A FRIENDLY FOE
LUPITA NYONG’O FASHION PROFILE
UMASS LOOKS TO MAKE IT EIGHT STRAIGHT AGAINST PROVIDENCE
PAGE 5
PAGE 8
THE MASSACHUSETTS
DAILY COLLEGIAN DailyCollegian.com
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
News@DailyCollegian.com
S pelling ‘Solidarity’
Divest UMass steps up tactics to raise awareness Club sees general lack of response By AvivA LuttreLL Collegian Staff
Thirteen-year-old Kush Sharma (left) and Sophia Hoffman, 11, faced each other again in the continuation of the Jackson County Spelling Bee
Biologists explain need for funding ‘Odd science’ outlined in journal By rose GottLieB Collegian Staff
Four biologists at the University of Massachusetts have written an article, appearing in the scientific journal “Bioscience,” to defend their research from critics and to explain its importance to both the scientific community and the public in general. Co-authors of the article Patricia Brennan, Duncan Irschick, Norman Johnson and Craig Albertson defended what they refer to as “oddball science.” Oddball science is, as Johnson described it, the study of “unusual organisms and unusual biological phenomenon.” Brennan, Irschick, Johnson and Albertson all research unusual biological phenomenon. Brennan studies what she describes as the “sexual arms race between ducks,” in which male and female ducks are constantly evolving in an attempt to gain control over mating and reproduction. Much of her research focuses on the genitalia of ducks. Before working at the University, Brennan worked at Yale University. While at Yale, Brennan’s research came under attack from a Christian News Organization, which published an article about how Yale received $385,000 per year to study duck penises. Brennan said the article was picked up by Fox News, which polled viewers on whether or not her research exemplified wasteful govern-
ment spending. According to Brennan, her research, as well as similar research performed by her colleagues, comes under attack “all the time.” Eventually, Brennan said, “we just stop defending ourselves” from criticism that is “completely baseless.” Brennan, Irschick, Johnson and Albertson’s research is classified as ‘basic research,” or research that is done purely for the sake increasing scientific knowledge. Unlike applied research, basic research is not meant to be used for a specific application. Brennan believes that unusual science, in particular, is likely to come under attack. She believes that there is a perception of this research as being frivolous and strange. In addition to facing criticism, many researchers face a lack of funding. Brennan and Albertson explained that funding for biological research has not increased in the past decades despite inflation. Brennan also explained that because so many scientists have earned their PhDs in the last few decades, there are more scientists wanting to do research, with less funding available to them. She sees this hurting the field of biology in the long run. This criticism and lack of funding is what prompted Brennan, Irschick, Johnson and Albertson to collaborate on this article. Albertson described the article as a “call to arms” to his colleagues to defend their research from criticism, and to educate the public on its importance. Brennan said basic
“If Congress and the pubnlic do not see the value of basic science, this funding situation will get worse.” Norman Johnson, co-author of articles research “provides the underlying basis for all of applied science.” She described science as a pyramid, with basic science forming the base, and applied science forming the peak. If the base of the pyramid is eroded, the peak cannot be supported. Johnson adds that there are two main benefits to the type of research he and his colleagues perform. “Oddball science” often focuses on exceptions to scientific “rules.” According to Johnson, understanding these exceptions makes understanding the general patterns easier. Johnson also argues that studying “exceptional organisms” has potential economic benefits. Johnson collaborated with another biologist at the University of Massachusetts, Ben Normark, to study “insects that have extraordinarily diverse feeding habits,” or “superfeeders.” Johnson explains that many of these insects are considered pests. He believes that understanding organisms that are considered pests could have many economic benefits. Albertson’s research focuses on unusual species of fish, such as a certain see
SCIENCE on page 2
Serving the UMass community since 1890
MCT
