Olivier Douliery | Abaca Press | MCT

An inside Acela Express car is seen Washington, D.C., July 11, 2011. Amtrak has struggled for survival nearly every year since its first trains rolled out on May 1, 1971.

The railroad, which is currently under construction, should be complete sometime in 2014, according to officials involved in the project.

Planners said the project is especially significant for Washington University students, as a large portion of them call Chicago and its surrounding areas home.

They hope the train, which should travel at a maximum of 110 miles per hour, will help promote cooperation between the two cities.

In June 2009, following President Barack Obama’s call for improved high-speed rail travel nationwide, the Federal Railroad Administration launched the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

In January of the following year, Illinois was chosen as one of the states that would benefit from the project, and was allocated $1.2 billion in federal funding to introduce high-speed rail service by 2014.

Students have been a focus of the planning process.

“Students are the one of the important markets we want to reach with this project,” said Miriam Gutierrez, section chief of Rail Program Planning at the Illinois Department of Transportation. “This generation is big on trains, and there will be Amtrak student discounts.”

Gutierrez said that the project managers are currently working out ticket prices that are reasonable but will still help pay for new features the trains will offer passengers, such as Wi-Fi access and improved food services.

“Right now we’re trying to figure out how much we can raise ticket prices so that we won’t lose ridership,” Gutierrez said. “But they won’t go up super high, just because it’s so easy to jump on a plane instead.”

Washington University students who live in the Chicago area are currently faced with the decision between a 60-minute flight and a 5 1/2 hour train ride.

Sophomore Neha Nair said the high-speed rail will make traveling between school and home easier for her.

“I would definitely use the train for busy times like Thanksgiving” Nair said. “In order to get a reasonably priced flight, you have to book it really far in advance, which can be difficult to do early in the semester.”

“If I didn’t have my car and the tickets were cheap enough, I’d definitely take the train, especially since I’d be able to avoid the airport hassle” junior Claire Chaney said.

Gutierrez added that the project managers have to take the environmental impacts of the construction into account. The Illinois Department of Transportation worked with the Federal Railroad Administration to submit an Environmental Impact Statement for the project. Public meetings will be held over the remainder of the year to review the environmental clearance document and ensure that it will be environmentally safe to build a second railroad track through the St. Louis-Chicago corridor.

I’m sure plenty of us have gotten to know the STL over the years, but I’m willing to bet that many others have spent a majority of our time on and around campus. Depending on who’s talking, St. Louis might be “the most dangerous city in America,” “kinda boring” or “a second-rate Chicago.” It’s also a place rich in cultural history—with fantastic food, great music, interesting people and exciting traditions. However, it’s the negative preconceptions that, I think, keep us from really getting out and finding what makes St. Louis so cool in the first place.

I’m trying to get out into St. Louis as much as I can until graduation. This should be something we all try to do—every student gets a FREE Metro Pass for crying out loud, so transportation can’t be an issue. Therefore, as someone fairly uninitiated in some of the finest elements of St. Louis life, I’m putting together a little list of ways I can start to get out there and really make St. Louis the home it was for four years.

1. Go to Soulard Mardi Gras
It’s ten hours to New Orleans, but it’s only ten minutes to Soulard. Apparently, this is a great opportunity to see a little bit of the 314’s crazy side.

2. Visit the Botanical Gardens
A bunch of plants and a giant glass dome—what’s not to get excited about? But seriously—it’s one of the best in the country for a reason. It’s also located in Tower Grove, which is a great neighborhood to check out.

3. Run the Go! STL Half Marathon (or the whole thing)
Nothing ties you to a city like running your butt off through 13.1 or 26.2 miles of its streets.

4. Eat barbeque at a restaurant that isn’t Pappy’s
Even if you hate St. Louis, you’ve probably had Pappy’s before. St. Louis has so many other barbeque options (so I’ve heard…) and so it’s time to get out there and trying something new.

