Daily Herald the Brown
vol. cxliv, no. 74 | Tuesday, September 29, 2009 | Serving the community daily since 1891
Peer tutoring program axed, cited as ineffective
By Lauren Fedor
Senior Staff Writer
The University-sponsored peer tutor-
ing program has been all but elimi-
nated this semester by administrators,
leaving students unable to access
one-on-one homework help from fel-
low undergraduates — and hundreds
of former tutors out of a job.
Dean of the College Katherine
Bergeron said Thursday that the
decision to eliminate the existing tu-
toring program came from concerns
about whether “the one-on-one tutor-
ing model worked in all cases.” She
said the change was not a result of
attempts to trim spending.
“This was not driven by (the) bud-
get,” she said. “It is about maximizing
resources.”
Bergeron said administrators
were also concerned about the lack of
oversight with the existing program,
under which tutors would track their
own hours. “Any program that is so
distributed like that is going to lack
accountability,” she said.
Bergeron said a smaller, more
focused program based on “facili-
Environmental series joins
humanities and science
By Sara Luxenberg
Contributing Writer
A year-long series integrating the
humanistic and scientific perspec-
tives of environmental problems
began last Wednesday with the
New England premiere of “Butte,
America,” a film chronicling the
history of a Montana mining town
with the same name.
The screening, which included
a discussion with the filmmakers,
marks the first of many events in
the interdepartmental film and
speaker series, “Nature and Leg-
acy: Humanists, Scientists and the
Environment.”
The Cogut Center for the Hu-
manities and other on-campus
bodies have sponsored this year’s
series to integrate several disci-
plines, draw a wide audience and
foster intellectual discussion about
the pressing environmental mat-
ters, said Cogut Center Director
Michael Steinberg, who is also a
professor of history.
“Nature and Legacy” is the
second series the Humanities/
Science project has offered. The
first, “Darwin’s Evolution,” hon-
ored the 150th anniversary of the
publication of Charles Darwin’s
“Origin of Species.”
In addition to the Cogut Cen-
ter, this year’s series is sponsored
inside
News.....1-4
Metro.....5
Editorial...6
Opinion....7
Today.......8
www.browndailyherald.com
Administrators have all but eliminated one-on-one peer tutoring this semester, citing myriad concerns.
tated study groups” would probably
be more effective at responding to
students’ needs. A new program will
feature peer “academic coaches” and
organized study groups for select
courses, she announced in an e-mail
by the Committee on Science and
Technology Studies, the Center for
Environmental Studies, the Envi-
ronmental Change Initiative, the
John Nicholas Brown Center and
the Urban Studies Program.
“We’re interested in how ques-
tions that are profoundly scientifi-
cally informed, like climate change
and changes in the natural world,
actually work or take shape in a
particular social context,” said
Anne Fausto-Sterling, chair of the
Faculty Committee on Science and
Technology Studies.
The “Butte, America” film
screening saw a turnout of about
70 people, according to Fausto-
Sterling. She said the documentary
was chosen for its integration of the
issues of “community development,
labor history and environmental
discussion.”
Steinberg said he considered
the film a “broad-minded way of
starting off the series.”
Upcoming events include an-
other film — “Blue Vinyl,” a docu-
mentary about America’s use of
plastics — and several panels,
each covering a topic within the
broader theme. This year’s pan-
els will differ from last year’s in
that fewer panel members will lead
the discussions to allow more time
continued on page 4
News, 3
two degrees or none?
The University considers
eliminating a rarely used
B.A./M.A. program
195 Angell Street, Providence, Rhode Island
Arts center
construction
on schedule
14 months remain
on $40m project
By Sydney Ember
Senior Staf f Writer
Construction on the $40 million
Perry and Marty Granoff Center
for the Creative Arts in the heart
of the campus is underway and
on schedule, setting the stage for
a cross-disciplinary hub that will
cater to the University’s various
art departments.
“Our goal from the outset
was to create an atmosphere
where the arts become a pres-
Sydney Ember / Herald ence on campus,” said Richard
Fishman, professor of visual art
and director of the Creative Arts
to students Monday afternoon. review important topics covered in Council at Brown. “We wanted
The study groups will consist class. something that would be central
of three to six students and will be Historically, the Curricular Re- to the campus on the Walk, close
led by a peer facilitator, according source Center — part of the Office to the Brown community.”
to Bergeron’s e-mail, and will meet Fishman said the
weekly throughout the semester to continued on page 2 35,000-square-foot center will
have “project studios,” large
spaces containing equipment
and technology for various art
disciplines. He said there were
three such spaces planned — a
2,400-square-foot space and two
900-square-foot spaces. The cen-
ter will also include support spac-
es such as a multimedia studio,
a recording studio, a robotics
studio, art galleries for student
showcases and a 200-seat recital
hall, he said.
Construction on the center is
set to finish in November 2010,
Michael Guglielmo, assistant di-
rector of project management
for the University, wrote in an
e-mail to The Herald, noting that
Kim Perley / Herald
The General Assembly will convene at the State House for a two-day classes will be offered in the new
session Oct. 28 after a more-than four month break. space starting the following Janu-
ary. “Construction is currently
Stage legislators will return on schedule,” he wrote.
Use of the building’s rooms
later this month to full plate will depend on proposals submit-
ted by faculty and students who
wish to gain access to the vari-
By Sydney Ember lawmakers to make indoor prostitu- ous available spaces. An execu-
Senior Staff Writer tion illegal and a drive to drop the last tive committee of the Creative
three words from the official state Arts Council — consisting of
By the time the Rhode Island General name — Rhode Island and Provi- the chairs and directors of each
Assembly returns to the State House dence Plantations. Lawmakers will art department and students
for a two-day session on Oct. 28, the also vote on a bill first proposed by selected by other students in
building’s halls will have Providence Mayor David the creative arts — will review
been empty for more than METRO Cicilline ’83 geared to- the proposals before granting
four months. And when ward levying a “student approval for the requests.
the legislature — which hastily left impact fee” on all out-of-state students Rhode Island School of De-
the Capitol June 26 — returns, it attending Rhode Island’s private col- sign students and faculty will also
will face a host of contentious bills leges and universities. The bill would have access to the space.
that have sat dormant during the require universities to pay $150 per The Creative Arts Council is
extended summer vacation. student per semester to the state in also providing grants to Brown
The divisive matters at stake if the an attempt to help alleviate Rhode faculty, Fishman said, to support
Assembly fulfills its promise to meet
continued on page 5 continued on page 3
late next month include a push by
Metro, 5 Editorial, 6 Opinions, 7
party’s over animal wrongs? religion redux
A local Republican leader Students should keep an Mike Johnson ’11 re-
quits over the behavior of open mind about animal opens the debate about
