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Forum to Comeback propels Bears to NCAA round two mix musical and civic education
By sam wiCkham SportS Staff Writer
A heroic comeback propelled the mens soccer team to victory over No. 35 Fairfield University last night at Stevenson Field in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The No. 29 Bears (11-4-3, 4-1-2
What happens when world-class musicians are brought together to discuss complex issues of civic en-
M. soccer
Ivy League) scored three goals in the last 16 minutes to erase the Stags (12-5-1) two-goal lead in raw, wintry conditions. Stellar play from defender Dylan Remick 13 and forward Sean Rosa 12.5 helped spur Bruno on to the dramatic win and advance to the tournaments second round. It was a very exciting first round of the NCAA, said Head
Coach Patrick Laughlin. Fairfield gave us a lot of trouble in that first half, scored two goals, and we were down at halftime in a difficult place. I think the guys did an unbelievable job to keep battling and fighting throughout the 90 minutes. The Bears got off to a roaring start in the first half, dominating possession in the first 10 minutes. Bruno looked to go ahead in the eighth minute after Evan Coleman 12 drove a volleyed shot across the box and past Fairfield keeper Michael OKeefe. But the goal was called back due to an offside call, and the Bears were forced to keep searching for a breakthrough despite their commanding play. Both teams had trouble adjusting to the slick field surface, as the continued on page 9
Emily Gilbert / Herald The mens soccer team celebrates its first-round NCAA tournament victory.
The Watson Institute for International Studies began its search for a new permanent director last week. In an October email to the faculty, Provost Mark Schlissel P15 announced the eight members of the search committee, which assembled for the first time Nov. 9 to discuss advertising for the vacant position. The committee is chaired by Susan Alcock, director of the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World and a pro-
Watson begins search for director Protesters briefly Occupy City Hall
By aParna Bansal Senior Staff Writer
fessor of classics. Its membership reflects the wide variety of disciplines the institute spans, Schlissel said. The committee will also be working with Isaacson Miller, an external search firm, to help identify candidates. Though the firm will not be involved in interviewing candidates or making final decisions, it will gather background information, write to potential directors and present three finalists to the provost and President Ruth Simmons, Schlissel said. Isaacson Miller was hired to help the committee locate candi-
dates with experience in diplomacy or NGO work. The institute has tended to focus on the theoretical aspects of international affairs, and it is important for students to learn from practitioners as well, Schlissel said. To that end, the search committee is seeking someone whose experience is not purely academic. For a position as important as Watson director, we thought it would be valuable to get professional help drumming up the robust pool of applicants, he said. continued on page 3
My familys level of wealth, compared to that of the average Brown students, is:
Students are more likely to perceive their familys wealth as lower than that of the average Brown students, according to a November poll conducted by The Herald. While about one-quarter of students reported that their familys wealth is about the same as the average, 43 percent said it is below the average and 24 percent said it is above the average. Students on financial aid were 14 times more likely than students not receiving aid to think their familys wealth is much lower than the wealth of the average Brown students. Thirty-six percent of students on financial aid said they thought their familys wealth is much lower than the average students, compared to only 2 percent of students not
receiving financial aid. These figures may come as a surprise, because people dont like to talk about their wealth, said John Logan, professor of sociology. Students agree. There is a fear associated with talking about social class, said Marie Ripa 12, co-founder of Social Classmates, a weekly discussion group that focuses on social class issues. Its uncomfortable. The shame and guilt mechanisms behind wealth dictate whether people are going to have conversations about it. Conversations about wealth are very much compartmentalized, said Clay Thibodeaux 12, the other cofounder of Social Classmates. People might have thought about it but have a hush in their mind, he said. continued on page 2
Leor Shtull-Leber / Herald
City Hall is now Occupied, declared Providence resident and Occupier Will Lambeck at the start of a special Occupy Providence General Assembly on the steps of the main entrance to the building last night. Yesterday was declared a national day of action to celebrate the first two months of the Occupy movement. In Providence, Occupiers arrived at City Hall to support a City Council resolution that would endorse their occupation of Burnside Park. Its been cold outside for too long, for too many, Lambeck said, as protestors enjoyed the warmth of the indoors. Their presence in City Hall represented taking back whats rightfully ours, he added. During the General Assembly, the Occupiers overwhelmingly voted in favor of a proposal to attend the City Council meeting later that night. Theyre anticipating and I would say (are) even excited for our attendance today, said Annie Rose London 11.5, one of the meetings facilitators. Following the assembly, the continued on page 4
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Though social class disparities are largely under the rug, Ripa said class remains an issue on campus. Wealth is very apparent at Brown, said Eddie Cleofe 15. Jewelry, technology, even just the bag (students) use to carry their books are all signifiers of social class, he added. You just know someone is welloff based on the physical hints, said Eric Bai 15. You look at how much stuff is in their room. You glance over their clothes. Bai added that Apple products are good indicators of wealth. If they own every single Apple thing, you know theyre well-off. But some students said wealth is not often flaunted on campus. The great thing about Brown students is that they dont show their wealth off, so its pretty hard to distinguish, said Stelios Anagnostopoulos 13. Though self-segregation along class lines exists, relationships can
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Colonel Richard Kemps combat experience spans two continents, several wars and 30 years of service in the British army, but he is currently worried by a war of words taking place beyond the battlefield. War crime accusations condemning Israels actions in the 2008-09 Gaza War stem from the second front that plays out continuously through television, newspapers and social media, he told roughly 70 students and community members in List 120 last night. The event was sponsored by Brown Students for Israel. At the start of the 8 p.m. speech, which was part of the Independent Voices on the Middle East lecture series, Kemp assured the audience that his remarks were objective. Drawing on a variety of historical references and his military experience, he depicted the Israeli militarys conduct as in keeping with international norms for treatment of civilians during wartime and argued that international outrage was largely due to widespread anti-Israel sentiment. Kemp cited statistics he attributed to the Israeli government and Hamas to show that the ratio of Palestinian civilian to combatant deaths was
about one-to-one, below the three-toone average for recent international conflicts. The war claimed roughly 1,400 Palestinian and fewer than 15 Israeli lives, though estimates vary. Comparing Israeli actions in both the war and the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid to those of other western and Middle Eastern nations in similar situations, Kemp said Israeli military action has never disproportionately affected noncombatants. Though he acknowledged that the Israeli army, like all militaries, sometimes fails to meet its own standards for the humane treatment of civilians, few other armies ever wrote higher ideals to live up to, he said. International reaction to Israels role in the war, largely negative outside of the United States, is predicated on media misrepresentations and strained diplomatic relations, he argued, adding that bodies like the United Nations Human Rights Council are often influenced by representatives from dictatorships in the Middle East. In a question-and-answer session following the speech, one student asked about the causes of media distortions. In Arab countries, there is an institutionalized hatred for Israel as an entity, Kemp responded. Another reason is fear of Islamic terrorism.
