THE
BROWN DAILY HERALD vol. cxlix, no. 30
since 1891
THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
U.’s next decade surveyed in State of Brown Paxson to prioritize faculty recruitment and postdoctoral programs but not online technology
for Brown.” The Corporation laid out a capital campaign to finance these initiatives, which will be “very expensive — in the billons of dollars,” she said. “I’m excited about the potential to go out and pull the resources that we need to do great things.” “It’s been a difficult year,” Paxson said, citing the controversy over both the Corporation’s decision against coal divestment and the canceled lecture by former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. “In other ways too, I’ve really loved this year,” she added. “It’s given me an opportunity to talk to students in a way that I never have before.” After giving her introduction, Paxson opened up the conversation for a question-and-answer session in which students could pose questions directly to Paxson and other administrators, including Margaret Klawunn, vice president for campus life and student services and acting dean of the College. Alvina Pillai ’14 asked if there was a form that let students evaluate the performance of deans and support staff. Such a form exists for staff members at Health Services, Klawunn said. “I’d be happy to think about” creating a similar form applicable to staff members in offices such as Psychological Services, Paxson said. Shefali Luthra ’14, former Herald editor-in-chief and president, asked Paxson to identify her “top finance priority” in the capital campaign and how she would advertise it “to alums who would be giving donations.” Paxson replied the capital campaign is still in its
By CAROLINE KELLY SENIOR STAFF WRITER
President Christina Paxson spoke about an upcoming capital campaign, her longterm University goals as well as a wide range of other issues during the State of Brown address Wednesday. About 150 students and faculty members attended the forum in Salomon Center, which was hosted by the Undergraduate Council of Students. Paxson opened the talk by emphasizing her desire for dialogue. “I’m not going to give a speech,” she said, adding that though the lecture’s official title was the “State of Brown (address),” she thought of it as the “State of Brown conversation.” As the strategic plan unfolds over the next decade, “I would like to see a significant and sustained increase in Brown’s stature as a leading university known for innovative research and education,” Paxson said. She added she envisions the University “making very large investments in people” over the next 10 years in the form of effective faculty recruitment, a focus on financial aid and growth of a “diverse” postdoctoral program. Experimenting with online technology, such as Massive Open Online Courses, will not be a big priority for the University over this period, Paxson said. “It just doesn’t make sense
“quiet phase or nucleus phase” and “we don’t know how big this campaign is.” “I think probably half of the campaign will be investments in people,” she said, including financial aid expansion, fellowship support for graduate students and endowed professorships. “The other half would be for programmatic needs, and then campus needs and facilities needs to support everything else we want to do,” she added. Another issue brought up was the Corporation’s decision not to divest the University’s endowment from coal and fossil fuel companies. “Given the enormous role of the coal industry and its causing climate change, how do you think that our investments should reflect the goals that are listed in the strategic plan?” asked Tammy Jiang ’16, a member of Brown Divest Coal. “The endowment is not meant to be used to express social or political views, to make statements or political gestures,” Paxson said in response. “Even though our investments in coal right now are miniscule,” putting restrictions on the endowment “limits our ability to access really good fund managers,” she said. “Do you support student representatives on the Corporation?” asked Maggie Tennis ’14, a Herald opinions editor. “There are students who are on search committees on a routine basis,” but adding student representatives to the Corporation would create issues of confidentiality and place pressure on the selected students, Paxson said, adding that young alumni trustee positions were recently added to the Corporation.
LILY CRUZ / HERALD
The number of students visiting Psychological Services peaks during exam periods. Students are currently offered seven free visits per year.
Students seek additional Psych Services support
Long waits for appointments and limited number of free visits elicit student complaints By KERRI COLFER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The number of students who visit Psychological Services tends to increase during midterms and rise until finals, said Sherri Nelson, director of Psychological Services, adding that the percentage of students who visit has remained “surprisingly consistent, between 16 and 17 percent over the past several years.”
