Lily Schorr | Student Life

The cast of “The Vagina Monologues” performs on Thursday night in Graham Chapel.

The show opened its three day engagement at Graham Chapel on Thursday night.

“My goal for the entire cast was that each member would feel comfortable saying the word ‘vagina’ in normal conversation. Or scream it, for that matter,” said junior Sarah Wagener, the show’s director.

By presenting dramatic, emotional, humorous and honest accounts of real women across the globe, the actors in the show hope to encourage audience members to have more open conversations about female sexuality and to feel secure enough in their own sexualities to speak about sex and vaginas in an honest, even celebratory way.

“If one girl in the audience walks away from the show able to say ‘vagina’ the way I can now, that would be so rewarding,” said sophomore Sarah Elster, who performs a monologue about a woman who comes to terms with her sexuality through an intimate relationship.

“The Vagina Monologues” originated as an off-Broadway episodic play in 1996. Eve Ensler, an American playwright and activist, created the play after interviewing hundreds of women of all different backgrounds about their sex lives and their relationships with their vaginas. She turned these interviews into a series of monologues that grew into the internationally performed “The Vagina Monologues,” which now benefits V-Day, an organization dedicated to ending violence against women.

Though it has gained popularity on college campuses, “The Vagina Monologues” is not just a show for undergraduate performers; many noteworthy and Oscar-winning actresses have performed the monologues, including Cate Blanchett, Whoopi Goldberg, Marisa Tomei and even Oprah Winfrey.

Though she recognizes that the show may make some audience members feel uncomfortable, Waegner said, “that’s the powerful thing about art and theater—the ability to provoke and make people question and become more comfortable with something they might not understand completely.”

“Guys talk about their penises all the time like it’s nothing. It would be great if women could have those same kinds of open conversations,” said senior Cristina Bonner, who is performing in this weekend’s shows.

With Waegner’s help, the actors have been able to emotionally connect with the material of their monologues.

“It can be difficult because these things that I’m talking about didn’t happen to me—this is someone else’s story,” Elster said. “When I first read it, I really didn’t understand the whole range of emotions within it. But Sarah [Wagener] helped me discover this inner hatred my character had for her vagina—so I had to learn to channel that, and it was really sad and difficult sometimes.”

The monologues cover a wide range of topics, including stories of rape and violence, understanding vaginas, comedic anecdotes, sex trafficking, and giving birth. Wagener explained that one account is even from the perspective of a six-year-old girl.

After an application and interview process, Wagener was selected to direct the show in late October 2010. She cast the show in early November, and the group had its first rehearsal before winter break. “At first, I only met with the performers on an individual basis to work through their monologues,” Wagener said. “When the group finally came together and all the cast members saw and heard everyone else’s work, it was such a rewarding experience. I knew we were working on something special.”

Though directing the show added to her already busy schedule, Wagener couldn’t be happier to have been such an integral part of the show.

“I feel like I’m helping to contribute to an international vision of making the world a happier, more positive place for men and women to interact. It lets me know that the countless hours I put in were really worthwhile, ” she said.

Many of the actors also feel that they have benefited from participating in the performance. Bonner, whose monologue is about the struggles of a transgendered individual, said, “I’m comfortable with my femininity, but working through issues that someone else deals with in their life every day has been really intense and really enlightening. I feel like I’ve gained an added level of comfort with these issues.”

Elster agreed.

“I used to shudder at the word ‘vagina’ and would never say it in person. But now I can scream it—and other inappropriate words,” she said.

“It’s not about surviving traumatic things,” Wagener said. “It’s just about living. I think this show does leaps and bounds to help create a better world for all of us.”

“The Vagina Monologues” continues its run at Graham with performances Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.

A bar or club

This one is so easy your little brother could get away with it (mine actually did…ah, family). Make sure you choose a larger venue and wait until the busiest hour of the busiest night. The staff and bartenders will be too busy handling drink orders and breaking up mosh pits to notice the two of you slipping off to the bathroom. While this may seem tacky or cliché (how many movies feature two people going at it in a grimy club bathroom?), it’s actually a pretty steamy way to ease yourself into the idea of public sex. After having a few drinks with your partner and grinding for a while on the dance floor, sneaking off to do the deed with the bass vibrating through the bathroom stalls starts to seem more appealing than you’d think.
Pro: All necessary cleanup materials are right at hand.
Con: Most restrooms in bars and clubs aren’t the cleanest of facilities.

