SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015
VOLUME CL, ISSUE 22
WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
U. modifies Phi Psi sanctions Working group weighs
SABRINA CHIN / HERALD
The change in sanctions against Phi Kappa Psi resulted from reevaluated GHB test results and has drawn mixed response from students.
GHB test results deemed inconclusive after reexamination by medical expert By KATE TALERICO SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The University has amended the sanctions against Phi Kappa Psi announced Jan. 19, allowing the fraternity’s members to petition the University for recognition beginning in May 2017, wrote Margaret
Klawunn, vice president for campus life and student services, and Russell Carey ’91 MA’06, executive vice president for planning and policy, in a communitywide email Saturday. The change follows the revelation that evidence previously thought to definitively indicate that a student had ingested the date-rape drug GHB at an October party held by the fraternity is, in fact, inconclusive, Carey and Klawunn wrote. Klawunn and Carey informed the community Nov. 8 that one of two
M. HOCKEY
students who suspected they had been drugged at the Phi Psi party had tested positive for GHB. In a Jan 19. email, Klawunn and Carey wrote that Phi Psi would be stripped of all University recognition, including housing and the ability to host rush, for four years. Despite an appeal from Phi Psi, the sentence was maintained. The initial test that concluded one student had ingested GHB was conducted by “a reputable external medical laboratory whose representatives had assured the University on three separate occasions that the test results provided conclusive evidence that one student had ingested the date-rape drug,” Carey and Klawunn wrote in Saturday’s email. In February, following additional review by an outside expert, the original laboratory reversed its confirmation, stating the results neither confirmed nor denied the imbibing of a date-rape drug. After the evidence was found to be inconclusive, it was thrown out of the case, and the appeals officer reassessed the sanctions. Some students expressed frustration with the change in the sanctions and the influence the GHB test results had on the hearing decisions. “It was a little bit arbitrary bringing down the suspension just because one piece of evidence was thrown out,” said Neil Singh ’16. » See PHI PSI, page 2
pros, cons of winter term Winter term would alter academic calendar, offer expanded academic opportunities By ALEKSANDRA LIFSHITS SENIOR STAFF WRITER
A new working group comprising faculty members, staff members and students will convene this semester to discuss the possibility of a winter term at Brown, Provost Vicki Colvin announced in a campus-wide email Feb. 20. The working group has been tasked with identifying classes that would work well in this shortened timeframe, setting academic goals, determining course credit options, analyzing costs of changing the academic calendar and identifying the advantages and disadvantages of the new term for all members of the University, according to the Winter Term Working Group Charge. “We are a pre-committee,” said Kevin McLaughlin P’12, dean of the faculty and co-chair of the Winter Term Working Group, adding that the working group will submit an interim report to the University in May detailing its findings. The winter term would affect the academic calendar, student learning and faculty research possibilities, said Maud
Mandel, dean of the College and co-chair of the group. “We are asking ourselves if the benefits (of creating a winter term) outweigh the inconveniences of changing our academic calendar,” Mandel said. The creation of a winter term would lengthen the time between the fall and spring semesters and could affect senior week and the date of commencement, she said. Many administrators and faculty members hope commencement will not have to be pushed back, as a later graduation date could affect student employment as well as faculty members’ summer research, she added. The winter term would give students more academic opportunities, such as courses with more intensive focuses, online classes, study abroad options and travel classes, Mandel said. It would also allow students away from campus to take advantage of the longer winter break to partake in “winternships,” she said. If the University’s new calendar aligns with the Rhode Island School of Design’s, the change would facilitate academic collaboration and make taking courses at both institutions simpler for students, Mandel said. Faculty feedback on the creation of a new term has been positive so far — faculty members see it as an “interesting » See TERM, page 2
SWIMMING & DIVING
Matsumoto ’16 shines despite Bruno’s defeat Anchored by Ernst ’17, place sixth at Bears extend point streak Women Ivy Championships in First years make big contributions as Bears skate to tie against topranked Quinnipiac By MATTHEW BROWNSWORD SENIOR STAFF WRITER
This year did not start well for the men’s hockey team, which endured separate five- and six-game losing streaks before the month of February. But for Head Coach Brendan Whittet ’94 and Bruno (8-17-2, 5-13-2 ECAC), the payoff may be well worth the wait. The Bears took down Princeton Friday thanks to a three-goal outburst in the second period before tying No. 10 Quinnipiac 2-2 Saturday. The tie extended the Bears’ point streak to five games, the longest such run for Brown since 2009. Columbus Blue Jackets draftee Tyler Bird ’18 struck first against Princeton (4-19-3, 2-16-2), notching his
INSIDE
second goal of the season with about two minutes left in the first period. “That freshman line has really come into its own,” said Mark Naclerio ’16. “They are very young but tremendously skilled. They have adjusted well and have learned our systems well, which has helped them a lot. They are only getting better every day.” After 12 minutes of back-and-forth hockey in the second, Bruno put its foot on the gas pedal, scoring three goals in a seven-minute span. Naclerio got his ninth of the year, with helpers from Matt Lorito ’15 and Joey De Concilys ’15. The assist was not given to Lorito immediately, but after video review, he was credited with his 100th point. “I was really excited for (Lorito),” Naclerio said. “He’s worked so hard and is such a great player, and I’m glad he achieved that goal.” “It was great,” Lorito said. “It’s definitely a lot better when something like that happens during a win, and I’m glad » See M. HOCKEY, page 2
Cambridge as freestyle relay teams excel By LAINIE ROWLAND SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The women’s swimming and diving team finished sixth at the Ivy League Championships, a mere three points behind fifth-place Columbia. The women (4-5, 2-5 Ivy) competed at Harvard, accompanied by a supportive men’s squad acting as their cheering section. “Every year, the women’s meet is the week before the men’s, so we definitely take away what we can to get us psyched up for our meet,” said Brian Barr ’15, cocaptain of the men’s team. “As we try and keep these programs together, I think it’s important that we show we’re still one big Bruno family.” Co-captain of the women’s team Gina Matsumoto’s ’16 performance in the 200-yard buttefly was a highlight of the meet, astonishing teammates and conference foes alike. After lagging in
HERALD FILE PHOTO
Kate Dillione ’15 had three individual top-five finishes this weekend, earning her a chance to qualify for the NCAA championships. the first seven laps, she surged in the last stretch to defeat Elsa Welshofer of Princeton by a hundredth of a second. Matsumoto captured Bruno’s only victory of the weekend. “I had no idea it was that close. All
I was really focusing on was getting my hand to the wall,” Matsumoto said. She remained unaware of the results until seeing her teammates’ reactions to the time on the board. “Once I realized, it » See SWIMMING, page 2
WEATHER
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015
SPORTS Women’s ice hockey closes its season with losses to Princeton and Quinnipiac
SPORTS Bears fall to Lions in final home wrestling match before EIWA Championships
COMMENTARY Ha ’18: Brown’s open curriculum does more harm than good by not providing enough guidance
COMMENTARY Isman ’15: Winter term would not benefit students academically and would interfere with break
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UNIVERSITY NEWS PAGE 2 • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
» M. HOCKEY , from page 1
COURTESY OF RICHARD PARK
Brown Refugee Youth Tutoring and Enrichment volunteers worked with refugee children to show students that science can be fun and engaging.
