The independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since 1878 VOLUME 148, NO. 2
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
WWW.STUDLIFE.COM
Men’s and women’s soccer dominate in decisive shutouts, combine for 19-0 in season opener ROMAN PETERSON HARPER NIX STAFF WRITER SPORTS EDITOR
College sports are full of surprises, but the consistent dominance of WashU’s soccer program is not one of them. Both the No. 1 women’s and the No. 14 men’s teams return to play after spectacular 2025 season runs, with the women notably winning their second consecutive (and third overall) national championship, and the men winning the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship and advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16. With such impressive results came lofty expectations for the 2026 season, but both teams proved they were ready to meet them in their season openers on Sept. 1 — despite the sweltering heat. WashU soccer has a long tradition of success at the NCAA Division III level. The men’s program was especially dominant in the late ‘70s and ‘80s, when they reached the NCAA Final Four five times. Since their last semifinals appearance in 1987, they have made 24 NCAA Tournament appearances. However, a ticket to the postseason hasn’t always been guaranteed for the men’s team, as their only other recent NCAA Tournament appearances were in 2016 and 2021. Still, the Bears continue to show improvement with each year and are on track to hold a stronger national presence this season. The women’s team has taken WashU
Athletic’s tradition to another level, becoming one of D-III’s premier programs. Following runner-up finishes in 2009 and 2015, the team captured their first championship in 2016, beating out Messiah University in a gritty penalty shootout. More recently, WashU women’s soccer has cemented their status as a true dynasty, remaining undefeated since December 2023 and winning back-to-back national championships in 2024 and 2025. Their stellar performance these past couple of years has put them in a position to become the first women’s soccer team to achieve a three-peat since University of California San Diego in the late ‘90s.
No. 1 women’s soccer If there were ever any questions about the women’s ability to defend their national championship for the second year in a row, they answered emphatically on Tuesday night, opening their season with a dominant 14-0 blowout over the Greenville University Panthers. The win set several records for WashU women’s soccer, including most points in a half, with 9 in the first, and largest margin of victory. Two Bears, junior Cami Colpitts and sophomore Maya Stevenson, scored hat tricks, with Colpitts achieving hers in the first half alone. Additionally, the Bears’ defense did not allow a single shot on goal — a stark contrast from the offense, which took 31 shots. The game seemed to be over as soon as it started.
From all angles, this looked like a historically dominant victory to open the season, but you wouldn’t know it if you asked head coach Jim Conlon. “I thought we had some good unselfish runs that turned into goals,” Conlon said. “But at the end of the day, we’re still only 1-0.” Conlon and his team have been here before. When they opened the 2025 season as national champions, the team blew out Westminster College in similar fashion, 8-0. That performance proved to be a sign of what was to come: the Bears putting on another remarkable season and eventually capturing their second consecutive NCAA championship. This year, the bar is even higher, and the Bears will look to be the second soccer program in D-III history to win it all three years in a row. Conlon attributed Tuesday’s win to the team’s championship mentality and the work they put in behind the scenes. “Our women’s mindset has been great all year,” Conlon said. “It was very evident when they came back to the season that they were ready to go. Obviously we’re not around them [during the offseason], so for them to come back like this is a huge credit to them.” The women now turn their attention to their two-game roadtrip, with their next game taking place at Westminster College on Friday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m., followed by a game at Simpson College on Sunday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m.
No. 14 men’s soccer WashU men’s soccer is starting the season strong with a 5-0 home victory against the Millikin University Big Blues on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The Bears dominated the match, maintaining possession for most of the game and taking six times as many shots on goal as the Big Blues (30 to 5). A 1-0 record for the Bears sets an exciting stage for the 2026 season. “In the first game, you always want to get your season started on a strong note, and I think we did that today,” men’s soccer head coach Andrew Bordelon said. “A lot of people were able to contribute, and I think it shows the deep squad that we have.” Sophomore midfielder Sebastian Valdes set the tone early, scoring the first goal for the Bears eight minutes into the game. First-year midfielder Henry Wong-Foy also had a memorable day, making his collegiate debut as a starter and scoring his first collegiate goal in minute 25 of the first half. The underclassmen have proven they will be a force to be reckoned with, as Valdes later went on to score a second goal in minute 29, propelling WashU’s lead to 3-0. “[The sophomore] class is super close, and we are all super ambitious. And I think the [firstyears] have the same energy as us,” Valdes said. “We all want to go win a national championship.” As the underclassmen showed their strength, several upperclassmen demonstrated their experience.
Senior forward Ethan Wirtschafter scored the fourth and fifth goals of the game and assisted Valdes for the first goal of the game. Senior defender Quentin Gomez held a strong defensive presence and helped the Bears keep the ball predominantly on the Big Blues’ side of the pitch. “It’s the first time we’ve had a big group of seniors while we’ve been here,” senior goalkeeper Cal L’Hommedieu said. “We’re excited to help the younger guys get situated, and also we feel like we have a really deep squad.” The senior class consists of 11 players — a much larger group of upperclassmen than seen in previous years. “That senior class is unbelievable,” Bordelon said. “What they do to welcome all of the newcomers and integrate them as quickly as possible is something that is really, really outstanding.” With this performance, men’s soccer has demonstrated they are capable of having a lot more success as the season progresses. “To come out with a good performance like this, to get a bunch of pretty quality goals, to keep a clean sheet and be able to get everyone on the team in as well is a big deal for us,” L’Hommedieu said. “We have a big two-game stretch in Chicago this weekend, and hopefully we can just keep it going.” This weekend, the Bears will face North Park University and Elmhurst University in the Chicago area on Saturday, Sept. 5, and Sunday, Sept. 7, respectively. WashU’s next home game will be on Friday, Sept. 11, at 3 p.m. against Hanover College.
