Karl Rove Visits GW

Last Friday Karl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush spoke before students in the Elliot School's Harry Harding auditorium. Affectionately regarded by event organizers as the "architect" of the war on global terrorism, literature distributed at the event praised Rove's role in "liberating more than 50 million people from two regimes…taking the unprecedented steps to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction…[and] championing the No Child Left Behind Act."

Rove, now a Fox News contributor, focused his prepared speech on the 2008 Presidential Election, questioning Barack Obama's attacks on his former boss President Bush. Rove alleges that members of Congress were also convinced that weapons of mass destruction were in Iraq. Rove later acknowledged that the intelligence leading to war was incorrect, but did not offer an apology, instead insisting that regardless of the past the administration must focus on the status quo.

Rove, also notable for his role in George W. Bush's Texas gubernatorial campaigns, was twice interrupted by protesters. The first, a single individual shouted an explicative before being led away by University and Metropolitan police. The second, a group of four students were removed upon unfurling a banner reading "war criminal" and reading article six of the Nuremberg trial proceedings. A separate protest outside the Elliot school attracted about a dozen participants.

Following the speech a number of GW students posted questions to Mr. Rove, answering them in detail and once offering an anecdote of his time in the White House. Rove did not remain accessible to the public after the event.

The event was sponsored by GW's chapter of Young America's Foundation, a student organization focused on the advancement of conservative values. Past guests to campus have included Ann Coulter, John Ascroft, David Horowitz, and Newt Gingrich.

-Jesse Regis

Music Minute

iTunes Top Five

1) "Touch My Body" by Mariah Carey
2) "4 Minutes to Save the World" by Madonna
3) "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis
4) "You’re Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins
5) "Lollipop" by Lil' Wayne

New CD Releases

Anti-Flag - "The Bright Lights of America"
The Apples in the Stereo - "Electronic Projects for Musicians"
Ferras - "Aliens and Rainbows"
Panic at the Disco - "Pretty Odd"
George Strait - "Troubadour"
Josh Gracin - "We Weren’t Crazy"
George Michael - "Twenty-Five"
Kylie Minogue - "X"
Moby - "Last Night"
The Rolling Stones - "Shine A Light" (soundtrack to the movie)

- Taylor Barnes

Spring Break Briefs

• Vishal Aswani won the SA Presidency the Thursday prior to Spring Break. The results took only half an hour from the closing of the polls to be verified by the Joint Elections Comittee. With a little over 3,000 students voting, Vishal beat opponent Kevin Kozlowski by a 55.1% to 44.82% margin. Vishal will be joining WRGW sometime this week to discuss the win and his plans for next year.


• Program Board announced last Saturday that Gym Class Heros will be the musical act for Spring Fling. The event is planned for Saturday April 5th in University Yard. Tyga and Kidz in The Hall will also be performing at the event. More on this later in the week.


• Hillary Clinton was on campus last Monday to deliver a foreign policy address. As her third event in the last three weeks, she spoke about Iraq policy on the week of the five year anniversary of the invasion. She remained strong on her belief to pull troops out of Iraq and used this event to focus not on differences with Democratic opponent Barack Obama, but differences with Republican nominee John McCain. "Despite the evidence, President (George W.) Bush is determined to continue his failed policy in Iraq until he leaves office and Sen. McCain will gladly accept the torch and stay the course keeping troops in Iraq up to 100 years if necessary," Clinton said. "They both want to keep us tied to another country's civil war - a war we cannot win."


• The women's basketball team headed west to the big dance on Wednesday. Playing at Stanford University, the Colonials defeated Auburn on Saturday in the first round of the tournament, 66-56. The second round took place on Monday, where the 5-seed team took on 3-seed Cal. Sarah Jo Lawerence made a last second layup propelling the team forward to the Sweet 16 in Greensboro after a 55-53 victory. Check out our sport's director Frank Dale's blog for all the details from the trip.


