daily herald

the Brown
vol. cxxii, no. 113
friday, november 30, 2012

since 1891

inSide

Page 4

Group rallies to show support for coal divestment

By Maxine Joselow
Staff Writer

Dumpster dive
EcoReps reveal recycling mistakes in trash sort Page 5

Bluest Eye
Key 13 successfully directs a tragic adaptation for stage

Page 7

Free $peech
today

Tennis 14 and Dreschler 15 debate money in politics

tomorrow

36 / 28

41 / 38

Students with the Brown Divest Coal Campaign called upon President Christina Paxson to divest the University from its alleged coal and fossil fuel investments at a rally outside University hall Thursday. About 145 students attended the rally, said Divest Coal coordinator rebecca rast 13.5. Students stomped and chanted such slogans as Brown take action! Stop extraction! and whats our goal? Divest coal! They also waved cardboard signs that read Stop burning our future and dive$t coal. A few even braved the cold in white t-shirts with the rectangular black Divest Coal logo. executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Beppie huidekoper previously told The herald she was unsure whether the University actually had any investments in the 15 companies. The goal of the rally was to demonstrate to Paxson the depth of student support for the Universitys divestment

from the 15 highest-polluting coal companies in the nation, said emily Kirkland 13. Paxson has been very receptive when we met with her in the past, she added. were here to show that there is deep student support for divesting from coal and that (Paxson) can make the right choice and make Brown a leader in the fight against climate change, said Jordan Schulz 16. to formally call for divestment, Paxson would have to refer to the Advisory Committee on Corporate responsibility in Investment Policies, which would make a recommendation to her and to the Corporation as to whether the University should divest. the rally came three days after environmentalist Bill McKibben P16 encouraged the Divest Coal Campaign to keep fighting in a speech on campus Monday night. Schulz built off McKibbens momentum in her welcoming address at the rally. At the event we saw a picture of / / rally page 5 kids from haiti

Tom Sullivan / herald

about 145 students gathered outside University hall at a rally Thursday to call for browns divestment from its alleged ties to coal and fossil fuels.

rise in violent crime prompts dPS to seek hires med School

By Caleb Miller
Contributing Writer

Violent crime incidents on College hill increased by around 90 percent in 2012 compared to 2011, said Mark Porter, chief of police and director of public safety. Burglary cases have almost doubled this year compared to last year, he said. In response to the recent spikes, the Department of Public Safety has submitted a proposal to the University resources Committee requesting funds to hire four new officers for the night shifts on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Porter said. he added that the new officers focuses would be on cell phone thefts and other street crimes. If accepted by the UrC, the recommendation will be submitted for verification by President Christina Paxson in January and the Corporation in February before it is worked into the budget

next fall. For the sake of the safety of the students and all the people that work here, we always take a look at how we are trying to protect people, said Provost Mark Schlissel P15, who heads the UrC. The UrC pays particular attention to how DPS is staffed and deployed, he said. Crime rates are rising on urban campuses across the nation, Porter said. Deputy Chief of Police Paul Shanley added that the worrisome aspects of this rise are the increased prevalence of violence and the growing number of distinct individuals committing isolated crimes, as opposed to the same perpetrators repeating offenses. The proposal comes toward the end of a substantial effort launched by DPS to combat the climbing crime rate, Porter said. This effort has included overtime hours for current officers and joint patrols with the Providence Police Department, he said.weve really worked together to

see what we can do to stem the tide for this street crime, Shanley said. These efforts have brought some success as DPS has apprehended a higher number of suspects, Porter said, but he added that the proposed new officer positions are necessary to adequately combat the rise in crime. Because UrC deliberations are currently in progress, Schlissel said he could not comment on the likelihood of the proposals acceptance, though he added that the rising crime rate is a major concern among administrators. The UrC accepted a similar proposal in 2011 to increase the number of DPS officers in the Knowledge District around the Alpert Medical School. Though the number of officers would not increase until at least next fall, Schlissel said the proposal is time-sensitive because of the preparation new officers must undergo.

new hires need to attend the police academy before they can begin work on campus, Schlissel said. That takes a little while, and thats why were trying to get an early start on this, he said. Students responded positively to the idea of an increased number of officers on duty, but some added that they already feel safe on campus and have little interaction with DPS outside of using Saferide and Safewalk. I think theyre great I dont have any complaints, said Andrew white 13. he said he felt as safe this year as in past years and has not noticed the climb in crime rate. In campus law enforcement, you always have to look at the trends and make sure you are tracking the crime, Porter said. And as the campus continues to expand, its going to be paramount that our level of safety and police activity meets that growth.

names new psychiatry chair

By will FesperMan
Contributing Writer

Hookah causes little hoopla on campus

By phoebe Draper
Senior Staff Writer

evan ThomaS / herald

The old Queen, a dark dance piece that plays with the effects of music, light and water, will debut at the pw this weekend. See page 2.

Despite the existence of three hookah lounges within walking distance of Thayer Street and health researchers increasing investigations of hookah usage among college students, many students said Brown does not have a hookah culture. If there is a hookah culture here, I am thoroughly unaware of it, said Dylan Felt 16. hookah refers to a mechanism in which smoke is pulled through heated water and inhaled through a long tube. It can be used to smoke any kind of leaf,

science & research

including marijuana, but is most often used to smoke flavored tobacco, said Kate Carey, professor of behavioral and social sciences. hookah has a long tradition in other parts of the world and is a fairly common, socially-sanctioned way of smoking tobacco in the Middle east, Carey said. hookah has spread to the United States, which is now seeing a recent upsurge in hookah bars near college campuses, Carey added. Kim Chaika, owner of a hookah supply store on waterman Street called hookahs and More, said her business more than tripled in the past three years. Smokey socializing / / hookah page 4 Students

Steven rasmussen 74 MD77 P13 will be the new chair of the Department of Psychiatry and human Behavior at the Alpert Medical School beginning Jan. 1, the University announced Monday. rasmussen, who has been the interim chair of the department for three years, is widely considered a pioneer in the research and treatment of obsessivecompulsive disorder. rasmussens appointment along with the recent hiring of rees Cosgrove, chair of the department of neurosurgery, and Karen Furie, chair of the department of neurology is part of the Med Schools plan to strengthen brain science research at Brown. The Department of Psychiatry and human Behavior already receives more research funding than any other department at Brown, said ed wing, dean of medicine and biological sciences. Brain science is an area where Brown can really compete nationally to be among the best, rasmussen said. As department chair, rasmussen said he plans to increase collaboration between the Department of Psychiatry and the proposed school of public health. There are going to be a lot of exciting opportunities to combine forces with faculty in the public health school, in areas like geriatric care and AIDS research, he said. rasmussen has already garnered international attention for Browns psychiatry department, said Patricia recupero, the president and Ceo of Butler hospital, who has worked with rasmussen for almost / / Chair page 5

