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STUDENT LIFE
THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS SINCE 1878 VOLUME 128, NO. 49
WWW.STUDLIFE.COM
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2007
Students busted for cocaine on the 40 BY SAM GUZIK ASSIGNMENTS EDITOR Last week, campus police arrested two students on the South 40 who were suspected of marijuana and cocaine possession. According to the WUPD crime log, the students both admitted to charges of possession. They lived in Eliot House and Lien Hall. The two arrests occurred on Friday, Jan. 26 and Monday, Jan. 29, following the discovery of suspected marijuana and cocaine during a Residential Life search. “We send [the sample] to the crime lab, and the crime lab does an analysis and calculates
the weight amount,” said Don Strom, chief of WUPD. “In these two cases, it was relatively small amounts of suspected cocaine. I don’t think that either of these cases would fall under serious charges.” Although drug possession is automatically considered a felony, the crime increases in severity according to the amount possessed. Chief Strom also indicated that while possession of drugs with the intent to distribute them is a more serious offense, there was no evidence suggesting that was the case in the recent arrests. In both of last week’s cases,
evidence was found during a search conducted by Residential Life. Based on the terms of housing contracts, Residential Life retains the right to search student rooms, when it suspects that students may be in danger or in violation of the law. “Searching students’ rooms is not something that Residential life does very often nor is it something that we enjoy doing, but it is something that we keep in place to keep our community safe,” said Tim Lempfert, associate director of Residential Life. While students who have been arrested under drug
charges are subject to criminal charges, they may also be punished by University sanctions. These sanctions vary on a caseby-case basis, and can include referral to a judicial administrator, suspension, and termination of University housing. “Students are held accountable to the University Judicial code and Residential Life policy. If the University believes that a student has violated one of those, we will hold the student accountable based on the information we have. That may happen independently of the Police Department,” explained Lempfert. Although drug use on cam-
pus is often perceived as limited, some students suggest that it is more widespread than official statistics indicate. “I would say that marijuana use is very widespread, especially in terms of those who have tried it,” said a student who uses marijuana and wished to remain anonymous. “Cocaine use has defi nitely increased on campus in the last few years.” The student indicated that while it is sometimes difficult to fi nd drugs on campus, many choose to “outsource” their purchases to the off-campus community, allowing them easier access to the illegal substances. According to the student,
the drug of choice on campus is marijuana. “A lot of people who use marijuana–both on campus and off–view it as a lot less harmful than alcohol,” said the student. The question of drug use on campus is a part of a larger University concern about high-risk behavior by college students. “Alcohol use and abuse continues to be a concern on our campus and all campuses and we still have people making decisions that are in some cases life threatening,” said Strom. -With additional reporting by Shweta Murthi
Pell Grant recipients may receive raise
MULTICULTURAL ‘PROJECT’ SELLS OUT A.C.
BY LAURA GEGGEL NEWS EDITOR
SCOTT BRESSLER | STUDENT LIFE
Congress is poised to increase the maximum Pell Grant award by $260, the fi rst increase in four years. The House approved the national grant allowance spike to $4,310 on Wednesday in a 286-140 vote. The Senate is expected to vote on the budget next week. There are 456 Washington University undergraduate students who are currently Pell Grant recipients. Pell Grants are available for all undergraduates whose families earn less than $40,000 a year. It is the largest grant for postsecondary education funded by the government, going to over five million low-income students a year, but has remained capped at $4,050 since 2003. “It hasn’t increased in the last four years because there’s been a low priority placed on the last couple of congresses on making college affordable for low-income students,” said Luke Swarthout, an advocate for
A member of the Idan Raichel Project performs to a sold out crowd in the Athletic Complex on Thursday, Feb. 1. The group consists of 77 musicians from around the world, although only eight came to Wash. U. See a slideshow with more photos online at www.studlife.com.
higher education with the Public Interest Research Group. “The failure to increase the Pell Grant over the last several years has meant that inflation has increased and the cost of college has gone up and the maximum grant award has been less and less powerful,” said Swarthout. The Pell Grant increase is part of the $463.5 billion federal budget bill for the 2007 fiscal year. Each year the budget begins on Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. 30. Director of Student Financial Services, Bill Witbrodt, is excited about the potential Pell Grant boost. “If Congress passes the bill to increase the Pell Grant amount, it will mean that low-income students will have to borrow less or work less to fi nance their college educations. Pell Grant funds go directly from the Department of Education, passing through the University, directly to the eligible students,” he said.
See PELL GRANT, page 3
Black Anthology’s ‘Re/frain’ looks to dispell myths BY ELIZABETH LEWIS NEWS MANAGER
ALWYN LOH | STUDENT LIFE ARCHIVES
Students act out a skit at last year’s Black Anthology in the Edison Theater. This year’s Black Anthology performace is taking place this weekend.
This weekend, Black Anthology, an annual play that celebrates black culture, invites its audience to accompany the cast through a medley of decisions faced by blacks in the music industry. The title, “Re/ frain: A Cautionary Tale,” plays on a dual meaning of the musical idea of refrain, combined with the more figurative idea of refraining and using caution while making rash decisions. LeMar Moore, a senior and the director of this year’s show, has never acted in Black Anthology (BA), but he recognizes the need to dispel the myth that it is a show that only black people can appreciate. “It is a cultural show, but when you have the words ‘Black Anthology,’ people think that [the show] is two hours of complaining about racism and op-
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pression. In reality, it is a celebration of culture, just like any other show,” he said. Junior Valerie Wade, assistant director for the play, agreed. “Washington University does not appreciate BA like it should. People are much more enthusiastic for other cultural shows, and they are more nonchalant about this one. The other shows are great, but there is less of an interest in Black Anthology.” She continued, “The show is not always preachy, but it is something fun that is part of black American life.” Members of BA have tried to increase attendance for this year’s BA through increased publicity, such as by using Facebook and by going into the University community to promote the show. Moore said that there has also been discussion of making BA more of a variety show. “People might be turned off
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that we are a full-length show that does not have any song and dance,” he said. Essentially, though, Moore said that the show includes something for everyone and that there is at least one moment that will emotionally move each audience member. He said that the script is extremely layered, which he appreciates because it allows for every audience member to discern his/her own themes. However, it is a fact that causes Moore some anxiety concerning the way that the audience will perceive it. “If [the audience] does not pay close attention, [they] can miss important themes of the show,” he said. Though he is leaving it to the audience to discern their own themes, which Moore says is essential when presenting a play,
See BLACK ANTHOLOGY, page 3
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