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THE BROWN
vol. cxlviii, no. 110
since 1891
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2013
Social science students least likely to write theses Low honors completion rates may be linked to requirement constraints and thesis concerns
HERALD FILE PHOTO
Three weeks after the body of Michael Dawkins ’13.5 was found in Peru, friends and family are still waiting for information from the Peruvian or American embassies about the details surrounding his death, said sister Erika Dawkins. Dawkins was last seen Oct. 17 at 7 p.m., and his Brown key was last activated Oct. 18 at 1:39 a.m., according to a report filed with the Providence Police Department. After Dawkins was reported missing, officers searched his room and determined his laptop and phone were missing. The search revealed Dawkins had purchased a round-trip ticket to Lima, Peru, according to the report. The ticket indicated Dawkins would leave the country Oct. 18 and return Oct. 24, according to the report. The report was not filed until Oct. 23, when a friend of Dawkins noticed his absence and contacted the Department of Public Safety. The friend requested anonymity because he feared alienating himself from Dawkins’ other friends. DPS found that Dawkins’ Brown email account was last logged into Oct. 22, according to the report. Officials from the Peruvian embassy said they had no new information regarding Dawkins’ death. The University scheduled a memorial service this Friday in Manning Chapel.
Unlike other research comparing metal and wooden bats, the study used youth bats and measured ball trajectory with multiple cameras.
— Adam Toobin
By SOPHIE YAN STAFF WRITER
BRITTANY COMUNALE / HERALD
Social science concentrators, including those in the Department of Economics, are among the least likely to graduate with honors.
class of 2013, as 33 percent of humanities concentrators, 35 percent of life and medical science concentrators and 25 percent of physical science concentrators completed honors requirements. These numbers are consistent with trends over the past decade: The social sciences had the lowest honors completion rate of any academic field for every graduating class since 2004, according to data from the OIR. In the class of 2012, 11 percent of social science concentrators graduated with honors, compared to 27 percent of humanities concentrators, 42 percent of » See SOCIAL, page 3
Students who concentrate in the social sciences are significantly less likely to complete honors requirements than concentrators in other academic fields, a trend that could be linked to requirement constraints and to some concentrators’ concerns about the rigors of a social science thesis. About 13 percent of social science concentrators in the class of 2013 graduated with honors, according to data from the Office of Institutional Research. Social sciences accounted for the lowest honors completion rate of any of the major academic disciplines for the
INSIDE: Students in the life and physical sciences are most likely to graduate with honors. Page 2. Students pursuing a joint concentration may face difficulties completing their theses. Page 3.
Study finds comparable speed in metal, wooden bats The research could help shape regulation of baseball bats used in youth leagues By ANDREW JONES STAFF WRITER
In the wake of the World Series, many hopeful young players will head to the batting cages to emulate the swings of major leaguers with one key difference: They will use metal, not wooden bats. But according to a new biomechanics study conducted in part by University researchers, the performance of metal and wood are comparable in youth baseball. For youth players, bat composition
SCIENCE & RESEARCH
— metal versus wood — does not substantially affect baseball speed, according to an Oct. 15 article in the Journal of Applied Biomechanics. The Orthopedic Department at Alpert Medical School and Rhode Island Hospital researchers analyzed the swings of 22 baseball players ages 13 to 18. Each player swung 13 different bats: three wood, nine composite and one aluminum. The non-wooden bats were as much as 7 oz lighter than the wooden bats. Whereas similar studies have used radar guns to track the speed of the ball, this study tracked the motion of the bat and ball in three dimensions over time, using multiple cameras shooting 300 frames per second, said J.J. Crisco, professor of orthopedics and lead author of the study. This setup, which took place in an indoor batting cage, allowed the » See BATS, page 5
NE WS IN BRIEF Family awaits details on death of Dawkins ‘13.5
Arcade’s reopening gives historic mall new lease on life By WING SZE HO CONTRIBUTING WRITER
With its ornate facade, curling iron handrails and marble walls, the Arcade Providence has long maintained a sense of class and old-fashioned glamor below a half-decade thick layer of dust. Construction workers remain at the historic site, finishing paint and plaster. But simultaneously, new shops and eateries hope to soon restore the historic location to its former glory.
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inside
A landmark location Built in 1828 by Cyrus Butler and
The Arcade Realty Company, the Westminster Arcade was the oldest operating indoor shopping mall in the United States until its closure in 2008. The Arcade was originally a “speculative venture” intended to unite “many shops under one roof,” according to the statement of significance that marks the building as a National Historic Landmark. The Arcade was built to account both for design and function, combining granite, iron and marble to mimic a Greek Revival style, according to the statement. Since then, the Arcade has changed hands multiple times, having been separately owned both by the Rhode Island Association for the Blind and Johnson
and Wales University, though the building has retained its commercial purpose, said Paul Wackrow, director of preservation services at the Providence Preservation Society. The Arcade’s current owner, Evan Granoff, purchased the building from Johnson and Wales in 2005. The building was closed in 2008 because the second and third floors of the mall struggled to find tenants, Wackrow said, adding that these properties were “less accessible to the street.” Neighboring buildings were also redeveloped or demolished during that time, he added. Since then the Arcade has remained closed. But in 2011, Granoff announced plans to reopen the Arcade, repurposing its second and third floors as micro-lofts » See ARCADE, page 5
RYAN WALSH / HERALD
The Arcade Providence reopened this fall, housing local stores on its first floor and apartments and lofts on the second and third floors.
