tree hugger | MS student @UVM_RSENR | @WUSTL '18 | forest health & applied ecology | she/her
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Articles by Hanusia Higgins
Meet Valerie Thomas, the inventor and scientist who launched the longest-running satellite program imaging Earth’s surface
Valerie Thomas retired from NASA in 1995 after three decades of work, and she left with a legacy as a trailblazing scientist and creative inventor. More than 20 years later, her contributions and her dedication to teaching and uplifting underrepresented youth in her field are still making an impact. Thomas was born in Maryland in February of 1943. Despite an early interest in mechanics that she shared with her father, Thomas was not encouraged to pursue her passion for science and math.
Backyard data in six US states shows that native mason bees are declining
The decline of North American bee populations has been a hot topic in recent years. Calls to “save the bees” have people buzzing about pesticides and habitat loss. But why the bees need saving in the first place is a complicated question. And to understand why bees are struggling, we first have to know which bees are doing poorly and which aren’t — which is where Kathryn LeCroy, a PhD student at the University of Virginia, comes in.
Are invasive insects better equipped for climate change than native species?
The US residential power supply system is messed up at all times, but Texas's power supply is particularly problematic right now. And worse, it's about to be crushing financially for millions of families impacted by winter weather, especially the families that are poor, or elderly, or not white (or all three). Because many states have deregulated their power markets, a lot of people get their power through retail energy suppliers. These companies are, essentially, energy arbitrage firms.
Man sues plant: An improbable, utterly amusing trial
I’ve always wanted to be summoned for jury duty. It feels to me like one of those quintessential institutions of American democracy, like public libraries and the postal service. But when I found myself in the Old Courthouse downtown last Wednesday, in a trial that felt high-stakes and oh, by the way, the defendant was literally a potted plant, it wasn’t exactly how I’d pictured my first participation with the legal process. But somehow, it was even more delightful than I imagined.
Wash. U. students take action against gun violence
Millions of people around the world—including right here in St. Louis—are set to “March for [Their] Lives” Saturday March 24, taking part in a local-turned-global movement to protest gun violence. The day before, Friday March 23, Washington University students will lead an event to prepare for the march and inspire fellow students to other forms of action. The event, titled “Wash. U.
Marvin Gaye, stir-fry and gospel rap: A love story
Alexxus Harris and Donnell “Slim” Reed have a love story ripped straight from the pages of a movie script. Now, the Washington University community is showing its love by raising money for the couple’s honeymoon. Harris and Reed first met when they performed a duet in a Michael Jackson tribute dance performance nearly three years ago. According to Reed, it was love at first sight.
The digital life: From technicolor to black and white
Last week, I was idly scrolling through my Facebook feed in an attempt to avoid doing work (as I often do) when I came across a New York Times headline that sufficiently shocked me into clicking on it. It posed the question, “Is the Answer to Phone Addiction a Worse Phone?” I initially assumed that the article would promote a technically “worse” model than the ubiquitous iPhone, like the Unihertz Jelly, a splashy new mini-smartphone.
Environmental justice, jobs and ice cream: Office of Sustainability event connects Wash. U. students with St. Louis organization
Environmental issues and social justice are two topics that, at first glance, can seem disconnected. The former is perceived as the realm of privileged white activists, while the latter encompasses crucial fights for equality that are often ignored by those very same activists. But in the interdisciplinary subject of environmental justice, the issues that impact the natural world and those that impact humans are inextricably intertwined.
XMag prompts conversation about sexual health, sex positivity
It’s no secret that college students love to talk about sex. And here to fulfill that need is XMag, a year-old student publication devoted to discussing, through art and writing, topics that range from STI prevention to porn and everything in between. For senior Eden Diamond, XMag’s founder and executive director, expanding the breadth of conversations about sex on campus was one of the key goals that drove her to create the publication.
WUpcycle combines fashion, sustainability, and DIY sensibilities
It’s Friday, Feb. 2, and Eva Blumenfeld is full of energy. The senior and Sharing With A Purpose co-owner’s new project, WUpcycle, is having its first sale of the semester in the Danforth University Center, and business is booming. As we search for somewhere to sit down—the eternal struggle of lunchtime DUC rush hour—Blumenfeld shares an anecdote that exemplifies the hyper-local nature of her new venture.
Frozen wieners kick off Mardi Gras festivities with invigorating race
The Wiener Dog Derby in a blizzard of excitement, and we were thrilled to attend the annual Mardi Gras event of racing dachshunds, produced alongside a pet parade in Soulard Sunday. Dogs of all shapes and sizes come every year to strut their stuff, dress to kill and run to victory—if they’re small enough to fit in the starting box. There are four classes in the derby, separated by age and by breed.