2 arts & culture

C alendar
TODAY 5P .m. SWE Gingerbread House Competition Barus & Holley 8P .m. Brown University Orchestra concert Sayles Hall 1P .m. Naked Shell Scavenger Hunt Faunce Arch NOV. 30 TOmORROW 12 A.m. IMPROVidence Goodnight Show Salomon Center, Room 001 DEC. 1 By Maggie livingsTone
artS & Culture Staff Writer

the Brown DAIly herAlD FrIDAy, noVeMBer 30, 2012

experimental old Queen reigns at PW

when audience members file into the Upspace to see The old Queen, running at Production workshop this weekend, they will see Anna Muselmann 14 dressed in tattered rags and sitting on a wooden platform facing away from them. Muselmann, who plays an imprisoned Marie Antoinette, is the force behind this powerful onewoman show, an experimental dance piece that is more disjointed artistic expression than fluid movement. The show begins with Muselmann sitting in this haunting pose for nearly five minutes, her body slumped forward, with only her head making minute movements. The room is shrouded in darkness, with a lone spotlight shining on Muselmann. She then drags her limp body across the stage while panting and snarling. Throughout the nearly 45-minute performance, Muselmann uses the breadth of the stage to contort her body into rhythmic poses while elements of light, music and water are used to create stunning and at times disturbing images using her body as a metaphorical canvas. The old Queen is adapted from Portuguese director Miguel Moreira and performer romeu runas The old King. Director Ari rodriguez 13 saw the piece over the summer in Avignon, France, and wanted to bring it to Brown. we decided to keep the few lines of dialogue in French, rodriguez said. obviously because she is a woman, we knew we had to make some of the movements different for a queen rather than a king. As dialogue is limited to two lines in the whole show, the focus is on body language. The audience can sense Muselmanns powerlessness she sporadically bows her head, a reference to a guillotine. rodriguez also acts as a kind of half-character, entering at various moments during the show clad in black, portraying a prison guard. In the original show, the role of the prison guard was limited, but rodriguez decided to expand the character. In a particularly poignant scene, Muselmann sits face-to-face with the guard and presents him with flowers. They simulate drinking tea and mimic each others motions. rehearsals began in early october, when rodriguez presented his idea to Muselmann, a good friend of his with whom he had worked on Guests, another show he directed through Pw. The choreography was a dual effort by rodriguez and Muselmann. For most of the rehearsals its been exclusively the two of us in the room, Muselmann said. we are both playing the part of performer and director in a way. The message of the piece is not entirely clear, but that is the directors intent. The absence of context allows each audience member to form his or her own conclusions about the unconventional movements and theater space. I dont think Im in control of what the audience gets out of it, rodriguez said. Its a scary thing for me. rodriguez warns audience members that there is brief nudity, a small chance of getting wet and some sinister themes. But rodriguez said he is fine with audience members leaving during the show if they are uncomfortable with the content. Its a dark show. It can be a little scary, but weve tried to make it very safe, he said. The old Queen is running nov. 30 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Pw.

menu
SHARPE REFECTORY VERNEY-WOOLLEY DINING HALL

lUnCh
Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich, Pancakes and French Toast, Cajun Apple Cake Vegetable Strudel, Sloppy Joe Sandwich, Cauliflower Au Gratin, Vegan Bean Stew, Rice Krispie Treats

Dinner
Pesto Seafood Pasta, Vegetarian Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina, Italian Meatloaf, Pumpkin Tofu Cheesecake Roast Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Chicken Saute with Mustard Sauce, Chocolate Mousse Torte

Sudoku

Concert mixes beats, beatnik literature

By riley Davis
Contributing Writer

CroSSWord

the ensemble group Aurea put on a concert thursday evening in a show featuring a collaboration with composer David Amram, who scored films such as the 1962 version of the Manchurian Candidate. held in Grant recital hall, the concert included pieces composed by Amram interspersed with readings of works by author Jack Kerouac. Aurea aims to push the boundaries of musical exploration and unify the humanities and the arts in a way everyone can relate to, according to the groups website. For that reason, Aurea was keen to work with Amram, said teaching Associate in Music Consuelo Sherba, a founding member and violist in the ensemble. (Amram) has a strong connection with Jack Kerouac Sherba explained, our group does so much material with spoken word and music that it just seemed like a natural fit. Amram and Kerouac were friends and collaborators many years ago, according to Amrans website. In a story posted on his website, Amram

mentions a time when Kerouac asked him to play music so he could improvise narration to the movie Pull My Daisy. that same style and improvisation could be seen last tuesday during the concert, which featured 82-year-old Amram playing a variety of instruments, reading an original poem and interacting with the crowd in between pieces. Amrams career has been extensive, as can be seen in his biography in the concerts program. he has composed music for orchestral and chamber music works, written music for Broadway and various movies and published three books to date. Besides being a successful composer, Amram also plays the French horn, piano and several dozen flutes and percussion instruments from around the world. During the recital, he entertained the audience with anecdotes about past musical endeavors and reminded audience members of the importance of exploring other avenues. I was a history major, Amram said during an interlude in the concert, and look at what I do now. I highly encourage music majors to

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take an english class, or english majors to take a music class. It makes us better people. the concert consisted of several different pieces, including a piano sonata played by visiting musician Gary Chapman, who narrated some of Kerouacs pieces while Amram accompanied him on flute. It also featured violinist and founding member of Aurea Charles Sherba, violist Consuelo and visiting musician Valerie Smalley, who played percussions. Some of the other pieces played included a native American Portrait featuring sounds from different tribes, consisting of violin, piano and percussion, and a piece titled the wind and the rain for viola and piano. Several Kerouac excerpts were read, including Children of the American Bop night, on the roof of America and San Francisco Blues. Amram also read his original poem titled the woman in a Black Beret. this is not the first time Amram has collaborated with Brown, Sherba said. he came to campus a few years back when Aurea performed a collection of his works interspersed with Shakespeare and Kerouac readings. But this time was different, she said, because Amran was able to speak during the program and interact with the audience more than he usually does. we decided to incorporate (Amram) into the show because hes a one of a kind guy, and has such a neat perspective on the world, Sherba said.