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2 pursuing honors
Life, physical sciences yield high honors rates
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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2013
By EMILY PASSARELLI STAFF WRITER
Students in the life and physical sciences are the most likely to graduate with departmental honors of any academic disciplines, with many of the highest thesis completion rates across all concentrations. Some concentrations in these fields require students to complete capstone or research projects that can turn into theses, which faculty members and students said partially accounts for higher thesis completion rates. But 38 percent of neuroscience concentrators in the class of 2013 completed honors despite not having a research-based course as a concentration requirement, according to data from the Office of Institutional Research. About 35 percent of life and medical science concentrators completed honors requirements last year, compared to 33 percent of humanities concentrators, 25 percent of physical science concentrators and 13 percent of social science concentrators, according to OIR data. The capstone effect Daniel DeCiccio ’14.5, a double concentrator in biomedical engineering and chemical physics, said research is an “essential part” of the life and physical sciences. He said he decided to write an honors thesis after committing significant time to research projects throughout his time at Brown. The chance to share what he had learned from his research was critical to his decision, he added. Though a smaller portion — about 8 percent — of computer science concentrators in the class of 2013 completed honors requirements than did those in neuroscience or biomedical engineering, this lower percentage is misleading, said Thomas Doeppner, associate professor and vice chair of the Department of Computer Science. Because computer science stresses collaborative research, many students do not work on projects that qualify as theses because theses must be individual papers, Doeppner said. Many computer science concentrators choose to do team-based research so they may publish their work rather than focusing on individual honors requirements, he added. Differing rates Biochemistry and physics concentrators must complete a research-based course, and these concentrations account for the highest honors completion rates among the life and physical sciences. About 46 percent of biochemistry concentrators and 41 percent of chemistry concentrators in the class of 2013 received honors. The program only requires one semester of research, but many concentrators continue with three or four semesters of research, said William Suggs, associate professor of biochemistry and chemistry. Though many biochemistry and chemistry concentrators conduct significant research, their projects may not meet requirements for an honors
thesis because many such projects are not to apply for honors, the program’s long-term initiatives spearheaded by required senior thesis makes it hard to faculty members rather than students, take classes outside of the department. Suggs added. “I would love to take humanities classes About 44 percent of physics con- but don’t have time to put my thesis on centrators received honors last year. the back burner,” she said. “Research is one of the most valuable things we offer our undergraduates,” A gap in requirements said Professor of Physics Brad Marston, Connors said the neuroscience adding that the requirement forces stu- department has considered making dents “to face the unknown.” research a graduation requirement but Physics concentrators who com- has repeatedly decided against it. “It is plete honors after being involved in good for students to have a research previous research do so out of interest experience, but it’s not something I in the material, Marston said. “The would impose on them,” he said. award of honors is just icing on the But Ward said neuroscience should cake.” require some research to allow for Though research is not required for hands-on engagement with the matethe neuroscience concentration, the rial and because many other ScB degree program accounts for one of the highest candidates cannot graduate without a thesis completion rates among Brown’s capstone or research project. largest concentrations. Professor of Some students said writing a theNeuroscience and sis in the physical or Department Chair life sciences offers an “Until you have Barry Connorssaid opportunity for more experience in a lab independence but less many students take research for course interpreting your structure than comcredit despite not a thesis in the own data, you don’t pleting being required to humanities. experience being do so. Siegelman said the Chantelle Ward amount of time she a scientist or learn ’15, a neuroscience puts into working on concentrator, said whether lab science research for her thesis she intends to write does not directly transis for you.” an honors thesis late into written progbecause she has deress, unlike in writing Jan Tullis veloped an interest humanities theses. PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGICAL in the research area “I can put in hours SCIENCES she has worked on and not get all the reso far. sults,” she said, adding that humanities concentrators can set Curricular limits aside a block of time and just “crank Some students writing honors the- out writing.” ses in physical and life science conBut completing a thesis in the centrations said the choice to conduct physical or life sciences may yield honors research could limit their en- more post-graduation benefits, some gagement with the Open Curriculum. students said. Pursuing research beyond conJain said humanities concentrators centration requirements is a “give will probably not do scholarly research and take” situation, Ward said, adding as their first job after graduation, while that many hard science concentrators computer science concentrators may choose research as their fourth course, go straight to work in a field related rather than taking an elective in the to skills developed while completing humanities. “You have to decide how their theses. you want to be spending your time “Until you have experience in a here,” she said. lab interpreting your own data, you Claudine Yee ’14, a neuroscience don’t experience being a scientist or concentrator, wrote in email to The learn whether lab science is for you,” Herald that completing a research- said Professor of Geological Sciences based thesis allows specialization in Jan Tullis. one field.