Student Life Archives

Instead of filling out course evaluations in class, last spring around two-thirds of Washington University students in selected classes completed them online. Now, in an effort to better help students decide which courses to register for next semester, course evaluations from a large handful of classes in each school are available online through WebSTAC.

“It’s such a boon for students,” said Henry Biggs, director of undergraduate research and associate dean of Arts and Sciences, who helped design the new evaluations program. “I think it’s going to be neat when students see the results of their work [from last spring].”

Planning for the project began five years ago when Richard Smith, chair of the anthropology department, acknowledged that the current evaluation system was lacking in specific content. Working with several others, Smith developed better templates and questions that would correspond more with the needs of certain classes.

Instead of dispensing the same course evaluation forms to every class, the new program allows professors to ask up to three questions directly pertaining to the classes they teach. According to Biggs, this allows for “more teacher feedback.”

The updated evaluations also publish the responses to all of the questions asked on the survey. Unlike the old results, which only allowed students to view the feedback from twelve questions, a bar graph of overall class satisfaction, a pie chart of whether students would recommend the class to a friend and general class requirements, the latest version gives students the opportunity to further investigate classes.

With responses from over 23 questions ranked on a scale from one to seven, students can view the results as either detailed averages or as bar graphs. Class requirements are also listed.

New evaluations also allow students to more efficiently navigate through course listings.

“The old evaluations seem to allow you to skim through the courses more easily,” said sophomore Marcus Gostelow. “But the new one is more in depth.”

“I think [students] can more easily query,” said Biggs. “If you simply want to query in computer science, all classes in the pilot of Arts and Sciences [will show up].”

Biggs also noted that the WebSTAC program allows cross-listing between the University’s different schools. If a student wants to search for a specific teacher or type of class, the program will list all courses regardless of division. Arts and Sciences currently leads the other schools with 220 listed classes, and University College already has about 50 classes. The art school has posted 20 classes, and the business school is off to a slow start with around three courses on the new program.

Sophomore Dan Willis had mixed feelings about the new evaluations.

“I think they are clearer,” he said. “But some of the classes I plan to take, like higher level French, don’t seem to be listed yet.”

The project end-date for posting all current classes online is Jan. 1, 2005.

Wednesday, October 20

9:07 a.m. LARCENY-THEFT, SIMON HALL: A contractor from Helmcamp reports his company van broken into, and tools stolen. Vehicle was parked on south side of Simon Hall between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. At the same time, a suspicious person was reported hiding boxes in the bushes along Forsyth just south of the theft location. Tools were recovered and suspect was taken into custody a short time later. Disposition: Cleared by arrest.

9:58 a.m. PARKING, BRYAN HALL: Transportation reported a truck blocking the dumpster near the Bryan Hall dock. The truck had a fraudulent monthly permit. The driver was contacted about the fraudulent permit and corresponding fine. Disposition: Cleared.

11:26 a.m. FIRE, MALLINCKRODT CENTER: Vehicle caught fire by the meters on the south side of Mallinckrodt Center. Clayton Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire. The fire appeared to be electrical in nature. Two vehicles parked on either side of the burning vehicle were damaged. No one was injured. Disposition: Cleared.

5:32 p.m. LARCENY-THEFT, PARKING LOT #59: The student reported parking his vehicle on the second level of the Wohl garage, near the northeast corner, approximately two weeks ago. The student had not returned to his vehicle again until about 5:15 p.m. this date. At that time, he discovered that someone had forced entry to the right front door of the vehicle and had removed the stereo. Disposition: Under investigation.

Thursday, October 21

11:37 p.m. AUTO ACCIDENT, UNDESIGNATED AREA OFF CAMPUS: NSP Guard, operating department vehicle #112, was involved in a vehicle accident in the rear of 6461 Delmar. No injuries. Disposition: Cleared.

Friday, October 22

12:39 a.m. ALARM, WOHL CENTER: Fire Alarm sounded due to a pull station being activated. Disposition: Cleared.

