vol. cxxii, no.

52

Daily
By AlExAndrA MAcfArlAnE Senior Staff Writer

the Brown

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Herald
Since 1891
By Eli oKun Senior Staff Writer

The University selects two graduating students each year to serve as senior orators, a tradition unique to Brown among Ivy League institutions. Leor Shtull-Leber 12 and Tara Kane Prendergast 12.5 will represent their class at the May commencement ceremony. Though Prendergast said she considers it an honor, speaking at commencement was not something she even considered until recently. Prendergast learned after being nominated that she was still eligible to give a speech, though she will not graduate until December. The night before the preliminary submissions, Prendergast, a history concentrator, said she was struck by a muse and de-

U. selects senior orators for commencement Kim 82 takes helm at World Bank
cided to apply. Her speech will be a celebration of Brown and of the kinds of tools we received at the University. In the speech, she will also ask students to think critically about the privilege they have been given and ways to use that position, she said. The themes of her speech are drawn from experiences in her own life, she said. Coming from a rural part of Colorado and a nontraditional academic background Prendergast was homeschooled and attended a United World College for part of high school she said she feels a tension between the aspects of the University she is critical of and her gratitude for the experiences she has had on campus. Students do not fully apply the concepts they learn in continued on page 2 The World Bank announced Dartmouth President Jim Yong Kim 82, a physician and public health expert whose nomination marked a departure from the traditional selection of candidates in politics and finance, as its next leader Monday. Kim was an unconventional choice for the position given his medical background, but some observers of the process called him a good candidate to move the bank in a new direction. Under an informal agreement, the United States generally selects the World Bank president, while European countries choose the head of the International Monetary Fund. This year, though, Kims nomination faced two challengers Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and former Colombian finance minister Jose Antonio Ocampo amid concern that the U.S. had too much control in the selection process. Ocampo dropped out of the race last week, but many African countries rallied around Okonjo-Iweala as a better voice for representing developing countries. Kim is the first Ivy League continued on page 4

Courtesy of the speakers

Tara Kane Prendergast 12.5 (left) and Leor Shtull-Leber 12 (right) were chosen to be this years senior orators at commencement.

Crew

Crew team earns first varsity win

By sAM ruBinroiT aSSiStant SportS editor

Accusations against professor open to public

By ElizABETh Koh Senior Staff Writer

The No. 6 mens crew team enjoyed a successful weekend on the Charles River in Boston, topping No. 9 Northeastern to claim the Dreissigacker Cup. In the Varsity Eight race, Bruno posted a time of 6 minutes, 00.9 seconds, earning a seven-second victory over the Huskies. The Bears also came out ahead in the Second Varsity Eight, finishing in 6:12.9. We had a fantastic race, said captain Alex Fleming 12. We saw our true speed. It was good for us to get an accurate read on how fast we were. The victory over Northeastern marked the first win for the Varsity Eight boat this season. The Bears have endured a difficult schedule to date, including matchups against several top-ranked programs. It was an important race for us, said mens Head Coach Paul Cooke 89. We had come up short against teams ranked number one and number two in the country, so this was an opportunity for us to show what we can do. The week before, the Bears faced heavily-favored Ivy League rival Harvard at home. The Varsity Eight posted an impressive time of 5:26.0, narrowly behind the Crimsons continued on page 5

A Rhode Island federal judge ruled yesterday that accusations in a defamation suit filed by Alpert Medical School professor Timothy Kinsella would not be sealed from the public, despite Kinsellas argument that disclosing the accusations would further damage his professional reputation. Kinsella, who is also a practicing radiation oncologist at the Rhode Island Hospital, teaches in the Department of Radiation Oncology.

He filed suit last May on seven counts including defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy against former cancer patient Amelia Weber of Tucson, A.Z. and five other unnamed defendants who had previously accused him of misconduct. Kinsella treated Weber for lip cancer from 2005 to 2006 when he was practicing in Ohio. After treatment, Weber filed a complaint of misconduct that the State Medical Board of Ohio investigated and closed, according to the suit. Weber also attempted to file civil action

against Kinsella and filed a criminal complaint, which the Cuyahoga County prosecutor investigated, finding no action that warranted criminal prosecution. Kinsellas suit alleges that for the past five years, Weber and the other defendants initiated a vindictive campaign to damage Kinsellas reputation, which included accusations that Kinsella sexually assaulted Weber, made vulgar comments to her, solicited her for sex, lied about his credentials and broke state and federal laws in disclosing continued on page 5

Low turnout expected in R.I. primary

By MAriyA BAshKATovA Contributing Writer

In one week, Rhode Islanders will select presidential candidates on their respective party ballots, though voter turnout in the primary is expected to be low.

city & state

The Rhode Island presidential primary will take place Tuesday, April 24 in various polling locations across the state. In the Republican primary, voters will choose between Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum and Buddy Roemer. President Obama is the only candidate listed on the Democrat primary ballot. On both parties ballots, voters can designate themselves uncommitted or write in their own candidate.

Tom Sullivan / Herald Despite remaining primaries in Rhode Island and other states, Romney is likely to secure the Republican nomination.

