Monday, July 21, 2008 by The Brown Daily Herald

The Brown Daily Herald M onday, J uly 21, 2008

Volume CXLIII, No. 60

U. to offer Farsi courses in the fall

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Summer reading, writing required for incoming freshmen

By Gaurie Tilak Staf f Writer

Want to study Farsi — a language spoken by millions of people in Iran and across the world — while at Brown? Before this year, you’ve had to go beyond the course catalog. But with a recent anonymous gift from an Iranian alum, the University will be able to offer classes in Persian language and culture for at least the next three years. Two year-long courses, in basic and intermediate modern Persian, will be offered beginning this September, said Merle Krueger, associate director of the Center for Language Studies. Beginning in fall 2009, a higher-level course will be offered as well. The donor, who asked to remain anonymous, was born in Iran and moved to the United States at age 15. Farsi is her first language. “Given the political break between Iran and the United States, I believe that the only way to bridge the cultural gap between the two countries is through education,” she wrote in an e-mail to The Herald. She added that she was already involved with an exchange program that brought Iranian scholars to the United States to promote cultural understanding. “I was happy to help with this,” the donor wrote. “Learning Persian is important for U.S. students’ understanding of the Iranian people.” Assistant Provost Shelley Stephenson said the University began seeking donations to support the program in early 2007, The Herald reported in April 2007. Last

By Christian Martell Staff Writer

Jacob Melrose / Herald

Gymnast Alicia Sacramone ’10 has been named to the U.S. Olympic team, along with steeplechaser Anna Willard ’06 and rower Portia Johnson McGee ’01.

See Sports page 12

In a trend, 21 grads awarded Fulbrights By Emmy Liss Senior Staf f Writer

Jacob Izenberg ’08 always wanted to go to medical school, but first he planned to take a year off and hoped to live in a foreign country. He found “the ideal way to go abroad,” he said — a Fulbright grant. Izenberg is one of 21 recent Brown graduates to receive a Fulbright scholarship this year. The Fulbright Program asks students to design an independent project studying, researching or teaching in one of more than 140 countries. Approximately 1,500 grants are awarded annually to students from the United

continued on page 4

States, according to the Institute of International Education’s Web site. With his grant, Izenberg is going to Malaysia, where he will look at the differences between public and private health care. He will visit private and government hospitals, health facilities and clinics across the countr y, studying how the systems are dif ferent. He hopes to collect data from doctors and patients in the system, and ultimately write about what he learns. Linda Dunleavy, associate dean of the College for fellowships and pre-law, said the grant has become increasingly popular in the past three years;

last year, 25 students received Fulbrights. Now, she said, more students know about the opportunity, and “success breeds success.” This year, 58 students applied, yielding a 36 percent acceptance rate. In recent years, Brown students’ acceptance rate into the program has been one of the highest in the countr y. Dunleavy attributed the University’s perennial success with Fulbrights to “the character of Brown students.” “The Brown cur riculum encourages students to think independently and take risks,” continued on page 6

Zager ’10 remembered for love of learning By George Miller Senior Staff Writer

In elementary school, Scott Zager ’10 stole a physics textbook. It belonged to his brother, high school student Nick, but Scott was so intrigued by it that he wanted it for himself. “He would read textbooks like a beach novel,” Scott’s mother, Gina Zager, said. “He read the dictionary to learn new words.” Zager’s parents told their son he would have to return his brother’s book and save up money to buy his own. They were surprised when he actually did. Zager died May 26 at age 19, months after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. Friends and family remembered him as thoughtful of others and brilliant in and out of school. Samantha Scudder ’10 went to high school in Illinois with Zager before they both came to Brown, and called him one of her closest friends. When Zager first found out

21, 20

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about his cancer in December 2007, near the end of the fall semester, he didn’t tell her for a couple weeks. He didn’t want to interrupt her studying for finals, Scudder said. “He never wanted to bother anyone, even when he was sick,” she said. Zager’s illness forced him to finish that semester’s work from Illinois. Even as he was leaving campus, he didn’t want to pack up his room, assuming that he would be back after the winter recess, his mother said. Zager saw missing school as the worst part of the disease, she said, adding that he never turned angry or asked, “Why me?” Zager concentrated in math at Brown, though he was also interested in philosophy, physics and programming — “geeky kinds of things,” his girlfriend, Emilie Yeh, a rising junior at Johns Hopkins, told The Herald in May. Zager’s enthusiasm for studying impressed Assistant Professor of

postClass of 2012: Ask not what Brown can do for you, but what you can do for Brown

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Philosophy Joshua Schechter, who taught Zager in PHIL 1300: “Philosophy of Mathematics.” Although Zager was a first-year when he took the class in fall 2006, “he didn’t strike me as a freshman,” Schechter told The Herald in May. Zager even worked as a programmer for his high school, Scudder said, working on its Web site with her. He owned many computers, and his devotion to the machines — named Caspar, Crayon, Melchior, Enoch, Pontifex, Lappy and Solomon — was “kind of obsessive,” Scudder said. “Scott was always trying to learn as much as he could in the hopes of being able to discover something on his own,” said Glen Hamman, a high school friend of Zager. Zager’s wake was held May 28 and his funeral May 29, at the St. Raphael Church in his hometown, Naperville, Ill. Gina Zager expressed thanks for the outpouring of letters from

Playing hard to get The governor vetoed a plan to award Rhode Island’s electors to the presidential popular vote winner

CAMPUS NEWS

The Class of 2012 may prove to be the University’s most diverse class yet. But no matter where they hail from, all incoming first-years have the same summer assignment: to read “The Places In Between,” a book by Rory Stewart, and write a letter to their academic advisers based upon it. In “Places,” Stewart, a Scottish journalist, recounts his experience traveling through a post-Sept. 11 Afghanistan. Dean of the College Katherine Bergeron chose the book. “This book will get them thinking about their own journey,” said Ann Gaylin, associate dean of first-year and sophomore studies, who is new to the University this year. The book was much welcomed by Virginia native Misha Desai ’12, who said “Places” is one of his “favorite books of all time.” Having read the book about two years ago, Desai said he views Stewart as a “19th-century hero in the flesh” and even tried contacting him by sending letters to his home in Kabul, Afghanistan, asking for advice on what to study in college. Desai’s question may be answered sooner than he expected — with Stewart scheduled to speak on campus in October. “It’s moments like that when I know I picked the right school,” Desai said. Ora Star Boncore ’12, also from Virginia, said she wasn’t surprised at being assigned summer reading because it’s something she’s lived with since the fourth grade. Even so, she was “a little confused” about how discussions would be organized without requiring students to enroll in a particular class. But Boncore, like the rest of her class, received a copy of the book in July, along with a letter from Bergeron explaining that discussion sessions led by faculty would take place during the week of Orientation. continued on page 6

Scott Zager ’10

PRE-SORTED

the Brown community at the news of Scott’s death, including those from faculty and President Ruth Simmons. “It reinforces what an incredible kid he was,” she said.

Endangered species Three U. buildings top this year’s Providence Preservation Society endangered properties list

195 Angell Street, Providence, Rhode Island

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Brown by ebay James Shapiro ’10 says that if legacy admissions are about money, an auction is the way to go

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Calendar

Nightmarishly Elastic | Adam Robbins

July 22, 5 p.m.: Celebrate Providence! concert series. Rubblebucket Orchestra will perform at Brown Street Park, behind Hope High School. July 23, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Blood drive in Leung Gallery. July 24, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Concert Under the Elms at John Brown House. Pendragon will perform traditional New England music. July 25, 7 p.m.: Providence Roller Derby, downtown at Bank of America City Center. The MOB Squad will play the Sakonnet River Roller Rats.

