The Starting Line 2023, Student Life at Washington University in St. Louis

Via Poolos Clara Richards Editors-in-Chief editor@studlife.com

Avi Holzman Managing News Editor news@studlife.com

Annabel Shen Managing Scene Editor scene@studlife.com

Reilly Brady Managing Forum Editor forum@studlife.com

Hussein Amuri Managing Sports Editor sports@studlife.com

Ved Patel Managing Chief of Copy

Kellen Wang Head of Design

30

Understanding artificial intelligence

Understand how to use it, not abuse it

38

Packing

Courses

What

43

SOS,

A

How

WashU

Getting

52

55 Staff Bios

Tuesday Hadden Ryan Davis Senior Illustration Editors

James Ellinghaus

Nina Giraldo Senior News Editors

Elle Su

Zoe Oppenheimer Senior Photo Editors photo@studlife.com

Alice Gottesman Senior Scene Editor

Mia Burkholder

Cathay Poulsen Chiefs of Copy

Jared Adelman Managing Multimedia Editor

Sydney Tran Design Editor

Ian Heft Elias Kokinos Riley Herron Sports Editors

Sylvie Richards

Jasmine Stone Senior Forum Editors

Amelia Raden

Jordan Spector Junior Forum Editors

Jamie Nicholson Junior Photo Editor

Zara Shariff

William Labrador Junior Scene Editors

Tim Mellman Newsletter Editor

Sophie Leong Junior Illustration Editor

scene in St. Louis

Meet the staff that puts together Student Life

Lily Taylor Zach Trabitz

Aliana Mediratta Junior News Editors

Brooklyn Hollander

Samantha Elegant

Gracie Hime Copy Editors

Camden Maggard Social Media Editor

Saish Saytal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Editor

Tony Tong Senior Web Editor

Paige Steuber Senior Web Designer

Cover Design

Ryan Davis

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

Sarah Huff Advertising Sales Manager huffs@studlife.com

Copyright © 2023 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.

Note from the editors

Hello, Class of 2027!

As two rising seniors, we’ve spent a lot of time doing trial-and-error here at WashU. We’ve looked for the best study spots on campus. We’ve shopped the course registration listings for the best electives, scrolling through WebSTAC frantically to try to fill one specific hole in our schedule. We know where to find the best carrot cake on campus (our opinion: BD’s Paws and Go, conveniently located on the South 40 campus for your late-night procrastination food runs). We’ve gotten stuck on the other side of campus without a raincoat during the spring thunderstorms that sweep

through campus.

We made mistakes so you don’t have to.

This issue is full of advice for your first year, tips for what to bring, lots of sports previews, and a few roommate horror stories for good luck. Starting Line is a favorite of the Student Life staff — not only because we get to regale you all of tales of “When I was your age…,” but also because we’re excited for you to get to campus. We know you’ve probably been inundated with Facebook introduction pages, packing lists, WashU swag, and endless admissions emails. We know it can be a bit overwhelming. This issue is a cut–to-the-point

guide, and we hope it helps you find your initial footing on campus.

This issue, put together over the summer, is dedicated to the freshman class. Next year, you could help us write it. StudLife is a community of reporters, editors, photographers, designers, illustrators, podcasters, copy editors, newsletter-makers, and ideas people. Our unofficial slogan is “come as you are”; many writers produce weekly content, while others write a monthly article. We write, have meetings, watch basketball games, laze in the office, and eat pizza together, and we’d love for you to join us.

Hit us up at join@studlife. com if you have any questions before arriving on campus. Otherwise, we’ll be attending activities fairs and many of the other first-year events at the beginning of the year. If you’re feeling bored, lost, or have any questions, our office is on the third floor of the DUC, where we spend our Wednesday nights producing the paper. Happy packing!

Cheers, Clara Richards and Via Poolos 2023-24 Student Life Editors-in-Chief

Reflections and advice for Bear Beginnings

Avi Holzman Managing News Editor

Two years later, I still remember my first day at WashU: the humidity and harsh sunlight, the sound of cars honking on Shepley Drive mixed with the chatter of groups of friends on their way to tour each other’s dorm rooms, and the feeling of being completely overwhelmed. Bear Beginnings was simultaneously intense and relaxing. Most days were a fluctuation between chilling in my dorm and turning my social skills up to 11 so that I came across as approachable (but not a loser), fun (but in a cool way), and smart (but not nerdy). People say first impressions are everything — that is the biggest mistake I made

during my Bear Beginnings experience in 2021.

After spending 10 days going from WUSA group meetings to Olin information sessions and other events planned by the school, the whole class gathered in Brookings Quad for Convocation. Sitting in the tiny plastic folding chair meant the world. I was actually here. This was not a dream. My college journey was beginning. We received our coins and listened to a few speakers. The event flew by, at least for me. Afterward, I followed the herd of students into Tisch Park, where there was live music and snacks for us to enjoy. I got to the park at 8:30 p.m. and left at 9:00. I felt like going to bed was the wrong thing to do and that I should

be having fun enjoying the music and the vibes…but I couldn’t do it.

My social battery was spent. I could not bring myself to meet someone new and explain that I do not live in DC but 30 minutes south of the city in Virginia or that I spent my summer working at a sleep-away camp. I just wanted to get to classes and the start of college.

So I called my friend Izzy, who is a year older than me. Her advice remains true: “Avi, you do not have to meet your best friend during orientation, and it is okay if you did not meet your future spouse in the next 10 days.”

During the orientation process, I felt compelled to meet people out of neces -

ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIE LEONG

sity, not out of want. The social desire to feel included and part of a group is deafening during this time, but you are the one in control of your life. If you want to go to bed early, do it. If the result is that people think of you as a nerd, so what? Trust me, everyone is as much in their own heads as you are in yours.

When classes start, the social dynamic almost entirely changes. All of a sudden, the upperclassmen are on campus going about their business, being sure of themselves. The first impressions that initially felt so important are dwarfed by the blur of classes, clubs, and the larger WashU social scene.

The key to a successful orientation is to remember that it is your experience. Yes, you will have to attend mandatory events, floor meetings, WUSA things, and they may be boring. But during the in-between time — the downtime — do what you want to do. Go for a walk in Forest Park, listen to a podcast, find a tree to sit under, and read a book. If you want to meet people, do that too. Spend time touring other people’s dorms and making those first impressions (they can be significant, but they shouldn’t feel all-consuming).

You may feel compelled to connect with people, go out, or secure an invitation to a dorm party, but remember that no matter what, you will meet people. Only a few people are going to find their best friends before classes start. Bear Beginnings is the start of your college journey, and as

a WashU student, you are curious by nature, hardworking, and passionate about something.

Rely on those skills in the classroom, but also during social interactions. Seek out the clubs and people that sound cool. So what if no one else wants to sign up? You are a student here for a reason, I promise. The admissions office does not make mistakes. Own all of your characteristics and relish the experiences that are to come.

Bear Beginnings may feel like forever, but the nine days will fly by, and before you know it, school will start and, with it, your college journey. So, no matter how you approach it, find a way to enjoy orientation and make it your own. There is much to discover at WashU, and your journey here is only beginning.

Welcome Home

We’re here to support your journey.

Advice for incoming transfer students

Aliana’s Advice

Hello, and congratulations on deciding to transfer to WashU! My name is Aliana, and I’m a junior studying Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in Writing. I transferred here as a sophomore last fall and, as I regularly tell everyone I know, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. WashU is a special place, and you’ll quickly find out it’s because of the compassionate, interesting, and motivated student body. If I sound like an admissions brochure, it’s because my sophomore year made me realize that I could have the college experience I had always dreamed of.

That being said — it was still difficult to transition into an entirely new place, a year late to the game. Advice for first-year students is everywhere, and they have the benefit of coming into this new phase of their lives at the same time as one another. But being a transfer student shouldn’t mean that you feel as though you don’t have guidance to relate to. In the spirit of connection, here is my advice for incoming transfer students to have their best possible WashU experience.

Join everything

This is the advice you are going to hear from every single person you know, from your four-year advisor

to your parents, but it merits repeating one more time. College can be an incredibly lonely experience, as you may already know from your freshman year. It is unbelievably easy to stop responding to texts, to skip your 10 a.m., or to have dinner in your dorm alone. When you’ve been on campus for a while and you have a solid support network, it becomes harder to let go of your routine and fall behind. But at the start, that isn’t always the case.

Truthfully, the scariest part about being a transfer student is this: it is not a fix-all. Being in an environment that is better-suited for you does not take away the challenges inherent to the college experience. There will be days when you feel exhausted or alone or homesick, or it just seems like everything is going wrong. Don’t let that scare you — just know that no one has the college experience they want without making a real effort.

Those difficult days, which everyone has in this ridiculous foray into semi-adulthood, turn from unbearable to manageable when there are people who care enough to pick you up when you fall down. So, find those people. Join everything. Sign up for a cultural affinity group. Go to that poetry slam at Ursa’s Fireside. Brave the stages of acapella tryouts. WashU has a vibrant club culture where, before you know it, strangers with a shared interest can turn into a second family to go through the highs and lows of life with.

Avoid comparison and overthinking

I believe in wholehearted ly throwing yourself into the

deep end of your new life, but don’t let yourself get caught up in the idea of what everything is “supposed” to look like. It is easy to place a lot of mental and emotional weight on your first week at WashU because you just made the huge decision to leave a familiar environment, even if it was the wrong place for you.

The day I flew to St. Louis, I remember having a panic attack in an airport bathroom because I knew that this was it — if I didn’t like WashU, not only did I have no more backup options (unless I wanted a transfer threepeat), but that would mean I had left behind an entire life at my old school for no reason. That anxiety subsided after I had the incredible luck of meeting people early on who I am still friends with today, but it never went away entirely. I still feel the urge to compare my social life and academic accomplishments as I go into my junior year.

Avoid comparing your timeline to anyone else: the returning students in your year, the other transfer students, even yourself from a year before. It takes time to find your rhythm in a new place — just because you don’t have it figured out after a week, a month, or even a semester does not mean that you made the wrong decision. What you are doing is not easy — it is something that most people have never done, and you are doing it because you care enough about your own happiness to really try. So, treat yourself with the empathy, kindness, and patience that you deserve.

Reach out to everyone

Maybe at this point you’re all in on making the most of the time you get at WashU, but you don’t know how. You’ll meet new people everywhere: some who you will save a seat for you in your econ class, some who will become the friends you nurse hangovers with on graduation morning, and some who you will only ever awkwardly wave at for the next few years. But at the very beginning, it can easily feel daunting to ask a complete stranger to get lunch with you. So, start easy: text that girl who was on your club lacrosse team for a year. Say hi to that kid in your economics class from your hometown. Ask your parents for the number of your neighbor who graduated a year ahead of you and tell them you would love to hear about their life at WashU.

I can almost guarantee that the people you reach out to would love to help you orient yourself, and different people will show you a range of lifestyles and ways to engage with the new place you’re in. More than that, it could help you connect, or re-connect, with people on the periphery of your life. For example, when I transferred, I reached out to an old family friend who was also beginning her sophomore year, even though it had been at least three or four years since we had last seen each other. Fast forward two semesters, not only is she one of my closest friends, but she also introduced me to some of the wonderful people in her life who I would not have had the privilege of knowing otherwise.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Aliana Mediratta Luke Myers Junior News Editor Contributing Writer

August 19–January 1, 2024

Explore the historical art impact of hip hop culture across the globe through The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century.

The Culture illuminates hip hop’s influence through immersive installations, fashion, painting, sculpture, photography, and video. The exhibition includes artists with deep ties to local communities and explores a series of themes emphasizing pressing issues in the hip hop industry.

Organized by the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Generously supported by the Ford Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. In St. Louis, The Culture is made possible by the William T. Kemper Foundation.

Yvonne Osei, German, born 1990; EXTENSIONS, 2018; single-channel video; 6 minutes 4 seconds; Courtesy the artist and Bruno David Gallery; © Yvonne Osei

Really, if I can text my high school best friend’s college boyfriend’s former girlfriend from when they were in the eighth grade, you can reach out to that person from your photography class.

Embrace feeling like a freshman

When I began transfer orientation in the humidity of late August, hordes of freshmen had already begun overtaking campus, so for roughly five days, anyone I ran into was someone just as new to WashU as me. Before I knew it, the first week of classes began, and it struck me that I must look completely inept to the returning students around me.

I was constantly trying to avoid the most embarrassing fate of a transfer student: being mistaken for a freshman. So, I was determined to pick up all the slang immediately (I only called it Bear’s Den once, I promise), get to classes without turning around because I accidentally passed the building, and casually nod along when people talked about going to Java for Welcome Week without asking why we were going out to a coffee shop.

Then I went to the club fair, a clamoring of people asking you to join a club for an activity you have never heard of or definitely don’t have the athletic prowess to participate in. Going from booth to booth and asking questions about these clubs, I realized that not one of these extremely enthusiastic people cared if I asked them a stupid question, and believe me when I say I asked plenty.

In our lives, there are very few times when you will be put into an environment where you are totally and utterly clueless about how everything works. As a transfer

student, you get that chance one more time than most. It may feel terrifying, but really, you have the chance to absorb everything and take in an entirely new place. That is a beautiful, rare opportunity. Don’t waste it by being embarrassed to ask someone a question about a campus tradition or an acronym you don’t understand; there’s no shame in expressing a genuine interest in learning everything you can about the world around you. Trust me — at WashU, you’re never going to be the dorkiest one in the room.

