Student Life Archives

A recent study done by professors from Washington University and Georgetown University estimated that the FDA is losing 50 billion dollars a year due to wasteful manufacturing processes. This large-scale examination evaluated data from pharmaceutical manufacturers, observing several aspects of production.

“This study was part of a two part research program,” said Jackson Nickerson, professor in the Olin School of Business. “The first part was working with the FDA to investigate how they regulate manufacturing facilities and provide recommendations. For the second part we worked with 19 manufacturers and 42 facilities to understand and identify ways in which they could manage to lower the cost.”

When investigating the different manufacturing locations, they observed several key metrics that strongly correlated with efficiency. These included yield, cycle time, and deviation.

Each metric was closely examined, both to collect data and find ways to develop more effective procedures. However, as Jeffrey Macher, assistant professor in the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University acknowledged, this is an extremely complicated subject.

“It is certainly more work for a manufacturing facility to rectify problems when there are interdependencies between and among contributing elements,” said Macher.

From analyzing the data, the study revealed that manufacturers that use information technology to monitor processes of production were more efficient. The study also found that the more effective companies granted greater decision-making power to lower-level employees.

Nickerson said that another issue is the FDA’s harsh penalties. Manufacturers, weary of regulators’ steep fines, shy away from innovation.

“We have recommended that the FDA use a risk-based approach to identify when facilities should be inspected and how intensively they should be inspected. This would change incentives,” said Nickerson.

The findings of this study are only one facet of a broader picture of how regulation affects everyone. “How we choose to regulate our society can impact the public good. If we can find ways to improve regulations of manufacturing, the world would be better off. We need smart people to come in, examine these problems and work to fix them,” said Nickerson.

The researchers intend to delve further into interpreting the data and formulating specific recommendations past what the study outlined.

“Right now, Professor Nickerson and I are moving toward analysis and writing mode with the data that we do have,” said Macher.

The researchers will send their completed study to Washington to bring about better ways of regulating pharmaceutical manufacturing.

When Professor Fatemeh Keshavarz returned from a visit to Iran last May, she was shocked by the disparity between the country she knew and the media’s representation of it.

Frustrated by what she perceived as the popular media’s skewed perspective, Keshavarz, chair of the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures, began to write a series entitled “Windows on Iran.”

Five months and 10 issues later, Keshavarz is still writing. The series is now e-mailed directly to over 300 readers and posted on the online magazine The American Muslim, where it is read by countless others.

“People are reading it in Lebanon, in Iran, and in [many] places in Europe,” said Keshavarz. “It wasn’t a response to people’s hostility.People have been so open to learning through these ‘Windows.'”

The “Windows” series makes an effort to fill the void left by the popular media and make accurate information available. Keshavarz’s writing offers important perspective as reports of growing tension on college campuses become more common.

“I’ve talked to Muslims who feel like they are being watched,” said Orvin Kimbrough, the executive director of the Interfaith Partnership of Metropolitan St. Louis. “We ought to be careful about lumping all Muslims into one specific category.”

With the escalating crisis in the Middle East and the inflammatory remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI, American Muslims remain conflicted between their faith and their fear of being labeled as terrorists. Tensions mounted in mid-September as four Muslim charities were raided and shut down in Westfield, Mo., as well as the home of a Muslim professor at the University of Missouri at Columbia.

According to freshman and Muslim Adam Eltorai, this rhetoric has made it more important to ensure that non-Muslims understand that fanatics and terrorists do not represent the average Muslim.

Junior Tasmeem Ahmad, president of the Muslim Student Association (MSA), said that the University’s open, academic atmosphere counters the insular trends felt on some other campuses.

“I have never felt scared, I’ve never felt like I needed extra protection,” said Ahmad.

“I doubt very much that those pictures of hostility, of division, apply to all campuses,” added Professor Pamela Barmash, director of the program in Jewish, Islamic and Near Eastern Studies.

Nevertheless, the University has taken steps to ensure that Muslims remain safe on campus.

Don Strom, University Chief of Police, recently contacted Ahmad to maintain positive relations with the Muslim community and to investigate the sentiment of Muslim students on campus regarding safety.

Keshavarz’s efforts to present a comprehensive picture are parallel with her department’s efforts toward creating a dialogue of pluralism. The University is unique among American schools in that it offers an integrated program of Jewish and Islamic studies.

“There is an atmosphere of openness on this campus, not [one] of debate where you try to vanquish the other side,” said Barmash.

