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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

VOLUME CLII, ISSUE 66

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Bears open season at home Saturday against Bryant

COURTESY OF BROWN BEARS

Bruno looks to capitalize on the experience of their defense and an up-tempo style offense in the upcoming 2017 season. In their home opener, the team will face off against the Bryant Bulldogs for the third year in a row. Captains Richard “Dewey” Jarvis ’17.5 and Isaiah Thompkins ’19 hope to lead the team to victory before heading toward Ivy League play.

Bruno eyes matchup at Fenway Park, aims to maintain game-by-game mentality entering season By TESS DEMEYER SENIOR STAFF WRITER

It’s been 300 days since the football team finished the 2016 season at Brown Stadium. Saturday, it will return to the gridiron to face off against in-state rival Bryant University. The Bears have won two of the last three against Bryant (1-1), but the Bulldogs have an advantage in starting their season two weeks earlier. “The unknown is that we have to play a team with two games under their belt that probably know what

they are and who they are and have been able to make corrections,” said Head Coach Phil Estes P’18. “That’s where most teams make the most improvements — after the second game. We’re not going to know that … I’m more worried about our team and how we execute than I am about our opponent.” Despite all the uncertainty surrounding the opening game, one thing is clear: The Bears are hungry for a win and have high expectations for 2017. “I really want to go out there and just destroy this team,” said co-captain

Isaiah Thompkins ’19. “We want to go 10-0 and win a championship. We have a lot of guys coming back who are really passionate about football, so I’m optimistic about this season.” After finishing last season fourth in the league with a 4-6 record, Bruno will have a chance to start fresh and rise from the ashes, literally. “It was a disappointment,” Estes said. “There were games that we could’ve won that we let go, and I don’t think we played completely up to our capabilities. But that’s over with. We dealt with it. We had a ceremony, and we burned that. We burned the media guide. We burned everything. We do it every year, so we can get rid of last

year and move on.” Since leaving the 2016 season behind, the Bears have reshaped themselves, implementing a dry season and adopting the team motto, “Be Elite.” “This year, our team is all in,” said co-captain Richard “Dewey” Jarvis ’17.5. “Everyone is committing to the team and committing to the season. I like our resilience. After the Yale scrimmage — it wasn’t a great scrimmage for us — our team’s just bounced back with so much energy.” Nicholas Duncan ’19 is set to lead the Bears’ up-tempo spread offense as the starting quarterback. He’ll be supported by running back David Moodie ’19, whose impact on the field was cut

short by injuries last season. On the defensive side, veteran standouts like Terrell Smith ’18, Connor Coughlin ’18 and Jarvis — who led the league in tackles for loss in 2016— will ensure opponents don’t venture too close to the redzone. Numerous unique and complex defensive schemes will also prove troublesome for opposing offenses. One offense Bruno hopes to stop short is Harvard. The Crimson bested the Bears by just ten points a year ago, but Thompkins is anticipating a hard-fought game in Cambridge Sept. 23. And in November, Brown will return to the city for the most » See FOOTBALL, page 4

PawSox owners propose new stadium U. to update religious

affiliations survey

With McCoy Stadium’s deteriorating conditions, plans for new home near urban center underway

Current survey inadequate reflection of religious diversity among students

By PAULINA SENGERIDIS STAFF WRITER

“Pawtucket is home,” read the red shirts of Rhode Islanders who came out to the Senate Finance Committee Hearing Thursday to endorse the proposal for a new $83-million Pawtucket Red Sox Stadium at Slater Mill. After the PawSox received an offer in July to make Worcester, Mass. the team’s new home, the Rhode Island community came together to review the proposal that would keep the PawSox in Pawtucket. The hearing at the Rhode Island State House is the first in a series of six that will take place through mid-October and result in a definitive conclusion regarding

INSIDE

By PRIYANKA PODUGU SENIOR STAFF WRITER

PAULINA SENGERIDIS / HERALD

Locals came to the hearing that will decide the next home of the Pawtucket Red Sox with red shirts emblazoned with the text: “Pawtucket is home.” the construction of a “Fenway replica” in downtown Pawtucket. The Pawtucket proposal would replace the old McCoy Stadium that housed the triple-A team for the past 75 years. Both the co-owner of the PawSox Larry Lucchino and PawSox

Vice-Chairman Mike Tamburro listed some key issues of sustainability with the existing publicly-owned McCoy stadium — the location is distant from the city’s urban center and the stadium faces deteriorating conditions. Built on » See PAWSOX, page 2

