Thursday, March 23, 2006

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2006

Volume CXLI, No. 40

www.browndailyherald.com

An independent newspaper serving the Brown community since 1891 FUELING THE FIRE The liquor license for Club Diesel is currently under review following a series of violent incidents near the night club METRO 3

HIT THE RIGHT NOTE post- scours the Brown music scene to see if the next OK Go is living down the hall INSIDE

Meeting House Commencement tradition in jeopardy

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the last issue of The Herald before spring break. Publication will resume Monday, April 3.

TODAY

TOMORROW

partly cloudy 47 / 32

mostly cloudy 42 / 32

LIVING ON A PRAYER

Corporation to decide this month how to accommodate large senior class BY ALISSA CERNY STAFF WRITER

Due to the large size of the class of 2006 and heightened enforcement of fire regulations, it will be impossible to seat the entire senior class in the Meeting House of the First Baptist Church in America during the College ceremony, which is held on the Sunday of Commencement Weekend. The Brown Corporation is considering two possible solutions to the problem and is expected to make a decision by the end of the month, according to Russell Carey ’91, vice president and secretary of the University. Carey informed seniors of the space constraint in an e-mail sent March 9. Traditionally, the Meeting House, which is located at 75 North Main St., is used for the College ceremony, which includes the singing of the nation anthem, the University chaplain’s invocation, senior orations and the conferring of baccalaureate degrees by the president. The Meeting House was initially built in 1775 to provide a venue for public worship as well as a space for Brown’s Commencement. Since 1776, some portion of all but two Commencement ceremonies has occurred in the historic Meeting House. But the size of this year’s graduating class poses a problem. The class of 2006 is larger than previous classes due to increases in actively enrolled students and what Carey called “inactive termed students” — students who are not enrolled this semester but are nearing completion and may graduate in the spring. The estimated size of the class of 2006 is 1,607 students, Carey said. The Meeting House can accommodate 1,322 students in the lower sanctuary and balcony, while 30 students would be permitted to stand in the back. Even though only 92 percent of students typically participate in the College ceremony, this number would still exceed the capacity of the Meeting House. Carey said he estimates a potential overflow of between 120 and 160 students. It remains uncertain how large the

Jean Yves Chainon / Herald

problem will be because it is difficult to predict attendance for the College ceremony, Carey said. The first possible solution being considered by the Corporation involves seating overflow students in a tent outside the Meeting House in an area usually reserved for Corporation and faculty members, Carey said. Students in the tent would be able to watch the ceremony on video and audio simulcast. In this scenario, senior orations would be delivered on the Main Green during the University ceremony, which is also held on Sunday, rather than in the Meeting House. This would allow all students, parents and faculty to hear the orations in person. Relocating the senior orations would shorten the Meeting House ceremony to approximately 15 minutes. Because it takes almost 40 minutes to seat the entire class, President Ruth Simmons has offered to make brief remarks to extend the length of the College ceremony, Carey said. Students seated in the tent would return to the Main Green first for the University Ceremony so they could receive the best seating, Carey said. The second possibility would have the entire senior class walk through the Meeting House without being seated and return immediately to the Main Green, where both the College and University ceremonies would be held. Last year, the size of the graduating class posed a similar problem when an estimated 1,379 students participated in the College ceremony. This figure exceeded the capacity of the Meeting House by about 20 students. In order to hold the ceremony in the Meeting House, the University must receive approval from the Providence fire marshal. Carey said the fire marshal and other officials from the Providence Fire Department raised concerns about last year’s ceremony. “Last spring we had an issue with the fire department, and we’ve continued to talk to them since,” Carey said. “Through a combination of discussions with the fire marshal and estimating the size of this year’s class it became clear we were going to have to make a change.” Stanley Lemons, chairman of the properties and sexton committee for the church, said church officials have been discussing the issue with University administrators for a few weeks, though he concedes there is not much that church officials can do to remedy the problem. “They won’t change the interior of the church — the pews date back to the 1790s,” Lemons said. “We regret the thought of the University leaving, but it’s their issue and we’ll let them use the building to whatever extent the fire marshals will allow.” Regarding possible solutions, Carey said, “We’re certainly open to other suggestions. But given the time that is left these seem like the most likely solutions to implement.” Carey said he does not anticipate an overflow for the Saturday baccalaureate ceremony. If, however, a tent is neces-

Jacob Melrose / Herald

Students intently watched the progression of last night’s housing lottery.

Major resignations may hinder U.’s plans

Three top posts to be vacated this summer BY ERIC BECK NEWS EDITOR

When Provost Robert Zimmer assumes the presidency of the University of Chicago this summer, he will leave his senior administrative post at the same time that the dean of the college and the vice president for research step down. With the risk that vacancies in three top posts could stall University decision-making and projects, University officials say they aim to quickly name replacements for all three positions. Zimmer leaves the University at a time when the provost’s role is increasingly important. The University is pursuing new initiatives as part of the Plan for Academic Enrichment, and President Ruth Simmons is spending much of her time away from campus promoting a $1.4 billion fundraising drive. “It’s always a challenge when a senior administrator leaves. The timing can be

better or worse depending on the circumstances,” said Professor of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences Sheila Blumstein, who served as interim president prior to Simmons’ arrival. “This is a wonderful opportunity for (Zimmer), but unfortunately I think the timing is not great for Brown.” Simmons told The Herald Zimmer’s departure will not hurt the University because his role will be quickly filled in order to sustain continuity. “We have a good number of people in place who have the institutional memory to continue the work. We have momentum. Once we appoint someone, we’ll be able to move ahead without skipping a beat,” she said. The details of the search process for a new provost are not yet clear, but Simmons said she is currently soliciting feedback from administrators, departsee VACANCIES, page 9

DTau tries a new move: recruiting non-wrestlers BY AIDAN LEVY STAFF WRITER

Delta Tau, the fraternity traditionally known to attract members of the wrestling team, has broken from tradition this year to include students ranging from lacrosse players to members of the Brown Standup Comics in order to retain oncampus housing privileges in the face of dwindling numbers. Of DTau’s 31 pledges, all are first-years, there is not a single wrestler and the majority of them are not athletes, according to Eddie Chacon ’07 and John Lentini ’07, the fraternity’s copresidents. From at least 2003 until last year, DTau members and alums have had a dispute with Dave Amato, head coach of the wrestling team, since Amato issued an ultimatum that wrestlers would have to choose between Greek life and partic-

The Meeting House of the First Baptist Church in America is not big enough to hold this year’s senior class.

see OVERFLOW, page 5

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ipation on the team, as reported in The Herald last year. Since 2003, no wrestlers have pledged DTau, and the fraternity’s membership has hovered around 10. Of DTau’s 10 current members, two are wrestlers who pledged in 2002 and are graduating this year. Amato declined to comment for this article. DTau’s problems precede the controversy with Amato. In 1997, the University revoked the fraternity’s on-campus housing privileges, due to “unreasonably disruptive” behavior over a half decade, The Herald reported in 1998. The fraternity maintained itself off-campus and returned to campus in the fall of 2002. Amato told The Herald last year he intervened when he was called to give under-oath testimony to the police regarding a September 2003 assault that took place after a party see DTAU, page 7 News tips: herald@browndailyherald.com

THIS MORNING THE BROWN DAILY HERALD · THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2006 · PAGE 2 Jero Matt Vascellaro

TO D AY ’ S E V E N TS YOGA AT THE WELLNESS CAFE 3:30 p.m., (Memorial Room, Faunce) — No experience necessary. Bring a mat or towel if possible and stay as long as you like. FILM: “GUANTANAMERA” 7 p.m., (Joukowsky Forum, Watson Institute) — The Center for Latin American Studies Film Series presents this Cuban film, presented in Spanish with English subtitles, about a famous singer who returns to her hometown of Guantanamo for a celebration in her honor.

