Orienation Issue 2009 | Student Life

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Read more articles and find out what pearls of wisdom our staff has to start your freshman year off right. www.studlife.com

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Vol. 130, No. 1

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Work on new Umrath, Wohl WU administration going ‘as planned,’ officials say moving forward

with tobacco ban Some criticize lack of student input and communication

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EVAN WISKUP | STUDENT LIFE

EVAN WISKUP | STUDENT LIFE

COURTESY OF FACILITIES

Phase I of construction on the South 40 will be completed with the opening of Umrath Hall and part of the new Wohl Center this fall. Left: Umrath Hall under construction this summer. Right: the architect’s rendered image of the finished building.

Jack Marshall Contributing Reporter With move-in day quickly approaching, Washington University administrators say construction of the longawaited Umrath Hall and Wohl Center on the South 40 is going as planned. “There are certain activities lagging, certain activities ahead of schedule, but we are overall on schedule,” said Steven Rackers, director of capital projects & records. While masonry and landscaping are slightly behind schedule, some interior furnishing remains ahead. Phase I of the construction will be done before fall move-

in, according to Project Manager Nancy Marshall. This first phase includes the new Umrath and Wohl residential areas, a fitness center, certain stations at Bear’s Den, part of Bear Mart and a temporary dining facility. Residential spaces will be ready for early move-in students, which includes freshman participants in pre-orientation programs, student advisors and resident advisors. Phase II—which consists of the completion of the new Bear’s Den, an upgraded Bear Mart and College Hall, an assembly space for the residential colleges—will be done by August 2010. Dean of Students Justin

Carroll wrote in an e-mail that construction for College of Hall will start after the old Wohl is completely demolished. The University, he wrote, expects it to be done by fall 2010. According to a description from the architecture firm Mackey Mitchell and Associates—Umrath and Wohl’s designers—the lower levels of Umrath and Wohl will feature student activity spaces to accommodate 3,000 residents and a new dining service facility. “Modeled after European streetscapes, the site features an upper and lower plaza, which creates ‘outdoor rooms.’ Cascading stairs, ramps and a sloped garden lead from the

adjacent parking garage to the lower plaza, creating a social heart for the residential neighborhood,” the firm’s description reads. Due to the new Wohl’s LEED Silver certification, there will be other noticeable changes in Bear’s Den, such as china dishes instead of disposable ones to help reduce waste. The kitchen will use energyefficient hoods to reduce energy use, and food wastes will be sent to a composter. The loading dock near the dining facilities will be sheltered by a green roof that provides not only recreation space but also a vegetable and herbs garden for students to

See SOUTH 40, page 2

New dining options await students Chloe Rosenberg Staff Reporter As members of the Class of 2013 prepare to make Washington University their new home, Dining Services is scurrying to finish the new dining facilities on the South 40. The new Wohl Center, currently under construction, will house the new dining facilities. The former Wohl Center, where most of the South 40’s dining facilities were located, was demolished in mid-June. Amid student concerns, Bon Appétit insists the quality of the food options offered on the South 40 will not suffer from the transition.

The new Wohl Center will be built in two separate phases— the first of which will be finished before August move-in. The first phase will house both permanent and temporary dining facilities. A permanent dining facility will be completed with the second phase to replace the temporary one. The new dining hall is set to offer many of the same options previously available at Bear’s Den, including a bakery, grill and sandwich station in the permanent section, along with a tacquería, salad bar, global station and a hot kosher station in the temporary facility. A temporary Bear Mart also will be available for the 2009-

2010 school year. Ursa’s will be the only South 40 dining facility to remain unaffected by the changes. “It is going to be one of the top food programs and living and learning concepts in the nation,” Nadeem Siddiqui, resident district manager for Bon Appétit, said of the new facilities. The second permanent wing, which will open for the 20102011 school year, is set to house an Indian station and a Mongolian grill. In 2010, the temporary facility will be replaced by offices and a kosher kitchen—the first of its kind on campus. Until this point, all kosher food items have been prepared at the nearby Hillel

House and delivered to campus. Vegetarian options will be broadened next year as well. The dining facilities will have a separate grill and fryer for vegetarian food. Plans are underway to have at least one vegetarian option available at each food station. “I think that having the separate fryer is a good option. Seeing my food touch meat is a personal turn-off to me. That’s really good that they are trying to be more sensitive,” said junior Meghna Srinath, a vegetarian. All of the food in the new dining hall will be served a la carte. Though there will be no replacement for Center Court, a

Dan Woznica News Editor

Ashtrays soon will be a relic of bygone days at Washington University as all of the institution’s campuses move toward the implementation of a complete smoking and tobacco ban in July 2010. The decision to prohibit smoking and the use of all tobacco-related products on University property was announced last April by the administration, which framed the ban as a public health initiative intended to reduce the effects of secondhand smoke. “We’re not passing judgment on what you should or should not do,” said Jill Carnaghi, associate vice chancellor for students and dean of campus life. “We’re saying on our campus we want as healthy an environment as possible.” Carnaghi’s sense is that most undergraduates agree with the ban. But she feels many who supported it were nonetheless frustrated that the University made the decision without taking student input into account. “I think there was a good number that didn’t like the way the decision was made,” Carnaghi said. “They were upset with how the process went in the decision, rather than the decision itself.” Senior Tom Aylmer was one such student angry with how the University implemented the ban. “The people who implemented it didn’t give the students any say in the decision process,” Aylmer said. “I’d like them to at least inform the students as to how they

made the decision, what kind of research they did. They should address why they didn’t give the students any consideration.” Student Union (SU) also decried the lack of student involvement in the administration’s decision. Last April, SU passed a resolution requesting that the administration reconsider the ban after hearing students’ opinions on the matter. Although the University is not currently planning to reevaluate its decision, Carnaghi is leading a committee of around 12 undergraduates in the coming year that will offer student input to the administration concerning the ban and its implementation. “We’ll pull together a committee to identify what are the issues, what are the concerns and then how do we as a group—which is made up of a lot of students, some I hope to be smokers and some not—move forward with this in a realistic way,” Carnaghi said. The committee likely will include representatives from student groups that may be affected most by the ban, such as international students from cultures more permissive of smoking. Carnaghi said the committee also will work to engage the broader undergraduate population through open forums for students to express their opinions. The administration has created separate committees for working with the rest of the University population. The faculty and staff committee is headed by Alan Glass, director of Student Health Services, and Brad Freeman, associate professor of surgery, while the graduate and professional students committee is headed by Sheri Notaro, associate dean in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. At present, while the Uni-

See BAN, page 3

See DINING, page 2

Financial troubles: University prepares for another hard year In the midst of the worldwide economic crisis, Washington University is dealing with a difficult financial situation of its own. The administration estimates the University’s endowment is down by 20 to 25 percent as of the end of May, according to Chancellor Mark Wrighton.

“That [estimate] might be a little better than we had in mid-April, when I communicated it to the community,” Wrighton said in reference to an e-mail he sent to students, faculty and staff to inform them about the University’s financial situation. He followed up that e-mail with a “State of the University Address” on April 23, providing the community an opportunity to ask questions.

Wrighton said donations to the University have held relatively steady, even as the number of donors to the University has decreased. “[It] might even be ahead [of] last year,” Wrighton said. In fact, the total amount of money donated to the University in fiscal 2009 as of the end of May was 4 percent higher than the previous year, according to David

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Blasingame, executive vice chancellor for alumni and development programs. Blasingame said the University is also outperforming peer institutions in donations. “I think most places are experiencing downturns,” he said. Blasingame attributed the University’s slight upturn to

See CRISIS, page 3

MATT MITGANG | STUDENT LIFE

Chancellor Mark Wrighton speaks on issues affecting the University at the “State of the University Address” on April 23.

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News Editor / Kat Zhao / news@studlife.com

ORIENTATION ISSUE

Webfood: Online orders for DUC food available this fall Becca Krock Staff Reporter Starting this fall, students will have the option to pre-order certain menu items online and pick up their items at the Danforth University Center at no additional cost. The new service, called Webfood, is intended to reduce waiting times and congestion in the Danforth University Center (DUC) for students’ convenience. The program, developed by Bon AppĂŠtit administration, Student Union (SU) members and students at large, is the product of efforts from over the last two years. “If you’re someone that’s frustrated about going to get food and it’s a long line, and you spend most of the time you want to spend with

friends waiting in line, you no longer have to do that,â€? said senior Jeff Nelson, SU president. “Even if you don’t want to use Webfood, you can benefit anyway, because the lines will be shorter.â€? Bon AppĂŠtit selected the independent service Webfood from several similar options in large part because other U.S. colleges, such as Cornell University, have used the system to positive reviews. “It integrates very nicely with [the campus card system] we currently have, which lowers the cost that it would take to implement it,â€? Nelson added. Another benefit that became apparent as SU was researching Webfood, Nelson noted, is that fewer wrong orders will be thrown away. “You’d be surprised at how

often it happens,� Nelson said. “They’re trying to get through 50 people in the lunch hour, so sometimes they mess up orders, sometimes they forget things, and food is wasted.� Menu items will be limited at first, though more options will be added over time as students and food service employees become more comfortable with the new system. The Webfood system limits the number of orders that can be placed at one time. That means an order’s cooking time alone determines how far in advance students have to order their food. “The item won’t be prepared 15 minutes ahead of time; it’s literally just a few minutes ahead of time,� said Paul Schimmele, assistant to the director of operations in Dining Services.

While Webfood may be advantageous for students, Schimmele said Bon AppĂŠtit staff likely won’t benefit from it in any particular way. “I don’t know if it is any easier for the staff; it’s just a different way to take an order,â€? Schimmele said. “I don’t think it complicates the job once everybody understands how the system works. There’s going to be changes to the routine a little bit, but I don’t think it affects what they do really.â€? Nelson has heard concerns from some that Webfood may eliminate opportunities for students to interact personally with Dining Services staff, but he disagrees. “If you value standing in line and talking with the workers, developing that relationship, you still can,â€? he

SOUTH 40 from page 1 DINING from page 1 cultivate. As for residential areas, Umrath will house 99 freshman students and three upperclassmen resident advisors. Sixty-eight of these students will live in four-person double suites joined together by a shared bathroom, 21 will live in triple units, and 10 will live in double units. Three residential advisors and 125 upperclassmen will live in the new Wohl building. Of these, 108 will live in four-person single suites, six in three-person single suites, two in a two-person single suite and six in individual double rooms. Wohl and Umrath’s future residents say they are looking forward to the changes that the new buildings will bring to the South 40. “I think the new build-

ing will better the look of the South 40 since the construction will be over,� senior Brandy Randall, an RA on Umrath 4, wrote in an e-mail. “Once new Wohl is complete it will bring about new eating options as the cafeteria choices will be enhanced and the variety of food will increase.� The excitement is enhanced by prospects of a new residential college—formed by Rubelmann Hall, Umrath and Wohl. “Adding Wohl and the upperclassmen to a once freshmen-only residential college will diversify the types of programs we put on,� said senior Rebecca Shareff, an RA on Umrath 3. “With a new rescollege comes our new mascot, the Red Umbrella Whales, and a huge source of pride and energy.�

KAT ZHAO | STUDENT LIFE

The kitchen inside the new Wohl Center will be able to serve more than 3,000 people. brunch buffet will still be available on weekends. Incoming students expressed enthusiasm about the new dining options. “I think that what will be there in 2010 makes the transition worth it,� incoming freshman Tori Wesevich said. Dining Services will be allowed to move into the new Wohl Center beginning on July 16,

leaving workers a month to prepare the facilities in time for the projected mid-August opening. “I think the milestones that have been set to make sure this will be handed over July 16 have all been met, so I am less nervous,� Siddiqui said. “We’ve just got to be flexible, just got to keep an open mind. We continue to tweak and we continue to adjust.�

said. Schimmele and Nadeem Siddiqui, resident district manager for Bon AppĂŠtit, downplayed potential problems with Webfood’s implementation, saying the administration is taking the process slowly to avoid complications. In addition, incoming freshmen and students taking summer classes on campus will be testing Webfood in a pilot program before August move-in to avoid snags. “I’m sure there will be timing issues, other sorts of things. We want to make sure all that is tidied up before August when we open it to the larger market,â€? Siddiqui said. Basic items from Trattoria Verde and Delicioso’s tacqueria and grill stations, snacks and beverages will be avail-

able for pre-purchase on a Web site that has yet to be revealed. Orders can be placed at any time of day, but can be picked up only between 7:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. at George’s Express in the DUC. Most students have not heard about Webfood and none have had the opportunity to try it, but some are looking forward to trying it. “If I’m going to have to wait 20 minutes either way, I’d rather have that 20 minutes in my room,� senior Amaka Onwuzurike said. Despite Webfood’s intended benefits for students, the program may not be gladly received by all. “I’ve heard some people sort of criticize Webfood and say it’s just a luxury. I think it’s really a necessity,� Nelson said.

