From mordant humor and exuberant defiance to love and war and existential anguish, the Performing Arts Department (PAD) in Arts & Sciences this season will scale the heights and plumb the depths of our shared mortal coil, covering the “range of human experience” says Robert Henke, professor and chair of the PAD. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21086.aspx

Each year, first-year medical students are matched with a second-year student, usually based on similar interests, undergraduate school, hometown or personality, who acts as a mentor, or “big sib,” to help ease the transition. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21043.aspx

All WUSTL campuses became tobacco-free in July, which means smoking and tobacco use is prohibited on all university-owned and -managed properties. The university will continue to work with community members to support tobacco-cessation efforts. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21069.aspx

A recent article by Laura Rosenbury, JD, professor of law, examines laws governing child custody, sex toys and off-hours affairs. All are the result of legal rulings from a Supreme Court decision once expected to broaden sexual rights, Rosenbury writes in the article “Sex In and Out of Intimacy,” published this summer. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21037.aspx

• Noon. Access to Justice, School of Law Clinical Education Program Speaker Series. “Examining the Realities of Exploited Children and Child Trafficking in the U.S.” Bridgette Carr, Human Trafficking Clinic, U. Michigan Law School. Anheuser-Busch Hall. Free. (314) 935-8598 or law.wustl.edu.

• Cupples II Hall closed for one year. Cupples II Hall on the Danforth Campus closed Aug. 27 and will not reopen until Aug. 26, 2011. Both the interior and exterior of the building are undergoing renovation. Cupples II will be completely closed to public access during this time.

• Women’s Soccer Picked as Preseason Favorite in UAA. The women’s soccer team was picked first in the 2010 University Athletics Association preseason conference coaches’ poll. Washington University has won four straight and six of the last seven conference titles. The team also is ranked No. 2 nationally entering the season, which starts Wednesday, Sept. 1, at Southeast Missouri State University.