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The independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since 1878 THURSDAY, SEPT 30, 2021

VOLUME 143, NO. 5

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What life is like for one sophomore who works at Hitzeman (Scene, page 5)

Our reporter spent four and a half hours in a beloved Loop restaurant (Scene, page 6)

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Senior Ariana Miles used to pole vault. Now she is leading a top-three team (Sports, page 7)

‘It feels like a facade’: Students protest Unpacking WU’s Martin’s response to Islamophobia unprecedented endowment pool growth MEHEER COMMURI STAFF REPORTER

ZOE OPPENHEIMER | STUDENT LIFE

Two WUPD officers stand guard on the driveway to Chancellor Andrew Martin’s house at the protest Friday.

KASEY NOSS AND MATTHEW FRIEDMAN STAFF REPORTER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Roughly 60 students decried Chancellor Andrew Martin’s silence on recent Islamophobia at a protest outside his house Friday afternoon, leaving signs in his lawn and chalking his driveway with slogans such as “Silence is Violence,” “Protect Muslim community members” and “WashU is racist.” Nearly a dozen Washington University Police Department officers stood guard during the protest. While there were heated conversations between protestors and administrators, there were no physical altercations or arrests. The University is not referring any students to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for disciplinary measures, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Rob Wild wrote in an email to Student Life Sunday. The protest came nine days after some students went on academic strike, skipping class or attending remotely out of fear for their safety or in solidarity with Muslim, Black and brown students. The strike was in response to Islamophobia that resulted after senior Fadel Alkilani’s removal of commemorative 9/11 flags from Mudd Field. “I want Andrew Martin in there to know that his student body is not okay with him just abandoning them and leaving them to feel helpless and unheard,” junior Mahtab Chaudhry, who gave a speech at the protest, told Student Life afterward. “He needs to take accountability for how he’s making

students feel and his failure to act as a chancellor should.” Martin has come under fire for failing to acknowledge Islamophobia and other hate in his Sept. 12 message to the community, with Thomas and Karole Green Professor of Law Gregory Magarian writing last week that Martin’s message did “far greater harm” than the initial removal of the flags. “I felt angry because it felt intentional, and the statement felt like a kind of privilege that he was un-privy to our pain,” junior Shafiq Allaham said after the protest. “The way he described the actions of Fadel, and the way that he talked about the incident itself, restricted freedom of speech and made us feel further marginalized.” “I fully support the ability of our students to engage and speak out on issues they care about, and admire them for doing so,” Martin said in an emailed statement responding to Student Life’s request for comment. He added that the University’s values remained unchanged: “We stand against hate, bigotry and discrimination in any form. There is no place in our community for racism or xenophobia of any kind. We are committed to living our values through our actions and we will continue to provide support to our students through appropriate channels, on a direct and personal level.” Friday’s protest, which the group Students for Black and Palestinian Liberation organized and advertised through Instagram starting Thursday, started small. Twenty students or so gathered at first, but the protest grew soon after as students joined the

crowd on the sidewalk in front of Martin’s Forsyth Blvd. home. As protestors began the action, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion Mark Kamimura-Jiménez warned students to stay off the grass and the driveway in front of Martin’s home, emphasizing the need to respect private property. Students did not listen to Kamimura-Jiménez, moving onto the lawn as some began giving speeches and leading chants such as “Martin, Martin, shame on you, Muslim students have rights, too” and “We’re fired up, we won’t take it anymore, so we’re knocking at your door.” After students concluded their initial speeches, the group moved farther up the lawn toward Martin’s front door. As they approached the middle of the home’s rounded driveway, WUPD officers who had been standing on the sides began to make their way towards the front steps to meet protestors who had gathered there. The protestors receded back to the sidewalk, but made their way back to Martin’s driveway shortly after, this time to write messages in chalk. They were once again greeted by the police, who by this time had grown considerably in number, from approximately four to 10. Police told students to stop chalking and began to move forward, with some carrying their bicycles in front of them. After about a minute, students stopped and returned to the grass at the edge of the driveway. The protestors then criticized the police department and the University’s response to safety

SEE PROTEST, PAGE 3

Following last week’s announcement that the Washington University managed endowment pool grew by 65% during the 2020-2021 fiscal year to $15.3 billion, community members are questioning how the additional funds will be used, but the administration has yet to elaborate on specific plans for the gains. Chancellor Andrew Martin wrote in a statement Sept. 20 that this “remarkable return will allow us to take a huge step forward, and I look forward to sharing our plans with our university community in the coming weeks.” The University typically allocates around four percent of the endowment towards its budget each year. Last year, endowment distribution spending was $315 million. If that figure grows proportionally with the endowment, distribution spending could potentially be around $600 million, though such a decision is still up to the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees. Many students hope this boost to the University’s budget could be used to fund different measures to make the University more equitable and supportive of its community members. “We are really excited to see such a massive return because some of the things we have been focusing on require a lot of capital investments from the University,” Student Union President Ranen Miao said. “Our biggest priority [for the funds] is moving the University toward need-blind admissions. It’s honestly really embarrassing that WashU is the only top 20 school in the nation that has not gone need-blind yet.” Miao explained that it is imperative for SU that the University become accessible and able to meet the needs of students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Though need-blind admissions were absent from the statement from the University on the endowment increase, Chancellor Martin said in 2019 that “I think it’s our moral responsibility to become a need-blind institution as quickly as possible.” Miao added that after pursuing need-blind admissions, SU’s next priorities include mental health support and ensuring further ethical investments. “We need to tackle the [University’s] mental health crisis by investing in more counselors and more support staff,” he said. “We [also] need to advocate for the University to move toward divestment from fossil fuels. We want to make sure we are earning our money in a way that is more ethical.” For Fossil Free WashU, a group pushing to freeze and divest University’s investment in fossil fuels, the news about the endowment’s growth has the potential to draw more attention to the need for divestment. “I think [the news about the growth] will help our group’s goals,” Fossil Free WashU members senior Jared Moxley said. “Anything we can learn about the endowment is good, because right now, we know almost nothing about it. Bringing more attention to the endowment will encourage people to ask questions about it like, ‘how did it get to this size?’ News like this will bring student attention, and student attention is always our number one leverage.” Although this last year was one of the strongest in the University’s history, Chief Investment Officer of the Washington University Investment Management Company (WUIMC) Scott L. Wilson told Student Life that continued and sustainable growth in the “super long term” remains a major priority. “We don’t have a one-year strategy, we expect that there will be some good years and

SEE GROWTH, PAGE 2

CURRAN NEENAN | STUDENT LIFE

Brookings Hall the home to much of the University administration.

