STUDENT LIFE
THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSIT Y IN ST. LOUIS SINCE 1878 Confused by all the Orientation Week options? We’ve got a rundown of each day’s most essential activities. Page 5.
The pouring rain on move-in day did have an upshot—no, really. Cartoonist Brian Sotak explains in Forum. Page 8.
VOLUME 127, No. 2
Welcome to apartment life—Zach Goodwin explains the difference between garbage trucks and artillery fire. Page 9.
For those looking to celebrate the return to campus in style, Freshman Press has film-based drinking games. See Page F7.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2005
WWW.STUDLIFE.COM
Building projects give campus new look By Helen Rhee Staff Reporter Returning students may feel new to campus this fall, thanks to several summer building renovations and construction projects that are giving the University a facelift for the coming year. Highlights of the work include a continuing renovation project on Wilson Hall, the old home of the Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) department, the announcement of a new building planned for the political science department and renovations to the Hilltop campus. Wilson will reopen in the summer of 2006 to be shared by the biology department— which will move out of its old home in Rebstock Hall—and the Philosophy department. In addition to renovated in-
terior space, there will be an additional lobby area when students enter the building. The exterior appearance will not be changed. According to Steve Rackers, capital projects manager for the facilities planning department, the design will be consistent with several new University building standards and initiatives. For instance, University planners applied environmentally friendly principles such as those found in the LEED rating system for buildings. LEED, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system, is a voluntary standard that promotes sustainability and responsible energy usage. “Although we are not going for LEED certification, we are using LEED principles in our design,” said Rackers.
Last year the new EPS building was developed using LEED principles and gained certification under that standard. According to Biology Department Chair Ralph Quatrano, the initial push to move out of Rebstock was considered when the department expanded. Over the last seven years, several biology professors retired, and Rebstock was unable to accommodate the facilities needed by their replacements. As a result, the department decided to move to Wilson after EPS had moved out. “We are excited about the move. It gives us more space for faculty and for students. It looks like the renovations will be nicely done,” said Philosophy Department Chair Mark Rollins. Political science will soon
find a new home on the side of Olympia Way. Rackers noted that a master plan for a new building along that street has already been made. The building’s 14 additional classrooms will be shared by the Political Science department and School of Law. Construction for the new building will start sometime in the first half of 2006. Upon completion of the new building, the University plans to demolish Eliot. It will cost the University approximately 30 million dollars to build the new structure. “I think it will be
DAVID BRODY | STUDENT LIFE
Construction equipment has almost completely gutted Wilson Hall to allow the building to be renovated to clear room for the biology and philosophy departments. Construction will continue throughout the school year, with Wilson set to reopen for See BUILDING, page 3 the fall semester of 2006.
New workers’ wages to increase tuition By Sarah Kliff Senior News Editor Student tuition hikes could be footing the bill for the University’s new $1 million pledge to improve the wages of lower-paid workers. The financial commitment came at the conclusion of the Student Worker Alliance’s 19-day sit-in to demand a living wage for all workers on the University campus, held last spring in the admissions office. In an interview with Student Life, Chancellor Mark Wrighton explained that the money would come from the University’s unrestricted resources, a fund largely composed of student tuition. ”Any increase in resource commitment, any increase— whether we expand the health center or hire a new faculty member or commit to supporting lower paid workers more generously—all of that drives tuition and it will be a tuition consequence,” said Wrighton. The tuition increase could come as early as the 2006-2007 school year, a number that the University will most likely decide upon in January. The tuition for the 2005-2006 year has not been impacted by new expenditure, since it had already been set before the financial commitment was made. “This issue we’re talking about will be a factor in what the tuition will be and obviously, since expenses are not going down, it will be a positive contributor to higher tuition,” said Wrighton. The same agreement between the University and SWA that pledged the $1 million for workers’ rights also created a committee to decide how the money ought to be spent and investigate other sources to finance the commitment. The committee consists of one SWA representative, two administrators, two faculty members, and a student representative. Some students are not enthusiastic about their dollars contributing to increases in workers’ wages. Sophomore Brandon Brown opposes the wage increases and is upset that his tuition dollars will soon support them. “I believe in the free market and if that’s what the market says that is what it says,” said Brown. “I don’t think Wash. U. needs to be the moral compass of the world and try to change the market forces. That money
See SWA, page 6
DAVID BRODY | STUDENT LIFE
Freshman Press participant Julian Beattie documents Move-In Day from the roof of Liggett. To see and read more about Move-In Day and the Class of 2009, turn to our special Freshman Press section, produced entirely by the freshman of Student Life’s pre-orientation program.
University ranking steady at No. 11 By Elizabeth Lewis Staff Reporter The newest issue of U.S. News & World Report showed the University holding its spot at 11 in the rankings of national undergraduate universities while its rankings fluctuated in more specific categories. Eleventh is the same ranking that the school shared last year with Northwestern. This year, the University holds eleventh place outright, with Northwestern ranked No. 12. Columbia and Dartmouth are tied at ninth. U.S. News also ranked the University in more specific categories. The school was ranked nationally as the sixth most selective university, an improvement of two places from last year. The University ranked 10th in proportion of classes under 20 students, 17th in graduation and retention (an improvement of two spots from last year), fourth in fi nancial resources, fi fth in faculty resources (an increase of one spot), and ninth in alumni giving. The Olin School of Business was ranked No. 12, and the School of Engineering and Applied Science was
ranked No. 41. The University was also ranked 20th in the Best Value category, a significant drop from last year’s No. 12 ranking. Chancellor Mark Wrighton responded to that drop with a strong assertion of the University’s value. “I think we’re the best value in the country,” said Wrighton. “[The University] is not that different from last fall in terms of value.” He added that the University’s overall rankings were strong. “Rankings come every year. The overall impression is that people view us very favorably,” said Wrighton. Nanette Tarbouni, the director of admissions, said, “We are privileged to be in the rankings. To be in the top 100 or 200 is really a compliment.” She said that “around 21,000 students” applied for the 2005-’06 school year, as opposed to “a bit under 20,000” for the 2004-’05 school year. Tarbouni explained that students ought to visit the University and form their own impressions, independent of rankings. A student from another country unable to visit might rely on
MARGARET BAUER | STUDENT LIFE
them, but fi rst-hand visits were preferable, she said. “I want people to come and see what a great institution this is. It has a place for everybody, and there is no way that any ranking can ever capture the spirit of Wash. U,” said Tarbouni. Students also weighed in on their
views of the rankings. Laura Keys, a sophomore in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, said, “I’m not necessarily familiar with the schools that ranked before [the University], but I know from experience that the students [here] tend
See RANKINGS, page 2