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By nora mCdonnell Contributing Writer
the Brown
Faculty Failed aid appeals mediator send students home position filled after two years
By david rosen Staff Writer
Herald
Since 1891
After sitting vacant since 2009 due to a hiring freeze, the faculty ombudsperson position has been filled, according to an email sent to the faculty Friday afternoon. Ruth Rosenberg, currently director of student mediation in the Office of Student Citizenship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will assume the role Feb. 22. The ombudsperson search committee selected Rosenberg from a pool of 65 applicants, many of whom were lawyers. A number of University-affiliated individuals also applied, said Harold Roth, chair of the search committee and professor of religious studies. But it was Rosenbergs vision for what the ombudsperson position should be, as well has her experience as a trained mediator that led to their hiring decision, Roth said. As the campus ombudsperson, Rosenberg will serve as a mediator for faculty and post doctorates. Often conflicts arise just because of lack of good communication, continued on page 2
Emily Eastlake never expected she would be forced to leave Brown. When Eastlake, a former member of the class of 2014, reapplied for financial aid after her first year, she completely expected (her scholarship amount) to stay the same or get better, she said. But when she received her aid offer from the Office of Financial Aid in July, Eastlake said she was surprised to discover her family would be required to contribute twice as much as they had the year before. Though her familys financial situation had not changed, she said her father filled out the application differently than in the previous year. Her father listed his military housing
income because of slightly different wording on the application. Eastlake filed an appeal to the financial aid office but was unsuccessful, and she was consequently unable to return to Brown. Eastlake is now enrolled in George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., near her home. Though she is not as enamored of George Mason as she was of Brown, she said there was such a loss of trust that she would not return. Roughly 12 percent of students appealed their aid offerings last year. This figure has been roughly constant over the last four years, according to Director of Financial Aid James Tilton. The financial aid office does not keep a record of the number continued on page 2
Donning shorts and rolling up pant legs, students played pick-up soccer on the Main Green in yesterday afternoons balmy 45-degree weather.
Ne WS IN BRIeF
ACLU seeks legal compensation in prayer banner case
After a judge ruled last week in favor of a Cranston High School West student who requested the removal of a prayer banner hanging in her school, her attorneys have asked the city to compensate her legal fees, a sum of $173,000. The case, which a federal court found violated the First Amendment earlier this month, was filed by attorneys Thomas Bender and Lynette Labinger on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union. The plaintiff was Jessica Ahlquist, a junior, who first spoke out against the 50-year-old banner last April. This should come as no surprise, Labinger said. The city was well aware that if they lost this case, they would be responsible for the plaintiffs fees, she said. Any court fees would be covered by the Cranston School Department, Cranston Mayor Allan Fung has said, according to WPRI. com. The plaintiffs right to be compensated has been protected by the Supreme Court on many occasions to encourage attorneys to take on cases related to constitutional rights and civil liberties, Labinger said. The city may attempt to negotiate the $173,000 price tag, but Labinger said it is unlikely the city will be able to refuse the request. Cranston city officials were not available for comment. The city still must decide whether to appeal the federal courts ruling. Kat thornton
In his annual State of the State address last night, Gov. Lincoln Chafee 76 P14 concentrated on the state budget and emphasized the importance of optimism in the face of Rhode Islands dire economic climate. Chafee began his address by urging leaders to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead this year challenges that include unemployment, failing municipal pension plans, education reforms and
painful cuts to the budget. Chafees speech verified reports that he would introduce new taxes and tax increases in conjunction with the $7.9 billion budget plan he released yesterday. Chafee presented the tax increases such as those on meals and beverages delicately, noting that the revenue collected from the increases would help finance additional education funding. Focusing heavily on education, the governor presented an additional $40 million appropriation to education funding for cities and
towns to bring people together to improve academic achievement. If we want our children to compete for jobs in the future, they must have good schools, Chafee said. Lets put our money where our mouth is. Chafee emphasized Rhode Islands wealth of assets, citing the Warren Alpert Medical School as a part of the states bright future, both educationally and economically. There are only seven Ivy League medical schools in the world and continued on page 4
There is something for everyone among the zips, bangs and kabooms of the Michael J. Ciaraldi Collection at the John Hay Library. The collection, started by Cornell alum Michael Ciaraldi, features about 60,000 comics, graphic novels and comic-related memorabilia and is as immersing as it is educational.