BOBBY KAPLAN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Two years after purchase, WashU has no ‘overall plan’ for Fontbonne campus
BRI NITSBERG | STUDENT LIFE NICHOLAS DEMBA NEWS EDITOR
Two years after Fontbonne University closed and WashU bought its campus, WashU has no “overall plan” for the future of the property, per Erika EbsworthGoold, WashU’s executive director of strategic initiatives. However, in the short term, the Clayton-based Glenridge Elementary School is now seeking a location for a temporary bridge campus to house its students during construction. The school district is in talks with WashU about using the Fontbonne property as the site. “While an agreement has
CONTACT BY POST
not been finalized, the former Fontbonne campus remains our most promising option, and we are optimistic about the possibility of establishing our temporary bridge campus there for the 202728 school year,” Gina Tarte, chief communications officer for the School District of Clayton, wrote to Student Life. Fontbonne announced its closure in March 2024, citing declining enrollment numbers and continued budget deficits. WashU then purchased the campus for $39 million. The 16-acre site of the former private Catholic school borders the South 40 across Wydown Boulevard. Though the campus
ONE BROOKINGS DRIVE #1039 #320 DANFORTH UNIVERSITY CENTER ST. LOUIS, MO 63130-4899
remains inactive, WashU does still dedicate resources to its maintenance. Ebsworth-Goold said that WashU facility crews are still repairing damage from the May 2025 tornado. Additionally, the Washington University Police Department patrols the property on a regular basis. Voters in the Clayton School District approved Proposition O in the municipal elections in April, providing $135 million in funding for improvements, most notably for a full renovation of Glenridge. The current plans would be for temporary modular classrooms to be placed on part of the campus, though no formal agreement has
CONTACT BY EMAIL EDITOR@STUDLIFE.COM NEWS@STUDLIFE.COM
been reached yet. “WashU always aims to be a good neighbor and community partner. With that guiding principle in mind, the University continues preliminary discussions about ways it might assist the Clayton School District while executing its long-range facilities plan,” Ebsworth-Goold said. However, the long-term future of the campus remains unclear. “There is no current timeline for development or renovation,” Ebsworth-Goold said. Students have their own ideas about how to use the land. Those who spoke to Student Life had ideas ranging from an outdoor pool to
CONTACT BY PHONE
NEWSROOM 314.935.5995 ADVERTISING 314.935.4240 FAX 314.935.5938
more student housing, more parking, athletic facilities, or another recreation center. “I think it could be cool to repurpose it for music building use after we destroyed the buildings [on Forsyth Boulevard]. I don’t know if it’s much closer [than] Lopata House, but it might be nice to have something closer than the 560 [Music Center],” sophomore Isaac Posner said. But there’s still little clarity for students on what might actually be done with the property and when. “All I know is that we bought their campus, but I don’t really know what it’s turning into. It’s a mystery,” senior Sharini Shah said.
2 STUDENT LIFE
NEWS
THURSDAY, SEPT 3, 2026
TANVI GORRE & COBY RINKE | MANAGING NEWS EDITORS | NEWS@STUDLIFE.COM
Remembering Collin Maher TANVI GORRE MANAGING NEWS EDITOR
Collin Maher, who completed his first year in the College of Arts & Sciences, died by suicide on Friday, May 15, 2026. He was 19 years old. Collin was a star crosscountry athlete from Atlanta, Georgia, and a new member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) fraternity. Before coming to WashU, he founded the Cocoa Classic, a charity 5K that provided running shoes for 1,600 children across Atlanta, and was an Eagle Scout. Through all that he accomplished, Collin was most known for the friendship and kindness he extended to everyone he met. Collin’s friends remember him for his open invitation to “talk to me.” His dorm balcony on the top floor of Dauten Hall was always filled with conversation, laughter,
and the country music he played from his orange and white Turtlebox speaker. “He invited everyone to his room, and he made it a place that we could meet one another and enjoy each other’s company,” sophomore and Collin’s friend Jei Han Hall said. “The common denominator between my best friends was that he created those friendships for many of us.” Collin loved late-night Waffle House runs with friends. He loved anything by Chris Cornell. He loved doing impressions, even if they weren’t always spot-on. And, most of all, Collin loved people. Friend and sophomore James Rukin described Collin as the most selfless person he had met. Rukin remembered a moment when Collin was having a difficult day and still made the time to check in on him.
“He would ask me about how I was, how my family was, how my sister is doing, how she likes college, or how my brother is doing,” Rukin said. “He cared so much about you — it made you feel like the most important person in the world, and even though he was struggling, and I mean he was struggling more than I even knew, and I knew he was struggling, he would always put other people first.” Collin brought a light and authenticity to all he was involved in. Friend and sophomore Nathaniel Shalam said Collin was the “glue” in their new member class in AEPi. Collin stepped up for his class and brotherhood, even if it meant being dunked into cold water early in the morning at the fraternity’s dunk tank at the ThurtenE Carnival. “He was someone people rallied around,” Shalam said. “He had an effortless way of
connecting people and forming friendships without even thinking about it.” Collin was loved for his intrepid spirit. Sophomore John Jannotta, Collin’s friend and roommate, went jetskiing with Collin on the condition that they wouldn’t get flipped into the water. “Instantly, he pushes the jet ski to its max speed limit, and then he’s like, ‘All right, I’m gonna hit a wave and do a 360 [degree] jump,’ so he hits the wave, attempts the 360, we both fly off the jet ski 20 feet away, and the whole time that we’re in the water, scrambling to get back on it, we are laughing.” Collin built a community and a space for others to feel welcome as they are. His kind heart and giving nature were apparent to everyone who knew him. “There is never a situation where I’ve seen Collin put himself over someone else,”
PHOTO COURTESY OF NATHANIEL SHALAM Rukin said. “That is probably the quality that [I] admired most about him, his ability to just love human beings so much and see the good in every single person.” Collin is survived by his parents, Chris and Ali Maher; his younger brother, Brennan Maher; and his grandparents, Chuck and Connie Matuszak
and Bill and Mary Maher. Funeral services were held at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta on May 21. The family welcomes donations to Cocoa Classic Charities. Proceeds will be distributed to teen mental health organizations. To donate, visit www.runcocoaclassic.com.
Tinajero-Areola was a program assistant assigned to guide Antonio’s pre-first-year cohort, but the two instantly “clicked,” kicking off a summer of late-night runs for Taco Bell and ice cream. A shared physics class would turn into an entire day spent together — from class to lunch to Kessler study hall in the evening. But there was one thing they couldn’t do together: focus. “The funny thing is, we never studied together because we [would] start yapping about something, and he was just an amazing person to talk to,” Tinajero-Areola said. Antonio was always ready to lend a friend a helping hand. During his sophomore year, he would insist on making the trek from the South 40 to visit his friends in the Village. In the midst of busy exam seasons, Antonio would readily put his own studying aside to help his friends. And during the cold winter months, he would offer
the jacket off his own back at the slightest shiver. “He was very selfless,” Bulnes said. “Every single person who will talk about him will say that he would always put everyone else first.” Antonio was loved dearly by his friends, family, and the community he cultivated at WashU. The kindness he extended to everyone lucky enough to cross paths with him was exceptional. “He wasn’t just a best friend for me,” Vasquez said. “He was more like a brother. When you’re away for college, it’s really hard — so for Antonio to be a part of my family is very special.” Antonio is survived by his parents and three younger siblings. A funeral Mass was held at St. Clement Catholic Church in Plant City, Florida, on May 29, 2026.
