Daily Herald the Brown

vol. cxlv, no. 56 | Tuesday, April 27, 2010 | Serving the community daily since 1891

Sledgehammers in hand, Med School breaks ground TWC

director
By Alex Bell resources for the Med School, the
Senior Staf f Writer building will allow each class to
grow from 96 to 120 students.

takes leave
An abandoned jewelr y factor y The new home will also enable
seemed an odd venue for a gath- the school to institute an academy
ering of University officials, poli- system, in which each student is
ticians, alums and lab-coat-clad assigned to an academy of 40 stu-
medical students on Monday after- dents from differing years for the By Ana Alvarez
noon. The old factor y’s floor was purposes of mentorship and fos- Senior Staf f Writer
hidden under sheets of cardboard tering a sense of community.
taped together, and the bright or- Simmons agreed that the Dean Karen McLaurin ’74 an-
ange spray paint on the walls stood building has been a long time nounced Monday that she will step
out against the white sheetrock. coming. down from her position as direc-
But with a few swings of a “When I first arrived at Brown, tor of the Third World Center on
sledgehammer by President Ruth I had a wonderful meeting with June 30.
Simmons and Dean of Medicine the medical students and they said McLaurin, better known to the
and Biological Sciences Edward one thing to me,” Simmons said. Brown community as Dean K, will
Wing, the building was on its way “And that is: We need a home.” take a year-long leave to care for
to becoming the new home of the In explaining how that goal is her father’s ailing health, according
Alpert Medical School in Provi- being realized and reflecting on to an e-mail to be sent to the com-
dence’s former Jewelr y District. her recent trip to India, Simmons munity Tuesday by Vice President
The groundbreaking celebration emphasized the impor tance of for Campus Life and Student Ser-
itself was held in what is to be- strong community partnerships. vices Margaret Klawunn and Senior
come a lecture hall, though you “We have a partnership here Director for Student Engagement
wouldn’t have guessed it from in this countr y where private Ricky Gresh. According to the e-
being there. donors, public of ficials, corpo- Alex Bell / Herald mail, McLaurin plans to “transition
“The importance of this build- rations, foundations — so many To the beat of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” President Ruth Simmons into a new role at Brown” after her
takes a swing at a wall in an abandoned jewelry factory that the Alpert
ing really can’t be overstated,” different individuals — see the Medical School will soon be able to call home. leave.
said Wing, who presided over the need for outstanding education Klawuun said there are “no
groundbreaking celebration. “We and they come together to make versity is “delighted” to bring jobs new Med School is “always a part- plans” so far for finding McLau-
haven’t had a home.” it happen,” Simmons said. “We to the community and support the nership of many pieces,” and he rin’s replacement, but regardless
The building is expected to be understand the value of that here economy. said the state also hopes to see a of what decisions are made, the
transformed by August 2011. at Brown.” Gov. Donald Carcieri ’65 strength of the TWC will be “pre-
In addition to providing newer Simmons added that the Uni- agreed that a project such as the continued on page 4 served and grown.” A plan for “in-
suring continuity, program support

University provides
and leadership” of the center will
art f or sa l e also be announced in the coming
weeks, Klawunn and Gresh wrote
in the e-mail.

local flood relief McLaurin, who has ser ved as

director of the TWC for 17 years, di-
rected the center during a period of
By Sarah Julian order to coordinate a response “significant growth and expansion,”
Staf f Writer to the flooding. They met with a Klawunn and Gresh wrote. Beyond
group that included faculty, staff her work at the center, McLaurin
In the wake of severe flooding and a student in order to organize “has built a commitment among
earlier this month in Rhode Is- and facilitate University response Brown students to advancing issues
land, Brown has been working efforts. of diversity at Brown and beyond,”
on coordinating a multifaceted According to the most recent according to the e-mail.
relief effort. President Ruth Sim- community-wide, flood effort– “Dean K is a Brown institution,”
mons asked Marisa Quinn, vice related e-mail from Carey and Klawuun said. “She is a treasure,
president for public affairs and Quinn, the University is offering and her departure will be a big loss
University relations, and Russell assistance in several ways. for Brown.”
Carey ’91 MA’06, senior vice presi- First, Brown is providing dona- McLaurin said she looks for-
dent for corporation affairs and
governance, to gather a team in continued on page 2 continued on page 3

Amendment hits legislators close to home

By Claire Peracchio The General Assembly has been Rep. Karen Macbeth, D-Cumberland,
Senior Staff Writer criticized for passing legislation re- would have been added to the supple-
quiring full-time state employees to mental budget intended to address the
An amendment requiring state law- pay at least 15 percent of the cost of state’s $220 million budget shortfall.
makers to immediately begin paying their plans beginning July 1, while While the amendment did not make it
15 percent of costs for their state- into the supplemental budget passed
provided health care plans was tabled METRO by the House, changes to the budget
in the early morning hours of April 14 by the state Senate on April 15 mean
after members of the state House of legislators — who are part-time state the House must now approve a new
Representatives expressed concern employes — are not required to make supplemental budget — which could
that voting on the amendment was any contributions to their health care still contain the amendment — before
an ethical violation. costs. State employees are currently the end of this fiscal year.
Max Monn / Herald
Legislators are currently not re- required to pay 13.5 percent of their State legislators currently receive
At Saturday’s RISD Spring Art Sale, students hawked examples of
their art. quired to contribute to their health health care costs.
care. The amendment, proposed by continued on page 5
inside

