Campus Life at Washington University in St. Louis
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Washington University in St. Louis Washington University in St. Louis (WashU or WUSTL) is a private research university with its main campus in St. Louis County, and Clayton, Missouri. Founded in 1853, the university is named after George Washington. Washington University is r ...
has varied programs and events for students.


Student organizations

Washington University has over 30
registered undergraduate student organizations
on campus. All are funded by WUSTL's student government, the
Washington University Student Union Washington University in St. Louis has varied programs and events for students. Student organizations Washington University has over 30registered undergraduate student organizationson campus. All are funded by WUSTL's student government, the Washin ...
, which has an approximately $3.6 million annual budget that is completely student controlled and is one of the largest student government budgets in the country. Known as SU for short, it sponsors large-scale campus programs including
WILD Wild, wild, wilds or wild may refer to: Common meanings * Wild animal * Wilderness, a wild natural environment * Wildness, the quality of being wild or untamed Art, media and entertainment Film and television * ''Wild'' (2014 film), a 2014 A ...
(a semesterly concert in the quad), free copies of ''
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'', ''
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'', and the ''
St. Louis Post-Dispatch The ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' is a major regional newspaper based in St. Louis, Missouri, serving the St. Louis metropolitan area. It is the largest daily newspaper in the metropolitan area by circulation, surpassing the ''Belleville News-Dem ...
'' through The Collegiate Readership Program; th
Assembly Series
a weekly lecture series; and the campus television station, WUTV and the radio station,
KWUR KWUR is a college radio station in St. Louis, Missouri located at 90.3 MHz FM. KWUR was founded on July 4, 1976 at Washington University in St. Louis, and represents one of the last remaining independent and fully student-managed radio st ...
and Filmboard
The Office of Student Activities
provides advisors, leadership training, counseling, and other support to the student groups on campus. The university is home to one of the largest collegiate Relay For Life in the country, raising over $200,000 last year in total donations. Additionally, there are over 50 community service groups on campus such as a
Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or Habitat, is a US non-governmental, and nonprofit organization which was founded in 1976 by couple Millard and Linda Fuller. Habitat for Humanity is a Ch ...
Campus Chapter. There are 10 national fraternities and 8 national sororities on campus; there are also 8 national black Greek organizations which have citywide St. Louis chapters. 9 of the fraternities have houses on the
Danforth Campus The Danforth Campus is the main campus at Washington University in St. Louis. Formerly known as the Hilltop Campus, it was officially dedicated as the Danforth Campus on September 17, 2006, in honor of William H. Danforth, the 13th Chancellor of th ...
, while none of the sororities have houses by their own accord. Approximately 30% of Washington University students participate in Greek Life. Greek Organizations are governed by the principles of Arete, which focuses on Integrity, Loyalty, Philanthropy, Responsibility, Friendship, and Intellectual Curiosity.


Washington University Student Union

The Washington University Student Union is the undergraduate student government of
Washington University in St. Louis Washington University in St. Louis (WashU or WUSTL) is a private research university with its main campus in St. Louis County, and Clayton, Missouri. Founded in 1853, the university is named after George Washington. Washington University is r ...
. Founded in 1967, Student Union carries out three major activities: representing student interests; registering, funding, and supporting student groups; and planning campus-wide events. It is divided into three branches: the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Th
Student Union Executive Branch
comprises 5 elected individuals, who are the student body officials - the President, Vice President of Administration, Vice President of Finance, Vice President of Programming, and Vice President of Public Relations - who are charged with managing and allocating the budget, being the point of contact with University administration, and leading and setting the direction for Student Union. The Legislative branch includes th
Treasury
and th
Senate
The Treasury of the Student Union hears appeals for finances from various student groups. Approximately 300 student groups on campus are registered SU groups, utilizing a large portion of the over $2 million budget. Recent resolutions of the Senate include improving Wi-Fi capabilities, improving relations between Alumni & Development and the Career Center, adding new capabilities to student ID cards, forming a LGBTQA task force, requiring all professors to distribute course syllabi and midterm grade progresses, and increasing the minimum wage of university workers. The SU Judicial Branch includes a Constitutional Council comprising a Chief Justice, four Associate Justices, and one Alternate. The Election Commissioners also fall under the Judicial Branch of Student Union. SU also publishe
Bearings
the unofficial student handbook, and its supplemental website.


