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Aily Erald: U. Rises in Peace Corps Rankings
Aily Erald: U. Rises in Peace Corps Rankings
Daily
By Kate NusseNBaum Senior Staff Writer
the Brown
Herald
Since 1891
Protesters demanded that the University contribute more money to the city in light of municipal budget woes. See page 4 for the full story.
Joe Paterno 50 died Sunday morning, only two and a half months after his 46-year tenure as head football coach at Pennsylvania State University came to a close in the wake of a sexual abuse scandal. Paterno, who was undergoing chemotherapy for a treatable form of lung cancer, died from complications at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife and
The early decision admission rate dropped to 19 percent this year as the University admitted 556 out of 2,919 early decision applicants to the class of 2016, according to the Admission Office. Early decision applicants were notified of the decision Dec. 13. The early decision acceptance rate fell slightly from last years 21 percent rate. This years applicant pool was the largest in the past three years. Last year, 2,796 students applied
early decision and 2,847 students applied in 2009. It felt to us as though the academic strength of the pool was greater than certainly Ive seen since Ive been here, said Dean of Admission Jim Miller 73. Though he did not specify the exact number, Miller said the University deferred more than 2,000 applicants, adding that Brown likely did defer a few more applicants than in previous years. We are anticipating another
large regular decision pool and we wanted to be cautious to make sure we saved spaces, he said. A plurality of students about 31 percent declared interest in the social sciences, followed by about 26 percent in the life and medical sciences and about 23 percent in the physical sciences. Engineering was the most popular intended concentration, with 46 students roughly 8 percent of admits listing it as continued on page 2
Brown has moved up four spots this year in the Peace Corps ranking of top volunteer-producing colleges and universities, with 24 undergraduate alums currently participating in programs abroad. The University is ranked 21st among medium-size institutions, according to a statement released today by the Peace Corps. Last year, Brown ranked 25th with 21 alums volunteering in the Peace Corps. Peace Corps volunteers are at an historic high, with over 9,000 serving overseas, said Elizabeth Chamberlain, public affairs specialist for the agencys New England regional office in Boston. Due to the competitive nature of the application process, recruiters this year looked for skills within specific areas such as agriculture, environment and education, Chamberlain said, and the Peace Corps has found those skills in students at Brown. Brown students tend to be global thinkers, Chamberlain said. They see the point of Peace Corps. They see the need for Peace Corps. They continued on page 6
SportS
five children. Paterno was hospitalized Jan. 13. A family spokesperson released a statement Jan. 21 announcing that doctors listed him in serious condition. Later that day, the Penn State student website Onward State reported that Paterno was dead. CBS Sports, CNN and other news outlets subsequently reported that Paterno had died. Soon thereafter, the news was refuted by a family spokesperson and Paternos sons. Joe is continuing to fight, wrote Jay Paterno on his Twitter account. Jay Paterno later tweeted that continued on page 9
President Obama delivered his annual State of the Union address last night, discussing the rising costs of higher education in a speech that focused largely on the economy. The president urged states to prioritize higher education in their budgets while also calling on Congress to expedite a law that would lower the maximum interest rate on student loans. He also addressed colleges and universities, stressing the importance of preventing tuition increases. If you cant stop tuition from going up, Obama told institutions of higher education, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down.
Higher education is absolutely necessary in todays economy, so we have to keep that affordable, said Taylor Daily 13, president of Brown Students for Obama and vice president of the Brown Democrats. Daily watched the address with a Brown Democrats viewing party that filled Wilson 101. While agreeing that education costs should be kept low, Brown Republicans President Terrence George 13 said it would be hard to speak to the feasibility of the plan without knowing more about the rationale behind tuition hikes. Pointing to the need for immigration reform, Obama addressed issues of citizenship for college students who are undocumented continued on page 6
Emily Gilbert / Herald
The Brown Democrats hosted a State of the Union viewing party in Wilson 101.
