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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015
VOLUME CL, ISSUE 10
After fall, research funding on rebound
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CITY SNOWSCAPE
Research funds not yet back to peak 2011 levels after 2013 federal sequester By ALIZA REISNER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The flow of federal research funding to the University is only now starting to recover from the 2013 federal sequestration. As a result of the sequester, the total pool of research funds at the University decreased by 13.7 percent between 2013 and 2014, said Vice President for Research David Savitz, but funding for new research proposals in the first half of fiscal year 2015 is up significantly — about 30 percent — from 2014. Total research funds amounted to $129,711,723 in 2013 and $111,910,731 in 2014, Savitz said. » See FUNDING, page 2
ELI WHITE / HERALD
Snow continues to fall in Providence as the city works to keep up with accumulating powder and ice following Winter Storm Juno last week and Linus Monday. Providence streets were less bustling than usual Monday due to a citywide parking ban.
Through website, students voice stories Proposed bill to ease
student loan burden
Students launch Now Here This to foster empathy, sharing of narratives
Legislators seek to incentivize staying local after gradution through tax credits
By LAUREN ARATANI CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Featuring stories of magicians, teen crushes and loneliness, Now Here This — a new website created by Sophie McKibben ’16, Liza Yeager ’17 and a team of Brown students — provides a platform for student voices. “It started when me and Liza had coffee together one day in October,” McKibben said. They both worked for the Swearer Center for Public Service’s program Storytellers for Good, and “both realized that we had this spark of an idea in the back of our minds.” Yeager and McKibben then formed a team of student producers and designers that turned the idea into a reality. Though it is independent from the University, Now Here This receives support from the Dean’s office, said Beth Taylor, senior lecturer in English, and Alex Braunstein, communications and outreach manager for the Swearer Center.
INSIDE
By CLARISSA CLEMM STAFF WRITER
COURTESY OF NOW HERE THIS
Now Here This will provide a forum for online storytelling and student communication to increase a sense of community on campus. “We wanted to create a platform for student-produced audio storytelling, so we worked on inventing the vocabulary for the same idea,” McKibben said. The website launched Jan. 30 with 12 stories ready for listening. Stories fall under categories such as
“Features,” which revolve around a topic and include different speakers. Other categories include “Brown Storytellers” and “Spoken Word” — both of which are produced by groups on campus. “You can listen to it on your own » See STORIES, page 2
In an effort to improve the Ocean State’s retention of college graduates, local representatives recently introduced the “Stay Invested in R.I. Tax Credit” bill, which would offer a financial incentive to reside and work in Rhode Island, in the form of a tax credit on student loan payments. College graduates with student loans who choose to live and work in Rhode Island will be eligible to receive a tax credit against their personal income tax for up to 10 years, according to the bill. The amount graduates can receive is dependent on the degree they earned — those with associate’s degrees can receive up to $1,000, those with bachelor’s degrees up to $5,000 and those with graduate degrees up to $6,000. “The goal is to encourage, attract
and retain talented college graduates to improve the workforce and thereby try to attract innovative businesses to come to Rhode Island,” said Rep. Christopher Blazejewski, D-Providence. The co-sponsors of this piece of legislation are all 35 years old or younger, which Blazejewski said he believes has helped them recognize the need to support those paying off student loans. “Some of us are recent college graduates who have heard about these issues from peers and parents of peers. There is a lot of support from young people but also from parents facing the prospect of having kids repaying student loans,” Blazejewski said. Students said they have mixed feelings about what sort of impact the bill will have in retaining recent graduates. “I don’t think that students will stay in Rhode Island simply because of an extra few bucks in their pocket,” said Bradly VanDerStad, a senior at Johnson and Wales University. Promoting concrete ties between local businesses and the state’s universities could prove more effective in keeping graduates in Rhode » See TAX CREDIT, page 3
WEATHER
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015
ARTS & CULTURE Actor, artist and activist Danny Glover spoke at RISD to commemorate MLK Day
SCIENCE & RESEARCH Students and researchers discuss Rhode Island’s ranking as the state with the highest marijuana use
COMMENTARY Walker Mills ’15: “American Sniper” misrepresents and simplifies Iraq War history
COMMENTARY Ian Kenyon GS: Students should pitch in to snow removal efforts around the University
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UNIVERSITY NEWS PAGE 2 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
