Daily
THE BROWN
vol. cxlviii, no. 65
Herald
since 1891
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
At teach-in, students grapple with Syrian conflict Assaulted
student continues recovery
The talk closed with a discussion of potential political ramifications for President Obama By SOPHIE YAN STAFF WRITER
The Syrian civil war “is not a clear-cut situation of right and wrong,” said Beshara Doumani, director of Middle East Studies and professor of history, Monday afternoon while introducing a teach-in on the crisis sponsored by the Middle East Studies program. The teach-in, designed to explain and discuss the current turmoil in Syria, began with a moment of silence for victims of violence, not only in Syria but also all over the world. After the teachin, the Office of Chaplains and Religious Life staged a candlelight vigil on the Main Green. A small group of people congregated in front of the Stephen » See SYRIA, page 4
After sustaining injuries in May’s incident, Sharkey ’15 is completing cognitive and physical therapy By JILLIAN LANNEY SENIOR STAFF WRITER
DAN ZHANG / HERALD
Mayssun Succarie, Cogut postdoctoral fellow in international humanities and modern Arab culture and society, spoke first, at Monday’s teach-in on the Syrian Civil War.
Alleged masturbator spotted on John Street DPS officers do not know if the incident is related to past occurrences of public exposure on John Street By JILLIAN LANNEY SENIOR STAFF WRITER
A partially naked male was allegedly seen masturbating on the lawn of a home on John Street near Brook Street by four students just before 10 p.m. Saturday, wrote Paul Shanley, deputy chief of police for the Department of Public Safety, in an email to The Herald. Shira Atkins ’14 was part of the group walking down Brook Street
when she saw a man standing on the grass in front of a friend’s house on John Street. She described the male as having “black hair down to his shoulders” and said he seemed to have something tied around his neck, possibly a scarf or another piece of clothing. The students realized the man was masturbating and ran around the corner to call DPS, Atkins said, adding that officers arrived quickly following the call.
Both DPS and Providence Police Department officers came to the scene, Shanley wrote. The students told police the man appeared to be 20 to 25 years old. After DPS officers arrived, Atkins went with them in a car to attempt to identify a possible subject, but the man they had identified was not the same, she said. DPS officers searched the area but were unable to find the individual responsible, Shanley wrote. The John Street area has seen multiple similar public masturbation incidents in recent years. Officers do not
know if the suspect in this case was responsible for previous incidents. “Both of our departments have deployed numerous patrols to that area in an attempt to apprehend the person(s) responsible,” Shanley wrote. He added that DPS generally receives “one or two” complaints regarding public exposure per academic year. Atkins said DPS officers told her the individual responsible is probably a student or a person who lives in the area. She added that though she was not originally “shaken up about” the incident, it was unsettling in hindsight.
A Brown student who was assaulted on Thayer Street in May has returned home and is recuperating after having spent nearly two months in the hospital with severe head injuries. Joseph Sharkey ’15 had been placed on life support at Rhode Island Hospital following the May 12 assault, which left him in critical condition. He was released from the hospital June 3, according to a CaringBridge.com blog called Joe’s Time his family uses to share updates on his condition. Sharkey is now living at his family’s home in Norwood, Mass. as he completes cognitive and physical therapy. “We are extremely thankful that his recovery is progressing very well,” wrote mother Denise Sharkey P’15 in an email to The Herald. Sharkey was assaulted around 2 a.m. May 12 during an altercation near the intersection of George and Thayer streets, where he was punched by Connecticut resident Tory Lussier, a U.S. Marine Corps reservist, The Herald reported at the time. The blow caused Sharkey to fall back and hit his head » See SHARKEY, page 3
Even Stephens: Alums face off in race for Brooklyn City Council By GABRIELLE DEE SENIOR STAFF WRITER
What do a poker playing-patron of an art and literary magazine and an experienced politician have in common? Apparently, a first name, an alma mater and a desire to win a seat on the Brooklyn City Council. Today, Stephen Levin ’03 and Stephen Pierson ’98 face off for a seat on the Brooklyn City Council in the Democratic primary. But the two alums’ evident similarities have done little to soften the contest’s intensity.
inside
Diverse backgrounds Though both men are currently in
politics, neither pursued political science concentrations while at Brown. Levin, who has held a seat on the council since 2009, studied classics and comparative literature. His concentrations taught him “how to look at the historical perspective on things,” he said. Levin’s interest in politics was sparked by the events of 9/11, which occurred in his junior year, and the war in Iraq that followed. “I became kind of more engaged politically as a result,” he said. “Being involved in an active political environment like Brown” further pushed Levin toward politics, he added. After graduating, Levin moved back to his hometown in New Jersey
and worked as a campaign staffer for former Plainfield, N.J. city councilman Ray Blanco, he said. His father’s cousins, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., “were always encouraging me to get into politics,” Levin said. Unlike Levin, Pierson had an upbringing detached from the political realm. Raised by two high school teachers, Pierson graduated with a degree in modern culture and media, which he described as “a pretty reflective course of study.” The concentration “asks you to constantly examine and be critical of all the things we see and the things we consume,” he added. After graduating, Pierson pursued » See STEPHENS, page 3
COURTESY OF STEPHEN PIERSON FOR CITY COUNCIL
Stephen Pierson ’98 opposes overdevelopment of Greenpoint, a middeclass neighborhood in Brooklyn.
