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ONLINE SPORTS Vote to have your questions Ali Barenter makes heard by the Obama history, hitting two home administration. runs in one inning. STUDLIFE.COM PAGE 8 STUDENT LIFE the independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since eighteen seventy-eight Vol. 131, No. 71 www.studlife.com Monday, April 5, 2010 SOUTH 40 WEEK Tax for Metro goes to a vote Puneet Kollipara people not to take this for granted,” Enterprise Editor Chancellor Mark Wrighton said. “This is of vital importance to our community, and turning out to vote Supporters of a proposed sales- is critical.” tax hike for Metro are making their But Wrighton has been mindful fi nal case to students and local res- of the turnout problem. “This is an idents to get them to turn out to April election,” he said. “There’s vote “yes” in Tuesday’s St. Louis no political candidate with high County election, as a smaller orga- visibility on the ballot.” nized opposition continues to work Proposition A would increase to defeat the measure. the St. Louis County sales tax by Sensing that they face an 0.5 percent and trigger a previously uphill battle, Washington Univer- passed 0.25 percent tax increase in sity students and administrators the city of St. Louis. Supporters say have joined forces with local tran- it would raise about $80 million per sit advocates. Together, they have year to restore transit service that poured thousands of dollars, sev- Metro cut on March 30, 2009, and eral volunteers and hours of time support future light-rail expansion. into mobilization efforts in the fi nal If the measure fails, Metro says it days before the election, whose would need to cut service to well ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOHN HERGENROEDER outcome carries major implica- below March 30, 2009, levels. TOP LEFT: Junior Dithu Rajaraman, a Koenig RA, hurl’s a ball at an opponent during dodgeball on Saturday. TOP RIGHT: Senior tions for Metro, the region’s transit Opponents argue the tax would Nick Chang (far left), a Gregg RA, and other Brookings residents play tug-of-war on Saturday on the Swamp as part of the Residential system. disproportionately harm lower- College Olympics. BOTTOM: Students gather for the fi rst event of the Residential College Olympics, a 5K race, on Saturday. “We’re not going to stop until income families while benefi ting a the polls close at 7 p.m.,” said Liz small number of people, and give Kramer, an administrative fellow hundreds of millions of tax dollars David Messenger almost 600 residents of the and a fi ve-kilometer run. to a lot of effort and a lot of who has spearheaded efforts to to an agency that has misspent pub- News Editor South 40 took part in the Wayman Crow Residental money as well.” support Proposition A. lic money. weekend’s festivities. College won the olympics. Sutherland saw the event Students voted in overwhelm- “If 100 families benefi t and “RCO was an incredi- RCO’s events had been as a success. ing favor of November 2008’s 500 families can’t make their The sun was shining, the ble success,” she said. “Our in the works for at least a “RCO went very, very unsuccessful Proposition M, and house payment next time, have we air was warm and a palette turnout was 200 more than semester, according to the well,” Sutherland said. “The it has become clear that supporters really done anything benefi cial for of colored T-shirts dotted the we what had last year. The newly elected CS40 speaker, clouds opened up at 8:30 of this year’s measure are banking the region?” said Gina Loudon, a South 40. This past weekend, Swamp was smaller than in freshman Joe Sutherland. before the 5K; we could their hopes in part on youth turn- leader of the St. Louis Tea Party. the Congress of the South 40 previous years, but we’ve “Since fall South 40 not have asked for better out. But turnout decreases sharply The administration and student held the annual Residential managed to deal with that.” Week, we have been plan- weather.” in off-year, non-November elec- groups have devoted signifi cantly College Olympics. In RCO, each residen- ning for spring South 40 The atmosphere was tions, especially among younger more resources to Prop A efforts According to sophomore tial college comprised a Week,” he said. “If you relaxed, and students seemed voters, and members of both sides than they did to Prop M, which Hannah Bowling, outgoing team that participated in combine every college coun- to enjoy themselves. acknowledge that every voter will failed by three percentage points CS40 speaker and current numerous sporting events, cil on the 40 combined with count. Student Union senator, including