SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019
VOLUME CLIII, ISSUE 2
WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
U. suspends Buxton House Govt. shutdown slows U. science research
Hearing found House responsible for Res. Life violations, unauthorized possession of alcohol
Closures delay grant reviews, cancel conferences, jeopardize long-term projects
By SPENCER SCHULTZ SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The University has suspended the housing privileges of Buxton International House until fall 2020 after finding the program house had “again violated the student code of conduct while on deferred suspension from a previous violation,” wrote President Christina Paxson P’19 in a Jan. 18 letter addressed to the parents of Buxton House students. The University reached this conclusion following a hearing in December 2018 through the Office of Student Conduct that was adjudicated by a panel which included student representation. Buxton was found responsible for “violation of the operational rules and procedure of Residential Life and unauthorized possession of alcohol,” said Sobhit Singh Arora ’21, the president of the suspended house. Though Greek and Program Housing groups “self-govern as all recognized student organizations do,” they still must operate “within the framework of University policies and the student conduct code,” wrote Assistant Director for Greek and Program House
By CATE RYAN SCIENCE & RESEARCH EDITOR
TIFFANY DING / HERALD
Affected students were originally given 72 hours to move out of Buxton after returning to campus this spring, but now have a more flexible timeline. Engagement Megan Fox in an email to The Herald. Organizations suspended by the University “lose recognition … and access to University services,” according to the Student Code of Conduct. In addition, organization members “may be removed from Program House space” during the suspension. While the specifics of hearing proceedings and findings are confidential, Buxton has had “a series of disciplinary infractions over the past three years, and was in a frequent state of conduct review” by the University, Paxson wrote. The House’s previous status of deferred suspension is the
“highest level sanction short of suspension.” “Buxton has a history of student conduct violations. That’s not something I would outwardly deny, because it’s definitely been an issue in the past,” Arora said. However, despite the House’s history, “we don’t feel like we’ve caused anyone harm with any of the events that have ever occurred. … We really do our best to make sure Buxton is a safe space for not only international (students) but anyone who comes to hang out with us,” he added. Buxton students were notified of » See BUXTON, page 4
Since Dec. 22, the University and other research institutions have scrambled to adapt to the unprecedented political stalemate over the federal government shutdown, which has dried up funds for federally supported research projects and now threatens long-term scientific advancement across the nation. When the government shut down before the holidays, major agencies like the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration all closed without approved appropriations for 2019. Research institutions rely on these agencies not only for funding but also for technological, data-based and research support. “The federal shutdown is causing uncertainty and complications about research funding at Brown … In some cases the shutdown is slowing
or halting research itself,” Vice President for Research Jill Pipher wrote in a statement to The Herald. Despite an inability to get funds from federal agencies, “the University is making scheduled payments on existing active NSF and NASA grants,” Pipher wrote, adding that these grants provide the salaries for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. “Brown, like other universities, is experiencing the strain of having to advance these funds without reimbursement.” “We’ve been in a state of pretty perpetual anxiety since the shutdown started,” said postdoctoral researcher Christopher Horvat, who works as a polar oceanographer at the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, where he studies sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans in relation to climate change. Horvat is not only a post-doc at the University but also a government contractor — he holds a second postdoctoral fellowship with the NOAA Climate and Global Change Program. Though Horvat’s paycheck has not yet been cut, his financial situation could change if the shutdown continues for more than a few more weeks, he said. Many research endeavours, especially in relation to the work of » See SHUTDOWN, page 4
Raimondo proposes U. program teaches ASL, Deaf culture, history marijuana legalization in R.I. Governor shifts position in response to changes in surrounding states, sparks mixed response By JACKSON TRUESDALE SENIOR STAFF WRITER
In a $9.9 billion state budget plan released last Thursday, Gov. Gina Raimondo proposed to legalize recreational adult-use marijuana. Taxes from medical and recreational marijuana constitute $6.5 million of the planned budget. Long opposed to legalizing marijuana, Raimondo has now changed her position. “I have some reluctance about it. But I think we can’t not do it with Massachusetts and Connecticut coming online. Like it or not, it’s here,” Raimondo told The Boston Globe. Last Sunday, a recreational marijuana retail store opened in Fall River, Mass., just several hundred feet from the border with Rhode Island, according to Fall River’s Herald News. “That means that it’s going to be sold to Rhode
INSIDE
Islanders,” State Rep. Edith Ajello, DProvidence, told The Herald. “Whatever problems are associated with that sale to Rhode Islanders, Rhode Island’s not going to collect any other taxes” which could remediate those issues, she added. State legislators will take months to finalize the state’s fiscal year 2020 budget. If the proposal to legalize marijuana moves forward, legislators will take even more time to fine-tune the details of legalization. For developing policy, “it would make sense to somewhat follow Massachusetts’ lead since they are right over the border,” Ajello said. With legalization, “the profitability would go out of the sale of marijuana for drug dealers,” Ajello said, adding, “the drug market would dry up. And I think that’s the way we more successfully keep marijuana and other drugs away from kids.” Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences and of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Jane Metrik studies the behavioral economics of marijuana use. Her research, recently » See BUDGET, page 3
American Sign Language one of top 10 languages taught at University, continuing to grow By MIA PATILLO CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As students in the University’s American Sign Language program enter their classroom, they immediately fall silent. The mode of communication shifts from vocal chords and shaped lips to hand gestures and emotive expressions. In this classroom, professors encourage full immersion not only to learn a new language, but also to be inclusive of everyone regardless of their hearing status. ASL is what connects the students, creating an intimate but powerful community. The ASL program at Brown consists of level 100-500 classes and is taught by Lecturer in American Sign Language Tim Riker and Visiting Lecturer in American Sign Language Heather Nowicki, both of whom are Deaf. Though it initially did not offer