Remembering Antonio Arellano-Banda LAUREL WANG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Antonio Arellano-Banda, who completed his sophomore year at the McKelvey School of Engineering, died on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. He was 20 years old. Antonio grew up in Plant City, Florida, and studied mechanical engineering. He was a Kessler Scholar and worked at the Crow Observatory. He is remembered for his brilliance, generosity, and kindness. To those who didn’t know him well, Antonio could be slow to reveal himself — but once you cracked his shy exterior, his exuberant personality shone through. “Sometimes he would just surprise you out of nowhere, because he was a very kind person, so whenever he’d make a joke, it’d be just so out-of-pocket funny,” said friend and
junior Brenda Bulnes. Antonio’s energy was infectious. He would greet everyone with a smile and an exuberant wave. He played “Linger” by The Cranberries on repeat. He was a great listener, and he made the best chocolate chip cookies. He remembered birthdays and always made sure to find a way to celebrate them. He was also a fiercely competitive card player. “There’s so many times, [he’d be] like, ‘Okay, just one more game… no, I’m gonna beat you at least once,’ and that never ended,” said junior and friend Frida Vasquez, beaming at the memory. Antonio began working at Crow Observatory during his first year at WashU and immediately set himself apart with the depth of his astronomical knowledge. On Friday nights, you could find him at the observatory, hanging out with the telescope. He was happy to answer any question
a visitor might pose and eager to volunteer for any opportunity. When local Girl Scout troops visited the observatory, Antonio shared his ambition to work on space rovers, encouraging the girls to pursue STEM so they, too, could one day participate in space exploration. “It takes a very good kind of person who not only wants to take joy in something that a lot of people take joy in, but [also] bring other people into that,” said Antonio’s coworker,
senior Ryan O’Connor. Besides the cosmos and his engineering coursework, Antonio also had a passion for linguistics. No matter what subject he took on, he always seemed to master it with ease. “He was so smart that he couldn’t even comprehend how smart he was,” said senior and friend Luis Tinajero-Areola. Tinajero-Areola and Antonio first met during a Kessler pre-orientation program in the summer of 2024.
earned her PhD in molecular cell biology from WashU. In 2018, she established her own laboratory in the Department of Neuroscience, where she studied how to treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. In 2025, she was granted tenured professorship — fulfilling a lifelong dream. Zhao is remembered by her colleagues as a brilliant, dedicated scientist as well as a deeply caring mentor and friend.
Huifangjie Farsad, a senior scientist at WashU School of Medicine and alumnus of Zhao’s lab, described her as “the sun,” saying she was “always [there] to warm everybody.” Zhao mentored researchers from all over the world in her lab. No matter their backgrounds, she welcomed and supported them. Her colleagues admired her ability to advise the diverse members of her large, productive lab and
how deeply she understood each of their projects. “She [had] eight, nine employees, so literally she [would] follow up [with] them one by one,” Farsad said. “I cannot imagine how she [had] extra time to do this work.” Farsad said her relationship with Zhao started out rocky before they became very close. “Some people, you annoy each other at the beginning,” Farsad said, laughing a little at the memory. “[But] right now it’s just like, oh my gosh, bestie … it’s my bestie.” Zhao helped mentees in their careers, encouraging them to apply for grants to fund their research. “She’s not going to leave you alone,” remembered Ibrahim Saliu, a postdoctoral researcher in Zhao’s lab. “She’s going to walk with you on that road until that application is sent out.” When Farsad needed career advice, she went to Zhao. Zhao talked about her own professional journey and how she found what she was passionate about despite the struggle. She assured Farsad that she would find her path as well. Zhao took a deep interest in the work of her colleagues. Larissa Thackray, a professor of medicine at the School of Medicine, first became friends with Zhao while working in the same lab over 14 years ago. Thackray remembers Zhao would always ask about her current projects.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FOX 4
Remembering Professor Guoyan Zhao COBY RINKE MANAGING NEWS EDITOR
Guoyan Zhao, an associate professor in the departments of genetics and neurology at the WashU School of Medicine, died on May 15, 2026. She was 54 years old. Zhao earned her bachelor’s degree from Peking University in Beijing, China, in 1995. She immigrated to the U.S. with her husband after completing her master’s in 1998 and later
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WASHU DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS “She was a great scientist, but she was also just a great human being as well, and I will miss that,” Thackray said. Thackray remembers how much it meant to Zhao to receive tenure in 2025. The achievement was especially impressive because she did not start on the tenure track. “That was something that she had been fighting for, for years, I mean decades in a way,” Thackray said. “That was something that was a huge milestone in her life. We were super happy for her.” Zhao was always available to talk, whether the subject was work or life. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she and Thackray set up monthly Zoom meetings to discuss their current projects as well as swap stories about their children. Saliu said he spoke with her almost every day, including weekends. Farsad said her conversations with Zhao usually lasted hours. “I don’t know how to describe that feeling. You just feel there’s always someone beside you,” Farsad said.
Saliu hopes to carry on Zhao’s legacy when he has his own lab. “The way she mentors, that is the way I would like to mentor. The way she cares about her mentees, that’s [the] way I want to also care about my mentees,” he said. Zhao is survived by her husband, Liangwu Xu; her children, Jason Xu and Sophia Xu; her brothers, Yanhai Zhao and Yanfang Zhao; and her parents, Shanxue Zhao and Fengyun Liu. A memorial service was held at Kriegshauser MortuaryWest Chapel on June 7. The following mental health resources are available for students at WashU: WashU Cares, WashU counseling, Uncle Joe’s, SARAH, the RSVP Center, and BHR, a 24/7 resource hotline at (1-800-811-4760) Additionally, these national resources are available to WashU students: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988, 988 online chat, National Grad Crisis Care, Crisis text line.
SCENE
THURSDAY, SEPT 3, 2026
STUDENT LIFE 3
HANNAH LA PORTE | MANAGING SCENE EDITOR | SCENE@STUDLIFE.COM
Dear Scene, It’s my first week on campus, and I’m beginning to realize that the dining options on the weekends are slim. It looks like BD, BD, or… BD. Help! I can only eat sweet potato fries from the Grille so many times, and I don’t have enough meal points to spend $16 for Cheerios. I don’t have a car or a kitchen in my suite, and I’m overwhelmed by the options on the Loop. — Famished First-Year HANNAH LA PORTE MANAGING SCENE EDITOR
Dear Famished, Welcome to WashU! Discovering on a Sunday morning that your only options for sustenance are a dry piece of French toast, wet sausage, or clumpy eggs from BD, a lukewarm egg bite from the Just Baked Bistro vending machine, or nothing at all is a classic firstyear experience. Don’t fear! Many have come before you and have succeeded in weekend dining, and now we will impart that wisdom onto you. At the beginning of the year, the Delmar Loop north of campus may seem like the only feasible option for off-campus dining. The restaurants are varied in cuisine, price, and environment, and it’s a close walk or shuttle from the South 40. But there’s so much beyond Delmar! The South Campus Shuttle will take you to DeMun, the West Campus Shuttle can take you to Clayton, the Shopper Shuttle
will take you to Brentwood. That’s not even considering all the places the Metro can take you. My point is, do not despair — a burger from the Bistro Grille is not your only weekend option. I’ve laid out a list of popular spots, as well as shuttle and Metro routes, that will take you everywhere you need to go!
