SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD VOLUME CLXI, ISSUE 15
LECTURE
MAX ROBINSON / HERALD
Inaugural Slavery and Justice Lecture emphasizes pursuit of truth, accountability, openness
The University terminated its First Readings program last year BY RACHEL WICKER SENIOR STAFF WRITER On Wednesday, Brown students, faculty, staff and community members, gathered in Pembroke Hall for the inaugural Slavery and Justice Lecture. The event comes two decades after the release of Brown’s “Report of the Brown University Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice”, which examines Brown’s ties to slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. Last year, the University ended the First Readings program, which included the Slavery and Justice Report as required reading for incoming first-years. Matthew Guterl, vice president for diversity and inclusion, said at the event that he was inspired to propose an annual lecture focused on the report after reading a column in The Herald, written by Herald Opinions Editor Clara Murray ’29, arguing that Brown should recommit to teaching the University’s role in slavery. The lecture, which Guterl moderated, was hosted by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in collaboration with the Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice and the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women. “We hope that this lecture becomes an annual feature of every fall, a part of the sequence of events that welcome students back to campus,” Guterl wrote in an email to The Herald. The event featured two Brown professors whose scholarship explores narratives
and histories of slavery. Elena Shih, an associate professor of American studies and ethnic studies, and Emily Owens, an associate chair of history, discussed the legacies of the Slavery and Justice Report and what the Brown community can continue to learn from it. Following the lecture, first-year students had the opportunity to engage in further discussion on the report in a structured conversation at the Sharpe Refectory sponsored by the Community Dialogue Project. In his opening remarks, Guterl told the story of “the moment that made (the Slavery and Justice Report) necessary in the first place” — a 2001 incident when The Herald printed a racist ad by David Horowitz titled “Ten Reasons Why Reparations for Blacks is a Bad Idea for Blacks – and Racist, Too!” “Student activists, many of them of color, responded by removing most, if not all, of the print-run newsstands across campus,” Guterl said. “Underneath all of that was another profoundly difficult question — one this campus was forced to sit with long before it was ready: What is the obligation of Brown University to make repair or reparation for the institution of chattel slavery?” In her first fall on campus, Former University President Ruth J. Simmons charged a faculty-student steering committee to “to help Brown and the nation come to a better understanding of the complicated, controversial questions surrounding the issue of reparations for slavery,” Guterl continued. Guterl emphasized the accountability
SEE LECTURE PAGE 2
Federal judge delays four-year student visa cap in case brought by 8 plaintiffs, including GLO Previously, the rule capping visa terms was set to take effect on Sept. 15 BY EMILY FEIL METRO AND UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR A federal judge ruled Monday to postpone the Department of Homeland Security’s rule to cap student visas at four years, which was set to take effect on Tuesday. He argued that the rule could negatively impact international students, the economy and higher education more generally. He added that the government provided weak rationale for the rule change. In August, eight non-profits and unions — including Brown’s Graduate Labor Organization — filed an 81-page complaint arguing that the rule was “arbitrary and capricious” and would be “catastrophic” for international students and the nation.
DINING
Ratty welcomes students back to campus with refreshed look New furniture, lighting and walls debuted in the Ratty, with additional renovations planned BY ADDISON WHITESIDE CONTRIBUTING WRITER Before students’ return to campus for the 2026-27 academic year, the University completed renovations to the Sharpe Refectory in late August. This year, the University undertook a “total refurbishment” of the Chancellor’s Dining Room and the Annex, Vice President of Dining Services George Barboza wrote in an email to The Herald. These spaces now feature new furniture, lighting and flooring, as well as improved freshly-painted walls. The larger Main Dining Room also received new paint and new furniture to accommodate big-
SPORTS
BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
ger groups, Barboza added. “The Sharpe Refectory was on our dining roadmap to receive a refurbishment,” Barboza wrote. “Fortunately, we were able to bring this to fruition this year.” Since opening in 1951, the Ratty has undergone a series of renovations over the years, including a multi-million-dollar project in 2019 to add air conditioning. More recently, the construction of dedicated kosher allergen-friendly kitchens, as well as enhancements to the halal station, were completed in 2023. The updated tables were a welcome change for Julia Shrier ’28, who enjoys long hours eating and doing work at the Ratty. Shrier said that they feel the new layout has made it easier to find seating, as replacing the larg-
SEE DINING PAGE 2
SEE SOCCER PAGE 6
In the judge’s ruling in favor of the preliminary injunction, he denied the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment. If granted, that motion would have allowed the judge to rule on the case without it proceeding to trial. U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV’s decision to issue a preliminary injunction comes after he questioned the government’s case for the policy in a Sept. 3 hearing. “Where was the outrage when foreign nationals were abusing the system, violating the terms of their student visas, and making a mockery of our immigration laws?” a DHS spokesperson wrote in a message to The Herald. “If the media really cared about legitimate international students, they would be thanking President Trump for cracking down on the rampant fraud to ensure only those truly intending to study in the United States are given the privilege,” the spokesperson added. Historically, international students
have been granted visas under a “duration of status,” meaning that their visa was valid as long as they were making progress toward their academic or research goals. “Rather than attempt to improve that system, DHS elected to replace it with a new program that will substantially restrict the overall number of foreign students, researchers, professors, and journalists in the United States,” Saylor wrote in his opinion. Saylor also criticized the proposed rule because it allowed DHS to make decisions on students’ visa statuses. “A DHS official — based on limited and vague criteria, and with no possibility of appeal — will have the power to cut short the academic, research, or teaching activities of any non-U.S. citizen for no reason or any reason,” he wrote. According to Michael Ziegler GS, the president of GLO’s parent organization RIFT-AFT Local 6516, GLO was asked to
SEE VISAS PAGE 2
RISD
RISD dining workers unionize, allege unfair labor practices including coercive actions The allegations were filed to the National Labor Relations Board on Aug. 20 and Sept. 8 BY EMILY FEIL AND IZABELLA PIATKOWSKI METRO AND UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR AND SENIOR STAFF WRITER In August, dining workers at the Rhode Island School of Design officially unionized under the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 251. Since then, the union has filed multiple unfair labor allegations against RISD, claiming that management has retaliated against organizers and engaged in bad faith bargaining. According to Laurel Meskin, a union organizer and dining experience associate at RISD, workers
post- Magazine
initially decided to unionize due to a lack of seniority compensation and respect from management. Meskin said he reached out to Teamsters last October and was connected with Virginia Tavares, the organizer of Teamsters Local 251. Dining employees will be added to an existing contract for custodians, groundskeepers and movers at RISD, but additional contract language specific to dining services will be negotiated, according to Tavares. General union protections, like management rights and grievance processes, will be the same for employees in both departments, she added. In an email sent to the RISD community, RISD Vice President for Human Resources Lauren Bowen confirmed that “RISD and the union will engage in a bargaining process to determine the terms under
SEE RISD PAGE 4
SEE POST- PAGE 8
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Friday, September 18, 2026
UNIVERSITY NEWS LECTURE FROM PAGE 1 inherent to the Slavery and Justice report, which he said Brown must continue to strive for today. “To tell the truth in all its complexity” is both difficult and necessary, he said. “At once a moral demand and a scholarly imperative, it asks the historian to hold open a wound rather than to dress it.” The lecture centered around a strong commitment to truth. The Slavery and Justice report and the continued work of the Center for Slavery and Justice have supported an “openness” that Owens said is crucial for Brown to maintain. Owens and Shih also discussed how current challenges within academia — such as political scrutiny and artificial intelligence — have impacted this knowledge production, political activity and community in college. “I think all of those things have happened or have become non-ignorable in the last three-ish years on this campus,” Shih said. Shih said that when facing uncertainty and scrutiny in today’s evolving political climate, researchers at Brown “can support movements and people who haven’t historically had access to that kind of voice.” She continued that Brown must leverage its power to protect vulnerable students, including student protestors, transgender students and international students. Shih and Owens then discussed scholarship as a path toward justice. The report highlights the relationship between educa-
The lecture centered around a strong commitment to truth.
COURTESY OF JUANA PARILLON
tion and reparations, Shih said, noting that community engagement work is currently underway at the Ruth J. Simmons Center that continues this effort. “I think there is also a call within the report to be thoughtful and critical about where we get resources,” Owens added, referencing the report’s examination of how enslaved people built University Hall and how the University laundered money
from the slave trade. Following the discussion, multiple audience members shared ways in which they witnessed the impacts of the Slavery and Justice report. One audience member read the report as a student at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill while organizing a protest against a Confederate monument. Another, who is a faculty member at Trinity College, said she has
used the report in parts of her curriculum. From the audience, Pembroke Center Archives Director Mary Murphy said that the Slavery and Justice Report has had a profound impact on Brown’s archival resources. “It’s changed what our libraries and the Pembroke Center Archives (are) bringing into the walls of this university for students to use and scholars to use to create new knowledge,” she said.
implementation of this rule,” Ziegler said. The rule “really kind of throws into question the ability of our graduate members to complete their degrees.” Brown offers doctoral students five or six years of financial support, depending
on their intended program. “This preliminary injunction is proof positive that the Trump administration’s proposed limits on how long international scholars have to complete their studies is arbitrary and hostile,” Randi Weingar-
ten, the president of AFT, wrote in a press release from the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. “We stand united with our 420,000 higher education members, international and American alike, so they can continue
Several audience members were a part of the 1968 student walkout that called for increased University commitment to Black students. Leah Goodwin ’30 decided to attend the lecture after hearing about it in HIST 0150A: “History of Capitalism.” “I come from a kind of small conservative town too, so I wanted to open my mind a little bit more about … things that I feel like, especially as a white person in America, things that I feel like I should know more about.” “I thought it was very interesting, and both of the speakers were great,” she said. Ainsley LeSure, an assistant professor of political science and of Africana studies, said she appreciated Owens highlighting “the complexity of the problem of racism, and how it’s not solved.” In the current American climate, “it feels like it is very hard to have these conversations about race and racism,” she added, but they are “very important” to have. Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve, an associate professor of sociology, said that her main takeaways from the event involved the power of historical storytelling. “This is a battle over truth, and that truth is a type of power,” she said. “We need to retell and tell these stories to vindicate and to really own the truth about slavery in America.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 17, 2026.
VISAS FROM PAGE 1 join the motion as a co-plaintiff by the national American Federation of Teachers union. “I am really feeling happy for our international members, who I think have had some considerable anxiety about the
their work that makes US colleges and universities the envy of the world.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 14, 2026.
DINING FROM PAGE 1 er tables with smaller ones seems to have yielded more usable seats in the main dining room. “So far, I haven’t had a day where I really can’t find a seat, which was always my issue,” Shrier said. Barboza described the Ratty’s refreshed look as “welcoming and exciting,” a reaction shared by some students. Rehna Saalinger ’29 said the renovations optimized the space more efficiently, adding that the walls look “very nice” and “more modern” compared to before the renovation. But she noted that the new tables have made it harder to eat with a bigger group. “The long tables are so long that you can’t really talk to the people who are across the table,” Saalinger said. Timothy Hillier, who has been a Ratty staff member for two years, thinks the renovations “looks great,” adding that the tables are easier to clean than the rough surfaces of the previous tables. He noted that, before the renovations, “there used to be a lot more room to navigate through.” Students also pointed to other areas of the Ratty they would like to see improved, such as the long lines for food. “I feel like we’re big kids and we can make our own omelets,” Shrier said. Saalinger would also like to see an improvement in how the Ratty handles its lines, “whether it’s speeding up how people get their food, making more stations or making the lines go somewhere else so that (they’re) not as much in the way,” she says. Hillier added that he thinks Dining
The larger Main Dining Room received fresh walls and new furniture to accommodate bigger groups.
SELINA KAO / HERALD
employees would also benefit from a new elevator. Saalinger also pointed out that the flooring in the Main Dining Room “doesn’t really match the renovations.” But Barboza wrote the University is already planning to redo the flooring over the winter break as part of the renovations’ second phase. Beyond the flooring update, there are no “final plans related to any other unit at this time,” according to Barboza. “We truly believe that all members of the Brown community will benefit and be excited about these changes.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 14, 2026.