‘Ban the box’
Focused funds
Big Bro-bama
Legislation signed into law will prohibit criminal history queries on job applications with the goal of reducing discrimination
Starting this year, the University will award money directly to Providence high school seniors rather than contribute to broad school grants
Hudson ’14 claims Obama’s higher ed plan threatens academic freedom
CITY & STATE, 3
FEATURE, 5
COMMENTARY, 7
weather
Stephen Levin ’03 and Stephen Pierson ’98 vie in the Democratic primary armed with varied strengths
t o d ay
tomorrow
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2 city & state calendar TODAY
SEPTEMBER 10
11 A.M.
TOMORROW
SEPTEMBER 11
6 P.M. Blood Drive
Science Trivia Showdown
Hillel 12:30 P.M.
Science Center, Sci Li
Streetcar Shouting Contest
Commemoration of coup in Chile
Faunce Arch
Grant Recital Hall
menu VERNEY-WOOLLEY
LUNCH Pa s t a B e a n B a ke, G r i l l e d Mediterranean Chicken, Roasted Vegetable Melange, Bruschetta Bar
Vegan Corn and Tomato Soup, Vegetarian Pot Pie with Biscuits, Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich
DINNER Manicotti Piedmontese, Garlic Bread, Antipasto Bar, Swiss Steak, Parsley Potatoes, Flame Grilled Vegan Patty
Chafee ’75 vetoes pro-life plates Gov. Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 P’17 said the license plates would violate separation of church and state By EMILY BONEY
8 P.M.
SHARPE REFECTORY
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Swiss Steak, Vegan Siena Rousted Couscous, Chicken Broccoli Pasta Alfredo, Apple Streudel Pie
sudoku
CITY & STATE STAFF WRITER
A bill that would have allowed Rhode Islanders to purchase license plates inscribed with “Choose Life” was vetoed by Gov. Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 P’17 in July. Part of the revenue generated by the plates’ sales would have been donated to CareNet, a faithbased pregnancy resource center that advocates against abortion. Chafee wrote in his veto statement that the bill “compels the state to collect and distribute funds to an organization that advocates a particular religious and political viewpoint,” contradicting the tenet of separation of church and state. From a legal standpoint, the process for designing license plates in the state should not allow for a pro-life message to be displayed, said Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island American Civil Liberties Union. “Rhode Island currently decides what is on specially designed license plates,” not private parties, he said. States like Massachusetts and Connecticut have a system where residents
who wish to create a charitable license plate can submit an organization for approval to manufacture the plates on a smaller scale than was proposed in Rhode Island. “The problem arises when the General Assembly approves a license plate for one side of an issue without making sure that other viewpoints are represented,” he said. “The ‘Choose Life’ license plate would have implied that the state urges people to choose life,” said Rep. Edith Ajello, D-Providence, who voted against the bill. Like Chafee, she said the plates would have violated the separation of church and state because proceeds from purchases would benefit what she called “a quite conservative Christian organization.” “It would have been a different thing for me if the money had gone to something like Adoption Rhode Island,” Ajello said, because then the state would not be supporting a religious organization. But the bill’s supporters maintain the measure has merit. Rep. Patricia Morgan, R-Warwick, said she voted in favor of the bill because many similar charity license plates already exist. “It is a valid point of view of many
people in our state, and they have the right to express that,” she said, adding that Chafee was letting his “personal feelings” obstruct Rhode Islanders’ right to display their values publicly. “We support the Patriots, we support the Red Sox — those who want to should be able to support the pro-life cause as well.” She said the plates would “keep people aware of the issue and allow people to express their support” in a similar manner to other charitable causes. CareNet was not heavily involved in drafting the legislation, but Executive Director Rachel Nguyen said the group was “disappointed” that Chafee vetoed the bill without responding to invitations to visit the organization or otherwise contacting it. “(Chafee) made his decision without really understanding what we do,” Nguyen said. CareNet offers services to women and men regardless of religious beliefs, with the central goal of providing support for unplanned pregnancies, she said. The plates would have cost $40, with $20 of each purchase going to CareNet. — With additional reporting by Adam Toobin
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crossword
city & state 3
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Federal grant to fund state employment projects Until this month, the state failed to meet the grant’s application requirements on employment for 14 years By SARAH PERELMAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Rhode Island’s Department of Education and Department of Labor and Training will split a $670,000 federal Workforce Investment Act grant, Gov. Linoln Chafee’s ’75 P’14 P’17 office announced earlier this month. The U.S Department of Labor allocates grants through the Workforce Investment Act with an incentivebased system. The act provides a framework for each state to better prepare its population to join the workforce, and the federal department allocates funds based on whether a state achieves its employment
goals, said Laura Hart, communications manager for the state labor department. Rhode Island surpassed its employment goals this year and, for the first time since the program’s creation in 1998, was eligible to apply for the grant, she said. The department had set specific goals for dislocated workers, adult workers and youth, Hart said. Workers categorized as “dislocated” have lost their most recent employment position, while the adult workers category encompasses adults without previous work experience for reasons including a lack of language proficiency or literacy training, she
State bans criminal history question from job apps Advocates of ‘ban the box’ said it helps felons re-integrate into society by limiting discrimination By ADAM TOOBIN CITY & STATE EDITOR
Employers in Rhode Island can no longer ask job applicants about their criminal backgrounds, following the implementation of a law Gov. Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 P’17 signed July 15. “This provides basic protections from discrimination for people with a criminal record,” said Rep. Scott Slater, D-Providence, a sponsor of the so-called “ban the box” legislation in the House, according to a July 15 state press release. The legislation only prohibits employers from asking about criminal backgrounds on a job application, but they still may ask about past convictions in a job interview and seek formal criminal background checks. Under state law, employers may only disqualify an applicant with a criminal background if the crime of which the applicant was convicted has a “direct relationship” to the sought-after position, The Herald reported in March. The term “ban the box” stems from the box that previously appeared on many Rhode Island job applications requesting information about an applicant’s criminal
» SHARKEY, from page 1 on the pavement, knocking him unconscious. He had still not regained consciousness when a Department of Public Safety officer arrived around 2:25 a.m. Authorities were initially uncertain whether Sharkey would survive his injuries or sustain permanent, serious brain damage if he did, multiple news outlets reported. Sharkey underwent two major surgeries before being transferred to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital for recovery and intensive therapy, according to the family blog. He was released from Spaulding July
history. “People who have made mistakes need to be able to move on, to move forward with their lives, and we need to change our laws to allow them, even encourage them, to do so,” said Sen. Harold Metts, D-Providence, who sponsored the Senate version of the bill ultimately signed by Chafee. “They are not being allowed to do so if every job application they fill out looks like an instant deadend because of that one question about criminal history.” The bill passed over the opposition of business groups, like the Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, whose members were concerned the bill would make it harder for businesses to prevent crime in their workplaces, The Herald reported in March. “Not only is (non-compliance with federal law) a concern, but there is a further concern about safety and potential employer liability,” the North Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce posted on its website. The Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce never officially took a position on the legislation. Along with “banning the box,” the legislation also provides parolees with the opportunity to receive a “certificate of recovery and re-entry,” an official document indicating they have accomplished rehabilitation and are prepared to reenter society. Massachusetts and Connecticut have also passed legislation that “bans the box.”
