Archive for May, 2005

Senior spring athletes share their memories

Monday, May 16th, 2005 | Derek Winters
Dan Daranciang

As the end of the year approaches and seniors are getting ready to walk across the aisle and prepare for the “real world,” a look back at the past four years holds special meaning for senior athletes. There are a couple outstanding spring athletes who have contributed so much to the University in their past four years, both academically and athletically, that a look back into their undergraduate experience must be in order. In particular, Kacie Cook of women’s tennis, pitcher Victoria Ramsey of the no. 1 ranked softball team, designated hitter Dan Rieck of baseball and Jon Ganger of men’s tennis have much to share.

What was your greatest sports moment or memory in your last four years at WU?

Victoria Ramsey: I have a lot. I can immediately think of two recent ones. The first is when I pitched a perfect game in our conference tournament. The other is my brother coming to watch us play Greenville, who my neighbor from home happened to play for. It was pretty cool to see her family and my family sitting together yet rooting for opposing teams. My first great moment of my four years here happened during my freshman year. It was when we found out we got a bid into Regionals. Not only was it my first NCAA tournament appearance but it was also the Wash U. softball program’s first.

Dan Rieck: My greatest sports memory at Wash U. was winning the UAA Conference Tournament in Florida this year. It was the first time a Wash U. baseball team had won the tournament outright. What made it special was the fact that we lost the first game and then came back to win the next five in a row. The team showed a lot of character by bouncing back and winning those five games and set the standard for the season.

Jon Ganger: My greatest sports moment actually didn’t involve playing. During our spring break trip in California, we happened to be on the same block as the governor. The team was rolling around in an unmarked white van and thought that it would be smart to take a picture of Arnold’s house. Lo and behold, this was a terrible idea and an angry Austrian security guard ran out of the dark, not unlike a forehand winner down the line with topspin, and nearly smashed our camera.

Kacie Cook: My greatest moment: freshman year going to team Nationals in Virginia.

If you had to do it all over again, would you have changed anything about your experience here?

VR: I wouldn’t change any particular moment. I would have let the little stresses go more easily and would have realized that these four years would go by so quickly. So, I would have enjoyed and cherished the time I did have with my teammates [a little more].

DR: I wouldn’t change anything about my experience at Wash U. I left a team at Simpson College that was nationally ranked to finish my fourth year of eligibility at Wash U. and don’t regret my decision. To switch schools in my senior season and step into a program at Wash U. that is on the verge of a record-breaking season has been a great experience.

JG: I probably would have played at least one more year in an attempt to not suck as much. I also would not have let girls be a distraction to my game.

KC: I would not have changed anything about my experience. I was able to play doubles with both my older sister Stephanie and my younger sister Ashley [current doubles partner].

What is your ultimate sports dream/fantasy?

VR: The softball team winning Nationals this year and then celebrating with the other 18 Bears by Riding the Pony!

DR: My ultimate sports fantasy would definitely be playing baseball in Chicago for the Cubs and hitting a walk-off homerun to win the seventh and final game of the World Series giving the Cubs their first World Series Championship since 1908.

JG: Well, to be honest, I would go with a Grand Slam victory at the U.S. Open.

What is the best thing you are taking away from the University?

VR: Great teammates who turned into amazing friends of mine. Together we’ve overcome many obstacles and created many wonderful memories and laughs. The friendships I’ve made really are one of a kind. No other time do you really bond so closely to 18 other girls.

DR: I think the best thing I will take away from Wash U. will be the friendships I have developed with teammates. And, hopefully, a degree that makes me some money.

JG: The best thing I took away was definitely the people here. If you look hard enough, there are some real quality people walking around campus.

KC: Many of my greatest memories are from tennis trips – from the van rides to the competition.

Would you like to give any shout-outs to any coaches, friends, teammates, family?

VR: Just a quick “Yeah Bears!” Especially my bear buddy, Mount Prospect!

DR: I would like to thank my professors for working with my schedule and allowing me to take exams/quizzes early when conflicts with baseball and school arose. Finally, I would like to thank all of my teammates, as well as my parents, who were always there for me.

JG: A shout out to “Bing” and “Mr. Kim” for pulling me through the season and to coach [Follmer] for giving me a chance to play for just a senior season (why not the rest?) And finally, to my family for paying for tennis lessons that somewhat helped me become the flawed player I am today.

KC: I want to thank my teammates for the endless memories and Lynn for four amazing years. A special thanks to my parents for their endless support – I am so grateful for their countless efforts and trips to come watch me compete and their constant encouragement.

Goodbye, seniors!

Monday, May 16th, 2005 | Justin Davidson
Dan Daranciang

About the interviewees:

Colin Robinson, of Brookfield, CT, was the starting goalie for the men’s soccer team. Robinson’s 0.58 career goals-against average ranks first on the WU all-time list; he also tallied 15.5 career shutouts and a career record of 18-9-6. ÿRobinson, who has a 3.8 grade-point average as a Biology major, garnered first-team Academic All-District VII honors for the second straight season. He was also named to the first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team for the College Division.

Colleen Winter, a St. Louis native and biology major, was the captain and outside hitter on the second-ranked women’s volleyball team. She ranks first on WU’s list in career digs (1,991), second in career attack attempts (3,880) and games played (528), fifth in kills (1,538) and ninth in total blocks (218). A three-time University Athletic Association (UAA) All-Academic honoree, Winter has also earned all-UAA honors in each of her four years on the Hilltop Campus. She was named first-team All-America both this and last season and second-team All-America in 2002.

Maggie Grabow, of Wauwatosa, WI, was the captain of the third-ranked women’s cross country team. She is an environmental studies major and a double minor in French and legal studies. Maggie holds two University records, including a time of 35:47 in the 10K and a time of 17:11 in the 5K. She placed ninth in the 10K and 15th in the 5K races in the 2003 NCAA Nationals. She also won the UAA Cross Country Championships in 2003 and 2004, garnering All-Conference Honors for herself. She is a six-time UAA Athlete of the Week.

Charlotte Felber, of Orland Park, IL, was the starting goaltender for the twelfth-ranked women’s soccer team. She ranks first in Washington University history in career wins (36), second in career goals against average (0.64), fourth in career saves (175) and fourth in career shutouts (21.5). Felber, who has a 3.65 GPA as a philosophy major, garnered first-team Academic All-District VII honors earlier this month. She is a three-time member of the UAA All-Academic Team and was recently named to the ESPN Women’s Soccer Academic All-American Team.

John Woock, of Louisville, KY, a defensive back, was the captain of the football team. He has a 4.0 GPA in biomedical engineering and was recently named to the College Football’s 2004 National Scholar Athlete Class, one of 15 individuals from all NCAA divisions in the nation. He won an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship with the award. Woock earned second-team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 2003 and is the 2002 UAA Defensive Player of the Year and the recipient of the Washington University Most Courageous Award. A Dean’s List member every semester of his career, he received the Biomedical Engineering Department Junior Class Award in 2003.