Vagina Dentata | Soojean Kim

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

Free Variation | Jeremy Kuhn

RELEASE DATE– Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Los Angeles Times Daily oCrossword Puzzle C r o ssw rd

Opus Hominis | Miguel Llorente

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

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41 Pre-World Series event, for short 44 More posh 47 Euphemistic exclamation of disappointment 49 Furnisher of many dorm rooms 50 Snick-or-__ 53 1970s-’80s John Candy vehicle, familiarly 54 Skin opening

55 Popular frozen drink 56 Joe in an urn 57 Forget to mention 58 Au pair’s charges 60 Honest-togoodness 61 Can of worms, say 62 IRS info 64 Apple for the teacher? 65 Dr. Seuss’s Sam__

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State’s electoral votes may end up playing hard to get Carcieri ’65 vetoes bill to award electors to national popular vote winner By Sara Sunshine Staf f Writer

Local activists and state legislators want the popular vote to determine how electors are awarded in November. The National Popular Vote Bill is part of a state-by-state effort to ensure the winner of the national popular vote for president wins the election. On June 20, the State House of Representatives passed the bill, which had been approved by the State Senate in late May. Gov. Donald Carcieri ’65 vetoed the bill on July 2, calling the bill an attempt to “subvert the Constitution” in a press release. The bill is based on each state’s right to allocate electoral votes however it sees fit. Currently, states either allocate all of their electoral votes to the winner of their state, or allocate their electoral votes by region. If the bill were enacted, Rhode Island would pledge all electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote in the presidential election. The bill is designed to take effect only after enough states have passed it to ensure the 270 electoral votes needed for an Electoral College majority, effectively awarding the election to whoever receives the most votes. At the moment, the National Popular Vote bill has been enacted in four states: Maryland, Hawaii, Illinois and New Jersey. The bill has been introduced into 47 state legislatures, passing 20, said Ari Savitsky ’06, the director of FairVote Rhode Island, an organization lobbying for the bill’s passage in the Ocean State. The movement also enjoys significant popular support. A Providence Journal poll conducted in early June showed 74 percent of Rhode Islanders in favor of the bill, mirroring results reported in other states. Still, the bill has been controversial. Although it passed comfortably in the Senate, the House vote was a narrow 36-34. Proponents of the bill argue that an electoral system based on popular vote is more democratic. Currently, the mathematical ratio of each state’s electoral votes to its population is not uniform across the country, meaning that the number of electoral votes awarded per person in Wyoming is almost four times greater than in New York. A national popular vote would also prevent a situation similar to the 2000 election, when candidate Al Gore received half a million votes more than his opponent, then Texas Gov. George W. Bush, and lost because he had fewer electoral votes. Savitsky, who is also a former Herald opinions editor, said a national popular vote would give candidates, who currently focus the majority of their efforts in a small number of swing states, “incentive to campaign everywhere.” A national popular vote would also be “extremely empowering to local voters,” Savitsky said, because it encourages more political activ-

ism. Many Americans living in states like Rhode Island – which generally leans strongly Democratic – would see a renewed interest in public debate, he added “Right now in Rhode Island, if you want to affect the election, you drive to New Hampshire,” Savitsky said. But the protracted 2008 primary battle changed that, he added. “Because of this Democratic primary, a lot of states that hadn’t been campaigned in a while got a taste of what it feels like to matter,” Savitsky said. “It was incredibly exciting.” But not everyone thinks a national popular vote is a good idea. In his veto message, Carcieri said the bill was “an attempt to eviscerate the Electoral College and subvert the Constitution of the United States.” Changing the state-based electoral system could make elections less democratic, said Carroll Andrew Morse, who writes for Anchor Rising, a conservative Rhode Island blog. The candidates would not spread the focus of their campaign, he said, but “someone like George W. Bush would have concentrated on ramping up his big turn-out machine that he had established in Texas.” A national popular vote would “diminish small state influence” and augment the importance of the densely populated California and other such states, said Wendy Schiller, associate professor of political science. Because the less populous states generally tend to vote Republican, there is a partisan aspect to this issue, said Schiller. The Providence Journal poll showed only 35 percent of conservative Republicans favored the National Popular Vote bill, as opposed to 86 percent of liberal Democrats who supported it. However, Savitsky said the National Popular Vote bill enjoys support across the political spectrum, including from a reported 63 percent of moderate Republicans. “People talk about blue states and red states. We’re the United States of America, and ... that is the way we should elect the president,” he said. Such sentiments hold little appeal for some conservaties including Morse, who said he thinks a national popular vote is simply unconstitutional — specifically in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s clause regarding state representatives. Schiller, meanwhile, said that view merely supports the fact that a constitutional amendment would be required to change the electoral system. The National Popular Vote bill is “a signal to Congress that there’s support in the states,” she said. There are other mechanical problems with a national popular vote, Schiller said. Recounts would be “almost impossible” and “it’s unclear who would supervise and certify these elections.” Savitsky said that the National Popular Vote bill is completely constitutional, pointing out that the states were granted “complete and plenary power” over their electors. “If you talk about what the founders’ intent was or what the framework of the Constitution is ... it’s very clear that the states have complete power to enter into a compact like this.” “The words ‘The Electoral College’ do not appear in the United continued on page 6

Steve DeLucia / Herald

Local residents and the University have helped revitalize Brown Street Park, which faces Hope High School.

Neighbors breathe new life into local park By Anne Simons Staf f Writer

When Brown students return to Providence this fall, they will find a newly revamped destination for outdoor play, exercise and relaxation just a brief walk north of the Pembroke campus. Brown Street Park, at the corner of Brown and Creighton streets, has been rejuvenated by a group of neighbors, aided by community members including the University. These neighbors came together in 2006 to create Friends of Brown Street Park, a non-profit organization whose mission is to “create the first eco-conscious park in the city with a focus on health and fitness,” according to its Web site. Just a few years ago, the park, located behind Hope High School, was underused, said Wendy Nilsson and Allison Spooner, co-chairs of the organization. With help from the Providence Parks Department and the local community, they decided to transform the park, which Nilsson described as an “urban jungle” – a small children’s park with an adjacent dog park. Nilsson said Brown, the Rhode Island School of Design and the Wheeler School donated materials, time and expertise to the effort. RISD architecture students built sculptures and climbing structures out of strapping boards and rope. They also reused materials like old school playground equipment and large tires. “We’re using almost entirely, where possible, all re-used, revitalized and re-purposed and reloved equipment and materials in really creative and innovative ways at a low cost or no cost,” Nilsson said. The University has also added the park to its recycling pick-up route, making it the first park in the city to have a recycling program, she said. Edward Mullen, senior instrument maker in the Division of Biology and Medicine, helped install a large sail that provides shade to a portion of the park, Nilsson said. In an e-mail to The Herald, Mullen downplayed his contribution, saying he ended up “doing nothing but talking about

Steve DeLucia / Herald

Improvements at the park included sculptures, play equipment and landscaping.

the project.” But Nilsson said he helped determine which materials to use and find low-cost options for the sail. The group also organizes weekly events at the park, including stor ytelling for children and an adult fitness class, which is like an “outdoor boot camp” sponsored by the YMCA, Nilsson said. The University has also helped sponsor “Celebrate Providence,” a performing arts series that brings dance and musical groups to the park. Nilsson said the first concert on July 8 was attended by several members of the Brown community. Still to come are the Rubblebucket Orchestra, an Afro-beat band from Boston on July 22; Infusion Experience, a local Latin and jazz band with an Afro-Cuban flair on August 5; and the What Cheer? Brigade, a local roaming brass band on August 19. Glenda Goldberg, who lives a few blocks away from the park, lauded the organization’s efforts to make the neighborhood a more vibrant community. “It is such a selfless activity,”

she said. “People don’t volunteer like they used to, and I think this is just an outstanding way to give to the community and get the neighbors together and provide some culture in the neighborhood.” Nilsson said in the future the organization would like to start a program for children to come to the park to learn from and work on projects with local scientists, including Brown professors. Spooner, the organization’s other chair, said she hopes Brown students will help maintain and improve the park, through gardening, watering plants and helping with construction projects. She said the group aims to use the park as a lab – a place where it can experiment with different projects to see which ones appeal to the greatest number of people. “We’re open to ideas and hearing thoughts from other students on how to continue developing it in different ways,” she said. Brown Street Park is a “glimpse at what an urban park can be,” Nilsson added.

