Daily
THE BROWN
vol. cxlviii, no. 106
U. to create committee in wake of Kelly protest
The group is charged with determining whether the protesters will face disciplinary action
Herald
since 1891
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013
Plan surfaces tensions around U.’s academic focus Brown’s ‘university-college’ model will underlie discussions about future academic initiatives By MAXINE JOSELOW AND MOLLY SCHULSON SENIOR STAFF WRITERS
“Brown University occupies a unique educational position. It is set apart
By MOLLY SCHULSON SENIOR STAFF WRITER
DAVID DECKEY / HERALD
The fourth in a four-part series
from all but a very small group of institutions by the fact that it is a
Undergraduate education has historically been a key academic priority for the University. university-college,” wrote former remains a buzzword in conversations on Distinction,” President Christina President Henry Wriston in “The about Brown’s academic identity, and Paxson’s strategic plan. The plan was University College,” a 1946 pamphlet the question of Brown’s university- approved by the Corporation at the from the Corporation to alums. college status shaped much of the end of October. More than 60 years later, the term discourse surrounding “Building » See ACADEMICS, page 2
TWC’s name, direction assessed at UCS meeting The center’s director addressed issues of race in the wake of the Kelly lecture cancellation By MAXINE JOSELOW SENIOR STAFF WRITER
COURTESY OF THE PROVIDENCE POLICE
Orange stickers will be placed on “party houses,” residents of which will subsequently receive larger fines for any future complaints.
‘Party house’ ordinance targets noisy residences Part of the orange sticker stickers are affixed to doors of housthat have exhibited “disruptive program, houses deemed es and dangerous behavior,” wrote ‘disruptive and dangerous’ Sean Creegan, assistant city soliciwill be issued larger fines tor for Providence, in an email to By JILLIAN LANNEY SENIOR STAFF WRITER
A recent Providence ordinance aims to reduce nuisance complaints about local student “party houses” by marking them with orange stickers, which could potentially affect Brown students living off campus. As part of the orange sticker program, also known as the “‘Party House’ Ordinance,” bright orange
CITY & STATE
The Herald. The policy was implemented through a collaboration between the City Solicitor’s Office, the City’s Nuisance Task Force and the Providence Police Department. A similar policy is already in place in Narragansett, Creegan added. Once a house is marked with a sticker, tenants face a $500 fine every time police officers respond to additional noise complaints, and they must maintain the sticker and keep it visible or risk a $100 fine. The policy » See PARTY HOUSE, page 5
The Undergraduate Council of Students grappled with the Third World Center’s name and role on campus in a conversation with Mary Grace Almandrez, TWC director and assistant dean of the College, at the UCS general body meeting Wednesday. The center recently embarked on a strategic planning process, unaffiliated with President Christina Paxson’s strategic plan, that will guide its agenda over the next five years, Almandrez said. The center’s potential name change dominated early discussion in the meeting. The name change was recommended in a recent program review report, which took into account feedback from the center’s staff members and external consultants, The Herald previously reported. Many students are “turned off by the name” or do not understand it, said Malikah Williams ’16, chair of the UCS Campus Life Committee. Some first-years do not participate in the Third World Transition Program — a pre-orientation program that seeks to explore race, class, gender and other issues — because of its name, Williams said. The center should change its
Post-
Shots, shots
Food fail
A package full of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s cankles
More students have been vaccinated against the flu in recent years
Delaney ’15 criticizes the variety and quality of oncampus food
INSIDE
UNIVERSITY NEWS, 3
COMMENTARY, 7
weather
inside
President Christina Paxson will form a committee to review actions surrounding the cancellation of New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly’s Oct. 29 lecture after protestors halted his speech, Paxson wrote in a communitywide email Wednesday. The Committee on the Events of October 29th will also address how to effectively maintain a “deep commitment to the free exchange of ideas,” Paxson wrote. After an initial review of the event, the committee will determine whether students who protested will face disciplinary action, as protests that “infringe upon” the free exchange of ideas are banned in the Code of Student Conduct. “Halting a lecture, debate or any public forum is an unacceptable form of protest,” the Code of Student Conduct states. Paxson, the Faculty Executive Committee and “relevant student groups” will help appoint members to the committee, which will include five faculty members, two undergraduate students and one graduate student. The University will likely announce committee members within the next week, wrote Marisa Quinn, vice president for public affairs and University relations, in an email to The Herald. Graduate Student Council President Keila Davis GS and Dean of the Graduate School Peter Weber will each nominate two graduate students for the committee, Davis said at Wednesday night’s GSC meeting. Provost Mark Schlissel P’15 will have the final say on which graduate student serves. Undergraduate Council of Students President Todd Harris ’14.5 said he has communicated with administrators about how to determine which undergraduates should serve on the committee, though he did not have information on how those students would be picked. At the GSC meeting, Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services Margaret Klawunn said it remains to be seen whether students who protested Kelly’s lecture will be allowed to serve on the committee. The committee’s composition “will be very telling of what this committee » See COMMITTEE, page 4
name to the Third Way Center, said Krishan Aghi ’15, who is not a UCS member but attended the meeting to share his views. The phrase “would still carry the same history” connoted by the term “Third World,” he said, noting that both terms originate from Frantz Fanon’s 1961 book “The Wretched of the Earth,” which identifies a “third world fighting systems of oppression.” Council members also discussed the center’s role in helping students consider issues of race and free speech in the wake of a lecture canceled last week to be given by New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. At the event, protesters stood up and shouted objections to Kelly’s enforcement of the “stop-and-frisk” policy, leading administrators to shut down the lecture. Following the protest, many students “felt like they didn’t know where they belonged in this conversation, and that created a lot of tension and emotional turmoil,” said Todd Harris ’14.5, UCS president. “We want students to know that whatever they’re feeling, whether pride or anger, there are staff here to listen,” Almandrez said. “We try to create spaces where we can agree or disagree respectfully.” The center does not take sides in disputes but rather aims to support all students, Almandrez said. Council members also suggested new programs the center could offer. The center should run a program » See UCS, page 4 t o d ay
tomorrow
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2 launching a legacy?
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013
calendar THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 7
7 P.M.
FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 8
8 P.M.
Domestic Surveillance in the U.S.
