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Letter from the editors

8

Love letter to our graduates

The lives and times of WashU graduates

Years in review

Silly Squared seniors strike again

WashU through the seasons

Senior survey Songs to play when you’ve accomplished something

Four years in a song

Reliving WashU sports’ best moments

Athlete Q&A

Coaches’ letters to departing senior students

ThurtenE: moments of community and connection

Balloon Glow through the years

What would you do with 24 hours in St. Louis?

Celebrations of community and culture

WashU concerts wrapped

Dear Class of 2026

Senior goodbye letters Commemorations for graduating students

Letter from the editors

Dear readers,

We made it! As the 2025–26 school year comes to a close, we prepare to bid our graduates adieu. This time of the year is always bittersweet — there’s the relief of being done with finals and the warmth of the St. Louis sun, but also the end of another year and the graduation of another class of our friends. The Class of 2026 has made its mark as leaders of this campus, and although WashU won’t be the same without them, we wish our graduates all the best in their future endeavors.

In this magazine, we’ll look back at all the WashU news and events of the last four years — all the performances, traditions, and moments that have quickly cemented themselves as lasting memories. You’ll also find reflections from graduating seniors on their time here, shoutouts to standout professors, and even a hype-up playlist to get you ready to celebrate. In the moments you’re feeling more pensive, photo essays of WashU throughout the seasons and advice from peers offer a more tranquil kind of reflection.

Here at Student Life, we have the unique privilege of learning the stories of this community and sharing them with you. And with every week, we find even more reasons to be impressed by the people that make up the heart of WashU, whether through groundbreaking research, stunning athleticism, or simply being awesome people with so many stories to tell.

We also wanted to take a moment to thank our Student Life seniors for all their work and dedication to this paper throughout their time here. They have been the backbone of this staff, mentoring us through long nights at the office, and most importantly, amazing friends. Sydney and Riley, our outgoing editorsin-chief, have helmed this paper through a challenging year, leading with great care. Our WashU experiences have been shaped so strongly by you.

We look forward to a restful and relaxing summer and the school year ahead with our amazing new editorial staff. So to all of our readers, and particularly the Class of 2026 — congratulations, and have a great summer!

All the best, Laurel and Lewis

Student Life

Laurel Wang Lewis Rand Editors-in-Chief editor@studlife.com

Tanvi Gorre Managing News Editor news@studlife.com

Hannah La Porte Managing Scene Editor scene@studlife.com

Hannah Much Managing Sports Editor sports@studlife.com

Dion Hines Managing Forum Editor forum@studlife.com

Kate Westfall Managing Design Editor designers@studlife.com

Amelia Spencer Special Issues Editor

Ava Giere Managing Chief of Copy copy@studlife.com

Lucia Thomas Managing Illustration Editor

Isabella Diaz-Mira Managing Photo Editor photo@studlife.com

Reeya Sharma Managing Social Media Editor

Quinn Moore Managing Newsletter Editor emailedition@studlife.com

Alan Knight Managing Multimedia Editor

Coby Rinke Investigative News Editor

Victor Huang Selina Son

Nicholas Demba

Lexi Lawsky

Ella Meshoulam

Zana Kennedy

Zoe Rhodes News Editors

Sara Gelrud

Sophie Schwartz

Jake Isenberg Elle Ludwin Scene Editors

River Alsalihi

Kate Theerman Rodriguez

Lyn Wilkins

Maddie Morgan

Leilani Billups Forum Editors

Love letter to our graduates

APURVA GANTI HEAD OF RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING

As my first year at WashU comes to an end, I have realized that I didn’t interact with seniors all that much. Still, I learned some of the most important lessons of this school year from the seniors in my life. Seniors have demonstrated to me the possibilities that life at WashU can hold. So, as an ode to our seniors and their next steps in life, I would love to share how you have helped me along my journey.

At the beginning of my first English literature classes, I sat silently and listened to the thoughts and viewpoints of the upperclassmen, and specifically, the seniors, absorbing how they interpreted the texts. Textual analysis had always been a mystery to me, and seeing it happen naturally and purposefully gave me a model that helped me generate my own thoughts and opinions. I’ve asked the seniors in my classes to recommend professors and leave comments on my essays. They became an academic resource that I relied upon.

In clubs (from what I’ve noticed) seniors can become idols for first-years. I thought clubs would be something to do on the side. In reality, clubs

and activities are serious business. Being part of the Diwali Showcase and watching all the senior dancers coordinate and choreograph and then give it their all for one last time on the stage showed me how college can be fun while pursuing your path at the same time. I know that I wouldn’t be part of the clubs that I participate in now without seniors making them welcoming communities.

The next steps after WashU are scary (I’m scared, and I’m still three years away), but Seniors, please don’t forget to be equally excited. You don’t need to have everything figured out. There are so many opportunities in life, and just as you showed me how to be a true member of the WashU community, there will be others to guide your way as well.

Seniors are translators of the WashU experience. They have interpreted assignments for me, helped me convert my passions into actionable items in clubs, and, most of all, taught me how to construct a meaningful existence in the chaos that is the college experience. In the end, my firstyear experience was profoundly enhanced by the seniors who were in it. So, on behalf of all of the underclassmen, thank you, seniors, for your time, effort, and dedication to the WashU community.

Eliza Stulman

Anna Crook

Harper Nix

Ben Ollendorf

Sports Editors

Eran Fann

Mac Motz

Alex Dering Photo Editors

Bea Augustine

Jack Warren

Tillie Szwartz

Design Editors

Kevin Kan

Marceline Lee

Illustration Editors

Ashwin Nair

Audrey Tebow Newsletter Editors

Kate Matthews Kat Ziwot Social Media Editors

Jack Yang Senior Web Editor

Andrew Tian Echo Dong

Georges Gewargis Junior Web Editors

Eden Levi

Mason Sutton Designers

Julie Kassin Chief of Copy

Eleanor Sterne

Kayslay Cudjoe Copy Editors

Campbell Crum DEI Editor

Apurva Ganti Head of Recruitment and Training

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

Sarah Huff Advertising Sales Manager huffs@studlife.com

Copyright © 2026 Washington University Student Media, Inc. (WUSMI). Student Life is a financially and editorially independent, student-run newspaper serving the Washington University community. Our newspaper is a publication of WUSMI and does not necessarily represent the views of the Washington University administration.

Cover illustration by:

Lucia Thomas

Additional illustrations by:

Lucia Thomas

Erica Shi

Kevin Kan

Anna Dorsey

The lives and times of WashU graduates

HANNAH DORVAL

ZOE RHODES

AMELIA SPENCER

LUCIA THOMAS

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

NEWS EDITOR

SPECIAL ISSUES EDITOR

MANAGING ILLUSTRATION EDITOR

Area of study:

Political Science

Favorite class:

Linguistics for Legal Purposes

Song to describe your college experience:

“The Nights” by Avicii

The thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

Something you learned over your four years of college:

“I am more open-minded now than when I was coming in. I’ve made so many friends along the way, and those relationships are something that can only really build in this space. That’s going to last a lifetime, hopefully. [That’s] just something I didn’t have when I first came to WashU.”

Area of study:

Something you learned over your four years of college:

“Definitely my friends [and] the professors. There’s some really nice professors that [you] build relationships with. I think just being able to be in a space where you’re with your friends all the time, you’re just studying and being intellectually stimulated, I think that’s probably what I’m gonna miss the most.”

Plans after graduation:

Psychological & Brain Sciences and Legal Studies

Involvements at WashU:

More Fools Than Wise, working at the domestic violence court of St. Louis county, String Theory.

Favorite professor:

“I think probably my favorite professor [is Mitchell] Sommers, but he’s also my advisor. … He was [in] speech and hearing research, and I was really interested in that in high school. When I knew I was coming here, I contacted him, [and] we did a Zoom call. We started yapping. I worked in his lab for a couple years. It was amazing. And he’s such a yapper, we both missed his class one time — we were late to it because we were yapping too long [in] a meeting. And he said ‘I’m late to intro psych,’ and I said ‘Me too.’ He’s just a really, really nice guy.”

“I think I’m not as self-sufficient as I like to think that I am sometimes, because I’ve always [been] a big self regulator. I’m a big do-it-yourself [person]. I like to think of myself as pretty independent, and I was like that for a long time. And I think being in college and … just figuring out who I am and everything that I want to do and everything I want to be, it’s like, I need to rely more on the people around me. And I think that’s something I’ve been learning to do.”

Song to describe your college experience:

“Good Life” by Sammy Rae & The Friends

“It’s one of my favorite songs ever. It’s pretty upbeat, and it’s like one part sweet, two parts bitter, it’s bittersweet. [There are] a lot of [bittersweet] lyrics, but it’s still a good life. … It’s just [a] really busy kind of song, and I feel like I’m always busy.”

“I’m staying here, I’m going to WashU Law. I will be here, which I’m very excited about. I feel like I’ve built up a lot here, and I really enjoy the community, and I like being here, so I’m glad that I don’t have to leave yet. [WashU Law Admissions] told me when I was in a Schnucks. I had my phone in my back pocket, and we were checking out. I said, ‘Who’s calling me at some ungodly hour?’ I pull it out and it says ‘Washington University Admissions.’ [I thought] either I did something really bad or something really good [is] about to happen.”

The

thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

“The whimsy of it all. I feel like law school is a whole different beast, and I’m doing very structured things, and right now, I’m doing so many different things at once, and I get to talk to different people. It’s really interesting to talk to people that are doing so many different majors and all of that kind of stuff. Then also, the specific people that I know are going to be leaving and I feel like we built up a lot of good stuff.”

Kayla Dhalla Cole Bernstein

Area

of study:

Economics with minors in Statistics and Political Science

Involvements at WashU:

Gamma Phi Beta, club lacrosse, Student Transitions (WUSA and WUSA Executive), TA for the economics department, working for the Center for Career Engagement.

Favorite class:

Area of study:

“I took a class called Americans and their Presidents with Peter Kastor. That one was really fun, really interesting. And then I’m currently in Economic Realities of the American Dream.”

Something you learned over your four years of college:

“The best outcomes are the things that end up being most successful for me. [They] happen when I very much focus on what’s fun for me in the moment, and not just trying to achieve a certain outcome. In the end, it gets very easy to come in and be like ‘Oh, I need a job, I need to do XYZ.’ But that doesn’t really let me do what I actually find enjoyable.”

Song to describe your college experience:

“Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane

Plans after graduation:

“I’m moving to Los Angeles for my consulting job.”

The thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

“Number one is definitely the people. I think getting to be with my best friends and be around my friends all day is so special. I will miss that more than I can say. And, obviously, the Corner 17 lattes.”

Something you wish you had done while at WashU:

“I’m sure a lot of people are saying this, but I wish I took more classes outside of my major. I only started doing that this semester. But I think I was really [thinking] ‘oh, I need to get these classes in so that I can graduate with the major requirements that I want.’ But in reality, I really could have tried out a few other areas. And I wish I took classes in different schools. The other thing is, I wish I did more with the St. Louis surrounding areas. I don’t think I really started to explore that area and meet people outside of the WashU campus until this year, maybe the end of last year. And I mean, that’s a big part of what makes WashU so special.”

English Literature and Film and Media Studies

Involvements at WashU:

Student Transitions (WUSA and WUSA Executive), Uncle Joe’s, Wilderness Project, Nemerov Scholars.

Favorite professor:

David Schuman

Your advice for current first-years:

“Be friendly to everyone. … Go out of your way to meet people. You never know who your best friend will be. You never know who you’ll have a five second conversation [with] that will change your major decision or career path. Even once you’re satisfied, remain open-minded and curious about all the things and people at school.”

Song to describe your college experience:

“Half Real” by Geese

Plans after graduation:

“I don’t know. Although, WashU prepares you very well for employment post-grad — those opportunities [are] for real.”

The thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

“You [referencing Zoe]. Just kidding! … All the amazing friends and people that I’ve met. Just being in a community of scholar-champions every day.”

Something you wish you had done while at WashU:

“I wish I had taken a Sam Fox class. Like, done an art class. I think that would have [expanded] my horizons.”

Area of study:

Philosophy and Educational Studies

Favorite class:

Present Moral Problems with Kit Wellman

Something you learned over your four years of college:

“Like a million gajillion things, but I’d say number one is how to write comedy and use comedy and a way to connect with people. There’s a whole world out there that I would have never discovered if I hadn’t joined Kids On Campus!”

Song to describe your college experience:

“Fly As Me” by Silk Sonic The thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

“The people! The people always, always, always make the place and WashU is a textbook example. The people give this school its unique and vibrant culture, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Area of study:

Philosophy with a minor in Music

Favorite class:

Present Moral Problems with Kit Wellman

Something you learned over your four years of college:

“What I cared about. What was important to me. I didn’t understand what, specifically, I thought was important about the world. I just knew I wanted to be a good part of it, but I didn’t know what that really meant. And now, I know what particular part of the world I care about.”

Song to describe your college experience:

“String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Opus 96” by Antonín Dvořák

The thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

“It’s so cool to be in a place where everyone around you is awesome. ... You know everyone here is brilliant and that if you strike up a conversation with a stranger, they will be an interesting person.”

Area of study:

Something you learned over your four years of college:

Something you wish you had done while at WashU:

Anthropology: Global Health and Environment with minors in Psychological & Brain Sciences and Public Health & Society

Involvements at WashU:

Research (Psychological and Brain Sciences department), Bear Ambassador, WashU Health, Equity, and Education Network, President of All Student Theatre, Alpha Phi Omega, Public Health and Society ambassador for the public health department.

Favorite class:

“I took one of my favorite classes, Anthropology of Infectious Diseases, my sophomore year. It was a really interesting way to look at science and health from a more social perspective, especially as someone who is not super science inclined. I was able to get a better understanding of a topic that I thought was pretty much restricted to science, only to get that more humanistic perspective.”

“I think for me, I came in, I think as a lot of WashU first-year students do, I came in very uptight and with a very like specific vision of what I wanted to accomplish when I got here. And I think I learned that it’s okay to kind of just see where life takes you and go with the flow. That definitely is not something I would have said four years ago. I think just learning how to appreciate the opportunities that come your way, in addition to seeking them out, I think is really special, and something that I learned since coming here.”

Song

to describe your college experience:

“Ain’t It Fun” by Paramore

Plans after graduation:

“I’m going to the University of North Carolina [to get] my Master’s [in] Public Health.”

Your advice for current first-years:

“I think I never went to a WashU sports game. … You know, we’re not a super big sports school, but I think it would have been fun to at least go to one. I also think I never made it to all of the cultural shows. … I forget which one I’ve missed, but I’ve not seen all four, and I was definitely bummed about that.”

“I would say just approach every conversation and every situation with kindness and good intention and assume the best in people. And I think that’s something I learned throughout college, that largely everyone is trying to just do their best and working hard. Just approach people with kindness.”

Adamya Aggarwal

Area of study:

Biology and Philosophy

Favorite class:

all this hard psychology and neuroscience stuff, and then the second half was philosophy. So it really gave me everything. And that’s when I was like, yeah, I do want to have philosophy in my study of the brain as well.”

Something you learned over your four years of college:

“The stress of trying to be perfect would kill me faster than any of my imperfections would.”

Song to describe your college experience:

“My favorite class was my Ampersand freshman year. It was called Mind, Brain, Behavior. It was the PNP (Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology) opening ... seminar. It was just fantastic cause I didn’t know that I wanted to be a PNP major … going into WashU, but that’s the class that made me want to be PNP because the first half was ...

y Vampire We

“Campus” by Vampire Weekend

Something you wish you had done while at WashU:

“Honestly, I wish I had ... more time here just to ... explore, you know, myself and my relationships with others. Because I feel like, personally, I felt like I didn’t figure out who I was or didn’t become close to who I am now until … honestly junior year. So, I wish I had a little more time ... in this environment, just with those first two years to explore not only myself, but ... everyone here.” y y

Area of study:

Something you learned over your four years of college:

The thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

Educational Studies with minors in Economics and Psychology

Involvements at WashU:

More Fools Than Wise, America Reads tutoring (through Campus YMCA), Taylor Stars, peer advising for the Overseas Programs office, and the WashU College Prep Program.

“I’m a lot more independent than I thought. … I moved here by myself, and every summer since then I’ve been doing a new summer opportunity or internship in new cities. I went to Pittsburgh for the first [time] two summers ago. I was in Germany last summer — the past few summers, actually. When I went to study abroad, that was super cool. I think [by] having all of these opportunities to get out there and be uncomfortable and learning that I’m actually really okay doing all of this. … I realized I’m not someone who gets homesick very often. I think I came into freshman year telling my suitemates ‘I’m an extroverted introvert,’ and they were like, ‘No, you’re just an extrovert.’ … I think coming to college has made me comfortable with being uncomfortable. Be more independent [and] meet more people. Being adaptable, being independent.”

Song to describe your college experience:

“thank u, next” by Ariana Grande

“My friends. [My answer] for this question came so fast compared to the other ones. … I feel like this is the end of the semester, but it’s not just the end of the semester. It’s the end of four years. … I feel like with post-grad, it’s very uncertain; it’s like, ‘am I gonna see them again?’ … People are [going] everywhere. People are going to med school, people are doing gap years, people are going into the workforce, people are unemployed, still searching. I literally don’t know where I’m even gonna be. My friends are gonna be in different places. So, I just feel, while there are a lot of things I’ll miss about WashU, I think the number one thing is my friends because this is where we would see each other. Every semester, we live together, we tutor together, we go to a cappella concerts together, we eat together, we do all of these things together. And now I feel like there’s no more of that sense of normalcy anymore. Now it’s off [to] adult life and seeing each other once a year. … I’ll miss the everydayness of being with friends and having your friends live across the street from you. … So I just think overall, my friends [are] what I’ll miss the most.”

Camryn Moore

Area of study:

Biology on the genomics and computational track with a minor in Spanish

Favorite class:

Physiological Control Systems with Professor Kundel

Something you learned over your four years of college:

“Life really isn’t that serious. You just live day by day. Even if you fail, it’s okay. You’ll make it back up.”

Song to describe your college experience:

“One Dance” by Drake

The thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

“I definitely will miss the people. I’ll miss all of my friends and just randomly seeing people on campus. It’s always nice to just have a random smile in the middle of your day.”

Douglas Thibodeaux

Area of study:

Chemistry with a minor in German Favorite class:

“I really enjoyed taking both Gen Chem and Physical Properties of Quantum Nanostructures, both with Professor Loomis. I think his classes are just fun to be in.”

Something you learned over your four years of college:

“I really thought I was super into biochemistry when I first came to college, but then I took one semester’s worth of biology and was like, ‘No, I don’t like this.’”

Something you wish you had done while at WashU:

weren’t a ton of things I tried outside of those two subjects. I would have loved to take some geology classes.”

The thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

“I really like living nearby and being able to walk to and from class and work. I also like being able to take all the classes.”

“Honestly, I think trying to take more classes outside of my major and minor, because I focus pretty heavily on chemistry and then switched to focusing pretty heavily on German. There

Natalia León Díaz

Area of study:

Sociology, Political Science, and Latin American Studies

Something you learned over your four years of college:

The thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

Favorite class:

Solidarity and Silence: Religious Strategies in the Political Sphere with Fannie Bialek

”I learned what my place in the world is and where I am able to serve the most and have the most impact.”

Song to describe your college experience:

“Memory Box” by Peter Cat Recording Co.

“The people, but more specifically the proximity and having access to social spaces.”

Merry Schlarman

Area

of

study:

Political Science and German Involvements at WashU:

Delta Phi Alpha (the German honors society), Student Union leading Constitutional Council, TEDx as a speaker coach, research in both the sociology and political science departments.

Favorite class or professor:

“The mixture of German classes; Professor Carol Jenkins is such a gift. She is so energized and willing to meet with you outside of class and talk with you. I’ve really had such a fun experience getting to know everyone in my German classes. I think we’ve really built a community. I also have a favorite art history professor, Kristina Kleutghen. I have taken three of her classes, and she’s just such an intelligent individual and has really allowed me to go more into art history research that I did expect I would end up going into.”

Something you learned over your four years of college:

“I learned that I have a lot of passion for creative arts. I took a lot of classes, kind of [on] a whim, in art history and writing and Sam Fox classes as well. And I found that you can fit those in with the other stuff that you’re learning. It really became more of a hobby for me.”

The thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

“I will miss the opportunity to be so close to all of your friends, kind of all at once. I will never get back to this schedule again, where I have so much free time and also in this space with so many intelligent individuals. Everyone here has the energy that they want to be doing stuff, and they want to be exploring new things. That and the Tempur-Pedic mattresses.” ed of n for d d Sam Fox an fit those e.” iss U:

e so close to all ce. I will never n, where I have his with w things. .”

