Meet Brown's Future – Interview Applicants Talk with some of the world's brightest teenagers between now and March 1 as a Brown Alumni Schools Committee (BASC) volunteer. It's a great way to give back by sharing your time. Learn more and sign up online.

The “Boldly Brown: Campaign for Academic Enrichment” continues to inspire alumni nationwide. Check out video and images from the dedication of the Vernon R. Alden ’45 Men's and Women’s Cross Country/Track and Field Coaching Chair and the California kickoffs.

Savings Without the Sacrifice The Brown Alumni Association partners with Liberty Mutual Insurance to offer Group Savings Plus - a program that provides an exclusive group discount on your auto, home, or renter’s insurance. For more on this and other offers that could save you money, click here or call 1 800 837-5249.

Dear Brown Alumni,

As I look back on the wealth of activity in Brown’s alumni community this past year, I am amazed by how much of it is made possible by the time that alumni give. In fact, more than 10,000 alumni volunteer for Brown every year in a wide variety of roles.

As you look forward to this new year, why not consider volunteering for Brown? In addition to contributing to the University’s progress and success, you can be in closer touch with other dynamic Brown alumni and Brown students.

A few hours of your time can really make a difference. Visit our web site for details, and become one of the growing numbers of Brown alumni volunteers in 2006.

With best wishes for the new year,


Hanna Rodriguez-Farrar '87, '90 A.M.
President, Brown Alumni Association

Getting Up to Speed on the Plan
Have you been hearing about the Plan and wondering what it’s all about? Brown is in the fourth year of this ambitious program to establish new benchmarks of excellence in research, education, and public leadership. Learn more, and read the latest status report.


New Societies Honor the Plan’s Supporters
The Brown Annual Fund is pleased to introduce two new donor recognition societies. The 1764 Society will honor those who give each year without fail, and the Carrie Tower Society will honor philanthropic leaders. All contributions to the BAF directly support the Plan.

Watch President Simmons on the Charlie Rose Show
PBS host Charlie Rose engaged President Ruth J. Simmons in a discussion about leadership and higher education on December 12. See the interview until January 20 on the Brown Web site.





Scholarships Will Aid Hurricane-Battered Colleges
With the endorsement of philanthropist Sidney E. Frank ’42, Brown will use $1.1 million of Frank’s hurricane relief gift to establish “recovery semester” scholarships at Dillard University, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Tougaloo College. The University also recently hosted a colloquium, "Katrina: From Disaster to Renewal." (Free registration required to view article.)




Student Radio – Commercial or Alternative?
In 1936 two Brown students strung copper wire around campus and invented college radio. Seventy years later, two stations – WBRU and Brown Student Radio – are still trying to decide what it meant.





For MAT Students, Hope High Experience Is a Two-Way Street
Current and former students in Brown's Master's of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program are playing a part in rejuvenating Hope High School in Providence. Eight faculty members are MAT alumni; another four MAT candidates are student-teaching at the high school.

What Can Change in the Brain? Electrical Synapses, Research Shows
Plasticity – the brain’s ability to change based on experience and activity– is a key to critical functions such as making memories. Brown scientists are the first to show that neural activity causes long-lasting changes in electrical synapses in the brain.



Desert Storm
An op-ed in the Jerusalem Report by a Brown graduate student and a professor questions the proposed development of Israel’s Negev Desert. The report, part of the Watson Institute's MEEF Project, challenges a bid to populate this "last great reserve."




Mysterious Eye Cells Adapt to Light
Newly discovered retinal cells don’t aid sight in a traditional sense. Instead, they constrict the pupil and set the body’s circadian clock. Brown scientists are showing that these cells are sensitive to light in a manner similar to rods and cones.





Study of Statutory Rape Finds Leniency
A study conducted at Brown’s Center for Public Policy of statutory rape cases brought before Rhode Island Superior Court finds evidence of significant leniency and recommends improving the criminal justice system’s track record.

Bring Brown to Your Town
Many Brown Clubs are looking for volunteers to make the Brown experience a local experience. Assist at an event, work behind the scenes, or spread the word about your area’s alumni community. You’ll meet new people while providing a valuable service to Brown and fellow alumni.


Help Recognize Outstanding Alumni
Who has made a difference for Brown or for the world? Each year, with your help, the Brown Alumni Association celebrates dedicated volunteers with a series of awards. Help the BAA shine a light on their good work by submitting an award nomination.


Celebrate Lunar New Year with A4
To celebrate the Year of the Dog, the Asian/Asian American Alumni Alliance (A4) will present a banquet-style meal for alumni, friends, and family. Details have been confirmed for the Boston event; check the events calendar soon for events in DC, New York City, and San Francisco.


IPC Elections Coming Soon
The Inman Page Black Alumni Council (IPC) is preparing to hold its biennial election for the offices of president-elect, treasurer, and secretary. Watch your mail for a ballot, and respond promptly to make your voice heard! Questions? Contact Margarita Ascencio via e-mail or 401-863-1459.

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