Author: Leslie Gibson McCarthy

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Mark Zoole, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law, addresses a panel of judges during a question and answer session after a Special Session of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF) in the Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom Nov. 2. The CAAF session featured a panel of five judges hearing arguments on both sides of the case of United States v. Thomas Hayes.

The No. 3 volleyball team rallied from an 0-2 deficit to defeat No. 2 Emory University in the 2011 UAA championship match Nov. 5 in New York. The UAA title is a school-record 20th in WUSTL history, and the first since 2008. Updates also included on men’s and women’s soccer, football, swimming & diving, and women’s basketball.

The Gephardt Institute for Public Service invites faculty to apply for grants to support their community-based teaching and learning (CBTL), also known as experiential education, engaged research, and most commonly, service learning. CBTL is a pedagogy that is used across the university. Distinguishing features include applied learning activities in service to an organization or community, faculty direction and oversight, and relevant course content and assignments.

Sports updates for the week ending Oct. 30, 2011. Updates on football, volleyball, cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, swimming & diving, women’s golf and women’s basketball.

Despite the separation of church and state, religion plays a significant role in political debate. Gregory P. Magarian, JD, free speech and election law expert and professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, says that certain forms of religious argument pose a meaningful threat to democracy, but restricting these arguments would be an even larger threat to U.S. political culture.