Luke’s Advice

Hi! Congratulations on your acceptance to WashU! My name is Luke, and I am a junior studying International Affairs and minoring in Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies (JIMES).

You made it through to the other side! Similar to what Aliana shared, I will tell anyone that transferring was the best decision I ever made. I have met the most amazing friends here and had a truly enriching educational experience. You will have an incredible next three years, and I am so excited that you have chosen to finish the rest of your collegiate journey here!

Rejection and Failure are okay!

Coming from a large state school, it was a culture shock to hear that many clubs at WashU required an application and an interview process. Many of our student-run groups are very competitive, something that I really struggled to understand. It is an important reminder that not being accepted into a club or a fraternity is normal here! Do not take any of this person -

ally, and reapply the following semester.

Coming to a high-achieving university means there are many other highly skilled and intelligent people. Depending on where you transferred from, you might have easily managed to maintain high grades without much sweat, but WashU’s course load can be extremely challenging. Keep this in mind when scheduling courses and when you receive a grade that you are not satisfied with because it will happen, and that is okay! Your new environment will take time to acclimate to, and it is important to remember that it is not the end of the world when you fail to meet the exact expectations you did last year. I promise. Do not let these setbacks dissuade you from challenging yourself and trying new things.

Explore St. Louis

Contrary to popular belief, there area so many things to do in St. Louis — all you have to do is look for them! I strongly encourage escaping the WashU bubble and taking the metro downtown. St. Louis has a bunch of fun events that are happening only a few miles from campus, such as different parades, farmers markets, and antique shows.

I also cannot recommend visiting Forest Park enough! It is a spectacular place that is quite literally located at WashU’s doorstep, and is my favorite part of the city. The St. Louis Zoo is in the park’s center, and admission is free! One of my favorite activities to do in Forest Park is picnics at Art Hill (right next to the St. Louis Art Museum, which is also free), where you can enjoy the view of the St. Louis skyline. It is always an excellent opportunity to familiarize yourself with the place you

will call home for the next three years!

Build healthy habits early

Coming to this new environment may feel incredibly exciting, which is awesome. Do not let this optimism go away, but it is an important reminder that WashU, like every other academic institution, is, in fact, not a perfect place. This realization was something that I struggled with during my first semester here. Eventually, the rose-colored lenses you view WashU through, or rather the excitement to escape your former university, will start to fade, and you will realize that the problems you thought you transferred away from will reappear in some form or another. It is up to you to use this new environment as a fresh slate where you can be more comfortable and more successful than in your past environment.

Building healthy habits on day one is critical to ensuring a better, more productive school year. Set a specific sleep and study schedule, and try incorporating exercise into your daily routine. Yes, I do realize this might sound parent-like (eye roll), but when you start your year by outlining goals and tasks, it can result in you adopting them yearround, ultimately leading to a more positive collegiate experience. Healthy habits and routines also include keeping time for yourself, which is easier to do when you have healthy relationships with the people around you. Don't be afraid to set boundaries with your new friends, and prioritize communication early on!

First-year food

Four keys to dorm cooking, everyday staples, and must-have items

College is an exciting time when it comes to food, especially at Washington University. With many top rated restaurants on the Delmar Loop and plenty of options on campus, there’s no shortage of new food to try.

However, you may find yourself wanting to stay in and eat in your dorm some nights after a long day or with an exam on the horizon. While food probably isn’t your priority right now, as a rising sophomore, I find myself looking back on my first year wishing I knew more about WashU food and dorm cooking last fall. While I often cook at home, I didn’t expect myself to cook very much in college. Despite my expectations, my roommate and I cooked for ourselves several times a month, including making desserts for friends’ birthdays, pasta when I was sick, and even trying an admittedlycomplicated French pastry for my French cooking class. I accumulated a collection of different tools and ingredients I used for everything, from spicing up dining hall food to cooking full meals. Whether you are not a cook at all or you are eagerly anticipating baking cookies with your roommate, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the essentials. You never know – you may desire to upgrade your late night bowl of ramen with some new spices or decide

to try your hand at making a mug cake. Whatever it is, these tips should have you covered.

#1: Foods to stock up on

Having some food in your dorm is a must for any college student. While having your favorite nonperishable snacks on hand is a given, most would also recommend having some quick meals too. Instant ramen and boxed

mac-and-cheese are musthaves, both of which can be found at Paws and Go, the mini-store on the South 40. Especially if you’re a coffee fan, instant coffee powder is a great buy for late night study sessions or to make your dining hall latte a bit stronger, if that’s your thing. Boxed cake mix, also found in Paws and Go, is unexpectedly versatile. With a few other ingredients, it can be made into a mug cake, waffles, pancakes, cookies, and more, in addition to the classic cake.

#2: Finding ingredients

If you find yourself wandering outside of the territory of instant meals and pre-made mixes, ingredients can be difficult to find on a college campus. Luckily, there are many options for finding what you may need. Paws and Go is a great place to find staple items, like milk, eggs, and fresh fruit, although stock varies, so certain items may not be available at times. Paws and

Elizabeth Grieve Staff Writer

ILLUSTRATION BY RYAN DAVIS

Go takes both meal points and Bear Bucks as payment, making it a convenient stop for ingredients in a pinch. For ingredients outside of staples, the two closest grocery stores are United Provisions on the Delmar Loop and Schnucks in Clayton. Both can be accessed through either the WashU shuttle system or walking. Schnucks is more of a general supermarket, with both groceries and home items. Schnucks also tends to have a generally reasonable price range. United Provisions, on the other hand, is closer to campus and offers an array of more specialized ingredients in addition to some common staples.

#3: Tools you might need

Even if you don’t plan on cooking, most students find

it necessary to have some general food tools in their dorm. A microwave-safe bowl and mug are musts for heating up a pre-made meal, making a late night cup of tea, or eating a salad from the salad bar (though please don’t microwave this). I used my bowl so much that it ended up cracking right before winter break. Along with this, it's important to have a set of reusable utensils. While the dining halls offer single-use plastic utensils, it's good to have a set for your room, as the single-use utensils can be wasteful.

Venturing more into cooking territory, my two most used items were a cake pan and a small saucepan. A basic cake pan is very versatile and essential for anyone who thinks they might cook every now and then. Outside of actually baking a cake, a cake pan can be used for any kind of dessert that needs to be cooked in the oven. It can also be used to make

brownies, banana or pumpkin bread, pies, cookie bars, or cheesecake. A cake pan is also suitable for heating up other kinds of food in the oven as well. And anything that requires stovetop heat can typically be made in a saucepan. A saucepan can cook any sort of rice or pasta if covered. It also can be used for eggs, soup, and, with enough effort, some postmidterm crepes. Make sure you bring some dish soap and a sponge to do your dishes too!

#4: Actually cooking

If you plan on cooking in the dorms, it's important to know how to do so. Each kitchen is equipped with a communal refrigerator and freezer, a sink, some counter space, a microwave, and an oven and stove. Kitchens can be found across the South 40, and depending on which

dorm you live in, there might be one right down the hall on your floor. If not, each residential college typically has a kitchen available in one of the buildings for their residents. While the communal fridge and microwave are always available, if you plan on using either frequently, it is worth it to purchase or rent these appliances to keep in your room, as the kitchen may be far from your actual room. Nevertheless, once you’ve gathered all of your ingredients, cooking in the dorm is generally straightforward. If you forget an ingredient, you can always run to Paws and Go to pick it up. And don’t be afraid to ask the people in your dorm if you can borrow some cooking equipment if you need something you don’t have! Repaying borrowed supplies with freshly baked goodies is a great way to make friends with people on your floor – another essential for freshman year.

Escaping the WashU bubble

Junior News Editor Picnic on Art Hill

Zara Shariff

“So what’s it like living in St. Louis?” asked your family friend at the dinner table.

“Uh,” you paused hesitantly. “It’s ... fine. I can’t exactly say I know St. Louis outside of Uber rides to Dos Salas and the one day I paraded down Soulard in the spirit of Mardi,” you said.

With busy academic schedules, ready-made coffees and pastries in every crevice of campus, and a frat row just a short walk away, it’s easy to find yourself all too comfortable on the Danforth Campus. One minute you’re a freshman enjoying the delicacies of Bear’s Den, and the next you’re finishing your first year without having ever truly explored the breadth and depth of experiences that St. Louis has to offer. Before your first year goes by, here are ten things to add to your list to engage with your new college hometown!

Have a taste of the local cuisine

Don’t get me wrong. Sun day brunch in the Village, oat milk lattes in Whispers Cafe, and the Top 9 sweet potatoes in BD are all fan favorites. But the city has so much more to offer than that! Get off campus for a night and explore the many restaurants that give St. Louis its nightlife. Try out Corner 17 on The Loop for comfort Chinese food or take a longer walk and brunch at Colleen’s. Don’t let college be the reason why you can’t enjoy good food!

Sunsets in Forest Park are beautiful. Leave campus on a cool Friday evening and enjoy the sights and smells of the green hills. Lay out a blanket, some cheese, and fig jam to enjoy a wholesome picnic with your friends. You will hear the laughter of little kids playing tag and the soft murmur of couples on a romantic date – an ambiance that will keep you coming back with more friends.

The W Karaoke

Who doesn’t love to sing their hearts out? Walk to the W Karaoke Lounge on the Loop and enjoy a weekend night blasting early 2000s childhood favorites and singing your heart out or displaying your hidden rap skills as you spit out a Drake verse. Not only is this a fun activity to do with your friends, but you will also feel like royalty walking through the lush golden doors of the karaoke lounge.

Ted Drewes Ice Cream

There is little chance you will survive a full year at WashU without trying Ted Drewes’ infamous ice cream flavors. With sundaes like “Terramizzou” and “Fox Treat,” sweet bursts of flavor in “Lemon Crumb” ice cream, and rich devil’s food cake in “Crater Copernicus,” Ted Drewes is the perfect spot for late night treats after a stressful week of classes. Stand outside the DUC on special visit occasions or take an Uber to

Searching for a fun activity to do with your friends that brings you back to childhood? Rent a Zipcar, a student driving transportation option, or take the metro to Puttshack where you can find premier mini golf obstacles for you and your friends to compete for. With high-tech golf balls with motion sensors, vivacious music, and a lively bar just a few meters away,

morning, consider grabbing a few friends and taking a trip to the Tower Grove Farmers Market. There you can find overwhelming displays of fresh fruit and produce, glistening racks of stylish vintage jewelry, and aromatic Jamaican street food to get your day started. Especially if you’re shopping on a budget, the farmers market is a perfect place to go to support the local community.

Vintage Thrift Shopping

Speaking of vintage, have a stroll through a number of thrift shops like Found Vintage, Goodwill, or May’s if you’re looking for some cute finds. You may spot your next groutfit for 9 a.m. GenChem or a flashy neon two-piece set for Mardi Gras. Who knows? Grab a couple of friends and sift through the colorful racks to see what you can find!

El Burro Loco

Burro is a chaotic restaurant on a weekend night, but it deserves its positive reputation nonetheless. It’s the place to

While perhaps not the most elegant of choices, you have to visit El Burro Loco at least once before you leave your freshman year.

Cardinals Game

I know what you’re probably thinking: “I’m not a huge baseball fan.” But trust me,

your first year. Not only is it a fun activity to do with your friends, but the Cardinals franchise is one of the oldest and most historically successful, having won 11 World Series championships! Go check out a game, grab a hotdog, and enjoy the atmosphere of Busch Stadium. Sometimes Washington University even offers free tickets if you grab them fast enough — otherwise, you can snag them at super cheap prices

Missouri Botanical Garden

ILLUSTRATIONS BY SOPHIE LEONG

ChatGPT made my Hinge profile… here’s what happened.

Amelia Raden Junior Forum Editor

PART 1: THE IDEA

Online dating apps and AI programs have both seen major developments in recent years. In fact, online dating is almost entirely built off of AI algorithms and programming in order to personalize matches. With the development of ChatGPT, which brought the technology of modern AI into the hands of everyday consumers, all user-created content online, including the words we use to present ourselves and contact others on dating apps, is open to AI’s interpretation.

At the beginning of the semester, I heard vastly different remarks from my professors on whether or not utilizing ChatGPT on assignments was technically cheating. Most professors were adamant that using content created by ChatGPT was a clear violation of the honor code, but some put forward the idea that because the content created by ChatGPT did not exist before the student gave their input, that content is technically created by them. I decided to explore this question in other areas. For example, is it a violation of the code of conduct on Hinge if my profile was created by ChatGPT, even if everything on it is true? Is that catfishing? How will people respond? I planned to open a Hinge profile where every question was answered by ChatGPT, and then communicate with others using ChatGPT-generated responses.

PART 2: THE EXECUTION

I began by filling out my basic information. To be clear, this is not a catfishing project. I started with my name, age, height, ethnicity, and occupation. Then,

it was time to upload photos.

I asked Chat GPT, “I am setting up a Hinge profile. What kinds of pictures should I use?”

It’s response was, “When setting up a Hinge profile, it's important to choose pictures that showcase your personality, interests, and lifestyle. Here are some tips to keep in mind: Choose clear, high-quality photos: Make sure your pictures are well-lit and in focus. Avoid blurry or pixelated photos.

Use a variety of photos: Include a mix of selfies, full-body shots, and photos with friends or family. This will give potential matches a better sense of who you are and what you enjoy.

Show your interests: If you love hiking, include a photo of yourself on a trail. If you enjoy cooking, include a picture of yourself in the kitchen. This will help attract people who share your interests.

Smile and be yourself: Choose pictures where you're smiling and happy. Avoid overly posed or edited photos, as they can come across as inauthentic.