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the Brown DAIly herAlD FrIDAy, noVeMBer 30, 2012

focusing on research, postdocs create niche community

By KaTe nUssenbaUM
Senior Staff Writer

science & research 3

you can really take the time to mature intellectually and see where you envision your career going. The extra time to do research also allows one to put together a coherent research plan that you can then sell, he said. Kiefer said that for his discipline, it is necessary to have postdoctoral fellowships to get a job in the current economy . In the humanities, having a postdoc is not essential, but it changes your research profile significantly, lahiri said. having a postdoc is a real affirmation of their work so far, Bewes said. It gives potential employers a sense that your research is already attracting attention. while Kiefer said he views his fellowship as a launching pad, Moher said he is enjoying focusing on his research and is in no rush to have a professor job. benefits for brown harrington said the Universitys science departments receive immediate, tangible benefits from having postdocs. Theyre the real work force in obtaining the data for their mentors. without the postdocs and without the graduate students, the mentors would not be as

navigating the space between student and professor, the Universitys 250 postdocs are an integral, but often overlooked, group of researchers on campus. while graduate students and faculty members split their time between other commitments taking courses, teaching and sitting on committees postdocs have the luxury of focusing on research, said Susan rottenberg, postdoctoral program and data manager for the Division of Biology and Medicine. Postdoc appointments usually last between one and three years. During that time, fellows can enhance research profiles and learn skills, satisfying their academic curiosity and becoming more attractive candidates for jobs, said elizabeth harrington, associate dean for graduate and postdoctoral studies in BioMed. Its pretty rare to have so few responsibilities in academia, said Amber Musser, one of three postdocs funded through the Pembroke Center for teaching and research on women. Most University postdocs work in the sciences and are funded through external grants. But departments and centers, like the Pembroke Center and the Cogut Center for the humanities, also award fellowships. humanities postdocs may have some teaching requirements, but these are usually fewer than those of professors. Its an amazing thing for candidates who have finished their dissertations to actually have a bit of breathing space to turn that dissertation research into something a little more satisfactory, said timothy Bewes, a professor of english who was a Pembroke Center postdoctoral fellow from 2003 to 2004. Pressure to publish Postdoctoral fellows across disciplines said the opportunity to devote a year or two to research is rewarding, but the pressure of completing as much work as possible can be intense. It is a lot of pressure because you arent on the tenure track and so you dont know where you are going to go next, said Madhumita lahiri, a postdoctoral fellow in the english department who is funded through a Mellon Fellowship from the Cogut Center. And so if you dont have anything to show for your time as a postdoc, you are going to be in trouble. Adam Kiefer, another postdoc in the

ClPS department, estimated working around 60 hours a week. Musser and her Pembroke Center colleague Meredith Bak estimated working 50 to 60 hours per week, but said where and when they research is flexible. you really can do whatever you want, Musser said. you could do nothing and that would be bad for you, but theres no one checking up on you. Kiefer said he keeps his lab mentor, Professor of Cognitive, linguistic and Psychological Sciences william warren, up to speed with his research, but as long as your work is getting done, hes not too concerned with where you are. when you have some deadlines for papers, you cant even count how many hours you work, because you can spend day and night working, said Francesco Paterna, a postdoc in the School of engineering. lahiri said she works over 50 hours a week but added, the boundary between work and pleasure is extremely blurred. Social life Socially, being a postdoc can be very awkward, Kiefer said. In the lab setting, everyone is viewed as equal, but outside, in the social context, it can be very different. Musser said being a postdoc is a nice way to get to know a community of scholars with similar interests, but like Kiefer, she said occupying the space between grad students and professors is tricky. Though she interacts with faculty members, they dont hang out, she said, adding that she mostly socializes with other postdocs. within the postdoc community, experiences can vary, rottenberg said, citing the annual Postdoctoberfest event. Some postdocs came early in the evening with spouses and children, she said, while others arrived in the last half hour with graduate students from their labs. Many people do not want to pursue postdoc positions because they do not want to move temporarily, lahiri said. If you have a family or have kids, its difficult, she said. Moher, for instance, lives in Boston with his wife and commutes to Providence every day. looking to the future Given the temporary nature of the position, most postdocs seek more permanent jobs soon after their fellowships begin. I look at this as an investment of my time, Kiefer said of his postdoc position.

competitive, she said. But since humanities postdocs primarily do their own research, the immediate gains are less clear. It can also be hard for postdocs to get too involved in the campus community, lahiri said. you have people who can contribute a lot but who also cant stay, she said, adding, Ive had students ask about working with me and Im not going to be here. Its more an investment in the future rather than a super tangible gain in the present, Musser said. hopefully we do good work, and we go out in the world and they can say, Theyre Pembroke Center people.

4 campus news
ecoreps event tests recycling knowledge
By Meia geDDes
Staff Writer

the Brown DAIly herAlD FrIDAy, noVeMBer 30, 2012

/ / hookah page 1
smoke hookah for the communal aspect, said Michael Danziger 13. Sujaya Desai 14 said smoking hookah is a casual social activity if you dont feel like going out to a party. while hookah is definitely a social option at Brown, some international students noted that its prevalence paled in comparison to usage back home. Desai, who hails from Singapore, noted that hookah was more common in her hometown. hookah is much more common and a lot cheaper back home in turkey, natali Senocak 13 said. But Chaika said hookahs and More retains a healthy following. hookahs recent popularity is not just a splash in the pan, she said. This is part of the culture. Its becoming a social norm. This is your generation. Chaika estimated that approximately 80 to 85 percent of her customer base is college students. Its like smoking candy. And your generation is the candy generation, she said. Its all about the flavor, Chaika added. She cited California Dream a mix of pineapple, orange and cherry flavors as the most popular variety. Ive back-ordered it, she said. The kids are driving me nuts. Poisonous puffing while California Dreamin draws a large fan base, smoking hookah poses health risks that are often underestimated. The big problem is that a lot of people think its not addictive and a lot of people think its less dangerous than smoking. Both of these assumptions are erroneous, said Belinda Borrelli, professor of psychiatry and human behavior and the director of the program in nicotine and tobacco for the Centers for Behavioral and Preventative Medicine. Some estimates indicate that a single water pipe session is the equivalent of 100 cigarettes, Borrelli said. This is because users are puffing longer and inhaling a much greater volume of smoke containing high levels of toxic compounds such as tar, carbon monoxide and carcinogens,