A beach

The beach can be a lot of fun—just make sure there aren’t any kids around. Head to the beach with a very large blanket or comforter, large enough to wrap yourselves up in, then sit there and wait for the other beachgoers to head home. I would recommend going around sunset, as most people will usually have left by that time. Not to mention, it’s quite romantic. If the beach is empty, and there are no houses in sight, you’re clear to just go at it. But if there are still some people lingering or beach houses nearby, it’s probably best to cocoon yourselves in your blanket first. The fresh air, the sand, the ocean and the very public nature of this spot make it all the more exciting.
Pro: Great for a romantic evening.
Con: You run the risk of scarring a child for life.

An airplane

Personally, I don’t encourage joining the mile high club. Believe it or not, stewardesses are on the lookout for couples lingering around the bathrooms. (Be warned—they will reprimand you if they suspect you’re up to something.) But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun. It’s surprisingly easy to fool around and even surprise your guy with a blowjob—right from the comfort of your own seats. First, if you aren’t provided with a blanket by the airline, use a coat or jacket to cover your laps. Once you’ve fastened a decent shield, manual stimulation isn’t too difficult to pull off. Blowjobs get a little trickier, however. Rest your head in your guy’s lap as if you were sleeping, then have him undo his pants and slide them down a little to provide easier access. You’ll be surprised by how manageable this can be with some strategic maneuvering of your head and the blanket.
Pro: The sense of accomplishment after having pulled it off.
Con: Nosy stewardesses and passengers.

An amusement park

This may be the most challenging outdoor option but also the most thrilling. Many people who engage in public sexual activity do so for the heightened adrenaline rush and increased sexual anticipation—and what greater rush than foreplay at the top of a roller coaster. Actual intercourse is difficult, as most rides have seat restraints, not to mention you could die, but some hand action is more than possible. Make sure your girl wears a dress or skirt and try fingering her while on a particularly intense roller coaster ride—the combination of thrills and sensations will ensure that she’ll remember that day for a long time to come.
Pro: Some of the most memorable foreplay of a lifetime.
Con: Potentially life threatening if proper precautions aren’t taken.

Student Life Newspaper | Student Life

The preparation of absinthe requires running ice water over a sugar cube in a slotted spoon and into the yellow liquid itself.

And did I mention they serve absinthe? If you’re looking for a change of pace after a semester of shotgunning beers or sipping boring cosmos, Lola serves up this nefarious spirit in all its glory—and in creative ways. While absinthe’s historically-rumored hallucinatory properties have been debunked (drinking it will not actually make you see the green fairy), it does have a very high proof and often a distinctly different effect than other alcohols.

The bar’s absinthe cocktails and martinis all play off of the spirit’s natural flavors of fennel and anise. Some of the more creative drinks include flavors of black cherry, honey or even lavender. Of course, you can also get absinthe served the traditional way. In Europe and the Czech Republic, where absinthe gained popularity in the 19th century, it was served in a special absinthe glass with a slotted spoon, a sugar cube and a touch of fire.

At Lola, your server will pour you one shot of lucid green absinthe and rest a slotted spoon on top of the glass. The server then places a cube of sugar on the spoon that is doused in more absinthe, lights it on fire and lets the sugar bubble before pouring water over it, so that the sugar dissolves as the water runs through the spoon, diluting the alcohol and turning it a murky white before you drink it.

Lola’s drink menu is a regular mixology masterpiece, offering, in addition to absinthe, various wines, beers and St. Louis-themed martinis, mojitos, margaritas, Bloody Marys and signature creations.

It’s also a great place to grab a light bite to eat before hitting the bar. The food is always creatively and skillfully prepared. For a crowd-pleasing option, the house-made pommes frites ($6) come with various dipping sauces like aioli of roasted garlic or tarragon and house-made red pepper ketchup. Lola’s duet ($8) is another great option for late-night dining—the plate consists of a mini bacon and bleu cheese burger and a mini mushroom, onion and Swiss burger, both served on fresh baked slider buns.

Lola is divided into two very different sections—a larger, classy restaurant fills the front space, with floor-to-ceiling windows, dim red lighting and a full bar. Toward the back is the smaller bar/lounge area, featuring nightly performances and absinthe-themed wall murals of green fairies, large eyes and abstract designs of muted blues and greens.

