STAFF EDITORIAL | FORUM FLASHBACK: PELL GRANTS | SEE FORUM, PAGE 4
STUDENT LIFE
THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS SINCE 1878 VOLUME 129, NO. 52
On Super Tuesday, new voters find their voice BY EMILY WASSERMAN CONTRIBUTING REPORTER In the midst of the closest presidential nomination campaign in recent memory, this week’s Super Tuesday primary contests were among the most crucial in the long run to the White House. For the fi rst time in some of their lives, many Washington University students voted in Missouri on Tuesday, influencing the closest primary in the entire nation; Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama of Illinois won by about 10,000 votes and Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain of Arizona won by about 8,700 votes. Junior Alpa Banker experienced her fi rst time at the polls on Tuesday morning. Like many, she braved an early morning wake-up call to beat the crowds and secure her place in line. While Banker initially debated which candidate she would vote for, she always knew she would participate in Super Tuesday. “When I got to the polling place and looked around, I got a little teary-eyed. It’s so cheesy, but I felt like I was officially a ‘grown-up,’ performing my ‘civic duty’ and whatnot,” said Banker. “Afterwards, I felt like I made the right decision. I accidentally woke my parents up when I called them to tell them that I had voted for the fi rst time. It was so early but I think they were kind of proud and amused by my excitement.” Despite an overwhelming presence on campus of Students for Barack Obama, new
CONTRIBUTING REPORTER Amid skyrocketing college tuition costs nationwide, the Bush administration proposed Monday to increase federal fi nancial aid in the form of Pell Grants by 33 percent. The plan calls for a fiveyear increase in the maximum Pell Grant, a principal source of fi nancial aid awarded to some 5.3 million students with family incomes of less than $40,000 a year. The proposed budget would increase the maximum award given from $4,050 to $5,400. To counteract the rising cost of the higher loans, the administration has suggested cutting back interest rate subsidies for private lenders. “There needs to be more investment in higher education,” said Luke Swarthout, a Public Interest Research Group advocate for higher education. “This is a modest increase.” Swarthout noted that the increase in Pell Grant funding would be taken from other fi-
Shriner hospital set to relocate to medical school campus BY PERRY STEIN NEWS EDITOR
LUCY MOORE | STUDENT LIFE
Members of Students for Barack Obama encourage students to make the attempt to vote in the afternoon on Super Tuesday, Feb. 5 in Mallinckrodt. Many students, drawn by the closeness of the current presidential race, made an effort to go to the polls Tuesday to cast their votes in Missouri’s presidential primary. voters expressed a commitment to casting their vote in the primary process regardless of party affi liation. “I think it’s important for everyone to vote,” said sophomore Katie Garland. “Especially for new voters, I think it’s important to get in the habit of voting and being involved in politics. As we learn and grow in college, it seems vital to question the political atmosphere we grew up in and assert our own beliefs.” Also, students who already resided in Missouri before Super Tuesday felt the weight of their vote, as Missouri is historically a swing state in the polls. Freshman Erin Meyer of Columbia, Mo. decided to vote for the fi rst time on Tuesday
Bush proposes increase Pell Grant program BY DANIEL WOZNICA
WWW.STUDLIFE.COM
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2008
nancial aid programs. Of the 60 percent of Washington University students who receive some form of fi nancial aid, 11 percent are Pell Grant recipients. “If the president’s proposal becomes a reality, these students will see a proportional increase in their Pell Grant amount,” said Bill Witbrodt, the University’s director of Student Financial Services. “I would like to see the Pell Grant increased. An increase in the Pell Grant is long overdue.” The maximum Pell Grant has not been increased since 2003, even as tuition prices have infl ated nationwide over the past 10 years. According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition plus room and board at public universities rose 35 percent between 2001 and 2006, more than at any other point in the previous 30 years. At private universities, tuition increased by an average of 11 percent during the
See PELL GRANT, page 2
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because of Missouri’s pattern of changing its party alliance. “I’ve lived in Missouri my whole life, so I’ve seen how arbitrary the election process is here,” said Meyer. “I was happy I got to vote for this fi rst time in such an important election, an election where I knew my vote would actually make a difference. Voter registration was annoying, but the actual process was really rewarding.” Meyer was not the only Wash. U. student to fi nd the voting process taxing. Sophomore Natacha Lam appreciated the volunteers who allowed students to vote on the South 40. Another fi rst time primary voter, she was one of many students who dealt with a haphazard polling location
on campus. “The voter registration volunteers meant to do well, but overall they were heavily unorganized,” said Lam. “Every student at the Friedman Center was in one line, and there were no signs to separate us by last name. I was in line for 20 minutes before I got my ballot.” Despite long lines, early risings and tedious registration, students across campus managed to mobilize to a polling place. “I feel it’s important for everyone to vote, not just people our age,” said sophomore Zach Ernst. “It’s a right our ancestors fought hard for and a right many people don’t have, so it’s important that you take advantage of that right.”
Opened in 1924 on the Washington University School of Medicine’s campus and subsequently moved, the Shriners Hospital for Children fi nalized a deal with the University that will once again relocate the hospital to campus grounds. “There is an ongoing partnership between the two organizations. This [relocation] will only solidify it even further,” said Tammy Robbins, director of public and community relations at Shriners Hospital. The project is set to begin construction in spring 2009, with Shriners paying all of the construction costs. While the partnership logistics are not yet fi nalized, Shriners Hospital will be operating independently from the University and anticipates future research collaboration with University faculty. The research interests will mainly focus in the area of bone, muscle and nerve development and disease. “By moving to the medical center campus, Shriners Hospital will be in a research-rich environment that lets their investigators have easier access to the University’s faculty and facilities for joint projects,” wrote Don Clayton, associate vice chancellor and executive director for medical public affairs, in an e-mail. The University sold 3.75 acres to Shriners for its new 147,000-square-foot hospital set in a highly visible location overlooking Interstate 64. The hospital will have one
BEARS ON RECORD HOME STREAK
floor entirely devoted to research. This translates into an increased opportunity for students to become involved in hands-on research in the professional field. “In the past, we have certainly had that relationship with Wash. U. as far as having interns in our hospital,” said Robbins. Freshman and pre-med student Lily Kuo said that she and other pre-med students are always excited about the prospect of having more research opportunities available to them. “I think that it is a really good opportunity for a lot of the pre-med students because there are so many of them here,” said Quo. “I know a lot of students who would be interested in research opportunities on the medical campus.” Another children’s hospital, St Louis Children’s, is already located on campus, but Clayton said the two would only complement each other. “The proximity to St. Louis Children’s Hospital is an advantage, too, since Wash. U. pediatric specialists also are on the medical staff there, and sometimes patients need to be transferred from one facility to another,” wrote Clayton in the e-mail. Both the University and Shriners anticipate a relatively seamless transition with this move because 35 University physicians already work on Shriners’ medical staff. “Several specialties are ac-
See SHRINER, page 2
Education linked to Alzheimer’s onset BY JOHN SCOTT STAFF REPORTER
LIONEL SOBEHART | STUDENT LIFE
Freshman Spencer Gay drives the baseline in a game against Case Western Reserve University. The Bears will try to continue their school-record 24-game home winning streak Friday night against Carnegie Mellon University. The team will be looking for revenge this weekend after losing by three to Rochester in overtime and being blown away by Carnegie Mellon last week.
