SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015
VOLUME CL, ISSUE 14
WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
Conference explores Asian- Corp. greenlights 4.4 percent tuition jump American experiences Financial aid budget Saturday event facilitates discussion on microaggressions, marginalized identities By SOPHIE YAN STAFF WRITER
“The way in which we talk about race has really changed in the United States,” said Kevin Nadal, associate professor of psychology at the City University of New York, addressing a room of students and faculty members at this year’s E(RACE)D But Not Forgotten conference Saturday. E(RACE)D, first created last year as a response to social justice issues regarding race and Asian-American relations, included multiple workshop-style “breakout sessions” and a keynote speech by Nadal. During this year’s event, titled “Unpacking Asian America,” Nadal spoke on the topic of intersectionality and microaggressions. “Microaggressions are defined as brief and commonplace … indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory or negative slights and insults,” Nadal said. He added that it is important to discuss microaggressions in the context of intersectionality — the idea that people have multiple identities, such as race, gender, socioeconomic
status, sexual orientation and religion, which all contribute to the ways they are viewed and categorized by others and themselves. Nadal began his presentation by speaking about his own childhood as a gay Filipino-American. “Growing up, I knew I was different,” he said, adding that he felt “trapped,” with no role models who were both gay and Filipino-American. “It’s time that we begin telling more of these stories,” Nadal said. “If we belong to an Asian-American organization, oftentimes people assume there’s only one way to be Asian-American … and everyone would relate to each other in the same way.” On the contrary, he said, most people have unique intersectional identities that need to be addressed. But “all people of color still experience institutional, systemic and interpersonal racism in their everyday lives,” Nadal said, citing educational and career disparities, from lower achievement levels of southeast Asians to the “bamboo ceiling” that many Asians face in their career paths. Examples of such racism and microaggression were among the themes of the breakout sessions, which dealt with issues such as exotification and “yellow fever,” Afro-Asian solidarity, mental health and wellness and internalized racism. » See E(RACE)D, page 3
reaches record high of $112.5 million for fiscal year 2016
By EMMA HARRIS AND JOSEPH ZAPPA UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITORS
At its meeting this weekend, the Corporation approved a 4.4 percent increase in tuition and fees next academic year, elevating the total undergraduate cost of attending the University to $62,046, President Christina Paxson P’19 wrote in a community-wide email Sunday. With approximately $972 million in estimated revenues, the University is looking at a projected $4.4 million deficit for fiscal year 2016, according to the University Resources Committee’s report to the president. Compared to fiscal year 2014’s $8.8 million budget deficit and fiscal year 2015’s projected $6.7 million deficit, $4.4 million is a mark of progress, Paxson wrote. But “reductions in the deficit have been supported through the use of $7.5 million of temporary reserves and restricted fund balances, which we cannot count on being available in future years,” she wrote. The URC will announce recommendations to cut spending by about $7 million later this spring, Paxson wrote. Decreased external research funding and increased spending to meet the financial needs of students admitted under Brown’s domestic need-blind
DAVID DECKEY / HERALD
The Corporation, the University’s highest governing body, endorsed a 7.5 percent uptick in the standard room rate at its triannual gathering. admission policy are the two main drivers of the deficit, said Provost Vicki Colvin. The Corporation, the University’s highest governing body, also approved an 8 percent increase in undergraduate financial aid next year, amounting to a $112.5 million budget — the highest in University history. With this increase, funds will be directed to “provide a modest increase in scholarships to newly enrolled students from middle-income families,” Paxson wrote. As current students are already in committed financial aid contracts with the University, the URC decided to target incoming students, hoping to boost yield rates for students in the middle-income bracket, Colvin said.
Currently, only a “small percent” of Brown students are in this bracket, she said. As part of the 4.4 percent tuition and fees uptick, the Corporation approved a 7.5 percent hike in the standard room rate, Paxson wrote. The standard room rate will rise from $7,416 to $7,972, though the suite rate will remain the same. The difference in the rates will decrease to $812 in fiscal year 2016, Paxson wrote. The goal is to eventually eliminate the “two-tiered” room rate system, Colvin said, adding that separating students based on their parents’ incomes “just seems counter to Brown’s culture.” The 7.5 percent increase in the standard room rate is larger than usually » See CORP, page 2
Minimum fare for public Bears top No. 6 Crimson in upset motor vehicles takes effect First years excel as Bears M. HOCKEY
Supreme Court case against RIPUC under review, suspension of fare not granted
rebound from loss to Dartmouth to down Harvard on home ice
By MATT BROWNSWORD SENIOR STAFF WRITER
By DUNCAN GALLAGHER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
It had been about a month since the men’s hockey team last won a game and over two months since its last ECAC win. And with then-No. 6 Harvard coming to town after the Bears (5-17-1, 2-13-1 ECAC) lost to Dartmouth (11-8-4, 8-6-2) by giving up five unanswered goals, Brown’s chances to record its first conference win in 2015 looked bleak. But the Bears defied expectations to defeat their Ivy rival, 2-1. Harvard (12-8-2, 8-6-2) came into the game having played over 140 minutes of hockey — a double overtime defeat to Boston University (18-4-4, 12-2-2 Hockey East) and a shutout by Yale (137-3, 8-6-2) — in the four days prior to its matchup against Brown. The first period
INSIDE
ELI WHITE / HERALD
After scoring his first goal of the season against a tough Dartmouth squad, Zack Pryzbek ’17 turns it up against Harvard. showcased the Crimson’s fatigue, as the Bears enjoyed the majority of possession but trailed Harvard in shots 8-7. Tim Ernst ’17 — who got the start after Tyler Steel ’17 allowed six goals to the Big Green — made impressive saves on the few shots that Harvard mustered. The sophomore’s best moment came when he dove to save a close, open shot from
Wiley Sherman. One minute and three seconds into the second period, the Bears struck: While his linemates changed, Matt Lorito ’15 stayed on his shift and put a shot on Crimson goalie Steve Michalek. The puck rebounded off of Michalek’s pad and straight into the path of Columbus » See M. HOCKEY, page 2
In the midst of an active Rhode Island Superior Court case, a hotly-debated $40 minimum fare for public motor vehicle operations — nontaxi car and van services — will go into effect today, the Providence Journal reported. While ride-sharing app services such as Uber and Lyft are not public motor vehicle companies, and the minimum fare will not affect transactions through the apps, they rely on the PMV industry for drivers. Rep. Teresa Tanzi, D-Narragansett, and Sen. Bill Walaska, D-Warwick,
METRO
sponsored a bill in the General Assembly — drafted by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission — that would allow the commission to set a minimum fare. The bill passed easily and was signed into law in 2012. The taxi industry is more heavily regulated than PMV companies. Taxis are required to abide by territory, vehicle age and mileage restrictions, while PMVs are not. Taxis also must get fares approved by the RIPUC in advance, while PMV companies do not have any kind of price regulation, leaving consumers unprotected from price fluctuations. The reason PMV companies are not as heavily regulated as taxi companies is that they are mostly used for high-cost, low-volume transactions. In contrast, ride-sharing app services allow customers to use PMVs for low-cost, highvolume transactions. While the RIPUC has stated on numerous occasions that » See VEHICLES, page 3
WEATHER
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015
COMMENTARY Secondo ’16: University made wrong decision not to cancel classes last week
COMMENTARY Asker ’17: University made right decision not to cancel classes last week
SPORTS Women’s basketball notches pair of three-point victories on the road this weekend
SPORTS Men’s basketball battles Harvard in overtime loss, redeems itself with win over Dartmouth
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UNIVERSITY NEWS PAGE 2 • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015
» CORP, from page 1 recommended by the URC, according to its report to the president. The rate increase is meant to help pay for the debt the University has accumulated as a result of more than $80 million in residence hall renovations, according to the report. The University will spend another $8 million on Wriston Quadrangle dorm renovations this summer, Paxson wrote. “The University did phase one last summer and will finish remaining buildings this summer,” wrote Mark Nickel, acting director of news and communications, in an email to The Herald. The Corporation also accepted about $63 million in gifts at its annual February gathering — a staggering jump from last February’s $26 million. The steep climb can be attributed, to some extent, to concentrated fundraising efforts for the University’s capital campaign, Colvin said. Paxson has also been instrumental in securing ambitious gifts for Brown, she added. Paxson underscored a gift of $15 million for students enrolled in the University’s Resumed Undergraduate Education program, calling the pledge a “highlight of the weekend.” Each year, $1 million of the donation will go toward financial aid for RUE students. Seventeen RUE students currently attend the University. While the donation will allow for a significant increase in the program’s enrollment, it will not expand beyond about 30 students, Colvin said.