NEWS BRIEF

Undergraduates to make switch to Microsoft e-mail service in fall Student Union announced earlier this month that Washington University undergraduates will be switching to an e-mail account powered by the service Microsoft Live@Edu this fall. This new initiative will provide the means of what Student Union (SU) calls a “unified communications platform,� where all students, faculty, staff and administrators can share information with the same tools. The decision came after a yearlong evaluation of Live@Edu and the similar application Google Apps for Education and numerous surveys, town hall meetings, product demonstrations and focus groups. Though many students opted for Google Apps in their surveys, Nelson said that Live@Edu will offer all the features that Google Apps offers and “much more.� Each student’s Live@Edu account will provide a 10-gigabyte email inbox, 25 gigabytes of file storage space, a sharable calendar, online workspaces and direct integration with social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. With the new application, students will be able to search the email addresses of classmates, arrange appointments with advisors and complete other functions all within the same system. Visit studlife.com throughout the week for more updates on Live@Edu. (Kat Zhao)

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ORIENTATION ISSUE

CRISIS from page 1 several large donations at the beginning of the year. The University, he said, also has benefited from an institution-wide strategic planning, which provides potential donors a glimpse into new ideas and plans underway at the University. As one of the foremost responses to the economic crisis this past year, Wrighton said the University is re-prioritizing resources to increase financial aid. Bill Witbrodt, director of Student Financial Services, said the financial aid budget “has top priority.” “We recognize that when the economy is rough, our families are having a tough time too. We need to do all that we can to make sure that our students can continue their education at Washington University,” Witbrodt said. “When things are tough, it’s even more important to have a stable financial aid budget.” The student financial aid budget has increased by 20 percent in the past two years—a feat accomplished partially by cutting administrative expenses. Meanwhile, tuition has risen—though by less than 10 percent, Wrighton said. This is the first time that University has had to freeze compensation expenses since Wrighton’s tenure as chancellor began in 1995, he said. The University has also filled advertised jobs slower and recruited fewer faculty this year than usual. Wrighton predicts the next fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2010, will be even more challenging. In fact, the University—in efforts to brace itself for greater financial troubles ahead—has started prepar-

ing for next year much earlier than it has in the past. Even with the chancellor’s recent disclosures about the University’s economic state, most students remain dissatisfied with the administration’s extent of communication and transparency in financial issues. This past semester, several students came together to start a Facebook group called “WU Students for Endowment Transparency” (WUSET). Junior Jacob Stern, one of WUSET’s founders, said he and others formed the group after reaching a consensus that students have very limited access to the University’s financial information, such as the breakdown of the endowment. “By adopting a method of controlled disclosure, the University would join the ranks of prestigious educational institutions, such as Brown, Harvard, Yale, Duke, Stanford, and Columbia that have empowered students by making investment records available but would not limit the power of trustees or administrators,” the group’s mission statement reads. “We feel this step would reflect an institutional commitment to student participation in the broader university community.” WUSET is in the stages of preparing for more active efforts in the fall, including talks with the administration. “We really hope that it can be a really cooperative relationship,” said Stern, who hopes that the partnership will be beneficial for both students and administrators alike. “We don’t see the administration as an enemy by any means.”

BAN from page 1

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Editor in Chief: Perry Stein Associate Editor: Brian Krigsher Managing Editors: Josh Goldman, Michelle Stein, Dennis Sweeney, Evan Wiskup Senior News Editor: Kat Zhao Senior Forum Editor: Kate Gaertner Senior Sports Editor: Johann Qua Hiansen Senior Scene Editor: Paula Lauris Senior Cadenza Editor: Stephanie Spera Senior Photo Editor: Matt Mitgang Senior Graphics Editor: Mike Hirshon Online Editor: Scott Bressler Director of New Media: Sam Guzik Design Chief: Brittany Meyer News Editors: Eliza Adelson, David Messenger, John Scott, Dan Woznica Assignment Editor: Lauren Olens News Manager: Michelle Merlin Forum Editors: Charlie Bohlen, Aditya Sarvesh, Eve Samborn, AJ Sundar Cadenza Editors: Cici Coquillette, Percy Olsen, Craig Ostrin, Hannah Schwartz Scene Editors: Robyn Husa, Hana Schuster, Agnes Trenche Sports Editors: Becky Chanis, Scott Drattell, Alex Dropkin Photo Editors: Daniel Eicholtz, Matt Lanter, Lily Schorr Design Editors: Nicole Dankner, Susan Hall, Katie Sadow, Zoë Scharf Copy Chief: Puneet Kollipara Designers: Mia Feitel, Evan Freedman, Anna Hegarty, Katrina Jongman-Sereno, Liz Klein, Laura Kornhauser, Courtney LeGates, Isaac Lobel, Brandon Lucius Ashley Nault, Lyndsay Nevins, Joe Rigodanzo, Eric Rosenbaum, Kate Rothman, Michael Yang, Kim Yeh General Manager: Andrew O’Dell Advertising Manager: Sara Judd Copyright 2009 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 $99.00 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. If you’d like to place an ad, please contact the Advertising Department at (314) 935-6713. If you wish to report an error or request a clarification, e-mail editor@studlife. com.

MATT MITGANG | STUDENT LIFE

Student Union Senate Speaker Chase Sackett speaks on the SU resolution last semester decrying the University’s tobacco ban. versity carries forth with its plans, many students continue to express mixed opinions about the ban. Junior Adeetee Bhide is allergic to tobacco and has been hospitalized for coughing fits after inhaling secondhand smoke. Despite her sensitivity to tobacco, she said she is still able to see both sides of the issue.

“I’m glad that I’ll be able to do my homework outside without having to worry about people smoking, but I do understand that it’ll be a big inconvenience for people who do smoke,” Bhide said. Bhide has to hold her breath when she walks past the entrances to Olin Library and Seigle Hall, where smokers often congregate. Several

times, she said, she has had to relocate from doing work outside after a smoker lit up a cigarette. Still, she feels that banning smoking altogether on campus is an unnecessary step. “I think a better compromise would be to have designated smoking areas,” Bhide said.

STUDENT LIFE | NEWS

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News Editor / Kat Zhao / news@studlife.com

ORIENTATION ISSUE

SWAP-ing trash for charity: Student groups combine sustainability and philanthropy William Shim Staff Reporter

Fifteen to 20 desk chairs, 10 to 15 televisions, 40 to 50 desk lamps, 15 to 20 microwaves, a few living room sets, a large number of plastic bins and hangers. This names only a few on the long list of items Sharing With A Purpose collected from Washington University dorms and apartments after move-out this past semester. Better known as SWAP, the program collects and donates to charity any unwanted reusable items University students leave for trash. The newly established student-owned business has been a member of the Student Entrepreneurial Program since fall 2008 and received non-profit status from Missouri in February 2009. Seniors Michael Young and Ross Kelley, two of SWAP’s six co-founders and owners, had no idea the group would meet so much initial success. “We knew a lot of Wash. U. students were concerned about campus sustainability, but we did not expect the response to SWAP to be so positive in only its first year,� Kelley said. SWAP, however, is certainly not the campus’s only student-run program with conservation and charity in mind. Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity’s furniture drive, which accepts all non-electronic appliances to donate to the St. Louis-based food bank Operation Food Search, has operated since spring 2002.

Senior Adam Yasinow, president of TKE, said the fraternity’s annual drive has remained successful throughout the years. Yasinow could not provide this year’s final collection number as the drive was still ongoing as of June. The furniture drive and SWAP make up two of the largest contributors to the Share Our Stuff (S.O.S.) program in the Office of Sustainability at the University. Launched in 2008 under the leadership of Matt Malten, assistant vice chancellor for campus sustainability, S.O.S. seeks to reduce the amount of waste generated each year on campus. TKE joined S.O.S. after it “ saw a marriage of interests� in the relationship, Yasinow said. SWAP owners also recognized the common ground and saw potential for raising its own publicity with the partnership. “I cannot stress enough what a tremendous asset our relationship with the S.O.S. campaign and the Office of Sustainability has been, and we only look for further build upon this relationship,� Young said. SWAP’s main beneficiary is Lydia’s House, a local organization that provides transitional housing for domestic violence survivors. After holding an on-campus sale of its items in late August, SWAP will send the proceeds to Lydia’s House and donate all unsold items to Operation Food Search. “Our items go back to the Wash. U. community while [other groups] donate their

COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY

(L-R) Zach Kelly, Ross Kelly and Mike Young gather donated items in the lobby of Wheeler House on the South 40. items to outside organizations,� Young said. Despite the ongoing work of such programs in past years, some students say that the efforts are not well publicized. 2007 alumnus Nicholas Gregg, who currently works for the School of Medicine, said he had never heard of TKE’s furniture drive during his undergraduate years at the University. “Senior year, when we were moving out of our offcampus house, we did not know of such student groups. So we just left the items [in] the back alleyway, which someone did come and pick it up,� Gregg said.

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Sophomore Dan Bernard claims to have heard very little about SWAP this year. “It sounds good, but the groups need to give out more information and publicize better,� he said. Bernard and Gregg also said the two groups could end up competing, since both have similar functions. “It sounds like both organizations target the same group of people and do similar things—why two organizations?� Bernard said, echoed by Gregg’s suggestion that the programs would fare better if they combined their efforts. The organizers behind the furniture drive and SWAP, however, said they found the

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relationship with each other and with S.O.S. mutually beneficial. “We have been able to bounce ideas off of each other to help make the program more successful, and we have been able to share resources,� Young said. Yasinow believes the cooperation also lets the programs pursue an overall agenda to “actively promote campus sustainability.� With ever increasing public attention to the need for a sustainable future, the organizers expressed optimism about the success and impact of their efforts. “Next year, we look to strengthen and continue our

relationship with the S.O.S. drive. We have a strong relationship with Operation Food Search and look to continue our philanthropic cause,� Yasinow said. SWAP expects an even more successful drive next year, Young said. “As this was our first year, there is plenty of room for improvement and efficiency on our end. We hope to achieve our current goals at a higher level—promote our campus’s sustainability while benefiting a local charity.� SWAP will host its sale on the South 40 on Aug. 2122 and in the Village on Aug. 23-24.

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The Washington University Libraries Welcome the Class of 2013

Did you know at the Libraries you can: t Study and snack all night in Olin Library’s 24-hour Whispers CafÊ t Check out your favorite movies, CDs, audio books, novels, and more t Find a comfortable place to study alone or in group study rooms t Use our wireless network to connect to the Internet from your laptop t Use our computer labs equipped with the latest software and technology t Attend tours and demonstrations to learn more about the Libraries t Get books, articles, and other materials for class

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Forum Editor / Kate Gaertner / forum@studlife.com

ORIENTATION ISSUE

STUDENT LIFE | FORUM

FORUM

A welcome to the Class of 2013! Mark S. Wrighton Chancellor

W

elcome to the Class of 2013! Beginning your career at Washington University is an exciting time for you and your families. It is equally exciting for my colleagues and me, as we reflect on the great possibilities that lie ahead for you. I am grateful to all of you for making the important decision to join the Washington University family. The Class of 2013 is one of the most academically gifted in our history. Equally impressive is the diversity of personal abilities, intellectual interests and life experiences you bring to us. We feel fortunate to have so many talented individuals join our community, and I expect that we will learn a great deal from you. In turn, you will benefit from the exceptional students who came before you, and our world-class faculty will serve as your mentors and guides during the next four years.

Alumni of Washington University often tell me about the wonderful memories they have of their undergraduate years—an experience they had in a laboratory or classroom, a leadership role they held in a Greek organization, a friendship with someone in their residential college or a professor who influenced their career choice. Time will tell what your memories will become, but I am confident that numerous opportunities lie before each of you. The path ahead will be both challenging and rewarding, and I encourage you to make the most of your time here. You are joining a thriving community of young scholars. Washington University students consistently impress me both in and out of the classroom. In the Class of 2013 are student athletes who will continue the outstanding legacy of the Washington University Bears. Some among you will lead efforts to improve the environment by educating your peers about recycling and energy conservation, serving as advocates for decreasing our carbon footprint and improving sustain-

ability efforts at the University. Many will continue our proud traditions of community service through programs like Each One Teach One and Relay For Life, while others will start new traditions. Dozens of you will spend time studying in another country, discovering new languages and cultures—experiences that will broaden your views of the interconnectedness of our world. The Class of 2013 arrives at Washington University during an important era in the world’s history. The global and national financial crises represent important challenges. We see unrest in many countries as citizens struggle with the complex issues of energy resources, nuclear weapons, proliferation and the principles of democracy in government. It is easy for one to feel overwhelmed about the challenges that we face. However, there are two things that give me great hope. First, Washington University remains strong. While we are not immune to the present financial realities, we have been around for a long time, steadily growing in quality and impact over the past

5

The experiences that come to shape us

156 years. We have loyal alumni and friends, exceptional faculty and staff and many unique and innovative initiatives that will be a source of strength for us in the era ahead. Second, we have you! The arrival of a new class is a significant and symbolic event for every great university, and you, the Class of 2013, represent the future of Washington University, our country and the world. Your creativity, enthusiasm and talents are inspirational. With the help of the knowledge you will gain here, you have the potential to address the world’s most complex problems. Whatever path you choose during the next four years, continue to nurture your intellectual interests and strive to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Again, welcome to Washington University! You have my very best wishes for success in this community of learning and discovery.

Chancellor Mark Wrighton can be reached by e-mail at wrigh ton@wustl.edu.