What has your Wash U experience been like and what has it taught you?

Robinson: “It’s definitely been a period of growth, both academically and athletically. I’ve really gained a sense of maturity which has taught me how to focus much better with classes and especially soccer. I love Wash U. It’s been such a great, positive experience for me.”

Winter: “I’ve met so many people here from all over, like my freshman roommate from Saudi Arabia. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I’m going to really savor next semester. As for volleyball, I’m so lucky to be part of such a talented group of great people. Kudos to the coach for his recruiting skills.”

Grabow: “It’s taught me how to be an independent person and how to expand upon the values that my parents taught me like dedication, perseverance, loyalty and trust through developing relationships. I had to use those values to build bonds of trust, especially with teammates, who then became my best friends. I’m not the same person I was freshman year – I was more na‹ve and sheltered, but coming to college opened my eyes to a different world.”

Felber: “I’ve come to love Wash U as a very special place that has taught me a lot. I’ve met some great friends, and even though the classes have been challenging, it’s been a very rewarding experience.”
Woock: “The past four years have taught me how to balance my responsibilities and how to have fun. Enjoying being around such great people, especially, has given me a greater appreciation for diversity across the country. Coming from Louisville I wasn’t very exposed to all that’s out there, but Wash U has opened me up to people of different backgrounds and places.”

What was it like balancing an academic life with an athletic sports career?

Woock: “It really comes down to managing your time and knowing how to study at the last minute, which is clutch. Football was something I really wanted to do, so giving that up was out of the question. So, in order to do both successfully, I had to make both equally as important to have a purpose and persevere despite everything I had on my plate. I managed.”

Winter: “Firstly, there’s no such thing as a social life on Friday and Saturday, so there’s not much time for yourself and with friends. When you have such a schedule you must become disciplined and use the time when you have it. Every moment is basically spent doing work because you basically have to. It’s all so worth it, though. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Robinson: “Freshman year I didn’t play because of a knee injury, so I was in rehab, which I think gave me a better chance to readjust while also preparing for competition.”

Grabow: “I’ve learned how to manage my time, that’s for sure. Both work and athletics are really important priorities for me, and in order to maintain that priority at practice and at school, you have to be efficient. Nevertheless, it’s always important to have the time to have fun. Professors have been really sympathetic and understanding with my demands and schedule, so I’m grateful for that.”

Felber: “As an architecture major my first two years, it was hard being a perfectionist and having to have so much studio time, so sometimes I overexerted myself. I then switched to philosophy, and still spent lots of time doing work. Also, being around other driven people has a trickle-down-effect. On the bus, everyone would have their books out doing work. It was tough, but rewarding.”

Looking back on the past four years, would you do anything differently if you could?

Woock: “It would have been nice to win a few more games, especially the close ones, but the memories wouldn’t be traded for anything. It was an awesome, fun four years, so I can’t say I’d want to change a thing. No regrets.”

Robinson: “Well, being a biology major I felt I was forced to take specific courses. I would have liked to get some more variety than just planning for my future.

Grabow: “One of my weaknesses is perfectionism, and because of that I always seem to put a lot of pressure on myself. I would have liked to handle some situations without always putting so much pressure on myself and hindering myself in doing so. Coach Stiles taught me to run to have fun, and after learning from him, it now is.”

Felber: “No, because then everything would not have turned out the way it has. Soccer is more than just soccer, and I would never want to give something as special as that up. Maybe I would’ve liked to come in having more of a propensity to explore different areas.”

What is your greatest Wash U sports memory?

Robinson: “I don’t think I have one in particular, but it was the things like road trips that I’ll always remember. For instance, coming back from U Chicago [University of Chicago] last year after a big win just hanging out and celebrating, having freestyling sessions, telling jokes on the microphone – it was all just so great. It was also really cool traveling with the girls, which gave a nice variety with their team there. One of the greatest things is that you don’t only get to know all the guys on your team but also other athletes from other teams… since we all pretty much live at the AC during the season.”

Winter: “The natural thing to say is to win the national championship last year, but I’m not sure, because there are so many great random moments. It’s the little memories that I’ll remember the most, like on the bus and in the locker room with the girls. They’re an exceptionally amazing group of girls and there’s no fighting between us. After every game we’d go to Wendy’s and get Frostys – it’s the little things like that.”

Felber: “Probably beating U Chicago last year is definitely at the top of the list. It was one of the things that helped to set up our success this year, I believe. There were a lot of family and friends at the game, so that was really great. It’s tough to choose just one; there’s so many.”

Grabow: “On Saturday, November 20, we took third place at Nationals and it was quite the honor to lead these ladies to that after working so hard. That day was the event we all had worked for, and it was so exceptional, not just because of our success, but also…the entire team came up to Wisconsin to cheer us on. I saw my grandfather on the sidelines with tears in his eyes – the joy that I saw in his eyes and the pride I saw was simply unforgettable. I never saw Coach Stiles that ecstatic. It was so rewarding to see him so happy.”

Woock: “Probably the end of the Carnegie Mellon game this season because it was an intense last drive and stopping them cold meant something special for the seniors, which was that we became the only class to win every conference game ever played. Also, I just got in from New York for the Awards dinner and it was an unreal experience. People like Ronnie Lott, Joe Paterno and Archie Manning were there – it was ridiculous. I felt very fortunate to be there.”

With the close of your last season behind you, what were some of your emotions and thoughts knowing that it’s all coming to an end soon?

Grabow: “My initial feeling was sadness because of the remarkable experience and knowing that I’m leaving it. I’m so proud to be a member of the cross country team and happy for them because I know they will do well. Still, I’m excited to see what the future holds – a little apprehensive, but confident that the relationships I’ve built are strong and will help me along the way.”

Felber: “Denial. I didn’t think about it as over right away. Some people were pretty emotional, but it wasn’t until we had a team dinner last week where it really set in. It was really more so what we built as a team more than anything that I’ll miss. The future of the team is ahead of them and they should all be very successful.”

Robinson: “It’s kind of weird – working for so much then all of a sudden it stops. It’s hard to know that it’s coming to an end. I mean, you can’t just stop playing since we’ve all been playing since we were four of five years old. It’s a real transitional period. I’d like to continue playing [soccer] in the future in maybe indoor or adult leagues as I become an overweight middle-aged man.”

Winter: “It’s a real bittersweet feeling because I love volleyball and sports in general, so it’s hard not to imagine being on the team. I plan on starting up with sand volleyball and coaching a club team here in St. Louis just so I can hold some ties to the sport. But it just won’t be the same since it’s not with the team. I’m excited to have some free time and go out.