The Sex Issue is coming.... Only five days left until the fourth annual Student Life Sex Issue. Be sure to pick up a copy next week and get the scoop on the campus sex scene. Next Wednesday, February 13, 2008
INSIDE: Cadenza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Forum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
A new study from the Washington University School of Medicine shows that Alzheimer’s disease is detected at an earlier age in patients with higher education, suggesting that patients with more years of education are more likely to notice that they have the disease at an earlier age. “We think the reasons might be that people with higher levels of education might have the types of jobs or be involved in particular activities that would highlight some problems,” said Catherine Roe, the lead author of the study and a research instructor in neurology. “We looked at the age people fi rst reported having symptoms, and the age was lower for people who have more education.” According to Roe, the trend seems to contradict popular notions of Alzheimer’s disease. “Usually, if you have a high education, you are at less risk,” she said. “It’s the opposite of
See ALZHEIMER’S, page 2
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Friday, February 8 Lunar New Year Festival
Copyright 2008 Editor in Chief: Erin Fults Executive Editor: David Brody Managing Editors: Shweta Murthi, Mallory Wilder Senior News Editor: Sam Guzik Senior Forum Editor: Nathan Everly Senior Cadenza Editor: Brian Stitt Senior Scene Editor: Meghan Luecke Senior Sports Editor: Trisha Wolf Senior Photo Editor: David Hartstein Senior Graphics Editor: Rachel Harris News Editors: Perry Stein, Ben Sales, Puneet Kollipara News Manager: Teddy White Forum Editors: Altin Sila, Jill Strominger, Christian Sherden, Dennis Sweeney Cadenza Editors: Elizabeth Ochoa, David Kaminsky, Cecilia Razak, Michelle Stein Scene Editors: Lana Goldsmith, Kate Gallagher Sports Editors: Johann Qua Hiansen, Unaiz Kabani, Josh Goldman Photo Editors: Lucy Moore, Lionel Sobehart, Jenny Shao Online Editor: Scott Bressler Design Chief: Anna Dinndorf Design Editors: Dennis Sweeney, Zoe Scharf, Brittany Meyer Copy Chief: Brian Krigsher Copy Editors: Jonathan Baude, Shamima Hossain, Kat Zhao Designers: Jamie Reed, Kate Ehrlich, Kim Yeh, Susan Hall, Liz Klein, Niki Dankner, Alyssa Anzalone-Newman, Sophia Agapova, Evan Freedman, Chris Maury, Courtney LeGates, Mia Feitel, Joe Rigodanzo General Manager: Andrew O’Dell Advertising Manager: Sara Judd
Come and watch this year’s Lunar New Year Festival performance (full of great live acting, dancing and music) to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Rat. The performance will be on Friday, Feb. 8 and Saturday, Feb. 9, beginning at 7 p.m. at Edison Theatre on both nights. Tickets are available for $8 from the Edison Theatre box office. Think Pink Basketball Games Support the Wash. U. Bears and breast cancer awareness as the women’s team takes on Carnegie Mellon at 6 p.m. and the men take on Carnegie Mellon at 8 p.m. The first 500 Wash. U. students will receive a free pink T-shirt and free Think Pink bracelets. Free breakfast provided at Sunday’s games by Red Alert with the men’s game against No. 3 Rochester at 11:30 a.m. and the women’s game against No. 7 Rochester at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 9 Senior Directing Thesis Performances Two student-directed performances will take the stage at the A.E. Hotchner theatre. The two plays, “Mud” and “The Lesson,” have no charge for admission. There are performances Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Sunday, February 10 Bal Hanuman Screening
Copyright 2007 Washington University Student Media, Inc. (WUSMI). Student Life is the financially and editorially independent, student-run newspaper serving the Washington University community. First copy of each publication is free; all additional copies are 50 cents. Subscriptions may be purchased for $80.00 by calling (314) 935-6713. Student Life is a publication of WUSMI and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the Washington University administration, faculty or students. All Student Life articles, photos and graphics are the property of WUSMI and may not be reproduced or published without the express written consent of the General Manager. Pictures and graphics printed in Student Life are available for purchase; e-mail editor@studlife.com for more information. Student Life reserves the right to edit all submissions for style, grammar, length and accuracy. The intent of submissions will not be altered. Student Life reserves the right not to publish all submissions. If you’d like to place an ad, please contact the Advertising Department at (314) 935-6713.
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 8, 2008
Atma, the Hindu Student Association, will be presenting a contemporary film about Hindu mythology meant to be both educational and fun. Bal Hanuman is a film that tells the story of Hanuman, a Hindu monkey god, from his childhood and beyond. Free food and pizza will be available to all those who attend. The screening will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday in the Mudd Common Room.
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tive at Shriners, including orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, neurologists and other surgical and pediatric specialties,” wrote Clayton. This deal also marks another accomplishment for the University, making it the official home of four inpatient hospitals— Shriners, St. Louis Children’s, Barnes-Jewish and the St. Louis Rehabilitation Institute. Ultimately, Robbins said that Shriners looks forward to continuing its mission on the Wash. U. Medical School campus. “We are very excited about this opportunity,” said Robbins. “It will give us the opportunity to continue the kind of state-of-the-art care that we are known for here. We are dedicated to improving the lives of children.”
DAVID HARTSTEIN | STUDENT LIFE
PELL GRANTS ALZHEIMER’S v FROM PAGE 1 v FROM PAGE 1 what you would think.” study does not indicate same time span. “Going to college shouldn’t be something that’s only afforded to people from high income families,” said sophomore Erin Kane. “I get a good portion of my tuition as fi nancial aid. Without it, I wouldn’t be here. Between money for tuition and going to school far away, it turns into a lot for my family.” According to the College Board, Pell Grants covered 33 percent of the average cost of tuition and room and board at a public university last year, compared to approximately 42 percent in the 2001-2002 academic year and about 60 percent 20 years ago. In response to concerns that increasing tuition costs are keeping lower and middleclass students from attending elite private universities, Harvard University announced last December that it will be overhauling its fi nancial aid program for the 2008-2009 academic year. Harvard will spend an additional $22 million on aid so that families earning up to $180,000 a year will only have to pay up to 10 percent of their respective incomes on college. “That sounds like a great idea to me,” said freshman Bennet Goeckner. “It’d be nice if Wash. U. could do something like that.”