Kate Gaertner Senior Forum Editor

A

s I write this column, I am sitting at a café in the East Village of New York City. It is raining and I am watching the droplets trickle down a dilapidated window next to me—seemingly random, infinite in their movements, impossible to track. I ended up here for the summer because innocence is something that is running out, and new experience is something that I now actively seek. New experiences were plentiful during my own freshman year. I’ll be honest: I took on classes that were probably too hard and cried when I didn’t earn the straight A’s I’d expected. I entered a prematurely serious relationship with a graduating senior—and earned a premature sense of worry about the real world. I rushed, pledged and disaffiliated from a sorority. I threw up in toilets and got kicked out of a fraternity house after falling down on a dance floor (within my first week).

I changed my prospective major from English to econ to PNP to IPH to econ to English. I gained 15 pounds from a silent trifecta of alcohol, late-night quesadillas and sloth. I bonded with my freshman floor over the things that one can perhaps only bond over on freshman floors: vodka watermelons, endless Guitar Hero, prank wars and incessant gossip. Looking back, I was enthralled—excited that my parents would not be there to witness my walk of shame, thrilled that this university had allowed me to take an upper-level class. Would I do it differently if I could go back to live my freshman year over again? Probably. But here’s the catch, an important caveat that you may already know, and if you don’t, one that you will discover when you arrive: These mistakes, which you will certainly make—these failed relationships and wrong academic decisions and late-night quesadillas—these are what will shape you. Your most profound truths will be found unexpect-

See GAERTNER, page 6

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6 STUDENT LIFE | FORUM

Forum Editor / Kate Gaertner / forum@studlife.com

ORIENTATION ISSUE

Knowing when Goals can’t be defined to throw in the towel in a dictionary

W

elcome to college and to the pages of Student Life, where we hope to find you often. There will be no shortage of friends and relatives offering you advice in the coming months, but these columns provide advice from those of us still immersed in college life. So set some goals for yourself, and remember to keep everything in perspective. With tons of AP credits, or even with none, work your schedule to take some courses just for fun. Every semester, take a course that seems interesting or beneficial, even if it doesn’t count toward three different requirements. Try a career-enhancing class like public speaking, or even a muscle-enhancing class like weight training. One semester, take 12 credits and then take a language pass/fail, if you’ve always been interested in another language. You’ll get more than 15 credits for the semester, have only 4 graded classes and learn another language! More importantly than taking these suggestions, however, is finding an ar-

rangement that works best for you. Be adaptable; just because you’ve never dropped a class in high school doesn’t mean that you cannot, will not or should not drop a class here. Just keep your eyes, ears and course book open for alternatives. Find a club or two that interests you, and devote time to that. Some people can be in 40 different organizations and manage quite fine, but to explore all that clubs have to offer, and to advance through the leadership ranks, requires commitment. In high school, it was easy to be involved in 40 different activities, since they mostly met during defined hours of the school day. In college, days are defined from when you wake up to when, and if, you go to bed. In between, the time spent in class, doing work or being involved is all at your discretion. Discern wisely and don’t be afraid to re-prioritize. This may be the first time you’ll get over-involved or in over your head with stuff to do. Realize if that’s happening and adjust your schedule/ activities/amount of time spent sleeping accordingly. Take advantage of the opportunities here. You’ll hear a lot about opportunities in the coming months, and that’s because there is

no shortage of them at Wash. U., and not just academically. I won’t explicitly encourage you to cut class to attend an Assembly Series speech or other interesting event, but take a step back occasionally and evaluate the big picture. A failed quiz, or even a B in a class, will not ruin your future. Don’t feel the need to do everything first semester. Of course, pursue your passions from the start, but I’m sure you will find that many upperclassmen are not best friends with their best friends from first semester, and a lot are involved in a completely different set of activities than at first. That’s fine, as long as you’re doing what you love. Aim to achieve what you accomplish. Personally, I came to college to expand my circle of friends and develop a social life. And I tried harder on that front than on the academic front. Now, I’m still graduating on time, and with friends! My goals are accomplished. Now go define, and accomplish yours!

Brian is a senior in the Olin School of Business and the associate editor. He can be reached by e-mail at krigs herb@wustl.edu.

Aditya Sarvesh Forum Editor

S

o you’ve just graduated and are now looking forward to enjoy a long summer vacation before starting your “exciting” college career. Little do you know that college changes a person, and once you step out of that minor league-high school gymnasium clutching a framed piece of paper and walk under the giant arches in St. Louis, you officially enter the realm of life. I was once like you, happy to be out high school, where things didn’t seem as if they mattered anymore. However, as summer vacation dragged on while I planted myself in front of the TV with my friends, I felt a nagging feeling that I should be doing more before college devoured my life. I pushed that feeling aside and continued watching endless James Bond marathons on Spike. In retrospect, I realize that college does take up much of your time, and summers in between semesters are meant for productive things like research and classes (have fun). I’m not saying you have to do either of those before you start your college experience, but do something right now that will enrich your life and make you a wholesome individual. Travel, participate in interesting local events—in short,

get out there and enjoy yourself before college. After summer will come move-in and orientation week. During this period of time, you will see the true character of most of your peers. Excited, noob-ish freshmen will be doing either

“

However, as summer vacation dragged on while I planted myself in front of the TV with my friends, I felt a nagging feeling that I should be doing more

“

Brian Krigsher Associate Editor

before college devoured

my life. I pushed that feeling aside and continued watching endless James Bond marathons on Spike.

of two things during orientation week: going to parties or deciding whether to read ahead for class or to go to a party. No advice shall be given here, but either option will result in painful memories. After a few weeks, real coursework and college life set in, placing freshmen in deer-in-headlights situations. For

me, high school work was never a strenuous activity, but during freshman year, I had to read over a hundred pages every night just to keep up. However, the most crushing blows come when you study for nights in a row and still get that B-minus on a test. Face it: In high school, B-minuses came rarely and those A’s were handed out like candy. Throughout your college experience, there will always be a class or a test that you will struggle for and still not get the grade you thought you’d get. At that point, you must realize that this is real life: And the road is going to be bumpy. You’ve heard the rest from the endless sources of advice given by those who are in college, so all I need to say is this: Enjoy your last truly free summer. I write to you from summer classes at Wash. U., and for those freshmen who already started playing the college game, my condolences. There’s always summer after senior year of college. This transition between high school and college throws you head first into life (albeit a somewhat sheltered life), and you must learn to plant your feet firmly when you land.

Aditya is a junior in Arts & Sciences and a Forum editor. He can be reached by e-mail at asarvesh@artsci.wustl.edu.

GAERTNER from page 5

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edly; they will enter you in the guise of experience. Over time, you will learn habitual independence: You will learn to wake up for your 9 a.m. lecture, to go to the gym, to talk to your professors, to call your mother without being nagged.

Your introductions will change from a sheepish wave to a firm handshake. So much of the beauty of college consists in an infinite sense of future lessons of experience— this constant feeling that you do not know, cannot know, where

you will be sitting in another year. In the end, we are all like these droplets that I cannot keep track of—we are new and fresh and fallen from somewhere, and we will drip somewhere else afterwards, attracting and repelling along the way, enthralled

by the experiences that come to shape us.

Kate is a junior in Arts & Sciences and the senior Forum editor. She can be reached by e-mail at kmgaertner@gmail. com.

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ORIENTATION ISSUE

STUDENT LIFE | FORUM

7

Wash. U., the gay way Laura Lane-Steele President, Pride Alliance

A

s some of you already know, and all of you are going to find out, Wash. U. exists in a bubble. Wash. U. and the surrounding area provide much of what many students want or desire, thereby limiting their exposure to the greater St. Louis area and culture. However, when it comes to tolerance and attitudes towards diversity, Wash. U. and its students exist in a bubble as

well. Unlike the outside world, where our liberal president won’t back gay marriage, where people can be fired for their actual or perceived sexual orientation and where it is not uncommon to hear about the bashings and murders of our non-heterosexual or gendervariant peers, many students at Wash. U. consider the phrase “that’s so gay” offensive and derogatory. There are many student organizations that cater to the needs of students of all sexual orientations and genders: Pride Alliance (the

lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual student group), Safe Zones (a peer education group) and the Alternative Lifestyle Association (ALA), to name just a few. Professors and peers create a classroom environment where every nonviolent comment is tolerated and respected. Couples of any gender can walk around campus hand and hand without fear. The only thing not tolerated at Wash. U.— by professors, administrators, and students—is intolerance. We must take advantage of the

four years we have to live in this judgment-free world. It is easy to slip into a sense of complacency when we can be ourselves without ridicule or criticism, and it is easy to look around Wash. U. and forget that this is not the case in most other places in our country. Violence and intolerance plague our world, and not only against LGBTQIA people. People are discriminated against and even murdered for their religious, racial and political identities. At Wash. U., we have the unique chance to do something

about these problems. Join Pride Alliance and protest anti-gay legislation on the state house steps. Join Safe Zones and teach residential advisors and other peers about LGBTQIA issues. It is a waste to go through Wash. U. just taking classes, jumping through hoops and walking away with a piece of paper without taking full advantage of what this university has to offer. We have to take the opportunity we have here to work toward making the world’s level of tolerance mirror that of Wash.

U. We must use the advantages and resources we have at Wash. U. to work for the good of the disempowered, marginalized and oppressed. Get involved, volunteer, take classes that educate you about the issues you care about, and most importantly, care about something. Get excited, freshman—this will be an experience unlike any other.

Laura is a senior in Arts & Sciences. She can be reached by e-mail at lauralanesteele@ gmail.com.

Getting the least out of your college experience

S

o, you’ve settled for Washington University in St. Louis. Congrats. You didn’t want to go to Georgetown anyway. Welcome, or whatever. It’s typically the job of someone in my position to offer advice on how to “make the most” of your college education. Funny choice of words, since, when I take stock of our student body, I’d say if anything we were working hard to make the least of our college educations. The happiest among us take no class before 11 a.m. and fulfill our Quantitative Analysis requirements with courses designed not to require quantification or analysis, classes with vaguely insulting titles like “Stars and Galaxies” or “Dinosaurs.” We take glassblowing, guitar lessons and anything at the business school to pimp out our GPAs as if they were they point of our education, and even that

effort taxes us greatly. We were all once capable, organized high-school grads like you and now our idea of fun involves a case of Natural Light, a funnel, a length of tube and some good ol’ primeval chanting. So I don’t really know what to tell you if you want to make the most of your time here. You’re probably pre-med and already better prepared to meet the challenges of adult life than I’ll ever be. I guess I’ll just tell you the stuff I wish people had told me back when I was a freshman. The student body: You will never have to associate with anyone from your freshman floor ever again if you so choose, so feel free to treat them as a long-running social experiment. Remember, it’s only as awkward as you acknowledge it to be. Also, be very delicate when addressing the subject of Israel, no matter how egregious its human rights violations may strike you.

The food: At school it’s pretty decent, but the meal point system is kind of a rip-off. At the end of the year you will almost certainly have a whole lot of extra meal points or know someone who does. These don’t carry over, so you’ll lose any you don’t

“

“

Charlie Bohlen Forum Editor

… if fumbling, meaningless coitus is your thing, you’re at the right venue. Dress accordingly. He will not call you.

spend. I’ve heard you can donate them to charity, but more fun is to be had splurging on some expensive bottles of wine at Ibby’s Bistro. I recommend the Cakebread Cellars Pinot Noir, which is exorbitantly priced (but then again, it’s not your real money). When ordering out,

remember that all the “local” pizza joints that deliver suck. Pointers is tasteless and Imo’s uses a greasy cheese substitute they call Provel, which will coat your mouth with an uncanny goo-like sensation, quite slick and deeply unpleasant. Stick with Papa John’s. St. Louis itself does great frozen custard, decent barbecue and passable Italian. As for more far-ranging fare, eat at your own risk: They put cream cheese in the sushi. I’ll leave it at that. St. Louis at large: Explore the city, but don’t get your hopes up. It was one of the most economically depressed cities in America before this depression hit. Then they sold Budweiser to the Belgians. Adjust your expectations accordingly. Fake IDs: Are essential. No buts about it. There are a couple of places on the landing that are super strict about it, as well as Blueberry Hill. Invest in one that scans, otherwise

you’ll just end up having to buy another one after your crappy one gets confiscated. You should always have a second form of ID at the ready, but that doesn’t mean you should keep it in your wallet. You’re liable to lose your wallet or your purse at some point, and if it ends up with the campus cops, they will go through it and give you an instant fine. Don’t let the hassle of getting a fake turn you off to one. Without it, you risk actually having to look forward to those Frat Row basement parties. That reminds me... Frat Row basement parties: Are as hot crowded and boring every time. They are a yearly thing, and they do not improve. Once is enough, perhaps too much. Guys, you’ll be competing for hookups with upperclassmen. Girls, as freshmen, there is pretty much a price on your head. So if fumbling, meaningless coitus is your thing, you’re at the right venue. Dress accord-

ingly. He will not call you. Illegal downloading: The freshmen dorms have encryption all over them, which can make pirating a chore until you move off campus. However, many of the classrooms’ and the entire library’s wireless connections are to date unencrypted. Do your downloading there, but be careful: Unlike some schools, Wash. U. does not have your back on this if the RIAA decides to sue you. So there’s a taste of the useful wisdom I’ve actually gained at this place, but I’m learning all the time. Like, did you know it’s a bad idea to climb all the way up Brookings because that’s where they keep the tornado sirens, which can deafen you if you’re within 50 feet of them? Neither did I.