• GW Baseball inaugurated the new Nationals Ballpark on Saturday. The 9-4 win over St. Joes was the first game played at the park. Nationals officials hoped that this would serve as a practice game for ballpark employees. More on this later in the week.


• The University announced today that Julian Bond, the chairman of the NAACP, will be this year's commencement speaker. The commencement ceremony on May 18th coincides with the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's assassination. More on this later in the week.

- Mallory Thompson

Music Minute

iTunes Top Five:
"Love in the Club" by Usher
"Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley
"Love Song" by Sara Barellies
"No Air" by Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown
"Low" by Flo' Rida

Newly Released CD's:
Alkaline Trio- God Damnit Redux
Barry White Gold 2 CDs
Big D and the Kids Table - Strictly Mixed and Mashed
Dropkick Murphies - The Meanest of Times
Erykah Badu- New Amerykah Part One
Fat Joe - Elephant in the Room
Shawn Mullins - HoneyDew
Snopp Dogg - Ego’ Trippin
"10,000 B.C." soundtrack
"Fool’s Gold" soundtrack

- Taylor Barnes

CNN'S Amanpour Comes to the National Press Club

Renowned CNN Correspondent Christiane Amanpour spoke with Marvin Kalb last night during GW's latest Kalb Report. The series highlights important issues in public affairs and has featured a wide array of guests since its inception in 1994.

Kalb began the discussion by asking Amanpour how growing up during the Iranian revolution affected her decision to become a journalist. She responded that after watching her home country change so violently she "wanted to be involved, as an observer and a player, and not a victim."

Amanpour's reporting from war zones across the world established her role as a serious player in global news. She gained prestige while reporting from Sarajevo in the nineties, covering what she discovered to be "a genocide." Amanpour brought the brutality of the Bosnian government into the eyes of the public, feeling it was the duty of a journalist to "tell the truth even when the truth is not comfortable."

At the close of the program, Amanpour encouraged aspiring journalists to pursue the truth with a passion, and to keep the public informed. "Be a believer, in this society where the press is called the 4th estate." "Information" she said, "is something a society cannot do without."

- Lex Ratner

WRGW Suspends for Spring Break

GW Radio's programming, news coverage and blogging will resume the week of March 24th. A safe, happy and relaxing break to all our listeners!

- WRGW News Department

Law and Order: GWU

Up first, a burglary out of Funger Hall…University Police responded to a complaint of broken glass that was lodged in a door. Upon examination, it was determined that an unknown perpetrator had broken a glass window and opened an office door from the inside. The occupant of the office was eventually located and reported that a laptop had been stolen from the premises. UPD crime scene technicians had an opportunity to investigate the scene; the damaged door was eventually re-secured. The case is still open tonight.

Next, an incident of disorderly conduct on 2100 and H streets…Two individuals were getting into a taxi that was partially blocking the road when the driver of an automobile behind them honked impatiently. This prompted one of the patrons to hurl a water bottle at the car’s windshield. The impatient driver exited the vehicle and a verbal dispute followed. Metropolitan police arrived and summarily broke up the fight. No charges were filed.

A car accident on 20th and F streets…A complainant reported to UPD that he was in the process of making a left-hand turn from F Street on to 20th when a vehicle ran a red light. In attempts to avoid a major accident, the driver swerved and hit a parked car. No injuries were reported. UPD is classifying this event as an apparent “hit and run.”

And last, but not least, a troubling off-campus occurrence…A female GW student reported to University Police that while walking on the 2600 block of K street, she was grabbed from behind and fondled by two male subjects. It was originally believed that they were attempting to rob her. The details surrounding the case remain sketchy at this hour. Police are looking for the subjects.

- Jared Pliner

Maureece Rice Off the Team

When the men's basketball team holds senior day on its last home game against Massachusetts on Saturday night, they will be without this year's most celebrated senior.

