WU/FUSED Disrupts Tuition Forum, Pressures University to Go Need-Blind
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The independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since 1878 VOLUME 141, NO. 29 THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020 WWW.STUDLIFE.COM TAKE THE SEX SURVEYstudlife.com WU/FUSED disrupts tuition forum, WU honors MLK Day pressures University to go need-blind with 33rd annual keynote TED MOSKAL NEWS EDITOR Hundreds of people filled Graham Chapel for Washington University’s 33rd annual commem- oration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Chancellor Andrew D. Martin gave the keynote address, and Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Marion Crain delivered the closing remarks. The Washington University Chamber Choir, Visions Gospel Choir and Black Anthology also performed. After the commem- oration, a reception was held in the Danforth University Center. The theme of the commemo- ration was Dr. King’s famous assertion that “the time is always right to do what is right.” In accordance with this theme, the University presented the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Service Award to Seth Phillips, a St. Louis teenager who helped a wheel- CURRAN NEENAN | STUDENT LIFE chair-bound man reach his home Senior Rachel Hellman addresses Washington University leaders on their goal to have a need-blind admissions process. Hellman helps direct Wash- ington University Undergradates for Socioeconomic Diversity (WU/FUSED), which staged a protest at the University Tuition Forum, Wednesday. before the beginning of a storm in a viral video. Phillips and his mother NEWS EDITORS specific timeline, what I can say the protest in such a way that it Wild said. then started a GoFundMe to buy a is that Chancellor Martin has would be disruptive while still “I’m always proud of students new wheelchair for the man. Washington University for said that this is one of his high- respecting the other students in when they have a strong belief Martin began his keynote speech Undergraduate Socioeconomic est priorities and I know he is out attendance. and they find ways to construc- by acknowledging his position of Diversity disrupted the University there talking with folks about con- “We did our best to let the tively share their beliefs and state privilege, noting the importance of Tuition Forum to advocate for tinuing to invest in Washington actual presentation take its course their opinions,” Vice Provost listening to the needs of the com- need blind admissions, Jan. 22. University, continuing to help us and let anybody else ask any of Admissions & Financial Aid munities one hopes to support. The forum, held in Tisch raise money for the endowment questions that they had,” WU/ Ronne Patrick Turner said. “Yet here I am, the chancellor Commons, is hosted annually to so that we can move toward need- FUSED member senior Zach “They’re very passionate about of Washington University, a white, allow students to ask University blind admissions,” White said. Leonard said. “But our central need-blind and as someone who highly-educated heterosexual male administrators questions about After White’s response, question that we came to the is in the enrollment world, I 100% that was asked to give this keynote how undergraduate tuition money Hellman began to read an excerpt event with was: ‘What date can support them and I 100% support speech to you today,” Martin said. is allocated. from the organization’s need-blind we expect Wash. U. to go need- Chancellor Martin in his goal to Martin then incorporated the At the end of the forum’s ques- report that compiled research on blind?’ And they didn’t have a get us there as soon as he can.” commemoration’s theme in his tion and answer portion, senior need-blind admissions at peer date to offer.” Going forward, WU/FUSED speech, focusing on the University’s Rachel Hellman, WU/FUSED institutions and gathered stu- Associate Vice Chancellor plans to keep pressuring the ongoing initiatives to increase diver- member, asked the panelists if the dent testimonials. The members for Student Affairs and Dean of administration for a concrete sity and inclusivity on campus. University has a plan in place to presented the report, which rec- Students Rob Wild, who was a commitment. “Diversity on paper is not become a need-blind institution. ommended that the University panelist at the forum, said that “We are going to definitely be enough,” Martin said. “While we After listening to Hellman’s go need-blind, to Martin in a he has worked with the organiza- consistent in our efforts to push still have a great deal of work to question, Vice Chancellor for meeting, Nov. 22. One by one, tion in the past and supports their for a need-blind institution,” do to arrive at full equity and inclu- Student Affairs Lori White different WU/FUSED members, efforts. Hellman said. “Based on the sion, I believe as a community we responded by emphasizing the scattered across the commons, “I