Delmar Loop fun facts

1. President Barack Obama tried Pi Pizza when he was in St. Louis in 2008. He liked it so much he called the chef to thank him personally and then flew three of the Pi Pizza chefs out to the White House in 2009 to cook for him.

2. A plaza made up of the sidewalk ripped off of the street to make way for the Centennial Greenway surrounds the new Chuck Berry statue, which is located across the street from Blueberry Hill and was installed this summer.

3. Pollstar ranked the Pageant the fifth-best concert venue in the world in 2011 and fourth-best in 2010. The ranking is based on tickets sold. The top 10 are: 1. Terminal 5, New York City, 268,973, 2. 9:30 Club, Washington, DC, 256,881, 3. House of Blues, Boston, 245,812, 4. Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium, 241,921, 5. The Pageant, St. Louis, 181,451, 6. First Avenue, Minneapolis, 174,639, 7. Ogden Theatre, Denver, 169,258, 8. Best Buy Theater, New York City, 165,002, 9. Metropolis, Montreal, Canada, 147,092, 10. Club Nokia, Los Angeles, 144,842

4. The Moonrise Hotel has the world’s largest man-made moon on its roof. It also was the first hotel in St. Louis to install solar panels – it has 60 feet of them. The panels store enough energy to power the moon and the top floor. It was also one of the first places in St. Louis to install a charging station for electrical cars.

5. The Delmar Loop is located in an area that used to be an amusement park, the Delmar Garden Amusement Park, which opened at the end of the 19th century. The Delmar streetcar “looped” through the corner of the park, giving the area its name. People could go to theatrical and musical productions as well as enjoy fine dining. The park also had at least three roller coasters.

Wei-Yin Ko | Student Life

“The Delmar Loop is a destination in St. Louis that is unlike any other area in that our street has the most international types of cuisine than any other place in St. Louis,” Jessica Bueler, the president of the Loop Special Business District, said. “It’s really an area that is all about embracing individuality and diversity.”

The Delmar Loop was founded in 1891 and started to thrive in the 1930s. When suburban shopping malls hit the nation in the 1950s, the Loop entered a decline.

Some residents of University City, however, refused to give up. Joe Edwards, the ponytailed owner of iconic places like Blueberry Hill, the Pageant and the Moonrise, believed in the area. He built Blueberry Hill in 1972 and in 1980 started to organize the local business owners. They created a special taxing district, the profits of which would go toward rejuvenating the Loop with amenities like more lighting and large flower pots. Developers were incentivized to work on the Loop in 1984, when it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Edwards started the St. Louis Walk of Fame in 1988. Chuck Berry, the rock and roll star responsible for hits like “Johnny B. Goode” and “Roll Over Beethoven,” received the first star.

“The Walk of Fame is a nice thing for St. Louisians, especially younger children. They can aspire to be good role models,” Edwards said.

The Walk now has 127 stars, indicating famous people from St. Louis. Some stars connected to Washington University include William Danforth and Howard Nemerov.

The Walk of Fame isn’t Edwards’ sole contribution to the Loop. He also helped establish the Planet Walk, a to-scale model of the solar system. This walk accurately indicates the distance between all the planets and provides informational postings about where each of the planets would be located, along with facts like how much you would weigh on that planet and which Roman god it is named after.

Edwards’ efforts paid off, and the Delmar Loop was named one of the 10 Great Streets in America in 2007.

Edwards’ next project is to bring back a vintage trolley as an homage to the trolley that made a loop along Delmar from the 1930s through the1960s. The trolley would run from University City Hall to the History Museum in Skinker–DeBaliviere.

According to University City Manager Lehman Walker, an increase in law enforcement officials on the Loop beginning last spring has yielded positive results.

“We’ve increased police presence and surveillance in the Loop, and we were working with the Loop special business district and with Washington University to ensure that the Loop remains an active entertainment center, and we’re very happy with our success,” Walker said.

Behavioral issues on the Loop have included excessive noise, littering and other disruptive activity, leading many vendors on the Loop, as well as University City residents, to voice complaints.

A particular incident in April left one police officer injured after trying to disband a group of 50 to 100 rowdy youth.

The University City Council recently voted against Bill 9112, which proposed tighter restrictions on loitering.

The bill, which would make it illegal to “stand, loiter or walk upon any public sidewalk or street so as to obstruct or unreasonably interfere with the use thereof,” was criticized for vague wording that would make enforcement difficult and too subjective.

