Student Life | November 14, 2005 by Student Life

STUDENT LIFE

THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSIT Y IN ST. LOUIS SINCE 1878 Why don’t black men join in when students streak on campus? See Dmitri Jackson’s take on the phenomenon in Forum. Page 4.

Wide receiver Brad Duesing made record books Saturday as he completed his fourth consecutive 1000-yard season. Page 6.

VOLUME 127, NO. 33

Senior News Editor An intoxicated student fell from a third-story window in Wheeler House early yesterday morning as she attempted to remove a screen from her dormitory window. The student landed in a grassy area between the residence hall and Wydown Blvd. and is currently reported to be in stable condition. “It appears to have been an accident and there’s no reason to inspect any sort of foul play,” said Don Strom, chief of the Washington University Police Department. “The student was transported to the hospital. I heard at one point she might be released [on Sunday].” Strom added that the fall occurred when she “was trying to open the window and pushing up against the screen area and lost her balance and fell.”

Away message fanatics, beware—Scene’s got your number. Page 10.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2005

Intoxicated student falls from window in Wheeler House By Sarah Kliff

Women’s volleyball is still hot, advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals after this weekend’s play. Find out more inside. Page 6.

Shortly after the student’s fall at 2 a.m., WUPD responded with an ambulance dispatch that conveyed the student to a hospital. The student’s condition has not been conﬁ rmed, but residents of Wheeler 3 did report that they initially thought her shoulder had been dislocated. Those reports were later found to be untrue. Residents also reported that they expected her to return to campus from the hospital sometime today. Strom said that WUPD had determined the fall to be an accident, but could not comment on the involvement of alcohol in the situation. Residents of Wheeler House and individuals who had seen the student before her fall that night, however, reported that she was intoxicated at the time of the fall. Sophomore Michelle Reed lives on the fourth ﬂoor of Wheeler and saw the emergency

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response to the fall taking place outside Wheeler. “I was in my room and I heard people talking outside, so a couple of us went to see,” said Reed. “There was a group of people, someone asking, ‘Hey, is she okay?’ The police came out with ﬂashlights and an ambulance. We overheard them saying she fell out of a third ﬂoor window.” WUPD considers the matter closed. Strom noted, “Based on everything we saw this morning, our investigation was pretty much closed. Our crime scene investigators had looked it over and selected what we needed.” Junior John Orozco, the resident advisor for Wheeler 3, declined to comment on the situation to maintain the safety of his residents. -With additional reporting by Brad Nelson

Students battle St. Louis’ rate of homelessness By Margy Levinson Contributing Reporter The homelessness rate in St. Louis far exceeds that of the rest of the country—and now, for the ﬁ rst time, Washington University students are banding together to ﬁght this problem. The new Homelessness Awareness Week, beginning today and running through Friday, will bring together many campus organizations to increase students’ knowledge about the homelessness epidemic in the city they call home. As the city of St. Louis’ Web site notes, “National statistics on homelessness indicate that families comprise the fastest growing group of homeless persons across America today.” Junior Luz Silverio, a member of Helping Hands, an organization that tries to foster relationships between Washington University and the homeless, said that the St. Louis homelessness rate stands at approximately six percent. The rest of the country has a one percent homeless population, said Silverio. “We aren’t too much better or worse than the rest of the country; that doesn’t mean the problem isn’t bad and it’s continually getting worse” said junior Lorin Kline, a member of the Alliance of Students Against Poverty (ASAP), an organiza-

tion that unites the efforts of groups around campus. Helping Hands and ASAP are two of many organizations helping out around campus and the surrounding community for Homeless Awareness Week. Other organizations, including Stone Soup, First Watch and Feed St. Louis, have been involved with the organization and execution of this week. Homelessness Awareness Week will begin today and Tuesday with Lay Out, where volunteers stationed at two sites on campus will be soliciting donations and handing out information. The week will continue with other events, including as a showing of “The Fisher King,” a ﬁ lm about a radio DJ who helps a homeless man he unknowingly victimized. On Thursday, speaker Tyrone Darris, who has worked with the homeless through St. Patrick’s Center, will give a lecture in Prince Hall. A service project will also take place Friday, followed with the week’s culmination on Saturday in the Hunger Banquet. Although not much information can be disclosed about this banquet, Silverio said “it will open your eyes socially, and show a lot about world poverty and hunger.” This week is National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week across the country, and many other universities are participating as well.

“I think it’s really exciting that this is our big opportunity to be part of the national beat,” said Kline. According to Kline, the ideas for the event began after students attended a national conference this past summer. “We were able to talk to people who ran groups on campuses all over the country. It seemed like all campuses have a few groups that are similar to ours, [and] a lot of campuses hold a homeless awareness week” said Kline. St. Louis in particular has recently stood out from the rest of the nation in addressing its homeless problems, as the St. Louis homeless community recently won a case against the St. Louis police department. According to information on the American Civil Liberties Union’s Web site, a suit was ﬁ led against the police department on Sept. 17, 2004 alleging that the police have unfairly and unjustly tried to remove members of the homeless community for no reason. Complainants alleged that police arrested and held the homeless without any accusations of a crime committed, and verbally and physically abused them with such actions as throwing ﬁ reworks at them, racial slurs and taking their food. The homeless situation has also gotten a lot worse over the

See HOMELESSNESS, page 3

RACHIT PATEL | STUDENT LIFE

Students dance on Vertigo’s illuminated dance floor early in the evening on Saturday night, Nov. 12, 2005. Several hundred people packed into Lopata Gallery, which was decorated with strobes, black lights, and smoke machines. At one point, a fire alarm was accidentally set off by smoke from the machines, but the party quickly resumed once the area was cleared.

WU shuttle hits student By Sarah Kliff Senior News Editor A Washington University shuttle collided with a student on a bike Thursday morning near the intersection of Forsyth Blvd. and Shepley Drive. The biker, hospitalized after the incident with shoulder injuries, did not endure any serious physical harm and is reported to be in stable condition. Eyewitness reports indicate the biker, a graduate student in the performing arts department, ran a red light as a University shuttle left Mallinckrodt Center at approximately 9 a.m. The bike slid underneath the shuttle but the biker did not. “[Of the people involved in

the accident] one was a student and one was a driver for Wash. U.,” said Lieutenant Stuart Glenn of the Clayton Police Department, which handled the accident. “The student was on a bike. The preliminary investigation has shown it’s possible that the bike did not yield.” University police ofﬁcers were also present but only to direct trafﬁc around the accident. Freshman Vivek Kulkarni saw the biker as he walked to his 9 a.m. class. “I was walking to class, it was a little bit after nine and he was in the middle of the street, lying in the middle of the street,” said Kulkarni. “It seemed like the wheel of the shuttle was still on his back. He was not moving but conscious. His left arm was pretty bloody—a little contorted, but

not much.” “Not many people were helping him,” said Kulkarni. Another guy with me was helping talking to the shuttle driver who was pretty hysterical. He got her to move the shuttle off of him. It wasn’t quite on him, but touching his shoulder.” Shortly following, a former paramedic stopped on Forysth [and] exited his car to help the biker. WUPD ofﬁcers on bicycles and students on the Emergency Support Team soon followed. Another student in the drama department, freshman Alexa Shoemaker, knew the biker and noted, “I think he is in stable condition right now…there weren’t any puncture wounds, just broken bones.”

See STUDENT HIT, page 3

Bear’s Den disturbances may engender reduced hours By Jessie Rothstein Contributing Reporter

EITAN HOCHSTER | STUDENT LIFE

Business as usual is carried out at Bear’s Den on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005. An increase in the number of late-night disturbances may result in Bear’s Den shortening its hours and thus beginning to close earlier.

Due to an increase in latenight disturbances at Bear’s Den, Student Union’s Food Committee has suggested a reduction in evening hours—a move that could leave many South 40 residents with grumbling stomachs late at night. According to Kathy Carmody, the general manager for Bon Appétit, a far greater number of disturbing incidents have occurred this year than in the past. She describes incidents including students “drinking… people fighting…food fights, and it seems to be going on a regular basis.” Such incidents have posed difficulties for students who are trying to eat at Bear’s Den late at

night, as well as for the staff. The suggestion to change the hours at Bear’s Den, which currently stays open until 3 a.m. on weekends, came primarily from the Student Union Food Committee, a group consisting of representatives of the student body, University administration representatives, the University nutritionist and Bon Appétit managers and chefs. The committee meets on a weekly basis and has an advisory role for food services. Chaired by sophomore Timothy Ingalls, the committee works to address any pertinent dining issues, and during the past few weeks has been discussing the implications of recent disturbances occurring at Bear’s Den. Most of the information regarding these incidents has

come from the managers, who are on duty at Bear’s Den until it closes each night. In addition, security reports that the University receives have provided another source of information about these episodes. No one is quite sure why the incidents have increased to such a great degree this year. As Vice Chancellor for Students Paul Schimmele noted, “There is no easy answer for why it happens. It is a small number of people making a bigger problem for others.” Although the Food Committee and student leaders have suggested a reduction in Bear’s Den’s hours as a manner of addressing this issue, Carmody insists that Dining Services does not intend to pursue such drastic measures in the near future.

