The Undergraduate Council of Students noted in an April 30 email that Brown will charge a Red Meat Working Group with delivering recommendations for reducing red meat consumption on campus. The rationale stated in the Sustainability Strategic Plan for reducing red meat (i.e. beef and pork) is that it will lower the University’s contribution to nutrient pollution, which includes nitrogen- and phosphorus-laden waste products from agriculture that contribute to a variety of public health and environmental problems. Red meat purchases comprise one-fifth of Brown’s nitrogen footprint, so the plan aims to cut red meat consumption in dining halls by 25 percent by 2025 and perhaps 50 percent by 2030. 

The fact that the plan is specific to red meat, and lacks an explicit commitment to reduce animal products as a whole, makes it insufficiently holistic. It is true that reducing red meat consumption alone may constitute “progress” by the narrow metrics of nutrient pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the plan fails to specify what food items will replace red meat. Those tasked with implementing the plan should note that substituting other animal products for red meat does nothing to address public health problems like antibiotic resistance and pandemic risk from zoonotic diseases, and can actually increase the number of animals that are abused on factory farms.

The public health risks associated with animal products (and not just red meat) include some of the most pressing issues of the 21st century. For example, the poultry and farmed fish industries both contribute to the rising threat of antibiotic-resistant microbes in the same way that other meat production does: When antibiotics are used in meat production, natural selection yields bacterial strains that survive current medical treatments. The United Nations has estimated that by 2050, antibiotic resistance could kill 10 million people annually, which is more than twice the number of people who have died of COVID-19 as of June 2021. If such a disaster takes place, it may be due in large part to animal agriculture. Currently, 80 percent of antibiotics sold in the United States are used in animal agriculture, and of those, 70 percent are considered “medically important” by the Food and Drug Administration.

Furthermore, switching from red meat to chicken or turkey fails to address the pandemic risk animal agriculture poses. As the past year has shown, zoonotic diseases — such as the avian flu, commonly spread by chickens — pose a serious threat to humanity. In recent decades, epidemiologists have observed avian flu strains with mortality rates up to 60 percent. Luckily, such strains have so far not been contagious among humans, but scientists worry that mutations could arise that enable human-to-human transmission. Increasing our reliance on chicken for meat heightens the risk that such a mutated strain arises. If this happens, the effects of an ensuing pandemic could far exceed those of COVID-19. 

Replacing beef and pork with other meat products is also counterproductive from an animal welfare standpoint. This is partly because chickens, turkey and fish are much smaller animals than pigs and cows, so a much larger number (100 times more chickens than cows) must be murdered in order to produce the same amount of meat. Over 99 percent of farmed chickens and turkeys in the United States are raised on factory farms, where rampant and extreme abuse is well-documented. In fact, the most common types of chicken have been selectively bred to be so heavy that they experience excruciating pain, even when kept in a decent environment.

Even if red meat tops the list of contributors to nutrient pollution, the Sustainability Plan glosses over the very real environmental threats posed by poultry and fish. Chicken is still drastically worse for the climate than plant-based alternatives, and the commercial fishing industry threatens to cause the collapse of global fisheries. This would worsen malnutrition in developing countries where, unlike at Brown, seafood provides essential nutrients that are difficult to get elsewhere. In light of all these concerns, it is odd that the Sustainability Strategic Plan only talks about red meat consumption as it relates to nutrient pollution, with a passing reference to greenhouse gas emissions. Poultry and fish are not mentioned in the plan even once.

Encouragingly though, the plan does also suggest that the Office of Sustainability will explore “options for sustainable meat alternatives” and will hold “educational campaigns around plant-based diets.” The plan also notes that “reducing red meat consumption is not the same thing as reducing protein availability.” But the same is true of reducing meat consumption generally, so it is unnecessary to single out red meat. Between lentils, nuts, seeds, chickpeas and other beans, tofu, seitan, tempeh, nutritional yeast, edamame, textured vegetable protein and any whole grain, there is no shortage of protein-dense plant foods that could easily supplant the animal products in our dining halls while accommodating a wide variety of dietary lifestyles.