Since Rick Santorum announced the suspension of his presidential campaign April 10, Mitt Romney has been the undisputed favorite to win the Republican nomination, though Gingrich and Paul also remain in the national race. The states voters are not likely to influence the direction of the race. Despite the seemingly decided nature of the Republican race, primaries are still important for candidates because they predict voter turnout for the general election, said Wendy Schiller, associate professor of political science and public policy. Once you cast a primary vote, you are much more likely to vote in the general election, she said. Browns Republican Club is not endorsing a specific candidate, continued on page 3

weather

news....................2-3 CITY & sTaTe........4-5 edITorIal............6 opInIons.............7 sporTs..................8

inside

Testing

R.i. debates standardized tests

City & State, 4

Endorsement
The Heralds edit page board endorses anthony White 13
eDitoRial, 6

t o d ay

tomorrow

79 / 44

61 / 41

2 Campus news
C ALenDAR
TUeSDAY 5 P.m. International Cheese Tasting Brown Faculty Club, 1 Magee St. 7 P.m. The Hammer Movie Screening Metcalf Auditorium 8 P.m. 112 Years of 20th Century Music Grant Recital Hall APrIL 17 weDNeSDAY 5 P.m. Is India Shining? Lecture Watson Institute APrIL 18 By EMily BonEy Contributing Writer

the Brown Daily herald tuesday, April 17, 2012

Simmons to receive two honorary degrees

President Ruth Simmons will deliver the commencement addresses at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Rochester this year. She will also receive honorary degrees from the universities the 32nd and 33rd honorary degrees she has received in her lifetime. Simmons will speak at Oklahoma and Rochester May 11 and May 20, respectively. The fact that she is stepping down contributed to her selection this year, said Richard Feldman, University of Rochester dean of the college of arts, sciences and engineering. It seemed to be a good time. Feldman said he was delighted to have Simmons speak, this year especially. The University of Rochesters president hand-picks the commencement speaker each year, he said. Those of us who know (Simmons) think shes been a wonderful leader at Brown and at Smith before that, Feldman said. He cited her impressive life story and commitment to education as reasons for the selection. Simmons is a scholar who believes in the power of education to transform lives, a theme that resonates at the University of Oklahoma, wrote Catherine Bishop, vice president of public affairs at the University of Oklahoma, in an email to The Herald. Bishop cited Simmons recogni-

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emily Gilbert / Herald President Simmons will be commencement speaker at two universities this year.

tion in the U.S. News and World Report and Newsweek, along with her many successes as factors that contributed to the decision. Simmons was selected from a group of candidates by a committee including students, faculty and staff and was ultimately decided upon by the president of the university. Ruth Simmons is one of our nations most respected university leaders. She overcame adversity and economic hardship to achieve academic excellence and personal success, said David Boren, president of the University of Oklahoma. Her character and personal integrity make President Simmons an outstanding role model for our

students. Simmons has received more than 30 honorary degrees in her lifetime, from well-known institutions like Harvard, Princeton and Amherst, large research universities such as New York University and small liberal arts colleges including Union College. An honorary degree is the highest honor a university can bestow upon a person, Bishop wrote, adding that an honorary degree is recognition of a lifetime of achievement and contributions the individual has made to enrich the university, state, nation or world. Simmons wrote in an email to The Herald that she had not yet begun to write her speech.

CR oSSWoRD

Seniors to reflect on University experiences

continued from page 1 the classroom, she said. In order to supplement her own experience, she worked closely with the Swearer Center for Public Service and the Brown Refugee Youth Tutoring and Enrichment program to give back to the community that supports the University, she said. Her words to her senior cohorts will highlight the importance of commencement as a moment for us to be really reflective about the possible impact they can have on the world after completing the Brown experience, she said. After a whirlwind spring abroad her junior year, Prendergast took the fall off to return home and connect with her family, she said. While rejuvenating, she worked on an oral history project with her grandmother. Prendergast said she hopes to continue working in refugee support after she graduates. Leor Shtull-Leber came up with a metaphor for life while hiking last summer and realized it would serve well in a graduation speech. I had an idea and I wanted to share it with other people, said Shtull-Leber, a former design editor for The Herald. Though Shtull-Leber, who is concentrating in cognitive science, said she knows it will be difficult to make her message universal, she has tried to make it as applicable to as many people as possible. Her theme centers around transformation in moments of self-doubt to become a confident individual, she said. The process is totally symbolic of what Im talking about, she said, adding that it is ironic that she is worried people will not like her speech when her message is about confidence. Brown has made Shtull-Leber more aware of the norms that are part of everyday life, she said, adding that experiences on campus have taught her to be more inclusive. This sense of community was what attracted Shtull-Leber to Brown, she said. There is a character to the school. Shtull-Leber, who is from Ann Arbor, Mich., has been heavily involved with the Brown/RISD Hillel and has worked with the Hasbro Childrens Hospital. As a commencement speaker, Shtull-Leber is most excited to look out on the whole community attending the ceremony and smile at the people who have shaped her experiences as a student. Student orators are selected through a process based on both student nominations and the quality of the speeches they planned to deliver, according to the Office of the Dean of the College website. Candidates are nominated by fellow students or faculty members and then send in short reviews of the themes of their potential speeches. Semi-finalists presented a sixminute version of their speech to a committee of students, faculty members and deans, who then chose the final orators.

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the Brown Daily herald tuesday, April 17, 2012

Campus news 3
Candidates featured in next weeks Rhode Island primary
the businessman and former Massachusetts governor, currently holds the lead in the Republican primary with 684 delegates. He touts his experience in the private sector he co-founded Bain Capital, a highlyprofitable private equity firm as the basis for his campaigns focus on creating jobs and jump-starting the economy. Romney is considered to be moderate on social issues such as abortion and gay rights, but he has been criticized for changing his positions during the primary race to appeal to more conservative voters. Romney has also been criticized by fellow Republicans for championing health care reform as Massachusetts governor that included policies similar to aspects of President Obamas signature health care legislation, which Romney has promised to repeal as president.