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U. to offer Farsi for at least three years continued from page 1 year, several students studied Farsi through a Group Independent Study Project. Students were able to preregister for Persian classes at the end of last semester, Krueger said. He said there are nine students currently signed up for PRSN 0100: “Basic Persian,” and four for PRSN 0300: “Intermediate Persian Language and Culture.” Most other Ivy League schools already offer Persian classes, Provost David Kertzer ’69 P’95 P’98 said. The new program will put Brown in closer touch with the rest of the world, given the current relationship between the United States and Iran, he added. Kertzer said that when he became provost in 2006, he already saw students petitioning for the start of Persian courses. Atena Asiaii ’08 MD’12, founder of Brown’s Persian Club, said over 100 students signed a petition stating their interest in studying Persian. “You can make an argument (to offer courses in) any language,” Kertzer said. But in order to justify starting a program, it’s ultimately about the number of interested students, he said. Krueger said establishing a Persian program requires the creation of a new faculty position, which is

not easy. “It’s not something you can do easily or lightly or inexpensively,” he said. For now, the class will be taught by Iraj Anvar, a visiting lecturer in language studies, who holds a doctorate in Persian language and literature from New York University. Anvar has taught Persian at the University of Wisconsin and NYU. In 2006, Asiaii and other interested students drafted a 30-page proposal explaining the need for Persian classes, citing the current political situation with Iran and strong student interest. Mar yam Shariati, an Iranian scholar brought to Brown through the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program, taught 10 students in a Farsi GISP last year. Through Shariati returned to Iran at the end of the academic year, she has reapplied for a visa to assist in Persian instruction at Brown, according to Krueger. “Our hope is that she will be a TA for the program under Dr. Anvar,” Krueger said. “I think the success of the GISP and the establishment of Persian courses are primarily due to students’ demonstrated initiative,” said Belinda Navi ’09, who helped organize the GISP.

She added that there was significant administrative support for the program. “I’m ver y happy that we have managed to respond to student interest by providing ongoing instruction in Persian,” said Stephenson, who was involved in establishing the program. Persian instruction is not the only new program organized by the Center for Language Studies, Krueger said. The Brown community will be able to take non-credit courses in Swahili, Turkish and Hausa, spoken in Nigeria. Swahili has been offered as a non-credit course for the past three years. Although Brown students can now study Persian, the University does not currently offer a formal undergraduate program in Iran for those looking to study abroad there, said Kendall Brostuen, director of the Office of International Programs. He added that no American university currently runs such a program. Brostuen said that although students are not forbidden from participating in unaffiliated programs in Iran, no student has chosen to study there in recent years. “I hope that someday the situation would be such that we would be able to send students to Iran,” Brostuen said.

C ampus n ews Monday, July 21, 2008

Three Brown properties top endangered list

Zolnierczyk ’11 sentenced to three years’ probation By Alex Roehrkasse Senior Staf f Writer

By Marielle Segarra Staff Writer

The Providence Preservation Society has placed three historic Angell Street buildings at the top of its annual Most Endangered Properties List. The May 23 announcement comes as the University continues to consider proposals to relocate or demolish the buildings to make space for a brain sciences building. The 19th-century buildings — Brown’s Urban Environmental Laboratory and two residences, at 135, 129 and 127 Angell St. respectively — shared first place in a list of 10 sites in Providence. Moving or demolishing the three buildings would make room for the Mind Brain Behavior Building, which is scheduled for completion in spring 2009. University officials have said they are looking for alternative locations for the three buildings. Associate Provost Pamela O’Neil said that, though plans “change almost weekly,” the PPS’s listing has compelled the University to look into donating the 127 and 129 Angell Street buildings to someone who would pay to move them. O’Neil said Brown may be able to provide some funding to the recipient to aid in the moving process. Sara Emmenecker ’04, director of preservation services at the PPS, said removing the buildings will change the Angell Street streetscape dramatically. Replacing the three buildings with larger facilities would “completely change the scale” of the neighborhood, Emmenecker said. “We saw them as significant, not only as historic structures from the 19th century but as providing a historic context of the residential area that once existed.” Emmenecker said though the University initially proposed approximately 15 relocation sites for the buildings at 127 and 129 Angell St., it has since ruled these sites out. The University has named 11 potential sites for the UEL, according to an April 7 article in The Herald. Richard Spies, executive vice president for planning and senior adviser to the president, said many

Steve DeLucia / Herald

127 and 129 Angell St. may be demolished to make room for a new lab. of the proposed locations have not been the right “fit” for the UEL, a converted carriage house that has been home to the Center for Environmental Studies. One proposal would place the UEL across the street from its current location, between Sharpe House and the recently relocated Peter Green House, but Spies said this relocation would “significantly compromise” all three buildings by squeezing them into a small space. Another location, a small parking lot north of Brown/RISD Hillel, wasn’t large enough to house the building, he said. The University is currently exploring relocating the building to 99 Brown Street, along with several other options, Spies said. Spies said that though preserving the buildings is important, the Mind Brain Behavior building will give the University essential lab space for departments that have long had classrooms and labs scattered across campus. The departments of Psychology and Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences are slated to merge into one

department in July 2010. That new department, along with the Brain Sciences Program, will be housed in the new building. The Angell Street location works well for the new building because it is close to the Sidney Frank Hall for the Life Sciences, Spies added. Emmenecker said the Preservation Society, which was founded in 1956 in an effort to stop the destruction of historic College Hill residences, would like to see the buildings relocated in the immediate neighborhood. “What we’re thinking is that Brown owes something to the community, and by making a good faith effort to relocate the houses, it would in some way mitigate what they’re doing by removing them from their original site,” she said. “In an ideal situation, we’d like to see them remain in place.” Because of the buildings’ sizes, moving them any significant distance could present unreasonably high costs — and if the University relocates them at all, it’s more likely to do so nearby, Spies said.

Orr to head Taubman public policy center By Joanna Wohlmuth Senior Staf f Writer

Brown’s former director of the Urban Studies Program began leading the Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions on July 1. Marion Orr, professor of political science, urban studies and public policy, came to Brown in 1999. He worked with the center’s previous director, former Professor of Political Science Darrell West, on a number of research projects including ongoing public opinion polling of the Providence and greater Rhode Island communities. When Orr was of fered the position, he “considered it and decided that it would be an interesting and important job to take on,” he said. “I want to build on the foundation that Darrell West and (the

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Professor of Political Science, Urban Studies and Public Policy Marion Orr

Center’s first director) Thomas Anton built,” Orr said. He hopes to increase the center’s work in the Providence community — a goal consistent with his specialization in urban studies — increase undergraduate and graduate student involvement and

bring high-profile speakers to campus, he said. “My talents, skills and research interests fit with (the Taubman Center),” Orr said, citing his experience as a researcher and as an administrator. When West announced in April that he would be leaving Brown at the end of June to take a position at the Brookings Institution, a public policy think tank in Washington, administrators decided that an internal replacement would best meet the needs of the center given the relatively short amount of time they had to fill the position, Dean of the Faculty Rajiv Vohra P’07 told The Herald in April. Under West, the center raised $10 million for its endowment, added more than two dozen courses to the curriculum and increased the number of faculty involved in public policy.