A $10 million grant from the Sidney E. Frank Foundation bolstered the capabilities of Linking Students to Internships and Knowledge — an initiative that aims to provide more students receiving financial aid with financial support to complete an internship or research program over the summer — for Frank scholars. Administrators aspire to a LINK program strong enough to furnish every student on financial aid with funds for summer internships and research, Colvin said, adding that the Frank gift marks another step in that direction. The Watson Institute for International Studies received significant gifts, including a $4 million donation for a professorship in policy and $1.5 million for postdoctoral fellowships. Watson’s gains signal the institute’s importance to both the University and its donors, Colvin said. Graduate students will also see improved financial support from the University. The annual stipend afforded to PhD candidates will grow by 3 percent, and the University will “significantly enhance” support beyond the fifth year of doctoral studies, Paxson wrote. Both Colvin and Graduate Student Council President Joel Simundich GS voiced approval for a new provision that will ensure grad students continue to receive health care in the seventh year of their doctoral studies. At a rally last week, members of Stand Up for Grad Students — an organization that advocates greater grad student benefits — called for this change, among other demands.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD “The idea that we would remove their healthcare benefits in the seventh year seemed really not right,” Colvin said, adding that the provision was necessary for fostering a “culture of care” in the way the University deals with its students. But the changes leave substantial room for improvement, Simundich said. A larger stipend and some degree of greater support after the fifth year do not resolve the issue that grad students are not guaranteed funding after year five, he said, raising a concern that spurred other protests last spring. Undergraduates had the opportunity to speak directly with small groups of Corporation members about sexual assault and mental health this weekend — an arrangement for which the Undergraduate Council of Students campaigned, Paxson wrote. These conversations “definitely were fruitful in the sense that it was a great first step,” said UCS President Maahika Srinivasan ’15, adding that it was “really important” for Corporation members to “hear firsthand the state of those issues for undergrads.” But Srinivasan hopes that students will be afforded greater access to the Corporation in the future, adding that this weekend’s conversations “barely scratched the surface” of the many issues she would like to discuss with the body. The Corporation’s Board of Fellows — one of two committees that comprise the larger body — endorsed the faculty’s approval of establishing a partnership with ROTC units at the College of the Holy Cross, Paxson wrote.
» M. HOCKEY, from page 1 Blue Jackets draftee Tyler Bird ’18, who capitalized on the opportunity. It was the first year’s first career goal and could not have come at a more important time for the Bears, not only in the game but also in the season. Head Coach Brendan Whittet ’94 put the three first-year NHL draftees — Bird, Lafferty and Max Willman ’18 — on the second line, which paid off big time. “That’s what I expected from the drop of the puck this year, but it’s been a learning process,” Whittet said. “That freshman line played a lot of minutes tonight, and they earned them. They played very, very well.” “The freshmen play a big role. That line tonight played really well,” Nick Lappin ’16 said. “They’re starting to figure it out a little bit.” After the Brown goal, the Crimson settled in and was able to put some shots on Ernst, but the Bears were able to hold. Bruno had 16 blocked shots in the game, which kept a lot of Harvard opportunities away from the sophomore goalie. Contributing on both ends of the ice, Bird had three shots in the second period and was excellent defensively as his confidence continued to grow. “Bird’s been good for a while. He just hasn’t deposited it, but (against Dartmouth) that freshman line was very good also,” Whittet said. “He’s the youngest kid in our league by far and I think he’s the third or fourth youngest in college hockey, but he’s a big body and he played with a lot of pace and energy. He was really determined in what he did, so to see him get his first goal was a good thing, but I think it will be the first of many.” An energetic start to the third period culminated in an incredible backhanded goal by Lappin, who took a centering pass from Mark Naclerio ’16, went by one Harvard defender and finished top shelf. It was a huge reward for Whittet, who made the decision to go back to the Lorito-Lappin-Naclerio first line. Lorito also got an assist — his second point of the game — to reach 98 points for his career. “It was just a hunch. I’ve seen what they can do in the past, and they were all on the same page tonight,” Whittet said. “We have good chemistry together,” Lappin said. Brown survived a scare later in the
period after Tyler Wood ’17 was sent to the box for tripping, but Harvard suffered an untimely too-many-men penalty to negate the Crimson’s man advantage. The game got a little chippy after Willman was judged to be offsides on a breakaway but continued the play and put the puck past Michalek, to which the Harvard players took exception. Jimmy Vesey gave the first-year a shove, and both players were sent to the sin bin. With roughly two minutes to play, Harvard pulled Michalek, and Desmond Bergin managed to cut the deficit in half with 54 seconds left. But the Bears survived a frenetic final minute and got their second win of 2015, their second conference win and their fifth win of the season, moving them out of last place in the ECAC. “The guys played, honestly, the best game we’ve played by far this year,” Whittet said. “We have a really good hockey team. Our record doesn’t show that right now, but I don’t care. All I want to do is continue to get better and then be at our best when the playoffs start, and I think if we play like that, we’re going to be a tough out.” “There’s times where we’ve played well in spurts, but today it felt good to put a full sixty minutes together,” Lappin said. It was one of few impressive performances by a Brown goalie, this time from Ernst, who has the Bears’ only shutout of the year. “We needed it,” Whittet said. “It’s been hard because there’s been huge momentum shifts in a lot of games we played because we don’t come up with that big save at a crucial moment. I thought tonight he provided that for us and gave us an opportunity to win a low-scoring game.” Brown fell to Dartmouth the night before after ending the first period up 3-1. Naclerio, Lappin and Zach Pryzbek ’17 were the goal scorers, but the Big Green got two in the second period and three more in the third to down the Bears. Brown has six games to go in the regular season, with its next four on the road. But with a win finally under their belts against top ECAC competition, the Bears will hope to carry the momentum into the final stretch of the season and head into the postseason playing their best hockey.
METRO
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015 • PAGE 3
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Developer, District Commission enter agreement
COURTESY OF PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
Colin Kane, former chairman of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, resigned shortly after Baccari II’s proposal was approved.
