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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015
VOLUME CL, ISSUE 49
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Sexual assault task force releases final report Recommendations build on those of interim report, include overarching policy, new Title IX Office By KATE TALERICO SENIOR STAFF WRITER
In its final report released Tuesday, the Task Force on Sexual Assault proposed implementing a unified policy on sexual and gender-based violence, creating a Title IX Office and developing a clear trial process led by a Title IX Committee rather than the Student Conduct Board, President Christina Paxson P’19 wrote in a communitywide email Tuesday. The 63-page report marks a continuation of the task force’s interim report, which was released Dec. 17. Paxson responded to the initial report Jan. 22 and confirmed that she had implemented nearly all of the recommendations that did not require longterm planning, such as introducing a 30-day limit to the appeals process and shifting all evidence-gathering responsibilities to trained outside investigators. One of the most sweeping reforms the task force suggested is the
implementation of an overarching University policy on sexual and gender-based harassment, sexual violence, relationship and interpersonal violence and stalking. The policy would apply to all levels of interactions between Brown students, faculty members and staff members and would replace the student sexual misconduct policy, the University sexual harassment policy and the Faculty Rules and Regulations policy on sexual harassment. The task force considered other institutions’ policies when crafting the new policy and the report as a whole, said Executive Vice President for Planning and Policy Russell Carey ’91 MA’06. Complementing the “Policy” is a list of recommended guidelines for a reformed process that would defer all hearings in gender-based and sexual violence or harassment cases to a Title IX Committee rather than the Student Conduct Board and allow the committee to recommend a sanction to a designated administrator should the respondent be found guilty. “These matters are unlike others,” Carey said. “They involve the impact of trauma … and training is needed for individuals to be sensitive to the » See TASK FORCE, page 2
ASHLEY SO / HERALD
President Christina Paxson P’19 helped honor Hyoun Ju Sohn GS at an event held in the Sciences Library. Speakers discussed working toward community healing and creating a welcoming environment.
Community rebuilds after tragedy at SciLi Reception mourns death of Hyoun Ju Sohn GS, reframes building as a space for support By BAYLOR KNOBLOCH SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Undergraduates, graduate students and faculty members gathered at a reception
in the Sciences Library Tuesday to commemorate the life of Hyoun Ju Sohn GS, who died after jumping from the building’s 12th floor one week ago. “The more I learn about him, the sadder I am that he is no longer with us,” said President Christina Paxson P’19, who gave the event’s opening remarks. “The death of one student is too many.” The event was held in the Friedman Study Center in the library’s basement.
“I thought it was really important to do something in the Sciences Library,” Paxson said. “Any time when something really hard happens in a location, we have to come back and make it our own,” said University Chaplain Janet Cooper Nelson in her remarks. “University libraries are community hubs,” Paxson said, adding that she » See MEMORIAL, page 2
Faculty debates final exam grading deadline Meeting also addresses grad student support, postdoctoral hiring, concentration declarations By ELANA JAFFE SENIOR STAFF WRITER
COURTESY OF NIMITA UBEROI
Penn Masala, an a capella group from Penn, traveled from Philadelphia to Providence for a performance Friday night, attracting a large audience eager to hear the group’s unique style of mixing Hindi and English songs.
Penn Masala performs eclectic mashups Hindi a capella group uses multilingual performances to explore bicultural identity By SOPHIE YAN STAFF WRITER
If you only listen to the first few seconds of a Penn Masala song, you would
INSIDE
probably label it as typical a capella fare — the arrangement of a mainstream pop song — until the group bursts unexpectedly and abruptly into one of their signature mashups of Hindi and English lyrics. Penn Masala, a male student a capella group founded at Penn in 1996 and currently composed of 13
ARTS & CULTURE
undergraduates, performed in Providence to a full crowd at the Rhode Island School of Design Auditorium Friday evening. The event was co-sponsored by Brown and RISD South Asian Student Associations, and tickets were available free of charge to anyone interested in attending. “We have a really vibrant South Asian community here at Brown and » See A CAPPELLA, page 3
At Tuesday’s faculty meeting, faculty members voted to change University policies on postdoctoral hiring and concentration declarations. The faculty also rejected proposed changes to the final exam grading timeline. For several years, a contradiction has existed in the University’s rules regarding grading. The Faculty Rules and Regulations state that faculty members must submit grades within 72 hours of a final exam. They also state that the annual deadline for fall semester grades must be no later than Jan. 6, which is about two weeks after the end of final exams depending on the year. In an effort to make the rules consistent, Dean of the College Maud Mandel and the College Curriculum Council proposed amending the rules
so that all grades must be submitted by Dec. 30. The rationale behind this amendment was that the Jan. 6 deadline did not provide enough time for the Committee on Academic Standing to review final grades when issuing academic warnings and suspensions. This problem has been exacerbated each year by several professors who breach the Jan. 6 deadline, Mandel said. Richard Stratt, professor of chemistry, said that expecting faculty members to complete grading in the last week of December is “not family-friendly,” as this time should be reserved for personal time and community service. Over 500 students take chemistry exams in the last two days of the final examination period — a grading effort that “takes a village” and “simply would not work” to cram into that week, Stratt said. Last semester, 1,100 missing grades had not been filed by the Jan. 2 deadline. This could have contributed to the 600 academic warnings » See FACULTY, page 3
WEATHER
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015
METRO Uber, Lyft come under scrutiny as joint legislative committee debates insurance isssues
ARTS & CULTURE Korean Culture Show features K-pop performance, traditional art forms
COMMENTARY Malik ’18: Campus discussions of mental health should educate students and dispel myths
COMMENTARY Kenyon GS: Indiana governor mismanaged Religious Freedom Restoration Act, causing his ruin
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UNIVERSITY NEWS PAGE 2 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
» MEMORIAL, from page 1
Title IX Office
Creation of a unified policy prohibiting forms of gender-based and sexual violence
Implementation of annual sexual assault prevention training across the University Development of a clear trial process led by a Title IX Committee rather than the Student Conduct Board
Formation of a list of pro bono lawyers available to represent parties that cannot afford their own legal counsel
Source: Task Force on Sexual Assault final report EMMA JERZYK / HERALD
» TASK FORCE, from page 1 dynamics of these types of issues.” The Title IX Committee would comprise different faculty members, staff members and students on a caseby-case basis. The committee members present at each hearing would differ depending upon the demographic of the complainant and respondent, Carey said. For example, a medical student would sit on the Title IX Committee at a hearing involving a medical student, he added. If a student were charged with violating both the “Policy” and the Code of Student Conduct, the student’s case would be heard only by the Title IX Committee, which would determine an appropriate sanction, the report states. Following the appointment of Amanda Walsh as the University’s first-ever Title IX program officer, the task force also urged the formation of a Title IX Office that would oversee all processes surrounding sexual and gender-based violence and harassment. The office would comprise current faculty members selected as Title IX coordinators for undergraduates, graduate students and medical students, Carey said. These Title IX coordinators would partner with other University resource centers, such as the Department of Public Safety, Health Services and the Office of Student Life. The report also suggests the formation of an oversight committee comprising students and faculty members to review the status of the task force’s recommendations every three years, beginning in spring 2016. The oversight committee would meet a few times per semester to monitor the Title IX Office’s work, Carey said. Complainants should be allowed to enter into an informal or formal resolution process, the report states. The informal process would be voluntary and would not result in any formal disciplinary action. Task force member Katie Byron ’15 said the idea behind an informal process is supported by research that she and Will Furuyama ’15 conducted last summer about survivors’ experiences with the University’s adjudication process. Byron and Furuyama interviewed about a dozen students who either