Avoid group photos: If you include photos with friends, make sure it's clear which one you are. Avoid using group photos as your main profile picture.

Show variety in your settings: Pictures can be taken in different locations like a park, restaurant, travel, etc.”

After selecting my photos, I moved on to more personalitybased questions. In order for ChatGPT to provide answers, it asked that I give it some details about myself, so here is the background summary that I provided: “I am an English Literature major. I like art, music, movies, and reading. I am a

19-year-old girl.”

Question 1: What is your typical Sunday?

My typical Sunday usually involves sleeping in a bit, enjoying a cup of coffee or tea, catching up on some reading, going for a walk or bike ride, visiting museums or art galleries, and spending time with friends.

Question 2: What is dating you like?

Dating me is like exploring culture and the arts. We can have conversations about literature, visit museums or galleries, attend concerts, watch movies, and share our thoughts on different forms of art. I appreciate humor, and I’m always open to trying new things.

Question 3: What is the way to win you over?

The way to win me over is through thoughtful conversations about shared interests, a sense of humor, and a positive outlook on life.

Question 4: What does your dream home include?

“My dream home would include a cozy reading nook, a space for displaying art, a music-listening area, and a home theater for watching movies. It would also have plenty of natural light and comfortable furniture to relax in.”

And my profile was complete! I proceeded to use up all my Hinge likes on the first few profiles shown to me.

*All names have been changed

Subject #1: David

I was prompted to send a message to the first profile I had “liked”: David. So, I asked ChatGPT what to say using his interests displayed

Photos that ChatGPT picked for the Hinge.

SCREENSHOT COURTESY OF AMELIA RADEN

on his profile: “Give me a short and casual text to start a conversation on Hinge with David. His interests are anime, boxing, video games, and the gym.

ME (ChatGPT): Hey David, I noticed that you’re into anime, boxing, and video games. What’s your favorite anime or game right now?

DAVID: Whats up Amelia, that’s actually a good question I kinda just like all genres of video games so I don’t have a favorite to be honest with you but if we’re talking anime I’ve been watching anime for a hot minute and I gotta say one piece is up there, hunterxhunter, bleach, dragon ball (ofc) and black clover there’s a lot of other good ones. Do you watch anime or play any games yourself?

ME (ChatGPT): Wow, you’re a serious anime fan! I’ve only seen a few episodes of Dragon Ball, but it seems like a classic. As for games, I’m more of a casual player. Do you have any to recommend?

DAVID: Hmmmm, I mean it really depends on your interests, gta is always a classic but yea anime and video games is definitely more of my “nerdy” side if you wanna call it that lmao. What about you, what kind of books do you like to read?

ME (ChatGPT): I see! Well, I’m a big fan of classic literature, especially the works of Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters. I also enjoy contemporary fiction and memoirs. How about you? Do you have a favorite book or author?

DAVID: Honestly, I don’t read too often so I can’t say that I do but it’s something that I definitely want to get into. Any recommendations?

ME (ChatGPT): Sure, if you’re interested in getting into reading, I would recommend starting with something that aligns with your interests. For

example, if you like sci-fi or fantasy, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy'' by Douglas Adams or the “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkein could be good options.

At this point, David ghosted me. I thought about what could have sent him over the edge. Was it something authentic, like the interest in reading? Or something fabricated, like the notion that I would actually recommend “The Lord of the Rings” over a Hinge DM?

Subject #2: Harrison This time, Harrison reached out to me first.

HARRISON: Wow you have a really nice smile:)

ME (ChatGPT): Thank you! You’re pretty easy on the eyes yourself:) How’s your week been going?

HARRISON: My week just got better now that I matched with you. Honestly I don’t really say this a lot but I didn’t scroll through your profile at all I saw the first picture and was hooked. But now that I looked through the profile I gotta say I think we will get along very well lol

ME (ChatGPT): Thanks for the compliment, Harrison! You made me smile:) I’m glad you think we’ll get along. What do you like to do for fun?

HARRISON: Well I love to cook, work out, play guitar, sing, read, watch movies and go bowling and/or mini golf. I’ve always wanted to go to a few art galleries but nobody in my friend group wants to go.

This is where it gets messy. ChatGPT wanted me to respond, “You have some really cool hobbies! I love cooking too and have been trying to up my game in the kitchen lately. I’m also a fan of working out and reading. As for art galleries, I’m always down to check out some new exhibits. Maybe we could plan a little gallery hop together sometime?”

Needless to say, I was not interested in meeting up with Harrison. I decided that this is where the charade ends. I sent Harrison a message that I actually wrote myself:

“I have a confession… ChatGPT actually wrote all of my responses. I am working on an article for school to see what happens if ChatGPT made my online dating profile using my real photos and interests. All participants will be given aliases for the actual piece, so your name/information will not appear anywhere. I would love to ask you a few (real) questions about this experience to use in my article, if that is something you would be willing to consider.”

His response? “...you gotta be kidding me.” Not sure what I was expecting. So, I responded. “...Is that a no to the questions?” After approximately three minutes of disappearing and reappearing text bubbles, he responded: “Well that depends. Are you on this app to actually date people or just for an article?”

Out of fear of being banned from the app, which I probably deserved, I decided to ghost poor Harrison.

Subject #3: Brice Brice also reached out to me first.

BRICE: Amelia you have a cute smile babe

ME (ChatGPT): Thanks, Brice! You’re pretty charming yourself:) What do you like to do in your free time?

BRICE: I like to go hiking, raving/concerts with my friends. I love going on drives or staying in and watching a movie. I admire art in all forums. What are you ambitious about in life?

ME (ChatGPT): It sounds like we have some similar interests! I love hiking too, and going to concerts with friends is always a good time. I’m a big fan of art too, especially contemporary

art. As for my ambitions, I’m really passionate about my career in marketing and always striving to learn more and advance in my field. How about you?

BRICE: I like that you are passionate about your career. Regarding marketing, having social skills is very important. I love talking and meeting new people. I own my own business in event spaces and I’m also a software engineer. I love building things (with code). What’s your snap? I’m free tomorrow night let’s go on a date; walk around cap hill and watch a movie at mine.

For the same reason I had for coming clean to Harrison, I did the same to Brice. I sent the same confession statement and explanation. Brice clearly did not want to answer questions. It took him about two hours to unmatch and report me. After a full 24 hours of AI-Hinge dating, I was banned from the app. Apparently contacting others with AI-generated responses is a violation of their code of conduct (even though they used their own AI technology to build the app in the first place…but whatever.)

PART 3: REFLECTIONS

Now, I know that I wasn’t actually catfishing these people. I used my own photos, and I was the one pressing send on every message. And at first, I was surprised that anyone was even bothered by my confession. I made it clear that I was a real person — what was the problem? But if I or anyone I know had been the one to receive that message on a dating app, I would probably feel like my time had been wasted and that I had been used a little bit, which to be fair, these people were. If I were some of my more direct friends, I would be worried about the documentation of my words. Behind a screen, people are much more likely to say things they wouldn't even consider saying in real life.

Don’t be afraid to study STEM

Joel Swirnoff Staff Writer

Coming into Washington University last fall, I was devoutly opposed to being on the pre-medical school track. I was intimidated by it. I thought it would be too demanding, and I wanted to avoid worrying about each and every grade like I did in high school. However, halfway through the school year, I switched onto the premed track.

As I worked through its freshman coursework, I picked up strategies to succeed, and when unsuccessful, how to rebound. Whether you are coming into WashU devoted to the pre-med track, are considering it as an option, or are firmly anti-STEM, I hope to provide you with useful information to get you on your feet.

“The fireworks never go off,” Dr. Gregory Polites, who taught MedPrep at WashU for 20 years, told me.

Dr. Polites was discussing what it felt like to be a medical school student, resident, and attending physician. To me, the same applies to being a college student. When I got into WashU, it felt like I had achieved one of the highest honors in STEM. Niche said that WashU was the 10thbest school for biology in the country! Surely, I would be set for the time being, right?

When you get to WashU and begin your classes, the realization of “Oh, we actually have to do work” may hit you a little harder than you expect. My first

Advice from a sophomore on freshman pre-med courses

piece of advice is to realize that while getting here is a massive achievement, there is a lot of work hiding behind the veneer of getting a WashU STEM education, and it may not always feel like a celebratory moment. While that may come off as a little depressing, it doesn’t need to be. Even if the metaphorical fireworks only really go off the moment you get into WashU, it is possible to find things to celebrate as you move through your classes. The key to this, to me, and perhaps the most important piece of advice I have in this piece: find joy in what you learn. If you are able to find the details in each lesson that intrigue you, the whole class suddenly becomes much more interesting.

One thing I try to do is to create a storyline out of course material. This was made easy in General Chemistry 111 (if you are interested in the pre-med track, 111 or its counterpart, Chem 105, will be the first chemistry class you take — they are the same subject, but with slight variations in some of the topics taught). In 111, professors described the class as the “story of the electron.” After each lesson, I was able to contextualize what was taught as a part of that overall story, and all of a sudden, learning chemistry became more like learning history, with a little more math involved.

Well, what if you didn’t understand what was taught in lecture? This, especially

in classes like introductory chemistry and biology (the latter of which begins in the spring semester), is pretty much inevitable. STEM lectures are usually only 50 minutes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. When you’re surrounded by 200+ people, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to get too many questions in, even if you’re bold enough to ask them. Each lecture has been planned out by your professors, and that train won’t stop for individuals.

Not to panic! There are many resources outside of the 150 minutes of lecture per week that are there to help you. I often left chemistry, biology, or calculus lectures knowing I was missing some information necessary for completely understanding the lectures. Professors anticipate that, which is why the following resources exist:

Recitation

Recitation is a mandatory once-a-week class for chemistry and math courses where you simply answer problems related to the lectures taught that week. In General Chemistry (GenChem), you will take a weekly quiz in recitation. You do get a pass on some absences, but my advice is to take advantage of the time by attending all of them and by asking questions of TAs and of other students.

Peer-Led Team Learning

PLTL, which stands for PeerLed Team Learning, is a must

ILLUSTRATION BY RYAN DAVIS

for GenChem. Many students also find it useful for calculus and physics too. PLTL is a weekly two-hour session on Saturdays, Sundays, or Mondays where you answer difficult questions related to the course material from the previous week with a small group of other students and an older student to help guide you. Many exam questions are similar in difficulty to questions in PLTL packets, so working through them and trying to understand the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the problems is really useful.

Office Hours

You’ve heard this one before.

But seriously, go to them — especially when you have a charismatic professor. This is a great time to clear up misunderstandings. Good professors will make office hours feel like an extra lecture, where you ask a question about one homework problem and come away with both the answer and a review of the material surrounding the question.

Each other

One thing that is great about WashU’s academic culture is that most students want to see each other succeed. So, take advantage of that! Learn from each other and work through problems together. Ask questions of each other when you don’t have a TA or professor immediately at your disposal. This is especially true come finals week, when there is much less structure to the day and you are left with a lot more time to go over material.

Technology

Most lectures are recorded, so if you miss one or want to re-take notes on one, they can be found on Canvas (an online platform for course materials). Many STEM classes will also post study guides on Canvas for each week’s material. Use these study guides as an opportunity to do some active recall on what you remember from the week or on what you maybe have some confusion over.

So how can you put all of this into practice? To me, routine is a necessary component to keeping up with STEM classes. These classes are characterized by having a ton of information involved in each lecture. To ensure that you cover it all, sticking to a schedule can be useful. In high school, it may have been sufficient to just do your homework and study for tests in the days before the exam.

For college STEM lectures, a consistent review of lecture material regardless of the timing of that course’s next exam is a more efficient way of learning. This could mean that you study for the weekly Thursday GenChem quiz by reviewing that week’s study guide on Sunday, going to PLTL on Monday, and doing practice problems on Tuesday and Wednesday. Or reverse that order! Whatever works for you will become apparent as time goes on. Give yourself some time to acclimate to a routine, and modify it if it’s not working for you. Be conscious of what that might mean — your success on quizzes can be a good gauge of that, for example.

If this all sounds a bit overwhelming, that’s because at times, it can be. I have found, as mentioned, that routine can help stop that drowning feeling. Keeping myself on a schedule that I know has worked in the past gives me confidence for the future, and reminds me to trust that I will get through any task in the present. To fight off that overwhelmed feeling, it’s also critical to keep track of your mental health when taking on the pre-med track (and even physical health — sleep is more important than getting in an extra hour of studying for tomorrow’s exam).

Imposter syndrome

You are undoubtedly going to experience it. I did, and sometimes I still do. But, consider this: You got into WashU, and you deserve to be here. You do have what it takes to be successful on this path. Yes, some people got 5s on their AP Chem exam or have already conducted research, but everyone resets to equal footing when they get to lecture 1 (it might even be advantageous to have skipped on AP Chem for

GenChem — pretty much everything that was taught about electrons is going to get turned on its head). Even if it feels like you’re falling behind, there are always others in your boat, and there is a plethora of resources there to pull you back up to speed.

Keeping the above in mind is especially important when you experience failure. Failure is pretty much inevitable in some regard on the pre-med track. Take the following anecdote. The average score on the first GenChem exam last year was somewhere between a 50 and a 60 out of 100, and that will probably be the case again this year. This is expected. Many students who have taken this exam came in with high schoollevel expectations and got hit with WashU STEM-level reality, but the professors who made the exam knew that. It’s part of the reason why you get the opportunity to drop your lowest exam score! There are built-in fail-safes for WashU STEM classes that ensure that moments like this don’t come to define your entire semester.