I-195 Redevelopment Commission reaches purchase and sale agreement on Parcel 8 By ELIZABETH CONWAY SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Richard Baccari II, a key developer in Rhode Island and principal of Royal Oaks Realty Ventures, entered into a purchase and sale agreement Jan. 20 with the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission for Parcel 8 — a LINK land site directly adjacent to property at 39 Pike Street that Baccari II owns. He proposed building a $20 million development complete with retail, residence and office spaces on the
» E(RACE)D, from page 1 Soyoon Kim ’18, a Herald illustrator, said the breakout sessions she attended “were definitely relevant” to her. “I feel like these are issues that I should be aware about and cognizant of as I go through the rest of my three years here at Brown.” Kim said she was particularly affected by the “Bananas, Twinkies and Beyond: Internalized Racism” session that she attended. “That (session) really struck a chord with me. It reminded me of … how I felt for a lot of the time at my mostly white high school,” she said. “It brought back a lot of things and made me reconsider my position as an Asian-American student.” Fue Vue ’17 said he did not feel like many of the issues discussed at E(RACE)D were that relevant to his experience at Brown. “The school in general and the vibe” feel safe, he added. “(Brown) doesn’t create any feeling of inferiority.” But Vue said he felt it was important to learn more about Asian-American issues to help others who are not as fortunate. “I’m Hmong-American, and I’m really interested in learning about how I can help better my community,” he said. To do that, “I need to better understand social constructs of Asian America,” he added. E(RACE)D 2015 was organized by nine Brown student committee chairs, along with numerous committee members and workshop leaders. The organizers wanted to make the conference more accessible and less academic this year, said Richard Park ’16, one of the chairs of the Publicity Committee. Last year’s conference had elements that “created certain barriers between people who weren’t experienced and people who were more knowledgeable about the subject,” he added. “Last year we felt like the workshops we offered weren’t relatable to a lot of students,” said Jea Sim ’17, chair of the conference. “A lot of people who had never had this kind of
site, which is about a third of an acre. The vote to enter the agreement was decided in a private commission meeting. It is the second purchase and sale agreement made by the commission regarding the LINK land, which was previously owned by I-195 and is slated for redevelopment. “There’s a process outlined in the developer’s tool kit, and any developers are welcome to put in their proposals,” said Dyana Koelsch, president of DK Communications and media contact for conversation found it hard to see why it related to them and why it mattered,” she said. As a result, the committee chairs enlisted student leaders to speak more about their lived experiences during the breakout sessions this year, Park said. Aditya Kumar ’17, the other publicity chair, said his own lived experiences contributed to his decision to get involved with E(RACE)D. “I just wanted to help … include a South Asian voice in the larger Asian narrative,” Kumar said. “I think that (South Asians) are left out a lot of the time when topics of Asian-American identity are discussed,” he added. Within Asian-American populations, Park said, there are groups who are further marginalized and stigmatized, such as people of low socioeconomic class, LGBT people and Southeast Asians. Kumar and Park created a publicity poster for the event that featured multiple images of AsianAmerican identities to illustrate this theme. “There’s this running metaphor about unpacking the luggage that we’ve brought from past generations from Asia to America and creating a more unified idea of what Asian America is for everyone,” Park said. But “even though the title of the conference is ‘Unpacking Asian America,’ the theme that we’re running with is ‘Margins of the Marginalized,’” he added. Ultimately, one of the goals of the conference was to attract people who do not normally engage in discussions about Asian-American social and political identities, Sim said. “We wanted to foster conversation and make them think critically about their identity as Asian-Americans in the United States,” she added. “I feel like if people who attended the conference and who identify as Asian-American left feeling more of a sense of validation and a willingness to get involved with social issues, that would be the greatest accomplishment I could hope for,” Kumar said.
the LINK. After the commission vetted the proposal, it negotiated a letter of intent and then entered the purchase and sale agreement, Koelsch said, adding that there are still several elements of the agreement pending. Koelsch did not specify the timeline for moving forward. The developer had to reach a taxstabilization agreement with Providence officials before the purchase and sale agreement could be reached, according to a statement made to the Providence Journal by Colin Kane, former chairman of the I-195 Redevelopment Commission. Kane resigned from his post Jan. 29 and later told the Journal that he intends to “get back to work” after taking time off from his job to serve as the commission’s chairman. Both Kane and Gov. Gina Raimondo were unavailable for comment. The Baccaris have a long history of development in Rhode Island. Baccari’s father, Richard Baccari I, developed buildings in Providence, Lincoln, East Greenwich and elsewhere, according to the Providence Business News. He was also recently acquitted on a two-count indictment of bribery for allegedly paying $50,000 to coerce Providence councilmen into voting for zoning changes for land related to his developments, according to an FBI press release. In the 1980s, the rerouting of I-195
highway began, with the goal of opening up several tracts of land in the Providence area. The LINK land consists of 21 parcels composed by 19 acres of vacant lots. The land straddles the Jewelry District, College Hill, Fox Point and parts of the downtown area. Established in 2011 by then-Gov. Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 P’17, the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission is responsible for selling the land to developers in efforts to stimulate the local and state economies. The commission hopes these lands will promote job growth in Rhode Island — the state with the fourthhighest unemployment rate in the country — according to the LINK website. Parcel 28 was the first to reach a purchase and sale agreement. The decision to sell was made in November, the Herald previously reported. Located in the Jewelry District, the parcel is intended for student housing. At least three other proposals have been rejected by the commission, including those for Parcel 30, Parcel 42 and Parcel 37. Parcel 30 was rejected because of the prospective developer’s intent to construct a parking lot, which is a forbidden use of LINK land per commission rules, Koelsch said. Design and layout plans for development of Parcel 8 have yet to be
determined. “There’s a design review committee that is looking at stuff. It’s pretty in-depth and takes into account a lot of input,” Koelsch said. “Parcel 28 isn’t finalized in its design yet either.” Zoning laws set by Providence, as well as historic buildings limitations, will affect the design plans. “There is a state officer that deals with historic buildings. And there are a lot of different folks weighing in on design and zoning and how the land is developed,” Koelsch said. The design plan for Parcel 28 has not yet been finalized. “We think the design needs a whole new process to review. We’re disturbed about the fact that the I-195 Commission is trying to do design review by themselves. They are not qualified to do that. We are trying to change that process,” said Arthur Salisbury, president of the Jewelry District Association. Salisbury said his discontent also involves the actual architecture of the proposed structure. “The design of the building … wasn’t specifically designed for this site. There are three historic buildings that abut this piece of property, and there was no consideration given to that,” Salisbury said. The commission can address this concern by consulting design experts, who are not currently part of the commission, Salisbury said.
» VEHICLES, from page 1 the intent of the new price floor is to protect the already suffering taxi industry in Rhode Island, there is widespread agreement that the minimum fare was introduced to target the operations of ride-sharing apps. The new price floor would establish the PMV industry as a premium service, said Samuel Kennedy-Smith, a lawyer for the parties filing the complaint against the RIPUC. The minimum fare, which the commission set at $40, was originally to be implemented in November 2013, The Herald previously reported. Prior to the original implementation of the minimum fare, four transportation companies filed suit against the RIPUC in an attempt to repeal the rule, The Herald reported at the time. Judge Luis Matos of the Rhode Island Superior Court ruled in favor of the RIPUC. Last December, a larger coalition of five transportation service owners and drivers and 35 PMV passengers filed a complaint in Superior Court against the RIPUC, requesting both that the rule’s enforcement be postponed until closure of the case and that the rule “be declared void and otherwise unconstitutional.” The RIPUC had agreed to delay the implementation of the rule until the plaintiffs could formally request the rule’s prolonged suspension, KennedySmith said. Judge Brian Van Couyghen of the Superior Court announced at a Jan. 29 hearing that the court would not grant the plaintiff ’s request for the suspension during the case, prompting the RIPUC to announce Jan. 30 that the implementation of the rule would begin Monday. Concerned that the implementation of the fare will pose serious risks to the businesses operated by the plaintiffs, Kennedy-Smith said he filed a writ of certiorari Friday, which asked the Supreme Court to review Van Couyghen’s decision. Kennedy-Smith added that under normal circumstances, he would
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Companies such as Uber and Lyft are not directly affected by the new minimum, but some feel the fare targets these ride-sharing apps. request an appeal after the Superior Court’s final decision, but the dramatic nature of the minimum fare would have an immediate effect on businesses that operate PMVs. How long the Supreme Court will take to respond to the writ is unknown. “If this isn’t granted, my guys are going to go out of business,” KennedySmith said, explaining his reasoning for filing the writ. “Even though I wouldn’t normally appeal at this point, given the facts and circumstances, we need to have another look at this,” he said. It remains unclear as to how the RIPUC will enforce the minimum fare.
