Residential Life Eliminates Homesteading, Introduces New
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The independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since 1878 VOLUME 140, NO. 29 THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019 WWW.STUDLIFE.COM GRAMMYS MATT’S MORSELS HAPPY NEW YEAR One writer’s take Our columnist inves- Women’s basketball on the release of tigates how to eat starts conference the 61st Grammy healthier without season with five- nominees compromising taste game winning streak (Cadenza, pg 5) (Scene, pg 6) (Sports, pg 7) Residential Life eliminates homesteading, WU hosts introduces new Living Learning Communities 32nd annual MLK celebration EMMA BAKER SENIOR NEWS EDITOR Washington University hosted its 32nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration, entitled “Struggle, Dedication and Progress…” in Graham Chapel Monday. Following an introduction by Student Union president senior Grace Egbo and Association of Black Students president senior Jasmine S. Pickens, the commemoration opened with performances of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by the Visions Gospel Choir and “I Dreamed a World” by the Washington University Chamber Choir. Chancellor-Elect Andrew Martin gave opening remarks. He reflected on the Civil Rights movement and the progress and struggles both the University and wider community faces. “Here we are, 50 years later, KATIE EHRLICH | STUDENT LIFE embroiled in another civil rights move- Students walk by the Washington University Lofts. The 2019-2020 Residential Life housing application removes the option of homesteading for Lofts ment in the United States of America. residents to result in a more fair housing selection process. ResLife also added an opportunity for students to live in new Living Learning Communities. 50 years later, and people of color are still being profiled. 50 years later, and KATHLEEN WHITE on the condition they were able “The majority of the students the option for them, they actually racial equality is still not fully real- NEWS EDITOR to fill the unit with the same peo- who picked the Lofts were actu- weren’t able to fill their apart- ized,” Martin said. “50 years later, and ple. Residential Life previously ally picking to homestead in one ments, and so we had difficulty some members of our mainstream The 2019-2020 Residential made homesteading unavailable bedroom apartments. By allow- placing other students in those society seem to have lost sight of the Life housing application will to students living in the other ing them to homestead we were units once those folks applied for restraint, compassion and insight that no longer feature homestead- Northside areas last year. actually decreasing the chances homestead.” Chancellor Eliot exemplified when he ing for Loft residents and will According to Executive for students to get a single apart- Leggett believes the elimina- met with members of the Association introduce new Living Learning Director of Residential Life ment in the Lofts,” Leggett said. tion of homesteading will result of Black Collegians in our very own Communities. Kawanna Leggett, the decision to “We only had about eight people in a fairer housing selection pro- Brookings Hall.” Homesteading allowed stu- cut homesteading was made after request homestead in last year’s cess by preventing students from dents living in the Lofts the data showed it decreased housing process for the Lofts. So the folks READ MORE AT option to return to the same unit opportunities for other students. that identified homesteading as SEE RESLIFE, PAGE 2 STUDLIFE.COM WU launches mentorship program for women in physics TED MOSKAL then I was more than happy to lend CONTRIBUTING REPORTER my support to her by writing a letter issuing my support.” Washington University’s phys- Min Shinn, a fifth-year gradu- ics program will host a mentorship ate student who will be serving as a program for women in the physics mentor this semester, hopes to help department, beginning this semester. younger women in the department The program will match two find their way in a field that often has undergraduate students with a gradu- issues with gender equality. ate student mentor. Participants will “There is large inequality in posi- receive gift cards to Kayak’s Coffee to tions that are filled within physics facilitate meetings over the course of organizations like the American the semester. The American Physical Physical Society or just generally Society (APS) awarded a grant to fund physics in academia,” Shinn said. the program, and the Washington “For one thing, I know when I was University Physics department will an undergraduate in physics, as a match the funds provided by the APS. woman, I had trouble finding peo- Junior Hannah McCall developed ple to do homework with weekly the idea for this program during a because