“Failures” like these get to be a learning moment for students (to be clear, you can be very successful on the first GenChem exam! My advice on it is to come out of the gate by taking advantage of PLTL sessions, recitations, office hours, problem sets, and especially the practice exam that will be provided — which is the exact same test that last year’s students took). When you don’t achieve something that you were hoping to, it provides an opportunity to ask, “What didn’t work?” and remedy that for next time.

Being able to pinpoint what you were missing in preparation for an exam, for example, will

be instrumental in your success in the future. This is a helpful thought activity to go through when you succeed at something, as well, since you can make sure to continue doing what you know works for you.

Giving up pre-med

This is nothing to be ashamed of. Thousands of students around the country each year realize that this path is not the one they want to take in life, and for a variety of reasons! Maybe you will find a class in the humanities that enamors you. Maybe you begin to lean towards graduate school instead. Maybe you aren’t interested enough in the coursework to justify its demands. Whatever it may be, it might feel natural to carry some shame from dropping the pre-med track. However, you are making a decision in your own best interest, and an incredibly common one at that.

There’s a fascinating world of science on your doorstep as you come into WashU. It is going to require hard work and devotion of energy and time to succeed. But it’s not everything. As a last piece of advice — don’t forget to have fun outside of academic work. College is, of course, so much more than just schoolwork, and engaging with its social aspects is just as important as keeping on top of academics.

The pre-med track does not prohibit you from taking advantage of the nonacademic side of college. It is completely a myth that you cannot have fun while succeeding in classes here, so remind yourself to take breaks from thinking about your next exam and enjoy everything else that WashU has to offer.

Nature spots around campus

If you’re a first-year, you probably spent most of your high school days inside, maybe staring out the window longingly. That’s different in college — or at least, it can be. Taking a break to hang out outside is one of the best ways to relax. Here are a few of the best nature spots on or super close to Washington University’s campus that you can hang out at between classes, before a final, or pretty much whenever you please.

1. Forest Park is the obvious choice for an afternoon walk or picnic. It has open grassy fields, ponds, and wooded trails. If you have a little more time in your day to spend outside, there are plenty of spots in the park to run, bike, hang out, and/or relax. My personal favorites are the John F. Kennedy Woods or the ponds east of Art Hill.

2. The Butterfly Garden is a smaller area right across from the Danforth University Center (DUC). Although I seldom see butterflies there, it’s a quiet and beautiful spot to hang out. It’s on the way to Main Campus from the South 40, so it’s the perfect place to stop for a few minutes and relax before or after a class.

3. The Gingkos, also known as the area just east of Olin Library, is a tree-lined grassy area featuring hammock stands, chairs, and tables. In the fall, the gingko trees dramatically change color, leaving a carpet of bright yellow leaves all over the ground. You can take a nap, toss a frisbee, or join many avid tree climbers in scaling the branches.

4. The area in front of Brookings Hall isn’t fully immersed in nature, but there are a few picturesque spots to sit if you need a moment between classes. The steps are a good spot, but my favorite is the benches right in front of the building that allow for a cool view of the skyline.

5. Mudd Field is probably the most well-used outdoor space on campus because of its convenient location and the fact that you almost always see someone you know there. You can play games or have lunch or lie face-down in the grass if that’s your vibe.

6. The Kuehner Court in Weil Hall isn’t technically outside, but it features a green wall that was designed to bring the benefits of nature indoors. This option is good for a rainy day of studying inside if you still want to feel a little nature.

Lily Taylor Junior News Editor

LYDIA NICHOLSON | STUDENT LIFE

Students study under the yellowing gingko trees near Olin Library. The trees are a popular spot for students looking to do work outdoors.

Treasury rep explains Student Union

bureaucratic as VPF and VPP, so the success of each member is based mostly in their personal abilities or drive to make change and create coalitions.

Though there has not been official, published research into the subject, I would argue that, as someone who has served as a treasury representative for two years, Washington University’s Student Union (SU) is easily one of the most powerful and autonomous student governments in the United States.

Originally founded in 1967 as a bail fund for students arrested for protesting the Vietnam War, SU’s budget has ballooned dramatically and now totals $4.1 million for the 2023-2024 school year. Its all-encompassing motto of “Advocate. Allocate. Program” perfectly sums up its functions as it aims to support students through advocacy, financial policy, and large-scale events. Almost every club operational on WashU’s campus receives support from SU, including Emergency Support Team (EST) and Uncle Joes, campus student EMTs and student peer counselors, respectively. SU’s primary source of funding comes from the Student Activities Fee, a sum equal to one percent of tuition added to cost of attendance. Students on full financial aid have their Activities Fee covered by their aid offers.

In a process aptly named General Budget, the Student Union Senate and Treasury (known in the SU Constitution as the legislative branch) gather to approve the overall allocation of the previously mentioned $4.1 million to various student activities on campus. Line items seen during the General Budget often include requests for events such as WILD (Walk In Lay Down), an on-campus concert organized by elected or appointed students on the Student Programming Board (SPB).

Having featured past performers such as Flo Milli, Childish Gambino, and Zedd, WILD is WashU’s largest student event, and it is completely organized by students.

In addition to WILD, the SPB contracts comedic talent to bring notable performers such as Colin Jost, Michael Che, and Ken Jeong to WashU’s campus. They also organize Q&A panels with famous actors, actresses, and activists. Notably, in the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson (2022) restricting abortion access across the nation, the SPB brought in grassroots abortion activists based in St. Louis to talk about their work.

The chair of the SPB serves on Student Union’s Executive Board as the Vice President of Programming (VPP) along with four other elected students, including the President, Executive Vice President (EVP), Vice President of Finance (VPF), and Vice President of Engagement (VPE).

While the VPP leads the Student Programming Board to fulfill the “Program” portion of SU’s motto, the VPF works with SU Treasury to “Allocate” money towards student groups. Treasury – the representative body to which I was elected – consists of 22 students who have the responsibility of approving (or disapproving) any financial requests for events that cost over $1,000. Their de-

cisions are often governed by guidelines set by the VPF at the start of every school year. The VPF also moderates requests for events under $1,000.

The rest of the Executive Board, including the President, EVP, and VPE, work closely with the Senate to advocate on behalf of WashU students. By the nature of their institutional positions, Senators and Exec Board members gain easier access to higher-ranking officials within WashU’s administration, and they use this access to address issues that their constituents may raise. In efforts to better understand students’ needs, the Vice President of Engagement utilizes various media tools to send out surveys and organize gatherings for students to suggest improvement ideas.

The President meets with the Chancellor, the Board of Trustees, and various deans to represent student voices during important decisions, which has allowed for the creation of structures like the Student Success Fund, a pool of money from which low-income students can request funding for needs that their financial aid may not cover.

The Executive Vice President works within SU and with the Senate to coordinate advocacy initiatives across the organization. The advocacy-based Executive positions are not as

The Senate, meant to allow for the institutional development of grassroots advocacy movements on campus, consists of 22 elected members and exists as Treasury’s legislative counterpart. Senators and their Committee Chairs work with administrative officials to solve problems that students have identified on campus.

During the 2022-2023 school year, the Senate tackled a wide variety of topics, ranging from subsidizing laundry costs for low-income students to providing free condoms and Plan-B at the Zenker Wellness Suite at the Rec Center. Given that the Senate is an advocacy-based organization within SU, the efficacy of each semester’s Senate depends on the personal drive for change held by each Senator.

Inevitably, this explainer has not covered every aspect of Student Union. It has not given SU’s history the space it deserves nor has it examined every financial guideline or committee chair within Senate and Treasury. Information about SU’s past can be found in future Student Life articles, and any questions about SU’s policies or intricacies can be asked at the SU office on the second floor of the DUC.

Your first introduction to the Student Union will most likely be during the Activities Fair, a massive showcase for student groups thrown by the Activities Committee Chair held on the first Friday of classes on Mudd Field. I would highly recommend that you make use of your Student Activities Fee and join any and every club that interests you.

Saish Saytal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Editor

ALAN ZHOU | STUDENT LIFE

The Student Union office is located on the second floor of the Danforth University Center and houses a myriad of different operations.

Understanding artificial intelligence: Use it, don’t abuse it.

Jordan Spector Junior Forum Editor

This year’s freshman class will have the unique opportunity of being the first to go through college with artificial intelligence programs at their fingertips for all four years. As the school year begins, AI is only going to increase its presence in academic conversations. It’s important — not just for the integrity of our education, but for the precarity of our future — that we continue these conversations with an informed understanding of AI: its history, how it works, and ways to use it without abusing it.

So, what is AI, other than the one thing that everybody’s talking about and that nobody fully understands? Why are worries increasing across the globe about AI redefining sentience, stifling creativity, and fueling false information?

The discourse on AI dates as far back as the 1940s. Alan Turing invented the first computer, a device used to crack the German Enigma code and win World War II. He understood that decoding trillions of permutations every day in order to solve the Enigma code was only possible if a machine was invented that could do something no human was capable of.

While Turing’s invention changed the world, his theoretical argumentations are less remembered, at least by those not actively studying computability theory. In his 1950 paper “Computing Machinery and Intelligence,” Turing introduced hypothetical measurements for intelligence in machines. The Turing test is a way of assessing how well a machine can imitate a human. While nothing has fully passed this test, what was a thought experiment to Turing appears to be reaching actualization.

ChatGPT is not the first artificial

intelligence chatbot to exist. In 1966, there was ELIZA; in 1972, there was PARRY; in 2009, there was WeChat. These are just a few, and let’s not forget about our good friends Siri, Google Now, and Alexa. Like Turing’s Enigma decoding machine, AI chatbots are trained on datasets, and they use complex algorithms to analyze trillions of permutations within minutes, predicting the next-best word to complete a human-like sentence.

As James Bridle explains in their novel “Ways of Being,” machines are not the only form of non-human intelligence. Bridle uses corporations as a prime example. A corporation can own land, have a bank account, abide by laws, and act in the interest of its own system, yet it exists outside of any one human being.

In fact, Turing machines (essentially, what would be considered very basic computers) exist in many parts of the world beyond electronic devices, including social systems and networks of the natural world. ChatGPT, like every other intelligent computer or network, is nothing more than a bunch of very powerful Turing machines.

Turing machines are far from sentient. Anyone who has read “Klara and the Sun” or watched “M3GAN” may fear this looming question of AI becoming selfaware. And while theorists may argue that our human brains also work in a series of algorithmic, DNA-encoded networks not entirely dissimilar to AI, sentience is

not a realistic concern in scientific conversations. ChatGPT is just another form of computer mimicry. Its frequent mistakes wouldn’t allow it to pass a Turing test. And, even if it did pass, AI, operating on computers, provides simply one way of viewing the world.

Computers themselves see everything as data — they are coded with ones and zeroes. They do not, in themselves, create answers. Rather, they offer alternative ways of addressing complex problems. Theoretically, AI sentience or rights, given that they are built to mimic humans, can become a concern several years into the future, which is far enough out that almost anything is on the table. For now, though, that’s left for the science fiction writers to imagine. Currently, AI exists as nothing more than mechanical devices.

The large cultural shift that emerged with the release of ChatGPT is arguably more telling of the fascination and fear that humans have with intelligent machines than it is of the machines' self-sufficient capabilities.

Ethical questions about the future and the meaning of intelligence seem to have seeped into every living person’s mind in some capacity. People around the world have been using AI for a wide range of purposes. ChatGPT’s standard model alone can create computer code in various languages; write believable letters, songs, and poems; and help brainstorm solutions to different questions and prompts.

Its more complex models have higher-functioning capabilities. AI is growing in the visual world as well, with programs like Dall E and Adobe Firefly. In addition to conversations of training models on work stolen from online images, the very concept of creativity has also been called into question.

People are typically satisfied when their fireplace works better than rubbing their hands really fast, or when a plane works better than walking by foot, or even when they have to select the easiest mode so that the computer doesn’t beat them in every game of online chess. But when a machine starts to exhibit signs of creativity — producing paintings and pictures and prose — most people aren’t too sure how to feel about it.

But is AI redefining creativity? Or is it simply shining a light on the same concerns artists have faced for centuries?

One way of addressing this uneasiness of AI art is by comparing it to a similar dilemma faced generations ago, posed by the development of the photographic camera. The camera, at first, seemed to take away artistic credibility; the process of creating was being done entirely by a machine. Charles Baudelaire wrote in 1859, “If photography is allowed to supplement art in some of its functions, it will soon supplant or corrupt it altogether, thanks to the stupidity of the multitude which is its natural ally.”

However, with artists like Henry Peach Robinson and, eventually, Alfred Stieglitz and Dorothy Lange, photography became increasingly respected as an art.

Perhaps AI is like the camera. It is not something that is here to replace artists, but rather a tool that can be used in new ways — maybe even in ways we can’t yet fully imagine. The current landscape of AI images is oversatu-

ILLUSTRATION BY RYAN DAVIS

rated with meaningless, computer-generated work. Maybe AI artists will emerge in the same way professional photographers emerged in the past.

An alternative, or possibly additional, way to address the concern of AI art is with the hope that physical, hand-crafted work will continue to be valued. Even with photographs, a lot of what culture deems valuable has to do with the quality of tools, the concept, the effort, the printing, the detail, and the craftsmanship that goes into the process of creating and showcasing the work. Baudelaire’s anti-modernity sentiments proved him wrong, with artists centuries beyond him and even today growing to fame and success as analogue artists.