Feature
Ciaraldi, a professor of practice at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in computer science and robotics engineering, said he has enjoyed comics since he was in college. They combine a lot of the best elements of say, a book and a movie, because youve got the words and the pictures, but in nice bite-sized chunks. He donated the collection to
the University in 1996 and said he is especially pleased it is available for collective use. I didnt want to see it broken up and sold to individual collectors, he said. I wanted it to be a resource where people could come and read about comics, see how they portrayed American life, how they changed over the years and to have some fun reading them. The collection offers a wide variety of comic materials, including reissues of classic golden age comics, Japanese anime and a first printing of Art Spiegelmans P13 acclaimed graphic novel Maus. Ciaraldi guessed that his signed copy of the first issue of Cerebus the Aardvark is the rarest piece in his extensive collection. Its a way into American culture and society, said Rosemary Cullen, curator of American Literary and continued on page 4
A small sampling of the near 60,000 comics housed at the John Hay Library.
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2 Campus news
C ALeNDAR
TODAY 5:30 P.M. Creative Physicians Series, Pembroke Hall, Room 305 8 P.M. Chattertocks Spring Auditions, Barus and Holley, Room 153 7 P.M. Meet Olympian Ro McGettigan, Wilson Hall, Room 105 FEbRUARY 1 TOMORROW 11:30 A.M. Chinese New Year Luncheon, Faculty Club FEbRUARY 2 By adam asher Contributing Writer
MeNU
SHARPE REFECTORY Tacos, Mori Soba Noodles, Sticky Rice with edamame Beans, Vegetarian Chili and Cheese Soup VERNEY-WOOLLEY DINING HALL LUNCH Italian Meatballs, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Vegan Mushroom Barley Soup, Italian Marinated Chicken
DINNER Caste Hill Inn Pork Spare Ribs, Vegan Jamaican Jerk Tempeh, Wild and White Rice Pilaf Spinach Quiche, Lemon Rice, Mediterranean Shrimp Stir Fry, Rotisserie Style Chicken
SUDOkU
50 Blood Simple co-screenwriter Coen 52 Bay of Fundy wonder 54 Big name in video games 56 Bald spot filler 58 Backward flow 59 Bronze coin of old France 60 Bar bill
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02/01/12
Daily
the Brown
Herald
Danielle Marshak, Treasurer Siena DeLisser, Secretary
The Brown Daily Herald (USPS 067.740) is an independent newspaper serving the Brown University community daily since 1891. It is published Monday through Friday during the academic year, excluding vacations, once during Commencement and once during Orientation by The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. Single copy free for each member of the community. POSTMASTER please send corrections to P.O. Box 2538, Providence, RI 02906. Periodicals postage paid at Providence, R.I. Subscription prices: $280 one year daily, $140 one semester daily. Copyright 2011 by The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
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02/01/12
edItoRIAl
BuSIneSS
Campus news 3
Survey shows students support sustainability
By sarah shrader Contributing Writer
Higher ed Roundup
BY ALISON SILVeR SeNIOR STAFF WRITeR
On Feb. 1, 1986:
ed Sweet 87 and Joanne Lembert 88 staged a 12-hour sit-in at the Sharpe Refectory, for no other reason than to accomplish their goal of spending a whole day in the Ratty. They began their Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and stayed until the evening at the same table, playing Monopoly and watching wrestling and episodes of Scooby-Doo on their portable television. We did it just for fun, Sweet said. We dont have a protest, a cause or anything. Following the experience, Sweet told The Herald that he understood why students do not spend the entire day at the Ratty. He said her 12 hours there gave him a chance to observe students habits. People change their clothes, and people take showers between meals, he said. But students dining near Sweet and Lembert had mixed reactions to the sit-in. Whos doing the spectating us or them? said Pam Peters 88.
