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Wednesday, October 16, 2002

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W E D N E S D A Y OCTOBER 16, 2002

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXXXVII, No. 92

An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891

www.browndailyherald.com

Online course registration will come to Brown, registrar reports BY BRIAN BASKIN

Online course registration is coming to Brown, but students will have to wait until fall 2003 or later for the University to implement the new system, said Registrar Michael Pesta. Online registration would eliminate long lines at the registrar’s office, Pesta said. It would also “give a student a more accurate and quicker reaction to whether they could get in a course,” he said. Tibet Sprague ’04 said he’d never had any problems with the registrar’s current paper-based registration system, but would welcome online course registration. He said the service would be even more useful if it were possible for students to select and register for courses through the Brown Online Course Announcement. First-years might better understand the registration and permission process if online instructions and services are available, said Lia Davis ’05, a woman peer counselor. “It really isn’t that well explained unless (students) read the course announcement,” Davis said. Not all students are immediately willing to make the jump to online registration despite the convenience, Davis said. “With anything done online, there’s that sense of ‘what if it didn’t go through,’” she said. “It’s nice, but University see REGISTRAR, page 6

Kimberly Insel / Herald

Students browsed information Tuesday at a Kappa Alpha Theta workshop that aimed to increase breast cancer awareness among students at Brown.

DPS cops recall Sept. 11 trip to New York Four officers in the University’s Department of Public Safety traveled to Ground Zero for this year’s Sept. 11 memorial events — and returned changed men, they said BY ELENA LESLEY

A month after visiting Ground Zero on the first memorial of Sept. 11, 2001, five Department of Public Safety officers vividly remember the trip, which they say strengthened their faith in humanity and dedication to their profession. Many DPS officers had wanted to assist with relief efforts immediately after the attacks, but were unable to because of logistical problems, said Brown Police Officer Jesse Perez. So when professionals in public service and safety from across the world were invited to attend the day of memorial, five Brown Police officers immediatley formed a delegation. DPS allowed the officers to take a day off work and travel to New York in a University police car. “We spent half a day cleaning and polishing not only our uniforms and shoes, but the vehicle we were taking to represent the department,” said Brown Police Officer Donald Vota. Once they arrived in New York, the officers said they were amazed by the respect given to police officers and firefighters.

Rabbi says modern times should permit women rabbis in all congregations BY STEPHANIE HARRIS

Police work is often a “thankless profession,” but this was a “special day” for those in public service, Perez said. Only official vehicles were allowed near Ground Zero, and all uniformed police officers and firefighters were granted immediate access to the site. When the officers got caught in a traffic jam at one point during their trip, a traffic officer spotted their police car and let them through, Perez said. Near Ground Zero, “when we walked down the street, people would applaud because of our uniforms,” said Brown Police Officer Jason Alexandre. During the event itself, officers said they experienced a range of emotions. “I have a half-smile in the pictures because I was proud to be there as an American, but it was for such a tragic event,” Vota said. “I felt like I was at a cemetary in a sense. I kept expecting a priest to give a eulogy.” Many family members wore pictures of their deceased loved ones around their necks, Perez said. As the names of those who died on Sept. 11, 2001, were read aloud one-by-one, “I saw a few people who heard the names they were looking for,” Vota said. “Every once in awhile you heard sobbing.” Officers said they felt both grief and anger. “There was all this dust blowing around (from the debris), and you got the sense that this was a cremation of heroes,” Vota said. “But with the heroes you had the scum of the earth mixed in. It made me angry — their remains

Women should be allowed to be rabbis in today’s society, said Rabbi Arie Strikovsky, a Jewish educator and faculty member at Pardes Institute in Jerusalem. Strikovsky’s lecture about the possibility of female Orthodox rabbis attracted about 35 people to Wilson 101 Tuesday night. “It is tradition (that only men are ordained as rabbis in the Orthodox community), but there is hope that tradition will be changed,” Strikovsky said. There is only one text that speaks to the idea of female rabbis, Strikovsky said. This passage, which prohibits teachers to be drunk while performing priestly duties or teaching, applies to both men and women — implying that women can be teachers. The term rabbi does not only refer to a spiritual leader of a congregation. In Jewish tradition, a rabbi is a teacher of Jewish law, or Torah, and tradition. Historically, women have not been allowed to teach or even study Jewish law, he said. Strikovsky discussed what Jewish teachings say about the possibility of women teachers. “It’s a mitzvah (obligation) she’s not obligated in,” he said. There are two schools of thought on whether this statement actually prohibits women from filling this role. One says that because a woman is not obligated, there is a greater reward if she does study the law. The other school disagrees, saying that a person “gets more reward if you’re commanded to do it than if you’re not,” Strikovsky said. Since women are not commanded

see GROUND ZERO, page 4

see RABBI, page 4

I N S I D E W E D N E S D AY, O C T O B E R 1 6 , 2 0 0 2 Global e-government study ranks United States fourth among nations page 3

At U., water goes through intensive treatment process before reaching mouths page 5

Underground remains closed pending OSL decision on serving alcohol page 5

TO D AY ’ S F O R E C A S T Brett Cohen ’03 says he embraces his Jewish heritage as a unique link to his past column, page 11

Edu Romaneiro ’03 scores two goals to lift Brown over Providence College sports,page 12

rain high 56 low 52


THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

THIS MORNING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2002 · PAGE 2 Pornucopia Eli Swiney

W E AT H E R TODAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

High 56 Low 52 rain

High 63 Low 44 partly cloudy

High 57 Low 39 showers

High 59 Low 40 windy GRAPHICS BY TED WU

A Story Of Eddie Ahn

CALENDAR SPORTS — Field Hockey vs. Fairfield. Warner Roof, 4 p.m. WORKSHOP — “TFP Differences: Appropriate Technology vs. Efficiency,” Michal Jerzmanowski, Brown. Room 301, Robinson Hall, 4 p.m. ROUNDTABLE — for faculty teaching. Room 302, Grad Center, 4 p.m. WORKSHOP — “Multimedia: Resources for Finding and Using Them in Teaching and Publishing,” Hecker Center, Rockefeller Library, 4 p.m. LECTURE — “Sweatshops and Sacrifice Zones: Multi-stakeholder Regulation of Labor and Environmental Problems,” Dara O’Rourke, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Room 115, MacMillan Hall, 4 p.m.

For the Love Keely Tharp and Dominique Bosa-Edwards

SEMINAR — “Breast Cancer and Evidence: Lessons from History,” Dr. Barron Lerner, Columbia University. Room 291, Bio-Medical Center, 4 p.m. FORUM — “Web-Based Registration System,” students can discuss desired features. Room 106, Smith-Buonanno, 7 p.m. LECTURE — “Egypt: Birth of the First Super Power,” David Warburton, University of Aarhus. Room 001, Salomon Center, 8 p.m. READING — Donna DiNovelli. McCormack Family Theater, 8 p.m.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Old Chevy model 5 __-bodied 9 Bit of bread 14 Forget about 15 Orenburg’s river 16 Jack of “The Great Dictator” 17 Clever comment 19 Legal claims 20 Nightmare street of film 21 Give an edge to 22 Autumn apple 23 Dancer’s garment 25 Moniker 26 Broadcast interruption 31 Africa’s __ Mountains 34 Intl. defense group 35 Arafat’s org. 36 Boater’s walkway 37 Realty listing count 39 Greenish blue 40 Harper Valley org. of song 41 Jamie of “M*A*S*H” 42 Doglike scavenger 43 Tex-Mex cracker 47 Loosen, as a knot 48 Type of workout 52 Calls 55 Canadian literary critic Northrop __ 56 Jackie’s second 57 Desert sanctuaries 58 Bowler’s challenge 60 Humdingers 61 Buck’s tail? 62 Being, to Brutus 63 Bond on the run 64 List of choices 65 Contented sounds DOWN 1 “Wheel of Fortune” purchase