the national party rights activism spirituality on campus
herald@browndailyherald.com
Page 2
C ampus N EWS
One-on-one tutoring cut; effectiveness, accountability at issue
continued from page 1
of the Dean of the College — has pro-
vided students with one-on-one tutor-
ing for more than 200 courses, free of
charge. The new model — which will
also be free to students — will offer
facilitated study groups for a select
number of classes, Bergeron said.
So far, those include introductory
language courses in Arabic, Chinese,
French and Spanish, as well as chal-
lenging introductory courses in biol-
ogy, chemistry, mathematics, physics
and economics.
In her e-mail to students Monday,
Bergeron wrote that individual tutor-
ing will be available “by application on
a selective basis.”
She said administrators have al-
ready targeted courses in which tu-
tors have traditionally been in high
demand.
“Right now, we’re beginning
with setting up things for the heav-
ily impacted classes in the social
sciences and the physical sciences,”
she said.
Yolanda Rome, director of co-
curricular advising and tutoring pro-
grams, said Friday that some faculty
members have expressed concern
about eliminating one-on-one tutor-
ing entirely.
“We’re trying to be responsive
to what people have been saying,”
Rome said.
At the request of some profes-
sors, the select introductory classes
will be supported by study groups.
More classes may be added to the
list later.
Professor of Computer Science
Andy Van Dam is one instructor who
has expressed his concern about the
facilitated study group model.
Van Dam, who teaches CSCI 0150:
“Introduction to Object-Oriented Pro-
gramming and Computer Science,”
told The Herald Friday that the new
program — as currently outlined
— would not effectively support his
students.
“It will not be what I need in CS
15,” he said.
The University’s largest introduc-
tory computer science course, CSCI
0150 routinely enrolls more than 150
students, Van Dam said. He added
that though three head undergradu-
ate TAs and 16 others — paid by the
department — offer more than 60
hours of combined weekly support
to students, many still require one-
on-one tutoring.
“Most of the students have never
programmed,” he explained. “They
get through the course because they
have one-on-one help.”
From one to many
But Rome said the facilitated study
groups will educate students more
efficiently and effectively. “This is
more pedagogically sound,” she
said. “Research supports it.”
She said the study groups are
expected to begin meeting at some
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
“If we can save half a dozen kids, that’s money well spent.”
— Professor of Computer Science Andy Van Dam, on subsidizing tutors
point next month.
Rome — who assumed respon-
sibility for the University’s tutoring
program after Gretchen Peterson,
program coordinator of the Academic
Support Center, left to accept a posi-
tion at Boston University — added
that peer “academic coaches,” un-
like the limited study groups, will be
available to all students for help in
all courses.
But the coaches will not provide
support for specific course material.
Instead, they will offer individualized
suggestions on such topics as time
management, exam preparation and
note-taking, Rome said.
“We want to help students hone
their study habits,” she said.
Rome said that since the first
week of school, the University has
hired eight academic coaches and
nearly 50 study group facilitators —
all undergraduates. She said that amid
the hiring, members of the Office of
the Dean of the College and the Cur-
ricular Resource Center have been
meeting with faculty members and
students to discuss how to staff the
new program.
“We’ve been soliciting requests
from departments,” she said, adding,
“It’s a work in progress, but we know
that this is a better model.”
Professor of Chemistry David
Cane, who is teaching a section of
CHEM 0360: “Organic Chemistry,”
said he thought the facilitated study
groups were “very good ideas.”
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Group tutoring — at least
The University will sponsor “facilitated study groups” for
select classes, set to begin sometime next month.
Arabic 0100, Arabic 0300, Biology 0470, Chemistry 0330,
Chemistry 0360, Chinese 0100, Chinese 0300, Economics
0110, French 0100, French 0300, Hispanic Studies 0100,
Hispanic Studies 0300, Math 0090, Math 0100, Math 0170,
Math 0180, Physics 0030 and Physics 0050.
Source: Dean of the College
“I think organized group study is But this type of instruction would be
an extremely effective way of learn- ineffective in a facilitated study group,
ing,” he said. “If it’s properly man- he said.
aged, the student can become actively “The Socratic method doesn’t
engaged with the material.” work in a group,” he said.
Cane said he regularly encourages CSCI 0150 has not been included
students to get together in dorms or on the list of classes for which facili-
libraries to review material on their tated study groups will be offered.
own, adding that the additional facili- Van Dam said that though he had
tation of a trained group leader might spoken with members of the Office of
provide additional benefits. the Dean of the College to discuss his
Cane said the Department of concerns, he had already taken steps
Chemistry offers weekly problem to ensure that his students would have
sessions led by faculty members as support they need.
well as undergraduates hired by the “Tutoring, to me, is essential as
department. He said the chemistry the next step in case teaching assis-
department will continue to offer tant office hours aren’t sufficient,” he
those sessions in addition to any new explained. “I can’t afford to wait until
study groups that are set up. we get this sorted out.”
Van Dam — who has taught at He said he decided to hire former
Brown for over 40 years — said that TAs to begin tutoring current students
under the old tutoring program, he in the absence of University-paid tu-
only allowed former TAs to tutor tors. The students are currently work-
CSCI 0150 students. Former teach- ing as volunteers, but Van Dam said
ing assistants are familiar with the he was willing to pay them out of his
problems and challenges students own pocket if the University will not
face, he said. pay for them.
Van Dam said the introductory “I am so passionate about this
class relies on a “Socratic dialogue,” that I would subsidize it out of my
where students seeking help with own pocket,” he said. “If we can save
projects are often asked questions half a dozen kids, that’s money well
rather than simply given answers. spent.”
sudoku
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the Brown
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Tuesday, September 29, 2009
C ampus N EWS
Concurrent degree
program scrutinized
By Kevin Pratt
Staf f Writer
A rarely-used joint degree program
that lets undergraduate students
graduate with both a master’s
and a bachelor’s degree in four
years may soon face elimination,
according to administrators. Two
committees have recommended
the program be eliminated, but
the final say rests with the faculty,
which has not yet considered the
proposal.
The concurrent bachelor’s/
master’s program is still available
for students who are submitting
applications this year, and its
elimination would not necessar-
ily preclude current students from
participating.
Though the two committees ­—
the Graduate School Council and
the College Curriculum Council
— have both recommended the
program be eliminated, several
steps remain before the proposal
would come before the faculty for
an up-or-down vote.
“The process from this point
is to discuss the findings of the
two Councils with faculty in the