On Feb. 1, 1985:
Geologist kathryn Sullivan spoke to students about her experiences in space with NASA and the 132 orbit trips she had taken around the globe. Sullivan spent eight days in space in October 1984 on a space shuttle mission and came to Providence to work alongside the Universitys geology department in analyzing data collected during her trips. During the talk, Sullivan showed Hasselblad photographs of the earth from the Himalayas to the Mediterranean Sea taken from an orbit height of 218 miles. A photo from space of New england in the fall elicited a murmur of surprise from the crowd. According to Sullivan, New england appeared brown not green from space in the fall due to autumn foliage. I sometimes think we learn more about ourselves in orbit than we do about the earth, she said.
About 43.2 percent of students are aware of University sustainability efforts, according to the results of a survey conducted by Facilities Management at the end of last semester. The survey, which received 1,280 responses, also found that 80 percent of students believe climate change is one of the most important issues of their generation. The survey assessed awareness of initiatives approved by President Ruth Simmons in 2008. These include significantly cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, creating more energyefficient heating and lighting and ensuring all new buildings meet the silver standard of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. It also sought to analyze students attitudes toward sustainability and the environment. Facilities released the survey via Morning Mail last December. Respondents included both graduate and undergraduate students. The full survey results will be included in the Facilities Annual Report. According to the surveys results, 87 percent of students
believe their choices and behaviors can affect the environment. About 70.3 percent of respondents said they recycled whenever they could and 76.5 percent said they turned off lights whenever leaving a room. But the survey also found 48.2 percent of students said they leave dorm windows open in the winter, though 65.3 percent of them said they found their rooms comfortably heated. Since all dorm rooms are controlled by the same heating system, opening a window can cause the thermostat to overheat the entire building, said Kai Morrell 11, outreach coordinator for Facilities. Overheating can cause all students to open their windows, creating a major waste of energy. Morrell said students should instead call Facilities if they have concerns about dorm overheating. But according to the survey, only 32.6 percent of students think calling Facilities will solve dorm problems. Alex Eve 15 called the energy waste shocking. I find the dorm rooms to be too hot for comfort so I consistently keep the window open in the winter, he said. Eve suggested the University implement individual thermostats
in each dorm because students have no choice but to open their windows when the room is overheated. Diman House is currently testing room-specific thermostats, Morrell said. Facilities Office of Energy and Environmental Programs will compare heating use in Diman to that in other dorms, according to an article published in The Herald last November. The University has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 26.1 percent since Simmons approved the sustainability initiatives, according to the last Facilities report. A large portion of this came from switching from oil-based central heating to running on natural gas instead, Morrell said. Though this made a high impact in the beginning, the rate of progress has slowed since then. Facilities now intends to increase visibility and become more accessible to the student body for instance, by identifying and targeting student behavior choices that will really make a difference, Morrell said. Im comforted by the fact that Brown students think that climate change is a really important issue and feel empowered that their efforts matter, she said.
On Feb. 1, 1963:
During a talk in Manning Hall, Josef Smolik, associate professor of practical theology at the Comenius Faculty in Prague, called for a revival of Christian values in order to withstand the increasing influence of the industrial age on Christians. Smolik said the european church consisted of congregations that went through the rituals of participation but did not genuinely understand what it meant to be a Christian. Marxists believed the church would decline and eventually disappear, but with a return to focusing on the gospel, the Church would be able to provide answers to issues of the era, he said.
On Feb. 1, 1900:
The University bowling team lost to edgewood by only two pins in its last home game of the season. Despite a large group of fans present, Brown was unable to clinch the victory and scored 2,368 pins to edgewoods 2,370. edgewood had also triumphed in its last meeting with Brown, by a slight margin of seven pins. The Brown team had two matchups left for the season, though according to Herald coverage, it was no longer likely that the team would be able to end the season ranked second in the Inter-Club League following this loss to edgewood.