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Many people want to appease those who would attack us. But Kemps remarks were not universally accepted. Outside the building, representatives from Brown Students for Justice in Palestine handed out slips before the speech citing an Amnesty International report that accused Israel of launching direct attacks on civilians. After the event, members of the group said they remained unconvinced, particularly by Kemps justification of Israeli actions. Hes glossing over its role as the oppressor and equating international condemnation with ethnic cleansing, said Alysha Aziz 12. He had this mantra of three times less deaths but it felt like in some ways that was just spitting on the faces of those who had died. Personally, I think that no voice should be shut down, but I was expecting some more background knowledge and honesty, said Eduarda Araujo 15, another member of the group. Harpo Jaeger 14, co-leader of Puzzle Peace, a pro-Israel campus organization that seeks a two-state solution to the conflict, said he appreciated Kemps comparisons of Israel to other western nations because it was a new perspective on the issue. But he said he found Kemps argument that anti-Israel sentiment stems from an appeasement of extreme Islamists complete crap, and that he believed the event did not live up to its billing. I was disappointed that it was framed as an independent voice, Jaeger said. But Jennifer Sieber 14, an intern for the Israel on Campus Coalition and the organizer of the speech, said the event was a valuable way to further campus dialogue on the issue, particularly through a reception following the speech that included various student leaders. She said Kemp substantiated her opinion on the issue with meaningful arguments. It didnt change anything that I had thought, Sieber added.
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admitted to the class of 2015. There were students we wanted to have but werent able to admit, Miller said. The Office of Admission offers deferred admission to a variety of students each year, Miller said, but it often considers students who strengthened their record over the course of their senior year in high school and might benefit from an extra year before college. Applicants with medical issues or those who had previously notified the office of gap year plans may also be given deferred admission offers, he said. But Miller said Brown does not tend to offer deferred admission to candidates with family connections to the University. According to a March 30, 2010 article in the Harvard Crimson, Harvard offers deferred admission to between 30 and 50 applicants each year. But over the years, some have charged that the Z-list the term used by Harvard admissions for deferred admissions is a legacy student list. Eighteen of 28 Z-listed students interviewed by the Crimson were legacies, with only a few receiving any form of financial aid. William Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard, told the Crimson Harvard Z-lists a high number of legacies because they are deemed more likely to accept the offer. Marlyn McGrath, Harvards director of admissions, did not respond to a request for comment for this story. In 2009, Conor Sullivan 14 had been planning to go to Carnegie Mellon University until he received a deferred admission offer from Brown in late June. Because it had been one of his top choices and the idea of a gap year appealed to him, he decided to accept the offer. Sullivan, a San Jose, Calif., native, said because he had been notified of his admission during the summer, he was not able to plan out his year as well as he would have liked to. But he said he enjoyed his gap year regardless. Sullivan, who is not a legacy, worked at a movie theater, took a wilderness EMT course at Yosemite National Park and traveled around the country by himself. Jonathan Ciriello 15, a 2010 graduate of the Pingry School in New Jersey, said he had never considered taking a gap year until he was waitlisted and asked that May to take a year off before joining the class of 2015. Ciriello, also not a legacy, said he had never heard of deferred admission and though his initial response to the offer was positive, he said the process was definitely not the best on some level. Given two weeks to decide, he visited campus twice and eventually accepted the offer because Brown had been his favorite school during the application process. At the time, Ciriello had committed to Tufts University, and though he said he would have chosen Brown over Tufts had all things been equal, the deciding factor was what he would do with his year off. A biochemistry concentrator, Ciriello came to Providence for the year and did research in a biology lab within the Division of Biology and Medicine. He said he was unsure at the time if he would regret his decision, but ultimately concluded the gap-year experience was definitely worth it.
Most accepted students have the option of taking a gap year before arriving on College Hill, but some are required. For the latter group, admission to Brown is offered on the condition that they take time off and enroll the subsequent year. For the past five admission cycles, an average of 26 applicants per year received these offers of delayed admission, according to Dean of Admission Jim Miller 73. Over that period, 54 percent of applicants offered delayed admission matriculated similar to the overall matriculation rate. The Office of Admission refers to the arrangement as deferred admission. The number of deferred admission offers has ranged from 21 for the class of 2011 to 29 for the class of 2015, though Miller said the University may have up to 35 deferred admission spaces per year, depending on the applicant pool. The University begins offering deferred admission to students on the waitlist after all spots in the entering class are filled, he said. Deferred admission applicants account for about a quarter of the matriculants who take gap years, Miller said. Out of the about 40 to 60 gap year students each year, 10 to 15 are deferred admission applicants. The practice began five years ago, Miller said, as the admit rate continued to plummet. The admission rate for the classes of 2006 to 2010 averaged 15.7 percent, but for the classes of 2011 to 2015, the figure dropped to 11.4 percent. A recordlow 8.9 percent of applicants were
The Watson Institutes uncertain mission will likely be shaped by its next director.
