Newsroom Stories

In remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Society of Black Student Social Workers at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work will host a “Financial Freedom Semnar: Achieving Economic Independence Through Education,” from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 20 in Brown Hall.

Joseph T. Strong, a research engineer in the Genome Sequencing Center at the School of Medicine, died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006.

The Snow Way Garage Phase II parking facility is now open. The extension adds 327 new parking spaces to Snow Way Garage.

Photo by Tim ParkerPete and Jenny Ferrill of Danville, Ill., hold Kieran, one of their quintuplets born Dec. 21 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and talk with Michael Paul, M.D., the physician who delivered the quints.The “Ferrill Five” quintuplets born in December were the first quints to be delivered through the Washington University Center for Multiple Births.

William Lawrence Bolles, a former visiting professor in the School of Engineering & Applied Science, died Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006.

Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded the University’s debt rating to Aaa from Aa1 and assigned an Aaa rating to the Series 2007 A and B fixed-rate bonds to be issued through the Missouri Health and Educational Facilities Authority. The Aaa rating is the highest level offered by Moody’s.

Lawton will launch one of the first events in conjunction with the program when he speaks for the university’s Assembly Series at 11 a.m. Jan. 24, in Graham Chapel. His talk, titled “Burning to Read,” will address the fundamental importance of reading, having choices and of having books both in printed and digital form. In addition, the event will include several staged readings from Fahrenheit 451 performed by English Department professor Dan Shea and Washington University students. The program is free and open to the public. For more information: visit assemblyseries.wustl.edu, or call 314-935-4620.

Ramesh Agarwal, Ph.D., the William Palm Professor of Engineering in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, has received a three-year, $219,232 grant from the National Science Foundation for research titled “Projects in Complex Fluids and Their Applications.” Agarwal also received the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ 2006 Charles Russ Richards Memorial Award, which honors outstanding achievement in mechanical engineering by someone 20 years following graduation. In addition, Agarwal has been named a fellow of the World Innovation Foundation. … David A. Peters, Ph.D., chair of mechanical and aerospace engineering and the McDonnell Douglas Professor of Engineering, and graduate students Antonio Hsieh (SEAS) and Almudena Torrero (Saint Louis University) received the Best Paper on Aerodynamics Award at the 62nd Annual Forum of the American Helicopter Society International, held last May in Phoenix. … Karen O’Malley, Ph.D., professor of neurobiology, received the Service Award from the Washington University Academic Women’s Network (AWN). Jack Ladenson, Ph.D., the Oree M. Carroll and Lillian B. Ladenson Professor of Clinical Chemistry in Pathology and Immunology and professor of clinical chemistry in medicine, received the AWN Mentor Award. Angela Reiersen, a post-doctoral research scholar in the Department of Psychiatry, and Jennifer Boland, who graduated from the School of Medicine in May, were each awarded the AWN Student Leadership Award. The awards recognize the individual’s support and leadership in service to or advancement of women in the community. … Eric T. Choi, M.D., assistant professor of surgery and of radiology, was named the 2006 Wylie Scholar in Academic Vascular Surgery by the Pacific Vascular Research Foundation. He receives a $150,000, three-year grant to continue his independent scientific investigations into arteriovenous access complications in patients undergoing hemodialysis due to kidney failure.

Jan. 1-17 Jan. 3 4:32 p.m. — The WUSTL accounting department reports that six fraudulent Washington University checks were cashed at various Wal-Mart stores during the Christmas break. User information recorded on the checks was falsified. Jan. 5 2:06 p.m. — The victim, a visiting actor from New York, had approximately $50 taken from his jacket, which had been hanging in the men’s dressing room in the performing arts area. The dressing room is not secured, but is only accessible by the spiral staircase into the backstage area of the theater Jan. 16 12:13 p.m. — A student lost a package in Wohl Student Center between 5 p.m. Jan. 11 and 10 a.m. Jan 12. 3:45 p.m. — A stolen student ID card was used to purchase food items between between 3-10 p.m. Jan. 14. Total loss is estimated at $50. University Police also responded to one report each of parking violation, auto accident, judicial violation, false fire alarm, leaving the scene of an accident and larceny.

Photo by David KilperMechanical and aerospace engineering seniors Topher McFarland (left) and Rahul Bhinge (kneeling) demonstrate their creation, a computer artist nicknamed “Action Jackson” designed to paint in the style of Jackson Pollock at the Dec. 8 Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Design Fair in Whitaker Hall.