SELINA KAO / HERALD
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
PAGE 3
UNIVERSITY NEWS DEVELOPMENT
Brown revises plans for proposed economics building following community feedback The revised development would only impact two residential buildings BY ROMA SHAH UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR On Tuesday, the University shared revised plans for Brown’s new economics building after receiving community feedback critiquing the initial proposal. Aspects of the original building plan, including the building location and height, have been modified. According to the first plans released in April, the new economics building would have been located on Brook Street between Benevolent and Charlesfield streets and hit a height of 75 feet. The initial location impacted a University-owned lot containing four residential structures and a parking lot. According to the University’s reworked plans, the building will now be located on a corner of Brook and Charlesfield streets, farther from residential neighborhoods and closer to institutional buildings. The new plans propose a height of 60 feet and will only impact two residential buildings. According to Executive Vice President for Planning and Policy Russell Carey, the University has garnered “a lot of really helpful and strong feedback with concerns about the original proposal, particularly the potential height of the building” given the original site’s proximity to nearby residential areas. In response to the University’s original proposal, Providence city councilmember John Goncalves ’13 MA’15 (Ward-1) wrote a letter to President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 and other Brown administrators in April urging the “reconsideration of the current proposal.” The letter raised concerns about the building’s height blocking light to neighboring houses and the proposal not reflecting the voices of Providence residents. Goncalves also authored
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The newly proposed building site currently houses Brown’s Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management and a University-owned graduate student residential building, as well as two other residential buildings. a petition critiquing the construction that has received over 800 signatures to date. In April, the Providence Preservation Society later also released a statement urging the University to add and expand onto existing buildings or adaptively reuse historic buildings instead of planning demolition and new construction, among other recommendations. Local residents also created an Instagram account dedicated to fighting against Brown’s original proposal and saving the homes to be demolished. Carey noted that both the previously and newly proposed building sites are located within an I-2 Educational Institutional District Zone. The IE zone allows higher education institutions to expand
in a “planned manner while protecting the surrounding neighborhoods,” according to the City of Providence’s zoning ordinance manual. While the IE zone allows Brown to construct buildings up to 75 feet in height, Carey acknowledged that this “doesn’t mean that it has to be built to that height.” The building’s new proposed height of 60 feet is more in line with neighboring institutional and residential buildings. The two residential buildings that will be impacted by the new building location will first be offered for sale to buyers at $10 each for relocation “if there’s interest in which someone who’s capable of doing that and who has a site onto which they will be relocated,” Carey said. If there is no
interest, the buildings will be demolished. The newly proposed building site currently houses Brown’s Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management and a University-owned graduate student residential building. According to Carey, the DPS building will be demolished and the department will be relocated to a location that has not yet been finalized. The graduate student housing will be moved to a location down the street. Two of the the four buildings that were originally planned on being demolished are historical buildings built in the 1800s by an African-American real estate developer Alexander Gorham. These two buildings — which have been vacant for years — will be preserved and restored, according to Carey.
The University will continue to have direct engagement with residents in the building’s surrounding areas, meet “more formally with community and neighborhood organizations” and have meetings open to public feedback as the project progresses, Carey said. According to Carey, the University is planning on gaining approval for the building from the city planning commission this semester, and construction is anticipated to be completed in the 2029-30 academic year. Höweler + Yoon was chosen as the architect for the project in May.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 16, 2026.
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SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD 136TH EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Cate Latimer
Rebecca Goodman
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Friday, September 18, 2026
METRO HOUSING
Providence completes 988 housing units, permits 726 units in FY26 Housing was a key issue in the 2026 mayoral primaries BY KELLY DING SENIOR STAFF WRITER During fiscal year 2026, the City of Providence completed 988 housing units and permitted 726 new residential units, according to the City’s 2026 Housing Progress Report released August ahead of the mayoral primaries. Of the new units, around 40% were designated to be affordable. “By removing barriers to development, investing directly in affordable housing and putting underused public properties back to work, we are creating more housing choices for Providence neighbors,” Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said in a press release. “Statewide, there is still work to do to ensure that more Rhode Islanders — particularly those with the greatest affordability challenges — can access and remain in housing they can afford,” Deborah Goddard, R.I. secretary of housing, wrote in an email to The Herald. “But Providence is leading by example, and we are proud of the progress made.” Housing affordability was a key issue in Wednesday’s Democratic mayoral primary election, which saw State Rep. David Morales MPA’19 claim victory over Smiley. Earlier this year, Smiley vetoed a proposed 4% rent ordinance for the City; Smiley consistently champions the development of new housing over rent stabilization as the solution to the housing crisis. Morales, by contrast, has been a vocal supporter of rent stabilization in Providence. Josh Estrella, director of communications for the City of Providence, wrote in an email to The Herald that Smiley’s
CAROLYN NAKAWUNGU / HERALD
earlier veto was out of concern that the rent stabilization “ordinance would have worsened the housing affordability crisis,” mentioning negative outcomes in cities that have implemented similar ordinances. “The Smiley Administration has consistently raised concerns that this ordinance lacks a clear, workable implementation plan and would have shifted the tax burden onto single-family homeowners while driving rents higher overall,” Estrella wrote, adding that Smiley “has instead taken a disciplined, results-driven approach to lowering housing costs.” To address the ongoing affordability gap, “Providence should continue to focus on producing and preserving affordable homes while strengthening protections that help residents remain stably housed,” Melina Lodge — executive director of the
Housing Network of Rhode Island, a coalition of organizations that seeks to expand the supply of affordable homes in the state — wrote in an email to The Herald. Emily Freedman, director of Providence Housing and Human Services, attributed the city’s housing insecurity to “decades of underbuilding.” She wrote that “too few homes have left residents competing for limited supply, contributing to rising rents and home prices.” According to the report, the City completed almost double the number of homes as it did the previous fiscal year. Through the Providence Housing Trust Fund, the city committed over $58.7 million to affordable housing projects from FY23 to FY26, according to the report, converting empty and underutilized properties. The city also renewed affordability restrictions
and for existing homes, providing over $750,000 in preservation investment and issuing 76 rehabilitation loans. In addition, the City’s eviction defense program secured housing for over 2,500 residents. Providence also expanded partnerships with programs like Crossroads Rhode Island and the East Bay Community Action Program, which work to provide long-term housing for those experiencing homelessness. “Providence is making meaningful progress on several of the priorities outlined in Housing 2030,” Rhode Island’s state housing plan, Goddard wrote. These goals include permitting 15,000 new housing units and 2,250 affordable rental homes by 2030. Affordable housing for residents with earnings lower than 30% of their areas’
median incomes remains a key gap in Providence’s housing landscape, Freedman noted. Freedman said that “federal headwinds, including Trump Administration attacks on resources like the Continuum of Care program, make this work even more challenging.” CoC is a federal initiative aimed at reducing homelessness by partnering with state-level organizations. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development wrote that there have been no reductions in CoC funding. “HUD is making more funding available than ever before,” they wrote. Siraj Sindhu GS — executive director of Reclaim Rhode Island, a housing justice organization — said the report seemed to “obscure” the city’s ongoing housing crisis. “This is a glossy report that ignores, in large part, the fact that for so many tenants, rents are rising rapidly,” Sindhu said. The existing paradigm is “giving free rein to private developers to go ahead and try to maximize their profits, while giving tenants who are struggling to keep their heads above water the bare minimum,” Sindhu said. Sindhu believes the City should shift away from “decades of privatization and deregulation” that have dominated Providence’s housing landscape and toward mixed-income social housing, rent stabilization and lasting affordability. Carl Austin Grondin MPA ’24, press secretary for the office of Mayor Smiley, wrote that Providence’s housing policy changes in FY26 “were intended to streamline development and reduce redundant or duplicative regulations, not to deregulate housing or development in Providence.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 14, 2026.
RISD FROM PAGE 1
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Dining employees will be added to an existing contract for custodians, groundskeepers and movers at RISD, but additional contract language specific to dining services will be negotiated. which dining employees will join that union’s current contract.” The RISD facilities staff, who are also part of the Teamsters 251 union, previously organized a 24-hour strike in March 2023 and a two-week-long strike in April 2023, both following wage disagreements in contract negotiations. The April strike ended after RISD agreed to a contract including “wage increases averaging 33%, with a 22% increase to take effect July 2023, wage retroactivity to October 2022, strong benefits, longevity bonuses and more,” according to a 2023
Teamsters press release. Tavares said that RISD attempted to discourage dining workers from organizing by promising promotions for voting against unionization. RISD did not respond to a question about whether RISD discouraged organizing or promised promotions for staff who did not vote for unionization. In an email to The Herald, RISD spokesperson Jaime Marland wrote, “The union asked us to respond to their initial information request within 15 business days (by Sept. 16), which we have done, and contract
negotiations will begin at a future date. We are committed to negotiating this contract in good faith at the bargaining table.” Teamsters 251 has filed two separate unfair labor practice cases to the NLRB. The first, filed on Aug. 20, contains allegations of coercive actions and statements, interrogation and changes in the terms and conditions of employment. The other, filed on Sept. 8, alleges bad faith bargaining. Bridgette Romano, a dining experience associate, and Vincent Guadalupe, a cook at RISD, alleged that since the unionization efforts, RISD stopped providing flexibility
with complimentary meals, now limiting employees to one free meal per day. According to Tavares and Guadalupe, additional food is otherwise thrown away. RISD did not respond to a question about changes in the complimentary meal policy. Additionally, Guadalupe and Tavares alleged that veteran employees had their hours cut in favor of temporary workers from Snapchef. Guadalupe and Meskin allege that these temporary employees often are less experienced than permanent employees.
Tavares wrote to The Herald that she plans to file additional ULP charges about these allegations. “We respect every employee’s decision to unionize or not, and our focus is on supporting all employees regardless of their union status,” Bowen wrote in the message to the RISD community. “RISD does not tolerate retaliation against any employee for exercising their choice.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 15, 2026.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
PAGE 5
METRO TRANSPORTATION
Washington Bridge on track for November 2028 reopening In August, Gov. McKee released a schedule for the bridge’s rebuilding BY KELLY DING SENIOR STAFF WRITER In late August, Gov. Dan McKee — in collaboration with Walsh Construction and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation — released a schedule of construction benchmarks for the Washington Bridge rebuild. The schedule targets a November 2028 reopening date. The bridge closed in December 2023, and in 2025, a leaked forensic audit revealed underlying structural deficiencies in the bridge existed long before it was ultimately closed by the state. The “design-build project is proceeding well,” RIDOT Chief Public Affairs Officer Charles St. Martin wrote in an email to The Herald, adding that the agency began in-water construction this past spring. Now, the construction team is constructing the foundations for the new bridge, Martin wrote. The team is currently “installing 32 long pipes called drilled shafts which are driven to a depth of 130 feet to bedrock,” he added. Next steps after the installation include cleaning the shaft interiors and inserting and curing concrete-filled reinforcing steel bars, according to Martin. So far, six shafts have been fully installed, cleaned, reinforced and cured, he added. When the process for all 32 shafts is
SELINA KAO / HERALD
A RIDOT spokesperson said there have not been any challenges or delays that would impact the rebuild’s planned November 2028 completion date. complete, a steel structure will be placed on top. The concrete within this “boxlike” steel structure will “tie the shafts together and form the base of the pier,” Martin wrote. RIDOT aims to complete the pier base by early fall, with steel beams to be placed later in the fall. This stage of the process
will be repeated “across the river, working from west to east” and is projected to be completed by next year, he added. Some aspects of the rebuild are ahead of schedule at this point. Foundation work that had been scheduled for the fall was able to start this past spring, and steel work intended to be completed in spring 2027
is now planned for this fall, Martin wrote. Martin said there have not been any challenges or delays that would impact the rebuild’s planned November 2028 completion date. Carl Austin Grondin MPA ’24, press secretary for the office of Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, wrote that, although the
rebuilding project is managed at the state level, “the Mayor wants to see the work move forward as quickly and safely as possible for Providence residents, businesses and commuters.” The city will work with the state and RIDOT to “limit impacts on nearby neighborhoods, support safe traffic patterns and ensure residents are kept informed,” Grondin wrote. To minimize the construction’s encroachment on nearby homes and businesses, RIDOT is “using quieter, vibrating hammers to install the drilled shafts,” Martin said. State Rep. Rebecca Kislak ’94 said that she believes the Washington Bridge reconstruction process is “taking a really long time,” citing interstate highways in Pennsylvania and Maryland that “got built much more quickly.” “I don’t understand why we were unable to act with the same level of urgency as the other states who had recent interstate bridge issues,” Kislak said. Martin wrote that the project’s main construction company, Walsh Construction, set the project completion date, not the state. RIDOT vetted the “best bridge building companies in the United States” before landing on Walsh Construction, which “is consistently ranked as the best bridge builder in the country and has more than 100 years of experience,” Martin added.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 17, 2026.