It can be reasonably expected that anything completed with quality and care — drawings, paintings, photo-collages, animations, and, in some cases, AI-generated work, among many other creations — will continue to be recognized. While the tools may be changing, the values which traditionally define “good” art are not changing with them.

While sentience and lack of creativity are not yet a completely valid concern, there are certainly things to be feared about the future of AI. Computers, like every other invention, are created to help human beings. But, like every other invention, they can also be abused. It requires unrealistic optimism to think that everyone will use AI as a tool to assist human creativity and solve difficult problems for the betterment of humanity.

Cheating, deception, war, and oppression are unfortunately also human qualities, ones which have overtaken imaginative inventions very quickly in the past; there’s a reason World War I emerged right after the Second Industrial Revolution. AI can be used by the government for serious harm, and if it takes over web browsers, it can potentially obscure the process of receiving reliable information. The creators of ChatGPT themselves insist on

a governing body designated to restrict and oversee the use of AI.

No human or machine is capable of changing the past or knowing the future. But what we can do is know the past and change the future. We can approach technological development not with fear and hysteria, but with an informed knowledge of its context, history, and potential for both crippling damage and unimaginable change.

Technology, when overused, has consequences; too much social media can lead to phone addiction, and too much reliance on a camera can ruin the experience of being present. Too much reliance on AI can lead to an expectation for answers and a lack of the intellectual curiosity and struggle necessary to learn and grow.

This year’s freshman class will be entering college with AI tools more powerful than any class before it. Abusing this opportunity will lead to a worse educational experience. Even if a professor is fooled — which is unlikely, considering the fact that ChatGPT writes essays at the level of a third-grader — the student’s own development of knowledge will be diminished. And art students who rely on AI rather than using it as a form of assistance will deprive themselves of their own creativity and style.

AI is not just an art supply, chat assistant, and propaganda machine; it is a classmate, learning and growing alongside us as students. How we use it and train it will define the device that it becomes and the society that we become. The future of AI can be marvelous if we recognize it as an experiment and a tool — one that can boost productivity and provide insight into our ongoing definitions of intelligence. On the other hand, we can suppress our values and allow AI to overtake honesty and morality. The future is not a matter of robots destroying humans but of whether or not we humans choose to destroy ourselves.

A first-year retrospective:

Pushing through discomfort, searching for belonging

Sylvie Richards Senior Forum Editor

Depictions of college are everywhere: books, movies, social media, stories that you hear from family and friends. While these media portrayals or personal anecdotes range from extreme ragers in countless college films to the college-roommate-turnedlifelong-best-friend as told by your grandma, they often hold similar sentiments.

One is that college is the best time of your life, or that the friends you meet in college last a lifetime, or that college is where you find yourself. While true for many people,

these messages can be daunting for college students, whether they are seniors who feel they still have no idea what they are doing with their lives, or first-years who feel like they are missing out on what college is supposed to be and are grasping for where to find it.

Last year, as a freshman, I felt like I was doing something wrong. I was pushing myself to put myself out there, to talk to new people, to join new activities — yet that magic college feeling just wasn’t clicking.

Seven months ago, in a StudLife article, I described

how my life at WashU had been thus far. “When I envisioned my first months of college, it wasn’t exactly like this,” I wrote. “Don’t get me wrong, I have friends at WashU who I really like. Yet, that doesn’t free me from the feeling that I haven’t found where I belong yet, and that my home is still 2,000 miles away, where most of my best friends remain.”

Now, as I sit in my childhood bedroom where I am living for the summer, I still ache to be 2,000 miles away – this time wanting to be back at school with my friends, walking through the stone buildings that still look like a TV set

but that now also bring me comfort.

It’s true: freshman year can be really hard. With it comes the transition from being in high school and living with your family in the place you may have grown up in, to college, where you are adjusting to a new physical, social, and academic environment all at the same time. People react to and cope with these changes in different ways.

The summer before starting at WashU, I was ecstatic to experience a new environment with new people. I had never had trouble with homesickness, yet when I

Welcome to Life on the South 40!

Residential Life would like to send a warm welcome to all new students! We are glad that you chose Washington University in St. Louis as your new home. Our office provides a variety of living environments that will make it easy for you to live comfortably, study hard, and build friendships with your peers. There are several staff in Residential Life at WashU that work to develop a robust residential experience for you! These individuals include:

• Residential College and Community Directors

• Resident Advisors

• Washington University Student Associates

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• Maintenance Staff Welcome

actually arrived, I was riddled with loneliness for months. Perhaps you are hanging onto your current life as tightly as possible, awaiting college with apprehension. These feelings may last for a long time into your transition, or you may find it to be far easier than anticipated.

I am not going to list tips for your freshman year that you could find on Buzzfeed or a “Things I Wish I Knew Before College” YouTube video — lists that have (albeit overdone) advice that you may want to listen to (it’s overdone for a reason). But, as a nowsophomore who wrote an article dedicated to feeling lonely and sad as a first-year, I will give my two cents about what helped me the most.

Despite the diversity of feelings when adjusting to college life, there is also common ground that nearly every first-year shares. Everyone is experiencing a

significant change in their lives. Everyone wants to make friends. Everyone is missing at least one person. Everyone is unsure if, where, and when they will find belonging in this new chapter of their lives.

Throughout the transition to college, it is important to remember these commonalities — to help you feel less alone or as a topic of conversation to relate with others. As your fellow first-years are going through many of the same motions and emotions that you are, and the non-first years were in your position not long ago, allow yourself to go out of your comfort zone. Pushing yourself to do these things is crucial for finding your place, making friends, and growing comfortable in college. And, because so many others are also doing it or have done it, it can’t be that bad.

It may seem redundant to give you this advice after I felt dejected while taking

these steps as a freshman. But, although possibly the most annoying and inconclusive thing I could possibly say, going through them is a process that doesn’t immediately bring you to where you want to be. The timeline, emotions, and experiences during the transition to college are different for everyone, and are painstakingly unknown yet inevitable parts of it.

Arguably, meeting new people and making friends is the most important aspect of transitioning to your life in college. Yet, it is easier said than done. As many people will tell you, the group you sit with for your first week — or even first month — of college may not contain your more permanent best friends. Most of the people I sat with at the time, I have not spoken to since. However, these awkward conversations are necessary for finding the people who last.

“The timeline, emotions, and experiences during the transition to college are different for everyone, and are painstakingly unknown yet inevitable parts of it.”

I’m sorry to say it, as a smalltalk hater myself, but the monotonous conversation starters — like “Where are you from?” and “What’s your major?”— are inevitable (and aren’t limited to your first year of college, but perhaps your entire life). As you go through the same motions in these mildly to totally awkward discussions, some will turn from small talk to big talk (if that’s even a phrase).

While it is important to go out of your way to have these conversations with people you meet at orientation events, in classes, or in floor meetings, I also urge you to invite those whose small talk went even minimally better to do something with you. You may luck out and get invited to something before you get the chance, but when everyone is waiting for someone else to make the first move, you could be the person to bring this relief to one person or multiple people.

For me, this conversation was with Parker. At our first-floor meeting, I ended up in the same discussion group as Parker because both of us said our favorite color was brown. It was because of this color and the fact that she was from Seattle, where my sister went to college, that I decided to invite her over to my room the day after. With these groundbreaking facts about her on hand, our conversation was awkward and mildly uncomfortable. As Parker described to me just recently, “I didn’t know you very well, and I had no clue if we were gonna be friends, but the fact that someone even wanted

to try to get to know me felt huge. It made finding friends essentially from scratch seem a little less daunting.”

The mutual relief we both felt to find someone we genuinely liked and had some (even surface-level) things in common with inspired us to invite a girl named Grace to hang out with us the night after. It was because she had cool bangs (on my part) and because she “looked really cool” and was friendly (on Parker’s) that we invited her to hang out before an optional orientation event called the Silent Disco.

At the Silent Disco, where about a hundred first-years wore headphones and listened to music while dancing with people they just met, we met Talia and Sophie, who introduced us to Abby when we had our first dinner together shortly after. At the time, I had no idea this random pack of people would turn into nightly common room hangouts and dinners. Truthfully, it took a long time to feel completely comfortable and stop comparing them to my friends at home. However, it was the initial step of extending an invitation that brought us all together. Making friends in college is often like this — going from one connection to another through mutuals of mutual friends — even if it doesn’t feel like the perfect puzzle piece fitting into your life at first.

That being said, many of the people you’ll hang out with won’t be your best friends, and it is okay to have nights

“... when everyone is waiting for someone else to make the first move, you could be the person to bring this relief to one person or multiple people.”

and meals alone sometimes or to not go to every activity. I promise, there is no need for FOMO when it comes to a random school-sanctioned event or a non-sanctioned frat party. Despite what some people say, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone does not mean you must say yes to everything. Sometimes, you need a break.

Continuing on this journey out of your comfort zone, you should also join activities, even those that you have never tried before. Don’t get me wrong — I was terrified to go to club meetings. After being in the newspaper of my high school for three years, I waited until October to go to my first Student Life meeting, where I pitched an article about being a lonely freshman in front of a group of non-freshman strangers. After attending, there were no magical rainbows or confetti, and I had to force myself to continue to attend despite my discomfort. Yet, as I continued to write for the newspaper, I started to feel that I had a purpose on campus.

Some activities may not work out. After being a debater in high school, I decided I wanted to do something different but similar in college, so I tried out for Mock Trial. At tryouts, I had to testify as a made-up character in front of a panel of deadpan upperclassmen. It was absolutely horrifying, but I felt like I did pretty well. Parker and I got rejected that night while sitting on a fraternity house sofa (a location I increasingly avoided in the months following).

In my original StudLife article, I wrote: “The myth that college is the best time of your life — and that the first few months are when you meet the friends you’ll stay in touch with for the rest of your life — has coded us to feel isolated in our experiences. We keep from sharing our emotions for fear of sounding pathetic

(as I feared when beginning this article) or reinforcing our feeling of loneliness.” After going through my entire year, I believe this fact stands true.

When beginning college, it’s okay if you end up feeling lonely or homesick or discouraged; most people do for at least a small period of time. But while feeling these emotions, I encourage you to talk to the people around you about them. In doing this, you are both doing something for yourself, as you find people to relate to, and doing something for someone else, who may have needed the discussion as much as you did.

It is also okay to call your family or friends from home. The support system you miss still exists as you add more people to it throughout your first year and beyond. This summer, when I’ve felt sad and lonely, alone in my room instead of hanging out with home friends or my parents, I’ve FaceTimed my college friends.

Or perhaps you want to be alone and listen to sad music, watch a comfort show, or stare at the ceiling of your dorm room. I did a lot of that (I made a playlist called “Midwest Depression”) — that’s okay, too.

The first year of college is different for everyone, but the contents of this article can still apply to anyone. If you’re thriving, go out of your way to invite someone new to hang out with you and your friends, or join an activity in addition to the one you already feel comfortable in. The fun thing about your first year of college is that it is one of the only chances in your life to try and do completely different things alongside completely different people. It is because of this that freshman year can be really hard, but also extremely exciting.

A guide to your college closet

Amelia Raden Junior Forum Editor

When I came to Washington University last fall, I packed… pretty much everything. I spent high school carefully curating a special corner of my room: my forever closet. This consisted of pieces that I knew I probably wouldn’t wear as a seventeenyear-old, but I would definitely be able to wear at some point. And when I was packing, that very special corner made its way into a very special Ikea bag, which ended up in a corner of my dorm room…and sat there…all year. It turns out I didn’t magically become okay with wearing calf-length leather jackets and red suede blazers to class when I turned eighteen. Or nineteen. And probably not even when I turn twenty.

So, my first piece of advice: Maybe leave the forever closet at home. Or, try to introduce it slowly: bring a jacket, or a pair of pants. Maybe don’t bring every item of clothing you’ve never worn. Because the truth is, if you aren’t comfortable wearing something in front of people you know, chances are you won’t be comfortable wearing it around people you don’t.

Similarly, you really won’t need to bring any extra-special occasion outfits. If you’re in the business school or planning on rushing a professional fraternity, a business professional outfit or two might come in handy, but that’s pretty much it. Your homecoming dresses, bowties, and heels can stay where they are.

I’m from Florida, so I was expecting copious amounts of snow and to be absolutely freezing from November to March. Instead, it snowed two whole days out of the entire year. Maybe consider leaving the ultra-bulky snow boots behind. And the second ski jacket. And the third pair of gloves.

Finally, let go of the fast fashion and leave yourself room to buy something secondhand once you get here. During my first month at WashU, I probably walked to Avalon Exchange on the Delmar Loop once a week with friends I had met in Bear Beginnings or in class. If your closet is full of Shein and microtrends that you’ll be replacing in six months, leave it at home. The Trading Post, a shop on WashU’s South 40 (where the freshman dorms are located), is an entirely free clothing store stocked by WashU students who often donate their clothes at the end of each semester.

Bottom line is to make sure you bring things that you are comfortable in and make you feel good. No one is carefully judging every article of clothing you wear on your first day of classes. Space is limited, so be intentional when you pack.

As for my forever closet, I’ll be bringing it home with me this summer, while most of my other clothes sit patiently in a storage unit. I likely won’t be able to part with it all, so if you do see me in my red suede blazer, you’ll know exactly how my packing went.

Classes to take if you don’t know what to major in

Zach Trabitz Junior News Editor

So, you have arrived at college and have absolutely no idea what to major in or pursue for a career. Don’t worry – I’ve got you covered. Here are some great classes to take (as someone who was undecided for the bulk of my freshman year and still isn’t sure if my current major is even what I really want to do).