Max Collins

Area of study:

Favorite class:

“One of the courses that I really enjoyed is something really unrelated to my major. So when I transferred here, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to major in. And so I took a class in EEPS called Habitable Planets that was just incredible. It was conceptually understandable for somebody who didn’t want to do advanced math and physics, but still very interesting. I think it was probably one of the harder classes I’ve taken, just because it was something that I had never taken before.”

Something you learned over your four years of college:

“I transferred to WashU. I thought I wanted to go to a small liberal arts school, then realized that that is not what I wanted. I thought that you go from high school into college having it all figured out, you do all of your applications and then you assume that’s going to be where you end up. And it turns out that that very much is not always the case. There is a lot of unpredictability, even in decisions that you [felt] confident [about].”

The thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

“I think the campus is stunning. I think we are incredibly privileged to have such a beautiful campus. My real answer is my friends — the people.”

Something you wish you had done while at WashU:

“I wish I’d taken advantage of Sam Fox. I love doing things that are not always academic and are more creative. I’m taking a writing class this semester, I took a poetry class last semester, and I wish I’d taken more physical arts [classes].”

Area of study:

Something you learned over your four years of college:

“I get a lot of energy just by being social.”

Song to describe your college experience:

“Do It Again” by Steely Dan

The thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

“The campus. It’s really beautiful.”

Sam Surgener Rain Stippec

Area of study:

Master of Fine Arts in Illustration & Visual Culture

Favorite class:

Dan Zettwoch’s class Artists, Authors, and Audience.

Something you learned over your time in graduate school:

ues, we own here ght us that hought, g. k back to this h in such little

“I learned independent publishing techniques, we would design and publish our works down here and make 13 copies of it — which taught us that we could make much more than we thought, and exposed us to new types of making. Anytime I feel I can’t make a deadline, I think back to this class where we produced so much in such little time.”

“The thing that it has really taught me is how to network and be more fearless about approaching the industry, because while it seems like people in high-level publishing would be inaccessible, they are all really enthusiastic about what we do and are actually happy to hear from you and talk to you. So just pick up that phone.”

Plans after graduation:

“I will be teaching a class here, starting in the fall. I will be teaching Special Collections, which helps illustration students ground their pracitce in the archives. [I’ll] also be freelancing, of course.”

The

thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

“The people. There is so much talent here and so much support. It’s a really unique environment.”

Area of study:

Master of Fine Arts in Dance

Favorite class:

“I’ll say it’s a tie, because we do a lot of embodied classes. So I will say that Cecil Slaughter’s modern class would be my favorite embodied class, and Joanna Dee Das’ Theories of the Body and Performance [was another favorite].”

Something you learned over your time in graduate school:

Plans after graduation:

“So many things. I didn’t take any theory classes in undergrad, so jumping into the fall semester of grad school and taking my first theory class, there was so much reading and I had no idea what I was even getting into. I was in panic mode. But I think that ultimately in grad school, I learned a little bit more patience with myself and my learning process [than I did in] undergrad.”

The thing you’ll miss most about WashU:

“I plan to teach at universities and colleges. I am currently teaching classes at Lindenwood and St. Charles Community College, and I will also be studying choreography for SIUE and doing a musical at St. Charles Community College.”

“I will miss finding little corners of campus to sit and do work in. It’s a really pretty campus, and it’s so nice to be here. It’s like being in a Hogwarts Legacy episode, seriously.” d it’s arts m nd so a o o sit and

Years in review

The fall semester began with WashU welcoming the Class of 2026 to campus and announcing plans to reenvision space equity on the Danforth Campus. The planning process to reallocate this space aimed to determine the best way to provide access to University-owned student-controlled spaces on campus, including fraternity houses, and took effect in fall 2025. The sorority suites in the Olin Women’s Building were part of the reallocation plan.

Administrators also announced a one-time Flood Crisis Fund (FCF) to support Danforth and Medical Campus students who experienced flooding during the summer. Funds were allocated based on need and permitted WashU students to request up to $1,000 from the FCF to cover expenses.

Former WashU men’s soccer player Sergio Rivas signed a contract with St. Louis City FC in February 2022 after helping WashU win their first University Athletic Association (UAA) title in 22 years.

A policy from the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards lessened punishments for instances of sexual assault by allowing reports to be removed from students’ disciplinary records but did not implement the same policy for academic integrity violations. This sparked protest, and after a successful campaign, the policy was altered — sexual assault can no longer be removed from student conduct records.

environmental activist, spoke at Graham Chapel. She reflected on some of the defining moments of her career while also encouraging students to embody the mission of spreading positive change throughout their daily lives.

group responsible for planning WILD, attempted to push back the date so that the event could still take place but was unable to because of a scheduling conflict with the artist.

In early October, the University announced “Here and Next,” their strategic vision for the next 10 years. The broad plan is centered around five core tenants: academic distinction, community impact, global perspective, equity, and stewardship; it also includes investment in research, faculty, and the St. Louis community.

Over fall break, Jane Goodall, a worldrenowned primatologist, anthropologist, and

Fall WILD was canceled due to safety concerns related to overcrowding after Emergency Management placed a 3,500 person capacity constraint on Brookings Quadrangle, where WILD was traditionally held. Students and administrators were unable to find an alternative venue for the event while also guaranteeing all undergraduate students could attend for free.

Student Programming Board (SPB), the student

Green Action, a student group that advocating for environmental justice, held a rally on Oct. 27 to demand that the University divest from fossil fuels. The group marched through campus and chanted outside the chancellor’s office. In his last statement on divestment at the time, Chancellor Andrew D. Martin wrote that restricting investments to exclusively renewable energy meant “jeopardizing the financial support of the University’s mission.”

Jack Nolan, former WashU men’s basketball player, was drafted into the G League in October 2022, becoming the second WashU player ever to do so. A post from G League TV described Nolan as “Division III Curry.” During his time at WashU, Nolan was a standout player for the Bears. He averaged 16.8 points per game over four seasons and, most notably, led WashU to the second round of the 2022 NCAA DIII men’s basketball playoffs.

In November, WashU alumnus and former Student Union (SU) president Tyrin Truong was elected mayor of Bogalusa, Louisiana. The 23-year-old was the second-youngest mayor elected in the state’s history.

Philip Dybvig, a professor in the Olin School of Business, won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Economics for research conducted on the vulnerability of banks during financial crises. Two days after Dybvig’s win, allegations of sexual assault began circulating online. A Student Life investigation revealed that multiple former Olin students had uncomfortable interactions with Dybvig.

The WashU’s women’s soccer team defeated St. Catherine University and Wartburg College in the first two rounds of the NCAA DIII Championship to enter the Sweet 16.

After Thanksgiving break, Karamo Brown, TV personality and talk show host, spoke in Graham Chapel as part of SPB’s Trending Topics lecture series. He discussed his advocacy work, his journey to success as an openly gay Black man in reality TV, and the importance of listening to others with empathy. Brown is known for appearing in the “Karamo Show” and Netflix’s “Queer Eye.”

In early December, WashU students held a vigil after 10 people in Ürümqi, China, were killed in a fire because a heavily-enforced government quarantine prevented them from escaping. More than 50 students came to the event to express their solidarity with the victims and to protest the Chinese government’s suppression of free speech, political prosecution, and unrelenting quarantine policy.

SU Treasury allocated $11,000 to the College Republicans to bring conservative social media influencer Amala Ekpunobi to campus. Ekpunobi spoke about her upbringing and how her belief system shifted from leftism to conservatism. After her discussion, students asked her about previous statements she made which many perceived as racist and transphobic.

In the days after SU’s decision to fund Ekpunobi, students spray-painted the Underpass with messages that read “protect Black trans

A student speaks at a Green Action Rally outside of the DUC on Oct. 30, 2022.

lives” and expressed their disappointment with SU, protesting Ekpunobi’s visit by holding a “solidarity showcase” that featured performances and speeches from members of over 20 campus organizations.

ChatGPT, an advanced artificial intelligence interface, was released in November and raised concerns about plagiarism at WashU. Professors convened over winter break to participate in training on how to detect ChatGPT plagiarism and learn how the technology could be used as a partner in education. Many professors altered the syllabi for their courses to acknowledge the presence of this new technology.

Two students, Vivienne Chang and Eugenia Yoh, met after attending a Hong Kong Student Association hotpot and quickly hit it off over their shared love of picture books. After realizing their shared passion, the two co-wrote the picture book, “This Is Not My Home.” The book centers around a girl who moves to Taiwan and has to redefine how she views home.

Starting at the beginning of the spring semester, Campus Life’s Tuesday Tea, a weekly event offering free tea, was changed to occur on a monthly basis in the hopes that the money could be used to hold other events and activities that would bolster campus life.

In the wake of the killing of Tyre Nichols, SU and WashU administration worked together to discuss the University’s response to national tragedies, including when to release statements and how to accommodate affected students.

SU Senate and University representatives noted frustration in developing a uniform accommodation strategy given the differences between departments, professors, and classes.

Fiona Hill, the former Senior Director for Europe and Russia on the National Security Council, spoke on campus about the dangers of Vladimir Putin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Hill called Putin a “storyteller” and compared the state of Russia to the political division in the United States, warning the audience to not let opposing political parties lie about each other.

WashU opened a state-of-the-art 7,000 -square-foot Sports Performance Center (SPC) in the basement of the Sumers Recreation Center. The creation of the SPC

has been used as a recruitment tool by WashU’s Athletic Department, and for many current upperclassmen athletes, it was one of the major reasons why they chose to commit to WashU. The University continues to use the SPC as a means of elevating University athletic programs by improving training practices.

Provost Beverly Wendland emailed all undergraduate students to announce a 3.9% ($2,330) increase in undergraduate tuition for the 2023-24 school year. This included increases in the cost of on-campus housing and meal plans as well as more expensive student activities and health and wellness fees.

In early February, WashU administration announced that it had purchased nine properties on the Delmar Loop in the largest land purchase made in the University’s history. They expressed no current desire to alter the businesses currently in those properties but suggested that one day those spaces could be used for offices.

In mid-February, the Missouri Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, launched an investigation into the WashU Transgender Center (WUTC) following allegations of medical malpractice made by one of the clinic’s case managers. The request to suspend care until the investigation’s completion was denied according to a statement released by Martin and Richard J. Leikweg, President and CEO of BJC Healthcare. Martin and Liekweg said they would begin their internal investigation into the allegation and cited the fact that WUTC was the only place in Missouri that offered genderaffirming care as the reason for denying Bailey’s request.

Students petitioned against the construction of a chain-link fence that prevented students from jaywalking from Trinity Ave to the area near Village East. The petition to replace the fence with a crosswalk gathered 351 responses. Public officials said they put up the fence to increase pedestrian safety and argued that an additional crosswalk would be unnecessary since there was one that exited roughly 200 feet away from the fence.

Environmental and public health experts gathered at WashU to connect and collaborate during the Midwest Climate Summit. Sylvia Hood Washington and former Deputy Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Janet McCabe, were among those who spoke at the summit.

Hundreds of students and community members gathered to listen to Michelle Alexander, an author, lawyer, and civil rights scholar, speak with Professor Fannie Bialek in Graham Chapel. Alexander expanded upon

the ideas presented in her book “The New Jim Crow” and explained how structural racism has permeated into every facet of American society.

The WashU men’s and women’s track and field teams took home the 2023 UAA indoor titles. After a series of impressive performances, the Bears cemented their places as UAA champions. For the women, it was their fourthstraight UAA indoor title, and for the men, it was their third-recorded UAA indoor track title in the past three seasons.

After the Feb. 13 shooting at Michigan State University, SU Senate held a town hall with the Washington University Police Department (WUPD), the Emergency Management Team, and Student Affairs to discuss policing and emergency response on campus. Students also raised concerns about the treatment of minority

students to WUPD Chief Angela Coonce, who said that WUPD had to work hard to earn the trust of WashU students.

After the Turkey-Syria earthquake in February, Turkish students grappled with processing tragedy and school-related demands.

The WashU Turkish-American Students Association (TASA) ran multiple fundraisers to generate support for people in Turkey impacted by the earthquake.

The WashU Distance Medley Relay won first place at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships after Emily Konkus, Kathryn Leighty, Ally Sarussi, and Aoife Dunne prevailed over recent injuries as well as relative inexperience.

Created in 2020, the WashU Black Letterwinning Athletes Coalition (WU BLAC) continued its efforts to hire more Black coaches, among other goals that would support Black student-athletes. At the time, the group said that WashU’s athletic department had made progress in supporting Black student-athletes but needed to do more.

The University announced they would switch to a new dining provider, Sodexo Food and Facilities Management, after over 25 years of business with provider Bon Appetit. WashU administrators said at the time that this change would have no impact on the cost of meal plans, and all current dining workers would have the opportunity to work for the new company in roles that offered similar salaries, time off, and benefits.

SU Treasury chose to not allocate funding for the WashU College Republicans (WUCR) to bring conservative economist, Arthur Laffer, to speak on campus. A contentious debate during the Treasury meeting on March 21 occurred between Treasury representatives and junior Nathaniel Hope, the president of WUCR. Campus Creamery, a student-run ice cream store, opened in the South 40 storefronts. Sophomore Harrison Lieber started the Campus Creamery as the newest business in the Skandalaris Center’s StEP Program.

Diébédo Francis Kéré, a Burkinabé-German architect, visited campus and spoke to members of the WashU community about the importance of education in creating opportunities and empowering communities. He also talked about his works, touching on the usage of color, the use of natural materials, and the preservation of cultural heritage in architecture.

WashU Graduate Workers Union (WUGWU) protested the University’s handling

of sexual harassment cases. The group marched through the Medical School campus with posters and said the University did not protect graduate students from sexual assault. The group’s organizers attempted to lead the protest into administrative offices but were barred by WashU Protective Services Officer Steve Manley.

Asian American actress Brenda Song spoke to students in Graham Chapel about her life as a child star and navigating adulthood in the film and television industry. Song shared insights on the race and gender dynamics in the entertainment industry and the country as a whole, encouraging students to pursue their dreams and break barriers.

Hip-hop artist Flo Milli was announced as the headliner for Spring WILD. For the first time, the event was held on Mudd Field instead of in Brookings Quad due to safety concerns of overcrowding.

In May, the Class of 2023 celebrated their commencement with Sterling K. Brown — a St. Louis native and recipient of three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe — as the guest speaker.

Over the summer, Chancellor Andrew D. Martin released a statement to the WashU community in response to the Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action at higher education institutions. Martin wrote that while administrators would abide by the law, WashU’s commitment to diversity would remain the same. Dining options on campus expanded as five local restaurants began serving students. WashU partnered with Beast Craft BBQ and LaJoy’s Coffee Cafe in Schnuck Pavilion, Collins Farms in Anheuser-Busch Hall, Corner 17 in Olin Library, and The Fattened Caf. in McKelvey Hall.

Prior to the start of the academic year, the academic integrity section of the “Syllabus Resources and Template Language” document was updated to account for growing use of generative artificial intelligence in student work. The policy allowed professors to determine how they wanted to enforce the newly established rule.

After Missouri state law banned genderaffirming care for all minors, the University made the decision to cease gender-affirming care for all minors at the WashU Transgender Center. The decision sparked discourse among the WashU community, especially faculty.

The University also announced that they would adopt a “no loan” policy for all undergraduates starting in the fall of 2024. The policy eliminated federal loans from financial aid packages, allowing students to graduate without debt. The announcement was the newest large amendment to University financial aid policy, following need-blind admissions in 2021 and the

implementation of the WashU Pledge in 2019.

A range of crimes in the first few months of the semester affected students both on and off campus, including an incident in which four non-WashU affiliated individuals trespassed at

where more than 800 students gathered to mourn the lives lost in Israel. Throughout the semester, students held a number of solidarity events and protests, some in support of Israel and others in support of Palestine. Student Union (SU)

to have lost his job over a post on X calling the war a “much needed cleansing.” Crosby’s post was in response to a post by E. Michael Jones, a traditionalist Catholic writer and founder of Culture Wars, which is classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and AntiDefamation League.

Shepley House on the South 40.

Additionally, in late September, almost a dozen cars were broken into near the Delmar Loop, and a student was the victim of a robbery on Pershing Avenue.

Members of WashU’s Jewish community gather in a vigil to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Israel-Hamas war.

A WashU student was subjected to aggravated assault by a man unaffiliated with the University, named Anthony McGee, who punched the student without provocation and was issued charges by the St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney’s

WashU students walked out from their classes to show support for Palestinians on Oct. 25. They also gathered to protest the University’s lack of response to the Coalition of WUSTL Students for Palestine’s published letter of demands, which included cutting ties with Boeing.

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After a change to how the U.S. News & World Report calculated their Best National University Rankings list, WashU fell from No. 14 to No. 24, sparking debate between students about how important rankings are to the college admissions process.

After Hamas’ attacks on Oct. 7, Martin released a statement calling the situation “devastating” and “heart-wrenching.” He emphasized the diversity of the WashU campus and expressed his support for all students with personal connections to the crisis. He also directed students to mental health resources on campus. Additionally, WashU’s International Travel Oversight Committee announced that they were limiting travel to Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank amid safety concerns for students, though no WashU students were studying abroad in Israel when the conflict began.

The crisis sparked a series of responses from the larger campus community, including a vigil

also released a statement on the topic, encouraging impacted students to seek mental health resources on campus if needed. Overnight, the post gained over a hundred comments with many criticizing the organization for not taking a stronger stance. In response, SU removed one of the slides that discussed violence in Israel and Gaza and issued an apology online.

New York Times columnist David Brooks visited campus to deliver a sold-out lecture about his new book, “How to Know a Person,” in which he talked about how to strengthen interpersonal relationships and connections. Additionally, Hernan Diaz, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of the bestselling novels “Trust” and “In the Distance,” visited campus to read the work of MFA students and talk about how to craft a story, followed by questions from the audience.

WashU received an average free speech rating, ranking 135th out of 248 in College Pulse’s 2024 Free Speech rankings.

Students expressed frustration with religious accommodations for exams, with

On Oct. 13, two rallies were scheduled on Mudd Field in response to the IsraelHamas war: one to show support for Israel and another to protest the Israeli government’s blockade of food, water, and electricity in Gaza. Hours before the scheduled times, the rally supporting Palestinian citizens was canceled due to organizers’ concerns for the safety of the protestors, leaving only the pro-Israel rally to gather on Mudd Field as planned.

Seth Crosby, a professor of genomics, claimed

New York Times columnist David Brooks speaks about his new book “How to Know a Person” in Graham Chapel on Oct. 30.

some reporting that they had to skip religious observances for schoolwork due to professors refusing to reschedule exams held during events including Ramadan and Yom Kippur.

Environmental advocacy group Green Action WashU filed a legal complaint against WashU as part of its Fossil Fuel Divestment Rally. The legal complaint was part of the group’s ongoing efforts to end WashU’s investment of unknown amounts of endowment money into fossil fuel sources. WashU reverted its flu vaccine policy to the pre-pandemic standard. The flu vaccine, along with the COVID-19 booster, became “highly recommended” instead of required, meaning that students no longer need the vaccines to enroll in classes.

In the weeks following the start of the IsraelHamas war, students reported increased instances of harassment, doxxing, and blatant Islamophobia and antisemitism on campus. Several students told Student Life they felt isolated and feared vilification from those who disagreed with their beliefs.

Neurosurgeon and writer Sanjay Gupta spoke in Graham Chapel as the first speaker of the newly reinstated Assembly Speaker Series, hosted in collaboration with Here and Next and WashU’s School of Medicine. Gupta spoke about pandemic response and preparedness, mental

Students hold up their phones as indie-rock band Saint Motel plays at the first-ever Night at the Pageant in 2023.

health, misinformation, diet, and how he blended his roles as a journalist and doctor.

Chabad and Hillel hosted an event to raise awareness for the hostages taken during the Oct. 7 attacks. The event used empty chairs to represent the missing hostages. Pictures and information about individual hostages were posted on each of the chairs.

Indie band Saint Motel headlined the fall semester’s WILD, which was rebranded as Night at the Pageant (NAP) by the SPB and was held off campus for the first time since the event’s

origin in 1973. The event was held on Nov. 9, and students generally considered it to be a success, though some expressed disappointment about technology issues that caused delays.

On Nov. 19, just over a dozen students participated in a “die-in” in support of Palestinians and to urge the University to cut ties with Boeing. The students lay down in the Danforth University Center (DUC) courtyard, spreading Palestinian flags over their bodies, holding signs, and chanting.

WashU students saw an improvement in the accessibility of ADHD medication over a year after the FDA declared a medication shortage in Oct. 2022. However, many students still struggled to get access to the medication.

at WashU. James emphasized that WashU was committed to maintaining diversity in other ways, such as scholarship programs and by adding an additional question to the common application about students’ cultural identities and backgrounds.

Bret Gustafson, professor of sociocultural anthropology, received backlash after expressing his support for a protest outside the home of the president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in an X post.

On Nov. 29, Martin published an online statement calling for respectful dialogue and condemning hateful rhetoric amid violence in Israel and Palestine.