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Rebecca McGoldrick 12 argues for pets in dorms
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TODAY 11:30 A.M. Welcome Back Social, Faunce Memorial Lounge 5:30 P.M. Lecture on Literature and Language, Pembroke Hall, Room 305 4:00 P.M. Puppet Summit Open Workshop, Granoff Center for the Creative Arts JANUARY 25 TOMORROW 10:00 A.M. Health Careers Advising Bonanza, SciLi, Room 315 JANUARY 26 By mathias heller Senior Staff Writer
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SHARPE REFECTORY Mild Buffalo Wings, Vegan Nuggets, Belgian Carrots, Greek Pasta Salad, M&M Cookies VERNEY-WOOLLEY DINING HALL LUNCH Saturday Night Jambalaya, Italian Meatballs, Mediterranean Eggplant Saute, M&M Cookies
DINNER Shaved Steak Sandwich, Vegetarian Spinach Strudel, Vegan Three Bean Casserole, Fudge Bars Stir Fry - Pork Lo Mein, Stir Fry Tofu Lo Mein, Roast Turkey, Glazed Carrots Fudge Bars
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ACROSS 1 Kids summer spot 5 Aint it the truth 9 Melvilles Billy 13 Craft seen at many a 1-Across 14 Banned apple treatment 15 Current about 16 Family Matters nerd 17 __ dry eye in the house 18 Hindu music style 19 Outdo other guests seeking a party drink? 22 Hotel annex? 23 Carsons latenight predecessor 24 Thurmond who was a senator for 47 years 26 Fancy neckwear 29 Bay Area airport letters 31 Lux. locale 32 Pitcher of milk? 34 Size up 36 Order one so-so ice cream drink? 39 Throw in the direction of 40 __ ones game: performing below par 41 Bribe 42 Slice of history 44 Hardly silk purse material, in an idiom 48 Building brick 50 Bearing 52 Unnamed degree 53 Activate a dispenser for a fruit drink? 57 Civil rights icon Parks 58 You bet, seora! 59 Rye fungus 60 A very long time 61 Lobe adornment 62 Slashers title hangout, in film: Abbr. 63 Schools of whales 64 Pops the question 65 H.S. juniors exam
Greg Jordan-Detamore / Herald Students were admitted early decision to the class of 2016 from across the continental United States (above) as well as around the globe. The largest concentration of admitted students as in previous years is found in the northeastern United States.
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01/25/12
admit rate of between 4 and 5 percent. Usually, the University admits around 17 or 18 PLME students in the early decision cycle, he said. This year, the PLME applicant
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The Brown Daily Herald (USPS 067.740) is an independent newspaper serving the Brown University community daily since 1891. It is published Monday through Friday during the academic year, excluding vacations, once during Commencement and once during Orientation by The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. Single copy free for each member of the community. POSTMASTER please send corrections to P.O. Box 2538, Providence, RI 02906. Periodicals postage paid at Providence, R.I. Subscription prices: $280 one year daily, $140 one semester daily. Copyright 2011 by The Brown Daily Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
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pool increased by 25 percent, The Herald previously reported. The University admitted about 160 athletes, roughly on par with the admit level for the past five years, Miller said. Since many athletic recruits apply early decision, the early decision admission rate is significantly higher than the regular decision rate. That really skews our admit rate, Miller said. If you pull athletes out of that process, the admit rate in early and regular is very similar. In the United States, the most admits came from New York, where 83 students were accepted. California followed, with 78 admitted students. Regionally, about 21 percent of admits came from New England, followed by about 15 percent from New York and about 14 percent each from continued on page 3
Campus news 3
retire at end of year
By elizaBeth Carr city & State editor
mance studies, said he was drawn to Brown because it seemed very community-oriented and because of its LGBTQ culture. Regular decision applications were due Jan. 1. The University aims to have a first-year class of about 1,500 students. The University is still processing the total number of
regular decision applications it received, said Diane Duphily, executive assistant in the Admission Office. Duphily said the office should finish counting later in the week. with additional reporting by Izzy rattner
Director of Athletics Michael Goldberger will retire at the end of the academic year after 38 years with the University. His decision, announced in an email to the Brown community by President Ruth Simmons Dec. 13, surprised many athletes. I had no idea that this was coming, said Andrew Pintea 12, captain of the mens fencing team. I had no idea this was even a possibility, said Kyle NewhallCaballero 11.5, co-captain of the football team. Especially after President Simmons is stepping down, now the athletics director is stepping down. Its kind of strange for the University. Goldberger said he had planned to step down a year ago, but Simmons convinced him to stay on for one more year to address issues facing the department. We have a roadmap set up for where we want to go in the next six months, Goldberger said. The plan involves enlarging the athletics departments endowment, increasing its budget and developing facilities to stabilize the program. The new athletics facility is slated for completion this spring, which Goldberger said should make life easier for student-athletes. Kids are working out in the weight room at six in the morning because we just dont have the facilities, he said. Due to the recent construction of new facilities, the new athletics director will be walking into a really great situation here, NewhallCaballero said.
