Thursday, March 20, 2014 by The Brown Daily Herald

THE

BROWN DAILY HERALD vol. cxlix, no. 40

since 1891

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014

Zipcar to renew Providence contract, add three new spots Zipcar says it offers green, affordable transportation, but citizens concerned about costs to city By KATE KIERNAN METRO EDITOR

Zipcar is negotiating the terms of a new agreement with Providence to extend the company’s contract for an additional three years. While the original contract expired in January, current negotiations would extend the city’s agreement with Zipcar into 2017. Under Zipcar’s proposal, the city would provide the

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DAVID DECKEY / HERALD

Because the University’s contract with Zipcar remains separate from Providence’s agreement, the 2,153 students sharing 23 zipcars on campus will remain unaffected by the city’s current debate.

company with three additional parking spaces for its vehicles for a total of 13, and the company will waive its annual membership for 40 city employees who join the car rental service, according to the agreement. The measure is under consideration by the City Council Ways and Means Commission and drove discussion at the committee’s meeting March 18, the Providence Journal reported. The committee will likely discuss the agreement further at its meeting next week, said CJ Himberg, Zipcar communications and social media coordinator. Zipcar sent the proposed contract to the council in January and the agreement has been discussed » See ZIPCAR, page 3

BUCC Campus responds to free Microsoft Office package After two months, students say they appreciate offer, resolves to but few downloads indicate lack of campus awareness support hotel workers By ALBERT ANDERSON STAFF WRITER

By JOSEPH ZAPPA SENIOR STAFF WRITER

inside

The Brown University Community Council passed a resolution at its meeting Wednesday about an ongoing labor dispute between the owners of the Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel — the Procaccianti Group — and workers at the hotel. The resolution recommends that Brown community members refrain from holding events at the Renaissance during the current labor dispute and notify relevant event-planning bodies of the ongoing dispute at the hotel. It also recommends that the University remove the Renaissance from promotional material for any events. The affirmative vote came a month after the Brown Student Labor Alliance first brought the issue to the council’s attention, calling on it to pledge public support for the boycott, advise Brown community members not to stay at the Renaissance and honor future worker-led boycotts. The council did not vote last month due to concerns that members lacked enough information to make a decision. The SLA gave a presentation to the council yesterday explaining that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined the Procaccianti Group $8,000 for violating three regulations, including exposing workers’ hands and faces to » See BUCC, page 3

More than two months after Computing and Information Services made Microsoft Office packages available for free to the student body, 480 packages have been downloaded, and administrators said few glitches have occurred. Ravi Pendse, vice president for computer and information services, said he is happy students are taking advantage of the software. “I would love to see more (downloads), but I also realize it has only been two months, so it is possible that many people perhaps don’t know about it yet,” he said. “We want to do a better job of spreading the word.” Leaders of the Undergraduate Council of Students partnered with CIS administrators to introduce the

Microsoft Office, so I have to go to the ScilLi,” Johnson said. Marco Hanna ’17 said he also had not heard of the download. “I’ve had Office since I got here, so it wouldn’t have helped me at all, but it would have been cool to know,” Hanna said, adding that he “should have been reading the Morning Mail.” Looking ahead, UCS members have spoken with CIS representatives about making other software programs available for free, Gourley said, citing Adobe as one such possibility. He added that the University’s legal agreements with software companies could present a potential obstacle. Addressing the possibility of adding more programs, Hanna said “Photoshop would be nice.” “CIS has been amazing in cooperating with us on all the work we’re trying to do in UCS,” Gourley said. “They are definitely doing whatever they can to make as many of these resources as possible accessible to students.”

‘Jews of Brown’ celebrates cultural diversity online Popular Facebook page explores student perspectives through portraits, personal stories By ASHWINI NATARAJAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“What does being Jewish mean to you?” Jews of Brown, one of the campus’ latest Facebook fads, poses this question every day. Using a photo and quotes to spotlight students who identify as Jewish, the page currently has 628 likes and garners anywhere from 40 to 130 likes per photo. Each post seeks to feature a different experience of Jewish identity, in addition to highlighting the student’s

FEATURE

hobbies, interests and achievements. Though the posts present a diverse array of student interests, the question tying all the profiled students together is about how they relate to their Judaism. The page is the brainchild of Rebecca Carrol ’15, who launched the venture last semester as part of her engagement internship at the Brown/ RISD Hillel, a job in which Jewish students spend a year collaborating on projects that connect with elements of the larger Jewish campus community. Carrol said she drew inspiration from “Humans of New York,” a website that individually profiles New Yorkers with photos and quotes. Carrol wanted to portray the individual stories of Jewish students to show religion means something different to every student — the page is » See JEWS, page 4

Metro

COURTESY OF REBECCA CARROL

Twins Jessi Haddad ‘16.5 and Nikki Haddad ’16 seek to define Jewish identity on campus through vignettes on “Jews of Brown.”

Commentary

Rhode Island officials recommend eight reproductive health bills for further review

Two state public officials have begun developing campaigns for 2014 election season

Feldman ’15 stresses need for swimming lessons as college requirement

Sundlee ’16 emphasizes value of community and kindness in decreasing suicide rates

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Council recommends U. refrain from holding events at Renaissance Hotel during labor dispute

new perk for students, kicking off discussions about the initiative last fall. “It’s important for CIS to make the tools that students need to be academically successful as accessible as possible. Microsoft Office does just that,” said Sazzy Gourley ’16, admissions and student services chair of UCS, who helped spearhead the initiative. Gourley said he was not surprised by the number of downloads, adding that he expects a jump in the numbers this fall. “I think we’ll see more usage of this when it’s advertised to incoming freshmen.” “We put together a student focus group in December to test out a pilot version of the downloading process to make sure that it worked correctly,” Gourley said, adding that UCS advertised the download via social media and Morning Mail. Feedback on the initiative has been

positive, Gourley said, noting that the only complaint he has heard is that the downloads expire after graduation. Students can each download up to five free Microsoft Office packages on their personal devices. The packages include Word, PowerPoint, Excel and other software programs. Miriam Rollock ’15 said the free download was useful after her previous laptop got ruined. “These sorts of software packages are expensive, so it’s helpful for students to have this option,” Rollock said. Connor Lynch ’17 said he also found the download helpful “because it’s definitely more compatible being able to save Word documents instead of doing it always on Google Docs.” Some students said they felt the download could have been advertised more widely by the University. Hariz Johnson ’17 said he was not aware of the download. “I have Microsoft Office Starter installed on my computer, but it doesn’t have all the features of

