GUIDE TO BROWN
4. Get to know the Class of 2028
10. Guide to Brown slang
12. What Brown tradition are you?
16. Stories from Brown alumni
20. Secret study spots on campus
(totally uno ffi cial)
WHAT’S INSIDE
Hi Friends,
As we write this, we are remembering that invigorating, a-tad-scary feeling of entering our rst semester at Brown. Have you been hearing about campus myths and avoiding that staircase in Pembroke? Did you nd yourself holding your breath while hitting “submit” on CAB? It’s magical when you live in possibilities, as overwhelming as it is. But you’ll make it through — with a sweet a ertaste, we promise.
We are the 134th editorial board of e Brown Daily Herald, Brown’s only independent, student-run daily newspaper. We work with over 300 sta to inform tens of thousands of readers in Brown and Rhode Island’s communities, all from a cute (we think so) little (we admit) o ce at 88 Benevolent St. What you are reading now is our Guide to Brown special issue, which we wrote just for you. From campus news recap to sta advice, secret study spots to alum features, we hope to help you envision a life here and beyond.
We will always be a resource (and a community, if you decide to join us!) for you, anytime, anywhere. If you want to learn more about how to join our newsroom, check out the QR code on page 15. We hope you enjoy this guide, your rst year in college and all the weird but wonderful things Brown has to o er.
Sincerely,
CLASS OF 2028
Race and Ethnicity
The undergraduate class of 2028 is the rst to be admitted to Brown since the Supreme Court overturned race-conscious admissions. This year, the share of students identifying as black or Hispanic/Latino declined by roughly 5 percentage points each, while the share of Asian students increased by about 7 percentage points. The share of white students stayed roughly the same.
Note: Because respondents had the option to select multiple responses, percentages may sum to more than 100.
BY THE NUMBERS
Socioeconomic Status
Over half of incoming rstyears attended a public or charter school. Just over half receive nancial aid.
Just under eight percent have a parent who attended Brown.
Top Intended Concentrations
Economics, International and Public A airs and computer science again topped the list for most popular intended concentrations for the class of 2028. Biochemistry overtook biology for a top-four spot.
Note: All results are based on The Herald’s Fall 2024 rst-year poll of 739 incoming rst-year students conducted from Aug. 13 to 19, 2024.
J O I N T H E P P E S O C I E T Y
The Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Society (PPE Society) is an intellectual community that aims to discover and unite Brown students who share a desire to understand how societies can become better places for people to live and flourish The PPE Society pursues this interest while holding dual commitments to disciplinary and ideological pluralism The conversations and debates are wide-ranging and interdisciplinary.
Naturally, the society primarily focus upon the disciplines within their namesake (Philosophy, Political Science and Economics), but students from all academic disciplines and concentrations are warmly welcomed to join the Society and the discussion!
The PPE Society is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2024 academic semester, the deadline is September 20th All qualified and enrolled students at Brown University, including incoming freshmen are strongly encouraged to apply. Please send application materials to ppecenter@brown.edu.
Have you ever: Survey Questions
Do you have:
Household income? Relationship status?
A SEMESTER IN HERALD
March 19
Nine tour guides resign after tour coordinator is demoted for Slack messages
A tour guide was demoted after messaging staff that he “cooperated” with protesters to allow tour disruptions as part of pro-Palestine protests. Nine tour guides left in protest of the demotion.
April 17
After funding crisis, what comes next for UFB?
Student groups faced tight budgets after the Undergraduate Finance Board, which allocates club funds, spent its surplus in 2021-22. Now, UFB is making sweeping changes to funding distribution.
HERALD HEADLINES
April 30
Brown University encampment ends, Corporation to vote on divestment from Israel in October
Students camped out on the Main Green for around one week. They left once the University agreed for its governing body to vote on divestment from some companies with ties to Israel.
May 30
Brown Corporation meets with 10 students about divestment
The University’s highest governing body is meeting with student representatives ahead of October, when it’s expected to vote on divesting from some companies with ties to Israel.
Brown Slang Explained
A.B.
The bachelor of arts degree
many of you will leave with. Everyone else calls it a B.A.
Banner
The University’s finicky computerized records system. Has your transcripts and financial aid.