small number of departments that
have awarded these degrees in
the past decade,” wrote Dean of
the College Katherine Bergeron,
who chairs the CCC, in an e-mail
to The Herald. “That will happen
in the next month.”
The proposal will then be dis-
cussed by the Faculty Executive
Committee, Bergeron wrote, add-
ing that it is “possible” the faculty
could consider the measure “this
year.”
It is unclear whether current
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD Page 3
“It’s a unique place in the country.”
— Richard Fishman, director of the Creative Arts Council
students would still be permitted
to enroll in the program if it is
eliminated, according to Univer-
sity Registrar Michael Pesta. That
determination would be up to the
Committee on Academic Standing,
he said.
The four-year concurrent-de-
gree option has drawn only a lim-
ited number of students through-
out the years. The University also
offers a five-year program for stu-
dents to pursue both a bachelor’s
and a master’s, and there are no
plans to end that program, said Diane Mokoro / Herald
Stephen Lassonde, Deputy Dean The Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts will give Brown arts a “cross-disciplinary space.”
Creative arts center underway, so far on time
of the College.
“I don’t think there’s a good
reason for (keeping the program),”
Lassonde said. “To me, students continued from page 1 Granoff, for their continued fund- traordinary faculty, and give them
should be doing this in a five-year raising both for the creative arts a unique architectural environment
master’s.” course development and programs and for the University. designed for collaboration, experi-
“There have been years where that will optimize the new building The Granoffs are philanthropists mentation and excellence in all of
there’s been only one” graduating space. and national advocates for the cre- the arts.”
student who took advantage of the The center has been in the ative arts, Fishman said. They also The Center is designed by the
program, Pesta said. “We’ve had works for seven years, Fishman organized the Brown Hillel cam- architecture firm Diller, Scofidio
eight (students) two times, in 1994 said, though the building’s con- paign that led to the Glenn and and Renfro, the team behind the
and 2001, but on average it’s been struction only began last May after Darcy Weiner Center at Brown/ Institute of Contemporary Art in
two a year.” the University procured the neces- RISD Hillel — in 2004. Boston and the Lincoln Center’s
Under the program, students sary funding. The groundbreaking “The Creative Arts Center will Alice Tully Hall. They were selected
completing bachelor’s and master’s occurred soon after the Corpora- be phenomenal for Brown,” Gra- from a list of candidates because
degrees in four years can pursue tion approved naming the center noff said in a statement before the “they understood the program that
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in in honor of Corporation member groundbreaking ceremony in May. we wanted about a cross-disciplinary
two different departments. and former Brown trustee Martin “It will bring together the best and space,” Fishman said. “It’s a unique
Jeremy Goodman ’10 is taking Granoff P’93 and his wife, Perr y brightest students, taught by an ex- place in the country.”
courses to graduate with an M.A.
in philosophy in addition to his
B.A.
“I was considering the five-year
(master’s) program, but when I
found out about the four-year pro-
gram, that was a much better fit,”
Goodman said.
“It’s been nice for me, but if it
continued on page 4
Page 4
C ampus N EWS
B.A./Master’s option max be cut Panels bring together
continued from page 3
scientists, humanists
wasn’t there, I wouldn’t be heart-
broken,” he added.
Goodman said he would “prob-
ably not” be taking courses for his
master’s in philosophy if he could
not earn it in four years.
But he said the four-year mas-
ter’s may not be missed in his con-
centration.
“I don’t think it’s that much of
a loss for philosophy. Maybe it’s a
loss in other areas, where having a
master’s could help in other ways,”
he said.
Jared Lafer ’11, a Herald opin-
ions columnist who is also a B.A./
M.A. candidate in philosophy, said
the program has been valuable.
“I personally like the opportuni-
ty it presents,” Lafer said, “because
it allows me to pursue master’s
work as an undergrad.”
Despite the program’s uncer-
tain future, Lafer said he spoke to
Lassonde this semester and felt
assured that he would be able to
graduate with both degrees.
Professor of computer science
Tom Doeppner, who has advised
students on the concurrent B.A./
M.A. track, said the program is
“part of the Brown tradition.”
“It doesn’t have a whole lot
of students who are doing it,
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
but I’ve been here 30 years and
this program has been in place
(since) before then,” he said. “So
it’s been here a long time,” Doep-
pner said.
The program has been listed
among the University’s offering
since 1964, according to Pesta.
Despite its accelerated timeline,
Doeppner said the concurrently
earned master’s is not seen as any
different than the same as a mas-
ter’s earned in the postgraduate
years.
“The only difference is that you
use some courses to satisfy both
bachelor’s and master’s require-
ments,” he said.
continued from page 1
for audience participation, Fausto-
Sterling said.
Each panel will include three
members: a humanities scholar, a
scientist and someone to discuss rel-
evant policy questions. According to
Steinberg, the emergence of newer
fields of study in the humanities such
as “eco-criticism” and environmen-
tal history means that scholars will
bring a distinct perspective to the
discussions.
“On the issue of the environment,
the humanists obviously share ev-
eryone’s concerns,” he said, “but
the broader question is, how can
humanists have something to say to
the issue, in terms of possible policy
and analyzing the effect on people’s
lives?”
Leaders of the project have
struggled with event planning this
year due to the economic downturn.
To cut costs, “Nature and Legacy”
will not have the luxury of the print
advertisements that were used for
the Darwin series, Fausto-Sterling
said.
Though Steinberg said the or-
ganizers “were somewhat limited
by budget realities, just like anyone
else,” monetary concerns did not af-
fect the strength of the program.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Future panels will include “Cli-
mate Change” (Nov. 5) and “Toxicity”
(March 18). Steinberg said readers
should expect to see another panel,
entitled “The Return of Nature,”
which will discuss the implications
of taking nature for granted.
In addition to variety in the
panelists’ academic backgrounds,
Steinberg said he hopes the series
will attract a wide range of audience
perspectives. Last year, the Darwin
events drew participation from the
University as well as the greater
community, including local high
schools.
Steinberg said he expects the
same kind of participation this year
and emphasized the importance of
a rich discussion. Because of the
broad range of perspectives in the
audience and among the panelists,
“there should be something fresh
and, to a great extent, unpredictable,
about what happens at these events,”
he said.
Fausto-Sterling echoed Stein-
berg’s enthusiasm. “We’re very ex-
cited by it,” she said of “Nature and
Legacy.” “I think it’s going to be very
interesting … these are pressing sci-
entific/social issues that are in our
lives and we are happy to be able to
have a public investigation of them
and conversation about them.”
Metro
The Brown Daily Herald
“The Republican party needs to reevaluate itself.”
— Former state Republican leader Ivan Marte