2 ’60s boxing champ Griffith 3 Whatchamacallit 4 Consumed 5 Natural light show 6 German statesman Willy 7 Shoestring 8 Deer kin 9 TV detective 10 Poker player, at times 11 Guitarlike instruments 12 Vein site 13 Sunday clothing? 18 Gabs 22 Talks wildly 24 Old Russian monarch 25 Father of Shem 27 State starter 28 Cousin of a foil 29 King of comedy 30 Beverage nut 31 MD meeting 32 Bandleader Puente 33 King with three daughters

37 Loses locks 38 Alice’s immortalizer 39 Editor’s find 41 Subtle skill 42 Charters 44 Prepare to make music 45 Kind of dating 46 Attention getter 49 Modeler’s wood

50 Part of IRA 51 Mentions in support 52 Magnet end 53 Drag 54 Norway’s largest city 55 Paying passenger 58 Crashing sound 59 Little legume

Hopeless Edwin Chang

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: S O L A R L A L A A C M E E L I S G O Y A C L I V E E A T S T U E S A I D A N R Y E B O O S T E R S H O T T E N E R U P T E D R A M P T R E E F O R O D E S C O A T I S S U E R O C K E T S C I E N T I S T T E R M S E E N D R O O L L A V A R E A D S R A I R S C E L L I S T A L E S H U T T L E C O C K C B E R A R G U E N E C K A B E E M A L L E A N T I N Y N Y S M E L L L A S T

Cookie’s Grandma is Jewish Saul Kerschner

10/16/02

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10/16/02

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

ACADEMIC WATCH WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2002 · PAGE 3

IN BRIEF Global e-government study ranks U.S. fourth in online services The second annual global e-government study, conducted by Professor Darrell West, ranks the United States fourth in e-government performance. The United States, last year’s leader, was outranked this year by Taiwan, South Korea and Canada. West, a professor of political science and the director of the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Public Policy, has also conducted e-government studies of state and federal government and city government, the results of which were released earlier this year. The global study looked at 1,197 national government Web sites in 198 countries. Criteria included availability of contact information, publications, databases, portals, privacy, security, disability access and the number of online services. The study found that 12 percent of government Web sites offered services that are fully executable online, compared to 8 percent last year. The most frequent services are ordering publications, making travel reservations, applying for jobs, applying for passports and renewing vehicle licenses. Fourteen percent of sites showed privacy policies, up from 6 percent last year. Nine percent had security policies, up from 6 percent in 2001. The report stated that one area that needs work is consistency. Autonomous government agencies often have their own Web design, which can confuse users. West said the same problem existed among government agencies within states. — Stephanie Harris

New findings liken Mars’ orbit to Earth’s BY STEPHANIE HARRIS

Professor John Mustard and colleagues discovered that a climate change theory for Earth applies on Mars as well. Mustard’s article, which was published in the Sept. 26 issue of Nature, states that the orbital theory of climate change, known since the 1970s to apply on Earth, also applies on Mars. The theory explains how changes in the Earth’s atmosphere — and now in Mars’ atmosphere — are based on the planet’s orbit. “We wanted to see if we could show a relationship between Mars’ orbit and climate,” said Mustard, an associate professor of geological sciences. “We can link up the variability in the orbit with the frequency of change of layers in the record” displayed in polar ice caps, he said. In the 1970s, Brown professors examined the relationship between changes in the Earth’s orbit and changes in the atmosphere. Through his colleagues at Brown, Mustard said he was exposed to this orbital theory of climate change, although he never directly studied it. When the Mars Global Surveyor returned high-resolution pictures of Mars’ surface, Mustard said he was struck by similarities between the photos, which showed distinct layers in Mars’ polar ice caps and sedimentary rock on Earth. Previous work had proven that the Earth’s orbit affects the deposit of sedimentary material. Mustard wanted to show the same effect on Mars. Coincidentally, French researcher Jacques Laskar was at Brown at the time for an unrelated conference. Mustard asked Laskar, whose specialty is the orbits of the planets, to aid him in the project. The two combined their talents to discover the link between orbit and climate. “Mars has a wacky orbit,” Mustard said. There is more variability in Mars’ elliptical orbit and its tilt on its axis than with the Earth.

“This should have affected its climate in an exaggerated way,” he said. Although researchers have suspected this for a long time, it was not proven until now, Mustard said, because the photographs were not clear enough to make any conclusions. The new photographs clearly show layers in the ice caps with varying brightness. The variation in color is due to the concentration of ice and dust, which changes over time. Troughs in the ice cap show a succession of these horizontal layers, which may be caused by changing amounts of solar radiation. Mustard and Laskar were able to correlate exposed layers of ice and dust on Mars’ north pole with changes in climate, particularly the amount of sunlight reaching the pole. They hypothesized that the more sunlight that was reaching the pole, the lighter the layers are, because the sun causes more ice formation. This hypothesis is merely a guess, Mustard said. A number of researchers have an opposite hypothesis: An increased amount of sunlight causes the layers to be darker, as there is more dust in the atmosphere when the planet is closest to the sun, he said. What is known for sure is that the “periodicity of the layers is related to the orbit,” Mustard said. Mustard and Laskar were also able to tell for the first time how rapidly the layers form. Previous estimates ranged from one year to 100 million years —they narrowed this range down to approximately one million years. Mustard said he would like to determine exactly how the orbit affects climate change and see what the light and dark layers say about Mars’ atmosphere. He also hopes to discover whether the cap is consistent throughout and see MARS, page 4


PAGE 4 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2002

Ground Zero

Rabbi

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continued from page 1

don’t deserve to be there.” Despite the somber atmosphere, officers said the memorial was also a time for optimism. “The feeling of brotherhood and comraderie there was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Perez said. Vota said the recognition given to public servants from around the world on the day of memorial helped remind him of “why I got into this profession in the first place — to help people and make a difference. It was nice to see some appreciation of the profession.” Officers said that such appreciation is often rare in their dayto-day jobs. “It’s gotten some better (on campus) since Sept. 11,” Perez said. “Every once in awhile someone says ‘Thanks for being here.’ Even if you don’t hear it again for another six months, it means a lot.”

to study Torah, they do not get a reward for studying. They get their reward by helping their male children study. One text advocating the latter view says that the majority of women have a “poverty of intellect” and if they studied law, they would “turn it into foolishness,” he said. In other words, women should not study because they are not able to take it seriously, Strikovsky said. However, the passage refers to the “majority” of women. “This leaves room for the minority,” he said. “And the minority in one generation (the one in which the text was written) can be the majority in the next. “I’m sure that if (the author of the passage) was alive today, he’d say it’s the obligation of everyone to study Torah.” There have been a few female rabbis fulfilling a teacher’s role, Strikovsky said. In the 17th century, a woman was the chief rabbi of Armadia, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. Her father, grandfather and other ancestors before him had always been the chief rabbis of the city. When her father had no

Herald staff writer Elena Lesley ‘04 is a news editor. She can be reached at elesley@browndailyherald.com.

Courtesy of Brown Police

DPS officers Jason Alexandre, left, and Jesse Perez, right, traveled to Ground Zero on the anniversary of last year’s terrorist attacks.

sons, he asked her to succeed him. Another teacher “taught boys behind the curtain.” In Orthodox Judaism, men and women are separated by a curtain while in prayer. In today’s society, it is important that women be able to study Torah, Stikovsky said. “Today in many homes it’s the mother who prepares a child in Jewish education. For this, you need to teach them Torah. You must know more than you teach,” he said. When the traditional texts were written, they did not expect women to take on this role. Now that this has occurred, “it must be changed,” he said. One objection to women studying and teaching Torah is that women would not have the time to fulfill their other obligations, such as taking care of the home, he said. “With modern technology, like the microwave and home delivery, the woman has time to keep the house and raise the children and also study and even teach Torah,” Strikovsky said. Strikovsky was a founding faculty member at Pardes Institute, the first co-educational yeshiva, or Jewish school, in Israel. Herald staff writer Stephanie Harris ’04 can be reached at sharris@browndailyherald.com.