2:06 p.m. LARCENY-THEFT, PARKING LOT #34: While recovering stolen signs from Hurd Residence Hall, the officer and transportation staff found the seven-foot barricade arm for the auto barricade on Lot #34, which was broken off and stolen on Oct. 1. Value of damage/loss was $175. Disposition: Under investigation.

Saturday, October 23

12:27 p.m. TRESPASSING, BOWLES PLAZA: Complaint received concerning skateboarders on campus. Officer contacted both subjects, who were videotaping stunts. Subjects were not WU Students. One subject had outstanding warrant from City. Other student released at scene. Both given no-trespass warnings. Disposition: Cleared.

11:36 p.m. BURGLARY, MILLBROOK APARTMENTS: Caller states that upon returning to his room, he found his front door had been forcibly opened. Caller further advised he noted that nothing had been taken from his room. Disposition: Under investigation.

Sunday, October 24

1:23 a.m. MEDICAL, NEMEROV RESIDENCE HALL: Sick case. Disposition: Cleared.

5:11 a.m. MEDICAL, LEE DORM: Sick case. Disposition: Cleared.

11:42 p.m. MEDICAL, SHANEDLING DORM: Sick case. Disposition: Cleared.

Monday, October 25

2:52 a.m. INFORMATION, UNDESIGNATED AREA OFF CAMPUS: Traffic stop of mailroom employee who had campus mail in his possession. U.S. Postal Inspector notified. Disposition: Under investigation.

9:10 a.m. LARCENY-THEFT, BEAR’S DEN: Student had ID card stolen at Bear’s Den between 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 24. No suspects. Access control cancelled the card. Disposition: Pending.

2:29 p.m. BURGLARY-THEFT, PARK HOUSE DORM: Student reported his laptop taken from Room 341 in Park Dorm. Both the main suite door and the individual room door were unlocked. Theft occurred between 10:00 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. this date. Loss = $900. Disposition: Under investigation.

4:22 p.m. TRAFFIC, SHEPLEY DRIVE: A vehicle was observed speeding on Shepley Drive. The student was stopped and referred to the Judical Administrator. Disposition: Cleared.

4:51 p.m. SOLICITORS, MALLINCKRODT CENTER: A solicitor from Elite Marketing had a table set up in the southwest corner of Bowles Plaza, near the entrance to Subway, and he was attempting to solicit business for CitiCard credit cards from students in the area. Subject was advised that he was trespassing on private property and soliciting without a license. Subject was issued a verbal warning. Disposition: Cleared.

5:14 p.m. LARCENY-THEFT, FORSYTH/HOYT PAVED LOT: Stereo taken from vehicle while parked on Lot #10 between 8:10 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.. No suspects or witnesses could be located. Total loss valued at $520. Disposition: Under investigation.

5:40 p.m. LARCENY-THEFT, MUDD HOUSE DORM: Unattended laptop was missing upon owner’s return. Taken between 12:25 p.m. and 2:25 p.m. Total value $3500. Disposition: Under investigation.

Tuesday, October 26

10:26 a.m. INFORMATION, MALLINCKRODT CENTER: Student possibly shoplifting. Informational report. Disposition: Under investigation.

11:13 p.m. ARTICLE, LIEN RESIDENCE HALL: A student reported the loss of a wallet from Oct. 25 between 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. in Lien Dorm. Disposition: Pending.

11:40 a.m. LARCENY-THEFT, MALLINCKRODT CENTER: A student was caught by the bookstore manager attempting to steal a ballpoint pen. The pen was recovered, but the student refused to remain in the area. Disposition: Under investigation.

3:05 p.m. PARKING VIOLATION, MILLBROOK APARTMENTS: Parking and Transportation employee discovered a fraudulent parking permit in a vehicle parked in Millbrook garage. The owner of the vehicle was issued a ticket and fined $500. Disposition: Cleared.

Pro-voting student organizations like Rock the Vote and Project Democracy are teaming up with the St. Louis Voting Rights Commission in order to ease the voting process on Nov. 2 for Washington University students.

