The completion of Eliot B, the parent building of the current Thomas Eliot House, will provide an opportunity for freshmen living in Eliot House to continue to live in modern housing in their residential college. Currently, freshmen in Eliot House are given preference in the traditional residence halls of the HIGE Residential College—Hitzeman, Hurd and Myers halls—and Shepley House, a modern dorm.

Rori Fiebert is a sophomore who lived in Eliot House last year and currently lives in Hurd Hall. She said that while she doesn’t dislike the traditional housing, she definitely would have preferred modern housing.

“I would definitely have considered Eliot B,” she said. “Personally, I would have wanted to live there, but our suite ended up having six people, so we ended up in Hurd.”

With the completion of Eliot B and the rest of the South 40 House, the new housing will add 146 and 94 beds, respectively, for a total of 240 beds. To compensate for this increase in beds, there are currently no plans to house students in Rutledge or Myers residence halls next year, which combine for a total of 180 beds, according Justin Carroll, assistant vice chancellor for students and dean of students. Should Myers and Rutledge halls be kept open next year, the University would be in violation of the cap on the number of beds allowed on the South 40. The cap was established by the city of Clayton.

Additionally, Clayton requires one parking space for every three beds on the South 40. With the addition of 60 beds, the South 40 will house a little fewer than 3,000 beds total. Currently, Lien Garage contains 326 parking spots, while Wohl Garage contains 429 parking spots for a total of 755 parking spots. In addition, the Alumni House parking lot and the church parking lot on Wydown bring the total number of parking spots to 925, so the University will surpass the minimum parking requirement set out by the city.

The biggest changes next year on the South 40 will be the completion of the new dining area and the opening of a gathering place that will be called College Hall.

“Students have been very patient this year with our temporary serving area, and I think they are really going to appreciate the completion of this important project,” Carroll said.

The completed dining area will feature expanded service, a new market and increased dining areas.

Fiebert is one of many who had complaints about the dining service this year.

“It was terrible,” Fiebert said. “We couldn’t get specifically what we wanted, and the lines were ridiculous.”

Fiebert said that she wasn’t planning on living on the South 40 next year, instead opting to go to the Village.

“I’m probably going to have to walk back to the South 40 to check [the new dining facilities] out,” Fiebert said.

Due to lack of communication regarding the construction on the 40, there were (and currently are) only two plausible ways of walking to campus. One route is between JKL and Lee, and the other route is all the way around the Wohl parking garage. The first method is very dangerous, filled with puddles and freshmen, while the second route makes me understand how it felt to get from New York to California by ship before the Panama Canal was built. As the first few days of classes were not conducive to trekking, the sweltering heat at 10 in the morning made my journey feel more grueling than Frodo’s. Clayco’s answer to this problem was to build a series of temporary stairs like mazes between construction zones, which of course can lead you nowhere.

My experiences with bicycles this semester have not been good. I first tried borrowing one from a friend, and it ended up being similar to a deathtrap. Due to a lack of maintenance (and usage), the back brakes are nonfunctional, the seat is loose, the tires are flat and the front wheel is pulling to the right. I nearly died the first time I rode it. I was wise enough to grit my teeth and buy my own.

The final method I chose to use was the campus circulator. My experiences with it have been nothing short of terrifying, hilarious and maddening. On some occasions, the driver tries to eliminate the waiting time per stop delay, and you better get out of the way in those moments. It does not matter what race, gender or disabilities you have, pray you can jump out of its path. Last year, as my friend and I were riding the bus, the driver rocketed around the turn from Wallace Drive into Mallinckrodt, and two poor students had the misfortune of not walking on the sidewalk. The driver came up from behind and honked his horn menacingly. One of the kids probably had to change his pants, and the other exhibited “deer in the headlights” characteristics. On another occasion, it was a bitter winter morning and there was a long line at the Clocktower. Students were frozen, praying for the campus circulator. He came a little early, but kids gratefully clambered aboard. All the kids had boarded, and we noticed a kid on crutches limping toward the bus. The bus driver proceeded to invoke the Pirates’ Code: Those who fall behind get left behind. The kid started to move faster but was left in the snow. I can’t help laughing as I write this, but it sure would have sucked to be that kid.

