SINCE 1891
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018
VOLUME CLII, ISSUE 94
WWW.BROWNDAILYHERALD.COM
Trans-rights activists rally at State House Symposium examines, Hundreds protest Trump reflects on activism of 1968 administration’s proposal Two-day conference brought 18 scholars to speak about activism, black student walkout
to redefine gender to be determined by genitalia By HERALD STAFF
Speaking on the steps of the Rhode Island State House Saturday morning, Payton James, a member of Rhode Island Pride, instructed hundreds of protesters to hold the hands of the people standing next to them. The group had gathered to demonstrate support for transgender rights amid recent news that the Trump administration is considering redefining gender as the “biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth,” the New York Times previously reported. Such a decision would limit the protections transgender people could receive under federal civil rights laws. Coordinated by trans rights advocacy groups and allies from Rhode Island and surrounding areas, the rally featured speeches from several trans rights activists and allies as well as song and poetry performances. Organizers also invited attendees to speak on protecting trans rights. The speeches delivered during the rally included a broad range of
By KATHERINE BENNETT & BENJAMIN KOBLINER SENIOR STAFF WRITER & CONTRIBUTING WRITER
HANA ESTICE / HERALD
The Trump administration’s proposal to define gender would limit federal protections for trans people, according to the New York Times. perspectives from community organizers, writers, artists and parents of trans youth. In addition to articulating the current fears of many transgender people, the speakers addressed other issues such as the importance of voting, the rise of violence toward other marginalized communities and the meaning of strong allyship. They also highlighted how trans people have
displayed resilience. While leading the crowd in a chant of “We will not be erased,” James said the rights of trans people, disabled people and people of color could not be taken away despite the challenging political climate. “Queer and trans people have long been a community bound together » See TRANS RIGHTS, page 3
Last week, the Department of Africana Studies held a two-day symposium to examine the legacy of political activism that took place around the world during 1968, including the black student walkout that occurred at Brown fifty years ago. Planned in partnership with the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, “50 Years Since 68: The Global and the Local” is one component of “a year-long initiative that reflects on the meaning and significance of that remarkable year and examines the state of the world a half-century later,” according to the website for the Department of Africana Studies. The conference began with an opening reception at Watson Wednesday evening. Featuring remarks from several University administrators and faculty, the reception explained the symposium’s central focus on activism from 1968
and reflected on the 1968 black student walkout. The symposium invited 18 scholars to campus to speak. Brian Meeks, chair of the Department of Africana Studies, said these participants represent a diverse group “who have thought deeply about the acts of courage and resistance that have defined the activists of 1968, the genealogies of thinking that inspired them and drove them to the streets and … the legacies of thought and action that the current generation have inherited from them as they face today their own formidable challenges.” The symposium’s panels and events intended to assess 1968 activism “in a comparative context … to inform our understanding of what’s happening today,” said Edward Steinfeld, director of the Watson Institute. Panels touched on political uprisings in China, Brazil and the European South in addition to those in the United States. Additionally, the speakers said the 1968 black student walkout generated meaningful and productive conversations about race in higher education. Walkout participants demanded that “black students must constitute at least 11 percent of the class of 1973, and of all subsequent incoming classes,” according to a position paper published by The » See ACTIVISM, page 2
Protesters decry fascism, anti-Semitism Same story, new “Never Again” rally political chants, game: Bears fall again features Shabbat prayers, speeches Brown loses 46-16 on road against Yale, drop 13th straight Ivy League conference game By ALEX SMOLAR SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Over a century of classic college football has been played in the historic Yale Bowl, but amid swirling wind gusts Saturday, the Bears looked listless in a loss to the Bulldogs. While the weather was certainly a factor in the contest, it seemed to always push Yale forward and hold Bruno back. The Elis jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, dominating in a blowout victory that saw the Brown offense record negative 27 yards rushing. On Brown’s first offensive possession, plays seemed to be clicking between quarterback Michael McGovern ’21 and his receivers. The sophomore signal-caller found LJ Harriott ’20 on two drag routes to bring the Bears (1-7, 0-5 Ivy) to midfield. But just as
INSIDE
Bruno got into rhythm, the wind carried McGovern’s pass over Harriott’s head into the diving arms of Yale defensive back Rodney Thomas for an interception. “We try not to worry about anything that we can’t control, and the weather — or in today’s case the wind — is one of those things,” McGovern wrote in a statement to The Herald. “No matter what the conditions are, we just need to go out and execute our jobs.” At first glance, this game should have been a tough one for Yale (53, 3-2), as the team gave its freshman quarterback Griffin O’Connor the first start of his college career. But O’Connor went on to pass for 436 yards and four touchdowns, and led the Bulldogs down the field for a touchdown on his first drive. On Bruno’s next possession, McGovern was able to march his team into Yale territory, but sacks and penalties gave Brown a 4th and 19 on the Yale 33-yard line. With the wind, the » See FOOTBALL, page 3
denouncing hatred
By DYLAN MAJSIAK SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Community members met in front of Providence City Hall Saturday afternoon in protest of white supremacy and fascism following the Oct. 27 massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. The rally, titled “Never Again: An Antifascist Assembly for Jewish Lives,” focused primarily on the recent proliferation of anti-Semitism throughout the country and denounced racism, transphobia and xenophobia as interrelated forms of hate. In addition to giving speeches and chanting political messages, participants recited Shabbat prayers and sang to hark back to the Shabbat service of the Tree of Life, according to assembly organizer Norra Kaplan, who said she got “chills” when she learned that the words of the Torah were likely the last words that the victims heard. “We’re living in an increasingly
DYLAN MAJSIAK / HERALD
After the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh last weekend, protests denouncing anti-Semitism have been held across the country. fascist state,” Kaplan told The Herald. While the rally was primarily focused “Instead of treating our problems as on domestic fascism, a protester pointdistinct or isolated, or trying to mourn ed to Brazil and Italy as evidence of in private, we should mourn in public the ideology’s growing global potency. … with anger and with compassion Kaplan opened the assembly toward everyone who is also being by leading blessings. Replying with victimized and targeted.” ‘amen,’ rally attendees sang “HalleluKaplan drew attention to the Ken- jah” together before Kaplan began to tucky grocery store murder of two read from the Torah. Kaplan dedicated black people Oct. 24, which — like the portions of the song to particular comPittsburgh shooting — was a recent munity members, such as the children instance of domestic white terrorism. » See NEVER AGAIN, page 2
WEATHER
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018
SPORTS Men’s hockey ties Colgate in overtime, falls to No. 18 Cornell during first road trip of season
SPORTS Women’s hockey completes two major comeback upsets against Colgate, Cornell
COMMENTARY Preston GS, Sindhu GS: Unionization has prescedent for improving graduate student life
COMMENTARY McCaleb ’20, Steeves ’19: U. athletes contribute more than win, loss record demonstrates
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