“But if you think the Open Some departments and programs Curriculum is meant to give you the in the life and physical sciences allow broadest exposure possible to different thesis writers to construct more interfields, then pursuing a thesis probably disciplinary projects for honors. has hindered my engagement” with it, Gina Roberti ’14, a geology concenYee wrote. trator, wrote in an email to The HerCompleting biomedical engineer- ald that she is currently completing ing honors requirementson top of a a thesis that creates audio guides to senior thesis “undoubtedly” restricted geological locations in Rhode Island. curriculuar exploration, DeCiccio said. Other geology thesis writers have ex“It’s a huge time commitment.” amined interdisciplinary topics such as Vishesh Jain ’14, a computer science methods of science communication to concentrator and honors candidate, non-scientific audiences, Tullis said. said research is an important experiThough most honors theses in the ence for students to have because it life or physical sciences are directly reforces them to apply the knowledge lated to their fields, students also comthey learn in the classroom to a real- plete theses with real-life applications. world problem. For example, a recent biochemistry “But at the same time, the choice to thesis examined the movement of nulearn whatever way you want should be trients across the placental barrier to your own,” he said, adding that students fetal sheep, Suggs said. Doeppner cited who do not want to complete research a recent applied mathematics thesis should not be required to do so. that developed a program that allowed “There are two kinds of worlds a computer to “listen” to music and between science and humanities,” produce corresponding sheet music. said Mika Siegelman ’14, a physics Siegelman said her senior thesis is reconcentrator who is not completing lated to the physics of oceanography honors requirements. She added that and will model how sand is pulled even if physics concentrators decide offshore of Wakiki Beach in Hawaii.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2013
pursuing honors 3
Theses challenge joint concentrators Students seeking honors say they must create a ‘bridge’ connecting their interdisciplinary fields
“a language to explore applied math concepts.” Some students said they want to build a bridge between less obviously connected departments. Liana Ogden ’11, who studied semiotics-French, which combines By EMILY BONEY courses from the French studies and STAFF WRITER modern culture and media departCompleting a thesis in a joint or ments, worked within both departindependent concentration may of- ments to complete her thesis on the fer greater flexibility in the honors portrayal of animals in literature process, but coordination difficul- and other media. She said she based ties across departments can pose her thesis on an essay she wrote her obstacles for students seeking to sophomore year. graduate with honors in interdisci“I leapt at the opportunity to ... plinary fields. finally write this 90-page summary Students in joint concentrations of my undergraduate academic ex— interdisciplinary concentrations perience,” Ogden said. that span more than one departThough she began her research ment or program — are less likely to with French sources, Ogden said complete honors requirements than she soon realized modern culture are many of their single-concentra- and media “fit very well into the tion peers. In the class of 2013, for concept.” instance, four out of 66 business, Proceeding with a joint concenentrepreneurship tration thesis was and organizations an obvious next “People weren’t concentrators step, she said. quite sure what completed a thesis, But stepand 23 percent of the rules were for ping beyond the applied matheof one dedealing with me.” bounds matics-economics partment can creconcentrators did ate problems when Liana Ogden ’11 so in the same year. joint concentrators Both are joint conseek to coordinate centrations. advising input across departments. Three out of 12 independent con“People weren’t quite sure what centrators in the class of 2013 wrote the rules were for dealing with theses, compared to 35 percent of me,” Ogden said, adding that faclife and medical sciences concen- ulty members often had to “jump trators, 33 percent of humanities through hoops” to help her with a concentrators, 25 percent of physical thesis. MCM concentrators rarely science concentrators and 13 percent completed double concentration of social science concentrators. honors requirements during her Joint concentrators who want time at Brown, Ogden said. to graduate with honors often must Though many departments recoordinate between multiple depart- quire potential thesis writers to sements, an added layer that can pres- lect an adviser by the end of their ent distinct difficulties. junior year, students seeking to comStudents in joint concentrations plete honors requirements in joint that involve economics and one oth- or independent concentrations may er program must have their main sometimes start contacting faculty thesis adviser be in one department members earlier in their studies. and a secondary adviser in the other, Both Gillani and Ogden said said Roberto Serrano, who chairs the they discussed the interdisciplinary economics department. ideas surrounding their theses with This requirement works to en- their advisers well before deciding sure “that the content of the thesis to complete honors research. and the methodology used qualify Ogden said her senior year for the joint concentration,” Ser- courses also fed into her thesis rano said. work. Because she had already fulSome recent graduates who com- filled the majority of her French and pleted theses in joint or independent MCM requirements, she was able concentrations said they had a more to “cherry-pick classes that would flexible thesis-writing experience revolve around the topic” of her because they knew what they wanted honors project, she said. to get out of the process. Gillani said he reached out to Nabeel Gillani ’12, who won the then-Professor of Computer SciDistinguished Senior Thesis Award ence Pascal Van Hentenryck to be for his honors thesis in applied his thesis adviser. math-computer science, said his “I wanted to see how we could joint concentration thesis naturally connect education and computer evolved out of his prior schoolwork. science,” Gillani said, adding that Gillani said his research focused on Van Hentenryck gave him the choice rebuilding infrastructure effectively to help him build on existing reafter a natural disaster. search or “take (his) own path.” Applied math and computer Gillani said he initially thought science are “inherently connected,” he would devise his own research for Gillani said, adding that interdisci- a thesis, but after considering Van plinary linkages made uniting the Hentenryck’s expertise, he “felt like fields into a thesis easier. working with a professor who was “The bridge already exists” be- really into his field and knew a lot tween the two departments, Gillani about a particular domain would be said, describing computer science as a better experience.”
BRITTANY COMUNALE / HERALD
The lower social sciences honors completion rate could be linked to the pressures of completing requirements for two concentrations, said Besenia Rodriguez ‘00, associate dean of the College.
