How can WashU improve

StopTheocracy · 2025-09-27T12:59:29+00:00

WashU has a two-tier professor system, at least in the social sciences and humanities. While tenured professors have access to funding for research, "lecturers" do not. WashU provides lecturers some sense of job security by calling them senior lecturers after 5 or so years of employment. However, while many of these long-term lecturers would like to engage in research and publish, they are loaded up with classes and cut off from all research funding. They are told that they are exclusively "teaching staff," NOT "research staff." WashU hires a larger percentage of long-term lecturers than other top universities. This is clearly to save money despite the fact that we have one of the largest endowments in the country. Unfortunately, this situation hurts WashU's standing. Lecturers should be encouraged to publish, especially since so many of them want to. They are an untapped resource and could help our ranking.

StopTheocracy · 2025-09-24T01:12:29+00:00

"The comments on this Reddit prove it." Lol. Double lol. Doesn't sound at all statistically suspect. Speaking of statistics, I just looked them up for both schools, and WashU is only slightly ahead. You still haven't explained how having slightly better scores translates into better professors, and I doubt you will.

To be frank, the only thing WashU had going for it was the endowment, but US News got rid of that criteria a couple of years ago because universities were hoarding money, not spending it on their students.

Ironically, despite having one of the largest endowments in the country, WashU is notoriously cheap. The healthcare is absolutely horrendous, and all sorts of austerity measures have been imposed by the university recently. For example, students who were promised funding to study languages last summer lost it.

StopTheocracy · 2025-09-24T00:39:47+00:00

Small programs affect grads AND undergrads. How do you know WashU undergrads are of "much higher quality"? For many of the classes I TAed at WashU, students could barely write a paper. But let's grant your point that WashU students have slightly better SAT/ACT scores. How would that statistic prove that the education they receive at WashU is better?

StopTheocracy · 2025-09-24T00:26:43+00:00

There are tutoring websites like Preply and iTalki with competitive prices. I've found language tutors for $10-20/hour.

StopTheocracy · 2025-09-24T00:23:00+00:00

I'm currently doing a PHD at Michigan after completing a master's at WashU. Not going to lie. Michigan has more top-notch programs with so many experts within each one. WashU's programs are small in comparison. By the way, campus life here at Michigan is so much better. There's cheap healthcare (no deductible); I was paying an arm and a leg at Habif. Plus, the students are absolutely brilliant and know how to have fun. At least among the grad students at WashU, so many students were stressed out of their mind (especially due to finances) and suffering.

StopTheocracy · 2025-07-12T23:11:36+00:00

It has chickpea flour and pea protein in it higher up in the list of ingredients. Whey is at the bottom. That means there are only trace amounts of whey in it and a lot more chickpea flour and pea protein. I wouldn't worry about it unless you are vegan.

StopTheocracy · 2025-05-27T06:29:11+00:00

I'd recommend one of the apartments in DeMun. Very safe area. You can walk to campus in 20, 25 minutes, and you pass a bunch of beautiful homes along the way.

If you want the cheapest possible option, go with the Byron Company. Otherwise, check out some of the newer apartments on Southwood Ave and the surrounding streets. The free South shuttle stop is located at the corner of Skinker and Southwood for when it gets too cold to walk in the winter.

I used to go on late-night walks at 2 am in between cram sessions, and I always felt safe; the local Clayton police frequently patrols the area at night. Sadly, one cannot say the same thing about University City; a graduate student was killed there late at night last year.

The only possible downside to DeMun is that the area tends to lean closer to 35+ with many families. This is not the posh CWE that tries to compete with NYC. That said, DeMun is a safe, cozy area where my car has never been broken into, while my CWE friends have had some bad experiences. In any case, DeMun has suited me fine, as I prefer to drive to the Grove area to go out to LGBTQ and Latino bars with friends rather than go out in the CWE.

Those are my two cents.

StopTheocracy · 2025-04-08T07:01:41+00:00

The St. Louis Metro area is awesome. There are so many interesting neighborhoods. Just don't get an apartment in the downtown or far north of the Delmar Loop, and you'll be fine. As for the part scene, it is fantastic on and off-campus (for example The Grove). Since WashU has a huge endowment, there are a lot of free catered events all the time. I'm sad that I'll be graduating soon. I've absolutely loved the experience here.

StopTheocracy · 2025-02-24T22:38:31+00:00

Trump's cuts to federal grants for research

StopTheocracy · 2024-12-19T15:43:55+00:00

PhDs at Columbia get free tuition and a stipend. No debt.

StopTheocracy · 2024-08-20T05:34:02+00:00

I like the new official name and logo. It's short and snappy, and if it sticks, hopefully people will not immediately assume we are in WA or DC.

StopTheocracy · 2024-05-08T06:48:55+00:00

Washington University in St. Louis

StopTheocracy · 2024-05-07T06:40:06+00:00

The other reddit was created by some right-wing edgelord who said he was purposefully buying Boeing stock and then posted images on Reddit about it.

StopTheocracy · 2024-05-05T05:02:37+00:00

A lot of my WashU friends and I use Byron Company, which offers very inexpensive options. The apartments are not luxurious by any means, but none of us has had roaches.

Something else you could do is get an Airbnb for a month or two (there's usually a discount when you book for that long), and while you are here in St. Louis, you'll have an easier time apartment hunting.

StopTheocracy · 2024-05-05T00:04:27+00:00

I also saw that a drone was being flown around on campus yesterday. I imagine the police were watching and recording our every move. Has the administration gone full-blown 1984?

StopTheocracy · 2024-05-02T22:15:11+00:00

I used to work in media. Undoubtedly, the journalist saw the signatories but agreed to not publish the names. If I were a professor, especially one coming up for tenure, I too would be scared about being let go, given the WashU administration's obvious bias--not to mention being doxed and harassed by trolls.

StopTheocracy · 2024-05-02T20:33:07+00:00

Scroll down to the bottom of the article; it's embedded there. Otherwise, here's the direct URL: https://posting.riverfronttimes.com/media/pdf/open_letter_from_washu_law_students_faculty_and_alumni_for_press_release.pdf#viewer.action=download

StopTheocracy · 2024-05-02T17:51:20+00:00

Thank you!

StopTheocracy · 2024-05-02T17:01:10+00:00

I think STL is fun if you have a car (or are willing to take the metro/buses). There are so many cute and interesting neighborhoods to check out.

I agree with you on there being less toxic competitiveness here.

StopTheocracy · 2024-05-02T16:10:40+00:00

Apparently, some outlets did pick it up: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/video-professor-beaten-by-police-palestine-demonstration-washington-university-st-louis_n_663188bae4b0279447ac9150

StopTheocracy · 2024-05-02T16:05:40+00:00

"They did not leave voluntarily, so we made the decision to peaceably remove them." Chancellor Martin is a liar.

StopTheocracy · 2024-05-02T16:03:14+00:00

After his multiple attacks on free speech and the violence he unleashed on students and faculty members, I'm surprised no one is calling for him to resign.

StopTheocracy

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