While Uber has not participated in any of the legal action in conjunction with the PMV companies who filed suit against the RIPUC, they filed a motion to reconsider the rule in November 2014. When asked how the company plans to go about future operations in Rhode Island under the specter of a minimum fare, Mary Caroline Pruitt, a communications associate for Lyft, wrote in an email to The Herald that the company has “had productive meetings with members of the General Assembly.” Uber representatives could not be reached for comment.
SPORTS
PAGE 4 • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
SWIMMING & DIVING
W. BASKETBALL
Bikofsky ’15 breaks record en route to win Championships loom
DAVID DECKEY / HERALD
Megan Reilly ’18 tied her career-high 13 points as the Bears notched a narrow victory over Harvard Friday on the road.
Bears extend winning streak to three, gain momentum with sweep of Dartmouth, Harvard By NIKKO PASANEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
It was all smiles for the women’s basketball team this weekend, as it defeated Ivy League rivals Harvard and Dartmouth to improve its conference record to 3-3. The two victories mark the first time Bruno (9-11, 3-3) has completed an away sweep of the Crimson (9-11, 2-4) and Big Green (10-10, 1-5) since 1993. “We have been working hard all season and gotten really close, and haven’t been able to close it out, so these two games were huge,” said Captain Sophie Bikofsky ’15. “We really learned a lot from the earlier games in the season and it felt good to come out on top.” On Friday night in Cambridge, Bikofsky broke a school record for career three-point field goals and Ellise Sharpe ’16 dropped 19 points en route to an 83-80 victory. Also adding to the mix were newcomers Megan Reilly ’18
and Kennedy Martin ’18, who put up 13 and nine points, respectively. The game got off to a rough start when Janie White ’18 left the contest just nine seconds in due to injury. But the Bears responded nicely, hitting nine of their first 12 shots and riding the hot streak all the way to a 40-37 lead at the halfway mark. The second half was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team leading by more than five points at any time. In keeping with this trend, the game came down to the wire. With just 38 seconds left, the Crimson — clinging to a 77-76 lead — had the ball, only to see the Bears force a turnover on the inbounds play. On the ensuing possession, Sharpe capitalized with a three-point play. Once Bruno took the 79-77 lead, it didn’t look back, making all four of its final free throws to seal the win. The victory broke a streak of eight consecutive losses in Cambridge for the Bears. Bikofsky, whose four threes on the night pushed her past Lauren Clarke’s ’14 previous school record of 203, said she was thrilled to come away with the win. Yet she was quick to put aside her personal feat and recognize the stellar
play of both Sharpe and Martin as keys to the Bears’ success. “Martin stepped up big time this weekend,” Bikofsky said. “She was so effective in the post and showed a lot of heart.” On Saturday, Bruno made sure that there would be no let down, defeating Dartmouth by a final score of 50-47. The Bears had their fair share of struggles shooting on the night, but a lockdown defensive effort proved to be enough. Leading the way were Sharpe, who scored 19 points for her third consecutive game, and Natalie Ball ’16, who posted a career-high 14 rebounds. Sharpe largely credited her recent hot streak to a shift in the team’s mindset. “We’ve been focusing on making the extra pass, playing as a team and trying to make our teammates better,” she said. “And that has really allowed me to get some extra drives and shots.” The second game had a much different style than the first, as Bruno failed to connect on a single three-pointer. But defensively, the Bears were at their best, as they scored 22 points off turnovers. As the game progressed, they built a 43-30 lead late in the second half, only to see the Big Green go on a 14-2 run and cut the lead to one. Free throws proved to be the decisive factor again and Bikofsky made three of four to hand Bruno its second win of the weekend. The Bears now look ahead to a matchup with No. 18 Princeton (21-0, 5-0), which has dominated all comers this year. Though it will certainly be a big test for the young and improving squad, Bikofksy said the team is ready for the challenge. “We have to prepare for them like any other opponent, we can’t think about their record,” she said. “With both teams in the Ivy League, I think it can go either way any night. There are upsets all the time.” The two wins will certainly give the squad some momentum heading into the toughest contest of their season, Sharpe said. “We have a lot of confidence right now, and it’s nice to have some more wins under our belt.”
as Bears drop meet
Schlafer ’17 executes high-scoring 3-meter dive, qualifies for NCAA Zone Diving Championships By LAINIE ROWLAND SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams finished their seasons on low notes as they fell to dominant Yale squads. The men (2-6, 1-6 Ivy) faced a decisive 126-point deficit in their loss to the Bulldogs (8-2, 5-2), while the women (4-5, 2-5) dropped a 99-point decision to the Elis (7-2, 5-2). But the numbers obscure a complex picture of a resilient team. As the season winds down, the squad is keyed in on championships. Meet results come second to making sure every swimmer is at his or her competitive peak in the weeks to come. “We did not put our best lineup in, because we’re less than three weeks away from championships,” said co-captain Kate Dillione ’15. “The coaches decided to give some people a break from their best events.” But Dillione still competed in one of her trademark events — the 50 yard freestyle. Spearheading Bruno’s scoring efforts, she finished in first place with a time of 23.6 seconds and notched a second place finish in the 100 yard butterfly. Dillione’s season-best time of 23.07 in the 50 free ranks her second in the Ivy League, which bodes well for a strong championship performance. Aja Grande ’18 is not far behind in the fifth spot. Exhibiting her freestyle prowess, Grande finished first in the 100 yard freestyle Saturday, and teammate Reia Tong ’16 followed her in second place. Dillione, Tong, Grande and Korbyn Simpson ’18 teamed up to take the top spot in the 400 yard freestyle relay to wrap up the meet. In the buildup to the meet, the Bears began tweaking their training routines in anticipation of championships.