DAPHNE ZHAO / HERALD
course credit, the program eventually hired a full-time faculty member and created a series of courses for credit in 2005, Riker said. Today, the program is among the top 10 languages taught at the University, with around 70 students enrolling this fall semester, roughly the same number of language students in the Italian or Korean programs, Riker added. After the last class in the program, SIGN 0500: “American
Sign Language V,” students who hope to continue studying ASL may pursue an independent study or, with enough student interest, SIGN 0600. There are currently no Deaf students in the ASL program. “People come out of (the ASL program) at an incredibly conversational, if not fluent, level,” said Siena Rafter ’20, a teaching assistant for » See ASL, page 2
WEATHER
THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019
ARTS & CULTURE Alternative band Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy releases first solo album of original songs, “WARM”
NEWS UCS Campus Life Committee hopes to continue free airport shuttle service
COMMENTARY Meszaros GS: Organizing bodies must do a better job protecting marginalized voices
COMMENTARY Anthony ’22: Los Angeles teachers’ strike a step in the right direction for public education
PAGE 2
PAGE 3
PAGE 7
PAGE 7
TODAY
TOMORROW
57 / 26
39 / 19
NEWS
PAGE 2 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019
» ASL, from page 1 the introduction level courses. “It’s a testament to how brilliant Tim is in teaching this course.” Some students in ASL courses have friends or family members who are Deaf, while others just have a general interest in the language, Riker said. The courses entail not only a study of the language, but of the culture and history of the Deaf community as well, which many students cited as one of the most enriching aspects. “The language doesn’t exist on its own — there’s a whole culture of the people who use the language and it’s important that we learn about and get exposure to that as well,” said Claire Kim-Narita ’21, who has been taking ASL for three semesters. “A lot of people sort of forget about the Deaf experience,” said Zoe Fieldsteel ’15. “It’s helpful to have in the back of your mind that this is a level of human diversity to be aware of.” Fieldsteel entered the ASL program on a whim as a linguistics concentrator seeking a new language experience. Today, she teaches high school math at the Learning Center for the Deaf in Massachusetts. “I think about when I first came to Brown and the people I wouldn’t have been able to communicate with years ago — my friends, the kids in my classroom. That’s wild,” Fieldsteel said. “Those classes centered my career, and I had no idea it would lead me here.” Rafter also uses her knowledge of ASL to engage with the Deaf community. Through the Engaged Scholars
Program, Rafter is working with the Rhode Island School for the Deaf to set up a drama club and “contextualize acting training in a deafness perspective,” she said. She has also done an independent study on the intersections between deafness with queerness and theatre. While some, like Rafter and Fieldsteel, incorporate ASL into their career plans, other students in the program study the language alongside other pursuits. “What brings me such immense joy and gives me so much hope is to see so many people taking ASL and the variety of concentrations” represented in the classes, Rafter said. By bringing their knowledge of ASL to various fields, these students increase accessibility for Deaf people, she added. Liliana Luna-Nelson ’17 MD ’21 and Jeannette Gonzales Wright ’16 MD ’20, who created a medical elective entitled BIOL 6698: “Vital Signs: Introduction to Deaf Culture and American Sign Language for Medical Students” as undergraduate Program in Liberal Medical Education students in the ASL program, encourage the application of ASL to fields beyond Deaf studies. The elective consists of 10 two-hour-long classes, with Riker teaching a signing component in the first hour and a guest speaker leading the second hour. The topics of the guest speakers, most of whom are Deaf, range from “mental health in the population to early hearing and detection intervention programs in Rhode Island to critiquing existing research that calls for certain communication methods
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD over others,” Gonzales Wright said. Students learn how to sign to ask for preferred communication methods, medication administration routes and specific symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath. “Sometimes interpreters aren’t available, and if no one signs at all, a doctor should at the very least be able to get them to the emergency room,” Luna-Nelson said. “We need to show the medical community how important language access is, and give them the tools to talk to Deaf patients.” The student-run Sign Languages Society is also working to interact more with the Deaf community beyond Brown. The Society works in tandem with the ASL program and other departments to host multiple public events throughout the year, such as a Deaf poet reading with the literary arts department and a speaker who is an advocate for inclusion of Deaf service members in the military, said Nicole Bencie ’19, a leader of the Sign Languages Society. Nearly all sources said that with the high demand for ASL at the University, the program could benefit from various forms of expansion, such as more collaboration with other departments, more faculty and perhaps even an ASL concentration. “My dream would be for Brown to have three, four, five professors so that they can specialize in different areas of the language or culture; for example, Deaf literature or Deaf history,” said Anne Prusky ’18, an alum of the ASL program at Brown. Currently, the University has the second oldest and second largest ASL
program among peer institutions, following Penn, Riker said. Harvard and Yale are just starting their programs, while Cornell has proposed beginning a program, he added. “Right now, Brown is at the critical point where additional investment and resources are needed to push it to a new level, to make sure that we can offer a full four-year program, to be able to have a concentration,” Riker said. “In order to be able to have a robust program … we really need to have a multidisciplinary program.” Bencie said that the ASL program is one of the reasons she chose to attend the University. “It’s just not considered a foreign language in a lot of institutions of higher education,” she said. “That’s why Tim is so wonderful — he’s really made sure it’s seen as a language and not just as a tool or something to teach Deaf people.” She added that the ASL community has become integral to her time at Brown. Students quickly become engaged in this vibrant and intimate culture, she said. Learning more about sign languages and the Deaf community is critical given that Deaf people have been historically viewed as inferior and unable to learn, think or reason, which is particularly evident in philosophy and academia, Riker said. “The more we learn about Deaf people and sign languages, the more we understand what Deaf people have contributed to the world, and what the world can gain from having Deaf people as a part of their diversity,” Riker said.
Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy releases first solo album, “WARM” Alternative rock band singer-songwriter unveils intimate, introspective portrait By KATE OK SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Jeff Tweedy, singer and guitarist of Chicago alternative rock band Wilco, released his first solo album of original songs, “WARM,” on Nov. 30, offering a tender, personal perspective into his insecurities and the struggles that shape his work and the Wilco canon. Deserts, birds, Neil Young-esque ramblin’ man — all define Jeff Tweedy. It’s easy to think of descriptors, associations and comparisons for the sound of “WARM.” But “WARM” is entirely personal and draws from 51-year-old Tweedy’s experiences with addiction, family and death. With his sons Spencer and Sammy Tweedy contributing vocals, drums and synthesizers, “WARM” gently pushes familiar Wilco listeners to reflect on the idea of vulnerability and its power to make the personal universal. “WARM” is an album that lodges itself in music that tries to break your heart. Tweedy presents stripped-down, whispery songs that remind his fans of the beloved reflective, self-conscious quality of the singer-songwriter and Wilco itself. In songs like “Don’t Forget,” Tweedy seems to be addressing listeners — as well as his sons — in a very fatherly way. He sighs of regret, driving and even death : “Don’t forget
sometimes / We all, we all think about dying / Don’t let it kill you.” With casual wisdom and sparse, creaking, guitar-based instrumentals, Tweedy sings in a manner that seems to draw upon his own experience with fatherhood. He lightly reminds, with an almost insecure tone, “Don’t forget to brush your teeth / Or you’ll have a funny smile / you don’t have to smile at me.” Tweedy somehow speaks for himself and dads around the world. It is important to consider Jeff Tweedy’s work with respect to Wilco. Their widely acclaimed 2002 album “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” served as one of the pillars of 2000s indie sound with its sprawling, psychedelia-inspired lyrics and rich, folky musical depth. Songs like “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” perfectly encapsulate what Tweedy is known and loved for — poetic, sonically charged sprawls of sound that are slightly existential, nervous and vulnerable in tone. Look through the comments on any Wilco YouTube lyric video and witness emotional praise; 16-year-olds and 48-year-olds alike herald Tweedy’s ability to empathize and humanize. Tweedy’s “WARM” doesn’t depart from this trait; it only expands and opens further with its autobiographical nature. On the track “Having Been Is No Way to Be,” Tweedy composes a phantasmagoric sound that reflects on his addiction to prescription painkillers — an addiction that primarily persisted through the recording of “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.” He sings, impersonating some Wilco fans, “What drugs did you take
/ And why don’t you start taking them again?” Tweedy is certainly alluding to some of his followers that yearn for a “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” sound, or at least a reinvention of it. With minimal instrumentals, the Wilco frontman talks of pain and change, or the lack thereof. In “How Hard It Is for a Desert to Die,” Tweedy quietly rasps and meditates on how the deeper, richer qualities of pain, specifically grief, can shape us. It’s not that these concepts or subjects he sings of are novel or unique
— in fact, it’s the opposite. Throughout the album, he drones and hums about ideas that give anxiety to us all: death, isolation, time. “I know what it’s like / To not feel love,” Tweedy repetitively tells us in “I Know What It’s Like,” a windy Wilco demo-like track that espouses a solidarity between singer and listener. The insecurities and vulnerabilities that shape Tweedy reflect the same ones that shape us, and this is what makes “WARM” so deeply moving in an understated way. He demonstrates
an ability to carefully tread an artistic obfuscation between personal and universal emotions like grief, pain and love. Through the entire album, Tweedy elaborates on his sensitive sonic identity to show it is very much connected to Wilco’s sound and history, at least to listeners’ ears. But he also proves that his artistic identity still stands on its own. Tweedy urges fans to listen closely to his introspection, establishing his musical, lyrical and empathetic prowess.
COURTESY OF JEFF TWEEDY
“WARM,” Jeff Tweedy’s first solo album featuring original songs, inspires listeners of all ages to empathize with his lyrics and enjoy his rasping sound. His album speaks to both personal and universal emotions.
NEWS
THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019 • PAGE 3
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
UCS offers free airport shuttles to U. students over breaks Campus Life Committee provides transportation for Thanksgiving, winter breaks By KAYLA GUO SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The Undergraduate Council of Students offered free shuttle rides to T.F. Green Airport for Thanksgiving and winter breaks and hopes to work with University administrators to make the shuttles a service for future breaks. Members of the committee decided to initiate this service “to make traveling more convenient for students,” said Chair of Campus Life Melissa Lee ’20, and because they felt the majority of students would be able to utilize the shuttles. The service is also important for low-income students who receive stipends for flights but not necessarily for transportation to and from the airport, she added. “We felt that transportation to and from the airport was transportation that was unaccounted for, especially when you look at low-income students,” Lee said. The service was entirely student-organized, though the University approved the busing companies. Lee initially spoke with the University’s Transportation and Parking Services Office, but “because we were doing it kind of short notice and they budget for their shuttles and buses a year in advance, we weren’t
able to work with any administrators on this,” she said. UCS offered six shuttles to T.F. Green and served 72 students over Thanksgiving break. The committee planned to offer the service on a larger scale over winter break and add shuttles to return students to campus from the airport but, after facing several challenges, was only able to offer five shuttles to take 32 students to T.F. Green, Lee said. “One of the things that we found was that we didn’t have a ton of time between Thanksgiving and winter break to get this all together,” said Campus Life committee member Jackson Kealey ’21. The committee used Ocean State Transit, a Rhode Island transportation company, for the Thanksgiving break shuttles. Ocean State Transit “fell through last minute” for winter break, so the committee used Durham School Services, which was more costly, Lee said. Because of the unexpected change, “we weren’t able to publicize it until two days before we offered the shuttle bus,” she added. While committee members coordinated the service for Thanksgiving break and walked student waivers to the Student Activities Office, there was confusion within the committee about student waivers and whether or not members were actually needed at the shuttle pick-up location for the winter break service, Kealey said. The committee obtained funding for the Thanksgiving break service from the
SARAH MARTINEZ / HERALD
UCS Special Projects Fund through UCS Treasurer Austin Lessin ’19, and the Undergraduate Finance Board provided funding to go to and from the airport for winter break. Since the committee was unable to provide shuttles back to campus after winter break, they plan on reimbursing students who had signed up for shuttles with the leftover funds from UFB, Lee said. The committee sent out an official feedback form, which came back with many positive comments, Kealey said. “Most of the responses that we’ve gotten say that people would definitely
DAPHNE ZHAO / HERALD
use it again, that they were happy with the service that we were able to put together and that they felt that it was prompt,” Kealey said. “Most people seemed to hope that the service continues, and we hope to deliver on that.” Eli Zucker ’22, who used the service for Thanksgiving break, said the service was “pretty useful.” “It came right near Wayland Arch, and my dorm is right near there so it was pretty convenient,” he added. Zucker wanted to use the service again over winter break, but by the time he emailed Lee, there were no shuttle
spots left. Milanca Wang ’22 used the shuttle over Thanksgiving break after her friend sent her a Facebook post about the service. “I’m really glad that we had it,” Wang said. “It was on time and it was faster than I expected it to be.” Lee stressed that moving forward, the committee hopes to work with the University more closely on this project. “I want to work with the Transportation Office, see if they could fit it in their budget for next year and just have it as something in place for the Brown community,” she said.
» BUDGET, from page 1
Metrik wrote. “Therefore, one unintended consequence of state-wide legalization could be an increase in cannabis use in marginalized groups due to variability in regulations across local communities and bans on retail operations in more affluent neighborhoods.” While the debate continues in Rhode Island, the University does not plan to change its policies on marijuana use because it receives federal funding and must abide by federal laws. “We anticipate no significant shift in Brown policy — regardless of whether state law changes, marijuana remains illegal under federal law,” wrote Director of News and Editorial Development Brian Clark in an email to The Herald. “Even if state law changes, Brown expects to continue to prohibit illicit drug activity, including marijuana use, by students, on our campus or as part of any Brown activity.”
