Some of the comments posted on Student Life’s news article (“WU ends partnership with Target,” Aug. 25) last week called Wash. U.’s decision an act of coercion or indoctrination. We disagree. This is not an instance of Wash. U. dictating behavior to the student body. Rather, it is a case of our private university acting in accord with its own institutional values. In previous policy decisions, such as removing bottled water from vending machines and banning tobacco on campus, Wash. U. has been open about the set of principles upon which it acts—principles such as sustainability and public health.

We see Wash. U.’s decision as well within the scope of its position as a private institution with explicit goals and ideals, and in keeping with an appropriate degree of autonomy to uphold these goals and ideals through policy decisions. In many ways, Wash. U. is very clear about the goals and ideals underlying the decision to opt out of its partnership with Target. The value of diversity, including with regard to sexual orientation, is a pillar of Residential Life programming and is actively advocated to freshmen. Wash. U.’s decision is thus consistent with its agenda and with the message it wishes to send to the freshman community and the student body at large.

We also believe that acting in opposition to anti-gay sentiments is commendable in itself; it is a decision in line with tolerance, diversity and human rights, and we believe that it is representative of the wishes of the overall undergraduate community.

The Citizens United decision allows corporations to donate funds in support of political agendas through political action committees. It also gives us, as citizens and consumers, the ability and responsibility to hold these corporations accountable for where their donations go. We commend Wash. U. for doing so.

We would also like to add some perspective regarding the value of the canceled event: We feel confident that Wash. U. freshmen will be able to acquire hangers and doorstops even though they are no longer being bussed to Target. We recognize that Wash. U.’s action was only a small gesture in a larger battle against homophobia, but we feel that for the small price of opting out, it was the right symbolic message.

As students, we can only hope to remember the University’s decision as we shop for school supplies for the rest of the year—though most of us will inevitably forget and shop at Target without thinking. We can’t all be perfect.

Erin Mitchell | Student Life

There were a few reasons why I wanted to spend a summer abroad, spending money rather than making it— away from the friends and family I only see on those short breaks from St. Louis rather than with them, almost totally out of contact with anyone I knew before I got on the plane to Europe. First of all, I wanted to go to Germany. I started taking German classes here and fell in love with the language, and, equally importantly, the department. The stories they told and the language they taught painted a picture of an idyllic place where one could go to escape from the day-to-day life and have an unforgettable adventure or two. I also thought it was silly to be a German major and not go to Germany.

Wash. U. made it as easy as could be for me to go. In fact, they encouraged it. There were ample opportunities for scholarships, though there would have been more if I had chosen to spend a semester abroad rather than the summer. Had I gone in the spring, I would have been in Germany for about double the amount of time I was over the summer. My language skills would certainly have shown a corresponding increase.

So why, then, did I choose to go abroad over the summer, rather than do a program that had a strong chance of being more helpful to me, and one to which I was more likely to get a scholarship? That answer is simple: Wash. U.

I am a junior now. I am halfway done with my undergraduate studies. I only have four semesters left. After that, who knows what will happen. I would like to go to Germany again for a while and then to law school. That means time separated from my friends here, time away from this place that I love so much. And when I leave, I cannot be sure that I will ever come back, either to the people or the places. I hope to, but even if I do, I cannot be sure that everything will be the same. I don’t have much time left, and I don’t want to miss a single second of it.

Study abroad. Even if you’re not going for a language, or you want to go to a place where you don’t speak the language, or you have any other concerns, get out of here for a time and go experience something. But if I like you, do it over the summer, so I don’t have to miss you.

The 25 or so students who attended the roundtable split into committees devoted to specific areas of campus life, including Washington University Police Department (WUPD) affairs, on-campus student awareness, Residential Life, student group interaction and off-campus affairs.

Students in the taskforce on WUPD affairs debated whether some students’ allegations that WUPD officers approach black students more than white ones means the officers are guilty of racial profiling.

While the group did not reach a conclusion, group members agreed that reports of suspicious activity filed by students against other students are a major contributor to WUPD stopping black students more often.

Members of the group said they would like to initiate dialogue between WUPD and students regarding methods of identifying suspicious persons, and also explored the idea of a “walk in your shoes” orientation program in which students would learn about the differences that race makes in daily life.

The “on-campus awareness” taskforce was primarily concerned with the issue of self-segregation in the student body. Group members said they hoped to break down what they termed the “fishbowl” phenomenon: a tendency for important conversations about race issues to remain confined to racially or ethnically homogenous groups.

