Twitter subpoenas a challenge to intellectual privacy

The City of New York recently subpoenaed a Twitter account as part of an ongoing Occupy Wall Street criminal case. The Occupy protester named in the case is challenging the subpoena. Privacy law expert Neil Richards, JD, professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, says that it’s not surprising that law enforcement groups are interested in accessing the volume of records relating to our speech that social media platforms generate. “By and large, this data should remain private, and online companies should keep the data confidential and not share it any more broadly than we as users and speakers want it to be shared,” Richards says.

The President and the Assassin Feb. 20

War. Terrorism. International expansion. President William McKinley is frequently overshadowed by his charismatic successor, Theodore Roosevelt, yet McKinley’s presidency was arguably the more action-packed, with lasting implications for American power and its role in the world. So argues Scott Miller, author of The President and the Assassin: McKinley, Terror, and Empire at the Dawn of the American Century (2011). At 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, Miller will discuss McKinley and his legacy for the Center for the Humanities’s third annual Presidents’ Day Lecture.

Distinguished Faculty, Goldstein awards given

Washington University School of Medicine awarded 14 Distinguished Faculty Awards and three Goldstein Leadership Awards Feb. 9 at the Eric P. Newman Education Center. The Distinguished Faculty Awards recognize achievements in clinical care, community service, research and teaching. Among the award winners were Perry L. Schoenecker, MD (left) and M. Alan Permutt, MD.

Book by WUSTL English professor examines themes of medieval love poetry

This Valentine’s Day, flip through cable TV listings, and you’ll see a bevy of romances whose common themes and conflicts can be traced back to medieval times. What is considered “romantic” in contemporary Western society — love from afar, willingness to suffer, idealization of the love object — is partly a legacy of themes in medieval romantic poetry, says Jessica Rosenfeld, PhD, assistant professor of English in Arts & Sciences and author of the book Ethics and Enjoyment in Late Medieval Poetry: Love After Aristotle.

Hall of Fame weekend

Chris Alexander, former basketball player and a member of Washington University’s newest Hall of Fame class, shows his son his plaque at the Feb. 10 breakfast honoring the induction Class of 2011. Joining Alexander were seven other former student-athletes; two head coaches, Mark Edwards and Nancy Fahey; and distinguished service honoree Jim Burmeister.

Holobaugh recipients honored for service, advocacy

Recipients of the annual James M. Holobaugh Honor were recognized in a reception Feb. 10. The award honors individuals and organizations that promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality, perform direct advocacy and service to the St. Louis metro community and incorporate education and dialogue as part of their practice.

Sports update Feb. 13: Men’s tennis shocks Drury

The No. 3 men’s tennis team defeated NCAA Division II No. 19 Drury University 5-4 Feb. 12 at the Creve Coeur Racquet Club in Creve Coeur, Mo. The victory over Drury was the Bears first in four tries under head coach Roger Follmer. Updates also included on men’s and women’s basketball and track & field.

Wrighton comments on Obama’s 2013 budget proposal

Washington University in St. Louis Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton issued a statement Feb. 13 following the release of President Barack Obama’s budget proposal for 2013 in which Wrighton noted the importance of our nation’s continued investment in scientific research.

Day of reflection; evening of song

Hundreds braved an arctic chill the evening of Feb. 10 to experience the warmth generated by Parker Palmer, best-selling author and educator, who teamed up with singer/songwriter Carrie Newcomer inside Graham Chapel to deliver a unique message of delivering democracy with an open heart. The event was the opening of the spring 2011 Assembly Series.