WEDNESDAY APRIL 20, 2005

WEDNESDAY APRIL 20, 2005 Vo l . 1 2 6 , N o . 74

T-Storms 79° / 55° 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

Cardinal Ratzinger named 265th pope

WU isn’t the only game in town when it comes to protesting—SLU is currently hosting two of their own.

Read all about it inside News.

By Brad Nelson

PAGE 5

After a hardfought game, the Washington University roller hockey team fell to Nevada in the Division II Final Four. See Sports for more details.

PAGE 12

“Look, even the squirrels are fat!”

Jake Levitas digs into campus menus and comes out with some dismaying facts. Chicken fingers and pasta?

Not the best combination. Read about that and more in Forum.

News Editor In his 27 years as a clergy member, yesterday was the fourth time Father Gary Braun saw the white smoke rise over St. Peter’s Square in Rome—the signal that a new pope had been chosen. Despite Braun’s 27 years of service to the Catholic Church, even he was a little surprised who emerged from the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square over an hour later.

“It wasn’t who I expected,” said Braun, who has been the director of the University’s Catholic Student Center since 1991.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a German known as a world-class citizen with a conservative ideology, was introduced yesterday as the Catholic Church’s 265th pope, Benedict XVI to tens of thousands of cheering spectators packed into Vatican City.

Ratzinger, who is 78, is the first German pope to hold the office in 500 years. According to Braun, he comes with a strong representation for traditionalism. “[His selection] is not uncontroversial,” said Braun. “He’s a careful reader of theology. He’s outspoken, he’s critical and he’s very traditional.”

In fact, so traditional, that he’s seen as somewhat of a controversial figure in Germany. He has earned the nickname ‘God’s Rottweiler’ for his many conservative views, such as his belief that Turkey should not join the European Union because the country doesn’t share Europe’s Christian heritage.

But just because he was a conservative clergyman, Braun says, doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be

toeing a hard line in the papacy.

“I’d be surprised if he changed the Church’s teachings, but you never know,” he said. “The Pope has a unique perspective on things.”

He takes office at a time when the Catholic community in Europe has been shrinking. Meantime, countries in South American have seen their Catholic populations rise dramatically. Brazil currently has 134.8 million Catholics, the most of any nation.

But Braun says the fact that a South American or African pope was not elected doesn’t mean the Church isn’t acknowledging its demographic swings. “Some of the front runners included Africans and South Americans,” he said. “I don’t think they lean to Europeans like they used to, which is a sign they are responding to the other countries.”

The Church is also still dealing with widespread allegations of sexual abuse among priests in the United States. The Washington Post reported in February that more than 1,000 claims of abuse had been made in 2004 alone, costing the Church $157 million in legal fees and settlements. The abuses have not only put many archdioceses in debt, but they have also prompted many critics to call for allowing priests to marry and have sex.

Combine the sexual abuse scandals with sharp debate over the Church’s rigid stances on abortion, euthanasia and birth control, and some observers see the Church in a time of crisis unlike any before.

Not so, says Braun. “Every age is a critical time, a make it or break it time. Every day is crucial. People

SWA, chancellor dispute facts Russian department shuts down

By Sarah Kliff

wrote Givens in an e-mail.

The SWA disputed Wrighton’s claim that they made an agreement to end the sitin. According to SWA member Joe Thomas, the conclusion of the sit-in was contingent upon meetings scheduled for the end of this week.

“There were two meetings [with the Chancellor on Saturday],” said Thomas.

“At the fi rst meeting, we arranged for meetings on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

We did not agree to end the sit-in and we agreed to end the hunger strike, which we did so immediately.”

The protesters were not able to end the sit-in at that time, Thomas explained, because they had not yet received confi rmation that certain demands would be met, most notably certain demands that would help protect unionization. Thomas reported that the chancellor concluded the second meeting with a promise for meetings in the fu-

Senior News Editor

Both the Student Worker Alliance and Chancellor Mark Wrighton claim that the other party violated a verbal contract made Saturday night.

In an e-mail to the University community, Wrighton stated that he and four Student Worker Alliance (SWA) members “reached an understanding on several issues, including resources, future meetings, and the resolution of sanctions for violations of the University’s Judicial Code.” That understanding, according to Wrighton, was “conditional on their agreement to immediately end their sit-in and hunger strike.” SWA ended the hunger strike Saturday night and continued with their sit-in at South Brookings Hall.

Wrighton continued to state that SWA’s last minute revisions to their verbal agreement would mean changes to the University’s proposals regarding the SWA’s “Code of Conduct.”

“I told them that this DAVID BRODY | STUDENT LIFE would remove the University’s new proposals Senior Janine Brito, an SWA member, sits in the windowsill of the from consideration and admissions office and looks out onto the Quad. Brito is one of the that the University would protesters who has been living there for the past two weeks. proceed with the plan we ture to discuss such issues. announced last Thursday,” wrote Wrighton.

“He said ‘I don’t have any more time tonight but I Steven Givens, assistant to the chancellor, said that Wrighton will not attend the proposed meetings with will see you on Wednesday,’” Thomas said.

SWA has not received any communication from SWA if the students are still sitting in.

“The meetings are still on his calendar but he’s Wrighton regarding the previously scheduled meetawaiting the actions requested and agreed to on Sat- ings. Until they do, “we’re going to presume that he’s urday evening—that the protesters fi rst end their sit-in going to stick to the plan,” Thomas said. of South Brookings Hall and Brookings Quadrangle,”

PAGE 7

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SWA PROTESTS?

WEATHER FORECAST Thursday

71% While I think that SWA is pursuing a good cause, I don’t approve of all or some of the tactics they have used.

High: 71° | Low: 54° Isolated T-Storms

Friday High: 66° | Low: 41° Scattered T-Storms

Saturday High: 59º | Low: 37° Partly Cloudy

INDEX 1-5 News 6-8 Forum Classifieds 10 11-12 Sports

KRT CAMPUS

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, pictured at the funeral for Pope John Paul II on April 8, 2005, took the name Pope Benedict XVI after being elected as the new pope by the College of Cardinals on See POPE, page 4 Tuesday, April 19, 2005.

15% I don’t agree with SWA’s mission or their tactics.

10% I approve of the cause and SWA’s tactics of pursuing it.

4% I don’t agree with SWA’s mission, but I think they are using good tactics to get what they want.

COMPILED BY NEWS STAFF

By Mandy Silver Contibuting Editor Next fall Washington University will cut its majors and minors currently offered in Russian.

The University’s Russian department will close upon the retirement of Department Chair Milica Banjanin at the end of the academic year. Banjanin will not be replaced. The German department will still offer basic Russian classes but upper-level course will no longer be made available to students. As of yesterday, no public announcement had been made by the administration to inform students of the changes.

Administrators say the changes are primarily due to a lack of interest in the program. Ten freshmen are currently enrolled in Russian—fi ve students less than in previous years. James McLeod, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, said that the retirement of a major fi gure in the department offered an opportunity to reevaluate the department and decide “how best to make available an important language and literature to students.”

“The changes are a response to our present resources and our present situation,” McLeod said. “We recognize that the Russian language and culture are important and critical to keep. It will remain a part of our curriculum, but we don’t have the interest to sustain a large input of resources.”

Executive Vice Chancellor Edward Macias said that the changes to the Russian department’s administrative structure will have little effect on students. Moreover, he views the changes as potentially helpful to the growth of the department.

“Just as Italian, French and Spanish languages are under the administrative unit called ‘Romance Languages,’ German and Russian languages faculty are combining in a single administrative unit,” Macias said. “This will facilitate interdisciplinary activities for faculty and students. Often small disciplinary areas like Russian benefit by being part of a larger departmental community.”

Many students in the Russian department disagree. Junior Katie Glaze is trying to raise funds and petition the University to keep the department alive.

Glaze became involved with this issue as a result of her Organizational Behavior of the Firm course, which requires students to choose a fi nal project focused on the betterment of the University.

“Every other top university has a Russian department,” Glaze said. “We don’t want Wash U to be left out. Furthermore, looking at Russia from a business perspective, in terms of its economy and growth, there is a very real need for its language and culture.”

In addition to concerns about limited support and funding for Slavic studies on campus, students are angered by the University’s failure to publicly announce its intention to close the department.

A current Russian student who wished to remain anonymous due to a fear of retaliation by the administration said he

This survey, conducted Tuesday, April 19, 2005, drew 322 responses from Washington University community members.

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News Editor / Sarah Kliff/ news@studlife.com

Pick up Friday’s copy of Student Life to check out Cadenza’s complete guide to the weekend

ON CAMPUS CONCERTS Jazz at Holmes presents the Tim Sparks Trio Thursday 8:00 p.m.—Holmes Lounge Another week, another chance to hear great live jazz Thursday nights at Holmes. This week it’s guitar virtuoso Tim Sparks, who has recorded on avant-gardist John Zorn’s label and explores traditional Jewish music.

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND AHEAD

THE PULSE

Brought to you by the Cadenza staff

2 STUDENT LIFE | NEWS

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 20, 2005

CONCERTS Yonder Mountain String Band Thursday 7:00 p.m., $17.50—The Pageant Bluegrass group Yonder Mountain String Band comes down from the mountain to enchant the jam-band masses with its improvisational tunes.

Maroon 5 w/ The Thrills Thursday 7:00 p.m., $33—Savvis Center Look for the girl with the broken smile Thursday at the Savvis Center when alt-rock heartthrobs Maroon 5 take the stage.

More Fools Than Wise Friday 8:00 p.m., Saturday 3:00 p.m., $5—Umrath Hall If you need a break from the typical a capella formula, Washington University’s very own madrigal singers, More Fools Than Wise, have the solution. Come hear their take on this Renaissance style.

mtv-U presents the Campus Invasion Tour featuring Muse and Razorlight Tuesday 7:00 p.m., $15—The Pageant mtv-U presents these two British bands, who have been compared to current favorites Radiohead, The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand and The Killers. It promises to be a rocking evening.

FILM SCREENINGS

cine16 presents “Animal Magnetism” Thursday 8:00 p.m.—Mad Art Gallery, 12th and Lynch Street The cine16 series collects fun and eclectic 16mm educational films from throughout the ages. This month’s event features seven shorts about the animal kingdom. Enjoy the art on display at the Mad Art Gallery while you’re there.

Reel Deal presents “Chocolat” (2000) Thursday 8:00 p.m.—Ursa’s Lounge Reel Deal serves up a fresh batch of “Chocolat,” starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. As you might have guessed, the food item this week is cauliflower—no, just kidding. It’s chocolate.

STAGE PERFORMANCES Cast ‘n’ Crew presents “The Goat; or Who is Silvia?”

Thursday through Saturday 8:00 p.m., Sunday 7:00 p.m.—The Village Theatre How much do you love your pet? The answer in Edward Albee’s “The Goat, Or Who is Silvia?” might shock you. The play tackles a number of moral and philosophical issues in the vein of a Greek tragedy or 19th-century drama.

FILM SCREENINGS

EVENTS St. Louis Jazz Festival Thursday through Saturday—Touhill Performing Arts Center (University of Missouri–St. Louis) The Touhill Performing Arts Center brings us three days of wonderful jazz music, with performances by Marilyn Maye, Mulgrew Miller, Chris Vadala and Jeff Jarvis. The festival is absolutely free, so go soak up the cool, daddy-o.

OVATIONS! Series presents “Hiroshima Maiden” Friday and Saturday 8:00 p.m., $18—Edison Theatre Performance artist Dan Hurlin presents this combination of Japanese puppetry and dance, which tells the story of 25 disfigured Hiroshima survivors who travel to the United States for cosmetic surgery.

EVENTS The Second Annual Art Prom Friday 8:00 p.m., $7—Third Degree Glass Factory (buses leave from Simon Hall) Art Prom 2005 promises good music, good eats and, of course, art. If last year’s exhilarating event was any indication, things should go swimmingly.