The Loop The Loop is the classic option when it comes to first-year off-campus dining. Located a short shuttle or walk away from campus, there are a myriad of options to choose from. Here are a few of my favorites. Corner 17 was the first restaurant in St. Louis I ever tried. In October 2023, after a tour of WashU with my mom, I ordered the handshaved noodles with pork, and that has been my go-to order since. (You might be wondering why this item is no longer served in the hallowed halls of Olin Library. Don’t fret! The brick-andmortar location of Corner
17 is located in the Loop, about a 15-minute walk from campus.) I’ve tried many of their dishes, but I will always choose the hand-shaved noodles, pan-fried bao, and the garlic eggplant. My favorite drink pairing will always be the passionfruit tea with boba, but this location has endless drink and dessert options to choose from. Located a bit further down the Loop, Nudo House is a fast-casual pan-Asian restaurant that specializes in ramen, pho, and a variety of dishes that embody Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Filipino cuisines. Much to my dismay, the restaurant transformed into a Sonic the Hedgehog pop-up (don’t even ask) from April 2026 to August 2026, so I couldn’t delight in the food over the summer. Thankfully, the popup was short-lived, and the real menu has returned. My absolute favorite things to get at Nudo House are the Nudo Banh Mi and the Tamarind Fried Chicken. (I don’t know what they put in that sauce, but it is like crack, I swear). Popular choices also include the Classic Nudo Ramen and the Papaya Salad. If the Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Cafe decides to make a reappearance, Nudo House also has a location in Creve Coeur to satisfy your cravings. I’ll be the first to admit that I am not the biggest barbeque fan of all time. But I do feel like it’s the kind of food that when you
ALEX DERING | PHOTO EDITOR have a craving, you need to fulfill it, and I’ve found that Salt + Smoke can do the job. Located smack-dab in the middle of the Loop, you can smell the aroma from the restaurant all the way to campus (okay, maybe not that far). My go-to is a Pulled Pork Plate or Sandwich, with a side of White Cheddar Cracker Mac. Last but certainly not least in the Loop, one of the newest restaurants (and now one of my favorites), is Kishimoto Mendo. Owned and operated by chef Steven Pursley, the new restaurant focuses on tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen. I recommend you start off with the Blistered Shishito Peppers doused in ponzu and topped with katsuobushi. For your main dish, I love the Aburasoba, a brothless noodle dish tossed in a seafood-infused oil and topped with pork belly, bamboo shoots, nori, and scallion. If you are looking for ramen, you can’t go wrong with the Gyokai or Tonkotsu Classic Ramen, as both are incredibly flavorful and filling.
Clayton
Colleen’s is a great weekend brunch option! The avocado toast and the breakfast burrito are my usual food options, and they make some of their own coffee syrups in-house. You have probably already trekked to DeMun to grab an obligatory welcome-week ice cream from Clementine’s (and if you haven’t, you should), but there is so much to explore in DeMun beyond that. If you keep walking to the end of the block, you’ll find Barrio, a fast-casual American restaurant that serves quick and easy bites. The Southwest Chicken Salad and the Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich are my two go-tos, and their seasoned, crinkle-cut fries are a must.
Skinker DeBaliviere Located a quick walk or shuttle from the East End, the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood is home to many upperclassmen at WashU. It is also home to two of my tried-and-true restaurants near WashU, Nami Ramen and Snarf ’s. Snarf ’s might be my favorite sandwich location in St.
One of the biggest things I learned about the shuttle during my first-year is that it takes you to so many places beyond the Loop! When I discovered the South and West Campus shuttles, my ability to get off campus increased tenfold. Here are some shuttle-able eateries in Clayton and DeMun. If you’re okay with somehow seeing every single person you know at 9 a.m., Colleen’s in Clayton is the spot for you. Accessible by the West Campus Shuttle or a 20-minute walk from the 40,
Louis. My favorite hack is to order the Snarf ’s Vegetarian sandwich (because I want avocado and sprouts), but add turkey (because protein, and also it is delicious). The best part is that you get rewards points for all your purchases, which can be cashed in for free drinks, chips, and even $5 or more off your next sandwich. (Can you tell my favorite thing is maximizing a restaurant’s rewards program?) Nami Ramen is perfect for a quick dinner as it’s so close to campus and has relatively quick service. My favorite ramen is the Shrimp Tempura or Chicken Katsu, but the flavor profiles of their ramen are so varied that they really have something for everyone. No matter what cuisine your heart desires, there are plenty of options to go around. Soon enough, you’ll be a master of the shuttle schedules, a connoisseur of walking routes, and an expert of non-BD dining options. Happy eating!
Your friendly foodie, Scene
ALEX DERING | PHOTO EDITOR
VOLUME 148, NO. 2 Laurel Wang Lewis Rand Editors-in-Chief editor@studlife.com Tanvi Gorre Coby Rinke Managing News Editors news@studlife.com Hannah La Porte Managing Scene Editor scene@studlife.com Dion Hines Managing Forum Editor forum@studlife.com Hannah Much Managing Sports Editor sports@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
Sara Gelrud Sophie Schwartz Jake Isenberg Elle Ludwin Scene Editors River Alsalihi Kate Theerman Rodriguez Lyn Wilkins Maddie Morgan Leilani Billups Forum Editors Eliza Stulman Bee Austin Harper Nix Ben Ollendorff Sports Editors Kate Matthews Kat Ziwot Social Media Editors Jack Yang Senior Web Editor
Eran Fann Mac Motz Alex Dering Photo Editors Bea Augustine Jack Warren Tillie Szwartz Design Editors Victor Huang Selina Son Nicholas Demba Lexi Lawsky Ella Meshoulam Zana Kennedy Zoe Rhodes News Editors Ashwin Nair Audrey Tebow Newsletter Editors Kevin Kan Marceline Lee Illustration Editors
Astrid Burns Designer Andrew Tian Echo Dong Georges Gewargis Junior Web Editors Julie Kassin Chief of Copy Eleanor Sterne Kayslay Cudjoe Zoe Rhodes Anna Piasecki Claire Lu Copy Editors Campbell Crum DEI Editor Apurva Ganti Head of Training and Recruitment
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.
4 STUDENT LIFE
HANNAH LA PORTE | MANAGING SCENE EDITOR | SCENE@STUDLIFE.COM
THURSDAY, SEPT 3, 2026
s o t o h p n i r i a f s e i t i v i t c A
MAC MOTZ |
R
PHOTO EDITO
This year, the club fair boasted the highest levels of participation in WashU history. With over 2,000 students in attendance, Mudd Field was packed with clubs vying for the attention of students eager to join new clubs. Student groups used props like robots and race cars to lure students to their poster boards, hoping for them to join a GroupMe, attend an event, or, for lucky clubs, gain a new member.