Introduction to Film Studies

alongside an additional subsection and a movie screening. However, class never really felt like class. I was always excited to go to lectures, and some of my best memories from my first semester were going to the screenings with my friends. The course is taught by Professor Colin Burnett, who I think is one of the best professors at WashU. The bulk of the work revolves around different film essays you write on movies you recently watched in class. Even though there is certainly a learning curve, I felt myself getting better at film-related writing as the semester progressed.

The Teachers Assistant (TA) largely determines the grading and what constitutes an A, but as long as you put effort in, you will end with a good grade. Something I will note is that I went into the class expecting a lot of media analysis, but that is not what the class mainly focuses on; it is moreso about the technical aspects of film.

Proseminar is a seemingly random one-credit class required for anthropology majors to graduate. It meets on Mondays for 50 minutes

and consists of different anthropology professors giving lectures about their specific area of focus. They discuss the biological, archeological, and cultural facets of anthropology, so a broad overview of the field is attained by taking the class. Attendance is optional, but I would recommend going to all of the lectures you can, especially if you are a freshman, so that you get the most out of the already small (content-wise) class. Assignments include three short essays written throughout the semester, and Professor Gustafson was clear that you should not worry about your grade in

Introduction to Film Studies meets twice a week

Proseminar

the class. While I took the class on a whim, I ended up declaring as an anthropology major and taking two classes in the department the following semester.

The Solar System

Not math inclined? I also was looking for a class to fulfill the Natural Sciences & Math (NSM) requirement early on, preferably one that wasn’t painful! Look no further than “The Solar System,” a planetary science class. I took the course after I realized a similar-sounding course – “Introduction to Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science”-- had way more math than I was looking for. The class consists of a survey of, well, the solar system, and every lecture centers around a different planet or astronomical object. There are a few assignments that use different online

resources to map astronomical phenomena (such as crater marking or constellation mapping), along with a midterm and final. There is a fair bit of studying for the class, but I still looked forward to going to lecture and enjoyed the different topics.

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Looking for a relatively easy Language and Cultural Diversity (LCD) or Social and Behavorial Sciences (SSC) credit? Cultural anthro has got you covered. In the spring, “Intro to Cultural Anthropology” started at 1 p.m., and in the fall, it started at 9 a.m., so take your pick. The class has four assignments – each one an open note, no time-limit test that you would do well in as long as you went to lecture (although seemingly

next semester there is a final exam being added, don’t know what that’s about).

Professor Talia Dan-Cohen is great at engaging the class through lectures, and I ended up declaring as an anthro major mostly because of this class and how interesting it was. Even if you aren’t interested in anthropology as a field, the class delves into medicine, health, gender studies, epistemology, and more, so you learn about a wide range of interdisciplinary subjects. One of the best opportunities offered to first-year students are the first-year seminars, which are generally topic-specific classes that delve into the aforementioned topic. I took two my first year: an English seminar called “Literature of Addiction: From Opium to

Adderall” and an Art History seminar titled “Beijing and the Forbidden City.” I enjoyed both, and I would easily recommend either to anyone at all interested in writing or art. But, even more broadly, I’ve heard great things about a wide range of first-year seminars, so take advantage of this opportunity while it is available to you.

Regardless of what you decide on doing your freshman year, you still have time to change, so don’t stress about zeroing in on a major. While I’ve declared anthropology, that could easily change if I find another discipline my sophomore year I enjoy even more! The bottom line is that if you’re unsure of what to do, just try a bit of everything and you’ll figure it out from there.

A First-Year Seminar

Olin’s latest and greatest.

Cheers to the newest members of the Olin community!

Oluwasubomi Adedeji

Shreevardhan Agarwal

Brian Aguilar

Rafael Alvarez

Yahir Alvarez

Henry Anyimadu

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Jennifer Ayala

William Aycock

Lucas Baptista

Natalia Barajas

Meredyth Barr

Dario Barrera Pacheco

Patrick Bartz

Spencer Beran

Breya Bergom

Biswash Bhattarai

Rachel Blackman

Kwadwo Boateng

Gabriela Brenes

Ethan Brody

Maria Brooks

Genevieve Burbano

Ashton Burgess

Carolyn Cameranesi

David Cantos

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Txu-Hsun Chao

Eli Chase

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Shonn Chen

Aviv Cohen

Emily Considine

Deisi Contreras

Michaela Damaghi

Jahnvi Datta

Jared Dawkins

Emilia De Jounge

Francis Desany

Iyanuoluwa Dosunmu

Daniel Du

Lauren Enoch

Margaret Fecko

Camila Fermin

Kathryn Finerman

Jacob Fisher

Joshua Freeman

Taleeah Fuller

George Gale

Francesco Gallos

Sarah Gao

Jose Garcia

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Hyun Seo Lee

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A first-year’s guide to WashU’s most confusing acronyms

AC (Athletic Center) : Also referred to as Sumers or the Rec Center, this space is open to student and faculty for all athletic activities. It contains a track, a pool, and lots of basketball courts for anyone looking for a fun pickup game.

BD (Bear’s Den) : the main freshman dining hall. It has a coffee spot, cafeteria options, and you’re bound to see at least six people you know every time you walk in the building.

Paws

(Paws and

Go) : ‘Paws’ is an extended-hours snack spot for students looking for a

grab-and-go option. It’s located in the back of BD.

CDI

(Center for Diversity and Inclusion)

: The Center for Diversity and Inclusion supports and advocates for undergraduate, graduate and professional students from underrepresented and/ or marginalized populations, creates collaborative partnerships with campus and community partners and promotes dialogue and social change among all students.

center on the Danforth Campus. The downstairs area has food options and seating, and the building also has a lot of office spaces like the Harvey Media Suite and the Career Center.

Tisch (Tisch Commons) : the main space within the DUC, used commonly as a meeting space for a lunch time stop

CS40

(College

(Emergency Support Team)

EST

: The Washington University Emergency Support Team is a student-run volunteer first responder emergency medical service for the Danforth campus, active 24/7 during the school year.

PLTL

(Peer-Led Team Learning)

(Danforth University Center)

DUC

: the main student center

WELCOME CLASS OF 2027

The University Libraries are here to support your academic success. We offer:

• Vast collections of books—including textbooks—and journals found onsite and online

• Expert, helpful subject librarians ready to assist with your research needs

• Numerous remote resources including off-campus database access, research guides, and 24/7 chat help

• Book talks, workshops, film screenings, speakers, and other events

Find out more: library.wustl.edu/students

of the South 40) : The Congress of the South 40 acts as the programming body for students living on the South 40.

: PLTL supplements large lecture courses through study groups of 8-10 students led by a peer leader. PLTL groups are available for Calculus I, II, & III, General Chemistry I & II, Introductory General Chemistry I & II and Physics I & II.

More confusing acronyms you need to know

RA

(Residential

Advisor) : Your Residential Advisor lives on your floor and serves as a resource and a mentor to help facilitate a safe and positive environment on your floor.

RSVP (Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center)

:

The RSVP Center supports students who have experienced relationship and sexual violence through counseling and other resources. It also facilitates prevention education and programming.

College who addresses any issues and manages the day-to-day operations of your Res college.

academic and personal goals.

SU

(Student

Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Emory, NYU, UChicago and University of Rochester.

SARAH

(Sexual Assault and Rape Anonymous

Helpline) : SARAH is a 24/7 student-run confidential helpline that offers counseling on topics including sexual assault, sexual harassment, intimate partner and sexual violence, relationships, mental health and sexual health.

Union) : As WU’s student government body, SU allocates the student activity fee, advocates for student needs and develops initiatives and programs. SU is made up of an executive board, a treasury and a senate.

UAA (University Athletic

WILD (Walk In Lay

Down) : a concert that the Student Programming Board executes that has historically been free to all students. Former artists have included Lizzo, Mac Miller, The Black Eyed Peas, Chuck Berry, and U2.

WUSA (Washington University Student

(Student Transitions

STFP

(Residential College

RCD

Director) : A professional staff member in charge of your Residential

& Family Programs) : supports new students through their transition into the Washington University community to assure they build and sustain their

Association) : The UAA is WU’s athletic conference in Division III for every sport except for football, which is a member of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Once nicknamed the “nerdy nine”, the UAA is currently comprised of Brandeis,

Associate) : WUSAs are upper class student leaders who assist new students with their transition to WU. They serve as orientation leaders during Bear Beginnings and then as peer mentors for the student’s entire first year.

The RSVP Center is a FREE, confidential, survivor-centered resource for all students. We provide clinical counseling, resources, education and student involvement opportunities.

If you have been impacted by sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, child sexual abuse, exploitation, or trafficking, know that the RSVP Center is here for you.

The RSVP Center is committed to trauma informed, inclusive, and affirming care.

If you are looking for meaningful ways to make a difference, we invite you to apply to be a peer educator or peer counselor.

NOW ENROLLING FOR DxD & BEARPRINTS FOR SUCCESS

DxD is a one-credit, eight-week series of courses that teach students how to dialogue across difficult topics such as politics, religion, race, and gender identity in a positive and productive way. Courses are open to all undergraduate students.

A one-credit, seven-week course designed to help new students make a successful transition to WashU, both academically and personally.

Students will engage with academic readings, interactive activities and empirically based strategies centered on the five core anchors of Student Affairs: Healthy Excellence; Leadership; Career Development; Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion; and Student Engagement & Belonging.

ACROSS

Advice for Incoming International Students

Coming to the U.S. for the first time for college is not easy — there are many cultural and language-related barriers that lay in your upcoming journey. This article addresses common issues faced by firstyear international students in order to help you create the most memories and make the most out of your years ahead at Washington University in St. Louis: a place, together, that we are fortunate enough to call home.

So, you’ve done your English classes; you’ve taken your TOEFL or IELT tests back home. Months after the excitement of being admitted, your flight finally touches ground at Lambert Airport — but you’re still confused by the signage around you. You blank out when you’re getting a latte from Starbucks. You are struggling with your classes and having a lot of trouble understanding what your professor discussed in class. These situations are typical for those who speak English as a second language, who just arrived in the States. Don’t you worry — the English Language Programs offered by the University College are academic and professional English programs specifically designed for students and scholars who speak English as an additional language. The courses focus on building English language skills that help international students and scholars hold conversations and present academic ideas and discoveries in writing in the university setting.

Culture shocks are also a daily part of the lives of many international students studying in the States. It is always difficult for people living in

a new culture to adapt in a short amount of time. The Dialogue Across Differences courses, recently launched by the University, seek to address cultural differences dividing our world today through the perspectives of politics, religion, race, gender, and socioeconomics. This eight-week course will be a valuable introduction for new international students like you to analyze current global issues in a different way, understanding the American society and its particular way of living in a more profound fashion.

Besides enrolling in the University’s academic offerings, what you are more than welcome to do is to join the myriad of different student groups. Since it is most likely the first time you will be involved in extracurricular activities in the U.S., you might feel out of place or overwhelmed by this American passion, yet it is a great opportunity for you to develop your English skills, especially in terms of expression and precision, all the while creating friendships that last for a lifetime! Getting to know your affinity group pertaining to your language background is also a good way to stay in contact with your home culture. On campus, many language and culture tables are available, and these tables host cultural appreciation events and celebrations quite frequently. On another note, the Office for International Students and Scholars has many resources that help students prevail academically while engaging actively in American life and culture. Oftentimes, the Office hosts events and training sessions that help students like you to navigate through the administrative procedures for working in the U.S. and advancing in your professional

career.

I know that this transition from high school life to college life is not an easy one — and the process certainly gets exponentially more difficult for international students like you, facing hardships that go far beyond the realm of challenging academics. Five years ago, I had the same problems that confused me; I was unable to wrap my head around the English language and the American lifestyle. The experience of living with a Hispanic host family wasn’t too helpful in building my English capacity, yet it did introduce me to another culture that has become so important in America, which, when I look back today, is something I feel fortunate about. The ability and willingness to always be open to learning, to knowledge,

and to all that is new, from my point of view, is vital for making the most out of your years at our University, in America, or anywhere in the world. Throughout my high school years, I joined clubs in which I found my passions; I signed up for jobs that challenged my ways of thinking; I picked up the French language that eventually helped me settle down on the academic path of Linguistics. If there is one thing I may advise, it is summarized well enough by Steve Job’s “Stay hungry, stay foolish” — college is a place to always stay hungry and foolish for new things, and this is even more so the case for international students. You have more to learn than students who grew up in the United States — and that should be an opportunity, rather than an obstacle.

Jimmy Hu Staff Writer

Starting Line: Sports

Football

Clara Richards Editor-in-Chief

After the conclusion of the 2022 season, the Washington University football team had big question marks surrounding the position of the starting quarterback. Veteran quarterback Matt Rush graduated in December, meaning that it was up to the underclassmen to battle for the starting spot.

But after two years as starting quarterback, throwing darts to a group of talented receivers at the Division III level, Rush will return to St. Louis this upcoming fall season. He spent the spring at Oregon University, where he was listed on the roster as a walk-on senior transfer, but the graduate student will spend his last year of eligibility with WashU football. Rush — who had a pass completion rate of 70.4% during his senior season — provides a known quality to this year’s QB roster.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt [that] that’s a really positive thing for us as a football team. I think his teammates view it that way, [and] certainly, coaches do,” head coach Aaron Keen said.

“To get him back, with all the knowledge that he has, it’s going to really propel us forward to try to beat those top two teams like North Central that we lost to last year,” sophomore running back Fred Ware said. “It’s huge, having our quarterback come back for one final year and also helps the younger guys learn from him once more.”

