Student Life Archives

Faithful “Missionary Positions” viewers may be in for new perspectives on sex if freshman Vanessa Heil-Chapdelaine has her way. As the new student host of the show, she hopes to include more guest panelists on the risqu‚ Washington University TV headliner.

“I like the atmosphere of the show, the discussion that happens, and the live questions,” said Heil-Chapdelaine of the show’s current format, adding that next year’s season might include “a taped intro, some taped segments…and more guest panelists.”

Senior Alison Small, the current host and executive producer of “Missionary Positions,” said she chose Heil-Chapdelaine to be the next host because of her personality and professionalism.

“[Vanessa] has just the right combination of charm, intelligence, and on-the-ball humor that a good host needs,” said Small. “She came prepared, handled the other panelists well and most of all was comfortable in front of the camera.”

Small went on to explain that Heil-Chapdelaine’s level of comfort translated well into a “balanced on-screen personality.” While she wasn’t afraid to make jokes about the sexually explicit material discussed on the show, she respected the questions that were fielded.

Though Heil-Chapdelaine watches “Missionary Positions” every week, she said her decision to audition for the host position was largely due to her friendship with freshman Jessica Black, who lives on her floor and who will take over as the show’s executive producer next year.

“[Jessica] mentioned they were looking for a new host, [and] I thought it would be fun and that I could do a good job,” she said.

Small said Black and Heil-Chapdelaine will be working very closely together next year because of their positions on the show. Her final decision to cast Heil-Chapdelaine as the host, however, was not an easy one.

“It was an extremely hard decision,” said Small. “The other finalist (Emily Schultz) was also very good and had a lot to offer. In general I thought the auditions went surprisingly well. I would have hoped for more initial auditionees, but honestly I think I still would have chosen Vanessa and Emily as the two finalists-they were just that good.”

Heil-Chapdelaine described her experience auditioning as “a little bit shocking.”

“It was what I expected, but we had to pretend to be the host and they asked us some pretty risqu‚ questions,” she said.

Small said she wants Heil-Chapdelaine to “add her own flare and technique to the show,” and for this reason she will not go through any training for next year. Small has given her tapes of past shows, however, to give her a general feel for what the show has been like, and intends to “fill her in on the basics” of hosting the show.

“She’ll also need to get a good idea for what the show’s history has been like, and I’ve saved all the articles and interviews for that!” said Small.

Heil-Chapdelaine is looking forward to both the experience and recognition she will obtain from hosting the show next year.

“I’m looking forward to the fame and fortune, [and] I think it’s going to be a great opportunity to take a really good idea a little bit further by adding personal touches, ” she said.

Alternative sexual acts such as bondage/discipline and dominance/submission have commonly been considered risky and dangerous sexual acts-but a new student group on campus hopes to dispel such generalizations.

The recent formation of a “Bondage and discipline, Dominance and submission, and Sadomasochism” (BDSM) interest group is giving students on Washington University’s campus both a forum for open sexual discussion and a place to become educated on safe sexual practices.

The Alternative Lifestyle Association (ALA), which promoted its first meeting with flyers carrying the slogan “Wash U Spank,” was formed this semester by three University students who are hoping to support and educate those interested in BDSM.

As described by a founding member who wished to remain anonymous, the ALA seeks to “provide emotional support to those coming to grips with their sexuality.”

She explained that the group does not intend for its meetings to provide therapy, but rather to provide a setting in which students can feel comfortable discussing BDSM. The group will also serve to provide information to members so that they may explore their interests safely.

Because there is often significant overlap in the activities that BDSM encompasses, the ALA will function to support all of them.

Each activity, however, has a clear definition. Bondage and discipline refers to physical restraint of one sexual partner by the other. Dominance and submission involves one partner giving control to the other for the duration of the sexual act. Sadomasochism is an interest in pain to heighten sexual pleasure.

Often, BDSM enthusiasts identify with one of the two roles in each scenario, and thus refer to themselves as either a “dominant/top” or “submissive/bottom.” A person who enjoys both roles is referred to as a “switch.” The actual sexual encounter, during which each partner assumes one of the roles, is called a “scene.”