ESE 141 Robotics Competition Friday 4:30 p.m.—Brookings Quad The students of ESE 141 give us a taste of “Battle Bots” when their robots square off in “Mini Sumo” matches. May the best machine win. mtv-U Campus Invasion Tour Tuesday 11:00 a.m.—Bowles Plaza mtv-U visits Washington University as part of its Campus Invasion tour.

They will be filming student testimonials and offering VIP passes to Tuesday night’s Muse/Razorlight concert.

OFF CAMPUS CONCERTS Less Than Jake w/ Kane Hodder, Hidden in Plain View, Allister Wednesday 7:00 p.m., $16—Mississippi Nights Ska-punk favorites Less Than Jake light up Mississippi Nights with a cadre of alternative bands.

Librarians at Cornerstone

Need Help Getting Your Assignments Done?

During the month of April, Librarians will be available to help students with their research papers, class projects and other assignments at Cornerstone's Technology Center on the South Forty.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays Through April 27 7:00-9:00 p.m.

For additional information, contact the Olin Library Reference Help Desk at 935-5410 or email ref@wulib.wustl.edu

News Editor / Sarah Kliff/news@studlife.com

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 20, 2005

STUDENT LIFE | NEWS

3

Anti-SWA protesters hold “lunch-in” in Quad

By Mandy Silver Contributing Editor Student Worker Alliance (SWA) is no longer the only student group using the Quad as a forum for protest. Yesterday afternoon anti-SWA protesters, organized by graduate student Nat Reller and senior Seth Schreiber, gathered around a bench in the Quad to voice opposition against SWA’s tactics and the concept of a “living wage.”

The protest drew a total of approximately nine people sitting for their “lunch—in” and the vocal support of a few people in passing.

The protest remained peaceful, with no conflicts between SWA and anti-SWA members, but tensions between the two were still apparent. Anti-SWA protesters held up a sign saying “Don’t steal our sign!

Your tents are in shambles, like your sitin!” They also came equipped with blue masking tape to tape on people’s wrists as “anti-SWA armbands.”

Motivation for the “lunch-in” primarily stemmed from student concerns about SWA tactics. Anti-SWA protesters labeled SWA’s behavior, particularly its hunger strike, as “rash” and “thoughtless.” Reller said that SWA’s demands were high and

$

failed to include many Washington University students.

“We wanted to organize a ‘lunch-in’ to show support of our view against the wage increase,” said Reller. “We felt SWA’s actions were very extreme, trying to force the administration to find two million dollars in the time it takes for a person to starve.”

Freshman and anti-SWA supporter Sam Gittle summed up SWA’s hunger strike as nothing more than a “fad diet” meant to draw attention, saying that participants were consuming sugary drinks and taking “24-hour breaks.”

In addition to disagreeing with SWA tactics, anti-SWA protesters expressed their view that the implementation of a living wage would be, at the very least, economically meaningless and even potentially harmful to workers.

Sophomore Scott Frey explained that without a tuition increase, University employees would have to be fired or take a cut in the hours they work in order to sustain wage increases. Speaking nationally, he explained that arbitrarily increasing wages would only lead to an adjustment in the economy. Unless workers are working

harder, said Frey, the value of their work is not going to change by increasing their pay.

“We are at a top university,” said Frey.

“It’s irresponsible to raise wages instead of giving the workers skills. For example, if a worker is fired, then he would take nothing of real value with him. However, if you teach workers skills, they can reach higher pay rates on their own. In the long run, the benefits of providing them with English classes are far higher than giving them an extra $1.50 per hour.”

Second-year law and MBA student Dean Wang ate lunch with anti-SWA members to show support for their position. Agreeing with Frey and others, he said that SWA’s actions were “a bit misguided.”

“I support workers but I think we should be focused on giving them the opportunity to find a different job—not fighting for them to keep the same job with more money,” said Wang.

Anti-SWA protesters confirmed a plan to reorganize on Friday for a similar “lunch-in.” The protest will again be staged on the Quad. Members hope to draw more attention and support for their position, maintaining that they are “the silent majority” on a campus that is largely apathetic or too busy with academic life to make its voice heard.

$

ATTENTION

DAVID BRODY | STUDENT LIFE

Anti-SWA demonstrators eat lunch on the Quad on Tuesday to protest SWA’s occupation of the admissions office. The anti-SWA members said they plan on eating Taco Bell in the Quad on Friday to mock SWA’s efforts to “Boot the Bell.”

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News Editor / Sarah Kliff/news@studlife.com

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 20, 2005

POPE FROM PAGE 1

CAMPUS BRIEFS Seven receive service award Seven members of the University community will receive the fi rst annual Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award. The award, formerly known as the Sesquicentennial Ethic of Service Award, recognizes University community members who have exhibited outstanding commitment to the community, in a variety of ways. This year’s recipients are senior Stacy Brock, senior Jami Crespo, alumna Marla Esser, professor of architecture Bob Hansman, law student Sara Lawlyes, staff member Elinor Nelson and Associate Dean of Diversity at the School of Medicine Will Ross.

WU Med School takes advantage of peanut butter’s medicinal value Researchers at the University’s School of Medicine have begun to take notice of a peanut butter paste called Plumpy’nut as an effective means of aiding malnourished children. The paste, originally developed as a breakfast product by a French company, has been used to feed more than 30,000 malnourished children in the Dafur region of Sudan. Using Plumpy’nut, Washington University pediatrician Mark Manary established Project Peanut Butter in Malawi in southern Africa, where he plans to use 150 tons of the paste each year to aid the estimated 15,000 malnourished children. The peanut butter paste compound packs 500 calories into 100 grams. In 2001, the first year of Manary’s program, recovery rates of the children eating Plumpy’nut soared from 25% to 95%.

deal with issues about faith almost daily.”

Braun says the biggest issues the Church will have to deal with in the next few years will not just be with internal matters.

“We’re going to have to address issues about poverty and inequality and give voice to them. We need a global response that goes way beyond sexual issues or moral issues like reproduction and assisted living,” he said.

Ratzinger, who was the Dean of the College of Cardinals before becoming pope, is well-known for his scholarly works. As an adviser at the

Vatican, he wrote in 1968 an “Introduction to Christianity,” a collection of university lessons, as well an anthology of essays, sermons and reflections published in 1973.

“He’s a world-class theologian and a great man of great learning,” Braun said.

Braun noted he has one disappointment about yesterday’s selection.

“I’ve been trying to get him to come here to speak for five years,” Braun said. “I guess that’s not going to happen.”

In their own words: students share their opinions on Pope Ratzinger’s selection “I respect him a lot for defending what I see as the essence of Roman Catholicism: the notion of a single, knowable, universal truth guarded by a single, visible body. He is a theologian of great renown, and I frankly find much of his writing brilliant and inspiring. He is committed to continuing the policies of the 20th-century popes, different as they are: doctrinal orthodoxy, the reforms of Vatican II, dialogue and, believe it or not, open-mindedness. He strikes me as being very openminded to everything except for the most essential aspects of Church teaching, which are, for him as for his predecessors, non-negotiable. That being said, I admit that I am disappointed that he has been elected pope. He comes to the papacy with an established reputation and a lot of baggage.

Benedict XVI will, in my opinion, be someone who will polarize the Church rather than unite it. I may not agree with the Cardinals’ choice, we should remember that he *is* their choice. Their expertise and years of experience are far more useful for determining what the Church needs than my mere opinions.”

Jonathon Michael Repinecz, senior “I cannot make a firm judgment on the new pope until I am able to see the direction he has for the Church. However, from what I have read about his past, Pope Benedict XVI seems more conservative than I might have hoped for the Catholic Church. With the election of Cardinal Ratzinger the central authority of the Church affirmed its intention to return to a more orthodox theology.

I understand the Church’s desire to maintain stability in its teachings. But what Catholics around the world are yearning for is dialogue—a chance to question the Church and understand its positions. Ideas and conversations need to take place between the clergy and the laity, and Catholic authorities need to give the laity more credit in such discourse. I worry that Pope Benedict XVI will prevent discussion on critical topics in the contemporary Church, such as abortion, homosexuality, the sex abuse scandals and the ordination of women priests.”

Anne Lamb, junior

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News Editor / Sarah Kliff/ news@studlife.com

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 20, 2005

RUSSIAN FROM PAGE 1

Study looks into the religious beliefs of college freshmen A recent study by the Higher Education Research Institute found that although most college freshmen believe in God, they do not follow religious teaching throughout their daily lives. Their survey of 112,232 freshmen found that 69% of students reported that their religion provided them with guidance, while 48% reported that they were confl icted about their spiritual identity. The study also found a high correlation between students’ religious beliefs and their thoughts on hot-topic political issues.

Religious students were more likely to oppose same-sex marriages as well as less likely to believe that abortion should be legalized. On issues such as gun control and free speech, there were few differences between religious and non-religious students.

Starting salaries increase for 2004 college grads Starting salaries for college graduates have increased in 2003-2004, according to a recent study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. The study also found early indication that this year would see even higher hiring rates for 2005 college grads. In comparing different degrees, chemical engineers came in with the highest starting salary at $54,256. They were followed by electrical engineers, computer engineers and computer scientists. At the bottom of the National Association of College and Employer’s list of top-paid degrees was liberal arts, with an average starting salary of $30,337.

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only learned about the downsizing through hearsay.

“The announcement was fi ltered through teachers and only confi rmed months after the decision was made. This was a disservice to students trying to plan their future studies, and even after some students spoke with the administration and secured assurances that they would do so, they have not sufficiently publicized the closure,” the student alleged.

The student went on to say that the University’s actions have “soured some students’ feelings towards the administration and the University, and also stifled the atmosphere of discussion and understanding that the administration ostensibly promotes.”

Both Macias and McLeod dismissed the allegations, and Macias went on to suggest that students work with faculty through these changes.

“I would advise faculty and students to discuss this as always,” Macias said.

Despite the changes to the department, Senior Russian Lecturer Mikhail Palatnik said that he hopes to continue certain traditions such as the picnic at his house every spring. He also encourages interested students to continue to pursue Russian.

“The Russian department has been blessed with incredible students. Russian is still here, so please come and study it,” Palatnik said.

Upon Banjanin’s retirement, the remaining instructors in the Russian department, Palatnik and Associate Professor Michael Finke, will be appointed elsewhere. Palatnik will teach Russian under the German department, while Finke will be moved to International Studies.

www.ucollege.wustl.edu/summersc

NATIONAL

STUDENT LIFE | NEWS

5

SLU students protest “graduation fee”

Second group works to commute death sentence

By Liz Neukirch Associate Editor Washington University students aren’t the only students in the area who’ve been rallying for what they believe in—two different student groups at Saint Louis University are also protesting and petitioning for their causes.

One group is taking action against the administration of Saint Louis University (SLU) for a recently instated $50 graduation fee; the other hopes to commute the death sentence of a local man to life in prison without parole.

SLU’s Vice President of Enrollment initially announced last Wednesday a $75 graduation fee at the school’s Student Government Association (SGA) meeting. Monday night SLU Provost Joe Weixlmann, Ph.D., met with several law students, the executive board of the SGA, and other student leaders, and said the school’s Coordinating Council had decided to change the fee to $50.

The school instated the fee after enlisting a group from its business and finance department that determined the fee would shield departments within the school whose spending is depressed by increasing commencement costs.

Junior Jim Swift, who was in attendance at Monday’s meeting, said the administration has no intention of retracting their decision. Approximately 60-70 SLU students rallied in their quad and the second floor of the administration’s building on campus yesterday morning at 8 a.m. to voice their disappointment.

“Right now students are filing for an injunction. The law students have cases…where what SLU’s doing is technically against Missouri law.

Within seven days a judge in St. Louis will have a hearing to decide whether to [remove the fee],” Swift said.

SGA President Adam Meister said students are upset that the fee is being imposed on them without adequate notice.

“This is not something they announced at the beginning of the year or even the semester. You pay your tuition and have a reasonable expectation of service, and don’t expect costs to rise after that. It quite frankly seems like extortion, since

Did you have a problem "getting a grip" in class this year?

they’re holding your graduation records against you,” Meister said.