News.....1–2
Spor ts.....3
Sports, 3 Metro, 4 Opinions, 7 The blog today
Metro.....4–5 roaring rebound Second Life Final words Today on the blog
Editorial....6 Baseball team splits games David Quinn GS serves on Anthony Badami ’11 offers Napping in JWOWW,
Opinion....7 with Big Green, stays tied Seekonk school committee departing seniors advice wasting time and some
Today........8 for Ivy division lead. when not in the Rock. for life after Brown. major attitude.

www.browndailyherald.com 195 Angell Street, Providence, Rhode Island [email protected]

Page 2 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Tuesday, April 27, 2010

C ampus N EWS
U. volunteers pitch in for flood relief BASEBALL

Bears split
continued from page 1 “really low key, but I think it was a The second project took place mer work, primarily through the

tions to relief agencies. In the im-

nice opportunity to remind people
and get them engaged.”
in Westerly, R.I. Twelve students
and staf f members traveled to
Swearer Center, to assist in the
recover y. “In terms of summer
weekend
mediate aftermath of the flooding,
the University donated $50,000 to
A lot of students want to help,
but are “not exactly sure how,”
Westerly, where they were as-
signed a street that had suffered
efforts, there have been a few stu-
dents expressing interest so far, doubleheader
the Rhode Island Flood Recovery according to Wertheimer. He said significant damage. They went and a few preliminar y ideas for
Fund, which was established by the main goal of UCS is to help from house to house of fering possible projects,” Roger Nozaki By Tony Bakshi
the United Way of Rhode Island. “keep them informed about other assistance in cleaning out base- MAT’89, associate dean of the col- Sports Staff Writer
According to Clay Wertheimer ’10, opportunities.” ments and yards. McDonald, one lege and director of the Swearer
president of the Undergraduate An additional $200 were raised of the student volunteers, said the Center, wrote in an e-mail to The After two wild back-and-forth battles,
Council of Students, the benefit in donations taken at the past two project was “easy with a group of Herald. According to Nozaki, the Brown and Dartmouth’s baseball
of giving to an organization like men’s lacrosse games, according people” but that she could see goal is to ensure that projects are teams are still deadlocked atop the
the United Way is that, as an es- to Patrick Walker, travel and pro- how it would be overwhelming for driven by what the community Rolfe Division of the Ivy League.
tablished organization, it has low motions coordinator for the Athlet- residents to have to sort through needs, which means gathering in- The Bears (12-25 overall, 9-5 Ivy)
overhead cost and thus aid goes ics Department. their water-damaged items and put before undertaking projects. and the Big Green (19-13 overall, 9-5
directly to the community. Other efforts have aimed at throw them away. She said that “The students who’ve come Ivy) split two games at Brown’s Mur-
In addition to this donation, gathering groups of volunteers. some residents helped her group for ward to date regarding the ray Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
student groups are working on The University has been involved with the cleaning, but that others summer haven’t proposed ideas, Dartmouth eked out a victory, 7-6, in
more fundraising efforts. Colleen in two projects through Ser ve were not present. “Some people but were just expressing inter- the first matchup. But Brown came
McDonald ’12, the student repre- Rhode Island. First, the organi- preferred not to really deal with est if projects came together,” he back to take the second, 9-5, behind
sentative on the group that met zation asked for a group of four it,” she said. wrote. a strong performance from starting
with Quinn and Carey, said she individuals to provide assistance McDonald has also been con- The e-mail from Quinn and pitcher Will Weidig ’10, who stepped
and UCS Vice President Diane to elderly residents in Olneyville, tacting student groups about or- Carey also said the University up on a day when he said the team
Mokoro ’11 made an announce- Quinn wrote in an e-mail to The ganizing other fundraisers and hopes to respond “to needs that “really needed the win.”
ment on stage at Saturday’s Spring Herald. “Given the time and group service events. Details have the governor’s office identifies
Weekend concert asking for dona- the limited number of individu- not been finalized, but McDonald as important.” The governor’s of- Dartmouth 7, Brown 6
tions. UCS volunteers then passed als needed, we asked Facilities said she has spoken with Greek fice is working with the Federal Bruno had victory in its grasp,
baskets around the crowd, collect- Management if there would be organizations, athletic teams and Emergency Management Agency but could not hold on in the final
ing a total of $350. individuals interested.” Twenty program houses about potential to coordinate statewide responses. inning. Brown took a 5-3 lead into
McDonald said it was meant to staff members from Facilities ex- projects. Once these needs are evaluated, the seventh frame, helped by Kevin
be just a “drop in the bucket.” pressed interest, and four assisted The University is also encour- Carey and Quinn wrote, “we an- Carlow’s ’13 strong pitching and
Wertheimer said this event was with the project. aging students to undertake sum- ticipate that there will be much Matt Colantonio’s ’11 third-inning
help needed in the coming weeks grand slam.
and months.” But the Dartmouth bats pounced
Finally, Carey and Quinn men- on Carlow’s reliever, Matthew Kim-
tioned Brown efforts to help em- ball ’11. A leadoff walk and some
ployees and families impacted by shaky play in the infield by Ryan
the flood. “The Emergency Grant Zrenda ’11 loaded the bases with one
committee has streamlined the out. Dartmouth third baseman Ezra
application process to make seek- Josephson cut the lead to 5-4 with an
ing funds as simple as possible infield hit, and the Big Green then
and has put information about the took the lead on Brett Gardner’s two-
new process on the web. Several run single. Centerfielder Jake Carl-
applications have been made to son drove in Gardner with a single
date and all have been approved,” of his own, capping Dartmouth’s big
they wrote in the community-wide
e-mail. continued on page 3

sudoku

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the Brown

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Tuesday, April 27, 2010 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Page 3