Roe said that the researchers inferred that the patients with more education had noticed the symptoms earlier. “People reported [symptoms] earlier when they had higher education, but we also found that when they came to the Alzheimer’s Disease Center for the first time, their symptoms were less severe,” said Roe. According to Roe, there are several reasons why people with more education might be identified having Alzheimer’s sooner. “They might have more money, so they might see their doctor more regularly anyway,” she said. The study also divided the individuals between those born before or after 1920. According to Roe, the division was based on previous studies and the fact that knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease improves significantly over time, influencing when people notice their symptoms. “Awareness of Alzheimer’s disease has really changed,” said Roe. “As time has gone on, there has been more and more awareness of Alzheimer’s disease on the part of both the public and the part of physicians. The actual age of onset is probably the same, but the age at recognition is earlier.” According to Roe, the
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whether education influences the risk that an individual will develop Alzheimer’s. “This says nothing about risk,” said Roe. “In fact, other studies show that the more education you have, the more you are able to keep functioning cognitively, even when you have Alzheimer’s pathology.” Data was taken from the University as well as 30 Alzheimer’s disease centers around the country. “[Participants] had more education than most Americans on average,” said Roe. “We don’t know how representative it is of the whole population.” Roe also said that the study could allow preventative efforts to be targeted more specifically. “I think one of the most important points of this study is that maybe there are some people who are slipping through the cracks,” she said. “The people themselves don’t notice they are having these symptoms. When physicians are interviewing somebody for the potential for dementia, they may have to ask questions that are more individualized to the person instead of giving them a standard test.” Roe said that it is important to detect Alzheimer’s disease as early as possible in order for treatments to have the maximum effect. “There are medications that can slow down [Alzheimer’s] for some people,” she said. “There is a lot of research going on right now. There’s a lot being learned every year. Hopefully, soon they’ll find a way to cure it. When they do that, it’s going to be very important to catch it and treat it at the earliest stage.” According to Roe, the available drugs are most beneficial early because they can only slow the progression, not reverse it. “You can slow it down, but you can’t go backwards,” said Roe. Freshman Becca Dirks said that this research is very important. “Every disease deserves research,” she said. “Alzheimer’s is difficult for both the people who have it and their families. Without research there is no chance of finding a cure.”
Senior Cadenza Editor / Brian Stitt / cadenza@studlife.com
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 8, 2008
CADEN Z A
STUDENT LIFE | CADENZA
3
n. a technically brilliant, sometimes improvised solo passage toward the close of a concerto, an exceptionally brilliant part of an artistic work
arts & entertainment
ALBUM REVIEW
Vince Vaughn: the Not-So-Wild West Lenny Kravitz: ‘It Is Time For A Love Revolution’ BY PERCY OLSEN
CADENZA REPORTER
BY STEVE HARDY CADENZA REPORTER Maybe Lenny Kravitz deserves more credit than I’m ready to give him. After all, in “It Is Time For A Love Revolution,” he has stretched about 47 seconds of material into nearly 75 minutes. Don’t be fooled by his appearance; Lenny’s about as white bread as musicians come. It’s not that the songs sound like each other; it’s that each song relies on the same four-bar loop throughout. If you know what a fi ll is, you’ll probably want to skip this new offering. My favorite part of this tedium is his frequent tendency to play for two or three minutes, insert a dramatic pause and then resume playing the same line again. The line, by the way, will either be a ‘70s blues-funk lick clumsily lifted from Clapton or the like or a heavy-handed stomp. However, at least these tracks are all listenable for their toe-tappability for about five minutes; interspersed are a few unfortunate piano ballads and sappy slow jams (“A Long, Slow Goodbye,” “A New Door”) which should be avoided like, well, a sappy slow jam. To his credit, Lenny does pull out an impressive solo every few tracks. However, they are impressive in that they are all so uniformly unimaginative and simple. You’ve probably heard the blues riffs before, and Lenny’s popified versions are not
fresh or impressive enough to make them better than any other guitarist’s. “Bring It On” is a legitimately strong track with fun guitar worth the price of the single but not the whole CD. Moreover, Lenny’s default vocal style lacks the urgency which many of his subjects— proposal, father issues and relationships with God, to name a few—seem to demand. When he wants to emote, he too often chooses to settle for his growl-shout. The worst offense is “Good Morning,” in which Lenny apparently couldn’t decide which route to follow and ends up doubling his chill singing with offpitch caterwauling. I’m almost inclined to call this one of the best comedic tracks I’ve ever heard, in which Lenny wails, “Would you like to get a bagel?” over a score with violins. Somewhere, James Brown just rolled in his grave. “I’m ready to take on this world, to rock steady!” sings Lenny in “Bring It On.” I’m ready for you to rock too, Len. Lenny Kravitz It Is Time For A Love Revolution Rating: ★★✩✩✩ For fans of: If you don’t know what Lenny sounds like yet, go back under your rock for another decade. Tracks to Download: “Bring It On,” “If You Want It”
No offense to the Vaughnman (Maughn?), but maybe it’s time he take a teensy break. After tricking fans everywhere into seeing “The Break-Up” and ruining my Christmas with “Fred Claus,” (my mom still hasn’t forgiven me for dragging her to that pile), you have to think his sloshy shtick is getting stretched a little too thin. I was relieved when the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) told me that his new film wasn’t coming out until November, leaving my next few months thankfully Vaughn-free. Unfortunately, life moves at its own beat and Vaughn’s newest assault comes from a very unlikely place, or should I say, time? Filmed in 2005, “Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days and 30 Nights— Hollywood to the Heartland,” a high-strung, groggy road trip, at times, provides human insight into the comedians’ world. If only it were funnier. In a radio interview shown near the beginning of the film, Vaughn laments that all the best comedy clubs and shows are far away from Middle Americans, located mainly in the metropolises (the New Yorks, the Los Angeli). He wants his up-and-coming comedians to find their true paths and discover themselves. He also wants the people of the heartland, his people, to have a good laugh. And while positive reactions from the tour’s audiences point toward Vaughn’s success in this area, he goes against his own policy by delivering a wholly unfunny movie that requires a road trip to complete. Much like the length, title
and production time, the cast seems to go on for miles, too. The main focus is on the four undiscovered comedians whom Vaughn has taken under his embattled wing. It’s slightly ironic that Vaughn is pushing so hard to have his little comedians discovered, and yet his name is the only one seen in the title. Still, he is their venerable Yoda, perpetually waiting for his wide-eyed pupils to blossom, and the cream does rise. Particularly, Ahmed Ahmed shows the most comedic talent on stage. He masterfully plays his own heritage, and America’s view of his heritage, into his act, delivering the most laughs. His back-story is as haunting as it is hilarious. He tells his stories of racial profiling with such ironic deadpan that you can’t help but laugh at the perverted decisionmakers up in Washington. Bret Ernst and Sebastian Maniscalco represent the middle-tier of the comedians. They’re both very physical, but in different ways. Ernst prefers very loud, bold movements to which not everybody can relate, but all will find it funny. His impression of the “cool rollerskater” (if there is such a thing) is perfect. Maniscalco prefers fluid movements that are observational of how normal people act. Normally a full-time waiter, Maniscalco is the kid in the candy shop and is always eager to snatch another laugh. This brings us to the worst. The absolute worst: Larry the Cable Guy mini-me John Caparulo (known as “Cap”). Cap is not funny. Cap is irritating. Cap has no stage presence. Cap’s jokes are crass and stupid. It’s sad that people found Cap funny. Let’s never speak of him
MCT
Vince Vaughn enters the 2006 Oscars. again. The movie switches back and forth between the comedians’ stage acts and their lives. Ahmed’s is very interesting, but the drop-off from there is astonishing. The “Wild West” spends far too much of its time (about half) on the very uninteresting backgrounds of the other comedians and too little time on the truly important parts. There’s a scene where Vaughn and his producers decide to put on a benefit show to cheer up Hurricane Katrina victims. A stellar idea, for sure, but the four “kids” ruin the moment. They complain
about having to wake up early, about having to sleep in hotels and about having to hand out free tickets to the displaced families. Vaughn may think his comedians are shedding their superficial ways when they half apologize for the cameras later on, but maybe we’re all just getting tired. Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show Rating: ★★✬✩✩ Starring: Vince Vaughn, Ahmed Ahmed
GENer0uSLY G0urMEt.