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 | Page 5

metro in brief
‘Disenchanted,’ state rep. leaves G.O.P.
Grant helps R.I. pre-schoolers
By Alexandra Ulmer been a member of the G.O.P. for Amy Kempe, a spokesperson for
The Providence economy may be sputtering, but the city’s Senior Staff Writer over 20 years. Carcieri, declined to comment on
students are getting an educational boost. “I have been disenchanted for Marte’s resignation.
Ready to Learn Providence, a nonprofit made up of, among The chairman of the Rhode Island a while,” he said. “The Republican A 2008 executive order signed by
others, parents and teachers who seek to prepare young students Republican Hispanic Assembly, Ivan Party needs to reevaluate itself,” Carcieri aimed to prevent undocu-
for school, has won a $3.9 million grant from the U.S. Depart- Marte, has resigned from his posi- he added, describing the party as mented immigrants from working in
ment of Education, according to a press release from the office tion and left the G.O.P. following unchanged since the 1880s. Rhode Island and causing an undue
of Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I. a Republican Congressman’s out- But participation is crucial in burden on the state. Additionally, the
The Early Reading First grant, which will aid five programs burst during an address by President changing a political party, said Gio- order permits Rhode Island state
in Providence, Pawtucket and Central Falls, is designed to help Obama. vanni Cicione, the state Republican police officers, after training, to un-
early-childcare programs nationwide develop ways to prepare Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., shouted, chairman. “We welcome dissent; we dertake the same actions as Federal
preschoolers for kindergarten. Over a three-year period, teachers “You lie!” during Obama’s speech don’t demand 100 percent (adher- Immigration and Customs Enforce-
will receive training and mentoring, and the centers will receive to Congress about health care ence). Our 80 percent friend is not ment agents, including raids.
books and other materials. earlier this month, when Obama a 20 percent enemy.” Prior to the crackdown, the gov-
The organization is one of only 28 nonprofits and school dis- said health care reform would not Describing himself as “surprised” ernor had asked Marte to prepare a
tricts to receive the grants, which drew over 450 applicantions. benefit undocumented immigrants. and “disappointed” by the resigna- report on how to best approach the
“Ready to Learn Providence should be commended for their The moment became a flashpoint for tion, Cicione said he would be open Hispanic community, Marte said.
tremendous effort in securing this Early Reading First grant, which partisan rancor, with most Demo- to Marte’s return to the party. “He’s None of his recommendations were
reflects the high priority this Congress has placed on ensuring crats condemning Wilson and many a good Republican,” Cicione said. subsequently enacted, he said.
that all children have the preparation and skills they need on their Republicans defending him. But the exclusion of minorities — “The governor gets advice from
very first day of school,” Langevin said in the release. “Reaching Marte told The Herald his in- on both a national and local level — a lot of people,” Cicione said, adding
children as early as possible and engaging them in reading is creasing resentment towards the that Marte saw became too much for that he commends the governor’s
key to making them life long learners.” Republican party was the underly- him, he said. He expressed severe immigration policy.
— Sydney Ember ing reason for his resignation. “I disappointment with Gov. Donald Since he quit, Marte’s inbox has
thought that was very uncivilized Carcieri’s ’65 lack of outreach to been “bombarded” by more than 400