S ports “I think when you look at brains, it’s the end game.”
— Chris Nowinski, president of Sports Legacy Institute

Baseball Panel discusses concussion research, policies

team makes By Chan Hee Chu result of head trauma sustained
during Waters’ NFL career, Now-
more scientific perspectives on
concussions.
for everyone.
Agreeing with Cantu’s ap-

comeback
Spor ts Staf f Writer
inski began to research the subject Despite the increase in concern proach, Crisco proposed the pos-
Chris Nowinski, once known as the and speak out about the dangers of about concussions over the last sibility of limiting the number of
only Harvard graduate in profes- concussions — eventually testify- few years, Cantu said there was traumatic hits in contact sports
continued from page 2 sional wrestling, spoke as part of a ing before Congress on the NFL’s a relative lack of knowledge con- as pitch-count limits have been
panel in front of an almost full Salo- policies on concussions. cerning concussions. enforced in Little Leagues across
four-run inning. mon 101 Monday night. Nowinski The other panel members cred- “Statistics say there are two the country.
That insurance run turned out spoke to both the personal effects ited Nowinski’s efforts as helping to three million each year but we Crisco also spoke of the need
to be huge, as the Bears made their and scientific research concerning to persuade the NFL to adopt new don’t know,” Cantu said. to better understand what exactly
own comeback effort in the bottom concussions at Monday’s event, rules to better protect players and Though Cantu conceded that causes concussions — a question
of the seventh. Zrenda ripped a triple which was part of a colloquium take responsibility for the harms concussions and head trauma var- he hopes his research involving
to right field to lead off the inning on the danger of concussions in caused by the game. ied greatly on an individual basis, athletes at Brown and elsewhere
and later scored on a groundout by sports. Blood and Morey told their per- he still advocated extreme caution will help to answer.
Daniel Rosoff ’12. But the Bears Nowinski had his professional sonal stories about concussions
could not muster up another run wrestling career cut short after to a crowd that included Brown
and fell by a one-run margin, 7-6. sustaining six concussions and athletes, coaches and members of
then became the co-founder and the local medical community.
Brown 9, Dartmouth 5 president of Sports Legacy Insti- “You don’t need to play football
In the second game, the Bears tute. to get concussions,” Blood said. “I
got out to another early lead, and The other speakers were Rob- had concussions playing tennis,
made sure to keep it until the final ert Cantu, a leading medical ex- softball and basketball. I guess it
pitch was thrown. Brown led, 4-0, pert on concussions; Professor goes to show that although the re-
after two innings, due to home runs of Orthopaedics J.J. Trey Crisco, search is geared towards football
from Pete Greskoff ’11 and Chris a researcher in athletic concus- and boxing, it is a huge problem”
Tanabe ’10. sions; Sean Morey ’99, a current across all sports.
They added four more in the bot- NFL player and the co-chair of the In light of the increasing infor-
tom of the fifth, grabbing a com- NFL Players Association Traumat- mation demonstrating the risk of
manding 8-1 advantage on a solo ic Brain Injur y Committee; and taking hits, Morey spoke of his
home run from Mike DiBiase ’12 Alyssa Blood ’11, a former basket- current efforts to better protect
and a two-run single from Cody ball player at Brown whose career NFL players. Morey recently met
Slaughter ’13. was cut short by concussions she with the NFL competition commit-
The Big Green bats were quiet sustained while playing. tee at the NFL Combine to discuss
until the bottom of the ninth inning, “Where do you start?” Nowin- possible rule changes designed to
due to Weidig’s dominance on the ski said. “I think when you look limit dangerous blows. Still, de-
mound. Weidig hurled eight innings at brains, it’s the end game. You spite the inherent risk involved,
and was charged with just three look at these guys in their 30s and Morey said eliminating concus-
earned runs. 40s, and they have ruined their sions altogether is unrealistic.
“I was able to mostly just a throw lives.” “Contact spor ts provide an
a fastball to both sides of the plate Nowinski first became seri- opportunity to learn leadership
and keep them off balance that way,” ously interested in the potential skills, accountability,” Morey said.
Weidig said. “With the offense get- harm caused by concussions after “It builds character.”
ting us out to a big lead, it’s easier to learning of former NFL star Andre In contrast to the personal
go out there and pitch to contact.” Waters’ suicide at age 44. Believing accounts provided by Blood and
But again, when Brown went to that the player’s depression was a Morey, Cantu and Crisco gave
its bullpen in the latter stages of the
game, Dartmouth was able to mount
a rally. The Big Green scored four
runs total in the ninth, but left-hand-
er Brad Kottman ’13 was finally able
to shut the door. Kottman struck
out pinch-hitter David Turnbull to
end the game, ensuring that the two
teams would be tied in the standings
until the second set of doublehead-
ers on Wednesday.
“If we stay within our abilities,
then we should be in good shape
to have a couple of good games,”
Weidig said.

