Humanities & Society

Open Streets initiatives temporarily close streets to automobile traffic, so that people may use them for walking, bicycling, dancing, playing and socializing. Although the movement is gaining popularity in the United States — more than 100 different cities have hosted Open Streets events since 2008 — little is known about planning and implementing them. Brown School researchers Amy Eyler, PhD, and J. Aaron Hipp, PhD, explore the development and implementation of Open Streets initiatives and make recommendations for increasing the capacity of organizers to enhance their success.

As we age, all of us begin to think about what makes us tick and what kind of legacy we want to leave. For some, this manifests itself in the purchase of a motorcycle, a boat or an exotic vacation. But for others, the issues of age and transition are a bit more contemplative. Vanessa Fabbre, PhD, assistant professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, considers these issues in her paper “Gender Transitions in Later Life: The Significance of Time in Queer Aging,” recently published in the 2014 issue of the Journal of Gerontological Social Work.

Can a comprehensive picture of child well-being be established? And how can a deeper understanding of the nature of well-being help further its measurement? A new paper, co-authored by Ramesh Raghavan, MD, PhD, associate professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, attempts to tackle those questions.

​​Steven Rosenblum, who works in Arts & Sciences, recommends checking out LouFest this weekend, adding that the music festival is family-friendly. Founded by WUSTL’s Brian Cohen, the two-day event features four stages of music in Forest Park. Highlights include Outkast, Arctic Monkeys, Cake and Grouplove. 

In the wake of civil rights and social justice issues that have emerged following the death of African-American teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, the fall 2014 Washington University in St. Louis Assembly Series will feature presentations by several eminent civil rights scholars and authors, including NAACP executive Sherrilyn Ifill.

This summer, 14 students — seven from the Master of Public Health program, five from the Master of Social Work program and two dual-degree students — joined Lora Iannotti, PhD, on a trip to Haiti. The goal: Give students firsthand experience in issues related to global health, including: health policy, epidemiology, biostatistics and program planning.

First-year students at the School of Medicine recently participated in the traditional White Coat Ceremony — a rite of passage in which future doctors are welcomed to medical school and the medical profession. In addition to receiving their white coats, the 123 students recited an oath promising honesty and integrity.

Steven Legomsky staunchly defends the legality of DACA and of the similar initiatives that the President Barack Obama is reportedly considering.

Washington University in St. Louis leaders joined with local and state officials, educators and students to dedicate KIPP Victory Academy last month. The university serves as a sponsor of the KIPP charter school organization. This is its second school in St. Louis.

An estimated 55 million to 105 million people in the United States suffer from foodborne illnesses each year, resulting in costs of $2-$4 billion annually. What if Twitter could be used to track those cases and more quickly identify the source of the problem? A new analysis by a researcher at Washington University in St. Louis Brown School shows that new technology might better allow health departments to engage with the public to improve foodborne illness surveillance.