By working together in an integrated department, faculty and students benefit from the additional depth provided by personal relationships.

Ahmad explained that the willingness of students to question authority and learn for themselves has created an openness that nurtures understanding and tolerance.

Over 400 students – many of them non-Muslims – attended the annual Fast-a-thon, which was held during Ramadan, the Muslim month of prayer and fasting. Additionally, there has been strong attendance at MSA programs that bring in Islamic scholars to explain the beliefs of Islam.

“We try to show what real Islam is, starting on the college campus,” said Eltorai.

Lionel Sobehart

With only two hours left to hand in the application for the Red Bull Soap Box Race, the members of Team Brain Fart quickly decided on the theme of a gigantic muscled man on wheels.

It was this buff idea that won them the People’s Choice Award at the race in Forest Park on Saturday.

The race is an annual event sponsored by Red Bull, yet this was the first time it took place in the United States. Forty-one teams, each with five people, raced to be first across the finish line with their non-motorized cars. One member of each team “drove” the car and the other four pushed it to help generate momentum.

Teams from all over the nation participated in the event, but Team Brain Fart beat the competition, including the University team Pope Mobile, comprised of sophomores. From the day the team members sent in their application, they were aiming to win the People’s Choice Award.

“We didn’t build a car thinking we would win based on speed. We wanted to bring an outrageous design to the event,” said team captain and University senior Matt Jones.

The team owed some of its success to its sponsors, as Red Bull did not provide any money for construction. After striking out in their first week of soliciting backers, Jones and teammates Bob Rowe, Arthur George Bauman III, Fahr Juneja and Roger Rowe, all seniors, eventually found people willing to help.

“Bob Rowe, the driver of our car, had worked at an engineering firm last year, and his boss said they would sponsor us,” said Jones. “Another engineering firm bought all the metal for our frame through one of its suppliers.”

The team assumed that the metal for the frame would be the most expensive. However, they later discovered that the material for the muscle-man would cost more. Luckily, they received some last-minute help.

“Two days before the race we found out that Student Union was going to sponsor us, too, which was a big help because we didn’t realize how much money we were going to need,” said Jones.

The money went toward spray insulation foam, which sprays on as a liquid and then expands and hardens. The foam served as the carving material for the muscle-man’s body.

Jones said that he was not entirely surprised that they won because the crowd really enjoyed the design of their car.

“I think our design was completely ridiculous, and people responded well to it. People would walk by and just start laughing right away, which is when I realized that we had pulled off the visual joke.”

The team garnered a lot of support for the race, especially since it was Parents Weekend at the University. Many of Jones’ friends came with their parents, and his own family came in from out of town.

Junior Jessica Miller was one of the many students who attended the event with her family.

“It was a great activity for Parents Weekend. I went with my parents and my siblings, who are 18 and ten years old, and everybody had a lot of fun.”

Miller especially enjoyed the race between the two teams from the University, the Pope Mobile and Team Brain Fart.

“It was fun just to watch it and know that it was Wash. U. students racing; it was nice to support the school.”

The Pope Mobile team did not win any awards, but did win the highest composite score from the judges, who rated the teams on showmanship and how well the cars completed the race. Jason Anderson, one member of the Pope Mobile team, was pleased with his team’s soap box.

“We did better than we thought we would because we were worried the car wouldn’t make it down the ramp. We didn’t go into it with any expectations and just wanted to do our best.”

Anderson feels that Team Brain Fart definitely deserved to win the People’s Choice Award.

“They had a really interesting design; it was definitely outrageous and embodied the spirit that Red Bull wanted.”

The teams made a whole weekend out of the event, as Red Bull provided hotel rooms for the participants and sponsored an after party for them.

“The hotel was wonderful,” said Bob Rowe, the driver of Team Brain Fart’s car. “We lucked out to have the Cardinals win the World Series and have a free hotel a block away from the stadium.”

The team received a Red Bull trophy for their efforts, and is still awaiting another prize that has yet to be revealed.

The Association of Black Students hosts their annual Black Arts & Sciences Festival next week to celebrate their 40th anniversary. With a theme of “Self Determination: Where Do We Begin?” the event’s typical emphasis on musicians or artists takes a back seat to an appreciation of the legacy of the group’s legacy.

The Association of Black Students (ABS) has activities planned throughout the week, from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3.