McLaurin
to take
year off
continued from page 1

ward to her return to Brown and

the center’s future under new lead-
ership.
“I have high hopes for the
growth and development of the
center,” McLaurin said. “The TWC
can and will, hopefully, remain in
the hearts and minds of the Uni-
versity.”
According to the e-mail, details
of a celebration of McLaurin’s
achievements at Brown, to be
held in early May, will soon be an- www.browndailyherald.com
nounced.
Metro
The Brown Daily Herald
“My goal is to eventually become an administrator, but not until I
really know what makes a good teacher” — David Quinn GS
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 | Page 4

Attending — and governing — the schools U., community partner in

By Anne Artley
Staf f Writer
a baseball coach at Hurley Middle
School in Seekonk.
Quinn said that his dual roles
As a newcomer to local politics,
Quinn got his name out to Seekonk
voters by reaching out to local me-
new Med School building
David Quinn GS is leading a dou- allow him to apply material from the dia, going door to door and putting continued from page 1 Program for the Med School’s
ble life. A Brown graduate student classroom to a real-world setting. up signs. He also handed out stick- construction.
currently earning his Master of Studying while serving on the ers bearing his name on Election new nursing school built adjacent The program stipulates that
Education by day, he serves on the school committee creates a “symbi- Day so voters would remember his to the new Med School to support Providence residents will per-
Seekonk, Mass. school committee otic relationship,” he said. The prin- name to write it in on their ballots. existing nursing programs at the form 15 percent of the construc-
by night. ciples he is learning in his EDUC “I had to run as if there was University of Rhode Island and tion hours on the project, and
He was elected on April 5 in an 1130: “Economics of Education” another candidate,” he said. “The Rhode Island College. successful workers on the project
uncontested election. To win the class with John Tyler, associate write-in puts you at a disadvantage Providence Mayor David will be eligible to enter a build-
position, he had to run a “sticker professor of education, economics because people have to remember Cicilline ’83 said the new build- ing trade apprenticeship program
campaign” in which voters filled in and public policy, have been espe- your name to vote for you.” ing would help the economy by that will put them “well on their
his name in a blank space on the cially useful in planning the school Fran Creamer, who also serves providing some 500 construction way to a solid, family-supporting
ballot, Quinn said. Quinn received funding formulas, solving budget- on the committee, said that as a grad jobs and 57 permanent jobs. He career path in the construction in-
over 350 votes. ar y issues and spending money student, Quinn has already proven also said it would help Providence dustr y,” according to Sabitoni.
“I was immersed in my stud- efficiently. himself to be a valuable asset to the institutions compete for research “Needless to say, Brown Uni-
ies and never thought of running, Quinn described his platform for board. grants while encouraging compa- versity’s commitment in these
but when I heard two people had the school committee as a three part “He’s only been on the board a nies like Isis Biopolymer to locate difficult times is second to none,”
stepped down I thought it would be plan to cost-effectively bring 21st short time, but there have already in the area. he said. “Brown is clearly dis-
a good opportunity,” Quinn said. century education to the schools, been at least two different occasions “There is now developing a tinguishing itself from its local
Quinn, a Seekonk native, also to ensure programs have “clear and where he has brought back things critical mass of new companies institutional peers by not only
student teaches at Seekonk High measurable results” and to serve as he has learned through his studies that are coming into the Knowl- continuing to invest in our econ-
School and has worked as a behav- a bridge for ideas between taxpayers at Brown,” she said. edge District,” Cicilline said. “The omy — when it would have been
ior intervention coordinator and as and school administrators. Quinn has found that learning presence of this great medical easier for them not to — but also
to balance his studies with his new school from a spectacular uni- making an affirmative commit-
responsibilities has been a smooth versity will add to that signifi- ment to use local labor and Provi-
transition and that the arrangement cantly.” dence residents on all of these
has “worked out nicely,” he said. Patrick Worth MD’11, presi- construction projects.”
After he finishes his master’s, dent of the Medical Student Sen- After a shor t video, Wing
Quinn said he wants to continue ate, called the new building an and Simmons had a surprise in
teaching in Seekonk or the sur- “inspiration and a call to action,” store. To the beat of Peter Ga-
rounding area. rather than a reward to be taken briel’s “Sledgehammer,” they
“My goal is to eventually become for granted by future students. each grabbed a sledgehammer
an administrator, but not until I really Michael Sabitoni, president and — after Cicilline jocularly
know what makes a good teacher,” of the Rhode Island Building handed Simmons a hard hat in
Quinn said. and Construction Trades Coun- the spirit of safety — they got to
cil, praised the University for work on a wall of the abandoned
utilizing the Building Futures jewelr y factor y.

www.browndailyherald.com
Page 5 THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Tuesday, April 27, 2010

M etro “We live in a political world.”

