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STAIRWAY TO HAVEN | TALKING TO ORLANDO BLOOM’S DIRECTOR | CADENZA, PAGE 8

STUDENT LIFE

THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS SINCE 1878 VOLUME 128, NO. 20

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2006

Alum’s company boosts Web security BY SAM GUZIK CONTRIBUTING REPORTER Washington University alum David Ulevitch has been working to make the Internet a friendlier place. “Everything I try to do is about educating consumers and trying to improve people’s lives,” said Ulevitch. Ulevitch has found three companies that revolve around using the community of Internet users to enhance the functionality of the Internet. One of those companies, OpenDNS, has begun to reshape one of the fundamental building blocks on which the Internet operates. Ulevitch serves as the company’s CEO.

Te c h n o l ogy known as domain name system or DNS allows words to represent Internet protocol (IP) addresses, such as David Ulevitch www.google. com instead of a 10-digit string of numbers. Any type of connection between computers— whether over a network or the Internet—makes use of DNS technology. “We’re trying to change the Internet in an evolutionary way, as opposed to a revolutionary way,” said Ulevitch.

Prof. investigates high suicide rates of Latina teens BY SARA RAJARAM CONTRIBUTING REPORTER Professor Luis Zayas and his colleagues are in their second year of investigating why Latina teens have higher suicide rates than their female peers. One in five Latina teenagers attempt suicide in the United States, according to the 1995 Center for Luis Zayas Disease Control’s (CDC) study. Zayas, professor of social work, pointed out that a possible leading cause of high suicide rates is not only the difficulty Latinas face in adapting to the American culture but also the lack of cultural awareness of mental health professionals. Last year, the attempted suicide rates among Latina women declined to 15 percent, a statistic that is still significantly higher than their white and black female counterparts who had suicide rates of 7 percent each. Zayas’ study, sponsored by the National Institute of Health, seeks to understand why this Latina anomaly exists. According to Zayas, the lack of ethnic minorities in the mental health field plays a significant role. “The mental health labor force in this country consists mostly of white, educated, middle-class professionals who are very well-meaning, but don’t quite understand how the cultural nuances affect mental health. “We need to train more ethnic and racial minorities in the mental health field, and until that happens, we need to raise the cultural competency of the current labor force. Unfortunately, most psychiatrists, counselors, social workers, and psychologists do not receive much training in cultural competency,” said Zayas. Following the CDC’s study, many mental health clinics in the United States hired Spanish-language specialists, but according to Zayas, there are

still not a sufficient number of suicide prevention programs for ethnic minorities in the United States. Washington University fits into this nationwide development. Of the 12 staff members specializing in mental health at Student Health Services, none are fluent in foreign languages, according to Thomas Brounk, chief of Mental Health Services. “We have two options for foreign language speakers. One is that we can arrange to have an interpreter call, and we can use a phone, which allows the patient to hear both the therapist and the interpreter simultaneously. This is only good for one-time use because it is difficult and tiring for the patient to speak by phone. Secondly, we have people in the community who are private therapists fluent in the language. “We can provide transportation and take into account fi nancial needs for these people,” said Brounk. While Zayas commends the University’s programs, he said, “At Washington University, language may not so much be the issue. More important is that the staff understands the various cultures.” The mental health team often conducts outreach programs in conjunction with the residential advisors, Uncle Joe’s Peer Counseling and the Office of International Students and Scholars. In addition, international students arrive on campus before all other freshmen and attend extensive orientation programs. Mental Health Services does not have any minority-oriented suicide education or prevention programs in place. According to Zayas, those at highest risk among Latinas are between the ages of 14 and 15 and are the daughters of immigrants. These teenagers in the United States often fi nd it difficult to fit into both American and Latin cultures simultaneously. At home, they play the role of the obedient homemaker, but at school they must join in with the fast-paced environment. Zayas also indicated that the cultural gap between

See SUICIDES, page 2

Football scores big on the road Football scored a win this weekend against LaGrange College. Andrei Berman has a play-by-play of how the Bears got back in the winning column. Sports, Page 4

The service developed by OpenDNS is capable of speeding up Internet connections, correcting typos made to URLs and protecting users from harmful websites. Most recently, OpenDNS began to operate a service known as PhishTank in an attempt to reduce the number of phishing attacks on the Internet. Phishing is a fraudulent attempt to get unsuspecting internet users to provide personal information such as social security numbers, bank account information and passwords. Sometimes the phish come in odd forms, from false banking websites to chain emails from the IRS about transferring money over the Internet.

“In order for us to have the best source of data possible,” said Ulevitch, “we had to open the effort to the entire community—both users and developers.” Unlike other anti-phishing services run by large Internet security ﬁrms like Symantec, PhishTank gives feedback to users submitting phishing data and makes its information available for free, thereby allowing individual programmers and students to have access through application programming interface (API). To report suspected phishing, users simply copy the Web address of a speciﬁc phishing site on PhishTank so that other

users can report whether they have noticed phishing on this site. This two-pronged approach involving contributions of users and the development power of many individuals is more conducive to ending phishing. Recently, companies like AOL and Microsoft have cracked down on phishing by ﬁling hundreds of federal lawsuits. Other efforts include the Anti-Phishing Act, a federal bill proposed by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), which suggested a ﬁve-year prison sentence for those guilty of committing identity theft using phishing. Ulevitch began his efforts to restructure the Internet while he was still a student at the Univer-

sity. In his freshman year, he founded EveryDNS.net, a Web site devoted to providing DNS services for free to the Internet community. EveryDNS.net has since become the world’s largest free DNS provider. Ulevitch has strived to use his background as an anthropology major to make his work more accessible to Internet users in a way traditional programs cannot. “My strengths have to do with the Internet, so this is my kind of community service,” he added. For information about Ulevitch’s companies visit www.opendns.com or www. phishtank.com.