ecoreps held its first trash Sort on America recycles Day last Thursday in an effort to raise awareness about recycling and the Universitys new recycling system. About 20 volunteers sorted through 40 bags 20 of trash and 20 of recycling from four locations on campus: east campus, Keeney Quadrangle, Pembroke campus and wriston Quadrangle. The group found 34.4 percent of trash could actually be recycled and 5.9 percent of items placed in the recycling were actually trash. Many students are unaware that certain items that were not recyclable last year now are, said Alison Kirsch 15, a member of ecoreps who participated in the trash sort. Salad bowls, yogurt cups and plastic drinking cups, which can all be recycled, often end up in the trash. Students mistakenly put plastic bags, chip bags and food-contaminated items in recycling bins, said James Giarraputo 15, ecoreps coordinator. If more than 5 percent of a batch of recycling is contami-

nated, the recycling facility will throw it out, he said. The more contamination there is in any kind of batch of recycling, the less value it has, said Kai Morrell 11, outreach coordinator for Facilities Management and manager of the interns who run ecoreps. The results showed more people throw recyclable items in the trash than vice versa, Kirsch said. This could be because of laziness or because students are not sure if an item can be recycled, she said. The results could indicate that people are simply catching up to the new system of recycling, she added. The group aims to eventually reduce recycling loss and contamination, Kirsch said. ecoreps will use the numbers gathered through the trash sort to assess students recycling habits and track improvements through time, Giarraputo said. The group weighed the trash using a home scale but analyzed an extremely small sample size, Kirsh said. In the future, members will most likely look at

a larger sample size and use the Sharpe refectorys weighing station, Giarrapputo said. ecoreps began planning the event three weeks in advance, Giarraputo said. The Department of Facilities Management gave the group four large tarps and 15 tyvek suits and brought all trash and recycling to the quad to be sorted. The group held the event on wriston Quad because it is such a high-traffic location, Kirsch said. She added that this event drew more public attention than other ecoreps awareness events in which volunteers approach the public passersby who saw group members sorting the trash approached them to ask about it. Though most chose to simply observe, the group did in fact get two brave volunteers from the general public who helped sort the trash, Kirsch said. we were shouting happy America recycles Day! over and over again, Giarraputo said, adding the event was easy and effective and will be held again next year.

she said. The smoke-filled environment of the hookah lounge means secondhand smoke also affects the user. Mainstream and side stream smoke creates a double danger, Borrelli said. Chaika noted that many users were not inhaling the smoke into their lungs but were keeping the smoke in their mouths and letting it roll off the back of the palette. But even this practice does not reduce risk, Borrelli said. They are still inhaling it. Its going into their mouth and throat. The mouth actually has more sensitive tissue than the lungs, she said. In addition to smoke danger, Borrelli noted the risk of infectious disease as the pipe is passed from person to person. Hazy misconception Despite these dangers, just about every study that has looked at hookah perception has identified the sense that college students think its less harmful and more socially acceptable than cigarette smoking, Carey said. hookah smoking just doesnt carry the same weight, said Melanie Abeygunawardana 16. This perception exists largely because typical hookah smokers on college campuses do not smoke on a daily basis, Carey said. Smoking hookah tends to be a once in a while activity, unlike drinking or smoking cigarettes, which students tend to do on a more consistent basis, said Jessica liang 16. Getting together to smoke hookah is a special event, agreed lucy Duan 16. But some students are more wary of the health effects. hookah is tobacco, and any tobacco product is not good for you, said Mya roberson 16. I choose not to do hookah because I dont want to take in tobacco I like my teeth, she said. But Chaika said comparing the health risks of hookah to those of cigarettes is like comparing apples and oranges. Go stand on the corner of Thayer and breathe for an hour. youre gonna get it one way or another, Chaika said. Hookah research while hookah has been around for a long time, research in the area has picked up speed in the last 10 years, said robyn Fielder MS, a clinical psychology intern at the Alpert Medical School who conducts research at the Miriam hospitals Centers for Behavioral and Preventative Medicine. Fielder and Carey co-authored a study published in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors last May that examined hookah prevalence among college women. Most current research examines the hookah habits of younger people, Fielder said. Studies have found that about 5 percent of middle school students, 10 percent of high school students and between 25 and 50 percent of college students have tried hookah at least once, Fielder said. Fielders longitudinal study tracked a cohort of 483 female freshmen at Syracuse University. while 29 percent of the participants had tried hookah before coming to campus, 45 percent of the participants had tried it by the end of their first year, Carey said. hookah is marketed as trendy, cool and exotic, Fielder said. research into hookah usage is a burgeoning field for public health officials, Fielder said, noting that studies can provide insight into understanding who chooses to smoke hookah, peoples reasons for doing so and how prevention and intervention programs can be designed.

the Brown DAIly herAlD FrIDAy, noVeMBer 30, 2012

bluest eye traverses trauma and memory

By anDrew sMyTh
Contributing Writer

arts & culture 5

/ / rally page 1
holding signs that said, your actions affect me. were here today to tell President Paxson that our actions affect not only children in haiti, but people young and old, in every part of the world, including Providence, she said. Students signed a card that read, you can do it, President Paxson. Divest from coal, in addition to the Brown Divest Coal Campaigns petition, which had over 1,900 signatures at the start of the rally, Kirkland said. Students also tied blue ribbons representing clean water and air to a University hall banister. The rally was a resounding success, said Kristy Choi 15, who led many of the chants. our goal for this event was visibility. ... we were definitely seen and heard, she said, adding that this event marked the first physical gathering for the campaign. The energy in this space was unreal, Choi added. Just to hear people shout our message in unison was inspiring. Im excited. Victory is so close.

It begins with a voice, a sweet soprano humming in the darkness. Then a girl begins to read from a childrens primer: here is the house. It is green and white. It has a red door. It is very pretty. Soon the audience hears about little Jane and her happy, laughing mother, her red dress, her big, strong father and her dog. The girls reading grows louder. More voices join in, shouting about the happy family and the big white house. A simple melody slips into indomitable cacophony. Pain, violence and memory collide in a production of toni Morrisons The Bluest eye, adapted by lydia Diamond and directed by Jarrett Key 13. Thoughtfully staged and earnestly delivered, the play stares unflinchingly into the trauma of the internalization of ugliness and the demonization of blackness in American culture. In the intimacy of the thrust stage, the audience watches Pecola Breedlove (Jenna Spencer 14), a young girl from an unloving and chaotic family, endure psychological and sexual abuse while growing up in post-Depression ohio. each night at her bedside, she prays for blonde hair and blue eyes while her parents beat each other relentlessly. her aspiration for the white aesthetic, broadcast by giggling baby dolls and Shirley temple, is undermined by the ugliness that surrounds her. The saga of the Breedlove family think langston hughes via wagner is narrated by Pecolas neighborhood playmates, Claudia Macteer (Becky Bass 13) and her sister Frieda (Shadura lee 16). Bass is at home playing Claudia, modulating seamlessly between the innocent action of her youth and the removed narrator, remembering and retelling years later. The painful narrative that Morrison lyrically built in her first novel is faithfully translated to the stage in Keys production. Deploying music, rhythm and movement, he deconstructs and distorts the idealized image of MotherFather-Dick-and-Jane, portraying white middle class values as a perverted social construct. The audience is reminded that reality can be full of anguish. For me, the big thing that toni Morrison does is explore trauma, Key said. how does a little girl deal with trauma? how does that trauma affect her? how does that trauma lead to her slipping into madness? A sparse set, almost empty but for a few intersecting wooden platforms and some pieces of multipurpose furniture, makes for an intimate affair. The action is conceived as panorama, with actors wandering through the aisles and delivering lines among the audience. Imaginative lighting design by rISD senior Jonathan

