THE STARTING LINE New Student Welcome Magazine, Student Life at Washington University in St. Louis
Leter from editors and staf list
Academic advice beyond the syllabus — from a senior to frst-years
WashU ABCs: Cracking the campus acronym code
News in review
One random thing we brought to college that ended up being useful
The ultimate dorm room packing list
Where to get decorations for a wonderful room
Fine dorming: Cooking at WashU
Classes to take if you don’t know what to study
Sufering from major indecision? Good.
So you were single in high school
What’s one thing we wish we knew before starting at WashU
So you’re starting college during ‘unprecedented times’
Don’t know what you’re doing — ever
Is there even anything to do on campus?
‘Save Me, Scene!’: Moving to the Midwest
A brief guide to the MetroLink
St. Louis concert guide for fall 2025
A beginner’s guide to WashU gyms
Getin’ down to business: Best and worst campus bathrooms
St. Louis of-campus map
Our favorite of-campus restaurants
Fall sports season previews
Ladies frst: WashU women’s sports in the 2024-25 season
Crossword puzzle
Taking it to pound town: Navigating sex in your frst year of college
Finding yourself in your frst year of college
Meet the Student Life staf!
Letter from the editors
Hello, Class of 2029!
Congratulations on wrapping up high school, and we are so excited to welcome you to the WashU community! In the coming months, you will embark on your own college journey flled with new faces, places, and memories. Speaking of memories, we remember our frst year like it was yesterday: discovering the deliciousness of the buffalo chicken wrap at the DUC, realizing there are better places to study than Olin Library, and fguring out the heavy-duty tape for your posters will rip off the paint on the walls (yes, I did paint over it). We put this issue together as a collection of these “oops” and “aha!” moments to help guide you on your path through
college. Although this issue will not cover every unique experience you will face as a frst-year student, we hope that this will give you the guidance to fnd your way in your new home.
Bear Beginnings is where your WashU journey will begin. It will feel like summer camp, and college won’t even feel real at that point. Then, you’ll realize all those new faces (and many, many more) will be on the same campus as you for the next four years. You will begin to fnd your groove in WashU’s community through clubs, new friends, and friends of friends. You will also run into obstacles: diffcult classes or roommate disagreements. But not all obstacles are necessarily bad, and they may even set you
down a path you never imagined for yourself. Our advice: Even if you aren’t facing an obstacle, throw yourself into the unknown. Say “hello” to your neighbor in your Intro to Psychology class. Take a Fundamentals of Acting class. Try your best to put yourself outside your comfort zone. College is a time to try new things and learn about yourself, so put yourself out there, don’t be afraid to say yes, and take advantage of the opportunities four years at WashU will provide. Shamelessly, we will plug our advertisement to join our Student Life community. As frst-years, we, the Editors-in-Chief, remember talking about joining the newspaper with each other in a Bear’s Den (aka BD) booth. Despite our vastly
different levels of experience with journalism entering college, we are glad we made the decision to join every day. If you are interested in writing, designing, illustrating, photo-taking, video-producing, crossword-constructing, or general laughter and merriment (we could go on forever), the door into our home on the third foor of the Danforth University Center (aka the DUC, there are a lot of acronyms...) is always open. No experience is required and we welcome anyone to join any time. We wish you the best of luck as you chart your journey to St. Louis and can’t wait to meet you!
See you soon, Riley & Syd
Student Life Editorial Staff
Riley Herron
Sydney Tran Editors-in-Chief editor@studlife.com
Elizabeth Stump
Managing News Editor news@studlife.com
Will Rosenblum Managing Scene Editor scene@studlife.com
Academic advice beyond the syllabus — from a senior to frst-years
Joel Swirnoff News Editor
Welcome to WashU! This article is a primer for incoming first-years to make the most of their academic experience here. You’re about to have the most work and the most free time you have ever had, and handling all of that can be daunting at first. I hope that this article will help make sense of the academic world of college. I will discuss some baseline things to know about your classes, and I’ll also offer some advice on how to think about academics in a healthy and productive way.
On impostor syndrome
You belong here. You got in. There are going to be times when that doesn’t sound so convincing to you. I promise that every other person will feel the same way at some point, even the people that you might be comparing yourself to. This is a natural part of new experiences! I speak from experience when I say that these feelings will come and go, and that you should acknowledge them but refuse to believe them. Everyone is coming from different backgrounds, and everyone has unique skill sets that make it easy to feel like you’re behind. But you all share one thing, which is that the admissions committee at WashU knew that you are someone who can succeed here. And so you will, as much as impostor syndrome might try to convince you otherwise.
Commit to the process of learning
WashU is academically challenging. That will probably become apparent soon. I do not say that to scare you, but to tell you that this is an opportunity to throw yourself into what you are learning and look at it not as a chore or a job, but as something you benefit from. As cliché as it might sound, you will get out of your classes what you put in. So when I say “commit,” I mean really let yourself learn to love the process of learning. This will
be easier for some classes than others, but strive to find the things that make you wonder about the world and force you to want to know more. College is the place to leave class confused but curious to clear things up.
Take advantage of resources
Okay, so just how do you “clear things up”? WashU has many resources for you to use to get the most out of
your classes. Some of these, in my opinion, are musts, and often they are pretty simple to find and sign up for. First and foremost, go to office hours. As obvious as that sounds, many students rarely go to office hours and as a result miss out on opportunities to clear up the questions that they won’t have time to get answered later when they are cramming for an exam. Office hours are also a great time to get to know your professors, who are experts in their field and are generally interesting conversationalists.
Second, if your class has structured study sessions like Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL), go to them! Even if you find they aren’t useful for one class, they might be for another. I have found from my own experience that these sessions can be the most useful resource available for learning.
Third, look to classmates and upperclassmen who have taken your course for help. Especially in those huge lecture classes where one-on-one time with the professor is rare, getting a group of people together to ask questions and work through problems together can be very helpful. Most people are willing to help if you ask, so ask! Seriously, if you have questions, you can reach me at joel.swirnoff@studlife.com (especially if you are thinking about being pre-med).
Learn how you learn
This can be a big one, and it may require some trialand-error. Find the learning process that works for you and helps you feel comfortable and confident in your work and in your studying. For my STEM classes that have dense lectures, I like to spend 20-30 minutes reviewing each lecture on the day of the lecture to help get the information in my head and find areas of confusion. Closer to exam dates, I focus on active recall and write out everything I know from memory, then check to see what I missed. These are two processes that I have found to work for me, but maybe there are other things that work for you! Getting into a rhythm that you know you can rely on helps assuage anxiety and will set you up for success. Know that this can take time to figure out, and it might look different for each class. You might also have to learn the hard way by realizing what doesn’t work for you as
you go along. That’s all part of the process.
It’s okay to stumble over the first hurdle
As mentioned above, finding success might initially take time. Your first exam might suck. Brush it off and keep going. At the risk of using another cliché, it really is true that one bad exam or paper or whatever else neither defines you nor will define your academic experience at WashU (that’s why some classes let you drop an exam!). Reflect on why things didn’t go well and what you can do to fix it for next time. Then move on.
Take your mental health seriously
Okay, yes, another cliché, but this matters more than anything. If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen, or at least scale things back. It is normal to feel some burnout, but please monitor how you are doing and take action if you feel you are slipping. Academics at a place like WashU put a lot of pressure on students, so being mindful of how that might be affecting you is paramount. Just like how coming to college is an opportunity to learn how you learn and figure out what career you want to pursue, it is also an opportunity to learn how to take care of yourself and your friends. WashU offers a number of mental health resources, like free therapy services, mental health emergency support, and drop-in counseling. You can learn more about offerings on the website for the Center for Counseling & Psychological Services.
Miscellaneous Tips:
Here are some quick-fire pieces of advice and information from my experience that might help you with WashU academics:
1. Get organized
Using a scheduling app (or book, if you’re old-school) is super helpful for keeping track of classes, meetings, and homework. My personal favorite is Google Calendar.
2. Read the syllabus
Understanding the syllabus helps you understand the class. For example, the syllabus often offers insight into your professor’s teaching style, which does differ between classes. The syllabus also gives you a sense of timing and what you will learn that semester. I recommend reading the syllabus before going to the first class.
3. Space out your studying
Schedule out what you want to accomplish and when, and it can make a lot of work feel much more manageable. If I want to review, say, nine lectures for an exam, I might do three a day in the week leading up to the exam instead of cramming it all in right before.
4. College is not only academics
Even at WashU, there is life to be lived outside of your schoolwork. Even though my best advice is to try not to let schoolwork feel like a chore, it still is work and you still need a break sometimes. Enjoy what WashU and St. Louis have to offer (which many of the articles in this magazine will show you)!
WashU A BCs: Cracking the campus acronym code
Astrid Burns Special Issues Editor
BD (Bear’s Den)
This is the dining hall located on the South 40, which features different dining options such as a pasta bar, kosher section, and late-night grill. BD doubles as a popular hangout and study spot for frst-years and sophomores.
CCE (Center for Career Engagement)
Located in the Danforth University Center (DUC), the Center for Career Engagement, also referred to as the career center, is home to eight different career communities differentiated by major and career interests. These communities offer specialized career advising, resume reviews, interview prep, and more. You can choose to opt into one or multiple career communities, such as Health Care & Sciences; Government, Policy & Social Impact; and even Career Exploration. The center also hosts drop-in sessions and peer advising.
CDI (Center for Diversity & Inclusion)
The Center for Diversity & Inclusion, also located in the DUC, supports and advocates for all WashU undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, including those from underrepresented and marginalized identities. The CDI offers students comprehensive resources and hosts programming with the aim of fostering a diverse and equitable campus through dialogue and community-building.
CS40 (Congress of the South 40)
CS40 is a board of student representatives who are elected during the spring semester. They serve as the programming board for the many events on the South 40, such as the Residential College Olympics, movie nights, game nights, and various speaker events. Clubs can also work with them for advertising and equipment rentals.
DUC (Danforth University Center)
The main hub of campus, the DUC, has a dining hall, Ibby’s (a sit-down restaurant), Tisch Commons (an event and seating space), SU (see below) and Campus Life offces, the Fun Room with a pool table and other games, and more.
EST (Emergency Support Team)
The Emergency Support Team is made up of trained student frst responders who answer calls on the Danforth Campus and are available 24/7 during the school year. You can reach EST by calling 314-935-5555.
FYP (First-Year Programs)
No, not like the TikTok FYP. FirstYear Programs include Ampersand programs, First-Year Seminars (FYS), frst-year opportunities, and Beyond Boundaries courses. These specialized and interdisciplinary courses are a unique opportunity for frst-years to explore academic interests and meet other frst-year students.
GBMs (General Body Meetings)
These are open club meetings that provide a space for interested members to get a sense of a club’s vibe. GBMs often occur a few times a semester, sometimes are themed, and are usually posted on club Instagram pages, so look out for GBM information after the activities fair.
KOC (Kids on Campus)
While the name sounds dirty, KOC is actually the campus sketch comedy group that hosts a weekend of comedy at the end of every semester. Be prepared to show up way before the show’s start time to get prime seating.
KWUR (K-Washington University Radio)
KWUR (pronounced “kay-wur”) is WashU’s student-run campus radio station playing underground music. Located on the third foor of the DUC in the Harvey Media Center (HMC), KWUR features hour-long
student shows, from traditional music broadcasts to podcast-style talk shows.
NAP (Night at the Pageant) & WILD (Walk In, Lay Down)
NAP and WILD are free WashUhosted concerts that occur each semester. NAP is hosted off campus at The Pageant music venue in the Delmar Loop, while WILD takes place on Mudd Field on the last day of classes. Although WILD originally got its name from students bringing couches and blankets to Mudd Field to watch movies, it has now turned into a larger music event. In recent years, featured artists such as Zedd, Flo Milli, and Flo Rida have performed.
Paws (Paws & Go)
Located within BD, this is the campus marketplace where students can use meal points to buy produce, frozen meals, and other fun snacks and beverages. Paws is typically open until midnight, providing a late-night food option.
PLTL (Peer-Led Team Learning)
Offered to students in General Chemistry, all levels of Calculus, and Physics, PLTL is a one-credit course where a trained student tutor guides a group of 8-10 students through weekly problem sets that supplement lecture materials.
RSVP (Rape and Sexual Violence Prevention) Center
The RSVP Center offers free, confdential counseling for students who have experienced relationship and sexual violence. The RSVP Center also hosts programming including The Date, a sexual violence prevention program for frst-years, and offers training about sexual violence prevention.
S.A.R.A.H. is a confdential, 24/7, student-run helpline that offers counseling on topics including sexual
assault and harassment, intimate partner and sexual violence, mental health, relationships, and sexual health. Call 314-935-8080 to speak with their trained peer counselors.
SU (Student Union)
Student Union is WashU’s student government, composed of an Executive Board, Senate, Treasury, and Election Commission. SU allocates the student activities fee to campus clubs and advocates for student needs by working with administration and passing resolutions.
STE
(Student Transitions & Engagement)
Formally known as Student Transitions and Family Programs, this offce facilitates student transitions to WashU to ensure that students reach their personal and academic goals. STE runs frst-year experience programs such as Bear Beginnings, First-Year Finale, and the WashU Student Associate (WUSA) peer mentor program.
WUHHU (WashU Hip Hop Union)
WUHHU (pronounced “woo-hoo”) is WashU’s premier student hip-hop group. They are known for their high-energy fall showcase hosted in the DUC, which gets packed with cheering friends, family, and fans (pro tip, show up early for any WUHHU performance).
WUSA (WashU Student Associate)
WUSAs (pronounced “woo-sas”) are sophomore students who serve as peer mentors to assist student transitions by providing campus resources, tips and advice, and a community space. They serve as orientation leaders for a group of frstyears during Bear Beginnings and then as peer mentors during weekly WUSA hours hosted on your dorm foor throughout the school year.
News in review
News
Staff
Welcome to WashU!
Here’s a chronological recap of some of the major events and happenings last school year, both around campus and in the greater community. This includes how national politics have affected the WashU community, so you can get up to speed on all of the campus goings-on before arriving in the fall.
After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Affirmative Action in June of 2023, effectively banning the consideration of a person’s race as a factor in university admission, Student Life reported that WashU’s Class of 2028 had 6 percentage points fewer students of color than the previous class. At the same
time, the number of students from low- to moderate-income backgrounds — including those eligible for federally funded Pell Grants — increased, and the share of students receiving financial aid rose from 42% to 48%.
On Election Day, WashU saw its highest voter turnout in history, with over 2,000 people voting at polling stations set up on the Danforth and Medical Campuses. Following the 2022 Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which made abortion illegal in the state, Missouri’s Amendment 3 — which would guarantee the “fundamental right to reproductive freedom” and enshrine the right to abortion up until fetal viability in the state constitution — passed by a margin of 52% to 48% on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Notably, 91.3% of the WashU students surveyed by Student Life voted in favor of
WashU community members were part of nearly three million voters in Missouri who cast ballots in the 2024 presidential election, with the state eventually going to President Donald Trump.
the amendment. The amendment has faced legal turmoil since its passing, including court battles over its constitutionality. Additionally, the Republican majority in the state legislature has also approved a ballot
amendment, which could be put to voters in 2026 elections or sooner and would ask voters to reimpose an abortion ban, but with exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape and incest.
BRI NITSBERG | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR
In mid-January, Student Life interviewed Sandro Galea, the inaugural dean of WashU’s forthcoming School of Public Health — the frst new school since the George Warren Brown School of Social Work opened in 1925. Galea shared that he is excited to use WashU’s prestige in the world of medicine to make an impact in public health and plans to work closely with pre-med and medical students, along with students in other academic felds intersecting with public health. The school will open in 2026.
Approximately two weeks after Trump’s inauguration, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a $4 billion cut to research funding in the U.S.; however, the cut was paused by a Massachusetts federal court judge following lawsuits from universities across the nation and 22 state attorney generals. WashU received the third-most NIH funding of any university in 2024, and according to Student Life estimates, the cuts could cause WashU to lose roughly $106 million, which would stife research efforts.
Following the proposed cuts, graduate students organized protests on Mudd Field and the Medical Campus. Many of the students and professors who
attended the demonstrations said that they wanted to give greater visibility to scientists who are working to solve some of the world’s biggest problems through research.
In late February, Chancellor Andrew Martin gave his annual State of the University Address, in which he addressed how current political
turmoil may impact WashU’s funding and staff. Despite the uncertainty faced by WashU, Martin remained optimistic regarding the future of the school, touting the achievements of students, faculty, and community members as an indicator of what is to come from WashU.
At the time of Martin’s address, the Trump administration had put U.S. universities under fre for their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. When asked about the future of WashU’s DEI programs, Martin said he is committed to maintaining WashU’s community but isn’t necessarily committed to the letters “D,” “E,” “I,” or any combination of the three. Since then, the University announced the formation of a committee charged with reviewing and recommending changes to the university’s DEI programs and activities.