4 Campus news
continued from page 1
By mOrgaN jOhNsON Senior Staff Writer
Renovated Metcalf Mayor seeks more funds from U. opens for classes
Metcalf Chemistry and Research Laboratory which underwent a $42 million renovation over the past year and a half will host classes for the first time today since its overhaul. Students who took classes in Metcalf prior to its transformation are in for a surprise. It was such a dump, said William Heindel, chair of the cognitive, linguistic and psychological sciences department that calls Metcalf home. Metcalf s 210-seat auditorium may be the most visible change that greets students and other visitors to the building. A state-of-the-art projector system replaces the original blackboards bemoaned by students who struggled to read professors writing from the auditoriums back rows. The rooms notoriously uncomfortable wooden seats, noisy radiators and out-of-date periodic table are gone. The refurbished auditorium space is already in high demand, Heindel said. The 74,187-square-foot buildings other iconic room, dubbed the dome room for its circular glass ceiling, has also undergone extensive changes. It was in really bad shape before, Heindel said of the third-floor room, which is now his favorite in the building. It is equipped with a kitchen and audio/ video conference capabilities and connects to a balcony overlooking a small library, a space which previously functioned as a fire exit. I think one of the major problems in the previous building was continued on page 8 not yet reached the Corporation. The Providence Journal reported Jan. 10 that a document showed Simmons and Taveras agreeing on a deal under which the University would pay the city an additional $4 million per year. But Quinn said such a deal was never reached, let along presented to the Corporation. Anything of that magnitude of dollars had to have the approval of the Corporation because of the way Brown is governed, Quinn said. Because the mayor wanted a response in January, the University offered the additional $2 million per year while it continued to work on other aspects of the proposal, she said. Former Providence Mayor and current state Rep. David Cicilline 83, D-R.I., previously requested additional resources from Providence private colleges and universities, Quinn said. Under a 2003 agreement, Brown contributes more than $2.4 million to the city in voluntary annual payments. The University makes additional voluntary payments of $1.3 million and another $1.6 million in taxes on property that is not used for educational purposes, like certain parking lots and many of its Jewelry District properties, Quinn said. According to the Jan. 9 draft of the report by the city Commission on Revenue, Sustainability and Efficiency, nonprofit institutions like universities and hospitals benefit from city services and own 23 percent of the citys land. The commission estimates that nonprofits cost the city between $36.3 million and $41 million annually. Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreements with the state help relieve the city of the financial burden. Dan Egan, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Rhode Island, said the PILOT program was created to recognize the economic benefits that Providences nonprofits provide the state. Most of the benefits are generated by the income tax on employee salaries, which goes to the state rather than the city, he said. The PILOT programs goal is to recognize that discrepancy and funnel back some of that income tax to the city, which has no income tax, Egan said. Even with voluntary funding from the citys private colleges and universities, Providence is still struggling financially and needs more. City Councilman Sam Zurier, who sat on a subcommittee for tax-exempt nonprofit institutions, said the mayor needs an additional $7 million from the citys nonprofits to balance the budget. Though the citys annual operating budget is more than $600 million, Zurier said the $2 million
annual difference between what Brown offered to pay and what the city requested is significant. If the city werent in the middle of a crisis, we wouldnt be asking to do this, he said. If (the University) wants to open their books and show us that theyre on the edge of the cliff and about to go off, then that would be one thing. But Quinn said the notion that the University has a huge endowment from which it can draw is a misperception. Theres a belief that somehow having the $2.5 billion endowment is like a rainy day fund, she said. Instead, the fund is made up of funds provided by donors for specific purposes and is largely restricted, Quinn said, since the University can only draw from earnings on its endowment, not the principal. Increasing direct cash payments in this economic climate is very difficult, Egan said, especially given the heightened need for financial aid among college students, which both he and Quinn stressed must be a priority for institutions of higher education. But Taveras emphasized the need for both sides to make concessions. More than anything, its important that everyone realize that sacrifice is necessary Brown needs Providence, and Providence needs Brown, he said.