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014

UCS considers Kelly committee report, coal divestment resolution Council hears presentations from Kelly committee representatives, Divest Coal members By CAROLINE KELLY SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Four members of the Committee on the Events of October 29 solicited feedback from the Undergraduate Council of Students on the second phase of the committee’s mission, which involves establishing guidelines on how the University should address similar controversial events in the future, at the UCS general body meeting Wednesday. The committee members present included committee chair and Africana Studies Professor Anthony Bogues, English Professor Amanda Anderson and undergraduate representatives Terra Laughton ’14 and Dakotah Rice ’16. “Our whole charge was to see if we could … put before the University a set of recommendations that would be useful,” Bogues said, adding that free speech, academic freedom and the campus climate were key issues the committee must consider. On Feb. 19, the committee released its initial report, in which it stated administrators canceled the lecture by former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly in part because they feared the protesters would turn violent, The Herald reported at the

time. At the meeting, the committee members posed questions to UCS about how the University should weigh academic freedom of speech and student well-being. Some UCS members expressed concern that students have lacked influence in University decision-making in the wake of the canceled lecture. “On both sides, I think that people feel like they don’t have a voice,” said Kiera Peltz ’16, chair of the UCS Communications Committee and a former Herald staff writer, describing the climate surrounding student sentiment on sensitive issues. Additionally, members of Brown Divest Coal presented a resolution calling for UCS to endorse the group’s goal of University divestiture from major coal and fossil companies. “The University’s investment should align with its commitment to sustainability,” said Tammy Jiang ’16, a Divest Coal member, adding that despite President Christina Paxson’s statements that the issue had been settled, the group will continue fighting “because we are on the right side of history, and it’s the right thing to do.” The resolution urges UCS to maintain an ongoing partnership with Divest Coal and include three divestment-related questions in the next UCS Fall Poll, which UCS distributes to the student body annually. “There’s something very significant for our Council saying that this is something the next Council should

CORRINE SZCZESNY / HERALD

Members of the Committee on the Events of October 29 attended the meeting, including Terra Laughton ’14, English Professor Amanda Anderson, Dakotah Rice ’16 and Africana Studies Professor Anthony Bogues. pay attention to,” said UCS President Todd Harris ’14.5, but he added that the resolution’s call for UCS commitments would not be binding for future elected student representatives. UCS is set to vote on whether to approve the resolution at its next general body meeting after spring break. The Student Activities Committee also presented at the meeting, discussing the classification and delegation of umbrella groups, which are

overarching student groups with at least three subgroups. Elections Board Chair Heather Sabel ’17 also made a successful motion to approve the newly appointed elections board. Board members will include Harris, current Undergraduate Finance Board Chair Leila Veerasamy ’15, Stacy Bartlett ’14, Isabella Levy ’16, Jacqueline Kim ’17, Alexander Lloyd George ’16, Herald Sports Editor Caleb Miller ’16, Miyo Malouf ’16,

Brenna Scully ’17, Audrey Lew ’14 and Lydia Chim ’17. UCS Vice President Sam Gilman ’15 announced his decision not to run for UCS president in the upcoming elections, despite rumors he was mounting a campaign. “You guys have been inspiring in the sense that we can figure out how to elevate student concerns,” he said, adding that over his three years of involvement he has “learned so much from UCS.”

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014

» ZIPCAR, from page 1 at February and March committee meetings, the Journal reported. Some of the benefits a car-sharing service like Zipcar brings to cities like Providence include individual savings on car costs, reduced traffic and environmental sustainability, Himberg said. The annual fee for Providence residents is currently $60. The company pays for the upkeep of its vehicles but will negotiate the location of the new parking spaces with the city, Himberg said. The city and the company will also work together as part of their partnership to make sure there is appropriate signage so non-Zipcar members do not park in Zipcar spots, she added. The city would help maintain the parking spots, especially in the event of inclement weather, according to the proposal. Zipcar relies on colleges and universities for a large part of its business, with partnerships at institutions including Brown, the Rhode Island School of Design and Johnson and Wales. The University launched its program with Zipcar in October 2005, The Herald reported at the time. Zipcar lowered the minimum age for students to rent a car from 21 to 18 years old in 2009. This provision does not apply to non-college students who are residents of Providence, meaning they must be 21 years of age in order to rent a Zipcar, according to the proposed agreement. The age limits differ because Zipcar has separate contracts with the schools and the city, Himberg said. Since setting the minimum age at 18 years old, Zipcar has seen a boom in popularity among students at Brown and other Providence schools, The Herald previously reported. There are 2,153 Brown students enrolled in Brown’s Zipcar program, and they share 23 cars at five different locations around campus, wrote Carleia Lighty, transportation and parking services manager, in an email to The Herald. It costs $20 for students, faculty members and staff members to join Zipcar, and the agreement incorporates $30 of credit to driving hours as well as prepaid gas and car insurance, Lighty wrote. As part of a new program started in 2012 in conjunction with Zipcar called Brown University Students with Drive, three student groups — Mariachi de Brown, Kicks for Kids