A note to the freshmen: Wash. U. is not a large campus, but when it is snowing and 2 degrees below zero, your dorm seems like miles away. In general, I suggest bikes as the best method of transportation. Walking isn’t bad if you aren’t in a rush, but if you are really late or if it is raining, take a deep breath, and pray the campus circulator stops for you.

Construction on the South 40 moves into Phase II, which includes College Hall and Eliot B. On Monday, ResLife and Dining Services representatives presented their vision for the South 40 to students. (Matt Lanter | Student Life)

“I understand that [the hole] is going to be a restaurant—dining area of some sort,” freshman Cameron Moubray said.

Some students, on the other hand, feel less clued in.

“I don’t know. I really don’t know,” freshman Annabella Chang said. “What is it going to be?”

In an effort to enlighten students about the future of the South 40, Student Union’s Campus Services Committee sponsored a “Dining and Construction Forum” on Monday night as part of Senate Outreach week.

Representatives from Dining Services and Residential Life at the forum discussed the second phase of the construction and beyond.

Following the completion of Umrath Hall and partial completion of the South 40 House in late August, the construction moves into Phase II, which is expected to bring radical changes to residential areas by fall 2010.

For one, the lower level of the South 40 House will be expanded into a permanent dining area five times the size of the current one.

The new dining area will also feature additional food options. A taquería and salad bar will be joining the currently available bakery, sandwich station and grill in the new dining area. In the meantime, the two stations reside in the temporary dining area on the upper level.

The new dining space will offer global cuisines such as Mongolian and Indian. The upper level will contain a kosher kitchen and office spaces.

A special chef’s kitchen will be added to the permanent dining facility. Students can reserve this space to host events like birthday parties and private dinners during which the chef will cook directly in front of students.

Chefs also plan to use this space to provide healthy cooking lessons for students that may be broadcasted through WUTube for any other interested students.

“[Students] come [to Washington University] for classes very far away from cooking, but there is a great amount of interest in healthy cooking,” Bon Appétit Executive Chef Gary Suarez said. “This is an opportunity to get together, teach a little and educate students on what we do here on campus.”

Bear Mart, currently located in the upper level of the South 40 House, will move downstairs. As part of the campaign for healthier eating and living, the new market will be similar to Whole Foods—selling more vegetables, fruits and homemade food and cutting down on processed food.

Connected to the South 40 House will be a new multipurpose area for student gatherings called College Hall. During regular hours, College Hall will serve as a seating area with flags for different residential colleges hanging from the ceiling. For special occasions, the space can accommodate events such as housing meetings and student group performances.

Outside the South 40 House, the asphalt driveway that currently divides the Swamp will be removed, and the Swamp will return to its original size.

Another addition to the South 40 will be a dorm near Eliot House, which the architects and administrators currently refer to as “Eliot B.” This new dorm, which will be named after a donor, will form a residential college with Eliot House.
The innovations for Phase II detailed above are not all that are in store for the South 40. Although plans to renovate Rubelmann Hall have been delayed due to the shortage of funding, the Office of Residential Life still intends to renovate the dorm in the near future, said Justin Carroll, associate vice chancellor and dean of students.

Connected to Umrath, the new Rubelmann will have storefronts for student activities on the lower floor and residential areas on the upper floors. If the financial situation allows, ResLife plans to renovate Beaumont and Lee halls as well.
Dick Kirschner of Mackey Mitchell Architects, the firm in charge of the South 40’s renovations, said he is excited for the construction’s end product.

“The whole idea is to create an urban space—an exciting neighborhood space,” Kirschner said.

Despite the completion of Umrath House and the first phase of South Forty House, construction continues on the South 40. Some students expressed surprise at how much the South 40 has changed. (Paul Goedeke | Student Life)

South 40 residents moved back to campus this August to find the first phase of construction in the area finished and the second part already underway.

The first phase consisted of the construction of two new dorms—the South 40 House and Umrath House, as well as the construction of two new dining facilities housed in the South 40 House.

“My first reaction was, ‘Wow, that’s definitely different than when I left,’” sophomore Eric Salzberg said. “I am not that wild about the new facades. They just look kind of fake, and not college dorm-y to me.”

