DIWALIFriday, November 12, 2010 Vol. 132, No. 31 www.studlife.com Washington University in St. Louis

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The three new residential buildings on the South 40 have won the second highest level of environmental-construction cer-tification from the U.S. Green Building Council, Washington University announced Thursday.

The council (USGBC) gave Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification to the newly opened South 40 House Phase II, Eliot B House and College Hall. LEED Gold is one step down from LEED Platinum, the high-est level of LEED certification.

The USGBC’s LEED program serves as a third-party program for evaluating the environmental friendliness of new buildings. To get the basic level of LEED cer-tification, buildings must meet minimum standards in areas such as energy and water sav-ings, improvements in air quality and reductions in carbon-dioxide emissions. The higher levels of certification—Silver, Gold and Platinum—have progressively tougher standards.

The University has touted the buildings’ closeness to public transit, their water- and energy-

efficiency systems, and their use of local building materials as examples of their environmen-tally friendly features.

Campus environmental advo-cates took Thursday’s news as a sign that the University is mak-ing good on its commitment to sustainability.

“It’s really great that Wash. U. is showing commitment to the environment by getting this certification, and we’re lucky it’s a priority at this school,” said junior Heather Kryczka, a mem-ber of Green Action.

The University now has 12 LEED-certified buildings, six of which are LEED Gold. University officials in recent years have repeatedly said that they aim for new buildings to get at least a Silver rating.

“We’re really trying for Gold, but we have to reach Silver,” said Deborah Howard, interim direc-tor of sustainability.

In past years, three other resi-dential buildings—Village East Apartments, Umrath House and South 40 House Phase I—received LEED Silver certi-fication. Students and campus environmental groups praised the University in 2009 when it installed an 11,000-square-foot “green roof ” of grass, native plants and soil on South 40 House’s roof.

PUNEET KOLLIPARA

ENTERPRISE EDITOR

3 buildings on the 40earn LEED Gold rating6 buildings at WU now LEED Gold; Green leaders thrilled

The two active Two Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, recently found signs of water that ran beneath the planet’s surface in the distant past. Both rovers are directed through the Earth and Planetary Remote Sensing Laboratory at Washington University.

According to Raymond Arvidson, the James S. Mcdonnell Distinguished University Professor and director of the laboratory, the Mars rovers were expected to last for roughly 90 days into their mission. The rovers still remain operational on the planet almost seven years after they landed.

“We are reconstructing the ancient environment,” Arvidson said, “The long-term objective is to find places on the planet that are most likely to have had life, because they are warm and wet, and send future spacecrafts to look for signs of life.”

Spirit and Opportunity were dispatched to opposite sides of the planet to gather data. Each rover collects information differently.

Opportunity’s role is to look for and measure the numerous craters that appear all over Mars’ sur-face. The rover is currently in the Intrepid meteorite impact crater, which is about 22 meters wide and a couple of meters in depth.

“Craters are like nature’s drills. They show what lies under the sur-face,” Arvidson said.

The rover examines the ancient rocks, ripples and signs of argon to understand the geographic information of Mars in relation to when water existed on the planet.

Opportunity has traveled a total

Mars rovers continue to collect data despite running over warranty

SEE LEED, PAGE 3

WEI-YIN KO

CONTRIBUTING REPORTER

After 35 years on the Loop, Riddles Penultimate Café and Wine Bar is closing due to a rent dispute.

The restaurant, which was an integral part of the Loop’s revitalization in the 1980s and attracted local musical acts to the Loop, was popular among students for its locally sourced cuisine, extensive beer menu, and accessible weeknight entertainment.

On Oct. 12, the restaurant posted a sign saying it was closed for its annual two-week fall vaca-tion. On Nov. 3, the restaurant’s Facebook page pronounced it “closed until further notice.”

This year, Bobby’s Creole Inc., the company that owns the

building at 6307 Delmar Blvd. where Riddles was housed, filed three county lawsuits against Riddles’ owner Katherine “KT” Ayers.

The last of these lawsuits is an AC Rent and Possession charge, dated Oct. 28. This type of charge is a court filing to have a tenant evicted from a rental property.

Ayers did not return phone calls from Student Life this week. But sources close to the manager said that Ayers cites cir-cumstances in her personal life for the restaurant’s closing and that she will not be returning to Riddles in the near future.

Joe Edwards, the owner of Blueberry Hill, Pin-Up Bowl and the Moonrise Hotel, said that the

Riddles Penultimatecloses indefi nitelyKATE GAERTNER

EDITOR IN CHIEF

SEE RIDDLES, PAGE 3

g y

SEE PREVIEWIN CADENZA,PAGE 8

HISTORY OF MARTIAN DISCOVERIES

1975 Viking 1 Orbiter shows extensive water-formed features on the surface of Mars

2002 Mars Odyssey Orbiter reports evidence of extensive water below the surface of Mars

2004 Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, fi nd mineralogic evidence of active water

2005 Phyllosilicates (clays) are discov-ered on Mars, signaling the presence of water in its past

2008 Phoenix Lander confi rms presence of near-surface ice

2010 Phyllosilicates (clays) that could potentially preserve organic molecules are identifi ed

2011 Mars Science Laboratory to launch

Tasked for 90 days, alive after 7 years

2004 Spirit and Opportunity fi nd evidence of sulfates on Mars’ surface

NASA | JPL | CORNELL | MCT

SEE MARS, PAGE 7

KIRTHMON F. DOZIER | DETROIT FREE PRESS | MCT DANIEL HOUGHTON | LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER | MCT

U.S. postal worker convictedof opening WU students’ mail

A St. Louis federal jury has convicted U.S. postal worker Thomas Riner of five felony counts of delaying and destroying mail, includ-ing some letters addressed to Washington University students, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

Riner, 48, of Caseyville, Ill., was caught opening brightly

covered envelopes containing gifts to students at Washington University and Fontbonne University. According to the local television station KMOV, Riner stole more than $2,500 from students’ mail.

Riner could face up to 25 years in prison. The jury acquitted him of five other felony charges.

Check back with Student Life on Monday for more details.

NEWS BRIEFNEWS BRIEF

MICHELLE MERLIN

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

CEDRIC XIA | STUDENT LIFE

Korean Film Series presents “Take Off”Seigle Hall L006, 7 p.m.The Korean section of the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures is hosting this free event.

K.A.R.L. Improv Presents: ¿Por Que Maria? Village Blackbox Theater, 8-9 p.m.This student improv group will put on a free show.

2 STUDENT LIFE

SATURDAY 13 SUNDAY 14

It’s always sad when something closes because of money...It almost

seems like the death of a friend.—senior Nicole Penwill on the closing of Riddles Penultimate Café and Wine Bar

Give Thanks Give Back Wrapping PartyDUC Tisch Commons, noon-5 p.m.Help Give Thanks Give Back wrap donated gifts for needy St. Louis families for the holiday season. Bagels, holiday music and card making will be provided. Stay as a long or as little you want!

DiwaliEdison Theatre, noon and 6:30 p.m.Ashoka puts on a show to celebrate the holiday of Diwali.

