CLAYTON SUSHI CLAYTON 6 SCENE, PAGE EMMA STONE 7 CADENZA, PAGE MISSOURI POLITICS 4 FORUM, PAGE the independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since 1878 Friday, September 17, 2010 Vol. 132, No. 8 www.studlife.com Washington University in St. Louis WU to divide WU-SLam vs. Slam Nuba env. studies program into three majors LAUREN OLENS NEWS EDITOR My city is a bullet. St. Louis has guns that follow the rules of gravity. When a bullet is fi red, it Major changes are coming to the rises at its maximum speed, decelerating as it environmental studies program at Washington reaches the top. Stops. And falls at the same University. speed at which it was launched. The program will be divided into three new majors: environmental biology and environmental earth sciences, which are pending final approval, and environmental social science, which is still in development. Current students will be grandfathered into the old major but can opt for one of the new majors if they prefer. The environmental studies major has grown in popularity, with 166 environmental studies majors graduating in 2010. But it has been eight years since the program was last evaluated, and students, faculty and administrators want to modernize it. “We should always be thinking about Washington University, remember changing the curriculum when we have a dynamic you are still in St. Louis. field like environmental studies…or we won’t be providing you with the most contemporary — Aaron Samuels & Gerald Martin, “My City” education,” said Tiffany Knight, the director of the environmental studies program. A forum on Wednesday addressed the new changes to the environmental studies program. According to Knight, the previous program options had too much breadth, and the new division into three majors will allow students to study an area in depth while still being exposed to all major aspects of environmental studies. The difference between the environmental biology major and the ecology and evolution track of the biology major is that the environmental biology major has more of a geoscience concentration. Furthermore, there PHOTOS BY GRACE FUNG | STUDENT LIFE are fewer general science requirements— Members of WU-SLam competed against students are required to take only one semester Denver-based Slam Nuba in Edison Theatre of physics and can choose options to replace on Wednesday night. Top to bottom, left organic chemistry. to right: Seniors Aaron Samuels and Gerald “I think it’s a terrific major,” Knight said. Martin of WU-SLam; senior Naia Ferguson of “I’m really proud of it.” WU-SLam; a member of WU-Cypher break The new major should give environmental dances to open the slam; Amy Eberhart of Slam-Nuba. SEE ENVIRONMENT, PAGE 3 Bonifi eld hired as LGBT liason Olin wins grant for program in Israel SALLY WANG According to Macias, who was ALICE KASSINGER While there are many other opportunities STAFF REPORTER spearheading the hiring process, a new CONTRIBUTING REPORTER for students in the business school to study coordinator was actually hired in November abroad, Malter feels that Israel will be an Saida Bonifield was named the new 2009 and scheduled to fill the post in January Thanks to a grant sponsored by the Israeli important addition to the list. coordinator for lesbian, gay, bisexual and 2010. But because of family reasons, the new government, students in the Olin Business “Israel is at the forefront of new research transgender student involvement and leadership coordinator ultimately passed on the job. School can now learn about research and and technology,” Malter said. “To give you an at Washington University this summer. The University reopened the search process development on Israeli soil. idea, behind the U.S. it has the most listings in Bonifield was the LGBT coordinator at the in January 2010 and Washington University With the creation of a new study abroad NASDAQ.” University of Kansas while she was in graduate was without an official LGBT coordinator for program, the business school will send students Malter also believes that spending a school and wanted to continue in the field. much of the 2009-2010 school year. to attend classes at the Interdisciplinary semester in Israel will provide students with “We are excited to have Saida Bonifield Michael Brown, the previous coordinator, Center, which is a private university in exposure to a valuable culture. join us to continue the momentum that the left after September 2009, Macias said. Israel, and intern at Israeli companies. It will “I think the semester abroad will be a first coordinator has done since 2007,” said “During the [interim], we had the help of two culminate in each student writing an applied wonderful opportunity to learn about Israel Julia Macias, assistant director of campus life. graduate students to