The University of Massachusetts’ Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign has upped its tactics for raising awareness among students this semester, in response to what it sees as a lack of response from University administration regarding responsible financial investment of the school’s endowment. Campaign members began bi-weekly marches across campus and “Call Caret Mondays” last month, where students continue to request a meeting with the UMass president. “The idea is, one, to raise more student awareness with the marches, and two, to try and gain some support from administrators who can talk to President Caret and ask
him [to] please meet with the divestment campaign,” said Sam King, media coordinator for Divest UMass. Last April, four members of the campaign met with Executive Vice President of the Foundation, Charles Pagnam, and Chief Operating Officer Robert Goodhue to present their case for divestment from the fossil fuel industry. “In general, the tone of the meeting was good, but not a lot of results came of it,” King said. The campaign continued to contact UMass President Robert Caret’s office throughout the fall semester, and received a response from Pagnam in November. The letter, dated Nov. 19, 2013, informed the campaign of the Foundation’s intention to create a socially responsible investing advisory committee, which “will establish a comprehensive, standardized see
DIVEST on page 3
‘Blarney Blowout’ major topic during SGA meeting Split opinions over actions B y B riAn B eviLAcquA Collegian Staff
This week’s Student Government Association meeting discussed changes and concern regarding Blarney Blowout, the ensuing police response and SGA elections. Several SGA officials expressed fears over the student response to “Blarney Blowout.” Specifically, the concern was whether the police reaction to Blarney Blowout was considered police brutality before any evidence of it surfaced. An attendant at Blarney Blowout described the police response as excessive during opening announcements. He relayed the frustrations of many students while describing a scene where many people leaving the Townehouse areas were pepper-sprayed or arrested despite their efforts to avoid conflict, and called on SGA to respond to what some perceived as aggression in response to unruly behavior. Sïonan Barrett, speaker of the senate, promised to address the press and student body about what she also considered a problematic police reaction to Blarney Blowout. Although she echoed concerns over jumping to conclusions about brutality, she sympathized with the student complains and called for action. After the meeting, SGA Senator Charlotte Kelly expressed outrage at the situation. “Obviously, all the people who attended Blarney
“The fact that the police felt that their response to Blarneys was justified is absolutely astonishing.” Charlotte Kelly, SGA Senator and participated in illegal activity should be condemned for their behavior,” Kelly said. “Underage drinking, violence (and) sexually assaults are all unacceptable on all accounts. That being said, the manner in which the police handled the masses of students, in my opinion, was completely inappropriate. I heard many horror stories of students trying to get to their homes or cars, and being assaulted by police officers either physically or with mace. Some of these were students who were not even participating in Blarney.” Kelly went on to critique the authorities’ response to Blarney Blowout. “The fact that the police felt that their response to Blarneys was justified is absolutely astonishing,” she said. “Ultimately, here at UMass, we have a larger issue of accountability on the part of the Umass police force, Amherst police, and school administration over issues like Blarney.” Three students who intern at a law office on Triangle St. suggested changes to the Student Code of Conduct. Currently, if a student has a pending criminal case, only an attorney may be present in a conduct hearing with the school and the attorney cannot participate in the hearing. They also suggested a statute
of limitations on charges against students, claiming both of these changes are based off of rights granted in the U.S. Constitution and should be approved. Elysia Eastty, a senior and former director of the Residence Hall Association, was removed from her position for a room violation she was unaware of and unable to appeal. She asked the SGA to consider working to change the rules surrounding her removal. Eastty also described her removal from office as an “injustice” and “un-American.” The SGA also appointed Ross Kellogg and Jay Jordan to vacant Senate seats, and Lauren Coakley was appointed to the Diversity and Student Engagement Committee. The Alpine Ski Team received $3,916 from the SGA finance committee to cover their costs for national championships. $3,000 was allocated to the UMass Student Alumni Association for covering a small part of the senior’s commencement ball. Elections for SGA president are ongoing until March 11 on Campus Pulse. Brian Bevilacqua can be reached at bbevilac@umass.edu..