The Sustainability Strategic Plan leaves ample room for interpretation by the committees and working groups that will implement it in the coming years. Hopefully, these groups will use that leeway to address animal products generally, and not just red meat. The University should prioritize replacing animal products with plant-based (and perhaps someday cultivated) alternatives, and commit to avoiding ill-conceived measures like replacing red meat with poultry and fish.

Benny Smith ’23 can be reached at austin_smith@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and other op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.

Best activities for Cancer season

Hannah Cooper/File

The sun is officially in Cancer, from June 21 to July 22. The previous season, Gemini, tends to be chaotic, fun and social, which is the opposite of Cancer season. This month is emotional, calm and unpredictable. It is the Lana Del Ray to Gemini’s JoJo Siwa. But this doesn’t mean you have to cancel all your fun plans in preference of watching The Notebook. Here are some fun activities to do during Cancer season for any sign! 

Hang out with your loved ones

Cancer season will bring out the homebody in people, especially Cancers. Many find themselves chilling in their room all day, catching up on Netflix shows. But after a week, it can get lonely and isolating. The best cure is to hang out with some family and friends who you feel comfortable with. Doing this too often will drain your social battery, but once a week is perfect to get out of the house. It doesn’t have to be too crazy or adventurous; the hangouts can be a picnic or a movie night. But the company of others will make this period so much more enjoyable.

Crushing on a person that will never acknowledge your existence

This is the perfect time to have a crush on someone. Not just any person; the crush has to be someone unattainable and emotionally unavailable. It can be your co-worker, a neighbor in a relationship or the hot person at the gym that once shared a glance with you. Your emotions will eventually find the perfect person to catch feelings for. Some ways to entertain this crush are creating a playlist about them, telling your friends all about this person and daydreaming about your life together if anything were to ever happen. Get some rose quartz and manifest this person into your life because the emotions during Cancer season are going to be high. It’ll feel like you’re in a romantic comedy, except that you can write your ending: Act on these feelings or let them fade into oblivion.

Listening to sad songs at night

Late summer nights consist of the heat making you sweat in your bed, the singular fan in your room trying to cool you and staring at the ceiling thinking about life. Pairing these actions with the crazy emotions of Cancer season makes it the best time to have a sad song session. This type of music is perfect to wind down from a hot, sunny day. The calmness of these songs will lull you to sleep, but also have you in your feelings. You’ll find yourself relating to the lyrics more than usual and looking back into your past. My recommended songs are “August” and “All Too Well” by Taylor Swift, “Liability” by Lorde, “Nobody” by Mitski, “Angels Like You” by Miley Cyrus and “All I Ask” by Adele. These songs may make you cry, but they are perfect for this month.

Take some time to self-reflect

What usually happens during Cancer season is the past will come back to you. It comes in various ways, from running into an old flame to watching your Snapchat memories. But it usually has people looking back, if perhaps a little too much. Instead of wallowing in memories, use this to your advantage and set some goals for yourself. Where do I see myself in a few months? How will I get there? Am I happy with where I am right now?  What can I learn from my past to help my future? These questions are great starting points to set some goals for yourself and for self-reflection. The past might come back to bite you, but you’ll be ready to dive into the future.

Cancer season can be a calm and emotional period, but it’s also what you make of it. These activities are perfect for the month and will help you immerse yourself in the vibes of the season. But if you find yourself bored with its calmness, there’s always the energizing Leo season, starting July 23rd. 

Contact Nicholas Clark at nclark@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

A multi-day heat wave at the end of June prompted complaints from students about the excessive heat with limited air conditioning and what they called an inadequate University response.

The heat wave, which peaked at 97 degrees on Tuesday, June 29, has noticeably impacted students living in dorms on campus — the vast majority of which have no central air conditioning — during an unprecedented full semester during the summer. The wave contributed to the hottest June on record for Providence since 1943. 

