Thursday, February 6, 2014 by The Brown Daily Herald

THE

BROWN DAILY HERALD vol. cxlix, no. 12

Obamacare will fully fund Medicaid for new enrollees over the first two years of implementation By EMMA JERZYK SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Gov. Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 P’17 proposed cutting $43 million from the state’s Medicaid program as part of a plan to resolve a projected $150 million budget deficit, according to the budget briefing on the governor’s website. The Medicaid proposal represents the only cut of more than $10 million in Chafee’s proposed 2015 budget. The proposed 2015 budget is projected to have a surplus of $400,000. If approved, the state will have recorded five consecutive years of budget surplus at the end of fiscal year 2014. The Medicaid cuts correlate to the large percentage of the budget allocated to the state’s Health and Human Services department, said Thomas Mullaney, executive director of the Rhode Island Budget Office. “The Governor’s priorities in the past couple of years have been to education … If you can’t make a reduction in that part of the budget, then you have to look in other parts,” he said. Chafee approved a proposal by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services that will save $8.2 million by providing managed care for high-utilizers — individuals who require either highcost or frequent use of health care — and “ensure that they get the highest level of care coordination and care management,” said Deborah Florio, an administrator at the Center for Child and Family Health, a part of the state’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Patients under managed care programs will receive just the amount of care they need by coordinating with providers and patients to prevent excessive use, she said. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government will fully fund care for newly eligible Medicaid beneficiaries but will only match the state’s Medicaid funding dollar-by-dollar for people already enrolled, Florio said. It was expected that 23,000-25,000 newly eligible beneficiaries would enroll by June 2014, but as of Feb. 4 more than 30,000 individuals had already enrolled , she added. The federal funding for newly eligible Medicaid enrollees will decrease to 95 percent of the cost of care by 2017 and 90 percent by 2020. The state has not adjusted the budget for inflation or for the rising cost of care for three out of the past four years, said » See DEFICIT, page 4

inside

METRO

UCS discusses University governance CVS ceases

tobacco product sales

Forum explores how students can influence administrators, Corporation By CAROLINE KELLY SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The Undergraduate Council of Students discussed student involvement in university governance at an open forum Wednesday featuring Russell Carey, executive vice president for planning and policy, and Luther Spoehr, senior lecturer in education. The Corporation’s October decision not to divest the University’s endowment from coal, despite the efforts of Brown Divest Coal, drove much of the evening’s discussion. Over 70 students attended the forum, many of whom were not UCS members. Don Hood, secretary of the Corporation, was invited but unable to attend due to inclement weather. With the Corporation set to converge on campus this weekend, Carey opened the discussion by outlining the history and mission of the Corporation since its creation in 1763. One of the Corporation’s stated goals in its charter is “preparing students to live lives of usefulness and reputation,” he said. But modern issues such as t granting tenure have transformed the function of the Corporation and university governance from their original roles, he said. Carey said different groups should ideally get involved in the University’s governing process. “That inclusive, involved, participatory model of governance makes for a better community,” he added. Spoehr said students’ role in

CVS determines tobacco sales contrary to mission to provide quality healthcare to customers By KATHERINE LAMB METRO EDITOR

RYAN WALSH / HERALD

Executive Vice President for Planning and Policy Russell Carey, Professor Luther Spoehr and UCS President Todd Harris ‘14.5 spoke at the UCS forum. university governance has changed, describing the shift as “partly legal but mostly political in a way that caused legal change.” Spoehr highlighted Elliot Maxwell ’68 and Ira Magaziner ’69 — the students who authored the report that prompted the creation of the New Curriculum — as examples of students who effectively interacted with the administration to enact positive change. The key to their success was realizing “you have to decide what you want to accomplish,” Spoehr said. “Wild and crazy stuff can be very appealing, but will it get us what we want?” he asked. Maxwell and Magaziner excelled at appealing to the administrators who read their report, he said. The report

“showed the people they wanted to persuade ... that they were worth talking to,” he said. Spoehr also stressed the continuing relevance of civil disobedience for students, noting it can both generate publicity and call people to action. “You don’t have power as a student very often, but you can have influence,” he said. “And the question is, how are you going to maximize it?” Tammy Jiang ’16, a member of Brown Divest Coal, said she is committed to protecting the environment, even when the cause pits her against the administration. Jiang read Divest Coal’s statement in response to the Corporation’s decision » See UCS, page 2

CVS Caremark announced yesterday that it will halt the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in its stores by October 2014. One of the largest drugstore companies in the U.S., CVS is headquartered in Woonsocket, R.I. and is the largest for-profit employer in Rhode Island. The decision is a step towards the company’s goal of providing quality health care to its consumers, the New York Times reported. “Put simply, the sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose,” said Larry Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Caremark, according to a company press release. Profits from the sale of tobacco products currently comprise approximately 3 percent of the company’s overall profit. The decision to discontinue tobacco sales will cost CVS an estimated $2 billion in revenue annually. The company’s overall sales » See CVS, page 3

METRO

Andrews Commons food, decor a welcome addition New eatery, offering longer hours, boasts more student patronage than its predecessor, the Gate By CORINNE SEJOURNE STAFF WRITER

Over the past two weeks, the campus’ latest eatery, Andrews Commons, has been put to the test by ravenous college students, desperate to satisfy their appetites after full days of classes, meetings and practices. And judging by student responses, the spot has succeeded in serving its clientele. “Andrews has been even more popular than anticipated,” Ann Hoffman, director of administration and human resources for Dining Services, wrote in an email to The Herald. Aaron Fitzsenry, culinary manager of retail dining, said the eatery had a “massively successful opening.” » See ANDREWS, page 3

ANIELA MACK / HERALD

Brown’s culinary team took over a year to develop the new eatery’s menu, taking student feedback and previous trends from the Gate into account.