In a protest held at SLU on Monday afternoon, some 900 students signed a petition alleging that the administration has “failed to give any viable reason for charging a graduation fee” and warning that a failure to remove the charge from the signing students’ bills will result in that fee being their “final contribution to the coffers of SLU now and forever.”

Graduating students’ records and diplomas will not be released from SLU until all fees have been paid. Meister noted that refusing to pay the fee would “kill students who want to send their records to grad schools” as well as those who need their records for any sort of certification.

Students with dire financial need will be exempt from paying the new fee.

Student unite to commute death sentence While some SLU students were protesting the graduation fee yesterday, the SLU Community United to end the Death Penalty held a “die-in” on campus to protest the upcoming Missouri execution of Donald Jones.

Approximately 100 students and community members gathered to read aloud the names of each of the 62 people who have died from the death penalty in Missouri since it was reinstated in 1976. As each name was read aloud, a student or community member laid on the ground to “play dead.”

Sophomore Elizabeth Henricks, one of the students who founded the group just a few weeks ago, said turnout for the event was a lot higher than they anticipated. Attendees signed petitions at the event that will be sent to Donald Jones’ uncle, Alderman Matthew Knuckles, who will send them to Missouri Governor Matt Blunt with the many petitions Jones’ family has collected.

A member of the Eastern Missouri Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty—the group that has been helping the SLU students with their cause—called Jones during the “die-in” and had him speak to the group by holding a cell phone to a microphone. Henricks, who was able to speak to him directly on the phone, said she was “shocked how peaceful he was.”

“He thanked everybody… said ‘You’re in my prayers, thank you for working for me.’ It was so cool,” Henricks said.

Jones, who has no previous criminal record, was sentenced to death after killing his grandmother in an argument while he was high on marijuana laced with PCP. “She raised him—they were really close, it was very uncharacteristic,” Henricks said. “The way that he said it in the court proceedings, it was ‘the monster inside him,’ the drugs… [his family] lost his grandmother, and now they’re going to lose him. Perpetuating it with the death penalty is going to make it worse.”

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6 STUDENT LIFE | FORUM

Forum Editor / Molly Antos / forum@studlife.com

FORUM

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 20, 2005

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS Write a letter to the editor letters@studlife.com or Campus Box 1039 Submit an opinion column forum@studlife.com or Campus Box 1039

STAFF EDITORIAL

SWA, stand up!

E

nough is enough. At fi rst, the sit-in organized by the SWA showed dedication and a laudable effort. Now, however, the event has gone on entirely too long, and seems rather fruitless.

The University has made concessions over the course of several meetings with protesters. The University has promised $500,000 for benefits packages, and the University has agreed to join the Worker’s Rights Consortium. The Chancellor agreed to establish a group for the purpose of evaluating how contractors for the University are chosen. The SWA may not have yet received the $10.05 with benefits living wage they set out to get, but that is no reason to continue down this path. In

the cause, or simply to pull pranks on the original protesters as a means of entertainment. Yet the signs, the organized luncheons on the Quad and the dedication this group has shown is just as admirable as the original cause. In particular, it was nice for prospective freshmen visiting for April Welcome to see the dialogue that can occur on this campus. The dialogue sparked by the SWA and anti-SWA protesters showed that issues don’t have to be one-sided, and that everyone in the campus community has an equal opportunity to express an opinion.

The moral of the story is that protesting is a wonderful way to support a cause or anti-cause. This particular issue, however,

fact, there doesn’t seem to be much left to accomplish. The two opposing sides seem to be at an impasse, and while the persistence of the SWA was effective and admirable at fi rst, their inflexibility now seems detrimental to their cause.

The situation has become a “he said, she said” catfight between the administration and the students. It’s time to collapse the tents, stand up and go to class. While students are gunning for more money for University employees, their parents’ hardearned money is going to waste due to all the classes they’ve missed.

The anti-SWA protesters should also be commended. It would have been extremely easy for this group to make a joke out of

has become the proverbial dead horse. It seems that there is nowhere for the SWA to go except down. Perhaps students involved in the protest should bow out while they are ahead and move on. While this particular installment of the protest has ceased to progress, that does not mean that the fight is over.

Students should take the administration up on the offer to continue open and potentially productive discussions about this issue. The protest involved a lot of hard work and sacrifice on the part of many individuals. The group’s presence in the admissions office has lost its impact and is no longer forwarding the cause. It’s time to go home.

DINA RUDOFSKY | EDITORIAL CARTOON

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OPINION COLUMN (OP-ED): A bylined essay of between 500 and 750 words that reflects only the opinion of the author. It should include the name, class, position (if applicable), major (if applicable) and phone number of the author. E-mail forum@studlife.com to submit.

v

LETTER: A piece of writing under 350 words in length, directed to the Student Life Forum editors, that may or may not respond directly to content printed previously in Student Life. It should include the name, class, position (if applicable) and phone number of the author.

E-mail letters@studlife.com to submit.

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STAFF EDITORIAL: An opinion that reflects the consensus of the editorial board. It is written by the Forum editors.

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FORUM FLASHBACK: A summary of an article previously published in Forum, followed by an analysis or update to the opinion.

CONCEPT: PETER ROBARDS, ART: DINA RUDOFSKY

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Offensive cartoon reflects poorly on paper Dear Editor: Re: “The Adventures of People That Miss the Point Entirely” (April 18) I am writing to request that you remove Johnny Chang from the cartoonist position at Student Life. From what I have gathered I fi nd it to be a general consensus he is detrimental to the paper and comes off as childish because of his lack of creativity.

It would be understandable if he posted a controversial cartoon assuming it had a reference to a current issue, but he most importantly lacks humor and a point. His response to his previous offense shows he lacks an understanding of how to make an intelligent comment on society.

Today’s paper was pretty much an embarrassment to our school, with Chang’s pathetic response and Allison Hull defending her promiscuity.

In future, please fi lter articles more even if it requires publishing a much smaller paper. I would rather have fewer quality articles, than waste my time searching for pieces with any real content.

-Zack Meisel Class of 2008

Apology needed for rape cartoon Dear Editor: Re: “The editor’s take on ‘rape’ cartoon” (April 18) I am disappointed in Student Life’s failure to apologize to its readers for Johnny Chang’s offensive cartoon “The Adventures of the Bookstore.”

The recent editor’s note not only ignores many of the concerns presented by readers, but also acts as though such qualms are completely unnecessary and unfounded. The author’s condescending tone excuses the offense without so much as empathizing with those who may feel differently. Such a dialogue is unacceptable in a university that prides itself upon open ears and open hearts.

The author fi rst states that the cartoon is permissible because many students use the phrase “I got raped by the bookstore.” She recognizes that although “most students would agree that rape is not something to joke about...students continually use rape metaphors without giving any thought to the meaning behind what they’re saying.” Does the author,

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then, excuse tossing around the word “gay” with one’s friends? Is it perfectly acceptable to use derogatory terms when referencing minority groups? I think most would agree that not “giving any thought” to what one is saying is not only ignorant but dangerous. As students at Washington University, we must indeed strive to give thought to and understand the consequences of our words. In simply justifying the cartoon because equating rape with the bookstore is common among students, the author is only allowing such offensive remarks to flourish.

The author then asserts that those sending letters to the editor have misunderstood that editorial cartoons do not reflect the thoughts of the entire Student Life staff. For once, I would like to see Student Life take responsibility for its actions. As far as I am concerned, every article, every cartoon, every critique published in Student Life is a reflection of those who create it. It is a pity that Student Life, as a representation of our student body, published such an insulting cartoon for all campus visitors and Washington University members to see. If Student Life cannot apologize for such actions, I would at least expect the author of the cartoon to write a formal letter to the commu-

David Brody Brian Sotak Laura Geggel, Brad Nelson Mandy Silver Daniel Milstein, Zach Goodwin, Jeff Stepp, Brian Schroeder Cadenza Editors Adam Summerville, Jordan Deam Scene Editors Kristin McGrath, Sarah Klein Photo Editors Pam Buzzetta, Oliver Hulland, David Hartstein

nity.

The author fi nally concluded that “offensiveness” does not merit censorship. I, for one, do not condone limiting free speech. I do, however, agree with Student Life’s continual effort to contemplate its own image as a reflection of Washington University. Obviously many were hurt and offended by the cartoon. In dismissing such complaints as completely unwarranted, Student Life indeed denied an open, empathetic dialogue between itself and its readers.

-Laura Wolkoff Class of 2008

Flyers without information just confuse Dear Editor:

I’ve talked to recently, your response was probably an emphatic “Huh?” So what’s with these supposed quotes and bits of information anyway?

They don’t have any contact information, and no sources for the quotes are cited.

More importantly, though, what’s the point? Are we supposed to feel guilty for drawing a long straw in the game of life? I don’t feel that some of the things “overheard at Washington University” are representative of the student body as a whole, and certainly not a fair impression to give to the multitudes of visitors over the past weekend. For the most part, Washington University students are hardworking, dedicated human beings, not lazy rich snobs as implied by some of the quotes. I’m here to better myself so I can better the world, and I’m sure many of my fellow students feel the same way.

Maybe this is all a gross misunderstanding of the spirit of these flyers.

If so, I’d love to hear from those behind them as to what they want, and if not, what “WUrld” they’re living in.

If you’ve stepped outside your dorm room in the last few days, you’ve probably been witness to the barrage of “Know our WUrld” flyers that have appeared. And if you’re anything like me and the students

Online Editor Dan Daranciang Copy Editors Allie McKay, Nina Perlman, Kelly Donahue, Shannon Petry

Designers Anna Dinndorf, Ellen Lo, Laura McLean, Camila Salvisberg, Jamie Reed General Manager Andrew O’Dell Ad Manager Christopher Kiggins

-Justin Char Class of 2008

Copyright 2005 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.

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If you wish to report an error or request a clarification, e-mail editor@studlife.com.

Forum Editor / Molly Antos / forum@studlife.com

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 20, 2005

STUDENT LIFE | FORUM

7

Build more six-person suites

B

REAKING NEWS: Angry freshmen have decided to sit in the Residential Life office on the South 40 to protest their housing assignments. A spokesman for the protesters said that they would not leave until they are given a housing assignment on the 40.

Inspired by SWA’s campaigns to get a living wage for workers, various demonstrations have sprung up throughout campus. Last week, students marched on Eliot Hall, home of the economics department, to protest what they felt was an unfair microeconomics test. A couple of days before, members of a consortium of intramural softball teams burnt umpires in effigy after the umpires called a pitch that was clearly inside a strike. However, unlike the other offshoots

Daniel Milstein

of SWA’s protest, this movement seems to have some merit.

The protesters are mainly comprised of students who applied for six-person suites on the 40 and got denied. There are also a couple of people who are upset about being forced to live in the Village, but the majority of the new denizens of the Residential Life office do not yet know where they are going to live next year after Round 2 of the petitioning for housing.

The problem, the protesters asserted in a statement released to Student Life, is not with the methodology behind Residential Life’s decisions on who will live where. The protesters claimed that despite being disappointed, they understand that they just got the short end of the stick. Their qualm is with the way new buildings are being built. “More people request traditional dorms than modern dorms,” the statement said, pointing to the fact that some of the groups of six protesting had lower average lottery numbers than some of the groups of four who got stuck in the Village. “The University should try to accommodate the desires of its students, and instead of spending money replacing traditional freshman dorms with

modern ones, build more six-person suites on the South 40.”

In the past, the University has claimed that the impetus for replacing the more popular traditional dorms with modern dorms is the need to provide housing for the rising amount

823 students can live on the South 40 in modern dorms, but only 548 can remain on the 40 in traditional dorms. of students who elect to live in University housing. The protesters are using this as ammunition in their fight against the University’s housing plan. Seizing a Sept. 20, 2004 Student Life article in which Assistant Vice Chancellor of Students Justin Carroll stated that “we anticipated that more students would stay in University housing longer if we gave them more options,” and citing calculations that 823 students can live on the South 40 in modern

dorms, but only 548 can remain on the 40 in traditional dorms according to Residential Life’s “Where Are U Living” handbook, the protesters have started wearing shirts exclaiming, “Give us more options! Give us more sixes!”