On Jan. 22, the University canceled classes and events on campus due to icy conditions in the St. Louis area. Some students expressed frustration that the closure was only communicated to students the morning of, but also gratitude toward dining workers for coming to campus and

Student Life sat down with Grace Chapin James, executive director of undergraduate admissions, to unpack how the Supreme Court’s decision to overrule affirmative action in Students for Fair Admission, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College would impact future students

continuing to serve students.

Twelve first-year and sophomore students enrolled at WashU as mid-year transfer students, marking the first time in recent history that students were accepted by admissions in between semesters. Several of the mid-year transfer students were Jewish and said they came to the University after feeling unsafe on their previous campuses due to antisemitism.

Over winter break, the Association of Black Students (ABS) posted a list of grievances based on the administration’s response to events in recent years that have impacted students of color in a series of Instagram posts titled “Enough is Enough.”

WashU School of Medicine released the results from an internal as well as external report done by consulting firm Catalyst about the “climate and culture” of the institution. Through 4,000 survey responses as well as focus groups, listening sessions, and submitted messages, the investigation found that men at the medical school felt more included, safe, and welcome compared to women.

24 STUDENT LIFE | THE FINISH LINE

As artificial intelligence continued to expand worldwide, WashU released its own version of ChatGPT, which promised increased privacy for users. It is free to use for all University students, faculty, and staff.

Throughout the second semester, students protested the continued employment of WashU professor and Nobel Prize winner Philip Dybvig despite multiple allegations from former students that he engaged in inappropriate conduct, including sexual harassment. Students held two protests in Simon Hall, where Dybvig taught, to call on the University to fire him.

MeToo WashU published two posts speaking

out against the use of sexual violence on both sides of the Israel-Hamas war and opposing Israeli state practices while “reaffirm[ing] support for the right to a free, unoccupied Palestine.” The posts led to discourse online, with some students supporting the organization and others calling the post antisemitic and criticizing it for a lack of support toward Israeli sexual assault survivors.

ALAN ZHOU | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Students protest Professor Philip Dybvig’s continued employment in light of sexual misconduct allegations.

The University released another tuition increase, raising the cost of attendance by 4.5% from the year before, making 2024 the highest increase in the past decade. University officials said that the extra money would be used for University initiatives and programming.

The University’s board of trustees approved a Naming Board in December as a result of an initiative implemented by the Chancellor’s Office to ensure that buildings, programs, and awards were named after people who aligned with the University’s current values. The Naming Board changed the name of the Wayman Crow House to Dardick and Nemerov House, since Wayman Crow was revealed to have been a slave owner.

Dining workers were negatively impacted by changes to their scheduling process after new

We’ve known you by name and by story, and we’re cheering you across the finish line! Can’t wait to witness your next chapter unfold.

provider Sodexo instated unexpected changes to workers’ scheduling processes without fully explaining them. Workers said that they believed that there was a communication breakdown going on between workers, managers, and Sodexo.

Sam Fox students studying abroad in Florence experienced a range of housing issues, including mold, bedbugs, strangers entering their communal apartment, and a partial ceiling collapse. Students voiced complaints about how the University handled the issues, and going forward, WashU’s housing coordinators stated that they would be finding new accommodations for students abroad.

SU Senate voted for a resolution calling for Professor Phillip Dybvig to be investigated for the sexual harassment allegations against him, placed on immediate leave, and fired if allegations of

misconduct against him were found to be true.

The University received a threat via a phone call on Feb. 26, leading to evacuations of Olin Library, Bauer Hall, and Simon Hall. After an investigation that lasted 2 1/2 hours, WUPD determined that there was no threat. Nonetheless, numerous classes were canceled.

In late February, WashU’s Emergency Support Team (EST) traveled to Baltimore, Maryland to compete against representatives from over 100 universities at the Stryker Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Skills Classic. EST placed first in the Classic competition and earned three awards, including the Striving for Excellence Award, Heart Safe Campus Award, and EMS Campus Award.

Chancellor Martin sat down for an interview with Student Life on March 5. Martin spoke about recent student activism on campus, the state of the endowment, WashU’s recent and future property purchases, and where he buys his glasses.

Amarnath Ghosh, a beloved dancer and MFA student from India, passed away after being shot in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood. He is remembered for his gratitude toward others and his work, as well as his “electrifying” dancing, which he taught to both students at WashU and over Zoom to students in India.

On March 7, Chancellor Martin released his annual State of the University address as a recorded video. He spoke about WashU’s progress in its “In St. Louis, for St. Louis” and “Here and Next” initiatives. He also addressed what he believed were the biggest challenges facing the WashU community, including freedom of speech and the overturning of affirmative action.

Spring semester SU Elections saw 30.1% of the student body vote, one of the highest

turnouts in recent elections. In this election, Hussein Amuri, Andy Mun, and Meris Damjanović were elected president, executive vice president, and vice president of finance of SU, respectively.

Fontbonne University announced that it would close after experiencing enrollment and financial issues. WashU purchased their land and

BRI NITSBERG | FORMER MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

buildings and leased them back to Fontbonne for the remainder of the year. Fontbonne students expressed a solemn but appreciative mood in response to the news, “dreading the ‘lasts.’”

SU Senate passed a resolution calling for the University to divest from Boeing by an anonymous vote of 15 to five, with one senator abstaining. Over 200 students attended the meeting, with 44 students and two faculty members speaking either in favor or against passing the resolution.

A petition to recall sophomore Sonal Churiwal as the SU Speaker of the Senate due to allegations of improper conduct was uploaded anonymously onto WashU’s Group Organizer (WUGO) website. A few days later, the SU Election Commissioner emailed students and stated that the petition had received the required number of signatures to be put to a vote in a special election. Churiwal won the special election on April 10 and retained her seat in SU.

Kappa Sigma and Alpha Phi were temporarily suspended at WashU pending the results of a student conduct investigation following an incident involving students throwing eggs and allegedly saying racial slurs at the Bear’s Den (BD) dining hall on March 21.

On April 8, students, faculty, and staff gathered to view the Great American Eclipse. Some community members ventured to locations across Southern Illinois and Southeastern Missouri to view the eclipse in totality. This total solar eclipse was the first visible from the St. Louis area since

2017, and the next will not occur over the U.S. for another 20 years.

At a Bear Day admitted students event on April 13, a pro-Palestine protest urging the University to divest from Boeing disrupted an event at Graham Chapel, forcing admissions to move the event elsewhere on campus. Of the 40 protestors present, 12 received court summons for trespassing and disturbing the peace, as well as other violations, and three WashU students were temporarily suspended.

WashU administration announced the cancellation of the final day of the annual ThurtenE carnival, Sunday, April 21, following multiple fights that broke out on the second day of the carnival. The administration cited crowd safety concerns as the reason for the shutdown.

On April 27, students, faculty, and St. Louis residents set up a pro-Palestine encampment on the East End of campus after marching throughout the campus. The demonstration resulted in over 100 arrests, carried out by WUPD and other local police departments, including those of five faculty and 23 WashU students, as well as Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein.

The Class of 2024 wrapped up their WashU career with some words of wisdom from beloved actress Jennifer Coolidge, best known for her roles in “Legally Blonde,” “American Pie,” and “White Lotus,” at the commencement ceremony on May 13.

In July, Student Life reported that Jamie Reed — whistleblower and former case manager at the Washington University Transgender Center (WUTC) of St. Louis Children’s Hospital — claimed that the WUTC had quietly closed. However, claims were unfounded, and as of April 2026, the center remained open, though it only provides gender-affirming care to adults.

On Aug. 16, Chancellor Andrew Martin announced via email to the WashU community that the University would adopt a new logo and rebrand from Washington University in St. Louis to WashU. He described the change as part of a broader storytelling campaign aimed at elevating the University’s national profile, noting that despite its success, WashU often received less recognition than peer institutions.

Just months after the Supreme Court effectively struck down affirmative action, Student Life reported that WashU’s Class of 2028 had fewer students of color than previous classes. At the same time, the number of students from low- to moderate-income backgrounds — including those eligible for Pell Grants — increased, and the share of students receiving financial aid rose by 6%.

Martin and Professor Lee Epstein, the Ethan A.H. Shepley Distinguished University Professor at WashU, discussed free speech on campus.

Martin focused on Jewish safety in light of recent congressional testimony from other university leaders. After six students began to protest the event, Martin said that they had a right to do so on campus.

In early September, after almost a year of students and community members calling for WashU to sever ties with and divest from Boeing, WashU Investment Company’s Chief Investment Officer (CIO) Scott Wilson stated that the University did not have any investments in the company, to the best of his knowledge. Wilson’s statement surprised some students due to WashU’s long-standing relationship with Boeing, tracing back to former Board of Trustees member James McDonnell, who founded McDonnell Douglas before its merger with Boeing.

ISABELLA DIAZ-MIRA

| MANAGING

PHOTO EDITOR

New WashU merch at an on-campus retailer bears the rebranded logo.

In a joint Student Union (SU) session, Martin

Q&A with student leaders about campus protests, encampments, and Title IX concerns. Martin said he was open to revisiting the University’s policy prohibiting encampments, refuted allegations of police violence during the April 27 protest, and maintained that demonstrators had disobeyed University policies that day.

Uncle Joe’s Peer Counseling & Resource Center announced that it would no longer offer 24-hour services, following a mandate from the WashU administration. The University cited counselor burnout and student safety as primary reasons for their mandate.

Student Life reported that Dining Services had implemented several changes at WashU dining halls in response to student complaints, including extended dining hall hours and adding additional menu options. Some students said the updates made it easier to find healthy, affordable meals, but others said they continued to experience long wait times and limited meal choices.

Around the same time, a Student Life investigation revealed that food prices at WashU’s three main dining halls had risen significantly

compared to previous years. The increased costs became so high that first-year students were unable to afford two average meals a day, regardless of their meal plan tier.

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In late September, several of the 26 WashU students suspended after the April pro-Palestine campus protests, along with most of the six faculty members who were arrested or suspended, spoke with Student Life to share their experiences with the University’s disciplinary process, voice their concerns, and provide updates on their enrollment or teaching status. Most of the suspended students who had not yet graduated had their cases resolved over the summer and returned to campus by the start of the Fall semester, as did the majority of the faculty members.

Almost 350 people gathered in Brookings Quad a year after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks to honor those killed and taken hostage. The event was organized by Chabad, Hillel, the Jewish Student Association, and WashU’s Jewish Advocacy Council.

WashU announced its plans to begin construction on Riney Hall, a new building planned to house the Department of Sociology; the Department of African and African American Studies; the Center for Undergraduate Advising in Arts & Sciences; and the Office of Graduate Studies. The construction plans also included developing a new quadrangle between Riney Hall and Olin Library.

WashU announced that it would transition all housing, billing, and course registration processes

from WebSTAC to Workday beginning in February 2025. Senior Associate Provost and Executive Director of the Student Sunrise Project Erin Culbreth said that switching from WebSTAC to Workday would be more efficient.

A 2024 WashU survey on sexual misconduct found lower numbers of sexual assault and harassment compared to a similar survey five years prior. 26.9% of undergraduate women surveyed reported experiencing sexual assault since entering WashU, a drop from 35.1% in 2019. 12.5% of students completed the survey.

Mitchell Wagner — a 24-year-old white man from Florissant, Missouri, who spray-painted

white supremacist messages on a Black history mural on the South 40 underpass in 2021 was sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation. He was associated with the Patriot Front, a white supremacist group. He was charged with felony first-degree property damage.

WashU Dining Services piloted the All You Care To Eat (AYCTE) program at the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester. By December, the decision was made to implement AYCTE as a permanent change for weekday meals from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., eventually adding a cheaper to-go option after student feedback.

College Pulse, an analytics company that

surveys U.S. college students, ranked WashU 187th out of 251 colleges in free speech rankings for the 2023-2024 school year, marking a drop from a previous ranking of 135th out of 248. The drop came after over 100 people were arrested during a pro-Palestine protest in April 2024.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action, WashU saw a decrease in Black student enrollment. This prompted sophomore Precious Barry to start a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) chapter at WashU. The chapter’s main goal is was empower students to be leaders and increase civic engagement.

WashU saw its highest voter turnout in history on Nov. 5, when over 2,000 people voted at polling stations set up on the Danforth Campus and Medical Campus for the November 2024 elections. Missouri voters passed Amendment 3

by a margin of 52% to 48%, enshrining the right to abortion in the state’s constitution.

Following Donald Trump’s second successful election, WashU students grappled with the prospect of a second Trump presidency. While some expressed optimism about Trump’s victory, others felt discouraged and bewildered by the election results.

Following the 2024 presidential election, several Black students at WashU received explicitly racist text messages from an unknown sender. Other college students across the nation reported receiving similar texts, leading to an FBI investigation into their source.

WashU’s Association of Black Students (ABS) expressed that they wished the University had made a formal statement condemning the text messages.

28 STUDENT LIFE | THE FINISH LINE

In mid-November, Associate Professor of Chemistry Jonathan Barnes stopped teaching at WashU after allegations that he had inappropriately touched students. However, he continues to conduct research with students. The University said they could not comment at the time due to the ongoing Title IX investigation.

In January, Student Life spoke to Native students about some of their concerns, especially given that the University occupies the lands of Osage Nation, Missouria, and Illinois Confederacy, among other tribes. While WashU’s peer institutions like Tufts University, Cornell University, and New York University all offer Native American Studies (NAS), WashU and 94.5% of universities nationwide do not have this department. Only 0.1% of the WashU student body was Native American at the time of publication. However, the Native students who spoke to Student Life expressed that they were struggling to find support, and they shared a desire for NAS coursework, living spaces, and other resources.

The Palisades and Eaton wildfires blazed at the

start of 2025. Students from Southern California who had left their families and homes to return to campus after winter break reported stress from constantly refreshing fire progress maps and seeing their communities on the news without being home to help.

Donald Trump was inaugurated as president on Jan. 20, 2025. In the midst of Trump’s return to the White House, WashU community members expressed fear regarding the future of DEI programs, free speech, and international student immigration status at WashU. The University expressed plans to respond reactively to Trump’s actions as his presidency unfolded.

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 attorneys general.

Following these significant cuts, graduate students organized protests on Mudd Field and

students and professors who attended the event said that they wanted to give greater visibility to scientists who were working to solve some of the world’s biggest problems through research.

The Government, Policy, & Social Impact (GPSi) career community began reevaluating career counseling and how to navigate the government job market amidst widespread job uncertainty. While many students scrambled to find post-graduation jobs and summer internship opportunities, GPSi reaffirmed the importance of policy and developmental assistance work to make the world a better place.

In late February, Martin gave his annual State of the University Address, in which he addressed how current political turmoil could impact WashU’s funding and staff. Despite the uncertainty facing WashU, Martin remained optimistic regarding the future of the school, touting the achievements of students, faculty, and community members as an indicator of what was to come from WashU. At the time of Martin’s address, the Trump administration had put U.S. universities under fire for their DEI initiatives. When asked about the future of WashU’s DEI programs, Martin said he was committed to maintaining the diversity of the WashU community but was not necessarily committed to the letters “D,” “E,” “I,” or the “concatenation” of the three.

In early March, Martin also spoke at an AntiDefamation League summit entitled “Never is Now” about combating antisemitism on college campuses. During his remarks, Martin explained that the University has had an anti-encampment

policy since 2019, which was violated by the protests on April 27, 2024. He also affirmed the University’s stance that the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement remained antithetical to the institution’s academic freedom.

Students launched the Coalition for Liberated Students, an organization dedicated to creating a better on-campus environment for students of color. The coalition set the goals of University divestment from Boeing and disaggregation of the racial data of admitted classes from the admissions office.

After April’s protests resulted in over 100 arrests, the University formed an ad hoc committee to evaluate the University’s response to pro-Palestine demonstrations. The committee, made up of WashU board members, determined the University was justified in its responses to the protests and its use of police force, but noted that the University could have better publicized some of their policies, including the anti-encampment policy.

Trump’s executive orders cracking down on immigration and escalating U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportations caused concern among WashU students and faculty. The University sent an email to at least one department on the medical campus instructing students on what to do if ICE appeared on campus.

In mid-March, the Trump administration also announced a federal probe into WashU and 44 other universities due to its previous partnership with the PhD Project, a nonprofit aimed at helping minority business students attain

11-time Olympic medalist and 30-time World Championships medalist Simone Biles was the 2025 Commencement speaker.

doctoral degrees. WashU administrators said that WashU had supported the PhD Project with a small amount of funding in the past several years and that they would cooperate with a federal investigation.

WashU announced a $3,740 increase in tuition, the largest increase in over a decade. In the announcement, the University cited the Trump administration’s cuts to research funding and the proposed tax on endowments as the reason behind the increase.

SU passed a resolution asking the University to denounce the Terry Collection, a collection of unethically collected remains of deceased African American and Indigenous peoples. In addition to repatriation of the bones, the resolution asked that the University renounce the Terry Endowed Chair of Neuroscience at the medical school as well as the annual Terry Lecture Series.

In early April, Flo Rida was announced as the headliner for the 2025 WILD Concert. The student band On Hold with the IRS and DJ Mustard opened for Flo Rida. WILD’s budget for was increased to $325,000, almost double the budget of last year’s WILD, which featured rap sensation Joey Bada$$.

The University announced the pausing of construction on Riney Hall and the full

reopening of Mudd Field in the fall. The school cited a potential endowment tax and cuts to research funding as the reasons behind the pause, and also expressed interest in eventually resuming construction on Riney in the future.

Gymnast Simone Biles, an 11-time Olympic medalist and 30-time World Championship medalist, was announced as the 2025 Commencement speaker at the Class Toast in late March. Biles delivered her speech to graduating seniors on Francis Field on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 9 a.m.

On Friday, May 16, WashU’s campus and surrounding areas experienced a tornado, which intensified to an EF3 level of severity as it progressed across the city. The storm caused significant damage to neighborhoods in north St. Louis and inflicted moderate damage on buildings and trees on WashU’s Danforth campus.

The summer before the 2025-26 academic year, a tornado devastated the St. Louis area. WashU’s Danforth Campus and surrounding areas were in the direct path of a tornado that touched down early in the afternoon of May 16. Graduate students at the Brown School reexamined St. Louis’s disaster preparedness following the tornado. They said that the events highlighted the gap between community organizations and city resources and called for an increase in collaboration.

Before students arrived back on campus, WashU also announced that it would be discontinuing its teacher education program for all students matriculating in fall 2025 and beyond. The decision came as WashU navigated financial challenges, including significant cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding and a $37 million increase to the University’s endowment tax.

On Aug. 11, an article published by The Atlantic unearthed private disagreements between WashU Chancellor Andrew D. Martin

and the President of Princeton University, Christopher L. Eisgruber, over the handling of President Donald Trump’s actions toward universities. Martin insisted in an interview with The Chronicle of Higher Education that these debates have remained civil and have not devolved into “infighting.”

In the same month, labor disputes at the Kaldi’s Coffee location on Skinker Boulevard reached a boiling point. The conflict arose over a lack of air conditioning and issues in the kitchen. In late August, a group of employees and labor organizers staged a protest outside the building.

At the tail end of August, the Olin Business School received a $10 million donation dedicated to the Business of Health program. The gift from alumnus Jerry Kent, BSBA ‘78 and MBA ‘79, and his wife Judy Kent, was intended to grow the initiative, which explores how business innovation drives the healthcare industry.

In the fall of 2026, the Olin Business School opened three new specialized master’s programs: Business of Sports, Wealth

Management, and AI for Business. These programs ranged from nine to 16 months in length and were created to meet a desire for shorter and more specialized programs, according to Professor of Finance and Vice Dean of Education Todd Gormley.

The Brown School became the first school in the nation to fully fund their practicums for Master of Social Work students, starting in the 2025-26 academic year. The school also provided students with a living stipend.

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor spoke to a crowd of 3,000 at WashU’s Athletic Complex. She discussed her new children’s book, “Just Shine! How to Be a Better You,” inspired by her mother and her relationship with fellow Justice Clarence Thomas.

That same month, WashU’s College of Arts & Sciences formed a new task force to consider the reorganization or combination of six separate departments: African and African American Studies; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies; Education; Global Studies; and American Culture Studies. Dean of WashU’s College of Arts & Sciences Feng Sheng Hu later

announced the end of the task force at a faculty meeting on Oct. 21. The dissolution of the task force meant that Arts & Sciences would not be moving forward with any restructuring of the six departments, although task force members said ArtSci may revisit its work as it looked to address inefficiencies in the departments in the future.

At the end of the month, WashU announced it eliminated 316 staff positions and “closed 198 open and vacant positions” on the Danforth and Medical Campuses and the Central Fiscal Unit.

