Humanities & Society

Veteran physician Cheri LeBlanc, MD, has been treating patients during one of life’s most critical periods — the college years. As the new director of student health and wellness, LeBlanc hopes to educate students in ways that will last a lifetime.

A new exhibit, “In Character: The Life and Legacy of Mary Wickes,” celebrates the legacy of character actress and Washington University in St. Louis alumna Mary Wickes. Events include a screening of Sister Act, one of Wickes’ later films, and a lecture with biographer Steve Taravella.

WUSTL faculty and staff invited to learn “the Dancellor” for the 15th annual Dance Marathon Nov. 9 at the Athletic Complex. The event raises money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Evolutionary biologist W.D. Hamilton predicted that organisms ought to evolve the ability to discriminate degrees of kinship so as to refine their ability to direct help to individuals with whom they shared the most genes. But two WUSTL biologists point out that there seem to be many cases where “a veil of ignorance” prevents organisms from gaining this kind of information, forcing them to consider a situation from the perspective of all members of their group instead of solely from their own perspective or that of their close kin.

In Michelle Alexander’s book, The New Jim Crow, the civil rights lawyer and professor offers surprising revelations about how our current prison system and drug policies are condeming a large population of African Americans to a life of second-class statush. Alexander will deliver a lecture on the subject at noon on Friday, November 1 for the Assembly Series and the Law School’s Public Interest Law and Policy Speakers Series.

Director John Waters calls Home Movie Day “an orgy of self-discovery, a chance for family memories to suddenly become show business.” Washington University Libraries hosts St. Louis’ Home Movie Day, one of 70 events worldwide, at the Central Library on Saturday, Oct. 26.

WUSTL students, staff and faculty are encouraged to sign up for Give Thanks Give Back, the annual holiday gift drive that supports the 100 Neediest Cases. Groups may adopt a family at gtgb.wustl.edu​.

Groundbreaking study on African-American health in St. Louis, ‘For the Sake of All’ releases third brief recommending several areas mental health in the St. Louis region can be improved. Darrell Hudson, PhD, assistant professor of the Brown School and lead author of the study, emphasizes that a combined effort between government and private sector is necessary.

The Washington University women’s soccer team holds a joint practice with the first-grade girls of Christ the King Catholic School. The Bears taught the Royal Knights how to shoot; the Knights reminded the Bears why they fell in love with the game.

Pool player and WUSTL student Yizheng He takes his best shot during the recent 8-Ball Tournament at the Danforth University Center.