R.I. legislators gear up

on his part,” Marte said of Wilson’s the Hispanic community in Rhode messages of support, primarily from
outburst. “I felt ashamed to belong Island and a recent crackdown on Hispanics, he said. “People are giv-
to the same party.” undocumented immigrants by the ing me a lot of support for standing

for busy session Marte emigrated from the Do-

minican Republic at age 16 and has
state government under Carcieri’s
administration.
up against this kind of misbehavior,”
he said.

continued from page 1 plans, according to the Journal.

Island’s budget deficit.
According to an article in Mon-
day’s Providence Journal, Rhode
Island’s part-time legislators — who
receive an annual salary of about
$14,000 — usually meet three days
a week between the first Tuesday in
January and the end of June. Dur-
ing years with particularly press-
ing concerns, lawmakers usually
return in July to settle unresolved
matters.
But this year despite promises
to return to the Capitol, the Gen-
eral Assembly took a prolonged
vacation, citing an inability to find
a convenient time that satisfied law-
makers’ various summer vacation
During their last session, both
the House of Representatives and
the Senate passed bills to close a
loophole that has allowed indoor
prostitution to persist in the nation’s
smallest state. But they will have to
merge the individual bills — which
differ in the specified types of pun-
ishments allowed for customers
and prostitutes — before a copy
can reach the desk of Gov. Donald
Carcieri ’65.
The House and Senate also
passed identical bills eliminating
the last three words of the state’s
official title. If each house passes
the final version of the bill, state
residents will vote on the issue in a
November 2010 referendum.
Editorial & Letters
The Brown Daily Herald

Page 6 | Tuesday, September 29, 2009

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

Column misstated Unitarian

Universalist theology and membership
To the Editor:
I’m writing to respond to Michael
Fitzpatrick’s ’12 column (“The secret
life of atheists at Brown,” Sept. 24).
As the facilitator for the Brown Uni-
versity Unitarian Universalist Group
(BUUUG), I am pleased that our
group was included in his article. Our
members see this as an opportunity
to rectify some misconceptions about
our group, and about Unitarian Uni-
versalism as a whole.
On one point he is absolutely
correct: BUUUG (which has no “un-
dergraduate” U in it; we welcome
graduate students too) is completely
accepting of students identifying with
Christian beliefs. However, his article
implied that the groups available to
Christians were those groups “target-
ed specifically at Christian students to
promote solidarity and celebrate their
religious views.” While BUUUG opens
lives. We are united by common values
as opposed to a creed or dogma, and
while our values are common to many
world religions, we agree to celebrate
and practice them from all different
origins of belief. We commonly call
our faith a “living tradition,” mean-
ing it has evolved through history
and will continue to achieve more
inclusivity and diversity of thought.
In other words, as many Unitarian
Universalists say, you don’t have to
believe alike to love alike.
Historically, both Unitarianism and
Universalism grew out of the Protes-
tant Reformation, beginning as two
religions contemplating and debat-
ing Christian ideas. The merging of
the two groups to create Unitarian
Universalism has broadened the base
of religious thought from which we franny choi
draw — you will rarely find two Uni-
tarian Universalists who completely
agree on theological grounds. In our e d i to r i a l