Harrison Zolnierczyk ’11 was sentenced in a Canadian court last month to three years’ probation and a conditional discharge for his role in the production and distribution of a pornographic video involving an underage girl. In 2006, Zolnierczyk and his former Canadian Junior A hockey teammate Bradley Harding surreptitiously videotaped a sexual encounter between Harding and his then-17-year-old girlfriend. He later posted that video on a popular media hosting Web site and showed it to friends and other teammates. Zolniercyzk, who was released from the Brown hockey team in February but remained enrolled in the University through last semester, pleaded guilty in April to two counts of electronic voyeurism. He was sentenced in Port Alberni, British Columbia on June 6. The terms of Zolnierczyk’s probation should allow him to return to Brown, according to Por t Alberni Crown Counsel Gordon Baines, who prosecuted the case. University officials confirmed that Zolnierczyk will return to Brown in the fall as a student, but could not say whether or not he will be allowed to rejoin the hockey team. University athletics administrators did not immediately return requests for comment. “The incident happened before Harry was enrolled and was being handled through Canadian court system which means there was no involvement of university discipline,” Vice President for Public

Affairs and University Relations Michael Chapman wrote in an email to The Herald. “The conditional discharge means the court found no charges to pursue. We expect him to return this fall, and his conduct at Brown has raised no concerns.” Zolnierczyk’s conditional discharge stipulates that the charges to which he pleaded guilty will be wiped from his record after he successfully completes his probation. Baines said that the severity of Zolnierczyk’s sentencing was based on many factors, including the crimes themselves — which he said the judge described as “rather adolescent and disgusting” — and the fact that Zolnierczyk had lied to police about his criminal involvement after his arrest. The sentencing hearing made public for the first time many of the details of the crime, in some cases revealing factual errors in several Canadian news sources’ coverage of the case. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation had incorrectly reported last month that Zolnierczyk had pleaded guilty to charges of child pornography. (The CBC has since issued a correction.) Those charges, resulting from the same incident, were dropped when Zolnierczyk and Harding agreed to enter guilty pleas on the voyeurism counts. Several Canadian newspapers covering the case had also reported that the illicit video had been posted on YouTube. According to Baines, the only Web site on which the video was known to have been posted was photobucket.com, a media hosting Web site. Zolnierczyk did not respond to requests for comment.

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Monday, July 21, 2008

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

U. grads garner Fulbrights once again continued from page 1 she said. Fulbright applications are due to the University in early September. A committee reviews the applications and offers suggestions and feedback to applicants before the proposals are submitted nationally in October. Some students hear back as early as March, while others don’t hear until May, Dunleavy said. For David Fedman ’08, the wait was even longer. Told he was an alternate for a Fulbright in the spring of his senior year, Fedman applied for a number of jobs. The day after graduation, though, he received a phone call “out of the blue” and was awarded a scholarship. “It was the best graduation project I could have imagined,” he said. Fedman is now headed to Japan, where he will research Japanese environmental ethics and how they impact mountaineering. For half the year, he will study histor y at a university in Hokkaido; for the other half, he will be hiking and trekking through the mountains of Japan. Ultimately, Fedman would like to write a book about his ex-

periences in the mountains. The histor y concentrator studied Japanese for four years and has always loved hiking and climbing. His project is “the perfect synthesis of things I’m passionate about,” he said. Fedman sees the Fulbright as a very natural progression for Brown students. “I’m not surprised 21 students received grants,” he said. “We’re able to car ve out our own academic passions and that’s the stepping stone to a Fulbright.” While at Brown, Sade Bonilla ’08 volunteered with English for Action in Providence and studied abroad in Spain. Based on her experiences, she knew she wanted to live abroad, teach and explore a new culture. With her Fulbright, the double concentrator in education studies and public policy is going to Chile to teach English. In Chile, Bonilla also plans to study the Chilean education system, which is based on vouchers and school choice. She hopes her research and obser vations will be able to inform the charter school movement in the U.S. Bonilla said she started thinking about her project as early as sophomore year. She advised fu-

ture applicants to “come up with a project you’re passionate about and be able to explain why it matters.” Victoria Chao ’08 is also teaching English with her grant; she is headed to Taiwan for the year. The international relations concentrator, who focused on political economy and development, said exploring Taiwanese identity was a large component of her undergraduate experience. Through the group Strait Talk, which brings together students from the U.S., Taiwan and China, and through her own family, Chao was exposed to Taiwanese culture and became interested in learning more about it. “I want to understand better where my parents come from, and where the kids I’ve met come from,” she said. Her goal is to develop an understanding about how the Taiwanese education system works. From her perspective, the Fulbright Grant is about more than just scholarship. “It’s not about finding your Ph.D. thesis,” she said. “It’s about fostering international friendships and cultural understanding.”

Legislature pushing for popular vote continued from page 3 States Constitution,” Savitsky added. It is unclear what the fate of National Popular Vote bill will be in Rhode Island. Savitsky said FairVote will not be giving up, pulling for another vote to attempt to override Carcieri’s veto. “From (Carcieri’s) veto message, it seems like not only did he not read the bill, he didn’t read the U.S. Constitution. It displayed no understanding of the compact and what it does, or of the wishes of Rhode Islanders.”

First-years have their first assignment continued from page 6 Araceli Mendez ’12, from Texas, said she is excited to hear everyone else’s opinions about the book. From what she has read so far, Mendez said the book has already taught her to listen to and learn from others even when their ideas and customs may conflict with her own. Opening dialogue between students and Brown faculty is another goal administrators hope to achieve through the summer reading assignment. In her letter, Bergeron asked incoming first year students to tell their advisers about the “academic path” they wish to take at Brown. “Some students have said that they would like to have more meaningful relationships with their advisers,” Gaylin said. “Incorporating the book in the letter to their adviser will allow the advisor to see how the student thinks even before they meet, as well as giving them something to talk about.”

C ampus n ews Monday, July 21, 2008

N e ws

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i n

Brief

Simmons’ assistant to head public affairs Marisa Quinn, the longtime assistant to President Ruth Simmons who was a ubiquitous presence by her boss’s side for five years, will become the new head of Brown’s public relations office, the University announced July 1. Quinn, who coordinated much of the president’s busy schedule and handled many of her communications, will replace Michael Chapman as vice president for public affairs and University relations August 1. “I’ve had this great opportunity to work closely with President Simmons,” Quinn said, “and I’ve learned so much about the University.” She said she was looking forward to being a voice for Brown and adCourtesy of Brown.edu vancing the University’s goals, including internationalization and the Marissa Quinn will be the new head of continued physical expansion of the Brown’s public relations office. campus. Quinn started her career at Brown in the public affairs office, serving as director of community and government relations from 1999 to 2003. Simmons, who Quinn said told her about the vacancy created by Chapman’s departure, said in an interview that Quinn “has many skills and a good deal of knowledge about public affairs.” Simmons is planning to go without an assistant temporarily while she searches for a replacement, she said, a process that will take “at least a couple of months.” Chapman will continue to work at Brown “for the immediate future” to “work on several projects for President Simmons that we will determine shortly,” he wrote in an e-mail to The Herald. “This is a good time for new leadership in PAUR,” he wrote.