Metro

Commentary

Rhode Island received failing marks for its tobacco prevention efforts by the ALA

According to the U.S. Census, Rhode Island experienced its first population increase in a decade

Asher ’15: The argument to support the humanties should not be economic

Hillestad ’15: Unlimited campaign financing undermines equal opportunity

METRO, 8

COMMENTARY, 7

weather

Chafee ’75 proposes cutting Medicaid

since 1891

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

t o d ay

tomorrow

28 / 13

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2 university news

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

Engineering department job fair attracts record number of employers Over 200 engineering concentrators network at annual Internship and Career Fair By KHIN SU STAFF WRITER

Though the economy’s slow recovery has left many students with bleak job prospects, engineering concentrators remain in high demand, drawing record numbers of employers and applicants to the School of Engineering’s recent job fair. The school’s third annual Internship and Career Fair Jan. 25 boasted a record turnout of 33 companies and over 200 students, said Robert Rome, associate dean for development and planning for the School of Engineering. “I had to turn companies away, because we didn’t have enough space,” he said, adding that the first Internship and Career Fair, held in 2012, drew 10 companies and 80 students. The fair gave students the chance to seek out internship opportunities, network and learn about careers in engineering, Rome said. “There’s a pentup demand to get hands-on experience in the industry,” he said. Elizabeth Gurin ’16, a potential materials engineering concentrator, said she found it helpful to have such a large variety and quantity of companies — ranging from small, local startups to large, multinational businesses

— present. Gurin said speaking to a range of potential employers at least allowed her to learn what qualities companies seek in interns. “I just got a lot of exposure,” Gurin said. “It was a good trial experience.” But Gurin added that she was “disappointed” by the lack of opportunities for students interested in materials science. “I know that as an engineering student, especially coming from Brown, that’s a pretty sought-after applicant,” she said. Though jobs may be easier to attain for students in certain engineering disciplines, “most of them end up paying pretty well” and are “plentiful and recession-resistant,” Rome said. “The engineering market is strong,” wrote Andrew Simmons, director of the CareerLAB, in an email to The Herald. “It is certainly one of many good career pathways for Brown students and alumni.” The fair was open to the entire engineering department and hosted both undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty members. In a “tough government funding climate,” the fair helped connect faculty members to companies that could sponsor their research, Rome said. Representatives from several companies expressed a desire to expand relationships with the school, he added. Alums played a large role in shaping the success of the fair, Rome said. Several alums attended the event, and others encouraged companies to send representatives. “Seventy-five

ASHLEY SO / HERALD

The School of Engineering collaborated with the CareerLAB to set up the annual Internship and Career Fair. In addition to networking, the event offered students prep for job interviews and provided resume building tips. to 80 percent of the companies came because of the alumni community,” Rome said, adding that he hopes the alumni presence will motivate more students to go into the engineering industry and “complete the life cycle” when they come back to Brown as alums. CareerLAB worked closely with

the School of Engineering to organize the fair, Simmons wrote in his email to The Herald. A few days before the event, CareerLAB advisers held walk-in hours for students in the Barus and Holley lobby, where they offered a “resume critique, helped students develop their ‘elevator pitch(es),’ showed them how to research employers and

discussed proper etiquette for following up with recruiters,” Simmons wrote. “We want to make sure that CareerLAB is included in everything we do,” Rome said, adding that there is discussion of merging the school’s current online job bulletin board with CareerLAB’s larger Job and Internship Board.

» UCS, from page 1

representatives, student representatives are not standard on governing bodies at peer institutions, Carey said in response to Drechsler’s prosposal. “I understand (the Corporation) is not as inexclusive or transparent as some people would want … but it is what it is,” Carey said. Some questions were directed at UCS itself as a representative governing body. Cameron Johnson ’17 asked what role the Council is supposed to play in political issues on campus, noting that UCS passed a resolution in support of Divest Coal last year. “I think UCS has a greater duty … I think it can do more,” he added. UCS Vice President Sam Gilman ’15 responded by describing the Council’s current role “to facilitate conversations among students.” UCS has invited speakers to address relevant issues and incite student discussion, he said. He also encouraged students interested in highlighting certain issues to seek opportunities in UCS. “If a movement wants some staying power, let’s all mobilize to get answers to these questions,” he said.

