T H U R S D A Y NOVEMBER 13, 2003
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXXXVIII, No. 113
An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891
Brown comp. coordinator moonlights as BMX biker
Job prospects look slightly rosier for ’04 BY ROBBIE COREY-BOULET
BY HANNAH BASCOM
By day, Brian Chapman is a computing coordinator for Brown’s Campus Compact project. But his real passion lies in flatland riding, a type of BMX biking. Chapman was recently featured in the documentary film “Flatlanders: An Underground Extreme Sport.” The film is slated for next year’s Rhode Island Film Festival. Flatland biking involves modifying a typical bike with pegs and other accessories that enable riders to do a variety of tricks, like the “double-footed rolling stuff” or the “long-hang five strings.” Series of these maneuvers are known as links, and Chapman compared them to ice skating routines or skateboarding. “Nowadays when people think of flatlanders they think of people hopping around on their bikes or something,” Chapman said. “That’s very ’85.” Chapman said flatland tricks and combinations are unique to each rider. Just as style is individual to the rider, the bike modifications they use also vary. “Everyone has their own nuances,” Chapman said. “It’s really fun to watch people. Some people always look like they’re about to fall, but land every trick. I try to be as smooth as possible.” Chapman first became interested in the sport in the early 1980s. “Back in ’83, ’84, it was a neighborhood thing — everyone had a bike. At local tracks I saw people do flatland and I quit (bike) racing two weeks later and tried to transform my bike,” Chapman said. Although flatland’s time in the mainstream may have come and gone in the 1980s, Chapman said he and his brother Kieran have been riding together for the past 20 years. The sport has become a common bond for the pair, he said. see FLATLAND, page 7
Photo courtesy of Kieran Chapman
Brown computing coordinator Brian Chapman performs a big front wheel switch.
Nick Neely / Herald
Students who smoke and those concerned about smoking feel there is a general indifference to the smoking ban implemented two years ago.
Students still smoking inside, despite U. ban
RISD president Roger Mandle holds town hall meeting to discuss school issues RISD news, page 3
As seniors prepare for life beyond College Hill, some question whether they will have opportunities to land the jobs they want. Others remain optimistic in light of the recent economic upturn. But a struggling economy and heightened unemployment have limited job prospects. It has been a “very good year” for the fields of investment banking and consulting, two areas that have performed poorly in the past few years, according to Associate Director of Career Services Barbara Peoples. However, these industries are far from operating at peak levels, said Peter Howitt, a professor of economics with expertise in macroeconomics and economic growth. “I think that they will never be as popular as they were throughout the 1990s,” Howitt said. But after several years of decline and stagnation, Career Services reports an increase in recruiting activity that is likely due to the 7.2 percent third-quarter economic growth rate, Peoples said. Bain and Co., a consulting firm centered in Boston, increased recruiting by 30 percent in 2003 and expects an even bigger increase in 2004, Public Relations Coordinator Sandra Canela wrote in an esee JOBS, page 4
BY JUSTIN ELLIOTT
The University’s ban on smoking was hotly debated when it was implemented two years ago — but today the campus is largely indifferent. According to Thomas Forsberg, assistant dean of Student Life, the 2001 ban on smoking in residential and dining facilities was “overwhelmingly supported by the residential community.” And although Residential Council receives a lot of housing complaints, ResCouncil Chair Jesse Goodman ’04 said smoking has never been an issue. But both students who smoke and those concerned about smoking noted an overall indifference to the ban — with only some compliance. “I think that people just smoke in their dorms,” while “a lot of people do smoke outside,” Goodman said. Nandita Goel ’07 said she knows people who smoke in their rooms, but she always smokes outside because “you have to respect other people’s privacy.” A smoker himself, Goodman said he sees a trend of more restrictions on smokers. “I think there’s a growing cultural expectation that you don’t smoke in public buildings, and dorm rooms are an extension of that,” he said. Forsberg explained that students who violate the ban receive warnings from ResLife. He said they are told, “If in case you missed it, this is the regulation, and you need to stop. “Our goal is compliance. If there is willful violation, then we have a different approach,” he said. Since the policy change, there have been no hearings related to smoking
in the dining facilities, and there have been very few related to the residence halls, said Assistant Dean of Student Life James Stascavage. Several smokers said Brown was actually welcoming to smokers. “I think it’s unusual how people are actually cool with it. It’s not looked down on,” Goel said. Frances Mantak, director of Health Education, said a 2001 study found 20 percent of Brown students had smoked a cigarette in the last 30 days. But most students today seem unconcerned with quitting, she said. A study which offers students free patches, up to $100, free pizza and guidance, has been on campus for the last two years, but response has not been good, Mantak said. “What I kind of use as a gauge is (that) the study had good incentives (but) we had really pretty low turnout,” she said. But Forsberg said, “We have a very healthy and health-conscious undergraduate population.” ResLife, which doesn’t hear many complaints about the ban, does hear about violations. More restrictions may be on the way for smokers in the state. A Rhode Island law already bans smoking in public places like museums, buses and schools, and a bill passed in the State Senate last summer extending the ban to restaurants and bars. But the bill must first pass through the House and Governor’s office to become law. Herald staff writer Justin Elliott ’07 can be reached at jelliott@browndailyherald.com.
UCS tables universal need-blind admission BY ELLEN WERNECKE
Amid heated debate, the Undergraduate Council of Students voted to table a resolution advocating for universal need-blind financial aid. The resolution would have called for need-blind aid to be expanded to international students, transfer students and resumed undergraduate education students. Disputes regarding the wording of the resolution, which representatives Sonia Gupta ’06 and Ilena Frangista ’06 presented on behalf of the Admission and Student Services Committee, grew into a potent discussion on the priorities of the University. “I think it’s clear that there is dissent on the council and that this is a very important proposal for the University,” said Alumni Liaison Justin Sanders ’04. “This is a very strong statement, and if we’re going to make it, I want it to be by a strong showing.” Academic and Administrative Affairs Committee Chair Charley Cummings ’06 moved to table the resolution, citing the need for a campus dialogue about the issue, especially with regards to its financial sources. The resolution calls upon the University to use the capital campaign to fund universal need-blind policies. Dean of the College Paul Armstrong told The Council at the meeting that the University’s commitment to need-blind admission was “a very high priority” in the campaign. Proponents of the measure said the ressee UCS, page 6
I N S I D E T H U R S D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 3 , 2 0 0 3 Memorial service held for Hardu Keck — RISD dean, artist and intellectual RISD news, page 3
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MTV dishing out best cultural products, like, ever, Jonathan Liu ’07 says column, page 11
TO D AY ’ S F O R E C A S T Hate crimes are thought crimes, Christopher McAuliffe ’05 says column, page 11
Men’s and women’s cross country teams prepare for NCAA regionals sports, page 12
few showers high 55 low 32