The independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since 1878 THURSDAY, OCT 6, 2022
VOLUME 144, NO. 6
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VOTER LAWS
CAPTION CONTEST
A breakdown of how to vote in Missouri this year (Scene, pg 3)
Submit a caption for this week’s caption contest (Forum, pg 6)
MEN’S SOCCER VS EMORY
Soccer wins 2-1 in first conference matchup (Sports, pg 7)
“Here and Next” 10-year strategic vision: Research growth and community outreach
Ervin alumnae discuss movement-building, people-pleasing, self-care LILY TAYLOR CONTRIBUTING WRITER
PHOTO BY MADI HERMEYER | STUDENT LIFE
Backdrop for guests speaking at the Here and Next opening event.
NINA GIRALDO JUNIOR NEWS EDITOR Washington University developed a decade-long strategic plan called “Here and Next” to advance research efforts and extend community success to a global level. Monday’s launch of the plan is the culmination of 18 months of strategizing between students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners about the future of the University. The strategic vision, spearheaded by Provost Beverly
Wendland, centers itself around five guiding principles: academic distinction, community impact, global perspective, equity, and stewardship. The plan aims to invest in research excellence, faculty support, and the well-being of the St. Louis community through a series of initiatives that include the School of Public Health, the Institute for Digital Transformation, and the Center for the Environment. Efforts focus on exploring academic partnerships, supporting interdisciplinary projects, leading
as a model for community outreach, and training upcoming leaders to find equitable and accessible solutions to public health issues in St. Louis. “We plan to establish the university and our home, St. Louis, as a global hub for transformative solutions,” Chancellor Andrew Martin said to “The Source”. “Each member of the WashU community will have a part in cementing this success, and I’m excited to get started.” In October, community members will have the opportunity to learn more about the “Here and
Next” project goals through a series of in-person and webinar events that work to explain and promote strategic plan objectives. Special events throughout the year, including those with renowned guest speakers, can be found on the “Here and Next” website. “We invite all faculty, students, and staff to find their place in this plan,” Wendland said to “The Source”. “We want you to take this journey with us during the next decade at WashU, because the actions we take now will shape our university for generations to come.”
Two Ervin Scholars and St. Louis natives Brittany Packnett Cuningham ‘06 and Morgan DeBaun ‘12 spoke about their experiences at Washington University and beyond regarding movement-building, peoplepleasing, and self-care at a talk called “Bridging Gaps: Hometown Ervin Scholars Changing the World” on Sept. 30. Members of the community gathered in Edison Theatre for the program, and Rafia Zafar, Professor of African and African American Studies at the University, moderated the event. Packnett Cunningham is a political analyst for MSNBC, a co-founder of Campaign Zero, and a founder of Love & Power Works, among other roles in the education and policy fields. DeBaun is an entrepreneur who founded Blavity, Afro Tech, and Worksmart. While attending the University, Packnett Cunningham co-founded the Student-Worker Alliance (SWA). At the program, she shared tips for other student groups that hope to gain traction and be sustainably powerful. Her chief advice was to create balanced and equitable movements. “We build teams, not saviors,” Packnett Cunningham said. DeBaun added that powerful
SEE ERVIN, PAGE 2
Football undefeated through first four games CLARA RICHARDS AND ELIAS KOKINOS MANAGING SPORTS EDITOR AND CONTRIBUTING WRITER Sophomore running-back Kenneth Hamilton didn’t always score three touchdowns and nearly three times more net rushing yards than his opponent’s entire offense combined. He entered Washington University as a wide receiver, playing in seven games for 20 total rushing yards and no touchdowns during 2021. After his freshman season, his main gripe was that he was hungry for more time on the field. “Last year kind of sucked, not being able to play as much as I would like to,” he said in the spring. But after the team graduated five running backs, the coaching staff approached Hamilton and asked him about making the switch. It took the then-freshman no longer than one day to make the decision. “[I] was like, ‘I’ll do anything that helps the team.’ I really don’t care where I am, as long as I’m playing football,” he said. And in the team’s fourth game, where they came away with a 56-21 win against North Park University, he led the offense with 165 rushing yards and three touchdowns, simply outpacing the rest of the field. He was only one of the many competitive pieces of the Bears’ receiving core. “The skillset on the offense is ridiculous — best in the CCIW, probably the best in Division III,” Hamilton said. “We just [create]
PHOTO BY CLARA RICHARDS | STUDENT LIFE
Sophomore wide reciever Collin Goldberg struts a touchdown across the end zone in the team’s first game against Hendrix.
problems [for our opponents] everywhere: [there are] four receivers in the field [and] two or three running backs in the backfield that can do whatever they want. It’s not an easy game plan for a defensive coordinator.” Hamilton found the first hole of the game in the North Park defense, cementing a 4-play, 40-yard drive to put the Bears to an early 7-0 lead
with a touchdown. Despite striking first, the ensuing kickoff led to a 99-yard return for a touchdown by Vikings returner Juan Nieves, which tied the score at 7-7 after the converted extra point. After this brief slip-up, including a fumble on the very next drive, WashU scored touchdowns on its next four drives to push the lead to 35-7 with around six minutes left
in the first half. North Park’s next score came right after WashU’s fifth touchdown-drive as a 10-play, 75-yard drive was the last of the half, which ended 35-14 for WashU. Despite leading by 21 points going into the half, the team still had the mindset of having something to prove. “If we’re really the team that we want to be, let’s show it,” junior nose tackle Johnathan
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Smith said about the team’s mindset. They continued to put on a dominant defensive performance in the second half, only allowing three additional rushing yards and shutting down any offensive sparks from North Park. The second half was defined by an illegal contact penalty on
SEE FOOTBALL, PAGE 8