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M O N D A Y FEBRUARY 3, 2003

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXXXVIII, No. 9

An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891

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Norwalk virus hits campus BY CARLA BLUMENKRANZ

The Norwalk virus, which plagued cruise ship passengers from Amsterdam to the Caribbean last year, is likely responsible for an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on campus this weekend. Several students have required IV treatment after one to three days of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, said Dr. Edward Wheeler, director of Health Services. Symptoms also may include headache, low-grade fever and abdominal pain, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The virus is typically transmitted by the fecal-oral route, traveling from a person’s stool to their hands and ultimately infecting food or drink. The associated illness usually occurs within 24 to 48 hours and persists for 48 to 60 hours. After an exceptional number of students suffered from similar symptoms at the end of last semester, Health Services sent stool specimens for culture and confirmed that they were infected with the Norwalk virus, Wheeler said. If students continue to become ill, Health Services will repeat the process again. To avoid contracting the virus, Wheeler recommended that students remember to wash their hands often, particularly after bowel movements. He also suggested that students avoid sharing food and drinks, utensils, face cloths and towels. see NORWALK, page 5

Bomb threat on campus proves to be a hoax

Photo courtesy Nick Mark

PEACE ON PEMBROKE The view from Andrews Terrace on Sunday afternoon was a peaceful one.

Jeffrey Johnson, Black History Month Convocation speaker, urges students to take community action BY MOMOKO HIROSE AND SARA PERKINS

At Friday’s Black History Month Convocation, speakers urged students to escape complacency and create their own futures by taking action in the community. Jeffrey Johnson, national director of the Youth, College and Young Adult Division for the NAACP, gave the keynote address, and Izetta Mobley ’03 presented a senior reflection. “The idea of the new month is to

empower you — to realize (that you’re able to) take control of the future,” Phillip Ford ’03, co-coordinator of Black History Month at Brown, told The Herald. “We’ve been standing on the work of the past.” The theme of this year’s Black History Month was “We’ve been warmed by fires we didn’t build: reclaiming responsibility and asserting agency in social change.” The fires built in the past are no longer enough to warm the current generation and ensure the well-being of the future

generation, Johnson told the crowd. “This is a time to make sure … the fire does not burn out,” said Brianna Brown ’03, co-coordinator of Black History Month. Black History Month originally started in 1926 as Negro History Week, Johnson said. February was chosen because it marks the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, he see BLACK HISTORY, page 4

BY JULIETTE WALLACK

An anonymous caller threatened the athletic center with a bomb Saturday, but people in and near the buildings were largely unaware of the threat. The caller reported to Providence Police that there was an explosive device in a car parked in the athletic center parking lot. The threat, made just before the 7 p.m. women’s basketball game, was false, said Providence Police Lieutenant Thomas Verdi. The building was not evacuated, and the game began and ended on time, said Athletic Director David Roach. The call was made from a pay phone on North Main Street, Verdi said. He said this type of call is relatively common and called it “a non-event.” “It’s not as if we get them daily, but very seldom do we have a bomb threat where we actually respond and find something,” he said. The call was placed to Providence Police, but the Department of Public Safety responded as well on a “police assist,” said Mark Nickel, director of the Brown News Service. Nickel confirmed the caller claimed there was a car in the athletic center park-

Transsexual, transgender students and faculty discuss issues in academia

see BOMB THREAT, page 4

see SYMPOSIUM, page 5

BY ZOE RIPPLE

In an all-day symposium organizer Cole Krawitz called the first of its kind, panelists discussed issues surrounding transsexual and transgender students and faculty in academia. “Transecting the Academy,” a symposium held at Brown on Saturday, examined how transsexual and transgender undergraduate students’, graduate students’ and professors’ experiences can complicate and expand the curriculum taught in colleges and universities in the United States, according to the program. The symposium also brought transsexual and transgender people together to foster dialogue and to create networks in academia, Krawitz said. All of the presenters were transsexual or transgender people, said Sel Wahng, symposium co-coordinator and a visiting scholar at the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women. This made those attending the symposium feel “more relaxed.” In such an environment, those attending the symposium “could talk more about who they were,” Wahng said. Wahng said that many events focusing

on transsexual or transgender people don’t actually include many transsexual or transgender people. Scholars who are not transsexual also write about transsexual and transgender people, but often end up “generalizing” or “saying negative things,” Wahng said. One goal of the symposium was to “grapple with the ways courses are taught” and “how concepts of gender are dealt with” in academia, Krawitz said. Panelists and symposium participants also talked about the role of theory, asking “Is it working, and who is it working for?” Krawitz said. “Transecting the Academy” featured panels on Feminist Studies, Race and Ethnic Studies, Queer Studies and Trans Visual Culture. Wahng said about 150 people attended each panel throughout the day, filling room 106 of Smith–Buonanno to capacity. Author Susan Stryker gave the closing remarks. Her works include “Gay by the Bay: A History of Queer Culture in the San Francisco Bay Area,” and “Queer Pulp:

