to teaching excellence. Professor Dennis Congdon, a former chair of the RISD painting department who taught Manasi Kirloskar during her sophomore year, served as a primary inspiration for the gift, according to RISD’s press release. Congdon noted the RISD faculty works in a collaborative manner. “In truth, the faculty is a team,” Congdon said. “Individuals can lead the team from time to time, but in the end it’s a team.” The painting department is excited about the rare opportunity the gift has created, Congdon said, adding that he approved of RISD’s global outreach strategy. “In a discipline like painting, people bring their personal history… Their politics, their poetics and their voice is shaped by where they come from,” he said. Somerson said RISD sometimes faces inaccurate perceptions of its fundraising
efforts. The assumption that it is harder for RISD to raise money because it is an art and design school and “not producing the doctors and lawyers in droves” is somewhat of a fallacy, she said. Though RISD’s alumni base is relatively small — numbering around 26,000 — Somerson said that since RISD President John Maeda took office in 2008, the school has raised over $8 million in scholarships for students, the highest total ever raised for scholarships in the institution’s history. Isabel Sicat ’16, an international student from the Philippines who is enrolled in the Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program, said she did not see a downside to greater global integration. She added that the countries of South and Southeast Asia often do not get as much exposure in the art world as do Western countries. “It’s always a plus to integrate more internationalism into the mix,” she said. Elisa Palluau, a RISD sophomore, said she had a positive view of RISD’s fundraising. “We have a lot of very successful artists that come out of RISD so we have this bond,” she said. “There are lot of people that are very grateful they were at RISD …. so they are more willing to give back money.” Somerson said she is hopeful this donation may lead to others that fund teaching positions. “I would like to see others recognize that teaching is so important,” Somerson said, adding that faculty members serve as key mentors. “At some universities or colleges it’s a very different kind of relationship.” Congdon said he does not yet know when the first visiting scholar will be selected, but expressed enthusiasm for the start of the selection process. The painting department looks forward to proving itself worthy of the gift, he said. “It’s going to be our very delightful task to earn this vote of confidence.”
/ / UCS page 1
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cording to the code change. They must operate locally “within a distance that allows Brown students to make day trips,” have partnerships with local organizations, remain independent from a national funding structure and fundraise at least once a year. “The real impetus behind this was to continue to support the students who are working in Providence,” Gilman said. “This makes a powerful statement that Brown is not just what happens on the Hill but in the community as well,” he added. Gilman and Kaplan originally presented the code change to the Council at last week’s general body meeting, where Council members voiced their concerns. Nick Tsapakos ’13, UCS general body member, said creating the board could equate to “adding another layer of bureaucracy.” Gilman and Kaplan said they listened to Council members’ thoughts and reworked the code changes in preparation for Wednesday’s meeting. “I think we fixed the problems and clarified the issues from last week,” Kaplan said. But Holly Hunt ’13, UCS general body member, said the current code change still fails to identify a body responsible for determining which groups meet the criteria for receiving funding from the board. “That’s a conversation we need to have,” Gilman said. “That’s a further code change.”
city & state 3
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013
Defunct 38 Studios tries to dismiss R.I. lawsuit The game development company went bankrupt, likely leaving the debt burden on state taxpayers By MEG SULLIVAN SPORTS STAFF WRITER
Curt Schilling, former Red Sox pitcher and founder of 38 Studios, called earlier this month for the dismissal of a lawsuit filed against him by the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. The RIEDC filed the lawsuit last November, following 38 Studios’ bankruptcy. 38 Studios received a $75 million loan from the RIEDC in November 2010 as a part of the state’s Job Guarantee Program, legislation passed only weeks prior by the General Assembly to help stimulate the Rhode Island economy. Under the conditions of the loan, the company relocated from Massachusetts to Rhode Island to introduce hundreds of new jobs to the state. Less than two years after the company received the loan, 38 Studios filed for bankruptcy, leaving
the company $100 million in debt to the RIEDC, a debt expected to fall on Rhode Island taxpayers. The RIEDC filed a lawsuit against Schilling and other 38 Studios executives in November 2012, alleging that the company misled the agency about the amount of money it would need to produce its video game project, “Copernicus.” The suit maintains the deal’s architects were aware that 38 Studios would require a figure larger than the initial RIEDC loan to complete the project. Schilling has called the RIEDC’s allegations of fraud, racketeering and conspiracy “implausible,” according to a report from the Los Angeles Times. Schilling’s motion to dismiss the suit claims he and the other defendants made it clear that 38 Studios would require the full $75 million to successfully complete the project,
but under the loan agreement, the company received only $50 million, with the remaining $25 million kept in reserve. The lawsuit also targets RIEDC officials Keith Stokes, former executive director, and Michael Saul, former deputy director, both of whom presided over the 38 Studios loan. Stokes resigned from his position soon after news outlets reported that 38 Studios halted loan repayments, following public pressure to step down. Since then, three other members of the RIEDC board have resigned or chosen not to pursue another term. Providence business leader Jack Templin is resigning after two years of his four-year term. Cheryl Snead, president and CEO of Banneker Industries Inc., and David Dooley, president of the University of Rhode Island, have each completed three-year terms. Both informed Gov. Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 of their resignations last month. The 13-seat board now only has five members, including those waiting for replacement.
