Suspended Wash U Fraternity Is Reinstated

Members of "Sigma Alpha Epsilon engaged in racially offensive behavior directed toward a group of students of color," wrote a Washington University official in a February email to the entire university community.

A fraternity at Washington University in St. Louis that was suspended in February during an investigation of racially offensive activity has been reinstated.  Student Life, the independent campus newspaper, reported in February that the students photographed a group of black students who were eating together. They then started singing rap lyrics and used the N-word, the paper reports.  Today, the University confirmed the reinstatement to the Riverfront Times. Quoting from the RFT story:  "I can confirm that the temporary suspension of SAE has been lifted by University," Wash. U. spokesman Steve Givens said in an e-mail. "The investigation is now complete." The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that sanctions were taken against several …

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U City on YouTube

CGI U: Chelsea Clinton Talks Why Wash U

Clinton will be at Washington University this weekend for the Clinton Global Initiative University.

In a video released on Washington University's YouTube Channel, Chelsea Clinton discusses the upcoming 2013 Clinton Global Initiative University. The event will be held April 5-7. This video played during the CGI U at WUSTL kick off event, Faces of Hope. To see the video on YouTube, click here. See our previous coverage:

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Washington University Alum Prepares To Climb Mt. Everest

Joe Ashkar is trying to climb the seven highest peaks and the North and South Poles in a single calendar year.

What do you do to "get away from it all," to recharge and refocus? Take a swim, meditation, or a take a hike? Creve Coeur resident Joe Ashkar takes hikes. Long hikes. Expensive hikes. High elevation hikes. On Friday, he leaves for Nepal as he makes the trek to Katmandu for next Monday's attempt to climb the highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest. That by itself would be be something to brag about, but Ashkar, 43, and the owner of a Creve Coeur-based IT firm, has something larger in mind. By this summer, Ashkar is attempting to be one of the only people, and possibly the first ever, to climb the highest summits on each continent, plus reach the North Pole and the South Pole, all within 365 days. The St. Louis-based adventurer said the idea …

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Nutritious Bites

March is National Nutrition Month – Who are the Nutrition Experts?

How to find a qualified registered dietitian.

Food and nutrition are very hot topics and something that most everyone, okay everyone knows about. But when it comes to getting nutrition based on the science of food and nutrition who do you turn to? The answer is to a Registered Dietitian (RD). All RDs have earned Bachelor’s Degrees with coursework that has been approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. After receiving the bachelor’s degree individuals must complete an accredited, supervised practice program in a health care facility, a food service corporation, a community agency or a school. Upon completion of these requirements a credentialing exam must be taken. After successful completion of these three …

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WashU Racial Incident Prompts Response From Chancellor Wrighton

Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton addressed the entire Washington University community regarding the incident in an email on Tuesday afternoon.

Editor's note: Ryan Martin is enrolled in MBA classes at Washington University in St. Louis.  Last week, Patch reported that a fraternity at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) was under investigation after allegations surfaced of racially offensive activity.  Student Life, the independent campus newspaper, reported that the students photographed a group of black students who were eating together. They then started singing rap lyrics and used the N-word, the paper reported. Since then, the campus newspaper reported that the entire incident was related to Sigma Alpha Epsilon's pledge process.  The string of events—which gained media attention from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Riverfront Times, Huffington Post and others—drew a …

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Racial Incident Leads to Suspension, Investigation of WashU Fraternity

Members of "Sigma Alpha Epsilon engaged in racially offensive behavior directed toward a group of students of color," wrote a Washington University official in an email to the entire university community.

Editor's note: Ryan Martin is enrolled in classes at Washington University in St. Louis.  A fraternity at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is under investigation as allegations surface of a racially offensive activity.  Student Life, the independent campus newspaper, reports that the students photographed a group of black students who were eating together. They then started singing rap lyrics and used the N-word, the paper reports.  Sharon Stahl, vice chancellor for students, emailed the entire WashU community about the incident just after 2 p.m. "The university received reports that late last evening in the Bears Den on the South 40, new members of one of the university’s fraternities, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, engaged in racially …

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Wash U Campus Looks Beautiful During Thursday Snow (Video)

A winter storm caused headaches for motorists in much of St. Louis, but it was surprisingly serene on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis.

The winter storm on Thursday may have caused road closures, school closings and canceled flights, but the campus of Washington University in St. Louis remained surprisingly calm during the storm.  Wash U posted a video to its YouTube account that included footage from around campus during the Thursday snow. A clip showing a fireplace looked particularly attractive following yesterday's storm.  For your viewing convenience, the video is attached to this Patch article.  See related: Demolition Begins on Wash U Delmar Loop Project

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Energy Secretary Chu Leaves Obama Administration

The Energy Secretary is a St. Louis native. His father taught at Washington University in St. Louis.

St. Louis native Steven Chu announced Friday that he will leave his position as Energy Secretary in the Obama Administration. Chu, the son of a Washington University professor, wants to return to academia, according to USA Today. "I would like to return to an academic life of teaching and research, but will still work to advance the missions that we have been working on together for the last four years," Chu said in a letter to Energy Department employees. Chu taught at Stanford for many years. President Barack Obama praised Chu's work. "Over the past four years, we have doubled the use of renewable energy, dramatically reduced our dependence on foreign oil, and put our country on a path to win the global race for clean energy jobs," Obama…

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Police: Two People Found With Drugs, Scrap Metal on Wash U Campus

The following information was supplied by the Washington University Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

The Washington University Police Department reported the following incidents on its website.  Saturday, December 1 Two people admitted to stealing from a food bar without paying between 1 and 1:20 p.m. at Bear's Den. Sunday, December 2 At 12:39 p.m., an iPhone valued at $400 was reported stolen from Whispers Cafe. It was reportedly taken on Nov. 30.  At 2:20 a.m., Rubelman Dorm was evacuated after two fire alarms were falsely pulled.  Monday, December 3 At 9:23 p.m., two people were discovered leaving the Brauer Hall dock area with a load of scrap metal. When police searched them, police found drugs. Wednesday, December 5 At 7:25 p.m., $20 was reported missing from a wallet that had been left in a jacket in Whispers Cafe. The money went …

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Health Beat

Youth With Autism Gravitate Toward STEM Majors in College — If They Get There

According to a study from Washington University in St. Louis.

It’s a popularly held belief that individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) gravitate toward STEM majors in college (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). A new study, co-authored by Paul Shattuck, PhD, assistant professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, confirms that view yet finds that young adults with an ASD also have one of the lowest overall college enrollment rates. The study, “STEM Participation Among College Students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder,” was published online in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. “STEM careers are touted as being important for increasing both national economic competitiveness and individual career earning power,” Shattuck said. “If …

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