Nearly 100 Providence firefighters, police officers and community members protested the Universitys exemption from paying taxes
on many of its properties Jan. 11, blasting fog horns, chanting and holding signs that read pay your share. The protest was the latest sign of escalating tensions in an ongoing debate over how much the University should contribute
to the city. While President Ruth Simmons spoke at a Providence Foundation meeting inside 121 S. Main St., which houses several University offices, protesters on the street said the University should have to shoulder a greater tax burden so Providence residents could be spared. I just spent 151 days in the hospital with cancer treatment over this last year with 19 procedures in 15 months, and you think Im not ticked when I get hit with a bill and somebody else is coming up wanting us to pay more taxes? said Bobby Lowder, who lives just north of Browns campus. If all universities paid on their income-producing properties and their income what they make, from the bookstore theyve got, all the rest of that like any other business, you wouldnt have a problem. The University is exempt from paying taxes on property used for educational purposes. But Brown, along with Providences other private colleges and universities, made an agreement in 2003 to voluntarily pay $50 million to the city over 20 years a total that is significantly less than what the University would pay under regular property tax rates. Brown also pays taxes on recently purchased property, including the site of the protest, according to a University statement released Jan. 19. continued on page 5
Campus news 5
continued from page 4 The protesters said these contributions are not enough, especially at a time when Providence is in dire financial straits. Lowder expressed concern that firefighters may lose their pensions due to the citys fiscal problems. Thats wrong, he said. Firefighter Wayne Oliveira said the University could pay more taxes without even feeling the hit. They bought up a third of the city, and they need to help, he said. They need to help because of the simple fact that the citizens of Providence are drowning in taxes, and theyre footing the bill. The Universitys Jan. 19 statement outlined its support for the city. In addition to its financial contributions to Providence, the University also provides jobs to 1,400 city residents and attracts people to the city who often start job-creating businesses, according to the statement. But Providence City Councilman Nicholas Narducci Jr., Ward 4, voiced his doubts. How many of their employees, if youre looking at it that way, live in Providence? Narducci, who spoke at the protest, asked in an interview with The Herald. While he said Brown does play a role as an employer, Narducci questioned the trade-off for the city. Would we be better off for them to employ all outsiders and us to get their tax dollars? he said. Probably. Rep. Leo Medina, D-Providence, said the issue is not specific to Brown. Between Johnson and Wales, Brown University and RISD, you have the highest-value property and paying zero, Medina, who also spoke at the rally, told The Herald. He said the city should not tax classroom buildings, but should consider taxing buildings that colleges and universities profit from, such as dormitories. In its statement, the University reiterated its offer to increase its payments toward the citys school system. We seek to be part of the solution and offered Mayor (Angel) Taveras a plan to enhance the $4 million in voluntary and property tax payments we already make annually to the city by providing an additional $10 million over five years to support the schools, the statement read. Simmons and Taveras last year made a tentative deal for the University to provide the city an additional $4 million per year, but this proposal was never presented to the Corporation the Universitys highest governing body according to an article published in the Providence Journal Jan. 10. Taveras sent a letter to Simmons Jan. 4 expressing his disappointment and warning that the city may pursue that revenue from Brown using alternate legal pathways. Less than half an hour after the protest ended, Taveras stepped out of a black SUV and walked inside the building.