Mars continued from page 3 determine its composition. “We want to drill on the polar cap and sample layers. We can use isotopes to tell the temperature and how deep the oceans were. We can see if there’s a climate signal,” Mustard said. This would be difficult, as it would require samples of Mars’ ice caps to be brought to Earth. Mustard also hopes to discover a method of dating the ice caps, as there is not yet a way of dating ice. “Mars is the only planet we can go to see how the orbital theory of climate change operates on another planet. It’s the only planet where the climate is preserved,” Mustard said. “It’s a chance to see how a theory developed based on the Earth relates elsewhere.” Staff writer Stephanie Harris ’04 edits the campus watch section. She can be reached at sharris@browndailyherald.com.


THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2002 · PAGE 5

Treatment ensures U. water contains more than H2O BY ELENA LESLEY

While a visit to the Sharpe Refectory is a daily ritual for many students, few are aware of the complex water treatment system that shapes almost every aspect of their dining experience — from the rice pilaf on their trays to the warm air circulated throughout the building. Stephen Morin, director of Environmental Health and Safety, said that different types of campus waterways intersect at the Ratty, making it an excellent microcosm for examining water networks at the University. While citizens of more rural areas of Rhode Island draw their water from private wells, Brown’s supply comes from the city of Providence. The first of the Ratty’s three watersystems governs the dining hall’s temperature. High-temperature hot water is created at a central city heat plant, travels underground through the campus and flows into a steam generator in the Ratty. Once in the generator, the high-temperature water heats domestic water — used for drinking, cooking and washing dishes — and turns it into steam, which fuels the Ratty’s radiators. During this process, Facilities Management employees add several chemicals to the domestic water to protect against corrosion, Morin said. Only one of the chemicals used accompanies the steam as it leaves the generator and is distributed throughout the buildsee WATER, page 6

Underground remains closed pending dean’s decision BY ELENA LESLEY

The Underground will remain closed pending a decision by the Office of Student Life as to whether the establishment can continue serving alcohol. General Manager Ally Dickie ’03 met Tuesday with the Underground’s managers and OSL to discuss concerns that the on-campus bar serves alcohol to underage people. “We should hear back (from the deans) by the end of the week,” Dickie said. In the meantime, students planning events at the Underground are concerned they might be cancelled. Josh Biber ’04, who is helping organize campus events for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, said the week’s Nov. 16 kick-off was scheduled at the Underground. Now he doesn’t know whether it will take place. “The Underground is a great place to have this and a perfect forum for the (planned) concerts,” he said. Nick Mark / Herald

Brown’s complex water system channels water for use in dorms, food production and the heating system. Many of Brown’s water pathways pass through the Ratty.

see UNDERGROUND, page 6


PAGE 6 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2002

UG

Water

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OSL barred the Underground last week from serving alcohol because of concerns that underage drinkers frequent the on-campus establishment, Director of the Brown News Service Mark Nickel told The Herald. Dickie said Associate Dean of Student Life James Stascavage called her Thursday and arranged yesterday’s meeting to discuss the situation with OSL. “Questions have come up as to whether the Underground serves alcohol to underage people,” Nickel said. “Until these questions are resolved, they won’t be able to serve alcohol, but the Underground can remain open.” Nickel said he was “not aware of any specific incident” that would have prompted Stascavage’s phone call. The Underground’s managers closed the establishment Thursday night, and it has been closed since. Stascavage was unavailable for comment.

ing’s radiator systems. The chemicals “are approved for use in FDA or USDA regulated plants where steam is used for sterilization or contacts food or food products,” Morin wrote in an email to The Herald. “The steam used in the heating system does not come in contact with food and is normally contained in the heating system, except in the event of a steam leak.” Facilities Management employees take appropriate precautions when handling the chemcials in concentrated form, he added. A second watersystem takes domestic water already treated by the city and disseminates it throughout the Ratty for drinking, washing and cooking, Morin said. “We don’t do treatment to domestic water (at Brown),” Morin said. “The city adds flouride, chlorine” to fight bacteria. Although Brown has no role in the treatment of domestic water, people on campus often request that the Department of Environmental Health and Safety test water samples. “It really doesn’t make sense for

us to do this since the city already does it and treats problems,” he said. “Occasionally there’s a discoloration in water. There could have been construction in the line that dislodged solids such as rust (iron). If you let the water run until it’s clear, it’s usually fine.” While domestic water is not altered as it comes into the Ratty, its disposal operates differently. Grease removal units separate outgoing water from food by-products and then the grease is placed in drums and hauled away by a contract company, said Gretchen Willis, director of Food Services. The third watersystem in the Ratty uses a steam generator to heat water for kitchen kettles. “These aren’t like old kettles over fire,” Morin said. “Heat from the steam heats the water in the kettles,” which is used for cooking. “It’s the most efficient way to heat.” He said that the water in this generator is not treated with anti-corrosive chemicals. “We don’t use water chemistry in that water,” he said. “It would probably be better for corrosion protection.” Herald staff writer Elena Lesley ‘04 is a news editor. She can be reached at elesley@browndailyherald.com.

Registrar continued from page 1 Hall isn’t that far away.” Brown follows in the footsteps of Princeton University, Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania, which already have online course registration. Duke and Stanford universities, along with Washington University in St. Louis, also have online registration. Harvard University and Cornell University are exploring online options as well, Pesta said. Dartmouth College does not currently employ an online registration system. The Office of the Registrar may also offer other services online, but the full list of Webbased features won’t be known until early 2003, Pesta said. The University will add registration to its Web site along with admission, financial aid, billing, human resources and other services through an integrated network called an enterprise system, Pesta said. The University will spend the next two months deciding

between Oracle, PeopleSoft and SCT/Banner, three vendors hoping to introduce their enterprise systems to Brown, Pesta said. The Office of the Dean of the College and the Undergraduate Council of Students are sponsoring a forum for students to discuss the potential benefits and setbacks of an online registration system today in SmithBuonanno 106 at 7 p.m. Enforcing caps on limited enrollment classes is one issue the dean of the college’s office expects to address at the forum, according to the office’s Web site. With the current paper-based registration system, no one is shut out of a class even when the number of students signed up is above the stated enrollment. A computer system, though, would not have this leeway. It would have to set an upper limit for each class. No students above this limit would be able to get in, even though some of the enrolled students may not be attending class, Pesta told The Herald last year. Herald staff writer Brian Baskin ’04 can be reached at bbaskin@browndailyherald.com.


THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

SPORTS EXTRA WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2002 · PAGE 7

Volleyball spikes Big Green in Hanover, loses to Crimson in Mass BY KATHY BABCOCK

Brown volleyball split its weekend road matches against Dartmouth and Harvard, as Bruno took one away from the Big Green in Hanover on Friday night, but it couldn’t quite dig deep enough for a win against the Crimson Saturday in Cambridge. “They (Harvard) do have a lot of good hitters, but we did not play well,” said Coach Diane Short. “I do think we could beat them at home.” The Bears triumphed over Dartmouth in four games winning the first two games 30-26, 31-29 and losing the third 28-30. They rallied back to win the match in the fourth 3014. Karalyn Kuchenbecker ’06 had another outstanding performance with 17 kills and 20 digs in her fifth double-double of the season. “(Kuchenbecker) gets a lot of kills and her defense is improving. “She can be a very hot hitter at times for us. She is stringing those together a bit better,” Short said. “I still see her as getting better as the season progresses.” Another key player for Brown in this match was Jessica Cooper ’03, who made 15 kills and four blocks. With 24 digs, Ceneca Calvert ’03 had a strong game, but it wasn’t quite good enough to keep her streak of see VOLLEYBALL, page 8