Key, Jarretts brother, helps contextualize each scene, but the audience mostly relies on the actors themselves to inhabit imagined times and places. The characters occupy a melodic landscape. A sequence of African-American spirituals resurfaces periodically throughout the production, shifting meaning in context. I really was interested in trying to create the world of the 1930s and 40s and using gospel music that these characters would have actually known and would have loved, Key said. the challenge of representing domestic violence and sexual abuse on stage was approached sensitively. we dont want to see people fighting, and we dont want to see people getting punched. Thats boring, said Alexx temena 15, assistant director and choreographer. In one memorable sequence, a couples fighting becomes an aggressive pseudo-ballet through the transfer of energy from one body to another. The actors make violence almost beautiful to watch. The movement for me becomes a conversation about how does trauma affect the body and how does that resonate in the body, Key said. how do we make sure that each person has their own gestural vocabulary? Spencer is a devastating Pecola, and every line she delivers rings with vulnerability and heartache. with small, thoughtful details, she fleshes out the role her eyes are wide with muted panic, she converses uneasily and occasionally adjusts her cardigan self-consciously. Afia Kwakwa 14 delivers a standout performance as Mama. She has a supporting role, but Kwakwas playful sense of movement and commanding contralto demand viewers attention. Chastising her girls, she becomes a plucky reverend, smacking her lips and rolling her eyes while she preaches to some imaginary congregation. She dances when she walks, bending her arms and hips to strike angular poses an irreverent contrapposto. ty lowell 13 lends the difficult part of Cholly Breedlove a surprising dose of humanity along with the monstrosity we expect. Its a challenge not unlike that which Vladimir nabokov set himself in lolita, to seduce the audience into sympathizing with, maybe even understanding, a pedophile. In some ways, lowells performance is more difficult than nabokovs, because Cholly not only commits an unspeakable crime, but is also a drunk with meager verbal capacities. reimagined for the stage, Morrisons tale reacquaints us with dark, painful pasts, exposing with brutal honesty the ugly realities of racial memory. This is a story that demands to be told. the Bluest eye runs nov. 29 through Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. in leeds Theatre.

/ / Chair page 1
30 years. In 1989, rasmussen and his colleagues designed the yale-Brown obsessive-Compulsive Scale, or y-BoCS, now the standard scale for diagnosing oCD. the name Brown is known all around the world because of rasmussen, recupero said.

rasmussen also pioneered the use of brain stimulation to treat oCD and affective disorders like depression. wing praised rasmussen for his ability to work across the system through partnerships with local hospitals, including rhode Island hospital and Butler hospital, where rasmussen has worked for 29 years. For 15 of those years, rasmussen

worked as a clinician at local hospitals. recupero recalled rasmussens composure when dealing with aggressive and even armed patients in Patient Assessment Services, Butlers version of an emergency room. Steve is fearless, she said. But hes such a calming and soothing person that hes been able to handle some incredibly acute situations with ease and skill.

ComiC
Join the Club | Simon henriques

Cashew apples | Will ruehle

6 diamonds & coal

diamondS & Coal
A diamond to richard Bova, senior associate dean of residential and dining services, who said that during dorm inspections, occasionally well open the doors and a kitty will pop out. that sounds curiously like our experience at the whiskey republic last halloween. Coal to the founders of national novel writing Month, who allegedly established the tradition because they thought being novelists would help them get dates. excuse us while we go practice casting smoldering glances over our two-page manuscripts. Coal to Corporation trustee Steven Cohen P08 P16 who told investors he had committed no wrongdoing after receiving notice of a potential civil-fraud suit filed against his hedge fund. Deny, deny, deny? that was our strategy when we got carded at Spiritus as first-years. A diamond to Sen. Sheldon whitehouse, D-r.I., who said that if President obama offered him a cabinet position, It would be hard not to at least consider it, but Im virtually certain the answer would be no. turning down the leader of the free world is pretty ballsy. Cubic zirconia to Paul eno, a paranormal investigator, who said, I detest the term, ghost hunter. were sorry, but were pretty sure the term ghostbuster has already been claimed. A diamond to Providence for its Providence reads initiative. Perhaps those rebounding literacy rates will save the newspaper industry. A diamond to Michael Gerrard, director of the Center for Climate Change law at Columbia law School, who said that in the event of a tsunami residents of the Marshall Islands should tie yourself to a coconut tree to keep from floating away. thats exactly how we survived Superstorm Sandy. Coal to Charles Kupchan, professor of international affairs at Georgetown University, who suggested that Americas position as the worlds only superpower is fading. were confused does this mean we should stop wearing our Captain America costumes under our clothes? Cubic zirconia to Madhumita lahiri, the Mellon postdoctoral fellow in english, who said the boundary between work and pleasure is extremely blurred. thats why we always bring our theses to the club. A diamond to Kim Chaika, owner of hookahs and More on waterman Street, who said, Its like smoking candy. And your generation is the candy generation. what can we say? what Aaron Carter asks, he shall receive.