In the recent heyday of GW men's basketball with now-graduates Pops Mensah Bonsu, Mike Hall, Omar Williams and Carl Elliot - Maureece Rice was the reigning king of shooting threes. In the 2006-2007 season, Rice averaged 15.8 points per game. However, since conference play began this year, his points per game average has dropped to 9.6.

Rice was dismissed last night for failure to adhere to team rules. It is unclear to what the rule was. Rice was suspended twice earlier in the season - missing games against UMBC on November 24th and Longwood University on December 23rd.

Rice did not travel to Charlotte last night, where the team lost 77-61, all but killing the hopes of making it to the A-10 tournament next week in Atlantic City.

The official statement from GW:

George Washington University senior Maureece Rice (Philadelphia, PA) has been dismissed from the men’s basketball program, GW coach Karl Hobbs announced Thursday. Rice was dismissed for failure to adhere to team rules, according to Hobbs.

- Mallory Thompson

Washington Circle to be Revamped

Located adjacent to the GW Hospital, Washington Circle will be getting a makeover in an effort to improve both the safety and beauty of the area.

According to officials in the National Parks Service and District Department of Transportation, the city will erect a chain link fence around the circle to prevent jaywalking and potential accidents. New pathways will deter pedestrians from walking through and damaging foliage.

It is not clear how the construction effort will affect traffic flow and congestion around campus, nor have officials made clear their intentions for the numerous homeless people located in the circle who consequently may drift towards campus.

The project could begin as early as October 2009, but is dependent on the acquisition of funds and permit approval by the D.C. State Historic Preservation Office.

While not associated with the university, the Washington Circle renovation and expected repaving of New Hampshire Avenue coincides with construction throughout campus. Projects at Square 80, Square 54, 1925 F Street, residence hall, the Aston, and School Without Walls ensures that heavy machinery will be a Foggy Bottom mainstay for years to come.

- Jesse Regis

Music Minute

Top 5 Songs on iTunes:

1) “Love in the Club” by Usher
2) “Love Song” by Sara Bareilles
3) “Low” by Flo’ Rida
4) “Elevator” by Flo’ Rida
5) “No Air” by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown

New Album Releases:

“Backwood Barbie by Dolly Parton
“Rock Milestones: The Blue Album” by the Beatles
“War Paint” by the Black Crowes
“Live in Pittsburgh 1970” by the Doors
“Bob Dylan in Performance” by Bob Dylan
“This Year’s Model” by Elvis Costello
“Float” by Flogging Molly
“Sweet Children to American Idiots” by Green Day
“Good Time” by Alan Jackson
“Ringo 5.1” by Ringo Starr

Upcoming Concerts:

BB King at the Strathmore
Paul Potts and the Three Graces at Lisner Auditorium
All that Remains at the 9:30 Club

- Taylor Barnes

Construction Continues on Knapp's New Home

Newly appointed GW President Stephen Knapp announced his plans to move into 1925 F Street July 10^th, 2007. He will be the first university president to reside on campus. Renovations to the house are underway with hopes for it to be finished for move in this summer.

The house is the former alumni relations building and has been used as an office building since 1999. It was built in 1849 as a private home for U.S. Navy Captain Charles Steedman and has since changed ownership numerous times. It became a social club called the F Street Club in 1933 and has been visited by every president up until Bill Clinton.

In order to accommodate President Knapp and his family, the house will be renovated extensively since it has not been used as a residence for some time. In addition, Knapp has plans to make the residence as environmentally friendly as possible.

A very real concern of the ongoing renovations is preserving the integrity of the building. Because of its history, there are certain restrictions on what can be done to the home’s exterior.

Aside from wanting to be right on campus as an integral part of the GW community, Knapp also looks forward to living life on Foggy Bottom as GW’s neighbors experience it.

Knapp also hopes that the house will attract visitors of all types to the GW campus. The residence is in close proximity to the White House and Metro accessible, both integral parts of Knapp’s decision to eventually reside there.

- Julie Hyman