M. harriers run second at NECs BY JOANNA GROSSMAN

The men’s cross country team performed impressively in the 46-team New England Championships held in Boston’s Franklin Park last Friday. They finished second only to Providence College, who is ranked in the top fifteen in the country. “This was another step along in the season,” said Head Coach John Gregorek. “It was an improvement from the Iona College meet (two weeks ago).” The team finished its first five runners in the top 25, and all seven varsity harriers were in before the 50th runner had crossed the line. The first runner to finish for Brown was Pat Tarpy ‘05, who came in sixth with a time of 24:23 for the 8K course. “Pat had his best race since he’s been here at Brown,” Gregorek said. In contending with Providence, Gregorek said that in order to have any chance of winning Bruno had to go out hard. As a result, this may have tired some of the guys out early in the race. “The guys ran really tough, and hung in there,” Gregorek said. Matt Emond ’04 felt that the team executed its race plan well. “We were broken into two groups, and everyone really did what John wanted them to, it was a really good team race,” Emond said. Finishing second for the Bears in his first race of the season was Jeff Gaudette ’05 in eighth place, with a time of 24:24. “In (Gaudette’s) first race back, he had an excellent showing,” Gregorek said. “He’s been nursing Achilles’ tendonitis, and we were really glad to have him come out of the race feeling healthy and uninjured.” Coming in 13th, the third Brunonian across the line was Chad Buechel ’03 in a time of 24:43. “Chad knocked over a minute off of his previous

personal best for the course,” Gregorek said. “This is the second meet in a row that he has done that. He’s showing a lot of senior leadership in his final cross country season.” Buechel was not the only runner to notch another personal best. Every runner in the Varsity race and seven runners on the junior varsity squad also raced to personal records for the course. “Everyone wend out really hard and competed really well throughout the race,” said Captain Corey Kunz ’03. The fourth and fifth runners were just a second and a place apart. Emond and Jeff Tomlinson ’03 finished 21st and 22nd respectively with times of 24:51 and 24:52. Gregorek commented on how they worked together throughout the race to get those spots. The time between the first and fifth Brown runners was less than 30 seconds, and Gregorek said this is the key to the rest of the season. The team looks good, especially since the sixth and seventh runners, Erik Churchill ’03 and Brendan O’Keefe ’04, were in within a minute of Tarpy. The team is now looking forward to the Heptagonal Championships, which will take place in Van Cortlandt Park in New York City, N.Y., three weeks from now. “Right now, we are ranked above everyone except Dartmouth College. We know that we’ll really need to race to the next level to beat them though,” Kunz said. “We have a really good shot, but everyone needs to perform on that day.” Sports staff writer Joanna Grossman ’03 covers the men’s cross country team. She can be reached at jgrossman@browndailyherald.com.

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PAGE 8 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2002

Soccer

Volleyball

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and second balls.” While it was clear that the Bears were the more talented team, Providence stuck with them and gave them a few scares before Brown finally broke through with the victory-sealing goal with two minutes remaining. Dustin Branan ’03 started the play, heading a ball from the back towards midfield that Keith Caldwell ’06 got a foot on, sending a lob towards goal. Edu timed his run well and won a foot race with the Friar goalkeeper for the ball, heading it into the goal before colliding with the keeper. The shutout was the second of the year for Brown goalkeeper Chris Gomez ’05. On Friday night, the Bears will travel to Princeton University for their third Ivy League match of the year. Brown will look to avenge last year’s loss to the Tigers as it tries to get back on track in the race for the league title.

double-doubles going. For the Big Green, sophomore Anna Jenkins led the way with 16 kills, six digs and four blocks. Dartmouth lost to Yale University on Saturday, finishing the weekend with a 4-12 record, 0-3 in the Ivy League. The Big Green was the Bears second Ivy League match — Bruno defeated Yale last weekend. The Bears are now in the full swing of the exciting and important league play. The Bears weekend however didn’t end successfully as they fell to Harvard in four games. Brown lost the first 19-30, but pulled itself together and won the next 30-26. However, Brown could not hang on long and dropped the last two 21-30 and 21-30. The young but talented Kuchenbecker had her sixth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 12 digs, and Cooper came through again with 13 kills. This match made the Crimson 8-7 and 40 in the league. After Saturday, Brown is 6-9 and 2-1 in the league. The Bears host Princeton University next Friday and the University of Pennsylvania next Saturday.

Sports staff writer Nick Gourevitch ’03 is an assistant sports editor and covers the men’s soccer team. He can be reached at ngourevitch@browndailyherald.com.

“This weekend will be big because we’re playing two of the teams that have one loss.

Zarda continued from page 12

“There is one team that is undefeated, which is Harvard, but there are five teams which have one loss each,” Short said. “This weekend will be big because we’re playing two of the teams that have one loss.” The Bears have only a little more than a month left in the season and all their matches are versus Ivy League opponents. “I think we need to serve well and go to the ball better and try to keep our errors down,” Short said. “We’re a very good team, but at times we make a lot of errors. If we could cut those errors down and stay healthy we can be a very good team.”

seen circling the wagons as the head of Sooner nation. So maybe a name isn’t worth all that much. Some kid named Dorsey will graduate from Miami as the only QB to go 3-0 against arch rival FSU and perhaps with two rings. Volunteers and Longhorns are still searching for the key to the puzzle that will swing the balance of power in two of college footballs fiercest rivalries. For Simms there’s still a chance for him to rebound and lead his school to a successful season and end his career on a high note. I was told that Peyton got over his losses and laces them up ever Sunday for some team from Indianapolis. I hear he’s doing pretty well. All I know is that if I’m picking first in next year’s draft, I may take a hard look at a kid named Simms and hope the similarities continue.

Sports Staff writer Kathy Babcock ’05 covers the volleyball team. She can be reached at kbabcock@browndailyherald.com.

This is Brett Zarda’s GS first column for The Herald. He is hoping for Steve Spurrier’s return to Gainesville.

… We need to serve well and … keep our errors down.” Diane Short Volleyball Coach


THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

OPINIONS EXTRA WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2002 · PAGE 9

Stereotyping of gender roles in relationships must end Not all women desire commitment in relationships, nor do all men fear it “WHY BUY THE COW WHEN YOU CAN GET boys, high-fiving each other as they read the milk for free?” my grandmother the list. As the only woman in the room, I would say with a wink after talking grew increasingly annoyed. The commentary cited a study that about some poor cousin who was in her 30s and still unmarried. The saying was blamed the country’s declining marsupposed to be a caution for women riage rates on unmarried couples living together. Maybe so. who were eager to find a However, the more imporhusband but had already tant issue at hand is that given their men a romp in the article perpetuates the the hay. Nowadays, women outdated notion that a are doctors, lawyers, CEOs woman’s goal in life is to and successful single moms. snare herself a hubby. God So why are they still considforbid a woman be scared ered the cow in need of an of commitment! The writer owner, while men assume follows with this line about the role of the farmer that’s couples living together: “I just after the milk and will CAMILLE GERWIN understand why men do it move on when the cow’s all BEYOND — for easy available sex. dried up? THE BUBBLE But why are women agreeOver the summer, I was suring to it?” The No. 1 reason prised to discover that this why men don’t commit view of gender roles still exists. Even more disturbing was that men seem was, in fact, because they can get sex to be proud of it. In the newsroom of the without marriage. Apparently it’s Birmingham newspaper where I was unfathomable that women would want interning, a column by Mike McManus convenient sex too. But it gets worse. McManus says, caught the attention of the men of the office: “Top 10 reasons why men won’t “Sadly, many men are promiscuous and commit.”(http://www.marriagesavers.org selfish. But that’s not new. What’s new is /Columns/C1087.htm) These young pro- that women are accommodating, willing fessionals quickly turned into junior-high to be a playmate … Men can get many of the benefits of marriage without the Camille Gerwin ’03 is a former arts and cul- commitment to marriage. Only as long as women remain fools.” That’s right. He ture editor for the Herald. This is her first called women fools for having sex semester as an opinions columnist

