Thursday, January 30, 2014 by The Brown Daily Herald

THE

BROWN DAILY HERALD vol. cxlix, no. 7

since 1891

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Pell, Solomon announce campaigns for R.I. offices Pell seeks Democratic nomination for governor as Solomon jumps into mayoral race By ALEXANDER BLUM SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Clay Pell and Michael Solomon formally launched their respective gubernatorial and mayoral campaigns over the past two days. Solomon became the sixth candidate hoping to fill Angel Taveras’ vacant seat as Providence mayor, joining a field of four fellow Democrats and one Republican. Pell is the third candidate seeking the Democratic nomination for governor. The Democratic nominee will compete against either Republican

METRO

ALEXANDER BLUM / HERALD

Clay Pell entered the gubernatorial race Tuesday morning. The third Democrat to enter the race, he plans to focus on long term economic and infrastructure development.

Raimondo expresses willingness to sign Taveras’ pledge, which would restrict fundraising By HANNAH KERMAN STAFF WRITER

As the Rhode Island gubernatorial race heats up, campaign finance politics are taking center stage as two of the leading Democratic candidates speak out against super Political Action Committees. General Treasurer Gina Raimondo and Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, the two front runners in the Democratic primary, have both voiced opposition to excessive external fundraising and have each criticized the other’s spending strategies. In October, Taveras proposed a “People’s Pledge,” calling upon fellow Democratic candidates to refuse financial support from super PACs in the governor’s race, citing the 2012 Massachusetts Senate race between Republican Scott Brown and Democrat Elizabeth Warren, when the candidates made a similar pact. Though she was initially silent on the issue, Raimondo tweeted in support of the People’s Pledge Jan. 21, calling the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which allowed for unchecked external campaign funding, “disastrous.” Raimondo formally announced » See SUPERPACS, page 3

inside

METRO

Safety task force releases interim report Report recommends continuation of extended OnCall service, increased funds for security cameras By STEVEN MICHAEL SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The Campus Safety Task Force’s interim report, released Dec. 19, recommended continuing the piloted expansion of Brown University Shuttle’s OnCall service and maintaining 10 “yellow jacket” security officers at fixed positions on campus. The report also calls for increasing funding for security cameras and adding new cameras designed to read license plates. President Christina Paxson formed the Campus Safety Task Force in September amid concerns over incidents of armed robbery this past summer, said Executive Vice President for Planning and Policy Russell Carey ’91 MA’06, who chaired the task force. While the regular BUS transports

students on a fixed route across campus, the OnCall service lets students request a ride to any destination in the coverage area currently between 5 p.m. and 3 a.m and 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. when Daylight Savings Time is in effect. As a pilot program, “it was unknown if (OnCall) would not be used at all or overwhelmed,” Carey said. According to the report, OnCall experienced a 31 percent increase in ridership from the 2012-2013 academic year to this one, and the fixed route BUS experienced a 170 percent jump in ridership over the same time period. Carey cited this year’s larger vehicles as a reason for the increased ridership, which he said he views as a success. The report recommended maintaining the number of highly visible

“yellow jacket” security officers, which increased this academic year from four to 10. Deputy Chief of Police for the Department of Public Safety Paul Shanley said the fixed-post officers deter crime, while simultaneously making students feel safer. Whether the report’s recommendations are ultimately funded depends on their receiving the endorsement of the University Resources Committee, which will convene ahead of the February Corporation meeting, Carey said. The task force, president and provost all consider safety a “high priority,” worthy of investment, Carey said, but he added that “we live in an urban environment that is not going to be completely free of crime.” A final version of the task force’s report — which will be released later this semester — will also include discussion of lighting and public safety

education, Carey said. “We’re trying to figure out what is the best way to communicate so we can be effective in our messages,” Shanley said. DPS aims to continue to raise awareness of safety resources such as BUS, SafeWalk and the emergency blue light posts, he added. “I think that the recommendations address campus safety issues that were pressing at the moment,” said Kevin Chen ’15, one of three undergraduates on the task force. “They are all things that would benefit students.” Chen called the installation of security cameras designed to read license plates a key provision of the interim report not included in the campuswide email Carey sent announcing the report in December, adding that he supports installing these cameras as an effective means of catching a criminal’s getaway car.

UCS discusses new eatery, potential renovations Council converses about Andrews Commons, dorm revamping and gender-neutral bathrooms By CAROLINE KELLY SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The Undergraduate Council of Students discussed the new Andrews Commons eatery and future residence hall renovations during a conversation with Richard Bova, senior associate dean of residential and dining services, and J. Allen Ward, senior associate dean for the Office of Student Life, at its general body meeting Wednesday. Several Council members expressed concern that Andrews Commons lacks

sufficient eating space and variety in dining options. The eatery does “not (have) enough cheap snack foods,” said Rebecca Patey ’16, a UCS general body member. E-Soo Kim ’15, another UCS general body member, said the baked goods are steeply priced, citing the cookies as an example. “It’s a big cookie, and it tastes damn good, doesn’t it?” Bova said in response, smiling. Bova said he would look into student requests for vegan baked goods and increased trash monitoring of the venue’s 12 receptacles, which have often overflowed in the eatery’s first weeks. In response to concerns about a perceived limited number of power outlets, » See UCS, page 2

Metro

INDIRA PRANABUDI / HERALD

Dean of the Office of Residential Life Richard Bova spoke to UCS about residence hall renovations and the new Andrews Commons.

