The Occupy Wall Street movement has come to St. Louis and members of the Washington University community are getting involved. The movement originated in New York City last month as a protest of corporate greed and the nation’s current economic policies. St. Louis residents have claimed Kiener Plaza, in downtown St.

As the Republican primaries and the 2012 presidential election approach, students are beginning to choose their favorite candidates. While many Democrats on campus are committed to voting for the Democratic incumbent, President Barack Obama, both Democrats and Republicans are starting to speculate as to whom Obama will run against next fall.

Jeff Smith, former adjunct professor at Washington University and former Missouri state senator who served nearly a year in prison for obstruction of justice, is writing a book about his experiences in politics, urban education and prison.

Washington University confirmed that they have applied to host a presidential debate in 2012. The University hosted the 2008 vice-presidential debate, between then-candidates Sarah Palin and Joseph Biden. Before that, the University hosted presidential debates in 1992, 2000 and 2004.

A bipartisan trio of Missouri congressmen came to campus Thursday to outline a course for political civility based on disagreeing in a more agreeable way. U.S. Reps. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Cape Girardeau), Russ Carnahan (D-St. Louis) and William Lacy Clay (D-St.

University students and faculty are divided over the impact of CNN’s controversial decision to hire local Tea Partier, Dana Loesch, as their new correspondent. Loesch, co-founder of the St. Louis Tea Party, was hired this month to be the channel’s Tea Party expert for the 2012 election.

The Obama administration proposed a budget plan that includes cuts of about $20 million from Pell grant federal funding.

On Wednesday night, more than 60 students gathered in the DUC to hear 20-year-old Amin Abu-Hashen, a citizen of Egypt, participate in a panel about Egypt’s current political climate.

The two Washington University students spending the spring semester abroad in Egypt have safely been evacuated from the country following political unrest. Junior Parsa Bastani, who was studying in Alexandria at the School in the Middle East at Alexandria University, is now on his way back to St.Louis from Prague and is contemplating various options for finishing out the semester. Junior Allegra Skurka, studying at Cairo University, flew to Athens this week and plans to finish the semester in Jordan.

Republican challenger Ed Martin has refused to concede his loss in the 3rd Congressional District election to incumbent Democrat Russ Carnahan. The Martin campaign has pointed to a late-night influx of heavy Carnahan votes from seven city precincts as reason for investigation.