In mid-October, Martin met virtually with White House representatives to discuss President Trump’s higher education compact, which asked universities to commit to a range of policy changes in exchange for preferential access to federal funding, per Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications Julie Flory. Later that week, Hu told faculty at a meeting that Martin would not sign the Trump administration’s compact for higher education as it stood, according to five faculty in attendance. Protests regarding the matter arose on Oct. 23 when approximately 60 students gathered outside of Brown Hall, where the Faculty Senate Council had a scheduled meeting with

Chief Financial Officer David Gray. The closed meeting was the result of an August petition circulated by the Faculty Senate demanding that Gray disclose the University’s financial situation, including its $265 million spending on Workday and the purchase of Fontbonne University, among other expenditures.

In mid-October, WashU announced that a new Kaldi’s Coffee location, located at Bauer Brew in Bauer Hall, would begin serving students at the start of the spring semester. It is the fifth Kaldi’s Coffee on WashU’s campuses but the first on the Danforth Campus.

On Oct. 29, a Student Life survey reported that around two-thirds of WashU student respondents used AI chatbots for academic tasks. Roughly the same share also believed that students nationwide would learn more if such tools were unavailable to them. Nearly half of chatbot users said they most often used the tools to help explain academic topics and concepts.

November started with the unexpected closure of Habif Health and Wellness Center Quadrangle Pharmacy after the sudden departure of its sole pharmacist. Habif alerted students to transfer their medication to pharmacies and worked with students who had medication ready in the Quadrangle Pharmacy, but Habif was left unable to distribute medication without a pharmacist.

As students prepared for finals in the fall of 2025, the Supreme Court denied University of Michigan Law Professor Laura Beny’s request to override the Sixth Circuit’s 2022 ruling declining to review her racial and gender discrimination case against WashU Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Mark D. West. The Sixth Circuit ruled

Mark Johnson Jr., and Kathryn Gulisane. The Ella Elizabeth Johnson Endowment accepts tribute donations in order to support mental health and well-being at WashU.

The following month saw more big changes to long-standing WashU institutions. On Feb. 4, we learned that by 2028, the McKelvey Engineering Communication Center (ECC) would be closed. Due to the closure, six out of seven of the ECC’s full-time employees would not have their contracts renewed.

IMAGE SOURCED FROM WASHU’S FILED PLANS WITH THE CITY OF CLAYTON

Rendering of new South 40 dormitories, which will house 600 students.

Beny’s evidence insufficient to prove that her disciplinary action administered by West was due to prejudice.

At the beginning of spring semester, Associate Professor of Chemistry Jonathan Barnes was removed from teaching at WashU after multiple female students accused Barnes of inappropriate touching during private meetings with him in the fall of 2024. Anonymous allegations against Barnes were initially publicized in a post by MeToo WashU, an Instagram account raising awareness about sexual violence on campus. Barnes faces three class C misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree assault, referred by WUPD to the St. Louis

County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

In January, the construction of two new dorms in the South 40 was announced in response to growing WashU undergraduate classes. These new dorms are part of WashU’s new policy requiring all first-years and sophomores to live on campus. The announcement also meant that the historic music buildings and Alumni House on the South 40 will be torn down.

This January, WashU lost senior Ella Johnson. Ella, described as thoughtful and selfless by her friends, is survived by her parents, Mark Johnson and Jane Clayson Johnson, and her siblings, William Johnson, Kristina Cahill,

The following day, S.A.R.A.H., once a 24/7 peer hotline, switched to being only operational between the hours of 4 p.m. and 8 a.m. due to lower staff capacity.

In early February, Dennis Dill was charged with 14 felony counts after photographing female students in the Olin Library bathroom in November. Dill, unaffiliated with WashU, was already on probation for similar offenses at Southwestern Illinois College.

On Feb. 14, Kathleen Finneran, a beloved instructor and accomplished writer in WashU’s English department, passed away after a long battle with illness at the age of 68. Finneran taught nearly a thousand students over the course of two decades at WashU. She was a creative nonfiction writer and primarily taught introductory and advanced courses in the genre, including “Creative Nonfiction: Personal Essay and Memoir” and “Topics in Creative Nonfiction: Portraits and Profiles.” She was also instrumental to the creation of the nonfiction writing track within the English department’s prestigious Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Writing program. Several of Finneran’s colleagues and friends described her as kind, thoughtful, and attentive.

The School

District of Clayton considered using the former campus of Fontbonne University as a temporary space, according to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article published on Feb. 17. The Fontbonne campus, which was purchased by WashU in 2024 and is located just south of the South 40, could serve as a replacement while the district renovates the current Glenridge Elementary campus. The elementary school renovation plans were contingent on the passage of a ballot proposition, which passed this spring.

Later in February, WashU announced it would introduce a new joint biochemistry major in fall 2026, combining the previously separate tracks in the biology and chemistry departments into a single program. For the Class of 2030, the

major will replace earlier biochemistry tracks, while those in the preexisting tracks will have the option to switch into the new major.

WashU went into shelter-in-place after multiple reports of an armed person on the Danforth Campus on Feb. 24. The alert was lifted a little over an hour later, and WUPD later said the reports were not a credible threat.

In the aftermath, students and faculty reflected on the fear, confusion, and disruption caused by the emergency response.

That same day, WashU announced plans to create a new pharmacy school after entering into an agreement to integrate the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (UHSP) into the University, according to an email sent by Martin.

At the start of March, Student Life reported that WashU and the Brookings Institution would end their 15-year partnership on June 30, 2026. The collaboration, known as “WashU at Brookings,” connected Olin students with policy programming and Washington, D.C.-based academic opportunities.

University officials cited market

assessment and changing economic realities, while some Olin programs would continue independently after the partnership ended. As students looked ahead to the next academic year, WashU announced a 4.5% increase in undergraduate tuition for 2026-27, raising the sticker price from $68,240 to $71,310 before financial aid. The increase was smaller than the previous year’s 5.8% jump, though housing, meal plans, and student fees will also rise. University leaders said they were trying to balance financial pressures with a commitment to maintaining need-blind admissions and the no-loan policy.

In early April, WashU School of Law announced that it would begin offering supplemental loans to students who have exhausted their federal borrowing options. The program will cover up to $25,000 per year at a 7.5% interest rate, making WashU the first private law school and only the second law school in the country to create such a program. The move comes in response to new federal loan caps that administrators and students say could otherwise make legal education less accessible. WashU announced in late March that St. Louis native Andy Cohen would deliver the University’s 2026 Commencement address. Martin revealed the news at the annual Class Toast, and many seniors reacted with excitement to the choice. Best known for “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” and the “Real Housewives” franchise, Cohen brings a mix of hometown pride and popculture celebrity to this year’s ceremony.

Silly Squared seniors strike again

Since its founding in 2023, the nonprofit student organization Silly Squared has collaborated with 60 talented artists to distribute over 50,000 stickers to the WashU community and beyond. Class of 2025 alum Omeed Moshirfar founded Silly Squared to give his peers a platform to share their art and to prolong the lifespan of the projects created by students. Many graduating students have been featured in the past three years of Silly Squared collections. Here, they can be on display one last time, furthering Silly Squared’s mission and giving you the chance to see them again! miission

WashU through the seasons

Describe your feelings towards graduation in one word

Relief Bittersweet Surreal

Sentimental Excited

Craziest thing that’s happened to you this year

Walked from campus to the Arch without my phone

Sheltered in the Schnucks’ meat freezer during a tornado warning

Aclassyou’resadyou’ll nevergettotake?

BeerTastingIntroductiontoFilmStudies

IntrotoMusicTheory Girls’Fiction

IntrotoAmericanSignLanguage UrbanEcology

Taking Ocean Vuong’s coffee order

MusicandMasculinityinMartin ScorceseAnthropologyofRefugees,Asylum, andForcedMigration

Where on campus would you spend 24 hours?

Tower of Law Library

Sky room in Olin

Student Life office ;)

Hillman Hall

Somethingstillonyour STLbucketlist: PaddleAnheuser-BuschtourandBiergarten boatsatForestPark!MusicalVisittheSt.LouisBasilica atMunyDriveLoneElkParkfromoneendofBigBendtotheother

Favoriteorganizationyou

were involved in

StudLife!

KesemWomen’sClubWater PoloWashUWomens LacrosseBlackAnthology Greeklife MedEdAlphaPhiOmega VarsitySwimandDive PhiDeltaPhi Armour

XC/TrackEvergreensKidsonCampus ORSELInterfaithGroup CampusYJewishStudent AssociationCatholicStudentCenter MinorityAssociation ofPremedicalStudents (MAPS)PeerHealthEducator Carnaval

Wilderness ProjectKARLImprov AristocatsACappella StaamACappella WashUDanceTeam AsianMusicAssociation

Songs to play when you’ve accomplished something

JOEL SWIRNOFF FORMER SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

I’ve always tried to match music to my mood. I’ll purposefully skip songs that aren’t aligned with the mood I’m in or trying to be in. I sometimes feel silly doing this, but I find that it helps preserve the power that music can bring. I’m most strict about playing songs of accomplishment — songs I play when I’ve made an achievement, or feel proud of myself. With graduation in sight, I’d like to share a few of those songs!

My Way - Frank Sinatra

The GOAT of achievement songs. If Sinatra’s vocals don’t bring you goosebumps, I don’t know what will. This and a cigar will have you feeling like Joe Burrow after the 2019 National Championship, or, you know, a college graduate who wants to relish the moment.

Finish Line / Drown - Chance the Rapper

This is a particularly good song after getting through a slow-burn accomplishment. In a gospelrap mix, Chance plays on religious themes to show appreciation for having gotten through so much and for what might come next. This song is full of joy, and feels like it could play at the end of a coming-of-age movie.

Started From the Bottom - Drake

I think the title of this speaks for itself. This is one of the more popular songs on this list and a classic song for winning.

WIN

-

Jay Rock

I found this song really amusing when I first heard it because of how blunt it is, but honestly, what more could you want when you just want to revel in your wins? As Jay Rock so eloquently says: “Win win, win, win, win (Yeah). F--- everything else.”

So It Goes and I Can See - Mac Miller

These are not songs for accomplishments, but rather finding the strength to keep going after a failure. If you’re finding yourself focused on regrets at this time, try these out. “I Can See” has a particularly powerful line that has helped me for moments like this: “You got so far to go, but look at where you came from.”

Riot! - Earl Sweatshirt

There are no lyrics to this song, so everything is in the feeling. It’s also only 1 minute and 6 seconds long. Its guitar, drums, and saxophone come together to create a sense I can only describe as relief, or maybe joy — you tell me. You can also try the song it’s inspired by: “Riot” by Hugh Masakela, a family friend of Earl’s.

bierhall tables and open-air biergarten spaces,

Four years in a song

Responses from the senior survey

The Climb - Miley Cyrus

Ribs - Lorde

Manic Monday - The Bangles

Fight Song - Rachel Platten

GO - BLACKPINK

Iris - The Goo Goo Dolls

Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen

Where’d All the Time Go?Dr. Dog

(I’ve Had) The Time of My LifeDirty Dancing

Stressed OutTwenty One Pilots

MIDTOWN BIERGARTEN

RELIVING WASHU SPORTS’

BEST MOMENTS

A four-year

review

Over the past four years, WashU athletics has seen five national championships, 12 additional Final Four appearances, and professional sports debuts from former standout athletes. Relive some of these biggest moments across WashU sports.

WashU women’s soccer wins back-to-back national championships in 2024 and 2025

SPORTS EDITORIAL STAFF

Over the past two seasons, WashU women’s soccer has dominated Division III play, winning back-to-back national championships and not losing a single game during that stretch.

Following a loss in the 2023 national championship game, the Bears came back with a vengeance in 2024. The team held the No. 1 national ranking all season while also setting program records for wins and single-season shutouts. The Bears claimed the national title with a fitting 3-0 shutout victory over William Smith College.

The team defended both their national championship and unbeaten streak in 2025, capping the season with an electric 2-1 come-from-behind win in the title game against Emory University. This victory marked the third championship in program history as well as their first back-to-back title, fully cementing the legacy of this WashU women’s soccer team.

Men’s basketball Final Four - 2025

After a dramatic 2024 postseason run, featuring two overtime wins and a courtstorming moment before ending with a Sweet 16 loss to the eventual national champion Trine University, men’s basketball played to the next level in the 2025 NCAA tournament.

Led by then-seniors Hayden Doyle and Drake Kindsvater, the Bears took care of

their first two opponents on their home court before defeating two elite teams in Wisconsin to clinch a Final Four berth. Though the season ended in a loss to conference champions New York University, the tournament run made history for the Bears, marking their first appearance in basketball’s championship weekend in 16 years.

Women’s tennis national champions - 2025

After missing out on the NCAA tournament two seasons in a row, WashU women’s tennis made a deep run in 2024, hosting a regional for the first time and clinching the program’s sixth Elite Eight berth. However, the Bears ultimately finished the season in seventh place with a loss to Pomona-Pitzer.

In 2025, the Bears flipped the script, defeating Pomona-Pitzer to win the program’s first ever national title. This came after a historic 2025 season for the team, who were undefeated at home. The team was led by contributions from then-sophomore Eleanor Archer and

then-first-year Caitlin Bui, who secured WashU’s first-ever national doubles championship at the elite ITA Cup in the fall and combined for a formidable doubles record of 27-4 on the season.

Bears in the pros

2025 brought more history for WashU baseball alumni when pitcher Ryan Loutos ‘21 took the mound against Caleb Durbin ‘21 — the first time DivisionIII teammates had faced off in Major League Baseball since 2001.

Durbin debuted for the Milwaukee Brewers on April 18, 2025 and went on to have the most successful season for a WashU athletics alum to date, slashing .256/.721/.387 and finishing third in National League Rookie of the Year voting. Durbin was traded to the Boston Red Sox in Feb. 2026, where he was named starting third baseman for Opening Day. After a scoreless debut on June 1, 2024, Loutos has pitched 14.1 innings in relief in the Majors during stints with the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Washington Nationals.

In addition to the two baseball standouts, three other Bears have recently embarked on professional careers. Andrew Whitaker ‘21 briefly played in NFL training camp with the Seattle Seahawks, Jack Nolan ‘22 signed a contract with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G-League, and Sergio Rivas ‘22 joined the inaugural St. Louis City SC development squad.

Women’s track and field wins outdoor national championship - 2024

In May 2024, the WashU women’s track team won its second outdoor track national championship in program history.

Then-senior Emma Kelley, coming off a D-III indoor record in the 800-meter, led the top-ranked Bears by winning both the 400 and the 800 races — events separated by only forty minutes. Then-junior Yasmin Ruff placed first in the pole vault with a personal best of 4.06 meters, while WashU’s 4x400-meter relay team — also featuring Kelley — recorded WashU’s other first place finish.

Head coach Jeff Stiles described the victory as “a slow climb” for the team, who during the then-seniors’ first year scored only two points at the national meet. The win marked the first national title for the WashU track and field program since the men’s indoor championship in the 2022 season.

Women’s track and field wins indoor national championship - 2026

After three straight second-place finishes at D-III indoor national championship meet, the women’s track and field team broke through in 2026, claiming the national title and setting three D-III records.

One of these records came in the 800meter run, where first-year Kate Delia took home a national title. WashU, a veritable

powerhouse in middle distance, ran another historic time in the distance medley relay before clinching the title with a recordbreaking 4x400 meter relay.

This title marks the fourth national championship for women’s track and field, as well as the second indoor title in program history.

Athlete Q&A

SPORTS EDITORIAL STAFF

What are some lessons your sport taught you, and how will you implement those lessons in your life moving forward?

“Honestly, swimming has taught me everything. I’ve been doing this for about 15 years now, so there’s a lot of lessons I’ve learned growing up. But if I had to limit it to WashU in particular, I would say don’t sell yourself short. In my first year playing collegiately at a different school, I didn’t believe myself capable of learning or competing at this level — which was patently untrue. I then decided to transfer to WashU, which was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. In every bit of my time at WashU I’ve never been the best. I never was going to be the best. But, I think being here made me realize that there’s nothing about me that is average. When you stand back and realize the relationships that you’re able to cultivate, the people that you train with, as well as the

environment that you’re contributing to and that’s pouring back into you, there is no way that you aren’t worthy of any and all success that you achieve.

But also, even though your teammates are doing things that might be relatively more exceptional, there’s nothing about what you are doing that isn’t exceptional as well, I guess. It’s also easy, because it’s easy to conflate your athletic performance with your self worth.

I think the only year I didn’t do that was senior year, but I can’t tell if it’s because I was performing well or if it’s because I was actually learning something — the jury is still out on that.”

What is a piece of advice given to you during your time at WashU that has stuck with you? ?

Kaci Karl (Women’s Soccer)

“My sophomore year, I was really close with this senior named Jess Greven, and she always reminded me to enjoy every moment and to have trust in yourself when you’re doing things. She played the same position as me, and we were very close — she was a great mentor for myself, as well as a senior leader for our team. Her presence and mantras are something I’ve taken to heart throughout my entire career. In my freshman year, I would question myself a lot. But in sophomore year, when I began to have these discussions with her, I was able to grow and learn to trust my gut — believe in what I knew I could do, rather than trying to conform to what I thought other people wanted me to do.

Learning this from Jess prepared me for this year’s national championship, just because we [lost] so many people from the year before. Going in as seniors and having to step up into that leadership role, I think we did an incredible job as a class to create a community and culture that allowed us to succeed. You don’t really know until you’re a senior how much work goes on behind the scenes and how many little things you have to do to keep the team together. I think stepping into that role and winning that national championship is one of the hardest and best things I did at WashU.”

How was your first-year self different from the person you are today, and what role did WashU athletics play in creating that change?

“When I came in as a freshman, I wasn’t ... ready to meet a ton of new people. I ... knew I wanted to run in college, and so my goal was just to get into school — I didn’t really have a plan after that.

play a sport after high school. So, learning to appreciate the opportunity I created for myself became a main driver of all the work I put in for the rest of my time at WashU.

During my first year, one of the seniors asked me, “What are you looking for in track? Like why do you do it?” At the time, I didn’t really know what to say, but it kind of forced me to start thinking about it — why do I do this? I ultimately realized it was mainly because of my teammates around me — I love pushing them forward, which in turn helps me push myself forward. Also, having the chance to compete is not something that everyone gets to do — most people don’t

Forcing myself to find my “why” made me grow as a player and a person. I didn’t come into WashU and go try to meet 100 new people, but doing track kind of forced me to have a community of that size. I think it made me more outgoing and gave me friendly faces in class and around campus. I feel like it helped me grow more confident in myself — knowing that I have 100 teammates that may be scattered around, but who are always in my corner.”

Looking back on your career at WashU, what are you most proud of and why?

Will (Men’sGrudzinskiBasketball)

“I’m most proud of becoming a mentor for my younger teammates, almost like someone that I wish I had my freshman year. I remember going into freshman year, I was like, “What classes do I take? How do I prepare for an interview? Do I need to do an internship?” and it’s been cool for me to have the freshmen come and ask questions about classes, work, and whatnot. I feel like I’ve grown a lot in that regard and have become sort of a mentor or person of guidance for my younger teammates that I wish I had.

I also think the mental toughness growth I’ve had throughout these years has been a point of pride for me. In my younger years at WashU, I had moments where I lost my cool or would let my emotions get the best of me. But this year, I’ve

been a lot more calm, collected, and a lot more positive when things are not going our way. I think that’s where mentally I’ve grown the most throughout the sport, not really physically — but mentally. I’m a lot stronger than I was when I was a freshman, especially when facing adversity and being a better teammate — cheering others up.

The feedback that I get from people this year is that they feel very confident being my teammate out there with me, and I love to hear that, like, that’s my job. I’m here to make you confident. I’m here to plant the seeds, build the foundation for you and whatnot. So, yeah, it was always nice to hear that feedback.”

What is a piece of advice you would give incoming or current athletes at WashU?

Now, in doing this, I also pushed my limits a bit too much at times, but I really believe dabbling in a few things doesn’t hurt. Learning my limits taught me how to manage my time and also made me realize what my priorities are. Checking out what WashU has to offer, really zoning in on what you’re really passionate about, and managing your time wisely taught me so much about myself and was one of my favorite parts about my WashU experience.” otions

“I think a piece of advice that I would give an incoming WashU athlete or student at WashU is really to explore what WashU has to give — both within and outside the athletics department. When I was a freshman, there was a senior on the golf team named Annie Mascot, and she was a really talented player. But more so than that, I really learned about how she treats other people and how she manages her personal, social, academic, and athletic lives. Seeing how she approached each aspect of her life, and seeing how balancing these aspects actually made her stronger overall inspired me to branch out a bit more in college.

What is your favorite WashU athletics memory?

Sydney Schneider (Softball)

One memory that sticks out was from my freshman year after a tough series loss at Brandeis in Boston. We all piled into one hotel room late at night and spent hours just talking and having fun. It was the first time I was able to see my teammates being regular people off the field — it made me feel like I was truly connected with my teammates across all classes for the first time. So to me, that night stands out as a really pivotal shift from a new person on the softball team to somebody who was truly a part of it. I think I’ll also always remember a lot of the big wins and the way those felt because of how the entire team rallied around them.