Fall WILD canceled as SPB looks to host in-person spring concert JAYLA BUTLER MANAGING EDITOR

CURRAN NEENAN | STUDENT LIFE

A$AP Ferg performs at WILD in fall 2019, the last semester there was a concert. This is the fourth semester in a row without WILD.

Student Union’s Social Programming Board will not host a WILD concert this semester because of COVID-19 precautions, Student Union President Ranen Miao told Student Life in a message Monday afternoon. SPB will instead attempt to use

the funds that would have been allocated for this fall’s WILD to fund the spring concert, Miao said. SU Treasury will have to approve the change. The cancellation means this fall will be the fourth semester in a row without a WILD concert, as the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented the concerts since spring 2020.

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Some students expressed dismay upon finding out about the cancellation. “I’m just kind of irritated because it’s a big part of the college experience, at least on WashU’s campus,” senior A’Daja Harris said. “We stress ourselves out for an

SEE WILD, PAGE 2

2 STUDENT LIFE

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

theFLIPSIDE THU 30

MOSTLY CLOUDY 85/65

FRI 1

MOSTLY CLOUDY 82/66

MON 4

PARTLY CLOUDY 74/54

SAT 2

SUN 3

THUNDERSTORMS 78/65

TUES 6

PARTLY CLOUDY 71/53

THUNDERSTORMS 78/59

WED 6

PARTLY CLOUDY 71/55

EVENT CALENDAR FRIDAY 1 Elevating Community Voice in Data Collaboration Practices Virtual Event, 9 a.m. The Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis is hosting a conversation on elevating community voices within data collaboration. Generate Health, a local non-profit, will present about their experience designing and implementing community data sessions. These sessions are used to incorporate community input into data visualizations and narratives about maternal and infant health in the St. Louis region. The discussion will highlight the experiences of both facilitators and participants. Washington University Jazz Festival Brookings Quadrangle, 7 p.m Our friends and long-time collaborators reunite for a special festival concert under the stars bringing their eclectic, fusion sound to the stage. For decades, keyboardist Studio 88 served as a base for the numerous recording sessions and productions that brought musicians together, from coast to coast, fostering unique approaches to making music and record production. This long association created a network of musicians who would collaborate for many years in their creative work in jazz, pop, film music including iconic record releases. An early recording, Contemporary Drummer included all four members of this quartet along with Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Steve Lukather, Steve Gadd and many others.

SATURDAY 2 Chancellor Emeritus William H. Danforth Memorial Graham Chapel, 11:30 a.m. Washington University will celebrate the life of Chancellor Emeritus William H. Danforth in this ceremony Saturday morning. Danforth, who served as the University’s 13th chancellor, leading WashU from 1971 through 1995, died last September at the age of 94. He helped transform the school from a commuter college into one of national renown.

SUNDAY 3 The Saint Louis Chamber Chorus: ‘We Are The Music Makers’ E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall, 3 p.m. The chamber chorus’s joyous return to live performance is heralded by a perennial favorite — the Gloria (RV 589) of Antonio Vivaldi, complemented by motets from his Venetian precursor Claudio Monteverdi. This baroque repertoire contrasts with a new commission from Melissa Dunphy, who will fly to St. Louis for the premiere.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Excited and overwhelmed: How students feel about the transition back to in-person learning NINA GIRALDO CONTRIBUTING REPORTER After a full month of the fall semester, Washington University students of all years report mixed reactions to the return of in-person learning after a mostly virtual last year. Many students are both excited and overwhelmed with the adjustment from virtual to in-person college experience. Sophomore Jessica Boyd, along with the rest of her class, is adjusting to a campus that looks significantly different from last year. “Adapting to a campus where there’s so much happening at once and figuring out what things I want to be a part of is a process because I didn’t do that last year,” Boyd said. “I’ve had to learn how to organize my life when everything’s opened up and there’s so much to do all the time.” Even students who have experienced a fully in-person semester said that the abrupt change in daily organization has been a challenge. Senior Lawton Blanchard said that it has been difficult adjusting to a structured schedule given the time commitment but overall, this year is better than last. “I’m exhausted because I’m doing way too much,

but I’m so happy to be doing it because I’m happy to be around people and to be doing things I actually enjoy,” Blanchard said. While freshmen had a week-long orientation to ease into the start of classes, Blanchard thinks upperclassmen were “thrown to the wolves” with the adjustment back to an in-person experience. Other students have more readily welcomed the difference in structure this year. “Now, it’s a structured schedule with going to class, getting up and studying, which I find very beneficial to my personal learning,” Sophomore Nic Sprague said. Reflecting on the past, mostly virtual academic year, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Rob Wild is pleased with what University community members accomplished despite the challenges. He said that with about 15% of students choosing to study fully remotely last year, it was important that the University offered a variety of virtual activities to continue building community among students. “I’m proud of what we’re able to do; that our faculty were able to pivot, that we still had many classes that were taught in person,

that we were able to have a campus experience for students who wanted that and as well as a remote experience for students who wanted that option as well,” Wild said. The University’s vaccine requirement is the main reason that the University was able to conduct in-person activities this semester. However, students like Boyd, Blanchard and Student Union President Ranen Miao think that the administration should be more transparent with COVID-19 policies and decision making. Managing mental health has been a common difficulty during the pandemic among students who felt isolated. However, the return to in-person classes has facilitated increased participation and engagement among peers. “Even with constraints, it still just feels a lot more personal,” Miao said. “You feel like you can be a lot more vulnerable and a lot more open with people. I think that’s definitely something that the virtual space does not offer.” “I think that as a result of not being able to participate in campus things, I’ve noticed that everyone around me is extra participating,” Boyd said. “People have hobbies that I didn’t even know they had.”