» SOCIAL, from page 1
Graduation with honors, 2013 The percent of students in the class of 2013 graduating with
life and medical science concentrahonors was lower in the social sciences than in other fields, tors and 32 percent of students in the particularly the humanities and life sciences. physical sciences. The lower social sciences honors Social Sciences 13% completion rate could be linked to the pressures of completing requirements for two concentrations, said Besenia Physical Sciences 25% Rodriguez ’00, associate dean of the College for research and upperclass Humanities 33% studies. “There are some fields where maybe almost everybody is double Life Sciences 35% concentrating,” Rodriguez said, referring to social science programs. Some students who double conSource: Office of Institutional Research centrate may write a thesis in a field GREG JORDAN-DETAMORE / HERALD that is not a social science, Rodriguez said, adding that the social science likely to complete honors because The DOC office is also looking to honors completion rate does not in- they are often more accustomed to expand the Advising Sidekick website clude this data. the volume of writing a thesis would to allow students to apply for honors “You only know that they didn’t do entail, Ho said. directly through the website as part a social science thesis,” she said. “You “The idea of writing might scare of the concentration declaration prodon’t know if they did another kind of certain people off,” he said. cess, Rodriguez said. thesis in another kind of department.” “Students are motivated by their But some social science concenThough they are two of Brown’s passion for their topics and their de- trators said their departments may most popular concentrations, eco- sire to delve deeper into the subject not provide adequate support strucnomics and international relations matter than they would in a course tures for completing a thesis. account for two of the lowest honors term paper,” wrote Claudia Elliot The Department of Economics completion rates among any under- MA’91 PhD’99, associate director of has limited resources given the large graduate program. About 3 percent the international relations program, number of concentrators, Ho said, of the 212 economics concentrators in an email to The Herald. “For these adding that he had trouble finding in the class of 2013 students, the thesis a faculty member to advise him on graduated with hon— asking their own his thesis. “In the senior-year ors, and 4 percent of research question, But Ho said he has received supprocess, lots of people designing the study, port from the department and his international relaare looking for jobs.” and arriving at find- adviser as he has worked on conducttions concentrators did so, according to ings from which ing his research. data from the OIR. Clarence Ho ’14 they derive impliTaewan Roh ’14, who is double Clarence Ho ’14, cations for theory concentrating in economics and busian applied math-economics concen- and practice in IR — is the ultimate ness, organizations and entrepreneurtrator writing a thesis on the recent challenge.” ship, wrote in an email to The Herald financial crisis, said he felt the project The lower honors completion rate that the economics concentration was an integral part of his academic among the social sciences might be does not prepare some students to experience. due to the fact that many of the divi- undertake rigorous research because But Ho said the economics con- sion’s concentrations do not have a they do not have the necessary mathcentration at Brown is more oriented research requirement similar to those ematical and statistical skills. toward multiple-choice exams and in the life or physical sciences, RoThe thesis-writing gap between memorization rather than the type of driguez said. social sciences and the humanities research that leads to a thesis. In the sciences, “it’s fairly easy to may also be linked to the fact that “When I studied abroad in Lon- make the decision to ... pursue hon- more humanities concentrators purdon, I felt like (economics) there had ors,” Rodriguez said. “But in the hu- sue careers in academia than do stua strong focus on writing,” Ho said. manities and social sciences, I think dents in programs such as economics, He added experience studying abroad in order to kind of make that kind of Roh wrote. influenced his decision to apply for commitment, people (have to) really The OIR currently does not pubhonors when he returned to Brown. feel very strongly about their proj- licly release data on the number of Ho said he understands why most ect and about the kind of work that students who abandon the honors economics concentrators may not they’re doing.” track after having started a thesis, share his desire to write a thesis. The College Curriculum Council, but Rodriguez said the Dean of the Many students declare economics which works to support curricular College’s office intends to start colas a second concentration or because development across departments, of- lecting that information. they view the program as easier, given ten sends a list of “best practices” to Ho said he knew several students its relatively low number of require- departments to help faculty members who began the economics thesis proments, he said. assist students in writing a thesis, gram but dropped out of the process. “In the senior-year process, lots Rodriguez said. It just depends on how students of people are looking for jobs,” Ho Low thesis completion rates “would like to take advantage of the said. “Taking on a thesis is an extra among large social science concen- Open Curriculum,” Ho said. “You burden for them.” trations do not reflect lack of student can use that time to do other things Humanities students may be more support, Rodriguez said. as well.”
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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2013
» STARTUPS, from page 8 over time, Upfal said. “Where we are is far from where we started.” Oliver left academia to work as Nabsys’ vice president of research and development, Bready said. Preparato and Upfal serve as scientific advisers. After serving as chairman and scientific advisor of Nabsys, Ling was pushed out of the company, he said. Ling said he wanted the company to implement a physics-based approach instead of a computer science-based
» BATS, from page 1 scientists to monitor the motion of both the ball and the bat. Three primary factors — swing speed, trampoline effect and moment of inertia — affect bat performance, Crisco said. The trampoline effect, measured by the ball-bat coefficient of restitution, refers to the elasticity of the barrel of the bat or how “the barrel of the bat deforms,” Crisco said. The moment of inertia is a measurement of the distribution of mass along the bat, he added. The paper revealed that the greater trampoline effect of lighter metal bats — their tendency to greatly deform when they hit a ball — is not necessarily an advantage. “For these youth players, even though light bats had a high trampoline effect, they still did not hit the ball significantly faster,” Crisco added. The study supports a theoretical assumption that had been circulating in the field, said Alan Nathan, professor emeritus of physics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Lighter bats are not necessarily better bats,” he added, noting a tradeoff between moment of inertia and trampoline effect. Nathan added that in the past, more baseball-bat collision research has been done on collegiate bats than youth bats. He said this could be attributed to the fact there is a wide range of moments of inertia possible in youth baseball bats. Collegiate bats’ designs, on the
approach to sequencing. “I was not pleased. We had some unpleasant disputes,” he said. Ling has since applied for patents for what he says is an improved version of the sequencing technology and has spoken with Illumina, a large sequencing company, about licensing his patent. “There are a lot of things going on when you take something out of academia and put it in a for-profit company,” Bready said. “There are four Brown professors who were involved and three who are still involved.” other hand, are restricted by the dropthree rule. This regulation dictates a relationship between bat length and bat weight — specifying that the difference between the weight of the bat in ounces and the length in inches must be no more three. There are noticeable differences in using metal and wooden bats, said Nick Fornaca ’15, an infielder on Brown’s varsity team. “One of the biggest differences is that wood bats break pretty often,” he added. Fornaca said he played little league baseball using metal bats similar to those in Crisco’s study. Though stringent regulations on bat weight and length exist for high school and collegiate baseball, no such standards are in place for youth baseball, Crisco said. Players can use very light bats, which allow for faster swing speeds. This study has an advantage over similar studies because its subjects were humans not robots, Crisco said. Live players offer more variation in swing style and speed, while robots are limited to one motion. The study’s results could be used in formulating youth baseball bat regulations, Crisco said. “Our data (say) you can use a really light bat as long as the trampoline effect is reasonable,” he added. The study was funded by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment and USA Baseball, the governing body for amateur baseball.
