Daily
Herald
the Brown
vol. cxlvi, no. 26
Friday, March 4, 2011
Since 1891
City looks to renegotiate tax agreement with U. Colleges and universities in Providence may have to contribute more revenue to the city as part of a sweeping series of measures to address the city’s two-year, $180 million budget deficit, Mayor Angel Taveras announced yesterday. The announcement came on the heels of a report issued by the Municipal Finance Review Panel, which Taveras convened to examine the city’s finances in January. The report stated that city officials should consider taxing University dormitories and establishing a mandatory student residence fee. It also suggests increasing the amount the University voluntarily contributes for city services and requiring students to register their cars with the city. Taveras announced he would demand new agreements with currently tax-exempt universities and hospitals. “There is a critical need for tax-exempt property owners to contribute more,” the report states. In 2009, when the city’s deficit was $17 million, former Providence Mayor David Cicilline ’83 proposed similar measures. His proposals met heavy opposition from the University and its allies and ultimately died in the state legislature. But this time around the city’s financial woes are more dire, and
the new mayor is willing to take a hard line on fiscal cuts. Thursday’s press conference was the first Dan Egan had heard of the suggested fees. As the president of the Association of Independent Colleges of Rhode Island — a group that lobbies for the state’s private educational institutions — he said it was likely the first Brown administrators had heard of the recommendations as well. Jonathan Bateman / Herald
Hurricane strength
Providence faces a deficit of $110 million next year and $70 million this year. “I thought we were maybe at a Category 3 hurricane,” Taveras said Thursday at a press conference. “We’re a Category 5. It’s much worse than I expected.” He projected broad-based spending reductions, beginning with immediate 10 percent cuts to his salary and his office’s budget. The report suggests further areas for cuts, including negotiations with currently tax-exempt institutions in the city. Administrators from Providence universities and hospitals have been discussing fiscal issues with city officials since Taveras took office. The city will ask for “additional assistance” from these currently tax-exempt institutions, continued on page 3
B ac k f r o m a b r o a d
Evan Thomas / Herald
Michael Dawkins ‘12 , one of the two Brown students evacuated from Egypt in February, spoke Thursday as part of a Janus Forum conversation.
editor’s note
inside
Due to an error on the part of Herald editors during the production process, yesterday’s Herald did not include an issue of Post- Magazine. The issue that should have run is inserted in today’s Herald. The editors apologize to the staff of Post- and to our readers for the mistake.
news...................2-3 Sports................4-5 editorial..............6 Opinions................7 Arts.........................8
Post-
tries Whipahol, gets weird with Shakespeare
Post-, inside
Harry Zolnierczyk ‘11, a standout forward, leads the men’s hockey team with 16 goals and a 31 points.
Zolnierczyk ’11 named Ivy player of the year player in Brown history to take home the award, putting him in an elite group of Bears with Mike Brewer ’92, Ryan Mulhern ’96 and Yann Danis ’04. Mulhern and Denis went on to play in the NHL. “The Ivy League has been around for a long time, and there have been some very, very good players that have come through,” said Head Coach Brendan Whittet ’94. “I think that leaves him in the upper echelon of players that have worn the Brown uniform. He’s in that elite tier of player.” NHL teams seem to think so,
too. Professional scouts have come to watch him play, and several NHL franchises are expected to give Zolnierczyk — an undrafted college free agent — offers after the season ends. “I think he plays a style and a game that’s going to translate well to the next level,” Whittet said. “He’s going to have a lot of different opportunities as soon as our season ends with ... NHL teams that are in line to try to bid for his services. He’s a free agent, which is a great
ROTC reinstated on Harvard’s campus
U. names new dean of engineering
By Ethan McCoy Assistant Sports Editor
Men’s hockey captain Harry Zolnierczyk ’11 was named the Ivy League Player of the Year yesterday, one day before the Bears travel to Quinnipiac for a best-of-three series in the first round of the ECAC playoffs. “It’s definitely a great honor to win that award and be even mentioned in the same category as some of the hockey players that have won it in the past,” Zolnierczyk said. Zolnierczyk is just the fourth
By Mark Raymond Senior Staff Writer
For the first time in nearly 40 years, the Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps will be recognized on Harvard’s campus, according to a statement released by the school yesterday. Harvard President Drew Faust will sign an official agreement with Navy Secretary Ray Mabus today that will re-establish the Naval ROTC program on campus upon the official repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which prevents openly gay men and women from serving in the military. Since repeal of the controversial law, many institutions — including Brown — that had previously banned ROTC began debating the possibility of its return. Harvard is the first Ivy League school to officially announce a reinstatement of the program. Under the new agreement, Harvard will instate a Naval ROTC director for the school and provide funding for students in the program, though training will take place at the nearby Massachusetts Institute
of Technology. “Our renewed relationship affirms the vital role that the members of our Armed Forces play in serving the nation and securing our freedoms, while also affirming inclusion and opportunity as powerful American ideals,” Faust said. But Chair of the Harvard Trans Task Force Jia Hui Lee said the announcement was a “rude shock” to transgender advocates, who say the military’s policies violate the school nondiscrimination code, despite the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” “Since Harvard prides itself of being one of the leading institutions in the U.S., this sets a very dangerous precedent for other schools to disregard their (transgender) students,” Lee said. He is organizing a protest that will take place outside Faust’s office this afternoon as she signs the agreement. Faust also announced the formation of a committee that will implement not only the Naval ROTC program but also future ROTC programs from other branches of the military.
D&C
Harvard gets a cubic zirconium — find out why diamonds & coal, 6
weather
By Claire Peracchio City & State Editor
continued on page 2
By Alex Bell News Editor
Lawrence Larson, chair of the University of California at San Diego’s electrical and computer engineering department, will take the reigns from Interim Dean of Engineering Rod Clifton as the inaugural dean of the engineering school next year. “In some ways, we’ve come to the end of the beginning,” Clifton said after Thursday’s announcement. “Now is when the real development work for the school begins.” Clifton was appointed interim dean of the engineering school following its conversion last year from the Division of Engineering. “I can’t wait to hit the ground running,” Larson said. Originally from Washington, D.C., he said received the offer to move back East from Provost David Kertzer ’69 P’95 P’98 a few weeks ago. When he takes office in July, he will work with faculty to hire more professors, expand course continued on page 3
t o d ay
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