As more students frequent the office during midterms season, Psychological Services is currently facing criticism over the number of free visits allotted each student as well as wait times for appointments, she said. Some students have expressed concern that the number of free visits, which increased from five to seven in 2010, is not enough, Nelson said. After a student has used up the free visits or would like to seek long-term therapy from an outside provider, Psychological Services recommends students call certain therapists who operate a short distance from the campus, Nelson said. » See PSYCH, page 4
Teach-in explores roots of Lecture Board reveals spring speakers Ukrainian political upheaval Panel of Laverne Cox, R.J. the event took place in the Watson Institute for International Studies. Ukraine has experienced a series of popular protests and violence initiated by popular opposition to then-President Viktor Yanukovych’s November decision to pull out of a trade agreement with the European Union. The conflict has since evolved into a crisis of power resulting in Yanukovych’s removal from office and reported accounts of violence and human rights violations against protestors. Anna Lysyanskaya, professor of computer science and a Ukrainian citizen, began the teach-in by presenting a historical timeline of events contributing to the crisis — starting with Ukraine’s independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 up to the occupation of Crimea, a predominantly Russian-speaking region of Ukraine, by soldiers wearing unmarked uniforms this past weekend. » See UKRAINE, page 3
By ALON GALOR METRO STAFF WRITER
inside
“For the students from Brown who are in this room, this is the most serious international crisis that you will experience in your lifetime,” said Robert Legvold, professor emeritus of political science at Columbia. “More than Tahir, more than Tunisia, more than Syria, more than the risk of Iran with nuclear weapons.” In Wednesday night’s teach-in “Making Sense of Events in Ukraine,” faculty members and Eastern Europe experts discussed the roots of the crisis, the relevant political, social and economic interests of Russia, Ukraine and the West as well as the political history of Ukraine’s Crimea region. Co-sponsored by the Janus Forum,
Mitte and Aasif Mandvi to address diversity, stereotypes in media By MAXINE JOSELOW UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR
Brown Lecture Board’s spring lineup will include a panel featuring Laverne Cox from “Orange is the New Black,” R.J. Mitte from “Breaking Bad” and Aasif Mandvi from “The Daily Show,” in addition to a separate lecture by Jack Dorsey, co-founder and chairman of Twitter, said Kaivan Shroff ’15, Lecture Board president, in an exclusive interview with The Herald. The panel featuring Cox, Mitte and Mandvi will focus on stereotypes and diversity in television. It will take place on March 16, Shroff said. “We felt it was a good opportunity for people on some of the most popular shows on television right now to discuss reshaping stereotypes,” he added. COURTESY OF JOHN MEDINA VIA GLAAD FLICKR All three actors “offer a diverse set Actress and producer Laverne Cox will speak about her experiences being » See LECTURE, page 2 a transgender woman on television at the March 16 panel.
Metro
Commentary
Senator Claiborne Pell lecture explores how arts can improve Providence community life
Ken Block, Republican gubernatorial candidate, announces economic plan
Hillestad ’15: America’s two-party political system fails to represent the views of many
Powers ’15: Without action, uninformed calls for social justice fall flat
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weather
Joukowsky Forum overflows as students, faculty discuss developments in Crimea
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2 university news » LECTURE, from page 1 of perspectives,” Shroff said, noting that Cox plays a transgender character, Mitte has cerebral palsy and Mandvi is Indian. In the past, Lecture Board has struggled to bring diverse speakers to campus due to speakers’ limited availability, he said. “Hopefully it will be a moderated panel, where each of the three guests gets to give their unique perspective in relation to the industry as a whole and also their experience and the diverse interactions they’re having as
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
representatives for different causes,” he said. This marks the first time Lecture Board will host a panel, rather than a lecture by a single speaker, Shroff said. “We’re definitely open to loosening up what has been a little bit of a rigid structure to our lectures,” he said. “We want to find the best ways to engage students.” The speakers were chosen based on suggestions by Lecture Board general body members, not the entire student body, Shroff said, adding that soliciting ideas from the student body is more
“democratic” but also takes more time. Dorsey will speak March 13 about his experiences leading Twitter and founding Square, a credit card scanning app with a particularly strong following among food trucks. Lecture Board partnered with CareerLAB to bring Dorsey to campus, Shroff said. Tickets will be sold through online lottery systems, Shroff said. The lottery for Dorsey’s lecture opened Wednesday and will close Friday, while the lottery for the panel will start Friday and conclude Tuesday.
COURTESY OF DAVID SHANKBONE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Jack Dorsey, Twitter co-founder and C.E.O. of Square, will speak at a lecture March 13 about entrepreneurship.
COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
RJ Mitte, who plays Walter “Flynn” White Jr. on AMC’s series Breaking Bad and has cerebral palsy, will speak at the March 16 panel.
COURTESY OF AMBER BALDET VIA FLICKR
Indian-American comedian Aasif Mandvi has been a regular correspondent for the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, which airs on Comedy Central, since 2006.
university news 3
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
» UKRAINE, from page 1
ALEKSANDRA LIFSHITS / HERALD
At Wednesday’s Ukraine teach-in, panelists discussed former President Viktor Yanukovych’s removal from office.
The importance of Crimea to Ukraine lies in its access to the Black Sea, its economic assets — including agriculture, viticulture and fracking prospects — and its historical and cultural value to Ukraine, said Patricia Herlihy, professor emerita of history. Herlihy cited the population’s ethnic Russian majority and its potential as “an outdoor museum of patriotism” as two of Russia’s interests in the region. Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea through Sevastopol as well as its gas lines, which carry resources to Europe represent strong economic and military reasons for Russia to want to control Ukrainian terrority, said
Professor of Political Science Linda Cook. “Many people would say that Ukrainian west and center love Euromaidan and the Russian-speaking regions of the south and east hated it. Not only is that crappy social science but crude ideological propaganda,” said Michael Kennedy professor of sociology and international studies. “This whole rhetoric that we use to identify region and language with identity is profoundly wrong,” he added.