had or had not decided to report an incident of sexual assault, Byron said. “Every student expressed some desire for some space for that student who had harmed them to acknowledge that what they had done was wrong,” Byron said, adding that survivors were also wary of becoming involved in a lengthy adjudication process. “Having an informal process still affords students the opportunity to have accommodations like housing changes … and classes changes,” she said. Acknowledging that sexual misconduct cases have become increasingly legalistic, with some hearings involving outside lawyers, the task force recommended that the University release a list of local lawyers willing to represent either complainants or respondents pro bono. The task force did not reach a definitive conclusion as to whether the University should hire an internal or external investigator to gather evidence in sexual misconduct cases, the report states. Near the end of their work, the task force members were leaning toward an internal model, Byron said. “There’s certainly concern for bringing people into the University when people are already questioning the University as a whole,” she said. The task force’s studies of other schools that have used the external investigator model showed that it may slow down the process, since the hire often also works as a lawyer and is busy with other cases, Byron said. “Having someone internal, you can hold them more accountable, because they have a more direct relationship with the University,” she said. The implementation of the final report’s recommendations would come at a cost to the University, Carey said, though he declined to specify particular expenditures. While University resources are always considered in decisions about new initiatives, “the goal and the importance of the work that needs to be done has already been given extremely high priority and I would expect that continue,” Carey said. The report stressed the need for a trauma-informed perspective regarding both parties involved in cases. “As a task force, we kept coming back to that … ensuring that we were being
equitable for both the complainant and respondent,” said Michele Cyr, professor of medicine, associate dean for academic affairs and co-chair of the task force. But the University can still put in place interim measures, such as changing residence halls of either party once a complaint has been filed “without the presumption of a violation of a policy,” Carey said. The task force further expanded upon the idea presented in the interim report that the University host mandatory sexual assault training prevention for all students. A committee headed by Liza Cariaga-Lo, vice president for academic development, diversity and inclusion, has already begun gathering student feedback and preparing a new education program for next year’s orientation, Carey said. Student feedback indicated that not enough time was spent discussing sexual assault and consent during previous orientations, he added. The final report’s recommendations also include standardizing practices for administering medical exams relevant to cases, including toxicology tests. In a March 18 letter to the members of the task force included in the final report, Paxson wrote that every attempt should be “made to provide students with access to date-rape drug testing that meets forensic standards.” The suggestion followed a Herald article that revealed a University-hired laboratory improperly conducted a hair test, as well as subsequent protests by the student movement Act4RJ against what participants saw as the University’s mishandling of the related sexual assault and date-rape drug cases. “The recommendation would not have been there should this issue not have been raised in such a public way, and that activism has been really essential in forming these policies,” Byron said. In her community-wide email, Paxson stressed the importance of the enforcement of confidentiality provisions. The final report defines the difference between privacy and confidentiality in more specific language than sections of the interim report, which many found confusing, Carey said. The availability of sexual
misconduct resources for graduate and medical students also surfaced as a topic of concern in the final report. “Many of the support services that are in place feel to some (graduate and medical students) like they are more in place for undergraduates,” Carey said. Graduate and medical students can feel isolated from the main campus, and while resources like “Health Services and Counseling and Psychological Services might be second nature to undergraduates, they may not be on the radar” of graduate or medical students, he said. Flow charts explaining the reporting process for graduate and medical students will be featured on the Title IX website. While the process is not particularly different than for undergraduates, certain stages may vary depending upon the faculty members with whom graduate and medical students must work, Cyr said. If Paxson decides to implement the “Policy” and the “Process,” the flowcharts detailing the undergraduate reporting process created after the interim report will need to be updated, Carey said. The task force also recommended that Paxson appoint a senior officer to the statewide task force on sexual assault and implement an annual program for tracking and reporting information regarding sexual assault to the Brown community. Members of the task force relied on student feedback following the interim report’s release to construct their final report, Carey said. “Feedback was generally really positive or drew our attention to problem areas that we needed to adjust … within the final draft,” said Justice Gaines ’16, another member of the task force. “I really encourage people to find the time to read the report,” Gaines said. “It’s a long report, but it’s a total overhaul of our policy.” Paxson wrote in her communitywide email that she will issue a response to the final report by the end of the semester, so that the implementation of accepted recommendations can begin over the summer. Carey said he does not expect many recommendations approved by Paxson to require the further approval of the Corporation, the University’s highest governing body.
has encountered several couples who originally met in one of the University’s libraries. “They can be places of great frustration … but then they can also be places of great discovery,” she said. These University spaces elicit such emotions when students work tirelessly to craft arguments, crack problem sets and complete proofs, she said. “My hope in getting everyone together here is to restore this space to what it should be,” Paxson added. Nelson recognized the many late nights that students spend doing work in the library. “To me, this feels a little like the middle of an emotional night,” she said. “Let’s hold tight to each other.” After Paxson and Nelson spoke, community members in attendance, as well as students working in the space, were encouraged to enjoy catered food and appreciate each other’s company. “I wanted to welcome people back into the space,” Paxson told The Herald. “And I wanted to do it in a very purposeful way.” “It’s really wonderful that we are having this event,” Steven Lavallee, head of the Friedman Study Center, told The Herald. “It’s been heartening to see the response of the community.” Lavallee said his worst fear was that he would enter the library the day after the incident to find it completely empty. “But I came in and there was a bake sale on the first floor,” he said. “And I knew it was going to be all right when I saw those students.” “The space is so beloved by students,” Lavallee said. “I didn’t want this space to be defined by this one event.” A formal memorial service for Sohn will take place in May.