and Brown Debating Union — won free driving credits of $5,000 each, Lighty wrote. There have been very few complaints from students or from Brown community members about the Zipcar Program and the University is “very satisfied with the successful partnership,” she added. “Brown does not have a role in the discussion between Zipcar and the City of Providence. We continue to have a very good relationship with Zipcar and have confirmed with our contact there is absolutely no impact to our program as a result of any decisions between Zipcar and the city,” wrote Elizabeth Gentry, assistant vice president of financial and administrative services, in an email to The Herald. “Our university program is managed separately and there will be no impact to students.” Some in the city have expressed concern over the costs of the contract to Providence, especially given the revenue lost from parking meter fees, the Providence Journal reported. Others have voiced concerns over setting aside parking spaces for a publicprivate partnership in an area where parking spaces are in high demand, Himberg said, adding that people might be irritated when the only parking spots they can find are those only available for Zipcar members. “The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and the administration appreciate the quality of life benefits that Zipcar provides the residents of Providence,” wrote Meaghan McCabe, director of multimedia and social media for the Mayor’s office in an email to The Herald. “At the same time, we have listened to the concerns raised by the City Council and are in discussions with Zipcar to address those concerns.” Criticisms have also been raised over the contract’s provision that stipulates Zipcar would waive the annual membership fee for 40 Providence city employees who joined the car-sharing service. This measure will likely be removed from the renewed contract, Himberg said, adding that the measure was not meant as “a trade-off ” in exchange for the city providing the company with more parking spaces. Though no contract has been signed and formal details have not yet been released, negotiations between the city and the company will continue in the coming weeks in order to renew the contract as soon as possible, Himberg said.

www.browndailyherald.com

DAVID BRAUN / HERALD

BUCC recently passed a resolution in support of Renaissance Hotel workers in their labor dispute with hotel management. Only Vice President for Public Affairs and University Relations Marisa Quinn opposed the measure.

» BUCC, from page 1 illegal chemicals. Additionally, the National Labor Review Board recently concluded a six-month investigation that found sufficient evidence to bring charges against the hotel owners for violating workers’ rights to freedom of association and freedom of speech. Passing the resolution would “put pressure on Procaccianti so they’re more likely to make a settlement … and start alleviating worker abuses,” said Cameron Johnson ’17, an SLA member. The Procaccianti Group will meet with the NLRB and later announce a decision to settle or go to trial March 31. A similar statement passed by the council in 2010 acknowledging a labor dispute at the Westin Hotel “forced management to recognize the union and change the working conditions of the workers,” said Mariela Martinez ’14, another SLA member. Johnson called on the council to honor the University’s mission statement, which calls for collaboration with and support for the Providence community. He said the University would never tolerate worker abuses on its campus, and there should be no difference between abuses on and off College Hill.

All council members except Vice President for Public Affairs and University Relations Marisa Quinn voted to pass the resolution. While largely approving the resolution’s goals, some council members had reservations about its details. Some members expressed concern that the University was taking a side in the dispute by acknowledging a boycott. Russell Carey, executive vice president for planning and policy, resolved this concern by suggesting a change in terminology from “boycott” to “labor dispute.” “The labor dispute is undisputed,” Carey said. President Christina Paxson invoked her authority as chair of the council to change the wording from boycott to labor dispute, which no council members opposed. Paxson also criticized the “redundancy” of stipulating that the University issue a public statement in support of the boycott, adding that the passage of the resolution itself was a public statement. The council voted to eliminate a clause calling for a public statement from the resolution. Kiera Peltz ’16, a BUCC member and a former Herald staff writer, asked SLA members if they felt the resolution had been “watered down”

by amendments, but members of the organization, as well as Renaissance workers and labor organizers present, seemed content with the resolution ultimately passed. “I think we can remain hopeful that this sends a message to the University,” Martinez told The Herald after the meeting, noting that the 2010 Westin resolution mobilized students and Providence community members to stand in solidarity with the workers. “This will pressure (the Procaccianti Group) to act and do right by their workers. We also know that the fight is not over — that we have to make sure this doesn’t just stay in wording, to make sure it gets out there and people know,” Martinez added. “A resolution hasn’t been passed in two years,” Stephanie Medina ’14, another SLA member, told The Herald. She added that the resolution “really reminds the students and the Brown community that it’s still possible to make things happen on campus.” While discussion of the Renaissance labor dispute took up most of the meeting, the council concluded with presentations by the presidents of the Undergraduate Council of Students, Graduate Student Council and Medical Student Senate.

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014

R.I. lawmakers review eight new bills concerning abortion policy Rhode Island rated 25th in U.S. on women’s reproductive rights, only two spots above Arizona By CAMILLA BRANDFIELD-HARVEY STAFF WRITER

Brown students and Rhode Island residents on both sides of the abortion debate descended on the State House March 11 to hear the House Judiciary Committee discuss eight reproductive health bills. All eight have since been recommended for further review, according to the General Assembly’s Legislative Status Report. One of the bills discussed, entitled “Informed Consent for Abortion” and sponsored by five legislators including Rep. Karen MacBeth, D-Cumberland, has garnered significant media scrutiny. The legislation would require physicians to present an ultrasound to women seeking abortions prior to performing the procedure. The measure is similar to legislation recently enacted in Arizona, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Virginia, though MacBeth’s bill would not require women to view the ultrasound image. Two bills reviewed included measures to abolish the current stipulation requiring women to obtain spousal consent for abortions and prohibit state involvement in women’s personal matters. Other bills called for the enactment of the Fetal Protection Act, which would criminalize abortion procedures, ban sex-selective and partial-birth abortions and prohibit abortion coverage through state or federally funded insurance plans,

