The Burning Kumquat, a student-run garden on the South 40, faces potential displacement due to the construction of new dorm buildings. The garden has more than 40 beds and has been around since 2007. Student volunteers take care of the garden and receive free vegetables in return. 

Despite backing off of various construction projects this past year, WashU has laid out plans to build two new dormitories on the South 40 in an effort to accommodate the increasing demand for on-campus housing.

Through a newly approved rezoning effort, the University will build new dormitories on the South 40 to increase housing capacity from 3,200 to 4,200 students, according to Chancellor Andrew Martin. While there are no concrete plans for this project, the University hopes that with the new dorms all underclassmen can be housed on the South 40.

In response to uncertainties regarding federal funding, WashU is halting its plans to remodel Mudd Field and to build Riney Hall, according to an article published in The Record. The University will start removing the fencing on Mudd Field in the coming weeks, and the field will fully reopen for regular use at the start of next semester. Construction on Michael W. and Quirsis V. Riney Hall, a new Arts & Sciences building that broke ground this fall, will be paused this week. Despite the halt in construction, University officials expressed interest in revisiting the two projects in the future.

WashU Chancellor Andrew Martin sat down for an interview with Student Life last Thursday, April 3. Martin spoke about University plans regarding federal defunding, on-campus construction, and student advocacy.

Over spring break, a portion of Mudd Field has been fenced off and closed for construction; however, the field will not officially close until after the 2025 commencement.

It’s difficult not to notice the stumps left behind from the cleared trees of Mudd Field. On Jan. 17, WashU announced the reconstruction of Mudd Field in the upcoming years, an endeavour that will close Mudd Field from after this year’s commencement until Fall 2028. While WashU administrators have expressed excitement regarding the project, some students are upset by the prospect of losing Mudd Field for the rest of their time in college

For the next three years, get excited as the view of our beautiful Mudd Field turns into a true mud field … This is all compounded by the fact that most current students will graduate before the finished project is available for them to enjoy and benefit from.

WashU publicly announced its plans to break ground in Spring 2025 on Riney Hall, a new building in Arts & Sciences that was motivated by the ongoing growth of Arts & Sciences programs and departments. 

WashU students were greeted by the Graham Chapel bells upon their arrival to campus this semester, ending three years of intermittent silence caused by a trifecta of lightning strikes. The bells now chime every quarter-hour between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily, with the WashU alma mater playing at noon.