Uncategorized

More than 1,200 Washington University in St. Louis freshmen are expected to participate in Service First, WUSTL’s largest annual community service project, at 12 local elementary schools from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3. Some 100 students will head to each school to complete creative projects developed by the school principals and staff members. The schools are: Central Visual and Performing Arts, Fanning, Ford, Gateway IT, Henry, Jefferson, Long, Mallinckrodt and Sumner in the Saint Louis Public School District; Brittany Woods and Flynn Park in the School District of University City; and KIPP: Inspire Academy.

Ever wondered what it felt like to save a life? You’ll have four chances this academic year. The first of four university-wide blood drives of the academic year will be held Tuesday, Sept. 13, at eight different locations throughout the university and at a variety of times to accommodate busy schedules. All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in this effort to replenish the region’s blood supply.

Charlie Robin, the affable, bespectacled, red-haired, 6-foot-6 executive director of Edison Theatre, is responsible for the slate of shows that make up the annual Edison Ovations and ovations for young people series. It’s a challenge, each year, to come up with a schedule that is intellectually stimulating and fits the mission of Washington University in St. Louis. “A lot of my job is curating a season that is not only about finding good work,” he says, “but one that will develop the openness and interest of the audience to be more expansive, more adventurous and willing to have fun.”

One individual can make a difference. That is the underlying theme of many of the speakers this fall for the annual Assembly Series, which opens Monday, Sept. 12 with author Steven Galloway speaking on The Cellist of Sarajevo. Other topics will cover politics, religion, science and the particular angst of graduate students.

More than 75 companies will visit Olin on three separate days in early September for the annual Meet the Firms event, which connect recruiters and alumni with Olin students. The event begins with an upscale career fair followed by a networking reception.

Lively small-group discussions took place all over campus Aug. 29 of The Cellist of Sarajevo, the First Year Reading Program book selection for 2011-12. Freshmen read The Cellist of Sarajevo over the summer and came prepared to share their ideas on the book. They will also encounter themes from the book in classes and discussions throughout the academic year.

Another academic year has begun at Washington University in St. Louis, but freshmen and new students have been going nonstop since arriving on campus Aug. 25. From the moment cars pulled up to the curb in the South 40, a WUSTL welcome was extended and it hasn’t let up.

For the second year in a row, Washington University in St. Louis has received the top rating in the LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index, published annually by Campus Pride. WUSTL was one of 33 schools, out of about 300 participants, to receive the five-star rating.

Washington University in St. Louis’ Campus Card program has been expanded and renamed to become Bear Bucks. Bear Bucks can be used at dining locations on four WUSTL campuses, the Campus Store, campus laundry and vending machines, off-campus eateries Bobo Noodle House and Kayak’s Coffee, and more.

The Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) at Washington University in St. Louis will host an open house titled “Show Me LLI” for prospective members from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8. LLI offers a variety of courses that emphasize peer learning and active class participation by senior adults. The event is free and open to senior adults ages 55 and older.