AN EVENING OF MUSICAL THEATRE 7:30 p.m. , (Grant Recital Hall) — Applied music voice students from the studio of Kevin Wilson perform songs from popular musicals such as Les Miserables. Free and open to the public. “RECENT BRONZE AGE DISCOVERIES IN THE TARIM BASIN” 8 p.m. , (Smith-Buonano 106) — Victor Mair, professor of Asian and Middle Eastern studies, Chinese literature and culture at the University of Pennsylvania, will deliver a lecture in the Contemplative Studies Series.

M for Massive Yifan Luo

MENU SHARPE REFECTORY

VERNEY-WOOLLEY DINING HALL

LUNCH — Hot Turkey Sandwich with Sauce, Mashed Red Potatoes with Garlic, Sugar Snap Peas, Tater Tots, Kielbasa, Chicken Gouda Calzone, Meatballs, Sauteed Artichokes, Kale and Linguica Soup, Vegetarian Squash Bisque, Cantonese Casserole, Gingerbread with Whipped Cream, Sugar Cookies

LUNCH — Vegetarian Mexican Bean Soup, Lobster Bisque, BBQ Beef Sandwich, Eggplant Parmesan Grinder, Cauliflower, Sugar Cookies

DINNER — Braised Beef Tips, Rice Pilaf with Zucchini, Sunny Sprouts, Summer Squash, Sourdough Bread, Spinach Lasagna, Corn Souffle, Vegan BBQ Navy Beans, Tapioca, Chocolate Sundae Cake

Chocolate Covered Cotton Mark Brinker

DINNER — Vegetarian Mexican Bean Soup, Lobster Bisque, Roast Turkey with Sauce, Vegan Roasted Vegetable Stew, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Butternut Squash with Shallots and Sage, Green Beans, Sourdough Bread, Chocolate Sundae Cake

Homebodies Mirele Davis

RELEASE DATE– Thursday, March 23, 2006

C Times R O SDaily S W Crossword ORD Los Angeles Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis ACROSS 1 DVD maker 4 One who is paid not to be sharp 9 French clerics 14 Yahoo rival 15 Intro maestro 16 Ballet first? 17 US Steel cofounder 20 Allen contemporary 21 Alley in a cave 22 Get rid of 23 “You Belong to Me” singer, 1952 27 Ancient deity 28 Draft order 29 Suit sticker? 30 Wallop 31 Route for some runners 34 More upset 35 Super Bowl III MVP 37 Wine purchases 40 Where baby sitters ride? 44 Held in reserve 45 Creamy cheese 46 Rend 47 Bluster 48 “Ride the High Country” costar 51 They don’t play the field: Abbr. 52 Loose, as discipline 53 Broke new ground? 54 “Nip/Tuck” actress 60 Not as hale 61 “__ elaborate?” 62 Light opening? 63 Hostess Perle 64 Code carriers 65 NBC fixture since 1975

3 Kimble’s array, in TV’s “The Fugitive” 4 __ cotta 5 Strike caller 6 Sgt., e.g. 7 Poetic time 8 Wisecrack 9 Per 10 Cold call? 11 Villanova’s conference 12 Issue (from) 13 “Spanglish” star 18 Take in 19 Like bellbottoms in the ’60s 23 Quick blow 24 Shagged hits 25 Sawyer’s pal 26 Ample suburban plot 27 Wash 30 Nursery supply 32 VCR button 33 Traditions 34 “The King and I” group 36 Send

37 Gentleman Brown’s victim, in a 1900 novel 38 Behind the eight ball 39 Adds seasonal glitter to 41 Runs in 42 Restrain 43 Aromatherapy venue 45 Holyfield field

48 Bump 49 “Hardball” host Matthews 50 Food fish 52 Vega’s constellation 55 Rent 56 Cave opening? 57 Clucker 58 Summer cooler 59 Zero

Freeze Dried Puppies Cara FitzGibbon

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

Silentpenny Soundbite Brian Elig

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3/23/06

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD · THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2006 · PAGE 3

City seeks resident input for neighborhood plan discussions Revised plans could affect University’s expansion BY OLIVER BOWERS STAFF WRITER

Neighborhood plans will be updated for each of Providence’s 25 neighborhoods as part of a revision to the city’s Comprehensive Plan, the document that sets forth development goals for the entire city. The decision to revise, which could have implications for the University’s expansion beyond College Hill, comes after a year of unsuccessful efforts by Mayor David Cicilline ’83 to overhaul the zoning code without first updating the Comprehensive Plan. Revising the plan before the zoning code is important because it allows for much greater public input, Ward 2 Councilwoman Rita Williams said. Meetings will be held in all 25 neighborhoods for residents to give the planning commission input about what they want included in the new plan, according to Ward 1 City Councilman David Segal. The new plan is scheduled for completion in May 2007 when it will go to the state for approval, he said. “I think (holding meetings is) the right thing to do,” Williams said. “The neighborhood group thought that they weren’t being listened to.” The decision to revise the plan comes in response to public outcry that arose because residents believed the City Planning Commission tried to slip in revisions to the comprehensive plan without input, according to a Feb. 22 Providence Journal article. The proposed zoning ordinance changes would have opened up several areas of Providence to developments of greater height and density and opened up the waterfront along Allens Avenue to medical buildings, sports facilities, hotels and apartment towers. A revision to the city’s Comprehensive Plan may well affect future University plans to expand beyond Brown’s campus, said Richard Spies, executive vice president for planning and senior advisor to the president. “Over time the city’s planning affects us a lot,” Spies said. “The city is trying to make plans and so are we. …

There are a lot of moving parts.” Spies said University representatives will attend some neighborhood meetings to discuss updating the Comprehensive Plan. One of the things administrators are concerned about is whether areas of potential expansion for Brown — such as the waterfront — will be zoned to allow for institutional use. Currently, most University buildings are located in institutional zones where larger, taller buildings can be built. In areas not zoned for institutional use, such as the Jewelry District, Brown needs to get special permission to construct these buildings, Spies said. Brown will engage in this and any other city planning processes to encourage the creation of more institutional and mixed-use zones, Spies said. “You don’t want to be dependent on getting (special) permission every time (you build a building),” he said. Barbara Harris, vice president of the College Hill Neighborhood Association, said College Hill residents are meeting regularly to discuss revisions they want to propose to the Comprehensive Plan. The advocacy group Citizens Coalition for Development for All hosted a meeting Wednesday night to talk about maximizing public input in the planning process. The meeting drew representatives from several neighborhood associations and concerned citizens. The coalition discussed its ideal procedure for revising the neighborhood plans, among other things, wrote Kari Lang, executive director of the West Broadway Neighborhood Association, in an e-mail to The Herald. The coalition’s Recommendations for NeighborhoodBased Planning suggests allowing at least two months for the development of each neighborhood plan and widely publicizing each meeting held to discuss revisions to the Comprehensive Plan. The recommendations also request that the plans, once adopted, be made city policy, because “without such adoption, the plans would carry see PLANS, page 4

Protesters rally downtown against proposed immigration law reforms BY SARA MOLINARO STAFF WRITER