Founder of the Soma Foundation for Political Freedom Roman Torgovitsky shared footage of interviews from his trip to Ukraine in early February. He also spoke of the brutality of the Ukrainian special police force in dispersing protesters. After members of the panel spoke, there was a period for audience members to ask panelists questions. The Joukowsky Forum was filled, forcing some to watch from several overflow rooms that live-streamed the event.
4 university news » PSYCH, from page 1 One junior, who asked to remain anonymous for privacy reasons, said the limited number of free visits can give students more stress. “Students are so stressed, and knowing that they will have to go off campus, find someone else to talk to and deal with insurance is an added burden,” she said. The limit of free visits is due to staffing limitations, Nelson said. Students have also complained that the wait time for appointments, which varies from a few days to two weeks throughout the semester, is too long, Nelson said, adding that the office is “always available for crisis appointments, so that a student in a
crisis would not have to wait for an appointment.” “Two weeks is a really long time when you need help now and that can be a deterrent and that is really unfortunate,” said Julia Lynford ’14, copresident of Active Minds, a student group working to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health on college campuses. Additionally, students have voiced concern over a lack of diversity within Psychological Services. “I’ve heard from a lot of students that sometimes they will feel uncomfortable due to cultural minorities and LGBT providers not being well represented,” Lynford said. “They don’t want to go because they are afraid that
providers won’t know where they are coming from,” she added. Psychological Services is actively working on finding ways to “draw in groups that are less inclined to come in naturally because of a stigma,” Nelson said, adding that the office has sent representatives to orientation events and workshops for international students, in addition to hosting presentations and support groups. The office is “very concerned about the issues ... and we are glad that students are raising these issues,” Nelson said. “Talking about them is an important and crucial avenue for making changes.” Nelson was a featured speaker at a Minority Peer Counselor Resource
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
Workshop yesterday titled “Active Minds” aimed at fostering discussion about mental health at the University. “I think that there will be changes as a result of this and as a result of other conversations within the university and in our department,” Nelson said. “We are open to suggestions, and we basically say yes to just about every presentation or orientation that we are asked to come to,” she added. While the office grapples with the stigma surrounding mental health, student groups are sparking conversation around campus about mental health issues. Mental health is beginning to gain more awareness on campus, Lynford said, adding that “It’s growing in the media more and more and everyone is talking about it now.” “The issue is that in everyday language people tend to use terms like OCD or ‘I’m depressed,’ and I think that tends to trivialize the situation
where someone is really trying to say they had a nervous breakdown and it was serious,” said Sophia Liang ’15, president of the Student Volunteers for the Samaritans of Rhode Island. Understanding that certain terms have more weight and should not always be used is one way students can work to reduce the stigma of mental health at the University, Liang said. The junior who asked to remain anonymous said a stigma is attached to seeking help for mental health issues. “It needs to be more of a common thing to just go talk to someone even if you’re just going through something small,” she said. “It’s good to have preemptive things, like talking to someone before you’re in a crisis.” “Something we’re really trying to work on is the stigma that goes along with seeking mental health treatment,” Lynford said. “There can be a stigma in our age group of people not wanting to seem weak and seek help.”
today 5
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
menu SHARPE REFECTORY
under construc tion VERNEY-WOOLLEY
LUNCH Falafel Bar, Tortellini Angelica, Hot Turkey Sandwich with Gravy, Mashed Potatoes with Garlic and Basil Oil
Saturday Night Jambalaya, Falafel, Vegan Navy Bean Casserole, Vegan Brown Rice Pilaf, Coconut Cookies
DINNER Artichoke and Red Pepper Frittata, Ginger Pasta Chicken, Slow-Roast Pork Loin with Herbs, Braised Fennel
Roast Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Bread Stuffing, Butternut Squash with Shallots and Sage, Apple Cake
JOSIAH’S
THREE BURNERS
QUESADILLA OR GRILLED CHEESE
Crepes
Make-Your-Own Quesadilla
BLUE ROOM
SOUPS
DINNER ENTREES
Corn Chowder, Hearty Country Vegetable and Turkey Chili
Chicken Tikka Masala and Vegetable Korma
sudoku
ASHLEY SO / HERALD
Construction on the stage for the 250th Anniversary Celebration began Wednesday. The festivities, the first of which begin Friday, will continue until May 2015.