In addition to asking for an address and emergency contacts, the University also asks students to indicate their religious affiliation. The Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life uses the data to ensure accommodations for all religious identities — but the survey is “horrifically outdated” and in “serious need of change,” said the Rev. Janet Cooper Nelson, chaplain of the University. Administrators and staff from the

Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life will meet to discuss changing the survey, though a specific date has yet to be set. The voluntary survey, accessible to students through Banner, asks students to indicate their “current religion.” Students are allowed to select one religion out of a list of 33 options. Cooper Nelson said the University has been using this list since she arrived at Brown in 1990. Before the survey became available on Banner, incoming students would record their religious affiliation through a paper survey mailed to their home address, she added. “It’s not really representative of the range of religious identities that are in the University,” Cooper Nelson said, as » See SURVEY, page 2

WEATHER

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

METRO Providence elementary schools to provide free breakfast and lunch for all students

U. NEWS Computer science becomes most popular concentration, department hires additional staff

COMMENTARY Friedman ’19: Though stigmatized on campuses, social isolation has its advantages

COMMENTARY Prasad: While progress has been made in supporting nternational students, feedback is welcomed

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NEWS

PAGE 2 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Providence elementary schools offer free meals to all its students Federally funded program expands upon last year’s pilot that included 13 of 22 schools in district By GLORIA NASHED STAFF WRITER

This year, elementary school students throughout Providence Public Schools can get a free breakfast and lunch from their cafeterias. This change comes because the city’s school board decided to take part in the Community Eligibility Provision, a federal program under the United States Department of Agriculture that provides meal service money to low-income school districts. Providing children with free or reduced lunch is not something new for Providence Public Schools. Last year, the school board implemented CEP in 13 of 22 elementary schools in the district as part of a pilot program. The pilot program was successful, so the school district decided

» SURVEY, from page 1 the survey does not allow students to select more than one religion or write-in their own identity. Younger people are also less likely to identify as a member of a particular denomination, but may still be spiritual or observe certain religious practices, and the survey should be inclusive of this trend, she said. Cooper Nelson also added that the survey listed religious identities in a reductive and inconsistent way: the survey outlines specific traditions of Judaism but only lists Islam as “Muslim.” The current list of religious identities also fails to recognize any religious identities belonging to North American indigenous nations. Cooper Nelson said it has taken time to adjust the survey, as the University must deal with reconciling new and old data. After noticing how the number of submitted responses “dropped way off ” since the survey’s shift to Banner, Cooper Nelson said now is an “excellent time” to make the task of updating the religious index a central objective of her office’s Departmental Diversity and Inclusion Plan. “I’m hoping we

to fully implement CEP, said Laura Hart, communications director of Providence Public Schools. Before CEP, school children in Providence still had the opportunity to receive a free or reduced-price lunch if their income fell below a certain level, Hart said. CEP differs because, instead of requiring individual families to show financial need to secure free meals at school, the program evaluates school districts as a whole, which means that all students within the Providence district are covered. Despite the convenience CEP can provide to school districts and students, “it is ultimately a district decision to go CEP or not,” said Megan Geoghegan, communications officer of the Rhode Island Department of Education. For this reason, some districts in Rhode Island may not participate in CEP, though they are eligible. “We, of course, want to be helpful and supportive as schools and districts find innovative ways to expand nutrition access to all students, whether that’s through CEP or can get into religious working groups … and get some feedback from the community,” she added. Cooper Nelson said the data would allow her office to improve student programming and ensure they could properly support religious communities on campus. Previous data from the index gave her office quantitative evidence to improve halal and kosher food offerings on campus and add more prayer rooms for Muslim students. “If historically a faith or tradition hasn’t been a large thing on a particular campus, you might not pay attention to it,” said the Rev. Delphain Demosthenes. “If you’re not capturing that you might not make the changes that need to be made to reflect that new reality. You might not have (staff or resources) to make their time on campus suitable … just like the other students whose faith and traditions have always been represented.” The Rev. Albert Duggan ’03 said he hopes the updated version will include a “well thought-out series of questions. It doesn’t have to be terribly long. … Ten questions or less would give us a richer sense of the

LAURA FELENSTEIN / HERALD

other initiatives,” Geoghegan added. But it is also clear that “hungry kids don’t learn,” said Andrew Viveiros, general manager of Sodexo, the Nutrition Solutions team for Providence Public Schools. Recent studies show that hunger negatively impacts students’ ability to learn and perform well in the classroom, according to a Center for Disease Control and Prevention study. Viveiros also cited anecdotal evidence from school nurses across various districts, who told him that “the number of students complaining from headaches or stomach aches have dropped drastically because they’ve had breakfast.” If a district is eligible for the program, it can choose to opt into it. District eligibility for CEP is determined through a variety of indicators. First, at least 40 percent of enrolled students in the school district must be eligible for free school meals, according to CEP guidelines. Other indicators of eligibility are school “demographics” or “percentage of people who are getting (Supplemental Nutrition

