Natural Selections Salutes Nobel Prize Winner Mike Young! Read more on P. 3

2017 NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSIOLOGY OR MEDICINE

Issue 143 October 2017

A NEWSLETTER OF THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

Word of the Month Da ko t a B l ac k m a n Kakistocracy [kak-uh-stok-ruh-see] Noun, plural kakistocracies Government by the worst persons; a form of government in which the worst per- sons are in power Late this past June, journalist and MS- NBC correspondent Joy Reid tweeted the fol- lowing: “Look up the definition of ‘kakistoc- racy’ today, my fellow Americans. Things will make much more sense.” The tweet, which was liked over 8,000 times and retweeted nearly 4,000 times, prompted such a significant spike in searches for the word that Merriam-Web- ster devoted an entire article to it. Briefly, the watered-down iteration of the travel ban. This Google searches spiked—and why this word word is Greek in origin, combining the root action barred people from Libya, Sudan, Syria, resonated with so many. Perhaps it is the often kakistos (meaning “worst”) with the famil- Yemen, Iran, and Somalia from entering the flagrant dismissal of the conventions of our iar English ending -cracy (meaning “form of country without proof of “a credible claim of democracy (a meaningful or at least respectful government”), which itself is derived from the a bona fide relationship” with a person, job, or relationship with the media, alleged collusions Greek kratos (meaning “strength” or “power”). educational institution in the United States as with foreign governments, the almost comi- Dictionary.com notes in its definition that the well as the passage of two bills aimed at tar- cal turnover of staff members, and the use of root may also be tied to the Greek word kakos, geting undocumented immigrants. One of Twitter to disseminate thoughts, just to name meaning “evil” or “unpleasant” (its derivatives these bills, titled “Kate’s Law,” increased crimi- a few); perhaps it is the type of legislation be- are recognizable in English in such words as nal penalties for undocumented immigrants ing advocated for and passed, much of which cacophony), and perhaps even connected to previously convicted of crimes in the United strips rights from those who already have little the Greek prefix kako-, a not-so-subtle origin States; the second, titled the “No Sanctuary power (the work to further defund Planned of the English slang word for “defecation”. Tak- for Criminals Act,” allowed for the withdrawal Parenthood, public radio, and the arts, to re- en together, kakistocracy quite literally trans- of federal funding to sanctuary cities, those voke Obamacare and Deferred Action for lates to the worst government. which do not actively comply with the federal Childhood Arrivals (DACA), just to name a Reid’s tweet was published on June government in their enforcement of immigra- few); perhaps it is even what is not being said, 29th, 2017, a date in which kakistocracy was tion laws. or the latency to take what seems to be the ob- indeed helpful in contextualizing the day’s These controversial immigration laws vious, just side (the lack of ability to disavow news. Some highlights from the day—other and others that have since been passed by white supremacist groups and their support, than the sale of an original R2-D2 model used the administration, along with the overall er- for example). Perhaps this is a kakistocracy for in the Star Wars films for a whopping $2.76 ratic behavior of the man in charge, must call most people because most of us believe that million—included the passage of the second into question why, upon Reid’s tweeting, the those in power are indeed “the worst persons.”

Want to be part of Natural Selections? Come meet us at our Thursday OCTOBER195PM OPEN RECRUITMENT MEETING at RU FACULTY CLUB 1 Culture Corner | Television review: The Defiant Ones (HBO documentary) B e r n i e L a n g s HBO PHTOTO COURTESY OF COURTESY PHTOTO Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, featured in HBO’s docutmentary “The Defiant Ones”