Though Kaplan left the Thursday meeting after half an hour, other members stayed for the full three hours, said Alex Sherry ’15, UFB member. “I had to decide, do I put my academics ahead of my UFB responsibilities?” Kaplan told The Herald after the UCS meeting. “Maybe I would have reevaluated if I knew (the consequences).” Excused absences comprise medical issues, family emergencies and travel for interviews, said Zak Fischer ’13, UFB chair. All three of Kaplan’s absences this semester fell under the category of unexcused, Fischer said, adding that Kaplan had unexcused absences last fall as well. Kaplan’s suspension from his role as Student Activities Chair came during spring budgeting, the most important time of the year for UFB. Kaplan’s suspension prevented him from representing his student groups in spring budgeting meetings over the weekend. “He was removed from the board at a very critical time,” said Leila Veerasamy ’15, UFB member. “I don’t like how I was removed during the busiest week of the year for UFB,” Kaplan said.
Council members said they voted to reelect Kaplan, because he had established strong ties with key University administrators. UCS President Anthony White ’13 said Kaplan had a good relationship with Timothy Shiner, student activities director, “who is critical for what we do,” White said. “That’s something to keep in mind: these various relationships I’ve formed throughout the year,” Kaplan said in his speech to the council. “If you put a new SA chair in place, some of that relationship is lost,” he said, adding that he had forged a strong relationship with Shiner in particular through collaboration on the mid-year Student Activities Fair and other initiatives. Gregory Chatzinoff ’15 originally entered the election for Student Activities Chair but withdrew once Council members informed him the role would make him ineligible to serve on the University Resources Committee, for which he applied. Looking ahead, Kaplan said he will attend all of the remaining UFB meetings of the semester. “It’s great that I’m back in my role. I just want to move forward,” Kaplan told The Herald.
UCS reinstates Activities Chair Two students ran for the recently vacated position, and its previous holder won the vote By MAXINE JOSELOW SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The Undergraduate Council of Students voted to reelect Alexander Kaplan ’14 as Student Activities Chair at its general body meeting last night. The council voted for Kaplan over Chiemeka Omwuanaegpule ’14. Kaplan, a former Herald staff writer, was suspended from his role as Student Activities Chair after he left the UFB meeting last Thursday early to study for a midterm, thereby incurring a third unexcused absence from a UFB meeting in one semester and violating UFB code. Kaplan told The Herald the manner in which UFB leaders approached his suspension was “frustrating” because they did not notify him he already had two absences or offer to sit down and discuss the situation with him.
UNIVERSITY NEWS
Chafee announced his nominations to replace Templin, Snead and Dooley in early March, which include Nancy Carriuolo, president of Rhode Island College and Shannon Brawley, executive director of the Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association. “This is a new direction for the RIEDC and, I believe, a more promising path to a stronger economy for Rhode Island,” Chafee said in a press release announcing the nominations. Chafee said he hopes to emphasize changing priorities for the RIEDC but added that the board maintains a commitment to helping Rhode Island’s small businesses. “The governor has obviously appointed people that he believes are representative of the business community of Rhode Island and understand the needs of that community,” said Christine Hunsinger, Chafee’s press secretary. “Rhode Island has a very high percentage of small businesses that create jobs here, so his focus is on that.”
/ / Plans page 1 lowing Carey’s presentation. Graduate students in most departments say they need more space to work, hold office hours and establish a community, Carey said, referencing committee meetings focused on gathering student opinions. While the University cannot realistically fix the facilities of all its doctoral programs within the next 10 years, Carey said, he hopes coming projects will moderately improve graduate student conditions. Attendees brought the issue of handicapped student accessibility to the forefront of the discussion. Carey expressed concern about Wilson Hall, a building currently inaccessible for handicapped students, but members of the audience pointed to other buildings, like Sayles Hall and the Marty and Perry Granoff Center for the Creative Arts, that also limit disabled students. In terms of accessibility, “there is definite room for improvement,” Carey said. One audience member said Brown’s beautiful and historic buildings are among its greatest assets, and the University should focus on preserving them while improving their functionality.