According to Walker, there is no revised legislation being currently pursued to address this issue.

“We decided it wasn’t necessary to proceed because we were seeing more responsible behavior,” he said.

A curfew of 9 p.m. for youth under the age of 16 is already in place.

Some students say that they have noticed the increased security measures in place on the Loop and appreciate the changes.

Peter Walker, a junior who has lived near the street both this and last year, has noticed the changes.

“I didn’t really experience any violence or gangs of roving youth, but there is definitely an increased security presence on the Loop, like cops just wandering the streets and talking to people and stuff,” he said. “They’ve definitely beefed it up a notch. I’m not sure whether or not it affects us as much, but they’re certainly doing something.”

Peter Walker says that, while he does feel safe near his residence, he feels even safer when he is directly on the Loop.

Sophomore Moira Killoran, a pole-vaulter, often has to walk alone to the Loop for practice. She said the increased security along with the University’s new blue lights has made her feel safer during her walks.

“I’ve definitely noticed that the path walking over there is a lot nicer with all the blue lights and wider sidewalks and it feels a lot more comfortable,” Killoran said.

Lehman Walker is optimistic that the positive behavioral trend in months following the incidents this spring will continue now that students have returned to school.

“We’re hoping that everyone who comes to the University City Loop continues to enjoy themselves and behave in a responsible manner,” he said.

Lane S. Goodman | Student Life

Gokul, a vegetarian and kosher Indian restaurant that opened a new location on the Loop, offers a buffet for lunch and dinner. Diners can also order á la carte in the restaurant or for take-out.

Hungry vegetable lovers will find sanctuary in Gokul’s all-you-can-eat buffet, which is available for lunch and dinner. The buffet is a rainbow of green, yellow and orange curries, with warm naan, white rice and even fire-engine-red sweet rice.

The one-room restaurant has pale yellow walls and white tablecloths that are made all the brighter by light provided by long windows.

With its welcoming aromas and relaxed feel, this restaurant would be a nice study-spot. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Jim Sandhe, who has been in the restaurant business for almost 30 years. He hopes that Washington University students will use Gokul as their hangout place, but hastened to explain that by “hang out,” he means study (like the good students we all are). In fact, Sandhe is working toward his goal by taking steap to enable students to use meal points at his restaurant.

As for the food, it’s excellent. Meat eaters may worry about a vegetarian restaurant’s ability to satiate their appetites. But Gokul pulls through in this way, partially due to a generous helping of heavy cream, which bolstered my two favorite dishes. These were the palak paneer and the vegetable korma. The rich green palak paneer, a spinach-based dish with the consistency of a creamy yogurt, reveals itself step by step. The cream is the first taste to hit the palette, followed by a leafy, earthy spinach flavor. Just as you swallow, the dish delivers a swift kick to finish, a spiciness that lingers and begs for a bite of the sweeter vegetable korma.

The korma sits in a mild coconut sauce, which contains various sweet vegetables including carrots, potatoes, green peas and lima beans. It seemed like the korma had been left to simmer awhile—all the vegetables were very soft. Though the softness was comforting, I would have liked for some of the vegetables to be crispier or firmer for a little variety.

In spite of the textural monotony, the korma pulled through in flavor. It was richer than what I am used to, and had a little kick and a slight sweetness

Those who enjoy heat will like the restaurant’s spicy dishes. The spicy chickpea dish warranted immediate tongue-basting in kheer, aka rice pudding with cardamom. Less heat-oriented myself, I was still able to enjoy a variety of dishes that were mildly spicy, though those who cannot handle any heat whatsoever may find the brunch somewhat exclusory.

Overall the dishes at Gokul’s brunch were sensitively spiced and pleasantly varied. Though I opted for the creamy ones, healthier options are present among the various lentil- and chickpea-based dishes. But who goes to an all-you-can-eat brunch to exercise self-control? I say pile on the saag paneer until you burst into a giant green puddle of cream.

Unless you’re wandering around at two in the morning, what about the Loop do you have to fear? Everyone knows that St. Louis is a dangerous city (we’re number one! …in violent crime), but it’s easy to slip into a mindset of false security. I mean, robbery or rape can’t happen to me, can it?

Not that I’ve suddenly become wary of venturing down to Delmar, but there has been a disturbing trend of increased violence close to campus. There have been incidents of robbery, assault and even rape in the neighborhoods surrounding Wash. U. On April 9, a University City police officer was attacked near the Delmar Metro stop, drawing a large crowd. Police came to stop the attacker.