“We have decreased our yardage a bit and added some more recovery days into the mix so our bodies can get stronger,” Dillione said. “We have decreased some volume in the weight room too.” With championships in mind, the men’s roster felt the same shake-up as the women’s roster. Despite different lineups, both teams still carried a competitive mentality to the meet. “The goal was the same — to swim fast and race well,” Dillione said. On the men’s side, many swimmers picked up third place finishes. Cory Mayfield ’16 notched two, placing in both the 200 yard and 500 yard freestyle. Mayfield did not swim the 1000 yard freestyle at the meet, but his best time in that event ranks him tenth in the Ivy League. He is followed by Grant Casey ’18, who sits in twelfth place and swam to a third place finish at Yale. Other third place finishes came from Declan Kennon ’18 in the 200 yard backstroke, Connor Lohman ’17 in the 200 yard breaststroke and Daniel Klotz ’17 in the 100 fly. Jeffrey Strausser ’15 also raced to a third place finish in the 50 free Saturday, but where he really excels is the 100 fly. Strausser’s best performance this season places him sixth in the conference for that event. Jonathon Schlafer ’17 impressed in New Haven, scoring 329.93 on the 3-meter dive — earning him a berth at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships. His score gave the men’s squad its only win of the day. Schlafer also placed second in the 1-meter dive. As their training regimen winds down, the Bears are looking around the corner toward championship season, seeking long-awaited rewards from discipline and commitment. “This time of the season is all about knowing that you’ve done all the grueling work,” Dillione said. “Now it is just time to fine-tune things and get excited.” Next weekend, Bruno will host its own invitational, feBRUINvite, in preparation for championships three weeks from now.
Tanking and tepid play: Why I’ve given up on the NBA CHARLIE BLASBERG sports columnist
Last week, I was browsing TV channels when I stumbled upon the Boston Celtics taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves. After watching the game for less than a quarter, I was ready to stick needles in my eyes. The game was unbelievably boring. I was not surprised to see that most of the fans on screen were even less enthused than I was, as many were checking their phones. I came to the realization that night that the teams and the league that I loved so much as a kid have little value to me now. Over the past five years, I have noticed two major flaws in how teams conduct their games and seasons. The first aspect of the NBA that has turned me off is the epidemic of tanking, or losing as many games as possible with the hopes of getting a top draft pick
the following year. Looking at the Eastern Conference now, only the Atlanta Hawks, the Toronto Raptors and the Washington Wizards — and possibly the Cleveland Cavaliers if they can gain momentum come playoff time — have legitimate championship hopes. Seven of the remaining teams seem to be tanking, and two more may start tanking if their seasons don’t turn around. Think about that! Over half of the teams in the Eastern Conference could be trying to lose! That also means that one of these teams will stumble into the NBA playoffs, which are supposed to showcase the best basketball on the planet. What tanking translates to for me, as a spectator, is that if I turn on any given NBA game, odds are that one of the teams will be hoping to lose. Of course, the coaches and players do not actively try to lose, but the team’s ultimate goal may be to lose as many games as possible. That’s impossible to get behind as an enthusiast of the sport. Furthermore, team owners and
league officials recognized the problem that tanking poses for the NBA, and as a result, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver proposed anti-tanking measures. The draft reform needed 23 votes to pass, but the final vote was 17-13 in favor and the reform was rejected. The 13 teams that opposed the reform are likely either currently tanking or planning on tanking in the next few years. This means that a large segment of teams in the NBA have losing games as a part of their future goals. That is a travesty. Because of the nature of the MLB, NFL and NHL, tanking has never been a problem, but rookies have proven to have an impact in the NBA, and it looks like tanking is here to stay. The second flaw in the NBA is its slow, boring style of play. The athletes are some of the strongest, fastest and most agile people on the planet. In addition, each individual’s skills are unfathomable. With the exception of the inevitably awkward 7-footer, players can dribble, pass and especially shoot
with amazing dexterity and ease. Shouldn’t that make play in the NBA more exciting than that in college basketball? Theoretically, it should; however, NBA teams feed off of their individual players’ talent instead of teamwork. Whereas in college, you will see coaches drawing up plays (such a cool concept, right?) with X’s and O’s with an Expo marker on a white board, the NBA is the home of the one-on-one. If NBA coaches were to draw up plays for their offensive possessions, most would simply read, “Give the ball to (insert leading scorer’s name here) and get out of the way.” Teams rarely execute offensive plays beyond pick-and-rolls and isolations because the skill of any offensive player combined with a low average defensive effort in the league are conditions that lend themselves to a very simple style of play. Simple, slow-paced and boring. Set plays with picks and passes and immaculate timing are much more fun and exciting to watch.
Another thing that irks me about the style of play in the NBA is the pervasive culture of dunking and showmanship. I find the game of basketball to be at its highest aesthetic form when two teams challenge each other with sound plays and solid defense, creative passes that baffle opponents and defensive traps that result in turnovers. Nowadays, players force the ball through the lane and to the rim in attempts to get on SportsCenter’s highlights in the morning, as opposed to creating actual scoring opportunities for their teams. Until the NBA can produce an entire season of exciting basketball, I will continue to opt for winter alternatives, like the NHL and college basketball. What the NBA lacks — competition and team play — these other two options make up for in abundance.
Charlie Blasberg ’18 can be reached at charles_blasberg@brown.edu.
TODAY
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015 • PAGE 5
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Vine star Jerome Jarre and filmmaker Casey Neistat performed at the Harbers Storytelling Project held by Brown EP Friday night. Cofounder of Nantucket Nectars Tom Scott ’90 also took part in the event.
comics P-Branes and Bosons | Ricky Oliver
crossword
Egoheads | J.H. Zech
calendar TOMORROW
DAY AFTER
4:00 P.M. “FROM RELIGIOUS STUDIES TO TECH:
12:00 P.M. SPRING CAREER FAIR
YOUR CONCENTRATION DOES NOT DETERMINE YOUR
More than 90 employers will attend this career fair open to all undergraduates and graduate students. Business
CAREER”
Kaleigh McKinney ’12 will discuss her journey from religious studies concentrator to systems engineer. CareerLAB
Casual attire is recommended. Sayles Hall
6:30 P.M. WHY #BLACKLIVESMATTER: AN MPC
AN ELITE COMPETITION APPROACH
WORKSHOP EXPLORING ANTI-BLACKNESS IN THE U.S.
Minority Peer Counselors will lead a workshop on racism in the U.S. in the context of current events, the historical legacy of slavery and other systemic forms of oppression. Faunce, Petteruti Lounge 7:00 P.M. “VIRUNGA” SCREENING
The Ivy Film Festival will screen “Virunga,” the Oscarnominated film that tells the story of a community’s fight to save mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Building for Environmental Research and Teaching Room 130
4:00 P.M. INEQUALITY AND DEMOCRATIZATION:
David Samuela, professor of political science at University of Minnesota, will present on his book that explores the relationship between the modernization of the economy and the rise of democracy on a global level. Watson Institute, McKinney Conference Room 6:00 P.M. BEAR HUNT
100 small plush bears marked with numbers that correlate to prizes will be hidden. The event will be hosted by BearSync, a new platform for student organizations. Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center
COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
EDITORIAL
It takes two Since last spring, discussions about sexual assault have grown at an unprecedented pace at Brown and other universities, receiving national attention as advocates strive to effectively confront the ugly and often disregarded truth plaguing American higher educational institutions. What must be addressed in the identification, discussion and prevention of sexual assault, however, is simply how we talk about sexuality. At Brown, student groups such as FemSex, MSex and the Queer Alliance at the LGBTQ Center play an important role in advocating new and better ways to attend to the spectrum of needs of all students, regardless of identity. FemSex, for instance, is Brown’s Female Sexuality Workshop that meets for 12 weeks during the semester as a non-academic seminar. According its website, the discussion-based not-for-credit course seeks “to destigmatize marginalized genders and sexualities by providing comprehensive sex education and facilitating honest dialogue.” Through discussions over the course of the semester, students — the seminar is not limited to solely female students — gain awareness as well as greater communication, advocacy and decision-making skills in order to create happy and healthy relationships with their minds, bodies and sexual selves. While MSex has a similar agenda, there are few on-campus spaces for students to address male sexuality. Last August, Brown appointed the University’s first men’s health coordinator, Marc Peters, who has taken strides to confront issues of male sexuality. Peters is currently working with fraternities and helping to coordinate the Sexual Assault Peer Education program, holding discussions and trainings on campus to instruct men on how they can take active roles in preventing sexual assault. Peters recently told The Herald that the way men are sexualized “plays into the type of violence that exists in college communities.” Despite the fact that dialogue on gender has expanded in the past few decades in the United States, masculinity inevitably remains a highly socialized and normative concept. What it “means” to be a man, or what a man should “be like,” is often built on a rigid definition, influencing men from a very young age. This is just as much of an issue as the topics of oppression or consent, which are not unique to but are clear issues within the discussion of sexuality. The dearth of open and honest conversation on male sexuality is a critical aspect of a much larger concern. Sexuality and sexual assault are issues for all students regardless of gender identity — administrators must work to provide these spaces on campus for all students to discuss these issues. Only with education and training will everyone be able to communicate more effectively and prevent sexual violence. Often it seems cultural and societal beliefs are ingrained in students before they arrive on College Hill. But the University plays a unique role in society in shaping students’ values. A strong community and open dialogue may, over four years, alter some of these definitions and perceptions. Facilitating this process is a huge step forward on the part of the administration in seeing the larger picture with issues of sexuality. Further advancements in this direction will help to create a permanent dialogue among students of all identities and make Brown a safer place for everyone. Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial page board: its editors, Alexander Kaplan ’15 and James Rattner ’15, and its members, Natasha Bluth ’15, Manuel Contreras ’16 and Baxter DiFabrizio ’15. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.