CENTRAL & FORSYTH
4
Senior Forum Editor / Nathan Everly / forum@studlife.com
STUDENT LIFE | FORUM
FORUM
Our daily Forum editors: Monday: Christian Sherden Wednesday: Jillian Strominger Friday: Altin Sila ctsherde@artsci.wustl.edu jlstromi@artsci.wustl.edu asila@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.
FORUM FLASHBACK
Scrooge-approved financial aid On Monday, President Bush released his 2009 federal budget that outlines a five-year increase in the maximum Pell Grant from $4,050 to $5,400. Regrettably, this budget also cuts back or eliminates dozens of other government educational grant programs targeting low-income and minority students. This reminds us of a staff editorial written on Dec. 10, 2004, which criticized Congress for approving a bill that capped the maximum grant amount for a Pell Grant. While the maximum Pell Grant has risen since this was written, the issues that this editorial discusses—the importance of need-based financial aid programs and the difficulty associated with paying for college—are still relevant today: Congress has done the nation a great disservice by approving a bill that could result in cuts to Pell Grants. The grants, which are usually awarded to lower-income college students, were capped at $4,050 for the third year in a row, ignoring the realities of inflation and soaring tuition costs.
This change has been in the works since the summer of 2003, when it was buried in a huge omnibus bill. After opposition from [former] Senator Jon Corzine, D-N.J., the change was suspended for a year in December of 2003. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi claims she only supported the bill to keep the federal government operating. What’s really changing isn’t Pell Grant funding directly, but the formula the government uses to determine Pell Grant eligibility. Experts say that up to 90,000 students will lose their Pell Grants, while about a million students will have their grants cut by an average of $300. Moreover, many states and private aid agencies use the federal formula to calculate aid eligibility, so many students will be doubly penalized from the Pell formula changes. As part of the omnibus, Missouri is getting some pork funding (literally): the bill gives the Show-Me state $50,000 for feral hog control. Missouri lawmakers clearly didn’t bring home enough bacon, though; the $50,000 is a tiny fraction of
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 8, 2008
the $60 million of pork in the omnibus. And compared to the $23 billion in pork Congress allocated for fiscal year 2004 (according to Citizens Against Government Waste), that $60 million is barely a warm-up for what we can expect from Congress this year. Four thousand dollars may not seem like much compared to the University’s $40,000 sticker price, but it means an awful lot to those who can barely afford to come here as it is. We’re not holding our breath, but Congress still has the chance to do no harm by not changing Pell Grant funding. Better yet, it can do the right thing by adjusting Pell funding upwards to reflect the rising cost of higher education. The University has pledged to make up the losses for the eight percent of students who get Pell Grants. In fact, Student Financial Services is sensitive to all fluctuations in circumstance. This is a great policy, since it ensures that unexpected surprises (like the Pell Grant cuts) don’t prevent the neediest from finishing their education at one of the nation’s best
universities. Unfortunately, this policy only works because of the University’s substantial endowment and financial aid expenditures; students at less affluent universities will feel the hit. However, as Erika Simmons alleges in her letter to the editor, the University’s financial aid policy may not be great to begin with. There still are students who can barely afford to study here, and our admissions are shockingly (for an institution of this caliber) not need-blind. The University, one of the wealthiest in the country, has the money to be more generous in financial aid; all it takes is a shifting of priorities. As much as we love the new buildings, the money could be much better spent keeping students out of the poverty Simmons lived in. In the holiday spirit, we’d like to see the University and Congress pledge to cast off their Scrooge policies of financial aid. Even if that means holding a building back. People are more important than construction projects.
RACHEL TEPPER | EDITORIAL CARTOON
Gonzales, the next Ahmadinejad? BY ANDREW WEISBERG STAFF COLUMNIST
T
here seems to be a new trend amongst the nation’s top colleges of inviting unpopular-yet-recognizable political figures to speak. Last September, Columbia University President Lee Bollinger invited Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak to students in an effort to facilitate informed debate by “confronting ideas.” President Ahmadinejad’s visit prompted student protest, controversy, and much reflection on the importance and true nature of free speech. Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ upcoming visit has had many of the same effects on Washington University’s own campus. Already my inbox is fi lled with Facebook invites to go and hear Mr. Gonzales speak, as well as numerous invitations to stand outside and protest his visit entirely. While I am unsure whether I will go to the speech or not, I would nonetheless like to commend the Assembly Series speakers committee for sparking debate and student interest by bringing a nationally recognized figure to our campus. The speaker series is often full of names that few students recognize, and rarely includes figures that students have adamant feelings about. Although the subject of Mr. Gonzales’ speech is the relatively straightforward topic of civil service, his visit has shown the power of bringing controversial figures to campus by renewing student debate over the Bush Administration’s controversial detainee and wiretapping policies. Such debate is perhaps the most important benefit of bringing speakers like Mr. Gonzales to campus. It provides students who were previously uninformed on these issues with an invaluable opportunity to educate themselves and gives politically aware students an opportunity to listen to other points of view. What disappoints me, however, is that the controversy over Mr. Gonzales’ visit prompted Student Union to fund a protest against his visit so that they could appear politically neutral. While I understand how difficult it is to appear politically evenhanded when bringing such a polarizing figure to campus, there were many more productive options for evening the political score at their disposal. This previous Founders Day, for example, the University brought prominent Democratic strategist James Carville