published in the scientific journal “Addiction,” suggests that marijuana users “treat legal cannabis as a superior commodity compared to illegal cannabis as long as the price of the legal product is not too high.” “Pricing policy (including taxation) will need to be optimized in order to avoid users switching to illegal markets and to allow for proper regulation of a legal marketplace,” Metrik wrote in an email to The Herald. “Legalization of marijuana will certainly ... contribute to increases in marijuana use and misuse among youth,” she added. The impact of legalization could vary by community. In states that have legalized marijuana, “retail stores are often concentrated in neighborhoods that are socio-economically disadvantaged,”
NEWS
PAGE 4 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019
» SHUTDOWN, from page 1 government contractors, have been put on hold. Conference travel cannot be completed during the shutdown since it is a “large capital investment that takes time to plan” and cannot be scheduled when future sources of funding are uncertain, Hovart said. Meeting with other experts is crucial for scientists who use these trips to forge collaborations with their peers and discuss new findings from institutions scattered across the globe. “Some researchers are having to pay for travel on their own, hoping for later reimbursement, and some have had to cancel trips because they couldn’t afford to pay the expenses on their own. In addition, federal program officers are unable to attend scientific meetings and conferences that inform their work,” Pipher wrote. In order to serve on grant review panels for the NSF, many University researchers must travel to the locations where the panels are held. All scheduled panels have been “canceled and will likely be rescheduled to a later date,” according to the NSF. As the schedule continues to be delayed, the pace of scientific research at the University and across the nation could slow. “This will cause problems for many months after the shutdown ends,” Pipher wrote. If panels cannot convene, then grants previously submitted to the NSF cannot be reviewed and researchers who otherwise would have been funded will see a delay in their project timelines. In addition, no new grants will be reviewed or
approved during the shutdown. Professor Emeritus of Geological Sciences Peter Schultz, who directs the Northeast Planetary Data Center and previously worked at NASA, expressed concerns about back pay for contractors working at NASA and other agencies. Though President Trump has signed an act guaranteeing back pay for most federal employees affected by the shutdown, this legislation does not usually apply to government contractors. As the shutdown continues, this could equate to the loss of a significant percentage of their yearly salary, Schultz said. The “human toll” is detrimental, and “NASA may lose some really good people” as a result, he added. Beyond the immediate impact, the University and other research institutions may feel a number of long-term ripple effects. Time-sensitive work can be compromised by a lack of resources during a shutdown, Horvat said, especially as this shutdown continues to stretch into the longest in American history. For example, reports for the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which involves groups working for years to develop accurate predictive climate models, could theoretically be permanently handicapped by the pause in data collection. “Those labs in America may have their computers shut down. If they are not able to do that simulation, they won’t be included in the next climate report,” Horvat said. Without funding, valuable data can be lost and years of work compromised. At NASA, “missions are still going
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD to operate,” Schultz said, but data analysis from ongoing missions or preparations for upcoming projects may be postponed. Committees populated by contractors or civil servants who are not able to work during the shutdown will be behind schedule when they return to work, he added. Beyond the impact on individual projects, the lack of job security made apparent by the shutdown may impact young researchers. “From my perspective, it has much (broader) effects than just us missing a paycheck — which is bad enough — it enhances a pull away from public-benefit science,” Horvat said. Especially for early career scientists, work in the private sector may become more appealing as the shutdown and its politics fuel anxiety, he added. “Those of us who do climate science are interested in doing science for public good,” he said, adding that “there’s a reason why we are in these fields. We are trying to understand how to better forecast extreme events and the effects of the changing climate.” However, he added, if federal support is not available for this research, it cannot be done. “It’s not explicit that anyone is trying to discourage us from doing climate science, but it certainly has that effect.” “Brown is monitoring the situation closely and will continue to report any potential implications to the University community,” Pipher wrote in her statement. It has yet to be determined when the shutdown will end, but for these scientists, like many federal employees, the effects are already being felt.
OUR BUS IS YOUR BEST BET. Plan your next group outing to Mohegan Sun on Flagship Trailways!
Why Drive? For Information and Special Offers Call: Flagship Trailways 401.946.6705 or 1.800.672.6705 www.flagshiptrailways.com
Bonus packages are issued to individuals 21 years of age or older. To receive a casino bonus package, passengers must have a Momentum card or be able to sign up for a Momentum card on day of travel. Proper identification required. Please visit the Bus Marketing Window for official rules. Offer subject to change without notice. mohegansun.com
Why not extend your stay? Visit mymohegansun.com to view your hotel rates.
» BUXTON, from page 1 their removal from the campus house on Jan. 15, according to an online petition created by Buxton students protesting the suspension. Affected students were originally given 72 hours after returning to campus for the spring semester to move their belongings out of Buxton and relocate to different University accommodations coordinated through the Office of Residential Life, Arora said. But the University has since given “significant flexibility in the moving process for those who required time beyond the original 72-hour move-out timeline,” Director of News and Editorial Development Brian Clark wrote in an email to The Herald. In addition to providing students with moving boxes, ResLife also attempted to “maintain the former living situations within Buxton by keeping roommates together and ensuring that those who received (Student and Employee Accessibility Services) accommodations in Buxton also received SEAS accommodations in their new living situation,” Arora said. In light of Buxton’s suspension, Arora highlighted his positive experiences in the house. “I’ve learned so much from people just through casual conversations. Everyone just has such
a unique exposure and comes from such different backgrounds. … They understand how the world functions outside of the United States. There’s a lot of perspective you gain.” In the circulating petition decrying their suspension — which currently has over 1,000 signatures — Buxton students wrote that the University’s “decision reflects cruelty and indifference towards the academic, career-related, extracurricular and mental struggles faced by students.” “The Buxton International House is a community of individuals spanning many countries, backgrounds and identities who have found a safe space to truly be themselves in this house. This may entail (English as a Second Language) students openly being able to ask their peers for grammatical help, dinners to celebrate the Indian cultural festival of Diwali or making arepas in the Buxton kitchen,” students wrote. In her letter to the parents of Buxton students, Paxson acknowledged the role Buxton played in helping “international students, who find themselves far from home and immersed in a foreign culture,” build “strong and supportive social communities.” But “the University has no choice but to respect the decision of a Student Conduct panel,” Paxson wrote.
MEAL PLAN
changes
STEP ONE:
Choose a Meal Plan. VIEW OPTIONS AT BROWN.EDU/FOOD
REMINDER:
T DAY THE LASEA L PLAN
TO MAKE M EDNESDAY, CHANGES IS W
FEB. 6!
• You can ADD a new Meal Plan at any time during the year • You can make one CHANGE per semester. The deadline for spring semester changes is Wednesday, Feb. 6. • Meal Plan CANCELLATIONS are not available during the spring
STEP TWO:
Let us help!
EMAIL DINING_SERVICES@BROWN.EDU OR CALL 863-3343 WITH QUESTIONS
• Changes may be made in person weekdays from 9:00AM to 4:00PM at the main Brown Dining office located at 144 Thayer Street (Sharpe Refectory).