I was on the Loop when the altercation was going on. Traffic was backed up, and people were lining the streets.

To be honest, I was a little nervous. People were running out into the streets and one guy even jumped against my boyfriend’s car. This was not a riot, and I didn’t feel like I was in danger. But it was still a strange sight on a street that I tend to view as safe. A few of my friends commented later that they were a little scared by the incident.

The assumption that because we go to Wash. U. we are immune to crime makes very little sense and only encourages obliviousness. It’s always important to be aware of the goings-on in the surrounding area. At the same time, however, it’s important to remember not to use incidents like this as an excuse to stay on campus.

From what I’ve seen, the police presence has stepped up on the Loop. I saw two men arrested in front of Church’s Chicken on Thursday night and an undercover cop (I assume) parked in front of a restaurant. Don’t get me wrong; I love cops. But when I see about a dozen of them hanging out at the Shell station, I have to wonder whether or not I should be worried.

Wash. U., as a university that sells itself not only based on substance but also on image, would be ill served to play up that questionable, yet impressive safety statistic. The University does a decent job of keeping everyone safe, but reports from around campus tend to be more low-key.

“So what’s your point?” you might ask. I am not advocating taking a fearful attitude toward the Loop or St. Louis in general, just a sensible one. Fear is stifling in every sense of the word. Both St. Louis and Wash. U. students would benefit from more cross-engagement. More than a few Student Life editorials have made the same point, but I think it bears repeating

While we need to be aware of potential risks, staying in “the bubble” inhibits the experiences you could be having in St. Louis, cultural and otherwise—this means stepping even beyond the Loop and going downtown for events. Take the Metro somewhere—it’s free with a U-Pass.

Related

Students mugged near Loop; friend helps them capture assailants

University City Police have arrested and charged Bryant N. Taylor for the robbery of sophomore Eric Tsai on Sunday evening.

Taylor, 20, who lives on the 7700 block of Folk Avenue, has been charged with 2nd degree robbery in connection to the mugging of Tsai and sophomore Aaron Belkin on the 500 block of Melville Avenue around 7:50 p.m. on Sunday.

The arrest was announced by a press release from the University City Police Department (UCPD) on Monday afternoon.

Belkin said that he and Tsai were assaulted by four assailants as they were walking on Melville toward the Delmar Loop. Tsai was struck in the face and dropped his wallet and cell phone, according to Belkin.

Belkin recalled an assailant instructing Tsai to run toward Washington University if he did not want be hurt further. While it was unclear at the time if the assailants possessed a weapon, UCPD has concluded that no weapons were involved in the robbery.

The charge of 2nd degree robbery is for robbery by force but with no weapons.

Two of the assailants fled the scene following the robbery while the remaining two pursued Belkin, who was running around the area looking for help.

“I started yelling, ‘Someone call the police,’ and nobody heard,” Belkin said. “I was helpless; I was trying to find someone, and they were punching my friend.”

Belkin said he saw a girl getting out of her car on Kingsbury Boulevard and told her to remain in the vehicle and call the police. The assailants then tried to flee, and Belkin pursued them.

Holt said he was driving on Melville toward Delmar Boulevard when he saw Belkin pursuing two of the assailants on foot near the Greenway dumpsters. Holt, who eventually drove on Delmar to Leland Avenue, picked up Belkin at the street corner before making a U-turn on Delmar to pursue the two suspects.

During this episode, Holt said, he dialed 911 and continued to relay the suspects’ location to the University City Police Department.

“We ran down there, and I made eye contact with one [of the suspects], and he looked at me and looked really frazzled,” Holt said. “He made wild eyes at me. He looked so angry, like he was about to hurt someone.”

The chase concluded on Delmar near the Tivoli Theatre, where police arrested the two assailants around 8:10 p.m., Holt and Belkin said. The suspects were identified because they had Tsai’s phone and wallet.

Tsai, whose face was bruised, arrived and identified the suspects by their faces. The entire ordeal ended by 8:20 p.m.

UCPD would not comment on the details of the robbery. The investigation of the robbery remains ongoing.

It is unclear whether Taylor was apprehended on Delmar near the Tivoli or if he was arrested at a later time.

The victims initially reported that the robbery occurred on the 400 Block of Melville, but the report from UCPD has listed the incident as occurring on the 500 block after interviews with the suspect and victims.

Washington University Police Chief Don Strom said that the University did not issue a crime alert to the community since the threat of another incident was neutralized by Taylor’s arrest.