Brown Muslim Chaplain David Coolidge 01 was one of roughly 2.5 million people to take part in the largest annual gathering in the world last week the Hajj. Coolidge joined Muslims from around the world to spend five days at a sacred mosque in Mecca for a religious pilgrimage that all Muslims are required to complete at least once in their life, if they are physically and financially able to do so. Coolidge, who had already completed the Hajj in 2005, decided to go again after his wife asked him to accompany her. I didnt want to just say, Okay, Ill just do it. I wanted it to be sincere, Coolidge said. I came to the idea that although she was the initial reason, Im starting to feel like I am being called back to the sacred place. Coolidge and his wife visited Saudi Arabia for 15 days to pray and visit holy sites, including the five days of the Hajj ceremony. Ive never had more of a global experience anywhere else in the world than on the Hajj, Coolidge said. Almost every country in the world is represented, he said, adding that he was impressed by the cul-
tural and socioeconomic diversity of Hajj participants. I would be doing the rituals and be all stressed out, and then Id look to my left, and there would be this skeleton of a man with a cane, hunched over and walking along, looking like hes probably worked in the fields his whole life, Coolidge said. And Im just like, Man, I have nothing to complain about. Though Coolidge was away from campus for more than two weeks, he did not take a break from his responsibilities as chaplain. He published updates on a Global Conversations blog and CNN iReport while he was abroad as a way to keep the Brown community informed about his trip. When I decided to go on this trip, I just felt a desire to share that with people so they could understand what I was doing and why I was doing it, Coolidge said. It seemed like a no-brainer if Brown is a global institution, and the Hajj is a global institution, they should be in conversation with each other. Janet Cooper Nelson, University chaplain and director of the Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life, said she felt Coolidge was making his work useful to all students, a major part of a chaplains role.
Many of you come from particular religious identities a very broad spectrum of identities so whether you are my identity or not doesnt matter, Cooper Nelson said of the importance of learning about diverse religious practices. Coolidge spoke at the Interfaith Supper series before leaving, where he gave a brief presentation and answered students questions about his upcoming trip. But the pilgrimage was more than just an educational opportunity it was also a spiritual one. Since this was his third time in Mecca, he was not distracted from prayer and critical thinking by the novelty of a foreign culture. If youve gone there, and its the third time, now youre kind of over that fascination with the outward elements of things and you have to get deeper, Coolidge said. What I am thinking about is, Why am I here? What am I really hoping to get out of this? Where is my heart in terms of my relationship with the global community that Im seeing, and also with God, who is ideally the reason that I even come here in the first place? Coolidge said his experience in Mecca reaffirmed his work at Brown. I just want to do what Im doing now but do it better.
The Rhode Island General Assembly approved hotly-contested pension reform legislation in separate sessions Thursday. The Rhode Island Retirement Security Act passed the state House of Representatives 57 to 15 and the Senate 34 to two. Senate floor debates ended after an hour and 20 minutes with the introduction and passage of only one amendment to the bill. The House session started almost a full two hours before the Senate, but House representatives were still introducing amendments 27 in total to the bill after the Senate vote was complete. Of the proposed House amendments, only seven passed. In a statement released after the bills passage in both chambers, Gov. Lincoln Chafee 75 P14 called the bill a cause for encouragement, but not a cause for celebration, because stabilizing the pension system comes at the cost of benefit reductions to state employees. General Treasurer Gina Raimondo, who along with Chafee spearheaded the effort to pass pension reform, called the legislations passage a great step forward as we continue to work to put our state on a secure path toward growth and prosperity, in a statement. The law immediately raises the state pension systems funded ratio from 48 to 60 percent and reduces the systems $7.3 billion unfunded liability by $3 billion. Three-quarters of these savings come from the bills limits on cost-of-living adjustments, which the pension payment increases tied to inflation. The legislation also lowers the total contributions by state and local employers from $689 million to $414 million, which will save taxpayers roughly
Over 100 people watched the pension reform vote after months of controversy.
$275 million in fiscal year 2013. More than 100 teachers, firefighters and even Rhode Island Tea Party members turned out to witness the final House vote. When the bill was brought to the House floor yesterday, House Finance Committee Chair Helio Melo, D-East Providence, addressed the controversy it has generated. After all these months of listening, I am ready to talk about this, Melo said. The legislation before you is dramatic. The changes are big, and I do believe that it is necessary. The number of onlookers steadily dwindled as representatives introduced additional amendments to the bill, a process that lasted over four hours. The majority of spectators were vocal in their opposition to the bill. Tensions ran high as spectators heckled Rep. Michael Marcello, D-Scituate and Cranston, after he praised state employees work ethic while stressing the necessity of pension reform. Speaker of the House Gordon Fox, D-Providence, threatened to
have hecklers removed, though he acknowledged that the debate was highly charged. Security arrived shortly after to keep the audience in order. Spectators cheered when Rep. Robert Watson, D-East Greenwich and West Greenwich, spoke in favor of yearly increases to cost-of-living adjustments. Legislators in both chambers voiced concern about language in the bill related to an increase in the retirement eligibility age to 67, arguing that the mandate would put considerable strain on teachers and public safety workers. Representatives spoke emotionally about the bill. Many stood up to give personal appeals from constituents about the bills perceived inequalities. Watson fought hard for the right of retirees to collect annual cost-of-living adjustments, though his amendment ultimately did not pass. Others addressed the legislations treatment of part-time workers, Rhode Island Supreme Court justices and financial transparency. State Sen. Harold Metts, D-Providence, said recreation centers in his South Providence neighborhood have suffered deep cuts due to the states severe budget crisis. He said pension reform would help preserve state-run programs that kept him off the streets growing up. Many representatives threw their support behind the bill prior to the vote but said the legislation is a weak solution to the states pension problems. Unfortunately, Ive got to pinch my nose and vote for this stinker, said Rep. Dan Gordon, R-Portsmouth, Tiverton and Little Compton. Its the best weve got.
