Events bring university community together to reflect, move forward

The first week of the 2014 fall semester at Washington University in St. Louis began in the wake of unrest that followed the Aug. 9 death of African-American teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. Events were planned not only for students to lend a voice to the issues, but to encourage all members of the community, both on the Danforth and School of Medicine campuses, to come together in an open and welcoming atmosphere.​​

Balloon rise over Fort Sumner

In a few days, a balloon-borne telescope sensitive to the polarization of high-energy “hard” X rays will ascend to the edge of the atmosphere above Fort Sumner, N.M., to stare fixedly at black holes and other exotic astronomical objects. It will be carried aloft by a stratospheric balloon that will expand to a sphere large enough to hold a 747 jetliner the float height of 120,000 feet, three times the height at which commercial aircraft fly and on the edge of Earth’s atmosphere. Launching the balloon is not child’s play.

Updated Law Café opens

The updated Law Café in Anheuser-Busch Hall has opened for business. The renovated space, operated by Bon Appétit, is the only dining area on campus to feature Salad By Design and one of only two locations with a carvery. The Law Café also features pizza, soups, grab-and-go items, pastries and Kaldi’s coffee and espresso drinks.

University launches new emergency website

Washington University in St. Louis Emergency Management Services has launched a new easy-to-use, mobile-friendly website. Features include a color-coded bar that changes from green to red in case of emergency and advisories from the National Weather Service.

Purnell honored by Urban League

Jason Q. Purnell, PhD, assistant professor at the Brown School, was a recipient of the Urban League Young Professionals of Metropolitan St. Louis’ 2014 Distinguished Young Professionals Award, in the area of Healthy and Quality of Life Empowerment.

Zombie bacteria are nothing to be afraid of

Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have obtained the first experimental evidence that there are at least two fail-safe points in the bacterial cell cycle. If the fail-safes are activated, the cell is forced to exit the cell cycle forever. It then enters a zombie-like state and is unable to reproduce even under the most favorable of conditions. Drugs that trigger the fail-safes are already under development.

I-64 Tower Grove ramp interchange will open Friday

The commute is about to get a little easier for employees and patients heading to Washington University Medical Center. After more than a year of construction activity, the improved Interstate 64/Highway 40 interchange at Tower Grove Avenue is scheduled to open the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 29.

Washington People: Bob Hansman

Since the shooting of Michael Brown, the eyes of the world have turned to St. Louis. Over the last several weeks, associate professor Bob Hansman — one of the area’s most prominent community activists — has quietly ushered hundreds of students through the neighborhoods of north St. Louis, chronicling the racial, social and urban histories that have shaped conditions on the ground.