STAFF EDITORIAL | A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE GARGOYLE | SEE FORUM, PAGE 4 TUDENT IFE THE SINDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY L IN ST. LOUIS SINCE 1878 VOLUME 129, NO. 22 MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2007 WWW.STUDLIFE.COM Butane explosion rocks Wohl Center v No one injured in blast BY SAM GUZIK AND ERIN FULTS mond Deng, who was at the ACF STUDENT LIFE STAFF fundraiser. Immediately after the ex- An explosion in Northwest plosion, the group rushed to Wohl on Friday night shook the fi nd something to smother the second fl oor of the student cen- fl ames. ter on the South 40, shattering “Everyone was running a number of windows but injur- around,” said Deng. ing no one. But these efforts were instead According to reports on the met with “a gigantic burst” as scene, the explosion occurred the tank exploded and the bal- at around 7:15 p.m. cony windows in the upstairs Firefi ghters from the Clayton northwest corner of Wohl blew Fire Department and offi cers of out, sending shattered glass ev- the Washington University Po- erywhere. lice Department responded to In the explosion, fi ve win- the emergency. dows—with 11-12 window- Fire department investiga- panes—were destroyed. They tions at the scene determined are currently covered with ply- that the explosion was caused a wood. leaking butane canister. “No one was hurt, which is Butane stoves were being unbelievable,” said Mike Meng, used to prepare food at the ACF co-president. “Someone Asian Christian Fellowship was defi nitely watching out for (ACF) fundraiser where the ex- us.” plosion occurred. “None of the students are in- “The use of butane under jured, not even a singed hair,” Clayton fi re codes is permitted said Volkmann. “It’s a nice end in properly ventilated indoor to a story that could have per- spaces,” said Vice Chancellor for haps been otherwise.” Public Affairs Fred Volkmann. According to Volkmann, the “The question is whether it is damage was primarily in the allowed under University policy form of broken glass, however and that is being reviewed.” the cost of the damage will not Dean of Students Justin Car- be known for several weeks roll could not be reached to until an estimate has been pre- comment on Residential Life pared. policy regarding the use of bu- tane stoves. —With additional reporting by LIONEL SOBEHART | STUDENT LIFE “All of a sudden [the tank] David Brody, Lionel Sobehart Clayton Fire Department investigates the scene after the Oct. 12 explosion in Wohl. just fl ared up,” said senior Ray- and David Song Senate considers Students work to improve higher education spending rules sexual assault prevention BY SAM GUZIK them a copy of the resolu- acquaintances, victims are campus who suffer sexual v Proposal proposed by the U.S. Senate SENIOR NEWS EDITOR tion, [now] there’s an effort often hesitant to come for- assault but don’t get those that would require colleges and to meet with them and talk ward or unsure of whom to kinds of resources.” would increase universities to send a greater Resuming an effort that about it,” said Paul Moin- approach. If approved, the new ad- percentage of their net worth to began last year, Washington ester, former SU president “We had our February ministrator would work to money available provide fi nancial aid. University students have be- and current senator. “In or- incident last year and we develop protocol for campus- Under the proposal meant to gun to push for the creation der to properly explain [the responded tremendously,” wide responses to emergen- for fi nancial aid help lower tuition costs, institu- of a position that would co- resolution] and explain its said Ake. “But, I think what cies, essentially centralizing tions that do not pay this per- ordinate education about needs, there needs to be a that threw into relief is that BY MARK DUDLEY centage would risk losing their and the prevention of sexual meeting.” there are a lot of people on See ASSAULT, page 3 CONTRIBUTING REPORTER tax-exempt status. assault. Eric Gradel, the SU speak- Many of the nation’s most Last March, a resolution er when the resolution was Washington University has calling for the creation of an passed, could not be reached come out against a measure See SPENDING, page 2 Office for the Prevention of for comment. Sexual and Relationship Vio- The next step for stu- TIMELINE lence that would coordinate dents and administrators prevention and education ef- will be exploring what is the CUT ME SOME SLACK forts across campus unani- best way to meet the cur- Sexual mously passed the Student rent needs on campus with 2004 Union (SU) Senate. regards to rape and sexual Committee on Sexual As- Over the