November 14, 2024 Student Life newspaper, WashU St. Louis by WashUStudentLife

that match will play against either the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse or Simpson College on Nov. 17 at 7:00 p.m.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, the No. 1 WashU women’s soccer team traveled to Chicago to take on the University of Chicago in the Bears’ final regular-season match. The Bears left Chicago with a 1-1 draw, but more importantly, an unbeaten record — a feat that the team last achieved in 2018.

“It’s something we’re proud of,” senior Meryl McKenna said about the team’s regular-season record. “It’s not necessarily something we … always expected, thinking back to preseason. But we always take it one game at a time, and I think that mentality helped us get there.”

The Bears — who are backto-back University Athletic Association (UAA) champions and who outscored opponents 63-6 in the regular season — will host a regional in the first two rounds of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

In the first round, WashU will face a familiar foe — DePauw University — in a new environment. WashU defeated DePauw 4-0 in mid-September as part of the Bears’ pre-conference campaign, and WashU will face DePauw again at Francis Field on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 5:30 p.m. The winner of

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this weekend’s matchups:

How did WashU get here?

After one of WashU’s most dominant regular seasons in recent history in 2023 — where the Bears shut out opponents through their first 15 games — expectations were high for the team, who entered the season ranked second in D-III.

Just five minutes into the 2024 season, the Bears did something that they didn’t do for nearly 1,400 minutes in 2023. They gave up a goal in their season opener against Trine University. However, WashU responded with eight straight goals for their largest season-opening victory in 11 years.

The Bears dominated their non-conference season, not giving up a single goal after their third match — a 3-0 victory against Westminster College (MO). They outscored nonconference opponents 53-3, and recorded just one draw with Calvin University on Sept. 23.

The Bears’ biggest test came in late October, when they faced

attended NAP for the past two years.

The second annual Night at the Pageant (NAP) — starring rap duo EARTHGANG and pop singer Bryce Vine — had a lower student turnout than last year’s concert, despite a $25,000 increase in the talent budget, with a total budget of $100,000. The concert happened last Friday, Nov 8.

Senior Abby Sode, Vice President of Programming at Student Union (SU), said that the Social Programming Board (SPB) was happy with the attendance, though it was lower than projected. The SPB did not provide Student Life with an exact number or estimate of attendees.

“For this being the second time we have held NAP, we are pretty pleased with the turnout, especially on a busy Friday night,” Sode wrote in an email to Student Life.

Sophomore Isaac Trommer has

“I still had fun, but I know other people that said they felt it was almost uncomfortable how few people there were,” Trommer said. “I felt bad for the artist, because why would you want to pull up to a concert and [perform] to 200, maybe not even 200, people?”

Last year, NAP was piloted as a reimagined version of fall Walk in Lay Down (WILD), a concert that WashU used to hold once per semester, but that is now only offered in the spring.

Senior Juan Sanchez, SPB Concert Chair, explained that the budget increase allowed them to bring co-headlining acts in an effort to increase student engagement, whereas last year there was just one main performer.

“We believed that instead of doing one headliner and a smaller opener, two headliners could appeal to a wider audience from different genres,” he wrote.

He added that, unlike past WILDs and last year’s NAP, students were not surveyed about who they would want to see perform, instead opting to use a middle agent to find artists within budget. According to Sode, SPB is considering going back to using a survey to pick next year’s NAP headliner, but no decision has been made yet.

The SPB did not turn down any undergraduate students who waited in line for tickets. Sode said the ticketing process was smoother this year— tickets were distributed in-person at the Danforth University Center (DUC) on a first-come, first-serve basis, rather than through an online lottery system like the year before.

“The only students we turned down were graduate students, as they do not pay the undergraduate student activities fee,” Sode wrote.

In their email prior to the concert, SPB had suggested that standby tickets at the door may be

limited depending on the capacity of the venue. However, due to low attendance and leftover tickets, they were able to accommodate students who showed up to the Pageant the day of the concert.

Trommer said that he liked this year’s headliners, even though he knew only a couple of the songs.

He noted that this was the same experience he had last year, with indie-pop band Saint Motel.

Senior Vivien Marmerstein attended a WashU-sponsored concert for the first time at NAP.

She echoed Trommer’s sentiments about low attendance, but agreed that it was an enjoyable experience.

“I find events like this typically pretty overwhelming, so it’s not something that I generally enjoy,” Marmerstein said. “So in some ways it really worked out, because there weren’t that many people there so it was a lot less overwhelming than I think NAP would have been otherwise.”

Both Trommer and

Marmerstein said that they hope that the SPB publicizes NAP more in advance to increase attendance.

Trommer said that he didn’t know ticketing was happening until he walked into the DUC on Wednesday, Nov. 6 and saw the line. He said that while the process of getting a ticket was easier this year, last year, he felt that more people knew ticketing was happening.

Marmerstein said that the timing of ticketing made it difficult for some people she knew to get tickets because they were in class during all of the times SPB was distributing them.

“I didn’t mind that there weren’t that many people there, but obviously, our student funds are going into this event,” she said. “So it would be great if there was actually a full crowd of students there. So I feel like [SPB should publicize] it better and [give] more times for people to pick up tickets.”

then-No. 3 Carnegie Mellon University and Case Western Reserve University, two of the best teams in the University

Athletic Association (UAA). WashU passed the test with flying colors, defeating Carnegie 3-0 and Case 3-1.

The Bears celebrate a goal during a win over UAA rival Carnegie Mellon.

BRI NITSBERG | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

Mold mayhem: Mold in South 40 dorms continues to plague students

some people experience no negative effects.

Ian Scholes was excited to finally move into his WashU housing for his first year of college after a long summer of dealing with mold in his house. But when he stepped into his suite in Dauten, Scholes and his family immediately recognized the smell of mildew and saw signs of mold.