The protesters’ statement said that they will sit in the Residential Life office until the University commits to building another dorm containing six-person suites for upperclassmen.

The protesters claimed that there is enough demand to fi ll a whole new dorm of six-person suites, but if there isn’t, “Transfer students can live there. The sense of community in traditional dorms will allow them to assimilate into the Wash U community much better than if they were in a more sterile modern dorm,” the statement read.

In other news, the Save Koenig sit-in has not gone well, as many bystanders have just assumed that the Koenig residents sitting in their dorm were just studying.

Daniel is a freshman in Arts & Sciences and a Forum editor. He can be reached via e-mail at forum@studlife.com.

Nutritional deception: urban myths and the quest for healthy food on campus unhealthy for a college student? and 2) Just Op-ed submission how unhealthy are all the foods students eat routinely at places ne day, I was in line in Whispers orlike Bear’s Den and dering a banana nut muffi n, talking Whispers? to a friend about how much I loved I began looking into the muffi ns there. It was then that the fi rst obvious case he said, “Do you know how bad those are for of nutritional decepyou?” I did not know. I had never considered tion: the Caesar salad. the fact that muffi ns, a food purported to be Before, I had the mindsomewhat healthy, could be terrible for you. I set of many people soon took it upon myself to fi nd out just how that any salad is autounhealthy my beloved muffi ns were, and what matically healthy for began as a simple exploration turned into you. In reality, Caesar somewhat of a research project – with surprissalads are one of the ing results. worst things you can As it turns out, one innocent-looking eat. A large Caesar banana nut muffi n has 507 calories, 78 grams has 900 calories, 76 of carbohydrates, and 18 grams of fat. Could I grams of fat, and really be getting 20-25% of my recommended 40 grams of carbs. caloric intake from just one muffi n? After Though I thought I discovering this, I began to delve into more was being healthier nutritional facts, considering many questions, than the people ordernamely 1) What foods offered on campus are ing hamburgers for every meal, a Caesar salad has twice the fat and three times the sodium of a hamburger – not to mention 250 more calories.

Chicken fi ngers have never been thought to be healthy, but it’s relatively unknown just how bad they are. One order at Bear’s Den has 88 g of fat (136% of the recommended daily value), 1335 calories, 2262 mg of sodium (95% RDV), 255 mg of cholesterol, and 65 g of carbs. Add fries to that and for just one meal you have 123 g of fat, 3200 mg of sodium, 106 g of carbs, and 1900 calories. Putting chicken fi ngers on sandwiches, pasta, quesadillas or salads (which is very popular) turns a potentially healthy choice into a nutritional disaster.

The snacks offered at Whispers and Hilltop Bakery (croissants, cinnamon buns, cookies, Rice Krispies treats, brownies and doughnuts) are just as bad or worse for you than the muffi ns which have already been shown to be very unhealthy. The only remotely healthy thing offered as a snack is fruit – and if you know anything about fruit, RACHEL HARRIS | STUDENT LIFE

By Jake Levitas

O

RACHEL HARRIS | STUDENT LIFE

you know that the fruit on our campus is of extremely low quality and lacks selection.

You should not wait until you’re obese to think about what you eat. You can be thin and still have high levels of sodium, fat, blood sugar and cholesterol, which increase your chances of heart and health problems later in life. Just because we are young and have high metabolism doesn’t mean we can eat food that is terrible for us all the time. I once thought I was eating healthy when I wasn’t even close to it, and I am sure others are making the same mistake.

This university claims to value the wellbeing of its students – as it should. Health services and counseling run some very good programs, and you see the occasional sign in Bear’s Den with nutritional information on it (though these go largely unnoticed and/or unconsidered). I greatly respect those attempting to stress the importance of nutrition to our students.

Inflate our grades

By Micah Bateman Staff Columnist

T

he most striking irony on campus is that strange imbalance between overachievement and apathy on the part of (some of the) undergraduates. I say ‘strange,’ because the sense of priorities here, especially among particular areas of study, completely elude me.

Now, to preface this, I must fi rst be fair to the general discipline of apathy – that is, I’m a fan of it. Sloth is both my favorite sin and animal, and on any given day, you’ll likely see me in the library reading for leisure and giving a wry half-smile to the guys in the computer cluster shuffl ing through 80 pages of ERes. I’m a pre-med dropout. To quote Douglas Adams, “I like the whooshing sound [deadlines] make as they fly by.” For the most part, I refuse all-nighters. And while I’m in class, my favorite activity is counting how many times the guy in the front row says “ostensibly.”

That said, I also pursue my interests: if in class we are discussing works of particular interest to me, I’m sure to attend and participate; I write on my computer when my roommate’s not looking; I listen to interesting guest speakers on campus (as long as their lecture is not too early in the morning); I take symphony trips to Powell Hall every once in a while; and I make a habit of reading literary review journals in Olin Level 1.

This lifestyle is the perfect balance for an undergraduate. I’m not here for four years and $160K to learn a survey of things that I don’t care about, but to broaden myself in ways that I do, to “imbibe that invisible atmosphere of genius” (John Henry Newman) and fi nd for myself engaging avenues not prescribed curricularly by the undergraduate catalog.

Now to the crux of my complaint: a fair percentage of students here are nothing if not resume-conscious, and this discourages me. I’ve noted several instances of this apathetic overachievement, and I’d like to address a few in writing.

Grades: First of all, grades elude me in the follow-

ing way: that I can graduate from a class having had a much more considerate experience than someone who attained an A+, and for this reason, I’ve given up on the concept all but entirely (after all, I need a degree). A quote I overheard while in chemistry lab last year might help to elucidate the problem: labmate to teaching assistant, “Is this sufficient for number four?

I mean, I don’t really care about the question, I just want to know if I’m getting full points.” Students tend to care more for marks than material, and to those students I give an F, which stands for F-ing get over it!

Research: One of the bigger draws on the university pamphlet (well, one of the myriad) for incoming students is the accessibility of research for undergraduates, in whatever discipline. I hear students complaining all the time about the lackluster appeal of their

Grades only matter if they reflect a true and soulful devotion to the material. research with regard to their own interests, and when I pry further into the dynamics of what they are doing, they flounder for an answer. However, I commend their honesty when they tell me they are doing it to decorate their grad school applications, but still I tell them they can pursue their own interests while amassing application ruffage.

Clubs: Even I am a member of a few, but this is for the serial-joiners – the ones who, as aforementioned, are in it for a reference. At my last club meeting, of a member list of roundabout 30 students, nine attended, and of the nine, five were executives. This could explain the impotence of some of our more defunct campus organizations.

It seems that students, while stressed and sleepless,

See GRADES, page 8

The truth remains, however, that a large percentage of the Wash U population routinely eat foods that are terrible for them – often without knowing it or realizing the extent to which they are unhealthy. It is the responsibility of the University and its dining services to make a wide selection of healthy food easily accessible to its students. As someone who is now more conscious of his health, I can say that it is extremely difficult to eat well on our campus. Numerous studies have shown the importance of a healthy diet in a learning environment, and our school just isn’t doing enough to provide the essential nutrients that we as students need to learn at our full potential. I urge you to consider the contents of your diet more, and to press the administration to make drastic changes in our dining options in every facility on campus.

Jake is a freshman in Arts & Sciences. He can be reached via e-mail at jlevitas@wustl.edu.

Just the Facts Yesterday, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany was chosen as the 265th pope. What do Wash U students want Pope Benedict XVI to do?

◆1.

2. ◆ 3. ◆ 4. ◆ 5. ◆ 6. ◆

Turn water into kosher wine for WILD.

Walk into a bar with a rabbi and the Dalai Lama.

Legalize it.

Play a game of Texas Hold ‘Em with evolution on the line.

Relationship with God on thefacebook.

Give cardinals a living wage.

- compiled by Daniel Milstein, David Brody and Mandy Silver

8 STUDENT LIFE | FORUM

Forum Editor / Molly Antos / forum@studlife.com

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 20, 2005

Make the orange cloth count

B

y now, everyone and their mother has written about the SWA or the living wage. As an editor, I must say this is convenient, because it gives me material to print.

However, after reading all the articles that have graced our pages, I feel that there is still more to the issue than we have discussed.

What is the underlying message of the SWA’s protest? At fi rst, it seemed to be a genuine concern for the welfare of the University’s employees. Now, after having staged a multi-week sit-in, carrying out a hunger strike and obtaining generous concessions from the University, the SWA seems more intent on proving to themselves that they are, in fact, veritable Mahatma Ghandis, or the goateed, plaid-shirted protesters that their parents were in the seventies. I want to believe in the spirit of the SWA, and I champion their cause—but their cause is no longer one that can be solved by sitting.

While walking to a screening for one of my fi lm classes, I noticed a Top Care worker diligently sweeping leaves and debris from the sidewalk into a pile, then stooping to scrape the pile into his dust bin. His pile was small, no bigger than a fist. His smile was even smaller— so small, it looked like a frown. As I walked by, I wanted to say thank you. I wanted to tell him I appreciated him. But instead, I inched my backpack higher onto my shoulders and opened the door into McDonnell Hall. I was late, anyway.

Why didn’t I stop? Probably the same reason why I cut across freshly laid sod to get to class.

Probably the same reason I curse the clumps of salt that stick to my shoes during the winter.

And I hate myself for it.

Jeff Stepp

Of course our workers on campus want higher wages. No one could deny that. But is that the most kindness we can offer them? And is that really all they want? Many contracted employees of Wash U arrive at their job before we get to class, and leave long after we go home. During the day, while we drink lattes, throw Frisbee and shift from one butt cheek to another in a stuffy classroom, these workers are thanklessly cleaning our rooms, grooming our campus, cooking our food and washing our dishes, all while having the time to say “thank you” after we get our slice of pork from the carvery. And I can’t even stop to shake a worker’s hand?

Instead of griping to your roommate about how the SWA should or should not quit their protest, or about how the living wage is or is not a good idea, give over your time to something more worthwhile. Use the sidewalks, rather than walking over grass and flowers that have just been planted. Say “hello” or “thank you” when walking by a man or woman carrying a broom. Don’t stash your trash in some corner when the trash can is full, thinking someone else will pick it up. If you even have a few extra minutes, why not engage a worker in conversation? Ask them about their families, their hobbies. Practice your Spanish; encourage them to practice their English.

Learn their names. Tell them that you’re glad they are here, that they’re important, that we support them. Believe it or not, I doubt they think we all do. And why should they? Sure, we may sit on our asses in the admissions office, calculating how next to castigate the chancellor, but that is only one mean to a much larger end. We can all help make life better for Wash U’s workers. So take that orange strip of cloth you wear and make it mean something.

Jeff is a junior in Arts & Sciences and a Forum editor. He can be reached via e-mail at forum@studlife.com.

GRADES n FROM PAGE 7 are stressed and sleepless for all the wrong reasons. I should hope that before these students graduate, they come to the realization that their experience here was more than credentializing, and that grades only matter if they reflect a true and soulful devotion to the material.

For these reasons, I fully endorse grade inflation. Only through grade inflation can we see what students are really made of. If Chancellor Wrighton indeed wants us to be the Harvard of the Midwest, then I expect that by the time I graduate (2007, hopefully) somewhere about 90 percent of us will graduate with honors. He should get on that pretty soon. Until then, I’ll be in Olin by the magazine racks, waiting.

Micah is a sophomore in Arts & Sciences. He can be reached via e-mail at mbateman@wustl.edu.

Visualizing Women’s Health in Contemporary Art Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum Final days!