Finding my ‘why’ by interning and attending play rehearsal SARA GELRUD SCENE EDITOR
I spent my summer in New York City, where I lived a block away from the Broadway theater where “Chicago” runs. On the weekdays, I’d walk 25 minutes south to my nine-to-five internship at a Fortune 100 company in Hudson Yards, the “Little Dubai” of NYC. As someone with so many interests, simply going to my internship every day wasn’t enough for me to figure
out if it’s what I’d want to do after WashU, though it would definitely help. At work and during my free time, I was learning how to answer the question we’ve all been avoiding: “What am I going to do after college?” This summer was going to help me answer that; it was my first time having a corporate internship. In other words, it was the summer I (naively) thought I was supposed to decide whether I wanted to tough it out in a non-traditional career path
–– ahem, anything in the arts world –– or if I wanted to funnel into the corporate world post-grad. Frankly, the latter is also a great option, but you can’t blame a girl for being stuck in the in-between. And honestly, I can’t say I’ve really figured it out yet. But what I did learn, unexpectedly, in my search, was how to put on an off-Broadway play. Several hours after I met Tommy Vines, she was lying on the parking lot floor
behind a tattoo parlor on Cherokee Street, her head on the ground and a pool of blood by her forehead. As I was observing the scene unfold, a man approached me. He thought she was dead, of course. Should I call 911? No. (Confusion.) It’s for a student film. And he walked away, past the three cameras on tripods he had failed to notice, like nothing had happened. The next time I met Tommy, a 23-year-old actor/ writer/producer/overall creative, was in Brooklyn, at a cafe near her apartment. When I caught up with her on a Sunday afternoon over a year later, she was starting rehearsals for her upcoming off-off-Broadway play, “How to Put Down the Weight of Your Past” (WOYP). “WOYP” is an experimental theatrical self-help class that relies on audience participation, so you better hope that the 30 or so strangers in the room with you are up for the ride. The show had a limited run of three weekends from late July to early August this summer. After I attended the project’s designer rehearsal –– when all of the designers figure out how to finalize sound, set, and costumes for the show –– I finally got to see everything come together on opening night. So how do you “put down the weight of your past?” And the question at the back of my mind all summer as I transition into my years as an upperclassman: How do I choose what I want to do post-grad?
Step 1: Set the ground rules Figure out the meaning of the show and why you are creating it. As Tommy told me, “There’s no aspect of
the play that’s just random for randomness’ sake.” My career exploration has to come from a foundational understanding of why I liked the industries and careers I liked. In a time when I was trying to figure out my why, this central rule inevitably stood out to me.
Step 2: Learn by doing (and finding a mentor while you’re at it) There are so many variables that a Bachelor of Arts in theater production might not acquaint you with when it comes to actually producing your own show, according to Tommy. In a similar light, you can prepare to work in corporate America (or at a record label, law firm, newspaper, production company, etc.), but you won’t really understand what it’s like or if it’s even for you until you’ve lived it or until you find a mentor willing to teach you what you need to know.
Step 3: Be an incredible multi-tasker At the same time Tommy was performing in “WOYP,” she was also acting in a feature film on the play’s off days, preparing for another feature film, supervising post-production on a scripted series, and producing a short film. Something I wish I could shout from the rooftop of Olin Library is that academics aren’t the only thing that matters in college. I’m heading into this new semester ready to balance my course load, a new internship, extracurriculars, coffee chats, and my social life (with an emphasis on leaving the WashU bubble) to keep figuring out what my post-college life might look like.
Step 4: You make your own legitimacy Even if a play has a soldout audience every night, its legitimacy might be hindered if the project lacks a professional social media presence, a website, or a publicist who will make sure the show receives press coverage. “Nobody knows what’s going on inside of the production, so any outward appearance looks basically legit,” Tommy said. Take yourself seriously enough so that people respect you as the real deal when you take on new roles and responsibilities in the post-grad search for what you want to do (and maybe overcome imposter syndrome while you’re at it).
Step 5: Clowning I’ll be honest, I had never heard of professional “clowning” before Tommy told me about it, much less that there were multiple kinds (American, traditional European, UK with pantomime…). According to her, “It’s a very expressive form of theater, very funny but also very true.” As a nonclown myself, I can only imagine how physically present and rooted in a performance the actor must be in order to pull it off well. I think the same principle applies to making the most out of your college years, when thinking about the future might take you away from the present moment. As I entered the American Mime Theatre to take my seat, I was asked to write down on a slip of paper something that “weighed me down.” While I won’t share what I wrote with you, dear reader, I will tell you (with some relief to my first-year self) that I did not write “the future.”
COURTESY OF KEN YOTSUKURA PHOTOGRAPHY Tommy Vines performs in her self-written and produced show, “Weight of Your Past”.
FORUM DION HINES | MANAGING FORUM EDITOR | FORUM@STUDLIFE.COM
THURSDAY, SEPT 3, 2026
STUDENT LIFE 5
Reckoning with the past: Accountability for the bodies that shaped WashU LEILANI BILLUPS FORUM EDITOR
Many of us students came to WashU because we saw it as a place of discovery, innovation, and progress. Complicating this idealized image are histories of exploitation, inequality, and harm: histories that demands acknowledgement, accountability, and repair. At WashU and the WashU School of Medicine, continuing efforts to confront the legacy of medicalized racism, eugenics, and the commodification of Black bodies is not optional. It is essential. At the center of this history is Robert J. Terry, former head of anatomy at the medical school and founder of what became known as the Terry-Trotter Human Remains Collection, a collection of over 1,850 individuals and related sacred objects, amassed by Terry and his
associates predominately in the first half of the 20th century. This collection includes the full skeletal remains of at least 1,729 of these individuals. Over 900 were identified as Black. While historically used as a scientific resource, this collection is inseparable from the structural violence that produced it. Many of the individuals whose remains were collected were poor, unclaimed after death, and Black. Their bodies, more often than not taken without consent, were transformed into data points for anthropological, medical, and eugenic research. This was not an accident of history. It was the result of systems and persons that targeted the most vulnerable. Anatomical collections like Terry’s drew heavily from individuals who died in public institutions: hospitals, poorhouses, and prisons. In these places, lack of resources and social support meant
families often could not claim their loved ones. Their remains were then funneled into medical education and research by those in positions of power, often without dignity or recognition. These individuals in the Terry-Trotter Collection were not only denied autonomy in death, but their identities were often obscured in the name of “science.” The data extracted from their bodies helped build medical knowledge and institutional prestige. Much of this demographic data is still available, yet their stories remain largely untold. This is what institutional accountability must address: not just what happened, but how this exploitation benefited WashU and continues to benefit us to this day. WashU must be willing to name its past clearly and publicly, and fully acknowledge the history for what it is: medical exploitation, racialized science, and systemic dehumanization.
Acknowledgment alone, however, is not enough. Justice requires action. This includes rethinking how human remains are handled, studied, and when possible, returned. It also involves engaging with descendant communities whose voices have historically been excluded from decisions about the remains of their ancestors. By informing these communities and including them in decision-making processes, we begin to truly respect victims and restore the dignity that was denied to them. Established by MSP Student Paul Scott ’26 and current African and African American Studies (AFAS) Department Chair Shanti Parikh, The Abraham Taylor Reparative Research Project plays a critical role in this. Supported by WashU’s AFAS Department, 11 undergraduate research fellows are continuing research
on the implications of the Terry-Trotter Collection and exploring what ethical and reparative practices might look like. Rather than treating the past as static, the project asks forwardlooking questions: How should institutions reckon with histories like this? What does meaningful repair look like? Who gets to decide? Through three presentations on medical ethics, the institutionalization of race science, and the repatriation process, the first Abraham Taylor Reparative Research Project Symposium, held on May 1, 2026, addressed these questions and presented findings to a wider audience. These are not easy questions, but they are necessary ones. The Abraham Taylor Reparative Research Project is a model for how institutions can begin to move beyond acknowledgment toward accountability. By centering ethics, evidence,
and community engagement, it encourages WashU to steadfastly confront its past not as a closed chapter but as an ongoing responsibility. The remains in the Terry Collection are not just artifacts of scientific history; they are evidence of lives lived in inequity and systems that treated those lives as expendable. Ultimately, institutional accountability is about more than illuminating historical records. It is about reshaping institutional values. It asks whether universities are willing to prioritize justice over reputation, transparency over comfort, and respect over tradition. WashU now faces a choice: to treat this history as a footnote, or to transparently engage with it as a call to action. The path forward will not erase the past, but it can determine what kind of institution WashU chooses to be in the present.