» FUNDING, from page 1 During those two years, federal funding accounted for roughly threequarters of total research costs, with the remaining quarter coming from corporations and foundations. The sequester, which began March 1, 2013, led to deep budget cuts, a temporary suspension of funding and delays in new awards, Savitz said. Research funding has not increased since its last peak in 2011, he added. “More proposals are being submitted for the same pot of money,” so the proportion of successful proposals has declined, he added. Many peer institutions saw their non-federal funding increase as federal funding declined. For example, at Harvard, when federal funds decreased by 5 percent in fiscal year 2014, the university obtained more non-federal funds to keep total expenditures relatively constant, the Crimson reported Jan. 22. But unlike at peer institutions, Brown did not make up for the loss of federal funding with non-federal funds: “While the federal sources were declining, there was not a compensation in other areas,” Savitz said. “Some other institutions were a little bit quicker to recognize the reality that to keep up you have to write more proposals, send more proposals, send them to a wider range of funding agencies and be more resourceful in tough times,” Savitz said, adding that Brown was delayed in responding to the challenges of decreased federal funding. “It’s all reflecting the activity of the faculty and the success they’re having,” he said, adding that without this
EMMA JERZYK / HERALD
extra effort, federal and non-federal funding tend to rise and fall with one another. “The frustration level is very high among researchers at Brown and across the nation,” said Anne Hart, professor of neuroscience. “Getting funding for research has always been competitive, but great science was always funded before. Now the grant review system seems like a lottery,
not a thoughtful proposal review and selection process,” she added. Faculty members conducting research are also forced to spend more time than usual writing proposals rather than actually engaging in their research, Hart said. “The faculty have come to realize that funding is remaining tight. The federal budget for research isn’t going to suddenly expand,” Savitz said. The
only response is to write more proposals and be more entrepreneurial in order to receive greater funding, he added. The number of research proposals rose between fiscal years 2013 and 2014 and the amount of requested funds grew from $208,330,938 in 2013 to $253,108,126 in 2014, Savitz said. There was about a $1 million gap between requested and awarded funds.
The more proposals that are submitted, the more likely the University is to receive additional funding, Savitz said. Though the number of research grants requested began to rise in 2013, new awards didn’t rise until 2014 and money spent on research has only begun to increase in 2015, Savitz said. “There is a lag between each of these events,” he added.
» STORIES, from page 1
wanted to find the “best way for people to browse and skim,” describing the website as being “like an audio magazine.” “It’s a platform that is unusual, and we didn’t have any previous examples of it,” Funk said, adding that stories do not have a chronology, making the content “flexible.” McKibben and Yeager both agreed that a sense of empathy is one of the key things they hope listeners will derive from their listening to the audio stories. “The reason why audio is powerful is because when you listen to people’s voices, you have a very intimate connection with them,” McKibben said. “You build empathy between these people. We have all these people who have all these ideas and it has to be really conversational for it to work.”
Funk is also hopeful the platform will help instill an enhanced sense of community in the student body. “It contributes to the spirit in a way that Brown students are intellectually engaged and want to hear these stories,” she said. The week before the site launched, the Now Here This team worked about 40 hours, Yeager said. Now Here This currently focuses on Brown and its community, but McKibben and Yeager hope “to reach out to a larger community,” through collaborations with different universities to “make the stories as accessible as possible.” Listeners can expect Now Here This to publish two to three new audio stories each week. McKibben and Yeager also said a mobile app is being developed.
time in your safe place and get connected to so many people,” Yeager said. “It’s really exciting. Technology is now bringing us together instead of pushing people apart.” Now Here This is “not quite a podcast and not quite a radio station,” according to its website. While a podcast tends to have the “same voice every week,” a radio station does not allow listeners to “choose what they’re listening to,” Yeager said. Yeager and McKibben distinguish Now Here This as audio storytelling.“There’s a revolution of storytelling occurring (with technology), and we’re really excited that Brown can be at the forefront of it,” McKibben said. Emma Funk ’16, web and graphic designer for the site, said the team
UNIVERSITY NEWS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015 • PAGE 3
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
P LO W T H R O U G H
This Week in Higher Ed BY JOSEPH ZAPPA, UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR
Dartmouth cracks down on hard liquor, fraternities’ role in party culture Dartmouth banned student possession of any alcoholic beverage stronger than 30 proof Thursday, the New York Times reported. The ban was one of several new measures intended to curb the dangers of Dartmouth’s party culture, which has long been tied to an influential Greek scene characterized by controversy over the last few years, the Times reported. But Greek organizations at Dartmouth, while still a presence on campus, are likely to face greater scrutiny in years to come. Dartmouth President Philip Hanlon warned that any campus organizations that do not comply with the college’s new regulations “will not be a part of (Dartmouth’s) community,” the Dartmouth reported Friday. Chet Brown, president of the college’s chapter of Beta Alpha Omega, told The Dartmouth he was “relieved” that the administration chose not to banish Greek life entirely, adding that a ban on hard alcohol is preferable to the elimination of Greek organizations.