The bar can get loud and crowded on a Saturday night, so get there early to enjoy the live jazz and funk music. Settle into a comfy leather couch and claim your spot for the evening. If you like a rowdier club-like atmosphere, arrive around 11 p.m., grab some drinks and hit the dance floor.

After opening this summer, Lola has already created quite the buzz in the downtown scene. With its eclectic crowd and neighborhood jazz bar vibe, Lola has shot to the top of our list of must-visit late-night spots in St. Louis.

500 North 14th St.
Nearest MetroLink Stations:
8th and Pine or Convention Center
314-621-7277
www.welovelola.com

If a lack of knowledge or experience is what’s holding you back, read this step-by-step guide, and don’t give yourself any more excuses for not getting down and dirty.

1. Start slow
Keep her wanting more by starting with slow, deliberate movements. She’ll love the anticipation—and it will certainly pay off in the end. Women like to be teased, so make sure not to get carried away and keep it light and playful to start. Try running your tongue along the inside of her upper thigh right next to the vaginal area, without actually touching it. It will make her crave more action.

2. Play with pressure
Not only is the tongue the strongest muscle in the human body, but guys, you also have a lot more control over your tongue than you do over your penis, allowing you to apply direct pressure to specific parts of the vagina. It’s crucial to vary the pressure of your tongue once you finally move toward your target. Use a broad, flat tongue to fully cover the vagina—this will apply gentle titillating pressure and will help lube up the area with saliva. For more intense pressure of specific arousal spots, like the clitoris, use a firm pointed tongue to circle and flick.

3. The clitoris is key
One mistake many guys make time and time again is that they often assume oral sex is virtually the same thing as standard intercourse. DO NOT simply thrust your tongue in and out of the vagina as you would with your penis. The tongue does not provide enough friction and is not long or thick enough to make this pleasurable. In general, stick to areas that are easier to access—like the clitoris. The clitoris is a woman’s most sensitive erogenous zone and, when stimulated correctly, leads to mind-blowing orgasms. Tease her for a while by lightly circling it with your tongue. Then try taking it into your mouth and gently sucking on it while softly flicking your tongue over the area—almost like a French kiss.

4. Get handsy
Don’t ignore your hands while going down on your girl—always keep them moving. A variety of textures and pressures is important since there’s only so much your tongue can do on its own. Since we’ve already established that it’s not your tongue’s job to do any penetration during oral sex, try saving this task for your fingers. While performing the above techniques on her clitoris, use your hands to either apply pressure to her inner thighs in a massaging motion, which also helps hold her legs apart, or use them to thrust a few fingers into the vagina, providing her with more complete stimulation.

5. Try some tricks
Aside from using your hands and tongue, there are some tricks you can use to make oral sex even more exciting. For example, using mentholated mints or mouthwash before performing oral sex can heighten the pleasure. When your breath is fresh and tingly from a strong mint, your partner will feel the tingling sensation along her vaginal lips and clitoris. You could also try using warming or cooling lubricants or scented massage oils to arouse your girl and amp up the excitement.

So for those of you who have never ventured down south in the bedroom, get over yourselves—this is an essential part of pleasing your woman. Keep these few tips in mind, and she won’t be able to get enough of you.

On Nov. 4 from 7 to 11 p.m., The “Beast of St. Louis” party will tranform the City Museum, showcasing many of the winners of the Riverfront Times’ “Best of St. Louis” edition—including performances by Fresh Heir (voted best jam band) and Nappy DJ Needles (best club DJ), as well as food samples from a dozen of St. Louis’ “Best of” restaurants.

Every September, the Riverfront Times publishes their largest issue of the year—the “Best of St. Louis” issue. Marketing director Emily Kohler said that the event is intended to celebrate and highlight all aspects of St. Louis life, including people, places and entertainment.

For the past 10 years, the Riverfront Times has thrown an annual “Best of St. Louis” party in honor of the year’s winners. “It started out as just a staff party,” said Kohler, “but in 2006 it really took off. We realized there was potential to have a big yearly party to highlight all the winners and get more people involved.” Last year’s event attracted more than 3,000 guests.

According to Kohler, not only does the City Museum win “Best place to bring guests” every year, but it is also the only venue in St. Louis that can accommodate such a large number of people while still maintaining a party atmosphere.