Science 5
clined to comment. But the University is harming itself by staying silent in the face of the accusations, said Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine Roy Poses 73 MD78. There ought to be a public response. If these allegations are false or wrong, that ought to be made clear. If theyre true, then there ought to be some action. Following the October letter, President Ruth Simmons wrote to Healthy Skepticism that Wing would be in touch soon, said Jon Jureidini, one of the co-authors of the letter and a clinical professor at the University of Adelaide in Australia. Wing has not yet responded. Though Jureidini said he is waiting for a response before he plans any future actions, he wont necessarily give up if the University refuses to support retracting the study. I cant imagine how you could review this case and not find misconduct, Jureidini said. He added that the arrival of a new president at Brown could provide an opportunity to ask the University again. University research policies state that when charges are brought against a researcher, the University must decide whether to pursue a formal investigation. If the investigation reveals misconduct, the researcher can face suspended privileges, and their papers may be withdrawn. If misconduct is not found, the University takes steps to restore the researchers reputation. But even if University officials found evidence of misconduct, they would likely ignore them, since Kellers research has provided a steady source of University funding, according to Paul Thacker, an investigator at the Project On Government Oversight. Thacker, who also participated in the Senate inquiry, said he does not think the University should continue to receive any federal funding if it does not publicly address the Keller case. Thacker added that the University has prioritized discussion of less important issues over the years, citing the Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice formed in 2003. The University spent all this time tearing themselves up about some sort of peripheral involvement in slavery, he said. Nobody is walking around today who is being harmed by slavery. There are people who are walking around today who are harmed by this study. Bass, who has continued to report on Study 329 following the publication of Side Effects, said though pinpointing specific examples would be difficult, theres no question there were adolescents and children who became suicidal and tried to kill themselves and in some cases, succeeded in killing themselves because the doctors were misled. Pointing to the accusations of ghostwriting, Bass added that there is a double standard in the University not taking action against Keller, because students who plagiarize face expulsion. When she was working for the Boston Globe, Bass also authored an article about conflicts of interest in Kellers research, examining payments Keller received from pharmaceutical companies. Though the University revised its conflict of interest policies in 2009, those changes were simply window dressing, wrote Leemon McHenry, a co-author of Healthy Skepticisms letter, in an email to The Herald. McHenry, a researcher at California State University, Northridge, speculated that in practice, the University would likely prioritize the wishes of companies like GlaxoSmithKline over its ethical standards. The University held a forum Tuesday to hear faculty perspectives on its current conflict of interest policy.
Ten years after its publication, a study by Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Martin Keller continues to generate concern in the medical community due to its alleged link to child suicide. Last month, the global nonprofit Healthy Skepticism wrote to the University requesting support for its efforts to retract Kellers article commonly known as Study 329 from the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Healthy Skepticism expressed concern that the study, which identified the drug Paxil as an effective combatant of depression in children, seriously misrepresented both the effectiveness and the safety of the drug. The authors added that the studys continued citation was harmful to children, since some children committed suicide after being prescribed Paxil. The letter follows several ethical examinations of Study 329, including a BBC documentary, the book Side Effects by former Boston Globe reporter Alison Bass and an investigation by the Senate Finance Committee. Those inquiries led to allegations that the authors of the study who had received funds from Paxils parent company GlaxoSmithKline suppressed the findings on the drugs connection to suicidal tendencies because they would adversely affect profits. Keller, the lead author, was also accused of allowing the study to be ghostwritten by a GlaxoSmithKline affiliate. In June 2009, he stepped down as chair of the psychiatry department, citing personal reasons, but he retained his professorship. Keller did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story. Citing confidentiality reasons, Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences Edward Wing also de-
Professor John Stein led a discussion about media coverage of research that linked iPhones and love.
A high-fat diet may not always pack on the pounds, suggests new research from the Warren Alpert Medical School. By successfully preventing weight gain in mice, researchers have shed light on obesity prevention in humans. The study was released online last week and will be published in the January 2012 issue of Endocrinology, a science journal. Even though the mice were on a high-fat diet, researchers were able to significantly reduce their weight gain by activating a human
enzyme called IKKbeta in their fatty tissue. The enzyme normally triggers immune responses, such as inflammation, following increases in the number of human fat cells. Researchers were curious to see what would happen if they reversed the order of events by activating the enzyme prior to weight gain. They found that in addition to reduced weight gain, the mice with the activated enzyme also had faster metabolisms. In these mice, insulin was more effective at lowering blood sugar than it was in the mice that had not been
treated. The activated enzyme also inhibited resistance to insulin, another side effect of obesity. The study has definite implications for helping people who suffer from conditions characterized by insulin resistance, such as Type 2 diabetes patients, said Haiyan Xu, assistant professor of medicine. For treating insulin resistance, its really going to work, Xu said. Scientists are already applying this research to humans, she said. Xu and her team are in the process of designing future research projects on Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.
Forget addiction, you might actually be in love with your iPhone so long as you dont submit that claim to the scientific method, Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience John Stein told students yesterday at Debunking the Neurohype: What Neuroscience Can Actually Tell Us in the Brown Bookstore. The talk was part of the Science Cafe Discussion Series sponsored by the Triple Helix. As students filed into the event, Stein passed out copies of You Love Your iPhone. Literally, a Sept. 30 New York Times op-ed discussing results of functional magnetic resonance imaging of subjects brain activity, also called an fMRI test. After they scanned the article, attendees were asked to employ good science to dissect the article, which Stein called an example of the medias oversimplification of neurosciences power to explain human behavior. Some students called the article comical. It is very problematic to conclude from subjects fMRI tests that they are in love with their iPhone, Stein said. These tests illustrate changes in brain activity by showing changes in blood flow, Stein reminded a crowd thick with neuroscience concentrators. Blood flow and activity in the activated brain region, the insular cortex, only have about a 33 percent correlation with the feeling of love. The rest of the time, that activity is associated with hate or disgust, Stein said. Students agreed that the conclusion that subjects were in love
with their iPhones is a gross oversimplification. As love or lie detectors, fMRI machines are not a diagnostic tool by any stretch, Stein said, reiterating that the article in question was published as an op-ed. Theres a reason why this isnt in the Science Times, he said. Stein used a lull in the discussion to size up its participants. Scientists are very good at picking things apart. Were very critical people, and we want to be our own critics, he said. Stein said what was most problematic was presenting results in the unscientific fashion of this is what we found, and this is the only conclusion there can be. Good science relies on precise methods to separate conclusions into three components those closely supported by results, ones that are projected and those that are simply interesting questions to raise, he said. And the most interesting kinds of questions are the ones with very inconclusive answers, Stein said. When it first came out, fMRI was critical, Stein said after the talk. But the tests only address one side of things, he said. The motion in the scientific community now is to find ways to combine the perspectives offered by fMRI and other tests, including electroencephalograms and single-cell recordings. Its depressing to realize how little you know, said Robin Martens 14, a neuroscience concentrator, after the discussion. Its the Socratic thing Im more aware of my own ignorance, he said.