Black Anthology tackles relationship violence, cultural appropriation
1:05 is a time, but it’s also a ratio: Approximately one in five black women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. This powerful statistic inspired the title of this year’s iteration of Black Anthology (BA), “1:05,” which centered on themes of sexual assault and relationship violence. The cryptic stylization of the show’s title was inspired by Jay-Z’s 2017 album 4:44. Initially, the time 1:05 was going to be woven into the plot of the play, but it didn’t end up in the final version.
Hey Lil Mamma, lemme whisper in your ear: ‘Whispers is Here’
In arguably the most exciting campus news since the presidential debate face-off in fall 2016, Whispers Cafe has finally reopened after an 18-month period of construction. The soft-spoken cafe’s eagerly anticipated renaissance was plagued by construction delays, mostly due to a surprise appearance of a certain slab of bedrock.
March to the Arch: STL Women’s March is relevant for WU, too
The Big Bend-University City MetroLink stop, located on the northwest corner of Washington University’s campus, is sparsely populated on a typical weekend morning. But on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 9:30 a.m, it was packed. Dozens of Wash. U. students, bearing Sharpie-adorned poster boards and bright pink apparel, crowded the station before boarding the train minutes later. As the MetroLink blue line picked up passengers on its way to Union Station, the excited buzz inside the train gained momentum.
Which campus library should you study in?
As the end of the semester approaches, exams, projects and papers loom larger than ever. It’s getting too cold to study outside (although that roaring fireplace by the Danforth University Center sure does look cozy). So, which campus library should you retreat into? Take this quiz and find out. A) Pumpkin spice lattes. I love fall!!!!!! B) Hot chocolate. It’s so cozy. C) Horchata. You’ve probably never heard of it. D) Double espresso. I need the energy.
Late nights and pizza pies: Get the most out of delivery
Consider the following: It’s 10 p.m. You haven’t eaten anything since noon. The only food in your vicinity is a raw potato and two cans of Natural Light beer. It’s too cold to consider leaving your apartment or dorm room. You’re painfully hungry. What do you do? Order a pizza.
Through the city by Metro: Taking a trip to the Central West End
The Central West End is familiar territory for many Washington University students or at least its few blocks of upscale dining options are familiar. Student favorites like Drunken Fish and El Burro Loco are great spots for a night out on the town, but this versatile neighborhood has plenty to offer in the daytime hours, too. Just a hop, skip and a Metro ride across Forest Park—paradoxically for Danforth Campus-dwellers, the Central West End (CWE) is actually east of Wash.
Many moving pieces: Working backstage at Diwali
Brightly attired dancers spin and jump in perfect synchronization; actors portray humans and aliens in an alternate-universe version of Washington University; a capella singers croon interweaving harmonies. The audience claps, the performers bow and the curtain falls on the last performance of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights that is celebrated annually by Ashoka, Wash. U.’s South Asian student association. Diwali took place at the Edison Theater this past Friday and Saturday, Nov.
Which of Dean Jen Smith’s dogs are you?
During midterms season each semester, students troop dejectedly into Laboratory Sciences Room 300 and its fellow large lecture halls nearly every night of the week for evening exams. A familiar sight on these high-tension evenings, on the path from the South 40 to the Danforth Campus, is Arts & Sciences Dean Jennifer R. Smith, accompanied by her two massive dogs.
‘Reason’s oxymorons’ at Kemper: Art, therapy and healing in the francophone world
“Reason’s Oxymorons,” the title of an art exhibition by Kader Attia, is itself an oxymoronic phrase: It stands to reason that a logical mind would not contain the irreconcilable contradictions necessary to construct such a concept. But that, perhaps, is the point of Attia’s audio-visual installation, on display through the rest of the semester at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.
Ice cream, you scream, we all scream for environmental justice
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, environmental justice is “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies”—but it’s also a notoriously hard concept to define.
The temperature’s falling, St. Louis is calling: Weekend events preview
After recent record-setting high temperatures in St. Louis, the weekend marks both the beginning of October and more temperate weather, making it a perfect opportunity to venture out and explore St. Louis.
Reflections on ‘Reflections:’ Unintentional connections between recent events
On Wednesday evening, the University sponsored an event called “Reflections: Unity, Social Justice and Peace.” As I took my seat among the small crowd in Graham Chapel, I did some reflecting of my own. Although the event itself was organized in response to the Aug. 12 “Unite the Right” rally and resulting violence in Charlottesville, Va., Chancellor Mark Wrighton began his opening remarks by expressing sympathy and imploring support for the communities affected by Hurricane Harvey.
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