Author: Susan Killenberg McGinn

Proclaiming that “energy and environmental issues represent the greatest challenges of this century,” Washington University Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton today joined presidents of six other premier research universities in calling for universities worldwide to marshal their resources for a global effort to secure a brighter, sustainable future. Plans for collaborative academic programs involving education, research, university operations, social sciences and policy studies are detailed in a statement issued May 7.

Washington University Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton will announce a call to action for research universities worldwide to focus on the energy and environment as the greatest challenge of this century. The announcement, which comes as part of a conference involving the presidents of 12 premier research universities from Asia and the Middle East, will be made at noon May 7 in Whitaker Hall Auditorium, Washington University’s Danforth Campus.

Six prominent people, including a legendary radio broadcaster and the first woman president of the country’s fourth oldest university, will receive honorary degrees during the University’s 146th Commencement ceremony May 18. The University will also bestow academic degrees on more than 2,300 students during the ceremony, which begins at 8:30 a.m. in Brookings Quadrangle.

Six prominent people, including a legendary radio broadcaster and the first woman president of the country’s fourth oldest university, will receive honorary degrees during Washington University’s 146th Commencement ceremony May 18. The university will also bestow academic degrees on more than 2,600 students during the ceremony, which begins at 8:30 a.m. in Brookings Quadrangle.

Washington University in St. Louis, one of many universities receiving inquiries from the Office of Attorney General of the State of New York concerning student lending practices — as well as an inquiry from the Missouri Office of Attorney General — has agreed with both the Missouri and New York Attorneys General to adopt a code of conduct guiding the University’s relations with private lenders from whom the University’s students and their families seek college financing. The University fully and rapidly cooperated with both investigations, and, as the agreements reached April 23 reflect, it denies that any of its past practices have violated Missouri or New York laws. The agreements with the Missouri and New York Attorneys General do not involve payment of any fines by the University.

In the wake of the horrific tragedy that occurred on April 16 at Virginia Tech University, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton sent a message to all Washington University students, faculty and staff.

The Pulitzer Prize for history was awarded Monday to Hank Klibanoff, a Washington University alumnus. Klibanoff, who graduated from Washington University in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in English in Arts & Sciences, and Gene Roberts won the Pulitzer Prize for “The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation.”

“Living St. Louis,” a show on KETC (Channel 9) that showcases the colorful culture of our region, will include a segment on Washington University’s Crow observatory tonight at 7 p.m. The segment will also air at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 15, and by Wednesday, April 11, it will be streamed on KETC’s Web site at www.ketc.org.

A grease fire broke out in an apartment kitchen in Millbrook Building Two on Saturday, March 24, forcing the evacuation of the building. The Clayton Fire Department coordinated the fire response, which included emergency crews and vehicles from six surrounding municipalities. Millbrook Two, which is part of the Millbrook Square Apartments located in the northwest corner of the Danforth Campus, houses 51 students. No students were injured, but some are still not able to return to their apartments and are being housed temporarily at the Knight Center on campus.

Tim RussertTim Russert, the managing editor and moderator of NBC’s “Meet the Press” and political analyst for “NBC Nightly News” and the “Today” show, has been selected to give the 2007 Commencement address at Washington University in St. Louis, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. The title of Russert’s speech is “A View From Washington.” The university’s 146th Commencement will begin at 8:30 a.m. May 18 in Brookings Quadrangle, on the Danforth Campus.