the Brown DAIly herAlD FrIDAy, noVeMBer 30, 2012

editorial Cartoon b y f r a n n y c h o i

Sexual violence victims receive u. support

To the editor: In his nov. 28 guest column titled rape happens here, too, Chris norris-leBlanc 13 draws attention to an important issue of concern to all of us. recent events and public commentary should give all of us pause to consider the work that needs to be done to support survivors of sexual assault and to end sexual violence. As he states, it is time to confront the subject and to work for needed social change. we appreciate that norris-leBlanc reminds all of us of this responsibility. Victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence need individualized support, and Brown takes seriously its commitment to providing a robust array of services for the immediate and long-term needs of students who report victimization. In fact, as The herald reported nov. 15, the University was recently recognized for the availability of its sexual health services and resources. Among the resources available at Brown for students who are the victims of sexual assault are health Services, the Sarah Doyle womens Center, confidential therapy and a 24-hour sexual assault response line offered through Psychological Services, advocacy and support by Bita Shooshani, sexual assault prevention and advocacy coordinator, deans in the office of Student life and the special victims unit at the Department of Public Safety. In addition to being a serious violation of Browns Code of Student Conduct, sexual assault is a crime, and offices at Brown are here to help students navigate the criminal justice system if they choose to file criminal charges. oSl deans and our sexual assault counselors take great care to inform students of all available options including contacting the police and to help students make the best decisions for them regarding their options initially and along the way. Students may also hold offenders accountable through Browns student conduct system. hearings addressing student misconduct are often difficult for all parties involved, but oSl, in coordination with other campus resources, works carefully to minimize the challenges of the experience. Both the accused and the accuser are afforded a faculty or staff adviser, and victims of sexual misconduct may have an advocate present to provide support and have the option to provide witness statements without the accused being physically present. Students found responsible for sexual misconduct can and have been suspended or expelled from Brown. All of those responsible for responding to sexual assaults on campus have a moral duty to take into account the needs and desires of the victim and the safety of the community. we can always do better, but to characterize the response at Brown as ignorant and unsympathetic does not give justice to the hours of training staff get and the continuous conscious attempts by staff members to improve our response. we want to work with students to build and strengthen programs, services and resources, and we welcome all constructive input. Jonah ward Senior associate dean for Student life gail Cohee director of the Sarah doyle Womens Center Margaret Klawunn vice President for Campus life and Student Services Francie Mantak 88 director of health education

le t ter

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i choose not to do hookah because i dont want to

take in tobacco i like my teeth.
mya roberson 16 See hookah on page 1
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POST- MAGAzINE Clay aldern Jenny Carr Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief

BLOG DAILY HERALD matt klimerman meredith bilski Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor

the Brown DAIly herAlD FrIDAy, noVeMBer 30, 2012

is money a form of free speech?

yes
son. The entire media can sway elections its Paul Krugman, alex by speaking at and whim.limbaugh are all Steven Colbert rush dreChSler perfect personifications of the medias influence. These opinions clearly sway elections. opinions Columnist But we do not limit their abilities to influence elections on these grounds. rather, we Those who argue that the spending of mon- guard it morally and constitutionally. Ceey should not be protected as free speech of- lebrities influence elections, academics inten begin by highlighting the insane amount fluence elections and the members of the of money spent on campaigns and the con- Brown Democrats influence elections. But stant bombardment of political ads on the this does not contradict the principle of one airwaves of swing states. while I, as a new person, one vote. yorker, am gladly free from such promoThe money donated to campaigns and tion, I cannot deny that it has become a crit- super PACs channeled through to the ical pawn in the political chess game. Be- overwhelming levels of advertisements cause money can and does influence have the same intention as those who volunelections, those in the campaign finance re- teer to canvass with the Brown Democrats form camp conclude that it is antithetical to or write a scathing criticism of Mitt romney the democratic principle of one person, one in The herald: to influence the opinions of vote. The concluothers and potentially sion that campaigns sway their votes. Any must be insulated any argument in favor argument in favor of from the greenback limiting the influence of limiting the influence of money must make a simply because of its potential influof money must make a principleditsdistinction ence is questionable. between influence This runs counter and the others that principled distinction to the principles of share the spotlight. The American liberty, between its influence and protection of donor democracy and free is based the others that share the contributions principle speech. on the same lets take a step as democracy and exspotlight. back from the popupanding enfranchiselist stigma we as libment: each individual eral college students have attached to wealth across the country is knowledgeable and inspecifically and think more broadly about telligent enough to cast his or her own perthe logic behind the conclusion that mon- sonal ballot. to say that political ads medeys impact must be stopped. not allowing dle with the democratic process is to argue wealth the same protection we allow speech against this understanding of the aptitude of is to say that one person should not be able the average voter and, more broadly, against to influence the votes of another, plain and the standard of free speech. simple. But this conclusion is contrary to the principle of free speech. Free speech is of course rooted in ones potential to influence others if it werent, why would anyalex drechsler 15 is proud of those who one speak in the first place? of course, dodonate their time, money and energy to nors are not the only people who have more political campaigns. he can be reached at influence on elections than the average peralex_drechsler@brown.edu.

taking sides 7
no

political process. But should they have the same rights as individuals? Corporations primaggie TenniS mary goals are economic profit a corporations free speech is inherently connected opinions Columnist to its balance sheet, but individuals possess a range of reasons for expressing themselves politically. A cynic might disagree, but I beeconomics 101: Money is an object with val- lieve the American public votes for more than ue. larger amounts of money have a higher its own economic interest. It votes for morvalue. when people spend money, they wield al, social and environmental reasons, among purchasing power. In politics, when contribu- others. The Constitution discusses the rights tors give money to campaigns, they gain clout belonging to other institutions namely re directly or indirectly over the policy ligion and the press that traditionally have platform of the politician or party that they a broad range of reasons to exercise political support. Then who, exactly, are politicians influence. nowhere in this document did the or parties really representing if elected? Are nations founders allocate rights to corporate they representing all of the people they claim bodies. Allowing corporations to wield power to speak for or the special interests of a privi- through the guise of free speech does nothleged few? ing more than pollute our political process. Speech, conversely, is not an object. In the United States, politicians are meant The value of ones to work for all people, speech is indepenregardless of socioecodent of ones pura corporations free nomic status. our votes chasing power and count the same, again is therefore inde- speech is inherently con- regardless of financial pendent of ones standing and the inane economic fortune. nected to its balance sheet, ideas proposed in hernowhere is this ald opinions colummore true than in but individuals possess a nist oliver hudsons political campaigns, 14 nov. 13 column, where anyone can range of reasons for express- Universal suffrage is wage influential immoral. Thus, campower with words. ing themselves politically. paigns must operate to Family backensure the wealthy do ground, job and not have the advantage even educational status do not determine the in elections. to maximize equal opportunity extent that a person can sway voters. A strong for all individuals to express political interpersonality or loud voice oral or written ests, campaign finance reform is necessary. may be an asset, but again, neither depends In Citizens United v. Federal election Comon wealth or status. mission, the Supreme Court affirmed free take the obvious example of corpora- speech. But the Court went a step too far by tions funding political campaigns. In Citi- effectively assigning it a dollar sign. zens United v. Federal election CommisAmericans have come to rely on the adage sion, the Supreme Court ruled that govern- you cant put a price on freedom. It must folment restrictions on independent campaign low that freedom of speech is also priceless. expenditures by organizations violate the First Amendment right to free speech. This has opened the door for corporations to exmaggie Tennis 14 is really glad election ert even greater influence over the American season is over.