Two polling places will be available for students living on campus based on where they live. Students on the South 40 will vote at Wydown Middle School, and students living in Small Group Housing or Millbrook will vote at Lady of the Lourdes, which is located just south of Forsyth. Students living off campus will vote at one of a number of different locations. (See end of article for more information.)

Josh Gantz, the University coordinator for Rock the Vote, said there would be shuttles running to and from both sites from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

With 20-25 volunteers aiding the voting process, Rock the Vote plans to eliminate any possibilities for confusion over where to vote.

“I will be standing at the polls all day long to make sure any Wash U student will be able to vote, and if there are any problems I’ll be able to take care of it,” said Gantz.

Student Union President David Ader has also been involved in preparing transportation services for students.

“It’s such an important issue that affects the entire community,” he said. “I want to do anything I can to help.”

Rock the Vote and Student Union hope to notify all students about polling places by this weekend. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., which Ader said should give students enough time to fit voting into their class schedules.

Senior Teresa Sullivan, president of Project Democracy, said that the organization is going to dorms on the South 40 and calling students who completed issue surveys to let them know where to vote.

Information is also being gathered for students living off campus.

“We’ll be going on Sunday to canvass those apartments and put up fliers to let them know where to vote,” said Sullivan.

Fliers with additional details are being posted throughout campus, and information will be available in Mallinckrodt on Monday.

While Sullivan said the focus of Project Democracy is remaining on campus, other groups, such as the League of Pissed off Voters, are concentrating on students off campus.

“We don’t have a specific concern about off campus voters, but of course we want to include them,” said Sullivan. “As they have lived in Missouri longer we’re assuming they have more access to this kind of information.”

The St. Louis County Board of Elections says on its Web site that all citizens registered to vote in Missouri should have received informational cards about their voting locations during the past week.

Volunteers will be around campus all day Nov. 2, reminding people to vote and telling them where to go, said Sullivan.

Although students have expressed interest in using the shuttle, many would have liked to know about voting further in advance.

“Maybe people didn’t register because they didn’t know if they would have a way of getting to the polls,” sophomore Katharine Howard said.

Senior Amy Liskow still thinks that providing transportation to students without cars will increase the number of student voters, especially freshman.

“For the majority of students on campus it is their first time voting, and I’m sure many of them are not going to be sure what to do,” said Liskow.

While Gantz will have to wait and see how many students are present at the polls, he expects voter turn out to be high.

“People understand the importance of voting in this election. I don’t think classes will be a problem,” Gantz said.

Where to vote:

South 40
Wydown Middle School
6500 Wydown Blvd.

University Drive
Trinity Presbyterian Church
6800 Washington Ave.

Forsyth, Millbrook, the Village
Our Lady of Lourdes School
7157 Northmoor Dr.

Waterman and Rosedale
St. Rochs Middle School
6040 Waterman Blvd.

Skinker
Missouri History Museum Library
225 S. Skinker Blvd.

U. City, west of Trinity
Center of Creative Arts
524 Trinity Ave.

Student Union (SU) fall senate elections were delayed by one week due to administrative issues related to WebSTAC programming. Elections were originally to be held on Oct. 21, but they were rescheduled to begin yesterday at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. this afternoon.

“It’s not like we had some sort of insidious plan to disenfranchise people,” said junior Spencer Young, SU’s election commissioner. “Everything was set for Oct. 21, which was right before fall break, but the WebSTAC people were really busy and were unable to set up the voter site in time.”

Director of Student Records Susan Hosack, who organizes the elections on WebSTAC, said the SU request for elections came too late to accommodate the original date.

“They notified me a week before they wanted the real election, and the programmers were not available on that short of notice,” said Hosack. “Usually they tell us at the beginning of the semester [when they want the elections]. Had we known earlier, we could have done it in time.”

According to Hosack, it usually takes about one month from the time SU notifies her to organize the election on WebSTAC.