PIA MILEAF-PATEL / HERALD

Assistance Program) benefits,” Hart said. Besides mitigating the effects of hunger in the classroom, CEP can serve school districts by removing the need for parents of elementary school children to fill out individual income-related paperwork, which eases the administrative burden of

the free meal process, according to the CEP guidebook. The CEP is being implemented in the city at the elementary level but not the secondary level, Hart said. At the secondary level, eligibility for a free or reduced-price lunch is still based on an individual income level, she said.

EMMA JERZYK / HERALD

spiritual landscape of the University.” Cooper Nelson said that students’ answers would always remain confidential and that her office would never publish aggregated statistics from the data. However, she said that tracking such personal information was

necessary because the “diversity of the University is a critical factor in your education.” “That doesn’t just mean (racial) diversity or cultural diversity or socio-economic diversity. … It means all of those intersectional aspects

of diversity, (including) religion,” Cooper Nelson said. “Imagine that some community that has long been in residence at Brown starts to decrease seriously, we won’t know that if we’re not paying attention to the demographics.”

» PAWSOX, from page 1

Pawtucket history. The state and the city of Pawtucket would split the remaining costs — $23 million and $15 million, respectively. Grebien assures the residents will face “no new taxes or tax increases” as the construction will be supported entirely by its stadium’s patrons and the PawSox team. Co-owner Lucchino also said that “it will make Red Sox baseball sustainable and stable in Rhode Island until 2050.” The stadium’s proximity to Pawtucket’s urban center could also become a catalyst for positive redevelopment of Pawtucket, Lucchino said. Lucchino and Tamburro said they plan for the ballpark to function as a multi-purpose public space with full access for Rhode Island residents. Andrew Maguire, a Pawtucket resident that went to the hearing, said the project would revitalize the Pawtucket community by providing a new site for

events such as concerts, art festivals and farmers markets. Moreover, Mayor Jorge Elorza said the stadium would invigorate the state’s economy: “This is a great opportunity that is going to benefit all of us through creating jobs.” Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island Daniel J. McKee agreed, saying that the Ballpark at Slater Mill will keep “viable business in the community” and is likely to turn revenue-positive for the state of Rhode Island. The hearing, which lasted over four hours, gave limited time at the end for dissenters to voice their opinion. Critics have claimed that the state should not fund the stadium for a team owned by wealthy businessmen. Opponents and supporters will have a chance to be heard Sept. 26 at Tolman High School in Pawtucket.

a pond, the building is subject to mold and recurring leaks. “It’s been a great home, but it has done its job. … The bones are showing,” Lucchino said. Maintaining the stadium is expensive, noted Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien. McCoy’s renovation would cost $58 million and rebuilding a new stadium on the current problematic site would increase the costs to an estimated $78 million, he said. Grebien added that even if renovated, the old McCoy stadium would not generate the same community impact as a new stadium would in a new location. Building a new, larger stadium at Slater Mill in downtown Pawtucket will cost $83 million, of which $45 million will be invested by the PawSox — the largest private investment in downtown

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NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 • PAGE 3

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Howell ’19 keeps Bruno undefeated with golden goal against Holy Cross Transfer from Marquette University makes formidable start to season with Bears By ALEXANDRA RUSSELL SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The men’s soccer team extended its winning streak to three after a 2-1 victory over Holy Cross in overtime Sunday. Toby Howell ’19 netted the golden goal in the 96th minute, keeping the Bears undefeated ahead of their trip to Texas to play Tulsa and Southern Methodist University this weekend. Howell earned Brown Student-Athlete of the Week honors and was named Ivy League Player of the Week for his achievements, which included an assist against Quinnipiac Friday. Howell’s overtime game-winning header was his first goal for the Bears. He transferred from Marquette University this year after starting sixteen games and recording eight points during his two seasons as a forward with the Golden Eagles. Howell was also a Big East All-Academic selection in his rookie year. For his game-winner against Holy Cross and strong start in his first season with the Bears, Howell has been named The Herald’s Athlete of the Week. Herald: You scored the game-winner against Holy Cross in overtime last weekend. What was that game like for you?