9 and returned home. The day he returned home, Sharkey posted on the blog to let well-wishers know about his release from the hospital. “I wanted to thank each and every one of you for your thoughts and prayers throughout this process because this would have been so much more difficult without all of you by my side,” he wrote. Sharkey, a member of the men’s basketball team, visited campus in early August to see some of his teammates at a basketball camp, the Providence Journal reported. Coaches and teammates from Sharkey’s current and former basketball teams frequently visited
said. The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training measured how many workers in each category were able to find employment, how many of those workers retained prior jobs and workers’ average earnings. The state exceeded its targets for dislocated workers and adult workers entering the workforce by at least 10 percent in each category, Hart said. The 76.3 percent of the department’s dislocated worker clients that landed a job exceeded the state’s goal by 13 percent, and the 69 percent of adult workers that found employment exceeded the goal by 10 percent. Funds allocated to the state labor department will be used to buy analytic software, which will allow the department to assess which of the current workforce development
programs are most effective, Hart said. “We are going to be investing in training for some of our career staff so they understand how to use the new software.” The Rhode Island Department of Education also met its annual goals, making the department eligible for the grant funding. Over the last three years, the state department has adopted an incentivebased system in which students who meet their program completion goals receive more financial aid, said Elliot Krieger spokesman for the department, adding that this initiative may have contributed to the state’s success this year. The department will use the grant money to purchase technology for adult education, Krieger said.
“Students preparing for the GED need some technology skills since the new version of that test will be administered electronically,” he said, adding that software, hardware and training will be purchased once the department has evaluated what is needed. The success of education — especially adult education — and development of the labor force go hand-in-hand, Hart said, adding that many adult workers are not prepared to work until they have completed additional education. “When you know that you have an economy that’s lagging behind the national employment numbers, it is critical that you focus on workforce development,” she added. “These results show that our work is paying off.”
» STEPHENS, from page 1
it if it did,” he said.
Challenger for council Though both candidates are Democrats, Pierson said his plans for Brooklyn differ greatly from Levin’s. Pierson said that, if elected, he plans to oppose what he called overdevelopment of the borough — specifically Greenpoint, a middle-class neighborhood with a small community. Greenpoint faces the development of 40-story high rises that will almost double the number of people living there, Pierson said. Pierson, working with an organization called Save Greenpoint organized a protest of the high rises Sept. 4, he said. According to the website greenpointers.com, the protest disputed the validity of the 8 -year-old contract, claiming that construction of the new development is an environmentally sound decision. The protest also called for members for the community to share personal
anecdotes about Greenpoint’s beauty that would be lost under the development, according to the website. Pierson said he wants to “see the whole scale and scope of these (developments) challenged.” Pierson has also attacked Levin’s previous stint as chief of staff for former New York State Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who resigned in May following accusations of sexual harassment of female staff members. One of Pierson’s running points against Levin is that Pierson said he believes that Levin, as chief of staff, was just as culpable for not speaking up and condemning Lopez’s actions, Pierson said. “It is atrocious to think that someone with so much power” could get away with this, Pierson said, referring to Lopez. “The fact that he has gotten away with this for so long means it’s not just been him.” People turn a “blind eye for their own political benefit,” he said. But Levin said any alleged sexual harrasment occurred after he left Lopez’s office. “I worked for him from 2006 to 2009, and during that time there were no incidents of sexual harassment,” he said. “Sometime after I left was when he started doing very terrible actions, which were reprehensible actions.” Levin said he called for Lopez’s resignation after reading a report that indicated Lopez had harrassed female staffers. “But it did not happen during my tenure, and I would not have tolerated
Sharkey during his time in the hospitals, according to the family’s blog. Sharkey has expressed interest in taking at least one course at the University this semester, his family wrote on the blog July 8. The legal fallout from the assault continues to unfold. Lussier currently faces a felony assault charge in Providence District Court, where he is next expected to appear Oct. 4, the Providence Journal reported. The altercation started after a group of Brown students including Sharkey and Dillon Ingham ’14 passed another group that included Lussier walking on Thayer.