UNIVERSITY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015 • PAGE 3
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
This Week in Higher Ed BY JOSEPH ZAPPA, UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR
Rutgers temporarily bans Greek parties Rutgers University barred all of its 86 fraternities and sororities from holding parties for the rest of the spring semester, the New York Times reported Tuesday. The ban follows “a number of alcohol-related incidents” tied to Greek life this semester, Rutgers Director of Media Relations E.J. Miranda said in a statement released Monday. Rutgers’ Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs “is taking this step out of caution and concern and will use this time to continue and reinforce its dialogue with the leadership of the university’s 86 recognized fraternities and sororities about Greek life at Rutgers and their responsibilities to the campus community at large,” Miranda said. A Rutgers student died of alcohol poisoning in September after attending a fraternity party, and the university also disbanded one of its fraternities last month after a student in Sigma Phi Epsilon was hospitalized for alcohol poisoning, the Times reported. Greek organizations will still be permitted to host end-of-semester formals and “events where third-party vendors serve alcohol” but will face disciplinary action from the university for holding any other parties with alcohol service, the Times reported.
UVA editorial board blasts Rolling Stone The Columbia School of Journalism released a report Sunday on Rolling Stone’s coverage of an alleged gang rape at the University of Virginia chapter of the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. The report, which appeared on Rolling Stone’s website, assesses a November article that has come under intense scrutiny for presenting fabricated information as fact and concluded that Rolling Stone’s errors “encompassed reporting, editing, editorial supervision and fact-checking.” But the managing board of the Cavalier Daily, UVA’s student newspaper, expressed dissatisfaction with the report, writing that it did not go far enough in censuring Rolling Stone’s reporting. The editorial slams the orginal story’s author, Sabrina Rubin Erdely, for relaying the inaccurate account of her main source, an anonymous student referred to as Jackie, as well as for selecting elements of UVA’s culture that present a lopsided picture of the school’s student body and administrators. “The desire to portray rape at its most gruesome, and UVA at its most privileged, spilled over into Erdely’s descriptions of other elements of UVA, elements not necessarily connected to Jackie’s story,” the editorial states. The Columbia report failed to recognize the breadth of these errors, the managing board alleged. “It is a dramatic oversimplification to reduce this article — which shook our university to its core — just to that one narrative,” the board wrote.
Syracuse foregoes fossil fuels Syracuse University will divest from all fossil fuel stocks in its endowment, according to a March 31 university press release. Syracuse’s endowment is the largest among American universities to be purged of all fossil fuel stocks, the New York Times reported. Other schools with larger endowments, such as Stanford University, have divested from coal but not other fossil fuels. The move to divest follows intense pressure from student activists. In November, students staged an 18-day sit-in calling for fossil fuel divestment and other causes, the Times reported. One impetus for the change was ongoing dialogue with students in favor of divestment, exemplified by a February meeting with a student divestment organization, according to the press release. “We have already had productive dialogue on divestment, and this step underscores our mutual commitment to acting in a way that supports the best interests of the University, our students and the world,” Bea González, dean of Syracuse’s University College and special assistant to the chancellor, said in the press release.
» FACULTY, from page 1 and suspensions issued last semester, another faculty member said. The system is “all very carefully timed,” and missing grades are “an enormous administrative headache,” Mandel said. Rachel Friedberg, senior lecturer in economics, suggested only immediately grading exams that would determine whether a certain student is to be placed on academic warning or suspension. Richard Bungiro, senior lecturer in molecular microbiology and immunology, concurred and proposed a system in which the professor must initially indicate only whether students have passed the course and later determine the final grade. University Chaplain Janet Cooper Nelson suggested that exams taken by large numbers of students be moved earlier in the examination period. The faculty did not vote on the motion, which will be reevaluated and further discussed at a subsequent meeting. Faculty members also discussed how Brown can be more familyfriendly. A committee headed by Associate Professor of History Seth Rockman noted that many faculty members are not free at 5:30 p.m. for meetings or events, some of which are crucial for young scholars but may interfere with their familial responsibilities. Currently, comprehensive searches are the norm in hiring. But in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, it is not always rational or practical to conduct extensive searches, said Kevin McLaughlin P’12, dean of the faculty. The reality is that postdoctoral and visiting faculty members in STEM fields are often
» A CAPPELLA, from page 1 at RISD, but we tend to get together in smaller groups” said Sriya Muralidharan ’15, one of the principal organizers of the event. “We wanted to bring in a really popular group with hopes of reinvigorating the South Asian community in Providence,” she added. Since Penn Masala established itself as the first Hindi a capella group in the United States, they have managed to build a large following over the years, Muralidharan said. “They appealed to not only the South Asian community, but also all sorts of (people from the) collegiate population here.” Wonho Rhee ’16 said he was motivated to attend the concert by his Indian friends and girlfriend, who were familiar with Penn Masala and who had highly recommended their music. “I wanted to see if the hype was real — it was!” During the concert, the group performed many variations of familiar hit songs. Their mashups included selections such as “She Will Be Loved/O Re Piya,” “Heartless/Kabhi Kabhi” and “Viva La Vida/Jashn-e-Bahara.” Both the English and Hindi songs were received with uproarious applause and cheers from the audience. “All the songs were really great,”
hired from within for a year or two, he said, adding that there will still be oversight of such appointments to address diversity concerns. In an effort to increase diversity, the University will implement the President’s Diversity Postdoctoral Fellowship, a program that will select six postdoctoral fellows for next year from a pool of 266 applicants, said President Christina Paxson P’19. This pool reflects high percentages of underrepresented minority and female candidates looking to study issues related to race, ethnicity and gender, she added. The next motion passed by the faculty extended the deadline for students to declare a second or third concentration from the beginning of the seventh semester to the end of the seventh semester. While Dietrich Neumann, professor of history of art and architecture, urban studies and Italian studies, raised the concern that allowing students to do a third concentration is encouraging them to do the “opposite of concentrating,” Mandel said that very few students actually pursue this option, and the change does not reflect an endorsement for them to begin doing so. Faculty members also approved the creation of a third tier of lecturers: distinguished senior lecturer. Luiz Valente PhD’83, professor of Portuguese and Brazilian studies and comparative literature, called the motion “really excellent” but pointed to several weaknesses in the language of the proposed addition to the handbook, which can be revised once any motion is passed. In an address to attendees at the meeting, Provost Vicki Colvin said current support for graduate students is insufficient. Colvin said she will prioritize graduate students’ health
and financial needs within her current five-year plan for graduate program support. The new plan is slated to provide health insurance, dental insurance and stronger financial support during the summer. These measures are a rational approach to bring Brown to the level of peer institutions, Colvin said. Paxson also reported on the sexual misconduct policy. She called the Task Force on Sexual Assault’s final report “not the end of work, but the beginning of work,” adding that she encouraged faculty members to take the time to read the report. Paxson highlighted several aspects of the 63-page document, including a single policy that governs students, faculty members and staff members in sexual misconduct cases, the use of outside investigators in those cases and mandatory annual training for all community members. Faculty members appointed four new members to sit on the Standing Committee of Academic Code to address the recent increase in emergency meetings on code violations. The appointees are Bungiro, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature Stephen Foley ’74 P’04 P’07, Associate Professor of Engineering and Senior Associate Dean of the Faculty Janet Blume and Professor of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences Ruth Colwill. The faculty meeting also included two memorial minutes for Stanley Aronson, founding dean of the Alpert Medical School, and Juergen Schulz, professor emeritus of history of art and architecture. A memorial service for Aronson will be held May 1. Paxson asked the faculty to stand in silence a third time to honor Hyoun Ju Sohn GS, who died March 31.