BRYTE Science Day brings refugee youth to College Hill
Booths at science fair provide enrichment activities for children from local schools By SHAVON BELL SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The Kasper Multipurpose Room bustled with energetic children Saturday, as Brown Refugee Youth Tutoring and Enrichment hosted its second annual Science Day. The student group, which matches Brown student tutors with immigrated refugee children, invited tutees of all ages to attend a science fair presented by students and organizations. The children flocked to booths created by BRYTE tutors, members of other student groups and student volunteers. Activities at the booths included building DNA from licorice and gummy bears, drawing electrical currents and engaging with compost made of chocolate desserts by SCRAP, a student composting group. One of BRYTE’s main goals is filling the gaps in students’ science education, said Hannah Acheson-Field ’15, one of the event’s organizers. “The biggest thing was to show BRYTE kids that science is really fun,” she said. “In elementary school STEM education, that sometimes doesn’t show through, especially now when schools are so underfunded.” Science Day “brings the greater BRYTE community together” and “fosters relationships between tutees who have never seen each other before and also tutors,” said Daniel Wilhite ’16, BRYTE’s community events coordinator. The day gave Brown students the chance to get involved with BRYTE in a way that did not require the large time commitment of tutoring, Acheson-Field
» PHI PSI, from page 1 Max Lowndes ’17 criticized the University’s initial response to what turned out to be unclear evidence. “It would have been better to have the University make a decision and stick by it, instead of being wishy-washy on what seems like inconclusive evidence,” Lowndes said. “If they weren’t confident in lab tests before, they shouldn’t have made the decision.” But Elizabeth Polott GS praised what she perceived as the University’s transparency regarding the Phi Psi decision. “I went to an undergraduate school where they hid everything,” Polott said. “I’m glad (administrators) are emailing us. … It’s nice to see them making an effort.”
said. “We wanted a chance to volunteer and give back to the community,” said Mitch Panton ’16, a member of the National Society of Black Engineers. The NSBE hosted a booth at which children built towers with marshmallows and dried spaghetti — an activity designed to introduce children to the engineering process from start to finish, Panton said. This year, some of the older tutees ran booths for their younger peers because BRYTE members “wanted to give the high schoolers more leadership opportunities,” said Sophia Gluskin-Braun ’17, another event organizer. Tutees in the eighth grade or beyond also had the opportunity to tour Barus and Holley and Brown Emergency Medical Services, where they learned cardiopulmonary resuscitation, explored the interior of an ambulance and saw two science labs, said Kate Janover ’18, a BRYTE tutor. Erick Mahoro, an older tutee, said he was thrilled “to actually work with real stuff ” at Science Day. “I learned new things that I didn’t know,” said Dahaba Tuka, a younger tutee. Wilhite, Acheson-Field and GluskinBraun began planning Science Day in September, Gluskin-Braun said. In October and November, they began reaching out to other student groups to further develop a plan for the event, she added. The group ran into financial obstacles when the Undergraduate Finance Board reduced its funding on the grounds that the event was not beneficial enough to the University community, Acheson-Field said. Fortunately for BRYTE, donations from alums and other student groups, such as Brown University Women in Business and the Brown CubeSat Team, allowed the organization to fulfill its vision for the day. Carey and Klawunn wrote in Saturday’s email that the GHB test results were not the determining factor in the hearing decision. “The laboratory test was only one piece of evidence in the set of facts in this case, and not particularly determinative,” Carey and Klawunn wrote, adding that “the student conduct board found a very strong likelihood that two students were administered alcohol and/ or some other drug diminishing their normal functions to a degree that placed them at risk of harm.” “The single unreliable laboratory test does not alter the overall disciplinary record of this organization, and the sanctions which have been imposed, and upheld on appeal, are fair and appropriate,” Carey and Klawunn wrote.
we were able to keep the streak going.” Not to be outdone by his fellow firstyear, Pittsburgh Penguins draftee Sam Lafferty ’18 snuck one past Princeton netminder Colton Phinney to put the Bears up 3-0. Nick Lappin ’16 got the Bears’ fourth and final goal of the game with seven seconds left in the second period, with a helper from Lorito — his hundred-first career point. The streak has been defined by the talent of Brown’s first two lines, as two players from each — Naclerio and Lappin on the first, Lafferty and Bird on the second — scored against the Tigers. Kevin Liss broke Tim Ernst’s ’17 121:56 shutout streak with a shorthanded tally, picking up a turnover in the neutral zone and bundling the puck past the helpless goalie. The 4-1 scoreline marked only the fifth time that the Bears held an opponent to one goal or less, with Ernst starting four of those games. Next up for the Bears was leagueleading Quinnipiac (20-8-4, 15-2-3), which only needed one point to secure a share of the regular season ECAC title. A slow first period climaxed when Bruno killed off a Max Willman ’18 high-sticking penalty and avoided falling into an early hole. Brown’s nowsixth-to-last penalty kill in the nation was 4-of-5 on the weekend, marking a stark improvement but still significantly trailing the top PK percentages in college hockey.