Friday and Saturday nights provide some of Bear’s Den’s peak hours, and late-night hours at the venue also give students a place to eat when everything else is closed. Currently, the Food Committee and the administration are trying to get the word out to students about the potential implications of their late-night behavior and to make the student body aware of future consequences. “It’s an issue up for debate if things don’t change,” said Carmody. Schimmele has already observed some notable changes, asserting, “In fact, since students have begun to discuss this, student behavior seems to

See BEAR’S DEN HOURS, page 3

2 STUDENT LIFE | NEWS

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MONDAY | NOVEMBER 14, 2005

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WInners of the Senate election and the number of votes each of those elected obtained by each of those elected:

Mizzou patrols Facebook proﬁles The University of Missouri is in the process of creating a task force to address the issue of student proﬁ les on Facebook that go against the University’s conduct code, as reported by the Columbia Mis-

sourian. Thus far, the University of Missouri’s coordinator of student conduct has regulated Facebook conduct by sending letters to individuals with proﬁ les containing inappropriate material, typically

involving drinking or illegal drug use. Punishments for such violations have ranged from needing to write letters of apology to expulsion. The task force is expected to be created within the next week.

Snuppy, the ﬁ rst cloned dog, has received the Time 2005 Invention of the Year Award. As reported by Reuters, the puppy, a 5-month-

old Afghan hound, was cloned at Seoul National University in Korea by a 45-person team led by Professor Woo Suk Hwang. Snuppy’s genes are derived

from a single cell taken from the ear of an adult Afghan, rather than the egg and sperm of a mother and father, Time reported.

f s

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Arts & Sciences Julie Rosenfeld Erica Woodruff Jeff Zove Daniel Minot Carson Smith Sunit Anandwala Mark Radin BEN CURTIS | KRT DIRECT

After the assassination of two of Saddam Hussein’s defense team, over 1,000 lawyers have left the trial, citing insufﬁcient protection from assassins. According to a statement released Saturday in Baghdad and reported in The Guardian,

the lawyers pulled out because “there was no response from the Iraqi government, U.S. forces and international organizations to our demands for providing protection to the lawyers and their families.” Hussein and seven co-defendants are

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Amendments

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein at his trial under heavy security in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone in Iraq October 19, 2005.

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1,100 lawyers leave Saddam Hussein’s defense team

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currently standing trial for the deaths of 148 Shiite Muslims in Dujail after a 1982 assassination attempt against Hussein. It is unknown if his head defense attorney is still representing him.

Appointment Amendment Passed Recall Amendment Passed

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Don’t put it in your mouth unless you know where it’s been Tuesday, november 15th, 7:OO pm CAN THE OCEANS KEEP UP WITH THE HUNT? is a 30 minute

documentary film about the state of our seas and the issues of disappearing fish. Following the film, students can discuss the issues with national experts from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and W.U. Prof. Jen Smith. Bon Appétit chefs will prepare a seafood sampling buffet featuring sustainable foods from local sources. www.save-seafood.org

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MONDAY | NOVEMBER 14, 2005

STUDENT LIFE | NEWS

Home ec enrollment rises

HOMELESSNESS v FROM PAGE 1

By Helen Rhee Staff Reporter At universities nationwide, male students are increasingly enrolling in what used to be labeled as “Mrs.” classes. Despite the common stereotypes and stigma concerning men in home economics classes, the national trend indicates an increase in the number of male faculty in the ﬁeld of family science as well as an increase in the enrollment of male students. As reported by the Associated Press in “A ‘Mrs.’ degree no longer: Home Ec programs rapidly evolving—and attracting men,” an increase in the male enrollment in home ec programs is a trend at universities across the country. In particular, at the University of Georgia’s College of Family and Consumer Science, one third of their students are male, in contrast to ﬁve years ago, when only 10 percent of their students were male. Now, about 40 percent of their faculty on tenure track are males. In most universities, courses are no longer called “home economics” or “domestic science,” but rather take on a more gender neutral name such as family science, or nutritional science. Linda Nicholson, the chair of

the women and gender studies department at Washington University, cites name change as one of the reasons more males might be attracted to what used to be labeled as “Mrs.” majors. “When we think about home economics, we all have images of women in white aprons, baking apple pies. One of things new labels do is they go against the grain of stereotypes,” said Nicholson. The University offered home economics classes through University extension programs in the 1930s and 1940s. According to Steve Rakel, assistant director of student records, the home economics classes covered a wide rage of topics, including nutrition, family expenditure, nursing, child care and interior design. Dean Delores Kennedy said that while some schools offer programs such as family science and agricultural science, the University no longer offers home economics classes due to structural limitations. “We can’t do everything. We have to choose what we are going to be good at. We also don’t offer classes in agriculture or husbandry,” said Kennedy. Despite the disappearing label of a “Mrs.” major, Nicholson cited women and gender studies

programs as an example of why some male students might still be reluctant to take female dominated courses. She mentioned that stereotypes acquainted with women’s studies classes might be a few reasons why females still represent the majority in the classes. “There are fears about stereotypes, fears about what other people will say, and fears about stereotypes about the class that if you are men in the class, you will be isolated from other classmates,” said Nicholson. According to Nicholson, many male students believe that women and gender studies is not about them. Therefore, they assume that it is not relevant to take the course. Nicholson believes that the issues surrounding women and gender studies involve both genders. As a result, the department is not simply called women studies, but labeled as women and gender studies, encompassing issues surrounding both genders. Over the years, the department has seen a slow increase in the number of male students enrolled in their courses. Currently, women and gender studies offers classes for students of all gender identities, including one entitled, “Masculinities: Challenge and Reaction.”

STUDENT HIT v FROM PAGE 1

RACHIT PATEL | STUDENT LIFE

Jason is one of many individuals who have grown up on the streets of downtown St. Louis. Having made a home for himself in what used to be his mother’s apartment, he has grown accustomed to living life one day at a time and enjoying everything it has to offer. past few years. “Things have been getting worse since the 1980s, and still getting worse in many different respects,” said Kline. Many factors have contributed to this increase, “housing prices, space in shelters, there are so many different things that contribute to the problem,” said Kline. Although many of the efforts around campus will at-

tempt to help the homeless in a short term way by trying to feed and clothe them, many efforts are also beginning, especially this week, to try and help in the long term. “We want ASAP to do some advocacy type things to advocate policy that will try and help homeless in the long run,” said Kline. Some of this week’s efforts will be geared towards initiat-

ing such long term projects. In addition to the main events planned, groups will be tabling to encourage students to write letters to representatives about pieces of legislation currently in Congress, thereby “making more of a permanent long term difference,” said Kline. All of the money raised this week will go to a homeless shelter in St. Louis.

BEAR’S DEN HOURS v FROM PAGE 1 be improving. That, of course, is the best possible solution.” In addition to the suggestion to reduce hours, the Food Committee has generated several other suggestions for dealing with such behavior. As Schimmele explained, “Some included photographing

‘problem people’ for identiﬁcation, asking students to get involved in ‘self-policing,’ using Bear patrol, RCD involvement, ﬂoor education and discussions and many more.” According to Schimmele, it is quite possible that simply acknowledging this behavior as a

CAROLYN GOLDSTEIN | STUDENT LIFE

A student boards a shuttle outside Mallinckrodt on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005. On Thursday, Nov. 10, a graduate student on a bicycle was hit by a shuttle at the corner of Forsyth and Shepley.

serious issue will prove powerful enough to alter the situation on its own. “If the dialogue on campus continues, maybe this issue is in the past,” said Schimmele. “I am conﬁdent that students will continue to help solve these and other dining issues.”

Lieutenant Stuart could not recall any time he had dealt with a University shuttle hitting a student, but he did note that accidents involving automobiles and bikers are a rather frequent occurrence throughout the city. “You’d be surprised how often these things happen,” said Glenn. “We handle several of

these a month, pedestrians struck or bicycles struck. They obviously happen more during nice weather.” Glenn did note, however, “It’s really quite unusual for bicycles to cause an accident like this,” where the biker does not move out of the way of the driver. “Bicyclists technically are supposed to obey all trafﬁc

laws,” said Glenn. “If bicyclists are obeying all safety laws…if you violate a red light, you’re going to have consequences.” Ofﬁcials at the University’s Parking and Transportation ofﬁce declined to comment on the incident and could not be reached for further comment over the weekend.