CAPTION CONTEST 9/3 WINNERS
Caption this! Enter this week’s contest
First Place: Pre-horse-toric self portrait. Julian Miles Panerio, Current WashU Student
Scan the QR code to enter your submission by noon on 9/8.
Second Place: The French Reneighssance, Ugg’s cave Lascaux c. 20,000 y ago (colorized) Leo Penny, Current WashU Student
KEVIN KAN | ILLUSTRATION EDITOR
Third Place: Sick of AI-generated art, Thomas the Horse decided to take matters into his own hooves. Django Archer, Current WashU Student
ANNA DORSEY | STAFF ILLUSTRATOR
Glass Half-Full ACROSS 1 Univ. two T stops away from Harvard 4 Like many summer drinks 6 Grandmas 8 Hole-___ (golfer's feat) 9 One might come with a drink
PUZZLE Mania Meetings Sundays at 11 a.m. puzzlemaster@studlife.com
Where in WashU? Where on campus is this?
DOWN 1 5x5 crosswords 2 "Sorry, there's no time for that in my schedule" 3 Voice above a bass 5 Carvey who impersonated Joe Biden and Elon Musk on "S.N.L." 7 Embroider
DOWN 1 "___ Rock" (Disney show with Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato) 2 Opera solo 3 Thomas the Tank Engine, for one 5 Una y ___ vez (over and over again) 6 Black and yellow insect that can sting multiple times
MAC MOTZ | PHOTO EDITOR
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
NR - Shut Eye ACROSS 1 Meower 4 It's shot with a bow 7 Mazda sports car 8 Groups of two 9 Power ___
Last week’s answer: Hillman Hall
Rena Cohen
1
2
C
3
A
T
4
5
6
A
R
R
O
W
M
I
A
T
A
P
A
I
R
S
N
A
P
7
8
9
6 STUDENT LIFE
DION HINES | MANAGING FORUM EDITOR | FORUM@STUDLIFE.COM
THURSDAY, SEPT 3, 2026
Catching up the first-years: All the campus issues I think you need to know about
DION HINES
Greek Life
MANAGING FORUM EDITOR
One of the most jarring parts about being a firstyear was the feeling I was being thrown into campus discourse. After being filled in on what happened at WashU the years before I got here, I wished that there was some sort of guide or list to fill me in. This article is my way of paying things forward. This list is in no way comprehensive. In the past few years, so many notable events have happened at WashU. I am focusing solely on the instances that have shaped my experience at WashU, and they are mostly topics of political and social conversation on campus. It’s important to know of the conversations that have happened and are continuing to happen as you enter WashU’s community.
Greek organizations are a big part of American university life, and WashU is no exception. Many people find community and opportunity in Greek life, but WashU’s fraternities and sororities have found themselves in numerous campus controversies over the years. Sigma Alpha Mu was investigated and later suspended for drug abuse and hazing in 2012 and had similar offenses years prior; Sigma Alpha Epsilon used the N-word in a pledging activity in 2013, which led to their suspension; Washington University Police Department (WUPD) discovered firearms — an AR-15 and a handgun — in the Phi Delta Theta house in 2018; two Kappa Sigma pledges were suspended for sexual assault in 2020; and Kappa Sigma and Alpha Phi were temporarily suspended for egging the inside of Bear’s Den and allegedly
calling workers the N-word in 2024. StudLife headlines about the scandals of WashU fraternities date all the way back to the first papers available in the digital archive, from 1993. In 2020, an organization called Abolish Greek Life (AGL) worked to educate the student body about the harms of Greek life — an education that would, in their hopes, eventually lead to its abolition at WashU. The movement inspired over 50% of Greek organization members to deactivate from their fraternity or sorority in the summer of 2020. That same summer, 65% of students voted to abolish Greek life. Nonetheless, the AGL movement at WashU appeared to quickly lose steam, and campus opinion toward Greek life has shifted back toward the positive. Sigma Chi fraternity has even returned to WashU after being suspended in 2021 for violating University COVID-19 regulations.
DANIA BACKAL | STUDENT LIFE Kappa Sigma was kicked off campus in the spring of 2024. About University Financial Decisions
ELLE SU | STUDENT LIFE Sodexo employees working soon after company switch.
About the Attack on Higher Education and DEI President Trump’s attack on higher education didn’t pass over WashU. In the spring of 2025, Chancellor Andrew D. Martin sent out emails of encouragement to students and insisted that he was in Washington, D.C. talking with the federal administration about, as he wrote in an email, “the future of higher education.” Around the same time, the University rolled back DEI-related content on its website, such as statistics about WashU’s students of color and links to DEI-related efforts, and the Women & Engineering (W&E) Center in the McKelvey School of Engineering was closed without warning or explanation. Last September, the University appointed a faculty-based task force to oversee the consolidation of six departments and programs: African and African American Studies (AFAS); Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS); Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies (JIMES); Global Studies; American Culture Studies (AMCS); and
At the start of the 2023-24 school year, WashU switched to a catering company called Sodexo. While Sodexo is a more frugal option for the University, they have gotten a number of complaints about the quality of their food and hours of operation from students and about employees’ overall work experience. In previous conversations with Sodexo workers, I learned that some employees had up to a two-hour uncompensated commute and sometimes had to take on the work of three people because the company was severely understaffed. Despite pushes for change, the provider has remained the same. Along with changing dining partners, in 2025, WashU transitioned from WebSTAC, a registrar interface designed by a WashU student specifically for WashU students, to Workday.
WebSTAC was trusted by students and faculty alike, so the change to Workday came as an unwelcome surprise. Workday’s unintuitive design led to questions regarding its functionality. The biggest note was that Workday’s positive qualities simply don’t match its $265 million price point, which some have regarded as an example of financial mismanagement considering recent national funding cuts. In October of 2025, WashU laid off over 300 faculty members and cut 200 vacancies, citing budget concerns. The WashU Faculty Senate Council (WFSC) called for a meeting on Oct. 23, 2025, with David Gray, executive vice chancellor for finance and chief financial officer of WashU, to ask for details about University finances. Undergraduate and graduate students held a protest in support of faculty outside of the building during the meeting.
