Author: Deb Parker

Student groups at Washington University in St. Louis will usher in the Year of the Dragon and celebrate one of Asia’s most important holidays — Lunar New Year — beginning with a fireworks show Sunday, Jan. 22, and concluding with a two-night, high-spirited performance Jan. 27-28 in Edison Theatre. Events are open to the public. Benefit proceeds will help support victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeastern region of Japan.

A Jan. 4 Huffington Post headline proclaims: “Rick Santorum called Mormonism ‘dangerous cult’ in minds of ‘some Christians’ in 2007.” Is Mormonism really a cult? Frank K. Flinn, PhD, a professor emeritus of religious studies in Arts & Sciences, argues that Republican detractors hope to do political damage by labeling Mitt Romney’s religion as a cult. However, this labeling creates a constitutional blur that threatens religious liberty, he says.  

Experts will address the idea of mercy during a Saturday Master of Liberal Arts Seminar Series throughout February. Topics range from mercy in sexuality debates to mercy in the practice of medicine. Now in its 31st year, the popular MLA series annually addresses a common theme from a variety of backgrounds. Free and open to the public, the series is sponsored by University College.

The Community Service Office of the Gephardt Institute for Public Service is offering three Social Change Grants of $5,000 or $6,000 for summer 2012. The intent-to-apply notification deadline is Jan. 23, with proposals due Feb. 10. WUSTL students with an idea for improving the conditions or opportunities of a community anywhere around the globe are invited to apply.

Staff and faculty are invited to the women’s and men’s basketball games Saturday, Jan. 7, as the teams battle the University of Chicago. There are a number of special offerings — including $1 food specials for those that RSVP — during this family-friendly afternoon of University Athletic Association basketball in the Athletic Complex.

The 25th annual Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, in Graham Chapel. This year’s theme is “Creating a Community of Access, Inclusion and Excellence for All … Fear is Not an Option.” WUSTL alumnus Ron Himes, founder of the St. Louis Black Repertory Company, will be presented with the Rosa L. Parks Award for Meritorious Service to the Community.

Washington University’s next campuswide blood drive will take place Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, at eight locations throughout all WUSTL campuses and at a variety of times to accommodate busy schedules. Collection also is taking place Jan. 30 on the Medical Campus.

Sleep may be priority No. 1 for many college students who are finishing finals and returning home for winter break. Advisers from the Career Center at Washington University in St. Louis suggest students use the time, not only to recharge, but to reflect and self-evaluate. The extended break is an ideal time to think about options, update resumes, network and put career plans into action.

Career Center advisers are encouraging students to make the most of the upcoming holiday break. The extended time off is a great chance to network and put plans into action, they say. Students are urged to self-evaluate, review their interests and options and update their resumes with recent experiences and new skills. 

With the holidays right around the corner, many parents are scanning the latest “recommended toy” lists as they make their final purchases. An education expert at Washington University in St. Louis says that, while educational toys are a fine idea, children receive the most benefit when their parents play with them and engage them in their new gifts. R. Keith Sawyer, PhD, associate professor of education in Arts & Sciences, offers advice to parents worried about making the right toy choices for their children.