MONDAY 4 WashU Climate Networking Happy Hour Virtual Event, 6 p.m. This event, a partnership between WashU’s Career Center and Office of Sustainability, is the University’s first Climate Networking Happy Hour. It will be an opportunity for students to connect with alumni engaged in climate-related work in various fields and will allow for students to explore career paths, expand their networks and learn about the ways different careers tackle climate change.

TUESDAY 5 Fear of the Muslim Planet: Global Islamophobia in the New World Order Virtual Event, 5 p.m. This event will feature author Arsalan Iftikhar, the founder of The Muslim Guy and senior editor of The Islamic Monthly as he discusses his book “Fear of the Muslim Planet: Global Islamophobia in the New World Order.” This event is presented by the Washington University School of Law Public Interest Law & Policy Speaker Series; Whitney R. Harris World Law Institute; Weidenbaum Center for Economy, Government & Public Policy; and John C. Danforth Center on Religion & Politics.

GROWTH, from page 1 some bad years,” Wilson said. “But over the long term, we expect to perform better than the market, relative to our peer group [of universities]. We are looking out for the next generation of students, staff and faculty.” WUIMC began implementing significant portfolio changes in 2017, the year Wilson took over as CIO. Now, according to Wilson, these changes are beginning to pay off. “We have overturned the vast majority of our portfolio,” Wilson said. “At this point, we have probably reallocated six of the seven-and-a-half [to] eight billion dollars of the original endowment, from when I took over.” This year’s success is a notable shift from last year, when the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused national university endowments to generate their lowest returns since 2016 as markets crashed. However, even during that period marked by falling returns, the University found itself performing comparatively well. It secured the second-best change in

market value, 5.87%, out of the top 15 largest institutional endowments. It was outperformed only by the University of Notre Dame, which boasted a 6.16% change. Wilson said that the University’s relatively strong performance during the pandemic can be attributed to its well-diversified portfolio. Holding stocks of companies that were unaffected or even benefited from the pandemic helped the University keep a steady position last year. This year, it is those companies that are benefiting from a return to normalcy that are pushing the University’s returns, he added. The University appears to be one of the top performers of the 2020-21 fiscal year out of its peer institutions. “So far we look to be the one highest if not the highest returns for large endowments,” Wilson said. Miao says that he and SU fully support Fossil Free WashU, a group pushing to freeze and divest University’s investment in fossil fuels.

The group has carried out protests and public demonstrations in the past. “I think [the news about the growth] will help our group’s goals. Anything we can learn about the endowment is good, because right now, we know almost nothing about it,” Jared Moxley, a member of Fossil Free WashU, said. “Bringing more attention to the endowment will encourage people to ask questions about it like, ‘how did it get to this size?’ News like this will bring student attention, and student attention is always our number one leverage.” Miao remained committed to advocating for the use of the increased endowment funds in line with SU priorities. “In the weeks ahead, we will continue these conversations with the University and continue our advocacy,” Miao said. “Especially in light of this massive increase in the endowment, we will definitely continue pushing for these priorities.”

HOLDEN HINDES | STUDENT LIFE

Masked students walk between classes in Simon Hall while others sit and study.

WILD, from page 1 entire semester and WILD is always that big moment after the last day of classes to let us know ‘Ok, you worked hard, and this is to celebrate the fact that you made it through,’” Harris later wrote in a statement to Student Life. “And to have that taken away (without even a mention of some type of replacement whether virtual or otherwise) is disappointing and makes it harder to see the light at the end of the tunnel.” Though WILD is normally a semesterly concert, the last time SPB

hosted one was in fall 2019, when A$AP Ferg headlined. In February 2020, just before the pandemic shut down campus, SU voted to differentiate funding between the two concerts for the upcoming year, seeking to attract a more wellknown headliner to a “large WILD” in one semester while planning a “small WILD” for the other. “For me, it’s disappointing but not entirely unexpected,” senior Kayla Wallace said. “I think it’s the responsible thing to do. I guess I don’t see it

happening in the spring either. It’s disappointing, but it’s probably the best call for the health of everyone.” With the prospect of a larger WILD on the horizon for the spring, junior Goodness Adekanmi was not afraid to think big when asked which artist she would want to see on the Brookings stage next semester. “I feel like Beyoncé is such a long shot but I would love to see Beyoncé for a WILD,” she said. Sabrina Spence contributed reporting.

RYAN YANG | STUDENT LIFE

Carly Rae Jepsen, the first female headliner since 2014, performs at WILD in fall 2018.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

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

PROTEST, from page 1

In addition to their critique of Martin’s approach to Islamophobia and students’ safety, protestors included calls for Palestinian liberation throughout the protest and also advocated for the abolition of WUPD and changes to the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. “These cops on campus don’t make Black and brown students feel safe, and as you can see by the way that they’re just protecting Chancellor Martin’s house, they’re not even meant to keep us safe in the first place,” junior Colleen Avila said in an interview. “They’re meant to protect WashU property and protect WashU capital and keep us from disrupting anything.” Glenn said in an interview with Student Life after the protest that the police

response was related to the students’ presence on private property. “We want to work with students so that they learn how to use their voice, because I think that’s the only way you get change in this country,” he said. “We’ll help everyone do that, but there are some limits to that. There are some things that are unacceptable, like going onto private residence. It’s just improper.” Glenn said that the contingent of WUPD officers at the protest represented not all but “a good amount” of the department’s on-duty officers, adding that “we had a few extra on because we knew this was going to happen.” For many students who attended the protest, the presence of WUPD represented what

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concerns among Muslim, Black and brown students last week. Some students conversed directly with WUPD Chief Mark Glenn and KamimuraJiménez, who both said they were open to meeting with students in the future for more substantive conversations. Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Support and Wellness Kirk Dougher also observed the protest from afar and talked to some students as the action wrapped up. After 10 minutes at the edge of the driveway, students moved to the grass near the sidewalk and began placing signs in the lawn, with some using water bottles to hammer in the signs’ stakes. They then invited students to share thoughts and experiences before the protest dispersed.

