Author: Jessica Daues

The 2013 health open enrollment for the health/dental plans, the health-care and child-care flex spending plans, the Health Savings Account (HSA) and the Retirement Medical Savings Account (RMSA) will begin on Monday, Nov. 12 and run through Sunday, Dec. 2. This is the only time during the year that employees may enroll in the flex spending plans, HSA and RMSA and may change health plans and/or coverage without a qualifying family status change.

Rodney Jones has been named manager of Washington University in St. Louis’ Campus Store. Jones, who previously was assistant manager of the Campus Store, replaces former director Betsy Schneider, who retired in June.​

To ensure broad communication, certain key university policies are published on an annual basis in the Record. All members of the university community are essential to the continued endeavor for excellence in WUSTL’s teaching, research, service and patient-care missions.

Faculty, staff and students commuting to all WUSTL campuses are encouraged to leave their sedans, SUVs and minivans in the garage and go “car-free” for the month of October as part of the university’s Car-Free Month. Car-Free Month activities include free bicycle tune-ups, a group bike ride, a Car-Free Challenge and demonstrations.

Bloom Coffee founder and WUSTL senior Andrew Dowd (right) makes lattes at WUSTL’s new student-run coffee café, Bloom Coffee. Bloom Coffee specializes in hand-brewed single origin coffees and handcrafted espresso and tea concoctions. The cafe is open from 7 p.m.-2 a.m. on Thursday and Friday nights at Ursa’s Café on the South 40.

Archaeologists in Guatemala have discovered the tomb of Lady K’abel, a seventh-century Maya Holy Snake Lord considered one of great queens of Classic Maya civilization. The tomb was discovered during excavations of the royal Maya city of El Peru-Waka’ in northwestern Petén, Guatemala, by a team of archaeologists led by Washington University in St. Louis’ David Freidel, co-director of the expedition.

Barry Commoner, a biologist at WUSTL from 1947-1981, died Sept. 30, 2012, in Manhattan. He was 95. Commoner was a professor of plant physiology and of environmental studies, both in Arts & Sciences. According to The New York Times, Commoner was “a founder of modern ecology and one of its most provocative thinkers and mobilizers in making environmentalism a people’s political cause.”

A newly renovated Umrath Hall opened for the fall semester on the Danforth Campus. Umrath Hall originally was built in 1902 as a men’s dormitory and featured small rooms, narrow hallways and limited entrances and exits. The yearlong renovation, which began in June 2011, retained Umrath’s historic exterior but included a complete reconstruction of the building’s interior and a new roof.

The Washington University Woman’s Club held a luncheon Sept. 14 to introduce women new to the university to the club, which offers members opportunities to form friendships and grow intellectually through luncheons, lectures, tours and programs. The club, which celebrated its centennial in 2010, also funds scholarships for deserving University College students.

Need help in your department, lab or office? Student Financial Services can help locate and hire part-time student workers for the 2012-13 academic year. Departments hiring eligible federal work-study students pay only 55 percent of the student’s total earnings. Last year, work-study students helped the Performing Arts Department in Arts & Sciences by painting sets, sewing costumes and more.