University of Virginia sorority members discouraged from attending fraternity parties
RHEA STARK / HERALD
Students on the Main Green wade through campus to get to class, as snow piles continue to build up despite the energetic efforts of shovel-wielding staff members.
» TAX CREDIT, from page 1 Island, he added. “It would foster more of an attraction to the state by offering state-sponsored internships while the students are in university.” Other students said they believe the tax credit is a good first step to improving Rhode Island’s economy and stopping the “brain drain.”
“It can only help. There’s lots to build on. There’s a great culture for innovation and room to grow here,” said Kevin John Garcia ’18. “It’s a two-way street. If the state delivers on getting businesses actually in the state, that’ll be the best way to tackle the problem. We need somewhere for our students to land.” Finance committees have yet to hear and ascertain whether the state
will make the monetary commitment this bill would entail, but Blazejewski said he is hopeful that the bill will be passed by May or June of this year. “This is exactly the kind of economic tool that the state of Rhode Island needs,” Blazejewski said, adding that growing the state’s workforce of college graduates could also help attract innovative companies.
Leaders of national sororities wrote to chapter presidents at the University of Virginia Jan. 20 to request that UVA sorority members not attend fraternity parties held at the conclusion of the fraternity recruitment period, the Huffington Post reported Thursday. Despite widespread backlash against the suggestion, the national organizations did not budge on their stance, the Huffington Post reported. The request sparked outrage among many UVA students, prompting some to respond in columns in the Cavalier Daily. One columnist wrote last Tuesday that the directive invoked the “archaic safety ‘logic’” that women should avoid going to parties entirely if they do not want to be sexually assaulted. UVA President Teresa Sullivan wrote to students Thursday that the university’s administration played no role in the request, adding that she does not support the singling-out of UVA Greek life participants by the national organizations, the Cavalier Daily reported. But the 16 sorority chapters’ national affiliates affirmed last week that they would stick to a National Panhellenic Policy dissuading sorority members from taking part in “Bid Night” events on college campuses, the Huffington Post reported. In past years, the limit on participation meant not advertising on behalf of fraternity events, but this year national leadership made the regulation stricter for UVA students.
Virginia legislature considers sexual assault reform bill A bill working its way through the Virginia legislature would, if passed, compel universities to relate student reports of sexual assault to law enforcement officials within a day of the report’s filing, the Washington Post reported last Tuesday. The legislation could receive widespread support from the public, as nine out of 10 Virginians believe sexual assault “should be reported to the police immediately.” But administrators from colleges in the state were more ambiguous in their responses to the Post’s requests for comment on the bill. A spokesperson for the College of William and Mary warned of possible “unintended consequences” of the legislation, which could discourage survivors unwilling to embark on the legal process from filing reports of sexual assault at all, the Post reported. A representative of George Mason University spoke out more unequivocally against the bill, saying she does not believe “the current legislation is the solution” to the problem of sexual assault on college campuses.
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SCIENCE & RESEARCH PAGE 4 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015
Science & Research Roundup BY ANDREW JONES, SCIENCE & RESEARCH EDITOR
Study shows drug use and impulsivity related in prison population A new study by University researchers examines the link between impulsive behavior and drug use in prison inmates. The research team, composed of public health and psychology professors who focus on addiction, recruited 242 adult inmates for the study. The research centered on lifetime use of alcohol, opiates, benzodiazepine, cocaine, marijuana, hallucinogens and polysubstances. The researchers recorded participants’ drug use during the last 30 days and throughout their lifetimes and gave a survey measuring impulsive tendencies. Their results will be published in the March 2015 issue of the journal Addictive Behaviors. Ninety-four percent of participants reported having used alcohol in their lifetimes, while 70.8 percent reported using cocaine, and 47.5 percent said they had used hallucinogens. The researchers found that impulsivity ratings were higher for inmates who were deemed lifetime users of any of the substances. Of lifetime users, frequency of use within the past 30 days positively correlated with higher impulsivity. Previous research has shown that drug use increases the likelihood of a person’s impulsive behavior, but these findings have never been extended specifically to the prison population, according to the study. Interventions for addicted inmates should be considered by state and federal prison systems, the authors state in the article.