Animal wrongs?
its doors gladly to students identifying group at Brown, we have members
with Christianity, we are not a group who identify with Christian, Hindu,
targeted specifically at Christians. humanist, Jewish, earth-based, athe-
Rather, we are a group targeted at ist, agnostic and many other types of Anyone who walks by the Main Green this week ties in human history are morally indistinguishable
Unitarian Universalists and those in- religious and non-religious thought. during the day is likely to be confronted by a slew from killing a cow to make a beef Carberry.
terested in Unitarian Universalism. Our minister in Providence is also a of blown-up photographs depicting the graphic On the other hand, BARC and PETA rightly note
Fortunately, this misconception Zen Buddhist master. While our back- details of violence done to animals. These images that the conditions in which animals in factory farms
provides the group a welcomed op- grounds are diverse and transcendent, are juxtaposed with shots of similar types of harm or in many laboratories are kept are appalling. You
portunity to clarify our religious tradi- we remain one people committed to being done to people in the context of famous his- don’t have to think animals are anything close to our
tion to the Brown community. While a set of inclusive and love-centered torical injustices like the American slave trade. moral equals to believe we ought to reform these
Unitarian Universalism has deep roots principles. Having to walk by such pictures certainly doesn’t practices. Animal rights groups perform a valuable
in Judeo-Christian theological history, make for a fun trip home from class. But does it service by highlighting the worst abuses.
we are not a sect of Christianity. Our Chelsea Waite ’11 serve a purpose? The BARC/PETA display toes the line between
faith draws on a diversity of religious Brown University Unitarian We think it’s still too soon to tell. But early reports making a counterproductive equation and providing
sources, encouraging an individual Universalist Group Facilitator from the exhibit’s first day suggest that the Brown valuable information. Fortunately, the staff at the
search for truth and meaning in our Sept. 28 Animal Rights Club and their partners from People display were willing to acknowledge this tension and
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are doing a address concerned passers-by accordingly.
surprisingly good job pulling off an exhibit that BARC and PETA members went to great pains
t h e b r o w n d a i ly h e r a l d
borders on tastelessness. to explain that their intent was raising questions
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editors Deputy Managing Editors Senior Editors
The dangers of photo displays like this are well- about our use of animals rather than establishing
Steve DeLucia Michael Bechek Nandini Jayakrishna Rachel Arndt
Chaz Firestone Franklin Kanin Isabel Gottlieb known. PETA’s 2003 display “Holocaust on Your moral equivalence. The polite and intellectual man-
Michael Skocpol Scott Lowenstein Plate,” which placed pictures taken in death camps ner in which they addressed even hard questions
editorial Business next to those from factory farms, provoked a furious demonstrated that the exhibit, rather than being
Ben Hyman Arts & Culture Editor General Managers Office Manager
Rosalind Schonwald Arts & Culture Editor Alexander Hughes Shawn Reilly reaction from Jewish groups and Holocaust survi- an exercise in sloppy moralizing, was intended as
Sophia Li Features Editor Jonathan Spector vors. A similar poster put up in Berlin, emblazoned a serious reflection on animals in modern society,
George Miller Metro Editor
Joanna Wohlmuth Metro Editor
with the caption “To Animals, All People are Nazis,” a point underscored by the arguments made on the
Directors
Seth Motel News Editor Ellen DaSilva Sales was ruled “an offense against human dignity” by a billboards accompanying the photographs.
Jenna Stark News Editor Claire Kiely Sales German court in March. So, Brown students, keep an open mind. The
Andrew Braca Sports Editor Katie Koh Finance
Han Cui Asst. Sports Editor Jilyn Chao Asst. Finance At first glance, the Main Green display appears display may be shocking, but the care its creators put
Alex Mazerov Asst. Sports Editor Christiana Stephenson Alumni Relations to have similar problems. It’s only natural to think into it turns what could be offensive into something
Katie Wood Asst. Sports Editor
that side-by-side pictures of a cow and a slave be- potentially of great value. A short stop at the conver-
Graphics & Photos Managers ing branded equate the two practices. Many people sation booth might be well worth your time.
Chris Jesu Lee Graphics Editor Kelly Wess Local Sales
Stephen Lichenstein Graphics Editor Kathy Bui National Sales
would with good reason be repulsed, or at least
Eunice Hong Photo Editor Alex Carrere University Sales turned against PETA’s cause, if they believed the Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial page board.
Kim Perley Photo Editor Matt Burrows Credit and Collections display was making the point that the worst atroci- Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.
Jesse Morgan Sports Photo Editor
production Opinions
Ayelet Brinn Copy Desk Chief Alyssa Ratledge Opinions Editor correction
Rachel Isaacs Copy Desk Chief Sarah Rosenthal Opinions Editor
Marlee Bruning Design Editor An article in Monday’s paper (“Liberian VP offers hopeful view for troubled nation,” Sept. 28) incorrectly noted
Jessica Calihan Design Editor Editorial Page Board that Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation report was established after similar commissions in South Africa and
Anna Migliaccio Asst. Design Editor James Shapiro Editorial Page Editor
Julien Ouellet Asst. Design Editor Matt Aks Board member
Rwanda. In fact, Rwanda has not established such a commission.
Neal Poole Web Editor Nick Bakshi Board member
Post- magazine Zack Beauchamp Board member
Arthur Matuszewski Editor-in-Chief
Debbie Lehmann Board member c l a r i f i c at i o n
Kelly McKowen William Martin Board member
Editor-in-Chief
Jessie Calihan, Gili Kliger, Designers An article in the Sept. 17 paper (“Rail service extended to Warwick airport”) stated that a car rental facility that
Ayelet Brinn, Rachel Isaacs, Sarah Luxenburg, Jordan Mainzer, Copy Editors
is a part of the Warwick Intermodal Facility helps T.F. Green Airport’s marketing efforts to airlines, according to
Patti Goldstein, vice president of public affairs and air service marketing at T.F. Green. In fact, the entire trans-
Ellen Cushing, Sydney Ember, Sarah Husk, Anne Speyer, Night Editors
portation hub, which also includes a train station and car parking, assists with the airport’s marketing strategy.
Senior Staff Writers Dan Alexander, Mitra Anoushiravani, Ellen Cushing, Sydney Ember,
Lauren Fedor, Nicole Friedman, Brigitta Greene, Sarah Husk, Brian Mastroianni, Hannah
Moser, Ben Schreckinger, Anne Simons, Anne Speyer, Sara Sunshine, Alex Ulmer, Suzannah
C O R R E C T I O N S P olicy
Weiss, Kyla Wilkes
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Opinions
The Brown Daily Herald
The two-thousand-year (approximately) debate
BY MIKE JOHNSON
Opinions Columnist
Barbs about religion seem to be flying on
Brown’s campus. I’d like to overburden the
Herald reader even more by lending my thirty
pieces of silver to the debate.
Religion at Brown is a much touchier sub-
ject than it should be. Brown’s own history
with the topic is embedded in its architecture,
where we are presented with “In Deo Spera-
mus,” or “In God We Hope.”
This is similar, but strikingly different, from
our nation’s motto of “In Deo Confidimus,” or
“In God We Trust.” Brown, then, isn’t plac-
ing trust in God, it’s merely hoping that God
will lend a hand now and then. Implicitly, our
University is allowing us to choose our own
destiny and take hold of our future.
That essential fact lies at the heart of every-
thing Brown University stands for: choice. We
can choose to take whatever classes we like
for the duration of our time here. We aren’t re-
stricted by core requirements or over-rigorous
concentration requirements (except possibly
Engineering concentrators. Sorry). Similarly,
we are allowed to choose to flaunt our religion,
as some do, or keep it to ourselves, as most do.
However, I’m still stymied by the fact that the
mere mention of God throws everyone into a
tailspin over religion.
We’ve seen columns in this section by a
Catholic, Kate Fritzsche ’10 (“The secret life
Providence’s unwanted students
BY FATIMA AQEEL
Opinions Columnist
I’m not sure what Mayor David Cicilline’s ’83