Brown Ballroom Masquerade Ball
Smith-Buonnano 106 8 P.M.
Sayles Hall 9 P.M.
A Streetcar Named Desire
Starla and Sons Improv Show
Stuart Theatre
MacMillan 117
menu SHARPE REFECTORY
VERNEY-WOOLLEY
LUNCH Hot Turkey Sandwich with Gravy, Wisconsin Ziti with Four Cheeses, Veggie Stew, Mashed Potatoes
BBQ Beef on a Bun, Cheese Tortellini, Curly Fries, BBQ Navy Beans, Baked Spaghetti Squash, Sugar Cookies
DINNER Beef Stew, Baked Stuffed Chicken Breast, Red Potato Frittata, Rice Pilaf, Brownie a la Mode with Hot Fudge
Cajun Chicken Pasta, Tofu Parmesan, Yellow Beets, Green Beans, Antipasto Bar, Onion and Dill Rolls
DAVID DECKEY / HERALD
Tensions between liberal arts and more preprofessional education have arisen from President Christina Paxson’s strategic plan, with some worrying that the liberal arts could be neglected in coming years.
» ACADEMICS, from page 1
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crossword
The plan includes several undergraduate-focused initiatives, including the development of new sophomore seminars and revamping introductory courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. But simultaneously, the proposals outlined in the document must navigate tensions Wriston’s vision may not have anticipated: those between the liberal arts and professional studies, the humanities and the sciences, and the College and the Graduate School. As the University moves forward with the final version of this plan, it must work to maintain its traditional strengths while pursuing new areas of interest. If the University devotes too little attention to graduate and scientific offerings, it risks falling behind its peers in key areas. But if the University focuses too much on expanding graduate and science programs, it risks losing its unique historical emphasis on undergraduate excellence. And as Brown implements parts of the strategic plan that will affect academic programs, its stewards and constituents will find themselves faced with another question: What about Brown’s identity as an institution of higher learning is subject to change, and how can campus discourse shape Brown’s future? Academic identity The specific phrase of “university-college” dominated initial campus reaction to the plan — specifically, students and faculty members criticized the draft for the term’s absence. The phrase, included in the University’s mission statement, has been used to understand Brown since the turn of the century, when then-Professor of Religious Studies Henry Fowler wrote in the Brown Alumni Magazine: “The college is so far the central and principal part of Brown that I would style her a ‘college,’ and yet the college is so dominated by the university spirit that one must put ‘university’ as a qualifier before that name.” Fowler celebrated Brown’s union of the intimacy of a liberal arts college with the academic opportunities of a larger institution with a graduate population. He rejoiced in the fact that Brown did not have professional schools, unlike competitors such as Harvard and Yale.
But Brown no longer resembles attention could pull from underthe university-college Fowler and graduate education, the caliber of Wriston imagined, a change Pax- which is a hallmark of Brown. son noted at an open forum held “It’s been our competitive to solicit feedback about the plan. strength that we can offer a better Three professional schools — the undergraduate experience than the Alpert Medical School, the School of schools we compare ourselves with,” Engineering and most recently the said Barrett Hazeltine GP’15, profesSchool of Public Health — have been sor emeritus of engineering. added, partly to help the University Brown’s attention to undergraducompete with its peers. ates is “unusual for major research “Building on Distinction” will universities,” said Matt Gelfand ’08, likely expand upon that professional president and executive director of education, introducing new master’s the Open Jar Foundation, an organiprograms and offering more profes- zation dedicated to promoting cursional training for those students. ricular freedom. Brown sometimes Students and faculty members “ends up categorized among some voiced discontent about the “uni- of the liberal arts colleges” for its versity-college” term’s absence in the dedication to undergraduate teachweek following the plan’s release. ing, he said. At a meeting of the UndergraduSeveral proposals in “Building on ate Council of Students, Paxson Distinction” would grow graduate said she would revise the plan to programs. In addition to creating add the term, “university-college,” new master’s programs, the plan a change that was put in place by calls for developing “a set of metthe time the Corporation approved rics to track the quality of doctoral the document. programs.” “That was a concern that genuThough the plan will grow Brown inely took me by surprise,” Paxson across the board, Paxson said the told The Herald. number of master’s students will inThough the plan did not original- crease at a faster rate than will other ly mention the “university-college,” University constituencies. The plan it remained committed to the term’s will grow the undergraduate student ideals, she said. body at a rate of Several sourc“If Wriston could about 1 percent per es said they were year and will grow see what Brown pleased Paxson the faculty at a rate revised the draft, that would keep the is doing now, he t h ou g h ot h e r s ratio would be happy.” student-faculty questioned the constant. significance of the Joutz said many Christina Paxson change. undergraduates PRESIDENT “I was happy have expressed conto see that Paxson cern that the plan took conversation seriously,” said could emphasize graduate students Peggy Chang ’91, director of the Cur- at the expense of undergrads. But ricular Resource Center. she added that understanding may Marguerite Joutz ’15, member of not account for how changes on the the Brown Conversation, which aims graduate level could benefit underto promote dialogue about Univer- graduate programs as well. sity issues, asked Paxson at the open “I’ve been puzzled … by this perforum about the term’s absence. ceived tension between undergradu“Upon reflection, I have some ates and graduate students — the mixed feelings,” Joutz said. “While idea that if one group gets more, the I think it’s incredibly important that other group gets less,” Paxson said. it’s in the plan, what does just hav- “This is not a zero-sum game.” ing the word in the plan mean in Several initiatives mentioned in the grand scheme? Is this just ac- Building on Distinction — for inknowledging that people want this, stance, an emphasis on “data fluency” or is this going to be an overarching and plans to implement technologyprinciple?” based teaching strategies — could affect both undergraduates and graduA university divided? ate students, the document states. The plan’s focus on improvGraduate and undergraduate eduing graduate education has raised cation are not part of a pie where, questions about whether increased » See ACADEMICS, page 3
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013
university news 3
This four-part series examines the broad impacts President Christina Paxson’s strategic plan could have on the University and its implications for the next decade. Read it online at: thebdh.org/ legacy. Monday: Monday’s story compared Paxson’s strategic plan to that of former President Ruth Simmons, analyzing how developments on and off College Hill have affected the ambition and scope of Building on Distinction. Tuesday: Tuesday’s story examined the financial strategies the University may use to support the strategic plan’s proposals and endeavors while assessing how financial realities determine what projects Brown can undertake. Yesterday: Yesterday’s story explored how Building on Distinction could shape Brown’s presence in the Jewelry District, looking at the effect that presence may have on academic culture and the broader Providence community. Today: Today’s story analyzes how the strategic plan could impact Brown’s status as a “university-college,” navigating tensions between the liberal arts and preprofessional programs, humanities and sciences, and undergraduates and the Graduate School. ALAN SHAN / HERALD