5. Watch Chuck Berry perform at the Duck Room or the Pageant
You never can tell when the guy’s going to finally buy the farm.

There are dozens more things to do over the next few months. So let’s all make a little resolution to get out there, into the city. Not all of you reading are seniors, so you’ve got more time than I do, but that’s even better. Why spend four years in an amazing city only to get to know the tiniest part of it? If you make the effort, there’s bound to be a great payoff. And if you’re successful, you should probably end your journey by treating yourself to a delicious John Donut. It’s only the best way to know that you might really be home.

Student Life: How did you come up with the idea for uBuckle?

Louis McLaughlin: My brother Peter actually came up with the idea for uBuckle over a year ago, but at the time it was just that—a cool idea. We thought, “Why isn’t there an easier way for college students to find part-time jobs?” But it took a while for the potential of the idea to sink in. Sometime around Thanksgiving last year I brought it back up, and we just dove in headfirst.

A lot of us could use the money, but it’s the hassle of actually searching for a part-time job that keeps many students from getting one. So we feel like we’re not only helping the students who would have already searched the hard way save some time, but we’ve found a way to help those who might have otherwise not had the time to drive around town looking for “We’re Hiring” signs. And the fact that businesses search [for] students by major on uBuckle makes it more likely that a student could be contacted about a part-time job opportunity that actually has something to do with what they are studying.

SL: Could you describe the process of starting your company? How long did it take to come up with the idea?

LM: We probably spent at least four months just refining the idea and strategizing. We went through three or four versions of the business plan before anyone even got a chance to see it. We had conversations as to how the site would flow and what kind of content would be present on each page, but the first concept sketches for each page didn’t happen until months into the process. The logo was the first thing we designed, and that took almost two weeks alone.

Building a tech start-up from the ground up isn’t easy. Everything has a learning curve, from figuring out what kind of corporation you should file as to developing marketing strategies that effectively explain exactly what your product or service does. And one of the most ironic things about the start-up is that often the more original your idea is, even if it solves an obvious need, the more difficult it is to explain to people.

SL: How does your site differ from competitors like Monster.com? Why, in your opinion, is it more suitable for college students?

LM: The most obvious difference between uBuckle.com and other job sites is that uBuckle is just for current college students looking for part-time work. But instead of just creating another job board, we reversed the formula so that the businesses do the searching and they search students by major. This way, students have a good chance at being contacted for more interesting part-time jobs and jobs that would look more relevant on a résumé as they search for full-time employment after graduation.

Amazingly, uBuckle works in a way that gives more power to both the students and the businesses on the site. For students, it’s a tool that can help them get a part-time job without the hassle of the search; for businesses, it’s a chance to actively find a quality employee to fill a part-time position, instead of waiting for the right one to walk through the door.

Finally, once a student creates a profile on uBuckle, if a business contacts them, the message goes straight to the student’s .edu email, so they never have to return unless they want to update or turn off their profile.

SL: What has been your most successful advertising strategy?

LM: Facebook has actually been extremely helpful for spreading the word. We’ve used printed materials, things like bookmarks and handbills, but when you’re trying to promote a website, if your audience is already online, you’re only a click away.

Tom Lynn | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | MCT

The St. Louis Cardinals celebrate winning Game 6 of the National League Championship Series over the Milwaukee Brewers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sunday, October 16, 2011.

OVERVIEW
The Texas Rangers won the AL West division with a record of 96-66. They defeated the AL Wild Card winners, the Tampa Bay Rays, in the ALDS and defeated the AL Central division winners, the Detroit Tigers, in the ALCS to return to the World Series for the second year in a row. The Rangers lost to the San Francisco Giants in the 2010 World Series.