Primary turnout still an important indicator

continued from page 1 said Terrence George 13, the clubs president, though most students have been in favor of Romney, with some in favor of Ron Paul. Students in the club are free to support and campaign for any candidate, he added. George estimated that five to 10 percent of Brown students identify as conservative. More than 100 students are members of the Republican Club, according to the groups listserv, while approximately 20 attend an average meeting. Romney is the candidate most likely to run a strong campaign against Obama, said Shawn Patterson 12, president of the Brown Democrats. Patterson and Schiller predicted low voter turnout for the Rhode Island presidential primaries, because the general election candidates for both parties have all but been determined. Rhode Island holds its primary for state leaders at a later date, which contributes to even lower voter turnout, Schiller said. Many students said they have lost interest in the Republican primary since Romney established a clear lead, but those still following the race were focused on issues such as health care, womens reproductive rights, gay marriage, a social safety net and unemployment. Some students felt alienated from some candidates based on their positions on these issues. Some of them kind of terrify me, said Cassidy Bennett 15, of the remaining Republican candidates. George said that to gain widespread support, a Republican candidate would need to express how exactly he plans to reinvigorate the economy and bring jobs back to this country. The Rhode Island primary is semi-closed, meaning a voter can participate only in the primary of the party for which he or she registered. A voter can register as unaffiliated, but he or she becomes affiliated with a party upon voting in that partys primary. Polling will be held on campus in Salomon from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 24. Following the primary, Rhode Island will send 19 delegates to the Republican National Convention, which begins August 27.

mitt romney,

famously promoted the conservative agenda through his Contract with America, a document that consolidated the partys priorities regarding social issues and the scope of government. He has promised to balance the federal budget through deep spending cuts but also plans to cut taxes.

Republican candidates, he does not support a federal ban on same-sex marriage.

has won 267 delegates, but he suspended his campaign April 10. He is particularly conservative on social issues and has been criticized for his extreme views on abortion and contraception, including outlawing abortion even in the case of rape and cutting federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Santorum has also spoken out in defense of traditional marriage and has stated his desire to make samesex marriage illegal. has won 55 delegates. His libertarian platform focuses on decreasing the role of federal government. Some of these positions such as his plans to end the war on drugs and return to the gold standard have received mixed reviews. He also opposes federal jurisdiction over marriage, meaning that unlike other

rick Santorum

is listed as a Republican on the Rhode Island primary ballot, but he is currently running as an independent, seeking nomination from the Americans Elect Party or the Reform Party. Roemer began his campaign as a Republican, but he was not invited to participate in the Republican debates early in the race. Roemer has stated that he wants to fight corruption in government and has refused to accept contributions in excess of $100.

Buddy roemer

ron Paul

Professor wins young investigator award

By sArAh GoddArd Contributing Writer

former speaker of the House of Representatives, is in a distant second out of candidates still in the Republican race, with 136 delegates. Gingrich was part of the 1994 resurgence of Republicans in Congress where he

Newt Gingrich,

is unopposed for the Democratic Partys nomination. During his first term, he passed an economic stimulus plan, passed healthcare reform legislation, oversaw the killing of Osama bin Laden and implemented the withdrawal of combat troops from Afghanistan. He has also been criticized for not fulfilling promises made during his 2008 campaign to revive the ailing economy.
Mariya Bashkatova

Barack Obama

Assistant Professor of Engineering Andrew Peterson was awarded the Young Investigator Award three weeks ago by the Office of Naval Research. The award was given to 26 out of more than 350 applicants and offers recipients grants to help fund research projects that show promise for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Petersons proposed research will focus on how to reduce the use of fossil fuels through the production of carbon-based fuels from renewable energy sources. While the grant amount is still being negotiated, it will likely be around $500,000, with other forms of support coming from both the University and the Navy, he said. Peterson, who joined the School of Engineering in January, said he now feels he has the security to set up a lab and pursue his research. He said he is obviously very excited.

Since he has only been at Brown for three months, Peterson said the Young Investigator Award came as a big surprise and a big delight. Young faculty members have a particularly tough time starting their research program because of the highly competitive funding environment, so Peterson is off to a fantastic start, wrote Dean of Engineering Larry Larson in an email to The Herald. The Navy does not grant many awards, and Petersons receipt of the Young Investigator Award is a great honor, said Eric Suuberg, associate dean of engineering for research and graduate initiatives. If his research is successful, Peterson said he expects the Navy to be a potential early adopter of this technology, as it would allow the Navy to synthesize its own fuel. In the fall, Peterson will be teaching ENGN 1120: Chemical and Biochemical Reactor Design, which he said will be very relevant to his research.

4 City & State

Kim to bring health perspective to bank
continued from page 1 president of Asian descent and has served at Dartmouths helm since 2009. His tenure has been marked by rocky relations with the campus community. In the wake of a fraternity hazing scandal this semester and increased numbers of reported sexual assaults, Kim was largely silent. The Dartmouth reported that many students felt Kim focused on boosting Dartmouths public image at the expense of internal matters. Dartmouths Board of Trustees will announce an interim president today and the head of the presidential search committee Thursday, the Dartmouth reported Monday. In the month since his nomination, Kim traveled to many African, Latin American and Asian nations as part of a global listening tour, which observers said was intended to bolster his credentials among developing countries critical of the nomination. Kims past work, such as cofounding the nonprofit Partners in Health and working at the World Health Organization, has often focused on development in these areas. Kim told the New York Times last week that he saw South Korea, where he was born, as an exemplar of rapid modernization and strong economic growth. What I bring to the bank which is a very special bank is this unshakable optimism that countries can go down the same path I saw Korea go down, he said. Theres no one-size-fits-all solution, but every country can do it. Terrie Wetle, associate dean of medicine for public health and public policy, said she applauded Kims selection as an innovative and important step for the World Bank. I think hes a fabulous choice, and as someone whos spent my professional career in public health, its so exciting to have a director of the bank who understands the intimate relationship between health and well-being and the economics of countries, she said. Wetle said others in her field were eager to see Kim effect change on a global financial level. Theres huge excitement because we see such an opportunity to use the vast resources of the World Bank to address really difficult but important population health questions, she said, adding that Kim is just a really nice and funny guy.
By MArinA hErnAndEz Contributing Writer