» ACADEMICS, from page 2 if the graduate slice grows, the slice dedicated to undergraduates necessarily shrinks, said Ken Miller ’70 P’02, professor of biology and member of the strategic planning Committee on Financial Aid. Undergraduates can benefit from higher caliber graduate students who serve as teaching assistants, researchers, Graduate Writing Associates and mentors, said Keila Davis GS, president of the Graduate Student Council. If Brown were a purely undergraduate institution, it would be unable to recruit certain faculty members who rely on skilled graduate students to advance their research, Miller said. Elliot Maxwell ’68 P’06, one of the architects of the Open Curriculum, said he thinks the University has so far done “a good job of getting a balance” between pursuing undergraduate and graduate priorities. Though he was concerned in the 1970s that adding a medical school “would shift the center of gravity of the institution in a way that was fundamentally threatening to the undergraduate experience,” Maxwell said his fears have not materialized. Paxson said she appreciates the need for an “appropriate balance,” given Brown’s character as an institution “that focuses on undergraduate education but is very much a university, too.” “If Wriston could see what Brown is doing now, he would be happy,” Paxson added. Finding a focus Historically, Brown has emphasized liberal arts education and earned renown for strong humanities programs. But some worried Building on Distinction’s focus on the sciences could detract from these priorities. Engineering, once a part of the College, was moved three years ago into a separate School of Engineering. The plan proposes adding “incremental” new building space to engineering and calls for “enhancing the study of sciences, engineering and technology,” strengthening STEM offerings by focusing on “integrated, problem-based learning” and improving introductory courses. Some voiced fears that the plan’s focus on science and engineering would lead to an emphasis on preprofessionalism, detracting from Brown’s traditional academic focus. “If you’re not highlighting the liberal arts in the report, and you’re just assuming it will be a priority because we’ve always focused on it, there’s a danger that it won’t be a priority anymore,” Joutz said. “I do worry a little about the role of the liberal arts,” Hazeltine said. But others said they were not concerned, saying the liberal arts remain a hallmark of the undergraduate experience. Brown is “very strong in the
liberal arts … in the wider world given up anything, and it’s still there.” and in the Ivy League,” said Joseph The curriculum was born of camPucci, associate professor of classics pus-wide conversation about how and comparative literature. students should approach and engage Even engineering students are with higher education. “When we “perfectly positioned to have a great were recommending the New Curliberal arts education,” said Lawrence riculum, we thought the process of Larson, dean of the School of Engi- talking about education at Brown neering. was as important as the answers,” The plan also introduces new Maxwell said. sophomore seminars, which would Commitment to campus-wide disreplicate the small, discussion-based course was cited by students, alums courses currently designed specifi- and faculty members as integral to cally for first-years — a move that Brown’s culture. could bolster liberal arts and specifi“That is what is uniquely Brown. cally humanities curricula at Brown. People are willing to engage in this Still, many feared the plan’s at- dialogue, come to the table and have tention to STEM could endanger an opinion,” Joutz said. the humanities, which have recently Some said the strategic planning faced declining popularity and enroll- process demonstrated the University ment at Brown and has maintained that beyond while STEM “There is a feeling commitment. fields have grown. Paxson and Proin the minds of “There is a feelvost Mark Schlising in the minds of some people that sel’s P’15 requests some people that for feedback at the pendulum the pendulum might multiple campus might have swung forums showed the have swung too far in the STEM direc“administration is too far in the tion,” said Arnold really serious about STEM direction.” gathering (student) Weinstein, professor of comparative input,” Miller said. Arnold Weinstein literature. But recent data PROFESSOR OF COMPARATIVE But the focus on suggests a lack of LITERATURE STEM is intended to broad student enaddress an existing gagement with the need for more students interested plan. A poll conducted by The Herald in those disciplines, Reginster said. Sept. 30-Oct. 1 revealed that about “Attention is self-contained within two-thirds of undergraduates either STEM,” he said. “It has nothing to do had no opinion on the strategic plan with the humanities and shouldn’t be or had not heard of it. About half of read as posing a threat.” undergraduates indicated they were Paxson delivered a speech at the aware of the plan but not enough to Annual Meeting of the National Hu- form an opinion, while 16 percent did manities Alliance in Washington this not know the plan existed. March, a gesture Pucci said suggests And recent events may suggest there is no need to worry about the student input does not always sigfate of the humanities at Brown. nificantly influence administrative Some stressed a symbiosis be- decisions. In a poll conducted Montween the humanities and STEM day, about 42 percent of students infields. dicated they believe their opinions “A lot of the STEM education that have little to no influence over Uniwe’re talking about is actually making versity policy. Only about 7 percent medical education more humanistic,” of students reported believing stusaid Patricia Ybarra, associate profes- dents strongly influence University sor of theatre arts and performance decisions. studies and co-chair of the strategic Professor of Computer Science planning Committee on Educational John Savage P’88 P’95 P’03 P’05 Innovation. GP’17 said that though students were “Science needs the humanities included in the process of creating and humanities need the science,” Building on Distinction, he quesMiller said. tioned how much influence they actually had. A constant commitment Still, dialogue could play an imSome highlighted the Open Cur- portant role in determining the plan’s riculum and commitment to dialogue implementation. Though the plan as enduring hallmarks of Brown that was approved at the end of October, should remain intact as the University specifics of how its initiatives will be implements changes proposed in the pursued remain to be decided. strategic plan. But questions remain Whether and how conversations about how prevalent dialogue is on about the plan develop in coming campus — and about how influential years could affect the scope and spethat dialogue is. cifics of major changes to Brown, When the Open Curriculum was and could in turn shape what legacy created, “Brown immediately got into Paxson’s tenure ultimately leaves. the top tier” and became one of the most competitive Ivy League schools, —With reporting by Michael Dubin Weinstein said. Since then, “it hasn’t and Kiki Barnes
Flu vaccines are covered by the yearly health services fee, as is HIV testing. More students are using both services.