Muralidharan said. “Mixing two songs requires a lot of the attention to the skeleton of the music — it’s definitely tricky,” she said. Prashant Ramesh, a third-year at Penn and music director of Penn Masala, said he oversees all of the arrangements that the group puts together. “Sometimes we look for a Hindi song that we really like and look for an (English) song that mixes with it,” he said, adding that the process can begin with an English song as well. Keeping their work relevant to American and Indian mainstream pop culture is “very important” to the group, Ramesh said. “While we do like to experiment with new genres, we definitely try to keep in mind what’s hot right now and what people are listening to,” he said, adding that the group keeps track of top songs on Billboard, iTunes and Spotify, as well as on popular Indian music sites. Many of Penn Masala’s members “grew up in Indian-American families in the U.S.,” Ramesh said. The group turns to their shows and social media to reflect this cultural background, he said. “We try to convey that in every way that we can.” “Most of our fans are similar to us in that they’re also Indian-American,” he added. “They’re struggling to balance
their Indian upbringing with their living in America.” Ramesh said the bicultural nature of the music was what initially drew him to join Penn Masala. “Once I joined, I felt at home with the group,” he added. “We consider ourselves really close, like brothers. … That’s a big part of what keeps us in it.” Though Brown’s South Asian community is relatively small, this allows for the formation of “more tight-knit” bonds within it, Muralidharan said. “Growing up in the U.S., part of holding on to (my Indian) culture was music and Bollywood, and sharing (those aspects of myself) with my American friends,” she added. “Being able to do that here on campus and enjoy this event with all my friends, I think, is a real privilege.” “I had a fun time listening to the songs I couldn’t understand and appreciating the vocal talent of the Penn Masala members,” Rhee said. “Mixing in the pop songs in English … certainly sweetened the experience for me. The mix was just right.” “Primarily we hope that people come to our shows and enjoy the music and have a good time,” Ramesh said. “Beyond that, we hope that people listen to our music as a way of bringing together two aspects of their identity that they really care about.”
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METRO
PAGE 4 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Regulation of Uber, Lyft comes under debate Recent fatalities tied to transportation network companies raise questions of liability MATTHEW JARRELL CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The status of auto insurance coverage for drivers employed by Transportation Network Companies such as Uber and Lyft faced scrutiny at the State House Tuesday, as a joint legislative commission reevaluated the state’s Public Motor Vehicle Act, which passed in 2013. The congressional committee was tasked with analyzing the compatability of the state’s current regulations for public taxi and livery — or chauffeured — services amidst the growing popularity of TNCs. The members heard testimony from Rick Szilagyi, chief executive officer of the New England Livery Organization; Robert Passmore, a representative of Property Casualty Insurers; Ernest Shaghalian, a representative of Independent Insurance Agents of Rhode Island; and Brad Nail, a public policy insurance manager at Uber. All who testified said prudent regulation of the growing industry is both achievable and desirable. But protecting drivers employed by TNCs and customers of these services from risk remains a significant concern. Over the course of testimony, the insurance “coverage gap” emerged as a major topic of discussion. Though
services like Uber rely on private drivers who provide their own vehicles, insurance companies group them with other livery services that own the cars used by their private drivers. Personal insurance policies usually do not cover livery, and so those who elect to drive for Uber are faced with a gap between on-the-job and off-the-job use of their vehicles. Both Passmore and Shaghalian noted that this gap exposes drivers to considerable financial liability. “People are more apt to sue big companies than someone who is just giving a ride gratuitously,” Shaghalian said, adding that risk-averse insurance companies are more worried about covering an employed driver, even in a personal vehicle. Testimonies also addressed distinctions drawn between various stages of TNC operation. Other states with TNC legislation differentiate the period of time before a driver has accepted a ride request through the company’s phone application and the period after the driver has picked up a customer, Passmore said. Payouts for incidents — including but not limited to accidents — during the initial period are capped at a lower rate, he said. Committee member John Olinger of the New England Livery Association questioned this policy. The two recent fatalities associated with TNCs were both pedestrians, not passengers, Olinger said. Thus, the drivers “need just as much insurance during that period one as they need in period two … In theory, they’re looking down at
their phone more during that time,” he said. Rep. John Edwards, D-Tiverton and Portsmouth, co-chair of the committee, highlighted what he saw as a major insurance problem while questioning Passmore. Because the driver would be relying on a personal insurance policy during period one, he said, states with existing legislative models do not provide comprehensive enough coverage for TNC for drivers. Shaghalian expressed doubt that insurance providers would change their policies to correct for these perceived failures, even as services like Uber command more of the market. He described the caps on coverage as “woefully inadequate.” Nail, representing Uber’s perspective in the conversation, noted that the company guarantees the absence of coverage gaps to its drivers while acknowledging that industry standards needed to be established. “The primary concern is how to ensure coverage at all times,” he said. The crucial elements of any proposed strategy are providing protection for everyone involved and allowing personal and commercial insurance policies to work together “as seamlessly as possible,” he added. It is imperative for every TNC to provide commercial insurance coverage for its drivers, as Uber does, in order to avoid coverage gaps that arise from the failure of personal insurance policies in covering employed driving, Nail said.
