Record

The Gephardt Institute for Public Service invites student groups, centers, departments and schools, as well as individual members of the University community, to join an open discussion about plans for the 2012 election year.  The meeting will be held from 4-5:30 p.m. Monday, March 5, in the Multipurpose Room, lower level of Mallinckrodt Center on the Danforth Campus. ​

Burton M. Wheeler, PhD, professor emeritus of English and of religious studies, both in Arts & Sciences, and a beloved teacher and former dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, died Friday, Feb. 17, at his home in Warson Woods, Mo., after a long battle with cancer. He would have turned 85 March 12.

Global economies and the Internet are upcoming topics by the next two speakers for the Washington University in St. Louis Assembly Series. Economic forecaster and social observer Jeremy Rifkin will speak at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, in Graham Chapel. James Boyle, JD, the William Neal Reynolds Professor of Law at Duke Law School, will speak at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, in the Anheuser-Busch Hall Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom.

“Africa Week 2012: Vive l’Afrique!” highlighting the far-reaching influences of the African continent, begins Monday, Feb. 27, on the Danforth Campus. Events range from free fashion and comedy shows to an in-depth roundtable discussion, a dance workshop and ‘A Taste of Africa.’  The annual week is sponsored by the African Students Association. ​

Ten thousand people with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell and other life-threatening diseases need a bone marrow transplant to survive. Donors with diverse racial or ethnic backgrounds are especially needed, which is one reason why the student group WU Marrow Registry is conducting an on-campus registry drive at four locations on the Danforth Campus Wednesday, Feb. 29.

The annual George Washington Week, sponsored by the sophomore honorary Lock & Chain, kicks off on President’s Day, Monday, Feb. 20. This year’s theme is “Who is WU?” Carriage rides, keynote speakers, community service and silent auctions all are being organized with a focus on diversity and heritage on the WUSTL campus and in the greater St. Louis area community.

Randall Bateman, MD, had no intention of becoming a doctor when he enrolled as an undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis. As a faculty member at the School of Medicine since 2006, Bateman now focuses his research on Alzheimer’s disease.

WUSTL has been named one of the top universities nationwide for producing Peace Corps volunteers. The Peace Corps recently released the “Top Colleges” list, which ranks WUSTL No. 21 among medium-sized (5,000-15,000 undergraduates) universities. Currently, 24 alumni are serving as Peace Corps volunteers.

Due to an unavoidable conflict, a talk slated for Saturday, Feb. 18, as part of the Master of Liberal Art (MLA) Seminar Series, has been rescheduled. The talk, “The Works of Mercy,” by Daniel Bornstein, PhD, the Darrow Professor of Catholic Studies and director of the Religious Studies Program in Arts & Sciences, will now take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 3, in January Hall, Room 110.

Vicki Kunkler, director of publications and communications at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, of cancer. She was 64.