U. flu vaccination rate rises over last 5 years More than 3,000 flu shots were administered on campus by Health Services this fall By STEPHEN ARK SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The number of flu vaccinations administered by Health Services has more than doubled in the past five years, with 3,100 shots this year compared to 1,475 administered in the 2008-2009 academic year, said Infirmary Coordinator Monica Kunkel. The increase could be the result of changing attitudes about the flu following the 2009 H1N1 outbreak, said Lecturer in Biology Richard Bungiro. Before the H1N1 pandemic, which disproportionately affected young people, it was widely believed that the elderly were most vulnerable to the virus. The vaccination is “almost the cheapest kind of insurance you can buy,” Bungiro said, adding that a serious case of the flu can send a patient to the hospital and seriously harm a student academically. Vaccinations cost the University about $10 each and are covered by the $690 annual health services fee, Kunkel said. Bungiro said a large publicity campaign and the fact that flu shots are free have helped them become more popular in recent years. “I would not get one at all if I had to pay for it,” said Josue Crowther ’15, adding that though he received a flu vaccination his freshman year at a clinic in the Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, he has not had time to receive one since. The benefits outweigh any
inconvenience, said Natalia Perecki ’16. “You have a better immunity if you have it in your system, so why would you not want to take advantage of that?” she said. Nine clinics have been held so far this year in the campus center as well as one at the Alpert Medical School, where all students working in health care are required by Rhode Island law to receive vaccinations, Kunkel said. Bungiro said he receives a flu shot in front of his immunology class every year. Health service employees attend the class and offer students the vaccinations on-site. The health services fee also covers HIV testing. Last year, 1,137 HIV tests were performed, a slight increase from approximately 1,000 administered last year. Health Services offers HIV screenings when a patient receives a routine physical or gynecological exam, The Herald previously reported. Director of Health Services Edward Wheeler said these measures fit into a broader trend emphasizing the importance of preventative care. “The big push in medicine is to think of an HIV test as a regular screening test that you would do periodically,” Wheeler said. “If you’re getting your cholesterol tested, you can get your HIV test at the same time.” Kunkel said the de-stigmatization of HIV has made screenings more popular on campus since she joined Health Services in the late 1990s. “We have so many treatments and medications now that it is no longer looked upon the way it was when it was first discovered,” she said. “So the sooner you’re diagnosed, the sooner you can get into treatment and live without further interruption.” “I think that message has gotten through to people,” she added.
4 university news » COMMITTEE, from page 1 aims to do,” said Marguerite Joutz ’15, a leader of Brown Conversation, which hosted an event Saturday night about both the protests and the role free discourse plays at Brown. Incorporating input from faculty members, staffers, undergraduates and graduate students is important, said Iris Bahar, chair of the FEC and a professor of engineering. “This should really be a process that involves several constituents.” The committee will seek advice and may host a forum soliciting community input, she added. Some students at the GSC meeting voiced concerns over a lack of representation because only one graduate student will be on the committee. Once committee members are chosen, they will begin the first of two phases of recommendations. In the first phase, the committee will “review the activities and circumstances
» UCS, from page 1 similar to TWTP available to all students, not just a limited number of first-years, said Sam Rubinstein ’17, a UCS general body member. The TWC should “co-sponsor events about what it means to be a minority on campus” with other organizations, such as Brown RISD Hillel, said Alex Drechsler ’15, UCS Student Activities chair. The Council also started its categorization process of student groups. Six groups earned Category 1 status, including Design for America and Recess Journal. Three groups were approved as Category 2, including Brown Unheard and Wubapella, and two groups became Category 3. Council members engaged in several minutes of debate before approving the International Socialist Club as a Category 3 group. Leila Ve e r a s a m y ’15,
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013
related to” Kelly’s lecture and “identify issues that may have contributed to the disruption,” Paxson wrote. The second phase will allow the committee to discuss the role of free expression and dialogue on campus, Paxson added. The University hopes to complete this phase relatively quickly while still allowing time for sufficient discussion, Quinn wrote. “The decision to form the task force is about taking into consideration the fact that there’s a broad context for understanding everything that happened,” Klawunn said. The committee must review everything, ranging from how the event was organized to its title, she added. “There are some things that are unclear and not everyone knows all of the circumstances,” Bahar said. In the days following the event, there was “a lot of discussion with students of color who felt not totally integrated into the community,” said
Rebecca Millstein ’16. She added that she thinks trying to fix this by formulating a committee is a “really great idea.” Other students were critical of the decision. “How many committees is Paxson going to create? There are so many,” said Ayane Ezaki ’13.5. “Is that the way she’s going to run the University? Relegate every sensitive topic to a committee?” Though a majority of students supported protesters’ actions outside Kelly’s lecture or petitioning to have the event canceled, about 73 percent indicated they did not approve of protests causing the event to be shut down, according to a poll The Herald conducted Monday. About 71 percent of students supported petitioning, and about 80 percent of students favored outside protests. Paxson sent out two letters on Wednesday — one to undergraduates and another to the entire campus
community. In the first email, Paxson said she wanted to write to undergraduates separately and shared with them what her next letter, to the entire campus community, would entail. Paxson “felt strongly about writing directly to undergraduates” after spending a “great deal of time this last week” speaking with undergraduates in forums and smaller gatherings, Quinn wrote. Paxson’s emails argued for the importance of free expression and protest, as long as they occur under “acceptable means.” But, Paxson wrote, the means by which protesters stopped Kelly’s lecture were unacceptable and a violation of the code of conduct students agree to before arriving on campus. Joutz said she hasn’t read through the entire Code of Student Conduct and thinks most students have not read it either. “I don’t think administrators can disregard policy, though,” she added.