STUDENT LIFE 3

ZOE OPPENHEIMER | STUDENT LIFE

A student gives a speech outside Chancellor Andrew Martin’s house at Friday’s protest.

Avila described as the “performative” nature of any follow-up statement Martin could offer. “It’s very hard to say what can be done to make [Black and brown] students feel

safer, because I don’t think the administration is willing to take those steps,” said junior Ahmed Motiwala, who gave a speech sharing his experience with Islamophobia on campus.

“They’re willing to say that they’re going to be inclusive and diverse, but it feels like a facade. They’re trying to be progressive in a way that clears their name but doesn’t actually create change.”

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

STAFF EDITORIAL

WashU, keep your word and put the endowment to good use

hen you think about Wa s h i n g t o n University in St. Louis, a lot of different things come to mind — the size of the campus and how beautiful it is, its prestige as a top-20 university and how much money it has, among other things. The latter applies now more than ever. On Sept. 20, the University announced that WashU’s managed endowment pool had a 65% return, increasing its value to $15.3 billion and “giving Washington University in St. Louis a significant financial gain that the university will use to bolster its support of students and strategic academic initiatives.” As students, we know how we want to see the endowment used. We want to see the University keep its word and actually put the funding toward student support and programs that directly benefit the WashU and St. Louis community — not towards aesthetic changes and facility expansions that have no real impact on the WashU student experience. We want to see more funding put towards

mental health resources on campus and increasing the staff at the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center. We want campus to be accessible for everyone. The University’s failure to implement accommodations has caused many students with disabilities to struggle to navigate campus or get to their classes. Every residence hall should be ADA accessible; some dorms don’t have elevators, and that’s not acceptable. Every student should have the ability to live on campus safely without regard for their physical capabilities. WashU, we want you to level the playing field. It’s already difficult academically to be a student at WashU; don’t make it harder by diminishing the quality of life for some students just because you don’t want to remodel a few buildings. Over the years, student groups and activists like the WashU Undergraduate and Graduate Workers Union (WUGWU) have laid out clear initiatives for how University funding could impact the lives

of not only students but also employees — listen to them. Take their demands into consideration. For example, Dining Services is severely understaffed and underpaid. Pay the people who keep our campus fed a living wage. But will this be what the endowment is used for? What exactly is the endowment? As students, we hear a lot about the wealth the University has, but the majority don’t know where it comes from or how we get it. The term “endowment” is thrown around a lot, but it can be difficult to get a clear understanding of what it is or exactly how much of that money can actually be used for campus initiatives. While Chancellor Martin should be applauded for his 2020 blog “Endowment 101,” there are still a lot of lingering questions. The blog was a good start to transparency, but in the wake of the recent growth in the endowment, we need an update: one that makes clear exactly how much the University can afford to spend on the programs that will directly impact and improve the WashU student experience.

GRAPHIC BY HN HOFFMANN | STUDENT LIFE

Last year, Chancellor Martin mentioned in his blog that “we still have significant work to do to grow our endowment, especially its capacity to fund the amount of financial aid we aspire to provide. Admittedly, we are not as well-positioned as our peers in that regard, and we need to double down in order to eventually practice needblind admissions.” Now that the endowment has grown, make good on your promise: double down and practice need-blind admissions. What is stopping us? And while the funding will have an impact on students,

we can’t forget where we are. The University has a lot of impact in the community. As one of the biggest employers in St. Louis, it’s important to recognize the consequences of over-expanding and taking resources from the community. We are in St. Louis, not against it. Because we are a tax-exempt entity, University City and the St. Louis community at large are losing out on revenue that could improve the place that we call home for a few short years. When we’re gone, the people here still have to deal with the ramifications of the spending from a powerhouse institution like WashU. The

University should take that into account and invest more in local organizations and communities that would benefit from the tax dollars WashU isn’t paying. With this much money comes great responsibility, and we will hold the University accountable. We want to see real, impactful change that is directly related to what will benefit the most people in our community, not surfacelevel change that reflects what the administration thinks we want to see. We’re telling the administration what we need and what we want. Now it’s time for the University to listen.

Transitioning back: Freshmen need more support than ever SERIN KOH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ix hundred and nine days ago — on the fateful day of Jan. 29, 2020 — the first coronavirus case surfaced in the United States and marked the beginning of an era of the “new normal.” Five hundred sixty five days ago, a worldwide pandemic was declared. Five hundred and eleven days ago, classrooms were cleared out, school doors were locked and the last cars grumbled out of parking lots. In all 50 states (with the exception of Montana and Wyoming) students were leaving for home, and the schools were shutting down due to the global pandemic — along with the rest of the nation. What at first was expected to be only two weeks long stretched into months and

then, ultimately, a year. I recall the spring of my junior year: the casual (and even excited) manner that had bubbled from my high school classmates as they all exited the school halls in 2020 dissipated as the number of COVID-19 cases climbed every day. Days grew dull; a student’s day was reduced to laptop screens and sore eyes. Mental health plummeted. Walking to the kitchen or around the house was my source of exercise. To “mingle” with a friend meant to call them. Only by the last month or two of senior year did high schools begin to reopen; for a brief moment, we were able to walk onto campus again, socialize with teachers and classmates and liberate ourselves from the hours of virtual meetings. Yet these few months cower when compared