» TERM, from page 1 possibility,” McLaughlin said. It will give professors an opportunity to teach classes in a new format and give others more time for research, he added. The working group is looking at peer institutions that have recently implemented a winter term to see what classes professors are teaching and how they are teaching them, McLaughlin said. Cornell, for example, has recently instituted its winter term, and a large portion of its classes are online, McLaughlin added. Many students use RISD’s Wintersession as a chance to take classes outside of their concentrations, said Ian Kenyon GS, a working group member and a Herald opinions columnist. “It can really expand
» SWIMMING, from page 1 kind of felt unreal. … It was a really great feeling knowing all the hard work I put in throughout the season paid off,” she said. Matsumoto’s effort was evident this weekend, with her time in the 400 yard individual medley earning her a spot in Brown’s record books by smashing a 17-year-old program record. She finished fifth in the race and notched an NCAA “B” cut performance. The “B” cuts are time standards that qualify swimmers to be invited to NCAA Championships, as opposed to “A” cuts, which are automatic qualifiers, Matsumoto said. Co-captain Kate Dillione ’15 raced to her own NCAA “B” berths by finishing in fourth place in the 200-yard freestyle, second in the 100-yard freestyle and fourth in the 50-yard freestyle. Reia Tong ’16 also represented Bruno in the A Final of the 50 free, finishing in seventh place. In the weeks leading up to this weekend’s championships, the Bears focused on honing their skills and racing technique. Training becomes increasingly individualized as athletes focus on their specific strokes and races, Barr said. For
Brown showed some flash in the second period for the second straight game, as Joey Prescott ’16 — who has started all five games on the Bears’ streak — got the first goal of the night. It was the junior’s third goal of the year, with the other two coming in two wins against ECAC opponent Rensselaer. Seven minutes later, Lappin became the first Bear to score double-digit goals this season as he split two defenders and beat Quinnipiac goaltender Michael Garteig with a breakaway backhand. Both goals were unassisted. Unfortunately for Bruno, the third period was not in its favor, as Danny Federico scored a power play goal 8:35 into the frame to cut the Bears’ lead in half. Sam Anas tied the game one minute and 34 seconds later. There was a little late game drama, as Tanner MacMaster was issued a fiveminute major and a game misconduct with under four minutes to play. But Brown could not take advantage of the power play time in either regulation or overtime, so the game ended in a 2-2 draw. The Bobcats clinched a share of the Cleary Cup, but the tie hurt their national standing and boosted Brown’s chances of improving its playoff seeding heading into the last weekend of regular season play. “We were confident going into that game, and we’re happy to get a point, but we would have preferred two,” Naclerio said. “We had the lead going into the third, and we just need to continue to grow as a team and be able to close
out those close games.” Ernst had 36 saves in the effort, marking his fifth straight start for Brown. The sophomore, incredibly, ranks fourth in the nation in save percentage and leads the ECAC in save percentage, saves and goals against average over the past five games. It certainly has not been an offensive dominance that has catapulted the Bears the last five games. In these games, Brown has the second-to-last shots per game rate of all ECAC teams. But Brown has become incredibly productive: The Bears trail only secondplace Saint Lawrence in shooting percentage among their conference foes at 12.4 percent. For reference, the Bears shot 6.5 percent in their previous 22 games. Defensively, it has been the same story: In the past five games, the Bears rank second to last in the ECAC in shots on goal against but have only given up seven goals. In the same time frame, Bruno is being outshot, on average, by seven shots per game but has a goal margin of +8. Though it may seem that these metrics tell a story of incredible luck, Naclerio attributed Bruno’s success to other factors. “I don’t think it’s luck at all,” Naclerio said. “I think it’s guys really focusing on our goals and coming together as a team. We all invest a lot and work hard to get better every day, and we are starting to see success and hopefully that will continue.”
opportunities across the board,” he said. Graduate student response to the idea has been generally positive, Kenyon said. If the winter term becomes popular, it would offer many grad students additional opportunities to work as teaching assistants, he said. “We are aware of the different impacts a winter break would have on (the) undergraduate and graduate student bodies,” said Ria Mirchandani ’15, the working group’s only undergraduate member. “There are various complicated aspects” to implementation, Mirchandani said. The working group members have discussed how the term could affect student financial aid, prospects of finishing credits early and graduating early, logistics for staff and student services and
many other concerns, he said. The working group plans on holding three public forums this semester for faculty members, undergraduates and grad students, as well sending a campuswide survey to solicit feedback from a wide range of community members, Mandel said. “This would be a really big change to Brown and would introduce a whole new dimension of classes,” McLaughlin said. “We don’t want to do it hastily.” In 2007, the University piloted January@Brown, which offered non-credit courses for 10 days in January. In its second year, the program saw one-fourth lower enrollment than projected, drawing only 25 students, and it was canceled in 2008 due to low participation.
many, this meant perfecting their freestyle — an exercise that seemed to pay off this weekend. Bruno showed its freestyle prowess over the course of the three-day meet, particularly in relay performances. The Bears’ freestyle specialists matched up in the various relays to put Brown on the board multiple times. The 800-yard freestyle relay team of Dillione, Sarah Cronin ’18, Korbyn Simpson ’18 and Elly Vitek ’17 finished in fifth place. Dillione, Cronin, Tong and Aja Grande ’18 combined to form the 200-yard freestyle relay squad, which raced to a third-place finish. Tong anchored the race and showcased her speed by passing her Columbia rival to secure Bruno’s top finish. In the 400-yard freestyle relay, the same relay team combined to notch a second-place finish. “As a team, those relays just stepped up and swam for Bruno,” Barr said. Individually, Grande and Tong swam to quick times in the 100 free, as they finished in second and third of the B final, respectively. Other strong B final performances came from Caroline Vexler ’17, who captured the 200-yard fly, and diver Rachel Speakman ’16, who finished
second in the B final of the 3-meter dive. Vitek finished fourth in the B final of the 500-yard freestyle to round out the performances. Bruno also earned an A final finish in the 400-yard medley relay as the quartet of Vexler, Dillione, Jenna Zagoren ’18 and Katie Roach ’17 raced to a sixth place finish. The meet caps off an Ivy season marked by continued progress and focused training. But behind all the practice and hard work has been a spirited support system that has defined the team’s attitude and mentality. “It was really great to be part of a team that loves each other and stands behind each other in every practice and every race,” Matsumoto said. Going forward, the men’s team hopes to capitalize on the momentum and excitement of this weekend as it travels to Princeton Thursday for its chance at the Ivy Championships. The men are confident that they have put in the work, and they are now looking to collect its dividends. “We’re as prepared as we need to be in the pool,” Barr said. “We just have to make sure we’re mentally and physically ready outside of the pool.”
SPORTS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015 • PAGE 3
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
WRESTLING
M. SQUASH
Bruno drops tight match on Senior Day Bears wrap up season
SADIE HOPE-GUND / HERALD
Bruno heads to Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championships with a winless Ivy record.