Approximately 200 people turned out Wednesday in front of the YMCA on Broad Street to oppose a proposal by Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., to reform U.S. immigration laws, which would make it harder for undocumented immigrants to obtain green cards and eventual citizenship. The protest was organized by Immigrants United, a coalition of community groups, labor organizations and church groups such as English For Action, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, AFSCME Council 94 and International Institute Rhode Island. The protesters marched from the YMCA to the downtown office of Sen. Lincoln Chafee ’75, R-R.I., on Westminster Street, chanting and holding signs. Some played musical instruments to draw attention to the protest as they marched. Once the procession arrived at Chafee’s office, protesters listened to speeches by leaders of the Olneyville Neighborhood Association, Immigrant Students in Action and EFA, among others. The purpose of the march and rally was to put pressure on Chafee to take a stance on Specter’s legislation, said Julia McDowell ’06, an employee of EFA. Currently, she said, the proposal is still in committee and has not come to the Senate floor for consideration. “Privately, (Chafee has) told us that he’s not in support of (Specter’s legislation), but he has yet to take a public stance on the issue,” McDowell said. Immigrants United is a fairly new group, and this was its first event, according to Michelle Levinson ’07, who works for the EFA action committee. The decision to rally in front of Chafee’s office was made about 10 days ago, and the event was organized and publicized very quickly, Levinson said. “The point of the march … is really to get everyone together and to show solidarity,” she said. The legislation opposed by the coalition has several facets, but the central element of the legislation is the “Gold Card” proposal. The “Gold Card” program would

allow undocumented immigrants to remain in the country for up to six years, provided they confess to entering the country illegally, waive all future rights to appeal immigration rulings and never remain unemployed for more than a 45-day period. Under this program, there is no clear path for immigrants from documented employment to obtain a green card and eventual citizenship, according to literature from Immigrants United. The protestors turned out largely to support immigrants’ rights in general. They held signs printed with slogans like “No Human Being is Illegal,” “Jobs with Justice” and “Workers Not Terrorists.” Several children held signs that read, “I want to go to college.” Stephanie Cannady, a Providence resident and employee of ACORN, said her organization supported the event because it considers Specter’s legislation unfair. “Immigrants work just as hard, or sometimes harder, as American citizens. They came here with the promise of citizenship, and to deport them for frivolous reasons is unfair,” Cannady said. “If there’s dignity in work, there should be dignity in the workplace,” said J. Michael Downy, president of AFSCME Rhode Island Council 94. “We believe that America is supposed to be a land where everyone is free, and has the right to work and to dignity,” he said. “A lot of the legislation is very harsh, and pretty arbitrary, to be honest,” said Larissa Zuhoski, a junior at Providence College and employee of EFA. “These immigrants really don’t have any political power, given how much they contribute, and it’s important that those who do have a voice in society step up and demand equal treatment.” But some of the protesters’ complaints were more specific. Oswalto Gomez, an immigant and Providence resident, held a sign that read “I want a driver’s license.” Gomez explained that he held a Rhode Island driver’s license for 12 years, but when he needed to renew it two years ago, he could not provide sufficient documentation. “I am a painter, and I need to provide my own transportation. Without a license, I cannot work,” Gomez said.

Hearings underway over Club Diesel’s liquor license The first of several public hearings was held last week at City Hall to review the liquor license for Club Diesel, located at 79 Washington St. Providence Police Chief Dean Esserman has called for the club’s liquor license to be revoked because of violent incidents near Diesel over the past three years that have increased the need for a greater police presence in that area, according to the Board of Licenses docket for the March 15 hearing. Diesel — which advertises go-go birdcages and a spinning “vertigo” dance floor “you just can’t resist” on its Web site — attracts a younger audience than the live music venue Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, with which the club shares the Strand Building. On nights when both clubs are doing business, Diesel must wait for Lupo’s to close before it can open, and the two venues share a single liquor license. “There are thousands of other people downtown at the same time (as Diesel patrons), so how can you blame everything on Diesel?” asked Richard Lupo, the owner of Lupo’s. He added the club’s clientele makes up just 25 percent of the nightlife within “a certain radius” of its location. There are 26 bars, restaurants and clubs within 300 feet of Diesel, he said. Police have reported numerous fights outside Diesel in the past several months. In the past three years, police have been called 332 times and ambulances have been called 174 times to Diesel, although the club has only been cited for one violation by the Board of Licenses, according to a March 16 Providence Journal article. On New Year’s Eve last year, four Diesel bouncers were taken to the hospital with injuries. On Jan. 6, a 19-yearold man was stabbed in the neck with a broken beer bottle when he became involved in an argument after leaving the club. Less than seven weeks later, another man was stabbed in the chest — apparently also with a broken bottle — and critically injured in a parking lot near Diesel after he left the club around 2 a.m., despite the fact that an additional seven on-duty police officers were in the vicinity of the club at closing time. Currently, Diesel screens its customers with a metal detector at the insistence of the police department. The next hearing is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m. in City Hall at 25 Dorrance St. —Anne Wootton

PAGE 4 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2006

Plans continued from page 3 little authority.” The coalition is also sending a letter to Cicilline urging the mayor to make proposed changes to the plan available in an “easy-to-use format” prior to any meeting and thanking him for his directive to halt re-zoning in order to conduct a neighborhood planning process first. The priority for many East Side residents is to close off the waterfront to high-rise buildings in the new neighborhood plans, according to Williams. “People are concerned about the code for the waterfront,” Segal said. The Sasaki 2020 plan, a zoning code change proposed last spring by the City Planning

Commission, included plans for commercial development of the waterfront with high-rise buildings and was met with widespread public opposition, Williams said. Though new developments downtown have eased the need to increase density on the East Side, Williams said residents are right to be concerned about limiting density in their neighborhoods. Segal disagreed, saying he thinks increasing density will not be such a bad thing if the city takes into account the unique character of neighborhoods like College Hill. Spies said the University should not just think about what is best for its own interests but should attend meetings as a “participant in the process,” thereby recognizing what will benefit other city groups as well. “Brown is better because Providence is better,” he said.

Schneider continued from page 12 that any type of mecca for fencing? (It) used to be a really big hub for fencing. We had a lot of Olympians go in 1996 and 2000 that trained at Rochester for a while, because we had some top-quality coaches. Not many people fence, so when you have good people at one club you attract more. How did you decide which weapon to specialize in? Generally when you start off, you fence foil. I started off foil and switched to epee, and did them concurrently for a while and then just epee. They’re very different weapons, the speed and the timing and the target is entirely different. How has joining the Ivy League made this year different? Our schedule didn’t change that much. We have the two Ivy League meets. We dropped one meet, so we fenced more than we usually do, and we fenced the New England Championships, but it’s great for Brown to finally be in the Ivy League. What’s the most uncomfortable part of the gear? Every weapon has knickers and a jacket, underneath the jacket there’s an underarm protector, and for women a breast protector. The blade is blunt but if the blade snaps you have a jagged edge and it can puncture your equipment if you’re not wearing your underarm protector. My brother’s teammate at Columbia had a ball punctured because he was not wearing a cup. Growing up were there any big stereotypes about your sport? Frustrations with people not knowing what it is? Some of the college club teams tend to attract the Dungeons and Dragons fare. People who want to reenact or role play. So sometimes when you’re trying to take it as a serious sport it doesn’t attract the necessary population.

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

D&D isn’t your cup of tea, but have you ever considered jousting? I can’t say I’ve ever had the opportunity, but I wouldn’t turn it down. I’ve never ridden a horse so I don’t know how that would fare for my jousting career. What about how movies depict sword fighting? That James Bond with the car on the ice (“Die Another Day”) had a very dramatic fencing scene in it, people leaping over chairs and swinging from chandeliers, it’s not very realistic, it’s made for stage. “(The) Princess Bride” is another favorite fencing movie. Do you know that scene? Yeah, how realistic was that? Well, better than others, but still pretty bad.

Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com.