For $10, visitors will gain admission to the event, including three full-sized drinks, hors d’oeuvres and access to all floors of the City Museum.

“Last year it was great to see guests really using the City Museum—people were on the slides and in the tunnels. I think everyone really enjoyed the venue,” said Kohler.

Each year, the Riverfront Times staff decides on a unique theme for the event. This year, it is a Halloween-themed celebration, featuring spooky decorations, a Halloween soundtrack, costumed models, a dark burlesque show and a photo booth to document the evening’s festivities.

“We’re really incorporating the theme in an active way this year,” said Kohler. “There will be some old-school horror characters walking around. I think it’s something that guests are really looking forward to the most.”

With the abundance of programming that occurs within walking distance of the DUC, it’s easy for students to stay sequestered in our small corner of St. Louis. However, Kohler believes students have a lot to gain by attending and learning more about our city. “Wash. U. is such a huge proponent of St. Louis,” she said. “I think students can realize—no matter where they’re from—that this city has a lot to offer, and this is a great way for them to actively participate in that.”

Each year’s party takes five to six months to plan and organize. Because the winners of the “Best of” categories are the highlight of the event and they aren’t announced until September, the planning gets complicated.

“We have a framework or formula for the type of party we’re going to plan, and we try to work with that in the months leading up to the issue,” said Kohler. “We get all the details lined up before we release the “Best of” issue in September, but from the time the issue is released until the event, things can get pretty crazy.”

Despite the challenges in organizing this annual celebration, everyone’s hard work seems to pay off. “The most rewarding part of all of it is the comments we hear from guests who attended—they always talk about what a great time they had, and that’s all we’re aiming for in the end,” Kohler said. “This event really appeals to people from all walks of life, which I love to see.”

From St. Louisians in their 60s and 70s to Wash. U.’s 20-somethings, this year’s “Beast of St. Louis” post-Hallow’s Eve blowout is sure to have something for everyone.

VIP tickets cost $75 and include access to a private, catered VIP room and open bar. To purchase VIP and general admission tickets, visit: https://riverfronttimes.vvmsecure.com.

According to many students, Washington University has a very distinct fraternity culture—in that it doesn’t really have a “fraternity culture” at all. But that hasn’t kept hundreds of Wash. U. students from signing up on Facebook to purchase jerseys featuring the word “Fratty.”

The purple and yellow reversible jerseys, made by the student business Off the Row, were intended to be a playful statement about Wash. U.’s distinct lack of a “fratty” culture. Junior and co-owner of Off the Row Michael Fink claimed that though the five co-owners of the business did not have an original message behind creating the jersey, “a lot of students can appreciate owning a ‘fratty’ jersey at Wash. U. [because it’s] a school that everyone can agree does not fit the typical definition of ‘fratty.’”

On its website, Off the Row describes itself as “the only all-in-one screen printing, monograms, and Greek goods store in Missouri.” The majority of its business is usually through special orders placed by student groups and Greek organizations on campus.

“We normally do not make apparel directly for sales to students,” Fink said, “But we agreed that if we had enough confidence in an idea, then we would go through with making them.”

The “Fratty.” jerseys were just such an idea. Marketing the jerseys via Facebook proved to be a profitable decision for the execs of Off the Row. “One of the things we discussed when we purchased the company was ways we could better use social media sites like Facebook to better market [the company],” Fink said.

Fink and his coworkers initially expected orders from between 20-50 students, which would have been enough to make the idea profitable for the business. After just under two weeks of Facebook attention, however, they have garnered more than 250 orders.

For sophomore and Pi Beta Phi member Vivien Goh, the appeal of the jersey is in its humor.

“I haven’t entirely decided on ordering one yet, but I probably will,” Goh said. “One of my things is to collect all the shirts I can from college, so I thought it would be a nice comical addition that really represents college life.”

Senior Rachel Metter does not plan to purchase a jersey—but not because she didn’t like the idea. Unlike Goh, Metter is trying to weed out one Wash. U. shirt from another.

“I have more Wash. U. t-shirts than I know what to do with, and it’s kind of just another one among many that I don’t need.”

Metter did, however, understand the appeal of the jerseys: “[I think] they are meant to be funny and satirical, which I appreciate,” she said.

“Perhaps our school holds our own definition of what constitutes ‘fratty’ altogether,” Fink suggested.