JINES Lecture: “Quotas and Quandaries: Jewish Students as ‘Numerus clausus exiles’ in Interwar Europe”Busch Hall 18, 4 p.m.Associate professor Michael Miller will lecture about Jewish students in interwar Europe.

FRIDAY 12

SATURDAY 13

SUNDAY 14PARTLY CLOUDY57 / 34

MOSTLY SUNNY77 / 51

MORNING SHOWERS 56 / 35

FRIDAY 12

theflipsideFRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010

Nov. 9, 2010 Auto accident—2:10 p.m.—A

complainant reported that her vehicle was struck along the side by a contractor doing work on the South 40. The disposition is pending.

Student Life presents a guide to places of worship in the Wash U Community

religiousdirectory

9001 Clayton Rd.

(just west of the Galleria)

314-991-0955

The Ethical Society Of St. LouisA Welcoming Home for Humanists

If you care about human rights and social justice and believe liberty comes with social responsibility, please join us on Sundays at 11 a.m. Or attend one of our other programs. We’re dedicated to deed before creed and welcome everyone.

Looking for a place to get involved in …

www.union-avenue.org

SERVICEartsfaith?UNIONAVENUECHRISTIANCHURCH

D I S C I P L E S O F C H R I S T

LUTHERAN CAMPUS MINISTRYA progressive, justice-oriented community.

Sundays at LCM

www.lcmstl.org7019 Forsyth (at Big Bend)

314. 863.8140

7pm Home-Cooked Meal8pm Candlelight Worship

and more! g

"Closest Campus Drugstore"

Corner of Forest Park Pkwy and Big Bend

WILLIAMS PHARMACY

Monday - Friday: 9-9 p.m.Saturday: 9-6 p.m.Sunday: 11-5 p.m.

6451 Clayton RdClayton, MO 63105

www.bronzetanstl.com(314) 932-7520

1 FREE LEVEL 2 TAN FOR NEW CLIENTS

$25 CUSTOM AIR-BRUSH SPRAY TAN

FOR NEW CLIENTS

3STUDENT LIFEFRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010

Kate Gaertnereditor in chief

Josh Goldmanassociate editor

Paula LaurisShayna MakaronDan Woznicamanaging editors

Michelle Merlinsenior news editor

AJ Sundarsenior forum editor

Alex Dropkinsenior sports editor

Hana Schustersenior scene editor

Percy OlsenStephanie Sperasenior cadenza editors

Puneet Kolliparaenterprise editor

Matt Lanterphoto editor

David Seigleonline editor

Lauren Cohnassistant online editor

Erin Mitchell

graphics editor

Evan Freedmandesign chief

Susie Comptondesign editor

Laura KornhauserKatrina Jongman-SerenoLouis Liss Crystal Yun designers

Perry Steindirector of training

Johann Qua HiansenEvan Wiskupdirectors of image & relations

Brittany Meyerdirector of multimedia

Rachel Nocciolicopy chief

Stephen HayesGreg HermanLauren KeblusekPuneet KolliparaMaia LamdanyLauren Noltecopy editors

Andrew O’Dellgeneral manager

Sara Juddadvertising manager

Copyright 2010 Washington University Student Media, Inc. (WUSMI). Student Life is a fi nancially 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.

Open from 6 - 9pm. Free admission.

Refreshments served.

The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts; 3716 Washington Blvd. in Grand Center; 314.754.1850

For the current schedule: www.pulitzerarts.org

The Danforth University Center, which opened in August 2008, has LEED Gold certification because of energy and water efficiency and the use of recycled mate-rials. The academic building Seigle Hall, which also opened in 2008, has general LEED certification.

Of the 10.6 million gross square feet of land on campus, a total of 293,926 gross square feet in the University have general LEED certification, 249,892 gross square feet are LEED Silver, and 422,063 are LEED Gold.

The University is seeking Gold certi-fication for Brauer Hall, the engineering building that opened in the fall of this year. The University also expects Cupples II Hall to get LEED certification after renovation work on the building finishes.

With additional reporting by Michelle Merlin.

LEED FROM PAGE 1

The Obama administration recently released new recruiting guidelines for universities across the nation. However, these regulations will have little effect on Washington University.

Student Financial Services says that the University will be making information about graduation rates and career paths more accessible.

The new regulations, released on Oct. 27, include new guidelines meant to increase transparency in college recruiting, end misleading recruiting practices and verify that everyone who receives financial aid is already eligible for it.

According to Bill Witbrodt, the direc-tor of Student Financial Services, these regulations primarily pertain to for-profit institutions.

According to Witbrodt, some schools knowingly mislead prospective students by promising them jobs after completing their education and making them take out student loans. Many of these recruiters are paid on commission. As a result, they find students with no high school education and provide them with general education diplo-mas (GEDs) to recruit them to their colleges and gain bonuses.

The University, on the other hand, does not give its admissions recruiters commis-sion based on how many students enroll here.

The only change that Wash. U. has made as a result of these regulations has been

consolidation some of its information. While information about graduation rates and career paths had been previously scat-tered around the University’s website, the information is now readily accessible on one page, which can be accessed in the “About” tab on the University’s website’s homepage.

According to Witbrodt, public and pri-vate schools similar to the University are already in keeping with the new regula-tions. Admissions officers have never been compensated, job disclosure information is online to prevent misleading recruitment practices, and rigorous high school educa-tion has always been required. Additionally, University already verifies all applicants for federal financial aid.

“It’s been this situation with for-profit institutions that kicked [these reforms] off,” Witbrodt said. “We already do a lot of the stuff that is mentioned in there. We don’t misrepresent things. We don’t have com-plaints from students about that.”

Although Witbrodt acknowledged that none of these reforms apply to the University, he stressed the importance these changes have for some colleges.

“I think the Obama administration is trying to rein in the areas of secondary edu-cation that have gone awry,” Witbrodt said. “These regulations do apply to all schools, but public and private schools have been doing this already. They are trying to make for-profit schools conform to how other schools are doing it.”

WU left largely unaffected by new federal recruitment guidelinesJACK MARSHALL

STAFF REPORTER

restaurant was an invaluable commodity.“It’s been there for so long,” Edwards

said. “It’s really a shame to see it go.”KT Ayers’ father, Andy Ayers, opened

Riddles in 1985. According to Edwards, the restaurant was one of the first to focus on fresh, home-grown produce.

“It was really ahead of its time,” he said.

Edwards said that a few businesses have had financial trouble because of the recent recession. On the whole, though, he said that the Loop is doing very well.

Students are anxious to learn more about Riddles’ future. Many were upset to hear that Riddles was closing indefinitely.

“I think it’s really sad,” senior Nicole Penwill said. “It’s always sad when some-thing closes because of money ... It almost seems like the death of a friend.”

Penwill said that Riddles provided a weeknight option for students.

“I went there every Tuesday,” she said. “You could go around 11, after the library, and just kind of chill.”

Senior Kuan Butts said that Riddles was unique because it offered students an establishment with good, local live back-ground music.

“It was the kind of place where you could just go and talk, just sort of sit at

a table,” Butts said. “It was a really easy way for students at Wash. U. to get to know more local bands.”

Senior Aaron Kay said that Riddles’ absence will detract from the variety of establishments on the Loop.