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A N G E L IA WA N G
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Letter: ROTC should not have campus presence To the Editor: I appreciate and agree with Herald Opinions Columnist Peter Makhlouf ’s ’16 strong opposition to the Brown faculty’s approval of a resolution to establish partnerships with Navy and Air Force ROTC units at Holy Cross (“Faculty endorses tie to Holy Cross ROTC program,” Feb. 5). There is, as he says, an admirable tradition of anti-war and anti-military organizing on the Brown campus. This tradition made a difference in 2011, when the Brown Coalition Against Special Privileges for ROTC exerted effective pressure against the push to overturn the 1969 policy of University neutrality regarding ROTC. That 1969 policy was substantially reaffirmed
“This time of the season is all about knowing that you’ve done all the grueling work.” — Kate Dillone ‘15
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in the Report of the Committee on the ROTC issued in June 2011. Whatever our individual views on the history of U.S. military intervention and current policy may be, we should oppose giving the military an institutional presence at Brown. Such a presence compromises any university’s ability to function as a source of independent critical research and teaching. There are ways of supporting students interested in the military, and of supporting veterans who want to study here, without giving the Pentagon a permanent formal role in our academic programs.
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COMMENTARY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015 • PAGE 7
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Weathering a not-so-winter wonderland REID SECONDO opinions columnist
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom” may be the U.S. Postal Service’s unofficial motto, but it sounds like the narrative of a Brown student trudging to class through a Providence winter. One of the most unexpected lessons I have learned during my time at Brown is that the aftermath of any wintry presence — be it Nemo and Juno snowpocalypses or typical seasonal snowfall — taunts us more cruelly than any other region in New England. I understand the struggling economic condition of Providence and greater Rhode Island is like that of the withering pumpkin you forgot to throw out until a month after Halloween. But in the name of Jack Frost, the Solstice and all the crystalline flakes, please, Brown, step up and learn how to effectively manage this weather by making the right operational decisions. As a true New Englander, I was born in a blizzard and have had a shovel in my hand every winter since age five. Regardless of wintry conditions, snowfall or temperature, I have always worked to help remove snow, de-ice, clear off cars and unclog gutters when at home. Though this seasonal labor ap-
pears unfathomable to some, it is a second nature response by those who are culturally conditioned by weather. But disclosure time: It’s not that difficult to deal with the snow. Yes, the coastal Atlantic temperate climate is both a curse and a blessing to live in, but winter can be very manageable for both natives and seasonal affective disorder sufferers alike. It all begins with accepting the mentality one must be flexible, pragmatic and understanding in handling the weather. Denial results in unpreparedness,
the weather causes almost all public schools and many universities across the state to close for the day, perhaps Brown should take the hint and follow suit. It may take the official say of two people to close Brown, but it takes more than a village to keep it running efficiently. We all appreciate the tireless efforts of the Department of Facilities Management staff members, who have worked tirelessly to clear miles of walking space and ground, often working overnight. But every system is not perfect, as many
tend class. The issued safety recommendations and measures are hypocritical. How is it possible to walk on the sidewalk if I cannot see it? I cannot fathom the constant struggle and stress peers with injuries or disabilities have experienced to simply move about campus. Also, can someone enlighten me as to where employees should park their cars when Brown chooses to be open while a parking ban is in effect? If Brown is so integral to the city and greater community, then snow removal efforts should be increased and
If the University expects community members to safely navigate around campus, then it should provide the appropriate means to ensure they can. possible injury from one’s lackadaisical behavior and a foul attitude against the totality of life, nature and everyone around you. Such rewards can also be obtained through poor decision-making. Yet for some reason, University administrators continually follow this frustrating approach of denial. The main issue at hand is not the force of Mother Nature, who seems to be heavy-handed this season, nor is it the University’s decisions to remain open or to close. I understand the weighty decision to cease administrative and academic functions results in a significant loss of revenue for the University and the city at large. But when
sidewalks and paths on campus are still precariously passable at best. Even if clearance teams labor overnight, oftentimes their hard work is not seen in the morning as the weather stops for no mortal. I recall schlepping up to Smith-Buananno Hall for an 8:30 a.m. class through four inches of unshoveled glistening white. If the University expects community members to safely navigate around campus, then it should provide the appropriate means to ensure they can. When administrative and academic functions are normally scheduled, it should be the utmost priority to make sure all students have the ability to at-
distributed across a greater geography. If the current number of Facilities staff members is insufficient to handle the volume and demand — which seems to be the case — the University should hire emergency-only crews or subcontract local, independent plowing companies. Off-campus students can lend a hand by being good citizens and neighbors and shoveling their own sidewalks. Faculty and staff members who live beyond College Hill should not feel unnecessarily pressured to commute to work even when half the state is closed down and roads are barely passable given limited maxed-out plowing resources. To remain open on taxing weather
days favors those individuals who live close to Brown or have access to feasible transportation. If employees choose to brave the weather, they should not be expected to deal with the same ineffective snow removal, nor face broken ankles, empty classes or towed vehicles. As articulated by a commendable student petition to cancel classes, some of my fondest memories of Brown are snow-related. These memories include participating in the epic Nemo snowball fight, watching tour groups react to the temporary artistic phallus installment on the Main Green and sledding on Ratty trays down Jenckes Hill — and surviving. For the powers that be, sometimes it’s fine to throw up your hands, say let it go and close Brown for a day. In light of the University’s decision to close Monday, let’s hope this consciense- and student-approved decision is followed up with the expected maintenance measures. Snow removal efforts must be more effective and actually protect the safety of the Brown community. And maybe Brown can brush up on those crystal ball weather predictions in the meantime, too.
When not demonstrating the proper technique on shoveling snow, Reid Secondo ’16 can be reached at reid_secondo@brown.edu.