On display through April 24, 2005

Upcoming Events

Regular museum hours

Friday, April 22, 6:30 pm Friday Forum Discussion Series The Mind-Body Problem Susan Felleman, Assistant Professor of Cinema Studies and Vagner Whitehead, Assistant Professor of Photography, SIU Carbondale Call for ticket information

Tuesday–Thursday 10–4:30 pm Friday 10–8 pm (OPEN LATE ) Saturday and Sunday 12–4:30 pm Closed Monday

Sunday, April 24, 12–4:30 pm Last day to view Inside Out Loud

Correction: The campus brief in the 4/18/05 issue incorrectly reported a student’s last name.

Junior Michael Gardner is a member of Washington University’s math team that placed first in the annual Missouri Collegiate Mathematics Competition.

Washington University Steinberg Hall

314.935.4523

kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu It is not too late to arrange for a free student docent tour of the exhibition by calling 314.935.7918.

All events are free and open to all unless otherwise noted.

Major funding for Inside Out Loud was provided by Helen Kornblum and the Friends of IOL. Additional funding was provided by Elizabeth A. Sackler Museum Educational Trust; Marlene Nathan Meyerson Family Foundation; Siteman Cancer Center; Sonnenschein, Nath, and Rosenthal LLP; Missouri Arts Council; Regional Arts Commission; Arts and Education Council; Washington University’s School of Arts and Sciences, School of Medicine, and Academic Women’s Network; Hortense Lewin Art Fund; and individual contributors to the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.

The Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum student docent program is funded in part by the Women’s Society of Washington University.

Image: Orlan, OMNIPRÉSENCE (CLOSE-UP OF LAUGHTER DURING THE OPERATION) , Seventh Surgery-Performance, New York, November 21, 1993. Cibachrome print in Diasec mount, 43 1/3 x 65”.

Courtesy of the artist. © 2004 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris.

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 20, 2005

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

STUDENT LIFE

We Endorse a Living Wage at Washington University And Support the Student Worker Alliance An Open Letter from Washington University Faculty to Chancellor Wrighton A year ago, many of us signed an appeal on behalf of a living-wage standard at Washington University. We wished to show our support for the Student Worker Alliance (SWA) in its effort to promote decent labor standards for all employees at Washington University. A year has passed without meaningful action on the university’s part to address these concerns. Now, as the Student Worker Alliance has drawn the attention of all the campus and the city at large by its Admissions Office sit-in, we wish to reaffirm our endorsement of a university-wide living-wage policy and call on the administration to meet SWA’s challenge: Implement a living-wage standard now.

The concept of a living wage has emerged across the country in response to the declining purchasing power of the minimum wage and large numbers of low-paid wage-earners falling under the poverty line. It is time to start reversing the trend of recent decades toward a sharper polarization of income in the United States, and we can begin here at home. The St. Louis Board of Aldermen has defined a living wage, locally, as an income measuring 130% of the poverty level, coming to $9.79 an hour (as well as full heath care coverage) this year. As one of the major employers in the area, and as an institution we think should honor standards of social justice, Washington University should pay its employees—and guarantee that its contractors pay their employees—at least this much.

A number of crucial services that make this campus work—particularly dining, shuttle, and janitorial services as well as grounds maintenance—are performed by third-party contractors whose average hourly pay rates fall short of a living wage. Our neighbor, Saint Louis University, does far better, offering base pay to janitors well above the living wage and insuring that janitors’ health, life insurance, and tuition benefits match those received by full-time, directly hired university employees. Certainly, our richly endowed university can follow SLU’s example in this regard.

We are glad that Washington University pays living wages to employees who are directly hired, but we cannot countenance an arrangement that segregates basic service workers in a substandard wage and benefit sector. If the university finds it economical to subcontract such services, the savings should come in lower administrative costs, not at the workers’ expense. A living wage of the sort SWA has proposed, along with a well-enforced SWA-proposed Code of Conduct for service contractors regarding all working conditions (including benefits, safety, and freedom to organize), will restore employee standards that meet our community’s standards.

SWA’s membership includes some of our brightest, most civic-minded, and most energetic students. They have recognized the role that students have come to play in urging other leading universities, such as Stanford, Yale, Wesleyan, Harvard, and Georgetown, to declare their observance of living-wage standards. We believe this institution too must shoulder its full responsibilities for just, fair employee relations. SWA has got it right: Now is the time to establish a living wage for all at Washington University.

Richard Abrams Elizabeth Allen Garland Allen Susan Frelich Appleton Deanna Barch Barbara Baumgartner Jerome Bauer Al Baernstein Ryan Balot David Balota Guinn Batten Carl Bender Nancy Berg Henry Berger Claude Bernard Iver Bernstein Dora Bertram Kathleen Bolduan Hyla Bondareff Ken Botnick Todd Braver Virginia Braxs Lynne Breakstone Howard Brick Carolyn Brown Eric Brown J. Andrew Brown Leslie Brown Lou Brown James Buckley Anders Carlsson Brian Carpenter Elizabeth Childs Oscar Chilson B. Ruth Clark Mary Jean Cowell Carl Craver Robert Criss Gia Daskalakis Nina Davis Willem Dickhoff David Dodd Rebecca Dresser Mary Ann Dzuback

Jan Duchek Tonya Edmond Rowhea Elmesky Diane E. Elze Zachary Falck David Felix Renato Feres Michael Finke Louis Fishman Barbara Flagg Andrea Friedman Marilyn Friedman Margaret Garb John Garganigo Peter Gaspar Daniel Geary Jeremy Gibson-Brown Seth Graebner Beata Grant Leonard Green Leigh Hunt Greenhaw Michael Gross Emily Guignon Bret Gustafson Sandra Hale Jeff Hamilton Steve Hause Robert Hegel Robert Henke John Hetts Erik D. Herzog Brett Hyde Pascal Ifri Gerald Izenberg Martin Jacobs Christine Johnson Mark Johnston Ahmet Karamustafa Jonathan Katz Cathy Keane Fatemeh Keshavarz Hillel Kieval David Kirk Stephanie Kirk

Marshall Klimasewiski Jack Knight Lutz Koepnick Danny Kohl David Konig Kathleen Kuba Richard Kuhns Richard Kurtz Robert Lamberton D. Bruce La Pierre Alan Lambert Maria Lander David Lawton Belinda Lee Carolyn Lesorogol Rebecca Lester Petra Levin Maxine I. Lipeles Joseph Loewenstein William Lowry Eleni Manolaraki Marvin Marcus Virginia Marcus Larry May William McKelvy Curtis McMillen Rebecca Messbarger Stamos Metzidakis Steven Meyer Angela Miller Gary Miller Amanda Moore McBride Nancy Morrow-Howell Yunju Nam Linda Nicholson Eloisa Palafox Jill Pasteris Crystal Patil William Paul Mark Pegg Gualtiero Piccinini Barbara Pickard Craig Pikaard Kathryn Plax

Fredric Raines Mark Rank James Reid Carter Revard John G. Robertson Philip Robbins Rebecca Rogers Susan Rotroff Richard Ruland James Schilling Wolfram Schmidgen Nancy Schnurr Joseph Schraibman Sam Scott Daniel Shea Georgia Shearer Michael Sherraden Elzbieta Sklodowska Jennifer Smith Robert Snarrenberg Philip Stahl Glenn Stone Robert Sussman Gail Swick Lynne Tatlock John-Stephen Taylor Joseph Thompson Rebecca Treiman Akiko Tsuchiya Robin Verhage-Abrams Robert Vinson Nargis Virani Nancy Vosler Richard Walter Kellie Wells Leila Wice Brad Wilburn Denise Wilfley Robert Wilkinson Wayne Wright Jeff Zacks Rafia Zafar Ernst Zinner

9

11 STUDENT LIFE | CLASSIFIEDS

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 20, 2005

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--SUMMER HELP -Apartment leasing/ clerical, or maintenance/ clean-up/fix-up for W.U. area apartment management company. 725 -5757.

CASH FOR YOUR opinion.

Lawyers want your opinions on real cass. Pay is $60 for 5 hours-CASH. Are you available on 5/5, 5/6, or 5/7? Location: hotel, St. Louis. If you have a valid driver’s license or are a registered voter, call (800)727-5056.

FULL-TIME NANNY NEEDED for summer work. $500 per week. Interested? Call 314909-9333.

GET PAID FOR YOUR OPINIONS! Earn $15 -125 and more per survey! w w w.money for sur veys .com GET PAID TO PLAY! Small private school located close to campus is looking for dynamic individuals to fill part time positions in their afterschool program. Ages of children range from 3-12.

Great opportunity to work with children in a fun-filled environment. Interested individuals should call 725 - 4999 and ask for the extended day director or email wilson2a@ wilsonschool.com.

INTERESTED IN GRAPHIC design? Want to get paid to publish your work? Design for Scene, Student Life’s weekly features section. For more information, email Sarah at sbaicker@wustl.edu.

NANNY WANTED. IN need of experienced & loving person to care for 2 infants in our home. Must have excellent references & prior experience. Beginning in August.

Contact Katie @ 314- 4579024.

NOW HIRING CAMPUS managers. Ready for the UReps challenge? UReps is looking for the most outgoing, enthusiastic leaders for our Campus Manager position for the Fall 2005 semester!

Work 10 hours per week, gain valuable business experience and earn while you build your resume. $100 weekly salary plus bonuses.

To learn more and apply, visit www.UReps.com SALES. LOCAL AGENT all wireless phone providers seeks part time associate. $1,000/month 10 hours per week. marketingteam@sbc global.net.

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$1350/MO. 4 BR, 2 BA faces trendy Benton Park. Living, dining, and den.

Fridge, gas stove, dishwasher, w/d.

Central air, 2 water heaters! 2200 square feet, with rooftop deck. Walk to coffe shops and Antique Row. Perfect set up for roommates!

Ask for Stacy, 954- 4522.

1.5 BEDROOMS, GARAGE AVAILABLE, 10 minutes from WU. Receive 50% discount on one month’s rent with one year contract. Call Phuong, Nguyen: (314) 486 - 4579.

2 BEDROOM 2 FULL BATH with 2 car parking on campus in Clayton’s beautiful Demun neighborhood. Completely rehabbed. Stainless steel appliances, dishwasher, laundry, hardwood floors, secured entry, high-spped internet, basement storage locker, Forest Park, shuttle, much more. Contact Alex @ 314-721- 0450. $1600/month.

7211 A TULANE UNIVERSITY City. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. $690.00/month including garage space. Approximately 2 miles from Washington University. Manor Real Estate 314- 647- 6611.

7234 AMHERST APTS. 1E AND 2W. University City. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. $690.00/ month including garage space.

Approximately 2 miles from Washington University. Manor Real Estate 314- 647- 6611.

BEAUTIFUL 1+ BEDROOM APT. 850 sq. ft. 2 blocks from campus, hardwood floors, garage. Call today 314-9638380.

BEAUTIFUL FOUR BEDROOM 3.5 bathroom, furnished or unfurnished. 4131 Shenandoah. $1795 month.

314- 662- 0471.

CLAYTON, U. CITY Loop, CWE and Dogtown. Beautiful studios, 1, 2 bedrooms. Quiet buildings. $350 -$750. Call 725 -5757.

FOR RENT: 1 BEDROOM available June 1st. $475 includes heat. 6321 Southwood Clayton. 314-997-7267.

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READY FOR EXCITING opportunity? Great locations, great concept. Join San Sai Japanese Grill for position in sushi, grill or cashier.

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CONDO SUBLEASE, 5803 WATERMAN. Central air, Washer/Dryer, shuttle stop, female only. $280/month.

(314) 303-7009.

DOWNTOWN CLAYTON, 1/2 BLOCK from Straub’s on Topton Way. Bright 2 bedroom corner apartment with garage, kitchen applicances, central a/c. Faculty/grad only. Immaculate! $895 1-yr minimum. 314-725 -1400.

STUDIOS, ONE & TWO Bedroom apartments for rent from $375, $475, and $595 respectively. Ten minutes from Washington University. Free heat, hot water and cooking gas. Apartments include 24 hour laundry, covered parking, elevator, ample closets, dishwasher, A/C, and W/W carpeting. Short term lease and furnished units available. One block from metro, bus-line, restaurants and shopping. Please call (314)421-5511.