I N S I D E M O N D AY, F E B RUA RY 3 , 2 0 0 3 Wreckage of space shuttle strewn over parts of Texas and Louisiana page 3

Professor of Arabic literature Elliott Colla outlines next steps for opponents of war guest column, page 7

Camille Gerwin ’03 discusses the effects of ignoring American allies’ concerns column, page 7

New Graduate Center lounge BY CASSIE RAMIREZ

After six months of renovation, the new Graduate Center lounge opened last Friday afternoon with a celebratory party. A committee of graduate students worked with Signer Harris Architects to revitalize the lounge, said former Graduate Student Council President and committee member Heinrich Hock GS. Hock said the space, previously a piano lounge, was “the only available space on campus.” He said the committee received many suggestions for possible uses for the space, from making it a child care center to an area where teaching assistants could hold office hours. “But what seemed to be overarching was that people wanted a place for socializing and studying,” Hock said. “I hope there is the feeling of a see GRAD CENTER, page 4

TO D AY ’ S F O R E C A S T Both men’s and women’s basketball teams hang on to first place in Ivy League sports, page 8

Adam Stern ’06 says the NBA’s history of roughness makes it more like the WWE sports column, page 8

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

THIS MORNING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2003 · PAGE 2 Pornucopia Eli Swiney

W E AT H E R TODAY

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GRAPHICS BY TED WU

A Story Of Eddie Ahn

CALENDAR WORKSHOP—Sheridan Teaching Seminar, Sheridan Center for Teaching. Room 001, Salomon Center, 5 p.m. SEMINAR—“Design and Data Analysis Options for Clinical Trials in Infertility,” James Hanley, McGill University, Center for Statistical Sciences. Hemisphere Building, 167 Angell St., 4 p.m. LECTURE—“Water under the Straw: Mesopotamian Concepts of Peace,” Benjamin Foster, Yale University, Program in Ancient Studies. Room 106, Smith-Buonanno, 7:30 p.m.

Coup de Grace Grace Farris

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WORLD & NATION THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2003 · PAGE 3

Shuttle Tragedy Leaves Behind Trail of Debris NACOGDOCHES,Texas (L.A.Times) — The terrible rain of burned metal fell over horse pastures and front yards, onto bank parking lots and the sidewalks of small towns across Texas and parts of Louisiana. Ordinary folks expecting an ordinary Saturday instead found themselves navigating a landscape specked with jagged emblems of loss from the disintegrated space shuttle. Katrina Self broke down crying after tripping across what appeared to be an electrical box lying beneath an oak tree in Pioneer Park here. The piece of metal, said Self, a 25-year-old student, made immediate the deaths of the seven Columbia astronauts. “They probably touched that,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “Seeing this in person, you know that they were real people. Seven people. It took me back to when I was a child and the Challenger happened. It’s happened again. I can’t

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believe it.” This quiet town of 31,000, which sits about 130 miles northeast of Houston, was one of the spots most heavily pelted by Columbia debris. No injuries were reported on the ground, but authorities in an area covering at least 500 square miles took up guard around blackened remnants, warning residents not to touch the debris out of fear that it might be contaminated by toxins used to fuel the shuttle. Some residents drove around town toting Polaroids and video cameras to chronicle a moment of American history, if a tragic one. By midafternoon, Sabria Holland, 41, had already developed pictures she took with a disposable camera. One photograph showed a piece of round metal, possibly from a canister, and labeled “wastewater.” In rural Hemphill, near the Louisiana state line, officials were reported to have recovered partial human remains in an

area where there was other debris from the shuttle. About 8 a.m., Nacogdoches residents reported first hearing a prolonged boom — some said it lasted five minutes, others two — that puzzled them because of its force. Debra Johnson, a Nacogdoches middle-school teacher’s aide, turned to her father: “Did we just have a bomb? Did we just derail?” The answer became clear as residents encountered a scene befitting a sciencefiction movie. Along the town’s quiet streets lay chunks of the shuttle, ranging in size from that of a pebble to 8 feet long. There were metal strips and bent pieces. There were scraps that resembled tar paper and others bearing the marks of rivets. One chunk pierced the roof of a dentist’s office. Authorities cordoned off wreckage with yellow police tape and assigned guards.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials warned that debris might be contaminated. Around Dallas, highway signs urged anyone who found debris to call police, and on Smith Street in Nacogdoches, eight National Guard troops in camouflage uniforms kept watch over a scrap of charred metal, about 1 1/2 feet long, sitting outside the fenced yard of a house. Not far away, on residential Warren Drive, a 2-foot section of hinged metal that looked like a mechanical arm lay in the frontyard of Joe Harvey. The Guardsmen asked Harvey to keep onlookers from touching the debris, which sat behind police tape. Harvey was joined by a friend, Evan Byars, who soon found more debris nearby — a 3-inch length of what appeared to be blackened tape. “Hey look, Joe, here’s some more insulation,” Byars said. He nudged it with his tennis shoe.