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4 Features
continued from page 1
Hay comic books showcase Chafee superheroes and spacesuits creates cabinet to attract jobs
Popular Culture collections at the Hay. Comics are a very quickly produced medium that reflects the preoccupations of its day, she said. His comic books have acquired academic prestige over the years, but Ciaraldi began collecting them for a different reason. In college, one of my fraternity brothers was collecting comics, and I started reading his. I just sort of got into it, Ciaraldi said. Eventually I was buying all the comics being published in the U.S. The mainstream Marvel and DC then some of the underground and a lot of the independent comics. These unusual independent comics, belonging to what Cullen calls the small press period in comics, emerged due to the unique nature of the comic medium. The content of comics is less constrained by budget than other media, which facilitates more creativity, he said. Comics can feature special effects like the destruction of the earth or characters with superpowers that would be costly if presented in television or film. From the point of the creators, that could be very freeing, Ciaraldi said. Ciaraldi decided to donate the collection when he realized he did not have enough time to keep up with his hobby. I used to be able to read them all and keep all the storylines straight in my head. So if someone asked me, When did Spiderman meet Dr. Doom? I would be able to tell them, Ciaraldi said. But some series, for example X-Men, began to release issues too frequently for him to keep up. It got really hard to follow what was happening, and you wondered how any one character ever managed to accomplish that much. They would never have time to sleep if they were having all those adventures, he said. Ciaraldi estimated that he was picking up 20 comics or more in a week.
off to college origins
continued from page 4 we have one of them, in a newly renovated and beautiful building in the Knowledge District, he said. In response to Rhode Islands current unemployment rate of 10.8 percent the highest in New England Chafee announced the creation of a Governors Jobs Cabinet to explore ways to make the state more attractive to new businesses and industries that will create jobs. Theres no reason for Rhode Island to be lagging behind its neighbors, he said. To have so many Rhode Islanders out of work is unacceptable, Chafee said. Everything good occurs when people are working. Chafee also addressed the municipal pension problem facing towns and cities in the state, imploring the General Assembly to empower these municipalities through legislation. Increased property taxes in towns and cities which have risen 16 percent over the past five years resulted from 17 percent cuts in state aid to cities over the same time period, Chafee said. He added that the pension situation in the state was a crisis, and he was met with raucous applause when he implored legislators to make this the year of our cities and towns. Chafee ended the address by asking legislators to work together, seek transparency and remain optimistic as Rhode Island leaves the winter of despair and heads into the spring of hope.
Chafee focused much of his speech on issues like education and the budget.
I had all these comics, you know? And what could I do with them? I didnt want to break up the set because I had the continuous run maybe 20 years or more of Superman or Spiderman, but also of the more obscure ones. The collection took about 10 years to catalog and arrived in about 250 cartons. It was in no order, said Cullen, who led the collections organizational efforts. The cartons said things like comics from back hall. As you unpack and sort these things you find your personal favorites, Cullen said. The one we just loved because its so cute is Time Beavers. They are all in space suits, even their tails! After his initial donation, Ciaraldi continued to send comics periodically even stopping by en route to his honeymoon in Narragansett Bay with a couple of boxes and has visited his collection a couple of times since. The day they went off it was kind of sad, Ciaraldi said. At first I thought it was kind of like giving my kids up for adoption. No, it was like sending them off to college the kind of place they will be happy. The collection has been put to good use in its new home. Rhode Island School of Design students working on the set design of a comic book-inspired spaceship used it as a reference, and other students have focused on the portrayal of women, minorities or technology in comics. Sometimes students will just come in for a little break from academic life, Cullen said. Comics went from being a lowregarded art form, hardly taken seriously at all and considered bad for children, to a very high art form seen in museums, said Paul Buhle, senior lecturer emeritus in American civilization, who used to involve the collection in his classes. Some people just want to come in and read their old favorites, Cullen said, stressing that she knew the collection well and was available for anyone who does not quite know what they wanted. Ciaraldi, who appreciates that comics are enjoyable to both the casual and the more invested reader, has his own recommendations for potential visitors. If you want ones where youll enjoy the artwork and theyll be poetic the Sandman stories, he suggested. If you want something like more real life, go with American Splendor. If you want the darker side of superheroes, try Watchmen, and if you want the fun side of superheroes, go for Spiderman, in the 60s. You wouldnt go wrong with those. If you want something really cosmic, go with the stuff Jack Kirby did, like the Fantastic Four issues 45-55. Thats a high point. I dont have all of those, but I have the reprints, he said. And the Galactus series? That just knocks your eyes out with energy and enthusiasm.