Metro receives $1.1 million from Department of Homeland Security

LIONEL SOBEHART | STUDENT LIFE

A MetroLink train pulls into the Big Bend station on Tuesday, Oct. 10. MetroLink is receiving $1.1 million from the Department of Homeland Security to upgrade its communications capabilities. BY MARGY LEVINSON STAFF REPORTER St. Louis Metro-Bi State Development Agency announced that it will receive a $1.1 million transit security grant in order to upgrade its communication capability with emergency ﬁ rst responders, as well as to add various security features to its facilities. These awards are part of $136 million in grants to cities across the nation to protect transit systems and the traveling public. These grants are intended to strengthen the nation’s ability to prevent terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies throughout the country. “One thing Metro will use

the funds for is to improve communication between Metro and fi rst responders,” said Dianne Williams, director of communication for the metro system. “In cities across America, communication gets hampered because fi rst responders and transit don’t have direct access to each other.” Although Williams could not give specific details about Metro’s current security system, she did explain that the system includes law enforcement from St. Louis County. In addition, there are security guards, cameras and undercover officers. “This system is a safe one,” said Williams. Williams did, however, emphasize the need to improve communication during

Another ID card enhancement? Meal points, laundry, vending machines—the ID card is adding functions by the second. What’s next on the list? Cartoonist Rachel Tepper has an idea. Forum, Page 6

high security alerts. “Communication really relates to Metro security, talking to police and ﬁ re departments. If you recall when 9/11 happened, one of the issues for ﬁ rst responders [was that] different districts and municipalities couldn’t talk to each other, wasting critical seconds,” said Williams. “That’s what cities around the country have realized about their communication system and realized they need to have one system where everyone can talk to each other when that’s needed.” Plans to bolster security throughout Metro facilities have been long-standing. This recent grant will help Metro to achieve that priority, noted Williams. “This grant actually ex-

pands the reach of Metro. It helps the local agency do more, because Metro is already investing in security measures to keep the transit system safe,” said Williams. “The federal grant is simply support from the federal government to help local communities do more of what they need to do.” Williams explained that the implementation of new security measures will not hinder metro users. “People won’t see [changes]…it is part...of keeping the system safe” Since 2003, The Department of Homeland Security has provided approximately $1.8 million to St. Louis through grants and equipment transfer programs.

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Senior News Editor / Mandy Silver / news@studlife.com

WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 11, 2006

WU pushes students to the polls

SUICIDES v FROM PAGE 1

BY MARLA FRIEDMAN STAFF REPORTER With the Nov. 7 elections less than a month away, the Missouri Secretary of State’s office has asked Washington University to encourage students, faculty and staff to volunteer as poll workers. Volunteers are crucial to ensuring a successful election, particularly with the recent changes in electronic voting equipment instituted by the 2002 Help America Vote Act. Poll workers will be checking in registered voters, answering questions and verifying that all eligible voters are given the opportunity to cast a vote. Carrie Bebermeyer, the deputy communications director for the Secretary of State’s office, explained that recruiting poll workers is now more important than ever. “We have some great people who volunteer their time right now, but we need more people during the election, especially technically savvy poll workers who can help

voters feel comfortable with the new technology,” said Bebermeyer. Jeff Smith, the Democratic nominee for the 4th District Missouri State Senate seat and an adjunct University College professor, agreed that it is absolutely important for students, faculty and staff to volunteer. He is encouraging students from his class to help with the election. “Without poll workers, there would be no way to ensure fair elections. And it’s a great way to see democracy in action—from the inside.” Volunteers are required to be at their assigned polling places during the entire voting session, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and after closing time to assist with procedural duties of completing the voting process. Junior Stacey Goodwin, president of College Republicans, is worried that the long time commitment will make it difficult for people to volunteer. “I do think that it’s important for students and faculty

to volunteer, but I think a lot will have trouble volunteering because of having classes all day,” said Goodwin. “College Republicans has experienced trouble recruiting volunteers to rally outside the poll places in support of the Republican candidates, so I would expect that it would be hard to get poll worker volunteers.” In response to student’s worries, Bebermeyer encourages people interested in volunteering to contact their local election authorities to see if it is possible to work a partial day. Depending on the number of volunteers, a split shift may be allowed. Senior Aaron Keyak, president of College Democrats, echoed the importance of volunteering. “It’s always important for anybody, especially students and faculty, to be a part of the election process, and as a poll worker you are right there taking part in democracy,” said Keyak. “Especially if you don’t feel strongly about either candidate, you’re making sure that

people have access to voting. If you don’t have good people working the polls, then sometimes things happen, and that’s when votes are cast into doubt.” There is also a monetary incentive for becoming a volunteer, with the pay in Missouri ranging from approximately $64 to $100 per day. Volunteers also earn money in most jurisdictions for the required training session, which will occur in mid-October and will last between two and eight hours. It is crucial for volunteers to remember to cast their own votes as well. Since poll workers are not always assigned to work at their regular polling places, many vote using absentee ballots. All those who are interested in volunteering should sign up at http://www.sos. mo.gov/pollworker. This is not a commitment to volunteer, but will alert the local election authority to contact interested people. The final decision is made once the election authority contacts possibly interested people.

Americans and Latinas limits the ability of Latino parents to emotionally support their teenage children. “Parents are not able to help their child go through their adolescent period because they themselves don’t have the experience of being a teenager in the U.S.,” said Zayas. Latina teenagers are less likely to seek mental health care because the parents often view suicide-related issues as signs of weakness. Only 32 percent of Hispanic female youths at risk for suicide during the past year received mental health treatment during this same time period, according to United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. Zayas stressed that the girls themselves are very receptive to therapy, but the Latin culture’s view of therapy often prevents them from getting the help they need. “The parents stigmatize therapy and have to be convinced of its validity,” said Zayas.

ther information. Disposition: Pending.

the third ﬂoor. No witnesses located. Disposition: Cleared.