summer, howev- assault. Assault er, little progress was made “We know that sexual as- sault Survey shows that in advocating for the resolu- sault is an issue in our com- at Wash. U. more than 1 in 5 women tion, largely because it was munity and in others and and 1 in 10 men are only sent to a limited num- we accept responsibility as survivors of attempted or ber of administrators. a community,” said McLeod. Feb. 12 completed rape before “I don’t recall receiving “This is not just an individ- graduating from Washing- the resolution, but I don’t ual’s problem, this is our 2007 think that at this point problem—it’s a question of ton University. that’s important,” said James what is the best way to move A student was sexually McLeod, dean of the College forward on this challenge.” assaulted and robbed of Arts & Sciences. A 2004 survey by the in Myers residence hall March 28 In previous efforts to cre- Committee on Sexual Assu- by a stranger. ate administrative positions, alt (COSA) showed that more 2007 including the creation of a than one in five women and LGBT Coordinator this year, one in 10 men are survivors May 25 Student Union Senate McLeod was involved with of attempted or complet- 2007 unanimously passes a the initial stages of discus- ed rape before graduating resolution advocating for sion between students and Washington University. The Clayton Police Depart- the creation of a coordi- administrators. same survey also showed ment and WUPD an- According to Carson that the vast majority of cas- nator for the prevention nounced the arrest of DAVID HARTSTEIN | STUDENT LIFE Smith, the current speaker es go unreported. of sexual and relationship a suspect in the sexual Junior Emily Miner slacklines near Graham Chapel Sunday afternoon. of the Senate, the resolution According to Jami Ake, violence. will be presented to adminis- Dean in the College of Arts assault at Slacklining involves the stretching of a nylon line between two anchor trators in the coming weeks & Sciences and committee Myers. points. The Outing Club, a group dedicated to outdoor activity, sets up to ensure that they have re- co-chair, because the vast their slackline various times throughout the week. ceived a copy of it. majority of sexual violence “Rather than just sending cases take place between JOE RIGODANZO | STUDENT LIFE How about them Bears? Tonight at 6:30...Spider pig! INSIDE: NEWSROOM PHONE 314-935-5995 Strong performances across Mike Reiss, a writer for the Forum . 4 ADVERTISING PHONE the team marked the Simpsons and the creator of Cadenza . 5 weekend for the Lady Bears, “The Critic” will be speaking 314-935-6713 with three players scoring tonight at Graham Chapel. Sports . 6 E-MAIL US their fi rst collegiate goals. Get a sneak preview of what [email protected] Sports, Page 8 he has to say in Cadenza, Classifi eds . 7 Page 5 Sudoku . 7 2 STUDENT LIFE | NEWS Senior News Editor / Sam Guzik / [email protected] MONDAY | OCTOBER 15, 2007 STUDENT LIFE One Brookings Drive #1039 #42 Women’s Building Assembly Series takes on questions Saint Louis, MO 63130-4899 News: (314) 935-5995 Advertising: (314) 935-6713 Fax: (314) 935-5938 of religious life on campus e-mail: [email protected] www.studlife.com BY SAM GUZIK discussion today, the pair of essary criticism of religion an open forum for students to Rabbi Orlow and Father Copyright 2007 SENIOR NEWS EDITOR religious leaders hope to start and in other making believers bring in their questions. Braun have previously ap- a discussion about whether the uncomfortable with expressing “We want to know how re- peared together on the WUTV Editor in Chief: Erin Fults Religion and academia do current interactions between themselves. ligion is experienced on cam- show “Missionary Positions,” Executive Editor: David Brody not often go hand in hand. religion and the University are “Sometimes it seems to me pus,” said Father Gary. “Do during which they discussed Managing Editors: Shweta Murthi, Mal- But Rabbi Avi Orlow and Fa- as benefi cial to students as they that in the name of [political everyday students experience sex and answered live call-in lory Wilder ther Gary Braun, two members could be. correctness], people say what religion as intrusive or a help- questions. Senior News Editor: Sam Guzik of the campus ministry, are “I don’t think we step back they think is the right thing to ful presence? Is the University Heath-Carpentier is a career Senior Forum Editor: Nathan Everly hoping to start a discussion very often from everyday life say, but underneath they are progressively secular and dis- development specialist and Senior Cadenza Editor: Brian Stitt Senior Scene Editor: Felicia Baskin about why that is—and whether at the University and ask ques- seething,” said Father Gary.