there aren’t so many girls summer research program at the [in the department,] and girls tend to University of Chicago. stick together…So, if [undergraduate “[During the program,] I talked to women in physics] have trouble with a lot of women in physics there, and I that or if they have more serious trou- found out that University of Chicago, bles like sexual harassment, I would STEPHEN HUBER | STUDENT LIFE Stanford and a lot of universities of be all ears.” Washington University’s physics department is beginning a program that pairs undergraduate students with a graduate similar academic caliber to Wash. U. McCall and Hynes hope to address student mentor. The program will be funded by a grant from the American Physical Society and matched by the department. had programs like this in their phys- these issues by creating a space for ics departments,” McCall said. “And women to build relationships and dis- adapt the program to their needs. Another goal of the program is what to expect.” that was something we didn’t have; cuss their interests. “Our first event is just a dinner to bring together women in physics Currently, 20 students are partici- so, that is kind of where the idea came “A major goal is trying to build for everyone involved to meet each at different points in their academic pating in the program, but McCall about.” a sense of community, especially other and to find out who the mentor careers in order to provide guidance hopes to expand participation in the McCall then worked with physics because for people who are women matches are. After that, the program and perspective. future and encourages any women in professor Marin Hynes during the or gender minorities. There are not a becomes kind of whatever you decide “Often undergraduates are curi- the physics department to contact her fall semester to secure funding for the lot of them in our physics classes; so, with your group,” McCall said. “The ous about what graduate school is if interested in participating. program. it can feel sort of isolating if you look idea is that they have to meet a mini- like, but they don’t necessarily know “We want more women to feel wel- “[McCall] made some contacts at around and don’t see a lot of people mum of two times per semester in any graduate students to talk to, or come in the department and to think the University of Chicago and found who look like you,” Hynes said. “So, their group to check in, talk about they might not feel comfortable just that physics is a great thing to study this grant that was available to be writ- this is a way to bring people together topics in physics or outside of phys- approaching someone,” Hynes said. not only because the science is incred- ten by a student and then sponsored and show them that you are not ics, but it is really up to the individual “Also, a lot of our graduate students ible, but because there is support,” by a faculty mentor in a department,” isolated.” groups. If they are free and decide to would love to be able to give back. McCall said. “So, that is truly what Hynes said. “She did most of the McCall promotes a hands-off go outside of coffee and would like They have experienced and learned the program aims to do; and in the work, the writing of the grant. She approach to the program, encourag- to explore the city, it is really up to things along the way and would love meantime, you can make friends— came up with a ton of the ideas, and ing students to take the initiative to them.” to tell a younger version of themselves which is always good.” CONTACT BY POST CONTACT BY EMAIL CONTACT BY PHONE ONE BROOKINGS DRIVE #1039 [email protected] NEWSROOM 314.935.5995 #320 DANFORTH UNIVERSITY CENTER [email protected] ADVERTISING 314.935.4240 ST. LOUIS, MO 63130-4899 [email protected] FAX 314.935.5938 2 STUDENT LIFE EMMA BAKER | SENIOR NEWS EDITOR | [email protected] THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019 Washington University to transition to Canvas by fall 2019 GRACE STOHR user community where they My understanding from my theFLIPSIDE STAFF REPORTER get feedback from people fellow teachers is that Canvas THURS 24 FRI 25 SAT 26 SUN 27 actually using Canvas—teach- is better.” CLOUDY MOSTLY SUNNY CLOUDY SNOW Washington University ers, administrators, students Though Lenz knows the 30/8 30/18 34/26 39/29 will fully transition from even—about types of features transition can be difficult for Blackboard to Canvas by the they would like to see on students with classes on both fall 2019 semester. Canvas.” platforms, she believes the EVENT CALENDAR The University is in the pro- According to Lenz, another switch to Canvas will be worth cess of switching between the feature of Canvas that makes it it. THURSDAY 24 two grading systems with the more accessible is its 24/7 sup- “[The transition] has cre- hope to completely phase out port network for students.