PAGE 4 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2003

Black history Mobley focused on continued from page 1 added. Black History Month is always reduced to slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, Johnson said. The month is dedicated to teaching other people about black history, but its meaning has been so twisted “that it’s the only time that we talk about our own history,” Johnson said. But even year-round dialogue is not enough, Johnson said. “We’re having trouble getting into the next plane,” Mobley said. “We are trapped in an Ivy tangle, so to speak. … We love to talk.” Johnson criticized the “socially conscious dialogue that inspires us to a point of euphoric inactivity.” “You can have Woolworth’s and you can have the front of the bus, because the reality is that we weren’t supposed to stop (being active after) those benchmarks,” Johnson said. Johnson added that the fire is dying out because no one is willing to pick it up. “Somebody prayed for you, somebody paved the way for you, somebody cleaned the floor for you, somebody built the fire for you,” Johnson said. “You’re not on this campus at Brown University so you can get paid,

Grad Center continued from page 1 sense of ownership,” said GSC coPresident Michael Harrison GS. “It is for us. It’s a place for the social and intellectual, for watching movies or having a cup of tea or salsa dancing. The possibilities are endless.” The rejuvenated lounge boasts a large entertainment center with a TV and stereo system, new tables and chairs and leather couches, Hock said. “We hope (the lounge) is part of a series of improvements to graduate student life,” said Dean of the Graduate School Karen Newman. Newman said other meeting spaces will be part of President Ruth Simmons’ initiative for aca-

Bomb threat continued from page 1 ing lot that contained explosives. Providence Police notified the bomb squad, but Nickel said he did not know if the squad actually responded. Aaron Scherzer ’05, who covered the game for Brown Student Radio, said he didn’t know anything was wrong and confirmed that the game started on time. “They definitely did not evacuate,” he said. Scherzer said

identifying a uniquely black American culture. but so you can pave the way for others.” Mobley focused on identifying a uniquely black American culture to unify and strengthen the community. She said the black American culture seems obscured and must be explored to improve it. “Boundaries of blacks must be interrogated to expand,” Mobley said. “(The culture) is not monolithic, but this does not mean that there isn’t a unique black American culture.” Mobley said that divisions within black American culture are inhibiting progress. “The hierarchy of our cultures ... hinders our struggle with and for each other,” Mobley said. “We must coalition build.” Mobley added that action need to be taken at Brown. “We need unequivocal support from the University in all programs such as TWTP and the MPC program,” Mobley said. “We need to make Brown a safe space for white students and students of color to have dialogue.”

demic enrichment. “It’s better, but we need more space,” said Miryana Vassileva GS. “Usually there’s a lot of people here. But maybe with couches, people will actually sit and talk.” Other than the new lounge, the 1,100 graduate students living on campus have only the Graduate Student Council meeting room in Miller Hall and the spaces within their departments to meet, he added. The lounge is “lamentably small perhaps, but we bear up as much as we can,” said Bill Tortorelli GS. The grand opening was attended by President Simmons, various other administrators, and 50 to 60 graduate students. Herald staff writer Cassie Ramirez ’06 can be reached at cramirez@browndailyherald.com.

there was no announcement made, and he didn’t notice any more police than usual. Catherine Brown ’05 said she attended the women’s basketball game but did not notice any disturbance or extra security. She had no idea that any threat had been made, and the game was on schedule when she arrived, she said. The team went on to defeat Columbia, 71-66. Herald staff writer Juliette Wallack ’05 can be reached att jwallack@browndailyherald.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2003 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD PAGE 5

Norwalk continued from page 1 Health Services treats the symptoms of the virus, but there is no way to treat the virus itself, Wheeler said. “There’s really no alleviation for it,” said Jeb Berman ’05, who contracted the virus on Friday and suffered its symptoms for the next 24

Stern continued from page 8 responsibility to keep them in line in all aspects of their lives. And on the first foot, other fans look to league bandits to provide some excitement. I am, of course, referring to the old Howard Stern phenomenon where both his fans and detractors listen to him because they want to see what he will do next. Dennis Rodman had also perfected this attention-grabbing technique before he was exiled from the game of basketball. Taking the Howard Stern phenomenon into account, a part of me hopes that the NBA does everything short of encouraging reckless behavior. After all, it is a league supported by fan-generated revenue. As a business, the league should provide its customers with the most enjoyable product possible. While I admit a league full of John Stocktons would be fundamentally sound, it would also be extremely boring. Why do you think the fans deemed it necessary to make Vince Carter a starter for the Eastern All-Stars, when he has hardly played this season? The answer is that fans seek excitement, which they know he can provide on the court. Just the same, the league should recognize that fans love to see taunting, fights and ultimately ejections. They are enamored by the idea that players sometimes have problems in their personal lives, just like the rest of us. Watching our favorite players consistently leads us to form fan-based attachments, not just to the player and his skills, but to his public persona. The NBA should embrace this as a marketing strategy. Just as World Wrestling

Symposium continued from page 1 Perverted Passions from the Golden Age of the Paperback.” She told the audience that a symposium like the one this weekend would have been “unfathomable” 10 or 12 years

hours. “When I thought I couldn’t throw up anymore, I did,” he said. “Then I slept the whole next day and still felt totally drained of energy. “It was horrible,” Berman added. “I hope more people don’t get it.” Herald staff writer Carla Blumenkranz ’05 can be reached at cblumenkranz@browndailyherald.com.

