daily herald the Brown
vol. cxxii, no. 86
INSIDE
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Slam dunk
Student startup builds math literacy through basketball
wednesday, october 17, 2012
BUCC discusses athletics, housing By Mathias Heller Senior Staff Writer
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Social science Lecturer urges science and social science collaboration Page 8
State debate Cicilline and Doherty engage in second debate
today
62 / 46
tomorrow
65 / 55
The Corporation’s adoption of former president Ruth Simmons’ athletic reform recommendations last year has led to positive changes for the University, said Director of Athletics Jack Hayes at the monthly meeting of the Brown University Community Council Tuesday. Highlights from Hayes’ first 138 days on the job and a proposal to extend the gender-neutral housing option to incoming first-years were discussed at the meeting. Hayes, who replaced Michael Goldberger as director of athletics June 1, highlighted the changes that emerged from Simmons’ recommendations, saying he believed the University was a better school because of the changes initiated by the review. Those changes include a reduction of 20 admission spots per year for
recruited athletes, a process that will be phased in over the next three years, as well as increased University funding for upgrading athletic facilities. Hayes described the athletic department’s response to the changes mandated by the review, saying the department has worked with teams to examine the impact of practice and travel time on athletes’ academic lives and that he appreciated students’ engagement on the issue. He added that increasing student-athlete participation in activities outside of sports was a department priority. Hayes said the teams that were under review and in danger of being cut last year understand what they need to do in terms of gaining enough funding for the resources they need. “That’s not a discussion I believe we’ll revisit,” he said. The Athletics Review Committee recommended in 2011 / / BUCC page 3 to eliminate
since 1891
Tom Sullivan / HeraLD
Student organizations revised a proposal to allow gender-neutral housing for first-years. See Page 8.
U. enforces campaigning regulations on campus Tedeschi By Katie Lamb Contributing Writer
As the November election approaches, the University has increased efforts to ensure students understand the guidelines for hosting political events and campaigning for candidates on campus. As a nonprofit institution, the University must comply with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which states, “the University is prohibited from participating in political campaigns for candidates or ballot initiatives and is restricted in conducting lobbying activities,” according to the Student Activities Office guidelines available online. Due to these restrictions, student groups specifically created to promote the election of a particular candidate
cannot receive any funding from the University, and the University cannot fund campaign-related activities by other groups. Political fundraising events are also restricted in campus facilities. “We want everyone in the community to benefit from being in this rich environment at an institution of higher education by hearing different voices on issues, but we also don’t want to go astray with the IRS,” said Amy Carroll, director of government relations and community affairs. For this reason, the SAO reached out to students this semester to make sure their political activities fall within guidelines, said Timothy Shiner, director of the Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center and SAO. All community members were sent a brief overview of the guidelines through Morning
Mail, and the SAO sent a message to all politically-focused student organizations through myGroups, he said. A member of the SAO also met with leaders from each group to clarify the guidelines, Shiner said. The guidelines were last updated in 2010 and “apply to every day of every year,” Carroll said, but she added that they are especially pertinent in presidential election years. Because student groups plan events in University spaces through the SAO, the activities office reaches out to anyone planning an event that might violate the guidelines, Shiner said. Terrence George ’13, president of the Brown Republicans, said political student groups are most affected by the policy when they choose to bring in politicians as speakers.
“If we wanted to bring in a speaker to speak about his campaign we would need to bring in all the candidates for that position,” George said, adding that he felt the rule was reasonable. For this reason, political student groups generally bring in speakers to talk about their experiences and not their campaigns, he said. Sofia Fernandez Gold ’14, president of the Brown Democrats, said she felt adequately equipped to work within the guidelines. “There are plenty of opportunities to hear from candidates in an electoral context off campus. It’s very open to you, it’s just not here on campus,” she said. Student groups also make sure to go over the guidelines with their visiting speakers, / / Campaign page 4
Two alums develop risque card game By sam heft-luthy contributing writer
Fill in the blank: “Alternative medicine is now embracing the curative powers of ______.” Giggling at the possibilities they hold in their hands, players pick their funniest card and play it face down. The judge reveals the cards and reads the answers out loud. “Alternative medicine is now embracing the curative powers of...” “... drinking alone.” “... of eugenics.” “... of sweet, sweet vengeance.” The judge chooses his favorite answer, and play continues to the right in a party card game that falls somewhere between a twisted version
feature
of Mad Libs and the way Apples to Apples was always meant to be played. So goes a round in Cards Against Humanity, a game growing in popularity on campus among students with an “alternative” (read: not easily offended) sense of humor. In fact, it’s a game distinctly Brown since its origin three years ago — two of the game’s developers are alums. Hyperthetical questions Ben Hantoot ’09 and Eli Halpern ’09 met during middle school in Illinois. They were both part of the self-described “nerd crust” of their class — a group of eight close friends who would eventually go on to form Cards Against Humanity, LLC, Hantoot said. When the friends all went their separate ways / / Cards page 2
Courtesy of cardsagainsthumanity.com
Ben Hantoot ’09 and Eli Halpern ’09 are co-developers of the game Cards Against Humanity, a politically incorrect social card game.
to close next week By PHOEBE DRAPER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Tedeschi Food Shops on Thayer Street will close Oct. 23, according to a sign posted on its front door earlier this week. “We have lost our lease,” reads the sign, which was posted Monday. Employees and the store’s district manager declined to comment further on the reasons for the shop’s closure or its future until they are granted permission from the Tedeschi Food Shops corporation. The manager said she expects a response from the corporate office within a week. The Thayer Tedeschi outlet is part of a convenience store chain of about 200 stores founded in 1923, according to the company’s website. Tedeschi customers are now greeted with sparsely-stocked shelves and refrigerators, as the store has not restocked its merchandise in preparation for the closure. Tedeschi’s closing came as a shock to many students. “It’s just surprising,” said Zifan Yang ’14. “I never really went to (Tedeschi), but it was always there.” Caryn Cobb ’15 said Tedeschi is “the closest thing we have to a grocery store,” and said she hopes another store opens up soon. Other students were unperturbed. “I’m moving on,” said Tom March ’14. Radhika Rajan ’15, a one-time Tedeschi’s customer, said she was not disappointed about the closing — she had always found the store “a bit sketchy.” But Alicia Hersey ’15, who visited Tedeschi’s “once a month” said she thought the closing was “a bummer for college students because it makes it seem okay for other places on Thayer to charge / / Tedeschi page 3