Music

There is a large interest in
A cappella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...
music
on campus On, on, or ON may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * On (band), a solo project of Ken Andrews * ''On'' (EP), a 1993 EP by Aphex Twin * ''On'' (Echobelly album), 1995 * ''On'' (Gary Glitter album), 2001 * ''On'' (Imperial Teen album), 200 ...
, spawning groups such as After Dark, The Amateurs, The Aristocats, Deliverance, The Ghost Lights, The Greenleafs, More Fools Than Wise], The Mosaic Whispers, The Pikers, SensAsian, Staam, The Stereotypes, and Sur Awaaz. An umbrella organization known a
ACAC
(A Cappella Advisory Council) oversees auditions for its member groups each fall. Many of these groups are continually selected for national collegiate a cappella compilations, such a
BOCA
an
Voices Only
The Stereotypes have also made it to the top 8 groups of the Midwest for the past three consecutive years in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella and represented the Midwest as its sole competitor at the International Competition at
Lincoln Center Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (also simply known as Lincoln Center) is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has thirty indoor and outdoor facilities and is host to 5 millio ...
in 2011 where they placed 4th and received the award for Outstanding Arrangement. Another student-run music group
the Wash U Pops Orchestra
(a.k.a. "WU Pops"), was founded in the '07-'08 school year in the spirit of traditional
pops orchestra A pops orchestra is an orchestra that plays popular music (generally traditional pop) and show tunes as well as well-known classical works. Pops orchestras are generally organised in large cities and are distinct from the more "highbrow" symphony ...
s. It has grown significantly enough since founding to have spawned two chamber groups. The full orchestra performs at least once a semester, with the chamber groups performing many smaller gigs both on and off campus. The university also has a Department of Music that, in addition to providing concentrated study for music majors, also provides instrument and voice lessons to students. There are also a number of instrumental groups and ensembles in which students may participate. Other student organizations, such as th
Social Programming Board
bring in popular musical acts for
Walk In Lay Down Walk In Lay Down (commonly referred to as WILD) is a biannual concert event held in the Brookings Quadrangle at Washington University in St. Louis and has been a campus tradition since its inception in 1973. WILD, produced by the WUSTL Social Progr ...
and lesser-known independent performers. Recent WILD performers include Karmin, Chance the Rapper, Wolfgang Gartner, and Matt Kearney.


Residential life

75% of undergraduate students choose to live on campus. Housing is guaranteed for a student for all four years if a student chooses. Most of the dormitories on campus are located on the ''South 40'', named because of its adjacent location south of the
Danforth Campus The Danforth Campus is the main campus at Washington University in St. Louis. Formerly known as the Hilltop Campus, it was officially dedicated as the Danforth Campus on September 17, 2006, in honor of William H. Danforth, the 13th Chancellor of th ...
and its size of . It is the location of all the freshman dorms as well as several upperclassman dorms, which are occupied almost exclusively by sophomores. The majority of freshman dorms consist of double rooms; two double rooms share one connecting bathroom. Upperclass dorms are available in 4-person, 6-person, and 8-person suites and apartment-style units. All of the dorms are co-ed. In coming years, the university will be allowing upperclass students the option of mixed-gender housing, whereby any combination of males and females can live in the same suite if they so choose. The university is nearing the end of an era of replacing older residence halls with newer construction. In 2007, ''
The Princeton Review The Princeton Review is an education services company providing tutoring, test preparation and admission resources for students. It was founded in 1981. and since that time has worked with over 400 million students. Services are delivered by 4,0 ...
'' rated Washington University in its top 20 list of schools whose dorms are "like palaces." The South 40 is organized as a pedestrian-friendly environment where residences surround a central recreational lawn known as the Swamp. Wohl Student Center, the Habif Health and Wellness Center (Student Health Services), the Residential Life Office, Cornerstone: The Center for Advanced Learning,
University Police Campus police or university police in the United States and Canada are sworn police or peace officers employed by a college or university to protect that private property of the campus and surrounding areas and the people who live, work, and ...
Headquarters, various student owned businesses (e.g. the laundry service, "Wash U Wash", and the baseball, softball, and intramural fields are also located on the South 40. Also in 2007, ''
The Princeton Review The Princeton Review is an education services company providing tutoring, test preparation and admission resources for students. It was founded in 1981. and since that time has worked with over 400 million students. Services are delivered by 4,0 ...
'' rated the university as 4th on its rankings for Best Quality of Life for students. There are nearly 20 dining locations on the Washington University campus. In addition to a
Subway Subway, Subways, The Subway, or The Subways may refer to: Transportation * Subway, a term for underground rapid transit rail systems * Subway (underpass), a type of walkway that passes underneath an obstacle * Subway (George Bush Interconti ...
restaurant, nearly all locations are operated by the catering service
Bon Appétit Management Company Bon Appétit Management Company is a Palo Alto, California-based on-site restaurant company, that provides café and catering services to corporations, colleges, and universities. The company is a subsidiary of the British multinational corporat ...
. The cafeteria within the law school is operated by
Aramark Corporation Aramark Corporation, known commonly as Aramark, is an American food service, facilities, and uniform services provider to clients in areas including education, healthcare, business, prisons, and leisure. It operates in North America (United Sta ...
, and the
Einstein Bros. Bagels Einstein Bros. Bagels is an American chain that specializes in bagels and coffee. In 1996, Berkeley-based Noah's Bagels was bought out by Einstein Bros. Manhattan-based New World Coffee, which bought out Manhattan Bagel in 1998, bought out Einste ...
branch within Simon Hall is independently operated. The university is one of the few that offer an abundance of Kosher food items available at the majority of dining locations on campus. The dining facilities and quality of food are consistently ranked highly by ''
The Princeton Review The Princeton Review is an education services company providing tutoring, test preparation and admission resources for students. It was founded in 1981. and since that time has worked with over 400 million students. Services are delivered by 4,0 ...
''.