Strom also advised that victims consider the pros and cons of pursuing an assailant, but he emphasized that he was not criticizing the actions of Belkin and Holt.

“It was a choice that they made,” Strom said, adding that Belkin and Holt had determined that any threat against further injury to them was worth the risk of the pursuit.

Strom did, however, offer some general guidelines for victims of a robbery or similar crime.

“We wouldn’t encourage people to chase somebody. Just notify the police as quickly as they can. If they can keep them in eyesight from a distance, [that's fine].”

Editor’s note: Last update at February 14, at 3:30 am

Two students were mugged at the corner of Waterman and Melville avenues Sunday evening but helped police arrest two of their assailants after a friend came to their aid.

Sophomore Aaron Belkin said he and classmate Eric Tsai were mugged by four assailants as they were walking toward the Delmar Loop.

Junior Chris Holt, a friend of the two students, picked up Belkin in his car after seeing him chase two of the assailants on foot. Belkin and Holt continued the chase by car, and they updated the police of the assailants’ position until the two assailants were arrested on the Loop.

The four assailants were described as black males wearing dark sweatshirts. Belkin said the four followed him and Tsai toward the Loop and physically assaulted the two around 8 p.m. Tsai surrendered his wallet and cell phone to the assailants.

At least one assailant instructed Tsai to run toward Washington University. Two of the assailants fled the scene while the remaining two pursued Belkin, who was running around the area looking for help.

“I started yelling, ‘Someone call the police,’ and nobody heard,” Belkin said. “I was helpless; I was trying to find someone, and they were punching my friend.”

Belkin said he saw a girl getting out of her car on Kingsbury Boulevard and told her to remain in the vehicle and call the police. The assailants then tried to flee, and Belkin pursued them.

Holt said he was driving on Melville toward Delmar Boulevard when he saw Belkin pursuing two of the assailants on foot near the Greenway dumpsters. Holt, who eventually drove on Delmar to Leland Avenue, picked up Belkin at the street corner before making a U-turn on Delmar to pursue the two suspects.

During this episode, Holt said, he dialed 911 and continued to relay the suspects’ location to the University City Police Department.

“We ran down there, and I made eye contact with one [of the suspects], and he looked at me and looked really frazzled,” Holt said. “He made wild eyes at me. He looked so angry, like he was about to hurt someone.”

The chase concluded on Delmar near the Tivoli Theatre, where police arrested the two assailants around 8:10 p.m., Holt and Belkin said. The suspects were identified because they had Tsai’s phone and wallet.

Tsai, whose face was bruised, arrived and identified the suspects by their faces. The entire ordeal ended by 8:20 p.m.

UCPD would not comment on or confirm the robbery.

Holt, whose actions helped catch the two suspects, said he was trying to help his friends.

“I’ve never heard they actually caught the person who did it, and I saw the two guys there and thought I’d see if I could follow these guys and just help out,” Holt said.

Belkin and Holt were not injured.

Belkin blamed poor lighting and not enough emergency blue lights for some of the events of the night.

“I couldn’t find a blue light, and I couldn’t find security patrol,” Belkin said. The lighting is bad: They came out of the shadows, and they were wearing dark clothes. We’re so close to campus it’s ridiculous.”

Despite the drab feel of this part of Delmar, I stepped inside the restaurant to a spacious world of rich colors: dark walls and mahogany tables accented with ruby reds, lush greens and brilliant golds. Relaxing Latin and African rhythms filled the room as I perused the West African and Caribbean menu, which was full of variety: stews of chicken, beef, fish and goat, as well as jerk chicken, vegetarian dishes and some more exotic items like goat head.

We began with soft plantains delicately fried to a rich brown, cut into bite-sized pieces and neatly arranged on a platter with a dab of jerk sauce. A slight tartness in the center gave way to sweetness and a rich caramelized outer layer. A dip in peppery sauce made for a pleasant sweet-savory combination.

Next came entrées: egusi stew, steamed tilapia and red beans with rice. All were generous in size and elegantly presented on large white plates.

The egusi stew consisted of a base of dried, ground shrimp and egusi seeds (something like watermelon seeds), stewed with tender chunks of dark meat chicken, spinach, onions and a medley of African spices. The flavors combined beautifully. The stew came with a warm, sticky ball of pounded yam, which—contrary to popular belief—is actually different from a sweet potato. Its earthy flavor and starchy texture made it the perfect canvas for the bold flavors of the stew.