“It was nice to get into the local scene of St. Louis a little bit, meet some inter-esting people when you went out,” Kay said. “I think the Loop is just going to be missing a consistent option that’s close, a nice bar where you can have a drink with a friend and actually have a conversation.”

Senior Julia Smith agreed. “It’s the only bar that you could easily walk in and out of,” she said. “You could walk in for a beer or spend the whole night.”

“I suggest that we demonstrate outside of the building against the landlord,” Penwill said. “We have so many good memories at Riddles.”

The building’s landlord could not be reached for comment.

RIDDLES FROM PAGE 1

Write to Puneet Kollipara at

PUNEET.KOLLIPARA@STUDLIFE.COM

Write to Kate Gaertner at

KATE.GAERTNER@STUDLIFE.COM

Riddles, a popular student bar on the Loop, has closed after 35 years of business due to a

rent dispute. Students and other businesses on the Loop say that Riddles was an

important part of the culture on Delmar.

CHRISTINA KELLEY | STUDENT LIFE

Write to Jack Marshall at

JACK.MARSHALL@STUDLIFE.COM

4 STUDENT LIFE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010

Editorials are written by our opinion editors and refl ect the consensus of our editorial board. The editorial board operates independently of our newsroom.

editor in chief: Kate Gaertnerassociate editor: Josh Goldmanmanaging editors: Paula Lauris, Shayna Makaron & Dan Woznicasenior sports editor: Alex Dropkin

senior scene editor: Hana Schustersenior cadenza editors: Percy Olsen & Stephanie Sperasenior forum editor: AJ Sundarforum staff: Cyrus Bahrassa, Daniel Deibler, Charlie Low, Alissa Rotblatt & Eve Samborndirector of training: Perry Steindirectors of image & relations: Johann Qua Hiansen & Evan Wiskup

Once an article is published on studlife.com, it will remain there permanently. We do not remove articles or authors’ names from the site unless an agreement was reached prior to July 1, 2005.

We welcome letters to the editor and op-ed submissions from our readers. Submissions may be sent to letters@studlife.com and must include the writer’s name, class and phone number for verifi cation.

Letters should be no longer than 350 words in length, and readers may also submit longer op-eds of up to 750 words. We reserve the right to print any submission as a letter or op-ed.

OUR VOICE: EDITORIAL BOARD

YOUR VOICE:SUBMISSIONS

OUR WEB POLICY

forumSTAFF EDITORIALSTAFF EDITORIAL

The issueStarting in January, the Office of

Residential Life will begin charging students and student groups for the use of common spaces that were previously free.

According to ResLife, the new policy will initiate fees for the most commonly used spaces such as Ursa’s Fireside, College Hall and the Mudd Multipurpose Room, and the proceeds will go toward extra maintenance and setup costs for these locations.

Our takeWhile we recognize that there are costs

for maintaining these spaces, we feel that this policy decision forces students to assume an unfair cost burden.

Admittedly, the spaces that require these fees have their perks, including audio-visual equipment, event assistants and special room setups. However, many meetings in such rooms and spaces may not need audio-visual setup or aid from an event assistant. These low-mainte-nance gatherings will suffer as a result of the new charges.

ResLife has attempted to address these issues by waiving the fee for those groups and students whose plans don’t require an advance reservation. The majority of general body meetings, club events and executive board sessions, however, undoubtedly need to guarantee that the space will be available ahead of time. In theory, a student group could walk into one of the many spaces on campus at the

time of its meeting. When one considers time constraints, locked doors and other groups searching for space, however, there is no way of knowing that this will work in practice. Advertising a meeting to the student body—and potentially attracting new group members—requires knowing that a space will be available when attendees show up.

The challenges that come from these fees go beyond the actual space required for an event. Many clubs set their budgets for each year at the start of the semester or the prior spring when apply-ing for Student Union funding. This added cost will force these organizations to funnel money away from program-ming, crippling their ability to offer a full set of programming to the student body.

Moving forwardIt is a great service for members of our

University, faculty and students alike, to have nice spaces available for our use, but when easy access to those rooms is taken away, their relevance is put into question. We can’t be convinced that these fees alone will make much of a dent when it comes to the University’s funds. They will, however, inhibit stu-dent access.

Giving students opportunities to use the spaces they pay for in yearly tuition bills should be a priority, and if these rooms need funding for additional upkeep, then the University should find some means of budget reallocation that does not cost students additional money.

Don’t charge us for ResLife spaces

Many political pundits are still trying to piece together how the results of last week’s midterm election are going to play out in

the next session of Congress. The Republican Party’s victories in the Senate and in the House of Representatives will bring many fresh faces and new ideologies into the fold in Washington. One of the most talked-about Republican can-didates during the campaign, Rand Paul, was able to coast his way to victory in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate with a 10-percentage-point margin over his Democratic opponent, Jack Conway, in the final tally. Now a national favorite, Paul has an ambitious agenda for when he gets to Washington, and it includes abolishing the Department of Education.

Abolishing the Department of Education? Yes, you read that correctly. Rand Paul, taking after the beliefs of his father, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), believes that education should be a local matter. Therefore, he opposes any federal control or authority over schools; he noted in a debate that it was unjust for someone in Washington to insist that “Susie having two

mommies” was an acceptable family situation to teach his kindergartner. Paul also believes that the federal government should be divorced from any funding toward education, otherwise Washington could retain some control in the field.

There are many reasons why this is trou-bling. States receive about 10 percent of their funding for education from the federal govern-ment. While this may not seem like a lot, it amounts to millions of dollars. In Kentucky’s case, it is estimated to be $429 million of the current budget. Most of this money is presented to the state through Title I block grants, which go to students of low-income backgrounds who are in dire need of aid. The Department of Education also funds many essential programs such as Head Start, an early childhood program that has demonstrated gains for later academic achievement. I will note that Paul did acknowl-edge the necessity of Pell Grants, which provide financial aid for higher education and suggested they could be moved to another department.

The Department of Education also conducts longitudinal studies and gathers vital statistical information regarding academic achieve-ment. For example, using its data, I was able to observe that Kentucky is actually below the

national average in eighth-grade math scores, according to a nationally distributed assessment test. This type of data can be essential in under-standing which states and urban areas need greater support in the education realm.

Paul’s position is also frustrating because it is simply not politically feasible. Republican President George W. Bush was one of the primary architects of No Child Left Behind, a massive federal expansion of educational control. This was an endeavor heavily pro-moted by the presumed next speaker of the House, U.S. Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio). Go even further back to the “godfather”—President Ronald Reagan. He also ran on a platform of abolishing the Department of Education, only to discover in office that having an influence on education policy was politically useful. He com-missioned a now-famous report, “A Nation at Risk,” detailing policy recommendations to improve education across America. Reagan’s secretary of education commented in 1984 that abolishing the department would never again be considered seriously. In addition, although Republicans have criticized President Obama, many have written praise for his secretary of education, Arne Duncan, and his newest plan to stimulate educational innovation in the states

through a multibillion-dollar grant competition, Race to the Top (the merits and benefits of this program are still debated among educators though).