Rhys Long ’24, who lives in Jameson-Meade, said that the wave greatly affected his own quality of life. “On the days where the heat index is almost 110 degrees, it’s too warm to focus and too warm to sleep,” he said.

Arvind Sridhar ’24 also said that the heat impacted his ability to function as a student. “It was quite brutal, and a big inhibitor to doing work,” he said. “If I normally operate at a level of ten, with the heat I was operating at a level of six.” 

Bryce Jones ’23 agreed that the heat “makes working a lot harder and makes it harder to think.” He said that his dorm, Young Orchard, “traps heat like a sweat lodge” due to its age and building material, exacerbating the heat.

All three students expressed frustration, arguing that the University had not done enough to support on-campus students during the heatwave. They criticized the lack of access to air-conditioned spaces, including libraries, as well as the University’s ban on portable air conditioner units.

Eric Estes, vice president for campus life, wrote in an email to The Herald that “the electrical infrastructure of Brown’s full range of residence halls can not support widespread usage of individual air conditioning units across campus.”

On the University’s response to the heat, he wrote, “We’ve taken some steps similar to heatwaves in other years, yet at a more expanded scale.” These included a Main Green event where “ice pops, cooler bags, water bottles and reusable straws were handed out to students,” he wrote. The University expects to open more buildings, including the Campus Center, as vaccination rates continue to improve, he added.

But the three students said that these measures were not enough.

Long said that the University should have released a list of facilities with central air conditioning to accommodate the needs of students in dorms without it. “They’ve known for over a year that they would have almost 2,000 kids on campus this summer,” he said, yet access to air-conditioned spaces was still limited, which he called “negligent.” 

Long also proposed that the University should improve the electric grid to allow for more widespread air conditioning, a solution which he says is especially important in the context of rising temperatures due to climate change.

Jones agreed that the lack of access to such spaces was disappointing. “The libraries have such short and strange hours that there really is not much of an escape,” he said.

Sridhar said that more should be done in the long term to improve the University’s electrical system. “Any college of this nature should have an updated electrical system because of the contained nature of the student body in these dorms,” he said. “This summer has shown why it’s more important than ever to start that process in revamping the ability to address huge heat waves as they continue to increase through the rest of the summer and through the school year.”

After stating that the 2020-21 season would be his last at the collegiate level, veteran forward Eric Curry has had a change of heart, announcing his plans to play one final season with Minnesota.

Curry took to Instagram Tuesday afternoon posting a photo stating, “Let’s have one last dance, Gopher fans.” He captioned the post, “ONE more time 1⃣.”

Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, Curry has had a tumultuous Gophers career. He made an instant impact as a true freshman, averaging 5.5 points per game. Unfortunately, he battled knee injuries, playing in only 15 games across the next three seasons. Last season as a redshirt senior was Curry’s healthiest since his freshman campaign. He played in 29 games, averaging 15.8 minutes and 3.7 points per contest.

“I’m so incredibly excited for Eric,” head coach Ben Johnson said in a statement. “I’m happy with how he is feeling physically first and foremost, and that he is hungry to compete and lead for one more year. I know he is pumped to be able to wear the maroon and gold and we are just as thrilled to have him back with us.”

Standing at 6-feet-9-inches, Curry will likely play a large role again for the Gophers in the upcoming season. He will serve as a much needed veteran post presence on a roster that lacks experience and depth in his position. After being previously recruited to Minnesota by then assistant Ben Johnson, Curry’s relationship with the now head coach could prove to be very valuable.

With the addition of Curry, the Gophers currently have two open scholarships spots, as Ben Johnson and his staff continue to construct the roster. We are currently 125 days away from Minnesota hosting UMKC on Nov. 9 to kick off the 2021-22 season.

The Minnesota Daily sat down with Yusra Arab, one of the Ward 2 City Council candidates to talk about her policies and how she plans to bring more BIPOC representation to City Hall.

Tell me about yourself.