4 city & state
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013
I-195 relocation makes room for development The original park area plans have changed to include an eight-story building by the river SENIOR STAFF WRITER
S. IN MA Proposed pedestrian bridge
Ship Street Square
SHIP
Future building Alpert Medical School
Proposed park
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DYER
Plans for a riverfront park on land previously taken up by I-195 have been modified to allow for the development of a building with up to eight stories and 3,000 square feet of available space. The park area was originally designated to be six acres of green space, but new plans have carved out about 1.5 acres near the street edge of the park for development, said Colin Kane, chairman of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission. The building will have “extraordinary views” and a “real iconic location,” Kane said. The commission chose to develop a portion of the park because it was looking for a parcel to sell and felt the park was too large, said Arthur Salisbury, president of the Jewelry District Association. The commission will not profit from the sale — it will use the proceeds to contribute to paying back the bond the state gave the commission to acquire the I-195 land, Kane said. The original plans “didn’t really activate the water’s edge or the park’s edge,” Kane said. Instead of the land remaining a relatively inactive six acres of green space, “the commission started to think of some ideas to get additional development out of the land,” said Bonnie Nickerson, director of longrange planning for the city of Provi-
N WATERMA MAIN CAMPUS THAYER
By KATHERINE LAMB
dence. “The statements they have made so far indicate that they have concerns about the activity in the park,” Salisbury said, and developing a building that could have restaurants and retail in the first floor would activate the area. The commission will have strong authority over how the parcel is used and will be charged with selecting a developer and approving the design, Salisbury said. In addition to activating the area, the Jewelry District Neighborhood Association would like to see the development used as a residential building or a hotel to allow for more “mixed use” in the neighborhood. A residential or hotel development would energize a “24/7 active environment downtown,” Kane said, while an office building would have “more of a daytime presence.” The size of the parcel may allow for a combination of the uses, he said. “Three thousand square feet is a lot of building to be built in Providence.” Salisbury added that residents or guests could take advantage of restaurants and cultural activities. The development will include a walkway through the site — from the park into the Jewelry District — and possible plans for an arch opening are being drafted, Salisbury said. The pathway will allow for a connection to the “city walk,” which aims to link areas of the city through scenic parks and pedestrian routes, he added. The pathway through the site would naturally divide the land and create two separate parcels for development if needed, Salisbury said. The parcel may be sold as one of the last pieces of I-195 land because
JILLIAN LANNEY / HERALD
The space set aside for riverfront development is expected to draw great T N I interest, said the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission chairman. O
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the commission “feels it’s going to be the most valuable parcel,” due to its views that will overlook both the park and the water, Salisbury said. It will also be in walking distance of “cultural, educational and business opportunities in the city” and will not obstruct other people’s views, Kane said. While the parcel will be of greater value once the park has been com-
pleted around spring of 2016, it may be sold before, Kane said. “How the actual sales will sequence, we don’t know yet,” he said. While it is too early to identify potentially interested developers, the commission expects the parcel will draw great interest, Kane said. The commission will aim to spread the word and “bring the parcel and the opportunity to the market,” Kane said.
/ / Virus page 1 disease) is to use good hand hygiene,” Chadwick said. Alcohol-based sanitizers are not nearly as effective as soap and water in killing norovirus germs, Wheeler said, adding that because an infected person can go several days without showing symptoms, everyone must take precautions. Norovirus symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration, Wheeler said. Symptoms typically subside in one to two days, Wheeler added. Five or six of King House’s 28 residents came down with the bug last week with varying severity and duration, said Max Genecov ’15. He said he experienced symptoms for nearly a week and was hospitalized for dehydration. Katie Finn ’16 said the illness was “really severe but then went away really quickly.” She got sick Monday night but said she felt too ill to go to Health Services. “(Noroviruses) are the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States,” Wheeler said, adding that the last outbreak at Brown occurred seven or eight years ago. Spring break vacancies will provide Facilities Management with additional time to clean and remove disease-causing germs, Wheeler said. Students with norovirus symptoms who feel dizzy, find blood in their vomit, have difficulty urinating or experience other symptoms of dehydration may need medical attention and should contact a doctor, Chadwick said. The Health Services website contains guidelines for self-care and assessing whether visiting the doctor is necessary, Wheeler said.
feature 5
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013
Fighting words: Student debaters spar in annual tourney The annual Hicks tournament included arguments on topics such as domestic abuse law By MARK VALDEZ SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Co-coordinator of the Radcliffe Hicks Debate Samantha Sanders ’13 wrote a motion on the board in Wilson Hall 101. “This house would allow the government to use eminent domain on intellectual property.” Seated in the front row were the two final competitors: Steven Adler ’15 in a grey blazer over a red gingham Oxford shirt and Jean McCabe ’14, in a blue blouse and black rain boots. The three judges — President Christina Paxson, Professor of Sociology David Lindstrom and Associate Professor of Economics and Urban Studies Nathaniel Baum-Snow — looked on. Ten minutes were put on the clock, giving the competitors time to craft their arguments. And so began this year’s Hicks debate final, coordinated by the Brown Debating Union. Setting precedent The Hicks debate began in 1882, according to a 2010 University press release. According to BDU lore, Hicks endowed the BDU with a gift to sponsor an annual debate tournament that would award prizes to the top two competitors, Sanders said. The debaters must only be sophomores and juniors, and only faculty members can judge the tournament. Today, the top prize amounts to $2,000, while the second place winner nets $1,500. Sanders described the event as “a layman’s debate about important issues that pertain to Brown and the community at large.” One debater argues in the affirmative for the motion while the other debates in the negative. The debates are quick — which Sanders said acts as a “reflection of how quickly they can analyze and then produce points on the issue”— and extemporaneous without aid from outside sources. Sanders reached out to the community through Morning Mail and members of the BDU. She received 17 responses, and the 16 debaters were accepted on a first-come first-serve basis. But one debater dropped out the day before, leaving the final number of debaters for the competition. The single-elimination debates began Monday, when at 5:06 p.m. Sanders read the first motion of the debate:
/ / DOMA page 1 of the law’s constitutionality argue that “the Constitution leaves the decisions concerning such complex social arrangements to the people … (who) determine through their representatives the best way to structure such laws,” wrote Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, in U.S. News & World Reports. “There is nothing in our Constitution that mandates same-sex “marriage.”” After a Massachusetts federal judge ruled the law unconstitutional, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced President Obama’s administration will stop defending the bill in court.
