Humanities & Society

Learning something once — like the fact that berg means mountain in German — and studying it over and over again may do little to help you remember it in the future. The key to future recall, suggests a new study from Washington University, is how often over time you actively practice retrieving that information from memory.

LegomskyA recent academic study confirmed empirically what many immigration experts had already suspected: The chance of winning an asylum case often hinges as much on the luck of the draw as on the merits of the case. Some adjudicators grant asylum liberally while others grant it only rarely, and the disparities are dramatic. The Stanford Law Review asked Stephen Legomsky, J.D., D.Phil., leading immigration and asylum law expert and John S. Lehmann University Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, to write an article analyzing the policy implications of this study. Legomsky offers a controversial conclusion: “There are times when we simply have to learn to live with unequal justice because the alternatives are worse.”

The Assembly Series hosts two speakers back to back: Legendary civil rights pioneer Charles Ogletree will present his views on the Roberts court at noon on Tuesday, March 4, in the Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom, Anheuser-Busch Hall. Philip Clayton will give a talk on bridging the gap between science and religion at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 in Whitaker Hall Auditorium. Both programs are free and open to the public.

The Assembly Series hosts two speakers back to back: Legendary civil rights pioneer Charles Ogletree will present his views on the Roberts court at noon on Tuesday, March 4, in the Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom, Anheuser-Busch Hall. Philip Clayton will give a talk on bridging the gap between science and religion at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 in Whitaker Hall Auditorium.

A School of Medicine study is underway to determine whether reducing calories by 25 to 30 percent and eating nutrient-dense foods can improve health and lengthen lives.

Below is a link to the Washington University news release about the U.S. News & World Report undergraduate rankings for 2004-05: http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/3627.html To view a full listing of U.S. News magazine, book and Web-only rankings for 2004-05, please visit the U.S. News & World Report site: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php

Below is a link to the Washington University news release about the U.S. News & World Report undergraduate rankings for 2004-05: http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/3627.html To view a full listing of U.S. News magazine, book and Web-only rankings for 2004-05, please visit the U.S. News & World Report site: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php

Washington University School of Law is launching a Transnational Law Program, a first-of-its-kind offering for students in both the United States and Europe. Beginning in fall 2008, a new four-year combined degree program will be offered in association with four prestigious European universities. “There is a growing need for lawyers who understand both American and European law, can identify legal issues and know reliable sources in the U.S. and throughout Europe,” says Kent D. Syverud, J.D., law dean and the Ethan A.H. Shepley University Professor. “Many American law schools are expanding their international curricula study-abroad programs. Washington University Law and Utrecht University are now taking international legal education to the next level.”

Learning something once, like the fact that “berg” means “mountain” in German, and studying it over and over again may do little to help you remember it in the future. The key to future recall, suggests a new study from Washington University in St. Louis, is how often over time you actively practice retrieving that information from memory.

The Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Structural Engineering continues its series of seminars and workshops on the topic of reducing the damage that would occur if a strong earthquake strikes the New Madrid fault area again. The first program covered subjects of hazards, codes, vulnerability and strengthening of infrastructure. The speakers were practicing engineers and […]