“Black Arts & Sciences Festival (BASF) is a reflection of ABS’s rich legacy and impact on the Wash. U. community. BASF gives us the opportunity to present our talents and passions as a cohesive [group] working to enrich both the black and Wash. U. communities,” said sophomore Laura Hawkes, programming chair for ABS.

For 40 years ABS has held a place on campus, and the BASF week has occurred since the 1970s. In 1967, a group of black students, including alumnus Robert Johnson, marched to Brookings Hall and held a nine day sit-in to demand their rights. Threatening to blow up the University’s one and only computer, they received their rights. The event symbolizes “a transition from the past to the present,” said sophomore Sarah Johnson, publicity chair for ABS.

“This year, our 40th anniversary is so important to us, because of the rich history that has brought us to today. People risked everything that they had, more than their grades, just to get rights for the coming generations,” said Johnson.

The group presented their Black Manifesto to the University in 1968. Washington University, the Manifesto stated, needed a black studies program, increased enrollment and financial aid for black students, an employment aid promotional policy regarding black people and general awareness and sensitivity of the administration, staff and faculty. ABS also demanded meeting facilities for their group and University research inclusive of black people.

The group’s efforts paid off in 1969 when Robert Williams began the University’s first black studies program.

The idea of this year’s theme, besides recognizing the efforts of those founding alumni, comes from the speech title of the Nov. 1 Assembly Series speaker, feminist bell hooks.

Hooks’ work emphasizes a need for healing the negative effects class, gender and race have on individuals and society.

Other highlights of the week include a movie night and discussion on Oct. 31. “The Hurricane” is a 1999 film about the story of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, played by Denzel Washington. According to the movie’s Web site, Carter was a 1960s boxer whose dreams of winning the middleweight boxing title were hopeless after an accusation and subsequent jailing for the murders of three white men. His 20 year fight for justice becomes central to the film.

Two days later, on Nov. 2, sophomore Aaron Hutcherson, ABS political affairs chair, said he plans to have a program concerning the Black Manifesto, one of the founding documents of ABS. Further, he wants to address how there are still some demands, such as increased enrollment for black students, that have not yet been met.

The week culminates with the annual Supreme Reign Semi-Formal in Holmes Lounge on Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Students can purchase tickets for $15 in Wohl Center.

All students, regardless of race, are welcome and encouraged to attend any of these events. ABS President, senior Olufolajimi “Jimi” Ige, said one of ABS’ goals for the year is to remind students that ABS is a resource for everybody. “Even on our Executive Board, we don’t have all black students. Whether you’re part of ABS or any cultural group, you should see it as the beginning of your social group,” said Ige.

Ige said he wants students to realize ABS is not exclusive and has opportunities for all students.”I had a phone call from a white female the other day, and she said coming to the [ABS General Body meeting] was eye-opening,” said Ige.

He added that she gained a new perspective after being the minority in the room, rather than the majority. The cultural fabric of the nation and Washington University has changed greatly in the last 40 years, said Hutcherson.

“Aptly naming this year’s theme as ‘self determination’ shows that although 40 years have passed since Robert Johnson and his classmates were able to achieve some of their goals, the process is not over. Black people, people as a whole actually, continue to define themselves and find their place in a college community,” said Johnson.

For more information on the week’s events, visit spark.wustl.edu.

Scott Fabricant

January Tunnel may be spooky at night, but if you want to find real haunted places, you’re going to need to get out into the city. St. Louis is famous for some of its haunted spots and is considered one of the most haunted cities in America. You may have already heard that The Exorcism was inspired by a St. Louis case, but there are more paranormal fables to be found here. Scared yet?

Lemp Mansion

Before Anheuser-Busch, there was Lemp. The richest brewing family in St. Louis became victims to an infamous series of violent suicides. First came the mysterious death of Fredrick Lemp, the son of company owner William Lemp. Three years later, William shot himself in the head and William Jr. took over the company. When Prohibition was ratified, the company was destroyed, and William Jr.’s sister, Elsa, committed suicide. Two years later, William Jr. killed himself, leaving his brother, Charles, who lived alone in the Lemp Mansion for many years until he too ended his life with a bullet.

With all the family members dead, the mansion was turned into a boarding house. But the residents began to hear things – ghostly knocks and footsteps in the night. The mansion was eventually sold and turned into a restaurant, but the hauntings continue to this day.

Tony Valentine, an employee at the restaurant for many years, has seen his share of strange happenings.