comics Bacterial Culture | Dana Schwartz RELEASE DATE– Thursday, March 6, 2014
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle c rNorris o s sandwJoyce o rNichols d Lewis Edited by Rich ACROSS 1 Elementary fellow? 7 Chief Osceola riding Renegade introduces its home games: Abbr. 10 Daddy 14 Longtime Hawaiian senator Daniel 15 Ottowan interjections 16 Woeful cry 17 *Large emigration 19 Frisks, with “down” 20 Asian holiday 21 Letter-shaped fastener 22 Land at Orly? 23 Confederate 24 *Lunchbox item 26 Smallish crocodilians 28 Portal toppers 29 100-eyed giant of myth 30 Word of greeting 31 Points a finger at 32 *“I’ll Be There for You” on “Friends,” e.g. 36 __ date 38 Levy 39 Brought about 43 Southeast Asian honey lover 45 Oporto native, e.g. 47 *Children’s literature VIP 49 Brandy label letters 50 Cream of the crop 51 CNBC topics 52 Breadbasket, so to speak 53 Director Gus Van __ 54 *Daily Planet setting 57 Palm smartphone 58 Celebratory poem 59 Valuable lump 60 Bldg. annex
61 Beersheba’s land: Abbr. 62 Word that can follow five prefixes hidden sequentially in the answers to starred clues DOWN 1 “Tell __”: 1962’63 hit 2 Winning steadily 3 Get clobbered 4 It’s not an option 5 Observe 6 Church maintenance officer 7 Disgusted 8 Back-and-forth flights 9 Navy hull letters 10 Empty threat 11 Afraid 12 Platoon activities 13 Look over carefully 18 Burden 22 X, sometimes 23 __ Victor 24 Window part 25 Silver opening?
27 Remote control 30 Spell 33 Floride, par exemple 34 Many couples 35 Cub or Card 36 Simpleton 37 Like some looseleaf paper 40 Reveal 41 More to one’s liking 42 Plastic __ Band
43 Cuarenta winks? 44 Tongue suffix 45 “Click __ Ticket”: road safety slogan 46 Quantum gravity particles 48 More timely 52 Painter van __ 54 French pronoun 55 __ tent 56 CPA’s office, perhaps
Class Notes | Philip Trammell
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
calendar TODAY xwordeditor@aol.com
03/06/14
MARCH 6
6 P.M. “RED ANT DREAM” SCREENING
The South Asian Students’ Association is hosting a free screening of “Red Ant Dream,” a documentary that delves into Indian revolutionary ideals. The screening, which will be followed by discussion, is the first of the Cinema of Resistance: New Perspectives from South Asia film series. Sayles Hall, Room 305 8 P.M. PASSING STRANGE
A young African-American searches for his artistic identity in Europe in the comedy-drama rock musical, “Passing Strange.” Stuart Theater, 75 Waterman Street
TOMORROW
MARCH 7
6:30 P.M. CAKE CUTTING AND FIREWORKS DISPLAY
President Christina Paxson will deliver opening remarks to kick off the 250th Anniversary Celebration. Stay and enjoy cake while watching a fireworks display. Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, Front steps 7:30 P.M. CELEBRATE 250+ PERFORMANCE SHOWCASE By John Guzzetta (c)2014 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Watch many student groups perform in honor of the University’s 250th anniversary. A capella, dance and theater groups 03/06/14
will take the stage to showcase some of their groups’ work. Multiple locations
6 commentary
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
EDITORIAL
Encouraging a civic duty
Once again, Rhode Island legislators have introduced legislation to the General Assembly that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana. The bill would allow the sale of marijuana to individuals 21 years of age or older. The New England National Association for the Advancement of Colored People vocally supports the initiative and marijuana legalization is indeed supported by a majority of Rhode Islanders, but there is still a significant chance it will not pass this year. It all depends on the votes of our part-time representatives. This possible misrepresentation of a community’s desires by the representatives is not unique. For example, in school districts across the country, there is a somewhat consistent pattern in which school board members egregiously misrepresent the voiced interests of students and teachers. The students and teachers will maybe attend a meeting or two and protest the board’s efforts and policies, but when election time arrives, the seats often go uncontested. School board members are left in their position of authority, which they can and often historically do use as a jumping-off point for bigger political careers. We propose that Brown students take greater note of what happens in local politics and how we might effect change in this arena after we graduate. Graduates — and all citizens of the United States, for that matter — should not only continue to be thinkers, advocates and activists but should consider actually removing career politicians from seats of authority on a local and state level. This idea is nothing new, but lately the most successful new stream of candidates at the local, state and even national level have been Tea Party candidates, who certainly do not represent the interests of the average person. The University undoubtedly has a culture of social justice activism, and of challenging policies promoted by mysterious boards and committees as well as the Corporation. But do we have encourage students to run for political office at the local and state level? The realization of fundamental political change at a national level is not impossible, but it requires nothing short of a lifetime commitment to public service and the political world. It is not unreasonable to be turned off by such a career. But what we propose is a commitment among Brown students to some sort of public service over the course of a lifetime, because it is our civic duty. In the state General Assembly, representatives are not full-time employees. Most have day jobs and do their work as representatives after 5 p.m. It is not in itself a career but an act of civic duty, like coaching the local Little League team, running a grassroots campaign for same-sex marriage or attending Parent-Teacher Association meetings. Brown students are often drawn to the idea of social justice activism, but rarely speak of working within the representative system that already exists. Many will contest that real change comes from just about anyone but politicians, and this may be valid to some extent, but surely we need more people devoted to social justice actually running for office.