Disciplining protestors would be “unfair,” said Johanna ThompsonWestra ’14. After completing the initial review of events, the committee will see “if any further follow-up is appropriate” for those individuals who participated in the protest, Klawunn said. “That decision will be made out of an examination of all of the circumstances,” she said. There is no “predetermined outcome” for code violation, she added. If the University chooses to take disciplinary action, it “shouldn’t be super harsh,” said Nicola Malakooti ’16. Diego Arene-Morley ’16 said that while meeting Kelly with such force was not effective, neither is meeting students with force. “I don’t think that punishment is going to make us feel any better about the problems,” he added.
Undergraduate Finance Board chair, expressed concern that the International Socialist Club had requested funding for international speakers, which the board does not fund. The club also sought funding for national speakers and travel to conferences, Drechsler said. “The whole topic of free speech has come up a lot recently, and it’s good that a group so controversial would get funding,” said Ian Cossentinos ’17, a UCS general body member. The Council also approved seven groups’ requests for $200 of baseline funding from the recently created Service Group Funding Board. Seven groups out of 20 applied and received funding, including Active Minds, Interfaith Exchange, Nourish International, Carefree Clinic, Brown University Sexual Health and Empowerment, Rainwater for Humanity and Making Moves, said Noelle Spencer ’14, chair of the board.
Students discussed the role of the Third World Center in helping students understand the implications of the cancellation of the Ray Kelly lecture at Wednesday’s UCS meeting. Herald file photo.
—With reporting by Isobel Heck and Maggie Livingstone
CORRINE SZCZESNY / HERALD
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013
THIS WEEK IN HIGHER ED
BY ELI OKUN, UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR
Turkey bans mixed-gender university housing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared in a speech Tuesday that he will not allow male and female university students to live in the same dorms, the Wall Street Journal reported this week. Mixed-gender university dorms and private houses will be forbidden under the new restrictions. Erdogan said Turkish intelligence services will use surveillance to detect violations and report them to regional governors. Erdogan argued the change will better align colleges’ housing accommodations with Turkish values, but liberal opponents lambasted the announcement as excessive state interference that forces Islamic principles on all Turks. The ban comes after significant national unrest following protests in Istanbul’s Gezi Park that rocked the country this summer. Protesters’ grievances against the government began with concerns over razing a public park but grew to encompass demands that Erdogan ease up on his increasingly conservative and Islamic policies. The Turkish constitution contains both a guarantee of individuals’ rights to privacy and permission for the government to breach those rights in certain scenarios, including protecting “public morality,” the Journal reported. Erdogan said the shift to eliminate mixed-gender university housing in Turkey is about three-quarters complete.
‘Blurred Lines’ stirs controversy in United Kingdom Roughly 20 British universities have banned Robin Thicke’s hit pop song “Blurred Lines” from their student union bars over concerns that the song promotes rape culture and sexist messages, the Telegraph reported Wednesday. Many high-profile universities, including the University of Edinburgh, have either banned the song explicitly or asked bars not to play it. The University of Exeter did not ban “Blurred Lines,” but its Students’ Guild issued a statement condemning it. “A song that implies a woman is ‘an animal’ and who ‘wants it’ because of the way she is dressed is not acceptable,” the statement read. “The language within the lyrics and the images within the promotional video are utterly degrading to the female subject. Any song that expresses an author’s frustration at ‘being sick of blurred lines’ is beyond unacceptable.” Thicke has said publicly that people who think his song endorses rape are misconstruing its intent, and some commentators have argued that a different reading of the lyrics could actually show them to be feminist.
city & state 5 » PARTY HOUSE, from page 1 is designed to encourage both tenants and landlords to take responsibility for disturbing the peace or throwing unsafe parties, Creegan wrote. “It reminds me of … ‘The Scarlet Letter,’” said Michele Narbonne ’15, who received off-campus permission this year. Like the scarlet “A” of the novel, the stickers serve as visible markers of bad behavior, she said. Since the sticker system was inaugurated in September, four houses in Providence have been marked and two residents have been fined “for failure to adequately maintain the stickers,” Creegan wrote. Police have not yet had to return to any of the stickered houses to respond to noise complaints. Individuals already affected by the policy include students from Bryant University and Johnson and Wales University, the Providence Journal reported. But since the ordinance applies to the entire city, stickers could be applied to the off-campus homes of Brown students as well. Providence Police officers frequently team up with Department of Public Safety officers to address disturbance complaints, said Paul Shanley, deputy chief of police for DPS. Often, party-throwers will only receive a warning or be asked to lower noise levels. But if parties are deemed unsafe because of issues such as overcrowding or underage drinking or
if noise is excessive, the Providence department will issue fines, usually around $200, Shanley said. DPS and Providence are “really trying to keep the peace between Brown students and their neighbors,” said Hannah Mack ’14, who rents a house off campus. While the Office of Residential Life has not yet dealt with any offcampus student residences affected by the sticker policy, administrators would respond in a manner similar to how they currently respond to reports of students disrespecting their neighbors, said Richard Bova, senior associate dean of Residential Life and Dining Services. The University already works with students who have chronic issues with neighbors or the police, Bova added. Of the about 1,300 students who live off campus, around 1,200 live in houses owned by landlords unaffiliated with Brown, Bova said, adding that students must complete an online tutorial that includes information about being respectful neighbors and good tenants before receiving off-campus permission. “The vast majority of students who live off campus are great members of their community,” he said. If an off-campus complaint is reported to DPS, the incident is forwarded to ResLife and administrators work with students to “develop an action plan” to prevent future disturbances, Bova said. Off-campus
behavior that results in the issuance of local citations can be considered a breach of the Student Code of Conduct, which could result in more serious administrative review or judicial action. Complaints from neighbors or neighborhood associations can also reach ResLife and spur administrative action, he added. Many students living off campus had not heard of the policy and expressed discomfort with the idea of marking certain residences as party houses. Andrew Silverman ’14 said he is concerned the policy would create difficulties because of the short timespan of student rentals, meaning the party house label may not be accurate year after year. Though the stickers could be an effective deterrent to throwing parties, Mack said, they could also create tensions among students, landlords, neighbors and the police. It is too early to know if the policy effectively deters raucous parties, but some students suspect it will, Silverman said, adding that students might begin holding more exclusive parties, rather than larger events. But other students said they believe the policy will not affect notorious party houses, instead influencing only students who are already cautious about throwing large, noisy parties. “Houses that have huge parties are not all of a sudden going to stop,” Narbonne said.