Despite hard-fought individual battles, Bruno defeated by four bouts for second straight week By GEORGE SANCHEZ SPORTS STAFF WRITER
The wrestling team hosted Columbia this weekend for its final home match of the season and came up just short, falling to the Lions 19-15. The loss stung a little more than usual, as it was the last time the class of 2015 would be wrestling in the Pizzitola Center. Prior to the match, the Bears honored their six departing seniors: Ophir Bernstein ’15.5, Daniel Flowers ’15, Zachary Tanenbaum ’15, Sebastien Levin ’15, Ricky McDonald ’15 and Billy Watterson ’15. “I have grown very close with these
guys, and it is going to be tough to watch them go,” said Justin Staudenmayer ’17. “The feeling is surreal, to say the least.” The match began with a 3-1 decision at 125 pounds by Watterson. The bout was even until Watterson successfully completed a takedown that gave him the win. The Lions quickly countered with two consecutive victories at 133 pounds and 141 pounds. Heading into the match’s fourth bout, Columbia led 9-3, but Bruno responded with back-to-back victories of its own. At 149 pounds, Steven Galiardo ’17 picked up a 6-4 win with two takedowns and two escapes. Next up, at 157 pounds, Staudenmayer knotted the score at 9-9 with a close 2-1 decision. The Lions pulled away yet again with two more consecutive victories. With three bouts left in the match, Columbia led 15-9. But the Bears were not
giving in without a fight. Two seniors were able to successfully win their bouts to tie up the score again. Bernstein won his final battle at the Pizzitola with a 1-0 decision, recording an escape early in the third period that led to his victory. Levin then finished his bout with an escape and a pair of takedowns that resulted in his 7-5 win. With one bout left, the score was even at 15. In the heavyweight matchup, Augustus Marker ’16 was unable to pull away with the win. The game’s final contest went to the Lions with a 10-0 win via major decision, sealing the 1915 match victory for Columbia. This marks two consecutive weekends in which Bruno has a lost a match after heading into the final bout tied with its opponent. Last week, Harvard beat the Bears 21-17 after the score was even at 17 with one matchup left. “It is absolutely frustrating for us considering that these matches were so close,” Staudenmayer said. “It just goes to show that we can be right there with these teams.” Next up, the Bears will travel to Lehigh University to compete in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championships March 6-7. They will then travel to St. Louis, Missouri, to compete in the NCAA Championships March 19-21. “Moving into the postseason, our training really becomes focused on each individual,” Staudenmayer said. “Every guy on the team has something different that they have been working on all year, and this is the time to really perfect and fine-tune these things.”
W. HOCKEY
Bears show fight in loss to No. 5 Quinnipiac Bruno celebrates five seniors, finishes season with losses to Princeton, Quinnipiac By NIKKO PASANEN SPORTS STAFF WRITER
The women’s hockey team certainly would have preferred a better ending to its season, as it fell to both Princeton and No. 5 Quinnipiac this weekend to close out the year. Though it is difficult to call the season anything but disappointing, the team’s young players have shown that there is plenty of promise for the future. The Bears “have a strong core of good kids, and I look forward to seeing their development and success in the years to come,” said Captain Janice Yang ’15.5, who skated in her last game Saturday. Despite a final score of 4-1, Friday night’s contest was by no means a cakewalk for the visiting Tigers (15-12-2, 13-8-1 ECAC). After a scoreless first period, Bruno (5-23-1, 2-19-1) seized its chances on a power play when Sam Donovan ’18 connected on her 12th goal of the season. Donovan found herself at the top of the crease and tipped in a shot from Lauren Vella ’15. The first-year’s breakout season gives reason to think that it will not be too long before the Bears are competing with the best of the best in the ECAC.
Unfortunately for Brown, its lead was short-lived, as Princeton reciprocated on a power play of its own just several minutes later to knot the score at one. With the game tied heading into the last period, the Bears were in a good place against their Ivy League foe, but the puck just did not fall their way. Seven minutes into the third period, Princeton took the lead and never looked back, scoring two more goals with under four minutes remaining. Bruno can thank goaltender Monica Elvin ’17 for keeping it in the mix, as she turned away 32 shots in the game. Saturday’s game versus Quinnipiac (24-7-3, 15-5-2) started off just the same as the night before, with both teams failing to cash in on any of their opportunities in the first period. Though the Bobcats may have been the more threatening side, it was Yang who had the best scoring chance. After getting the puck on the far side, the senior dangled her way past a Bobcat defender and came within inches of netting the first goal of the game. The second period saw a dominating performance by Quinnipiac, but once again, no one could find the back of the net. A lot of that had to do with Elvin, who continued her recent string of spectacular play in goal. The sophomore netminder ended the day with 40 saves on 41 shots. The Bears came out with a little more fire to start the third period, highlighted by another great look by Yang while the
team was short-handed. Unfortunately for the Bears, their defense could not quite hold up as time wound down, and eventually the Bobcats scored a power play goal with five-and-a-half minutes remaining. The game may have not resulted in the win Bruno was hoping for, but it was certainly an impressive effort to go toe-to-toe with the number five team in the country. “When you look back on a season, there are so many ups and downs, but at the end of the day, I’m most proud of my teammates for always working hard on the ice, off the ice, in the weight room and in the classroom,” Yang said. After the contest, Brown honored the team’s five seniors — Yang, Vella, Kaitlyn Keon ’15, Brittany Moorehead ’15 and Sarah Robson ’15 — with a postgame ceremony. The event celebrated not only the seniors’ on-ice accomplishments, but also their academic successes and overall dedication to the program. Despite the difficult season, Yang was quick to point out that playing Brown hockey involved far more than just being out on the ice and had instilled in her a number of life lessons. “I’ve learned that things aren’t going to always go your way, but how you react and adapt is the only thing that matters,” she said. “Whatever life throws in your way, there’s always a solution and you’re always stronger than you think. Find friends and people that you can trust and hold on to them.”