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4 STUDENT LIFE | FORUM

Senior Forum Editor / Molly Antos / forum@studlife.com

FORUM

MONDAY | NOVEMBER 14, 2005

Our daily Forum editors: Monday: Jeff Stepp Wednesday: Daniel Milstein Friday: Zach Goodwin jsstepp@wustl.edu daniel.milstein@wustl.edu goodwin@wustl.edu To ensure that we have time to fully evaluate your submissions, guest columns should be e-mailed to the next issue’s editor or forwarded to forum@studlife.com by no later than 5 p.m. two days before publication. Late pieces will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We welcome your submissions, and thank you for your consideration.

A snapshot of Greek Life Be thankful

t seems like this happens every semester. A Greek organization gets into some sort of trouble—whether its for a ﬁght at a party, hazing or, recently, planning to kidnap brothers with alcohol in a van—the administration/Greek Life Ofﬁce comes up with necessary but overenthusiastic consequences, the Greek community gets upset. Repeat. The recent events concerning Kappa Matt Sigma fraternity Shapiro are only the latest in a series of poor decisions made by members of the Greek community. Over the course of my time here at Wash. U., I’ve seen Sig Chi get kicked off campus and a brief attempt at Prohibition—not to mention the infamous Alpha Phi-Girl Scout encounter. Though it’s almost funny how regular (and weird) these events can be, it’s also very frustrating as a member of the Greek community here on campus to have to look at another front-page headline and know that Greeks are going have to prove their worth yet again to Wash. U. at large, and

may even face some unnecessary consequences. Now, this most recent development may come as a shock to some more optimistic students on campus. “Gosh,” these students might say, “I could have sworn that Greek Life had completely changed, what with their Arete value system and the lessons they must have learned from Prohibition last year. I can’t believe this is happening again.” And to some extent, those students are right. Even though another incident with the Greek community has occurred, been made public and may potentially have consequences, that doesn’t mean no progress has been made. Far from it. But just because the community as a whole has been improving and moving forward, there is still room for individual mistakes and poor judgments. And because the Greek community is so often judged as a whole, rather than as individuals, it makes it that much harder to move forward. More pessimistic students, on the other hand, might

wonder if recent efforts by the Greek community have actually done anything. Well, yes and no. It is true that there has been a refocusing of the Greek system at large towards community and philanthropy, and that Greeks are possibly contributing more than ever around campus. However, there is only so much that the Greek Life Ofﬁce, Panhel and IFC can do to control individual actions. No matter how closely values are examined, no matter how much risk management is done, no matter how carefully Greeks run programs and throw parties, there is always the (somewhat high) chance that someone will do something stupid. This is not meant to insult recent efforts by the Greek community in any way. In fact, I think it is quite commendable and impressive how many Greeks, instead of getting discouraged by last year’s Prohibition, took it upon themselves to rethink how the Greek community works at the University (with encouragement from the administration, of course.) Just because there has been another incident this semester doesn’t mean that these efforts are meaningless. Instead, we

should all just realize that mistakes, like it or not, will probably continue to happen, at least once in a while. Rather than getting bent out of shape about them, hopefully everyone can recognize that college kids screw up once in a while, and deal with problems realistically and thoughtfully. Hopefully, the administration and the Greek Life Ofﬁce will recognize that the actions of a few do not reﬂect the larger actions or behaviors of the Greek community at large. No other group on campus faces more pressure as a whole to behave properly, and, by and large, Greeks on this campus do a very good job. Even though we have a glitch seemingly every semester, 99 percent of Greeks on this campus are still following the rules. Consequences for the Kappa Sig booze van should (and hopefully will) be minimal, and from there, we can move on to greater heights as a community and, if we’re lucky, fewer mistakes in the future. Matt is a senior in Arts & Sciences and a Forum editor. He can be reached via e-mail at forum@ studlife.com.

DMITRI JACKSON | EDITORIAL CARTOON

Bush is a fool States, but the desire to maintain the appearance that our nation cares about its conquered subjects. The Mongols, with horses and composite bows, destroyed Baghdad stone by stone in 1258, exterminating some 800,000 people. We could do the same over the course of a few days using conventional force or in seconds using low-fallout nuclear weapons. We could have the place populated by American experts, Mexicans and Southeast Asians within a few years to get the oil infrastructure modernized and pumping. But Bush hasn’t done that—because he’s smalltime. We torture, but only recreationally. We conquer, but we do not subjugate. If every great totalitarian leaders is an artist (Hitler, a postcard-painter, Stalin, a writer and critic, Mao, a poet), Bush is a third-rate comedian. He seems happiest at events like the White House Press Corps yearly dinner, where he makes his now-customary photo montage and comedy routine. But mediocre comedians make very poor fascists. Instead, the Bush administration has succeeded in nothing but creating a scam to beneﬁt a few businesses that have a relatively small impact on the American economy as a whole. While defense contractors like Lockheed-Martin and Halliburton are certainly very large, there are many other big businesses that get hurt by things like the debased value of the dollar, and the government has been weakened by the exploding budget deﬁcit. We’re lucky to have Bush, because someone with even a little bit of competence could have this country goose-stepping all over the world in short order, rounding up the lesser races into camps and protecting the West from the scourge of miscegenation. Sure, we’ve done some of that stuff—but half-assedly. Quarter-assedly, even. As we come upon the holiday season, we should all be thankful that Bush is such a fool—because otherwise, we might be in camps, eating each other’s shoe leather.

By John Hewitt Staff Columnist

gainst such an enemy, there is only one effective response— we will never back down, we will never give in, we will never accept anything less than complete victory!” -George W. Bush, Nov. 11, 2005 “The greatest breach of faith of all time was committed against us Germans. Let us take care that our people internally are never again in a position to be broken. Then no one in the world will threaten us. Then peace will either be maintained for our people or, if necessary, peace will be enforced.” -Adolph Hitler, Apr. 1, 1939 The comparison between Bush and Hitler or Stalin is often made, but it’s not really warranted. First of all, the old greats kept longer hours. The most important job skill that a successful totalitarian ruler should have is the ability to work very long hours. Stalin’s work ethic was famous—later in his career, he would keep his subordinates around him to gorge themselves on ﬁ ne food, vodka and wine until the early hours—and then wake up for a full day of work fresh as ever, while his lieutenants struggled to function. Bush goes to bed at 10 p.m., allowing his subordinates free reign to carve out their own power structure in the middle of the night. If I were in Bush’s position, I wouldn’t have allowed Valerie Plame’s name and front organization to be leaked to the press—I would have killed her, her husband and Robert Novak for good measure, and I would’ve blamed it all on Osama, Zarqawi or PeeWee Herman. Things would get done in a Hewitt White House. I would be a dictator with results. Bush does a lot of things that sound totalitarian, but fall short of the mark. The Patriot Act—while it allows the government unprecedented monitoring powers over its citizenry—has really only amounted to a Nuremberglite for Muslim immigrants and has caused the boom of the ineffective random search. The Iraq War was supposed to kick off a new Imperial age for the United

John is a sophomore in Arts & Sciences. He can be reached via e-mail at jkhewitt@wustl. edu.

Futures on the cutting block By Kevin Bastian Op-ed submission

arning: slashing in progress. You could be the next victim. With axes poised at the cutting block, both state and federal legislators have been, and are planning on, making deep cuts into discretionary spending programs that will negatively affect the lives and well-being of millions of Americans. Those who look to the government for support and chances for new opportunities, turn elsewhere. Meanwhile, these cuts are being made to ﬁ nance a $106 billion tax cut for a

majority of individuals who I would venture to say are not losing their Medicaid beneﬁts or struggling to pay for an increasingly expensive college education. The question is: what is going on in our country? At work here in St. Louis as an intern for Congressman Carnahan’s ofﬁce, I have watched astounded for weeks the tragic saga of Missouri’s new Medicaid cuts. Over the short time of Governor Blunt’s (yes, his father is the new House Majority Leader) administration, Missouri has completed an about-face, transitioning from being a state that once had one of the

highest coverage rates in the nation to being one that now needs a federal waiver so that fewer individuals than is mandated by law can be provided with beneﬁts. Ninety thousand individuals have lost coverage, while the administration opposes a new 80 cent cigarette tax which could generate over $300 million in revenue for health care, because it could negatively impact Missouri’s economy. Reading some of the gut-wrenching stories of people without choices, medical care or food this week, I wonder who has heart or compassion anymore. But you know what? That does not even matter. Legislators

should realize that 90,000 patients seeking treatment at emergency rooms, uninsured, is going to cost the state much more. Basically, you get out of things what you put in, and I do not believe many in the Show-Me State are going to be happy with the results. And now for the federal government, the most guilty of them all. While states like Missouri must at least balance their budgets every year and cannot generate expansive tax revenue, the federal government does not have such excuses at its disposal. Thus, on this week’s agenda, the government is initiating spending cuts, $53.9 billion in

cuts to be exact. Now the official reasoning says that these will offset hurricane costs or deficit reduction—but how can this be the case when the government is cutting programs like food stamps and Medicaid that go directly to benefit many of the individuals the hurricanes affected? We offset the cost of rebuilding Biloxi, but not Baghdad. The Republican platform has taken on the tone of empowerment, and we students are now empowered to pay for even more of our education. What a gift from Washington. Central to these budget cuts—the largest in the history of the program—is

the proposed $14.3 billion from student loans over ﬁve years. Suddenly, because of legislated increasing interest rates and fees, students must be prepared to pay on average $5,800 more over the life of their loans. Much like the example of Missouri’s Medicaid cuts, this does not make sense to me. How can we square the circle of wanting to create a vibrant, well-educated society, and then attack the foundations that underpin its health? But then again, where are our nation’s priorities? Kevin is a senior in Arts & Sciences. He can be reached via e-mail at kcbastia@wustl.edu.

