October 28, 2021 Student Life Newspaper at Washington University in St. Louis

The independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since 1878 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

VOLUME 143, NO. 8

LIFE OF EST

WWW.STUDLIFE.COM

RIVALRY?

MONSTERS

What a day looks like for the Emergency Support Team (Scene pg 4)

Our review of the Dungeons and Dragons play at the Edison (Cadenza pg 5)

WashU and Chicago soccer will play next weekend.

Is there beef?

(Sports pg 6)

WU not requiring Students for Black and Palestinian Liberation calls for WU to sever ties COVID-19 booster with Boeing at rally on Ackert Walkway shots as some students become eligible ORLI SHEFFEY SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

COURTESY OF BRIAN PERNICIARO

Students stand on the Overpass over Forest Park Parkway behind a banner.

ISABELLA DIGENOVA AND TED MOSKAL STAFF REPORTER AND MANAGING EDITOR Around 60 students gathered on the Ackert Walkway overpass Wednesday afternoon in a “space occupation” protesting Washington University’s ties to Boeing.

The action, organized by Students for Black and Palestinian Liberation (BPL), was part of the national #DivestFromDeath weeklong campaign. The campaign, which involves protests on multiple college campuses, was organized by We Are Dissenters, a national group that is seeking an end to militarism.

Students chanted “We demand divestment” and hung signs reading “Divest from Bloody Boeing” and “Your Tuition is Blood Money” from the walkway.

“All across the country, students are showing up for their campuses to protest all connections to war profiteers like Boeing, like Lockheed Martin, like Raytheon,” BPL organizer junior Brianna Chandler said. “This is our contribution to that coalition.”

Boeing is the world’s second largest military contractor, with

$26.9 billion in revenue from arms and military services in 2018. Students pointed to the University’s ties to the company, as Boeing’s chief engineer and executive vice president for test and technology, Gregory Hyslop, is a member of the Board of Trustees, serves on the Engineering National Council for the McKelvey School of Engineering and was the May 2017 Engineering Commencement speaker. Washington University is also home to the Boeing Center for Supply Chain Innovation at the Olin Business School.

Speakers at the protest aimed to highlight how militaries use Boeing’s weapons to perpetuate violence in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, Yemen, the Kashmir region and other locations around the world.

“Something has got to give,” senior Christina Lee said in a speech at the protest. “We have got to take a stand against the military-industrial complex. We must refuse to let the endowment of our university finance the industries that are killing the people and the planet.”

An Instagram post promoting the event highlighted that bombs the Israeli military dropped on the

Gaza Strip in May can be directly linked back to Boeing’s factory in St. Charles, Missouri, just 30 miles from campus. In August of 2018, protestors blocked the entrance to the St. Charles factory, objecting to the company’s connections with the war between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Wednesday’s protest was not the first time in recent years that students have called on the University to sever ties with a major company. In the spring of 2014, dozens of students participated in a 16-day sit-in outside Brookings Hall to demand the removal of Peabody Coal CEO Greg Boyce from the University’s Board of Trustees, and seven protestors were arrested at a board meeting.

Boyce remained on the board until he resigned in the fall of 2016.

Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications Julie Flory declined to comment.

According to Chandler, BPL is determined to pressure the University to cut ties with Boeing for as long as it takes.

“This is our way of saying it’s not just about what happens on campus, we have to be a community in solidarity with people outside of WashU and so this is us committing to that,” she said.

Washington University is not requiring booster shots as some students, particularly those who were vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson, now meet the eligibility requirements.

On Oct. 20, the FDA authorized adults 18 or older who received J&J to get a booster shot at least two months after their first shot, citing evidence of waning immunity. People who were vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna at least six months ago are eligible for a booster shot if they are older than 65, have underlying medical conditions or work or live in highrisk settings. Still, the University does not believe requiring booster shots for those who qualify is necessary. “​​Based on guidance from our medical experts, the University doesn’t believe requiring boosters for students would have a significant impact on reducing

COVID-19 in our community,” Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Anna Gonzalez wrote in an email to students Wednesday afternoon.

“However, I would note that there may be some health benefits for individual students who have underlying medical conditions or who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.”

Dr. Steve Lawrence, one of the university’s top infectious disease experts, confirmed in an interview with Student Life that for students under 65 without high-risk medical conditions, “there’s not a need to go rush to get boosters.”

“It’s an option and it will slightly reduce your risk of developing mild infection,” Lawrence said. “But at this point in time, especially for most students, the vast majority of students in particular, are generally speaking younger and without a lot of other medical conditions...

SEE BOOST, PAGE 3

GRAPHIC BY TUESDAY HADDEN

WU sanctions Alkilani with probation, $500 fine and essay for flag removal, per confidential letter publicized by College Republicans president MATTHEW FRIEDMAN AND TED MOSKAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND MANAGING EDITOR

CURRAN NEENAN | STUDENT LIFE

The arch by Brookings Hall, which houses much of the Washington University administration.

Washington University sanctioned Student Union Vice President of Finance senior Fadel Alkilani this month with probation for the remainder of his enrollment, a $500 restitution fine and a reflective essay for removing commemorative 9/11 flags from Mudd Field last month.

News of the sanctions became public Oct. 20 after president of the College Republicans junior Nick Rodriguez, who had submitted a complaint to the University regarding the flag removal, sent a University letter labeled “personal and confidential” detailing Alkilani’s sanctions to the College Republicans email list.

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Young America’s Foundation, the organization that had first called attention to the flag removal in September, published an article about the sanctions the same day.

Alkilani’s removal of the flags made national news and sparked controversy on campus last month, as some students criticized Chancellor Andrew Martin for condemning the removal of the flags but not the online Islamophobic comments and threats that followed the story’s circulation.

The conduct outcome letter, dated Oct. 15 from Associate Dean for Student Conduct and Community Standards Sheryl Mauricio, said Alkilani had violated five sections of the Student Conduct Code.

Violations included interfering with the

SEE SANCTIONS, PAGE 3

2 STUDENT LIFE

GRACE KENNARD & ORLI SHEFFEY | SENIOR NEWS EDITORS | NEWS@STUDLIFE.COM

theFLIPSIDE THURS 28 RAIN 58/51

FRI 29 RAIN 55/49

MON 1

MOSTLY CLOUDY 54/39

SAT 30

PARTLY CLOUDY 56/45

TUE 2

MOSTLY CLOUDY 50/38

SUN 31

MOSTLY SUNNY 61/38

WED 3

AM SHOWERS 49/32

EVENT CALENDAR THURSDAY 27 Outdoor Roller Skating Rink Gary M. Sumers Recreation Center, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

The WashU Rec is celebrating its 5th anniversary with an outdoor roller skating rink! The event is open to students and Rec Center members.

FRIDAY 28 PAD Presents: ‘She Kills Monsters’ Edison Theatre, 8 p.m.

The Performing Arts Department is proud to present “She Kills Monsters,” the first mainstage production of the 2021-2022 season. Directed by Bill Whitaker, “She Kills Monsters” is a fantastical experience featuring the beloved game “Dungeons and Dragons.” Tickets are free for WashU students and the show runs the weekend of Oct. 22 and Oct. 29.

SATURDAY 30 Department of Music Showcase E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall, 560 Music Center, 3:00 p.m.

As part of Parents and Family Weekend, the Department of Music will be hosting an event featuring the musical talents of various WashU students.

MONDAY 1 Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth Virtual Event, 5 p.m.