“The minute I moved in, my mom and dad, they said, ‘Oh yeah, there’s mold in this grate,’ and then we looked in the shower, and there was mold in the shower,” he said.

Scholes, who is currently a sophomore, was one of many students who spoke to Student Life about their experience living with mold in their WashU dorm. Before Scholes came to WashU, his family had dealt with health issues related to the mold in their home. Scholes experienced nosebleeds and headaches, and his brother developed a debilitating health condition.

“My sister and I, we both got bloody noses. It depends on the person in my family,” Scholes said. “My brother [was] completely debilitated. One of my sisters, she fell asleep constantly because of it.”

Mold consultant Ian St. John — founder and president of St. John Environmental Consulting, a company that performs mold, asbestos, and lead testing — emphasized that living with mold varies from person to person, and that

“Everybody’s different when it comes to the health effects [of mold],” St. John said. “It’s like allergies; some people have them and some don’t.”

After living in his suite in Dauten for a few months, Scholes began to experience the same symptoms, like headaches and nosebleeds, that he had while living at home. He contacted his Residential College Director (RCD), who offered Scholes another room. But that room also smelled like mildew to him.

“The only other room [available] was also in a traditional [dorm], and it was just as bad, so I didn’t end up changing, because that would have cost me some money,” Scholes said.

Residential Life did not respond to multiple requests for comment or interview. Additionally, when asked for comment, multiple current and former Residential Advisors (RAs) said that they had been instructed by their RCDs to not speak or provide statements to Student Life about anything related to their job as RAs.

Scholes continued to live in Dauten, and requested that maintenance remove the mold from his room.

“They replaced the HVAC system in my room, specifically — not the whole suite, but my room,” Scholes said. “I don’t think the mold in the shower or the grate was ever cleaned up.”

Maintenance told Scholes that they performed an air test after replacing the HVAC system and that the

room was cleared of mold by the air test. Scholes believed that mold was still present in the ducts and requested that ResLife perform an Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) dust test or an equivalent test.

The ERMI dust test was developed by the EPA to help researchers categorize the types of mold present in a home and assess their risk. Scholes’ parents previously performed the same test on their house, which showed high levels of mold. The EPA does not recommend using the ERMI test for routine mold testing of a property.

Scholes was told by ResLife that the room was safe to live in because of the air-test results and that ResLife would not do another type of test. He asked his RCD what company or brand the air test was from, and his RCD did not know. Scholes says they did not find out for him.

Because the federal government does not have any regulations for mold, it is important that air test samples are sent to legitimate testing companies that are independent from the organization that collected the sample.

According to St. John, air tests are the most accurate type of test because they collect air samples on the same day from both inside and outside of the building and compare the number of spores in the samples.

“The government does not mandate mold [testing], because mold is naturally occurring, and it’s constantly changing,” St. John

said. “[Mold tests] are as accurate as the person reading them … Air testing is the most accurate, because you have a baseline.”

Scholes said that after the HVAC was replaced, the mildew smell was better and that he no longer experienced nosebleeds and headaches. However, he continued to worry that the issue was not resolved internally and that the mold would return.

This is because he also observed, at the beginning of the year, a circle of black-colored mold on a water-damaged ceiling tile in a basement room in Dauten — the only study room in the building.

“They replaced that tile [that had] the water damage and mold with another one, but within a week, it was back, and so they just blocked off the study room from then on out,” Scholes said. “I think there’s just a bunch of internal infrastructure problems.”

The study room in Dauten has been closed since September of last year and continues to be closed as of the date of publication of this article.

Similarly, shortly after moving into her room on the third floor of Rutledge last year, current sophomore Ella Rodriguez visited the hallway connecting all of the fourth-floor suites, and she observed black-colored mold on the walls and pipes of the hallway.

The same day, Rodriguez’s RAs sent a Microsoft Teams message to all Rutledge residents saying that the emergency maintenance team was

handling the “black mold.”

The RAs told the students to keep their suite doors and the stairwell doors closed because that part of the building was not air-conditioned, and keeping them closed would help with the mold removal.

St. John explained that mold can come in all shapes and colors. He added, that when people see mold that is black in color, they often believe that it is black mold, officially known as “stachybotrys,” one of the most dangerous types of mold. According to St. John, unless swab or tape lift testing is performed on the mold, it is not possible to say if it is black mold or another type of mold.

“I get a lot of people that say, ‘Oh, I see black mold,’ but usually, it’s not black

mold.”

Rodriguez said that her RAs messaged the Rutledge residents to say that if they have further issues with mold, they should fill out a maintenance request form to get it resolved. This year, first-year Grace Philip encountered mold on her air conditioner’s metal grate in Lee on the morning of Sept. 22. She reported the issue to Residential Life, and maintenance promptly cleaned and replaced parts of the AC unit.

Through Student Lenses

“Discrimination is a cancer”: Transgender advocates discuss hope, fighting for rights

Transgender rights activists and fiancées, Rep. Zooey Zephyr and Erin Reed, spoke to around 200 WashU students and visitors on Thursday, Nov. 7. They discussed their relationship, the state of transgender rights in America, how transgender rights are connected to other social issues, and how to

find hope in dark times.

Zephyr is a Montana State Representative who garnered national attention last year when she was censured by the Montana State Legislature after speaking forcefully against a bill that banned gender-affirming care for minors. Erin Reed is a journalist and activist who runs a Substack, titled Erin In The Morning, about transgender legislation and

her life as a transgender woman, as well as a TikTok account with nearly 500,000 followers.