basketball, soccer the CS40 board, it adds up See RCO, page 3 “I really want to encourage See PROP A, page 3 Prop A foe who inspires Tea Party For Paddy: Kilts and coffi ns, carries a recent feud with WU bagpipes and brotherhood Michelle Merlin said. “We honor [Paddy Mur- nation do philanthropy for Paddy Senior News Editor phy] as a metaphor for all the Murphy Week as well. Puneet Kollipara control of the economy. equaled about 4.65 percent of brothers in our frat, or any- The message of the week— Enterprise Editor His views on Prop A and Metro’s passenger revenue in one in the community who is a steadfast brotherhood—is socialism have found relatively fi scal 2009. The campus air will be fi lled leader in effecting change and particularly resonant for Wash. little support at the University. “They’re actually paying a with the dark dirge of bagpipes realizing when something can U.’s SAE chapter. In the fi ght over the future of Rather, they have ruffl ed the little bit more than the average and a funeral procession this be improved upon or some- “The week is supposed to public transit in St. Louis, one feathers of community members rider,” Bosworth said. week. Men in kilts carrying a thing’s wrong and making things represent a strong brotherhood local man has been an inspiration and Proposition A supporters Wrighton also noted that coffi n will march through the better.” and the connection between to local Tea Party activists and a here, who have accused Burns while the University buys passes streets, occasionally stopping In that spirit, this year SAE SAE [brothers], and it’s espe- thorn in the side of transit advo- of fearmongering and distorting for all eligible community mem- to dance. This is the highlight is expanding the tradition. In cially important to our chapter cates and Washington University the facts. bers, “only 75 percent actually of Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s tradi- addition to the usual funeral because of the turmoil we had students and staff. But Burns and some mem- request a U-Pass.” tional Paddy Murphy Week. procession on Monday, SAE gone through in the past few Jonathon Burns, 26, of bers of the Tea Party movement The University did not com- The tradition is meant to will be hosting two philanthropy years,” Schreiber said. “But we Shrewsbury, Mo., has established deny that. If anything, they argue, ment on Burns himself. But one commemorate Paddy Murphy, a events. were able to ride it out and con- himself as a rising star in the Tea Burns has been an inspiring administration offi cial said that legendary fi gure in SAE mythol- “We’re trying to expand our tinue to improve ourselves.” Party movement while stoking champion of smaller government the administration seeks to pro- ogy. According to some accounts, tradition to help the greater St. SAE was put on probation in the ire of a large number of lib- and lower taxes. “John is just a mote the proposition instead Murphy was a bootlegger from Louis community,” SAE Presi- 2006 and lost its University rec- eral students, offi cials and transit really courageous voice in that,” of fi ghting back against Burns. Prohibition-era America who dent Garrett Schreiber said. ognition in 2007 for improper advocates here with his outspo- said Gina Loudon, a St. Louis Offi cials’ private reactions have worked in cahoots with the clas- On Saturday, the brothers conduct at their formal. The ken opposition to interventionist Tea Party leader. “I would have ranged from befuddlement that sic American crime boss: Al will be helping the elderly with fraternity also lost its house. In government and tax increases. never expected so much courage Burns is targeting Washington Capone. While participating in a diffi cult household tasks such 2008 the fraternity got permis- Burns was one of several peo- from someone that young.” University to exasperation with dealing of bootleg alcohol, Mur- as moving furniture, doing yard sion for recognition in 2009 ple who protested socialism with Burns has focused much of his media attention and his criti- phy was killed by crime fi ghter work and painting. On Sunday, and will return to its house next a mock gulag display on campus his criticism of Proposition A on cisms of the U-Pass program. and SAE brother Eliot Ness. they will be hosting a car wash year. in November 2009. Burns, who the University’s U-Pass program, “My personal frustration is In his dying moments, Mur- in the Hillel parking lot from 1 “While we’re growing in was virtually unknown a year ago, which allows full-time students that we have to waste time argu- phy revealed to Ness that he too p.m.-4 p.m.

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