“It’s our understanding from talking to witnesses that the initial altercation was started by Ingham,” Providence Police Detective Commander Michael Correia told The Herald in June. Ingham allegedly sparked the conflict by commenting on the tattoo of a man in the other group, The Herald reported in June. The verbal confrontation soon grew physical, with Ingham injuring two individuals — Joseph Lyan, whose cheekbone was fractured, and Joseph Parrish. As the altercation appeared to be winding down, Lussier allegedly punched Sharkey, whom police believed not to be “an active participant” in the prior
fight, Correia said. Connecticut police arrested Lussier May 15, and Providence Police charged Ingham with felony assault May 28, multiple news outlets reported. Ingham is expected to make his next court appearance Oct. 9. Lussier’s lawyer, John Lombardi, has said his client was acting in self-defense, though eyewitnesses said the assault on Sharkey was unprovoked, the Providence Journal reported Aug. 27. Both Lussier and Ingham are currently free on bail.
a varied career dabbling in professional poker and starting an art and literary magazine called Canteen, according to an April New York Times article. Pierson said he is now entering into politics because he has “always been cynical about politics and politicians.” As the parent of a 2-year-old daughter, Pierson said, he decided to take action because he “didn’t want to be one of those people that just sits around and complains.”
www.browndailyherald.com
Community conversation While in office, Levin said he has concentrated on fairer school funding and supporting development issues in Brooklyn. “I really enjoy advocating for my constituents and fighting for good social service policies,” Levin said. If re-elected, Levin said he would focus on education. “Within New York City, there’s been a large debate over the last 10 years about the future of our education system,” he said. Levin wants to make the education system less caste-oriented, he said. Levin said he would also like to work on issues like housing, especially for senior citizens and the homeless, which have “been a real failure over the last few years,” he added. Though Pierson has won the support of the Aroynem faction of Brooklyn’s divided and influential Satmar Hasidic Jewish community, the odds favor a win for Levin, said Michael Tobman, a consultant to the Aroynem. The Aroynem group, which has a “complicated relationship” with Levin, has indicated that they would like to communicate with him, but he has made no attempt to reach out to them, Tobman said. Despite this, Tobman said Levin has done a good job on the Council during his tenure. “We hope that Levin will engage in more productive conversations” with the Aroynem if re-elected, and that he will be less “standoffish,” Tobman said.
— With additional reporting by Mathias Heller
4 university news » SYRIA, from page 1 Robert ’62 Campus Center to pray for the Syrian people as well as for a speedy and peaceful resolution of the conflict. The event was scheduled to take place in List 120, but the crowd quickly overwhelmed the auditorium, forcing organizers to send spillover next door to watch a live-stream of the event, which was available online. The teach-in comprised four sections, each featuring a mini-lecture by a member of the University’s faculty. Besides Doumani, other participants of the teachin included Mayssun Succarie, Cogut postdoctoral fellow in international humanities and modern Arab culture and society; Elias Muhanna, assistant professor of comparative literature; and Naoko Shibusawa, associate professor of history. Succarie, the first speaker, provided an overview and timeline of recent events in Syria. She described the conflict as composed of “four stages, layered upon each other.” What is now a civil war began in 2011 with a relatively peaceful protest in response to the torture of teenagers who publicly opposed the regime, she said. Since then, the country has militarized, leading to the uprising and civil war at the middle of the today’s crisis, she said. Extreme poverty and political repression also contributed to the growth of the conflict, Succarie added. Doumani spoke about the civil war’s historical context, putting the fragmentation of the rebel groups in perspective. Though Syria has a long history of internal division, “this civil war is not just another flare-up of an ancient sectarian conflict,” he said. “It’s part and parcel of a larger global phenomenon,” related to the victorious Allied countries drawing arbitrary borders for Middle Eastern countries after World War I, he added. Some students said they appreciated the longer view of the day-to-day news out of Syria. “I thought it was interesting how they brought up the background (of the conflict),” said Yidi Wu ’17. “I wasn’t really familiar with all of that.” “I found in particular that the background … was informative and rare in the discourse on the issue,” added Ezra
Kagan ’17. Muhanna said today’s Middle East is defined by a complicated set of historic and modern alliances and animosities. He added that the many rebel groups fighting on the ground in Syria vary widely in terms of numbers, funding and ideology. In particular, the rebels’ “sources of funding are significantly more dispersed than in any other Middle Eastern conflict in recent memory,” he said. In general, this contributes to “the muddiness of geo-strategic relations in the Middle East today,” he added. Shibusawa focused on America’s position and the political choice that President Obama and the White House currently face. Though the decision to intervene in Syria is hotly debated and widely disapproved of by the public, the government can depend on people “rallying around the flag” and supporting the move once the choice is made, she said. Shibusawa also discussed the reasons behind a military intervention, particularly what she called the self-serving interests of the “military-industrialcongressional-media complex” and what she called the Obama administration’s need to save face. “The sad and the terrible, awful truth about it is that this seems to matter more,” she said. “Whether or not this is going to be a test of leadership that Obama can live up to is more important than the fact that thousands and thousands of lives are on the line.” The event ended with a brief period for questions and comments, when members of the audience were encouraged to stand up and contribute their opinions to the discussion. “Overall, I thought (the teach-in) was really good,” said Caroline Doherty ’15, who said she attended because she owed it to herself to learn more about the conflict. “I had a very basic idea of the history of the Middle East, and I didn’t realize how complicated everything was and how many different factors there were that built up to all of this.” “It’s wonderful that we had this opportunity to have this” teach-in, Shibusawa said in her lecture. “These conversations … really allow us to get a better sense of what’s going on.”
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
DAN ZHANG / HERALD
After the four-part talk, students and faculty members held a candlelight vigil on the Main Green for the victims of the Syrian conflict.