the Brown Daily herald tuesday, April 17, 2012

High-stakes testing called into question

Four Rhode Island school districts Coventry, East Providence, Providence and Woonsocket were flagged for suspicious test scores between 2008 and 2011 in a recent study of standardized testing by the Atlanta JournalConstitution. The results have prompted debate on the need for high-stakes testing to evaluate teacher effectiveness and student proficiency. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigated 196 school districts nationwide and flagged those districts where more than 10 percent of classes which are composed of all students enrolled in the same grade at the same school demonstrated unusually high or low performance compared to the norm. In Coventry, 14.29 percent of classes were flagged for abnormal performance in 2009, but this number dropped to below 4 percent in 2011, the study showed. In 2009, 12.5 percent of classes in East Providence scored unusually high or low. Nearly 30 percent of classes in the Woonsocket district demonstrated a large number of scores outside the norm in 2008, a rate more than double that of any other Rhode Island school district that year. Providence classes were flagged at rates of 13.27 percent in 2008 and 11.21 percent in 2011, but abnormal score levels fell below 10 percent in the years between. Since the results were released in March, East Providence has been removed from the list of school districts with unusual test score patterns, said Elliot Krieger, spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Education. There have been few instances of testing irregularities in the state over the past decade, and in each case, educators involved were required to receive additional training in proper procedures for test administration, he added. There was no cheating and nothing was ever found to be fraudulent in Woonsocket, said Giovanna Donoyan, superintendent of Woonsocket School District. She said Woonsocket schools were flagged due to an administrative error within the district the reading booklets for the standardized test were distributed and collected out of order, and in some cases they were stored in open areas. Despite the Journal-Constitutions report, Donoyan said she maintains full confidence in the honesty and integrity of the educators and students in Rhode Island. The Journal-Constitution began auditing the standardized testing process in part to investigate the role standardized testing plays in teacher evaluations. Rhode Island educators receive yearly evaluations based on standardized test results. Teachers that consistently receive evaluations of ineffective lose their certifications. The emphasis on standardized testing puts too much pressure on teachers and detracts from their ability to teach effectively, said Rep. Eileen Naughton, D-Warwick. The education system should allow teachers more freedom to improve their teaching, she said. Though some legislators are looking to limit the impact of standardized tests in schools, the Rhode Island Department of Education plans to expand testing requirements. In an attempt to more accurately assess students, the Rhode Island Department of Education instituted a standardized testing requirement that will begin in 2014. In a letter to high school freshmen and their families, Education Commissioner Deborah Gist wrote that beginning with students graduating in 2015, students must test at Level 2 partially proficient in reading and math on the state assessment in order to graduate high school. In opposition to the Department of Educations emphasis on high-risk testing, Naughton and Sen. Harold Metts, D-Providence, recently introduced legislation that would not require a standardized test to evaluate a students eligibility to receive a diploma. I fear that these standardized tests will diminish the creativity of teachers and force them to teach to the test, Naughton said. Advocacy groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union have voiced support for removing the testing requirement due to their disproportionate effects on students. The high-stakes testing requirement will have a stunning and severe adverse impact on every community in the state, said Steve Brown, executive director for the Rhode Island ACLU. Forty-four percent of students in the state would risk not graduating under these new requirements, and most of these students would be black, Latino or special needs, according to Rhode Island ACLU projections.

the Brown Daily herald tuesday, April 17, 2012

City & State 5

Sexual allegations to remain in public eye
continued from page 1 patient information. According to the suit, Weber also claimed that Kinsella was an unethical physician, sexual predator and pathological liar. The suit claims that the defendants sent defamatory emails and letters to multiple recipients including President Ruth Simmons, Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences Edward Wing and Rhode Island Hospital administrators and maintain a website promulgating these accusations. In yesterdays hearing, attorney Stephen Reid Jr. sought to seal the section including specific allegations against Kinsella, arguing that keeping the allegations public would force Kinsella to indirectly promote statements against him and put more ammunition in Ms. Webers gun. U.S. District Court Judge William Smith denied the motion on the grounds that notoriety and embarrassment is not a reason for overriding the assumption of public access, he said. Kinsella is suing for a court order to shut down the website and stop the defendants from distributing false information. He is also seeking punitive damages. August, which found the park was eligible for national park status. The corridor was deemed eligible because the resources of the Blackstone River Valley depict a distinctive and important aspect of American history that is not adequately represented elsewhere, according to the study. The resources include textile mills that represent the origin of the American Industrial Revolution and illustrate American economic development. Naming the corridor a national park is feasible because existing roads and visitor infrastructure provide adequate access to the park. The report finally determined that the resources under consideration would be best managed with the long term involvement of the National Park Service. Reed introduced the bill October 13, 2011 in conjunction with Sen. John Kerry, D-M.A., Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Sen. Scott Brown, R-M.A., in the Senate and Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., Rep. Richard Neal, D-M.A., Rep. James McGovern, D-M.A., and Rep. James Langevin, D-R.I., in the House of Representatives. Reed brought the bill before the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks March 7. (The bill) would create a multisite park that could boost tourism and economic development in the region and preserve as well as protect valuable natural and cultural resources for future generations of Americans, according to Reeds website. If the bill passes the subcommittee, it will need to be approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee before it could be considered on the floor of the Senate.

