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University News

VP Carey: University feels “confident” moving to modified Campus Activity Level 2 as positive cases remain “relatively steady”

By Claire Liu | January 28

Twenty-nine COVID-19 tests returned positive this week for University members enrolled in the asymptomatic testing program, of which 21 were students and eight were employees, according to Executive Vice President for Planning and Policy Russell Carey ’91 MA’06. The number of positive cases per ...

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University News

First COVID-19 vaccines distributed on College Hill, timeline for widespread distribution remains uncertain

By Livia Gimenes | January 28

The broader undergraduate population could receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as early as the end of this semester, supplies permitting, Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Executive Director of Health and Wellness Vanessa Britto MMSc’96 speculates. As part of Phase 1 of the ...

University News

Brown eligible for $6.9 million of funding from new coronavirus stimulus bill

By Mia Barzilay Freund | January 28

The University plans to apply for the nearly $6.9 million of funding for which it is eligible under a new Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) signed into law by former President Donald Trump Dec. 27. This funding comes as the latest installment in a timeline of ...

Metro

Community members worry that increase of off-campus college students pushes local residents out

By Laura David | January 28

In a housing market that was already struggling to keep up with demand, the University’s expansion of off-campus housing permission amid the COVID-19 pandemic have triggered concerns among both locals and some Brown students that an influx of students into nearby Providence neighborhoods will push ...

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Metro

Brown’s Public Education Committee meets in the midst of state takeover

By Sameer Sinha | January 28

The University’s Public Education Committee discussed the allocation of a $10 million Fund for the Education of the Children of Providence at its inaugural meeting in January. The allocation comes at a crucial time for the Providence Public School District, which is currently in the midst of a state ...

University News

BDS navigates meal planning, prep, pickup as campus quarantines

By Jack Walker | January 28

Gail McCarthy, a beloved Brown Dining Services cashier, found herself doing much more than her typical role of swiping ID cards and doling out smiles during the spring semester’s unusual start. McCarthy, along with a number of Dining Services staff, worked to prepare and bag the 7,000 meals produced ...

Metro

Raimondo discusses China, census, climate change during Senate committee confirmation hearing

By Benjamin Pollard | January 27

“I know the pain that losing a job can cause a family,” Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo said in her opening statement during her Senate commerce committee confirmation hearing for the role of Secretary of Commerce in the Biden administration, mentioning her family’s struggle following her father’s ...

Metro

Speaker Shekarchi speaks on house reforms, legislative priorities, representatives, students weigh in

By Stella Olken-Hunt | January 27

Representative K. Joseph Shekarchi, who recently became Speaker of the Rhode Island House after long-standing Speaker Nicholas Mattiello was defeated by Republican challenger Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, hopes to prioritize more collaboration among House members and technologically adapt to the challenges ...

Metro

Curfews bring challenges for Providence businesses

By Neha Mukherjee | January 27

Curfews imposed in Rhode Island to curb the spread of COVID-19 have been painful for local businesses, prompting some to call for the state to remove certain restrictions. “They are not able to serve the same number of patrons that they once served,” Ward 1 Councilman John Goncalves told The Herald. ...

University News

UCS discusses virtual meeting procedures, introduces closed captioning for meetings

By Shilpa Sajja | January 27

The Undergraduate Council of Students discussed virtual meeting conduct standards, introduced closed captioning for meetings and engaged in community-building exercises during its first general body meeting of the semester Wednesday evening. In response to concerns about UCS members’ past behavior ...

Metro

ACLU of R.I. calls on Providence Police Department to enforce stronger compliance of body camera policy

By Corey Gelb-Bicknell | January 26

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island wrote a letter on Jan. 15 to Providence Chief of Police Hugh Clements Jr. and Commissioner of Public Safety Steven Paré imploring them to take actions that “ensure stronger compliance” of the Providence Police Department’s body camera policy. Though ...

Metro

Judicial appointments of women of color make R.I. history

By Kate Dario | January 26

Recent appointments of four women of color in both state and local courts have made Rhode Island history. Justice Melissa Long is the first Black justice on the Rhode Island Supreme Court, Judge Elizabeth Ortiz is the first Latina to serve on the Rhode Island Family Court, Judge Linda Rekas Sloan ...

University News

Students express frustration regarding quiet period meals, dorm conditions

By Maisie Newbury | January 26

As Quiet Period restrictions confine students to their dorm rooms, some have expressed concerns about challenging living and dining conditions following their return to campus for the spring semester. These have included drafts of cold air, frigid showers and unclean residence halls, students told ...

University News

'Intern from Home,' created by recent Brown graduates, sees growth during pandemic

By Emily Faulhaber | January 26

At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic back in March, recent Brown graduates Chuck Isgar ’20.5 and Megan Kasselberg ’20 started Intern from Home, an online platform that connects students seeking internships with companies in need. As the pandemic wore on and companies shifted to conducting business ...

University News

University moves to Modified Campus Activity level 2

By Jack Walker | January 26

The University will transition into a Modified Level 2 of the Campus Activity Status beginning Jan. 27, at which point classes of 19 students or fewer will be allowed to meet in person, according to an email sent by Russell Carey, executive vice president for planning and policy, Tuesday evening. This ...

University News

Janet Yellen ’67 confirmed to serve as first female Treasury Secretary

By Jack Walker | January 25

Janet Yellen ’67 was confirmed by the U.S. Senate Monday evening to head the Department of the Treasury following announcements of her planned nomination by the Biden administration in November. Yellen is the first woman to hold the position.

University News

Paxson selected to chair Boston Federal Reserve board of directors

By Caelyn Pender | January 25

University President Christina Paxson P’19 was selected to serve as the chair of the Boston Federal Reserve Bank’s board of directors, the Federal Reserve Board announced Dec. 23. Her position began Jan. 1. Paxson, an expert on economics and public policy, has served on the Boston Fed’s board ...

University News

In second full semester during the pandemic, almost half of undergraduate students to be living on-campus

By Livia Gimenes | January 25

Nearly half of all enrolled undergraduate students are living on campus or in University-leased housing this semester, according to data provided to The Herald by Dean of the College Rashid Zia ’01. Only 15 percent of enrolled students are studying remotely this spring, and 36.1 percent are living ...

Science & Research

Lifespan COVID-19 vaccination program administers Pfizer, Moderna vaccines

By Jared Zhang | January 25

The Lifespan health system received a shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna on Dec. 14 and Dec. 22, respectively. Two physicians who received both vaccine doses through the program spoke with The Herald about their experiences. Lifespan-affiliated hospitals are holding vaccine ...

Metro

Amid limited COVID-19 vaccine supply, Rhode Island leaders prioritize equity, lowered death rate, economy in vaccine rollout

By Tyler Jacobson | January 24

With limited supply of vaccines in Rhode Island, state officials have backed a three-phased prioritization plan to determine who receives doses first, with a focus on equity and minimizing hospitalizations. More than 66,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Rhode Island, according to ...