This is all very disconcerting to me because it demonstrates a politician’s desire to put political survival above sound, pragmatic policy. I’m sure this talking point gained Paul some votes in his state—but at what cost? The Department of Education provides vital funding and services to millions of children across the country every day. Even if one disagrees with that sentiment, it seems that, politically speaking, the depart-ment is here to stay. So if one really cares about the future of education in this country, why not spend time and effort on considering how to reform the department for the better? I hope this is something that Rand Paul and his newly elected colleagues will somehow consider dur-ing the next congressional session. Serious and well-informed debates regarding the future of education need to occur. Too much is at stake to just stick to talking points.

Abolishing the Department of Education?

HOLLY GRAHAM | STUDENT LIFE

David Cohen is a senior in Arts &

Sciences. Write to David at

DAVID.COHEN@STUDLIFE.COM

DAVID COHEN

STAFF COLUMNIST

EDITORIAL CARTOON

thumbs down

thumbs up

thumbs up thumbs dow

n

Thumbs up to a week of 70 degrees in November!

Thumbs down to Fontbonne win-ning most spirited team at Dance Marathon. We got owned by students we didn’t think existed.Thumbs up to Daylight Savings

Time—and an extra hour of sleep on Saturday night. Thumbs down to the end of our

off-campus meal-plans.Thumbs up to Harry Potter. We’re 11 again every time a movie comes out...especially now that we have Liggett-Koenig.

Thumbs down to Riddles closing! Market Pub House doesn’t even begin to compare.

5STUDENT LIFEFRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010

scene

★★★★✮

8613 Olive Blvd.St. Louis, MO 63132(314) 997-1218Good for: casual dates

Pho Long

When it comes to non-American food, little can replace an age-old recipe that has been passed down through generations and can be traced back to a food establishment in its country of origin.

Pho Long, a little Vietnamese restaurant on Olive Boulevard near I-170, boasts a 60-year-old recipe for pho—pronounced “fuh”—that originated in Vietnam at a restaurant still owned by the same family.

If you are familiar with Vietnamese food, you’ve probably heard of pho, a flavorful soup with meat or tofu, clear noodles and various vegetables with herbs and spices. The pho at Pho Long is heav-enly, as one might expect.

Pho Long itself is a modest-looking place. You walk right into the one-room restaurant, which has green and orange walls and about nine tables. Regulars come from all around the Olivette area. The service is perfect, and the food is brought out rather quickly.

A warning, however: Don’t come to Pho Long if you’re not in the mood for soup and noodles. The menu offers various appetizers like egg rolls, spring rolls and fried tofu with veggies, but the entrees are generally of the pho variety or the very similar “noodle bowls.”

The spring rolls at Pho Long are encased in the familiar papery rice-flour wrap, which is springy and stretchy. Inside of the casing is a very thin strip of chewy pork. The accompanying hoisin sauce adds a pleasant tanginess.

The entree itself was a steaming bowl of pho, cloudy with juices of meat and

vegetables that had been slowly simmered overnight. I tried the beef noodle soup with oxtail—“Pho Duoi Bo.” The soup is full of beef strips, and the oxtail in the dish is, quite literally, a cut of the tail of a male ox.

Oxtail is often used in soups because it requires a long slow braising, which helps the meat become very tender. By the time it reaches the table, the meat is practically falling off the bone. It slips right off and melts in your mouth. Besides the meat, the dish is also full of glassy noodles and green onions. You also get a bowl of extras to add to the entrée: Basil, cilantro and pars-ley bring a light herby flavor to the soup, and bean sprouts add textural variety with their resilient crunchiness.

The soup, full of noodles, meat and a dense, flavored broth, would actually be more than enough to satisfy a hungry diner for only $8.

I made the (happy) mistake of ordering too much with an avocado shake. When a restaurant offers durian, jackfruit and avocado shakes—along with the more-accessible mango and strawberry—it seems a bit foolish to pass up the experience. The avocado shake was excellent—sweet, creamy and rich all at once.

I recommend that Pho Long not remain just an idea pho too long in your minds. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a quality Vietnamese dish with 60-years of experience in pleasing customers worldwide.

NETTA SADOVSKY

SCENE COLUMNIST

rite to Netta Sadovsky at

NETTA.SADOVSKY@STUDLIFE.COM

The long-awaited release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” is finally less than a week away. Yet, here at Washington University, you don’t need to wait that long to get a glimpse of the action. Starting this Monday, Nov. 15 and lasting until the movie’s release on Friday, Nov. 19, the Congress of the South 40 is hosting all things Harry Potter at the first-ever Harry Potter College Hall Cup Tournament.

Throughout the week, the residential colleges will compete for points in various games and competitions, and the winner will receive a trophy at Thursday’s party in College Hall. Points are awarded for attendance, spirit (wearing your residential college colors), and—of course—winning events.

The residential colleges participating in the tournament are WGE, Liggett-Koenig, Lee/Beaumont and JKL. The idea is that each residential college represents one of the four Hogwarts houses. Each residential college is in charge of programming one event, with the overall Tournament coordinated by WGE.

On Monday, there will be Quidditch and live chess on the Swamp from 4 to 7 p.m. On Tuesday, a Horcrux scavenger hunt. On Wednesday, trivia in College Hall at 7:30 p.m., and on Thursday, a party in College Hall, where people are welcome to dress up, eat Harry Potter-themed snacks (catered by Bon Appétit) and find out the winner of the Tournament. The event will culminate in the movie’s premiere. WGE purchased 302 tickets for the midnight showing of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” at the Esquire Theatre, and the tickets were sold to students last week.

The Harry Potter College Hall Cup Tournament is a collaborative effort between

the CS40 and Student Union. “Given the number of residential colleges involved, the scope of the event and the possibility of col-laborating with the class councils, this may be the CS40’s largest-ever co-programming event,” said sophomore Jessica Goldberg, president of the William Greenleaf Elliot College Council.

Each of the four sponsoring residential col-leges is contributing 10 percent of their budget toward the Tournament.

Goldberg and freshman Nowrin Haque, vice president of WGE Class Council, origi-nated the idea for the Harry Potter College Hall Cup Tournament. They had two central goals in mind: to get people excited for the new Harry Potter film and to build residential college spirit. Residential colleges are relatively new at the University, and these students want to encourage residential college pride.

Although the tournament is geared toward freshmen and sophomores currently living on the South 40, juniors and seniors are also encouraged to join. If you are an upperclass-man and want to participate, get in contact with the RCD of your old residential college, e-mail hpcollegecup@gmail.com or join one of the pick-up games.

Goldberg hopes that the tournament will become an annual event in which similar week-long tournaments will occur among the residential colleges.

“This has been my entire life for the past two months,” said Goldberg. Goldberg and Haque’s enthusiasm for the tournament is evident in the scope and detail of the event. So take a break from your studying and experi-ence Harry Potter right here at the University before the movie hits the big screens.

LIZZIE GERMACK

SCENE REPORTER

rite to Lizzie Germack at

LIZZIE.GERMACK@STUDLIFE.COM

‘Harry Potter’ comes to WU before the big screens

What’s all the hype about state schools?