The St. Louis Cardinals (90-72) won the NL Wild Card by coming back from a 10.5 game deficit and overtaking the Atlanta Braves on the last day of the regular season. They beat the Philadelphia Phillies, the team with the best record in baseball, in the Division Series, and then beat the division rival Milwaukee Brewers in the Championship Series to return to the World Series. The Cardinals last reached it in 2006, when they won their 10th title by defeating the Tigers.

MANAGER
Rangers – Ron Washington
Cardinals – Tony La Russa
Washington is in his fifth season as manager of the Texas Rangers and is in his second consecutive World Series. La Russa is in his 16th season at the helm of the Cardinals, the longest tenure of any manager in the majors, and is looking to win his third World Series title. Experience puts La Russa over the top, as he has won 1,454 games as manager of the Cardinals and has only had three losing seasons.
Edge: Cardinals

CATCHER
Rangers – Mike Napoli
Cardinals – Yadier Molina
Napoli was an offensive force in the bottom half of the Rangers lineup this season, hitting 30 home runs and a career-high .320 average. Molina had a breakout season of his own at the plate, however, posting career highs in RBI (65), home runs (14) and batting average (.305). Add in Molina’s reputation as one of the best defensive catchers in the game and the scales tip in the Cardinals’ favor.
Edge: Cardinals

FIRST BASE
Rangers – Michael Young
Cardinals – Albert Pujols
Young brings the kind of versatility and pop at the plate that any manager would love to have. He can play any position in the infield and hit .338 with 106 RBI in the regular season. But there is no arguing against the greatest player of our generation. Pujols, a three-time National League MVP, may have started slow in 2011, but he surged in the second half of the season to finish among the National League leaders in home runs (third with 37), RBI (seventh with 99) and hits (ninth with 173). Nobody wants to pitch to him right now.
Edge: Cardinals

SECOND BASE
Rangers – Ian Kinsler
Cardinals – Nick Punto
Though Punto has put in some solid work since taking over for the injured Skip Schumaker, he is no match for Kinsler. Despite a down year in hitting for average (.255), Kinsler hit a career-high 32 homers and stole 30 bases. Kinsler is no slouch in the field either, as he committed only 11 errors and helped turn 103 double plays.
Edge: Rangers

SHORTSTOP
Rangers – Elvis Andrus
Cardinals – Rafael Furcal
Furcal has had some strong seasons, but 2011 was not one of them. His average slipped .69 points from .300 in 2010 to .231 this year, and although his home run total jumped after a trade-deadline deal to the Cardinals, he no doubt has had a down year. Andrus is only 22 and has a long way to go, but 2011 was a step in a positive direction. He recorded career-highs in average (.279), stolen bases (37) and hits (164) on the year.
Edge: Rangers

THIRD BASE
Rangers – Adrian Beltre
Cardinals – David Freese
Pop quiz: Who has hit the most home runs and driven in the most runs in the National League during the playoffs? Not Pujols, but hometown-boy from Wildwood, Mo. David Freese. Freese got the starting nod midway through the season, but once October came around, he caught fire. Freese has a postseason batting average of .425 and has 4 homers and 14 RBI. Although Beltre is a feared batter in his own right (he hit 32 home runs and drove in 105 runs of his own), Freese might be the hottest bat in the Cardinals’ lineup right now.
Edge: Cardinals

LEFT FIELD
Rangers – David Murphy
Cardinals – Matt Holliday
Holliday got off to a torrid pace to start the season before succumbing to injury. Recently, he has been dealing with a hand injury, but a hobbled Holliday is still a dangerous hitter. Murphy has been a serviceable left fielder, but he is no Holliday at the plate.
Edge: Cardinals

CENTER FIELD
Rangers – Josh Hamilton
Cardinals – Jon Jay
Jay has exceeded expectations since the Cardinals made him the everyday center fielder by trading Colby Rasmus. He has a lot of range in center and is quick on the basepaths, stealing 37 bases. Few outfielders in baseball history have displayed the combination of defensive range and power of Hamilton, however, the 2010 American League MVP. Despite missing weeks during the season after breaking his right arm, Hamilton managed to hit 25 home runs and 94 RBI. He is the heart of the Rangers’ batting order and a leader in the clubhouse.
Edge: Rangers