Professor becomes Leopold fellow
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
» MARIJUANA, from page 8 between subjects,” said Carl, whose name — like those of all the students interviewed for this article — has been changed to maintain anonymity. His interest in the field of bioethics was facilitated by his use of the drug, he added. Chet ’16, who smokes every day, says he views marijuana as an “end of the day thing” to help him relax. Marijuana has made no difference in his academic performance, he said. “Last year, I didn’t smoke (marijuana), but my grades haven’t changed at all.” Student perceptions of marijuana use on college campuses are the focus of research by Gregg Gold, professor of psychology at Humboldt State University. Previous studies have shown that pot exerts negative effects on specific regions of the brain, Gold said. In particular, excessive marijuana use affects the amygdala — the brain’s reward system — resulting in reduced emotional control. Marijuana use has also been linked to an increased risk of developing debilitative psychoses such as schizophrenia, said Gold. But the causal direction, if any, between psychosis and marijuana use is still unclear, he added.
Smoking too much marijuana can also lead to lung inflammation, Gold said. “It’s a burning product, and there’s stuff in there that isn’t good for your lungs.” Sebastian ’16 said he stopped smoking after freshman year for health reasons. “I wanted to keep my lungs as healthy as possible, and I noticed that I was experiencing slightly shorter breath (as a result of smoking pot),” he said. In light of Rhode Island’s ranking as the state with the highest marijuana use, Miranda said he questions what proportion of the statistic is composed of medical marijuana users. From a medical perspective, marijuana can help people with certain disabilities and illnesses, he said. Medical marijuana can benefit patients undergoing chemotherapy, for example. For these individuals, benefits include increased appetite, reduced nausea and alleviated pain. Many students interviewed who use marijuana said they do so recreationally and tend to view the drug as a social stimulant and a de-stressor from academics. “In freshman year, I saw (smoking pot) as a social thing and a great way
to make new friends,” Sebastian said, adding that he also smoked pot to relax when he was stressed about school work. Carl said he enjoys using marijuana as a “social lubricant.” “With marijuana, you’re much more self-aware of your feelings and thoughts, and you’re making connections between things a lot more quickly,” he said, adding that many of the most interesting discussions he has been involved in have occurred while he was high. Carl also said he uses marijuana as an artistic medium, and it helps him garner enhanced creativity when writing music. Smoking marijuana has made little difference to his health, though it can sometimes take a toll on his singing, he said. Aside from making him a little tired, Chet said smoking has not affected his health. “It’s a pretty mild drug,” he said. “It can’t really run your life.” Students said they were not surprised by Rhode Island’s ranking as the state with the highest marijuana use. “It’s such a stoner state,” Chet said. But Gold said he was shocked by the statistic. “I could say something really snarky, like what else are you going to do in Rhode Island, but I won’t,” he said.
The Leopold Leadership Program named Heather Leslie, assistant professor of environmental studies and ecology and evolutionary biology, as one of its 2015 fellows. As part of the program, Leslie will spend a year at Stanford learning strategies to influence environmental policy more effectively. Leslie, one of 20 fellows selected, plans to continue to focus her research on marine ecosystem conservation, she said in a University press release. “I am devoting my Leopold year to exploring different perspectives on conservation success: who contributes, who wins and who loses, and how we can learn from these stories to craft more effective conservation strategies in the future,” she said in the release. The program, which is supported by the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University, selects its scholars based on promising research ability and passion for implementing knowledge beyond typical academic settings, according to its website. “The 2015 Leopold Leadership Fellows are generating new knowledge that is critical to answering the central question of our time: how to preserve Earth’s vital systems while providing the resources that support human well-being, including food, water, energy and fiber,” said Pamela Matson, co-director of the program, in an announcement on the website. The program aims to give promising environmental scientists the skills necessary to convert their research into tangible, sustainable outcomes, according to the website. “Having the opportunity to participate as a fellow will expose me to a new universe of inspirational colleagues. I’m confident it also will take my science in new and exciting directions,” Leslie said in the release.