This past weekend, we took a 24-hour trip to Ann Arbor, Mich., not only to experience the wildly infamous pre-football game parties, but also to check out how this state school’s typical Saturday compares to ours.

JACLYN BILD AND AMANDA AARON

NIGHT LIFE COLUMNISTS

Write to Jaclyn Bild at

JACLYN.BILD@STUDLIFE.COM

Write to Amanda Aaron at

AMANDA.AARON@STUDLIFE.COM

NIGHTLIFE

THE SCHEDULE

9 a.m.

MICHIGANLet the pre-games begin! By this time,

the fraternities were already blasting music in their backyards, and there were a variety of drinking games. Teams were fighting in the annual Mud Bowl.

WASH. U.Sleep!

11 a.m.

MICHIGANThe parade to the game! Students begin

to flood Church Street and slowly make their way to the game, stopping at every party that crosses their path (and yes, there are a lot).

WASH. U.Wake up! Maybe grab some delicious

breakfast at Stratton’s or First Watch with some friends. Or the ever-reliable campus brunch.

1 p.m.

MICHIGANThe game. Filled with loads of food

booths, fans decked out in Michigan gear, and raging students screaming Michigan chants.

WASH. U.Hit the library! The third floor is usually

full by now, so unless you have friends saving you a seat, you may have to work elsewhere.

3 p.m.

MICHIGANFrostbitten. The game is still going on,

and everyone’s ears, fingers, toes and arms are numb.

WASH. U.Take a trip down to Whispers to be

social. This is the time to get all the gossip from the previous night.

5 p.m.

MICHIGANThe walk home. The game ends and

everyone, once again, floods onto Church Street to get home, falling asleep soon after.

WASH. U.Time to run some errands and go see

your roommates at home. Nap to recover from a long day of work and prepare for a fun Saturday night!

7 p.m.MICHIGAN

Still sleeping. Nap time begins the second the game ends and continues for hours.

WASH. U.Dinner! Saturday night is the most popu-

lar night to go out for dinner with friends. If you do something casual, like Wasabi in Clayton, you’re sure to run into plenty of other students.

9 p.m.

MICHIGANDinner on the couch. Too tired to get

up, a Lean Cuisine or some takeout will suffice.

WASH. U.Begin the night’s festivities! Going to

friends’ dorms or apartments is always fun, but every now and then, we love extending our dinners and getting drinks at nearby bars.

11 p.m.

MICHIGANHit up Scorekeepers, otherwise known

as “Skeeps,” which is Michigan’s most popular Saturday night bar. In order to get in, students typically wait in a 45-minute line (in temperatures below 20 degrees). However, for those who want to skip the line, the bar offers a special “club” to join. Anyone who spends $1,000 on drinks in a weekend is offered a “card” that enables the spender and a friend to skip the line and receive special treatment inside!

WASH. U.Make your way to the buses! Wash. U.

typically has transportation to and from areas with active nightlife, but you usually want to get to these buses on the early side to guarantee a seat. Who doesn’t love free (and safe!) transportation?

3 a.m.

MICHIGANThe line begins at Rick’s, the late-night

bar. When people don’t feel like waiting in yet another line, they hit up one of the many late-night eateries. Hailing a cab usually isn’t an issue, but the main street is crowded, so people can get a little aggres-sive in their taxi search.

WASH. U.Get together with friends in a dorm

room or apartment, chat about the night, make some late-night popcorn (or order Jimmy John’s), and crash on someone’s bed. Or floor.

OUR CONCLUSIONS

At the end of the day, how did our weekend as pretend Michigan students stack up to our

normal lives at Wash. U.?

THE CONS: Our days can be tedious and restrained by

the stress of finishing work, which some-times limits the “craziness” of our nightlife. Our student body is much smaller than a state school’s, so there are fewer new faces to meet and smaller venues to frequent. We have fewer late-night eating options and places to meet up or continue partying are limited (some of our Saturday night hot spots close at 1:30).

THE PROS: Our Saturdays may not be quite as jam

packed as the University of Michigan’s, but we always have time to catch up with friends, eat great food and get together while getting ready for the night. We never have to wait in long lines (5 to 10 minutes on average), we don’t need to get $1,000 VIP access, and on most Saturdays, we have free transportation.

1 a.m.

MICHIGANThe girls, who are decked out in 5-inch

patent-leather heels, skin-tight skirts, revealing shirts and bold designer purses, are typically dancing on stage at this point. And all Skeeps-goers have drinks in their hands (the most popular is the $2 personal pitchers of any mixed drink). By 1 a.m., Skeeps is unbearably crowded, and it’s almost impossible to reach the bar.

WASH. U.Parties at new places (like Pepper

Lounge) are always fun and exciting. You can be sure to run into plenty of people you know, and people are always dressed to impress. Girls are typically dressed in understated basics with funky accessories, and sometimes you can even find people in flats. Drink specials vary at different venues.

6 STUDENT LIFE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010

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sportsLast season, the Washington University

football team used two place kickers who went a combined 19 of 24 on extra points and 5 of 8 on field goal attempts, with the longest made kick coming from 36 yards out. The arrival of sophomore kicker Eric Chalifour has changed the Bears’ kicking game this season.

Chalifour has brought continuity and consistency to the position, going 19 of 21 on extra points and 9 of 16 on field goals so far with a long of 48 yards, 4 yards short of the Wash. U. record.

“Eric’s ability to put points on the board changes the way we can play the game,” said senior defensive back Nick Vom Brack, Chalifour’s holder. “It gives the offense confidence that if a drive doesn’t end with a touchdown, we still have a chance to come away with something of a consolation.”

Chalifour has connected on 56% of field goal attempts but has delivered when the team needed it most. After missing an extra point and a field goal early in the University Athletic Association (UAA) opener against Carnegie Mellon University, he coolly put through an extra point in the closing min-utes to tie the game and send it to overtime, where the Bears won 20-13.

“Over the years, there have been games where having the chance to kick a field goal would have greatly impacted our chance to win,” Vom Brack said. “With Eric, we are always in games, and that’s all you can really ask for.”

Chalifour, admittedly, has taken a “hap-hazard road” to Wash. U. After his senior year in high school, Chalifour kicked for Division I UCLA for one year and never saw playing time, before deciding to transfer.

“My sister had gone here, and I liked it a lot as an academic institution,” Chalifour said. “When I was [at UCLA], I was misera-ble. Football dominated my life. It restricted a lot of what I could do, the classes I could

take, what majors I could choose from. It didn’t help that I was buried behind an All-American kicker and another one in the wings, so I ended up reapplying here for spring semester.”

The Bears could not be happier to have him. The special-teams unit has been an important aspect of the team’s success this year, and Chalifour leads the team with 44 points scored.

“Kickers that can score points are play-makers,” head coach Larry Kindbom said. “Every team needs playmakers. It is nice to know that when the ball crosses the 35-yard line, you have a good chance to come away with points. [From] 45 [yards], [he is] solid. [From] 55, [he has a] good chance.”

This season, Chalifour is 2 of 4 on kicks between 40 and 49 yards. Against Oberlin College on Oct. 23, he connected on two attempts, including one from a career-long 48 yards, in a Bears’ 21-7 win.