Women no longer have to play the role of the demure wife who only jumps into the sack to please and satisfy her husband. Such attitudes went out with poodle skirts and bobby socks. before marriage. A fool because such actions undermine their scheme to get a ring around their finger. I think McManus is the fool. It never occurs to him why women are willing to be a playmate. Well I’ll tell you. Brace yourself. Women have sexual needs too. That’s right. It may be shocking, but men are not the only ones that enjoy sex and can be a little selfish in getting what they want. And women no longer have to play the role of the demure wife who only jumps into the sack to please and satisfy her husband. Such attitudes went out with poodle skirts and bobby socks. It’s not just the sexist content of the article that bothered me. It’s also the fact that the idea of the man being

afraid of commitment is so contrary to my own experience. It’s my guy friends that complain about being single. All they want is to find a nice girl to settle down with. I just went to the wedding of a friend, who popped the question after only knowing his girlfriend for five months. And yes, they were even living together before the wedding. McManus would have a heart attack. My female friends have a different attitude. They go through men like they shop for shoes, always wanting a different color, style or fit. Is this reverse phenomenon just peculiar to my circle of friends? The good ole southern boy reporters in the newsroom seemed to think so. But I’d suggest renting “Runaway Bride” or “Whipped” to clear matters up. The women in these movies are by no means in search of a marriage proposal and are by no means victims of the whims of men. In fact, I think maybe grandma’s wise words of advice were wrong. Men are not the only ones that sometimes milk a relationship for all its worth. In other words, marriage rates aren’t declining because women allow men to take advantage of sex with no commitment. Both men and women are out there having fun, enjoying their freedom.

Never Go Back and the threat to abortion worldwide Lack of resources and the possibility of Roe v.Wade being overturned jeopardize women’s access to abortion IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN, BY and is punishable by up to five years in the time you are reading this article, prison, a $100,000 fine or both. In addiyou will have been bombarded with fly- tion to its blatant anti-choice agenda in ers, posters, table-slips and informa- terms of its propagation of “informationtion about the Never Go Back cam- al materials,” the act aims at a sensitive paign, which currently is promoting emotional nerve, which may erupt under the already severe stress the awareness about the threat woman no doubt suffers. to abortion at college camThis bill requires that a puses nationwide. Eleanor RACHEL MARSHALL KATE GUBATA woman cross the picket Smeal, the former threeGUEST COLUMN lines of raving anti-choice term president of the fanatics an extra set of times National Organization for on her way in and out of the Women and the current president of the Feminist Majority clinic. Far from offering more informaFoundation, has been making her way tion and choice to women, the explicitly around the country to educate young biased nature of the bill is constructed people about the danger posed right deliberately to make a woman feel guilty now to a right that many women may and to waver on her decision, without actually helping her to decide what will take for granted. Most people in our generation be better in the long run. Despite the present legal state of aborassume that abortion will always be readily available and legal, yet the truth tion, 86 percent of counties in the United is that, since Roe v. Wade legalized abor- States do not have an abortion provider, tion in 1973, a woman’s right to choose including 95 percent of rural counties. has rested on shaky ground as anti- Furthermore, restrictions on abortion — choice politicians have slowly chipped including parental consent, notification away at women’s reproductive rights. laws and the Hyde Amendment — conMany states have passed a mandatory tinue to threaten women’s rights to con24-hour waiting period before a woman trol their bodies. The Hyde Amendment, can have an abortion, an act that pro- passed by Congress in 1977, represents a choice activists have aptly coined the particularly tricky set of complications “Women Are Stupid” bill. During this and contradictions. The amendment 24-hour period, doctors are required to bans federal funding for abortions except distribute “informational materials” in cases of rape, incest or to save the including a video of pictures of a fetus at mother’s life. The issue here is not aborvarious stages of development and tion, which is a consitutional right, but brochures about alternatives to abor- money. In the words of Jan Jarboe tion. The patient must sign a written Russell, columnist for the San Antonio “What the Hyde statement that she has received these Express-News, Amendment really means is that poor materials. Any doctor who refuses to follow the women don’t have the same constiturights as women of demands of this act is guilty of a felony, tional means”(www.seattlepi.com). The varying state-to-state laws detailRachel Marshall ’04 is the vice president of ing who can have an abortion and when the FMLA. Kate Gubata ’03 is a Herald are designed to keep women unaware of opinions columnist.

The varying state-to-state laws detailing who can have and abortion and when are designed to keep women unaware of the rights they have, while anti-choice legislators work persistently to make it harder and harder for a woman to exercise her right to choose. the rights they have, while anti-choice legislators work persistently to make it harder and harder for a woman to exercise her right to choose. The Republican administration has also taken this anti-choice campaign global, restricting women’s access to abortion and family planning in the countries around the world where women may need it most. One of George Bush’s first moves as president was the passing of the Global Gag Rule, which prohibits any organization receiving U.S. funds from using their own, private, nonU.S. funds to perform abortions, to lobby for changes in abortion law in their own countries or even to provide any medical counseling or information regarding abortion. In one swift act, the president drove a knife into two constitutional guarantees: the right to free speech and the right to a legal abortion.

The right to abortion is an especially contentious issue these days, as the Supreme Court has upheld Roe v. Wade by just a slim 5-4 margin. This margin reflects the 1990 decision Stenberg v. Carhart in which Justices O’Connor, Souter, Ginsburg, Breyer and Stevens voted against an abortion restriction. As several justices are expected to retire soon, the appointment of just one anti-choice justice could lead to Roe v. Wade being overturned. In order to prepare for the likelihood that Bush will have the chance to nominate at least one Supreme Court Justice, pro-choice leaders are mobilizing to prepare for a filibuster in the Senate. During a filibuster, senators will speak to the court and hold the floor indefinitely to prevent an issue — or nomination — from being brought to the Senate. It’s the “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” of the 21st century. Sixty senators are needed to stop a filibuster, so in order for pro-choice senators to enact a filibuster against any potential anti-choice Supreme Court nominee, 41 senators would need to support the filibuster. The Never Go Back campaign seeks to educate pro-choice constituents to encourage their senators to filibuster any anti-choice Supreme Court nominee. Don’t let yourself be fooled. Keep your eyes open for legislation that may seem to target a separate issue while masking an indirect stab at Roe v. Wade. The privileging of a fetus over a mother is a degrading insult to women. The right to choose is in jeopardy; those who wish to protect that right must be ready to take action. Write a letter to your senator and let the administration know that women will never go back to brutal back-alley abortions, to unwanted pregnancies and wrecked lives, to the dark world before choice.


THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

EDITORIAL/LETTERS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2002 · PAGE 10 S T A F F

E D I T O R I A L

Online, about time The University recently announced plans to bring a longawaited online course registration to Brown. The system, while expensive, is a welcome addition. The Registrar’s Office is also wisely proceeding with caution, holding off implementing the system until next year and holding at least one forum to gather input from students on what they would want in such a registration system. Any student who has ever attempted to enroll in a limited enrollment English course has fallen victim to long lines snaking through the narrow hallways of University Hall at 7 a.m. The current paper-based University registration system is an archaic throwback to the era of the card catalogue. In addition to long lines at the Registrar’s Office, students are faced with weeklong delays regarding whether they have been accepted to certain classes. The proposed Web-based registration system would eliminate these lines and delays, and allow students to make changes to their course schedule and grade options from home. This will make the Registrar’s Office more efficient in handling serious registration problems. Brown’s current registration system, like most of the University’s infrastructure, is out of date. All other Ivy League schools, with the exception of Dartmouth College, employ online registration systems or are planning the implementation of such systems. Furthermore, schools like the University of Pennsylvania, which recently brought such a system to its campus, reported outstanding success and student satisfaction with online registration. We commend the Registrar’s Office for holding a forum today to gather student input on online registration before the office decides on the particulars of the Webbased system. Hopefully, the combination of student opinion and Computing and Information Services expertise will bring the most efficient and most fitting model to Brown. This model should allow Brown students to maintain the privileges they currently enjoy with regard to registration and the shopping period.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD EDITORIAL Seth Kerschner, Editor-in-Chief David Rivello, Editor-in-Chief Will Hurwitz, Executive Editor Sheryl Shapiro, Executive Editor Beth Farnstrom, Senior Editor Elena Lesley, News Editor Brian Baskin, Campus Watch Editor Carla Blumenkranz, Arts & Culture Editor Stephanie Harris, Academic Watch Editor Juliette Wallack, Metro Editor Victoria Harris, Opinions Editor