think they have always done administration’s response to our have come a long way toward lis- University’s commitment to read out excerpts from the report a great job of bringing up the disruption, we hope that we can tening to the voices of those who becoming a need-blind insti- before the group began to chant important issues facing students work with them in the future to continue to embody Dr. King’s tution, but failed to provide a with posters, exiting the Danforth from a socioeconomic diversity establish a need-blind commit- struggle.” specific date. University Center. issue...The request to go need- ment date. So hopefully [another] “I can’t say that there’s a WU/FUSED leaders planned blind is a big issue for students,” protest won’t have to happen.” SEE MLK, PAGE 3 WPA recruitment adjusts process to prioritize emotional wellbeing of new members ELLIE ITO followed,” Women’s Panhellenic increasing to $125 after Oct. 31. Color right from the beginning, hype and high energy, but also real- STAFF REPORTER Association (WPA) Vice President “I’m proud of the changes we and I realized that I could just be ize that no one is like that all the of Recruitment Counselors Megan implemented this past year in myself.” time in real life,” freshman Hannah The Women’s Panhellenic Lemaire wrote in a statement to making the recruitment process While some students were sat- Chay said. “It’s also important Association implemented sev- Student Life. “Therefore, when more financially accessible than it isfied with the conclusion of the to remember that Greek Life at eral changes to its spring 2020 the women got to Graham Chapel, has been in previous years,” Vice recruitment process, others felt Washington University is very dif- recruitment earlier this month, the anticipation of the envelope is President of Recruitment senior differently. ferent from the big state school including lowering the registration gone and ideally replaced with the Elana Goldenberg wrote in a state- “I know some of my friends experience. Here, the emphasis fee, spreading out the schedule excitement that is to follow once ment to Student Life. “While it isn’t received bids such that they only should be more so on fit than the and changing the bid day process joining a chapter.” perfect, it’s definitely a step in the had one option,” Wiesinger said. chapter’s national acclaim.” to allow for increased emotional 87.7% of women who par- right direction.” “I don’t know that anything could Amidst the stress, high emotion support. ticipated in WPA Recruitment Sophomore Beth Wiesinger said be done about that but I definitely and celebration of the recruitment Previously, women received their received a bid, a slight increase that she was pleasantly surprised by feel that women should have mul- process, WPA representatives said bids during a ceremony in Graham from 86.3% in 2019. Of the 431 the recruitment process. tiple opportunities at joining the they strived to create a welcom- Chapel, a setup that many women women who signed up to partici- “Being a first generation college sorority they want.” ing environment for potential new said lacked privacy, especially for pate in recruitment, 46 voluntarily student, Latinx, and a sophomore, Others expressed hesitation members and active members. those who were unhappy with their withdrew from the process and 7 I went into recruitment thinking of regarding participation in Greek “I personally had so much fun bids. women were not invited back to it as more of a social experiment,” system for various reasons, at Bid Day and felt that the energy “We had Recruitment any chapters. Wiesinger said. “I felt as though including the stereotypically heter- from Recruitment Counselors, Counselors, trained and disaf- Registration fees for this year’s I had already found spaces that onormative culture, issues of sexual Actives and [potential new mem- filiated upperclassmen sorority recruitment were set at $75 between aligned with various aspects of my assault, fear of not fitting in, finan- bers],” Lemaire wrote. “It was women, hand them their bids Sept. 1 and Oct. 31, increasing identity and I wasn’t sure Greek cial concerns and more. reflective of the change and inten- personally and be there as some- to $100 after Oct. 31. In 2019, life would do the same. I was told “To women considering regis- tion of a positive Panhellenic one to support whatever emotion registration fees started at $100, about Lambda Q and Sisters of tering for recruitment, expect the community.” 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 JAYLA BUTLER | SENIOR NEWS EDITOR | [email protected] THURSDAY, JANUARY 23 , 2020 College Democrats, Gephardt theFLIPSIDE Institute introduce targeted THURS 23 FRI 24 SAT 25 SUN 26 efforts to maintain student RAIN/SNOW RAIN/SNOW CLOUDY PARTLY CLOUDY 37/32 38/31 37/25 39/26 political engagement JAYLA BUTLER the Gephardt Institute will school year, and plans to con- SENIOR NEWS EDITOR have notaries available on tinue them through 2020.