His return — along with fifth year all-conference lineman Matt Schmal, Bradley Hamilton,

and kicker Chris Vartanian coming back for fifth years — means that the Bears will return much of the talent that helped them get to their 8-3 2022 record.

“It was really big to hear this summer — having both of the Matts back,” senior nose-tackle Johnathan Smith said. “It brings back a dynamic to our team of having those guys who have been in the system for a long time, and they are really, really, really good players, too.”

The roster

The senior class is a small group, especially for a team that’s so big that players share numbers on the roster. Having been in Keen’s system for four years, they bring versatility and experience in different spots on the field.

“These guys went through a really challenging year their first year on campus, and their class got smaller in number because of that experience,” Keen said.

“But, they’ve got a really solid class. It’s a strong core, and they’ve got great leadership.”

The freshman class currently

contains a colossal 42 players. The coaching staff is particularly excited about the 10 new offensive linemen.

“We needed more depth there to be able to compete, whether we want to compete at the top of the conference, getting in the playoffs, or compete for a national title,” Keen said. “We’re excited to see what they can bring to the program and [are] watching their development, but, you know, we’re gonna need some of those guys to step in early.”

The team’s offensive squad includes a running-back core that Smith described as “an embarrassment of riches, with so many guys that can just ball out on every level,” and a lethal group of receivers.

“Those guys are gonna be nasty because everyone brings something different,” Smith said. “The point is, you’ve got dudes across the board where you’re like, ‘Oh, that dude’s a baller, he’s gonna play some good football.’ So there are questions about who’s gonna play what spot, and who’s going to be the number-one guy. But the fact that we can

have that debate is a good problem to have.”

The team’s path to the playoffs

Fall camp is Keen’s favorite time of year.

On August 8, campus will have mostly emptied out from the hoards of campers and summer programs. The football team will infiltrate the dusty WashU campus for their annual camp. There will be a lot of long practices as head-coach Aaron Keen evaluates his new talent. They’ll have Thursday night position group dinners. They’ll have most of their meals together, occasionally stopping their chatter to listen to a freshman sing karaoke.

“Going to camp, you’re putting your body on the line,” Smith said. “You’re constantly working. It’s a physically and mentally grueling experience.”

But despite the toil, it’s a period that both coaches and players alike appreciate. For the student-athletes who, in a few short weeks, will be overloaded with classwork and assignments, it’s a rare period of no distractions — just focusing on football.

“What comes out of that is just a really good period of obviously learning our system for our younger guys and helping them develop,” Smith said. “There’s the time to hang out as a team and develop that brotherhood that you want in the football team.”

Keen’s challenge will be working within the constricting NCAA guidelines, which limits practice time, to prepare his team for a season full of strong competition in the

Collin Goldberg, wide reciever, crosses into the end zone for a touchdown.

CLARA RICHARDS | STUDENT LIFE

College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW). For the past two years, the conference standings have looked the same.

At the top is North Central College, which hasn’t lost a conference game since 2019 and was crowned the 2022 National Champion. Consistently finishing second in the conference, Wheaton College (IL) has reliably infiltrated the playoff schedules into the second and third rounds. In 2019 and 2021, they didn’t lose a single game until their last playoff round.

Consistently in third place in the conference, the Bears have trailed for the last two years.

There are two conference playoff spots up for grabs, meaning that the Bears have a clear path to the postseason: beat either North Central or Wheaton, while fending off the tough competitors of the other seven teams in the conference who are all hungry for the top of the leaderboard.

“Our goal always is to make that playoff spot,” Smith said. “At a certain point, you can’t go around anybody. We’re all

WashU kids — we can all try to calculate our way around it, but there’s no way around. You gotta go through the best competition. And we intend to do that.”

Last year, the team’s theme was “close the gap.” This year, it’s “a standard,” Keen said. “We want to work at a standard that allows us to compete for championships. We know what that standard is. And we’ll break that down to what we need to get accomplished in an individual drill or individual rep, and that’s the emphasis for us as coaches — [to] try to mold

Women’s Soccer

Following a season defined by ups and downs, the women’s soccer team will look to build off the momentum they established during their 2022 postseason play. After making the tournament off the bubble, the Bears made an impressive run to the Elite Eight. Though their season ended in a heartbreaking penalty shootout for the second year in a row, head coach Jim Conlon, who led the Bears to a National Championship in 2016, said that the impressive run gave the team “a lot of momentum going into the following year” and a “taste of winning.”

The squad hopes that this year, they are able to do some of that winning earlier on in the season, particularly during conference play. After winning five straight UAA titles, WashU finished fifth last season with a 2-4-1 conference record. Conlon is optimistic that the Bears can compete for a

conference championship once again this fall. “I think we have made some strides, and we’re definitely going to push to win that championship this year,” he said, adding that the UAA crown is the team’s main focus. In order to do so, however, his side will face some fierce competition. The UAA is a nationally dominant conference and had four teams qualify for the 2022 Sweet Sixteen, including national runnerup Case Western Reserve University.

One of the major storylines going into the season will be the side’s ability to replace All-American striker Maggie Brett, who graduated after leading the team with 12 goals. In addition, midfielder Riley Alvarez, who was the team’s joint-second leading scorer with four goals, and defender Ellie Brauner also graduated in the spring. This year, the team will rely on contributions from a number of key players. “They're starting to understand how to play as a unit — when they're

all putting their gifts together — as opposed to maybe having one or two people take the lead on a lot of things,” said Conlon.

Sophomores Marilee

Karinshak and Ella Koleno, who tallied four and three goals respectively in their first seasons on campus, are poised to take a leap in 2023. Seniors Anna Viscovich, Tyler Wilson, and Jessica Greven will be key members of the Bears midfield,

Men’s Soccer

that with our team.”

“I feel like we’re gonna be a better team next year,” Ware said. “We’re super super juiced. We’re excited to get the season rolling. We’re working our tails off so that we can finally get to the playoffs again. Get back to what WashU football is all about.”

The team spends the first two weeks on the road before their home opener against Carthage College on Saturday, September 23.

After one of their most exciting seasons in program history, the WashU men’s soccer team fell back down to earth last season.

Following a 2021 season that included the squad’s first outright UAA title since 1999 and a victory in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the Bears finished fifth in the conference in 2022 with a

6-6-2 overall record. This year, however, they look to ascend back to the top of the UAA, and hope to return to the NCAA tournament once again.

According to coach Joe Clarke,

and WashU will rely on an experienced defensive unit to keep goals out. Led by senior goalkeeper Sidney Conner, the veteran backline also features junior Olivia Foster and seniors Sarah Neltner and Kate Flynn. Though questions remain about the squad’s ability to recreate the postseason magic of 2022, their experienced core means that the Bears should have the pieces in place to contend with the best teams in the UAA, and the nation, in the fall.

the 2023 roster is “young, but very deep at all positions,” including a “large and talented incoming class.” The Bears will need some of their younger players to step up this fall in order to replace departing

Eve Kubla, a sophomore from Austin, Texas, dribbles down the field in one of the team’s early season matches.

CLARA RICHARDS | STUDENT LIFE

Riley Herron Junior Sports Editor

Riley Herron Junior Sports Editor

stars. Goalkeeper Matt Martin, who earned all-UAA honors twice in his five years at WashU, and graduated midfielder Hudson Hazlewood, who started all 14 of their games in 2022, leave big shoes to fill. However, the Bears keep their attack mainly intact. Two-time UAA first-team player Owen Culver, who led the team with five goals, will be a senior, and Zach Susee, who had a teamhigh four assists in his freshman season, will look to step up again. In addition, striker John Daniels, who missed much of 2022 with injuries, will likely be a key contributor in his senior season. At the back, rising senior Reece Nicholson, who was named the UAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, will

lead a defense that produced five shutouts last fall.

Since Clarke came to WashU in 1997, his team has made the NCAA tournament nine times and has never had a losing season. In 2023, though, Clarke will have his hands full competing in a tough UAA conference, which includes undefeated National Champion University of Chicago and three other NCAA tournament teams in 2022. However, after a tough season, Clarke is optimistic about his squad this year. “I know we will challenge, and [I] fully believe we will be in the playoffs, unless we have a severe rash of injuries to our most key performers,” he said.

Golf

Ian Heft Junior Sports Editor

Coming off the best season in program history, WashU Women’s Golf looks to again compete for a Division III Championship. After holding on to a top five spot all season long, the team rode a strong performance at the National Championships to finish second in Division III.

This year, the team will be led by Junior Sydney Kuo. Kuo led the tour in nearly all of the Division III rankings– her 71.35 adjusted scoring average would place her among the top 20 golfers in Division I. Kuo will be back for her third season with Bears, where she figures to be in contention for individual awards at every tournament she attends.

Kuo is join ed by a number of stellar teammates– Senior Caraline Oakley, Junior McKensey Kaseta and Sophomores Athena Nguyen and Tiffany Chan round out the core of the team, and each ranked in the Top 100 of Division III golfers. Expect continued excellence from the crew, and keep a keen eye on the development of

Women’s Volleyball

Hussein Amuri Managing Sports Editor

Following years of NCAA tournament qualifications and University Athletic Association (UAA) conference successes, the women's volleyball team's 2021 fifth-place finish in the UAA Championship was their lowest-ever finish in conference history.

On the offensive end, now-alumni Michaela Bach led the team with 397 kills on the year, marking 1,221 for her career. The kills saw Bach become one of 30 players ever in program history to achieve 1,000 career kills. She was named UAA Most Valuable Player of the Year, also making the UAA First Team alongside teammates Buckley and rising junior Jasmine Sells.

the underclassmen, who could soon join Kuo at the top of the rankings.

The team will miss the presence of Annie Mascot, who capped off her impressive WashU career with an individual championship at the DIII NCAA Golf Championship. On the final day, Mascot carded an all time tournament low 68, finishing the season ranked 9th in Division III (via Golf Stat). But while Mascot finished with a total score of 224 at the finals, Kuo was just three strokes behind, tying for second place in the tournament.

“We have worked hard this season and have had quite a few team victories throughout the year…This second-place finish only makes us hungrier for the gold next year,” said Oakley after the season’s conclusion.

The Bears will once again play all over the country, culminating with the 2024 Nationals at Transilvania University in Nicholasville, Kentucky. You can follow the squad in action beginning in September, but the main block of tournaments takes place in the Spring months.

In a season grounded in all-around statistical performances, women’s volleyball bounced well last year to overcome its 2021 shortcomings. They finished with an overall record of 30-6, a remarkable change from their 2021 season. Furthermore, they finished the season with a UAA record of 5-2, second only behind UAA champion Emory University.

In a season that was defined by all-around teamwork, it was the individual performances of several players that put the cherry on top for head coach Vanessa Walby and her program. Rising sophomore Sam Buckley had one of the most outstanding freshman rookie seasons. Buckley, who is from Naperville, Illinois, led the UAA conference in assists as she averaged 10.58 per set, ending the season with 1291 assists — the most ever by a UAA player. At the conclusion of the fall 2022 season, Buckley was named the 2022 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Freshman of the Year and entered First Team All-American, while also winning UAA Rookie of the Year.

Last season is now history as the Bears look to hit the ground running this fall. Coming off a terrific freshman campaign, the All-American Buckley will certainly be a player to keep an eye on as her ability to set up her teammates will undoubtedly play a major role, as it did last season. The Bears will be playing without Bach for the first time in a while, so the task will fall on Walby to see who is going to teammates will Sells — the second-best scorer on the team — in a conference that is full of hitters.

You cannot talk about the Bears' season last year without talking about its defensive engine, which was led by then-senior Taryn Gurbach, who had 514 digs, and then-senior Lane Bohrer. While offense wins you games, defense wins you titles — and Gurbach was a glimpse of that in a WashU program that was used to NCAA tournament bids. The Bears do have capable people in the back to cement that defense. Rising junior Elise Gilroy and rising senior Faith Phillips have shown dedication to Walby’s defensive crafts in the past few seasons.

Volleyball

Double

Women's Soccer

Men's Soccer

A new fan’s guide to the St. Louis sports scene

Riley Herron Junior Sports Editor

While St. Louis might not jump out on a list of America’s biggest sporting cities, the rich histories and passionate fan bases behind its professional sports teams give the city a great sporting landscape.

The St. Louis Blues are the city’s most recent success story. Though the 2019 Stanley Cup winners have fallen from their peak in recent seasons, key players from that team, including goaltender Jordan Binnington and alternate captains Brayden Schenn and Colton Parayko, still lead the lines. The franchise, which has called St. Louis home since its

creation in 1967, boasts one of the most loyal and dedicated fan bases in the league. From the goal song that will get instantly stuck in your head to the earth-shattering hits and top-shelf snipes on the ice, the Blues constantly remind fans why hockey is one of the most exciting sports to watch.

St. Louis’ most successful sporting organization is by far the Cardinals, whose 11 World Series Championships are the second highest tally in Major League Baseball. Though the Cardinals have had a rough start to the season, their cast of stars has the potential to make a run into the postseason, as they did when they won the NL Central last season. With defending NL MVP Paul

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Goldschmidt and six-time all star Nolan Arenado, the Cardinals are always exciting to watch at the plate. In addition, after the MLB implemented rule changes this offseason, baseball games are more accessible and exciting for new fans than ever before. However, if the on-field action isn’t for you, the incredible view of the St. Louis skyline and Arch, post home-run firework displays, and regular giveaways should entice you to make the trip to Busch Stadium.

For appointments, call 314-286-1940.

