W E D N E S D A Y NOVEMBER 10, 2004
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Volume CXXXIX, No. 107
An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891
www.browndailyherald.com
Some transfer students asked to switch rooms, despite U.’s efforts BY STEVE MOILANEN
Some transfer students will be forced to move into vacant dorm rooms at the end of the semester, despite having the impression that they could stay in their temporary housing locations for the entire year. Originally, the University told 31 transfer students they would have to move, but after many students expressed dissatisfaction about the plan, administrators are working to minimize the number and impact of the moves. Because there was insufficient permanent housing for all the transfer students at the beginning of the year, the 31 transfer students were placed in temporary housing in converted lounges. According to Richard Bova, director of residential life, transfer students in temporary housing were given a letter when they came to campus that said that they would be asked to move at the end of the first semester. But Rebecca Neipris ’06 said she does not remember the letter suggesting that the housing was temporary. “Our letter said nothing about the short term,” she said. As a result, Neipris said, she was under the impression that she could remain in converted housing for the entire year. And at a meeting during orientation, Interim Dean for Campus Life Margaret Klawunn again gave students the impression that they could remain in temporary housing all year, students said. Klawunn said that at that meeting, she tried to explain the distinction between temporary housing and converted housing. She recalls that she said temporary housing would be used for just a short period of time and anyone in temporary housing would be obligated to move in
see TRANSFERS, page 7
Matt Lent / Herald
Richard Moss ’06 has a book signed by Randy Cohen, the New York Times Magazine’s ‘Ethicist,’ Tuesday night at Brown Hillel.
‘Ethicist’ emphasizes individuals’ and community’s responsibility to uphold morals BY STEPHANIE CLARK
New York Times “ethicist” Randy Cohen is not qualified for his job — or so he insisted to a large audience at Brown Hillel Tuesday night. Identifying himself as an “accidental ethicist,” Cohen said that in a democracy, ethics should be questions that every ordinary citizen can answer. Every member of a community has an obligation to make that community bet-
Police step up oncampus presence in response to crime wave Student unhurt in mugging on Williams Street Monday night BY LESLIE KAUFMANN
Redoubled efforts by the Department of Public Safety and Providence Police Department are bringing an increased police presence to campus, according to a campus-wide e-mail sent Tuesday night by Vice President of Campus Life and Student Services David Greene and Vice President for Administration Walter Hunter. Both the number of patrols and the level of support from plainclothes officers and detectives will be upped as a result of a meeting between DPS and
PPD leaders Tuesday. These efforts come after weeks of increased police presence in response to a rash of muggings and assaults on and near campus. In the most recent assault, a female Brown student was mugged on Williams Street at approximately 7:05 p.m. Monday night, according to an email sent by the Department of Public Safety. The victim was not injured and her attacker was not apprehended. The robber approached the victim near the intersection of Williams and Governor streets, carrying what appeared to be a long-barreled weapon tucked under his right arm.
see CRIME, page 3
ter, he said. Cohen is the author of a column in the New York Times Magazine titled “The Ethicist,” which features his responses to various ethical dilemmas sent to him by readers. He began as a writer on “Late Night with David Letterman” and has also written a book called “The Good, the Bad and the Difference,” which is based on his column. Cohen led a lecture and ques-
Religious values aren’t only for Republicans, according to Jacob Izenberg ’08 column, page 11
Fokion Burgess ’07 says the candidates didn’t talk about issues that affect those who need the most help column, page 11
see ETHICIST, page 4
University considers additional locations for Class F parties BY JANE PORTER
In response to the strict enforcement of fire code regulations that went into effect this year, the University is taking steps to expand options for program house parties. Facilities throughout campus are being evaluated for their potential use as Class F party spaces, said Ricky Gresh, director of student activities. The search for new party spaces is one of the alternatives to holding Class F parties in large University facilities. Gresh met with members of the Greek Council, Undergraduate Council of Students and a program house last week to discuss alternate party spaces. “We went through the whole campus and looked through every building,” he said of last week’s meeting. “We brainstormed all the spaces on campus and which ones might lend themselves to be social or event spaces.” Gresh would not specify
which spaces are being considered. The ideal space would have a capacity of about 200 people and would be close to the center of campus, he said. No new venues have yet been approved as acceptable spaces for such events. Spaces like the ballroom in Alumnae Hall, with its low-hanging chandeliers, and Sayles Hall, with its extensive collection of oil paintings, are not conducive to large student parties, Gresh said. Holding events in these buildings is expensive and takes a great deal of planning and management, said Phil O’Hara, assistant director of student activities. Groups must pay for equipment, additional security and cleanup costs and are liable for any damage done to the facilities. “We know our house top to bottom,” said Xander Boutelle ’05, president of Phi
see PARTIES, page 4
W E AT H E R F O R E C A S T
I N S I D E W E D N E S D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 0 , 2 0 0 4 Rob Sand ’05.5 thinks it’s time for Democrats to make politics about morals, too column, page 11
tion-and-answer period titled “An Evening with the Ethicist,” co-sponsored by Brown Hillel, the Department of Philosophy, the chaplain’s office and The Herald. Although Cohen deals with a serious subject, he takes a lighthearted approach in his column that was also apparent in
Chris Hatfield ’06 thinks the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers just might have what it takes sports column, page 12
Zak DeOssie ’07 is simply following his father’s example as the Bears’ rising star quarterback sports, page 12
WEDNESDAY
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THURSDAY
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