» JEWS, from page 1 a celebration of individual Judaism at Brown because “every single post is unique,” she said. “I know for a lot of people, it means very different things, and also the quirks show what makes everybody different.” While some featured students emphasize the faith-based aspects of the religion, most frequently refer to the culture surrounding Judaism — songs, food, community and family are common themes. The page demonstrates the diversity of the Jewish community, as each student interprets the religion individually, said Sara Miller, senior Israel engagement fellow at Hillel. “Being Jewish on campus can take so many different forms, and I think that’s reflected in the student body that we have, and the types of Jewish students we have on campus,” she said. “And it really further illustrates, no matter what you look like or how you identify, you are welcome in this community.” Miller added that “inclusivity is the biggest part” of the page because anyone who identifies as Jewish can participate. The page’s immediate popularity took Carrol by surprise. “Seeing how many likes or comments a photo has is heartwarming,” she said. Carrol started as a one-woman team, taking photos, conducting interviews and recording students by herself. But this semester, she teamed up with

Rhode Island Receives a D+ According to the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action

League, Rhode Island’s predominantly pro-life Senate, mixed House as well as several laws restricting abortion service and coverage earned the state a D+ grade. Ranking 25th out of the 50 states on women’s reproductive rights, Rhode Island places only one spot above North Carolina and two above Arizona, which enacted four pro-life measures in 2012. Both Arizona and North Carolina enacted laws that forbid allocating state funds toward health centers that provide abortions, according to a NARAL report. A similar bill was introduced to Rhode Island’s General Assembly March 11. Rhode Island has already enacted insurance restrictions, required parental consent for minors and ban abortions after 12 weeks. The state also requires women seeking abortions to receive descriptions of the abortion procedure, including the age of the fetus and a statement outlining alternatives, such as adoption. “We may be a blue state, but we do not have the support of the General Assembly” on this issue, Mark said. Given a legislature more sympathetic to pro-choice measures, restrictive legislation would “never (see) the light of day,” she added. The Guttmacher Institute reported in 2011 that 80 percent of Rhode Island counties, in which 37 percent of the state’s women reside, do not have abortion clinics. Rhode Island NOW is working with Planned Parenthood of Southern New England to expand family planning in order to service low-income women and help reduce

six other student photojournalists to expand the project. Each team member is assigned a specific demographic of students, such as male seniors, and a day on which to post. Nikki Haddad ’16 joined the team this semester, posting features on female sophomores every Thursday. She said she sees the page as a forum for students of all Jewish backgrounds, even those who might not feel as connected to the faith. “It’s giving a voice to these people who would otherwise not really have a voice in terms of their religion, and I think that’s a really powerful thing,” she said. Haddad added that she is not surprised by the rapidly growing popularity of the Facebook page, adding that she believes students are receptive to learning about their peers on College Hill. “I just love all the Jews that I know — they’re all just such wonderful people,” she said. “They just bring so much to the Brown campus and Brown community that I’m not surprised at how the page has taken off.” The beauty of Jewish identity comes from its variety and scope in terms of what an individual can contribute to the community, wrote Alisa KotlerBerkowitz, director of engagement at Hillel, in an email to The Herald. “Jewish identity can have so many different definitions and visions, and still all be valid, valued and real,” she wrote. “I hope that through the variety of stories told, this message is clear.”

A “Jews of Brown” post featuring Isaac Macdonald ‘15 garnered 115 likes. The Facebook page currently has over 600 likes, with many of its posts receiving between 40 and 130 likes.

except in cases of rape or life endangerment. Sara Matthiesen GS, an American Studies doctoral candidate completing a dissertation on policy debates over women’s reproductive rights, said MacBeth’s push for informed consent is characteristic of the pro-life movement’s 1990 agenda. “The pro-life movement has done a good job since the mid-to-late 90s rebranding itself as women-friendly, especially since the late 80s and early 90s when anti-abortion violence peaked,” Matthiesen said. After repeated arson incidences, murders of abortion providers and bombings of abortion clinics, the prolife movement needed to salvage its reputation, Matthiesen said. This was accomplished in part by emphasizing women’s rights in addition to fetus rights. But both Matthiessen and Carolyn Mark, president of the Rhode Island chapter of the National Organization for Women, said MacBeth’s bill has received attention because it aligns closely with debates in other states. There is no particular reason for the bill to appear now in Rhode Island, Mark said. It is a domino effect — one state’s legislative battle becomes a catalyst for another’s, she said.

the number of unintended pregnancies across the state.

health insurance plans from covering abortion procedures.

The Highest Rate in New England According to data from Guttmacher, 55 percent of pregnancies in Rhode Island were unintended in 2008, with 48 percent of these resulting in live births and 39 percent resulting in abortions. The state’s rate of teen pregnancy is particularly high — the highest in New England. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy ranks Rhode Island 11th in the country for teen pregnancy rates. Guttmacher statistics indicate there were 17,180 sexually-active women under the age of 20 in 2008, 2,170 teen pregnancies and 740 teen abortions. Though the teen pregnancy rate has fallen 38 percent since 1988, it has dropped only four percent since 2005. “The key to helping our teen pregnancy rate is comprehensive sexual health” education, said Kafi Rouse, director of public relations and marketing for Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. “We have learned that that is the most effective way to prevent teen pregnancy.” Rhode Island also provides free contraception through community health centers, and 4,330 teens received contraception in 2010, due in large part to the federal Title-X family planning program. Under state law, any plan covering prescription medication must also provide coverage for FDA-approved prescription contraception. Rhode Island law currently forbids

Moving Forward As Gov. Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 P’17, a staunch pro-choice leader and former board member of NARAL, steps down from his position this year, gubernatorial candidates will have the opportunity to engage in a renewed discussion on abortion. “We believe very strongly that we are not going to see the kind of advocacy that we want to see until we get more women and feminist male allies elected,” Mark said. But despite the possible triumphs of pro-choice gubernatorial candidates, such as Clay Pell and Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island has a large Catholic faction and maintains a conservative Catholic majority in the General Assembly. With 44.1 percent of residents aged 18 and older declaring themselves Catholic, Rhode Island is the most Catholic state in the country, according to GALLUP. “Powerful” Catholic churches in Rhode Island also have “a history of shaming and excommunicating (prochoice) legislators,” Mark said. But with several pro-choice bills having reached the General Assembly March 11, Mark has a positive attitude, though she said the Statehouse needs more female representation. Currently women make up 27.4 percent of Rhode Island’s legislature, one of the lowest percentages in New England. “Without more women voices at the Statehouse, I think we will see very little change.”