The aforementioned founding member said that most people tend to have misconceptions regarding BDSM.

“I think that people see images in popular culture of power exchange, and it’s presented to them as something freaky and amusing, not a genuine sexual practice shared by many normal, successful people,” she said.

She and the club’s other founding members hope that the ALA will be able to promote informed awareness of BDSM and correct common misconceptions. She noted, for instance, that most people are unaware that “safe, sane and consensual” is a primary tenet of BDSM practice.

She explained that being accurately informed is critical to a safe BDSM scene.

“If you want to play with bondage, fine, but know something about circulation before you do it!” she said. “ALA will be a beneficial resource, especially to novices-safe BDSM requires knowledge and skill.”

The ALA has held two meetings so far. Attendees of the first meeting discussed their experiences with BDSM and answered questions from those who attended with the intent of learning more. Future meetings will consist of icebreakers, open discussion, Q&A sessions and other activities.

Freshman Hubert Cheung, who attended the group’s first meeting, said the founders made people comfortable at the meeting by doing most of the talking. They stressed the importance of respecting members of the group and taking meetings seriously.

“They made it very clear that there would be no demonstrations, [and] reiterated that [the club] is for people who want more information, [not to] meet people to hook up,” he said.

Cheung went on to say that he believes curiosity was the driving force behind the students who have shown up at the meetings thus far.

“I think most people seem to go because they’re curious about the group [and] curious about the subject,” he said. “Some people go just to see if the group actually exists, and some go to [learn more] about the subject. I think I fit into both categories.”

The other founding members of the group could not be reached for comments.

While the club currently does not receive funding from Student Union, it will apply for a position as an official student group in the coming academic year. With funding, the ALA hopes to organize events and invite guest speakers. A Halloween costume ball and BDSM-themed movie nights have been discussed as potential activities.

The ALA follows the lead of similar organizations at other universities, such as Columbia University’s Conversio Virium and the University of Washington’s Society for Human Sexuality.

University students interested in joining the ALA or learning more about BDSM can contact the group at [email protected].

Margaret Bauer

With Missouri’s concealed weapons law recently deemed constitutional by the Missouri Supreme Court, permit holders will be allowed to carry concealed weapons throughout the state. Despite this decision regarding what is called the “concealed-carry” law, Washington University has resolved to preserve an environment free of concealed weapons.

“Certainly we are concerned about the overall safety of the campus community, and we don’t think it was consistent with the University’s mission to allow concealed weapons and weapons in general on campus,” said Chief of Police Don Strom.

Although it is unlawful under the concealed-carry law to carry a concealed firearm into an educational institution without the consent of the institution’s governing body, the law allows a permit holder to stow a weapon in a vehicle, providing that it is not removed from the vehicle while on the premises. The University, however, as a private institution, will prohibit stowing firearms in vehicles parked in University-owned parking facilities.

“The University has made a policy that says we will not allow firearms to be in the car,” said Strom. “Even if a person has a license that states it is okay to have [a weapon] in their car in a university setting, our policy is that you can’t have it [at] our institution.”

In light of the concealed-carry law, universal no-gun symbol decals will be placed on University-owned meters and University shuttles.

“We are simply making an effort to inform people who visit campus that the University is still off-limits to concealed weapons and weapons of any kind,” said Fred Volkmann, vice chancellor of public affairs. “[The signs are not] so much for students in our own community. [They are] mostly for people who may be coming to visit or who may be using our facilities.”

Similar signs will be posted on off-campus buildings, including University-owned apartments and the Lewis Center. Other properties leased from the University, such as Kayak’s Coffee, can post decals should the leaseholder choose to display them.

“It’s a matter of education,” said Volkmann. “If a person who receives a permit [to carry a weapon] is properly trained as the state requires, they will know that there are areas that have the right to deny them the privilege of carrying that weapon. By notifying people that these are University structures, although they may not be on the campus itself, it informs them that they would not be acting appropriately if they were to carry the weapon inside and would be subject to some further action.”

Sophomore Katie Hosack does not expect the concealed-carry law to have a major impact on campus safety.