The former Wohl Center, which previously housed two dining facilities, the fitness center, mail room and convenience stores, was demolished over the summer to make way for the current phase of construction.

“I think the eateries are the biggest difference, especially Bear’s Den,” sophomore Brian Kline said. “It used to be really open and central, like a hub. Now it’s like an underground tunnel.”

Other students are taking issue with the exercise facility currently available on the South 40. A temporary fitness center has been set up in Umrath House, but it lacks some of the features of the former facility.

“The fact that there are no weight machines is ridiculous,” sophomore Melissa Baker said.

The current construction has also led to limited recreational space on the South 40.

“I am not particularly fond of that road that now runs through the Swamp. I liked the open space of the Swamp,” Salzberg said. “The amount of open area has since been diminished on the 40.”

The construction has also made it more difficult for students living in certain dorms to move around the South 40.

“It’s really inconvenient to get around, to get to campus,” said sophomore Monatrice Lam, who has to go to main campus from Mudd House each day.

Some students, however, said they do not mind the construction.

“It hasn’t really hindered my everyday life,” Kline said.

Paul Goedeke | Student Life

Sophomore Andrew Larson echoed this sentiment.

“Its not a big inconvenience,” Larson said. “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. There will always be construction going on. We are enjoying the benefits of previous construction.”

“I’m excited to see what they build. It looks like it is going to be pretty,” freshman Becca Zod said.

The construction will be completed by the 2010-2011 school year. Additions will include an expansion of Bear’s Bakery & Grill to house a new Bear Mart, an Indian station and a Mongolian grill.

The temporary dining facility located on the first floor of South 40 House will be removed and replaced with offices and a kosher kitchen.

Another South 40 addition will be College Hall, a major assembly space on the South 40 that will also feature dining space for students.

“I am really excited about next year, because after all of the construction is over, it will be more convenient than ever to get around the 40,” Lam said.

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. (l: Matt Lanter | Student Life; r: Courtesy of WU Facilities)

With move-in day quickly approaching, Washington University administrators say construction of the long-awaited 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 energy-efficient 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 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 building 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 res-college comes our new mascot, the Red Umbrella Whales, and a huge source of pride and energy.”

Stephen F. & Camilla T. Brauer Hall, seen here last week, is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2010. Brauer Hall will house the Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering. (Matt Mitgang | Student Life)

Stephen F. and Camilla T. Brauer Hall for the Washington University School of Engineering & Applied Science is scheduled to be officially open and ready for use in the fall of 2010, according to the administration.

Brauer Hall, located close to Whitaker Hall in the parking lot outside of Brookings Hall, is part of the University’s effort to improve research and learning facilities for students and faculty.

Construction began in October 2008 and will be completed in the spring of 2010 in preparation for the following fall semester’s academic use, according to Michael Altepeter, assistant dean of facilities planning and management.

Altepeter wrote in an e-mail to Student Life that Brauer Hall will feature the same architectural style as most of the buildings on the Danforth Campus.

“The architecture will be the collegiate gothic style used by Cope & Stewardson for the original buildings. The building is but one component of a master plan developed for this section of the University campus,” Altepeter wrote. “Brauer Hall is designed with an arcade inspired by the one at Ridgely Hall.”

Among the facilities in the building’s 150,000 square feet of space, there will be two teaching labs, one each for the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) and the Department for Energy, Environmental and Chemical engineering (EECE).

Altepeter notes that the building will be immensely useful to the development of the University’s already strong BME and EECE programs.

“The new building will offer the EECE Department state-of-the-art laboratories. The new building also gives BME, presently ranked 10th in the nation, the room it needs to expand,” he wrote.

A highlight of Brauer Hall will be its extensive research facilities for the two departments.

“The research laboratories will be state-of-the-art, modular facilities which will allow us to do research in Energy and Environment,” Pratim Biswas, chair of the EECE Department, wrote in an e-mail to Student Life. “They will be modern and faculty doing similar research will be grouped together. For example, research in aerosol science and technology, air quality and nanoparticle technology will be done on the third floor.”

Seven wet labs and a number of computational labs in Brauer Hall will provide students and faculty with additional facilities for research.