Charlie is a junior in Arts & Sciences and a Forum editor. He can be reached by e-mail at charliebohlen@yahoo.com.

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8 STUDENT LIFE | FORUM

Forum Editor / Kate Gaertner / forum@studlife.com

ORIENTATION ISSUE

The college Politics, politics everywhere experience Kat Berger President, College Democrats

AJ Sundar Forum Editor

P

ossibly the best advice I can give to you incoming freshmen is this: Forget everything. Until now, you’ve likely looked at college as a place for development, growth and intellectual achievement. I thought the same way, but after only one year I’ve realized that this is completely false. Don’t get me wrong—you will undergo development, growth and intellectual achievement, but college itself is largely irrelevant to this process. Rather, these characteristics grow internally, in an environment that happens to be that of higher education. Instead, my advice to you is this: Enjoy it. Do what you find fun, fulfilling and fruitful. Join the clubs that interest you, study the subjects that fascinate you and make friends with those that mesh with you. In other words: Follow what comes naturally, and everything else will fall into place. You develop yourself over these next four years, and you have complete control over what you want to do—unless you choose to give it away. When I first walked past the arches of Wash. U., I had the singular goal of getting a 4.0 GPA and becoming a successful professional in the future. Paying 25 grand a semester meant that I could waste no second in becoming a proud affluent indi-

vidual that my parents could be proud of. However, that mentality soon dissolved as I realized that I didn’t just want to be an academic. I wanted to hang out with my friends, write for the newspaper (read: shameless plug), build audio amplifiers and see Phish live. I was able to do all of the above (except for Phish, as their concert at The Pageant was canceled two weeks before the show) and much more because my environment allowed me to do whatever it was that I actually wanted to do. I’m still not quite sure where I am in my development as a person. I’m not really sure about what I want to do with the future, and I am perfectly comfortable in that uncertainty. I know that these four years are for experimentation and exploration and that this uncertainty is intrinsically valuable. And so, from this vantage point, I offer this: Do what you love, and the rest will come. You won’t be able to predict what your life in college will be, and the journey is so unbelievably different for everyone that the famous “college experience� doesn’t really exist at all. The only experience is your own, and the responsibility to shape and build this experience belongs singularly with yourself.

AJ is a sophomore in Arts & Sciences and a Forum editor. He can be reached by e-mail at asundar@wustl.edu.

W

elcome to Wash. U., where politics is like water: never bottled up. From national, to local, to university politics, people rarely keep their opinions to themselves and need very little encouragement to shout them from the rooftops, or at least from the Student Life editorial pages. Thank God. I live for the banter, for the dissent and dissension, as much as the next political buff. I love the formal debates on the same scale as the earnest conversations in line at Whispers. I cherish the sight of College Democrats and College Republicans flyers hanging side by side like proud

flags on every vertical surface on campus. Politics is an omnipresent force at this school: From the classroom to the dorm room, from The New York Times to Student Life, we are a community of diverse political ideas in the midst of one of the great American swing states. Is there any better place to engage? If, reading this, you find yourself worrying that you may not fit in with this level of political fervor, simply ask yourself these questions. Did you spend fall 2008 frenetically working for the Obama or McCain campaigns? Did you recently vote in your first local election? Have you done community service or raised awareness for a cause? Have you stood up for something you believe in? Have you embraced this country as your home, be it temporarily or permanently?

You, my friend, are interested in politics. It is the force that drives your world, that has the power to make your passions into actions. So speak up and join up! Wash. U. is resplendent with College Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians all dying to make you a card-carrying member. If you’re not interested in partisanship, join Green Action or Students for Choice, volunteer with the Campus Y, run for Student Union office or participate in any of the millions of student groups that pledge their time toward political and community action. As you begin your career here at Wash. U., you will find yourself besieged from all sides by your fellow students waving brightly colored fliers and extolling the virtues of Group X and Club Y, offering the various seductions of pizza and candy and free pens

to draw you like so many moths to the flame. At the same time, your advisers, deans, parents, residential advisors and various well-meaning others will encourage you to pace yourself and not over-schedule your first semester. Eventually, you’re going to figure out where you fit between these extremes of activity and inactivity. My only advice for you as you embark on your time at this university is that you find something that has meaning for you: Don’t shy away from engagement, from speaking out about your passions. Whether you care to admit it or not, you are interested in politics—embrace it, engage with it, and you won’t regret it. Kat is a junior in Arts & Sciences. She can be reached by e-mail at keberger@artsci. wustl.edu.

Plan for spontaneity Jeff Nelson Student Body President

G

reetings, Class of 2013! We are excited to welcome you to our community. You have learned a lot during this past year’s college application process. I am sure that you have realized that applying to college is somewhat formulaic and that success generally hinges on following a well-established set of rules and best practices. High school was mostly a staging ground for your college application— each class and extracurricular was carefully chosen to increase your chances of getting accepted to a school like Wash.

U. As you begin your freshman year, you may be tempted to approach your college experience in a similar fashion, but I advise against this. I encourage you not to view these four years as merely a means to any particular end. I was admitted to Wash. U. intending to major in finance while pursing a career in investment banking. During my first semester I randomly took a class in computer science and really enjoyed it. Now, I am on my way to graduating with a degree in computer science and philosophy. I also came to Wash. U. planning to immediately get involved with student government, but an unexpected sequence of events allowed me to gain leadership positions

with Washington University Television and the Office of Orientation instead. As you can see, my time as an undergraduate has been characterized by a certain degree of spontaneity—sometimes out of necessity, but most often unintentionally. As I look back, I tend to admire the laidback attitude that I exhibited at times. In fact, I think my spontaneity is the reason that I have a diverse array of options for postgraduate pursuit instead of a singular tract that can be jeopardized by any one decision I make. Now, I’m not advising the Class of 2013 to be careless. Each of you should approach your college experience with the necessary thoughtful-

ness and prudence that has characterized your journey to Wash. U. But I do recommend that you plan for spontaneity by being curious, flexible and open-minded. Curiosity is a fundamental aspect of learning. Come to Wash. U. with a curiosity about St. Louis, the people around you, and the different activities on campus. This curiosity will greatly enhance what you learn outside the classroom. Use the MetroLink to travel to places beyond Forest Park and the Delmar Loop; talk to people who don’t share aspects of your background; join clubs and activities that you did not join in high school. Be flexible as you explore.

See NELSON, page 10

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Forum Editor / Kate Gaertner / forum@studlife.com

ORIENTATION ISSUE

If only we had known and you will want to cry. Divide the room in two equal halves and you will keep your roommate’s sky-high sock piles away from your meticulously color-coded desk organizers.

Eve Samborn Forum Editor

I

received a lot of advice before coming to college—my friends, relatives, neighbor’s brother’s uncle’s best friend’s girlfriend’s dogs all felt the need to share their best words of wisdom before I embarked on this major life adventure. Some of it was worthless, some it was weird, and some of it was priceless. So when I was asked to join

2. Buy the smallest freshman meal plan. Most freshmen end up with tons of extra points at the end of the year, and, even if you need more, it’s cheaper to add them later. Of course, feel free to ignore this advice and make friends by feeding upperclassmen. 3. Use the Writing Center, Cornerstone, Career Center, tutors in your residential college, professor’s office hours and all other academic resources available to you. There are a lot of people on this campus who want to help you get good grades and succeed.

“

I can assure you that I am learning a lot more in college than simply the odd lessons contained above and those

4. Same goes for the nonacademic resources on campus. Whether it’s your RA, Uncle Joe’s, Student Health Services, a religious leader or even a trusted friend, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

“

listed on my course syllabi. It would do little good, however, to list those lessons

5. If you are really set on a major after two semesters, declare early and take advantage of the resulting advising and massive flood of departmental e-mails about upcoming events and internship opportunities.

here.

the chorus of advice-givers, I thought carefully about my freshmen year and the lessons my friends and I wish we had known before it all began. Here is the list of greatest hits:

6. Another thought about majors—you only need one. Given that most Wash. U. students acquire majors almost as readily as free T-shirts, I might be missing something here. I believe, however, that in the real world, your four extra majors will be generally unnecessary.

1. If you are a neat freak and your roommate is, well, not, resist the urge to position your beds into an L-shape. Your messy roommate’s stuff will magically expand into the center of your room

STUDENT LIFE | FORUM

Our path to sustainability

7. When you stay up all night writing a paper, do not go to sleep until AFTER you turn it in. Trust me on this one. 8. Frozen waffles are not really meant to be microwaved. So that’s it. The best advice I can give you. True, advice about frozen waffles, furniture arrangements and major requirements may not be particularly profound, but it is the most useful advice I’ve got. I can assure you that I am learning a lot more in college than simply the odd lessons contained above and those listed on my course syllabi. It would do little good, however, to list those lessons here. That’s because one of the most important lessons I am learning is that my life will not and need not follow the simple, straight line I’ve tried to lay out for myself. No matter how much good advice we receive, we have to make a few of our own mistakes. All of the ink in the world will not help you learn your alcohol tolerance as well as one bad hangover. Bold headlines about the “Freshman 15� will not send you to the gym as quickly as the number on the scale over Thanksgiving weekend. Being in college means having the freedom, safety and responsibility to figure out these life lessons for yourself. So instead of life lessons, I offer you a few wise tips and wish you the best of luck. Enjoy the ride.

Eve is a junior in Arts & Sciences and a Forum editor. She can be reached by e-mail at elsambor@wustl.edu.

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Matthew B. Malten Assistant Vice Chancellor for Sustainability

D

ear Class of 2013, Welcome to Washington University in St. Louis! You are embarking on your college careers during a time with great challenges and even greater opportunity. Some of the greatest challenges of the 21st century— issues relating to energy, the environment, and sustainability—are central parts of our mission here at Washington University in St. Louis. We are moving quickly to transform our University into a “Living Learning Laboratory� that connects scholarship and discovery directly to design and management in order to find sustainable solutions to global challenges, to bring rapid transformation to our campus and society. The active engagement and participation of every member of our community is crucial to our success. To contribute to our ongoing goals, we recommend each of you start with the following five steps your first year at Washington University: 1. Expand your education. Whether or not you plan on pursuing a degree in a field that will address the environment, every school at Wash. U. teaches courses or conducts crucial research on issues that are key to sustainability. We encourage you to purposefully pursue at least

one course on these issues. In addition, there are at least a dozen student “green� groups devoted to sustainability; you can join them or become part of the University’s Student Green Council to apply your coursework in ongoing projects.

“

Some of the greatest challenges of the

21st century—issues relating to energy, the environment and sustainability— are central parts of our mission here at Washington University in St. Louis.

2. Participate in research. Through our International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability, Wash. U. is leading cutting-edge research in a variety of energy, environment and sustainability fields. We encourage you to attend the Center’s distinguished speaker series to learn from experts in the field. We also encourage you to actively seek research internships with the Office of Sustainability. 3. Green your lifestyle. A key part of our campus culture is learning how to live well in our community.

5. Help shape our sustainability strategic plan. This year, Wash. U. will be finalizing our first comprehensive sustainability strategic plan. Through orientation, campus forums, speaker events and our sustainability Web sites, there will be multiple ways for every member of our community to provide feedback and ideas that will help us become the national leaders in sustainability. If you are interested in our work or are curious to learn more about these opportunities and our efforts, please visit http://sustain.wustl.edu or contact me directly. I wish you the best for a sustainable future.

Matt Malten can be reached by e-mail at malten@wustl.edu.

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Forum Editor / Kate Gaertner / forum@studlife.com

Religion on campus Father Gary Braun

I

s there a place for religion at Washington University? Not officially, because the charter prohibits supporting any particular religion. But how do we account for the growing number of religious groups over the last decade or the extraordinary growth of groups like the Catholic Student Center over those same years? Mass attendance has necessitated three expansions of our chapel, which includes students of all faiths and none on any given Sunday. Religion at Wash. U. is on the rise, and is frequently an object of reflection and study and debate.

“

“

If religious groups are to succeed at

Wash. U., it will be because they respect all students as they come, of any faith or none.

Perhaps this rise has to do with the need we all have for guidance, for coaching in the often complicated and painful world of relationships—arguably the most important “school” at Wash. U. We at the CSC define our work at Wash. U. to be at the service of helping all students become more capable of giving and receiving love. That is for us the essence of God, the essence of life itself. Campus ministry can be a place to go with your broken and blessed lives, to believe in something bigger than a mecentered life—some horizon against which every day can be lived out, a place where your

own personal story and the Great Story can connect and lead to transformation. A place to help us remember we are not alone. And a place to honor the desire many feel to worship, to give thanks, to pray. From my perch across Forsyth for the last 18 years, I have seen that being religious at Wash. U. can be a source of great consternation and great creativity, and my observations have given me great hope for the future of religion in the world. It is religious illiteracy that hurts people and can be dangerous to the common good. Campus ministries at Wash. U. work hard to encourage greater understanding of one another. Together, we seek to model the dialogue that will always lead to the truth, the truth I trust will set us free. If religious groups are to succeed at Wash. U., it will be because they respect all students as they come, of any faith or none. It will be because our faiths are open and engaging and willing to be challenged, calling us beyond ourselves and our own agendas. Can the practice of faith help us, then, during our years here? Clearly, yes. Because it will challenge all of us to be less selfish, because it will lead us to be better citizens of the world. It will encourage us to step back and ask the Big Questions like “What am I going to do with my life?” and “How can I contribute?” and “What is my personal and our civic morality?” and questions like “What is the relationship between wealth and success and happiness?” The practice of spirituality can, undoubtedly, invigorate our education.