Senators push for Blackstone natl park

By Billy wATTErson Contributing Writer

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., proposed legislation to establish a new national historic park in the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, which extends through both Rhode Island and Massachusetts along the Blackstone River. Reed is the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior and Environment, the committee in charge of funding for the Nation Park Service. This plan has been in the works for a long time and is the next logical step for the park, said Edward Sanderson, executive director of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Committee. The designation as a national heritage corridor was important because it recognized the park and provided it with federal resources, but the designation is slated to expire. The new classification as a national historical park will permanently protect the park and will give the corridor greater recognition and access to funding and other resources, he added. Recognizing the corridor as a national park will also increase traffic to the park, Sanderson said. Converting the park would transfer authority to the National Park Service, so national park rangers would be a constant presence in the park. The new park would be funded by selling land on the Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling companies. Sanderson said there has been no opposition to the bill on environmental grounds or otherwise. The National Park Service released a special resources study last

CoMICS
Chester Crabson | Tessa Carroll

Fraternity of evil | eshan Mitra, Brendan Hainline and Hector Ramirez

W. crew wins Varsity Eight races

continued from page 1 mark of 5:25.4. Obviously, we were disappointed that we didnt win that race, Fleming said. However, (Harvard) is favored to win the national championship, so to lose by .6 seconds is not that bad. The men return to action Saturday for Brunos final home race of the season against Dartmouth on the Seekonk River. Its the last home race for our seniors, so theres a lot of energy and excitement, Fleming said. Despite the emotions that come with the seniors final race, Cooke said he aims to ensure that the squad remains focused on their larger goals for the season. I think the importance of the season is going to take center stage, he said. Certainly, we want to honor our seniors and have them go out in a great way. But the focus is going to be on the fact that this is one race in a string of races that is going to prepare us for the championship. The No. 10 womens crew team was also in action last weekend, traveling to Gold River, Calif., to take part in the Lake Natoma Invitational. The races were held at the Sacramento State Aquatics Center, the same location where the Bears earned the 2011 Division I Championship a little less than one year ago. Bruno was placed in a field alongside the University of Texas and No. 13 Washington State Cougars, two of the countrys elite programs. The Bears Varsity Eight finished in 6:36.7, nearly seven seconds ahead of second-place Cougars and the second fastest time of any crew at the Invitational. Bruno also clinched a victory in the Second Varsity Eight with a time of 6:50.2 but was topped by Washington State in the Varsity Four. The Bears won their grouping with 17 points, the second-most in the Invitational behind the University of California at Berkeley. The Bears travel to Ithaca Saturday for an Ivy League matchup against No. 14 Cornell and No. 16 Columbia.

6 editorial & Letter

eDIToRIAL
White 13 for UCS President
Beginning at noon today, students can visit MyCourses to cast their vote for the next president of the Undergraduate Council of Students. We endorse Anthony White 13 as the next UCS president. We are thoroughly impressed with Whites accomplishments thus far. White is a member of Brown for Financial Aid and held leadership positions in the Brown Democrats. He was a major advocate for the Opportunity RI Bill, which would provide graduates of Rhode Island colleges or universities a tax credit of up to $8,400 for their student loan payments if they remain in the state to work and also was a key figure in establishing gender-neutral housing for freshmen. Whites work reflects a set of priorities that seem very much in line with the needs of the student body. We are even more impressed by Whites platform. Though all three candidates for UCS president named financial aid and increased funding for student groups as priorities, White also discussed increasing the number of faculty members of color, an important priority for a school where faculty composition does not match a stated commitment to diversity. White also hopes to establish a student advocacy program, not only to help students gain knowledge of their rights, but also as a centralized source of aid for students navigating Browns bureaucracy. White strikes a balance between his opponents, Robert Bentlyewski 13 and David Rattner 13, which we believe is ideal for the next UCS president. Bentlyewski, who has no prior experience with UCS, would rewrite its constitution entirely. We recognize that this approach could be appealing to students who feel that UCS operates inefficiently. However, we believe that having a student government in flux would miss a major opportunity to present a united, organized lobbying voice for Browns new president to make sure her long-term priorities have an appropriate undergraduate and financial aid focus. Further, Bentlyewskis plan to combine UCS and the Undergraduate Finance Board would institutionalize a problematic system in which UCS would fund itself, not dissimilar to the unpopular UCS constitutional amendment voted down earlier this semester. On the other end of the spectrum, Rattner has been involved with UCS since his freshman year, is currently its vice president, was Campus Life Chair and served on the Presidential Search Committee. Rattners impressive list of accomplishments and positions are highly appealing, but we believe that Whites equally impressive accomplishments outside of UCS would offer a fresher perspective from which UCS could benefit. This was evident in the way each candidate acted during the referendum process surrounding the UCS-UFB relationship. Rattner felt that, as vice president, he should support the proposal when it was presented to the general body meeting. White voiced his objections to the referendum in the general body meeting. Whites experience with UCS does not prevent him from standing up for the undergraduate body. White, who proposed the idea of UCS members taking Brown Dining Services shifts to increase their interactions with students, seems most truly invested in representing and connecting with his fellow students. We therefore encourage students not just to become involved with our student government and vote, but, more specifically, to vote for White. See tomorrows Herald for our endorsements for UCS Vice President and UFB Chair. editorials are written by The heralds editorial page board. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.