against divestment. The statement outlines the group’s experiences last semester dealing with the University. In deciding against divestment, the Corporation did not honor the voices of the Advisory Committee on Corporate Responsibility in Investment Policies, the Graduate Student Council, UCS and more than 3,500 students, faculty members and alums who signaled their support for divestment, Jiang read from the statement. “We therefore insist that the Corporation commit to being responsive to the Brown University community. Many students feel extremely disappointed by the way the University has responded to student activists on a variety of issues, not just coal divestment,” she said. Alex Drechsler ’15, chair of the UCS Student Activities committee, said there should be “some way for students to be more involved in the Corporation” and proposed adding a student representative to the Corporation. Though the Corporation seeks a “wider and broader” demographic in its

university news 3

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

TODAY IN UNIVERSITY HISTORY BY ALEXANDER BLUM, SENIOR STAFF WRITER

February 6, 1942 Hal Kopp, assistant football coach, was forced to resign after being ordered by the War Department to take a first lieutenant’s commission in the United States Army. During his brief one-year coaching career, Kopp led Brown sports teams to eight victories, one tie and two losses. “Kopp has made an outstanding record in his first year at Brown,” said Tom Taylor, director of athletics, The Herald reported at the time. The athletes who trained under Kopp recalled his discipline and drive, calling his work an important contribution to the future development of the University’s sports teams. Kopp was scheduled to report to a southern military base Feb. 15 before being assigned to permanent duty. February 6, 1967 WBRU announced it would return to the air in late February for the first time since mid-December, when it was forced to discontinue broadcasting due to a faulty transmitter. Though the transmitter had been malfunctioning since September, the frequency of breakdowns made broadcasting impractical in December. The radio station planned to feature nine hours of rock ’n’ roll per day once it resumed operation. Despite the inconvenience of the faulty transmitter, the sign-off gave WBRU an opportunity to remodel one of its studios, The Herald reported at the time. February 6, 1992 Mary Poovey, an English professor from Johns Hopkins University, delivered a lecture entitled “Feminism and Postmodernism: Another View.” Poovey’s lecture explored feminism in the context of the post-modern world. “Feminists need to re-conceptualize sex and gender — to see (them) as dynamics and not as the fundamental basis of the humanist subject,” she said, reported The Herald at the time. Poovey called for “flexible feminism” to replace traditional feminism, urging those present at the lecture to avoid focusing on abortion as the primary feminist concern. “Keeping abortion at the center of feminist arguments reduces feminism to one issue,” she said.

» CVS, from page 1 in 2012 amounted to $123 billion, the New York Times reported. Mayor Angel Taveras praised the decision in a statement yesterday responding to the news. “Providence has been a national leader in the fight to restrict the sale of flavored and discounted tobacco products, and I am proud that the Rhode Island-based CVS has taken a leading role to end the sale of tobacco in pharmacies,” he said.

Though competitors such as Walmart will continue to stock tobacco products, anti-smoking advocates could use this decision as leverage in order to convince legislators to enact stricter anti-tobacco policy and encourage other stores to change their corporate policies, the New York Times reported. “As one of the largest retailers and pharmacies in America, CVS Caremark sets a powerful example,” President Obama said, according to a White House press release.

www.browndailyherald.com

» ANDREWS, from page 1 Since then, Andrews Commons has run without any “significant problems,” wrote Hoffman, adding “we have a talented and hard-working staff who did an excellent job getting the operation open and running smoothly.” The staff is continuing to “fine-tune” the operation to make it more efficient, she said. Andrews Commons is open five more hours each day than the Gate was and is “currently averaging 1750 credit transactions per day” — about twice as many as the Gate’s 850-900 daily credit average, Hoffman wrote. The hours between noon and 1 p.m. and between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. have been the busiest for the dining hall thus far, Hoffman wrote. Student feedback and past trends were used to develop the menu and hours for Andrews Commons, Hoffman wrote. The menu was further refined by members of Brown’s culinary team, who “conducted taste tests for students in the fall to ensure (they) were on the right track.” Fitzsenry, or “Chef Aaron” as students refer to him, said his team worked on the menu for over a year and that the goal was to maintain everything people loved about the Gate while adding new items and

tweaking others. Celebrity chef Mai Pham, who hails from Vietnam, worked as a consultant and brought authenticity to the “wok side” of the menu, which features stir-fries and Thai curries, Fitzsenry said. On the pizza side, the flour is locally milled, and the pizza sauce is made on-site from organic tomatoes — a change spurred by growing campus interest in sustainability. Students generally expressed positive reviews of the eatery’s debut weeks. “They did well,” said Cia Mathew ’14, who praised the lounge-like atmosphere and “the comfiest chairs in a dining hall.” “It’s beautiful — I cannot believe that they have this here,” said Amy Sit ’16, adding that she wondered how long the space would remain so clean. Others, such as Sam Kortchmar ’16, said they were less enthusiastic about the atmosphere. He also expressed disappointment in the eatery’s location, saying he would use it infrequently, because he lives on the opposite side of campus. But for many, the distance does not seem to matter. Samantha Paul ’16 said she knows people who eat there all the time despite its location. Dani Dichter ’17 said she frequents Andrews Commons, because she has

Comparing the eateries Credit transactions per day

1,750 andrews commons

(Open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.)