Father Gary can be reached by e-mail at frgary@gmail.com.

ORIENTATION ISSUE

Nurture the spirit along with the mind Rabbi Hershey Novack Director, Chabad on Campus

C

ongratulations on your decision to attend Washington University. You are about to embark on four of the best years of your life! Washington University is a great place to be Jewish. Last summer, Jewish Living identified the campus area as the “epicenter” of one of the top 10 Jewish communities in America, describing Wash. U. as “an elite school popular with Jews from around the country, known for its kosher kitchen and strong Hillel and Chabad programs with plenty of activities.” While you experience the breadth of college life, remember that the soul and spirit need to be developed as well

as the mind. Do things that add meaning to your life. Our university, while embracing the diversity of religious life on campus, identifies itself as non-religious. To have an active religious life during your time here, you must make the choice to get involved. Great programs and, more importantly, great people are available to you to help enrich your college experience with the vibrancy and diversity of campus spiritual life. I know that many students who arrive at Wash. U. after years of religious school are disinterested with religious life. For many in the Jewish community, connecting with Jewish life may not be a priority in your college plan. I would like to challenge you to prove yourself wrong. Discover that becoming more engaged with your faith and

NELSON from page 8 Focus not on the destination, but on the journey you want to experience. Fight any urges to plan your entire four years or decree what your life will be like after college. Taking things a day at a time will give you the flexibility to take advantage of opportunities that will greatly enhance any destination you eventually reach. Curiosity and flexibility are only beneficial with an open mind. Try not to hold on to rigid views about yourself and your future that were developed in high school. Many students come to Wash. U. intending to pursue one area of study and end up pursuing something else. If this happens to you, it is OK. In fact, it will

be a good thing! There are so many opportunities, many of which you have yet to learn about. You will only be in a position to consider them if you have an open mind. So throw all of your assumptions out the window. Come prepared to take advantage of opportunities that you probably have not even considered. Your first few weeks will be an exciting time, and I hope you get off to a good start by embracing a little bit of spontaneity!

sense of community can be an exciting and enriching experience. At Chabad on Campus, we strive to create programming that high accessible and meaningful for students of all backgrounds and levels of religious observance. Highlights of our programs include organizing Israel trips for many hundreds of Wash. U. students through Mayanot’s Birthright Israel program. We host family-style Shabbat dinners each week, which attract a diverse array of students and faculty. And, we focus on Jewish learning and teaching Torah, a rich compendium of wisdom for life. Our affiliated student groups offer substantive exciting programs and leadership opportunities. While the Chabad movement is rooted in the fertile soil of Jewish tradition, a cur-

sory visit will demonstrate that the students who choose to participate are from a diverse spectrum of backgrounds and affiliations and have widely varying world views. Dozens of other groups offer services for their respective communities within a framework of mutual respect. I have helped Muslim students at Washington University advocate for Halal-approved foods to be made available in the food stores. Differences in religion demonstrate the potential to bring people together. Allowing your spiritual life to develop during these next four years will help not only you, but those around you.

Rabbi Hershey Novack can be reached by e-mail at rabbi@ chabadoncampus.org.

Read more by the Student Life staff at http://www.studlife.com.

“

Not once did I think that I’d be an African and African-American Studies major. But that’s exactly what I am: an aspiring journalist with an AFAS major. That was never in my 20-year plan...don’t be afraid to wander off the path that you think you’ve so tactfully paved for yourself. After all, they say college is a time for exploration—make sure to carry this mantra over to your academics.

Jeff is a senior in Arts & Sciences. He can be reached by e-mail at president@su.wustl. edu.

“

10 STUDENT LIFE | FORUM

–Perry Stein, editor in chief

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CADENZA Cadenza Editor / Stephanie Spera / cadenza@studlife.com

ORIENTATION ISSUE

STUDENT LIFE | CADENZA

11

p r e v i e w Hannah Schwartz TV Editor

O

ne of the best rewards of college life is the graduation from sitting through your high school’s rendition of “Bye Bye Birdie� to taking part in the variety of arts and entertainment that Wash. U. has to offer. From publications such as Spires, Eleven Magazine, Drop Knowledge and, of course, Student Life, to performances like W.I.L.D., the Lunar New Year Festival, Carnaval, WU Dance Theatre and Diwali, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Here is a preview of what is to come...

Cici Coquillette Music Editor

Gargoyle: The tiny on-campus cafeteria venue features some of the best musicians around: From the infamous Girl Talk show to Animal Collective to Zach Galifianakis, you can get a front row spot for free or at an affordable price. Kemper: Are you in the mood for a museum but don’t want to go all the way to Forest Park? Just take the shuttle straight to the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, and enjoy the permanent collection featuring pieces by Willem de Kooning and Max Ernst, among others. Additionally, the few exhibitions each year

feature widely diverse topics and host free opening parties. Assembly Series: The Assembly Series Committee works incredibly hard to bring important and diverse speakers to campus every week of the school year: Over the years we’ve had Seth McFarlane (creator of “Family Guy�), Bill Nye the Science Guy, Peter Sarsgaard and the controversial Alberto Gonzales—as well as Madeleine Albright and Maya Angelou. Diwali: Ashoka, the South Asian student association, collaborates with the community to organize and create an enormous, amazing celebra-

tion of Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Hundreds participate, and hundreds more camp out in line just for tickets to the show—evidence enough that it’s definitely worth checking out. Jazz at Holmes: Every Thursday night, renowned jazz musicians perform as listeners lounge, eat and enjoy the atmosphere. The intimate concert is also a great, relaxing place for homework and reading. Spires: The intercollegiate literary journal is based at Wash. U., bringing fiction, poetry and art from many other universities and providing

a creative outlet unique at the University. Anyone and everyone are free to submit their work. A cappella: There is such a wide variety of groups: allmale, all-female, coed, even one that sings only Disney songs! Everyone is sure to be able find their favorite. The Amateurs had the opportunity to sing their arrangement of “Love Song� for Sara Bareilles, and The Mosaic Whispers earned a spot opening for Ben Folds in one of his concerts!

types of songs to blast on your freshman floor to make friends/establish your place in the musical hierarchy (you hipster, you) 8. Blink 182 reunion

W

elcome to Wash U, incoming freshman! You are about to be thrown into a pressure cooker of arts and entertainment, surrounded by culture 24/7. And some of that taste is more highly valued than others. Make sure you grab your place in the musical hierarchy early on with these simple playlist suggestions:

9. Songs with related dances.

10. Any of the bands the Gargoyle has booked.

supernatural taste in bands—just check the lineup for Lollapalooza: Five of the bands played Gargoyle shows last year alone—guarantees you some major bonus points.

The Gargoyle, Wash. U.’s on-campus venue, boasts a number of great shows throughout the year. Their

The “Single Ladies� dance, Soulja Boy, Stanky Leg, *hell*, even the “Macarena.� Getting everyone up and moving is a great way to get to know people.

There’s something about Blink 182 that takes us back to sixth grade sans Ritalin. Their reunion tour has been cause for great excitement, which is always an easy way into the musical hierarchy. Make sure to check them out in St. Louis on Sept. 3.

continued on page 16

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Auditions: Thursday, August 27, 3–6:30 p.m. in Tietjens John Stewart, Director We sing 4 centuries of repertoire in three major concerts, culminating in the Chancellor’s Concert with the Washington University Orchestra. Sign up on table outside the Music Department OfďŹ ce in Blewett for auditions. Bring a song!

Friday, Aug. 21, 2-4pm Stop by for our Open House. Meet our staff while students give tours of the CSC. Weekend Mass Schedule Saturday, Aug. 22- 4:30pm * Sunday, Aug. 23- 11am and 4:30pm BBQ following 4:30 Sunday Mass! * Note: Regular Sunday Mass Schedule of 11am & 9pm begins Aug. 30 Freshmen Welcome Night is at 7pm on Aug. 30 Masses are held in the CSC Chapel and are followed by an informal reception.

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12 STUDENT LIFE | CADENZA

Cadenza Editor / Stephanie Spera / cadenza@studlife.com

venue guide

ORIENTATION ISSUE

St e p h a n i e S p e r a , S e n i o r C a d e n za Ed i t o r

D

id you somehow find time between General Chemistry and Writing 1 to watch TV and catch a good preview? Have you been counting down the days until the new “Twilight” movie comes out? (Note: If so, I’m judging you.) Heard that your favorite obscure indie band was coming to The Pageant, but have no idea what that means? Here is your guide to movie and music venues all over St. Louis, most of which you can get to without driving. All you have to do is walk or take St. Louis’ fine public transportation system (free, thanks to your magical U-Pass). And I’ve oftentimes found that a trip on Metro can be just as entertaining as your destination. MetroLink and MetroBus routes and timetables can be found at http://www.metrostlouis.org.

The Tivoli When you step into the Tivoli, you step back in time, back to when going to the movies was an event, and the movie theater was just as important as the movie being shown (because, back then, people would line up to see elephants get electrocuted). Built in 1924 and located right on the Delmar Loop, this theater, with three viewing screens, mostly shows foreign and independent films. And every Halloween you can put on (or take off) your costume and trek to the Tivoli, as it has a midnight screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” where you will be sure to find yourself in a situation that’s equal parts entertaining and mentally scarring. The theater is a nice walk from campus, and with all the restaurants on the Loop, you can get dinner before the movie or dessert after. If you’re walking from campus, just take a right at Blueberry Hill.

The Esquire

The Galleria 6

The Esquire is also a short walk from campus and located at the corner of Clayton Road and Big Bend Boulevard, right by the main corporate building for St. Louis Bread Co.— known to the rest of the world as Panera Bread. The Esquire shows new, mainstream films.

This theater is conveniently located downstairs by the food court in the St. Louis Galleria, which is right off the Brentwood MetroLink stop. I wasn’t used to paying less than $10 for a movie after 6 p.m., but here, students pay $6 all the time. The theaters are average sized and the seats recline. And, if you’re afraid your movie is going to be sold out, you can just get there early because you are in a mall. My biggest complaint is there is not trivia before the movie starts, but instead, you get advertise-

for parents

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ments to buy wine and beer at the concession stand. And, coming from a state where selling beer on a Sunday only became legal five years ago (yeah, Puritans!), I figure it’s a pretty fair trade off.

continued on pg. 16

Cadenza Editor / Stephanie Spera / cadenza@studlife.com

ORIENTATION ISSUE

STUDENT LIFE | CADENZA

13

Stephanie Spera Senior Cadenza Editor

college top movies C i c i C o q u i l l e t t e , M u s i c Ed i t o r

The Pageant The Pageant is the closest major venue to campus. It’s conveniently located on the Loop, east of Skinker Boulevard. It has shows almost every night, including a variety of major national acts. The 1,500-person venue is set up like a much smaller club with a very intimate feel. Most shows are reasonably priced, especially general admission tickets. Check out http://www. thepageant.com/calendar.html for upcoming events.

Gargoyle Wash. U.’s very own on-campus venue, the Gargoyle is located on the bottom floor of Mallinckrodt. The student-run committee books local and national acts, and most shows are free with your Wash. U. ID. This past year, the Gargoyle hosted Wolf Parade, Los Campesinos!, No Age, Ratatat and Cut Copy, to name a few. Be sure to take advantage of this hot spot on campus.

Billiken Club The Billiken Club is Saint Louis University’s (SLU) equivalent of the Gargoyle. It’s a bit further than other venues, but gives you a chance to put your U-Pass to use. Take the MetroLink to Grand and walk about 10 minutes to SLU’s Busch Student Center. Recent shows include So Many Dynamos, William Fitzsimmons, and Junior Boys. Upcoming shows have yet to be posted, but keep checking http://thebillikenclub. wordpress.com.

Pop’s Many of the larger acts that come through St. Louis end up at Pop’s, one of the largest venues in the St. Louis area. Located at 401 Monsanto Ave in Sauget, Ill., the trek out to Pop’s is long but worth it. Getting there by public transportation can be a little spotty, so look into hitching a ride or renting a WeCar.

I

endured hours and hours of movie watching and bags of popcorn all in the name of the pure scientific research it took to compile this article. So, start thinking of what a drum roll sounds like. Do you hear it? Good, because I am now going to present the definitive list of the best college movies of all time. (And, if for some reason you disagree, just check out the officiallooking chart I made with categories I arbitrarily decided upon. You can’t argue with a chart.)