McCormick case Protesters demand that U. settled out of court pays its share to Providence
A long-standing lawsuit accusing the University of mishandling charges that William McCormick, a former student and varsity wrestler, raped the daughter of a major donor was dismissed in federal court last December. The suit, filed against the University and two alums, was settled outside of court. The University did not participate in any settlement negotiations, said Marisa Quinn, vice president for public affairs and University relations, Dec. 21, and it does not have information about the details of the settlement. The settlement total was not publicly released. William Poore, the case mediator, had recommended sums of $850,000 and $1.05 million, according to a conversation between Scott Kilpatrick, McCormicks lawyer, and Michael Burch, McCormicks former advisor and an assistant wrestling coach at the University, detailed in a Jan. 20 GoLocalProv article. This conversation took place a month before a settlement was reached and was secretly recorded by Burch, according to the article. The dismissal stipulated the McCormick family may not sue the alums or the University on these charges again. The lawsuit was first filed under seal by Scott Kilpatrick, McCormicks lawyer, in September 2009. The suit claimed the University mismanaged the female alums allegations of rape against McCormick after a September 2006 incident because of the relationship between the University and the female alums father, who is a high-profile donor. The Herald is withholding the alums name because she may have been the victim of a sex crime. McCormick, formerly a member of the class of 2010, withdrew from Brown on a medical release in October 2006. McCormicks complaint alleges that he was forced to leave campus following the incident in September without being made aware of the specific allegations against him. Between the night the alleged rape occurred and McCormicks withdrawal from the University, the alums father communicated with President Ruth Simmons and Senior Vice President for Corporation Affairs and Governance Russell Carey 91 MA06 through emails later released in the lawsuit. The University maintains it did not commit any wrongdoing in addressing the matter, Quinn has previously stated. The lawsuit was transferred several times prior to its dismissal. The first two judges to preside over the case, William Smith and Ronald Lagueux, both of the Rhode Island District federal court, recused themselves. Smith recused himself last January because his daughter applied to Brown. Two months later, Lagueux recused himself because the alums lawyer, Joseph Cavanagh, had represented him in court in 1988. The case was transferred to New Hampshire prior to returning to Rhode Island last October to be heard by newly confirmed Rhode Island District Federal Court Judge John McConnell 80.
Herald staff
www.browndailyherald.com
Protesters will leave Burnside Park at night in return for a center for the homeless.
trayed the deal as a victory for the movement. We are proud to announce the victory of opening a day center for people who would otherwise be up against the elements in the harsh New England winter, said Robert Malin, an unofficial spokesman for the group, at the press conference. Despite the outward enthusiasm for the deal, some members of Occupy Providence expressed doubt over whether the group should have given up their best bargaining chip their commitment to occupying a public park so readily. Im definitely opposed to it, said Amanda Magee, an organizer for Occupy Providence. Theres a lot that needs to
change. We dont have enough to give up what were doing. Occupy Providence has recently become a vocal opponent of the Universitys tax-exempt status. The group marched on City Hall last week to lend support to city legislators voting on the issue. Occupy Providences decision to vacate Burnside Park at night, voted on by Occupy Providences general assembly, passed by only two votes. The agreement with the city requires the group to remove all tents and sleeping materials. But, they are free to maintain the information booths that make the park the center of their movement. Occupy Providence moved into Burnside Park Oct. 15.
ing that at present there are a lot of talented people who dont have the opportunity to get the jobs that are out there. Obama also stressed the importance of tax incentives to encourage businesses to operate domestically and issued financial institutions an ultimatum that the government would not bail them out again. He proposed spending money previously allocated for the war to pay the nations debt and finance construction projects. George said he wished Obama had addressed entitlement reform, calling it the elephant in the room. Obama also spoke about the need for clean energy and protecting the nations supply of natural gas. George said he was disappointed Obama had the audacity to mention Americas domestic energy production just a short while after denying the Keystone XL pipeline. Daily said he would have liked to hear more about Obamas specific foreign policy goals but was pleased by how Obama presented his ideas clearly and effectively.