“My name is Yusra Arab, I’m a mother, an advocate and a Ward 2 resident. I went to high school in Washburn and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a political science degree. I have a 12-year-old daughter and I currently reside in the Southeast Como neighborhood.”

So you’re right over by the University?

“Yes, I’ve been out here since my days at the U. I’m an only child, which isn’t really typical in the East African family. I was raised by a single mother in public housing in St. Paul. I fled Somalia when I was around three, and I haven’t been back since. I’ve been in Minnesota for 23 years now.”

Why did you decide to run for City Council?

“I worked as a policy adviser in the sixth ward for four years and, to be quite honest with you, it was what I saw and experienced while at City Hall that prompted me to run. One of those things were the wide disparities that exist for BIPOC communities. The fact that we don’t really have a champion at City Hall. We have allies but we don’t have actual individuals who reflect the communities they serve, who are on those decision making teams.”

What big issues are you focusing on in your campaign?

“I’m a big supporter of affordable housing. I grew up in public housing and I remember the importance of my mom qualifying to get a voucher and how that helped us get out of poverty. And so, housing is a big issue to me and a personal issue. Public safety is another area. [I want] a more holistic approach to public safety, one that makes sure that all members of our community are protected equally … And environmental justice, and injustice, and making sure that communities of color, who historically were at a disadvantage when it comes to the environment, partake and are aware of what is on the table in finding sustainable solutions.”

What are your plans for dealing with policing and public safety?

“Police in its current form isn’t working … and we need to address it urgently. Our law enforcement officers should be held to the highest standard, they should be accountable for their actions.They should be appropriately trained, and they should be demilitarized, and they should be an extension of the communities they serve … Public safety is more than just police response. At least to me through public safety, ensures that individuals and communities have the resources and support needed to address critical societal thinkers. We need access to affordable housing, food security, clean and reliable transportation and accessible health care, including mental health.”

What are your plans for housing?

“[I will] continue to invest in affordable housing production and preservation, whether it’s in assistance with Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, making sure that public housing isn’t privatized and gentrified. One of my main priorities is advancing partnership opportunities with the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority and expanding the number of affordable housing units for residents at or below 30 AMI [Area Median Income] … I also prioritize the creation of pathways to support affordable homeownership, especially our BIPOC communities.”

This interview was lightly edited for length and clarity.

As Tropical Storm Elsa approaches Chatham County, university administrators encourage students, faculty and staff to make necessary preparations as the storm continues to be monitored.

All university business and campus operations will operate normally on Wednesday, Jun. 7.

As of press time, Chatham county is under a Tropical Storm Watch.

Tropical Storm Elsa is still off the coast and according to its current track, it is supposed to make landfall in Chatham County Wednesday afternoon and evening, remaining a tropical storm as it approaches.

The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall, flash flooding and gusty winds to the region with isolated tornadoes also possible. These conditions may cause power outages, fallen limbs, and flash flooding in coastal areas and other areas near sea level.

“If the storm track changes and a threat arises to our campuses or operations, we will issue a university-wide alert through our emergency notification system and post to www.GeorgiaSouthern.edu/alert,” Communications and Marketing said in an email about the storm.

For more information about Tropical Storm Elsa, visit these resources:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov
https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
www.511ga.org
www.chathamemergency.org

Gov. McKee vetoes renewable energy bill

Gov. Dan McKee vetoed a renewable energy bill that would have placed millions of dollars in costs of wind and solar projects onto ratepayers rather than developers, according to The Providence Journal. McKee said that the bill would increase costs for customers of National Grid without oversight from regulatory agencies.

The bill was backed by Green Development, a renewable energy developer in Cranston, which has given around $71,000 to Rhode Island politicians and candidates since 2015, $3,000 of which went to McKee himself.

The veto is the first McKee has used since becoming governor in March 2021, when former governor Gina Raimondo moved to Washington, D.C. to lead the Commerce Department. 

