Weezer just dropped a new Johann Qua Hiansen previews Green Action “fl ashmob” protests a Find out allalbum. about Read the upcoming its review Jungle in the UAA championships in clean energy conference in the DUC. W Boogie concertCADENZA at the St., PAGELouis Zoo 8 in Chicago this weekend. See Check out the video at studlife.com U SCENE, PAGE 13 SPORTS, PAGE 7 SSTTUDLIFE.comUDENT LIFE the independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since eighteen seventy-eight Vol. 131, No. 31 www.studlife.com Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Programs in public health Prop N passes by wide margin Puneet Kollipara Copy Chief expanding St. Louis County vot- ers approved the smoking ban Dana Glaser years. Many of the schools, par- measure Proposition N by an Contributing Reporter ticularly the social work school overwhelming margin in Tues- and the medical school, included day’s election, which saw low elements of public health in their turnout throughout the county. Schools, departments and plans. The proposition, which passed faculty spanning Washignton Even before the creation of 65.3 percent to 34.7 percent, will University are uniting to create a the institute or master’s degree, ban smoking in public indoor cohesive public health program, the campus had already seen places in St. Louis County in Jan- bringing master’s degrees in the a great deal of public health uary 2011, with exemptions for business school, medical school research, with 12 research cen- casino fl oors, private clubs, smok- and the Brown School of Social ters involved in related research. ing lounges at St. Louis airport, Work, as well as an undergradu- “There is public health all and some bars. The proposition’s ate minor, under the coordinating over the place, frankly. [The passage also triggers a smoking infl uence of the newly formed University was] really pretty ban in St. Louis that was passed Institute of Public Health. strong already in public health,” by the city’s aldermen on Oct. 23. The University’s initiative to said Timothy McBride, associ- “We have made a major step expand public health programs, ate dean of public health at the forward on cleaner air and obvi- which began several years ago, Brown School. ously a healthy environment for MATT MITGANG | STUDENT LIFE has culminated in an undergrad- While outcroppings of pub- our citizens in the county and A voter casts her ballot at Wydown Middle School Tuesday afternoon as other booths sit empty. uate minor, which graduated lic health were scattered around city, and hopefully for the whole Turnout in St. Louis County was under 20 percent as voters overwhelmingly passed a smoking ban. its fi rst class last spring; a mas- campus, leaders on campus saw state in the future,” said County ter’s degree in public health, the lack of an overarching struc- Councilwoman Barbara Fraser, that “the fi ght’s not over” and that Students turned out in espe- was virtually empty. which enrolled its fi rst class this ture as a problem. D-University City, who intro- the opposition could challenge cially large numbers for the “There was nobody there,” he year; and the Institute for Public “Washington University has duced the St. Louis County the constitutionality of the casino November 2008 election, but said. “Absolutely nobody.” Health, which began operation been pretty distinctive among Council bill that put the smoking exemption, bring up a confl ict things were different this time last September. our peers in not having a major ban on the ballot. between the two smoking bans around. Nearly all students when See VOTE, page 2 public health emphasis,” said Proposition N opponent Bill and state law, or push to amend interviewed said they did not Strategic planning Edward Lawlor, director of the Hannegan, though disappointed, the city’s smoking ban. turn out to vote, despite most of At studlife.com Plans for the implementation Institute for Public Health. “In downplayed the result, saying Campaign leaders reported them saying they supported the See results of other races, of the public health department some ways, I think this was kind that “it was always going to be low traffi c at polls throughout the measure. including a sales tax for improving were drawn up at the University of a glaring omission in the port- tough in the county” due to its low county on Tuesday. Overall turn- Senior James Mosbacher said emergency communications four years ago, when school rep- folio of programs we have.” smoking rate. out was just under 20 percent, it took him “three minutes, max” and special elections to replace resentatives gathered to discuss Hannegan, who heads the which was in line with county to cast his vote for Proposition N former state lawmakers Jeff where they wanted to be in 20 See HEALTH, page 3 group Keep St. Louis Free, added election offi cials’ predictions. at his polling