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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013
EDITORIAL
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Preserving Brown’s core
Paxson’s letter misses the point of discourse
This week, The Herald has run a four-part series — “Launching a Legacy?” — exploring the influences shaping President Christina Paxson’s recently approved strategic plan and analyzing how the plan, entitled “Building on Distinction: A New Plan for Brown,” will shape the University’s trajectory over the next decade and beyond. The final article, running today, questions how Brown’s undergraduate core will fare as the graduate program continues to garner increased attention and funding. We believe stronger graduate programs are not necessarily mutually exclusive with maintaining and expanding Brown’s excellent undergraduate education, but we are certain that, as Building on Distinction is implemented, more can be done to reward and prioritize student and faculty commitments to Brown’s undergraduate core. Tenure reforms implemented under former President Ruth Simmons have not attracted much student attention, but they have changed the incentives of faculty members, many of whom feel pressured to pursue research — perhaps at the expense of teaching responsibilties. One of the wonderful opportunities present at Brown is the option to take courses with professors who are renowned in their fields and can present their research to their students. But in their current state, these courses are often most successful when taught at an advanced level. As was indicated in the plan, introductory education must be improved, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Though introductory-level science classes may not be as headline-generating as upper-level seminars taught by professors who discovered the mechanisms in question, the latter cannot exist without the former, and the University should provide resources for faculty members who want to take either path. Last month, The Herald reported that part of the implementation of the strategic plan would include “post-tenure sabbatical policy, changes to the academic calendar and streamlined research reporting procedures” — initiatives that appear focused on research. Alongside these changes, we would urge specific allowances to be set aside for faculty members who wish to pursue curricular improvements or reform. We would also oppose any further changes to the tenure process that would emphasize research over teaching. Many of us chose to attend Brown because we sought the opportunity to receive college-level liberal arts teaching while benefiting from the increased resources that characterize large research institutions. It is evident that the recent strategic plan was created with the aim of emphasizing the latter part of the equation, but we cannot overemphasize the extent to which we value the first. Even researchers pursuing the highest levels of scientific inquiry require a strong undergraduate foundation to build upon. Brown’s historical commitment to undergraduate education is both the intellectual and emotional root of this institution. The education that one receives here as an undergraduate can catalyze later study and drive the course and purpose of life after Brown. Brown will certainly continue to expand, but we do believe it is possible to preserve its core — the College — and we hope this principle will be respected. While Building on Distinction will be associated with Paxson, just as the Plan for Academic Enrichment remains connected with Simmons, the two plans articulate virtually the same vision and are ideologically continuous. Taken together, the two envision an institution that differs incredibly from the Brown of the past. Students may feel the plan does not affect them directly, but we all have a stake in this institution’s future. Organizations such as the Brown Conversation provide a welcome opportunity for students to voice their thoughts on Brown’s course. We urge students to attend these events — and have conversations of their own — and we hope Paxson and the administration will take note of student-driven recommendations.
To the Editor:
I just received a letter from President Christina Paxson. I understand that as an administrator tasked with the orderly functioning of the University, Paxson disagrees with the tactics used by the protesters at the New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly lecture. However, I’m disappointed because this is the third letter sent out to the entire Brown community in which she argues her point and gives the protesters no opportunity to defend their actions or articulate their vision — it’s telling that in this letter she links to her own writing twice. This is a missed
“Science needs the humanities, and the humanities need the science.” — Ken Miller ’70 P’02, professor of biology See academics, page 1.
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opportunity: Paxson could have shown how much Brown truly cares about open dialogue and debate and make the point that the best ideas will win out in an open forum. I was taught at Brown that if my idea truly is better, I should feel comfortable matching it up against the best possible form of my opponent’s argument. Instead, Paxson has proved the protesters’ point that those with privilege and power have plenty of available platforms to advocate for their ideas, while others are limited to “persistent interruption.”
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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013
Avoidance is not the answer myself and hear her say I was not a monster but a completely normal person. Luckily, my mental infrastructure was not as bad as Providence’s roads opinions columnist and bridges. The first lesson I learned through On Sept. 22, 2011, I thought I killed my sessions was that I am an insecure someone. We were hiking in a group person. The second was that I assume in an extremely rural part of India’s too much responsibility for things outnorthern border. We were supposed side of my control. The third was that to stop to camp. I strongly advocated literally everyone suffers from both of that we continue. Eventually, I con- these symptoms, but almost everyone vinced our daily leaders of the merits is afraid to admit it. of continuing. To be accepted to Brown, you have One person never made it to the to structure yourself so that your losses campsite I pushed us toward. and shortcomings fade under the glare He fell off a cliff and shattered my of all the little gems in your character. 18-year-old psyche on the jagged gran- You shine the light just right, and you ite edge of guilt. are in the Ivy League. A lot of our lives I cried to the point of stomach are structured in this way, because in cramps a few times. Then I tried to order to succeed, you need people to move on. For the trust you. And for longest time after people to trust you, “If you are Tom Plotkin plumthey need to see the struggling, don’t be right side of you. meted, I thought I was okay. You The only probafraid to use Brown’s know those pesky lem is that I became Psychological colds where you so used to this repServices or outside resentation that don’t realize you are sick until you I began to ignore services. Don’t be feel better? Well, much of the 99 perafraid to ask your my guilt and Tom’s cent that does not fall birthed that glisten in the sun friends for help.” virus inside me. I of other people’s grew so accustomed to this mental adoration, especially those parts that state that I didn’t even remember I ever brought back painful memories. had been a better, happier person. It I suspect many of us exercise this wasn’t until this summer, nearly two type of avoidance. Most of the time years later, that I knew I had been sick it is not that harmful, but if there — and more importantly, that I had is a jarring event like the death of a been cured. friend, the coping levees we build are Our societal prescription for men- not strong enough for the impact. In tal healing is that “it just takes time.” the worst cases, it manifests itself in And to an extent, it is true. As the heavy drinking and drug use. In the neural connections that formed your best, it worsens relationships with memory of the event fade, the pain the people around us. If there weren’t should dull slightly. This is good news such a stigma behind admitting that we because in the brain, as in the body, need help figuring ourselves out, this the healing process starts automati- wouldn’t be such a big issue. cally. But I learned that time cannot If you are struggling, don’t be afraid do all the work. to use Brown’s Psychological Services The more serious the mental trau- or outside services. Don’t be afraid ma, the more hardwired that nega- to ask your friends for help. Heck — tive representation is in your brain. In don’t be afraid to have a good cry as my generation, there is a huge stigma you watch “The Pursuit of Happyness.” against seeing a mental health thera- Don’t be afraid of people’s judgment pist. I used to be one of the millions in — we are all struggling to some exmy generation who was too proud to tent. We are incredibly lucky to go see a psychiatrist. I viewed it as: “I don’t to a school that offers the resources need some weird old person to tell me and support we need to deal with our what I am feeling or thinking. They shortcomings. We shouldn’t be afraid can’t know me. I am not that weak.” to use them. But then I actually saw a therapist. And over several months of incredibly frank and honest conversations, she Nico Enriquez ’16 dedicates this helped return me to my regular state story to T-Plot and all he continof happiness. It was an incredible relief ues to teach. Keep smiling brothto tell someone all the petty thoughts er. Thank you. nenriquez3@ and weaknesses I had bottled inside gmail.com.