with no Ivy wins
Bruno falls to Western Ontario in second round of Squash National Championships By JACLYN TORRES CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The No. 18 men’s squash team finished the season with a 7-9 record, defeating both No. 23 Bowdoin College and No. 20 Wesleyan University and losing to the No. 19 University of Western Ontario in the College Squash Association National Championship this weekend at Wesleyan. The Bears, coming off a six-game losing streak that started Jan. 30, clinched an easy 9-0 victory against Bowdoin (5-16). Jack Blasberg ’16, a Herald opinions columnist, won all three of his sets 11-7, 11-5 and 11-5. Alex Baldock ’17 also won his match in the first three sets, sweeping his opponent 12-10, 11-9 and 11-9. Three first-years stepped up for the Bears to take home the win: Thomas Blecher ’18, Thomas Walker ’18 and Herald sports columnist Charlie Blasberg ’18 all won their matches in three sets. Saturday proved to be a harder battle. The Bears lost 5-4 to non-conference opponent Western Ontario (7-3), which was just coming off two strong performances against Hobart and William Smith College. Both Blecher and Charlie Blaberg won their second matches of the weekend, while Nicholas Talbott ’15 and Foster Hoff ’16 won their first. Despite the four victories, the Bears were unable to oust the Western Mustangs. Sunday’s match against Wesleyan (13-9) sealed a successful weekend for the Bears. Even though Baldock had to sit out because of a knee injury, the team won 6-3, with Hoff, Blecher, Charlie Blasberg, Alex Demeulenaere ’18,
Michael Snower ’17 and Oliver Booth ’16 all emerging victorious. Hoff and Demeuelenare beat their opponents easily, while Charlie Blasberg and Snower had a little more difficulty in winning their matches. Charlie Blasberg played five sets and won three of them in a constantly back-and-forth match. Snower started strong, winning the first two sets 20-18 and 11-9. But his Wesleyan opponent gained momentum, and Snower lost the next two sets 4-11 and 16-18. In the final set, Snower regained control of the match, winning 11-5. Blecher got off to a slow start, losing the first set 4-11, but he quickly stole the momentum and won the next three sets 11-5, 13-11 and 11-9. Booth won the first two sets of his match but narrowly lost the third 10-12, sending the match into a fourth set. He quickly restored his confidence and won the set 11-6. Hoff, Charlie Blasberg and Blecher won all three of their matches. “We played at Wesleyan this weekend, and they have cold courts there,” Charlie Blasberg said. “All three of us perform well on cold courts, as they suit our game styles.” A select few Bears will finish out the season next weekend at the College Squash Association Individual Championship. Despite strong play this season, Bruno went 0-7 in the Ivy League. As the Bears look toward the 2015-2016 season, they hope to “pick off an Ivy win and get a good upset against a beatable team, such as Princeton, Penn or Dartmouth,” Charlie Blasberg said. “We have nearly every member of the team returning next season, so we will hopefully be even stronger,” Baldock said. “Ideally we would like to move up a few spots in the rankings, which I believe we can do if we train hard for next year and really try to learn and take away what we can from our losses this year.”
JOSH STERN / HERALD
Charlie Blasberg ’18 lunges for the ball. Blasberg proved instrumental this weekend, winning every match he played.
UNIVERSITY NEWS PAGE 4 • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
TODAY
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015 • PAGE 5
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
menu
food for thought
SATELLITE DINING JOSIAH’S Gnocchi, Gourmet Grilled Cheese BLUE ROOM Naked Burritos Soups: Chicken Noodle, Spinach and Feta, Beef with Bean Chili ANDREWS COMMONS Chili Bar, Steam Bun Sliders, Pizzas: Cheese Steak, BBQ Chicken Ranch
DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH
DINNER
Chicken Pesto Pasta, Baked Polenta, Mediter ranean Eggplant Sautee, Vegan Roasted Red Beets
Cider Glazed Turkey, Ham Cassoulet Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Pasta-Tomato Bake, Carrot Cake
VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH
DINNER
Vegetable Pie, Corn and Broccoli Casserole, Mediterranean Bar, Swiss Fudge Cookies
Sukiyaki Beef, Bok Choy with Olive Oil, Cuban Black Beans, Mediterranean Salmon Stir Fry
sudoku
KATE TALERICO / HERALD
Ben Siranosian ’15 holds up his creation from a Computational Biology DUG event last week. Students gathered to sip on cider and hot chocolate while encoding messages with marshmallow nucleotides.
comic Egoheads | J.H. Zech
crossword
calendar TODAY 4:00P.M. MEDICAL HUMANITARIAN ACTION UNDER FIRE: IS THE HUMANITARIAN SPACE SHRINKING?
Unni Karunakara, global health expert and former international president of Doctors Without Borders, will speak as part of the Watson Institute’s Security Seminar Series. Joukowsky Forum, Watson Institute 6:00 P.M. SUNDAES ON MONDAY: A SOPHOMORE SLUMP EVENT
The 2017 Class Board will treat 200 people to free sundaes from Ben & Jerry’s. Open to all students. Petteruti Lounge 8:00 P.M. THE CUBAN THAW: WHAT’S NEXT?
The Brown Political Forum will address questions surrounding the change in U.S. relations with Cuba. Salomon 203
TOMORROW 1:00 P.M. ARCHAEOLOGY DUG MEET AND GREET
Students will mingle with archaeology concentrators and learn more about exploring archaeology and the ancient world. Refreshments will be served. Rhode Island Hall 6:00 P.M. INNO-DATE: VENTURE SPEED DATING
Social Innovation Fellows and Brown Venture Fellows will pitch their entrepreneurial ventures in hopes of finding collaborators and partners. Petteruti Lounge 7:00 P.M. RACE HOPE, AND COMMUNITY: DISCUSSION AND DESSERT WITH DR. ALICE BROWN-COLLINS
Alice Brown-Collins will present her lecture entitled “Finding Light in Darkness: Reflections on Missouri and New York,” examining intersections of social justice and faith. Smith-Buonanno 201
COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
EDITORIAL
Get it together Russell Carey ’91 MA’06, executive vice president for planning and policy, and Margaret Klawunn, vice president for campus life and student services, sent a Feb. 21 campus-wide email detailing amended sanctions against the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi, an organization previously found responsible for facilitating an environment in which a student was served a drink laced with the date-rape drug GHB. Carey and Klawunn previously announced in a Jan. 19 community-wide email that following a formal appeals process and an independent laboratory test that confirmed the drug’s presence in a student’s system, Phi Psi would be stripped of recognition and housing in Sears House for four years. In the Feb. 21 email, the administration walked back its previous absolute statements, finding, based on other evidence, “a very strong likelihood” the students were given alcohol “and/or” a drug. Phi Psi will be allowed to petition for recognition in May 2017. Despite the merits of a transparent administration, the University’s handling of the Phi Psi case exposes its relative incompetence in properly addressing the ever-pressing issue of sexual assault and alcohol consumption on campus. While the implementation of the Sexual Assault Task Force’s interim recommendations and review of alcohol policy do indeed mark great strides toward a safer campus environment, President Christina Paxson’s P’19 administration does not appear to have gained a solid footing as of yet. It remains a reactive entity rather than a proactive one. The recent developments in the Phi Psi case bolster this claim. Within a media landscape that has grown increasingly focused on the issue of sexual assault, the University was misguided in publicly releasing findings that were apparently not properly confirmed. Indeed, in the Jan. 19 email, Carey noted that there were new questions about the tests and that sanctions could be altered “after a thorough and final review of the physical evidence.” Why not wait four weeks, keeping the organization on strict suspension, until all tests had been completed and confirmed? While it is incredibly important for the University to set a strict standard on the matter, these policies and punishments must be rooted in tangible evidence in order for them to be sustainable in practice. In Saturday’s email, Carey and Klawunn noted that “the laboratory test was only one piece of evidence,” but they have not yet provided other sources or testimony. Privacy is important in sensitive cases, but so is trust in the judicial process. Without conclusive evidence presented to the public, many are likely to see the amended punishment as admission of a wrongful conviction. Either Phi Psi administered drugs, in which case it should be suspended for four years, or it did not, in which case it should be punished only for the unregistered party. There is no middle ground. We cannot keep reacting to issues of sexual assault and alcohol consumption as though they are new to college campuses. The review process should not appear as though administrators and the Student Conduct Board are fumbling through circumstantial evidence and then formulating arbitrary punishments. Why do we not have clear sentencing and transparency guidelines for these crimes that regularly occur on college campuses, including Brown? If we continue issuing punishments this way, trust in the University’s disciplinary process will evaporate.