FLOCK
Foster terminates Flock camera contract, joining four other R.I. towns There are at least 280 Flock license plate camera readers in R.I. BY MICHAELA HANSON SENIOR STAFF WRITER The Foster Town Council voted to cancel their contract for Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras last Thursday, becoming the fifth Rhode Island town to do so. “I appreciate the tool, and I have 100% faith in our police department,” Heidi Rogers, the vice president of the Foster Town Council, said at the hearing. “It’s just where the information goes from there.” “I have no doubt that any of our offices would ever abuse it, but other departments have access to it,” Rogers continued. The Council’s decision is the most recent in a statewide reckoning about the use of Flock cameras in policing and public safety. Narragansett, Glocester and North and South Kingstown town councils have all voted to end their partnerships with Flock, and the towns of Portsmouth, Warren and Little Compton have rejected proposals to install cameras. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, there are at least 280 Flock ALPR cameras in Rhode Island. The cameras record license plate numbers and car makes and models, which are then saved to a searchable database accessible to approved law enforcement officers. There has been increasing public backlash against the use of Flock cameras, due to concerns about privacy, data retention and budgetary issues as well as their use in
HORATIO HAMILTON / HERALD
Rhode Island currently has no statewide laws concerning the cameras’ data collection, access and retention. federal immigration enforcement. “Rhode Islanders made their opinions When The Herald reached out for known about Flock Safety and it resulted comment, Flock referred The Herald to in meaningful conversations about the surtheir FAQ page, which outlines a default veillance of our communities,” Madalyn seven-day retention period for Flock’s data. McGunagle, a policy associate at the R.I. “Data is automatically deleted at the end ACLU wrote in an email to The Herald. The of the customer’s retention period,” the ACLU has led a national lobbying effort page reads. against Flock cameras. Access to data is controlled by roleGreg Mancini, the president of the based permissions and data sharing is not North Kingston Town Council, voted enabled by default. “Customers decide against removing Flock cameras but not whether to share data, with whom and because he supports them. under what conditions and can change “I was not voting against canceling the or revoke those permissions,” according contract. I wanted information,” Mancini to the page. said in an interview with The Herald. “To “For every individual camera that’s put me this is a bigger issue than Flock cameras. in place, it’s becoming just another node It’s how we’re governed.” in a broader — in my view — surveillance On Aug. 18, Gov. Dan McKee ordered a system,” Matthew McCoy, one of the three 60-day statewide pause on the installation North Kingston Town Council members and activation of Flock ALPR cameras, who voted to remove Flock cameras, told which encouraged, but did not require, The Herald. cities and towns to follow suit. Existing
state-operated cameras were permitted to continue functioning subject to Rhode Island State Police policies during the period of review. During the state-level pause, the State Police and the Department of Public Safety are conducting a review of the technology alongside the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association and local leaders. Recommendations for statewide standards will be released before the end of the 60-day pause, according to a press release from McKee’s office. Rhode Island currently has no statewide laws concerning the cameras’ data collection, access and retention. Without uniform guidelines in Rhode Island, policy varies by local departments. For example, Narragansett keeps data for 30 days and police officers have to attach a case number to the query. Scrutiny over Flock cameras has heightened due to misuse incidents in Rhode Island and neighboring states. Over the summer, a federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of East Providence resident Eva Pizzarelli after she alleged she was wrongfully arrested due to being misidentified by a Flock camera. In March 2025, Pizzarelli was arrested and subsequently prosecuted for six months for a traffic violation — which she denies ever committing, according to State Rep. José Batista (D-12, Providence), Pizzarelli’s representative in the case. Using her social media account, the police allegedly identified Pizzarelli as a person in Flock footage of a traffic incident in Cumberland, Batista told The Herald. After over six months of criminal proceedings, the traffic infraction charge against
Pizzarelli was dismissed. The Town of Cumberland did not respond to The Herald’s requests for comment. The Cumberland Police Department declined to comment. Batista said that the state legislature was “told on a number of occasions that Flock cameras are not used to identify people.” “It appears the police identified a suspect by viewing photos of the driver that were taken by Flock Safety cameras. This is troubling because we are told that these cameras only capture the rear license plate of vehicles passing by,” McGunagle wrote. “If these cameras are being used in these other ways, that goes far beyond what we’ve been told.” Flock did not respond to a request for comment about the Pizzarelli case. Narragansett Police Captain Ryan Prest told The Herald that he personally audits every Flock query by officers. “You couldn’t use it for any personal reasons. You had to use it for police investigations only,” Prest said. “We were very strict with that.” Flock technology supported more than one million criminal investigations in 2025, according to their FAQ page. Flock cameras were used to identify the car rented by the Dec. 13 mass shooter, which helped law enforcement obtain additional information for their investigation. “I don’t see a world in which we’re not using this technology or the best technology possible to solve crime,” Batista said. “We have to use it in a way that is mindful and obedient of constitutional limits of law.”
PAGE 6
Friday, September 18, 2026
SPORTS SOCCER
Men’s soccer continues undefeated home streak with 1-0 victory over Stonehill The Bears secured their third home victory of the season BY HARRY GUO SENIOR STAFF WRITER On Friday, under the lights of Stevenson-Pincince Field, the men’s soccer team (3-1, 0-0 Ivy League) continued their streak of home wins, claiming a 1-0 victory over Stonehill College (2-2-2, 0-0 Northeast Conference). The win “definitely means a lot,” midfielder and defender Mathias Hille ’27 wrote in an email to The Herald. “Three wins in three games at home is a great start” to the season. Backed by a lively group of fans behind the bench, the Bears created several early opportunities to score. In the fifth minute, forward Lorenzo Amaral ’27 sent a corner kick into a crowded penalty area, where the ball boomeranged dangerously around the box before a header narrowly missed the back of the net. Two minutes later, Bruno threatened again. After a strong build-up play down the wing, the ball found forward Carlo Brown ’27 in front of the goal, but his attempt rolled just wide. Stonehill began to find opportunities of its own as the half progressed. After a promising Brown attack in the 18th minute, the Skyhawks quickly countered, but midfielder Marshall Treese ’29 raced back to make a slide tackle that halted the attack. Stonehill threatened again less than 10 minutes later. The ball bounced around a crowded Brown penalty area before a Skyhawk fired a shot toward the net, but goalkeeper Graham Kois ’28 reacted quickly, diving forward to smother the attempt.
VANSON VU / HERALD
The effort was one of Stonehill’s nine shots during the night compared to Bruno’s 23. “Defensively, we have been solid in all four of our matches so far,” Head Coach Chase Wileman wrote in an email to The Herald. The team is “committed to our principle of no-goals mentality.” On the other end of the field, an Amaral free kick in the 36th minute catalyzed a back-and-forth with forward Mateo Pereyra ’29, but Amaral could not direct the shot on target, and the half remained scoreless at the ref’s whistle. “In the first half we had control but a lot of our play was side-to-side or backwards,” Wileman wrote. In the second half, “we had the mentality to be more forward thinking, threatening and dangerous to
Stonehill.” As Bruno entered halftime scoreless for the third time in four games, the opening stages of the second half were considerably quieter. But in the 59th minute, Brown finally made its moment. Bruno finally broke through in the 59th minute when defender Nicholas Sanchez ’27 fired a shot into the top corner. The goal instilled a newfound momentum, and the Bears generated a flurry of chances but could not find an insurance goal, forcing the team to protect their narrow advantage until the final whistle. Just outside the center of the box, Carlo Brown threaded a pass through a Stonehill defender’s legs to Amaral. Amaral quickly dished the ball outside to Sanchez,
who unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner of the net to give Bruno a 1-0 advantage. The goal marked Sanchez’s first after transferring to Brown and spending the 2025 season recovering from an injury. “It’s everything I’ve worked towards since I transferred,” Sanchez wrote in an email to The Herald. “I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face because of how much the goal not only meant to me, but to the entire team.” Five minutes later, the Bears nearly doubled their lead. Amaral dribbled through three Stonehill defenders before laying the ball off to Hille, who struck a shot that curled off-target at the last moment to hit the right post. Propelled by this momentum, Bruno
had several close attempts by Bruno to put the game out of reach. In the 70th minute, defender Alex Sauerbrei ’30 skipped past a defender near the edge of the box and sent the ball to midfielder James Snaith ’28 for a shot on frame. Less than a minute later, Hille and Snaith both threatened again. Snaith’s effort struck the crossbar and ricocheted off the back of the dazed Stonehill goalkeeper towards the goal line, but a defender raced back to clear the ball before it could cross into the net. Moments later, a poorly played Stonehill clearance landed at the feet of forward Donovan Mark ’30, and he fired another tantalizingly close shot off the right post. But despite Brown’s barrage of chances, they remained just one goal ahead of the Skyhawks, who continued searching for the equalizer. In the 76th minute, Stonehill came close to levelling the contest off a corner, but the Skyhawks’ attempt sailed over the goal. Brown had one final opportunity to extend its advantage in the 87th minute when defender Luke Harrell ’30 made a run down the sideline and found midfielder Zion Wharton ’27. Wharton fired from outside the box, but his attempt sailed over the crossbar, and the Bears carried their 1-0 lead through to the game’s end. Looking ahead, the Bears will host the University of Rhode Island (2-4, 0-0 Atlantic 10) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. “We look to keep this trend and momentum going,” Hille wrote. “We always emphasize how this field is our home and we will defend it with all we have.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 14, 2026.
SOCCER
Women’s soccer defeats Hofstra 2-1, earns head coach’s 100th win
A two-goal performance from Angelina Vargas ’27 took the Bears to victory BY SAJIV MEHTA SPORTS EDITOR
On Sunday in Hempstead, New York, an overcast kickoff gave way to a sun-soaked second half as the Brown women’s soccer team (5-2-1, 0-0 Ivy League) outpaced Hofstra University (1-5-1, 0-0 Coastal Athletic Association) to a 2-1 victory — the 100th of Head Coach Kia McNeill’s career. The win was filled with personal achievement. It featured a dominant brace by forward Angelina Vargas ’27 — the first of her Brown career — and midfielder Joy Okonye ’27 recorded her 18th assist as a Bear, moving her into a tie for sixth-most assists in program history. In a statement to Brown Athletics, McNeill said earning the 100th win was “an honor and incredibly humbling.” “I’ve had the privilege of coaching some really special teams and players here at Brown,” McNeill added. “This milestone is a reminder of all those who have been along for a part of this 100win journey.” The contest’s opening minutes betrayed no hint of the joyous celebration to follow. Just 90 seconds into the match, Hofstra midfielder Amy Meadows broke through the Bears’ defense and put a shot on target that soared past Bruno goalkeeper Addison Etter ’29 and nestled in the back of the net.