The HBO television network changed the prises great music and neither is willing to told in The Defiant Ones, actually inspired me landscape of TV programming for the bet- compromise their ideals, often risking ruin as a composer and musician and in my mod- ter and for many years has offered innova- toe hold fast to their creative principles. est efforts in music recording. Dr. Dre is a per- tive, well-written, and imaginative shows and The series offers incredible footage and fectionist in the recording studio, demanding documentaries that leave the cliché plagued photographs from the early careers of both and expecting excellence from himself and series of the established networks in the dust. Iovine and Dr. Dre, and Allen Hughes was able the artists he works with. I have to admit that Its latest triumph is The Defiant Ones, a four- to procure interviews with many of the main I’ve never cared for rap or hip-hop, but on oc- part documentary series, directed by Allen players throughout their lives, including Tom casion I do see the art and beauty of it, espe- Hughes, covering the long careers of former Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Pattie Smith, cially in terms of its production values. There music producer turned music mogul, Jimmy Stevie Nicks, and Trent Reznor for Iovine, and is an early film montage of Dr. Dre, pre-fame, Iovine, and rapper, Andre Romelle Young, rappers such as Ice Cube, Sean Combs, Emi- masterfully DJing in his native Compton area, better known as Dr. Dre. nem, and Snoop Dogg for Dr. Dre. A host of where he plays the classic girl group song “Mr. In his book series, Parallel Lives written behind-the-scenes music industry executives Postman.” I never liked or appreciated that in the second century AD, the historian Plu- and business managers as well as friends and sound before, but he does it not only to perfec- tarch gives a biography of a Roman politician, family also weigh in on the parts they played tion, but with obvious respect for the original general, or famous, personality and offers a in this incredible musical odyssey. It is strik- recording. It was that very show that launched corresponding history of someone from an- ing that all of the famous Rock ‘N’ Roll and Dr. Dre’s start in the business, since the club cient Greece in an effort to expose their moral pop personalities come across as genuine and owner booked him for future gigs. and ethical similarities, and examine their tri- emotional in describing how Iovine has one In Plutarch’s Lives, there are examples umphs and failures in tandem. In The Defiant relentless, driving mission in his intersection of famous Romans and Greeks who either Ones, we similarly get a rendering of two men with them: to find a way for them to best real- fell as victims of their character flaws or tri- from extremely different backgrounds, but un- ize their artistic vision and get their work out umphed over them. Straight Outta Compton like those written about by Plutarch, these two to as many people as possible so that their au- glossed over Dr. Dre’s history of violence with lives eventually come together and intersect in diences think about their work and enjoy it. women, but it is depicted in The Defiant Ones. the most unexpected ways. What stands out The number of artists Iovine discovered and It was interesting to see Dee Barnes, a hip-hop to me as the defining parallel quality of both directed to success is astounding. journalist, interviewed as an authority on the men, each of whom approach music and its I am less familiar with the work of rap history timeline and then revealed to be industry from different vantage points, is their Dr. Dre and know much of his history from one of the women who were assaulted by Dr. unflagging commitment to artistry, stripped news stories here and there, from such films Dre in the past. Although Dr. Dre apologized away from any monetary or social gain. Both as Straight Outta Compton. Compton is a un- at length for his past horrific actions, having have unrelenting pure visions of what com- deniably a great movie, but Dr. Dre’s story, as realized it was something terrible that he had

CONTINUED TO P.3* 2 * CONTINUED FROM P. 2 Dr. Dre’s alley. They went on to found Beats Editorial Board done and that he will always have to live Electronics in 2006, and after carefully craft- EDITORIAL BOARD with, viewers will certainly take note of his ing and tastefully marketing their product, past pattern of inexcusable and downright which was sold to Apple in 2014 for $3 bil- Jim Keller awful, violent behavior. Iovine also strug- lion. In May 2013, they donated a $70 mil- Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor gled with how he handled the escalation of lion endowment to the University of South- Chew-Li Soh violence between East and West Coast rap ern California to create the USC Jimmy Associate Editor recording artists, many of whom were tied Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, to him and Dr. Dre. At its worst, the violence Technology, and the Business of Innovation. Dakota Blackman actually descended into murder. There are Throughout their extensive interviews Editorial Assistant incredible interviews at this point in the se- in the show, Dr. Dre and Iovine never come Juliette Wipf ries with Sean Combs and Snoop Dogg that across in with them in the show as preten- Copy Editor, Webmaster, Distribution are emotional and chilling, and the story tious or egotistically struck by their own of Tupac Shakur’s demise is recounted in success or stardom; Iovine has great come- Miguel Crespo depth. dic timing. I’ve always found Dr. Dre to be Copy Editor, Webmaster One of the great anecdotes in the se- a brooding, soulful presence and though he Owen Clark and Alice Marino ries describes the origin of the wildly popu- has a lot of screen time in this series, he re- Copy Editor, Distribution lar Beats by Dre. After his divorce, Iovine felt tains an air of mystery, professionalism, and lost and was floundering as he wandered on magic. There is a fantastic shot of him in part Johannes Buheitel and Nicole Infarinato a beach one afternoon when Dr. Dre saw four of the series where he hovers like a Zen Copy Editors him from his balcony and waved for him master over a huge recording studio console. to come up for a chat. Dr. Dre explained to The Defiant Ones inspires one to stay Nan Pang and Guadalupe Astorga Designers Iovine that he was getting approached for true to oneself and to one’s vision of life, endorsements but didn’t want to cheaply put whether it be as an artist or just in retaining selections.rockefeller.edu his name on sneakers, etc. Iovine brilliantly a set of uncompromising positive values and [email protected] suggests designing headphones with high- to remain steadfast when these values are quality sound, an idea that would be right up challenged.