RIGHT FIELD
Rangers – Nelson Cruz
Cardinals – Lance Berkman
David Freese may have the hottest bat on the Cardinals’ but his postseason slightly fades when compared to the ALCS Nelson Cruz just had. In six games, Cruz hit six home runs and drove in 14 runs to carry the Rangers into the World Series. Mind you, Lance Berkman can play, too. After a poor 2010 season, Berkman signed a one-year contract with St. Louis in the off-season and delivered a fantastic season, hitting 31 home runs and batting .301. Cruz is too hot to handle right now, however, and gives the Rangers the edge in right field.
Edge: Rangers

STARTING PITCHERS
Rangers – C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Matt Harrison
Cardinals – Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, Edwin Jackson, Kyle Lohse
Each of these starting rotations is coming off of tough league championship series, but the Cardinals get the edge based on the matchups. The Rangers starters were roughed up just a bit more. The only Rangers’ starter to perform well was Lewis, and his postseason ERA stands at 3.86. Both sides will have to perform better in the World Series.
Edge: Cardinals

BULLPEN
Rangers – Neftali Feliz, Mike Adams, Alexi Ogando
Cardinals – Jason Motte, Fernando Salas, Octavio Dotel
Each of these units has been on fire in the playoffs. Motte and Feliz each have four saves in the postseason. Against the Tigers, the Rangers bullpen allowed just four earned runs over 27 1/3 innings, good for a 1.31 ERA. But the Cardinals bullpen was just as good, as no Cardinals starter made it past the fifth inning against the Brewers as St. Louis became the first team in MLB history to win a series with more innings pitched by its bullpen than its starters. So far, every time La Russa has gone to the ‘pen, the ‘pen has delivered.
Edge: Cardinals

DESIGNATED HITTER/BENCH
Rangers: Mitch Moreland, Yorvit Torrealba
Cardinals: Allen Craig, Ryan Theriot
Moreland and Torrealba each have come through in big spots for the Rangers in the postseason. Expect Moreland to get first crack as the DH when the series shifts to Texas. Craig was a pleasant surprise off the bench for the Cards, and he should see some at-bats against the Rangers left-handed pitchers. The edge goes to the Rangers based on Moreland and Torrealba’s regular season numbers.
Edge: Rangers

PREDICTION
Cardinals in 7
St. Louis will celebrate its 11th World Series title in 2011 after an evenly matched series. Their pitching puts the Cardinals over the top as Chris Carpenter wins Game 7 on short rest in front of a raucous crowd at Busch Stadium.

Editor’s note: Sahil is from Houston, Texas, and is, thus, an Astros fan. Because the Astros play in the same division as the Cardinals and because Houston does not like Dallas, he has no love for either team in this series.

Courtesy of Flickr

Students explore downtown as part of St. Louis by the Dozen. St. Louis by the Dozen is a new program run by the First Year Center that takes twelve person groups of freshmen off campus to explore local landmarks.

As part of the program, faculty members take groups of 12 freshmen to various attractions and public events around the city to familiarize the students with local culture and traditions.

The program is an attempt to help new students transition into college life in St. Louis and build positive student-faculty relationships early in the year, said Kirsten Smith, administrative coordinator for the First Year Center.

Multiple events have been held so far this year: Students went to Busch Stadium for a Cardinals baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds with Professor Henry Schvey, visited the Cahokia Mounds with Professor John Kelly, biked along Grant’s Trail with Professor Mitch Sommers and explored downtown St. Louis with Professor Tim Bono.

Bono noted that the activities are flexible and tailored to students’ interests.

“The events are very much student-dependent,” he said.