Three Special Elections held in Rhode Island Tuesday

It’s election time in Rhode Island for three of the state’s cities and towns, which held special elections on Tuesday, according to NBC 10 News.

Local elections are being held for a Town Council member seat in West Warwick, a City Council seat in Pawtucket and a City Council member in Providence following Sabina Matos’ leave to become Rhode Island’s lieutenant governor.

Providence City Councilmember charged after leaving scene of car crash

Carmen Castillo, who represents Ward 9 in the Providence City Council, was charged Tuesday with a misdemeanor crime after being accused of leaving the scene of a crash this past weekend, WPRI reported.

The crash happened around 10 p.m. Sunday on Broad Street, according to a Providence Police Department report. The other driver described being hit by a Honda CRV, which did not stop after the collision.

Castillo turned herself into the Providence Police Tuesday morning. She has since been released and is due in court Sept. 7. According to the police report, Castillo had two other passengers in her car. No injuries were reported from the crash.

Due to the excessive production and overuse of plastics around the world, individuals constantly try to find new ways to solve global environmental challenges. Brightmark, founded by Tech Alumnus Bob Powell, recently announced their plans to build a new advanced plastics recycling and renewal facility in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia to be the biggest in the world. 

With the intention of changing the way people see and manage plastic waste, Powell started Brightmark in 2016. 

“I wanted to do something that was different than the ordinary, and I grew up in the energy space and had done some renewable energy work as well, and so, what I wanted to do was create a company that solves environmental issues [and] created a cleaner footprint,” Powell, who received his BSEE in 1988 and MBA in 1990 said. “Our mission is to create a world without waste, so I wanted to gather together a group of people, who, hopefully, were really excited, optimistic, [had] a lot of grit, and [had] great thinking around solving problems.” 

The San Francisco-based company aims to confront pressing environmental challenges through a holistic approach. As claimed on their website, Brightmark’s vision is to “transform organic waste into renewable natural gas and create innovative approaches to plastics renewal.”

Brightmark’s latest announcement on June 7 explained that “the total investment is expected to be more than $680 million in a new plant intended to fully utilize the 5.3 million square-foot site, which will employ a state-of-the-art and proprietary plastics renewal process that sustainably recycles all plastic waste (Types 1-7) that has reached the end of its useful life. 

These include items that cannot readily be recycled (Types 3-7), such as plastic film, flexible packing, Styrofoam, plastic beverage cups, car seats and children’s toys. Brightmark’s proven breakthrough closed loop solution converts the plastic waste directly into useful products, including renewable fuels and wax, and is also capable of creating the building blocks for new plastics, enabling a circular economy in the plastics industry.”

When asked about how Brightmark’s goals have shifted and been met over time, Powell said, “When we founded Brightmark, one of our big goals was around the impact we had on climate change and greenhouse gasses. Five years ago, what we had in our mind — we’ve actually exceeded it. It’s blown my mind a little bit. What happens when you get a great, passionate team together is that [with] goals, you just go out and get it done.”

In the past five years, Brightmark has surpassed similar companies in renewing and recycling and has taken the entire United States by storm.

“We’re the leader in the farming industry in terms of renewable, natural gas,” Powell said. “We’ve got projects east coast to west coast, north to south, so the breadth of what we’re doing in that area is amazing. What we’re about to achieve with the first-of-its-kind facility in Ashley, Indiana this year when we turn it on, will take 100,000 tons of plastics a year out of the environment — all the 91% of plastics that aren’t recycled. I never would’ve envisioned that, and so, I think we’ve blown the cover off of the original thought and goals.”

Using sustainable technology, Brightmark continues to make advancements towards efficient plastic recycling methods. Once the incoming recycling and renewal facility in Macon is complete, “400,000 tons of plastic waste each year from landfills and incinerators [will be] convert[ed] into 64 million gallons of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel and naphtha blend stocks, and 20 million gallons of wax.” Through Brightmark’s advanced recycling process, 93% of plastic waste will be converted into new products.