The two spoke in Hillman Hall as part of the annual Masters and Johnson lecture, which honors the late WashU researchers who were pioneers in the field of human sexuality. The talk was hosted by the Brown School as part of the WashU Assembly Series

and moderated by Paz Galupo, the Audre Lorde Distinguished Professor of Sexual Health & Education.

Notably, Erin Reed has publicly critiqued Jamie Reed (no relation), a former case manager at the Washington University Transgender Center (WUTC). Jamie Reed started a national controversy in 2023 when she publicly alleged that WUTC was providing genderaffirming healthcare to minors without proper consideration of their complex mental issues, in some cases, resulting in lasting harmful side effects.

In response, WashU launched an investigation

that concluded Jamie Reed’s allegations were “unsubstantiated.” However, Missouri’s attorney general also launched an independent investigation, and the New York Times looked into the validity of Jamie Reed’s claims. Missouri has since banned gender-affirming care for minors, which forced WUTC to stop providing such care.

In light of laws like the one passed in Missouri, Zephyr spoke about how she feels banning transgender care is a stepping stone to removing healthcare in other places.

“In North Carolina in 2016, they said, ‘Where can we get a foot in the door?’

And they targeted trans athletes,” Zephyr said. “They are trying to prime you to accept that it is okay for the government to withhold access to health care for a particular population, whether that is trans people, whether that is inmates.” Erin Reed felt similarly that allowing such laws is a slippery slope.

Journalist Erin Reed (left) and Montana State Representative Zooey Zephyr (right) talked about how transgender rights are under attack in America.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SID HASTINGS

Courtesy of Ella Rodriguez

Courtesy of Grace Philip Courtesy of Ian Scholes

Read the rest online! Read the rest online!

Rutledge Hall

Lee Hall Dauten Hall

SCENE

Dear Scene,

“I failed my first two chem quizzes and absolutely bombed my calculus test. I don’t know what to do! I used to be such a good test-taker, and school came easily to me. Now, the imposter syndrome is taking over, and I feel like I’m going to fail at everything.”

Midterms. A rite of passage that, for some reason, we go through for months at a time. Even the most prepared student will fall prey to a tricky quiz or a challenging exam.

Ask your RAs, WUSAs, any upperclassmen, and even your professors — every person at this school has failed at something at some point in their lives.

So, repeat after me: “I am not an imposter. I am capable, intelligent, and good at (add in something you are good at).”

Now, here are three simple steps to get back on your feet after an awful exam:

Step 1: Did you try your best?

It’s trite and repetitive, but it’s true: All you can do is your best. I have walked out of many exams where I felt awful and like an imposter. But after I took a breath, I realized I did the best that I could in the moment, and that was more

than enough. If you feel like you didn’t try your best, or if you feel like your best could be better, look at what you did leading up to the exam. If you weren’t well-fed, well-rested, or well-taken-care-of in any capacity, it’s hard to be set up to succeed.

Step 2: Prepare. Once you’ve processed the exam and are feeling better, it’s time to start looking at how to improve for the next. Look back at if you studied effectively. If you feel like you didn’t, then I suggest the following:

First, where you study is important. Here are a few student favorites if you’re looking for inspiration: the East Asian Library, the Lopata Great Hall balcony, a Bear’s Den booth (exclusively past 9 p.m.), and basically any floor of Olin, depending on your needs. It might take some trial and error, so be willing to move around until you find a spot

-Frustrated First-Year

that really works for you.

Second, think strategically about who you study with. Try reaching out to the group of randos you sit by in lecture, and set up a study time. There are also days where you just have to walk the lonely road and set off on an hours-long study session alone. Some people work best when they are on their own — maybe that’s you, and you don’t even know it yet.

Finally, assess the working conditions. I need to have the AC at a crisp 70, my left Airpod playing video-game soundtracks, and water nearby before I can even think about approaching calculus homework. Figuring out what conditions you need for locking in is vital. Figure out what makes your brain click, because that will set you up for a solid study session.

Step 3: Make the most of your resources.

You are not on your own. There are a ton of resources on

campus for you to take advantage of, from Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) to Matched Academic Mentoring (MAM). And, as every syllabus and TA will remind you, office hours are a good way to both get some of your pressing questions answered and to meet your professors. I learn better from people that I’ve gotten to know. And your professor might have a key bit of knowledge that helps a tricky topic click.

Other resources, like the Learning Center, can help you figure out what additional resources are available for your classes and help you learn proper study techniques leading up to exams. Some classes host exam review sessions, so take advantage of them and ask questions. Even if you haven’t worked up the courage to ask a question yourself, someone else might ask a question that clears something up for you.

Step 4 (the secret one):

The Wicked and Evil meter

This is my personal last step.

I ask myself: Was that one question I got stuck on wicked and evil?

The answer might be “Yes,” and if you hear other people talking about the question after the exam, it’s definitely “Yes.” There is no amount of preparation that can prepare you for a question like that. And that’s a reality we have to deal with.

So, don’t let a wicked and evil question get to you. Give yourself some grace — sometimes questions are simply unfair. What you can do is go back over that question with the answer key and figure out how to approach a wicked and evil question. Learning from your past mistakes is just as valuable as studying new material. And when you are faced with another wicked and evil

African Student Association hosts Africa Week, embracing the freedom, empowerment, and future of Africa

Over 120 students gathered in McMillian Cafe to sample 18 African cultural foods from local St. Louis vendors, Oct. 25. This was double the expected number of attendees.

“We had a really diverse turnout, which showed us that people across WashU’s campus were engaged with Africa week and were able to learn so much about African culture,” said junior Isatou Sey, African Student Association (ASA) Secretary.

As part of ASA’s annual Africa Week, they hosted “Taste of Africa,” an event where students discovered the vibrant flavors of Africa. This event marked the end of Africa Week, a period dedicated to celebrating the diversity of African culture. The theme for this year’s Africa Week was Inkululeko, meaning freedom, empowerment, and the future of Africa.