2:07 p.m. PHONE HARASSMENT—DANFORTH CAMPUS— Complainant reported that she had been receiving profane and irritating text messages from an unknown person(s). Disposition: Pending.

Saturday, Oct. 7

the ofﬁcer observed a subject crawling out of the window on the north side of Walker Hall. Investigation revealed 10 other subjects in the building. Disposition: Referred to JA.

1:43 p.m. INVESTIGATION— FRATERNITY ROW—Investigation into allegations of misconduct following W.I.L.D. on Oct. 7 at 10:15 p.m. Disposition: Pending.

Sunday, Oct. 8

Monday, Oct. 9

2:28 a.m. DRUG OFFENSE— HITZEMAN DORM—In the course of an investigation into a student operating a University-owned golf cart on the north side of Hitzeman dorm, ofﬁcer responded to subject’s room and observed drug paraphernalia. Disposition: Cleared, referred to JA.

7:42 a.m. MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT—GIVENS HALL—Victim reported that he parked his vehicle in front of Givens hall on Oct. 8 at 8:30 p.m. and when he returned to his vehicle on Oct. 9 at 7:40 a.m. he discovered his vehicle had been stolen. St. Louis City later recovered the stolen vehicle. Disposition: Pending.

POLICE BEAT Tuesday, Oct. 3 10:18 a.m. LARCENYTHEFT—OLIN LIBRARY—A student stated that at about 9:45 a.m. this date, he parked his bike in front of Olin Library and left it unattended and unsecured while picking up a book. Upon his return the bike was gone. Described as a Next, 26” blue and silver bike, $70 in value, no serial number or fur-

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6:48 p.m. FIRE ALARM— SIGMA CHI—Fire alarm pull station activated. Who pulled the alarm or why was unknown due to the number of persons present. Disposition: Pending.

Wednesday, Oct. 4 3:40 p.m. LARCENYTHEFT—PRINCE HALL—Audio equipment reported as missing or stolen during a move by WUTV from Prince Hall to Mallinckrodt Center. Time of occurrence: between April 28 and Aug. 8. Disposition: Pending. 7:06 p.m. FALSE FIRE ALARM—RUTLEDGE DORM— Person(s) unknown activated the ﬁ re alarm pull station on

6:59 p.m. ARREST—SEVER HALL—Ofﬁcer observed subject with open container after being warned. Subject was deceptive about his identity and afﬁ liation with the University and produced a false ID. Student was transported to the station, processed for a JA violation and released. Disposition: Cleared by arrest. 8:35 p.m. TRESPASSING— MILDRED LANE KEMPER ART MUSEUM—While on patrol,

7:56 a.m. PROPERTY DAMAGE—FRANCIS FIELD—Witness reported a metal sign post thrown through a window at the Athletic Complex. Disposition: Pending.

9:55 p.m. LOST ARTICLE— LEE DORM—Student reported losing her cellular phone between Wohl Center and Lee dormitory. Disposition: Pending.

WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 11, 2006

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Senior Sports Editor / Andrei Berman / sports@studlife.com

SPORTS

Football back on track after 31-21 weekend win

LIONEL SOBEHART | STUDENT LIFE

The Bears defense lines up at a recent home game. The Bears beat LaGrange 31-21 on Oct. 7. BY ANDREI BERMAN

home state, numerous family members and friends of the running back were able to witness his dominating performance in the Bears’ 31-21 victory. While Jenkins’ performance proved memorable, he was not the only Bear who helped the Red and Green end a three-game losing skid and get back in the win column. Quarterback Pat McCarthy took the majority of the team’s snaps and completed

SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR Not bad for a homecoming. Senior running back DaRonne Jenkins, a native of Marietta, Ga., rushed for a career-best 153 yards and two touchdowns as the Washington University football team defeated LaGrange College on the road Saturday just outside of Atlanta. Because LaGrange is located in Jenkins’

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15 of 25 passes for 222 yards. The senior captain also threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for 49 yards on just seven carries. The relatively small margin of victory doesn’t tell the whole story, as the Bears recovered from a scoreless quarter to score three straight touchdowns in the second frame and take a commanding 21-0 lead. The team’s first score came on a 49-yard pass play from Mc-

Carthy to junior receiver Dan Cardone, who finished the afternoon with 110 yards receiving on just five catches. The University struck again just under four minutes later when Jenkins capped a short drive with a one yard jaunt to the end zone. The team capped its second quarter scoring at right around the three minute mark when McCarthy found junior receiver Michael Casper for a 12-yard touchdown reception. But the winless Panthers (0-6), whose players are the first in the history of LaGrange football, refused to quit, scoring a touchdown of their own just before the break to make the score 21-7. Jenkins scored the game’s lone third quarter touchdown on a fantastic 16-yard run just minutes into the third. The comfortable 28-7 lead quickly vanished as Panthers quarterback Koty Morehead tossed touchdown passes of 23 and 47 yards just minutes apart from one another, bringing the Panthers to within one touchdown with over 11 minutes remaining in the ballgame. Junior Mike Eliott would calm the nerves of University fans moments later when he converted a 31-yard field goal attempt to give the Bears a two-score lead at 31-21. That kick capped the scoring on a day in which the Bears gained 454 yards of total offense, a season high. Eliott also made sure that a Panther comeback wasn’t in the works when he intercepted a Morehead pass from his linebacker spot with about a minute remaining. The Bears’ return to the gridiron next Saturday on the road against league rival, the University of Chicago. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.