The perceived effects of the postponement are mixed. Incumbents and SU members believe this mishap can have a positive impact, or, at worst, no viable effect on the election.

“It hasn’t really affected my campaign at all,” said sophomore and incumbent senator David Hall. “I haven’t really done much of anything. I don’t think it really has impacted anyone-the ones running for reelection don’t seem to be bothered.”

“It will make for a longer campaign period, but I don’t believe it will have any drastic effects,” said SU President David Ader. “Hopefully it will give people more time to get to know the candidates.”

On the other hand, some new candidates for the one-year senate positions expressed frustrations with the delay.

“Because I was focused on campaigning for such a short period of time, it will be harder for people to remember me,” said freshman candidate Emily Ginsberg. “I put up posters and because they were up for so long, a lot of them were taken down. There’s no way to really tell how this will affect [the election]. I don’t really think it hurt my chances of winning because it happened to everyone, so it’s an even playing field.”

Young suggested that voter turnout will be higher with the new election date because the original election was scheduled for just before fall break, when many students leave campus.

“A lot of people leave town right before fall break, and so now that [the election] is in a normal week, we should get a higher voter turnout,” said Young. “More people will be able to vote.”

Junior Tony Zand, a new candidate, maintained the opposite opinion about the postponement.

“It was really annoying,” said Zand. “I think it will definitely affect voter turnout because no one knows when [to vote] anymore. I don’t think anyone knows when the election is at all.”

But, as Young asserted, the original date of the election was never officially announced.

“People didn’t know when the original election date was because we weren’t promoting the election yet, so people didn’t know it was changed,” he said.

Young said that the new date of the election was promoted through an e-mail announcement sent to all undergraduates, and candidate statements printed in Student Life. In addition, student voters could rely on information available on the SU Web site as well as candidates’ word of mouth.

Young discussed another positive element of postponing the election, citing that the delay will even out the term lengths of members elected in the fall with their spring counterparts.

It has yet to be determined whether this postponement of the elections will remain permanent.

“We’ve talked about pushing it back a little bit, but we always have to look at when fall break is, when Thanksgiving is, and when religious holidays are happening because we don’t want campaign periods to overlap with those, and we haven’t looked that far in advance yet,” said Ader.

Young reiterated that SU is undecided.

“We are open to suggestions,” he said.

With additional reporting by Dan Daranciang

After 86 years of close calls and disappointments for dedicated fans, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series Wednesday night for the first time since 1918. With a 3-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on their home turf at Busch Stadium, Boston overcame its famed “Curse of the Bambino” to pull off a four-game sweep against the season’s winningest team in the Major Leagues.

“All of our fans have waited all their lives for this night, and it’s finally here,” Red Sox Owner John Henry told the Associated Press.

A fourth-pitch homerun by Red Sox center-fielder Johnny Damon, a two-run double by right-fielder Trot Nixon in the third inning, and an outstanding game for pitcher Derek Lowe contributed to the team’s victory. Lowe allowed just three hits in seven innings.

Boston was the first team in World Series history never to trail in any of the championship’s four games. They were also the first club ever to win eight straight games in a postseason after upsetting the New York Yankees 3-0 lead in the American League Championship Series.

Left-fielder Manny Ramirez was the first Red Sox player ever to be presented with the World Series’ Most Valuable Player award. Ramirez hit an average of .412 in the series, scoring one homerun in Game 3, four RBIs, and one run. Ramirez is now tied with New York Yankees Hank Bauer and Derek Jeter for the longest postseason hitting streak of 17 games.

Ramirez also received this year’s Hank Aaron Award as the top hitter in the American League, leading with 43 homeruns, 130 RBIs and a .308 batting average.

Despite an outstanding regular season record of 105 wins to 57 losses, the Cardinals failed to win a championship for the 22nd year in a row.

“I’m disappointed that we didn’t play well in the World Series just for the sake of the people, and to hear that crowd go crazy again,” said Cardinals’ center-fielder Jim Edmonds. “That’s tough. We didn’t even give them a chance to cheer.”