Education (our education department no longer gives out teacher accreditation, by the way). When asked about this combination, University administrators directed questions to the task force, most of whom were professors who did not have the same administrative power as higher-ups. The task force insisted that this combination was not an attempt to fall in line with Trump’s anti-DEI policies. During all of this, Martin said that the potential merger was “not on his radar.” That being said, there is still a Center for Diversity & Inclusion, which you can visit on the first floor of the DUC. Student affinity groups have still been able to run with, to my ALAN ZHOU | STUDENT LIFE knowledge, little adminis- The encampment of April 27, 2024, moves in front of Olin Library. trative pushback. down twice. The second protestors were forced to is standard for suspensions. Israel’s war with Iran and About Protesting encampment resulted in leave campus soon after Several other demon- a May Day protest held by over 100 arrests. Martin receiving court sanctions. strations followed after the Washington University The conflict between sent out an email conflat- They were temporarily sus- the student arrests, with Graduate Workers Union, Israel and Palestine divided ing a pro-Palestine protest pended and banned from one even taking place out- or WUGWU. our campus. In April of that disrupted a Bear Day coming back onto cam- side of Martin’s house. No matter what opin2024, WashU students and event and the “BD egg- pus or University-owned More recent examples ions you form from this members of the St. Louis ing incident,” chalking property, which included of campus protesting, article, I am writing to community attempted to them both up as examples housing. Students said aside from that held dur- prepare you for the heated start an encampment in of baseless agitation. In a that administrators did not ing WFSC’s meeting with discussions you might find solidarity with Palestine separate email to students, meet with them to discuss David Gray, would include yourself in. Do with this and in protest of WashU’s he ended his message with plans about housing and English literature profes- information as you will; alleged affiliation with an assertion: “You will not food, which Associate Vice sor William Maxwell’s but no matter what you the Boeing Company, but do this here.” Chancellor and Dean of one-man demonstra- do, I hope you at least do their attempts were shut Arrested student Students Rob Wild claims tion against the U.S. and something.
THURSDAY, SEPT 3, 2026
SPORTS
STUDENT LIFE 7
HANNAH MUCH | MANAGING SPORTS EDITOR | SPORTS@STUDLIFE.COM
Sports in the city: A guide to St. Louis’ sports teams BEN OLLENDORFF
The St. Louis Cardinals
SPORTS EDITOR
A decade ago, the Rams left St. Louis and moved to Los Angeles, and it’s been nearly 60 years since professional basketball was played in the city. Nonetheless, the Blues, Cardinals, Battlehawks, and St. Louis City SC are all franchises that have remained loyal to their St. Louis fan base. The city is centered around historically successful sports teams. Over the past century, St. Louis fans have celebrated a Stanley Cup championship, a Super Bowl victory, an NBA championship, and multiple World Series wins. No matter which sport you like the most, St. Louis has amazing options to see professional athletes compete. Most teams offer student promotions, making it accessible for WashU students to enjoy a game with their friends without breaking the bank. If professional sports aren’t for you, WashU is home to some of the best teams in all of Division III, no matter the sport. All WashU home games are free to attend and are located right on campus. From D-III to professional sports, St. Louisans are proud of their hometown sports teams.
The St. Louis Battlehawks The St. Louis Battlehawks were inaugural members of the XFL, a spring football league; the first season was
Since 1882, St. Louis residents have enjoyed professional baseball in their city. Fortyfour years after the Cardinals organization was founded, the team won their first-ever World Series trophy in 1926. Over the next few decades, the Cardinals continued to win championships while also having Hall of Fame talent, such as outfielder Stan Musial, who recorded 3,630 career hits. Mark McGwire achieved a new record by hitting 70 home runs in the 1998 season. Most
The St. Louis Blues The Blues joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1967 when the number of teams in the league doubled from six to 12. Quickly, the team reached the Stanley Cup Finals in each of their first three seasons under head coach Scotty Bowman, yet never had the chance to win the Cup. It wasn’t until 2019 that the Blues would make it back to the finals, shocking many hockey
suspended due to COVID19 in 2020. Four years later, the XFL merged with the United States Football League (USFL) to create the United Football League (UFL). In the regular season, the Battlehawks have
fans as the Blues sat dead last in the standings in January of that season. It took seven games for the Blues to defeat the Boston Bruins and bring home their first Stanley Cup, thanks to stellar goaltending by rookie Jordan Binnington, who recorded a .914 save percentage in the playoffs. Last year, the Blues finished fifth in the Central Division, failing to make the playoffs. During this upcoming season, which starts on Oct. 2 against
dominated with a 31-14 record in their six seasons. When it comes to the playoffs, the team lost in the conference championships two years ago and in the semifinals last year, meaning they’re still looking for their first championship. Even though there is still bitterness about the Rams leaving for Los Angeles in 2016, the Battlehawks have helped fill the void of professional football in St. Louis. Many former Rams fans have turned into passionate Battlehawks fans, watching high-level football with many former collegiate athletes at a cheap ticket price. The Battlehawks continue to play
recently, the Cardinals won the 2011 World Series, led by David Freese, Albert Pujols, and Yadier Molina. This year is no different than most in the Cardinals’ recent history: they’re sitting in the middle of the National League’s Central Division with a record near .500. The Cardinals are looking to clinch the Wild Card and enter the playoffs for the first time since 2022. Rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt has provided a bright spot for the team, leading the Cardinals in wins above replacement (WAR). Recently, outfielder Joshua Báez made history by hitting three home runs in his first career MLB game, including a homer off the first pitch he saw. The young talent has sparked
excitement among St. Louis fans, who started the “tarps off ” trend. In May, the Stephen F. Austin State University club baseball team decided to go shirtless while at a Cardinals game and wave their shirts in the air. This sparked a nationwide movement: Fans of MLB teams across the country formed a section of shirtless supporters. The Cardinals play at Busch Stadium, which was built in 2006 and is located in the middle of downtown St. Louis in Ballpark Village. The stadium is a short ride away from the WashU campus on the Metro’s Red and Blue Lines and normally has relatively cheap tickets in the upper sections, especially during College Night.
the Dallas Stars, the team will turn toward its young core composed of Robert Thomas, Dy lan Holloway, and Jake Neighbours. Like the Cardinals, the Blues offer special promotions to college students, making expensive tickets more reasonably priced. To get to the Enterprise Center, home of the Blues, take either the Red or Blue Metro lines to Civic Center Station.
The St. Louis City SC As the MLS 29th expansion men’s soccer team, St. Louis City SC’s inaugural season was in 2023, making them the first majority female-owned team in the MLS. Currently, the club is in sixth place in the Western Conference, putting them in a good position to reach the playoffs. Midfielder Marcel Hartel leads the team with 6 goals. In net, goaltender and captain Roman Bürki has excelled, recording 49 saves. St. Louis City SC plays at the brand-new, state-of-the-art Energizer Park located near Union Station and the St. Louis Aquarium.