Professor receives grant to improve HIV care Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine Mark Lurie has received a $1.6 million grant for his work improving HIV testing and treatment in South Africa, according to a University press release. During the course of the five-year grant, Lurie will travel to the country to work on improving the health care structures currently in place in order to make sure men and women receive the proper care for HIV. In collaboration with Christopher Colvin, professor of public health at the University of Cape Town, Lurie will implement a new program aiming to lower HIV rates in the Cape Town region. Men are less likely to get tested for HIV and adhere to necessary treatment in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, Lurie said in the release. They also often drop out of HIV programs due to the disjointed structure that plagues many of the programs, he added. Lurie’s program enhances the management of health information to improve coordination of testing and treatment resources, according to the release. “We urgently need interventions aimed at men to encourage them to get tested for HIV and to link them to care if infected,” Lurie said in the release.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015 • PAGE 5
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( s ) n o ( w ) d ay o f f
menu SATELLITE DINING JOSIAH’S Gourmet Grilled Cheese BLUE ROOM Soups: Butternut Squash, Turkey Sausage and Kale, Three Bean Chili South Indian Chicken Curry with Vegetables ANDREWS COMMONS Pizzas: Chicken Bacon Ranch, Pepperoni and Meatball, Spicy 5 Cheese and Garlic
DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH
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Roasted Spicy Curried Broccoli and Cauliflower, Turkey Tacos, Orange Delight Cake
Ratatouille with Cheese, Italian Beef Noodle Casserole, Roasted Parsnips, Peas with Mushrooms
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sudoku
ARJUN NARAYEN / HERALD
Don’t worry about covering your tracks — Linus has got your back. University operations continued normally Monday, despite a storm that closed most other colleges and all Providence public schools.
comics Against the Fence | Lauren Stone
crossword
Class Notes | Philip Trammell
calendar TODAY 11:00 A.M. BLOOD DRIVE
Donate blood through the Rhode Island Blood Center until 6 p.m. The drive will run through Thursday. BrownRISD Hillel 2:30 P.M. JASON SCHWARTZ READING
Jason Schwartz, visiting associate professor in literary arts and fiction author, will read from his published work. McCormack Family Theater 5:00 P.M. EXECUTIVE CHEF DEMONSTRATION
Brown Faculty Club Chef David Chabot will demonstrate how to make signature sandwiches. Faculty Club
TOMORROW 12:00 P.M. OBAMA’S CUBA POLICY
Peter Kornbluh, senior analyst at the National Security Archives, will discuss the recent changes in U.S.-Cuba relations. Joukowsky Forum, Watson Institute 12:00 P.M. THE HUMAN FACE OF BIG DATA: FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION
Chief Information Security Officer David Sherry will answer audience questions after the screening. Salomon 001 7:00 P.M. MID-YEAR ACTIVITIES FAIR
Learn about cool student activities, organizations, groups and clubs to get involved with this semester. Alumnae Hall
COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
EDITORIAL
Whether we weather the storm Like many students, staff members and faculty members, Sunday night was spent watching the Super Bowl and eagerly awaiting an email from Executive Vice President for Planning and Policy Russell Carey ’91 MA’06. Was Brown going to succumb to the National Weather Service’s projected 28hour long Winter Storm Warning? Was it going to agree with Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza’s parking ban and all but one Rhode Island school superintendent? According to protocol, the executive vice president for finance and administration decides whether “to close or delay the opening of administrative offices,” while the “decision to cancel or delay scheduled classes and academic functions” is made by the provost. While recognizing the severity of the impending storm and the potential dangers and complications that would arise for the University’s 8,848 students, 718 faculty members and 4,674 full- and part-time staff members, Carey and Provost Vicki Colvin concluded that sufficient safe transportation was available for its employees and that snow would be adequately cleared to continue normal operations Monday. Though Brown has published the Winter Storm and Blizzard Plan — a 12-page document outlining the University’s preparedness and policies in the event of an emergency — the documents does not specifically lay out the considerations or metrics the University uses to determine whether to shut down. It does note that the school“should remain in normal operations at all times to the fullest extent possible.” In announcing that normal operations would continue, Carey was careful to remind members of the community not to take any risks in traveling to campus and to stay home if too dangerous. But by essentially punting on the decision, the administration forced workers to make a difficult choice between their safety and their commitments at Brown. For hourly, low-income workers who rely on their paychecks, not going to work is not a real option. But there are many factors that should be considered in closing the University — factors that extend beyond the possibility of safe travels to and from Brown. In particular, many members of the community are parents. When their children’s schools are canceled due to weather but their work is not, these individuals must scramble to devise alternative childcare plans or leave their children at home unsupervised. This issue is compounded when the final decision to open or close schools is announced in the evening, past 6 p.m., as it has each time this semester. If workers’ children’s schools are closed, the University should help them find and afford childcare for the day. If public transportation is restricted and a parking ban is in effect, the University must find ways to make the commute manageable. If we cannot meet these commitments to our community, then operations have to be drastically pared down during inclement weather. The threat of blizzards and hurricanes in New England is of such constant concern that responding to weather should not feel as though it is done on an ad hoc basis. We need basic, public guidelines for deciding whether campus should be closed so it does not feel like a guess based on varying meteorological predictions. To help parents plan, the University should set a deadline for these decisions. It should also, when possible, trust the decision-making process of government officials, namely by closing school when Providence public schools are closed. Lastly, it might look to establish precedents for how to respond to specific forecasts and manage University operations accordingly. If community members must risk injury traveling to work and class, they should at least have confidence in their administrators. While the occasional snowball fight can be an enjoyable break from studying, when the weather conditions place community members in life-threatening situations, we would rather everybody stay safe and warm.