Comic one, comic all
roundup 5
Alums create gourmet ketchup brand
By Jenny Bloom blogDailyHeralD
Higher ed Roundup
BY ALISON SILVeR SeNIOR STAFF WRITeR
Scott Norton 08 and Mark Ramadan 08 did the unthinkable they challenged one of the largest monopolies in our society: ketchup. Like Kleenex and Band-Aids, Heinz is synonymous with the product itself. Rather than accept this fate and be subjected to a life of oneketchup consumption, these alums created an answer to the catsup establishment in the form of Sir Kensingtons Gourmet Scooping Ketchup. The brand has wit! Charm! Rebellion! Mustaches! How very Brown of them. We got in touch with Norton and Ramadan and asked them some of BlogDHs most pressing questions. Ketchup is one of the only food products that is served everywhere from McDonalds to the Four Seasons Hotel. What we noticed, with surprise, was that there is essentially no variety or choice in quality, texture or taste in the category. Across mustards, salsas, yogurts, olive oils, chips and countless others, there are seemingly endless varieties, but with ketchup this wasnt so. We were intrigued by this gap in the market and began investigating to see if we could deliver something compelling.
how did you come up with the idea for scooping ketchup? Why ketchup?
We naturally had a lot of fun with the project at the onset, which allowed some of our more absurd ideas to become fixtures of the brand. From a strategic perspective, we knew we would never get peoples attention unless we entertained them and encouraged curiosity about what was inside the jar.
are you planning on adding any other condiments to your line?
We very much enjoy the focus that were able to dedicate to ketchup, the king of condiments. That being said, there is definitely room for innovation in the space, but nothing is officially on the horizon. If and when there is a new product developed in the Kensington kitchen, there will no doubt be a tasting party back at Brown to receive feedback.
What is your favorite way to eat your ketchup?
Ramadan: Incubate your product or service before launching to the public. Thats what allowed us (to) refine the offering over time. Whether this means pursu(ing) the project part-time before diving in, or launching small before going big, just make sure to take your time. You cant make a second first impression. Norton: Start small and make prototypes as soon as possible. Focus on doing, not talking.
What was your favorite class at Brown?
Nearly all gourmet condiments (mustards, jams, etc.) are scooped one spoonful at a time, rather than squeezed en masse. Our goal is to bring this dearness to ketchup, both in the quality of ingredients, as well as the way its packaged and served.
you use a mustache as your icon and have a pretty eccentric website. how did you come up
We have just expanded our team with some very talented individuals, all who come from different parts of the food world, though we are looking for summer interns. If youre interested in disrupting one of the last American monopolies and getting some hands-on startup experience, email us: recruiting@ sirkensingtons.com.
the Forbes 30 under 30 Food & Wine category recently recognized you for this venture. how did that feel? did you throw or consume any food/ketchup in celebration?
Adjunct Lecturer in Engineering Danny Warshays ENGN1010: Entrepreneurial Process: Innovation in Practice and Professor of Economics Ivo Welchs ECON1720: Corporate Finance both reinforced how creative and technical thinking go so well together, and both taught me (Scott) not to be afraid of numbers. I (Mark) truly dont think Sir Kensingtons would have happened at a different school. Brown is an incredibly unique environment filled with curious, open and brilliant people. Never be afraid to make a connection in class and to pursue potentially crazy ideas you might not get the chance again.
anything else you want to tell us?
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Dreadful Cosmology | Oirad Macmit
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CORReC TION
An article in Mondays Herald (Chinese arts troupe impresses with 11-act performance, Jan. 30) incorrectly reported that the performers of the Zhejiang Wenqin Arts Troupe wore kimonos during their Jan. 28 performance. In fact, the traditional Chinese costume worn by members of the troupe is called a qipao. The Herald regrets the error.