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Comedy and kimonos in Mikado Music and civic society merge at symposium
By marGaret niCkens Staff Writer
The 19th-century comedic writing pair Gilbert and Sullivan somehow make execution, broken hearts and an evil old lady funny in their opera The Mikado. The adaptation, directed by Chelsea Berry 12, premieres tonight at 8 p.m. in Alumnae Hall. The comedic opera quickly establishes the main dilemma Yum-Yum (Gabriel Trilling 12) and Nanki-Poo (Evan Strouss 15) are in love, but due to convoluted complications they are unable to be together. Yum-Yum is engaged to Ko-Ko (Buck Greenwald 15), the towns high-executioner, and Nanki-Poo is actually the Mikados (Geraud Bablon 14) son. He ran away when his father tried to force him to marry the old, ugly Katisha (Lizzie Stanton 13). The Mikado commands Ko-Ko to execute someone, so he strikes up a deal with the lovesick NankiPoo. Nanki-Poo can marry YumYum if he agrees to be executed in one month. Nanki-Poo agrees, and a series of ridiculously hilarious events ensue, exasperated by the arrival of the Mikado himself. Berry said she petitioned to direct the show because she found it fun and historically significant. There was a Japanese culture craze sweeping through Victorian London at the time, and it really kind of captures that, she said of the 1885 opera. The Mikado is a great way for looking at the assumptions Victorians have about Japanese culture and Eastern culture. Gilbert reportedly wrote The Mikado after seeing a piece of Kabuki theater at the 1885 Japanese Exhibition in London. Berry said she used Gilberts original inspiration for the piece in making production decisions. We incorporated a lot of aesthetic elements of Japanese Kabuki theatre, she said. We have traditional kumadori makeup so the different kinds of colors and patterns of peoples makeup tell you what kind of character they are. The productions set also reflects traditional Japanese culture, incorporating two Shinto gates and a number of red lanterns. The red gates are adorned with a Japanese character meaning big. Scenic Designer John Aurelio 14 said he used the character because it is a common component of Japanese architecture, though the original meaning is negligible to the production. I wanted my set to convey a meeting ground and intersection between the royalty of Japan and the normal villagers, he said. The set designs simplicity worked perfectly for the production. It gave the characters plenty of space to move around, which is important in such an over-thetop comedy. It also did not detract from the characters beautifully intricate costumes. The kimonos were hand-made by Costume Designer Sarah Lewis 12, who effectively revealed each characters personality through her costume
Rachel A. Kaplan / Herald The colorful comedic opera takes inspiration from Japanese Kabuki theater.
choices. Pooh-Bahs (Matthew Jaroszewicz 12) kimono was one of the best, really capturing his obnoxious, pompous personality with the flashing costume. The idea was to get as many shiny fabrics as I could and put them into one costume, Lewis said. Its supposed to be overthe-top. Jaroszewiczs performance was also fantastic. His huge personality lit up the stage with his dramatic gestures and booming voice, and his skilled enunciation made his solos and duets some of the most enjoyable. Despite Jaroszewiczs strong voice, some of the other actors struggled with projection, especially during group songs. Occasionally, the orchestra overpowered the singers, and during the Act I and the Act II finales, when all the actors were on stage, the timing was slightly off. Though the actors were supposed to be singing in unison, some moved slightly quicker or slower through the songs than others. The combination of poor enunciation and off-beat singing made it difficult to discern the lyrics of these numbers. Some of the supporting actors lacked emotion and confidence while singing, making their performances bland. As a result, the choreography looked sloppy and did not contribute much to the hilarity of the opera. But during solos and duets, the projection issues were not as much of a problem, and many of the leading actors, including Strouss and Greenwald, had powerful and hilarious performances. The dialogue did not suffer from the same projection issues as did the musical numbers, and throughout the play, the actors delivered their jokes with an appropriate balance of seriousness and ridiculousness. Occasionally, the performers
would break the fourth wall and address the audience, a hilarious addition to the play. Though the performance struggled with a few group numbers, The Mikado had some very strong moments, including the musical numbers I am so Proud in Act I and Heres a How-dedo! in Act II. The Mikados Act II entrance, where he was carried down the aisle to the stage, was also appropriately dramatic and very funny, especially as the actors started tripping over each other to show they were nervous about the Mikados arrival. Cast members were very positive about the outcome of the dress rehearsal, though they agreed they need to work on some blocking and dialogue issues. Trilling also said more practice with the orchestra would be helpful. The Mikado continues Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
8 Sports Friday
continued from page 12 personally, it was the best race Ive ever had. What has been one of the biggest challenges you have had in your career as a runner? After being injured freshman year, I wasnt sure I was going to stay on the team. So actually, this time sophomore year, I was actually planning on quitting the team, just because when I came back from injury, I was not running very well. I was afraid to really invest myself in training because I didnt want to get hurt again. Once I wasnt training my hardest, I wasnt racing well and when I wasnt racing well, I wasnt enjoying the sport, and so it wasnt an easy time. But once I got over that, Im really glad I stuck with it. What is your fondest memory with the cross country team? I guess going back to this past race. It was a day where people didnt have their perfect race, but they really stuck with it and we had a good team performance as a result. It hasnt always been like that before our newest coach (Tim) Springfield, it used to be, if you were having a bad day, you just bombed. Once you were out of the race, you just jogged it right in, but it wasnt like that. And I think it showed how far we have come as a team since hes been here. How has running cross country impacted your life? I guess running cross country has opened a lot of doors for me. It got me into Brown, which has been a great experience. It has taught me a lot about sticking through things when times get tough and its just been a great competitive outlet for me. Im not the type of person that can just run for the sake of running. I run to compete. When I go for a run, its training. So, I think I just needed something competitive in my life. Im really glad I have it. Why did you pick Brown? Brown was really the only school I wanted to go to. I really just loved the Open Curriculum. When I was here on my visit, the team was just very eccentric. I showed up to the track house and they had German travelers staying in the open room they usually give to recruits, and there was a gerbil on the loose. I pretty much knew that I was going to meet some pretty interesting people if I came here.