Another innovation in the new building will be a distance learning classroom, which will facilitate interactions between the University and other colleges in the McDonnell Academy Global Energy and Environmental Partnership. These include Fudan University in China, the University of Tokyo, the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay and nearly two dozen others.

“[The distance learning classroom] will have the provision to connect to the world,” Biswas wrote.

In his speech at Brauer Hall’s groundbreaking ceremony in October, Biswas said he anticipated the building will be the site of research that will affect the planet.

“While a momentous event for our University, this building will impact the world,” he said during the speech. “We will train graduate and undergraduate students in energy, environmental and chemical engineering, and prepare the leaders of tomorrow to tackle the important issues we will face.”

In keeping with the University’s environmental and sustainability initiatives, Brauer Hall is designed to receive Leadership in Energy and Environment Design’s  Gold certification, according to Biswas. The building will implement many of the latest technologies to be as sustainable as possible, including a mechanism to capture and reuse storm water and a system of cooperating with local utility providers to reduce energy consumption.

To keep the University community up to date on the construction of Brauer Hall, the department has established a Web site with details on the project: http://eec.wustl.edu/about/newbuilding.asp.

Chancellor Mark Wrighton speaks on the issues and challenges currently facing Washington University and those the school will face in the short-term future. The University’s endowment is estimated to have fallen 25 percent since the end of fiscal 2008 and is expected to continue declining. (Matt Mitgang | Student Life)

More than 100 Washington University students, faculty and staff gathered in Edison Theatre yesterday morning to hear Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton’s “State of the University Address” on the fiscal circumstance of the University.

Wrighton covered topics such as construction and budget breakdowns and offered cost-saving initiatives that will be implemented to help cushion the University from the economic crisis.

Wrighton announced the place and time of the address at the end of his e-mail to the University community two weeks ago acknowledging the University’s ongoing difficulties in the midst of the national economic crisis.

In addition, he outlined the financial challenges that the University now faces, including the decline in the endowment value, a lower increase in tuition this year, greater student financial aid needs, a poor fundraising environment, risky clinical revenue and the brevity of the stimulus package.

Wrighton chose to focus mainly on the loss of endowment revenue, which has been a highly debated topic in current weeks. At present, the University’s endowment has declined by more than 25 percent, producing a fiscal situation that the Chancellor acknowledged is “very fragile.” The total endowment loss by the 2010 fiscal year will be approximately $20 million.

Wrighton remarked that the University’s current financial state is also unprecedented.

“When I think back to my entire academic career, which began in 1972, this is the first time that there has been such a decline,” he said.

The administration, however, has plans to implement cost-reducing initiatives to alleviate the institution’s financial pressures. These measures will include energy conservation, improvements in efficiency level and a reduction in printed materials and labeling.

Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration Henry Webber will head a new organization called the “Tiger Team,” which will assist with improving the University’s efficiency and reducing its operating expenses.

The administration also proposed the expansion of summer school programs to help bring in greater revenue and the expansion of the University’s fundraising staff.

Master’s programs also will be reevaluated and expanded. The Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts will soon be introducing a new master’s degree in landscape architecture, which will be the first of its kind in the region.

After his address, Wrighton responded to questions from the audience and those submitted online.

One major concern put forward by the audience was the possibility of buying out employees close to retirement. Vice Chancellor for Finance Barbara Feiner explained that compensation benefits comprise 62 percent of total operating expenses throughout the University.

Although Feiner acknowledged that the idea would be up for consideration, she said, “Many of the decisions we’re making now are directed at reducing the risk of loss of employment.”

Wrighton stressed that the administration is open to suggestions from the community, which can be submitted at the Web site http://suggestion.wustl.edu.

“We pledge to consider every suggestion seriously and try to take advantage of the creativity and dedication of those in our community,” he said.

Of the 100 or so present at the address, the majority were faculty members. Only a few were students.

“What I don’t really understand is the timing [of the address] at 8:30 a.m. in the morning,” said junior Lauren Weiss, who attended the address. “I thought it was a little bit disingenuous on his part. It’s silly to say that you value your students’ input when you put it at a time when you know most students would not come.”