TODAY
THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019 • PAGE 5
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
menu
s m i l e b o t h way s
SATELLITE DINING ANDREWS COMMONS
Pizza: Chicken Parmesan, Pepperoni Boneless Chicken Wings, Make Your Own Pasta JOSIAH’S
BLUE ROOM
Empanada Bar, Southwestern Bean Burger, Quesadilla Station
Hearty Country Vegetable Soup, Bread Bowl, B-Y-O Burrito Bowl
DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH
DINNER
Coconut Red Curry Beef Stir Fry, Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken, Caribbean Style Grain Bowl
Miso Fish Of The Day, Chipotle Miso Tofu, Mexican Ribbon Cake
VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH
DINNER
Roasted Vegetable Muffuletta Sandwich, Noodle Bowl Bar, BBQ Navy Pea Beans
Sweet Chili Beef With Sesame Noodles, Hoisin Sugar Snap Peas And Carrots, Yogurt Bread
sudoku
TIFFANY DING / HERALD
A pedestrian detour directs students around construction. The University is making progress on a number of new projects, including renovations at 164 Angell Street and new Nelson Center space at 249 Thayer Street.
Q U O T E O F T H E D AY
“The federal shutdown is causing uncertainty and complications about research funding at Brown.” crossword
— Vice President for Research Jill Pipher
Read Join
See shutdown on front page.
The Herald browndailyherald.com/join herald@browndailyherald.com calendar TODAY
DECEMBER JANUARY
SS
M M
T T
W W
Th Th
F F
SS
1
2
3
4
51
2 6
3 7
4 8
5 9
6 10
7 11
8 12
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
16 20
17 21
18 22
19 23
20 24
21 25
22 26
23
24
25
26 30
27 31
28
29
30
31
27
28
29
Breath and Bliss Yoga 12:00 P.M. South Street Landing
U-FLi Center Welcome Back Reception 5:30 P.M. Sayles Hall
Brown|RISD Dual Degree Exhibition 5:30 P.M. Granoff Center
Vigil for Maryori Conde 9:00 P.M. Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center
TOMORROW Probability Seminar with Souvik Dhara 10:00 A.M. 182 George St., 110
Computing Seminar with David Kamensky 11:00 A.M. 170 Hope St., 108
Register Your Personal Property with DPS 11:00 A.M. Sharpe Refectory
Women’s Hockey Plays Union College 6:00 P.M. Meehan Auditorium
COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
CAUSA: Maryori Marie CAUSA: Maryori Marie Conde y su lumbre Conde and her fire One week ago, our community, the Brown community and the world at large lost an unrelenting bright light. We’re still struggling to process this tragedy; writing this post feels surreal. Maryori Marie Conde ’18 GS was dedicated to making spaces for Central Americans and Latinx Womxn at Brown ever since she stepped foot on campus. From day one, she constantly worked to make already-established Latinx groups more inclusive and intersectional. It was not until she founded the Brown Central American United Students Association two years ago that Maryori felt there was a space at Brown for people of intersectional Central American identities to find community. Maryori set out to create a uniquely Centroamericanx space on campus and it has since become an invaluable place for community and activism for the isthmus that she was devoted to making people acknowledge and respect. This proud Salvi had chispa and she met all ideas and initiatives offered by CAUSistas with a plan. She knew how to navigate the systems at Brown and to use the resources that we’re privileged to have as students in order to better serve our communities. Through the connections she made with the National Temporary Protected Status Alliance, Brown Immigrant Rights Coalition and countless Centroamericanx activists and artists, she pushed us to always remember where we came from and to strive to knock down the barriers that still exist for Centroamericanxs here in the States and abroad. Maryori had a simple philosophy, which she passed onto us during our time together: Do not settle for anything, and always work for what our people deserve. This philosophy was ever-present in her poetry, her work on- and off-campus, her activism and the relationships she maintained with each and every person who was blessed enough to know her and experience her kindness and brilliance. Maryori taught us that our community deserves more: More resources, more spaces, more platforms to remind everyone that we are here and our stories matter. Even after graduating from Brown, Maryori continued to check up on her beloved CAUSistas as family and keep this community open for Central American students to have space on campus. Maryori helped us connect to our roots in any way she could — from creating a CentAm playlist with the songs we all heard our family members singing along to as they cleaned the house on the weekends to sharing CentAm news and the work of CentAm creators with us. She took pride in the multiplicity of her identities and encouraged us to explore and take pride in our own. Because of her, many of us are able to look to our heritage as Central Americans as a source of pride and strength. She was wise beyond her years, far too loving and one of the most caring people to grace Brown’s campus. We’re so fortunate to have gotten a glimpse of Maryori’s vision for this world and are inspired, now more than ever, to keep moving closer to that light everyday. While Maryori was a true activist and leader, it’s also important to keep in mind
LA VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL Hace una semana, nuestra comunidad, la comunidad de Brown, y el mundo entero perdió una luz brillante implacable. Todavía luchamos por procesar esta tragedia y parece irreal escribir esta nota. Desde el principio Maryori Marie Conde estaba dedicada a crear espacios para Centroamericanx y mujeres Latinx en Brown. Maryori trabajaba constantemente con los grupos latinxs para hacerlos más inclusivos e interseccionales. Ella creó este espacio únicamente Centroamericanx hace 2 años, y desde entonces se ha convertido en un lugar indispensable para comunidad y activismo para que
pre preguntándole a sus amigos y profesores cómo se sentían, y mantuvo este lazo con la comunidad para que los estudiantes centroamericanos tuvieran un espacio y comunidad aquí en Brown. Maryori nos ayudó a conectarnos a nuestras raíces por varias formas— desde creando un playlist de canciones que escuchábamos cantar a nuestras familias mientras hacían los quehaceres caseros hasta compartiendo noticias centroamericanas y exponiendonos al trabajo de creadores Centroamericanxs. Tuvo mucho orgullo en representar cada una de sus identidades y nos permitió a explorar y también estar orgullosos de las nuestras. Por ella, muchos de nosotros podemos mirar a nuestra herencia como centroamericanos como una fuente de orgullo y fuerza. Somos tan afortunados de haber presenciado un vistazo de su visión para este mundo y seguimos inspirados más ahora para continuar a acercarnos más y más cerca a esa luz cada día. Aunque Maryori era una activista y líder verdadera, también deberíamos tener en cuenta el corazón que motivó su trabajo, la alegría y el amor por la vida que llevaba adentro. Estar cerca de ella sencillamente te hacía sentir bien, y tenía una risa que llenaba cualquier sala. Es injusto que no podamos disfrutar de su resplandor de nuevo. Esperamos que todos busquen apoyo en sus comunidades durante estos momentos difíciles, que recuerden practicar el “self care” (algo que Maryori *siempre* nos recordaba hacer), y que recuerden a Maryori por su cariño y risa contagiosa. También oremos por Ricardo Wemiz y su recuperación completa. Vamos a ponerles al día sobre los planes aquí en Brown para honrar a Maryori. También vamos a recaudar fondos para su familia. Este martes hay un evento en el centro de estudiantes de color (BCSC) en Brown para honrarla a las 4 de la tarde. Su donación a la familia Conde será muy bienvenida en estos momentos difíciles: https://bit.ly/2WbeUWu Salvi reina, que descanses en poder y gloria.