tennis rebuttal
Alex Drechsler 15 writes that limiting monetary donations in political campaigns contradicts American principles. But keeping campaigns open to donor funding violates principles of democracy and equal opportunity, and actually manipulates the First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Drechsler writes that campaign finance reform limits a persons right to influence anothers vote. But arguing against campaign funding is not a denial of this right. It is a rejection of the idea that a vote has a price tag. removing money from politics is not contrary to free speech. In reality, removing money from politics ensures that speech remains free and equal. Drechsler compares the constitutionally protected, influential power of the media and other bodies with that of donors. he argues that the influential power of donors must also be protected. yet, as I wrote in my opening, we guard the medias ability to influence elections because the media primarily uses its strong presence in this regard. without money as a factor, celebrities can still use their visibility and star power, academics can still use research and writing skills and the Brown Democrats can still use the old standby of consistent presence and outreach to promote their parties and politicians. A donor writing a check is hardly comparable, requiring only the ability to sign a name. oh yeah, and the ability to possess disposable income something that many Americans simply do not have. without restrictions on campaign financing, a whole portion of the American public is essentially disenfranchised. The difference between Drechslers examples and the act of donating money to a campaign lies in how these proceedings affect politics. Actions taken by the Brown Democrats or rush limbaugh to promote their candidates do not directly determine how the candidate will behave in office if elected. But donors who give money to campaigns expect something substantial in return. They are speaking out for issues they believe in and underlining that speech with a check. Such speech is a privilege that requires a great deal of money. Further, it can significantly impact the behavior of politicians, allowing them to work for the interests of a few. That doesnt sound very democratic to me.

Drechslers rebuttal
Maggie tennis 14 conflates two issues: that political donations are a form of free speech and that corporations have personhood and are protected by the Constitution. These do not necessarily coexist. when considering individual contributions, tennis first argues that money directly donated to campaigns influences platforms. But is this true? Ultimately, campaign platforms must be put to a vote. Because romneys campaign was attacked as being influenced by the wealthy, the recent election speaks for itself. But even if we accept this as fact so what? There are many individuals who can influence campaign platforms. Academics, activists, celebrities and the media all have that power. Unions positions influenced the Democratic Party. Is this not a special interest with which tennis is so concerned? Paul Krugman can influence the Democratic Party. Does this represent all the people with whom tennis is so fixated? why is money specifically targeted? The ability to influence political platforms is not a reason in and of itself to limit said influence. tennis subsequently argues that in a political campaign, anyone can wage influential power with words. of course, the fact that speech can take a non-monetary form does not preclude individual spending on campaigns and advertisements. They are not mutually exclusive. Furthermore her argument rests on the idea that all people have equal ability to sway voters. This is simply false. It is easier for a Kennedy to influence votes than your average Joe. A harvard professor has more political clout than your average high school teacher. And a journalist can control votes possibly more than anyone else. what is important is that this does not preclude the average person from influencing voters, just like money. why money spent on advertisements is any different from a Kennedy, a harvard professor or a journalist taking advantage of his or her clout is unclear. It is perhaps true that corporations do not have personhood and therefore are not protected by the Constitution. This has no bearing, though, on whether individual contributions of money should be considered protected free speech. to the latter point, tennis has made no convincing argument.

daily herald sports friday

the Brown
FrIDAy, noVeMBer 30, 2012

The womens basketball team was soundly defeated by Bryant University 81-58 wednesday at home. The loss followed a mixed Thanksgiving week for Bruno (2-4). last wednesday, the Bears defeated the University of rhode Island (2-4) in a highly anticipated game, sliding by 55-51. Key to the Bears victory, co-captain Sheila Dixon 13 achieved her first double-double of the season with an impressive 22 points and 13 rebounds. last Saturday, Bruno fell to the University of Pittsburgh (5-1) in the final 10 seconds of the match. with just nine seconds on the clock, the Panthers Abby Dowd scored a three pointer, securing a 58-57 victory for Pittsburgh. on the heels of those close games, the Bears had more difficulty keeping pace this wednesday against Bryant (1-4). Despite Brunos best efforts, the Bull-

novelist bears drop the ball in home game against bryant enchants in rhythmic reading
w. basKeTball
By Meg sUllivan
SPortS Staff Writer

dogs overwhelming shooting accuracy kept them in a steady lead throughout the game. we got off to a slow start, said head Coach Jean Burr. we let that affect our intensity on defense. Bryant established dominance quickly, putting up an 11-point lead 10 minutes into the game. with the help of co-captain lindsay nickel 13 and two three-pointers by lauren Clarke 14, Bruno reduced the gap to eight points. But that was as close as the Bears came to catching up with the Bulldogs all evening, and Bryant soon revived, widening its lead to 33-22 by half time. The Bears deficit continued to grow, reaching 20 points during the second half. Though Clarke and Sophie Bikofsky 15 both registered double figures by the games close, the Bears 29 percent shooting accuracy couldnt contend with Bryants impressive 58 percent. Conspicuously absent from play, Dixon sat on the sidelines for the en-

By alexia raMirez
Contributing Writer

lauren Clarke 14 scored two three-pointers during wednesdays home womens basketball game. The team lost to bryant University 81-58. tirety of the game, having suffered an injury in practice two days prior. Dixon has started in all of Brunos other games this season and contributed points in double figures in all but two of those matchups. Sheila Dixon is out, which is definitely a big adjustment for the team, Burr said. She was a very explicit player, an extraordinary athlete defensively and on the boards. Despite Dixons indefinite absence from play, Burr said she is optimistic about Brunos ability to adapt. we have others who are going to step up, she said. The Bears will next face rider University Saturday in the Pizzitola Center.

