When I told my parents of my interest in Washington University, one of their first questions was “Where’s that?” Revealing the fact that it’s all the way in Missouri, they (understandably) admitted some concerns.

Junior Kach Zram, former editor-in-chief of Student Life, went on a run this past weekend and has yet to return.

Just over two months after it was formed, the Washington University pep band has already been dissolved after an administrative investigation uncovered several confirmed reports of extreme hazing.

On Monday, Director of Athletics Gosh Bitman shocked the school community when he announced that the Red and Green will finally be joining NCAA Division I athletics and holding all sporting events at the soon-to-be vacated Edward Jones Dome in fall 2015.

The new sorority, which will be chosen by May 1 and officially arrive on campus after the end of formal recruitment in January 2016, will be the newest addition to women’s Greek life since Kappa Delta was established at the University in 2013.

I may be spitting into the wind (to bust a urinary metaphor), but I wish the paper and the administration would drop the appellation “Wash. U.,” which sounds like an imperative to bathe, in favor of WUSTL (pronounced woo-stel or woos-til) as in UMSTL. In my day (I hate that phrase too, but it’s honest), only uninitiated grad students used the Wash. U. term…

Washington University, with the exception of the School of Medicine, will remain closed through Feb. 1 in response to the severe weather threatening the area. All non-essential services on the Danforth, North, South, West and Tyson campuses will be suspended, including classes. Essential services, which include the Washington University Police Department, Dining Services and certain personnel in Facilities Planning and Management, will remain operational. The medical school remains open. Per University policy, individual employees must decide for themselves whether it’s safe to travel to and from work.

Washington University, with the exception of the School of Medicine, will close at 3 p.m. on Monday, the administration announced. All non-essential services on the Danforth, North, South, West and Tyson campuses will be suspended. Essential services, which include the Washington University Police Department, Dining Services and certain personnel in Facilities Planning and Management will remain operational. It is unclear whether the University will close any or all services on Feb. 1 in response to the severe weather. Closures will be announced on a daily basis on the University website and through the usual communication channels.

Students expressed overall satisfaction with the new Bear’s Den facility on the South 40 in a recent electronic survey conducted by Student Union. In a survey of 158 students, 58 percent of respondents said that the new Bear’s Den is better or “substantially better” than last year’s South 40 dining facilities.