Residential Colleges

Residences on the South Forty ("the Forty") are subdivided into smaller groups: residential colleges ("res colleges"). A live-in university staff member—the residential college director ("RCD")—organizes social events within his or her residential college, comprising several houses, administratively a single unit. When originally organized, residential colleges consisted of a freshman dormitory and an upperclassman dormitory, though, currently, only five of the nine meet these criteria. Within each residential college, an elected group of students plans community-building activities and events. Th
Congress of the South 40
oversees the residential college Councils and plans a popular event "Residential College Olympics" each spring. Residential Colleges include: *Wayman Crow ( Howard Nemerov and Nathan Dardick Houses) *Robert S. Brookings (Arnold J. Lien and Kate M. Gregg Houses) *
William Greenleaf Eliot William Greenleaf Eliot (August 5, 1811 – January 23, 1887) was an American educator, Unitarian minister, and civic leader in Missouri. He is most notable for founding Washington University in St. Louis, and also contributed to the foundin ...
(WGE) (Elizabeth G. Danforth,
Ethan A.H. Shepley Ethan Allen Hitchcock Shepley (May 3, 1896 – June 21, 1975) was the chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis from 1953 until 1961. Early years Ethan Allen Hitchcock Shepley, a descendant of early American revolutionary Ethan Allen, was ...
, and Butron M. Wheeler Houses) *Park/Mudd (Helen Ette Park and Mudd Houses) *JKL (Thomas G. Rutledge, Carl A. Dauten, and Shanedling Houses) *HIG (Herbert F. Hitzeman, Chester Myers, and Frank E. Hurd) *Thomas H Eliot (Thomas H. Eliot House and Eliot B Houses) *Lee/Beaumont (John F. Lee and Louis Beaumont Houses) *USoFo (Helen F. Umrath and South Forty Houses) *Liggett/Koenig (John E. Liggett and Edwin C. Koenig Houses) Each Residential College includes the following amenities: *Residential College Director *Faculty Families - A professor that has an apartment inside the Residential College *Faculty Fellows/Associates - Faculty members who are paired with freshman floors. They have dinner with their floors weekly, make occasional visits and participate in floor programming *Residential Advisers - Junior and Senior student leaders chosen to serve as Peer Mentor, Advocate for Social Justice, Campus Partner, Programmer, Residential Life Team Member and Administrator. They complete hundreds of hours of training to learn how to serve their residents and maintain the integrity and cohesiveness of the community. *Residential Peer Mentors - Students who serve as tutors for large freshman classes (Calculus, Chemistry, Writing, Physics, etc.) *Washington University Student Associates (WUSA) - Upperclassmen who assist freshmen with the social transition to college *Residential Peer Health Educators - Upperclassmen who are trained to answer questions about, and implement programs to educate freshmen on the health transition in college *Residential Computer Consultants - Upperclassmen who are trained to fix common computer problems *Rooms - Freshmen are typically housed in suites of two doubles joined by a bathroom while upperclassmen live in suites of four singles joined by a common area and two bathrooms *Computer Labs - PC and Macintosh computer stations and print release stations (print charges are first deducted from budget given until exhausted and then from prepaid accounts called Campus Card Points) *Wireless Internet access throughout the dorms, in addition to wired ethernet and cable television hookups in each room *Lounges - Each floor in the residential houses has common lounges with couches, tables, small kitchens and televisions *Kitchens - Each residential house contains a full kitchen


South Forty Center

The South Forty Center is a mixed-use facility consisting of dining locations, a small auditorium, fitness center, convenience store, lounges, and residences on the upper floors. The dining location, known as Bear's Den, which includes stations such as the Cherry Tree Cafe (coffee and baked goods), Ciao Down (pasta and pizza), Grizzly Grill (burgers and other "American-style" food), WUrld Fusion (Indian inspired Global cuisine), L 'Chaim (fresh, Kosher meals), OSO Good (Mexican fare, such a tacos and burritos), and Sizzle & Stir (Mongolian-style stir-fry). The center also features convenience store, "Paws 'n' Go". More commonly known to students as "Bear Mart", the store serves as a miniature grocery store, selling snacks, drinks, fresh fruit and vegetables, and frozen meals, as well as baking goods. The area also features a soup and salad bar. The South Forty Center also houses the work-out facilities for the South 40, as well as Residential Life and Dining Services offices, and student residences on the upper floors.