Maybe for Wash. U. students, having fun with friends and relaxing on the patios of frat row is “fratty.” Or maybe turning a Greek chapter meeting into a study session for tomorrow’s Anthropology midterm is “fratty.”

“‘Fratty’ has so many different definitions, both good and bad, and people want to express themselves through their clothing choices,” Fink said. These jerseys are just that, a means of self expression—and an incredibly popular one.

Christina Kelley

Jonathan Safran Foer speaks at Graham Chapel on Sept. 30. The lecture was co-sponsored by Mortar Board Senior Honor Society, University Libraries and the Wash. U. bookstore. An accompanying raffle raised money for books for St. Louis Public Schools.

Foer was very pleased to see he had a sign language interpreter repeating his every word in sign, “not just because it’s the right thing to do,” he said, “but because there are certain things I’ve always wanted to see explained in sign language…” He then went on to comment on blow jobs, to the embarrassment of his interpreter and to howls of laughter and dismay as attendees watched the interpreter gesture according to Foer’s whimsy.

Before his speech, I had the privilege of sitting down with Foer for 15 minutes to discuss his recent book and his experiences as a writer:

Student Life: What was the most interesting or shocking part of your research for this book?

Jonathan Safran Foer: I think the most shocking thing for me was realizing that all of the harmful effects are actually known. It’s not really right to say that they’re accidental; they’re really built into the business model. With this kind of farming, people in the industry know it’s the worst thing they can do for the environment; they know that the animal cruelty is not because of sadistic workers or malfunctioning machines, it’s because of human choices. And it’s really pervasive in America. I was under the impression, before I began my research, that there were actually lots of different kinds of farming, but that’s not the case. This is it. Even the human health risks are just the way it is. They know that 8% of chickens will have salmonella. So what do you call that? It starts to look like evil, rather than just a mistake.

SL: What was it like writing non-fiction for the first time, after building such a career for yourself in fiction writing?

JSF: I didn’t like it. I love when I’m writing fiction and don’t really know what I’m writing about and have to stumble forward. There are accidents in fiction. Here I was always constrained by the world and by facts. Also by having a story that I was trying to tell. My novels don’t really have subjects, which is what I love about them.

SL: Ultimately do you think it’s realistic to think people will be vegetarians for moral reasons?

JSF: Well first of all, they don’t have to be vegetarians; they really just have to eat less meat. Unfortunately it’s often cast that you’re either a vegetarian or you don’t do anything, but in fact, there’s a huge gray area. It’s almost like asking do you think people will be environmentalists; they don’t have to be environmentalists, they just have to make different choices. But do I think there are collective morals that will move people? Yes, I do. Cage-free eggs is the fastest growing sector of the food industry. They don’t taste any better and aren’t any better for your health—people do it for moral reasons. Not just in Berkeley or New York, but across the whole country. So yes, I do think people will change.

SL: It seems difficult to fall into that middle ground, though. I feel it would take a lot of work to find out where your food comes from. It seems really hard to make that conscious decision on a daily basis…

JSF: I definitely agree—I think it is difficult. But apparently a lot of people don’t. There are also other options: instead of eating meat for lunch and dinner, you could limit it to just dinner. That’s another kind of middle ground, which I think is actually pretty powerful. People may dismiss that and think you’re just a hypocrite for doing that, which, I guess yeah—but it’s better to be a hypocrite half the time than all the time. I think that’s the direction things are moving in. There’s a greater consciousness, which really makes a big difference. It’s kind of like smoking—people still smoke, but they smoke a lot less. And there’s a taboo attached to that now. I think that’s the direction things are moving in, but I could be wrong.

SL: Since you said you didn’t enjoy working on this book as much, do you expect to produce any more non-fiction?

JSF: Maybe one day, but not anytime soon. The thing about this topic—it’s not that I care about it more than I care about other topics, but there’s a strange silence surrounding it that I found very appealing as a writer. There’s this thing that’s in front of us every day and it’s so important, and yet we haven’t found a good way to talk about it. So that’s what attracted me. And I can’t think of any other topics that are quiet like this. Maybe I’ll think of one somewhere down the line, or maybe one will come up over time. But for now, I think I’ll return to fiction.

SL: What was it like being named one of America’s top 20 fiction writers under 40 by the New Yorker?