to the year and a half spent at home. In the blink of an eye, the class of 2025 graduated and entered college — high school had ended. Unlike any other year, the class must adjust to two things: college itself and physically attending school. As I walked through campus during the first few days of orientation, I felt thrilled to be a part of an in-person community where I could freely engage with others. College would be what it is supposed to be: a space for active learning and building memories. Despite such emotions, however, I also felt doubtful. As much as in-person settings are freeing, transferring from an isolated room and laptop screen into a classroom evokes both excitement and anxiety. Questions floated through my mind: Will I be able to make friends? Will I be able to take

in-person exams? How do I manage my time? And as I spoke with other freshmen throughout my first weeks at the university, I discovered that my concerns were shared . As students have been trudging through midterms these past few weeks, the stress and anxiety lives on. It is vital as a university to remember that recuperation requires a communal effort, just as surviving the pandemic did. So how can we, as a community, address the many challenges that come with the switch into an in-person setting? The first step is to simply accept the facts: The world is far from back to the pre-pandemic normality, and forcing the process to occur faster can only harm the campus community rather than help it. Professors should be mindful of the vast differences between virtual

and in-person classes when lecturing; the University can consider adding more resources for mental health and academic support. Professors can also help to ease students’ anxiety by offering more exam options, such as open-note and online exams, or exams that are slightly shorter. The switch from virtual to in-person assessments is a large jump. As I stood clutching a pencil waiting for my first in-person exam last week to commence, I realized that the source of my stress stemmed from the fact that the exam was in-person rather than from the material tested — and I was not alone. When I spoke with classmates, a great factor for such anxiety was doubt in their abilities as students to perform well on in-person exams since they had all adjusted to taking

exams virtually. The task of redesigning exams may be difficult to accomplish — given the many factors that go into designing an appropriate test for a class — but it may be essential in decreasing students’ stress levels. For many freshmen at WashU, midterms and other exams are their first in-person tests in nearly a year and a half. Such changes would offer students more time to adjust to in-person exams from virtual ones. Students can also rely on other students. Discussions about personal struggles and concerns with a suitemate, classmate or friend who can relate and understand the situation can be immensely helpful. The simple act of communicating with others can provide the comfort of knowing that they are not alone in their troubles.

With a $15.3 billion endowment, why are we still need-aware? ISRAEL FULTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

n Sep. 20, news hit our email inboxes that Washington University’s endowment grew by 65% over the past year, now standing at $15.3 billion. Just a week prior, to our delight, WashU rose by two places in the U.S. News & World Report’s National Universities ranking, making a three-way tie for #14 alongside Brown University and Vanderbilt University. While these recent developments suggest significant progress at WashU, they come as a direct contrast to WashU’s long-standing

position on maintaining a need-aware admissions process. This process takes applicants’ financial situations into account when making admissions decisions, essentially favoring those with greater financial means over those with less economic access. The University cites a lack of earmarked funds in the endowment for financial aid as a reason behind this stance, as Chancellor Emeritus Mark Wrighton stated another $1 billion needs to be endowed for financial aid to become need-blind. The Zetcher family’s recent donation for need-based financial aid is a step in the right direction, and combined with $6 billion more

in the bank, the endowment’s limited non-restricted funds now appear to be a mitigating factor in pursuing need-blind admissions. Our need-aware admissions are an eyesore on the University and the administration knows it. If equally-ranked Brown University can sustain a needblind admissions process with an endowment less than a third of WashU’s, then what does that say about our university, which won’t even prioritize it as a goal? Do we really deserve to be ranked 14th in the nation? There is only one message the WashU administration is sending out by continuing

as possible” are moot points as long as the University is need-aware. Because of the intentional admission of higher-income applicants, we have one of the wealthiest student bodies in the country, even compared to peer institutions. Our low socioeconomic diversity reverberates across campus, including the social stratification of students by their economic privilege, the difficulty of breaking outside the WashU bubble to embrace the St. Louis community and the poor treatment of the University’s cleaning, dining and maintenance workers. The University’s supposed obligations to support

equitable policies and bring the best individuals to campus are only performative activism so long as the University actively values wealth in its admissions. WashU is at a crossroads — either champion diversity and inclusion or further perpetuate classism and elitism. Unfortunately, the latter festers every day that the University does not establish need-blind admissions. WashU’s motto is Per Veritatem Vis, meaning “Strength Through Truth,” but when are administrators going to strengthen this University by recognizing the truth that a need-aware admissions process is economic discrimination? It’s the bare minimum.

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this discriminatory admissions practice: “Our priority is money.” This message is omnipresent, despite all the spin that admissions staff attempt to pull off during campus tours and admissions sessions. It’s not “making sure we provide enough financial aid when you’re accepted” when you simply would have not been accepted because of your economic background. Both Chancellor Martin’s commitment to “recruiting the very best individuals regardless of background or previous opportunities” and Undergraduate Admissions’ promise to “continually review our policies and practices to be sure they are as equitable

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

SCENE

STUDENT LIFE 5

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

Crosswords and cardboard: The life of a Hitzeman student worker SARAI STEINBERG CONTRIBUTING WRITER “I can help who’s next!” These are the words sophomore Sam Schwartz utters every time a student walks into Hitzeman Mail Services. A quick scan of their student ID is followed by a package lookup on the computer, where Schwartz habitually crosses his feet on top of each other in concentration. The phone rings in the background. Colleagues stack boxes in the periphery. Schwartz moves past them with ease to retrieve parcels amidst a sea of alphabetized cardboard. Package secured. On to another: “I can help who’s next!” Schwartz is a workstudy student who has been employed at Washington University mailing services since last year. On most work days, he’ll wake up at 9:30 a.m. to coffee and the New York Times crossword — both the mini and the full size. Undoubtedly a cruciverbalist, Schwartz’s record is 10 seconds for the mini and eight minutes for the full. With caffeine consumed and both crosswords complete, Schwartz typically cracks down on coursework before heading to his 11:00 a.m. statistics class. With the exception of ultra-quick crosswords, Schwartz’s morning fits the bill of a typical WashU

student’s routine — coffee, studying and class. But unlike many others, he has an additional factor to consider when scheduling his days: working at the South 40 mailroom. During Schwartz’s senior year of high school, he started thinking about paying for college. His financial situation is, in his words, “more complicated than most.” Schwartz grew up in a wealthy Connecticut town where both his parents worked as private school teachers. But between living in faculty housing — which took a large cut of his mother’s paycheck — and his three younger siblings, Schwartz knew that he had to factor in tuition costs when looking at colleges. “Where I was going to school was going to be reliant upon how much aid I got,” he said. When he arrived at WashU, Schwartz applied for various jobs. Top of the list: barista, intramural sports rep and research assistant. Assignment? Hitzeman Mailing Services. Schwartz took it in stride, growing to appreciate the built-in face-to-face interaction it provided him amidst the COVID restrictions of his freshman year. This year, Schwartz returned to Hitzeman. He is friendly with his fellow employees, and appreciates their flexibility with him prioritizing his academic