To see more questions from Athlete of the Week visit www.browndailyherald.com

CAMPUS NEWS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD · THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2006 · PAGE 5

Overflow continued from page 1 sary, those students who sit in the tent on Saturday would be ensured a place in the Meeting House on Sunday. If an overflow tent is used for the College ceremony, it is unclear how the University would determine who would sit in it. “I don’t think an incentive will be used, because it doesn’t seem appealing. I don’t know what we could offer seniors that would make up for (not sitting in the Meeting House), and I don’t like the idea of paying students to sit in the tent,” Carey said. Carey sent an e-mail to seniors March 17 notifying them about the creation of a WebCT poll to survey the class on the best way to settle the issue. The survey asks students to rate how important they consider the traditional use of the Meeting House and how important they consider the preservation of class unity. Other questions include whether they plan to attend the College ceremony and baccalaureate, if they prefer the use of a tent or walk-through procession and whether they would volunteer to sit in the tent if one were used. In his e-mails, Carey encouraged students to contact him with suggestions and concerns. Carey told The Herald Tuesday he has received emails from approximately 40 students indicating something of a mixed response. “The majority of students seem very concerned about keeping the class together, but some feel very strongly about the Meeting House tradition,” he said. Senior class Co-President Ari Savitzky ’06 attended the March 14 meeting of the Brown University Community Council where the issue was discussed. Savitzky said he appreciates the efforts of Carey and the Corporation to include seniors in the discussion and decision-making process. “It seems to me like a no-win situation because unfortunately, no matter what, the tradition will be broken. In my opinion a tent seems like a worse way to break it,” Savitzky said. “I feel like it would be hard to get 150 people to volunteer to sit outside with no real incentive.” Savitzky said a majority of

students with whom he has discussed the issue favor keeping the entire class together. But not all seniors are in favor of walking through the Meeting House and returning to the Main Green. Michael Klufas ’06, who also attended last week’s BUCC meeting, said while he understands the desire to keep the class together, he thinks a tent would be a better solution because it would allow the Meeting House to be used for the ceremony. “I think the tradition is the most important part. The class will be together the entire weekend,” Klufas said. “Some people really want to sit in the Meeting House while others are indifferent. I don’t see why we should eliminate the tradition if we can find enough volunteers to sit in the tent.” With the increasing size of future classes, the University will likely face this issue again, Carey said. But the decision made this year will not dictate the fate of future ceremonies, he added. “We have to do something this year, and given the size of classes and strengthened regulations I would say that it’s unlikely classes will fit in the future,” Carey said. “Whatever we do this year we will see how it goes, ask for feedback (and) evaluate its success.”

UCS discusses dean of the college search, renewable energy, bookstore BY SARA MOLINARO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Members of the University’s Dean of the College Search Committee solicited feedback last night from members of the Undergraduate Council of Students regarding desirable attributes in a replacement for Dean of the College Paul Armstrong, who will step down from his position this summer. The council also heard from members of the Save the Bookstore Coalition and proponents of the council’s “Resolution Recommending that Brown University Invest in Renewable Energy.” No official business was passed, however, as not enough members were present to meet the official quorum. Professor of English Kevin McLaughlin, chair of the dean of the college search committee, said the committee is seeking nominations from within the Brown faculty, though he later added that nominations of people from outside the University are also being considered. Specifically, the committee is looking for a candidate who would be willing to step away from re-

search and formal teaching endeavors for a minimum of five years. UCS members brought up various suggestions about what to look for in a candidate. Appointments Chair Benjamin Boas ’06.5 suggested Armstrong’s replacement should promote independent undergraduate research, while UCS President Sarah Saxton-Frump ’07 mentioned that the undergraduate advising process should be improved under the new dean and suggested speaking to the candidates’ current advisees for feedback. UCS also heard from proponents of a resolution recommending that Brown invest in renewable energy. The proposal, authored by Communications Chair Michael Thompson ’07, is based largely on the results of UCS’s most recent WebCT poll, which found that 77.4 percent of respondents favored Brown’s potential investment in renewable energy and that 72.7 percent of the respondents would be willing to pay a fee of either $10 or $25 per semester in support of renewable energy. The resolution recommends the University charge each student $25 per semester, a move that would raise at least $200,000 to be used to purchase renewable energy. Council members agreed to return to discussion of the resolution after spring break.

Members of the Save the Bookstore Coalition also appeared at the meeting. The main focus of their visit was to ask UCS about how much support they would need to see from the undergraduate student body in order to take up the issue. Saxton-Frump explained that UCS is waiting for more evidence about what kind of changes would be made to the bookstore should it remain under independent operation. One of the orders of business on the agenda was for UCS to vote on a resolution to end the Ivy League ban on postseason football play. However, Saxton-Frump soon noticed that there were not enough members to constitute a quorum, and therefore a vote could not be held. “There is no quorum right now, so we can’t pass any official business. Technically we couldn’t even approve the minutes,” Boas said nearly an hour and a half into the meeting. UCS also addressed the application process for appointments to University committees, the deadline for which is April 4. Tristan Freeman ’07, chair of the Academic and Administrative Affairs Committee, brought up his committee’s forthcoming report on Departmental Undergraduate Groups. Freeman said the AAA committee wants to maintain contact with many DUGs and try to improve the DUG program as a whole.

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2006 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD PAGE 7

DTau continued from page 1 thrown by ex-members of DTau and ex-wrestlers, in which a male punched a female Brown student in the face and yelled a homophobic remark. Last spring, the Office of Residential Life issued an ultimatum of its own — DTau needed to recruit a minimum of eight new pledges, or it would be forced to move off campus again. With dim prospects for meeting the University’s requirement while maintaining the status quo, Chacon and Lentini decided to broaden their recruiting strategy by allowing anyone — not just wrestlers — to pledge and help rebuild DTau, they told The Herald. “In the past we relied on one certain demographic, which is the wrestlers,” Chacon said. “This year, we showed absolutely no extra interest in the wrestlers. We wanted to get away from that image so we could reach out to the larger Brown community.” Throughout its 100-year history, DTau has been a predominantly athletic fraternity, but

the shift in demographics will not cause a shift in values, Lentini said. “It’s not going to be the same, but we’ll keep up our traditions. Guys who graduated over 30 years ago did the same things in the pledge process,” he said. The pledge process will unite the diverse group of pledges, Chacon said. “Nobody’s really a Delt coming in, but everybody becomes a Delt.” Beyond the pledge process, what is uniquely “Delt” remains intangible, Lentini said. “It’s taking pride in who you are, where you come from as a Delt, making sure you honor Delts of the past, trusting fellow brothers and making sure we facilitate that type of brotherhood. We are a family,” Chacon said. While the pledge process has not yet begun, one pledge, Matt Dennis ’09, who along with several friends helped generate renewed interest in DTau, already has big plans to reinvigorate the fraternity, he said. “It’s definitely no longer the wrestler frat,” Dennis said. “With other frats, it’s really them that choose you, but here we joined with our friends.” Dennis and the other pledg-

es have already begun cleaning and furnishing Olney House on Wriston Quad, where DTau is located. “It’s looking 10 times better already. We hope by the end of this year it will at least look presentable and by next year be equivalent to the other frats,” Dennis said, adding that they need to make the building hospitable for parties they intend to throw in the near future. Providence attorney and former DTau President Albert Romano ’73 strongly supports the effort to keep DTau alive, he said. Romano is the director of the Delt Foundation, a group of about 200 DTau alums that formed after four Brown DTau alums were killed in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. “As far as the new blood, I think it’s terrific. A good mix of people is almost always better than a totally homogeneous group and we’re very pleased with it,” Romano said. “It’s more the commonality of goals and interests and making friends that’s the important thing, and hopefully they can enjoy our company also.” DTau’s ability to maintain itself even when it was located off campus testifies to the convic-

tion of its members, said Residential Council Chair Brendan Hargreaves ’06. “ResCouncil views it very positively that (DTau members) have proven that they are willing to grow to large numbers to sustain themselves,” he said. ResLife facilitated DTau’s rebuilding process, said Richard Bova, senior associate dean of ResLife. “They used a really good selling point,” Bova said. “I think that the greater the diversity, the greater the Greek system becomes. We encourage groups to be broad in their recruitment strategy and to be as inclusive and possible.” Meghan Gill ’06, chair of Greek Council, was relieved when she found out that DTau far surpassed its minimum recruitment requirement. “Whenever we do a Greek Council event, there are only a few volunteers from DTau, and they try their best, and now that’s going to change,” she said. “I think it’s possible to have diversity within the houses and diversity of houses. It may be subtle to an outside person, but if you’re rushing the houses the differences become a lot more evident.”

