Author: Leslie Gibson McCarthy

The Supreme Court will hear several states’ legal challenges to the Affordable Care Act, ensuring that the court — in late June 2012 — will deliver a momentous statement about the ever-contentious constitutional balance between federal and state power. “The key element of the states’ lawsuits targets the act’s requirement that everyone in the country must purchase commercial health insurance,” says constitutional law expert Gregory P. Magarian, JD, professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis.

Women’s basketball head coach Nancy Fahey became the fastest women’s basketball coach in NCAA history to reach 600 career wins with a 62-52 victory over Hendrix College Nov. 26 at the WU Field House. Fahey reached the 600-win milestone in just her 706th career game at WUSTL. Updates also included on Thanksgiving holiday basketball tournements, football postseason honors and swimming and diving preseason rankings.

The women’s cross country team raced to the program’s first-ever national title at the 2011 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship held Nov. 19 at Lake Breeze Golf Club in Winneconne, Wis. Updates also included on women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball and swimming and diving.

The Record daily email takes a break for the Thanksgiving holidays after Nov. 22 and resumes publication Tuesday, Nov. 29. Check out record.wustl.edu or news.wustl.edu for all the latest university news and information.

Hanging out with friends after school and on the weekends is a vital part of a teen’s social life. But for adolescents with autism spectrum disorders, social activity outside of school is a rarity, finds a new study by Paul Shattuck, PhD, autism expert and assistant professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.

Lead gifts totaling $25 million by two of Washington University in St. Louis’ most dedicated benefactors will support the university’s Olin Business School and its plans for two new innovative facilities for graduate education. The gifts — $15 million from Charles F. and Joanne Knight and $10 million from George and Carol Bauer through the Bauer Foundation — will provide the capital foundation for Olin’s second century of top-ranked undergraduate and graduate business programs, which have grown steadily since the establishment of the school in 1917.

The women’s soccer team wins two games over the weekend and advances in the NCAA Division III championship tournament. Updates also on men’s soccer, football, volleyball, cross country and men’s and women’s tennis.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin delivered the keynote address at this year’s Founders Day gala Nov. 5. She was onstage during the awards presentation and joined in the robust applause for WUSTL professor and alumnus Jessie Ternberg, MD (left), a pioneer in medical research and first female professor of surgery in pediatrics, who received a Distinguished Alumni Award.

In commemoration of Veterans Day Nov. 11, students in a Lifelong Learning Institute class on World War II honored their fellow classmates who are World War II veterans. Six World War II veterans are enrolled — the greatest number in a single session. In a recent class, each veteran was recognized individually and a military medley of service songs was played. The institute, part of University College in Arts & Sciences, offers classes to those age 55 or older. 

The 2011 annual Brown School Toys for Tots drive is collecting new, unwrapped toys to be distributed to youth and families to in the St. Louis area. Last year the “Bear Brigade” collected four full boxes. This year’s theme is “Joining Forces” as the Brown School challenge all students, faculty and staff, as well as on and off campus partners, to help reach the 2011 goal of five full boxes. The drive runs through Friday, Dec. 16.