DAN ZHANG / HERALD
Though the talk touched on Syria’s long history of internal division, “this civil war is not just another flare-up of an ancient sectarian conflict,” said Beshara Doumani, director of Middle East Studies and professor of history.
DAN ZHANG / HERALD
Succarie described the conflict at the heart of the Syrian international crisis as made of “four stages layered upon each other.” Syria has militarized since the protests’ relatively peaceful beginnings in response to teens who were tortured for publicly opposing the regime. Political repression and severe poverty contributed to the growth of the conflict, she added.
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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Priorities of U. fund designed for city education shift This year was the first time the funds were awarded to individuals instead of local schools
Though College Hill houses a number of classes, Brown’s connection to education extends far beyond the confines of campus. From tutoring programs to endowed funds, the University holds long-standing ties to students across Providence. One such project, the Fund for the Education of the Children of Providence, has awarded funds since 2009 to city elementary and high schools to improve education off the Hill. But after announcing in May a shifted emphasis on scholarships for college-bound Providence students, the fund awarded its last package of grants to three Providence schools.
the history of slavery in Rhode Island in detail, concluding that the University’s early benefactors were enmeshed in the slave trade. In the report, the Committee created a list of recommendations for the University as a form of long-overdue restitution for the University’s participation in slavery. Among the recommendations was the suggestion of a fund to improve education for students in the state. The Committee on the Fund is chaired by Chancellor Emeritus Artemis Joukowsky and composed of current and emeriti members of the Corporation who live in Providence. To be awarded the grant, schools’ applications must have demonstrated effective approaches to teaching and learning in the classroom, Vice President for Public Affairs and University Relations Marisa Quinn wrote in an email to The Herald. This year, the committee selected three grants out of a pool of 15 applications.
Steering toward schooling The fund, established in response to a 2006 report of the Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice, was aimed to implement the report’s recommendation that the University “help ensure a quality education for the children of Rhode Island.” Former University President Ruth Simmons appointed the Steering Committee in 2003 to research and draft a report about the University’s past relationship to slavery. When it was issued three years later, the report narrated
‘An amazingly real impact’ Of the applicants, Sophia Academy received $10,000 and Inspiring Minds and the Urban Collaborative Accelerated Program each received $20,000. “The fund has allowed our school to play a large role in us rebuilding our technology infrastructure,” said Rob Deblois, director of UCAP. “A lot of great students don’t have computer or Internet access at home, so (the grant) is going to allow them to meet this requirement in their education.” UCAP, a non-profit organization
By GADI COHEN STAFF WRITER
and public school, serves about 140 students, many of whom have repeated a year or are currently behind in their studies. UCAP allows them to complete more than one grade every year to advance to higher levels. With the fund’s contribution, combined with awards from other foundations, UCAP will be able to purchase new computers for the school’s classrooms and labs, Deblois said. The school will also be able to obtain other technology supplies, like projectors for classrooms and MacBook Air computers for teachers, Deblois added. Like UCAP, Sophia Academy, a small middle school for low-income girls from Providence, plans on using its grant to improve its technological infrastructure, said Head of School Gigi Dibello. “This gift will go a long way to extending our resources,” Dibello said. Inspiring Minds, an after-school program aimed to accelerate student learning through tutoring, will use the funds to support its work at the Asa Messer Elementary School in downtown Providence. The program already has ties to Brown — undergraduates helped found the Inspiring Minds program in 1963 by reading to disadvantaged students after school. “The fund is making an amazingly real impact,” said Eleanor Acton, the development and communications director at Inspiring Minds. “Kids need one-on-one individual attention at an urban school, and the fund is helping us provide it.”
Strategic switch This May, the University announced it would begin awarding individual scholarships for graduating Providence high school seniors instead of giving broad school grants. The fund, which initially carried out its mission only by funding specific school programs, marked the announcement with 20 initial awards to college-bound students this year. The 20 scholarship recipients each received $2,500 from the fund and were selected based on merit and financial status. Most of the recipients represent the first generation in their families to attend college, according to a University press release. The decision to sponsor the scholarships followed careful analysis, with direct feedback from the Superintendent of the Providence Schools Susan Lusi and Mayor Angel Taveras, Quinn said. Though it has already accrued $1.5 million, the fund was originally intended to maintain a $10 million permanent endowment. That financial goal, along with the fund’s original mission of supporting Providence education, still remains, Quinn said. “We’re hoping that, through inspiring stories of individuals who go into higher education, there (will) be even greater interest in supporting the fund,” Quinn said. “There’s been a lot of support with the move toward scholarships,” Quinn added. “The decision is keeping with the original intent of the fund itself — to continue to support students who see education as a pathway of
strengthening and improving their lives.” But the transition away from school grants removes support for potential initiatives in Providence education that are innovative in nature, some grant recipients said. “These are two very good uses for the money,” Deblois said, referring to the school grants and individual scholarships. “That said, I would also like to have money available for special initiatives in programs after school, and I’m sure other people involved in other specific schools or programs would feel the same way.” “One of the things that I feel is very precious is dollars for public education — entrepreneurial capital — money to initiate what might be different or unusual,” Deblois added. Christina O’Reilly, director of communications at Providence Public Schools, said though the fund has stopped providing grants, Providence school programs can apply to other grants from organizations like Aramark or the Sodexo Foundation. “We are aligned with Paxson’s vision to transition to direct support to students,” O’Reilly said. “We have every confidence that Brown will continue to demonstrate their support for our city and for our city’s students.” Regardless of its focus, the fund’s mission will continue. “Whichever way they go, I’m sure it’s helpful for the children of this city,” Acton said. “We think the fund has had great impact, and we’re very grateful for it.”