the Brown Daily herald tuesday, April 17, 2012

eDIToRIAL CARToon

by lo r e n f u lto n

Le T TeR To THe eDIToR

Brown should not stand for intolerance
To the editor: In her column (Defending the right to disagree, April 16), Camille Spencer-Salmon 14 says Brown students reaction the unbidden provocation by the right-wing, homophobic group that stormed campus last year was intolerant and as oppressive as any hate-peddling group out there. This is a gross exaggeration of the regrettable minor flaws in the way students responded to impromptu, organized hate speech. Tolerance of intolerance, say what one may, is simply cowardice, and bigoted intruders deserve nothing but contempt, and contempt unalloyed. Dominic mhiripiri 12.5

CoRReC TIon
An article in last Tuesdays Herald (UCS presidential hopefuls declare candidacy, April 10) incorrectly spelled the name of UCS Presidential candidate Robert Bentlyewski 13. The Herald regrets the error.

t h e b r ow n da i ly h e r a l d
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Some of them kind of terrify me.

QuoTe oF THe DAY

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Cassidy Bennett 15, referring to remaining GoP candidates

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the Brown Daily herald tuesday, April 17, 2012

opinions 7
4.49 percent of residents yearly incomes. This estimate can be assumed to be lower for wealthier property owners, seeing as the difference between assessed and actual property value upon selling disproportionately increases as the assessed property value increases. This is the point where I was prepared to hear some major dissenting opinions from the Brown Democrats. As a moderate liberal, I felt pretty concerned that such a strong base of Democrats existed between Taveras and the Brown Democrats because, upon further investigation, I am no longer sure what even qualifies him as a Democrat. I can only guess why nobody spoke up. Perhaps the Brown Democrats were trying to be polite and noncontroversial so as to attract more guest speakers in the future. Maybe they are just a group of strictly moderate Democrats, though I hardly find that believable at such a liberal university. What I think is most probask for higher taxes. If not, it will truly be the party of deficit spending and will not have my vote.The more frightening implications of the Brown Democrats support for Taveras is that if I were asked which group of young people I would most trust to run my government in the future, I would have previously said, with full confidence, Brown students. Now I am not so sure. The United States government cannot continue down a path of fiscal irresponsibility and expect to maintain the approval of its citizens, let alone its credit rating. If future Democratic Party leaders are uncomfortable with questioning a smallcity mayors decision to value maintaining current tax rates at the expense of its already terrible public schooling, then how on Earth can we expect them to question the high spending without increased taxes seen in the Democratic Party on the federal level? I believe the student body needs to hold the Brown Democrats accountable. We are a highly educated liberal constituency a constituency that will tend to support Democrats over Republicans. If the party members whom we will likely elect to lead the United States are represented at Brown by students who passively support massive education cuts to preserve the status quo tax rate for the wealthy, then that is what we, too, transitively support. I will not stand for that. Matt Brundage 15 expects more. He can be reached at matthew_brundage@brown.edu.

Holding the Brown Democrats accountable

MATT BRunDAGe
opinions Columnist

Before I begin questioning their platform, I first want to say that I believe the Brown Democrats are, in general, a positive force at the University. I attended a few meetings early on in the year and still receive their colorful emails. They have done incredible work with Marriage Equality Rhode Island, fighting Voter ID laws and helping their members earn political internships in Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. Based on those I have interacted with in my political science classes, I believe the members have a solid dedication to the common good and, for the most part, the values of the Democratic platform. However, I was extremely taken aback by their response to some of Mayor Angel Taveras comments during his Q&A with the organization in February. At one point, the conversation came to Taveras justifying why he believed Brown owed more money to Providence. His fundamental point was that everyone else was also being asked to pitch in. He pointed to the fact that five public schools in Providence had to be cut and that even the existing public schools and hospitals were being asked to contribute more. Taveras then argued that he could only raise taxes so much, with the current average property tax amounting to about

If the party is going to continue to support current or even significantly lower levels of government spending, it still needs to be willing to ask for higher taxes. If not, it will truly be the party of deficit spending and will not have my vote.

in Providence would elect a mayor who would dramatically cut funding for public schools, fire all teachers in the area so that they could be reevaluated for their positions the following year and refuse to increase taxes on its more affluent constituents in order to maintain a balanced budget. Despite my thoughts, which I am fairly confident are well in line with the Democratic Party platform, not one member of the Brown Democrats spoke up. In fact, for the entire session, I felt uncomfortable with the level of amiability that

able is that everyone in the room was quietly considering that they might have a future internship opportunity under Taveras, and they wanted to steer clear of any controversy. If my latter suggestion is in fact the case, then I am thoroughly disappointed. We do not need another generation sticking to the status quo of Rhode Island politics. These Democrats need to be held accountable. If the party is going to continue to support current or even significantly lower levels of government spending, it still needs to be willing to