Professor Daniel Harawa will be hosting George Washginton University Blume Professor of Law Kristin Henning as they discuss her new book, “The Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth.” You must register in advance to attend.

TUESDAY 2 Kusimama Collaboratives: A Community-Based Approach to Development Virtual Event, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

Three representatives from No White Saviors, an advocacy campaign working toward anti-racist development and aid work based in Kampala, Uganda, will present on the Kusimama Collaborative as an example of local, community-run development work happening in Uganda.

In Conversation: Colonizing the Past: Constructing Race in Ancient Greece and Rome Steinberg Auditorium, 6 p.m.

Kathryn Wilson, senior lecturer in the Department of Classics, and Claudia Swan, Art History professor, will participate in a panel to discuss the works on view in this season’s Teaching Gallery exhibition. Panelists will explore how modern ideas on race have influenced the interpretation of identities across cultures, geographies and religions in classical antiquity.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

STS and WUIT work to improve Danforth Campus Wi-Fi after complaints from students KASEY NOSS STAFF REPORTER After students reported slow and unreliable Wi-Fi during the first half of the semester, Student Technology Services (STS) and Washington University Information Technology (WUIT) have taken steps to improve Wi-Fi on the Danforth Campus and South 40.

After looking into the issue, STS and WUIT discovered hardware and configuration issues within the University’s Wi-Fi infrastructure. To gather sufficient data to identify the problem, STS Director Sherry Holmes and her team posted QR codes around campus that linked to a survey about the Wi-Fi and employed the help of Student Technology Coordinators to observe the connection in residential halls first-hand.

“We really took in a wide variety of people: student technicians that work for Sherry to get their experience as well as engineers really doing a lot of detailed analysis,” said Craig Hager, the director of university network planning and services.

“We went about it at several different angles to get the most comprehensive data we possibly could. We did find some issues with hardware that we needed to address, and we made those adjustments.”

“We believe now that the wireless stability and performance has improved greatly, and we continue to monitor the situation closely,” Holmes said.

The fix has been long awaited by Danforth

Campus students, many of whom have been struggling with campus Wi-Fi for several months now.

“It’ll just go out randomly,” senior Mary Frances West said. “I’ll be connected to it and then it’ll just disconnect and then it won’t want to reconnect. Sometimes it’ll take like five to ten minutes.”

“It’s really frustrating if I’m sitting in class when this happens,” freshman Gabi Skilling said.

“Everyone else can be discussing something while we’re using computers, and I can’t pull up the document. I have to wait five or 10 minutes, or I have to use data on my phone and connect to a hotspot.”

Freshman Sam Singer also reported frequently having to resort to using cellular data.

“With my computer and my phone just like basically anywhere I go — a lot in the dorm — it disconnects and I’m on LTE for who knows how long,” Singer said.

Students expressed having particular difficulties in the Olin Business School buildings, the DUC and when outside or transitioning between buildings.

The issue seemed to be fairly consistent across networks, with students reporting connection problems with eduroam, wustl-2.0, wustl-guest-2.0 and wustl-encrypted-2.0.

While these inconveniences have characterized the first half of the semester for many students, some said the improvements made by Holmes’ and Hager’s teams have been tangible.

“I was having trouble early on in the semester. I haven’t really had any problems since Fall Break that I remember distinctly,” sophomore Carson Codel said. “If it was, it was only for like a minute or two.”

“I think it’s gotten better,” sophomore Shreya Patel said. “Yesterday I got kicked off, but it hasn’t happened as much as it used to.”

Hager also said that some of the biggest challenges to improving connectivity is the sheer volume of devices on campus and the varying ages of these devices.

“The real challenge that we all face is making sure we have a wireless environment that’s supportive of all technologies to the best of our ability,” Hager said. “We have to keep up with technology, we have to keep up with infrastructure and sometimes the extremely old hardware or those handheld devices may be more of a challenge to get connected. It’s always a constant improvement. We’re never done.”

Nevertheless, Holmes and Hager are confident that their adjustments have improved the Wi-Fi’s stability and performance. They encourage any students who are still experiencing difficulties to reach out to STS or WUIT. “We’ll never know where problems are unless people report them,” said Holmes. “We want to make sure that we are addressing the issues. This is your student experience, but we need it from you.”

WEDNESDAY 3 Liveable Cities for All: Are We There Yet? Virtual Event, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.

RMIT University professor Billie Giles-Corti will be speaking as part of the Public Health Speaker Series for Global Health Week. Giles-Corti will be examining the current standard of liveability and how it impacts the people who live in cities. Topics will include what a liveability city is, how liveability is measured and why liveability is important to consider.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK DO YOU PLAN TO GO TRICK-OR-TREATING? Here are the results from this week’s poll. Check out our Instagram for next week’s question.

87.5%: No 12.5%: Yes Check our Instagram this week for next week’s question! Responses will be published here every Thursday.

A student uses her laptop on the third floor of Olin Library.

SCOTT BRESSLER | STUDENT LIFE

Residential Life reports eight RA vacancies and begins mid-year hiring process for the first time ORLI SHEFFEY SENIOR NEWS EDITOR With eight Resident Advisor positions currently vacant, Residential Life has opened an application for mid-year hiring for the first time.

The vacancies span across residential communities, with two vacancies in Apartments North, two vacancies in Apartment South and one vacancy each in Park/Mudd, William Greenleaf Eliot, Village and Brookings.

Current juniors and seniors were invited to apply to fill these vacancies for the Spring 2022 semester with an application deadline of Nov. 1.

“The RA position continues to be a premier leadership opportunity

for juniors and seniors,” Interim Associate Director for Residential Life Brittany McDaniel and Associate Vice Chancellor Kawanna Leggett wrote in a statement to Student Life. “As we continue to return to regular operations and increase occupancy from last year there was a need to coordinate a hiring process for the spring.”

The University did not elaborate on why eight Residential Advisor positions are currently vacant.

“The reasons for these students’ decisions varied greatly, and are personal for each individual,” McDaniel wrote. “We have fully supported students’ decision making processes, and have reinforced that students need

to make the best decision for themselves.”

The mid-year hiring process will be streamlined, according to McDaniel, by only conducting one round of interviews. Students who are selected to fill the vacancies will be notified on Nov. 19 and will move in during reading week and finals.

If the positions are not filled, McDaniel wrote that Residential Life will “continue under current operations.” In the buildings with vacancies, McDaniel wrote that Residential Life has “continued to ensure that these students have RA support” and that RAs “maintain an equitable amount of residents they directly support.”

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

BOOST from page 1 We’re not to a point where we would even necessarily strongly recommend [getting a booster shot].”

The University had vaccinated approximately 2050 community members with the one-dose J&J vaccine at the medical campus last April, prior to a brief pause in J&J distribution, all of whom qualify for the booster shot. At this time, the University is not offering booster shots on campus, but they are available at local pharmacies.

Lawrence explained that although there is a waning reduction in risk of developing mild infection over time, there remains significant protection against severe illness. With a 99% vaccination rate on campus, Lawrence does not believe booster shots will make a significant difference.

“There are going to be breakthrough infections; there always will,” Lawrence said. “Luckily, they’ve been almost exclusively, almost 100%, of the breakthrough infections that we’ve seen on our campus have been very mild, and those will never be able to stop. During COVID season, which will be now very likely every winter for the rest of our lives, there will be COVID circulating...

