Thurtene Carnival integral to spring

By Neil Schoenherr

It's that time of year again. Spring is in the air. The mercury in the thermometer is starting to rise. That can only mean one thing. Cardinals baseball? Well, maybe. But at the University, all the signs of spring point in one direction --the annual Thurtene Carnival.

The event, first conceptualized in 1904, is one of the University's longest-running traditions. It's the nation's oldest and largest student-run carnival.

Nearly a century later, Thurtene Carnival still bears a resemblance to its ancestor, however, the big top has been replaced by sturdily constructed facades, and the crowd at the now two-day event has swelled to more than 100,000.

Admission into this year's edition, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on the North Brookings parking lot, is free but tickets must be purchased for rides and plays. An anticipated 120,000 people will share the spirit of Thurtene this year and help the carnival achieve its charitable goal.

Proceeds will benefit this year's Thurtene charity, Make a Difference Center of St. Louis, which seeks to enhance and enrich the lives of economically disadvantaged children through a combination of academic, recreational and social support services.

Eight themed facades, designed and constructed by students, will house student-performed plays. Other Thurtene traditions include 14 major carnival rides, 16 game booths and 15 booths serving an array of tasteful treats and ethnic edibles. A 15-minute fireworks show will be at 8 p.m. Saturday.

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Lead-poisoning fight championed by law's interdisciplinary clinic

By Ann Nicholson

Three students in the School of Law's Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic (IEC) have taken their legal and environmental expertise to the state capitol to support bills that would require Missouri children to be tested for lead poisoning statewide.

IEC students drafted the legislation for the nonprofit St. Louis Lead Prevention Coalition. Missouri Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-59th District) and Sen. Patrick Dougherty (D-67th District) are sponsoring the bills.

Last week, second-year law students Tiffany Meddaugh and Shannon Whelan testified before the House Committee on Children, Families and Health regarding the legislation. Earlier this month, Meddaugh and Whelan testified before the Senate Committee on Housing and Insurance, which later recommended the bills be sent to the full Senate for approval. Together with Heather Brouillet, a senior majoring in environmental studies in Arts & Sciences, Meddaugh and Whelan presented their arguments to the governor's Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Lead Poisoning.

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(From right) Second-year law students Tiffany Meddaugh and Shannon Whelan meet with Missouri Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-59th District) after testifying before the Senate Committee on Housing and Insurance on bills that would require Missouri children to be tested for lead poisoning. The School of Law's Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic, directed by Maxine Lipeles (left), J.D., professor of law, drafted the legislation for the St. Louis Lead Prevention Coalition, working with Jonathan VanderBrug (second from left), coalition executive director.

Kurt H. Hohenemser; Aviation pioneer dies at 95

By Tony Fitzpatrick

Kurt H. Hohenemser, Dr.Ing., professor emeritus of aerospace engineering, contributor to the invention of the helicopter, environmental engineer and one of the University's most distinguished engineers died April 7, 2001, at age 95 in his St. Louis home.

"Kurt Hohenemser's impact on aerospace was immense, as was his impact on the people he taught and worked with," said David A. Peters, Ph.D., McDonnell Douglas Professor of Engineering and chair of mechanical engineering. "When he came to Washington University in 1966, we changed the depart-ment's name to 'mechanical engineering and aerospace.' He was aerospace. When he retired in 1975, it went back to 'mechanical engineering.' He could have taught any course we offered here."

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Calling all families; Tyson Trails Day offers nature, history

By Tony Fitzpatrick

With spring in full force, researchers, area naturalists and historians at the University's Tyson Research Center are offering the St. Louis region their expertise in a variety of nature and historical topics and field trips at Tyson Trails Day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 28.

There will be nature trails and history trails to explore at the 2,000-acre biological field station about 20 miles west of St. Louis. Nature trails include tours of Mincke Quarry Cave, ecology of Tyson ponds, a mushroom foray, a snake walk, a butterfly walk, a bird-watching hike and crafts for children.

History trails include a visit to the Mincke Hollow Mining town, a Native American tepee encampment, history of Route 66, a nature art and photo show of works created at Tyson, storytellers and more.

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