COURTESY OF CRISTINA MEDRANO
Please think of donating to the Conde family during this difficult time: https://bit.ly/2WbeUWu Salvi goddess, que descanses en poder y gloria. Thank you to our CAUSista Cristina Medrano for the beautiful artwork.
Brianna Kendall ’20, Cristina Medrano ’18, Dylan Majsiak ’20, Victoria Chávez ’18 GS, Kevin Morales Quintero ’19.5, Paulina Alvarado ’20, Jazmin Piche ’19 are members of the Central American United States Association and can be reached at causabrown@gmail.com. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
el istmo Centroamericano sea respetado y reconocido. No fue hasta que ella fundó la Asociación de Estudiantes Centroamericanxs aquí en Brown que se hizo un espacio interseccional para encontrar comunidad entre estudiantes de herencia centroamericana. Esta Salvi tuvo chispa, y por cualquier iniciativa propuesta por una CAUSista, ella hizo un plan. Sabía cómo funcionaban los sistemas de Brown y cómo se usaban los recursos que somos privilegiados tener como estudiantes universitarios para servir nuestras comunidades. A través de las conexiones que hizo con el National TPS Alliance, Brown Immigrant Rights Coalition, y muchos otros activistas y artistas Centroamericanx, ella nos inspiró a recordar de dónde venimos y que nos esforzaramos por eliminar los obstáculos que todavía existen para los Centroamericanx aquí en los Estados Unidos y en otros lugares. Incluso después de haberse graduado de Brown, ella seguía siendo cariñosa, siem-
Amor siempre nuestra amada Maryori. gracias a nuestra CAUSista Cristina Medrano por el arte hermoso.
Brianna Kendall ’20, Cristina Medrano ’18, Dylan Majsiak ’20, Victoria Chávez ’18 GS, Kevin Morales Quintero ’19.5, Paulina Alvarado ’20, Jazmin Piche ’19 son miembros de Central American United States Association y se puede ser contactados a causabrown@gmail.com. Por favor envia respuestas a esta opinión a letters@browndailyherald.com y op-eds a opinions@browndailyherald.com.
Read Join
SPECIAL FEATURE
the heart that motivated this work, the natural joy and love for life that she carried within. Being around her just made you feel good, and she had a laugh that would light up any room it filled. It’s nothing less than a tragedy that we cannot indulge in that radiance once more. And so, we’re hoping everyone seeks out community in these tough times, remembers to practice self-care (something Maryori always checked in on people to do) and remembers Maryori Marie Conde for her warmth and infectious laugh. We are also praying for Ricardo Wemiz GS, who was also in the accident, and for his full recovery. We will be posting updates regarding plans here on campus to honor her as well as about fundraisers for her family. There will be a commemoration to honor Maryori on Thursday, January 24, at 6 P.M. in Nicholson House.
The Herald browndailyherald.com/join herald@browndailyherald.com
COMMENTARY THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019 • PAGE 7
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Increase protection for conference attendees E.L. MESZAROS staff columnist In the past few weeks, disturbing tales of sexist and racist harassment at academic conferences have been making headlines. Women scholars have been belittled at the American Historical Association annual meeting, and black scholars have been asked to prove that they belong at the joint meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America and the Society for Classical Studies. As a result of this, many scholars have written responses to these attacks while some victims of harassment have chosen to leave social media and still other groups have decided not to return to the conferences altogether. Given the prevalence of harassment that historically marginalized attendees face at such gatherings, organizing bodies can and must do more to protect and empower these participants. As integral parts of academia, conferences should be safe spaces for attendees, and hosting organizations must work to prevent harassment. Adopting a clear anti-harassment policy is one method to work toward this goal. Such a policy should outline specific behaviors that are prohibited but, more importantly, should define procedures for reporting behavior and holding attendees accountable. Moreover, it should be easy to find these anti-harassment policies
— they should be advertised widely and freely to ensure that participants know what to do in the event of any incidents. As students attending such conferences, we should demand that hosting organizations adopt and publicize anti-harassment policies. As members of a university that hosts conferences, we need to require similar policies for organizations that host events in our space. Conferences are often incredibly fun and productive. They provide environments to meet new people, learn new topics and explore new ideas.
But conferences are not always so intellectually pure or successful. The institutionalized role that such gatherings play in academia has created a number of issues. Presenting at conferences is as much a part of establishing academic credentials as publishing and may even be preferable in some fast-paced fields that rely on quick turnaround and rapid improvements. As such, students are expected to attend to build up their resume and engage in active conversations within their field of research. In addition, large academic conferences provide
ly women and people of color, experienced harassment at these events that the field and job market require them to attend. They were belittled and talked down to by their colleagues and had the validity of their participation questioned. In these situations, conferences have worked not to provide platforms for marginalized voices but to actively silence them. While there’s something to be said for reconsidering the role that conferences play in academia, our immediate priority should be making conferences safe for historically marginalized
As students attending such conferences, we should demand that hosting organizations adopt and publicize anti-harassment policies. They help us to hone skills in crafting arguments, public speaking and perfectly illustrating arguments through internet memes. Feedback from conference presentations helps to further refine ideas and often leads to publications or other research opportunities. Conferences, then, can be excellent places to inspire students and academics. Additionally, conferences can provide platforms for voices that are traditionally marginalized in academia, centering ideas and empowering researchers that academia has often left behind.
the perfect setting for job interviews and professional recruitment because employers assume that qualified applicants will attend these conferences. To further a career in academia, and often with the government and private companies, attending these meetings is of paramount importance. Conferences have shown themselves to be breeding grounds for harassment, as the incidents at the annual conferences of the AIA and SCS and AHA in the past few weeks have demonstrated. Participants, especial-
participants. To confront this issue, we have to ensure that conferences have anti-harassment policies that are both broadly publicized and actively enforced. Ramifications for harassing behavior as well as the process for reporting such behavior should be outlined clearly. Universities like Brown that host numerous conferences both large and small should consider establishing an anti-harassment policy as a prerequisite for use of space and materials. For instance, the University Event and Conference Services web-
site outlines the steps for planning an event and exhorts the planner to “Make Your Event Safe & Accessible.” Yet the instructions for ensuring safety nowhere specify the need to establish and enforce an anti-harassment policy. Under “University Policies,” the site lists event disruption protocols and restates the University’s Diversity and Inclusion stance, but once again fails to describe a policy specifically against harassment. I don’t think that the University Event and Conference Services are responsible for the actions of participants at conferences that they support, nor do I think that anti-harassment policies will protect everyone from the vitriol of ill-informed or mean-spirited attendees. I do, however, think that they can require groups to adopt anti-harassment policies that can help protect these participants, working to empower and uplift marginalized voices. If a small change like requiring anti-harassment policies can provide even a modicum of protection for conference attendees, we need to exhort our community to make it happen.