While the new opportunities do not allow as many students to be involved as those in the past, Smith said the 12-student limit is likely to remain. She said the center hopes the smaller student groups will allow freshmen to make closer bonds with their professors and other students in a less intimidating environment. She added that smaller groups make students more likely to attend the events after signing up.

Coordinators of the First Year Center said they based the program on other universities’ off-campus programs, such as the one at Regis University that holds similar events every month.

General faculty and student reactions to the program have been enthusiastic so far, said junior Paul Roth, community relations chair for the First Year Center Executive Board. Roth helped organize the program with Danielle Bristow, the director of First Year Programs.

Roth said the program was something he would have wanted as a freshman, as it allows new students to learn more about St. Louis through physical experience while helping them find a balance between work and fun during the transition to college.

Roth said the center hopes the number of trips will increase to compensate for the small size of the groups.

Freshman Tejas Shekhar had lunch with Professor Jay Turner in conjunction with the program.

“He told us about his work, about chemical engineering and asked us about our interests…I think it was good to get to know a professor better. I had a good experience,” Shekhar said.

Many upperclassmen wish that the First Year Center had sponsored the program when they were freshmen.

“I think it would be an interesting experience. It would have added to the college experience. Now I’m sad I was never able to experience that,” junior Megan Yu said.

Junior Rina Matsumoto says that the program would have helped her to explore St. Louis beyond the boundaries of the University.

“As freshmen, we can’t get off campus—we don’t know where to go and we don’t have transportation. If there was an opportunity like that, I would have taken advantage of it,” she said.

St. Louis by the Dozen events are open to all freshmen and are free of charge. Plans for future events include an eagle-watching trip at the Mississippi River.

According to MetroLink Director of Communications Dianne Williams, a train had to stop at the Laclede’s Landing station for a passenger to receive medical treatment, causing a backup. The MetroLink is working on getting trains back on schedule.

On the Loop:

Craft Alliance
Located next to Coldstone Creamery, the Craft Alliance has a small gallery currently showing “Contemporary Embroidery,” a show of six contemporary artists who use embroidery in unconventional ways. In a show that just closed at Craft Alliance, called “Lets Talk About Love Baby,” Wash. U. professor Jana Harper solicited artists around the country to send in a series of handmade books inspired by romance novels from the ’60s. Starting on April 29, there will be a show titled “Crafting a Future,” which is composed entirely of high school students’ work. The Craft Alliance tends to show artwork with a strong foundation in craft, with a commitment to creative and contemporary uses of craft.

St. Louis Regional Arts Commission
On the other end of the Loop, across from The Pageant, is a small gallery with big open windows called the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission. The gallery hosts a variety of contemporary work made by local artists or chosen by local curators. The type of artwork shown at the Regional Arts Commission ranges widely—one show last summer featured street artists who collaborated to cover the space in graffiti. The Regional Arts Commission is currently setting up for an opening on April 29, which will show work by four individuals who work primarily in nature photography.

Across the Park:

White Flag Projects
Located near the Central West End, this small nonprofit gallery prides itself on showing highly experimental work that is often more provocative or challenging for the viewer than would be shown at other galleries. Opening on May 7 is a group show titled “Impossible Vacation,” which calls into question the role of the curator in between the artist and viewer. White Flag Projects opens a new show every two to three months, and the work varies drastically from show to show.

Downtown on Washington:

The Contemporary Art Museum and The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts
These two museums are just around the corner from the Fox Theatre and operate on a larger scale than some of the other galleries on this list. As such, they are able to put on breathtaking productions by world-renowned contemporary artists. Currently Richard Aldridge’s experimental works on canvas are at the Contemporary Art Museum and they blur the line between painting and sculpture. The Pulitzer is currently showing “Dreamscapes,” a series of works that have to do with dreaming. Artists in the show include René Magritte, Max Ernst and Albrecht Dürer.