— Michael Bechek

RPLs to replace grad students with paid staff By Kyla Wilkes Staf f Writer

The Residential Peer Leader program, which provides counselors for all undergraduate dorms, will change its structure to replace its nine Community Directors — formerly all graduate students — with two full-time employees and staff of four assistant CDs. The new full-time CDs will be required to have completed a graduate degree and to have experience working on college campuses with students, according to Natalie Basil, associate director of residential life, who came to the office last October. The CDs’ responsibilities — holding frequent meetings with their RPLs and acting as sources of support and creativity for them — will remain the same under the new system, Basil said. When asked how the change would affect the student body, Basil said, “It won’t be an earthquake. There will be more of a ripple effect.” She added that the change will create more creative and confident RPLs, who can then better serve their residents. Not everyone is excited about the restructuring. “I think having a grad student be the CD is so much better. ... They understand what its like to be a student,” said Sonia Russo ’09, who has been an RPL for the last two years.

Russo said she was concerned that the structural changes were driven by the desire to enforce University policies more strictly, specifically citing the policy prohibiting underage drinking in the residence halls. Russo said she felt that compared to graduate student CDs, full-time employees would not be as understanding of undergraduate social life and would be less approachable regarding instances of student drinking. “Brown has a very special environment,” Russo said. “Natalie (Basil) is a lot more unfamiliar (than her predecessor) with the way that Brown does things.” Basil said that policy enforcement was not a factor in the decision. “I haven’t changed anything about enforcement policies,” she said. She also added that cost played no role in the decision because the cost of the new system will be the same as in previous years. She said the change was motivated by recommendations from the Committee on the Residential Experience, formed in October 2007 to review students’ experiences beyond the classroom. The committee conducted student focus groups that indicated a need for professional staff in the RPL program, Basil said. Regarding the question of the new CDs’ approachability, Basil said

the new employees would likely be young adults who have experience working with college students. “They will be very in touch with students,” she said. John Dahdah ’09, who has been with the RPL program for two years and is part of the interviewing process for the two new employees, said he sees the change as positive. It has the potential to “take the program to the next level,” he added. Dahdah said he thinks the new full-time employees will be available much more than graduate students with busy class schedules have been in the past. He said the two full-time employees and four assistant CDs will be spread evenly around campus and will continue to give sufficient support and face time to the RPLs. Kirsten Rutkowski MPP’08, a former CD who graduated in May, said she agreed with Dahdah and Basil that this change will be beneficial despite the fact that it will limit the employment opportunities for graduate students. “It might take a little bit of an adjustment” for current RPLs, Rutkowski said. But “it won’t take long for the RPLs to see the benefits,” she added. Basil also said she hoped that RPLs will give the new system a chance before casting judgment. “Brown students are pretty open to trying new things,” she said.

Monday, July 21, 2008

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Sacramone ’10 to join Olympic gymnastics team continued from page 12 that the team “definitely would not be the same” without her. Along with Sacramone, who could not be reached for comment, Memmel, Peszek and Sloan also made the team, while Bieger, Hong and Lothrop were selected as alternates. Sacramone turned professional last September after an incredible showing at the World Championships that earned her a silver medal on the floor and a bronze on the vault, raising her total to seven medals in world competitions. The oldest member of the team, Sacramone is

also one of its leaders, according to her teammates. At last year’s championships, she was recognized by her younger teammates for stepping forward with a powerful pep talk when morale was low and China’s team was close to victory. The U.S. team later took the gold. Although she forfeited her NCAA eligibility by turning pro, Sacramone now serves as an assistant coach to the Bears. Sacramone made the most of the year she spent competing at the collegiate level: As a freshman, she was named ECAC Rookie of the Year and set school records on the vault, floor and all-around.

Steeplechaser Willard ’06 sets U.S. record on way to China continued from page 12 Michigan and began working with Mike McGuire.” Willard’s success at the university level foreshadowed even greater successes this year at the Olympic trials. She was the third seed going into the steeplechase behind 2008 NCAA champion Jennifer Barringer and Lisa Galaviz, who owned the previous American record. Despite being a slight underdog to win the event, Willard pulled away with about 600 meters to go in the race and finished with a crowd of over 20,000 pushing her. She finished first, to a standing ovation, setting an American record of 9:27.56. “I felt strong and comfortable,” Willard said. “I wanted to take the lead earlier, however, I held back to ensure that once I took the lead, it was mine for good. I was focused on

accelerating and hurdling well and it didn’t really hit me until I crossed the line that I was an Olympian.” Joining Willard in the 3000-meter steeplechase in Beijing will be Lindsey Andersen, who posted a time of 9:30.75, which placed her second behind Willard in the trials, and Barringer, who also qualified with a time of 9:33.11. Former American record holder Galaviz did not qualify for the Olympic games in the event. Though pleased with her trial runs, Willard is setting the bar high as she prepares for the games in Beijing. “It was an expectation of mine all year to break the AR and be an Olympian, so to accomplish both at the same time felt more like a relief than anything,” Willard said. “Now I can look to my more lofty goals, like lowering the record below 9:20 and medaling at the Games.”

Asher ’09: Dramatic really ought to mean improbable continued from page 12 A veteran at 33, Nelson has come away from the last two Olympic Games with a silver medal from each, and this could be his last chance for gold. Be sure to watch him, because in an event that isn’t renowned as a spectator sport, Nelson adds some flair and attitude. The Tampa Bay Rays will look to build on their first-half success to make the playoffs for the first

time in franchise histor y. Even if it means sending my beloved Yankees home early, I would appreciate the inspiration provided by that kind of success from Tampa Bay, the team with a payroll lower than the salaries of A-Rod and Derek Jeter, combined. Last but not least, watch the improbable love saga of A-Rod and Madonna. If that’s not drama, then I don’t know what is. Thanks for reading, and enjoy the rest of the summer.

W. crew retains dynasty status after NCAA win continued from page 12 of fifth-place Washington, giving the Bears 67 points overall in the championship to secure the team’s sixth national title in only 12 years of competition. “Our team is pretty small, both in numbers and in size, but my teammates are tenacious,” Stage wrote. “We practice like we compete, and a big part of this team’s success is that Brown Crew is more like a family than a team. We’re a really cohesive group.”

Johnson McGee ’01 headed for Beijing Two-time NCAA champion Portia Johnson McGee ’01, who helped the women’s crew team win titles in 1999 and 2000, has been named to the U.S. women’s Olympic crew team. She will row in the pair. The 2007 USRowing Female Athlete of the Year, Johnson McGee has competed with the U.S. national team four times before in international competition, though this is her first trip to the Olympics.

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E ditorial & L etters Page 10

Monday, July 21, 2008

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Staf f Editorial

Near and far You probably haven’t held this paper in your hands for a while — or ever. This doesn’t usually get too far from College Hill. Nestled between downtown and tree-shaded Blackstone Boulevard, this clump of buildings and tangle of people is a world to us — and will soon welcome about 1,500 new faces — but it could be easily missed by a speedy driver cutting through it on Hope Street. This issue is special because it travels to meet the far-flung fresh faces soon to join the tangle in this clump. Incoming students from from all corners of the country are reading what they will soon be able to pick up in the dining halls or eyeball in the middle of a meeting. And some of you readers have been doing just that for the past year or twenty. You know your favorite study spots on campus and you know when you skip studying to hop onto more immediate, unmissable pursuits. It’s you who can tell these new faces that the Brown that they will learn to navigate in about a month is, ultimately, unknowable — the Browns you have come into last semester, last year, at anytime, are never quite the same. College Hill is small, but it is vast and vibrant because it brings together all of you — the academic curiosity, the athletic vigor and the pure personal passion that you bring are greater than a campus of any size can cradle. We hope you have and will make the most of it — both on and beyond our little Hill. Outside our cozy campus, there’s the rest of the East Side, Providence itself and the whole self-proclaimed Biggest Little State. Use your handy RIPTA riding privileges and go to the zoo. Take a bike ride to Bristol. Walk to India Point park and watch a pick-up game of soccer in the evening. A walk on the seawall can clear any mind of the college hubbub and refresh you to the state you likely are in now — dreaming big as you wait to start an adventure you have long worked toward. Welcome first-timers, and welcome back returnees. A new semester on a campus in flux in an ever-changing world — this fall will bring a new beginning of something for everyone. Brown is a place for all of us to think big while feeling at home. We hope that the campus you happen upon in the fall, whether you’ve never seen it or are here right now, will feel truly yours — and that you will then never hesitate to push farther forward, taking what you gain in our little world to anywhere near and far that you feel called. Look in this issue to see just what you’re coming into. Twenty-one former students won Fulbright scholarships to work abroad this upcoming year. Thirteen students are enrolling in brand-new Persian courses this fall. Alicia Sacramone’s ’10 flips and vaults will soon take her to Beijing. We hope that from College Hill, you can go far, too. In the meantime, we’re happy you’re coming from afar to join us here for something new.