Commentary

Students protest the controversial use of standardized test scores to determine who gets a diploma

A proposed bill seeks to reduce the amount of compost material currently sent to landfills

Corvese ’15 advocates for real workplace gender equality — not just rhetoric

Tennis ’14 calls for the next provost to better embody Brown’s unique values

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weather

Democratic hopefuls back ‘People’s Pledge’

Ken Block or Cranston Mayor Allan Fung to become the 75th governor of the Ocean State. Solomon, Providence City Council president, announced his decision to run for mayor at the nonprofit Building Futures in Olneyville Wednesday morning. Solomon promised to “work directly with small business owners to improve the business climate in the City of Providence,” citing his experience as the owner of small businesses Wes’ Rib House and Anthony’s Drug, according to a campaign press release. When elected president of the Providence City Council in 2011, the city faced a $110 million deficit. But by the end of the 2013 fiscal year, that deficit had become a $1.6 million surplus, according to the press release. If elected, Solomon said, education » See CAMPAIGNS, page 3

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2 university news » UCS, from page 1 Bova said the space already contains the maximum number possible without breaking ground. Bova highlighted the space’s printing facilities and lengthy hours. “We moved (the printing station) from the basement of Emery-Woolley to somewhere that would be open 24 hours a day,” he said. The space’s location aligns with the dining needs of the Pembroke community, Bova said. “With 950 first-years and almost 500 upper-class students, there was really no other option for dining on the weekend,” he said, adding that building the new eatery “made more sense” than incurring the much

larger cost of opening the VerneyWoolley Dining Hall on weekends. In response to Council members’ questions about higher food prices, Bova said it costs more to make “every single piece of food” from scratch. He added that Dining Services does not aim to make a profit off food prices but to “break even.” He also mentioned the importance of an online survey about Dining Services, to be made available to students later in the semester. Bova urged students to report their concerns — such as worries about the lack of consistency in when meal credits are accepted across eateries — in the survey, adding that Dining Services “is really open to it.”

Additionally, Bova outlined plans to give three buildings on Wriston Quadrangle “a nice makeover,” though he declined to specify which buildings would undergo renovations. These plans represent the first tangible signs of the University’s proposal to renovate three buildings each summer. He also described general plans to be completed over the next several years to add several study rooms to Emery-Woolley, construct a new residential building and turn Perkins into all singles for upperclassmen, though he noted that for now the dorm will remain sophomore housing. Bova described this year’s new online housing lottery system, noting that the deans hope to be “rolling

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

out information in the next couple of weeks … on how to access the new technology.” Bova concluded by addressing the push by some students for more gender-neutral bathrooms on campus, describing how the law requires genderspecific bathrooms to be available within certain spaces. Though efforts are being made to install gender-neutral bathrooms in addition to gender-specific ones when possible, Bova said the University is committed to “respecting people who like the binary the way it is.” Ward also addressed the Council, discussing the importance of accessing University resources for emotional help if necessary during the new semester. “Let us work with you to make sure that your semester is successful,” he said. “Reach out and let us know ... so that we can provide resources and support you.”

Ward described the upcoming revision of the University’s Student Code of Conduct. “Every five years per the Brown Corporation, the code needs to be revised to see what changes need to occur,” he said. Kevin Carty ’15, a UCS general body member, said the University’s funding for students to receive outside therapy is “not advertised as well as it could be,” which he called problematic, since some students do not feel comfortable going to the Office of Student Life for help. When students take time off to deal with emotional issues, “many may not be initially thrilled about taking time off, but many of them in hindsight … are glad that they made the decision,” Ward said. He emphasized that administrators “are not interested in sending anyone to do anything they don’t want to do.”

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

SPOTLIGHT ON THE STATEHOUSE: JAN. 30, 2014 BY KATHERINE LAMB, METRO EDITOR

Pay it forward, pay it back Legislation introduced Tuesday by House Speaker Gordon Fox, D-Providence, and Rep. Joseph McNamara, D-Warwick and Cranston, would create a pilot program in which participating students attending in-state colleges or universities would not pay tuition or fees until after graduation. The proposed three-year pilot initiative — in which students would sign a contract to pay back a percentage of their income for a fixed number of years after graduation — is based on a similar program adopted in Oregon and would be implemented by June 2015. “This is a bold, innovative idea that would address two of our state’s major challenges — the rapid rise of college costs and the skills gap — at once,” Fox said, according to a press release. The program would be available only to Rhode Island residents in specific courses of study, which would be determined by the Department of Education, in order to address the demands of state employers who lack skilled workers in their industries. “If this model works, it would put education within the reach of every interested student, just as it should be,” McNamara said, according to the release.

Profile privacy Privacy bills aimed at protecting personal social networking profiles of students and employees have been introduced in both chambers, according to a Jan. 24 press release. “The term ‘social media’ does not mean everything associated with a person’s online presence is automatically public, and it is not a license for an employer or school to pry into private material,” said Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio, D-Providence and North Providence, who introduced the bill in the Senate. The legislation would prohibit educational institutions and employers from requesting, coercing or requiring students or employees to disclose a password or other means of accessing a social media account. It would also protect students and employees from any penalty resulting from refusing to disclose the information, according to the press release. “This legislation is not giving anyone a right to privacy over the parts of social media that are unsecured, but there is a distinct line between readily accessible portions of social media pages and other information,” said Rep. Brian Kennedy, D-Hopkinton and Westerly, according to the release. With the introduction of these bills, Rhode Island joins 20 other states where social media bills are currently enforced or under legislative consideration, according to the press release. The House and Senate bills have been referred to their respective Judiciary Committees for review.