experiences were like here on College Hill.  But
I can’t help but wonder where he’s getting his
ideas regarding student contributions to the
city. Did he feel that Brown students were just
a bunch of rich kids who were unconcerned
about the rest of the Providence when he was
around? Were they just a bunch of moochers
who took what they got from their community
for granted, and gave little in return?
Along with proposing a plan to tax hospi-
tals (I’m guessing his experience with those
hasn’t been that great either), Cicilline is a
proponent of a “student tax,” which would
place a hefty $150-per-student, per-semester
charge on all of Providence’s private colleges.
Much heated discussion has followed the
latter proposition in forums ranging as far
and wide as the Senate, newspapers and even
Facebook groups.
Proponents of the tax argue that it is high
time that students pay up for the large share of
the city’s services that they consume, such as,
umm … the fire department (always there to
rescue us from the scourge of burnt popcorn),
and that they should contribute to the city in
its time of dire financial need.   on campus. You might be part of student pro-
But there’s another way to think about it.
If you, as a student, start getting charged for
any negative externalities you might impose
Got something to say? Leave a comment online!
Visit www.browndailyherald.com to comment on opinion and editorial content.
of Catholics at Brown,” Sept. 17), speaking out
about the oppression she feels at the hands of
atheists at Brown, and by an atheist, Michael
Fitzpatrick ’12 (“The secret life of atheists at
Brown,” Sept. 24), who reinforced Fritzsche’s
point by mocking her complaint.
I’d like to rebut both of those columns
here. First, to feel singled out because of the
pretentious behavior of others is not new. I
think we can all agree that those who flaunt
It’s possible to believe in the power of the human
spirit, in the triumph of good over evil and in the
simple practice of charity without subscribing to
a host of religious tenets and doctrines.
their rejection of religion are just as annoying
as those who flaunt their religion.
Second, to blast someone’s understandable
concern over their religious freedoms only
contributes to a culture of intolerance and
disrespect, however tongue-in-cheek such
remarks may have been.
In the midst of all this, two men (perhaps
smelling religion in the water) stopped me
at the Gate and asked me for a minute of my
time to talk about religion. One thing they
asked was what word I would use to describe
on the community, then technically, shouldn’t
you get paid for any positive externalities you
contribute to the city too, or for any services
you provide (in the non-prostitution way)?
Heck, if that started happening, I’d quit my
job right now!  immigrants to the resources they need. I was
Let’s take, as a case in point, examples
of what the positive externalities of Brown
students are on Providence.
I am part of a program called University
Community Academic Advising Program that
is specially designed to provide students with
opportunities to get to know Providence bet-
ter and to engage in community service here.
For example, students from this program take
Is what students have to offer
Providence defined only in terms of money?
part in efforts to teach English or math at high
schools after school hours, and to help take
care of the mentally disabled. They take time
out for the city from their own school work on
a completely unconditional basis.   In the real world, Brown students’ Ivy
This pattern of service is obviously not just
restricted to UCAAP.
You might be a tutor at a school or a
member of an environmental organization
grams such as Brown Refugee Youth Tutoring
and Enrichment, which helps the numerous
refugee families in Providence, or of Project
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 | Page 7
Christians. They offered starting-point sug-
gestions: “hypocritical,” “extremist” and “con-
servative.”
It was odd to me that a negative connota-
tion of Christianity could have pervaded so
deeply into our consciousness that it becomes
inconceivable to think of the religion as any-
thing else. They continued to ask what I felt
the role of religion was at Brown. Before this
week, I wouldn’t have known what to say. Now,
I replied that it was unfortunately the source
of division and intolerance.
There is a religion that preaches kindness
to others. It teaches that we should provide
for those less fortunate than ourselves. Its
pillars are love, peace and equality across race
and gender. As a religion, it espouses belief in
something greater than the individual, some
guiding power that energizes the human spirit.
This enables us to achieve great works of art
and to discover the wonders of the universe
through empirical observation. It prescribes
Health, which also works with immigrant
communities.
I went to a Project Health meeting recently
and listened to the students speak earnestly
about their success stories in trying to link
taken aback by how passionate the volunteers
were, even though they weren’t being paid a
dime for their efforts.  the community” (“An unfair burden,” Sept. 7).
Maybe it’s time they started seeing some
cash money for all the hard work they do.
Moreover, our positive externalities do
not end merely with community service. The
universities are banks of knowledge which
will help the country in future. The United
States is an increasingly knowledge-based
economy, and with this reality in mind, it might
not be wise for Providence to appear hostile
to universities.
League education and the skills they’ve ac-
quired in college will fetch them high sala-
ries. Obviously, they would never consider
demanding compensation from the city be-
cause contributing their time is part of being
good citizens. And as good citizens, they want
to use what they have to make people’s lives
better.
spreading this belief to all people of the earth,
so that all may enjoy its teachings and the
warm fuzzy feeling it provides.
If this sounds familiar, that’s because it’s
a general description of every religion, ever.
Whether one is black, white, purple or razzle-
dazzle rose, from San Diego or Togo, every
person is instilled with a sense of community
with others and a belief that the human race
can accomplish something to make our limited
time on this planet worthwhile.
God need not have anything to do with
it; there is a difference between religion and
faith. It’s possible to believe in the power of the
human spirit, in the triumph of good over evil
and in the simple practice of charity without
subscribing to a host of religious tenets or
doctrines.
In this definition, God has nothing to do
with spirituality or faith. A belief or disbelief in
God doesn’t make someone “right” or “wrong,”
nor does either give anyone the privilege to
rudely spout his or her ideology and mock
those who disagree.
It’s not a question of who is made to feel
more unwelcome on campus, nor is it a ques-
tion of which group has the most student
organizations to join. Spirituality and faith
take place in the human mind. We each have
just one of those, and we all have the right to
feel secure inside of it.
Mike Johnson ’11 wishes we could all
just get along.
As this student tax is discussed in the Sen-
ate, however, they are forced to wonder: is
what they have to offer Providence only in
terms of money? Do students’ efforts for the
community not account for anything? 
Jake Heimark ’10 writes, concerning the
tax, “It alienates students, faculty and staff, and
discourages us from getting more involved in
Students are being made to feel unwanted, and
we have started to feel undervalued because
our efforts are going unrecognized.  
What may happen in the future is that many
bright students from other states or abroad,
students who are genuinely interested in mak-
ing their community better and who would
benefit the country’s knowledge bank, will
not apply to the colleges here because it is
too expensive to live in Providence. 
Governor Donald Carcieri ’65 understands
what the impact of the fee on these students
will be. The Providence Journal cites him as
having said, “The cost of higher education is
already out of reach for many families and
assessing them a $300 yearly fee only exac-
erbates the burden.”
In the end, therefore, if this tax succeeds
in being passed, it will not just be students,
but Providence itself, that will suffer.  
Fatima Aqeel ‘12 is an economics
concentrator from Karachi, Pakistan. She
can be reached at
fatima_aqeel@brown.edu
 Today 5
to day to m o r r o w
Legislator says farewell to G.O.P.
The Brown Daily Herald