850 to 900 the gate

(Open 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.) Source: Brown Dining Services

classes on Pembroke. As far as food, Christie Faucher ’17 said “the pizza is better than the Ratty” but added she still prefers the food at Josiah’s. Anna Delamerced ’16 said she was excited to see Brown expanding in new ways and improving. “It’s the little things” that matter, Fitzsenry said, from “people’s faces when they walk in here” to the comments about the automatic silverware dispenser. “We’ve put all this love … into getting this going,” he said. “We’re here to make people happy.”

4 metro thursday The budget proposal

Health and human services constituted about 40 percent of Gov. Lincoln Chafee’s ’75 P’14 P’17 budget, despite his proposed cuts to Medicaid. 6.1% Transportation

41.3% Health and human services

6.2% Public safety

27.6% Education

Source: Rhode Island Office of Management & Budget Virginia Burke, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Health Care Association, a group that lobbies on behalf of long-term care facilities. “Hospitals did not get their usual, customary inflation,” Florio said, adding, “We’re cutting on the provider side. We’re not cutting people out of the program. We’re not really cutting services. We’re cutting how much people are getting reimbursed.”

FIGHTING MISUSE & ABUSE

17.7% General government

1.2% Natural resources

» DEFICIT, from page 1

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

“It gets harder and harder every year … we still do a good job. We still score highly on the national report,” Burke said. “Facilities are putting off capital improvements and … the people who are doing the really hard work … of personal care in nursing facilities aren’t getting the resources they need” because of the cuts, she said. Rhode Island’s Medicaid program and RIte Care — the state’s child health insurance program — are ranked among the top ten Medicaid health plans in the

JILLIAN LANEY / HERALD

country, Florio said. “We actually have the opportunity to get them healthier over these two years, while the feds are paying for it,” Florio said of Medicaid enrollees. Though it will be expensive to process and provide newly insured individuals with the initial care they need, the state can use the two years of full federal funding to reduce the costs of future care, Florio said. “I think at the end of the day, we’ll have some really good stuff to show and I think we’ll have a healthier state.”

ASHLEY SO / HERALD

Healthy Farms, Healthy Families supporters held a photo petition in the Blue Room to ban the overuse of antibiotics on factory farms.

today 5

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

menu SHARPE REFECTORY

fa k e b o o k VERNEY-WOOLLEY

LUNCH Wisconsin Ziti with Four Cheeses, Vegan California Veggie Stew, Fudge Bars

Vegetarian Curried Apple Pumpkin Soup, Turkey Sandwich, Vegan Mediterranean Stew, Fudge Bars

DINNER Baked Stuffed Chicken, Red Potato Frittata, Beef Stew, Savory Rice Pilaf, Brownie a la Mode with Hot Fudge

Pork Loin Jour Ouve, Roasted Tofu, Risotto Primavera, Moo Shu Chicken, Brownie a la Mode with Hot Fudge

JOSIAH’S

THREE BURNERS

QUESADILLA OR GRILLED CHEESE

Gnocchi

Make your own quesadilla

BLUE ROOM

SOUPS

DINNER ENTREES

Corn Chowder, Hearty Counry Vegetable

Mango Chicken with Veggies, Vegetable Tikka Masala

COURTESY OF RHODE ISLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rhode Island lawmaker, Sen. Nicholas Kettle, R-Coventry, Foster, Scituate, West Greenwich, pictured, created a fake Facebook page to mock state Rep. Scott Guthrie, D-Coventry. The page was taken down midday yesterday.

sudoku

c lu b h u b

RELEASE DATE– Thursday, February 6, 2014

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich c rNorris o s sand27 wJoyce o rNichols d Lewis Like most 61 Slogan sites ACROSS 47 Big name in

1 Easter season: Abbr. 4 62-Across coat 7 Interest fig. 10 Long, on Molokai 11 Experience with enthusiasm 13 Pi follower 14 “Out” crier 15 Chic “Bye” 16 Charged particle 17 Detox place 19 Bridal emanations 21 Reminiscent of venison 22 Dweeb 23 Red state? 26 Easy gaits 29 Given a hand 30 Annabella of “The Sopranos” 31 Chased (after) 32 Whirling 34 Farm feed 35 Computer that once came in “flavors” 37 Biscuit, maybe 38 Strokes a 62Across 39 Greek cheese 40 First name in one-liners 41 Actress Charlotte et al. 42 Fountain near the Spanish Steps 44 Buddy 45 __’acte 48 Flute part 50 Big enchilada 57 Babysitter’s handful 58 New evidence may lead to one 59 Fawn spawner 60 With 62-Across, a hint to the starts of this puzzle’s four longest Down answers

62 See 60-Across

DOWN 1 Bit of mudslinging 2 Fruit of ancient Persia 3 Vatican Palace painter 4 Pet rocks, e.g. 5 News agcy. since 1958 6 Regret bitterly 7 Preceding 8 Numbskull 9 Bunches 11 Daedalus’ creation 12 Combativeness 18 Cremona artisan 20 Red Square honoree 23 Lacking purpose 24 Juice extractor 25 Grab, as a line drive 26 D.C. network

bawdy films 28 Lays down the law 33 Fig. on 26Down 36 Gave in 38 Groom with care 43 Unmoving 44 Hull stabilizers 46 “__ bien!”