From dancing in the dugout when we played University of the Redlands in California, or wanting it so badly against Texas Lutheran University, or even, gosh, Huntingdon College in my sophomore year — it’s not about how we beat those ranked teams, it’s just the fact that the entire team came together for a unified purpose. It felt like we were contributing to something bigger than ourselves. I think that is something really special about a team sport like softball — you have the ability to find community in a common purpose or goal and that’s really cool.

Coaches’ letters to departing senior students

Women’s Basketball

Dear

I want to start by saying thank you — thank you for embracing a new coach and staff and fully buying into our mission. You have been an incredible teammate and a true leader. You wrapped your arms around this team and made your teammates your sisters for life. Your love for WashU and for the game of basketball never wavered, and I am so proud of you. Jordan, you have worked extremely hard both in the classroom and on the court, and your future is incredibly bright. As you prepare for the MCAT, remember all the lessons you’ve learned along the way: hard work, passion,

confidence in your preparation, time management, leadership, and — most importantly — love. It has been such a privilege to watch you grow during your time here. I am so proud of you and will always cheer you on. You gave 100% in everything you did, and I cannot wait to see what’s next for you. Go be great. The world is yours. Bear4Life and always in my heart.

Women’s Golf

The WashU end of the road is complete, but your future highway is so full of opportunities! Can you believe fall of 2022 is when you first arrived as a scholar-champion on campus? Both of you have been such a vital part of our program — on the course, you delivered tournament wins and energy for your fellow teammates. Off the course, you were the drivers of culture and positive attitudes.

It has been a pleasure to be your coach over the past four years — we had a lot of fun! I hope you hold your WashU Golf experiences close to your heart — the friendships you made, the resiliency you showed, the ups and downs of long golf seasons. Remember the NCAA Championships tournaments, remember the victories,

remember the eagles and birdies, remember the times in the team VRBOs, remember the van rides, remember the team dinners. You should be proud of your golf accomplishments. Let all these experiences guide you in your next steps — maybe more importantly, let them motivate you! You have helped build this program. Look back upon the memories with smiles and much laughter. As you continue that previously mentioned highway of life, we will be waving at you and cheering you on in the rearview mirror! Remember, WashU will always be a home for you! TTFU!

Women’s Soccer

From chance to Champions! Marilee, Kerrigan, Ella, Kaci, and Grace thank you for committing to something bigger than yourselves and leaving the program better than you found it. Thank you for taking a chance on the WashU women’s soccer family when it was at a pivotal point in the program’s history. You created a winning culture from five losses in 2022 to two losses in 2023, 2024, and 2025 combined. You are two-time National Champions. Winning is the byproduct of sacrifice, dedication, and

friendship. You have made winning special but friendships meaningful and memorable. You five epitomize Hardy R.I.C. You all achieved personal greatness through the struggles and successes you have had to navigate throughout your career. You are ready to take on the next chapter. You are intelligent, resilient, and driven. You are going to do great things. Proud to be your coach.

Bears4Life, Jim

Volleyball

Volleyball Seniors-

Thank you for everything you’ve given to this program over the past four years. Your dedication, consistency, and hard work have not gone unnoticed, and they’ve played a huge role in shaping who we are today.

You’ve led by example in the best way. Showing what it looks like to compete, to care about each other, and to represent our program the right way. You’ve been incredible role models to the athletes around you, and the impact you’ve had on the younger players is something that will carry on long after this season.

You taught the underclassmen what it truly means to be a Bear volleyball player, and more importantly, how to live out our URP values every day. That kind of leadership is special, and it’s something we’re proud of.

Your mark on this program is lasting, and we’re so grateful for everything

you’ve poured into it. This won’t be the same without you. Please know that what you’ve built will continue to grow. Thank you for getting us over the hump and we look forward to building off where you have taken us.

Men’s Soccer

This senior class,

You have embodied everything that is special about WashU Athletics. Your journey has been defined not just by results, but by the experiences you shared. From early morning training sessions to long road trips and unforgettable matches, you built lifelong bonds and memories that will stay with you far beyond the field.

What separates you is your mentality. You committed yourselves to continual growth, embracing every challenge as an opportunity to improve. You persevered through adversity, fighting back from injuries, managing the demands of elite academics, and balancing internships alongside the rigors of collegiate soccer. At no point did you make excuses; instead, you chose accountability, resilience, and an unwavering belief in one another.

t he

Don’t be strangers! You’ll always have a place here. When you are out in the real world… if you happen to come across Gumdrop please tell him we miss him, we would love to see him, and send him home!

Love you all and thank you so much, Coach Walby and Coach Selle

UAA Champions and advancing to the Sweet 16 is a testament to your work ethic, discipline, and unity. But more importantly, your legacy goes beyond trophies and accolades. You have helped create a culture rooted in selflessness, competitiveness, and pride, laying a foundation that will have a lasting impact on this program.

You have elevated the expectations of what it means to wear the WashU logo. You have shown future players what is possible when talent meets commitment and character.

Your efforts culminated in a season that will be remembered for years to come. Finishing

We are incredibly proud of who you are and we are excited to see what the future holds for each of you.

Once a Bear, always a Bear, WashU Men’s Soccer Coaching Staff

XC & TF Football

Seniors,

It has been a great pleasure and an honor to be your coach the last four years. Your excitement for our football program, your teammates, and the sport that you love has inspired our coaching staff. The leadership of your senior class allowed us to raise the level of play in this program and get closer to competing for championships. I will forever appreciate the perspective and leadership you all provided on our team.

Your senior class finished off a very strong run in the CCIW. Your efforts and commitment resulted in a 31-11 record over the last four full seasons. You graduate as the winningest class in WashU history! You have helped to lay the foundation for an exciting future. More than anything, your confidence and determination have helped

shape this program for championships in the future. My hope for all of you is that beyond the wins and losses, you have learned valuable lessons in toughness, perseverance, and teamwork. I hope that the relationships built in your time as a WashU Bear will last a lifetime.

Thank you for your belief, commitment, and efforts over the last four years. I look forward to your continued connection with the program and University in the coming years. Most of all, I look forward to seeing the exciting places your journey takes all of you in the future. You will always be a Bear!

Coach Keen

It is hard to believe that four years are almost over. Thank you for being an integral part of the WUXC/TF family and for leaving it better than when you arrived on campus. Each one of you has become a HIB — a High-Impact Bear — and that is not something earned lightly.

While each of your journeys has been different, I hope every one of you has experienced what it truly means to be part of something bigger than yourself — two teams, one family. That connection between our men’s and women’s teams is rare, and it is one of the defining strengths of this program because of the way you chose to show up for one another.

This group has experienced great success, but over time, I believe what will stay with you most will not be the titles or the records — it will be the relationships. The conversations on bus rides, the shared moments before competition, the way you lifted each other up in both highs and lows — those are the things that endure.

Women’s Tennis

Dear Amber, Eliana, Hallie, and Nina,

Thank you for all your amazing contributions over the last four years! And what an incredible four years they have been! From the early days freezing in the Terre Haute bubble to clinching our program’s first ever NATIONAL TITLE, it has been a wild, fun ride together. This class has truly transformed WashU women’s tennis and forever left your mark on our program.

I am so grateful that you each took a chance on our vision for the program and fully believed from the beginning that when we support each other, anything is possible. Along the way, you have each grown into confident leaders, trusting your own voice and actions to powerfully impact those around you. I know those lessons learned on the court will serve you well as you set forth on your careers,

2026 seniors, With gratitude and belief in all that lies ahead, Your Coaches

You have lived out our core principles in powerful ways. You learned to run for fun and for personal bests, finding joy in the process. You embraced the idea to fail forward, understanding that growth often comes through adversity. You embodied “iron sharpens iron,” pushing one another to levels that would not have been possible alone. And most importantly, you committed to “not for me, for them,” choosing daily to put your teammates before yourselves.

fully recognize it yet or not. You have learned far more through your perceived failures than your perceived successes, and that perspective will serve you well far beyond the track.

A degree from WashU is not just an accomplishment, it is an opportunity. You are stepping into the world prepared not only to succeed, but to serve. We believe deeply in servant leadership, and you have already shown what that looks like: caring for others, leading with humility, and making those around you better. The impact you will have in your communities, your professions, and your relationships is just beginning.

Please know how grateful we are for each of you. You brought unique gifts, personalities, and energy that shaped this team into what it is today. You are appreciated more than words can fully express.

Know that you are loved, that your purpose is meaningful, and that your story is still unfolding in powerful ways. And remember — no matter where life takes you, you will always be a Bear. We are incredibly proud of you and excited to watch the legacy you continue to build.

impacting your future colleagues and work teams.

There are too many special memories from the last four years, but some highlights will forever be in my mind. Watching Nina confidently clinch the team natty, celebrating at In-N-Out, team meals at the Food Hall, your smiles and cheers for each other, endless Amber versus Nina points at practice, and so much more. You will be greatly missed next year!

Thank you, senior Bears! Remember, once a Bear, always a Bear — welcome to the WashU Bears alumna group and see you soon!

It is our hope as coaches that your time here has been transformational — whether you

Softball

Sydney, Jamie, Alexa-

From the moment we first met at Dewey’s before I was actually your coach, I knew you three were special. You have never heard my first impressions of you that day, so I hope this memory of mine makes you smile.

Sydney, I was blown away by your confidence and ability to carry the conversation. I should have known that moment that you were going to make a difference. From your wittiness to your ability to just bask in the sun and sprawl with your teammates, you’ve helped build connection within this team both on and off the field.

Jamie, your positive energy and smile lit up the room from our first meeting. That was a nervous moment for me meeting you all, and you brought my walls down immediately. Despite your positive nature, the fierce and passionate energy you bring to the field is unmatched.

Alexa, you were soft but also cautious, which I appreciated. You kept your cards closer to your chest, but I would have, too. I respect your ability to be curious yet

cautious about people until they’ve earned your trust and then they are blessed with one of the most authentic friendships they will ever have.

I could never forget you, Dawson. The three originals have their moments, but so do you. They did not need you, but they did need you — WE needed you. When I first met you and your dad, I thought “this family is too good to be true” and boy was I wrong. You are exactly who you are every single day and never waver. You are the perfect combination of kind and silly and bring us joy every day. I am so thankful that you ended up here.

I cannot thank you four enough for everything you’ve brought to this program. Your immense love for the game and ability to still have fun in tough moments are two legacies you leave us with. We are better because of you.

When the goal is to experience...

WashU Softball Coaching Team

Men’s Tennis

Senior Alexa Hanish returns the ball to the pitcher.

Dear men’s tennis seniors (Case Fagan, Colin Fox, Colin Scruggs, and Eric Kuo)

I know we all know how fast time passes us all by. So glad you got to meet and chat with so many others that came before you as a WashU student-athlete. Whether that was on trips to places like Texas, Minnesota, or California, or when they came by to visit the Danforth Campus and stop by one of our practices to tell of their time within the program. What a great way to move into their shoes now as a WashU alumni. You will have your own stories to tell as you pass them on to future WashU scholar-champion tennis players.

You all came in as talented players, but more importantly, wanting to be a part of something bigger than any of you. Over the years, you’ve pushed it to the limits with morning workouts, early morning tennis practices off campus, tough losses, and some unforgettable wins (Texas spring

break was good to us all). You’ve learned how to compete — not just with racquet skills, but with resilience, discipline, and determination. More than half of life is just showing up when things don’t seem to be comfortable. You all have that new skill moving forward into the next chapter of your lives for whatever life serves your way.

I am incredibly proud of each of you. Not just for the tennis skills you all have improved in… but for the men you are becoming along the journey.

Go BEARS!!

WashU Men’s Tennis Coaching Team

Swim & Dive

Ogi, Nicole, Avery, E10, Anna, Matt, Sophia, Yasmeen, Natalie, Andrea, Will, Ali, Kai, Henry, Mikey, Matt, and Andy

Thank you Class of 2026! Since arriving on campus you have played an integral role in growing our program and providing outstanding leadership along the way. You faced adversity with resilience and emerged stronger as individuals and as a team. We are deeply grateful for your guidance, dedication, and unwavering commitment to Washington University and to our Swimming & Diving program over the past four years.

Your decision to attend Washington University has given you not only a firstclass academic education, but also the lasting memories of competing at a high level in NCAA Swimming & Diving. You pushed through early mornings and late

nights, often without enough sleep, yet showed up ready to give your best each day. You supported and uplifted one another — because that is what true teammates and friends do.

As you move forward, carry with you the confidence that you are prepared to meet life’s challenges head-on. Set ambitious goals and pursue them relentlessly. As T.S. Eliot once said, “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” Remember, you will always be a WashU Bear.

Aim high with expectations for yourselves and strive for excellence in everything you do. We are incredibly proud of all you have accomplished and excited to

see where your journeys take you next. You will always be a valued part of the Washington University family, and we look forward to welcoming you back as alumni.

ThurtenE: moments of community and connection

Balloon Glow Throughout the years

BRI

| STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Balloon Glow in Forest Park provides WashU students with an opportunity to engage more with the St. Louis community and get out of the “WashU bubble.” It is a tradition that brings in 50,000 spectators annually. With around 50 hot air balloons, plenty of food trucks, live music, and free entry, it’s a must-go event for many WashU students. The warm glow of the balloons as the sun sets on a September evening is an exceptional event to mark the beginning of the school year.

What would you do with 24 hours in STL?

I would start my day at Grand Pied for some breakfast and then go to the zoo. I’d meet some penguins and then see the giraffes and seals being fed. I’d drive to Balkan Treat Box for lunch and order the chicken pide, then walk around Webster Groves and pop into all the little stores on the street. I’d go to the Saint Louis Art Museum for a little bit and look at the impressionist paintings and then have a picnic dinner watching the sunset on Art Hill. I’d end the night with a drink on the patio of Scarlett’s Wine Bar near the Central West End.

— Elena Wierich, Staff Writer

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mel cookies

After sleeping in, I’d go to Telva at the Ridge for brunch, then pick up a lil’ plant at the nursery next door. Then I’d catch a Cardinals game and snack on some Dippin’ Dots. In the late afternoon, I’d head over to Art Hill and peruse SLAM for a bit, then set up a picnic out front and say hi to all the dogs walking on Art Hill while I watch the sunset. I’d finish out the night with salted caramel cookies and cream ice cream from Clementine’s and sneak it into a movie theater to enjoy some late night cinema.

— Bea Augustine, Design Editor

I’d wake up early and go for a sunrise run around the DeMun or Alta Dena neighborhood, then grab an early brunch with friends at Winslow’s Table. Then, I’d grab a book and do some reading at the MoBoGa (Missouri Botanical Gardens). Later, I would go get lunch at the Blue Duck in Maplewood with the graduating seniors (bc yes, they have to hang out socially with me before they graduate). I’d rope my friends into going to whatever visiting writer or literary professor the English department is hosting and say hello to my favorite professors. For dinner, we’d head to the Pastaria. I’d end the night with Pastaria’s affogato and sangria.

se na ch n, ng al at he ve ey ng ry is te he a’s

I would start my day by grabbing a bagel at Bagel Union in Webster and then walking around looking at the beautiful houses. I would hang around in the neighborhood, popping into the shops and parks until lunch, which I would get at Pizzeoli Wood Fired Pizza in Soulard. I would catch an afternoon movie at Hi-Pointe Theatre and end my night with dinner at Basso right next door.

— Zoe Rhodes, News Editor

— Amelia Spencer, Special Issues Editor

I would start my day with a run around the lovely Ames Place neighborhood, then head to Bowood by Niche for some delicious blueberry pancakes, of course, and browse the nursery while I was there. During the day, I’d get some farmers’ market food at Tower Grove Park, have a picnic on Art Hill, and people-watch. I’d end the night at a concert at Off Broadway with some KWUR friends or go to a Blues game at the Enterprise Center.

— Laurel Wang, Editor-in-Chief

Clementine’s e to a. p, while I was there. Du farmers’ market food the at a conc some KWUR frie at the Enter I’d wake up to my way-too-idealistic 8 a.m. alarm, then snooze all the way till brunch at Songbird in Tower Grove. After polishing off a plate of their Farm Toast, I’d take a digestive walk to Tower Grove Park to check out the farmers’ market. After that, I’d head toward the river to check out the Drop Soda monthly thrift market at The Garage. On my way back, I’d stop at Clementine’s for a scoop of Gooey Butter Cake. Dinner would be a basket of tater tots for the table at Blueberry Hill with my friend Elizabeth’s super-secret sauce combo, topped off by a brisk walk back home at the end of the night.

— Astrid Burns, Staff Writer

I would start my day at the AO&Co location at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis and peruse the art there and at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. Afterwards, I would go to lunch at Saucy Porka. Then, I would walk around Forest Park until dinner, which I would of course get at Taco Buddha at their University City location. I would get two tacos, fried avocado, and their frozen marg. It would be awesome.

— Zach Trabitz, Former Managing News Editor

I’d be sure to get to Kaldi’s Coffee early enough to snag a cinnamon roll before they sell out. From there, I’d walk across the street to Forest Park and have a picnic, then rent a paddle boat in the park and enjoy leaf peeping from the lake. Afterwards, I’d go to Pappy’s Smokehouse for dinner and end the night with a show at The Fabulous Fox Theatre.

ould go to lunch at lk around Forest Park f y location. I would and be to che I start Mang Chero a beaut a sco pecan After never call it

I would start my day by going to the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market, then head over to Cherokee Street to check out the record stores and antique shops. If I started to feel a little hungry for lunch, I’d go to La Manganita for some authentic Mexican cuisine on Cherokee or drive to Balkan Treat Box. Then I would walk around Art Hill and the Jewel Box and watch the beautiful sunset. For dinner, I’d keep it simple with a scoop of maple bourbon ice cream with candied pecans from Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Ice Cream. After that, I might go to the wolf sanctuary (I have never actually been there before though) and then call it a night with an early bedtime.

— Ava Giere, Managing Chief of Copy

— Aliza Lubitz, Former News Editor

BEA AUGUSTINE DESIGN EDITOR

Celebrations of community and culture: WashU cultural performances over the years

Every year, WashU’s Edison Theatre welcomes four major cultural shows: Diwali, Black Anthology, Lunar New Year Festival, and Carnaval. These shows bring together students from across disciplines to celebrate shared cultural experiences, with students playing roles ranging from dancer to tech crew to executive board member. These performances are a culmination of countless hours of preparation and rehearsal in order to tell a rich story of the cultures showcased. For the students who devote their evenings, weekends, and even holiday breaks to these productions, the celebration of culture and community at the core of these shows has played a meaningful role in their time at WashU. For seniors who spent all four years at WashU participating in these performances, moving on from the experience is bittersweet, but the connections they made and the opportunity to engage with their cultures are things they will carry with them well beyond their college years. Students in the Class of 2026 shared how their experiences with the cultural shows made their time at WashU more meaningful, their hopes for the future of the shows, and the importance of celebrating their cultures with other students.

Elina Deshpande

Roles in “Dhamaka”: Chaahat Dancer, Diya Lighting, Ashoka Philanthropy and Social Awareness Chair, Fashion Show, Class Dance. Deshpande got involved with Ashoka in her first year, and described how Diwali made her experience at WashU more meaningful. She highlighted the importance of Diwali as a safe space, and discussed the importance of identity, community, and cultural celebration.

“Especially in times like this where immigrant communities are being targeted across the country, a harmful power dynamic emerges. In order to change that, you have to show resistance. In the culture and the shows that we put on, donating to philanthropies, talking about social justice issues, wearing our culture from all parts of South Asia loud and proud, that is how we fight back and it’s been such a meaningful thing to be a part of.”

Diwali

The Diwali show is organized by WashU Ashoka and has been performed annually since 1988. It is a celebration of the Hindu holiday Diwali, or the festival of lights. Ashoka’s Diwali performance expands beyond the Indian and Hindu tradition to celebrate South Asian identities more broadly, featuring acts rooted in different cultures and kicking off the show with a diya lighting in which students say “Welcome to Diwali” in different languages. The show includes performances by dance groups including Bhangra, Garba, Raas, Chaahat, and Classi. It also features Sur Taal Laya a cappella, as well as a classical dance act and a fashion show. This year’s performance, “Dhamaka,” sent off graduating seniors.

“One thing that’s really special is that a lot of us [who] participate in Diwali, especially as dancers … we’ve kind of grown up with each other, and we’ve gone through some of life’s craziest ups and downs.”

Om Patel

Roles in “Dhamaka”: Bhangra Captain. Patel served as the captain of Bhangra for three years, and sees dance, especially in Diwali, as a way to feel energized and connected to others. He shared how Diwali has given him a space for community through dance, and has been a grounding force through the changes he experienced over his four years at WashU.

“[Diwali] felt like a constant all four years, because every semester, things change. Your classes change. Sometimes friendships can change. Who you see on a daily basis, when you’re walking to class, that changes too. There’s so much that changes semester by semester, but I think Diwali has just anchored me.”