E.L. Meszaros GS can be reached at e.l.meszaros@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
Unpacking the Los Angeles teachers’ strike AMELIA ANTHONY staff columnist The Los Angeles teachers’ strike ended Tuesday night after six days of picketing. Teachers and other educators returned Wednesday to classrooms having successfully earned from the district smaller class sizes, a six-percent raise and more counselors, librarians and nurses. As a daughter of a school psychologist who was on strike and a student who spent 13 years in public schools, I wholeheartedly support the union of United Teachers Los Angeles and the teachers’ strike. The agreement on Tuesday is a step in the right direction for the future of the district and education policy as a whole. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in the strike firsthand, as this experience solidified my solidarity with the educators of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Teachers, substitutes, counselors, librarians, nurses and psychologists began to strike last Monday at every LAUSD school site, according to UTLA. My mom and I woke up at 6 a.m. to unusual Southern California pouring rain, so it took special determination to step outdoors. We drove down to the sidewalk outside of one of the two schools where she works. There, we picketed for two hours outside the gates of the school, chanting “U - T - L - A” and holding signs that read “On Strike for Our Students.” After the morning picket line, over 50,000 people flooded the streets of Downtown Los Angeles in a march to the district headquarters. The crowd bustled with energy, a sea of umbrellas and rain ponchos set to a roar of drumbeats and chants. Students, community members and other labor unions such as the Interna-
tional Brotherhood of Teamsters were present in support of the rally. This process continued in a similar fashion all of last week. Strike participants did not enter schools for six days, forgoing their pay in the process. The volume of the strike — 30,000 participating educators — should be the first indication of its importance. Substitutes from other districts and nonunion district workers supervised students who attended schools during the strike — but not all of them showed up. LAUSD loses money from the state for each student absence, so UTLA encouraged students and parents to join their teachers on the picket line. Elsewhere in
Earlier this school year, teachers across West Virginia, Oklahoma and Arizona also went on massive strikes. These movements show a shift in the national conversation surrounding public education, a long-neglected issue in the country. Current Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is a champion of school choice, which pulls funding out of public education and into private and charter schools. Rather than divert funding from public schools, lawmakers need to reinvest in the current public system. The benefits from increased funding are manifold: smaller class sizes, higher wages and an expansion in
Teachers should be considered the premier authority on education policy because of their experience in the classroom.
the city, support for the movement swelled: Several museums around the city offered free admission to students not attending school in a demonstration of solidarity. The teacher’s strike in Los Angeles is both historic and indicative of a national trend. UTLA hasn’t gone on strike in thirty years. In fact, while we were picketing Monday, a former teacher who took part in the 1989 strike came out and offered words of support to the teachers. As the second largest district in the nation, LAUSD is a flashpoint into the broader educational labor movement, with teachers nationwide paying rapt attention to the strike. Denver teachers voted Wednesday to begin a strike, with teachers in Oakland set to vote as well.
support staff. Many students at Brown attended private or charter schools and are perhaps unaware of the realities that regular public schools and their students face. California is 41st in the nation in per-student spending on education; LAUSD students are an unfortunate example of those affected by this lack of investment. The district serves a diverse population of over 600,000 students across more than 1,000 schools in neighborhoods of all types. Many teachers’ signs at the rally reiterated the idea that the teachers are on strike for their students and are spending valuable time away from the classroom out of necessity. The teachers’ strike asked for this invest-
ment in public education from the district and was largely successful in achieving its demands. Before striking, most schools only had a nurse on site one day per week. Now, the district is hiring 300 additional nurses to ensure that each school has a nurse. Furthermore, 77 more counselors will be hired over the next few years. However, not everyone is satisfied with the deal: The priorities of school psychologists were relegated to the sideline. The 6 percent raise is lower than the requested 6.5 percent, and the raise is long overdue — especially in a city as expensive to live in as Los Angeles. Teachers should be considered the premier authority on education policy because of their experience in the classroom. Lived experience has always been valued in activist circles, and teachers live out the manifestation of education policies every day. Never a priority in America, educators have been ignored and sidelined for years. Now, with the successful strike in Los Angeles, we have a unique and groundbreaking example of the power of teachers to effect change. The union has been successful in achieving its primary goals. This is the beginning of several important conversations regarding public education, and I hope to see public educators across the nation achieve similar victories.
