A live interview TOUCH STUDLIFE with the Chan- LIFE AFTER TWITTER cellor takes place It’s like Facebook statuses...but all the time! Find out how SOMEONE! INTERVIEWS this Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on Twitter changed the world. Health Beat today engages the WUTV and at mythological power of touch—and WRIGHTON studlife.com. BACK PAGE new campus group “Stressbusters.” PAGE 7 STUDLIFE.COM Sthe independentTUDENT newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis LIFE since eighteen seventy-eight Vol. 130 No. 56 www.studlife.com Wednesday, February 11, 2009 Uncertain times Governor’s plan for college for universities grants upsets private schools Puneet Kollipara ste told Student Life that the primary Roughly 50 percent of funds go to The proposal comes after Nixon’s News Editor reason Nixon wants to make the maxi- private school students. Twenty-nine pledge to maintain the current level of mum award equal for private and public percent of award recipients in the 2007- funding for Missouri public colleges in school students is that the grants are tax- 2008 academic year attended private fi scal 2010 in exchange for tuition freez- echo past crises A group of private colleges and uni- payer funded. institutions. es, in light of the economic crisis. versities in Missouri that includes Wash- “They’re an important part of ensur- The measure, which is part of the But there is some concern that the William Shim versity,” Wrighton said. “And then ington University is distraught over Gov. ing that students in Missouri are able to state’s annual budget, must fi rst pass the changes to Access Missouri would com- Contributing Reporter the next fi scal year of 1974, there Jay Nixon’s proposal to lower the maxi- get a quality education,” Holste said. Missouri General Assembly. The state’s promise the ability for students receiving was a reduction of 10 percent of the mum award private college students can “We’ve got great schools, great universi- budget is expected to be a hot topic dur- the grants to pay for private institutions, spending from the endowment.” receive from the Access Missouri grant ties in Missouri, both public and private, ing the current legislative session as the according to Rose Windmiller, director With the nation dealing with The University also experienced program. and we want to continue to have a well- new administration faces a more than of state relations and local government an economic downturn and an in- endowment losses between 2000 The new governor’s proposal would trained workforce. Because this is tax- $250 million budget shortfall this year. affairs at Washington University. creasing unemployment rate, uni- and 2002. Despite its losses, the change the maximum Access Missouri payer money, the governor believes we Leaders of some public universities Windmiller told Student Life that Ac- versities and colleges are trying University did not have to reduce award for any four-year college student should have equal distribution on those are praising the proposal. Gary Forsee, cess Missouri, which was devised with to take prudent steps in investing the spending from the endowment. in Missouri to $2,850 per year starting in grants.” president of the University of Missouri input from experts in Missouri’s private their funds after drastic reductions The University based this spend- fi scal 2010. Students at four-year private The total monetary amount of grants System, released a statement on Jan. 28 and public education sectors, is doing its in their endowments. ing on how the endowment fared institutions can currently receive up to would stay at its current level of $95.8 supporting the governor’s plan. job. She said the University does not sup- “What we are trying to do, in during the previous fi ve years. $4,600 in Access Missouri grants each million under the new plan, with $2.5 “Students who attend private institu- port Nixon’s proposal. this era, is to take prudent steps “This July 1, we will have a year, while students at four-year public million in additional funding to offset tions are currently eligible for more than “Our argument for graduated awards to make sure that we can thrive as new spending amount, which may institutions can receive up to $2,150. infl ation, Holste said. twice the funding of those who choose is that students at public institutions are we look to the future,” Chancellor be down about 2 percent,” said Access Missouri grants are need- According to Missouri Department to attend public institutions,” Forsee already receiving the benefi t of substan- Wrighton, when asked to project based awards for full-time students from of Higher Education (MDHE) spokes- said. “The governor is on the right track tial state subsidy to public institutions, next