Daily
the Brown
vol. cxlvi, no. 2
Herald
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Senior announces mayoral run
Daily since 1891
U. axes first pick video contest
By Aparna Bansal Senior Staff Writer
inside
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news...................2-4 CITY & State......6-7 editorial.............10 Opinions.............11 SPORTS..................12
By Shefali Luthra Senior Staff Writer
anywhere near this sum of money before, but that is the consequence of many factors,” Simmons said. “It was a much bigger campaign because we have much bigger needs today than we’ve had previously.” The University will remain committed to carrying out elements of the plan — first introduced in 2002 — despite the conclusion of
No longer will students be going to great lengths — donning Speedo bathing suits, fleeing bears on the main green, performing naked birthday a capella — in pursuit of the first pick in the housing lottery. The first pick video competition will be replaced by a drawing this year, to take place tonight at the Housing Fair. The Residential Council and the Office of Residential Life chose to eliminate the video competition after deciding that the old competition “just didn’t really work,” said ResCouncil Chair Andrew Tran ’11. Associate Director of Residential Life Natalie Basil emphasized ResCouncil’s role in deciding to change the competition. “It is a student-run competition and process,” Basil wrote in an e-mail to The Herald. “We will work to support the Council in implementing a first pick competition that they believe best serves the campus commu-
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Caption credit
A SWEET FINISH – Students celebrated the third anniversary of the Campaign for Academic Enrichment with cake and candy in 2008. The fundraising effort drew to an official close Dec. 31, having exceded its $1.4 billion goal.
Fundraising campaign complete $1.61 billion committed, U. surpasses goal By Mark Raymond Senior Staff Writer
The Campaign for Academic Enrichment — the largest fundraising initiative in University history — officially came to a close Dec. 31, surpassing its goal by over $200 million. President Ruth Simmons officially established the campaign in October 2005 to fund the priorities
set forth in the Plan for Academic Enrichment, which include the hiring of new faculty, expansion of financial aid and improvement and construction of campus facilities. The campaign raised a total of $1.61 billion, more than any previous University fundraising initiative, though Simmons said previous campaigns were not lacking in ambition but rather perceived need. “We certainly haven’t raised
FBI takes down local mobsters in major bust By katherine long Contributing Writer
Luigi “Baby Shacks” Manocchio, 83, former longtime boss of the New England-based Patriarca crime family, was arrested Jan. 20 along with 126 other members of the mob and known La Cosa Nostra associates during what officials call the biggest mob take-down in Federal Bureau of Investigation history. The roundup, which began before dawn, involved over 800 FBI agents and local police officers throughout the Northeast, according to the Rhode Island District Attorney’s office. Manocchio — also known as “The Professor” — and partner Thomas Iafrate were indicted on counts of extortion and conspiracy to extort. The two took thousands of dollars in protection money from Providence strip clubs The Satin Doll and The Cadillac Lounge over the past 18 years, according to the indictment. Iafrate, 63, of John-
Buried!
Snow stalls University operations over break City & state, 7
Lo o k b e f o r e yo u b o o k
ston, RI, worked as a bookkeeper at the two clubs. Manocchio, who was arrested at the Fort Lauderdale airport, will be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Providence on a date to be determined. Iafrate plead not guilty in his arraignment last Thursday. In addition to Manocchio and Iafrate, 34 official members and dozens of associates of New York’s five mob families — Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese and Luchese — were arrested on various counts of murder, racketeering, extortion, loan-sharking, money laundering and gambling. The charges, announced at a press conference in Brooklyn by Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr., were included in 16 indictments handed up in federal courts over four jurisdictions. Holder noted the “unprecedented scope and coordination” of the operation in the continued on page 7
Nick Sinnott-Armstrong / Herald
A new policy at the Bookstore limits returns to a three-day window after purchase. See full coverage on page 5.
Rebel Ivy?
We’re less progressive than we think
opinions, 11
weather
While his peers were wrapping up their winter breaks and returning to campus, Alex Morse ’11 was kicking off his political career. The urban studies concentrator announced his candidacy for mayor of his hometown, Holyoke, Mass., on Tuesday. If elected, Morse will be the youngest mayor in Holyoke history and the city’s first openly gay mayor. He will be running against incumbent Elaine Pluta and Daniel Boyle, who ran for mayor in 2009. Morse said he first became interested in public service at the age of 11 and since then has regularly thought about “how best to give back to the community.” Morse has worked as a youth career counselor for CareerPoint, which prepares young people to look for employment opportunities. He also founded the city’s first LGBTQ non-profit organization which works to make the city more LGBTQ-friendly and organizes a yearly youth pride prom. He has been involved in local campaigns such as that of Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and has been mentored by David Cicilline, former Providence mayor and current congressman. “Holyoke is missing a bold leader — someone that can solve the problems that face us and start thinking directly,” he said. “We’ve had the same people involved for 10 to 20 years talking about the same ideas and nothing’s going to change.” Morse added that Holyoke has become a struggling urban community and needs a “cheerleader” to restore “pride and hope” in its citizens. He hired a campaign manager last year and has been working on a grassroots campaign. His focus is on bringing new voices to his campaign, in particular those of Holyoke’s Latino community — more than 40 percent of the city’s 40,000 residents. According to Morse’s website, his campaign will focus on the issues of education, economic development and jobs, public safety and creating community pride. “I’m hoping to change the conversation in Holyoke politics,” he
t o d ay
tomorrow
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