IRAs 48 Rustle 49 “Take __!” 50 Aflame 51 Angst-filled genre 52 Killer Birds, e.g. 53 Calendar abbr. 54 Recipe instruction 55 Soft murmur 56 Barrel at a bash

KATE NUSSENBAUM / HERALD

Students flocked to Alumnae Hall yesterday for the Activities Fair. Various student groups set up booths to recruit new members for their initiatives.

comics Class Notes | Philip Trammell

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

calendar TODAY xwordeditor@aol.com

02/06/14

FEBRUARY 6

12:00 P.M. SUMMER FINANCIAL AID INFO SESSION

Learn about financial aid opportunities for Summer Study Abroad programs from Assistant Director of Financial Aid Eli Baalbaki. J. Walter Wilson 411 5:30 P.M. CLASSICS LECTURE: “EURIPEDES, PINDAR AND OTHERS: WHAT MAKES POETRY POETIC?”

Michael Silk from Kings College London will explore what makes poetry poetic from Ancient Greece to the modern English-speaking world. The lecture will analyze passages from Euripedes and Pindar. Smith-Buonano 106

TOMORROW

FEBRUARY 7

6:30 P.M. SOPHOMORE SLUMP: OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY VIEWING PARTY

Watch the 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony on a giant projector screen. Cultural groups will sell food from their respective countries, and free pizza will be provided. Petteruti Lounge, Stephen Robert ’62 Center 8:00 P.M. WAITING FOR GODOT

02/06/14

The Production Workshop presents Samuel Beckett’s play, “Waiting for Godot.” Tickets will go on sale an hour before the production at WaitingForGodot.eventbrite.com. TF Green, Production Workshop, Downspace

6 commentary

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

EDITORIAL

Greater action against sexual assault needed The prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses is finally receiving necessary attention from the White House. Three days before his State of the Union Address, President Obama told sexual assault victims across the country that they are not alone and “I’ve got your back.” A recent White House report concluded that almost one in five women in the United States have been raped and that college campuses are particularly high-risk settings. Obama believes that the government ought to play a bigger role in preventing sexual assault and has therefore created a task force of ten senior staffers to better address the issue — both on college campuses and in the military, where rampant sexual assault is only beginning to be addressed. The Obama administration has improved the Violence Against Women Act, better addressed sexual assault in the military and used the Title IX network to help sexual assault victims on college campuses whose reports were mishandled. We fully support Obama’s initiatives, but to best effect change we also hope he seeks out sources beyond the task force. Students and policymakers need to make their voices heard, and in order for this to happen Obama must actively include them in the conversation. He has paid lip service to the role of students, claiming, “We have seen progress, including an inspiring wave of student-led activism and a growing number of students who found the courage to come forward and report attacks. That’s exactly what we want them to do.” He even made the important claim that students alone cannot be held responsible for preventing sexual assault, countering the absurd notions that it is the responsibility of sexual assault victims to protect themselves and somehow avoid being raped. But Obama needs to match his words with serious action, which means including the voices of students and policymakers in his task force. Activist groups like Students Active for Ending Rape stand by this position, and it seems that the opinion among activists at Brown is largely the same. Students at Brown are already working to change University infrastructure and policy. Women Peer Counselors presently receive specialized training on sexual harassment and assault and are in the process of building a large initiative concerning sexual assault at Brown called Stand Up. Furthermore, the University will review the sexual assault disciplinary process this upcoming year, and Brown students are already preparing to suggest amendments. Harpo Jaeger ’14.5 and Lena Barsky ’14, among others, are leading this project, comprised of around thirty students. Sexual assault peer educators at Brown are also considering new initiatives, like the possibility of expanding educational programs to sports teams. Last spring, The Herald conducted the Silent Violence series, which increased campus awareness of sexual assault. We support the efforts of members of the Brown community in this regard and believe that Obama could use projects and initiatives such as these when addressing sexual assault on college campuses across America.

K I M B E R LY S A LT Z

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

“We’re here to make people happy.” — Aaron Fitzsenry, culinary manager of retail dining

See Andrews on page 1. CORRECTION An article in Wednesday’s Herald (“With recent growth, Harambee House poised for new era,” Feb. 5) misstated the name of one of the house heads of Harambee House. Her name is O’Sha Lundan Williams ’16, not O’Sha Lundan.

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.

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commentary 7

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

The problem with arguing for the humanities ADAM ASHER opinions columnist

During a bout of soul-searching last semester, I resolved to clarify for myself once and for all why I was studying classics and, in the process, justify spending four months in Italy touring Roman and Greek ruins. I was somewhat successful, though what I would like to offer here are my reflections on what did not inspire me when my studies felt devoid of purpose. Last August, President Christina Paxson published the text of a speech she gave last March in The New Republic. In the speech, entitled “The Economic Case for Saving the Humanities,” Paxson laid out her reasoning for why funding the study of the humanities is, in her words, “essential.” It was genuinely heartening to read, and I saw it as an indication of good things to come in terms of her nurturing the humanities at Brown. At the same time, however, I think the premise of the speech is fundamentally flawed. We shouldn’t try to make economic arguments for the study of the humanities because not only is it unnecessary, but often there is not an economic case to be made.

