An afternoon ceremony was held in Graham Chapel Dec. 3 to recognize December degree candidates. There were 784 students who filed as December degree candidates for 826 degrees. Steven H. Lipstein, president and chief executive officer of BJC HealthCare, delivered remarks to the degree candidates.

WUSTL’s Genome Institute has received a $114 million grant to continue its groundbreaking genomic research. The four-year grant comes from the National Human Genome Research Institute. The Genome Institute is one of only three large federally funded genome centers in the United States.

Students wanting to make a significant environmental impact on the Danforth Campus are encouraged to sign up for the third annual Olin Sustainability Case Competition. The registration deadline is Friday, Dec. 9.

Student groups at WUSTL collaborated to raise campus awareness of World AIDS Day Thursday, Dec. 1. The students held red balloons and formed the shape of a ribbon on Mudd Field. This was just one of several events that took place throughout the day.

Stephen F. & Camilla T. Brauer Hall, a new engineering building near the northeast corner of the Danforth Campus, was honored with a Project Achievement Award by the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA). The CMAA is the latest of seven organizations to honor Brauer Hall.

4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8

Dept. of Music Public Lecture

“Seeing the Crescendo: Haydn’s Sunrise, Beethoven’s Phantasmagoria.” Deirdre Loughridge, visiting asst. prof. of musicology, U. of California, Berkeley. Free and open to the public. Music Classroom Bldg., Rm. 102. daniels@wustl.edu or (314) 935-5566.

UCollege Preview Night tonight

University College will host a Preview Night at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, in Holmes Lounge, Ridgley Hall, on the Danforth Campus. Preview Night features speakers who will discuss class and program offerings, admissions requirements and financial aid. Spring semester classes begin Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012.

Lingchei Letty Chen, PhD

Chinese literature professor reshapes cultural identities. FULL STORY

Swimming and diving second at Wheaton 

The WUSTL men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams both finished second at the Wheaton College Invitational Dec. 2 and 3 in Wheaton, Ill. The women’s team finished first in seven events, second in four and third in six. The men’s team finished first in six events, second in five and third in four.