“I know that as an African American male I have particular conversations with other African American males on campus that pretty much we keep amongst ourselves,” said senior Regis Murayi, one of the six black students rejected from Mothers bar.

The task force proposed mediating conversations about self-segregation on freshman floors. Members of the group also plan to develop initiatives to draw a greater and more diverse body of students to events like Monday night’s roundtable to engage students who might otherwise be uninvolved in the dialogue about diversity issues.

Like the on-campus awareness task force, the ResLife committee offered a plan to spur more diversity dialogue on freshman floors by designing special programming to be led by residential advisors. Group members also planned a conference with Residential Life about making ethnic and racial diversity a priority when forming freshman floors.

The student group interaction taskforce envisioned working with Student Union to create an incentive program that rewards collaboration between student groups. It also proposed the development of a multicultural retreat in which students from diverse backgrounds would bond over a variety of recreational and discussion-based activities.

Members of the off-campus taskforce expressed a desire to raise awareness of racial and class implications of policy decisions behind recent MetroLink service cuts. The taskforce hopes to launch a visual campaign to make the faces of St. Louis residents affected by the service cuts more visible to students.

Senior De Nichols, co-president of Connect 4, said her group would facilitate further meetings of the taskforces created at Monday night’s roundtable to lay out more concrete action steps. The organization hopes that this event will be a first step in empowering passionate students to turn thoughts into action.

Said junior Wanda Savala, Connect 4’s other co-president, “[Students] will start something but they don’t really feel supported. We need to rally those students who are doing something, who have ideas.”

The turnout for the roundtable was short of Connect 4’s expectations, paling in comparison to the more than 300 students who filled Lab Sciences 300 for the town hall meeting.

The large gap in the turnout between the town hall meeting and Monday’s roundtable elicited concerns from some that the enthusiasm exhibited by the general student body in recent weeks will not last as the Mothers bar incident fades into the past.

“[The turnout] kind of made me question how passionate, how committed students are to affecting change in this area,” Nichols said.

Nonetheless, she said she was confident that a smaller group of students would continue to converse and act on race and diversity issues.

“Quite honestly, I am a very optimistic, faithful person,” she said. “The rational side of me says that people are gonna let this die, but I think we have a committed body of students who won’t let this die out.”

Wash. U. volleyball (28-4, 10-1 UAA) plays Webster University in first-round NCAA action at 8 p.m. on Thursday in the Field House. The other regional quarterfinals are No. 21 Nebraska Wesleyan against University of Wisconsin-Platteville at 12:30 p.m., No. 8 Carthage College  versus Simpson College at 3 p.m., and Thomas More College against St. Mary’s University at 5:30 p.m. The regional final is at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Women’s soccer (14-3-1, 5-1-1 UAA), which earned the automatic UAA bid, faces SLIAC conference champion Webster University in the first round of NCAA action at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Francis Field. No. 21 Illinois Wesleyan and Carroll (Wis.) face off at 1:30 p.m. in the other first-round match. The regional championship is at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Webster’s Christy Capkovic is Division III’s leading scorer with 1.765 goals per game.

Undergraduate students have free admission with their Wash. U. IDs. Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $3 for non-Wash. U. students.

Injury update

In an e-mail, co-captain senior Libby Held wrote that everyone on the women’s soccer team is able to practice. Held wrote that she believes everyone will be ready to go for the weekend action. Senior Caryn Rosoff sat out the Nov. 7 game against the University of Chicago due to a leg injury.

According to volleyball coach Rich Luenemann, freshman setter Marilee Fisher, who sat out the UAA championship last weekend, should be able to play. Fisher is the NCAA Division III statistical leader with 11.49 assists per set. Sophomore outside hitter Erin Kasson is out for the rest of the season.

Zoë Scharf | Student Life

A Metrolink train pulls in to the Big Bend station in late August. (Matt Mitgang | Student Life)

The St. Louis County government said on Monday that a transit sales tax measure similar to Proposition M could appear on the county ballot this April, as a coalition of transit advocates ramps up its campaign efforts.

The coalition, which includes Washington University, seeks voters’ approval of a ballot measure that would boost funding for Metro operations and future expansion, and enable the agency to restore all of the transit service it slashed in March. University officials said on Monday that the school would fully support such a ballot measure.

“We’re going to be supportive of any initiative that improves mass transit in our region,” Assistant to the Chancellor Rob Wild said.

The measure would be a retry of sorts, as last November county voters rejected Proposition M, a half-cent sales tax increase that supporters said would have prevented the cutbacks.