I do not fault Paxson for the speech. She was responding to a common sentiment in our country questioning why we continue to support the “useless” studies of art and literature. She was making an argument that we as a nation have needed to hear. It is possible to come up with practical applications for pure humanities studies and, believe me,

nomics and classics, I would heartily recommend the former. Studying Attic Greek is the best possible preparation for reading Attic Greek, and little else. If you want to prepare for Wall Street, microeconomics is more applicable and, I’d imagine, more immediately rewarding. I don’t understand why we need to try to make weak, half-baked arguments based on applicability

istry is to understand life on a basic level … Well, compelling as my sales pitch might be, I wouldn’t fault him or her for opting to take an art history class on French Impressionism instead. The humanities do not even always aim to provide practical knowledge. That’s not the point. If we humanists try to fight for funding and attention on the basis of economics,

We shouldn’t try to make economic arguments for the study of the humanities, because not only is it unnecessary, but often there is not an economic case to be made. I’ve heard and parroted many of them. To take examples from my subject of choice, classics, translating Plato’s Symposium, prepares you to sift through legal contracts. Most medical and scientific terms are derived from Greek and Latin roots, and successful consulting firms love people who can see the “big picture.” These statements are not false, but I cannot imagine them convincing anyone who did not already think the humanities were worth studying. If your primary goal is to obtain a high-paying job straight out of college, and you’re deciding between studying applied math-eco-

when there is an infinitely better one to be made on the basis of personal enrichment. Let’s take the famed weekend-killer, organic chemistry, as a counter-example. While I do know people who love studying orgo, I have found them to be the exception rather than the rule. If I were to try to convince an aspiring doctor to take the class, because it’s a prerequisite for medical school, I would have an irrefutable argument. However, if I were to try to convince that same person to take it, because organic chemistry is at the heart of nearly all of our daily molecular interaction, and to understand chem-

we’re destined to lose, because ultimately, funding the writing of books that sell 300 copies makes no fiscal sense — and we should not pretend that it does. The problem is that the true benefits of studying the humanities are harder to communicate to someone who has never studied them. Nevertheless, I’ll give it a shot: Humanities are the ultimate “why.” Human beings live, and care so much about living, so that we might produce something that lasts beyond our time on Earth. It’s what distinguishes us from every other species on the planet. The humanities are

a chronicle of life trying to understand itself. It is vitally important that we train engineers to build water pipelines to remote communities in Africa and train doctors and medical researchers to expand the frontiers of our knowledge of how to heal the human body. All of that knowledge and effort is only useful, however, insofar as at least some of the people we help continue to engage in attempting to solve the riddle of why existing is ultimately worth it. People who would live in a world without literature and the arts — and I truly believe that, when all is said and done, very few such people exist — are beyond the reach of argumentation. It is undeniable that, in the face of recession, political oppression, famine, war, plague and whatever else the world can throw at us, human beings have continued to produce and consume art. I’m immensely privileged to be able to study the fruits of these efforts — the humanities — even if for only four years. I hope and expect to offer my children that same privilege — not so they can get a job — but so they can be a little better at being human.

Adam Asher ’15 is a (proud) classics concentrator.

The inequality of unlimited campaign financing SAM HILLESTAD opinions columnist

When a filthy rich businessman engages in shady backdoor campaign financing, it is not political speech — it is bribery. It is corruption of the highest degree. And it threatens to ruin the greatest ideals of a democratic society. Unlimited campaign financing undermines the foundational equality of opportunity that must be held sacred in any society that purports to care about the standard of freedom. That equality is the centerpiece of the American Dream. But when Super Political Action Committees can hijack candidates to further their own political agenda, the dream remains unrealized and in tatters. Contrary to popular belief, not all speech is protected under the First Amendment. It is not a blank check that allows completely unfettered speech in all its forms. Some speech can be incredibly harmful. As such, the Supreme Court has correctly carved out numerous exceptions to freedom of speech. The Supreme Court case Miller v. California placed a restriction on speech that is deemed obscene or overly sexual in nature. Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire excluded “fighting words” from the category of protected speech. Brandenburg v. Ohio limits speech that incites “imminent lawless action.” Next on this list should have been Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Instead, the Roberts Court made an egregious error in judgement that whittled away the equality of opportunity that is far more valuable than uninhibited campaign financing. The Court’s erroneous decision has dramatically increased the ability of the rich to widen the inequality gap that already pervades American society. First of all, it limits equality of op-

portunity by making the barrier to entry for a political race far too restrictive. Only a select few who are well connected enough to have friends with deep pockets can become contenders. Without the support of super PACs, a candidate is at a severe disadvantage in the all-important fundraising race. Only a small minority of the population — generally the most wealthy — has access to the network that leads to support from a super PAC. As such, the classic rags-to-riches story of the everyman-become-Congressman is little more than a myth. For all intents and purposes, the ideal political candidate is a rich white man with a rich white father. Everyone else lacks the necessary resources to be a serious contender. Further inequalities arise from unlimited

the bottom quintile rose a mere 18 percent. This disparity is glaring evidence that the wealthy hold enough Congressional sway to stack the cards permanently in their favor. Campaign donors get what they pay for — control of their candidate’s politics. Unsurprisingly, those politics become skewed towards aiding and protecting the wealthy. In 2010, a study by the Government Accountability Office found that U.S. Corporations paid a federal tax rate of only 12.6 percent compared to the federal corporate tax rate of 35 percent that they should be paying. This is where the wealthy see a return on their massive campaign investments. In exchange for backdoor campaign financing, politicians give kickbacks to their wealthy donors in the form of tax credits and exemptions.