“The house believes that every criminal defendant should be required to use a government-provided defense lawyer.” The competitors, who were randomly paired through an online generator, scribbled down the motion and scrambled to exit, using the allotted 10 minutes to get to their debate rooms and come up with their arguments. Crime and punishment One of the eight rounds brought Ivy Sokol ’15.5 and Julien Angel ’14 to the Faunce Underground to argue in front of Theresa Devine, lecturer in public policy. The debaters alternated between three- to six-minute speeches with equal total time for each speaker. Sokol, the affirmative speaker, took her place with a journal in hand, beginning the debate with arguments rooted in America’s founding principle of equality. Angel, who held two notebooks, rebutted by insisting there would be a decrease in the quality of representation if the motion were passed. After the final speech, Sokol and Angel gave each other a handshake and left the room. Sokol said she decided to give the tournament a shot given she had “a one in eight chance of $1,500.” Angel is a member of the BDU, which contributed seven debaters to the competition. “We wouldn’t have enough debaters if we didn’t let people from the team join,” Sanders said. After the first octoround, judges wrote down the winners on yellow notepads, handing the makeshift ballots to timekeepers who collected the ballots for tabulation. Judges discussed strengths and weaknesses they observed while waiting in the headquarters for the next rounds to start. “Style can sometimes work against substance,” said Rose McDermott, professor of political science. Chris Tallent GS, graduate student in political science, has judged the Hicks debate for three years running and first heard of the debate from a student competitor he taught in a section. “It’s an opportunity to have a discussion on topics not usually discussed,” Tallent said. “It seems like (the debaters) were having a good time.” Shoutin’ it out Sanders made her way into the competitors’ room to announce the first round winners who would move into the quarterfinals, and then announced the second motion: “This house would prosecute domestic abuse even when the victim opposes prosecution.” Alex Mechanick ’15, a BDU member, argued in the affirmative against Earlier this month, former President Clinton wrote a column in the Washington Post arguing DOMA — the bill he signed in 1996 — was unconstitutional “Because Section 3 of the act defines marriage as being between
Radcliffe Hicks Debate
Hannah Begley Madi Castillo Andrew Kaplan James Stomber Daniel Moraff Hyunkyu Kim Steven Adler Young Seol Dana Schwartz Alex Mechanick Jean McCabe Gillian Michaelson Ivy Sokol Julien Angel King Pascual Race Archibold
Begley Begley Kaplan Adler Moraff Adler Adler McCabe Mechanick McCabe McCabe McCabe Sokol Archibold Archibold JILLIAN LANNEY / HERALD
McCabe with McDermott serving as the judge and debaters from the first round watching the debate. Mechanick said society is built “on a compact with other people” to maintain security, and “the state has an interest in decreasing behaviors” such as domestic abuse. Mechanick urged the judge to consider the moral weight of allowing a “threat to collective security” to continue living in society. McCabe centered her argument around the point that the policy would discourage victims from reporting instances of domestic abuse. Both competitors spoke with fervor and gusto, shouting when they got to the crux of their arguments and speaking through their time limits. Less than 20 minutes after quarterfinals ended, Sanders entered the room once more to announce the semifinalists — Hannah Begley ’15, Race Archibold ’15, McCabe and Adler. The last word The final debate opened with a customary coin toss to decide the debaters’ positions on the motion. Adler, who won the coin toss, chose to negate the motion on the government’s use of eminent domain on intellectual property. Sanders said the idea of eminent domain is a popular topic among high a man and a woman, same-sex couples who are legally married in nine states and the District of Columbia are denied the benefits of more than a thousand federal statutes and programs available to other married couples,” he wrote.
school and collegiate debates but putting it in the context of intellectual property was unique. McCabe began the debate by affirming that “the government is obligated to protect its citizens.” Her introductory remarks included defensive statements, saying Adler would argue the motion would stifle innovation. McCabe provided five counterpoints to this, including that new innovations would retain prestige value. “The benefits (of eminent domain) can be achieved by government subsidies or direct government purchase of the licensing fees of the property,” Adler said at the start of his speech. At the end of the 25 minute final round, the judges decided which competitor they believed was more persuasive in his or her argumentation. “I’ve never judged a debate in my life,” said Paxson, who had been asked
by Sanders to judge the competition. The other two judges said they had judged the Hicks debate in years past. “I’m always looking forward to it,” Baum-Snow said. Sanders said a lot of faculty members want to judge because “(they) are really interested in this type of skill and to see the ability of Brown students’ minds at work at high caliber.” After five minutes, the judges wrote their respective verdicts on Post-It notes and handed them to Sanders. “In a 2-1 decision, Jean is the winner,” Sanders announced. McCabe, who won the competition last year, said she will probably use the second lump of prize money to pay her rent. She participated in LincolnDouglas debate throughout high school and was a semi-finalist last year in the American Parliamentary Debate Association national competition, in which she will compete again next month.