— Sen. Rhoda Perry P’91, D-Providence

Health-care amendment tabled for ethics concerns

continued from page 1 her health insurance. The verdict of the Irons case is “I think it’s kind of interesting that said that “in a position which is not full
While the Rhode Island Ethics “widely reviled,” according to Rep. Rep. Macbeth is introducing legisla- time, it is hard to make an analogy”
free health care, which can cost up to Commission would have recom- David Segal, D-Providence, who pro- tion that really wouldn’t affect her at between state employees and part-
$18,061 for a family and $6,463 for an mended that any changes to benefits posed a 2009 constitutional amend- all because she is insured through time legislators who have a different
individual annually. Most legislators for legislators take effect after the ment to restore the power of the her day job as a school principal,” pay structure, she said.
willingly pay part of their health costs. November elections, ethical ramifi- Ethics Commission and one of the Ajello said. “Nevertheless, we live in a politi-
Lawmakers who choose to forgo state- cations of a vote on the amendment legislators whose name was published Prior to the publication of the April cal world and I understand that it is
provided care may also choose to take would not be subject to the commis- in the April 19 Providence Journal 15 Providence Journal article, Mac- important for the legislature to try to
a waiver valued at $2,002. sion’s punitive authority, according to article. Segal has begun contributing beth opted to take the waiver payment emulate the general public,” Perry
After an April 19 Providence Jour- Jason Gramitt, a staff attorney with 20 percent of the cost of his care after even through she currently receives said.
nal article published the names of the commission. his name was published as a legislator full health benefits through her job at Legislators’ response to the
lawmakers who receive free health The commission lost this power in paying nothing for care. a Woonsocket public school. amendment calls into question
care, three legislators on that list have a Rhode Island Supreme Court case “I understand why people have felt Macbeth has since announced that whether the General Assembly is
decided to either contribute to their against former state Senate President pressure to contribute,” Segal said. she will no longer take the waiver serious about reforming how mem-
care or accept a waiver payment. William Irons, who was accused of a He added that legislators can also payment, according to Monday’s bers pay for health care, according
This is not the first time legislation conflict of interest in his legislative forgo perks such as parking spaces Providence Journal. to John Marion, executive director
to mandate that legislators contribute dealings regarding CVS, one of his and mileage reimbursement that add Ajello said that politicians often of Common Cause Rhode Island, a
to their care plans has been proposed. insurance clients. The court decided to a sum comparable to voluntarily find opportunities to “make them- nonprofit that advocates for transpar-
A 2008 bill, which was introduced by that the state constitution’s “speech contributing to health-care costs. selves look good in the public eye” ent government.
Rep. Amy Rice, D-Portsmouth, Mid- in debate” clause prevented the Eth- Segal said even though the Ethics while failing to address systemic “Instead of offering reasons why
dletown and Newport, and required ics Commission from taking action Commission can no longer prosecute problems that lead to inequities in this shouldn’t be done, this spurious
lawmakers to pay 10 percent of their against lawmakers for their votes. legislators for their votes, many law- the health care system. issue of violating the code of ethics
health care costs, passed in the House “In the wake of the Irons case, leg- makers still make an effort to hold Perry — who currently voluntarily came up,” he said. “I don’t see that
in 2008. The proposal was not taken islators are free to vote on any kind themselves to the ethical standards pays 10 percent of her health care there’s any desire on behalf of the
up by the state Senate at that time. of proposal without worrying about endorsed by the commisson. He said plan costs — said she is not averse leadership of the General Assembly
whether it’s a conflict of interest, with- he would support the amendment if to contributing 15 percent. But she to allow this vote to take place.”
Ethics of a vote out regard to whether or not there its changes took effect after statewide
Legislators have cited concerns is a financial benefit for themselves elections.
about the ethical implications of the or their family members or business
amendment, particularly because its associates,” Grammit said. To pass or not to pass
language required that the payment Members would likely have been Both of the legislators represent-
changes take effect instantly. aware of this lack of jurisdiction be- ing College Hill — Ajello and state
“The leadership agreed that we cause House Speaker Gordon Fox Sen. Rhoda Perry P’91 — also said
should look into whether it affect- has proposed legislation to offer a they would support the amendment,
ed us personally and therefore we referendum asking voters to choose assuming it went into effect after the
shouldn’t vote on it,” said Rep. Edith whether the power of the Ethics Com- November election. But the amend-
Ajello, D-Providence. Ajello currently mission over the legislature should be ment raises important issues for
contributes 10 percent of the cost of restored, according to Grammit. both.
Editorial & Letters
The Brown Daily Herald

Page 6 | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

l e t t e r to t h e e d i to r

Crimes against Jews

shouldn’t justify crimes
against Palestinians
To the Editor: Nobel Prize in Literature for his book
“Fatelessness,” notably chose to live
I am an ethnic Jew from Budapest, in Berlin instead of in Budapest.
Hungary, where Theodor Herzl was I disapprove of American youth
born. Reading Dr. Jack Schwartz- choosing Israel and the Tzahal as
wald’s column in Thursday’s Herald their new home. The idea of Israel is
(“Remembering Theodor Herzl,” diametrically opposed to the idea of
April 22) upset me in a number of the United States. The United States
ways. Here is why: is a country where people can find
Schwartzwald seems to think that their homes, regardless of their race,
the existence of Israel is necessary ethnicity or religion. Israel wants to
because of anti-Semitism. For in- be the state of ethnic and religious
stance, there is a 17 percent-strong Jews, even if it reluctantly accepts
openly racist and anti-Semitic party the presence of others.
in Hungary. Yet there is no institu- If there is anything that we
tional anti-Semitism: Being Jewish should take away from the Holo-
does not disadvantage us in any way. caust, the defining experience of
Being a Roma would, so is there a my grandparents who survived it, it E R I K S T AY T O N A N D E VA N D O N A H U E