continue the work of research paper with an Olin faculty member. in a different light,” Malter said. “The usual “Under Saida, we hope to continue to help the coordinator position,” Macias said. “The Masa, a group within the government- programs are cultural or religious, but the [present] Wash. U. as a welcoming experience sponsored Jewish Agency of Israel, gave the spring break trip was secular, though we did for all students.” SEE LGBT, PAGE 3 grant to eight schools across the United States. visit important sites to the Jewish, Christian This reflects a national trend of increasing and Muslim faiths. It was a different way of Israeli-American exchange programs, with looking at the country.” many being sponsored by Israel’s leaders. Junior Jake Lewis, a student who not only The program is only slated to run once, participated in Malter’s class but also went but there may be more opportunities in the back over the summer to intern at a small future. investment firm, agrees. The University itself has increased its “Malter did a great job of getting together presence in Israel over the past several years, speakers,” Lewis said. “It showed us a side including several cultural study-abroad of Israel we wouldn’t have gotten to see programs, a trip for engineering students and otherwise.” a trip for business school students. Arye Nehorai, Electrical & Systems Steve Malter, assistant dean for student Engineering Department chair and professor, development and strategic initiatives, teaches also organized a secular trip to Israel for several Business in Israel, a course open to all undergraduate students in the engineering students that was created last year in response school. Over spring break, the students went to a large level of student interest. Over spring to the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, break, students traveled to Israel, where they where they participated in studies and saw met with many high-level personnel in the cutting edge technologies being developed. Israeli business and finance world, including “I wanted to inspire students to take what the CEO of the Israeli stock exchange and they saw from one of the top technological a member of the Israeli prime minister’s institutes in the world and bring it back here,” JAMES HARRANG | STUDENT LIFE National Economic Council. Nehorai said. “But I also wanted to share Saida Bonifield was recently hired as the new Coordinator for LGBT Student Involvement. “Everyone here in St. Louis kept opening the culture with them, and show them how She hopes to serve as a resource for students and to continue improving the campus doors for connections, since this community community. is so tied with Israel,” Malter said. SEE ISRAEL, PAGE 3 CONTACT BY POST CONTACT BY EMAIL CONTACT BY PHONE ONE BROOKINGS DRIVE #1039 [email protected] NEWSROOM 314.935.5995 #330 DANFORTH UNIVERSITY CENTER [email protected] ADVERTISING 314.935.6713 ST. LOUIS, MO 63130-4899 [email protected] FAX 314.935.5938 2 STUDENT LIFE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010 theflipside be sold at low prices (cash and tournament (high scorers will FRIDAY 17 campus card are accepted). win iTunes gift cards), an encore FRIDAY 17 presentation of “Toy Story 3” and SUNNY Balloon Glow video games and billiards in the 81 / 63 Forest Park Central Field, 7-8:30 Fun Room. p.m. The Balloon Glow allows students SATURDAY 18 and community members the Balloon Race in Forest Park SATURDAY 18 chance to see a lit-up fi eld of Forest Park Central Field, noon- infl ated balloons. Refreshments 6:30 p.m. SUNDAY 19 ISOLATED T-STORMS and food are available. The Take a study break and get some Student Union BBQ in event will end with a spectacular fresh air in the beautiful Forest University City 88 / 68 fi reworks fi nale display Park! There will be variety of Corner of Kingsbury Boulevard beginning at approximately 9 local talents on the stage and a and Melville Avenue, 5-7 p.m. p.m. photo contest in which the public Come get to know our University can take pictures of their favorite City neighbors, Wash. U. students, SUNDAY 19 Asian Music Association GBM balloons, with prizes for the best graduate students, faculty and photographs. There will also be a PARTLY CLOUDY Karaoke Night staff, and families of all ages. DUC Fun Room, 9 p.m. skydiving team that lands in the There will be free BBQ and sub 85 / 65 Everyone loves karaoke! Okay, center of the launch fi eld. The race sandwiches, and the events is well a lot of people do. Come begins when the Energizer Bunny open to all students, so bring your hang out, make a fool of yourself Balloon takes off ahead of the friends. American Idol style and learn pack. Seventy other balloons then To ace the test, about AMA. launch behind it. Freshman Class Council debate Ursa’s Fireside, 8 p.m.