Blueno
A campus nickname for “Untitled (Lamp/Bear),” an iconic campus statue that left in 2020.
BDH
Shorthand for The Brown Daily Herald (that’s us!).
BUS
Short for the Brown University Shuttle. Also a bus.
Carberry, Josiah
Brown’s legendary professor of psychoceramics — the study of cracked pots. He does not exist.
CCE
Brown’s career center, known until 2024 as “CareerLAB.” It’ll help with the post-grad dread.
CCs
Community Coordinators. They oversee dorms, host events and restock the condoms.
CPax
Short for Christina Paxson, Brown’s 19th president.
DPS
The Department of Public Safety, Brown’s police department.
GCB
The Graduate Center Bar. Great for drinks if you’re 21+ — they’re very, very serious about IDs.
IMP
The International Mentoring Program for first-year students.
MPC
Minority Peer Counselors, work with the Brown Center for Students of Color for first years.
Naked Donut Run
Free donuts, memorable for the naked students delivering them.
Open Curriculum
The infamous Brown policy that lets you take any course you want without a grade.
Primal Scream
AKA the “feral scream” or “midnight scream.” Everyone screams together during finals.
SciLi
The massive, brutalist Sciences Library on Thayer Street.
Sexile
A portmanteau of “sex” and “exile.” Happens when your roomate invites a friend to spend the night.
Spring Weekend
Our very own annual concert on the Main Green.
Thayer Street
Find boba, pizza, late-night eats and lots of high schoolers.
The Underground
A student-run coffee shop with open-mics. Found underground.
Wellness
The nicest dorm on campus, also home to Health Services.
WGC
Women, Gender and Sexuality
peer counselors host events and peer support on campus.
UFli Peer Counselors
They host events and mentor students who are undocumented, first-generation and/or low
Wickenden, Wayland
Two nearby streets with eclectic cafes, pubs, bookstores and fancy shops of all kinds.
X
What you’ll likely call your orientation hook-up within two weeks of today.
QUIZ: Which Brown Tradition Are You?
1. It’s getting cold on College Hill! How do you stay warm?
A. Buying a warm, puffy jacket
B. Wearing big earmuffs
C. You brave the cold bare
2. It’s late and you have a paper due. Where do you work?
A. A classroom in Sayles Hall
B. The Underground
C. The SciLi basement
3. The Ratty is serving your favorite dessert. It’s ...
A. Coffee cake
B. Magic bars
C. Cinnamon donuts
4. You have an extra slot to take a class. What do you shop?
A. An engineering requirement
B. A music seminar
C. A sociology course
5. How do you decorate your personal laptop?
A. An anti-scratch plastic cover
B. An assortment of stickers
C. You leave it as-is
6. You did great on your first midterm! You celebrate by ...
A. Studying for another test
B. Spending all day on the Green
C. Getting a dessert with friends
Count up your answers. If you mostly selected ‘A,’ you’re the midnight scream. If ‘B,’ you’re Spring Weekend. If ‘C,’ you’re the naked donut run.
Free Speech in Challenging Times
A CONVERSATION WITH FREDERICK LAWRENCE
September 18, 2024 | 4 p.m.
FEATURING
Frederick Lawrence
Former President of Brandeis University and
Distinguished Lecturer at the Georgetown Law Center
Moderated by Provost Francis J. Doyle III
Registration required
ADVICE FROM HERALDERS
Linus Lawrence
Senior Sports Editor
1) Take advantage of shopping period. Even the coolest courses may not meet your expectations upon the first meetings, which is why it’s important to have backup options. Don’t be afraid to jump ship and pivot direction if you think it’s best!
2) Take some time to explore campus in your first few days! There’s a lot to find on campus and getting a handle on College Hill can make the intimidating experience of being new at Brown seem slightly less daunting.
3) Talk to upperclassmen! They’re not scary. If you find someone doing what you want to do, or interested in what you’re interested in, get advice from them.
4) Embrace the chaos of your first semester. No one knows what they’re doing, even if they seem like they do. You might spend an unintended late night at the library after forgetting about an assignment. You might go to a party with a group of “friends” only to discover you may not be the best fit after all. The earlier you can accept that it’s a rocky road and forgive yourself for whatever missteps are made along the way, the easier it’ll be.