Howell: For the most part it was pretty frustrating up until that point. But what made the goal so special was that we didn’t play our best, but we were still able to pull a result out of it. I was of course really excited when I scored, and I was just really happy that we could win even when we didn’t play our best. How has the transition from Marquette to Brown been? It’s been awesome, I’m really excited to be here. I love all the guys on my team and the coaches have been great. I felt so welcomed from the minute I got here, and all my nervousness and fears went away the moment I set foot on campus because I feel like this is the right place for me to be. What do you like most about Brown so far? I love all my teammates, so I guess just the people here — the people here are all just so interesting and diverse and I just feel like they’ve been so welcoming to me. What were your expectations going into this season? I definitely had high expectations because as soon as I got to training, I realized that we had a lot of very good players. Personally, I just wanted to contribute to the team as much as possible. So I would say that our expectations were pretty high going in, and right now we’ve been able to live up to those expectations, but we’ve got to keep it going.

COURTESY OF BROWN BEARS

Securing Bruno its third consecutive victory, Toby Howell ‘19 scored an overtime goal Sunday to defeat Holy Cross 2-1. The team travels to Texas to take on Tulsa and SMU over the weekend. When did you start playing soccer? Probably since I could start to walk. I was at the YMCA kicking balls, so from the minute I started walking. Did you play any other sports growing up? I play a lot of sports. I played a little tennis, I ran cross country and track in high school, and I play a lot of golf now, but not so much seriously anymore. Do you have a favorite game day breakfast or meal? Probably my favorite breakfast right now is a breakfast sandwich from Bagel Gourmet, that’s what I’ve started

getting addicted to. Do you have any pregame rituals or things you do to get in the zone? Are you superstitious at all? Not so much superstitious, but I’ve been growing my hair out for a while and I said that I’m growing it out until we lose. So hopefully I end the season with a really long mane of hair. Do you like to listen to music when you work out? What do you like to listen to? I’m a big Kanye West guy — I love his new album Life of Pablo so I listen to that a lot. Basically any Kanye West gets me going.

The team has made a strong start to its 2017 campaign. What are your individual aims for the season? My goal is always to score goals but also play well on a consistent basis — not play well in these beginning games, but play well in the Ivy League games, the ones that matter the most. I guess it’s just to play at a high level for the whole season. The Bears play Tulsa and Southern Methodist University Friday and Sunday, respectively. The team will return home to face the University of Rhode Island at Stevenson-Pincince Field September 23. This interview was edited for length and clarity.

Computer science surpasses economics as most popular concentration Department increases number of teaching assistants, full-time faculty to meet demand By SARAH WANG SENIOR STAFF WRITER

As shopping period continues and students decide what they want to concentrate in, many are turning to the computer science department. Computer science is currently the most popular concentration at the University, as 440 students declared the concentration in spring 2017. The department also graduated 144 students in spring 2017, which meant that computer science surpassed economics as the department with the most graduates, according to the Office of Institutional Research’s website. The CS department first became the most popular declared concentration in fall 2016 after 321 students declared it as their intended concentration, said Jesse Polhemus, the computer science department’s communications and outreach specialist. As a result of the growing number of students taking CS classes, the department has had to make some changes to accommodate everyone, including expanding class sizes and making previously capped courses uncapped, said Professor of Computer Science Shriram Krishnamurthi. Even with larger class sizes, Brandon Chen ’19, a CS concentrator, still

ALEX SKIDMORE / HERALD

finds it easy to get help when needed. “Classes are getting bigger, which is kind of disappointing,” Chen said. But “it’s definitely not a contributing factor to the accessibility of professors.” “It’s a super collaborative department — people are really willing to help one another out,” said Heila Precel ’20, who intends to concentrate in computer science. “The T.A. programs, especially in introductory

courses, are really emblematic of that.” Teachings assistants “are almost always holding hours and being available for students,” Precel said. The department also created an endowment campaign for its undergraduate teaching assistant program in May 2015 to keep up with the costs of hiring more T.A.s for its growing classes, Polhemus said. Over the years, the department has

also recently grown in faculty size. Since 2012, the number of full-time faculty in the department ranged from 26 to 28. However, during the 2016-17 school year, the number reached 31 full-time members, Polhemus said. These additions not only increase the teacher-to-student ratio but also increase the topics covered by faculty, he added. New faculty has “enabled the

department to take on a much broader set of topics,” Krishnamurthi said. “As computing has grown, the department has slowly grown to sort of keep up.” Students have become more and more interested in CS because the curriculum and skills are applicable to a wide variety of jobs, Krishnamurthi said. “People are realizing that essentially every company is now a computer company,” he said. Google, Microsoft and IBM are in the top five companies that employ Brown alums, The Herald previously reported. In the past, “people saw computer science as this very linear progress where if you went into CS, you were going to become a programmer,” Polhemus said. “Nowadays, people realize that in just about any field there’s going to be a use for computing.” Krishnamurthi does not anticipate this growth in interest to falter soon. “I think as the potential power of computing grows and the potential concerns about computing grow, there’s just going to be more and more demand and interest in it,” he said. Despite all the changes the department has made, the rigor of the courses remains. “No matter what our enrollment has been … we’ve always kept our courses rigorous,” Krishnamurthi said. “I think this is one of the reasons why outsiders like employers and grad(uate) schools really appreciate what we do because they view us as having really high standards, so that’s why students come out of here really well prepared.”