NE WS IN BRIEF
Trustees fund under insider trading scrutiny again
The $14 billion hedge fund founded and run by Corporation Trustee Steven Cohen P08 is under renewed federal scrutiny after the recent arrest of a former company employee on charges of insider trading. Technology analyst Jon Horvath, who was arrested last Wednesday, is the fourth former SAC Capital Advisors employee to be charged with insider trading in the past two years. SAC Capital, based in Stamford, Conn., has grown to be one of Wall Streets most influential and successful hedge funds since its founding in 1992, but the fund has been under federal investigations since 2007. Cohen has never been implicated in any misconduct. The heightened focus on SAC Capital has been part of a greater federal push to tighten regulation and oversight of the hedge fund industry. Last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission opened investigations into the funds trading patterns in two separate instances. The charges against Horvath focus specifically on insider trading tied to the $1 million profit the fund made from trading shares of Dell, Inc. in 2008. The firm is continuing to cooperate with the government investigation, an SAC spokesman told The Herald, but he declined to comment further. Cohen has served on the Corporation, the Universitys highest governing body, since 2008. He was named among the worlds 100 most influential people by Time in 2007 and among the 100 wealthiest people by Forbes in 2009. Cohen has recently indicated a desire to bid for the ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers professional baseball team, and it is unclear how the mounting investigation of his fund may affect that bid. eli okun
8 Sports wednesday
continued from page 4 that it was just completely dilapidated so the ceiling would be falling on you while you were working and the wall was crumbling around me in one of my labs, said Clara Kliman-Silver 13. Its nice not to have that anymore. Spaces created with aesthetics in mind are present throughout the L-shaped facility. A public art installation connecting the building to an outside courtyard reflects the departments theme of visual perception through glass panels that bend light according to time of day. The exterior of the building remains mostly unchanged to keep its original 1923 appearance. I think stylistically it looks very nice, said Adam Bear 13. Faculty office and research laboratory wings are connected by lounges and conference rooms, some outfitted with wall-sized whiteboards. Labs are clustered based on research areas within the CLPS department. But faculty offices are organized randomly to encourage collaboration among faculty across the department, which was created by the merger of cognitive and linguistic sciences and psychology. Graduate students are given their own office space on the top floor, which previously served as an attic. Several showers have been added for the benefit of grad students and faculty. They never have to leave, Heindel said. The showers are also intended to encourage commuting by bike. Administrators hope Metcalf, which includes many environmentally friendly features, will attain a silver or better Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. The CLPS department moved into Metcalf in early October while work continued on the building. Though the renovation designed by the architecture firm Leers Weinzapfel Associates is essentially complete, technology staff were still working yesterday evening to prepare for the semesters start. Theyre still working out some kinks, Heindel said of the buildings final touches. Were getting ready for prime time. with additional reporting by Margaret nickens Check out www.blogdailyherald. com for photos from The Heralds tour of Metcalf.
By ethaN mCCOy SportS editor
Renovated Metcalf OBrien 92 to coach Penn State ready for prime time
Still reeling in the wake of a sexual abuse scandal involving defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, Pennsylvania State University formally announced the selection of Bill OBrien 92 as the new head coach of its football program Jan. 8. OBrien succeeds fellow alum Joe Paterno 50, whose legendary 46-year career ended in disgrace after his firing last November by the Penn State Board of Trustees. Paterno passed away Sunday. Billys not afraid, said Brown Head Coach Phil Estes, a friend and former colleague of OBrien. Penn State is not one of those things that Billy looks at as walking in there and having to tiptoe around. I thought he was a young and confident coach, said Russ Rose, a member of the search committee responsible for replacing Paterno and the head coach of Penn States womens volleyball team for the past 32 years. OBriens 14 years of experience as a college coach and enthusiasm will be assets to a program looking to restore lost luster, he added. Rose served on a six-person search committee headed by David Joyner, the universitys acting athletic director. After a 40-day process, the group chose OBrien for the position. OBrien, who will leave his job as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots once their season ends, played as a defensive end and linebacker for Brown and graduated with degrees in organizational behavior and management and political science. Following graduation, he remained at Brown for two seasons, coaching tight ends and linebackers. Histime in Providence overlapped with Estes, who first joined the coaching staff as running backs coach in 1994. OBrien has no shortage of experience coaching at the college level. Prior to joining the Patriots, OBrien logged 