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Men’s soccer suffers frustrating weekend loss at Carnegie Mellon BY TRISHA WOLF SPORTS REPORTER The Washington University men’s soccer team suffered another disappointing loss on Sunday, losing a 1-0 contest to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. With the loss, the team’s overall record fell to 6-3-1 overall and 0-2-0 in the University Athletic Association. In the 54th minute, Tartan senior Jonathan Browne beat out Wash.U. freshman keeper John Smelcer to score the game’s only goal. Browne was assisted by teammates Ryan Browne and Daniel Brackley. The Red and Green were disappointed by the outcome of their latest game. Junior co-captain Elie Zenner felt that the Bears “dominated possession but could not create enough chances [to score].” Fellow junior co-captain Onyi Okoroafor echoed this sentiment, “Despite being the better team, we were unable to create dangerous attacks and in turn we had minimal scoring chances.” While the Bears took more of an attacking approach, the Tartans looked to capitalize on set pieces and throw-ins throughout most of the game. They also regularly took advantage of long kicks. The Bears hope to improve their mental mindset from here on out. According to Zenner, “We need to have the confidence in ourselves to play our game instead of playing not to lose. We are usually the more talented team and we just need to believe in ourselves. Once we do that we will have suc-

LIONEL SOBEHART | STUDENT LIFE

Sophomore Alex da Silva chases after the ball at a recent home game. cess.” With this loss, there is immense pressure on the Red and Green to win out the rest of the season to have a chance at making the NCAA Tournament. Okoroafor stated point blank, “We know we need to win the rest of our conference games [to make the post-season]. However, we still have to remember to take it one game at a time.” The Bears next face conference rival Case Western Reserve University on Friday in Cleveland before traveling to upstate New York on Sunday to do battle with fellow conference member, the University of Rochester. The outcome of these games will play a large part in determining the shape of the rest of the squad’s season. When asked what the team would be focusing on for their games this weekend, both Zenner and Okoroafor responded with identical answers: “Winning.”

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WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 11, 2006

CADEN Z A

STUDENT LIFE | CADENZA

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n. a technically brilliant, sometimes improvised solo passage toward the close of a concerto, an exceptionally brilliant part of an artistic work

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Eric Bachmann: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;To the Racesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Ani Difranco: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Reprieveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; BY ERIC LEE CADENZA REPORTER Ani DiFranco has released 18 studio albums. The problem when speaking of an established artist like DiFranco is that you run the risk of offending established admirers with your naivetĂŠ, or you fail to recognize the artistic shifts and musical changes that have accompanied her over the years and are apparent to her fans. I can, however, offer an impartial review of her latest CD, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reprieve.â&#x20AC;? DiFranco is â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Original Folk Punk,â&#x20AC;? crafting ballads on an acoustic guitar with a bev y of instrumental cameos and

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Ani Difranco recently released her new CD, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reprieve.â&#x20AC;?

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According to the cover of Eric Bachmannâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest release, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Returning home from tour to no commonly deďŹ ned home, Eric Bachmann largely wrote his new album â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;To the Racesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in June and July of 2005 while voluntarily living in the back of his van.â&#x20AC;? The back of his van? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sorry, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not sure why he would voluntarily subject himself to those conditions. Maybe he was trying to achieve an â&#x20AC;&#x153;indie rockâ&#x20AC;? Thoreau lifestyle as his van became Walden Pond. Unfortunately, â&#x20AC;&#x153;To the Racesâ&#x20AC;? is not such a masterpiece as

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Though this album is his ďŹ rst solo effort, Bachmann has released a number of albums within the last 10 years. Through the mid-to late-â&#x20AC;&#x2122;90s, he released ďŹ ve albums as guitarist for Archers of Loaf. The band split (affably) in 1998, and Bachmann began the solo project of his band Crooked Fingers, still intact, which has toured with various headliners such as Neko Case. Obviously this guy has an afďŹ nity for and familiarity with indie rock; he has been involved with it for quite some time and has experienced both a solo and a band career. Why, then, does Bachmannâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s style seem so generic? â&#x20AC;&#x153;To the Racesâ&#x20AC;? could be used as a prime example of why many people dislike much of indie rock. Standard chords and minimalist melodies that are repetitive and boring make up the bulk of the album. He often slurs words, making lyrics difďŹ cult to understand, and while he has a decent voice, his tone is monotonous. The acoustic folk style of the album has only just evolved from simple, stan-

Eric Bachmann To the Races Rating: â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x153;Š Tracks to download: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Little Birdâ&#x20AC;? For fans of: Archers of Loaf, Crooked Fingers

dard, beginning guitar. To top off his indie-persona, the cover shows Bachmann from the shoulders up, standing in front of a few shadowed trees. The title is â&#x20AC;&#x153;To the Races.â&#x20AC;? It is based entirely on experience living in isolation. Do you see the connection? Because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tad blurry to me. I must give him some credit: the occasional burst of violin or piano and Bachmannâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vocal talents create a very dynamic sound. In the song â&#x20AC;&#x153;Little Bird,â&#x20AC;? our indie-rock Thoreau claws at the effects of self-imposed isolation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some people search every corner to ďŹ nd a place where they belong / Many fall back out of order / And many more go down alone / So wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you ďŹ&#x201A; y away with me?â&#x20AC;? Bachmann chants, emphasizing the metaphor of birdsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ďŹ&#x201A; ight and escape from the world. The songs all pertain to these effects and the search for sanctuary in a confusing world. The main problem with this album is the lack of distinctness. Bachmannâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vocals are forceful, the lyrics relevant, but the tunes monotonous. There is so much great indie rock out there that is dynamic and vigorous, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;To the Racesâ&#x20AC;? just isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. The album is worth a shot if you have previously listened to Archers of Loaf or Crooked Fingers and are curious to see what Bachmann has been up to. For all other indie rock fans out there, I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safe to sit this one out.