Taxi taxes Rep. Doreen Costa, R-North Kingstown and Exeter, held a press conference Thursday to discuss legislation she has filed to repeal a tax on taxi cab fares. The bill would eliminate the 7 percent tax imposed in 2012, which cab drivers say has led to reduced tips, according to a Jan. 21 press release. Though a similar effort to repeal the tax last year was never brought to a vote, the House bill now has 40 co-sponsors — already a majority — and Sen. Susan Sosnowski, D-South Kingstown and New Shoreham, has introduced the Senate companion bill. “I have opposed this unfair tax against small business owners from the beginning,” Costa said, according to the press release.

Firearms safety The Joint Behavioral Health and Firearms Safety Task Force recommended Thursday that Rhode Island submit some of the state’s mental health record information to the national database used to screen gun buyers. Rhode Island currently submits relevant criminal records and requires gun owners to submit a criminal background check, but the 20-member task force — headed by co-chairwomen Rep. Deborah Ruggiero, D-Jamestown and Middletown, and Sen. Catherine Rumsey, D-Exeter, Charlestown, Hopkinton, Richmond, West Greenwich — has recommended in its report that the state change its health privacy laws to allow for the release of critical information about gun buyers who may pose a risk of violence to themselves or others. “We can’t prevent every tragedy, but we should be trying to prevent the arming of people who have already been brought to the court’s attention, because they are seriously mentally ill, violent and dangerous,” Rumsey said, according to the press release. The report suggests adopting a law that would require the submission of only enough information to identify a particular individual and would prohibit disclosing any additional information about the person’s mental health condition. The law would also exclude those who have sought mental health treatment on their own and those who have exhibited only a low risk of violence. The report also proposes excluding additional information on substance abuse, because it could discourage individuals from seeking treatment, according to the press release. “The key is to strike the balance between public safety and the individual’s right to privacy and freedom,” Rumsey said. The task force will submit the report to the General Assembly in hopes of spurring the recommended changes.

» CAMPAIGNS, from page 1 and revitalization of the middle class would be among his top priorities. He is competing against fellow Democrats Brett Smiley, Jorge Elorza, Christopher Young and Lorne Adrian, as well as Republican candidate Daniel Harrop. Pell launched his campaign Tuesday morning from the fifth floor rotunda of the Rhode Island Convention Center, speaking after four guests — including Pell’s grandmother, Nuala Pell, and his wife, Olympian Michelle

Kwan — addressed the crowd. Despite never serving in elected office, Pell cited his record of public service, which includes a position in the United States Coast Guard Reserve, as evidence of his credentials. “I am determined to restore faith in our state government,” Pell said, noting he will not accept campaign funds from super Political Action Committees or state lobbyists. “My office will be accessible to all, not just the best connected and most powerful,” he added.

“You don’t need to be the loudest voice. You just need to speak for those without a voice at all,” Pell said, recalling the advice of his grandfather, Rhode Island’s longest-serving senator Claiborne Pell. Pell cited long-term economic development as his top priority, stressing the potential growth possible from proper I-195 redevelopment. He faces Taveras and Rhode Island General Treasurer Gina Raimondo in the Democratic primary, which will be held Sept. 9.

HERALD FILE PHOTO

Mayor Angel Taveras is currently running almost $2 million behind his opponent Gina Raimando in total fundraising dollars.

» SUPERPACS, from page 1 her candidacy Dec. 18 but her campaign had been actively fundraising through 2013, continuously outperforming Taveras’. In her latest campaign fundraising report, Raimondo reported having raised over $2.3 million by the most recent filing deadline in November, The Herald previously reported. The Taveras campaign announced it had raised $1.02 million total, including $324,920 during the most recent fundraising quarter, in a Jan. 29 press release. Raimondo has the support of multiple super PACs including American LeadHERship, which is dedicated to supporting progressive female candidates, The Herald previously reported. “It was a smart move by Mayor Taveras to ask for the People’s Pledge, because he is so far behind Raimondo in fundraising,” wrote Wendy Schiller, associate professor of political science and public policy, in an e-mail to The Herald. Taveras, who is not publicly aligned with any super PACs, asked Raimondo to “get serious about the pledge or rip off the Band-Aid and just admit she’ll never sign,” given her

»NECAP, from page 8 — such as an AP or SAT scores — in a final attempt to meet the requirement. Jose Serrano, a sophomore at The Met School, addressed the crowd first, explaining the motivation behind the event, which the union called “Operation: Guinea Pig.” “The reason we are dressed like guinea pigs and lab rats is simple — that is how we are being treated,” Serrano said. “(The Rhode Island Department of Education) had a hypothesis — that high-stakes testing alone, without the extra resources our schools need, would solve our educational problems and radically improve our proficiency. But this was nothing more than an experiment.” RIDE released a waiver this month stipulating that students admitted to selective two-year or four-year colleges could graduate without passing the test.

