Check out all our exciting A welcome from this year’s Find out all about the upcoming Jungle editorial board and a call to get multimedia content online at W Boogie concert at the St. Louis Zoo in involved on campus can be found www.studlife.comw U SCENE, PAGE 13 in today’s FORUM, PAGE 4 STUDENT LIFE the independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since eighteen seventy-eight Vol. 131, No. 2 www.studlife.com Monday, August 24, 2009 Speculation over Sen. Jeff Smith’s future continues as campus reacts Former students, campaign staffers MATT MITGANG | OFFICE OF ORIENTATION feel let down Newly arrived freshmen visit the various tables set up by student groups on move-in day. The newly opened South 40 House, visible in the background, contains the fi rst part of the new South 40 dining facilities and sophomore housing on the upper fl oors. Puneet Kollipara Copy Chief all the news you missed... Speculation over the po- litical future of state Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, is continu- ing, as former students and while you were away staffers of Smith’s struggle to come to terms with recent re- ports of a federal inquiry into Kat Zhao METRO RESTORATIONS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS the Washington University in- SAM GUZIK | STUDENT LIFE Senior News Editor structor. Jeff Smith speaks at an ethics “In the event that the al- forum on campus last October. Last summer, Metro received $12 The topography of the South 40 has legations are true, it seems million in stimulus money from the Mis- undergone signifi cant changes this past that he gave a model for an vestigation. The 2008-09 academic souri legislature and $6 million from the summer, with the demolition of the former ideal politician and states- Smith, 35, was elected to year at Washington Univer- Federal Transit Administration to restore Wohl Center and completion of the new man that he violated,” said se- the Missouri Senate in 2006 sity was one of many ad- 55 percent of the cut bus service. Metro Umrath Hall and the fi rst phase of South nior Dayne Seiden, who took and has since established him- ministrative, environmental, also made changes to routes affecting 40 House. Both construction projects be- Smith’s course on campaign- self as a rising star in Missouri political and campus life- Danforth Campus. On March 30, Met- gan in early 2008. In place of Bear Mart ing and elections in the fall politics. If he does resign, his related changes. Issues and ro had cut 44 percent of its bus service, and Center Court, students will fi nd the 2008 semester. political career and quick rise events that arose in the past 32 percent of its light rail service and new Bear’s Grill and Bakery and a re- Reports surfaced about in state politics would come to two semesters will continue 15 percent of Call-a-Ride service. St. designed Bear Mart in South 40 House. 10 days ago that Smith was an abrupt end. to play a role and affect stu- Louis County is now considering putting Meanwhile, the construction of Brauer considering resigning his seat Smith’s Jefferson City of- dents throughout this year. Proposition M—transit sales-tax hike— Hall across from Brookings for the engi- amid a possible federal inqui- fi ce has not returned phone Several of these changes on the April county ballot. This initiative neering school, which began in October ry regarding his 2004 congres- calls from Student Life. have been summarized be- was on last November’s ballot, but it 2008, is going as planned. At Convoca- sional campaign. Since the state legislature low. failed by 3 percent. School leaders hint tion on Thursday, Wrighton said that the Smith also canceled a is out of session, any resig- that another campaign could be in the building will be ready to open in spring course he was supposed to nation letter would have to works. The measure would restore full 2010. teach this fall called “Topics go through Gov. Jay Nixon’s transit service. in American Culture Studies: offi ce. As of Thursday after- See AWAY, page 3 Contemporary Issues in St. noon, no letter had been re- Louis Politics, Culture, and ceived, according to a Nixon Society,” school spokeswom- spokesman. an Sue Killenberg McGinn Word of Smith’s possible said last Wednesday in a state- resignation has caused a stir ment. The course would have among Missouri politicians in been in the American Culture recent days. Studies program. “I hope it’s not true,” said The statement said Smith state Sen. John Griesheimer, “asked on Thursday, Aug. 13, R-Washington. “All you can to be relieved of those duties do is wait and see, I guess.” and the class was cancelled.” The fall 2008 