Having boosters will have some impact on the number of infections, but when we have a low infection rate to begin with, it wouldn’t have

NEWS

GRACE KENNARD & ORLI SHEFFEY | SENIOR NEWS EDITORS | NEWS@STUDLIFE.COM

a major dent.” classes began Since Aug. 30, the University has reported 124 positive cases in students and 32 positive cases in faculty and staff. As of Oct. 25, the University reported 31 active cases on campus.

“If everybody today went out and got a booster, it won’t have any impact before Halloween, for sure.

But in two weeks time, then we might see one or two fewer cases per week made in a best case scenario...so it wouldn’t have a tremendous impact,” Lawrence said. “The overall number of cases in the University community when we’re having a relatively low number to start with.”

As of Tuesday, some students were disappointed by the lack of guidance on booster shots.

“It’s really frustrating because I hear about all of this stuff from you guys at StudLife before I hear from the administration,” sophomore Rosie Lopolito said.

“I think making [booster shots] as accessible as possible is really important—especially if they claim to care about the pandemic, which is still going on.”

Although the University is not requiring booster shots, Beasley, who was vaccinated with Pfizer last march, and Lopolito, who was vaccinated with J&J at the medical campus

SANCTIONS from page 1 rights of other members of the University community, knowingly furnishing false information to the University, knowingly making a false claim to represent a student group of the University, failure to comply with the reasonable and lawful request of University officials and theft. As part of Alkilani’s probation, further Student Conduct Code violations will result in the Student Conduct Board determining sanctions which can include suspension or expulsion.

According to Mauricio’s letter, Washington University Police Department officers said Alkilani claimed to be a member of the College Republicans replacing old flags with new ones when a WUPD officer initially confronted him, and then after being told to leave, returned to the field to continue gathering flags.

Alkilani declined Student Life’s request for comment and did not say whether he had appealed or planned to appeal the student conduct

last April, plan to get their booster shots soon at a local pharmacy.

“I’m getting one just because it can’t hurt to have extra protection,” Beasley said. “My other family members have gotten it and there really haven’t been any adverse side effects, so I figure it really can’t hurt.”

Lopolito said that she is “a little concerned” about side effects after dealing with short-term side effects when she was vaccinated in the spring, but said that she knows to plan better this time around. “I don’t plan on scheduling the booster the day before an exam or something. So I think it’s good to know how it affected me the first time,” she said.

Sophomore Carson Codel, who got vaccinated with J&J at the medical campus last April, said that if booster shots are not offered on the Danforth Campus, he might wait until winter break to avoid dealing with side effects during the semester. Last April, Codel said he got “hit pretty hard” by the side effects the next day.

“I think the best course of action for me at this point would probably be to wait until I’m home for winter break and then get it done, and I don’t have to worry about the side effects while having to take classes and finals and stuff,” Codel said. “But, I mean, if it’s

STUDENT LIFE 3

offered on campus, I’d definitely be interested in getting it.”

Another consideration is whether to “mix-andmatch” booster shots. The CDC determined that eligible people can get any of the three available booster doses, regardless of the brand of their initial dose. Lawrence said “mixand-match” dosing can be “a very useful strategy” because it can offer greater immunity than the same vaccine being used for both prime and boost.

“There is evidence in Europe that those who received a dose of AstraZeneca, which is very similar to the J&J vaccine, and then got a booster dose with the mRNA vaccine, that they actually ended up with certainly higher

antibody levels and maybe a little better protection than just two doses of the AstraZeneca by itself,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence said that the “mix-and-match” idea is only being brought up now because the FDA wants to base its recommendations on data. There isn’t much safety data available but there also isn’t a reason to believe safety would be an issue, he said.

Regardless of whether students get booster shots at this point, Lawrence emphasized that the extra shots “shouldn’t in any way change how we conduct our daily lives” and that indoor masking remains “the most important thing.”

“We’ll see if in the winter when it is cold all the time, and people are indoors

almost all the time...We kind of expect that [COVID cases] may level off or go up again,” Lawrence said.

“But we’re keeping our fingers crossed because we have a fair amount of cautious optimism that by the time spring comes along most of the worst of this will be passed.”

Adrienne Levin Coleman General Manager a.coleman@studlife.com

Copyright © 2021 Washington University Student Media, Inc. (WUSMI). Student Life is a financially and editorially independent, student-run newspaper serving the Washington University community. Our newspaper is a publication of WUSMI and does not necessarily represent the views of the Washington University administration.

ruling. Rodriguez told YAF that Alkilani was removed from his position as a resident advisor. Alkilani said in a message to Student Life last Thursday that he had not been terminated from the position.

The University’s sanctions did not address Alkilani’s position on SU. Some legislators have discussed impeaching or recalling him, but no official impeachment inquiry and no recall petition has been released. Rodriguez told YAF that the College Republicans plan to pursue Alkilani’s impeachment.

He declined to comment to Student Life last Thursday.

The removal of Alkilani would require either a recall petition or an impeachment inquiry, according to the SU constitution. Any constituent or SU member may submit a recall petition. After the submission, the constitutional council decides whether to hear the case, which would include a public hearing with evidence and witnesses, and then votes on recalling

the SU member. If they vote in favor of the recall, members of the executive council, which consists of the executive branch and speakers of both legislative bodies, would make a final determination on Alkilani’s removal from SU. SU legislators can also bring an impeachment inquiry, and if two thirds of the relevant legislative body votes in favor, along with the majority of the other legislative body, then the constitutional council hears the case. The constitutional council would vote to determine if Alkilani would be removed from his position.

Mauricio was not able to immediately respond to Student Life’s request for comment last Thursday evening. Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Rob Wild wrote in an email to Student Life that the University does not comment on confidential conduct or employment matters.

Orli Sheffey contributed reporting

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Scan this QR code to schedule a booster appointment at a local pharmacy.

VOLUME 143, NO. 08 Matthew Friedman Editor-in-Chief editor@studlife.com Jayla Butler Em McPhie Ted Moskal Isabella Neubauer Managing Editors Grace Kennard Orli Sheffey Senior News Editors news@studlife.com Olivia Poolos Julia Robbins Senior Scene Editors scene@studlife.com

Jordan Coley Gracie Hime Senior Cadenza Editors cadenza@studlife.com Jade Leslie Sarah Wang Senior Design Editors design@studlife.com

Vivienne Chang Senior Engagement Editor Ani Kesanapally Senior Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Editor

Nathan Springman Senior Web Editor Reilly Brady Christine Watridge Amanda Young Designers

Tammy Dunsford Advertising Sales Manager dunsfordt@wustl.edu

4 STUDENT LIFE

SCENE

JULIA ROBBINS & OLIVIA POOLOS | SENIOR SCENE EDITORS | SCENE@STUDLIFE.COM

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

More than medicine: The life of an EST member BROOK WANG CONTRIBUTING WRITER Located in Lien House on the South 40, the Washington University Emergency Support Team (EST) office is a cozy place. Two large dark gray couches sit against opposite walls stacked with pillows.

The walls are covered in photo collages of EST members, a whiteboard full of inside jokes and quotes, hand-drawn pictures and quick reminders. In the corner, there’s a coffee station and a TV, which hangs above a table piled full of board games. There’s a sign reading “Movie Suggestions (must be on Netflix)” and a silly caricature of three EST members.

Senior Christine Kuehn has been a member of EST for four years and proudly holds the title of field director, leading other members and working with the president to coordinate meetings with the medical director and organize team logistics.

Kuehn’s typical day starts with coffee and breakfast.

