STUDENT LIFE
Hop on over to Scene and find out more about the bunny statue. See Page 10.
THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSIT Y IN ST. LOUIS SINCE 1878 Vote or die. Be an informed voter this upcoming SU election. Candidate statements and issues explained inside. Pages 4 and 5.
Student Life endorses SU slate in upcoming exec elections—find out the who’s, what’s and why’s inside Forum. Page 6.
VOLUME 127, NO. 68
Bears baseball sweeps Knox College in Saturday’s games. Get the details inside today’s Sports. Page 8.
MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2006
WWW.STUDLIFE.COM
WU considers Subway slowdowns surveillance prompt efficiency study cameras v Eatery’s slow-moving lines draw the attention of one University stu-
dent and outside expertise is brought in to improve Subway service
By Jessie Rothstein
By Brittany Farb
Staff Reporter
Contributing Reporter
After much debate, the Student Union Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution supporting the implementation of closed-circuit television cameras on the University’s campus. While SU’s resolution technically establishes the student body’s endorsement of closed-circuit television (CCTV) use on campus, it does not ensure a definite future presence of this technology, or even a specific plan for its incorporation. First developed for bank security, CCTV technology involves a network of video surveillance cameras directly connected via cables. Throughout the past school year, University Chief of Police Don Strom has been engaged in various discussions regarding the implementation of CCTV, which he described as the, “logical next step in the use of technology on campus to enhance other policing efforts for safety and security.” Since the considerations of CCTV are not triggered by any one incident, Strom pointed out that, “it allows us to be more thoughtful in our discussion and not be in a panic mode as we proceed.” Serious discussions regarding this topic began last fall, when Strom met with Chancellor Wrighton and decided it was the right time to begin engaging others in the dialogue. Over the past few months, Strom has been speaking with various faculty and staff groups on campus, including the Faculty Senate Council, the Residential Advisory Board for the South 40 and the University Safety and Security Committee, concerning the viability of using CCTV. “What we’ve been trying to do is get a sense from people if they agree that it seems like a logical progression,” said Strom. During the six years that Strom has been the University’s chief of police, he has constantly received questions from students and parents alike as to why video cameras are not yet present on campus. A week after the resolution was presented to the Student Union Senate on March 22, the Senate voted to pass it. Most senators felt that security cameras would add the needed level of comfort on campus. The next step in the process will be the development of a comprehensive policy to guide the use of the cameras and an oversight committee that would be responsible for reviewing proposed sites for the cameras. Strom emphasized the fact that this oversight group will be responsible for making sure that the use of CCTV does not infringe on people’s personal privacy.
As hungry, hurried students enter Subway, the slowmoving, long lines often shoot down the possibility of enjoying a sandwich without a significant wait. “Waiting in line at Subway is like a shot in the dark,” said sophomore Tony Lett. “I’ve been late to many classes because I mistakenly thought I could make it in time.” When he transferred from the University of Florida last fall, Alex Sigal immediately realized that Subway’s system could stand to be improved. “When I came to Wash. U., after visiting the on campus Subway, I noticed the line was somewhat sluggish,” said DAVID HARTSTEIN | STUDENT LIFE Sigal. “The university from Students wait in line at the Subway on main campus Sunday afternoon. The Subway, with help from which I transferred was pushing about 44,000 students and student Alex Sigal, has called in a consulting team from the Subway at the University of Florida to has half the size of Subway [at increase efficiency. Wash. U.]. The number here in the Subway here, both answered with leen and David to campus to consult terms of students is smaller.” Suspecting that others might agree a resounding “yes,” adding that they for Subway.” Sigal then contacted Sergio Chayet, with him that something needed to be truly have a passion for getting sanddone to improve an inefficient system, wiches wrapped quickly and produc- professor of Operations and Manufacturing Management at the University’s Sigal has instigated an efficiency study tively. “David is manager and Kathleen Olin School of Business. Chayet readily project he hopes will shorten Subway’s has won numerous awards from com- agreed to assist with the project. lines. “One of the topics we cover in class Researchers have been observ- petitions held by Subway to time your ing the lines and workers at Subway speed as being the quickest sandwich is Queuing