Amelia Anthony ‘22 can be reached at amelia_anthony@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
NEWS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019
Legislators introduce Reproductive Health Care Act Gayle Goldin, Edith Ajello push to protect abortion rights in Rhode Island for third year By ISABEL INADOMI SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Sen. Gayle Goldin, D-Providence, and State Rep. Edith Ajello, D-Providence, filed the Reproductive Health Care Act — which would codify the legality of abortion into state law — for the third year in a row on Jan. 15. Currently, the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade legalizes abortion at the federal level, leaving the right to abortion unprotected in Rhode Island if the case were to be overturned, according to Goldin and Ajello. Gov. Gina Raimondo voiced her support for the bill, stating on her Twitter this summer that “it’s now more urgent than ever that the legislature pass the Reproductive Health Care Act.” The Womxn Project, a non-profit organization working for rights for femaleidentifying Rhode Islanders, held a rally on Wednesday in support of the bill’s launch. Concerns about the overturning of Roe v. Wade were raised with the election of President Trump and the appointment of Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, according to a State of Rhode Island General Assembly press release. Currently, Rhode Island has some of the most regressive abortion laws in the country, more akin to southern states than its northeastern neighbors, according to Goldin and Ajello. Rhode Island has previously received an F rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America. Roe v. Wade is the only statute preventing the enforcement of restrictive abortion laws in Rhode Island. Such laws include
requiring a woman’s spouse to consent to her having an abortion or defining life to legally begin at conception, according to Goldin and Ajello. The Reproductive Health Care Act would strike these down. The Act would not change anything about the current state of abortion access or legality in Rhode Island. “It takes what’s legal in federal and state case law and puts it into state law,” Goldin said. She also added that the bill would not change how abortion is funded in Rhode Island. Rhode Island’s status as a Democrat-leaning state with regressive abortion laws is largely due to the strength of the Catholic Church, according to Goldin and Ajello. “The largest impediment to this bill’s passage is the Catholic Church,” Goldin said. “The Catholic Church has a lobbyist up at the state house every day; I don’t think people realize that.” The Catholic Church has also used its influence in the past to enact punitive measures against Catholic legislators who openly support reproductive rights, Goldin said. “They have certainly excommunicated people in the state for being leaders of reproductive rights,” she added. In the past two years, the bill has been unable to garner the support needed to come to a vote. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, D-Cranston, spoke last year on his belief that the issue is irrelevant since the Supreme Court has not yet taken action to overturn Roe v. Wade, The Providence Journal reported. “I just remind folks that this is a very divisive issue on both sides. And you know, it is an issue that would utilize all of the oxygen in the room,” Mattiello said. It also may be against the interests of some legislators to vote on the bill, as it could reveal discrepancies
between their personal opinions and those of their constituents, according to Goldin. Seventy-one percent of Rhode Islanders expressed their support for the bill to protect abortion access, according to the press release. For the Senate, there are people who “would probably prefer not to actually vote at all,” Goldin said. But supporters are “cautiously optimistic” about the bill’s chances this year, said Maeve Wiesen ’21, president of NARAL at Brown. Ajello also voiced her hopes for this legislative session. “What’s different in recent years is that more and more pro-reproductive freedom and reproductive privacy legislators have been elected in Rhode Island,”
Find us online! facebook.com/browndailyherald
browndailyherald.com
@the_herald
@browndailyherald
youtube.com/browndailyherald
Sections
Multimedia & Production
Business
Editor-in-Chief Emily Davies
Arts & Culture Editors Elise Ryan Annabelle Woodward
Design Editors Kyle Cui Bilal Ismail Dylan Tian Julie Wang
General Managers Ravi Betzig Nicholas Masiakowski
Senior Editors Anita Sheih Sarah Wang
Metro Editors Colleen Cronin Sophie Culpepper Celia Hack
Editorial Page Editors Grace Layer Krista Stapleford
News Editors Katherine Bennett Jacob Lockwood Melanie Pincus Allie Reed
post- magazine Editor-in-Chief Anita Sheih
Science & Research Editors Cate Ryan Chris Schutte Sports Editors Alexandra Russell Alex Smolar COMMENTARY Opinions Editors Rebecca Aman Emily Miller Derek Simshauser
Head Photo Editors Tiffany Ding Benjamin Turuño Copy Desk Chief Kelley Tackett Illustrations Editor Daphne Zhao Video Editor Victoria Caruso Max Dekle Graphics Editors Sarah Martinez
Office Manager Diane Silvia Directors Sales: Bersabel Yifru Finance: Rudra Srivastava, Reynaldo Blandon Strategy: Edwin Farley
many University students do not live in Providence and aren’t registered to vote in Rhode Island. Last year, Wiesen provided childcare for Rhode Island citizens while they testified in support of the bill. Greenwell said that one thing University students can do to support this bill is let Rhode Islanders “take the lead, and see what they need to help pass these things.” The state of reproductive rights in Rhode Island still affects many University students, Greenwell said. “A lot of people do take for granted that Rhode Island is a bastion of reproductive rights, but it’s not,” Greenwell said.
CELIA HACK / HERALD
Location: 195 Angell St., Providence, R.I. www.browndailyherald.com
Editorial Leadership
Managing Editors Anna Kramer Priyanka Podugu
Ajello said. “There’s been a steady gain over the years of more and more prochoice legislators.” The bill has 39 sponsors in the House and 17 in the Senate this year, a record number in comparison to the previous two years it’s been introduced, WPRI previously reported. Student groups, such as NARAL at Brown and the University’s chapter of the ACLU, have supported the bill in the past and are working again this year to aid in the bill’s passage, according to Wiesen and Liam Greenwell ’20 of the ACLU. Wiesen said that NARAL and other Brown-affiliated organizations are “trying to work with other groups that are mostly Rhode Island residents” since
Editorial contact: 401-351-3372 herald@browndailyherald.com
Advertising contact: 401-351-3372 advertising@browndailyherald.com
Submissions: The Brown Daily Herald publishes submissions in the form of op-eds and letters to the editor. Op-eds are typically between 750 and 1000 words, though we will consider submissions between 500 and 1200 words. Letters to the editor should be around 250 words. While letters to the editor respond to an article or column that has appeared in The Herald, op-eds usually prompt new discussions on campus or frame new arguments about current discourse. All submissions to The Herald cannot have been previously published elsewhere (in print or online — including personal blogs and social media), and they must be exclusive to The Herald. Submissions must include no more than two individual authors. If there are more than two original authors, The Herald can acknowledge the authors in a statement at the end of the letter or op-ed, but the byline can only include up to two names. The Herald will not publish submissions authored by groups. The Herald does not publish anonymous submissions. If you feel your circumstances prevent you from submitting an op-ed or letter with your name, please email herald@browndailyherald.com to explain your situation. You can submit op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com and letters to letters@browndailyherald.com. When you email your submission, please include (1) your full name, (2) an evening or mobile phone number in case your submission is chosen for publication and (3) any affiliation with Brown University or any institution or organization relevant to the content of your submission. Please send in submissions at least 24 hours in advance of your desired publication date. The Herald only publishes submissions while it is in print. The Herald reserves the right to edit all submissions. If your piece is considered for publication, an editor will contact you to discuss potential changes to your submission. Commentary: The editorial is the majority opinion of the editorial page board of The Brown Daily Herald. The editorial viewpoint does not necessarily reflect the views of The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. Columns, letters and comics reflect the opinions of their authors only. Corrections: The Brown Daily Herald is committed to providing the Brown University community with the most accurate information possible. Corrections may be submitted up to seven calendar days after publication. Advertising: The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. reserves the right to accept or decline any advertisement at its discretion. The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. is a financially independent, nonprofit media organization bringing you The Brown Daily Herald, BlogDailyHerald and Post- Magazine. The Brown Daily Herald has served the Brown University community daily since 1891. It is published Monday through Friday during the academic year, excluding vacations, once during Commencement and once during Orientation by The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. Single copy free for each member of the community. Subscription prices: $200 one year daily, $100 one semester daily. Copyright 2019 by The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. All rights reserved. Periodicals postage paid at Providence, R.I. Postmaster: Please send corrections to P.O. Box 2538, Providence, RI 02906.