Want to be part of Natural Selections?

2017 NOBEL PRIZE Come meet us at our IN PHYSIOLOGY OR MEDICINE

Natural Selections Salutes Nobel Prize Winner OPEN Mike Young! RECRUITWMENT

The Nobel Committee has award- ed Professor Michael W. Young the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiol- MEETING ogy or Medicine on October 2. Together with Jeffrey C. Hall and Michael Rosbash, professor Young Thursday has made an outstanding contri- OCTOBER bution unravelling how the circa- 19 dian clock anticipates and adapts our physiology to the different phases of the day. PHTOTO COURTESY OF NOBELPRIZE.ORG Michael W. Young is the 25th sci- 5:00 PM entist associated with Rockefeller Our biological clock helps to regulate sleep to receive the highest accolade in patterns, feeding behavior, hormone release, RU FACULTY CLUB science. blood pressure, and body temperature. 3 New York State of Mind This month Natural Selections interviews Kipchirchir Bitok, Postdoctoral Associate.

I n t e r v i e w b y G ua da l u p e A s t o r g a

the Rockefeller housing. I like the Upper know how to navigate the jungle, so that’s East Side, because it’s convenient to go to positive. work, I can go running to the Central Park and the East River esplanade, Randall’s Is- If you could change one thing about NYC, land, even Brooklyn. You also have access what would that be? to several subway lines, so it’s very conve- Pay fewer taxes. I feel I pay too much in nient. taxes and get little out of it.

What do you think is the most overrated What is your favorite weekend activity in thing in the city? And underrated? NYC? Overrated, I think is the subway. It’s always I like finding hidden places with delicious crowded and delayed. I like the Citi Bikes food, I like to walk around different places, over the subways. Underrated, the diversity do my groceries. I like to run on bridges all of the city, there’s people from all over the around the city. I also enjoy getting out of world, and a great variety of food. I really the city and to go hiking. enjoy meeting people from far countries. What is the most memorable experience What do you miss most when you are out you have had in NYC? of town? When my parents came, I enjoyed showing Even if I think the subway is overrated, I them the city and watching their surprise miss it when I’m out of town. When I go to a was a great experience. city without a subway I really miss it. Bike, MTA or WALK IT??? How long have you been living in the New Has anything (negative or positive) Run! York area? changed about you since you became one Five years now. of us “New Yorkers”? If you could live anywhere else, where Not really, I can’t think of anything nega- might that be? Where do you currently live? Which is tive or positive that has changed. I thought I would live outside the city. I like the area your favorite neighborhood? I wouldn’t like the city because it would be of Mountain Lake, upstate. The city can be I first moved to Brooklyn before I came to overwhelming. But, I really like it now, and I overwhelming.

QUOTABLE QUOTE

Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it. The soft overcomes the hard; the gentle overcomes the rigid. Everyone knows this is true, but few can put it into practice.

Tao Te Ching, c. 6th century BC

4 Life on a Roll The Old City of Quebec Q i o n g Wa n g

Quebec is an authentic city of rich history, vibrant art, and French culture. It was my first visit to this old city, and I was pleasantly impressed. Quebec means “the narrowing of the river” and in this case it refers to the Saint Lawrence River. Its geographic heritage endows the city with its strategic significance in wars and economy. The entire old city is a UNESCO heritage listed site. The only forti- fied city wall in North America is preserved in Quebec. Apart from French being spoken and written everywhere, the characteristic that struck me most is the rich art element infused in every detail of the city: from the landmark Le Chateau Frontenac to a vast painting on the side of a building, from restaurants to gal- leries, and from sculptures to street signs.

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