Bruno David Gallery
A smaller gallery across the street from the Contemporary and The Pulitzer, Bruno David showcases a variety of artists, many of whom are local. Currently on show are works by Carmon Colangelo, dean of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. The show, called “Eyedeas,” highlights a series of Colangelo’s works on paper and canvas. Bruno David is a cozier environment than the larger museums across the street, and owner Bruno David is usually around and willing to converse about the art being shown.

Cherokee Street:

Pigslop
You may have heard of Cherokee Street for its killer Mexican food or vintage stores. It also houses a unique selection of gallery spaces that break the “white box” mold. One of the spaces, called Pigslop, is actually run by two 2010 Wash. U. alumni: Zak Marmalefsky and Emmie Thelander. They recently showed a series of works by Wash. U. students in a course on the philosophy of art called Critical Frameworks. Other galleries on Cherokee include Art Dimensions and Fort Gondo, which both primarily show contemporary local work.

St. Louis has been the home city to a number of literature’s greatest talents, including Maya Angelou, Tennessee Williams and Nelly (lyricists totally count). But even with such famed writers from the area, most students don’t know about the literary scene of St. Louis.

If you are like many Washington University students, it’s likely that the last bookseller you visited was a large company like Borders or Barnes & Noble or a website like Amazon. In our Wash. U. bubble, not very many know of the delightful independent bookstores that operate throughout St. Louis.

Avid readers or students interested in exploring St. Louis should definitely visit one of the city’s independent bookstores before they finish their time here.

Luckily, now it is easier than ever to stay informed of the independent bookstore scene: On Feb. 16, 11 locally-owned independent bookstores formed the “St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance.” This coalition includes Left Bank Books in the Central West End, Subterranean Books on the Delmar Loop, Pudd’nHead Booksellers in Webster Groves and Main Street Books in St. Charles.

According to the Alliance’s website, the stores allied to foster “the literary needs of St. Louisans.” Among other aims, they hope to support the creative and literary efforts of the St. Louis community and offer books that “fill their souls.”

So what, exactly, is the difference between an independent bookstore and a commercial bookstore like Barnes & Noble? I asked Jarek Steele, co-owner of Left Bank Books and president of the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance, for his opinion.

“Everything!” was his enthusiastic response.

“For one thing, the person doing the buying has had years of experience and has a good idea of what works for the customers of his store,” Steele said. “A big-box store has to serve many different locations across the country, and its buyer has to make essentially wild guesses as to what will work for every single store. At an independent store, it’s tailored by us to our customer’s tastes and interests.”

The Washington University students who frequent St. Louis’ independent bookstores have noticed this individualized attention.

“I’ve found that [the employees] are so eager to help you,” junior Lizzy Fleagle said. “They’re passionate about literature and want you to enjoy your time there. I like that you can go into the store and mention a book you like, and then bam! Like wildfire, they’ve given you five awesome recommendations.”

The St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance also helps spread the word about each store’s unique qualities and the benefits of the local bookstore market as whole.

“The better we do as an alliance,” Steele said, “the better we do as individual stores.” This alliance will help to keep the rich literary scene of St. Louis alive, as “sales reps and authors visit a store based on the health of the city’s bookstore market.”

In addition, buying at one of the local bookstores helps the St. Louis economy.

“The money you spend in these bookstores stays in St. Louis,” Steele said. “If you buy a book from Amazon, you’re essentially putting $20 in an envelope and sending it away into the world. If you buy books here, [the money] stays here. We pay taxes locally and support other local businesses.”

Steele and the other bookstore owners are confident that this alliance will help them connect with a larger audience in St. Louis and get the word out about all that these bookstores have to offer. “It’s like I always say,” Steele said. “One independent voice may be quiet and ineffective, but if you band together and sing, your message will be heard.”

The figures indicate a total population of 319,294 people, a near 30,000 person decrease from the 2000 census and a reduction by more than half since the 1950s.