But less than seven minutes after Hofstra’s opening goal, Vargas scored her first goal of the afternoon to pull Brown even with the Pride. Okonye made a run up the field’s left side and lobbed a pass to Vargas, who had maneuvered into position within the box. Vargas deftly sent Okonye’s pass hurtling into the net with her left foot. Okonye wrote in an email to The Herald that “continuous practice and confidence in my ability has helped me be effective for the team, whether I am scoring or assisting.” In the 19th minute of the game, a deflected Okonye ball earned Brown a corner kick. The pass into the box led to four headers by a mix of Brown and Hofstra players. In the next minute, two more corner kicks were awarded to Brown, but neither led to a score for Bruno. The third and final corner kick culminated in a bullet of a header that looked destined to rocket past the goalie but spun up and above to clatter off the top bar. While Brown maintained fresh legs through four substitutions over the remainder of the half, the Bears were unable to put up another shot attempt before heading back to the locker room. But Bruno wasted little time in the second half before changing their luck. Just three minutes after beginning the half ’s play, the Bears worked a fast break. Midfielder Brooke Birtwistle ’28 boomed a pass to a streaking Vargas, who received the ball near the box’s top right corner. There, Vargas challenged the Pride goalie, who had made her way to the same spot in an effort to end the chance.
Vargas barreled right through Hofstra’s goalkeeper, knocking her flat on the ground. Vargas then lofted the ball in the general direction of the wide-open net, where it bounced right over the goal line to secure Bruno’s first lead of the game. Birtwistle “played a great ball in behind, and the goalie was very out of position,” Vargas wrote in an email to the Herald. “I was able to muscle my way through and find the open net.” As the Bears fought to hold their advantage through the remainder of the game, the most threatening moment came with 22 minutes left. A cross into the box by a Hofstra player led to an on-target header from a leaping Pride attacker just a couple feet away from Etter. But the Brown goalie stood her ground and unflinchingly swatted away the ball. The Bears almost collected an insurance goal with 15 minutes remaining, when forward Claire Silverman ’27 fired a shot on goal from just outside the box. The ball just barely ran out of steam to reach the net’s top bin, and the Hofstra goalie was able to jump into the ear and redirect the attempt just over the goal’s upper bar. In the final minutes of the game, Brown continued the steadfast defensive play that had kept the Pride scoreless since the game’s second minute, successfully nursing their lead to the game’s conclusion. “I was so proud of our team. It was a physical game, but we fought to the end,” Vargas wrote. “Even though we conceded early in the game, we did not let that get in our head at all.”
COURTESY OF BROWN ATHLETICS
Scoring once in each half, Angelina Vargas ’27 posted the first brace of her career. Okonye added that the victory “boosts our momentum and puts us in a good place going into (the) Providence game as we close off non-conference play.” The Bears will look to close out non-conference play with a strong performance when they host Providence Col-
lege (2-0-6, 0-0 Big East Conference) this Thursday on Stevenson-Pincince Field. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 16, 2026.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
PAGE 7
UNIVERSITY NEWS HOUSING
How random roommate matches have formed unbreakable friendships
KAIA YALAMANCHILI, SELINA KAO AND ANNA LUECHT / HERALD
From left to right, top to bottom: Annie Antonietti ’27 and Maya Varma-Wilson ’27, Molly Ibrahim ’27 and Kamya Raman ’27, Leo Nachamie ’27 and Elliot Stravato ’27 and Gianna Rocchio ’27 and Lila Rosen ’27.
The Herald spoke to four sets of first-year roommates turned friends BY JULIA BERGANCIA CONTRIBUTING WRITER Every year, incoming Brunonians are matched with a random roommate based on a short questionnaire from the Office of Residential Life. While some of these relationships are short-lived, others flourish into lasting friendships. The Herald spoke to four pairs of seniors who were matched as first-year roommates and formed bonds that have lasted throughout their time at Brown. Showing ‘tough love’: Molly Ibrahim ’27 and Kamya Raman ’27 Many incoming students first connect with their roommates on Instagram, though this line of communication can be tenuous. Molly Ibrahim ’27 and Kamya Raman ’27 both recalled stalking each other on Instagram before they met. “I ghosted her,” Ibrahim said. “Several times, actually,” Raman added. Ibrahim said that while stalking her future roommate’s Instagram, she stumbled across prom pictures, which featured Raman hitting some “funny poses.” “I could tell she’s funny,” Ibrahim said. They went on to spend most of orientation week in their room together “being dramatic,” and joking about transferring to another school together, Raman said, though she said they soon found their place at Brown. While the duo was initially “really nice” to one another, they now describe
their dynamic as being full of “banter” and “tough love,” Raman said. “I don’t think we are that nice to each other anymore,” she added. During their first year, Raman would sometimes put sticky note reminders for Ibrahim on their wall. One message read, “Do not lose sleep over a man,” with each letter occupying a different sticky note to cover the whole wall. Now in their senior year, Raman and Ibrahim are neighbors off campus. Ibrahim said Raman’s roommates have “adopted” her — they even added her as an honorary member of Raman’s house group chat. Leading the ‘Stravarmy’: Leo Nachamie ’27 and Elliot Stravato ’27 When Leo Nachamie ’27 and Elliot Stravato ’27 met in person, they clicked instantly. “I thought Leo was super confident,” Stravato said. “One of his best qualities is that he’s really friendly and outgoing to new people, so I immediately felt really comfortable.” The pair agreed that it was easy to adjust to living together, noting their similar tastes in dorm decor and living styles. Stravato took most of the lead on decorating their room, which Nachamie appreciated. “I was really happy with how (Stravato) decorated it. It felt like my room, but I didn’t have to put in the work of decorating it,” Nachamie said. Nachamie and Stravato have since elected to live together for each of their four years at Brown. During their sophomore year, the two had their first fight over their Perkins dorm room. Stravato explained that he had a “really cute pair of little scissors” that he
thought would look “so cute” hanging from the ceiling. Nachamie opposed his vision. Nachamie said he then “ghostwrote a Sidechat post” from Stravato’s perspective, reading “‘F— my life! My stupid roommate won’t let me hang up these scissors from the ceiling.’” “The downvotes were in the negatives,” said Stravato. The trolling didn’t stop there. Last summer, Nachamie made a fake Instagram fan account called @estravatohq, which consisted of at least 20 clandestinely taken candids of Stravato. According to Nachamie, followers of this account were named “Stravatians” or the “Stravarmy.” It took about two months for the account to pop up on Stravato’s Instagram feed, and he said it was “pretty evident” who the perpetrator was. “There was a video of me in bed rubbing my feet together while sleeping,” Stravato said. The video was posted during a trip only the two of them were on. Nachamie added that he lost the login to the account and can no longer delete it. On the potential of the relationship post-grad, Stravato said, “I feel like our kids will be friends.” Traveling the world together: Annie Antonietti ’27 and Maya Varma-Wilson ’27 When Annie Antonietti ’27 and Maya Varma-Wilson ’27 found each other’s Instagram accounts after being matched by ResLife, they quickly formed opinions about each other. Antonietti’s first impression of her roommate was her Instagram profile picture, which was one of Varma-Wilson’s baby photos. “That could go either way,” she remembered thinking. “She could be
really cool and really normal, or maybe a little weird. Thankfully, it’s the first one.” Once they met in person, they “just got on the same wavelength really quickly,” Antonietti said. During debrief sessions, Antonietti said that the two always have the “same takes,” as they both hold similar beliefs and values. “I think that translates to respecting each other in the way that we want to be respected,” she added. But the pair didn’t develop their connection immediately — it was only during their sophomore year that they “both got weird,” said Varma-Wilson, claiming that they have a lot of the same peculiarities, and they both take inside jokes “pretty far.” The two took ten trips together during their junior year, having both studied abroad in Barcelona. “For traveling, I would just say — and the same with living with someone — you normally have to make a lot of compromises and stuff, but I feel like we just don’t have to because we just want to do the same things,” said Antonietti. “We just clicked so well that I don’t see any way that we wouldn’t have been friends. It might’ve just taken longer,” she added. “My childhood best friend has met her and she’s like, ‘It’s actually ridiculous that you guys somehow got paired together.’” Looking toward their future, Varma-Wilson has already planned for Antonietti to be one of her bridesmaids. “She’ll be my maid of honor — we’ve already talked about it,” Varma-Wilson said.
Rosen ’27 Gianna Rocchio ’27 and Lila Rosen ’27 first met under the stressful conditions of move-in. “If there was ever a breaking point, it would have been move-in,” Rosen said. Between the heat and the scattered belongings in their “teeny tiny” New Pembroke dorm room, Rosen said she was almost “hyperventilating.” But after surviving the chaos of movein day, the two knew their friendship would last — the pair has never really considered living apart. “I just assumed that we would live together next year,” said Rosen. Rocchio said it was “scary” that people she knew were choosing to break up with their roommate pairings. “I would hate for that to happen,” she added. “I don’t even remember how we brought it up,” Rosen said. “It might have just been that one of us was just like, we should fill out housing soon,” she added. Some of their friends consider Rocchio and Rosen as a single unit. “People are like, ‘Oh, you’re Gianna from Lila and Gianna,’” Rocchio said. “But also we are our own two people.” Now in their senior year, Rocchio and Rosen live in the same house. But with separate rooms, the two have had to go through a period of adjustment. “Sometimes I go to bed, and I’m like, my room is so empty,” added Rosen. “There’s no one even here. It’s so quiet.” “Thank you, ResLife,” Rocchio said. “Not sure how they pulled this off.”
‘Oh, you’re Gianna from Lila and Gianna’: Gianna Rocchio ’27 and Lila
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 14, 2026
“so alone we go” by Lizzy Bazldjoo
...Opening the concert is a Franco-Algerian rapper, Léna, followed by a break where I text K my photos. I’ll stay until the main act, of course.
FEATURE Managing Editor Chloe Costa Baker
Section Editor Christina Li
Section Editors Helen Hen Anika Kotapally
HEAD ILLUSTRATORS Lesa Jae Junyue Ma
ARTS & CULTURE Managing Editor Sasha Gordon
COPY CHIEF Jessica Lee
Section Editors Gabriella Miranda Rebecca Sanchez
Then I can leave. I don’t really want to leave, but the option’s open, isn’t it? That’s more than I can say about Paris itself.
NARRATIVE Managing Editor Gabi Yuan
There’s a pulse of bass, and then we see Zeyne. She kneels on a riser on the left side of the stage, a siren perched atop a rock, faux-wind
Section Editors Lucie Huang Chelsea Long
whipping through her hair, four dancers echoing her moves like flames rippling off of her. The lights reach her face, her voice reaches the speakers, and
LIFESTYLE Managing Editor Hallel Abrams Gerber
the crowd erupts into cheers. I’m not a musicologist in the slightest. I can’t describe the songs the way magazines do, as “slick” or “electric,” pop or R&B. I just feel them
Section Editors Alayna Chen Tatiana von Bothmer
like the tender burn of alcohol on my tongue, a stinging, exhilarating crackle of energy down my
See Full Issue:
ISSUU.COM/POSTMAGAZINEBDH
Copy Editors Eve Kobell Kate Schuyler Michelle Wassef Su Yang LAYOUT CHIEFS James Farrington Alexa Gay Amber Zhao Layout Designers Joshua Rezneck Emma Vachal SOCIAL MEDIA Hung Lam Yana Giannoutsos Yeonjai Song
throat. Occasionally, she brings up a stand mic and
Apples
sings a calmer ballad. Between numbers, she discusses her grandparents. Sometimes her music is angry, sometimes fond. A litany against bad boyfriends. A prayer for her mother in a time of sickness. She describes memories to us, coaxes us
1. The Big 2. Fiona 3. The one that keeps the doctor away 4. -jack (of My Little Pony fame) 5. Lowly Worm’s car 6. -BOTTOM JEANS 7. -seed, Johnny 8. The one that’s rotten right to the core 9. Pen, Pineapple, _____, Pen 10. Red Delicious
through the Arabic hymns, welcomes us into the strobe lights. That’s where we live for a few hours, in memory. It’s not quite home, and it’s definitely not our home, but it means something. Means home’s still out there, tracing our footprints, waiting for us to come back...