Woock: “My biggest feeling was to just take it all in and just stand around on the field before the game to take a mental picture of it. I didn’t want to worry about it going by too fast. It should be interesting to see how I’ll be next season when I’m not playing. I was talking with Ronnie Lott at the awards dinner and he told me to take these things from the field and apply them to life. Football was never work, and if I could play forever, that would be awesome.”

Is there any advice you want to leave to your teammates after gaining infinite wisdom from your experiences?

Felber: “Enjoy it, it goes by a lot quicker than you think. Still, don’t lose other aspects of life and be set only on academics. Enjoy the other aspects and remember to have fun. That’s really important.”

Winter: “Don’t be a fool, stay in school. No, just kidding. Wash U is so amazing and once in while you should look around…and just appreciate it. Try to enjoy it because it goes by really fast. I just hope that next semester goes by really, really slowly because I’m going to have some fun!”

Grabow: “I guess just to believe in yourself and don’t put pressure on yourself. Be confident and if you work towards your goals, you’ll achieve success. It’s the little things you need in order to have success…like with teammates, friends, professors, and family. I think it’s really important to make sure to make the time to say you love the people who are important to you in your life and recognize the people who have helped you along the way.”

Robinson: “Enjoy the guys on the team and the experience because you’re never going to go to school and play sports again like we’ve done. The senior batch, especially, are such amazing people; they’re all very impressive. It was great having the opportunity to get to know all of them and I’ll miss them very much.”

Woock: “Well, something that I picked up from the older guys when I was a freshman was that there’s nothing more important than having fun. You really can’t take things too seriously, or else you’re in for trouble. Enjoy life, it’s that simple.”

What are your plans after graduation and what do you see the future holding in store for you?

Robinson: “I’m applying to medical school, so hopefully I’ll be there next year, maybe back East. Hopefully I’ll get into public health of maybe international or urban health.”

Grabow: “Right now I’m applying to law schools, environmental law especially, and then maybe get my masters in environmental science. I also want to run in marathons because it’s very fulfilling to feel that connection with long-distance running. A family is also in order.”

Winter: “I’m applying to physical therapy school at Wash U, so right now I’ve got to finish up all my applications. I’d like to get right into it – physical therapy is just what I’m looking for as a biology major and someone who loves to interact with people. As long as I can interact with people.”

Felber: “I’m applying to law school, but I might possibly give myself a break to get a feel for what exactly I want to do. I’m not quite sure – I’m still interested in architecture, so maybe construction or environmental and land use law. So, we’ll see how that turns out.”

Woock: “I’m looking to go to Biomedical Engineering graduate school in neuroprosthetics research, maybe out on the West coast for a change of scenery. But for right now, I have to wrap up my applications and get all that together.”

Is there anyone you would like to thank?

Winter: “I’d just like to reiterate how lucky I feel to be a part of such an amazing group of people and how lucky I feel to be able to make the playoffs and be so successful as we have. Not many teams can be as privileged as we are to do so well, even though most teams will work so hard. I can’t feel any luckier.”

Grabow: “Definitely my parents for always being so supportive. They rarely miss a competition, regardless of where I’m competing, and I can’t thank them enough for their support. Definitely my grandfather, sister, and teammates, and to Coach Stiles. It was truly an honor to be a member of the women’s cross country team.”

Felber: “The development of the team is something I haven’t felt from coaches before and the same goes with my teammates. We’re all very close, almost like family. It’s very genuine, that’s what I’m going to miss the most. But I’m thankful just for the opportunity to be part of such a team and get to know everyone I have met.”

Robinson: “I want to thank all of my teammates, my coaches, my friends and, above all, my family for all of their support. I had a fantastic experience as an athlete and student here at Wash U, but it wouldn’t have been as great were it not for them.”

Woock: “I’d like to thank my coaches. Some of the greatest lessons of life are taught from the sidelines, and I can’t appreciate that any more. My teammates, the seniors especially, are so special to me. They’re a special bunch of people and I can’t be more grateful for them.”

On the way home: summer roadside attractions

Monday, May 16th, 2005 | Erin Fults and Sarah Baicker

Because not every Wash U student hails from the Midwest, it’s likely that you or a close friend will be traveling a fair distance by car to return home for the summer. Perhaps on your way back to New York or Philadelphia or L.A. you’ve stopped off along the way. Maybe you’ve spent an evening or two in a small town along I-70 or I-80. If you have (and probably even if you haven’t), you’re likely aware that besides some cows and market or two, there aren’t many fun places to get out of the car, stretch, and enjoy. However, there are a plethora of unique, off-beat and unknown attractions across the entire country, perfect for an intermission on a 15-hour drive – so we’ve taken the liberty of telling you about eight of them. If you want more information about these and other oddball tourist stops (or if you just want to see how ridiculous America really is) visit www.roadsideamerica.com.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina: Big Coffee Pot

College students, who know the malaise incurred by constant sleep deprivation, also recognize the benefits of imbibing that big cup of joe each morning. These caffeine addicts will appreciate the giant coffee pot located in the restored Moravian Village of Old Salem in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The coffee pot stands at a height of about 12 feet, has circumference of about 16 feet, and holds an estimated volume of 740 gallons of coffee. The pot has seen numerous relocations, initially due to common “traffic” accidents involving horse and buggy teams. If it could talk, could spout off many stories such as concealing a Yankee (or Confederate) soldier during the war, and even being the target of an explosive Halloween prank. The coffee pot marks the continuance of caffeine in our daily lives and visiting this landmark will surely provide a perk to any road trip.

Louisville, Kentucky: World’s Largest Baseball Bat

A Mecca for baseball fans everywhere, Kentucky’s Louisville Slugger Museum is a home run hit with the world’s largest baseball bat propped up against the museum’s brick exterior. The bat is 120 feet tall and weighs 34 tons, in honor of baseball legend Babe Ruth’s 34 inch-long wooden bat. The museum offers visitors a history of baseball, interactive displays, fun facts, and a look into the art of the bat and hitting.
Louisville native and freshman Whitney Lesch takes pride in her city’s baseball tribute.

“I have been to the Slugger Museum many times and I am very proud of our big bat. It’s cool because you get a mini Louisville slugger to remember your trip. You can even see the bat from the highway and I drive by it almost every day.”

Darwin, Minnesota: World’s Largest Twine Ball

What roadside journey would be complete without the compulsory big ball of string? While large twine balls are dotted throughout the country, Darwin, Minnesota holds the claim to the world’s largest rolled by one man. Started in 1950 by Francis Johnson, the ball of twine is now 12 feet in diameter and weighs in at 17,400 pounds. Others have tried to surpass this 39+ year endeavor, but Darwin still maintains the king of string.