Entertainment has shifted its focus from athletics toward character development and plot manipulation, the NBA has the potential to make the league much more entertaining. Some will argue that professional wrestling is a disgrace and employing a similar focus shift in the NBA would damage the essence of the game. To these critics I say that sports are only a form of entertainment. Without the full support of fans, sports would have no place in our society. Therefore, is it not the responsibility of the NBA to cater to the desires of as many fans as it can? A part of me even wants to see Rasheed Wallace beat the life out of a referee because he did not make a favorable call, and I bet I am not alone here. The more rational side of me says that what I have just written is ridiculous. In the words of George Costanza, “We are trying to have a society here.” The NBA cannot allow players to go wild. Certain rules and punishments must be outlined if the NBA is going to remain a respectable institution. It would be foolish to regress to the point where entertainment supercedes the need to maintain a dignified culture (Tom Green and “Jackass” being the obvious exceptions). The NBA is walking a fine line. I think it is safe to say that no one wants players going after referees and coaches with guns and knives. However, everyone loves a good shoving fight. I am not sure what stance the NBA should take on player recklessness. One thing is clear, though. A more definite policy needs to be established and enforced. Adam Stern ’06 hails from Roslyn, N.Y. and hopes that Shawn Michaels will try out for the Knicks.

ago. The closing ceremony also included a dialogue about the use and applicability of gender and queer theory in the lives of both academics and the general public. Herald staff writer Zoe Ripple ’05 can be reached at zripple@browndailyherald.com.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

EDITORIAL/LETTERS MONDAY, FEBRYARY 3, 2003 · PAGE 6 S T A F F

E D I T O R I A L

Wash your hands Not content to stay aboard cruise ships, the Norwalk virus has been raging throughout New England since December. The Providence Journal published information about the virus’ recent spread through Rhode Island as early as Jan. 9. But most Brown students have remained largely oblivious to the outbreak … until they started vomiting for 48 hours straight. There is no treatment for the virus itself, only for its unpleasant symptoms. Yet it is still important for students to know and understand the causes and the effects of contraction. With a quick e-mail to the entire student body, the University could assure students of the non-life threatening and relatively fleeting nature of the virus. In a few cases, stricken students require an overnight stay at Health Services or even an IV to replace lost fluids— information the community needs to know before they try to tackle nausea and diarrhea in the privacy of their dorm bathroom — or worse, soldier on to class, infecting other students. Other college campuses, including Dartmouth and Harvard, have released precautionary announcements to their student bodies. Brown has released virtually no news of the virus or how to prevent it. (Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.) One of the most uncomfortable situations for a college student is to be sick away from home. When the illness is both serious and not easy to self-diagnose without prior warning, the circumstances can quickly degenerate from unpleasant to scary. Dr. Edward Wheeler, director of Health Services, confirmed to The Herald that a Norwalk virus outbreak even worse than its current manifestation occurred late last semester, yet the Brown community was not informed. It may be a bit embarrassing that as college students, we have to be reminded about basic hygiene. Yet if there’s a highly contagious virus going around that gets transmitted via the ominously named “fecal-oral pathway,” students deserve to hear something from Health Services — even something as simple as, “Wash your hands.”

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD EDITORIAL Elena Lesley, Editor-in-Chief Brian Baskin, Executive Editor Zachary Frechette, Executive Editor Kerry Miller, Executive Editor Kavita Mishra, Senior Editor Stephanie Harris, Academic Watch Editor Carla Blumenkranz, Arts & Culture Editor Rachel Aviv, Asst. Arts & Culture Editor Julia Zuckerman, Campus Watch Editor Juliette Wallack, Metro Editor Adam Stella, Asst. Metro Editor Jonathan Skolnick, Opinions Editor Joshua Skolnick, Opinions Editor PRODUCTION

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RYAN LEVESQUE

LETTERS Herald unfairly critiques Mideast Studies cancellations

and HI 197, Sec. 80: “Topics in Modern Middle Eastern History: Dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, 1840-1923.” There have been, as there always are, some changes and cancellations, but where is the evidence for “the last minute cancellation of most Middle Eastern studies slated for this semester?”