ISSUE 1
excerpt from
Friday, September 18, 2026
POST-POURRI Managing Editor Tarini Malhotra
VOL 38
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Elaina Bayard
SEP 18
PAGE 8
Cover by Yoonseo Lee
ten years at 1 sea
2
3
4
by AJ WU illustrated by Julia Park
Across 1. What's accrued when
5
living beyond your means 5. Teller of The Odyssey 6. Join forces 7. Chris, re-re-teller of The Odyssey
6
8. Romantic rendezvous
Down
7
1. One who visits a blood bank 2. Wilson, re-teller of The Odyssey
8
3. Alpha followers 4. Reznor of Nine Inch Nails 5. Pursue
8
“I might be cooking, but I might burn it here.”
Want to be involved? Email: elaina_bayard@brown.edu!
“Oh my Goddd, we should start hazing!”
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
PAGE 9
table of contents 1 genii and genAI
11 a very analog day
Managing Editors
Yana Giannoutsos
5 summer instructions Managing Editors
13 ten years at sea Aj WU
7 aloneness
15 untitled
Katya Michkovskaia
Fern Nuñez-Flores
9 so alone we go Lizzy Bazldjoo
“I felt like a detective searching for inconsistencies with red yarn and pushpins. My parents, bless their hearts, tried their best to keep their stories consistent, but I was relentless.” — Katheryn Gonzales, “a letter to my fairies” 09.19.24
“This place is interesting—full of character and a subtle energy that only becomes apparent once you pay attention. If you bother to drop your book and deign to look up. If you decide to be present, curious, to crave details and explanations.” — Mar Falcon, “my friend at the museum” 09.16.25
letter from the editor Dear Readers,
Feature, our managing editors wonder about AI and the sources of their own imagination, and, in Narrative, we think about what we’re taking away from our summer adventures. Also in Narrative, Katya observes three different cities. For A&C, Lizzy processes homesickness while watching a concert. Yana takes advantage of a broken phone to catalogue campus in Lifestyle,
Summer always puts me in a contemplative mood. I know it’s not the regular time for that. Chilly winters—with all that sitting and snow and mugs
and Fern catalogues her artist residency in post-pourri. Finally, enjoy your journey coming to a close with an Odyssey-themed crossword by AJ!
of cocoa—seems much more the time for quiet thinking. Or fall, and the
I’m cherishing my contemplation while I can, since I can already feel
melancholy that the changing leaves bring, might be better suited. But it’s
classes and extracurriculars creeping up behind me to take that time away.
always summer for me.
I hope you take this first issue of post- and find somewhere quiet and alone
Maybe it’s the bright sun, encouraging me to keep my head down and study the ground, that sets my mind spinning. Maybe it’s running into old friends back home and counting up the ways our paths have differed. Maybe it’s returning to campus and having my regular path diverted by some new construction project. Luckily, our writers seem to agree with my contemplative mood. In
to read it.
Watching and waiting,
Elaina Bayard
Editor-In-Chief
September 18, 2026�9
PAGE 10
Friday, September 18, 2026
OPINIONS
Tao ’27: Brown must pay a fairer share to Providence My first experience with Providence politics was at a City Hall hearing in Sept. 2023, where I joined dozens of my classmates to push Brown to pay a fairer share of taxes to the city. Mayor Brett Smiley’s administration had just finalized a new Payment In Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT, agreement with Brown (and Providence College, Johnson and Wales University and the Rhode Island School of Design) that arranged for the schools — as a non-profit educational institutions that don’t pay property taxes — to make voluntary contributions to the city. We believed it was woefully insufficient. Nonetheless, it was approved, and for a long time seemed to me that the policy was immovable. But that feeling changed on Sept. 9. State Rep. David Morales MPA’19 won the Democratic primary nomination for Providence mayor — and will likely win the general election in November — with part of his campaign platform centered on returning to the negotiating table with Brown. In Brown’s PILOT agreement, the school supplements its unpaid property taxes by making “voluntary payments” directly to the city and “community contributions” — which can look like anything from scholarships for residents to fraternity fundraisers. In fiscal year 2024, Brown contributed a total of $5.08 million in voluntary payments and $11.9 million in community contributions. (Under a side deal separate from the PILOTs, Brown agreed to pay Providence $46 million over 10 years in exchange for several properties and concessions.) While this might seem like a generous sum, the numbers are deceiving. Under the first PILOT agreement, voluntary payments represent only about 11% of what Brown would otherwise owe in property taxes. And little of what Brown counts as community contributions (things like student club volunteering and financial aid) actually benefits the community. If elected mayor, David Morales and Brown’s next president must negotiate a more generous payment plan and rebuild trust between towns and gowns. There’s a good argument to be made that the laws that grant tax-exempt status to wealthy nonprofits, like hospitals and universities, are in need of reform. But until that happens, PILOTs are a good
stopgap measure at the municipal level. Like most municipal governments, Providence’s City Hall is dependent on property taxes, a tax paid by real estate owners relative to the value of their property. In fiscal year 2026, $401 million of the city’s $624 million total budget came from property taxes. But in Providence, 44% of real estate is tax exempt because it is owned by the state government, federal government or 501(c)(3) organizations like hospitals or universities. According to the City Council, this necessitates property tax hikes on homeowners and businesses. Brown looms large over the PILOT issue: The University owns an estimated $1.3 billion in property within city limits, which would generate roughly $55 million in annual property taxes. This could substantially increase City Hall’s budget, but is a drop in the bucket compared to Brown’s annual budget: About $1.9 billion in fiscal year 2026 — almost triple Providence’s. Brown’s growth is costly for the city: When the university purchases property, it is immediately removed from the tax base. Rhode Island state law attempts to mitigate the imbalance by having the state partially reimburse cities for property taxes that would otherwise have been paid by tax-exempt institutions, but this isn’t a fair solution either: It effectively forces Rhode Island taxpayers to subsidize Brown’s real estate. PILOTs reentered public debate during the recent mayoral campaign. Smiley’s administration was responsible for the most recent deal, acknowledging “they still don’t give enough… but it’s the best deal we could negotiate.” Morales, the newly victorious challenger, campaigned on renegotiating a more generous arrangement earmarked for public school staffing at a time when the Providence Public School District is direly underfunded. A key problem with the current PILOT agreement is that it dishonestly exaggerates its actual fiscal impact. Brown claimed in its 2023 press release that “the combined financial impact of voluntary payments and community contributions from Brown will total $303.3 million in benefits to the city between 2024 and 2043.” But will it? There are two types of PILOTs, voluntary cash contributions (which totaled $5 million, or less than one-third of
the total, in fiscal year 2024) and community contributions, a line item under which Brown can count the value of things it is already doing. For example, Brown counts the Swearer Center’s programs, like Bonner Community Fellows and iProv summer internships, as $654,000 in value, and student volunteering, including that of clubs, fraternities and sororities, as over $100,000. If you’ve participated in any of these activities, Brown is claiming your volunteer work as a tax write-off. The idea that Brown’s community activities can be counted as a payment in lieu of taxes operates on the same logic as trickle-down economics, a defunct theory attributed to the policies of former President Ronald Reagan. The argument goes that if the government cuts taxes on wealthy entities (such as universities), the benefits will “trickle down” to the rest of the economy in the form of jobs and economic growth (or student volunteering hours), an argument shown to be empirically false. In any case, student volunteering is not a replacement for taxes. No other taxable entity can do this; the Internal Revenue Service doesn’t allow tax deductions for volunteer hours. I would recommend that the amended PILOT agreement not tally “community contributions” at all, and save paperwork for both parties. The larger problem with community contributions is that 53% of it is accounted for by scholarships and financial aid to students who are Providence residents. About 70% of that share was for undergraduate students; in 2024, this added up to $4.5 million awarded to 91 students. It is good that Brown’s financial aid is generous — I myself am a grateful beneficiary, albeit one from Massachusetts — but it’s disingenuous to count this money as a contribution to the Providence community as a whole because it only benefits a small number of mostly well-off families. It is known that admissions departments at elite universities like Brown favor the wealthy, but we can substantiate this with some back-of-the-napkin math. Dividing $4.5 million by 91 students shows that the average award to a Providence resident was about $49,450. According to data from the financial aid office, in 2024 this figure was a little less than the average award received by
families earning $150,000 to $200,000 annually. Brown’s financial aid is purely based on need. So, we can estimate that on average, the income of this cohort was in the $150-$200k bracket or higher. For comparison, Providence’s median household income in 2024 was $68,119. How can financial aid be a “community contribution” if it only benefits a handful of families who are more than twice as wealthy as the average family? If anything, depriving the city’s schools of tax revenue ensures that only a privileged or gifted minority of its students will earn the academic qualifications necessary to attend Brown. Providence’s public school district is underperforming by many metrics, in part due to lack of funding. Truly investing in the academic success of Providence’s children would look like supporting them throughout their public K-12 education, not just after they’ve already earned a seat at Brown. Why should Brown renegotiate? Of course, Brown has no legal obligation to pay PILOTs. They participate because it is a mutually beneficial transaction that gives Brown the right to triumphantly announce that they’re doing right by their neighbors. Nationally, elite schools are distrusted by the American public, and could use some good press now more than ever. Earmarking funds for public schools, as Morales’ plan proposes, would align with the University’s mission of serving the community through education. President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 may be reluctant to renegotiate, since it could look like an admission that the 2023 deal was insufficient, but for Brown’s next president, it would be a powerful way to begin their term. This time next year, Brown will have a new president and Providence will have a new mayor. Returning to the negotiating table to arrive at a more generous PILOT arrangement, focused on public school funding, will be a key opportunity to heal the relationship.
Evan Tao ’27 can be reached at evan_tao@brown. edu. Please send responses to this column to letters@ browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@ browndailyherald.com.
Gardiner ’28: Brown should grade out of 100 Since its inception in 1969, Brown’s Open Curriculum has been adapted, from changing requirements for the number of courses required to graduate, adding the WRIT requirement and, most recently, eliminating triple concentrations. Elliot Maxwell ’68, one of the pioneers of Brown’s Open Curriculum — originally the New Curriculum — said that “it shouldn’t be enshrined. It’s supposed to be alive.” But one thing has become an immovable fixture of Brown’s Curriculum: the grading scale. When it was originally adopted, the Open Curriculum eliminated pluses, minuses, Ds and Fs, leaving us with the infuriatingly simplistic ABC scale. But while Brown’s grading system hasn’t changed, the grades have. Between 2007 and 2024, the number of A grades at Brown rose from 51 to 63% of all grades awarded. Brown is just one example of the trend of grade inflation that is entrenched in the zeitgeist surrounding higher education. Unsurprisingly, efforts to combat grade inflation at Brown are unpopular with students, and a lenient approach to grading is seen as the core of our holistic, noncompetitive ethos. And, whether we like it or not, the grade inflation train has already left the station. What Brown needs now is a way to mitigate its effects without betraying our values. In the words of Professor Roberto Serrano, we need our grades to reflect a “meaningful measure of distinction” and our transcripts to actually “differentiate levels of performance.” That’s why Brown should adopt a grade scale out of 100, as the numbers can tell a nuanced story where the litany of As cannot. The New Curriculum’s grading system was intended to de-emphasize “arbitrary letters and gradations,” according to Ira Magaziner ’69 P’06 P’07 P’10. But the trifaceted ABC grading system has
become aggravatingly arbitrary. The overwhelming number of A grades notwithstanding, the fact that professors are faced with merely three ways to characterize student work limits both instructors
petitive with peers, which the Open Curriculum discourages, and being competitive with oneself, which leads to self-improvement. Without the specified feedback that a variegated grading scale would
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and students. An A can reward anything from cutting-edge, ground-breaking research to an essay just above mediocre. Even if the number of A grades remained the same — at around 60% of grades awarded — there would be ten times more variety in student feedback than the letter can capture. An original stated purpose of the Open Curriculum was “the removal or minimizing of pressures which would defeat the seeking of self-knowledge.” There is a vital distinction here between being com-
give us, Brown has removed the pressure to seek self-knowledge. Getting a 91% on a math test, for instance, reflects a different degree of understanding than 100%, but students are likely to feel little reason to make up that extra 9% if both will get them an A on their transcript. Under the status quo, Brown students’ educations are fundamentally weakened by this lack of feedback. One student told the Brown Opinion Project in 2022 that they felt “the grading system
doesn’t fully capture peoples’ work,” and another said that standards for work have gotten “pretty low” because of grade inflation. This is completely understandable — if you work really hard on assignments just to receive the same grade as someone who met a “low” standard, why would you do so again? And why should a professor need to provide detailed ideas for improvement to a student who has already received the highest grade, even if their work isn’t perfect? This propensity to grow inert if we think we’re at the top is only natural — we all need the promise of external rewards to motivate us. Brown advisors already acknowledge that the pressure of grades on a transcript can encourage students to work harder. While it may sound harsh, this pressure can only feel real if this change is external and not hidden on a students’ Canvas page. Let’s consider what this proposal would look like in practice. Many professors already input grades into Canvas as percentages. Putting these numbers on transcripts merely means formalizing a process that already exists. To those concerned with how this would affect Brown transcripts reception in graduate school admissions offices or job recruitment, I would remind them just how different a Brown transcript already looks to most other schools. Brown already enjoys a reputation of intellectual curiosity and experimental academics, one which will cushion this otherwise admittedly radical change.