to speak on campus. Rather than having only Mr. Carville speak, however, the University also paid for his wife, Republican strategist Mary Matalin, to speak as well. Hearing both of them speak was much more informative than just hearing one point of view, and it propelled political discussion on campus in a truly evenhanded manner. Student Union took a truly commendable stance about political open-mindedness when they agreed to subsidize the costs of bringing a controversial figure like Mr. Gonzales to campus. By fi nancing a protest rather than bringing a second speaker as a counterpoint to Mr. Gonzales, however, they risk abandoning their principled respect for the freedom of speech and succumbing to public pressure. I would be greatly disappointed to see Mr. Gonzales’ visit turn from an atmosphere of respect into a forum for unproductive intolerance, like President Ahmadinejad’s did when Columbia President Lee Bollinger introduced him as a “cruel and petty dictator.” Don’t get me wrong. I very much believe that political open-mindedness is a two-way street, and that students have every right to protest speakers that Washington University brings to campus regardless of how that impacts the University’s public image. Like it or not, Mr. Gonzales is an important figure in today’s political arena: a true patriot to some and a law-breaking criminal to others. A single student protest will do little to determine the Bush administration’s legacy, but if conducted disrespectfully it will undermine the principles of political respect and tarnish the University’s reputation for years to come. In these politically fueled weeks of protest, speeches and presidential primaries, it is crucial that we continue to respect one another regardless of whether our political views align. The greatest respect that you can show for the political system is politely participating in it, whether that means going to Mr. Gonzales’ speech in any capacity or simply taking the time to watch a debate and become better informed on the issues. The freedom of speech and political participation are rights that we are very lucky to have, and I think it’s time that we start showing it the respect that it deserves. Andrew is a sophomore in Arts & Sciences and a staff columnist. He can be reached via e-mail at ajweisbe@wustl.edu.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Campus safety issues distressing Dear Editor: I am the parent of a Wash. U. sophomore who lives in a dorm on the South 40. I regularly read Student Life online and was shocked and distressed to read about the Jan. 18 robbery outside a dorm close to the one in which my son resides. This incident reminded me of the dread I
felt when I read about the rape of a student last year, also by a non-student on the campus. My son told me that, after the incident last evening, there was a patrol car with a guard, with headlights on, parked in front of the dorm where this incident occurred which remained there until at least the middle of the night. Sounds a little like the old saying, “lock-
ing the barn door after the cow has gone.” It is distressing enough to have children attending school in the most dangerous city in the United States. Tuition and fees are continually increased, but security does not seem improved. My son’s suite was one of those broken into during Christmas break. I am told that the burglar actually
lifted himself to the balcony by *walking* up the side of the building. Where are the security campus and Wash. U. police? All of these incidents are outrageous. There should be an armed guard outside each dorm every day. There has to be more oversight about strangers having access to the dormitory area of the campus. Putting peek-holes into each
dormitory room door is hardly the end of increasing security. Do appropriate improvements to security have to wait until there is another violent crime? I live in New York (which curiously is much less dangerous than St. Louis). Dormitories in local colleges (Columbia and NYU) have security guards in the lobby of every single dormitory. This, of course, is
in addition to large numbers of patrolling police and security guards. It is time for administrators at WUSTL to face reality and deal appropriately with the high-crime situation on campus. -Jane Bressler Parent of a Washington University student
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FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 8, 2008
Super Bowl XLII: Justice has been served
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his year’s Super Bowl was, save for the Rams’ amazing victory in Super Bowl XXXIV, my personal favorite. You see, I’m a Rams fan, and for the past six years I’ve remained bitter over my team’s crushing Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots in 2002. I was completely distraught after that game. I took off my Rams jersey, threw it into a corner of my room and refused to touch it until the next season. The Rams Altin Sila entered that Super Bowl on the verge of a dynasty, with one of the greatest and most exciting offenses in NFL history. Instead, a different dynasty was born, and the Rams never recovered. I hated the Patriots, though, not simply because they won. That entire game had the feeling that the Rams were being shortchanged. Their wide receivers were being illegally held downfield throughout the entire game, without many flags from the referees, and to this day, I still hold that there were still a couple of seconds left after Vinatieri kicked that field goal for the win. Beyond that Super Bowl, I had even more reasons. I was sick of the smugness and cockiness of the team. After the initial breaking of the “Spygate” story at the beginning of the season, New England coach Bill Belichick refused to apologize, explain or even address the issue. Earlier this season, as the Patriots were crushing opponents, they continued to run up the score, even attempting fourth down conversions when winning by multiple touchdowns in the game. Quarterback Tom Brady laughed when it was predicted by Giants receiver Plaxico Burress that the Patriots would only score 17 points in the Super Bowl, thinking it impossible for his offense to put up so few points against the Giant’s defense. I also couldn’t stand the way that referees always seemed to give the Patriots
STAFF COLUMNIST
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TEMU BROWN | STUDENT LIFE
the benefit of the doubt whenever there was a questionable call, preserving their undefeated season record (see Week 13 against
“Last week when the Boston Herald reported that the Patriots had illegally taped the Rams’ final walkthrough before their Super Bowl, capturing many of the plays that the Rams planned to run in the game, my deep anger for the New England Patriots reached a level I didn’t know was possible.” Baltimore). And finally, I couldn’t stand ESPN’s sick obsession with everything Patriots. Day and night, sports fans were forced to sit through mindless discussions about whether or not
Tom Brady was the greatest quarterback in history, the Patriots the greatest team ever or Bill Belichick the greatest genius in world history. So, last week, when the Boston Herald reported that the Patriots had illegally taped the final Rams walkthrough before their Super Bowl, capturing many of the plays that the Rams planned to run in the game, my deep anger for the New England Patriots reached a level I didn’t know was possible. I instantly became one of the biggest fans of the New York Giants in the country. (All right, that’s an exaggeration, but I really wanted them to win). Needless to say, I was a happy man on Super Bowl Sunday. Tom Brady proved that he wasn’t Joe Montana, as once he wasn’t given endless time to throw the ball by his offensive line, he fell apart. (By the way, how great was it that a guy named “Tuck” helped ruin Tom Brady’s game, Raiders fans?) New England’s cockiness finally did them in; going for it on fourth-and-13 instead of kicking the field goal in the second quarter ultimately cost them the game.
Seeing the most unlikely of heroes, Eli Manning, pull off that incredible MVP-winning final drive was almost as exciting as Isaac Bruce’s 73-yard touchdown in the Rams’ Super Bowl victory was for me. And when it came time for the annoying “Brady magic,” he couldn’t produce. And finally, seeing Bill Belichick walk off of the field before the game was over (in his typical classless fashion) with his head down was a sweet sight. My joy in the Patriots’ demise couldn’t erase the heartbreak of the Rams’ Super Bowl loss, but it sure helped. So I extend my gratitude to the world champion New York Giants for taking away what the Patriots took away from the Rams—a legacy. Thank you for crushing their overconfidence and their record and denying them even the consideration of being called the greatest team of all time. Oh, and thank you for a great game, too. Altin is a senior in Arts & Sciences and a Forum editor. He can be reached via e-mail at forum@studlife.com.