6 editorial EDITORIAL
Something to believe in
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013
EDITORIAL CARTOON b y i va n a lc a n ta r a
Religion continues to ignite debate on campus, a trend made clear by the recent election of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio to the Papacy. Facebook News Feeds exploded with comments, pictures and links about the new Pope, activity akin to the hoopla that surrounds events like the Presidential election. Our community’s continued fascination with religion, regardless of whether we personally practice one or not, leads us to re-evaluate the multi-dimensional facets religion brings to the college experience. Given our campus’s liberal disposition, we often view religion in a critical light, but it is important we recognize the value religion brings to the undergraduate experience. Brown was founded in 1764 by a group of Baptists, including Nicholas Brown, who would eventually lend his last name to the University. But it is widely known that Brown was the first institution to accept students regardless of religious affiliation. This legacy holds strong today: The undergraduate body’s religious dynamism, not to mention the other profound factors that accentuate the diversity on campus, is a tremendous asset and strength. Just like students of different races or socioeconomic backgrounds, students who practice divergent faiths or no faith at all, have their own unique stories and experiences, providing other perspectives to learn from. But it would be misleading to claim that religion’s main role on campus is to foster increased diversity and perspective. Rather, religion serves as an avenue, especially at Brown, where students have the opportunity to continually question everything. In a sense, religion inspires by philosophically and fundamentally challenging moral and ethical existence. Religion’s existence, especially in such an academic setting as Brown, leads us to ask the most difficult questions about ourselves. Examining religion’s place has a profound effect on each individual, from atheists to theists, through its role as both a guiding light and an intellectual challenge. Even for students who find religion to be contrary to their own personal viewpoints and lifestyles, faith can be a source of intellectual growth, allowing them room to analyze it. In a way, the non-religious members of the student body have a more objective point of view on the nature of religion, especially regarding its institutional role. While we believe religion at Brown can supplement the overall intellectual journeys we are all on, we acknowledge its delicacy and potential to be abused and misunderstood. Both religious and non-religious students can be guilty of these things. We saw an example of this two years ago, where volunteers from the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property held a demonstration advocating traditional heterosexual marriage. The inevitable existence of a clash in ideologies — highlighted by this occurrence — should further challenge us to navigate and negotiate these passionate differences instead of eliciting such vitriolic responses. Regardless of our religious identities, we are all part of one community that strives for intellectual growth and understanding. Whether we find faith to be a fundamental fact of existence or an intriguing academic pursuit, we cannot deny its importance in the cultivation of the university experience. Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial page board: its editor, Dan Jeon, and its members, Mintaka Angell, Samuel Choi, Nicholas Morley and Rachel Occhiogrosso. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.
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opinions 7
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013
Relax? I most certainly will BY DANNY DELANEY Opinions Columnist Stop for a moment and think about your typical day. When you wake up, what do you do first? Do you check your email on your phone? Do you usually skip breakfast or grab a Pop Tart on your way out the door? What about lunch or dinner? I know sometimes I bring my meal with my work and eat in the library. Sometimes I don’t go to bed until four in the morning. Maybe you have even pulled an all-nighter? The rush of day-to-day activities increasingly plagues the world we live in. We are expected to maintain incredible levels of energy and work at what often seems to be an unsustainable pace. And the worst part is that, at least in my experience, each one of us feels like we’re the only one who doesn’t have it together. And we can’t understand why we can’t get everything done. But for those of you who, like myself, have felt this way, I have some great news. Interestingly enough, the best way to get more done might actually be to do less. New research has shown it is highly beneficial for us to do things like work out daily, take short naps in the afternoon, sleep longer at night and take more time away from work — vacations, time with friends, etc. — activities that break up our days
and let our minds and bodies recharge. As it stands, time is the solution to everything — the resource that we use to get everything done. One-third of employees eat lunch at their desks and more than half who take vacation time assume they’ll be doing some sort of work during their vacations, according to an article written by Tony Schwartz, founder of The Energy Project. Companies often hire those who can just go, and go and go. But what we all fail to understand is that this is not the
just as much as did a full eight hours of sleep. The importance of rest and regeneration is coded into our physiology and has been proven over and over again through testing and observation. To give another example, the island of Icaria, off the coast of Greece, boasts an elderly population that is nearly two and a half times more likely to reach the age of 90 than the average American is. Why? Because they live lifestyles in which their bodies are allowed
Interestingly enough, the best way to get more done might actually be by doing less.