After that, if she’s on duty, she’ll head to the office wearing her usual outfit of tactical blue pants, an EST shirt and black tennis shoes with trauma shears, gloves and a penlight attached to the side of her pants.

At the office, Kuehn switches off with whoever was on the night shift, grabbing a radio and a pager that keeps her informed of EST emergencies. If she doesn’t

have class, she’ll make her way to the DUC, which she says is a good “central location for EST members.”

From then on, it’s a waiting game. She’ll do homework and go to classes like a normal WashU student. Unlike a normal WashU student, however, there’s always the potential to be called into an emergency, sometimes having to leave class to deal with the situation. If anyone calls looking for immediate care on the Danforth campus or South 40, Kuehn is there, along with the three other EST members required to be on a shift.

When EST is dispatched, which happens when someone calls the Washington University Police Department and requests EST, all three techs on duty will be sent to the scene of the call alongside a WUPD officer. If the issue merits it, a non-University paramedic ambulance service will be dispatched with the student techs. If 911 is called directly, EST members are still required to show up to the scene.

EST is considered a BLS (basic life support) organization, meaning they can only give rudimentary care to patients, performing tasks like administering epinephrine, giving aspirin, taking vitals, asking questions and investigating the situation.

“It’s almost like triage, so we will choose to call for advanced life support if somebody needs to go

to the hospital right away,” Kuehn said. EST is also a non-transport organization, meaning they do not transport patients to hospitals.

But that’s not to say it isn’t a demanding job; it’s a tough organization to be in physically, academically and emotionally. Being a part of a team that handles the lives of students and faculty requires intense training. It’s competitive to get into, starting with a CPR and EMT certification, a national written exam (the NREMT) and applying for national and Missouri medical care licenses. After that, there’s an internal advancement process within EST, with a series of different interviews and mock scenarios to simulate real-life emergencies.

According to EST’s website, up to 20 new techs are brought into EST per year, which is often around 20% of the initial applicant pool.

As a member, Kuehn says that there is an emotional toll to being part of EST. While she’s helped with several minor incidents, like allergic reactions and scraped knees, she’s also witnessed more serious cases, including heart attacks, strokes and seizures.

“Most people on our team can be in scenarios where it’s scary, it’s hard,” she said. “It’s not the kind of thing where you deal with it in the moment and move on. You think about it afterwards.”

MORAD SULIMAN | STUDENT LIFE

EST Field Director senior Christine Kuehn works an average of 24 hours per week, helping to coordinate meetings and logistics as well as providing support to other members of the team.

Weekends can be particularly challenging — that’s when call volume is at its highest, because students aren’t in class and have more free time that can lead to potential emergency situations. Kuehn recalled a particular instance when she had eight calls in one night and did not get the chance to sleep at all.

As field director, Kuehn also has the task of overseeing other members, constantly checking in and ensuring that everyone is doing okay, not only with regard to EST but also in their classes and personal lives. After every EST call, members have a formal debrief to talk about the events of the emergency, not only to go over what happened but to check in on each other. Additionally,

EST utilizes the services at Habif if they need someone else to talk to.

Although it’s emotionally demanding, Kuehn says the communal and familial feel of the organization helps balance it out. And despite the hectic nature of weekends on duty, she cherishes them, saying that they are “one of those times that you bond the most with the other members of duty crew,” whether that be through watching movies, playing games or just hanging out in the office.

“We hang out on duty for, like, 20 hours at a time together, so inevitably, you have to be close with individuals and that has been a huge part of my college experience and I’m so grateful to have these individuals,” Kuehn said. “And

I think people that I’m surrounded by in EST always encourage me to be my best self. They inspire me, which is something I’m really grateful for.”

Putting in an average of 24 hours of duty a week can get difficult, but Kuehn says that “it’s all about finding a balance.” After a long day of tending to patients, overseeing other EST members, coordinating organization logistics and being plugged into her phone, Kuehn tries to unwind by cooking dinner at her off-campus apartment or by going on a walk with her roommate and dog.

“If you’re really passionate about something and it’s important to you, you can make it work and you can balance it with your schedule,” she said.

Flavors of fall: Our recommendations for fun and festive feasts with friends Just in time for the first real cold snap of the year, Scene staff writers compiled a list of quintessentially fall things to do — and mostly, to eat — for the remainder of Pumpkin Spice Season.

A (few) apples a day keep the midterms away While definitely a journey out of the WashU bubble, Eckert’s Belleville Farm in Illinois is worth the trip. My visit was made possible through tickets and transportation provided by the First Year Center, but normally tickets are $2.20 for weekdays and $5.50 for weekends. The Belleville location is about a 35 minute drive, so this would make a great day trip if you know someone with a car.

Upon arrival, tractors will take you away from the Eckert market and into the orchard where you are handed a bag and set free.

Time flies as you wander through rows of Fuji and Suncrisp apples. I was able to fully fill a bag with fresh apples, so don’t be deterred by rows that look empty or overripe. To make sure there is still a good fruit supply, check Eckert’s website for crop updates.

If you want to bring some home with you, apples cost $1.99 per pound and pumpkins are $0.69 per pound, but you don’t have to pay for the apples you eat along the way! Crunching your way from tree to tree is the best way to embrace the midwest’s abrupt change in seasons.

After you’ve had your fill of apples, the tractors will take you directly to a large pumpkin patch where you can join many in finding the perfect potential jack-o’lantern. Post-pumpkin patch, the tractor will drop you right back where you started, at the market filled with flowers, gourds, cider and more. Sure, it’s a little gimmicky, but that’s all part of the fun.

— Alice Gottesman, Contributing Writer Not too cold for ice cream As an ice cream connoisseur, and with weather yet to freeze my brain, I often find myself trying out new fall seasonal flavors, such as the pumpkin cake roll ice cream at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

Just a few metro stops away from campus, this dessert treat is the perfect transition between a summer cool-off

ELLE SU | STUDENT LIFE

The dessert display case at Cherry Tree Café in the Bear’s Den.

and a winter bundle. The warm spices of cinnamon, ginger and star anise certainly add a layer of depth not tasted in many other flavors, simultaneously cutting the thick heaviness of the cream cheese swirls. The smooth and buttery notes of heirloom pumpkin are enhanced even more by the golden nuggets found woven in: fun, bite-sized cake pieces soaked in vanilla and other spices to add pops of textural surprise. My favorite way to enjoy this delectable treat is to place a scoop over a freshly baked brownie, the buttery pumpkin cream melting into the moist chocolate.

The pumpkin cake roll from Jeni’s, with its vibrant orange and buttercream beige swirls, is certainly a five-star representation of autumn.

— Annabel Shen, Contributing Writer The cafe right next door Before a long day of classes, what better way to anticipate your future burnout than by making a trip out to Cherry Tree and grabbing yourself a treat? You deserve it. If you are like me, you naturally gravitate towards the hot chocolate and oat crème cookie. However, since it is fall, I decided to try a new seasonal item on the menu: the pumpkin cannoli. To be honest, I did not have the highest of hopes. I have never been a fan of pumpkin flavored items. This cannoli, however, really blew me away.

It tasted like if you made a real pumpkin pie, not just artificial pumpkin flavoring, into a whipped cream form.

The filling was immaculate and not too sweet, which is what I had been scared of.

The crust casing was a bit thick, but it was still a great addition to my morning pump-up meal. All in all, the experience was pleasant, and I look forward to trying more of Cherry Tree’s fall-themed items in the future.