“Africa Week, as a whole, is just a chance to spend every day celebrating our cultures and the differences between us, and educating the greater WashU community about what it means to be African. It also means debunking

the myth that Africans are a monolith,” Sey said. ASA is a student club where students who identify as African or who want to learn more about the continent and the African diaspora can come together. Africa Week is just one of many events that ASA organizes throughout the year.

From Oct. 21 to Oct. 25, ASA held events each day of the week — including a day to wear cultural attire, a guestspeaker event, a marketplace, and roundtable discussions.

Culture Day marked the first event of Africa Week on Oct. 21. Students dressed up in traditional cultural attire throughout the day. Some examples of traditional clothing worn that day were a Senegalese Bazin dress, an Ethiopian Habesha Kemis, and a Somali dress.

Sophomore Aisha Diop — ASA’s Co-Community Service Chair — wore a Senegalese Bazin dress, a popular formal attire in Senegal that is traditionally worn at special occasions.

“It honestly felt really good, because you feel different and look different than everyone else. Everyone is just wearing sweats or a T-shirt, and I’m wearing something that is

very integrated and prestigious in our culture, so that is really empowering,” Diop said.

Senior Amsatou Mbacke — ASA’s External Publicity Chair — believes that wearing traditional African clothing helped promote the start of Africa Week.

“It just felt really cool to show up to class in my African attire and have professors ask me, ‘Oh, what’s going on?’ and explaining to them what Culture Day is and what the purpose of it is,” Mbacke said.

Guest Speaker Tomi Adeyemi — a NigerianAmerican author best known for the “Children of Blood and Bone” book series — spoke at the second event on Oct. 22. Adeyemi shared her personal story of being first-generation, and the importance of Nigerian excellence, which was impactful for many ASA attendees.

“Adeyemi’s experience resonates with a lot of our members who are first-generation and second-generation immigrants who … had to grapple with dual identities of growing up in America, but also going home and being African, and being able to find a balance between that,” Sey said.

“Taste

necklaces.

“I think it’s amazing to be able to interact with the students and be able to share the experiences. It’s a very diverse market, so it’s not just African students who are here,” White said. Students

As an aspiring mental-health professional, sophomore Titilope Omole — ASA’s Co-Community Service Chair — valued hearing about how Adeyemi defined success and her emphasis on the importance of therapy.

“It was really nice to see that someone that I look up to and can see myself in, struggling with similar things that I struggled with, but also overcoming those struggles and being a better person because of those struggles,” Omole said.

On Oct. 23, ASA invited local Black business owners to sell their products in the

Danforth University Center (DUC) to the WashU community. Students, staff, and faculty were able to learn more about African culture through products like Moroccan traditional clothing, head scarves, and homemade tea.

This year marked the third time Rena White — owner of the local jewelry business Honey and Bananas — participated in WashU’s marketplace event. White continues to support WashU’s ASA after being president of the ASA at her alma mater, Missouri State University. She sells handmade jewelry, including earrings and

Dear Frustrated First-Year,

DAVID WANG | STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

Reinventing the wheel: Mike McHaney juggles more than campus fame

JORDAN SPECTOR

Mike McHaney is a man of many roles. He is a juggler. At the age of 10, he picked up three balls and taught himself the technique for throwing and catching them. For 50 years, he has never found a reason to stop. Not long ago, he became an artist. He started working in his own form of abstraction, where he manipulates and photographs ferrofluid (ferromagnetic particles suspended in oil). He is a handyman, a biker, and a longtime St. Louis local with a love for all the city’s parks and festivals. He is also a popular face at WashU.

For several years, wearing his red St. Louis hat and iconic in-ear headphones, McHaney has zoomed through campus on his motorized unicycle while juggling. Since his presence is so fleeting, however, he is like an urban legend. To many students, he exists only through the testimony of those who swear they saw him passing by. He is talked about with a series of adjectives (“captivating,” “strange,” “fast”). It is possible that students have never before been able to use his name.

McHaney’s prevailing anonymity has been heightened by the fact that he is not affiliated with WashU. While his

consistent appearance has earned him a reputation here, WashU’s campus is only one stretch of his ride.

He lives 10 miles away and has racked up incredible mileage on his Onewheel.

“In about four-anda-half years, I’ve done 12-and-a-half thousand miles,” he said. “I get out as often as I can.”

McHaney and I talked on the South 40 stairs leading up to Bear Necessities. A little out of breath, I admitted that I had been trying to get to him for half a mile, starting at Olin Library. He didn’t recognize the name Olin Library, and I quickly realized why I had been able to catch up: While he was 30 miles per hour faster than me, as a senior at this school, I was well-trained in optimizing paths to get to class in a hurry. I had a stronger sense of the terrain.

After he was caught, the interview became a public affair. “He stopped the guy,” a student nearby commented to his friend. Another student interrupted to ask for a selfie.

“I’m like, a little famous,” McHaney said with a smile, enjoying what was likely his first chance to talk to a couple of fans.