Tod Holberton 14 and the squash team seek to improve on last years 8-10 record.
As my own Patriots found out a week and a half ago, the Giants are not the team you want to face if you rely heavily on winning offensive shootouts. Depending on which version of Eli Manning shows up the options are demigod or confused child this game has plenty of potential to be a big letdown for the Packers. Its going to come down to what the Packers defense can get done in terms of turnovers. After the trench warfare of the Lions game, this is going to be a tough one.
Danger rating: standing in a group of armed women and declaring that ryan Gosling isnt a good actor. week 14: oakland raiders
Danger rating: a box of soft kittens under a rainbow. week 16: Chicago Bears
This will be the one of the toughest tests for the Packers, but they are probably well aware of that. Im willing to bet this game is circled on the team calendar. Ford Field is a tough place for visitors to win, and a passing attack that features Calvin Johnson is a scary one. But if there is one thing the Packers have proven, it is that they play very well in domes and are no strangers to hostile crowd noise. This will be a close game, but given that the Packers will be gearing up for it, I think they should win.
Danger rating: Choking on a hot
The Bears are a tough team, but much like Tampa Bay, they just dont match up well against the Packers. Even though this is a home game, its extremely likely that the Pack will be resting starters, unless they are going for the undefeated season. The Bears will be looking for a playoff spot, and thats going to make this a difficult game.
Danger rating: actually playing football with a bear. week 17: Detroit lions
Can the Raiders win a game on the road against the Packers? Possibly. Theyve hung with some pretty good teams this year and even beaten a couple of them. Its tough to write off a potential division champ, especially if Darren McFadden is healthy by then. But the odds of that happening are pretty slim. Dont forget, Green Bay is a lot colder in December than Oakland is.
This will be it. The Packers have likely clinched the division by now, and the Lions will probably also be trying to nab a wild card spot. Again, it comes down to whether or not the Packers are going to have their starters take the field. If they do play their starters, this will still be a really tough game and the Lions are going to fight tooth-and-nail to stay in the playoff picture.
Danger rating: Putting out matches with gasoline.
Sam Sheehan 12 is sorry about the poetry he left in your mailbox. Sorry, Mr. Gosling. Talk sports with him at sam_sheehan@brown.edu or follow him on Twitter @SamSheehan.
Sports Friday 9
Fairfield added another goal just eight minutes later. A looping header off a cross from the left floated over Kernen-Schloss head and into the side netting, giving the Stags a 2-0 lead going into halftime. Weve played together now for two or three years, and so when they scored the second goal, we got together, and we knew we were okay, said co-captain Ryan McDuff 13. We just had to keep putting pressure on them. Bruno continued to play confidently at the start of the second half but still could not find a way through the Stag defense. Rosa created a scoring chance at the near post in the 61st minute, dribbling by two defenders, but was foiled again by OKeefe, who made an impressive eight saves on the night. After incessant pressure on the Stags goal, Bruno finally broke through via Rosa. A low ball into the box was laid off along the 18yard line, and Rosa struck it into the bottom corner of the net to get the Bears back into the game, 2-1. We knew that if we got one with at least a little time left, wed have the belief, Rosa said. From the moment I hit it, I knew it was in. From there on, the crowd got back into it, we got back into it. There was just a belief that we could do this. Rosas goal opened the floodgates, as Bruno notched another just 40 seconds later. T.J. Popolizio 12 tapped home a rebound from another Rosa shot to level the score. With five minutes left, Bruno scored the game-winner. The Stags defense headed the ball out of the box, but the clearance fell to Aidan Leonard 14, who caught the ball on the volley and sent it flying into the bottom left corner to complete the dramatic comeback and send Stevenson into an uproar. I think were a team with a lot of resolve, McDuff said. We had the faith that we could come together and pull one out of the bag. Credit to Brown for the way they battled through the 90 minutes, said Fairfield Head Coach Carl Rees. On another day, wed get out alive. The Bears move on to the second round and hit the road to play No. 11 St. Johns University Sunday at 5 p.m. Weve been scrapping all season, Laughlin said. We were going to go out with a fight, and give everything we had in the second half, and see what came of it. For us, fortunately, the goals started flying in.
COMICS
Chester Crabson | Tess Carroll
10
DIAMONDS & COAL
Coal to Harvard for restricting access to Occupy Harvards encampment to Harvard ID-holders and making the Cambridge, Mass., contingent the most exclusive Occupation in the country. You are the 99 percent of people who know exactly how to ruin a grassroots movement. A diamond to Occupier Michael McCarthy, who said of people taking advantage of the Occupations free food, People were going to show up expecting it, and they were either going to get violent or crawl into a tent. Critics of The Herald are also prone to impulsive camping sprees. A cubic zirconium to Joe Goldberg 12 for trusting his bunny enough to chill out in the room. We love the trust. Were sorry it pooped all over. Coal to the second man arrested for public masturbation this week, making the number of people taken into custody for indecent exposure higher than that of humanities representatives on the Presidential Selection Campus Advisory Committee. If the masturbator had studied English, we see an easy solution to both problems. A diamond to the University for finally getting rid of the Card Value Center machines. But with a functioning card system, what excuse will we have for not doing our laundry? A diamond to the mens soccer team for coming back from a two-goal deficit in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Who needs those 32 percent of recruited varsity athletes that quit their teams anyway? Coal to Esther Choo, assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Alpert Medical School, who found that youth marijuana use has been steadily decreasing since the state medical marijuana bill passed in 2006. Unfortunately, she forgot about the founding of Anna Jones 12 and Sarah Marions 12.5 secret bakery. A diamond to Gail, who said shes getting the college education (she) never had through the students at Brown. We have nothing snarky to say youre just the cutest.