“I don’t know if there is really a secret [to kicking],” Chalifour said. “It is really about doing the exact same thing, no matter the kick. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the hash. Every kick is the same. You line up the exact same way. It is just about repetition.”

The only downside to the kicking game this season has been blocked kicks. Chalifour has had two field goals and two extra points blocked so far.

“We’ve had a few hiccups,” Chalifour said. “What we do is a team effort, and you can’t put all the blame or praise on any one individual. Our coaches have had me speed up my approach to eliminate the threat of a blocked kick.”

If the Bears need a big kick, however, the team is confident that Chalifour can step up and send the kick through the uprights.

“Eric is a solid individual, a competitor, and very much a team player,” Kindbom said. “He is a student of the game and watches his film almost as critically as a coach. What makes him special is that he likes challenges and loves the ‘big kick.’”

When big kicks arise, Chalifour will “try not to think about it too much.”

“It’s really easy to get inside your head as a kicker, and I feel it sometimes,” Chalifour said. “I know my mom is a nervous wreck every time I line up a kick. I always go out there confident that I can hit a kick, but to

know I have the support of my coaches and teammates feels good.”

Chalifour takes Bears’ kicking game to next levelSAHIL PATEL

SPORTS REPORTER

Write to Sahil Patel at

SAHIL.PATEL@STUDLIFE.COM

Sophomore kicker Eric Chalifour attempts a field goal against Carnegie Mellon University

on Oct. 30. Chalifour has been a consistent, hardworking force at the kicking position this

season for the Bears.

NATHANIEL MARGOLIES | STUDENT LIFE

When he received a grant from the Community Service Office in the fall of 2008, senior Paul Johannet couldn’t have imagined that Books and Basketball would grow into the program that it is today.

Johannet’s idea was to start an organiza-tion that would help kids in the local area with their academic studies. The program,

which began with just five tutors three years ago and 18 at the beginning of this semester now has 85 tutors across all classes.

Books and Basketball, a nonprofit organi-zation that travels to several schools around the St. Louis area to help tutor and play rec-reational games with students, has become extremely popular within the Washington University community.

“It’s an incredibly sustainable program that has tremendous support from the entire

student body,” Johannet said. “It’s great to see so many people involved.”

Geared toward provid-ing an academic and fun experience for local youth, Books and Basketball spon-sors after school programs at several schools, includ-ing Ford and Mullanphy elementary schools. A typi-cal day includes 45 minutes in which tutors help the students with either home-work or school-coordinated

activities, followed by recreational time in the gym where they play games such as bas-ketball, capture the flag or freeze tag.

“The benefits of gym time carry into the tutoring portion, in which the positive rela-tionships formed help to maintain a level of respect that contributes to successful learning and homework completion,” said junior Emma Liss, a Books and Basketball volunteer.

Books and Basketball has been particularly proud of the tutors’ commitments. Johannet feels that it really makes a positive impact on the kids when they see a familiar face every week instead of a different tutor. Seeing the same person can develop a genuine connec-tion between mentor and student.

“The mixture of tutoring with playtime really helps us foster relationships with these kids that would be impossible if we didn’t spend time with them outside and in the gym,” junior Kate Benedict said.

The growth of Books and Basketball can also be seen in the numerous ways other organizations within the Wash. U. com-munity have been willing to help. Both the

men’s and women’s basketball teams have put on clinics for the kids, and the sorority Pi Beta Phi has incorporated the organization into its Champions are Readers program by donating books and choosing occasional newspaper articles for the students to read.

In addition, Books and Basketball recently began working with the Linus Foundation. According to Liss, that partnership will pro-vide important opportunities. The proceeds of Ballin’ with Linus, the fall gala organized by the Linus Foundation in St. Louis, will benefit Books and Basketball. The gala begins at 9 p.m. tonight at the Lumen: St. Louis.

“Our collaboration with the Linus Foundation also provides great opportuni-ties for the future of Books and Basketball,” Liss said. “Their contributions will help us provide exciting tools and experiences for the kids we work with, including school sup-plies, end-of-the-year parties, and field trips to Wash. U. and elsewhere.”

STEVEN HIRSCH

SPORTS REPORTER

Books and Basketball: Teaching kids how to win, both on and off the court

Write to Steven Hirsch at

STEVEN.HIRSCH@STUDLIFE.COM

7STUDENT LIFEFRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 12, 2010

ACROSS1 “60 Minutes”

correspondent6 __ Helens,

Wash.10 Setup punch13 Pump option15 Tad16 L.A.-based oil

giant, familiarly17 Get there18 Flea market

cousin20 Soccer VIPs?21 Source of low-

alcohol wines23 No longer

newsworthy24 Mickey Mantle or

Mark Teixeira,notably

27 Diet successfully28 Counsel32 “__ Gold”: Peter

Fonda film35 Helper: Abbr.38 Lobbying gp.39 Fill in at school43 Modern __44 Friend’s pronoun45 “Then ...”46 Karate instructor49 Glued to the

tube, say51 Currency

differential57 Shoelace

protector60 Smack back?61 It’s wet in

Oaxaca62 Commercial

imbalance64 “The Sound of

Music” quintet66 “Awesome!”67 Botanical

junction68 Golf

commentatorPepper

69 Poet Lowell70 Texter’s sign-off71 Many Miley

Cyrus fans

DOWN1 Sends unwanted

e-mail2 Road sign

symbol3 Nuclear pioneer

Enrico4 Bible letters

5 Toyota __4: SUVmodel

6 Peruvian volcanoEl __

7 Namely8 Ticketing place:

Abbr.9 Danced like

BojanglesRobinson

10 Stereotypicaldiner name

11 Forest choppers12 Unit of computer

memory14 Slangy assents19 Sportscaster

Albert22 Knife holder25 Budgetary

concern26 British art

institution29 Apple

touchscreencomputer

30 Anatomicalpouches

31 Return from acave?

32 Finds a purposefor

33 Dangle a carrotin front of, so tospeak

34 “My Country”author

36 Seek damages37 Buffet heater40 Suffix with

meteor41 Finish line

indicator42 Play break47 Watermelon bit48 Magnitude50 “... ‘What __ boy

am I!’”

52 Exciting53 Adrien of

cosmetics54 Colorful

quartz55 Shroud city56 Lets up57 Name on a

razor58 Fat measure59 __ Luck63 Understood65 Heavy drinker

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

By Pamela Amick Klawitter

(c)2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Complete the grid soeach row, column and3-by-3 box (in boldborders) containsevery digit, 1 to 9. Forstrategies on how tosolve Sudoku, visitwww.sudoku.org.uk

SOLUTION TOWEDNESDAY’S PUZZLE

Level: 1 2

3 4

© 2010 The Mepham Group. Distributed byTribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

11/12/10

HOW TO PLAY Spell the phrase in the grid above it, writing each unique letter only once. The correct solution will spell the complete phrase along a single continuous spelling path that moves horizontally vertically and diagonally. Fill the grid from square to square - revisiting letters as needed to complete the spelling path in order. Each letter will appear only once in the grid.

11/10 SOLUTION

your AD here.