COURTESY OF REBECCA CARROL

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014

menu SHARPE REFECTORY

here comes the sun VERNEY-WOOLLEY

LUNCH Shaved Steak Sandwich with Mushroom and Onion, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Hummus Bar

BBQ Beef on a Bun, Grilled Montreal Chicken, Vegetarian Pot Pie with Biscuits, Polynesian Cookies

DINNER Grilled Rotisserie Chicken, Slow-Roast Pork Loin with Herbs, Caramel Apple Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting

Italian Chicken Parmesan, Cheese Ravioli with Pink Vodka Sauce, Chocolate Mousse Torte

JOSIAH’S

THREE BURNERS

QUESADILLA OR GRILLED CHEESE

Gnocchi Bar

Make-Your-Own Quesadilla

BLUE ROOM

SOUPS

DINNER ENTREES

Corn Chowder, Hearty Country Vegetable, Turkey Chili

Mango Chicken with Veggies, Vegetable Tikka Masala

sudoku

ASHLEY SO / HERALD

As students and faculty members prepare to enjoy spring break, the sun begins to shine on Providence following months of winter weather.

comics Class Notes | Philip Trammell ‘15

RELEASE DATE– Thursday, March 20, 2014

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle c rNorris o s sandwJoyce o rNichols d Lewis Edited by Rich ACROSS 1 At attention, say 6 Whale group 9 Caught at a rodeo 14 Grammy-winning Jones 15 CXVIII x V 16 Officer on the Enterprise bridge 17 It’s not a swine 19 Alert to drivers 20 Vinyl item 21 It’s not an equine 23 Zilch 25 Hot times in Lyon 26 MST part: Abbr. 29 Endow 31 __ projection 35 It’s not an amphibian 38 Million finish 39 Mayflower Compact signer 40 Patriots’ Day mo. 41 Former U.S. Army post near Monterey 42 Big name in game shows 43 It’s not a canine 45 “Remington __” 47 Enthusiasm 48 Common rebus pronoun 49 Avis adjective 51 “Stay” singer Lisa 53 It’s not a rodent 57 Lacking the wherewithal 61 Confess 62 It’s not an ursine 64 Seven-year phase 65 SASE, e.g. 66 Ben Stiller’s mother 67 Biography Channel owner 68 Most of AZ doesn’t observe it 69 Freddy Krueger’s haunts: Abbr. DOWN 1 Tech sch. grad 2 Rake 3 Idle in comedy

41 Identifier in a 53 “See ya” 4 Leica competitor folder 54 What a light bulb 5 Title “ungainly 43 Machu Picchu may signify fowl” of poetry locale 55 The 6 Natl. economic 44 Lover of Christine, Untouchables, indicator in “The Phantom e.g. 7 x, y or z of the Opera” 56 Eras upon eras 8 Blues singer 46 “Tao Te Ching” 58 Smile broadly Bobby of song author 59 Metallica 9 Fraternity events 50 Tried to date, drummer Ulrich 10 Columbus with “out” 60 Q.E.D. word school 63 Pretend to be 52 Tower city 11 Sign of feline felicity ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: 12 “__ Tu”: 1974 hit 13 Hamlet, for one 18 Contributed 22 Slightly 24 Sirius or Vega 26 Counterfeits 27 Available, on a real estate sign 28 Rapper who co-founded Beats Electronics 30 November birthstone 32 __ Janeiro 33 Bow go-with 34 Dove’s perch 36 “Don’t bother” 37 Disney mermaid xwordeditor@aol.com 03/20/14

Bacterial Culture | Dana Schwartz ‘15

calendar TODAY

MARCH 20

5 P.M. GAPS IN HEALTHCARE: THE IMPACTS OF HOMELESSNESS ON HEALTH

A panel discussion explores the social detriments of healthcare, along with healthcare’s impact on the homeless. The panel will include experts in medicine and homeless advocacy. Alumnae Hall, Crystal Room 7 P.M. MIXED: A ONE-WOMAN PERFORMANCE

Maya Lilly, performer, writer and activist, performs a one-woman show examining the intersections of race within multiracial identities. The event is sponsored by the Multiracial Heritage Series and the Third World Center. List Art 120

TOMORROW

MARCH 21

3:30 P.M. PHILOSOPHY COLLOQUIUM: JULIA DRIVER

Julia Driver, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, will give a talk entitled “Hume on Appraisability and Moral Agency.” at the Philosophy Department’s colloquium tomorrow. Building for Environmental Research and Teaching, Room 015 7:30 P.M. BACH’S BIRTHDAY CONCERT

The concert will feature Bach’s “Singet dem Herren” and the works of Lasso, Handel and Martin Roth. The event also includes a pre-concert talk by Frederick Jodry on Bach and the Florilegium Portense-Renaissance motets in 18th century 03/20/14