STAFF COLUMNIST
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went to Barack Obama’s rally last Saturday night, and it was spectacular. Whatever one thinks about his policies, he is an electric speaker who may be the most exciting candidate since John F. Kennedy. But I am not writing this to talk about Obama appearing at the Edward Jones Dome, I’m writing to talk about him not appearing at Washington University. As an elite university striving to achieve the national recognition we know we deserve, letting Obama speak on campus would have included us in the national discourse. I would love it if every political candidate came to Washington University. As a school that hopes to train future leaders of the world, there is no better way to entice students to involve themselves in their nation’s fate than having our most important citizens give speeches on campus. Clinton, Kucinich, Paul, Dodd, Tancredo, McCain, Gravel, Romney, Thompson, Thompson, Huckabee, Biden, Richardson—let them all come! As a university with some of the smartest, most creative students and faculty in the world, we deserve to be part of the national discourse on our political future. We cannot hope to have more national recognition—which means higher rankings, better applicant pools, and a larger endowment—if we scurry away
from such historical encounters. Now, let’s be honest. The reasons the administration gave in the Jan. 30 issue of Student Life for not having Obama on campus do not sit well with anyone, even those who think the administration has told the truth. Students have been told that the University would lose its tax-exempt status for having political figures on campus, a claim anyone with a critical mind does not believe. The last time I checked, Emory, Dartmouth, American, University of Denver, Clark College, College of Charleston and any of the other universities which have hosted a presidential candidate are still tax-exempt non-profit institutions. Having speakers on campus does not jeopardize our University’s status as a non-profit; if anything, it reaffirms the exceptional role universities play in our American culture. To claim that the administration was afraid of losing its non-profit status, a claim with no clear basis in actual events, is rude: it dissembles to the students, it assumes we cannot analyze an issue critically and it prevents us from receiving as full an education as possible. Finally, I am offended that we have been prevented from receiving the education our money deserves and the University has promised to deliver. My parents have not given this university a significant chunk of their life savings for police officers with Segways or maintenance staff’s
frivolous projects. No, we expect an education, and integral to an education is exposure to those issues most affecting our lives, such as the presidential election. While speakers about string theory or religion are great, that is not what most students care about. We care (or want to care) about Clinton, McCain, Romney, Obama and the other candidates, but we have not been given
“I would love it if every political candidate came to Washington University. As a school that hopes to train future leaders of the world, there is no better way to entice students to involve themselves in their nation’s fate than having our most important citizens give speeches on campus.” this opportunity by the administration. Rob Wild said that Obama couldn’t come because we would have to open our door to all candidates, but that is exactly the point: We want everyone to come. Instead, the administration comes across as having either of two negative
dispositions: patronizing or provincial. Patronizing in that it thinks it can feed its students misleading excuses and try to stymie their political consciousness; provincial because, if not patronizing, then the administration does not actually want the University to assume a presence on the national stage or does not understand how to go about achieving that goal. If any administrator has read Student Life over the past week, they will realize that my opinion is not unique. But, hoping this issue would disappear, the administration has avoided dialogue with the student body. If nothing else, I hope this letter prompts a response from those who say they act in our best interest. Washington University needs to be the leader of St. Louis and not succumb to its insular ways. I am honestly, deeply disappointed at the administration’s behavior regarding the Obama campaign and what it says about our priorities. As a senior who has invested so much in the university and has gotten much in return, I still cannot help fear I will leave this university with a sour taste in my mouth. My friends at other universities have had the opportunities of a lifetime, and I have gotten the daughter of a candidate at a coffee shop. Zachary is a senior in Arts & Sciences and a staff columnist. He can be reached via e-mail at zsteiner@artsci. wustl.edu.
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Random acts of politics BY SARA REMEDIOS
An open letter to the administration BY ZACHARY STEINERT-THRELKELD
STUDENT LIFE | FORUM
n the past 30 days I have attended (or at least attempted to attend) campaign events for all three major Democratic presidential candidates. A few weeks ago some friends and I got up early to join the Carpenters’ Union of St. Louis at an Edwards rally; we later trekked 40 minutes in 13-degree weather in an attempt to sit in on Bill and Hillary Clinton’s town hall. We then spent last Saturday evening with Senator Barack Obama and about 20,000 of his closest friends on the floor of the Edward Jones Dome. Good times. My foray into partisan politics has been both enlightening and frustrating: I know we’ve been hearing this on the news for what seems like forever, but there really are a lot of people from a lot of different backgrounds who care deeply about the outcome of this election. There are also a lot of people who just plain don’t. And this may seem self-evident, but it’s not always obvious who is who. Deep political conviction and insight come in all shapes, packages and contexts—as does idiocy. At the Obama rally I was for a time standing next to a well-dressed girl in her late teens, at least in high school and more likely in college. She was at the rally with what appeared to be her mother; both seemed refi ned and genuinely interested in the speech—the stereotypical upper-middle-class political elite out to get their fi ll of politics before dinner. Which, you know, is why we shouldn’t stereotype. Almost immediately after he took the stage, this young woman began a running commentary in response to Senator Obama’s speech and revealed herself, not as an educated elite, but as someone who has apparently been living in a newsless cave for the past eight years. The Senator mentioned bankruptcy laws and the fact that we need to do better for people facing economic hardships, especially in the face of a possible recession, and the girl said, “So you’d just forgive all those debts? Nobody would have to pay off loans?” (Well no, not really.…) The Iraq War was brought up, with the senator referencing mismanagement by the Bush administration and his own opinion that we shouldn’t have gone in in the
fi rst place; the girl, completely scandalized, said, “So he thinks the War in Iraq is a bad thing?!” Now I know that not everyone cares about or pays attention to politics, but how someone that old can end up at an Obama rally and not know that Democrats, on the whole, dislike the Iraq War, utterly defeats me. I mean, what do you even do with that? As I made my way to a quieter place from which to observe the rest of the speech, my faith in American politics died just a little bit. Luckily, that faith was restored as I huddled with my friends on the MetroLink platform at the Forest Park station later that night. An older male station attendant approached to tell us there were heat lamps on the other end of the platform and struck up one of the most interesting political conversations I’ve ever had. And I’m a political science major! “Were you at the Obama rally?” “Yes, we were.” “Yeah, I was sorry to have missed that. This election’s a really important one…” We agreed, and he went on to tell us exactly why. He offered a Vietnam veteran’s insight into the Iraq War, an older man’s perspective on how the country has changed in the past 60 years, and both deeply reasoned and deeply impassioned views on each candidate, Democrats and Republicans. It was fascinating, and it wasn’t about who this man was or the fact that he was working at the MetroLink. It was about the fact that he cared so much about politics and the direction in which this country’s headed that he wanted to discuss it with subdued and frozen 20-somethings on a Metro platform in early February, more than half a year away from when we actually cast our votes and at least 300 feet away from the platform’s only heat source. Obama’s right: This election is about change and has to be about change, because we desperately need it. Politics shouldn’t be about the pony-tailed girl in Seven jeans at the campaign rally, it should be about all those people working extra shifts on Saturday night who miss the rally but actually care. November can’t come soon enough. Sara is a junior in Arts & Sciences and a staff columnist. She can be reached via email at saremedi@wustl.edu.
OPPOSABLES PIT BULLS
Michael Vick’s dogs get a second chance through Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
MIKE HUCKABEE
Playing air hockey with a puck in the shape of Texas? And with Stephen Colbert? Definitely thumbs up. Now if only we could do something about his policy positions... HILLARY CLINTON & BARACK OBAMA
It appears the only thing that Democrats learned from Super Tuesday is that we’re well on our way to a brokered national convention.
MITT ROMNEY
He really must be cursing Mike Huckabee’s name right now.
STEPHEN COLBERT & JON STEWART
Let’s be honest—The Daily Show and the Colbert Report were much better when the writers weren’t on strike.