association with American LeadHERship, in a Jan. 28 press release. The Raimondo campaign looks “forward to coming to an agreement to keep outside money out of this race,” said Eric Hyers, Raimondo’s campaign manager. Hyers said the three Democratic candidates — Raimondo, Taveras and Clay Pell, who announced his candidacy Tuesday — need to work together to create “a pledge that is air-tight, has no loop holes and keeps out all special interest money.” Super PACs have not traditionally held significant influence on Rhode Island’s local elections, Schiller wrote. But this has recently become a hot button issue for both the Taveras and the Raimondo campaigns. “The candidates running for governor this year are formidable and will likely be able to raise and spend more money than in previous elections,” Schiller added. Eliminating super PAC funding may not level even the monetary playing field, Schiller wrote. “With such a big lead and strong connections to individuals who have the resources to contribute to her campaign, it is unclear just how dependent Raimondo will be on large PACs.” Members of the Providence Student Union at the protest characterized the new stipulation as further proof that the NECAP was implemented without evidence of its effectiveness. “(The NECAP) was an unproven gamble, which is becoming clearer with every exemption and waiver and backtrack that RIDE releases,” Serrano said. In clear view of on-looking Statehouse officials, Serrano and his classmates performed a skit in which a student brandished a large needle with the words “NECAP” and symbolically injected her peer with “high-stakes testing.” One student came forward with a McDonald’s worker’s hat to illustrate the underachievement students fear may occur from the testing. Finally, gathering together and waving “No more NECAP” signs, the protesters began to chant in unison, “High stakes testing is not right! That is why we have to fight!”

4 university news

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Website presents portraits of careers to engage middle schoolers PhD student’s project showcases science careers, provides middle schoolers with role models in the field By EMILY PASSARELLI STAFF WRITER

The last thing most middle school children daydream about during their Earth Science class is how their coursework relates to environmental scientists’ research. But that may soon change after Lindsay Kuhn, a fourth-year Materials Science PhD student, unveils her website — Inventing Heron. C urrently in the works, the site aims to provide information about careers through personal narratives and video interviews. The site also intends to nurture students’ career aspirations and will feature a section describing how to use education to prepare for a career in the real world.

FEATURE

The invention, the inspiration Kuhn developed the idea of Inventing Heron over a year ago while teaching seventh grade science at Nathan Bishop School, a public school in Providence, under a grant from the National Science Foundation. “After teaching for one year, I didn’t feel like I was making a significant impact,” she said, adding that students were not very motivated to do their work. Kuhn thought a website

displaying personal accounts of careers would motivate students to connect with their classroom material. “When you see the diversity in human experience, it makes you more excited about living,” Kuhn said. “I want people to learn about careers from people doing them,” she added. In October, Kuhn reached out to other graduate students on campus to form a group of seven students working to help develop Inventing Heron. The NSF sponsored the startup, and the team is now fundraising and applying for grants, Kuhn said. Nicole Meehan GS, who is in charge of the website’s social media, said she has noticed increased interest in the website. “I would have definitely benefitted from something like this,” she said. “It may have been nice to know at an earlier stage that it’s not bad to try something out.” Kuhn, who worked as an engineer, journalist, spacecraft designer and freelance writer before coming to Brown to complete a PhD focusing on lead-free piezoelectrics, said a website like Inventing Heron would have helped her figure out her future. Kathryn Grive, a molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry PhD student, is currently working to develop

a section of the website devoted to women in science. From a young age and throughout her undergraduate experience, she had older women acting as mentors, she said. These women supported her desire to become a scientist and advised her to make an informed decision about going into research before getting a PhD. “Having the positive influence of role models early on is key to provide motivation,” Grive said. She added that she hopes Inventing Heron will act as a resource for kids without these opportunities, because currently on the web “there is nothing comprehensive and personalized that tells you day in and day out what (a career) is like.” Though Inventing Heron is designed so middle schools students can read and understand it, Grive said she hopes students in high school and college will use the site as well. “As a middle-schooler, you don’t really know what science is,” she said. Before entering high school, reading about people who use science in their everyday lives can “make your coursework more meaningful,” she added. Coming soon… The website is expected to be live late this summer and available for students to use to prepare for the next academic year, Grive said.

COURTESY OF LINDSAY KUHN

The Inventing Heron team includes Lindsay Kuhn, Maya Almaraz, Nicole Meehan, Kate Grive, Emily Button and Megan Creighton. The team is currently in contact with the Office of Admissions and the Swearer Center for Public Service to compile information aimed at helping kids think about preparing for college, Kuhn said. Team members are also collecting and transcribing career biographies so viewers can search by category to find jobs that may interest them. About 150 people

have already contributed narratives about their job experiences, answering questions such as, “What is the best part about your job?” and “What advice do you have for someone going into your field?” “We would love people from the Brown community to contribute,” Kuhn said. “There is no limitation — the more diverse the better.”