To the Editor: Coal to the The Herald editors for giving a coal to “the last minute cancellation of most Middle Eastern studies slated for this semester.” (“Diamonds and Coal,” Jan. 31) What are the editors talking about? As our office reported to the Herald reporter who called to find out why “most Middle Eastern studies courses were cancelled at the last minute,” we know of only one that was cancelled: EC 160: “Economics of the Middle East,” was cancelled because the faculty member slated to teach it is on leave of absence and there is no one else available with the necessary expertise to teach it. When Elliott Colla, who normally teaches courses in Arabic literature in the Department of Comparative Literature, went on leave for the current year, a visiting associate professor (Marilyn Booth) was hired to replace him. In the fall she offered CO 71, Sec. 11: “Histories, Feminisms, Fictions: Self-Inscriptions of Women in the Middle East” and CO 142, Sec. 7: “Post-colonialities, Contemporary Fiction, and Literary Identities in Muslim Communities.” This spring she is offering CO 171, Sec. 2: “Introduction to Literary Translation: Translation as Art” and CO 181, Sec. 16: “Manning the Barriers: Representations of Masculinity in modern Arabic Fiction, Poetry, and Film.” Thus Comparative Literature is offering the same number of Middle Eastern studies courses (three) this year as it has in the recent past. In addition to that, Professor Zaman in Religious Studies is offering RS 88: “Muhammad and the Qur’an” and RS 186, Sec. 20: “Medieval Islamic Political Thought,” and Professor Akarli in History is offering HI 146: “History of the Modern Middle East since 1918”

William Crossgrove Associate Dean of the Faculty Jan. 31

Defining racism proves difficult To the Editor: Nicholas Noon and Xander Boutelle offer us conflicting definitions of racism, (“Whites cannot relate to minority experiences,” Jan. 30, “One-sided discussion solves nothing,” Jan. 31) and I fear this may incite a heated but hollow debate over the one “true” meaning of the word. Thus, although both of their definitions have some merit, I’d like to suggest that The Herald’s readers take them with a grain of salt. Race invokes such a tangled web of complications that arguing about whether, say, certain actions towards whites are “really” reverse racism or “really” another instance of “normal” racism, is probably missing the forest for a few trees. The important questions here are how and why race affects people, and how we might change this. I submit that a “precise” definition of the term “racism” will do very little to elucidate these complex matters.

Chris Harris ’04 Jan. 30

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

OPINIONS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2003 · PAGE 7

Next steps for opponents of war Preparing for a potential, open-ended U.S. occupation RECENTLY I HEARD A PROMINENT Iraqi engaged. Finally, this administration pays dissident speak to a room full of Middle closest attention to the opinions of its core East experts in Washington. One hundred constituencies: ideological conservatives, percent of his audience opposed U.S. mili- unreconstructed Cold Warriors and the tary intervention in Iraq. In contrast, the religious right. With traditional GOP backspeaker himself was ambivalent toward ers in big business bought off by regressive U.S.-engineered “regime change” in his tax codes and new anti-labor legislation, country. While the speaker was anxious Bush is free to pander to the prejudices of about the prospective dangers of war, he his base against affirmative action, reprowas unenthusiastic about his audience’s ductive rights and secularism. And these active opposition to George W. Bush’s constituencies will probably remain on board even if an adventure in Iraq turns aggressive Iraq policy. bloody. Rather than protest Say we can’t stop the war. against the war, he said, it is PROFESSOR What then? No one, including better to plan for its afterELLIOTT COLLA the knowledgeable Iraqi who math. Rather than decry GUEST COLUMN spoke to us in Washington, Bush’s mercenary war aims, believes that Saddam Hussein he suggested, one should hold the White House to its noble-sound- will opt for peaceable exile. But since the ing slogans: democracy, human rights and last Gulf War, Hussein’s grip on Iraq has justice for the victims of the murderous weakened. Some observers believe that, once U.S. bombs start falling, a handful of Ba’athist regime. For those of us who believe Bush’s war officers may deal death blows to the on Iraq must be stopped, it seems prema- regime’s inner circle and install themture, even improper, to speak about the selves in their place. But such a junta may prospective conflict in anything but the likely prove unable to control all of Iraq, subjunctive mood. But will this adminis- especially the Shiite and Kurdish regions. tration heed the chants of anti-war protest- The coup leaders might have to ask for ers? Recent polls show lukewarm support outside aid to quell ethnic or sectarian for war, which widens if Bush can secure violence in the potential flashpoint cities U.N. approval. Moreover, public opposi- of Kirkuk, Mosul and Baghdad. Only one power, the United States, is tion has still not reached the level Bush’s father faced before the last U.S.-Iraqi con- poised to offer such support. The U.S. milfrontation. This Bush, like his father, is itary already has elaborate contingency gambling on the historical probability that plans for putting down such clashes and support will rise once the enemy is restoring order. Similar contingency plans are in effect in the event that no coup occurs, and U.S. troops will go on to defeat Hussein’s loyalists in a bloody last stand in Prof. Colla teaches Arabic literature in the Baghdad. In other words, whether Iraq’s Department of Comparative Literature, regime is changed by war or coup, the and is a member of the editorial commithawks have drawn plans to occupy the tee of Middle East Report.

