Nearly 200 students and local community members gathered on the steps of the Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center Thursday afternoon for a rally supporting the formation of an undergraduate computer science teaching assistants union. Members of the union’s organizing committee and invited speakers ...

Computer Science TAs, community members rally on Main Green, request voluntary recognition of union

By Sam Levine | December 8 | University News

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Unionizing was not the first solution explored by exasperated teaching assistants in the computer ...

CS TAs report systemic issues with overworking, Brown's HR system

By Will Kubzansky | December 7 | University News

Unionizing was not the first solution explored by exasperated teaching assistants in the computer ...

A suspect has been charged with breaking and entering and willful trespass after reportedly breaking ...

Suspect arrested following Wayland break-in Sunday morning

By Neil Mehta | December 7 | University News

A suspect has been charged with breaking and entering and willful trespass after reportedly breaking ...

Provost Richard Locke reflects on 7-year tenure

By Mizuki Kai | December 7 | University News

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At the end of the month, Richard Locke P’18 will conclude his tenure as the University’s provost to begin his role as vice president and dean of Apple University, the tech company’s corporate leadership school. Since his appointment as the 13th provost in 2015, Locke has served over seven years ...

Ukrainian students acclimate to life on College Hill

By Elizabeth Hirschfeld | December 7 | University News

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This spring, the University offered 13 Ukranian applicants notice of an “advanced likelihood of admission” to the class of 2026, The Herald previously reported. The Herald spoke to some of these students as they near the end of their first semester at Brown, as well as sophomores from Ukraine, ...

Opinions

Editors' Note: A final farewell, from 132 to you

By 132nd Editorial Board | December 7

Seventy-four papers. One-hundred-twenty-two production nights. Seemingly endless hours together, holed up at 88 Benevolent St. And yet, it feels so soon — today’s paper marks our 74th and final issue as The Herald’s 132nd Editorial Board.

Editorial: The future of affirmative action at Brown

By Editorial Page Board | December 7

The Supreme Court seems poised to ban affirmative action, the use of race-conscious considerations in college admissions. During hearings in late October, members of the court’s conservative majority made no efforts to hide their skepticism of affirmative action’s constitutionality as used at ...

Wellisch ’26: It is time to let athletes be political

By Yael Wellisch | December 6

In her column, Yael Wellisch ’26 argues that athletes should be allowed to participate in political discourse without repercussions.

Peng ’26: Listened to your Spotify Wrapped? Here’s what data Spotify has on you.

By Christina Peng | December 6

In her column, Christina Peng ’26 explores the data Spotify stores about her and questions how to protect this data.

Fang ’26: Fighting the first-year flu: Students deserve clear information on dealing with sickness at school

By Juliet Fang | December 5

Over Thanksgiving break, I finally caught the inaugural first-year sickness. On Wednesday, I felt a sore throat coming on. By Thursday, I got a headache, and on Friday, I went through bouts of chills and sweating. A feverish temperature reading at Health Services confirmed my sickness, and I reluctantly ...

University News

Faculty vote to permanently extend first-year orientation by two days

By Alex Nadirashvili | December 7

Members of the University's faculty voted to extend first-year orientation by two days during the last faculty meeting of the semester Tuesday, making permanent a pilot program from the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years.

Faculty, students, fellows discuss first semester of Center for Philosophy, Politics and Economics

By Sarah Onderdonk | December 7

The University’s new Center for Philosophy, Politics and Economics, established July 1, has seen “an exciting period of growth” during its first semester, said David Skarbek, the center’s director and associate professor of political science.

PETA releases open letter criticizing Brown’s federal animal welfare guideline violations

By Mira White | December 7

In a Nov. 17 open letter, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 to address “serious concerns about failing oversight in Brown’s animal experimentation program.” PETA cited 11 violations of federal animal welfare guidelines between July ...

Faculty propose new Data Science Institute at final fall meeting

By Alex Nadirashvili | December 7

At the final faculty meeting of the semester Tuesday, Professor of Biology Sohini Ramachandran, director of the Data Science Initiative, gave a presentation summarizing the initiative’s proposal to form a Data Science Institute at the University. Faculty members will vote on whether they support ...

University adds caste provision to nondiscrimination policy

By Aniyah Nelson | December 6

The University added a provision to its nondiscrimination policy that explicitly prohibits caste-based discrimination, announced in a Dec. 1 press release. In fall 2022, the Corporation — the University's highest governing body — voted to adopt the amendment to its policy statement, which ...