RYAN WALSH / HERALD
The Arcade Providence boasts several historic accolades. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
» ARCADE, from page 1 instead of shops. The response was immediately positive, said Robin Dionne, the mall’s director of outreach and client relations. “There’s a long waitlist” for the building’s properties, she said. The micro-lofts on the second and third floors are still under renovation, but all 48 apartments have been leased, she added. The first floor shops have also been in high demand, Dionne said, adding that “there were over 300 applications” to occupy them. The Arcade boasts a long list of historic accolades, including being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and being named National Historic Landmark in 1976. Business breakthroughs The Arcade reopened its doors Oct. 21, after five years of closed shutters. Though some of the building’s 17 businesses have yet to welcome customers, most are already making sales. Manga Shuman, owner of the Adirah gallery in the Arcade, opened his business in downtown Providence last January but decided to move into the Arcade once its reopening was announced.
Granoff is “very into arts,” Shuman said, adding that many of the Arcade’s businesses have an artistic bent. Many of his customers have been lawyers, bankers and businesspeople from the surrounding area, Shuman said, describing the location as an advantage. Shuman said he appreciates the “close environment” of the Arcade. “The unique shops … feed off each other,” he said. Jessica Ricci, a Providence native who owns an eponymous jewelry shop, said she opened her store solely because of the Arcade. Local stores encounter lots of difficulties in spite of Rhode Island’s “art-based economy,” Ricci said. She praised the Arcade’s focus on “local, small” shops. But Ricci said parking is the site’s biggest problem, comparing the Arcade’s parking facilities to that of the larger, less expensive facility by the Providence Place Mall. “Customers feel parking lots are a little bit overpriced,” she said. Nevertheless, Ricci expects restaurant openings and residential move-ins to bring more “foot traffic” which will further improve the Arcade, she said, adding that she expects the residential project to be “fabulous.”
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Looking forward Though the Arcade is nestled away downtown away from campus, some students and local residents expressed interest in the building’s revival. Daniela Cote MPH ’11 described the Arcade as “a piece of art,” adding that she was particularly fascinated by facts and details such as the amount of marble used. Cote said she plans to move into one of the building’s apartments with her boyfriend once it opens. Hasan Friggle ’14 said he knew about the residential project because he wrote a comparative essay in an art history class about the Arcade and the Providence Place Mall last year. The apartments “seem really small,” Friggle said, but “the location is good.” Richie Leng ’14, said the Arcade is “a very nice shopping area” but added that he does not plan to visit because the shops seem pricey. Other College Hill students have already visited the building, including RISD student Linnea Kilpi. Kilpi said she learned about the reopening from a friend who works at one of the shops. Though she did not know about the residential project, she said she plans to visit the Arcade frequently. “The stores are cute,” she said. “It’s just nice to walk around.”
6 commentary
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2013
EDITORIAL
The function of the University Though the University has recently found itself swarmed in a discourse over free speech and open discourse, this campus conversation has hardly opened novel issues. Brown and its peers have been grappling with the question of appropriate speech for decades, and President Christina Paxson is one in a history of leaders — both at Brown and at other universities — charged with navigating this debate. Paxson has been criticized for her handling of the fallout since New York City Polic Commissioner Ray Kelly’s on-campus lecture was derailed by protesters. But though opposition has been vocal, we believe Paxson’s course of action benefits all members of this community — particularly the loudest of her critics. Universities are predicated upon the free exchange of ideas, a principle past presidents have defended. Responding to a call in 2007 for Brown to boycott Israeli universities, then-President Ruth Simmons wrote castigating not only the suggestion but the entire concept of violating the objectivity of the University. “Institutions of higher learning go to extraordinary lengths to defend the free flow of information, the unfettered exchange of ideas, and the primacy of well-reasoned argument,” she wrote, adding that without that, “the academy cannot exist.” We laud Simmons for her defense of the value and purpose of a university: objectivity and a devoted pursuit of truth, we believe, are essential. We have heard many say Kelly’s silencing was justified because his prominence affords him ample opportunities to speak. We have spoken with students who said they feel personally threatened by the stop-andfrisk policy Kelly advocates — a policy we have frequently denounced in the past few weeks. Though we sympathize with these arguments, we believe they are irrelevant to the discussion at hand. The University’s mission and academic freedom are principally at stake here, not Kelly’s rights, and Paxson has consistently advocated on behalf of the University. On the day of the protests, those who rightfully objected to Kelly’s policies effectively shut down the event, but as a poll published last week in The Herald demonstrated, their actions were far from the will of the student body. We cannot control what happens outside of Brown, but within the institution, we cherish the academic freedom of the institution and what it consequently provides us: the ability to hold and discuss different views. We believe that any people — students or faculty members — who take positions they believe will engender criticism deserve respect. But though we praise the courage it takes to advocate those different viewpoints, we ultimately expect the University to act in a manner that ensures the open discourse and freedom we all require. Brown has long been celebrated for its status as an “activist” university, but this spirit is a function of those who populate the school, not the institution itself. As Brown’s leader, Paxson is ultimately responsible for preserving the University’s objectivity and openness — qualities necessary for its members to advocate freely for the ideals in which they believe. Indeed, without this academic freedom, acts such as protesting against Kelly — and the discourse that has followed — would be impossible.
Q U O T E O F T H E D AY
“The idea of writing might scare certain people off.” — Clarence Ho ’14 See social, page 1.
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CORRECTION A column published in Tuesday’s Herald (“Standing for racial justice: A public statement,” Nov. 12) incorrectly referred to the Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence. In fact, the organization was recently renamed CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities. The Herald regrets the error.