Klonick continued from page 12 ditional entrants painstakingly sift through statistics, pull names out of a hat, analyze historical trends, weigh team chemistry and star players or rehash rivalries and adrenaline-filled upsets. Some of the more anomalous methods involve setting up hypothetical mascot match-ups — who would win between a Terrapin and a Boilermaker? To be frank, I was so out of the loop this year that, by the time March rolled around, the only thing I’d heard in the realm of college basketball was the drama over player of the year and tangential updates via Duke friends on the perpetual priggishness of J.J. Redick. So, instead of spending hours online trying to catch up on sports current events, I created my own addle-brained solution to the madness of March: vowels. Please bear in mind that this seemed like a perfect quirky idea in the middle of my modern culture and media class on semantics. At the very least, “vowel representation in team names” seemed like a more intellectual solution than uniform cut and color. Since I was already behind the curve in 2006 NCAA knowledge, I had nothing to lose, making it a fun experiment in testing the true fickleness of the college basketball tournament. The first rule went something like this: If the name of the team, as listed on the bracket, started with a vowel, it automatically lost. The second rule: If the name of the team had a higher ratio of vowels to consonants, it automatically won. The third rule: If two teams that start with similar letters are playing each other, the edge goes to the team with more rarified consonants. The fourth rule: All rules are off for the championship game. The result of my lexical hypothesis? I should have stuck with secondary colors. The first rule got a little complicated almost immediately, as the bracket I was using had Connecticut listed as UConn. Discounting number one UConn to Kentucky in the second round seemed somehow imprudent. The problem was easily resolved by finding a new bracket. The second rule, unfortunately for me, placed Iowa and Ohio State in my final four, and by the end of the weekend my name had dropped from third to 22nd in my pool. The third rule created a dilemma between Gonzaga and Xavier, ending with an instinctive decision that X is a more exotic letter than Z, a decision that worked out about as well as Bob Knight in anger management. Free will gave me UConn as the champion, along with seven-eighths of my pool. Moral of the story: With an infinite number of faulty and fanciful ways to pick your teams, don’t frame your brackets around the alphabet. Use colors, use mascots, use the number of seconds between Dick Vitale’s screams, but don’t do bracketology by the letters, or you’ll end up with Marquette and Nevada in your Elite Eight and $20 less in your pocket.

Kate Klonick ’06 referred to the University of Arizona as the Spartans in the unedited version of this column.

PAGE 8 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2006

Hatfield continued from page 12 course of Schneider’s four seasons and the skiing team… well, we won’t have a mountain on campus until our superb saleswoman of a president dupes some gullible alum into donating the money to create one. It also doesn’t help that there are 37 total varsity sports to keep track of at Brown, four behind Harvard for the largest program in the

nation. But you should know about these three. Schneider is one of the best epeeists — a fencer who uses the epee, one of three weapons used in competition — in the country. Her collegiate career ended on a bit of a down note, at least for her, when she came in 24th at the NCAA Championship. However, she did become Brown’s first All-Ivy fencer by going 13-5 in the team’s inaugural Ivy League season, and she took fifth at the NCAA Northeast Regional. She has finished

as high as fifth in the national competition, earning secondteam All-American status as a sophomore. Larson dominated the Ivy League this winter, going undefeated in both the one- and threemeter dives during the duel-meet season. She set a new school record in the three-meter dive in the final league meet against Yale, smashing the old mark with a score of 308.69. She won the onemeter at the Ivy Championships and placed fourth in the three-meter, later taking second and 13th in the respective events at the NCAA Zone A Championship. O’Hear came into her own this season, helping her team to overcome injuries and departures to finish fifth at the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association National Championships. She is a force in the giant slalom event, sometimes coasting to victories in her first run without even pushing herself. At nationals,

she came in sixth in that event despite a poor first run, earning All-American status. She was dominant during the season, helping to hold the team together while her teammates got used to having to step up and place well. And all three can handle themselves in the classroom, as well. Along with Hayes and Grovey, Schneider, Larson and O’Hear were Brown’s five female athletes named to the Winter Academic All-Ivy Team. So to those three, and any other athletes who’ve been on College Hill without getting the headlines they deserved, I’ll raise a glass to you — if Spats ever opens. More smarties The five Brown male student-athletes honored by the Ivy League were Breck Bailey ’06 of the men’s squash team, wrestler Shawn Kitchner ’07, Marcus Becker ’07 of the men’s basketball team, shot-putter Jake

Golenor ’06 and fencer Jeremy Adler ’06. These five, along with the quintet of aforementioned women, qualified by being either starters or key reserves on an officially recognized varsity team and keeping a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above. There was no comment from the Ivy League on whether having pluses and minuses would have affected its decision. Get well, Jake Speaking of Golenor, we close this week with a heartfelt get well to “Big Jake.” The 2006 Indoor Heptagonal Champion in the shot put has been in the hospital with ulcerative colitis, or ulcers in his large intestine, and has lost a total of 30 pounds in the past month, ending his outdoor season before it began. Golenor, who has been a captain since his junior year, has won an outdoor Heptagonal Championship in the discus. I met Jake my first weekend on campus, remembering him as “the huge kid who was trying to pick up chicks by playing guitar.” Anyone who has hung out with Jake for more than 15 minutes has his giant smile burnt into their memory — just check out his head shot on Brownbears.com if you don’t believe me. The kid is basically a giant teddy bear. Best wishes for a quick and full recovery, Jake. Herald Sports Editor Chris Hatfield ’06 may be the only all-field, no-hit first baseman in intramural softball history, but you don’t know that because you haven’t seen him play.

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2006 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD PAGE 9

Vacancies continued from page 1 ment chairs, faculty leaders and the Undergraduate Council of Students to determine how the search should work. “It’s entirely possible” that the

next provost will be appointed from within the University, Simmons said, adding that she hasn’t yet decided whether external candidates will be considered. “My hope is that we will undertake a process that will not be too lengthy because I think most people would like to see the position filled as soon as possible

without sacrificing quality,” Simmons said. Simmons suggested that a new provost could be selected prior to Zimmer’s June 30 departure; the University could face serious challenges if the slot is vacant when Zimmer leaves for Chicago. “A lot of things are going to be in limbo,” said Professor of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences Kathryn Spoehr, who previously served as provost and dean of the faculty. Spoehr emphasized the provost’s importance in a wide variety of academic matters, such as faculty hiring and the administration of academic programs. She cited the recently announced joint venture between the University and Microsoft to research pen-based computing as an effort that required the support of the provost and vice president for research. “If there are any other of those kinds of opportunities sitting on the horizon, we as an institution won’t be able to pursue them” if both positions are vacant, she said. Even if a new provost is in place as soon as Zimmer leaves, he or she will likely need time to get acclimated to the position and won’t be able to immediately make major decisions, Blumstein said, explaining that it will take Zimmer’s successor — even if he or she is already at Brown — time to learn about University priorities and the status of major projects. “Whoever comes in is basically going to have to assume (Zimmer’s) agenda, internalize it and implement it,” she said. “Of course the new provost will have his own agenda, but it is very hard to undo commitments and plans. If you do, you lose momentum.” Simmons said she does not foresee the need to appoint an interim provost while a lengthy search is undertaken. An interim appointment — if Simmons were to make one — could significantly disrupt the momentum of the University’s projects, Blumstein said. “You can’t commit the University to new projects and new financial undertakings and responsibilities if you’re not the one who is implementing them. It’s not fair or appropriate for the person who eventually will fill that role,” Blumstein said.

