As the fiscal cliff looms over Capitol Hill, Chancellor Mark Wrighton and others have begun to worry that its detrimental effects may result in a significant loss of research funding at Washington University.

As Washington University admissions officers sift through early decision applicants for the class of 2017 this month, they will have one less thing on their minds. “We do it in three-and-a-half,” the age-old motto of the January Program, will soon become obsolete as the last group of JProg students arrives on campus in January.

For Bill McKibben, the only way to fight climate change is to dismantle the fossil fuel industry’s grip on society. The prominent environmental activist spoke to a crowd that packed Graham Chapel on Nov. 1. The diverse audience included students, faculty and local community members.

Connect 4 hasn’t changed much since Milton Bradley created it in 1974. That is, until three Washington University alums and a fifth-year student decided that the game would be better if you could knock out your opponent’s pieces.

Washington University created two new vice chancellor positions Monday to offer promotions to men who have each been at the school for more than a decade. Both former associate vice chancellors, James Wertsch is the new vice chancellor for international affairs and John Berg is the new vice chancellor for admissions, effective immediately.

Washington University is now the number one school in America—at least if food is the basis for your judgment. The Daily Meal, a website that consolidates information on different restaurants, chefs, cookbooks and dining etiquette, rated the food offerings at the U.S. News & World Report’s 20 top-ranked colleges and universities.

When the grounds of Brookings Hall are dotted with carnival rides, sugary food booths and students donning elaborate costumes, it can only mean one thing: ThurtenE Carnival.

Indie rock band The Mountain Goats will be headlining at the Gargoyle on Saturday for the 20th anniversary of KWUR Week. KWUR Week is a weeklong event in which the historic community-run radio station brings in musical artists from different genres who have never been to St. Louis before to perform on campus.

A newly launched Washington University’s group is bringing students and faculty together to find novel renewable energy solutions to power the University away from unsustainable sources. Chartered by Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration Henry Webber, the taskforce will explore potential opportunities for using renewable sources of energy for the University.

Standing in front of a packed crowd of Washington University students on Friday night, John Legend called local St. Louis high school student Alex Yentumito to the stage. Deviating from the scheduled program, Legend shook hands with Yentumito and took the time to pose for photos, resulting in a standing ovation from the boy’s family.