F R I D A Y DECEMBER 6, 2002
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXXXVII, No. 126
An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891
www.browndailyherald.com
Early winter snow storm dumps up to 10 inches on Providence
Faculty, staff organize to oppose U.S. war in Iraq
U. remains open despite closures at RISD, Salve Regina and URI
BY DYLAN BROWN
A campus anti-war group of faculty, alumni and staff recently formed to educate the campus about possible problems with a potential U.S. war against Iraq. The group, Brown Faculty, Alums and Staff Against the War, collected 300 signatures from the Brown community on a petition and plans to bring speakers to campus next semester, said the Rev. Janet Cooper Nelson, University chaplain, a founding member of the group. The new organization is dedicated to educating the Brown community about the negative aspects of a war against Iraq, said Professor of American Civilization Paul Buhle, another member of the group. The people signing the petition are basically saying “war with Iraq is ill-advised, and we oppose it,” Cooper Nelson said. “As a faculty we are saying (war) doesn’t lead to greater security, it only leads to escalation.” Faculty, Alums and Staff Against the War is trying to get at least 1,000 signatures from the Brown community, Cooper Nelson said. She also said no one was pressured to sign the petition. “Whether you choose to act or participate is your business,” she said. Cooper Nelson and the other founders of Brown’s newest anti-war organization formed the group soon after author and activist Howard Zinn spoke on campus in November, Buhle said. Buhle said he was very happy that nearly 1,000 people wanted to see Zinn speak and that 350 stayed afterward for a teach-in. Because of this enthusiasm, it will “not be difficult to get other members of the peace movement together,” he said. Several Brown alums joined the group. Snigdha Vallabhaneni ’97, a medical student and member of the group, wanted to get involved, but “didn’t feel that connected to the undergraduate campus,” she said. “I felt it was important for me, as a Brown alum, to have my voice heard.” Cooper Nelson said that to better educate the community, the organization will hold weekly teach-ins next semester, pass out literature and host guest speakers. Vallabhaneni is also putting together an educational presentation on the medical effects of war, such as radiation poisoning. “We expect to have a major celebrity” come speak at Brown “in February or early March,” Buhle said. see WAR, page 6
Seth Kerschner / Herald
The University remained open Thursday as six to 10 inches of snow covered the greater Providence area and the Brown campus. On the Main Green outside University Hall, the plowing power of a fullsized bulldozer was necessary to clear snow off of paths.
UCS to present long-term wish list to President Simmons today BY JONATHAN ELLIS
The Undergraduate Council of Students will present President Ruth Simmons with a list of long-term priorities for campus life improvements today that includes renovating the Ratty, constructing a new athletic complex, renovating dormitories and building an assembly hall. Though the list was not immediately available Thursday night, UCS President Allen Feliz ’03 said the Ratty, athletic complex, dormitories and assembly hall are the four main components of UCS’ priorities list. Besides renovating the Ratty dining area to be comparable with the refurbished Verney-Woolley dining hall, Feliz said UCS hoped the University would “use the Ratty as a footprint,” adding additional levels on top of the existing building. That would allow space for student organization offices, as well as social space with games and meeting areas, Feliz said. “Right now, all we really have is the Blue Room,” he said. Adding more living space to dormitories is also a top priority, Feliz said. Lounges were lost to the University’s housing crunch, he said. Restored lounges could also have game space, he added. Feliz said an ideal assembly hall would have a capacity of 1,500 students. That space is required for all-class meetings, he said. It would also allow larger audiences
than those the Salomon Center can hold for lectures and other events, he added. UCS representatives discussed the priorities with Frances Halsband, the University’s master planner, in a Tuesday meeting, Feliz said. “We need a simple, straightforward means of ensuring that the administration is aware of what students want to see achieved in terms of campus life improvements over the long run,” wrote Justin Sanders ’04, UCS Campus Life Committee chair, in an e-mail. “This way, there is a document that the administration can reference and consider when planning out the upcoming capital campaign.” Simmons will likely reference the document in her February meeting with the Corporation, Feliz said. The list lets administrators hear a student voice as they consider long-term planning, he added. Feliz wasn’t sure how strictly Simmons would adhere to the list, but “at least we know that in her planning process she has a UCS list,” he said. UCS will have frequent follow-ups with Simmons to check the status of the priorities, he added. “Since (the priorities) are being considered at the planning stage of the capital campaign, they will likely be issues raised as President Simmons solicits funding,”
In Leeds, West Side Story provides a mix of fun and poignant moments page 3
Eric Tucker ’02 wins Marshall Scholarship to study at Oxford University page 5
see SNOW, page 4
Eric Suuberg named associate dean of faculty BY CASSIE RAMIREZ
Professor of Engineering Eric Suuberg will begin serving as Associate Dean of Faculty Jan. 1, 2003. Suuberg was chosen for the position in part because of his expertise in science and engineering, Dean of the Faculty Mary Fennell said. Suuberg cofounded the Chemical Engineering Program at Brown in 1981. He studies comEric Suuberg bustion, fuel chemistry and environmental technology and their relationship to the chemical reactions of solids. In addition to being a Fulbright Scholar in Estonia last year, Suuberg is also the U.S. editor of the journal Fuel. The incoming associate dean told The Herald he has yet to discuss his duties with the other deans of the see SUUBERG, page 4
see UCS, page 6
I N S I D E F R I D AY, D E C E M B E R 6 , 2 0 0 2 Brownbrokers producion of Anna Karenina debuts in Stuart Theatre page 3
The University remained open as a slow-moving but powerful snow storm pummeled the state Thursday. Several schools in the Providence area closed early Thursday afternoon and some University events were cancelled. The National Weather Service predicted 8 to 10 inches of snow would fall on Rhode Island by early this morning. The weather service announced a winter storm warning for parts of northern Connecticut and Rhode Island. Meteorologists attributed the unusual early December snowstorm to the El Niño weather patterns. The quick accumulation of snow occurred because
TO D AY ’ S F O R E C A S T Victoria Harris ’03 says citizen participation only way to improve media news coverage column, page 15
Post- takes a good hard look at the best and worst culture of 2002 magazine, inside
partly sunny high 33 low 20