K I M B E R LY S A LT Z
Q U O T E O F T H E D AY
“You don’t really get (art) until it hits you in the face.” — Sokeo Ros, dancer and choreographer
See art on page 12. CORRECTION
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.
An article in Tuesday’s Herald (“Royalties from research patents on the rise,” March 4) misidentified Derek Stein’s position. He is an associate professor of physics, not an assistant professor of physics. The Herald regrets the error.
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commentary 7
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
The failure of the two-party system SAM HILLESTAD opinions columnist
I spent winter break at a retirement community in Florida. It was equal parts boring and fascinating. One day, an old man approached me in the gym and struck up a conversation. After briefly exchanging pleasantries, he asked me point-blank, “So, are you a Democrat or a Republican?” I was completely taken aback. “Neither,” I said, “I don’t like to classify myself.” He looked confused and unsatisfied, as if my answer was not an option. He then proceeded to ask me my opinion on “Obamacare,” presumably in an attempt to gauge my political leanings based on whether I supported a token Democratic policy. I answered by giving a nuanced analysis of the costs and benefits of the Affordable Care Act. The old man appeared even more disappointed as he gave up and walked away. The incident struck me as a prime example of the dominance of the two-party system in American politics. He and countless other Americans are stuck in an arbitrary binary that breeds pointless conflict from an already ineffectual government. The 113th U.S. Congress has undeniably been one of the worst and most gridlocked Congresses in history. To see glaring evidence of this, look no further than the sixteen day-long
government shutdown of 2013. With only two parties in a winner-take-all system, neither party has anything to lose by utilizing tactics of sabotage that grind the United States government to a halt. The parties each decided that if they can’t win, at least their opposition shouldn’t either. So when important bills need to be passed, or when the budget needs to be set, parties fight tooth and nail to ensure their enemies lose. Instead of making reasonable compromises, our representatives fall back on party lines. The
us that our system is in a state of disrepair. The current lose-lose paradigm of our two-party winner-take-all system is unsustainable. Moreover, a two-party system is a constraint on the freedom of political thought — the diversity of America cannot be sufficiently represented by only two parties. When a too many interests are forced to adhere to a two-party system, inconsistencies are bound to appear. The pro-life party is also pro-death penalty, while the party in favor of liberal social policies
ment. Further passivity cannot be the answer — active change is needed. The biggest contributor to the existence of our harmful two-party system is the winner-take-all style of elections. If we switched to a proportional election system, representation would increase and Congress’ perpetual gridlock would be broken. Instead of having one representative per district, a proportional system would have fewer districts with more representatives per district. For instance,
The American people are stuck with two random conglomerates of ideology that refuse to compromise. result is extreme partisan entrenchment, and nothing gets done. Deadlines lapse, the economy stagnates and good legislation is put on hold as the parties fight meaningless wars of ideology. This Congress has enacted a mere 85 laws thus far. That’s a whole factor of ten fewer than the infamous “do nothing” Congress of 1948 which, managed a whopping 906 laws. I’m not saying that Congress should pass laws for the sake of passing laws, but there is legitimate work to be done while our government’s petty in-fighting continues ad infinitum. Congress’ extreme inability to accomplish the most basic functions of good government, like setting a budget and funding important social programs, shows
also supports a restrictive economic platform. Our political parties are random amalgams fraught with internal contradictions of ideology. Voters must then choose between two parties that can’t come close to accurately representing their interests. They must compromise their core beliefs simply because the choice is so limited. The American people are stuck with two random conglomerates of ideology that refuse to compromise. Some may argue that the situation is unfortunate, but since our political parties arose naturally, there is nothing that can be done. Though America’s two-party system did come about organically, its status as freely-formed is not a virtue but an arbitrary hindrance to proper and just govern-
California has one representative for each of its 53 districts. If that were trimmed down to 10 districts, with five or six representatives per district, those seats would be allocated proportionally according to the percentage of votes won by each candidate or party. New parties and independents could more easily win one of those seats, which would more accurately represent the interests of the American people. The problem is not that third parties don’t exist. We have a Green Party, a Libertarian Party and even a Communist Party. But to argue that they have any substantive political power would be ignorant. None of those parties can hope to win a majority of votes. As such, they are forced to ex-
ist painted as fringe organizations and radicals. If we were to adopt a proportional election system, third parties could begin to get a much-needed foothold in American politics. This would lead to greater focus on minority rights and interests — concerns sorely missing from the status quo. Both sides of the aisle are failing in their duty to protect and promote issues such as women’s rights, gay rights, labor unions and veterans. In a winnertake-all system, minority interests fall by the wayside, while the two mainstream parties fight battles of attrition over piecemeal legislation. Allowing for proportional representation would be instrumental in fixing two of the greatest problems with our current political system: extreme partisanship that acts as an impediment to progress and a failure to fully protect minority rights and interests. The alternative is a continuation of the bitter conflict and ineffective governance that currently defines our embattled Congress. As it is, we have only to look forward to more government shutdowns, less representation of minority interests and further inaction around our sluggish economic recovery. A two party winner-take-all system is a lose-lose scenario for everyone involved.