HOLDEN HINDES | STUDENT LIFE

Schwartz stands with a cart full of packages at the Hitzeman mailroom, where he has worked since his freshman year.

schedule. The work itself is comforting in its consistency and keeps him on his feet. Still, there are slow days. On those, Schwartz is often able to cram in a quick computer science reading between package pickups. Sometimes, there are breaks from the usual. One time, Schwartz said, a twopound package of weed arrived at Hitzeman. How it made it past the U.S. Postal Service remains a mystery. More commonplace are the cringing expressions of students who are sent flowers. “It’s funny when we

deliver these really gaudy flower arrangements [to students],” Schwartz said. “They’re embarrassed because they have to walk through campus with this, you know, ‘Happy Birthday, Love Mom’ and it’s always the same reaction: ‘Oh man, you know, I told my parents not to send me this…’” Schwartz works at Hitzeman six hours a week, and spends an additional three tutoring McKelvey students. Altogether, Schwartz makes about $180 every two weeks, about $40$60 of which gets taken out of his paycheck every

month for student loans. The rest goes to essentials like groceries, as well as pocket money. Often, Schwartz’s financial calculus requires trade-offs. If he needs to save for a plane ticket home, he’ll take that into account and trade eating out at a restaurant for a BD dinner. Although Schwartz thinks that the majority of WashU students are respectful of work-study students, he wishes some were more aware of others’ financial means. He feels this most acutely when trying to balance his budget with an

active social life. “Things like going out to dinner, going to a nicer dinner…that’s accessible to a fair amount of people here [but] that isn’t really accessible to everyone most of the time,” he said. “So, you know, just be wary of when you could be alienating people.” After a shift at Hitzeman, Schwartz likes to unwind by playing Mario Kart with friends before going to Ultimate Frisbee practice at 8:00 p.m. And he finally makes his way to bed at midnight, nine hours away from tomorrow’s crossword.

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Musings from a trip to the Loop’s Thai Country Café KEONA DORDOR STAFF WRITER Bright red lights flickering “Thai Country Café” ushered me towards a quaint restaurant nestled in the middle of the Delmar Loop. With the ring of a bell as I opened the door, an employee emerged from the back of the restaurant, walking toward me across the white-tiled floor. It was 11:33 when I sat down, just three minutes after the restaurant opened. Mahogany tables with varying lengths filled the restaurant, the dark wood contrasting with the honey color that comprised the walls. I took a seat two tables down from the reception, anticipating a lunch rush and wanting an unobstructed view of each person who entered. Ten minutes later, two people entered the restaurant — the only visitors who came in during the 4.5 hours I sat in

the café. The first one through the door had short blond hair in a bob and a patterned green top. “Oh! This is a cute little place!” she exclaimed, and I guessed it might be their first time here. “I know!” her friend responded. She wore sparkly tennis shoes and the effect of the St. Louis humidity on her red curly hair was palpable. The two women, both middle-aged, sat in the middle of the restaurant across from me, existing in comfortable silence as they parsed through the menu and ate appetizers. “Beef or shrimp? Beef or shrimp? Beef or shrimp?” the sparkly-shoed woman chanted like a flight attendant taking orders for a trip across the Atlantic. “I don’t know! But so many of these dishes have peas in them,” her friend responded as I made eye contact with her. I never understood why many people vehemently despised peas. I’m sure she

noticed my perplexed stare. Eventually, she ordered number 49. “Can I have shrimp with it?” It was a good decision. While waiting for their food, they played music on their phone like they had the whole restaurant to themselves. Out of nowhere, the redhaired woman declared, “I used to go to concerts with Stephanie. We’re not friends anymore because she lives in California…She was my closest childhood friend.” Billy Strings played in the background, but she fell silent as she reminisced. Then I, too, began to reminisce. I met my first best friend at church. Her name in my phone was Modge Podge because she liked art — it just made sense in my twelveyear-old brain. She told me that one day she wanted to become a fashion designer. I could barely draw stick figures, let alone clothing, but I appointed myself her business partner. We constantly begged our parents for sleepovers, and in the middle of Church sermons about compassion, we’d sneak out of the sanctuary to gossip. “Glad we’ve been friends since forever. Friendships are tough,” the blond-bobbed woman responded to her friend, briefly interrupting my daydream. Friendships are difficult, and hanging on to friendships you formed as a child is especially hard. I looked at these two women. They sat

in silence for most of their lunch; they felt no need to keep the conversation going, no pressure to impress the other with a quip. Sitting at a table pushed against a wall, I glanced at the decor next to me. A large plate with a magnolia-colored rim leaned on the wall. Engraved on it was a brown carriage and some lettering: Thai Country Café January 1, 1994 St. Louis, MO For 27 years, this restaurant has stood strong — through a recession, a pandemic and the many quiet summers that come as college students leave for vacation. And here these two women sat, also having weathered many events, but with a friendship still intact. Modge and I did not fare like these women, and I wondered about the circumstances that differentiated ours from theirs. As we grew older, those things we loved, like make-believe and mischief, began to fade. We started going to different schools, and our paths slowly diverged. Seeing each other in passing at church wasn’t enough. Our conversations became fewer, further and stiffer as the days went by. And then the pandemic hit, and even the short conversations we had in passing evaporated. Our college decisions meant residing in different regions of the country. It hit me then that this person I grew up with wasn’t always going to be a constant in my life.