6 STUDENT LIFE | FORUM

Senior Forum Editor / Daniel Milstein / forum@studlife.com

FORUM

Our daily Forum editors: Monday: Chelsea Murphy cemurphy@art.wustl.edu

We welcome your submissions and thank you for your consideration.

Put the student back in Student Union

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supporting the administration’s health insurance plan. Though SU claims there is no institutional opposition to mandatory health insurance, the University is one of only three collegiate institutions to have implemented such a policy, which means that taking the effort to search for opinions outside the University would easily produce the alternative viewpoints that should have been analyzed within the debate. When considering an issue of with such a signiﬁcant impact on students, Student Union needs to take the initiative to look for debate beyond the voices of the institution—Wash. U.—that fostered the policy and that clearly has one opinion on the matter. By only hearing from one side of the debate, SU heard a biased discussion that distored the debate. Instead of being a judge deciding an issue, SU prevented itself from considering the issue in any meaningful way and essentially perverted itself into a mouthpiece for the

University’s administration. Given the manner in which the issue was discussed, it is impossible to conclude that SU’s resolution adds any real value to the debate because the conditions were insufficient for members to actually form an opinion. Drafting a resolution of such importance after being fed arguments by the school administration is premature and irresponsible. Not only has Student Union failed by failing to fully educate itself about a critical issue, but it has also failed to adequately fulfill its most fundamental duty to represent the student body. In the past, SU has polled students on their opinions about less important issues, such as how they felt about being charged for dorm phones, but it has failed to solicit student opinion on this significantly more substantial issue. Though forming an opinion on mandatory health insurance policies is complex, SU should have provided students with basic information and solicited

Wednesday: Nathan Everly Friday: Tess Croner neverly@wustl.edu tacroner@wustl.edu

To ensure that we have time to fully evaluate your submissions, guest columns should be e-mailed to the next issue’s editor or forwarded to forum@studlife.com by no later than 5 p.m. two days before publication. Late pieces will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

STAFF EDITORIAL

peaking on behalf of the student body without seeking student input, Student Union recently drafted and passed a resolution stating its position on Washington University’s mandatory student health insurance policy, after listening solely to the administration’s position in support of the policy. Clearly, this action is problematic on several levels. When Student Union (SU) decided to consider the issue, it invited Alan Glass and other Student Health ofﬁcials to speak. While these ofﬁcials were able to give PowerPoint Presentations and an eloquent, professional defense of the plan they instituted, SU heard no arguments of opposition. Though SU solicited arguments from members of the Student Life editorial board, a newspaper does not act as a defender or opponent of policy—our role is commentary. SU should have waited to hear arguments for the opposition instead of rushing to write a resolution

WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 11, 2006

their opinions before drafting a resolution representing Student Union’s views. The issue of mandatory health insurance needs to be taken seriously. Not only does the insurance cost students a signiﬁcant amount of money, but it affects the way their other insurance policies can be utilized. SU believes it can mitigate some of these harms by urging the University to lobby Missouri for a change in the law, but whether or not the laws can be rewritten remains to be seen and does not resolve cost issues. Essentially, mandatory health insurance is an important issue that affects students in real ways. Therefore, students should be able to expect that, when their student government weighs in on the issue, it will do so only after being completely informed on the issue, and only after receiving student input. To act without both, as SU has done, is a failure to represent the student body and also a failure to serve its best interests.

RACHEL TEPPER & KARL IMPROV | EDITORIAL CARTOON

What Wash. U. could learn from Wal-Mart

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oes a 1999 survey, which found that 10 precent of undergraduate and graduate students had no health insurance and 60 percent of students had inadequate coverage, justify paying $660 a year for a mandatory health plan that you might not use? The answer is not clear. For a while now, critics have charged that the mandatory health insurance unfairly forces some students to pay for double coverage that they don’t need. Nathan And yet the most interesting thing about the entire debate is something that has been largely ignored: that the mandatory health plan is simply not a very good plan. A supervisor at the Lewer Insurance agency, the company that manages the University health plan, readily admitted earlier this year that the plan really only covers “sickness and accidents.” And when you look at what the plan actually covers, it’s clear that he wasn’t exaggerating. Everyone knows that prescription drugs aren’t covered by the mandatory health plan. But the limitations don’t stop there. Remember when Student Health Services announced that it would begin offering the new HPV vaccine? Well, it’s not covered by the mandatory health plan either. Actually, you’re out of luck trying to get any kind of vaccine with the University plan. It also won’t pay for routine physicals, eye exams or dental check-ups. Ditto for birth control, hearing aids, eye glasses and contact lenses. In other words, you literally are out of luck barring sickness or emergency. Now, the University argues that adding benefits would make the plan more expensive. That is certainly true. Adding just a prescription drug benefit would double the current fee rates of the program. But that doesn’t excuse the surprising lack of benefits in the program. It merely highlights the fact that the mandatory health insurance isn’t currently worth the price we pay for it. Prescription drugs are understandably not a component of every health plan because they are so expensive. But refusing to cover routine doctor visits