case for a Roma state? is that when we start differentiating

Even if anti-Semitism were threat- among people based on religion,
ening us, it would be immoral to race, ethnicity, sexuality and so e d i to r i a l
choose to live in Israel at the price of on, we get very, very bad results.
causing more suffering to Palestin-
ians. There are plenty of alternatives
The long history of anti-Semitism
and racism should teach us that we
Talking tenure
to Israel. If I really felt threatened should not commit crimes against On April 14, faculty members and administrators beginning, we argued that departments should take
in Eastern Europe, I could always Palestinians. gathered to discuss a set of proposed changes to the a more proactive role in soliciting student feedback.
choose to emigrate to countries like University’s policies governing tenure. At this meeting, Now, we want to offer another suggestion: Tenure
the United States or Germany. Imre Daniel Prinz ’13 four undergraduates were kicked out because they candidates should have to get letters of support from
Kertész, survivor of Auschwitz and April 24 attended without permission, The Herald reported. a handful of former students and advisees.
Buchenwald, who was awarded the It is unfortunate that these students did not have the The tenure review process already relies on input
opportunity to voice their concerns and learn more from many sources, and we see no reason to exclude
about the proposals under consideration. We too are students. Our suggestion would allow tenure candidates
worried that students’ interests are not being taken to demonstrate that they have made a positive impact on
t h e b r o w n d a i ly h e r a l d into account as the University updates its process for some students while avoiding the problems associated
granting tenure. with anonymous feedback forms. We imagine that in
Deputy Managing Editors Senior Editors
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor The recent meeting focused mainly on a report most cases, the student testimonials will be positive and
Chaz Kelsh Sophia Li Ellen Cushing
George Miller issued in March by the ad hoc Committee to Review serve to further document Brown’s excellence.
Emmy Liss Seth Motel
Joanna Wohlmuth Tenure and Faculty Development. The committee’s Of course, teaching is one of several criteria to be
editorial Business recommendations touched on many aspects of the considered. The professor’s research and scholarly
Anne Speyer Arts & Culture Editor General Managers Office Manager
Claire Kiely Shawn Reilly tenure review process, including the timeline and the work are of primary importance to a university that
Suzannah Weiss Arts & Culture Editor
Brian Mastroianni Features Editor Katie Koh roles of relevant administrative bodies. The report strives to be among the best in the world. Nonethe-
Hannah Moser Features Editor Directors also highlighted the importance of teaching as one less, some tenure candidates will have been at Brown
Brigitta Greene Metro Editor Kelly Wess Sales
Ben Schreckinger Metro Editor Matthew Burrows Finance of several criteria in determining a faculty member’s for as long as eight years. If a candidate cannot call on
Sydney Ember News Editor Margaret Watson Client Relations suitability for tenure. just a few former students for support, then it should
Nicole Friedman News Editor Christiana Stephenson Alumni Relations
Dan Alexander Sports Editor “As teachers, candidates should have a strong re- raise a red flag.
Zack Bahr Asst. Sports Editor Managers cord of effectiveness in the classroom and evidence of The committee clearly appreciates the notion of a
Andrew Braca Asst. Sports Editor Arjun Vaidya Local Sales commitment to mentoring students,” the committee “university-college” and the importance of preserving
Han Cui Asst. Sports Editor Marco deLeon National Sales
Aditi Bhatia University Sales wrote. We liked the committee’s vision of Brown as a faculty that is dedicated to undergraduate education.
Graphics & Photos Jared Davis University Sales a “university-college” that “prizes both graduate and Indeed, this ideal is central to Brown’s identity as an
Stephen Lichenstein Graphics Editor Trenten Nelson-Rivers Recruiter Sales
Alex Yuly Graphics Editor Maximilian Barrows Business Operations
undergraduate education and strives for excellence in institution. As the process moves forward, we just want
Nick Sinnott-Armstrong Photo Editor Jilyn Chao Business Analytics teaching as well as research.” to see a concrete improvement that codifies respect
Max Monn Asst. Photo Editor Danielle Marshak Credit and Collections
Yet, none of the committee’s specific proposals for students’ interests and input.
Jonathan Bateman Sports Photo Editor Alexander Carrere Special Projects
Kathy Bui Staff pertain directly to ensuring that newly tenured pro-
Production Opinions fessors are up to par as teachers and as advisers. Last Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial page board.
Kelly Mallahan Copy Desk Chief Michael Fitzpatrick Opinions Editor
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Neal Poole Web Editor Matt Aks Editorial Page Editor correction
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Melissa Shube Board member A column in Monday’s Herald (“White people have a tortured relationship with the Ivy League,” April 26) incor-
Post- magazine Gaurie Tilak Board member
Marshall Katheder Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Topaz Board member rectly stated that every Supreme Court justice except John Paul Stevens graduated from either Harvard or Yale
Law School. In fact, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg graduated from Columbia Law School, a fact stated elsewhere
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in the column. The same column also incorrectly stated that Judge Diane Wood graduated from the University
Ana Alvarez, Nicole Boucher, Sarah Forman, Ben Schreckinger, Night Editors of Chicago Law School. In fact, she graduated from the University of Texas School of Law.
Senior Staff Writers Ana Alvarez, Ashley Aydin, Alexander Bell, Nicole Boucher, Alicia Chen, Kristina Fazzalaro,
Sarah Forman, Talia Kagan, Sara Luxenberg, Sarah Mancone, Heeyoung Min, Claire Peracchio, Goda Thangada, Due to an editing error, a headline in Monday’s Herald (“Mock Trial team wins 11th nationally,” April 26) incor-
Caitlin Trujillo
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Opinions
The Brown Daily Herald