K I M B E R LY S A LT Z ’ 1 7
Q U O T E O F T H E D AY
“A new world is possible if we imagine it so.” — Danny Glover, actor, director and social activist
Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial page board: its editors, Alexander Kaplan ’15 and James Rattner ’15, and its members, Zoila Bergeron ’17, Natasha Bluth ’15, Manuel Contreras ’16, Baxter DiFabrizio ’15, Manuel Monti-Nussbaum ’15 and Katherine Pollock ’16. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.
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COMMENTARY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015 • PAGE 7
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
‘American Sniper’ not what we needed WALKER MILLS opinions columnist
I recently had the chance to watch the new movie “American Sniper” about Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. It is, to use one of my Brown vocabulary words, “problematic.” A good versus evil story that doesn’t capture the muddied reality of the Iraq War, it paints Chris Kyle as a Texas cowboy hunting insurgents like they were coyotes back on the ranch. Disappointingly simple, “American Sniper” misses an opportunity to complicate the conflict and truly be a landmark film. Only a tiny fraction — less than half a percent — of Americans have been to Iraq. Tens of millions of people have seen the movie in theaters already. If Americans at home think that our interventions in the Middle East were all simple ‘good guy’ versus ‘bad guy’ affairs, we have failed. The movie has been a box office hit, netting over $105 million in its opening weekend and receiving widespread acclaim from commentators throughout the military and across the right wing of the political spectrum. But
there has also been extremely critical backlash of the movie. Quite disturbingly, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee claims to have seen a significant increase in violent threats to Arab and Muslim Americans resulting from “how Arab and Muslims are depicted” in the film. There are two elements at the heart
Iraqis,” Kyle is at worst a racist American killing Iraqis and loving every minute of it. At best, he is a good guy moved to hate by the horrors of his environment. Chris Kyle is a hero to a lot of Americans, but he should not be lauded as a hero because of his kill count. It should not be spilling blood or shoot-
black, light and dark portrayal of the war. It is a disservice to the reality of conflict and wars in general. The “bad guys” in the movie are all affiliates of Al Qaeda. This aggressively oversimplifies the combatants in the war, and it makes it far easier for the American public to root against them. Certainly many combatants in the
Disappointingly simple, “American Sniper” misses an opportunity to complicate the conflict and truly be a landmark film.
of the commentary surrounding the film: the portrayal of Chris Kyle and Clint Eastwood’s direction. In his book, Kyle presents himself as rough around the edges; hazing and bar fights feature prominently. Kyle also received a lot of criticism for referring to Iraqis as “savages.” In addition to being derogatory, the term also comes with racial and historical baggage. Writing in his biography that he “couldn’t give a flying fuck about the
ing straight that marks our heroes. It should be selflessness and sacrifice. He should be lauded for his service, but that service should never exempt him from critique. Precisely because he is a national hero, he should be scrutinized. Our nation needs to be careful about whom we put on a pedestal because it says a lot about who we are and what we value. As for the film itself, I was most disappointed with Eastwood’s white and
war were “bad guys,” but all of them? This may have been a move by Eastwood to focus the movie more on Kyle, but it is also a way of sidestepping the complexity of the conflict and dehumanizing the other side. Future generations may look back at this movie, and it may shape their perceptions of the war. Like “Apocalypse Now” and “Full Metal Jacket” became two of the defining movies of the Vietnam War, will “American
Sniper” define the Iraq War? I hope not. There was no muddying of the morals. No mentions of George Bush, Dick Cheney or the failed search for WMD’s. Chris Kyle’s service and sacrifice should be celebrated, but his character demands a hard look before he can be idolized as a national hero. Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper” falls short of the hype, missing an opportunity to create a movie that captures the reality of the Iraq War and drumming up Islamophobia at home. Nations write their own histories in myriad ways, and film is an important one. Don’t let our history read like a Western with cowboys riding into Baghdad, killing all the “savages” and riding off into the sunset as the dust settles. We all know the history is far more complicated than that, and we have a responsibility to future generations to depict it honestly, even if that means we don’t always get to be John Wayne.
Walker Mills ’15 plans on commissioning into the United States Marine Corps after graduation and would love to continue the conversation at walker_mills@brown.edu.