“[In rehearsal], we’re coming into this space, disregarding everything in our lives, and just coming here to dance and share this one thing that we all love. Cultivating that love for our culture and for our dance, collectively, has given me a lot more hope.”

Roles in “Dhamaka”: Garba Dancer, Class Dance, Fashion Show.

Jhaveri has danced with Garba throughout her time at WashU, and she expressed how the group has acted as a constant through the years, providing lifelong friendships and giving her a space to celebrate her culture.

“Garba has gotten me through a lot of hard times in my life, and for that, I’m very grateful. These people are my teammates and my friends, but they’re my found family. We’re a sisterhood united in dance. And I think that is really powerful, and just knowing the things that we’re capable of, both on and off the stage, is really inspiring to me.”

Black Anthology

Black Anthology (BA) was founded in 1989 to create a space of community for Black students on campus and has grown to reach students across campus with powerful stories about the Black experience. The show weaves together a scripted play with expressive dance to construct a narrative about Black culture which pulls the audience into an intimate space where complex conversations can be approached. BA explores themes which are rooted in history yet very present today. This year’s performance, “It’s Easy Going,” was inspired by the tension between culture and activism for young Black adults in 1960s Philadelphia and was a memorable send-off for the seniors who spent their years at WashU with BA.

2023

Grayce Cooper

Role in “It’s Easy Going”: Actor, Luella Jones. Cooper emphasized the community she found through her years with BA, explaining that when she sees other BA members on campus, their shared experience brings them together. She especially felt that BA strengthened connections between WashU students and the St. Louis community.

“My first year was really important for me to see the community that they had on campus, and it wasn’t until the actual show date that I realized the impact that Black Anthology had not only on campus, but also in the surrounding St. Louis community.”

2026

2024

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“I can tell that these are lifelong connections that I’ve made, especially seeing alumni come back and support us.”

2026

Obike Anwisye

Role in “It’s Easy Going”: Set Designer. For Anwisye, BA not only provided a community, but also introduced him to the creative world of set design, and he has designed sets for other performances on campus since his first year with BA. He shared his gratitude for the support he’s felt from fellow BA members and alumni, and highlighted the importance of telling stories about the Black American experience.

“My hope for next year’s company is that they’ll be able to appreciate the process. It’s a very long process, but there’s something important that we’re doing,” Anwisye said. “My hope for the WashU community [and] the St. Louis community is that when they watch this show they can see not only that there’s a lot of work put into it, but that they take the time to understand the message and that they take the time to sit with that.”

“I don’t know that my WashU experience would be the same at all without Black Anthology.”

Lunar New Year Festival

Lunar New Year Festival (LNYF) has been held every year in February since 1996 to celebrate the Lunar New Year. LNYF is a celebration of a wide range of Asian cultures, and explores both traditional and modern perspectives as well as social issues faced by Asian communities. The show features performances from different Asian cultures including Chinese Fan, Wushu, Lion Dance, Korean Fan, Yoyo, Samulnori, Tinikling, Vietnamese Scarves, Dai, and Taekwondo. LNYF seniors performed their final show themed “Boundless Horizons,” celebrating the Year of the Horse.

Emily So

Roles in “Boundless Horizons”: Co-President, Co-Senior Dance Choreographer.

For So, LNYF played an important role in her early years at WashU as a space to find connections and engage in cultural celebration. Through LNYF, she has also gained leadership skills and access to a network of other students and alumni, which has prepared her to move on from WashU and leave LNYF in new hands.

“I think [LNYF] made my experience [at WashU] more meaningful because as a freshman who didn’t have an Asian community back at home, it was something that I really craved, and I really wanted to be a part of that community.”

Sarah Cao Roles in “Boundless Horizons”: Executive Director, Dai Choreographer.

Cao’s experience with LNYF allowed her to find community and introduced her to other dance groups on campus. She hopes that LNYF continues to grow and extend beyond WashU in the future.

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“We’ve been an organization for the past 30 years, so we have a really deep history, and every year it keeps getting stronger. And that’s the only thing I hope for [going forward].”

Roles in “Boundless Horizons”: Taekwondo Performer and Choreographer.

Deka found that through her roles as choreographer and performer for Taekwondo, she learned how to be both a leader and a team member, and she formed strong relationships in both of these positions. She highlighted the benefit of having LNYF as a space to be creative outside of classes, and encouraged all WashU students to involve themselves in the show.

“As a performer, you get to meet so many incredibly talented people across all the acts, and you build this community that you maybe wouldn’t see day-to-day otherwise, but that you grow to love like family. You spend months working on this show together, perform together, then celebrate all of that together and it’s so so fulfilling.”

Carnaval

Founded in 1999, Carnaval is co-hosted annually by the Carnaval Executive Board and the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) to celebrate Latin culture. The performances showcase traditions from across different cultures, including Brazilian Funk, Bomba, Mariachi, Folklorico, Chicane Band, Colombian Dance, and Merengue. A skit interwoven between these acts tells stories of the Latin American experience. This year’s show, “Amparo,” was historic, being the first Carnaval show to sell out tickets for all three performances, leaving the senior members on a high note before graduating from WashU.

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“This year, after the show ended, I felt a little bit empty. But the emptiness that I felt, I think I misjudged. [It] is not really emptiness, honestly, [because it] is filled by satisfaction and gratitude. I’m grateful to have had Bomba as a space, and I’m grateful for Carnaval.”

Natalia León Díaz

Role in “Amparo”: Bomba Choreographer. Léon Díaz did not have a background in dance before coming to WashU, but took the opportunity in her first year to choreograph a new act for Carnaval featuring Bomba. Since then, she has choreographed and expanded the Bomba performance to become a project whose legacy will continue beyond her time at WashU. Léon Díaz is passionate about Bomba because it allows her to engage in cultural and political expression as well as to forge connections both within WashU and in the larger St. Louis community.

“One of the legacies that I’m that I’m proud of leaving behind at WashU, and that I hope that will continue beyond me, [is] not just Bomba as a project, but the desire to engage in culture in a meaningful way, [and] to find spaces outside of school to connect with others, especially when culture is precisely what’s being targeted by the oppressive forces currently in the United States.”

“I would love to see more political commentary in Carnaval. The philanthropy branch of it is really strong, and they do a great job of engaging the community in that way,” Léon Díaz said. “I hope that in the future, they take more political stances, because that is inseparable from the performances and the cultural aspect of it.”

Mariana Quiroz

Roles in “Amparo”: Co-Director, Mariachi Choreographer, Folklorico Dancer, Senior Dance.

For Quiroz, who grew up within a large Latino community and was involved with a Hispanic affinity group in high school, Carnaval has been a space for her to find similar cultural engagement at WashU. Through her roles as dancer, choreographer, and executive member, she has formed strong connections with other students and with members of the St. Louis community.

“When I first got to college, it was really jarring not being around Latino people anymore. I felt like I was going to all the events and I was trying to meet people, and I didn’t find anyone that I was really connecting with. So Carnaval really became that way for me to meet other Latino people on campus, and it was so much fun. It’s just such a great community.”

2026

“My hope for next year is that we get even more integrated with the St. Louis community,” Quiroz said. “[It] was something we’ve really been pushing for in the last two years — getting not just WashU, but other community members to come watch the show. This year, some people from SLU came. We invited people from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and other Hispanic organizations here, and they came as well. It was really exciting to move out of the WashU bubble.”

2025 2024

Diwali, LNYF, BA, and Carnaval play an important role in creating communities in which WashU students can celebrate their cultures and learn about those that extend beyond their own experience. For students who devote extensive time to these cultural shows, the performances have become a way to forge connections and engage meaningfully in the world around them. The love that graduating seniors have for these shows is a testament to the shows’ importance not only in highlighting different cultures, but also in creating spaces of beauty, energy, and connection.

ELIJAH LECKERMAN STAFF WRITER

Before the Class of 2026 walks onstage at Commencement in May, they get to be in the audience one last time to see The Kid LAROI and MKTO perform at WILD on Friday, April 24.

From a cancelled Spring WILD in 2022 to Natasha Bedingfield singing “six seven” at this past fall’s NAP, the Class of 2026 has been there for the good and bad of Social Programming Board’s (SPB) semesterly concerts.

When this year’s seniors were merely firstyears facing the unknowns of college, waiting for something fun — something “college” — they were able to look forward to the upcoming Fall WILD (Walk In, Lay Down) concert. However, on the dreadful night of Oct. 14, 2022, the Campus Life Instagram page announced that the anticipated concert was off, after many previous semesters of cancellations due to the COVID pandemic. Capacity, ticketing, and ID-verification concerns cost the Class of 2026 their first SPB concert opportunity.

Luckily, Spring WILD arrived soon enough, headlined by the one and only Flo Milli. The rapper from Alabama was opened by indie pop music collective Peach Tree Rascals and student pop singer Luke Markinson. This edition of WILD marked a significant change in the format of the concert, as the venue moved from the classic Brookings Quad to the much bigger Mudd Field. This allowed for more students to attend and enjoy the rapper’s bangers.

Then, in the fall of 2023, Fall WILD returned for the first time in several years, but was made completely anew: It was now Night at the Pageant (NAP). Financial and time constraints forced SPB to move away from Fall WILD and instead put on a more low-key concert for students. NAP, although not as catchy a name as WILD, has become a WashU tradition on its own, hosted at The Pageant concert hall in the Delmar Loop. Students’ first excursion off WashU’s campus for an SPB concert was to see indie-pop band Saint

WashU concerts wrapped

Motel. The concert was enjoyable, but students said that it did not feel the same as WILD.

The less-than-ideal venue of the WashU Athletic Complex hosted jazz rap artist Joey Bada$$ for WILD in Spring 2024. The music of Joey Bada$$ was more chill than that of many previous artists, but opener Iyaz, known for his hit song “Replay,” created a nice sonic balance. Although not every undergraduate student was able to attend due to capacity constraints, the lucky students seemed to enjoy the music overall. However, the experience was not entirely great, as concert etiquette was not followed, with people pushing each other and aggressive drunks being obnoxious. Fortunately — spoiler alert — the following year’s WILD was back on the larger Mudd Field.

best known for her pop hits “Unwritten” and “Pocketful of Sunshine,” delighted the student body at WashU at The Pageant with her uplifting pop bangers and semi-cringy singing of “six seven,” attempting to use the meme to appeal to her collegiate audience.

NAP returned for its second year in 2024 with two headliners: rap acts Earthgang and Bryce Vine. The Pageant can only hold 2,000 students, compared to the previously complained-about 3,000-person cap for WILD, but capacity was not even close to being an issue due to the event’s low popularity. Still, Abby Sode, then senior and Vice President of Programming at Student Union (SU), declared that NAP was here to stay.

Before the next NAP could take place, 2025 WILD made its mark, with 2000s/2010s pop legend Flo Rida singing, bringing students up on stage, taking his shirt off, and throwing fake money into the large student crowd on Mudd Field. Even though Flo Rida was clearly lip-syncing, his music and vibes were perfect for the concert, and the audience was clearly excited to be there. Even before Flo Rida took the stage, DJ and producer Mustard lit up the growing crowd with the then-extremely popular song “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar. Mustard relayed to the audience, “Mustard on the beat, ho,” and WashU students returned his energy shortly after, shouting the iconic elongated “Mustard” because Lamar was not there to do so.

Finally, the last SPB concert that the 2026 seniors have experienced so far was Natasha Bedingfield’s NAP in the fall of 2025. Bedingfield,

The Kid LAROI and MKTO have big shoes to fill after Flo Rida’s entertaining WILD performance, along with the success of all the artists that the Class of 2026 saw perform before him. Let’s hope they can make it “classic,” just as MKTO sings.

ing the ger ith yce nts, out was nt’s and ion 025 pop on ney ven is d ith ce, nts he as 6 a d, g D the fore ust as

ZOE RHODES NEWS EDITOR

Thank you for everything. You made my first year here at WashU what it was.

It seems that now, with only a summer separating my friends and I from sophomore year, all we do is talk about the impact you have made on our lives. (And how much we wish we could force you not to graduate, but I

guess real life requires money, which requires a job, which requires graduating. Oh well.)

Being seniors, you may not have thought much of our class at first. After all, we were trying to join clubs while you were trying to join the workforce. (We don’t envy you.) Firstyears and seniors are at very different stages of life.

happily and sometimes begrudgingly) offered up four years’ worth of wisdom, free lifts home, and Google Doc comments telling us to stop burying the lede.

Despite this, we came into your lives one way or another. In return, you (sometimes

MARCELINE LEE | ILLUSTRATION EDITOR

You sat next to us in our introductory philosophy course. You directed our first WashU musicals or acted beside us. You drove us to our very first interview. Your personal memoir pieces in Creative Nonfiction blew us away and left us to wonder how we can learn to write like you. In classes, in clubs, in the Writing Center, you chiseled away at the firstyear nerves to help us feel at home.

You ask us to GrubHub order your coffees and iced teas and Collins Farms’ salads because you (mostly) had no meal points. We did so (sometimes happily and sometimes begrudgingly).

As many hats, shirts, and Pointers pizza boxes that we sign to gift you, we know that you have to move on.

So here’s a(nother) little thank you. I speak for the entire class of 2029, but I also speak for myself when I say: You’ve always got someone looking up to you now. Your guidance brought me even closer to my friends. From editing my articles to teaching me how to edit, you put in so much work and passion into helping me grow.

Don’t be afraid to venture out, but remember to send the now-sophomores all the tales of your travels.

Congratulations Class of 2026

Don’t be a stranger.

Make sure to stay open to love!

ZACH TRABITZ FORMER MANAGING NEWS EDITOR

When I arrived at WashU, like many other people arriving at college, I was scared beyond belief. I was worried I wouldn’t have any friends and that I wouldn’t enjoy my classes, and I was also unmedicated, which probably amplified all those issues.

to love. However, it’s important to remain open to love, and open to loving others.

I knew I wanted to do some extracurricular activity in my free time — most people at WashU are strivers, and I’m no different. I wanted to join the university newspaper since I was a part of the newspaper in high school, but I was worried that it’d make me feel like I wasn’t growing at all. However, I can now clearly say that the best thing I did in college was joining StudLife. Even though it’s basically a fulltime job on top of school, the opportunities I’ve had through this paper are the best bar none.

From the friends I’ve made to the mentors that have supported me to the amazing experiences I’ve had from the paper (like interviewing the CEO of the Atlantic or getting to support Native American students in the creation of a codified academic focus group), so many doors have opened for me by returning to the familiar atmosphere of a school newspaper.

Logically, from entering as a first-year to leaving as a senior, four years will pass that will contain really awesome highs and really desolate lows. Your grandparent may pass away, or you might fail your first test. These experiences will suck, and there’s no way to avoid them. By virtue of being alive, we as humans will have to go through less-thanideal circumstances to get to the good stuff. This is a muscle you will grow throughout life and particularly throughout college: For example, many people start college as anxious little 18-year-olds, and then leave as (hopefully) more assertive and confident 21or 22-year-olds.

For every struggle you have, another

However, this isn’t to say that college ended up being perfect. There will be certain events that often happen throughout the four years of university that are sure to hurt you and upset you. Oftentimes, your loved ones will be the source of these situations: breakups or friendship-ending arguments, for example, and many, many other situations that make you feel desolate and hurt. These will, of course, dissuade you from loving and opening yourself up

beautiful thing will happen to you. You may meet a new close friend through a random class, get your dream fellowship, or go on a wonderful spring break trip with your friends. For me, StudLife served as this beautiful thing. By virtue of being a news reporter, you get to talk to so, so, so many people. StudLife also has a diverse group of people, something we at the paper have been focused on fostering year after year. You get exposed to many different viewpoints and get to touch the lives of so many different people you wouldn’t have gotten to otherwise.

At StudLife, I started as a contributing writer and then became a staff writer, a junior editor, investigative editor, and finally a managing editor of the paper.

Through all of these levels of hierarchy I have continuously been mentored by and mentored the most amazing and mentor the most amazing, incredible, kind people who walk WashU’s campus. I’m so thankful to this newspaper and the growth I have experienced through it, both as a learner and as a teacher. I’ve gotten to meet such amazing people, have such great experiences, and above all find so many more people to wave to and smile at on campus.

I guess my point is that things will suck throughout college by virtue of it being four years of your long life. But it’s important to remain open to hugging new people, having new experiences, and expanding your horizons.

Embrace your niche interests

MATT EISNER FORMER MANAGING SPORTS EDITOR

My Student Life experience gave me many hats to wear. Many of them were unexpected, especially to the version of myself that walked onto campus four years ago. In our newsroom, I often felt like the resident expert on the happenings in the world of Division III sports. If college is the place where you are supposed to “find yourself,” I found myself in the stands of WashU sporting events more times than the vast majority of my peers — including athletes. A few weeks ago, two morning radio hosts on KMOX anointed me as their “Chief MetroLink Correspondent.” Sure.

I spoke with a professional journalist recently who told me that her favorite part of her newsroom was that she found a place full of people who love to “nerd out” over their random, niche interests. I’ve never related to a piece of

professional advice more. As a parting piece of advice to the WashU community, I invite you to embrace what makes you, you.

Throughout my adolescence, I often found myself embarrassed by the things that make me tick. I tried to hide the level of granularity to which I cared about my favorite sports teams, didn’t bother finding a welcoming community in high school for fear of discomfort, and tried hard to fit in as much as I possibly could. I regret those choices, and it led to a poor high school experience. I’ve since learned, for the most part, to tune out the people telling me not to follow my passions and interests.

After all, your niche interests are the purest form of your own identity. College teaches you how important it is to differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack. If everyone was truly interested in the same five things, how boring would life be? I hope my friends have learned

something from me and my passions, because I have certainly learned as much from my deep and meaningful late-night conversations with friends about random topics as I have in my classes.

As you’re reading this, think about the things that you are passionate about, but you are too scared to admit it. Maybe, like me, it’s WashU sports (in which case, join StudLife Sports!) or public transit advocacy. Maybe you’ve always wanted to know the types of birds that fly around your backyard. Maybe you wanted to pick up running. Maybe you’ve wanted to start a business. I can tell you from my own personal experiences that embracing these passions will give you a renewed joie de vivre. You might be sitting through a long commencement ceremony or preparing for a long day of travel in the near future — just consider how you can embrace your true self, today and every day. I owe a lot of my college experience to StudLife, and I think it’s because I

learned to embrace my niche interests. I hope that everybody finds a community that uplifts their own sense of self in the way that my dear friends at StudLife have done for me. Each and every person in this community left a true impact on my life, and I am forever grateful to have had that experience. To StudLife: Thank you for helping me become who I want to be.

Don’t stop asking questions

RILEY HERRON FORMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

During a hike with my dad the summer before senior year, I asked him what the best advice he had ever received was.

“Don’t be afraid to ask good questions,” he said. When I look back on my four years at WashU, a willingness to embrace asking questions and the curiosity that comes with it has been a driving force behind some of my favorite memories on campus.

A few months into my first year at WashU, joining the student newspaper was low on the list of things I expected myself to do. I wanted to immerse myself in a ton of activities like I had done in high school, but hadn’t found the student group for me quite yet. When I stumbled into

the StudLife office one Tuesday night for a sports section meeting, I was hooked.

Though I joined the paper because I liked the weekly debates about professional sports, I quickly fell in love with the opportunity to tell stories about students a lot closer to home. From writing enthralling ledes to following a team from the opening day of their season to the national championship game, sports writing became a new passion for me. At first, as a shy first-year student, postgame interviews were my least favorite part of the writing process.

Looking back as a senior, I’ve learned the power of an interview. Being able to sit down with someone and just talk, asking them questions about their story, their experiences, and their why behind what they do is one of the most powerful

tools available to a journalist. Through asking questions and listening, I’ve learned so much about so many different people on this campus, providing me with the incredible opportunity to tell their nuanced and wide-ranging stories to a wider audience.

Though I won’t be pursuing journalism after graduating, the willingness to ask critical questions has also played a valuable role in my academic and professional experience. At a time when AI offers nearboundless information within arm’s reach, it is crucially important to maintain the spirit of inquiry that brought us to WashU in the first place. And though I won’t be taking classes next year, I hope to protect the love for learning that made so many of my classes so enjoyable. Intellectual curiosity isn’t limited to just the classroom.

Knowing when to ask the right questions has also been key to unlocking some of the most valuable friendships that have shaped my college experience. The relationships that I’ll remember most are the ones that featured deep conversations on the balcony of my apartment or during a late-night walk around Mudd Field.

In my time at StudLife, I’ve had a frontrow seat to the many incredible things happening on WashU’s campus. Featuring athletes, artists, researchers, and students pursuing a number of unique passions, our coverage showcases the diverse range of talented individuals, each with their own story to tell, that make up the Class of 2026. I’m grateful to have played a small role in discovering and documenting the senior class’s stories through the pages of Student Life.