YOUR VOICE: LETTERS AND GUEST COLUMNS

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Student Life welcomes letters to the editor and op-ed submissions from readers.

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Once an article has been published on www.studlife.com, our Web site, it will remain there permanently. We do not remove articles from the site, nor do we remove authors’ names from articles already published on the Web, unless an agreement was reached prior to July 1, 2005.

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Why do we do this? Because Google and other search engines cache our Web site on a regular basis. Our thought is this: once an article has been published online, it’s too late to take back. It is irrevocably part of the public sphere. As such, removing an article from our site would serve no purpose.

Senior Forum Editor / Molly Antos / forum@studlife.com

MONDAY | NOVEMBER 14, 2005

STUDENT LIFE | FORUM

There’s more to the Marcrum murder case By Lee Marshall and Bruce La Pierre Op-ed submission

arah Geimer writes in her Nov. 9, 2005 Forum column about her anger at the recent decision of a federal judge to overturn the murder conviction of our client, Richard Marcrum, in the 1994 beating to death of her friend and former neighbor, Rev. Kenneth Reeves. The pain Ms. Geimer experienced as a child upon losing her friend is palpable from her words. She expresses anger at the legal system, at those involved in the original trial in 1996, at the news media, at the state and at the Washington University School of Law’s Appellate Clinic. There is no doubt that

what happened to Rev. Reeves on June 3, 1994 was tragic, and no one would ever, as Ms. Geimer alleges, “spit on the loss” of his widow or anyone else who knew Rev. Reeves. But it does not disserve the memory of Rev. Reeves to ensure that Mr. Marcrum receives a fair trial. The federal court overturned Mr. Marcrum’s conviction because his 1996 trial was unconstitutional. Indeed, the lapses at his trial can only be described as shocking. Mr. Marcrum had a well-documented 22year history of severe mental illness, including organic brain damage, psychosis, seizure disorders, delusions and paranoid schizophrenia. His medical records docu-

mented dozens of hospital admissions over the years, during which he was found to be delusional, psychotic and not on the anticonvulsant and antipsychotic medication prescribed for him. Yet, none of Mr. Marcrum’s medical records were introduced into evidence at trial and none of his treating physicians were called to the witness stand. Most shockingly, the jury at his 1996 trial never heard that Mr. Marcum was examined just hours after the beating of Rev. Reeves occurred and was found to be off his medication, “non-oriented to person/place/time” and suffering from “florid psychosis.” Better evidence of insanity or diminished capacity, both defenses to the

first-degree murder charge for which Mr. Marcrum was tried, is difficult to imagine, but the jury simply never heard the evidence. Mr. Marcrum is entitled under our Constitution to a fair trial in which a jury of his peers can consider all of the relevant evidence before determining his fate. That his defenses to the charges are based on his mental state surely makes the case a difficult one, but it does not make his original trial either fair or constitutional. Whether or not Mr. Marcrum will “walk free,” as the title of Ms. Geimer’s column incorrectly suggests, remains to be seen. But the principle that all in our society, rich or poor, are entitled to a fair trial is an important one,

and it is worth fighting for. As members of the bar of the federal courts, we accept an obligation to take appointed cases. It is an obligation that we fulfill willingly because there are many people in St. Louis who simply cannot afford an attorney. We are fortunate to work at institutions, Washington University and Bryan Cave LLP, that recognize and support the importance of pro bono work in our community and in ensuring that the rule of law is not only for those who can afford it. The students enrolled in the School of Law’s Appellate Clinic will have an opportunity to work on Mr. Marcrum’s case and help ensure that all who are accused receive a fair trial.

They will not, as Ms. Geimer states, work on any retrial. Rather, they will work to defend the federal court’s decision that Mr. Marcrum is entitled to a new trial when the State appeals that decision to the United States Court of Appeals. We established the Appellate Clinic to give students an opportunity to work on cases involving important constitutional principles and to provide a service to both the Court and the community. We are confident that our work on Mr. Marcrum’s case serves those objectives. Lee Marshall works at Bryan Cave LLP and is an adjunct professor at the School of Law. Bruce La Pierre is a professor at the School of Law.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

In defense of Wash. U. Build’s Cardboard City Dear Editor: I feel that it is necessary to defend Wash. U. Build’s Cardboard City in response to Katie Schwarz and Jevon Plunkett’s letter to the editor on Nov. 2. Schwarz and Plunkett seem to think that cardboard housing is a stereotypical view of homelessness and an oversimplification of issues surrounding homelessness and poverty. I have this to say to them: cardboard boxes are complex. It is unfortunate that people do have to resort to cardboard, but it happens. Although cardboard boxes are clearly not the only form of housing for homeless individuals, the fact that they are a form of housing at all indicates that there are deeper problems in American society that have allowed these circumstances to continue. As a recognized symbol for homelessness, cardboard housing is a perfectly acceptable way to embody that complexity in a single image. As a regular volunteer at a homeless shelter here in St. Louis, I have become uncomfortably familiar with the idea that if you have to sleep outside, having a folded-up piece of cardboard and lying under a vent makes all the difference. But this is contingent upon the necessity to sleep outside. I would venture to say that none of the participants in Wash U. Build’s Cardboard City were under the illusion that they suffered from this necessity or the problems that preceded it. Sleeping outdoors in a cardboard box was understood by me as a symbolic motion of bringing issues of homelessness and substandard housing to the very backyard of Washington University students. In attempts to raise awareness and educate the Washington University community about issues of homelessness, it is necessary to break complexity down into recognizable segments—and it is impossible to be both socially effective and politically correct. Perhaps the fact that Wash. U. Build’s Cardboard City elicited such a negative response is a sign that it is working. If one is unwilling to face a reality of homelessness that may include such issues as drug abuse, mental illness and substandard housing, they will be unwilling to appreciate the implications involved in an awareness project such as Wash. U. Build’s Cardboard City. -Luz Silverio Class of 2007

Hewitt is the real ‘nigger’ here Dear Editor: Your staff writer, John Hewitt, has used Student Life to make a name for himself as a zealot against

anything that questions the supremacy of leftist politics on the Washington University campus. He especially hates the College Republicans, going so far as to sit in on their meetings taking notes, pretending to be the College Democrats’ Alger Hiss, and attending Assembly Series lectures sponsored by the College Republicans to heckle the speakers. In his own words, “I kept coughing loudly to try and trip him up.” (Who does that?) While I usually just chuckle through his banter of self-righteous bullshit and factual errors, (Senator Landrieu is a senator from Illinois? Joe Scarborough works for Fox News?) I was dismayed to see that the editors have allowed him to enter the realm of libelist. In today’s paper, he complains of “white supremacist groups like the College Republicans.” I’d like to see John substantiate that claim. A few sentences later, he insults blacks by claiming Wash. U. “is so racially and religiously diverse that it contains... as many Negroes as a recently integrated golfing enthusiast club.” Excuse me? Applying the fourth Oxford English Dictionary definition of nigger, “Any person whose behaviour is regarded as reprehensible,” I’ll claim flat out that John Hewitt is the nigger. Please stop printing his articles. -Steven S. Hoffmann Class of 2007

Sexual orientation references were problematic

GLBTQIA, rendering them invisible by focusing on gay and lesbian experiences, and ignoring the rest. Furthermore, although it is not an explicit problem in this article, we would like to note media tendencies to “whitewash” GLBTQIA experiences, and to ignore the variation in experiences that can arise as a result of overlapping identities of race, class, religion, etc. We hope that Student Life continues to discuss the issues that GLBTQIA students face; however, we hope that any future discourse is more inclusive of all of those under the GLBTQIA acronym. -Nathan Miller Safe Zones Educator Class of 2004 Lori Weingarten, Pride Alliance Co-President Class of 2008

