Humanities & Society

Nick Offerman, who plays Ron Swanson on the television show Parks and Recreation, offered Washington University in St. Louis students “tips for a prosperous life” during a free comedy show Nov. 10 at Edison Theatre. Tips included “Eat red meat” and “Go outside … remain there.” Student Union’s Social Programming Board hosted the show.

WUSTL students danced for 12 hours to raise funds for St. Louis Children’s Hospital and SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center.

Chef Nephi Craig, founder of the Native American Culinary Association, conducts a traditional Native American cooking demonstration in the Danforth University Center Nov. 3. Craig’s presentation, sponsored by the Buder Center for Native American Studies, was titled “Maatibi. Imokwayli. Ittanahli. Hunt. Fish. Gather.” He talked about Native American foods and their resurgence in American cooking culture.

Dozens of students participated in the annual Diwali festival Nov. 8 and 9 at Edison Theatre, including Kesar Varma, left, and Supritha Prasad. The event was hosted by Ashoka, Washington University in St. Louis’ South Asian student association.  ​

The inaugural Danforth Distinguished Lectures is bringing nationally recognized scholars to Washington University in St. Louis Nov. 18-20 for public lectures and discussions with faculty, students and invited experts. The theme will be “Protestant Foreign Missions and Secularization in Modern America.”

A unique, long-term partnership between Washington University and the Hazelwood School District is showing eye-popping, unprecedented success in elementary and middle school science test scores — and in the process providing a roadmap for other districts to follow. The district saw scores on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests increase 22.4 percentage points for fifth graders, and 12 percentage points for 8th graders over a five-year period beginning in 2008, the year it began a collaboration with WUSTL’s Institute for School Partnership.

Veteran Ian Smith barely graduated from high school. Today, he is earning his degree in global leadership and management in University College in Arts & Sciences and is leading a team of engineers to develop low-cost prosthetics using 3D printers.

Is privacy a “right”? What are we willing to sacrifice for privacy? How consistent are our beliefs about privacy and how consistently do we “practice” it? In response to these types of questions, Washington University in St. Louis experts on privacy issues, ranging from the history of privacy to privacy law, will participate in a roundtable discussion, titled “Privacy and Surveillance,” from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, in Anheuser-Busch Hall, Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom.

The new federal health-care law gives millions of Americans access to medical insurance. However, choosing the right coverage — a daunting task for most people — could be even more difficult for those who have never had health insurance, according to a new study at the School of Medicine.​​

Some 10 boxes, weighing over 100 pounds and carrying everything from breakfast bars, coffee, air fresheners, hand sanitizers, trail mix and home-baked goods, are on their way to U.S. troops in Afghanistan, thanks to Washington University’s Military Care Package group. With the November mailing, the group reached another milestone. Since 2004, WUSTL staff, students, faculty and administrators have donated, packaged and shipped more than eight tons of supplies to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.