» IFF, from page 8 will also lead a workshop followed by a screening of the movie “Dosa Hunt,” folowed by a question-and-answer session with director Amrit Singh. The film follows Singh and musicians such as Yeasayer on their quest to find the best-tasting dosa in New York. IFF will also host a pre-screening of “Trainwreck,” a recent film directed by Judd Apatow and starring Amy Schumer. “We’re lucky to get ‘Trainwreck’ because the film just finished production, and we’re one of the few places to see the final cut,” Sharma said. “It seems like a lighthearted comedy that will be entertaining,” said Alice Sun ’16, adding that she’s looking forward to attending the screening. In addition to securing a variety of filmmakers to facilitate workshops and discussion on campus, IFF has partnered with local venues such as the Dean Hotel and Avon Cinema. The Dean will showcase student films
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COURTESY OF JACKIE CHON
DANakaDAN closed Saturday’s show with high-energy rapping, igniting the crowd with his invigorating music and stage presence.
» KTX, from page 8 stay together despite a long-distance separation. Guest performer Junghee Oh sang and played the gayageum, a traditional Korean folk instrument. DANakaDAN, a musician and Korean adoptee, spoke with the audience about his struggle in identifying as Korean-American and discussed the meaning behind the lyrics of his popular YouTube songs. He then rapped, closing the show. Darius Chyou ’16, a member of KASA, said he was “pleasantly surprised” by DANakaDAN’s performance. “It was really nice how much he engaged the audience and got the crowd pumped up,” Chyou said The support of spectators was evident throughout the show and during the intermission — performers
flooded the audience and were greeted with hugs and praise. Park said these bonds of support characterize KASA’s tight-knit community. “KASA has just become my family at school,” she said. Following the intermission, Han and Isabel Kim requested a moment of silence to honor the life of Hyoun Ju Sohn GS, a Korean graduate student who died last week. Like the cultural show, KASA holds other events during the year that encourage investigation and appreciation of Korean culture; typical workshops include food tastings, dance lessons and movie screenings, Park said. “Everyone in KASA is very happy to share their culture with everyone,” Chyou said. “Even though I’m not Korean, I’ve always felt welcome.”
from last year’s festival, Woodward said. IFF’s partnership with the Dean is “another example of our growing presence in Providence as an important cultural event that draws lots of people to the Brown campus … but also extends beyond the Brown campus,” he said. At the heart of the festival are the selected student films and screenplays. IFF received more than 250 submissions for four separate competitions: the domestic undergraduate film competition, graduate school film competition, international film competition and screenplay competition. Twenty-six films and 12 student screenplays were selected. Unlike in previous years, this year’s festival will showcase the chosen student-written screenplays through live readings. Sharma said she was excited to have student actors and members of the selection committee, who are already familiar with the screenplays, come together and perform. “It was like reliving the festival
through a completely different lens. … It was a very fresh take on this experience,” Sharma said, adding that the readings lend an opportunity for students to visualize how these readings can be transformed into a film at an early stage of the process. Woodward noted that as IFF has grown continuously over the years, it has expanded beyond the Ivy League. IFF has reached out to other universities with emphases on film, such as Northwestern University and the University of Michigan, and will show its official selection of student films on four different campuses including Harvard and Princeton. Sharma expressed hope of branding the organization as a “young” and “forward-thinking” platform for future generations of filmmakers and creative thinkers. “This year, we’ve come to realize that our long-term goal for IFF is to become the Sundance of student films,” Sharma said. “Every year, IFF is becoming more sophisticated and consistent.”
TODAY
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015 • PAGE 5
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
menu
a l l yo u n e e d i s lo v e
SATELLITE DINING JOSIAH’S Gourmet Grilled Cheese BLUE ROOM Soups: Hearty Country Vegetable, Tomato Florentine, Baked Potato Mediterranean Pocket ANDREWS COMMONS Pizzas: Honey Boo Boo, Mushroom Madness, Thai BBQ
DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH
DINNER
Pastito, Chicken Fingers, Pork Lo Mein, Vegetable Medley Stir Fry, Carrots in Orange Sauce
Saturday Night Jambalaya, Roast Beef Au Jus, Pound Cake with Strawberries
VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH
DINNER
Italian Sausage and Pepper Sandwich, Pizza Rustica with Spinach, Caesar Salad Pizza
Meatloaf with Mushroom Sauce, Szechuan Spicy Pork Stir Fry, Stewed Tomatoes
sudoku
SADIE HOPE-GUND / HERALD
Students like Andrew Vann ‘17 show their support for multiracial relationships and families as part of Loving Week, presented in part by the Brown Organization of Multiracial and Biracial Students.