Eliminating Senate the logical next step Dear Editor:

Ader thought the position of SU president was important enough to run for. The bottom line is that SU’s own officers don’t value the organization enough to commit their time to it. It’s not clear, then, that Senate, or even SU as a whole, is worth the money students are spending on it. SU’s operating budget for this semester alone is $330,000. Given that its annual budget is $1.7 million, SU spends fully 40 percent of every student’s activities fee on itself and its own programs. Students might be better served with a leaner student government that spent less money on itself, which would in turn have more resources to fund student groups. SU already can’t pay for all the funding that student groups request, and appeals funding runs out in the first weeks of the semester. Eliminating the Senate might be a needed first step in fully funding those activities that students really care about. -Roman Goldstein Class of 2005

Re: “SU Senate chair resigns over lack of time” [Nov. 11, 2005]. The time commitment issues Speaker of the Senate Jeff Zove cites as causing the resignations of several senators are a smoke screen hiding deeper problems in SU. Everybody is busy, so everybody has time commitment issues. The real question is, why did several senators all drop SU rather than some other activity? Senator Ben Pasquier suggested one plausible answer: being a senator doesn’t create value for the student community. A similar theme is the fact that only David

Campus streakers lacked diversity Dear Editor: I would like to register my offense at the lack of minority and female representation in the pictures of streakers on Friday. John Hewitt’s excellent op-ed effectively mocked the problem of diversity at our school, but obviously his progressive and enlightened attitudes have not trickled up to the editors of Student Life, or the photography

staff, for that matter. Why should peoples of all colors and genders not be allowed to streak? While we heard tell of six males and two females, where were our transgendered colleagues? Furthermore, this discrimination continued down the typical of white male hegemony by reflecting a lack of sensitivity to our lesserabled and economically oppressed. I did not see one person from our less elite student body in University College, for example. Perhaps we should spend less time concentrating on the bourgeois technologism of the engineering school and more on the problems that confront our very souls in the 21st century. -A.L.C. Thompson Class of 2006

We’ll do you a favor and give you a razor Dear Editor: I would like to thank Student Life for publishing the article related to students streaking because it highlights a disturbing trend at Wash. U.: some girls, either lacking the knowledge of hygiene or the wherewithal to purchase razors, do not shave themselves on par with national, and perhaps even Eastern European standards. I would like to call upon Chancellor Wrighton to enact, for the first time, a campus-wide razor distribution and education program. Razor distribution stations would be set up all over campus: in front of the Women’s Building, Olin Library and Busch Hall. The

program would provide willing participants with one razor, some shaving cream and an informational packet on appropriate shaving techniques and fun designs one can make with a simple razor. The benefits of this program would be incalculable. It would enrich the social climate on campus because more students would enjoy talking to well-groomed people. It would also decrease the annoying squirrel population on campus by evicting the pesky rodents from their homes. Finally, it would make the school more attractive to visiting students—they would see that the school mascot is just a nickname for the sports team and not a derogatory term for the girls. I am interested in the well-being of the members of the Wash. U. community and want to debunk the belief that Wash. U. girls are ugly. They are not. I understand that winter is coming up and it will be cold, so remember this is an optional, not a mandatory, program. And I do not think that this program should be limited to just women. In fact, the guy sitting across from me while I’m typing this has a unibrow. The second stage of this plan, I propose, would be a unibrow prevention program. We will distribute narrow razors perfectly suited to cut through even the bushiest of brows. My collegues and I urge Chancellor Wrighton to use his executive power to implement this far-reaching program. While I understand that the roots of this issue are deeply imbedded within Wash. U. females, it is important that we extract them with one swift motion.

Dear Editor: We appreciate the recent attention given to the important topic of coming out in Student Life. However, we would also like to highlight the use of some problematic language in the Sept. 7 article on “Coming Out in College.” For instance, the word “homosexual” is usually seen as clinical and outdated to refer to gay and lesbian people. It is unclear whether any of the individuals interviewed for the article actually identify with this term, and yet “homosexual” was used in several places. Similarly, the article uses the acronym GLBTQIA (gay, genderqueer, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual and ally). The author does not seem to realize that some of the identities within that acronym have nothing to do with sexual orientation, and that “coming out” as those identities is an entirely different experience. GLBTQIA is not the same as “the gay community”—which unto itself comprises many experiences and is not a monolithic front. This article does a disservice to the other identities described by

MARGARET BAUER | EDITORIAL CARTOON

-Mike Tidey Class of 2009

6 STUDENT LIFE | SPORTS

Senior Sports Editor / Justin Davidson / sports@studlife.com

SPORTS

MONDAY | NOVEMBER 14, 2005

IN BRIEF: Senior WR Brad Duesing made history on Saturday, becoming the second player in NCAA history to record four consecutive 1000-yard receiving seasons after the Bears’ 42-24 win over Greenville College. The No. 3 volleyball team advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals with wins over Carleton College and No. 13 University of St. Thomas over the weekend.

Duesing makes history books Saturday v Star wide receiver second ever in NCAA history to complete four consecutive 1000-yard seasons By Andrei Berman Sports Reporter Saturday marked the fi nal game of the 2005 season for the Washington University football team. The Bears overcame a 17point deficit, en route to what was likely their most thrilling contest of the season, a 42-24 win over Greenville College. The game will be remembered in the history book not for the win, however, but for two words: Brad Duesing. The senior wide receiver, who needed 82 yards to become just the second pass catcher in NCAA history to record fourstraight 1000-yard seasons, concluded his spectacular career in a grand way. Duesing fi nished with a career day, with

15 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns, as the Bears ended the 2005 season by winning their fourth consecutive road game. “Brad Duesing has been playing like that his entire career,” said Washington University head coach Larry Kindbom. “With all the things that happened in the game and being down 24-7, Brad still stepped up and made plays. He is a gifted enough player that is he is on the ﬁeld he will make things happen.” The Red and Green ended the year at 6-4 overall, a record made all-the-more impressive considering the team’s shaky 2-4 start. Although the afternoon would ultimately end in a Bear

PAM BUZZETTA | STUDENT LIFE

Sophomores Michael Casper and Tyler McSparin rush into an offensive play. The team finished their 13th consecutive winning season at 6-4.

victory, the host Panthers initially made it so that the eventual outcome seemed highly unlikely in the early going. They opened the scoring with about 9:30 to go in the fi rst quarter on a 24-yard field goal. Then, a little less than four minutes later, a Panthers special teams player blocked a junior Chaz Moody punt and teammate Bryson Taylor picked it up and scrambled 38 yards to the house for another a Greenville score. A successful two-point conversion run gave the home team an 11-0 lead with about 5:30 remaining in the fi rst quarter. The Bears responded quickly. Senior John Grit intercepted a Panther pass on fi rst down, returning it 12 yards to the Greenville ten-yard line. Then, three plays later, University junior Daronne Jenkins marched in a one-yard touchdown. Senior Ben Schaub connected on the PAT and the Bears trailed 11-7 with 1:30 to go in the fi rst. Any momentum the Bears might have gained from that end-of-quarter touchdown, however, was short-lived. Greenville struck back quickly. Just five seconds into the second quarter of play, quarterback Lee Thompson connected with Jon DeJulio for a 19-yard touchdown strike. The Panthers struck again about five minutes later as Mark Schopp picked up a fumble and ran 97 yards for a touchdown. After a successful extra point, the Panthers seemed to be in control with a commanding 24-7 lead. That’s when Duesing and the Bears went to work. They went on to score 35 unanswered

points over the next three quarters of play. Sophomore Dan Cardone caught the fi rst touchdown of the comeback, a seven-yard pass from junior Nick Henry with just four seconds remaining in the opening half. Just before that, Duesing eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark when he caught a 29-yard reception from Henry with eight seconds left in the second quarter on a key fourth-and-19 attempt, setting up Cardone for the next play. The second half was all Bears. The University offense— a weak point for much of the season—absolutely exploded. “We were up against the wall in the fi rst half. Our offense knew they would have to score points,” Kindbom added. “The defense played well the entire game and have played solid all year long.” Duesing caught touchdown passes of 23 and 16 yards, respectively. Jenkins ran for another score and fi nished with 74 yards rushing on the afternoon. Freshman Kyle Gray fi nished the scoring and went out with an exclamation point on the tremendous comeback victory, by far the University’s best offensive performance of the year. Gray caught a 15 yard pass with just under four minutes to play. “Five weeks ago, we were not feeling very good about where we were sitting at 2-4,” Kindbom said. “We took one play and one game at a time. Each week we got better as a team. It’s a great send-off for our seniors.” Schaub fi nished a perfect 6for-6 on extra point attempts.