This past year, St. Louis welcomed two new professional teams to the mix. St. Louis City SC burst onto the scene, setting a Major League Soccer record by winning its first five games as a franchise. With goalkeeper Roman Büurki, who is famous for his seven seasons at Borussia Dortmund, and strikers João Klauss and Nicholas Giaoacchinni, CITY has the starpower to contend for its first ever MLS Cup title this fall. From the first minute to the last, the squad’s spirited supporters are packing CITYPARK, chanting and singing from the first minute to the last. With its weekly sellout crowds, the city’s roaring fanbase has quickly reclaimed St. Louis’ title as America’s

Soccer Capital. Finally, though the Rams left for Los Angeles a few years ago, St. Louis has a new team on the gridiron. The Battlehawks, who compete in the XFL, a football league that competes from February to May, have taken the Rams’ spot in The Dome at America’s Center. Uniting around their slogan “Kaw is the Law,” the fans are already making a name for themselves, recording the five largest crowds in XFL history in their five home games this past season. Led by former Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron, the team finished 7-3 in their first season, and are one of the top teams in the competition going into year two.

Whether you’re a dedicated sports fan looking to add a secondary team to root for during the next four years or someone looking to explore new experiences in the city, the St. Louis sports scene is worth checking out. All four stadiums are easily accessible by MetroLink or Uber, and they are a great way for WashU students to engage with the local community. If you’re looking for fun in St. Louis, games at all four of these stadiums should be at the top of your WashU bucket list!

Washington University Physical Therapy on the Danforth Campus

PHOTO COURTESY OF STUDENT LIFE

About the team

Student Life is fueled by a large, hardworking team of people. We couldn’t produce our print or online content without all of the reporters, designers, copy editors, illustrators, and photographers – many of whom are not pictured in this roundup, simply because we didn’t have room! But here’s a quick guide – name, face, and quick biography – of the editors you’ll see most around the office or in weekly section meetings. We come from all around the country (really, the world) and bring with us a diversity of viewpoints, backgrounds, personalities and music tastes (though Sydney objectively has the best).

About the Portrait Illustrator

Tuesday is a senior from Lexington, Kentucky majoring in Communication Design and minoring in Art History. Tuesday started illustrating for StudLife as a sophomore and became senior illustration editor as a junior.

Staff Bios

Via Poolos

Editor-in-Chief

Via Poolos is an editor-in-chief of Student Life along with the famed Clara Richards. She’s a senior majoring in PhilosophyNeuroscience-Psychology and minoring in Writing. She is from Seattle, and very proud of it, so please ask her about her favorite bodies of water in Washington. When not in the beautiful (though windowless) StudLife office, Via is rock climbing, shooting hoops, listening to a podcast, or baking (usually without all the right ingredients). She’s incredibly excited about the next year of StudLife, and is probably refreshing her email (via.poolos@ studlife.com) right now waiting for new firstyears to ask questions about joining.

Clara Richards

Editor-in-Chief

Clara Richards is one of Student Life’s editors-in-chief. She’s a senior majoring in English and Political Science with a minor in Writing. She first got involved in StudLife as a freshman sports writer and has stuck around ever since, working as the managing sports editor before stepping into the role as EIC this year. At this point, she knows an impressive (and useless) amount of trivia about WashU sports. Outside of class, you can find Clara hunting for good brunch spots, strolling down Forsyth with a mug of coffee, or finding the best running routes in the St. Louis & Clayton neighborhood.

Managing News Editor Avi Holzman

Avi Holzman is a rising junior, a fan of basketball, TV Shows/Movies, and doing everything barefoot. He is from Northern Virginia, studies English and can be found on campus searching for vending machines, tossing a frisbee, or getting distracted after running into a friend. He dove headfirst into StudLife in the fall of 2022 and now manages the news section. In a year he has made lifelong friends, and learned to write, interview, and edit articles. He is pumped for another year with the paper, countless goofy production nights, and ridiculously fantastical news meetings!

Managing Multimedia Editor

Jared Adelman is a senior majoring in Political Science. Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Jared previously served as Senior Multimedia Editor where he oversaw the development of StudLife’s original podcast and videos. Having run his own podcast, Jared looks to develop StudLife’s multimedia storytelling by highlighting the wide range of narratives on the WashU campus. In his free time, he loves to watch soccer, listen to podcasts (obviously), and play intramural basketball.

Jared Adelman

Managing Sports Editor Hussein Amuri

Hussein is a rising junior from Vermont majoring in History. Having played soccer and basketball all throughout high school, he wanted to stay connected to the two sports and joined the StudLife sports section. When not chasing WashU athletes at Francis Field for post-game quotes, Hussein can be found in the Rec Center playing pick-up basketball — where he is widely regarded as the greatest defensive player to ever grace the WashU campus— watching soccer, and getting banned on Twitter. He’s also a massive fan of rap music, so catch him listening to Metro Booming, Polo G, and Lil Baby in his free time. A sports writer since his first semester, Hussein is excited to meet and welcome new writers to the WashU Sports cult.

Reilly Brady

Managing Forum Editor

Reilly is a senior from the Bay Area majoring in Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies and minoring in Writing and Religion & Politics. She has been writing for StudLife since her first semester at WashU. While she has dabbled in almost every section, she has a deep love for the Forum section and the weekly Forum meetings that give her the opportunity to complain about her day and discuss pretty much any topic ranging from significant campus-wide events to whatever popular culture mess is currently trending on Twitter. Around campus, you can find her eating a taco salad, completing New York Times mini crossword puzzles, and singing with Ghost Lights A Cappella.

Patel

Managing Chief of Copy

Annabel Shen

Managing Scene Editor

Annabel is a senior from Houston majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Bioinformatics. She initially joined StudLife in Fall 2021 with an interest to illustrate, but found Scene interesting with its behind-the-scenes look into WashU’s student events. Outside of StudLife, you can find Annabel either skating at the ice rink, throwing in the ceramic studios, or trying to nap everywhere on campus.

Ved Patel is a senior from Chicagoland majoring in Microbiology and minoring in Philosophy and Physics. He joined StudLife in fall 2021 to write about music (an unhealthy obsession), then moved to copy editing instead (because it’s more fun, duh). Outside of StudLife, you can find him in the lab, where he tends to and experiments on his children (cells in culture); the kitchen, cooking and baking (usually with the right ingredients); or outside on his bike.

Ved

Alice Gottesman

Senior Scene Editor

Alice Gottesman is a junior majoring in Art History and American Culture studies. Alice is proudly from Evanston, Illinois (but says she’s from Chicago when asked by anyone from the Chicagoland area that lives further from the city). She joined StudLife as a writer in the Fall of 2021 and has been hooked ever since. Now, as the Senior Scene Editor, she gets to chop and rearrange articles, work in tandem with writers, and spend even more time with the fabulous Scene Team. When she’s not editing, Alice can be found playing water polo, hammocking around campus, exploring a new museum, or in the midst of a conversation that she’ll eventually end with a lengthy midwest goodbye. She’s so excited for this year and encourages everyone to join Scene (the best section).

Special Issues Editor Grace Tyau

Grace is a rising sophomore originally from Tucson, Arizona but currently living in Springfield, Missouri. She’s majoring in American Culture Studies and minoring in Psych and Spanish, with intent to pursue an MSW at the Brown School. Grace joined StudLife as a News and Scene writer early last year before excitedly moving into her current editor role! When not supervising special issues, you can find her with her Alpha Phi Omega brothers, on Google Street View, or eating BD stir fry.

Senior Photo Editor

Elle Su is a junior majoring in Computer Science and Economics with minors in Marketing and Human Computer Interaction. She is Taiwanese-American and grew up in Shanghai. She originally joined the design team at StudLife in the fall of 2021, but she has since retired from InDesign and is now one of the photo editors. Apart from photography, she enjoys drawing, baking, and playing tennis and volleyball. If she is not taking photos of an event, you probably will not find her around as she is likely holed up in her room.

Zara Shariff

Junior Scene Editor

Zara Shariff is a rising sophomore from New York City majoring in Genomics and Computational Biology. She joined StudLife in the beginning of her freshman year as a writer for Scene with the hope of starting unspoken conversation and creating change on campus with her pieces. She enjoys that Scene allows her to bring worldwide issues into the campus space, discuss ways to enhance WashU’s socio political culture, and highlight WashU’s student resources. When she is not Zara can be found running off to the medical campus, volunteering with local elementary school children, stretching her legs under the sun with a few friends.

Junior Photo Editor

Jamie is a junior at WashU, originally from the Chicago suburbs. She’s majoring in Economics & Strategy. After joining StudLife’s sports section her first year, she began to enjoy taking photographs of the games and switched to the Photo team. She loves photo because it’s a way to get involved in campus events that she wouldn’t have known about otherwise. Outside of StudLife, can be found running in Forest Park, going to free-food events in Bauer, or editing videos in her room.

Elle Su

Jamie Nicholson

Sophie is a rising sophomore who was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia but moved to Cincinnati, Ohio when she was twelve (I know, Malaysia to Ohio to Missouri, hopefully we improve from here). She is planning on double majoring in Communication Design and Marketing with a minor in Art History. While graphic design is her usual forte, Sophie loves drawing silly little illustrations to go alongside StudLife articles to add some silly-goofiness to the paper. Next year, she hopes that she will be able to make bigger and better illustrations. When she is not drawing for StudLife, you can probably find Sophie stuck in studio, running social media for all the other clubs she’s in, or grabbing boba with her friends. She is so excited to make StudLife even more vibrant and fun and also spend more time with the rest of the staff!

Sydney Tran

Design Editor

Sydney is a sophomore who says she is from St. Louis, but is really from St. Charles which is 20 minutes away. Currently, she is double majoring in Psychology and Communication Design because she could not pick a lane. She joined StudLife her freshman year to continue her design journey and is the resident DJ of the office (Wednesday nights @ 7pm, pop out for 2000s club music). When she is not at production night deejaying and designing, she crochets her wardrobe or hangs out with her dog, Thor.

Ryan Davis is a senior majoring in Communication Design with a focus on illustration. He joined StudLife in spring 2022 and likes to draw silly little pictures and make cat comics. When he is not drawing, he is running. When he is not running, he is drawing. Through all the above, he is listening to music with his noise canceling headphones.

Kellen is a senior from New Jersey double majoring in Design and Computer Science. He joined Studlife at first because he thought it would be an escape from design, design classes, and design “people,” but instead all they let him do is design. When he isn’t in the DUC 3rd floor dungeon, he is hooping in jorts.

Sophie Leong

Junior Illustration Editor

Ryan Davis

Senior Illustration Editor Head of Design

Kellen Wang

Lily Taylor

Junior News Editor

Lily is a rising junior from Indianapolis who studies English and Environmental Studies, but she loves to change her mind about that. Her passion for news writing began with Tiger Beat’s coverage of 2010’s pop culture and has brought her all the way up to the third floor of the DUC, where she loves to write and edit with the rest of the news team. When she’s not in the office causing problems and distracting her co-editors, you can find her running circles in the park, playing frisbee, or doing the NYT Spelling Bee. She is so ridiculously excited for another year of news icebreakers and production nights.

Zach Trabitz, or ‘Zachytizzle’ as some refer to him, is a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio (but actually really he’s from a suburb inside of Columbus). He’s currently majoring in Anthropology with a minor in Writing, but this will surely change throughout the course of the next year. He joined StudLife his freshman year to continue news writing, his favorite activity, and of course to hang out with the awesome news team. If he’s not writing for the paper he’s probably writing for another publication or class, reading a book or article, or (poorly) throwing a frisbee.

Zach Trabitz

Junior News Editor

Aliana Mediratta

Junior News Editor

Aliana is a junior studying Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies with a minor in Writing originally from San Francisco, California (both facts that she will tell you immediately after meeting you). With two years of collegiate journalism experience under her belt, she adores spending all her free time writing for StudLife, with a particular interest in stories that focus on administrative policies and student government. When she’s not in the office bothering the news team, Aliana enjoys competing on WashU’s nationally-ranked mock trial team, reading and then posting on Goodreads, creative writing, knitting, and solving a Rubik’s cube.

Cathay Poulsen

Chief of Copy

Cathay is a junior from Chiayi, Taiwan and Springville, Utah. She is majoring in Linguistics with a minor in Writing, both of which she declared last spring (last minute) since she is very indecisive. She joined StudLife as a Junior Copy Editor her freshman year and subsequently took on the role of Chief of Copy since she loves copy-editing and enjoys helping people improve their writing (she’s taking a copy-editing class this fall). In her free time, she loves to play Overwatch (oof) and Stardew Valley. To catch Cathay in the wild, you can find her at Corner 17 on certain Fridays.

Mia Burkholder Chief of Copy

Mia Burkholder is a rising sophomore from a small town in Wisconsin studying Middle School Education and English Literature. She came into StudLife as a writer for Scene, but her six years of copy editing experience couldn’t let her give up her love for commas. As Chief of Copy, you can find Mia in the newsroom on production nights eating sleeves of Ritz crackers, singing to Big Rush, and, of course, editing. Outside of StudLife, Mia spends her time “studying” (but more likely chatting) at the Catholic Student Center, singing with the WashU Ghost Lights, and scrolling Pinterest for inspiration for her future middle school classroom.

Maggard Social Media Editor

Camden is a rising sophomore originally from Oregon who is studying architecture and mathematics. Outside of the office you may find her biking around St. Louis, playing bridge, or in her Givens Hall studio. Camden joined StudLife early last year and has run the social media accounts for the publication since last December.

Camden