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 | Page 7

I am embarrassed
terly embarrassed: Is this all that the Brown your job to man the mic and direct questions. structures, both in breadth and depth, to offer
ANTHONY intellectual population can offer? Chomsky was left up at the podium, uncom- powerful evaluations of the way that power
The exchange, if it can be called that, was fortably and awkwardly, for nearly a minute operates.
BADAMI littered (pun intended) with uninformed, before anyone even got in line for questions. For our departing seniors, much from
Opinions Columnist vague and repetitive questions. Had no one How deflating. Chomsky can be applied here. As you escape
read a single work, article, book or interview And I will not go into the shameless bit the embrace of Brown, you will face, most
of Chomsky’s before the lecture? Do we re- of political self-promotion that occurred as likely for the first time, the need to provide
I first encountered the work of Noam Chom- ally need to be asking a commentator of his well — the crowd spoke for itself. Suffice for your own subsistence, your own survival.
sky, professor of linguistics at the Massachu- stature, “What can we as students do?” Must to say, it exemplified the general tone of the To gain income, to feed yourselves and your
setts Institute of Technology, as a wide-eyed this question be asked twice? night — do not criticize, do not inquire, try families, you will need to play an institutional
freshman in high school. My inchoate intel- Yet this is not the worst part. Not a single to protect your hide and let this batty old nut role, whether it be for a law firm, a financial
lectual views were just starting to take shape, Brown student asked a challenging, provoca- speak his deranged message. company, academia, a non-governmental or-
and I had developed a keen interest (nay, an tive or formidable question. Brown Students When Chomsky exits this earth, we will ganization, the government, etc.
obsession) with political philosophy and for- But you need not relent totally: Be aware
eign affairs. When reading the Economist or of the implications your institutional actions
skimming the pages of the New York Times, can have on the personal lives of real people.
I felt that I had my finger on the pulse, the As I sat through the question-and-answer period You may be able to justify your transgressions
pumping lifeblood, of global society. on the small scale, in the short run, but just
One banal day of literary perusing, I stum- of last week’s lecture, I was appalled, startled know that, once upon a time, you were a wide-
bled upon a copy of Manufacturing Consent in eyed freshman as well, and you too had ideals
the current events section of my local library.
and utterly embarrassed: Is this all that the and principles.
I had heard the name “Chomsky” somewhere Brown intellectual population can offer? I end, of course, with a quotation from
before but could not place it. After reading just Professor Chomsky:
a few pages, I was hooked. “To speak truth to power is not a particu-
My intellectual journey since has been larly honorable vocation … It is a waste of
tumultuous indeed. From Chomsky, I moved for Israel, are you asleep at the wheel? Did you certainly have a prolific collection of political, time and a pointless pursuit to speak truth
on to other thinkers, both public and academic. have a mandatory meeting running concur- social, economic and philosophical commen- to those who exercise power in coercive in-
But I always returned, especially when jaded, rently with the lecture? The man said that he tary left behind. But all of this is accessory. stitutions.”
to lap up what refreshment I could from his doesn’t believe Israel should exist. You should Chomsky often wrote on unfashionable top- Why? They already know the truth, as do
reviving commentary. be haranguing! ics, and much of his political writing will be you. Thus, I charge you always to question
I am sure that many in the Brown commu- I do not reserve my criticism solely for irrelevant centuries from now. However, what those who claim to know absolutely, whether
nity have a special place in their hearts and the questioners — I take serious issue with can endure, if we let it, is his spirit of tireless it be in a million-dollar board meeting or a
minds for Chomsky. There is no need for me Common Ground as well. Applause for secur- critique of power and privilege, which will college lecture hall.
to preach to the choir, to beat a dead horse, ing arguably the most important intellectual always exist. Au revoir, seniors. It’s been real.
to implement a hackneyed metaphor. Brown alive, but could you not give this deity a more I have myriad differences and disagree-
students get it. stimulating introduction? It was dry, colorless ments with Chomsky’s work, especially his
Or not. and minimal. Manichean treatment of foreign affairs and his Anthony Badami ’11 is a political theory
As I sat through the question and answer Furthermore, the question-and-answer unelaborated opinions on morality, which he concentrator from Kansas City, Mo. He
period of last week’s lecture (featuring you- session was sloppy and unorganized. Tip: seems to take for granted. But I still respect can be reached at anthony_badami@
know-who), I was appalled, startled and ut- When a speaker has finished speaking, it is his ability to transcend traditional academic brown.edu