Contrary to popular belief, not all speech is protected under the First Amendment. It is not a blank check that allows completely unfettered speech in all its forms. campaign financing, because it consolidates economic opportunity in the hands of the rich by severely limiting social mobility. When the wealthy are protected by their Congressmanfor-hire, it keeps the rich on top of the social ladder while perpetuating a culture of systemic poverty on the lower rungs. Thanks to tax cuts for the rich, unwarranted CEO bonuses and Congressional overprotection of corporations deemed “too big to fail,” the richest Americans have seen unprecedented income gains, while the incomes of ordinary hardworking Americans remain stagnant. According to a study by the Congressional Budget Office, the top 1 percent has seen their incomes rise by 275 percent since 1979. In the same time span,

In this way, the benefits of unregulated campaign finance go exclusively to the rich, while the burden is felt by the American people at large. In other words, it helps a small minority remain on top of the social ladder while severely limiting the economic potential of the vast majority. This goes to show that even if campaign financing is a type of political speech, it is not speech that should go completely unchecked. When it does, as Citizens United has allowed, the consequences can be devastating. Despite what the Supreme Court says, the political pseudo-speech of unlimited money funneled through unregulated super PACs and into our campaigns is not worth the rampant inequality of opportunity it creates. In October, Providence Mayor Angel Tav-

eras challenged his main competitor, General Treasurer Gina Raimondo, to support a “People’s Pledge” that calls for an end to external campaign financing by super PACs. Raimondo recently agreed to support the People’s Pledge, though not without dragging her feet significantly in the process. This is a commendable step forward for both candidates. However, the move appears to be more politically motivated than rooted in genuine ideals. As The Herald previously reported, Taveras has been consistently outpaced by the fundraising efforts of Raimondo who relies in part on a variety of super PACs to maintain her edge. Regardless, it is refreshing to see the candidates themselves making a push for fair and just campaign finance rules. A similar compact was agreed upon in the 2012 Massachusetts Senate race between former Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass and Elizabeth Warren. But outside of a select few progressive New England states, most candidates have no reason to end their gluttonous feast on the unregulated money flowing from super PACs. It is clear that the answer cannot come from the courts. The Supreme Court has already set its dangerous precedent. And our ineffective, gridlocked Congressmen only stand to lose from limiting the viability of super PACs. Finally, the candidates themselves will only make progress on this front if it is politically convenient for them to do so — which is precisely why we must make it politically impossible for them to get elected while still accepting super PAC funding. Voting for a candidate backed by super PACs is voting directly against your interests — unless you happen to be one of the richest 1 percent of Americans.

Sam Hillestad ’15 will not vote for any candidate backed by super PACs. He can be reached at samuel_hillestad@brown.edu.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

THE

BROWN DAILY HERALD metro thursday Rhode Island population grows for first time in nearly a decade

Stable birth rate and burgeoning immigrant population contribute to 1,207-person increase By YVETTE RODRIGUEZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau released last month show that Rhode Island’s population increased by 1,207 people from July 2012 to July 2013 — the first increase in nearly a decade. Over the past 10 years, the smallest state in the country —though densely populated — underwent a population decrease, consistent with a trend of migration away from New England states to the West and the South. The increase in population from 1,050,304 to 1,051,511 represents only about a .1 percent rise in total population. In the 12-month span beginning in July 2012, the number of Rhode Islanders

who left the state — a total of 3,922 — narrowly exceeded the number of people moving into the state from foreign countries — a total of 3,688. But with these two forces essentially cancelling each other out, the historically stable birth rate drove a small population increase, the Providence Journal reported. The presence of long-established immigrant communities in Rhode Island contributed to the influx of residents from foreign countries, said Leah VanWey, associate professor of sociology. But the balance of immigrant nationalities today is very different from that of the 20th century, VanWey said. “Portuguese, Armenians and Italians have lost prominence to groups from South America — like Peru and Brazil — as well as South East Asian groups, such as Vietnamese and Cambodians,” VanWey said. Immigrant population growth requires additional state educational expenses to fund translators and English

SPOTLIGHT ON THE STATEHOUSE BY KATE KIERNAN, METRO EDITOR Though activities were canceled for both houses Feb. 5 due to the snowstorm, the General Assembly started off the first week of the month by introducing legislation to support youth job programs, craft new drug regulations, increase services for the elderly and arrange a settlement for the 38 Studios loan.

Student Support Sen. Juan Pichardo, D-Providence, submitted legislation to expand the bRIdge.jobs work program to include opportunities for high school students seeking paid and unpaid internships in the state. This expansion is part of the “Rhode to Work” program. The bRIdge website currently only offers internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. The website is designed to give students work experience to prepare them for future employment opportunities and is run through the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority.