The University has made the largest contribution to the campaign so far, giving $25,000, the same amount the school gave to last year’s campaign for Proposition M, which the University and Student Union Senate both endorsed. University trustee Sam Fox, a Republican fundraiser who served as the U.S. ambassador to Belgium in the Bush administration, has given $10,000.

County officials have not made any final decisions on a ballot measure, including when it would appear, said Mac Scott, spokesman for County Executive Charlie Dooley. Scott added that officials have been actively discussing the idea and that Dooley fully backs another sales tax measure.

“He’s entirely supportive of it,” Scott said. “We understand that public transportation is vital to the growth and prosperity of this region.”

State and federal funding over the summer helped Metro restore over half of its slashed service in August. But because the money runs out in May, Scott said April would be the most opportune time for the election.

What is also unclear is whether county voters would support another ballot measure after they rejected Proposition M. Proponents are emphasizing better organization and a more grassroots approach this time, largely because the election would be in an off year.

“One of the keys is making sure that your supporters are registered to vote and actually show up in an April election, when Barack Obama is not on the ballot,” said Tom Shrout, executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit.

Details on how the campaign would play out are still scarce. Rose Windmiller, director of state relations and local government affairs at the University, said local organizations and advocates will meet at the University on Thursday to hash out campaign plans and strategies.

Last November’s Proposition M campaign saw several University officials and SU members campaign on campus, asking students to support the measure. Students voted overwhelmingly in favor of the measure, which failed by 3 percent.

Senior Melissa Legge, a supporter of boosting Metro funding, said the University’s decision to contribute to this year’s campaign “makes a lot of sense.”

“Wash. U. clearly benefits a lot from public transportation we have,” said Legge, a member of Green Action. “We have five MetroLink stops on four campuses and several bus lines.”

It also makes sense, Legge said, because “public transportation is a pretty big transportation part of the [University’s] sustainability plan.”

Many students, including Legge, have already expressed support of any ballot measure that were to appear in April. 2008 graduate Liz Kramer and several current and former students were among those who threw a prom on MetroLink trains on Oct. 23 in celebration of the St. Louis transit system. Although the event was not meant to be political, student attendees still hoped that it would indirectly encourage people to vote for another sales tax measure.

The current Student Union administration has said that supporting Metro is one of its priorities. Student Body President Jeff Nelson said SU has not endorsed putting another sales tax on the ballot but would consider doing so.

“I think we’d have discussions about it. It’d be debated,” Nelson said. “I think a lot of people would be in favor of it.”

Transit advocates have said that a sales tax increase would likely be Metro’s only hope getting the funding it needs to restore full transit service. If another ballot measure were to fail, more extensive service cuts could be needed, they have said.

The chances of another dose of state money have faded, as lawmakers must figure out how to close a general revenue gap of at least 10 percent in the next legislative session. State Rep. Rick Stream, R-Kirkwood, vice chairman of the Missouri House Budget Committee, said in October that declining tax revenues are to blame and that new funding items have been all but ruled out.

To go on the ballot, a sales tax measure would have to go through County Council. Councilwoman Barbara Fraser, D-University City, said a bill would pass the council handily, though she did not know when one would be introduced.

Senior Class Treasurer Regis Murayi speaks at a news conference Wednesday held in the DUC. Murayi, along with Senior Class President Fernando Cutz and the five other students alleging racial descrimation, announced an agreement with the Original Mothers bar. (Matt Mitgang | Student Life)

Senior Class President Fernando Cutz, along with the six black students who allege they were racially discriminated against by the Original Mothers bar in Chicago, said on Wednesday that they will not be pressing charges against Mothers, as part of a legal agreement between the two sides.

Cutz announced that Mothers will issue a public apology to the students, and managers at the bar will undergo diversity sensitivity and awareness training led by members of the Anti-Defamation League.

The students’ comments came in a news conference Wednesday afternoon in the Danforth University Center.

Mothers will also hold four charity fundraisers, three at the bar in Chicago and one in St. Louis. The students will determine what charity will receive funds from these events. Senior Class Treasurer Regis Murayi, one of the six students rejected from the bar, said the money will likely go toward a charity that works to promote awareness of race-related issues.

Cutz also announced at the conference that the Senior Class Council will be leading a “massive demonstration” against racial discrimination. The demonstration will occur in Chicago in late November and will include both University students and representatives from Mothers. Mothers managers will speak at the event.