JonaThan BaTeman / herald

anthropologist gives scoop on nutri-tainment

By sophie yan
Contributing Writer

when did eating become so fun? richard wilk, a professor of anthropology at Indiana University and director of its Food Studies program, addressed this question Thursday evening in Salomon 001, discussing the transformation of food from a form of sustenance to a cultural craze. Americans have become so accustomed to their own perceptions of food in society that they rarely take time to think about the roots of this mindset, wilk said in his speech, entitled having Fun with Food: A Brief history of the American way of eating. his lecture, sponsored by the haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, was structured chronologically, beginning in the early 20th century with what wilk refers to as The Great Blanding.

campus news

In those days, the American diet was forcefully homogenized by a small group of religious Puritans. In an attempt to rid the United States of the carnal passions and scourge of masturbation sweeping the country, wilk said, they advocated temperance, vegetarianism and thorough mastication, he said. with the war looming on the horizons and fear of eastern european anarchist terrorists rampant in society, wilk said most people shunned foreign food, preferring safer, blander nourishment. with the Great Depression and world war II, wilk said, this dietary trend continued because people thought eating ostentatiously in such troubled times was morally wrong. But after the war, the rise of industrial agriculture and the womens independence movement led to vast, sweeping changes, he noted. Processed food, boxed food and plasticwrapped food all came into fashion. Food has come from a vehicle of nourishment to a part of the entertain-

ment industry, wilk said. referring to this phenomenon as nutri-tainment, he explained that bright colors, funny names, fun packaging and self-assembled parts rendered food a new type of performance art. The boundary between food and toys has completely disappeared, he added. Food has become a consumer good, and like any consumer good, it is subject to constant innovation and planned obsolescence, he said, a phenomenon caused by societal changes and a vast, cornucopian system of industrial agriculture. each year, new types of food come and go, endorsed by celebrity figures and hailing from imaginary places that corporations dream up like Pepperidge Farm, nature Valley and Ice Mountain. wilk further illustrated the role of food in American society by detailing the many side industries that revolve around it. Professional major league eat-

ing, food journalism, food celebrities and iron chefs have all become unquestioned parts of American culture, he said. he ended his lecture by describing a new trend that has arisen in the culinary world: the inclination toward organic, local and green produce. Many people are now rejecting the industrial food system and turning to sustainable food, he said. But wilk said it is unclear whether this trend is permanent or transitory. After the one-hour lecture, members of the audience participated in a half-hour question-and-answer session. Though some contested wilks uncertainty about the organic and local food industry, many said they enjoyed his speech. I thought it was fascinating, said Anna Zeidman 15, adding that her motivation for attending the talk was her obsession with food. In particular, she praised wilks use of anecdotes. I like how he really put his personal life into it, she said.

mens crew coach wins uSrowing fan award

By niKhil parasher
SPortS Staff Writer

Mens Crew head Coach Paul Cooke 89 was voted the 2012 USrowing Fans Choice Collegiate Coach of the year earlier this month. This marks the second consecutive year a Brown coach has won this award, after womens crew head Coach John Murphy was named its inaugural recipient last year. Cooke, a former Brown rower himself, led the Bears to a first place finish at the eastern Sprints Championships . Cooke said he did not expect to win the Collegiate Coach award. I was a little surprised, honestly, at first, he said. Cooke stands out because of his commitment to Browns rowing program, said Crew co-captain owen traynor 13. our freshman coach Joe Donahue said we should all care about Brown crew as much as Paul, traynor said. And then he stopped and said, wait. no. Thats actually impossible because no one cares

about Brown crew as much as Paul. And I think even though he was sort of joking, thats entirely true. In addition to caring about rowing as a sport, Murphy said Cooke also shows remarkable concern for his rowers. I just think hes really in tune with what life for a student athlete is at Brown, Murphy said. And he really cares very much cares about them and how they do. he knows exactly what were going through because he did it 20 years ago, traynor said. over 3,500 people cast their votes for the award. In the early part of the voting process, traynor said, it was a close race between Cooke and Mike Callahan of the University of washington, which has won four national titles in six years. But the gap between Cooke and Callahan grew after the Bears urged people to vote for Cooke on Facebook and the Brown Alumni Magazine ran an article on him. Cooke ultimately won by over 12 percentage points against the coach whose team

bested the Bears at the International rowing Association championships. traynor credits the crew alumni network in particular for the upswing in votes. That was fantastic to see, because there was a huge support system that pushed him over the top, traynor said. The community that Brown creates with its mens and womens rowing teams, I think, is something that is not really paralleled at other schools. And people like to recognize the coaches that further that community atmosphere. The teams fall season ended nov. 19 when it placed second at the tail of the Charles. The Bears had their share of accomplishments, including a win at the oct. 13 head of the Genesee race and victories by the freshman team at the head of the Charles oct. 20 and 21. The varsity team finished 7th in the Championship eights at the head of the Charles, a somewhat poorer showing for the Bears, who graduated several rowers last May.

Cooke said that though he did not think there was a real low spot this season, there is still room for improvement. I think the guys raced pretty well, Cooke said. But maybe not quite the performance we were looking for. Just how much improvement there will be remains to be seen in the spring. A lot of it is about whats going to happen between now and March when the spring season begins, Cooke said. traynor said the fact that the fall campaign was only moderately successful will motivate the team during the training period before the spring season. I think by not having a completely successful fall, we will have something in the back of our minds, traynor said. It was a great learning experience and an excellent motivator for the next three months. traynor added that the team aims to defend its eastern Sprints Conference championship title and also hopes to win the national championship, a competition the Bears last won in 1995.

Author Pamela lus calming aura filled the small McCormack Family theater thursday night during a writers on writing Series event hosted by the Department of literary Arts. lu, a fiction writer, has authored Pamela: A novel, the Private listener and, most recently, Ambient Parking lot. lu said she was inspired to write her most recent novel after seeing a photograph on display in Chicago of a boy attempting to record the sounds of a parking lot. Struck by the sincerity of the boys expression, lu said she began to contemplate the idealism of art as well as the aspects of our landscape that society has neglected. lus novel was introduced by Assistant Professor of literary Arts renee Gladman, one of the instructors of the writers on writing course. Gladman called the novel a work of fiction that attempts to do an extraordinary and impossible thing, that is, even for the space of a sentence or a paragraph, uphold music that vibratory texture relation of silence and sound inside language. Ambient Parking lot follows a band, the Ambient Parkers, who record sounds in parking lots and make music out of it. they are in search of the ultimate ambient noise, one that can exemplify their historical moment. noah Prestwich 14 said the book is funny, so much so that at times it can be mocking. It has brief moments when it wants you to take it very seriously, he said, and in these moments it demonstrates a striking earnestness. the passage lu selected for the reading was from a chapter called the Stationmaster, in which the character, the stationmaster, acts as the Ambient Parkers counterpart from a previous generation. the band members latched onto him as their unwilling mentor, and within this chapter he composes a response to the band, telling them of his quest for a reclusive composer and acquisition of a once-in-a-lifetime recording. lu enchanted the audience members with the cadences of the english language as she read from her novel. over centuries, the human ear has evolved from a tuning device to a filtering device, lu recited from her novel. these days its all just noise or silence, silence or noise.

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