Students rally to save professor's co-op house

By Kasey Joyce

KSDK -- A local professor gave his time, labor and life savings to help create a cooperative living community at Washington University. He's in danger of losing everything. But his students won't let that happen.

The Washington University Co-Op is a group of students who live together, cook, clean and exist as a single community. They've even created the Cervantes Free University, where people can take courses on a variety of subjects, all for free.

"We always have more power as a community working together," said co-op member Jake Stern.

The brainchild behind the group is Professor Jerome Bauer.

"I feel like Jerome silently holds this place together," said co-op member Jen Swanson.

Bauer's home serves as the library for the Co-Op and the free university. But thanks to a pay cut and missed payments at the bank, he's in jeopardy of losing everything.

"This is what I've chosen to do and I've put my whole life savings into this house into this and if I lose it I lose everything," Bauer said. "I was just desperate, so I finally reached out for help."

And his students answered the call. In less than a week, the community rallied together to create a benefit to save Professor Bauer's house.

"It just goes to show how much the community does support us, the Cervantes house and Professor Bauer," Stern said.

"Jerome really set me on my path in many ways," Swanson said.

And now, his students have the chance to set Bauer on his.

The benefit to save Professor Bauer's house starts at 7 p.m. Friday at the Washington University Co-Op at 6021 Pershing. Nine bands are scheduled to play.

For more information, click the link to the right of the screen.