In April, WashU’s Dining Services — which was named No. 2 Best College Dining by the Princeton Review in 2024 — committed to a two-to-three-year overhaul of its operations after facing criticism from some students last year concerning limited hours and high pricing. According to its website, the overhaul includes “reviewing higher ed best practices, expanding All You Care to Eat (AYCTE) options, integrating national and local brands, adopting innovative technology, and reconfguring meal plans to offer diverse options and price points.” Administrators reiterated their commitment to affordability.
While ground was broken in October at Riney Hall’s construction site, the project has now been put on pause due to funding cuts.
Hip-hop artist Flo Rida headlined the Spring 2025 WILD performance on Friday, April 25.
ANNA CALVO | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SYDNEY TRAN | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Also in April, the University announced that it is pausing the construction on Riney Hall, a new Arts & Sciences building that was slated to open in 2028, and reopening Mudd Field fully in the fall. Mudd Field had been partially closed during the 2025 spring semester as the University had plans to remodel the feld. The school cited a potential endowment tax and cuts to research funding as the reasons behind the pause. WashU also expressed interest in resuming work on the project in the future.
In other facilities-related news, WashU is still in the process of planning how to utilize land purchased from Fontbonne University — a neighboring university that is ceasing operations after the summer 2025 term — for $39 million in 2024. Additionally, WashU was hoping to develop land leased from nearby Concordia Seminary into baseball, softball, intramural, and club sports facilities, but the University withdrew its proposal to do so from Clayton’s Board of Aldermen after many local residents spoke up against it.
Flo Rida was the headliner for Spring 2025 WILD, an annual concert that WashU puts on at the end of the spring semester for its students. The student band “On Hold with the IRS” and DJ Mustard opened for Flo Rida. WILD’s budget for 2025 was increased to $325,000, almost double that of 2024, which featured rap sensation Joey Bada$$.
Throughout the 2023-2024 school year, there were a number of on-campus demonstrations and events in relation to the IsraelHamas war, both pro-Israel and pro-Palestine, in which students and faculty participated. In late April of 2024, WashU carried out more than 100 arrests at a pro-Palestine demonstration, including those of 23 students and fve faculty members, as they had set up an encampment on the East End of WashU’s campus in violation of WashU’s Danforth Campus Facilities Access Policy. During the 2024-2025 school year, demonstrations related to the war were less frequent and did not result in any on-campus arrests, while events such as vigils
commemorating both Israeli and Palestinian lives lost in the war continued to be held throughout the school year.
On Friday, May 16, WashU’s campus and surrounding areas were in the path of a tornado, which strengthened to an EF3 level of severity as it progressed across the city. The storm caused
signifcant damage to North St. Louis neighborhoods and inficted moderate damage on buildings and trees on WashU’s Danforth campus. More severe damage to apartment buildings and houses near campus was reported, including numerous felled trees that damaged roofs and crushed cars. WashU plans to repair the campus fully by the time classes resume in the fall.
This one-credit, seven-week course is designed to help new students make a successful transition to WashU, both academically and personally.
Students will engage in collaborative real-time learning with academic readings and data-driven strategies grounded in the fve core anchors of WashU Student Afairs: Healthy Excellence; Leadership; Career Development; Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion; and Student Engagement & Belonging. The course also introduces students to valuable learning resources for academic success and campus staf who will support their growth at the university.
Damaged ginkgo trees on Ginkgo Allée outside of Olin library. The ginkgo trees in the area are almost a century old.
Photo courtesy of Wilson Hou
What’s one random thing you brought to college that ended up being useful?
Clear packing tape. This was useful for both putting up fyers and packing up boxes at the end of the school year.
– Erica Shi, Staff Illustrator
A mini disco ball. Having a dance party in your foor’s common space is a great way to make new friends.
– Ella Giere, Photo Editor
My orange storage ottoman. She is perfect for (discrete) storage and easy to just put stuff in and pack away for the next year.
– Syd Tran, Editor-in-Chief
Basic birthday party supplies. Some festive plates and a banner mean a whole lot when it’s someone’s frst birthday away from home, especially since they won’t be expecting it.
– Mia Burkholder, Managing Copy Editor
First aid kit. I know this is not random, but within the frst two weeks of my frst year, I had used it at least half a dozen times. It was a great way to solidify early friendships and help bandage up various ailments throughout the year.
– Kate Westfall, Managing Design Editor
A bright pink toolkit. This was one of the things that I bought moving into college and plan to keep for the rest of my life. I have every single size and shape of screwdriver head, a tape measure, an X-Acto knife, a wrench, and basically anything you could ever need to assemble IKEA furniture or fx common household issues. All of my suitemates ended up needing to borrow something from the toolkit, and it has saved my life so many times.
– Lauren Smith, News Editor
A rubber mallet. Sounds super weird, but it was very helpful to adjust the height of my dorm bed, and it got passed around to a lot of people, so it can also be a great way to bond with others who can’t adjust their beds.
– Astrid Burns, Special Issues Editor
Earplugs and an eye mask. Especially when living with roommates or in a building with thin walls, this was the best way to improve my sleep, and I still go nowhere without them.
– Joel Swirnoff, News Editor
Jacks! I brought jacks to school with me after winter break my frst year, and it was super fun to play as a study break in the DUC. I think it’s important to always make time for silly little games, no matter what.
– Nina Laser, News Editor
A color-changing light bulb. This was a great alternative to moving in and out with LED strip lights around the ceiling, which risks damaging the wall paint. I can set the light depending on the occasion, going from music-synced neon fashes for karaoke with friends to a warm candle ficker effect for a quiet evening.
– Grayce Cooper, Managing Social Media Editor
A handheld vacuum. While a full-size vacuum would have been excessive and a nightmare to store, my handheld vacuum was just the right size and helped me to keep my dorm clean, and some of my friends borrowed it for their dorms as well. I can say that it defnitely came in handy for random messes throughout the year, especially when I spilled an entire bag of granola on the foor.
– Elizabeth Stump, Managing News Editor
The ultimate dorm room packing list
Bri Nitsberg
Managing Photo Editor
When you are heading to college for the frst time, it feels like there are a million and one things to think about. On top of making new friends and fguring out a new schedule, you might be moving away from home for the frst time.
Moving into a dorm room becomes so much easier when you have a list of things you need to pack.
You probably won’t need everything here, and there may be some items specifc to you that aren’t included. However, this packing list covers the majority of things you’ll need to survive your frst dorm room move-in!
If you were anything like me when you got to university, you didn’t bring a ton of stuff to decorate your room. I had a few things: tarot posters gifted by my friend’s younger sister, a local newspaper whose front-page spread I liked, and a museum catalogue. Now, as a rising senior, I have a pretty awesome room (in fact, not to fex, but my landlord asked my roommates and me if he could take photos of our house since he liked it so much). Here are some tips on how to collect trinkets and other cool things to adorn your room.
Go to art fairs
This is a no-brainer, but there are lots of art fairs in St. Louis that you should be taking advantage of!
Fairs such as the Print Bazaar on Cherokee Street, WashU’s own ArtMart, and the Saint Louis Art Fair have tons of talented artists selling their work. Some of these places are harder to get to than others
(especially if you’re an incoming frst-year without a car), but if you have upperclassmen friends, it’s always worth asking if they want to go to these.
Pick up some artsy hobbies
Last summer, I got really into framing, which entailed my buying prints, going to Blick Art Materials to buy a matching frame, and then fguring out how to get the print in the frame properly. This isn’t something I usually do, but the frame is a centerpiece in my room now and often sparks conversation. I’ve put up cyanotype prints that I’ve made, and other random drawings and doodles make up my wall of trinkets.
Buy prints from museum stores
One of my favorite decorating hacks is to buy prints of works I love from museums. For example, when I was recently at Newfelds in Indianapolis, I purchased a Robert Henri work in print form, which I now adore. Museum gift shops are often flled with beautiful reproductions of your favorite works, and you also support
the museum by purchasing them. The Saint Louis Art Museum has a robust shop and selection of prints, and other nearby museums in the Midwest are always great places to stop when traveling.
Send leters back and forth with friends
After I left my hometown, I sent letters back and forth with friends and family. The tactile and personal element of sending letters is what appealed to me, and it was a fun ritual to write up and ship these letters out. It was also a great decorating tool; I would hang these letters up on my wall after I received them, and they would function as a pick-me-up after a hard day. Reading something kind that my friends wrote will never fail to make me smile. Similar to picking up a creative hobby, it’s great for your mind to sit down and write something with intention, especially given how much time students spend on their computers every day.
Implement gifts!
During my frst year at WashU, I
was given a variety of things through Secret Santas or general hospitality. These include a rock with the Ohio fag painted on it (yay, state pride!), a Lego mug adorned with things that represent me (according to a past roommate), and a beautiful crimson stamp. These have all found their home either on my desk, nightstand, or placed up on my wall. Sure, some of these items may lack a theme or centralized aesthetic, but what’s more important to me is that they were all sweet gifts, mementos of acts of kindness from friends throughout college.
The bottom line from most of these tips is that you should be open to receiving new things for your living space. Oftentimes, it’s best not to come into college with a fully decked-out room: that blocks you from integrating your college experiences into your room. So, if you’re arriving at school with nothing but a comforter and a dream, keep in mind that your room will fll up (often faster than you realize) with embodied memories and moments from throughout the years.
Zach
Start your weekends at SLAM!
Museum admission is free every day, but Fridays at SLAM are taken up a notch! Enjoy free live music, gallery activations, performances, ticketed exhibitions, and more.
Scan the QR code for a list of upcoming events. slam.org/Fridays | @stlartmuseum
Fine dorming: Cooking at WashU
Mason Sutton Contributing Writer
Whether for fun or out of necessity, cooking is a skill that most people have to learn at one point or another, and many decide that college is the right time to learn. After a long week, you might not want to eat WashU dining, walk to a restaurant on the Loop, or pay for delivery, so instead you decide to brave the communal kitchen and make food for yourself. And I am here to say, “DO IT!” Cooking in the dorms, while challenging, is one of my favorite things to do while at WashU. I am here to walk you through my process, whether this is your first time cooking in a dorm or cooking anything at all.
To start off, you’ll need ingredients and dishes. Think about what dishes (for both cooking and serving) you have at your disposal; I have a pot and pan of my own that I bring from home, but there may be options for borrowing cookware. Find out what you have available to you, and ensure that you can either borrow or buy the necessary kitchen equipment. I would suggest avoiding recipes that require complicated appliances, both to comply with WashU rules and to conserve the limited space you have in your dorm.
While you may be able to scrounge for ingredients on campus at Paws & Go, you will almost certainly have to adventure off campus and go to the grocery store. My recommendation is using the South Campus shuttle to go to Schnucks (get on at the Big Bend and Shepley stop and get off at the South Campus stop). But before you go, find a recipe — one that sounds good, fits your skill level, fits your budget, and can reasonably be made using only a few dishes (we will get there soon, I promise). Once you find it, read through the entire recipe, and make a list of the ingredients you need. When shopping, try to get the exact ingredients and amounts you need. There isn’t a ton of space for extra groceries in your
dorm, and you don’t want anything that will spoil to go to waste. I’ve accrued a small pantry of spices and non-perishables (for those who don’t cook: things that will last a long time, like flour), so also be aware of what you already have so you don’t have to buy more. Once you have your ingredients and dishes, it’s finally time to cook! First, check that another student isn’t using the kitchen. If someone is using it, either wait your turn or try another kitchen on campus. There is one in almost every single dorm. Once in a kitchen with your ingredients and dishes, it’s time to clean; wiping off the counter and stovetops (if the stove is an electric stove) is a good habit both before and after you cook. You never know if the person before you cleaned up after themselves, and you don’t want to leave a mess behind after you leave.
General cooking tips from my experiences come down to three main points: boiling, cutting, and space. If you are boiling water (or anything else), start early. I am used to cooking on a gas stove, and boiling water on the electric stovetops has consistently taken my dinner time from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Second, cutting: cutting all of your produce or ingredients before you need them is a huge timesaver. Finally, conserve as much space as you can while cooking. Put things on higher shelves, in a refrigerator to wait, or on a back burner. Decluttering your limited counter space will help make cooking much less hectic.
Finally, once your meal is complete, I suggest sharing with friends. Food is a great way to form connections: I have cooked for my friends on several occasions throughout our first year together. Sharing secret family recipes is fun (don’t tell my grandma), but so is hanging out in the kitchen or at a nearby table while you wait another 20 minutes for your water to boil. A home-cooked meal is what gets me through the week sometimes, and sharing that with the people that got me through the year makes it that much tastier.
LUCIA THOMAS | STAFF ILLUSTRATOR
Mason’s (Easy) Vodka Chicken Gnocchi
Clean your countertops. Dice your chicken breast into cubes, and toss them in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, then sear in a pan until slightly golden on all sides and the largest piece is cooked through (no longer pink in the middle). Remove from the pan and place on a plate or in a bowl until the fnal step.
Fill your pot about halfway with water and boil. Add gnocchi and follow the instructions on the packaging to cook. Clean the pan you cooked the chicken in, as well as anything else that was in contact with the raw chicken. Melt down your butter in the clean pan. If using onion or garlic, dice the onion and mince the garlic, and cook until fragrant and onion is slightly transparent (around 5 minutes for onion, and adding garlic during the last 2 minutes so as to not burn any of your ingredients).
Tear up the spinach and add to the pan, then cover until the spinach becomes wilted.
After draining the pasta water, add the gnocchi, chicken, and spinach mixture to the large pot, then add the vodka sauce.
Simmer the full mixture until the sauce is heated.
Serve with a sprinkle of Italian seasoning or parmesan.
Ingredients
• 2 bags of gnocchi, from the pasta aisle
• 1 jar of vodka sauce
• 2 lbs of chicken breasts, roughly 2-3 chicken breasts
• 1 bag of spinach
• Butter, around 2 tablespoons
• Salt and pepper (to taste, a.k.a. however much you like)
• Optional: garlic and onion for favor, Italian seasoning and parmesan to top
• Dishes Needed: 1 large pot and 1 skillet or pan
Classes to take if you don’t know what to study
Astrid Burns Special Issues Editor
First-Year Seminars
Take First-Year Seminars! They are so fun, and you only have one year to participate in them, so take advantage of those opportunities. Typically, these classes have around 15 students, and they range from being interdisciplinary to focusing on very specifc topics. Whether you want to explore a broad interest or dive into a niche class about a passion of yours, these courses are perfect. I took Literature and Justice with Wolfram Schmidgen, which was such an interesting pairing of a wide range of literature genres with legal conficts, both past and present. No matter your academic interests, there’s a class for you. Some course listings include: Pleasure and Pain: European Fashion as (Art) History, Unearthing the Science of Climate Change, Literature of Addiction, and Power and Persuasion: The Courts and Laws of Ancient Athens. There are so many unique First-Year Seminars with which to engage, and there’s no limit to how many you can take! I’d recommend trying a couple since they offer a great chance to get introduced to the University in a low-stakes way, and you can meet other frst-years who are all eager to make friends.
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
As one of the most popular classes at WashU, Cultural Anthropology not only flls a Language and Cultural Diversity (LCD) Arts & Sciences IQ requirement but also provides a broad introduction to anthropology. If you have an interest in the humanities but are thinking of being pre-med, the Global Health and Environment track in the Anthropology major is a great option, and this class introduces a lot of fundamental concepts. It’s also a pretty large class, so it’s great to take with friends or meet new people, which will especially come in handy when it’s time for exams.
Foundations in Public Health
With the opening of WashU’s new School of Public Health, courses in this discipline have become exceedingly popular among students
So, you’ve made it to college and now have a world of amazing courses at your fngertips — exciting! While coming to college and adjusting to new, rigorous classes is scary, being a frst-year student gives you so much freedom to explore. Coming from someone who had no clue what she wanted to study in college and was overwhelmed by all of the course options, if there’s any time to take a random class, challenge yourself, or bomb a course, it’s your frst year.
Going into your frst year, it might feel like you need to have your major and career all planned out, especially at a rigorous school with highly motivated students. But don’t fret. So many students are in the same boat as you, still fguring out which subjects they are passionate about. In my frst-year dream world, I wanted fve minors so that I did not have to commit to any major. While most of the classes I took in my frst year don’t count for my major or minors, I can still use them to complete my Arts & Sciences requirements, and my year of exploration greatly informed my major decision. While I do not have everything fgured out or know what I want to do postgrad, all of my college classes have shaped me in some way, and I highly recommend taking time to explore college and enjoy the experience of learning.
Note: Since fall registration has already occurred and classes may have flled up, these options work for both the fall and spring semesters.
from all majors and schools. This class provides a broad overview of the feld of public health, exploring both its history and modern-day questions of intersectionality, ethics, and human rights. Foundations in Public Health also features a lot of guest speakers from St. Louis, as well as national and international fgures, which is pretty unique for a college class. If you’re pre-med, this class can provide insights into health equity and the impacts of medicine, topics that can inform your path in medicine and generally contextualize what you learn in other STEM classes. However, you defnitely don’t need to be pre-med or even a Public Health student to take classes within the subject.