Berwyn, Illinois: Cars on a Spike

If you’ve seen Wayne’s World, then you’re already familiar with this forty-foot-tall spike impaled through eight cars. It resides in Berwyn, Illinois’ Cermak Plaza Shopping center, not too far west of Chicago. It’s titled “The Spindle,” and was sculpted (if that’s the right word for it) by Dustin Shuler in 1989. A drive through this art-full parking lot will prove that Berwyn’s got more to offer than just the impaled autos: besides a handful of other sculptures, another of Shuler’s outrages pieces calls Berwyn its home, too.

Audubon, Iowa: Albert, the World’s Largest Bull

“Born” in 1964, Albert, the World’s Largest Bull is 30 feet tall, spans 15 feet from horn and weighs a mighty 45 tons. He’s named after a past president of Audubon’s State Bank, and if you push a button next to him, he’ll let you know he was built to resemble a Hereford Bull. His message ends with a reminder to drive carefully, either on to your next destination, or into town to buy a replica of Albert to take home. Your immature side may be interested to know that our bovine friend has two giant, concrete gonads.

Goodland, Kansas: World’s Largest Easel

Kansas is one of the flat plains states where anything remotely tall attracts attention. An 80-foot-tall easel, then, is very obvious. Goodland is home to such an easel, complete with a 32-foot by 24-foot representative painting of Van Gogh’s sunflowers. Kansas, the sunflower state, and Goodland, the heart of the sunflower industry, is the perfect setting for this $150,000 work of art.

Helendale, California: Exotic World

A minor detour from the typical star-studded sights in L.A. and Hollywood leads travelers along a dirt road to Exotic World in Helendale. This museum, run by retired burlesque queen Dixie Evans, celebrates the history of stripping and exotic dancing. Visitors are welcomed by boa-wrapped Dixie herself, and then take a tour, passing walls decorated with stripper posters and glass display cases holding garter belts, costumes, pasties, and G-strings. Decorative urns containing the remains of past celebrated greats adorn the halls along with commemorative photos, each with a story. For example, a stripper named Siska trained her Macaw parrots to fly around and bit by bit remove pieces of her clothing. The museum is filled with many other such stories and visitors can pick up helpful hints such as, “how to keep your pasties on.”

Effingham, Illinois: The Giant Cross

Familiar to many Wash U students, the “Crossroads of America” in Effingham is home to one of the world’s largest crosses. The giant cross is reported to be 198 feet tall with a 113 foot crossbar. Initially constructed by the First Baptist Church of Effingham, a Meditation Walk and Ten Commandments monument have also been added to the area to provide a fully religious experience. Take a walk around the base of the cross and you’ll find audio recordings of each commandment in 10 small stone boxes. And of course, the Crossroads of America is complete with the obligatory gift shop nearby.

Local students rally to save Humphrey’s

Monday, May 16th, 2005 | Helen Rhee
Dan Daranciang

Saint Louis University seniors gathered together at landmark saloon “Humphrey’s” to celebrate their senior week sporting t-shirts with the message, “Save Humphrey’s.” The restaurant and pub, popular among Saint Louis and Washington University students alike, is now in jeopardy of being shut down by local private developers, who hope to rebuild the area.

Humphrey’s, located near Saint Louis University (SLU), has been home to many college students and community members in the St. Louis metropolitan area for almost three decades. It opened 1976 when husband-and-wife team Bob and Jen Humphrey Mangelsdorf decided to open a campus bar. Now, 29 years later, it has become a landmark for college students and community members venturing south of SLU on Laclede Avenue. It caters to a diverse crowd, and at midnight serves as a popular hang-out spot for college students. It is also known for being the place to go when college students embark upon the rite of passage known as turning 21.

In 2003, developers Rick Yackey, Bill Bruce, and broker Rick Zimmerman bought the 240,000-square-foot warehouse complex west of and behind Humphrey’s that had gone on the market in 2001. Developers planned to turn buildings west of the bar into residential housing, condos and lofts. They hope to exercise eminent domain to purchase the land that includes Humphrey’s and turn the bar’s location into a commercial parking lot.

Jen Mangelsdorf, who now runs the business after her husband passed away due to a heart attack at the age of 40, does not wish to sell her business.

“I have been here 29 years. I am entering my 30th year as the owner of the bar. We are very excited to have residential neighbors, but they feel that they need the space for retail or parking space,” said Mangelsdorf. “But I do not want to sell.”

Even if Mangelsdorf does not sell, developers may block access to the Humphrey’s parking lot to starve the business. Various lawsuits are currently in the works to prevent developers from absorbing the Humphrey’s parking lot.

Students at SLU, in a show of solidarity, created the Web site www.savehumphreys.com. Junior Jim Swift, the student behind the site, said he created it not only to preserve the landmark saloon, but also to save the memories of students who have been their loyal customers since 1976.

“I have been going there since my 21st birthday. But is not about my memories I am trying to save. It is about memories of people who met their wives and ex-wives and their life-long companions. I may not have had crazy and sweet memories as of yet, but I always have a good time when I am there,” said Jim Swift

Every day, Swift receives hundreds of emails from former alumni who send pictures and share their nostalgic memories of Humphrey’s. Most of them include thank you note for his effort to save the restaurant.

Some of the emails include the story of an alumnus of the class of 1996 who still owns the plunger that bar gave him when he turned 21.

“It’s about the alumni and community. It’s a landmark place,” said Mangelsdorf.

The bar attracted a large crowd during the Final Four when SLU alumni came back with their sons and daughters, hoping to relive the memories of old days.

“It is very emotional every day. I have talked to so many people who met their husbands and wives and life-long friends [at Humphrey’s]. So many people have developed relationships here,” said Mangelsdorf.

Currently, the future of the landmark saloon depends on whether or not the developers can exercise the power of eminent domain.

Freshman year: overcoming international tragedy

Monday, May 16th, 2005 | Rachel Streitfeld
Dan Daranciang

This year marked not only the largest number of available rooms on campus, but also the highest number of students, nearly 4,000, living on campus in university history. The increase in students was due largely to more upperclassmen applying to live on campus, as opposed to moving to off-campus apartments, as was the trend in the past.

As a result of resident complaints concerning vandalism and noise, the University City Police Department increased the number of police patrolling the area between Washington University and the Delmar Loop. This patrol increase prompted uneasy relations between residents and police for the rest of the year.

For the first time, medical school applicants could apply to 116 medical schools for the 2002 academic year through an online program created by the American Medical College Application Service, though lack of server capacity and increased usage posed serious problems for online appliers.

The University basked in the glow of rising rankings in the media. Princeton Review ranked Washington University Dining Services number two in the nation, based upon student feedback, diversity of cuisine, new policies, and student-administrator meetings. The university also moved up in U.S. News and World Report rankings to #14, the highest ranking the University had ever received to that point.

When hijacked airplanes crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. on Sept. 11, the ripple effect at the University saddened and motivated the university community towards discussion and change. The university immediately responded to the terrorist attack by placing televisions, professors and counselors in common rooms across campus to comfort distraught students.