NICO ENRIQUEZ
www.browndailyherald.com
commentary 7 A note on dining services Services, but a chef makes better food than an overworked student. For another, chefs cooked the food right in front of me rather than opinions columnist bringing it out in pre-prepared trays. The quality of food is greatly enYou know what really grinds my hanced when it is freshly prepared. gears? Brown Dining Services. For In many instances at BU, plates are a while now, I’ve been a little tense made to order. Picture the quesadilla about how food services are run line at Josiah’s — but for everything. around here. But when a friend of In addition to the standard dinmine showed me what food is like ing hall options that most universiat Boston University, it pushed me ties offer, BU also offers the option over the edge. for students to eat at an abundance In comparison to BU, Brown of retail eateries. This includes a does not come close to adequately food court composed of 11 differinvesting in nutrient restaurants, tion and good food 14 additional “Brown does not for its students. restaurants and come close to Let’s start with the cafes in varimeal plans. adequately investing ous locations BU offers a hroughout in nutrition and good tcampus, far more sensible one range of meal plans food for its students.” f u l l - s e r v i c e than Brown does, food market, providing sufficient options for av- two late-night cafes and a pizza deerage members of the student body livery option provided by Domino’s as well as the students at extremes and Papa John’s. of the spectrum, such as athletes Holy smokes. Tell me more. who eat often. It’s important to recognize BU is An athlete at BU might subscribe in the heart of Boston, with vastly to the “Unlimited” plan. For $4,970, more food places to contract with “Unlimited” subscribers receive and about 10,000 more students who as many meals as they would like eat every day. I’m not saying Brown during the week as well as $360 in should build a food court, but there dining points credit. To compare, are many benefits that would come Brown’s highest meal plan option from partnering with external food costs $520 less but provides only providers. 20 meals a week and $160 less in This type of relationship with dining points. restaurants and chains supports At the other end of the spectrum, businesses that participate in BU’s students who want to eat less at cafe- program. It allows them to expose terias and more at actual eateries can their cuisines to people who might choose the “250 Plan.” For $4,690 otherwise avoid eating in certain per year, this offers 125 meals and places because they are too expen$545 in points credit each semester. sive to do on a regular basis. This is Oh, the things I could buy with 545 something from which Brown could points. Too bad the only meal plan strongly benefit. Brown needs to option for those of us looking to take the initiative and partner with patronize the Blue Room is Flex 460. places on Thayer and Hope streets. At $4,420 per year and 250 points There is great food around here and per semester, it’s hardly worth it. it’s ridiculous so many of us can’t But more important than the take advantage of it because we can’t meal plans are the food options afford it. BU provides its students. For one, Another benefit would be a I got served by an actual chef. I ap- Munch Card-like feature that Brown preciate the efforts of students who students could access as part of work with Brown University Dining their meal plans to diversify the
DANIEL DELANEY
food options for students and give Dining Services incentive to up the quality of food. Right now, Brown doesn’t have to compete with anybody to up the quality of what it serves the students. We can’t use meal credits at the Blue Room until after 4 p.m., and the semi-good food — or at least prepared food — served at the Gate and Jo’s isn’t available until dinner. Sure, if the Blue Room took meal credits all the time, nobody would go to the Sharpe Refectory. But why is that? Because the quality of the food is so much better elsewhere. Students can tell the difference. Brown’s dining system works fine if all you eat is dinner. Other than that, you’re sunk. Brown could also benefit from creating healthy eating programs. One of the most unique aspects of the BU program is what the university calls the Sargent Choice program — a healthy options eating program developed in partnership with the Sargent College Nutrition Center. The program partners with BU Dining Services to offer a custom menu of highly nutritional and healthy foods. Dieticians, nutrition students and volunteers work to create and test recipes using sustainable ingredients, low-fat options and nutritious foods that are served to students every day. The program advocates managing a healthy weight, strong self-image and academic performance and a healthy future. Food is a crucial aspect of our daily lives, and Brown does not invest enough in providing its students with a range of healthy, convenient and affordable options. It needs to make a more committed effort to rectify this because the rewards are great. Diverse and high-quality eating options can improve every single aspect of someone’s life. But if the food’s not there, none of us have a chance. Let’s recognize the problem and get on it, Brown.
Daniel Delaney ’15 can be reached for comment at daniel_delaney@brown.edu.
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daily herald city & state THE BROWN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013
Transportation companies sue over regulation on non-taxi car services An online petition to repeal a minimum charge rule has collected over 2,100 signatures By EMMA JERZYK STAFF WRITER
Four transportation companies filed a civil action suit in Superior Court Tuesday against the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission, which drafted and passed legislation last year to allow the commission to set a price floor on public motor vehicle transactions. RIPUC set a minimum charge of $40 for all trips taken in public motor vehicles — car services outside of the taxi industry. The rule will go into effect Nov. 11. The law was originally drafted “to address a problem that Rhode Island companies were having with rogue companies that were operating illegally,” wrote Greg Pare, director of communications for the Rhode Island Senate president, in an email to The Herald. The bill distinguishes between PMVs, like sedan services, and taxi companies. The law was sponsored by Rep. Teresa Tanzi, DNarragansett, and Sen. Bill Walaska, D-Warwick, and was signed into law by Gov. Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 P’17 last year.