McHaney does not mind the attention, nor does he mind when people watch and take pictures of him riding. “I’ll come over and perform for you, if you unofficially, completed a world record. He told me

PUZZLE PUZZLE Mania

dropping it. I’d set the world record on this for juggling and riding, but I

Just because he isn’t caught up in competition, though, doesn’t mean he hasn’t faced other

“My worst accident was right over at the football field … I had just changed the tire, was kind of on a test ride, and just came off it and ate it. But it was amazing because I barely got up and I’m bleeding and everything, and all of a sudden the EMT guys that are going to school here — I guess they’re right there for the football team, so they were out there — they’re patching me up. I’m like, ‘Oh, this

Why does he get back up and continue to go out as often as he does, riding and juggling simul -

In talking to him, I could see that he has a true love for his unique sport — all the equipment required of it, the entertainment it brings to others, the feeling of the wind brushing past him while “dodging squirrels and dogs, people and bikes.” McHaney is happy to talk about the right shoes to wear and the best shops to go to for anyone interested in getting their own Onewheel. (He recommends Alien Rides.) Giddy about his gear, showing me how he can go just as fast backward as he can forward, he said, “After a while, I feel like a cyberman or something, and when you get on a nice piece of asphalt, you’re just like, chilling.” Now, McHaney is no longer a mystery to me, but he will no doubt continue being a source of wonder and inspiration to the WashU community. His go-with-the-flow, youthful, curious, and daring personality is one we can all look up to.

“I’m 60. If I can do it—” He gestured into the air, inviting me to fill in the end of his sentence and imagine what could be.

The answer isn’t any more complicated exercise and mental health. “People are like, ‘Oh, that’s not exercise.’ I’m like—” He pointed to his abdomen, suggesting the core workout required of balancing on the Onewheel as he twists and turns through sidewalks and roads.

SPONSORED BY:

FORUM

The price of superiority: How the Left’s rhetoric drives voters to Trump

DAVID CIORBA

JUNIOR FORUM EDITOR

After the announcement of President-Elect Donald Trump’s sweeping victory in the 2024 presidential election, Vice-President Kamala Harris’ Instagram account shared a striking image of her at a podium in a darkened arena. She is surrounded by hundreds of faint lights held by her supporters. Accompanying the image, Harris writes, “There is an adage: Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time. For the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case. But, America, if it is: Let us fill the sky with the light of a billion brilliant stars.” At first glance, this post seems to be a powerful message of resilience and hope. However, I find Harris’s use of light and dark troubling. Darkness commonly symbolizes ugliness, ignorance, and evil. The implicit message here frames Trump supporters as dwelling in “darkness,” suggesting ignorance or moral inadequacy. Meanwhile, Harris’ supporters are cast as “lights,” implying a virtuous,

enlightened stance. Such language risks reducing complex political differences to simplistic moral judgments. This rhetoric is not uncommon among the Left. Even after the presidential race has ended, Trump is continuously barraged not for his policy, or lack thereof, but for his personal life and beliefs. By placing a focus on demeaning the very character of the head of the Republican party, the Left places itself as morally and intellectually superior. Instead of attempting to engage with those of opposing beliefs, it deems its political counterparts to be morally bad, irredeemable, and in need of vilification. In the meantime, the Left bestows political righteousness and an exonerated conscience upon each of its members, regardless of whether or not they know anything about politics. Recently, the Left has moved on from targeting the personal beliefs and actions of politicians to criticizing the everyday voter. By continuously policing and condemning others’ behavior based on their moral views, the Left pushes away the very base it claims to support.

Consider former president

Obama’s admonition of Black men who were contemplating voting for Trump. The former president addressed Black men directly, saying, “Part of it makes me think that you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that.”

As Obama “persuades” these men to vote for the Democratic Party, he shames them and accuses them of misogyny. In doing so, Black men who consider an alternative candidate become part of the ignorant, the “darkness.” Their opinion is invalidated and their character criticized. Who wants to support a party that thinks it is better than you? Indeed, twice as many Black men between the ages of 25 and 44 voted for Trump in the 2024 election compared to that in 2020.

Very few are safe from the Left’s moral high ground, and monitoring a person’s vote is only one way that the Left polices its members. One’s everyday language, interactions, and relationships are under constant scrutiny within an increasingly narrowing ideological frame.

Keeping up with the Left’s

cultural and ideological expectations requires both time and access to education — resources not readily available to everyone. It is the privileged individuals who continue to develop the Left’s “rules,” even if their “ethical” codes are disconnected from those they are meant to benefit (e.g. the politically correct term “Latinx”). This emphasis on understanding and adhering to the Left’s ideological framework favors those with greater privilege while isolating the working-class Americans to whom this knowledge is often inaccessible.

One need only glance at the Democratic Party’s current base: urban centers and college towns. These epicenters of education and affluence create echo chambers, reinforcing progressive ideologies that feel disconnected from the day-today experiences of rural and working-class communities.

As a sophomore at WashU and an editor for StudLife, I find myself a member of the very communities I critique. Although I am sympathetic to the incredibly real implications of a Trump presidency and understand the emotional gravity of this situation, I was struck by the

Post-crashout clarity

I can’t really pinpoint the specific moment at which I started to crack; I already came into the semester severely homesick — I had been dealing with bouts of derealization because of my new sense of displacement — so I guess you could say that I started on the wrong foot. The details are not too important, but just know that I wanted to die. Not in the way that we usually say that we do, with the desire of a momentary escape, a minute of relief. I wanted to die in the way that I wanted to in high school, plagued with disillusionment, with the battle against a taunting ambivalence toward staying alive.

Of course, I wasn’t the only person who wanted to die in the traditional way, the permanent way. WashU — life, more like it— is stressful, sometimes unnecessarily so. We as students recognize this fact, but I argue that we don’t properly approach it.

shock and outrage many students expressed in response to the election results. Many pointed fingers at the marginalized communities that they believed should have voted Democratic — based purely on identity, not policy. Across campus, I heard professors and students alike voicing disbelief at the idea that anyone could vote for someone as amoral as Trump.

In the meantime, throughout these last two years, I’ve witnessed students walk out of group meetings and classes after being shamed for their nonliberal political beliefs. I’ve met others who were forced to transfer from elite institutions like NYU, having been ostracized for their “unprincipled” views.

It is this exact shaming that drives many Americans toward the MAGA movement.

