F R I D A Y APRIL 2, 2004 Vol. 125, No. 67
Sunny 60°/ 39° 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
Sigma Chi accused of hazing
VIOLIN PRODIGY
Two students hospitalized, University investigating By Brendan Watson q Editor in Chief
Jennifer Lee talks to 15-year old violin prodigy Rachel Lee as she prepares for her concert with the St. Louis Symphony, Travis Peterson and Matt Simonton discuss the “phenom” William Hung, and Laura Vilines checks out the Young Choreographer’s Showcase.
PAGE 7 THE BEARS TAKE A SWING
See ERVIN, page 3
See SIGMA CHI, page 3
YU ARAKI
Sophomore Ghideon Ezaz, an Ervin Scholar, studies in his dorm room. The Ervin Scholars were told Thursday that the University has been forced to start admitting all races to the traditionally blacks-only scholarship program.
Ervin scholarship drops blacks-only criterion By Jonathan Greenberger q Associate Editor
The softball team improves to 22-0, looking forward to making Fontbonne 23, the track team kicks off its outdoor season and a new edition of I Don’t Roll on Shabbos.
we had heard that the program was under review, but I didn’t know it would come to a decision like this in such a short amount of time.” The program’s changes come in response to the increasingly widespread conclusion among members of the legal community that colleges’ minority-only Dean James McLeod programs violate federal anti-discrimination laws. “About ten years ago, when this question was looked at by the U.S. Department of Education, we felt that our programs—particularly the Ervin Program—were consistent with the regulations at that time,” said McLeod.
Sigma Chi has come under investigation for hazing after two of that fraternity’s pledges were hospitalized due to alcohol poisoning. Jill Carnaghi, assistant vice chancellor for students and director of campus life, who supervises the office of Greek Life noted, however, that alcohol is not the only focus of the investigation. Red flags went up on the night of Wednesday, March 18 and in the early morning hours of Thursday, March 19 when groups of students believed to be members of Sigma Chi were seen in several parts of campus yelling, singing and creating other types of commotion. Carnaghi declined to elaborate on the precise details of the case because the University’s investigation into the matter is still ongoing. She did say that these events appear to have been part of an orchestrated Sigma Chi pledge event, which “clearly looks like hazing.” Senior Adam Wood, president of Sigma Chi, confirmed that two Sigma Chi pledges were transported to the hospital that night. He called EST for one of the students, who was transported to the hospital from the Sigma Chi house. The other was transported from the South 40. Wood denies, however, that any type of hazing took place, saying that he was unaware of the University’s investigation until Student Life contacted him on Tuesday afternoon. The University’s investigation was not made public until early this week. “I have not officially been contacted by the University, nor have they released any findings to me or anything,” said Wood. “As far as I am concerned, there was no hazing that happened. I don’t know what the University found or how they’re going about their investigation.” Carnaghi said that Sigma Chi’s national headquarters has been contacted and was asked to help in further investigating the haz-
Bowing to intensifying legal pressure, the University will no longer require John B. Ervin Scholars to be African-American, instead opening the program up to students of all races and ethnicities. Ervin Program Director and Dean James McLeod announced the changes to the current scholars at a private meeting last night. The revised program will be aimed at students with strong academic and leadership backgrounds, community service accomplishments, and evidence of financial need, as well as those interested in pursuing a career in education. These changes will not affect current scholarship recipients, including the recently selected 2004-2005 scholars. Word of the changes began to leak to Ervin recipients late Thursday afternoon. “I’m pretty shocked by this,” said sophomore and Ervin Scholar Ghideon Ezaz, before officially hearing about the changes from McLeod. “Lately,
PAGE 12 STUDENT SNAPSHOT you think the Ervin Q: DoScholarship should have to be open to non-African Americans? Yes. Affirmative action is just A: A.reverse discrimination. It’s not fair to anyone for any minority to get special treatment. B. Maybe. There is a sense in which it is discrimination, but on the other hand, it helps qualified African American students go to Washington University who would otherwise have difficulties affording it. C. No. It’s a great program that builds a support network among the African American community at the University. There are other scholarship opportunities for non-African American students. D. I don’t really care. I’m not an Ervin Scholar or prospective Ervin Scholar so it doesn’t affect me. Check out studlife.com
INDEX Cadenza Forum Calendar Sports
pages 5-6 pages 7-8 page 9 page 11-12
Grad school rankings mixed news for WU Law school rises in U.S. News rankings, business plummets; medical and social work schools second By Liz Neukirch q News Editor According to new graduate and professional rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report, Washington University’s School of Medicine and George Warren Brown School of Social Work are both ranked second in the nation. Both schools received the same rankings when data was last compiled. The School of Law’s rank increased five spots from last year to tie for 20th in the nation, while the Olin School of Business dropped in rank from 29th to 39th. The rank of the School of Engineering and Applied Science remained relatively stable at 36th, down one from last year. This year the medical school placed second after Harvard University, followed by Johns Hopkins University, Duke University and the University of Pennsylvania (tie). The school’s student selectivity was again ranked fi rst, as it has been every year since 1998. Student selectivity is based on a measurement of the quality of students’ Medical College Admission Test scores, undergraduate grade-point average and the proportion of applicants selected. On an individual basis, the University’s physical therapy program ranked second in the nation, occupational therapy was third, and pediatrics and internal medicine both ranked seventh. Larry Shapiro, dean of the School of Medicine, was not available for comment. The George Warren Brown School of Social Work, which was ranked second in the nation when social work rankings were last compiled in 2000, has held onto its position under the administration of current dean Shanti Khinduka. “I’m delighted that [they have] shown great esteem for our program,” he said. “It is a tribute to the faculty who have introduced several innovations in our curriculum,
EMILY TOBIAS
Junior Kelly Schoenbeck votes in the SU elections at a computer that was set up by Student Union as part of “Free Food Thursdays.” Voting ended Thursday at 5 p.m., and results were announced a couple hours later.
Ader elected president Constitutional amendments fail, students deny Campus Y request
STUDENT LIFE
v Sophomore David Ader won the presidential race
with 789 votes, to Pamela Bookbinder’s 747
By Kelly Donahue q News Editor
v Katie Leikim and Lindsey Grossman ran uncontested
to become vice-president and secretary respectively After a close race, Washington University students have selected their executive officers for next year’s Student Union (SU). Sophomore David Ader, who defeated opponent sophomore Pam Bookbinder by only 42 votes, will serve as the next SU president. Sophomore Jessica Jones, the only elected executive of two running with the Innovate party, will be the new SU treasurer. The positions of vice-president and secretary were uncontested, with junior Katie Leikhim and freshman Lindsey Grossman respectively filling the two offices. The newly elected officers could not be reached for
See RANKINGS, page 3 One Brookings Drive #1039 #42 Women’s Building St. Louis, MO 63130
Student Union Election Results
v Jessica Jones was elected treasurer with 667 votes,
to Gina Macchiaroli’s 620 and Jamie Lee’s 225 v Wash U recieved block funding, with the support of
74.4% of voters. v Campus Y did not recieve block funding, which was
supported by 62% of voters. Two-thirds was needed. v Both constitutional amendments failed, with 1065
students voting against executive compensation and 502 students in favor.
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