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commentary 7
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2013
ROBYN SUNDLEE opinions columnist
I love my country. I really, truly do. I never cease to be moved by the words in the Constitution and awed at the grandeur of Washington, D.C. I’m the weirdo you see outside the White House with my face pressed against the fence. Last summer, I cried at a 9/11 exhibit. Does this sound cliched or cloyed to you? It does to me, too. But this doesn’t make it any less true. Still, I don’t often let other people know how I feel about my country. We in our liberal, Scandinavia-loving, sports-indifferent enclave, always seem to feel the need to apologize for the United States. While traveling, I am always rather embarrassed to tell people I’m American. They often raise their eyebrows, and I feel the need to add a caveat like “I didn’t vote for him” or “We’re not all like that. I promise.” And there’s the problem. Probably in reaction to strident American exceptionalism, American students at Brown — and likely at other
schools — lack genuine vocal pride in their country. It has become almost chic to sigh, roll your eyes, and lament that we aren’t more like Sweden. To distance ourselves from what we perceive as blind nationalism, many of us completely forgo expressing genuine appreciation for our nation. The inundation of patriotic sentiment from the right and other public figures has made cynics of us. Hence we find the ironic brand of patriotism characteristic of our generation and our university — American flag cutoffs, so-called “’Murica” memes, et cetera. Half of the country sincerely buys into this culture, and the other half participates as a mockery to that style of thought. Cynicism of this sort breeds insincerity and apathy. We decry the political right for its thoughtless allegiance, but are we really that much better? I can’t tell you how many empty threats to move to Canada I heard around campus during the last election. Unless we are having constructive conversations about how realistically to improve our nation through engagement with all schools of political thought, liberals are guilty of the same careless parroting. It’s so easy
Be proud
to sit around in our grand lecture ernment are deserved. Still, dissatishalls and complain about America faction at how the nation operates is while feeling superior to those who not grounds for dismissive attitudes. revere it. The difficult, more fulfilling I’m not saying the United States path is to reflect on what your coun- has nothing to apologize for, or try means to you, to consider how to that we should go around trumpetmake it better and to connect with ing our preeminence. Patriotism is people who don’t think like you. a double-edged sword. The trick is Those who into love America like an sist on comparing adult — acknowledge “The difficult, the United States its flaws, appreciate its more fulfilling strengths and do someto Scandinavia and Canada would do path is to reflect thing to make it a betwell to recall that ter place. on what your America is vast and What is patriocountry means tism in America tofar more diverse than any of the naday? Not American flag to you, to tions to which we Ray-Bans. Not turnconsider how to ing up your nose at the compare ourselves. We have a swarm of Brown Republicans. To make it better political dissent and it’s finding comand to connect me, activism that is conmon ground with your with people who countrymen. Making stantly roiling with new opinions, misdon’t think like progress, not noise. sions and ideoloRecognizing that we you.” gies. Is it any wonare extremely lucky to der compromise is call this place home. difficult? As hackneyed as it sounds, I love It’s true the United States has my country because I believe in the myriad problems. The government principles on which it was founded, shutdown was an embarrassment, and I love where I grew up. America and grumblings about the incompe- is unique, glorious, vast and overtence and intractability of our gov- flowing with diversity, possibility
Time isn’t money LAUREN SUKIN opinions columnist
Which is more valuable, your time or your skills? This question lies at the crux of a debate that many universities and colleges engage in. Classes at most major institutions are based on the concept of credit hours: a weight of the value of the class in terms of the time spent in it. At some institutions, students even pay by the credit hour rather than for each term. But the concept of value by the clock, which has long dominated higher education, may finally be fading — a development that, in recognizing learning as fundamentally skills-based, could nemefit college students. The concept itself was introduced in 1893, when Harvard President Charles Eliot established the credit hour as a basic education unit. The major benefit of the measure is that it normalizes class values for transfer students, helping new schools interpret students’ records, and helping graduate schools and employers compare various applicants’ records. Not all colleges use the credithour system for its original purpose. In some instances, credit hours are an artificial designation designed to indicate the difficulty of the class rather than the time spent there. And at Brown, credit hours are an even vaguer concept. Yes, students might spend much more time in a class with a lab or a section than they would in a class with neither of those, but that distinction usually doesn’t make an impact on the credit received for the class. The major exception to this is Brown’s language classes, where most classes are single-credit — and some are zero credits — despite the fact that most
language classes require more hours at different institutions isn’t just the than other Brown classes. amount of time but more significantly Brown might not really be based the things students learn. If there is a on credit hours, but it is still based way to present that learning in terms on course credits. Other institutions, of specific skill sets, employers or adsuch as University of Wisconsin, have ministrators at post-transfer schools done away with this altogether. Their can have a better understanding of innovative Flexible Option allows stu- what the student actually knows. In dents to self-pace their degrees and to a way, this is what grades are for, but earn them through online testing. grades just tell you how well the mateNonetheless, conventional educa- rial was learned, not what it was. tional establishments continue to foThe competency system has the cus on time as the additional benefit underlying signiof flexibility. If stu“The concept of fier of learning. But dents only have to value by the clock, sit through a cerit isn’t just universities and colleges. tain number of which has long The government is of class indominated higher hours entrenched in this stead of learning education, may system as well. To a specific skill at a receive Title IV aid finally be fading.” flexible pace, they such as Pell grants might be less motiand federal loans, a vated to work hard. student must have a certain number At a more flexible pace, students can of credits each semester, measured spread out or condense their work to generally in credit hours. fit their own needs and schedules. But even the government has beFor now, there might not be a gun to consider creative alternatives seamless way of integrating these systo the credit hour. Last March, the tems into modern education. Even Department of Education put out a the Flexible Option is mostly targeted call for colleges to design courses that at individuals finishing their degrees abandon the concept of credit hours and those who won’t be on campus in favor of a new emphasis on skill- — not the kind of education Brown based learning and testing. The new normally focuses on. Additionally, regulations recognize forms of direct the system relies on the availability of assessment as an alternative to hours. truly effective testing and evaluation, Direct assessment options include the and the perennial complaints about 5 P’s: projects, papers, presentations, standardized testing — to say nothing performances and portfolios. of the more subjective testing used These two systems, one relying in most courses — should remind us on credit hours and the other based that this is not an easy task. Neveron competency, can seem like two theless, the system is on the rise and sides of the same coin or as creating could offer undergraduates significant only a superficial distinction in mea- benefits. surement. But if the purpose of credit hours is to equalize certain classes and education, the competency-based sysLauren Sukin ’16 is a sophomore tem could accomplish that better. The concentrating in political science primary difference between classes and literary arts.