BRIAN CUI | STUDENT LIFE

Thai Country Cafe has been a Loop mainstay for 27 years.

The silence was interrupted when the waiter arrived to give the women their meals. Inspired, I, too, decided to order. “Can I please have the red curry...extra peas please!” The blond-bobbed hair woman would most definitely have been disappointed with me if she heard me. It’s my usual order at Thai Country Café. I’ve ordered it so often that my regular waiter sometimes finishes off my request. A different person took my order today, but even though she couldn’t read my mind, she was lovely. Each time my water became half a cup, she promptly refilled it. The music changed to Alanis Morrisette’s “You Oughta Know,” which is about an ex: And I’m here, to remind you Of the mess you left when you went away It’s not fair, to deny me Of the cross I bear that you

gave to me You, you, you oughta know There’s such a massive cultural acknowledgment of how painful romantic breakups are. There are constantly movies and songs about how difficult romantic breakups are, but not so much on the topic of friendship. It’s odd because the emotional bond we feel with friends is often stronger and has lasted longer than that of romantic partners. Long-time friends are a reflection of the various steps of our childhood; they are a living archive of our past. Once that friendship ends, a new era of your history begins. And your memories, the primary sources you once harkened back to now and again for good comedic relief, suddenly plunge you into light melancholia, even in the middle of a meal at Thai Country Café.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

SPORTS

STUDENT LIFE 7

GRADY NANCE & CLARA RICHARDS | SENIOR SPORTS EDITORS | SPORTS@STUDLIFE.COM

From pole vaulting to speaking Norwegian, Ariana Miles does it all ATHLETE OF THE WEEK GRADY NANCE SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR The No. 3 Washington University women’s soccer team has yet to lose a game this season, and their attack is a major reason why. The Bears have dominated the ball in nearly every matchup and have outshot their opponents every time they have taken the field. Senior Ariana Miles has played a pivotal role in that scheme; the midfielder ranks second on the team in points (goals doubled plus assists) with eight this season, and she is primed to lead the team’s attack as the season takes its first turn into University Athletic Association competition. As she and the team prepare to face off against University of Rochester this weekend, Student Life sat down with Miles to talk about her soccer, favorite food spots and hidden talents. This interview has been edited slightly for length and clarity. Student Life: I guess we can start before you got to WashU. Do you have a particular memory of your first time playing soccer?” Ariana Miles: It started way before high school, but the biggest memory is probably in high school, that switch flipped where I was like ‘wow like I could go to college with this.’ I really enjoy the athletic part of it but also the social atmosphere and the people that I learned from and everything that comes along with it for me. I feel like you learn a lot besides actually kicking a ball into a net. Yeah, I guess I kind of fell in love with it when I was really young and I just kept playing it and here we are! SL: I feel like that’s how it always goes with the sports you love. Did you play any other sports in high school? AM: I ran track — I ran the 400m, 4x100m, 200m, and pole vaulted. SL: Wait,

you pole vaulted?

AM: I did! I loved it, I thought it was awesome. I feel like I used to watch it and I was like ‘how does this work?’ and then they just put a stick in my hand one day and then I just did it. Honestly the only reason I kept running was because of pole vault. SL: I could never get my head around it, that’s crazy. Anyway, you grew up in LA, so was it basically just sunshine 24/7 and out on the field, all the time? AM: Yeah, the weather was great, I lived very far from my high school so I would spend a lot of time in the car driving out to school because it was 45 minutes away, and then a soccer practice was an hour

and then driving home at 9:45 at night. But I guess the weather at that point was a good factor because I rarely ran into snow or anything at all. So, yeah, it kind of played to my advantage. SL: It must’ve been a shock coming to St. Louis then. AM: Definitely, yeah. I think it’s kind of the inconsistency that gets me — you have no idea what you’re going to get. I looked at the weather this morning and it said 63 and I’m like, ‘oh, it’s probably kind of chilly out,’ and now I’m dying in a thick sweater. SL: Were there any other big culture shocks coming from the West Coast besides the weather? AM: The pace. In LA, everyone is kind of there for themselves, I feel like it’s a rat race. Here people are kind of calm, people are slower, not as much traffic, not as many people like on the road trying to get places. So I think, culturally, it’s a bit more laid back, and I feel like people enjoy the moment here more than LA. SL: So let’s talk about the team a bit — the summer was kind of chaotic because [former head coach Jim] Conlon left and then there was this whole flux period where you guys didn’t really know what was happening because Coach Gabbert came in really late. What was that like? AM: It was pretty overwhelming at first, obviously, [Conlon leaving] it came as quite the shock with Conlon leaving. I think that we all thought that he was going to retire here, but at the end of the day things happen. And then coach Gabbert came in, and it was really about scheduling what pre-season was gonna look like. It was interesting because it went from the focus being soccer and prepping over the summer to, as a senior class, we had

10/02/21

this shift to logistics: wWhen are we practicing, where are we practicing, how are we going to games, where’s our flight information for the season, etc. I think that it’s been a balance of bringing in the new freshmen and stuff but also taking on a very different leadership role than just on the field.

trying to maintain that even though there’s a change in leadership as a whole. So yeah, definitely keeping some things but it was kind of a fun opportunity because we can kind of tweak it where we want, like, make it what we want it to be. I haven’t done a speech yet this season so pressure’s on.

SL: It’s kind of an especially tough position for you all because you jumped from sophomore to senior year and you’re suddenly pushed into these leadership roles.

SL: So when you’re not playing, studying and training, what do you like to do with that very limited free time?