JSF: I don’t know—it’s better than not being on the list, for sure. I remember they did the same list 10 years ago, and I remember when it came out. I thought it was amazing. I thought it would be so cool to be on that list, so yes, it’s an honor. The New Yorker has taste. It’s their taste, it’s not objective; there are a lot of great writers who weren’t on that list. And even some writers who are on it who I don’t really like all that much. I feel very honored, but I don’t feel that it means anything in any sort of objective sense. The wonderful thing about literature is that it’s subjective; what works for one person don’t work for somebody else, and so the danger of lists is making the suggestion that there are things we should all agree on or that there is a cannon that should be recognized, or just that it’s objective. And it’s not. If somebody hates something I write, I don’t try to argue with them—there’s really no argument to be had. The New Yorker has an amazing history of publishing fiction and I’m glad that I have their stamp of approval, but it’s only one stamp of approval.

SL: What about the criticism you’ve received? Your work can be rather polarizing—how do you respond to negative reviews?

JSF: I guess I don’t. I don’t read much criticism—positive or negative. There’s an old saying: if I could choose between a punch and a kiss, I’d choose a kiss, but if I had to choose between a punch and nothing, I’d choose a punch. Getting slammed is not the worst thing in the world—getting ignored is the worst thing in the world. When somebody really tears into me, there’s a part of me that feels some kind of satisfaction. It’s not what I want—I’d rather have someone like what I do. But the goal is to have a strong engagement with readers and so, inevitably, sometimes it will be negative.

SL: What is it like having brothers who are also involved in the literary world? Any sibling rivalries?

JSF: Well we really do quite different things. My older brother is an editor and my little brother is kind of a science writer. They’re both in different fields, and regardless—they’re my brothers. I want good things for them more than I want them for myself. I’ve never ever felt jealous or anything.

SL: Do the three of you ever help each other with your projects?

JSF: Yeah, all the time. I’ve read my brother’s book a hundred times and it hasn’t even come out yet.

SL: What’s harder—being a writer or being a father?

JSF: Wow. They’re hard in such different ways. Being what I think is a good writer or a good father, both of which I think I’m attempting—I’m always striving to be. I’m not the writer I want to be and I’m not the father I want to be. They’re really hard in such different ways. It’s just hard to say. But they’re both the hardest things I can imagine. I can’t think of anything more difficult.

SL: Any advice for aspiring writers? Or students in general?

JSF: Not really. When I was a student, I had Joyce Carol Oates as a teacher, and she once said that the most important writerly quality is energy. I think that was a really brilliant thing to say. You need energy on the sentence level and on the page level. But also, there are so many things in life that can sap you of your energy as a writer—like bad reviews or self-doubt or how difficult it is to face a blank page without an editor or a professor looking over your shoulder. It’s very hard to self-motivate. And I often find it hard to muster the energy. But if you can do that, I think you’re off to a good start.

Slam Nuba poet Amy Everhart won the 2009 Individual World Poetry Slam competition, making her the best spoken word poet in the world by official standards. Everhart will be performing in Wednesday’s competition, sponsored by The Black Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.

“This is going to be a really big competition,” said Jessica Davie, a liaison from The Black Rep. “Slam Nuba is very popular and has won a lot of competitions. But [WU-Slam] is also very talented. It should be a great event, and it would be great to see Wash. U. come out on top.”

The Black Rep contacted WU-Slam in July, requesting its participation in the upcoming competition.

“When they first contacted us, we didn’t know who we’d be performing against,” said senior Gerald Jackson, WU-Slam’s vice president and one of the performers in this Wednesday’s event. “We were told in August who was coming, and we immediately got to work.”

“It’s an honor to go against one of the highest regarded spoken word groups in the country, and I think we’ve been preparing accordingly,” added senior Aaron Samuels, the group’s co-founder.

Slam poetry is often described as a mix of hip-hop and poetry, but WU-Slam’s members see it differently. Senior Naia Ferguson describes the process as page meeting the stage, emphasizing the importance of sound writing.

Ferguson tries not to perform subject matter with which she isn’t personally familiar.

“I want my poetry to be as true to myself as possible. When I really feel what I’m talking about, I think the audience has a better chance of feeling it too.”

During the group’s most recent practice, Samuels commented on his team members’ performances, critiquing everything from their facial expressions and body movements to the speed, volume and intensity of their voices.