Debunking non-cancellation complaints NICHOLAS ASKER opinions columnist
Last week, many Brown community members were disappointed to learn that classes and administrative functions would not be cancelled on Monday, Feb. 2. The bad news came during the first quarter of Super Bowl XLIX in an email from Executive Vice President for Planning and Policy Russell Carey ’91 MA’06, despite a Winter Storm Warning effective Monday, day and night. After tasting the snow day the week before, I was hoping to be free from the weight of classes, yet again, and I was disappointed, too. Across campus over the next few days, many students just grumbled. But some professors made their grievances known to their students, and The Herald’s Editorial Page Board expressed its concerns with the decision. The editorial, highlighting a common concern, called for administrators to lay out the criteria they use to decide whether to cancel operations more specifically and transparently. But the University seems to have comprehensive and clear procedures, including a 12page Winter Storm and Blizzard Plan and a policy page on Weather-Related Closings and Delays, which details the protocol for cancellations. The latter makes plain that University operations will be cancelled only in rare circumstances, since “most students live on or near the campus” and “changes to the academic schedule are substantively disruptive to faculty and students.” Therefore, the cancellation plan concludes, “all efforts will be made to avoid cancellation or delay of classes.” Another prevalent complaint among community members was that the parking ban is-
sued by Mayor Elorza precluded University employees from getting to work. Yet Carey’s email made clear that for those worried about dangerous walking conditions, the University shuttle had service to the Brown Bookstore — a relatively central location — all day. In addition, the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority continued its bus service. That people ended up making it to their obligations leads me to believe that these complaints were based on people’s reluctance to exhibit ordinary levels of perseverance. Yes, what amounted to four inches of snow during the day caused stress and difficulties and strained people’s patience. Yes, it was disagreeable. But as all main transportation services continued to operate, conditions were not treacherous enough to warrant closings. Let’s be honest: No one’s safety was unduly
systems must consider very young children waiting in dangerous, freezing conditions for their buses. And lest innocent children be put in harm’s way, administrators always have to worry about the slightest possibility of a busrelated accident. In contrast, Brown is a residential college and does not have a large, especially vulnerable population with regard to age. Moreover, each college in Rhode Island has different things to consider: residential and commuter populations, campus size and staff capacity to mitigate the effects of snowfall. So, if schools’ decisions diverge, it is no reason to cry foul. It’s best to allow those who know the University’s unique community dynamics to come to a decision independently. Another concern held that University employees have children whose schools closed.
Bad weather creates hassles, and we do what we have to so that we can get on with our lives. risked, and there were ways to get to campus. Moderately bad weather is an inconvenience that we should all be able to rise above without having any serious objections. And getting up early and anticipating traffic, delayed buses and reduced speeds is not a heroic task. Some people argued that since all other schools in Rhode Island canceled class, it was ridiculous that Brown did not. The Editorial Page Board went so far as to request that the University “trust the decision-making process of government officials, namely by closing school when Providence public schools are closed.” But why? Brown and the Providence Public School Department are completely different institutions with differing priorities and community populations. Public school
Having to report to work meant they had to find ways to supervise their kids. But parents could have used a paid vacation day, and since the email came at 6:39 p.m. the night before, they had ample time to problem solve. I come from Michigan, which sees a lot more snow than Providence, and my public school district never canceled until around 6 a.m. the day of. And the working parents in my community always figured out a solution, even with such short notice. Was it a hassle? Sure. But bad weather creates hassles, and we do what we have to so that we can get on with our lives. “If workers’ children’s schools are closed, the University should help them find and afford childcare for the day,” The Herald Editorial Page Board wrote. But do we really expect
— or want — employers to be responsible for the niceties and difficulties of household management? Indeed, taking on this handholding duty would baby employees and is certainly outside the University’s purview. In the online comments section of the Herald article about the decision, a commenter echoed a campus-wide concern: “Students who are in wheelchairs or have other movement-related disabilities haven’t a chance of getting around campus today. I think the decision to not cancel classes is a bit ablist.” It’s true that those with movement-related disabilities face a greater challenge, but a link on Brown’s Student and Employee Accessibility Services website hopes to solve that problem. The SEAS shuttle system, for disabled students and employees, is available for service and runs weekdays, offering flexible “pointto-point” transportation. The site answers the FAQ “What about inclement weather?” by providing a number to call for the shuttle. I confirmed with the SEAS office that the shuttle system was in fact running on Feb. 2. Some people seemed to be assuaging their disappointment with having to take on the first full week of classes by launching specious complaints about the administration’s decision and policies. Bad weather is inconvenient, but inconvenience is not enough to warrant cancelling classes or putting our lives on hold. If we let every inconvenience cow us, if we allowed manifestations of our reluctance to persevere and dictate our actions, we would never fulfill our long-term goals. We shouldn’t be afraid when life tries our patience and requires a little stick-to-itiveness. The University got it right when they refrained from canceling classes last week.
Nick Asker ’17 can be reached at nicholas_asker@brown.edu.
SPORTS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015
M. BASKETBALL
Opportunity for upset slips away in weekend split
JOSH STERN / HERALD
Two-time Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year Cedric Kuakumensah ’16 blocked his 214th shot Friday, moving to third on the all-time Ivy list.
Bears lose overtime nailbiter to Crimson before toppling Big Green for first Ivy win By CALEB MILLER SPORTS STAFF WRITER
The men’s basketball team may be the best 1-5 team in conference play the Ivy League has seen in a while. “We’re not far away. I know our record would tell you we are,” Head Coach Mike Martin ’04 said after his team went toe-to-toe with league-best Harvard in a thrilling 76-74 overtime loss Friday. Bruno (10-13, 1-5 Ivy) bounced back Saturday to pick up its first Ivy win, holding off Dartmouth 67-64. The weekend lifts the Bears out of last place in the Ivy League, but it could have been much more. Defending champion and consensus Ivy favorite Harvard (15-5, 5-1) needed every second of regulation and overtime to nip Bruno’s upset bid and deal the Bears their third narrow conference loss — two of which have
come against the league’s two best squads. With Saturday came the long-awaited conference victory, as the Bears led the Big Green (8-12, 1-5) for the entire second half and squashed a late rally. Harvard 76, Brown 74 (OT) Two-time reigning Ivy League Player of the Year Wesley Saunders put back an offensive rebound to tie the game as the horn sounded, and the Crimson overpowered the home team in overtime to pull off the victory. A jumper by Tavon Blackmon ’17 broke a 61-61 tie with 48 seconds to play, and Blackmon and Jonah Travis traded free throws to set up Harvard for a final possession with nine seconds to play, trailing by two. Saunders took the ball as he had done all night, but his jump shot from the middle of the lane rimmed out. The game appeared to be won for a
fleeting second before Saunders lunged past Blackmon and Cedric Kuakumensah ’16 for a put-back. Bruno fought back from an early Harvard surge in overtime that included another Saunders three-pointer, but the comeback fell short when a desperate half-court heave by Steven Spieth ’17 at the buzzer was off line. “Obviously the difference for us was Wesley Saunders. He played inspired basketball,” Harvard Head Coach Tommy Amaker said. By the time the Crimson pushed its lead to 13 four minutes before halftime, Bruno’s largest and loudest crowd of the season had fallen quiet. But Kuakumensah and Blackmon swung the tide. Three jumpers in a row from Kuakumensah — the last of which was a trey assisted by Blackmon — erased half the Harvard lead. The deficit was a manageable 36-30 at half. “I like the fight that we have in that locker room,” Martin said. “We did a lot of things tonight to put us in position to win.” The second half started how the first half finished — all Bruno. Blackmon converted a layup, J.R. Hobbie ’17 swished a short jumper and Kuakumensah brought the crowd to its feet with his third three of the game, which vaulted the Bears in front 37-36. All told, it was a 20-4 Bruno run against the conference’s top team. The game went back-and-forth the rest of the way, with Saunders and Blackmon leading their respective offenses. Saunders caused problems for Bruno all night, as he poured in 14 points in each half and five in overtime for a game-high 33 and 10 rebounds. Blackmon played his best game in a Brown jersey Friday. When he wasn’t
scoring on spinning layups and floaters, he was feeding his teammates, notching two career highs with 25 points and nine assists. The point guard stepped up his game in crunch time, scoring 11 of Bruno’s final 13 points. “We couldn’t stop that kid Blackmon,” Amaker said. “When we recruited him, we thought he’d be a guy that could be the best point guard in our league and help us win Ivy League championships,” Martin said of Blackmon. “I’m very optimistic with Tavon as our floor general.”