“Generally, I don’t feel there is much of a threat here, and I don’t see that changing,” said Hosack.

Sophomore Laura Robb feels that the ability to defend oneself with a concealed weapon, which some view as a right, is not necessary on the University’s campus.

“[The University’s weapons policy] applies to everyone on campus, which will universally keep the threat posed by weapons down,” said Robb. “I would hope that, because of [these measures], self-defense with a weapon wouldn’t be necessary.”

Senior Kelley Mesa, founder of On Target, a campus group promoting firearms education and safety, believes that the University’s response is reasonable given the law’s provisions regarding educational institutions.

“Since we are a private institution the school has every right to come to its own decision regarding this issue,” said Mesa. “Perhaps my own opinion regarding any danger posed by a law-abiding citizen carrying a firearm onto a campus differs from the school’s, but I completely respect their decision.”

Mesa emphasized that the University’s decision to prohibit concealed weapons does not infringe on the right to defend oneself.

“The boundaries set by the University do not prohibit self-defense, only certain methods of self-defense,” said Mesa. “I think it’s the personal responsibility of the students here to learn how to best protect themselves, given the boundaries set by the school. In my case, I’ve taken a personal defense course for women, carry pepper spray and, most importantly, am constantly aware of my surroundings. But once I have graduated, I do plan to carry a concealed firearm for personal defense, which, I might add, I already have a permit for.”

Student Life Archives

While eight Nicaraguan workers have returned to Washington University in the past week to work for Top Care, Inc., the rearrival of the remaining 28 workers now looks extremely doubtful.

Although most believed they would be coming back to St. Louis, Top Care did not contact these remaining workers when the company met with select employees in Nicaragua’s capital city of Managua last week.

Top Care, the landscaping company contracted by the University, contacted the eight workers for a meeting regarding their return to St. Louis and their future employment. The rest of the deported workers, who had been employed under the University’s former landscaping contract with G&G Building Services, received no contact from Top Care about this meeting.

On Tuesday, the Student Worker Alliance (SWA) delivered a letter to Chancellor Mark Wrighton stating that they “would like the University to act honorably as an employer and do everything in its power to bring the Nicaraguans back.”

The administration has frequently stated that the contractors, not the University, are responsible for the hiring practices. The letter from the SWA claimed that “the University was directly responsible for bringing these workers to St. Louis in the first place…the University employed these workers as its own employees, despite there being contractors in between.”

In their written statement to the Chancellor, the SWA also included a letter from University Manager of Maintenance Operations William Wiley in which Wiley claimed responsibility for part of the University’s relationship with the workers.

In the letter, dated May 31, 2002, Wiley wrote that “officially members of this group will be employees of a contractor of the University called Spann or Encompass, but I am going to have much control over the use of the workers.”

Wiley declined to comment on the situation, stating that he did not have the authority to at the time.

In a letter of response to the SWA’s statement, Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Ralph Thaman wrote that the University has kept its promise to assist the displaced workers.

“At the time the workers departed in November 2003…the University agreed to assist the workers who were returning to Nicaragua in obtaining an interview with Top Care so that they could be considered for subsequent employment,” wrote Thaman, adding that the University did arrange for these interviews and that each worker hoping for an interview with Top Care received one.

According to Thaman’s letter, “the University acted in good faith during the interview process…However, the University did not and could not guarantee that Top Care would ultimately hire the Nicaraguan workers, and the University clearly made that point to the workers at the time.”

The SWA’s letter to the Chancellor also demanded a refund of the $275 that workers paid to hold their lease on apartments in St. Louis. According to the SWA, “all 36 workers signed an agreement that relieved them from any and all debts in St. Louis. However, after boarding the plane Mr. William Wiley, maintenance manager for Washington University, collected $275 dollars from every worker-allegedly to pay their apartment leases. The workers were told they were paying this money to have their apartments reserved when they returned.”

In his letter to the SWA, Thaman stated that this sum would be fully refunded.

“The University will arrange to reimburse each worker for the full amount previously collected, plus interest,” he wrote.

