The Brown Daily Herald F riday, A pril 25, 2008
Volume CXLIII, No. 59
Since 1866, Daily Since 1891
Shaky economy a major challenge, U. officials say
‘ I bri n g lo v e , lo v e to the people ’
By Alex Roehrkasse Senior Staff Writer
Min Wu / Herald
Swedish music phenom Gunther performed Wednesday in Alumnae Hall with the Sunshine Girls. See Page 3, Q&A Page 15
Profs.’ pay sees no real increase By Kyla Wilkes Contributing Writer
Brown professors’ salaries increased by 3.9 percent this year — a slightly higher rate of increase than the national average of 3.8 percent, according to a study by the American Association of University Professors released April 14. But this increase is not enough to keep up with inflation, the study says, resulting in no increase in real income for postsecondary educators. The AAUP study examined salaries of professors, administrators and coaches at colleges across the country, and the data reflect percentage increase between the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 academic years. Dean of the Faculty Rajiv Vohra P’07 wrote in an e-mail to The Herald that University faculty pay rose an average of 5 percent per year from 2001 to 2007. Nationally, salaries of professors are not keeping up with those in other professions, said John Curtis, director of research and public policy for the AAUP, a professors’ advocacy group. The study’s data are worrying “in the sense that there’s always a question of whether we can attract the best and most capable” individuals to the postsecondary education profession, Curtis said. Brown tends to follow national trends, Carolyn Dean, associate dean of the faculty, wrote in an e-mail to The Herald. The average full-time Brown professor’s salary is $139,900, according to this year’s AAUP data. Brown’s salary is above the national average salary of $118,444, but the University is still the lowest-paying in the Ivy League. On average, Harcontinued on page 13
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ARTS & CULTURE
Taking it off Six money-strapped actors reveal it all for a little cash in ‘The Full Monty’
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The turbulent economy that some experts and politicians argue is bound for a recession may present significant financial challenges for Brown, according to senior University administrators. Recent pledges to improve undergraduate financial aid and plans for ambitious capital projects may strain the University’s finances in the face of a staggering economy, but such stress would not affect Brown’s commitment to those goals, administrators said. Both fundraising and investment returns on Brown’s endowment are down from record-setting performances last year, though administrators are hopeful that they will
bounce back in the last quarter of the fiscal year, which ends in June. But the Corporation, the University’s highest governing body, is concerned about the bleak economic landscape, said Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Elizabeth Huidekoper. She acknowledged several economic indicators of potential strains on the University’s coffers, but maintained that the Corporation’s concerns are at present “mostly speculative.” Nevertheless, the University must formulate contingency plans for any situation in which the economy might “fall off,” Huidekoper said. “We are trying to proceed with continued on page 4
A sad tune for BSR: New frequency denied for now By George Miller Senior Staff Writer
Brown Student and Community Radio has lost, for now, in its long bid to find a new home on the airwaves. In one of the longest cases in the history of the Federal Communications Commission, the agency has awarded the low-power FM frequency 96.5 to a coalition of two churches and a Bible college. Since its 1997 creation, BSR has been broadcasting on 88.1 FM, renting time from a frequency owned by the Wheeler School, the nursery-to12th-grade school on Hope Street.
But the station has been seeking a different broadcast outlet “almost since it began broadcasting,” according to its Web site. In 2000, BSR applied for 96.5 FM, Providence’s only low-power FM frequency, in hopes of having its own home. Twelve other groups vied for the spot. The station’s hope was that broadcasting from Providence — as opposed to Seekonk, Mass., where the antenna is currently located — would strengthen BSR’s ties to the city. BSR’s community relationship has been very important to the orcontinued on page 4
Min Wu / Herald
Emily Josephs ‘08, left, and Elizabeth Gilbert ‘08 host the show “Absolutely Ridiculous” on Brown Student and Community Radio.
SPOTLIGHT
New UCS VP faces tough dynamic
Saucy gentlemen debut a new ketchup Mark Ramadan ’08 and Scott Norton ’08, along with a friend from USC, have been working to create a gourmet ketchup. They think the spicy style will sell best.
By Catherine Cullen Contributing Writer
Sir Kensington is a nobly born graduate of Oxford University who holds three degrees and is credited with the invention of re-insurance. He cuts an impressive figure and is said to resole his shoes with old top hats and have a smaller version of his cane within his cane. Kensington is rumored to have “invented romance when he tired of committing adultery,” and “invented hunting to amuse himself on bank holidays.” Who is Sir Kensington? The monocle-wearing, top-hat-sporting, black-and-white cartoon figure is the public face of a new gourmet ketchup brand bearing his name. Despite Kensington’s myriad accomplishments, he is first and foremost the brainchild of entrepreneurs Scott Norton ’08 and Mark Ramadan ’08. The duo, along with Norton’s childhood friend and University of Southern California
Courtesy of Mark Ramadan
By Chaz Kelsh Senior Staff Writer
Michael MacCombie ’11 was elected vice president of the Undergraduate Council of Students in a runoff election against Ellen DaSilva ’10, UCS officials announced last night. MacCombie received 336 votes, or 60 percent, while DaSilva, a Herald account manager, received 226 votes, or 40 percent. The runoff was necessary after neither candidate received 50 percent of the vote in the first election because of writein ballots. The results were announced at midnight on the steps of Faunce House. “I am very excited about this,” said MacCombie, immediately after hearing the results by phone. He was
senior Brandon Child, are the pioneers behind “Sir Kensington’s Gourmet Scooping Ketchup.” The high-end brand is set to debut at a launch party Saturday night and is the culmination of a semester’s hard work, determination and occasional physical injury. ‘I have a great idea’ When Norton visited Child at USC over winter break, Child presented him with a business continued on page 8
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CAMPUS NEWS
Summer internships Sixty-five students will collect summer internship funding through CDC programs
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OPINIONS
Pie in the face Kevin Roose ‘09.5 and Professor Stephen Porder protest the pie-throwing protesters
195 Angell Street, Providence, Rhode Island
cloudy 57 / 43
tomorrow’s weather Saturday will be cloudy but hopefully, the outlook on your final exams is a bit better
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