“It’s all about the performance,” Samuels said. “The way I see it, when you get up [on stage], you have three minutes to affect people. When I perform, I have just three minutes to say something original, three minutes to change the world. You have a room full of people giving you their complete attention—it’s an amazing opportunity to say something real.”

This week’s show will likely propel WU-Slam further into the national slam poetry spotlight. Two years ago, the group began to build a name for itself through its debut performance at the College Union Poetry Slam Invitational (CUPSI), where it were the only team to walk away with three awards. The group has been steadily gaining fame and popularity ever since.

WU-Slam has also won several of Wash. U.’s Excellence in Leadership awards and earned awards for the best piece of the competition and the best overall performance team at this year’s CUPSI tournament in Boston; they came in fifth in the most recent competition.

“If we made a name for ourselves the first year, I think we doubled that this time around,” Samuels said.

While all of the team members expressed some anxiety about their competition on Wednesday, they have confidence in their performance abilities and believe they will be strong contenders.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be asked to do this,” Jackson said. “When I joined [WU-Slam], I never thought I’d be competing against a group like this. I don’t want to say we deserve this because it’s all a blessing, but we did work for it, and it’s very exciting.”

The performance will be Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through the Edison Box Office.

$20 for general admission, $10 for students.

Juniors Becca Craig and Mike Hsu, heads of this year’s Greek Week, stressed the emphasis they are putting on unifying all of the campus’ Greek chapters.

“We want the chapters to work with each other rather than against each other,” Hsu said.

“There is definitely a huge shift in the dynamics this year,” Hsu claimed. “I can’t even describe how much of a 180 we’ve taken from last year.”

According to the two students, a negative image of Greek life has developed on campus. “I think [the Greek community] can be seen as a destructive force, and because of that, Greeks aren’t proud to be Greek,” Craig said. “It’s hard to get people to understand us and not stereotype. This is exactly what we’re trying to address.”

Greek leaders are looking outward to improve their image, rather than focusing on reforms within individual chapters. Craig believes that if Greek members open up more events to the greater community, it will help improve others’ perceptions of Greek life.

Greek leaders also hope to minimize competition between chapters, as all of the chapters’ creeds are fundamentally the same, according to Craig. The Greek Week leaders pointed out that every fraternity and sorority values the same characteristics: intellectual curiosity, loyalty, service and respect.

“It’s easy for people to lose sight of [our similar values], especially during recruitment. But that’s why we’re really emphasizing Greek Week programs—to reignite that flame in the community,” she said.

“The frustration we feel as a Greek community is that we can do a hundred good things, but when one bad thing happens, it spreads faster than the good,” Craig said.

“You can’t let one bad incident tarnish your view of the system, Hsu added.”

“I think Wash. U. students can relate to our dilemma,” Craig said. “It’s similar to what’s going on in U. City. There are a few people who make a lot of noise in the off campus apartments, but the whole Wash. U. student body gets blamed.”

Craig and Hsu, however, have had very positive experiences as members of the Greek community.

“When you pledge a fraternity or sorority, you pledge to them and they pledge to you. It’s a bond that’s not quite like any other organization. The benefit is more what you can feel, not what you can express,” Craig said.

Lucy Morlan, Coordinator of Chapter Development for the Greek Life Office, believes that one of the biggest challenges Greek leaders will face this year will be maintaining the momentum that Greek Week has started.

“It’s easy to talk,” Morlan said. “It’s easy to start the semester with lofty goals and lots of motivation, but then people’s lives kick in and you forget the goals you started off with.”

Morlan hopes that Greek leaders will continue to promote action in the greater Wash. U. community even beyond Greek Week.

One of the Greek Week events that represented the newfound emphasis on cross-chapter unity was the Greek Olympics, which occurred on Sunday September 5th. Morlan explained that this year, the teams will be bigger to avoid pitting sororities against each other. In the past, teams consisted of two fraternities and one sorority, which caused tension between sorority chapters. This year’s Greek Olympics featured a tug-of-war, a volleyball tournament, a basketball tournament and an ultimate Frisbee game.

“It was amazing to see members of six different Greek organizations playing on the same Frisbee team.” Morlan said, “This year’s Olympics are all about building relationships and promoting teamwork within and between the chapters.”

Other Greek Week events, which run from Sept. 5 through Sept. 16, include a lecture by Dr. Corey Ciocchetti about the effects of stress on students, volunteering at the campus kitchen, Rock the Row, a town hall discussion on Greek values, and a fundraising competition.