5

“Accepted” (2006)

4

“Back to School” (1986)

After their roles in “Accepted,” Jonah Hill went on to star in “Superbad,” Blake Lively took her talents to “Gossip Girl,” and Justin Long, well, he’s in those Mac commercials. Because he is afraid to tell his parents about getting rejected from every school he applied to, Bartleby (Long) creates a fake college Web site for the South Harmon Institute of Technology (S.H.I.T.), and pretends to have been accepted there. But then, rejected students from all over apply to S.H.I.T., and through a computer malfunction, are accepted. Eventually the whole scheme unravels, they end up in court, and Bartleby gives a heartfelt speech about the merits of alternative forms of education. And even though he gets away with this, I do not suggest leasing an old, rundown asylum, hiring Lewis Black as a dean and starting your own university at the age of 18.

In this hilarious film, Rodney Dangerfield plays a wealthy businessman (he owns a chain of “Tall and Fat” stores) before deciding to go back to school after visiting his son, Gordon, in college. Dangerfield somehow worked most of his stand-up routine into the dialogue of this movie: “I think I’m attracted to teachers. Yeah, I took out an English teacher. That didn’t work out at all. I sent her a love letter...She corrected it!” And, if that’s not enough reason to watch, Robert Downey Jr. appears in one of his earliest roles as Gordon’s anarchist roommate clad in a pirate shirt, parachute pants and a trench coat with blue and maroon streaked hair. The film culminates in a diving competition, in which Dangerfield—and by Dangerfield I mean a horrendously obvious body double—performs the dangerous Triple Lindy. You’ll be a pretty satisfied viewer as you watch the credits fittingly roll to Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.”

3

“Old School” (2003)

2

“Revenge of the Nerds” (1984)

Remember when going to a movie starring Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn automatically meant “Lizzing”? (Note: If you get this reference, please write for us.) No? Well, it has been a while. But, throw in that “Old School” DVD, watch Ferrell, Vaughn and Luke Wilson start a fraternity and take on Jeremy Piven, and laugh so hard you whiz for the better part of 90 minutes. And, with the help of this film, Will Ferrell became one of the most quoted cultural texts in history—second only to the Bible. Yup, I’m pretty sure it goes God, Will Ferrell and then Shakespeare. I have a chart backing this up somewhere...

When the Alpha Betas accidentally burn down their house, its brothers take over the freshman dorms forcing all the other residents, which include the nerds, to live in gym.. After they get rejected from every fraternities and become fed up with stray basketballs interrupting their chess games, Louis, Gilbert, Poindexter, Booger, and Takashi petition and are unwillingly accepted into a national, and historically African American fraternity: Lambda Lambda Lambda. But, after they still don’t gain any respect, the Tri-Lambs realize they have to relinquish the Alpha Betas control of the Greek Council by winning the Greek Games. And, they do so with a musical act so professional, so enthralling, so ’80s, it puts the Alpha Betas’ skit to shame. Check out the awesome, original version at http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx-g26tjFFM, or a hilarious, updated, animated homage to this great movie scene at http://www.hulu.com/ watch/73581/family-guy-talent-show.

“Animal House” (1978) The first and the best, “Animal House” introduced us to toga parties, sweatshirts that say COLLEGE and Kevin Bacon. Animal House has made it on two of the American Film Institute’s Top 100 lists and into the National Film Registry. Harold Ramis (arguably Wash. U.’s most notable alum—because fame and celebrity trump Nobel Prize every time) co-wrote the script and based some of the movie on his experiences at our own Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. More importantly, though, “Animal House” imparts one of life’s hardest lessons: If life hands you lemons, do you just give up? No. You invite your favorite band over, grab some bed sheets and beer, and throw a blowout.

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14 STUDENT LIFE | SPORTS

MEN’S TENNIS

Sports Editor / Johann Qua Hiansen / sports@studlife.com

ORIENTATION ISSUE

SPORTS

Bears finish fourth at nationals in record-setting season Josh Goldman Managing Editor Though the Washington University men’s tennis team failed to defend the Division III nation-

al title, the 2008-2009 season was a record setter for the Bears. The team captured its first University Athletic Association title on April 17 with a 5-4 win over rival Emory, ending a 19-

MATT MITGANG | STUDENT LIFE

Charlie Cutler follows through a backhand in the NCAA quarterfinal against Gustavus Adolphus College. The Bears won the match 5-3 to reach the tournament semifinal.

year streak of conference titles for the Eagles. The Bears also ran the table for a school-record 19-match winning streak, took second at the national indoor championships and finished fourth at the 2009 NCAA Division III National Championship. “Those accomplishments give us confidence and experience in those big situations that other teams may not have. But as we saw this year, even teams that are new to the tournament, such as Amherst, can surprise everyone,” said Max Woods, a rising junior. The Red and Green entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and blew past Carthage College and DePauw University without dropping a match at the Tao Tennis Center. The team then traveled to Claremont, Calif., for the round of eight. After a 5-3 win over Gustavus Adolphus College, the Bears met their match against Amherst College. Top singles player John Watts won at third doubles with Nirmal Choradia 8-1 and then

at first singles 6-1, 6-2, but the Bears would drop the remaining matches to the Lord Jeffs. The rematch with Emory in the third-place match proved no better, as the Eagles avenged a conference loss with a 5-3 victory. Watts won both of his matches and Charlie Cutler and Chris Hoeland took first doubles. Emory rallied from the early 1-2 deficit by winning four of five completed singles matches to take third place. “Fourth place was disappointing. However, Amherst played amazing in the semifinals, and we can’t be dwelling on that match when the season starts anew,” Woods said. “It was a new position for the program to be in [as] the top seed heading into nationals. I definitely feel everybody learned something about themselves and the program in order to improve upon it next time around,” Head Coach Roger Follmer said. The Wash. U.-Emory matchup featured the top two teams in the nation, and Follmer said he believes the Bears ended their

season with a loss to the best team in the Division III even though the University of California, Santa Cruz won the national title. “No disrespect to Santa Cruz; but if Emory learned how to play better doubles at some point this past spring, they would have been in the final. In our case, we just didn’t play up to our signature standard level of doubles during the final eight portion of the NCAA Tournament,” Follmer said. “I feel that we can learn from Santa Cruz and the urgency that they played doubles with for next spring to get our team in position to capture another team title.” Despite the 0-2 finish, the 2009 graduating class leaves a legacy unprecedented in Wash. U. tennis. Aside from the team’s accomplishments, Hoeland graduates as the all-time leader in doubles wins and a two-time All-American in doubles. Cutler was named an All-American three times in doubles and twice in singles, and all six seniors graduated with career winning

percentages over .500. For Follmer, the legacy left behind by Cutler, Hoeland, Choradia, Trevis Bowman, Eric Pollak and Mark Partridge goes beyond career numbers. “I am so proud of the legacy that the graduating seniors left for the WU men’s tennis program. WU tennis history was truly written in their seasons on the Danforth campus…It will be big shoes our returning players will be filling without question,” Follmer said. “However, I feel that the seniors taught the underclassmen just what it takes to play with the best in D-III. Now it is just up to them to put in the time and make the necessary sacrifices to keep expanding upon the legacy.” The 2009-2010 season tentatively begins on Sept. 18 with the three-day Wash. U. Invitational. For the second year in the row, the Bears will then host the 2009 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Fall Regional Tennis Championships on Sept. 25-28 at the Tao and Dwight Davis tennis centers.

The 411 on Wash. U. sports Professional sports teams Johann Qua Hiansen Senior Sports Editor One national championship. Four top-five finishes. Seven top-10 finishes. Fifteen teams in NCAA action and nine University Athletic Association championships. That's just one school year in Washington University athletics and the 2008-2009 year. What do students new to Wash. U. need to know about their college's sports? There's a lot to brag about with an athletic program that's ranked 4th in all of NCAA Division III, according to the 2009 Learfield Directors' Cup, and won 16 national championships. The men’s basketball team will open play in the winter looking for a third straight national championship, while the women's basketball team will look to avenge a loss in last season’s NCAA title game. Men's swimming & diving had a seventh-place performance at the national championships as junior Alex Beyer earned an individual championship in the 400-yard individual medley. The men’s tennis team and women’s track and field teams also placed

fourth and fifth, respectively. Both the women's soccer and volleyball teams also made runs deep into the NCAA tournament last season. For information on all 17 varsity programs, check out the University’s official sports Web site at http://bearsports. wustl.edu and in Student Life throughout the year. Here are a few tips for becoming the ultimate Wash. U. sports fan: The official mascot of Wash. U. is the Bear. The official school colors are red and green. You can join the fan group, Red Alert, and be eligible for contests, free food and free shirts.

The venues for most sports are on campus at the Athletic Complex and Francis Field. All games are free for Wash. U. students with their student IDs. Most importantly, athletes perform better with more fans in the stands. Athletes at the Division III level don't receive athletic scholarships and are floormates, classmates and friends. Show off your Wash. U. pride as volleyball, men's soccer and women's soccer begin their national championship campaigns on Sept. 1. Football kicks off and cross country hosts a meet on Sept. 5.

MATT MITGANG | STUDENT LIFE

Students show off their school spirit at the Bushyhead Track. Red Alert gives out free pizza to students at big games.

thrive in St. Louis region Alex Dropkin Sports Editor With Busch Stadium, the Edward Jones Dome and the Scottrade Center only short MetroLink rides away from campus, there's never an inopportune time to catch a sports game in St. Louis. The Cardinals Often rated as one of the best baseball cities in America, St. Louisans love the Cardinals. What's not to love? The St. Louis Cardinals are second, only to the Yankees, in number of World Series championships (10), with the latest coming in 2006. Firstbaseman Albert Pujols, one of this era's greatest hitters, keeps his team in contention year after year. Games to see: The Cardinals' last home game of the 2009 regular season is Sept. 20, so get your tickets fast. The Cardinals face the Chicago Cubs in a three-must-seegame series. The bitter rivalry began in 1885. How to get there: Take the MetroLink toward Shiloh-

Scott and get off at the Stadium station. The Rams While the St. Louis Rams have had very little success of late, there is never a bad reason to head downtown for a football game. Tickets are cheap and you just might get to see your favorite team beat up on the Rams. Running back Steven Jackson is one of the NFL's best, and the Rams selected offensive tackle Jason Smith second overall in the 2009 draft, hoping to return to the success of early this decade. Games to see: The Rams take on the defending NFC champion and former St. Louis squad, the Arizona Cardinals, in their home opener on Sept. 27. How to get there: Take the MetroLink towards ShilohScott and get off at the Convention Center stop. The Edward Jones Dome is only a two-block walk from the station. The Blues

After making the playoffs for the first time in five years in 2009, the St. Louis Blues are on the rise. Full of young talent combined with the veteran experience of goaltender Chris Mason and left winger Keith Tkachuk, the Blues are looking to do some damage in the 2009-2010 season. Games to see: The Western Conference's Central Division was one of the best in the NHL, with nearly all five teams making the playoffs. Whether it is the Detroit Red Wings or the Nashville Predators, the Scottrade Center will be alive. How to get there: Take the MetroLink towards ShilohScott and get off at the Civic Center stop. The Scottrade Center is only a few steps away from the station. Even though the St. Louis Hawks (the city's professional basketball team) relocated to Atlanta in 1968, basketball and sports fans worry not. The Cardinals, Rams, and Blues provide enough easy, fun and accessible entertainment to last the entire year. Besides, you can always watch the Wash. U. Bears.

FRESHMAN PRESS SS S PRE - ORIENTATION Hurry while there are still spaces available to take part in this great opportunity! t Produce and publish an entire issue of Student Life t Write, draw, photograph, market, sell or design their way into the 130-year-old tradition of Washington University’s independent newspaper t Attend workshops with Post-Dispatch staffers, interview Wash. U. administrators, sell ads, help with the marketing and promotion and contribute their ideas, styles and talents to produce the first issue of the year. t No previous journalism or marketing experience is necessary. t All members of Freshman Press, and all students at the University, are encouraged to join the Student Life staff during the academic year. 2008 Freshman Press Group

For more information & details on registration visit: http://orientation.wustl.edu/preorientation/freshmanpress

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Sports Editor / Johann Qua Hiansen / sports@studlife.com

ORIENTATION ISSUE

STUDENT LIFE | SPORTS

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CLUB SPORTS

The Wash. U. club scene Becky Chanis Sports Editor

As incoming freshmen, many of you have questions about the Wash. U. club scene. Club sports, that is. Undoubtedly, most of you know that Washington University in St. Louis students are not widely renowned for their physical prowess. Still, Wash. U. offers a plethora of sports programs for all students, athletically inclined or not. In addition to its varsity sports, the University boasts 36 club teams, each unique from the others. There are also more than 50 intramural teams, which vary in degrees of seriousness and range from arm wrestling, inner-tube water polo and kickball to soccer and cross country. Clearly, there are other options for students besides varsity sports. And there are a lot of advantages. One such benefit is that many club teams are less demanding than their varsity counterparts, thus allowing students to competitively

pursue their love of a sport according to their own limits and desires. More importantly, such flexibility allows for students to explore other interests, according to rising junior Stephanie Dusek, captain of women’s lacrosse. “A concern that many varsity athletes I have spoken with have is the question of life after college: Have they missed out on other opportunities the school could have provided for them had they had more time to pursue other areas outside of athletics?” Dusek wrote in an e-mail. “Club sports offers the transition from being told what to do by hired authority figures to choosing by your own merit what kind of a role athletics will play in your life.” Moreover, club sports have many of the same benefits as varsity sports. Besides a healthy, active lifestyle, they offer “an opportunity to compete and all of the things that go along with training for competition. The development of leadership skills, team building, motivation to be successful, improving one’s

personal abilities through focused effort,” said Cameron Carter, coach of Wash. U.’s club rowing team. These benefits can come hand in hand with achievement. Club team results are mixed, but the naturally ambitious nature of Wash. U.’s overachieving student body often shines through. For many teams, “the forum is highly competitive because you have a bunch of motivated, highachieving individuals putting their time into something they care about,” graduate student Peter Boumgarden, president of the Triathlon Club, wrote in an e-mail. For example, the Wash. U. Women’s Ultimate team (WUWU) made the Ultimate Players Association College Women’s Championships this year, placing 17th. The Wash. U. men’s crew team placed second at the American Collegiate Rowing Association Championships in the Men’s Varsity Lightweight 8+. The Wash. U. men’s lacrosse team missed the playoffs by a technicality. And the list goes on. But there’s a drawback to the flexibility of club sports.