U. launches 250th anniversary website, releases opening weekend schedule

Initial celebrations will include a variety of notable alums, community events By ALEXANDER BLUM SENIOR STAFF WRITER

President Christina Paxson announced details about the University’s semiquincentenary opening celebration and formally launched the website “Imagine Brown 250+” dedicated to the 250th

anniversary in an email to the student body Tuesday afternoon. Scheduled to begin March 7-8, the University’s celebration will run through May 2015 and feature a variety of speakers, programs and performances. The celebratory weekend’s date is not accidental, but “timed with the passage of (Brown’s) charter,” said Marisa Quinn, vice president of public affairs and university relations, adding “there have been students involved in every aspect of planning.” To publicize the weekend’s events, the

University is distributing news releases to a broad variety of local and regional newspapers, as well as employing radio announcements, advertisements and social media. There will also be “direct invitations to various communities,” including students, faculty members and alumni, Quinn said. “We wanted to get the website up and filled with as many events as we could confirm,” though more elements — such as an interactive timeline — are still being developed, Quinn said. The University also plans to engage the global

community by providing live streams of many of the celebratory events, she added. As of Wednesday morning, approximately 5,000 people had visited the website. The University has collaborated with local leaders and organizations such as Save the Bay, Providence Public Schools and the Rhode Island Historical Society while organizing the anniversary’s events, Quinn said. By hosting a variety of events, the University hopes to “attract the broader community,” in addition to students and

faculty members, she said. Paxson announced two notable alums — Jim Yong Kim ’82 M.D., Ph.D., President of the World Bank and Thomas Perez ’83, U.S. Secretary of Labor — will be speaking on March 7 and 8 respectively. Additionally, more than 250 seventh and eighth grade students from Rhode Island will undergo basic academic instruction on Friday morning before having lunch in the Sharpe Refectory, the website noted. The website’s calendar details 29 events over Friday and Saturday, including art exhibits and basketball games. Though there is a high concentration of celebratory events during the opening weekend in March, many other events — some of which the University began developing more than a year ago — are planned for the coming months. “I try to tell the story in a way that situates Brown in its local and national context,” said Edward Widmer, assistant for special projects to President Paxson. Widmer’s book, detailing Brown’s history from 1764 to the present, is expected to be published this fall. Though the book is designed for “general readership,” Widmer said he hopes a broad audience of faculty members, community members and students will find the material engaging. “I’ve been pleased to see that all of the founding language, as old as it is, still resonates with modern relevance,” Widmer said, adding that many of Brown’s “special qualities,” such as constructive irreverence, an unwillingness to conform, excellence in teaching and a commitment to respectfully considering all points of view, endure today. The University’s commitment to distinguishing itself from other colonial educational institutions such as Harvard and Yale by “(getting) away from orthodoxy” still rings true, he said. In terms of defining itself as a free-thinking institution, “Brown has certainly lived up to that (reputation),” Widmer added.

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

menu SHARPE REFECTORY

protesting the test VERNEY-WOOLLEY

LUNCH Vegan Ratatouille, Falafel, Grilled Chicken Alfredo Sandwich, Broccoli Rabe, Frosted Brownies

BBQ Beef on a Bun, Cheese Tortellini, Baked Spaghetti Squash, BBQ Navy Beans, Sugar Cookies

DINNER Italian Beef Noodle Casserole, Vegetarian Pot Pie, Carrots in Parsley Sauce, Chocolate Cinnamon Cake Roll

Cajun Chicken Pasta, Tofu Parmesan, BBQ Navy Beans, Brownie a la Mode with Hot Fudge

sudoku

crossword

DAN ZHANG / HERALD

Students from across Providence converged on the Statehouse yesterday to protest the use of the standardized NECAP exam as a requirement for high school graduation.

calendar TODAY

JANUARY 30

4:30 P.M. 17TH ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. LECTURE

Author Taylor Branch will deliver a lecture on his book trilogy on the United States during Martin Luther King, Jr.’s lifetime. A book signing will follow. Salomon Center, DECI 101 9:00 P.M. SCREENING OF “MEMENTO”

q u o t e o f t h e d ay

“When you see the diversity in human experience, it makes you more excited about living.

”

— Lindsay Kuhn GS

See INVENTING HERON on page 3.

The Brown University Film Forum’s first free screening of the year will feature the thriller “Memento.” The film is about a short-term memory loss victim trying to find his wife’s murderer. Smith-Buonanno 106

TOMORROW

JANUARY 31

1:00 P.M. FRESH TO YOU MARKET

Fresh To You (FTY) is a public-private partnership program that markets fruits and vegetables to Rhode Island communities, offering an easy and affordable way for patrons to access healthier food. 121 South Main Street 1:20 P.M. INCARCERATION, DISPARITIES AND HEALTH IN AMERICA IN THE AGE OF HEALTHCARE REFORM

This symposium features presentations on how incarcerated individuals fail to obtain healthcare because of non-financial barriers, such as social conditions and culture. Granoff Center for the Creative Arts, Martinos Auditorium

