F R I D A Y APRIL 23, 2004 Vol. 125, No. 76
Showers 68° / 54° w w w. s t u d l i f e . c o m
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 SWA letter gets mixed reaction MEDITATION CREATION
Melissa Langdon checks out the new exhibiti at the City Museum—a Medicine Buddha Sand Mandata— Jenny Perkins reviews Jennifer Garner’s new movie ‘13 Going on 30,’ and a new installment of Making WUpee.
PAGE 3 TRACK HEADS TO PITTSBURGH
By Sarah Kliff q Contributing Editor Washington University faculty members have shown mixed reactions to a recently circulated letter asking for support for the Student Worker Alliance’s living wage campaign. The letter, signed by four University professors, urged the rest of the faculty to add their names to the petition so that the Student Worker Alliance (SWA) can “present [the list] as evidence of growing sentiment [at the University] in favor of just, fair treatment of all those who work on our campus, whether directly hired or employed by a service contractor.” History Professor Howard Brick is one faculty member who signed the letter. While Brick has no official affiliation with the SWA, he feels it is important that both he and the rest of the faculty lend them support. “These are issues for the University community at large,” said Brick. “[The]
faculty [has] a role to play and positions to take on issues such as justice and fairness. The letter is intended to make faculty aware of the issues of subcontracted work conditions. From here, the faculty can become more involved to take other measures. They can play a role in future, [doing] whatever is necessary until the administration pays attention.” As of Wednesday afternoon, the letter had received 30 signatures of support. Garland Allen, a biology professor, was another faculty member who added his name to the SWA’s list. “Why wouldn’t anybody support [a campaign for a living wage]?” said Allen. “The whole idea of a living wage is pretty critical. Any university that has this much money cannot…say it’s not the University’s responsibility because of outsourcing. How could we not support the people who play such an important role? It always bothers me when people making $70,000 or $80,000 are so swift to tell other people that they don’t de-
serve these wages.” Allen noted that our campus would not be the first to enforce a living wage. Schools such as Saint Louis University, Wesleyan University and Harvard University have recently done so. “We can’t hide behind the fact that there is no precedent,” said Allen. “St. Louis [University] has a living wage ordinance. Even if we are not obliged to follow it, I can’t imagine how anyone with good conscience couldn’t. We hold the trump card with these employers. We can tell a company we won’t hire them if they don’t support a living wage.” Not all faculty members are so adamant about benefits of the proposed actions. Andrew Rehfeld, assistant professor of political science, is undecided about whether he will sign the letter or not. His main concerns stem from the public policy aspects of the situation. “What [the SWA is] looking at as the big
SWA Letter v Letter asks for
support for the Student Worker Alliance’s living wage campaign v Initially signed
by four University professors, now has more than 30 signatures v Other universi-
ties with a living wage include St. Louis University, Wesleyan University and Harvard University
See SWA LETTER, page 2
Photos transform Mallinckrodt basement Photojournalism class returns from hiatus in a big way By Justin Choi q Assistant News Editor
The track team prepares for a trip to Carnegie Mellon, tennis takes on Principia College, the softball team begins the weekend with a rainout against Illinois College, and a new I Don’t Roll on Shabbos.