“Interim appointments are never particularly desirable. … This is a moment where you don’t want to feel that you are losing time,” said Deputy Provost Vincent Tompkins ’84. “Higher education is a very competitive environment in which no one else is standing still, so there are dangers to an institution from treading water. I think that’s what we’d like to try to avoid.” Tompkins said Zimmer’s departure is “significantly less disruptive” than it could be because “this is happening at a moment when President Simmons is here in full stride helping to advance the University’s agenda both internally and externally.” But the need for Simmons to appoint a provost comes in the middle of the Campaign for Academic Enrichment, which frequently draws the president to far-flung locales to woo donors. “The president is still here, though her time and attention are very heavily directed to the capital campaign,” creating a “major challenge” for her and the University, Spoehr said. Simmons acknowledged that Zimmer’s departure has led her to re-align her priorities to include the search for a new provost. “I will spend as much time as I need to make sure we get an exceptionally well-qualified person in this position. … I’m already taking on some of the things that the provost would normally do,” Simmons said. “That’s the normal process at a university when positions turn over, so it’s not unexpected that this is the kind of thing that would happen during the course of a campaign.” In addition to the provost’s departure, two other top positions will soon be vacated. Dean of the College Paul Armstrong and Vice President for Research Andries van Dam both announced late last year that they would relinquish their administrative duties to return to teaching and research at the end of this academic year. Both Blumstein and Spoehr said Zimmer’s departure could affect searches for these two positions. Both the dean of the college and the vice president for research report directly to the provost, and candidates might be reluctant to accept the jobs without knowing who the next provost will be. But Simmons said it is im-

possible to know whether candidates for the two positions would be affected by the provost vacancy until job offers are extended. “As a general rule, it shouldn’t affect the ability of people to make a decision,” Simmons said, though she acknowledged that it might for some people. The timeline for filling the dean of the college and vice president for research positions is not entirely clear. Tompkins, who staffs both search committees, said the search for the vice president for research is already nearing completion, and a new dean of the college should be appointed by July 1. Simmons said she might decide to delay filling the two positions if a new provost appointment is “imminent,” but otherwise she will likely move ahead on selecting candidates for the jobs. Tompkins said he expects both positions to be filled quickly, but “I think if (both positions) are vacant on July 1, then we’ll have difficulties,” he said.

W. tennis continued from page 12 doubles. Sara Mansur ’09 and Brett Finkelstein ’09 followed at second doubles with an 8-4 win, and Amanda Saiontz ’07 teamed up with Alexa Baggio ’09 to complete the sweep in the doubles draw with an 8-0 shutout. There was no drop-off in performance in the singles portion of the contest, as every Bear won in straight sets with the exception of Zeder, who edged out a three-setter in a gritty win. Ames had posted a disappointing 0-9 record at first singles coming into the contest but cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Ames’s struggles have been particularly noticeable because of her impressive fall season and the closeness of nearly every match she has played this spring. Yesterday’s win provided much needed vindication for her. “I needed to win and I had to win,” she said. “I’ve had a rough start, but despite losing all those matches I feel I am better prepared than I’ve ever been in my life.” Another player who attracted attention was Baggio, who dropped a total of one game against the Huskies, winning 8-0 in doubles and 6-1, 6-0 at number six singles. The success of Baggio, who does not play as often as fellow first-years Finkelstein and Mansur, showed the depth of this year’s squad. The Bears will travel to Florida this weekend to play two final matches before the Ivy season kicks off at home against Princeton April 7. The trip to Florida will be the first outdoor matches of the spring for the team, and Wardlaw thinks the importance of that is often overlooked. “The main purpose of our trip this weekend is to get used to playing outdoor tennis,” he said. “It’s a completely different game outdoors. The points tend to be longer and there exists a distinctive mindset. This will be good preparation for the Ivies.”

EDITORIAL/LETTERS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD · THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2006 · PAGE 10

STAFF EDITORIAL

Diamonds and coal A cubic zirconium to angry restaurant patrons, especially when they get behind the wheel. Though we disapprove of property damage, it seems at this point that a car through the entrance of Spats might be the only way our dormant neighboring bar will ever open its doors. A diamond to naiveté, as recently evidenced by Associate Provost Nancy Dunbar’s suggestion that, with the implementation of Banner, students will be able to give their parents online access to their grades. Yes, because technological limitations have really been the missing link in that chain. Coal to Microsoft’s recent $1.2 million investment in University technology. Though it may one day be proven that “The pen is mightier than the keyboard,” 16 pen-based devices doth not a digital revolution make. Coal to scant attendance at the Brown Democrats’ St. Patrick’s Day party. If a large on-campus political organization can’t get college students to turn out for a celebration of Irish heritage and copious alcohol consumption, we certainly won’t be holding our collective breath for mid-term elections. A cubic zirconium to simulcasts. While we love watching the housing lottery from our computers at home or in the Ratty, somehow we get the feeling that a virtual Commencement ceremony — viewed from a tent, no less — won’t be quite as rewarding. Speaking of the housing lottery, a diamond to all the “no shows,” “passes” and “drops” who kept things interesting for those sophomores with low numbers. Incidentally, that this annual tradition hasn’t yet been turned into a drinking game is really a poor reflection on this fine institution of higher learning. A diamond to Klezmerpalooza, if only because there’s no limit to the number of times the word “shtetl” can appear in The Herald.

JOSEPH NAGLE

LETTERS Independent bookstore, tolerant magazines To the Editor: In his recent column (“We’re here, we’re queer, but you should already know that,” March 21), Adrian Muniz ’07 makes a good (but probably unintentional) point in his opening sentence, related to what Brown students can take for granted at the bookstore. Out Magazine may have its flaws, but it’s nice to know that our bookstore carries this magazine. Sell our bookstore to Barnes and Noble and

the decision of what magazines and books to carry is at the mercy of corporate boards which, as we’ve seen with Wal-mart, sometimes err on the side of bigotry. Students opposed to the sale should go to www.savethebookstore.org for more information. James deBoer ’05 March 21

Coal to spotty cell phone service on campus. What good is a cell phone if you can’t text your Paragon lunch order to your friends during class? And lastly, a diamond to spring break, though not without one caveat. If Brown students learned anything last November, it’s this: If you see a video camera on the dance floor, run the other way.

Got a bright idea?

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD EDITORIAL Robbie Corey-Boulet, Editor-in-Chief Justin Elliott, Executive Editor Ben Miller, Executive Editor Stephanie Clark, Senior Editor Katie Lamm, Senior Editor Jonathan Sidhu, Arts & Culture Editor Jane Tanimura, Arts & Culture Editor Stu Woo, Campus Watch Editor Mary-Catherine Lader, Features Editor Ben Leubsdorf, Metro Editor Anne Wootton, Metro Editor Eric Beck, News Editor Patrick Harrison, Opinions Editor Nicholas Swisher, Opinions Editor Stephen Colelli, Sports Editor Christopher Hatfield, Sports Editor Justin Goldman, Asst. Sports Editor Jilane Rodgers, Asst. Sports Editor Charlie Vallely, Asst. Sports Editor PRODUCTION Allison Kwong, Design Editor Taryn Martinez, Copy Desk Chief Lela Spielberg, Copy Desk Chief Mark Brinker, Graphics Editor Joe Nagle, Graphics Editor

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OPINIONS

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD · THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2006 · PAGE 11

All politics is local in Iraq’s civil war The United States’ preoccuption with exiting Iraq is exacerbating sectarian conflicts BY NATE GORALNIK OPINIONS COLUMNIST

Iraq faces an incipient sectarian conflict that threatens to tear the country apart, but the debate here in America has been fraught with misunderstanding. In our rush to exit the war in Iraq, we could find ourselves entangled there for years to come. The American debate has been framed as a question of whether to “stay the course,” but for months now, both sides have been obsessed with exiting the conflict. Both see the Sunni insurgency as the key obstacle to the exit strategy, and both hope to turn the fight over to Iraqis as soon as possible. The only disagreement is whether to leave a bit sooner or a bit later. This strategic consensus would make sense if our enemy was simply a rowdy Sunni terrorist movement that hates our freedom, as President George W. Bush views it, or if the occupation has “united the Iraqis against us,” as argued by Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Pa. But Iraq is far from united — indeed, that is precisely the problem — and its angry militias have bigger local fish to fry than the American occupiers. By addressing the insurgency only as it immediately challenges short-term American priorities — the war on terror and the exit strategy — we risk accelerating Iraq’s descent into a bloody civil war. The reality on the ground, which Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld all strenuously denied last weekend, is that the fighting in Iraq is fueled not just by antiAmerican terrorists, but by genuine con-

flicts between the country’s Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish populations. Michael Ware of Time Magazine reports, “We’re now seeing a sectarian element nothing like we’ve previously seen. Even ordinary families … are suddenly talking about fellow Iraqis in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them.’” Senior Hoover Institution Fellow Larry Diamond observes that nearly all Iraqis are voting along sectarian lines. Once-diverse neighborhoods are being ethnically cleansed as tension and intimidation mount.