CORReC TION
An article in Tuesdays Herald (Diversity board focuses on veteran enrollment, Jan. 31) incorrectly stated that a working subcommittee on veteran affairs will present the recommendations it develops to the Corporation, the Universitys highest governing body. In fact, the subcommittee will seek advice from the Diversity Advisory Board and the Office of Institutional Diversity on where to issue its findings. The Herald regrets the error.
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They would never have time to sleep if they were having all those adventures.
Michael Ciaraldi, donor of a comic collection at the Hay see ComiCS on page 1.
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opinions 7
The real cost of college
another $3,000 to $10,000 into his pot o gold. Apparently, in foreign countries, the organization is mistaken as part of the American government. Considering both the fact that our beloved Brown is now at spot number 15 and that strolling around campus, I am overwhelmed by a beautiful melange of languages, I began to wonder. Has Brown been swindled by this brand of trickery? Then I saw the figures. According to a 250-student survey conducted by Zinch China, the foreign branch seemed indicative of much foul play. I had to take a peek at where this information came from. This data would mean that international students at our school could have gained entry on false pretense, certainly a disturbing notion. Cheating is not compatible with the religious and moral traditions of the East. With so much emphasis on honor and hard work that students compromise sleep and social lives, one would think that wide-spread rule-bending would be condemned. I went to work. Now, I dont know whats more appalling scores of the students they produce. Some are even penalized for pupils they send overseas, which is seen as a national loss, so there is real incentive to keep students within the country. This leads to the withholding of transcripts and signatures from recommendations. Another tidbit that the journalist fails to include is that, in the report he cites, the head of Zinch China admitted that most parents consider 17-year-olds too irresponsible to coordinate their own affairs. Often only hired heads can access the email accounts used to communicate with schools and register for the Common Application. Many students arent even allowed to log in or view the materials. Parents tend to see this as a benefit, a buffer if their childs English skills are poor. The overbearing influence of parents and the fear of what will happen if their children do not succeed clearly facilitates the emotional exploitation of concerned parents for personal profit. The problem is one of ethics, but not on the students behalf, as the Global Post article insinuates. This kind of faux journalism serves to stir up prejudice and xenophobia in an already tense area of discussion. The facts have been obscured, and the real issue of application fraud has been used as a sensational base for publisher profit. So to Global Post, I say, shame lets aim our rhetoric at whats really to blame. Adam Bouche 14 is a geology and archaeology concentrator from Ipswich, Mass. He can be contacted at adam_bouche@ brown.edu.
BY ADAM BOUCHe
opinions Columnist
The other day I stumbled across an article on the news website Global Post that a friend of mine had shared on Ye Ol Book of Faces. The link read, Elite Asian students cheat like mad on U.S. college applications. Intrigued by this inflammatory and somewhat offensive headline, I had to click. Like anyone who has applied to college, my friend was peeved at what he perceived as unfair manipulation of one of our most frustrating, though unavoidable, systems. This story sounded like a firecracker. A hairpuller. A declaration of war. I read on. The story explains how, in an increasingly global and competitive world, the pressure on education-addicted Asian students encourages them to compromise their integrity in order to succeed. Though Eastern economies have begun to boom, United States colleges still manufacture the most coveted of scribble-laden certificates. A swelling trend among members of Asian high society is now to utilize college prep companies that offer falsified transcripts, essays pre-written in perfect English, invented awards and surrogate geniuses for standardized tests. However, paying ones way into college does not come cheap. Depending on how much finagling is required, the cost runs from $5,000 to $15,000. And, an agent who wins a students acceptance to a U.S. News and World Report top-ranked college slaps
This data would mean that international students at our school could have gained entry on false pretense, certainly a disturbing notion.