Students’ regular routines were fundamentally disrupted that Tuesday, with the cancellation of classes, constant activity on cell phones, and numerous incidental and planned campus gatherings. The University community offered support to New York victims through letters and donations – 400 people were turned away from an emergency blood drive on campus because of overwhelming interest. Team 31 decided to add an extra “D” for Donations to the fall WILD and transform the event into a keg-free benefit concert, with funds going to East Coast relief efforts.

Following isolated acts of violence and threats against American Muslims, including a harassing phone call at the University, administrators shut down the university’s online directory. University students and faculty members joined together to form the September 11 Committee to discuss their concerns with planned U.S. military response to the terrorist attacks.

With more original programming, increased student involvement and a new selection process for videos, Washington University Television (WUTV) attracted more viewers with new shows like “Missionary Positions” and “WU Cribs.” University religious leaders gathered with students on “Missionary Positions” to discuss differing religious views, both official and individual, on sex, love, and sexuality.

In October, the opening of the Charles F. Knight Executive Education Center complemented the Olin School of Business’ $500,000 makeover and the school’s state-of-the-art program in China in an effort to increase the school’s international reputation. The University welcomed these additions despite a financial blow. Following downturns in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and other economic indicators, the University’s endowment fell from $4.3 billion to $4 billion in 2000-2001.

Greek Life expanded this year to include the Mu Alpha Gamma fraternity for women and welcome back the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. After serving a two-year suspension issued by its national board of directors in 1999, the SAM fraternity returned to Washington University this fall. The fraternity’s suspension came on the heels of a rocky year that, according to the director of Greek Life, included poor leadership, financial woes, troubling behavior and alcohol abuse, culminating in accusations of hazing stemming from SAM’s spring pledge events.

The University raised undergraduate tuition in the spring by $1,200 to $26,900, a 4.7 percent increase from the previous year’s tuition rates. Administrators cited reasons for the increase including the need to attract and keep faculty members, costs of construction of new facilities, and the implementation of the new Arts & Sciences undergraduate curriculum. This new curriculum, however, was met with mixed reviews, as many students and advisors were confused by the complexities of the new curricular model.

Student Union’s Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) announced their proposal for a revised SU constitution that would go into effect the next year. Some of the most significant changes included the adoption of a bicameral legislature, composed of a senate and a treasury. The senate would be responsible for representing the interests of the student body, while the treasury would manage the allocation of the student activities fee to the University’s student groups.

Olympic officials chose Francis Field, the site of the 1904 Olympic Games, as a stop on the flame’s route to Salt Lake City, Utah. Students tuned into the winter Olympics for comfort and friendly competition after the fall’s tragic events.

The university introduced a Loan Repayment Assistance Program to provide financial assistance for students from the School of Law who enter public interest law with tuition debt. Initially, University faculty voted not to aid students entering the military, explaining that the military’s anti-homosexuality stance does not comply with the school’s non-discriminatory policies. Dean Seligman of the Law School, however, overturned the hotly debated vote to provide equal treatment to all University law students.

Following a national trend, the School of Law decided to inflate the grades of its graduating students. The decision, prompted primarily by grade inflation at peer schools as well as an increase in the quality of the School of Law’s student body, was aimed at giving more of a competitive edge to WUSL graduates. This new scale was intended to run closer to grades students receive at similar institutions.

Anthony Whittington, a senior in the School of Engineering, accused Professor Robert Morley of racial discrimination and considered filing a lawsuit against Washington University. Whittington alleged that his professor harassed him and gave him an unfairly low grade. School of Engineering Dean Christopher Byrnes convened two committees and in fact offered to let the student retake his class. Byrnes stated, however, that the committee was satisfied by Morley’s explanation for his conduct.

In March, the university’s Committee on Alcohol proposed changes addressing the University’s closed-container alcohol policy. Specifically, the proposed changes would increase policing of underage possession of closed containers of alcohol on campus. Though minors’ possession of closed containers has always been illegal under Missouri law and university policy, this rule had previously not been enforced.

Fraternities came under fire in March when members of Sigma Chi offended three visiting women’s tennis teams and the University administration, allegedly yelling sexually explicit epithets and throwing a dead squirrel onto the courts during a tennis match.

Scandal struck the university when members of the University’s Progressive Action Coalition (PAC) and the Missouri Democratic Party said that the university implicitly contributed to the political campaign of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jim Talent by paying him a unusually high salary. Talent received $90,000 to teach two courses at the University.

Drawing comparisons to Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh, Adam Shapiro, a humanitarian aid worker and 1994 University graduate, was one of the individuals barricaded in Yasser Arafat’s compound on the first day of the Israeli siege of the West Bank Town, Ramallah this spring. Shapiro is a member of the International Solidarity Movement, a Palestinian group that uses non-violence to end Israeli occupation.

University students gave back to the St. Louis community with events like Empty Bowls, an open microphone night to increase awareness of homelessness, and Thurtene Carnival, which moved back to the law school parking lot this year. Senior Jay Swoboda started What’s Up St. Louis, a magazine both chronicling and benefiting the homeless.

Seniors frantically searched for post-graduation jobs, encountering few opportunities due to what the Associated Press called the highest unemployment rate in almost eight years – a rate of 6 percent. Many students decided to stay on at the University as TAs or as admissions officers.

Sophomore year: Jews for Jesus, MetroLink, and war

Monday, May 16th, 2005 | Molly Antos
Dan Daranciang

This school year saw improvement in many areas for Washington University. The overall undergraduate program rose from the 14th to the 12th-highest ranking in U.S. News and World Report, which also ranked 19 graduate programs among the top 10 in their respective categories. Highlights of these rankings include the School of Medicine’s rise to become the second-best medical school focused on research, the Olin Graduate School of Business’s rise to 29 from its previous position of 31 and the School of Art’s new position of 21. The University also improved in its food rankings, offering the best food of any college in the country, according to The Princeton Review.

In response to student complaints that there was not enough security for off-campus housing, the University Police Department began patrolling surrounding neighborhoods of university-owned property. The other goal of this new program was to help improve the relationship between students and other members of the neighborhoods.

Students this year were given the option of taking new “themed” English composition courses to fit their interests. The different options included Technology and Society, Journey and Quest, Language and Identities and the traditional English composition class, Writing and Critical Thinking.

With the assistance of 18 University student interns and Chancellor Mark Wrighton, alumnus and balloonist Steve Fossett brought the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom capsule to its final destination at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. The capsule was used in Fossett’s circumnavigation of the globe last summer, which took him four days, 19 hours and 50 minutes.

The one-year anniversary of 9/11 was marked by a candlelight vigil in the Brookings Quadrangle to remember the victims and their families. Almost 1, 000 people sat in silence as students and faculty shared their thoughts, reactions and experiences about the tragic event.