comics P-Branes and Bosons | Ricky Oliver ‘17
RELEASE DATE– Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle c rNorris o s sandwJoyce o rNichols d Lewis Edited by Rich ACROSS 1 Victorian 5 Like much 67Down 10 Bay of Bengal setting 14 Extinct pigeon relative 15 First name in puppetry 16 __ jar: lab glass 17 Hold banned in amateur wrestling 19 Take one’s leave 20 Make sure of 21 Stretched to the max 23 Reggae cousin 24 Premier League athlete 28 Apply gently 31 CBS-owned cable sta. 32 Pond gunk 33 Prefix with footprint 34 Pulls down 37 Winter pick-meup? 40 Innocents 44 Mite-sized 45 “Tut-tut!” 46 Actress Tyler 47 Important stretches 50 Beef cut 51 Maple syrup source 52 Influential teams 57 Louisville Slugger wood 58 Comfy footwear 59 Jewish scholar 63 Swindle 65 April golf tournament, four of whose winners appear in 17-, 24-, 40- and 52Across 68 Movie plantation 69 Sea-born jewelry material 70 “Right now!” 71 Song and dance 72 Urgency 73 Snoopy DOWN 1 Sharable digital docs 2 Libertine
3 Onetime Palin collaborator 4 Feathers one’s nest, in a way 5 Full of: Suff. 6 Gp. with Sharks and Penguins 7 Decorator’s asset 8 Cheering like crazy 9 Hangers in lockers? 10 Justice Fortas 11 Figures in 9Down 12 “Very nice!” 13 A proposal may ultimately lead to one 18 Lasso loops 22 Dr. Mom’s forte 25 Spiced tea brewed in milk 26 Toe woes 27 Mustang, for one 28 Chapter 11 factor 29 Berry in faddish supplements 30 Star of a classic sitcom set at a Vermont inn 35 Imprecise degree 36 Like provolone piccante
38 1998 Sarah McLachlan ballad 39 Initial request for an answer? 41 Brontë heroine 42 German actor Jannings 43 Some outdoor grills 48 Slot machine part 49 __ tape 52 Macaroni Grill selection
53 Acting honor 54 Golfer Lorena 55 AOLers, e.g. 56 “Paradise Lost” figure 60 Spanish smooch 61 Lingerie catalog buys 62 Car trip game 64 Some advanced degs. 66 Floor pad 67 Part of IPA
Ampersand | Wasita Mahaphanit ‘18
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
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calendar
04/08/15
TODAY
TOMORROW
12:00 P.M. “STUDENT JOURNALISTS REPORT FROM
5:00 P.M. “SPRING WEEKEND DO’S AND DON’TS”
NICARAGUA”
Minority Peer Counselors will offer tips and advice on safety and fun at Spring Weekend. Duck and Bunny cupcakes will be provided. Wilson 101
Students will present their writings on Nicaraguan life based on their recent academic trip to the country. Watson Institute, Joukowsky Forum 5:00 P.M. “MAKING YOUR OWN HISTORY: QUEER ACTIVISM”University and community activists will speak
about modes of everyday activism and fostering inclusion. Petteruti Lounge, Faunce
7:30 P.M. “#MISREPRESENTED: MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE MEDIA”
Active Minds will facilitate a discussion of media depictions of mental illness. Salomon 003 8:00 P.M. “410[GONE]”
5:30 P.M. BROWN STUDENTS FOR HILLARY INTEREST MEETING
By D. Scott Nichols and C.C. Burnikel ©2015 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
04/08/15
Group leaders will discuss how interested students can get involved in Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Wilson 301
Sock and Buskin will present 410[GONE], a play directed by Erik Ehn that follows Chinese-American siblings as they navigate loss. Leeds Theatre, Lyman Hall
COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
EDITORIAL
Striking a balance On Monday, 44 Rhode Island School of Design technicians ended a strike protesting the school’s stance in union contract negotiations, which centered on health care premiums, wage increases and retirement contributions. The strike lasted five days. The technicians at RISD are vital to the basic functioning of the school. Without their work, students cannot use the machines and shop spaces in RISD studios. That’s exactly why the length of the strike made such a large impact on daily school activities. Protests and strikes are the right of every university student and faculty member, and as of late, they have become hugely significant in Providence and at universities across the United States. Indeed, the gravity of the issues that have emerged in the past few years has made protests a necessity. Just up the hill from RISD, Brown also boasts a legacy of protests. Encyclopedia Brunoniana states that “Student protests are almost as old as the college itself,” with the first one dating back to 1773. More recently, hundreds of Brown community members participated in an important and long overdue protest against sexual assault — a subject that has embroiled the nation and prompted institutions of higher learning to face and revise longstanding insufficient policies. The silent march last month to protest what participants saw as the University’s mishandling of recent sexual assault and date-rape drug cases was a clear and effective way of addressing the situation. Members of the student movement Act4RJ organized the protest so that it conflicted with only one class period, so that disturbance was minor. The protesters’ list of demands even reached President Christina Paxson P’19, who endorsed all the demands related to University policy. Back to RISD, where many normal campus functions were essentially shut down last week, and professors were forced to relocate or postpone classes in order to maintain any sort of schedule. Some students who actively participated in the strike missed multiple class meetings to show their support for the technicians. On Monday, however, 900 students gathered on RISD’s campus after the signing of a new agreement between RISD President Rosanne Somerson P’11 and the representative of the school technicians. Following the signing, the technicians swiftly returned to their work. Freedom of expression is a part of schooling and should be cultivated in and respected by universities. RISD students were not penalized for attending the rally Monday, and many RISD professors devoted class time to discussing the issue, just as Brown professors have done in regards to the University’s handling of the recent sexual assault and date-rape drug cases. Because of their pervasiveness and relevance, protests and strikes are a form of education that sometimes should disrupt the rhythm of university life. But they should never last longer than necessary. A RISD student who chose to protest every day of the strike, for example, would have missed almost a week of classes to support a cause he or she believed in and would have been forced to sacrifice other aspects of his or her education. Both the strike at RISD and the silent protest at Brown were meant to improve students’ overall well-being and safety on the respective campuses. Those goals cannot be realized if classes are not being held or if students cannot accomplish their day-to-day activities for an extended period of time. Students should not have to miss a week of classes in order to support something they believe in. And if they do, the school administration should seriously consider the issue and the protestors’ demands. 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, Baxter DiFabrizio ’15, Mathias Heller ’15 and Aranshi Kumar ’17. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.
M I R A N DA F R I E L
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Q U O T E O F T H E D AY
“This year, we’ve come to realize that our long-term goal for IFF is to become the Sundance of student films.” — Supreeti Sharma ’15
See iff on back.