Check the privilege, and grab a shovel IAN KENYON opinions columnist
I come from a region of the United States that is regularly referred to as the “snowbelt.” It’s an unofficial term for those states directly due east and those southeast of the Great Lakes that receive gargantuan quantities of lake-enhanced snowfall every winter. Buffalo, New York — part of the “snowbelt” — made national headlines in November for the almost seven feet of snow that fell shortly before the Thanksgiving holiday. When I was younger, I learned the responsibilities and the necessities of shoveling snow. I didn’t only enjoy the sight of a cleared walkway to my door. I quickly learned to offer, volunteer and occasionally even market my snowshoveling abilities to friends, neighbors and any adjacent sidewalk clearly impassable without snow pants. Perhaps because I grew up in a small community where events such as snow removal were communal in their completion, it makes sense that I found dismay in the snow removal efforts on College Hill — or rather, the lack thereof. As Winter Storm Juno moved towards New England last Monday night, I watched as the snow fell and the wind howled, receiving text messages from friends in warmer places wishing that they were here to experience a sample of winter’s wrath. Sure, the snow was beautiful to look at, and I was one of those individuals who trekked out Tuesday morning, walking about College Hill and around campus, to capture pictures and find tranquility in the stillness of a neighborhood generally buzzing with energy. The silent morning was as magical as any snow day of my childhood. However, this winter wonderland of a morning differed from those of my childhood in a critical way: I am now an adult. To my knowl-
edge, no Brunonian can qualify as a child anymore. Sliding down the middle of George Street and walking back along Benefit Street to my front stoop, I could see the daunting task that literally laid between me and my front door:
question that I asked myself again as the second storm rolled in this week and that I now ask others. Why aren’t you pitching in and helping out? I have Facebook, I read YikYak, I am in
Why not cancel classes on days when travel is obviously treacherous and ask the student population for an extra hand in cleaning our campus? ANGELIA WANG / HERALD
endless snow waiting to be shoveled. And shovel it I did. I was thoroughly impressed by the feat completed by University employees, who worked harder and longer than usual to maintain clear and passable walkways across campus. Their efforts deserve gracious recognition, as, even in the worst of Juno’s wrath on Monday morning, I could have traversed the walkways around campus in loafers without the threat of wet socks. Though my lease maintains no clause for keeping a clear sidewalk, for the sake of the others living in my building and passersby, I pitched in and helped out. Why not? This is a
tune with social media and I was aware of what many fellow Brunonians were up to on their first snow day of the semester: having a good time. Walking around College Hill in the days after Juno, this became evident, as many cars, walkways and some streets still appeared largely impassable, particularly in areas of College Hill dominated by fellow Brunonians. Walking back to campus and watching University employees still toil away at snow removal, I could see the stark contrast, and I kept wondering: Was I one of the only students to pick up a shovel? In a Feb. 1 email addressing Winter Storm Linus, which hit Rhode Island a week after
Juno, Executive Vice President for Planning and Policy Russell Carey ’91 MA’06 urged the campus community to “take an opportunity to thank the many staff members who will be working throughout the night and day to address the weather conditions.” I am grateful to the men and women that continue to serve our campus through sun and snow. But is it really necessary for them to work through the night, too, as they did during Juno, when hurricane force winds blew? Is their safety less important than ours? I think Carey’s email might suggest an underlying call to action to all Brunonians to grab a shovel and help out. Clear your walkways, clear your neighbor’s walkways, and help out where help is needed. Many of us are able-bodied, and a little snow removal is as good as any trip to the Nelson Fitness Center. Why did the University maintain such a large maintenance crew on campus during hazardous winter conditions, when the thousands of Brunonians living on campus could have pitched in? It is a common-sense question I ask. With thousands of students around campus and out of class, why not rally together a massive cleanup effort? Why not cancel classes on days when travel is obviously treacherous and ask the student population for an extra hand in cleaning our campus? Perhaps a massive shovel-out event, followed by an open dinner at the Ratty? I do not see a better way to make use of snow days — rare occurrences that offer an opportunity to unite our community in a healthy, productive manner. The snow is going to fall, no matter who you are — Brunonian or not. Let’s check the privilege, and start the shoveling. The next storm will be here before you know it.
Ian Kenyon GS is a Master of Public Affairs candidate with the Taubman Center. Following graduation, he does not anticipate living in a cold climate.