— Ella Urton, Contributing Writer Not your average pumpkin spice latte Colleen’s sits on Forsyth Blvd, less than a mile walk from the South 40. On this Thursday morning, well before my 9 a.m. class, I trudged to the cafe with my hands in the pockets of my cardigan.

While walking outside, I kept my mask on; the protection from the cold felt nice. The branches of the trees that line Forsyth swayed in unison.

The cashier greeted me and I asked, “Hi! Can I please have a pumpkin spice latte?” I paused. “Can I have it to go?”

I had class in 30 minutes.

I managed to avoid this fall trend for most of my life; chai tea lattes had my unrelenting loyalty and I saw no reason to disrupt that. But then in came this particular pumpkin spice latte: with white foam swirling at the top and cinnamon overlaying the foam, it fulfills a seasoned kick I’ve always appreciated in my drinks. It’s hot and sweet and spicy, and yet no single flavor overpowers the other. The latte itself tastes like a cookie in liquid form and a rich pumpkin flavor wonderfully pervades the entire beverage. If you want something to pair it with and aren’t spooked by pumpkin overload, I highly recommend the pumpkin muffin. Rich, yet light and tender, they truly are the best complement to your drink.

I’d also definitely recommend varying your routine with something other than a PSL — perhaps a coffee that isn’t overpoweringly sweet. You don’t want to get tired of pumpkin flavor too soon!

— Keona Dordor, Contributing Writer Polite Society serves loud fall flavors Although St. Louis weather seems to change its mind on what season it wants to be every day, you automatically feel like you’ve stepped into autumn when you go to Polite Society. The “restaurant, bar or gathering place,” as labelled on their website, is located inside a brick building within Lafayette Square, and has a glowing, orange aura as you approach. As you walk in and the host leads you to your table, dark, wooden walls and exposed brick surround you, creating a sort of cozy yet industrial feeling within the restaurant. Dark brown cushioned chairs are seated around each wooden table, and a floor to ceiling bookshelf attached to the brick wall is at the front of the restaurant, holding several dog-eared volumes.

As you sit down and open the menu, you are met with beautifully curated dishes ranging from gnocchi prosciutto to shrimp and grits. During a visit last year, I ordered a butternut squash ravioli cooked with ricotta, brown butter, sage and pancetta, and it was possibly one of the best things I have ever eaten; it was flavorful, comforting and perfect for the fall season. This time, I ordered a ravioli once again: filled with shitake, oyster and trumpet mushrooms, cooked in a rich alfredo sauce and

served with pickled mustard seeds as a garnish. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, the mushrooms were oozing with flavor and the sauce was filled with flavor without being too heavy. I also ordered cornbread and crispy broccolini. The cornbread, served with warm maple butter, melts in your mouth, and the fresh broccolini coupled with a garlic ricotta and balsamic reduction was the perfect complement.

Polite Society changes their menu each season, so each dish on the menu right now evokes a feeling of fall. The restaurant is a bit pricey, so it is definitely a treat. I have yet to try their brunch, plan to do so soon.

— Olivia Salvage, Contributing Writer Take some time to smell the turning leaves Drop off your backpack, grab your headphones, turn up the music and head to Forest Park. I think this time of year is epitomized by two m’s: magical (weather) and midterms (galore). Take a break from the latter and recenter yourself with the crisp air and nature’s bounty.

You’ll find peace soaking in the swaying trees with leaves that teeter between red and green. For a brief moment, it’s neither too hot nor too cold. Your studying can wait — dare I say for the months where the temperature averages a high of 20 degrees.

Whether you take in the view of Art Hill from the Forest Park fountain or peoplewatch the families staging their holiday card photos, take a breath outside of the WashU bubble.

— Sarai Steinberg, Contributing Writer

CADENZA

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

JORDAN COLEY & GRACIE HIME | SENIOR CADENZA EDITORS | CADENZA@STUDLIFE.COM

STUDENT LIFE 5

WU theater comes roaring back to the Edison with ‘She Kills Monsters’ ISABELLA NEUBAUER MANAGING EDITOR “She Kills Monsters,” the Performing Arts Department’s first show of the semester, is “that Dungeons & Dragons play.”

But geekdom isn’t the only thing it celebrates. The show, which opened Friday night in the Edison, is an exploration of the relationship between two siblings. Agnes (Naomi Blair) learns just how much she didn’t know about her younger sister Tilly (Raevyn Ferguson) through her homebrew D&D game — which she only reads after Tilly’s death.

The show has all the things anyone would expect from a D&D game: monsters, swords, weirdly sexuallized female characters and a quest for something extremely rare.

But Tilly’s quest mirrors how

she perceived the world outside the campaign. The two succubi (Brenna Jones and Sarah Wilkinson) were exaggerated, overtly homophobic versions of two cheerleaders from Tilly’s class, with whom they share names.

One of the bosses is a blob of slime with Agnes’ boyfriend Miles’ name, and another is a “Beholder” who is the high school’s insensitive guidance counselor. Because of that, Agnes can never fully disengage from the campaign, even when she’s at work, and at times treats the campaign like it’s real life.

Part of that is her grief — a desperation to understand her sister after her passing that Blair portrays extremely well.

And still, she never quite manages it. But she gets to know her a little better and is able to eventually recover from her loss. Tilly, too, opens up over

the course of the campaign, as Ferguson slips between resentment and affection in a way believable to the 16-yearold she is supposed to be.

Other characters, though similarly believable, were less enjoyable to watch. Chuck (Stephen Reaugh) and the brief appearance of Ronnie (Jake Steinberg) typified the stereotype that D&D players are horny high school boys who have never spoken to a woman. It’s played for comedic effect, and sometimes it works, but mostly it got on my nerves. The plot with Miles (Dylan McKenna), too, irked me. Miscommunication in relationships is not a trope I enjoy, and that the miscommunication leads Miles to believe Agnes is cheating on him with a high schooler made me cringe more than laugh.

The set, though, was

ZOE OPPENHEIMER | STUDENT LIFE

Chuck (Stephen Reaugh, left) reads from Tilly’s D&D manual to a confused Audrey (Naomi Blair, right).

perpetually a joy. Two projector screens would momentarily descend from the ceiling and portray childish drawings of characters, photographs to set the scene and once, a scene from “Friends.” “She Kills Monsters” has previously been adapted for completely

virtual performance, but this worked equally well for a live play. The '90s setting, too, provided needed laughs to balance out the emotional material. Chuck’s Atari shirt, the transition music and references to the brand-new innovation of the Internet reminded the audience that

this story is not a current one — it is one of geeks past.

While it had its missteps, the strength of the acting carried “She Kills Monsters” through its awkward moments and dropped swords mid-swordfight to produce a fun and truly moving production.

Music lovers unite: WashU’s a cappella spirit and The Stereotypes GRACIE HIME SENIOR CADENZA EDITOR If you’ve ever attended an a cappella event, concert or hangout, you know that the people in the community are typically pretty bubbly and enthusiastic.

The performers all seem to invest their personality into the a cappella scene, and some outsiders would go so far as to say that they can “just tell” when they know someone is an a cappella member. Similarly, we can see this characterization in the “theater kid” persona. Why is this? How are certain groups

of performing people pinned with stereotypes and tropes?

Last Thursday, I attended my first ever a cappella performance here on campus. I’ve experienced other a cappella groups before, but there are obviously some differences between high school, college and professional groups. I was so excited to get a glimpse into the a cappella scene, which I have always admired from afar, and The Stereotypes made for an inviting atmosphere of music lovers.