Isabella Gardiner ’28 can be reached at isabella_gardiner@brown.edu. Please send responses to this column to letters@browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
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OPINIONS Editorial: Bring back ‘The State of Brown’ address Nine years ago, President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 delivered the last documented “State of Brown” Address. The event had been hosted regularly by the Undergraduate Council of Students since 2004. The State of Brown let students hear directly from the administration on their perspectives and plans on the year’s most important issues. In its final known installment in 2017, Paxson discussed pressing issues like growing graduate programs, the importance of international student socioeconomic diversity and the University’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan. The University president was the main speaker, but many events also factored in direct question-and-answer sessions with relevant administrators. Though the tradition petered out before an anticlimactic conclusion in 2017, the event showed that Brown values a dialogue between students and administrators. Brown should use Paxson’s upcoming departure as an
nancial officer, representatives from the Brown Corporation and other top administrators on stage to answer questions. The event should be widely publicized and open to all faculty, staff and students. It could open with a brief presentation from the president on the University’s current financial and academic state, the administration’s most pressing challenges and future visions for the University’s biggest projects, followed by a substantial, live Q&A forum in which attendees can pose questions to the present administrators. The event should also be recorded or transcribed for students unable to attend but keen on staying informed of administrative priorities. The University’s current communications are at different times and in different forums, which makes keeping up with the materials challenging. While many Brunonians care about what happens at the administrative level, they’re still busy and sometimes disorganized
versity is responding to the cheating scandal in Economics Professor Roberto Serrano’s class last semester, but there is no mention of it in the message. And in this existential moment, as Brown grapples with threats to its very purpose, a dialogue between the University and its students has never been more necessary. In the last year alone, Brown experienced an encroaching federal government and widespread cheating with AI. The year was also emotionally strenuous as the campus recovered from a tragic mass shooting. Such events understandably leave students with questions. An in-person event where administrators answer questions live would allow for the University community to feel connected to the people shaping Brown’s future. Such face time would also humanize administrators, who often appear as distant names on a screen for many undergraduates. Critics of the University frequently argue
ministration. Not only would the State of Brown provide such demanded transparency, it would also encourage civil discourse between these parties — allowing passionate students to feel heard by their leaders. Previous reporting from past instances of this address suggests that the event was plagued with weak turnout. We believe the reintroduction of this event amid a tumultuous period for higher education and an important presidential transition would inspire students to attend in higher numbers. The first State of Brown Address in 2004 saw huge turnout and was “wildly successful.” A 2026 comeback would similarly pique students’ interest, as no current students have experienced one. While, as president, Paxson has addressed the community twice a year — at Convocation and Commencement — these speeches are often promotional and are primarily attended by first-years and seniors. Holding the State of
opportunity to reestablish a culture of transparency, trust and communication with the student body by holding a State of Brown Address this year. While Brown does provide regular communication with students through emails, press releases, reports and Today@Brown announcements, this communication can feel sporadic and has its fair share of issues. Our proposed State of Brown address would be a single, thorough event that helps mitigate these problems. Our vision for the event includes Paxson as keynote speaker, with the Provost, chief fi-
college students. A single event in the academic calendar aimed at encapsulating the spirit of all of these communications would ease the ability for students to keep up with school affairs. Not only can the current campuswide communications feel disparate and random, but they are also inevitably one-sided. When the University releases updates to students, it presents issues from the institutional perspective. For example, a Today@Brown message from Wednesday covers the University’s policies on student artificial intelligence use and repercussions for violations. It would appear the Uni-
that the administration makes decisions without consulting student perspectives. After the Office of Residential Life changed the selection process for program and theme housing last fall, student activists complained that the decision was made “without consulting with program houses.” In 2024, students criticized the Corporation for lack of transparency in its vote not to divest from companies with Israeli military ties. And in response to the federal government’s attacks on higher education, Brown Rise Up circulated a list of demands for the University, which included increased transparency from the ad-
Brown during the 2026-27 school year would provide all students with the opportunity to hear Paxson’s voice live one last time as their president.
Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial page board, and its views are separate from those of The Herald’s newsroom and the 136th Editorial Board, which leads the paper. A majority of the editorial page board voted in favor of this piece. Please send responses to this editorial to letters@browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
Serrano: It’s time to teach ethics My intention with this article is to continue to raise awareness of the academic integrity issue, mostly connected to — although not restricted to — the uses of artificial intelligence in our education efforts. In doing so, I am reporting back on the latest developments in the cheating case of my spring semester course. Academic integrity is under attack on multiple campuses, as demonstrated in several recent articles in the press. For example, The Atlantic’s May 12 piece “How AI Killed a 133-Year-Old Princeton Tradition” talks about the Princeton honor code, recently abandoned after massive unauthorized use of AI. “What AI Did to My College Class,” published in the New York Times on May 17, is an account of an immoral culture among Stanford undergraduates, who attend the university not to learn anything, but simply to be part of its plutocracy network. In “There’s Really Only One Way to Stop Students From Cheating,” published August 26 in The New York Times, Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist at the Wharton School, reports shocking statements from his students regarding cheating, and concludes that the only way to remedy such behavior is for professors to start teaching ethics. I enthusiastically second his proposal. First, I would like to praise The Herald for having published on April 20 an article about the massive cheating incident that took place in the midterm exam of my course, ECON 1170: “Welfare Economics and Social Choice Theory.” The article helped to raise awareness of the serious incident and its implications. It also contained shocking statements from Brown economics students — who seemed intent on finding excuses for cheating — and a very unfortunate quote from the associate dean of the College for the academic code at the time. Let me report briefly the facts of the incident, including most recent developments. After my suspicion of massive cheating in the midterm, I changed the format of the final exam to be in-person. After that announcement, many students dropped the course, including 22 who had scored a 100 on the midterm. While the class averaged a 96 on the take-home midterm, those who took the final averaged a 48. At this point I announced I was declaring the midterm null and void and reweighing the final appropriately. I had told
students right after the midterm that this would happen if the two distributions were not roughly similar. Also at that point, on May 16, I submitted the case to the committee on the academic code. The stark difference between the two exam grade distributions and the choice of many students to drop the course in spite of a stellar midterm performance provided concrete empirical evidence of my first suspicion. I was told by the dean, however, that I would have to submit individual reports for
agreed to the charge has been asked by the committee to write a reflective essay about the role of university education. Apart from the understanding that unethical behavior has consequences, this educational experience should be an important step in these students’ learning journey. Indeed, the high number of confessions gives me hope. When I announced to the class that my recommendation to the committee was not to change the course grades, I also asked them to be
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each of the students I suspected of cheating in my class. This would have required an unreasonable amount of work, and seemed to me like an effort to stall the process. After I informed the dean that I would not complete individual reports, I didn’t hear from the committee until June 30, two days after the first article reporting on the University's inaction was published. The committee dropped the insane requirement that I submit 60 separate reports, and has since made good progress. As of writing this, 48 students have confessed and agreed to the charge of “products not self-produced.” Perhaps one factor to understand the high rate of confessions was my decision of not affecting course grades. In my mind, after I eliminated the midterm, the grades in the course were the correct ones, mostly based on the final exam performance. Each student who has
honest and respond truthfully to the committee’s questions. I am proud of many of my students, who have followed my advice and helped the committee establish the truth. While they succumbed to the strong temptation offered by the AI tools — a real risk for all of us in evaluating the appropriateness of using this very powerful technology — their truthful declarations, after their moral side was invoked, is a resounding test of their integrity. I see this as a good example to show how the reminders of ethics may be effective in producing better behavior, justifying my general plea in this article. We all in the Brown community should strive to bring back the value of academic integrity and put it at the forefront of what we do. For my part, I plan to add an ethics component to my courses. Specifically, in my game theory course this fall, I plan to add an ethics question
to the quiz students take at the end of each of my lectures. In it, I will try to contrast the strategic solution to the game provided by game theory with other solutions to the problem, solutions based on altruism or ethical motives. As an economist, perhaps we have overemphasized Adam Smith’s self-interest from “The Wealth of Nations” and under-appreciated the motive of sympathy from “The Theory of Moral Sentiments,” by the same classic author. In a society without sympathy and integrity, trust is eroded, and trust is a pillar of any economic interaction, of any human relationship. In the article cited above, Adam Grant provides empirical evidence suggesting that reminding people of their moral side improves behavior. To be brief, I will not repeat those here, but I believe this is a powerful argument to bring back ethics to many parts of our curriculum. Perhaps the most compelling point is that if students are confronted with the issue of their morality more often in class, they will be more likely to consider their morals in their academics. The massive culture of cheating and low standards must stop. I very much hope the case of widespread cheating in my class will help Brown continue deepening the conversation about these issues and ensure the issue of academic ethics stays top of mind. This conversation must involve the University administration, the faculty and, of course, the students. Students are the first ones to understand that the cheating climate is terrible for them, and also terrible for the society where they are supposed to contribute. There is incredible talent in the Brown student body, and that talent will be wasted if it chooses not to take up the hard challenges of learning and critical thinking. The motto “Brown Ever True,” often used by the University administration, is indeed beautiful. Let’s all make it part of our every-day conduct.
Roberto Serrano is the Harrison S. Kravis University Professor of Economics and was the chair of the Economics Department from 2010 to 2014. He can be reached at roberto_serrano@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald. com and other op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald. com.
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Friday, September 18, 2026
ARTS & CULTURE EXHIBITION
‘Liminal Luminance’ glows in Granoff, offers lucid sensory experience The exhibition showcases experimental works by two Brown alums BY KENDRA EASTEP SENIOR STAFF WRITER Upon entering the first floor of the Granoff Center for the Creative Arts, visitors are immersed in a virtual landscape of animated glyphs, phosphorescent text and pixelated sunlight. Unveiled to the public in August, “Liminal Luminance” — the Brown Arts Institute’s newest multimedia exhibition — will be shown in the Fribourg Family Atrium until Oct. 4. Featuring collaborative pieces by new media artists Edrex Fontanilla ’00 MA’02 MFA’12 and Robert Goldschmidt ’03, the exhibit offers a lucid sensory experience by showcasing the artists’ combined knowledge in fine arts, neuroscience and computational methods. The gallery features “mutable sculptures,” a term first introduced by Fontanilla in a 2006 conference at the University of Victoria. The art form takes moving computer-generated patterns and projects them onto physical surfaces, ultimately blurring the boundary between the digital and physical. As the name implies, “Liminal Luminance” dances at the intersection of natural objects and fabricated images. Despite the work’s illusory aesthetics, Fontanilla said
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The exhibit offers a lucid sensory experience by showcasing the artists’ combined knowledge in fine arts, neuroscience and computational methods. that the exhibit is “not trying to fool the viewer.” “If anything, we’re trying to invite the viewer to become cognizant of how their visual processing system suggests patterns that aren’t really there,” Fontanilla told The Herald. The work invites “critical
viewing,” he said, encouraging viewers to examine their own sensory and theoretical perceptions. The artworks on display in Fontanilla and Goldschmidt’s exhibition were created over the span of 21 years. The oldest piece, “Overlooked,” dates back to 2005.