is much more suspect. If cost were really the issue, then it’s baffling why virtually all forms of preventative care are not included in the University plan. After all, a routine visit to the doctor can identify and correct a health problem early on before it requires an expensive medical procedure to fi x. But something like that is simply not covered by the University health plan. In fact, if you begin comparing the program’s benefits with other plans, it honestly looks like a full-time Everly undergraduate or graduate student with no job would be better covered by Medicaid. That should never happen. Medicaid is a federal safety net designed to provide health insurance to the nation’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens. It is a no-frills program that many low-income individuals would certainly not want to be on if they could help it. And yet Medicaid often covers many of the basic medical benefits that aren’t included in the University plan. For a University with a top-tier medical school and an almost obsessive interest in good publicity, it is frankly embarrassing that its mandatory student health plan is currently upstaged by a government welfare program. And the ironic thing is that the University could probably learn a great deal about this from one of the worst employee health insurance providers in the country: Wal-Mart. Now it should be noted that there is honestly very little to like about Wal-Mart. It may be the largest retail employer in the country, but its health insurance plans still only cover about 43 percent of its workers. But while none of its health care plans can be considered very good, the company has grasped that preventative care is the key to lower health care costs and healthier employees. Its health plans do offer a guaranteed number of visits to the doctor for routine check-ups. And through other company incentives, Wal-Mart does encourage its employees to take care of themselves before serious health problems develop. The point of mentioning this isn’t to illustrate Wal-Mart as a good

See EVERLY, page 7

SWA a necessary presence on campus BY JEROME BAUER OP-ED SUBMISSION

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read with interest the letter to the editor of Student Life, Sept. 9, 2006, by Jake Greenblatt. I read with interest the article on Student Union policy concerning demonstrations, by Ben Sales, in the same issue. Both refer to the Student Worker Alliance (SWA) rather critically. This criticism is mild and appropriate. Apparently some students, faculty and administrators are concerned about what the SWA might do next. However, some expressions of this concern cross the line of acceptable behavior: for example, threats of violence to the SWA if they try anything this year. A threat to the SWA,

or to anyone else for that matter, is a threat to us all. We do not have to agree with them or to like their tactics of civil disobedience, but we must be civil and nonviolent. Now may be the right time to clarify my relationship with this group, because I am publicly linked to them. I support their broad goals but not necessarily everything they have ever done, or might possibly do. When I was asked to speak at the SWA sit-in in Spring 2005, I asked if I could come as a worker, not a faculty supporter. I had read the SWA ﬂ iers posted in dormitories in Autumn 2003 and was intrigued by their concern about the exploitation of lecturers and adjunct faculty. When I was in graduate student government at the

University of Pennsylvania I addressed these issues, and now that I am employed here, I have my own issues (see “Students Protest Removal of Lecturer’s Job,” Sept. 27, 2006, and “Lecture Positions Valuable to Students,” Sept. 29, 2006). I was proud to be a participant-observer at the SWA sit-in. Just as I support the troops but not the war, I supported the hunger strikers but not the hunger strike, which I felt was an unwise escalation and detrimental to the health of students. I offered to take the place of a hunger striker for a day (although the sit-in ended just before my number came up). I know I have the respect of the SWA members, and they have mine. They took great personal risks for a cause, and

I am proud to have shared in that risk, alongside other teaching faculty. Now that the SWA has been granted a place on University labor relations committees, I appeal to the SWA as a worker, on my own behalf and on behalf of other lecturers. I hope that we can all turn our attention this year to hiring and employment issues in the college, and education and administrative reform in general. I believe we need a union, or some such independent institution, for our protection, but I would not want to be part of a union that would not let me work as hard as I wish for my students’ sake. I doubt if any other teaching faculty would want this either. Let’s all discuss these issues in

the months ahead. University administrators, please ask yourselves if your jobs are really necessary. Wouldn’t you rather be teaching, instead of interfering with teachers? Isn’t that why you went into academia? It is never too late to change, as individuals and as an institution, and get back on the right track. We can make better use of our human resources. The SWA has no ofﬁcial faculty advisor, but here is some gratuitous faculty advice: keep your promises, even if the same University ofﬁcials do not always keep theirs. A promise is sacred. Gandhi teaches us this, if we don’t already know it instinctively. Please remember the University’s own motto, adopted as the SWA motto: “per

veritatem vis,” Latin meaning strength through truth. I understand that the SWA promised not to occupy any more buildings uninvited. Let’s keep this promise. That having been said, I know for a fact that many students who toured our beautiful campus during the sit-in were very surprised to learn that our students are not all apathetic careerists who only care about themselves. This inﬂuenced their decision to come here. Perhaps Washington University should have a sit-in every year, for the sake of its public image. Jerome Bauer is a lecturer in the department of Religious Studies. He can be reached via e-mail at jhbauer@wustl.edu.

YOUR VOICE: LETTERS AND GUEST COLUMNS

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Student Life welcomes letters to the editor and op-ed submissions from readers.

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WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 11, 2006

STUDENT LIFE | FORUM

7

What really matters in college I

she was doing here. She dehope you really let loose at W.I.L.D. last Saturday. I cided that sitting hundreds of miles from home poring hope you put off fi nover textbooks and trying to ishing that last probscrape out the papers that lem set to party with your would pave the path to some friends beforehand. I hope future end of success just you weren’t one of the poor wasn’t making her happy. freshmen who attended the It seems like a lot of times P.L.T.L. study session that my something as simple as friend held in the taking the time to do middle of Guster. the things that make It’s not that I have us happy gets lost in a specific affecthe shuffle of readings tion for Guster, or and obligations—things even that W.I.L.D. we feel pressured to do is particularly perfectly in order to amazing, but if have a future. Though we don’t fi nd sometimes write a balance (balJill Strominger we papers that we fi nd ance?—I’m typing intrinsically interestthis from the ing and sometimes we might third floor of Olin Library a get a thrill out of working half hour past midnight), we physics equations, I think it’s can be sure we aren’t going to make it through to gradua- safe to say that most of us aren’t waking up and going tion. to class for sheer entertainA friend of mine left ment value. What we’re doing Wash. U. this past week. She is a lot of work. hasn’t decided yet if she’s Ok, but it seems like doing taking a leave of absence all this work is necessary or transferring, but within for something, right? Well, the space of a few hours she that’s up for debate also. My made the decision to stop friend’s professor spent a lot studying, packed her bags of time pressing the question and hit the highway. While of whether education, and in there were many contributparticular a Wash. U. educaing factors to this decision, tion, was valuable. He also it was triggered largely by offered the proposition that a sociology/education class maybe the idea that we need she was taking that really to be successful in society pressed her to consider what

