Hear Beethoven sonatas in Holmes Lounge Feb. 23

Three Beethoven masterpieces will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 in Holmes Lounge by Christina Mahler, principal cellist for Toronto’s Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Seth Carlin, professor of piano and fortepiano in the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences,

Jean Allman named the Hexter professor in the humanities

Jean Allman became the inaugural holder of the J.H. Hexter Professorship in the Humanities in Arts & Sciences Feb. 12 in a ceremony in Holmes Lounge. The professorship was established by a grant from the Danforth Foundation to recognize distinguished faculty members in the humanities.

Unique Transnational Law Program to debut in fall 2008

Washington University School of Law is launching a Transnational Law Program, a first-of-its-kind offering for students in both the United States and Europe. This program expands upon the law school’s ongoing partnership with Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

Happy New Year

Photo by Kevin LowderLei Ma performs an energetic Kongfu routine as part of the Chinese New Year Celebration at Edison Theatre Feb. 12. The event was sponsored by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association.

Gene newly linked to inherited ALS may also play role in common dementia

Scientists at the School of Medicine have linked a mutation in a gene known as TDP-43 to an inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the neurodegenerative condition often called Lou Gehrig’s disease. Researchers found the connection intriguing because studies by other groups have revealed abnormalities in the TDP-43 protein in both sporadic and inherited ALS, as well as in several other neurodegenerative disorders.

Thurston, professor emeritus of English, 93

Jarvis Thurston, Ph.D., professor emeritus of English and former chair of Washington University’s Department of English in Arts & Sciences, died Feb. 4 of heart disease at his home in University City. He was 93.