semester was McGinn said she did not know the last time Smith taught at the reason. the University when he was a Multiple news outlets have part-time lecturer in political reported that the FBI was in- science. vestigating Smith over cam- Smith burst onto the po- paign literature he allegedly litical scene in the questioned distributed illegally during his 2004 campaign, when he vied 2004 congressional bid. The for the Democratic nomina- FBI has neither confi rmed nor MATT MITGANG | STUDENT LIFE denied the presence of an in- See SMITH, page 11 After major service cuts in late March, Metro used state and federal money to restore more than half of its slashed bus service. Amid the chance St. Louis County may put a transit sales-tax increase on the April county ballot, the school is hinting at a ballot campaign. Citing budget cuts, University to shut School offi cials remember Center for Ethics & Human Values Imergoot after death in crash Dan Woznica Edward Macias, provost and down your Center for Ethics Josh Goldman work at the University in News Editor executive vice chancellor for & Human Values,” he added. Managing Editor 1973 as the director of wom- academic affairs, said in the Up until now, the center en’s and co-ed intramurals, a statement. has been funded by contribu- post she held until 1979. She The Center for the Study The center was founded in tions from each of the Uni- The Washington Univer- also served in the administra- of Ethics & Human Values at 2003 by Ira Kodner, a profes- versity’s schools. Cutbacks sity Athletic Department lost tion as coordinator for wom- Washington University will sor of surgery in the School in the schools’ operating one of its mainstays on July en’s athletics from 1977-84 be discontinued in June 2010 of Medicine. Kodner, who budgets as a result of the ill 24 when Lynn Imergoot lost and assistant athletic director due to budget constraints. currently serves as director economy, however, has made control of her car outside of from 1984-2005. A University statement of the center, expressed great this multi-source financial New York City and struck a Aside from her work be- cited deficits in major gifts disappointment in the Uni- support unfeasible. tree. She was 60 years old and hind a desk, Imergoot will be toward the program’s endow- versity’s decision to end the According to Kodner, the had been with the University most remembered as the fi rst ment as a reason for its ter- program. center’s lack of a single pa- for 37 years. and longtime coach of the mination. “I think it’s a horrible de- tron made funding difficult. “I’ll remember her as a women’s tennis team, a post “While the university re- cision,” Kodner said. “It’s a “The strength of the cen- wonderful teacher, coach, she held from 1975-2005. COURTESY OF ATHLETICS grets the need to discontinue horrible image for the Uni- ter was that we didn’t work administrator, mother, friend During her 30-year tenure as Lynn Imergoot. the center as originally con- versity at this time when we for one dean; we were an and valued member of the coach, the Bears compiled a ing the initial women’s ten- ceived, we are confident that are facing greater ethical interdisciplinary program,” Washington University com- record of 435-164 (.726) and nis program was a great ac- programs within the schools challenges than ever before.” he said. “The weakness of munity,” Athletic Director made seven NCAA Tourna- complishment for Lynn, as of the University will con- “We all know the econ- the center was that we didn’t John Schael said. ment appearances. Six players there were few opportunities tinue to focus on many of omy is bad, but the implica- work for one dean.” Imergoot, most recently also earned seven All-America for women’s participation the issues that the center tion is if the economy is bad, the associate director of club distinctions during that time. was designed to address,” the first thing you do is close See ETHICS, page 6 and intramural sports, started “Establishing and coach- See IMERGOOT, page 6 One Brookings Drive #1039 Newsroom: (314) 935-5995 Editor: [email protected] Please #330 Danforth University Center Advertising: (314) 935-6713 News: [email protected] St. Louis, MO 63130-4899 Fax: (314) 935-5938 Calendar: [email protected] Recycle 2 STUDENT LIFE | NEWS News Editor / Kat Zhao / [email protected] MONDAY | AUGUST 24, 2009 weatherforecast Monday 24 Tuesday 25 Sunny Sunny High 85 High 85 THE FLIPSIDE Low 61 Low 61 eventcalendar Campus National cont. A small portion of the state’s redwood forest is for sale, Student-parent relationships change when each tree acting as a carbon trap rather than a supply of timber.