Lawmakers claim that the state taxi industry has been suffering as a result of increasing pressure from PMV companies. Terrence Mercer, RIPUC’s associate administrator for motor carriers, said the taxicab industry is more heavily regulated than the PMV industry is in his testimony for a hearing on the rule in August. Taxis have territory restrictions, their fares must be approved by RIPUC and they face vehicle age and mileage restrictions, whereas PMVs do not face similar regulations. The price floor was set to “eliminate the rogue, gray area sedan services that are really acting like taxicabs and, truth be told, stealing the work of taxicabs,” Mercer said. Tanzi, one of the bill’s sponsors, said that when RIPUC came to her with the drafted bill there was very little opposition in the House. Following passage in the General Assembly, RIPUC held a standard hearing to address details and concerns over the new minimum charge. There was also a second “unprecedented” hearing to further discuss the change, but “very few people” attended, Tanzi said. But since its passage, the price floor has been met with increasing opposition from local PMV companies. Uber, a mobile app that works to connect PMV companies with consumers, started a petition last week
I N L I V I N G CO LO R
on change.org to repeal the law, said Meghan Joyce, general manager of Uber Providence. As of yesterday, the petition had garnered over 2,100 signatures. “It’s not true that (the PMV industry) is an unregulated space,” Joyce said, adding that all of the drivers Uber works with are fully certified and licensed with RIPUC. While Uber is not actually a PMV company, it depends on PMV business because the app allows consumers to find available cars nearby. Uber is attempting to capitalize on the growing trend of PMVs offering high volume, low price rides. In fact, Uber offers several different services to match different cost levels — the company’s website claims that uberX, the lowest-cost option, is “better, faster and cheaper than a taxi.” Tanzi said she used Uber when she was in Charlotte, N.C., for the Democratic National Convention, and though she enjoyed the service, she found that pricing fluctuated frequently. “There’s no price protection for the consumer,” she said. In an October report published by RIPUC, PMV companies argued their case by explaining that “it is common knowledge that many taxi cab companies refuse to provide short-distance services due to the minimal financial reward.”
By MARCUS SUDAC CONTRIBUTING WRITER
EMILY GILBERT / HERALD
“Rhode Island has plenty of room for a healthy taxi system and a healthy PMV system,” Joyce said. “It’s just a matter of providing consumers with choice.” The four companies filing the joint suit are L.C. Transportation, Rainbow Sedans Inc., Corporate Limousine Services L.L.C. and Dewey’s
Transportation Inc. The suit specifically cites the minimum charge rule and not the entire legislation. The plaintiffs argue that the $40 minimum is an “arbitrary and capricious amount” and that RIPUC set the amount “without any sound factual basis, figures or evidence in support thereof,” according to the summons.
Local school field trip sparks controversy Funds from a middle school’s field trip went to an organization affiliated with the Boy Scouts
Angela Lorenz ’87 signed copies of her folding picture book of watercolors, ‘Mansion of Thought,’ at the Brown Bookstore yesterday.
COURTESEY OF UBER
The price floor bill set a $40 minimum charge for public motor vehicles.
A Portsmouth Middle School field trip last week has spurred tense debate on the issue of public funds donated to a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America, a group that has previously received negative press for its discriminatory policies. The school’s seventh- and eighthgrade classes attended a program Oct. 28 run by Learning for Life - Rhode Island, which aims to help “youth in kindergarten through 12th grade meet the challenges of growing up in today’s society by teaching character and good decision-making skills and then linking those skills to the real world,” according to its website. While LFL does not discriminate based on sexual orientation, race or religion, it is a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts, a national organization that prohibits gay or atheist leaders. The program the students attended, Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience, includes physical obstacle courses designed to build character. Portsmouth students brought home permission slips for the COPE field trip that asked for a $5 donation the week of Oct. 3. But on the slip, the school “bundled two different trips, (asking for) $25 combined for this field trip and another,” said blogger and parent John McDaid. After some research, parents in the community found out that their donations were going to a COPE program
established by the Boy Scouts and that LFL, which ran the COPE program, is subsidized by the Boy Scouts. “We’ve never been supporters of the Boy Scouts,” McDaid said, citing the Scouts’ history of discrimination. McDaid brought up the issue at a school meeting Oct. 8, asking “the school committee and the administration to consider (the) policy on field trips involving organizations which practice religious and gender discriminations.” “Our students have the right to learn in an environment free from bias, including field trips,” he said. In a blog post, McDaid ceded that COPE is actually run by LFL — not the Boy Scouts — but insisted that the school nonetheless collected donations “exceeding $2,000” to be given to a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts. McDaid and two other families did not permit their children to attend the field trip under the suspicion that public funds were being donated to a discriminatory cause. It is not clear whether legal issues stem from the Portsmouth case, but the case has not spurred additional investigation. Courtney Cahill, professor of law at Florida State University, wrote in an email to The Herald that she has a “hunch that the use of public funds to finance a trip sponsored by an organization which itself receives funds from the (Boy Scouts) at most poses an Establishment Clause issue under either the state constitution or federal constitution.” Rhode Island law does not permit discrimination against sexual orientation in housing, employment, credit or public accommodations. “To the best of our knowledge, no
Providence
Portsmouth
5 mi
JILLIAN LANNEY / HERALD
one, neither Scout nor Scouter … has been dismissed due to sexual orientation,” the Narragansett Council of Boy Scouts wrote in a statement. Boy Scouts of America spokesperson David Preston said that even if COPE were run by the Narragansett Council of Boy Scouts, discrimination would not be a factor in the experience. “The Narragansett Council was among the very first in the country to seek an open, thorough review of the national membership standards regarding sexual orientation,” Preston said. Portsmouth parents and administrators are divided on the issue. While many see the Narragansett Boy Scouts as non-discriminatory, others remain opposed to LFL’s subsidiary status. Still more parents have voiced support for the COPE field trip on religious grounds. “I support the Boy Scouts in that they are a group founded on JudeoChristian values,” wrote Beth Paolero, a member of the Parents Helping Students Organization, an association of parents with students at Portsmouth High School, in a message to The Herald.