14 years of experience at several institutions renowned for their athletics, serving as running backs coach for Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Maryland and as the offensive coordinator at Duke University. Estes pinpointed OBriens experience coaching college football as his biggest strength and what differentiates him from Charlie Weis, another Patriots offensive coordinator under Bill Belichick, who moved on to a college head coaching career. Weis concluded a mediocre five-year stint as the University of Notre Dame head coach with a 35-27 record. Billy understands how to recruit, and his personality has proven that, Estes said. So thats why I think hes going to be a good coach and do excellent things for Penn State. After being hired as an assistant to the Patriots in 2007, OBrien worked his way up to quarterbacks coach and then offensive coordinator. He went on to coach one of the best quarterbacks ever in Tom Brady at New England, Estes said. Most people would go in there and let Tom Brady do as he does and just kind of give him a game plan. Billy was coaching him. OBrien made national headlines in December for a heated sideline exchange with Brady following
an interception in the fourth quarter of a win over the Washington Redskins. The fact that he was willing on national TV to go toe-to-toe with one of the top players in professional football you have to have great confidence to enter that realm, Rose said. But the decision to hire OBrien has not been met with universal approval. A number of Penn State former players and alumni have voiced their displeasure that the new head coach is not affiliated with the university. Former All-American and three-time Pro Bowler LaVar Arrington told Blue and White Illustrated that he planned on putting his Penn State memorabilia in storage. Another former linebacker, Brandon Short, told Blue and White that the university had turned their backs on our entire family. Arrington has since apologized for his remarks via Twitter. I thought a lot of people we interviewed had great strengths a lot were Penn State people, Rose said. We heard from a lot of Penn State alums that were hoping we would stay within the Penn State family, but it didnt go that direction. OBrien faces the challenge of rebuilding the football program following an ugly public scandal spurred by the allegations against Sandusky. Sandusky, who was accused of sexually assaulting eight underage boys on Penn State property, has since been indicted on 42 counts of child molestation. The scandal led to the firings of both Paterno and Penn State President Graham Spanier and the indictment of Athletic Director Timothy Curley for perjury. I think its going to be a really hard transition period for them, said University Director of Athletics Michael Goldberger. When you think of what happened, its not a football issue, but it is certainly one in which adults in power didnt appear to act the way they should have, and thats a hard thing to overcome. OBriens hire means a continued connection between Brown and Penn State football. Rip Engle was Browns head coach from 1944 to 1949 and coached Paterno, who played both quarterback and cornerback at Brown. The pair moved to Penn State together, where Engle served as head coach for 16 seasons until Paterno took over in 1966. Both Estes and Goldberger acknowledged the relationship between the two programs but emphasized that the hiring was based solely on OBriens individual qualifications and personality. I understand that Bill OBrien has been named head coach and I want to congratulate him, Paterno said in a statement released following the hiring announcement. I dont know Bill, but I respect his coaching record, and I am particularly pleased we share a connection to my alma mater, Brown.
Sports wednesday 9
continued from page 1 coordinator Jerry Sandusky was arrested in November on charges that he sexually abused minors on Penn State property. The ensuing investigation revealed that Paterno and others had been aware of one incident but chose not to go to police. Paterno was fired by the Penn State Board of Trustees Nov. 9. Paternos cancer diagnosis was made public nine days later. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Paterno came to Brown in 1946 after serving a year in the U.S. Army in the final year of World War II. He played on both sides of the ball for the Bears, as a quarterback and cornerback, and owns a share of the school record for interceptions in one season with 14. Off the field, Paterno studied English literature and was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Paterno graduated in 1950. He forewent law school to move to Penn State that same year as an assistant coach, following Rip Engle, his coach at Brown, who had just accepted the head coaching job in Happy Valley. After Engle retired
Joe Paterno 50 passed away Sunday after 46 years as Penn State head coach.
in 1965, Paterno took over the head coaching duties and held them for nearly half a century. Paterno also holds an honorary degree from Brown and was named to Brown footballs 125th Anniversary Team in 2003. Since 1991, the Department of Athletics has presented the Joe Paterno 50
award to an outstanding firstyear varsity male athlete. In an interview with The Herald Jan. 11, Director of Athletics Michael Goldberger said no decision on the future of the award has been made and that the department will wait as long as it takes to make an informed decision.
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Weve been very open about our budget. The city is on the edge of going off the cliff.