country long after the shooting stops. Yet this is the least discussed aspect of the war plan. Rumsfeld and Cheney draw rosy comparisons to the U.S. occupations of Germany and Japan following World War II, where GIs (and their chocolate) were embraced by populations starved and beaten down by fascism. Under American tutelage, say the hawks, democracy and prosperity will flourish in Iraq. Thomas Friedman and other liberals have spun out the fantasy even further: A democratic Iraq will serve as a beacon challenging the tyranny of regional theocrats, opening up markets, healing the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. This is magical thinking. It is certainly possible that, initially, U.S. troops will be cheered by Iraqis who have suffered under three decades of Hussein’s rule. But those cheering Iraqis will not have forgotten important and disturbing facts: The United States armed Hussein and encouraged him to launch a disastrous war against Iran; the United States gave Hussein diplomatic protection while he was gassing Kurds and torturing political opponents; during the Gulf War, the United States encouraged the Shiites of the south to rise up against Hussein, and then stood by as Hussein’s troops decimated them; the United States has bombed Iraq routinely throughout the last decade, killing hundreds in the process; and finally, perhaps worst of all, the U.S.-maintained sanctions on the country have killed hundreds of thousands of civilians. With this history, it would be naïve to expect Iraqis — even those who dream of a post-Hussein era — to greet us with open arms. Why would Iraqis welcome a long-term military occu-

pation of their country any more than the Japanese, Koreans, Filipinos or Afghans have? What about Bush’s promises of democracy, prosperity and human rights? The White House has yet to reveal a plan to empower Iraqis to take democratic control over their affairs. We have to assume that under a military occupation, Iraqis will not represent themselves or control their own resources. The administration already talks of using Iraqi oil revenues to offset the billions it will spend on the war. Perhaps most sadly, there is no plan to try Hussein’s band of murderers and torturers for their heinous crimes. Rumsfeld — the man who personally welcomed Hussein into Washington’s good graces in 1984 — has already announced that he’s willing to grant immunity to the Iraqi leader and his cadre. Could he be afraid of what evidence might turn up during a war crimes trial? We would be to think that a U.S. occupation of Iraq will differ dramatically from the history of U.S. intervention in the Middle East: local strongmen, increased militarization, lack of civil and human rights, a neglect of international law when it does not suit our interests. Back to the present indicative: The war has not taken place, nor is the United States currently occupying Iraq. But it would be a mistake for those of us who oppose the war to leave the contingency planning to the hawks. We should begin rallying now to oppose any U.S. occupation which favors U.S. interests at the Iraqis’ expense, creates more antiAmerican sentiment in the world and quite possibly more attacks on U.S. civilians.

The dangerous effects of American arrogance Ignoring our allies’ concerns fosters anti-Americanism and hinders the war on terror IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE EVENTS OF excuse for our enemies to hate our country Sept. 11, 2001, there was an outpouring of is now turning even our allies against us. A few months after the attacks on our support for the United States. The French newspaper Le Monde expressed the country, I was studying abroad in Paris. As world’s sympathy in its headline declaring, the only American in several of my classes, I was often called upon to “We are all Americans.” Only a give the American perspecday after the attacks, NATO took tive on current events and an unprecedented step by invokissues. The topic would ing a provision in its charter that inevitably turn to American said if any member state were foreign policy. Their voices attacked, each of the others rising and their language would take, “individually and becoming faster, my with the other parties, such French classmates critiaction as it deems necessary, cized the U.S. war in including the use of armed Afghanistan, calling force.” So, here we are a little over CAMILLE GERWIN President Bush “un idiot.” a year later, having gone from BEYOND THE One of my European such international expressions of BUBBLE friends shed some light on solidarity with the United States the international resentto resistance from our allies and ment towards Americans. outright anti-American sentiments that pervade the international She said that after Sept. 11, the world scene today. How did such a dramatic shift extended its sympathy and support to the United States. Bush’s response was not occur so quickly? gratitude or appreciation but an ultimaTwo words: American arrogance. Initially, after Sept. 11, some people tum: “You’re either with us or against us.” claimed the United States had it coming. We’re the greatest military power; who Accusing us of having a selfish foreign pol- needs the rest of the world? That was icy concerned only with American inter- Bush’s attitude. My friend explained how ests rather than the rest of the world, some her country felt that the president ignored said we deserved what happened. I, per- the international scope of the attacks, sonally, don’t think any country deserves framing them solely as a problem facing to have thousands of civilians murdered the United States. He didn’t acknowledge by terrorists, but that is beside the point. that other countries now also felt vulneraThe American arrogance that serves as an ble and scared. Who cares about the overly sensitive Europeans, you might say. We were the ones attacked. Well, look what ignoring Camille Gerwin ‘03 is an international their concerns and acting like a bully has relations concentrator.