The steamed tilapia arrived whole—head, tail and all on a mound of lightly spiced rice pilaf dotted with peas, onions, carrots and red pepper. The dish could have easily fed two. The fish had been rubbed in spices and was pleasantly moist and mild.

The red beans with rice consisted of a mound of tender red kidney beans in a light tomato-based sauce atop another colorful field of the same rice pilaf. While perhaps lacking in excitement, the dish was hearty and satisfying.

My only complaint is that a few of the menu descriptions are lacking in detail, which makes it difficult for those unfamiliar with the cuisine. The food, atmosphere and service, however, are excellent.

Go to Nubia to get your spice fix, try something new or enjoy a nice but still casual dinner with friends. If you have questions, just ask. Nubia’s British-African-American proprietor has a true passion for the food he serves and was most helpful to my party in selecting and learning about our dishes. Nubia regularly hosts comedy, karaoke and jazz events and offers catering services. Step out of the Loop and check it out!

FroYo, on the Delmar Loop, has been a Washington University staple for more than two years. However, newcomer Chill, which opened this past April southwest of campus on Wydown Boulevard, might be giving FroYo a run for its money. Both Chill and FroYo operate under the same business model—self-serve, low-fat frozen yogurt with toppings priced by the total weight of your cup. Each charges 40 cents per ounce and offers roughly the same cup sizes. (For the really hungry, FroYo does offer an additional XL cup.) Both change the flavor options weekly and offer seasonal specials like pumpkin and white chocolate.

Student Life took to the frozen-yogurt gauntlet to determine, once and for all, which yogurt parlor reigns supreme.

Locations
While FroYo is centrally located on the Loop, Chill took a bit longer to find—but after one MapQuest search and a seven-minute bike ride, I was there. It’s pretty much a straight shot down Wydown, but for the directionally challenged, this could be a problem. It’s also located a little out of the way, while the Loop is more frequented by students.

Who has the edge? FroYo.

Atmosphere
Here’s where the two restaurants are most different. FroYo’s walls are brightly colored, and the shop is filled with modern decor and white lacquered accents. The space is filled with activity, and pop music flows fairly loudly from the overhead speakers. The outdoor seating leaves something to be desired—it’s close to the street, and cleanliness seems to be a bit of an issue.

Chill, on the other hand, opts for a more subdued feel. The shop is sparsely decorated and has a modern and sterile aesthetic. Even the outdoor seating looks like it was pulled straight from an IKEA catalog. Its atmosphere is more conducive to studying or a quiet conversation, and is, if nothing else, far cleaner than FroYo.

Who has the edge? Chill.

Toppings
The choice of toppings at the two places is nearly identical. You have your standard Oreo crumbs, gummy bears, cookie dough, etc. FroYo offers more fruit toppings—with a total of eight versus Chill’s five—which change by the season. Chill, however, has homemade caramel and hot fudge syrups in their stead. As this is more a matter of personal preference, neither store comes out on top.

Who has the edge? Toss-up.

Yogurt flavors
Here’s where it gets complicated. FroYo has a greater number of flavors: 12 to Chill’s 10. Most of the offerings at FroYo are fruit based; highlights for me were tart mango, blueberry and the original tart. The yogurt base is creamier and tends to melt at a slightly faster rate.

When it comes to flavors, Chill opts for more unique, gourmet combos. From blood orange to cake batter and biscotti, simply put—it’s delicious. For those of you from Los Angeles or New York City, Chill’s flavors might remind you of the yogurty tartness of Pinkberry.

Who has the edge? Chill.

Winner: Chill

In my opinion, Chill wins by a hair. While the offerings themselves are, for the most part, comparable, the cleanliness at Chill, along with the more unique flavors, seals the deal.

On your way to the Delmar Loop, it’s easy to miss the modest sign for Booster’s Café, located perpendicular to Delmar Boulevard at 567 Melville Ave. Its unpretentious storefront leads to an equally quaint café filled with mismatched chairs and newspaper clippings on the walls. While Booster’s may not offer an expansive menu like other brunch restaurants (notably absent are waffles), what it lacks in diversity it makes up for in quality and uniqueness. Particularly notable are Booster’s handmade pumpkin pancakes, which are sweeter and more flavorful than their plain counterparts. While the breakfast sides like sausage and bacon tend to come in smaller portions, the main meals, which include breakfast sandwiches and scrambled eggs, are more than filling. The coffee is also self-serve with free refills, and it’s surprisingly not Kaldi’s (instead it’s from Northwest Coffee Roasting).  Booster’s serves breakfast all day, so it’s the perfect place to go to if you tend to wake up late.