6 commentary

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

EDITORIAL

Fully meeting the writing requirement Brown’s one and only curricular requirement is the writing requirement — an indication of the University’s insistence on a liberal arts education. The writing requirement can be fulfilled by a wide variety of classes, from those offered in the computer science department to classes in cognitive science and sociology. The requirement may be fulfilled by taking a course that includes extensive writing, but this by no means necessarily entails extensive feedback. While most professors have extensive writing skills from years of writing academic papers and often books, it is difficult to receive meaningful feedback on writing at Brown. The current system makes it difficult for students to become better writers throughout their undergraduate education. The literary arts department offers courses ranging from fiction and poetry to screenwriting and digital language art. Certainly these classes would be an experiment in improving one’s writing skills overall, but they cater to a more creative and specialized form of writing than the average student is likely to be looking to develop. The English department, on the other hand, does offer writing courses likely to appeal to Brown students focused on devloping their more practical writing skills. ENGL0110: Critical Reading and Writing I: The Academic Essay, ENGL0130: Critical Reading and Writing II: The Research Essay, ENGL0180: Introduction to Creative Nonfiction and even ENGL0160: Journalistic Writing come to mind. In addition to these courses, students have access to the Writing Center, which offers students a place where associates help students with “writer’s block, audience awareness, argumentation, organization, grammar, research skills, the conventions of academic writing, English as a Second Language and issues of clarity and style.” Beyond these formal options for improving writing, there are dozens of campus periodicals and collections that accept submissions and provide the opportunity to collaborate with other student writers. Despite these options at each student’s disposal, the potential for meaningful feedback is still limited. Smaller workshop courses offer the chance to receive such feedback, but if you have ever shopped a creative nonfiction course or one of the popular introductory literary arts classes like Fiction I, you are likely familiar with the difficult process of getting one of the coveted 17 seats. The Writing Center is available for everyone, but it’s more likely to help students with the structure and organization of an argument than with improving broader communication and writing skills. Student-run periodicals and collections offer the chance to receive feedback from peers but rarely from experienced writers. There is no easy process for creating a system wherein students receive more meaningful feedback on their writing. We believe that departments outside English and Literary Arts could work generally toward a goal of increasing feedback on writing. One option would be to offer courses that are specifically designated not as just courses that fulfill the writing requirement but as courses that emphasize significant professor or TA feedback on writing. Furthermore, the University might commit more funds to those departments that do offer small workshop courses in writing, since there is clearly high student demand for such courses. Given that the University has only one academic requirement — a demonstrated ability to write well — we believe Brown ought to follow through with providing the best opportunities for students to fully meet this goal. Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial page board: its editors, Matt Brundage ’15 and Rachel Occhiogrosso ’14, and its members, Hannah Loewentheil ’14 and Thomas Nath ’16. Send comments to editorials@ browndailyherald.com.

K I M B E R LY S A LT Z

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

U. mental health services open to suggestions To the Editor: I was very glad to see Wednesday’s editorial (“Brown mental health services need improvement,” Jan. 28) regarding mental health services at Brown. Our goal at Psychological Services is to do all we can to promote the mental health of Brown students, and we welcome student input. The management of mental health issues can be complex, especially in the context of the academic and social challenges of the college setting, and we have a deep commitment to providing the sophisticated services that students need and want. Our primary mode of service is one-on-one psychotherapy. Approximately 18 percent of the student body utilizes Psychological Services each year. To make our services even more visible and accessible, we have increased our outreach efforts this year to students, staff and faculty members. We have a long history of supporting

An article in Wednesday’s Herald (“Obama highlights opportunity, rising inequality in speech,” Jan. 29) incorrectly referred to President Obama’s State of the Union speech this week. It was his fifth State of the Union address, not his sixth. The Herald regrets the error.

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Sherri Nelson Director, Psychological Services

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student groups active in mental health issues, including Active Minds and Student Volunteers for the Samaritans of R.I. We also partner with students through our participation in orientations as well as trainings for peer support groups, such as Residential Peer Leaders, the International Mentoring Program and Meiklejohns. We run several groups and do topical presentations on test anxiety, stress management, computer addiction, etc. We participate in student-led forums, such as the Ableism Workshop last fall, and we welcome the opportunity to view student mental health issues from a variety of perspectives and to explore novel ways to reach students, including the ones who don’t walk through our doors. As a staff, we view the increased and lively conversation on campus about mental health as exciting and positive.

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

For gender equality, it’s more than money GABRIELLA CORVESE opinions editor

On Tuesday, President Obama delivered his fifth State of the Union address, calling 2014 a “breakthrough year for America” and condemning the partisan gridlock that has run rampant for much of his presidency. While the address is certainly a positive way to communicate the government’s goals, it is largely an outlet for an abundance of hopeful rhetoric — a feature that becomes especially clear when he calls for an end to gender inequality in the workplace. “I believe when women succeed, America succeeds,” said Obama to a round of applause, shortly after calling the fact that women make 77 cents for every dollar a man makes “an embarrassment.” As a student and working woman, I don’t disagree with this statement. I’m additionally aware that the State of the Union is not the State of American Gender Equality. But workplace differences for men and women have implications that go far beyond wages and salaries. Despite President Obama’s optimism, gender inequality in the workplace cannot be solved by wage legislation alone. That 77 cents is an alarming statistic, one that draws an image of a

sinister, male employee intentionally handing his female employees checks that pay only 77 percent of her colleagues’. It specifically refers to percent annual wages, where the gender gaps in weekly and hourly wages reflect other trends: differences of 19 cents and 14 cents, respectively. Raising the minimum wage to the proposed $10.10 may help close the gap, but cancelling the difference is not the ultimate solution for women’s success. Given these numbers, there is

ferences between men and women is the working environments themselves. Though female employment increased over the course of the 20th century, many industries are still male-dominated, potentially creating barriers for interested women. Financial services, one of the nation’s highest-paying industries, is often referred to as a “boy’s club.” A recently published Yale study found that scientists were more likely to hire a man than a woman with identical qualifications. And Obama’s