Arts & Culture

Why do so many fictional characters attend Brown?

By Rebecca Carcieri | December 7

What do Brian Griffin from “Family Guy,” Carrie Bradshaw from “Sex and the City,” Cliff Calley from “West Wing” and Andrea Sachs from “The Devil Wears Prada” all have in common? They all walked through the Van Wickle Gates. The Herald spoke to authors and screenwriters whose characters ...

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Students turn to movies, music, traditions for Holiday cheer

By Lynn Nguyen | December 6

From gathering around the television to watch a Christmas movie with family to having a feast full of special holiday dishes while listening to Mariah Carey croon, most students have unique traditions associated with the holiday season.

Metro

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Physicians express concern about future of abortion education in post-Roe era

By Owen Dahlkamp | December 7

In the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision in late June, the Supreme Court overturned constitutional abortion protections established in Roe v. Wade. Now, physicians have expressed concerns over potential discrepancies in residency abortion training during that might arise in more ...

‘Tripledemic’ of respiratory viruses burdens Rhode Island health care system

By Emma Madgic | December 7

Respiratory viruses influenza and COVID-19 are well known, but Respiratory Syncytial Virus is less discussed. Elevated cases of RSV are adding burden to hospitals in the state already grappling with COVID-19 and the flu, creating what some have called a “tripledemic.”

Feed the Cheeks celebrates second location’s grand opening

By Stella Chen | December 6

Jason Magnell and his daughter Eva lined up at 8:30 a.m. outside cookie vendor Feed the Cheeks’s brand new location at 190 Angell St. Saturday morning. By 9:45 a.m., light rain coming down, the line stretched toward Thayer Street, with patrons eagerly awaiting the 10 a.m. grand opening.

Tomaquag Museum seeks to empower RI Indigenous communities, educate public

By Laura David | December 6

Tucked away in Exeter, R.I. off Interstate 95 sits the Tomaquag Museum, the only museum in Rhode Island dedicated exclusively to Indigenous history — and the Ocean State’s only museum operated by Indigenous people. Founded in 1958 by the anthropologist Eva Butler and Princess Red ...

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Sports

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Women’s hockey falls to No. 10 Cornell despite two goals from Jade Iginla ’26

By Nicholas Miller | December 5

The women’s hockey team (4-7-1, 2-4-0 Eastern College Athletic Conference) continued its struggles against nationally ranked opposition Saturday, losing to No. 10 Cornell (7-3-2, 5-2-1) 4-2 after conceding three unanswered goals in the third period.

Women’s basketball cruises to 68-52 win over Hartford

By Linus Lawrence | December 5

After having their five-game win streak snapped on Wednesday evening by Holy Cross, the women’s basketball team (6-3) bounced back to take a 68-52 victory over Hartford (0-8) on Saturday afternoon at the Pizzitola Sports Center.

Men’s basketball beats in-state rival Bryant 72-60

By Abe Wyett | December 5

The men’s basketball team (5-4) faced off against in-state rival Bryant University (7-3) Friday, defeating the Bulldogs 72-60 on the road — their seventh win in their last eight matchups against Bryant. Bruno also defeated the University of Hartford (4-7) 65-51 Sunday, extending the Bears’ ...

Men’s hockey takes Mayor’s Cup in 3-2 win over No. 8 Providence College

By Nicholas Miller | November 28

For the first time in almost seven years, the Mayor’s Cup trophy will reside at Meehan Auditorium after the men’s hockey team (3-6-1, 1-6-1 ECAC) defeated No. 8 Providence College (9-3-3, 6-0-1 Hockey East) 3-2 at the Friars’ Schneider Arena on Saturday night.

Women’s basketball takes thriller over Monmouth, extends win streak to five games

By Linus Lawrence | November 28

The women’s basketball team (5-2) defeated Monmouth University (4-3) 70-69 at the Pizzitola Sports Center Friday afternoon. The victory extended the team’s win streak to four games, after the Bears dropped their first two matches of the season. Brown extended the win streak to five with a 69-46 ...

Science & Research

Computer science professor Sorin Istrail wins award recognizing algorithms research

By Jakobi Haskell | December 2

The 30th Annual European Symposium on Algorithms awarded its 2021 Test-of-Time Award to Sorin Istrail, professor of computational and mathematical ...

Riley Flores ’22.5 wins best research presentation award at SHPE national convention

By Anna Kim | December 1

Riley Flores ’22.5 received the best research presentation award at the 2022 National Convention of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, ...

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