is a belief we’ve been raised with that we haven’t really been able to question—that on top of that, we haven’t really analyzed for ourselves exactly what success is. I only wish that I could tell you I have the answers to the questions these premises raise about what we ought to be thinking about our lives and about our college experience. Success can be defi ned in so many different ways that I could spend my life seriously pondering the meaning of success and not be much further than when I started. I could decide that other types of success are more easily achieved and conclude that I’m on the wrong path. Maybe success really isn’t something that’s that important. I really don’t have the resources to fi gure that out either. What I have taken away from this is that there’s a lot more to life and a lot more to being successful than can be found in the fi ve levels of Olin Library, and that’s something we should think about on a regular basis. The paper that’s due next week really doesn’t have that much bearing on our lives, even if it seems like it might. So if you weren’t entirely prepared for a quiz this week because

TEMU BROWN | STUDENT LIFE

TEMU BROWN I STUDENT LIFE

you took a break to party last weekend, give yourself a high ﬁ ve instead of feeling guilty, because you’ve mastered the ability to let go every now and then, which is a much more important skill

than whatever you were being tested on. And that’s why I’m no longer studying, but I have instead decided to put aside my ethics book and just break out into a serious moment of

Time to take action on Darfur genocide BY MAYA TOBIAS OP-ED SUBMISSION

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olocaust survivors used to come in to my Jewish day school to tell us their stories. The school, knowing this was difficult for young children to hear and for survivors to tell, did this to make sure that following generations would never forget what happened or cease to understand its gravity. I remember naively thinking to myself, “This is a horrible isolated event, but today’s society is different. We would never let something like that happen today.” When I learned about the Rwanda genocide years later, I told myself that it happened too quickly for us to stop (800,000 Tutsis were killed in just 100 days). It won’t happen again. Now as genocide slowly unfolds in Darfur, the western region of Sudan, I realize the world has not changed at all. When we said “never again” what

we really meant was what David Rieff said in Samantha Power’s “A Problem from Hell:” “Never again would Germans kill Jews in Europe in the 1940s.” We, as citizens and as busy students, remain apathetic because apathy is easy. It requires zero effort and leaves us with plenty of time to focus on studying for exams and hanging out with friends. But there is no such thing as doing nothing. You are either allowing genocide to occur, or you are trying to stop it, according to STAND.org. Although our government has done a lot, they have not made Darfur a top priority. This is because they do not think it is a top priority to citizens. We need to overcome our apathy and make Darfur a top priority. This begins with a basic understanding of the crisis.

Conflict in Darfur In February 2003, two

rebel groups in Darfur took up arms against the Sudanese government located in the capital Khartoum, citing political and economical exclusion from the government. The Sudanese government responded by arming a militia called the Janjaweed, who for the past three years have been systematically pillaging and burning villages, raping woman and ruthlessly killing the “African” tribes of Darfur. While race is an extremely complicated issue in Sudan, the Sudanese government and the Janjaweed have come to identify themselves as “Arab” and the tribes in Darfur have been identified as “African.” Although the Janjaweed were armed to suppress a rebellion, this has since become a state-sponsored systematic destruction of the “African” civilians in Darfur, constituting genocide. An estimated 2.5 million people have been displaced from their homes and over 400,000 people

have already died as a result of the conflict.

Current Situation A peace agreement was signed on May 5, 2006 between the Sudanese government and a faction of one of the rebel groups. This agreement has already been broken, and recently the violence in Darfur has escalated. A small group of African Union peacekeeping forces are in Darfur, but they are largely ineffective and underfunded. Most hope is currently found in sending United Nations peacekeeping forces. This cannot happen without permission from the Sudanese government, which has already stated their refusal to allow U.N. forces to enter the country.

What We Can Do One: spread awareness. People on this campus know

more about organic synthesis and Dadaism than what is going on in the world today. We need to educate ourselves so that we have the tools to make a difference. Two: advocacy. We need to tell our legislators that this is an issue that is important to us. We need our government to pressure the Sudanese government to allow in U.N. peacekeepers. Three: fundraising. The United Nations described this as the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis.” Thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons are without food, water and health care. Although many aid organizations have left because it is too dangerous, there are still various organizations that we can support. Maya is a senior in Arts & Sciences majoring in Political Science. She can be reached via e-mail at mztobias@ gmail.com.

rocking out to my iPod. Jill is a sophomore in Arts & Sciences and a Forum Editor. She can be reached via e-mail at forum@studlife.com.