Sam Hillestad ’15 can be reached at samuel_hillestad@brown.edu.
Factory labor and social justice ANDREW POWERS opinions columnist
Throughout 2010, 14 employees of a factory owned by Foxconn, a Taiwanese electronics manufacturing company, committed suicide. As usual, American media sensationalized the incidents and called for improved treatment of workers. Following investigations by the factory’s customers, including Apple and HP, Foxconn responded to international pressure by significantly raising wages. Every suicide is a tragedy, but, comparatively speaking, how indicative of bad working conditions is such a string of suicides? In 2010, Foxconn’s Shenzhen factory employed a total of three hundred thousand workers. This is a suicide rate of 4.7 in one hundred thousand. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Chinese national average in 2011 was 22.2 in one hundred thousand — nearly five times higher. Much as it does with the debate on gun control, the American media opted for the more profitable emotionmongering over the more newsworthy statistical analysis. In his article “In Praise of Cheap Labor,” economist and Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman asserts that “bad jobs at bad wages are better than no jobs at all.” He notes that cheap labor is the only advantage the developing world has over the incumbency of businesses in the first world, and that the elimination of this edge would lead to economic stagnation and a reversal of industrial growth in regions where it is needed most. Empirically, low-skill labor in the developing world is one of the most effective and sustainable anti-poverty measures,
public or private. Now, sometimes workers are not aware of the health hazards to which they are being exposed, just as there are also documented cases of forced labor. But excluding these rarer cases, many still believe that informed and consensual agreements can constitute immoral action. You’ll often hear the charged allegation of a business “taking advantage” of its workers. Some claim that by putting an offer on the table for someone to take voluntarily can be a violation of their rights. Such a view requires a counterintuitive — and I think implausible — understanding of rights. If the right being violated is one to a certain standard of living or work, then this right was
starving subsistence farmer, the women and children in the sneaker factory are working at slave wages for our benefit — and this makes us feel unclean.” I find it disheartening that, at Brown University in particular, playing the part of the obnoxious activist who racks up social justice points is so fashionable. We don’t need to find a scapegoat for all of human suffering. Sometimes external circumstances predestine adversity. It is a victimless crime to let “heartless businessmen” get rich and for us to buy cheap products while simultaneously combating poverty in the developing world. While we might reasonably believe it to be morally superior for businesses to provide
Brown is teeming with individuals who are more interested in pushing their own rabble-rousing agendas than focusing on the pursuit of truth. This behavior is intellectually stifling and detrimental to the mission of our university. violated well before the introduction of these international companies. Allowing the continuation of pre-existing hardship in the developing world is not a violation of rights. If that were the case, then we would also necessarily need to think that these businesses were violating the rights of their future employees even before their factories moved overseas. Further, everyone in the international community as a whole — not just these for-profit private enterprises — would be equally responsible for the absence of financial aid. So why is it then that many feel so attached to a view that entails such unreasonable conclusions? In Krugman’s words, “Unlike the
better wages and working conditions for their workers, the narrative of parasitic businessmen dragging the developing world down is disingenuous. If anything, it’s the workers who need the businesses — quite literally — to survive. Perhaps we feel that they “deserve” better, but that should not stop us from recognizing the substantial benefits their current jobs engender. Beyond the issue itself, it is informative to examine those individuals who condemn these business practices. The vast majority of those who protest conditions in factories such as those owned by Foxconn enjoy the phones, laptops and other goods produced by such
conditions with no more than a passing admonition to maintain an image of social conscientiousness. While hypocrisy is not direct evidence of invalid arguments or false conclusions, it is important to understand that genuine moral outrage is never a matter of convenience. At Brown, these individuals and their student organizations will often affectedly call for a “critical discussion” on a complex and controversial issue without any sincere intention to consider the opposition view. They reaffirm their beliefs and perpetuate the echo chamber that makes up Brown’s homogeneous political landscape. This process is repeated ad nauseam and the conclusions to which it leads are not grounded in rational thought, but rather are accepted on the basis of the endless parroting of emotional platitudes. And many students don’t even bother with this transparent facade of self-doubt. Those involved in the Ray Kelly protests were openly uninterested in the possibility that their views were fallible. Jon Stewart said it best: “If you don’t stick to your values when they’re being tested, they’re not values: they’re hobbies.” It is not a virtue to support ‘social justice’ without thinking through the issue. This argument should demonstrate that Brown is teeming with individuals who are more interested in pushing their own rabble-rousing agendas than focusing on the pursuit of truth. This behavior is intellectually stifling and detrimental to the mission of our university.