SPORTS

PAGE 4 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

Breaking down the impending MLB playoff stretch GEORGE KLEIN sports columnist As the Major League Baseball season enters its last month of regular season play, the landscape of the league is clear. There are a few contenders at the top, some teams scrapping for wild card spots in the middle and more awful teams playing the year out with only pride at stake. While arguing the merits of teams such as the San Francisco Giants or Philadelphia Phillies can be entertaining, far more important is the question of which contender will actually take home the championship. I have decided to include in that conversation the following teams: Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, Washington Nationals, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. While the Arizona Diamondbacks, St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies and Minnesota Twins all may have a shot at the crown, these teams seem destined to battle in wild card games. Beginning in the American League East, we have the two historical favorites contending for the lead divisional spot once again: Boston and New York. The Red Sox have not come together as

smoothly as expected this season, and several key players — outfielder Mookie Betts, shortstop Xander Bogaerts and designated hitter Hanley Ramirez — have significantly underperformed. Pitcher Chris Sale has been fantastic for the majority of the season, but as currently constituted, the Red Sox do not have a great chance at winning the World Series. The Yankees may be 3.5 games behind the Red Sox, but they are better built for a lengthy playoff run than Boston so long as the Yankees win the division and avoid the wild card game. Outfielder Aaron Judge has drawn most of the headlines for his firsthalf dominance and second-half collapse, but New York’s supporting cast is what really stands out. Catcher Gary Sanchez is a star, and players such as shortstop Didi Gregorius, second baseman Starlin Castro and outfielder Brett Gardner protect him in the lineup. The midseason addition of Sonny Gray bolstered a starting rotation already filled with talent. Make no mistake, the Yankees are back and dangerous. The Houston Astros started the year on fire but have since cooled off. Their .826 team OPS is the best in baseball by a wide margin, propped up by MVP candidate second baseman Jose Altuve, shortstop Carlos Correa and outfielder George Springer. But pitching will be a major concern for Hous-

ton in the postseason. The staff ranks 12th in the league with a 4.26 ERA, a mark that pales in comparison to the other contenders. Justin Verlander, recently acquired from the Detroit Tigers, and Dallas Keuchel lead the rotation, but Houston’s bullpen is shaky at best. In postseason games — where scoring is decreased due to the quality of starting pitching — late-inning bullpen work is all the more important. It will be hard for the Astros to advance far in the postseason with their relief pitching’s penchant for blowing games. Even though there are genuine threats in the American League, the Cleveland Indians are the most impressive squad in the league by far. With a current 21-game winning streak as of Wednesday night, the Indians boast a roster of star power that crosses all facets of the game. Pitcher Corey Kluber might be the best in baseball, with a ridiculous 2.44 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in the year of the home run. The lineup is loaded from top to bottom: third baseman Jose Ramirez, shortstop Francisco Lindor, first baseman Carlos Santana, designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion, outfielder Jay Bruce — the list of names goes on and on. Looking at the American League as of now, it would be an upset if the Indians were not back in the World Series again. Heading over to the National League, it is the same old story for the

WELCOME

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS Brown Bearings Open House

Washington Nationals. They have put together another dominant regular season, but Washington has been unable to carry that success over to the playoffs in the past few years. There is little reason to believe, especially with outfielder Bryce Harper’s knee injury, that this year will be any different. Second baseman Daniel Murphy, third baseman Anthony Rendon and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman will continue to try to make up for Harper’s absence. Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez form baseball’s best 1-2-3 pitching punch, creating a postseason rotation no one wants to face. But it is hard to trust this team after so many years of playoff failures. The Chicago Cubs may have won the World Series last season, but they have not shown enough this year to be considered favorites by any stretch of the imagination. The team started slowly out of the gates and only got hot after the All-Star break. First baseman Anthony Rizzo and third baseman Kris Bryant remain the club’s best players, and catcher Willson Contreras has enjoyed a breakout season, but several key members of the team have underperformed. Outfielder Kyle Schwarber was even sent down to the minors for a stretch to find his swing again. His batting average has hovered around the Mendoza line all year. Second baseman and World Series MVP Ben Zobrist