SPONSORED BY:

maniapuzzle

Rent-a-Text, a new textbook-rental sys-tem, was initiated in fall 2010 at Washington University. While many students have already saved money this semester, Rent-a-Text is expected to continue providing benefits to students.

According to the Follett Higher Education Group, the official partner of the University Bookstore, students nationwide saved approxima $320,305 by using Rent-a-Text when compared to the cost of buying a new book.

Additionally, CaféScribe, Follett’s e-textbook and social-networking plat-form, attracted more than 100,000 students nationwide.

“Considering the fact that it was the first term of Rent-a-Text, it was quite a success,” said Betsy Gaire Schneider, director of the Washington University Campus Store. “As students get to know more of the new sys-tem, we expect the text rental to increase in next semester.”

Since Rent-a-Text it is operated through Follett’s Rent-a-Text chain, the biggest text-book network in the nation, Washington University doesn’t have to worry much about the stock availability of texts for rent.

Though students were supportive of the new textbook rental option, they pointed out some possibilities for improvements as well.

“So far I think Rent-a-Text is really good,” freshman Kate Drummond said. “It signifi-cantly reduced prices for texts. Also, I can use the rented books freely. I can note and highlight unless they block out the text.”

Some students noted that they would like to see more books added to the list of rent-able books.

While Rent-a-Text does not include all texts offered, there are still possibilities for expansion.

“Basically, the textbook-rental system is operated under the principle of supply and demand,” Schneider said. “Though the larg-est portion of rental lists are determined by the national list of Follett, other texts can be added through local rental, in which a text can be listed if a faculty commits to use the

text for at least four semesters.”The most economical way to purchase

textbooks is to buy used books and to resell them. However, the fact that the availability of used books is not guaranteed is the most noticeable drawback.

As technology and textbook administra-tions change, there are various possibilities for future innovation in textbook utiliza-tion. The basic strategy of Follett and the Washington University bookstore is known as RED: Rent, E-commerce and Digital.

According to the research conducted by the National Association of College Stores (NACS), the trend of e-book sales is on the rise. E-book sales are expected to be approxi-mately $4 billion by 2012 while they were $5.8 million in 2002 and $20 million in 2006.

“NACS estimates that e-books will com-pose 10 to 15 percent of text sales in 2012,” Schneider said. “Along with the increase in general e-books, we expect e-books of texts to increase as well.”

In line with the trend toward electronic publication, some students prefer e-books for literature books as well, especially for short paperback books.

“For literature courses, which require different books every week, I usually use e-books,” junior Laura Edison said. “Because bookstore prices are expensive, it’s better to use e-books on screen or by print.”

Also, NACS’ “Higher Education Retail Market Facts & Figures, September 2010,” showed continual increase of online sales, which currently represent 6.3 percent of all textbook sales.

“Students will be able to manage their textbook buying if they actively use the website of the Wash. U. bookstore, which includes price information and availabil-ity of different options for all of courses,” Schneider said.

The return date of Rent-a-Text for fall 2010 is Dec. 22. The University bookstore expects to be able to figure out other possible improvements after that date.

of 24,946 meters since it first landed in Mars. The original planned travel distance for the rover was 600 meters.

In March 2009, Spirit lost contact after becoming embedded in volcanic sands. But the sandy spot that the rover is stuck in turned out to be filled with volcanic ashes that allow the scientists to track ancient volcanic activities 3 billion to 4 billion years ago. According to a CBS article, the Rover found seepage of water in the ash, which suggests that the water seepage is relatively recent and not due to volcanic activity.

As the rovers continue to operate, the recent change in U.S. administration and its new policies regarding space explora-tion have not affected the rover missions.

The federal government continues to fund the rovers’ research.

“The majority of the cost goes to build-ing these rovers,” Arvidson said. “It’s relatively inexpensive to keep the rovers going.”

A new large rover, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), is scheduled for launch in November 2011 and for landing on Mars in August 2012. The objective of this rover is to look for organic molecules based upon the data sent by Spirit and Opportunity.

MSL is the next step in accomplishing Spirit and Opportunity’s long-term goal of finding signs of life.

MARS FROM PAGE 1

Write to Wei-yin Ko at

WEIYIN.KO@STUDLIFE.COM

Write to Samuel Kwak at

SAMUEL.KWAK@STUDLIFE.COM

SU ELECTION RESULTS

Rank Candidate1 Julian Nicks2 Nate Brodell

3 Adrienne Sands

4 Jacob Trunsky

5 Paul Blachar

6 Chantel Miller

7 Daniel Bernard

8 Jasmine Berg

9 Michael Cohen

10 Jason Chang

11 Gregory Jones

12 Gregory Porter

13 Sam Leffell

14 Maia Lamdany

15 Jeff Goldenhersh

16 Jairus Anderson-Baylor

17 Jeff Lin

18 Nick Jenkins

19 Jack Sun

Treasury Representatives1-10: Fall seats, 11-19: Spring seats

Architecture School—SenatorSean Dula

Art School—SenatorElana Lederman

Arts & Sciences—SenatorsMamatha Challa

Sarah Roth Neel Desai

Dan RobinsonWilly Chotzen-Freund

Kai ZhangMatt Re

Business School—SenatorJenny Wu

Engineering School—SenatorMatt Johnson

Katherine Palmer Erich Yaeger

Constitutional AmendmentYes—85%No—15%

Students save thousands through Rent-a-Text programSAMUEL KWAK

CONTRIBUTING REPORTER

The 19th annual St. Louis International Film Festival

8 STUDENT LIFE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010

cadenzaA Guide to DiwaliPERCY OLSEN

SENIOR CADENZA EDITOR

Diwali’s first performance is Friday at 7 p.m. at the Edison Theatre. In case you’re attending but don’t know what to expect from the show, here is a quick guide for what’s to come.

Matt Costa began his career opening for Jack Johnson’s summer 2005 tour, but don’t hold that against him. Sure, his sun-drenched melodies are infectious, but by incorporating elements of folk, blues, psychedelia and even classical music, Costa pushes beyond the “mellow lullaby” boundary to create sparklingly lush songs. On his newest full-length, “Mobile Chateau,” Costa strays from the happy-go-lucky as he ventures into 1960s psychedelia à la The Doors while still retaining his signature velvety-bright tone. So take a leisurely stroll on what prom-ises to be a beautiful Sunday night to the Firebird, and enjoy a head-bopping show that will both relax and cheer you for the week ahead.

WhenSunday, 8 p.m.

WhereFirebird

2706 Olive St.St. Louis, MO 63103

Metro Access

A 20-minute walk from the Union Station MetroLink stop

How much?$15

HANNAH SCHWARTZ

CADENZA REPORTER

Write to Hannah Schwartz at

HANNAH.SCHWARTZ@STUDLIFE.COM

Matt Costa with Everest

Diwali, also known as the “festival of lights,” celebrates the victory of good over evil. During the five-day holiday, small clay lamps are lit; these lamps are called “diyas,” and each represents an individual’s inner light that shines in the face of evil.

At Washington University, Diwali is a dance, musical and theatrical performance. There will be a fashion show and perfor-mances by the Pikers and Sur Awaaz, Wash. U.’s co-ed Hindi a cappella group.