“I’ve heard pianos played, dogs start barking and candles light themselves, with no one else around. Seven or eight years ago, I saw a man in a suit walking around in one of the bedrooms. I walked in after him and he was gone.”

The Lemp Mansion is proud of its reputation as a famous haunted house. Other locations suffer more privately.

The Old Courthouse

Across from the picturesque Gateway Arch lies another beautiful building, the old courthouse. As it has not been in use since 1930, it has been turned into a museum. But some claim the museum is haunted. A few security guards have reported flickering lights, slamming doors and otherworldly screams. Allegedly, these noises were so frightening that the police were called in to investigate, but the courthouse was empty. Could the lost souls of notorious criminals be haunting the site where they were condemned?

“No,” said Richard Ferrerman of the National Park Service. “People think this was a criminal court, where executions were performed. But this was a civil courthouse. I’ve never heard any ghosts, only bad jokes.”

A cover-up? Only they know for sure.

Jefferson Barracks

Another St. Louis historic spot rumored to be haunted is Jefferson Barracks, which lies south of bustling downtown. Formerly used as an army barracks and training area, it was decommissioned after World War II and turned into a park. When it was active, both Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee spent time there. A Veteran’s Hospital also existed on the site. With the barracks’ connection to war, it’s no surprise a number of ghost stories have sprouted up around it.

One story involves a Halloween party at the hospital. A man in a Civil War costume sat alone in the corner. A guest came over and asked him if he were enjoying himself, to which the man mumbled, “I like it good.” The reveler began to walk away, but turned back around. The man in the Civil War costume was gone. When he asked the host about the man, the host replied that no one was wearing a Civil War costume that night.

Another famous story involves soldiers at their guard post near the gunpowder magazine. The guards would occasionally be confronted by another sentry, a ghostly apparition with a bleeding bullet hole in his head. Allegedly killed by a raiding party decades earlier, he continues to patrol the magazine against any intruders, including the live soldiers.

These are only some of the stories about Jefferson Barracks, but is there any substance to the rumors? Glenda Stocklon, a long time volunteer at the park, doubts it. “I’ve been here all hours of day and night, and never seen or heard a thing. I’ve been working here for 15 years,” said Stocklon.

She believes the existence of ghosts may be possible, but some of the rumors are flat out false. According to Stocklon, the haunted gatehouse from the sentry story doesn’t even exist.

Hitchhiker Annie

On the edge of the city are two cemeteries, existing side by side: Bellefontaine and Calvary. Many famous people are buried there, but the real haunting takes place on the road that separates them. Calvary Drive is a spooky road, with tall gravestones flanking you on both sides. Some nights, just after sunset, a mysterious young woman in a white dress appears on the road. She flags down a passing motorist and asks to be taken down the street. As the driver passes the entrance to Bellefontaine, the girl simply disappears. Others say the woman walks onto the road, causing drivers to swerve to avoid hitting her. But when they look to see if the woman is alright, there is no trace she was ever there.

Maybe there is a lesson to be learned from this story – don’t pick up hitchhikers.

“I wouldn’t pick up a hitchhiker anyway, but I’d be even less likely to having heard this story,” said senior Nathan Watters, a St. Louis native.

The House on Plant Avenue

A small private residence, this haunted house’s exact location is kept secret by its current owners, and for very good reason. The ghost of rich businessman Henry Gehm still lurks in the house, looking for the gold he stashed there before his death. After Gehm’s death, the house was owned by the Furry family. At night, ghosts plagued Mrs. Furry, banging on her bed and windows and shaking her in her sleep. Footsteps echoed all around the house, especially in the attic. Is it Gehm, looking for his gold? He may not be alone. The child of Mrs. Furry gave her mother quite a fright one morning when she asked, “Who is the lady in black who comes in my room at night?”

Not surprisingly, the Furrys moved out, and the Walsh family moved in. More ghostly figures moved in with them. The attic door would mysteriously open and close; typewriters and light switches operated themselves; empty rooms became a disheveled mess. The Walsh family also moved out. The current residents still experience mysterious and frightening phenomena, but they embrace their haunted house.

Not everyone would have the guts to stay.

“I would probably not buy a house rumored to be haunted,” said Watters. “I wouldn’t want to take that chance.”

This is only a sample of what ghostly mysteries surround this old city on the Mississippi; there are far too many to fit on this page. Maybe you know of others here, or in your own hometown. Just remember, if you buy an old house, you may not be the only residents living in there.

Well, you might be the only ones living.