5) Don’t eat at Chinatown on Thayer. Just don’t. Trust me.
Owen Dahlkamp
Jaanu Ramesh Senior Staff Writer
Find one spot on campus where you can be alone, like the Alumni Center Garden!
Alone time is so important. Find time for the family and friends you miss back home! The grass is greenest where you water it :-)
University News, Science & Research Editor
Welcome to Brown! If I were to impart one piece of advice, I’d tell you to try as many different experiences as you can. Your freshman year is for exploring and finding your passions. You do not have to know what concentration you’re going to declare or what career you’re aiming for. Shop as many classes as you’re interested in, go to club meetings, and meet new people. You may just find a passion for something you never would have expected.
The Brown Daily Herald
We are a nancially independent, nonpro t media organization with more than 250 students working across our journalism, business, tech and multimedia divisions to bring you e Brown Daily Herald and postMagazine. e Herald has served as the daily newspaper of record for the Brown community since 1891. Our mission is to inform, entertain and re ect the Brown community by producing relevant and engaging content across a variety of platforms. As a teaching organization, we are committed to attracting and training a diverse sta and helping them develop skills they will use for the rest of their lives.
If you’d like to join us — and there are a multitude of ways to contribute to our newsroom — please use the QR code below and ll out the interest form. We’ll be in touch soon!
B E N G L I C
KM A N
of 2023
Class
I studied political science at Brown, but the largest share of my time went to writing and editing for The Brown Daily Herald. In four years, I was lucky enough to work with lots of talented students and interview dozens of fascinating community members. At Brown, my classes and BDH work helped me find a passion for local politics, wonky policy issues and urban planning. After graduating, I started working at the Wall Street Journal as a reporter. I’ve covered breaking business news from New York and reported on the auto industry out of Detroit.
When I first arrived at Brown and RISD, I felt unsure of my ability to make an impact. But, my time in the Brown|RISD Dual Degree program helped me find meaning and purpose in my work. Brown gave me the flexibility to explore multiple disciplines and examine their connections to art and design. This interdisciplinary freedom led to the co-founding of desi-gned, New England’s first publication for the South Asian diaspora (featured in the BDH), which has taught me about my role in the world and the importance of my voice within the communities I call my own. As I move forward post-graduation, I’m excited to continue my journey as an independent artist and designer, focusing on projects that bridge cultural narratives with modern design and contribute meaningfully to the worlds we inhabit.
Class of 2024.5
Y U K
T
I
A G
A R W A L
THE BEST OF POST- MAGAZINE
how to make a dorm a home! [lifestyle]
by Daphne Cao
Move-in day is perhaps the most hectic day of college. It can be an exciting and nerve-wracking time, especially if it’s your rst one. Granted, we’re a fair bit away from the next move-in day, but as someone who has already started planning my future room’s color scheme and decorations, I’m here to tell you how I try to make a dorm as cozy and homey as possible.
Tip #1: Rearrange the furniture the way you like
You step into your dorm. What should be your rst plan of attack? Rearranging the furniture!
Move-in day is the time to set up the room in whatever way you like. Your parents, roommates, and anyone willing to lend a helping hand, like your neighbor’s parents, will be there to help move any heavy furniture, so take advantage of it!
Raise or lower your bed to the height you want, move the fridge and microwave to a more spacious area so it doesn’t cramp up the rest of the room, shi around the desk so it faces the window and leaves more space for your other things—whatever you do, make sure to get it all done on the rst day. Trust me, trying to make these adjustments when you’re by yourself or when you’ve already got your stu covering the furniture is not a fun experience.
Tip #2: Decorations on decorations on decorations
Who wants to come back to their dorm a er a long, tiring day and be greeted with barren walls and harsh, uorescent lighting? Let’s be honest, the bare dorms on campus can be a depressing sight.
So let’s change that! Posters with your favorite bands or shows, cute art pieces from family or the internet, stu ed animals, or standees—these can really make your dorm feel more personal and, well, it doesn’t hurt to cover up some of the chipped paint on the walls.