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COMMENTARY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015 • PAGE 7
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Reducing mental health stigma AMEER MALIK opinions columnist
Though there are not sufficient words to describe the tragedy of Hyoun Ju Sohn’s GS death on March 31 and we cannot know what led to his suicide, we can take steps to help members of our community who are suffering psychologically and who are not getting the help they need by continuing our dialogue about mental health. As someone who received psychotherapy during high school and through Counseling and Psychological Services at Brown, I believe we need to work toward reducing mental health stigma in our campus dialogue. This is an essential step to take in order to address the psychological needs of all members of our community. There is more than one kind of mental health stigma, as Graham Davey, professor of psychology at the University of Sussex, outlined in an August 2013 article in Psychology Today. First, there is social stigma, which involves prejudice and discrimination against people with certain psychological conditions. The second type is self-stigma, which includes people perceiving that they will face discrimination for their psychological conditions and feeling shame as a result. As part of this discussion, the Undergraduate Council of Students hosted an open forum Wednesday for students to discuss how to grow mental health services, better convey information about those resources and destigmatize seeking help, The Herald reported Thursday. In a December guest column in The Herald, UCS also contended that mental health stigma is an issue on campus and pointed to the fact that, according to CAPS, “25 percent of students have previously been medicated for a mental health condition before entering campus and 40 percent have previously sought counseling.” But less than one-fifth of
students draw on CAPS resources every year. To reduce social stigma on campus, we have to bring to light correct and accurate information about various mental conditions. Through this, we can dispel harmful stereotypes that are part of popular culture and reduce negative attitudes about various conditions, which can create an environment that is more accepting and comforting. When people with certain psychological conditions do not feel they will be mistreated, they may find it easier to reach out for help when they need to. There are a variety of methods that our campus can utilize to spread this correct information about various conditions. In its column, UCS called for annual “panel discussion, speakers and workshops facilitated by CAPS” to help expand conversations
they are going through. When I was very young and first experienced the aspects of my condition, I was scared and thought there was something especially wrong with me. When I finally found out the name for my condition was obsessive-compulsive disorder, read literature about it and received treatment, I felt relieved that I could make sense of my pain and found comfort in knowing that I was not alone in my experience. I fear that people frequently do not seek treatment because they do not fully understand what they are experiencing, and we need to remain mindful of this when determining how to convey information on mental health. To help people better understand the psychological pain that they may be experiencing, we could create informative pamphlets and guide-
In order to reduce social stigma on campus, we have to bring to light correct and accurate information about various mental conditions. about mental health and decrease stigma. I agree that these can be useful ways to bring important information out into the community. We should have regular and mandatory information sessions for each class and for graduate students. If feasible, such programs could be held once a semester or once a year — they could help make our transitions back to campus after breaks easier. Such programs could also encourage productive conversations about mental health on campus, bringing the topic out of the dark and making it part of the open discussions that Brown community members have about other important matters, such as gender, race and sexuality. Those who felt uncomfortable about attending these programs could be given other options, such as meeting privately with specially-trained peer or faculty advisers. Another advantage to spreading accurate information is that it can help people who are experiencing psychological pain better understand what
books that would be readily available in numerous places around campus, such as the Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center or the libraries. Electronic versions could also be available for students who preferred to digitally read such texts. Though we cannot overwhelm people who would prefer to not be reminded of their conditions, we have to make sure that there are multiple ways for valuable information to be obtained in order to address the various preferences that people have. But there are two problems that can arise from focusing on conditions with particular medical names. One, as Davey explained in his Psychology Today article, is that the medical model of mental health — with its emphasis on illness and diagnosis — can exacerbate stigma by suggesting there is something abnormal about people with certain conditions. It can be challenging for students to find that what they feel is labeled as an “illness” or as a “disease.” Though I was relieved when my experiences
were given a particular name, I do not appreciate the name itself, which implies that I have a problem that should be fixed. While certain aspects of my condition still cause me hardships and difficulty, other aspects do not strike me as problematic. For example, the fact that I spend more time washing my hands than many other people is not an issue, as long as I care for my skin with lotion to make sure it does not become uncomfortably dry. I do not think I have to change this particular behavior, though it is associated with my OCD. The second problem that arises from focusing on conditions with medical names is that we might inadvertently imply that only people who can put a specific medical name to what they are facing can seek treatment. When I started seeing a psychotherapist during high school, I felt wrong about discussing matters that did not relate to OCD. But through therapy, I have come to realize that I can talk about a variety of different matters that cause me psychological hardship, even if they do not directly relate to my condition. I applaud CAPS for listing on its homepage the various matters students discuss with CAPS psychotherapists, which include many topics without medical names, such as “adjustment to Brown,” “motivation difficulties” and “family concerns.” Therefore, in our continuing dialogue, we should encourage people who might not be able to put a name to their psychological pain to still seek help. At Brown, we strive to create a community that is open and accepting for people of all backgrounds. We must be considerate of each other’s various psychological make-ups. Together, we must continue our discussion about mental health. We have to pay attention to the emotional lives of ourselves and of each other, and we have to make sure members of our community feel safe and supported to seek the help they need.
Ameer Malik ’18 can be reached at ameer_malik@brown.edu.
The Republican primary’s first casualty IAN KENYON opinions columnist
In the last two weeks, one installment of the Republican presidential primary began in Lynchburg, Virginia with Senator Ted Cruz announcing his candidacy; another installment, elsewhere, died. At the Indiana State Capitol in Indianapolis, Gov. Mike Pence signed into law Senate Enrolled Act 101, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Flanked by nuns, monks, clergy and a rabbi — among others — Pence presented his state with the adoption of a law that will allow individuals or corporations to use religious beliefs as defenses in legal proceedings. Particularly, an individual or a corporation can refrain from a business transaction in the event that he, she or it disagrees with the prevailing religious beliefs of the owner. Criticism swelled immediately, not only within Indiana but across the country, as critics of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act pointed out that the law would allow for discriminatory business practices toward gay and lesbian consumers. It is true that Pence has not declared a formal candidacy or even started an exploratory committee, as several other Republican presidential hopefuls have already done. When Pence articulated his own outlook on his career, he admitted he prefers to move slowly. “I’m
an A to B, B to C, C to D guy,” he said in February at the National Governors Association in Washington. Pence’s career supports this slow and methodical climb up the political food chain. He won a congressional seat in 2000, became the Republican Conference Chairman — the third-highest ranking party leadership position — in 2008 and ran a successful campaign for governor in 2012. The media frequently refers to Pence as a potential “dark horse” Republican for the 2016 presidential candidacy, since he boasts a reduction in his state’s unemployment rate from 7.9 to 5.8 percent, cut business taxes while increasing the state tax
damage had already been inflicted. Across media platforms and spectrums, Pence’s political fortunes were being written off as worthless. Adam Wren declared the Governor’s “dream” was crumbling in Politico, and conservative pundit Ann Coulter told Fox News anchor Bill O’Reilly, “I’m glad this Mike Pence isn’t running for president.” Some voices in the media countered this opinion. Tom LoBianco, a columnist for the Indianapolis Star, suggested that, “Now Pence is a hero to his base, and every Silicon Valley honcho and Hollywood star he stands up to only strengthens his standing.” LoBianco also noted that supporting such a policy
ments have banned state-funded travel to Indiana. In the entertainment industry, comedian Nick Offerman and the band Wilco have even canceled scheduled appearances within the state. Inside Indiana, the business community that looked to benefit from hosting the Final Four has been on high damage control. Business leaders have looked to make the best of their circumstances. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay tweeted, “The Colts have always embraced inclusiveness, tolerance and a diverse fan base. We welcome ALL fans to Colts Nation.” It may not be too late for Indiana, but it is too late for Pence.