Why I gave to Brown

MAnAS GAuTAM
Guest Columnist
ery year. Each year, the senior gifts made by the classes ahead of ours have helped sponsor financial aid, first-year seminars, UTRAs, library resources and have added to teaching resources. Think back to the first-year seminar you took freshman year. The professors went above and beyond to make the course topics interesting and made sure that we were included in classroom discussions. It was a great way to adjust to Brown life, imresearch or worked in a lab at Brown. The research was always our own initiative, and we did it because we wanted to pursue a question in an area of our interest. Such research opportunities via UTRAs were possible due to the senior gift as well. Though I will not be a part of Brown next year I am hoping to pass all my classes I want to make sure future students have the same, if not better, opportunities than I did. personal experiences at Brown, which are far less impressive than most of my readers who are leaders in their fields. I did this to make you look back and remember all the moments that were special as well. I have shared my own story of how others giving to Brown has helped me connect with students and professors who will be my friends for life and has helped shape who I am today. The little it will always be too little, no matter the figure I gave to Brown tripled this year because of anonymous donors who are matching every seniors gift threeto-one up to a class total $25,000 and a match total of $75,000. My gift also contributed to the goal of reaching 75 percent participation the previous highest record was a mere 74.8 percent, which is about 20 percent less than our unhappy Ivy peers, surprisingly that earns our class and Brown another extra $25,000. Giving to Brown is one of the greatest financial investments I have made. Seniors, I humbly speak to you to also give back through our class Brown Senior Gift. If for no other reason, give so that our class reaches its participation goal and sets a record. Let us show Brown how much we love it and that we are grateful to be here. Manas Gautam 12 is a senior concentrating in Applied Mathematics and economics. He can be reached at manas_gautam@brown.edu.

My four years at Brown are coming to an end and, to all of my non-senior readers, I would like to remind you of the cliche advice about not taking your years at Brown for granted since they go by faster than one would like. I write to you today as not only a Brown student but also as the co-chair of the Senior Class Gift committee. Over the next few weeks, students will be hearing from me and other classmates working on our Senior Class Gift asking them to make whatever contributions they can. I wanted to pen my thoughts in favor of giving as someone who has benefited a lot from charitable Brown alumni. I trust that most of you know the usual speech that goes with fundraising for a charitable institution, and I am not going to judge, take a moral high ground or repeat the same for fear of you rolling your eyes and skipping over this piece. Senior Gift is the start of a conversation with the graduating class about giving back to Brown in the coming decades so our University can continue to thrive. The gifts we make are directed through the Brown Annual Fund, which provides immediate funds for the University ev-

Giving to Brown is one of the greatest financial investments I have made.

prove upon writing and reading skills and make friends with other freshmen. Recall your freshman experiences, from going to FishCo on Wednesday night to first-year seminars to using the various library resources. I am sure our freshmen year experiences would not be the same without them. Like many of you, I have stayed in Providence over the summer and done

This is my senior year, and I cannot get enough of the wonderful learning platform Brown has provided me. I am also serving as a teaching assistant in two classes and contributing back to the classes as well. It has already been quite a hectic and sleepless semester, but I would not have it any other way. In the past few paragraphs, I have come forward and shared some of my

Daily Herald Sports tuesday

the Brown

tuesday, April 17, 2012

Sunday walk-offs lead to series split

By AlExAndrA conwAy SportS Staff Writer

SOFTBALL

w. LACrOSSe

The womens softball team hosted Ivy League rival Dartmouth for two doubleheaders this weekend. The Bears dropped both Saturday games to the Big Green (10-15, 3-7 Ivy), but regained focus and came back with two walk-off victories, 5-4 and 4-3, the following day. Bruno (8-20, 5-7 Ivy) is currently in second place in the Ivy North Division. Game one began with four scoreless innings Saturday. Dartmouth broke through with two runs in the fifth inning and then another run in the sixth to take a 3-0 lead. But the Bears responded strongly in the bottom of the inning with a pair of two-run home runs from rookie Kelsey Hom 15 and Stephanie Thompson 13 to give Bruno a 4-3 lead. With one inning left to play, it looked as if the Bears were set to win, but the Big Green rallied and tallied three runs in the top of the seventh to take a two-run lead. In Browns final at-bat, the team loaded the bases but could not drive home the tying run, losing 6-4. Dartmouth gained the early advantage in game two, scoring four runs in the first inning. The Bears responded by tallying three runs in the bottom of the third, but the Dartmouth batters hit four home runs in the next three innings to gain an 8-3 lead. The Big Green then tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh to secure the 11-3 win. We simply didnt recover mentally from the devastating game one loss and because of that, we were not in the second game, said Head Coach Deedee Enabenter-Omidiji. We had that never say die attitude but fell just short with the bases loaded. Im proud of the way we fight back late in the games, but unfortunately we are waiting too long to make adjustments at the plate. But the Bears were able to make those adjustments Sunday and came away with two wins over the Big Green to earn a series split. We came out more aggressive and our pitchers knew what to expect, said designated hitter Alyssa Caplan 13. We were also a lot more focused. In the first game, Caplans walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh gave Brown the 5-4 victory. When (Caplan) stepped to the plate, we felt really confident because we always considered her a clutch hitter, Enabenter-Omidiji said. And she came through again. First baseman Kate Strobel 12 set the tone at the plate in the bottom of the first by leading the