WUSTL PHOTO SERVICES

Coach Larry Kindbom stands with senior wide receiver Brad Duesing as Duesing says goodbye to his last season with the University. Duesing is one of two players in NCAA history to have four consecutive 1000-yard receiving seasons. The senior, who also plays linebacker, ﬁ nished the season 20-for-20. Duesing ﬁ nished the season with 1136 yards receiving with 75 catches and ten touchdowns. He ends his career as the leading receiver—and arguably best ever offensive player—in Washington University history. In four years, he totaled 287 catches (third all-time in

Division III history) and 4,429 total receiving yards (sixth alltime in D-III history). Henry ﬁ nished his junior season in tremendous fashion. The junior quarterback, who struggled at times early in the year, ﬁ nished with a career high 337 yards on 29-40 passing. He threw four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Volleyball advances to NCAA quarterfinals By Carrie Jarka Sports Reporter Riding a wave of motivation after losing their first and only match of the regular season, the Washington University volleyball team won their first two games in the NCAA tournament this past weekend, advancing to the Elite Eight in Salem, Virginia. After a first round bye, the Bears faced No. 9 Carlton on Friday. Coming out strong, the Bears led almost the entire way, eventually winning the match 3-0 (30-13, 30-22, 30-18). Led by junior Whitney Smith’s 14 kills, three other Bears had double-digit kills, including first team All-American senior Megan Houck, third team All-American sophomore Haleigh Spencer and honorable mention sophomore Emilie Walk.

Spencer finished with a double-double, adding 14 digs to her already impressive 10 kills. Not to be overlooked was first team All-American setter senior Kara Liefer, who finished the match with six kills, 38 assists and 11 digs. “We moved the ball around well on offense,” said University Head Coach Rich Luenemann. “Everybody scored points, and [junior libero] Amy Bommarito had an outstanding passing match.” In the regional championship, the Bears came up against a tough and intimidating No. 3 St. Thomas team. “It is a tough environment to play in,” said Luenemann. “St. Thomas is a very nice team that should be ranked higher than No. 13.” In a match decided by three very close and hardfought games, the Bears came out victorious, defeating St. Thomas 3-0 (30-27,

30-24, 30-25). The All-Americans shined again, as Liefer was once again a dominating force, ending with seven kills, 38 assists and seven digs, while hitting .667 in the match. Trailing 14-9 in the second game, the Bears knotted up the score at 22 each, when Walk and Smith took control of the reins and led the squad on a 7-0 run. Walk made a key block that sustained the run with the Bears up by two and the Tommies being aggressive. Smith followed suit with a double block, and the Bears kept the ball rolling en route to a 3024 victory in game two. “Emilie is one of the best middle blockers I have ever coached,” Luenemann said. “She has an incredible ability to read the opposing hitters, which is why she is a great blocker.” Walk and Houck each contributed 11 kills, while Smith

added another 10. The Bears defense, which has been led by the solid play of senior Nicole Hodgman and junior libero Amy Bommarito all season, was a major factor in the victory. Hodgman ended with 12 digs, while Bommarito added another 16 of her own. “Our biggest strength [tonight] was our offensive balance,” said Luenemann. “One of our primary goals was to control their left sides. We were able to limit their attack, and that was a big reason for our success.” With the two victories, the Bears take the Regional Title and advance to the NCAA quarterfinals for the 18th time in school history. The Bears will face La-Verne University in the next round. In the field of eight, the Bears have already defeated five of the other teams, with a combined game record of 15-7.

PAM BUZZETTA | STUDENT LIFE

Junior Amy Bommarito bumps the ball to set up an offensive play for the University. The women won the NCAA Central Regional Championship last weekend to advance to NCAA quarterfinals.

Are you a chess champion? An extreme sports enthusiast? An award-winning video gamer? Or something else entirely? Let us know! We’d love to report on your offbeat sports achievements.

Send us your story at sports@studlife.com.

Senior Scene Editor / Sarah Baicker / scene@studlife.com

MONDAY | NOVEMBER 14, 2005

STUDENT LIFE | SCENE

The evolution of e-mail at Washington University By Jessica Sommer Scene Reporter With the advent of the Facebook, instant messaging and iTunes, it’s difficult for most students to imagine a time when computers were a new, scarcely available resource. But in fact, that time was that not very long ago. Computer access first became available at the University during the late 1980s, through a mainframe system named “Music.” But even then it was very limited and without e-mail. By 1991, e-mail was only available to a select group of students through a server called “Profs,” which was connected through another server named “Kermit.” In 1991, the first 24-hour computer lab was set up on campus, and with that came the hiring of the first RCCs to help students with the computers. The idea for the program was originally modeled after the

Residential Advisor program and ﬁrst utilized at Stanford University. Soon after, Washington University became the second school in the nation to provide RCCs. This primitive technology soon expanded as the University added Internet connections into existing computer labs between 1991-1993. Shortly afterwards, network connections became available in residential hall rooms for the ﬁrst time. In order to make this possible, ResTech held install fairs for each dorm, during which students brought their computers down into the lobby for installation of the necessary hardware. “We had to do the install fairs because computers at that time weren’t built with networking in mind, so we had to do a lot of installation,” said Director of ResTech Matt Arthur. “It just took time. We would set up and the fair would run for six or seven hours.”

Around the same time, the math department was making developments of its own. It created a network of approximately ten NeXt machines, all named after different fruits, such as banana, guava, pineapple, papaya. Through this network, Arts & Sciences students were able to access e-mail through a telnet to Pine, a text based e-mail system still available today. The ArtSci Webmail we know today did not debut until late 2000, when the freshman class of 2004 was the ﬁrst to receive their ArtSci e-mail accounts in a letter before arriving on campus. Since then, it has been increasing in popularity; at its inception the program averaged 800 logins per day, but today it averages over 19,000 logins per day. “We did a lot of polling, because we wanted to make sure that the e-mail met the needs of everyone,” said Ken Keller, director of client support and systems and application

development for ArtSci Computing. “We kept Pine to make sure everyone could access e-mail the way they want.” The e-mail and computing systems at the University have come a long way in such a short time, and even more developments lie in the future. Two new Webmail packages, Horde and SquirrelMail, have recently been introduced as e-mail options. “A&S Computing continues to evaluate the three Webmail packages, and we are seeking input from our customers: faculty, staff and students,” said Keller. Currently, ResTech is working on many new ways to improve Internet access and computing for students. It is currently investigating ways to expand wireless access while maintaining its security, and provide a safer way to use instant messaging since many new viruses are contracted through fake instant messages. In addition, ResTech is working to provide students

OLIVER HULLAND | STUDENT LIFE

Junior Lily Tang checks her ArtSci Webmail account in Whispers. with the opportunity to use new devices like BlackBerries and other internet capable gadgets while staying safe online. “Technology trends move fast, and students are always cutting edge,” said Arthur. “We always look for input from students to help us, and we will

AYA SOFIA

continue to do so.” The future of e-mail and the Internet remains unknown, but undoubtedly, e-mail will continue to evolve with the times. “We will take email to where the teaching, learning and research at Washington University take us,” said Keller.

Aya Sofia 6671 Chippewa Street 314-645-9919 $7-$10 lunch, $10-$20 dinner

STEPPING OUT By Jake Levitas and Chris Kudelka Scene Reporters Most restaurants that serve foreign cuisine strive to transport their patrons to another place, setting a cultural atmosphere while giving them a genuine taste of a different part of the world. Few, however, accomplish this task as well as the brand-new Aya Sofia, located across from Ted Drewes on Chippewa Street. The Turkish/Mediterranean restaurant opened little more than a month ago, yet can already boast customers who “have already tried everything on the menu,” according to co-owner Alyssa. For such an amazing feat, it is easy to see where the inspiration comes from—the extensive menu includes an impressive array of lunch specials, appetizers and entrees, all reasonably priced and 100 percent authentic. The reason why this newborn establishment has already recruited such loyal customers isn’t just the quality of the food, but also the spirit of their service and passion for success. Alyssa remarked that the goal and philosophy of Aya Sofia as a dining establishment is to provide excellent service and cuisine, complemented by fine wines, all at an acceptable price. For those of you intrigued by the name, Aya Sofia is actually borrowed, taken from what is now an architectural and religious museum in Istanbul, Turkey. The Aya Sofia was built in the sixth century to be one of the greatest churches in the world. When the Ottoman Turks

conquered the city in 1453, it was converted into a mosque. Today, it stands as an attraction and an important historical site. It is significant to note that the owners of Aya Sofia the restaurant adopted this name with the hope to extend the vitality and cultural experience of Turkey into their establishment, their food and their service. Among the lunch specials are doner (vertically grilled beef and lamb) sandwiches, a variety of wraps and a sampling of the more popular dinner entrees. The full dinner menu, however, is even more mouthwatering. For starters, there are a variety of meze (small Turkish appetizers), which Alyssa said are very similar culturally to Turkey as tapas are to Spain. They can be eaten individually, before dinner or as several ordered together to form a full meal. The cold meze range from the classic tabuli and hummus to midye dolma (steamed mussels with rice) and kizartma (fried eggplant and other vegetables served with yogurt sauce). All are served with soft, warm pita bread. There are hot meze as well, the most popular of which are sarma (grape leaves stuffed with ground beef, rice and onions) and sigara boregi (fried filo dough stuffed with feta cheese and parsley). We, along with the owners, recommend the Aya Sofia Meze Platter in order to experience the range of distinct flavors of dishes as an introduction to

SEEKING RESTAURANT REVIEW DUO for next semester’s Stepping Out

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If you and a friend want to eat a variety of good food and showcase your reviewing skills, this might be for you. E-mail sbaicker@wustl.edu.