ARTS & CULTURE THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015
Glover inspires in lecture on creativity, art for social change Actor Danny Glover discusses interplay of art, activism for RISD’s MLK Day lecture series By GRACE YOON SENIOR STAFF WRITER
“There is a deep responsibility I feel, which gets even deeper as I advance in age, to create the world I want to see,” said actor, filmmaker and social activist Danny Glover to a packed RISD Auditorium. Glover visited RISD Friday and delivered a speech on the connections between art, democracy and social change. The speech was originally scheduled for Jan. 28 but was postponed two days due to inclement weather. Glover was the keynote speaker of RISD’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Series — an event open to members of the RISD and Providence communities that celebrates “the teachings of Dr. King” and “the wealth of creative endeavors in advancing democracy,” said Ann Fessler, professor of photography at RISD, who spoke at the event. In his speech, Glover discussed the dynamics and possibilities of art, which he described as “a platform to understand, to love, to have empathy.” He stressed the importance of artists’ roles not only as creators, but also as citizens of the world. “Design is a deliberate act of imagination,” Glover said, adding that purpose, content and audience should be considered in artistic endeavors. Glover said art must be contextualized and created for a purpose in response to contemporary issues. He praised the work of author John Steinbeck, particularly his depiction of Great Depression-era hardship in “The Grapes of Wrath.” Glover also quoted James Baldwin, who said the artist’s role is “to make the world a more human dwelling place.”
ALEXIA DELHOUME / HERALD
“Design is a deliberate act of imagination,” artist-activist Danny Glover told RISD students at the school’s annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Though perhaps best-known for his work in film, Glover is also a passionate humanitarian and philanthropist. “A new world is possible if we imagine it so,” Glover added. “It is the artist’s responsibility to imagine it so.” When discussing issues that contemporary artists face, Glover highlighted the decline of the world’s wildlife population, which has been reduced by half in the past 40 years. “How does the artist deal with that? How do we create an aesthetic of understanding the world as artists?” Glover asked. An artist has a responsibility not only to initiate these types of conversations but also to sustain and cultivate
them to “nurture our minds and souls,” he said. The MLK Series Selection Committee, made up of RISD students, faculty and staff, chose Danny Glover as an exemplary artist and activist whose “legacy and personal work through global justice and national interest have been ongoing,” Tony Johnson, a member of the committee and director of Intercultural Student Engagement at RISD, told The Herald. “Glover is the first artist-activist we’ve brought,” Johnson said, adding that Glovers’ films,, many of which
explore social issues that often go unaddressed, have created a bridge between acting, filmmaking and activism. The keynote speech serves a dual purpose of honoring the speaker’s accomplishments and sharing his vision with the Providence community, Johnson said. Glover’s acting career — on screen, stage and television — spans more than 30 years. Most recently he has starred in motion pictures like “Dreamgirls” and “2012”. Glover has also been recognized
for his humanitarian work: As a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program from 1998-2004, he focused on poverty, disease and economic development in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Glover also currently serves as United Nations Children’s Fund Ambassador. Glover “shows how people can use their positions of power and privilege, whether it is race or wealth, to make an impact,” said Yelitsa Jean-Charles, a RISD junior. “He is an example of what RISD students should strive for.”
Researchers, students disagree over benefits and health risks of marijuana Some students assert enhanced creativity, intellectual capabilities while using pot By CAROLYNN CONG STAFF WRITER
The Ocean State is blowing the nation away, as it was recently ranked the state with the most marijuana use. According to the latest statistics from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 13 percent of Rhode Island citizens over the age of 12 have used marijuana in the past month — almost double the national average of 7 percent. This statistic could put the state at risk for more health problems, said Robert Miranda P’04, associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior for research. Miranda, who works at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown, focuses his research on maximizing the effects of psychosocial addiction interventions by coupling them with
SCIENCE & RESEARCH
medication. Excessive marijuana use can detrimentally affect one’s health by impairing memory, motor coordination and learning ability, all in the short term, Miranda said. It also has the potential to hinder brain development in those under the age of 21, he said, adding that frequent marijuana users tend to find it more difficult to “get pleasure from day-to-day activities.” Marijuana use slows cognitive processes, Miranda said. “The cognitive effects continue for several days after you come down from being high,” he said. Though students often believe otherwise, marijuana can be associated with addiction, he added. But on Brown’s campus, many students said they have not seen noticeable changes in their health or academic performance as a result of their marijuana use. Carl ’16, who smokes almost every day, said marijuana has helped him find more creativity in his academic settings. “Marijuana use has pushed me to look for more interdisciplinary connections » See MARIJUANA , page 4
ANGELIA WANG / HERALD
Though some students report minimal negative effects of smoking marijuana, researchers say pot can lead to a variety of detrimental health effects, including slowed cognition and lung obstruction.