Powell shares how Tech helped him grow and learn: “When I got out of Tech, I didn’t realize that the rigor in breaking down problems — even in very technical areas — would solve me, personally, really well in my career. I would say that for Tech students now, when you’re in the grind, sometimes you wonder whether it’s worth it. It’s worth it. It totally is.”

For Tech students looking to make a difference in the world, Powell leaves two pieces of advice. 

“You should not fear trying things. The richness around creating something out of nothing — even if in that initial time, it may not have the outcome you want — you should absolutely be willing to go for it,” Powell said. “Get as many repetitions as you possibly can. Whether it be work or reading or whatever — if you get a lot of reps, you’re going to create a catalog of experiences that will serve you really well in the future.”

The future of the world relies on creative thinkers, innovators, problem solvers, and caring individuals — all of which Tech is full of. For students looking for opportunities to get involved with Brightmark, visit https://www.brightmark.com/about/careers/.

The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on July 3, which was held in Atlanta. The Bucks advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974 where they will face the Phoenix Suns. 

Game 6 was a must-win for the Hawks as the Bucks held a 3-2 series lead. Both teams’ star players, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Hawks guard Trae Young, suffered injuries during the series, a recurring theme with big name players this postseason. With Antetokounmpo sitting out again for Game 6, the Hawks had an opportunity to extend the series to seven games with Young returning to action from a bone bruise. However, the chips didn’t fall Atlanta’s way, and the Bucks defeated the Hawks 118-107.

The Bucks went on a very early 7-0 run to start the game and held on to the lead for the remainder of the game. Nearly every time the Hawks made a push, the Bucks shut it down by scoring another basket. The Hawks had missed 15 of their last 18 shots at the seven minute mark in the second quarter. Despite the lackluster performance from the Hawks in the first half, shooting 30% from the field, they were somehow still in the game, trailing by only four at the intermission.

All-Star forward Khris Middleton led the Bucks coming out of halftime and played a crucial role in the team’s efforts to pull ahead. Middleton finished with 32 points, and 23 of those came in the third quarter. With 27 points from Jrue Holiday, the Bucks had a commanding 19-point lead at the end of the third quarter. 

Hawks forward Cam Reddish, who missed most of the season due to injury, helped minimize the team’s deficit by coming off the bench and draining six three-pointers on seven attempts, finishing the game with 21 points. The Hawks made a late push and cut the Bucks’ lead to six with about four minutes left in the final quarter, but it was not enough to complete the comeback.

Young did not look like his normal self, shooting 4 of 17 from the field and finishing with 14 points, compared to his average of 28.8 points per game in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Throughout the game, it was clear that Young was dealing with his injury as he later noted in his postgame press conference; yet Young still managed to play 35 minutes in hopes of salvaging the season.

“It’s definitely frustrating not being healthy and not being able to give my full 100%,” Young said. 

Despite the outcome, the Hawks more than exceeded expectations for both the regular season and postseason. The team dealt with a lot of adversity and change throughout the course of the year, including Nate McMillan stepping in as interim head coach after the team started off 14-20 and fired former head coach Lloyd Pierce. Since March 1, the Hawks amassed a 37-18 record, earning the most wins in the Eastern Conference during that time. 

McMillan was proud of the group for their resilience and fight in what was a difficult season both on the sidelines and on the court. 

“They’ve shown a lot of growth and they’ve certainly improved over the season,” McMillan said. “I never had to question their effort this season.” 

A team with a solid, young core had a lot of the correct pieces, but some of the players knew they were missing playoff experience. Picking up crucial experience during a deep postseason run, many predict the young roster will be in an even better position for seasons to come.

The post Bucks eliminate Hawks from NBA Playoffs following Game 6 defeat appeared first on The Emory Wheel.

Fort Collins Police Services are investigating a homicide in south Fort Collins after a body was discovered in the 4600 block of Mason Street, according to a July 6 press release. Officers responded to reports of a deceased man on July 5 around 7:30 p.m. and began investigating it as a suspicious death due to […]