Talk to strangers

SYDNEY TRAN FORMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

After spending four years in a state I swore I’d leave at 18, I can tell you one thing I never thought I’d say: I am glad I stayed.

Growing up in Missouri, I felt disconnected from my community and was constantly afraid of the future’s uncertainty. Although I have changed immensely throughout college, one thing that helped me both build a community and be OK with not knowing the unknown has been talking to strangers.

My affinity for talking to strangers has been around since I was a child. I’ve always loved talking to people I didn’t know, and when I first came to campus, I knew I wanted to join Student Life because journalism is exactly that.

Yet, when I was a kid, my “talking to strangers” was more like “talking at

strangers” to entertain. In college, being in StudLife reminded me to slow down and understand that stories could be more than entertainment. Stories are honest life lessons and reminders of what it means to be resilient and human.

These stories came from conversations, and journalism helped me practice having them in an open-ended and genuine way. It taught me to be interested in anything, because, like life, conversations can (and will) go anywhere if you let them.

I took these realizations and ran to as many corners of St. Louis as possible, collecting names and stories. The more I did this, the more I found myself returning to the friendly faces and continuing conversations that started as a five-minute “How are you?” Reflecting back on it now, these skills were the building blocks for the community I thought couldn’t be found in Missouri. I learned that it was okay to be vulnerable, to disarm the

societal facade that “Life is going OK” when it isn’t, and feel the support of people whom I once saw as strangers. Surprisingly, for me, many of the folks I have found safe spaces in conversations were older than college-age. They owned businesses, had families, or at least paid for their own insurance. And I am so grateful they took the time to listen and laugh at a 20-year-old who was scared to grow up.

Aside from laughing at my young-adult woes, they reminded me that feeling lost is normal and isn’t something you go through alone. If it wasn’t for Terry and Youni at Sides of Seoul for cooking food with love, Anni at Mesa Home for dressing me in insane swag, Eric and Ryan at iTap for the endless drinks and history lessons, Zach at TRX Piercing for listening to all of my boy problems, and the countless people who saw my face way too many times because I am a creature of habit, I

would not be as OK with the uncertainty of graduating without a profession lined up as I am right now.

Of course, these skills and surviving college could not have been done without the endless support of my close friends at StudLife. StudLife is where my community began, and conversations with strangers inevitably lead back to stories with this community. Countless hours of late-night conversations in a windowless room have helped me build my confidence, choose a path I loved, and become the person I am today. I can’t imagine my life without memories of trying to figure out who to be if I weren’t pre-med or how to just pick a lock. I could write another column about my love for StudLife, but this column is to encourage you to do what the paper has taught me: Slow down and talk to a stranger.

Publishing opinions amidst divisive times

SYLVIE RICHARDS FORMER MANAGING FORUM EDITOR

For the past three years, I edited and published your beliefs — WashU students, faculty, and alumni. The experience was extremely difficult, and it fundamentally changed me. I often grappled with the lines between respectful and inflammatory, productive and unproductive, and opinion and misinformation. Meanwhile, I actively questioned how my beliefs influenced my work.

The greatest challenge came during the Israel-Palestine protests — one of the most divisive times on campus.

Back then, opinion submissions felt neverending. I spent hours in the conference room alongside the Forum editing staff, scouring over every line and hyperlink. We labored to preserve each writer’s voice while staying committed to respectful and open dialogue.

There were many articles that I agreed with, while others deeply challenged my beliefs. Coming from the politically insular Bay Area, I’d never had my values seriously confronted. At times, the editing process brought me to tears, as I questioned what people’s opinions meant for the future of our world.

Writers frequently misunderstood our edits and assumed they were based in bias and malintent. I learned to put myself in their shoes and moved forward from a place of empathy.

Empathy means different things to different people. For me, it means understanding a person’s background and the basis for their opinions. As an editor, I gave constructive criticism from that understanding. As a human, I continue to use it to ground conversations.

Importantly, empathy does not mean agreement. I had empathy while drastically disagreeing with the sentiments of many writers. It does not require you to sacrifice your values or beliefs, but instead to understand

someone else’s. Productive dialogue can only come from this place.

Still, I am not asking that people participate in conversations with beliefs that are hateful or bigoted. There are definitely individuals who are not productive to speak to or worth your brain space. If you feel that a conversation is growing hateful, it is OK to step out of the discussion.

In StudLife, starting with empathy meant intentionally changing how I delivered my edits. Rather than going straight to a critique that would trigger defensiveness, I’d clarify that I understood where the author was coming from. I would often reiterate my understanding of their perspective and clarify how I was helping them better get at this viewpoint. I often found that these techniques made writers willing to understand our mission as a section.

As we published more articles, I heard people talking about them as I walked across campus. Others questioned me in person. I

received positive feedback but a lot of negative feedback, too, from readers on all sides of the conflict. While intimidating at first, these responses made me realize that we were doing something right. Students across a spectrum of beliefs confronted opinions that they disagreed with, which they were less likely to interact with in another setting.

The dialogue Forum created traveled beyond its pages.

After talking to friends from other universities about the culture on their campuses, I know that the opportunity to read and discuss opposing viewpoints is unique. It is our greatest strength as a community, and it helps us grow as people and as a group in living and learning alongside one another.

As the former Managing Forum Editor, I helped create a platform for people to share their perspectives and interact with others. More importantly, the Forum meetings that I led — the highlight of my week — were a physical space to have these conversations. Voicing your opinions and listening and responding to opposing ones is an exceptionally difficult practice. As I watched students grow as writers and participants in open dialogue and experienced changes in my own thinking while navigating my role, I witnessed our empathy and common ground grow, too.

As the students who witnessed the divisions of Israel-Palestine on campus leave, I hope that people continue to have challenging conversations with each other. It may start with writing an article for Forum or coming to a meeting, but it can also take place in a classroom, dorm, or dining hall. Still, empathy must ground the conversation.

My entire college career has been dedicated to forging a space where these discussions can thrive, and the commitment was worthwhile. In my final Forum meeting, I watched two writers, infamous for their debates, agree without qualification. Everyone in the room applauded.

On dialogue and disagreement

MIA BURKHOLDER FORMER MANAGING CHIEF OF COPY

When people ask me what I do for the newspaper, I say, “I put the commas in.” Having been Chief of Copy for over three years, some of what I do has become robotic. I put in the commas. I get rid of the extra spaces. I fact-check the soccer scores. Strangely, though, my time as a copy editor has taught me a lot about being human.

There’s been a disturbing trend among my peers in which they suggest I use AI to complete my tasks for Student Life. They think they are doing me a favor as they ask, “Can’t AI do that?”

What these people fail to understand is that copy editing is about more than the commas, and maybe it’s my fault for having boiled my position down to that one task. Copy editing is about clarity, and clarity comes about through conversation. The problem is, conversation can be uncomfortable.

On the first day of copy training, I tell trainees that our number-one goal is clarity, partially because clarity allows for dialogue. Instead of going over the rules of AP style, I take them into the Editor-in-Chief’s office and show them a handwritten letter on the bulletin board that reads “Dear Student Life, your newspaper is a piece of sh*t,” followed by an argument against a 2006 staff editorial.

conversations in the newsroom, which happen more often than I can count.

Writing is an intimate activity, and being invited into others’ writing as a copy editor has been a great honor. I’ve learned how to have tough conversations with people about their writing; I’ve also learned that conflict is part of most honest conversations. Between talking and arguing and being called a “b*tch,” I have become more “human” than I ever thought possible. I have been uplifted, humbled, and more honest than ever before. I feel more connected with the world and people around me. I look back on my college experience as a success, probably because I let myself be so uncomfortable.

The only reason someone could write this, I say, is because they understood our article enough to disagree with it. If our newspaper isn’t clear, there isn’t space for genuine disagreement on campus. And isn’t disagreement what fosters growth?

In reflecting on my past four years for this column, I realized that my most important moments of college have been fraught with discomfort: auditioning for (and performing with) an a cappella group, leading a weekend-long retreat for the Catholic Student Center, making new friends, and, yes, having difficult

Trust me when I say, as a current student teacher, AI is flawed when it comes to copy editing. But more importantly, using AI for editing is flawed because of its removal of human interaction and, therefore, removal of healthy disagreement and discomfort. It is through our discomfort that we become better thinkers, friends, and people. And isn’t that the purpose of a university — and what the current administration of our country is so afraid of?

The disagreement and awkwardness of conversations in the newsroom, classroom, and common room are what make WashU great. When we lose that, we miss the greatest lessons of our lives. We cannot sacrifice our humanity for convenience, and we cannot sacrifice learning for comfort. I’m certainly glad I didn’t.

A ‘soft exit’

ELIZABETH GRIEVE FORMER SENIOR SCENE EDITOR

Transitioning from one chapter to another is never easy. I’m no stranger to it.

In elementary school, the end crept up on me. I remember moments of my last day of fifth grade. Sequentially, each grade walks out the front doors of the school, and then finally, with all of the other students surrounding the steps, the fifth graders walk out for the very last time. The feeling was strange, I had never visualized myself reaching this point. A few weeks prior, I had received a letter that confirmed I would be changing school systems, which was exciting because I had never imagined life outside of the little town I lived in. So as I walked out those doors for the very last time, I was euphoric. I didn’t look back.

In high school, the end was a relief. I was forced to return to the same elementary school system that haunted me. Eventually, once things weren’t that bad, I was suddenly doing AP exams in my room and sitting alone for hours on end. It wasn’t until senior year that we returned from quarantine.

In middle school, the end was painful. My life at a different school had opened my world. I met people and actually got to know them. I developed interests. I felt connected. I started baking on the weekends and bringing homemade treats to lunch. I had a community. And although the awkwardness of middle school was still there, I teared up as I hugged my 29 classmates for the last time. I felt a newfound part of me slipping away.

To be fair, I had some high moments. State competitions, a beautiful prom dress, and some whimsical institute days where my newfound friends and I explored the city for hours on end. But the pain of losing touch and getting entangled in conflicts was ever present. I stopped baking. I slipped into routine.

I remember the moment I got into WashU, home alone with my brother in mid-February. It was a Thursday. I opened the email unceremoniously and gasped so loud my brother jumped. So when the end came, I walked across the makeshift stage and breathed a sigh of relief.

I met my random roommate Teija at the Starbucks on the Delmar Loop an hour before I moved in over a matcha latte. We had exchanged about three texts total over the entire summer, so the entire living situation, as with the rest of college, felt like a total wild card. That night I laid on the floor of our tiny Park double (the bed frame broke while trying to raise it), staying awake for hours anticipating

Teija’s move-in the next morning. It all felt so uneasy, but a new feeling was growing inside me.

And suddenly it all clicked into place. From that moment forward, my life was forever changed. After meeting Teija, I met more and more people who lit up my world. Every new person I met was incredible in their own way. Eventually I found my way into an ecology lab, where I have met the mentors that have given me direction. Most importantly, I found my way into the Student Life office, where I found a family that once again I could bake for.

In the next week or so, I will say goodbye to my last French class ever, to my doubledecker Lofts apartment and to my lovely Scene corner in the StudLife office. But in October, I signed a lease for an apartment here in St. Louis.

While every end is full of bittersweet goodbyes, the people I have met will always stay with me in my heart. I owe everything to the school and the people here that helped me find myself again. And maybe it’s okay to hang onto it for just a little bit longer.

And so at this end, it’s a soft exit — I’m saying goodbye, but I’ll still be right down the street.

How to make the most of your time, at WashU and beyond

TIM MELLMAN FORMER MANAGING NEWSLETTER EDITOR

If I had to use one word to describe myself, it’d be cheerful. I’m a generally happy person, and my time at WashU has been fun-filled from start to finish.

Many of my most joyful and fulfilling experiences at WashU have been shaped by three guiding principles. Now, as I reflect on my time here, I want to share these principles with you as small pieces of advice — how to make the best of your time.

Whatever you do, do it with a smile.

A smile makes everything better.

About to give a presentation or walk into an interview? It’s totally valid to feel nervous. Intentionally putting on a smile, though, doesn’t just mean others will perceive you as more confident or happy — I can tell you from experience that it actually makes you feel more sure of yourself!

Never give up an opportunity to try something new.

Whenever I’m faced with a decision to do something that seems a bit daunting, I always pause and ask myself a question: If I don’t do this, and I never have an opportunity to do it again, will I regret never knowing what was possible?

Outside of the academic or professional world, a smile still goes a long way. I’m a fairly extroverted guy, but I’ll admit that when I’m at a party or gathering with a bunch of unfamiliar faces, my instinct is to slink into a corner and people-watch. But when I take a moment, nod to myself, and put on a smile, I often find that other people will even come to me to introduce themselves.

Side note of advice for meeting with new folks — have an icebreaker in your back pocket! My favorite one to ask a group of new folks: What’s something interesting about yourself? To give an example: I’m a vexillologist (that means I design flags) and I know how to curl (the ice sport, not weightlifting!)

This applies to a broad swath of situations — from adventures (should I walk from campus to the Arch?) to relationships (should I ask this person out?), and everything in between. And in my experience, the answer is most often yes — if you don’t give it a try, you’ll regret not knowing what could have happened.

And sure, the best-case scenario doesn’t always happen. But even in these cases, you won’t have to look back and wish you had done something different, because you’ll have given it a try. And when it does, boy will you be glad (campus to Arch is a 10/10 walk, would do again!)!

Oh, and here’s the best part: as busy and economical as you surely were as a student and will be as a young professional, smiling costs you no time and no money. The only thing it takes to smile is having the right mindset and exercising a handful of facial muscles.

Leave footprints in your wake

I know that as we graduate WashU and transition to the next stage in our lives, every single one of us will make a difference somewhere. Some of us will be doctors; some will be lawyers and politicians; some will be artists and authors; some will be teachers. There might be one or two of us that goes on to develop a new drug that changes the world and saves countless lives, or pushes a bill through Congress that transforms the way Americans live every day, but even for the rest of us, we’ll be making a difference one person at a time. That’s leaving an impact.

But leaving footprints goes a layer deeper. It doesn’t just mean making a difference; it means charting the path for others to follow behind you.

armed individual threat — but the StudLife achievement I’m most proud of is the team I’ve built along the way.

Three and a half years ago, I wrote every single newsletter, every single night. Now, we have a crew of three editors and a dozen writers and weather writers, bringing the hottest stories and hyper-local forecasts to the inboxes of 17,000 people six days of the week. And I have no doubt that in the coming years, many more contributors will join the newsletter team, following in my footsteps.

One of my most notable achievements at WashU is bringing Student Life’s newsletter from an afterthought four years ago to the primary means of informing the WashU community about breaking news, from sports championships to the (sigh) occasional

Before I go, I’ll leave you with a bonus guiding principle — one I admittedly have not succeeded quite as well at following in my time here. In August of 2022, I was holed up in the Student Life office for my very first time, editing the very first print edition of my first year at WashU. There was an article written by upperclassmen editors titled, “Advice we wish we could have given ourselves in our first year,” and two words spoke to me. They’re well worth following: “Get sleep.”

Contribute where you can

GRAYCE COOPER FORMER MANAGING SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

There’s a story I once heard about a man at a drive-thru. He rolled down the window and was met by a young boy who told him to have a blessed day. The two began to speak more of God and the man said to the boy, “You know, you should consider going into ministry. You would have a bright future working in the church.” The boy replied, “If I speak of God in a church of believers, who will speak of God in this drive-thru?”

yet this is my first time writing. I originally just wanted an outlet for my newfound love of design and came into the office once a week to make a single page of the print edition. I knew virtually nothing about journalism, and my writing skills were only practiced during College Writing every other weekday.

community together and only made Black Anthology, and me, even stronger.

I think about this story a lot, not because I too dream of spreading the Gospel to fastfood customers, but because I recognize the importance of joining settings where you may not typically see yourself.

I have been contributing to StudLife for all four years of my time here at WashU and

However, as I was having so much fun every Wednesday night, I was producing a paper that my communities despised every Thursday morning. Having always been an avid member of student affinity groups, I had the unique opportunity to hear critiques of the newspaper from multiple viewpoints. And after a not-so-kind review of Black Anthology’s 2024 production, Pressed, I was abruptly exposed to Student Life’s impact on WashU’s campus and the increasing need for student journalism from all perspectives. That one article, one voice, brought an entire

I soon became more intentional about my role in the newspaper, curious about how I could effectively contribute from my own viewpoint just as I had seen writers do, all while remaining within my skillset. I sadly stepped away from the Design section and stepped into the bright, young world of Social Media, eventually becoming its managing editor. After subsequent major campus events, I saw how my presence alone on the managing board was reassuring to many students who looked like me, even though I was not a writer. What a privilege it has been to witness the importance of representation in the media firsthand.

even when it seems like everything is quiet. I thank Student Life newspaper for the chance to spread student voices beyond the WashU community. As Managing Social Media Editor, I consistently interacted with students, alumni, and readers across the globe. Thank you for your trust. Thank you for letting me use what I know to share what we know.

Student Life is so much more than just a newspaper; it is the culmination of the most diverse student thoughts. It remains loud

My advice to my fellow graduates is to not be afraid to walk through the door. Your contributions to the world don’t have to be in what seems like the perfect space. Bring your knowledge, bring your strengths, and watch everything align. Much like the boy in the drivethru, stop thinking “Where do I fit?” and start thinking “Where can I make an impact?” StudLife did not seem like my perfect space at first, but the people I have met here are lifelong connections and the conversations I have been a part of are unforgettable.

Just keep swimming

IAN HEFT FORMER SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

Years ago, long before I arrived at WashU, I was given a piece of advice: always begin with the end in mind. I’ve tried to carry that with me– whenever I start something new, I think about how I want it to end, and try to take the steps to put me on a path to reach that point.

But when I arrived on campus in August 2022, I didn’t have a clear picture of that “end.” Four years felt impossibly far away, and my 18-year-old self wasn’t exactly equipped to visualize the person I would become. It also didn’t help that WashU lost the letter I wrote to my future self during Bear Beginnings, so any prophetic wisdom I may have then had is now lost to time. What I did have, though, were a few simple hopes: that I would leave college with lifelong friends, a better understanding of myself, and a campus and city that felt like home.

Nearly four years later, I’m grateful to say I’m graduating with all of that and more.

The road from first-year orientation

to today was a long and winding one. I’ve always rolled my eyes at the cliché that “progress isn’t linear,” but college has a way of proving it true. There were weeks and months when I felt like things were heading in the wrong direction, and many days filled with more sleepless nights, wallows of anxiety, fights with friends, and rejections than I would have expected or desired. At times, this place didn’t feel right, and the version of myself I thought I was likely to become by the end of college wasn’t one I was happy with.

So what changed? In the simplest terms, I just stuck with it. It takes time to find a home on a college campus, to figure out which spaces you feel most comfortable in. I learned to reach out to more people, and to present a better version of myself, niche interests and all. You never know which decisions will lead you down the right path, and WashU has shown me that, often, regardless of which paths you choose, if you put enough work and passion into them, they will become the right ones, given time. Or the prophetic words of Dory from

Finding Nemo, “When life gets you down, you know what you gotta do? Just keep swimming.”

I am glad I stuck with many things in college, but perhaps none more than journalism. After a mediocre-at-best experience with my high school newspaper, I never expected to write for a student publication again. But after being roped into Student Life during the first week of my first year, I’ve never looked back. I never expected to learn as much as I did about the wacky world of Division III sports, and I’ve gotten to cover many other topics that were a pleasure to delve into. But more importantly, I met some of my closest friends through StudLife and found a home in the windowless refuge of DUC Room 320.

value of diversity in education both in and out of a classroom. Not just diversity as in its most conventional sense, like racial and socioeconomic background, but also diversity of thought, interests, and values. To me, one of the best and most special parts of college is learning, living, and spending time alongside people with unique perspectives from vastly different backgrounds. I’ve been exposed to so many new ideas that I never would have encountered otherwise, and I’m genuinely grateful for all of them, even those that I may not agree with.

I’ve found community in many corners of campus and, along the way, built a wide-ranging network of friendships that have made WashU feel like home. Through Student Life, Greek Life, service organizations, study abroad, intramural sports, interdisciplinary coursework, and more, I’ve come to appreciate the real

So, at risk of sounding preachy, I’ll conclude with advice to someone at an earlier stage in their college journey. Always begin with the end in mind: each year, each semester, each class. Be prepared for the tough days. Learn how to thrive in different spaces, and put time into the communities where you feel like the best version of yourself. Take advantage of all of the resources that WashU and St. Louis have to offer. And most importantly, just keep swimming.

Make St. Louis your home

ELENA WIERICH STAFF WRITER

I have moved 10 times in the last four years. Those moves have been as small as moving from Forsyth to Kingsbury and as big as my family moving to a remote town in Wyoming of just 500 people. These moves have made it easy to feel unmoored in college, a time that naturally comes with a lot of change. Friend groups change, relationships come and go, and extracurricular activities gain importance and then fade when seniors graduate.