ALIANA THOMPSON | STAFF ILLUSTRATOR
Why you should join club sports BEE AUSTIN SPORTS EDITOR
The term NARP (non-athletic regular person) plagued me the summer before my first year at WashU. The sports I played in high school had given me and my friends motivation to start the day. But suddenly, I was at a school 100 times the size without a team to anchor me. The harrowing realization struck me a week into classes: The routine I had spent four years building was suddenly gone. Throughout my entire scholastic athletic career I knew exactly where I needed to be and when I needed to be there. Now, for the first time, my schedule was completely my own. There were no
practices waiting for me at 4 p.m., no coaches telling me to run laps, and no teammates expecting me to show up. Working out was suddenly something I had to find the time and motivation to do myself. That changed when I discovered the world of club sports. As I strolled through the madness of my first WashU activities fair, I was bombarded with potential versions of myself: student journalist, political activist, a cappella singer, maybe even aspiring juggler. I walked aimlessly through the maze of tables, tuning out the chorus of club members calling for my attention. Then, right as I thought I had exhausted my options, I saw the rowing table. I had never pictured
myself playing a sport in college, but I figured I could commit to just one practice. That was a year ago. Since I officially joined in September 2025, rowing has brought back a familiar rhythm. I now have practices to get to, workouts to plan around, and a community to spend my mornings with. I have often come home from regattas with a handful of medals, met upperclassmen I never would have crossed paths with otherwise, and traveled all over the Midwest and South (I’ve even added Kentucky to the list of states I’ve visited). Most importantly, from WashU rowing, I have found fulfillment and a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Rowing is just one of the 40 club sports offered at WashU, alongside
everything from archery to triathlon, squash, and sailing. Together, these teams bring nearly 1,800 students into a community that extends well beyond campus, competing in over 300 events across 27 states. For many students, it has become a way to stay active, meet new people, and find belonging — while also providing an opportunity to compete at a remarkably high level. Last year, the women’s squash team claimed first place at nationals and the men’s rowing team brought home bronze. Club sports are offered to both graduate and undergraduate students at WashU. Tryouts are either in the early fall or spring. Those interested in joining should consider a club’s intensity, with practice frequency ranging from
one to five times a week depending on the sport. Additionally, teams vary in selectiveness: Most are open to students of all skill levels while others, such as men’s and women’s club soccer, hold competitive tryouts. Students looking to join can reach out to their desired team via the WashU Rec website underneath the page “Club Sports,” or, depending on the club sport, through the team’s website. For many college students, it can be easy to feel lost in the crowd. While in high school, extracurriculars are often built into your schedule, college students have to seek them out and have hundreds of clubs and organizations to choose from. Club sports offer a unique combination of competition, camaraderie,
and commitment, giving students a team to rely on throughout their college experience. Additionally, athletics are a vital part of students’ mental health, with studies finding a strong correlation between participation in a team sport as an adult and positive mental well-being. Choosing to be a part of a team, especially when it’s not for a gym credit or a required afternoon activity, means showing up even when you don’t have to. The commitment made by all club sport athletes makes each win all the sweeter. My year of club sports has taught me that sometimes the best communities are the ones you never planned on joining and that it’s always worth showing up for just one practice.
8 STUDENT LIFE
HANNAH MUCH | MANAGING SPORTS EDITOR | SPORTS@STUDLIFE.COM
THURSDAY, SEPT 3, 2026
WashU welcomes 13 studentathlete transfers from all three NCAA divisions ELIZA STULMAN SPORTS EDITOR
Among WashU’s new class of scholar-champions, 13 are transfer students coming from all NCAA divisions. Across 11 teams, the Bears add seven former Division I athletes, one former Division II athlete, and five Division III athletes. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, 13 transfers is around the average number WashU’s athletic department receives per year, according to Deputy Director of Athletics Chris Peacock. These athletes, undergraduate and graduate students alike, transferred to WashU for both its academic and athletic prestige. When senior Kaleb McElfish walked on to Pepperdine University’s cross country and track teams as a first-year, he knew he would only run for the Waves for three years. As a dual-degree student, McElfish came to WashU primarily to earn a master’s in mechanical engineering, but also to
continue running at a high level. “Even though I’m coming from D-I, I say [WashU’s program is at] the same level,” McElfish said. The men’s tennis team’s new junior Riki Koshimizu transferred from nearby Saint Louis University (SLU) for another reason: His previous university’s tennis team was discontinued. Also a former D-I athlete, Koshimizu agrees with McElfish about WashU’s and the University Athletic Association’s (UAA) athletic reputation. “The top level of D-III is just as good as [the level] I was playing at, to be honest,” Koshimizu said. “So the level is not going to change dramatically at all. … I’m going to expect to be challenged the same exact way that I was at D-I.” Koshimizu transferred to WashU to continue playing tennis while studying biology on the premed track at an institution known to successfully prepare students for medical school. Already living in
St. Louis and having previously known WashU’s men’s tennis coach Roger Follmer and some players was a bonus. Interestingly, both Koshimizu and McElfish began playing their sports later than most college athletes. Koshimizu picked up a tennis racket for the first time in seventh grade, and McElfish started running competitively during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working hard to make the team and play for D-I programs, both of these athletes know what it is like to be challenged and expect to continue to be challenged as Bears. McElfish and Koshimizu have already noted differences between their former teams’ and WashU’s coaching styles. Compared to Pepperdine and SLU, WashU’s approach to practices seems more meticulous and intentional, utilizing techniques such as heart rate based training. “At SLU, we usually had the same schedule where we go and warm up in a certain way, but we would kind of do
COURTESY OF RIKI KOSHIMIZU Junior Riki Koshimizu hits a backhand while competing for Saint Louis University.
COURTESY OF KALEB MCELFISH Senior Kaleb McElfish competes on his previous school, Pepperdine University. the same practices every day,” Koshimizu said. “At WashU, we do certain drills, and we focus on one thing every day, and it’s different every day.” Unlike the other two NCAA divisions, D-III schools cannot offer athletic scholarships, meaning most student-athletes attend a D-III school, like WashU, primarily for its academics, and athletics are secondary. “I know the people here are running for fun and for the joy of it, which is authentic running at its core. … At D-I [schools], people are running there because they get a scholarship. … It’s like their job,” McElfish said. “Here, it’s like a passion, and I really respect that. You can see the heart of every athlete.” In addition to McElfish and Koshimizu, the athletic department welcomes eleven other transfer athletes this school year. Graduate students from Louisiana State University (D-I) and Wesleyan College (D-III) join the Bears’ women’s
track and field team and tennis team, respectively. Women’s soccer brings on two new additions: midfielders from the University of Missouri and SLU, both of which are D-I programs. Men’s soccer, football, and volleyball each bring on one graduate student: a midfielder from Lake Forest College (D-III), a center back from Claremont McKenna College (D-III), and a middle blocker from Whitman College (D-III), respectively. Two new guards on the men’s
basketball team transferred from Vanderbilt University (D-I) and from St. Olaf College (D-III). A forward from DePaul University (D-I) and a guard from Maryville University (D-II) join the women’s basketball team’s roster. Like anyone starting a new school, the studentathlete transfers will need time to settle in, whether they’re adjusting to their team, their classes, or St. Louis’ extreme weather conditions.
drink. dine. play.
WEEKLY BAR, RESTAURANT AND FUN GUIDE