Controversial author of “Step Across This Line” Salman Rushdie spoke at the University on Oct. 3 and 4. Rushdie was invited back this year after his visit last year was cancelled due to security concerns. Rushdie went into hiding after the publication of his work “The Satanic Verses” because Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini placed a death threat, or fatwa, on Rushdie. His appearance on campus marked one of the occasional public appearances Rushdie now makes.

Religious group Jews for Jesus ignited provocative debate on campus about religious boundaries earlier in the year. Sponsored by members of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Jews for Jesus made an effort to spread their beliefs in order to convert “traditional Jews,” or members of the Jewish community who do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, into believers in Jesus.

WUTV came out with a new show that year called “Wake Up Wash U.” This is a daily morning news program that provides students with both campus and national news, as well as entertaining segments.

University College started giving employees free tuition this year, compliments of a new University benefit package which also includes 50 percent remission for graduate courses. The result was a 32 percent increase in University College enrollment, from 2,028 students last fall to 2,681 students this year. The number of university employees enrolled increased by over 500.

The School of Law’s Student Bar Association (SBA) denied funding to the Law Students Pro-Life, but upon LSPL’s appeal, the decision was reversed and funding was granted. Previous to the reversal, this had been the first time in University history that the SBA, the law school’s student government, had denied any group of students the right to become an acknowledged organization on campus.

Senior Arianna Haut represented the Univesity on “Jeopardy!” as part of the college tournament. On her first appearance on the show, Haut came in first, winning $17,200. She lost in the semi-finals, however, winning only $5,000 for advancing that far.

Dr. Larry Shapiro was named Dr. William Peck’s successor as dean of the School of Medicine. Shapiro, along with two of his three children, is a University alumnus. Peck will remain at the university as a professor and researcher.

Undergraduate tuition increased by 5.2 percent, from $26,900 this year to $28,300 for the 2003-2004 school year. The hike came in response to new construction costs and rising faculty salaries. Currently, 60 percent of University undergraduates are receiving some form of financial assistance; this number should increase next year, however, due to the tuition increase.

After an electric pole caught on fire at the corner of Wydown and Big Bend, the South 40 was without power for approximately 12 hours. The after-effects of this event included flooding in Eliot Dormitory as a result of frozen pipes.

The University announced its support of affirmative action in university admissions policies by signing an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief submitted to the United States Supreme Court. The University joined 37 other colleges in this endeavor, and studies of student opinion showed that it was largely backed by the student body.

University students and staff watched on television as hundreds of law enforcement officials searched the “debris belt” of the exploded Columbia shuttle for remnants and bodies. The campus mourned after the shuttle broke up over Texas only 16 minutes before it was scheduled to land in Florida.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was announced as the speaker at this year’s spring graduation. Albright received an honorary doctor of humanities degree. Graduation took place on Friday, May 16, in the Brookings Quadrangle.

President George Bush delivered a speech shocking parts of the campus and the nation when which he gave Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave Iraq. When these demands were not met, the U.S. invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003. This event was met with anger from segments of the University community; a war protest was held the next day in the Quad.

After three years of meetings, planning, engineering and financial decisions, groundbreaking for the new MetroLink line finally took place. The groundbreaking was marked by a ceremony in the West Campus parking lot. Forest Park Parkway will be closed for more than a year, with the new line opening in March 2006. The new route will run underneath Millbrook Boulevard via a tunnel, surfacing at the intersection of Hoyt Drive and Throop Drive to pick up passengers.

SU reviews past year

Monday, May 16th, 2005 | John Hewitt

Student Union reviewed and revisited how they run their organization with the help of student input. A team of Olin Business School students working at the Olin Center for Experimental Learning spent the past year conducting a review of how Student Union (SU) presents itself to its constituents. They presented suggestions for the governing body’s improvement at a recent meeting of SU representatives.

“SU should be a servicing entity, not a governing entity,” said Charles Bishop, the leader of the research team. “There needs to be a basic direction of reformulation for SU.”

The five-student team performed a survey involving a mass solicitation of comments from students about SU via e-mail. SU paid $7,500 for the service, which SU President David Ader believes was money well spent.

“Going back, I would have done the same thing,” said Ader. “It’s a lot of work to come in and do, [but] doing any other consulting group would have been a lot more.”

According to the research team, the major problem that SU faces revolves around the fact that they are a service-oriented body that gets funds from what is essentially a tax on every student’s tuition. SU derives its funding from the student activities fee, a set percentage of tuition. SU’s website puts its annual budget at $1.75 million.

The team advocated the introduction of compensatory incentives to SU members. They suggested that serving in SU is too time-consuming to be a realistically open opportunity for working students. Incentives, such as full or partial tuition compensation or class credit, could make elections more competitive and enhance SU productivity. The team cited Saint Louis University’s Student Government Association, which offers the president full tuition compensation, as an example of such a policy. When asked to comment, Ader said that a new constitution was being discussed among SU members.

Communication changes were another key feature of the Olin team’s suggestions. They suggested an expansion of SU’s informational e-mail newsletters and website to increase student awareness of SU’s activities.

While suggesting an increase in communication, the team cautioned SU to decrease the use of its logo, noting that the “dilution of the SU brand” concerned them. Currently, the SU logo appears on all advertisements for events and clubs funded by the student activities fee. They suggested that it be changed to something more memorable, which would only be used at very large Student Union-funded events.

Sophomore Ana Bailey, SU Senate academic affairs committee chair, said that these suggestions brought up new issues that the group had not previously considered.

“There was overlap between what we already knew and what was new to us,” said Bailey. “They definitely brought to our attention things we didn’t know, like how we used our logo and how students interpreted our money being spent.”

All members of SU attending the consultation received a booklet containing all comments received from students in the review process. The unedited compilation of electronically collected, anonymous student comments in the study contained a variety of opinions about SU.
“More support for outside interests such as the roller hockey team and lacrosse,” said one student when asked what s/he wanted from SU that was not already being done.

Another student responded, “Too many RULES. Selective enforcement periods. Need to be able to get food to encourage participation,” when asked for thoughts about problems with SU’s structure.

Many students objected to the amount of funding their student group received from SU, while others objected to the amounts that other student groups received. Other student comments covered a wide breadth of subjects, with some expressing frustration over SU’s relationship with the University administration, others taking the opportunity to write on completely unrelated topics, and a few praising SU and its involvement in the University community. Whatever the comments suggested, Bailey found that hearing students’ actual input was helpful in planning for the future.

“In general, one of the most valuable things we got from it was the hardcore data from the survey,” said Bailey. “Some of the comments were stuff we already knew, like that we need to improve communication. They also showed us a lot of graphs and breakdowns of what students thought on serious issues, and how they thought their funding should be spent.”