Made in America? Sen. Dominick Ruggerio, D-Providence and North Providence, introduced a bill Jan. 30 to require drug labels to list where the product was made and provide greater information to promote product safety for consumers, according to a press release from the General Assembly. The bill aligns with U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines that encourage “country of origin” labeling for all drug ingredients to prevent contamination or fraud from pharmaceutical companies overseas. A 2011 FDA report found only 20 percent of the active ingredients for drugs sold to American consumers were manufactured in the United States.

language programs for new U.S. residents, she said. Despite the population bump last year, Rhode Island still has fewer residents than it did in 2010. And the projections released by the Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program predict the population decline will continue, estimating that in 2020, Rhode Island’s population will have shrunk to 1,049,176. An important factor in these projections is the state’s relatively old population when compared to national statistics, said Michael White, professor of sociology. The age composition of Rhode Island could have negative effects on the state’s fiscal health in the future, as pensions for retirees will require greater public expenditures, he said. Revenue collected from income taxes could also decrease, with projections showing a shrinking proportion of working-age people compared to a steady total population, according to the Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program.

Rhode Island population estimates Rhode Island’s population grew last year for the first time since 2004, reaching an estimated 1,051,511 in 2013.

1.10 million 2004: 1.075 million

1.08 1.06 1.04 1.02 1.00 1995

2000

2005

2010

2013

Source: U.S. Census Bureau MADELINE KAU / HERALD

Though the Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program projects a declining birth rate, VanWey said it is important to take the generally higher birth rate among

the state’s immigrant populations into account, adding that even seemingly small factors can strongly affect the population in a state as small as Rhode Island.

State receives low marks in tobacco prevention The poor report was attributed to the state’s ‘insufficient’ funding for anti-tobacco policies By EMILY DOGLIO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rhode Island received an F in “tobacco prevention” and a D in “cessation coverage,” despite receiving A grades for both its “smokefree air” and “cigarette tax,” in the American Lung Association’s annual report published Jan. 22. The report attributed the low grades to insufficient funding for anti-tobacco policies. Karina Wood, ALA director of public policy in Rhode Island, expressed disapproval of the state’s low investment in tobacco prevention. “When you consider that we make somewhere between $150 to $200 million per year from tobacco tax revenue, and yet we give not even $400,000 (to tobacco prevention initiatives),” it is obvious the state’s efforts are insufficient, she said. Investment in the Rhode Island Smokers’ QuitLine — a hotline that smokers can call for support and

information on quitting — is especially low, Wood said. According to the ALA report card, Rhode Island invests only $1.32 per smoker, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends an investment of $10.53. “We do have a mandate in Rhode Island that all healthcare insurers cover cessation medications and counseling,” Wood said, noting that this regulation raises the state’s cessation grade from an F to a D. The state cigarette tax is the third highest in the nation, Wood said, adding that “cigarette taxes have been proven to bring down the smoking rate.” The ALA is supporting a bill this year to further increase the tax and dedicate the added revenue to tobacco prevention. The Smoke-free Workplaces Act of 2004 is a large reason for Rhode Island’s high grade in “smokefree air,” though exceptions for casinos and gambling establishments need to be closed, Wood said. The ALA also believes regulation of hookah bars should be enforced, she added. “Rhode Island is not backsliding,” said Erica Collins, media and

communications coordinator for the Rhode Island Department of Health. But there are areas that need improvement, she said, adding that “we have yet to get an institution of higher learning on board to passing a 100 percent tobacco-free campus policy, but that is something we are in the process of addressing.” “In terms of economic costs, they’re very high,” said Wood, noting that smoking is the “number one preventable cause of death and disease in the state.” The consequences of smoking cost the state $506 million in healthcare expenses each year, Collins said. “This does not include health costs caused by exposure to secondhand smoke, smoking-caused fires, smokeless tobacco use or cigar and pipe smoking,” she added. And smokers take more sick days off from work, resulting in productivity losses for employers, Wood said, adding that the costs of prevention are low in comparison to the costs of smoking. In hopes of drumming up support for the issue during this legislative session, the ALA also provided its report to all of the state’s legislators.

Few states make the grade

Only ten states received a grade above an F for tobacco prevention by the American Lung Association this year. North Dakota and Alaska were the only states to earn A grades. No states received a grade of B.

Serving Seniors Rep. Joseph Shekarchi, D-Warwick, introduced a bill to increase funding for local community centers for the elderly, according to a General Assembly press release. The proposed funding assistance would help support heath and fitness programs, community outreach and transportation assistance, according to the bill. The proposal would add an additional $400,000 in funding for either local government-run programs or non-profit groups providing these services to communities without municipal funding.

38 Studios The House Judiciary Committee considered a bill Feb. 4 on the 38 Studios loan designed to facilitate a settlement between the bankrupt video-game company and the state, according to a press release from the General Assembly. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Edith Ajello, D-Providence, would only apply to the lawsuit against 38 Studios and would help the state collect its $75 million loan from the company, in addition to protecting the video-game company from future civil action suits. A companion version of the bill has already passed the Senate.

A C D F

Source: American Lung Association JILLIAN LANEY / HERALD