Bears off with a home run. The Bears sat on a 1-0 lead but then fell behind 4-1. Strobel then hit a double to right-center to bring in Jen Kries 14. The Big Green intentionally walked Thompson, and Danielle Palms 14 hit a grounder to score Avery Silverstein 13, which evened the score at four. Caplans double brought in Thompson to break the deadlock and gave the Bears a 5-4 win. Bruno carried its streak of solid play into game two. The Bears jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the second inning, but Dartmouth tied the score by the top of the fifth. A single by Thompson in the bottom of the seventh brought home Strobel to earn Bruno a 4-3 win and its second walk-off victory of the day. Enabenter-Omidji said she was happy with the teams play on Sunday and pointed out the role of the bench in both wins. Although we felt like the series got away from us in the first game on Saturday, we were excited about the Sunday wins because some positive things came from it, Enabenter-Omidiji said. Our bench made a huge contribution for us. The players coming off the bench just dont occupy space they study the hitting charts and pay close attention to whats going on. In addition, they are antsy to get in the game and help the team. They stayed involved in the game and made timely contributions. Jen Kries and Misa Wong (15) came off the bench and got hits in clutch situations, Caplan said. Enabenter-Omidji also acknowledged the strong performances of the pitchers throughout the weekend. I want to commend the pitching efforts of Jess Cherness (14) and Denise van der Goot (15), Enabenter-Omidiji said. Its tough facing hitters in a fourgame series, and they made some very good adjustments. In addition, super utility Erika Mueller (13) did an outstanding job behind the plate handling the young pitching staff. With only three series left, Bruno is looking to close out its season on a high note. Sundays games were super exciting, Caplan said. So these give us good momentum going into the next few games. The Bears will travel next to Cambridge, Mass. to play firstplace Harvard (24-10, 11-1) in doubleheaders April 21 and 22. We hope to remain positive going into our series with a very tough Harvard (team), Enabenter-Omidiji said. We want to bring that fighting attitude to Cambridge on Saturday and see what happens.

Jesse Schwimmer / Herald

First-year Alexandra Crerend 15 led the Bears with four goals in the win over Sacred Heart.

Defense aids bounce-back win

By nAThAniEl huEThEr SportS Staff Writer

After a crushing 16-8 loss to Harvard April 7, the womens lacrosse team rebounded with a 15-5 win against Sacred Heart Saturday at the Berylson Family Fields. The Bears (6-5) started off s t ro n g , thanks to Sacred Heart 5 two earBrown 15 ly goals f r o m Kaela McGilloway 12 and Alexandra Crerend 15. Despite a two-goal response from the Pioneers (6-8), Brown dominated in the first half, outshooting Sacred Heart 22-8. Head coach Keely McDonald 00 attributed the teams dominance

not only to its prolific offense, but to its dominating defense. I thought our defense was a real bright spot for us, McDonald said. (The defenders) were aggressive and smart. With nearly 11 minutes remaining in the first period, Crerend scored her second of the game, which was the first of 10 unanswered goals for Bruno. Before halftime, Sacred Heart only managed one more goal, giving the Bears a 12-3 lead. Brunos offense was not as productive in the second half as it had been in the first, only managing three goals in the remaining 30 minutes. Crerend put in her 19th goal of the season to kick off the scoring in the second half.

Neither team would score again until there were under seven minutes remaining. This time, it was Sacred Heart that added a tally to its side of the scoreboard. Fewer than two minutes later, the Pioneers scored again. But Sacred Hearts run came too late in the game, as Brown closed out the win with goals from Bre Hudgins 14 and Emily Klein 15. McDonald commended her entire team for the win. Its great that we were able to get every player in the game, and I think every player did a nice job keeping the level (of play) really high, she said. The Bears will resume Ivy League play against Yale in New Haven April 18.

TrACk & FIeLD

Bears take first place at home

By JAMEs BluM SportS Staff Writer

www.browndailyherald.com

The Bears protected their home turf Saturday as both the mens and womens track and field teams clawed their ways to first-place finishes at the annual Brown Invitational. The men earned 165 points, placing them atop the six-team field. The women, finishing with 173 points, narrowly beat the University of Rhode Island to finish first out of the eight teams competing. I thought the meet went really well. The running races were really competitive, said Michelle Eisenreich, director of mens and womens track and field. It was wellattended, and we had a nice alumni and parent get-together after. Five team members won titles at the invitational. John Spooney 14 claimed the only victory on the track by winning the 400-meter dash in 47.71 seconds. Spooney had not run the 400 since high school and said he was very nervous at the start of the race. I had a game plan, and I think I executed it well, Spooney said. The

400 is a bear of a race. Spooney added that running the 400 was an experimental attempt to log some endurance work as training for the 200-meter dash, his main event. Off the track, the Bears were leaps and bounds ahead of the competition. Peter Rhodes 15 leaped 22-3 to win the long jump and Kenneth Thompson 13 claimed first in the triple jump, covering 47-1 1/2. The final two titles for Bruno came in the javelin throw and shot put, as Nick Keeling 14 hurled the javelin 197-1 and Daniel Smith 13 fired the shot 51 1/4. We saw a lot of technical things we had been working on, Eisenreich said. They competed very well. Throwers on the womens side also had strong performances as Lacey Craker 13 won the discus with a toss of 44.26 meters and Holleigh Bergstrom 14 earned first in the javelin, launching the spear 1311. Another notable performance came from Brienna Crimmins 14 in the long jump, as she leaped 17-8 1/4 to win the event. On the track, the women were

led by Lauren Waterbury 15, who finished first in the 400 in 54.58 and Alex Stanton 15, who won the 400-meter hurdles in 1 minute, 2 seconds. Waterbury and Stanton were also part of the winning 4x400meter relay team, along with Colby Lubman 14 and Mimi Narbonne 15. Bree Shugarts 13 had a strong performance in the one-mile run, finishing second with a time of 4 minutes, 49 seconds. Besting her previous fastest time by seven seconds, Shugarts said she knew she was going to have a good race in the middle of the third lap when she still felt strong. I knew it was going to be a fast mile going into the race, Shugarts said. I really wanted to get a good time because a lot of other people in the Ivy League have been putting down some good times. The Bears will compete next weekend at the Larry Ellis Invitational hosted by Princeton as they continue to prepare for the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships May 5 and 6 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.