When I first visited my parents in Wyoming, it was a real production. I had to take a plane to Denver, hang out for six hours during my layover, fly to Billings, Montana, and then drive two hours to Big Horn, Wyoming, where my parents live.

After the 11-hour travel day, I realized that I didn’t have a place to really call home. When I was homesick my first year, it was nice to think about my childhood

home. But now, it felt like I didn’t have somewhere to miss when I needed to think of a happy place. My home wasn’t Nashville anymore, but it also wasn’t our small home in the mountains in Wyoming.

As I near the end of my time in St. Louis, I realize now that it was always my home. I was able to cultivate such a rich life in my four years at WashU. I had a lot of “firsts” on campus, from trying matcha to leading a political campaign for the first time. I made deep friendships that I didn’t think were possible and built a community of people I really love.

My biggest piece of advice is to not treat college like a temporary time. Make sure to fully immerse yourself in St. Louis. When you’re old, you’ll be able to say “when I lived in St. Louis,” and you’ll want fun stories and advice about the city to back that up. So take this time to truly live here. Go around to the places people say are great about St. Louis. Change your voting registration here and research

local politics. Spend a summer in St. Louis if the opportunity presents itself. If not, find a place you can volunteer or a way you can regularly escape the WashU bubble.

And fully immerse yourself at WashU. Don’t be afraid to get lunch with a new friend, or to double-text your old friend about hanging out soon. Attend as many on-campus events as you can, especially if a friend has a performance or game. Go to at least one meeting of any extracurricular that interests you. When I first walked into the StudLife office, it was because a friend said she enjoyed writing an article. It would have been easy to spend my college experience sticking to what I was familiar with. But in the spirit of exploring every corner of WashU, writing a StudLife article was something I knew I had to experience. I’m so glad I did, and I am very grateful to the organization that has defined my senior year. It’s not a big deal if you find your

Thank you, WashU

JOEL SWIRNOFF FORMER SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

I’ve been worried about how to get this right since even before I became a senior. I’ve always been comfortable with being sentimental, but it’s easier to pretend that this wonderful thing that is my time at WashU isn’t in its last chapter. I both love and hate nostalgia. I love it because to feel nostalgic means you had something you held dearly at one point. I hate it because it means it’s over. Time, however, is something I’ll never feel I have control over, so for now I’ll try to look back with the same feeling of joy that it has brought me.

I entered WashU feeling like I made the right choice, and I leave WashU knowing I did. I have met incredible people during my time here, whether it be my professors, those close to me, or acquaintances. You have all changed my life for the better. You have taught me camaraderie, trust, and most of all empathy. To my professors, thank you for challenging me and pushing me to go further. You have given

me the confidence that I can take on the most intimidating problems and concepts and have shown me that there is truly joy in learning.

To my friends, thank you for bearing with my “sorry, I’m at Olin” excuses and for sticking with me through the ups and downs that come with college. There is no me without you. To my acquaintances, I will miss you more than you know. Please, please don’t be a stranger.

To the wonderful people of Student Life, you mean the world to me. I have learned so much from your guidance and your friendship. You have given me the opportunity to speak with people that I would never have crossed paths with otherwise, and that is invaluable to me. I originally joined StudLife because I needed to get better at writing and figured spending some time outside of STEM would be good for my soul. I could not have imagined the community I would find with you. You have been worth every 3 a.m. production night and every Thursday morning class. I’ll miss you.

favorite things about college late in the game. In addition to joining StudLife, I just started going to Zumba at the rec — boy do I wish I had found that sooner. Trying as many things as possible is how you turn over all of the little stones that make up your college experience. Leave no stone unturned.

To WashU, thank you for four years I’ll cry

over. Thank you for your classes. Thank you for your beautiful campus. Thank you for being in St. Louis. Thank you, most of all, for your people.

To St. Louis, I am sorry that I ever misjudged you. I’m not sure if this is the end of my time living here, but I know it won’t be my last time being here. You have been a remarkable place to live for the past four years, even in all of your flaws.

To you, the reader, the best thing I can say to you is to take a moment to find something to be grateful about. This isn’t an advice column and I apologise for being preachy, but I cannot understate how important this has been to me. WashU has given me so much to be grateful for, and I think that the best way to honor something I know I’ll be nostalgic about is to simply be grateful for it.

Debí tirar más fotos

ELLA GIERE FORMER PHOTO EDITOR

I should have taken more photos.

That’s what Bad Bunny named his latest album. It wasn’t really about photography, but about presence — about the people and moments we let slip by without fully holding onto them. Lately, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.

Because sometimes you blink and the bare willow tree near Olin Library has blossomed. Sometimes you blink and the smell of spring creeps back in after its winter hibernation. And sometimes you blink and four years are suddenly over, too close to ignore and too painful to fully face.

Senior year turns every ordinary moment into something quietly elegiac. Every warm afternoon on the Mudd Field, every coffee run, every late night carries a small whisper: Remember this.

laughing when we forget the words. I want to hold onto the feeling of being somewhere, with my friends, where I fully belong — right here.

Being part of StudLife gave me a camera and, with it, a reason to look closer. I stood at the edges of rooms, waiting for the moment laughter broke out, when someone leaned in to listen, when a crowd moved in unison. I thought I was documenting other people’s lives. But I was also, without knowing it, documenting my own. The ordinary moments — the ones that don’t feel worth photographing — are often the ones you’ll miss most.

I can feel the confusion in the air around me. The shock, the worry, the low hum of anxiety beneath every conversation: What comes next? Where will you be? Will anything ever feel like this again? It’s the quiet question none of us want to ask out loud, because asking makes it real.

But I don’t want my lasts filled with premature grief. I don’t want nostalgia to arrive before the memories are even finished being made. I want to sing Broadway songs and dance with my roommates in our kitchen,

That’s what I’ll miss most: the people who turned an unfamiliar campus into something warm and recognizable. The ones who sat next to me before they knew my name. The ones who stayed up too late talking about everything and nothing — the people who became home.

I see the rest of you feeling it too. The way we linger longer after meals. The way we say “let’s do this again” and really, genuinely mean it. The way we hold hugs a little tighter, as if we could press the moment into memory through sheer force.

So pull out your phone. Take the photo. Stay a little longer. Quédate un momento más. Because someday soon, you’ll wish you had.

Debí tirar más fotos. But at least I’m still taking them now.

On the importance of growing through friends

BRI NITSBERG FORMER MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

During a class in my junior year, I learned that the number one indicator of happiness is connection and relationships (shoutout Elanor Williams). I struggled to accept this fact because I didn’t like the idea that my life satisfaction was in other people’s hands. I came back to this over and over again, sometimes when a friendship didn’t go the way I hoped it would, and other times when it just felt easier to be a hermit in my room. Over my four years, I’ve realized that I got it wrong: Other people don’t get to dictate my happiness, but I have the power to surround myself with those who bring joy into my life.

that these two women taught me. As someone with a forever friend philosophy, I faced such an intense battle in my head over whether to put effort into these interactions, knowing they wouldn’t continue after that weekend. On that trip, I realized it didn’t matter. Those two people allowed me to enjoy my time in Lisbon. That was their one purpose in my life.

When looking for those people, society tells you that you’re supposed to find your forever friends immediately upon coming to college. The stories we hear are the ones where the first-year roommates become best friends or where the same friend group lasts through every year of college. When you end up frequently moving through friend groups, society tells you that you’re the problem and that you’re not doing it the “right” way.

Not every friend can be a forever friend. But connection is important regardless. I’ve grown to be okay with losing friends or growing out of friends. That stage of my life needed that person for some reason or another, and it’s okay if the current version of me no longer does.

I no longer agree with the premise that you did something “right” if you are friends with the same people by the end of college. If you are still surrounded by all of the same people from four years ago, how were you able to grow? How did you

For a long time, I subscribed to this narrative and sought a forever friend in every single friendship. It wasn’t until solo traveling while studying abroad that I realized the flaws of this way of thinking. When traveling to Lisbon for a weekend, I got into an extremely lively conversation at my hostel with a student and a middle-aged woman. Although I had an entire day of exploring planned in my head, I cancelled my theoretical plans in favor of spending the day with these two women on a walking tour. For three hours, we walked, chatted about our extremely different lives, and simply learned something about each other and the world.

change as a person? College years, more than any other time in our lives, are a chance to learn who we are as individuals outside of our family and home. They are our opportunity to grow into who we want to be.

Especially in the microcosm that is college, you can be 10 different people in the span of four years, and those 10 versions of you don’t all have to be friends with the same people. If everyone likes you all the time, no one likes you. If you appeal to everyone, you aren’t enough of anyone. Being wholeheartedly yourself may make people dislike you, but it’s also the way you find the people who will love you.

For me, I found those people within the red, windowless walls of the StudLife office. This newspaper staff taught me what it felt like to be loved, appreciated, and wanted. It is by far the most eclectic group of people I have ever surrounded myself with, and I think that’s what makes

the community so incredibly special. When you put artists, journalists, sports fans, and people with just about every other interest in a room together for who knows how many hours, you get a group that not only puts out incredibly valuable work every week, but one that changes the lives of every single individual involved. That office holds more passion, warmth, and kindness than I’ve ever experienced before and truly taught me what I hope to always strive for in friendship. I joined in my first year to be a photographer, but I stayed all the way to graduation to be a friend.

I quite honestly remember very few specifics of that trip. But what I haven’t forgotten is the lesson on friendship

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diksha

Congrats Diksha, we are incredibly proud of you. A fighter since your first breath, you’ve grown from dancer, athlete, and singer into a strong, compassionate, determined and beautiful young woman, now graduating from WashU.

May Krsna always bless and protect you.

Love Mom, Dad & Krsangi ess a ...

Congratulations Christina!

We are so proud of you for persisting through the hard times, and never giving up on your studies. We can’t wait to see what path you choose to walk towards the future.

Love, Your family

CHRISTINA

Lin

Stay true to your values, and lead with purpose, knowing your impact is just the beginning.

gretchen Behm-Turner

Let your light shine!

Maxwell Latshaw

Your dedication, work ethic, grit and strength have inspired us every mile. We are so proud of the man you’ve become and can’t wait to see the highs you’ll reach.

Love, Mom & Dad

Eva LaVon Boling

Eva, there are no words to describe just how proud we are of you and your accomplishments. Your faith in GOD, resiliency and drive are going to take you so far. We are so blessed to be your mom/sis and we are so very happy for you.

Love, Mom and Naomi p Y

Kaci,

We are so incredibly proud of you and all youʼve accomplished at WashU. Winning two national championships is amazing, but what means even more is how you did it̶with hard work, humility, and heart.

You built lasting friendships, created unforgettable memories, and excelled in the classroom, all while competing at the highest level. That balance speaks volumes about who you are.

The woman youʼve become is our greatest pride. We canʼt wait to see whatʼs next.

We love you always. Mom & Dad

m h Y u c le w T p W

Tobias Zaidman

Wow! A WashU McKelvey School of Engineering graduate… and we thought kindergarten was tough. Congrats, Toby!

You survived the big kid stuff too. Love, Mom and Dad.

Cela López

You’ve turned curiosity into purpose and challenges into strength. Watching you become this brilliant, compassionate, powerful woman has been a tremendous joy. We love you beyond words. Dios es amor.

Amaris Rebecca Ninah

Daniel Khen

Incredibly proud of the man you have become. May your future be bright, filled with opportunities, & guided by your passions. Never forget your roots and always remember to dream big.

Love you, Dad & Mom!

Alice Hu

We are bursting with pride as you earn your Master’s in engineering. Your dedication shaped this achievement wishing you continued success, a bright future, and happiness always.

Dad, Mom, Sister

Amaris, you’ve bloomed with grace, grit, and unwavering faith

This achievement reflects your brilliance and your becoming. Step forward confidently. The world is brighter because of you, and we’re profoundly proud.

Elanna Lloyd

Proud of the accomplished lady and leader that you’ve become. Who knew that a shy, reserved introvert could be STRIVE president, AKA, and Nike bound. Looking forward to your next chapter. From the one who loves you the most.

Bram Felix Hoffman

Brave. Renaissance. Authentic. Mindful.

B e proud of all you’ve accomplished! We will always have your back as you step forward into your next adventure.

Love, Mom, Dad and your sibs

Chloe Gustafson

Mun-che-che, We are so proud of you, my/our Baby Bear. Congratulations. Stay curious. Your hard work and focus will carry you into a meaningful, impactful life.

Love, Mama Mun-che-che, Papa, and Lydia

Jad Bader

Jad’s Graduating College!

Not anyone- you are the one. TNTJ There is truly no greater gift than you, and our hearts couldn’t be more full or more proud.

Dad, Mom Farah & Zane.

Lucas Danic

Keira Mitchell

Congratulations to my granddaughter, Keira, on a job well done! I enjoyed visiting you on Family Weekend at WashU!

Love, Grandad

Soosang David Kim

Congratulations, Soosang!

We love you! You did a really great job. God speaks to you “I will not leave you until I have done what I have planned for you”

Ethan Knoll

Congratulations Ethan on earning your Juris Doctor degree. We’re so proud of you.

Love, Mom & Dad

We are so incredibly proud of you, Lucas, and can’t wait to watch as you grow into the amazing person we always knew you would become!!!!! Love you more than anything!

Love Mom and Dad and B ella!!!! Rock on Mr. Bananas!!!!!!!

Star Rothkopf

y

Dear Star, Congratulations on your college graduation, with love always from your family, we’re proud of, and inspired by you!

Andres Orbegozo

Congratulations Andres!

We are so proud of how you have grown and thrived at WashU. We are excited to see what new adventures come your way!

Keep Dancing!

Love, Mom, Papi and Daniel

Lane Quick

What a journey!

We are so proud of yougreat things are headed your way.

Love You!

Mom, Ken, Cassidi and Brennan

Molly

you are our daughter! M/D

I’m going to miss you here! Congrats, I love you. B

We are so proud of our Chickapokapooka! M/D/H/J/N/A/L

Sunrise, sunset, enjoy every moment! Z

So proud! Can’t wait for our next tea party! B

We could not be more proud!

We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see how you write your next edition!

Love, Mom, Dad, Liam and Mallory

herron riley

Congratulations Sydney

Diligence, hard work, and excellent dedication. We are so proud of you! Follow your passions and expand your knowledge. Keep up the great work.

Love, Grandma, Tracy, Bryan, Dad, Mom, Tyler, Thor

You Did it!

Ian-

Congratulations to our amazing, kind, determined, music-enthusiast, stats-savvy, world-traveling, turtle-loving, Knicks and Yankees fan. We are proud of you now and always. Just continue being you. We love you more than the most, three bedos. Mom, Dad and Graham

Congratulations on your graduation!

Throughout your life, you have been a source of pride and inspiration. Your Wash U education and diverse college experiences, combined with your innate work ethic, kind heart, and strong values, set you up for an accomplished and

We love you! Mom, Dad,

and Lauren

Mia Burkholder

Congratulations, Mia! You’re confident, resilient, smart, funny, lovely and ready to take on teaching those 6th graders. We couldn’t be more proud of you!

Love, Mom, Dad and Julia

Sophia D. Hellman

Sophia, you are brilliant, kind, and full of heart. You make us proud every day. Your journey here has been exceptionalthis is only the beginning. We believe in you always. Tom, Diana & Nick.

Jeremy Slaten

Congratulations Jeremy! We are so proud of you and all your accomplishments. Wishing you a bright future filled with success, happiness, and endless opportunities.

Love, Mom, Dad, and Becca

Samantha Elegant

You are a beautiful, graceful and intelligent young woman. We are so proud of everything you have accomplished and look forward to witnessing this next chapter. We love you Samatha Marie Elegant

Elena Wierich

Elena, Seeing your success has been a joy. Continue to do what you love and reach for the stars. We will always be your biggest fans “Und jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber inne.”

Love, Mom, Dad, Abuelo and Abuela

Congratulations, Ella! You rocked it! We wish you happiness, adventure, joy, silliness, and success. Never lose that FIRE! We love you so much, Mom, Dad, & Zack

Afiya S. Faatuono

CONGRATULATIONS AFIYA!

We are so proud of you. We wish you continued success in your future endeavors.

Dream Big! MashAllah Wa BarakAllah. We love you !

Alivia Y. Li

So proud of you, Alivia, on your graduation day. Your dedication brought you here.

May your future be filled with success, purpose, happiness, and endless opportunities in career and life From, Mom & Dad

Isabel Arzeno Picco

Isa, Congratulations!

May confidence and curiosity guide your path forward. Keep your joy alive and never lose that beautiful smile.

We are so proud of you! Mom & Dad

Joshua Romero

Congratulations Josh! We are so proud of you. Good luck in law school!! Love, Dad, Mom and family

Beni Bisimwa

We love you and are so proud of you. Your hard work, endurance, perseverance, and faith have brought you here. May this new chapter be filled with purpose, growth, and opportunities ahead.

Love, ta famille

Allison Tan

Serena Taylor

Congratulations Serena on receiving your MSW from WashU! You worked hard for this moment and we’re extremely proud of you and all of your accomplishments. Keep shining and continue to reach for the stars.

Love Mom, Dad, Jasmine, and Aniyah

Congratulations Allison on your graduation!

We are so proud of the wonderful person you are and all you’ve achieved

With love, the Tans.

Asher Garvens

A big congratulations to you Asher! You are a college graduate! We are so incredibly proud of you and all your accomplishments. Your determination and resilience amaze us. Next stop, New York! You have such a bright and exciting future ahead. Excited to celebrate you!

We love you!

Mom, Dad, Ella and Nana and Papa

We are so very proud of the person you are, and all you have achieved at WashU and beyond!! We love you and may the sun always shine upon you!!

Love, Mom, Dad, Ariel, Nana, and Miko

Holy Kim

Congratulations, Holy!

Watching you graduate fills our hearts with joy. Your courage and kindness inspire us. A bright future awaits you; keep shining.

We love you and are so proud.

Love, Mom & Dad

Congratulations, Naima! Your WashU journey is a brilliant achievement. We are proud of your compassionate spirit; cannot wait to see you change the world.

Love, Mama, Papa, Dadi, Massi, Massa

Daniel Wilk

Naima Pyarali

Trenton Montrae Clark

Dear Trent, We are so proud of you! Your hard work, self discipline and determination paid off. Congratulations! Keep moving forward.

Love, Mom, Snow, Grandma, Tiphanie, William, Trinitee, CJ, Malik

Anthony Kuceba

Lauren Maunder

Congratulations on this amazing milestone!

Your commitment, perseverance, and accomplishments at WashU make us so proud.

We love you endlessly and celebrate you today and always.

Love, Mom, Dad, and Mia

Anna Blair Brody

Congratulations to our shining star!

We are so immensely proud of you. Always believe in yourself and you can accomplish anything your heart desires.

We love you, Mom and Dad

Charles Troutman, III

Congratulations Charles!

We are extremely proud of you and excited to see the many ways your talents will shape your future

Love always,

Mommy, Papa, Clayton, and Chloe

Carmen Anelisse Ganado

Carmen, Your incredible dedication has gotten you here.

As you said as a toddler, “I’M ME!”

We are honored to celebrate this milestone with you!

Love, Mom and Dad

Congratulations Lauren!

We are so proud of all you have accomplished and who you are.

We can’t wait to see your next journey.

Much Love, Mom, Dad, and Jennifer

Matthew Giardinelli

Congratulations, Matthew!

We are incredibly proud of your academic and athletic achievements at WashU. Your hard work in math and your dedication to swimming have been incredible to follow.

Y t

We are excited to celebrate with you. Love, Mom, Dad, Josh, and Ella.

Peyton Moore

Congratulations, Peyton!

You should be so proud of all you have accomplished during your time at Wash U!

We love you ver y much! Dad, Mom, and Abby

Connor- We are so incredibly proud of you for all the hard work you put in at WashU! You had an amazing undergraduate experience that helped you follow your dreams of going to med school. Can’t wait to cheer you on in your next chapter! Keep Moving Forward!

We love you! -Mama, Dad, and Annalise

always,

Your hard work, determination, and integrity have brought you here, and we are endlessly proud— not just of your law degree, but of the remarkable person you’ve become. As you begin this next chapter, remember how deeply you are loved. We will always stand beside you, your proudest supporters.

Dearest Lauren-

Our heartfelt congratulations on this incredible achievement. Your dedication and hard work have truly paid off, and we couldn’t be more proud of you. We admire your perseverance, endless energy, determination, positivity, and genuine love for learning and life.

Take time to savor this moment, Laurenyou’ve earned every bit of it!

We love you dearly.Love Mom and by proxy, your “Angel Dad”

LAUREN SPEICHER

Yb f l ou were orn ar ess. running into the dark basement to hide, at three; slapping Halloween ghosts trying to scare you, at four. fearless. now more than ever, the world needs fearlessness.

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Li L ve fearlesssly, fo foll l ow your heear a t, an and d al alwa w ys remmem e ber r ho how w de d ep e ly l yoou arre e lo loved. .