Over these last eight years and beyond, Donald Trump has performed countless absurdly hateful actions. However, he is proudly unremorseful. Under this unapologetic rhetoric, many Americans find a sense of liberation from the moral scrutiny that often reigns in elite educational institutions.

conversation that we treat as a sort of bonding activity. It’s a way to feel less alone.

But, in this practice, we reach a sort of stillness. We talk about our procrastination, our pile of late assignments, our crashout in the restroom, our pile of upcoming assignments, our second crashout in the restroom, our 8:45 crashout, our crashout to bid the day farewell.

We use and popularize speech that centers our stresses and hardships, but we don’t go any further. We simply say, “Real,” and stomach — more like suppress — our grief. This habit is far from sustainable. It ignores our plights and sets the standard that we should muscle through our problems — which, in some cases, could be as severe as suicidal ideation.

It’s an age-old critique: “All you do is complain, but what are you going to do about it?”

The Democratic Party, the Left, the progressives — whatever you want to call them — must come to terms with the fact that they are no longer the “party of the people.” Though many consider the Republican Party to curate toward the elite, today, it is the Democrats that often appear distanced from the working class, rural communities, and those without access to higher education.

Their underlying message is clear: “Vote for us, because we are better than you. We know what is best for you. We know you better than you know yourself.”

In retrospect, it appears to be no surprise that Trump won the election; the Democratic Party has become steeped in purist and elitist ideology. Even though both parties are arguably targeted toward the elite in some fashion, it is clear which has engaged the average American and which has pushed them away. If the Left seeks meaningful change, it must first confront its own sense of superiority. By setting aside their moral posturing, the Left has the opportunity to forge a coalition built on invitation rather than exclusion.

into your day? When can you squeeze in breaks and naps? Are you open to seeing a therapist? What the hell are you even grateful for?

It seems rudimentary to have to ponder over things like this, but it’s imperative that as students, we understand solutions as much as we understand our problems. Resources for mental health support:

Behavioral Health Response (BHR) is a Missouri organization that provides crisis support, telephone counseling and mental health resources. They can be reached 24/7 at 1-800811-4760.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free and confidential support 24/7. They can be reached at 1-800-273-8255 or online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/.

But we as students genuinely have to start asking ourselves about how we can make things easier for ourselves — and I mean beyond the typical breaking your work into chunks.

The Trevor Project, a suicide preventation organization for LGBTQIA+ individuals, can be reached by calling 1-866-488-7386, texting START to 678-678 or online Editor’s

First

It doesn’t take much for a WashU student to tell you about their academic stresses. I learned this during my depressive episode, when I had become even more enthused to discuss mental health than I usually am. We discuss our “crash-outs” with the matter-of-factness one has when describing the weather. It's a common, candid

Second Place: How I feel having “All I want for Christmas is You” as my top listened song of November Charlie Fioriglio, Current WashU Student

Third Place: What the f—k does the fox say? Frankie Lynch, Current WashU Student

The Steve Fund, an organization dedicated to the mental health and emotional well-being of students of color, has a 24/7 crisis text line that can be reached by texting STEVE to 741741.

What puts you in the right headspace in the mornings? How can you turn this into a routine? What do you like to do in your spare time? How can you integrate more of this

Scan the QR code to enter your submission by 11:59 p.m. on Monday.

MANUEL LOPEZ | STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

DION HINES | JUNIOR FORUM EDITOR

DAVID CIORBA | JUNIOR FORUM EDITOR

SPORTS

football holds on to beat North Park 28-21 with a last-minute touchdown

In the closing minutes of the WashU football team’s matchup against North Park University, sophomore quarterback Levi Moore found himself scrambling.

The game was tied, and the Bears needed to find some late magic to defeat an upstart Vikings team. Pressured deep into the backfield on a first down try, Moore found senior running back Ken Hamilton open. Hamilton ran 25 yards after the catch for a first down. Two plays later, he ran into the end zone to give WashU the lead with just 48 seconds left. The Bears held that lead, defeating North Park 28-21 on Nov. 9.

In the win, Moore threw for one touchdown and ran for two more. The sophomore has started every game for WashU since an Oct. 19 win against Elmhurst, and he has only looked stronger with more experience.

“I think we all knew what we had with Levi [Moore], and there were flashes of it in his freshman year and earlier this year,” head coach Aaron Keen said after the Bears’ win over Millikin University last week. “He’s been throwing the ball well all year, so it’s great to see him succeed on a game-day Saturday.”

WashU has historically dominated North Park, with its only loss to the Vikings occurring in a 2011 non-conference tilt. Still, North Park had a successful season, recording impressive wins against Augustana College and Carroll University. The Vikings, who finished sixth in the conference last season, have been in the fight for the top of the College

from page 1

With the wins, the Bears showed that they are capable of succeeding despite a quick turnaround, a challenge they will face in the tournament, where games are often played on backto-back days.

One week later, the team traveled to upstate New York, where they defeated No. 15 University of Rochester to be crowned back-to-back UAA Champions and to earn the 17th title in program history.

Who are WashU’s key players?

WashU boasts one of the deepest and most balanced rosters in Division III. Head coach Jim Conlon’s squad typically lines up in a 3-5-2 formation, with three

Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) standings this year. With its win, WashU clinched third place in the CCIW. WashU and North Park traded quick drives to start the game. With 8 minutes and 19 seconds left in the first quarter, the Vikings got possession after forcing a WashU punt. North Park completed a quick pass, but junior Caiden Hill forced the Vikings receiver to fumble. WashU recovered the ball, and after five straight run plays, Moore found the end zone for the game’s first score.