While $275 may not seem extremely valuable in the United States, based on the minimum wage in Nicaragua-as reported by La Prensa, the nation’s national newspaper-that amount could support a family for nine months. One worker remaining in Nicaragua, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed the importance of that sum of money.

“The salaries here are very meager,” said the worker. “We’re trying to find out what to do and how to get by. We barely make enough to eat and having been living with the hope to return. Hope is the last thing to lose. But by now all the papers that were signed and commitments that were made have been broken. I believed in the word they gave; they seemed confident. They told us a date, but then moved the date. Now we know the original Top Care workers are back and we are here with nothing. We feel they lied to us and made us a false promise.”

Thaman’s statement expressed that “the University regrets that Top Care has not yet hired these Nicaraguan workers to return to the United States,” adding that workers have already been compensated by the University for lost time and travel expenses.

Jonathan Lane

The investigation into a series of Sigma Chi videos and photographs is scheduled to begin in earnest this morning.

Yesterday, the fraternity’s national organization suspended the Washington University chapter of Sigma Chi for 45 days. This decision was made by the Sigma Chi Fraternity Chapter Review Subcommittee, which unanimously voted for the suspension in order to allow the national organization’s officials to work with University administrators in investigating the fraternity’s actions.

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Students Jill Carnaghi said the “principals” of the University’s inquiry will convene today to discuss how to proceed in the case and to begin to “put all of the pieces together.”

The investigation will center on approximately 28 videos and 31 photographs of events that allegedly took place at the Sigma Chi house last week.

The videos primarily show groups of students telling jokes and performing in skits. Most were of a sexual nature and revolved around women they know or have had relationships with. During and after many of the skits, the videos depict performers being pelted with beer cans and boxes by members of the audience.

Another fraternity gave the videos and photos to the Greek Life Office on Tuesday. Since that time, the Office has released a statement condemning the actions as “inappropriate” and “unacceptable.”

Carnaghi said that a conscious decision was made to delay the start of the investigation until Friday.

“I didn’t want to make a rash decision in the heat of the moment,” she said. “I wanted to let the dust settle.”

At the same time, she made it clear that she has already reached some conclusions about the content of the videos.

“This behavior cannot and will not be tolerated,” she said.

Later, talking specifically about some of the sexual material and the disparaging references to a handful of female students, she added that “some of those derogatory comments are also unacceptable.”

Although the investigation is set to get underway today, Carnaghi said decisions about the shape and schedule of the inquiry have yet to be made.

“We have no timeline right now, but we’ve got be sensitive to the time of the year,” she said, alluding to the upcoming departure of most students for the summer. “You want to be thorough, but you also want to expedite things, especially with so many concerned individuals.”

Carnaghi refused to discuss the potential sanctions that may come out of the investigation, but did say “anything’s possible.” In the press release distributed by the Greek Life Office earlier this week, revocation of the University’s recognition of the Sigma Chi chapter was mentioned as a possibility.

Late in the day on Wednesday, Sigma Chi distributed a written statement to the local media that said the brothers and pledges of the chapter “take total responsibility for their actions” as depicted in the videos.

“We recognize that our actions do not meet the expectations of the campus community,” the release said. “We realize that what we thought was good-natured college hi jinx has been interpreted as ‘distasteful’ and ‘inappropriate,’ and we are working…to insure [sic] that we never cross that line again.”

The statement also mentions that the videos showed only one part of life at Sigma Chi.

“Unfortunately, no videos have been distributed displaying our more positive activities,” the release said, pointing to the chapter’s philanthropy events and high GPA. According to statistics released by the Greek Life Office earlier this semester, Sigma Chi had the fifth highest GPA of all fraternities-3.353-during the fall 2003 semester, which was near the 3.40 average for all Washington University undergraduates.

Director of Greek Life Karin Johnes said she had a positive reaction to Sigma Chi’s statement.

“I was pleased in that I think they are taking an appropriate amount of responsibility,” she said. “I felt like it was a good step.”

The videos came out on the same day that the University imposed sanctions on the fraternity for an incident on March 18 when two pledges were transported to the hospital. Multiple administrators have said that the events of March 18, along with other incidents in Sigma Chi’s history, will be taken into account during this new investigation.