KAYA H I L L
Q U O T E O F T H E D AY
“Find friends and people that you can trust and hold on to them.” — Janice Yang ’15
See W. HOCKEY on page 3.
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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COMMENTARY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015 • PAGE 7
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Is the open curriculum solely for show? DAVID HA opinions columnist
A few weeks prior to my return to Providence at the beginning of this semester, I decided to revisit my old essays that I had written as part of my college application. While scrolling through the folder, I stumbled upon one of the drafts for the “Why Brown” prompt. I remembered that I lackadaisically Googled Brown University and chose to write about the most famous aspect of the University’s undergraduate program: the open curriculum. How original. Let me share it with you. Here is part of what I had written, verbatim: “Brown’s open curriculum bravely and innovatively approaches the building of the curricula, helping its students minimize the risk of being confined in a stubborn, traditional academic setting. When we navigate our own ways, we choose the road that we — not others — believe to be right, possibly eliminating regret for the unwalked paths.” Other than the fact that my senior self sounded awfully superficial, there was yet another reason to dislike the piece: I was not fully convinced by my own words. The last sentence bothered me the most. “Eliminating regret for the unwalked paths”? What did that even mean? Does the open curriculum actually achieve that? Is the open curriculum truly beneficial, or is it only flashy, doing more harm than good?
My mind began to change, especially during my first few weeks back at Brown, when I met a first-year who was so fiercely engaged in computer science that he would not consider any coursework outside the department. He even planned to satisfy the writing requirement, which is the University’s last resort to prevent students from doing exactly what he was doing, with a computer science course that had the WRIT designation. I cannot think of anyone who
ed by Brown: Only 12 percent of the applicants for the class of 2019 intend to study arts or humanities. Money is important, but it should not dictate the means of pursuing happiness. Perhaps the University should reflect on whether or not its education model enables students to see things more essential than money. Though a bit cliched, there are many elements of life more important than money. Last week, for example, I spoke with my uncle who is
ten contemplate the unwalked paths, asking, “Was this the right choice?” Regret, though sometimes inevitable, can be minimized if the University provides students with a diverse education in their early college years that will allow them to search for different options when they face career challenges. In contrast to what I wrote to gain admission, I now sense many dangers related to the open curriculum. Since its inception in 1969, the
The University needs to ensure that its policies are actually for the students’ own good, not just for show.
would, with confidence, say that an 18-year-old who has been in college for no more than a year is insightful enough to set up his entire future wisely and resolutely. Even if he did possess this knowledge, a course or two in different fields would surely contribute to some well-roundedness. This freedom allows students to make decisions for the wrong reasons. Money is a determining factor for many college students trying to decide their career paths. Students who are fearful of the uncertain futures that non-STEM fields bring may restrict themselves to concentrations that often lead to well-paying careers. This is evident in the data provid-
supposedly going through his “job adolescent” period. Before explaining what he meant, he described some characteristics of “life adolescence”: labile emotions, an urge for independence and an added spice of vulnerability here and there. These are all rooted in questioning — and thereby reshaping — one’s identity. He said characteristics of adolescence in workplaces are not very different. An engaged and fervent worker suddenly, when things start feeling comfortable and consequently more mundane, falls into a spiral of mannerism. Passion loses its heat. This is the working man’s fait accompli. Familiarity gives birth to tiredness and boredom, and emotionally healthy minds will then of-
open curriculum, despite the stated purpose of encouraging undergraduates to “become self-reflective,” has allowed students to avoid taking certain courses and become restricted by their unfounded and distorted ideas. It may sound ironic if Brown, a school that prides itself on its unique student-crafted education, begins mandating that underclassmen take courses in certain departments, making the education seem more traditional. But opposition for the mere sake of opposition itself should, at all times, be avoided. We must ensure that our own futile barriers are not restricting us. What is more important: free-
dom to attend lectures of taste during college years, or the flexibility to change paths when necessary? One is fairly short-term, the other much longer. We also need to consider what it means to be a Brown student or alum. Lacking in rhetoric, logic, math or science should surely not define us. Some familiarity and experience in diverse fields should be a must. We must make sure that students experience for themselves all the possibilities. Publilius Syrus, a Latin writer during the 1st century B.C., once wisely noted that “no one knows what he can do until he tries.” Of course, learning is most effective when it is driven by self-motivation. But the University does its best to help students, rather than carelessly observe them. The open curriculum can be great only if it is not abused. Our liberal academic environment is one of the factors that most distinguishes Brown from many other schools, and we should cherish that. But the University needs to ensure that its policies are actually for the students’ own good, not just for show. Nearsightedness is one of life’s most dangerous traits — narrow perspective another. The University must reflect on whether the true fruits of college are being preserved through the open curriculum.
David Ha ’18 is doing his best to broaden his perspective. He can be reached at woosuk_ha@brown.edu.
