SENIORSENIOR SPECIALSPEC BACK ON CHECK IT SceneSce reporter Meghan LueckeLue looks into how to TRACK OUT AT... survivesurv the economic crisis Track & field was back in action this Miss last weekend’s perfor- afterafter graduation. weekend. Read about it in Sports. mance of Carnaval? Slept through RCO? Check out our slideshows online! INSIDE PAGEPA 6 PAGE 8 ONLINE STUDLIFE.COM Sthe independentTUDENT newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis LIFE since eighteen seventy-eight Vol. 130 No. 75 www.studlife.com Monday, April 6, 2009 CULTURE AND DANCE IGNITE STAGE AT CARNAVAL School scales back annual Staff Day due to economy Lauren Olens of events,” the e-mail stated. Assignment Editor Despite other changes, the awards ceremony will still remain. Many staff members said they Every year, the staff at Washing- understand why the changes have ton University is recognized for its been made this year. work at the institution during Staff “It’s no surprise to me [that Staff Appreciation Day. This year’s cel- Day is being changed] and I’m fi ne ebration, however, is signifi cantly with it,” Kurtzman said. “First of all, different from previous ones. I consider Staff Day a privilege, not Staff Day honors any staff mem- a right. I’m here to work, and it’s a ber who has worked at the University day I’m getting paid for. It’s my as- for 10 years and any additional peri- sumption that it has to do with bud- ods of fi ve years. For his or her dedi- get constraints, just being fi scally cation, the staff member is awarded responsible.” the Gloria W. White Distinguished “Frankly, I’m proud of the situa- Service Award. tion for making it something mean- “It’s a time to award and recog- ingful,” she added. nize administrative staff from around Kurtzman also noted that, from the University who make possible an outside perspective, Staff Day many of the activities that under- may appear to be frivolous spend- MATT MITGANG | STUDENT LIFE graduates and faculty are involved ing. Freshman Amelia Hetherington and others perform the Zapateado dance at this year’s Carnaval on Friday night in Edison Theatre. Carnaval is put on every with around the University,” said “It’s hard to justify things that, year by the Association of Latin American Students to celebrate the culture of Latin America. Ewan Harrison, assistant dean in the from the outside, might seem like College of Arts & Sciences. they’re unnecessary when we don’t Previously, the award ceremony know what’s coming economically,” is followed by a barbecue plus a full Kurtzman said. day’s worth of activities, including Harrison agreed, saying that he golf, museum trips, bingo, volleyball would rather have the University Political groups plan for next year and walks around campus. reduce the amount of money spent Stephanie Kurtzman, director on Staff Day than on more important of community service, views staff activities. day as a way to demonstrate to staff “I do understand that this is a members that the University respects very diffi cult fi nancial time for the following ’08 election, VP debate them and to encourage them to so- University, and I certainly would cialize. rather have cutbacks in some areas “I understand [Staff Day] as a like this, rather than people losing “Being a part of College Demo- recognition of staff for how hard ev- their jobs or not have their contracts Eliza Adelson crats means giving back to the com- erybody’s worked over the year,” she renewed,” Harrison said. News Editor munity,” said junior Ben Guthorn, said. “Also, it’s a way to keep form- Others, while acknowledging the outgoing president of the College ing community, but also for them to current limitations of the Univer- Democrats. relax for the day.” sity’s budget, seem less content with Despite the relative lull in cam- Guthorn also said that bringing This year, instead of the typical this year’s changes. pus political activity following the well-known speakers who appeal to activities, University staff will only “I guess I fi nd that understandable 2008 presidential campaign, vice a large sector of the campus popula- be provided Ted Drewes frozen cus- given the crisis that is going around presidential debate and election in tion will be part of the agenda for tard to enjoy. nation-wide that everybody’s getting November, Washington University’s next year. “I’m glad there’s a way for peo- hit with,” said Tina Marti, admin- student political organizations have “The Wash. U. student body re- ple to still stick around and visit so- istrative assistant for the American not lost their steam. sponds best to large speakers than cially and interact and get to know Culture Studies program. “I think Student leaders from the College other program events. We want each other better,” Kurtzman said. the staff defi nitely looks forward to Republicans and College Democrats someone who is worth the students’ University staff were informed the event