While this decline may cause some turbulence in the already struggling local economy, the demographic change is unlikely to significantly affect most Washington University graduates, most of whom seek jobs outside of the St. Louis region.

“The job market for Washington University graduates is usually national,” economics professor Steven Fazzari said. “It’s pretty unusual to find a student who actually gets a job here in St. Louis. Even if you were looking at jobs locally, the declines in the city are being somewhat offset by growth in the county.”

In fact, despite the decline in the population of St. Louis City, the total population of Missouri has risen by 7 percent from the last census, up 27 percent in places like St. Charles County. St. Louis County, which does not include St. Louis City, lost about 2 percent of its population.

Even in these instances, the growth rate has slowed from the 2000 census, which showed a state population increase of 13 percent from 1990. This trend reflects the current economic downturn, which has been felt across the nation.

According to Fazzari, the dip in population will likely have some consequences for the local economy in the longer term, which could eventually affect the University.

“There’s maybe longer term issues about quality of life,” he said. “If you have a declining core of a major metropolitan area, that might make the area less attractive over the long term, so that might make it more difficult to attract business here, and ultimately might not be such a good thing for the University.”

Overall, he said, population decline is not necessarily a negative thing for all areas, especially in younger parts of town such as the new urban lofts in the Washington Avenue area.

Jim Beirne, Director of External Relations at the Career Center, agreed that he does not consider the census statistics to be meaningfully correlated to student job placement rates in recent years.

“The statistics talk about the city of St. Louis, which is a portion of the St. Louis region, and we still see strong recruiters based in the city itself,” Beirne said. “They are still coming and recruiting, in some cases more than they ever have. What I do see is ongoing growth around the city of St. Louis. Corporations, organizations and nonprofits are trying to hire more and more of our students.”

Beirne attributes this lack of correlation, in part, to the fact that most Washington University graduates seek employment outside of the St. Louis area.

Many students do, however, choose to stay in St. Louis for summer internships.

Still, Beirne does not detect any hurdles in securing employment, especially, he said, as Washington University’s name recognition and the positive reputation of its students grow.

“More companies are saying they didn’t realize [the University] was so good, and as companies, organizations and nonprofits get to know us better, we’re seeing more opportunities developing for our students,” he said.

Although Washington University students are unlikely to feel the economic effects of population decline, the state will see political effects.

As a consequence of slow growth in Missouri, the state has lost one congressional seat, which means that the congressional districts will be redrawn before the 2012 elections.

Paris

Ozu Aqua Club: Ozu’s wildly exclusive demeanor and 20 euro cover to even greet the bouncer are certainly justified—after all, it’s located in an actual aquarium. The club itself isn’t the same aquarium that tourists and young children see by day; instead, it’s the back side of a shark tank filled with schools of fish and exotic sea plants and is lined by bottle-service tables for high payers. Although the club is small (no larger than Morgan Street Brewery’s second floor), it is packed with the best-dressed Parisians who don’t stop partying until six in the morning. Ozu typically features young, up-and-coming DJs who know how to mix the newest house music with classics like Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” (always interesting to hear overseas). The glowing and massive—probably the size of an IMAX theater screen—fish tank in the background never fails to provide an entertaining night. Ozu doesn’t even need the glitz and glamour that many other Parisian nightclubs offer and is able to stick to a simple décor. Perhaps the St. Louis Zoo should take a hint from these innovative club designers—who wouldn’t want to party with the lions?

Andy Wahloo: Though the French may be known for their escargots and croques monsieur, they’ve also triumphed in the Moroccan food sector. Located at 69 rue des Gravilliers, restaurant Le 404 has mastered Moroccan couscous and chicken tagine. Le 404 features authentic dishes and an exposed kitchen lined with hundreds of spices—plus, its décor is dead-on and lends itself to a genuine ethnic vibe.
After eating at Le 404, our friends in Paris like to have some drinks at the restaurant’s bar, Andy Wahloo, which offers the same energy and vibrant décor. Andy Wahloo is small (no larger than Mike Duffy’s Pub & Grill in Richmond Heights), but its modern Moroccan flair is so exciting that staying for hours is easy. The drinks are priced at five to 10 euro, which is a surprisingly good deal for a trendy spot in Paris. Andy Wahloo is what would happen if MoMo’s created a bar next door and hired a hot DJ to fuse together new hits with their classic Mediterranean beats.