Although Weiss believes that Wrighton gave the audience a good sense of the University’s financial state, she thinks he deflected some questions posed by the audience in his responses.

Weiss asked a specific question about the chancellor’s goal to enhance diversity on campus in the economic downturn—a point discussed in his e-mail earlier this month.

“I asked him, ‘What do you mean by diversity? How exactly do you plan to implement the policies on campus?’ He answered the first part well, but he just didn’t really answer the second part,” Weiss said. “I am thrilled that the chancellor thinks diversity is important. I just think there should be a greater focus on honesty.”

This story has been updated to reflect the following correction:
An earlier version of this story misquoted junior Lauren Weiss as stating that the Chancellor’s decision to schedule the forum early in the morning was an intentional choice to exclude students. In fact, Weiss stated that the choice was unintentional; the rest of the quote was accurate.

Nadeem Siddiqui, resident district manager for Bon Appétit, said that there will be a temporary first-floor dining area during South 40 dining’s transition period next academic school year while the second half of the new Wohl Center is built. (Evan Wiskup)

Over the past months, rumors have circulated on the Washington University campus about the dining options available to students residing on the South 40 next year.

The current Wohl Center is scheduled to be demolished this summer. Of the current dining facilities on the South 40, the only that will remain open next year is Ursa’s Café.

Despite the scheduled destruction of the South 40’s major dining area in Wohl, replacements for Bear’s Den and Bear Mart will be located in the new Wohl Center.

Those in charge of planning said students’ ideas have been taken into consideration in the process.

“The interesting part for me is that I think we know from you what you think,” said Nadeem Siddiqui, resident district manager for Bon Appétit. “We are still flexible in making some changes and adjustments to take care of the students for next year.”

The construction of the new dining facilities will occur in two phases. The first phase includes the construction of permanent and temporary dining facilities in the section of the new Wohl Center that is currently being built.

The second phase of construction involves the placement of a new wing for the dormitory where the current Wohl is located.

Next year will be one of transition for Dining Services. The basement floor of the new Wohl Center will hold the first elements of the permanent dining facility, including stations for the bakery, grill and sandwiches. There will be seating for 40 in this permanent facility.

There will be a temporary dining facility on the first floor of the new Wohl, which will house several more stations for a tacqueria, a salad bar and a hot kosher station. A temporary Bear Mart and seating for 300 will also be located in this part of the facility.

The temporary dining facility will be eliminated for the 2010-2011 school year. A kosher kitchen and various offices are expected to fill its space. An extension of the permanent facility will be built in the new wing of the Wohl Center.

“It is going to be one of the top food programs and living and learning concepts in the nation,” Siddiqui declared.

Food options will be broadened after adding the extension. These new options will include an Indian station and a Mongolian grill.

There will be no replacement for Center Court in the new facilities. Meals will be served a la carte only. A brunch buffet will be available on Saturday and Sunday, however. The dinner buffet option will be eliminated due to decreasing sales observed at Center Court.

Varied options for vegetarians will be available in upcoming years. Currently at Bear’s Den, vegetarian meals are prepared on the same grills as their non-vegetarian counterparts. The new dining facilities will feature a separate fryer and grill for vegetarian options. Plans are also underway to have at least one vegetarian option at each of the stations in the future.

Sophomore Meghna Srinath, a vegetarian, said she has seen her vegetarian food touch meat at Bear’s Den.

“I think that having the separate fryer is a good option, “ Srinath said. “Seeing my food touch meat is a personal turn-off to me. That’s really good that they are trying to be more sensitive.”

Kosher meal options are also being expanded. The kosher meal plan is being eliminated in an effort to make kosher food more accessible to students not on the plan. Hot kosher options will be provided daily instead of the prepackaged meals now offered. The kosher food provided on campus now is prepared at the St. Louis Hillel.

Starting in 2010, the permanent kosher kitchen in the new Wohl will allow for greater variety and freshness in the kosher options.

The University also hopes to continue its green streak with the new Wohl Center. The building is expected to be certified as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver.

Measures taken to make the dining facilities more environmentally friendly include the installation of power-efficient cooking equipment. Chinaware will be available for use beginning in 2010 to decrease the use of disposable tableware.