and optimism. I have had the privilege of traveling to many other nations. I’ve seen stunning beauty and met wonderful people elsewhere. But nothing will ever compare to home. I urge you to reflect on your relationship with this country. Do you think everyone who criticizes America is a terrorist, or do you condemn America when it comes up in conversation with international company? I hope you fall somewhere in between — aware of America’s shortcomings but eager to rectify them because you believe in this grand project of which we are all a part. The World War Two generation had a global fight against evil to unite them. The Baby Boomers had one of the greatest periods of economic growth in history. We have the task of perpetuating America and its principles without clear enemies or unqestioned growth. Be proud of your country. Invest in making it better. Do not be apathetic or resigned to a suboptimal future.
Robyn Sundlee ’16 sells propane and propane accessories. She can be reached at robyn_sundlee@brown.edu.
daily herald science & research THE BROWN
SCIENCE & RESEARCH ROUNDUP BY PHOEBE DRAPER, SCIENCE & RESEARCH EDITOR
Human odometer Humans continually estimate distances — whether while guessing if there is enough time to cross the street before a car passes by, calculating how far a Frisbee should be thrown or pondering how long it will take to walk to the mall. The internal human odometer was the subject of a recent study conducted by researchers in the Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences. The researchers sought to discover whether a human’s ability to estimate distances was internal or based on external inputs. Subjects of the study first traveled an “outbound” distance and then attempted to travel the same distance they initially traveled. The researchers used a variety of locomotive methods — subjects walked, galloped and threw objects to estimate distances. Subjects estimated distances more accurately when the distance input was the same as the output used to estimate that distance. For example, subjects were better at estimating distances originally galloped when they galloped to replicate it rather than walking. The findings support what the researchers called the “intrinsic model” of human distance estimation: the idea that humans can more accurately predict distances when they can embody the distance, rather than objectively estimate it.
Cancer genetics Dendrix, a computer-based algorithm designed by Brown computer scientists, offers much promise for untangling the genetic mapping that may lay the foundation for 12 different types of cancer, including breast, lung, colon and kidney. Dendrix scours genetic codes to pinpoint spots in the human genome where mutations can predispose people to certain cancers. Ben Raphael, associate professor of computer science, Fabio Vandin, adjunct assistant professor of computer science, and a host of graduate students designed the algorithm. The program has identified numerous locations on the genome common to many forms of cancer where, if mutation occurs, the individual is predisposed to cancer. Along with a preexisting algorithm also developed by Brown computer scientists, Dendrix has helped scientists map out the genetic infrastructure of a blood cancer called Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The algorithm is part of a project called The Cancer Genome Atlas, which works to increase understanding of the genetic basis of cancers.
Econometric recognition The Econometric Society named Roberto Serrano, chair of the economics department, as a new fellow Nov. 3. Serrano, who specializes in microeconomic theory and game theory, has worked in areas such as bargaining theory and the economics of risk, according to his Brown research profile. He has taught numerous undergraduate and graduate courses such as ECON 0110: “Principles of Economics,” ECON 1110: “Intermediate Microeconomics” and ECON 1870: “Game Theory and Applications to Economics.” He has also published two books: “A Short Course in Intermediate Microeconomics with Calculus” and “Welfare Economics and Social Choice Theory.” As a fellow, Serrano will meet with other international leaders in the field throughout the year at numerous conferences around the world. The society’s members aim to unite the fields of statistics and mathematics with economic theory.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2013
U. research shapes science startups
a mechanism that might play a role The Science Coalition Fragile X syndrome. Fragile X is a recognized four companies in leading cause of inherited mental disdeveloping products based abilities, including autism, Bear said. The discovery of the mechanism on Brown research By STEVEN MICHAEL SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Academics have escaped the ivory tower and are using research findings in attempts to better the world. A recent report from the Science Coalition, an advocacy group of research universities including Brown, highlighted nearly 200 startup companies that were directly inspired by academic research. The report included four companies founded based on research done at Brown. “Given the times, we are in for tight funding at the national level. We want to show Washington the bang for the buck they’re getting” from federally funded university research, said Tim Leshan, president of the Science Coalition. To compile the list, member universities submitted the names of companies whose products stem directly from university research, Leshan said. Research to drug development Researchers often first seek to understand basic mechanisms in life sciences that do not have obvious business implications. But discoveries can lead to commercial ventures, as was the case for Professor of Neuroscience Justin Fallon and former Professor of Neuroscience Mark Bear PhD’84, who is now a professor of neuroscience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Fallon researches how muscular memory works through neural synapses. His work led to the discovery of a protein that could potentially serve as a treatment for Duchene’s muscular dystrophy, he said. “It was a lot of basic science with an eye toward what we know about disease,” he said. Once Fallon showed that the protein can be delivered throughout the body, it opened the door for the development of a commercial therapy. Fallon co-founded Tivorsan Pharmaceuticals with John Nicholson ’72 and Joel Braunstein, and currently serves as its chief scientific advisor. Bear’s story mirrors Fallon’s. He was investigating changes in neural synapses when his team discovered