and pitchers Jon Lester and John Lackey have struggled as well. Though the Cubs obviously have the talent to win it all, they will enter the postseason as underdogs. But in a year when the Los Angeles Dodgers were a heavy favorite for the vast majority of the season and then lost 16 out of 17 recent games, it is hard to know who the real favorites are. Though it is easy to reject the Dodgers’ chances after such an awful stretch, it is important to keep in mind the talent Los Angeles still possesses. First baseman Cody Bellinger, third baseman Justin Turner and shortstop Corey Seager make up the heart of a dangerous lineup. Pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Alex Wood and Rich Hill form a fearsome starting rotation. If Yu Darvish can return to his usual performance, that rotation becomes even stronger. Closer Kenley Jansen’s numbers — a 1.29 ERA and 0.75 WHIP — speak for themselves. Los Angeles may not be one of the best teams in the history of baseball, but they can still win a World Series. One would be wise not to bet against the Dodgers come October. They are too good to continue playing at their current level. World Series Pick: Cleveland Indians over Los Angeles Dodgers.

» FOOTBALL, from page 1

free t-shirts, free food and a live DJ. “I want to get into the endzone and have a crowd there that’s excited about having some fun and being into the game,” Estes said. “If we can get as many people as possible there, I’m all for it. I’d love to make the Bear Den a den of angry bears.” A free shuttle to the stadium will be running Saturday, and students have access to all home games with their Brown ID. Kickoff for Saturday’s game is set for 12:30 p.m.

highly anticipated matchup of its season against Dartmouth at Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox, which holds over 37,000 spectators. “It gives me chills just being able to play on that field,” Thompkins said. “It’s legendary.” Though Brown Stadium does not have a Green Monster, the Bear Den, a new student section located in front of the video scoreboard, will feature

George Klein ’19 can be reached at george_klein@brown.edu

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THE PROGRAM IN JUDAIC STUDIES 163 George Street Saturday, September 16, 2017 | 1:00–3:00 PM

Chat with our Undergraduate Concentration Advisor and Faculty Refreshments will be provided

TODAY

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 • PAGE 5

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

toothbrushes, tums and t wizzlers — oh my!

menu SATELLITE DINING ANDREWS COMMONS

Pizza: Harvest, Bacon Ham and Alfredo, Buffalo Chicken Steam Bun Tacos JOSIAH’S

BLUE ROOM

Lasagna Bowls, Bacon Burgers, Quesadilla Station

Blue Room Grain Bowls, Sushi Night

DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH

DINNER

Cajun Pasta with Chicken, Mediterranean Grain Bar, Apple Squares

Italian Chicken Parmesan, Steamed Green Beans, Magic Bars

VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH

DINNER

Carne Asada, Lentil Stew, Breaded Chicken Fingers, Ranger Joe Cookies

Baked Chicken, Couscous Croquettes, Basque Cake with Raspberry

sudoku

ELI WHITE / HERALD

The CVS on Thayer Street is a popular and convenient destination for students searching for the tools to satisfy their simple needs. Open until midnight, students can easily grab medicine, snacks or toiletries.

Q U O T E O F T H E D AY

“There were games that we could’ve won that we let go. … But that’s over with. We dealt with it. We had a ceremony, and we burned that. We burned the media crossword

”

guide. We burned everything.

—Football Head Coach Phil Estes P ’18

See football on page 1. CORRECTION An article published Thursday, Sept. 14 titled, “University offers support, resources to undocumented students,” referenced Will Meek’s name incorrectly. His last name is Meek, not Meeks. An article published Thursday, Sept. 14 titled, “New exhibition portrays female immigrant identity,” misstated that Saman Sajasi is set to speak at the exhibit on Oct. 4. In fact, Sajasi is set to speak at the exhibit Oct. 5. In addition, the article has been updated to reflect the fact that RISD faculty member Maya Krinsky will also be speaking at the exhibit. An article published Wednesday, Sept. 6 titled “University awarded grant to address truth and racial healing” named Jamall Calloway as a postdoctoral research associate in race and ethnicity in America. In fact, he is a presidential postdoctoral fellow with the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America. The Herald regrets the errors.

