M O N D AY NOV. 15, 2004 Vo l . 1 2 6 , N o . 31
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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
Assembly Series funding questioned n Committee to address concerns over low student turnout, assess value of program By David Tabor Contributing Editor
Cash woes getting you down? Scene tells you where to score the best freebies on campus.
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Student Union (SU) is currently questioning the value of its funding of the Assembly Series, which includes a $75,000 allocation to Assembly Series coordinators as well as $25,000 spent on Assembly Series speakers. SU Treasury’s Internal Audit Committee (IAC) is preparing a report on the issue to be presented to the Treasury. Members of the Treasury have expressed concern over the low student turnout at the lectures in past meetings, and the report intends to address that issue as well as other related concerns brought forward by the Treasury. Assembly Series lectures take place Wednesdays at 11 a.m. in Graham Chapel and bring speakers to campus to lecture on a variety of timely social issues. In the past, lecturers have included author Salman Rushdie and political commentators Ann Coulter and Bill Kristol. Senior Brian Nakash, IAC chair, explained that the report will examine how funds have been spent as well as student interest in the Assembly Series in order to evaluate the value of the lectures to the student body. While stressing that the IAC is still in the process of gathering information, Nakash speculated that total speaker funds allocated to the Assembly Series this year could total about $70,000, and much of the IAC’s investigation will focus on what the University gained from that expenditure. “We’re trying to determine how effectively the funds are being used,” said Nakash.
Sunday is never a ‘“day of rest” when you’re a college student, says Kathryn Zabielinski.
See FUNDING, page 2
DAVID BRODY | STUDENT LIFE
Political commentator Bill Kristol lectured at Graham Chapel on Oct. 7. Part of Student Union’s investigation into funding for the Assembly Series will examine how many students attend lecture events such as Kristol’s.
CS40 campaign seeks celebrity merchandise
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n Letter-writing campaign to solicit items for charity auction By Lissy Reiman Contributing Reporter
Learn how to eat a crawfish in Scene’s review of the Broadway Oyster Bar.
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PAM BUZZETTA | STUDENT LIFE
Junior Megan Morley (15) keeps tabs on a Principia player at Saturday night’s home game. The Bears took home their 17th victory of the season, tying the school record and advancing to Sectional Semifinals.
See full story on page 6
Class of 2005 looks to finish new cluster requirements n Some seniors plan to go part-time spring term despite new cluster system By Erin Harkless Contributing Editor
Women’s soccer upends Principia 5-0 to advance to Sectional Semifinals.
PAGE 6 INDEX News Forum Sports Classifieds Scene
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As registration nears, Wash. U. students in the class of 2005 are wrangling with last-minute cluster requirements, fi nishing up remaining courses in their majors and voicing frustration with the recently changed requirements governing part-time status in their fi nal semester. This last semester is shaping up to be a full one for many seniors, with some students frustrated that they must take six credits to be considered part-time. In every semester except the fi nal one, any student taking less than 12 credits is considered a part-time student and subsequently pays by the credit hour instead of full tuition rates. Administrators changed the number to six credits close to two years ago, and the option will be eliminated altogether beginning with the class of 2009. Senior Annie Mancini plans to pursue volunteer and work activities next semester, and explained being
DAVID BRODY | STUDENT LIFE
Freshman Kyle Tolbert uses WebSTAC to look up classes for next semester.
In an effort to help fundraise for Relay For Life, the Congress of the South 40 (CS40) has undertaken a major letter-writing campaign to obtain items for auction. CS40 is encouraging Washington University students to write letters to their favorite celebrities in the hope that unique and desirable items will be sent back. These items will be sold during second semester at an auction open to the St. Louis community. Sophomore Danielle Matilsky, speaker of the CS40, modeled the letter-writing campaign after a successful program at her high school that raised over $500,000. CS40 approached the Relay For Life committee with the idea. “We started with the idea and then got together to adapt the idea and really make it work,” said sophomore Sarah Chen, CS40 director of public relations. The Relay for Life committee, which plans the annual 12-hour relay event to benefit the American Cancer Society, was thrilled to work with CS40 on this wide-reaching fundraiser. “So far I know someone who is writing to Pat Buchanan—he’s interested in politics—and another person who’s writing to Paris Hilton,” said Chen. Other students are interested in writing to such personalities as Matt Damon, Madonna and Halle Berry. Letters should be turned in to the CS40 office or to Residential College Directors by Nov. 19, and CS40 hopes to send them out before Thanksgiving. CS40 will proofread the letters and attach cover letters explaining the cause to the celebrities; however, they are encouraging students to be as personal as possible so that the celebrity will form a connection with the student. Some Residential Colleges on the South 40 are motivating student participation in the campaign by holding pizza parties where a letter is worth a meal and raffle ticket. Yet even with this incentive and the letter-writing campaign’s history of success, some students on the South 40 expressed doubt over the campaign’s value as a fundraiser. “I think it’s a worthy cause, I just don’t think this is the most effective way to raise money for it,” said freshman Molly Needleman. “Personally, I would rather fundraise than write letters. Plus, who are we going to send it to—the address of the Brad Pitt fan club saying, ‘Please, Brad Pitt, donate your autograph’?” Freshman Ariel Wentworth believes the chances of every celebrity responding to the cause are slim. “I wouldn’t write a letter,” said Wentworth. “I think it’s a waste of time. I don’t think the celebrity would respond anyways; they don’t read every piece of fan mail they get.” Any items sent back in response to student letters will be auctioned next semester at Graham Chapel. Relay For Life is hoping that this, along with many other fundraising efforts, will help them reach their fundraising goal of $240,000. This goal is an increase of $60,000 over last year’s $180,000 earnings. “We’re really counting on the community coming out and buying the items to support the cause,” said senior Liz Gauger, co-chair of Relay For Life at the Uni-
See CELEBRITY, page 3
See PART-TIME, page 3
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