6 commentary
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
EDITORIAL
Chafee’s decision in everyone’s best interest At a press conference last week, Gov. Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 P’17 announced he will not seek re-election next fall, saying he wants instead to focus the remainder of his term on addressing state issues. Chafee, who this past May changed his political allegiance from Independent to Democrat, had been expected to participate in a heated gubernatorial primary against rising two Democratic stars: Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and Rhode Island General Treasurer Gina Raimondo. While Chafee’s decision not to run could constitute a sort of retirement from politics, it is the best decision for Rhode Island and, we believe, for Chafee himself. Because Chafee will not run, he can devote his energy to pressing state issues, a focus that will benefit the state. Rhode Island’s flagging economy requires the governor’s full attention: The state’s 8.9 percent unemployment rate is a full 1.5 percentage points higher than the national statistic. Furthermore, Rhode Island currently has the second-worst rate of private sector growth since the 1990s. Its roughly 4.6 percent growth in that time pales in comparison to the national rate of 25.6 percent. Chafee cannot completely resolve these issues in one year, but eliminating the amount of time he would spend fundraising and campaigning will give his office the chance to make some real progress and focus on these fiscal woes. Moreover, Chafee has proven that he does not bow to party interests, having switched from a Republican to an Independent in 2007 and to a Democrat in 2013. Now that he is not seeking re-election, he can freely pursue innovative solutions without fearing political repercussions. By exiting the gubernatorial election, Chafee also spares the state at least part of what was sure to be a contentious and expensive primary battle on the Democratic side. Taveras and Raimondo now almost surely become the two frontrunners, though it remains to be seen how Chafee’s supporters will split between them. Had Chafee run, he likely would have lost: A poll conducted February by the Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions found the incumbent had exceptionally poor approval ratings compared with his potential primary challengers. Chafee, a former Republican and Independent, would have split the Democratic Party in Rhode Island further by entering the race with the support he carries from moderate voters as well as the backing of labor unions. Though other contenders may join the race now that Chafee is not participating, his departure essentially whittles the list of eventual Democratic candidates down to two. Chafee’s announcement, made quietly in the parking lot of Cranston’s Department of Motor Vehicles, reflects the unassuming way in which he has conducted himself as governor. Though he may not have held answers to the state’s toughest economic problems, he did reduce the state’s unemployment rate from 11.5 percent to its current rate. He also increased aid for education and streamlined the DMV. His decision not to run suggests Chafee realized he would likely lose a re-election campaign and that his time would be better spent focusing solely on improving Rhode Island. With this pragmatic decision, Chafee is setting a model for how one should depart a public office. He has surprised the public before, with his two changes in party loyalty, and he may indeed surprise again by taking his political career in a new direction entirely. Regardless, Chafee has exhibited prudence and pragmatism with this decision, and more politicians should follow his example. Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial page board: its editor, Rachel Occhiogrosso, and its members, Daniel Jeon, Hannah Loewentheil and Thomas Nath. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.
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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Obama’s college plan: Big Brother knows just the right college for you OLIVER HUDSON opinions columnist
We’re told that graduating from college is the road to success. But college degrees are crippling graduates. Average tuition at a private four-year college is $28,280, and average in-state tuition at a public university is $8,370. Nationally, graduates of the class of 2011 held on average $26,500 in debt as of late 2012. Shockingly, only 37 percent of student-loan borrowers between 2004 and 2009 avoided postponing payments or becoming delinquent. Something should be done about the cost of college, but the question is: What? Tuition hikes are out of sync with many other sectors of the economy that have experienced falling prices. For example, an Apple computer dropped 78 percent in price from 1977 to 2010 while its processing speed increased by a factor of 3,000 and its RAM storage by a factor of 87,375. Unlike computers, college costs have skyrocketed with unclear benefits to students. I’ve written on this subject before (“Major in debt,” Oct. 10, 2012), but recent developments warrant further debate. In late August, President Obama proposed a new plan to
reduce the cost of college. While some popular publications produce college rankings, such as Forbes’ “America’s Top Colleges,” a government ranking is unprecedented. The Department of Education would determine the rankings based on factors such as tuition, debt of graduates and earnings of graduates. In theory, the rankings would help students select colleges that offer good value for their money. But the rankings are not merely advice to families. The rankings prod Americans into picking particular colleges. The prodding isn’t done by law, but by economic incentive: The plan links the roughly $150 billion in annual federal student aid to the new rankings. Students receive greater financial aid the higher the rank of their college. Considering government loans account for over 85 percent of the student-loan market, Obama’s proposal would have a major impact on where students attend college. Publicity for the plan may induce families to think harder about whether to send a child to college, and if so, how much to pay. On the plus side, the plan shows the president is giving some attention to issues that affect American families, rather than to foreign conflicts of no significance to Americans.
On the whole, however, the basis of fancy gyms, dorms and plan won’t treat the problem. The dining halls. Instead, colleges plan does not address the cause would have to offer a great value of the rising cost of college. Col- for money. Students would benlege is increasingly expensive be- efit, especially students taking on cause of bottomless demand for large debt. college degrees. This demand alSome would argue that collows colleges to leges won’t be able continue increasto reduce costs “In a mild form, ing prices, knowenough to be afthis proposal is a fordable to pooring that students will be able and threat to academic er Americans. willing to take out This is untrue. freedom and greater loans from With loans out of the government individual thought. the picture, there — loans at risky would be a powIn an extreme rates that private erful new market form, it could companies canforce for low-cost not afford to of- become a dictator’s college education. fer. The possibility No frills, no largyouth training of student default er-than-Olympicprogram.” does not concern sized pool — just colleges, since the knowledge. taxpayers absorb the loss on nonMore disturbing than the ecopayments. nomics of the president’s plan is The solution to the spiraling the plan’s attempt to control beprice of college is to end gov- havior. The plan guides student ernment-backed student loans. behavior by granting students Consider what might happen if more money for attending the loans were abolished. No, every Department of Education’s preman, woman and child would ferred colleges. This concept of not be starving in the streets. government-driven behavior is Instead, demand would evapo- not new. Unfortunately, it exists rate since very few could afford everywhere. The reason why your current prices without loans. To last soda contained high-fructose stay in business, colleges would corn syrup rather than real sugbe forced to slash costs to attract ar is that the government heavstudents. Colleges would no lon- ily subsidizes American farmers, ger compete for students on the discouraging sugar imports.