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Mesa de Conversacion 12:00 P.M. Sharpe Refectory, Room 6

MCB Data Club 4:00 P.M. 70 Ship Street, Room 107

SATURDAY Meet B 11:00 A.M. Main Green

Badmaash Auditions 12:00 P.M. T.F. Green Hall, Room 205

SUNDAY Project LETS Meeting 5:00 P.M. Campus Center, Room 229

Note-Taking 7:00 P.M. J. Walter Wilson, Room 203

COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

EDITORIAL

comic

Separating news and opinions

hen seeking fair, balanced reporting on the Brown community, we hope that you’ll turn to The Herald. In addition, our newspaper is a venue for several types of opinion pieces. We recognize that the two can often be confused — a trend we’re hoping to set straight as you continue to read The Herald and other newspapers beyond Brown. We hope to be as transparent as possible about when our content includes opinion and when it should not. Beyond its regular news coverage, The Herald publishes six types of content that include opinion — columns, opeds, letters to the editor, editorials, reviews and cartoons. Columns are written by our Herald opinions columnists — who must apply to the job — and edited by our team of opinions editors. The opinions pages are staffed by a team separate from our reporters and editors who create our daily news content. Op-eds are contributed by Brown community members who do not belong to The Herald’s staff, including other students, alums, faculty and staff members and administrators. Letters to the editor typically are written by readers who aim to include a perspective lacking in the newspaper or comment on the way The Herald handled an editorial decision. They might also be a short response to a specific article. Reviewers will offer their criticism and analysis of new movies, art, films, albums or sports. Cartoonists typically present an opinion through emotional appeals, logic or humor. All of these receive a final edit by the editorial board, who correct not only for grammar and style, but also strive to ensure that the piece reasonably defends a position. The editorial board, currently in its 127th iteration, writes editorials, which assert the opinion of the newspaper

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editors. The 127th editorial board, which also oversees the day-to-day operations and the Herald’s staff, writes the editorials. We hope that, in this way, editorials will accurately represent the opinions of The Herald’s leadership. To be clear: While the editorial board does help to shape the daily coverage of the news section, we teach our reporters to abide by journalistic integrity and to report on subjects as objectively as possible. Of course, The Herald recognizes that pure objectivity is unachievable. Both the experiences of the writers and the institution around them can shape their perspective — but we always aim for fairness and balance in all of our news reporting. If you don’t believe we have been fair, talk to us by submitting a letter to the editor to set the record straight. In June, the Duke Reporters’ lab found that only 40 percent of large news organizations signal the type of article for their readers online. In the pages of the newspaper, we do our best to separate news from opinion. In the print edition, all opinion-based content is labeled under “Commentary” at the top of the page. Online, we label editorials with “Editorial:” and opinions columns with the author’s name — both in the headline and the byline to ensure clarity. Our opinion writing, in addition to our daily news coverage, serves our journalistic mission: to provide people with the information they need to be good citizens and make rational choices. We hope that both types of content we provide will inform, entertain and serve as a spark for discussion within the Brown community.

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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 2017 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.

COMMENTARY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 • PAGE 7

THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

The importance of time to oneself ANDREW FRIEDMAN staff columnist When I think back on my summer, some of my favorite moments were spent alone. Oddly enough, I really enjoyed my daily one-hour commute in Los Angeles traffic from the San Fernando Valley to Pasadena. My falsetto dramatically improved with all of the R&B music that I sang along to in the car, and my knowledge of world events expanded as I listened to KCRW, L.A.’s local affiliate of National Public Radio, whenever I became tired of hearing my own voice. I attended a Dodgers game by myself after my date bailed on me and my grandfather decided he was too tired to attend — even though, to add insult to injury, he was able to fly all the way to Chicago to attend a World Series game last fall. It turns out a solo baseball game is actually a very pleasant experience. There was no obligation on my part to entertain a friend, so I could pay full attention to the best team in baseball and enjoy my garlic fries without sharing. But, despite the allure of the garlic fries, I have to say my favorite activity from the summer was single sculling in Marina Del Rey at 6 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. As an 18-month member of the Brown crew team, I usually don’t get the luxury of training and rowing by myself — most collegiate programs exclusively row eight-person boats — but the summer afforded me the opportunity to take my rowing schedule into my own hands and occasionally stop to enjoy the sun-

rise, a luxury which I am almost never afforded during practices on the Seekonk River. By contrast, the predominant sentiment on college campuses stigmatizes the act of voluntarily spending one’s time alone. Perhaps due to the emphasis on socializing, parties and participating in extracurriculars, students are generally

study conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia, a quarter of surveyed women and two-thirds of surveyed men “chose to subject themselves to electric shock rather than be alone with their thoughts.” Granted, I see plenty of people studying alone at coffee shops and libraries; this is well-established student behavior, but sometimes I

therapeutic benefits to spending time alone. Although their advantages have not been formally quantified, moments of social isolation can help people “out-maneuver some of the toxicity that surrounds them in a social setting,” according to California State Polytechnic University at Pomona Associate Professor of Sociology Jack Fong. This insight ex-