Rome

La Maison: Located right outside the heart of Trastevere on Vicolo Dei Granari, La Maison is a hidden gem. Down a narrow cobblestone alley and around a few corners, this flashy hot spot is tucked away beneath residential apartment buildings. The smoky air and wildly long coat check line are a bit discouraging, but after walking downstairs, the place is well worth it. Decorated with oversized chandeliers, neon-colored lighting and ornate couches for table service, this club is absolutely beautiful. Always featuring the newest DJs—who have been playing hits like “We No Speak Americano” and “Why Don’t You” long before they hit the States—La Maison is the place to be on any night of the week. Perhaps if Fusion, located in downtown St. Louis, were to fix up its décor, it could offer a similar feel. It certainly already has the high profile DJs.

Campo dei Fiori: Campo dei Fiori (referred to as “Campo” by abroad students), is not just one bar—it’s a whole party piazza. The area features two enormous fountains in the middle and is surrounded by at least 15 different bars, all with different vibes. When it’s busy (which is almost every night), Campo is bustling with 18 to 25-year-olds looking to have fun. If the weather permits, partying from the various bars spills into the piazza, where everyone mingles and drinks by the fountains. Some bars, like The Drunken Ship, offer beer pong tables and cheap pitchers. Others, like Giganti, offer sweaty dance floors, neon graffitied walls and free shots. No matter your mood, there’s always somewhere to go in Campo, and if you go there often enough, the bartenders will even let you tend bar for your friends! The cobblestone streets and variety of nightlife activities offered at Laclede’s Landing are similar to this Italian favorite.

Madrid

Kapital: Located in the center of Madrid, Kapital (at C/Atocha 125) is an enormous seven-story club, featuring a different genre of music on each floor. The cover is a pricey 12 euro, but it’s totally worth it if you’re in town for a few days—plus, it includes one drink. Although some may say the club is a bit touristy, there sure isn’t anything like it in St. Louis, or in the U.S. for that matter. It’s hard not to have fun at this grandiose entertainment center: If you don’t like to dance, you can still join plenty of people enjoying the sexy dance shows featured on stage. You can do anything from lounge in the Barcadi Mojito Room (which offers one of the best mojitos we’ve tasted) to chill on fluffy sofas on the rooftop terrace. Hookah is available, drinks are easy to get and you can even practice some of your Spanish while singing karaoke. Sound pretty extravagant? Well, this type of club isn’t totally out of the question; someone in St. Louis could definitely revamp a downtown warehouse and turn it into a three-story replica of Kapital. It sure would add some spice to our city’s nightlife!

Pachá Madrid: This club is all about who you know and how much you can spend. Pachá is the discotheque where you’ll have the most authentic European experience—and it’s the place where all the Madrid socialites party. DJs always play the latest music, drinks are pricey, the atmosphere is radiant and the people are dressed to impress. Expect to stay out past 5 a.m. and expect to wait in line if you’re American (unless you’ve already schmoozed with some promoters). Wear your hottest clothes, and boys, always wear dress shoes; no sneakers are allowed. If you go with a group, buy a table—it’s cheaper than purchasing individual drinks and you won’t have to wait in line.
Pachá is a high profile franchise, with clubs all over the world, including one in New York City. If St. Louis’ Europe nightclub renovated and customized some of its décor, made the entrance a bit more exclusive and added a few performers, it could really offer an authentic Euro-experience. Or, there’s always the option of Pachá opening up a franchise here and shaking up the conventional STL nightlife.