But the decorations don’t stop there! I’ve walked into friends’ dorms and seen everything from a cork board with a collage of photographs pinned on it, to a kitchen knife mounted on the wall with Command strips (a product I very much recommend to anyone who plans to make the most out of their wall space). e point is you can get as creative as you like; it’s your space, so make it look like you designed it!
post- is a creative non ction magazine published weekly with its parent publication, e Brown Daily Herald. We cover the lifestyle, art, and culture of students at Brown University.
the fluidity of becoming myself [lifestyle]
by Gabrielle Yuan
Now that I’m in college, where it feels as if I meet new people in waves throughout the day, I worry I’m not choosing who I can be, but instead matching the personalities of others. It can be exciting to navigate the journey of being your most authentic and genuine self, but occasionally I stray into a di erent persona that matches the current language and composure of whomever I’m talking to. Sometimes, I do this to the point where I almost don’t recognize myself at all.
In the most broad sense, it feels like conforming yourself as you would for an interview. As someone just beginning to grow into their own—concentrating in what I’d like, experimenting with pink tights and owy skirts, and becoming friends with people who make me endlessly double over laughing—it’s jolting and quite disorienting to be told to practice a script, plaster on a smile, and act as if this marketing internship in Ohio is predestined.
I put on my lightest face of makeup in the morning before my rst interview, silently practicing my starting lines so my roommate doesn’t wake, desperately willing my hands to stop perspiring as if someone is chasing me. Deep down, this act of being tested blurs the vision of my own identity. Do I really like this area of study or is it the most convenient? Am I actually a college sellout?
So, when I step into the o ce, o er them my resume with my so est yet most assertive smile, and answer their interview questions perfectly (I spot a smile emerging from the corners of their mouths), I feel satisfaction, but also overwhelming unease. Is this what the rest of my life will become? A facade in the real world where all I really feel is a lack of belonging?
But then again, what do I know? For now, I know how I t in the outside world: I am meant to be so and understanding, but forward when I feel like my opinions aren’t heard; I am to be hardworking and detail-oriented to the dot, but also to let other people help me in times of need; I am to be lovingkindmysteriousinnovativetallbeautiful t so all of the corporations and friends will love me and I will love them back.
I’ve spent endless nights wondering how someone would really get to know me to the point of a ection, desire, and maybe even love. e only romantic trope that would ever work for me is friends to lovers. Coming to college, with a sea of new people to meet and smile at and irt with, none have gone farther than a few dates...
Libraries get busy during midterm season — but The Herald has your back. Here’s the inside scoop on where to set up.
THE BEST (SECRET) STUDY SPOTS FOR BROWN
STUDENTS
1
3
4
5 Sarah Doyle Center
The RISD Museum Cafe
The Jukowsky Institute Watson’s Kim Koo Library
2
85 Waterman Greenhouse
Brown University admitted 1,623 regular decision applicants to the class of 2028. Its overall acceptance rate for this cycle is 5.2%, the third-lowest in Brown’s history. is cohort is the rst to be admitted since the Supreme Courtrestricted race-conscious admissions practices at universities nationwide. ese students join 898 others admitted during early decision in December, bringing the total number of admitted students this year to 2,521.
Acceptance rates for Brown’s dual degree programs both saw among their largest applicant pools. e dual undergraduate-medical Program in Liberal Medical Education, or PLME, accepted just 76 of 4,251 applicants, and the Brown-RISD Dual Degree program accepted 20 of its 953 applicants.
“Once again, we were humbled by the breadth of perspective and depth of talent in the applicant pool,” Powell wrote in an email to e Herald. “ ough there were necessary changes to some aspects of the admission process, we remained focused on our core values and mission — identifying students from a broad range of experiences with demonstrated academic excellence and the potential to make extraordinary contributions to the Brown community.” is academic year, the University received 48,881 applications, its third-largest applicant pool ever. is marks a 5% decrease since last year, a dip that Powell previously told e Herald was “planned for and expected.”
With a smaller applicant pool, the University saw slightly higher acceptance rates than in previous years. For the class of 2028, 3.8% of regular decision applicants were admitted. e University admitted approximately two-thirds of the prospective class of 2028 via regular decision and one-third via early decision.
Read more: www.browndailyherald.com