When the typical brunch fare of scrambled eggs and waffles just isn’t cutting it, check out City Coffeehouse & Crêperie at 36 N. Brentwood Blvd. in Clayton. As the name implies, this café offers a variety of regular and dessert crêpes perfect for brunch. The Lox & Dam Crêpe, filled with smoked salmon and flavored with spinach, cream cheese and onions, is a light but satisfying dish for the morning. For those with a sweet tooth, the variety of fruit and Nutella crêpes offered at City Coffeehouse hit the spot. The café also offers delicious Belgian waffles and great chai lattes.

While it may not look like a restaurant on the outside, First Watch, located at 8001 Forsyth Blvd., is a great chain that serves brunch. First Watch is known for its Crepeggs, a mix of sweet crêpes and whipped eggs, which come with turkey and an assortment of vegetables. Along with this, First Watch has an expansive menu filled with brunch favorites like omelettes and French toast. While the food isn’t extraordinary, it comes out fast and is very filling.

Chances are that if you’ve been off campus for brunch, you’ve been to Kayak’s at 276 N. Skinker Blvd. Known for its proximity to campus, relaxed atmosphere and early opening time (6:30 a.m. every day), Kayak’s is a convenient brunch spot. Although a bit pricey, the berry waffles, which come with fresh fruit and maple syrup, are a great way to start off the day. If you need your caffeine fix but don’t like the taste of black coffee, there are many blended drinks with names like “Teddy Bear” that have enough sugar and chocolate to mask coffee’s bitterness. If you come for brunch, you can also bring your laptop and take advantage of the café’s free wireless Internet and large tables to get a start on your work.

With the case pending in court one year later, students and administrators remain mindful of security on the Loop.

The University City Police Department has not increased its presence on the Delmar Loop since King’s death.

UCPD Chief Charles Adams said the department had already increased its presence of patrol officers on the Loop before King’s death, and it maintains these heightened levels today.

To improve security further, a pilot program began last April whereby the Washington University Police Department (WUPD) coordinates with the University City and St. Louis police departments to patrol the Loop.

Based on preliminary results, the joint patrol effort seems to be improving safety on the Loop.

“Looking at a snapshot of crime statistics from that area would suggest that it’s been a very positive thing to have operating there,” WUPD Chief Don Strom said. “The feedback we get from business people in the area has been extremely positive.”

Strom said the program was not started in direct response to King’s death.

“[It was] a terrible tragedy, but I think most people felt pretty safe in the Loop at the time, and I think they feel pretty safe today,” Strom said.

The joint patrol program began in response to a larger perceived need to keep all people who visit the Loop safe.

“It was more about wanting to maintain a certain type of quality of life for users of the Loop, and we felt by joint efforts we could do that,” Strom said. A goal of the joint patrol program is to maintain a “healthy and vibrant business district” on the Loop, Strom added.

Despite the shooting of King and other crimes that have occurred, students and administrators say they generally feel safe visiting the Loop.

Sophomore Emma Liss said she is not less likely to visit the Loop after hearing about violent crimes that occur there.

“I’ve never gone by myself,” Liss said, “[but] incidents like this happen everywhere.”

Assistant to the Chancellor Rob Wild echoed Liss’ sentiment on safety in the Loop.

“One of the great things about our campus is that we are in a vibrant, urban area,” Wild said. “As is the case with anytime you’re living in an urban area, you should take precautions. Don’t walk by yourself, make sure you have a cell phone with you, things like that.”

King’s death also raised the issue of gun control, particularly in urban areas.

“Stricter gun control, unless it kept a firearm out of the hands of the particular individual who [killed] Sergeant King, I don’t know that it would have made a difference,” Strom said. “I don’t think it’s a matter of anything that specifies the Loop in particular as it relates to firearms.”

Regardless of individual sentiment toward safety on the Loop, the University City and Washington University communities commemorate King and all fallen police officers. UCPD held a memorial on Oct. 31 commemorating fallen officers of the University City police department, and the city made a monument to honor those fallen officers.

“[King] was an extremely professional and compassionate police officer,” Strom said. “We certainly grieve not only for him but for his wife and family.”

Wild echoed Strom’s statement.

“We lost one of our distinguished alums last year when this happened,” Wild said. “The biggest part of this tragedy is the loss of a career police officer and an alumnus of Washington University.”