Even if the GOP supports women in the workplace, we should not settle for those views if they neglect women’s rights in other areas. Obama and Congress should consider whether men and women can ever be truly equal while these inequalities remain so stark. If Obama truly wants women to succeed, his efforts should include more than raising wages. He could take a variety of paths, possibly looking to initiatives designed to introduce more women to STEM

Despite President Obama’s optimism, gender inequality in the workplace can not be solved by wage legislation alone. little overall doubt that American women earn less than their male counterparts, and Obama’s speech fails to recognize the causes of this. Women have different jobs than men. One of the most notable reasons for this is motherhood. If a woman wants to devote time to being a mother, she may not be able to simultaneously work in a demanding industry with higher paying positions. Obama stated in his address that a woman “deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job” — a position that, for many women, would be more feasible if paid maternity leave was guaranteed. Another reason for career dif-

own Congress itself is skewed in favor of men — only 18.5 percent of the members of the 113th Congress are women. Obama’s words may be powerful, but are they enough to change the fervently divided minds of Congress? The GOP selected Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., who is known for her support of hardworking women, to deliver the party’s response to the State of the Union. But she and other Republicans also supported cuts to birth control funding and social services — services that are necessary if women are to remain healthy while holding demanding jobs.

fields or other training programs that specifically target women. First Lady Michelle Obama is a strong advocate for female participation in these fields, and here at Brown, groups such as Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) and Women in Computer Science (WICS) help women in these career tracks. Advocacy and mentorship efforts such as these should gain more traction on the national level to increase equality in these industries. Most importantly, he should call upon career-driven men and women to propel this change. Women in leadership positions should mentor other women. Men should stop re-

sisting the fights for gender equality and treat women as equals rather than subordinates. Cultural norms and institutional sexism make the latter more difficult to accomplish, but a change in men’s attitudes will be necessary to increase hiring as well as respect for women. After all, the last thing we want is for men and women to take part in endless conflicts like the Democrats and Republicans in Congress. In medicine, prevention is typically favored over a cure — why invest so much in treating a problem when it’s cheaper to just prevent it in the first place? For women in the workplace, treatments such as increasing the minimum wage and closing the wage gap are absolutely necessary to alleviate inequality. But Obama’s State of the Union thoughts on women workers fall short on prevention. Solutions and prevention should occur in tandem. Whether these will occur due to congressional cooperation or Obama exercising his executive power has yet to be determined. For those of us not at our nation’s capital, though, we must take it upon ourselves to critically examine the causes and consequences of gender workplace inequality.

Gabriella Corvese doesn’t want to join a boy’s club and can be reached at gabriella_corvese@brown.edu.

A new provost, a new opportunity MAGGIE TENNIS opinions editor

It wasn’t a big surprise when the University announced late last week that Provost Mark Schlissel P’15 is leaving Brown to become the 14th president of the University of Michigan. Schlissel’s departure simply adds one more name to the list of administrators who have left their positions since Christina Paxson assumed the presidency in 2012. The most notable of these, based on her popularity and success in improving Brown’s curriculum and advising systems, is former Dean of the College Katherine Bergeron. Bergeron recently began her tenure as president of Connecticut College after seven years in her previous post. But while I was disappointed by the announcement of Bergeron’s departure, I met Schlissel’s with a shrug, and, admittedly, a sigh of relief. I have long believed that Schlissel was not a good fit for Brown, and I think that his departure creates an important and necessary opportunity to instill Brown’s academic mission with stability and purpose. I first encountered Schlissel at a special Hillel Shabbat dinner for Brown faculty members and administrators. Schlissel was the keynote speaker at this event, and he spoke — for a very long time — about his journey from boyhood to the Provost office at Brown. What struck me about this speech was Schlissel’s solid focus on himself and his career. There was little mention of Brown itself or what he hoped to achieve

during his tenure here. In this speech, Schlissel praised his past institutions of employment — often for features that demonstrated that he did not understand Brown and its students. For example, he shared his appreciation for curriculum requirements, namely in the sciences, and mocked the existence of Brown’s Developmental Studies concentration. He seemed fixated on the hard sciences and scornful of the humanities. Because I revere the university-college system and its

and its harmful effects on the university-college system. According to a Herald article regarding Schlissel’s departure, he was responsible for strategic plan initiatives that focused on STEM research as well as graduate and medical education — at the expense of undergraduate resources. Indeed, Professor of History Howard Chudacoff said Schlissel’s plan had “the potential to change the nature of (Brown’s) traditional undergraduate commitments.” Professor of Engineering Barrett Hazeltine like-