The two artists first met during their time at Brown. After becoming housemates, the pair began creating art together in the fall of 2004. “There was a cool effect that would happen on my bedroom wall every morning during sunrise,” Goldschmidt recalled.
“And then Edrex –– being the kind of person he is –– was like, let’s make this into art.” Even after Goldschmidt moved to Florida following his graduation from Brown, the pair stayed in contact and continued collaborating on various projects asynchronously. In 2008, their art installation “S[tr]eam” was selected by a jury and showcased at the SIGGRAPH conference in Los Angeles. Fontanilla –– who was previously a part of Brown’s Creative Arts Council before the organization evolved into the BAI –– said he was excited to return back to campus. “There’s something validating about coming back to Brown and getting the knowing nods from friends and colleagues,” he said. “It’s like coming home.” Goldschmidt also expressed his gratitude toward the BAI, describing how the institution allows “thoughts and conversations (to) turn into something that we can share with other people through art-making.” Neal Birchfield GS –– who visited the exhibition after seeing a promotional poster on campus –– appreciated how the works explored themes of liminal space across various mediums. “I love that we have art on campus that we can just wander in,” Birchfield said.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 14, 2026.
RISD
From Los Angeles to the Nile, RISD’s Maharam Fellows used their art skills for good RISD students shared their experiences in the program this summer BY AMELIA BARTER SENIOR STAFF WRITER This summer, 12 RISD students put their creative skills to work at nonprofits and government organizations across the globe as participants of the Maharam Fellowship. Launched in 2012, the annual fellowship offers stipends of up to $5,000 funded by the textile company Maharam. The fellowship is managed by RISD Career Center Director Kevin Jankowski, who is also a mentor to the fellows. Maharam also provides “encouragement that these fellowships are about community, sustainability, the environment, climate change (and) civic engagement,” according to Jankowski. June Ahleman, a RISD senior, worked for Evanston ASPA, an Illinois-based nonprofit which aims to support Evanston’s Asian American community and increase AAPI representation in the arts. Ahleman spent her summer researching and developing educational resources to support the TEAACH Act, which made Illinois the first state to require Asian American history be taught in public schools. “I’ve never been able to invest so much time in community-based cultural programming work,” Ahleman said. Elsa Fishman, who graduated from RISD this spring, spent her summer working with Homeboy Industries, a Los Angeles-based organization designed to support gang-affiliated or recently incarcerated individuals. While running sculpting classes, she relied on the background she gained in RISD’s first-year Experimental and Foundation Studies program. The foundation “taught me a lot about
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taking a step back through the artistic process and thinking about why we’re doing the things we’re doing,” Fishman said. “It was helpful to rely on that more basic background of the ESS program that we had at RISD.” In her first year of teaching art, Fishman taught 18 to 25 year olds, as well as high school students. “I learned so much about myself,” Fishman said, noting how “really, really
small moments can really, really be a big breakthrough for somebody.” “Art can be somewhere that you get to mess around,” Fishman said, “and that can lead to people feeling comfortable enough to share their stories with you.” Other students, like Salma Hassaan, an MFA candidate in Digital Media, worked abroad through the fellowship. Hassaan spent her summer in Egypt with VeryNile, an organization working to incentivise fish-
ermen to remove plastic from the Nile River. She created prototypes of weaved pouches and bags made from the upcycled plastic fishermen had removed from the river after realizing that women in the community wanted to be more involved in the initiative. This allowed the locals to kickstart a “circular economy,” she said, that could generate income for their otherwise iso-
lated community. Now in its 15th year, the Maharam fellowship has inspired RISD students to look beyond their studios. “There’s a lot of hope in this fellowship,” Jankowski said. “You can cause change and you can make a difference.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 17, 2026.
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ARTS & CULTURE REVIEW
The Odyssey is an epic failure of potential Nolan’s usual prowess falls short in his adaptation of the Homeric epic
stumble upon the Cyclops as they search the island for food. These two thematic misses are made even more egregious as
BY NABIHA ALLAHWALA CONTRIBUTING WRITER The epic story of the cunning Trojan War hero of Homer’s epic poem, “The Iliad,” and the story of his tumultuous 10-year journey home in "The Odyssey" has been retold for millennia. It makes sense that Christopher Nolan — one of today’s most critically acclaimed storytellers — would choose to continue this tradition. Nolan’s much anticipated film, “The Odyssey,” came out on July 17 and was the first feature film to ever be shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film, making for a visually beautiful film with amazing practical effects. The stunning scenes are additionally backgrounded by the compositions of Ludwig Göransson, who collaborated with Nolan on “Oppenheimer.” Yet while Nolan’s films are typically known for their non-linear narratives and explorations of time and memory, his usual themes are left disappointingly under-explored in his newest production — despite their significance in the original story. The film thrives visually and sonically, but its potential is ultimately lost in the narrative arc. The story seems well executed at first glance. Like many of Nolan’s other features, the film focuses on the journey of a
COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES
While Nolan’s films are typically known for their non-linear narratives and explorations of time and memory, his usual themes are left disappointingly under-explored in his newest production. singular central character racked with guilt and moral anguish over their past actions. The movie’s themes of warfare, destruction and personal responsibility are pertinent in today’s world. But for those at all familiar with the original text, the film’s glaring shortcomings are evident in its inability to capture the nuanced approach of its source. In the original text, the aforementioned themes are learned throughout Odysseus’s adventures to the island of Scheria, home
of the Phaeacians — the final stop on his way back to Ithaca. By removing the Phaeacians from the narrative altogether, Nolan squanders the potential for playing with ideas of time, memory and truth. It is an even stranger choice considering that in Homer’s Odyssey, the greek concept of xenia — or Zeus’s law, as it is known in the movie — is given dimension by the Phaeacian’s hospitable treatment of Odysseus. This concept of xenia, an unwritten
contract between host and guest, is thoroughly explored in the original text. But the dilution of the idea in the film is further compounded in Nolan’s adaptation of the Cyclops scene. In Homer’s version of the story, Odysseus’ men only seek out the island’s rulers at Odysseus’ insistence, as he believes that they will receive the customary gift bestowed upon visitors — even though they have already stolen a sheep. In Nolan’s version, Odysseus and his men
the themes are handed directly to Nolan by the original text and are motifs he has previously explored and executed brilliantly. The film’s emphasis on Odysseus left other characters’ development to the backburner. The desires and complexities of Penelope, Athena and Calypso conveyed in the original text are deprioritized in favour of characters whose interests revolve around Odysseus. Without an emotional core, neither the potency of the movie’s attempted message nor the incitement of emotional investment in its characters are executed particularly well. This is frustrating in the context of Nolan’s prior successes: “Interstellar” does a phenomenal job depicting the bond between a father and child separated by distance. Nolan’s Odyssey is by no means a bad movie. It is well worth the watch, with a decent (if somewhat underwhelming) story and an excellent cinematic experience. But it is painful to see a project with the budget, cast and creative direction of a Nolan film leave so much on the cutting board, untapped and unexplored in favor of a blander reimagination of the source material.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 14, 2026.
REVIEW
‘Daughter from Hell’ burns dimly in competitive pop music landscape Gracie Abrams’s latest album is misleading and lackluster
The visuals are outstanding: dark, moody, gritty. Even the album title carries a certain romance, promising listeners unflinching insight into a tortured mind. Yet Gracie Abrams’ “Daughter from Hell” sonically delivers on few of its promises. Abrams’ latest record is an amalgamation of B-side tracks from her previous — and better — albums. In just 56 minutes, Abrams proves that an intriguing idea doesn’t necessarily promise an impressive execution. Since the beginning of her career, Abrams has faced the internet’s vitriol.
have heard before: She released “Death Wish (Live from The O2 Arena)” on April 1, 2025. Back then, the track was a piano ballad, narrating the experience of loving someone despite their toxicity. On “Daughter from Hell,” the song received a rebrand. The bubbly pop sound is accompanied by Abrams’s trademark whisper-singing, which explodes in the final chorus. What emerges is a confused, disjointed track that loses the emotional weight of its initially released version. The incoherence of “Daughter from Hell” only worsens throughout the record. “The Knife” is a ballad that takes on unoriginal subject matter as Abrams laments her habit of nursing a heartbreak long after the relationship’s end. “Good Reason” makes another reference to a knife and heartbreak, forcing listeners to wonder whether this sonic universe will ever expand. The
initially debuted as a collaboration with rising pop star and brilliant lyricist Audrey Hobert, is a sparky pop anthem. The track is wordy, but lyrics like “I’ll eat the cake and the caviar / Break down the door like a bombshell / I’ll start the bit, then I take it too far / Might second-guess it, but, oh well” are punchy and dynamic. “Minibar” is one of the album’s most well-rounded tracks and “What If It’s Right?” is Abrams’s best attempt at indie pop. A collaboration with Marcus Mumford of Mumford and Sons, the song explores a complicated relationship that teeters between love and hurt. Abrams’s and Mumford’s vocals create a melancholic atmosphere, grounding the emotional aspects of the track. “Daughter from Hell” faces a difficult conundrum: While Abrams once soared solo on her preceding albums, the magic
As the daughter of famed Star Wars director J.J. Abrams, she’s taken the “nepo baby” accusations in stride. Her 2024 album, “The Secret of Us,” shot her into mainstream fame and proved her musical prowess with hits like “I Love You, I’m Sorry” and “Risk.” Abrams’s close friendship with Taylor Swift and high-profile relationship with Irish actor Paul Mescal had seemingly primed her to be a new pop starlet. When she announced “Daughter from Hell” on May 11, the world was her oyster. That was, of course, until the album started playing. “Hit the Wall,” the record’s lead single, rises high above most of the other tracks. Although the song lacks a satisfying climax, its lyrics are revelatory and accompanied by meticulous and immersive production. The record’s second single “Look at My Life” outdoes its predecessor. The track’s beat thrums and holds listeners tightly in its restless grasp. “Death Wish” is a track Abrams’s fans
vocals are chafing: Abrams’s hoarseness can’t unearth vulnerability because the track is simply devoid of any. Reminiscent of “Packing It Up” from “The Secret of Us (Deluxe),” “Sober” is stripped-down and muted. Heartbreak is a recurring theme across “Daughter from Hell,” but no track is potent enough to spur any meaningful commentary. On “Imaginary Friend,” the mediocrity is stifling. The plain, unimaginative beat distracts from the baffling lyrics: “Do you remember all the shit I broke? Well, I fixed it.” Even an invocation of indie stomp-clap can’t disguise the dullness of this record’s midsection. “Broke My Heart” is similarly plaintive and equally forgettable. “Mews” has a certain novelty to its build, and “Afflictions” is a sweet love song that feels slightly out of place on the album, while “Humming” is just fine. “Minibar” and “What If It’s Right?” offer some redemption. “Minibar,” which
of this record is made when she sources from other artists and their niches. “Men Like You” is one of the most biting tracks on the album, with Abrams’s vocals on full display alongside compelling production. Standing in stark contrast is the cringe-inducing “Cold Goodbyes,” a song plainly aligned with the album’s concept featuring a spoken-word nature that is awkward and off-putting. Confessional songwriting seems to have been the album’s intention, but Abrams’s lyrics lack any nuance or imagination. “Daughter from Hell” is a disappointing title track. The song promises excitement in its opening: the electric guitar solo is stirring. The ballad that follows is acceptable but lacking. The track’s dialogue around complex mother-daughter relationships fails to cut the way that Mitski’s song “Class of 2013” — or even Greta Gerwig’s film “Ladybird” — does. “Daughter from Hell” is inoffensive, and this is precisely its issue. Abrams takes
BY ALYSSIA OUHOCINE SENIOR STAFF WRITER
COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
Abrams's 2024 album, “The Secret of Us,” shot her into mainstream fame and proved her musical prowess with hits like “I Love You, I’m Sorry” and “Risk.” no risk on the new record, regurgitating the worst tracks from her previous albums. Failing to live up to its fierce name, the record is bland and unable to find its emotional core. Today’s pop climate is competitive: Olivia Rodrigo’s sensational “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” and Phoebe Bridgers’ pop-adjacent “Lost
Weekend” are stiff competition. It’s no longer amateur hour in pop music, and Abrams has a lot of work to do to make some noise amid the cacophony.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 17, 2026.