Junior year: 150 years, construction, and Nicaraguans

Monday, May 16th, 2005 | Sarah Kliff
Yu Araki

Washington University began its 150th year with the announcement that the University had risen in rank to hold a spot as the 9th best undergraduate program in the country according to U.S. News & World Report. This was the University’s first appearance in the top ten. The School of Engineering & Applied Science rose to 38th best in the nation, while the Olin School of Business held its spot at 14th in the rankings.

The Sesquicentennial Celebration, commemorating the University’s 150th anniversary, brought approximately 20,000 students, faculty and community members to campus for over 200 festive events. Chancellor “Magic Mark” Wrighton wowed students and younger children alike with his Magic Show, and University alumnus Ted Drewes created a special “SesQuete”-flavored frozen custard to celebrate the event.

To many students’ dismay, they attended the University’s first keg-free WILD in the fall, watching Busta Rhymes perform. Live was the spring headliner.

An October strike at local grocery stores, including Schnucks, had some students protesting outside, while others crossed picket lines to get their groceries. Student Union provided new shuttle routes that took students to Straub’s for their shopping needs during the 25-day strike.

The Student Worker Alliance (SWA) formed in October in response to the deportation of 36 Nicaraguan grounds workers. While the return of the workers still remains uncertain, the SWA has widened its mission to pursue the implementation of a living wage on campus through events such as the “Boot the Bell” campaign against Taco Bell and a rally on the steps of Brookings Hall that brought in activists from throughout the St. Louis community.

Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) welcomed new Director Alan Glass after former Director Laurie Rietman announced plans to retire. SHCS is also considering plans for a new home on the South 40 in the future. James McLeod, vice chancellor for students and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, announced the possible move to a yet-to-be-decided location closer to student housing.

In November, Chancellor Wrighton announced that the University would host one of the presidential debates during fall 2004. The administration has already started preparing for the debate on Oct. 8, 2004, recruiting student volunteers and laying out plans for the debate on the basis of the University’s experience hosting debates in 1992 and 2000. The Oct. 8 Coalition, a student group created with the goal of shedding light on issues not being discussed in the debate, formed in reaction to the University’s selection as a debate host.

In local politics, two University faculty members announced that they would vie for the seat of former Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt. Jeff Smith, an adjunct professor in University College, and Mark Smith, associate dean of students in the School of Law, are competing for the Democratic nomination in the 3rd District.

Thomas Friedman drew a crowd that filled the University’s Athletic Complex for his speech about the war against Iraq as part of the Assembly Series. Friedman, a columnist for the New York Times, will return to campus this month to give the commencement address for the graduating class of 2004.

Students also had a chance to hear a voice from the political right when the Conservative Leadership Association (CLA) brought author Ann Coulter to campus for the Assembly Series. Earlier in the year the CLA also sponsored a lecture about the hypocrisy of society and the pitfalls of liberalism given by WWF wrestler Ultimate Warrior.

Construction on and off campus has been an inconvenience to many students but yielded many developments. The renovated Olin Library, which has been three years in the making, will open its doors on May 7. Along with more obvious changes to the building’s outer surfaces, changes inside include a new 24-hour caf‚ and the Arc technology center.

As library construction drew to a close, the building of the $56.8 million-dollar Sam Fox Arts Center commenced. The Arts Center, located in the parking lot east of Brookings Hall, is set to open in the spring of 2006 and will serve as a center for fine arts at the University.

Residents of the Village and those living on Washington Avenue woke up daily to early morning construction on the MetroLink expansion. The project, with an expected completion date in 2006, will add MetroLink stops at Forsyth Avenue and Skinker Boulevard.

The University women’s volleyball team captured its eighth national championship this year. The women clinched the title in a 3-0 win over New York University, finishing out their season with a 28-game winning streak.

Tuition increases announced at the beginning of the spring semester will bring the total cost of attending the University to over $40,000 per year. Undergraduate tuition will rise $1,400 (4.9 percent) to $29,700 for the 2004-2005 school year. The cost of living in a double room in a new residence hall with a full meal plan will rise to $10,292, bringing the total cost of attending the University to $40,838.

Direct Connect, a hub-based student file-sharing program, was shut down this semester after the administration became aware of it. Its existence had been largely publicized by an article in the Riverfront Times. Students reacted to the administration’s action by forming an impromptu 4 a.m rally outside of Umrath Residence Hall. The Hatch, a student band, performed until University police intervened to stop its set. Letters regarding student file-sharing activity on Direct Connect and the possible consequences have yet to be distributed.

Revisions to the Ervin Scholar Program, which opened the traditionally African-American scholarship to students of all races, brought controversy to the University’s campus. Many current Ervin Scholars saw this change as an end to the community and support system that the program had traditionally provided. While the University decided to revise the program in response to pressure from the U.S. Department of Education, revisions have yet to be made to the Annika Rodriguez Scholarship program for Latin American students or the Chancellor’s Graduate Fellowship program for African-American graduate students.

The year also ended with controversy, with the surfacing of videotapes and photographs displaying questionable behavior at the Sigma Chi fraternity. The materials, which showed fraternity brothers and pledges dunking their heads in freezing water and throwing beer cans at each other during sexually-charged skits, were published in Student Life. The national Sigma Chi organization has suspended the University chapter for 45 days, although the University itself is still deciding what action it will take. University administrators have said they will consider Sigma Chi’s past misconduct in their final decision.

Senior year: debates, protests, and disorderly conduct

Monday, May 16th, 2005 | Helen Rhee
Dan Daranciang

The 2004-2005 school year was one of transformation and change. From events of national importance, including the presidential debates and election, to campus-centric protests with the recent Student Worker Alliance sit-in, St. Louis and the University spent the year in the spotlight.

Washington University embarked on its 2004-2005 school year as the host of a 2004 presidential debate between Democratic contender John Kerry and Republican incumbent President George W. Bush. Leading up to the big event, the University transformed the Athletic Complex, installed state-of-the-art communication and put in extra security to prepare for the grand event.

At the last minute though, Bush’s advisory team put the debate in jeopardy when they became hesitant to participate in the event. Following the announcement, Chris Heinz, Kerry’s stepson, visited the campus to assure the University that his step-father might still appear on campus even if Bush rejected the scheduled debate. The Commission on Presidential Debates confirmed that both candidates had committed to participate in three debates, including the Oct. 8 debate at the University.

During the week of Oct. 8, the campus transformed into a political campground, attracting media from MSNBC prime time show ‘Hardball with Chris Matthews’ and CNN’s prime debate coverage featuring Paula Zhan, Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer. Students witnessed the fervor of 2004 election year in their very own campus.

Almost a month after the debate, on Nov. 4, the nation reelected President Bush into office. While Bush took the state of Missouri, St. Louis remained a blue dot in the sea of red Missouri.