M iguel L lorente

T he B rown D aily H erald Editors-in-Chief Simmi Aujla Ross Frazier

Executive Editors Taylor Barnes Chris Gang

Senior Editors Stephanie Bernhard Irene Chen Lindsey Meyers

editorial Ben Hyman Hannah Levintova Debbie Lehmann Matt Varley Chaz Firestone Nandini Jayakrishna Scott Lowenstein Michael Bechek Isabel Gottlieb Franklin Kanin Michael Skocpol Ben Bernstein James Shapiro Benjy Asher Amy Ehrhart Megan McCahill Andrew Braca Han Cui Katie Wood

Business

Arts & Culture Editor Arts & Culture Editor Higher Ed Editor Higher Ed Editor Features Editor Metro Editor Metro Editor News Editor News Editor News Editor News Editor Opinions Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Sports Editor Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editor

production Production & Design Editor Steve DeLucia Asst. Design Editor Chaz Kelsh Copy Desk Chief Kathryn Delaney Copy Desk Chief Seth Motel Graphics Editor Adam Robbins

Darren Ball General Manager Mandeep Gill General Manager Susan Dansereau Office Manager Alex Hughes Sales Manager Lily Tran Sales Manager Emilie Aries Public Relations Director Jon Spector Accounting Director Claire Kiely National Account Manager Ellen DaSilva University Account Manager Philip Maynard Recruiter Account Manager Katelyn Koh Credit Manager Ingrid Pangandoyon Technology Director photo Photo Editor Photo Editor

Meara Sharma Min Wu post- magazine Matt Hill Rajiv Jayadevan Sonia Kim Allison Zimmer Colleen Brogan Arthur Matuszewski Kimberly Stickels

Managing Editor Managing Editor Features Editor Features Editor Associate Editor Associate Editor Associate Editor

Steve DeLucia, Chaz Kelsh, Designers Senior Staff Writers Sam Byker, Chaz Kelsh, Sophia Li, Emmy Liss, Max Mankin, Brian Mastroianni, George Miller, Alex Roehrkasse, Caroline Sedano, Jenna Stark, Joanna Wohlmuth, Simon van Zuylen-Wood Staff Writers Stefanie Angstadt, Marisa Calleja, Noura Choudhury, Joy Chua, Cameron Lee, Christian Martell, Anna Millman, Seth Motel, Evan Pelz, Eli Piette, Leslie Primack, Marielle Segarra, Melissa Shube, Catherine Straut, Sara Sunshine, Gaurie Tilak, Meha Verghese, Allison Wentz Sports Staff Writers Peter Cipparone, Lara Southern, Nicole Stock Business Staff Stephanie Cheung, Veronica Yu, Jay Guan, Jennifer Chang, Jamie Phinney, Anna Reisetter, Kartika Chourdhury, Serena Ho, Akshay Rathod, Galen Cho, Maryrose Mesa, Van Le, Maura Lynch, Grant LeBeau, Jacqueline Goldman, Dana Feuchtbaum, Geraldo Guanaes, Lauren Presant, Lindsay Walls, Lucy Wang, Ruyi Jiang, Saul Lustgarten, Diego Gomez, Laura Sammartino, Ava Amini, Charley Chen, Lee Chau, Rory Stanton, Oliver Bowers, Katherine Richards, Alison Greenberg, Lilia Royanova Design Staff Jessica Calihan, Serena Ho, Rachel Isaacs, Andrea Krukowski, Joe Larios, Joanna Lee, Alex Unger, Aditya Voleti Photo Staff Oona Curley, Alex DePaoli, Erik Maser, Kim Perley, Quinn Savit Copy Editors Ria Ali, Paula Armstrong, Kim Arredondo, Ayelet Brinn, Aubrey Cann, Rafael Chaiken, Stephanie Craton, Erin Cummings, Julianne Fenn, Jake Frank, Anne Fuller, Josh Garcia, Jennifer Grayson, Rachel Isaacs, Joyce Ji, Jenn Kim, Tarah Knaresboro, Ted Lamm, Alex Mazerov, Lisa Qing, Alex Rosenberg, Madeleine Rosenberg, Elena Weissman, Jason Yum

Correction An article in The Herald (“Profs.’ pay sees no real increase,” April 25) incorrectly cited information from a study by the American Association of University Professors, reported that the average full-time Brown professor earns a salary of $139,000 per year. The average full professor at the University earns a $139,000 salary, while pay for all full-time faculty varies. C O R R E C T I O N S P olicy The Brown Daily Herald is committed to providing the Brown University community with the most accurate information possible. Corrections may be submitted up to seven calendar days after publication. C ommentary P O L I C Y The staff editorial is the majority opinion of the editorial board of The Brown Daily Herald. The editorial viewpoint does not necessarily reflect the views of The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. Columns, letters and comics reflect the opinions of their authors only. L etters to the E ditor P olicy Send letters to letters@browndailyherald.com. Include a telephone number with all letters. The Herald reserves the right to edit all letters for length and cannot assure the publication of any letter. Please limit letters to 250 words. Under special circumstances writers may request anonymity, but no letter will be printed if the author’s identity is unknown to the editors. Announcements of events will not be printed. advertising P olicy The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. reserves the right to accept or decline any advertisement at its discretion.

O pinions Monday, July 21, 2008

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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

A tainted legacy JAMES SHAPIRO Opinions Editor The University has made strides toward equity in admissions, but one longstanding policy continues to tarnish the process. Legacy preference conflicts with basic principles of fairness and should be abandoned. In recent years, the Office of Admission has focused on making a Brown education affordable for students from lower- and middleincome families. Five years ago Brown adopted a need-blind admissions system under which candidates are not turned away based on financial limitations (transfer and international applicants excepted). In February the University announced that it will increase financial aid by more than 20 percent over last year. Families earning less than $100,000 will no longer have loans. Parents earning less than $60,000 will, for the most part, not have to make any financial contribution. Beyond simply removing barriers, Brown has made an active effort to increase socioeconomic diversity with the Talent Quest program, which began in mid-2002. Through Talent Quest, admissions officers visit schools with a core population of talented, low-income students. Talent Quest also covers these students’ travel expenses for A Day On College Hill, Brown’s spring program for students admitted through regular decision. The motivation behind these policies is simple and widespread. Brown and most other schools want to attract the best students and ensure that candidates are not deterred from attending by financial considerations.