FOR SUBLET: AVAIL May 1 - Mid Aug: 2 bed/ 2 bath apt off Wydown before Hanley. $600/mo. 1 car garage, kitchen appliances, coin laundry, on the red line, unfurnished. like@olin.wustl.edu.

FOR SUBLET: GORGEOUS three bedroom apartment on Forsythe. 1 block from campus in front of shuttle stop.

Hardwood floors, central AC, washer/dryer, dishwasher, garage space included. mf4@ cec.wustl.edu or (314) 935 -1376 FURNISHED STUDIO APARTMENT on Waterman Blvd. for summer sublet. Only $410/ month (includes utilities).

Available from mid May to mid August. Contact Ebony at 314 - 454 - 0844 or egpatter @wustl.edu or bonnibop@ yahoo.com ROOM FOR SUMMER sublet in 3 bedroom apartment.

Green line route. 15 minute walk to campus. $265 + 1/3 utilities. ejvalbue@wustl.edu or (314) 229-2248.

SPRING 2006 SUBLET: PERSHIN. Only $295/month. 1 bedroom in a 4 bedroom house. Perfect for a student going abroad next fall. Fully furnished, utilities included, washer/dryer, huge bedrooms.

Available january through May 2006. Contact 314- 401- 6332 or mrostrov@ wustl.edu

SUBLET MID-MAY TO MID- August. 3 bedrooms, furnished, parking. $1050/ month most utilities included. Southwood Drive, 1 mile from campus, on red line. ambrooks@artsci.wustl.edu or 314- 440 -5368.

BRAND NEW DELL Dimension 8400 (P4 3 Ghz HT/ 512MB/80 GB/CD-Rom/CDRW/128 MB Radeon X300 with 19” LCD) only $799. huilulu@yahoo.com for details.

SUBLET/ROOM NEEDED for fall semester. I’m looking for a sublet, apt or room for the fall period only, moving in end of August. Furnished and close to WU would be awesome. Contact me at mv zundert@wulaw.wustl.edu

13 INCH TV AND DVD player for sale. Like new. Comes with original boxes. Asking $50. email kimy@uwstl.edu. or call 314-935 -3591.

SUMMER SUBLET AVAILABLE! One bedroom, furnished, under $400 a month, on corner of Forsyth and Big Bend. Please contact me at egbasch@artsci.wustl.edu if interested.

SUMMER SUBLET: UNIVERSITY Drive. 3 bedroom, fully furnished, central air, dishwasher, washer/dryer, cable/wireless internet, utilities paid. Available mid-May to mid-August. Contact 314255 -2165 or jklevy@ artsci.wustl.edu

BRAND NEW DELL Dimension 8400 (P4 3Gha HT/512 MB memory/80GB serial ATA hard drive/CD-Rom/CDRW/128 MB Radeon X300 video card) for only $499. huilulu@yahoo.com for details.

HARDLY USED STIGA Ping Pong table: in perfect condition, comes with paddles and balls, bought for $300.00 recently, will sell for $100.00 OBO. Contact Will: wjmohanj@wustl.edu or 301-379-7063.

BRAND NEW DELL Inspiron 700m (P-M 1.6G, 60 GB/512 MB, 24 CD/DVD Combo) $1100 OBO. jasonpotato66@ hotmail.com NEW BELKIN WIRELESS router for sale. Never been used! $55 OBO. email tkbrown@wustl.edu or call 5 -1462 and leave message.

SEALY POSTURE PREMIER twin mattress. 2 years old, great condition. Millbrook 2. $165 OBO bought for $325.

Interested? Make an offer to cpfowler@wustl.edu.

AUTOS 2001 AUDI S4 (pearl white): V6., biturbo engine, 6 speed manual, Quattro, black leather interior, Bose audi. System, new tires, excellent condition, Audi Certiifed, 61, XXX miles, $19,500 OBO. Call: (314) 5838688 or leejp@wustl.edu.

EXPERIENCE HYPNOSIS FOR Free Improve test results, memory and recall.

Break or create any habit.

Or just for BIG FUN. Call for details 1-877-876 -9334.

GREAT HOTEL SPACE for Graduation, Parent’s Weekend & all other times. St. Louis Wash. U. Travel Agent Joe Lang. 1-800 -737-1900 ext. 121.

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Contact CampusFundraiser, (888) 923-3238 or visit www. campusfundraiser.com WIN $100 SAINT LOUIS Galleria gift certificate. Tell us what you think about Student Life in our readership survey. Go to www.studlife.com and click on our survey button .

SUPER SUMMER SUBLET! (May - Aug); huge, fully furnished bedroom in 3 BR apt. $430/mo (+1/3 utilities).

Located on N. Rosebury Ave.: beautiful, safe neighborhood across from Forest Park and by Kaldi’s. Red Line stop on street, 15 min. walk to campus. Apartment comes with free cable TV, high speed Internet, washer/dryer, dishwasher, air conditioning, etc! Date and rent negotiable. Email michellewang@wustl.edu.

1 BEDROOM + BATH IN 2 bed, 2 bath off Delmar/ DeBaliviere. Cheap utilities, gated parking, fullyfurnished, on Gold line. $379/mo. cable and internet included. Available August.

417-773-1317 1 BEDROOM+ATTACHED STUDY/SUNROOM Available in large 2 bedroom Apt. Short walk to campus, shuttle, free laundry, U. City Loop, $400/mo, 725 -1028.

GREAT BIKES FOR CHEAP. Miyata 21-speed mountain bike; mens 10 speed racing bike; Trek 15 -speed mountain bike. Perfect for use on or off campus! $35 $80 OBO. Contact Jeff at jmbank@wustl.edu or 314258- 0641.

Your Horoscope for Wednesday, April 20, 2005

By Linda C. Black, Tribune Media Services Today’s Birthday (04-20-05). Postpone the long vacation this year, and take care of the job instead. Draw in ideas from far away. Don’t travel; have them come to you.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Today is an 8. Friends can help you understand a complicated subject. Don’t try to use what you’re learning quite yet; it takes a lot more practice to gain expertise.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a 7. Hopefully, you’re doing work you love. That way, you can trick yourself into thinking you’re not working at all. Meanwhile, trick the boss into thinking you are.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 7. There’s more money coming in, but less time to spend on romance. This is a temporary condition. Set your date for later in the week.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 9. As each old fear comes up again, gently speak it out. A beloved counselor helps you spread them out in the sun, where they evaporate.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 7. Concentrate on doing the very best job you can. You need to be proud of the products you produce, and the services you provide. Besides, your business will thrive.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is an 8. It should be getting obvious, what will work and what won’t. You’ve tried a lot of different things. Now, pare down to the best.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 7. The Sun is coming into your sign, a lovely development. This is the perfect excuse for a private celebration in a beautiful setting.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 6. Figure out how much you’ve spent and what your income’s been over the past few weeks. You didn’t have time to do it then, but now you do.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Today is a 6. Start by cleaning out an area small enough to be manageable. Don’t throw away things that belong to others, however, Get them involved in the process.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 7. For the next several weeks, you’ll find yourself drawn into solid relationships. They’ll be in business and your personal life. Pick the best.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 5. Conditions are excellent for counting the money and sorting it into categories. Decide how much you can afford to spend. Don’t buy everything; cut the fluff.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is an 8. For the next several weeks, you’ll find it easier to pay attention. This is a wonderful thing, since you are often easily distracted. Use the phase wisely. (c) 2005, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC. Distributed by Knight Ridder-Tribune Information Services.

Sports Editor / Justin Davidson / sports@studlife.com

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 20, 2005

What is happening to the sports crowds of America?

As a freshman, I recently started to feel the pain of not being in my hometown of Chicago during baseball season—or for that matter, any sports season. I knew it would be hard to be at a school where all of my teams’ games aren’t televised, and few people care about the same teams I do. But I had no idea that my time in St. Louis would so considerably affect my fellow fans in Chicago. So you can only imagine my shock and dismay when I saw “Cubs fans get cranky� at the top of last week’s Sports Illustrated cover.

Michael Farber’s article, “Getting edgy at Wrigley,� made me even more depressed about only having three more weeks of my freshman year left. The tiny part of me that actually wanted to go home was the Cubs fan part of me. I’ve been calling my father about getting Cubs tickets for when I’m home for weeks now. But do I really want to be a part of the “chorus of boos� Farber describes?

What is happening to the sports crowds of America? Is being a fan not synonymous with supporting your team anymore? Does supporting your team suddenly only entail supporting the players who happen to be playing well that day? Is bashing the players on your team who are playing poorly that day part of this new deďŹ nition of fandom?

Well, I don’t like it.

Perhaps we should all take a ďŹ eld trip to a local Little League T-ball

Allie Wieczorek

game. Let us learn from the parents shouting, “It’s okay, you’ll hit it next time!� or “Don’t worry, baby, you ran as fast as you could!� You don’t hear people booing at their own players during high school or college sporting events, either.

Even events like the Final Four, which attract fans of every team and only directly involve four of them, are blazing with boos. Suddenly, people who are supporting teams they’ve never supported in their lives feel entitled to bash the players for every bad move they make. You hear a lot more “Come on, what are you doing?� than you hear “It’s okay, just make the next one.�

Bashing the other team and the other team’s players is allowed. In fact, it’s encouraged. Don’t waste your boos on the people who you want to maintain positive enough attitudes to pull through for you.

Even in high school, we loved to make players on the other teams uncomfortable. I remember chanting “Coach K’s watching� at a sophomore on the opposing team who was being heavily recruited by Duke—in particular, every time he went to the free-throw line. And every time our cheer did its job and he missed the shots, our student section went crazy.

And that’s how it should be. Cheer when your team does something great; cheer when the other team does something stupid. But boo the other team’s players, not your own.

Show some mercy. These guys have a lot of pressure on them. Sure, for the millions of dollars they’re making, they should perform, but making their home court or ďŹ eld a harder place to play is not going to help.

On the other hand, perhaps Cubs fans aren’t settling for losses anymore. After almost a century of accepting our mediocre-and-below teams and winning averages, maybe we needed last season’s Boston Red Sox victory to give us hope. But that hope turned into hunger, which turned into losing all patience for imperfection.

We Chicago fans—Cubs fans especially—have always prided ourselves on being among the best sports fans around. Though often quite intoxicated, Cubs fans have always been a respectful crowd, never bashing our own players. I witnessed one of the ďŹ rst exceptions to that last season.

We were hardly respectful of Sammy Sosa. Most Cubs fans stayed behind him through the whole corked-bat trauma, but showing up late for and leaving early from the last home game of the season crossed the line. Fans caught on to Sammy’s lack of team mentality and lack of respect for fellow players, management or the fans themselves. And that’s when they started booing him.

And those boos were excusable.

We were booing what went against the values and morals of the club and its fans. But now the booing is what’s going against those values and morals.

This is not just a problem in Chicago, it’s a problem in sports everywhere.

These teams need their fans back. The fans are the players’ support systems.

It’s not a fan’s job to tell the players what or information packet. they’re doing wrong and make them feel bad about themselves. They have coaches, critics and sports writers for that.

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STUDENT LIFE | SPORTS

11

Diary of a poker player: it’s all about exibility, baby!

By Alex Schwartz Staff Reporter So here’s the situation: I’m on the button (last-to-act post-op). Everyone folds around to the player sitting two seats to my right, who has seen almost every op at this table. As usual, he calls, and the player between us folds.

Sophomore Justin Davidson, my sports editor and newest poker student, stares blankly with his mouth half open as he watches me raise with king-two off-suit (denoted as K2O) from late position. He has studied the starting hand list I gave him dutifully, and he is quick to point out that not only is K2O a hand that shouldn’t be raised with, it is a hand that should never be called with.