It may not be too late for Indiana, but it is too late for Pence. revenue and presides over the nation’s fastest-growing school voucher program. Yet that seemingly plausible next step now rests miles ahead for the governor after what has arguably been the worst week of his career. Reluctant to capitulate to the protests of Hoosiers across Indiana and countless individuals across the country, Pence stood his ground and declared that the law would not be amended. Of course, he followed that statement by adding, “but if the General Assembly in Indiana sends me a bill that adds a section that reiterates and amplifies and clarifies what the law really is and what it has been for the last 20 years, then I’m open to that.” But it was too late. The political
in conservative Indiana plays well to the voters that brought Pence to the governor’s office. If Washington is all of a sudden out of Pence’s plans, there is still a race in Indiana that can easily be won. If Pence is to be proclaimed a hero among conservatives, his momentary victory is a hollow one at best. With the signing of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the business community struck back — and hard. Angie’s List, an Indianapolis-based online consumer review service, announced the cancellation of a $40 million expansion of its operations in the capitol. Governors from New York and Connecticut, as well as mayors such as Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, have stepped forth and announced that their govern-
As 11 other states flirt with enacting their own versions of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, one has to wonder why this issue is taking the stage now. Arkansas recently passed a version of Indiana’s law that is similar but contains more specific language. This law is not a new concept, as 20 other states already maintain their own “religious freedom” laws, including Rhode Island. Rhode Island passed its own version in the early 1990s after the U.S. Supreme Court reached a decision that would not allow Native Americans to use peyote in religious ceremonies. This law can serve as a positive example for Pence since the Rhode Island version explicitly protects gay and lesbian individuals, while the Indiana version ex-
plicitly makes them vulnerable to civil rights abuses. This political mess is an aftershock of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., a Supreme Court case that shook the country last June. The ruling, which allowed corporations to act on religious principle, was a victory for social conservatives in corporate America. Initially, Pence’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act featured language, or a lack thereof, that would have more easily allowed for corporations to exercise their religious philosophies. But as protests have mounted and criticism has been heaped on, Pence recently signed amendments to his law, potentially entirely undermining its intent. Pence is starting to look like a fish floundering in defeat. Indeed, former President Bill Clinton signed the first Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993, but times have changed. Twenty-two years later, we find ourselves in a much different country and a much different world than before. Governor Pence, if you wanted to ignite a presidential campaign, you should’ve faced forward and not looked back. Perhaps, one day, you’ll look back and realize this blunder. Rest in peace, Pence 2016.
Ian Kenyon GS is a public affairs candidate with the Taubman Center for Public Policy. Continue the conversation with him about Pence and 2016 at ian_kenyon@brown.edu.
ARTS & CULTURE THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015
COURTESY OF JACKIE CHON
Brown K-Pop Dance Association performs an ensemble piece choreographed to K-pop music and modeled after other K-pop dance productions Saturday night during “KTX: Korean Time Express,” the ninth annual Korean Culture Show. The K-Pop dancers were join by other student performers as well as guest artists Junghee Oh and DANakaDAN.
Korean Culture Show blends traditional with modern Acts showcase individual talents, share artistic expression of cultural identity with community By EMILY PASSARELLI SENIOR STAFF WRITER
After dining on Mama Kim’s, audience members gathered to watch “KTX: Korean Time Express,” the ninth annual
Korean Culture Show Saturday night. With acts representative of modern and traditional Korean culture, the show featured Rhode Island School of Design and Brown student performers as well as guest performers Junghee Oh and DANakaDAN in the RISD Auditorium. The show was a collaborative effort of the Brown Korean American Student Association, the Brown Korean International Student Association and the RISD Korean
Student Association. Peter Kim ’16, KISA executive board member, said the annual show gives Korean students the chance and the space to appreciate their culture and express their individual talents. The show’s main purpose was to share Korean culture with all students on campus, said Nicole Park ’15, KASA president. Though this year’s show featured less RISD student participation, the
fewer acts were “more polished as a result,” Park said. “We were all really happy with the turn-out and the performances,” she added. Eric Han ’16 and Isabel Kim ’17 co-emceed the show, offering comedic introductions to each of the acts. Brown Hansori opened the show with traditional percussive Korean music. The last act before intermission was a collaborative dance between the hosting organizations, DAEBAK and the
Brown K-Pop Dance Association to K-pop music with K-pop-inspired choreography. The blend of traditional and modern continued in the acts following intermission. A few students acted along to a recording of a skit derived from romantic comedy, “My Sassy Girl,” and the traditional Korean folk tale “Gyeon-woo and Jik-Nyeo” — a story of two lovers who battle to » See KTX, page 4
Ivy Film Festival screenings, panels zoom in on diversity in media This year’s festival features advanced screenings of several recent films, including ‘Trainwreck’ By GRACE YOON SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Ivy Film Festival will host an array of events this week, including screenplay readings, workshops and film screenings, illuminating issues of animation and diversity in the media. This year’s festival aims to provide “a diverse selection of events that would appeal to a varied audience,” said Elizabeth Woodward ’15, IFF co-executive director. Some events offer perspectives on approaches to filmmaking. For the first time, IFF has arranged a panel on animation in the media, during which students will be able to “talk to animators and those who work on the technology side of filmmaking,” said Supreeti Sharma ’15, IFF co-executive director. Matthew Frost, a filmmaker who specializes in editorial films intended to go viral through online magazines, will also lead a workshop. The event will focus on techniques for creating short films catered to specific media and audiences, Woodward explained. Other presenters strive to lead
COURTESY OF IVY FILM FESTIVAL
Ivy Film Festival has extended into the wider Providence community with screenings at local venues such as the Avon and the Dean Hotel. The festival has also expanded to other institutions beyond the Ivy League, including Northwestern University and the University of Michigan. thought-provoking discussions on diversity and representation in media. “We wanted to address issues (of diversity) and tried to bring more female
filmmakers and filmmakers of color,” Sharma said. After an advanced screening of “The Sisterhood of Night,” a film directed by
Caryn Waechter, the director and one of the actresses will discuss the role of women in filmmaking. “The team is fully composed of women,” Woodward said.
Michael Schultz, a renowned African-American filmmaker and a member of the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, » See IFF, page 4