North Park, however, responded on the next drive. The Vikings ran a screen pass, and the North Park receiver evaded the WashU defense for a 64-yard touchdown. Since joining the CCIW in 2018, the Bears

center-backs, a midfield made up of two wingers and three central midfielders, and two strikers.

Junior forwards Grace Ehlert and Ella Koleno — who have combined for 16 goals and six assists this season — typically lead the line to start games, while first-year Olivia Clemons has been a threat off the bench for the Bears. Though Clemons hasn’t started a single match for the Bears, she has scored 17 goals, the most by a WashU player in a single season since 1998. Behind them, seniors Meryl McKenna and Gaelen Clayton run the wings, getting up and down the pitch to give defensive cover and provide width to the Bears’ attack. This season, McKenna has scored five goals, and Clayton has tallied six assists, tied for the most on the team

beat the Vikings by more than three touchdowns in each matchup. This year, though, the new-look North Park squad held its own against the Bears.

“In practice this week, we emphasized that North Park was a team that was going to be very excited to play us,” senior cornerback Zach Ginsburg said. “We didn’t want to overlook them, and Coach Keen made sure we practiced as hard as we could all week.”

Both defenses stood tall for the remainder of the first quarter. To start the second frame, senior receiver Collin Goldberg cracked the Viking defenders on a 39-yard punt return. Moore connected with Goldberg for a 35-yard completion two plays later, and the quarterback ran into the end zone for his

with sophomore midfielder Sophie Viscovich. Viscovich mostly operates as an attacking midfielder, lining up alongside the Bears’ deep roster of center-mids, including junior Kaci Karl, sophomore Jadyn Aling, and firstyears Cami Colpitts and Kate Martin. While the Bears’ midfield often keeps the ball in their attacking half of the pitch, their backline is more than capable of stepping up when needed. Led by graduatestudent goalkeeper Sidney Conner, who returned for a final season after being named a First Team AllAmerican in 2023, WashU has allowed just six goals in 19 matches. Graduate student Ally Hackett — who transferred from the University of North Carolina Greensboro last season — lines up in the center of a back-three, alongside senior Emma

second rushing score of the day. Later in the second, North Park evened the score at 14-14 after a sevenminute drive.

The Bears received the second-half kickoff and immediately drove down the field. After a completion on third-and-11 in the red zone was too short for a first down, Keen elected to go for the fourth down conversion. Moore’s pass was incomplete, but a pass interference call on Goldberg gave WashU a new set of downs. Goldberg caught his next target in the end zone, giving the Bears the lead back in the third.

For most of the fourth quarter, North Park had the ball. The Vikings converted a six-minute drive in the middle of the quarter for a touchdown, tying the game at 21 with just seven

minutes left. The Bears and Vikings traded three-andouts, but WashU was able to break through on their next drive. WashU got the ball with two minutes and 43 seconds left, and Moore immediately connected with Goldberg and graduate student Collin Hoyhtya to set up Hamilton’s big play. North Park was forced to burn its timeouts, and the Bears took the lead on Hamilton’s 12-yard run with 43 seconds left.

With one last chance to win, North Park drove down the field. The Vikings were able to convert three short out-route passes — getting out of bounds each time — but on a deep try with 16 seconds left, Ginsburg leaped for a gameclinching interception.

Ginsburg is one of many WashU players who has

played on both offense and defense this season. A receiver by trade, the senior from Corte Madera, Calif. has played more cornerback than wideout this season.

“We got a lot of injuries when the season started, so Coach Keen talked to me and a few other guys and said he might need us in some other spots,” Ginsburg said. “I just wanted to help out as much as possible, and that meant probably taking more snaps on defense than offense.”

With the victory, WashU has likely earned a spot in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl, a postseason game between the best teams in the CCIW and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) to not make the NCAA tournament. The Bears will play in the Isthmus Bowl as long as No. 23 Wheaton College makes the tournament. On Nov. 23 in Sun Prairie, Wis., WashU will likely face the University of WisconsinWhitewater, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, or the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

The Bears have one more home game remaining, playing host to Augustana College on Nov. 16. WashU lost to Augustana last season for the first time in five matchups against Augustana. Next Saturday, the Bears have the opportunity to get revenge on Augustana and clinch an eight-win season for the ninth time in program history.

“If the Isthmus Bowl is a possibility, that’s exciting. But it’s Augustana this week,” Ginsburg said. “[Augustana] has given us some good games in the past, so I’m sure they’ll come out with their best effort next week.”

Riley McGahan, who was named to an All-UAA First-Teamer last season. Sophomore Regan Cannon and senior Olivia Foster have split time on the other side of the defense.

Who is WashU playing in the NCAA Tournament?

If the Bears — who have an 11-1 all-time record over their first opponent, Depauw — win in the first round, they will advance to face either UW–La Crosse or Simpson. Last season, WashU hosted UW–La Crosse in an Elite Eight thriller, where the Bears prevailed thanks to an equalizer late in extra time by sophomore Julia Moore and a penalty-shootout victory. In 2024, the Eagles won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and would be a tough second-round matchup for WashU.

Simpson enters the tournament with a 14-2-3 record. The team made it to the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Championship, beating Wartburg 1-0 in the semifinals before falling 3-2 to undefeated No. 11 Loras College in the A-R-C Championship. With the draw against Chicago, the Bears wrapped up an unbeaten season and will look to keep their record going into the postseason. However, McKenna noted that despite the Bears’ stellar regular-season record, when tournament play starts, “It’s essentially zero-zero again.”

Sophomore quarterback Levi Moore evades a defender in last week’s home game against Millikin.

SYDNEY STROMINGER | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior Kaci Karl fights for the ball in last season’s playoff win over UW-La Crosse.