gotten us — no international support and growing anti-American rhetoric. What Bush needs are some public relations skills. Put simply, we may be a superpower, but we don’t have to rub it in the face of the rest of the world. That’s not to say the United States should not stand up for what it believes or should never assert its power. What it means is that with the spread of technology and globalization, the distances and differences among countries are fading. We are moving towards a true international community. In such a situation, every country wants to feel like its opinion matters, that it contributes to the community, that it is needed. Ignoring the objections of our allies will only estrange them further, but coming together to confront issues and taking into consideration the concerns of others would make all participants feel included, and the image of the United States would possibly change from that of the bully of the international “playground” to one of protector. This idea is nothing new. At the end of World War II, the United States emerged as a new superpower. But instead of lifting its middle finger and saying “screw you” to the world, we helped in creating new international organizations, such as the United Nations, thereby giving the international community confidence and trust in its new leadership. But Bush has done nothing to gain the trust or confidence of our allies. He rejected the help of NATO in Afghanistan, he backed out of the Kyoto Accords, he rejected U.S. membership in the International

Criminal Court. These decisions were not necessarily wrong, but Bush did nothing to repair the damaged international relationships afterwards. Instead, the Bush administration continues to rub the world’s face in supposed U.S. superiority, resorting last week to downright insults. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called France and Germany the “old Europe,” belittling their importance in the international arena. Rub rub. Though it has become quite obvious over the past few months that the United States is prepared to face Iraq alone, on Monday, we suddenly felt the need to publicly declare our right to initiate military action and to do so alone. Rub rub. When elected, President Bush announced his plan for a “humble” U.S. foreign policy. Reality has played out much differently, as the United States has shown no qualms about taking unilateral action in Afghanistan and now in Iraq. Perhaps the events of Sept. 11 necessitated a more active foreign policy than it previously envisioned, but the Bush administration has taken this more active role to the opposite extreme of its original “humble” plan. This tough guy image makes the United States a bully in the eyes of the rest of the world, as we prepare to strike Iraq unilaterally and preemptively. Whether the war on Iraq is justified is up for debate. What is clear is that the Bush administration’s methods and arrogance are alienating its friends — friends who will no doubt be needed in the future.

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

SPORTS MONDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2003 · PAGE 8

NBA needs to be more like WWE AS A FAN OF PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL, I find myself unsure about one controversial issue: How should the NBA react to player recklessness? The past several years have given rise to a continuous flow of outlandish player behavior. In 1997, Latrell Sprewell, then a Golden State Warrior, served a 68 game suspension for choking his coach, P.J. Carlesimo. League phenom Allen Iverson has been in constant trouble ADAM STERN STERN ADAM with the law for a variety of violent acts. Half of Portland’s players have failed to realize that they are not required to smoke marijuana to play for the Blazers. Chris Webber may soon face jail time for lying to a grand jury several years ago. Rasheed Wallace has been accused of verbally threatening a referee with physical assault after a controversial call. Most recently, the sports world has been both entertained and disturbed by Ron Artest’s hot-headed antics, featuring the destruction of a $100,000 high-definition camera, a shoving match with Miami Head Coach Pat Riley and flipping off of an entire arena. How has the NBA responded to these inappropriate player actions? It seems that the league chooses how to respond on a case-by-case basis. Most of Artest and Wallace’s recent tomfoolery has been harshly punished, while Allen Iverson and Chris Webber have seen virtually no league chastisement. One could argue that what happens on the court and what occurs in a player’s private life are two distinct categories of behavior, and the NBA should only feel obliged to respond to the former. On the other hand, millions of kids look up to players as role models, so the NBA has a see STERN, page 5

SCOREBOARD Men’s basketball BROWN 70, Cornell 54 BROWN 72, Columbia 59

Men’s indoor track Cornell 102, BROWN 34, Harvard 34

Women’s basketball BROWN 73, Cornell 63 BROWN 71, Columbia 66

Women’s indoor track Cornell 81, Harvard 52, BROWN 26

Wrestling East Stroudsburg 15, BROWN 15 Hofstra 26, BROWN 16

Women’s swimming and diving BROWN 210, Cornell 88 Columbia 173, BROWN 126

Men’s ice hockey Harvard 3, BROWN 1

Gymnastics BROWN 187.50, Pennsylvania 185.775, Bridgeport 184.075, Brockport 177.65

Men’s tennis BROWN 7, Denver 0

THE HUNT IS ON

1,835

With a total of 35 points against Cornell and Columbia this weekend, Earl Hunt ’03 moved into sixth place on the Ivy League’s all-time points scored list with 1,835 points. Hunt needs 46 points to move past Joe Carrabino (Harvard, 1981-85) for fifth place.