Why a winter term won’t stick SAMANTHA ISMAN opinions columnist
On Friday, we received an email from Provost Vicki Colvin about the formation of a Winter Term Working Group tasked with examining the possibility of implementing a new winter term. While Wintersession has worked well at the Rhode Island School of Design, Brown would not benefit from a winter term. It would not add so much to our academic year to justify changing our calendar. Since the Winter Term Working Group’s charge states that the “differences in alignment between Brown and RISD’s academic calendar in the winter and spring” lead to problems, it seems safe to assume that Brown’s winter term could be modeled after RISD’s. But RISD’s Wintersession has a very specific purpose. Many RISD students have too many requirements to take several electives, so Wintersession serves as a time to explore other areas of interest. At Brown, while we have concentration requirements, we spend the majority of our four years exploring other areas of study and taking advantage of the open curriculum. Moreover, RISD students take one class during Wintersession. This is justified because that one class is often an art class that requires a lot of studio time and work. But this would not be justified for literature or eco-
nomics classes at Brown that meet for multiple hours a day, multiple times a week during the regular fall and spring semesters. We don’t need the additional class time for these subjects, and having students come back for a one-class winter term would be frustrating. Granted, a winter term would make it easier for Brown and RISD students to take classes at each other’s schools.
ties, it should first examine the fall and spring course offerings of interest to students in both schools before deciding to create a whole new term. The working group’s charge also raises questions about the length of Brown’s winter break. While the working group has not announced whether the winter term would cut into winter break or spring semester —
We don’t need the additional class time for these subjects, and having students come back for a one-class winter term would be frustrating.
Much of the scheduling problem stems from the fact that studio classes during Wintersession are long, which makes it hard for RISD students to shop spring semester classes at Brown. The “differences in alignment” that the working group’s charge describes are inconvenient and challenging for a select number of students, but they do not apply to the majority of students at either school. If the working group is going to focus on enhancing coordination between the two universi-
or both — these are concerns that need to be kept in mind when making the decision whether to implement a winter term. Though the charge states that students “often express concern that the break is too long but not quite long enough to support opportunities for internships,” a winter term would not necessarily guarantee a more workable time length, and the purpose of winter break is not exclusively to provide students with internship opportunities or academic credit.
Along the same lines, many students use winter break to travel home or to partake in family traditions, which would not be accommodated in the event that the introduction of a winter term shortened winter break. Colvin’s email — and the possibility of having a winter term — comes with a lot of questions. While I am hopeful that the members of the working group will consider all of the ways in which the University could benefit from a winter term, I also hope they keep in mind the ways in which it might affect students without a real need or benefit. Beyond the way that the winter term might affect students, it could also limit faculty members who use winter break to prepare for the spring semester, attend academic conferences or focus more intently on research projects — occasionally with student research assistants — that can fall behind during the semester. Finally, if a winter term is eventually implemented, I hope the working group members find a way for it to improve student life, such as by making it a time for students to take educational trips or take a single class for a whole month for a justifiable reason. To accomplish this, the working group will have to move away from the purpose of RISD’s Wintersession to find a uniquely Brown experience.
Samantha Isman ’15 can be reached at samantha_isman@brown.edu.
SPORTS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015
M. BASKETBALL
Buzzer-beater topples Cornell after Columbia romps over Bears
DAVID DECKEY / HERALD
Point guard Tavon Blackman ’17 led Bruno’s scoring efforts against Cornell with 17 points, knocking down all his shots from the free throw line.
Bears stage comeback after trailing by 17 to earn victory over Big Red, come away with weekend split By CALEB MILLER SPORTS STAFF WRITER
The ball bounced around the rim and teetered on the edge for a chilling instant before falling through the net with 1.4 seconds remaining to lift the men’s basketball team to a dramatic 57-56 win over Cornell Saturday. The game-winning shot came courtesy of co-captain Cedric Kuakumensah ’16 and flushed away what had been, up to that point, a disappointing weekend at home for the Bears, who had been crushed by Columbia 76-59 the night before. “That wasn’t exactly how we drew
it up,” said Head Coach Mike Martin ’04 after his team spent most of the weekend trailing by double digits. But the win capped a major comeback and salvaged a weekend split for the Bears (12-15. 3-7), who move into sixth place in the Ivy League. Columbia 76, Brown 59 Friday night, the best player on the floor was wearing Columbia (13-11, 5-5) blue. Lions guard Maodo Lo, who led the Ivy League in scoring entering the weekend, was even better than usual against Bruno. Lo poured in 35 points — the most by any player in an Ivy game in four years — and between
baskets, managed to rack up five assists, five rebounds and four steals. In the first half alone, Lo shot 10-of-11, and his 24 points nearly matched Bruno’s 28. “He’s one of the most talented players in the league,” Martin said. “We allowed him to do everything he wanted … He was way too comfortable.” With Lo at the helm, Columbia’s offense packed a punch from the opening tip, and the Bears were overwhelmed all night. A decisive 18-4 run — in which Lo dropped 13 — buried the home team late in the first half. “At halftime, they had made 20 field goals, and we had only taken 20,” Martin said. “They were more ready to play than us.” Bruno entered the game allowing the most points per game in the Ivy League, and the team’s defensive woes continued. The Bears received strong performances from captains Kuakumensah and Rafael Maia ’15, who combined for 34 points, but the defense could not provide the stops needed for a run. Bruno’s 10 first-half turnovers contributed to a final 22-5 Columbia advantage in points off turnovers. “Our turnovers led to a lot of easy baskets for them, especially in the run in the first half,” Martin said. The Bears did outscore the Lions in the second half, but Columbia’s lead was never in jeopardy. Brown 57, Cornell 56 For the first 23 minutes of play Saturday night, the Cornell (12-14, 4-6)
game looked much like the Columbia game. The Big Red jumped to an early lead, the Bruno defense continued to struggle and the opponent’s best player — this time forward Shonn Miller — was lighting up the scoreboard. Miller had 16 points at the intermission, and his team led by 11. Martin said they remained optimistic at half, but when play resumed, Cornell scored the first three baskets of the second half. Martin called another timeout; the nearly empty Pizzitola Center was silent. It was as close to rock bottom as the team had been all year. But the players believed they could overcome the deficit. “When we were down 17, we came together after one of the timeouts and we were just like, ‘We’re fine. We’re going to win this game,’” said Tavon Blackmon ’17. His words proved to be prophetic. With 16:44 remaining, Steven Spieth ’17 was fouled on a reverse layup for an and-one to spark the run. In the next four minutes, Blackmon and Spieth each had four, Maia hit a free throw and, suddenly, the down-and-out Bears were within five points. While Spieth, Blackmon and Kuakumensah led an offensive surge, the comeback was really a product of defense. Thanks to Bruno’s increased ball pressure and energy, Cornell shot 5-of-21 in the game’s final 17 minutes. “We were so good defensively,” Martin said. “We were focused on one stop at a time.” But the game was not yet won, and Miller hit a long three with 3:46 to play
that silenced the crowd and pushed the lead to six. A minute later, Maia ran down a loose ball and flipped it to J.R. Hobbie ’17, who hit the second-biggest shot of the game: a trey from the corner to cut the lead to 56-55. The score stood for two minutes when Cornell’s Darryl Smith grabbed a wide-open offensive rebound under the basket with 19 seconds remaining. He seemed destined either to extend the lead with a put-back or to try to run out the remaining seconds. He chose the former, but it backfired when Kuakumensah came flying across the lane to reject the attempt, pull down the rebound and set up the final play. “He doesn’t usually block shots,” Martin joked after the game about Kuakumensah, who became the Ivy League’s second all-time leader in blocks with five against the Big Red, giving him 230 for his career. “It was a huge play.” Martin called a timeout with nine seconds left to draw up a play. Two inbound options — Hobbie and Spieth — were both covered, so Blackmon entered the ball to Kuakumensah at the top of the key, who was supposed to get the ball back to Blackmon. “We were trying to get Tavon the ball, but they denied him,” Kuakumensah said. “I just tried to get to the hoop, and luckily it fell.” The broken play led to a tightly contested, off-balance floater from Kuakumensah. It was not the shot the Bears wanted, but it proved to be exactly what they needed.