Beyond Boundaries courses
These classes are only open to frstyears and have an interdisciplinary focus. They are typically taught by two faculty members from different schools, and they usually have class sizes of around 70, which allows you to meet more people and get a sense of the atmosphere of a larger class. My favorite Beyond Boundaries classes that I took, both in my frst semester, were Morality and Markets and Designing Creativity: Innovation Across Disciplines. These classes were both super interesting and very different from one another, helping to diversify my class schedule, especially since each course combines two subjects. The Beyond Boundaries course offerings change frequently and are typically designed to ft current events.
Introduction to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS)
Intro to WGSS (pronounced “wigs” by many) is a popular class at WashU for all majors. This interdisciplinary course broadly covers topics within the feld of women, gender, and sexuality studies, including subjects like the history of feminist movements, queer identities, sexual and domestic violence, and relevant politics. While this is an intro class, the sections are capped at 20 students, so you get the experience of introductory lessons in a smaller environment. However, since the class is broken into smaller sections, the class experience may vary by instructor. The instructor’s style and projects assigned may differ, but no matter what, you are likely to leave this class with an understanding of global gender issues and their connection to current events in health, politics, and social justice.
Any course in a subject that you are even remotely interested in!
During the spring semester of my frst year, I took Introduction to Microeconomics. It was not a course that I planned to take, but I had never taken an Economics course, and thought I should give it a try to get a general understanding. While the class was a struggle at times because all of the material was new for me, I kept up with the course and learned a lot. That same semester, I also took Introduction to Psychology. Again, I had no business taking it and didn’t necessarily need it for anything, but I thought it would be interesting. I took the class pass-fail just to learn without the pressure of a grade, and I took away a lot of useful information and helpful study tips. During each semester, you can pass-fail one class, which means that your GPA won’t be affected by your grade in the class. If you are feeling uncertain about how a class is going or want to take a risk with a class, you can pass-fail it and change it back to a grade up until a certain point in the semester.
Your frst year is a great time to take random classes and pass-fail them before you have to commit to a major. You can also determine what class size you like best. Personally, through trial and error, I’ve found that I am best suited for small, socratic-style humanities classes. However, you might really love the vibe of a large lecture hall. Take random classes, but take them with intention and with the goal of fnding out something about your learning style and subject preferences. And don’t forget: have fun! Balance your classes so you can still hang out with friends, join clubs, and take care of yourself.
SO WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE? SO WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE?
Cheshire Hotel is a great stay for those that want to get going!
Only minutes from Forest Park fun where you can visit The St. Louis Zoo, the Muny at Forest Park, St. Louis Art Museum, History Museum and more.
Venture to the city and see it all 200 feet from the top of The St. Louis Wheel then take a journey to the ocean at The St. Louis Aquarium.
Catch a Baseball Game, Soccer Game, city nightlife and great food and drinks.
Upon your return, refresh and curl up with a classic novel and enjoy the luxurious amenities the Cheshire Hotel has to offer and a fine culinary experience at one of our onsite restaurants.
And then there’s tomorrow, go west my friend, there’s more fun and excitement waiting.
Sufering from major indecision? Good.
Lauren Smith News Editor
You belong at this school regardless of how planned out your life is.
While the main reason I love going to WashU is that I’m surrounded by so many intelligent, motivated, and kind students at all times, one of the downsides of a space like this, especially as an incoming frst-year, is that you can quickly get lost in trying to be impressive. Here’s the thing: no matter what goals other people have, or what they accomplished in highschool that you fnd remarkable and intimidating, you all ended up in the same place and, therefore, have access to the exact same classes, research opportunities, and academic support like the Peer-Led Team Learning program (PLTL). If you’re in the College of Arts & Sciences, regardless of whether you applied as a Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) major or a Biochemistry major, you can change
If you knew me during my frst year, you probably would’ve heard me claim that I was majoring in just about every program WashU ofers at a diferent point in time. I did this for a couple of reasons. The frst is that I loved so many of the classes I took in my frst year that I could’ve seen myself taking more classes in every single department. More crucially, I quickly felt like I needed to have a plan, because even though I’d just arrived on campus, it seemed like everyone around me knew what they were going to do after graduation. All the people I met wanted to go to medical school, law school, or business school, or had some other extremely impressive, high-paying career in mind. For me, saying I was undecided was the equivalent of confessing that I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, which in turn, would’ve made me feel out of place in an environment where so many people had such a clear trajectory. I fnd it a litle ridiculous that it was easier for me to come up with a temporary plan that changed every two weeks than admit this.
the major you are pursuing or even transfer schools. It’s important to mention that there is less fexibility to explore classes if you’re a student in Olin Business School, McKelvey School of Engineering, or Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts because those schools have stricter requirements. But if you applied as a WGSS major and want to try the premed route, you will have the same access to advisors as every other person, and you’ll take the exact same classes. Everyone starts on the same, undecided page.
Nothing is stopping you from trying new things, and your frst year is the perfect time to explore different possible interests! Of course, part of college is narrowing down what you’re interested in to one or two majors, but you can still do this by taking a bunch of different classes to get your IQ requirements if you’re an Arts & Sciences student. The IQ Curriculum forces you to take classes in different subjects to graduate, including ones in Social Sciences, Language and Cultural Diversity, Natural Science and
Mathematics, and Social Contrasts, to name a few. You’ll learn a lot more about IQ requirements from your academic advisor, but all you really need to know now is that even if you have no idea what you’re doing, you might as well take classes in a variety of subjects while you’re undecided because you’ll have to take them later anyway to graduate. You’re on the perfect track! Here are some of my general tips on experimenting academically without losing your mind and feeling no sense of direction.
August 28, 5-6 p.m. Jordan Plaza
KICK OFF OUR 20TH YEAR WITH TREATS, GAMES, AND SWAG
Open to all Sam Fox School faculty, sta , and students
Don’t take over 15 credits.
While I’m sure you’re plenty smart enough to take 18 credits and do well if that was all you did, your first fall is not only about academics! Doing well is important, but fall is also about finding your people and finding activities outside of academics that you enjoy. If I didn’t have the time to write for Student Life, play ultimate frisbee, and still have the time to make plans with friends, I wouldn’t enjoy being a student as much as I do. School cannot, and should not, be the only thing you spend your time doing. Limiting yourself to 15 or 16 credits is a way to create the space in your schedule to make meaningful connections and reduce your chance of burning out in your first semester.
Don’t take a bunch of classes in one “area.”
My first year, I had fully convinced myself that I wanted to be an Economics major, and took two Economics classes at the same time. Those two classes ended up being my least favorite courses I’ve ever taken at WashU (which says less about the classes and more about me as a person). If there are two classes in a department you’re genuinely interested in taking, go for it, but if you’re trying to knock out requirements for your intended major without exposing yourself to other options, you might end up regretting your decisions. You have so much time to get your major requirements completed; for right now, just focus on what you’d like to learn about.
Talk to people who’ve taken a class before, and look at course evals.
You can learn A LOT about what to expect from a class by looking at course evals and talking to other students who have taken the same course in the past. Your experience in a class can be drastically different from professor to professor, so it’s well worth your time to
investigate what you’re getting yourself into when signing up for certain classes. Rate My Professor can be a helpful tool, but it’s important to take some of what’s on there with a grain of salt. I thought my College Writing professor was nothing short of incredible, despite her having mostly negative reviews. It’s important to remember that a lot of the people who leave reviews only feel compelled to do so if they have something critical to say about a professor or really hated the class, but the website can be a warning to stay away from a class if you’re seeing consistently bad comments on there.
Don’t take a bunch of insanely difficult courses.
If you’re STEM-focused and not a Biomedical Engineering major, there’s no reason to take Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus at the same time. It will only make it harder for you to do well in each course. Be sure you have a balance of classes that you think will challenge you and classes that you think you have a strong chance of doing well in, especially if you’re concerned about grades.
Don’t pigeon-hole yourself.
You are smart and a hard worker, which is why you got into this school. You would likely succeed in any of the classes at WashU if you put your mind to it and plan well. While it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into with every class you take, don’t think that you lack the capacity to take challenging classes because everything you’ve done up to this point has proven otherwise. You don’t have to be an “English person” or a “math person” to take challenging courses in either subject. Take classes that sound interesting to you, and the grades will take care of themselves.
So you were single in high school
Mia Burkholder Managing Copy Editor
Maybe, when you were in high school, you never got asked to prom. Or maybe you did, only for your date to kiss your best friend during an Usher song (romantic!). Either way, college is a clean slate — an opportunity for redemption.
This was exactly how I approached Bear Beginnings. I had decided that my less-than-ideal romantic prospects in high school were not a byproduct of two years missed due to the pandemic, or my (maybe overly) academic focus, or even my personality. I was single because it was high school, and everyone was young and stupid. And when I got to college, I would get cuffed right away, proving that high school was the problem, not me, right?
I took my romantic mission seriously. During move-in, I
shook hands with a guy whose hands were shockingly dry during a sweaty Missouri August. I decided that he was “the one,” and I put a whiteboard on the wall of my Dauten suite’s common room with two equally important countdowns: “days without bugs” and “days since seeing ‘dry hands guy.’”
But my mission didn’t end at “dry hands guy.” I had never been surrounded by so many interesting, intelligent people who were all looking to make connections. I found “true love” nearly every day: in the grill line at the Bear’s Den, at the inevitable after-hours Swamp hangout, and, most dangerously, at a party, egged on by drunk girls saying, “He’s in love with you!”
Despite the excitement of these interactions, nothing came of them. As the “days since seeing ‘dry hands guy’” count reached double-digits (and the “days without bugs” count was
continually erased to zero), I felt discouraged. Maybe high school wasn’t the problem. Maybe it was me.
To distract myself from this feeling, I tried to find fulfillment outside of the hunt for a relationship. I tried out for a cappella and joined a group. I never ate dinner alone on Sundays, surrounding myself with people at the Catholic Student Center. I came home to Dauten neighbors on our couch most nights, and the StudLife newsroom started to feel like home every Wednesday night (often into Thursday morning). My common room whiteboard was soon filled with names of visitors and friends, not a countdown regarding my love life. Accidentally, I had found the love I was searching for.
I had wanted to erase or rewrite my high school romantic experiences right away. Instead, I learned that I didn’t need to
“redeem” myself. I realized I didn’t need a relationship to prove that there was “nothing wrong with me” (beyond some admittedly delusional tendencies). I was loved just as I was, and by so many amazing new people.
Soon, you will meet some of the people who will become your biggest cheerleaders and closest friends. You will become an integral part of communities that love you. I would trade the handshake I shared with “dry hands guy” a million times over for the love I have gotten to experience here (no offense, “dry hands guy,” if you’re reading this!).
So if you don’t meet “the one” during Bear Beginnings, remember that there is so much love coming straight towards you. And by making friendships and joining communities, you might just find someone who makes you forget about high school prom.
You’re now at the intersection of it all! Where breakthroughs — whether scientific or creative, academic or personal — happen as new ideas collide. Your future is full of opportunities and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Undergraduate and graduate students can stop by our offices in Cupples II and connect with us at @washuartsci
What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting at WashU?
The Recreation Center has a ton of free amenities if you just know where to look
– Elizabeth Stump, Managing News Editor
The WashU Rec is a defnite highlight of the University and a place that I recommend checking out even if you aren’t interested in weightlifting or working out on the machines. The “Zen Den” has free massage chairs that you can book online, and there is even a free cooking class called “Big City Bites,” which you can sign up for on the website, that will teach you how to make dishes from cities in the U.S., along with basic kitchen skills. The BearFit classes offered through the Rec, which are personal favorites of mine, include yoga, cycling, mat Pilates, boxing, and much more. There is also a sauna located in the locker room on the lowest level of the building!
East End food is worth the walk
– Astrid Burns, Special Issues Editor
It took me a while to actually venture over to the East End to try food, sticking to the Danforth University Center, Collins Farms, and even Bauer Cafe instead, since I didn’t have classes on the East End of campus. Eventually, my STEM friends got me to go to Beast Craft BBQ and The Fattened Caf, and I realized there were way more interesting food options than I realized. While the walk seems long, it really isn’t bad, and any of the bowls at The Fattened Caf are worth it (plus, they have fun desserts and Starbucks drinks). LaJoy’s also has fun drinks, including lemonades and an overpriced but fantastic smoothie.
Noise-cancelling
headphones are the best investment you’ll ever make
Be nice to the mailroom workers – Kate Westfall, Managing Design Editor
The Hitzeman mailroom is easily one of the most frustrating workplaces on campus. It will go a long way if you are nice to the workers at the beginning of the year and set your expectations regarding timing appropriately. The mailroom can take a while after receiving your items to reach out to you for pickup, and if it is not labeled correctly (full name, MSC number, etc.), your mail will quickly get lost. However, if you treat the mailroom workers well, they are supportive and helpful. Just follow the rules they lay out and be polite, and you might just get your mail a day early!
Take the time to go outside
– Zach Trabitz, Investigative News Editor
You can buy meal points from each other
– Joel Swirnof, News Editor
If you, like me, find yourself out of meal points well before the end of the school year, fear not! Head on down to the Dining Services office in Zetcher House and transfer between 100-500 meal points from your friend who somehow has that many left. You decide on pricing yourselves, though WashU will deduct 10 points from both students for the transaction. Note that you both must be present to do the transaction, and that a student can only sell meal points once per semester.
Enterprise CarShare is a great way to explore St. Louis without owning a car
– Riley Herron, Editor-in-Chief
Schedule fun breaks for yourself!
–
– Lauren Smith, News Editor
Nina Laser, News
Editor
I have found that joining clubs and making fun plans has actually helped me to be more productive when I’m sitting down to do work. It’s a great way to avoid burnout and have fun.
During my first year, I had a hard time doing work in places that weren’t my dorm or the third floor of Olin Library because I’m insanely distractible, and the slightest bit of noise leads me off task. Please help yourself and buy a pair of noise-cancelling headphones so you can do work in any space, and you will save yourself so much frustration!
If you’re anything like me, you’ll often be glued to a computer, cranking out an essay or working on a project. You’ll also often be in the library. One thing I’ve learned to do a lot since going to WashU is to take frequent breaks. Going outside to toss a frisbee with friends or just walk around campus is so important, especially during exam season, and we have a beautiful campus that makes these short jaunts outside wonderful respites from academic grinding.
Just because you don’t have a car on campus doesn’t mean you’re stuck in the WashU bubble. In addition to the metro, bus, and Uber, the WashU-Enterprise CarShare partnership provides a great option for getting around the city. It’s free to sign up for WashU students, and you can use it to rent a car from a parking lot near campus at a discounted price, but make sure to reserve cars in advance because they fll up at busy times.
So you’re starting college during ‘unprecedented times’
Sylvie Richards Managing Forum Editor
You are beginning your college journey during a period marked by uncertainty, fear, anger, and a sense of helplessness — a reality shared by students who started in recent years amid events like the first election of President Donald Trump, the pandemic, and nationwide protests met with force on college campuses.
From a young age, our generation has witnessed many crises and corresponding social justice movements. You happen to be the class of students that are entering during the first year of the second Trump administration, when we are experiencing democratic backsliding, authoritarian policies, and violations of human rights and the rule of law.
You, as an incoming first-year, are already entering a substantial transition period in your life by default. As you adjust to a new environment, find your new friends, clubs, activities, and area(s) of study, our country is experiencing an uncertain transition as well. This may feel overwhelming on top of the already stressful start of college, and you are valid for feeling whatever emotions may come with this transition.
Handling uncertainty
While these times are unprecedented in a lot of ways, students throughout history have attended university during political unrest and widespread injustices. Universities have been central places for social justice movements during these times, such as the Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement, and March for Our Lives (and WashU is no exception). Past generations have found ways to turn their anger and
fear into political change, and we can, too.
I could mention countless policies that affect all of us in various ways, such as the attacks on academic freedom, but it is important to acknowledge that some communities are being impacted more than others. Students facing the threat of deportation are experiencing an uncertainty that is far more personal and highstakes than that of the rest of us. As you consider how to cope with your own fear and how to act upon the injustices in our country, I urge you to also evaluate how your
identity and potential privilege affect these decisions.
Avoiding politics altogether is impossible. People will likely start political conversations in and outside of classes. Instead of avoiding these conversations, I encourage you to take them as opportunities to express your concerns and relate to or learn from the people around you.
You may feel like you don’t know enough or have a handle on your thoughts about politics. That is okay. People may come into these conversations acting like
they know everything, but I can assure you that they don’t — no one does. In these conversations, I encourage you to listen and learn — that’s what college is for. You can admit you don’t know something or how you feel about certain issues, and you can ask questions.