Theory, which is the mathematical study of waiting lines of people throughout the semester. After ana- wrapper,” said Sigal. With the Florida team’s agreement or production parts,” said Chayet. “Evlyzing the data, they will propose imto participate in the project under his eryone brings in the example of Subprovements for Subway to implement. Sigal’s fi rst step was contacting belt, Sigal then contacted the franchise way and how long the lines are, saying Kathleen and David Moses, the broth- owner of the Subway on campus, Loren something needs to be done.” Chayet assisted Sigal in developing er and sister Subway consulting team Grossman. “[Grossman] heard what I had to say the appropriate method of research at the University of Florida. When he asked them to take part in a project he and the services we could offer him,” See SUBWAY SUBJECT OF STUDY, page 2 hoped would increase the efficiency of said Sigal. “He agreed to bring Kath-
See SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS CONSIDERED, page 2
STUDENTS TAKE COVER DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER
Cultural groups show off their moves at ‘Dance Around the World’ show By Margy Levinson Contributing Reporter Ursa’s fi reside became the site of a world-wide remix yesterday when a variety of dance groups gathered to perform for “Dance Around the World,” a show hosted by Washington University’s Israeli dance group, Magniv. In years past, the show was called “Jewbilation,” but underwent a name change this year, it’s third year, to “Dance around the world,” to match the diversity of the groups performing. In the past, there has been a charge for the show, but the participants decided to make
the show free this year. “It’s kind of a way to work together for different things and to offer a great opportunity to see different cultures at once,” said Deborah Slutsky, the event’s organizer. “We just want it to grow and to see all these things we have on campus.” This year’s show included a variety of both campus and outside dance organizations. The Gallic Culture Society, the Hawaiian Club and step dance group WUStyle all made appearances. Visiting groups included a West African dance group and a local Israeli dance group called Hora Gil. Hora Gil, which performs tra-
ditional Israeli dances at events throughout St. Louis, includes several University alumni and current students. Members of Magniv often join Hora Gil during its open dance nights and therefore invited the group to “Dance Around the World.” Like the show itself, Hora Gil is a “potpourri” of cultures and influences, said Rachel Persellin-Armoza, a member of the group and a current University student getting her master’s degree in international studies. The group’s performance yesterday included traditional circle and line dances per-
See DANCE SHOW, page 8
Transgender community searches for place in campus life By Austen Faggen Contributing Reporter
DAVID HARTSTEIN | STUDENT LIFE
Students line the basement stacks late Sunday afternoon after a tornado warning was issued for St. Louis. Library staff asked students over the public address system to take to the basement. But for all the warnings, students didn’t express much worry. “It took long enough to build Olin,” senior Piya Mukherjee said as she huddled with a group of friends between shelves filled with videos. “It’s going to take a lot to knock it down.”
The first openly transgender candidate for Congress in the state of Missouri, Midge Potts, has become front-page news. “Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman was nominated by the Academy Awards for her performance as a transgender woman in “Transamerica.” This recent surge in awareness of the issues facing transgender people also seems to be present at Washington University, with some students criticizing the exclusion of transgender students’ needs in Residential Life’s housing policies.
“Bryan,” who asked that his real name not be used, knows first-hand what life on campus is like for transgender people. Bryan was born as a woman but now identifies sometimes as a man. An alumnus of the University, he now works here as a staff member. Bryan appreciates Transamerica. Although he feels Huffman unduly, “exaggerated her character’s awkwardness,” he is amazed that there was a relatively mainstream movie “where the transperson doesn’t die or kill anyone.” But despite the recent exposure, “The whole transgender ‘thing’ is really far removed from most people’s experience—people just don’t
want to see it,” said Bryan. Definitions of the term “transgender” are varied, Bryan explained. “A transgender person can be visibly gender variant or a person who is physically transitioning…or neither or a combination,” he said. Safe Zones, an educational group that promotes awareness of gay, genderqueer, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, questioning, queer, intersex, asexual, and ally (GLBTQIA) issues, defines as transgender any “person whose gender identity does not match the gender they were assigned at birth,
See TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, page 2