PAGE 10 STUDENT SNAPSHOT do you plan to Q: How celebrate Spring WILD? Rocking out to Live and A: A.simulataneously reliving my early adolescent angst that their deep music helped me to alleviate. B. I plan to celebrate it the same way I always celebrate—hanging out with friends, lounging on a couch in the quad, projectile vomiting by the port-a-potties, and reaching a state of complete unconsciousness by 9 p.m. C. I’m going to follow the advice of that wise man and his faithful bird, “The more she drinks, the better you look.” I hope that girl in my bio class likes Natty Light. D. I’m not going to WILD. I heard that there is drinking there and when it comes to intoxicating substances, I just say no. I’ll stay at home with my apple juice and listen to the Osmonds Greatest Hits. Check out studlife.com
INDEX Cadenza Forum Calendar Sports
pages 3-4 pages 5-6 page 7 page 9-10
After a ten-year hiatus, University College once again offered a photojournalism course for the Spring 2004 semester. Taught by Wendi Fitzgerald, the three-credit 300 -level course was a breeding ground for the photographic renditions now on display in the Schoenberg Gallery on Mallinckrodt Center’s lower level. The exhibit will remain open through the end of this term, featuring selections of student work from throughout the semester. Enrollment in the class was particularly diverse this semester. Some of Fitzgerald’s students are pursuing majors in business, others in language, and one is enrolled in the School of Medicine. The students also varied in their level of exposure to photography and its specific characteristics. Senior Melissa Seror, one of the students in Fitzgerald’s class, attested to the diversity of students taking photojournalism. “I myself am a photography minor, and there are people in the class who have never picked up a camera before,” Seror said. “So even though everyone’s at a different level [of experience], everybody can still learn from each other.” There was also considerable variation in the equipment each student used to complete his or her shooting assignments. Students were only required to have access to 35 mm cameras with interchangeable lenses and a flash, or else a digital equivalent. The differences in hardware weren’t a prob-
Top: Chase Fancher’s “Looking in Window.” Right: The hammocks on the South 40 offer inspiration to freshman Jennifer Jason. Both photos are on display in the lower level of Mallinckrodt as part of Wendi Fitzgerald’s University College Photojournalism class.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WENDI FITZGERLAD
lem to Fitzgerald, however, who wanted the class to focus on the concepts behind a good picture, not mastery of photographic equipment or technique. “It wasn’t about who had the best camera; it was about the concept of taking good pictures,” Fitzgerald said. “Some really good pictures were taken with some really cheesy cameras. A couple of the pictures looked very pixelated, but they [are] very artistic.”
Fitzgerald also explained that she wanted her students to transcend the technological aspect of photojournalism and grasp the conceptual side of things. The class was structured such that eight shooting assignments were intertwined with guest speakers, constructive criticism, and an oral presentation of various works by professional photographers. Each shooting as-
See PHOTOS, page 2
Six honored for dedication to serving others By Michael Parks q News Editor Six members of the Washington University community, both past and current, were presented with the University’s first annual Sesquicentennial Ethic of Service Award last night. The award honors those who exemplify a character of service and contribution to the St. Louis community. The award winners this year included two undergraduate students, Linda Esah and Juliet DiLeo; a graduate student, Edy Yong Kim; and three professionals, Sanford Silverstein, W. Edwin Dodson, and G. Scott Robison. DiLeo said that she was glad that the University has decided to create an award honoring service in the St. Louis community and was excited to meet the other award winners. “I’m very pleased that the University has chosen to honor these sort of activities. I don’t think anyone who received this award did it for the recognition, so it’s nice that the University is recognizing the work they have done,” said DiLeo
STUDENT LIFE
before the awards ceremony. “I’m just can’t wait to meet these people because they all sound like such amazing people.” DiLeo received the award primarily for her work with Each One Teach One, a community service program that provides tutoring for students living in the city of St. Louis. DiLeo joined Each One Teach One as a tutor in her freshmen year, and later became the coordinator of the program. “I joined because my LAUNCH coordinator freshmen year, Glenn Davis, was actually the coordinator of Each One Teach One. He told me about it, and I thought, ‘Hey, this sounds like a good way to get off of campus, meet some new people, and hang out with kids.’ But as I got to see more of how the system worked, I realized that the school system just really wasn’t fair for these kids,” said DiLeo. DiLeo’s realization eventually led her to apply for the coordinator position for Each One Teach One. Now, as a senior, DiLeo plans to follow a career path that will al-
See SERVICE, page 2
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Recipients of the first annual Sesquicentennial Ethic of Service Award. The award was given out to honor those who exemplify a character of service and contribution to the St. Louis community.
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