Germany. Tickets are $2 for students, $10 for adults. Sayles Hall Auditorium

6 commentary

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014

EDITORIAL

STEM shortage may be overstated

Throughout all the recent debates concerning the value of a liberal arts education versus a sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, we’ve tended to ignore a critical fact. Not all STEM subjects are equal regarding employment prospect and national need, and in several of these fields, we presently have no real shortage of science and engineering students. A recent article in the Atlantic outlines six separate time periods when people were claiming the nation faced science and technology workforce shortages since the end of World War II. These range from Eisenhower’s response following the Sputnik launches in 1957 to the defense buildup at the end of the Cold War. Since the end of the Cold War era, we have already seen three rounds of perceived shortages, the first two coinciding with technology and public health sector growth, respectively, and the third apparently occurring right now. The shortages in technology and public health sectors were indeed real, but an equally real bust followed, and it’s hard to ignore the potential relevance of the artificial promotion of STEM fields to this bust. Today, for the sixth period since the end of World War II, the nation is apparently in dire need of STEM students. A look at the labor market, however, suggests quite a different trend. The unemployment rate among scientists and engineers is indeed even higher than it is for lawyers. One wonders, then, if tech companies bemoaning a STEM shortage are merely looking for excuses to export American jobs. Of course, discourse in the media paints a rather different picture in which job prospects for law students have only begun to look at all decent in the past year, whereas we desperately require more students in STEM fields. Until the better projections of this past year, legal analysts were frequently heard citing the relatively poor state of the legal economy, with some even suggesting that students should not attend law school unless they are accepted into the most elite programs. If unemployment rates are any indicator, it seems we should perhaps be giving more cautious advice to those interested in pursuing science and engineering too. There is little doubt that we do need more talent in STEM fields. Particularly in the field of computer programming, employers tend to claim that there are plenty of mediocre programmers, but not enough good programmers. It is fair on this basis, then, to promote improved mathematics and sciences education in the K-12 years, and we might also justify this push on the basis of poor international performance in these fields. But we should not be arbitrarily pushing for more college students to major in STEM fields without considering the future employment market for students, and it may not be wise to be pushing for it so single-mindedly here at Brown. Indeed, if the value of a STEM concentration is so great, then it should be evident and we wouldn’t need to push it as much as we do. The nature of the discourse surrounding the value of a STEM education could threaten to draw a student away from his or her interests or, likely at a greater cost, from his or her true talents. We all struggle with finding the balance between pursuing what we love and what will make a tangible difference in a world each of us finds unsatisfactory or flawed in certain respects. This is one of the fundamental challenges of a college education, and certainly it is complex enough without the additional variable that the nation somehow would like us to concentrate in a STEM field. We believe these claims tend to be at least partly political in nature and that Brown University ought not pressure students to pursue a STEM concentrations over any other.

K I M B E R LY S A LT Z ’ 1 7

CORRECTION An article in Wednesday’s Herald (“Retirement offers emeritus faculty freedom, uncertainty,” March 19) misidentified James Allen. He is a professor, not a professor emeritus, of Egyptology and ancient Western Asian studies. The article also incorrectly stated that the Committee on Faculty Equity and Diversity suggested the University set up a post-retirement medical fund for employees. In fact, the recommendation came from a joint Faculty Executive Committee-CFED committee. The article also incorrectly stated that the Corporation rejected this proposal. In fact, the administration rejected it. The Herald regrets the errors.

Q U O T E O F T H E D AY

“He should have been reading the Morning Mail.” — Marco Hanna ’17

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014

Keeping swim testing buoyant ANDREW FELDMAN opinions columnist

The purpose of college is often questioned. Is college meant to train someone to be a competitive job applicant? Maybe the point of college truly is just to expand your horizons and to experience intellectual growth. What if the point of college is just to meet the person you will spend the rest of your life with? The real purpose of college encompasses all of these reasons. College is meant to prepare students for every facet of life. And the best colleges and universities put students in the position to find jobs, knowledge and future loved ones. A true university experience should also teach students how to interact with their environment, which often leads people off dry land. Therefore, colleges such as Brown University should require every student to pass a swim test before graduation. Interacting with water is an essential part of life. We live on a planet about 70 percent covered in water. While 30 percent of the planet is still a huge amount of land, chances are that a person is going to at least come into contact with a body of water at some point in his or her life, whether an ocean, lake, river or pool. There is absolutely no reason for someone

who goes to the beach to be able to analyze the ionic composition of the water and the effect it has on the body, but not be able to wade in past their knees. Swimming is great for you. It’s one of the best forms of exercise and can lead to a healthier body while preventing several medical problems. However, just because something is healthier does not mean one should be forced to learn how to do it. We should learn how to swim because it can truly save lives. In America,

around the block. Wearing a seatbelt, while a minor inconvenience, offers essential insurance. It’s impossible to know whether you will ever end up living next to an open body of water or if you will ever randomly end up walking along a river on a slippery evening. Also, it’s important to realize that the places one could drown aren’t just localized on the coasts and are common across the country. Over the last 25 years, schools around the country such as Princeton in 1990 and the University

ferent half hour time slots throughout the week would not be that invasive, nor would it be expensive. The class could be taught by student volunteers from several different varsity aquatic sports. Offering a free swim class would help properly prepare students who enter college without the ability to swim. One key criticism of learning how to swim is that not everyone has had the same exposure to swimming, and level of experience is highly correlated with race. Just because not every-

There is absolutely no reason for someone who goes to the beach to be able to analyze the ionic composition of the water and the effect it has on the body, but not be able to wade in past their knees. about 10 people die each day from unintentional drowning while engaging in non-boat related activities. About 20 percent of these victims are children under the age of 14. Therefore, the people who are drowning aren’t just kids. They are people in high school, college or older who need to be taught how to swim. Some people will argue that swimming isn’t very useful, but how is learning how to swim any different from wearing a seatbelt? Both are preventative measures, taken even though it’s not as if one has a high chance of getting into a car crash every time he or she goes for a drive

of Chicago in 2012 dropped their swimming requirement. Brown can help reverse that trend. Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Notre Dame all continue to require a swim test as part of their core curricula. Brown already has the resources necessary to join these institutions, making the addition of a swim test to the curriculum relatively effortless. The Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center is home to a 56 meter by 25 yard pool that is open for recreational swim every weekday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Allocating part of the pool for a few dif-

one has the same background does not mean that the need for swimming should be ignored. Academically, not everyone has the same academic background either, having been exposed to different materials and opportunities, such as Advanced Placement courses. But rather than ban courses that correspond to high school AP courses, these courses are still offered to everyone, many of which are even mandatory prerequisites for various areas of study. A swim test as a graduation requirement is not intended to prevent anyone from graduating — it is meant to give people an opportunity

to learn how to swim. An inability to swim, while dangerously detrimental for an individual, is also often propagated to future generations. If parents can’t swim, they won’t teach their kids and are less likely to emphasize the importance of learning how to swim to future generations. In doing so, this burdens future generations. A swimming handicap not only creates excessive fear of water, but it can also lead to social alienation by preventing children from interacting with their peers in aquatic settings. A basic swim test where individuals swim a couple of laps may be a small barrier to graduation, but it opens up possibilities later in life. According to the American Red Cross, the majority of drowning deaths are preventable with basic swimming and water safety instruction. By requiring a swim test, Brown can increase the probability that our college degrees go to people whose lives will not be tragically cut short as drowning victims. Especially while attending college in the “Ocean State,” the least one can take away from the experience is the ability to swim.