Granted, I see plenty of people studying alone at coffee shops and libraries; this is well-established student behavior, but sometimes I become self-conscious of my own social life when I find myself eating alone in the Ratty. Is eating alone — or, for that matter, exploring Providence alone, attending sporting events alone or just being alone — considered a problem? If it is, it shouldn’t be.

wary of doing anything alone or presenting an image of social isolation. Or perhaps college students are affected by — and contribute to — the larger societal “mistrust of solitude” that is often attributed to the rise of smartphones, which is making us into a more grouporiented society. In fact, in a recent

become self-conscious of my own social life when I find myself eating alone in the Ratty. Is eating alone — or, for that matter, exploring Providence alone, attending sporting events alone or just being alone — considered a problem? If it is, it shouldn’t be. There are, in fact, established

tends the previous “surrender and catch” theory put forth by sociologist Kurt Wolff in 1984 that suggests that time alone can allow a person to embrace a worldview of epistemological relativism — in simpler terms, the idea that knowledge is relative to time, place, society and culture. Whether epistemological relativism

is the correct approach to knowledge remains up for debate, but this idea of valuing social isolation is embraced by scholars outside of sociology as well; indeed, one of the preeminent American novelists of our time, Jonathan Franzen, even published a series of essays called “How to Be Alone” in 2003. On an even deeper level, isolation allows us to practice introspection. Introspection in turn allows us to create an identity that is built on something internal rather than the external identity-markers, brands and group associations on which we increasingly rely. In an era when our personal brands broadcasted via Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Pinterest and other platforms are dominating our personal lives, it is worth considering the authenticity of one’s own brand — and what better way to do that than to reserve a few minutes of each day for oneself? I can’t say that through my time alone this summer, I have teased out the fine nuances of my own interests and identity. I can’t even say that I chose to spend time alone voluntarily — most of the time, I was simply left high and dry by others. But I ended up enjoying it. I can safely say that my time alone has allowed me to feel substantially more comfortable with myself in the context of my generation and society at large. I knew with complete certainty that when I took out my single rowing shell into Marina Del Rey at 6 a.m., I truly wanted to be there. That feeling of solitude is worth more than many of us think.

Andrew Friedman ’19 can be reached at andrew_friedman@brown.edu.

Our commitment to international students SHANKAR PRASAD op-ed contributor The Herald’s article, “U. Hires new international student experience program director” (Sept. 13) underscores the importance the University is placing on offering essential resources to support our international students at Brown. It also provides an opportunity to outline additional steps we are taking to address some of the concerns raised in the article, such as student access to the resources we offer to support their scholarship and to navigate Brown effectively. Among Brown’s greatest strengths are the breadth and depth of the diversity of our community. It is only by bringing together the most talented individuals in the world, from an array of perspectives, nationalities and experiences, that we are able to fulfill our mission at the highest levels. Central to this is our community of international students. This academic year, we welcome 257 international undergraduates and 322 international graduate students to the Brown community. These individuals join the more than 1,930 international students at Brown who collectively comprise 14 percent of our undergraduate population and 37 percent of the graduate population. Their influence and impact

goes far beyond these numbers, and ensuring that they are able to thrive academically and engage fully in the Brown experience requires

University is making to strengthen the international student experience. As The Herald reported, we have also welcomed a new

It is only by bringing together the most talented individuals in the world, from an array of perspectives, nationalities and experiences, that we are able to fulfill our mission at the highest levels. Central to this is our community of international students.

thoughtful and relevant support. The hiring of a director for the international student experience highlights the most recent example of key investments that the

assistant provost for global engagement, launched a new international fellows program in partnership with the Graduate School, relaunched the international student advisory

board and will be co-locating all of the global offices to J. Walter Wilson in January 2018. This co-location will reinforce the launch of Global Brown Community and Support, our one-stop referral service to streamline help across the more than 40 staff and multiple offices that support the international community at Brown. This fall, we look forward to welcoming a new assistant dean of the College for international students, who will fill a critical need for dedicated academic advising and professional development for international undergraduates. In addition, a new international lounge in JWW in the spring will provide a space for this community to gather and collaborate. We recognize that while progress has been made, more work is needed to fully support our international student scholars. We welcome feedback to shape our efforts and are planning a second installment of our international student survey this spring. We benefit enormously from the full engagement and contributions of our international students and remain committed to ensuring that they are able to thrive during their time at Brown.

Shankar Prasad is the associate provost for global engagement and strategic initiatives. He can be reached at shankar_prasad@brown.edu.

NEWS THE BROWN DAILY HERALD

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

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