F R I D A Y FEBRUARY 7, 2003
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXXXVIII, No. 13
An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891
Providence City Council passes antiwar resolution
U. master plan suggests better use of space BY MONIQUE MENESES
The first stage of Brown’s master plan for physical expansion is not all about growth, according to Frances Halsband, the plan’s main architect. During the past six months, R.M. Kliment & Frances Halsband Architects gathered information through surveys and focused on maps and building plans to assess and locate possibilities for expansion. “She’s just now beginning to pull all the answers together and present some ideas back to us,” said Richard Spies, executive vice president for planning. Halsband said the six months she spent gathering information helped her draft appropriate suggestions for Brown’s master plan, which will be included in a presentation to the corporation in two weeks. Her findings include space constraints in the historic district, the possibility of renovating old Brown-owned houses for residential use and looking into new places, such as the Jewelry District, for expansion. “It’s becoming clear,” Halsband said, “that there are many kinds of buildings in many locations that are not appropriate for expansion.” She said the plan was about understanding how to do things better, which did not necessarily mean bigger. “There are some places,” Halsband said, “where Brown should pull back.” The second phase of the process involves hearing what Halsband has found during her research, Spies said. Halsband’s presentation aims to explain findings from her research to the corporation and to build a consensus upon these findings. Halsband said, “In that case, in late spring we’ll be making real proposals for different kinds of expansions and contractions.” Brown’s movement toward expansion and renovation has instigated debate between the corporation and neighboring residents over the construction of a Life Sciences Building near the Bio-Medical Center. Last Friday, members of the College Hill Neighborhood Association sent out a three-page letter asking Brown’s trustees and fellows to reconsider the building’s proposed location. “We’re frankly scared of this building. It is an industrial building that belongs in an industrial environment,” said Dr. Ronald Dwight ’66, a member of the CHNA. Dwight mentioned the possibility of a win-win situation between residents and the administration. “We see many positive things that can come from a different site,” he said, “What we don’t understand is why a building that has so much potential should be located in a place where it is not possible for expansion.” Spies said the corporation has responded to resident concerns with a number of design changes. The building has been scaled down from what had been originally proposed and includes five, instead of six, stories. The construction of the Life
BY ADAM STELLA
Jason White / Herald
Students — pledges and otherwise — enjoyed rush activities this week, including this concert at Phi Psi on Thursday night.
Rush week kicks off with fun, food and parties BY LISA MANDLE
A proliferation of invitations to eat sushi, decorate cookies and watch comedians marked the beginning of rush period for Brown’s fraternities, sororities and co-ed societies this week. Rush officially began last weekend with the annual Mardi Gras party. It continues through Feb. 18 when the organizations extend bids to students as an invitation to join. Individuals receiving bids have until Feb. 25 to return the bid, indicating their interest. The events so far succeeded in drawing large numbers of interested students, said Penelope Billington ’03, chair of Greek Council and a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. Interest in Greek life has “been on the upswing, up 50 percent for some houses over the past two years,” she said. Glenn Riddlespurger ’04, president of Phi Kappa Psi, found this year’s freshman class “more Greek-oriented” than in the past. He attributed the change to an improving reputation of Greek organizations and more original ideas for attracting interest. Despite the general trend, not all houses can sit back and expect to draw record-breaking pledge numbers. “One of our big problems is the bad stereotypes fraternities have from movies, which we have to work hard to overcome,” said Eliot Horowitz ’03, president of the co-ed Zeta Delta Xi.
Last year, Theta Delta Chi, which traditionally attracts football players, reached out to a more diverse group of students and received the highest number of bids in recent history, said President Brent Grinna ’04. The fraternity hopes to continue to diversify this year, he said. Although incidences of hazing may popularly be associated with rushing, hazing is prohibited at Brown. “The University is very clear on its anti-hazing policy, which pledges must sign,” Billington said. Alcohol is also prohibited from all formal rush events, she said. The National Pan-Hellenic Council subjects sorority rushes to additional rules, she said. Students on both sides of the rushing process were quick to emphasize its “fun” aspects. The goal of rush is to create a “fun social atmosphere to draw in guys,” get to know them and allow them to get to know the fraternity, Riddlespurger said. “Rush has been a lot of fun so far,” said James Morone ’06. “The frats have been great places to hang out all year and now they have events designed to show you a good time,” he said. “At the back of your mind, you’re thinking, ‘Is this a place I want to live and guys I want to live with?’” The process of rushing and bidding is see RUSH, page 4
see MASTER PLAN, page 6
I N S I D E F R I D AY, F E B RUA RY 7 , 2 0 0 3 PW’s short “Crave” is disorienting but powerful, combines insightful dialogue page 3
Rites and Reason’s “Crossroads” combine music and expression, inspires audience page 3
www.browndailyherald.com
Wriston Quad basement rooms get asbestos clean-up over winter break page 5
The Providence City Council overwhelmingly passed a resolution opposing a U.S. invasion of Iraq Thursday night before a raucous crowd of antiwar protesters in the City Council Chamber. The crowd, which filled the chamber and its balcony, included about 75 Brown students expressing disapproval of U.S. policy. First Ward Councilman David Segal and 2nd Ward Councilwoman Rita Williams, who represent the Brown community, cosponsored the bill with five other council members. The Council passed the bill 10-1 with four abstentions. Sixth Ward Councilman Joseph DeLuca opened the discussion of the resolution by declaring his intention to vote in favor of the resolution, despite his personal reservations about the bill. “My vote reflects the view of my community, not my own,” DeLuca said. The crowd greeted his comment with a spirited ovation. DeLuca’s support gave the resolution’s supporters the necessary majority vote. Williams urged the Council to make Rhode Island’s Congressional representatives aware of the city residents’ antiwar stance. “We need to convey the sentiments of the grassroots,” Williams said. “This action is one small gesture, but its meaning is great,” Segal told the Council. Seventh Ward Councilman John Igliozzi spoke forcefully against the resolution, calling the bill “premature” and introducsee CITY COUNCIL, page 4
U. will announce cause of death The cause of death for Sarah Lamendola ’04 will be released to the Brown community today, one day after her family received the medical examiner’s report, said University Chaplain Janet Cooper Nelson. Cooper Nelson said the University will also inform students of the dates of the Weston, Conn., funeral and a campus memorial service as soon as they are determined. The Lamendola family will welcome all students, faculty and staff to the funeral in Connecticut, and plans to return to Brown for the memorial service, she added. Cooper Nelson said she does not expect to schedule the campus service before the end of next week and that she would prefer to see a one-week lapse between the two services. If the family decides today to hold the funeral over the weekend, the Brown community will most likely be notified by a campus-wide e-mail, Cooper Nelson said. Lamendola died unexpectedly Wednesday morning in her room in Graduate Center Tower A. —Carla Blumenkranz
TO D AY ’ S F O R E C A S T Brown grad Jacob Appel ’95.5 says assisted suicides have merit in some cases guest column, page 11
Gymnastics brings record to 7-4, beats Penn, Bridgeport and Brockport sports, page 12
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