Washington University also experienced waves of theft on campus. In November, WUPD retrieved a stolen laptop through a sting operation and arrested the perpetrator, a student from another St. Louis university Later that week, a member of the housekeeping staff was caught stealing a laptop at Rublemann Hall, while in April several cars were reported stolen from Washington University property.

The fall of 2004 also brought new changes at Frat Row: no alcohol until spring semester. A student initiated a brawl at Sigma Alpha Epsilon, which injured a security guard, leading to tighter rules on the presence of alcohol on campus. Despite the alcohol ban, fraternities still experienced an increase in the number of students rushing to join the brothers on the Row. The Greek Life Office lifted the ban for the spring semester.

Greek Life’s affair with alcohol continued to mid-March, when Alpha Phi sorority sisters were kicked out of the City Museum during their formal after administrators discovered intoxicated sisters passing out in the women’s bathroom as well as in front of Girl Scouts. The following Wednesday, when the Alpha Phi story was published, hundred of copies of Student Life were stolen and stashed into nearby trashcans.

In that week, Student Life discovered another alcohol mishap when several Lee 3 residents allegedly defecated and vandalized their RA’s room. The news came as shock to the campus and administrations and much to the dismay of Lee 3, which was soon declared into a substance free area. While the punishment for the act is still under review by the Judicial Administrator, the week’s incidents brought a tainted image to the University as well as spreading awareness about the effects of alcohol on students’ abilities to make rational judgments.

Since the public appearance of Bush and Kerry, the University invited various speakers to lead 2004-2005 public assembly series. From Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, to civil rights activist Robert Moses, the University offered various genres of lectures from the fields of science and the humanities. Speakers included Chris Heinz, Robert Kerry, Piper, Sherman Alexie and Anita Diamant, among others.

The school encountered difficulties in bringing two outspoken political activists: Michael Moore and Sean Hannity. Both speakers were scheduled to visit the campus, but Hannity’s demand for a private jet and Moore’s pneumonia caused them to miss their appearances.

Off campus and outside of St. Louis, this year also marked the death of Christopher Reeve, the original Superman, Yasser Arafat, the leader of Palestine, and Pope John Paul II, the head of the Catholic Church. On our own campus, students read the news that junior Jessica Campbell passed away during spring break from a heart attack.

Student Union went under a transformation when vice president Katie Lekihim resigned, forcing it to elect a new VP. Former speaker of the Senate Pamela Bookbinder was elected as the new vice president after the resignation of Lekihim, who had been on medical leave during first semester. The process of electing the new VP came under a heat of debate when the question occurred among senators as to whether or not reporters should be allowed inside the room to watch the voting process. In the end, the election took place behind the closed doors.

Students also saw changes in financial loans and tuition. Parents were notified of an additional tuition increase to approximately $31,000 per year. Students also received a shock when they heard that Pell grants and Perkins loans were facing elimination by the Bush administration. These fears later proved baseless as Congress just passed a budget approving both programs this past week.

The year culminated with an unexpected twist as students, faculty, administration and the nation watched the Student Worker Alliance (SWA) occupy the admissions office for 19 days in April. Starting on April 4, approximately 14 University students protested inside the admission office to demand living wage of third party workers at the University.

During the protest, the administration sent multiple letters asking the protesters to leave the admissions office, stating that their presence was in violation of the judicial code. The letter only fueled the students’ fervor, eventually leading to a hunger strike. Dozens of professors signed a letter in support of SWA’s fight for a living wage, while other students protested against their effort as anti-protesters outside in the Quad.

The sit-in eventually ended on April 22 after 19 days of student occupation. The final agreement reached between the SWA and the University included a commitment of $500,000 during the 2005-’06 fiscal year towards improving the living wages and the benefits of lower-paid service workers. It also included various other concessions to SWA’s demands. The Judicial Administrator has yet to reach a conclusion as to what consequences those involved with the sit-in will face.

The year 2004-2005 ended with the display of students’ fight against injustice as well as those who will face justice as a consequence of their irresponsible actions. In the world, people responded with compassion while aiding victims of natural disasters, including the tsunami in southeast Asia. In the nation, Americans elected President Bush for another term.

Greeks’ new vision statement wraps up year of change

Monday, May 16th, 2005 | Sarah Kliff

While the school year may have just finished, the Greek community has only just begun planning for big changes that will span not only the next semester, but also the next two to three years. The introduction of a new vision statement and a reworking of Greek Week are a few changes to hit campus after a year of transformation within the fraternities and sororities.

Junior Nicole Soussan, president of the Panhellenic Association (Panhel), noted that for the Greek community, “at the very least, it’s been an interesting year.”

“We were put in a position where we were forced to look internally and make a choice, and we made the choice to move forward,” said Soussan.

The Greek community started the year with one less fraternity on campus, after University administrators asked Sigma Chi to move last spring following the surfacing of videotapes of unacceptable behavior. Near the beginning of fall semester, the Greek community dealt with a University ban on alcohol at fraternity social events. At the same time, leaders of the Greek community began to take internal steps to better work with administrators and the Greek Life Office. This spring marked the first semester during which no fraternity house had to come before the Judicial Board, according to outgoing Interfraternity Council (IFC) president Alex Curcuru.

During that same semester, Alpha Phi’s March sorority formal came to an abrupt halt when the venue, City Museum, requested that they leave due to the museum management’s belief that they posed a safety hazard to other museum guests. By the end of the year, the Greek system began to reshape its community through the first annual new member day and a new vision statement.

“We ended the semester with the presentation of the new vision statement and plans for fall to put us forward, to strengthen the community, and [to get] to know each other,” said Soussan.

The vision statement, crafted by the 11 members of Panhel and IFC, is named for the Greek term “arˆte.” The vision statement defines the term as “the principle of striving for excellence and nobility in all dimensions of character.”

Arˆte, which was formally presented on May 3 at the Greek community’s end-of-the-year celebration and recognition ceremony, emphasizes a set of values including integrity, intellectual curiosity, individuality, and social responsibility. It concludes with a pledge to “continually challenge my fellow Greeks and myself to uphold these values.”

Soussan and other members of the Greek community plan on putting the vision statement into practice through programming that will take place throughout the next semester and following years. Members of Greek leadership have also redesigned the annual Greek Week, transforming it into a three-day-long service-oriented event, including involvement in the University City Loop in Motion parade. All of these changes and events over the past year, according to Curcuru, are bringing the Greek system closer to the University community.

“The progress we made is something to be proud of for everyone who has been involved. I think we’re starting to understand that we are part of this community [and] have to work with admins and non-Greek students,” said Curcuru.

As a graduating senior, Curcuru says he’s having a bit of “separation anxiety” parting with the Greek system, but knows that he leaves it in good hands.

“I think the people who are in positions right now, the fraternity presidents, the IFC members…they are in a good place right now,” said Curcuru. “I think they understand their role a lot better.”