ing rather than allaying them. First is the centerpiece of the exit strategy, the buildup of Iraq’s security force. It is a rule of politics in unstable Arab countries that “security force” is too often a euphemism for sectarian militias on the government payroll — just look at Fatahled Palestine, Syria’s Assad regime or the Taliban. There is growing concern that Iraq’s fledgling force has been infiltrated by Shiite sectarians bent on escalating the violence. Diamond observes that “killings,

Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi says, “If this is not civil war, then God knows what civil war is.” Hostilities exploded last month after the bombing of a Shiite shrine in Samarra, which unleashed violent reprisals that have claimed hundreds of lives on both sides. Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi says, “If this is not civil war, then God knows what civil war is.” Americans naturally blame all this on the Sunnis. After all, they supply the freedom-hating, Baathist and al-Qaeda terrorists who make life difficult for American troops. But a closer look at the local politics reveals a whole range of understandable and pressing Sunni grievances that have little to do with the American occupation. Bush, obsessed with the immediate threat of Qaeda-affiliated outsiders, has publicly ignored these grievances, and his exit strategy may be fuel-

abductions, torture and ethnic cleansing of Sunnis” have risen dramatically in Iraq since a Shiite religious coalition took control of the government and the Interior Ministry, which controls the police. Many of the atrocities, he says, have been “conducted by Shia death squads operating in and alongside police units.” Interior Ministry forces have allegedly allowed Moqtada al-Sadr’s militias to launch violent attacks on Sunni targets in recent weeks. Equally troubling for the Sunnis is the prominent role that the Kurdish peshmerga and several Shiite militias have played in governing parts of Iraq. The Kurds have been charged with ethnically cleansing the oil-rich Kirkuk region. In the south, the Shiite Badr Organization is

accused of assassinating Sunni civilians and even government officials, among a long and shocking list of other alleged abuses. Moreover, Iraq’s constitution could become a ticking time bomb if Iraq’s new parliament does not substantially revise it. Diamond notes that the document allows the predominantly Shiite and Kurdish areas of the country to form autonomous regions in the north and south of the country, giving these groups a stranglehold on virtually all of Iraq’s energy resources and leaving the Sunnis destitute. The first job of any new democracy is to ensure that it does not oppress minorities. Yet in pursuit of America’s short-term priorities of killing al-Qaeda fighters and exiting Iraq, we have spent billions of dollars building a largely Shiite-dominated Iraqi security force to enforce a potentially Shiite-dominated political system. Viewed from this angle, it’s no wonder that Sunnis are finding it difficult to cooperate with Iraq’s new political realities. U.S. diplomats and Sunni and Kurdish politicians are racing against time to place checks on Shiite power before violence spins out of control. These efforts are admirable, but as more Iraqis die, patience runs thin. If the fighting becomes self-sustaining, coalition forces could find themselves bogged down for a decade. American leaders in both parties have demanded an exit strategy so that our troops in Iraq can ride into the sunset. Instead, we may have carelessly constructed a Trojan horse.

Nate Goralnik ’06 knows the bouncer at Club Sex Spiros.

Paternalism in sheep’s clothing We need to tread lightly when we tell the developing world how to handle itself BY MATT PREWITT GUEST COLUMNIST

In a recent opinions column (“Thomas Friedman can kiss my ass,” March 8), Andrew Marantz ’06.5 criticized the ideological conflation of economic development with happiness. These two variables, he suggests, can vary independently, and we should therefore temper our “paternalistic” enthusiasm over India’s modernization. He goes on to say that “American-style capitalism” ruins cultures, isolates individuals and pits them against oppressive, overbearing sociopolitical forces. I am sympathetic to many of Marantz’s arguments. However, his basic premise, that wealth and happiness are not to be confused, epitomizes the sort of thinking that I feel almost morally obligated to speak out against. It is a common refrain in educated discourse that economic measures of well-being are incomplete. While such measures fail to capture every variable, they usually prove to be extremely meaningful and the most useful quantitative tools in existence for assessing the health of a society. When countries undergo rapid economic modernization, there occur lots of ugly side effects and growing pains to which people can point as evidence that modernization is not benefiting people. Still, I find it a fairly absurd suggestion that as societies become wealthier, their constituents do not become happier as an aggregate. It is not at all paternalistic to encour-

age or even celebrate economic growth in poor countries. On the contrary, I find it paternalistic to suggest that modernization ought to be resisted because of its effect on traditional cultures and values. I lament the decline of traditional societies, but I do not think it is my business to protect them at the economic expense of their people. If the enrichment of a poor society means that people start drinking

happiness product” and claims to value his peoples’ happiness more than their wealth. To my ears, this is a despot’s sleazy excuse to continue to do poorly in an important area for which he can easily be held accountable. No one will ever be able to accuse the king of stewarding his country toward a sub-par gross happiness product, because no such thing exists. In the words of Marantz, “aesthetics

I lament the decline of traditional societies, but I do not think it is my business to protect them at the economic expense of their people. Pepsi instead of tea, I’m not going to say they’ve made a bad decision. It would be paternalistic of me to do so, particularly because that very same societal enrichment enables people to educate their children and protect their families from disease. To lament modernization based on a critical distaste for industrialized society is to fall prey to an insidious and markedly out-of-touch brand of hyperintellectualism. Marantz cites the example of the king of Bhutan, who coined the term “gross

and human dignity are harder to quantify than economic growth.” This is manifestly true; it is also precisely the reason why policymakers ought to worry more about bottom lines than about abstractions. They are simply more tractable — not to mention objective. I am not unsympathetic to highminded anti-capitalist ideas. Economic modernization definitely imposes new values upon traditional societies. It does not change everything for the better. However, we need to be careful about

opposing the modernization of Third World countries for several reasons. First of all, the destruction of traditional culture is very often a non-unique objection to development. Most poor countries have already been irreversibly run over by Western influences via centuries of colonialism and decades of exposure to consumerist culture. Billions of people around the world would voluntarily choose a consumerist lifestyle if it were a feasible option. For us to object on the basis of a disconnected nostalgia for traditional values is extremely paternalistic. We ought to be very sure that we do not oppose the will of the people in question when we lament the sort of accelerated development that India is experiencing. I am taking it as a premise that in the very long run, nearly everyone in a poor society will benefit monetarily from a shift to what Marantz calls “Americanstyle capitalism.” If this statement rings false to him, then our disagreement is academic rather than ideological. In fact, my only ideological claim is that we should not impose our will upon less powerful nations. Discouraging cultural change on the other side of the world usually amounts to just that. When we dictate the way countries ought to modernize, we maintain our paternalistic grip on other nations’ self-determination — even if it comes in the guise of defending the underprivileged and fighting inequality.

Matt Prewitt ’08 is not a sell-out.