year’s endowment spending. Missouri attending a post-secondary in- person Kathy Love, 42,244 students to make this a fair and balanced fi nancial which helps them with a lower tuition “But the next July 1 of 2010 might stitution in the state. have received Access Missouri grants aid program that will improve access to see a steeper decline if the value of Nixon’s press secretary Scott Hol- this academic year. higher education for all students.” See GRANTS, page 2 the endowment does not improve.” Forty percent of the Univer- sity’s endowment is invested in RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY public equities or publicly-traded stocks. The endowment’s value can be increased by two means: by receiv- ing new gifts and by making in- vestment decisions that will yield growth in value. The Washington University Investment Manage- ment Company, under the direction of Chief Investment Offi cer Kim- SAM GUZIK | STUDENT LIFE Chancellor Mark Wrighton says berly Walker and a separate com- mittee of the Board of Trustees, the endowment spending amount decides the target location, strategy will decrease on July 1 and may and allocation of the investment. continue to decrease for the 2010 Despite the current economic school year. instability, Wrighton expressed confi dence that Walker and her Mark Wrighton said. team have solid plans for the Uni- Because audited reports are re- versity’s endowment. leased annually, Washington Uni- “We are always looking for new versity’s endowment fi gures are opportunities,” Wrighton said. “In not available during the course of an environment like we are expe- the fi scal year. However, Wrigh- riencing today, I do not think we ton estimated that as of the end have much forward visibility in of December, the University’s en- terms of what will be happening dowment was down by about 23 again of the traded companies. But percent compared to the previous I believe the diversity that we have fi scal year. in our investments is one strategy Many universities are reporting that should serve us well.” large losses in their endowments— Compared to previous invest- losses that seem to echo the 1970s, ment strategies, which mainly con- when the University reported simi- centrated on stocks and bonds, the lar fi nancial problems. University now invests in many INDU CHANDRASEKHAR | STUDENT LIFE “Back in the fi scal year of 1973, additional sectors, including real Jeff Todisman, a Washington University Facilities staff member, searches for a clogged drain in the Danforth University Center underground garage. The there was no increase in the endow- water accumulation began shortly after midnight on Wednesday morning, forming in large puddles on the garage’s fi rst fl oor and fl ooding the garage’s entry ment payout [for] Washington Uni- See LOSSES, page 2 way. Todisman attributes the drainage problems to mulch from nearby fl ower beds that washed away in the rainstorm. Mr. Wash. U. to sell Bear’s Den, Center Court photos in auction Sophie Adelman Faces, a local initiative that works with Shortly afterward, a Facebook involved. There’s not only the benefi t Assignment Editor inner-city St. Louis children to provide group called “I HATE that picture in of giving money to a charity, but also a positive outlet through art. In 2008, Bear’s Den” came into existence. The getting to go out on a date with a friend Mr. Wash. U. raised about $30,000 for group has slightly more than 200 mem- or a crush.” COURTESY OF ALEX GARCINI Students have all seen those pictures the charity. bers. The photos maintain a cult status on on the wall in Bear’s Den and Center Last year, the most money raised The infamous picture was taken as campus, and many are sad to see them Court. Now, they have the opportunity by a candidate was $2,000. Offerman a publicity shot for a University play, go. to own those special pieces of Washing- hopes to top that goal and said that he “Big Love,” in 2003. “If I ever met [the “[The new photos] don’t really cap- ton University history. is leading in fundraising efforts among girls], I would tell them that I admire ture the essence of Wash. U. student An auction to benefi t Mr. Wash. U. the candidates. their work and that each person did a life quite as well as the Thurtene and will be held on Thursday at Ursa’s Fire- Tyler Bertroche, a sophomore who great job of creating the emotions that cheerleadering picture,” Offerman said. side at 7 p.m. to sell the photos depict- is also a candidate for Mr. Wash. U., we tried to replicate,” Bertroche said. “Hopefully for the new Wohl Center, ing campus life, which were replaced has a special relationship with one of The starting bid for the original they will bring back some more fi ne by photographs of food over winter the photos.