Legacy preference stands in the way of these new, progressive goals. At the outset, rewarding an applicant for his or her parents’ accomplishments seems ethically suspect. Applicants have no say over whether or where their parents attend college. Those who defend legacy preference insist that legacy status only becomes a factor when deciding between two otherwise equal candidates. One wonders just how many ties are broken in this manner. Suppose, for the sake of argument, that legacy status is decisive in only a few cases each year. That would imply that, in any given

the importance of legacy in admissions. It is hard to imagine a large number of genuine ties between applicants who are evaluated along a dozen dimensions or more. The real danger is that the Admission Office might be manufacturing “ties” in order to make room for the sons and daughters of alums. Some favor legacy preference because they think it preserves tradition, community and commitment to families. But Brown will, in all likelihood, have plenty of legacy students even in the absence of legacy preference. Most children of Brown alums already enjoy several advantages over many

If Brown plans to use admissions as a fundraising tool, legacy preference is a pretty inefficient way to go about it. Brown could theoretically raise more money by anonymously auctioning off one hundred spots to the children of the highest bidders. year, the vast majority of admitted legacy students would get in even without preference. In that case, Brown should dispense with legacy preference since the practice marks admissions as a rigged process and only affects a few students. The University stands to gain good will and publicity by taking the lead in making admissions fair. If, on the other hand, a significant number of students get in because of their legacy status, then the Admission Office has downplayed

other applicants (chiefly, very well-educated parents). The University needs to weigh the marginal benefit from “tradition” and “community” against fairness and merit. That aside, legacy preference stifles effective community building by arbitrarily excluding new families from Brown. The pragmatic argument for keeping legacy preference has to do with alumni donations. Funding and involvement might plummet if

alums do not feel that their contributions will pay off. The cynics are not far off the mark. A recent study titled “Altruism and the Child-Cycle of Alumni Donations” examined donations at a typical university and found that alumni with children donate more than those without and that donations fall sharply after children are admitted or rejected. Eliminating legacy preference might, paradoxically, reduce socioeconomic diversity by diminishing the alumni donations that fund financial aid. Legacy preference may raise a lot of money. But if Brown plans to use admissions as a fundraising tool, legacy preference is a pretty inefficient way to go about it. As many have suggested, Brown could theoretically raise more money by anonymously auctioning off 100 spots to the children of the highest bidders. Provided that the Admission Office could impose some conditions (a minimum SAT score and GPA, for example), there would be little meaningful difference between the auction and legacy preference aside from transparency. Anyone who finds the auction proposal offensive should be wary of the murkier quid pro quo that takes place every year on the margins of the admit pool. As for financial aid, Brown’s money is fungible. The University can keep funding and expanding financial aid without legacy donations, though that might involve cutting back on football fields and other projects. Fairness in admissions won’t come cheap, but the price is well worth paying.

James Shapiro ’10 will smack himself in the face when James Jr. applies in 30 years.

McCain, Obama and the Supreme Court BY WILLIAM MARTIN Opinions Columnist One of the crucial issues in this presidential election has been debated mostly in encrypted exchanges. That issue is the future of the American judiciary, and above all the Supreme Court. McCain and Obama know that their impact on the most unchanging branch of government could be enormous, but the Republican nominee-to-be is on the offensive, while the Democrat can only hope to hold his ground. The balance of the Supreme Court has long been held by one key justice, flanked by four who generally favor liberal causes and four who consistently support conservative ones. And currently, the three justices most ripe for replacement are all on the liberal wing. John Paul Stevens seems healthy, but he’ll be 92 before the end of the next presidential term; Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be 79. David Souter is only the sixth-eldest of the bunch, but it is hard to tell when he may retire. Meanwhile, Souter’s three juniors are all members of the Court’s near-lockstep conservative bloc. Hence the importance of the coded messages that the two presidential contenders have been lobbing since early in their campaigns. When speaking to the staunch conservatives whose support he needs to secure, McCain promises that his judicial appointments will aim at doing away with the “airy constructs” that have subverted the right wing’s vision for American society — principally by justifying judicially mandated access to birth control and abortion. Addressing the opposite side of the political spectrum, Obama has pledged that his judicial

appointees will be people with “empathy” — those who can put themselves in the shoes of women and minorities to challenge recent rulings on abortion, workplace discrimination and public school integration. On this front, an Obama victory will bring very little change. If Stevens, Ginsburg or Souter leave, you can expect their replacements to be roughly as liberal — no more so than ACLU paladin Ginsburg and no less so than Ford appointee Stevens. Not so if McCain is elected. His nominees, as he has surreptitiously promised, are likely to be conservative radicals who will shift

legal statutes and Constitutional provisions are best interpreted through strict, concrete analysis that adheres to the letter of the law regardless of the judge’s personal convictions. This is the best way to ensure that Americans know and respect the law, and it checks the power of the least accountable branch. To fulfill their role in society, judges and justices need the courage to honor legislation they wouldn’t have voted for, and the modesty to tweak precedent rather than overrule it (except in the most extreme circumstances). But that’s not all there is to it. Certain legal

Judges and justices need the courage to honor legislation they wouldn’t have voted for, and the modesty to tweak precedent rather than overrule it. the Court’s stance firmly to the right. With Democratic gains expected in the Senate, their confirmation fights may be bruising, but they could potentially slip past with the tight-lipped approach that worked for President Bush’s nominees three years ago. Of course, to the average American voter, the candidates’ opaque declarations about judicial philosophy won’t sound like much of a contrast. Why should empathy and concrete jurisprudence be at odds? And, as usual, the common-sense approach is correct. The vast majority of precedents,

passages expressly call upon the judiciary to apply nebulous standards and uphold unenumerated protections — and thus to adapt to the changing standards of American society. The most salient example is the Ninth Amendment, which reminds us that the specification of particular rights “shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” This amendment formed the basis for the “right to privacy” that decriminalized abortion and later sodomy throughout the United States, and it has been the focus of right-wing

ire ever since. There is simply no way to interpret its words concretely save by ignoring them — which has been the approach of many conservative justices supposedly committed to the intentions of the Framers and the text of their masterwork. Unquestionably, the two candidates have run afoul of the former principle. They both denounce rulings decided on the basis of the plain word of the law — McCain because they don’t kowtow to the president, Obama because they don’t err in favor of the more downtrodden party before the Court. And, like any politician, neither candidate has much regard for legal precedent: If a ruling suits their ideology, they want it upheld; if it doesn’t, they want it to disappear without a trace. But McCain’s promises also run counter to the latter principle. Assailing the necessary practice of flexible interpretation puts provisions like the Ninth Amendment in danger of repeal by fiat. That’s not our only clue as to which candidate will maintain a more robust judicial framework. It’s McCain who will have the most cause to appoint fringe judges and justices — not only to please social conservatives, but to safeguard the radical expansion of executive power to which he has committed himself during the Bush years. This is an affliction that his opponent doesn’t have. The left wing might breath fire over Obama’s recent string of flip-flops — some real, most imagined — but they can be expected to fall in line after enduring eight years of conservative rule. Ultimately, Obama is a modest liberal, and the same has been true of the great majority of history’s most celebrated justices.

William Martin ’10 has always been a steadfast defender of our Third Amendment rights.