- Compiled by Nathan Everly
6
Senior Sports Editor / Trisha Wolf / sports@studlife.com
STUDENT LIFE | SPORTS
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 8, 2008
SPORTS
BASKETBALL
Bears return to Field House BY JOHANN QUA HIANSEN SPORTS EDITOR The Bears are back. Washington University’s basketball teams return to the Field House after two weeks of a tough road trip with games against several UAA foes. Wash. U. comes home to take on Carnegie Mellon University on Friday before matching up against the University of Rochester Sunday. The men’s team is looking for blood this weekend after dropping an extremely close overtime game against Rochester last Friday and losing to Carnegie Mellon on Sunday. The thrilling match on Friday between the Yellowjackets and the Bears ended 73-70. Both men’s teams are in a three-way tie for first in the UAA with records of 5-2 in conference play. “[Rochester and Carnegie Mellon] put us in a rut,” said freshman forward Spencer Gay. “Two victories this weekend will get us back on track.”
The Lady Bears are looking to bring the No. 7 University of Rochester Yellowjackets down to the same level after losing by a single possession in a 5855 overtime thriller last Friday. The Lady Bears are also looking to continue their comeback after beating Carnegie Mellon 54-47. The Red and Green enter the weekend with a 13-5 overall record including five wins and two losses in the UAA, which puts them at a tie for second with Brandeis. Rochester currently holds the top spot in the UAA with a 7-0 record and a 17-1 overall record. Both teams hope fans will jam the stands this weekend as home court advantage plays a big role in basketball. “This weekend is huge for both the women’s and men’s basketball teams,” said captain Jill Brandt, a junior. “The four games this weekend will say a lot about how our two teams will end up in the conference rankings.” Friday’s games celebrate
AROUND THE WU: THIS WEEKEND IN SPORTS
Think Pink Day where the Washington University in St. Louis Department of Athletics teams up with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) to raise awareness of breast cancer. Over 800 colleges across the country are participating in Think Pink festivities this week. “It’s supposed to be a pink out,” said junior Krystyn Stowe, who works for the athletic department. “It’s a good cause to go watch Wash. U. sports and get involved in raising awareness about breast cancer.” To further the Think Pink theme of the Friday games, cotton candy will be sold with all proceeds going to the WBCA, which will donate the money to fight breast cancer across the country. A breast cancer survivor will also talk about her experiences at halftime. Fans are asked to wear pink, but the first 500 Wash. U. students to arrive will receive free pink T-shirts bearing the words “Bear’s Basketball” and Think
Pink bracelets. “My aunt is currently battling breast cancer, so I know how it can affect a family and know how much it can mean when you see a pink ribbon or bracelet,” said Brandt. “I can’t wait to see all of our fans pinked out.” The woman’s squad will be warming up in pink shooting shirts to show their support, with their Friday game scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Afterwards, the men are set to begin their battle royale at 8 p.m. Sunday’s games are filled with Youth Day festivities with a special appearance by J.J. Jumper, the NCAA’s official mascot. There will be free autographs and J.J. Jumper giveaways for children at the event. Students will be treated to free bagels, orange juice and coffee, courtesy of Red Alert. The men’s game against third-ranked Rochester is set to begin at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday while the tip-off of the women’s game against the Yellowjackets is set for 1:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
SUNDAY
Basketball vs. Carnegie Mellon Field House Women at 6 p.m. Men at 8 p.m.
Basketball vs. Rochester Field House Men at 11:30 a.m. Women at 1:30 p.m.
LIONEL SOBEHART | STUDENT LIFE
Junior Jill Brandt handles the ball in a recent game against Case Western Reserve University. This weekend’s important games against UAA rivals Rochester and Carnegie Mellon will likely decide who will claim this season’s UAA championship.
presents a guide to places of worship in the WU community
Religious Directory For advertising information, call (314) 935-6713 or email advertising@studlife.com
RECENT TOP PERFORMERS Morgen Leonard-Fleckman Track and Field The senior set a new school pole vault record and personal best, leaping 3.74 meters Saturday and automatically qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championship meet.
Ben Harmon Track and Field The freshman was a member of the 4x400-meter relay team that placed second at the Titan Open Saturday. Individually, he also fi nished fourth in the high jump and tied for fourth in the pole vault.
Charlie Cutler Men’s Tennis The junior cruised to two easy wins in the opening match of the spring season. Playing at second singles, he defeated UMSL’s Boris Simic 6-0, 6-1. He also teamed with classmate Chris Hoeland to form the nation’s third ranked doubles team, defeating Ryan Burgdorfer and Peter Hantack 8-2.
Sunday Worship Services for Everyone: Casual Worship in Chapel – 8:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship – 9:30 a.m. Classes for All Ages – 9:30 a.m. Classic Worship in Sanctuary – 11:00 a.m. Roundtrip Van Service from Shepley Drive at the Clock Tower 10:40 a.m.
Our Diverse Fellowship Welcomes You
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Tuesdays at 5:15pm & Fridays at 11:15am www.
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6352 Forsyth · 935-9191 Stop by any time to study, relax or pray!
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STUDENT LIFE | CLASSIFIEDS
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 8, 2008
CLASSIFIEDS Line Ad Rates
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Classified ads are free to students, faculty and staff for personal use. To place your FREE 25-word ad, simply email us from your WU email account.
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SUMMER SUBLET MIDMay through August on corner of Forsyth and Big Bend. 2-bedroom, laundry facilities in building. Right next to campus! Contact rebecca.leffell@gmail.com.
$5000 PAID EGG donors. +Expenses. Non-smokers, ages 19-29, SAT > 1100, ACT > 24, GPA > 3.0. Reply to: info@eggdonorcenter.com.
ANNOUNCING LET’S GET Red @ Lumen! 2201 Locust St. Saturday, February 9th, 9:30 to 1 am. $5 cover for 21+, $7 for 1820. $3 shot specials and beers. ADVERTISE FOR FREE! Washington University students, staff, and faculty can place classifieds in Student Life free of charge. For more information, contact us by emailing classifieds @studlife.com.
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STUDENT LIFE | SCENE
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 8, 2008
SCENE A Bounty of Boots Winter fashion update BY MAE WANG SCENE REPORTER
A
pple Bottom jeans, boots with the fur/ the whole club looking at her”—you’ve probably heard these words in the hit single “Low” by Flo-Rida. Well, boots with the fur (a.k.a. UGG Australia boots or any form of look-alikes) are seen everywhere on campus this winter. They can be found in many different combinations of outfits, paired with leggings, miniskirts or blue jeans. Though they can be worn with almost anything, recently there have been disagreements about wearing UGG boots with leggings. While many think this constitutes a fashion disaster, others pick it as their favorite outfit. The basic consensus is that if the shirt for the outfit is too short, the UGGs-legging combo is a no-go. However, if the top is something like a long tunic or sweater dress and if the leggings are thick, then the
Ruth Mandelbaum
LUCY MOORE | STUDENT LIFE
combination is, in fact, acceptable. Other than furred boots, there are many other types of boots that are “in” this winter season. First, there are classic tall boots. These are about knee-high and usually in a brown or black color. These boots are best worn with a pair of jeans with no extra fabric at the bottom, such as a pair of skinny jeans. But keep in mind that if you have full thighs, this look is not for you because you’re shortening your legs by stuffi ng your jeans into the boots. Tall boots also come in stiletto heels, which are not as practical as classic lower heels but are great for going out. Another type of boot is the “foldover.” These are a good alternative to regular tall boots if you want a little bit of fl avor. They look great with a skirt or dress when going out. With this style, though, there’s a risk of looking too much like a costume, so make sure not
Alex Whiteman
to wear them with clothing that is too bold, such as ruffles. Short boots, like the popular ankle boots, are another fun alternative. Skinny jeans and leggings work very well with these. It’s a different look from wearing tall boots, and they come in a variety of styles. Although these are not as warm as tall boots since they cover much less of your leg, you can stay warm by tucking your pants into them or letting your pants hang over them, only revealing the tips of the shoes. Finally, fl at boots are another popular style. You can pair these with skirts, dresses or tuckedin pants. They are often made with a softer material, such as suede. With the right outfit, they can be as sexy as boots with heels. Don’t be afraid of wearing boots this season; regardless of the type you wear, boots are undoubtedly fashionable and truly timeless. A couple of good stores that carry a large variety of boots are Nine West, Steve Madden and any department store like Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue. So go out, be bold and remember, those boots are made for walking.
