ORIENTATION JULY 25, 2003 Vo l . 12 5 , N o . 1
August forecast: Hot and muggy! www.studlife.com
STUDENT LIFE T H E I N D E P E N D E N T N E W S PA P E R O F WA S H I N G T O N U N I V E R S I T Y I N S T. L O U I S S I N C E 1 8 7 8
INSIDE Let the 150th birthday party begin! GREASY SPOONS PAGE B1
Part of the college experience is late-night snacking. Reporter Travis Peterson goes on a quest to find the best diners.
A LOOK AT THE CLASS OF 2007 v
Between 1350-1360 accepted students will attend
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Over 20,000 applicants
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Approximately 50/50 male/ female
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Students accepted from all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico, as well as 17 other countries
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Senior class officers: 171
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National Honor Society members: 851
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Yearbook editors: 93
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Newspaper editors: 135
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Officers in service organizations: 337
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Special Awards: 2116
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Band/Orchestra members: 325
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Choir/Chorus members: 214
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Team Captains: 379
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Note: Academic indicators will not be available until the fourth week of school
CHANCELLORʼS WELCOME Chancellor PAGE A9 Mark S.
Wrighton offers his greetings and a little advice to members of the incoming Class of 2007, as he reflects on what it means to be a student today.
the YEAR IN Between war in Iraq REVIEW and Jews for PAGE A5 Jesus, the
recently completed academic year had more than its fair share of excitement. Weʼll give you the rundown.
SAVE THE DATE AUG. 21: Freshmen move in AUG. 27: First day of classes SEPT. 1: Labor Day—no classes SEPT. 10: Last day to add, wait or change sections SEPT. 11: Last day to drop course with no record SEPT. 14: Sesquicentennial Birthday Party SEPT. 16: Last day to change grade option to pass/ fail or audit SEPT. 17: Assembly Series Sesquicentennial lecture by Thomas Friedman
Schedule of Fall sesquicentennial events
v Sept. 10: Assembly Series lecture by Columbia
University president Lee Bollinger
v Sept. 14: Sesquicentennial Birthday Party v Sept. 14: Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra concert
in Brookings Quadrangle
v Sept. 17: Sesquicentennial Assembly Series lecture
by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman
v Sept. 18: First Washington University-Fudan
University EMBA class graduates in St. Louis
Note: This is only a partial list of sesquicenntial events. For the complete calendar, visit 150.wustl.edu.
Year of special events will commemorate the sesquicentennial of Washington University By Stacie Driebusch q News Editor
Washington University’s sesquicentennial celebrations will commence with a birthday party Sept. 14. According to Bob Wiltenburg, Dean of University College and the chair of the planning committee for the event, the day is meant to “start things off with a bang.”
“What this is intended to be is a gigantic arms-open embrace to the St. Louis community,” said Wiltenburg. He said that the last time that the University hosted an open house for the entire community was in 1910. The day will consist of what Wiltenburg calls a “phenomenal series of activities.” All of the University’s schools will be involved, as will many of the student groups. Highlights include Chancellor Mark Wrighton’s performance of his “Magic Mark” magic show, a version of the Indian dance show Diwali, and the School of Law’s presentation of “Goldilocks on Trial.” Participants will also be able to enjoy lectures on various subjects,
ranging from Lewis and Clark to breakthrough medicine. The party will also feature silent movies with accompaniment by Jeff Smith, associate professor of performing arts. One of the movies, called the “Maid of McMillan,” was fi lmed by University students. The event will culminate in a performance by the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra on the Brookings Quadrangle in the evening. Steve Givens, assistant to the chancellor and on-campus coordinator of the Sesquicentennial Commission, said that the goal was to plan “a nice evening event that anyone could come to.” He said
See PARTY, page A2
Presidential debate may be coming to campus By Cory Schneider q Senior News Editor
BRENDAN WATSON
Eliot Residence Hall collapses onto itself. Workers imploded the 38-year-old dorm on June 22 to make way for a new dorm of the same name, which is expected to be completed by fall 2004.