EDITORIAL CARTOON
by lo r e n f u lto n
Letters, please!
letters@browndailyherald.com
t h e b r ow n da i ly h e r a l d
Editors-in-chiEf sydney ember Ben schreckinger editorial kristina Fazzalaro rebecca Ballhaus Claire Peracchio talia kagan amy rasmussen tony Bakshi ethan mcCoy ashley mcDonnell sam rubinroit anita mathews sam Carter hunter Fast arts & Culture editor City & state editor City & state editor Features editor assistant Features editor news editor sports editor sports editor assistant sports editor editorial page editor Opinions editor Opinions editor ManaGinG Editors Brigitta Greene anne speyer sEnior Editors Dan alexander nicole Friedman Julien ouellet Business GEnEral ManaGErs matthew Burrows isha Gulati aditi Bhatia Danielle marshak margot Grinberg lisa Berlin ManaGErs Justin lee Collections Collections sam Plotner nicky robbins invoice staff kevin lynch Daniel slutsky analytics Jared Davis sales and Communications alumni engagement nikita khadloya emily simmons ad relations Human relations James eng angel lee Business Development owen millard Business Development Gregory Chatzinoff web relations Post- maGazine editor-in-Chief sam knowles editor-in-Chief amelia stanton BloG dailY Herald David winer editor-in-Chief matt klimerman Managing editor officE ManaGEr shawn reilly
CORREC TION
An editorial in yesterdays Herald (Indifference during an identity crisis, Nov. 17) incorrectly stated that there have been eight forums for undergraduates to voice their opinions on the presidential search. In fact, only one forum was held for undergraduate input. The Herald regrets the error.
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opinions 11
theres no inherent increase in that respect, and, according to the website of the OIP, all students eligible for financial aid (with few exceptions) may use their aid for an approved program of study abroad. Second, while there are room and board costs not to mention travel expenses theres no guarantee that theyll be more expensive than a given semester at Brown. For the same reasons that going off meal plan and living off-campus can prove cheaper than Browns on-campus alternatives, one could find cheaper options semester. I can go abroad at any time. This chain of reasoning is confused. Going abroad does not mean abandoning the college experience. In most cases, if not all, students who study abroad and it should be evident from the label we give the experience are just having a college experience in another location, at another institution. If anything, it adds another dimension to the college experience by offering insight into how another institution and another country approaches higher education. centration is so demanding that it prevents studying abroad, even though it might limit ones choice of programs. It would be foolish to deny that one can go abroad at any time. But its equally foolish to think that going abroad as a tourist is the same as studying abroad. The reasons are too numerous to list here, but just think about how differently one sees Rhode Island as a visitor or even as a newly arrived first-year than as a seasoned resident of College Hill. But lets say that the idea is actually living abroad at any time. Given the difficulties and byzantine bureaucratic processes associated with finding legal employment abroad, its unlikely that it will ever be as easy and almost never easier to live abroad than when you are a student with few day-to-day worries. Being a student abroad also means easy access to university communities, which are frequently vibrant both culturally and socially. There is no guarantee that finding similar opportunities while living abroad after college will be as effortless. There are certainly good reasons to not study abroad, but its important to be wary of letting faulty reasons steer you away from spending a few months, or even a year, outside the country. A truly similar opportunity might never again present itself. Sam Carter 12 studied abroad in Barcelona but is in no way affiliated with the OIP. He can be reached at samuel_carter@brown.edu.
According to an article in Tuesdays Herald (Study abroad participation drops, Nov. 15), the number of students who studied abroad in the 2010-11 academic year was the lowest in a decade and represented a 7.4 percent decrease from the previous year. Though 414 students studied abroad last year in University programs, that number includes students from other colleges and universities who chose a Brown program for their experience in a foreign country. Maybe 414 students taking advantage of the opportunity to study abroad is good enough. Kendall Brostuen, director of the Office of International Programs, said in the Herald piece that Brown continues to rank high among its peer institutions in terms of the percentage of students who study abroad. But matters of rank aside, there must be a reason for the decline in number of students who choose to study abroad. The article suggests that the financial downturn might be responsible. While I do not mean to suggest that financial reasons will never play a role in making a decision about studying abroad, there are a couple things worth remembering. First, when studying abroad for academic credit, a student still has to pay Brown tuition. So
It would be foolish to deny that one can go abroad at any time. But its equally foolish to think that going abroad as a tourist is the same as studying abroad.
in another country. The inability to work legally in most countries where students study abroad is obviously an added difficulty, but perhaps the lost income can be made up in the summer. And if not, theres always the possibility of embracing a truly bohemian lifestyle and living, a la Orwell, down and out in Paris and London. The article also points out a troubling reason for not studying abroad unrelated to the financial downturn. One student, who didnt seem to express any financial worries, said, This is your only college experience. I dont want to give up an entire
If the idea of giving up an entire semester is a concern and we have to assume that were talking about giving up a semester here at Brown one only has to view time abroad as a break from Brown, a chance to step back and find out what we appreciate most about our time at the University. And if we look at giving up in terms of missed opportunities for coursework at Brown, lets remember that we have no core curriculum, which means that the only requirements are those imposed by our concentrations. No matter how onerous these requirements may seem, no con-
I have just become reacquainted with the William McCormick case and it troubles me as an alum and a father. The purpose of my column is neither to defend nor to disparage any of the parties involved, but to defend a basic tenet of a democratic society. Brown had to deal with a terrible situation and appears to have mishandled it. I have no idea what happened between the two first-year undergraduates in 2006, but it appears that the administration did not dig deep enough into the case to know, either. From the actions the University did take, it appears either to have wrongfully pushed out a falsely accused student or to have allowed a rapist to leave the University with a clean transcript his departure a supposedly voluntary act for medical reasons possibly to prey again on another campus. Was this the just and prudent thing to do? What was the motivation for this choice? Whether it was the pressure of an outraged father I would have done no less and maybe worse in his
unjust methods will never conquer injustice. It only breeds resentment and detracts from the plight of the victims.