Navigating your uncertainty can actually be a way to improve your transition into college rather than making it harder. Conversations about your worries regarding college, as well as in the context of the state of the world, can build bonds and community.
ANAELDA RAMOS | MANAGING ILLUSTRATION EDITOR
Taking action
Things may feel uncertain and unstable, but you have control over what you choose to do with your time and energy. It is okay if you do not spend the first months of college going to protests, writing to your senators, or volunteering at nonprofits. Action is important, and there will be plenty more to do once you have settled into your college life.
That being said, in times of uncertainty and fear, one of the best things you can do for yourself and your community is to take material action. You don’t have control over the state of our world, but there are material actions that you can take to counter the impacts of antidemocratic and unjust policies. Many of these actions can also bring you community, belonging, and solidarity as a first-year student and a person in the world.
Stay informed
Reading the news and keeping up to date with current events is important, and I encourage everyone to do so. However, when you are already feeling a lot of feelings while adjusting to college, constantly staying engaged could take a toll on your mental health. Set boundaries for yourself; maybe you can catch up on the news twice a week or read two articles every other day. I recommend listening to podcasts that synthesize information for you. Some good ones are “Up First” from NPR and the New York Times “The Daily.”
Focus on issues that matter to you: There is so much wrong with our country right now, and many movements and causes need help. You cannot tackle everything. If you feel particularly passionate about certain issues, I’d focus on those. For example, immigrant rights, reproductive rights, or freedom of speech are great causes with many actionable places to start.
Consider changing your voter registration
In a red state, your actions are particularly important because our politicians largely support the Trump administration. If you
are from a blue state, consider changing your voter registration to Missouri to make more of an impact with your vote. You can do this through washu.turbovote.org.
Join protests
There will likely be protests on campus, local, or national levels as the Trump presidency progresses. It is important to understand the potential risks of attending them before joining, but demonstrations can be one of the most impactful ways to make political change. People facing the threat of deportations or who are more likely to be targeted by police may not be able to join protests. If you are not in a more vulnerable group, I recommend thinking about using this privilege to take actions that others cannot.
Organize or join letter-writing & calling
Call your federal and local representatives in your home state and in Missouri, and express your feelings about politics right now. Identify issues you care most about, research what legislation is coming up, and express your opinions and what you want your representatives to do about it. This could be specific action items, like voting for or against a bill, or more general requests, like supporting a certain cause or issue, or, even more generally, countering the Trump administration. Even if you feel like you don’t have anything to say, people need to come out in numbers and motivate our representatives to take action.
Message the WashU administration
Our administration can make public messages and take notable actions as an institution regarding political issues, especially those that affect academic freedom and international students. If there is something that you want the administration to do, whether that be to make a statement, message congresspeople, or start a program or initiative, do not be afraid to message them. If you think an issue is important, I encourage you to tell other students to message the administration about it too.
If you have concerns about issues affecting students, you can contact Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students Rob Wild at rob.wild@wustl.edu. If needed, he can also refer you to another appropriate contact.
Support
local organizations
St. Louis is a very diverse and progressive city, especially because the greater St. Louis area has a historically large Black population, and many organizations are fighting the fight on a local, state, and national level. Organizations need all the help they can get right now, so their websites will indicate how to contribute, or you can call and ask. Some good ones are ArchCity Defenders, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, ACLU of Missouri, Metro Trans Umbrella Group, Operation Food Search, Migrant and Immigrant Community Action Project, and Abortion Action Missouri.
Join WashU clubs and organizations
WashU has so many student-run organizations regarding various topics and issues. Go to the club fair (this is a must-do for first-years anyway), and check
WUGO to see what clubs may interest you. This will help bring you community and belonging as a first-year student, and connect you to already organized activities and initiatives.
Submit opinion pieces
Admittedly, this is a little bit of self-promo, but submitting opinion pieces is a great way to inform the WashU community about your perspective and feelings on an issue. Your voice matters, and people are listening. We receive messages from students, alumni, and other community members about the opinion articles we publish all the time. Message forum@studlife. com with any ideas.
Everyone is feeling some level of uncertainty right now, and as a first-year, these feelings are compounded with the myriad of emotions that come with entering university. It’s okay to take time for yourself and take a break from the chaos of the world. At the same time, having political conversations and taking action is crucial, and and doing so can forge a community during your first year, a time when you need it more than ever.
Things may feel uncertain and unstable, but you have control over what you choose to do with your time and energy.
Don’t know what you’re doing — ever
Lyn Wilkins Junior Forum Editor
Coming into my freshman year of college, I had one philosophy: just wing it. My main goal was to do whatever I wanted, even if I had no clue what was going on. As a chronically oblivious individual, this opened up a world of possibilities to me. That philosophy got me to publish articles, join clubs, and actually talk to people. Now, as I conclude my first year of college, I find myself much more prepared to face a number of situations that I would have never attempted earlier.
I know this concept sounds cliché. We’ve all heard that we need to step out of our comfort zone more. Most of us decide to ignore it. Those of us who do follow this advice feel proud for expanding our repertoire and braving the great unknown, but are we, really?
It isn’t enough to take a singular step beyond what we are familiar with. You aren’t truly putting yourself in a position to learn if you always have the safety of your niche only a step away. Many of us simply retreat to the typical whenever the unknown looks even the slightest bit daunting.
Learning is a process of trial and error. To grow, we have to put ourselves in situations that are uncomfortable and scary. We learn by facing situations we never expected to confront and figuring out how to navigate them. Running away at the first sign of failure prevents us from growing, both as students and people. As WashU students, we are especially susceptible to retreat and avoidance. We tend to stay in the areas where we know we can succeed because failure has never been an option. Applying for a school as competitive as this one means you had to be perfect. You couldn’t show signs
of failure because other students were submitting entirely flawless applications. We spent our high school years perfecting our resumes and reputations, and now, we don’t know how to fail. We seem to have all internalized the idea that failing one task means failing as a person. I’ve been guilty of this myself. I’ve stuck with the subjects I know I can succeed in. I find myself subconsciously obsessed with whether or not something will make me look dumb. I did this all throughout high school, but we’re not in high school anymore. All of us worked so hard to get here, but most of us aren’t doing anything with the opportunity we’ve earned. You fought to get here; now, reap the benefits of your efforts.
Personally, I am going to take as many classes as interest me, even if it means giving up my perfect GPA. I am taking Calculus not because I need it, but because I’m
interested. I am not a natural at math nor do I have any talent for the more analytical fields — but who cares? I no longer have to worry about having the perfect record or GPA. I can afford failure, and so can you. Maybe you have to uphold academically impeccable standards because you’re going to graduate school, but this philosophy doesn’t just apply to grades. Try new clubs or hobbies. Join a sport or audition for a role with no experience. You may not be able to risk failing a class, but you can still put yourself out there. College is a hub for learning both academically and socially. You still have opportunities to grow and try new things, even if this isn’t your last experience in the academic world. Failure is good for us. It teaches us how to recover and improve. It is not some plague to be avoided. I think the fear of failure is the main reason many of us avoid
trying new things. We have to fail one of these days, and avoiding this inevitability just makes people miss out on the incredible opportunities here. Maybe your skill is STEM, but you really want to try out a Drama class. Whether you fail or succeed, you still take advantage of the wonderful theatre program we have here. We only have four years at this school. Wasting time being afraid
just limits the richness of the experience.
The task of facing the unknown was easy enough for me. As a freshman, everything was unknown. If I ever wanted to leave my dorm, I had to leave my comfort zone. I’ve become accustomed to trying new things, and I don’t want to stop. How much could I grow in my four years if I kept learning things I
know nothing about?
I’m paying to be here, and this is my last chance to learn in an academic setting. I only get four years of this — and the same can be said for most of you. Are you really going to waste your four years being comfortable? You have the rest of your life for monotony. Each day spent pursuing the things you already knew about is a day wasted.
Many of us say we love learning, but we act as if we love succeeding. Succeeding is not learning. Knowing is not growing. Going into next year, I’m going to keep putting myself in situations where I have no clue what’s happening. It’s your choice what you make of your time here, but if you know what you’re doing, you’re doing it wrong.
Is there even anything to do on campus? (Spoiler alert: yes, there is!)
Mason Sutton Contributing Writer
As each Friday night rolled around, I wondered what I would spend my weekend doing. Time and time again, my mom asked me if people were going to the big game. Evidently, WashU is not particularly known for its game days. While I told her no each time, the question still haunted my mind. Is there anything to do on campus?
I needed to fnd an answer, not only because I needed something to do, but also because I needed to prove to my family that WashU is fun and interesting without game day culture. I am happy to tell you (and my mother) that there are so, so many things to do on and around campus. Between your studies, hobbies, and relationships, make sure to add some of these events to your bucket list.
First off, there are still sporting events on campus! We have several nationally-recognized teams, including our women’s soccer team, meaning that despite the fact they aren’t always the center of attention, our teams are still pretty good and fun to watch. Going out and cheering for the Bears with your friends is a great way to show some pride in WashU, and there is usually an exhibition game during welcome week for frst-year students to attend. WashU has a variety of teams, so even if you aren’t that much of a football fan, there are plenty of soccer matches, swim meets, basketball games, and more
where you can cheer on your fellow scholar-champions.
Second, WashU has a large variety of performances hosted right on campus, from free musicals and plays with the Performing Arts Department to band and choir performances in the 560 Music Center to a cappella shows with one of WashU’s 13 a cappella groups. Outside of music, among WashU’s student body are many stand-up comics, improv group members, and slam poets who perform in the very same halls in which you attend lectures. Off-campus groups also occasionally perform on campus,
including a Shakespeare show performed in Tisch Park during Welcome Week.
Finally, WashU’s standout shows and events are hosted by the many fully student-run cultural clubs on campus. Events like the Lunar New Year Festival (LNYF), Carnaval, Black Anthology, Diwali, and the African Students Association (ASA) Fashion Show celebrate cultures and histories through different expressions such as dance, music, and fashion. Other shows throughout the year show off student groups more individually, from dance performances by groups
like PL4Y (a K-pop dance group on campus) and WUFuego (a Latin dance group) to end-of-year events like the Asian American Association (AAA) Night Market, which bring food and culture right outside your dorm on the South 40.
The best part about many of these events is that you and your fellow students can get involved as early as your frst year! Show off your talents, try something new, or if you’re like me, go and be impressed by the many talents of our classmates and cheer them on from the sidelines or the audience.
Juniors Lasya Gudur and Riya Kurella lead a line of dancers during WashU Chaahat’s 2024 Diwali performance.
ISABELLA DIAZ-MIRA | PHOTO EDITOR
Hannah La Porte and Liv Salinger | Copy Editor and Staf Writer
Dear Scene,
I’m starting my frst year at WashU in the fall, and although I am super excited, I’m nervous about life in the Midwest. I was born and raised in New York City, and I hate to sound like a snob, but I just don’t know if St. Louis has anything special to ofer me. Are there actually things to do?
Sincerely,
Dear St. Louis Skeptic,
First of all, congratulations and welcome to WashU! It’s no easy feat getting here, and we are so excited to see you in the fall. Now, to your concerns. As students coming from big cities (New York City and Los Angeles, respectively), we were also used to having easily accessible and diverse venues for art, music, food, sports, culture, and more. And while at first glance it may seem like WashU and St. Louis will never live up to whatever bigcity expectations you’ve grown up with, we’ve both learned that all it takes is some patience and a desire to explore events and spaces both within our school and outside of it. Here’s what we learned during our first year at WashU and our best advice to make the most of St. Louis.
Get off campus
Our first piece of advice is to get off campus. Although
atmosphere. Furthermore, as students at WashU, it is important to engage with the local St. Louis community, and exploring other neighborhoods is a great way to do so! Sign up for an Enterprise CarShare account early, learn how to use the Metro system, find friends with cars who are willing to drive around and explore, and take advantage of the locations within walking distance of campus. Here are some great first places for venturing off campus.
Delmar Loop
The Loop is an obvious choice to begin exploring St. Louis due to its proximity to campus and easy access, whether you walk or decide to take the shuttle. The Loop is home to cafes, restaurants, bookstores, thrift stores, and more! Grab Chinese food at Corner 17, pick up a new read at Subterranean Books, enjoy coffee and breakfast at
DeMun
A quick, 15-minute walk from the South 40 spits you out in DeMun, a quaint neighborhood in Clayton, home to coffee shops, restaurants, and the best ice cream in St. Louis. But seriously, Kaldi’s Coffee is a great place to study if the third floor of Olin Library isn’t doing it for you, Louie is a yummy sit-down restaurant option, and Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Ice Cream is perfect for a delicious late-night treat.
Cherokee Street
My personal favorite on this list would have to be Cherokee Street. A bit more of a trek than the previous neighborhoods, it does require a 15-20-minute car ride, but in my opinion, it is totally worth it. The street is bustling with art galleries and trinket shops, thrift and clothing stores, and the best street tacos I’ve had in St. Louis (and trust me, coming from LA, my bar was pretty high).
Downtown
St. Louis
How many cities have a national park in their downtown?
Regardless of whether or not you agree with the National Park Service’s designation, the Arch is definitely worth at least one trip during your time at WashU. If you’re feeling adventurous and not claustrophobic, you can even take a ride to the top! In addition to the Arch, you can catch a Cardinals, Blues, or St. Louis City game, depending on the season, or visit the City Museum, the St. Louis Aquarium, or the Cathedral Basilica.
Forest Park
Forest Park might as well be its own neighborhood with the number of activities available inside. Located within walking distance from campus, the park is a great way to get outside, exercise, or visit one of its many free venues. Consider taking a trip to either the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, or the Saint Louis Zoo, all for free! Walk
along the hundreds of walking and bike paths, or picnic at the top of Art Hill. If you have an extra $25, rent a paddle boat or a kayak with friends, and if you’re looking for more of an “event,” consider going to see a show at the Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis (Muny).
This is by no means an exhaustive list of places to visit in St. Louis, but rather a springboard to get you started. Our number-one piece of advice when beginning to get off campus is to use your friends from St. Louis as a resource. Both of our roommates were from St. Louis and the surrounding areas, and it was always super helpful to hear their expertise! But also, take advantage of things at WashU!
Although getting off campus is a great way to engage with the community and explore St. Louis, it can be tricky to get off campus, especially without a car. That being said, our school is chock-full of deeply interested, passionate, and talented people who are constantly performing, and often, performing for free! It is incredibly worthwhile to fill your calendar with WashUcentric events.
A
Love lives here
We’re here to share some of our favorite forms of entertainment on campus. These events have made our time on campus so much more dynamic and fulfilling. New events and clubs are constantly appearing around campus, and if there is something you can’t find, you can always create it! (Personally, I really want to create a burlesque club.)
Improv
There are three improv groups on campus (SPISH, Mama’s Pot Roast, and K.A.R.L.), and each group performs a few times per semester. The shows are short, hilarious, and provide a super social and low-key space. You can keep an eye out for their events by following them on Instagram @karlimprov, @mprimprov, and @spishimprov.
Make life-long friends while developing your spiritual life in a community of faith and fun. Join us for Mass, faith groups (Core Communities), service trips, volunteering, social events & more!
CSC FALL WELCOME SCHEDULE:
• Friday, 8/15, 5:30pm → Feast of the Assumption Mass
• Saturday, 8/16, 4pm → Move-in Mass & Reception
• Thursday, 8/21, 6pm → Swamp Mass & Ice Cream
• Sunday, 8/24, 4:30pm → Welcome Mass and BBQ
• Saturday, 9/6, 10am-10pm → FRESHMAN ESCAPE!
For the full schedule, see our calendar at washucsc.org/events.
US: Your home away from home
Catholic Student Center at Washington University 6352 Forsyth Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63105
34
STUDENT LIFE | STARTING LINE
Cultural, theatre, a cappella, and dance
shows
Cultural shows are often put on by various affnity groups and can include everything from music to drama and dance shows. (For some bonus points, cultural or affnity events often have free food.)
Tickets for these events can often be found online or on social media sites. One of my favorite aspects of these shows is the palpable pride in the theater during performances. Families, friends, and peers show up for performers with raucous, incredibly genuine, and deeply moving support.
This emotion is also present — albeit different — during theatrical, musical, and dance performances. There are consistently highcaliber shows put on by students in groups like Cast n’ Crew, All Student Theater, WashU Hip Hop Union (WUHHU), and any one of the 10+ a cappella groups on campus, for a maximum of a few dollars. Last year, some of our best weekends were spent supporting our friends in “Urinetown” and
“Hamlet”, watching in awe of WUHHU dancers, and even witnessing our very own Mosaic Whispers take frst in the Midwest Quarterfnal of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA).
Other miscellaneous but awesome events
Student Fashion Show, and even juggling shows. KTalks offer a space for graduating seniors to pass on their wisdom, the Fashion Show is a cumulative presentation of senior capstone projects, and the juggling shows are short and entertaining ways for members of
the WashU/STL Juggling Club to show off their skills.