Turkish cuisine. After the meze, turn to the dinner entrees to feed your fiery appetite. The iskender (seasoned beef and lamb, vertically grilled and thinly sliced, served with tomatoes and yogurt sauce over sautéed pita) is especially tasty, and a customer favorite. Although be advised—the helpings are generous, and you’ll be eating to your stomach’s content. The method of preparation is similar to that of an open-faced gyro, for those familiar with Greek cuisine, with emphasis on the intriguing contrast between the yogurt and tomato sauces. Also, if you’re in the mood for a different twist on lamb, go for the kuzu pirizola (lamb chops marinated with Turkish spices, served with rice pilaf). The cuts are tender and satiating, with a taste of sweet spices, complemented by an array of steamed veggies on the side. If you aren’t in the mood or choose not to undertake the meat dishes, eggplant is a popular foundation for many meals, executed deliciously in the imama bayildi, karni yarik and the musakka. Whether you’re vegetarian, a true meat lover, someone looking for surprising flavor in a traditional dish or you just want to see what Turkish and Mediterranean food are all about, there is something for everyone at Aya Sofia. Additionally, the restaurant exhibits an excellent variety of wines, all chosen from several

JAKE LEVITAS & CHRIS KUDELKA I STUDENT LIFE

Jake and Chris pose with the co-owners of Aya Sofia. select, small European producers, allowing the reasonable pricing to parallel that of the rest of the menu. The truly fantastic quality of the restaurant is a direct result of the dedication of those who make it, the two behind it all— Alyssa and her ﬁancée and chef, Mehmet Yildiz. Mehmet wanted to found a restaurant with food inspired by his mother’s recipes, expanded by his own cre-

ative experimentation and zeal. Together with Alyssa’s vision for success, Aya Soﬁa mixes its own style of cooking with traditional Turkish fare to create an incredible blend of modern ﬂavor and timeless classics.

With even more to come, Aya Soﬁa will begin holding happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 4-6 p.m., accompanied by live belly dancers and music. Don’t miss out!

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Senior Scene Editor / Sarah Baicker / scene@studlife.com

MONDAY | NOVEMBER 14, 2005

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MONDAY | NOVEMBER 14, 2005

STUDENT LIFE | CLASSIFIEDS

CLASSIFIEDS FREE Classifieds

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Classifications Help Wanted For Rent Roommates Sublet Real Estate For Sale Automotive

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GET PAID TO drive a brand new car! Now paying drivers $800-$3200 a month. Pick up your free car key today. www.freecarkey.com MAD SCIENCE INSTRUCTORS: Enthusiastic instructors needed to teach part-time (after school, 1 to 5 days per week), fun, hands-on science programs in elementary schools. Must have trans-portation. $25.00 - $27.50 per 1 hour class. Call 314-991-8000. PART-TIME WORK $12 BASE/ APPT, flex. sched., customer sales/service, scholarship opportunities, 314-997-7873. START AT $70 FOR a 5-hour event! Promote brands by distributing samples/ brochures and demonstrating products. Premier in store Promotions Company and authorized agency of Mass Connections has a great opportunities in Various MO cities. Part-time, mostly weekends, and typically 5 hours. For more information and to apply online, www.eventsan dpromotions.com.

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TRANSLATION ASSISTANT BILINGUAL Korean/ English speaker needed. $18/an hour. email to moonlight6045@yahoo.com

1BR, CONVINIENT LOCATION TO WASHINTON U and Clayton. Newly renovated, hardwood floors, central air, Washer/Dryer, brand new appliances, dishwasher, garbage disposal, storage area, off-street parking available. 314-369-1016. GORGEOUS COMPLETELY RENOVATED 1-bedroom at 7321 Wise. Minutes from campus. New hardwood floor kitchen with granite counter tops, new and modern appliances, microwave included, carpeted living room and bedroom, walk in closet, marble bathroom, common washer/dryer, workout room and storage, on site parking, secure entrances. $550-$750/month. Please call 314-503- 7076 or 314-503-4181

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CLAYTON CONDO FOR Rent. The condo is centrally located in Clayton; 10 minutes from campus; Newly renovated, new appliances, granite counter-tops; 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom. Private parking available. Rent is $1600/month. Please call 636-519-0719 or 314-5188688 for more information or if you are insterested.

$350/MONTH SUBLET FOR SPRING 2006 - Conveniently located at 60XX Kingsbury. Furnished room in 3-bedroom available from January to May OR August (very flexible). Garage, basement, washer and dryer. Spacious common areas. Pay rent and one third of the utlities. 2 female students. Both men and women are welcome, but students are preferred. Please call Emily at 314288-9861 or send an email to em1@cec.wustl.edu if you are interested or for more information.

SUBLET SPRING 2006, LOCATED on Kingsbury between Melville and Kingsland. Two furnished bedrooms in beautiful and spacious three bedroom apartment. Apartment includes dishwasher, air conditioning, wireless internet, cable, parking, laundry and storage. Please contact Victoria by calling 708-8460505 or sending an email to vdschif f @ ar tsci.wustl.edu for more information. ONE ROOM FROM a 2bedroom apartment at 605 Leland Avenue is now available for sublease. Free air conditioning, quiet and nice apartment, 10 minute walk to Hilltop Campus, located on the Washington University shuttle route, and has very nice view of the Gateway Arch from the big living room window. Your share of the cost will be one half of the rent ($320/month) plus electricity (about $15/month). If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Wei by calling 314-210-7648 or emailing ww3@cec.wustl.edu.

rent. buy. sell. free. WU students, faculty & staff may place free classified ads in most categories. Just email your ad (from your WU account) to classifieds@studlife.com

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ROOMMATE WANTED FOR 920 sq. ft. 2-BR apartment at Cates/Eastgate, 15 min. walking from campus. Monthly rent is $285 + 1/2 utilities. Room available for graduate students, faculty, or staff. Please contact rbhoffr o@artsci.wustl.edu.

WANTED! TEAMS OF ENTHUSIASTIC bowlers for Chi Omega’s Bowl for Wishes for the Make-A- Wish Foundation! 2 games, fun, prizes, shoes included. November 20, 11 AM - 4:30 PM, registration fee: $60. Contact Laura at lakeiter@artsci.wustl.edu.

SANYO REFRIGERATOR $50/OBO. Amazon sells for $150. Sanyo SR2570W, dimensions are 25” x 18.5” x 19.5” includes freezer. Must sell, going abroad. Free delivery near campus. Please email sa3@cec.wustl.edu if interested.

TYPING AND TRANSCRIPTION Services Expertise in all academic formats. Specializing in qualitative research transcription. Over 30 years experience. Rush jobs welcome! Contact Karen at 314-732-0000 or wkprogress@aol.com. Conveniently located in CWE.

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Are you going abroad next semester and you need to sublease your apartment? Place your free sublet classified ad here! WashU students can place their free classified by emailing us from their WashU email account. The ad will run for up to six issues. 30 word limit.