The case for markets

17). Tableslips are a useful but flawed way them now. And of course the UFB would like spending decisions by weighing alternative
of advertising events on campus: they are to spend its money as wisely as possible for uses for each spent dollar.
Kshitij Lauria disproportionately useful to underclassmen, the benefit of all. Once we adjust the opportunity cost of
who often have no other good ways of find- In short, there are preferences and there tableslipping to more accurately reflect reality,
Opinions Columnist ing out; they are environmentally unfriendly are resources. Without knowing any more we have also partially shifted the burden of
and costlier than electronic alternatives; they about the situation, I can make two quick payment to where it more properly belongs.
require no action on the part of the advertisee, predictions: that the cost of tableslipping is Now the tableslip fund is no longer “free
In the last few weeks, the Brown community who literally sees them next to the napkins; likely too low, and that the people who benefit money”; instead, each student group spends
was faced with several issues that are con- and so on. from it aren’t the ones who are paying. Let’s in proportion to the benefit it perceives in
nected by a single thread, and barely a day Economics suggests that the best solution take these one by one. tableslipping. The other side of the equation
goes by when a glance through The Herald is usually not all or nothing — there is likely What does it mean for the cost of tableslip- is the student body that is being served by this
does not turn up something that economic a happy medium between the two extremes. ping to be “too low”? There is of course the whole business and that pays for the whole
thinking could greatly clarify. This alone does There are those that benefit from tableslips: actual monetary price. This gives us a great thing. While there are good arguments to
not surprise me, for, like the ancient Chinese be made for students not being the ultimate
game of Go, in economics one can find a meta- decision-makers for every dollar that is spent
phor for every aspect of life. And, quite like Go, Without knowing any more about the situation, on their behalf, we should have that power
even though the general problem of econom- where student groups are concerned. In a
ics remains unsolved, we have been able to
I can make two quick predictions: that the cost very egalitarian way, we can then vote with
develop strategies and techniques that offer of tableslipping is likely too low, and that the our pockets to encourage behavior we like,
insights in almost any given situation. and vice-versa. It also gives student groups
Put very simply, economics addresses the people who benefit from it aren’t the ones who valuable information: it tells them precisely
problem of the allocation of scarce resources. who wants them the most, and what they want
The beauty of economics lies in the fortunate
are paying. from them.
fact that we can draw substantial conclusions You have now seen in action yet another
even from abstract assumptions, which then underclassmen, asocial people, student groups tool for limiting tableslipping to desired levels meta-benefit of economic analysis: it is fair,
apply to a wide range of situations. Sometimes that target them, people who like making paper by charging for the privilege (analogous to presupposes nothing, and values no viewpoint
the assumptions capture most of the essential airplanes from tableslips, etc. There are oth- the tax on cigarettes). This policy tool is both over another. It allows us to turn unproductive
aspects of what we’re trying to study, and ers that derive no benefit from and may even simple and flexible: we can tweak things as discussion about morals into a productive
then we are in luck. But the usefulness of object to tableslips: upperclassmen, people the time and place demands. But my bigger one about preferences and resources. And
economics lies in the fortunate fact that we off meal plan, people concerned about the concern here is the cost of not using that although its conclusions are positive (“what
can be wiser by its application even when the environment (although worrying about ta- money elsewhere. Other uses could range is”), they are invaluable in making judgments
fit is not perfect. In today’s column, I discuss bleslips is a spectacularly inefficient use of from close substitutes — other forms of ad- that are normative (“what should be”).
perhaps the least controversial issue for which your time and energy), student groups that vertisement — to entirely different things,
economics has good answers. target them, etc. The same group of people like pizza for meetings. In the worst case, the
Consider tableslips. The Undergraduate may have different opinions at different times: opportunity cost is zero — that is, if there is
Finance Board recently voted to end funding a frat might not care about tableslips except special funding earmarked for this use only. Kshitij Lauria ’13 supports Doing Things
for tableslips in dining halls (“UFB will end when it throws a party; I won’t care about There is then no incentive to be prudent, and Right™.
funding for tableslips after break,” March them next semester, but I certainly support no way for a student group to make wiser
 Today 3 Bears and Big Green split doubleheader to day to m o r r o w

The Brown Daily Herald

4
Building med school will be community effort

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

54 / 36 53 / 38
Page 8

t h e n e w s i n i m ag e s comics

Cabernet Voltaire | Abe Pressman

1 Dot Comic | Eshan Mitra and Brendan Hainline

c a l e n da r
Today, April 27 tomorrow, April 28

4 P.M. — Douglas Blackmon — A 12 P.M. — Applying to Law School

Persistent Past: Grappling with out Infor mation Session, Career
Troubled Racial History in the Age of Development Center Library
Obama, Sayles Hall

7 P.M. — “Jihad for Love” Film and 9:30 P.M. — LGBTQ Grad/Undergrad
Discussion, List Art Building 120 Social, Graduate Center Lounge

Hippomaniac | Mat Becker

menu

Sharpe Refectory Verney-Woolley Dining Hall

Lunch — Green Chili Chicken Lunch — Shaved Steak Sandwich,

Enchiladas, Vegan Tacos, BBQ Chicken Bruschetta Mozzarella, Sunny
Pizza, Magic Bars Sprouts, Magic Bars

Dinner — Orange Turkey, Acorn Dinner — Pot Roast Jardiniere,

Squash with Curried Rice and Linguini with Tomato and Basil, Curry
Chickpeas, Au Gratin Potatoes Chicken Saute, Parsley Rice

Island Republic | Kevin Grubb

crossword

Classic How to Get Down | Nate Saunders

Never miss a day.

comics.browndailyherald.com