North Side

Another group of residences, known as th
North Side
is located in the northwest corner of
Danforth Campus The Danforth Campus is the main campus at Washington University in St. Louis. Formerly known as the Hilltop Campus, it was officially dedicated as the Danforth Campus on September 17, 2006, in honor of William H. Danforth, the 13th Chancellor of th ...
. Only open to upperclassmen and January Scholars, the North Side consists of Millbrook Apartments, The Village, Village East, and all fraternity houses except the
Zeta Beta Tau Zeta Beta Tau () is a Greek-letter social fraternity based in North America. It was founded on December 29, 1898. Originally a Zionist youth society, its purpose changed from Zionism in the fraternity's early years when in 1954 the fraternity beco ...
house, which is off campus. Sororities at Washington University do not have houses by their own accord. The Village is a group of residences where students who have similar interests or academic goals apply as small groups of 4 to 24, known as BLOCs, to live together in clustered suites, as well as non-BLOC students. Like the South 40, the residences around the Village also surround a recreational lawn as well as its own student center.


Greek life

Washington University in St. Louis has eleven fraternities and nine sororities on-campus.


Washington University Interfraternity Council

The Washington University in St. Louis Interfraternity Council is responsible for overseeing the ten fraternities on campus, including: *
Alpha Delta Phi Alpha Delta Phi (), commonly known as Alpha Delt, ADPhi, A-Delt, or ADP, is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity. Alpha Delta Phi was originally founded as a literary society by Samuel Eells in 1832 at Hamilton College in Cli ...
* Alpha Epsilon Pi * Kappa Sigma * Sigma Alpha Epsilon * Sigma Chi *
Sigma Nu Sigma Nu () is an undergraduate Fraternities and sororities in North America, college fraternity founded at the Virginia Military Institute on January 1, 1869. The fraternity was founded by James Frank Hopkins, Greenfield Quarles and James McIlva ...
* Sigma Phi Epsilon *
Tau Kappa Epsilon Tau Kappa Epsilon (), commonly known as or Teke, is a social college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899, at Illinois Wesleyan University. The organization has chapters throughout the United States and Canada, making the Fraternity an internat ...
* Theta Xi *
Zeta Beta Tau Zeta Beta Tau () is a Greek-letter social fraternity based in North America. It was founded on December 29, 1898. Originally a Zionist youth society, its purpose changed from Zionism in the fraternity's early years when in 1954 the fraternity beco ...


Washington University Women's Panhellenic Council

The Women's Panhellenic Council at Washington University oversees the seven member sororities that reside on campus, including: * Alpha Epsilon Phi *
Alpha Omicron Pi Alpha Omicron Pi (, AOII, Alpha O) is an international women's fraternity founded on January 2, 1897, at Barnard College on the campus of Columbia University in New York City. The main archive URL iThe Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage "AOI ...
* Alpha Phi *
Chi Omega Chi Omega (, also known as ChiO) is a women's fraternity and a member of the National Panhellenic Conference, the umbrella organization of 26 women's fraternities. Chi Omega has 181 active collegiate chapters and approximately 240 alumnae chapte ...
* Gamma Phi Beta * Kappa Delta *
Kappa Kappa Gamma Kappa Kappa Gamma (), also known simply as Kappa or KKG, is a collegiate sorority founded at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, United States. It has a membership of more than 260,000 women, with 140 collegiate chapters in the United States a ...


A Cappella

There are 11 a cappella groups on WashU's campus, specializing in everything from contemporary
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
and
pop music Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the former describe ...
to jazz standards and
Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
songs. A cappella groups on campus include After Dark, The Stereotypes, The Amateurs, The Pikers, The Aristocats, More Fools Than Wise, The Ghost Lights, The Mosaic Whispers, The Sensasians, Staam, and the Greenleafs.


Honoraries

* Lock & Chain Sophomore Honorary *
Lambda Sigma Lambda Sigma () is an American college honor society for second-year students. Originally named the Society of Cwens, the society was established at the University of Pittsburgh in Fall 1922 as a women's honors society, and became a national orga ...
* ThurtenE Honorary * Chimes Junior Honorary * Mortar Board * Luminescence Honorary


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Campus Life At Washington University In St. Louis Washington University in St. Louis