S ports S ummer Page 12

Monday, July 21, 2008

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Please, give me some real sports drama All right, I’ll admit I enjoy being a cynical sports fan, but it’s the only way I know. Don’t get me wrong: I enjoy spor ts drama as much as the next obsessive viewer of “Friday Night Lights,” but lately it seems that fans, players and the media all Benjy Asher Sports Editor feel a need to over-hype the drama of each and ever y event. After clinching his first championship in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Kevin Garnett tilted his head to the sky and bellowed, “Anything’s possible!” The announcers played along, chiming in that a year earlier, no one would have predicted that the lowly Celtics would be on top of the league. Yes, that’s true, but on the other hand, few predicted that the Celtics’ off-season would bring signings of Garnett, a former MVP, and Ray Allen, an eight-time all-star. It’s amazing what you can accomplish with heart, guts and $42 million to spend. I guess what I’m saying is that Boston’s title lacked extreme drama because it lacked extreme improbability. Another example of overstated drama came at the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium. As Josh Hamilton launched a record 28 home runs in the first round, commentators remarked that this performance would go down as one of the most memorable moments in the histor y of Yankee Stadium. For Hamilton, who has battled alcoholism and drug addiction, his whole Major League career is a tale of triumph, and the Derby was certainly a major night for him. But it still seems a bit ridiculous to compare his home runs into the center field black seats to Reggie Jackson’s blast to the same spot in the deciding game of the 1977 World Series, or to put his hits over the right field fence in the same categor y as Roger Maris’s 61st homer of the 1961 season. I love the Josh Hamilton stor y, and I’m sure there will be many moments of greatness to come in his career, but in my humble view, no home run off a pitch from a septuagenarian batting practice pitcher is truly that monumental. So, I guess what I’m saying here is that Hamilton’s performance in the Derby, no matter how impressive, lacked any significance in and of itself. Of course, this summer hasn’t been without legitimately dramatic moments. Rafael Nadal’s five-set win over five-time defending champion Roger Federer in the Wimbledon Final had the elements of both improbability and significance, as did Tiger Woods’ U.S. Open win on a torn ACL and a double stress fracture in his leg. And the summer’s not over, so here’s a preview of where to look for more potential moments of real, heart-racing drama: American Adam Nelson will go to Beijing looking for his first Olympic gold medal in the shot put. continued on page 9

Sacramone ’10 going to Olympics By Erin Frauenhofer Sports Staff Writer

The best gymnast in Brown’s history will be heading to Beijing this summer. USA Gymnastics announced Thursday that Alicia Sacramone ’10 has been chosen as one of six athletes who will compete for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for women’s gymnastics. The selection follows a strong showing at the U.S. Olympic Women’s Gymnastics Team Trials, which took place June 19-22 in Philadelphia and led to an invitation for Sacramone to participate in a final selection camp. At the Olympic trials, Sacramone had the highest score on the vault, finishing first with a total of 31.900 after her impressive performances earned scores of 15.900 and 16.000. She also placed fifth both on the balance beam, with a score of 31.150, and in the floor exercise, where her strong routines gave her a total of 31.100. Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin finished first and second allaround, with respective scores of 127.650 and 125.850, to qualify automatically for the Olympic team. Sacramone did not compete on the uneven bars, leaving her with an all-around score of 94.150, good for 13th overall. Sacramone and nine other competitors were chosen to participate in a final selection camp to determine the four remaining Olympic team positions and three replacement positions. Sacramone was joined by Jana Bieger, Chelsea Davis, Ivana Hong, Mattie Larson, Corrie Lothrop, Chellsie Memmel, Samantha Peszek, Bridget Sloan, and Shayla Worley at the Women’s National Team Training Center in Huntsville, Tex. On Friday and Saturday, the athletes were split into two squads for a

Willard ’06 breaks record on way to China Nicole Stock Spor ts Staf f Writer

At the Olympic trials, women’s national team coordinator Martha Karolyi told Inside Gymnastics magazine that she “can’t imagine” a team without Sacramone and

Former Brown track-and-field standout Anna Willard ’06 qualified for her first Olympic games with a record-breaking performance on July 3 at the Olympic trials in Oregon. As a senior at Brown, Willard set records in several outdoor track events, including the 800-meter, 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter. But it was the 3,000-meter steeplechase, which she didn’t start running until her junior year at Brown, that would set her apart. In 2006 she won the Ivy League Heptagonal Championship and moved on to the NCAA meet, where she was named All-American. Her mark of 10:06 still stands as a school record. After Brown, Willard enrolled in a Master’s program in sports management at the University of Michigan. With a year of NCAA eligibility left, Willard was able to compete for the Wolverines in the outdoor season. During the 2007 season Willard was named the Big Ten Track Athlete of the Year after winning titles in the steeplechase, 1,500 and 5,000 meters. She completed the season winning the NCAA title in the steeple. “My success has come from a multitude of sources,” Willard wrote in an e-mail to The Herald. “Much of (it) is my own drive and ambition, but I have to credit my coach at Brown, Craig Lake, in discovering that fire within me. … She showed me that I needed to not only work harder, but work smarter, and I have kept that resolve with me when I moved to

continued on page 9

Courtesy ReactionSports

Alicia Sacramone ’10 had the highest score on the vault during Olympic trials. She placed fifth in the balance beam and floor exercises. mock competition. Worley was unable to compete due to a broken right leg. Sacramone, known for her leadership skills as well as her talent on the vault and floor, was considered a shoo-in for the Olympic team.

W. crew rows over competition, wins sixth NCAA title By Megan McCahill Spor ts Editor

The Brown women’s crew team won its second consecutive NCAA championship June 1 on Lake Natoma, near Sacramento, Calif. The title was the sixth overall for Head Coach John Murphy, who also won the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year award. Murphy, with the help of wife and Assistant Coach Phoebe Murphy, won titles in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2007. “John and Phoebe Murphy are the best coaches, and they know how to make champions,” Jessica Stage ‘09 wrote in an e-mail to The Herald. “They inspire me and my teammates every day because of their talent and hard work. We wanted to win this championship for them.” Besides winning this year, the Bears remain the only team that has placed in the top three in every NCAA Championship, making Brown possibly the most successful crew in NCAA women’s rowing history. “To be a part of the Brown rowing tradition is a huge reason why I chose to come to Brown,” Corey Finnerty-Ludwig ’09 wrote in an e-mail. “The expectation is always to win.” In addition to winning as a

Herald File Photo

The women’s crew team has placed in the top three of every NCAA championship. team, four Brown rowers won national recognition for their individual efforts. Stage, FinnertyLudwig, coxswain Sarah Wu ’08 and Emma Olson ’08 all received CRCA Division I Pocock All-American honors. “To be honest I was dumbfounded [to be named an AllAmerican],” Stage wrote. “I was really focused on racing, so when I found out it was a big surprise. It’s a huge honor.” The Bears claimed the team title by tallying 67 points overall, placing them well ahead of the University of Washington (59), the University of California (53), Yale (51), and the University of Virginia (47). “This national championship was the most exciting one I’ve competed in so far,” Finner tyLudwig wrote. “This year was

really exciting because all of our boats did so well and we also won the team trophy. The overall team mood afterward was ecstatic.” Brown’s varsity four opened up the racing and registered ten points for the team by finishing in third place with a time of 7:30.00. The Bears’ second varsity eight built on that momentum and dominated their race, winning the gold medal over runner-up Ohio State by more than two seconds. “Our second varsity winning makes this year’s victor y even more special,” Stage wrote. “This year’s championship means a lot more to me than last year because each boat performed under pressure and finished in the top-three.” Bruno’s crew held the lead with a slim two-point lead over Washington heading into the varsity eight

grand final, with Virginia and Cal within striking distance, behind by six and 11 points, respectively. “Going into the grand finals, the mindset for ever yone was to get points,” Finnerty-Ludwig wrote. “(Coach Murphy) always says that the best way to be a good teammate is by giving it ever ything you possibly have, and at Nationals, this means getting points to contribute towards the team trophy.” The Bears’ varsity squad’s performance in the grand finals gave them the points they were looking for. Although their time of 6:35.25 gave them a third place finish behind Yale (6:34.05) and Stanford (6:34.95) in the final race of the day, Brown finished safely ahead continued on page 9