City Councilman Sam Zurier see mayor on page 4
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BloG dAIlY HerAld jennifer Bloom matt Klimerman editor-in-Chief Managing editor
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In short, Brown is a huge positive force in Rhode Islands struggling economy, despite its tax-exempt status. In her email to the Brown community, Simmons expressed interest in trying to help the city in ways that do not effectively cripple the University. As Brown students, we owe her a debt of gratitude for taking a stand. Though the Universitys endowment grew to $2.5 billion last year, Brown has significantly fewer financial resources than many of its peer institutions. must be made. Brown did not put Providence into its budget hole, and it should not be responsible for solving the problem. The current situation is due to its past reliance on significant one-time revenue sources and high costs of health care coverage for city employees and retirees, according to the Municipal Finance Review Panel convened by the mayor. The city has to come to grips with the fact that it cannot continue to provide the level of services that it does now. pay taxes. The government rewards organizations whose missions are in the interest of society as a whole with tax exemptions. This allows institutions like Brown to use their money to advance education, as opposed to paying Uncle Sam. To revoke the tax exemption of universities would be a giant step backward for the educational system of this country, one that is already falling behind those of the rest of the world. It is easy for protesters to forget what Brown does for Providence. It is easy to yell and scream about how the University should pay its fair share. But I urge the protesters to think deeper. If the city of Providence had its way, it could simply suck money from Brown at will, whenever a financial need arose. This is a slippery slope. If a government can simply demand that private institutions continue to pay more and more in taxes, what is to stop it from turning to individual citizens? Now is the time for hard choices. It is time for cuts and tax increases so that the city is able to live within its means. Providence needs to end the culture of denial and kicking the can of budget balancing down the road. Now is not the time to coerce private entities to pay more in taxes than the law requires. Such a time should never come, not in America.
The proper way for cities to weather the financial storm is not to bully these groups, who bring jobs and opportunity to the region, into submission.
Any new aid to Providence could lead to cuts in academic programs, financial aid or research. Beyond the obvious financial strain that increasing payments to the city would create, there is also a larger issue of principle at play here. Yes, Providence has a $110 million deficit, which could be helped by increased contributions from Brown and other non-profit organizations. But the proper way for cities to weather the financial storm is not to bully into submission groups that bring jobs and opportunity to the region. Rather, Providence has to face the reality that in tough times, tough decisions Despite all of this, there are still some angry protesters that demand that Brown be forced to pay taxes (Outside U. building, protest targets Browns tax exemption, Jan. 12). This reaction is an understandable, if sad, response to desperate financial times. Rather than asking why Providence is in a difficult position, the protesters are rabidly searching for any source of money that will delay the inevitable tough cuts. What better source than the largest landowner in Providence, the elite, tax-exempt university on the hill? I would like to remind this group that there is a reason why universities do not
Garret Johnson 14 is double concentrating in biology and French and is enjoying a life free of taxes, and income.
Several lab tests and a week later, my diagnosis was in: Stress was the cause of my restless nights, my lack of appetite and my racing heartbeat. But my medicine is not a barbiturate or an exercise; it is 87 pounds, has a wet nose, and a heavy dose leaves me covered in golden fur. My medicine is a 5-year-old Labrador retriever named Hurley, and just the anticipation of leaving him home in New Jersey to finish my last semester at Brown makes us both whimper. But I am not alone. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 39 percent of American households currently own at least one dog. While exact numbers of college students with pets at home is difficult to determine, a casual conversation with my peers leads me to believe that many of us lack our greatest companion for years while earning a college degree. And science is showing that this interspecies relationship has more health implications than we might imagine. While pet owners in general benefit from having animal companions, a small but ever-growing body of research posits that dogs in particular are physically and psychologically advantageous for our well-being. Unlike other pets that may require tanks and cages, dogs need physical activity like walks. A study funded by the
ResLifes call for a new program house last fall received only one submission, and it was not Dog House.
ple suffering from physical and mental disabilities. At the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, Professor Kerstin Uvnas-Moberg has been studying oxytocin, a hormone that creates the feeling of comfort and attachment and induces antidepressant effects. In one study, Uvnas-Moberg tested dogs and their owners for levels of oxytocin over the course of a petting session and found that both subjects experienced bursts of oxytocin, which correlated with
swings, confusion, difficulty concentrating and increased smoking, alcohol and drug use. In the long run, stress has been linked to heart attacks, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, as well as degenerative neurological disorders, such as Parkinsons disease. While Brown touted with pride its rank as the happiest college in America in 2010, we dropped to number three this past year. The drop though not signifi-
Tyler Gage 08.5 and Dan MacCombie 08.5 were recently named yoshiyama young Entrepreneurs for their partnership with South American farmers.
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The first snowfall of the semester hindered some students return to campus but also facilitated frolics on the Main Green.
Only a day later, warm weather melted most of the Main Green snowman.