Men’s hoops sweeps New York road trip to move into first place in Ivy League BY ADAM STERN

The men’s basketball team continued its dominance in the Ivy League last weekend, beating both Cornell and Columbia. The victories bring the team’s in-league record to 4-0 and the overall record to 9-9. The Bears are currently riding a six-game winning streak, which extends back to Jan. 8. Though the day finished well for the Bears, the first half of the Cornell game was very much up in the air. Both teams shot poorly in the first half, leading to a combined six of 28 shooting from behind the arc. Yet after halftime, the Bears were able to come back strong with a 19-6 scoring burst that sealed the game. Earl Hunt ’03 led the team to the 70-54 victory with 18 points. Mike Martin ’04 also made major contributions, adding 10 points, six rebounds and five steals. All five of Brown’s starters finished in double figures. In four trips, Head Coach Glen Miller has never lost at Cornell. He was relieved that Brown came away with the victory. “Cornell is a very dangerous young team (that) has played well over its last nine games,” said Miller. “We struggled in the first half, but our experience took over in the second half.” Brown’s latest win came on Saturday against Columbia. The 72-59 victory sets Brown off to its best league start since the 1981-82 season when they also began by winning four straight in the Ivy League. Though the team was sluggish to start the game, Jason Forte ’05, who scored nine points in the half, was able to give Brown the lead for good with 4:23 left in the first half. Bruno was able to break the game wide open early in the second half by going on a 15-2 run. Hunt scored 13 points during this span, a large portion of his total of 17. Already Brown’s all-time scoring leader, Hunt was able to become the sixth alltime Ivy League scorer during this game, moving past the University of Pennsylvania’s Ernie Beck who played from 1950-1953. Alai Nuualiitia ’03 led the Bears in scor-

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Earl Hunt ’03 (above) will lead the men’s basketball team into action Friday vs.Harvard. ing with 20 points, while Forte contributed 15 points, five assists and five steals. After Brown, only the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton remain undefeated in the Ivy League. Bruno currently holds first place by itself because these schools have only played two conference games each. A spot in the NCAA tournament is reserved for the winner of the Ivy League. With Brown playing stellar basketball and having all of its players relatively

healthy, many Brunonians are looking forward to the exciting months ahead. Brown will return home for its next game against Harvard at the Pizzitola Sports Center on Feb. 7. Harvard is currently 2-2 in the Ivy League and 10-7 overall. Sports staff writer Adam Stern ’06 covers the men’s basketball team. He can be reached at astern@browndailyherald.com.

Home cooking:Women’s basketball wins two, remains undefeated in league BY SHARA HEGDE

The women’s basketball team continued its strong play in the Ivy League this weekend, defeating both Cornell and Columbia to move into a first place-tie with Harvard. The Bears got off to a shaky start against Cornell, as the teams battled back and forth throughout the first half. After a strong run by Brown, Cornell battled back to go into the locker room only down by eight. The Bears received strong first-half play from Nyema Mitchell ’04 and Tanara Golston ’04, who scored eight points each in the first half. Cornell cut the Brown lead to 44-38 in the early stages of the second half, but Brown went on a 17-3 run to push the lead to 20. Cornell responded with a 172 second-half run to bring the game within five, but the Bears hung on to preserve a 73-63 victory. Mitchell led all scorers with 22 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. This marks her fourth double-double of the season. Golston and Colleen Kelly ’06 finished with 18 points each in the win-

ning effort. The next evening the Bears, looking for their seventh straight win, faced a tough Columbia team. This was another game of runs, as the Bears came out strong to go up on the Lions 26-11. Columbia responded with a 21-10 run to end the half only down by four. The second half saw many lead changes, but Brown eventually took the lead for good with strong play in the final minutes by Sarah Hayes ’06 and Jackie Vocell ’06. Columbia could only muster four points in the final minutes as the Bears played strong defense to pull off a 71-66 win. Vocell credited the team’s chemistry as the driving force behind the two victories. “We’re a very close knit team,” Vocell said. “When we are in games like this where we aren’t playing as well as we should be, we work hard to pull together and focus on what we can do better.” Holly Robertson ’05 played a strong game for the Bears, scoring 18 points and pulling down four rebounds. Hayes,

chipped in as well, scoring 16 points and pulling down eight boards. Brown also received strong games from Golston and Mitchell. Golston scored 12 points, dished out four assists and had three steals. Meanwhile Mitchell scored 11 points, grabbed seven boards and blocked four shots before having to leave the game with a knee injury. Her status for the next game is uncertain. “When Nyema got hurt, we knew that we would have to step it up and play better, especially on defense,” Vocell said. The Bears’ next game is against undefeated Harvard with the winner claiming sole possession of first place in the league. “Against Harvard, it’s really about us being prepared and executing our game plan,” Vocell said. “If we do that, we’ll have a good chance of coming out on top.” Sports staff writer Shara Hegde ’05 covers the women’s basketball team. She can be reached at shegde@browndailyherald.com.