Cutz told Student Life that he has met with representatives from Student Union about funding transportation for the event and that SU has agreed to pay for buses for all students interested in attending.

The students at the conference stressed that they are not seeking financial compensation from the bar.

“Nothing in the plans had anything to do with us getting financial compensation,” said senior Chuka Chike-Obi, one of the six black students.

Murayi emphasized that the students’ primary goal in the agreement was to raise awareness about race-related issues.

“This isn’t about power, this isn’t about leverage, this isn’t about fighting, kicking and screaming,” Murayi said. “This is about really raising the issue about racial discrimination in America and really opening this issue moving forward.”

The students also announced at the conference that they are receiving free legal counsel from Covington and Burling LLP in their negotiations with Mothers.

According to Seth Tucker, the students’ attorney, the students and Mothers reached a settlement quickly. Negotiations lasted under 24 hours.

“I think it is a great result for both sides,” Tucker said. “It was a creative resolution. They have created a win-win settlement.”

If Mothers does not comply with the agreement, the students could still press charges. According to Tucker, this is an unlikely situation.

“I don’t expect them to break the agreement,” Tucker said. “They seem genuine and sincere.”
Mothers’ attorney, Brad Grayson of Strauss & Malk LLP said the bar is devoted to the agreement.

“My clients are very committed to going forward with the things we agreed upon with the students,” Grayson said.
Representatives from Mothers said in a statement that they are pleased with the agreement.

“We’re happy that it appears we have resolved differences with the students amicably and in a manner that promotes unity rather than division,” the statement said.

Cutz also said he is pleased with the agreement.

“Personally I’m satisfied with the way that things turned out,” Cutz said.

Although the six students are no longer pursuing litigation, city, state and federal investigations into the incident are still underway. According to Cutz, the agreement reached between the students and Mothers stipulated that the investigations would continue.

On Wednesday morning, U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr., D-St. Louis, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and to the Washington office and Chicago field office of the FBI requesting further investigation into the incident.

With additional reporting by Dan Woznica

The University is currently in third place in the annual Victoria’s Secret PINK line competition. The winning schools will receive a Victoria’s Secret-sponsored collegiate clothing line that includes sweatpants, T-shirts and lingerie. Many Wash. U. students are looking forward to the variety the collection could add.

“I think it would be really interesting if we won. I don’t know much about it but I feel like Wash. U. would be a different kind of school. Plus, I’d like to see new designs for our collegiate collection,” senior Anna Studstill said.
Last year’s winners, dubbed “class of 2009,” consisted of 24 schools, including University of Missouri-Columbia.

This year’s competition may prove to be even fiercer. All four-year colleges and universities are eligible to compete, and the University is currently third in the latest round of competition, with 93,102 votes. Considering this competition, some students believe even third place is something to celebrate.

“I’m glad we’re number three,” freshman Joanne Li said. “A lot of the schools they had were really big.”

The top school, Rochester Institute of Technology, currently sports 109,366 votes in the competition.

To boost the University’s rankings, the Facebook group “Washington University in St. Louis for Victoria Secret” sent out a mass message to group members on Aug. 19, urging them to vote.
This Facebook group grew out of the one designed for the incoming freshman class, according to freshman Adam Cheng. Most of its 745 members are freshmen.

Cheng, one of the group’s administrators, invited his fellow students to join the cause. He claimed that the last time he sent a message, more than 30,000 votes were cast in under 24 hours. Washington University gained over 6,000 votes after the most recent push, but the school still remains in third place behind Rochester and the United States Marine Corps University.

As the competition heats up, some students are speaking out against it. Sophomore Justin Taylor was invited to join the Facebook group but declined, saying that Washington University does not need this connection to Victoria’s Secret.

“I don’t want this at all,” Taylor said. “We are a 150-year-old academic institution and we don’t need this.”

Cheng disagrees that this association with Victoria’s Secret would have any negative impact on the school or on its academic reputation. He believes that winning this contest would just mean that students could buy new clothes with Wash. U. pride.

“I think the students here are just like everyone else. We are young, we’re trendy and we like things that are new and fashionable. The name is still going to be prestigious even if we get new clothing,” Cheng said.

And there are other benefits, Cheng said, like school spirit and a way to connect to your fellow classmates.

Whether the Victoria’s Secret competition does “bring the school together” as Cheng believes it would, or becomes an unnecessary distraction, the clothing competition continues with Wash. U. as the underdog that has proved a competitive presence.

Students can monitor results and vote up to once a day at http://www.vspink.com/nomi​nate_your_school.jsp.