The point of all of this is that it is hard to be bored at WashU, as the possibilities for events are endless. If you are bored, you might be doing things wrong. Our biggest advice is to go to events until you find something you like, and once you’ve found one, talk to people there to find more things you’d be interested in! WashU has a lot to offer for those who are willing to engage.
All in all, we think the most important thing is to come to WashU, and college in general, with an open mind. Don’t judge St. Louis too early based on what you perceive it to be, because we think you’ll find that St. Louis has plenty to offer. And while you may not think it is superior to whatever big city you grew up in, hopefully, after four years, you will be able to call it home.
Your Midwest Mentors, Scene
LUCIA THOMAS | STAFF ILLUSTRATOR
WWW.CWESCENE.COM
St. Louis concert guide for fall 2025
Elijah Leckerman Staff Writer
August
Tuesday, Aug. 19
LCD Soundsystem at The Factory (20-minute drive)
LCD Soundsystem is a dance-punk group that incorporates various genres into its intricate, distinct sound, perfected throughout the band’s 20-year career. Get ready to dance and/or cry to their epics “All My Friends” and “Dance Yrself Clean” at The Factory.
Thursday, Aug. 21
The Goo Goo Dolls with Dashboard Confessional at Saint Louis Music Park (30-minute drive)
Tuesday, Aug. 26
Sierra Ferrell with Nikki Lane at Stifel Theatre (15-minute drive)
Many people may recognize Sierra Ferrell from her feature on Zach Bryan’s song “Holy Roller,” but she is an Americana singer with wide acclaim in her own right. With a touch of theatrics in her shows, Ferrell combines a classic acoustic sound with costumes and sets that further enliven her songs.
Friday, Aug. 29
The O’Jays at The Factory (20-minute drive)
September
Saturday, Sept. 13
Deftones with IDLES and The Barbarians of California at the Enterprise Center (15-minute drive)
Monday, Sept. 15
Lucy Dacus with Slow Pulp at Stifel Theatre (15-minute drive)
Lucy Dacus is one of the most popular artists in the current indie
pop/indie rock scene, known for her devastatingly beautiful song “Night Shift” and membership of the band boygenius. She is touring her new album “Forever Is A Feeling” with the distinctive indie rock band Slow Pulp.
Tuesday, Sept. 16
Pixies with Spoon and Fazerdaze at Stifel Theatre (15-minute drive)
Wednesday, Sept. 17
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in Forest Park (20-minute walk)
St. Louis’ renowned orchestra will be having its annual, free Forest Park Concert at Art Hill, and will be playing a few selections from its upcoming season as part of a tradition lasting over 55 years.
Saturday, Sep. 20
NBA Youngboy with DeeBaby and k3 at Enterprise Center (15-minute drive)
Sunday, Sept. 21
Peach Pit at The Pageant (20-minute walk / 10-minute shuttle)
Friday, Sept. 26
blink-182 with Alkaline Trio at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater (30-minute drive)
Sept. 27 & 28
Evolution Festival: Sublime, Lenny Kravitz, Sam Fender, Father John Misty, TLC, Public Enemy, Corinne Bailey Rae, and more in Forest Park (25-minute walk)
Located in the middle of Forest Park, Evolution Festival showcases an impressive variety of old and new acts in the genres of R&B, rock, pop, and hip-hop over the course of two days. Along with the exquisite artist lineup, the festival includes many food venues, a marketplace of
local vendors, and an art gallery.
Tuesday, Sept. 30
Samia with Renny Conti at Delmar Hall
(20-minute walk / 10-minute shuttle)
Samia creates perfect indie pop songs that carry both extremely catchy melodies and uniquely specifc lyrics, delivering great live shows as one of the most promising young singer-songwriters out there.
October
Oct. 3, 4, and 5
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Performs Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert at Powell Hall (15-minute drive)
Sunday, Oct. 5
The Revivalists with Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge at The Pageant (20-minute walk / 10-minute shuttle)
Tuesday, Oct. 7
Aly & AJ with Amanda Shires at The Factory (20-minute drive)
The sibling pop duo will undoubtedly perform their hit “Potential Breakup Song,” a catchy and uplifting banger showcasing the sound of the 2000s pop-rock scene. The two are also supported by Grammy-winning Americana singer Amanda Shires.
Thursday, Oct. 9
Lorde with The Japanese House and Empress Of at Chaifetz Arena (15-minute drive)
Saturday, Oct. 11
Tate McRae with Alessi Rose at the Enterprise Center (15-minute drive)
Thursday, Oct. 16
Lainey Wilson with Muscadine Bloodline and Maddox Batson at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater (30-minute drive)
Wednesday, Oct. 22
Indigo Girls at Stifel Theatre (15-minute drive)
The Indigo Girls are folk-rock legends, notably heard recently in Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” in which the titular character sings along to their song, “Closer to Fine.”
Friday, Oct. 24
Lord Huron with Kevin Morby at Chaifetz Arena (15-minute drive)
It is almost impossible not to be moved by Lord Huron’s “The Night We Met,” let alone not to have heard it before. The indie folk band’s smash hit has rightfully sparked their popularity, allowing for their other, often more upbeat, acoustic songs to also receive their deserved appreciation.
November
Friday, Nov. 7
Riley Green with Jamey Johnson, Drake White, and Hannah McFarland at Chaifetz Arena (15-minute drive)
Monday, Nov. 17
John Legend at The Factory (20-minute drive)
Tuesday, Nov. 18
Blondshell with she’s green at Delmar Hall (20-minute walk / 10-minute shuttle) Blondshell is a rising indie rock star whose addictive songs and “bubblegrunge” sound — a poppier version of the alternative rock grunge genre — have already been perfected with her two lone albums. She has also hinted at a cover of
Addison Rae’s undeniably catchy “Diet Pepsi” being played on tour, which adds something more to be excited for.
Tuesday, Nov. 18
Samara Joy at The Factory (20-minute drive)
The three-time Grammy winner Samara Joy is a jazz singer with a beautifully smooth voice showcased in her many renditions of traditional jazz songs. Her version of “Stardust” sounds so perfect with her voice that you will be shocked that it is a cover.
Sunday, Nov. 23
Rufus Wainwright with The Pernikoff Brothers at City Winery (15-minute drive)
This list is not all-inclusive, so feel free to browse the websites of the different venues mentioned to see more artists who are coming to St. Louis!
Students dance during Spring 2025 WILD, which included performances from DJ Mustard and Flo Rida.
ANNA CALVO | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A beginner’s guide to WashU gyms
Sophia Hellman Senior Scene Editor
Welcome to WashU, scholarchampion! Whether you’re an ex-high school athlete, a new marathon aspirant, or looking for ways to stay in shape, WashU’s gyms could be the perfect place for you. You might be thinking… gymS, plural? Yes, there are options! Keep reading for a complete guide and some gym inspiration for your workouts this fall.
Facilities:
Sumers Rec Center (a.k.a the Rec)
Located next to the Francis Olympic Field, Sumers Rec is the home of many of WashU’s recreational activities and facilities, including Millstone Pool, a few courts hosting different activities, and, of course, the main campus gym. Open to all WashU students, the Rec Center is a popular option. It can be busy at certain times of the day, such as around 4-7 p.m. on weekdays, and also around 9 a.m. However, as the year progresses, more space may become available.
South 40 Fitness Center
Especially nice if you live on the South 40, this gym is conveniently located up the stairs from Bear’s Den and is generally less busy. However, there are fewer options for cardio and lifting, and during busy times, there is the chance of people occupying all the machines. But, if you’re looking to avoid the crowd, and live somewhere like Eliot, Umrath, or Zetcher, it’s kind of like having a personal apartment gym. Also, it’s a great place to learn without any pressure — if you time it right, certain times of the day (e.g., midday, early in the morning) will be essentially empty.
For the newbie:
First and foremost: don’t be intimidated by the gym. If your friend asks you to join them, and you imagine huge, sweaty crowds, don’t be alarmed. There is no shame in starting slow and at your own pace. Also, wear whatever feels most comfortable for you. The golden rule of a gym is that nobody is paying attention to you, because most people are at the gym to work on themselves. Just remember to be respectful of everyone, aware that WashU faculty and staff also use the gym, and make sure to bring your ID card so you can swipe in!
It’s also good to devise a plan before going. If you’re looking to improve your strength or burn energy, start your workout with lifting weights first. If you want to improve endurance, start with some cardio. Whether you spend your first day at the Rec or the South 40 gym, both locations should have machines for both. Let’s say you start with the treadmill to get a feel for the gym on your first day. Then, you have a few options for weights. One great option for starting to build strength is dumbbells. On the internet, you can find countless workouts where all you need is to grab a couple of sets of dumbbells and sit or stand in one place! Practice a squat or a bench at one of the bench areas, and consider bringing a friend to help with form or spot you. Don’t give up even if they’re all taken — something you can do is stretch or use a machine near the area, and wait until one becomes open. As you grow more consistent, you can dedicate certain days for different parts of the body, such as Monday for back and biceps and Tuesday for quads and calves. Slowly, you will have tried all the different areas and gotten to know the exercises that work best for you!
For the marathoner:
If you’re a runner or want to increase your endurance, or are a masochist, the facilities have a few options for that. On the first floor of the Rec, there are treadmills, ellipticals, rowing machines, and stairmasters. There are also stationary bikes on both floors. There is an indoor track on the second floor, and an outdoor track outside, open to everyone when not occupied by athletic teams. For some cardio entertainment, there are TVs across the machines, or for some live sports, you could always grab one of the treadmills facing directly in front of the Rec court. The South 40 gym also has elliptical machines, bikes, and treadmills for your cardiovascular needs.
For the muscle-motivated:
The Rec has the most options for heavy weightlifting, and also contains areas for lighter weights or bodyweight exercises. Start your workout with compound movements that involve several muscle regions, and end with targeted exercises. Try the bench area for building upper body muscle, but consider aiming for less busy times. Lat pull-down and cable pull-down machines are also great for building back muscle. For the lower body, there are not only squat racks, but also barbells on wooden platforms for exercises such as deadlifts. If there is a specific muscle you want to target, try one of the machines closer to the treadmill area — for example, leg extensions and leg presses are great if you want to work your quads, or if you want to avoid the hassle of setting up a squat rack. Finally, don’t forget to stretch! A few areas include Studio 1904 at the Rec (when not occupied by BearFIT classes), which is at the end of the gym area, near the rowing machines. There is also a space where you can stretch
or use weights on a mat behind the weightlifting benches, and finally, there is another area on the second floor with mats, hidden in a corner surrounded by windows. The second floor area also makes a great space for strength workouts, as it contains a few weights, some boxing equipment, and a nice view of the outdoor track with natural light.
For the sporty:
Looking for the team experience but don’t want the commitment of a club sport? Look no further. The Rec offers many sports through their intramural programs, including basketball, volleyball, futsal, and more. Compete in tournaments, and choose between different levels of competition when you sign up. You can even submit yourself as a “free agent” for existing teams to add you if you don’t already know of a team before playing.
P.S. Catch a final futsal match to experience a surprising amount of school athletic spirit — extra points if one team is frat-based.
Bonus: BearFIT Classes
Located in various locations around campus, BearFIT classes offer group fitness activities such as cycling, yoga, Pilates, and more. It’s a great option for those who like the group exercise experience, and most are free!
With all this in mind, before you start your workouts, keep in mind that college can be a very different experience from high school, mentally and physically. As your body adapts to your new life, exercise takes different forms depending on what works best for your new schedule and mental health. But breaks from busy college days to stay healthy are important and offer a great way to make lasting memories with friends.
Gettin’ down to business: Best and worst campus bathrooms
Astrid Burns Special Issues Editor
As a new student, you’ll be busy prepping for classes and memorizing all the new buildings. But, it is equally important to fgure out the best bathroom spots to run to during your short break between classes or the niche spots to go when nature calls. Between new-school jitters and the copious amounts of coffee you’ll suddenly be consuming, it’s totally fair that you might want some solitude in the bathroom. I’m here to share the best and worst bathrooms that our campus has to offer. My qualifcations? I used to dream of running a bathroom blog called Bathroom Betty to rate restaurant bathrooms because I’m very opinionated about my restroom experience.
Disclaimer: Many of the single-stall bathrooms are gender-neutral. Please respect these spaces, and do not treat them like your personal hangout spot. For some, these are the only bathrooms that they can use on campus, and it is important to make sure they are being used as intended.
Best Bathrooms
Danforth University Center
Second Floor
According to a male friend who accidentally entered the bathroom, the women’s room is quite lovely and has great ambient lighting. Tucked away near the Cafe Bergson stairs, the DUC second-foor bathrooms guarantee a relaxing experience and a great place to touch up your makeup. This bathroom has low foot traffc and only a few stalls, making it a less popular but more coveted spot. Its location next to Café Bergson is also convenient if you realize that your latte was made with whole milk instead of oat milk, and you need somewhere to run.
Hillman Hall
While these bathrooms can sometimes get crowded, each
KEVIN KAN | ILLUSTRATION EDITOR
bathroom has a lot of stalls, offering the chance to choose your own adventure. Plus, there are always fun fyers on the door of the stalls so you can fnd out about different campus resources, events, and research opportunities while you go. Also, since it’s a Brown School building, the graduate students typically keep the place clean.
Simon Hall Basement
Tucked away from the public, the Simon basement bathrooms offer both an elevated multi-stall experience and multiple private single stalls. The big bathroom has lots of options, so you never have to compete for a stall during rush hour, and the big mirror has great lighting. The spacious single stalls are the perfect place for some solitude, and you will typically fnd one available. Simon also has a prime location next to the DUC, offering bathroom spaces away from the more popular DUC frst-foor bathrooms.
Be warned, however, the Simon frst-foor bathrooms are nasty, and I’ve encountered one too many unfushed toilets in Simon generally.
Bauer Single-Stall
All of the Bauer bathrooms are super nice, fancy, and clean (and
windowsill, and sometimes, it makes you feel more vulnerable than a regular stall; if my memory serves me correctly, it’s one of those weird bathrooms where the windowsill keeps the stall from sitting fush to the wall, allowing people to peek in. The bathroom is super tiny and cramped, making it very awkward before class with everyone bumping into each other and shuffing around to let someone take your stall. While it is a fne bathroom otherwise, it isn’t a reliable option.
McKelvey Hall First and Second Floor
they even have a shelf with bag hooks for you to rest your coffee and backpack while on-the-go), but the single-stall bathroom really takes the cake. I stumbled upon it when the main bathroom was getting cleaned, and I was pleasantly surprised when I was greeted by a full-size mirror and a spacious room, allowing me to fully check out my outft and get out some presentation jitters. You can’t go wrong with any business school bathrooms, but this Bauer one is top-notch.
Crow Library
According to an engineering student, the single-stall Crow Library bathroom offers an intimate experience that pairs well with the typically quiet and low-key library. The bathroom provides a place of solitude, giving you the space to do your worst or have a late-night jam session if you’re there alone and need a pick-me-up after studying. The lighting is also quite good, creating a welcoming ambiance.
Worst Bathrooms
Busch Hall
Most people only have large lecture classes in Busch, which doesn’t pair well with its tiny bathrooms. While the big stall has a window, there are always dead bugs in the
Again, according to an engineering student, avoid the men’s bathrooms on the frst and second foors at all costs due to an overwhelming stench that frequently envelops the bathroom. While opinions differ on the women’s room, it may be best to also steer clear. The third-foor bathroom is allegedly safe, though, so if you are stranded at the East End, head up there for a more peaceful and less nasally assaulting bathroom experience.
Humanities Buildings: All of the buildings on Brookings Quad While I love all of my humanities classes, their buildings typically have terrible bathrooms. A lot of the buildings are quite old and small, so you won’t have a top-tier restroom experience like you would in a business school building. All of the bathrooms in the Brookings Quad area are pretty similar, with small, cramped bathrooms that often get overcrowded between classes. Or, the bathrooms are impossible to fnd — I was so convinced that Ridgley didn’t have a bathroom and didn’t want to fgure out the maze of the building that I would go to Cupples II during class instead. However, if you get a bathroom alone, they offer a peaceful experience, with some stalls equipped with windows to look out of and ponder.
No matter your bathroom needs or location on campus, know that there’s a bathroom for you! Have fun exploring campus and finding which toilet will become your throne.
GEPHARDT GEPHARDT INSTITUTE INSTITUTE
for Civic and Community Engagement
The Gephardt Institute supports student learning, engagement, and leadership in civic life, all in one place. Ready to begin?
FALL 2025 OPPORTUNITIES
CIVIC CAFÉ
A weekly dinner and dialogue event, Civic Café is hosted every Wednesday at Stix House from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Stop by to share a free meal, learn about civic topics, and discuss them with a community or campus expert! GephardtInstitute.WashU.edu
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ST. LOUIS FELLOWS
Looking for summer opportunities that make an impact? This cohort-based 6-month program provides:
4-credit experiential curriculum
Civic leadership training
Full-time internship at a local nonprofit Deeper understanding of St. Louis’ context, challenges, and opportunities
$7,500 stipend*
Applications open in the fall!
