Where was everyone? Last Thursday, after what has been, in her own words, "an exceedingly difficult year for the Brown community," President Ruth Simmons delivered the first State of Brown address in four years to a mostly empty Salomon 101. To make matters worse, those few students who showed ...
Well, we've finally reached the big five-oh — the magic threshold of $50,000 per year in tuition and fees, that is. The increasing cost of going to Brown is, of course, as generally unwelcome as it is inexorable.
On more than one application for summer internships, I was asked to list the number of course credits I had completed in various subject matters. The question was startling, and on the online forms I was filling out, there was no room for me to explain.
It's no secret that Brown lacks school spirit when it comes to athletics. If you want to see school spirit, you're better off going to an a cappella show than a football game. In the interest of full disclosure, I've never been to a football, basketball or softball game. I have been to a men's ice hockey ...
The quandary of Israel and Palestine is nearly inescapable for Brown students. Because of a personal connection, I have been witness to plentiful dialogue efforts, lectures, panels and even had the opportunity to dispute current Israeli security policy through a Janus student debate. The assorted and ...
On April 6, Brown faculty will vote on a two-year-old proposal to dignify Brown's Division of Engineering with the title "School" and other ancillary benefits. If this happens — and the Corporation backs it up with its cash and blessing — Brown Engineering will get 12 new faculty members, ...
It has been said that during the period in which King Edward VII of the United Kingdom reigned (1901-1910), humanity last knew a proper attention to sartorial choices. Yes, His Majesty's approach was perhaps a little too fastidious, but in a time when jeans are king, especially on college campuses, ...
A few weeks ago, I was walking through the lobby of the Sciences Library after a late evening of intense readings about political theory. A group of friendly freshmen stopped me as I was leaving and asked me to watch their video entry for the housing lottery first pick contest. Feeling an urge to participate ...
I find Brown's motto confounding. In my experience, theists describe their "belief," "faith" or "trust" in God (or gods) rather than their "hope." "Hope" indicates a degree of uncertainty, as in, "I hope that God is coming, but I'm not convinced." Non-theists do not hope in God either; it makes no sense ...
Consider this an open letter to the New York Times.
A high school senior speaks to the camera in a fake British accent and describes his passions for video games and philosophy. Another displays her drawings and paintings. Another shows off original dance moves representing pie charts and scatter plots.
Many forms of pseudoscience are linked to political ideology. The last presidential administration perfectly demonstrated how some sets of pseudoscientific ideas can tag along with other political beliefs. While President Barack Obama has done a good job of restoring science to most of the White House, ...
I have to admit, somewhat shamefully, that I've been seduced by the Ga. At first it was easy to write her off simply because of the mainstream popularity of her unapologetically catchy anthems and her provocative costumes. However, given a closer look, there seems to be something much more to this new ...
As a columnist, I read The Herald's Opinions page to see what my colleagues have to say. As a student, I read the Opinions page because, well, it's darn good theater. Column after column exposes a perceived injustice on campus, and the timeless practice of rhetoric oozes from the pages like hollandaise ...
When I met with my first-year advisor earlier this semester, he made an offhand remark I'll never forget. We began our conversation with what is something of a tradition between us now: some healthy, agreeable complaining about the weather ("Where I come from this would be illegal." "But it never snows ...
Last week, Brown students saw numerous posters and banners declaring that "we don't want our education profiting from occupation." To this end, activists observed Israeli Apartheid Week, advocating Brown's divestment from companies that profit from Israeli policy in the West Bank and Gaza. This advocacy ...
It's that time of year again: the applications have been reviewed and a lucky few have been invited to attend interview weekends at their prospective grad schools. This is a chance for both the faculty and the potential students to evaluate each other and get a feel for the "fit" between student and ...
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill introduced in Uganda last fall is deeply disturbing: it called for the death penalty for "any form of sexual relationship between persons of the same sex," which was later lightened to life imprisonment. However, capital punishment is still applicable for "serial offenders" ...
Seeking a way to keep brick-and-mortar colleges and universities relevant, in an age when online institutions threaten to make the attainment of a bachelor's degree substantially easier and more convenient, David Sheffield '11 ("What could Brown do for you?", Feb. 25) proposed several recommendations ...
I'm refreshing my Firefox page again. The event listing now says 11 confirmed guests and two maybes."One more confirmed guest!" I cry out triumphantly to the other people sitting in the living room. I am answered with enthusiastic "yays" from my companions. The thrill of this exercise is getting to ...
Solutions by The State News