BUSINESS Stacey Doynow, General Manager Jamie Wolosky, Executive Manager Joe Laganas, Senior Accounts Manager Moon-Suk Oh, Marketing Manager David Zehngut, National Accounts Manager Lawrence Hester, University Accounts Manager Bill Louis, University Accounts Manager Hyebin Joo, Local Accounts Manager Jungdo Yu, Local Accounts Manager Tugba Erem, Local Accounts Manager Jack Carrere, Noncomm Accounts Manager Laurie-Ann Paliotti, Sr. Advertising Rep. Genia Gould, Advertising Rep. Kate Sparaco, Office Manager

Sanders Kleinfeld, Opinions Editor PRODUCTION Marion Billings, Design Editor Bronwyn Bryant, Asst. Design Editor Julia Zuckerman, Copy Desk Chief

P O S T- M A G A Z I N E Kerry Miller, Editor-in-Chief Zach Frechette, Executive Editor Morgan Clendaniel, Film Editor Dan Poulson, Calendar Editor Alex Carnevale, Features Editor Theo Schell-Lambert, Music Editor

Jonathan Skolnick, Copy Desk Chief Andrew Sheets, Graphics Editor Kimberly Insel, Photography Editor Allie Silverman, Asst.Photography Editor Brett Cohen, Systems Manager

SPORTS Joshua Troy, Sports Editor Nick Gourevitch, Asst. Sports Editor Jermaine Matheson, Asst. Sports Editor Alicia Mullin, Asst. Sports Editor

Marion Billings, Night Editor Anastasia Ali, Emily Flier, Copy Editors Staff Writers Kathy Babcock, Brian Baskin, Jonathan Bloom, Carla Blumenkranz, Chris Byrnes, Jinhee Chung, Maria Di Mento, Jonathan Ellis, Nicholas Foley, Neema Singh Guliani, Ari Gerstman, Andy Golodny, Daniel Gorfine, Nick Gourevitch, Stephanie Harris, Victoria Harris, Shara Hegde, Brian Herman, Brent Lang, Elena Lesley, Jamay Liu, Jermaine Matheson, Kerry Miller, Alicia Mullin, Crystal Z.Y. Ng, Juan Nunez, Melissa Perlman, Caroline Rummel, Emir Senturk, Jen Sopchockchai, Anna Stubblefield, Jonathon Thompson, Joshua Troy, Juliette Wallack, Julia Zuckerman Pagination Staff Bronwyn Bryant, Jessica Chan, Sam Cochran, Joshua Gootzeit, Michael Kingsley, Hana Kwan, Erika Litvin, Jessica Morrison, Stacy Wong Staff Photographers Josh Apte, Nick Mark, Makini Chisolm-Straker, Allison Lauterbach, Maria Schriber, Allie Silverman Copy Editors Anastasia Ali, Lanie Davis, Marc Debush, Yafang Deng, Hanne Eisenfeld, Emily Flier, George Haws, Daniel Jacobson, Eliza Katz, Blair Nelsen, Eric Perlmutter, Amy Ruddle, Janis Sethness

RYAN LEVESQUE

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR and non-Jewish, were similarly unamused. Swiney comic offensive, Jewish And the responses of everyone I showed the comic time I ate lunch until I sat down to trivializes Holocaust towritefromthistheletter ranged from disgust to bewilderTo the Editor: I was very disappointed by The Herald's publication of Eli Swiney's ’04 comic “Pornucopia” on Oct. 15. The comic apparently takes place in heaven, where two unhappy males standing on one cloud observe a smiling man and woman embracing on another cloud. On the all-male cloud, one of the men remarks “See? Guys who died in the Holocaust get all the chicks!” I fail to see the humor in Swiney's comic. Does he wish to speculate that the souls of Holocaust victims are happy that their lives were cut short by Hitler? Does Swiney care to argue that my grandmother's religious uncles and male friends, many of whom were killed in concentration camps, are now sexually promiscuous in heaven? Does Swiney realize that Brown’s student body is approximately 25 percent Jewish and that it would be conservative to estimate that a third of us lost a relative in the Holocaust? As a Jew, and one whose blood ancestors were brutally slaughtered by the Nazis, I am deeply offended. The other members of my lunch table,

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ment. Analogously, I highly doubt that the New York Times would run a similar comic that replaced “Everyone who died in the Holocaust” with “Everyone who died in the World Trade Center.” That comic artist would quickly become the most unpopular name in New York. I understand that making light of tragedy and “black humor” sometimes produces the best comedy. I'm also sure Swiney did not intend to offend members of the Brown community who are sensitive to the horrific acts of the Nazi regime. However, I believe that if Swiney had put a little more foresight into this comic, he would have realized that it is offensive to, at the very least, a sizable minority of this campus. I therefore call on Swiney to apologize for his comic. I also hope that in the future, The Herald will exercise greater restraint and take a good look at submitted comics before publication. Daniel Wasserman ’03 Oct. 15

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CO M M E N TA RY P O L I C Y The staff editorial is the majority opinion of the editorial board of The Brown Daily Herald. The editorial viewpoint does not necessarily reflect the views of The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. Columns and letters reflect the opinions of their authors only. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY Send letters to letters@browndailyherald.com. Include a telephone number with all letters. The Herald reserves the right to edit all letters for length and cannot assure the publication of any letter. Please limit letters to 250 words. Under special circumstances writers may request anonymity, but no letter will be printed if the author’s identity is unknown to the editors. Announcements of events will not be printed. ADVERTISING POLICY The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. reserves the right to accept or decline any advertisement in its discretion.


THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

OPINIONS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2002 · PAGE 11

Are we justified in valuing our cultural heritage? Presenting a perspective of religious tradition through the lens of lapsed Judaism WHILE THE PARTIAL RAZING OF HILLEL, kicked Frank Cohen out of the house. the Jewish Student Union’s center, may While not without his flaws, as patriarch pale in comparison to the Roman destruc- he looked out for the family, providing tion of second temple and the subsequent money and lodging and so forth when Diaspora, it has scattered Jewish activities relatives hit hard times; the respect was and worship around the campus, pending evident in his reception at large family gatherings. completion of the new center. Samuel Cohen was more in So you shouldn’t be surprised line with what we would conto find Saturday services consider Conservative Judaism, ducted in the Faunce and my parents some version Memorial Room, or even to of that as well. I was Bar find Jewish students spilling Mitzvahed in the Reform traout of Lower Manning, paraddition, and the low point of ing around with the Torah, for my Jewishness was probably the occasion of Simchat Torah. at age 12, when in a moment A side effect is increased visiof argumentative flourish I bility. Perhaps seeing these cracked a Hebrew school activities stirred nostalgia in teacher’s belief in God that me, because, while I had never BRETT J. COHEN CHECKMATE! he had been expounding. I ignored Hillel activities, I had never exactly sought them out either. My own Jewish background is fairly typical; my father’s ancestors fled the Kiev area in the late 1800s; my mother’s had already settled in the United States by the time of the Civil War, immigrating from places like Poland and Lithuania. On my father’s side, my greatgrandparents loathed their relatives back in the old country, meaning we know next to nothing about them, except that they were probably poor peasants. My great-grandfather Frank Cohen was detested for unsavory personal attributes and a strict adherence to ancient custom, insisting that as head of the household he eat first and be waited on by the rest. My grandfather, Samuel Cohen, was loved by many of our relatives, probably not in the least owing to the fact that he supposedly physically Brett J. Cohen ’03 loves to talk about this topic, no matter what happened in your past — ancestral or otherwise.