way to be most productive. For example, sacrificing sleep has been proven to take a substantial toll on performance. You might have heard a teacher or two tell you that even though the exam you have coming up is huge, it’s more important to sleep the night before than to stay up all night studying. Well, you should listen to them. According to a recent study conducted at Harvard, American companies lost the equivalent of $63.2 billion last year in productivity due to sleep deprivation. On the other hand, University of California at Riverside researcher Sara Mednick found that a 60 to 90 minute nap improved cognitive memory test results
to function at sustainable paces. They take afternoon naps, sleep eight to 10 hours per night, eat nutritious food and actively seek to be social with their peers. In the 1960s, sleep researcher Nathaniel Kleitman found that in addition to the 90-minute cycles in which we sleep, we also function in 90-minute cycles when we’re awake. If you’ve ever noticed yourself getting sleepy around 2 or 3 p.m., this is what you are experiencing. Unfortunately, instead of responding to our body’s signals, we pump ourselves full of caffeine and sugar and our bodies respond by releasing the stress hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol. We can’t fath-
om taking a break and we push ourselves to keep going when we shouldn’t. In order to maximize gains, we must work with our bodies and respond to the natural ebb and flow of our energies. In the article written by Tony Schwartz, he recounts his experience with tailoring his work to the energy needs of his body. He speaks specifically about his method of writing five books. For the first three books, he remembers sitting at his desk for up to 10 hours a day for the whole year it took him to finish them. For the next two books, he wrote daily in three uninterrupted 90-minute cycles. He notes that he felt more relaxed, more focused and more creative in the time he spent writing. Writing for four and a half hours a day, his fourth and fifth books were completed in less than six months. I know it might often seem that work is swallowing us and we never have a second to breathe. But for those who have ever experienced the difference that time to yourself makes in your energy levels, you know what I’m talking about. So the next time you remember to do it, try building this in for a few days. Work out in the afternoon and take a brief nap before you go back to the library. Time is not money. Energy is. Danny Delaney ’15 enjoys napping from 3-5 p.m. on Saturdays when possible. He would be glad to relax and watch a movie with you anytime. He can be reached at daniel_delaney@brown.edu.
The decriminalization downfall LUCAS HUSTED Opinions Editor Beginning April 1 — just in time for Spring Weekend and 4/20, coincidentally — possession of up to an ounce of cannabis will no longer be a misdemeanor in Rhode Island. Instead of receiving a year in jail and a $500 fine, offenders can expect to get no more than a $150 fine, akin to an expensive parking ticket. Rhode Island will join the ranks of 14 other states to make possession of marijuana an offense punishable only by fine. Like them, it is paving its way to sensible governance — choosing to focus limited resources on targeting real crime and addressing one of the myriad criminal justice failures of a wasteful “War on Drugs.” While this is cause for celebration, don’t pull out the pipes quite yet. Decriminalization isn’t the panacea it is championed to be. For starters, decriminalization does absolutely nothing to address the inherent problems with a black market for cannabis. Money that pours into this market here in the United States goes to fund criminal organizations both within our country and in neighboring ones. Estimates for the money that Mexican criminal organizations make from selling marijuana in the United States range from 9 to 17 percent of their total revenues. This is not the largest chunk of their incomes by any means, but the fact that any money from consumption of cannabis goes to fund criminal terror — from a country
where 56 percent of the population supports legalization — is a national embarrassment. In theory, decriminalization does nothing more than make this problem worse by lowering the cost of trafficking and selling the drug. Black markets are also unregulated. There is no market mechanism to ensure quality control in the growth or distribution of cannabis, and there exist few methods of testing potency or the presence of other chemical components in pot. While this is a public health concern in its own right, what is more unfortunate is that there is no market mecha-
marijuana will encounter others in the process, and thus it is important to keep marijuana — which is a less harmful substance than other Schedule I drugs — separate from harder drugs. It can also only come through legalization. I am likely preaching to the choir when it comes to marijuana legalization. As Jared Moffat pointed out this year (“Moffat ’13: The rise of the pragmatists,” Feb. 25), most Americans are becoming pragmatic with regards to marijuana regulation. And in some ways, decriminalization is a step along this same path of sensible marijua-
Decriminalization is to sensible marijuana reform what civil unions are to gay marriage reform: an unacceptable compromise. nism to keep marijuana out of the hands of minors. All sides in the legalization debate seem to agree that keeping pot away from teens is a priority, but marijuana — due entirely to its illegality — is more available to teens than alcohol. This is because the black market turns friends and classmates into drug dealers. Kids have to approach negligent store owners or complicit elders to buy alcohol, but the illegal market for pot has no age limits. And though it is not a gateway drug — this false “fact” has thankfully been refuted — the market for harder drugs piggybacks off of the market for marijuana. Teens who seek
na reform. In more ways, though, all it does is take the wind out of the sails of marijuana reformers who want to address these real issues. From a self-interested point of view, decriminalization fully placates an average cannabis purchaser. He can continue to purchase easily without fearing criminal penalties. What incentive does he have to rally or march for sensible reform when he is no longer personally affected by marijuana policy? Who is going to speak up for marijuana providers who deserve to be welcomed as fellow tax-paying citizens? Who is going to combat the flawed first-order groupthink that has perpetuated the idea that keeping
pot illegal ensures it stays away from kids? Who is going to help fight to keep marijuana profits out of bad hands when most Americans haven’t even thought about doing that with cocaine? The answer: fewer people. In essence, marijuana decriminalization is a tiny Band-Aid that has been touted as a quick fix for state governments across the country. Want to deal with overflowing prisons? Decriminalize. Want to make citizens happy? Decriminalize. Unfortunately, a Band-Aid is pretty bad at healing a bleeding artery. So too, decriminalization is a pretty poor way to deal with the majority of issues surrounding failed drug policy. If anything, it lowers the cost of distributing an illegal drug throughout the country. It also makes your average American consumer just happy enough that he doesn’t demand tougher reform. But stronger reform is what we really need. We need more states like Colorado and Washington to take hold of a large black market and bring it into the light. We need more people to challenge failed federal policy. We need more people to step forward and demand change. Decriminalization is to sensible marijuana reform what civil unions are to gay marriage reform: an unacceptable compromise. State legislatures will find that this “quick fix” works in the short term — mostly by pleasing its citizens — but in the long run, we need real solutions to a multifaceted problem. Lucas Husted ’13 wants an end to the Drug War, too, but knows that undoing decades of failed policy isn’t easy. He can be reached at lucas_husted@brown.edu.
