Staff Editorial: WashU, still in St. Louis

Although our university has shifted away from the name Washington University in St. Louis, officially rebranding to WashU, we must continue to remember and value the city we all reside in and the locals we interact with every day.

Students at WashU are often striving to become world-changers: doctors, lawyers, politicians, engineers, artists, activists, etc. Global issues seem especially pertinent to a student body that hails from across the world. In a time fraught with political uncertainty, it can be easy to become paralyzed by complex, large-scale problems. The editorial board of Student Life urges students to consider mundane, daily interactions that they can change, whether that be asking a dining employee how their day was or taking a class on St. Louis history. Our role as active learners and friendly community members can make a collective difference. For WashU students, that starts with remaining cognizant of our place in St. Louis.

WashU is often viewed by St. Louis community members as an exclusive institution — in part because of its reputation, but also its 12 billion dollar endowment. It may be seen by locals as a university that takes more than it gives, despite initiatives the university cites to combat this notion. The behavioral conduct of its student population is a factor that may contribute to this reputation as well. Instances like the “BD egging incident” from the prior school year reflect a wider sentiment of apathy toward what it means to be a student attending college in the city of St. Louis.

It’s crucial to become well-acquainted with the places where we choose to settle. Awareness of our role in a new city means navigating spaces with respect for their history, culture, and constituents. In a city like St. Louis, which has a history marked by racial and economic segregation, it is important to be aware of how we conduct ourselves in a place largely unfamiliar to most of WashU’s students.

Doing our research allows us to become genuinely acquainted with our community. Learning about how the city’s crime statistics are misleading, how WashU is surrounded by some of the wealthiest municipalities in the region, how the divide between the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County emerged, and how the reality of racial and economic segregation in St. Louis persists, are all ways we can situate ourselves within the history and context of this city. As we educate ourselves about St. Louis, this can help us to properly connect and communicate with the city’s locals.

Consider the people from St. Louis who work for a living at WashU to keep our spaces clean and stomachs full. It doesn’t take much to ask the person preparing your food how their day is, or to clear your countertops and tables for the custodians cleaning our spaces. Maybe we can write a small note expressing our gratitude. We should all think of little ways to show non-teaching university staff — not just dining workers and custodians — that they are not only appreciated, but that we are aware and grateful of the role they play in our lives. We should think similarly about contributing to the community outside of the WashU bubble; when buying course books, think about shopping at a small business like Subterranean Books instead of taking the Amazon route.

Being polite won’t exactly “change the world” on a grand structural scale, but it has the potential to change our community, WashU. By focusing our attention locally, learning about St. Louis, and engaging respectfully with the city residents who are our neighbors, colleagues, and staff members, we can collectively make change. We can improve WashU’s reputation and improve the world, starting on our own campus.

Staff editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of our editorial board members. The editorial board operates independently of our newsroom and includes members of the senior staff. 

Katelina Theerman Rodriguez, Junior Forum Editor

Jordan Spector, Managing Forum Editor

Avi Holzman, Editor-In-Chief

Nina Giraldo, Editor-In-Chief

Elizabeth Grieve, Senior Scene Editor 

Dion Hines, Senior Forum Editor

River Alsalihi, Junior Forum Editor

William Fieni-Thies, Junior Forum Editor

Alice Gottesman, Managing Scene Editor

Elias Kokios, Senior Sports Editor 

Eliza Stulman, Junior Sports Editor

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