behind Fragile X enabled them to develop novel treatments for the disorder, he said. Bear found an outside investor and an executive to co-found and run Seaside Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company of which he became the scientific advisor. When professors commercialize their research, outside investors and executives are frequently brought in to run these startup companies. “I have insights into how synapses work, but I have a lot to learn about drug development,” Bear said. “My full time job is a professor.” Both companies are still testing their new drugs. Though big pharmaceutical companies initially balked at Seaside Therapeutics’ approach to targeting Fragile X, the startup is now partnering with pharmaceutical giant Roche on the phase two clinical trials of a medication, Bear said. Tivorsan is still waiting on approval from the Food and Drug Administration on their new drug before clinical trials, which they hope to begin next year, Fallon said. Though Tivorsan plans to conduct its own clinical trials,,the company is also open to forming a partnership with a larger company, Fallon said. Producing patents Professors’ academic pursuits can also catalyze business ventures through patenting new inventions. The Technology Ventures Office handles patents produced by University researchers and works with startups, said Katherine Gordon, managing director of the office. In order to develop a product based on University research, a company must sign a licensing agreement with the office. About one company per year is founded based on ideas or developments from Brown research, a number that does not include companies started by alums, she said. After expenses, the inventor receives one-third of the royalties from a licensing agreement, according to the Brown University Patent and Invention Policy and Copyright Policy. “I strongly believe that patenting is
an important thing for the University to be pursuing,” said Harvey Silverman MS’68 PhD’71, professor of engineering. “In the long run, it can be a very good income stream for the University.” Silverman developed microphone arrays — groups of microphones that record sound together — that were licensed by both Polycom, a large telecom company, to protect itself from a patent lawsuit brought by a competitor, and Acoustic Magic, a startup building the devices. Though Silverman has no involvement in Acoustic Magic, the company, which is currently producing and selling microphone arrays, was included on Science Coalition’s list. ‘Unpleasant disputes’ Nabsys, a company developing DNA sequencing technology, claimed the final spot on Science Coalition’s list of Brown-based companies. The company has currently raised $41 million on venture capital, including $20 million this year — but not without ruffling a few feathers. Two different research projects led by University faculty merged to form Nabsys, which is based in the Jewelry District. Professor of Physics Xinsheng Sean Ling developed a better method of DNA sequencing, using an electrical current to force DNA through a small hole called a nanopore to “proofread” it, he said. “I think it’s possible to sequence DNA using physics alone,” Ling added. Ling founded Nabsys to commercialize the technology with his former student Barrett Bready ’99 MD ’03, who serves as the company’s president and CEO. In 2004, Nabsys merged with GeneSpectrum, another DNA sequencing company founded on University research. GeneSpectrum commercialized algorithms to compile DNA sequencing data developed by Professors of Computer Science Eli Upfal and Franco Preparata and former Assistant Professor of Chemistry John Oliver, Bready said. Sequencing techniques employed by other companies were like mapping a city based on Facebook photos, Bready said, while Nabsys’ approach to sequencing was comparable to a satellite map with a big picture view. Nabsys has yet to commercialize its technology, but Upfal said the company has developed prototypes. Startups begin with a certain idea that changes » See STARTUPS, page 5
Study links high school violence, standardized test scores Violent crime may disrupt the learning environment, preventing the curriculum from covering key material By ALEXANDRA SAALI CONTRIBUTING WRITER
High school students’ standardized test scores are adversely affected by violent crime’s presence in Chicago schools, according to new research by Julia Burdick-Will, a postdoctoral researcher in Brown’s Population Studies and Training Center. By linking high schools with the location of violent incidents from 2002 to 2010 — data made publicly available by the Chicago Police Department — Burdick-Will found an inverse relationship between violent crime rates in Chicago schools and
student test scores, but not between crime rates and grades. Violent crime likely affects learning through “cognitive stress and classroom disruption,” rather than through “changes in perceived safety, general school climate or discipline practices,” Burdick-Will wrote in her paper, which was published in the journal Sociology of Education last month. Crime likely affects test scores but not grades because the metrics reflect “different kinds of achievement,” she said. “Grades are more subjective
— they come from teachers. They are a more global measure of more than actual content knowledge,” BurdickWill said. Test scores, she said, reflect a student’s knowledge and ability to concentrate. “Some kids will be doing ‘A’ quality work, but their class will only have gotten halfway through the textbook, leading to low standardized test scores,” she added, which suggests that “violent crime is an indicator of disruptive instruction.” In her paper, Burdick-Will also offered alternate, non-causal explanations for the relationship between violent crime and student performance. For example, lower-achieving students are likelier to commit violent crimes, she said, meaning
crime itself might not cause lower test scores. “Perhaps the association between violent crime at school and achievement is really caused by students from disadvantaged neighborhoods bringing the violence they experience around their homes onto school grounds,” Burdick-Will wrote in her paper. “Her research gets us thinking about educational policy in a broader and more sophisticated way. How do we address community problems not just schools?” said Josh Pacewicz, an assistant professor of sociology who was not involved in the research. Burdick-Will also investigated the “influence of neighborhood poverty” on violence and school performance,
finding “a lot of variation in highpoverty schools and neighborhoods,” she said. She examined past research on students’ perception of the safety of their school environment, finding little connection between how safe students felt and the level of reported crime. She found that nonviolent crime has a much smaller effect on student performance and does not influence students’ perceptions of their schools’ climates. Burdick-Will said she now plans to further investigate how violent crime affects school choice and student achievement in certain neighborhoods, examining “patterns across the country.”