Justin grimaces as the big blind, the player we were trying to knock out, calls my bet, and the initial caller does the same. His expression only darkens when the op comes with two aces and a queen. The big blind checks, the preop caller bets and Justin begins to pout as (he thinks) my chances of winning this particular hand have decreased to nil.

Without hesitation, I raise the pre-op caller. The big blind ďŹ nally folds, and the initial bettor calls my reraise.

The turn is a two, giving me a dubious two-pair, and my opponent checks. I bet; he calls.

The river is a jack, a card that makes my pair of twos shrink up pretty substantially. Justin is not happy. We are playing on his Party Poker account with his money, and I just put a relatively substantial dollar amount in the middle with a very mediocre hand. The only real way I can win this pot is by betting, so when I get checked to, I ďŹ re another bullet. Sure enough, my opponent lays down his hand and we rake in the pot.

Justin did not understand how I played that hand because he was missing a very important concept in his understanding of poker: position. As any successful player will tell you, position is the key to a lucrative strategy. Acting ďŹ rst with K2O, it is a very easy fold, but when given the opportunity to isolate a weak player, it becomes a more desirable hand.

When you are playing poker competitively (and poker should not be played any other way), you need to quickly recognize the weaker players at the table and do absolutely everything in your power to play as many hands as you can with them and only them. Your hand still has to be reasonable—you shouldn’t be making plays with the dreadful 2–7 off-suit—but in the same breath, you have to vastly widen your starting-hand selection, speciďŹ cally your pre-op raising standards, in order to capitalize on opponents’ nonoptimal play.

There is no single starting-hand guide that is going to be correct in every situation. There are guidelines available which you should deďŹ nitely follow, but the idea that every time you get K2O you should fold is completely ridiculous.

Each hand is a different battle, and with each hand you need to make a separate and proďŹ table decision. If you have any aspiration of becoming a winning player, you must adopt a policy of exibility. That is one of the many keys to a poker player’s success.

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12 STUDENT LIFE | SPORTS

Sports Editor / Justin Davidson / sports@studlife.com

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 20, 2005

IN BRIEF: The second-ranked Washington University softball team tied the school record for victories in a season by posting a doubleheader sweep at Blackburn College on Sunday afternoon. The squad improved its season record to 33–1 overall.

Roller hockey makes it to the Men’s tennis th places 4 at UAA Division II Final Four Team loses to winner Nevada in semifinals

Championship

By Andrew Nackman Staff Reporter

By Derek Winters Sports Columnist The Washington University roller hockey team traveled to Fort Collins, Colo., this past weekend to compete in the Division II Roller Hockey Championship hosted by Colorado State University. This season the Bears are ranked sixth in the nation, boasting a 10–0–2 league record with a 21–5–3 record overall.

Before the squad could get to Fort Collins, however, it had to overcome a number of obstacles. First, not just anyone could go to nationals.

The squad received its bid by winning the regular season title of the Great Plains Hockey League. Second, the team needed the funds to get there. Student Union stepped up and delivered so that the COURTESY OF WU ROLLER HOCKEY players could focus on hockey The roller hockey team faces off against an opponent. Last weekend the squad placed 3rd in the NCRHA Division II and not the financial issues.

Championship in Fort Collins, Colo.

Last, but certainly not least, the Thurtene Carnival was reduced to the initial bumps on the road to suc- the Division II Final Four.

In the Final Four, the squad met “Twulve” when one of the members of cess, the squad was able to knuckle Beta Theta Pi, junior David Garland, down and focus on its objective at unbeaten University of Nevada–Reno, had to overlook his responsibilities to hand. The first two games at nation- the number-one ranked team that won Thurtene and fulfill his obligation to als went great for the Bears, as they most of its games at ease this season. knocked off the University of Vermont The Bears found themselves down 3–1 the team as its only goalie.

“I am disappointed I was not able 4–2 and number-four seed University late in the third period but suddenly to represent both organizations, but I of Texas–Dallas 9–3. However, the team capitalized on two quick turnovers made a commitment to the team at the encountered a minor setback when it and had the game tied at 3–3 late in the third. However, Nevada was too strong beginning of the season and I had to was upended by Neumann College 8–2.

“We were on fire, and then the Neu- for the Bears—the team found the back honor it,” said Garland.

Heading into Fort Collins, the Bears mann game came and everything went of the net and added an empty-netter also had to cope with the loss of gradu- south,” said Garland. “But we came to end the scoring at 5–3.

“This was a great game and Nevada ate student Matt Riordan, one of their back strong with back-to-back wins top four defensemen, due to an in- over Emory and Vermont, again,” said was very fast, but this was a great season for our team and we have a solid jury suffered in practice. This left the Garland.

Even though the team dropped its foundation for next year, only losing squad in a bind and forced Head Coach Randy Garland to move senior captain game to Neumann, the Bears earned a two seniors,” said Garland.

Matt Melchiori to defense for the first spot in the playoffs and won their first game against Vermont 7–3, then beattime in his roller hockey career.

Once the team was able to get over ing Emory University 8–4 to advance to

NBA playoffs: sure to get the blood boiling Sadly, for us basketball faithful, the grueling NBA season is about to come to a close—an 82-game marathon spanning six months. Eighty-two games that don’t mean a damn thing if you don’t make it into the second season—the playoffs. The 30 NBA teams have two remaining regular season games this year, and for 14 of them those will be their fi nal two games until next November. The other 16 will play each other for a golden trophy that Michael Jordan has kissed more times than his own wife.

Now at this point I can let my Cleveland bias come out and complain about how my Cavaliers are this close to missing the playoffs again (despite having the best player in the league in LeBron James). But I think I’ll be objective this week in the hopes that I can have a “LeBron wins his fourteenth championship” article later on. Hey, I can dream, right?

These playoffs strike me as being ripe for great fi rst-round matchups. Call me crazy, but this year there seems to be a lot of potential for the “playoff entertainment trifecta.” I’m talking about upsets, overtimes and buzzer-beaters. Typically we don’t see these blood-pressure raisers until the later rounds, but this year strikes me as different for some reason. In particular, I see four fi rst-round matchups that should prove to be extremely entertaining.

Jordan Katz

Eastern Conference #4 Chicago Bulls vs. #5 Washington Wizards: Wizards lead season series 2–1 Wow, nice to see these two teams back in the playoffs after a six-year absence. The hunger SWA protesters felt during their five-day hunger strike doesn’t compare to what the Bulls and Wizards have felt for the playoffs. Seriously though—since ‘97–‘98, these teams have had less success than Doug Funnie had with Patti Mayonnaise. A low blow, I know. Methinks that this series will go seven games to determine which of these Eastern Conference upstart clubs is better. With the recent (and season-ending) injuries to the Bulls’ Eddy Curry and Luol Deng, I am going to have to give the series to the Wizards.

Look for lots of close games, passionate play and fun-to-watch basketball from the teams that will be in the playoffs for years to come. #3 Boston Celtics vs. #6 Indiana Pacers: Pacers lead season series 2–1 Don’t even think about claiming you knew the Pacers would be here the day after “The Brawl.” Picking the Pacers to miss the playoffs on Nov. 20 was as sure a thing as picking the 0–9 Bulls to miss the play...oh, wait. It just goes to show you that miracles do happen in the buckle of the Bible Belt. This series should be interesting because these teams have faced

each other in the last two playoffs, and this matchup is growing into a nice little rivalry. We’re not talking Whig/Tory– or Tupac/Biggie-type rivalries, but this rivalry still holds its own. Despite the fact that the Celts have two stars in Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce, a Hall of Famer in Gary Payton and a sixth-man candidate in Ricky Davis, I have to go with an upset here. The Pacers will have a playoff-ready Jermaine O’Neal and a supporting cast that has surprised everybody. Plus, everybody’s got to like the Pacers matching up with the Pistons in round two. And hey, since they’ll be without Ron Artest, maybe the Pacers should sign Mike Tyson to play small forward for the playoffs. I hear he’s looking for work.

The Washington University men’s tennis team placed fourth in the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship, hosted by Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., this past weekend.

Emory University took home first place, defeating the University of Rochester 7–0 in the final. The Bears defeated New York University (NYU) in the quarterfinals, lost to Rochester in the semifinals and then dropped a close 4–3 contest to the University of Chicago in the third-place game on Sunday.

The team entered the UAA tournament ranked 13th in the Division III polls. After the weekend, its overall record this season stands at 11–4.

Seeded second in the tournament, the Bears impressively handled NYU on Friday, winning five matches to NYU’s two.

The victorious players were juniors Ari Rosenthal in the No. 1 singles slot and William McMahan at No. 3, freshman Charlie Howard at No. 5, sophomore Chris Kuppler at No. 6 and the No. 1 doubles team of Rosenthal and Howard.

In the semifinals on Saturday, the team fell to third-seeded Rochester 4–3. Rosenthal and McMahan each defeated their opponents in two sets in their respective singles matches, and Rosenthal again teamed with Howard to capture another doubles victory.

Even though Kuppler lost the deciding match 7–6 in the third set, Head Coach Roger Follmer was proud of Kuppler, known as “Tank,” for the mental toughness he displayed.

“Chris lost but battled,” said Follmer. “He faced a lot of pressure in that situation and represented the University very well.”

Despite the close loss, Follmer brought a positive attitude to the team’s overall performance.

“It is not a disappointment,” he said. “The match could have gone either way. The conference is better and deeper this year.”

In Sunday’s deciding third-place match against fourthseeded University of Chicago, junior Zack Fayne won his match at No. 2 singles, Howard won his match at No. 4 and sophomore Matt Freedman also was victorious in the No. 6 singles slot. But in the 4–3 loss, the No. 1 doubles team of Rosenthal and Howard was unable to complete an undefeated tournament, falling eight games to three.

Rosenthal, an All-American two years ago in doubles and last year in singles, held a 9–4 record this season at the No. 1 singles slot and is on track to earn an invite to the NCAA singles championship in Santa Cruz, Calif., in mid-May. McMahan has a 7–5 singles mark this season, usually playing at No. 3 and occasionally at No. 2. The most pleasant surprise for the Bears team this season, though, has been Howard, who has compiled a 13–2 singles record while playing at No. 5—and from time to time as high as No. 3—in only his first season wearing red and green.

Speaking about Howard, who has won 20 singles matches including the fall season, Coach Follmer said, “He battles.

He lays it on the line every match. That’s all I can ask of any player.”

The Bears’ goal now is to make a return appearance to postseason play. If the team, which made the Elite Eight the last two years, wins three of its final four matches, it will advance to the regionals scheduled for May 7 and May 8 in Greencastle, Ind. In the immediate future is a home tilt against Principia College at 4 p.m. today. This weekend’s games against Kalamazoo College and Coe College will be especially tough.

The Bears defeated Kalamazoo 4–3 in last year’s regionals to advance to the Elite Eight, a loss that Kalamazoo will be looking to avenge. Both matches are scheduled for Saturday in Greencastle.

Western Conference #2 San Antonio Spurs vs. #7 Denver Nuggets: Season series split 2–2 Okay, so this one seems a little more unlikely to be entertaining than the Eastern matchups I’ve picked, but hear me out on this one. Denver’s record since the All-Star break is 24–3, including two wins over the Spurs. Despite this nice statistic, the Spurs will still win this series and most likely advance to the fi nals—there’s no debate about that. But the Nuggets, under the cruel tutelage of eccentric coach George Karl, have been playing the best ball since the break and will not go down quietly. With the strong front courts of these two teams, I expect a lot of strong physical play down low with the Spurs’ dynamic guard duo of Tony Parker and Manu “Gold Medal” Ginobili being the ultimate difference makers. The Nuggets are still a young and relatively inexperienced team, and a sixgame defeat against the Spurs should serve as a good learning experience for them. #4 Dallas Mavericks vs. #5 Houston Rockets: Season series split 2–2 This is a dream matchup. Both of these Texas teams have been on fi re lately and should provide some great fi rst-round games. The fact that the Mavs have won over 50 games this year without Steve Nash is a testament to Dirk Nowitzki, who I think should be the MVP of the association. Anyway, this matchup screams drama. Look at these two teams—they are absolutely stacked. Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming (for the Rockets) versus Nowitzki and Jason Terry (for the Mavericks). Unbelievable. Though it’s tough, I am going to have to pick the Mavs to win this one in seven. With Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Van Horn coming off the bench, the Mavs have a stronger second unit than the Rockets. These games are going to be very highscoring, as defense is nonexistent in the Lone Star State, save San Antonio. For pure entertainment value, this is the series to watch.

