It was in a September 2007 story, "Trainspotting," that staff writer Jeannette Cooperman first described in SLM's pages the character known alternately as Miss or Miz MetroLink:
Today Judith emailed me: “Another reason why riding the MetroLink beats driving a car: Wednesday afternoon a female boarded the train at the Forsyth station. She wore a tiara on her head. A broad sash was draped across her front, from shoulder to hip. Her sash read: ‘Miss MetroLink.’ She gave everyone the queen’s wave (side to side, wrist action only), as she walked down the aisle with an entourage of about three females and eight males trailing behind her. They traipsed the entire car. Solemnly and with very little pomp, they got off at the Clayton station. I got back to my Harry Potter, which no longer seemed quite as otherworldly."
Miss/Miz MetroLink, a.k.a. Washington University student–turned–transit advocate Liz Kramer, has made numerous appearances around town since then, going on to host not just one, but two MetroLink Proms, as well as a MetroBus Funeral.
Sadly, as reported Friday in Washington University's independent student newspaper, Student Life, it seems our public-transit champion is moving to cooler climes this week. Alas! Who will rise up in her stead and don the sash and tiara? Who will bring merriment to the good people of MetroLink?