Shaping young Americans’ educations, however, is much more serious than shaping their stomachs. By strongly influencing where students attend college, the government could control what students learn and how they think. Professors or student bodies critical of the government might mysteriously find their college at a lower rank. Politically unpopular research might provoke a rank demotion, whereas research that allegedly proves the government’s positions might bring a higher rank to a college. Students might graduate from college conditioned to agree with certain beliefs, rather than able to think for themselves. The countless ways to abuse the program are too great a temptation for those in power. In a mild form, this proposal is a threat to academic freedom and individual thought. In an extreme form, it could become a dictator’s youth training program. Keeping college cheaper and free of political influence should be the aim of reform. The president’s college proposal therefore deserves to be scrapped. Oliver Hudson ’14 hopes to never be forced into re-education camp. He has written about this issue before.
Advice I never got DANIEL DELANEY opinions columnist
Dear Class of 2017, Welcome to Brown University, land of the liberal and home to the Open Curriculum. I’m sure many people have congratulated you on your success thus far — you’ve earned it. You’re at an incredible institution filled with a concentration of creative and unique people you’ll probably never again have access to after you graduate. As most of you recognized in your college search, one of Brown’s most endearing qualities is its Open Curriculum. At Brown you are free to take math or not take math. If English isn’t your thing, take your science classes. No other university will provide you the academic freedom and opportunities that Brown will. But there are times when that freedom comes with a price. We can get sucked into the Open Curriculum, which is more or less void of any real guidance or structure. We can take gut classes and classes S/NC, tailoring our schedules to the rigors of material or professors rather than to our interests and goals. It’s easy
to waste your time here without that Brown requires you to derealizing you’re doing it. Don’t do clare your concentration by the that. I wish someone had said a end of your sophomore year, subfew things to me regarding this. tract half of those credits, and I Here are a few tips I never got. call what you’re left with “the exFirst, do everything you can ploration period.” to understand yourself and your The exploration period eninterests. This is one of the most compasses the 16 to 20 classes important things you can do ear- you have available during the ly in your career at Brown. Do first half of your college career to you love to write? Do you love tease your interests. You cannot, to build things? Do you want to under any circumstances, afford speak Swahili? to waste this time. Brown has a “It’s easy to waste It is the only time place for whatyou have to exyour time here ever your interplore yourself and ests are. Knowing without realizing your interests acyourself and what ademically. Take you’re doing it. you love will help this from someDon’t do that.” you choose classone who learned es, pick profesthe hard way. sors, decide where you want to I think I would’ve loved to be intern or potentially work some an economics or Business, Entreday and impact the extracurric- peneurship and Organizations ulars and activities you could be concentrator, but I hadn’t taken involved in. any classes that fulfilled the reYou might think to your- quirements and couldn’t afford self, “Pshh, I already know what to take four straight semesters I love.” Well, I doubt that. Ask of required classes. ECON 0110: yourself again and keep ask- “Principles of Economics” was ing yourself. None of us is old held at 9 a.m. As a first-year, I enough to be sure. decided that was too early in the Second, lots of people will tell morning for me, so I dropped you that “you’ve got plenty of it. When I reconsidered taking time to figure it out” — and that’s it sophomore year, I made the simply not true. Sure, first-years same evaluation. Had I put a little have four years, but when you more time and effort into considbreak it down, that’s only about ering my interests and myself, I 32 classes for the average Brown would have done something difstudent. If you consider the fact ferent.
Finally, don’t take classes because they’re easy or because you need a filler class in your schedule. I’ve done that, and as a junior with 16 chances left to take great classes, I regret it. I’m now struggling to find a way to fit all the interesting classes I want to take, as well as my concentration requirements, into my remaining semesters. Brown is far and away the best undergraduate university in the Ivy League because all faculty members are required to teach. Each professor is brilliant in his or her field and has something to offer that you’ve never heard and won’t hear anywhere else. If you’re scared to take the class, consider auditing or taking it S/
NC. Don’t forgo a great class so you can sleep in. The bottom line is that Brown is an exceptional institution filled with exceptional people that offers exceptional opportunities to its students. Four years isn’t a lot of time to figure out your interests and where you might want to take the rest of your life. Use the considerable resources at your disposal and figure it out — because I guarantee you will regret it if you don’t. Daniel Delaney ’15 would love to offer anyone advice based on his clearly misshapen college career thus far. He can be reached at daniel_delaney@brown.edu.