GephardtInstitute.WashU.edu/STLFellows
Kick off the school year with hundreds of students, faculty, and staff, over a free meal and civic dialogue, focused on sharing your civic story and co-imagining our shared future on this year’s theme, “Navigating Uncertain Civic Moments Together.” Join us Sept. 3, 5-6:30 p.m. in Tisch Park (tentative). RSVPs encouraged at: TheLongestTable.WashU.edu.
CIVIC FELLOWS
A 14-month curriculum for students with a passion for civics! Engage in:
Cohort-based civic dialogue and learning Weekly classes earning 8 credits
Leadership development and mentorship
Immersive Washington DC and STL trips
First-years and sophomores can apply Civic Fellows receive a $7,500 summer stipend* for their Civic Summer
Anywhere project or internship.
Applications open in late fall!
GephardtInstitute.WashU.edu/CivicFellows
*An additional $1,000 stipend is available for students in families with high financial need. See website for details.
WASHU VOTES is a nonpartisan student organization that promotes voter education for students at WashU. Join us to:
R egister new voters
Volunteer at campus polling places
Canvass to increase turnout
Learn about issues facing our local, state, and federal communities WashUVotes.WashU.edu
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Visit us at Stix House, 6470 Forsyth Boulevard
Learn more at GephardtInstitute.WashU.edu
What’s your favorite place to eat off campus in St. Louis?
Balkan Treat Box
- Riley Herron, Editor-in-Chief
Located in Webster Groves, Balkan Treat Box is well worth the 15-minute drive from campus. What started as a food truck has blossomed into a nationally recognized hotspot thanks to its vibrantly flavorful pide (a Turkish flatbread), cevapi (grilled beef sausages), doner kebabs, and other dishes that celebrate the Bosnian community of St. Louis, the city with the largest Bosnian population outside of Europe.
CM Chicken & SSong’s hotdogs
- Erica Shi, Staff Illustrator
This spot has Korean-style fried chicken and potato mozzarella hot dogs. The fried chicken is a bit on the expensive side, but the restaurant offers a variety of flavors to choose from, and the chicken definitely hits (if you can handle the spice).
Bowood by Niche
-Astrid Burns, Special Issues Editor
Located near Forest Park, Bowood is a cute lunch spot that doubles as a plant nursery. It has some of the fluffiest pancakes I’ve ever seen and a variety of unique options like the cacio e pepe eggs and French toast bread pudding. It’s a great spot to visit when you first get to campus so
you can get plants for decorating your room (trust me, plants really liven up a dorm).
Don Carlos
- Syd Tran, Editor-in-Chief
Attached to a grocery store on Cherokee Street, Don Carlos is by far my favorite taco place in St. Louis. While it also offer tortas, you cannot go wrong with its tacos al pastor and a cold Coca-
Cola de Mexico with real cane sugar (trust me, you can taste the difference). Its outdoor patio makes it the perfect destination for a quick, affordable lunch between shopping at the various small businesses that span Cherokee Street.
Sauce on the Side
- Elizabeth Stump, Managing News Editor
Sauce on the Side has locations throughout St. Louis and will make all of your calzone dreams come true! The calzones have large portion sizes for the price, great fillings to overall cheesiness ratios, and fun names like Hot Mother Clucker, Fatty B, and Meat Me in St. Louie. If you still have room after the main calzone (unlikely), you can finish your meal at this award-winning restaurant with either a s’mores or caramel apple pie dessert calzone!
The Crooked Boot
- Grayce Cooper,
Managing Social Media Editor
This one requires a little effort since it is a food truck that you have to catch around the city. However, it is known to frequent Food Truck Thursdays on the South 40. Its menu consists of Creole Caribbean staples like Po-boys and original takes like jerk chicken loaded fries. Hopefully, this also encourages you to explore events in St. Louis because it might just make a surprise appearance!
Taco Buddha
- Lauren Smith, News Editor
Being from Texas and having so much access to incredible Mexican food back home, I was very skeptical of anything that claimed to be both edible and a taco in St. Louis. Miracles really do happen because Taco Buddha is fabulous, flavorful, and anything but a flop. If you’re a beef-eater, I would highly recommend the Taos or the Del Rio Tacos. It’s not right next to campus, but it’s super easy to access by shuttle!
Hi-Pointe Drive-In
-
Zach Trabitz,
Investigative News Editor
The Hi-Pointe Drive-In is a St. Louis classic for good reason. With delicious burgers, milkshakes, and sandwiches (my personal favorite is the Arch D-Lux burger), you’re bound to find something you like when going here. Additionally, it’s walkable from the South 40, or you can take a bus to get dropped off near it. There’s outdoor and indoor seating, and it’s always fun to catch a vibe and eat a burger at Hi-Pointe.
Living Room
Coffee & Kitchen
- Nina Laser, News Editor
Living Room is such an awesome spot to go study and grab a bite to eat. It has a great coffee selection in addition to other fun drinks, makes great cheddar scones, and is innovative with its honey peanut butter toast with bacon on top. The decor is cozy and colorful — it’s the perfect place to hunker down over the weekend to get loads of work done.
Fall sports season previews
Matt Eisner
Lewis Rand
Ian Heft
Christian Kim
Eliza Stulman
Hannah Much
Sports Editorial Staff
Women’s Soccer
After finishing as national runners-up in 2023, the WashU women’s soccer team beat William Smith College to win the 2024 Division III National Championship. The national championship-winning squad was led by the backline of thenseniors Emma Riley McGahan and graduate students Ally Hackett and Sidney Conner, all of whom have since graduated. Despite graduating seven ahead of the 2025 campaign, WashU’s roster is still full of returning talent.
“While we are losing some incredible players, we have a lot of great players returning to the program,” head coach Jim Conlon wrote to Student Life. “We have had a very good spring in growing in the direction we want to go. Adding some new players this fall will make us that much stronger.”
Up front, the Bears are returning sophomore Olivia Clemons, who scored 22 goals in her first season in St. Louis — the third most in program history — and was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the NCAA Tournament. Seniors Grace Ehlert and Ella Koleno and junior Sophie Viscovich will join Clemons as they look to continue the Bears’ dominant offense. Ehlert was named to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament team in 2023 and had the secondmost goals scored of any player last season with a total of 14. Koleno and Viscovich recorded four and five goals respectively in 2024.
Juniors Regan Cannon and Alexandra Karolak both played important roles in the Bears’
backline last season and will look to replace the graduates who helped contribute to an unbeaten season in 2024. Junior Charlotte Shapiro, who played in seven games in 2024, will likely get the bulk of starts between the posts this year.
Since 2021, the team has made it to the Sweet 16 or beyond every season, making it to the national championship game over the past two years. Without their All-American defense, it might be more challenging, but there’s no team on campus as capable of making three straight national championship game appearances as women’s soccer.
The Bears have an early-season test against last year’s No. 25 Calvin University at home on
Sept. 5. The rest of their earlyseason schedule is against unranked opponents, but they will finish their season with key UAA matchups against Carnegie Mellon University, Emory University, and the University of Chicago.
Football
The WashU football team has something to prove this season. Last season, the Bears went 8-2, barely missing a tournament bid after losing a key game down the stretch. Entering 2025, many key pieces of the Bears offense have graduated. They’ll have to win this year with a drastically different roster, making this season an important transition year for the Bears.
The WashU offense will suffer the greatest change and will be underclassman-heavy, barring any transfer additions over the summer. Under center, the Bears will be led by junior quarterback Levi Moore. Moore stepped into the starter’s role at the end of last season and was successful on the rush while improving his passing game.
“[Moore] has done a nice job stepping in some tough situations,” head coach Aaron Keen said after Moore led the Bears to their highest total yardage in a single game on Nov. 2, 2024. “I think he can be a difference-maker for us.”
WashU’s options for running back and receiver will look very different this year, having lost
The Bears celebrate a game-winning goal in the Elite Eight against the University of Chicago.
ANNA CALVO | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
multiple key players in both positions. Keen will turn to senior Fred Ware in the run game, who had nine total rushing touchdowns last year. In the air, juniors Makael Carter and Colin Donahue and sophomore Lucas Blumenthal should play an increased role. On defense, seniors Ryan Schmadtke and Brady Willmer will lead the charge.
The 2025 campaign will bethe Bears’ last in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), having been expelled from the conference in September 2024. They’ll likely play their final games against multiple CCIW rivals this year, including hosting reigning national champions North Central College on Sept. 27 and a tilt with familiar foe Wheaton College on Oct. 25. Football opens its season on Sept. 6 at Francis Field against Rhodes College.
Men’s Soccer
Not a single member of the WashU men’s soccer team has been with the team in NCAA tournament competition, a rarity for one of WashU’s most
historically successful teams. This season, the Bears look to reverse the trend with a new-look squad. Luckily for second-year head coach Andrew Bordelon, the team will stay mostly intact into the 2025 season. On offense, men’s soccer is led by reigning First Team All-UAA senior Zach Susee on the wing and junior Ethan Wirtschafter up front. Last year’s UAA Defensive Player of the Year junior Quentin Gomez will lead the Bears’ backline, flanked by All-UAA honorable mentions senior Nate Szpak and junior Carter Sasser. The Bears will welcome 14 first-years to the program this year, injecting youth into a team that is looking for a spark in 2025.
In a boost to their tournament hopes, men’s soccer will not face a single opponent that was ranked in last year’s top 25 all season. Instead, WashU has stacked their non-conference schedule with games against local opponents like Webster University and Principia College before facing the typically daunting UAA schedule in October and November.
Sophomore forward Jamie Lee unleashes a shot against New York University in a conference matchup.
ELLA GIERE | PHOTO EDITOR
Junior quarterback Levi Moore evades defenders in a conference matchup against Millikin University.
SYDNEY STROMINGER | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
52 STUDENT LIFE | STARTING LINE
Women’s and men’s Cross Country
After the women’s and men’s cross country teams finished 10th and 15th, respectively, at the 2024 NCAA Championship and completed a strong outdoor track season, the team will look to continue their success in the 2025 season.
After graduating four runners last year, including All-American Cullen Capuano, the men’s team will be looking to senior Conor Daly, who placed 119th at nationals, as well as fellow senior Alexander Bullard and junior Will Liu, who both competed at the 2024 national meet, to lead the men’s team this season.
The women’s team also graduated their top cross country runner, Abby Patterson, as well as her twin sister Julia Patterson, and Sophie Bekins, who also competed for WashU at the 2024 D-III Championship. The team is returning a pair of sophomores — Lucinda Laughlin, who finished just seven seconds behind Patterson in the 6,000-meter race to claim the second spot
Runners on the women’s cross country team race in a meet led by senior Macy Iyer.
SAM POWERS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
on the Bears’ championship squad, and Lauren Raley, who competed at last year’s national meet. The team will also be returning seniors Jillian Heth and Katie Rector, who placed fourth and fifth for the Bears in 2024, respectively.
Despite both teams’ graduating top runners from last year, both are filled with returning talent and poised for a good run at the 2025 NCAA Championships.
Women’s Golf
The WashU women’s golf team placed fifth at the 2025 NCAA Division III Championship to end their 2025 spring season. The Bears graduated former All-American and 2022-23 Division III PING WGCA Player of the Year, Sydney Kuo, who won multiple tournaments with the Bears and finished tied for second at the 2023 national
championship. With Kuo graduating, the team will be adding three first-years to their roster this fall.
WashU will be returning juniors Amy Beanblossom and Reagan Robinson, who both competed at the 2025 national championship. In a breakout spring sophomore season, Beanblossom won her first two collegiate tournaments, the most wins of anyone on the team. Sophomore Nicole McGuire, who qualified for every tournament during her first year in St. Louis, will also look to continue making an impact, and senior Tiffany Chan, who competed at the NCAA Championship and placed second at the 2025 Cardinal Classic, will look to continue her success during her final year at WashU. While the fall season does not count toward the 2026 NCAA Championship rankings, the
Bears will look to use it to prepare for the spring season. While the team’s schedule has not been released, they will likely compete in a variety of tournaments to hone their skills before the spring season, where the team will look to qualify for their consecutive national championship appearance.
Women’s Volleyball
For the past three seasons, women’s volleyball has advanced to the D-III tournament. Each of those seasons, the Bears were eliminated in the second round. Although this year’s team will look different from previous years’ squads, the Bears hope that they can get over the hump in 2025.
WashU will be led by senior setter Sam Buckley, last year’s UAA Player of the Year and one of the finest talents in all of
Division III volleyball. Junior right-side hitter Leah Oyewole was second in kills and third in points for WashU last year, and senior Anna Freeman was excellent in limited action last season. Unfortunately for the Bears, four of their top five scorers from last season have now graduated. Due to this, the team’s large contingent of underclassmen will play a much larger role in 2025.
The Bears will open their season with the Bear Invite tournament against Willamette University, Loras College, Bluffton University, and Carthage College. They will play high-stakes games against the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Claremont-MuddScripps, and UAA rivals Emory, UChicago, and Case Western Reserve University throughout the season.
The Bears celebrate after winning a point in
SAM POWERS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Ladies frst: WashU women’s sports reign supreme in 2024-25
Matt Eisner Managing Sports Editor
Across its 17 athletic programs, WashU has won a total of 27 national championships. Among those 27 titles, there are some legendary teams: Bears volleyball has the most storied history with 10 national titles, while men’s basketball won consecutive national titles in 2008 and 2009. Within the last calendar year, WashU’s women’s track and feld, soccer, and tennis made history by bringing home three titles in the span 12 months, something no three WashU teams had ever done before.
The success of WashU’s female athletes in the 2024-25 campaign should come as no surprise. Out of the 27 championships in the Bears’ history, women’s teams have won 23. Still, WashU’s dominance is unprecedented and sets high expectations for the season to come.
Track and Field
The women’s track and feld team won their second national championship at the end of the Spring 2024 semester, defeating the runner-up University of Wisconsin–La Crosse by a staggering 23.5 points. Emma Kelley,who graduated in 2024 before transferring to the Division-I University of WisconsinMadison, led the Bears to victory in both the 400-meter and 800-meter events. Kelley was also named the 2024 National Women’s Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association. At the national championships, Yasmin Ruff ‘25 won the pole vault, and the 4x400-meter relay team won their championship as well.
WashU fnished as national runnersup in 2025, with Ruff winning her third consecutive pole vault championship. The Bears struggled to replace Kelley’s production, causing them to fall behind in the
overall standings, but the Bears took home second place in the 4x400meter relay. Ebun Opata ‘25 also fnished in second place in the triple jump.
Soccer
It’s hard to fnd a more dominant team in recent WashU sports history than women’s soccer over the past two seasons. In 2023, the Bears lost just once in the regular season, and they advanced to the national championship game with dramatic penalty shootout wins over UW–La Crosse and Messiah University. However, WashU fell to California Lutheran University 1-0 in the championship game.
The next season, the Bears looked to avenge their defeat. WashU brought in then-frst-year Olivia Clemons to pair with then-juniors Grace Ehlert and Ella Koleno on attack, while the experienced defense from the previous season remained intact. With their formidable squad, the Bears went unbeaten in the
2024 season. Clemons scored 22 goals, the third most in a single season in WashU history and the most of any frst-year in program history; WashU outscored their opponents 83-7 all season long. On Dec. 8, 2024, the Bears defeated William Smith College 3-0 to win the program’s second national championship.
Tennis
Unlike track and feld and soccer, WashU women’s tennis had never won a national championship before 2025. In 2024, the Bears made it as close as they ever had before, losing to Pomona-Pitzer in the Elite Eight. At the end of the 2025 regular season, the Bears caught fre. In the nine matches they played from April 11 on, WashU lost just twice: both times to The University of Chicago. When they advanced to the national championship weekend — hosted by familiar foe Pomona-Pitzer — they found themselves facing Chicago for the third time in fve weeks, with
After a runners-up fnish in 2023, WashU women’s soccer won the program’s second-ever national championship in 2024.
BRI NITSBERG | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR
a chance to avenge their two prior defeats.
The Bears did just that, defeating Chicago 4-3 with close wins in the doubles and singles competitions. After taking down Johns Hopkins University in the semifnals, the Bears beat Pomona-Pitzer in the fnal. Then-sophomore Eleanor Archer, and then-frst-years Caitlin Bui and Ally Lin led WashU to its frst national championship in women’s tennis.
While women’s track, soccer, and tennis were the only teams to win hardware this year, many of WashU’s other teams had impressive seasons in their own right. Women’s golf fnished in the top fve at the D-III championships. Multiple members of women’s swim and dive were crowned AllAmericans. Softball won their frst UAA championship in eight years. It has been a year to remember for WashU sports, and time will tell whether the Bears can replicate last year’s results in the new year. They will have lofty expectations, but the Bears are riding high as they look to win their 28th championship of all time in 2025-26.