have never crushed anyone’s spirit before or since, and could tell from the pained look on his face that I had for at least that moment taken something from him. I was sent to the principal’s office; he was not hired the next year. While my monologue was received mostly positively by the class, it raised more questions than it settled. If we assume there is a God, then the value of Jewishness is obvious: we’re the “chosen” people. Take that away, and we’re left with something else: a rich, ancient tradition, to be sure, but one of many. As time went on, and I read more philosophy, it was difficult to identify as a Jew. Why should I hold as special something that was handed to me by accident, essentially by my parents? Had I been switched at birth, it is exceedingly likely that I would have adopted the faith of my supposed parents. True, the history of the Jews is fascinating, and the Jews made many accomplishments in the course of history. Perhaps this would be a suffi-

cient basis for cultural pride. But should not cultural pride work both ways? History is written by the victors, and groups tend not to celebrate their misdeeds; like any tribes, the ancient Hebrews and Israelites undoubtedly had blood on their hands. According to the Bible, they were even required to settle the land of Canaan, at the expense of its native inhabitants. Moreover, isn’t the specific object of ancient cultural pride pretty arbitrary? Why take pride in being Jewish, instead of having pride in being a member of the polytheistic Semitic tribes that came before them? The mythical proto-IndoEuropean group was pretty remarkable, according to linguistic theory, populating the entire Earth. Why not take pride in just being a member of human culture, for what it’s worth? Simply accepting that my ancestors were as good or better than their contemporaries in their achievements and virtue does little to soothe my doubts. True, after the destruction of the ancient state of Israel, there is little claim to be made that the Jews were tyrants, but subsequently they were in no position to wield power for good or bad, dispersed as an often persecuted minority throughout the world. A common response I’ve heard to this line of argument is to try to find value in ancient rites and customs and discard the ones that we now think are bad. So we accept that our ancestors — and in particular, the spiritual texts such as the Bible — contain good and bad. Last semester, I had a conversation with a learned Muslim friend in regard to the Koran, which seems to have many paragraphs that have to be “carefully interpreted in context.” For example, the Koran says that people of the book (of Abraham) should be respected. But Hindus, Buddhists and others must be

given the option to convert to Islam or die. My learned Muslim friend conceded that the Koran does say that, and I asked him why, as a good Muslim, he didn’t act on it, and offer the choice to the Hindu down the hall, and on his refusal to convert, kill him. He explained that part had to be taken in context, interpreted in line with modern values. But why cling to any aspect of this text that includes even a few barbarous duties? If we’re going to be “interpreting,” (i.e., making up what we want), why not start fresh with a secular derivation of human rights without the murderous baggage? True, the Old Testament is so contradictory, ambiguous and confused a text that it shouts down the horror of its own prescriptions, unlike the more lucid Koran. But however interesting it may be as a work of literature, its authority as a source of truth is limited to accidents. There is, however, a long tradition of questioning in Judaism; the religion itself requires study not just of the ancient texts but of the Talmud, which comprises discussions and perspectives on them. This suggestion is promising, but I could also belong to a secular academic culture of dispute. What makes me culturally Jewish, then, is not any biblical or philosophical justification, but the fact that I know so many others like myself, who eat matzo ball soup but don’t take unjustified pride in this contingent fact. If we do take pride, it is in ourselves, and how we measure up to the high ideals set in part by tradition. While I don’t believe anyone is justified in taking pride simply by being born into any group, I do count myself lucky and appreciate what my ancestors tried to do to give me the opportunities I have today. Maybe that’s why I consider myself a Jew.

Bush packages war on Iraq in spurious rhetoric Ideology that a preemptive strike is necessary against Iraq is founded upon faulty arguments WHILE WANDERING THROUGH AISLE ONE forecasts for 2002 predicting significantly in CVS the other day, looking for a tooth- faster growth and a full economic recovpaste, I realized something profound ery. In late July, however, Iraq was suddenly about my buying tendencies: when it comes to toothpaste, I only look at the thrust into the spotlight. Nothing on the packaging. I skip over the boring Aim or ground changed significantly — at least not Iraqi ground. Things in CVS brands not because they the United States, though, are fundamentally different, were quite different. The once but simply because they gutsy, resilient stock market don’t sparkle as much as the had now plunged more than others. 20 percent from its mark at Unfortunately, a similar the beginning of the year. This phenomenon is now in place odd coincidence certainly regarding our prospective does not invalidate Bush’s war with Iraq. While the funcase against Iraq. But the damentals may indeed point packaging of the war loses to the need for a war with the some of its shine when we nation, President George JOSHUA SKOLNICK consider that Iraq seemingly Bush’s packaging of the war is UNDECIDED did not pose as grave a threat making many Americans, before the stock market crash. myself included, wary of Further skepticism is crestepping up to the counter ated by the fact that Bush freand buying it. One of the most important aspects of quently mentions Sept. 11, 2001, when packaging a war is timing. Bush’s couldn’t justifying an attack on Iraq. Iraq is bad have been worse. In his State of the enough on its own and poses a serious Union speech eight months ago, Iraq was threat based simply on its own recent hisno more than another cog in the axis of tory. Virtually no credible sources outside evil. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Bush administration have alleged a while certainly weak, was still hovering direct and meaningful link between Iraq around the 10,000 mark, with economic and al Queda. Yet Bush, intent on riding the coattails of Sept. 11, 2001, is pushing this invisible link. It’s as though a box of Joshua Skolnick hails from Roslyn, N.Y. toothpaste advertises that it also provides This is his fifth semester as a Herald a good source of Vitamin C. Not only does columnist.

It’s time for Bush to stop pretending that the United States has reason to believe that Saddam Hussein is going to preemptively attack us with nuclear weapons. What he should emphasize … is that Hussein can play games with us once he gets these weapons, and that the United States will not compromise its interests based on a dictator’s threat of blackmail. the claim sound spurious, but it makes me question the truth about its cavity fighting ability as well. Additionally, Bush uses the scare tactic of saying that Iraq is likely to use weapons of mass destruction against us if we don’t stop him now. This is another lie. CIA chief George Tenet stated recently that Iraq has stopped short of initiating a policy of using biological or chemical weapons against the United States, but an attack by the United States could change that policy quickly. It’s time for Bush to stop pretending that the United States has reason to believe that Saddam Hussein is going to preemptively attack us with nuclear weapons. What he should emphasize, however, is that Hussein can play games with us once he gets these weapons, and that the United

States will not compromise its interests based on a murderous dictator’s threat of blackmail. Like most Americans, I don’t know what to think about a possible war with Iraq. There are certainly rationales for both peace and war. But if Bush is planning to convince the millions of ambivalent Americans to undertake a dangerous and preemptive attack on a sovereign state, he should realize that the packaging of the war must change. If he continues to give speeches such as the one he gave in Cincinnati, which deceitfully prey upon our fears of nuclear and terrorist attacks, Americans will be quite hesitant to step up to the counter and buy this war. And Bush, for his part, will be left with shelves full of empty and deceptive rhetoric.


THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

SPORTS WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16, 2002 · PAGE 12

Playing in the shadow of their fathers’ legacies

Edu’s two goals bookend soccer win over PC

WHEN YOU ARE BORN AND RAISED THE offspring of NFL quarterback royalty, expectation levels begin just a little bit higher. So when Peyton Manning and Chris Simms began searching for what colors to suit up in, the best in Division I knocked at their doors for a chance BRETT to put on a fashion ZARDA show. ZARDA THE GREAT Peyton was wooed by his father’s alma mater, Ole Miss, now home to his younger brother Eli, but picked Tennessee to distance himself from Archie’s career. Simms almost certainly stopped considering his dad’s old stomping ground, Morehead State, around the age of seven when the dreaded potential label was first branded on his forehead. Ironically, it was with Tennessee that the blond-haired poster boy first signed a letter of intent. Then, just when it appeared that UT would become the official boarding school for sons of past NFL greats, Simms reconsidered and elected to go with the other UT, Texas. The similarities between Simms and Manning don’t end with prominent fathers and their schools’ identical two letter call sign. Manning enrolled at a time when a legend by the name of Spurrier was king of the SEC. Tennessee lacked in talent early in the decade, but the recruiting prowess of Phil Fulmer had considerably narrowed the gap by the mid-1990s. With the landing of blue chip Manning, the rocky top faithful believed their savior had arrived to end the dominance of arch rival Florida and to promptly slap the smirk off the old ball coach’s face. Four years and one brilliant college career later they’re still waiting. Despite passing for more than 11,000 yards and destroying the Tennessee record book, Manning’s college career will always be written with an orange and blue asterisk next to it. Peyton cringes to this day when the words Gainesville or Steve Spurrier are uttered. A sparkling 39-6 record can be broken down to 0-3 against Florida and 39-3 against the rest. Steve’s bunch cost Peyton a national title and a Heisman, and they were, and are, always willing to remind him of it. Sadly, the college history of Chris Simms will undoubtedly begin with the line “unable to win the big one,” as well. The difference is Simms’ asterisk will be colored in crimson. While he never amassed the brilliant statistical career that Peyton did, the expectations of the younger Simms were no lower to begin with. The 6’5’’ golden-armed lefty arrived to a football happy Texas school desperate for a national championship and in search of a hero. Simms’ career started with a well publicized fight to solidify the starting job against the smaller, less talented, pesky fan favorite Major Applewhite. Oklahoma had long been to Texas what Tennessee was to Florida. The “Red River shootout” is a fierce rivalry built on mutual hatred rather than respect. When Simms arrived at UT he knew that he would be measured by his performance in those games. Just like Peyton, Chris now holds an 0-3 record against the one team he had to beat. Another, perhaps not so coincidental link between Peyton and Chris is the man who orchestrated each of those losses. A few years earlier at Florida a man by the name of Stoops befuddled Peyton Manning, and this weekend he could be

BY NICK GOUREVITCH

see ZARDA, page 8

dspics.com

The Bears’high profile offensive attack was limited to 195 total yards against Fordham.

Weather, Rhode Island topple football 24-17 BY JERMAINE MATHESON

The losses continue to mount for the Brown football team (0-4, 0-1 Ivy League). On Saturday in inclement weather, the team had its best overall defensive performance of the season, but two late touchdowns by Fordham University (5-1, 2-0 Patriot League) gave Brown its fourth consecutive defeat, 2417. Both teams, accustomed to high scoring games, had to settle for slow, drawn out drives due to slippery footing on a drenched field surface. The Bears only netted 195 yards the entire game. AllAmerican Chas Gessner ’03 suffered a minor injury to his pinkie finger in pregame warm-ups. Though he played the entire game, Gessner did not have a game one would expect of the leading receiver in NCAA I-AA, ending the day with only two catches for twelve yards. In the first quarter, Jesse Hawkins ’04 recovered a fumbled punt return on Fordham’s 27-yard line. Six plays later, Brown scored a touchdown on a three yard run from quarterback Kyle Slager ’04, giving the Bears an early 7-0 lead. Fordham quickly answered. The Rams went 74 yards to score a touchdown on its subsequent drive tying the game at seven, still in the first quarter. After this touchdown, neither team would find the end zone until the fourth quarter. The combination of wet weather and a Brown team determined to atone for last week’s defensive gaffes held the Rams to 284 total yards and forced them to punt seven times. However, the Bears also had trouble scoring. With the hand of its best receiver heavily taped, Brown desperately tried to establish a running game, but could only manage 60 yards on 34 carries. Ian Malepeai ’03 stepped up as the team’s

leading receiver with three catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. After a scoreless second quarter, both teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter to knot the score at ten. The stage was set for the final 15 minutes to decide the game. It did not start off well for Brown. A Slager interception resulted in a Fordham touchdown five plays later. After forcing the Bears to punt, the Rams scored again to push their lead to 24-10. Senior play-caller Nate Poole was summoned to attempt a late game comeback but was picked off. Brown was able to get the ball back without losing much time thanks to a four and out by the defense. Matt O’Malley ‘04 gave Brown excellent field position with a 57-yard punt return to the Fordham 33 yard line. Slager returned and completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Malepeai to narrow the Ram lead to 24-17. The Bears eventually tried an on-side kick but did not recover. Fordham nursed the clock for their fifth win of the season. In the end, late turnovers proved costly. A team that allowed 451 rushing yards last week held the Rams to just 93 yards on 41 carries. Surely if the defense can play this well for the remainder of the season, Brown will be in good shape heading into Ivy League competition. Bobby Parisien ’03 led the team with 13 tackles including a sack. Hunter Young ’03 had ten tackles. Next Saturday the Bears are on the road for their second Ivy contest versus Princeton University. Sports staff writer Jermaine Matheson ’03 is an assistant sports editor and covers the football team. He can be reached at jmatheson@browndailyherald.com.

The Brown men’s soccer team (4-3-3) toppled cross-town rival Providence College 2-0 on Tuesday afternoon at Stevenson field. Edu Romaniero ’03 provided the offensive spark for the Bears, scoring both goals — one early and one late — for his first multi-goal game of his career. “It felt pretty good to finally break through, but I think it was a team effort more than an individual one,” Edu said. “The two goals I got were just opportunistic, (my teammates) pretty much handed them to me.” The victory extended the Bears’ unbeaten streak against the Friars to eight games and bumped Brown’s record under Head Coach Mike Noonan against Providence to 7-0-1. Bruno got off to a torrid start in the match, pressuring and possessing the ball for much of the opening minutes, much like they did against Columbia University last Saturday. This time, the Bears were able to break through early as they went ahead just eight minutes into the game. Jeff Larentowicz ’05 sent a diagonal pass from the top of the box to Edu, who took the down and one-touched in front of himself creating an angle that put the Providence goalkeeper at his mercy. A laser shot across the face of the goal put the Bears ahead. As the game progressed, the Bears had difficulty keeping up the intensity that they showed to start the match. For much of the remainder of the game, the Friars did well to disrupt Brown’s game plan and rhythm. “We need to do a better job of keeping the ball, passing it and moving it,” Noonan said. “People need to anticipate a little bit better and defensively, we have to win first see SOCCER, page 8

W. soccer defeats Sacred Heart in OT BY SHARA HEGDE

The Brown women’s soccer team (5-4-2) won a thriller this weekend, defeating the Sacred Heart University Lady Pioneers in overtime by a score of 1-0 at Stevenson Field. The win snapped Sacred Heart’s four game winning streak. With the game scoreless at the end of regulation, the teams went into the first overtime period. Tough defensive play on both ends made it look like the game would enter a second overtime period, until Brown’s Molly Cahan ’04 scored the gamewinner with 38 seconds left in overtime. The goal, which was a rebound off a corner kick, was Cahan’s third goal in as many games. It was also her second game winner of the season. “We changed the formation of our corner kick offense, and my job is to get any balls that bounce out,” Cahan said. “Two of our players did a good job knocking the ball out, and luckily, I was wide open.” Brown controlled the tempo of the game, out-shooting Sacred Heart by a 20-8 margin. Goalie Sarah Gervais ’04 made three saves and picked up her second career shutout. “I think we are really playing well and things are coming together,” Cahan said. “We’ve worked a lot of things out since the beginning of the season and it’s showing out on the field.” Sports staff Shara Hegde ’05 covers the women’s soccer team. She can be reached at ngourevitch@browndailyherald.com.


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