daily herald sports tuesday THE BROWN
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
MEN’S SOCCER
Bruno ties to capture share of Ocean State Cup After opening with a win at home, the Bears fought to tie the championship game against Providence By SAM WICKHAM SPORTS STAFF WRITER
The men’s soccer team was named cochampion of the Ocean State Classic tournament this weekend after beating Bryant University 1-0 Friday and tying Providence College 1-1 Sunday. The Bears (1-0-1) played tight-knit defense to hold the Bulldogs (1-3) scoreless in the home opener, and a second-half goal against the Friars (3-0-1) gave Bruno a share of the title honors with Providence after two overtime periods. This is Bruno’s second Ocean State Classic championship in a row — he won the 2012 tournament outright. Brown 1, Bryant 0 A lone strike from Voltaire Escalona ’14 was enough to secure a win in the season opener, thanks to a strong performance by Bruno’s young back line. Three of the starting four defenders received their first college starts Friday, helping the Bears start their season with a shutout victory. “Learning can be accomplished by doing,” said Head Coach Patrick Laughlin, “and that is what these guys did (against Bryant). … It will be challenging for them all year, because we are going to rely on them to do a good job.” The game’s only goal came early in the second half. Jose Salama ’14
controlled a free kick from Tim Whalen ’16 on the wing and sent the ball into the box. Escalona trapped the ball with his chest, spun his defender and fired a shot into the top corner. “If we can use the flanks more as we go forward, we’ll be a more dangerous team,” Laughlin said. “We still think we can do a better job holding the ball up front, keeping possession for ourselves, and then getting more numbers forward.” More than 1,200 students descended on Stevenson Field to cheer on the Bears, which will be important to the team’s success in home games, said goalkeeper Josh Weiner ’14. “The crowd we had Friday night was unbelievable,” Weiner said. “We don’t want to lose at home, and with that kind of crowd behind us, it’s a great boost.” Brown 1, Providence 1 The Bears became tournament cochampions Sunday after a gutsy comefrom-behind performance to tie with a strong Friars squad. Bruno fell behind just before halftime — Weiner seemed to save a shot to his left, but the attempt was declared a goal as the ball appeared to cross the line. “We were unlucky to have that goal called against us,” Escalona said. “But
it was really good to see such a young group of guys exhibiting the qualities of Brown soccer. They didn’t give up when we were scored on and came back to tie up the game.” It took only four minutes in the second half for the Bears to even the score. Salama was again the provider, receiving a throw-in on the left flank and sending a cross toward the back post. Daniel Taylor ’15 snuck around his defender and headed the ball across the face of the goal to tie the score at one. Weiner made four saves and helped push the game to overtime. The Friars had two shots in the first overtime, but neither troubled Bruno’s goalkeeper. Neither team could break the deadlock in the second overtime. “It was a mentally tough performance by the group,” Laughlin said. “To come away co-champions of the Ocean State Classic is a good start to the season.” Bruno will face No. 19 University of Washington (4-0) Friday under the lights at Stevenson Field. The Bears earned a dramatic 4-3 victory in Seattle last season, and they are preparing for an aggressive Huskies team, Escalona said. “It’s going to be a dogfight,” Escalona said. “They didn’t like us going to their home and beating them in overtime last year. … I’m sure they’re looking for payback, but they’re not going to get it.”
JESSE SCHWIMMER / HERALD
Voltaire Escalona ’14 netted Brown’s lone goal in the season-opening victory over Bryant University in the first round of the Ocean State Classic.
MEN’S WATER POLO
Bears open season, prepare for next home tournament Shockley’s ’14 steals and saves in a win over Harvard bolstered the weekend play By GEORGE SANCHEZ SPORTS STAFF WRITER
The No. 16 men’s water polo team played five matches this weekend, finishing Sunday with a 3-2 record at the Bruno Fall Classic held in the Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center. The Bears faced off Saturday against the Connecticut College Camels, the No. 3 Stanford University Cardinal and the Harvard Crimson. Bruno went up against Stanford in the first match of the season, trailing by a short 5-2 deficit after one quarter of play against the highly ranked squad. But the Cardinal took command of the game, limiting the Bears to only one more goal for the rest of the match. The game ended with a 23-3 loss after Stanford scored 18 more goals. The afternoon resumed with a match against Connecticut College, showcasing noteworthy performances by Nick Deaver ’15 and Matty Gallas ’16. Both players added three goals and four steals en route to a 17-5 Bruno victory over the Camels. The last match of the day featured a late-game rally by the Bears over the Crimson. The team trailed 7-4
in the fourth quarter when a strong performance by Walter Shockley ’14, who boasted two steals and 11 saves, sparked a surge of momentum. Shockley’s performance, along with last minute goals by Gallas and Warren Smith ’17, helped the Bears to a 9-8 victory over Harvard. “It was really exciting, especially since they are our Ivy League rival,” Shockley said. “It taught us that we need to start the game with the same intensity with which we finish.” On day two of the Bruno Fall Classic, the squad’s first match was against the No. 9 University of California at Irvine Anteaters, followed by an afternoon game featuring the Washington and Jefferson College Presidents. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Anteaters held a commanding 10-1 lead over the Bears. Despite a spark in offense late in the game, Bruno still fell short, 14-7, against UC Irvine. The Anteaters finished the tournament undefeated, with a 4-0 record. In the final game of the tournament, the Bears topped the Presidents with a 13-3 win. The squad finished the second quarter with a two-goal lead, 4-2. But a stifling second half only allowed Washington and Jefferson to score once more — a decisive note to end the tournament for the Bears. The game featured another strong performance by Deaver, who added three goals and six steals. “Overall, we need to be more aggressive in the water,” Shockley said.
DAVID DECKEY / HERALD
Nick Deaver ’15, right, filled the stat sheet for the Bears this past weekend. He tallied nine goals in the tournament, with three of them coming in the 17-5 victory over Connecticut College on Saturday. “We’ll be focusing on that during practice this week — should be fun.” Bruno’s efforts continue this
weekend here on College Hill when he will host the Bruno Fall Invitational. The Bears will face the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology Engineers, the Navy Midshipmen and three other teams over the course of the weekend.