Brown 67, Dartmouth 64 Call it Ivy League parity or inconsistent play by the Bears, but Brown played nearly as close a game against league-worst Dartmouth Saturday as it did against league-best Harvard Friday as it did. It did not look that competitive when Bruno held a nine-point lead in the second half. Stout defense handcuffed the Big Green for much of the first and early second half, but Dartmouth found a way back into the game. The Big Green closed a five-point lead in the last 1:10, and a Connor Boehm three-pointer with 34 seconds left made it 63-62 Brown. But that’s as close as it got, as Blackmon went 4-of-4 from the free throw line to ice the game. The Big Green’s comeback attempts were repeatedly stomped out by the longrange shooting of Hobbie. Not only did the sophomore sharpshooter knock down five threes, but each seemed to come at an ideal moment. When Alex Mitola hit a contested three that seemed to swing momentum toward the Big Green with two minutes left, Hobbie splashed one that ignited the
crowd and doubled the lead. To make his 17-point effort more impressive, it came on the heels of an 0-of-7 performance from three-point range against Harvard the previous night. “Yesterday I had a tough night, but I just know the guys trust me,” Hobbie said, adding that Maia pulled him aside after the Harvard game to tell him, “We’re going to keep coming back to you.” Just as Blackmon and Kuakumensah had provided the inside-and-outside combo Friday night, Hobbie had a partner Saturday in the Brazilian center. Maia posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 boards and continued to show his defensive prowess by limiting Dartmouth’s impact center Gabas Maldunas to just 4-of-14 on mostly close-range shots. Maia’s “defensive energy, I thought, was terrific,” Martin said. “On the backboards, getting into passing lanes, he played 35 minutes. He led us, and the other guys really fed off it.” Dartmouth’s second-half rally was spurred on by the resurgence of Bruno’s turnover problems. The team coughed it up 19 times, leading to an 11-point advantage for the Big Green in points off turnovers. “Winning is great, and I felt like we deserved it,” Maia said. “But we are not satisfied. We are going to work even harder because we know winning in this league isn’t easy.” The squad hits the road again this weekend, taking on Princeton (10-11, 3-2) Friday before a Valentine’s Day date with Penn (7-12, 2-3) Saturday. The opponents round out Brown’s first time through Ivy League play, and if the first six games are any indication, they will be close games.
W. HOCKEY
Bears descend to conference cellar with pair of losses Down three goals, Bears mount comeback attempt but suffer narrow defeat at hands of Dartmouth By EMILE BAUTISTA SPORTS STAFF WRITER
It was another winless weekend for the women’s hockey team — their eighth this season — as they fell to Dartmouth and Harvard. With these two losses, Brown (5-20-0, 2-16-0 ECAC) will finish the regular season without a victory away from home, as the squad amassed an unprecedented 0-13-0 road record. Additionally, the combination of a tie by Union (4-20-6, 1-14-3) and a zero-point weekend for the Bears places Bruno in sole possession of last place in the conference. Dartmouth 4, Brown 3 Bruno was not able to overcome an early 3-0 deficit against the Big Green (11-11-2, 7-9-2) and ultimately fell short despite a spirited comeback effort. Dartmouth started the game with three unanswered goals between the first and second periods, and it seemed as though the game would end the way every road contest has gone for Brown: a blowout defeat. But Monica Elvin ’17 made 31 saves throughout the night and would allow only one more goal for the rest of the game, giving the Bears life. “Our team is full of relentless, hard workers,” said Maddie Woo ’17. “We
also cleaned up our breakouts and got a lot of shots on net.” Unlike many other games this season, the players were able to sustain consistent pressure on the opposition’s net. In many of the losses thus far, the team has suffered due to its inability to rack up shots on target. In this game, the team finished with 29 attempts on frame, its highest total in 10 games. The three-headed attacking beast of assistant captain Kaitlyn Keon ’15, Sarah Robson ’15 and Sam Donovan ’18 led the offense all night. The attempted comeback began with less than two minutes remaining in the second period, when the Bears scored twice to pull within one at 3-2. Keon — who leads the team in goals and points — struck first on assists from Donovan and Robson at the 18:11 mark. Donovan built on the momentum a minute later by netting a goal that was assisted by Robson and Keon. The trio has the top three point totals on the squad and accounted for all the points of the night: Keon and Robson recorded a goal and two assists each, while Donovan racked up a goal and an assist. Dartmouth replied in the third period with a goal by junior Laura Stacey, one of its top scorers. Robson pulled the Bears back within one with
a shorthanded goal, her team-leading second of the season. That was the last goal the Bears would score, as the team’s comeback stalled and the game ended at 4-3. “We kept working hard, tightening up defensively and creating quality offensive chances,” said Janice Yang ’15. “But we need to make sure we do all the little things right and capitalize on our scoring opportunities.” No. 5 Harvard 7, Brown 1 Mary Parker, Harvard’s top point scorer, led the way for the Crimson (18-4-2, 14-3-1) with a hat trick and an assist, as the Bears suffered another six-goal blowout at the hands of their longtime Ivy and ECAC foe. Harvard is at or near the top of many of the conference’s statistical categories, including goals per game, with 3.78, and goals against average, with 1.21. Harvard notched two goals in the first three minutes of the game, as Parker and Miye D’Oench scored within 51 seconds of one another. Though the Crimson peppered the net with 15 shots in the first, goaltender Julianne Landry ’18 was able to turn away 13 of those to keep the lead within reach. Yang netted her fifth goal of the season in the dying minutes of the first period to cut the deficit in half. “We started off strong in the first period, putting ourselves in a
DAVID DECKEY / HERALD
Maddie Woo ’17 skates on offense. The Bears floundered offensively against the nationally ranked Crimson in Saturday’s decisive loss. goodposition,” Woo said. The second ECAC. Bruno’s inability to generate ofperiod was a completely different sto- fense reared its ugly head, as the team ry: The Bears collapsed, allowing four was bested 46-14 in shots. goals on 11 shots. Three of these goals “Moving forward, we still need to came in an unrelenting two-minute work on playing consistently throughstretch toward the end of the period. out the whole game and keeping evThe number one power play team in eryone on the same page,” Woo said. the conference began its assault with Brown returns home to Meehan Auanother tally by D’Oench during a man- ditorium next weekend to face Union advantage situation. Parker added two and Rensselaer (5-21-4, 3-14-1). It will more in a 36-second span to finish both be an important set of games for the her hat trick and the game. There was Bears as they look to come away with no coming back for the Bears this time, some points in an effort to escape the especially against the top team in the conference basement.