Stepping
§ Beyond campus: roaming for romance BY NICOLLE NEULIST SCENE REPORTER
I
n college, it’s easy to become fi rmly set into life on campus. With classes, clubs, dorm life, Greek life and all of the other social opportunities right here at Washington University, it is very easy to focus on everything on campus and not see what chances you have to meet people off campus. With dating, that can lead to a bit of a romance rut. Meeting people on campus is certainly important, especially when you fi rst arrive, because they are the people you will see most often and the people who will make up your support system as you settle into the area. Many of the people you meet at the beginning of college will be your close friends through the rest of it and even afterwards. Furthermore, these people on campus also become your dating pool. It’s a great dating pool, at least to start with: everyone is well-educated and close to your age, and the community is diverse enough that you’re likely to meet at least some people who share your interests—even the most esoteric ones! However, no matter how vibrant your life on campus is, sometimes it feels a little constrained. There is some diversity on campus, but the college social structure often
LUCY MOORE | STUDENT LIFE
Sam Fleisher
LUCY MOORE | STUDENT LIFE
results in seeing the same few people over and over again. You have the same classes all semester. You live in the same dorm or apartment all year with the same people. You have the same few clubs you’re involved in. You take the same routes from place to place. It gets repetitive. It’s possible you won’t hit it off romantically with anyone you meet on campus, or that you’ll date the person or people you’re interested in and it won’t work out. That should not spell the end of your dating life. Meeting people off campus requires a little more effort than meeting people on campus, but it doesn’t have to feel like work. Look around for things in the community that pertain to your interests. Do you like sports? Join a coed sports league at the park instead of doing intramurals on campus one semester. Do you like music? Find a venue where local bands in your favorite genres play frequently and show up to concerts. Loop venues tend to be packed with Wash. U. students, so try branching out to Clayton and other areas. Flip through the Riverfront Times, go on the Internet. There’s a long list of events and clubs in the community where you can satisfy your interests somewhere other than Wash. U. and meet interesting people outside your campus social circle.
The key, no matter what your interests are, is to avoid slipping into the mindset that you’re doing these things exclusively for the purpose of fi nding someone to date. This is advice that will serve you in good stead even if you are navigating the on-campus dating scene, but it’s harder to follow when you’re in a new environment—especially if it’s an environment that you seek out for the purpose of expanding your dating prospects. People are intuitive—they pick up on whether a person is actually interested in the activity that’s going on or if they’re spending far more of their energy fi nding out who in the room is single and willing. If you are confident, self-assured and honestly exuding your love for the activity, you’ll be most attractive. St. Louis is not a small town, and the University isn’t the only thing it has to offer. You’ll feel less constrained by the areas around school, and by the dating scene on campus, if you go out, do something new, and meet some people off campus. The worst thing that could happen is still something good: you will gain a better idea of what there is to do in this town. And the best thing? In addition to fi nding something fun to do, you may just fall for someone you wouldn’t have met otherwise.
Kopperman’s Specialty Food and Delicatessen 386 N. Euclid Avenue St Louis, MO 63108 Price Range: $1-10
BY ERIC BIERMAN AND BROOKE SCHACHNER SCENE REPORTERS
T
he options for after-hours dining off campus are generally very slim. Besides fast food, there are a few interesting diners, but nowhere to get really excited about. But luckily, Kopperman’s Specialty Food and Delicatessen recently changed their hours, possibly to accommodate college night owls like us. On Friday and Saturday nights, Kopperman’s closes temporarily at 5 p.m., opens again at 11 p.m. and stay open until 5 p.m. the next day. After going on two late-night excursions to Kopperman’s, it’s easily our favorite place to end the night. Conveniently located in the Central West End, Kopperman’s is about a five-minute drive from the South 40. For those without a car, the MO Bus 1 (East) leaves from North Skinker Boulevard and takes you right to North Euclid Avenue. A cross between a Jewish deli and a diner, Kopperman’s offers a myriad of meals. The diverse menu offers a jumbo shrimp cocktail, bagels, eggs, pastas and a variety of cheeses and deli sandwiches—just to name a few options. During
Rating:
Out ★★★★✩
the day, Kopperman’s also sells pre-made food for takeout and beer, wine and liquor. In addition to an abundance of very reasonably priced dishes, Kopperman’s serves about a dozen specialty drinks, most mixed with their house rum called “Pusser’s.” This was the official rum of the British fleet until 1970 when, due to cost cuts, the daily ration of rum was no longer issued to the Royal Navy. When we arrived, a large patio welcomed us, and a sign covered in neon Christmas lights exclaimed that breakfast is served “all night long.” Our waiter told us that when the weather gets warm, tables are put out on the patio for outdoor dining. We heard this is a great place to people watch in the bustling CWE. We started our meal with a toasted bagel and cream cheese. It was one of the better ones we’ve had in St. Louis, but those looking for a true New York bagel might still be disappointed. Next, we tried the matzo ball soup, which was very good. We were served a giant matzo ball that was not too firm or soft—just the right consistency. As a side, we definitely recommend the homemade bagel chips. They are incredibly crunchy and the garlic flavor is
delicious. But what really sets Kopperman’s apart is its deli food. Their “overstuffed sandwiches” can be served on nine different types of bread and come with a pickle and either potato salad, cole slaw or potato chips. As for meat, everything from marinated chicken breast to pastrami to a BLT can be put in a sandwich. If the over a dozen sandwiches on the menu don’t suit your palate, feel free to create your own. The corned beef, turkey breast and brisket are all excellent selections, as they are incredibly fresh. We highly recommend putting cole slaw on a sandwich and asking for their spicy mustard made with horseradish. The only meat we wouldn’t suggest would be the pastrami, as it was very fatty. If a whole sandwich is too much, the menu offers a half sandwich and bowl of soup for $8.95. Overall, the sheer size of the menu and quality of the dishes makes Kopperman’s a place everyone should try. It is by far the least expensive truly delicious meal we have had in St. Louis. We are planning on finally going during the day, and we will definitely be stopping by in the wee hours of the morning on a weekly basis.