of an esteemed, California-based education consulting corporation, 90 percent of recommendation letters that are headed overseas are faked, 70 percent of essays arent written by applicants and half of all transcripts arent genuine. Also, the only student quoted in the article, a 17-year-old senior from Thailand exclaims, They can do everything for you. They can take the SAT for you, no problem. Most students dont really think its wrong. Confused? I was simply befuddled. First, I knew that 250 people is nothing compared to the 158,000 Chinese students enrolled in American colleges and that this data had to be skewed by sampling error. But it still that the world runs on money or that even a system designed to be incorruptible is not immune from the triumph of dollars over diligence. Or even worse, is it that, when one looks behind the scenes at foreign teens portrayed by media as cutthroat monsters, students arent even the source of this issue? The data tends to be factual within the limited confines of the articles research. However, when I looked into the paper from which most of the startling information was drawn, I found that these sensational statistics stem from a very different problem. The Global Post article fails to mention that Chinese teachers and high schools are almost always judged on the colleges and
While some students still voice concern about the Universitys standing towards masters students, significant improvements have been made over the past years.
and thus seems far off, masters students face a difficult job market. Particularly for students in the humanities, an M.A. degree does not always lead clearly to a next stage. For some it is a stepping stone to a PhD, while for others it is a conscious choice as the final terminal before entering the job market. For the latter group, it is particularly vexing that the Brown Student Job and Internship Board often focuses on either un-
specific needs of masters students. It is currently circulating a questionnaire about its performance with regard to masters students to catalog any particular issues they run into. Such initiatives are invaluable. On an organizational level, the Graduate Student Council at Brown is one of the only Ivy programs that has created a Masters Student Advocate though other schools are now also moving in this direction. Alissa Haddaji GS, current advocate
Suzanne enzerink GS is a masters student in American studies. The CareerLAB survey will be mailed out again. You can also email careerlab_graduatestudent@brown.edu for the link.
R.I. considers adopting Spring GISPs explore science, art and pirates DNA database for felons
A law that would require suspects arrested for certain felony crimes to submit their DNA to a nationwide database has been reintroduced into the Rhode Island General Assembly. The bills, sponsored by state Sen. David Bates, R-Barrington, and state Rep. Brian Kennedy, D-Hopkinton, are modifications of Katies Law, originally instituted in New Mexico. is a violation of privacy and civil rights. The DNA entered into the database has only 13 markers of the over 3 billion encoded in human DNA, and of those only the marker determining gender contains genetic information, Sepich said. The DNA is also not paired with names or social security numbers, she added. Each unique code is paired with an identification number, and the offenders name is revealed only after the DNA is matched. Having a DNA match does not automatically lead to a conviction, since the arrestees still have every right to a fair trial, Sepich said. Their rights are still intact. Conversely, a lack of a DNA match helps protect the innocent. DNA is truth. Its scientific truth, she added. It exonerates immediately. Much of the public opposition to Katies Law stems from a lack of understanding of DNA testing, Sepich said. But she is currently working to help dispel misconceptions, she said. Most lawmakers in Rhode Island are now less worried about the civil rights aspects of Katies Law, Bates said. It clearly comes down to cost, he said. Considering the current state of the economy, many lawmakers are hesitant to adopt expensive legislation no matter how they feel about it ideologically, Bates added. Bates and Sepich said the benefits of DNA collection and testing far outweigh its monetary costs, which might not be as high as some fear. The current annual cost of using a DNA database in New Mexico is barely greater than the taxpayer money spent on investigating Katies murder, Sepich said. The state also has the potential to receive money from the federal government to help offset the cost, Bates said. Both Bates and Sepich, who will be visiting Providence next week, said they are optimistic about the legislations prospects this time around. What do amplified cactus instruments, molecular gastronomy and pirate archaeology have in common? They are just some of the subjects being pursued this semester in Group Independent Study Projects, student-designed classes that in the past have included names like Illegal Art: The History, Culture and Practice of Graffiti and South Park, Mark Twain and Finding an American Culture. In GISPs, students have an increased responsibility for their own learning because they must craft their own syllabus in conjunction with advising from faculty sponsors, wrote Evan Schwartz 13, co-coordinator of independent studies and independent concentrations at the Curricular Resource Center, in an email to The Herald. Some students may use the program to network with professors, he added. Sixteen GISPs will be offered this semester, up from seven GISPs in the fall, according to Banner. The GISP offerings continue to demonstrate the variety of interests of the undergraduate student body. Ive been cactus shopping, announced Sarah Schade 15 at a recent class meeting for GISP0010: Science and Art: Seeking Consilience. Making an amplified cactus, a musical instrument constructed from the spiky plant, is just one of the ways in which the GISP addresses both theoretical and practical applications of science and art. Science and art are two sides of the same coin, two languages for the same phenomenon, said Vanessa Ryan, assistant professor of English and the faculty sponsor for the project. The GISP provides a forum for students many of whom are double concentrating in vastly different subjects to combine their disciplines and think about connections. Artists can help scientists frame questions in different ways, said Ian Gonsher, adjunct lecturer in engineering and former lecturer in visual arts, who may guest lecture for the GISP. Both the arts and sciences tell stories in some way.