Of course, The Stereotypes (one of WashU’s all-male a

cappella groups) provided an amazing show. They sang three distinctly different songs to display their broad scope of talent, ending with an impressive and intense rendition of “I Need a Hero” by Bonnie Tyler. During their second song, “It Might Be Over Soon” by Bon Iver, it started raining, which was an issue considering we were in Bowles Plaza. If you have ever heard the song before, you would understand how ironic this is. The track starts out with whooshing storm sounds and ends “after the storm” with chirping birds and harmonious

chords.

While getting soaked by the rain wasn’t my favorite experience of the night, I have to admit: It ended up teaching me just how supportive the a cappella community is. Despite being drenched halfway through the show, everyone stayed. We sat through the rainshower, and the group sang through it. Eventually, we moved under the arch on the north side of the plaza to get some shelter, and the crowd’s energy only grew.

This performance really brought to light where the

stereotypes of a cappella members come from. The energy of the members is matched by the crowd that is constantly praising the singers. Other a cappella groups attended this performance and brought nothing less than the best hypepeople. They would cheer on the performers throughout the show and share an overwhelming applause at the end. The crowd was dancing; we were involved in the show. We truly felt the energy that the group possessed and couldn’t help but match their passion.

Conveniently, the rain

stopped just as everyone headed back to their respective homes. Walking back gave me time to reflect and really appreciate the community that is created around the common appreciation of good music. This is where the stereotypes are rooted. The students involved in a cappella on campus obviously have a passion for the art, but it can’t just stop at their own group.

They acknowledge the talent, regardless of where it comes from. The crowd support was astounding and truly made this experience riveting.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

WashU and UChicago: The state of the rivalry ANDREW KASTELMAN STAFF WRITER When sports teams prepare for a season, a common practice is to look at the schedule ahead. Searching for marquee opponents and travel destinations, teams will also look for matches with their rival.

For Washington University, this is The University of Chicago.

While both schools compete in the classroom as top 20 universities in the country, their rivalry takes place in athletics as well.

Both have been members of the University Athletic Association (UAA) since its founding in 1986, where they compete for Division III conference and national championships. However, their rivalry dates back much further, as WashU and UChicago first met in football in 1933.

For many sports at WashU, Chicago is the final game of the regular season.

Men’s soccer, for example, will take on Chicago next Saturday, Nov. 6, on Francis Olympic Field at 7 p.m.

Head coach Joe Clarke stressed the importance of finishing strong.

“It’s a big game,” Clarke said. “It’s the last game of the [regular] season, and you know you want to finish in the right way.”

WashU and Chicago typically produce thrilling games between highly ranked teams. Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams for each school are

GRACE BRUTON | STUDENT LIFE

Jonathan Arenas goes up for a shot against the University of Chicago in a winter 2019 game. “Literally every single time we’ve played UChicago it has been a close game,” graduate student Jack Nolan said.The men’s and women’s soccer teams will face Chicago in their regular season finales next Saturday.

currently ranked in the top 15 of the country. This sets the stage for high energy, high intensity matchups to end the season.

“With a rivalry like Chicago, I think it’s definitely a game that’s exciting, that both sides, us and them, are geared up to play and have a lot of fun with,”

men’s basketball graduate student Jack Nolan said.

Since the two teams play every year, there is great familiarity between each side.

“Playing them is a huge momentum game because a lot of the girls on our team either have played girls on their team before or we just

see them a lot, so we always bring a lot of energy to play them,” women’s volleyball senior Caitlin Lorenz said. “We always are really excited to have them because they’re great competition, but they’re definitely a very beatable team.”

“A lot of kids that come here or to Chicago

NATHANIEL MARGOLIES | STUDENT LIFE

Former head coach Larry Kindbom lifts the Founder’s Cup after the Bears beat UChicago in 2011.

considered both schools in the recruiting process, so it is always good if you end up winning,” men’s soccer goalkeeper senior Matt Martin said.

The two schools play for more than just pride.

In football, the teams have competed for the Founders Cup Trophy since 1987 with the beginning of the UAA. WashU leads the series 25-9, but 2021 was the last year for the rivalry. As the teams now compete in separate conferences since WashU moved to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin 2018, Chicago dropped WashU as a future football opponent. WashU leads the all-time rivalry 25-14.

In other sports, the teams compete for UAA conference championships and top spots in rankings. Since Chicago is the only conference team in the same region, their game also affects regional rankings.

The late-season matchup can have huge implications for seeding and NCAA tournament positioning.

“It’s just added pressure from both sides to try to play really well to win because it’s basically do or die at that point,” Martin said.

The game also serves as a litmus test for WashU athletics.

“The players care a lot, considering that Chicago has always been a team that has a really high reputation

for our division,” Martin said. “Because of that, we always feel like we have to win to progress at all.”

With the schools in close proximity to each other compared to other conference opponents, fans from both teams travel to the games. This creates a more intense, emotional atmosphere in an already-charged matchup.

“We typically play them on their own court, which is a whole other world in itself just because they have a big student section,” Lorenz said.

The two teams constantly produce hard-fought and competitive games. Lorenz remembers the game from her freshman year. “It was all the seniors playing, and I just remember the pure energy was just outrageous because their coaches, their assistants get really hyped up, and our seniors who’ve been playing them for four years at that time were extremely hyped for the game,” Lorenz said. “I just remember the energy in the gym was completely unreal.”

Nolan has had similar experiences.

“Literally every single time we’ve played UChicago it has been a close game,” Nolan said. “I think that’s just a testament to the rivalry and how each team is just really ready to play every time we play each other.”

Three WashU sports questions as we near the end of the regular season GRADY NANCE SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR We’re entering the final stretch of the regular season for Washington University’s fall sports, but most teams are far from finished.

Playoffs are on the horizon and some teams may even contend for top seeds. With so much exciting activity in the upcoming week, I thought I’d share three questions I want answered in the last games of the regular season.

Will women’s soccer stay undefeated?

Much has changed since the women’s soccer team’s last season: COVID forced a class to graduate without a senior season, former head coach Jim Conlon left after 13 years at WashU, and two young classes entered this season with no game experience. What has stayed the same? They still win. Undefeated still after two months of competition (12-0-1) and ranked No. 3 in the country, the Bears look as strong — if not stronger

— than past years. Still, they face their toughest slate of games to close out their season: No. 16 Carnegie Mellon University, No. 11 Case Western Reserve University and, to close out their season, No. 12 University of Chicago. The Bears have looked dominant in nearly every match this season, but they knew these three games would be their toughest gauntlet. If they can come out the other side with a clean record, it may give them the confidence they need to make

another deep playoff run.

Does football make the playoffs?

With North Central almost certain to take the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title (they’re undefeated and ranked No. 1 in Division III), WashU will need to get an at-large bid to make the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 2016. Junior quarterback Matt Rush has led the team to some impressive wins, and the team has shown flashes of greatness, but their loss to

Chicago to open the season could be a big red flag. If they want to have a shot, they’ll have to go at least 2-1 in their last three games and hope for a little help around the rest of DIII football.

Just how good is this men’s soccer team?