EVERLY v FROM PAGE 6 role model for providing health care. That just isn’t true. But for all of its ﬂaws, the company does understand that it makes a great deal of sense to offer preventative care to its employees. The University plan, amazingly, doesn’t do that. It is genuinely troubling that supporters of the mandatory health insurance fee continue to advocate the need to give all students an adequate amount of coverage without checking to see whether the current health plan accomplishes that. From a preventative care perspective, it clearly does not. By offering virtually nothing in the way of medical care until an emergency occurs, the University health plan peddles the false notion that the proper approach to maintaining health is waiting until a problem arises. It isn’t. It’s just too bad that Wal-Mart ﬁgured that out before we did. Nathan is a junior in Arts & Sciences and a Forum editor. He can be reached via e-mail at forum@studlife.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Univ. must comment on Smith’s resingation Dear Editor: Your editorial of Oct. 9, while nice, does not go far enough. I will give the University some leniency for not firing Professor Smith earlier if they honestly believed that they could not legally do so. And he was fired; forcing him to resign was simply the easiest (and perhaps most lenient) method of doing so. What disturbs me is the University’s refusal to reveal the fact that they have taken action against someone who flagrantly violated both the terms of his employment and the laws of multiple states. What are victims supposed to think when their attackers are allowed to quietly resign and move on? What are other professors supposed to think? Furthermore, the lack of transparency in this process has clearly made it difficult for students to know to whom to report their problems in the first place, as the anonymous student’s story shows. There is, of course, the question of Professor Smith’s right to privacy. One of the persons who refused to give any useful comment to the Student Life compared him to a politician who resigns “for reasons of health” or “to spend more time with their family.” Both are obvious lies, but the establishment is not required to dispel this polite fiction. However, in those cases an official reason is

given; at Wash. U., even that is confidential. If Professor Smith had been prosecuted by the state rather than the University, he’d be registering as a sex offender rather than disappearing with the administration’s help. I call on the University to do two things: Firstly, the administration must publicly discuss the rules governing, procedures for reporting and actions taken against sexual harassment and abuse by faculty members. Secondly, the Chair of Earth and Planetary Sciences must release the resignation letter that he wrote for Professor Smith and his reasons for writing it. To quote the St. Louis Post-Dispatch regarding the Foley scandal: What part of “It’s the cover-up that gets you” don’t they understand? -M. Alan Thomas II Class of 2004

Bauer an asset to the University Dear Editor: Washington University, in its quest to gain that everimportant higher ranking status, is about to make a huge mistake. Dr. Jerome Bauer, of the religious studies department, is being “let go” by the University. This is a traves-

ty; the University would lose so much if Dr. Bauer were no longer here. Students, arguably the foundation of the University and the reason for its existence, would stand to lose the most. Dr. Bauer is a lecturer who devotes all his resources to teaching and the furthering of his student’s education. His efforts don’t stop in the classroom. Unlike most professors, Dr. Bauer has dedicated much of his personal time and energy to enriching the lives of students outside the classroom. He supports many who have come up with their own major, sponsoring them as their four-year advisor. He serves as a faculty sponsor for numerous student groups and is an active member and participant of even more. He has purchased a house close to the Danforth campus, and opened up the first floor for student use. Not only does it serve as a study space, but he also hosts a private circulating library that all are encouraged to use. He provides web hosting to anyone who wants a web site who otherwise wouldn’t have an outlet in the medium of the 21st century. Most importantly, though, Dr. Bauer tries to further his students’ knowledge and education on a person-byperson basis. He is willing to work with any student that has an idea or an interest,

and if he doesn’t have the skill or knowledge to help directly, he connects students with people that do. This spirit is exemplified in the Rochdale Free University, in which Dr. Bauer offers his home as a venue for anyone wanting to learn. Dr. Bauer even offers personal tutoring in areas of his expertise, in a “pay what you can, full money-back guarantee” system. The decision to no longer employ Dr. Bauer comes down to one question, “Does the benefit gained by losing Dr. Bauer (whatever those may be) outweigh the benefits he provides to the University community?” I think that any logical, rational, sane person would agree with me when I say this University cannot afford to lose Dr. Bauer, and if the University does decide to no longer employ him, then they would be denying their students one of the most valuable assets that makes this University so great. -John Mark Engle Class of 2006

Trends frightening in American Society Dear Editor: What will the American public believe in next? Or perhaps the better question:

is there no limit to what the American public can believe in? My guess is that there is none, at least with respect to fears, threats and war. Certainly, if we believed that Iraq posed a grave threat to the United States, then we can be convinced that any other country or individual does. This should not be surprising. We are the world’s preeminent JudeoChristian(-Islamic) society. And is not the creation of threat and fear the very foundation of this religious order? God is to be feared. From the very beginning, God punishes humanity for seeking wisdom and good (Genesis 3.5). God virtually wipes mankind away for being wicked (Genesis 6.5-7). God “will bring terror on you: consumption and fever that waste the eyes and cause life to pine away,” if you don’t obey Him (Leviticus 21.16). We are told to stone to death all those who don’t believe without compassion or pity (Deuteronomy 13.6-10: Is this where we get our foreign policy?). All of this so that simply, “All Israel shall hear and be afraid” (Deuteronomy 13.11). And let’s be frank: we heard, and we’re still afraid thousands of years later. Perhaps this view of God has been relegated to the text in exchange for a more benevolent one, but in its place emerged the ideas of hell, deadly sins, last judgment, etc. For whatever reason, our society simply

cannot exist without creating a fear where none should exist. We buy into fearful somethings where nothings exist. Perhaps this is the great trick of our religious tradition, that we learn to fear an imagined authority, while we’re supposed to unconditionally let real-life men run around willy-nilly acting “under God.” So from birth, we are taught A) to unconditionally believe what authority (the Pope, the Bible, etc.) tells us about B) how afraid we should be of a non-material being (God). It only follows naturally and obviously then that we are so willing to believe our president when he tells us we should be afraid of something evil. Because A) the president is America’s Pope and B) if we are so willing to believe that a scary and threatening non-material being exists regardless of evidence, then surely we’re willing to believe that a material being is scary and threatening regardless of evidence. Thus the evidence, or lack thereof, about going to war with Iraq never really mattered to begin with, and evidence will not matter in our future wars either. Because after all, America would not be the world’s largest Judeo-Christian society if America cared in the slightest about material evidence. -Shawn Siegel Third-year law student