Andrew Feldman ’15 can be reached at andrew_feldman@brown.edu unless he continues to write articles from inside the pool, in which case his computer will probably end up getting wet.

Kindness is key ROBYN SUNDLEE opinions columnist

Last winter, I learned that no fewer than four of my close friends had contemplated suicide during high school or their freshman years of college. Their motivations for considering ending their lives were tangled webs of depression, anxiety, family problems, self-image issues and academic pressures. I was dumbfounded. To me they had always seemed like relatively contented individuals. I was aware they were going through trials, but I never had any idea their lives were spiraling out of control like this. Or did I? I came to doubt myself and became wracked with spasms of guilt when I spoke to these friends. How could I have missed what was happening right under my nose to the people I claim to know better than anyone? I shouldn’t have been so shocked. Suicide abounds in our age group. Many psychologists today speculate that we’re facing a suicide epidemic. While suicide rates declined in the 1990s, there has been a spike in the last decade, with rates steadily increasing annually. In the developed world, suicide is the leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 49. Still, those who suffer from depression and other mental disorders often put on brave faces to spare us from what they see as their own personal burdens. A recent Herald article cites the pervasiveness of anxiety disorders among our students and the stigma they face in being upfront about their condition (“Facing anxi-

ety at the laidback Ivy,” March 14). There is added pressure here at Brown to seem happy because that state of mind has become so entwined with the identity of the University. So many of us, myself included, take our friends’ forced laughs and strained smiles as evidence that all is well. Wading into someone else’s mire of problems seems an onerous task — one that can easily be avoided if we just turn a blind eye. Perhaps we tell ourselves that if there is something wrong, there’s nothing we can do anyway — that the individual will only rebuff inquiries. Obviously, this is untrue. But how can

peers, it couldn’t matter less. We are in no position to say that someone doesn’t have the right to feel how they do simply because of their diagnosis status. Some individuals genuinely need medication to function. Others are simply going through a dark period in their lives and are seeking a way to feel well again. General suspicion over mental health diagnoses does not justify neglecting that which we do not understand and prefer not to confront. We contribute nothing constructive in rejecting someone’s mental state just because it seems illogical to us. After realizing what dire straits my friends

Many psychologists today speculate that we’re facing a suicide epidemic.

someone who has never experienced depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts hope to help a friend undergoing these hardships? Before the revelations regarding my friends’ suicidal thoughts, I had never even attempted to understand what it meant to be in mental anguish. Trying to fathom this type of despair when you’ve never felt it yourself is difficult. There is a temptation to dismiss problems like depression and anxiety as symptoms of a society overeager to diagnose and prescribe. There is merit to this claim in some instances, and, on a very broad scale, this is a problem that needs to be addressed. But a personal level between

were in, I vowed I would do better for them. I wanted to yank them out of their sadness and force them to be well again. It never occurred to me that someone else’s depression was something that I couldn’t heal. But soon I realized that we cannot reason or argue someone out of their despair. We cannot convince people to be happy. Still, we are not impotent. Ninety percent of those who attempt suicide suffer from psychological ailments, meaning those who try to end their lives do so in reaction to feelings of hopelessness. These are preventable tragedies. We can help others fend off those moments of darkness with encouraging words, a smile or

even our simple physical presence. We don’t need to become someone’s entire support structure or therapist. Gestures of affection are all we can offer, and more often than not they will make a difference. Untold numbers of people have been coaxed back from ledges by the quiet goodness of complete strangers. Last week, the New Yorker published the story of Jonny Benjamin, a 20-year-old diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, who intended to take his own life. Just as he was about to hurl himself off the Waterloo Bridge, a man approached him and asked him to get coffee, a simple gesture that assured him everything would get better. Benjamin is now a spokesperson for mental health awareness. The power of basic kindness is too often overlooked. As Philo warned, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.” We must try our hardest to be sensitive to those who are living with depression, anxiety or just plain sadness. We are in a fragile part of our lives right now. The stresses of school, being away from home and finding a career are grating on everyone, and it is up to all of us to work to maintain a strong community of sympathetic people. It is far too easy to turn a blind eye or dismiss someone else’s troubles. Be mindful. Seek to be a source of solace for friends who are overwhelmed. Be kind. Always. We can never know what kind of demons others may be facing.

Robyn Sundlee ’16 hopes others can avoid her blunders. She can be reached at robyn_sundlee@brown.edu.

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014

THE

metro

BROWN DAILY HERALD

Spotlight on the Statehouse BY KATHERINE LAMB, METRO EDITOR The General Assembly this week considered a bill to alter gunbuyer screening procedures and legislation that would review racial disparities in out-of-school suspensions in the state’s public schools. Rhode Island legislators also conducted their annual St. Patrick’s Day and St. Joseph’s Day celebrations in both the House and Senate.