a better platform for knowledge
Using science and art to build a better platform for knowledge is the main motivation behind the GISP, according to Schade, a student in the GISP. Schade will be leading the courses discussion on the third culture, a culture of scientists approaching their discipline through arts and humanities in order to enhance it. A potential visual arts and physics concentrator, she said she joined the project in order to discover new links between her two academic interests. Greg Sewitz 13, organizer of the GISP, said it was difficult to incorporate everything from music compositions to quantum mechanics into the syllabus. The group members worked together to decide on texts and materials. They also plan to explore food science by brewing their own beer and working with miracle berries later in the semester. Sewitz was studying abroad last semester, and he said working to create the GISP from overseas presented its own challenges. It took weeks to have one full exchange, Sewitz said. Still, he said he was impressed by the unpolitical and receptive nature of the professors and students with whom he worked. Students will come away feeling like they created something that allows them to pursue their own academic interests, he said.
excavating underwater?
It attracts a lot of members of ARRR!!! Nick Bartos 13 said, referring to the GISP0001: Underwater Archaeology and its appeal to members of Browns pirate a cappella group. The syllabus varies in scope between broad time periods and wide swaths of ocean, dealing with topics ranging from colonialism to piracy to modern day archaeology ethics. Ben Jones 13, who spearheaded the project, said he found a group of people who were interested through previous archaeology classes for his concentration and peers he knew who were scuba-certified. Christoph Bachhuber, postdoctoral fellow in archaeology and faculty sponsor to the class, became involved in the GISP because it related to his area of study. Last semester, Bachhuber taught a class about maritime archeaology
which focused specifically on the Mediterranean. The GISP will complement this course with different data sets and methodological foci, he said. In addition to the pirate singers and archaeology concentrators, many of the programs students took Bachhubers class last semester. Bachhuber said he derives a certain satisfaction from being a less formal guide and more of a mentor for this group of students, who will meet for the first time this week. Its the conversational guidance that I will really enjoy, he said, relating the structure of the GISP more to a forum than a formal lecture by an individual. Jones said he has already seen the rewards of the GISP program seeing what students can do mostly independently when theyre really passionate. He said he came up with the idea and syllabus for the GISP in collaboration with professors at University of Rhode Island, Texas A&M University and Florida State University who have taught similar classes. Bartos noted that the toughest part of organizing the GISP was striking the balance between areas of expertise and new areas of knowledge. The idea is to introduce yourself to new things, he said, and so it was necessary to search for new interests. There is also an interdisciplinary aspect to the GISP Bartos said the group hopes to collaborate with the history department and bring in guest lecturers. This GISP is just one aspect of a broader curricular interest in underwater archaeology for Bartos and Jones. Both took Bachhubers class, and both will participate in an excavation this summer in Turkey. Jones said the GISPs syllabus aims to cover the variety of time periods and regions a professional archaeologist may encounter. The skills they develop in the GISP are not just theoretical, but are in preparation for application to the real world. The GISP program has the potential to teach students how to teach themselves, become an expert in a topic and work in groups essential skills in all walks of life, Ryan said. It is a uniquely Brown institution, Bachhuber said.
r e a dy, s e t, g o c lu B !
Members of the Go Club met in J. Walter Wilson 401 Tuesday to play Go, one of the oldest strategy games in the world.