This week, the Performing Arts Department in Arts & Sciences presents Curse of the Starving Class, Sam Shepard’s bitterly funny — and disturbingly prescient — family drama. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18, 19 and 20 in the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre with matinees at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 20 and 21. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21488.aspx

A vaginal gel that affords both contraception and HIV protection using nanoparticles that carry bee venom is one of the bold, unconventional ideas that won a 2010 Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Gates Foundation. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21295.aspx

Evan Kharasch, MD, PhD, has been involved in scientific research since high school. An anesthesiologist by training, he is the Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Professor of Anesthesiology and professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics. Last spring, he also was appointed vice chancellor for research for the university. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21497.aspx

Students let loose on the dance floor in the Field House of the Athletic Complex during the annual 12-hour Dance Marathon Nov. 6. More than 1,000 participants helped raise $166,807.65 for the Children’s Miracle Network, bringing the event’s 12-year fundraising total to more than $1 million. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21510.aspx

The Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design, part of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, has been ranked 9th in the nation, according to DesignIntelligence, publisher of the annual survey on America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools. FULL STORY

URL: http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21504.aspx

• 4 p.m. American Culture Studies Workshop. “Making Monsters: War Crimes and Ordinary Men.” James Dawes, prof. of English and American Literature and chair, Dept. of English; founder and dir. of Program in Human Rights and Humanitarianism, Macalester College. Free. Danforth University Center, Rm. 234. (314) 935-5216.

• Medical School dean’s update. School of Medicine faculty and staff are invited to hear Larry J. Shapiro, MD, executive vice chancellor and dean of the School of Medicine, give the Dean’s Update Nov. 16 or 17. Shapiro will give an update and answer questions at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, and 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, both in the Cori Auditorium in the McDonnell Medical Sciences Building.

• Win or go home. WUSTL athletics reached a high point this past weekend as NCAA postseason action began for men’s soccer, women’s soccer, cross country and volleyball. If that wasn’t enough, football played at archrival University of Chicago for the University Athletic Association title and the Founders Cup Trophy. Find out how all these WUSTL sports teams fared at bearsports.wustl.edu.