Junior Olivia Theisen competes in the long jump. Women’s track and feld fnished as national runners-up in the 2025 season.
ERAN FANN | PHOTO EDITOR
Hello, New Bears!
Rena Cohen
ACROSS
1. Baby bear
4. Japanese flm genre
6. Jumped
7. College frst-year, in slang
8. Feature of Spotify, but not Spotify Premium
DOWN
1. Italian goodbyes
2. Ofcials at WashU’s Kelly Field, for short
3. Piano-playing sister in “Little Women”
4. ___ Romeo
5. Brainy type
Taking it to pound town: Navigating sex in your frst year of college
Astrid Burns Kate Westfall Special Issues Editor Managing Design Editor
It’s Welcome Week. After a night of partying, your roommate brings home a “special friend.” It’s the frst week of school, so you haven’t really hashed out the details of what to do when one of you wants to freak it. You awkwardly wander the halls after getting kicked out, thinking to yourself, “Is this what college is going to be like? Should I move out? Should I be freaking it with someone right now too? What do I do?!?!?!?!”
Don’t worry, we are here to help. If you’re interested in shaking the sheets in college, we can guide you through the common pitfalls that come with making sweet sweet love away from home. If you have no interest in having sex at this point in your life, that is also totally normal! Not everyone is having sex all the time, even if it feels like that. A lot of people haven’t even had their frst kiss before coming into college. If this is something you’d like to explore, go at your own pace and go in with an open mind.
College sex lives aren’t all glitz and glam either. Awkward sexual encounters are a quintessential part of college. Whether it means getting kicked out of your room, having sex on a hammock, or walking in on your naked roommate in a compromising position, most of us have experienced weird sex stuff. Rest assured, most people shouldn’t worry about constant sexiles. However, before you start copulating, it’s best that you talk to your roommate and potential partners about your sexual expectations and boundaries. If you are interested in having sex, here are some important reminders and communication tips.
Communication
When choosing to have sex, communication makes for a better experience for all the parties involved. Communicating wants
and needs throughout a sexual experience signifcantly increases the odds that they are taken care of. This does not just mean communicating during sex but also before and after. Starting an open and honest dialogue surrounding sex early on lays the groundwork to speak up later on if you are uncomfortable or want a change. If you are not feeling ready to have those conversations, that is a good sign that you are not ready to be having sex.
Another crucial aspect of clear communication is an open discussion about potential sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the last time you and your partner were tested. While having an STI does not mean you can no longer have sex safely, discussing that information beforehand ensures people can make a choice about what is best for them in the relationship.
Talking about sex should go beyond conversations with your partner — talking with your roommate is also a necessity. It can be diffcult to bring up sex-related boundaries to someone that you only recently met and are trying to build a new friendship with. In your roommate
expectations surrounding sex and frequency of visits with hookups vs. a partner?
• How do you feel about noise levels?
• Can guests use any shared items?
• Are there expectations around introducing the sexual partner to the roommate?
• Is PDA OK at all?
• Is communication expected every time, even if the roommate will defnitely not be in the room?
• How do you want to communicate that you are having sex to your roommate? Sock? Tie? Hanger? Text?
conversations, broach the topic openly. You and your roommate might have very different sexual histories, and that’s totally normal
— go in with an open mind and make sure not to shame any experiences.
Here are some points that might be important to address:
• How comfortable are you with someone sleeping over?
• How much notice is needed before someone stays over or before bringing a “special friend” over?
• How frequently can a guest come over? What’s too often?
• Are you ok with being kicked out?
• If you are comfortable leaving the room while your roommate has sex, how long are you willing to be out of the space?
• Are there any hard nos?
• What is permissible while the other person is in the room?
• Are there any days/times that are off limits?
• How do you want to communicate that you want space in the room?
• Is there a difference between
One way to keep the communication open with your roommate is to have frequent checkins, maybe every month. Just like consent in sex, people’s boundaries and preferences can change, so it’s necessary to keep each other up to date on how each of you are feeling, especially as the semester progresses and relationships develop.
Boundaries and Consent
Thinking about your personal boundaries before having sex is essential to having healthy and safe sexual encounters. You must also consider your partner’s boundaries, which can only be expressed through clear communication and consent.
One common barrier to consent is different sobriety levels. While having sex when drunk is never the best idea, if you do plan on doing so, discuss what you want to do and how far you are willing to go beforehand so you can both be on the same page. If you think you are going to be having sex with someone while drunk, it can also be good to have that conversation while sober so no boundaries are crossed. No matter what, remember that consent needs to be given before a sexual experience, it can be taken back
MANUEL LOPEZ | STAFF ILLUSTRATOR
at any point, and it’s best to keep that communication open during sex.
You should also establish sexual boundaries with your roommate. Sex might happen, so you and your roommate should be on the same page about what to do if one of you gets a hankering for a spankering. If you are having issues with those boundaries, reaffirm them by talking to your roommate. If the problem persists, speak to your RA to try and find a solution. You are well within your rights to set firm boundaries and for being frustrated if they are not respected.
If you want to have sex in your room, be mindful of when you are kicking out your roommate, the frequency, and for how long you are kicking them out. Dorm rooms serve as a home away from home, so make sure you are not making your roommate feel uncomfortable in your shared space and that they have equal access to the room.
While having sex anywhere in college, think about who you might be impacting. Ensure you
are not only respecting your room but also other spaces on campus.
Expectations
When setting boundaries and thinking about your college sex life, it’s also important to consider your “sexpectations” to make sure you and those around you are comfortable with your sexual habits. Considering what you are comfortable with is the frst step to success. Ask yourself questions like how far you want to go, if you are comfortable having sex with someone who is seeing other people, and how long you want to see someone before having sex. What you are comfortable with may change over time; regular refection helps ensure that you don’t end up in situations you might regret.
When engaging in self-refection, remember that everyone has different sexual preferences and sexual activity. No matter what sexual choices you make, there is nothing wrong with you. There is no such thing as being “behind” or “ahead” when it comes to sexual experience. Adhere to your own timeline and do not bother with comparing yourself to peers.
Beyond thinking through your own expectations, discussing expectations with whomever you plan on having sex with helps ensure both of you are comfortable. Everyone has different sexual experiences and setting expectations early on makes everyone’s experience more enjoyable.
Another part of sex in college is thinking about your roommate by discussing sexpectations within your room. While a lot of scenarios may be unlikely, set expectations to prepare for the worst. Be honest with yourself about how comfortable you are with confrontation if things get out of hand. If you walk in on your roommate having sex with someone, are you going to shut the door and run away or interrupt the lovemaking?
If confrontation isn’t your style, come up with a contingency plan, such as a friend’s room to crash in or a study room to do homework in. Make sure you grab all essentials, including chargers, before getting kicked out. Maybe you could use that time to hang out with other friends and catch up on your favorite TV show!
Positivity (don’t shame)
No matter where you are in your sexual journey, recognize that you are going to encounter peers with all different levels of experience and expertise handling the topic. Sex, and the conversations surrounding it, can be uncomfortable or scary for some people and it is important to not shame those around you. You also should avoid shaming yourself! You are likely to run into awkward sexual situations in your own life; just remember that everyone has them and they do not defne you.
All this to say: be respectful in all things relating to sex. Having a sex life in college can be fun and exciting, but make sure that sex does not harm any other aspects of your college life, and that you are always taking into consideration all who are affected by your decisions. No matter what your college sex life looks like, it’s important to honor your own expectations, boundaries, and preferences and enjoy all the new experiences you are having. Have fun and be safe!
Finding yourself in your first year of college
David Ciorba Senior Forum Editor
When I first started college, I didn’t expect life to feel that different. After all, I had grown up only a few miles down the street from WashU. But within a few weeks of my first year, I found myself completely disoriented. It wasn’t just that I was struggling to make new friends, find meaningful activities, or that I missed my family — though all of that was true. I felt disoriented because my friends, my family, and my routines were how I had defined myself. Without the stable presence of these aspects of my life, I became unsure of who I was. For college first-years, this experience is far from uncommon.
Many elements of one’s identity are called into question after moving to college. Hometown relationships must be redefined at a distance. Career paths are reconsidered, and even your core beliefs may be challenged as you encounter new ideas and people. So, as you begin your first year, how can you engage with these changes while maintaining your sense of self?
For me, it took some time to realize that there is more to my identity than the activities I did, the grades I got, or whatever else you might throw on a resume. For incoming students, these are often a source of self-pride, and that makes sense. Power structures (like selective colleges) encourage and reward students who excel in these fields. However, there is
more to you than what you do.
Often, your roles and routines are merely extensions of deeper continuities of the self: your curiosity, empathy, humor, and passions. Reflecting on these aspects of yourself can keep you anchored when all else seems to be changing.
That said, I’m reluctant to suggest that introspection is a one-sizefits-all solution. Sometimes, you just feel lost — and I wonder if that’s really a bad thing. In life, there are times when none of us quite know what we’re doing. I challenge you to treat feeling lost in your own life like getting lost in some twisty, turny European city. Follow the road that looks most interesting. If you don’t like what you find, take a different turn.
It was only after trying swing dance, rushing a fraternity, attending wrestling practice, speaking with the dive team, cheering at football games, and getting cut from an improv group that I realized I wanted to spend more time writing for Student Life.
The truth is, finding yourself can feel daunting and at times isolating. But you are not alone. Everyone’s identities are constantly evolving. As a result, we’re always reorienting our relationship to ourselves and the world. Starting college may be the first time your sense of self feels truly challenged, but understanding who you are is a lifelong task. And like any journey worth taking, it starts with a bit of wandering.
Meet the Student Life staff as you pass GO
Student Life is a large, close-knit community of WashU students passionate about journalism and its growth at WashU. With the collaboration of writers, editors, reporters, photographers, designers, illustrators, videographers, crossword constructionists, and beyond, we continue to expand how we keep the WashU community informed about current happenings and offer a place for commentary about the campus climate.
Although these bios offer an introduction to Student Life’s members, there are many more who meaningfully contribute to the paper and our community. However, if everyone in our happy StudLife family were included, we would need an entirely new magazine. So, while you get a sneak peek of our organization, know there are many more members foating around campus carrying a Student Life sticker or frisbee.
First, let’s meet the managing team!
Sydney (Syd) Tran
Editor-In-Chief
Syd is a senior from St. Charles, Missouri, but calls St. Louis her home. She is double-majoring in Psychology and Communication Design. She joined Student Life her first-year fall as a baby d esigner and loves finding new ways to tell stories visually. When she’s not napping on the office couch with her trusty heart pillow, she i s most likely frolicking around touching grass, in the art studio , or lollygagging around St. Louis in her beat-up Honda Civic.
Riley Herron
Editor-In-Chief
Riley Herron is a senior from Bethesda, Maryland, double-majori ng in Political Science and Data Science. Following three years with the Sports section, he is excited to return to St. Louis as one of StudLife’s two Editors-in-Chief after spending the spring semes ter abroad.Though he had little journalism experience entering WashU, Riley has developed a passion for storytelling since joi ning StudLife. When he’s not working on an article, he can be found playing pickup sports or exploring Forest Park.
Elizabeth Stump
Managing News Editor
Elizabeth is a junior originally from Cheyenne, Wyoming, majoring in International Affairs and double-minoring in Religion and Politics and the Business of Social Impact. When she is not conducting interviews or writing articles in Student Life’s windowless office, you can find her studying somewhere on the second floor of Olin, at the Rec Center taking a yoga class, or reading a book in the wooden armchairs by Mudd Field. Outside of the WashU campus she enjoys photography, hiking, paddleboarding, and hammocking.
Will Rosenblum
Managing Scene Editor
Will is a senior from Minneapolis, Minnesota, majoring in Economics and Finance. He joined Student Life in the spring of his frst year and has served Scene faithfully ever since. When not working on StudLife, you can fnd him playing the piano, watching a Christopher Nolan movie, or fnding new routes to save seconds off his walk to class. He is eager to jump back into StudLife, write articles, edit interesting stories, and grind out some production nights.
Sylvie Richards Managing Forum Editor
Sylvie is a senior from the Bay Area, California, studying Political Science and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She joined the Forum section because of her interest in journalism. Now, while she loves writing her own opinions, she is even more passionate about giving people a place to write their own and supporting them in best representing their ideas. Sylvie looks forward to more people joining the Forum and StudLife family. When she isn’t editing articles, you can fnd her studying in the Law Cafe, seeing live music, redecorating her apartment, spending time in nature, or reading.
Matt Eisner
Managing Sports Editor
Matt Eisner is a senior from Bethesda, Maryland, majoring in Political Science and Spanish. A member of Student Life since h is sophomore year, Matt is serving as Managing Sports Editor this year. He loves the community that Student Life offers, especial ly during WashU playoff games and production night Andy’s runs. Outside of StudLife, Matt loves to cook, explore St. Louis, and cheer on his beloved Washington, D.C. sports teams.
Kate Westfall
Managing Design Editor
Kate is a junior from Salem, Oregon, majoring in Economics and Organizational and Strategic Management with a minor in Public Health and Society. She joined the Design section in her first year on a whim and has loved being a part of the Design section and Student Life as a whole ever since. She cannot wait to see all the new Design faces in the coming year and encourages anyone to join, no matter their skill level. Outside of StudLife you can find Kate working one of her many jobs, reading, or cartwheeling in the grass outside her dorm.
Astrid Burns
Special Issues Editor
Astrid is a junior from Roseland, New Jersey, majoring in American Culture Studies with minors in English and Legal Studies. She joined the News section in her first year and now happily spends every Wednesday night distracting other StudLifers with food runs and “1001 Nights” by Crazy Frog on repeat (while occasionally being productive designing layout). When not in the StudLife office, you can find Astrid nearby in the KWUR office, laying out in the butterfly garden, or trying to romanticize life while reading a book and drinking a Hillman la tte.
Mia Burkholder
Managing Copy Editor
Mia Burkholder is a senior from Cross Plains, Wisconsin, majori ng in Middle School Education and English. Her passion for commas (when used correctly) landed her a spot on the Copy team as a first-year, and she has been terrorizing Google Docs ever since Mia splits her time between the Catholic Student Center, the StudLife office, and the 560 Music Center, where she can be found singing with her a cappella group, the Ghost Lights, or playing the harp.
Bri Nitsberg
Managing Photo Editor
Bri Nitsberg is a senior from New Jersey studying Marketing wit h minors in Writing and Business of the Arts. After trying to fin d photography opportunities as a first-year, Bri joined the Photo team and has been running around campus with a camera ever since. She’s met some of the coolest people in the StudLife off ice and can’t wait to welcome even more photographers. Outside of StudLife, you can usually find her reading a book, running her college planner business, or color-coding her Google Calendar.
Quinn Moore
Managing Newsletter Editor
Quinn is a junior from Huntsville, Alabama, studying Physics with minors in Philosophy and Math. He has been a member of Student Life since his first year at WashU, at first as a News Staff Writer. When not forgetting until 2 a.m. to write/edit the dail y newsletter, he is probably yelling at the U.S. Men’s Soccer Tea m, Nashville Soccer Club, Huntsville City FC, or at Ferrari for screwing up a pit stop. Otherwise, he is reading a sci-fi book. He is currently ahead of his Goodreads reading goal, yippee.
AnaElda Ramos
Managing Illustration Editor
AnaElda Ramos is a senior from the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas majoring in Communication Design with a minor in Writing. She joined StudLife during her sophomore year and has loved getting the chance to tell fun and compelling stories wit h her drawings every week. When she’s not at her Steinberg studio desk, you can find her grocery shopping, watching cooking shows, doin g crossword puzzles, or scouring Spotify for her next favorite so ng. Please ask her about her playlists!
Grayce Cooper
Managing Social Media Editor
Grayce is a senior studying Design with a concentration in Communications and a minor in Human-Computer Interaction. She joined the Design section of Student Life in her frst year but soon found her groove in Social Media. Outside of Student Life, she is passionate about the performing arts, and you can often fnd her on one of WashU’s many stages, whether acting, singing, or playing an instrument. Grayce looks forward to welcoming new students to campus and remaining engaged with the @studentlifenewspaper audience online.
Madison Yue
Managing DEI Editor
Madison is a junior from Palo Alto, California, double-majoring in Marketing and Sociology. She joined Student Life as a first-yea r and has been part of its vibrant community ever since. This yea r, she’s excited to welcome new writers, foster an inclusive newsr oom, and amplify diverse voices across campus. Outside of StudLife, you can find Madison at basketball and football games dancing with the WashU dance team or filming a TikTok video with a mini microphone for WashU’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Hadia Khatri
Managing DEI Editor
Hadia is a junior from Plano, Texas, studying Environmental Engineering and double-minoring in Energy Engineering and History. She first joined the News section as a first-year and loved how it led her to see cool people and events — she even met the mayor of St. Louis for her first story. She still writes for Ne ws, but now focuses on DEI efforts to create a more inclusive space at StudLife and produce more coverage of minority groups and related issues. Besides StudLife, you can catch her gardening, laying on Mudd Field, or napping on the Crow Library beanbags.