every year, and it’s kind of said their activities will continue time and also worth their money,” via e-mail that Staff Day would be disappointing.” after each group’s leadership elec- Guthorn said. changed this year as a result of the “But again, it’s understandable,” tions take place within the next two The College Republicans plan current economic situation. The e- Marti added. weeks. to focus on new ways to invigorate mail was sent by Vice Chancellor of Overall, the meaning of the day Since the presidential elec- their own members and continue MATT MITGANG | STUDENT LIFE Human Resources Ann Prenatt near remains the same for University staff tion, the College Democrats have generating awareness of conserva- Representatives of the College Republicans, College Democrats and Col- the end of March. and still highlights the importance of launched an initiative focusing on tism on the University’s campus. lege Libertarians discuss the federal bailout of the auto industry during the “In his November 2008 letter to their role at the institution. community service. The group re- Junior Ryan Winograd, outgoing the University community, Chan- “A lot of these folks you never groups’ semesterly Campus Crossfi re debate last semester. cently held two non-politically ori- vice president of the College Repub- cellor [Mark] Wrighton indicated see and appreciate, but they’re why ented community service events— licans, said he would like to see the fi gures such as Alberto Gonzales able to have speakers come and talk that we must exercise restraint in we sit in this building right now,” planting and harvesting at Hope organization bring more high-profi le and Karl Rove, although it has also about issues that aren’t normally compensation and administrative ex- Kurtzman said. “It’s really inspiring Community Gardens and a casino- speakers to campus. endured criticism for the resulting discussed,” Winograd said. “Some penses. We hope that you understand to see people who’ve dedicated their themed food drive for the St. Louis In the past, the group has attract- controversy. that it is in this spirit that we have whole lives to Washington Univer- Area Foodbank. ed large crowds by hosting political “I think it is extremely valu- See GROUPS, page 9 scaled back our customary schedule sity.” Statistics show WU does New Freshman Reading novel to examine race more community service and racial profi ling Alan Liu Staff Reporter year’s book for its particular per- spective, which sheds light on a different interpretation of World than other institutions War II events. For the Freshman Reading Pro- “The fact that it’s told from the gram this fall, the incoming fresh- point of view—one of a child and Kelly Fahy you do as service.” pus Life. In 2006, the CSO for- man class will read Julie Otsuka’s an assimilated child, that this per- Staff Reporter According to Kurtzman, en- mally became associated with “When the Emperor Was Divine,” son thinks of [herself] as Ameri- gagement in community service the Gephardt Institute for Public a novel that tells the story of a Jap- can, and so what other people ob- at the University has come a long Service. anese-American family interned in viously see in her mother, brother According to recently re- way since she began her tenure Kurtzman cites several key Utah during World War II. and father is that Japanese people leased statistics, 51 percent of here in 1998. Kurtzman started as factors that have led to the Uni- Past years’ Freshman Read- are enemies. So getting behind that Washington University students the coordinator for women’s pro- versity student body’s relatively ing Program (FRP) books include kind of profiling with a subjectiv- participate in community service grams and community service in strong participation in community last year’s nonfiction “Field Notes ity that is rendered with some sen- activities, versus 46 percent of the Office of Student Activities. service, one of which is what she from a Catastrophe” by Elizabeth sitivity is important,” Shea said. student populations at similar in- “There were really great things calls the “institutional prioritiza- Kolbert, the short story collec- “It’s interesting to hear ethnic stitutions. going on, but not nearly the vast tion” of community service. tion “Einstein’s Dreams” by Alan putdowns when you are the object “There are a lot of people array or the depth or the visibil- “The institution has valued it. Lightman, the nonfiction exposé of them. In the novel, the reader around campus who think that ity that you see today—quantity, So there’s been attention, there’s “One Nation, Underprivileged” Ethics and Human Values, which becomes the object of them, be- our current number of 51 percent quality, everything was differ- been financial support, there’s by Washington University social is conducting a yearlong program cause the reader is identified with involvement is underreported,” ent,” she said.