Senior Scene Editor / Sarah Baicker / scene@studlife.com

MONDAY | NOVEMBER 14, 2005

SCENE Instant Message Edit

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Analyzing the away message By Sarah Klein Scene Regular Features Editor The creators of AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) unleashed an intriguing beast when they developed away messages. They may have originally been a signal to others that the user was not there, but they have since developed into so much more. The away message is a modern technological and social phenomenon. No generation has had more immediate access to each other than ours does. Although some AIM users don’t post away messages, it seems that the majority of students often check the messages of those who do. “I think everybody checks,” said junior Tammy Schulman. “People are closet checkers— they act like it’s uncool to check, but they’re still checking.” Washington University students generally use away messages to inform and entertain. Junior Ashwin Kumar’s away messages are usually whatever random thought he was thinking before he left his computer. They rarely stand for where he is or what he’s doing; he says that if people want to know about that stuff, they can call him. Instead, they can be entertained by his wit. An example away message of his is “Insomnia is for hustlers,” one of his few regulars, which he puts up when he’s going to be up really late. Freshman Taylor Dover, on the other hand, takes his away messages a little more seriously. He tries to make them particular and informative, so people know where he is and what he’s doing. The kind of away messages that Dover speaks of are particularly helpful for friends near and far. Many students use away messages as a way to keep in touch with friends or wayward acquaintances sometimes without even having to talk to them—although, in Kumar’s opinion, that can be considered

a little “stalkerish.” Far from being a tool for stalkers, away messages are often innately social. For instance, away messages are often targeted at who you think will be reading them—most often your friends. Dover writes specific ones so his friends know what he’s up to. Kumar said he once heard about a study which found that women often laughed more than men at jokes, whereas men responded better to witty oneliners. “The majority of people I talk to online are guys with my same sense of humor,” said Kumar. “They like the one-liners.” Schulman also writes for her audience, writing inside jokes to target her away messages at a particular friend in such a way that no one else will understand. Not only are away messages meant as entertainment for specific friends, but they often serve as an outlet for creative self-expression. Many students quote song lyrics or adages to represent their mood. Some students put up their own philosophical musings on any topic imaginable or just some piece of information they thought was interesting. Schulman has been quite creative with her away messages. Her friends from home actually participate in an ongoing game, in which they compete to say something funnier than the others so they will be featured in her profi le (a more permanent extention of the away message). Whoever is in Schulman’s profi le is the funniest and wins the game—it gets quite intense, she said. Kumar thinks his away messages are sort of “weird,” but has often received compliments for them. “A guy came up to me in the weight room and was like, ‘I really like your away messages,’” Kumar recalled. “But I really don’t put a lot of thought into

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them. I’m just a strange person.” When people update their buddies on how they’re feeling, what they’re thinking and what they’re doing on a sometimes hourly basis, those who read their messages can get a portrait of a personality. Strong emotions often reveal themselves in away messages, at least to good friends who can recognize the symptoms. “If someone has Dashboard [Confessional] lyrics up, call them, because they probably need a friend,” advised Schulman. Students say that patterns in away messages can reveal personality aspects. In Kumar’s case, people can tell he has a slightly random, quirky sense of humor because of the content of his away messages. “If someone is really unhappy in a place, their messages are sad enough that you can tell,” said Schulman. “If people are always making jokes [in their

away messages] you can tell they are a funny person.” One can also discern more subtle and complicated personality characteristics through AIM away messages and profi les. Schulman has a friend who always has very happy, bouncy away messages, which reflect her personality. But at the end of her profi le is little quote which shows a subtle sadness. On the other hand, some people insist on making even their sad away messages silly in order to dispell any assumptions of depression. In order to keep up a good away message reputation, students stipulate a few etiquette tips. Many students agree that not putting up an away message is the biggest no-no. Another big one is using generic away messages that come with the AIM service. “I expect something interesting and fresh from certain people,” said Kumar. Dover and Schulman also

dislike it when friends are overly dramatic with their away messages or use them to express their anger at speciﬁc people. Otherwise, away messages are pretty much a rule-free open forum. They run the gamut of the modern experience, from homework to relationships to breakups to current events. But do they mean anything? “It is interesting,” said Kumar, “because it really doesn’t matter in the long run or have any bearing in life what you put up in an away message. I just check because it’s a mindless thing to do on the computer and it’s nice to catch a glimpse of what someone is thinking right now.” So next time a buddy posts “Just keep swimming,” he or she might be indicating something more than the fact that he or she is a huge “Finding Nemo” fan. Then again, maybe it doesn’t mean anything at all. It’s all in the way you type it.

OLIVER HULLAND | STUDENT LIFE

Sophomore Heidi Turpin puts up an away message before she goes out.

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The abbreviated guide to away message writing By Felicia Baskin Scene Reporter In the world of instant messaging, the away message is a powerful rhetorical device. It can inform, insult and inspire. Away messages have even inspired a brand new sport: compulsive away message checking. As with any sport, it is imperative that one understand the vocabulary and rules before playing. This guide to types of away messages will help make this delicate art more accessible to the average instant messenger user. Bragging Away Message (BAM): BAMs assert the superiority of the writer over the reader in some way. During the school year, this is often accomplished through messages referring to the large loads of work. Translation: I am smarter than you and have more signiﬁcance in life. BAMs are often very straightforward, like the cherished, “I am too popular to answer your IM right now, but maybe later.” Translation: I don’t really care about anything I have to do right now, but I care even less about what you have to say. While BAMs may inspire other instant messengers to put up Depressing Away Messages (see below), readers will assuredly continue to check the away messages of BAM users, largely for the same reasons that one would read a

celebrity tabloid—it’s extremely compelling to read about the lives of one’s superiors. Depressing Away Message (DAM): The effectiveness of these messages is proportional to the writer’s level of dramatics. Often intended to inspire pity, but occasionally reflective of one’s real state, DAMs focus on the negative in one’s life. They can take the form of a list, such as “Lost my job, got a flat tire, ate a bad egg.” Or they can consist entirely of phrases that allude to negative feelings and low self-confidence, like “I’m falling through a cyclone of discontent.” Commonly, DAM writers utilize song lyrics written by others to express their innermost thoughts. See “Song Lyric Away Message” for further reference. Interactive Away Message (IAM): IAMs can take many forms. The most popular forms of IAMs are inspirational quotations and links to Web pages. Inspirational quotations, like “You ever think there is more to life than being really, really, really, ridiculously good looking?” (Derek Zoolander, “Zoolander”), add a level of depth to away message checking and require the reader to consider whatever lofty meaning the message holds. Links to Web pages, on the other hand, do not typically provide much intellectual stimulation. These require that the reader click inside the

away message box and explore whatever content appears, which is usually a flash video or porn. Or both. A technical flaw of IAMs is that many of these referenced Web pages end up infecting viewers’ computers, causing them to lose their entire list of saved away messages. Lazy Away Message Expression (LAME): LAMEs are default messages programmed into the instant messaging program, such as “I am away from my computer right now.” Using these messages compromises one’s creativity and, essentially, labels one a sellout. Messages such as “Around” and “Be right back” also qualify as LAMEs, as do messages in which the message field is simply left blank. This category of away message does not enhance the reader’s life in any way. If tempted to use a LAME, log off instead. Online Displays of Affection (ODA): Derived from “public display of affection” (PDA), ODA messages are identifiable by their personal content. These messages are, in monogamous cultures, applicable solely to one person. Authors of such messages, however, feel the need to share their sentiments with their entire buddy list. A common ODA message would say something like, “I miss you sweetie and love you so much!” For those in love, these messages are incredibly uplift-

ing. For those out of love, these messages are incredibly annoying. A formula to keep in mind when writing an ODA message is: I + (emotional, declaratory verb) + (you OR name of person the message really applies to) + rest of phrase. Remember—the more unnecessary it is for the world to know, the better. Real Life Away Message (RLAM): RLAMs are used to notify readers of the author’s whereabouts, activities or contact information. RLAMs are often used to enlighten readers about each task that the message’s author plans to do in a particular period of time. RLAMs are incredibly popular on college campuses and can often be cross-referenced as BAMs. Instant messengers also use RLAMs to solicit attention from people on their buddy list, often including the writer’s number in hopes that someone will dial it. Sadly, the number of people who view RLAMs is incredibly high compared to the number of people who follow instructions in a RLAM. Synonym: a stalker’s delight. Song Lyric Away Message (SLAM): SLAMs function under the same theory that governs much of contemporary society. Similar to seeing a therapist to straighten one’s mental knots, quoting song lyrics allows one to relate emotion without the responsibility of describing

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10 STUDENT LIFE | SCENE

it. Sometimes, a SLAM author includes the entire song being referenced, or at least cites his or her source. More frequently, however, authors pick and choose phrases from songs, neglecting to include citations in proper MLA format. This practice increases the drama of the away message, making the SLAM an enigma. Occasionally, writers offer prizes to readers that can guess what song the lyrics came from. Note: Do not be deceived. These prizes are never actually awarded. Witty Away Messages (WAM): Away messages consisting of jokes are the most common manifestations of WAMs. Ambitious WAM writers construct their own witty phrases to reveal their location, mood or general comedic nature. A classic WAM is the message, “Don’t bother me, I’m busy checking other people’s away messages.” Sometimes, WAMs are expressly designed to irritate those reading them, such as the message “Please wait…” that appears to reﬂect a loading message. Authors of such messages are cruel and deserve to be punished. The ability to check a large amount of messages in a short period of time is essential to Compulsive Away Message Checking, and messages like these impede Compulsive Away Message Checkers from accomplishing their goals.