Uncategorized

Van Jones, JD, wants to put Americans to work — millions of Americans, and not just any kind of work. The former special adviser on green jobs to President Barack Obama has a clear vision to solve the two most profound challenges facing the United States today: poverty and pollution. He will share that vision for the Assembly Series at noon Tuesday, Nov. 30, in Graham Chapel.

In Western literature on laughter, says Anca Parvulescu, PhD, a lot of attention is paid to why people laugh. Parvulescu’s book Laughter: Notes on a Passion (MIT Press, 2010) examines what people do when they laugh. What does laughter sound like? What are the different kinds of laughs that people laugh? What social, cultural and political work does laughter do?

Thousands in the St. Louis community will benefit from the generosity of Washington University’s faculty, staff and retirees. The university has raised more than $651,000 in its United Way of Greater St. Louis campaign, surpassing its stated goal of $615,000.

Stephanie Hunter, transportation operations supervisor, manages WUSTL’s U-Pass program — which provides full-time faculty, staff and students free, unlimited use of Metro transit. “I was there in the beginning, and I helped to develop it, watched it grow,” Hunter says. “I take a lot of pride in seeing what a difference it makes to people on campus.”  

Carl Craver, PhD, associate professor of philosophy in Arts & Sciences, has received a two-year, $110,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for research titled “Discovering Mechanisms: Strategies from the History of Biology.” … Gerald L. Early, PhD, the Merle Kling Professor of Modern Letters in Arts & Sciences, has received a one-year, […]

NBC Television Network The Office The popular network sitcom “The Office” dropped the name of Washington University several times in last night’s show. Dunder-Mifflin employees made plans to launch a social media software named “Wuphf” and announced that Washington University was interested in buying it. Later, it was revealed that the St. Louis school wants […]

Pro Bono Australia State of the world volunteerism report 11/18/2010 The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) organisation is preparing the first ever report on the State of the World’s Volunteerism. Produced by the United Nations with the assistance of consultants and academics from around the world, the report is set to launch on International Volunteer Day […]

Students played a game of Quidditch in the South 40 Swamp Nov. 15 as part of Harry Potter Week. The college councils from four residential colleges organized the week to celebrate the opening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, which premieres in St. Louis at midnight Thursday, Nov. 18. More than any other group, this generation of college students has grown up with the Harry Potter franchise.

Yahoo News / MyHealthNewsDaily Some brains might be compensating for autism risk 11/16/2010 Scientists say they have identified a distinct pattern of brain activity that may indicate whether a person is genetically predisposed to autsim. “The study is extremely innovative, and provides remarkable new clues to the origins of autism—which, if replicated, constitute major new […]

The campus of Washington University in St. Louis will be a hotbed of volleyball activity this weekend, Nov. 19-21, as the 2010 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship comes to the Washington University Field House. “To be selected as the host site is a privilege,” says John Schael, director of athletics. “To have the participating student-athletes, coaches and administrators on our campus is a pleasure, and to have Washington University’s named connected with the championships is an honor.”