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SCIENCE & RESEARCH PHYSICS
Brown researchers involved with possible first detection of dark matter The team detected a particle that could prove the existence of dark matter BY ANGEL LOPEZ SENIOR STAFF WRITER Physicists believe dark matter makes up 85% of the mass of the universe, but despite its theoretical abundance, there is no direct proof that it exists. Now, researchers at Brown are closing in on that sought-for proof. In the LUX-ZEPLIN, or “LZ,” experiment, researchers at Brown helped analyze data from 2023 and early 2024 containing a signal that could potentially be the first detection of a dark matter particle. Richard Gaitskell, professor of physics and spokesperson for the LZ experiment, explained that the Sun’s orbit in the Milky Way doesn’t match up with current calculations for the amount of mass and number of stars in the galaxy. He explained that there is not enough mass in the Milky Way to allow our solar system to orbit, and this suggests that something may be missing from the standard model of physics. Chongwen Lu GS, who is involved with the LZ experiment, said that this might be because the current model does not account for dark matter — a massless and invisible substance that scientists believe holds galaxies together. “If we can find the dark matter, then we might find the missing parts of elementary particles,” he said. According to Gaitskell, the main goal
of the LZ experiment is to find evidence of dark matter. The experiment uses an LZ detector, a chamber filled with liquid xenon located a mile underground and surrounded by water. This detector looks for interactions from hypothetical weakly interacting matter particles, or WIMPs. When a WIMP — hypothesized to be a dark matter particle — enters the chamber, it interacts with the liquid xenon, causing the xenon to emit both photons and electrons. The LZ detector can then record particles by using light detectors at the top and bottom of the chamber, Benjamin Almquist GS, who is involved with the LZ experiment, wrote in an email to The Herald. The researchers believe an interaction provides evidence of dark matter if the detector gives a signal for a process called nuclear recoil. “The dark matter candidate that we are looking for only interacts with the detector through something called the nuclear recoil,” said Charles Kong GS, who is involved with the LZ experiment. While the signal data strongly suggests the existence of the particles, it has not reached the threshold necessary to be considered a “discovery,” explained Chen Ding GS, who is involved with the LZ experiment. The chances of the signal coming from known processes — as in, not evidence of dark matter — are “very small, but not zero,” said Associate Professor of Physics Loukas Gouskos, who hosted Gaitskell’s talk at a physics colloquium on Friday.
ANNAMARIA LUECHT / HERALD
While the signal data strongly suggests the existence of the particles, it has not reached the threshold necessary to be considered a “discovery.” Gaitskell also said that further analysis on the signal is required. “We now need to go back and review everything, try to make sure that we really understand exactly how the detector was behaving, what we know about the detector, and what we still need to review,” Gaitskell said. “We’re in a great position now to do a new analysis with more data, and we’ll
be able to see whether we’re seeing more events and whether those events are consistent with dark matter or not,” Gaitskell added. Almquist wrote that the next steps are “continuing to take more data, monitoring detector stability and health and continuing analyses with the same focus and detail as the previous ones.” Gouskos called the findings “one of
the most exciting results we have for the last few years.” “We are living in very exciting moments,” Gouskos said. “We are all looking forward to seeing what will happen with this case.”
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 13, 2026.
SPACE
Jessica Meir ’99, Crew-12 highlight time aboard ISS before impending return The crew described their experience spending over six months in space BY SAMAH HAMID UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR At her Brown graduation, Jessica Meir ’99 walked through the Van Wickle gates in common University tradition. Her family held up a sign that read, “Congrats, Space Girl.” “While I was there at Brown, everybody knew this was my dream,” Meir said during a Wednesday press conference, tuning in from the International Space Station. “I didn’t necessarily thInk that it would come true because we all know there’s such a small chance of it happening,” Meir added. Now, she is more than six months into a February launch with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12, which includes NASA astronauts Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The crew is expected to return following a brief handover period after the arrival of Crew-13, scheduled for early October. Meir, who is serving as expedition commander for the first time, said her new role is “rewarding,” particularly when working with crew members who had never traveled to space before. “I think on your first mission, you’re early on in your selection, and you’re wanting to make sure to prove yourself,” she said. “This time I’m really focused instead on the goodness, the good of the team, and thinking about the team as a whole.” After more than two decades of use, NASA outlined plans to deorbit the ISS — the largest single structure built in space — by 2030.
COURTESY OF NASA VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS.
The crew is expected to return following a brief handover period after the arrival of Crew-13, scheduled for early October. The engineering team and crew took to divide for longer periods of time in “Sometimes it’s difficult, even for sci- weightless all the time” many steps to “get ready for the end of microgravity. entists that have had experience working in “Space is very cool, and I think that a station life,” Adenot said, including the The research done aboard the station microgravity, to predict and understand,” lot of people agree,” she said. installation of extra solar panels and ISS has applications beyond low-earth orbit. she said. In a message to Brown students, Meir Roll-Out Array modification kits to extend According to Meir, “if it becomes cost efAs a biologist, Meir said that some of encouraged them to “take risks and not the station’s electricity supply. fective, we could produce stem cells up her favorite experiments were done in the be afraid to fail along the way. If you do all “I would say more than ever, we are here to be used for targeted therapies back “life sciences glove box.” Meir and the crew those things and work hard and persevere, using the full potential of science,” Ad- on Earth.” explored how tension affects the forma- anybody’s dreams can actually come true.” enot said. She added that the “logistical” aspects tion of fat cartilage, which is often used Meir detailed other experiments done of microgravity experiments are most chal- in transplants for humans. aboard the station, including the exam- lenging, particularly due to the difference in Meir said that when she returns to This article originally appeared online at ination of stem cells, which are known fluid behavior in space compared to Earth. Earth, she will “very much miss being browndailyherald.com on Sept. 17, 2026.
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
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SCIENCE & RESEARCH FUNDING
NSF, Education Department plan to implement contentious research grant changes VP for Research Greg Hirth advocating against the OMB’s changes
500 in August 2025. “Even though it feels like in so many ways we should just kind of put the
BY JEREMIAH FARR SENIOR STAFF WRITER The National Science Foundation and Department of Education have announced plans to separately move ahead with highly opposed changes to federal research grant regulations originally proposed by the Office of Management and Budget. These plans come alongside legislation delaying implementation of the broader OMB proposal to December. The changes, which the NSF and Education Department plan to implement, would prioritize grants for research that advances the president’s policy priorities and make the cancellation of grants more subjective and facilitated by political appointees. On July 10, Vice President for Research Greg Hirth co-authored a comment for Brown advocating against the OMB’s changes, arguing they would weaken the longstanding connection between the government and higher education. The OMB’s proposal makes “pretty big changes in inserting more politics into what has generally been a merit-based, peer-reviewed, scientific research process,” Hirth said in an interview with The Herald. Ethan Moitra is a clinical psychologist and a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical
JJ LI / HERALD
School. His $2.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health was one of the first at Brown to be cancelled by the second Trump administration, he said, due to his work focusing on “transgender issues,” The Herald previously reported. After its cancellation on Feb. 28, 2025, his grant was reinstated in July 2025. The new requirement that research aligns with government policy priorities could be highly problematic, Hirth said.
“Research in climate science, for example, is not a priority of the current administration, and there’s a wide range of people who pursue those types of things that, if this comes to fruition, will have a harder time being able to do that work,” he said. “In the past, those types of priorities were much more generated from the researchers themselves … and now it’s coming from a political perspective.” Moitra said that while he has gotten
some funding from nonprofits and organizations, the “vast majority” of his research has been financed by the NIH. Due to ongoing threats to grants, Moitra said that he and other researchers have had to explore new avenues for funding. When he applied for funding from the William T. Grant Foundation in 2025, he was rejected and told that the number of prospective grant applications had skyrocketed from 150 in early 2025 to about
government aside and find other ways to continue, our system is set up such that it’s really hard to make that pivot,” Moitra said. Sarah Spreitzer, vice president and chief of staff for government relations at the American Council on Education, said that this big a shift in regulations is unprecedented. “One of the biggest things that the proposed (OMB) rule does is it changes it from guidance to regulation,” she said in an interview with The Herald. “All of the federal agencies would then be under this regulation, and I haven’t seen efforts like this previously to make such major changes.” Spreitzer emphasized that the regulation changes would not only affect research at universities. “The impact’s going to go far beyond just our research universities,” Spreitzer said. “It’s going to impact somebody in a clinical trial. It’s going to impact that person that relies on the senior center, where all of a sudden their grant is able to be terminated.” The NSF declined to comment. The OMB and Education Department did not respond to requests for comment.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 16, 2026.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Malaria drug resistance is increasing. Researchers seek the genetic reason why Researchers identified mutations linked to drug resistance in the parasite BY AMRITA RAJPAL SENIOR STAFF WRITER Malaria, an infectious disease spread by mosquitoes, has been quickly gaining resistance to treatments in Uganda due to genetic mutations in the parasites that cause the disease. In a paper published in Nature Medicine this August, a team of Brown researchers contributed to identifying a cluster of these mutations, which are associated with decreased susceptibility to several commonly used antimalarial drugs. The research was conducted in collaboration with the University of California at San Francisco, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration in Uganda. The researchers worked to sequence the DNA of malaria parasites to look for clues of how to address growing drug resistance. “Malaria remains one of the most important infectious disease threats globally, especially in children,” said Associate Dean of Global Health Equity Adam Levine, who was not involved in the study. Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and of Translational Research Jeffrey Bailey, one of the study’s principal investigators, explained that this research “came about with colleagues in Uganda, who had really been at the forefront of trying to do field work to test for resistance and strains or parasites coming right out of patients.” The researchers noticed that parasites were becoming less susceptible to first-line antimalarial pills containing lumefantrine and artemisinin, another principal inves-
CAROLYN NAKAWUNGU / HERALD
tigator Melissa Conrad — a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins University — wrote in an email to The Herald. “We couldn’t fully explain the changes in susceptibilities or the amount of variation we were seeing with mutations known to impact … how parasites respond to these drugs,” Conrad wrote. “That made us think there had to be more mutations that (were) yet to be identified.” The decreased susceptibility drove the
team to investigate possible changes in the genome sequence that were associated with the resistance, Bailey explained. Eventually, this led the researchers to adopt “the whole genome sequencing approach,” said Karamoko Niaré, the paper’s first author and a researcher in Bailey’s lab. Within the parasite genome, Conrad wrote, researchers found a conserved region carrying three mutations. This genetic feature was found at higher rates in “northern and eastern Uganda, suggesting rapid
selection,” she added. According to Bailey, researchers saw a phenomenon called selective sweep — which is when one mutation “gets passed on and spreads through the population” because it is so advantageous for survival — happening with those mutations. “We sequenced those historical samples to actually see how this genetic variation has evolved over time in Uganda, so we realized that before the implementation of artemisinin-based combination therapies in Uganda,
this genetic variant was not there,” Niaré said. According to Conrad, next steps include using CRISPR to identify the “specific mutation” that contributes to this specific type of drug resistance. “We are also working to better understand the distribution of these mutations across Africa,” she added.
This article originally appeared online at browndailyherald.com on Sept. 16, 2026.
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