Gun buyer guidelines Legislation submitted Wednesday to both chambers by the co-chairwomen of the Joint Behavioral Health and Firearms Safety Task Force would stipulate that Rhode Island submit additional information to the national database used to screen gun buyers. The bill’s introduction to the Senate Tuesday by Sen. Catherine Cool Rumsey, D-Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Richmond, West Greenwich, and to the House March 13 by Rep. Deborah Ruggiero, D-Jamestown and Middletown, follows the release of the task force’s recommendations last month. The legislation would enact one of the task force’s major recommendations that the state begin entering further information in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for individuals who have been “involuntarily committed in court for mental health treatment and pose a threat of violence to themselves or others,” according to a General Assembly press release. The bill would also create a panel of mental health experts and law enforcement officials to whom individuals barred from purchasing a gun under this new legislation could make appeals. “We’ve very narrowly defined the people who will be affected by the change, we’ve protected their privacy and we’ve provided a way for them to apply for relief,” Rumsey said, according to the release.

Minority student suspension rates COURTESY OF TONY PESATURO

Rep. Ray Hull, D-Providence announced he is looking into becoming the sixth Democratic candidate seeking the office of mayor. If elected, Hull would be Providence’s first black mayor.

Clock ticks for candidates considering campaigns Restricted by law from keeping job and pursuing U.S. Senate, Raymond McKay files injunction By KATHERINE LAMB METRO EDITOR

Two more state officials took steps toward forming campaigns in anticipation of the 2014 election season. Rep. Ray Hull, D-Providence, announced Tuesday he is exploring a run for Providence mayor, potentially joining a crowded race for the Sept. 9 Democratic mayoral primary. Raymond McKay, network and telecommunications administrator for the city of Warwick and president of the Rhode Island Republican Assembly, a conservative advocacy group, had planned to launch his campaign for U.S. Senate Tuesday but was forced to postpone the announcement due to a Warwick law barring certain city employees from running for office. In a news release Tuesday, Hull cited his experiences as a single father, lifelong Providence resident and longtime law enforcement official as part of a crucial “skill set” required for the mayoral position. “My years serving the people of District six have been incredibly rewarding,” Hull said, according to the release. “I think their support has made me feel ready to consider a mayoral run.” Hull also pointed to the specific

challenges he has faced representing a district encompassing “the solid, white middle class from Mount Pleasant and Fruit Hill, as well as the minority populations from the neighborhoods of Manton,” he said in the release. “That kind of diversity requires flexibility and perspective, and I’ll bring that to City Hall.” Hull said his campaign is still in “the discussion stage” of his potential decision to join the mayoral race, according to the release. Hull would join Democratic mayoral candidates City Council President Michael Solomon, former Housing Court Judge Jorge Elorza, lobbyist Brett Smiley, businessman Lorne Adrain and perennial mayoral candidate Chris Young, who have all already formally announced their campaigns. The winner of the primary will likely face Republican Daniel Harrop in November’s general election. If elected, Hull would become Providence’s first black mayor. “I have the highest regard for the position of mayor of my city,” Hull said in the release. “I love Providence, and I believe great things can happen here in the next few years.” McKay had already announced plans to launch a campaign against Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. Tuesday morning at the Elks Lodge in West Greenwich when Warwick Personnel Director Jane Jordan informed him that a campaign announcement would be taken as a resignation from his current

position, the Providence Journal reported. Warwick city ordinance 48-107 prohibits city employees working in “classified” posts from seeking public election. McKay’s position as network and telecommunications administrator falls under this stipulation. McKay claims the ordinance is unconstitutional and is seeking an injunction to prevent the city of Warwick from firing him upon the launch of his campaign, ABC News reported. He also filed a temporary restraining order Monday to fend off enforcement of the ordinance, the ProJo reported. McKay’s complaint holds that the law has a “chilling effect on free speech” and violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution by preventing city workers in “classified” positions from running for office, while permitting other Warwick employees from campaigning. “This should not be a partisan issue, this is a constitutional issue. I believe I have a right to run for office without the threat of termination or retaliation,” McKay said. A court hearing for McKay’s injunction against the city has been tentatively scheduled for Friday morning, and McKay said the official launch of his campaign will likely be March 25, the ProJo reported. McKay faces an uphill battle against Reed, who is often listed as one of the state’s most popular politicians.

In the wake of a report released last week by the Rhode Island branch of the American Civil Liberties Union that showed minority students in Rhode Island public schools are suspended at higher rates than their white peers, legislation addressing the issue was introduced in the House. The report, entitled “Blacklisted: An Update,” compared out-of-school suspension data for the 2012-2013 school year to previous data from 2004 to 2012. Results found that Rhode Island experienced a “laudable drop in the total number of suspensions,” but black students were suspended from school with “record-high disparity.” The proposed bill requires the Rhode Island Department of Education to analyze suspension data and calls for school districts with disproportionate minority student suspension rates to develop plans to reduce the racial disparity, according to a General Assembly press release issued Tuesday. The legislation is sponsored by Rep. Teresa Tanzi, D-South Kingstown and Narragansett, and co-sponsored by Rep. Grace Diaz, D-Providence, who previously proposed a 2012 bill that barred schools from assigning students to out-of-school suspensions for attendance violations, according to a General Assembly press release issued Friday. “Students who are suspended from school are up to 10 times as likely as other students to drop out of school or repeat a grade,” Tanzi said, according to Tuesday’s release. “While over-suspensions affect all Rhode Island students, they have a particular impact on black and Hispanic children — a problem that is only getting worse.” The bill would also require that the disciplinary consequences for minor behavioral offenses be limited to in-school suspension. “It is important, especially now when students have more responsibilities in the classroom, to do everything we can to keep kids in school,” Diaz said, according to Friday’s release.

Saints in the Statehouse Rhode Island lawmakers in both legislative chambers commemorated St. Patrick’s Day and St. Joseph’s Day yesterday, with celebrations featuring traditional food and entertainment. State public officials offered opening remarks on Irish and Italian heritage and culture, addressing the importance of both holidays for Rhode Island’s Catholic community and the state’s substantial Irish-American and Italian-American populations, the Providence Journal reported.

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