place, which he said Smith and Steve Brown. FIGHT THE POWER FEATURE PHOTO Area schools ranked among best neighbors; WU behind the pack John Scott have been involved in service News Editor while at the University. Although the ranking puts an emphasis on “real dollars A recent survey ranking invested” in the community, it can “Best Neighbor” colleges and be diffi cult to put a fi xed value on universities lists Saint Louis the University’s involvement in University and the University the area, said Cheryl Adelstein, of Missouri-St. Louis in the top director of community relations 25, with Washington University and local government affairs. listed among 100 additional hon- Adelstein noted that the Univer- orable mentions. sity’s impact is made clearer in “It’s terrifi c that St. Louis diffi cult economic times. had three institutions in the top “The University in a reces- rankings,” said Hank Webber, sion doesn’t leave. While [other executive vice chancellor for businesses] have contracted, the administration at the Univer- University stays, continues to MATT MITGANG | STUDENT LIFE sity. “I think that refl ects a broad build and continues to invest,” commitment of higher education Adelstein said. Students hold their fi sts in the air in protest of the America’s Energy Future conference hosted by Washington University institutions to the city and the Washington University has Monday. The conference was organized to discuss the future of more environmentally friendly technologies and members region.” some 13,000 employees, more of the University, including Chancellor Wrighton, cited controversial clean coal technology as one of several practical The survey considered sev- than half of whom work on the means of combating global climate change. Green Action organized a fl ash mob to encourage the energy executives to go eral aspects of a university’s medical campus. Barnes Jewish, to a student-led energy symposium on alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power held the same day. contributions to its community the University’s healthcare part- for the ranking, including fac- ner, is the largest employer in the ulty and student involvement in city. community service; presence Webber mentioned that SLU felt through payroll, research is also one of the top employers and purchasing power; effect on in the city. Princeton Review places University local student access and afford- “These [universities] become ability to attend college; and the largest economic entities, length of involvement with the [and] we don’t go anywhere, community. we’ve stayed and grown,” Web- The University of Pennsylva- ber said. nia and University of Southern Despite the state of the on 2010 Financial Aid Honor Roll California tied for fi rst in the national economy, Adelstein said Jennifer Wei economy, fi nancial aid is a big percentage of students deter- to match whatever cuts the state ranking, while the University the University has a $2.5 billion Contributing Reporter part of students and parents’ deci- mined to have a need for aid, the made. I also have outside scholar- of Dayton and the University of economic impact on the area. sions in where they go to school,” percentage of need met, and the ships…the school will reimburse Pittsburgh tied for second. The The survey report cited Saint Lessem said. percentage of students whose aid you [if necessary],” Lam said. University of Missouri-Kansas Louis University’s efforts to Derek Lam, a senior receiving was fully met. The company also Although students are gener- City (UMKC), Case Western revitalize downtown St. Louis as Earlier this year, the Prince- nearly full fi nancial aid, attested uses student surveys. ally pleased with their fi nancial Reserve University and Emory a principle reason for its selec- ton Review ranked Washington to this point. “We try to reach as many stu- aid, international students have a University also made the top 25. tion. The school’s emphasis on University fourth in the nation “Truman State University dents possible,” Lessem said. different perspective. Evan Dobelle, president of social justice and the urban poor for fi nancial aid. The University offered me a full ride, but Wash. The University evaluates stu- “I feel like at not just Wash. Westfi eld State College in Mas- in research and student involve- received the Review’s highest U. gave me a good enough fi nan- dents’ fi nancial situation each U., but at a lot of colleges in the sachusetts, announced the top ment was another point made in possible score of 99, making it cial aid package so that I could year. U.S., just knowing that you’re schools during a presentation the report. one of 13 colleges placed on the actually afford to come,” Lam “Families complete fi nan- an international student puts titled, “Saviors of our cities: A The report also mentioned Review’s “2010 Financial Aid said.