Tori Wesevich, a prospective freshman, said she does not mind that the dining situation will not be ready in its permanent condition when she starts at the University in the fall.

“I think that what will be there in 2010 makes the transition worth it,” Wesevich said.

Not everyone, however, is as enthusiastic.

“I don’t see why they have to tear this [Wohl] down,” said Brittany Esmaeli, an employee at Bear’s Den. “I haven’t heard the students complain about it.”

Regardless, the era of Bear’s Den and Center Court is in its final weeks. Construction of the building will be completed by July 15, when Bon Appétit will begin to set up the new dining hall.

“It is kind of bittersweet,” said Rick Turner, director of operations for Dining Services. “Bear’s Den has a history here with the students. It will be sad to see it go.”

Only a portion of the parking lot adjacent to Whitaker Hall will be used during the ThurtenE carnival this year due to the construction of the new engineering school building. (Evan Wiskup | Student Life)

ThurtenE Carnival, which will occur the weekend of April 18 and 19, has been moved this year to Brookings Drive, the grassy median in front of Brookings Hall. This is a break from previous years, when the carnival was held in the parking lot closest to Whitaker Hall.

The site has changed because of the reduction of parking lot space this year due to the construction of the Stephen F. and Camilla T. Brauer Hall, a new building for the Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering.

The responsibility of coordinating the carnival lies with ThurtenE Honorary, which selects its cohort every year.

The change in location has posed problems that the honorary has not previously experienced.

The setup of the façades traditionally made by Greek organizations for the carnival will constitute one challenge of the new location, according to junior Andrew Weisberg, co-chair of public relations in the Honorary.

“[The setup of façades] in itself is a challenge, because it will not be on concrete but on grass,” Weisberg said.

Dean Henry Biggs, director of the Undergraduate Research Office and faculty adviser to ThurtenE Honorary, said that this setup on the grass will be one of the carnival’s greatest obstacles this year.

“The challenge is going to be that we’re going to be on the grass this year. That involves a whole new technology called event decking,” Biggs said.

By putting down an event deck—temporary flooring that will protect the grass—fraternities and sororities will be able to display their façades on Brookings Drive.

The University will be providing funding for the event deck.

“The University has been incredibly helpful—administration, parking and transportation, WUPD,” Weisberg said.

The school has also provided construction hats and floodlights to help ensure students’ safety when building the façades.

Most of the fraternities and all of the sororities on campus will build façades, and more than 50 student groups will have booths to sell food and host fun events during the carnival.

The roller coasters and other rides traditionally set up at the carnival will be located in the reduced parking lot closest to Whitaker Hall.

Before the final decision was reached on this arrangement, students and faculty discussed the possibility of moving ThurtenE to somewhere off campus. One possibility at the time was West Campus.

“Alumni development and undergraduate admissions were very interested in ThurtenE staying on this campus and not sending off to West Campus,” Biggs said.

All proceeds from this year’s carnival, excluding the money allocated toward operating expenses, will go to the Foundation for Children with Cancer.

The charity provides financial support to families with children undergoing cancer treatment.

“When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the average cost for that family is over $623,000,” Weisberg said.

Although hospitals may negotiate with families with insurance, families still need to focus on paying other expenses and can benefit greatly from financial support, according to Weisberg.

A carnival “larger than the student body”

The carnival has brought the Washington University student body and the St. Louis community together since its inception in 1904.

Weisberg, a member of the University’s chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, believes that the carnival, “unlike an event like W.I.L.D., where it is mostly for the Wash. U. community, not only brings the community together but also brings in the St. Louis community.”

“When I grew up in St. Louis, the one thing I remember of Washington University is that ThurtenE Carnival was great. It became one of the events that is larger than the student body,” Biggs said.

Despite some students’ criticism of the honorary’s tradition in keeping the books closed, “the most important goal is to increase the interaction between the Washington University and St. Louis community and to maintain the self-funded carnival,” Weisberg said.

Rather than focusing on the amount of donations as a measure of success, Weisberg said the honorary is most invested in making sure that people enjoy the façades and that students who have worked diligently on the carnival take pleasure in the fruits of their labor.