Newsroom Stories

Rohit Pappu, PhD, the Edwin H. Murty Professor of Engineering at Washington University’s School of Engineering & Applied Science, will help spearhead the newly formed Human Dark Proteome Initiative, launched Nov. 9 by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and The Scripps Research Institute.

Scientists have identified two chemical scents in the urine of female mice that arouse sexual behavior in males, a discovery that shines a spotlight on how mouse pheromones control behavior.

What is gentrification, and can urban renewal be accomplished responsibly and ethically? Washington University in St. Louis Executive Vice Chancellor ​Henry S. Webber and Molly Metzger, PhD, of the Brown School, will explore these issues at the St. Louis Up Close event “Gentrification – Fact or Fiction; Truth or Myth.” Sponsored by the Gephardt Institute, the event takes place at 4 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Danforth University Center.

The trial of former Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Hotlzclaw, accused of 36 charges resulting from assaults against several black women while on duty, has begun. Though African Americans make up approximately 16 percent of the population of Oklahoma County, there are no black jurors among the eight men and four women serving. The jury selection process allowed for the controversial makeup, said Peter Joy, JD, a criminal justice expert at Washington University in St. Louis.

This year marked the 10th annual research training symposium and poster session on the Medical Campus, in which students, residents and junior faculty present basic, clinical and translational research projects. It’s also the fifth year that students from Meharry Medical College in Nashville participated in the program and the School of Medicine’s Summer Research Program.

​Buried in the cornerstone of  Gary M. Sumers Recreation Center, a time capsule placed Nov. 7 contains a​ 2015 course catalog; a piece of the Francis Gym floor; an original Red Alert shirt; and a letter from Athletic Director Emeritus John Schael to the athletic director of 2065.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is considering adoption of anti-discrimination regulations that would apply to all health care providers and build upon the Affordable Care Act mandate prohibiting discrimination “on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.” These new rules would help reduce disparities in the health care system, said Elizabeth Sepper, JD, associate professor of law.

Alceste is allergic to flattery, fakery and sycophants. But how much honesty is too much? In “The Misanthrope,” the great French playwright Molière examines the line between diplomacy and deception, between truth-telling and cruelty.

The Obama Administration announced Nov. 10 it will seek United States Supreme Court review of a ruling blocking President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration. Timing is crucial, says Stephen H. Legomsky, JD, DPhil, an expert on immigration law at Washington University in St. Louis.

Teach For America recently released its annual list of schools contributing the greatest number of alumni to its 2015 teaching corps. Among medium-sized universities, Washington University in St. Louis is again among the top contributors.