One more against the ‘student tax’

7
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
70 / 51 66 / 44
Page 8

walk on the creative side comics

Cabernet Voltaire | Abe Pressman

1 Dot Comic | Eshan Mitra and Brendan Hainline

c a l e n da r
Tuesday, september 29 Wednesday, september 30

11 am — Study Abroad Fair, 12 PM — Fall Career Fair,

Lincoln Field Sayles Hall

7 pm — Guatemala Film Series: 5:30 Pm — Providence Latin Ameri-

“Sipakapa Is Not For Sale,” Joukowsky can Film Festival: “Mañana,”
Forum 17 Canal Street

Hippomaniac | Mat Becker

menu
Sharpe Refectory Verney-Woolley Dining Hall

Lunch — Tempeh Fajitas with Pico de Lunch — Shaved Steak Sandwich

Gallo, Red Rice, Linguica Sandwich
Dinner — Orange Turkey, Acorn
Squash with Curried Rice and Chick-
peas, Au Gratin Potatoes with Fresh
Herbs
RELEASE DATE– Tuesday, September 29, 2009
with Mushrooms, Roasted Eggplant &
Tomato Sandwich, Sunny Sprouts
Dinner — Pot Roast Jardiniere, Oven
Browned Potatoes, Vegan Rice and
Beans, Chocolate Marshmallow Cake

Los Angeles Times

c r o sDaily
s w oCrossword
rd Puzzle
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 6 Ho Chi __ 36 River of Florence 47 Armstrong in Live Longer Now! | Ricker, Seiden, Pruitt et al.
1 Leaders in the 7 Ancient 37 Where to see wild space
dugout: Abbr. 8 Dancer Charisse animals in cages 48 Nerd
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9 Saran, for one from chaff 40 “America’s 50 Gratis
13 Layered cookie 10 __ Julia, who Funniest Home 51 Start of many a
14 Dainty played Gomez Videos” host Bob letter
embroidered mat Addams 42 Zodiac bull 52 Diner orders, for
15 McKellen and 11 Opposed to 43 Adjusted the short
Fleming 12 Hissed “Hey, you!” pitch of, as a 53 Old U.S. gas
16 Breakfast pair 14 Football’s “Prime piano 55 Prefix with natal
19 Apt to shy, as a Time” Sanders 46 Skilled 56 Brylcreem bit
horse 17 Wharton’s “__
20 Like a dark room Frome” ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
21 HBO competitor 18 Perform better
22 Japanese sleuth than
Mr. __ 22 Former
24 Lunch pair quarterback Dan
32 Don, as apparel 23 Being aired, as a
33 Keep one’s __ sitcom
the ground 24 Muscle cramp,
34 Miracle-__: e.g. Birdfish | Matthew Weiss
garden product 25 Noticeable navel
35 Bickering 26 City near
36 When Juliet Syracuse
drinks the potion 27 Ten-year period
37 Former Fed 28 Stopped
chairman slouching
Greenspan 29 Domed Arctic
38 Incite to attack, home
with “on” 30 Want badly, as
39 Rocket engineer chocolate
Wernher von __ 31 Sharpens xwordeditor@aol.com 09/29/09
40 Pilot light site
41 Dinner pair
44 Lotion ingredient
45 “Gross!”
46 Fancy burger beef
49 Just in case
54 Evening ball
game snack pair
57 In __ of:
replacing
58 Abated
STW | Jingtao Huang
59 Feedbag fill
60 “Benevolent”
fraternal order
61 Orchestral reed
62 Estimate phrase

DOWN
1 Comfy soft shoes
2 Understand, in
slang
3 Mortgage
payment-lowering
strategy, briefly
4 Sentimental
place in the heart
5 Fluffy stoles By Dan Naddor
(c)2009 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
09/29/09