As a teenager, the mother of Andrew Powers ’15 worked in a Chinese Timex factory to support her family. Andrew can be reached at andrew_powers@brown.edu.
THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
THE
BROWN DAILY HERALD metro thursday Lecture explores community building through art Seeking to ease social tensions, speakers imagine Providence’s future through artistic lens By KHIN SU STAFF WRITER
The sixth annual Senator Claiborne Pell Lecture on Arts and Humanities featured Arlene Goldbard, an activist and author, who spoke about art and culture as catalysts for social transformation Wednesday. The event, entitled “A Culture of Possibility for Providence,” also featured a panel of local artists who shared their stories with an audience of students and art enthusiasts in the Metcalf Auditorium of the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art. Providence “is the perfect place … for deploying the gifts of artists in
the service of real democracy and real prosperity as a community,” Goldbard told The Herald. The diversity of the population and “social stresses” such as poverty have created a need for artistic outlets in Providence, she said. Local organizations have responded to this need by offering numerous youth arts programs in the city, she added. Various local arts initiatives were also included in the planning of the event, said Lynne McCormack, director of the city’s Department of Art, Culture and Tourism. This year, the department partnered with the Providence Athenaeum, Community MusicWorks and Providence Youth Arts Collaborative. “We want to inspire the local community,” McCormack said, adding that she hopes the event will be a “jumping off point for more planning in the city.” The event’s organizers chose speakers “who have some kind of national perspective” on art and the community,
in hopes that the line-up would “enlighten the work that’s already here,” McCormack said. In the opening remarks, Mayor Angel Taveras honored the memory of Claiborne Pell, who served as a United States senator from Rhode Island from 1961 to 1997. Taveras emphasized the city’s desire to use arts and culture as “core strategies” for reinvention. “Culture is a great investment and the government needs to play a leadership role in that investment,” Taveras said. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Clay Pell, grandson of Claiborne Pell, reflected on the rich history of arts in his family. Claiborne Pell’s philosophy was that the arts are not “something extra” but an integral part of the community, Pell said. Goldbard began her lecture by describing the internal changes necessary to fluidly integrate arts in the
community. “How do we convert a culture of skepticism and demoralization to a culture of possibility?” Goldbard asked. There is a need to “change our stories to change the world,” she said, adding that, “the given reality is not the only option. Another world is possible.” Panelists then shared their personal experiences and inspirations as artists. Erik Ehn, head of playwriting and professor of theater arts and performance studies, said theater spaces could be specialized and integrated into currently existing community spaces, such as food kitchens. Holly Ewald, visual artist and founder and director of Urban Pond Procession, said her path to becoming an artist began when she was working with children in Detroit and decided “to tell their stories through pictures,” she said. Sokeo Ros, dancer, choreographer and director of hip-hop at Everett:
Company, Stage and School, said he was involved with art until his late teens. “You don’t really understand (art) until it hits you in the face,” Ros said. By the time of his high school graduation, Ros was performing break dance, going on tours and eventually teaching dance at universities. “I found the social responsibility in being an artist and giving back to the community,” he said. Goldbard ended the lecture by visualizing Providence 20 years in the future, where arts, culture and community are woven “into every aspect of public and private life,” she said. This imagined Providence of 2034 has hospitals with storytellers in the waiting rooms, artists involved in children’s education, “mobile art trucks” and “pop-up restaurants,” she said, adding that she hopes Providence artists will be able to “build the social connective tissue” that is “critical to a resilient city.”
Spotlight on the Statehouse BY KATHERINE LAMB, METRO EDITOR This week in the General Assembly, constitutional amendments were proposed in the Senate, and the House of Representatives welcomed its newest number, Rep. Michael Morin, D-Woonsocket, who was sworn in Tuesday.
New kid on the block Rep. Michael Morin, D-Woonsocket, was sworn in as a member of the House Tuesday, after winning his district’s Feb. 25 special election. He replaces Rep. Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, D-Woonsocket, who left her post in order to serve as mayor of Woonsocket. Morin has served as the fire marshal and captain of the Woonsocket Fire Department, where he has been a member for 26 years. He earned his degree in fire science from the Community College of Rhode Island after graduating from Woonsocket High School, where his father, George Morin, once served as principal, according to a General Assembly press release. “I am honored to serve the people of District 49,” Morin said, according to the release. “I plan to work hard to learn quickly, because even though I’m getting here almost halfway through the session, I want my constituents to be fully represented.”