Meet the rest of the Student Life Editorial Staff!
Lauren Smith
News Editor
Lauren Smith is a junior from San Antonio, Texas, studying Cognitive Neuroscience with minors in Religion and Politics and Biology. She joined Student Life’s News section her first-year fall and cannot wait to welcome new faces to the News team! Outside of Student Life, Lauren can be found at Kaldi’s, tossing a fris bee on Mudd field, obsessing over Maggie Rogers’ discography or studying in a Whispers booth.
Aliza Lubitz
Investigative News Editor
Aliza is a senior from Washington, D.C., majoring in PhilosophyNeuroscience-Psychology. She joined Student Life because she loves to write and has enjoyed becoming friends with other peop le on staff. At the paper, Aliza guides investigative news stories , works with other writers to report on campus issues, and manages and edits articles. In addition to journalism, Aliza loves hiking, cooking, art, film, working out, and hanging out with friends.
Zach Trabitz
Investigative News Editor
Zach Trabitz is a senior from Columbus, Ohio, studying Art Hist ory with minors in Anthropology and Writing. He joined Student Life his first-year fall and has been a News Editor since his first- year spring. He is going abroad in the fall but will still be assist ing with coverage from Edinburgh, Scotland, and will return in the sprin g. Outside of StudLife, Zach is often in the Kranzberg Art Library , preparing educational content for the Digital Art History Lab, or tossing a frisbee (in a hobbyist way — not professional).
Tanvi Gorre Nina Laser
News Editor
Tanvi is a junior from Westport, Connecticut, majoring in Computational Biology with a minor in Philosophy. She joined the paper during her first year at WashU and has since spent much o f her time in Student Life’s windowless office on the third floor of the Danforth University Center. Outside the office, you can typical ly find her practicing with her dance team (shoutout WashU Garba <3), studying in a Kaldi’s near you, or playing board games wit h her friends. She also loves to read, play the flute, and attempt to cook.
Coby Rinke
News Editor
Coby is a junior from Briarcliff, New York, double-majoring in Political Science and Economics. He joined the News section of Student Life at the start of his sophomore year, and this year he is excited to welcome new writers to the newsroom! When not in StudLife, Coby participates in WashU Run Club, even with shin splints, and volunteers at East St. Louis Senior High School as part of WashU’s Partners in East St. Louis. He enjoys drawing, writi ng, and taking way too many pictures of his dog.
News Editor
Nina Laser is a junior from San Francisco, California. She is majoring in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology, along with double-minors in Writing and Religion and Politics. She joined Student Life in the fall of her first year and has been a News Editor since her sophomore fall. Outside of Student Life, she is a cap tain of the WashU Iron Horse ultimate frisbee team and an Alumni, Marketing, and PR coordinator at Kesem. She also likes baking, bowling, and playing card games.
Joel Swirnof
News Editor
Joel is a senior from Lexington, Massachusetts, majoring in Biology. He joined the News section in spring of his first year and has loved being a part of Student Life ever since! When he’s no t taking trips to the vending machine outside the StudLife office , you can find him in Olin 1, 2, or 3 — only joking (not really). He also loves playing intramural sports and tutoring students in inner St. Louis.
Elizabeth Grieve
Senior Scene Editor
Elizabeth is a senior from Chicago double-majoring in Microbiology and French. She joined Student Life’s Scene section as a frst-year, hoping to start a dorm cooking series. Since then, Elizabeth expanded to both writing and editing all sorts of Scene pieces, including show previews, campus event coverage, and “Save Me, Scene!” (Scene’s advice column), and she enjoys being StudLife’s resident production night baker. When not at the StudLife offce, you can fnd Elizabeth running experiments in her lab, working in the greenhouse, editing Scene articles in Whispers Cafe, or at her favorite coffee shop, Blueprint Coffee.
Sophia Hellman
Senior Scene Editor
Sophia Hellman is a senior majoring in Biology and minoring in Psychology. She joined the Scene section in her sophomore year and has enjoyed writing and editing for StudLife ever since. Wh en not living the “Stud Life,” Sophia loves learning languages, re ading on her laptop during class, and cooking elaborate breakfasts. Y ou can catch her eating paninis at the Law Cafe, and do say hi, be cause she’s excited to see everyone back for a new semester!
Zara Sharif
Senior Scene Editor
Zara Shariff is a senior from New York City studying Genomics and Computational Biology on the pre-med track with a minor in History. She joined StudLife in the first semester of colleg e with the keen desire to meet new friends and pursue her passion for journalism, something she believes is critical to uplifting marginalized voices and connecting with people. When she isn’t in the StudLife office, you can find Zara doing research in her genomics lab, volunteering in low-income communities, listening to her favorite music with friends, or running in Forest Park.
Dion Hines
Senior Forum Editor
Dion Hines is a junior from Jackson, Mississippi, the only city to ever exist (besides St. Louis, Chicago, and all of Louisiana ). Dion is currently double-majoring in Communication Design and English Literature. Outside of StudLife, he is a part of Bl ack Anthology, the oldest cultural production at WashU. If not doin g anything school-related, Dion is most likely dead.
Kate Theerman Rodriguez Senior Forum Editor
Kate is a junior from St. Louis, Missouri. She is majoring in Sociology and double-minoring in Urban Design and Organization and Strategic Management. She has been involved with Student Life since the spring of her first year and is excited to conti nue editing for the Forum section. She is passionate about equity i n cities and community development. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, figuring out how to use her digital garden, and consuming any type of postapocalyptic media.
Amelia Raden
Senior Forum Editor
Amelia is a senior from Orlando, Florida, studying English Literature. She joined StudLife as a first-year and loves worki ng with the Forum section. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, cooking, and going to the beach. You can usually find h er in Holmes Lounge doing everything except her reading for class.
David Ciorba
Senior Forum Editor
David Ciorba is a junior from St. Louis, Missouri, studying Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology. He is inspired by the wide array of perspectives and opinions on WashU’s campus and is honored to raise such voices through the Forum section. Outside of the Student Life office, you may find David on a park bench reading performatively.
Ian Heft
Senior Sports Editor
Ian is a senior from New York City majoring in Political Scienc e and minoring in Data Science in the Humanities and Strategy. Ian is excited to return to WashU after a semester abroad in Prague . He has spent the past three years as a writer and editor for th e Sports section and has also contributed to News, Scene, and Forum. In his free time, you can find him exploring a St. Louis Museum, spending time with friends, or watching the 2026 NBA Champion New York Knicks.
Lyn Wilkins
Junior Forum Editor
Lyn Wilkins is a sophomore from a small town in Indiana. She pl ans on double-majoring in Creative Writing and Political Science. She has been writing since she was little and joined Forum to share her opinions and writing with others. In her free time, Lyn enj oys reading, scrapbooking, and shopping. She’s very excited to spend more time in Forum this year and get to know new members!
Lewis Rand
Senior Sports Editor
Lewis is a junior from Birmingham, Alabama. He is majoring in Political Science and minoring in Economics. Lewis joined Student Life in the fall of his first year and has served in a variety of roles in the Sports section. Lewis joined and has stayed inv olved with Student Life because of the close-knit community he found at the paper. When he is not in the Student Life office, Lewis can be found running in Clayton and Forest Park.
Bea Augustine
Design Editor
Bea is a sophomore from Shaker Heights, Ohio, majoring in Communication Design. She joined Student Life as a first-year t o meet people and stayed for the free food (just kidding — mostly ). Since then, she has developed an affinity for Adobe InDesign, photo collages, and line spacing. Outside of the StudLife offic e, you might find her tossing a frisbee on the Swamp, eating at Na mi Ramen, or stuck in a Sam Fox studio.
Amelia Spencer Design Editor
Amelia is a sophomore from St. Louis, Missouri, majoring in Mathematics and German. She joined StudLife on the Design team as a first-year and can’t wait to welcome new members as Design Editor. Outside of the StudLife office, Amelia is an avid restaurant-goer, a tolerator of hiking (if there is swimmi ng involved), and a wannabe librarian. She sings in the WashU Concert Choir, is a Grant Writer for SWAP (WashU’s free trading post), and is a leader for the Wilderness Project.
Jack Warren Design Editor
Jack Warren is a sophomore planning to double-major in Economics and Design with a concentration in Communication. Jack joined the Design team in his frst year at WashU and is excited to begin work as a Design Editor. Outside of Design, Jack enjoys rock climbing, gaming, and hanging out with friends.
Ava Giere
Chief of Copy
Ava Giere is a junior from Burlingame, California, studying English Literature and Spanish. Ava joined StudLife’s Copy team in the last few weeks of her first year and loves that she gets to read lots of articles, constantly learn something new, and spend time with friends. In her free time, she enjoys listening to the “This American Life” podcast, walking the San Francisco Crosstown Trail, and eating cherry-flavored ice cream.
Samantha Elegant
Chief of Copy
Samantha Elegant is a senior from San Francisco, California, majoring in English Literature and minoring in Dance and Business of the Arts. She joined StudLife’s Copy team her firstyear spring and has been involved ever since. Outside of StudLi fe, you can probably find Samantha rehearsing in Mallinckrodt for WashU’s next dance show, exploring new coffee shops around St. Louis, or hiding out in her apartment with a good book.
Ella Giere
Photo Editor
Ella is a senior from Burlingame, California, studying Data Science and Cognitive Neuroscience. Ella joined the Photo section on a whim during her first year and has met some of her best friends from the paper. Outside of StudLife, you can find Ella dancing her heart out to any ABBA song, baking cinnamon rolls (and eating them), or attempting to learn how to sew. She is excited to meet all the new faces this upcoming semester!
Isabella Diaz-Mira
Photo Editor
Isabella is a junior from Houston, Texas, and she joined StudLi fe during her first year. She’s currently majoring in French and minoring in Medical Humanities and Writing, on the pre-med track. In her free time, Isabella plays on the WashU club tenni s team, writes poetry for WUSlam, and learns French. Her favorite things to take photos of are the cultural showcases and sports!
Eran Fann
Photo Editor
Eran is a junior from Seattle, Washington, majoring in Biology with a specialization in Neuroscience and a double-minor in Mus ic and Public Health. In his free time, he enjoys playing frisbee, watching movies, and taking photos. As a photo editor, Eran edi ts photos taken by staff and contributing photographers in additio n to doing photo assignments.
Anna Dorsey
Illustration Editor
Anna is a sophomore from St. Louis, Missouri, majoring in Illustration in the Sam Fox School. Anna serves as an Illustration Editor for the newspaper, providing images for articles each we ek. Outside of Student Life, Anna likes to continue drawing for fun , watch (and rewatch) movies, and go thrifting for useless object s and funky clothes.
Kevin Kan
Illustration Editor
Kevin is a sophomore from San Diego, California. He is majoring in Communication Design and planning to minor in Business of the Arts. He got involved with StudLife’s illustration team dur ing the fall of his first year to hone his visual storytelling skil ls. When Kevin isn’t making comic strips or doodling cartoon fish, he is often wondering about various noodle dishes to cook or taking a nice walk around the Sam Fox School.
Olivia Lee
Junior Scene Editor
Olivia Lee is a junior from Oak Park, Illinois, majoring in Eng lish and minoring in Music and Legal Studies. She joined Scene as a first-year and has loved writing and editing for StudLife in he r two years with the section. Outside of StudLife, she enjoys playing flute, reading, and listening to (and writing about) music.
Sophie Schwartz
Junior Scene Editor
Sophie is a sophomore from Corona Del Mar, California, majoring in Psychology and History. She is a Junior Scene Editor and is excited for the upcoming year. When she is not reporting on the newest art exhibition in the Kemper or interviewing comedians from the hottest comedy groups on campus, you can find Sophie in Forest Park or the Rec playing pickleball, at Parkside enjoying a brisket grilled cheese, or chatting away in BD during prime hours of the night. Sophie can be easily be spotted purchasing a boxe d water with her meal points, and even though it is a controversial opinion, she believes boxed water is better.
Sara Gelrud
Junior Scene Editor
Sara Gelrud is a sophomore from Miami, Florida, potentially majoring in Comparative Arts with minors in Religion and Politics and Business of the Arts. She joined StudLife in the fall of he r first year and has loved interviewing community members, artist s, and filmmakers for the Scene section. Outside of StudLife, you can find Sara at the Pageant seeing whichever band is playing that night, catching a feature at the Hi-Pointe, or trying diff erent restaurants in town with her friends.
Reeya Sharma Senior Social Media Editor
Reeya Sharma is a sophomore from Memphis, Tennessee, and she is studying Public Health & Society on the pre-med track. She joined StudLife’s Social Media section as soon as she could in her first year. Reeya wanted to be a part of a platform that highli ghts so many diverse, vibrant stories within our communities. She has loved meeting new people within StudLife and is excited for thi s year! Outside of StudLife, she likes to explore different citie s, cook, go on runs, and spend time with friends and family.
Ashwin Nair Newsletter Editor
Ashwin is a sophomore from the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, majoring in Microbiology and minoring in Writing and Bioinformatics. He joined StudLife in his first-year fall as pa rt of the Newsletter section, working as a Junior Newsletter Editor t his past semester, and looks forward to improving the newsletter fo r excited new readers and expanding the Newsletter crew. Ashwin can be found editing photos, trying (and failing) to play spike ball, or reading a book — fantasy only.
Tim Mellman Newsletter Editor
Tim Mellman is a senior from the western suburbs of Chicago studying Data Science, Political Science, and Geospatial Science. He has dabbled in almost every part of StudLife, but most notably revamped the daily StudLife email newsletter, expanding the audience to over 15,000 readers and establishing one of StudLife’s newest and fastest-growing sections. In addition to training new newsletter writers (and staff meteorologists!), Tim looks forward to exploring new opportunities, like data journalism, over the next year. When he’s not up at far-too-late hours editing the newsletter, he spends ample time with the WashU Jewish community, attends Student Union meetings (yes, for fun!), and sleeps. Okay, that last one was a joke — Tim infamously never sleeps.
Sanchali Pothuru
Multimedia Editor
Sanchali Pothuru is a senior from Carmel, Indiana, doublemajoring in Economics and Anthropology: Global Health and Environment with a minor in Film & Media Studies. She joined StudLife in the fall of 2022 out of a love for making videos with the Multimedia team! When not making videos, you can find Sanchali scouting good mashups and pretending it’s 2014.
Christian Kim
Junior Sports Editor
Christian is a sophomore from Irvine, California, majoring in Public Health and minoring in Spanish. He joined StudLife in th e fall of his first year as part of the Sports section, serving a s the Junior Sports Editor this past semester, and he looks forward t o meeting new faces on the team. Outside of writing for StudLife, Christian can be found eating (especially Korean and Mexican food), following professional sports, and scrolling through the social platform X to read the most absurd threads.
Hannah Much
Junior Sports Editor
Hannah is a sophomore from Atlanta who is still undecided. She joined StudLife her first-year fall and loves the Sports sectio n. In her free time, she enjoys following the NBA, playing sudoku, be ing an intramural sports star, and eating Trader Joe’s Takis. You c an find her trying to stumble upon the best study spot on campus o r tweaking about her major and career path.
Eliza Stulman
Junior Sports Editor
Eliza is a junior from NYC double-majoring in PhilosophyNeuroscience-Psychology and Spanish and minoring in Religious Studies. When she joined StudLife in the fall of her frst year, she started in the News section but quickly contributed to every writingbased section, notably establishing Scene’s new science column, “Up and Atom!” When not in the Stoffce (StudLife Offce) or at WashU sports games, Eliza searches for new study spaces, plays card games with friends, and (unsuccessfully) attempts to nap. Eliza will be studying in Madrid in the spring and would love recommendations regarding how she should spend her time abroad!
Rena Cohen Crossword Editor
Rena Cohen is a sophomore from Bloomington, Indiana, majoring in Spanish and Psychology on the pre-law track. She co-launched the StudLife daily mini crossword last fall in her first semest er at WashU, and she also publishes crosswords in a variety of other news outlets, including the New York Times and Apple News+. When she’s not working on puzzles, she loves taking walks, listening to podcasts, and spending time with friends and famil y.
Hannah La Porte
Copy Editor
Hannah is a sophomore from Los Angeles, California, majoring in American Culture Studies and International Relations with a minor in Computer Science. She joined StudLife with the intention of designing but has never actually attempted to do so, opting instead to yell at people when they use an em dash incorrectly. When she’s not in the office, you can probably fin d her camping, playing violin at the 560, or scooping your favori te ice cream at Clementine’s.
Naomika Raveendran
Copy Editor
Naomika is a sophomore from San Diego, California, majoring in Environmental Engineering and minoring in Environmental Policy. She joined StudLife as a first-year and is a part of th e newspaper’s Copy and Crossword teams. In her free time, she loves taking walks through Forest Park, doing The New York Times’ crosswords, and listening to music.