The show is put on annually by Ashoka, the South Asian student association. The group turns the traditionally Hindu, Jain and Sikh holiday into a multicultural

celebration. “What makes us most proud of our show

is that many people from different back-grounds and cultures do participate in our show, making it a very diverse and holistic experience for everyone,” said senior Priya Nagarajan, Ashoka’s co-cultural chair.

Nagarajan wants to share the occasion with the whole Wash. U. community. Each act represents a different South Asian culture through song and dance. Also, the show will incorporate holidays from other religions, like Eid ul-Fitr, a three-day Muslim holiday that celebrates the end of the month of Ramadan.

What is Diwali?

Diwali’s acts are tied together by an inter-woven story. Although Ashoka has been fairly tight-lipped about this year’s play, the group has let some details slip. This year’s show is titled, “Love in the Time of Partition,” which is a reference to the 1947 Partition of India, when India and Pakistan became two independent states.

Senior Monis Khan, the play’s writer and director, is a first-generation American. Since his great-grandparents lived in India and his parents are from Pakistan, it’s fitting that “Love” explores the tension between Indian Hindus and Pakistani Muslims at the time of the Partition.

In the story, four present-day Wash. U. students travel to Pakistan for vacation. However, the students meet a mysterious girl on their journey who sends them back to the year 1947. The protagonists find themselves in the middle of a violent clash between Hindus and Muslims on the night of both Diwali and Eid.

“The play is a celebration of both holi-days, but, unfortunately, as we’ve seen in

different times in history, it’s a night that leaves people vulnerable to ethnic violence,” Khan said.

The plot will harp on the theme of good versus evil, but this year’s story will also discuss the role that antiquated stereotypes play in our society.

“What we’re really talking about is how the stereotypes that grew out of the Partition affect South Asians to this day,” Khan said. “The turmoil of 1947 is relevant to how we socialize today. You think we’ve moved on, but we really haven’t. We have to talk about it; we have to confront it.

“Only through confronting these ste-reotypes with tact and comic relief can we challenge the foundation upon which they are rooted. By challenging our notions of the other, we can create a meaningful dialogue that will hopefully alleviate the cultural tension that still exists.”

The theme may seem heavy, but rest assured, the story promises to remain comi-cal, even as it spurs dialogue.

What’s the plot?

Performances are Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at noon and 6:30 p.m. at Edison Theatre. See you there!

CONCERT PREVIEW

While St. Louis may not be Cannes, Sundance, New York or Los Angeles, that doesn’t mean we can’t have our own film festival. The 19th annual Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) has officially begun, and as usual, it is packed with must-see feature films, documentaries and shorts—more than 300 of them to be exact. With Oscar contenders and foreign films galore, SLIFF, which runs from Nov. 11 to 21, is not something you want to miss.

“Casino Jack,” starring Kevin Spacey, kicked off the festival Thursday night at the Tivoli Theatre. The screening was preceded by a reception with director George Hickenlooper, a St. Louis native. Don’t fret if you missed it though; the reception was just one of many opportunities that audiences will have to talk to filmmakers at SLIFF.

Each year, SLIFF attracts major Oscar contenders, allowing festival-goers to see the films before they are released in St. Louis. Last year, the festival featured Oscar-nominees “An Education,” “Up in the Air” and “Precious.” This year’s line-up promises not to disappoint.

This Sunday, Nov. 14 at 7.p.m., “127 Hours,” directed by Danny Boyle, the Oscar-winning director of “Slumdog Millionaire,” will play at the Hi-Pointe Theatre right down the street from Wash. U. “127 Hours” reunites the Oscar-winning director, cinematographer, screenwriter and composer from “Slumdog” and stars the lauded James Franco as a moun-tain climber who survives for five days under a boulder in Utah.

Playing that same night at 7 p.m. in Wash. U.’s Brown Hall is “Winter’s Bone.” The best part is that the showing’s free. That’s right: a

very strong Oscar contender for absolutely no money. The film is sponsored by the Missouri Film Commission and co-presented by the University’s Film and Media Studies pro-gram. Make sure to check it out for Jennifer Lawrence’s chilling performance as a girl who hunts for her missing father in the Ozarks. As an added bonus, the movie was shot right here in Missouri.

If you want to stay up-to-date on your pos-sible award winners, you might also want to check out Darren Aronofsky’s (the director of “The Wrestler”) “Black Swan.” Starring Winona Ryder, Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, “Swan” explores the dark relationship between rival ballet dancers. It will play next Friday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Hi-Pointe.

Of course, a film festival wouldn’t be complete without foreign films. Hailing from Thailand, “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives” will play twice during the festival. “Uncle Boonmee” follows the title character as he is dying from kidney failure. His last days are filled with hallucinations and visions. Check it out Friday, Nov. 12 at 9:45 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 13 at 8:15 p.m. at the Plaza Frontenac.

SLIFF also features many series of short films. Particularly intriguing is a series of documentary shorts entitled “Show Business.” The series looks at burlesque and drag through three shorts—“Dirty Martini,” “Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School” and “Royally Genderfucked: Drag Culture in St. Louis”—which are accompanied by performances from burlesque performer Lola van Ella and drag queen Siren. The documentary shorts series will be playing on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. at Webster University.

To purchase tickets for the Tivoli or Plaza Frontenac, stop by the respective theater’s

box office or visit its website. Hi-Pointe and Webster University tickets are also available at the Tivoli box office. If you want to buy tickets the day of the show, you can stop by the box office a half hour before the showing. Going to a screening at Wash. U.? Don’t stress. They’re all free and don’t require tickets.

Below is a schedule of notable events, so that you can plan accordingly and avoid reading the whole program. That said, if you don’t trust my picks, visit the official website for more information and a full schedule of showings at www.cinemastlouis.org/festival.

Friday, Nov. 12

“Blue Valentine,” 7 p.m., Hi-Pointe Theatre“Uncle Boonmee,” 9:45 p.m., Plaza Fronte-nac Cinema“Senso,” 7 p.m., Webster University

Saturday, Nov. 13

“One Lucky Elephant,” 5:45 p.m., Hi-Pointe“Hayfever,” 6 p.m., Plaza Frontenac“Women Without Men,” 7:15 p.m., Plaza Frontenac

Sunday, Nov. 14

“Fat City,” 1 and 4:30 p.m., Lindenwood University“I Killed My Mother,” 7 p.m., Plaza Frontenac“Winter’s Bone,” 7 p.m., Brown Hall at Wash. U.“127 Hours,” 7 p.m., Hi-Pointe“Valhalla Rising,” 9:15 p.m., Hi-Pointe

Write to Alex Terrono at

ALEX.TERRONO@STUDLIFE.COM

ALEX TERRONO

MOVIE COLUMNIST

Students perform in Diwali in Nov. 2009. Diwali, also known as the “festival of lights,”

celebrates the victory of good over evil. Diwali’s first performance is Friday night at 7

p.m. at the Edison Theatre.

LILY SCHORR | STUDENT LIFE

CEDRIC HUCHUAN XIA | STUDENT LIFE

When is it again?

Write to Percy Olsen at

PERCY.OLSEN@STUDLIFE.COM