daily herald city & state THE BROWN
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013
Bill would put gay marriage to referendum The joint resolution would ask voters to accept or reject an amendment to the state’s constitution
BY ADAM TOOBIN CIT Y & STATE EDITOR
Immigration
By MARIYA BASHKATOVA SENIOR STAFF WRITER
A joint resolution that could legalize same-sex marriage but allow religious organizations and small business owners to refuse marriage services to same-sex couples is scheduled for a hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee today. Sen. Frank Ciccone, D-Providence, proposed the resolution Wednesday to place the measure on the 2014 ballot. If the General Assembly passes the resolution and voters pass the amendment, the state’s constitution will be altered to “recognize and define marriage in the state of Rhode Island as a legally recognized union of two people,” according to the resolution. The issue of same-sex marriage should be settled by the public, Ciccone said. “One hundred and thirty legislators should not rule on the matter.” Though he is personally opposed to same-sex marriage legalization, he said, “If the voters are in favor of it, then that’s fine.” The resolution includes measures that would allow religious leaders, religious organizations and small businesses to refuse marriage-related services to same-sex couples. Under this amendment, religious leaders who oppose same-sex marriage would not be required to solemnize such marriages, and small business owners in the wedding industry, such as florists and bakers, would be protected from lawsuits if they refuse to serve same-sex couples “based on (their) stringent religious beliefs,” Ciccone said. Gov. Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 previously announced he would veto any legislation attempting to put same-sex marriage on the ballot for a public vote. But a resolution prompting a referendum for a constitutional amendment “is not an act that can be vetoed” under the Rhode Island constitution, Ciccone said. “Unless (Chafee) plans
SPOTLIGHT ON THE STATEHOUSE
LAUREN GALVAN / HERALD
Sen. Juan Pichardo, D-Providence, and Rep. Grace Diaz, D-Providence, introduced legislation Wednesday that would make permanent a policy allowing undocumented immigrants who live in Rhode Island and attend state colleges to pay in-state rather than outof-state tuition. The state’s Board of Governors for Higher Education instituted the policy in 2011, and “59 undocumented immigrants enrolled at one of the three public institutions for higher education for the fall 2012 semester,” Diaz said in a press release. Pichardo and Diaz argue legislation is necessary to guarantee the policy’s survival. “It’s a lot more difficult to get rid of a law” compared to a policy, Diaz said. “The people who are on the Board and who are in office now won’t be here forever.” “Our undocumented students should not be punished for something that is out of their control,” Pichardo said. “President Obama’s declaration last year and ongoing discussion of immigration reform this year has finally created the best environment for legislators to focus on this issue and pass this legislation.” The legislators said there is economic value in allowing undocumented immigrants to receive in-state tuition. The state’s three public institutions of higher education received about $93,000 from undocumented immigrants in fall 2012 — “revenue that could have been lacking had the undocumented students been unable to attend school due to high tuition costs,” according to a state press release.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear two pieces of legislation on same-sex marriage today, including the referendum resolution.
Father-daughter
to rewrite the R.I. constitution, I have no knowledge on how he plans to (veto the resolution).” The resolution has drawn criticism from supporters of same-sex marriage legislation who say the public should not be voting on the civil rights of other citizens and the resolution’s religious protections leave room for discrimination. Ciccone’s resolution is not “an appropriate compromise. We don’t see it as being a viable solution,” said Ray Sullivan, campaign director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island. He added that he does not think the resolution will garner enough support to pass in the House of Representatives, especially since openly gay Speaker of the House Gordon Fox opposes the legislation. The text of the resolution also “includes some harmful exemption language that allows small businesses and individuals to proactively discriminate against gay and lesbian individuals and couples,” Sullivan said. Many of the state’s religious leaders oppose Ciccone’s referendum resolu-
In response to Cranston Elementary controversially banning social events last year if they were targeted for one sex, state legislators introduced a bill that would allow schools “to provide activities for students of one sex provided that reasonably comparable activities are provided for students of the other sex,” according to a state press release. Cranston Elementary implemented the ban last year, after the Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union wrote a letter to the school board on behalf of a single mother, who felt a father-daughter dance was discriminatory, The Herald previously reported. The bill came before the Senate Education Committee yesterday.