of U.s handling of McCormick, Nov. 14), that due process should be overlooked when addressing the issue of sexual violence against women and that the University acted correctly. To quote his letter, The message to all males is: You need to check your behavior carefully before you enter into a relationship with a woman.
ment and detracts from the plight of the victims. I am extremely sensitive to the issue of violence against women. I am the father of a daughter who just turned 16. I truly fear nothing in life save something such as rape or worse happening to her. I also dealt with a friend when I was young who
After an upsetting loss to Dartmouth last weekend, the football team is looking to end its season on a high note tomorrow with a victory on the road against a winless Columbia squad. Last weeks loss eliminated Bruno (7-2, 4-2 Ivy) from contention for the Ivy title, but the team can secure a second-place finish with a victory over the Lions (0-9, 0-6). Though Columbia has been struggling, Head Coach Phil Estes said the Bears need to focus on their own performance and not take their opponents lightly if they want to close out the year with a win. We dont make it about them. Its more about how we need to win this game, Estes said. Theyre good enough to beat us, thats for sure. Lions junior quarterback Sean Brackett is one of Columbias most dangerous weapons, according to
Estes. As a first-year in the 2009 matchup, Brackett rushed for 171 yards and passed for 151 more in a 28-14 win over the Bears. Against Cornell (4-5, 2-4) last weekend, Brackett threw for a career-high 409 yards and four touchdowns. He now has a total of 37 touchdown passes in his career, the second-highest in Columbia history. Hes healthy and playing pretty well, Estes said. Were going to have our hands full. Defensively, the Lions also pose a threat, Estes said, citing Columbias 18 sacks the second-most in the league. Linebacker Josh Martin leads the Lions potent pass rush with seven sacks. But Brown leads the Ivy League in scoring defense, allowing only 16.25 points per game. Outside linebacker Daniel Smithwick 12 leads the Bears in both tackles (68) and interceptions (three). continued on page 9
Kyle Newhall-Caballero 11.5 seeks to lead the Bears to one last victory as he finishes his Brown career this weekend.
SqUASH
The mens and womens squash teams are looking forward to a strong season, despite a number of players studying abroad this semester. But all of the players abroad will return for the second, tougher half of the season in January and February. All five juniors on the womens squad have gone to study elsewhere for a semester, but the teams first-years will step up to fill the upperclassmens shoes. Im very excited for the womens season. Im just hoping everyone stays healthy, said Head Coach Stuart leGassick. Well have to do some rebonding of the team, said womens cocaptain Brooke Dalury 12. She said she does not feel the missing junior class will affect the teams performance the players abroad have continued playing squash and kept in touch with the team back at Brown. Even without a chunk of the squad around, weve had a highenergy start to the season, Dalury said. The womens teams main goal for the season is to finally break into the top eight in the College Squash Association rankings. In the past few years, the squad has been ranked ninth and won the Kurtz Cup, the trophy that teams continued on page 8
In every sense of the word, the mens and womens swimming and diving teams are underdogs. They have the smallest roster in the Ivy League and lack permanent training facilities. But with 23 incoming first-years and a new assistant coach, Temujin Gold, the teams are ready to improve on last years last place Ivy finish, Head Coach Peter Brown said. Peter Brown said he has picked up the pace at practice, packing more into the two-hour workout and adding new exercises to dryland training.
Especially heading into the new pool, we need to set higher standards, raise the bar, he said. We got to get the program to another level. Gold, who previously coached at Texas A&M University, is a valuable addition to the team, Peter Brown said. (Gold) gets us to work hard, and he expects a lot out of us, said co-captain Jamie Firth 12. But hes fun in the way that he does it. Peter Brown said he hopes that by putting in the extra work all the swimmers can achieve personalbest times while simultaneously improving their standing among the Ivies.
Firth said the team is not as concerned about scores this year. Were going into each meet trying to focus on the little things, like winning races at the finish or making little improvements and focusing on what we as a team can do, she said. In the upcoming season, Tommy Glenn 14 and Briana Borgolini 14 who have both met Olympic Trials qualifying times, or cuts will be expected to make significant contributions to the teams, Peter Brown said. The incoming first-years will also bring a lot to the pool, said co-captain James continued on page 9
We are over a 100 games into the NFL season, and Im convinced its the strangest one Ive ever seen. On the one hand, you have the Philadelphia Eagles, who are pre-season favorites and loaded with talent. Despite having one of the best running backs, one of the most feared quarterbacks and what should be one of the strongest secondaries in football, they find themselves one loss away from being effectively eliminated from the playoffs. On the other hand, a Cincinnati Bengals team that seemed poised for an epic implosion finds itself rubbing elbows with the AFCs elite and are likely to battle the New York Jets for the final wild card spot into the playoffs. But the big storyline is the play of the Green Bay Packers and star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Wisconsins own green and yellow juggernaut seems poised to record only the third undefeated regular season in NFL history, and Rodgers is on pace to shatter every major singleseason passing record. Ive scoffed all year at the pundits and analysts who have been crowing about the Packers going undefeated, but with the team still having a perfect record with only seven weeks left, its time to actually put a counter on this thing. Ill assess the dangers of the Packers road ahead as they look to go 16-0.
week 11: tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last weekend, the mens cross country squad finished fifth out of 33 teams competing at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship meet in Buffalo, N.Y. Dan Lowry 12, who has been consistently leading the team this season, finished third in the region. He will be moving on to the NCAA National Championship meet Monday, Nov. 21 in Terra Haute, Ind. For racing his way to the top of the region, The Herald has named Lowry Athlete of the Week. The Herald: How did you get started in cross country?
lowry: I ran track in middle school, did pretty well in the mile, and so I thought I would give cross country a try once I moved into high school, and I did well as a freshman. So then I just became a full-year runner, running cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. My coach didnt really give me much of a choice. What has been your favorite moment in running cross country? I think this last race, actually. It was a great team moment. It was our best finish at regionals since Ive been on the team, and, for me continued on page 8
Courtesy of Paul Grogan
Dan Lowry 12 passes the Ivy league champion from Dartmouth, Ethan Shaw.