Constitutional considerations The Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans’ Affairs heard legislation proposing amendments to the Rhode Island Constitution Wednesday. A joint resolution put forth by Sen. Roger Picard, D-Woonsocket and Cumberland, asks legislators to amend the Constitution to present candidates for governor and lieutenant governor together on the ballot, according to an Assembly press release. Another joint resolution submitted by Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, D-Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich, proposes a constitutional amendment that would alter the protocol for replacing the vacant seats of state officials, including general treasurer, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general, according to the release. Two joint resolution bills proposed by Sen. Paul Fogarty, D-Burrillville, Glocester, North Smithfield, would allow voters in the November election to call for a Constitutional Convention in the November election and would create a bipartisan commission charged with preparing constitutional questions to be put forth at the convention, according to the release.
Sip and shop A bill proposed by Sen. Susan Sosnowski, D-South Kingstown and New Shoreham, would allow local wineries and breweries to attain licenses for selling their products at Rhode Island farmers’ markets. “Farmers’ markets have become more of an experience than simply another place to sell food,” Sosnowski said, according to a General Assembly press release. “The addition of beer and wine — especially with the popularity of craft beers in New England — will do so much to round out the experience of our farmers’ markets.” The amendment to current Rhode Island law would make the system resemble Massachusetts’, according to the release. The legislation has been submitted to the Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans’ Affairs for consideration.
COURTESY OF KEN BLOCK
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Block announced his plan to improve the business environment by reducing corporate taxes. Block’s proposal also includes plans to cut spending on welfare programs.
Block calls for spending, tax cuts Republican gubernatorial candidate seeks to reduce corporate expenses, attract small businesses By ALON GALOR METRO STAFF WRITER
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Block launched a new stage of his campaign with the announcement of a plan to transform the state’s tax system, reduce government spending and instate multiple government reforms last week. Block, a 2010 gubernatorial candidate for the Moderate Party, is poised to face Cranston Mayor Allan Fung in the September Primary. Democratic contenders for the seat include Mayor Angel Taveras, General Treasurer Gina Raimondo, Clay Pell — political newcomer and grandson of United States Senator Claiborne Pell, D-R.I. — and contractor Todd Giroux. Scott MacKay, Rhode Island Public Radio political analyst, said Block’s plan is in line with a campaign aiming to appeal to the state’s small business community. “With 11 percent of Rhode Island voters as registered Republicans, the Republican primary in Rhode Island is a very small universe. You can win that primary in as few as 15,000 votes,” MacKay said, citing the 1994 Republican primary’s record-high turnout of only 44,000 votes. Block’s plan proposes measures to uncover and reduce “wasteful spending,” particularly in the temporary disability insurance program and the unemployment insurance system, according to
the plan’s text. It also proposes reducing the car tax rate and corporate tax rate, decreasing sales tax in border communities, eliminating the minimum corporate tax for new businesses, reducing and reforming the estate tax and eliminating the capital gains tax for investments held for at least three years. Block also outlined a number of government reforms, including the addition of a line-item veto for the governor, bolstering the authority of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission, promoting greater transparency in the legislative process and eradicating the master lever voting mechanism, which allows Rhode Islanders to vote for all candidates of their chosen political party on a ballot at once. I would like to get it all done within a year,” Block said. Block said his plan will revive the economy by transforming Rhode Island into a place where businesses can thrive. “My accountant has been telling me to move my business to Massachusetts for the past ten years,” Block said. “Businesses act rationally. They choose to operate in the environment that is best for them.” According to the plan, the proposed tax reductions would make Rhode Island’s corporate tax rate and minimum corporate tax for new businesses the lowest in New England. And Block estimates that by cutting the temporary disability insurance program in half, he could reduce state spending by $80 million. Block cited his experience as an engineer and president of a computer software company as a comparative advantage in locating areas of wasteful
spending. “Politicians haven’t previously addressed these issues because they’re unaware of them,” Block said, adding, “Politicians are not experts in how organizations operate.” “Block is a computer software genius with a record at probing these things,” MacKay said, adding Block made a “big splash” in discovering instances of food stamp fraud in the state. Block’s report, released in March of last year, identified $1.7 million in food stamp and Medicaid benefits not reported to the Providence Housing Authority, according to the Providence Journal. But despite Block’s potential assets, if elected, his plan may not be realized. “It’s very difficult to get proposals of this nature through legislature,” MacKay said. Block is not the first to propose such changes, MacKay said. “Every politician has been saying they will target wasteful spending — it’s become almost cliche.” Gov. Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 P’17 proposed an identical reduction of the corporate tax rate from 9 to 7 percent last year but was unable to gain support in the General Assembly, WPRI reported. Block said his plan to jumpstart the economy will benefit not only small business owners but also Rhode Island as a whole, adding that it could have particular value for college graduates. “We have world-class academic institutions which have every ability to provide the intellectual capital that we need … our economic climate prevents a lot of graduates from realizing their entrepreneurial dreams here,” Block said. “They go elsewhere to do it.”