“I think this year’s Greek Week really shows Wash. U. what Greek life is all about,” Craig said.

“I think the Greek leaders have definitely set great goals for themselves, and they’re off to a great start,” Morlan said. “These attitudes just need to be more natural so that they become something Greek members live by everyday. […] When you pledge a fraternity or sorority, you agree to be a particular kind of student—you stand for something. The Greek community needs to hold each other accountable. It might get uncomfortable at times, but that’s what needs to happen.”

Matthew Bishop
Philanthrocapitalism
Thursday, September 16 at 6p.m. May Auditorium (Simon Hall)
Bishop is the Business Editor and New York Bureau Chief of The Economist magazine. He will address the rising trend of “mega giving” among the world’s largest businesses and wealthiest billionaires.

Kevin Washburn
Improving Criminal Justice for American Indians
Thursday, September 23 at 12p.m. Anheuser-Busch Hall, trial courtroom #309
Washburn is the dean of the New Mexico School of Law and is on the General Counsel of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Among his many groundbreaking accomplishments, while visiting at Harvard University Law School, Washburn taught the first class on gaming law in the school’s history.

Jonathan Safran Foer
Reading and Commentary
Thursday, September 30 at 7p.m. Steinberg Auditorium (Steinberg Hall)
Mentored by Joyce Carole Oates while studying at Princeton, Foer turned his senior thesis into his first critically acclaimed novel, “Everything is Illuminated.”

Nicholas Kristof
Half the Sky: From Oppression to Opportunity for Women Worldwide
Monday, October 4 at 4p.m. Graham Chapel
Kristof has won two Pulitzer Prizes for his writing on human rights violations. On his blog, Kristof wrote that during his travels he has had “unpleasant experiences with malaria, war, an Indonesian mob carrying heads on pikes, and an African airplane crash.”

Cynthia Enlow
Spencer T. Olin Fellows Lecture
Friday, October 8 at 4p.m. Steinberg Auditorium (Steinberg Hall)
Enlow was awarded the Susan Strange Award by the International Studies Association in 2007. Her lecture will focus on the effects of globalization on women.

Adam Ross
Reading and Commentary
Tuesday, October 19 at 7p.m. Women’s Building Formal Lounge
A graduate of Wash. U.’s MFA creative writing program, Ross’s first novel, Mr. Peanut, was #1 on the Huffington Post’s “Best summer reading” list.

Colette Avital
Sponsored by the Students for a Peaceful Palestinian and Israeli Future
Friday, October 22 at 11a.m. Location TBA
Avital was the deputy speaker for the Knesset as well as the former Israeli ambassador. Avital’s specialties include international ethics, foreign relations, women’s issues and immigration.

Mott Greene
Alfred Wegener and The Origins of Modern Earth Science in the Theory of Continental Drift
Wednesday, November 3 at 4 p.m. Location TBA
Science historian Mott Greene’s accolades include a MacArthur Prize Fellowship and the 1996 Carnegie Foundation Professor of the Year. Greene will speak about the work of earth scientist Alfred Wegener.

Marianne Hirsch
Holocaust Memorial Lecture
Monday, November 8 at 4p.m. Graham Chapel
A professor of English and Comparative Literature and Co-Director of the Institute of Research on Women and Gender at Columbia University, Hirsch’s studies cover an integration of feminist studies, memory, literary theory and the Holocaust.

Jonathan Zimmerman
Beyond Bedrooms and Borders: What a Historian of American Sex Education Learned by Looking Overseas
Thursday, November 11 at 5p.m. Women’s Building Formal Lounge
As debates over what should be taught with regard to religion, sex and evolution continually pervade our society, Zimmerman, a distinguished professor at NYU, argues that all sides of these cultural issues should be covered in the classroom.

Mia Farrow
Elliott Stein Lecture in Ethics
Wednesday, November 17 at 12p.m. Graham Chapel
Often known for her Golden Globe award-winning acting and past relationships with Frank Sinatra and Woody Allen, Farrow has also done major humanitarian work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Van Jones
Beyond Green Jobs: The Next American Economy
Tuesday, November 30 at 12p.m. Graham Chapel
Activist Van Jones has been highly influential in various causes, from human and civil rights to environmentalism. His resume includes co-founding three non-profit organizations and serving as Special Advisor for Green Jobs for President Obama.