AM: Exactly. I think that junior year is a really fundamental leadership building year because you’ve been here for two years and now you’re getting the swing of things, and then it’s like, “Okay, now that I’ve figured out the soccer piece, how can I lead?” I think you can see it, but I think that we have a very special class, so you’re able to kind of work through that together and like figure it out. SL: Well it’s worked out well so far for sure. Watching the team play this season has been really fun, you all just rip off shots. You have the shots and you just take them. AM: Definitely, we appreciate that. I mean it’s definitely a work in progress every day but we do what we can. We show up, play some soccer and then go from there. SL: It’s been two years since you guys played. Have there been any traditions that you guys tried to maintain and any that you lost in the gap? AM: Yeah, for sure it’s both ways. Our pregame routine has stayed the same, we still do pregame speeches. We try to continue those traditions because I think that it makes our program special and brings in the freshmen, s o w e ’ r e

(2*G + A)

10/03/21

AM: In the limited free time that I do have, I’m hanging out with friends, I call my parents when I have the time to, I love just going to Forest Park and picnicking or just hanging out. I’ve also really gotten into going on walks. And also going to eat food.

Taryn

SL: Where’s your go-to place to eat these days? AM: Taco Buddha right now is definitely my top spot. Their frozen margs are delicious and their tacos are incredible, I highly recommend it. SL: I’ve never gone but that’s a pretty good sell, I’ll have to check it out. What’s something about you that maybe your teammates wouldn’t know?

10/02/21

AM: I think that I’ve probably mentioned this to them before, but my mom is from Norway, and Norway, I see it as my second home. So maybe that’s like one part that they don’t realize it’s like a very major part of me. When I was younger, I’d go back every summer, and I lived there in first grade. It’s also technically my first language. SL: Can you speak Norwegian? AM: I can!

10/02/21

SL: Can you give us a soundbyte? AM: Hei, jeg heter Ariana Miles, jeg spiller fotball, jeg elsker Student magazine (Hi, my name is Ariana Miles, I play soccer, and I love Student Life newspaper!) SL: Okay so that should definitely always be your fun fact. One

10/02/21 final question: Would you rather adopt a child every time you hear “Bohemian Rhapsody” or have fish for hands? AM: Oh God, I guess adopt a child every time I hear “Bohemian Rhapsody.” I can just make a little soccer team of my own.

GRACE BRUTON | STUDENT LIFE

Ariana Miles dribbles the ball up the right wing in a game against Carnegie Mellon University in November 2019.

10/11/21

8 STUDENT LIFE

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

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Hotchner Festival puts on three thought-provoking plays CHARLIE MORRISON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Front Porch Steps by Megan Gooden Sometimes politeness and honesty are mutually exclusive. If you think about it, we hold things back from each other quite often in the name of appeasement. After watching Megan Gooden’s play, I found myself noticing this. Tawne, however, the nosey, new neighbor in town, does no such thing. She believes in saying exactly what’s on her mind – no matter what. Does that make her annoying? At first, yes, but then her personality rubs off on the main character. He’s the kind of guy to stay quiet as his obnoxious friend complains about how far he had to drive to come over to watch football. His girlfriend is cheating on him with that very friend. Simply put, he’s exactly the kind of person who could benefit from a proverbial slap in the face that Tawne so gleefully provides. As the play unfolds, Tawne creates an unforgettable explosion in the lives of these characters, each with distinct and memorable personalities that are nothing short of exhilarating to watch.

Kent Styles by Zachery Stern The first scene in Kent Styles serves as a prologue. We meet Fred and Liz, an older, married couple, and their seven year-old nephew, Kent, whom they’re adopting. We never learn what happened to his parents. Fred and Liz welcome him to his new home and ask if he wants anything to eat or drink, but he stays quiet and keeps his head down, that is, until he meets his cousin, who brings him out of his shell with talk of lego sets and incest. It quickly becomes clear there’s something meaningful here. Still, Kent has some anger in him. He seems lost, and the implication is his biological parents are dead. Once alone, he slams his pillow. Cut to fifteen-ish years later. Kent looks terrible. He’s fresh out of prison, and he’s just been jumped by people he supposedly owes 75,000 dollars to. If he doesn’t pay them back, they’ll kill him – so he says. To come up with the cash, he goes to Fred and Liz, but it seems he hasn’t spoken to them in years, as the following scene reveals that Liz is fed up with her nephew after years of bearing the brunt of his delinquent behaviors. We

CURRAN NEENAN | STUDENT LIFE

Second-year Theatre and Performance Studies masters student Liv Jacobs (left) acts in the A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Festival performance of Kent Styles, which was written by junior Zachery Stern.

also see, contrarily, that Fred has an ever-lasting soft spot for his nephew. Liz believes Kent is bad to the bone. Fred will never stop believing in his son’s potential for change. So, with that dynamic set in place, Kent, with the help of his girlfriend, Liz, asks for 75,000 dollars from Fred. His father softly declines, citing high medical bills. Kent’s cousin – his saving grace from move-in day – has been in a coma for six years. After no thought at all, Kent asks his dad to pull the plug on his cousin, so they can afford

to help him out. Given all that, I don’t think it’d be editorializing to say that Kent Styles asks a lot of important questions: at what point can you no longer trust someone? How does childhood trauma manifest itself in your twenties? How can you help someone who believes themself to be helpless? Can anyone really be fundamentally bad? And, when faced with the moral conundrum of choosing between a comatose son and a delinquent nephew, what is the right thing to do?

On multiple occasions throughout the play, Zachary Stern brilliantly subverts the audience, providing a piece that feels both personal and enjoyable to watch. Not that I’m giving ratings here, but this was 5 stars.

Decadents Gone Wilde by J. Myles Hesse There’s a fine line between knowing someone better than anyone else and knowing what’s best for them. Only Oscar Wilde knows what’s best

for him, but we never meet him. Instead, we meet his wife, his lover, and his friend – each using their relationship to the artist as a form of leverage in their own way. The drama that ensues is gripping, with sparks of humor and desperation throughout. J. Myles Hessee accomplishes writing a period piece that feels pertinent, and it is a credit to both the writer and the actors that despite the absence of a set, I always knew exactly where the characters were, how they interacted with each other, and how they felt.

drink. dine. play.

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