Well, there you have it. I am never wrong about this sort of thing, so clear your schedules when these games are on. You won’t regret it. Besides, it’s better TV than watching meaningless April MLB games, ain’t it?

PAM BUZZETTA | STUDENT LIFE

William McMahan concentrates on the ball at the University Athletic Association Championship this past weekend in Waltham, Mass. McMahan’s undefeated play helped the Bears to a 4th -place finish at the UAAs.

12 STUDENT LIFE | SPORTS

Sports Editor / Justin Davidson / sports@studlife.com

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 20, 2005

IN BRIEF: The second-ranked Washington University softball team tied the school record for victories in a season by posting a doubleheader sweep at Blackburn College on Sunday afternoon. The squad improved its season record to 33–1 overall.

Roller hockey makes it to the Men’s tennis th places 4 at UAA Division II Final Four Team loses to winner Nevada in semifinals

Championship

By Andrew Nackman Staff Reporter

By Derek Winters Sports Columnist The Washington University roller hockey team traveled to Fort Collins, Colo., this past weekend to compete in the Division II Roller Hockey Championship hosted by Colorado State University. This season the Bears are ranked sixth in the nation, boasting a 10–0–2 league record with a 21–5–3 record overall.

Before the squad could get to Fort Collins, however, it had to overcome a number of obstacles. First, not just anyone could go to nationals.

The squad received its bid by winning the regular season title of the Great Plains Hockey League. Second, the team needed the funds to get there. Student Union stepped up and delivered so that the COURTESY OF WU ROLLER HOCKEY players could focus on hockey The roller hockey team faces off against an opponent. Last weekend the squad placed 3rd in the NCRHA Division II and not the financial issues.

Championship in Fort Collins, Colo.

Last, but certainly not least, the Thurtene Carnival was reduced to the initial bumps on the road to suc- the Division II Final Four.

In the Final Four, the squad met “Twulve” when one of the members of cess, the squad was able to knuckle Beta Theta Pi, junior David Garland, down and focus on its objective at unbeaten University of Nevada–Reno, had to overlook his responsibilities to hand. The first two games at nation- the number-one ranked team that won Thurtene and fulfill his obligation to als went great for the Bears, as they most of its games at ease this season. knocked off the University of Vermont The Bears found themselves down 3–1 the team as its only goalie.

“I am disappointed I was not able 4–2 and number-four seed University late in the third period but suddenly to represent both organizations, but I of Texas–Dallas 9–3. However, the team capitalized on two quick turnovers made a commitment to the team at the encountered a minor setback when it and had the game tied at 3–3 late in the third. However, Nevada was too strong beginning of the season and I had to was upended by Neumann College 8–2.

“We were on fire, and then the Neu- for the Bears—the team found the back honor it,” said Garland.

Heading into Fort Collins, the Bears mann game came and everything went of the net and added an empty-netter also had to cope with the loss of gradu- south,” said Garland. “But we came to end the scoring at 5–3.

“This was a great game and Nevada ate student Matt Riordan, one of their back strong with back-to-back wins top four defensemen, due to an in- over Emory and Vermont, again,” said was very fast, but this was a great season for our team and we have a solid jury suffered in practice. This left the Garland.

Even though the team dropped its foundation for next year, only losing squad in a bind and forced Head Coach Randy Garland to move senior captain game to Neumann, the Bears earned a two seniors,” said Garland.

Matt Melchiori to defense for the first spot in the playoffs and won their first game against Vermont 7–3, then beattime in his roller hockey career.

Once the team was able to get over ing Emory University 8–4 to advance to

NBA playoffs: sure to get the blood boiling Sadly, for us basketball faithful, the grueling NBA season is about to come to a close—an 82-game marathon spanning six months. Eighty-two games that don’t mean a damn thing if you don’t make it into the second season—the playoffs. The 30 NBA teams have two remaining regular season games this year, and for 14 of them those will be their fi nal two games until next November. The other 16 will play each other for a golden trophy that Michael Jordan has kissed more times than his own wife.

Now at this point I can let my Cleveland bias come out and complain about how my Cavaliers are this close to missing the playoffs again (despite having the best player in the league in LeBron James). But I think I’ll be objective this week in the hopes that I can have a “LeBron wins his fourteenth championship” article later on. Hey, I can dream, right?

These playoffs strike me as being ripe for great fi rst-round matchups. Call me crazy, but this year there seems to be a lot of potential for the “playoff entertainment trifecta.” I’m talking about upsets, overtimes and buzzer-beaters. Typically we don’t see these blood-pressure raisers until the later rounds, but this year strikes me as different for some reason. In particular, I see four fi rst-round matchups that should prove to be extremely entertaining.

Jordan Katz

Eastern Conference #4 Chicago Bulls vs. #5 Washington Wizards: Wizards lead season series 2–1 Wow, nice to see these two teams back in the playoffs after a six-year absence. The hunger SWA protesters felt during their five-day hunger strike doesn’t compare to what the Bulls and Wizards have felt for the playoffs. Seriously though—since ‘97–‘98, these teams have had less success than Doug Funnie had with Patti Mayonnaise. A low blow, I know. Methinks that this series will go seven games to determine which of these Eastern Conference upstart clubs is better. With the recent (and season-ending) injuries to the Bulls’ Eddy Curry and Luol Deng, I am going to have to give the series to the Wizards.

Look for lots of close games, passionate play and fun-to-watch basketball from the teams that will be in the playoffs for years to come. #3 Boston Celtics vs. #6 Indiana Pacers: Pacers lead season series 2–1 Don’t even think about claiming you knew the Pacers would be here the day after “The Brawl.” Picking the Pacers to miss the playoffs on Nov. 20 was as sure a thing as picking the 0–9 Bulls to miss the play...oh, wait. It just goes to show you that miracles do happen in the buckle of the Bible Belt. This series should be interesting because these teams have faced

each other in the last two playoffs, and this matchup is growing into a nice little rivalry. We’re not talking Whig/Tory– or Tupac/Biggie-type rivalries, but this rivalry still holds its own. Despite the fact that the Celts have two stars in Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce, a Hall of Famer in Gary Payton and a sixth-man candidate in Ricky Davis, I have to go with an upset here. The Pacers will have a playoff-ready Jermaine O’Neal and a supporting cast that has surprised everybody. Plus, everybody’s got to like the Pacers matching up with the Pistons in round two. And hey, since they’ll be without Ron Artest, maybe the Pacers should sign Mike Tyson to play small forward for the playoffs. I hear he’s looking for work.

The Washington University men’s tennis team placed fourth in the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship, hosted by Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., this past weekend.

Emory University took home first place, defeating the University of Rochester 7–0 in the final. The Bears defeated New York University (NYU) in the quarterfinals, lost to Rochester in the semifinals and then dropped a close 4–3 contest to the University of Chicago in the third-place game on Sunday.

The team entered the UAA tournament ranked 13th in the Division III polls. After the weekend, its overall record this season stands at 11–4.

Seeded second in the tournament, the Bears impressively handled NYU on Friday, winning five matches to NYU’s two.

The victorious players were juniors Ari Rosenthal in the No. 1 singles slot and William McMahan at No. 3, freshman Charlie Howard at No. 5, sophomore Chris Kuppler at No. 6 and the No. 1 doubles team of Rosenthal and Howard.

In the semifinals on Saturday, the team fell to third-seeded Rochester 4–3. Rosenthal and McMahan each defeated their opponents in two sets in their respective singles matches, and Rosenthal again teamed with Howard to capture another doubles victory.

Even though Kuppler lost the deciding match 7–6 in the third set, Head Coach Roger Follmer was proud of Kuppler, known as “Tank,” for the mental toughness he displayed.

“Chris lost but battled,” said Follmer. “He faced a lot of pressure in that situation and represented the University very well.”

Despite the close loss, Follmer brought a positive attitude to the team’s overall performance.

“It is not a disappointment,” he said. “The match could have gone either way. The conference is better and deeper this year.”

In Sunday’s deciding third-place match against fourthseeded University of Chicago, junior Zack Fayne won his match at No. 2 singles, Howard won his match at No. 4 and sophomore Matt Freedman also was victorious in the No. 6 singles slot. But in the 4–3 loss, the No. 1 doubles team of Rosenthal and Howard was unable to complete an undefeated tournament, falling eight games to three.

Rosenthal, an All-American two years ago in doubles and last year in singles, held a 9–4 record this season at the No. 1 singles slot and is on track to earn an invite to the NCAA singles championship in Santa Cruz, Calif., in mid-May. McMahan has a 7–5 singles mark this season, usually playing at No. 3 and occasionally at No. 2. The most pleasant surprise for the Bears team this season, though, has been Howard, who has compiled a 13–2 singles record while playing at No. 5—and from time to time as high as No. 3—in only his first season wearing red and green.

Speaking about Howard, who has won 20 singles matches including the fall season, Coach Follmer said, “He battles.

He lays it on the line every match. That’s all I can ask of any player.”

The Bears’ goal now is to make a return appearance to postseason play. If the team, which made the Elite Eight the last two years, wins three of its final four matches, it will advance to the regionals scheduled for May 7 and May 8 in Greencastle, Ind. In the immediate future is a home tilt against Principia College at 4 p.m. today. This weekend’s games against Kalamazoo College and Coe College will be especially tough.

The Bears defeated Kalamazoo 4–3 in last year’s regionals to advance to the Elite Eight, a loss that Kalamazoo will be looking to avenge. Both matches are scheduled for Saturday in Greencastle.

Western Conference #2 San Antonio Spurs vs. #7 Denver Nuggets: Season series split 2–2 Okay, so this one seems a little more unlikely to be entertaining than the Eastern matchups I’ve picked, but hear me out on this one. Denver’s record since the All-Star break is 24–3, including two wins over the Spurs. Despite this nice statistic, the Spurs will still win this series and most likely advance to the fi nals—there’s no debate about that. But the Nuggets, under the cruel tutelage of eccentric coach George Karl, have been playing the best ball since the break and will not go down quietly. With the strong front courts of these two teams, I expect a lot of strong physical play down low with the Spurs’ dynamic guard duo of Tony Parker and Manu “Gold Medal” Ginobili being the ultimate difference makers. The Nuggets are still a young and relatively inexperienced team, and a sixgame defeat against the Spurs should serve as a good learning experience for them. #4 Dallas Mavericks vs. #5 Houston Rockets: Season series split 2–2 This is a dream matchup. Both of these Texas teams have been on fi re lately and should provide some great fi rst-round games. The fact that the Mavs have won over 50 games this year without Steve Nash is a testament to Dirk Nowitzki, who I think should be the MVP of the association. Anyway, this matchup screams drama. Look at these two teams—they are absolutely stacked. Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming (for the Rockets) versus Nowitzki and Jason Terry (for the Mavericks). Unbelievable. Though it’s tough, I am going to have to pick the Mavs to win this one in seven. With Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Van Horn coming off the bench, the Mavs have a stronger second unit than the Rockets. These games are going to be very highscoring, as defense is nonexistent in the Lone Star State, save San Antonio. For pure entertainment value, this is the series to watch.

Well, there you have it. I am never wrong about this sort of thing, so clear your schedules when these games are on. You won’t regret it. Besides, it’s better TV than watching meaningless April MLB games, ain’t it?

PAM BUZZETTA | STUDENT LIFE

William McMahan concentrates on the ball at the University Athletic Association Championship this past weekend in Waltham, Mass. McMahan’s undefeated play helped the Bears to a 4th -place finish at the UAAs.