There’s no question that this year’s men’s soccer team is the best it has been in recent memory. After starting the year unranked, they’ve exceeded expectations, leading to a 9-2-1 record and the No. 7 spot in the nation. But while

they’ve played well to this point, some of their games have been closer than the box score would indicate. A top 10 ranking is impressive, but with a loss to No. 15 New York University and a matchup against Emory in which they were lucky to leave with a tie, there are still questions about this team as the regular season winds down and playoffs loom. Barring catastrophe, they’ll make the postseason, and I hope they prove all my doubts wrong when they get there.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

FORUM

REILLY BRADY & JAMILA DAWKINS | SENIOR FORUM EDITORS | FORUM@STUDLIFE.COM

STUDENT LIFE 7

STAFF EDITORIAL

How to do Parent & Family Weekend right

H

alloween is not this weekend’s only big event: Parent & Family Weekend events will take place in the coming days, and that means a large influx of Washington University parents. Students and their visiting families will be around campus and the St. Louis area, and many of these visitors may be in the city for the first time. Even for returning parents, this will be a different kind of Parent & Family Weekend. Whether you’re a visiting family member or a student, here are some things to keep in mind this weekend.

Masking and COVID19 prevention policies vary widely throughout the country. Though many of the parents visiting may live in areas that no longer have mask mandates, both St. Louis city and county are still under a mask mandate.

WashU is as well, with all visitors required to wear masks indoors and outdoors

in addition to socially distancing. Guests must also complete the visitor selfscreening each day that they are on campus.

We recognize that not all parents may want to follow these guidelines. Some people do not believe in the efficacy of masks; many others are simply tired of them; still others are unused to restrictions, coming from a state where they are not in place. Students –– let your visiting relatives know about the expectations both on and off campus.

That can be through a phone call or a quick reminder text to bring a mask. In addition, be sure to inform suitemates if your parents are visiting; people have various levels of comfort in interacting with others, especially as COVID19 remains a concern.

These requirements shouldn’t be your only considerations this weekend. By visiting WashU, parents and family members aren’t only interacting with students but

with the campus and larger St. Louis community as well. Being a mindful visitor includes being a considerate customer to the staff of any restaurants or entertainment venues you visit as well as on-campus dining and retail staff. Businesses around WashU and St. Louis, like the rest of the nation, are currently understaffed as workers nationwide contend with pandemic challenges and inadequate wages. On the customer end, this may manifest in longer lines and wait times, but any frustration regarding these inconveniences doesn’t excuse rude behavior toward (likely underpaid) staff on and around campus. We encourage students and their visiting families to be good customers — shop local, tip well and be patient and understanding as you navigate your weekend.

On an interpersonal level, Parent & Family Weekend is an opportunity to decenter

GRAPHIC BY HN HOFFMANN

our own preconceptions about our fellow students and their home lives. There’s no set definition of what a family looks like. Students and families alike: Be aware of the assumptions you may be making about your fellow students and their families. Take the opportunity to learn more

about the diverse communities of your peers at WashU. This isn’t limited to those who have parents coming, either — if you know your roommate doesn’t have any plans for the weekend, why not invite them out with you and yours? (If you’re looking for somewhere to go, check

out our Best of St. Louis issue for a guide to some local destinations outside the WashU bubble.)

And for those who plan to visit St. Louis this weekend, remember that you are just that — visitors. Whatever you do for Parent & Family Weekend, do it mindfully.

You matter: Mental health and stress culture JASMINE STONE STAFF WRITER

I

t’s 2:47 a.m. on any given weeknight, and I’m sighing with satisfaction as I finally press “submit” on one of many assignments. I send my brother, a senior at Washington University, a thumbs-up photo and ask if he’s almost done. “Nope!

Probably pulling another all-nighter lol,” he captions a snapshot of his Monster, Bang or Redbull. My third cup of coffee sits empty on the nightstand next to me. I battle with whether or not I should start that other assignment or if I should work on an internship application; I

JAMILA DAWKINS SENIOR FORUM EDITOR

I

ran a “Girl Meets World” stan account during my freshman and sophomore year of high school. I had a My Little Pony phase in eighth grade after watching every episode, movie and music video with my

think that I should really finish that reading, but finally I settle on sleep — knowing, however, that by choosing sleep now I’ll probably be in the same position tomorrow.

Back-to-back all-nighters, surviving on caffeine and determination, doing whatever one can to stay awake and “just get it done” are all regarded by many WashU students as just another unavoidable aspect of college life. But in an academic culture that claims to be aware of and committed to prioritizing mental health, it’s necessary to investigate why said prioritization of mental health is still failing to take place within student cultures and in student-teacher

dynamics.

For the most part, students are familiar with the importance of taking mental health seriously, but how often it’s actually practiced by individual students is less common. Given the rigorous nature of WashU and the requirements students met in order to gain admittance into the University, it’s fair to say that most aren’t strangers to intensive hard work and being dedicated to their studies. However, because of the normalization of “grind culture” as a means of taking pride in doing whatever it takes to be academically successful –– even when it means sacrificing personal health –– the decision to

take time to prioritize mental well-being is one that often inspires feelings of guilt due to “unproductivity.” It isn’t an uncommon experience for students to decide to finally take the rest that they need but then to spend said time thinking about all the work they could be doing instead.

Creating a teacher-student culture that encourages students to take charge of their needs could make all the difference. Although there are several professors who are extremely accommodating and willing to offer leeway and extensions by need, many others are notorious for the opposite. Such can be extremely stressful and ultimately counterproductive.

I’m not saying that every deadline should be openended, but zero tolerance policies on late work and absences isn’t likely to produce higher student achievement. Rather, ignoring these requests with no exceptions just means that in addition to extra stress, students are more likely to submit subpar work, prioritizing getting it in on time over quality, which would have been the result of a little more leniency.

Some possible ways to accommodate these issues could be allowing a predetermined number of extensions and not assigning multiple large assignments per class over a singular weekend.

Kill your guilty pleasures

little cousin. I have an active K-pop stan account. I prefer several “Glee” covers over the original classics, and I don’t mind Will Schuester’s raps.

I am an English major who almost exclusively reads trashy romance novels, and I will admit to enjoying a Wattpad story from time to time.

Cringe. It’s something more

GRAPHIC BY HN HOFFMANN

than second-hand embarrassment, because it isn’t quite so subjective. Cringe is ubiquitous — an ongoing, curated list of things that we stamp with a label of being embarrassing to enjoy. And as the first generation to broadcast our childhoods to the world, we’re also the first generation to contend with this stretchy new layer of shame that extends over every action. The things we genuinely enjoy turn into guilty pleasures rather than hobbies.

Don’t get me wrong: Cringe can be useful. There’s a line between harmless enjoyment and harmful enjoyment.

Sometimes we all need a good dose of shame to offer perspective on our behavior. I have no qualms about side-eyeing you for letting your love of anime convince you it’s okay to speak over Japanese people about their own culture, nor will I refrain from criticizing you for

allowing your love of Fortnite to cause you to defend your favorite Fortnite creator for saying a slur.

Furthermore, I’m not a saint. I’ll be honest: I think some things are weird.

Disney adults. People who stan companies. People who stan Jimmy Fallon. I’m not suggesting we abandon our opinions of taste, because I’m certainly not willing to get rid of mine. But making fun of someone for enjoying a harmless thing sucks so much more than being curious and kind about the things others enjoy. Let your friend who only listens to J-pop have the aux cord; actually listen when your cousin opens up about the reason why he loves Sonic the Hedgehog, especially if they’re embarrassed about it.

Think about how you’d want someone to treat your most cringe-inducing middle school guilty pleasure, and keep that

in mind when you dig into your superiority complex to tell us all how embarrassing it is to enjoy “Steven Universe.”