TASHA PARMAN | WUWU

The Wash. U. Women’s Ultimate team took 17th place in the country last season.

“A value that women’s lacrosse holds to is that academics come first for our players,” Dusek wrote. “This usually leads to a less stressful environment on the field because we are not holding them there while they are worried about other school related obligations. The downside is that practices are not always as efficient and effective as varsity sports.” Thus the competitiveness of a team depends on the individuals and the sport. For many, competition is not the point. Instead, pure enjoyment of sport and a chance to spend time with friends may be all the reasons necessary. At the heart of any club team is “the same thing that makes a varsity sport worthwhile...Loving the sport, loving being on a team, loving staying in shape, loving being competitive, loving having a place to go every day,” rising senior Ruth Mandelbaum, a member of Wash. U. crew, wrote in an e-mail. It seems that all club teams, big or small and competitive or not, are based on the ideas of enjoyment and self-improvement. With so many options, every Wash. U. student can find a home on a team. “The beauty of club teams,” Carter said, “is that the level of commitment is determined by the culture of the particular club at any given time...[If] a club decides that they want to take on intercollegiate competition, they need to ask themselves if they are willing to put in the same effort as their competitors. Sports may not be about winning and losing but it always should be about doing your best and becoming better.”

NCAA spring championship results Baseball May 16: NCAA Regional against Carthage College L, 21-3 Final Record: 25-12, 3-3 UAA Softball May 10: Regional Final against Webster University L, 7-2 Final Record: 27-13, 7-1 UAA Men’s tennis May 21: Consolation Final against Emory University L, 5-3 Fourth-place finish overall Final Record: 22-4, 3-0 UAA Women’s tennis May 9: NCAA Second Round against DePauw University L, 5-4 Final Record: 15-7, 1-2 UAA Track & field May 21-23: National Championships Men’s Team: T-44th/81 Women’s Team: 5th/70

Cadenza Editor / Stephanie Spera / cadenza@studlife.com

ORIENTATION ISSUE

STUDENT LIFE | CADENZA

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songs cont. from pg. 11 MATT MITGANG | STUDENT LIFE

7. Queen/Journey (great singalong songs). You know how it is—there are certain songs that just bring people together. “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Don’t Stop Believing” are the epitome of bonding songs.

6. A cappella songs You are entering a rare stage of your life where everyone seems to like it. Don’t let these four to seven years go to waste.

5. Songs from summer festivals

Summer is a great time for music festivals— Bonaroo, Coachella, Summerfest, Pitchfork and Lollapalooza, to name a few. If you had the chance to get to any one of these, it’s an awesome conversation starter. Everyone loves a good concert story. Even if you couldn’t make it to one of the festivals, you can still read the reviews and fake it!

4. Vinyl In the pantheon of music, vinyl is king. The dedication it takes to actually maintain a record player at school, as well as to amass the vinyl collection, speaks to a profound love of music. Set that needle

con t i n u e d f r o m pg. 12 Chase Park Plaza Cinemas

down and watch the accolades roll in. (Shameless plug: StudLife runs a weekly blog called “Rare Finds at Vintage Vinyl.” If that’s your speed, check it out online.)

3. Disney songs College students love Disney songs. It’s pretty much an irrefutable fact. Also, there’s nothing quite like singing, “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” in a group of people you barely know. Instant friendship, I guarantee it.

2. Girl Talk

guide

Greg Gillis’ infectious mashups are almost universally loved and are sure to garner a high place in the musical hierarchy. Bonus points for spreading the Girl Talk Tasering story that occurred on campus long before your time here. Just ask an upperclassman about it.

1. In the immortal words of T.I., whatever you like. College is a place to assert yourself. Want to listen to the Jonas Brothers nonstop? Go right ahead. Chances are you’ll find people with similar interests no matter what your tastes are.

Want More Cadenza?

This is my favorite movie theater—located in the hip niche of St. Louis known as the Central West End. My friends and I usually go to the movies and then get dessert and coffee at a quirky café after. The five theaters themselves are cozy and adorable, with ornate, hand-painted walls. There is stadium seating and the seats recline. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to watch the manager as he doubles as an organ player before the movie starts. And as you leave the theater, they give you free candy! To get to Chase Park Plaza, take the MetroLink to the Central West End stop, taking a right out of the station. Walk about four blocks and take a right on Lindell Boulevard.

Check out

The Moolah Theatre & Lounge

studlife.com

The Moolah is an amazingly weird place. It is literally a large living room with couches set up sporadically in front of a movie screen. There are typical movie theater seats too, but the couches are the reason you go to the Moolah. The theater shows mainstream movies during the day. But the best is when you go there at midnight to see offbeat cult films like “The Warriors,” “Labyrinth” and “The Big Lebowski.” To get to the Moolah, you can walk a little more than a mile from the Central West End MetroLink stop. Just take a left on Lindell Boulevard and you’ll eventually reach the theater. Or, you can take the WUSTL Gold bus from Mallinckrodt Center to the Central West End bus station. Then take the 92 or 93 MetroBus from the station and get off on Vandeventer Avenue.

Welcome Home! We recognize the important role we fill and take great care to focus on the well being of our students. We believe that dining service serves a large purpose for

“Read”

the community. Dining rooms and cafés are gathering places. Breaking bread together helps to create a SENSE OF COMMUNITY

and comfort.

Dining Services at Washington University features fresh food

marks

that is PREPARED FROM SCRATCH using authentic ingredients. We are committed to social responsibility by supporting SUSTAINABLE food suppliers and LOCAL producers.

the

WHAT’S NEW IN DINING?

{

Dining Services Sustainability:

spot.

We have always been aware of sustainability and continue to look for new ways to further our efforts; from purchasing as many ingredients as possible within a 150 mile radius, to collaborating with campus groups, such as Burning Kumquats. Now, when you see this symbol, you can rest assured that efforts behind the cause were made with sustainability in mind.

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Web Food:

It’s not always easy to get in and out of lines when grabbing a bite to eat in between classes. So we have started a new online service in which you can place an order, in advance, and choose your time of pick-up! And as always, the food will be made fresh to order.

“Good to Go” Pre-Packs: To offer you more health conscious choices, we have created a pre-pack line in which every entrée is 800 calories or less.

August 20th: Stop by for a refreshment at freshman move-in. Our red balloons will be tied to our table. August 26th: Pick up the first regular issue of Student Life on your way to your first day of classes. Our red balloons will be tied to news stands all over campus.

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Bio Diesel Program: We are converting our fry oil into bio diesel fuel for the use of our commissary delivery truck on campus. The truck will display our new bio diesel logo.

Gluten-Free & Kosher Programs: We are introducing two new lines of pre-packs; Kosher and Gluten-Free. They will be clearly marked with the symbols shown here, and can be purchased in our cafés on campus.

Other News: ®

Cookies & Milk (served for $1 every Wednesday at select cafés) • Farmer’s Markets (look for more opportunities to purchase local products) • author & nutritionist, Mollie Katzen will visit Wash U on October 6th (you are invited to attend her presentation and book signing) • look for Iron Chef competitions in the Fall & Spring • Healthy Cooking Demo (live chef demonstration; how to make delicious, healthy food)

ORIENTATION ISSUE

Scene Editor / Paula Lauris / scene@studlife.com

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STUDENT LIFE | SCENE

1. The Moolah

Icebreakers Freshman Orientation is famous for one thing—icebreakers. New students on any college campus can always expect a lot of these fun-filled activities during their first week. Luckily, at Washington University, most of them are actually fun. But if you’re looking for a change of pace, you can always gather together a group of people from your freshman floor and plan your own icebreakers. Check out some of these well-known St. Louis venues where you can easily have fun in groups and get to know fellow students without any awkward silences or forced conversations.

5. Forest Park

Forest Park is located directly across the street from Brookings Hall and is one of the largest urban parks in America (even bigger than New York’s Central Park). This is not your typical park with only trees, ponds and grassy fields. Of course, it has all three of these, but visitors can also see some of St. Louis’ landmarks (all free), such as the majestic St. Louis Art Museum, located on top of Art Hill. Stand outside the museum and take in the breathtaking view of the park, or wander the museum and see works from some of the world’s most famous artists. You can stop by the St. Louis History Museum or the St. Louis Science Center and Planetarium, but the zoo is definitely a must-see. It’s bigger than you think, so stop at the entrance and pick up a map. The zoo features hundreds of animal exhibits, from ferocious tigers, jaguars and mountain lions to an entire hall of butterflies. Take some friends, a picnic lunch and a Frisbee to spend quality time lounging on the fields or navigate your way through the various museums. Either way, you’re sure to have fun and get to know one of the best entertainment venues in St. Louis.

6. Pi

Located right on the loop, this famous St. Louis pizzeria is perfect for big groups. Stop by for dinner and sit outside, across the street from the Pageant Theatre, where you can do some great people-watching. This Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is a favorite of many (including President Barack Obama, who has said Pi is his favorite pizza), and it will certainly not disappoint. Not only are the pizzas incredible, but Pi is also committed to its ecologically sustainable philosophy—Pi is an example to other restaurants and businesses, encouraging them to minimize their carbon footprints. So get green, get fed and have some fun only 10 minutes away from campus.

7. P.F. Chang’s

Located right next to Saint Louis University on Lindell Boulevard, this famous St. Louis lounge/movie theatre is a favorite hangout for many college students and residents. If you’re getting bored with the typical megaplex movie theater experience, or if you’re tired of the uncomfortable seats that always leave your neck feeling a little stiff, the Moolah will offer you a much-needed movie theatre vacation. The seating features a wide selection of comfy leather couches and lower and upper tiers of regular seating. While the couches all sit at the same level rather than on an incline, one might worry that it would be difficult to see beyond the couch in front. However, the Moolah screen is positioned at a perfect angle such that all couches have a clear view of every film. The staff selects one film every two to three weeks, so be to sure to check the Moolah’s Web site for updates: http:// www.stlouiscinemas.com/moolah. This beautiful, historic building also houses a full bar, a bowling alley, a foosball table, a pool table, dart boards, arcade games and plenty of lounge space with the ambiance of an old gentleman’s club. So take in a movie, and spend a few hours getting to know other students in a fun, relaxed environment. The Moolah is certainly a diamond in the rough of entertainment.

2. Mad Art While exploring downtown St. Louis, one could easily mistake this art gallery for a Police Station—mostly because it was. The building functioned as the Third District Police Station from 1937-1990, and the exterior, as well as much of the interior, has been maintained. In fact, in addition to the art exhibits, visitors will find original and fully functioning police cells inside, including wall graffiti from inmates dating back to the 1930s. The gallery shows between eight and 10 group exhibitions each year and is also open to the public for cultural events such as film screenings, concerts, improvisation and theater performances and various fundraisers. Mad Art will never leave you bored, as almost the entire facility (including the cells) is open to the public. So if you don’t have much to say about the art, the building itself will be a constant source of conversation.

3. City Museum Although the name can incite a yawn or two, don’t let it mislead you; this is no ordinary museum. Instead, think of it as a 600,000-square-foot playground/obstacle course. Made entirely out of found urban objects, this architectural masterpiece was created by Bob Cassilly, an internationally recognized artist, and has been a constant source of entertainment to St. Louis’ young and old alike. Be sure to visit the MonstroCity attraction, located on the roof of the City Museum. Here you can climb through two authentic Sabre 40 aircrafts, an old fire engine and dozens of metal bridges and tunnels, all while enjoying a great view of downtown St. Louis and the museum grounds. Crawl through the walls and floors of the building in a labyrinth of caves and tunnels. The Enchanted Caves were painted and textured to feel like the real deal, including pools of dripping water and unpredictable dips and bends. Go with a friend, because chances are you will get lost. Other attractions include a 13,500-square-foot aquarium, an exhibit of renovated architectural relics from famous American architects Elmslie and Sullivan, a collection of vintage shoelace machines and the world’s largest pair of men’s briefs. This venue will never leave you bored. So go bond with fellow students while getting lost in a tunnel of caves or climbing through an airplane fuselage five stories above the ground. With attractions like these, who needs conversation?