SPORTS THURSDAY THE BROWN DAILY HERALD · MARCH 23, 2006 · PAGE 12

Schneider ’06 on fencing safety, D&D enthusiasts

A salute to Brown’s unknown superstars You know the bit about the tree falling in the forest? The whole thing about if nobody hears it, does it make a sound? (No, I don’t mean the one about it hitting a mime.) Well, how about if a Brown athlete has a superb career and nobody is there to see it? Do the championships matter any less? Are the hours of practice any less validated? C l e a r l y, the answer to both is no. CHRIS HATFIELD Any athlete BROWN SUGAR at a school like Brown competes for all those clichéd reasons we’re sick of hearing athletes talk about — it’s for the love of the game, it’s from an inner drive to win, etc. I’m not referring to the generally poor fan turnout at most athletics contests — that’s a topic for another day. I’m referring in particular to a trio of athletes who’ve had fantastic careers that you haven’t seen because they’ve participated in “fringe” sports, or at least sports that are not spectator-friendly. Fencer Ruth Schneider ’06, diver Jessica Larson ’06 and

BY KATE KLONICK SPORTS STAFF WRITER

All-American fencer Ruth Schneider ’06 closed out her collegiate career this weekend with a 24thplace finish at the NCAA Championships ATHLETE OF in Texas. THE WEEK It was her third time qualifying for the national championship, her career-best finish coming sophomore year, when she placed fifth. This season, Brown’s first competing in the Ivy League, Schneider earned first team AllIvy honors by going 13-5 over the two Ivy meets.

dspics.com

Kelly O’Hear ’07, who was recently named an Academic All-Ivy Team member, is one of several superstars in the University’s athletic program that often goes unseen. skier Kelly O’Hear ’07 were the three most dominant athletes for Brown this winter other than Ivy League women’s basketball Player of the Year Sarah Hayes ’06. (I’m excluding Brittany Grovey ’06 because track and field is a year-round sport.) Chances are you’ve heard more about Hayes — not that she

Pollard Award winners Romar, Hewitt will be featured at open forum On Wednesday, April 5 at 7 p.m. in Sayles Hall, the University and the Black Coaches Association will sponsor an open forum featuring Paul Hewitt, head men’s basketball coach at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Lorenzo Romar, head men’s basketball coach at the University of Washington. Hewitt and Romar are the last two recipients of the Fritz Pollard ’19 Award, which is given annually by the BCA to the top male college coach that season. Also at the forum will be Kevin McNamara, who covers basketball nationwide for the Providence Journal, and as BCA director Floyd Keith. Hewitt guided the Yellow Jackets to the National Championship game in 2004, making him the inaugural winner of the Fritz Pollard Award. Before accepting the Georgia Tech job, Hewitt led Siena College to a 66-27 overall record and two Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season titles. He also led the Saints to the NCAA tournament in 1999, their first appearance in 10 years.

Herald: How did you get involved in a sport like fencing? Schneider: I have an older brother and he wanted to play hockey. My parents were convinced it was way too violent and bloody. So my parents told him that fencing would be equally violent and brutal — which it’s actually not. I mean you show an 11-year-old boy a sword and he gets pretty excited. And so he started and I followed him in. It was convenient: The club was right down the street from my house.

doesn’t deserve the publicity — than the other three combined. Not that it’s your fault you haven’t: The swimming and diving teams’ meets aren’t exactly hot sports fan destinations, the fencing team had three home meets over the see HATFIELD, page 8

How old were you? I think I was about eight (and in) second grade. When did you start competing? Early on, the youth circuit wasn’t as well developed, but they had competitions at a fairly young age. I was probably 10 or 11 when I started going to nationals. When I was younger I went to local ones. Did it set you apart from your friends? The fencing community is not very big anywhere. In Rochester, (N.Y.), it drew a diverse group of people from all over. They were not my classmates. It’s good because it’s all different ages and schools. Did you have two different groups growing up? Fencing friends and school friends? No overlap at all. All of my close friends went to suburban schools. And it’s a fairly big-time commitment when you travel with them a lot. You grew up in Rochester, is see SCHNEIDER, page 4

W. tennis escapes Pitz of defeat in 7-0 sweep BY BART STEIN SPORTS STAFF WRITER

The women’s tennis team snapped a four-match losing streak with style Wednesday, dominating the University of Connecticut in a 7-0 victory at the Pizzitola Center. The Bears (4-6) were in desperate need of relief after a schedule that included three

After a three-year run at Siena, Hewitt accepted the job at Georgia Tech in the spring of 2000. In 2001, Hewitt helped the team go from 13-17 to 17-13 and gain an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. That season, he was also named Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year. Romar joined the Huskies in 2002 and has amassed a 7035 overall record, with NCAA Tournament appearances in three out of his four years. In 2005, he led them to a 29-6 record and the team’s first-ever number one seed in the tournament. Currently, Romar and the Huskies are in the Sweet Sixteen and will take on the University of Connecticut on Friday. Before elevating the Huskies to a Pacific-10 Conference power, Romar played for them from 1978 to 1980. He was then selected in the seventh round of the 1980 National Basketball Association draft by the Golden State Warriors and went on to play five seasons in the league.

straight matches against top25 opponents. The Huskies, while a solid team, were certainly beatable and presented an opportunity for Bruno to gain some momentum heading into the Ivy season. “We were definitely the favorite,” said Head Coach Paul Wardlaw. “Getting this win is great for our confidence heading forward.”

The Bears played with a swagger that had been noticeably absent in previous weeks. The team did not lose a single match against the Huskies, a feat they had been unable to attain all season. Daisy Ames ’07 and Kara Zeder ’07 kicked things off with a convincing 8-1 victory at first see W. TENNIS, page 9

How to win your NCAA pool: skill, luck, vowels The guys at the office I worked for a few summers ago used to tell the story of Elaine Warner, a lawyer in capital cases who had dominated the 2002 NCAA office pool. One year, Elaine had spontaneously entered KATE KLONICK a bracket in KLONICLES the office’s annual March Madness tournament. Although she was the gambling type, Elaine was not the sports type, usually spending most of her lunch break throwing virtual quarters into

— Justin Goldman

Internet slot machines, not checking box scores. So, when she put her name into the 200-plus-person pool, everyone had expected quick elimination. But four weeks later, Elaine proved to be her own little Cinderella story, the only one in the entire office to have a near perfect bracket by the championship game. How had a college basketball neophyte like Elaine plotted her brilliant picks to win it all? She had constructed all of her selections based on uniform colors. Specifically, she had gone through each match-up and chosen the team that used primary colors. If two opposing teams had primary colors,

she had chosen based on aesthetics and creativity of the uniform. This method led her to a Duke-Arizona championship game, with the Blue of the Devils beating the Wildcats not only on the court, but also on style. Elaine’s story speaks less to what makes a uniform pleasing to the eye and more to the unpredictability of the men’s college basketball championship tournament. Every year, people all over the country construct college hoops predictions through various modes of analysis, many more peculiar than uniform color. The more trasee KLONICK, page 7

BROWN SPORTS SPRING BREAK SCHEDULE BASEBALL MARCH 25, 26, 27 — at Virginia Military Institute MARCH 28 — at Elon MARCH 29 — at Davidson MARCH 30 — at Greensboro College APRIL 1 — at Penn (DH) APRIL 2 — at Columbia (DH)

GYMNASTICS MARCH 25 — at ECAC Championships MEN’S LACROSSE MARCH 25 — at Ohio State MARCH 29 — at Notre Dame

WOMEN’S CREW MARCH 25 — at Princeton with Michigan APRIL 1 — vs. Radcliffe MEN’S GOLF APRIL 1-2 — at Drew Upton Memorial (Westover, Md.)

SOFTBALL MARCH 24 — vs. St. Francis (UMBC Tournament) MARCH 25 — vs. Niagara; vs. Sacred Heart; vs. UMBC (UMBC Tournament) MARCH 26 — vs. TBA (UMBC Tournament) MARCH 28 — at Maryland (DH) MARCH 29 — at Towson (DH) MARCH 30 — at UMBC (DH) APRIL 1 — at Monmouth (DH)

WOMEN’S TENNIS MARCH 22 — Brown, Connecticut MARCH 27 — at Florida Atlantic MARCH 29 — at Florida International MEN’S & WOMEN’S TRACK MARCH 25 — at Army Invitational MARCH 31-APRIL 1 — at Stanford Invitational WOMEN’S WATER POLO

WOMEN’S LACROSSE MEN’S TENNIS MARCH 23 — at Holy Cross MARCH 25 — vs. St. Bonaventure MARCH 29 — at New Hampshire APRIL 2 — vs. Dartmouth

MARCH 26 — at Virginia Commonwealth MARCH 29 — at North Carolina State MARCH 30 — at Wake Forest

MARCH 25 — at UC Davis MARCH 26 — at California MARCH 28 — at Sonoma State; at Pacific MARCH 29 — at Santa Clara APRIL 1-2 — at ECAC Championsips (College Park, Md.)