This carnival is undoubtedly one of both the nation’s oldest and the University’s most treasured traditions. It is a fun event that brings the University together with its alumni and the St. Louis community at large. It is also meant to be a philanthropic endeavor that benefits a St. Louis non-profit long after the facades disappear. In recent years, however, the charitable emphasis of ThurtenE has taken a backseat to facade building.

A Washington University-sponsored charter school in South St. Louis opened its doors over the summer to its first class of 90 fifth-graders.