4. Six Flags St. Louis If college isn’t enough of a rollercoaster for you, head over to Six Flags (only 30 minutes from downtown St. Louis) and enjoy some real rollercoaster action. Make sure to visit before Sept. 7 to enjoy the water park for a relaxing day away from the heat and chaos of campus. Create lasting bonds with one another by racing down water slides or flying at 70 mph across rollercoaster tracks thousands of feet long. Six Flags has all kinds of rides for all kinds of people. If you’ve had a little too much excitement or if you’re feeling queasy after the loops of the Ninja coaster, kick back and relax while floating along Hurricane Harbor’s lazy river and drift among the waterfalls and lush tropical landscapes.

If you’re looking for another restaurant for your group, you won’t find anything better than P.F. Chang’s. For those of you who have an aversion to chain restaurants, have no fear; the food here is delicious. This famous Chinese bistro is located in Richmond Heights, only a short drive from campus. The dining room is dimly lit and spacious, with high ceilings and painted mural walls. Best of all, the menu is extensive. No matter what you order, the portions are certain to be huge, making each dish perfect for sharing. After dinner, make sure you ask your waiter about the New York cheesecake with raspberry sauce (not included on the menu). It may be the very best cheesecake in St. Louis. This place is always busy, so make sure to call ahead. Mostly full of college students, P.F. Chang’s is loud and fun, so your group will never have a dull moment.

by Hana Schuster, Scene Regular Features Editor

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Scene Editor / Paula Lauris / scene@studlife.com

ORIENTATION ISSUE

SCENE South 40 Fitness Center

One of the most basic workout areas available, the South 40 Fitness Center is filled mainly with cardiovascular exercise machines, such as treadmills, bicycles and elliptical machines. Also available is weightlifting equipment, but the selection is very limited. So, if you’re looking to build up some upper body muscle, this may not be the place for you. On the plus side, the center is perfect for that spur-of-the-moment-type workout, since it offers a place near the dorms for a nice, air-conditioned run. The new fitness center is located in Wohl.

Athletic Complex

Robyn Husa Scene Online Editor

Of the many changes that take place during the transition year from high school to college, negative alterations to the body (weight-wise) should not be one of those considered. However, the so called “Freshman 15” continues to be a worry for new undergraduates due to the wide variety of deliciously unhealthy food available at any time of the day or night, combined with almost certain periods of academic stress. Fortunately for you, Washington University offers a great number of ways to stay active and fit throughout the year.

For those a little more serious about fitness, the Athletic Complex (AC) provides a treasure trove of athletic facilities. On the main floor, there is a large recreational gym that can be altered for games of basketball, volleyball and tennis. If you venture down to the lower levels, you can find several racquetball courts and, for the select few who play the sport, two squash courts. For those who like a traditional workout, there is a vast cardio section complete with the standard treadmills, bikes and elliptical machines. Into heavy lifting? The AC is the place to go because it has its very own weightlifting section on the bottom floor. But the conveniences don’t stop there—also included for your workout pleasure are locker rooms, complete with separate saunas for both genders. For those who prefer to take a more Michael Phelps approach to keeping fit, the Olympic-sized pool in the AC is perfect for swimming laps and diving. Also near the AC are the Bushyhead Track and the Tao Tennis Center, which are great for training athletes. Chances are, no matter what workout mood you are in, the AC has what you need. The AC is located on the northwest side of the Danforth Campus.

Forest Park This large park located directly east of Wash. U. is more than just a great picnicking area or a place to see penguins at the zoo:

the many paths throughout the park offer a great opportunity for a long run, in which you can forget your worries and just appreciate the beauty of the scenery. You can stick to the basic paths or be a little more adventurous. Either way, Forest Park is a great area for jogging, walking, and biking...weather permitting, of course.

Sports/Clubs Not into machine-based workouts or solitary runs? Wash. U.’s wide array of clubs can solve your fitness dilemma. All sports are represented and available for joining, from the competitive to the intramural level. There are also clubs dedicated to keeping active through enjoyable means. For example, the rock climbing club takes you off campus to a compound where you can rock climb to your heart’s content. Also, the running club allows for you to run in a decently sized group of other students across campus. What’s great about keeping active within clubs is the level of commitment is flexible. They also provide a great opportunity to meet other students while letting you stay fit at the same time.

Miscellaneous/ recreational At Wash. U., you can stay fit with even the tiniest effort. This is made evident by the small pool available next to the upperclassmen housing in the Village. Unlike the AC’s 25-meter pool, this mass of water is intended for a more relaxing swim. The best part: You are still burning calories. Unfortunately, this pool, like most, requires a lifeguard to be present, and it seems there is rarely one available when you want one. Don’t fret, though, if you can’t set aside a specific workout period/swim time for the week. Just taking that long walk to classes every day keeps your heart racing. It may not seem like much, but you will soon come to appreciate that small level of fitness once you discover that, yes, that carrot cake in the Wash. U. café is indeed delicious.

Decorating your dorm room: 101 Paula Lauris Senior Scene Editor “College is a fresh start.” The meaning of this phrase will quite literally become evident when you first walk into your empty, sparsely furnished, white-walled dorm room. If you’ve ever dreamed of revamping your room at home but haven’t gotten around to actually cleaning it up, then decorating a brand new space can be a very exciting opportunity. Just remember to keep the following tips in mind.

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If you didn’t need it at home, then

Hana Schuster Scene Regular Features Editor When you first arrive at Washington University, your inbox will be flooded with e-mails about hundreds of different events going on around campus. This will be the University’s attempt to make sure freshmen have enough options to keep them active during the first month of school. While all of these events certainly help new students adjust to campus and meet new people, they make it all too easy to forget that there is life beyond Brookings. After all, you didn’t just move to Washington University; you also moved to St. Louis (hence our wonderfully creative name). St. Louis might be a small city compared to New York City or Los Angeles, but there is still plenty to do. So take advantage of some of these options while your workload is still at a minimum…because the free time won’t last for very long!

For the sports enthusiast Cardinals’ Baseball All home games happen at Busch Stadium—a beautifully renovated facility in downtown St. Louis overlooking the Gateway Arch. Take a group of friends and learn what it takes to be a Cardinals fan. St. Louis vs. Milwaukee: Sept. 1-3 St. Louis vs. Atlanta: Sept.

you most likely won’t need it in college. A backrest with cupholders and pockets for snacks? A lamp with five different-colored bulbs? Sure, these items may sound amazing, but have you ever found a need for them before college? Many stores will try to convince you that you’ll need a lot of different items for college, but be sensible with what you buy! The same goes for bringing stuff to college that you already own. While you’ve become accustomed to that big stuffed elephant on your bed or that hanging basketball hoop on your door, that doesn’t mean that they have to make the trek

11-13 St. Louis vs. Florida: Sept. 14-16 St. Louis vs. Chicago: Sept. 18-20 State Farm Arch Rivalry Game, Illinois vs. St. Louis Sept. 5, 2:30 p.m. Edward Jones Dome The biggest sports event of the season, this game is sure to be a crowd pleaser. If you want to get a feel for St. Louis sports, this rivalry match is a must-see. Just be careful not to get trampled in the wake of all the diehard Rams fans.

For the theater buff “Guys and Dolls” Sept. 5-Oct. 4 The Robert G. Reim Theatre Come to this intimate venue to see this classic musical produced by Stages St. Louis, a local nonprofit theater company of professional actors. This is always an unforgettable performance, with its showstopping musical numbers and kooky characters. For ticket and performance information, visit http://www.stagesstlouis.com or call 314-821-2407. “Phantom of the Opera” Sept. 30-Oct. 25 The Fabulous Fox Theatre With almost a full month of performances this fall, you will have plenty of opportunities to see this world-famous musical. But don’t wait to buy tickets— this show is popular every time.

all the way to your new Washington University dorm. Let your walls speak for you. Sure, the bare walls in your dorm room may not seem like much at first, but they give you the chance to express yourself. Posters of your favorite sports teams, bands or even funny sayings provide a great talking point for when your new hallmates wander in. But don’t just limit yourself to posters—you can create funky wall art with simple blue tape or make an interesting collage of old ticket stubs. You can even coordinate

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Get seats in the back of the theater, where you and your friends can sing along! Tickets are $28-$75. Go to www.fabulousfox.com for performance details.

For the music lover “American Idol Live” Aug. 29, 7 p.m. Scottrade Center For fans and non-fans alike, this promises to be a spectacular show. “American Idol” winner Kris Allen will be performing in St. Louis for one night only, along with Adam Lambert, Danny Goki and all of this season’s top 10 finalists. Tickets are on sale NOW for $37-$66 through the Scottrade Center. The Moody Blues Sept. 5, 8 p.m. The Fabulous Fox Theatre Rolling Stone Magazine called them “the Sistine Chapel of popular music.” See this iconic group, part of the ‘60s legendary British Invasion, this fall in St. Louis. Take a group of friends and rock out to some of the world’s best rock ‘n’ roll. Tickets are on sale now for $42.50-$52.50 through the Fabulous Fox Theatre. Kings of Leon Sept. 30, 8 p.m. Scottrade Center The New York Times referred to them as “the allAmerican long-haired rockers.” They won “Best International

with your roommate beforehand to decide if you want a particular design for your room and plan out decorations according to the theme. If at first there is no apparent use for it, then find one. Keeping an open mind is important in college and decorating your dorm room is no exception. Even if you may not be the typical “starving college student,” it’s still important to make the most of what you have. For instance, basic items like crates are great not only for storage but also for makeshift stools and

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Band” and “Best International Album” at the 2009 Brit Awards, and a Grammy at the 2009 Grammy Awards. See the Followill brothers live this fall for one night only. Tickets are on sale now for $43.50 through the Scottrade Center. Miley Cyrus Oct. 4, 7 p.m. Scottrade Center This famous teenybopper can put on quite a show. Miley Cyrus, the world’s hottest teen sensation, will be performing in St. Louis for one night only. Warning: Expect to fight hundreds of screaming 13-yearolds for the best view of the stage. Tickets are on sale now for $39.50-$79.50 through the Scottrade Center. Open Acoustic Night Every Tuesday night, 8 p.m. Pop’s Blue Moon, 5249 Pattison Road Whether you’re there to listen or perform, this venue is open to anyone, with or without a guitar. If you have questions about the venue, or if you would like to play during the Open Acoustic Night, call Joshua at 314-276-2700.

For the diverse crowd Japanese Festival Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. St. Louis Botanical Gardens Enjoy a truly authentic taste of Japan right here in St. Louis. This annual festival takes place in one of the largest Japanese

tables. And who needs fancy plates and bowls when you can use microwave-friendly and resealable Tupperware containers?

letin or dry-erase board on your wall. You can also replace bulky floor lamps with cool hanging lanterns or mini lights.

Win the race to find space. It’s no secret that space is a bit cramped in college, but there are plenty of ways to improvise and expand your room without magic. Many students lift their beds higher with bed risers in order to store stuff underneath. If you’re running low on floor space, then take a tip from NASA and look up. You can hang shoe racks from your doors and keep your life organized by posting a bul-

Keep home close to heart. However you choose to decorate your dorm room, it’s important to give it a personal touch. A photo collage of friends and family members can be great to look at when you’re feeling lonely. A meaningful gift from a loved one can bring old memories to your new lifestyle. College may be a new transition, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave your home life behind!

gardens in North America. Among dozens of performances and activities, visitors can enjoy Bon Odori (traditional Japanese dance), Taiko drumming, Ikebana flower arranging, delicious Japanese food and sumo demonstrations. General admission: $10, pay at entrance.

enue and Forsyth Boulevard, an auction, a glassblowing stand, a performance stage and various hands-on art booths. The event is free. Sept. 11, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Sept. 12, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sept. 13, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

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Big Muddy Blues Festival Sept. 5-6 Laclede’s Landing This cultural festival highlights the best of blues from across America. Big Muddy’s various stages will feature regional and local bands, while the main stage showcases national headliners. This blues fest attracts music fans of all genres and ages from all over the Midwest, and for the past 15 years it has become synonymous with Labor Day in St. Louis. Pack a picnic and drag a group of friends to this unforgettable event. Entrance is free.

The Great Forest Park Balloon Glow and Race Sept. 18-19 Center field in Forest Park Join hundreds of visitors who flock to Forest Park every year to see this grand spectacle. On the evening of Sept. 18 (78:30 p.m.), dozens of enormous hot air balloons will be lit up for viewers to see. Bring a picnic dinner and a blanket and bask in their glow. Or, you can come watch the balloons lift off on the 19th to commence the race and enjoy festivities through out the day. Pony rides, food stalls, photo contests and skydivers are only some of the things on the agenda (12-6:30 p.m.). Entrance is free.

St. Louis Art Fair Sept. 11-13, various times The heart of Clayton, just five minutes from campus, will shut down its streets for three days in September, giving visitors a chance to take in some truly remarkable art. Artists from all over the country submit their work to the St. Louis Art Fair every year, and those who were selected by a panel of judges will display their work on the streets of Clayton. The fair grounds will include food stalls set up on Brentwood Boulevard between Maryland Av-

Chili Cook Off and Salsa Competition Sept. 26, all day Westport Plaza Watch as nearly 100 aspiring and professional chefs prepare their chili and salsa recipes to compete for the Missouri championship titles. Samples of all recipes are 50 cents, and visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorites. Other food will be served, including brats, burgers, grilled chicken and smoothies. Come taste and vote and be a part of this hot event. Entrance is free.

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