Demolished! Eliot comes down Hundreds watch as Spirtas Wrecking implodes dorm By Bernell Dorrough q Online Editor When they arrive on campus in August, students will see a gaping hole on the South 40. On June 22, Eliot residence hall was demolished as hundreds of students, faculty, and neighborhood residents looked on. Washington University administrators removed the 38-year-old tower to make room for new student housing next to Nemerov Residence Hall. For some former residents of Eliot, watching the high-rise collapse was like losing an old friend. “It was my freshman dorm, and contrary to popular belief, I actually loved living in Eliot,”
Visit studlife.com v for more photos of the demolition
said senior Crystal Moten. “And even though it was tall and big and sometimes the elevators were broken, I didn’t mind walking up the 11 fl ights of stairs because I loved it so much. It brings back fond memories, and I’m so sad to see it go.” However, other students were excited to see Eliot destroyed to make way for newer dorms. For years, many students had regarded the tower as the worst place to live on campus. “Initially, I’ll be honest—I was a hater. I did not want to live there freshman year,” said senior Erynn Elleby. “But, I had two really good friends who lived there my freshman year, and they showed me all the little intricacies that were hidden treasurers, like the window seats. It’s not as bad. I liked visit-
ing it, but I still wouldn’t want to live there.” Spirtas Wrecking Company oversaw the destruction of the 12-story, 73,000-square-foot high rise. By imploding Eliot with explosives, its demolition took mere seconds. When Eliot’s twin tower Shepley Hall was demolished with a wrecking ball several years ago, the same amount of work took weeks. “Some other contractor was awarded that contract (for Shepley’s demolition). It took them about four months to ball that thing and get it out of here,” explained Eric Spirtas, the company’s president. “That process had a lot of dust day in, day out, and Saturday work on and on. One Saturday here and boom, we blow it down, and we’re out of the way. Now, it’s just hauling it off.” Dykon Blasting Corp. set the explosive sequences that im-
See ELIOT, page A4
Construction shuts down Parkway By Molly Antos q News Editor In order to make room for a new MetroLink line closer to the Washington University campus, Forest Park Parkway has been under construction for the past few months and will continue to be so for at least the next year. The Parkway is a major road used to get to the University and around the area, and its closure is already leading to detours and reroutings. One concern is the inconvenience that freshmen, upperclassmen and their families will experience in August due to the road’s current status. Steve Hoffner, vice chancellor for students, is optimistic about orientation, however. “There shouldn’t be any interruptions from the Metrolink for freshmen moving into the South 40,” he said. One reason is that students can use Snow Way in lieu of Forest Park Parkway. Kathy Farrol, a communications representative for the Metro, which operates Metrolink, said that she was confident that freshmen would have few problems when it comes time to move in. “We’ve worked closely with the University to maintain as much access as we can,” she said. “I think with a little preplanning, and a good job keeping in communication with the freshmen, I think we should all get through this with a minimum of hassle.” In order to get around main campus, a temporary one-way road on the south side of Forest Park Parkway between Skinker and Big Bend is open.
See METROLINK, page A4
STUDENT LIFE
Washington University is vying to host one of the 2004 Presidential Debates. The University is one of 13 sites that have submitted proposa ls to the ComOther debate host finalists mission on v Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Presidential v Belmont University, Nashville, TN Debates to v Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH be considv Centre College, Danville, KY ered as a v Columbus, GA and Columbus State potent ia l University location for v Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors one of the Bureau, Pittsburgh, PA debates. v National Public Radio This is v Rochester Institute of Technology, the fourth Rochester, NY consecutive v University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS time that v University of Miami, Miami, FL the Uni- v University of North Carolina at Charlotte versity has and the City of Charlotte, NC a p p e a r e d v University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC on the list v Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN of pos- v Washington University in St. Louis, MO sible sites. Presidential debates were previously held on campus in 1992 and 2000. Though the school was chosen as a site in 1996, due to former President Clinton’s scheduling confl icts, that debate was cancelled. In a statement, Chancellor Mark Wrighton
See DEBATE, page A2
Changes in the works for campus food Subway is moving and Bear’s Den is being renovated By Laura Vilines q Features Editor
BRENDAN WATSON
Construction workers begin the long process of digging up Forest Park Parkway. The new MetroLink line, which will have two stops on campus, is scheduled for completion by 2006.
One Brookings Drive #1039 #42 Women’s Building St. Louis, MO 63130
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Exams, homework and long lines at the Subway in Mallinckrodt are considered by some students to be among the most frustrating aspects of life at Washington University. Bon Appetit and food services are hoping to eliminate at least one of these problems, along with a variety of others, when they initiate several changes to food services for this coming academic year. Some of the more significant changes are the renovation of Bear’s Den and the move of Subway from the Mallinckrodt food court to the Rat (next door to Mallinckrodt in Umrath Hall), both of which are taking place this summer. Assistant Vice Chancellor of Students and Director of Operations Steve Hoffner explained the Subway move. “In Mallinckrodt, one of the problems, particularly in the noon hours, is crowding and perceived slow service,” said Hoffner. “We will be moving Subway out of the food court and into the space where The Rat is currently. Based on our sales information, the Rat is dead.” According to Hoffner, major changes are also taking place in Bear’s Den. The space is currently being renovated and merged with Ike’s Place. “There will be a new environment with new furnishings and new lighting,” said Hoffner. “We will be rearranging things to lessen
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See FOOD, page A4
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