Now that Schlissel is moving on, the University has the opportunity to replace him with a Provost who values and supports the liberal arts. We need a Provost who will work for the soundness and stability of the universitycollege system. focus on the liberal arts, Schlissel’s preoccupation troubled me. Many of Schlissel’s actions over the next few years increased my anxiety about his Provostship. In fact, I wrote a column last November (“Tuition assistance shows appreciation for faculty,” Nov. 21, 2013) criticizing Schlissel for refusing to consider in the strategic plan expanding Brown’s Faculty Tuition-assistance program to match increases in Brown’s tuition. Moreover, I noted that his statements toward faculty needs have often appeared condescending and dismissive. I was not the only one who noticed Schlissel’s preoccupation with science and medicine

wise expressed his concern that Schlissel’s plan might harm the liberal arts. Schlissel has publicly questioned the very concept of a university-college, remarking that the use of the term “could work against our interest to recruit good (graduate) students.” His focus on graduate students is misguided and reveals an academic perspective more representative of large public universities than of Brown. Now that Schlissel is moving on, the University has the opportunity to replace him with a Provost who values and supports the liberal arts. We need a Provost who will work for the soundness and stability of the university-college system. He or she must be open to stu-

dent and faculty concerns — a quality made increasingly important by recent administrative actions demonstrating exactly the opposite. The best way to ensure that the next Provost has the interests of the university-college at heart is to fill the position with someone from within Brown. Too frequently institutions of higher education mistakenly believe that novelty and outside experience translate to good governance. Those making hiring decisions often underestimate the effectiveness of institutional knowledge, experience and familiarity. I want to see a Provost that truly knows and understands Brown — one that embraces the Developmental Studies concentration as something that makes Brown strong and unique. I implore the search committee, especially its undergraduate members, to review only internal applicants. In particular, I urge UCS President Todd Harris ’14.5 and Vice President Sam Gilman ’15 to select student applicants to this committee that want to focus the search on current Brown faculty members and administrators. Schlissel’s decision to leave Brown opens more doors than it closes. It grants the University the opportunity to select a leader that understands Brown’s distinctive academic realm, and more importantly, one who prizes Brown for the feature that makes it unique: the university-college.

Maggie Tennis ’14 is really, really glad that the University of Michigan offered Provost Mark Schlissel a job. She wishes him nothing but the best.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

THE

BROWN DAILY HERALD metro thursday Operation Guinea Pig: Providence students protest NECAP

Students rally at R.I. Statehouse in opposition to RIDE graduation requirement By WHITING TENNIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

DAN ZHANG / HERALD

The Providence Student Union protested the NECAP’s supposedly experimental nature yesterday, with members of the organization donning whiskers, ears and guinea pig masks as a statement against the Rhode Island Department of Education policy.

Members of the Providence Student Union gathered yesterday at the Statehouse to protest the New England Common Assessment Program, a state-wide standardized test recently incorporated into high school graduation requirements. Student representatives from Hope High School, The Met School and Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School donned mouse ears, whiskers and guinea pig masks to protest the experimental nature of the program. The event was held two days prior to the release of the latest NECAP exam results, which will determine if current seniors who took the exam for the second time in October qualify to graduate in the spring. In order to receive a high school diploma, students must either score at least “partially proficient” on the exam or demonstrate improvement in a second or third testing attempt. The results, released this week, will determine whether the 4,000 Rhode Island high school students at risk of not graduating have demonstrated enough improvement to receive a diploma, or whether they will need to take the spring NECAP or submit alternative test scores » See NECAP, page 3

Proposed bill aims to boost state composting

Bill proposes requring all non-residential food waste be sent to compost facilities by 2021 By EMILY DOGLIO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Earlier this month, Rep. Donna Walsh, D-Charlestown, South Kingstown, Westerly, New Shorham, proposed a bill that would “attack the food waste issue” by gradually requiring large facilities — such as dining halls, hospitals and supermarkets — to donate their waste or divert it to compost facilities, Walsh said. The bill includes a timeline outlining when facilities would be mandated to compost waste, setting guidelines for implementation based on the amount of waste produced by a facility. The largest facilities, which produce at least 52 tons of waste per year, will be required to redirect their waste by 2015. The bill carves out exceptions based on the location of the nearest compost site as well as the compost facility’s willingness to take on additional waste. By 2021, all non-residential food waste would have to be disposed of in this manner, Walsh said, adding that she hopes this initiative will spark state-wide conversation on the value of composting for all Rhode Islanders. The bill is “a way to divert organic waste from the landfill,” Walsh said, adding that this would extend the life of landfills that otherwise would last only about 25 years before reaching capacity. Approximately 25 to 30 percent

COURTESY OF RHODE ISLAND RESOURCE RECOVERY CORPORATION

The bill seeks to address the unsustainable practice of waste disposal in landfills, develop a market for composting businesses and create a variety of green jobs. The General Assembly will discuss the bill in committee in February. of what currently goes to the Central Landfill is food waste, she said. The Central Landfill processes 2,500 tons of waste per day and rises about 200 feet above mean sea level, according to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation’s website. “I think we’re beginning to recognize we cannot continue with what we’re doing,” Walsh said.

Though the Environment Council of Rhode Island has not made an official decision on Walsh’s bill, Greg Gerritt, coordinator of the Rhode Island Compost Initiative, said the bill is “exactly what we need,” adding that the ECRI will likely support it. “The system of the landfill has to change,” Gerritt said. The bill’s critics are concerned

with Rhode Island’s lack of existing composting facilities, said Dawn King, professor of environmental studies. But the bill creates “an incentive for businesses to come in and do this in Rhode Island,” she added. The regulatory component of the bill would encourage composters to come to the state. “It guarantees them a market,” King

said. The bill follows models from Vermont and Connecticut, where even residents have compost bins, King said. Composting would reduce the methane gas produced by organic waste and create various forms of green jobs, Walsh said. The bill’s first hearings will take place in February.