tion, including the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island, the Rhode Island State Council of Churches and Nicholas Knisely, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, he said. Same-sex marriage opponent Bishop Thomas Tobin of the Catholic Diocese of Providence lauded the resolution for advancing “the discussion in a positive and democratic way, while at the same time safeguarding the rights of all parties,” according to a statement. Though the Rhode Island Roman Catholic Church opposes same-sex marriage, Ciccone’s resolution “presents an eminently reasonable approach to this divisive issue,” Tobin said in the statement. “The citizens of Rhode Island have a right to vote on this crucial issue,” he added. When the Senate Judiciary Committee convenes today, legislators will also hear a bill that would legalize samesex marriage in the state, introduced by Sen. Nesselbush ’84, D-Pawtucket. The House version of the bill passed in January.
Health care The Senate Health and Human Services Committee is holding hearings today on several new health care proposals introduced by the committee’s chairman Sen. Joshua Miller, D-Cranston, Providence. The first bill would work to reduce costs by encouraging the “development of alternatives to traditional fee-for-service health care delivery and health plans, such as global payments, cost sharing, bundled payments, tiered plans, patient-centered medical homes and affordable care organizations.” Another bill “would expand the powers and duties of the health insurance commissioner to help steer the health care payment system away from the current fee-for-service payment method and toward payment.”
R.I. Senate passes minimum sentence rule for murder convicts The bill would raise the minimum time convicted murderers must serve from one third to one half By ALEXANDER BLUM STAFF WRITER
The Rhode Island Senate passed legislation March 12 that requires individuals convicted of first- or second-degree murder to serve at least half of their sentence — increased from the current one-third minimum — before qualifying for a parole hearing. The bill — sponsored by Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, D-Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich — passed the Senate unanimously and is now under consideration by the House of Representatives. “A lot of senators know this is a serious issue,” Raptakis said, noting that the bill passed 8-0 in committee and 38-0 on the Senate floor. The law only applies to individuals convicted of first- or second-degree murder who have “not been sentenced to life in
prison,” according to the bill. The legislation “sends a strong message” to criminals that they are “going to pay the consequences (for murder),” Raptakis said. The bill also supports families of victims, who often find themselves battling parole boards to keep individuals accused of some of the “most brutal murders in the state” incarcerated, he said. “It is unfathomable to me that this would have any measurable impact on crime,” said Brad Brockmann ’76, executive director of the Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights, of the legislation. Increasing the percentage of a sentence that prisoners must serve before they are eligible for parole is “simply too nuanced,” Brockmann said, adding “there is a strong need for us to move beyond a sense of justice predicated principally on retribution.”
“We want to protect the families,” Raptakis said. “We put more burdens on the victims of the crime than on the criminals who committed the crime.” By requiring convicted felons to serve at least 50 percent of their sentences before being eligible for parole, Raptakis said he hopes to eliminate — or at least reduce — the burden on families, who fear that individuals convicted of murdering their loved ones may be prematurely released. In an email to The Herald, Raptakis cited two cases when individuals who had been convicted of murder were released on parole before serving half of their sentence and killed again. Andrew Jett was released on parole in 2010 after serving only 18 years of a 40-year sentence for killing his girlfriend in 1992. Jett was arraigned on murder charges again Feb. 12. “If he would have served at least half his sentence, he may not have had the opportunity (to murder again),”
Raptakis wrote. Raptakis said he also opposes the release of Bradley Kryla, who killed a prostitute in 1993 and is scheduled to be released on parole in May. “He hopes to pursue a career as a youth counselor,” Raptakis wrote. Simply adjusting the amount of time that prisoners must remain incarcerated before being eligible for parole is unlikely to give the law any real deterrent effect, Brockmann said. The legislation seems to be founded on a desire for retribution, which Brockmann said he understands but finds “counterproductive.” It is important to be open to the possibility that “someone could be totally rehabilitated after 15 years,” Brockmann said. “For us to be building criminal justice laws based on emotion is not prudent,” Brockmann said. In many murder cases, “people don’t think before they shoot” — they will not weigh the prospect of serving half
or one-third of their sentence before receiving parole “in the heat of the moment,” Brockmann said. He added that treating first- and second-degree murders equally under the law “doesn’t make sense” and is “poor criminal justice,” because important distinctions exist between the two categories of crime. The correlation between increased incarceration and reduced violence is “at best a complex relationship,” Brockmann said. As a country, the United States has seen its crime rates decline since 1990, with only a small portion of that trend attributable to incarceration rates, Brockmann said. Rhode Island had 2,939 adults on probation per 100,000 residents — one of the highest rates in the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics’ 2011 Probation and Parole Report. This high rate of individuals on probation creates “a lot more of a chance to trigger a problem,” Brockmann said.