W. BASKETBALL
Fresh lineup does the trick in take-down of Cornell After dropping matchup against Columbia, Bruno salvages weekend with victory over Cornell By EMILE BAUTISTA SPORTS STAFF WRITER
A trip to New York for the women’s basketball team yielded split results, as the Bears fell to Ivy cellar dweller Columbia but were able to best a formidable team in Cornell. The results reverse prior outcomes of the same matchups earlier in the season: Bruno previously lost to the Big Red but beat the Lions. Despite the .500 weekend, the Bears now hold sole possession of fifth place in the Ivy League. After a rough defensive performance against the Lions, “We really tightened up our zone on Saturday night, and that was the key to our victory against Cornell,” said Ellise Sharpe ’16. Columbia 83, Brown 74 Heading into this game, the Bears looked to avoid a mirror image of last season’s matchups against Columbia (8-15, 2-7 Ivy), in which the Bears (1014, 4-6) prevailed in the first meeting but could not duplicate this success in the second. Unfortunately for the Bears, history repeated itself, as they fell to the Lions by nine points. Sophomore Devon Roeper’s career night — which included 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting — was pivotal in her team’s triumph.
The game was a battle of runs. Roeper nabbed the first basket of the game, and the Bears responded with a 7-0 run. Not to be outdone, Roeper and Tori Oliver, the team’s leading scorer and second leading Ivy scorer, led Columbia on a 14-2 tear. The teams continued to trade baskets until Brown’s leading scorer, Jordin Alexander ’16, tied the game at 20 apiece. The Lions tried to distance themselves by obtaining a lead as large as 12. By halftime, they were up nine, thanks in large part to the sophomore duo of Roeper and Oliver — who combined for 26 points by the break — and a blistering 51.5 shooting percentage. On the other hand, Bruno’s own offensive duo of Alexander and Sophie Bikofsky ’15 had a total of 22 at halftime. Roeper’s stellar night continued in the second half. She scored nine of her team’s first 13 points of the half, and Columbia saw its lead balloon to as much as 16. But she had to go the bench when the team was up by 10 because of foul trouble. Immediately, the Bears went on a 7-0 run to pull within three. Camille Zimmerman of the Lions squashed Bruno’s comeback attempt, scoring six unanswered points. Columbia never looked back, winning 83-74. The Bears were mauled on the boards as Columbia out-rebounded
them by an impressive 16 boards. Additionally, in the teams’ original meeting, Bruno was able to frustrate its foe by forcing 28 total turnovers. This time around, the team could not take advantage of Columbia’s Ivy-worst turnover margin of -3.74, only forcing 12 turnovers and coughing up 12 of its own. Brown 58, Cornell 51 The Bears did not wallow in the disappointment of the dropped game against Columbia for too long, as they took on their other New York rival, Cornell (15-9, 6-4). Led by Natalie Ball ’16 and her 14 points, Brown evened the season series against the Big Red with a seven-point victory. This defensive battle starkly juxtaposed the Bears’ shootout from the night before. Coach Sarah Behn tapped four players to get their first career starts. Four minutes into the game, the new starters were keeping pace with their opponents at a score of 7-7. Then some of the usual starters for the Bears checked into the game. The Big Red attempted to take control of the match by grabbing a quick 10-point lead. Ball and company battled back with eight consecutive points to cut the lead to two, and Ball ended the half with five unanswered points to give Bruno a slim two-point advantage at halftime. After the break, Cornell came out firing with an 8-0 run. But that hot start quickly transformed into ice cold shooting from the floor: They missed
their next 12 shots and did not make a field goal for nearly 10 minutes. “They could not get their offense going and penetrate in the paint,” Sharpe said. Despite this poor stretch for the Big Red, the Bears could not capitalize on Cornell’s poor shooting, though they did manage to tie the game at 39 with about nine minutes left. Cornell finally ended its drought with a three from Kerri Moran to take the lead. But the Bears dashed Cornell’s hopes of victory by ending the game on a 15-4 run. Brown and Cornell possess two of the conference’s top three turnover margins at +2.54 and +2.08, respectively. Takeaways played a key role in the game, as the Bears scored 20 points off of Cornell’s 19 turnovers compared to the Big Red’s 14 points off of 13 Brown turnovers.
Cornell’s typically efficient offense sputtered against Brown, shooting just 38.5 percent from the field, thanks in large part to a poor stretch in the second half. Though leading Ivy scorer Nia Marshall, who averages 17.3 points per game, managed to net 16 points for the Big Red, Brown’s defense was able to neutralize many of its opponent’s other offensive weapons, holding Cornell’s bench to a meager nine points. “By focusing on defense, our offense came naturally and Cornell continued to turn the ball over, especially down the stretch,” Sharpe said. “Everyone contributed in our game against Cornell, and we had really great energy.” Next weekend, Brown will travel to the conference’s top two juggernauts in undefeated Princeton (25-0, 9-0) and Penn (16-7, 7-2) in the hopes of reaching the .500 mark in conference play.
DAVID DECKEY / HERALD
Megan Reilly ’18 and Janie White ’18 coordinate in the back court. Brown’s defense was a decisive factor in capturing a victory over Cornell.