What we shame each other for is also coded — usually things enjoyed by children or associated with women. Any female-presenting person who has ever had a Beiber phase, or a One Direction phase, or been a little too fond of horses knows this well. My father sustained an addiction to “Real Housewives of Atlanta” (that spanned several years) in stoney silence, and even if you asked him now, he’d never admit it. Our opinions aren’t formed in a vacuum; there’s something apart from pure differences in taste that predisposes us to mock certain hobbies over others. Maybe it’s worth considering whether your innermost biases are rearing themselves in your long-standing hatred of BTS. This isn’t a “let people

Wellness days could also be reinstated long term, with the two typically allotted absences accompanied by an additional mandatory two wellness days to be used throughout the semester as students see fit. This could also denormalize toxic ideas within student cultures about what a productive day can look like, doing away with the idea that sacrificing one’s health to complete projects, assignments, etc. without rest or a break equates to being a better student. By allowing ourselves and each other to actually prioritize our mental wellbeing, we’d make room for greater achievements in our personal lives and academic successes.

enjoy things” take. Criticize all you like. But a conversation criticizing a thing is very different from a conversation that demoralizes the person who enjoys it. It’s possible to create a space wherein people feel comfortable sharing their joys with you, even if they know you won’t get it.

As fun as edge is, it’s kind of depressing that our first response when seeing someone genuinely enjoy something is to forefront our own internalized embarrassment. Maybe you think it’s cringey that your cousin has seven different Minecraft T-shirts, but why deny her that feeling she gets when she logs in to a new world or installs a new mod?

Kill your guilty pleasures.

Or, kill the guilt you feel when you enjoy them. We should take every opportunity to be as unabashedly genuine as our latent cynicism allows us to be.

YOUR VOICE: SUBMISSIONS

OUR VOICE: EDITORIAL BOARD Staff editorials reflect the opinion of a majority of editorial board members. The editorial board operates independently of our newsroom and includes members of the senior staff.

Senior Scene Editor: Olivia Poolos Senior Copy Editors: Grady Nance, Jordan

Editor-in-Chief: Matthew Friedman Managing Editors: Jayla Butler, Isabella

Jordan Coley

Neubauer

Spence

Senior Forum Editors: Reilly Brady, Jamila

Senior Multimedia Editors: HN Hoffmann,

Dawkins

Jaden Satenstein

Coley

Senior Sports Editor: Grady Nance Senior Cadenza Editors: Gracie Hime, Senior Social Media Editor: Sabrina

We welcome letters to the editor and opinion submissions from our readers. Submissions may be sent to forum@studlife.com and must include the writer’s name, class and email or phone number for verification. We reserve the

right to print any submission as a letter or opinion submission. Any submission chosen for publication does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Student Life, nor does publication mean Student Life supports said submission.

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8 STUDENT LIFE

JULIA ROBBINS & OLIVIA POOLOS | SENIOR SCENE EDITORS | SCENE@STUDLIFE.COM

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

‘Millions Like Us’: The making of a documentary capturing the international student pandemic experience MERRY MAY MA CONTRIBUTING WRITER When the pandemic initially hit St. Louis back in March 2020, I was a sophomore staying on campus over spring break. I was having brunch with my friend Sarah, talking about my movie-making plan. On March 11, we received an email saying that no one who travelled outside of St. Louis could return to campus. So in a few days, the Village House where I lived became very empty.

In the first few days of quarantine, I felt like I was living inside a surrealist disaster movie. I stressed that I had not stored enough food for me to cook and pondered whether or not to wear a mask. I was scared that my immune system was weak, and every time I felt something grumbling inside, I thought I was infected.

Hundreds and thousands of pieces of information bombarded me every time I went online, and my family members and friends back home in China worried about me — they were maybe even more panicked than I was.

“Drink water every 15 minutes,” they said. “Wash your hands, and wipe the surfaces around you with 75%

or above alcohol wipes.”

“Do you have enough vitamin C to take?” they asked.

“Enough N95 masks and rubber gloves?”

“Don’t go out and meet people, will you?” they urged. “Just stay inside. I know you know how to be happy alone.”

For me, being happy alone depended on how much control I had over my academic and personal life. Our in-person classes terminated, and we switched to zoom classes.

My screenwriting professor struggled to manage a new technology he hadn’t yet encountered. My “Making Movies” class couldn’t make our second film, so we planned to edit someone else’s footage instead. My eyes become sore easily, staring at a screen all the time.

With few people around in the residential hall where I lived, in-person socializing became more difficult and risky. I would spend the whole day studying, cooking two or three simple meals, editing my films, reading, listening to music and daydreaming. A lack of human interaction made me feel isolated. The distance between my table and bed was so short that I gradually lost the motivation to get up every morning.

When I talked to my family and friends, albeit virtually, the feeling of loneliness dimmed. While seeing each other through screens, I could still feel our pumping hearts and the bright smiles that radiated our love for each other. I learned that it was especially vital to establish a daily routine while still finding joy and purpose in the things I did. I had an unprecedented amount of free time, so I could focus on doing things that matter to me. Riding my bike while listening to music or audiobooks, watching movies on my computer screen alone or hosting a virtual watch party, shooting and editing my movies and painting in nature were the top three things I did throughout 2020.

Having more time also allowed me to attend to tiny but beautiful moments around me. One day in April 2020, I took a look outside my window in the middle of a Zoom class.

What I saw was a small crabapple tree, full of burgeoning pink blossoms. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Beautiful because of the coming spring; breathtaking because of my ignorance of its bloom. Another day, I sat in one of the green armchairs in the empty lawn outside

my residential hall to read.

I saw a fresh and immense expanse of green reflecting glistening sunlight. I remembered thinking that I might be physically restricted but my mind was free to travel to any edge of the world.

Throughout the pandemic, as a student filmmaker and a Chinese international student, I hoped to make a documentary that would offer relatable experiences and perspectives to people about what it actually felt like to experience social isolation, negative news, strict flight policies, the threat of xenophobia and emotional turmoil, as well as provide some pragmatic methods to address these challenges.

Taking the class “Making Documentaries in the Time of Covid” in spring 2021 gave me a chance to turn “my” pandemic story into “our” pandemic stories.

The idea of “Millions Like Us” began in February 2021 when my friend Sarah and I established the Mood Psychology Club on campus.

We believed that making documentaries about the mental health issues of Chinese international students would be a good start.

So I interviewed students and faculty members in person and on Zoom from

NINA BERGMAN | STUDENT LIFE

Senior Merry May Ma (left) coped with pandemic isolation by capturing the international student experience in documentary form.

March 2020 to May 2021, edited the film in June and revised it eight times until it was polished in mid-August.

Creating “Millions Like Us” has been a pleasant and rewarding journey. Hearing about my peers’ experiences and stories during the pandemic pulled me away from the “self-quarantine” confines of my own dorm and connected me with other Chinese international students who shared the journey with me. Now “Millions Like Us” is on the school’s CampusWell website and in the Office of International Student and Scholars’ newsletter. I am inspired whenever a viewer tells me that the film “reminds [them] of how beautiful these micromoments can be!”

Editing “Millions Like Us” became a major reason for me to get out of my bed every morning. Most importantly, I discovered a higher pleasure and purpose by “seeing more, hearing more and feeling more” as American filmmaker Susan Sontag once said.

Throughout the journey, my eyes became sharper in a good way. I trained myself to be more mindful and appreciative of my surroundings than ever before — the dancing sunshine and leaves, the fresh grass, the cottonlike clouds. I realized that it was the micro elements that made people feel grounded, hopeful, joyful and helped them to continue with their lives.

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