W E D N E S D A Y SEPTEMBER 10, 2003
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXXXVIII, No. 68
An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891
www.browndailyherald.com
WBRU wins altrock radio wars in Providence BY JONATHAN HERMAN
WBRU has won its three-year alt-rock radio ratings war with Boston-based competitor 103.5 FNX, topping the new entrant in the latest round of Arbitron ratings. After an initial drop when FNX entered the Providence market in 2000, WBRU has recovered its key demographic of males aged 18 to 34. “Anytime a new radio station that is targeting the same demographic enters the market, you’re going to lose some listeners,” said WBRU General Manager Cate Brandon ’04. “People have checked them out and decided BRU is better. And we have gotten these listeners back.” From the spring of 2000 to 2002, WBRU’s ratings decreased from a 9.7 share to 6.6. FNX’s share increased from 4.0 to 6.2 during the same period. Since then the fortunes of the two stations have reversed. WBRU is currently ranked fourth in the ProvidenceWarwick-Pawtucket market among listeners aged 18 to 34 with a rating of 8.1. FNX is eighth with a rating of 3.1. A share, or quarter share hour, is a rating that accounts for number of listeners and the amount of time they listen. After the top four stations in a market, advertising revenue plummets, Brandon said. WBRU’s Sunday programming has remained its most popular. On Sundays, when WBRU switches formats to the “360 Degree Black Experience in Sound,” the station is rated number one in the market. A quarter of all Providence radio listeners on Sundays are tuned to WBRU. WBRU is an independent commercial radio station operated by Brown students. The station functions as an educational workshop for Brown students interested in all aspects of the operation of a radio station. “To be honest, we always thought it was amusing that here we are college students going to class and running a radio station and here are these professionals who tried to compete with us, ” said Station Manager Kate London ’04. “Although we need the ratings to compete, we are not all about ratings.” FNX isn’t the first station to take on WBRU and lose. The Edge, an alternative radio station, began broadcasting in Providence in 1997, in direct competition with WBRU. The station set its sights on overcoming see WBRU, page 5
Sara Perkins / Herald
GREENERY ON THE GREEN: Students perused plants for sale outside Faunce this week.
Sophomore slump more than just a cliché, according to U. officials BY ZOE RIPPLE
“Sophomore slump” isn’t just an empty cliché. The slump is an observable phenomenon, University officials say. Although uncomfortable with the term “slump,” John Sauve, assistant director of psychological services, said sophomore year “is felt as a more difficult time” than freshman year. Sophomores are “more often struggling with motivation, and trying to figure out concentrations,” he said. Sophomores often link their concentration with a sense of identity, Sauve said, and “if a concentration will define who they are, we help them with that.” Often it’s helpful for students to think about “who you are besides your concentration,” he said.
ACADEMIC WATCH
Red wine could prolong life, Brown professor says BY CHARU GUPTA
It’s a long-standing paradox: How can the French eat a diet rich in saturated fat, smoke and drink heavily, yet still live as long as anyone else? A Brown researcher may have found the answer. Marc Tatar, associate professor of biology, recently completed a study suggesting a chemical in red wine helps prolong life. Tatar’s study tested the impact of the chemical resveratrol — found in red wine — on the lifespan of fruit flies. His results, which will be published pending follow-up experiments, indicate resveratrol may slow the aging of the heart, and help to prevent diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. Resveratrol also may delay the signs of physical aging, he said. Negative side effects of consuming resveratrol
have yet to be found. Tatar suggested this may be because resveratrol is a very unstable compound that oxidizes very quickly and thus loses its activity. For example, a bottle of wine left uncorked for several days would not have the same effect on the body as a freshly consumed glass, he said. For this reason, “scientists will need more stable derivatives of the compound for drug phase testing,” Tatar said. Studies testing the impact of resveratrol on the life span of fungus yeast have already begun — but testing on humans is still a long way off, he said. And in the meantime, Tatar cautioned he wouldn’t necessarily recommend red wine to control the symptoms of aging. The best solution, he said, is still exercise and a healthy diet. “Drink red wine if you enjoy it,” he said.
Concentration choice is tied up in other academic questions and uncertainties, Sauve said, because many sophomores are wondering, “where do these classes fit in with the rest of my life?” Some students also come to Sauve because they feel they should be more motivated academically. Carol Cohen, associate dean of the college and dean of sophomore studies, said the slump sometimes lasts for the whole sophomore year. One characteristic of the phenomenon is asking, “Why am I here?” Cohen said. Sophomore year is “a collision between the end of a noncommittal freshman year … where there is no pressure to make choices” and a time when students’ choices about classes can “lead to a concentration, a career and identifying who you are as a person with what your education will be,” Cohen said. Until sophomore year of college, there is often little agency associated with education, Cohen said. Sophomores often feel scared and overwhelmed as they take responsibility for their educations, Cohen said. Sophomore year is a time when “the rush of college is replaced with the seriousness of what college is all about,” she said. Office hours have been well-attended in the past week, Cohen said. Many students have come to her saying, “I have no idea why I am here,” Cohen said. Pressures from parents and family can deepen the slump. In order to help students discover a direction for themselves at Brown, Cohen asks them about their academic likes and dislikes. Sometimes students discuss taking time off with Cohen. “Advisors help you figure out what’s inside you,” Cohen said. Some students, however, have trouble connecting with their advisors. Julia Rappaport ’06 said she had not made connecsee SLUMP, page 4
I N S I D E W E D N E S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 0 , 2 0 0 3 Yale workers get support of over 100 faculty after two weeks of union strikes campus watch,page 3
Taking the place of landlines, cell phones arrive at tech-savvy Morrisville State campus watch,page 3
Unlike their media rep., Israelis lead normal lives, says Joshua Schulman-Marcus ’04 column, page 7
TO D AY ’ S F O R E C A S T W. baller gets international experience as member of Canadian Junior National team sports, page 8
Badass Andy Roddick is America’s next best tennis player, says Chris Hatfield ’06 sports column, page 8
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