BRI NITSBERG | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

No. 4 men’s basketball starts season strong with opening night win

JACOB RITHOLZ STAFF WRITER

It was a strong first game for the No. 4 WashU Bears men’s basketball team. After finishing last season with an NCAA Division III Sweet 16 loss to Trine University, WashU opened the 20242025 season with a decisive 75-53 win at home against Rhodes College.

“First games are typically not Picassos,” head coach Pat Juckem said. “We’ve got some work to do offensively, but I liked how we defended and rebounded.”

The first half saw the Bears shake off some rust, as they shot just 28% from the field, 14% from the 3-point range, and a dismal 45% from the free-throw line. That inefficiency led the Bears to quickly fall behind 10-1 after just a few minutes of play. Credit the Bears’ strong defense and rebounding for keeping the team afloat and allowing them to finish the

half with a five-point lead.

Rebounding and defense was the story for the Bears, as the team out-rebounded Rhodes by 12, including an incredible 19 offensive boards for WashU. Senior forward Drake Kindsvater and junior center Calvin Kapral led all players with 11 rebounds each, but it was senior guard Yogi Oliff who stood out the most with nine rebounds, an incredibly high number for a guard. His rebounding ability allowed the Bears to start the fastbreak more quickly and score 16 points in transition.

“[Oliff] has remarkable instincts,” Juckem said. “He’s always kind of around the ball … we unleashed him more for offensive rebounding. We needed to create more second-chance opportunities, and we made an adjustment. He had some monster games down the stretch last year. When guards rebound the basketball, that’s ideal because now the guys that are best at

pushing the ball in transition already have the ball.”

The Bears ran away with the game in the second half, led by senior guard Hayden Doyle, who hit five 3-pointers in the half. He, along with Kindsvater, led the team with 15 points.

“[It was] a little bit of a slow start, but it’s the first game, [so it’s] not gonna be pretty,” Doyle said. “We liked the shots we were getting. Coach just told us to stay confident. We got out in transition well, and defense led to offense.”

The Bears, as a whole, seemed to shake off the rust coming out of the first half, with a much improved 45% shooting from the field and 44% from the 3-point line. The improved efficiency, along with strong defensive play, culminated in a team performance that matched the squad’s nationally-ranked pedigree.

The second-half blowout allowed the Bears to open

their bench, with five firstyears making their debuts. First-year forward Connor May led the group in playing time and scoring, logging 22 minutes and scoring 14 points. He impressed in his debut and looks to be a part of the rotation going forward.

“We wanna contribute any way we can,” May said. “It was, overall, a great experience; the fans, the court, it was awesome.”

WashU will look to keep up the positive momentum in these early weeks of the season before conference play begins. These opening games are vital to establishing chemistry and helping everyone learn their new roles on the team. The Bears will be back in the Fieldhouse at home next Friday, Nov. 15, against the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Men’s soccer caps season with 2-1 comeback win

The WashU men’s soccer team wrapped up their 2024 season in dramatic fashion, coming from behind to beat the University of Chicago 2-1 last Saturday afternoon at Stagg Field. In their first year under head coach Andrew Bordelon, the Bears demonstrated resilience and grit, finishing on a high note that sets the tone for the future.

The match got off to a rough start for WashU, as UChicago struck just two-and-a-half minutes in, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to take an early 1-0 lead. The Maroons controlled much of the first half, pressuring the Bears with nine shots. However, sophomore goalkeeper Owen Ross delivered a standout performance, making six critical saves to keep WashU within reach. Despite being under siege

for much of the opening 45 minutes, the Bears entered halftime trailing by just one goal, still very much in the contest.

WashU came out of the break determined to flip the script, and in the 63rd minute, they did just that. Junior Zach Susee found first-year Jamie Lee in the box, and Lee buried the equalizer to make it 1-1. The goal not only swung momentum in WashU’s

favor, but also ignited the team’s attacking spirit.

The Bears kept up the pressure, and with just over 10 minutes remaining, they found the breakthrough. Earning only their second corner kick of the match, junior Nathan Szpak delivered a perfect ball into the box. Junior Tyler Allred rose above the UChicago defense and nodded it past the keeper, giving

WashU a 2-1 lead. The goal marked a special moment in a season that had its share of ups and downs, and it showcased the team’s growth under Bordelon’s leadership.

For the final stretch of the game, WashU’s defense held strong. Despite UChicago’s late attempts to find an equalizer, the Bears stood firm, with Ross finishing the match with a career-high

seven saves.

“It was a great win to close the season out on,” Susee said after the game.

“I don’t think we’d even scored a goal on Chicago in my time here before that game, and obviously with our struggles on the road this year, that win is a huge confidence-booster for next season and a great last game for our seniors to go out on, as well.” Susee also reflected on the mixed emotions of the season.

“I think everyone is still a bit disappointed with the overall result of the season, but beating our rivals to end the year makes it a lot more bittersweet, as opposed to just bitter.

Hopefully ending the season with a win becomes a trend for us,” he said.

The Bears conclude the year with an 8-5-3 overall record and a 2-3-2 mark in the ultra-competitive University Athletic Association. While they fell short of an NCAA

tournament berth for the third-straight season, the victory over UChicago highlighted the team’s potential.

WashU will say goodbye to several impactful graduate students — Jesus Tadeo, Cole Hutson, Owen Culver — and seniors Landon Green, Joseph Hipskind, Eugene Heger, and Davin HickmanChow, all of whom have been key figures in the program. At the same time, the Bears are set to return a strong core of players — including Susee, sophomore goalkeeper Owen Ross, Szpak, sophomore defenders Carter Sasser and Quentin Gomez, and first-year forward Jamie Lee — giving Bordelon a solid foundation to build on heading into next year. With the lessons of this season and a memorable final win, the Bears have plenty to look forward to in 2025.