Freshman Adam LaMore, a Cardinals fan, expressed frustration over the team’s performance in the series.

“The Cardinals could have beaten Boston if they hadn’t played their worst four games of the season in the World Series,” said LaMore. “The only thing more humiliating would have been being swept by the Cubs.”

Graduate student Josh Brockman, who has been a Red Sox fan since he was old enough to watch them play, was unable to score tickets to Wednesday night’s game but went to Busch Stadium after it was over to be a part of the visiting Boston fans’ celebration.

“It still hasn’t set in for me,” said Brockman. “Two weeks ago, I had resigned myself to the fact that they were going to lose to the Yankees. I never thought the Red Sox would sweep a World Series.”

In the course of renovations of Ridgley Hall, workers unearthed and are removing asbestos from two sites in the building. The asbestos, found in floor tiles on the ground and third floors, is in non-friable “chunk” form and not in the more dangerous friable form, which is airborne.

“There’s no asbestos problem on campus,” said Ralph Thaman, associate vice chancellor for facilities planning and management at Washington University.

Until 1972, asbestos was frequently used in building construction across the country. So, when the University looks to renovate older buildings, they sometimes discover asbestos in the floors.

This week, rooms on the ground floor in Ridgley have been sealed off while a company comes in at night to remove the “chunk” or non-friable asbestos. The company installed critical barriers and filters around the rooms, and workers wore protective suits during the removal process.

Workers did not find friable asbestos in Ridgley. Unlike “chunk” asbestos, the highly dangerous friable variety comes in a powdered form and can be inhaled.

Ridgley houses the Department of Romance Languages. Employees say they worry about the danger of the construction projects.

“I think people need to be reassured that they’re proceeding in a safe manner,” said Kathy Loepker, who works on the third floor of Ridgley. “I feel that the University-they’re not communicating with us. How do we know if it’s being done properly?”

Loepker said yesterday morning she found dust all over the stairways in Ridgley. She called maintenance and someone came to clean up the debris.

“How do I know that wasn’t dangerous?” she said. “I just want to make sure that they’re doing this correctly. I think there is a lack of communication.”

Steve Rackers, manager of capital projects, said the form of the asbestos in Ridgley does not present a danger to people working near the sealed-off rooms.

“Unless somebody’s sanding on the floor, it’s not a problem,” said Rackers,

The University is renovating two old language labs on the ground floor to make one large classroom. Students exiting the food service line in Holmes Lounge by way of Ridgley are confronted by these two sealed-off doorways, with large danger signs warning of asbestos in the rooms.

Upstairs on the third floor, the University has blocked off rooms that will later be used as offices for romance language employees. The asbestos removal of these rooms has not yet begun. Faculty and staff will continue to work on the third floor during this renovation.

Rackers said the people working on the third floor understood that the asbestos removal was not dangerous to their health.

“We tell them what’s going on and they know what’s going on because of the [renovation] project. By laws and regulations, you’ve got to protect the public,” said Rackers. “The only thing is, when you put up those [danger] signs, sometimes the public gets a little alarmed.”

Employees working in Ridgley said they would like to be more involved in the process, especially considering questions about the potential danger of asbestos removal.

“I think it would be great if when this work is going to take place, they just say, let’s have a meeting, anybody who has questions about how we’re going to remove it, you can attend the meeting,” said Rebecca Messbarger, an associate professor of Italian. “No one is hysterical. We just want to know when it’s going on and how long it’s going to take.”

However, Messbarger said she wants to avoid the construction area more for her allergies than for worries about asbestos poisoning.

“I’m not really worried about it,” she said. “I assume the University is going to do the right thing.”

Senior Lauren Kaczmar, who attended a meeting in Ridgley yesterday, agreed.

“People have been taking care of asbestos for years and I feel like they know how to do it,” she said.

Last month, the men’s bathroom in Urbauer Hall closed temporarily while workers checked for asbestos. Thaman said the testing proved negative.